Best Diversified Bank Companies To Own For 2015

For e.g. a five percent return on an investment in India would be considered grossly inadequate by Indian investors. For it does not even cover the rise in inflation, that until recently was as high as 9%-10%.

However, the five percent return would be more than satisfactory for a person in the US where the official inflation figures are barely above 2%-3% or may be even less. Secondly, a return of 10% on a bond investment in India can be considered good enough. But if the same return were expected of a stock, it would again be inadequate we believe.

Stocks are riskier than bonds and hence, to cover the extra risk, the expected returns should also be higher. Something in the range of 12%-15% will be more appropriate for stocks we believe.

This isn't a very complicated rule to follow, isn't it? But we routinely encounter cases in stock markets where people price stocks in such a way that returns expected of them end up being much lower than bonds.

Take the example of the firms in the table below. Assume for the sake of this article that your expected rate of return from a stock is 15%. Thus, what book value multiple would you be willing to give to a stock where ROE (Return on Equity) has averaged not more than 15% over the past five years? A maximum price to book value of 1x, isn't it?

Best Diversified Bank Companies To Own For 2015: Aspial Corporation Limited (A30.SI)

Aspial Corporation Limited, an investment holding company, engages in the manufacture, wholesale, retail, and export of jewelry. It offers fine contemporary jewelry principally under the Lee Hwa, Goldheart, and CitiGems brand names. The company also engages in property investment, development, and management; investment holding; building construction and contracting; and pawn broking activities. It specializes in the development, marketing, and management of small to medium sized apartments. Aspial Corporation operates 22 pawnshops. The company was formerly known as Lee Hwa Holdings Pte Ltd. and changed its name to Aspial Corporation Limited in 2001. The company was incorporated in 1970 and is based in Singapore. Aspial Corporation Limited is a subsidiary of MLHS Holdings Pte Ltd.

Best Diversified Bank Companies To Own For 2015: Fisher Communications Inc.(FSCI)

Fisher Communications, Inc., an integrated media company, through its subsidiaries, engages in television and radio broadcasting businesses. The company owns and operates network-affiliated television stations in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and California, as well as engages in Internet business; and radio stations and managed radio stations in Washington and Montana. It also owns and operates Fisher Plaza, a commercial building that includes a data center designed to enable companies to distribute analog and digital media content through various distribution channels, including broadcast, satellite, cable, Internet, broadband, and other wired and wireless communication systems, as well as houses various companies, including media and communications companies. The company owns and operates 13 full power television stations, 7 low power television stations, and 10 owned and managed radio stations in the Western United States. Its television stations reach 4.2 million househo lds. The company was formerly known as Fisher Companies, Inc. and changed its name in March 2001. Fisher Communications, Inc. was founded in 1910 and is based in Seattle, Washington.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Eric Volkman]

  In the latest of a string of acquisitions, Sinclair Broadcast Group (NASDAQ: SBGI  ) is to buy Fisher Communications (NASDAQ: FSCI  ) . The merger transaction will cost the former roughly $373 million. Fisher stockholders are to receive a cash payout of $41.00 per share, which, according to Sinclair, is a 44% premium to the stock's recent closing price.

Best Undervalued Companies To Own For 2015: Celeste Mining Corp.(C.V)

Celeste Mining Corp., a junior natural resource company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties in Chile. It primarily explores for tin, copper, gold, and silver ores. The company holds an option agreement to acquire a 100% interest in seven exploration concessions, Celeste IV�X, covering approximately 2,765 hectares located in the Cabeza de Vaca mineral district, Chile. It also holds three exploration concessions in the Manto Medio district of Chile. The company was formerly known as Celeste Copper Corporation and changed its name to Celeste Mining Corp. in November 2012. Celeste Mining Corp. was incorporated in 2007 and is based in Calgary, Canada.

Best Diversified Bank Companies To Own For 2015: Red Eagle Mining Corp (RD.V)

Red Eagle Mining Corp (Red Eagle) is engaged in exploration and development of mineral properties located in Colombia. The Company has two mineral properties: Santa Rosa and Pavo Real, both of which are located in Colombia. The Company, though its 70% owned subsidiary Rovira Mining Limited, is earning in to an option agreement on the Pavo Real property in Tolima province, Colombia. On October 6, 2010, the Company entered into letter agreement to acquire 100% of the Santa Rosa Project, which is consisted of concession contracts in Colombia. The Company�� subsidiaries include Red Eagle Mining de Colombia Limited and Rovira Mining Limited. Effective September 3, 2013, Appian Natural Resources Fund LP, a unit of Appian Capital Advisory LLP, raised its interest to 15.323% from 9.297%, by acquiring a further 6.025% interest in Red Eagle Mining Corp.

Best Diversified Bank Companies To Own For 2015: Transcontinental Realty Investors Inc.(TCI)

Transcontinental Realty Investors, Inc. acquires, develops, and owns residential and commercial real estate properties through acquisitions, leases, and partnerships in the United States. The company leases apartment units to residents; leases office, industrial, and retail space to various for-profit businesses, as well as to local, state, and federal agencies; and leases trade show and exhibit space to temporary, as well as long-term tenants. In addition, its real estate properties consist of commercial properties, including office buildings, industrial warehouses, and shopping centers; apartments; and new properties, such as apartment homes. Further, the company invests in unimproved land and apartment development and construction, and mortgage loans on real estate, including first, and wraparound and junior mortgage loans. Additionally, it originates its mortgage loans, and acquires existing mortgage notes directly from builders, developers, and property owners, as wel l as through mortgage banking firms, commercial banks, and other qualified brokers. As of September 30, 2008, its properties consisted of 29 commercial buildings, including 20 office buildings, 5 commercial warehouses, and 4 retail centers; 51 apartment communities; and 7,425 acres of developed and undeveloped land. The company was founded in 1983 and headquartered in Dallas, Texas.

Best Diversified Bank Companies To Own For 2015: UNITIL Corporation (UTL)

Unitil Corporation, a public utility holding company, engages in the distribution of electricity and natural gas in the states of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Maine. It also operates 87 miles of interstate underground natural gas transmission pipeline that provides interstate natural gas pipeline access and transportation services in New Hampshire and Maine service territory. In addition, the company provides energy brokering and advisory services to commercial and industrial customers in the northeastern United States. It serves approximately 100,900 electric and 70,800 natural gas customers. The company was incorporated in 1984 and is headquartered in Hampton, New Hampshire.

Best Diversified Bank Companies To Own For 2015: SL Green Realty Corporation(SLG)

SL Green Realty Corp. is a real estate investment trust (REIT). The firm engages in the property management, acquisitions, financing, development, construction, and leasing. It also provides tenant services to its clients. The firm invests in real estate markets of the United States. It primarily invests in commercial office and retail properties. SL Green Realty Corp. was founded in 1970 and is based in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Marc Bastow]

  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%

• [By Marc Bastow]

  Property management and financing real estate investment trust SL Green Realty (SLG) raised its quarterly dividend 52% to 50 cents per share. SLG did not release a payment or ex-dividend date for the new dividend.
  SLG Dividend Yield:�2.04%

Best Diversified Bank Companies To Own For 2015: Sunesis Pharmaceuticals Inc.(SNSS)

Sunesis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, focuses on the development and commercialization of oncology therapeutics for the treatment of solid and hematologic cancers. The company?s principal product includes Vosaroxin, an anti-cancer quinolone derivative for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). It is conducting various clinical trials of Vosaroxin, including Phase II clinical trial, known as VALOR trial in combination with cytarabine for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory AML; and a Phase II clinical trial, known as REVEAL-1 in previously untreated patients of age 60 years or older, as well as completed a Phase II single-agent trial of Vosaroxin in patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. In addition, the company is conducting a Phase II/III trial, known as the Less Intensive 1 in patients older than 60 years with AML or high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome. It has a license agreement with Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma Co. , Ltd. for the development and commercialization of Vosaroxin; a collaboration agreement with Millennium for the development of pan-Raf kinase inhibitor and one additional undisclosed kinase inhibitor program in oncology; and a collaboration agreement with Biogen Idec, Inc. to discover, develop, and commercialize small molecule inhibitors of a preclinical kinase inhibitor program in immunology. The company formerly known as, Mosaic Pharmaceuticals, Inc., was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in South San Francisco, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Brian Pacampara]

  Based on the aggregated intelligence of 180,000-plus investors participating in Motley Fool CAPS, the Fool's free investing community, biopharmaceutical company Sunesis Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: SNSS  ) has received an alarming one-star ranking.

• [By Selena Maranjian]

  The biggest new holdings are Virgin Media�and Constellation Brands. Other new holdings of interest include Sunesis Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: SNSS  ) , which has many investors hopeful about the phase 3 trials of its leukemia drug vosaroxin, which could be a blockbuster.

Best Diversified Bank Companies To Own For 2015: Texon Petroleum Ltd(TXN.AX)

Texon Petroleum Ltd, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the exploration and production of oil and gas properties in the Gulf Coast of Texas, the United States. The company holds interest in 16 producing wells comprising 2 producing Eagle Ford wells; 10 producing Olmos wells in the Leighton field and 1 additional Olmos well in production in the Rockingham area; and 3 wells in Jackson County from the Yegua formation. Texon Petroleum Ltd was incorporated in 2006 and is headquartered in Brisbane, Australia.

Best Diversified Bank Companies To Own For 2015: Fidelity Southern Corporation(LION)

Fidelity Southern Corporation operates as the bank holding company for Fidelity Bank that provides financial products and services primarily in Georgia. It accepts various deposit products, including savings deposits, noninterest-bearing demand deposits, interest-bearing demand deposits, money market accounts, time deposits, and brokered time deposits. The company also offers various loan products comprising commercial and industrial loans, commercial loans secured by real estate, SBA loans, construction and residential real estate loans, direct and indirect automobile loans, residential mortgage and home equity loans, and secured and unsecured installment loans, as well as provides credit card services and brokerage services. In addition, it offers international trade services, such as letters of credit, foreign currency drafts, foreign and documentary collections, export finance, and international wire transfers; trust services; and merchant services through agreements w ith third parties, as well as investment services through an agreement with an independent broker-dealer. Further, the company provides Internet banking services, which include online bill pay and Internet cash management services to individuals and businesses, as well as remote deposit services. It serves business and retail customers through a network of operating 24 branches in Fulton, Dekalb, Cobb, Clayton, Gwinnett, Rockdale, Coweta, Henry, and Barrow Counties in Georgia; and 1 branch in Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida. Additionally, the company, through its subsidiaries, operates as an insurance agency offering consumer credit related insurance products; and issues trust preferred securities. Fidelity Southern Corporation was founded in 1973 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.

Best Diversified Bank Companies To Own For 2015: Mutiny Gold Ltd(MYG.AX)

Mutiny Gold Limited, a diversified resource company, engages in the exploration and development of gold, copper, and nickel tenements in western Australia. Its lead project, the Deflector Gold/Copper deposit, which is within Gullewa tenements located in south Murchison region of western Australia. The company was founded in 2002 and is based in South Perth, Australia.

Best Diversified Bank Companies To Own For 2015: Trilogy Energy Tr (TET.TO)

Trilogy Energy Corp. acquires, develops, produces, and sells natural gas, crude oil, and natural gas liquids in Canada. It holds interests in oil and natural gas properties, and related assets located in the Kaybob and Grande Prairie areas of Alberta. As of December 31, 2011, Trilogy Energy Corp. had approximately 415,837 net acres of undeveloped land base in Alberta. The company is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.

Best Diversified Bank Companies To Own For 2015: Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Income Opportunity Fund Inc(PFO)

Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Income Opportunity Fund Incorporated is a close-ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by Flaherty & Crumrine Incorporated. The fund invests in the public equity markets of the United States. It invests in stocks of companies operating in the finance and utility sector. The fund primarily invests in preferred stocks. It typically invests in securities with an average credit rating of BBB- by Standard & Poor's Corporation and Baa3 by Moody's Investors Services, Inc. The fund benchmarks the performance of its portfolio against S&P 500 Index and Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Index. Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Income Opportunity Fund Incorporated was formed on December 10, 1991 and is domiciled in the United States.