the 5 best and worst stocks of 2015...so far

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The 5 Best and Worst Stocks of 2015 A Mid-Year Check-In

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The 5 Best and Worst Stocks of

2015A Mid-Year Check-In

A Quick NoteO To be considered for this list,

companies needed to have a market capitalization of at least $300 million.

O Biotechnology and drug companies were omitted from the list, as they would have been almost all of the members of the best-performers list.O These stocks make huge swings—up or

down—based upon drug approval rulings from the FDA.

Let’s start with the five worst performers

of the year…

5) Natural Resource Partners

O YTD Performance: (57%)

O Business: An MLP that owns and leases mineral properties in the United States.

O Cause: NRP accumulated a lot of debt over the years and had to cut its dividend by 75%.

Source: Natural Resource Partners

4) Caesars Entertainment

O YTD Performance: (59%)

O Business: Owner and operator of casino and casino-based properties.

O Cause: The company has yet to turn a profit since going public, has massive amounts of debt, and is investing in questionable properties in Atlantic City.

Source: Caesars Entertainment

3) Sonus NetworksO YTD Performance:

(60%)O Business: Provider of

cloud communications hardware and services.

O Cause: The company had a number of large orders that were expected to close in the first quarter that it now doesn’t expect until next year.

Source: Sonus

2)Peabody EnergyO YTD Performance:

(68%)O Business:

Worldwide coal miner.

O Cause: The coal market is very weak. Peabody is trying to stay afloat by issuing bonds, but that may not be enough. Source: Peabody

1) Lumber LiquidatorsO YTD Performance:

(68%)O Business: Seller of

hardwood flooring.O Cause: A 60 Minutes

piece called into question the safety of the company’s China-sourced laminates. Many C-Level executives have since left.Source: Lumber Liquidators

NOW, LET’S MOVE ON TO THE BIGGEST WINNERS OF THE YEAR…THUS FAR.

5) AmbarellaO YTD Performance:

141%O Business: Develops

technology used in small video recording devices.

O Cause: Sales of the company’s technology have exploded thanks to GoPro’s popular cameras, as well as increased interest by security firms.

Source: GoPro

4) Isle of CapriO YTD Performance:

142%O Business: Casino

owner/operatorO Cause: Besides

reporting strong growth earlier in the year, the stock took a major jump after it was leaked that it may be bought out by Gaming and Leisure Properties.Source: Isle of Capri

3) Tantech HoldingsO YTD Performance:

153%O Business: Chinese

company that makes bamboo-based charcoal products.

O Cause: This is a newly public company that very little is known about. Investors should tread carefully.

Source: Tantech

2) NeoPhotonicsO YTD Performance:

218%O Business: Manufactures

hybrid photonic integrated models used to process and send large amounts of data.

O Cause: The last two quarters, NeoPhotonics has crushed analyst expectations. Sales of the company’s 100G products have been very strong.

Source: NeoPhotonics

1) Natural Health Trends

O YTD Performance: 273%

O Business: Direct-seller of nutritional, beauty, and lifestyle products, primarily in China.

O Cause: Revenue and earnings have both grown substantially. But beware, this is essentially a multi-level marketing company operating in China.

Source: Natural Health Trends

While finding out about the year’s winners and losers is fun, it doesn’t help YOU very much.

These moves have already taken place.

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