Top Five Guru-Held Central American Companies

Using the GuruFocus Aggregated Portfolio Screener you can filter results to see what companies maintain the highest amount of guru ownership. By using this screener, we filtered down to see which companies based in Central American countries were held by the highest number of gurus. The following five companies come from a variety of industries, are based out of Central America and are held by the largest number of gurus.

Grupo Televisa (TV)

Over the past quarter the most gurus held on to Grupo Televisa S.A.B. There were twelve guru owners with seven gurus making buys last quarter and eight making sells. These gurus hold a combined weighting of 7.07%.

The top guru shareholders of Grupo Televisa:

1. Jean-Marie Eveillard with 32,829,088 shares or 5.72% of the company's shares outstanding.
2. Dodge & Cox: 21,303,692 shares or 3.71% of the company's shares outstanding.
3. Bill Gates: 16,879,103 shares or 2.94% of the company's shares outstanding.

Grupo Televisa is a media company in the Spanish-speaking world. It operates four broadcast channels in Mexico and has network coverage through affiliated stations throughout the country.

Grupo Televisa's historical revenue and earnings growth:

[ Enlarge Image ]

The analysis on Grupo Televisa reports that the company's dividend yield is near a 10-year low, its price is near a 10-year high and the company has shown predictable revenue and earnings growth. The analysis also reports that Grupo Televisa has issued MXN329.65 million of debt over the past three years.

Grupo Televisa has a market cap of $16.66 billion. Its shares are currently trading at around $29.04 with a P/S ratio of 3.00 and a P/B ratio of 3.50. The company had an annual average earnings growth of 46.40% over the past ten years.

GuruFocus rated Grupo Televisa the business predictability rank of 2-star.

Herbalife (HLF)

As of the close of! the third quarter there were eleven guru owners of Herbalife Ltd. These gurus held a combined weighting of 24.60%. During the third quarter, there were four gurus making buys and four making sells of their stake in HLF.

The top guru shareholders of Herbalife:

1. Carl Icahn: 16,966,485 shares, representing 16.46% of the company's shares outstanding.
2. George Soros: 5,039,175 shares, representing 4.89% of the company's shares outstanding.
3. Richard Perry: 2,632,138 shares or 2.55% of the company's shares outstanding.

Herbalife is a global nutrition company that sells weight management, healthy meals and snacks, sports and fitness, energy and targeted nutritional products as well as personal care products.

Herbalife's historical revenue and net income:

[ Enlarge Image ]

The analysis on Herbalife reports that the company's operating margin is expanding, its price is near a 10-year high, its dividend yield is near a 1-year low and the company has issued $740.828 million of debt over the past three years.

The Peter Lynch Chart suggests that Herbalife is currently overvalued:

[ Enlarge Image ]

Herbalife has a market cap of $7.62 billion. Its shares are currently trading at around $75.35 with a P/E ratio of 15.80, a P/S ratio of 1.80 and a P/B ratio of 16.70. The dividend yield of Herbalife stocks is currently at 1.60%. Herbalife had an annual average earnings growth of 13.00% over the past ten years.

America Movil SAB de CV (AMX)

As of the close of the third quarter there were 11 guru owners of America Movil. These gurus held a combined weighting of 7.74%. During the third quarter, there were seven gurus making buys and four making sells of their stake in AMX.

The top guru shareholders of America Movil SAB de CV:

1. Charles Brandes: 16,709,714 shares representing 0.44% of t! he compan! y's shares outstanding.
2. Manning & Napier: 8,389,590 shares representing 0.22% of the company's shares outstanding.
3. Jeremy Grantham: 7,781,940 shares, representing 0.21% of the company's shares outstanding.

America Movil provides telecommunications services in 18 countries. The company provides wireless communications services in Latin America. It also has fixed-line operations in Mexico, Brazil, Colombia and eleven other countries.

America Movil's historical revenue and net income:

[ Enlarge Image ]

The analysis on America Movil reports that the company has issued MXN12.5 billion of debt over the past three years, its revenue and earnings growth have shown consistent signs of growth and its dividend yield is nearing a 10-year high.

The Peter Lynch Chart suggests that the company is currently slightly overvalued:

[ Enlarge Image ]

America Movil has a market cap of $80.95 billion. Its shares are currently trading at around $22.42 with a P/E ratio of 15.00, a P/S ratio of 1.40 and a P/B ratio of 4.80. The company had an annual average earnings growth of 24.4% over the past ten years.

GuruFocus rated America Movil the business predictability rank of 3-star.

Fomento Economico Mexicano SAB de CV (FMX)

As of the close of the third quarter there were ten guru owners of Fomento Economico Mexicano. These gurus held a combined weighting of 1.99%. During the third quarter, there were four gurus making buys and seven making sells of their stake in FMX.

The top guru shareholders of Fomento Economico:

1. Lee Ainslie: 1,065,502 shares, representing 0.3% of the company's shares outstanding.
2. Jim Simons: 258,400 shares, representing 0.07% of the company's shares outstanding.
3. Mario Gabelli: 192,745 shares, representing 0.05% of the company's shares outstanding.

Fomen! to Econom! ico Mexicano is a beverage company. It conducts its operations through principal holding companies such as Coca-Cola FEMSA, which engages in the production, distribution and marketing of soft drinks.

Fomento's historical revenue and net income:

[ Enlarge Image ]

The analysis on Fomento Economico reports that the company's revenue has slowed down over the past year, its dividend yield is near a 10-year high and its gross and operating margins have been in a 5-year decline.

The Peter Lynch Chart suggests that the company is currently overvalued:

[ Enlarge Image ]

Fomento Economico Mexicano has a market cap of $33.28 billion. Its shares are currently trading at around $93.00 with a P/E ratio of 21.70 and a P/S ratio of 2.00. The dividend yield of Fomento stocks is currently at 1.70%. The company had an annual average earnings growth of 8.60% over the past ten years.

GuruFocus rated Fomento the business predictability rank of 4-star.

Cemex SAB de CV (CX)

As of the close of the third quarter there were nine guru owners of Cemex. These gurus held a combined weighting of 5.30%. During the third quarter, there were three gurus making buys and nine making sells of their stake in CX.

The top guru shareholders of Cemex:

1. Mason Hawkins: 35,375,663 shares, representing 3.23% of the company's shares outstanding.
2. Charles Brandes: 15,686,334 shares, representing 1.43% of the company's shares outstanding.
3. George Soros: 6,500,000 shares, representing 0.59% of the company's shares outstanding.

Cemex is a cement manufacturer. It is a holding company of entities which main activities are oriented to the construction industry, through the production, marketing, distribution and sale of cement, ready-mix concrete, aggregates and other construction materials.

Cemex's historical re! venue and! net income:

[ Enlarge Image ]

The analysis on Cemex reports that the company's revenue has been in decline over the past five years, its operating and gross margins have been in a 5-year decline and its P/S ratio is trading at a 1-year low.

Cemex has a market cap of $12.08 billion. Its shares are currently trading at around $11.05 with a P/S ratio of 0.90. The company had an annual average earnings growth of 8.60% over the past five years.

You can check out other top held sectors of the market by using the Aggregated Screener here.

Try a free 7-day premium membership.
Also check out: Charles Brandes Undervalued Stocks Charles Brandes Top Growth Companies Charles Brandes High Yield stocks, and Stocks that Charles Brandes keeps buying George Soros Undervalued Stocks George Soros Top Growth Companies George Soros High Yield stocks, and Stocks that George Soros keeps buying

Currently 0.00/512345 Rating: 0.0/5 (0 votes)

Subscribe via Email Subscribe RSS Comments Please leave your comment:
More GuruFocus Links

Latest Guru Picks	Value Strategies
Warren Buffett Portfolio	Ben Graham Net-Net
Real Time Picks	Buffett-Munger Screener
Aggregated Portfolio	Undervalued Predictable
ETFs, Options	Low P/S Companies
Insider Trends	10-Year Financials
52-Week Lows	Interactive Charts
Model Portfolios	DCF Calculator
RSS Feed	Monthly Newsletters
The All-In-One Screener	Portfolio Tracking Tool

182,827 Users
Have Received Their FREE 12-Page Warren Buffett Portfolio Report Get Yours FREE Here MORE GURUFOCUS LINKS

Latest Guru Picks	Value Strategies
Warren Buffett Portfolio	Ben Graham Net-Net
Real Time Picks	Buffett-Munger Screener
Aggregated Portfolio	Undervalued Predictable
ETFs, Options	Low P/S Companies
Insider Trends	10-Year Financials
52-Week Lows	Interactive Charts
Model Portfolios	DCF Calculator
RSS Feed	Monthly Newsletters
The All-In-One Screener	Portfolio Tracking Tool

TV STOCK PRICE CHART 28.83 (1y: +16%) $(function() { var seriesOptions = [], yAxisOptions = [], name = 'TV', display = ''; Highcharts.setOptions({ global: { useUTC: true } }); var d = new Date(); $current_day = d.getDay(); if ($current_day == 5 || $current_day == 0 || $current_day == 6){ day = 4; } else{ day = 7; } seriesOptions[0] = { id : name, animation:false, color: '#4572A7', lineWidth: 1, name : name.toUpperCase() + ' stock price', threshold : null, data : [[1354773600000,24.79],[1354860000000,25.12],[1355119200000,25.02],[1355205600000,25.36],[1355292000000,25.39],[1355378400000,25.46],[1355464800000,25.41],[1355724000000,25.58],[1355810400000,26.08],[1355896800000,26.52],[1355983200000,26.77],[1356069600000,26.5],[1356328800000,26.23],[1356501600000,26.08],[1356588000000,26.3],[1356674400000,26.12],[1356933600000,26.58],[1357106400000,27.5],[1357192800000,27.63],[1357279200000,27.69],[1357538400000,27.5],[1357624800000,27.51],[1357711200000,27.8],[1357797600000,27.74],[1357884000000,27.71],[1358143200000,27.85],[1358229600000,27.41],[1358316000000,27.41],[1358402400000,27.78],[1358488800000,27.95],[1358834400000,28.3],[1358920800000,28.26],[1359007200000,28.13],[1359093600000,28.27],[1359352800000,28.24],[1359439200000,28.4],[1359525600000,28.46],[1359612000000,28.01],[1359698400000,29.18],[1359957600000,28.59],[1360044000000,28.8],[1360130400000,28.47],[1360216800000,27.96],[1360303200000,27.89],[1360562400000,28.08],[1360648800000,27.88],[1360735200000,27.69],[1360821600000,27.63],[1360908000000,27.78],[1361253600000,28.13],[1361340000000,28.29],[1361426400000,28.09],[1361512800000,27.5],[1361772000000,26.51],[1361858400000,26.23],[1361944800000,26.45],[1362031200000,26.83],[1362117600000,27.48],[1362376800000,27.53],[1362463200000,27.63],[1362549600000,26.42],[1362636000000,26.65],[1362722400000,26.96],[1362978000000,26.98],[1363064400000,27.13],[1363150800000,26.53],[1363237200000,26.45],[1363323600000,26.09],[1363582800000,26.19],[1363669200000,25.78],[1363755600000,26.18],[1363842000000,25.7],[1363928400000,25.99],[1364187600000,26.07],[1364274000000,26.27],[1364360400000,26.53],[1364446800000,26.61],[1364792400000,26.49],[1364878800000,27.36],[1364965200000,26.82],[1365051600000,26.91],[1365138000000,27.1],[1365397200000,27.01],[1365483600000,27.19],[1365570000000,27.89],[1365656400000,28.03],[1365742800000,27.45],[1366002000000,26.35],[1366088400000,26.23],[1366174800000,25.3],[1366261200000,25.26],[1366347600000,25.33],[1366606800000,25.73],! [1366693200000,25.96],[1366779600000,25.74],[1366866000000,26.18],[1366952400000,25.4],[1367211600000,25.28],[1367298000000,25.32],[1367384400000,25.24],[1367470800000,25.12],[1367557200000,25.4],[1367816400000,25.37],[1367902800000,25.81],[1367989200000,26.57],[1368075600000,26.51],[1368162000000,26.6],[1368421200000,26.5],[1368507600000,26.61],[1368594000000,26.83],[1368680400000,26.66],[1368766800000,26.89],[1369026000000,27],[1369112400000,26.24],[1369198800000,25.76],[1369285200000,26.3],[1369371600000,25.89],[1369717200000,25.75],[1369803600000,26.04],[1369890000000,25.99],[1369976400000,26.08],[1370235600000,25.99],[1370322000000,25.57],[1370408400000,24.2],[1370494800000,24.13],[1370581200000,24.06],[1370840400000,23.67],[1370926800000,23.85],[1371013200000,23.3],[1371099600000,23.71],[1371186000000,23.68],[1371445200000,23.82],[1371531600000,23.71],[1371618000000,23.47],[1371704400000,22.61],[1371790800000,22.49],[1372050000000,22.31],[1372136400000,22.65],[1372222800000,23.8],[1372309200000,24.21],[1372395600000,24.84],[1372654800000,24.68],[1372741200000,24.39],[1372827600000,24.06],[1373000400000,24.48],[1373259600000,23.98],[1373346000000,25.53],[1373432400000,24.63],[1373518800000,25.38],[1373605200000,25.4],[1373864400000,25.45],[1373950800000,25.14],[1374037200000,25.75],[1374123600000,25.8],[137

10 Restaurant and Resort Stocks to Buy Now

Popular Posts: 17 Oil and Gas Stocks to Sell Now7 Biotechnology Stocks to Buy Now3 Oil and Gas Stocks to Buy Now Recent Posts: 10 Restaurant and Resort Stocks to Buy Now 10 Worst “Strong Sell” Stocks This Week — EGO WLT RBY and more 5 Stocks With Awful Earnings Surprises — WPC CBB ROMA MOD NX View All Posts

The grades of 10 restaurant and resort stocks are on the rise this week on Portfolio Grader. Each of these stocks is rated an “A” (“strong buy”) or “B” overall (“buy”).

Gaylord Entertainment () is bumping up its rating from a C (“hold”) to a B (“buy”) this week. Gaylord Entertainment owns and operates branded hotels in multiple states. .

This is a strong week for Peet’s Coffee & Tea (). The company’s rating climbs to B from the previous week’s C. Peet’s Coffee & Tea markets fresh-roasted whole bean coffee. .

Bally Technologies, Inc. () improves from a C to a B rating this week. Bally Technologies is engaged in the design, manufacturing, and distribution of gaming devices and computerized monitoring, accounting, and player-tracking systems for gaming devices. The stock price has been on the rise for the past three days, reaching $69.59. .

The rating of Brinker International, Inc. () moves up this week, rising from a C to a B. Brinker International owns, develops, operates and franchises the Chili’s Grill & Bar, On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina, and Maggiano’s Little Italy restaurant brands. Shares of EAT have increased 11.5% over the past month, better than the 1.7% decrease the S&P 500 has seen over the same period of time. .

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc.’s () ratings are looking better this week, moving up to a B from last week’s C. Red Robin Gourmet Burgers is a casual dining restaurant chain focused on serving gourmet burgers in a family-friendly atmosphere. After six consecutive days of gains, the stock price has reached $77.89. .

This week, Papa John’s International, Inc. () is showing good progress as the company’s rating jumps from a B (“buy”) last week to an A (“strong buy”). Papa John’s International operates and franchises pizza delivery and carry-out restaurants under the Papa John’s trademark. Wall Street has pushed the stock higher by 8.3% over the past month. .

The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated () shows solid improvement this week. The company’s rating rises from a C to a B. Cheesecake Factory operates upscale, casual, full-service dining restaurants in the United States. Investors have pushed the stock price up 11.7% over the past month. .

This week, Texas Roadhouse, Inc. () pushes up from a C to a B rating. Texas Roadhouse operates the Texas Roadhouse restaurant franchise. .

Churchill Downs Incorporated () is seeing ratings go up from a C last week to a B this week. Churchill Downs owns and operates pari-mutuel wagering properties and businesses. .

Jack in the Box () gets a higher grade this week, advancing from a B last week to an A. Jack in the Box operates and franchises Jack In the Box fast-food restaurants primarily in the Western region of the United States. Investors seem to agree with the upgraded status of the stock, and have pushed the stock up 11.3% over the past month. .

Louis Navellier’s proprietary Portfolio Grader stock ranking system assesses roughly 5,000 companies every week based on a number of fundamental and quantitative measures. Stocks are given a letter grade based on their results — with A being “strong buy,” and F being “strong sell.” Explore the tool here.

5 Stocks Under $10 on the Verge of Breakouts

DELAFIELD, Wis. (Stockpickr) -- At Stockpickr, we track daily portfolios of stocks that are the biggest percentage gainers and the biggest percentage losers.

>>5 Stock Trades to Take This Week

Stocks that are making large moves like these are favorites among short-term traders because they can jump into these names and try to capture some of that massive volatility. Stocks that are making big-percentage moves either up or down are usually in play because their sector is becoming attractive or they have a major fundamental catalyst such as a recent earnings release. Sometimes stocks making big moves have been hit with an analyst upgrade or an analyst downgrade.

Regardless of the reason behind it, when a stock makes a large-percentage move, it is often just the start of a new major trend -- a trend that can lead to huge profits. If you time your trade correctly, combining technical indicators with fundamental trends, discipline and sound money management, you will be well on your way to investment success.

>>5 Hated Earnings Stocks You Should Love

With that in mind, let's take a closer look at a several stocks under $10 that are making large moves to the upside today.

NeoPhotonics

NeoPhotonics (NPTN) is a designer and manufacturer of PIC-based modules and subsystems for bandwidth-intensive, high-speed communications networks. This stock closed up 3.5% to $7.54 in Tuesday's trading session.

Tuesday's Range: $7.32-$7.57

52-Week Range: $4.75-$9.77

Tuesday's Volume: 69,000

Three-Month Average Volume: 124,923

>>5 Stocks Ready to Break Out

From a technical perspective, NPTN trended higher here right above its 50-day moving average of $7.19 with lighter-than-average volume. This stock has been uptrending strong for the last three months, with shares moving higher from its low of $6.20 to its recent high of $7.98. During that uptrend, shares of NPTN have been making mostly higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. That move has now pushed shares of NPTN within range of triggering a major breakout trade. That trade will hit if NPTN manages to take out Tuesday's high of $7.57 to some near-term overhead resistance at $7.98 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in NPTN as long as it's trending above its 50-day at $7.19 or above $7 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that's near or above 124,923 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then NPTN will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $9 to $10.

Mast Therapeutics

Mast Therapeutics (MSTX), a biopharmaceutical company, develops novel therapies for serious or life-threatening diseases with significant unmet needs. This stock closed up 8.1% to 51 cents per share in Tuesday's trading session.

Tuesday's Range: $0.47-$0.51

52-Week Range: $0.40-$0.82

Tuesday's Volume: 957,000

Three-Month Average Volume: 1.32 million

>>5 Stocks Set to Soar on Bullish Earnings

From a technical perspective, MSTX spiked sharply higher here right above its 50-day moving average of 46 cents per share with decent upside volume. This stock recently formed a double bottom chart pattern at 48 cents to 47 cents per share. Shares of MSTX are now starting to trend within range of triggering a big breakout trade. That trade will hit if MSTX manages to take out some near-term overhead resistance levels at 55 cents to its 200-day moving average at 57 cents per share with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in MSTX as long as it's trending above its 50-day at 46 cents and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 1.32 million shares. If that breakout hits soon, then MSTX will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at 67 cent to 74 cents, or even 76 cents per share.

Zeltiq Aesthetics

Zeltiq Aesthetics (ZLTQ) develops and commercializes medical products such as CoolSculpting System, a non-invasive product for the selective reduction of body fat. This stock closed up 7.3% to $9.81 in Tuesday's trading session.

Tuesday's Range: $9.17-$9.87

52-Week Range: $3.20-$9.90

Tuesday's Volume: 595,000

Three-Month Average Volume: 231,600

>>5 Rocket Stocks Worth Buying This Week

From a technical perspective, ZLTQ spiked sharply higher here right above its 50-day moving average of $8.77 with above-average volume. This stock has been uptrending strong for the last six months, with shares moving higher from its low of $4 to its recent high of $9.90. During that uptrend, shares of ZLTQ have been consistently making higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. That move has now pushed shares of ZLTQ within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade. That trade will hit if ZLTQ manages to take out Tuesday's high of $9.87 to its 52-week high at $9.90 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in ZLTQ as long as it's trending above its 50-day at $8.77 or above $8.50 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 231,600 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then ZLTQ will set up to enter new 52-week-high territory, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that breakout are $12 to $13.

Pingtan Marine Enterprise

Pingtan Marine Enterprise (PME) is a blank check company formed for the purpose of acquiring an operating business that has its main operations in the people's republic of China. This stock closed up 10.4% to $2.85 in Tuesday's trading session.

Tuesday's Range: $2.60-$2.87

52-Week Range: $1.31-$12.50

Tuesday's Volume: 86,000

Three-Month Average Volume: 53,295

From a technical perspective, PME ripped sharply higher here with above-average volume. This move is quickly pushing shares of PME within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade. That trade will hit if PME manages to take out some near-term overhead resistance at $2.94 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in PME as long as it's trending above some near-term support at $2.27 and then once it sustains a move or close above $2.94 with volume that hits near or above 53,295 shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then PME will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $3.63 to $4.20. Any high-volume move above those levels will then give PME a chance to tag $5.

SGOCO Group

SGOCO Group (SGOC) is engaged in product design and brand development in the Chinese flat panel display market. This stock closed up 8.1% to $3.45 in Tuesday's trading session.

Tuesday's Range: $3.10-$3.46

52-Week Range: $0.70-$4.57

Tuesday's Volume: 103,000

Three-Month Average Volume: 287,558

From a technical perspective, SGOC bounced sharply higher here right off its 50-day moving average of $3.21 with lighter-than-average volume. This move is quickly pushing shares of SGOC within range of triggering a big breakout trade. That trade will hit if SGOC manages to take out some key overhead resistance levels at $3.74 to $3.84 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in SGOC as long as it's trending above its 50-day at $3.21 or above Tuesday's low of $3.10, and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 287,558 shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then SGOC will set up to re-test or possibly take out its 52-week high at $4.57.

To see more stocks that are making notable moves higher today, check out the Stocks Under $10 Moving Higher portfolio on Stockpickr.

-- Written by Roberto Pedone in Delafield, Wis.

RELATED LINKS:

>>Own Gold? Here's Why It's Time to Sell

>>4 Stocks Rising on Big Volume

>>3 Hot Stocks on Traders' Radars

Follow Stockpickr on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.

At the time of publication, author had no positions in stocks mentioned.

Roberto Pedone, based out of Delafield, Wis., is an independent trader who focuses on technical analysis for small- and large-cap stocks, options, futures, commodities and currencies. Roberto studied international business at the Milwaukee School of Engineering, and he spent a year overseas studying business in Lubeck, Germany. His work has appeared on financial outlets including

CNBC.com and Forbes.com. You can follow Pedone on Twitter at www.twitter.com/zerosum24 or @zerosum24.

T. Rowe bans 1,300 airline workers from trading 401(k) accounts

T. Rowe Price's decision to bar a group of American Airlines employees from trading in their 401(k) plans may be a way for fund firms to protect themselves and plan sponsors from potential liabilities.

The firm banned 1,300 employees of the airline from trading in funds in the company's retirement plan in an attempt to deter en-masse trading by a group that subscribes to EZTracker, an investment newsletter for airline employees, according to a report from Reuters. Another 800 workers were warned about their trading activity.

The newsletter's recommendations have shaped trading activity in the past: In April, EZTracker suggested participants sell out of T. Rowe Price's high-yield fund, five months after suggesting readers buy it, according to Reuters.

Though it's entirely up to a plan participant how he or she decides to invest, fund families and plan sponsors can be at risk when investors use their 401(k) accounts to trade en masse.

Best Cheap Companies To Watch For 2014

“Trading restrictions are nothing new,” said Fred Reish, partner at Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP. “The last time people talked about this was in the late 1990s and early 2000s.”

Back then, the Securities and Exchange Commission and other regulators dropped the boom on mutual fund families due to charges of trading irregularities. Companies swept up in the controversy included Putnam Investments, where certain 401(k) plan participants were allowed to shuffle money across different funds and participate in market timing and excessive short-term trading.

Retirement plan providers with participants who time the market are at risk, since participants who don't partake in the activity can pursue the mutual fund family in court and allege that the market-timers have an unfair advantage, noted Marcia Wagner, a managing director with The Wagner Law Group.

Companies have since taken steps to curtail such actions. In the 401(k) space, for example, record keepers and fund managers can impose bans on trading. For example, T. Rowe put language in its fund prospectuses in 2010 to allow the funds to reject trades that could dilute the value of the funds' shares, according to Reuters.

T. Rowe Price's spokesman Bill Benintende said the firm has a fiduciary obligation to protect the interests of shareholders against excessive trading “that may disrupt portfolio management and negatively impact performance.”

“In this case, we issued several warnings about excessive trading by a small minority of plan participants over a period of years,” he said. “Ultimately, to protect fund shareholders, we permanently banned these participants from ex! changing money into the T. Rowe Price funds in the plan.”

Mr. Benintende said the participants are still allowed to invest new money into the funds via payroll deduction, and they can redeem money from the funds at any time.

Another issue is that the plan sponsor doesn't want to be left holding the bag if the trades go wrong.

“This comes down to fiduciary prudence, either protecting participants from themselves or making sure that they don't gain leverage over others and short sell,” Ms. Wagner said.

Paul Flaningan, a spokesman for American Airlines, said, “When we spoke with T. Rowe Price about the activity of a smaller group of about 1,300 participants, the fund managers explained the rules of the prospectus and the impact of this group to all plan members. American supports licensed financial advice for all of the participants in our $uper $aver plan.”

Frequent traders can cause other inconveniences: Fund managers may need to buy and sell stock to accommodate the activities of participants who trade regularly, Mr. Reish added.

A permanent ban on trading raises the question of what happens to the participant who was trading as part of a longer-term strategy and is now trapped in an allocation that could go out of vogue. Mr. Reish said, hypothetically, a fund provider could permit investors to sell out of their position and move to cash.

The odds aren't in the favor of participants who decide to sue fund providers for imposing such bans, leaving them stuck, Mr. Reish said.

“Broadly, if the restrictions interfere with legitimate long-term investing and proper asset allocations, then the fiduciaries should consider removing the mutual fund,” he said. “The mutual funds themselves are pretty well-removed from the fray and can go by the rules in their prospectuses. I think the court would side with the mutual fund provider and the record keeper.”

Does Lululemon Stock Have a Bright Future?

With shares of Lululemon (NASDAQ:LULU) trading around $69, is LULU an OUTPERFORM, WAIT AND SEE, or STAY AWAY? Let's analyze the stock with the relevant sections of our CHEAT SHEET investing framework:

T = Trends for a Stock’s Movement

Lululemon designs, manufactures, and distributes athletic apparel and accessories for women, men, and female youth. It operates in three segments: Corporate-Owned Stores, Direct to Consumer, and Other. The company''s line of apparel include fitness pants, shorts, tops, and jackets for healthy lifestyle activities, such as yoga, running, and general fitness. Its fitness-related accessories comprise bags, socks, underwear, yoga mats, instructional yoga DVDs, and water bottles.

Recently, Lululemon posted earnings and revenues figures that beat Wall Street's expectations. The revenue beat is a positive sign to shareholders seeking high growth out of the company. Christine Day, Lululemon's CEO, stated that, “2013 continues to be the most important and most productive year in Lululemon's history. We have not only worked our way back from the black luon setback, but have also added very talented people in important functions and have taken major steps forward on a number of key fronts, including the expansion of our international and men's businesses and many logistical initiatives. In addition, our exclusive partnership with Noble announced today and additional sources for luon will help to ensure that Lululemon remains a distinct leader in quality and innovation.”

T = Technicals on the Stock Chart Are Mixed

Lululemon stock has been trading in a range for most of the last few years. The stock is currently trading near the middle of this range so it may still need time before it stabilizes. Analyzing the price trend and its strength can be done using key simple moving averages. What are the key moving averages? The 50-day (pink), 100-day (blue), and 200-day (yellow) simple moving averages. As seen in the daily price chart below, Lululemon is trading between its key averages, which signal neutral price action in the near-term.

(Source: Thinkorswim)

Taking a look at the implied volatility (red) and implied volatility skew levels of Lululemon options may help determine if investors are bullish, neutral, or bearish.

	Implied Volatility (IV)	30-Day IV Percentile	90-Day IV Percentile
Lululemon Options	31.45%	0%	0%

What does this mean? This means that investors or traders are buying a very minimal amount of call and put options contracts as compared to the last 30 and 90 trading days.

	Put IV Skew	Call IV Skew
October Options	Flat	Average
November Options	Flat	Average

As of today, there is an average demand from call buyers or sellers and low demand by put buyers or high demand by put sellers, all neutral to bullish over the next two months. To summarize, investors are buying a very minimal amount of call and put option contracts and are leaning neutral to bullish over the next two months.

On the next page, let’s take a look at the earnings and revenue growth rates and the conclusion.

E = Earnings Are Increasing Quarter-Over-Quarter

Rising stock prices are often strongly correlated with rising earnings and revenue growth rates. Also, the last four quarterly earnings announcement reactions help gauge investor sentiment on Lululemon’s stock. What do the last four quarterly earnings and revenue growth (Y-O-Y) figures for Lululemon look like and more importantly, how did the markets like these numbers?

	2013 Q2	2013 Q1	2012 Q4	2012 Q3
Earnings Growth (Y-O-Y)	0.00%	0.00%	48.21%	44.44%
Revenue Growth (Y-O-Y)	21.89%	21.03%	30.68%	37.50%
Earnings Reaction	-5.40%	-17.53%	1.28%	7.26%

Lululemon has seen increasing earnings and revenue figures over the last four quarters. From these numbers, the markets have expected more from Lululemon’s recent earnings announcements.

P = Weak Relative Performance Versus Peers and Sector

How has Lululemon stock done relative to its peers, Nike (NYSE:NKE), Under Armour (NYSE:UA), Gap (NYSE:GPS), and sector?

	Lululemon	Nike	Under Armour	Gap	Sector
Year-to-Date Return	-8.17%	32.00%	56.98%	35.15%	31.96%

Lululemon has been a poor relative performer, year-to-date.

Conclusion

Lululemon provides highly-demanded athletic apparel to consumers across the nation. The company recently reported strong earnings and revenue numbers, however, investors had higher expectations. The stock has traded sideways for most of the last several years and is currently near the center of its range. Over the last four quarters, investors have expected more from the company, though earnings and revenues have been rising. Relative to its peers and sector, Lululemon has been a weak year-to-date performer. WAIT AND SEE what Lululemon does this coming quarter.

New Hire Roundup: Pascal Named President of Commonfund Capital

This week in new hires, Commonfund Capital named Donald Pascal president; Paul Knight, Michael Gyure and Michael Gorman joined Janney Capital Markets; Litman Gregory Asset Management welcomed Meredith Shuey Etherington; George Foreman and James Quinn joined Zeigler; and Miles Kirkland joined Truxton Trust.

Also, Christine Carolan moved up at Mercer, Steven Hobbs was named senior portfolio manager for the Private Client Reserve in Minneapolis, Chris Creed joined AFAM Capital, and Richard Brooks was appointed as an external director of Prudential Bank and Trust.

Commonfund Unit Names New President

Commonfund recently announced the promotion of Donald Pascal to president of Commonfund Capital, a wholly owned subsidiary of Commonfund focused on private equity, venture capital and natural resources investing. He succeeds Susan Carter in the position. Carter will retain her role as CEO of Commonfund Capital and retain overall strategic leadership of the group.

Pascal joined in 1998. He previously worked at Victory Ventures, Noel Group and The Prospect Group, all private capital funds organized by Louis Marx Jr. Earlier, he worked at E.M. Warburg Pincus & Co. and Strategic Planning Associates. He has 30 years of direct private capital and multimanager investment experience.

Janney Adds Three Senior Equity Research Professionals

Janney Capital Markets recently announced the hiring of Paul Knight as managing director and senior analyst covering life sciences technology. Additionally, the firm hired Michael Gorman as director and senior analyst covering the REIT sector and Michael Gyure as director and senior analyst, forensic accounting.

Knight brings more than 25 years of equity research experience, including time spent at CLSA, Thomas Weisel Partners and Solomon Brothers. His knowledge of the life sciences industry encompasses the segments of instrumentation, genomics and diagnostics industries.

Gyure joins with over a decade of experience on the sell side as a forensic accounting analyst. He began his career at Arthur Andersen, where he audited public and private companies across a myriad of industries.

Gorman, who has spent more than a decade on the sell side, will be covering the REIT sector. He joins from Cowen & Company where he specialized in retail and healthcare-related REITs. He also spent time at Credit Suisse and Prudential.

New Senior Investment Advisor Joins Litman Gregory Asset Management

Litman Gregory Asset Management announced that Meredith Shuey Etherington has joined the firm as senior investment advisor. She has been providing investment advisory services to individuals, family groups, foundations, and endowments since 2000.

Prior to joining, Etherington served as a portfolio manager with Brown Investment Advisory & Trust. She also previously served as a financial analyst in the private wealth management division of Goldman Sachs.

Foreman, Quinn Join Ziegler

Ziegler has hired George Foreman as a financial advisor in the firm’s recently opened Glen Allen, Va., office, and James (Jay) Quinn as a senior vice president and branch manager of its Greenwood Village, Colo., office.

Foreman served as an advisor for AXA Advisors before joining Ziegler and brings 12 years of industry experience to the Glen Allen office.

Quinn, with more than 25 years of advisory experience, is a CFP who works with high-net-worth clients and specializes in the equity markets. Truxton Trust Welcomes Miles Kirkland to Wealth Management Team

Truxton Trust announced that it has named Miles Kirkland vice president and portfolio manager in its wealth management services division.

Prior to joining, Kirkland served as principal and portfolio manager for Mastrapasqua Asset Management in Nashville. During his tenure he focused on stock selection and portfolio management for style-based portfolios, including large-cap growth equity, large-cap core equity, small-/mid-cap core equity and equity income.

Mercer appoints Christine Carolan as Investment Director for the West Market

Christine Carolan has been appointed by Mercer Investments as investment director for the west market of the U.S. In this position, she will be a senior member of the firm’s U.S. investments business and will have responsibility for integrated delivery of investment services and solutions to the firm’s current as well as prospective clients.

Previously, Carolan was outsourcing market leader for the Western region. She has 20 years of experience in employee benefits, with a specific expertise in defined contribution plan administration and investments. Prior to joining in 2010, she was a vice president at T. Rowe Price Group and served as a senior sales executive for T. Rowe Price Retirement Plan Services for more than 13 years. Previously, she worked in the defined contribution groups of Barclays Global Investors and Watson Wyatt. She began her career at IBM Corp.

Hot Gold Companies To Invest In Right Now

Hobbs Named Senior Portfolio Manager for Minneapolis Private Client Reserve

U.S. Bank Wealth Management announced Tuesday that Steven Hobbs has been appointed senior portfolio manager for The Private Client Reserve of U.S. Bank in Minneapolis.

Hobbs brings more than 25 years of financial services experience in investment management and trusts, working with high-net worth individuals and families and institutional clients. Before joining, he was a senior portfolio manager at U.S. Trust, Bank of America. Prior to that, he served as a portfolio manager for Wells Capital Management.

AFAM Capital Appoints Chris Creed Vice President of Business Development

AFAM Capital announced the appointment of Chris Creed as vice president, business development for the company’s private client group.

A CFP since 2002, Creed has 19 years of experience in the financial services industry. Before joining, he was with Fisher Investments PCG, where he was regional vice president for Louisiana and Mississippi. Until 2006, he was the owner of an independent wealth management practice, Creed Capital Management, through Wachovia Securities Financial Network. From 1994 to 2003, he was an investment representative with Edward Jones.

Richard Brooks Appointed to Prudential Bank & Trust Board of Directors

Richard Brooks has been appointed as an external director of Prudential Bank and Trust, FSB (PB&T), announced John Kalamarides, CEO and chairman of the PB&T board of directors.

Brooks, a professor of law, was appointed to a renewable, one-year term. Currently, he is Leighton Homer Surbeck Professor of Law at Yale Law School. He previously taught law at both Cornell University and Northwestern University. His expertise is in contracts, organizations, culture and law and economics.

Read the July 3 New Hire Roundup at AdvisorOne.

The Seven Biggest Bitcoin Myths Debunked

Bitcoin has been in the news a lot lately, but few people - even those talking about it in the media - really have a solid grasp on this groundbreaking digital currency.

What most people do know about Bitcoin is its meteoric rise in value over the past couple of months. The price of Bitcoins trading on the Mt. Gox exchange rose from less than $100 at the end of July to more than $1,200 at the end of November.

And then Bitcoin prices crashed to less than $700. And then they rose back up to $1,000 - all this in a span of a few weeks (as of this writing, Bitcoins are trading on Mt. Gox at about $900).

Such large, rapid gains - as well as the currency's volatility - have made Bitcoin a hot topic on financial news channels, websites, and publications.

But despite all the attention, Bitcoin remains an enigma. With so much confusion and wrong assumptions about the digital currency out there, we at Money Morning felt it was time to set the record straight.

Here's the real scoop on the seven biggest Bitcoin myths:

The Seven Biggest Bitcoin Myths

Bitcoin Myth #1: Bitcoin Is a Bubble
This may be the biggest of all the Bitcoin myths and has grown out of the digital currency's steep and rapid rise in value. But while Bitcoin may well be overvalued at the moment, it's not a bubble. In fact, the Bitcoin "bubble" has burst several times in its five-year history. Each time it has recovered and moved on to new highs. Real bubbles don't do that. What's more, Bitcoin has risen despite a lot of negative coverage (as opposed to hype) - mostly well-known economists warning investors away from Bitcoin because it's a bubble.

Bitcoin Myth #2: Bitcoin Is Worthless Because It's Not Backed By Anything
Remember, the U.S. dollar, like most "fiat" currencies of the world, is also not backed by anything real like gold or some other commodity. A fiat currency is backed only by the government that prints it. And that's not saying much, particularly when central banks the world over are in a race to see who can devalue their currencies the fastest. By contrast, the supply of Bitcoin is controlled by a computer algorithm rather than a central banker with a printing press - only 21 million Bitcoins will ever be created. That prevents inflation (although it will lead to deflation - hence the rapid rise in the value of Bitcoin.) What's more, the market has answered the question of whether Bitcoin has value. People trade Bitcoin every day, and use it to buy things. That utility alone gives Bitcoin value.

Bitcoin Myth #3: Bitcoin Is Hard to Use
OK, this myth is still partly true, but using Bitcoin is getting easier every day. Companies like Coinbase have made it easier to buy and sell Bitcoin in U.S. dollars, and most merchants that accept it now use scannable QR codes. At some point in the near future, an entrepreneur will invent the Bitcoin "killer app" - software that will make using Bitcoin easier than using a credit card. At that point the digital currency will truly go mainstream. Of course, another issue is finding places to spend Bitcoin, but that's changing as well. (See Bitcoin Myth #4.)

Bitcoin Myth #4: You Can't Spend It Anywhere
While the places that accept Bitcoin are scattered for now, the number is growing. Some high-profile examples are a Lamborghini dealership in California that accepted Bitcoin to pay for a Tesla, and Richard Branson's announcement that his Virgin Galactic would accept Bitcoin to purchase a trip into space. At Money Morning we've talked about more mundane places you can spend Bitcoin here and here.

Bitcoin Myth #5: Bitcoins Are Easily Stolen
Let's be clear: Bitcoins can be stolen, but so can credit card numbers and cash. In other words, Bitcoins are no more or less secure than other forms of money. But as with any form of money, taking the proper precautions greatly minimizes the risks. For example, a strong password for your Bitcoin wallet will make it nearly impossible to steal Bitcoins from your PC. Some people go so far as to store their Bitcoins on a removable flash drive. You also need to be careful about the kind of online accounts you use to manage your Bitcoins. If you have some Bitcoins with a fly-by-night outfit that disappears, so do your Bitcoins.

Bitcoin Myth #6: Bitcoin Is Pointless
Many people don't see the need for a new form of electronic payment when we already have credit cards and online services like PayPal. In fact, Bitcoin has several advantages over other forms of payment. For instance, Bitcoin transactions carry either no or extremely low fees. And no personal information is part of the transaction, making it a more secure way to pay. Bitcoin also makes international transactions much easier for ordinary people. A person in the United States can use Bitcoin to buy a product directly from an Internet-based merchant in Japan, or Sweden, or Brazil - no foreign exchange fees or other charges necessary.

Bitcoin Myth #7: It's Only a Matter of Time Before Bitcoin Is Outlawed
It's true that many central banks, regulators, and governments are wary of Bitcoin. But part of that stems from Bitcoin's popularity among users of nefarious websites such as Silk Road to sell illegal drugs and other contraband. But the U.S. government shut down Silk Road in October. And several U.S. government officials, including U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, have recently softened their stance on the digital currency. A few oppressive regimes may ban Bitcoin, but most will choose instead simply to regulate it, which will help legitimize it in the minds of the public and lead to more widespread adoption.

Whatever happens with Bitcoin, investors need to realize that virtual currency is here to stay. In fact, there are already more than 80 other digital currencies in addition to Bitcoin, with more being created all the time. Here's a list of Bitcoin's primary rivals, and which ones will likely come out on top...

Related Articles:

Money Morning:
Investing in Bitcoin Today: Why This Virtual Currency Became a "Global Rebellion" Money Morning:
Federal Officials Give Bitcoin Market the Nod of Approval It Needed

Why Cypress Semiconductor Shares Popped

Although we don't believe in timing the market or panicking over market movements, we do like to keep an eye on big changes -- just in case they're material to our investing thesis.

What: Shares of Cypress Semiconductor (NASDAQ: CY  ) have popped today by upwards of 11% after the company reported better-than-expected earnings.

So what: Revenue in the second quarter added up to $193.5 million, which translated into non-GAAP earnings per share of $0.14. Those results decimated the Street's forecasts of $182.8 million in sales and $0.07 per share in adjusted profit.

Now what: Adjusted gross margin improved sequentially to 53.1%, and the top-line growth was attributed to strong performance of Cypress' TrueTouch controllers. The chip maker's newest generation programmable system-on-a-chip, PSoC 4, has booked its first revenue, making it the fastest new product ramp. Sales are expected to grow again sequentially heading into the next quarter, which should translate into earnings leverage.

Interested in more info on Cypress Semiconductor? Add it to your watchlist by clicking here.

It's incredible to think just how much of our digital and technological lives are almost entirely shaped and molded by just a handful of companies. Find out "Who Will Win the War Between the 5 Biggest Tech Stocks?" in The Motley Fool's latest free report, which details the knock-down, drag-out battle being waged by the five kings of tech. Click here to keep reading.

Hot Penny Companies To Invest In 2014

In commemoration of Earth Day, retailer ANN INC (NYSE: ANN  ) , the parent company of Ann Taylor and LOFT, says that not only has it already met its goal two years early of reducing its "carbon footprint" by 9% by 2015 but it's doubled it. And ANN isn't done "greening" yet.

ANN announced yesterday that an analysis of its year-end 2012 results shows that it has already reduced carbon emissions by 20% compared to what it was emitting in 2008. The company explained that introduction of more energy efficient LED lighting in its nearly 400 stores, plus changing energy usage "behavior" among its associates, helped it to meet (and exceed) its goal ahead of schedule.

What's more, rather than rest on its laurels, ANN says it's doubling down on its success by setting a new 2015 goal: 30% shrinkage in its carbon footprint in comparison to 2008. In other words, that's even more than its original 8% goal and on top of the 20% improvement it's already achieved.

Investors, however, weren't particularly impressed. ANN shares traded mostly flat on Monday, losing a penny in value to close at $28.03.

Hot Penny Companies To Invest In 2014: Schiff Nutrition International Inc.(WNI)

Schiff Nutrition International, Inc. develops, manufactures, markets, and distributes vitamins, nutritional supplements, and nutrition bars in the United States and internationally. The company?s Schiff brand products include specialty supplements for the joint care; and natural ingredients consisting of tablets, capsules, and softgel product forms. Its Schiff brand products also comprise vitamin products, including multivitamins; individual vitamins, such as vitamin B, vitamin C, and mega-D3; and minerals, which include calcium and iron. In addition, the company provides Omega-3 product line under the MegaRed brand; probiotics products under the Sustenex and Digestive Advantage brands; and joint care products under the Schiff Move Free. Further, it offers other specialty supplement products that comprise omega-3 products, such as fish oil; specialty products, such as prostate health and folic acid for men and women; and other specialty products, such as melatonin ultra, n iacin, and acidophilus. Additionally, the company provides nutrition bars that supply protein, vitamins, and other essential nutrients with fewer calories under the Tiger?s Milk brand. In addition, it manufactures and distributes private label products for retail customers that include specialty supplements; vitamins; and minerals, such as joint care products, vitamin B, and calcium citrate. The company sells its products directly, as well as through brokers. Schiff Nutrition International, Inc. was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Hot Penny Companies To Invest In 2014: LifePoint Hospitals Inc.(LPNT)

LifePoint Hospitals Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates general acute care hospitals in non-urban communities in the United States. The company?s hospitals provide a range of medical and surgical services comprising general surgery, internal medicine, obstetrics, emergency room care, radiology, oncology, diagnostic care, coronary care, rehabilitation services, and pediatric services, as well as specialized services, such as open-heart surgery, skilled nursing, psychiatric care, and neuro-surgery. Its hospitals also offer outpatient services, including one-day surgery, laboratory, x-ray, respiratory therapy, imaging, sports medicine, and lithotripsy. As of December 31, 2009, LifePoint Hospitals owned or leased 47 hospitals with a total of 5,552 licensed beds in 17 states. The company was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee. Lifepoint Hospitals Inc. (NasdaqNM:LPNT) operates independently of HCA Inc. as of May 11, 1999.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Keith Speights]

  The fun wasn't just limited to the big three hospital operators. Lifepoint Hospitals (NASDAQ: LPNT  ) stock jumped 5% on the CMS news, reflecting a $109 million market cap expansion. Likewise, Vanguard Health Systems (NYSE: VHS  ) shares climbed 5%, bumping its market cap up by�$55 million.

Top 10 Cheap Stocks To Watch For 2014: (ENTI)

Encounter Technologies, Inc. operates as an online video distribution and technology company that launches proprietary syndication platforms and offers a range of video technology and distribution services to other companies. The company develops and programs solutions for the online streaming, distribution, and networking, as well as for the social network and distribution platforms. It offers end-to-end technology and online marketing services, including design, build, hosting, and online marketing support. The company primarily operates GlobalAdOn.com, a patented technology for the yellow pages publishing industry. Its sales and management platform facilitates the sales and video production process for Internet yellow page publishers and their sales forces, as well as integrates and facilitates various processes, such as video shoot, sales rep, and publisher. The company was formerly known as Encounter.com, Inc. and changed its name to Encounter Technologies, Inc. in De cember 2009. Encounter Technologies, Inc. is based in Fort Myers, Florida.

Hot Penny Companies To Invest In 2014: China Pharma Holdings Inc.(CPHI)

China Pharma Holdings, Inc. develops, manufactures, and markets generic and branded pharmaceutical products primarily to hospitals and private retailers in the People?s Republic of China. Its products include Bumetanide to treat edema diseases; Gastrodin injection for tiredness, loss of concentration, poor sleep, and traumatic syndromes of brain; Cerebroprotein Hydroloysate injection for the treatment of memory decline and attention deficit; Buflomedil Hydrochloride for blood vessel diseases; Propylgallate and Ozagrel Sodium for the treatment of cerebral thrombosis, coronary heart disease, and thrombus deep phlebitis; and Alginic Sodium Diester injection for ischemic heart, cerebrovascular, and lipoprotein blood diseases. The company also offers Cefaclor Dispersible tablets for tympanitis, lower respiratory tract, urinary tract, and skin/skin tissue infection; Roxithromycin dispersible tablets for pharyngitis and tonsillitis; Clarithromycin granules and capsules for nasoph arynx, respiratory tract, and skin tissue infections; Naproxen Sodium and Pseudophedrine Hydrochloride Sustained Release tablets to relieve cold, sinus, and flu symptoms; Cefalexin capsules for acute tonsillitis; and Anhydroandrographolide for ischemic heart, cerebrovascular, and lipoprotein blood diseases. In addition, it provides Hepatocyte growth-promoting factor to treat viral hepatitis symptoms; Tiopronin to treat acute chronic Hepatitis B and relieve liver injury; Omeprazole to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease; Granisetron Hydrochloride injection for nausea and vomiting; Vitamin B6, an vitamin supplement; Thymopolypetides injection for treating diseases and tumors of various cells with reduced immunological function; and Recombined Human Fibroblast Growth Factor for the production of cosmetics. The company distributes its products through independent regional distributors and sales representatives. China Pharma Holdings, Inc. is based in Haikou, the People?s Repub lic of China.

Hot Penny Companies To Invest In 2014: Archer-Daniels-Midland Company(ADM)

Archer Daniels Midland Company procures, transports, stores, processes, and merchandises agricultural commodities and products in the United States and internationally. It operates in three segments: Oilseeds Processing, Corn Processing, and Agricultural Services. The Oilseeds Processing segment engages in originating, merchandising, crushing, and processing oilseeds, such as soybeans, cottonseed, sunflower seeds, canola, rapeseed, peanuts, flaxseed, and palm into vegetable oils and protein meals. This segment also produces edible soy protein products, including soy flour, soy grits, soy protein concentrates, soy isoflavones, and soy isolates that are used in processed meats, baked foods, nutritional products, snacks, and dairy and meat analogs. The Corn Processing segment involves in corn wet milling and dry milling activities; and produces alcohol, amino acids, and other specialty food and animal feed ingredients, as well as ethyl alcohol. This segment also produces citr ic and lactic acids, lactates, sorbitol, xanthan gum, and glycols that are used in various food and industrial products, as well as astaxanthin, a product used in aquaculture to enhance flesh coloration. The Agricultural Services segment buys, stores, cleans, and transports agricultural commodities, such as oilseeds, corn, wheat, milo, oats, rice, and barley, as well as resells these commodities as food and feed ingredients for the agricultural processing industry. This segment also processes and distributes edible beans, formula feeds, and animal health and nutrition products. In addition, the company engages in milling wheat, corn, and milo into flour, as well as produces bakery products and mixes, wheat starch, gluten, and cocoa products that are sold to the baking industry; and involves in financial activities related to private equity fund investments, and futures commission merchant activities. Archer Daniels Midland Company was founded in 1898 and is based in Decatur, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Cameron Swinehart]

  Going forward I will be looking to add investments on my watchlist and trim other positions. It will be interesting to see how an overweight commodity portfolio will perform relative to the rest of the market.

   Cost Basis# SharesCurrent Price% of PortfolioCurrent ValueReturnMetal/Miners      Sprott Physical Gold Trust (PHYS)$12.4985$11.043.75%$938.40-13.13%Sprott Physical Silver Trust (PSLV)$7.95125$8.744.37%$1,092.509.04%FreePort-McMoran (FCX)$31.6731$33.874.20%$1,049.976.50%Ishares MSCI Global Gold Miners ETF (RING)$13.0695$10.644.04%$1,010.80-22.74%Energy      Statoil ASA(STO)$21.7940$22.683.63%$907.203.92%Vanguard Natural Resources LLC (VNR)$27.5636$27.874.01%$1,003.321.11%ConocoPhillips (COP)$63.6822.43$71.006.37%$1,592.5310.31%Agriculture      CVR Partner LP (UAN)$26.3630.9$18.932.34%$584.94-39.25%Adecoagro$6.78125$7.443.72%$930.008.87%Archer-Daniels Midland (ADM)$34.8030$37.244.47%$1,117.206.55%Mixed Commodity      Powershares DB Commodity Index (DBC)$26.3540$25.954.15%$1,038.00-1.54%Sprott Resource Corp$3.34400$2.714.34%$1,084.00-23.25%    Total % of portfolio49.40%               Cost Basis12,666.00      Current Value12,348.86      Return-2.50%  Source: Investing For The Future Surge In Commodity Prices

  Disclosure: I am long ADM, FCX, UAN, AGRO, RING, VNR, SCPZF.PK, COP, DBC, PHYS, PSLV. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. (More...)

• [By Rob Taylor]

  SYDNEY--Australia blocked a 3.0 billion Australian dollar (US$2.7 billion) bid by U.S. agribusiness company Archer Daniels Midland Co. (ADM) to buy grain handler GrainCorp. Ltd. (GNC.AU) on grounds that a takeover would go against the national interest.

Hot Penny Companies To Invest In 2014: Life Partners Holdings Inc(LPHI)

Life Partners Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiary, Life Partners, Inc., operates in the secondary market for life insurance in the United States. It facilitates life settlement transactions by identifying, examining, and purchasing the policies as agent for the purchasers. The company?s financial transactions involve the purchase of life insurance policies at a discount to their face value for investment purposes. It serves institutional purchasers, which include investment funds designed to acquire and hold life settlements; and retail purchasers, such as high net worth individuals. The company was founded in 1971 and is based in Waco, Texas.

Boeing Dividend Soars: 17 Companies Increasing Dividends

Popular Posts: Boeing Dividend Soars: 17 Companies Increasing DividendsMastercard’s Early Gift: 12 Companies Increasing DividendsDisney Dividend Magic: 19 Companies Increasing Dividends Recent Posts: Boeing Dividend Soars: 17 Companies Increasing Dividends Mastercard’s Early Gift: 12 Companies Increasing Dividends Get More Involved With Your Retirement View All Posts

Companies ramped up for the holiday this week with a slew of dividend increases, as we headed into what is a traditionally a slow period between Christmas and New Year’s. Blue-Chip stocks in particular started handing out dividend sweets early, with aerospace and defense giant Boeing (BA) upping its dividend 50%, while manufacturing conglomerate 3M (MMM) raised its payout by 35%.

A total of 17 companies joined the list of Companies Increasing Dividends for the week of Dec. 16.  (Note: All dividend yields are as of December 20.)

Global telecommunications giant AT&T (T) increased its quarterly dividend 2.2% to 46 cents per share, payable on Feb. 3 to shareholders of record as of Jan. 10.
T Dividend Yield: 5.3%

Airline and aerospace company Boeing (BA) raised its quarterly dividend 50% to 73 cents per share, payable on Mar. 7 to shareholders of record as of Feb. 14.
BA Dividend Yield: 2.1%

Self-storage facilities real estate investment trust (REIT) operator CubeSmart (CUBE) raised its quarterly dividend 18% to 13 cents per share, payable on Jan. 15 to shareholders of record as of Jan. 2.
YSI Dividend Yield: 3.2%

Energy producer and transporter Dominion (D) raised its quarterly dividend 6.7% to 60 cents per share, payable sometime in March 2014, with a record date also to be determined.
D Dividend Yield: 3.5%

Skilled nursing and rehabilitative services holding company Ensign Group (ENSG) raised its quarterly dividend 7.7% to 7 cents per share, payable on Jan. 31 to shareholders of record as of Dec. 31.
ENSG Dividend Yield: 0.6%

Home and commercial property interior products and furniture manufacturer Herman Miller (MLHR) raised its quarterly dividend 12% to 14 cents per share, payable sometime in April 2014. MLHR did not announce an ex-dividend date as of this writing.
MLHR Dividend Yield: 1.8%

Luxury and up-scale hotel operator and real estate investment trust (REIT) Host Hotels and Resorts (HST) raised its quarterly dividend 8.3% to 13 cents per share, payable on Jan. 15 to shareholders of record as of Dec. 31.
HST Dividend Yield: 2.7%

Michigan-based bank holding company Mackinac Financial (MFNC) raised its quarterly dividend 25% to 5 cents per share, payable on Jan. 8 to shareholders of record as of Dec. 30.
MFNC Dividend Yield: 2.1%

Diversified technology company 3M (MMM) raised its quarterly dividend 35% to 85.5 cents per share, payable on Mar. 12 to shareholders of record as of Feb. 14.
MMM Dividend Yield: 2.5%

Credit rating agency Moody’s (MCO) raised its quarterly dividend 12% to 28 cents per share, payable on Mar. 10 to shareholders of record as of Feb. 20.
MCO Dividend Yield: 1.5%

Global biopharmeceutical giant Pfizer (PFE) raised its quarterly dividend 8% to 26 cent per share, payable on Mar. 4 to shareholders of record as of Feb. 7.
PFE Dividend Yield: 3.4%

Decorative gifts and products distributor Pier 1 (PIR) raised its quarterly dividend 20% to 6 cents per share, payable on Feb. 5 to shareholders of record as of Jan. 22.
PIR Dividend Yield: 1.1%

Radio frequency products manufacturer and distributor Roper (ROP) raised its quarterly dividend 21% to 20 cents per share, payable on Jan. 14 to shareholders of record as of Jan. 10. This marks the 21st consecutive rise in Roper’s annual dividend.
ROP Dividend Yield: 0.6%

Property management, financing and construction real estate investment trust (REIT) SL Green (SLG) raised its quarterly dividend 51.5% to 50 cents per share, payable on Jan. 15 to shareholders of record as of Dec. 31.
SLG Dividend Yield: 2.2%

Single-tenent industrial properties real estate investment trust (REIT) Stag Industrial (STAG) raised its annual dividend 5% to $1.26 per share. The first monthly payment is payable on Feb. 17 to shareholders of record as of Jan. 31.
STAG Dividend Yield: 6.4%

Investment services and shareholder services administrator Waddell & Reed (WDR) raised its quarterly dividend 21% to 34 cents per share, payable on Feb. 3 to shareholders of record as of Jan. 13.
WDR Dividend Yield: 2.2%

Animal health care and vaccine manufacturer Zoetis (ZTS) raised its quarterly dividend 11% to 7.2 cents per share, payable on Mar. 4 to shareholders of record as of Jan. 30.
ZTS Dividend Yield: 0.8%

Marc Bastow is an Assistant Editor at InvestorPlace.com. As of this writing he did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities. For more payout winners, see previous weeks' lists of Companies Increasing Dividends.

Best Stocks of the Nasdaq 100 in 2013

It has been a very good year for the Nasdaq 100. The index, which consists of the Nasdaq Stock Market's 100 largest non-financial companies by market capitalization, has gained 33.7% in 2013. That beats Standard & Poor's 500-stock index, up 29.6%, and the Dow Jones industrial average, up 26.2%.

See Also: 24 Stocks for 2014

Unlike the Dow and S&P 500, the Nasdaq 100 didn't surpass its record high during 2013, but the index is still home to highfliers. The main difference now compared with 2000, when the Nasdaq 100 peaked during the dot-com boom, is that not all of the fastest growers are pure tech plays.

Case in point: The index's best performer in 2013 was Tesla Motors (TSLA), which soared an eye-popping 336.9%. At $148, it trades at nearly 100 times 2014 estimated earnings, compared with 19 for the Nasdaq 100. (All prices and returns are as of December 18.)

There's a lot to like about the Palo Alto, Cal., company. Tesla is the only automaker that produces electric cars exclusively. Founded in 2003, it struggled much of the past decade with product delays and management change. Then, in 2012, the company introduced the Model S. The car was a slam dunk, winning numerous industry awards and rave reviews from Kiplinger's car writer, Jessica Anderson. Tesla's stock skyrocketed from $28 at the start of 2012 to an all-time high of $193 by the fall of 2013.

The company, which has a market capitalization of $18.1 billion, is still up against challenges. In the fall, two Model S cars in the U.S. caught fire when their undercarriage struck highway debris. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened a formal investigation. Because the shares are "priced for a perfect future," as we wrote recently when we named Tesla one of five stocks to consider selling, such setbacks hit shareholders hard. Between the beginning of October and the end of November, as news of the fires and resulting federal probe spread, Tesla's stock lost one-third of its value.

But if those fire worries are put to rest — as many analysts believe they will be — demand for Tesla vehicles could grow. The company is due to roll out the Model X crossover in 2014. As a result, analysts expect Tesla's earnings to increase by more than 150% in 2014. "We continue to believe that Tesla shares will approach $300 in several years," wrote analysts in a Deutsche Bank report.

The second-best stock of the Nasdaq 100 in 2013 may feel closer to home — literally. Netflix (NFLX), the video-streaming and DVD-by-mail service, is on the rebound, up 306.4% for the year.

Back in 2011, Netflix's stock was approaching $300 when the company, based in Los Gatos, Cal., announced a plan to raise subscription prices and split its business in two. Angry at the changes, some 800,000 customers dropped their service. Netflix abandoned the plan, but the damage was done: The stock dropped to $64 within the year.

Since then, Netflix shares have been on an up-and-down ride. But over the past year, the company surprised analysts and increased its subscriber base from fewer than 30 million worldwide to more than 40 million. As a result, the stock was not only 2013's second-best performer of the Nasdaq 100 index but also the top-performing component of the S&P 500 index. Netflix's market cap is now up to $22 billion.

.kip-table { font-size: 12px; margin-right: 2em; } .kip-table td { padding: 7px 10px; margin: 3px; } .kip-table thead td { background-color: #069; color: #fff; font-weight: bold; vertical-align:bottom; border-bottom: 3px solid #693; } .kip-table thead td.h2 { background-color: #fff; color: #000; font-weight: bold; padding: 0; margin: 0; vertical-align:bottom; border-bottom: none; } td.h2 h2 { font-size: 14px; } .kip-table tbody td { border-bottom: 1px solid #e0e0e0; } .kip-attribution { color: #666; font-size: 11px; font-style: italic; }

Top 10 Nasdaq 100 Stocks of 2013
Stock	Price *
1. Tesla (TSLA)	+337%
2. Netflix (NFLX)	+306%
3. Micron Technology (MU)	+244%
4. Facebook (FB)	+109%
5. Celgene (CELG)	+107%
6. Yahoo (YHOO)	+101%
7. Gilead Sciences (GILD)	+100%
8. Western Digital (WDC)	+95%
9. Biogen Idec (BIIB)	+92%
10. Priceline.com (PCLN)	+91%
Top Blue Chip Stocks To Invest In 2014 * Returns as of December 18, 2013

Uncertainty remains about whether Netflix can continue to attract new customers and fend off competitors. But Tony Wible, an analyst at Janney Montgomery Scott, believes so. He says Netflix's large media library and focus on creating original content, including hit series such as "Orange Is the New Black" and "House of Cards," is a big advantage. "The barriers to entry to compete with Netflix just continue to grow," says Wible, who believes the stock could exceed $400 in the next year, up from about $375 today. Overall, analysts expect Netflix's earnings to more than double in 2014, giving the stock a forward P/E of 93.

Other top performers in the Nasdaq 100 trade at a fraction of that amount, including Micron Technology (MU), a semiconductor maker, which climbed 244.0% in 2013. It's valued at 10 times estimated earnings for the fiscal year that ends in August. Facebook (FB), up 108.8% for the year, has a P/E of 49 for the same period. But both companies are expected to grow more slowly than a company like Tesla or Netflix. "If you want to buy growth, there are going to be aspects of the stock that will make you uncomfortable, like the valuation and volatility," says Kevin Landis, chief investment officer of Firsthand Capital Management.

As for the worst Nasdaq 100 stock of 2013, the dubious distinction goes to Nuance Communications (NUAN). Shares of the maker of speech-recognition software lost 33.6% for the year. Nuance is one of five stocks being replaced in the index, effective December 23.

Deals for Last-Minute Holiday Shoppers

The Saturday before Christmas, sometimes referred to as Super Saturday, is expected to be one of the busiest shopping days of the holiday season -- second only to Black Friday, according to ShopperTrak, which analyzes retail traffic. However, if shoppers are looking to score last-minute deals on all of their remaining holiday purchases, they might need to adjust their expectations. While bargains can be found right up through Christmas Eve, most won't be on par with Black Friday prices.

SEE ALSO: 15 Gifts That Keep on Giving

"I would not expect any significant discounts as the last weekend before Christmas usually commands enough traffic on its own -- stores don't need to provide any additional incentive to shop," says Michael Brim, founder of BFAds.net, which publishes deals and leaked Black Friday ads.

Many retailers had markdowns of 30% or more and free shipping for online purchases on Free Shipping Day, December 18, and some extended their sales and special offers through December 19. So if you act quickly, you can score savings by shopping online at retailers' sites that are guaranteeing delivery by Christmas Eve.

But if you wait until the weekend (or later) to do your shopping in stores, here's what you can expect to find on sale:

Home goods. Climate-control appliances such as air purifiers, heaters and humidifiers typically are marked down the weekend before Christmas, according to dealnews.com. You'll also see bargains on small appliances and kitchen gadgets, but the discounts will likely be just 20% to 30%. However, you might come across some markdowns as high as 60%, according to dealnews.com.

Pre-wrapped gifts. Gift baskets, already stuffed stockings and similar items will be marked down by as much as 90% at department stores such as JCPenney, Macy's and Sears, according to Offers.com. The deepest discounts will be on Christmas Eve, when stores are eager to clear out this sort of holiday merchandise.

Toys. If you haven't bought gifts for your kids yet, you'll likely find lots of sales on toys in stores on Super Saturday. For example, Toys "R" Us will be open 87 consecutive hours beginning 6 a.m. December 21 and will discount several items and have lots of buy-one-get-one-free deals. According to dealnews.com, Amazon also offers deep discounts on toys the weekend before Christmas -- but you'll need to opt for expedited shipping to get them in time.

Video games. With the release of the Xbox One and PlayStation 4, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 games should be deeply discounted. So if you didn't get your kids one of the newest gaming systems for Christmas, you can save a lot by buying games for older-model systems.

Apparel. If you have people on your gift list -- such as teens -- who want clothing or outerwear for Christmas, you'll be better off giving them gift cards they can use to buy deeply discounted winter apparel during after-Christmas sales. There also are several other items that you should wait until after Christmas to buy because they will go on sale. See 12 Things Not to Buy During the Holidays.

Finally, in your rush to finish your holiday shopping, make sure you don't purchase gifts that are likely to be returned. You don't want to waste your time and money buying things others won't like. If you need ideas and are short on cash, see A Gift-Giving Guide for the Truly Broke.

Senators push for tighter expungement rules for brokers

A bipartisan duo of U.S. senators Monday pushed Finra to provide new details on a process that allows brokers to sanitize their disciplinary records.

Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) also said Wall Street's industry-funded securities regulator should respond to criticisms that whitewashed BrokerCheck reports could mislead investors.

“We believe that meaningful investor protection includes the disclosure of whether a customer dispute was settled,” the senators wrote. “Not just for transparency sake, but also to help prospective investors make informed decisions about which individuals or firms with whom to do business.”

The letter reignited a debate over the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Inc. system that allows brokers to petition to clean their public disciplinary reports, which was catalyzed most recently by a group of lawyers that represent investors. An October report by the Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association, found that Finra arbitrators granted “expungement” at least 90% of the time in the 1,625 cases in which the term was mentioned between 2007 and 2011.

Hot Financial Companies To Buy For 2014

PIABA recommended that Finra itself review requests to clean brokers' records and improve its training of the corps of volunteer arbitrators who currently decide when to grant such requests. PIABA also said Finra should ban settlements containing requirements that investors who file complaints agree to not oppose the expunging of brokers' records.

Touting their letter as being in the interest of “fair financial markets and transparency,” the senators asked Finra to respond by Jan. 6 to PIABA's recommendations. They proposed draft legislation to empower Finra to ensure that slate-swiping is limited and also asked for details on when and why brokers' records are expunged.

Finra previously has said it shares PIABA's concerns and is providing additional guidance t

The iPad Mini's Latest Challenger

When research firm IDC put out its latest numbers on global tablet sales, it noted that "[o]ne in every two tablets shipped this quarter was below 8 inches in screen size." The firm believes that the shift to smaller devices will accelerate, making it little surprise that, according to The Wall Street Journal, Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT  ) is developing a 7-inch Surface tablet to be released sometime this year. IDC expects Google's (NASDAQ: GOOG  ) Android operating system to snatch the top market share position from Apple's (NASDAQ: AAPL  ) iOS. At this size, Microsoft is competing with the Google Nexus 7, the iPad Mini, and Amazon.com's (NASDAQ: AMZN  ) Kindle Fire HD. While this is stiff competition, getting in the fight is a critical step for Microsoft.

The tablet market
Not that there's any doubt as to how important the tablet market is, but the numbers are compelling. IDC raised its forecast for worldwide tablet shipments from 172.4 million units in 2013 to 190.9 million and expects that by 2017, 350 million units will be shipping each year. Apple and Google may rule the sandbox, but it's a big enough sandbox that carving out even a small corner can mean real and meaningful revenue for Microsoft. IDC expects that Microsoft, between its Windows OS and RT OS, account for a combined 10.1% by 2017. These projections don't include a smaller Surface, so the addition could prove to be meaningful.

Shifting markets
Earlier this week, IDC reported a 14% drop in PC sales for the most recent quarter, mirrored by an 11% drop reported by research firm Gartner. Microsoft is not a PC-maker per se, but falling numbers in this arena are a real blow to sales of Windows. This will be a critical number to watch this week as the company reports earnings on Thursday. As PC sales continue to slide, Microsoft's involvement in other areas continues to be of greater and greater importance.

What does a smaller Surface mean to the market?
Many will argue that the announcement of a smaller Surface tablet is a non-event because even the bigger Surface RT and Surface Pro have done little to disrupt the market. While this position is not without some merit, it misses the bigger picture of what I believe Microsoft is trying to achieve. As things currently stand, Apple makes the premium tablets on the market and uses this cachet to maintain its market share. Google makes the low-cost tablets on the market, using this appeal to drive its market share similarly to what it has achieved in smartphones.

Microsoft is not only trying to get its foot in the door but is also looking to change the very nature of the tablet market. Windows 8 has been widely criticized as being clunky and counterintuitive on a PC, even with a touchscreen. These reviews seem to assume that Microsoft is oblivious to this reality and failed to conduct any market research before launching the new product. I give the company that has controlled the software market for decades more credit. The only reason Microsoft would have moved forward with Windows 8 is if it has longer-term plans, like a paradigm shift in tablets.

Early versions of the Surface don't need to be perfect; they need to exist. They need to give the company a chance to perfect Windows in a new form factor and give it a chance to allow Microsoft to transform the tablet from the fun toys that Amazon and Apple sell, to business machines that Microsoft is known to support. Understanding the barrage of "Fortune 500 companies use iPads" that is coming, I believe Microsoft is aiming at this market in a quiet and astute way that warrants keeping the stock in your portfolio.

It's been a frustrating path for Microsoft investors, who've watched the company fail to capitalize on the incredible growth in mobile over the past decade. However, with the release of its own tablet, along with the widely anticipated Windows 8 operating system, the company is looking to make a splash in this booming market. In this brand-new premium report on Microsoft, our analyst explains that while the opportunity is huge, the challenges are many. He's also providing regular updates as key events occur, so make sure to claim a copy of this report now by clicking here.

Military retirees: You betrayed us, Congress

Retired military veterans are outraged that their pensions are being cut by the budget deal.

WASHINGTON (CNNMoney) Military retirees are outraged that Congress will start voting Thursday on a budget deal that trims military pensions, calling the move "an egregious breach of faith."

The Military Coalition, some 27 military groups, wrote to leaders in Congress and President Obama late Wednesday about their "strong objection" and "grave concern" over the budget deal.

The deal cuts pension cost of living raises by 1% for military retirees who aren't disabled and not yet 62 years old. Cost of living hikes are automatic raises intended to keep up with inflation.

The problem is, most military retirees are a lot younger than private sector retirees. They enlist in their 20's and retire in their 40's. Very few stay on till they are 62 -- those who may be lucky enough to escape major injuries at war, or rose to higher echelons in the military system.

When compounded, the 1% cut could result in much more than a 20% cut in retiree pension over the course of 20 years.

The average cut in pension payouts, including compounding interest, for a retiring Army Sergeant first class, would be about $3,700 each year, according to the Military Officers Association of America. Over 20 years, the total losses could balloon to more than $80,000.

"While portrayed as a minor change, a 20% reduction in retired pay and survivor benefit values is a massive cut in military career benefits," wrote groups, including the Air Force Sergeants Association, Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans of America and the Marine Corps League, among others in the letter.

The change is infuriating to military retirees like Army Col. Michael Barron, who retired nearly 4 years ago, after 30 years of service, which included being deployed to both Iraq wars.

"It's not fair at all. I spent a 30 year career in the military. I clearly understood what the (cost of living increases) would be," said Barron, deputy director of government relations for the Military Officers Association of America. "This is the worst kind of example of a shady, backroom deal."

The cut is forcing some to reconsider how much longer they will continue to work with the military.

Rebekah Sanderlin's husband is two years away from hitting his 20 year retirement mark with the Army and she's wondering if its worth it. He's served in Afghanistan four times, among other p! laces, and has many injuries.

"The war has been very hard on our family," said Sanderlin, a writer. "We'd like to stay in, but it seems stupid to give more time to a government that goes back on their word."

Military groups say the cut is particularly unfair because the changes will affect those who have already put in their years of service.

"To tax the very men and women who have sacrificed and served more than others is simply a foul," the letter stated.

Washington leaders, and House Republicans, in particular, have been worried about the cost of military retiree benefits.

In 2012, the Pentagon spent $52.4 billion on 2.3 million military retirees and survivors, a cost that is expected to rise over the next few decades, according to the Department of Defense Office of the Actuary.

House budget chief Rep. Paul Ryan's website states that military retirement "provides an exceptionally generous benefit, often providing 40 years of pension payments in return for 20 years of service," as it explains why benefits should be trimmed.

"Current levels of military compensation are incompatible with the overall demands on the defense budget," according to a House Committee on the Budget Report.

Military groups say they're open to reforms, but they'd like such changes to go through the normal legislative process that allows time to review and "assess any recommendations that could significantly impact retention and readiness."

Barron said groups like his were "blindsided" by the cuts to military pensions.

  More budget cuts loom at Pentagon

The 1% cut ends up saving the budget $6 billion, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Congress would also make newly hired civilian federal workers contribut! e 1.3% mo! re of their paychecks to pensions if the budget deal becomes law.

The Department of Defense wouldn't comment on the Military Coalition letter and pointed to a statement by Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel saying the budget deal provides greater "budget certainty," while reducing the impact of massive cuts from so-called sequester.