Benchmark Journal

Stanley Black & Decker Reports 20% Rise In Net Income

Written on January 26, 2012 by Tom Sanderson in Investments, North America, Stocks

Stanley Black and Decker Inc. Company’s fourth quarter net income rose by 20%. The company attributed this success to higher prices, stronger sales and an acquisition. The company earned $165.3 million equaling 99 cents per share in the fourth quarter. In the 4^th quarter of 2010, the company made 137.8 million equaling 81 cents per share. John F. Ludgren, the president and CEO of Stanley Black and Decker (SWK) said that “We are proud of all we accomplished in the face of a choppy and unpredictable global macroeconomic backdrop. “

The company’s stock took a dip in September, 2011, but since then has risen from $48 to $72, providing a buying opportunity.

There were two important acquisitions that contributed to the company’s success. First, Stanley Works Inc. acquired Black and Decker in 2010 and paid off the company’s debts. Both Stanley works Inc. and the original Black and Decker’s Company manufactured and many types of tools and hardware products. Therefore, the acquisition was natural and economically powerful. Second, earlier in 2011, The Company announced that it would be acquiring a commercial security and monitoring company called Niscayah Group AB.

Some of the directors and managers at Stanley black and Decker are Massimo Grassi, Michael A. Tyll, Jeff Hung-Tse Chen, Ben S. Sihota, Marianne Miller Parrs, John F. Lundgren, Virgis W. Colbert and Nolan D. Archibald.

Disclaimer: The information provided here is preliminary information and is insufficient to formulate investment decisions. All investments should be made only after a thorough analysis of the investment.

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Radware Is A Major Player In Internet Connectivity

Written on January 25, 2012 by Tom Sanderson in Investments, Stocks

Radware Ltd.’s stock has been headed up from $20 per share at the beginning of October, 2011 to $31.62 on January 24, 2012. The stock’s high was 41.33 on February 17, 2011. The profitability ratios show an operating margin of 9.60% and a profit margin of 11.58% which are respectable ratios. The company is positioned in a growing field and has a strong basis for growth.

Radware Ltd. (RDWR) is a technology company specializing in network security and application delivery solutions to protect and enable data transfer through cloud centers. In addition, it provides a variety of other sophisticated network control functions. Radware serves clients in the following industries: global service providers, media companies, government agencies, insurance companies, banks, and manufacturing and retail. It markets its products mainly in Europe, North America and Asia.

Some of the directors and managers at Radware are: Meir Moshe, Ilan Kinreich, Yehuda Zisapel, and Roy Zisapel.

Disclaimer: The information provided here is preliminary information and is insufficient to base investment decisions on. All investments should be made only after a thorough investigation of the investment.

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Silicom Ltd Shows Tremendous Profits And Potential

Written on January 24, 2012 by Tom Sanderson in Investments, Stocks

Silicom Ltd (SILC) stock has risen from $12.31 in August 2011 to 19.33 as of January 23, 2012. The company provides connectivity solutions to servers and server based systems internationally.

Financially, the company’s 2011 revenues increased by 30% over their 2010 revenues: from 30.4 million dollars to 39.6 million dollars in 2011. Net income increased from $5.7 million in 2010 to $8.2 million in 2011. In addition, since 2009 the company has almost tripled its net income from $2.8 million in 2009 to $8.2 million in 2011. In addition, the operating margin (ttm) is 20.67% and the profit margin is at 20.29%. The management effectiveness ratios are return on assets of 7.54% and return on equity of 13.58%

The only problem that I see is that the trading volume is unusually low, ranging from 2,000 to 72,000 shares traded per day. This means that if one should need to sell in a hurry, he may have to wait for a day or more until he makes the sale. I also prefer stocks that give dividends which Silicom does not, but I can’t call that a defect.

Some of the directors and managers at Silicom are: Ilan Kalmanovich, Zohar Zisapel, and Einat Domb-Har.

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Ormat Technologies Is Gathering Steam

Written on January 22, 2012 by Tom Sanderson in Investments, Stocks

Ormat Technologies, Inc. (ORA) operates power plants based on both geothermal and energy recovery systems. Ormat designs, builds, owns and operates these power facilities throughout the world. Ormat also designs, produces and markets recovered and geothermal energy power units and other related equipment. This company has over 40 years of experience and has approximated 80 patents protecting its technology. The company has 12 power plants in the U.S., 2 in Guatemala, One in Kenya and one in Nicaragua.

According to a Morningstar article by Travis Miller, Ormat is a top utilities investment, partially because its type of energy source is cheaper and more reliable than wind and solar generation. Also, coal power plants are encountering difficulties meeting government environmental standards and are being closed down.

Some of the top managers at Ormat Technologies are: Bob Sullivan, Shimon Hatzir, Yoram Bronicki, Yehudit “Dita” Bronicki, and Lucien Y. Bronicki.

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Teva Is a Strong Investment

Written on January 19, 2012 by Tom Sanderson in Europe, Investments, Middle East, North America, Stocks

Teva has rising revenues and earnings and its stock has been rising over the last four months. Since September 23 the stock has risen from $35 to $48. USB has given Teva a buy rating because it is expected to increase its market share. Teva is well positioned in the United States market and is working on expanding its market share in Europe and in other emerging markets. The company is winning or maintaining leading market positions in Italy, Hungary, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and the U.K. The company is forecast to produce double digit earnings thanks to its strong development and acquisitions pipeline.

One of Teva’s stated goals is to become one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world. In 2011, Teva acquired Thermax which had many women’s products and marketed them in over 50 countries. This acquisition gave Teva the rights to distribute in growing markets in Spain and Brazil. In 2011, Teva also bought Corporacion Infarmasa, one of the top ten Peruvian drug companies. This company marketed over 500 branded and generic drugs in Peru.

Some of the top directors and managers at Teva Pharmaceuticals are Ron Grupel, Prof. Itzhak Krinsky, Joseph Nitzani, Erez Vigodman, Richard S. Egosi, Uzi Karniel, Ika Abravanel, Ory Slonim, Dr. Gerard W.M. Van Odijk, Amir Elstein, Issac Abravanel, Prof. Moshe Many, Roger Abravanel, Prof. Yitzhak Peterburg, Prof. Roger D. Kornberg, and Frances M. Zipp,

Disclaimer: The information provided here is preliminary information and is insufficient to form investment decisions. All investments should be made only after a thorough investigation of the investment.

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