Top Railroad Companies To Watch In Right Now

In the two business days following the September 7 announcement that Tokyo would host the 2020 Summer Olympics shares of Taisei Construction

A cartoon of the insides of a LNG carrier (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

(OTC:TISCY) on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) jumped 29%, while other large construction companies��shares also saw strong gains.

During the same period, shares of Taiheiyo Cement jumped 14%, Nippon Steel Sumitomo Metal (XOTC:NSSMY) rose 7%, while Mitsui Fudosan (OTC:MTSFY) rose 9%.

Advertising giant Dentsu�� (OTC:DNTUY) shares rose 11%, while stocks in many other sectors expected to share in Olympics-related infrastructure building��ncluding railroads and department stores��lso advanced.

Was this stock buying just temporary Olympics euphoria? Will expectations of sharply higher earnings and profits from these companies and others be realized, or have buyers set themselves up for disappointment?

Top Telecom Stocks To Own For 2015: Advantage Oil & Gas Ltd (AAV)

Advantage Oil & Gas Ltd. and its subsidiaries engage in the acquisition, exploitation, development, and production of oil and gas in the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan, Canada. It produces and sells crude oil, natural gas, sulphur, and natural gas liquids primarily through marketing companies. As of February 5, 2013, the company�s core properties comprised of Glacier Montney natural gas asset with approximately 80 net sections of land located in Alberta. Advantage Oil & Gas Ltd. was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Stephan Dube]

  Comparing the netbacks with its peers, we can see that MEG Energy reported Q2 operating netbacks of $41.93/Boe, Advantage Oil & Gas' (AAV) Q2 operating netbacks totaled $14.74/Boe, Baytex has realized $25.76/Boe for Q1 and Bonavista Energy operating netbacks for Q1 amounted to $19.49/Boe. Therefore, with an average netback of $26.11/Boe, BlackPearl's $28.65/Boe is a little higher than the average of its peers with higher realized prices and stronger recoveries.

• [By John Udovich]

  While Bakken formation oil and gas stocks have grabbed the attention of�American investors, small cap Alberta or Saskatchewan oil and gas stocks Advantage Oil & Gas Ltd (NYSE: AAV), Sonde Resources Corp (NYSEMKT: SOQ) and up and coming Centor Energy Inc (OTCBB: CNTO) have been largely overlooked as they seek to exploit oil and gas (including oil sands) in the resource rich Canadian provinces of Alberta or Saskatchewan or seek strategic alternatives for their assets in these areas or themselves. It should be mentioned that Canada�� oil reserves are third only to Venezuela and Saudi Arabia with over 95% of these reserves being the oil sands of Alberta plus that province contains much of the country�� conventional oil reserves as well. In addition, the province of Saskatchewan along with offshore areas of Newfoundland contain substantial production and reserves. Excluding oil sands, Alberta would have 39% of Canada�� remaining conventional oil reserves,�followed by�offshore Newfoundland with�28% and Saskatchewan with 27%.

Top Railroad Companies To Watch In Right Now: Corning Incorporated(GLW)

Corning Incorporated manufactures and processes specialty glass and ceramics products worldwide. It operates in five segments: Display Technologies, Telecommunications, Environmental Technologies, Specialty Materials, and Life Sciences. The Display Technologies segment manufactures liquid crystal display (LCD) glass for flat panel displays used primarily in notebook computers, flat panel desktop monitors, and LCD televisions. The Telecommunications segment produces optical fiber and cable, and hardware and equipment products, such as cable assemblies, fiber optic hardware, fiber optic connectors, optical components and couplers, closures and pedestals, splice and test equipment, and other accessories for optical connectivity to the telecommunications industry. This segment also offers optical fiber technology products for various applications, such as premises, fiber-to-the-home access, metropolitan, long-haul, and submarine networks. The Environmental Technologies segment manufactures ceramic substrates and filter products for emissions control in mobile and stationary applications. The Specialty Materials segment manufactures products that provide approximately 150 material formulations for glass, glass ceramics, and fluoride crystals used in commercial and industrial markets. The Life Sciences segment provides scientific laboratory products, such as general labware and equipment, as well as tools for cell culture and bioprocess, genomics and proteomics, and high-throughput screening. This segment also develops and produces various technologies, such as the Corning HYPERFlask Cell Culture Vessel for increased cell yields; and other novel surfaces, which include the Corning CellBIND Surface and the Corning Osteo-Assay surface. The company was formerly known as Corning Glass Works and changed its name to Corning Incorporated in April 1989. Corning Incorporated was founded in 1851 and is based in Corning, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By WALLSTCHEATSHEET]

  Corning has been a strong company for many years. The company culture is strong, which often indicates a winner. According to Glassdoor.com, employees have rated their employer a 3.6 of 5, and 80 percent of employees would recommend the company to a friend. Furthermore, 85 percent of employees approve of Wendell P. Weeks. It should also be noted that volumes and prices have improved. The dilemma is the economic environment we live in. There is a tremendous disconnect between Wall Street and Main Street. If all monetary stimuli were taken away tomorrow, where would the market be? No one knows the answer to that question. While this event won�� take place, there will eventually be a gradual exit. How durable will Corning be as this unfolds?

• [By Steve Symington]

  Get ready, Corning (NYSE: GLW  ) shareholders! Your company reports earnings on Tuesday, July 30.

  Considering the incredible reach and size of this 163-year-old, $22.5 billion business, there will be plenty of new information for all of us to digest to help determine whether Corning is worth our hard-earned investing dollars.

• [By Chris Neiger]

  Corning (NYSE: GLW  ) recently released its first-quarter results and although earnings were higher than expected, revenues fell short. The company is in a solid position in the display technology field and enjoys some hefty margins in the sector, but the glaring problem for Corning is its lack of materialized potential and its overdependence on display technologies.

• [By Chris Neiger]

  A better bet for investors may not even be a typical technology company. Corning (NYSE: GLW  ) is the company behind Gorilla Glass, used by over 30 brands for smartphones, tablets, notebooks, TV and other devices. The company just came out with a new product called Willow Glass recently, which Corning says "has the potential to enable displays to be "wrapped" around a device or structure." That sounds like technology with smartwatch potential, but products with the new glass won't be available until at least 2016.

Top Railroad Companies To Watch In Right Now: Solar Thin Films Inc (SLTZ)

Solar Thin Films, Inc. is engaged in the business of designing, manufacturing and installation of thin-film amorphous silicon (a-Si) photovoltaic manufacturing equipment. The equipment is used in plants that produce photovoltaic thin-film a-Si solar panels or modules. The Company operates through its wholly owned subsidiary, Kraft Elektronikai Zrt (Kraft). Kraft is engaged in the design, development, manufacture, and installation of a-Si photovoltaic manufacturing equipment. The primary buyers of photovoltaic thin-film manufacturing equipment are businesses, as well as investment partnerships, engaged in the production of photovoltaic thin-film modules. In May 2010, the Company acquired Atlantis Solar LLC. In May 2013, Solar Thin Films Inc acquired Quality Resource Technologies Inc. In October 2013, Solar Thin Films Inc announced the sale of all of its ownership stake of Hungarian subsidiary, Kraft, R.t. (Kraft), to GJR Collectibles LLC.

Kraft has been providing equipment that is incorporated into a single manufacturing line capable of manufacturing a-Si solar modules that produce approximately 5megawatt (MW) of solar power annually. The Company focuses, directly and through joint ventures or alliances with other companies or governmental agencies, to sell equipment for and participate financially in solar power facilities using thin film a-Si solar modules or metallurgical and other crystalline solar modules as the power source to provide electricity to municipalities, businesses and consumers.

The Company competes with Applied Materials and Oerlikon.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Peter Graham]

  Small cap stocks Alliance Creative Group Inc (OTCMKTS: ACGX), Dale Jarrett Racing Adventure Inc (OTCMKTS: DJRT), Inscor Inc (OTCMKTS: IOGA) and Solar Thin Films Inc (OTCMKTS: SLTZ) have all been getting some attention lately in various investment newsletters and it should come as no surprise that two out of four of these stocks have been the subject of paid promotions ��which tend to benefit traders. However, two out of four of these stocks also have pretty good financials for being small cap OTC stocks and that might make them attractive to investors with a long term time horizon. So which of these stocks might make traders some profits in the short term and investors some profits over the longer term? Here is a closer look to help you decide:

Top Railroad Companies To Watch In Right Now: In-Touch Survey Systems Ltd (INX)

In-Touch Survey Systems Ltd. is engaged in designing, developing and implementing of data capture technologies and services for business to consumer (B2C) companies. The Company does business as Service Intelligence, In-Touch Insight Systems and IMS division. In-Touch Insight Systems (EDC) develops managed mobile software technology and services for business to consumer (B2C), business to business (B2B), governments and regulators. In-Touch has developed a software platform, In- Touch Apps that provides for the development of data collection programs, mobile forms creations and real-time online reporting for its customers. Service Intelligence (MDC) provides onsite audit and Mystery Shopping services to B2C companies in Canada and the United States. The IMS division, which provides enterprise software engineering services to the Canadian Federal Government. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Henry Lee]

  After hitting a fresh high of nearly 1900 on April 4, the S&P 500 (INX) closed last Friday at 1816 ��a 4.3% drop in just one week. We��e seen a bit of a rebound, but the worst week in two years rattled investors. Nasdaq (IXIC) got close to a 10% drop from its March high, which would make it an official ��orrection����a nice word that masks the pain many investors are feeling.

Top Railroad Companies To Watch In Right Now: Fenner PLC (FENR)

Fenner PLC is a manufacturer and distributor of reinforced polymer products. It operates in two segments: engineered conveyor solutions, which is engaged in the manufacture of rubber, polyvinyl chloride and steel cord conveyor belts, ply, solid woven and steel cord conveyor belting for mining, power generation and industrial applications and advanced engineered products, which is engaged in the manufacture of precision polymer products; problem-solving power transmission and motion transfer components; silicone and complex hoses for heavy duty trucks, buses and off-road vehicles; seals and sealing solutions for the fluid power and oil and gas industries; technical textiles for medical and industrial applications and silicone based products for medical applications; rollers for digital image processing and medical diagnostics, and fluropolymer components for fluid and gas handling. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Inyoung Hwang]

  Fenner Plc (FENR) rallied 5.2 percent to 407.4 pence, its highest price since March 20. UBS AG started coverage of the conveyor-belt maker with a buy rating, saying shares are cheap. The bank predicted the stock will climb to 460 pence in the next 12 months.

Top Railroad Companies To Watch In Right Now: Cornerstone Strategic Value Fund Inc (CLM)

Cornerstone Strategic Value Fund, Inc. (the Fund), incorporated on May 1, 1987, is a closed-end, diversified management investment company. The Fund invests in equity securities of companies listed in the United States. Cornerstone Strategic Value Fund, Inc. invests in various sectors, which include financials, information technology, healthcare, consumer discretionary, industrials, consumer staples, energy, utilities, telecommunication services, materials and other sectors.

As of December 31, 2005, the Fund's top 10 holdings were General Electric Co., Exxon Mobil Corp., Microsoft Corp., Citigroup Inc., Procter & Gamble Co. (The), EMC Corp., Bank of America Corp., American International Group, Inc., Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer Inc. Cornerstone Strategic Value Fund, Inc.'s investment manager is Cornerstone Advisors, Inc.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dividends4Life]

  According to a Gabelli Funds report, managed distribution policies offer several advantages, including:1. Lower difference between the fund�� market price and its NAV per share.2. Provides support during periods when the stock market is in a decline.3. Provides a measurable performance target for the investment adviser.Below are several high-yield funds from CEFA that have a managed distribution policy (yields as of December 16):Aberdeen Australia Eqty (IAF)- Distribution Yield: 10.4%- Income Yield: 3.46%Bexil Advisers LLC� (DNI)- Distribution Yield: 11.1%- Income Yield: 3.56%BlackRock En Capital&Inc (CII)- Distribution Yield: 8.78%- Income Yield: 2.34%Cornerstone Strat Value (CLM)- Distribution Yield: 18.77%- Income Yield: 1.83%Cornerstone Total Return (CRF)- Distribution Yield: 19.10%- Income Yield: 0.85%Delaware Inv Div & Inc (DDF)- Distribution Yield: 6.70%- Income Yield: 5.26%Gabelli Equity Trust (GAB)- Distribution Yield: 7.58%- Income Yield: 1.54%Gabelli Utility Trust (GUT)- Distribution Yield: 9.45%- Income Yield: 2.84%MFS Special Value Trust (MFV)- Distribution Yield: 9.60%- Income Yield: 5.73%Nuveen Tx-Adv TR Strat (JTA)- Distribution Yield: 6.70%- Income Yield: 3.12%TCW Strategic Income (TSI)- Distribution Yield: 10.54%- Income Yield: 7.88%Zweig Total Return (ZTR)- Distribution Yield: 7.27%- Income Yield: 1.95%As noted in the Gabelli report, a managed distribution policy may create confusion regarding the true current yield since the reported yield includes the return of capital portion. You can see the disparity above between the income yield and the distribution (reported) yield.If you are looking for a sustainable and growing dividend, you may want to consider some blue-chip dividend stocks such as these with a Free Cash Flow Payout less than 50%, 50+ years of consecutive dividend increases and a 2%+ yield:3M Co. (MMM) is a diversified global company provides enhanced product functionality in electronics, health care, industrial, consumer