ma

Enago Launches AuthorONE - An AI-powered Manuscript Assessment and Automated Copy-editing Solution for Publishers

Unlike other solutions, AuthorONE delivers explainable, actionable results.




ma

Jon Sheldon Guttman Presented with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award by Marquis Who's Who

Mr. Guttman has been endorsed by Marquis Who's Who as a leader in the fields of communications, art and sales




ma

Scribendi Makes The Globe and Mail's List of Canada's Top Growing Companies

Scribendi has been included in the list of Canada's Top Growing Companies, released today by The Globe and Mail and Report on Business.




ma

Smart Ring Whitepaper from Haltian Assesses the Market and Best Practice Go-to-Market Strategies

Amazon's Smart Ring launch marks the beginning of a new era for Smart Rings - they are now mainstream, and the market growth will accelerate. Haltian's Smart Ring whitepaper analyzes the market and helps companies define their go-to-market strategy!




ma

Ventana Research Releases Sales Performance Management Value Index

Independent analysis of software category rates technology providers across seven product and customer assurance evaluation categories




ma

Barcode.com (The Bar Code News) has Released its Latest Quarterly Issue of The Bar Code Magazine

This free, 40 page online publication includes case studies, helpful articles and content on over 80 companies.




ma

Dr. Madelyn Blair's New Book "Unlocked" Invites Readers to Embrace the Unexpected and Change Their Lives Today

Madelyn Blair is the author of several popular management-focused books, including "Riding the Current" and "Essays in Two Voices." She is a renowned speaker and resiliency expert.




ma

Poets&QuantsTM Ranks the Best MBA Programs for Entrepreneurship in Partnership with Inc. Magazine

Premier business school news site ranks top 27 entrepreneurship business programs with first-ever print partner, Inc. Magazine




ma

The Online Publishers "TOP platform" Has Many Digital Marketing Solutions All Under One Convenient Umbrella

Check with The Online Publishers "TOP platform" first when you need digital marketing solutions and services because it will help you to save both time and money, while also providing you the best options.




ma

From Rock-bottom to Million-Dollar Boss: British-born Nigerian Entrepreneur Yemi Penn Covers PLEASURES Magazine Nov/Dec Issue

Penn never gave up and to add to her achievements, her success story made it to the cover of the Pan African Entrepreneurial and Luxury magazine, Pleasures Magazine.




ma

Personal Injury Lawyer Karl Truman Selected to Join the 100 Million Dollar Club by the American Academy of Attorneys

Karl Truman Law Office focuses on high-quality client service in and around Louisville, Kentucky, and Jeffersonville, Indiana




ma

TOP platform Offers Freelancers a Fresh Opportunity to Make Money Online

TOP platform is an international campaigner that invites all freelancers no matter where they might be in the world to sign up and explore the opportunity to make money online by offering services through this digital marketing agency.




ma

Marcia Elder Interview Inspires Powerful New Year Resolutions, Strategic Planning

CPI Consulting CEO for over 30 years reveals success strategies for "Planning the Life You Desire ~ Living the Life You Deserve: Creating & Achieving Goals That Matter Most"




ma

BWW 2020 - Best Wine Critics of World have been selected – Neal Martin is the Winner!

BWW – Best Wine of the World Competition is the largest wine competition in the world, whether measured by the number of wines, the number of consumers involved or the judges taking part.




ma

FMI Releases Whitepaper, "Fleet in the C-Suite: The Strategic Implications of Equipment Management"

In this whitepaper, authors explore the idea that the equipment fleet is a strategic asset and should be managed as one.




ma

Arizona Mayors Join Keynote Panel at Take The Lead's "Power Up Conference: Igniting The Intentional Leader Within"

Discussion Will Spotlight Why Women Should Take the Lead in Politics Awards Presentation Will Honor Local Notables




ma

IFPG's Niche Publication, Franchise Consultant Magazine, Offers a Unique Educational Tool for Franchise Consultants




ma

bestmarijuanaguide.com Announces Launch of Cannabis Directory and Reviews on April 1st, 2020

bestmarijuanaguide.com, the premier online directory for cannabis products, suppliers, and dispensaries has announced it launch on the morning of April 1st, 2020.




ma

Poets&QuantsTM Names Best & Brightest Undergraduate Business Majors For 2020

Annual feature celebrates graduating business students for achievement and impact.




ma

3dpbm Releases New AM Focus 2020 eBook Addressing Advanced Materials in Additive Manufacturing

Fourth eBook in AM Focus 2020 Series Provides Unique Insights into 3D Printing with Technical Ceramics, Composites, Advanced Polymers and Refractory Metals




ma

Worried your bank will make you pay your delayed mortgage bills all at once? Here's what to do

Many homeowners struggling financially in the coronavirus pandemic worry mortgage servicers will require them to repay mortgage bills all at once.





ma

Edited Transcript of MRAM earnings conference call or presentation 7-May-20 9:00pm GMT




ma

It’s JPMorgan vs. Citi as Wall Street Splits on Market Direction

(Bloomberg) -- Wall Street’s biggest firms are divided on where markets are heading to next.While most risk assets are well off their mid-March lows, when uncertainty about the global impact of the coronavirus outbreak was at its peak, there is little consensus on what is to follow. At the core of the debate is the long-term effectiveness of the massive stimulus from central banks and governments.When $8 Trillion in Global Fiscal Stimulus Still Isn’t EnoughCitigroup Inc., for one, doesn’t get the “puzzling” rise in stocks.“Extensive policy response, led by ample liquidity provided by central banks, likely contributed to the move in the markets,” economists including Igor Cesarec and Catherine Mann wrote in a note Thursday. “However, since it is not clear that markets can be propped up indefinitely, caution is warranted. Risk assets could be fragile once the cold, hard economic reality hits again.”On the other hand, JPMorgan Chase & Co. sees the stock market advance as justified -- and one which can continue.“While the collapse in economic activity is historic, so too is the global policy response to cushion the impact and support a recovery,” strategists led by Marko Kolanovic wrote in a note Thursday. “We expect risky assets to continue to recover as economies reopen and given the unprecedented policy support, though we expect a moderation in the pace of gains.”Read about JPMorgan’s call in late March that markets were probably past the worst.The MSCI AC World Index has climbed about 25% since March 23 as investor sentiment warmed toward a slew of worldwide policy measures to offset the economic impact of the pandemic. The global gauge had fallen as much as 34% from its February high, when concerns about the virus reached a peak.Looking ForwardGoldman Sachs Group Inc. and Morgan Stanley largely see gains remaining intact, with caveats.Goldman attributes the market rise to a stabilization in virus infection rates and an improvement in measures of funding and liquidity stress. The firm has already said that equities price in macroeconomic performance over a two-year time horizon and investors may look past huge economic damage.“Markets will continue to look through bad news about the depth of the economic downturn if they can continue to hold on to their view that a sizable chunk of the recent damage will be reversed by the end of next year,” strategists including Zach Pandl wrote in a note Tuesday.And Morgan Stanley is also comfortable with the disparity between asset price performance and fundamentals, noting that markets tend to lead the economy and care more about rate of changes than absolute levels.“Divergences between the market and economy are common at economic extremes,” wrote strategists including Andrew Sheets in a note Thursday. “Rate of change is key – a ‘U’ shaped recovery is fine, a ‘W’ is not.”For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.©2020 Bloomberg L.P.





ma

Lufthansa Inches Toward Restart, Seeks German Government Bailout

European airlines are beginning to see faint glimmers of economic sunlight and preparing to come out of their coronavirus hibernation.Deutsche Lufthansa AG (OTCMKTS:DLAKY) on Friday said group airlines Lufthansa, Eurowings and SWISS will collectively reactivate 80 aircraft for June, doubling the operational fleet size to serve a total of 106 destinations. IAG Group this week said it plans to ramp up passenger service in July on the expectation that travel restrictions will ease and more people will start flying again. Both airlines have shrunk flight operations to less than 10% of their pre-crisis level as the pandemic caused the travel market to collapse.Most of the Lufthansa Group aircraft currently in service today are flying cargo or rescue missions for governments and travel operators to bring home tourists and other travelers stranded abroad by coronavirus travel bans. Lufthansa operates a dedicated fleet of freighters and is using many passenger planes for dedicated cargo operations too.With the outbreak past its crest in Europe, Lufthansa said it will gradually expand its flight schedule each month as Germany and other European countries loosen travel restrictions and open borders "We sense a great desire and longing among people to travel again. Hotels and restaurants are slowly opening, and visits to friends and family are in some cases being allowed again. With all due caution, we are now making it possible for people to catch up and experience what they had to do without for a long time. It goes without saying that the safety and health of our guests and employees are of the highest priority," said Harry Hohmeister, the head of commercial passenger airlines at Deutsche Lufthansa AG, in a statement.Starting in June, Group airlines will again fly to leisure destinations in Mallorca, Spain; the German island of Sylt; Rostock, Germany; and Crete, Greece. The June flight schedule will be published within a week.The company cautioned travelers to prepare for longer wait times at airport security checkpoints as authorities impose stricter hygiene regulations. And catering services on board will also remain restricted until further notice.Earlier this week, Lufthansa Group began requiring all passengers to wear face masks to help protect passengers and crew members from infection.Meanwhile, the parent company disclosed this week that it is negotiating with the German government for an emergency financial aid package worth 9 billion euros ($9.7 billion) to help fund operations and payroll until revenues pick up in a meaningful way.Germany privatized Lufthansa in the late 1990s.The relief package would include a secured loan and a non-voting equity stake of up to 25% for the government. Lufthansa would also be required to suspend future dividend payments as part of the deal.Lufthansa officials have warned the company may file for bankruptcy without stabilization aid. An issue under debate is the government's request for two board seats, which could give the government a say in how many workers to retain or other policies.Most of Lufthansa's workers are on leave and receiving aid under a government safety-net program.The International Air Transport Association has said governments need to do more to help airlines get through the worst crisis in aviation history because of the enormous number of jobs involved and because air travel is critical to reviving the global economy.Photo: Lufthansa AirlinesSee more from Benzinga * BLS Report: Six Years Of Trucking Sector Job Gains Have Disappeared * USA Truck Sees Green Shoots Amid Uncertainty; Shares Surge * California Targets Two Trading Companies Over Fuel Prices, But Diesel Isn't Part Of The Lawsuit(C) 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.





ma

Edited Transcript of ARWR earnings conference call or presentation 7-May-20 8:30pm GMT




ma

Edited Transcript of ATHX earnings conference call or presentation 7-May-20 8:30pm GMT




ma

Edited Transcript of FIS earnings conference call or presentation 7-May-20 12:30pm GMT




ma

COVID SCIENCE-Abbott coronavirus test is accurate; infected mother's breast milk may protect infants

The following is a brief roundup of the latest scientific studies on the novel coronavirus and efforts to find treatments and vaccines for COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus. A new antibody test is highly accurate at determining whether people have been infected with the novel coronavirus, according to a study published on Friday in The Journal of Clinical Microbiology. Researchers at the University of Washington School of Medicine found the test, manufactured by Abbott Laboratories, had a specificity rate of 99.9% and a sensitivity rate of 100%, suggesting little chance of incorrectly diagnosing a healthy person as having been infected and virtually no chance of a false negative readout.





ma

Demand for coronavirus small business loans fades, here's why

As of Thursday evening, more than 40 percent of the funds remained available in the Paycheck Protection Progam





ma

Bitcoin miners made $412.5 million in revenue during April, new data indicates

The latest data analyzed by The Block Research shows that bitcoin miners made 8% more revenue in April as compared to March, thanks to a gradual recovery in bitcoin’s price.The post Bitcoin miners made $412.5 million in revenue during April, new data indicates appeared first on The Block.





ma

Will Shopify (SHOP) Be The Next Amazon?




ma

The IPO Market Has Barely Slowed Down – This Product Explains Why

Above: A Hydrogen Powered Truck from Nikola Corporation, Which Is Merging with VectoIQ Acquisition Corp. By John Jannarone Since the coronavirus crisis drove the market to multiyear lows, the flow of initial public offerings has ground to a veritable halt. That is, except, for special purpose acquisition companies, or SPACs. Some $2.7 billion has been […]





ma

What Shanghai Disneyland’s reopening says about consumer demand post-COVID-19

When tickets for the May 11 reopening of Shanghai Disneyland went on sale, they sold out within minutes. Park officials said they are taking "a deliberate approach”, such as requiring physical distancing and sharply reducing capacity. Jen Rogers, Myles Udland and Akiko Fujita discuss what the reopening of the first major theme park says about consumer demand post-coronavirus.





ma

The market is overvalued, warns veteran strategist

The market 'has been driven by sentiment recently' — and is overvalued, warns one veteran strategist.





ma

5 Biopharmas Where BofA Would Put Its Money To Work

Biopharma shares have outperformed the broader market year-to-date, giving rise to apprehension over whether a pullback is in the offing. An analyst at BofA Securities said Friday that now is the time to go from defensive to offensive in the sector, as quarantines are winding down in several parts of the globe.The Biopharma Analyst Analyst Geoff Meacham shortlisted Eli Lilly And Co (NYSE: LLY), Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ: VRTX), Bristol-Myers Squibb Co (NYSE: BMY), BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (NASDAQ: BMRN) and Amgen, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMGN) as biopharma stocks where he would put his money to work.The analyst has the following ratings and price targets for the shares: * Lilly: Buy/$165 * Vertex: Buy/$300 * Bristol-Myers Squibb: Buy/raised the price target from $75 to $80 * BioMarin: Buy/lifted price target from $110 to $120 * Amgen: Buy/price target increased from $265 to $2755 Reasons For BofA's Bullish Disposition BofA is increasingly bullish on the biopharma group due to the following factors, Meacham said: * Expectations for robust revenue growth of 6% in the second half of 2020 compared to the first-half, which is double that of the S&P 500's revenue growth. * Reasonable price-earnings for the stocks in the sector. * Many value-creating events lined up for the second half. * Lower policy risk stemming from goodwill earned from the COVID-19 pipeline. * A consistently positive FDA backdrop.Q1 Earnings Get 'A' Grade All of the big biotechs and major pharma companies reported both revenue and adjusted EPS beats in the first quarter, with Lilly and Vertex even raising some parts of their 2020 guidance, Meacham said.Citing slower new starts and forex headwinds, Bristol-Myers Squibb and BioMarin lowered their 2020 revenue guidance, but maintained their EPS guidance, the analyst said. Meacham expressed surprise at Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE: MRK) and Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ALXN) lowering their 2020 revenue and adjusted EPS guidance, given his belief that oncology or orphan diseases wouldn't be as sensitive to COVID-19 disruption.See also: Attention Biotech Investors: Mark Your Calendar For These May PDUFA Dates Lilly One of The Higher Quality Stocks In BofA's Coverage Lilly is a source of differentiated growth given its early product cycle and diversified base business, including diabetes, immunology and immunotoxicology and migraine, and an advancing late-stage pipeline of potentially best-in-class or first-in-class therapies, Meacham said.The analyst said he likes Lily's potential for additional earnings growth in 2020-2021 and views Lilly as one of the higher quality stocks in his coverage despite its higher valuation. The prospects for 2021 look attractive, with selpercatinib potentially launching in non-small cell lung cancer and thyroid cancer by year's end, and tirzepatide approval in 2021 representing a "step change" for the diabetes franchise, he said. Consensus For Vertex To Move Higher? Vertex has a richer -- though well-deserved -- valuation, due to its differentiated growth profile, Meacham said.Given that Vertex's commercial execution is largely unaffected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the analyst said investors will begin to look forward to 2021 sooner than for other companies with more commercial risk.BofA expects consensus estimates to continue to move higher, making Vertex's valuation even more attractive.Bristol-Myers Has Highly Differentiated Growth With an estimated 8% revenue growth and 19% EPS growth in 2021 compared to 5-6% and 12%, respectively, for peers, and with six new launches expected this year, 2020 is shaping up to be a very robust period for Bristol-Myers despite the ongoing COVID-19 headwinds, Meacham said. The analyst said the company's growth looks highly differentiated.An increasingly diversified product mix and beatable launch expectations position the company for meaningful upside to consolidated P&L, with improving synergies, he said. BioMarin's 'Game-Changing' Late-Stage Pipeline BioMarin's late-stage pipeline in valrox and vosoritide have improved its growth outlook, Meacham said.The analyst termed the company's late-stage pipeline as "game-changing." The second-half launch of Roctavian is the most important catalyst for the company this year, with the product likely to accelerate the company's already above-average growth profile, he said. "We see BioMarin as one of the higher quality names in our coverage universe given its clean growth story and it remains our SMid cap top pick." Amgen Looks To New Product Growth To Compensate For Legacy Product Erosion The long-term outlook for Amgen's Otezla is improving given the recently announced Phase 3 data for mild-to-moderate psoriasis, Meacham said.The company rapidly refocused its story from legacy product erosion to new product growth with the acquisition of Otezla from the Bristol/Celgene deal, the analyst said. "Since then Amgen's growth profile has only improved, led by an expanded addressable market for Otezla, outperforming Amgen Biosimilars and Evenity franchises, aggressive formulary negotiation for Aimovig, and an exciting pipeline in AMG 510 and tezepelumab looking to contribute as soon as 2021." The Price Action The iShares NASDAQ Biotechnology Index (NASDAQ: IBB) was last seen trading up 1.25% to 128.76, adding to its 5.6% year-to-date gain. Related Link: The Week Ahead In Biotech: Smid-Cap Earnings News Flow Picks Up Pace See more from Benzinga * The Daily Biotech Pulse: Ayala IPO, Pluristem Starts Phase 2 Trial Of COVID Treatment, European Nod For Takeda * The Daily Biotech Pulse: FDA Approves Novartis Lung Cancer Drug, 2-Way Contest Emerging For Tetraphase Pharma, Dexcom To Join S&P 500 * The Daily Biotech Pulse: FDA Nod For AstraZeneca, AbbVie-Allergan Deal Clears Antitrust Hurdle(C) 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.





ma

Can these 13 retailers survive coronavirus? Permanent store closings, bankruptcies coming

Retailers that were already ailing before the coronavirus are beginning to crumble as the crisis raises the threat of store closings and bankruptcy.





ma

Boeing's CEO On Coronavirus Impact On Travel, 737 MAX Update, Bond Offering

Many U.S. airliners are "reasonably confident" that a return to 30% to 50% of pre-COVID-19 capacity by the end of 2020 is possible, Boeing Co (NYSE: BA) CEO David Calhoun said in a Fox Business interview Friday. A 'Crawl Back' For Airline Industry Investors expecting a swift return to 2019 traffic levels may be disappointed, as the industry will "slowly crawl back" to pre-crisis levels over a three-year period, Calhoun said.It will take another two years afterward for the industry to resume the growth curve seen over the past 20 years, the CEO said. The timeline could change based on different factors, including a quicker-than-expected development of a COVID-19 vaccine that results in a "more robust" recovery, he said.Boeing 737 MAX Update The pandemic is far from Boeing's only problem to deal with, as the two 737 MAX crashes set the company back two years, Calhoun said.The company continued to manufacture new MAX planes, and even if they are grounded today, the planes will ultimately "find their way into the market."Any near-term market share losses will be erased as the MAX undergoes a "catchup" phase, he said.Boeing's talks with the FAA regarding the certification process are "constructive" and "thorough," Calhoun said.The work-from-home and travel restrictions do add by default additional time to any eventual certification for the MAX to return to the skies, the CEO said. Boeing also expects to resume 737 MAX production this month after it was suspended in January, he said. The company has already announced its plans to build fewer planes moving forward to compensate for its existing inventory.Boeing's Bond Deal Boeing already suspended its dividend and will prioritize the payback of its new $25-billion bond issue until "we get back to the same kind of balance sheet" that existed prior to the MAX crashes, he said. After that, the company will plan on how to resume cash distributions to shareholders, Calhoun said -- but not until Boeing "significantly" pays down debt. Boeing shares were trading 3.27% higher at $132.86 at the time of publication Friday.Related Links:Boeing's Large Bond Deal Solves Liquidity Problem, Says Bullish Goldman SachsBoeing Analyst Turns Bullish After Deep Sell-OffSee more from Benzinga * Southwest Airlines CEO On 'Breathtaking' March Declines, Financial Plans * Boeing Shares Lose Altitude On New Coronavirus-Driven Concerns * Carly Fiorina Blasts Corporate Bailout Funding In T Coronavirus Relief Bill(C) 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.





ma

Coronavirus latest: Friday, May 8

Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel stated that the company’s new coronavirus vaccine, which was clear for a phase 2 trial on Thursday by the FDA, would not be ready for immediate release to the public and that the distribution of the potential vaccine would need to be handled carefully between Moderna and the White House. Yahoo Finance’s Anjalee Khemlani joins The Final Round panel to break down the latest news about the coronavirus.





ma

3 Big Dividend Stocks Yielding at Least 10%; Maxim Says ‘Buy’

Does history repeat? Many of us, no doubt, remember the crash of the doc.com bubble back in 2000, and at least one analyst sees that pattern repeating before our eyes. Will Meade, who built his reputation in stock analysis with Goldman Sachs, believes that the current rally is only temporary, and that the markets are likely to fall again in 2H20 – by as much as 40%.Meade points that, like in 2000, we have the risk and uncertainty of a Presidential election coming up, and then adds, “The NASDAQ in 2000 did a similar bear market bounce as stocks this year — dropped 40%, then bounced 42% off the bottom retracing 61.8% of its drop. It stalled then fell 43%, making a new low four months later.” If Meade is right, then the true market bottom is due to hit us in late July or early September.The analyst is not all doom and gloom, however. While he is predicting bad news and tough times for the stock markets, he also points out that investors can act now to buffer their personal positions. His advice: move to liquid assets and build a cash savings buffer.Shoring up the savings account is only part of a strong defensive strategy. Investors can also shift their portfolio toward dividend stocks, relying on the steady income from the dividend payments to compensate for lower share price appreciation.We’ve used TipRanks database to find three high-yielding stocks that offer reliable payments – and all three have gotten the thumbs up from Maxim analyst Michael Diana.Ellington Financial, Inc. (EFC)We’ll start in the financial sector, with a small-cap company in the mortgage finance niche. Ellington operates as an investor, putting money into consumer loans, equity investments, mortgage backed securities, and both residential and commercial mortgages. It’s a standard portfolio for a mortgage-focused real estate investment trust.As an REIT, Ellington naturally offers a high dividend. REITs are required to a return a high percentage of profits to investors, and dividends are a sure way to comply with that regulatory provision. In response to the COVID-19 epidemic, and consequent economic damage, Ellington had to reduce its monthly payment starting with the April 29 payout. However, the company is maintaining a 54% payout ratio – returning more than half of earnings to investors. The 8-cent per share payment annualized to 96 cents, and offers investors a yield of 10%.Right now, the Fed’s key interest rate is down to the 0 to 25 basis point range, and Treasury bonds are yielding less than 1%. Even among dividend stocks, the average yield is just 2%. So, EFC’s 10% dividend yield is a fantastic return. Looking ahead, the company is expected to show 40 cents per share in earnings for Q1, more than enough to maintain the new monthly dividend.Maxim’s Michael Diana has tagged EFC as a ‘top pick,’ particularly noting the company’s strong management team: "Managing an mREIT even in 'normal' times is a difficult task, as the manager must balance leverage, prepayment protection, interest income, hedging, and diversity of financing sources to position the investment portfolio to withstand unexpected shocks without giving up too much income. When an unexpected shock does occur, crisis management skills are required to dynamically hedge and reposition the portfolio. We have followed EFC longer than any other analyst and, in our view, EFC management possesses all of these skills."Diana puts an $18 price target on EFC shares, implying a whooping 82% upside potential that fully supports his Buy rating. (To watch Diana’s track record, click here)Wall Street agrees with Diana’s assessment here. The analyst consensus on this stock is a Strong Buy, and it is unanimous, based on 4 Buy reviews set in recent weeks. Shares are selling at a comfortable entry point, just $9.87, and the average price target of $14.38 suggests room for a robust 46% upside growth this year. (See Ellington stock analysis on TipRanks)AGNC Investment (AGNC)Based in the Maryland suburbs of Washington DC, AGNC is another REIT. The company’s portfolio is centered on residential mortgage-backed securities, but with a twist. Most of AGNC’s portfolio investments are guaranteed by the US government. The company’s portfolio includes $70.7 billion in such agency-supported securities, out of a total value of $93 billion.AGNC reported fiscal Q1 earnings at the end of April, and beat the forecast on EPS. Per-share earnings came in at 57 cents, based on $65 million in net interest income. The income interest figure is down significantly from the previous quarter, reflecting the economic troubles caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. On a positive note, AGNC’s cash holdings increased 55% in the first quarter, reaching $1.29 billion by March 31.A solid cash position and safe guarantees on the portfolio make AGNC an attractive investment, and the reliable monthly dividend adds icing to that cake. Like EFC above, AGNC lowered its monthly payment in Q1. The new payment is 12 cents per share per month, which annualized to $1.44 and gives a strong yield of 11.5%. At 63.2%, the payout ratio shows that the dividend is easily sustainable at current income levels – and has room to raised back to previous rates when conditions warrant.Diana is bullish on this stock and upgrades his rating from Hold to Buy. The analyst noted, "While turmoil in the mortgage markets at the end of March resulted in losses and lower book values for all mREITs, AGNC was able to meet all of its margin calls and, importantly, take relatively fewer realized losses, and therefore retain more earnings power post-turmoil. This is why we believe the dividend, currently yielding 11.7% (vs. ~5% for peers) is safe."Along with the Buy rating, Diana gives AGNC a $15 price target, indicating a potential for 20% upside appreciation in the coming 12 months.The analysts are somewhat cautious on AGNC, a sentiment caught by the 8 to 3 split between Buy and Hold reviews. The consensus rating on the stock remains a Moderate Buy, while the $14.53 average price target implies a 14% upside potential. (See AGNC stock analysis on TipRanks)Manhattan Bridge Capital (LOAN)Last on our list is a NYC-based micro-cap lending company, Manhattan Bridge Capital. The company offers short-term financing and collateralized loans. Typical collateral includes real estate and tradeable stock, and the loans are usually used as first mortgages. LOAN originates, services, and manages its loan portfolio, and most of its customers are professional real estate investors and developers.The coronavirus epidemic has hurt real estate development and construction – exactly the type of projects that LOAN finances – in general, but that hit has been especially hard in New York City. At both the State and City levels, lockdown restrictions have been severe, and the mortgage loan environment is described by Diana as ‘challenging.’On a positive note, LOAN has covered its quarterly dividend payment, despite lower Q1 earnings. At 11 cents per share, the quarterly dividend annualized to 44 cents and offers investors a yield of 10.8%. Again, this compares favorably to most investment return yields out there.The high dividend yield alone makes this an attractive investment opportunity, but Diana also points out the stability of Manhattan Bridge’s portfolio, writing, “LOAN has never had to foreclose on a property and has never experienced a loan default.”With the stable portfolio in mind, Diana goes on to say, “We believe LOAN deserves to trade at a P/E premium to [peers] because of its: 1) lower leverage; 2) higher profitability; 3) better credit quality; 4) lower earnings volatility; and 5) dividend growth (which is possible in 2021, in our view, if the environment improves and stabilizes).”Diana’s $6 price target on the stock implies a healthy 46% one-year upside potential, and fully backs his Buy rating on the stock. Diana’s is the only recent Wall Street review of this stock – but should his thesis prove correct, expect LOAN to attract both stock analysts and investors in the near future. It offers a low cost of entry with a high potential return – an unbeatable combination. (See LOAN stock analysis on TipRanks)To find good ideas for dividend stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks’ Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks’ equity insights.





ma

Investor James Richman Bets GE Stock Is Set to Experience Almost 100% Rally

General Electric (GE) shares have been on the decline as of late. As a result, many investors have been understandably worried. Such sentiments have placed the American manufacturing giant on the market spotlight, and begs the question: is it still worth investing in at current levels? Traversing turbulent market conditions, the outlook seems bleak for the 128-year-old conglomerate. Is there no way up for the aviation unit of General Electric? What about its other subsidiaries? Investor James Richman bets GE is likely to touch down $5-level. From there, the tech investor is bullish that the price will double in value and hit $10 again.Source: Flickr GE: a legacy of over 120 yearsAmid the impact of coronavirus specifically in both travel and hospitality industries, GE's esteemed aviation unit has been feeling the most pressure. The demand for airplanes has shrunk tremendously forcing the company's management to schedule a 25% workforce reduction globally. This is in consonance to the 10% layoff in its US workforce which was announced in March. These difficult cost-cutting measures are deemed necessary by David Joyce, CEO of the GE Aviation Unit that employs a workforce of around 52,000 people.Significant drops since coronavirusGE Aviation supplies jet engines to giant aircraft makers like Airbus and Boeing. The projection of Boeing, a 10% workforce drop amidst its $641m loss, certainly adds up to GE's current woes.  Investor betting on the company bouncing backHowever, one investor who is known to take a different outlook is Latvian-born investor James Richman. With investments in both public and private companies, and his most notable investments including tech giants such as Uber, Tesla, and Facebook, his approach is understood to be contrarian. Yahoo! Finance reports he is taking the opposite approach when compared to Warren Buffet as Richman bets GE's price to temporarily touch upon $5-level. From that level, it is projected to climb its way back to $10, making the 100% rally. The Monaco-based investor has also made headlines when he reportedly pledged $18m in the fight against coronavirus as he mobilizes his biomedical investments in the said efforts. Richman has been historically known to take the contrarian approach in investing. With investments that seemed unorthodox at one point, he has earned respect in the finance field because of his firm's outstanding performance during the 2008 financial crisis. Not open to the general public and mainly dealing with ultra high net worth individuals (UHNWI) and institutional investors, his clients have reported impressive annual earnings for over a decade.Comparison to the last financial crisisIt is not the first time GE had felt the backlash of market recessions. In 2008, the company's shares dropped by 78% tracing the period of the global recession. In 2 years, GE's shares dropped from $27 to $6. The broader S&P also fell that time, but with a conservative 51%.Still worth buying at current levels?GE recovered from the 2008 recession with tremendous momentum. After being bailed out by the federal government to the tune of $139 billion, it experienced an 82% uptick between March 2009 and January 2010. This is more than the 48% bounce back the S&P managed over the same period. Generally, the performance of its stock will still hinge on the developments in the handling of coronavirus pandemic, considering that the aviation division of the company is being hammered as a result. Efforts of which have been showing positive signs of recovery. Meanwhile, the demand for healthcare, government interventions, and the continuous development of treatments and vaccines is seen to help push the shares towards upwards direction in the long run: provided that its wings can weather the storm like it did in 2008.  More recent articles from Smarter Analyst: * RBC: 2 Strong Value Stocks to Buy Now * Look Beyond 2Q, General Motors Will Outperform the Sector, Says Analyst * Coronavirus Vaccine Could Add Massive Value to This Small-Cap Stock, Says Analyst * Can Seanergy Maritime Stock Add 150% Over the Next Year? This Analyst Says 'Yes'





ma

North Korean Hackers Release Mac Variant of Dacls RAT

North Korea-linked hacking group Lazarus has been leveraging a Mac variant of the Dacls Remote Access Trojan (RAT), Malwarebytes reports.

read more




ma

Samsung Patches Critical 0-Click Vulnerability in Smartphones

Samsung this week released its May 2020 set of security updates for Android smartphones, which includes a patch for a critical vulnerability impacting all of its devices since 2014. 

read more




ma

Growing Romaine Lettuce or Cos Lettuce in Hydroponics

What lettuce comes to your mind, when I say the word lettuce? Go on, take a minute. If you thought Iceberg lettuce, you aren’t alone. Iceberg is (or used to be) the defacto standard when it comes lettuce.  Iceberg lettuce has its crunch but if you look beyond the crunch, nutrient values that is, you will […]




ma

Guide to Trellising tomato plants – How to train tomato plants

Trellising tomatoes using the tomato hook and tomato clips Please check out this video I made on Trellising tomato plants. If you are growing indeterminate or vine tomatoes, they will have to be supported due to their tall growing nature. Trellising tomato plants is done either by a stick or a twine. Twine is the […]




ma

Make your own pollinator for under INR 100

  Pollination and its importance Without pollination, you can’t have the fruits of your effort (pun intended as always ;-). Pollination is a process where the pollen from the male parts of the flower are transferred to female flower or female parts of the flower. This step has to happen for fruit set to happen. […]




ma

Pendleton Bike Week Lands Easy Rider Bourbon as Major Sponsor

Motorcycle Rally Grows




ma

Seminole PowerSports is now Carrying the 2017 Can-Am Maverick X3

Sanford, Florida Power Sports dealership has 2017 Can-Am Maverick's available for sale.




ma

Seminole PowerSports Offers 2017 YZF-R6 Yamaha Priority Delivery Program

Sanford, Florida Power Sports dealership participates in Yamaha pre-order program.




ma

RIDE Adventures Reminds Motorcyclists of the Upcoming Prime European Riding Season and the 2017 Motorrad Days in Germany

Motorcycle enthusiasts are encouraged to take advantage of the European riding season and attend the world's largest BMW motorcycle party.




ma

WeeTect Opened the Shatterproof Helmet Visor Technology to OEM/ODM Market

WeeTect, a global leader in designing and manufacturing safety accessories, today announced that it will start supplying shatterproof helmet visors for OEM/ODM markets.