"Rivals may be creating a buzz in the market for navigational technologies, but Garmin Ltd. (Nasdaq: GRMN) will fight off its rivals as it always has, with product breadth and innovation," says Ian Wyatt in Top Stock Insights.
"Garmin, which first started selling products in 1991, has been on a run. Since 2001, the company has compound annual revenue growth of 30%; net income has grown 29% compounded annually.
"Through sound financial execution, Garmin has become a worldwide leader in providing navigation, communication and information devices, many of which carry global positioning system (GPS) technology.
"The automotive and mobile division, which represents the company's portable navigation devices (PNDs), dominates the company's business. PNDs are the fastest growing, most competitive and most consequential market for Garmin and accounted for 71.2% of revenue in third quarter of fiscal 2007.
"In the North American PND market Garmin's share is more than 50%, and its PND share in Europe is 20%. Itss market share is greater than 60% in aviation and higher than 30% in marine electronics. The company's main geographic market is North America, followed by Europe, and then - to a much smaller extent - Asia.
For 25 years, Steven Halpern, editor of TheStockAdvisors.com, has surveyed the leading financial newsletter advisors asking for their favorite stocks for the coming year. This article is one of 100+ ideas in the Best Stocks for 2008 report.
"My favorite more conservative idea for 2008 is Cynosure (NASDAQ: CYNO)," says Ian Wyatt, editor of The Growth Report. "The firm's non-invasive systems are used worldwide by physicians and other practitioners for applications that include the treating of pigmented lesions, acne, wrinkles and the removal of unwanted hair.
"Currently, it has over 15 product lines catering to a market that is evolving from 60,000 dermatologists and plastic surgeons to over 800,000 physicians worldwide.
"A distinguishing characteristic of Cynosure in this dynamic and competitive market is that the firm offers multi-wavelength laser systems that can be used for multiple applications versus single applications associated with single-wavelength systems.
"Demand for non-invasive aesthetic treatment procedures can be seen quite clearly in the impressive financial results. For the nine months ended September 30, 2007, Cynosure reported revenues of $87.7 million, a 63% increase over the same period of 2006. Net income was $9.2 million versus a year-earlier loss of $2.2 million.
For 25 years, Steven Halpern, editor of TheStockAdvisors.com, has surveyed the leading financial newsletter advisors asking for their favorite stocks for the coming year. This article is one of 100+ ideas in the Best Stocks for 2008 report.
"My favorite speculative idea for 2008 is China Natural Gas (NASDAQ: CHNG)," says Ian Wyatt, editor of Rising Star Stocks. "The Delaware-registered public company owns and operates natural gas-related businesses in China.
"Its core business is the distribution of compressed natural gas as a vehicular fuel to retail end users and as a natural gas utility supplying over 71,000 residential customers in Lantian County, Lintong and Baqiao Districts in the City (jurisdiction) of Xian.
"Natural gas is one of the cleanest energy sources and one of China's most abundant natural resources. For this reason, the Chinese government sees compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered vehicles as part of the solution to its national environmental woes.
"For 2007 analysts estimate earnings of 38 cents per share on revenues of $33.9 million, an increase of 80% from revenues of $18.8 million in 2006. In 2008 analysts see China Natural Gas growing its earnings to 58 cents on revenues of $55.4 million, a 63% increase from the 2007 estimate of $33.9 million.
A trio of emerging growth advisors see large potential gains from the "smallest" of ideas – nanotechnology. This broad field involves the study and manipulation of matter at an atomic level.
Wolfe explains, "Arrowhead and Harris & Harris have both grown about 46% annually since 2002 and both market caps are around $250 million. Arrowhead tends to invest in really early stage companies and TINY tends to invest in syndicates of other top venture capital funds."
The advisor continues, "TINY offers a neat way to slip into its private industry deals. I know these guys first hand and the kinds of bets they're making are heavily skewed to the upside. They might lose 100% of any investment on the downside - but they're swinging for 500% or more on the upside."
"Usually investing in mining companies means having to choose between a junior company that is working to get a mine up and running, and a more stable, mature miner that is already in production," say Ian Wyatt and Tony Martin in Small Cap Investor.
They continue, "But then there's Northern Orion Resources Inc. (ASE: NTO), which allows you to put money into both types of play with one stock."
With a junior miner, they admit, you get more risk, at least until the final permit is received, the mining plan finalized, equipment in place, and ore being processed.
Of course, they counter, that can often mean greater leverage to metal prices. With the mature miner, they explain, ou know what you're getting in terms of output from the mine, but that typically limits any blue-sky financial upside for investors.
Northern Orion, they explain, has a 12.5% ownership position in the Alumbrera project, with Goldcorp (NYSE: GG) having a 37.5% position, and London's Xstrata PLC the remaining 50%. Located some 700 miles northwest of Buenos Aires, they point out, Alumbrera is a massive mine, with the project covering almost 13,000 acres.
Last December, over 100 stocks were featured in our Top Picks for 2007 report. Now, at mid-year, we turn to the 20 advisors whose picks showed the strongest gains to get an update on their previous picks, as well as a new favorite stock for the second half of the year.
Ian Wyatt, editor of The Growth Report, chose LJ International Inc. (NASDAQ: JADE) as his favorite stock for 2007. Its 173% gain as of 6/1/07 has made it the number one performer among all stocks in our Top Picks for 2007 report. Here is Ian's original recommendation for JADE and his current favorite stock for the rest of 2007.
Updating his recommendation, the advisor now says, "LJ International continues to capitalize on China's extraordinary growth and accompanying demand for luxury goods -- specifically high-end jewelry -- by expanding its network of ENZO branded jewelry stores.
"Since 2004, when LJI began opening retail jewelry stores in China, it has opened more than 45 stores, established a presence in all of China's major cities, including Hong Kong and Macau, and established itself as China's #1 foreign branded jewelry retailer (Hong Kong and U.S. based), ahead of Tiffany & Co.
"The company has plans to more than double its network to 100 stores by year-end 2007, ahead of the Beijing Olympics. These stores generate robust sales, and, more impressive, nearly half of the existing stores are already profitable. Continued growth of its retail operations will enhance LJI's profitability since ENZO gross margins are twice those of the wholesale business.
Last December, over 100 stocks were featured in our Top Picks for 2007 report. Now, at mid-year, we turn to the 20 advisors whose picks showed the strongest gains to get an update on their previous picks, as well as a new favorite stock for the second half of the year.
For his favorite for the balance of 2007, he continues to look toward China, with his selection of Harbin Electric Inc. (NASDAQ: HRBN). The advisor explains, "Harbin is a growing manufacturer of linear motors in China. Revenues are currently derived in China, but the company has its sights on international markets.
"Strong demand for industrial applications in China will drive the market for linear motors, including factory automation, airport applications, packaging and the oil service industries. Low-cost manufacturing facilities in a modern, 200,000-square-foot manufacturing facility, coupled with cheaper labor costs in China, give Harbin an added competitive advantage.
"A linear motor is an electric motor that produces linear force, in contrast to the rotary torque produced by conventional motors. More important, linear technology is clean, efficient, and generates high speeds. Other advantages include quietness, lower long-term maintenance costs, small size, easy control and installation, and the ability to be used in adverse conditions.
I've just returned from the World Money Show, where more than 10,000 investors gathered to learn about global investing. I had a chance to meet with many of the advisors featured at the show, and I have been highlighting some of their favorite investment ideas. To view all of the stocks featured in this special global report, click here.
"Investors in Russia had more than New Year's Eve as a reason to party as 2006 came to an end, notes Ian Wyatt. "The Russian stock market closed at an all-time high, capping a year in which the dollar-based benchmark Russian Trading System index gained 70%."
The editor-in-chief of Big Idea Investing explains, "In most developing countries, such a gain would usually be a sign of speculators gone crazy, and a stern warning to take your money and run before the inevitable collapse.
"But that doesn't necessarily apply here. The MSCI Russell index has soared almost 500% in dollar terms over the last five years. Some of these returns stem from the rise in oil and gas prices, two commodities of which Russia has enormous reserves.
"It's a long way from 1992, when almost overnight the Soviet Union imploded. Fuel was added to the fire by oil prices, which had started a long climb to record levels. From just $8.8 billion in 1998, revenues from oil exports soared to more than $58 billion by 2004.
"Ford (NYSE:F) and Toyota (NYSE:TM) already have car plants in operation, and will soon be joined by General Motors (NYSE:GM). Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO) has made significant investments, and oil giant ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) said it plans to almost double its investment over the next decade to as much as $15 billion.
Each year Steven Halpern, editor of TheStockAdvisors.com, surveys the leading financial newsletter advisors asking for their favorite stocks for the coming year. This article is part of his 24th annual Top Picks Report.
American Dairy, Inc. (NYSE: ADY) is the top conservative idea for 2007 from Ian Wyatt, editor of The Growth Report. He notes, "American Dairy is a pure play in the Chinese dairy industry. It is a small-cap Chinese stock that provides investors with impressive growth in an expanding market at an attractive valuation.
"Helping to drive growth is the company's focus on quality and brand recognition. Consumer concerns relating to quality issues along with rising income levels in China are allowing consumers to spend more on premium products.
"China's market for the consumption of dairy products is at an early stage and poised to grow. The country's current dairy consumption stands only at about a fifth of the world average, according to the Ministry of Agriculture in China.
"In China, there is also a governmental push to promote the drinking of milk as part of a healthier diet. And given that there are over 200 million primary school children in China, the growth potential is sizeable.