The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority fined two independent broker-dealers owned by Ladenburg Thalmann (LTS) — Triad Advisors and Securities America — $650,000 and $625,000, respectively, on Wednesday for failing to supervise their consolidated client-account reporting systems. Triad also was asked to pay $375,000 in restitution.
This failure, FINRA says, led to statements with inaccurate valuations being sent to customers. In addition, the IBDs did not keep consolidated reports for clients in accordance with securities laws, the regulatory group explains.
"Firms must ensure that consolidated reports sent to customers are clear, accurate and not misleading,” said Brad Bennett, FINRA’s executive vice president and chief of enforcement, in a statement. “Absent proper supervision, consolidated reports can be used by unscrupulous representatives to conceal fraud and theft."
Both Triad Advisors and Securities America had consolidated report systems that let their financial advisors create reports with customized asset values for accounts held away from the firm. For more than two years, FINRA notes, Triad and Securities America “failed to supervise hundreds of brokers, some of whom were creating and sending false and inaccurate consolidated reports to customers.”
Top 10 Small Cap Stocks To Buy For 2015: ZipRealty Inc.(ZIPR)
ZipRealty, Inc., a residential real estate brokerage company, provides brokerage services to buyers and sellers in the United States. The company, through its Website ziprealty.com, provides access to Multiple Listing Services (MLS) home listings data, including pictures from the local MLSs; and allows consumers to receive an automatic email notification each time a property that meets their desired search criteria, is made available on the local MLSs. Its Website also offers neighborhood data, such as population, comparable home sales, average income, education level, occupation mix, cost of living, crime statistics, weather, school district information, maps, and driving directions; online images and virtual tours; schedule visits; and home offers. In addition, the company operates ZAP, a Web-based agent platform and customer relationship management system integrated to its Website. Its ZAP integrates and records consumer contact information and Website behavior, agent b ehavior, and transaction information into a common platform; and records relevant consumer behavior, such as logon frequency and times, specific homes viewed and printed, searches made by clients, requested visits to view homes, and online offers, as well as captures and stores agent activities, including agent email communications organized by clients. The company offers its services through its agents in Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Washington, D.C. ZipRealty, Inc. was founded in 1999 and is based in Emeryville, California.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Shaun Currie, CFA]
ZipRealty (ZIPR) is a company that meets 5 of the 6 criteria listed above. The stock has fallen out of favor over the last several years as performance declined during the recession. The company has completed a major restructuring and recently returned to positive EBITDA margins. Operations of the company are further supported by a pickup in home sales in the US. There has also been significant insider buying over the past month, and the company trades at a deep discount to its competition. I believe the stock has at least 60% upside from its current price.
10 Best Prefered Stocks To Invest In Right Now: OceanFirst Financial Corp.(OCFC)
OceanFirst Financial Corp. operates as the holding company for OceanFirst Bank that provides community banking services to retail, government, and business customers primarily in Ocean, Monmouth, and Middlesex counties in New Jersey. Its deposit products include money market accounts, savings accounts, interest-bearing checking accounts, non-interest bearing accounts, and time deposits. The company?s loan portfolio comprises conventional first mortgage loans secured by one-to-four family residences, residential mortgage loans, commercial real estate loans, multi-family and land loans, and real estate construction loans; consumer loans, such as home equity loans and lines of credit; and commercial loans. In addition, it offers trust and asset management, and merchant check card services; and sells alternative investment products, including mutual funds, annuities, and life insurance. The company operates 22 branches, as well as a loan production office and a trust and weal th management office. OceanFirst Financial Corp. was founded in 1902 and is based in Toms River, New Jersey.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Garrett Cook]
In trading on Wednesday, financial shares were relative laggards, down on the day by about 0.24 percent. Top losers in the sector included IRSA Investments and Representations (NYSE: IRS), down 3.2 percent, and OceanFirst Financial (NASDAQ: OCFC), off 2.5 percent.
10 Best Prefered Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Prothena Corporation PLC (PRTA)
Prothena Corporation PLC, incorporated on September 26, 2012, is an Ireland-based, clinical-stage biotechnology company. The Company is engaged in discovering and developing monoclonal antibodies that are directed towards misfolded proteins or improper cell adhesion. Its pipeline includes NEOD001, PRX002 and PRX003. The Company�� work in protein misfolding could result in therapies to treat several neurodegenerative diseases, including AL (primary) and AA (secondary) forms of amyloidosis (NEOD001), Parkinson's disease and related synucleinopathies (PRX002). Its cell adhesion development activities could generate new therapies to treat inflammatory diseases and metastatic cancers (PRX003). The Company�� program, NEOD001, is in Phase 1. In addition to antibodies directed to neo-epitope targets, it is developing antibodies directed to other targets. The Company has generated antibodies against cell adhesion targets expressed on certain pathogenic Th17 immune cells and tumor cells.
The Company�� pipeline also includes several late discovery stage programs for which it is testing antibodies in preclinical models of disease. It is also generating additional antibodies against other targets involved in protein misfolding and cell adhesion for characterization in vivo and in vitro.
NEOD001 for Amyloidosis
NEOD001 is a monoclonal antibody that targets the amyloid that accumulates in both AL and AA forms of amyloidosis. The antibody was designed to not react with normal serum amyloid A and only with the aberrant cleaved form of the protein (amyloid A).
PRX002 for Parkinson�� Disease
The Company has generated antibodies targeting alpha-synuclein that may slow or reduce the neurodegeneration associated with synuclein misfolding and/or transmission. It has tested these antibodies in various cellular and animal models of synuclein-related disease. In a transgenic mouse model of Parkinson�� disease, passive immunization with 9E4, a murine ver! sion of PRX002, reduced the appearance of synuclein pathology, protected synapses and improved performance by the mice in behavioral testing. The humanized antibody product candidate PRX002 has advanced into manufacturing and preclinical testing.
PRX003 for Inflammatory Diseases and Cancers
The Company is developing PRX003, a monoclonal antibody targeting MCAM for the potential treatment of inflammatory diseases and cancers. It has generated monoclonal antibodies that block MCAM-mediated cell adhesion and have been shown to delay relapse and severity of relapse in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis known as experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. The Company�� antibodies are being tested in animal models of inflammatory diseases and cancers. Based on early results from these studies, it has identified a clinical candidate, PRX003. It has advanced this antibody into manufacturing and intends to advance this antibody into preclinical testing.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Lauren Pollock]
Roche Holding AG(ROG.VX) has entered a pact with Prothena Corp.(PRTA) PLC to develop and commercialize a treatment the clinical-stage biotechnology firm is developing for Parkinson’s disease. In after-hours trading, Prothena’s stock rose 8.6% to $29.75 premarket.
- [By Lisa Levin]
Prothena Corporation plc (NASDAQ: PRTA) shares surged 23.52% to touch a new 52-week high of $45.90 after the company reported clinical data to be presented at International Symposium on Amyloidosis. Morgan Stanley raised the price target on the stock from $35.00 to $53.00.
- [By Jake L'Ecuyer]
Equities Trading UP
Prothena Corporation plc (NASDAQ: PRTA) shares shot up 21.60 percent to $45.19 after the company reported clinical data to be presented at International Symposium on Amyloidosis. Morgan Stanley raised the price target on the stock from $35.00 to $53.00. - [By Jake L'Ecuyer]
Shares of Prothena Corporation plc (NASDAQ: PRTA) got a boost, shooting up 6.99 percent to $32.00 after the company reported the successful start of a Phase 1 clinical trial of PRX002 for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. Citigroup initiated coverage on the stock with a Buy rating and a $50.00 price target.
10 Best Prefered Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Amazon.com Inc (AMZ)
Amazon.com, Inc. (Amazon.com), incorporated on May 28, 1996, serves consumers through its retail websites and focus on selection, price, and convenience. The Company offers programs that enables sellers to sell their products on its Websites and their own branded Websites and to fulfill orders through them , and programs that allow authors, musicians, filmmakers, application developers, and others to publish and sell content. The Company operates in two segments: North America and International. The Company serves consumers through its retail websites, and focus on selection, price, and convenience. The Company designs its Websites to enable millions of products to be sold by the Company and by third parties across dozens of product categories. Customers access its Websites directly and through its mobile Websites and apps. It also manufactures and sells Kindle devices. In May 2012, the Company acquired Kiva Systems, Inc. (Kiva). In October 2013, Amazon.com Inc acquired TenMarks Education Inc. Effective February 5, 2014, Amazon.com Inc acquired Double Helix Games LLC. Effective May 6, 2014, the Company acquired Iconology Inc.
The Company offers its customers the lowest prices possible through low everyday product pricing and shipping offers, including through membership in Amazon Prime, and to improve its operating efficiencies so that it can continue to lower prices for its customers. The Company also provides easy-to-use functionality, fast and reliable fulfillment, and timely customer service. It offers programs that enable sellers to sell their products on its websites and their own branded websites and to fulfill orders through them.
The Company serves developers and enterprises of all sizes through Amazon Web Services (AWS), which provides access to technology infrastructure that enables virtually any type of business. The Company serves serve authors and independent publishers with Kindle Direct Publishing. It also offers programs that allow authors, musicians, filmmak! ers, app developers, and others to publish and sell content.
North America
North America segment consists of amounts earned from retail sales of consumer products and subscriptions through North America-focused websites such as www.amazon.com and www.amazon.ca and include amounts earned from AWS. This segment includes export sales from www.amazon.com and www.amazon.ca.
International
The International segment consists of amounts earned from retail sales of consumer products and subscriptions through internationally-focused websites. This segment includes export sales from these internationally based websites , including export sales from these sites to customers in the U.S. and Canada.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Charles Sizemore]
For an asset class once known for stable dividends backed by recurring revenues from long term contracts, MLPs have turned into investment divas ��strong performers with lots of volatility. The Alerian MLP Index (AMZ) outperformed the S&P 500 in 2009, 2010, and 2011 ��and despite the huge move in the broad market last year, came close to matching the S&P 500 in 2013 (27.59% vs. 32.38%). The MLP index is still ahead of the S&P 500 year to date after rebounding from a massive sell-off in October. Still, AMZ is below levels of the late summer and early fall.
10 Best Prefered Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Dolby Laboratories Inc (DLB)
Dolby Laboratories, Inc., incorporated in 1967, develops and delivers products and technologies that are used in the entertainment industry. Its audio technologies are used throughout the global entertainment industry. It is developing and marketing video technologies to improve the quality of video presentation. Its offerings include video products aimed at the cinema market, such as its digital cinema server, its Dolby three-dimensional (3D) Digital Cinema products, and its Dolby PRM-4200 Professional Reference Monitor. It offers products and services to content creators, such as studios, broadcasters, and downloadable content service providers to encode content using Dolby�� technologies. As of September 24, 2010, the Company sold its products and provide services in over 85 countries. In addition, it has licensed its technologies to CE manufacturers and to software vendors in 40 countries, which in turn distribute their products incorporating its technologies throughout the world.
The Company designs and manufactures video and audio products for the film production, cinema, and television broadcast industries. Distributed in over 60 countries, these products are used in content creation, distribution and playback to improve image and sound quality, provide surround sound, and increase the efficiency of sound storage and distribution. Its product sales are derived from sales of its digital 3D products, which provide 3D capabilities, as well as sales of digital cinema servers that load, store, decrypt, and decode encrypted digital film files for presentation on digital projectors in theaters. Revenue is also derived from sales of its traditional cinema processors, which movie theaters use to process film soundtracks, and from sales of broadcast products used to encode and distribute content to viewers. It also offers related digital cinema processors and media adapters to decode digital cinema soundtracks, and digital cinema accessories that allow exhibitors to integrate its digital ! cinema servers with their existing automation systems.
The Company offers a variety of services to support film production, television broadcast and music production. The Company enters into service agreements with motion picture studios or filmmakers to provide them with production services related to the preparation of a Dolby soundtrack, such as equipment calibration, mixing room alignment and equalization. Dolby provides other services, such as print quality control, professional film mastering services to prepare movies for digital release, and theatre system calibration for important screenings, such as premieres, film festivals, and press screenings. Its engineers also provide training, system design consultation and onsite technical expertise to cinema operators throughout the world to help them configure their screening rooms and equipment to ensure that movies are replayed with consistent high quality.
The Company�� technologies include dolby digital, dolby digital plus, dolby digital surround EX, dolby digital EX, advanced audio coding (AAC), HE AAC, dolby pulse, dolby trueHD, dolby E, dolby digital live, dolby pro logic II, dolby pro logic II(x), dolby pro logic IIz, dolby virtual speaker, dolby headphone, dolby mobile, dolby axon, PC entertainment experience (PCEE), dolby digital stereo creator, dolby digital 5.1 creator, dolby volume, dolby contrast, dolby vision and analog signal processing technologies. Its products include traditional cinema processors, digital cinema products, digital 3D products, digital media adapters, broadcast products and professional reference monitor.
Traditional cinema processors are used to read, decode and play back a film�� soundtrack and calibrate the sound system in a movie theater. Digital cinema products are used for digital cinema encoding, distribution and playback. Our digital cinema server is used to load, store, decrypt, decode and re-encrypt digital film files for presentation on a digital cinema project! or. We al! so provide products that encrypt, encode and package digital films, and digital cinema processors to decode digital cinema soundtracks. Digital 3D products deliver a 3D image with an existing digital cinema server and white screen, providing exhibitors a flexible 3D solution. Its Dolby 3D glasses feature high-quality multicoated lenses with a special curvature that delivers 3D images.
Digital media adapters are used to adapt existing analog cinema audio systems to the latest digital audio technologies. Broadcast products are used to encode, transmit and decode multiple channels of high-quality audio for Digital Television (DTV) and high-definition television (HDTV) program production and broadcast distribution and to measure the subjective loudness of audio content within broadcast programming. Professional reference monitor is a video monitor used during the production and post-production of cinematic and video content in situations, where grade one reference performance is required.
The Company competes with Audyssey Laboratories, DTS, Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits, Microsoft, Philips, RealNetworks, Sonic Solutions, Sony, SRS Labs, Thomson, Barco, Doremi, GDC, IMAX, MasterImage 3D, NEC, Panavision, QSC Audio Products, Qube Cinema, REAL D, Technicolor, Texas Instruments, USL, XpanD and DTS.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Rich Smith]
This series, brought to you by Yahoo! Finance, looks at which upgrades and downgrades make sense, and which ones investors should act on. Today, we're focusing on tech stocks, as analysts pull back on Facebook (NASDAQ: FB ) and Dolby Labs (NYSE: DLB ) , but become more bullish on LogMeIn (NASDAQ: LOGM ) . Let's start with that last one.
- [By Steve Symington]
Enter Dolby 3D
That's why I'm so intrigued by Monday's news that Dolby (NYSE: DLB ) and Philips (NYSE: PHG ) have collaborated in a joint project to create a new content delivery specification for the Dolby 3D format, which will be part of a "suite of technologies" to more easily allow content creators the ability to make, deliver, and play back glasses-free 3-D content.
10 Best Prefered Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Motorcar Parts of America Inc. (MPAA)
Motorcar Parts of America, Inc., together wit its subsidiaries, remanufactures and distributes alternators and starters for import and domestic cars, light trucks, heavy duty, agricultural, and industrial applications in the United States and Canada. It replacement parts are used on vehicles after initial vehicle purchase. The company sells its products to approximately 12,000 retail outlets; automotive warehouse distributors; and OES customers under customer private labels and under the Quality-Built, Talon, Xtreme, and Reliance brand names. Motorcar Parts of America, Inc. was founded in 1968 and is based in Torrance, California.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By CRWE]
Motorcar Parts of America, Inc. (Nasdaq:MPAA) is scheduled to make a presentation on Wednesday, May 23, 2012 at 9:30 a.m. Pacific time at B. Riley & Company’s 13th Annual Investor Conference at the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel in Southern California.
- [By Lawrence Meyers]
Motorcar Parts of America (MPAA) is the tiniest entry at only a $208 million market cap. It�� a bit more specialized, focusing more on alternators, starters and wheel hub assemblies. It also distributes only through the DIY stores. MPAA sits on $100 million in debt and $16 million in cash. It’s cash flow negative and trades at a P/E of 14 on long term growth of 15%. I�� stay away from this one, given the cash flow situation.
10 Best Prefered Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Advanced Energy Industries Inc.(AEIS)
Advanced Energy Industries, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, sells, and supports power conversion products that transform power into various usable forms. It offers thin-film deposition power conversion systems, including direct current (DC), pulsed DC mid frequency, and radio frequency (RF) power supplies, as well as matching networks and RF instrumentation; and thermal instrumentation products that provide temperature measurement solutions for applications in which time-temperature cycles affect material properties, productivity, and yield. The company also offers solar power inverters, which provide a transformer-based or transformerless grid-tie photovoltaic (PV) solution to convert renewable solar power into electrical power, as well as integrated monitoring and performance measurement of PV installations. Its power conversion systems are used by semiconductor, solar panel, and similar thin-film manufacturers, such as flat panel display, da ta storage, and architectural glass manufacturers; thermal instrumentation products are used in rapid thermal processing, chemical vapor deposition, and other semiconductor and solar applications requiring non-contact temperature measurement by the semiconductor, solar panels, and LED industries; and solar inverters are used in the residential, commercial, and utility-scale solar projects and installations. In addition, the company provides repair services, conversions, upgrades, and refurbishment services, as well as operations and maintenance service plans for individual PV sites. Advanced Energy Industries, Inc. sells its products through direct sales force, sales representatives, and distributors in North America, Europe, and Asia. The company was founded in 1981 and is headquartered in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Teresa Rivas]
Shares of Advanced Energy (AEIS) were halted right after the bell; the company announced that it has started to explore strategic alternatives for its Solar Inverter business.
- [By Evan Niu, CFA]
What: Shares of Advanced Energy (NASDAQ: AEIS ) have dropped today by as much as 14% after the company reported earnings.
So what: Revenue in the first quarter totaled $111.8 million, which translated into non-GAAP earnings per share of $0.29 by the time it reached the bottom line. Those figures were better than consensus estimates of $110.6 million in sales and $0.17 per share in adjusted profit. Guidance was also mostly positive.
- [By Jake L'Ecuyer]
Equities Trading DOWN
Shares of Advanced Energy Industries (NASDAQ: AEIS) were 13.88 percent to $18.42 after the company reported downbeat quarterly results and issued a weak Q2 outlook. - [By Nelson Hem]
Among the leading U.S. solar-related stocks, Advanced Energy Industries (NASDAQ: AEIS), First Solar (NASDAQ: FSLR) and SolarCity (NASDAQ: SCTY) saw the largest swings in the number of shares sold short in the first two weeks of March.
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