The S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC ) has never been higher; in fact, if you had invested in March 2009 -- the Great Recession's market bottom -- you'd be looking at a 150% return in just over four years. That might make you think stocks are too expensive, but if you look at a few individual companies in the S&P 500, that's not necessarily the case.
One way to measure whether a stock is "cheap" is by its price tag. That's not the best measure, though; it's highly influenced by how many shares a company has outstanding. A different metric to use is a company's price-to-earnings ratio. This tells you how much a stock is worth, relative to how much money its company made over the past year. Right now, the average S&P 500 stock trades for a P/E of 19.3.�
But even when we find companies with low P/E ratios, it doesn't necessarily mean they're a good investment -- these stocks could be trading cheaply for a reason. To dig deeper, let's investigate the five cheapest stocks in the S&P 500.
China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation engages in the exploration, development, production, and marketing of crude oil and natural gas properties primarily in China. It operates 16 oil and gas production fields in China. As of December 31, 2010, the company?s estimated proved reserves of crude oil and natural gas consisted of 3,963 million barrels-of-oil equivalent comprising 2,888 million barrels of crude oil and 6,447 billion cubic feet of natural gas. It also engages in the refining of crude oil; marketing and distribution of refined petroleum products; and production and sale of petrochemical products that consist of intermediate petrochemicals, synthetic resins, synthetic fiber monomers and polymers, synthetic fibers, synthetic rubber, and chemical fertilizers, as well as owns and operates oil depots and service stations. The company was founded in 2000 and is based in Beijing, the People?s Republic of China. China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation is a subsidiary of China Petrochemical Corporation.
Advisors' Opinion: - [By Dan Carroll]
China's nascent energy sector's also hurting between manufacturing's fall and weak exports. Chinese diesel exports declined�to their weakest in seven months in May, and China's Xinhua News Agency sees Chinese domestic diesel demand falling further in the current quarter to match falling�prices. That's not good news for Sinopec (NYSE: SNP ) , one of the world's largest companies and China's leading oil giant. While Sinopec's about as safe a stock as you can imagine in China -- it's the fifth-largest�oil company in the world and has engaged in multiple deals with foreign oil giants in exploration and other activities -- the firm's shares could take a hit if domestic demand and prices continue to slump.
Top 10 Cheapest Stocks To Own Right Now: California Water Service Group (CWT)
California Water Service Group, incorporated on August 2, 1999, is a holding company. The Company operates California Water Service Company (Cal Water), New Mexico Water Service Company (New Mexico Water), Washington Water Service Company (Washington Water), Hawaii Water Service Company, Inc. (Hawaii Water), and CWS Utility Services and HWS Utility Services LLC are collectively called Utility Services. Cal Water, New Mexico Water, Washington Water, and Hawaii Water are regulated public utilities. Utility Services provides non-regulated services to private companies and municipalities. The Company�� business is conducted through its operating subsidiaries. Its bulk business consists of the production, purchase, storage, treatment, testing, distribution and sale of water for domestic, industrial, public and irrigation uses, and for fire protection. It also provides non-regulated water-related services under agreements with municipalities and other private companies. The non-regulated services include full water system operation, billing and meter reading services. Non-regulated operations also include the lease of communication antenna sites, lab services, and promotion of other non-regulated services.
Regulated Business
California water operations are conducted by the Cal Water and CWS Utility Services entities, which provide service to approximately 473,100 customers in 83 California communities through 25 separate districts. Of these 25 districts, 23 districts are regulated water systems, which are subject to regulation by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). Cal Water operates two leased water systems, the City of Hawthorne and the City of Commerce, which are governed through their respective city councils and are outside of the CPUC's jurisdiction. California water operations account for approximately 94% of its total customers and approximately 94% of its total consolidated operating revenue.
Hawaii Water provides service to approximately 4,2! 00 water and wastewater customers on the islands of Maui and Hawaii, including several resorts and condominium complexes. Hawaii's regulated operations are subject to the jurisdiction of the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission. Hawaii Water accounts for less than 1% of its total customers and approximately 3% of its total operating revenue.
Washington Water provides domestic water service to approximately 15,800 customers in the Tacoma and Olympia areas. Washington Water's utility operations are regulated by the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission. Washington Water accounts for approximately 3% of its total customers and approximately 2% of its total consolidated operating revenue.
New Mexico Water provides service to approximately 7,600 water and wastewater customers in the Belen, Los Lunas and Elephant Butte areas in New Mexico. New Mexico's regulated operations are subject to the jurisdiction of the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission. New Mexico Water accounts for approximately 2% of its total customers and approximately 1% of its total consolidated operating revenue.
Non-Regulated Businesses
Non-regulated activities consist primarily of operating water and waste water systems, which are owned by other entities; providing meter reading and billing services; leasing communication antenna sites on its properties; operating recycled water systems; providing lab services for water quality testing; billing of optional third-party insurance program to its residential customers; selling surplus property, and other services as requested by the client. The Company provides operating and maintenance, meter reading and customer billing services for several municipalities in California. It also provides sewer and refuse billing services to several municipalities. The Company leases antenna sites to telecommunication companies, which place equipment at various Company-owned sites. The antennas are used in cellular phone and personal communic! ation app! lications.
Advisors' Opinion: Top 10 Cheapest Stocks To Own Right Now: International Flavors & Fragrances Inc (IFF)
International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (IFF), incorporated on December 6, 1909, creates, manufactures and supplies flavors and fragrances for the food, beverage, personal care and household products industries. The Company operates in two business segments: Flavors and Fragrances. Its Flavors business includes four categories of products: Savory, Beverages, Sweet, pharmaceutical and oral care (Sweet), and Dairy. Its Fragrances business consists of Fragrance Compounds and Fragrance Ingredients. The Company has 29 manufacturing sites around the world that support more than 36,000 products. Its manufacturing facilities are located in the United States, the Netherlands, Spain, Great Britain, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan and Singapore. In January 2014, International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. completed the acquisition of Aromor Flavors and Fragrances Ltd.
Flavors
The Company�� Flavors business is regional in nature, with different formulas that reflect local taste and ingredients. It produces flavors, which are used in soups, sauces, condiments, prepared meals, meat and poultry, and potato chips and other savory snacks. The Company creates flavors for juice drinks, carbonated beverages, flavored waters and spirits. The Company creates flavor concepts and heat-stable flavors for bakery products, as well as candy, chewing gum and cereal. For pharmaceutical and oral care products, it produces flavors for products, such as toothpaste and mouthwash and to create flavors that work while masking the active ingredients. The Company offers a range of value-added compounded flavors for all dairy applications, including yogurt, ice cream, cheese, cream and butter flavor. The Company also offers a range of vanilla extracts and a variety of flavor solutions that build on its understanding of vanilla. It is also developing flavor profiles in its CulinEssence program to bring culinary flavors to its customers.
Fragrances
The ! Company within its Beauty Care product line provides its customers products in the hair care, toiletries and skincare categories. The Company has three subcategories of products, in which its fragrances are included Fabric Care, including laundry detergents, fabric softeners and specialty laundry products; Personal Wash, including bar soap and shower gel, and Home Care, including household cleaners, dishwashing detergents and air fresheners. It manufactures fragrance ingredients for internal use by its perfumers in its Fragrances business and for external use by its customers and other third parties, including its competitors. The Company manufactures its ingredients through its global network of production facilities.
The Company competes with Givaudan, Firmenich and Symrise.
Advisors' Opinion: - [By Seth Jayson]
When judging a company's prospects, how quickly it turns cash outflows into cash inflows can be just as important as how much profit it's booking in the accounting fantasy world we call "earnings." This is one of the first metrics I check when I'm hunting for the market's best stocks. Today, we'll see how it applies to International Flavors & Fragrances (NYSE: IFF ) .
Top 10 Cheapest Stocks To Own Right Now: Sequenom Inc.(SQNM)
Sequenom, Inc. provides products, services, diagnostic testing, applications, and genetic analysis products that translate the results of genomic science into solutions for biomedical research, translational research, molecular medicine applications, and agricultural and livestock research. The company operates in two segments, Molecular Diagnostics and Genetic Analysis. The Molecular Diagnostics segment researches, develops, and commercializes noninvasive molecular diagnostic tests for prenatal genetic disorders and diseases, women?s health related disorders and diseases, ophthalmology, oncology, infectious diseases, and autoimmunity. This segment markets diagnostic technology for prenatal diagnostics under the trademark SEQureDx. The Genetic Analysis segment designs and markets MassARRAY system, a nucleic acid analysis platform that comprises hardware, software applications, consumable chips, and reagents to measure genetic target material and variations. This segment o ffers its MassARRAY system for various DNA/RNA analysis applications, including single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), genotyping, detection of mutations, analysis of copy number variants, and other structural genome variations, as well as quantitative gene expression analysis, quantitative methylation marker analysis, comparative sequence analysis of haploid organisms, SNP discovery, and oligonucleotide quality control. It also provides iPLEX multiplexing assay, which permits multiplexed SNP analysis and somatic mutation analysis. The company offers its products through direct sales, and sales and distribution partners to clinical research laboratories, bio-agriculture, bio-technology and pharmaceutical companies, academic institutions, and various government agencies worldwide. Sequenom, Inc. was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in San Diego, California.
Advisors' Opinion: - [By Dan Carroll]
Vertex couldn't stack up with biotech's big loser this week, Sequenom (NASDAQ: SQNM ) , whose shares lost a painful 29.8% this week after the company reported an intensifying second-quarter loss in its earnings report. Earnings aren't always a big deal for smaller biotechs, but a reimbursement delay caused by billing code changes from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services around Sequenom's MaterniT21 chromosomal diagnostic test sparked a rash of downgrades from across Wall Street.
- [By Brian Pacampara]
What: Shares of diagnostic testing specialist Sequenom (NASDAQ: SQNM ) plummeted 30% today after its quarterly results disappointed Wall Street.�
Top 10 Cheapest Stocks To Own Right Now: DTS Inc.(DTSI)
DTS, Inc. provides audio technologies that are incorporated into various consumer electronics devices worldwide. Its audio technologies enable the delivery and playback of clear and compelling high-definition audio. The company?s technologies are used in various product applications, including audio/video receivers, soundbars, Blu-ray disc players, DVD based products, personal computers, car audio products, video game consoles, network capable televisions, digital media players, set-top-boxes, mobile phones, tablets and home theater systems. It also offers products and services to motion picture studios, radio and television broadcasters, game developers, and other content creators to facilitate the inclusion of compelling and realistic DTS-encoded soundtracks in their content. In addition, the company provides a suite of audio processing technologies to enhance the entertainment experience in televisions, personal computers (PC), and mobile electronics. It serves home au dio/video, automotive, PC, broadcast, mobile electronics, professional content, and other consumer electronics markets. The company was formerly known as Digital Theater Systems, Inc. and changed its name to DTS, Inc. in May 2005. DTS, Inc. was founded in 1990 and is headquartered in Calabasas, California.
Advisors' Opinion: - [By Lisa Levin]
DTS (NASDAQ: DTSI) surged 3.64% to $20.23. The volume of DTS shares traded 148% higher than normal. DTS's PEG ratio is 0.76.
Lululemon Athletica (NASDAQ: LULU) shares climbed 3.02% to $42.65. The volume of Lululemon Athletica shares traded was 138% higher than normal. Dow Jones reported that the company's founder Dennis Wilson, is exploring options, including a potential sale of the company to private equity.
- [By WWW.DAILYFINANCE.COM]
www.fossil.com From the world's largest retailer stepping up with fresh financials to a maker of fashionable timepieces proving that it can still grow in this unwelcome climate for watchmakers, here are some of the things that will help shape the week that lies ahead on Wall Street. Monday -- Sounds Good DTS (DTSI) has carved a cozy living providing sound-enhancing technology in Blu-ray players, video game consoles and other devices. Despite its success, DTS is trading a lot closer to its 52-week low than its 52-week high. One thing holding it back is that it has failed to impress the market with its quarterly financials. It's coming off back-to-back quarters of falling short of Wall Street's profit expectations. It's against this setting that DTS will step up after Monday's market close to deliver its latest results. Will the streak of disappointment stretch to three quarters, or is DTS finally going to put out a report that looks as good as its audio technology sounds? We will know soon. Tuesday -- Fossil Fuel Fossil (FOSL) may seem to be toiling away in an industry worthy of its name. Aren't wristwatches dinosaurs? Who wears watches anymore when we have smartwatches to tell us the time. Folks with active lifestyles are saving their wrists for fitness bracelets. Well, Fossil is growing just nicely in this environment, thank you very much. When the trendy watchmaker reports on Tuesday analysts see revenue climbing 13 percent. They see top-line growth of 10 percent for all of 2014. Fossil's profitability isn't expected to clock in as nicely, but unlike DTS,we've seen Fossil blow Wall Street's profit targets away consistently over the past year. Wednesday -- Press Hard CafePress (PRSS) has been a disappointment for investors since going public at $19 two years ago. The stock opened higher on its first day of trading, but it's been mostly downhill for the shares, which now fetch less than a third of the initial public offering price. CafePress was hoping
Top 10 Cheapest Stocks To Own Right Now: Single Touch Systems Inc (SITO.OB)
Single Touch Systems, Inc., incorporated on incorporated on May 31, 2000, is a mobile media solutions provider serving retailers, advertisers and brands. The Company offers its patented technologies through a modular, adaptable platform and a multi-channel messaging gateway to its customers, enabling them to reach consumers on all types of connected devices. Its solution is designed to drive return on investment for high-volume clients and/or customized branded advertisers. Its platform and tools are designed to enable brands or anyone with substantial reach to utilize the mobile device as a new means to communicate. Communication might be in the form of a reminder message in voice or Short Message Service (SMS), an abbreviated dial code or a coupon, promotion, or an advertisement. On July 26, 2013, the Company dismissed Weaver, Martin & Samyn, LLC (Weaver).
Messaging and Notifications
The Company�� Short Message Service (SMS) gateway has to be a channel for retailers to communicate with their brand loyalists on a personal level. This is accomplished through integration with the client�� customer relationship management (CRM) database. With such integration, retailers are able to send targeted mobile coupons and transactional messages based on a shopper�� CRM profile. Targeted mobile coupons can be sent based on past purchase behaviors making the content relevant and timely to a shopper. Transactional messages can add another layer of value by sending shipping and order pick-up alerts, as well as notifications for reorders, layaway and new product releases.
Abbreviated Dial Codes
The Company�� abbreviated dial codes have 10 times the recall of a common keyword-to-short-code solution. The Company has seen many of its clients using this as an on-ramp to mobility solutions.
Campaign Management and Analytics
The Company�� anywhere management platform is an easy to use Web interface that allows clients to manage and se! gment messaging campaigns with customized reporting tools. Its clients use this tool to drive campaigns related to in store events, product offerings, information and special sales. The message management systems enables the user to create a message, schedule its delivery time and frequency, segment audience groups for distribution and create message responders.
FollowMe
FollowMe provides a product to deliver location based mobile ads directly to consumers��smartphones for retailers and advertisers. The Company has found that by combining multiple real time bidding networks with its ability to serve coupons, ads and promotions at times and places when consumers are interested, it can create relevant content for consumers. FollowMe enables advertisers to deliver targeted ads in App to the smartphones of people within close proximity of a specific location. This service is offered by partnering with TheMobile Audience, a mobile demand side platform (DSP) that enables programmatic buying of mobile media across multiple real-time bidding (RTB) networks.
The Company compets with Voltari, Hippcricket and Hippcricket.
Advisors' Opinion: - [By Markman Advisors]
Public companies leveraging their patent portfolios, (aka "patent plays"), are getting the market's attention. Companies such as Vringo (VRNG), ParkerVision (PRKR), MGT Capital (MGT), Worlds Inc. (WDDD.OB) and others have presented trading opportunities due to their volatility while retaining the chance for a big payoff to those investors who stay the course. Yet there exist viable patent plays that are still undiscovered. Some of these so called "plays," which are not getting enough attention, are actually real companies making and selling real products or services in contrast to pure patent monetization companies. Some known examples are Single Touch Interactive (SITO.OB) and Blue Calypso (BCYP.OB). This article is focused on another one of these patent plays, On Track Innovations Ltd. (OTIV).
Top 10 Cheapest Stocks To Own Right Now: Reeds Inc.(REED)
Reed?s, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the development, manufacture, marketing, and sale of natural non-alcoholic and New Age beverages, candies, and ice creams primarily in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia. The company?s New Age beverages product line includes natural soda, fruit juices and fruit drinks, ready-to-drink teas, sports drinks, and water. It also offers six Reed?s Ginger Brew flavors, including extra, original, premium, cherry ginger, raspberry ginger, and spiced apple ginger; five Virgil?s beverages comprising root beer, cream soda, orange cream soda, black cherry cream soda, and real cola; four zero calorie Virgil?s versions; two China Cola regular and cherry beverages; and two Sonoma Sparkler sparkling juices. In addition, the company offers three types of ginger candies, including crystallized ginger, ginger chews, and peanut butter ginger chews; and three flavors of ginger ice cream comprising original, green tea, and cho colate. Further, it provides Reed?s Natural Energy Elixir, an energy drink; and Reed?s Nausea Releif, a ginger brews based product with added B vitamins. Reed?s, Inc. sells its products to specialty gourmet and natural food stores, supermarket chains, retail stores, and restaurants through a network of natural, gourmet, and independent distributors, as well as through a direct sales team and independent sales representatives. The company was formerly known as Original Beverage Corporation and changed its name to Reed?s, Inc. in 2001. Reed?s, Inc. was founded in 1987 and is based in Los Angeles, California.
Advisors' Opinion: - [By Tabitha Jean Naylor]
Reed's (NYSE: REED)
The story goes that Reed’s beverage company got its beginning when Chris Reed found a 100-year-old beverage recipe in the UCLA library, and decided to brew it as an experiment. The company sold its first beverages to the public in 1989, which included a Caribbean style “homebrewed” ginger soda.
- [By John Udovich]
If you are looking for the next small cap beverage stock that could turn into the next Monster Beverage Corp (NASDAQ: MNST), under the radar beverage�companies like small caps National Beverage Corp (NASDAQ: FIZZ), Reed's, Inc (NYSEMKT: REED) and Konared Corp (OTCBB: KRED) could be just what you are looking for. I should point out that the beverage space is often a battle between David and Goliath as everyone, and especially�smaller players, must fight for every inch of shelf space. Nevertheless, the following small cap beverage stocks are at least holding their ground and putting up a good fight leading to profits for investors:
