Top 10 Rising Companies To Watch In Right Now

We continue to observe conditions that fall within the most negative 5% of historical instances, and these conditions (not any inherent preference toward bearishness) are the reason we hold to a defensive outlook here. The concept of a ��roken speculative peak��is relevant ��our main concern being that risk premiums have been driven to remarkably thin levels, and we are presently observing market action that suggests upward pressure on those risk premiums. As I��e often noted, a severe market decline is really nothing more than a spike in risk premiums from previously inadequate levels.

As a simple measure of this combination ��rich valuations coupled with upward pressures on risk premiums and competing yields ��it�� worth considering the current Shiller P/E near 24 (S&P 500 divided by the 10-year average of inflation-adjusted earnings) in the context of rising yields on competing securities. Both the Dow Jones Utility Average and the Dow Jones Corporate Bond Average are down more than 5% from their recent 26-week highs. The last time we saw this combination of weakness in interest-sensitive sectors with the Shiller P/E even above 18 was in September 2008, just before the market collapsed that year. We observed a similar deterioration following overvalued, overbought, overbullish syndromes in January 2000 (though be aware that it took several more months of top formation for the market to decline in earnest) and June-September 1987. This is certainly not the only concern that we have at present, but it illustrates our discomfort with speculative risk-taking here.

Top 10 Rising Companies To Watch In Right Now: Nabors Industries Ltd (NBR)

Nabors Industries Ltd. (Nabors), incorporated on December 11, 2001, is the land drilling contractor and land well-servicing and workover contractors in the United States and Canada. The Company markets approximately 474 land drilling rigs for oils and gas land drilling operations in the United States Lower 48 states, Alaska, Canada and over 20 other countries globally. The Company actively markets approximately 442 rigs for land well-servicing and workover work in the United States and approximately 106 rigs for land well-servicing and workover work in Canada. In 2012, the Company sold its remaining wholly-owned oil and gas business in Colombia and sold additional wholly owned assets in the United States. In April 2012, TransForce Inc. acquired through its subsidiary, I.E. Miller Services, Inc, certain assets of Peak USA Energy Services, Ltd., subsidiary of Nabors Industries Ltd. In December 2012, the Company sold its 49.7% ownership interest in NFR Energy LLC (NFR Energy).

The Company is a provider of offshore platform workover and drilling rigs, and actively markets 36 platform, 12 jackup and four barge rigs in the United States, including the Gulf of Mexico, and multiple international markets.The Company provides completion and production services, including hydraulic fracturing, cementing, nitrogen and acid pressures pumping services with over 805,000 hydraulic horsepower in United States and Canada. The Company offers a range of ancillary well-site services, including engineering, transportation and disposal, construction, maintenance, well logging, directional drilling, rigs instrumentation, data collection and other support services in select United States and international markets. The Company manufactures and lease or sell drives for a ranges of drilling applications, directional drilling systems, rig instrumentation and data collection equipment, pipeline handling equipment and rig reporting software. The Company has a 51% ownership interest in a joint venture in Saudi Arabia, w! hich owns and actively markets nine rigs in addition to the rigs the Company leases to the joint venture.

A land-based drilling rig generally consists of engines, a drawworks, a mast (or derrick), pumps to circulate drilling fluid under various pressures, blowout preventers, drill string and related equipment. Special-purpose drilling rigs used to perform workover services consist of a mobile carrier, which includes an engine, drawworks and a mast, together with other standard drilling accessories and specialized equipment for servicing wells. These rigs are specially designed for repairs and modifications of oil and gas wells, including standard drilling functions. Land-based drilling rigs are moved between well sites and among geographic areas using the Company's fleet of cranes, loaders and transport vehicles or those of third-party service providers.

Platform rigs provide offshore workover, drilling and re-entry services. The Company's platform rigs have drilling and/or well-servicing or workover equipment and machinery arranged in modular packages that are transported to, and assembled and installed on, fixed offshore platforms owned by the customer. Jackup rigs are mobile, self-elevating drilling and workover platforms equipped with legs that can be lowered to the ocean floor until a foundation is established to support the hull, which contains the drilling and/or workover equipment, jacking system, crew quarters, loading and unloading facilities, storage areas for bulk and liquid materials, helicopter landing deck and other related equipment. The Company also own two workover inland barge rigs. These barges are designed to perform plugging and abandonment, well-service or workover services in shallow inland, coastal or offshore waters.

The Company provides a range of wellsite solutions to oil and natural gases companies, consisting primarily of technical pumping services, including hydraulic fracturing, a process sometimes used in the completion of oil and g! as wells ! whereby water, sand and chemicals are injected under pressure into subsurface formations to stimulate gas and oil production, and down-hole surveying services. Other technical services include completion, production and rental tool services. In addition, the Company provides fluid logistics services, including those related to the transportation, storage and disposal of fluids that is used in the drilling, development and production of hydrocarbons.

The Company provides maintenance services on the mechanical apparatus used to pump or lift oils from producing wells. These services include, among other activities, repairing and replacing pumps, sucker rods and tubing. They also occasionally include drilling services. The Company provides the rigs, equipment and crews for these tasks, which are performed on both oil and natural gas wells, but which are more commonly required on oil wells. Producing oil and natural gas wells occasionally require repairs or modifications, called workovers. The Company can also provide other specialized services, including onsite temporary fluid storage; the supply, removal and disposal of specialized fluids used during certain completion and workover operations, and the removal and disposal of salt water that often accompanies the production of oil and natural gas.

Through various subsidiaries, the Company manufactures top drives and catwalks, which is installed on both onshore and offshore drilling rigs. The Company provides heavy equipment to move drilling rigs, water, other fluids and construction materials as well as the means to moves such equipment. The Company offers specialized drilling technologies, including patented steering systems and rigs instrumentation software systems, including ROCKITTM directional drilling system, which is used to provide data collection services to oil and gas exploration and service companies, and RIGWATCHTM software, which is computerized software and equipment that monitors a rig's real-time performance and da! ily repor! ting for drilling operations, making this data available through the Internet.

The Company competes with Helmerich and Payne, Inc., Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc., Basic Energy Services, Inc., Key Energy Services, Inc., Superior Energy Services, Inc., Forbes Energy Services Ltd., Halliburton, Baker Hughes, Weatherford International Ltd., Schlumberger Limited, FTS International Services LLC, C&J Energy Services, Inc. and RPC, Inc.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Arjun Sreekumar]

  In fact, improved rig mobility and the introduction of pad drilling techniques have even allowed operators to transport rigs between locations that are much further apart. For instance, rig operator Nabors Industries (NYSE: NBR  ) reported moving a fully assembled rig a length of one mile between drilling locations. �

• [By Monica Gerson]

  Nabors Industries (NYSE: NBR) is projected to post its Q3 earnings at $0.19 per share on revenue of $1.59 billion.

  Centene (NYSE: CNC) is estimated to report its Q3 earnings at $0.84 per share on revenue of $2.68 billion.

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  One challenge for Halliburton, though, is that exploration and production companies are getting savvier about their expenses, getting more efficient with drilling practices. Competitor Nabors Industries (NYSE: NBR  ) cut its second-quarter guidance recently, citing such efficiency gains as having reduced demand for North American pressure-pumping equipment and services. If those trends carry throughout the sector, it could weigh on Halliburton's results.

Top 10 Rising Companies To Watch In Right Now: Kinder Morgan Management LLC (KMR)

Kinder Morgan Management, LLC is a limited partner in Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P (KMP), and manages and controls its business and affairs pursuant to a delegation of control agreement. Kinder Morgan G.P., Inc., of which Kinder Morgan, Inc. indirectly owns all of the outstanding common equity, is the general partner of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. (KMP). Kinder Morgan G.P., Inc., pursuant to a delegation of control agreement among the Company, Kinder Morgan G.P., Inc. and KMP, has delegated to the Company, to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law and KMP�� limited partnership agreement, all of its rights and powers to manage and control the business and affairs of KMP, subject to the general partner�� right to approve specified actions.

KPM is a pipeline limited partnerships in the United States. KMP owns an investment in or operates approximately 28,000 miles of pipelines and 180 terminals. Its pipelines transport products, such as natural gas, crude oil, gasoline, and CO2, and its terminals store petroleum products and chemicals and handle materials like coal. Almost all of Kinder Morgan assets are owned by KMP, KMP operates in five business segments : Natural Gas Pipelines, Products Pipelines, CO2, Terminals and Kinder Morgan Canada.

Kinder Morgan is a transporter and marketer of carbon dioxide in North America. It delivers approximately 1.3 billion cubic feet per day of CO2 through about 1,300 miles of pipelines. It is an oil producer in Texas, producing over 55,000 barrels of oil per day at the SACROC Unit and the Yates Field in the Permian Basin. In addition to CO2 pipelines and oil producing fields, this business segment owns interests in and operates CO2 source fields, natural gas and gasoline processing plants, and a crude oil pipeline. Kinder Morgan owns and operates approximately 24,000 miles of gas pipelines in the Rocky Mountains, the Midwest and Texas. Through its Products Pipelines business unit, it transports over two million barre! ls per day of gasoline, jet fuel, diesel, natural gas liquids and other fuels through more than 8,000 miles of pipelines. The Company also has approximately 50 liquids terminals in this business segment that store fuels and offer blending services for ethanol and other products.

Kinder Morgan have more than 180 terminals that store petroleum products and chemicals, and handle bulk materials like coal, petroleum coke and steel products. Kinder Morgan operates a number of pipeline systems and terminal facilities in Canada including the Trans Mountain pipeline, the Express and Platte pipelines, the Cochin pipeline, the Puget Sound and the Trans Mountain Jet Fuel pipelines, the Westridge marine terminal, the Vancouver Wharves terminal in British Columbia and the North Forty terminal in Edmonton, Alberta.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Aaron Levitt]

  For investors, the recent drop in all three shares — along with Kinder Morgan Management LLC (KMR) �� have put them all near their 52-week lows and at some of the highest dividend yields not seen in years. At these prices, you��e still getting strong dividend growth — about 5% for KMI — along with the chance to own the largest pipeline network in North America.

Top 10 Sliver Companies To Buy For 2015: FedEx Corporation(FDX)

FedEx Corporation provides transportation, e-commerce, and business services in the United States and internationally. It operates in four segments: FedEx Express, FedEx Ground, FedEx Freight, and FedEx Services. The FedEx Express segment offers various shipping services for the delivery of packages and freight. This segment also provides international trade services specializing in customs brokerage, and ocean and air freight forwarding services; customs clearance services, as well as global trade data, an information tool that allows customers to track and manage imports; and international trade advisory services, including assistance with the customs-trade partnership against terrorism program, as well as publishes customs duty and tax information in various customs areas. In addition, it offers supply chain solutions, including critical inventory logistics, transportation management, fulfillment, and fleet services. The FedEx Ground segment provides business and reside ntial ground package delivery services. It primarily serves customers in the small-package market in North America. The FedEx Freight segment offers less-than-truckload freight services, as well as freight-shipping services. As of May 31, 2010, this segment operated approximately 60,000 vehicles and trailers from a network of 492 service centers. The FedEx Services segment provides sales, marketing, information technology support, and customer service support services; and access to copying and digital printing through retail and Web-based platforms, signs and graphics, professional finishing, computer rentals, and a range of ground shipping and time-definite express shipping services. The company was founded in 1971 and is headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Alex Planes]

  FedEx (NYSE: FDX  ) took off into business legend on April 17, 1973, when 14 Dassault Falcon 20s took off from Memphis International Airport. The successful delivery of 186 packages to 25 different cities was the first step toward realizing FedEx founder Fred W. Smith's ambition to reshape the global air-freight distribution system. However, it was only a first step. The rest of the road would take FedEx to places no delivery company had been before. Before we dive into the FedEx story, let's note that Smith's ambition makes a worthy counterpoint to would-be entrepreneurs who dismiss the value of college: He first developed the idea for FedEx at Yale in the 1960s, compiling his thoughts into a term paper on the inefficiencies of the "modern" air transport system of that day.

• [By gurujx]

  FedEx Corporation (FDX) Reached the 52-Week High of $143.07

  FedEx Corporation provides a portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and business services. Fedex Corporation has a market cap of $44.78 billion; its shares were traded at around $143.43 with a P/E ratio of 27.70 and P/S ratio of 1.02. The dividend yield of Fedex Corporation stocks is 0.41%. Fedex Corporation had an annual average earnings growth of 2.90% over the past 10 years. GuruFocus rated Fedex Corporation the business predictability rank of 2.5-star.

• [By Demitrios Kalogeropoulos]

  Very patient shippers
  UPS is dealing with a major shift in demand for overseas shipping. Customers are fleeing from super-quick international delivery services, making that business a much less-profitable one. FedEx (NYSE: FDX  ) , for example, has seen shippers increasingly choose its "economy" international service, which arrives in two to five days, over its "priority" option that's delivered in one to three days. That shift has taken a whack at earnings. FedEx's express segment profits were down 66% last quarter, dragging operating income lower by 28% companywide.

• [By Adam Levine-Weinberg]

  FedEx (NYSE: FDX  ) has outperformed the market this week, rising from around $99 at the end of last week to highs above $106. The main justification for this rise has been rampant speculation about whether FedEx stock will be the next target of hedge-fund manager Bill Ackman, who has had many high-profile "activist" investments, including successful runs at McDonald's and General Growth Properties along with underperforming investments in Target and J.C. Penney.

Top 10 Rising Companies To Watch In Right Now: SAP AG(SAP)

SAP AG provides business software primarily in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Americas, and the Asia Pacific Japan region. The company?s products includes SAP Business Suite software, which supports large organizations in their core business operations, such as supplier relationship, production, warehouse management, sales, administration, and customer relationship; SAP Business All-in-One, a business management software that assists midsize companies in managing various business functions, including financials, human resources, procurement, inventory, manufacturing, logistics, product development, sales, and marketing; SAP Business One, a business management application for small businesses; and SAP Business ByDesign, an on-demand solution for integrated business management applications. Its products also comprises SAP BusinessObjects Edge business intelligence and enterprise performance management solutions; Xcelsius, a data visualization software; Crystal Reports, which helps users design interactive reports; Sybase IQ, an optimized analytics server designed to deliver results for business intelligence, analytics, data warehousing, and reporting solutions; SAP solutions for sustainability; and SAP NetWeaver technology platform, which integrates information and business processes across various technologies and organizational structures. In addition, the company offers industry and solution-focused, business transformation, information technology transformation, custom development, and support services; and program, project management, quality assurance, and education and certification services. It sells its products through its subsidiaries and resellers. SAP AG has a strategic relationship with Cap Gemini S.A. to develop and deploy enterprise mobility solutions. The company was formerly known as SAP Aktiengesellschaft Systeme, Anwendungen, Produkte in der Datenverarbeitung. SAP AG was founded in 1972 and is headquartered in Walldorf , Germany.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Cornelius Rahn]

  SAP AG (SAP), the largest maker of business-management software, slumped to an eight-month low after competitor Oracle Corp. (ORCL) reported quarterly sales that missed estimates, fueling concerns about weaker license demand.

• [By Julianne Pepitone]

  BlackBerry (BBRY) is, at least temporarily, pinning its hopes on Chen, who successfully turned around the struggling enterprise software maker Sybase and sold it to SAP (SAP) in 2010.

• [By Kevin Chen]

  Nokia� (NYSE: NOK  ) has announced its support of�SAP's� (NYSE: SAP  ) TwoGo car-sharing service with HERE, its mapping service.

• [By Monica Gerson]

  SAP AG (NYSE: SAP) is estimated to report its Q3 earnings at $0.82 per share on revenue of $4.20 billion.

  Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) is expected to report its Q3 earnings at $1.21 per share on revenue of $2.07 billion.

Top 10 Rising Companies To Watch In Right Now: Carlisle Companies Incorporated (CSL)

Carlisle Companies Incorporated operates as a diversified manufacturing company in the United States and internationally. Its Construction Materials segment manufactures and sells rubber and thermoplastic polyolefin roofing systems; rigid foam insulation panels for various roofing applications; and liquid and spray-applied waterproofing membranes, vapor and air barriers, and HVAC duct sealants and hardware for the commercial and residential construction markets, as well as markets and sells polyvinyl chloride membrane and accessories. The company�s Transportation Products segment offers bias-ply, steel-belted radial trailer tires, stamped or roll-formed steel wheels, non-automotive rubber tires, and tire and wheel assemblies; and power transmission products, such as industrial belts and related components. Its Brake and Friction segment provides off-highway braking systems and friction products for off-highway, on-highway, aircraft, and other industrial applications. The company�s Interconnect Technologies segment offers wire, cable, contacts, fiber optic, RF/microwave, and specialty filtered connectors; specialty cable assemblies; integrated wired racks; trays; and airframe subsystem solutions primarily for the aerospace, defense electronics, and test and measurement industries. Its FoodService Products segment provides commercial and institutional foodservice permanentware, table coverings, cookware, display pieces, lighting equipment, and supplies to restaurants, hotels, hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and correctional facilities; and industrial brooms, brushes, mops, and rotary brushes. The company markets its products to original equipment manufacturers, distributors, and end-users. It serves customers in commercial roofing, energy, agriculture, lawn and garden, mining and construction equipment, aerospace and electronics, dining and food delivery, and healthcare markets. The company was founded in 1917 and is headquartered in Charl otte, North Carolina.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Adam Haigh]

  CSL Ltd. (CSL), a maker of blood-derived therapies that gets more than a third of its sales in the U.S., advanced 3.1 percent in Sydney. Toyota Motor Corp. gained 1.1 percent in Tokyo as the yen weakened against the dollar, boosting the earnings outlook for Asia�� largest carmaker. Kingsgate Consolidated Ltd. fell 4.7 percent in Sydney as the gold miner reported an 18 percent drop in quarterly output.

• [By Adam Haigh]

  CSL Ltd. (CSL), an Australian maker of blood-derived therapies, climbed 2 percent to A$65.96 in Sydney, a second day of gains. The company will announce another share buyback of at least A$900 million ($824 million) at its full-year earnings release in August, Bank of America Corp. analyst Matthew Prior wrote in a report, upgrading the shares to buy from neutral.

• [By Dividends4Life]

  Memberships and Peers: MMM is a member of the S&P 500, a Dividend Aristocrat, a member of the Broad Dividend Achievers��Index and a Dividend Champion. The company's peer group includes: General Electric Co. (GE) with a 3.1% yield, Raven Industries Inc. (RAVN) with a 1.6% yield and Carlisle Companies Inc. (CSL) with a 1.2% yield.

• [By victorselva]

  General Electric has a current ratio of 10% which is lower than all the comps: 3M Company (MMM), Danaher Corp. (DHR), Carlisle Companies Incorporated (CSL), Koninklijke Philips N.V (PHG) and Raven Industries Inc. (RAVN).

Top 10 Rising Companies To Watch In Right Now: Zynga Inc (ZNGA)

Zynga Inc. (Zynga), is a provider of social game services with 240 million average monthly active users over 175 countries. The Company develops, markets and operates online social games as live services played over the Internet and on social networking sites and mobile platforms. The Company�� games are accessible on Facebook, other social networks and mobile platforms to players globally, wherever and whenever they want. It operates its games as live services. All of its games are free to play, and it generates revenue through the in-game sale of virtual goods and advertising. In March 2012, the Company acquired New York-based social game developer OMGPOP, makers of the cultural hit mobile game, Draw Something, and over 35 additional social games. In 2012, the Company launched several new games, including Hidden Chronicles, Zynga Bingo, Scramble With Friends, Slingo and Dream Heights.

Social Games

The Company designs its social games to provide players with shared experiences. Its social games leverage the global connectivity and distribution on Facebook, other social networks and mobile platforms, such as Apple iOS and Google Android. Its games are free to play, span a number of genres. It operates its games as live services and updates them with content and features. Its games include CityVille, Zynga Poker, FarmVille, CastleVille, FrontierVille, Mafia Wars and Word with Friends.

Virtual Goods

The Company�� primary revenue source is the sale of virtual currency, which players use to buy in-game virtual goods. Some forms of virtual currency are earned through game play, while other forms can only be acquired for cash or, in some cases, by accepting promotional offers from its advertising partners.

Advertising

The Company�� advertising services offer ways for marketers and advertisers to reach and engage with its players. Its advertising offerings include branded virtual goods and sponsorships, engagement ads, mobil! e ads and display Ads. It offers branded virtual goods and sponsorships integrate advertising within game play; Engagement Ads and Offers, in which players can answer certain questions or sign up for third party services to receive virtual currency; Mobile Ads through ad-supported free versions of its mobile games such as Words with Friends and Display Ads in its online web games include banner advertisements.

The Company competes with Crowdstar, Inc., DeNA, Electronic Arts Inc., King.com, The Walt Disney Company, Vostu, Ltd. wooga GmbH, Amazon.com, Inc., Facebook, Inc., Google Inc., Microsoft Corporation , Tencent Holdings Limited, Apple, Electronic Arts, GREE, DeNA Co. Ltd., Gameloft, Glu Mobile, Rovio Mobile Ltd , Storm8, Inc., Activision Blizzard, Inc., Big Fish Games, Inc., Electronic Arts, SEGA of America, Inc., and THQ Inc..

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Paul Ausick]

  Big Earnings Movers: Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) is up 9.5% at $363.67 after last night�� results. Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) is up 6% at $35.73 on good gains in consumer and device sales. Zynga Inc. (NASDAQ: ZNGA) is up 5.5% at $3.73 on a smaller-than-expected loss. The Procter & Gamble Co. (NYSE: PG) is down 0.8% at $79.98 following inline earnings that encouraged investors to take profits. United Parcel Service Inc. (NYSE: UPS) is up 1.2% at $95.62 after good earnings led to a new 52-week high of $97.00.

• [By DAILYFINANCE]

  Richard Drew/AP NEW YORK -- Strong third-quarter results from technology companies drove investors into stocks on Friday, giving the market its third straight weekly gain. After reporting results that topped expectations, Microsoft (MSFT) rose 6 percent and Amazon.com rose 9 percent. The Dow (^DJI) rose 61 points, or 0.4 percent, to close at 15,570. The Nasdaq composite (^IXIC) rose 14 points, or 0.4 percent, to 3,943, the highest it's been in 13 years. And the Standard & Poor's 500 (^GPSC) rose 7 points, 0.4 percent, to 1,759, another record high. The gains were broad. All 10 industry groups in the S&P 500 rose, led by telecommunications with an increase of 1 percent. Most companies that have reported third-quarter earnings are beating financial analysts' estimates. Even so, earnings for companies in the S&P 500 index are expected to grow just 4.5 percent over the same period a year ago, according to S&P Capital IQ, a research firm. At the start of the year, earnings were expected to rise at more than twice that pace. Some market watchers are calling for caution, saying that a significant part of the profit growth has come from cutting expenses, not increasing revenue, as the global economy remains sluggish. "The question is: What is the outlook for earnings?" Steven Ricchiuto, chief economist at Mizuho Securities, said. "There is only so much you can do with cost-cutting." Major U.S. stock indexes have soared this year. The S&P 500 is up 23 percent, the Nasdaq composite 31 percent. In addition to higher earnings, investors have been encouraged by continued economic stimulus from the Federal Reserve. Many had expected the Fed to pull back from its stimulus before the end of year, but now think the central bank will hold off until next year, possibly until March. The Fed is buying $85 billion worth of U.S. government and other bonds with the aim of keeping interest rates low. The stimulus program has helped investors brush aside a few

• [By Rick Munarriz]

  3. Zynga thinks outside of the box, but inside the Xbox
  Zynga (NASDAQ: ZNGA  ) is another company that has rarely made the cut in this weekly column, but the leader in social and casual games turned heads by bringing on Xbox's president to be its new CEO.

Top 10 Rising Companies To Watch In Right Now: DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc (DVA)

DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc., formerly DaVita Inc., incorporated on April 4, 1994, is a provider of dialysis services in the United States for patients suffering from chronic kidney failure, also known as end stage renal disease (ESRD). As of December 31, 2011, the Company provided dialysis and administrative services through a network of 1,809 outpatient dialysis centers located in the United States throughout 43 states and the District of Columbia, serving a total of approximately 142,000 patients. It also provides acute inpatient dialysis services in approximately 900 hospitals and related laboratory services throughout the United States. In addition, as of December 31, 2011, it provided dialysis and administrative services to a total of 11 outpatient dialysis centers located in three countries outside of the United States. On September 2, 2011, the Company acquired CDSI I Holding Company, Inc., the parent company of dialysis provider DSI Renal Inc. In November 2011, the Company announced that its wholly owned European subsidiary, DV Care GmbH, acquired ExtraCorp AG. In January 2012, the Company acquired controlling interest in NephroLife. In September 2012, the Company announced that its new guest services contact center located in Centennial, Colorado was opened. On November 1, 2012, the Company announced the consummation of the merger of HealthCare Partners Holdings, LLC (HCP), with Seismic Acquisition LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, with HCP as the surviving entity (the Merger). The Merger, HCP became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. In January 2013, the Company acquired nine dialysis centers from Fresenius Medical Care (FMC), provider of dialysis services and manufacturer of dialysis products.

During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company acquired a total of 178 dialysis centers, eight of which were located outside of the United States, opened 65 new dialysis centers, sold two centers, merged seven centers, and divested a total of 30 dialysis cent! ers in connection with the acquisition of DSI. It also added three dialysis centers under management and administrative service agreements that are located outside of the United States and added one center in which the Company owns a minority equity interest. The Company�� United States dialysis and related laboratory services business accounts for approximately 93% of its consolidated net operating revenues. Its other ancillary services accounted for approximately 7% of its consolidated net operating revenues during the year ended December 31, 2011.

Dialysis and Related Lab Services

As of December 31, 2011, the Company operated or provided administrative services through a network of 1,809 outpatient dialysis centers located in the United States and 11 outpatient dialysis centers located outside the United States that are designed specifically for outpatient hemodialysis. Many of the Company�� outpatient dialysis centers offer certain support services for dialysis patients who prefer and are able to perform either home-based hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis in their homes. Home-based hemodialysis support services consist of providing equipment and supplies, training, patient monitoring, on-call support services and follow-up assistance. Registered nurses train patients and their families or other caregivers to perform either home-based hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis.

As of December 31, 2011, the Company provided hospital inpatient hemodialysis services, excluding physician services, to patients in approximately 900 hospitals throughout the United States. It renders these services for a contracted per-treatment fee that is individually negotiated with each hospital. When a hospital requests the Company�� services, the Company administers the dialysis treatment at the patient�� bedside or in a dedicated treatment room in the hospital, as needed. In 2011, hospital inpatient hemodialysis services accounted for approximately 4.5% of its total United S! tates dia! lysis treatments. The Company owns two licensed clinical laboratories, which specialize in ESRD patient testing. These laboratories provide routine laboratory tests for dialysis and other physician-prescribed laboratory tests for ESRD patients. Its laboratories provide these tests primarily for its network of ESRD patients throughout the United States. These tests are performed to monitor a patient�� ESRD condition, including the adequacy of dialysis, as well as other medical conditions. During 2011, it operated or provided management and administrative services to 33 outpatient dialysis centers located in the United States and three outpatient dialysis centers located outside of the United States, in which it either owns a minority equity investment or are wholly owned by third parties. These services are provided pursuant to management and administrative services agreements.

Ancillary services and strategic initiatives

DaVita Rx is a pharmacy that provides oral medications to DaVita�� patients with ESRD. HomeChoice Partners provides personalized infusion therapy services to patients typically in their own. Intravenous and nutritional support therapies are typically managed by registered and/or board-certified professionals, including pharmacists, nurses and dieticians in collaboration with the patient�� physician in support of the patient�� ongoing health care needs. VillageHealth provides advanced care management services to health plans and Government agencies for employees/members diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) or ESRD. Lifeline provides management and administrative services to physician-owned vascular access clinics that provide surgical and interventional radiology services for dialysis patients. Lifeline also is the owner of one vascular access clinic. DaVita Clinical Research conducts research trials principally with dialysis patients and provides administrative support for research conducted by DaVita-affiliated nephrology practices. DaVita Neph! rology Pa! rtners offers practice management and administrative services to physicians who specialize in nephrology. Practice management and administrative services include operations management, information technology support, billing and collections, credentialing and coding, and other support functions.

The Company competes with Fresenius Medical Care.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Divine]

  DaVita HealthCare Partners (NYSE: DVA  ) , which specializes in kidney dialysis services, sank 5.9% Tuesday, ending as the most sold-off stock in the S&P, and for good reason. Late yesterday, a 9.4% -- about three times as steep as the expected amount -- was proposed for Medicare reimbursements for kidney dialysis. The catalysts for the proposed cuts are government reports alleging that Medicare overpaid by more than half a billion dollars for anemia drugs in 2011 alone.

• [By Jon C. Ogg]

  DaVita Healthcare Partners Inc. (NYSE: DVA) was downgraded to Sector Perform from Outperform at RBC Capital Markets.

  Endeavour International Corp. (NYSE: END) was downgraded to Hold from Buy at Canaccord Genuity.

Top 10 Rising Companies To Watch In Right Now: WebMD Health Corp (WBMD)

WebMD Health Corp. provides health information services to consumers, physicians and other healthcare professionals, employers, and health plans through its public and private online portals, mobile platforms, and health-focused publications in the United States. The company?s public portals enable consumers to obtain health and wellness information, including information on specific diseases or conditions; check symptoms; locate physicians; store individual healthcare information; receive periodic e-newsletters on topics of individual interest; and participate in online communities with peers and experts. Its public portals for physicians and healthcare professionals provide access to clinical reference sources; stay abreast of the latest clinical information; learn about new treatment options; earn continuing medical education credit; and communicate with peers. The company also provides mobile health information applications for use by consumers and physicians. In addit ion, WebMD Health Corp. offers e-detailing promotion and physician recruitment services, content syndication and distribution, and information services, as well as print services, including the advertisements in WebMD the Magazine, a consumer magazine distributed to physician office waiting rooms. The public portals? sponsors and advertisers include pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, and consumer products companies. The company?s private portals enable employers and health plans to provide their employees and members with access to personalized health and benefit information and decision support technology that helps them to make more informed benefit, treatment, and provider decisions. Further, it offers telephonic health coaching services on a per participant basis across an employee or plan population for clients of its private portals. The company was founded in 1995 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Leading and Lagging Sectors
  In trading on Monday, technology shares were relative leaders, up on the day by about 1.18 percent. Among the leading sector stocks, gains came from WebMD Health (NASDAQ: WBMD) and 21Vianet Group (NASDAQ: VNET). Telecommunications services shares gained by just 0.35 percent in the US market today.

Top 10 Rising Companies To Watch In Right Now: Insulet Corporation(PODD)

Insulet Corporation, a medical device company, engages in the development, manufacture, and marketing of insulin infusion systems for people with insulin-dependent diabetes in the United States. The company offers OmniPod Insulin Management System (OmniPod System), which consists of the OmniPod disposable insulin infusion device and the handheld wireless personal diabetes manager to provide diabetes management solution for people with insulin-dependent diabetes. It is also involved in the distribution of durable medical equipment, including blood glucose testing supplies, insulin pumps, pump supplies, pharmaceuticals, and other products for the management and treatment of diabetes. The company sells its OmniPod System directly to patients through referrals from healthcare professionals and through patient leads, as well as through third-party distributors; and delivers durable medical equipment to endocrinologists, insurers, and clients. Insulet Corporation was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Bedford, Massachusetts.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By James Brumley]

  And just for the record, theme-based buyout speculation doesn’t improve your chances of picking an acquisition target. Back in 2012 after Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) bought Amylin for control of its diabetes pipeline following the purchase of Neighborhood Diabetes by Insulet (PODD), pundits were sure it would spark a wave of other diabetes-driven acquisitions. Those other M&A candidates began getting bid up, but as it turns out, no more meaningful buyouts materialized in the diabetes space.

• [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, our headlines feature a pair of downgrades for document storage company Iron Mountain (NYSE: IRM  ) and insulin treatments-equipment maker Insulet (NASDAQ: PODD  ) . But the headlines aren't all bad, so before we break the bad news to you, let's start off on a bright note about...

Top 10 Rising Companies To Watch In Right Now: ICSGlobal Ltd (ICS)

ICSGlobal Limited is an Australia-based company. The principal activities of the Company during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012 (fiscal 2012), were the operations of a holding company in Australia with a 100% owned subsidiary providing medical billing services in the United Kingdom. As of June 30, 2012, the Company owned Medical Billing and Collections (MBC) in the United Kingdom. The Company has owned a number of operating companies in Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom. As of June 30, 2012, the Company is focused on new business opportunities. As of June 30, 2012, the Company�� subsidiaries included Thelma Pty Ltd, EziBill Pty Ltd and Thelma-EU Limited. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dividends4Life]

  This week a few companies answered the call and rewarded their shareholders with higher cash dividends:
  
  Consolidated Edison Inc. (ED) engages in regulated electric, gas, and steam delivery businesses. January 16th the company increased its quarterly dividend 2.4% to $0.63 per share. The dividend is payable March 15, 2014, to stockholders of record on February 12, 2014. The yield based on the new payout is 4.7%.
  
  Cousins Properties Incorporated (CUZ), a real estate investment trust (REIT), owns, develops, and manages real estate portfolio, as well as performs certain real estate-related services. January 16th the company increased its quarterly dividend 66.7% to $0.075 per share. The dividend is payable February 24, 2014, to stockholders of record on February 10, 2014. The yield based on the new payout is 2.8%.
  
  Wisconsin Energy Corporation (WEC) generates and distributes electric energy, as well as distributes natural gas. The company operates in two segments, Utility Energy and Non-Utility Energy. January 16th the company increased its quarterly dividend 2% to $0.3900 per share. The dividend is payable March 1, 2014, to stockholders of record on February 14, 2014. The yield based on the new payout is 3.8%.
  
  BlackRock Inc. (BLK) is a publicly owned investment manager. The firm primarily provides its services to institutional, intermediary, and individual investors. January 16th the company increased its quarterly dividend 14.9% to $1.93 per share. The dividend is payable March 24, 2014, to stockholders of record on March 7, 2014. The yield based on the new payout is 2.4%.
  
  ONEOK Inc. (OKE) operates as a diversified energy company in the United States. January 15th the company increased its quarterly dividend 5.3% to $0.40 per share. The dividend is payable February 18, 2014, to stockholders of record on February 10, 2014. The yield based on the new payout is 2.5%.
  
  Omega Healthcare Investors Inc. (OHI) is a real es