Friday, June 21, 2013

Top 5 Computer Hardware Companies To Buy Right Now

LONDON -- Management can make all the difference to a company's success and, thus, its share price.

The best companies are those run by talented and experienced leaders with strong vested interests in the success of the business, held in check by a board with sound financial and business acumen. Some of the worst investments to hold are those run by executives collecting fat rewards as the underlying business goes to pot.

In this series, I'm assessing the boardrooms of companies within the FTSE 100. I hope to separate the management teams that are worth following from those that are not. Today, I am looking at�Compass Group� (LSE: CPG  ) , the world's largest contract caterer.

Here are the key directors:

Director

Top 5 Computer Hardware Companies To Buy Right Now: Latchways(LTC.L)

Latchways plc engages in the production, distribution, and installation of industrial safety products and related services primarily in Europe and North America. It operates in two segments, Safety Products and Safety Services. The Safety Products segment designs and manufactures fall protection equipment for people working at height. It offers systems for those working at height, including on rooftops, crane rails; and systems for those climbing to or from height, such as ladders, telecom masts, and electricity transmission towers, as well as provides personal protective equipment, guardrails, and walkways. This segment sells its products directly, as well as through independent installers. The Safety Services segment installs and services safety products under the ManSafe name. The company?s products are used in bridges, commercial, electricity pylons, heritage, industrial, towers, office blocks, manufacturing plants, entertainment arenas, public buildings, offshore pla tforms, aerospace, power transmission, utilities, and telecommunications applications. Latchways plc was founded in 1974 and is headquartered in Devizes, the United Kingdom.

Top 5 Computer Hardware Companies To Buy Right Now: Farmworks Australia Limited(FWA.AX)

Farmworks Australia Limited, together with its subsidiaries, provides rural merchandise and services to agricultural industry in Australia. It supplies farm inputs, farm chemicals, seeds, fertilizers, and general merchandise, as well as animal health and nutrition, fencing, crop nutrition, and water equipment input requirements to farmers through its network of branches and agents. The company also provides agronomy and technical services; and transaction services, including insurance and finance products. In addition, it supplies provides crop protection products to broadacre and horticultural markets through independent retailers and serviced providers. The company was formerly known as ETT Limited. Farmworks Australia Limited is headquartered in Osborne Park, Australia.

Top 10 Warren Buffett Stocks To Watch Right Now: The Travelers Companies Inc.(TRV)

The Travelers Companies, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides various commercial and personal property and casualty insurance products and services to businesses, government units, associations, and individuals primarily in the United States. The company operates in three segments: Business Insurance; Financial, Professional, and International Insurance; and Personal Insurance. The Business Insurance segment offers property and casualty products and services, such as commercial multi-peril, property, general liability, commercial auto, and workers? compensation insurance. It operates in six groups: Select Accounts, which serves small businesses; Commercial Accounts that serves mid-sized businesses; National Accounts, which serves large companies; Industry-Focused Underwriting that serves targeted industries; Target Risk Underwriting, which serves commercial businesses requiring specialized product underwriting, claims handling, and risk management services; and Special ized Distribution that offers products to customers through licensed wholesale, general, and program agents. The Financial, Professional, and International Insurance segment provides surety and financial liability coverage, which uses a credit-based underwriting process; and property and casualty products primarily in the United States., the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Canada. The Personal Insurance segment offers property and casualty insurance covering personal risks, primarily automobile and homeowners insurance to individuals. It distributes its products through independent agents, sponsoring organizations, joint marketing arrangements with other insurers, and direct marketing. The company was founded in 1853 and is based in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:
  • [By Jim Cramer]

    This insurer never ran into trouble like so many of its cohorts and yet somehow hasn't received the kudos its management deserves for steering the ship through the shoals of bad investments. Jay Fishman, the CEO, is easily the best executive in the insurance industry and Travelers will get its due in 2011, which will make it so that its 12% return in 2010 will seem quite small. I think it can trade to $68 and not be expensive, particularly when people begin to give the well-run insurers a nice premium to the ne'er-do-wells.

  • [By Vodicka]

    Shares are trading around $51.50 at the time of writing, as against their 52-week trading range of $45.97 to $64.17. At the current market price, the company is capitalized at $21.64 billion. Earnings per share for the last year were $5.29, placing the shares on a price to earnings ratio of 9.77. It paid a dividend of $1.64 (a yield of 3.20%).

    Still in the memory is the financial crisis of 2008, and the mess that insurance companies like AIG managed to get themselves into. Travelers avoided that, but investors are fickle creatures and sometimes look at the short term rather than the long term. Travelers are well managed with good prospects going forward. Operating margins of nearly 13% hold well against rivals Hartford Financial Services Group (HIG) at around 10% and W.R. Berkley Corporation (WRB) at a shade under 14%. Good management should keep gross margins healthy (currently 26.5% versus Hartford’s 30% and W.R. Berkely’s 18%), and the company’s ongoing policy of share repurchases and dividend payout should continue to add value to shareholders. A good buy.

  • [By Jon C. Ogg]

    The Travelers Companies Inc. (NYSE: TRV) is expected to rise by only 7.6% to $77.26 in 2013. That would represent a 52-week high but this one also has a yield of 2.6%. We would note that the street high target is actually all the way up at $87.00 and shares are currently very close to all-time highs. This insurance provider and financial services giant is not tied into healthcare so it has been immune to some of the ongoing risks. Travelers held up rather well in the recession but many investors do not even know it i one of the 30 DJIA components.

Top 5 Computer Hardware Companies To Buy Right Now: Indiana Community Bancorp(INCB)

Indiana Community Bancorp operates as the holding company for Indiana Bank and Trust Company that provides consumer and commercial community banking services in Indiana. Its deposit products include savings accounts, checking accounts, certificates of deposit, NOW accounts, individual retirement accounts, health savings accounts, and commercial demand deposit accounts. The company?s loan portfolio comprises residential and commercial real estate loans; commercial loans; construction loans; and consumer loans, which consist of second mortgage and home equity loans, mobile home loans, automobile loans, loans secured by savings accounts, and other consumer loans. It also offers debit cards, credit cards, and trust services. As of April 26, 2011, the company operated 20 branch offices in central and southeastern Indiana. Indiana Community Bancorp was founded in 1908 and is based in Columbus, Indiana.

Top 5 Computer Hardware Companies To Buy Right Now: GoConnect Ltd (GCN.AX)

GoConnect Limited, a media communications company, primarily engages in the online delivery of interactive audio/video content through its proprietary technologies. Its activities include the development and growth of video infotainment and entertainment portals with own content productions and third party content; music production and artist management; sale of advertising space on its own online properties, third party Websites, and multiple Internet Protocol TV (IPTV) platforms; and provision of technical services on IPTV platforms and online music talent competitions. The company�s properties comprise PLW Entertainment that offers artist development and management; and Undercover.fm, a music news and information online portal. It also provides Uctv.fm, an on-demand IPTV channel that enables users to stream live entertainment on their TVs, PCs, or smart phones; Soundcheck.com.au, an online talent competition portal; and The Business Show, an investor relations solution designed to assist companies communicate with current and prospective investors. GoConnect Limited was founded in 1999 and is based in Melbourne, Australia.

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