Best Diversified Bank Companies To Own In Right Now

After a slow start to the week Monday, the Department of Defense kicked its contracts-awarding machine into high gear Tuesday. In the space of 16 short contracts, the Pentagon doled out more than $8.3 billion in new contracts in a single day.

The bulk of these awards came in the form of a single multiple-award, task-order contract to be shared among several energy companies:

Constellation Energy Partners LLC's (NYSEMKT: CEP  ) Constellation NewEnergy subsidiary Privately held ECC Renewables LLC Enel Green Power North America, a subsidiary of Italy's Enel SpA LTC Federal LLC Siemens' (NYSE: SI  ) Government Technologies unit

These five firms are now authorized to bid for individual task orders under an umbrella contract for the procurement of renewable and alternative energy from facilities that are designed, financed, constructed, operated and maintained by private companies on private land under the jurisdiction of the Department of Defense. The ceiling value on this contract is $7 billion, thus accounting for 84% of the value of all Pentagon contracts awarded yesterday.

10 Best Food Stocks To Watch For 2015: Market Vectors Global Alternative Energy ETF (GEX)

Market Vectors-Global Alternative Energy ETF (the Fund) seeks to replicate as closely as possible the price and yield performance of the Ardour Global Index (Extra Liquid) (the Index). The Index, published by Ardour Global Indexes, LLC and calculated by Dow Jones Indexes, is a benchmark for the global alternative energy industry. The Index is a rules-based index that seeks to track the overall performance of a global universe of listed companies engaged in the alternative energy industry. As of April 2007, the Index consisted of publicly traded stocks of 30 of the largest, most actively traded alternative energy companies from worldwide. Companies included in the Index generate over 50% of their revenues from alternative energy and/or related technologies, and are engaged in five core industry sectors: alternative energy resources (solar, wind, bio-fuels, water and geothermal), which constitute approximately 70% of the Index; distributed generation, which constitutes approximately 3% of the Index; environmental technologies related to alternative energy, which constitutes approximately 9% of the Index; energy efficiency, which constitutes approximately 4% of the Index, and enabling technologies, which constitutes approximately 14% of the Index.

The Index consists of the 30 stocks in the Ardour Global Index (Composite) with the highest average of daily trading volume and market capitalization. The Ardour Global Index (Composite) is a modified capitalization-weighted, float-adjusted index comprising publicly traded companies engaged in the production of alternative fuels and/or technologies related to the production of alternative energy power. The Fund will normally invest at least 80% of its total assets in stocks of companies primarily engaged in the business of alternative energy. The Fund, utilizing a passive or indexing investment approach, attempts to approximate the investment performance of the Index by investing in a portfolio of securities that generally replicate the Index. The ! Fund will hold all of the securities, which comprise the Index in proportion to their weightings in the Index. The Fund will normally invest at least 95% of its total assets in securities that comprise the Index. Van Eck Associates Corporation serves as the investment advisor of the Fund.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Todd Shriber, ETF Professor]

  The news was predictably good for a pair of ETFs that should be known as "Tesla ETFs." The Market Vectors Global Alternatve Energy ETF (NYSE: GEX) and the First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index Fund (NASDAQ: QCLN) both traded higher on a down day for U.S. stocks, rising to within pennies of their previous 52-week highs.

Best Diversified Bank Companies To Own In Right Now: Supernus Pharmaceuticals Inc (SUPN)

Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Supernus), incorporated on March 30, 2005, is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing products for the treatment of central nervous system diseases, including neurological and psychiatric disorders. Supernus is developing several product candidates in neurology and psychiatry to address opportunities in epilepsy and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Supernus�� two epilepsy product candidates are SPN-538 and Epliga. Epliga is in Phase III clinical trials. Supernus ADHD product candidates include SPN-810 (molindone hydrochloride), a treatment for impulsive aggression in patients with ADHD, and SPN-812, a non-stimulant treatment for ADHD. Both of these programs are in Phase II. In addition to these four products candidates, Supernus has several additional product candidates in various stages of development, including SPN-809. Its wholly owned subsidiary includes TCD Royalty Sub LLC.

Supernus�� Late-Stage Neurology Portfolio

SPN-538 is an oral once-daily extended release topiramate product for the treatment of epilepsy. Topiramate is marketed by Johnson & Johnson under the brand name Topamax and is available in a generic form. As of December 31, 2009, Topiramate was available only in immediate release form and is indicated for monotherapy and adjunctive therapy of epilepsy and for the treatment of migraine. It works by enhancing the inhibitory effect of the Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) neurotransmitter that regulates neuronal excitability throughout the nervous system, blocking the excitatory effect of the glutamate neurotransmitter, blocking the sodium channel and inhibiting the carbonic anhydrase enzyme.

Epliga is an oral once-daily extended release formulation of oxcarbazepine. As of December 31, 2009, Epliga was in Phase III trials. Oxcarbazepine is marketed by Novartis under the brand name Trileptal and is available in a generic form. Trileptal is indicated for monotherap! y and adjunctive therapy of epilepsy. Oxcarbazepine is an active voltage-dependent sodium channel blocker.

Supernus�� Psychiatry Portfolio

SPN-810 (molindone hydrochloride) is a treatment for impulsive aggression in patients with ADHD. As of December 31, 2009, it was in Phase II. SPN-810 is based on molindone hydrochloride. As of December 31, 2009, the Company had completed four clinical trials for SPN-810, including a Phase IIa trial, in which it tested the safety and tolerability of immediate release molindone hydrochloride in children with ADHD who suffer from serious persistent conduct problems. This open-label, dose-ranging trial randomized 78 children, 6-12 years of age, into one of four treatment groups, which were given four different doses of immediate release molindone hydrochloride, between 10 milligram and 40 milligram per day, depending on weight, three times a day over a six-week treatment period, after 2-5 weeks of titration. SPN-810 was well tolerated in the trial with no clinically meaningful changes in standard hematology, clinical chemistry values, vital signs or electrocardiogram results. SPN-810 also showed improvements on the primary and secondary outcome measures, such as conduct problem and ADHD scales, across all four treatment groups. SPN-812 is a non-stimulant treatment for ADHD. As of December 31, 2009, SPN-812 was in Phase II. SPN-812 is a selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor.

Supernus�� Technology Platforms

The Company has a long track record of developing products by applying technologies to known drugs to improve existing therapies and to enable the treatment of new indications. Supernus�� main technology platforms include: Microtrol (multiparticulate delivery platform), Solutrol (matrix delivery platform) and EnSoTrol (osmotic delivery system). The Company�� technologies have been used in the approved and marketed products, including Carbatrol (carbamazepine), Equetro (carbamazepine), Adderall XR (mixe! d ampheta! mine salts), Sanctura XR (trospium chloride), Oracea (doxycycline) and Intuniv (guanfacine).

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Monica Gerson]

  Supernus Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: SUPN) confirmed the FDA approval of its partner's heart blood-pressure treatment. Supernus shares jumped 18.24% to $8.75 in after-hours trading.

Best Diversified Bank Companies To Own In Right Now: Union First Market Bankshares Corp (UBSH)

Union First Market Bankshares Corporation is a bank holding company. The Company offers financial services through its community bank subsidiary Union First Market Bank and three non-bank financial services affiliates. The Company�� non-bank financial services affiliates are Union Mortgage Group, Inc., Union Investment Services, Inc. and Union Insurance Group, LLC. The Company operates in two segments: traditional full service community banking business and its mortgage loan origination business. The Company is a community banking organization based in Virginia and provides full service banking to the Northern, Central, Rappahannock, Shenandoah, Tidewater, and Northern Neck regions of Virginia through Union First Market Bank. Union First Market Bank (the Bank) is a full service community bank offering consumers and businesses a range of banking and related financial services, including checking, savings, certificates of deposit and other depository services, as well as loans for commercial, industrial, residential mortgage and consumer purposes. The Bank issues credit cards and delivers automated teller machine (ATM) services. The Bank also offers Internet banking services and online bill payment for all customers, whether retail or commercial. The Bank also offers private banking and trust services to individuals and corporations through its Financial Guidance Group. In January 2014, the Company acquired StellarOne Corporation.

As of December 31, 2011, Union First Market Bank operated 99 locations in the counties of Albemarle, Caroline, Chesterfield, Essex, Fairfax, Fauquier, Fluvanna, Frederick, Hanover, Henrico, James City, King George, King William, Lancaster, Loudoun, Nelson, Northumberland, Richmond, Spotsylvania, Stafford, Warren, Washington, Westmoreland, York, and the independent cities of Charlottesville, Colonial Heights, Culpeper, Fredericksburg, Harrisonburg, Newport News, Richmond, Staunton, Stephens City, Waynesboro, Williamsburg, and Winchester. Union First Market Bank a! lso operates loan production offices in Staunton, Winchester, and Tappahannock. Union Investment Services, Inc. provides brokerage services; Union Mortgage Group, Inc. provides a line of mortgage products, and Union Insurance Group, LLC offers various lines of insurance products. Union First Market Bank also owns a non-controlling interest in Johnson Mortgage Company, L.L.C.

Union Investment Services, Inc. provides securities, brokerage and investment advisory services. It has 11 offices within the Bank�� trade area and is a full service investment company handling all aspects of wealth management, including stocks, bonds, annuities, mutual funds and financial planning. Securities are offered through a third party contractual arrangement with Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., an independent broker dealer. Union Mortgage Group, Inc., (UMG) has offices in Virginia (seven), Maryland (three), North Carolina (three), and South Carolina (two). UMG is also licensed to do business in selected states throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast, as well as Washington, D.C. It provides a variety of mortgage products to customers in those areas. The mortgage loans originated by UMG are generally sold in the secondary market through purchase agreements with institutional investors. Union Insurance Group, LLC (UIG), an insurance agency, is owned by the Bank and Union Mortgage. This agency operates in a joint venture with Bankers Insurance, LLC, an insurance agency owned by community banks across Virginia and managed by the Virginia Bankers Association. UIG generates revenue through sales of various insurance products, including long term care insurance and business owner policies.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By GuruFocus]

  Reduced: Union First Market Bankshares Corp (UBSH)

  Tom Gayner reduced to his holdings in Union First Market Bankshares Corp by 12.64%. His sale prices were between $18.24 and $20.59, with an estimated average price of $19.52. The impact to his portfolio due to this sale was -0.18%. Tom Gayner still held 1,658,339 shares as of 06/30/2013.

• [By Sean Williams]

  What: Shares of StellarOne (NASDAQ: STEL  ) , a commercial, mortgage, and wealth management bank servicing small and medium-sized businesses in Virginia, jumped as much as 20% after agreeing to be purchased by Union First Market Bancshares (NASDAQ: UBSH  ) .

Best Diversified Bank Companies To Own In Right Now: AutoNavi Holdings Limited(AMAP)

AutoNavi Holdings Limited provides digital map content, and navigation and location-based solutions in the People?s Republic of China (PRC). The company offers digital map data to various automobile manufacturers for in-dash navigation systems; and navigation solutions for use in in-dash navigation system to portable navigation device manufacturers based on their specific needs, which range from digital map data only to a digital map data, a navigation engine, and an user interface. It provides mobile/Internet location-based solutions to a mobile operator; mobile and Internet-based map application solutions that allow Web sites to embed location-based services capabilities into their Internet and enterprise applications; and MiniMap, an user-end map application software. The company also offers aerial digital maps and 3-D modeling applications to certain PRC government agencies and enterprises to meet their land usage survey, specific needs for 3-D geographic information, and other needs pursuant to a service contract arrangement. In addition, it has collaboration with certain mobile phone and tablet computer manufacturers and mobile operators to pre-install its navigation solutions. The company is headquartered in Beijing, China.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lauren Pollock]

  Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in Monday’s session are AutoNavi Holdings Ltd.(AMAP), Dick's Sporting Goods Inc.(DKS) and Supertex Inc.(SUPX)

• [By Belinda Cao]

  The Bloomberg US-China gauge climbed 0.3 percent May 3 to 92.48 in New York, capping its second weekly advance. AutoNavi Holdings Ltd. (AMAP), a digital map content provider based in Beijing, led gains on the index, climbing 15 percent in the week to a three-month high of $12.03.

• [By Sean Williams]

  I think we're lost
  I'm not sure if anyone's told China yet, but the navigation market is so last decade! Shares of China-based AutoNavi Holdings (NASDAQ: AMAP  ) have soared over the past week on essentially no news despite the glaring fact that its product portfolio is in a highly commoditized and easily replaceable industry.

Best Diversified Bank Companies To Own In Right Now: Bottomline Technologies Inc. (EPAY)

Bottomline Technologies (de), Inc. provides cloud-based payment, invoice, and banking solutions to corporations, insurance companies, financial institutions, and banks worldwide. Its solutions are used to streamline, automate, and manage processes and transactions involving global payments, invoice receipt and approval, collections, cash and document management, risk mitigation, reporting, and document archive. The company’s products include cash management and treasury platforms that enable banks to offer ACH and BACS payments, wires, international payments, check production, balance and information reporting, and cash management facilities; and legal spend management solutions, which integrate with claims management, and time and billing systems to automate legal invoice management processes. It also offers Paymode-X, a business-to-business electronic settlement network, such as online access to purchase orders, invoices, payments, and remittance details, as well a s comprehensive workflow and turnkey vendor enrollment and support; and WebSeries and C-Series, the payment and document automation solutions that generate payment instructions along with consolidated bank reporting of cash activity. In addition, the company provides forms management, mobile documentation, workflow automation, and payments solutions to healthcare organizations. Further, it offers SWIFT access service that enables corporations exchange financial information with their banks and counterparties. Additionally, the company provides consulting, project implementation, and training services; and consumable products for laser check printing that comprise magnetic ink character recognition toner and blank-paper check stock, as well as printers and printer-related equipment. Bottomline Technologies (de), Inc. sells its products directly through sales force, as well as through various channel partners and resellers. The company was founded in 1989 and is headquartered in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lisa Levin]

  Bottomline Technologies (de) (NASDAQ: EPAY) shares gained 12.03% to touch a new 52-week high of $35.20 after the company reported upbeat Q1 results.

• [By Steve Symington]

  What:�Shares of Bottomline Technologies (NASDAQ: EPAY  ) jumped more than 10% Friday after the cloud-based financial transaction specialist reported solid fiscal first quarter 2013 results.�

Best Diversified Bank Companies To Own In Right Now: ePlus Inc.(PLUS)

ePlus inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in selling, leasing, financing, and managing information technology (IT) and other assets in the United States. Its Technology Sales segment involves in the direct marketing of IT equipment and third-party software solutions of Cisco Systems, HP, VMWare, NetApp, IBM, and Microsoft; and the provision of proprietary software for enterprise supply management, including order-entry and order-management, procurement, spend management, asset management, document management, distribution, and electronic catalog content management software and services. This segment also provides professional technology services in the areas of data center, storage, security, cloud enablement, and IT infrastructure that cover Internet telephony and communications, collaboration, cloud computing, virtual desktop infrastructure, network design and implementation, storage, security, virtualization, business continuity, visual communications, audio/visual technologies, maintenance, and implementation services. The company?s Financing segment offers a range of leasing and financing options for IT and capital assets, such as computers, associated accessories and software, communication-related equipment, medical equipment, industrial machinery and equipment, office furniture and general office equipment, transportation equipment, and other general business equipment. It also leases and finances equipment, as well as supplies software and services directly and through relationships with vendors and equipment manufacturers. ePlus sells its products primarily through direct sales force, inside sales representatives, and business development associates to commercial customers; federal, state, and local governments; K-12 schools; and higher education institutions. The company was formerly known as MLC Holdings, Inc. and changed its name to ePlus inc. in 1999. ePlus was founded in 1990 and is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Seth Jayson]

  Calling all cash flows
  When you are trying to buy the market's best stocks, it's worth checking up on your companies' free cash flow once a quarter or so, to see whether it bears any relationship to the net income in the headlines. That's what we do with this series. Today, we're checking in on ePlus inc. (Nasdaq: PLUS  ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.

• [By alicet236]

  ePlus Inc. (PLUS): President and CEO, 10% Owner Phillip G. Norton Sold 198,730 Shares

  President and CEO, 10% Owner of ePlus Inc. (PLUS) Phillip G. Norton sold 198,730 shares on 05/05/2014 at an average price of $47.5. ePlus Inc. was founded in 1990 and is a Delaware corporation and began using the name ePlus inc. ePlus Inc. has a market cap of $401.106 million; its shares were traded at around $49.74 with a P/E ratio of 11.50 and P/S ratio of 0.38. ePlus Inc. had an annual average earnings growth of 6.70% over the past 10 years. GuruFocus rated ePlus Inc.�the business predictability rank of 2-star.

Best Diversified Bank Companies To Own In Right Now: Petroquest Energy Inc(PQ)

PetroQuest Energy, Inc. operates as an independent oil and gas company. It engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and operation of oil and gas properties in Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Texas, as well as onshore and in the shallow waters offshore the Gulf Coast Basin. As of December 31, 2009, the company had estimated proved reserves of 1,931 thousand barrels of oil and 167,361 million cubic feet equivalent of natural gas. It owned working interests in 9 net producing oil wells and 277 net producing gas wells. PetroQuest Energy was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in Lafayette, Louisiana.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jon C. Ogg]

  PetroQuest Energy Inc. (NYSE: PQ) was downgraded to Neutral from Overweight at J.P. Morgan.

  Rubicon Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: RBCN) was downgraded to Underperform from Perform at Oppenheimer.