Midway through trading Wednesday, the Dow traded up 0.18 percent to 16,937.17 while the NASDAQ surged 0.35 percent to 4,406.90. The S&P also rose, gaining 0.21 percent to 1,967.74.
Leading and Lagging Sectors
On Wednesday, the telecommunications services sector proved to be a source of strength for the market. Leading the sector was strength from Internet Gold Golden Lines (NASDAQ: IGLD) and NQ Mobile (NYSE: NQ).
Top Regional Bank Stocks To Own For 2015: LM Ericsson Telephone Company(ERIC)
LM Ericsson Telephone Company provides communications equipment, professional services, and multimedia solutions to mobile and fixed networks operators worldwide. The Networks segment delivers radio access solutions that interconnect with devices, such as mobile phones, notebooks, and PCs; fixed access solutions for fiber and copper; and IP core network solutions, including softswitches, IP infrastructure for edge- and core routing, IP multimedia subsystem, and media gateways. This segment also offers transmission/backhaul; and microwave and optical transmission solutions for mobile and fixed networks, as well as offers network management tools for configuration, performance monitoring, security management, inventory management, and software upgrades. The Global Services segment delivers managed services comprising network design and planning, network operations, field operations and site maintenance, and shared solutions, as well as consulting and systems integration, cus tomer support, and network rollout services. The Multimedia segment provides IPTV solutions, video compression, on-demand solutions, content management systems, advertising, and interactive TV applications for operators, service providers, advertisers, and content providers; and business support systems, including revenue management, customer care, provisioning, device management, and analytics. This segment also offers service delivery platforms, communication suite, messaging, social media portal, and location-based services for consumers; and business communication solutions, such as business communication suite and brokering solutions that facilitate payment and distribution of content. The Sony Ericsson segment offers mobile phones, accessories, content, and applications. The ST-Ericsson segment develops and sells semiconductors and wireless platforms to handset manufacturers, mobile operators, and device manufacturers. The company was founded in 1876 and is headquarter ed in Stockholm, Sweden.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Michael A. Robinson]
IMS Research says there will be 30 billion connected devices by 2020. Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (Nasdaq ADR: ERIC)- one of the largest telecommunications companies on the planet - says there will be 50 billion enabled devices in place worldwide in that same time frame.
- [By Laura Brodbeck]
Friday
Earnings Expected From: Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC), General Electric Company (NYSE: GE), Honeywell International Inc. (NYSE: HON), Johnson Controls, Inc. (NYSE: JCI) Economic Releases Expected: Dutch consumer confidence, eurozone current accountPosted-In: Federal ReserveEarnings News Previews Global Pre-Market Outlook Markets Trading Ideas Best of Benzinga
Top High Tech Companies For 2014: Telular Corporation(WRLS)
Telular Corporation designs, develops, and distributes products and services that utilize wireless networks to provide data and voice connectivity among people and machines primarily in the United States and internationally. It provides machine-to-machine and event monitoring services, including Telguard that comprises a specialized terminal unit, which interfaces with commercial security control panels and communicates with event processing servers to provide real-time transport of alarm signals from residential and commercial locations to an alarm company?s central monitoring station; and TankLink solution that combines a cellular communicator, wireless data services, and a Web-based application into a single offering, which allows end-users to monitor the product level in a given tank vessel. The company also offers fixed cellular terminals for voice, fax, and Internet access over the wireless networks. It sells its products to security equipment distributors, cellular carriers, and value added resellers. The company was founded in 1986 and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Eric Volkman]
Telular (NASDAQ: WRLS ) will most likely soon be an asset belonging to another company. It has entered into an agreement to be bought by private equity firm Avista Capital Partners for total consideration of $253 million. This consists of $12.61 per share in cash and roughly $18.5 million in assumed debt.
Top High Tech Companies For 2014: Luxottica Group SpA (LUX)
Luxottica Group S.p.A. (Luxottica), incorporated in 1961, is an Italy-based company engaged in the design, manufacture and distribution of prescription frames and sunglasses in the mid-and premium-price categories. It operates in two segments: manufacturing and wholesale distribution and retail distribution. Through its manufacturing and wholesale distribution segment, it is engaged in the design, manufacture, wholesale distribution and marketing of house and designer lines of mid-to premium-priced prescription frames and sunglasses. The Company operates its retail segment principally through its retail brands, which include, among others, LensCrafters, Pearle Vision, Sears Optical, Target Optical and its Licensed Brands (Sears Optical and Target Optical), as well as through the retail brands of its business, Oakley, which include, among others, Oakley O Stores and Vaults, David Clulow e nel segmento Licensed Brand. Among its subsidiaries there are: Air Sun, Bazooka Inc, David Clulow Brighton Ltd and Ecotop Pty Ltd.
In May 2010, the Company acquired a 35.16% interest held by minority stockholders in Luxottica Gozluk Endustri ve Ticaret Anonim Sirketi, (Luxottica Turkey). On July 30, 2010, Luxottica acquired a 34% interest held by minority stockholders in Sunglass Hut (UK) Limited. On November 26, 2010, it acquired the Optifashion Australia Pty Limited group from HAL Optical Investments B.V. The acquisition included 47 corporate stores (40 optical and seven sun) and nine franchises, trading under brands including Just Spectacles. During the year ended December 31, 2010, the Company completed the acquisition of the David Clulow chain, bringing its ownership in the subsidiary to 100%. Luxottica�� house brands include Ray-Ban, Oakley, Arnette, Persol, REVO, Vogue, Oliver Peoples, K&L, Luxottica, Mosley Tribes, Sferoflex and Eye Safety Systems (ESS). Its licensed designer brands include Anne Klein, Brooks Brothers, Bvlgari, Burberry, Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, D&G, Donna Karan, DKNY, Fox, Miu ! Miu, Paul Smith, Polo Ralph Lauren, Prada, Salvatore Ferragamo, Stella McCartney, Tiffany & Co, Tory Burch and Versace. Polo Ralph Lauren includes Chaps, Polo, Ralph and Ralph Lauren Purple Label. Product design, development and manufacturing takes place in six production facilities in Italy, two wholly owned factories in China and two sports sunglasses production facilities in the United States. Luxottica also has a small plant in India serving the local market.
During 2010, the Company produced approximately 56.6 million units. In North America, the Company operates the points of sale for its Licensed Brands, with over 1,140 stores under the Sears Optical and Target Optical brands. During 2010, it distributed approximately 20.4 million prescription frames and approximately 38.4 million sunglasses, in approximately 5,900 different styles. During 2010, it announced the signing of a license agreement with Coach, Inc. (Coach) for the design, manufacturing and global distribution of sun and prescription eyewear under the Coach, Coach Poppy and Reed Krakoff brands. Essilor S.A. (Essilor) is the supplier of the Company�� retail operations.
Luxottica�� distribution system is globally integrated and supplied by a centralized manufacturing programming platform. The network linking the logistics and sales centers to the production facilities in Italy and China also provides daily monitoring of global sales performance and inventory levels so that manufacturing resources can be programmed and warehouse stocks re-allocated to meet local market demand. This integrated system serves both the retail and wholesale businesses with 18 distribution centers worldwide, of which eight are in the Americas, seven are in the Asia-Pacific region and three are in the rest of the world. It has three main distribution centers (hubs) in locations serving its markets: Sedico in Europe, Atlanta in the Americas and Dongguan in the Asia-Pacific region. They operate as centralized facilities, offering custo! mers a au! tomated order management system. During 2010, it managed over 13,500 orders per day, including eyeglasses and spare parts. Sedico ships over 170,000 units daily to customers in Europe, the Middle East and Africa and to its distribution centers in the rest of the world, from which they are then shipped to local customers.
Wholesale Distribution
The Company�� wholesale distribution network, covering 130 countries across five continents, has 18 logistics centers and 42 commercial subsidiaries providing direct operations in key markets. Luxottica also distributes certain brands, including Oakley, to sporting goods stores and specialty sports stores, including bike, surf, snow, skate, golf and motor sports stores.
Retail Distribution
The retail portfolio offers a range of differentiation points for consumers, including the latest in designer and sun frames, lens options, eye care and everyday vision care health benefits. As of March 31, 2011, the Company�� retail business consisted of 5,911 corporate stores and 514 franchised or licensed locations. In its retail sun business, Luxottica operates over 2,480 retail locations in North America, Asia-Pacific, South Africa, Europe and the Middle East, mainly through the Sunglass Hut brand. Luxottica�� retail stores sells not only prescription frames and sunglasses that it manufactures but also a range of prescription frames, lenses and other ophthalmic products manufactured by other companies. During 2010, units manufactured with its brand names or its licensed brands represented approximately 80.2% of the total sales of frames based on units sold by the retail division.
Luxottica�� optical retail operations are anchored by brands, such as LensCrafters and Pearle Vision in North America, and OPSM, Laubman & Pank and Budget Eyewear, which are available in Australia and New Zealand. It also has a retail presence in China, where the Company operates in the eyewear market with LensCrafters. As of ! March 31,! 2011, the Company�� optical retail business consisted of approximately 3,650 retail locations globally. As of March 31, 2011, it operated a retail network of 1,191 LensCrafters stores, of which 989 are in North America and 202 stores are in China and Hong Kong. LensCrafters stores offer a range of selection of prescription frames and sunglasses, mostly made by Luxottica, in addition to a range of lenses and optical products made by other suppliers. LensCrafters' products include lenses, such as FeatherWates (lightweight, thin and impact-resistant lenses), DURALENS (super scratch-resistant lenses), Advanced View Progressive (free-form, digitally surfaced progressive lenses), Invisibles (anti-reflective lenses) and MVP Maximum View Progressives (multi-focal lenses without visible lines).
Pearle Vision is a optical retail chain in North America. As of March 31, 2011, Pearle Vision operated 330 corporate stores and had 350 franchise locations throughout North America. The Company also operates a network of retail locations in North America operating as Sears Optical and Target Optical, its Licensed Brands, which uses the brand names of their respective American department store. As of March 31, 2011, it operated 828 Sears Optical and 323 Target Optical locations throughout North America. OPSM includes three optical chains that it operates in Australia and New Zealand. In July 2010, the brand launched its new flagship store OPSM Eye Hub and in September 2010, the brand launched its new OPSM Loves Eyes marketing campaign. As of March 31, 2011, the Company owned 357 OPSM corporate stores throughout Australia. OPSM also has 43 corporate-owned stores in New Zealand, mainly in large urban areas.
Laubman & Pank focuses on the independent optical shopper looking for eyecare and service. As of March 31, 2011, Luxottica owned 65 Laubman & Pank corporate stores throughout Australia. As of March 31, 2011, the Company owned 92 Budget Eyewear corporate stores throughout Australia and had nine! franchis! e locations. Budget Eyewear also has 14 corporate stores in New Zealand. EyeMed Vision Care is a managed vision care operators in the United States, serving over 28.5 million members in large and medium size companies and government entities and through insurance companies. EyeMed has a network of over 24,000 locations, including opticians, ophthalmologists, optometrists and chains operated by Luxottica. Together with LensCrafters' over 900 in-store labs, Luxottica operates five central lens finishing labs in North America. In addition, it operates Oakley optical lens laboratories in the United States, Ireland and Japan. As of March 31, 2011, Sunglass Hut had 2,385 stores worldwide, of which 2,329 are corporate stores and 56 are franchise locations. As of March 31, 2011, the Company operated approximately 590 Sunglass Hut departments in Macy's.
ILORI is Luxottica's fashion sunwear retail brand, with 24 stores in North America, as of March 31, 2011, including flagship stores in the SoHo neighborhood of New York City and in Beverly Hills, California. As of March 31, 2011, the Company operated 24 Optical Shop of Aspen stores in locations throughout the United States. Luxottica operates six luxury retail stores under the Oliver Peoples brand. The Oliver Peoples brand retail stores only offer Oliver Peoples, Mosley Tribes and Paul Smith branded optical products. Two additional Oliver Peoples retail locations are operated under license in Tokyo and Los Angeles. In Europe, it operates David Clulow, an optical retailer operating in the United Kingdom and Ireland. As of March 31, 2011, David Clulow operated 39 corporate-owned locations (including nine joint ventures), four franchise locations and 36 sun stores/concessions. As of March 31, 2011, Bright Eyes operated 51 corporate store locations and 73 franchise locations. As of March 31, 2011, the Company operated 159 Oakley O Stores and Vaults worldwide, offering a range of Oakley products, including sunglasses, apparel, footwear and accessories. An! other sal! es channel is e-commerce, including the Oakley and the Ray-Ban Websites (www.oakley.com, www.Ray-Ban.com).
The Company competes with De Rigo S.p.A., Marchon Eyewear, Inc., Marcolin S.p.A., Safilo Group S.p.A., Silhouette International Schmied AG, Maui Jim, Inc., Wal-Mart, Eye Care Centers of America, Vision Service Plan (VSP), Davis Vision and Spectera.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Victor Selva]
The company has a very attractive current ratio of 33.03% which is higher than its comps: Becton Dickinson & Co (BDX), Cardinal Health Inc (CAH), Cooper Companies (COO) and Luxottica Group S.p.A. (LUX).
Top High Tech Companies For 2014: Cosi Inc.(COSI)
Cosi, Inc. owns, operates, and franchises premium convenience dining restaurants. It offers squagels, sandwiches, hearth-baked quiches, oatmeal, salads, soups, appetizers, melts, flatbread pizzas, S?mores, fruit parfaits, wraps, and other desserts; coffees and other espresso-based beverages, seasonal fruit smoothies and specialty drinks, soft drinks, and flavored teas, as well as bottled beverages, such as still and sparkling waters. The company also sells alcoholic beverages comprising beer and wine. Its restaurants also offers catering service for the breakfast and lunch day parts, including breakfast baskets, lunch buffets, and dessert platters. As of August 26, 2011, it had 80 company-owned and 58 franchise restaurants in 17 states in the United States, the District of Columbia, and the United Arab Emirates. Cosi, Inc. was founded in 1994 and is based in Deerfield, Illinois.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By James Brumley]
But Sbarro is hardly the only restaurant struggling to make ends meet right now. Indeed, there are several more that may be following in the pizza chain’s bankruptcy footsteps. In no particular order, here are five more restaurants that may be fiscally insolvent in the foreseeable future.
Cosi (COSI)The sandwiches may be delicious, but the menu Cosi Inc. (COSI) offers at its 136 restaurants is increasingly irrelevant, either for price (the average ticket size is about $8.81), convenience, or both.
- [By John Udovich]
At the end of last week, small cap sandwich stock Potbelly Corp (NASDAQ: PBPB) had a delicious surge of 120% for its IPO���meaning its probably a good idea to see whether its still worth getting in on the action plus take a look at the performance of peers�Cosi Inc (NASDAQ: COSI), Panera Bread Co (NASDAQ: PNRA) and Einstein Noah Restaurant Group, Inc (NASDAQ: BAGL) as Subway remains private. I should mention that competing with Subway in the sandwich business is a tall order as they have 40,229 restaurants in 102 countries and territories as of early September���making them the�largest single-brand restaurant chain and the largest restaurant operator globally. However, Potbelly Corp and its peers Cosi Inc, Panera Bread Co and Einstein Noah Restaurant Group aren�� slugging it out directly with Subway.
- [By Anna Prior]
Cosi Inc.(COSI) named Yum Brands Inc.(YUM) veteran Scott Carlock as the chief financial officer of the struggling sandwich chain.
Cloud-based software provider E2open Inc.'s(EOPN) loss widened in its fiscal first quarter as operating expenses continued to rise.
- [By Peter Graham]
The Q1 2014 Potbelly Corp (NASDAQ: PBPB) earnings report is scheduled for after the market closes on Tuesday, May 6th, with investors and traders alike who follow either the sandwich restaurant chain stock (which debuted last October and is down some 44% for retail investors)�or who are into potential small cap peers like Cosi Inc (NASDAQ: COSI), Einstein Noah Restaurant Group, Inc (NASDAQ: BAGL) and Panera Bread Co (NASDAQ: PNRA) should be paying attention. Aside from the Potbelly Corp earnings report, it should be said that the Q1 2014 Panera Bread Co earnings report was last Tuesday while the�Q1 2014 Einstein Noah Restaurant Group, Inc earnings report came last Thursday and the the Q1 2014 Cosi Inc�earnings report is likely scheduled for Monday, May 12. However, Potbelly Corp has attracted a bit of attention for its potential growth trajectory as well as its�vision to be the ��eighborhood Sandwich Shop.��/p>
Top High Tech Companies For 2014: Ultra Petroleum Corp.(UPL)
Ultra Petroleum Corp., an independent oil and gas company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, production, and operation of oil and natural gas properties in the United States. It primarily focuses on developing a tight gas sand trend located in the Green River Basin of southwest Wyoming; and assessing, exploring, and developing its position in the Marcellus Shale and other horizons located in the north-central Pennsylvania area of the Appalachian Basin. As of December 31, 2011, the company owned interests in approximately 53,000 net acres in Wyoming covering approximately 190 square miles; 258,000 net acres in Pennsylvania; and 130,000 net acres in eastern Colorado?s Denver Julesburg Basin. Ultra Petroleum Corp. was founded in 1979 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Roberto Pedone]
Ultra Petroleum (UPL) is an oil and natural gas company engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development and production of oil and natural gas properties. This stock closed up 1.8% at $22.36 in Friday's trading session.
Friday's Volume: 10.05 million
Three-Month Average Volume: 3.19 million
Volume % Change: 300%Shares of UPL spiked up a bit on Friday after the company said it moved to a profit for its second quarter on improved revenue and the absence of major ceiling test writedowns. The company reported net income of $116.4 million, or 75 cents per share, vs. a loss of $1.19 billion, or $7.76 per share, for the same period last year.
From a technical perspective, UPL jumped higher here right above its 200-day moving average of $20.32 and back above its 50-day moving average of $21.48 with monster upside volume. This move is quickly pushing shares of UPL within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade. That trade will hit if UPL manages to take out some near-term overhead resistance levels at $21.96 to $22.47 with high volume. At last check, UPL closed near its intraday high of $22.50 and volume was well above its three-month average action.
Traders should now look for long-biased trades in UPL as long as it's trending above its 50-day $21.48 or its 200-day at $20.32 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that's near or above 3.19 million shares. If that breakout hits soon, then UPL will set up to re-test or possibly take out its 52-week high at $24.52. Any high-volume move above that level will then put $26 to $27.60, or even $30 into range for shares of UPL.
- [By Matt DiLallo]
Companies that are drilling for gas are doing so within the confines of cash flow instead of the previous aggressive pursuit of production growth. For example, Ultra Petroleum (NYSE: UPL ) has reduced its capital expenses so that the company is investing within its cash flow. That's had a dramatic effect on its capital budget which has gone from $1.56 billion in 2011 to just $415 million this year.
- [By Vinay Singh]
Natural gas isn't as cheap as it was a year ago and that's leading to big changes in the energy market. That will be a good thing for Ultra Petroleum (UPL), Royal Dutch Shell (RDS.B) and Alliance Natural Resource Partners (ARLP).
- [By Dan Caplinger]
One solution is to pick your best one or two ideas in each industry. As an example, if you think that natural gas is poised to keep rebounding, then low-cost producer Ultra Petroleum (NYSE: UPL ) is arguably the most likely to produce the greatest profits from the space. Similarly, with gold-mining stocks, Yamana Gold (NYSE: AUY ) emerges with the most attractive combination of low costs, growth potential, and balance-sheet strength.
Top High Tech Companies For 2014: Medical Properties Trust Inc (MPW)
Medical Properties Trust, Inc., incorporated on August 27, 2003, is a self-advised real estate investment trust (REIT) focused on investing in and owning net-leased healthcare facilities. The Company conducts substantially all of its business through MPT Operating Partnership, L.P. The Company acquires and develops healthcare facilities and leases the facilities to healthcare operating companies under long-term net leases, which require the tenant to bear the costs associated with the property. The Company also makes mortgage loans to healthcare operators collateralized by their real estate assets. In addition, the Company selectively makes loans to certain of its operators through its taxable REIT subsidiaries. In September 2013, Medical Properties Trust Inc completed the acquisition of the real estate of three acute care hospitals operated by IASIS Healthcare LLC.
As of February 18, 2013, the Company's portfolio consists of 82 properties: 69 facilities (of the 74 facilities that the Company owns) are leased to 23 tenants, five are under development, and the remainder are in the form of mortgage loans to three operators. The Company's owned facilities consist of 27 general acute care hospitals, 24 long-term acute care hospitals, 15 inpatient rehabilitation hospitals, two medical office buildings, and six wellness centers. The non-owned facilities on which the Company has made mortgage loans consist of three general acute care facilities, two long-term acute care hospitals, and three inpatient rehabilitation hospitals. At December 31, 2012, no one property accounted for more than 5% of the Company's total assets.
At December 31, 2012, the Company had leases with 22 hospital operating companies, eight mortgaged loans, six under development, and one property under re-development covering 82 facilities. Ernest leased 12 of these facilities pursuant to a master lease agreement. The master lease agreement has a 20-year term with three five-year extension options and provides for ! an initial rental rate of 9%, with consumer price-indexed increases, limited to a 2% floor and 5% ceiling annually thereafter. At December 31, 2012, these facilities had an average remaining lease term of approximately 19 years. In addition to the master lease, the Company holds a mortgage loan on four facilities owned by affiliates of Ernest.
Affiliates of Prime Healthcare Services, Inc. (Prime) leased 11 facilities pursuant to master lease agreements. The master leases are for 10 years commencing July 3, 2012 and contain two renewal options of five years each. The initial lease rate is generally consistent with the blended average rate of the prior lease agreements. However, the annual escalators, which in the prior leases were limited, have been increased to reflect 100% of CPI increases, along with a 2% minimum floor. The master leases include repurchase options substantially similar to those in the prior leases, including provisions establishing minimum repurchase prices equal to the Company's total investment. In addition to leases, the Company holds mortgage loans on three facilities owned by affiliates of Prime.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Eric Volkman]
It was an impressive quarter for Medical Properties Trust (NYSE: MPW ) . In its Q1 report, revenues amounted to $58 million, up 42% from the $41 million in the same period the previous year. Attributable net profit advanced much more strongly, growing 148% to $26 million ($0.18 per diluted share) from Q1 2012's figure of $11 million ($0.08). Funds from operations -- a key metric for real estate investment trusts -- came in at $35 million ($0.25 per diluted share) on a normalized basis, compared with $22 million ($0.18) in the year-ago quarter.
- [By Brad Thomas]
A Bank of America (BOA) downgrade sends Medical Properties Trust (MPW) tumbling. The bank cut the shares to Underperform from Neutral citing the REIT's YTD outperformance relative to the sector overall (it has outpaced healthcare REITs two to one). Put simply, funds from operations "multiple expansion has exceeded fundamental trends." SA contributor Brad Thomas claims MPW is an example of mispriced risk.
Top High Tech Companies For 2014: Banco Santander-Chile (BSAC)
Banco Santander Chile (the Bank), incorporated on August 1, 2002, provides a range of general banking services to its customers, from individuals to corporations. The Bank operates in two segments: Commercial Banking, and Global Banking and Markets. The Bank provides a range of commercial and retail banking services to its customers, including Chilean peso and foreign currency denominated loans to finance a variety of commercial transactions, trade, foreign currency forward contracts and credit lines and a variety of retail banking services, including mortgage financing. It has 499 total branches, 269 of which are operated under the Santander brand name, with the remaining branches under certain specialty brand names, including 93 under the Santander Banefe brand name, 45 under the SuperCaja brand name, 44 under the BancaPrime brand name and 53 as auxiliary and payment centers. The Bank provides a range of financial services to corporate and individual customers. It offers a variety of financial services, including financial leasing, financial advisory services, mutual fund management, securities brokerage, insurance brokerage and investment management. As of December 31, 2012, it had outstanding loans net of allowances for loan losses of $ 38,271 million, and total deposits of $ 29,408 million.
The Bank�� loan portfolio includes Commercial loans, Residential mortgage loans, Consumer loans and Non-client loans. Commercial loans include commercial loans, foreign trade loans, mortgage loans financed with mortgage bonds, factoring operations, leasing contracts and other outstanding loans. Commercial loans (includes all loans other than consumer loans and residential mortgage loans). Residential mortgage loans include draft loans, residential mortgage loans backed by mortgage bonds and other mortgage mutual loans. Residential mortgage loans, including loans granted to individuals for the acquisition, construction or repair of residential real estate, in which the value of the property cove! rs at least 100% of the amount of the loan. Consumer loans include installment consumer loans, consumer loans through lines of credit, credit card loans and consumer leasing contracts. Consumer loans, including loans granted to individuals for the purpose of financing the acquisition of consumer goods or payment of service.)
Commercial Banking
The Commercial Banking segment is comprised sub-segments, which includes individuals (Santander Banefe), individuals (Commercial Banking), small and mid-sized companies, institutional, companies, real estate and corporations. Individuals (Santander Banefe), consisting of individuals with monthly incomes between $ 313 and $ 835 and served through its Banefe branch network. The segment accounts for 4.2% of its total loans outstanding as of December 31, 2012. The segment offers customers a range of products, including consumer loans, credit cards, auto loans, residential mortgage loans, debit card accounts, savings products, mutual funds and insurance brokerage. Individuals (Commercial Banking), consisting of individuals with a monthly income greater than $ 835. Clients in the segment account for 47.1% of its total loans outstanding as of December 31, 2012, and are offered a range of products, including consumer loans, credit cards, auto loans, commercial loans, foreign trade financing, residential mortgage loans, checking accounts, savings products, mutual funds and insurance brokerage.
Small and mid-sized companies consists of small companies with annual revenue of less than $2.5 million. As of December 31, 2012, the segment represented approximately 15.0% of its total loans outstanding. Customers in the segment are offered a range of products, including commercial loans, leasing, factoring, foreign trade, credit cards, mortgage loans, checking accounts, savings products, mutual funds and insurance brokerage. Institutional, such as universities, government agencies, municipalities and regional governments. As of December 31, 2! 012, thes! e clients represented 1.9% of its total loans outstanding. Customers in this sub-segment are also offered the same products that are offered to the customers in its small businesses segment. The sub-segment is included in the Retail segment because customers in this sub-segment are a source for individual customers. Companies consists of companies with annual revenue over $2.5 million and up to $20.9 million. Customers in this segment are offered a range of products, including commercial loans, leasing, factoring, foreign trade, credit cards, mortgage loans, checking accounts, cash management, treasury services, financial advisory, savings products, mutual funds and insurance brokerage. As of December 31, 2012, these clients represented 8.6% of its total loans outstanding.
Real estate consists of companies in the real estate sector with annual revenue over $1.7 million, including construction companies and real estate companies that execute projects for sale to third parties. As of December 31, 2012, these clients represented 4.1% of its total loans outstanding. To these clients the Bank offers, in addition to traditional banking services, specialized services for financing, primarily residential projects, in order to increase the sale of residential mortgage loans. Large corporations consists of companies with annual revenue over $20.9 million. Customers in this segment are also offered the same products that are offered to the customers in its mid-sized companies segment. As of December 31, 2012, these clients represented 8.8% of its total loans outstanding.
Global Banking and Markets segment
The Global Banking and Markets segment is comprised of the sub-segments, which include corporate and the treasury division. Corporate consists of companies that are foreign multinationals or part of a Chilean economic group with sales of over $20.9 million. As of December 31, 2012, these clients represented 9.8% of its total loans outstanding. Customers in this segment are o! ffered a ! range of products, including commercial loans, leasing, factoring, foreign trade, mortgage loans, checking accounts, cash management, treasury services, financial advisory, savings products, mutual funds and insurance brokerage. The Treasury Division provides financial products to companies in the wholesale banking and the middle-market segments. This includes products, such as short-term financing and funding, securities brokerage, interest rate and foreign currency derivatives, securitization services and other tailor made financial products. The Treasury division also manages its trading positions.
Corporate Activities
The Bank has a Corporate Activities segment comprised of all other operational and administrative activities This segment includes the Financial Management Division, which manages global functions, such as the management of its structural foreign exchange gap position, its structural interest rate risk and its liquidity risk. The Financial Management Division also oversees the use of its resources, the distribution of capital among its different units and the overall financing cost of investments.
The Bank competes with Banco del Estado.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Sean Williams]
That inflation rate wasn't a big help for Banco Santander Chile (NYSE: BSAC ) , the fund's third-largest holding, which is a large bank that's inflation-sensitive and saw its net interest margin drop in its most recent quarter. However, many of the more important underlying fundamentals of Banco Santander Chile, such as loan growth and core deposits, increased year over year while net provision expenses for consumer loans dropped 3.8% year over year. �
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