In the following interview, The Motley Fool talks with Qualtrics CEO Ryan Smith, one of Forbes' "Most Promising CEOs Under 35." Smith's online data collection and analysis platform has enjoyed meteoric growth and success in its quest to "help companies be right."
Smith shares his insights on big data, the value of hard work, learning from the successes -- and failures -- of others, and of course why he wouldn't sell his company for half a billion dollars.
A full transcript follows the video.
The Motley Fool's chief investment officer has selected his No. 1 stock for the next year. Find out which stock it is in the brand-new free report: "The Motley Fool's Top Stock for 2013." Just click here to access the report and find out the name of this under-the-radar company.
Brendan Byrnes: Hi folks, I'm Brendan Byrnes and I'm joined today by Ryan Smith. Ryan is the CEO of Qualtrics, also recently No. 2 on the Forbes list of CEOs under 35, and you recently turned down $500 million for Qualtrics. First of all, thanks so much for your time.
Top 5 Growth Companies To Watch In Right Now: iShares S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust (GSG)
iShares S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust (the Trust), formerly iShares GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust, issues units of beneficial interest, called Shares, representing fractional undivided beneficial interests in its net assets. Substantially all of the assets of the Trust consist of interests in the iShares S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Investing Pool LLC (the Investing Pool). The investment objective of the Trust is to seek investment results, through its investment in the Investing Pool, which correspond generally to the performance of the S&P GSCI Total Return Index (the Index). The Investing Pool is a limited liability company. The Investing Pool holds long positions in CERFs, which are futures contracts listed on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, which have a term of approximately five years after listing and whose settlement at expiration is based on the value of the S&P GSCI Excess Return Index, or S&P GSCI-ER, at that time.
The Index is intended to reflect the performance of a diversified group of commodities. The Index reflects the value of an investment in the S&P GSCI-ER together with a Treasury bill return. The S&P GSCI-ER reflects the returns that are potentially available through a rolling uncollateralized investment in the contracts comprising the S&P GSCI. Barclays Global Investors International, Inc. is the sponsor of the Trust and the manager of the Investing Pool. Barclays Global Investors, N.A. is the trustee of the Trust.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Charles Sizemore]
But things have changed over the past decade; correlations between commodities have increased. As commodity mutual funds and ETFs such as the PIMCO Commodity Real Return Fund (PCRDX) and iShares S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust (GSG) have become popular, commodities that once traded largely independently of each other now get lumped together and bought and sold as a group. Also, the financialization of commodities has caused their correlation to stocks to rise as well.
- [By Adam J. Wiederman]
Getty Images Bitcoin made headlines last year when the value of all outstanding pieces of the electronic currency reached nearly $10 billion. It's not just speculators drawn to the new currency. Many businesses are also attempting to cash in on this growth: Several public companies, including Zynga (ZNGA) and Overstock.com (OSTK), accept Bitcoins as a form of payment. Venture capitalist Marc Andreessen's firm has invested nearly $50 million in Bitcoin-related ventures, and it is looking to invest even more. And the Winklevoss twins -- who notoriously accused Facebook's (FB) Mark Zuckerberg of stealing their idea -- have been "in dialogue" with the SEC about opening the first Bitcoin exchange-traded fund, according to Bloomberg. Yet a new survey from TheStreet.com (TST) reveals that 76 percent of consumers are not familiar with Bitcoin -- and 79 percent would never consider owning a currency like it. Does this signal opportunity for savvy investors? Or is this a fad you'd be wise to avoid? The Basics of Bitcoin Bitcoin is a completely unregulated form of currency developed by an anonymous Japanese programmer (according to some apocryphal claims) as a completely digital, peer-to-peer payment system that is independent of national currencies (which, Bitcoin users argue, are all subject to the riskiness of the underlying country). Bitcoins are rewarded throughout the day to a "Bitcoin miner" whose computer solves a series of algorithms quicker than other miners. The puzzles become more difficult over time, so the calculations take longer and the computations require more computing power. There will eventually be a total of 21 million Bitcoins (12.4 million are in circulation today) and we won't reach the point that they are effectively "mined out" until 2040. The value of a Bitcoin is supposed to be market-driven, meaning they're worth whatever the two parties in a transaction value them as. For example, in one of the original Bitcoin transactions, a "mi
Top 10 Promising Companies To Buy For 2014: Snap-On Incorporated(SNA)
Snap-on Incorporated provides tools, equipment, diagnostics, repair information, and systems solutions for professional users. Its products include hand tools, such as wrenches, screwdrivers, sockets, pliers, ratchets, saws and cutting tools, pruning tools, and torque measuring instruments; power tools, including pneumatic, hydraulic, cordless, and corded tools; and tool storage products comprising tool chests, roll cabinets, and tool control systems. The company?s diagnostics and repair information products include handheld and PC-based diagnostics products, service and repair information products, diagnostic software solutions, electronic parts catalogs, business management systems, business services, point-of-sale systems, integrated systems for vehicle service shops, original equipment manufacturer purchasing facilitation services, and warranty management systems and analytics to manage and track performance. Snap-on Incorporated?s equipment products comprise solutions for the diagnosis and service of automotive and industrial equipment, such as wheel alignment, collision repair, air conditioning service, brake service, fluid exchange, transmission troubleshooting, and safety testing equipment, as well as wheel balancers, tire changers, vehicle lifts, test lane systems, battery chargers, and hoists. The company also provides financial services, including business loans and vehicle leases to franchisees; loans to the franchisees? customers; and loans to its industrial and other customers for the purchase of tools, equipment, and diagnostics products. Snap-on Incorporated sells its products and services through mobile vans, franchisees, company-direct sales, distributors, and the Internet in approximately 130 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Australia, France, Japan, Spain, Italy, Sweden, the Netherlands, Argentina, China, and Brazil. Snap-on Incorporated was founded in 1920 and is based in Kenosh a, Wisconsin.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Matt Thalman]
Another player that operates heavily within this industry, but in a slightly different fashion, announced earnings today. Shares of tool company�Snap-On (NYSE: SNA ) �rose 7.76% today after beating estimates on both the top and bottom lines. Revenue came in at $797.5 million for the quarter, a 5.9% increase from last year and higher than the $779.5 million analysts were looking for. Earnings per share hit $1.60, again higher than the $1.56 that was expected. One of the areas that management would like to focus on moving forward is expanding its vehicle repair garage, which again would make sense given the average age of vehicles on the road today.�
- [By Shauna O'Brien]
Snap-on Incorporated (SNA) announced on Friday that it has agreed to acquire all of the assets of Pro-Cut International for $45 million.
Snap-on will acquire Pro-Cut for $45 million in cash. Pro-Cut is a manufacturer and designed of on-car brake equipment. The company’s sales were approximately $25 million in 2013.
Snap-On’s CEO and Chairman Nick Pinchuk commented: “Pro-Cut’s advanced brake servicing product line enhances and increases Snap-on’s offering of productivity solutions for vehicle repair facilities, including independent shops, national service chains and OEM dealerships.”
“We believe Pro-Cut will be an important addition to our Repair Systems & Information Group and will help us move further along our coherent growth runway of expanding with repair shop owners and managers. We look forward to welcoming Pro-Cut associates to the Snap-on family,” Pinchuk added.
SNA Dividend SnapshotAs of Market Close on May 29, 2014
Click here to see the complete history of SNA dividends.
Snap-on shares were mostly flat during pre-market trading Friday. The stock is up 6.83% YTD.
- [By Seth Jayson]
Snap-on (NYSE: SNA ) reported earnings on April 18. Here are the numbers you need to know.
The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended March 30 (Q1), Snap-on met expectations on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share. - [By Lisa Levin]
Snap-on (NYSE: SNA) shares gained 0.60% to create a new 52-week high of $106.62. Snap-on's PEG ratio is 1.78.
Posted-In: 52-Week HighsNews Intraday Update Markets Movers
Top 10 Promising Companies To Buy For 2014: Avanir Pharmaceuticals Inc(AVNR)
Avanir Pharmaceuticals, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in acquiring, developing, and commercializing novel therapeutic products for the treatment of central nervous system disorders primarily in the United States. The company primarily offers NUEDEXTA, a unique proprietary combination of dextromethorphan and low-dose quinidine for the treatment of pseudobulbar affect. Its product line also comprises AVP-923 in Phase II clinical trial for the treatment of central neuropathic pain in patients with multiple sclerosis; and in Phase III trial for the treatment of patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain. In addition, the company provides Docosanol 10% cream, an over-the-counter product for cold sores treatment. Avanir Pharmaceuticals, Inc. was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in Aliso Viejo, California.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Garrett Cook]
Avanir Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: AVNR) shares tumbled 4.19 percent to $10.74 after the company announced an offering of $200 million of common stock.
- [By Sean Williams]
The end of the week brought fantastic news for shareholders in Avanir Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: AVNR ) who witnessed the CHMP recommending approval for Nuedexta, it's already U.S.-approved treatment for psuedobulbar affect. An approval in Europe would be a key win for Avanir as Nuedexta currently makes up the majority of its revenue. In addition, it's worth noting that the European Medicine Agency's panel recommended two dosing regimens, potentially broadening in patient reach. Shares reacted notably higher but tapered off by the end of the day on Friday. Although the EMA isn't required to follow the recommendation of its panel, this would be a case where I'd be mildly surprised if it didn't.
- [By Rebecca McClay]
Finally, Avanir Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq: AVNR) is up about 7% today after it settled with Actavis South Atlantic and Actavis Inc. (NYSE: ACT) to resolve pending patent litigation regarding ACT's seeking approval to market generic versions of AVNR's NUEDEXTA capsules. ACT is up about 1%.
- [By Sean Williams]
On Wednesday, Avanir Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: AVNR ) received good news from the Food and Drug Administration, which OK'd an accelerated development pathway for pre-investigational neuropathic pain drug AVP-786. The accelerated approval was based on data from AVP-923 and will allow Avanir to conduct minimal preclinical testing before advancing onto human trials. This saves the company time and, more importantly, precious cash. I would, however, caution against getting too excited, as even this accelerated development puts this drug, which isn't even in clinical trials yet, years away from a possible approval.
Top 10 Promising Companies To Buy For 2014: Vivo Participacoes S.A.(VIV)
Telecomunicacoes de Sao Paulo S.A.-TELESP provides fixed-line telecommunications services to residential and commercial customers in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Its services include local voice services, such as activation, monthly subscription, measured service, and public telephones; intraregional, interregional, and international long-distance voice services; data services comprising broadband services; pay TV services through direct to home satellite technology and land based wireless technology multichannel multipoint distribution service; and network services, such as interconnection and rental of facilities, as well as other services consisting of extended maintenance, caller identification, voice mail, cell phone blockers, computer support, and antivirus for Internet service subscribers. The company also offers multimedia communication services, such as audio, data, voice and other sounds, images, and texts and other information. In addition, it provides interc onnection services to cellular service providers and other fixed telecommunications companies through the use of its network. Further, the company offers telecommunications solutions and IT support designed to address the needs and requirements of companies operating various types of industries, including retail, manufacturing, services, financial institutions, and government. Telecomunicacoes de Sao Paulo S.A.-TELESP provides its products and services through person-to-person sales, telesales, indirect channels, Internet, and door-to-door sales. As of December 31, 2010, its telephone network included 11.3 million fixed lines in service, including residential, commercial, and public telephone lines; 3.3 million broadband clients; and 0.5 million pay TV clients. The company was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Telecomunicacoes de Sao Paulo S.A.-TELESP is a subsidiary of Telefonica S.A.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Mike Deane]
Telefonica Brasil SA (VIV) reported its first quarter earnings before the opening bell on Friday, posting slightly higher revenues and much lower earnings compared to last year’s first quarter.
VIV’s Earnings in Brief
Telefonica Brasil�reported first quarter revenues of 8.6 billion reals, up from last year’s Q1 revenues of 8.56 billion reals. Net earnings for the quarter came in at 660.8 million reals, down from 810.2 million reals reported for last year’s Q1. Analysts were expecting earnings of 746 million reals. According to Reuters, the company also warned that the World Cup, which is taking place in Brazil this summer, could end up dragging down earnings.VIV’s Dividend
Telefonica Brasil did not mention any changes to its dividend in its first quarter earnings release. Currently, the company has an annualized dividend of $1.13.
Stock Performance
VIV stock was inactive in pre-market trading. YTD, the company’s stock is up 13.33%.
VIV�Dividend SnapshotAs of Market Close on May 8, 2014
Click here to see the complete history of VIV dividends.
Top 10 Promising Companies To Buy For 2014: Keryx Biopharmaceuticals Inc.(KERX)
Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, together with its subsidiaries, focuses on the acquisition, development, and commercialization of pharmaceutical products for the treatment cancer and renal disease. The company?s products under development include KRX-0401 (perifosine), an oral anti-cancer agent that inhibits Akt activation in the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway, as well as affects other pathways associated with programmed cell death, cell growth, cell differentiation, and cell survival. Its KRX-0401 is in Phase III clinical development stage for the treatment of refractory advanced colorectal cancer and multiple myeloma, as well as in Phase I and Phase II clinical development stages for the treatment of other tumor types. The company is also developing Zerenex (ferric citrate), an oral, ferric iron-based compound that is in Phase III clinical development for the treatment of hyperphosphatemia in patients with end-stage renal disease o n dialysis. Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. has commercial license agreements with Zentaris AG for the development of KRX-0401; Panion & BF Biotech, Inc. for the development and marketing of Zerenex; and Japan Tobacco Inc. and Torii Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. for the development and commercialization of Zerenex in Japan. The company was founded in 1997 and is based in New York, New York.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Keith Speights]
There were definitely some good parts in what Keryx Biopharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: KERX ) had to say at this week's Stifel Nicolaus Weisel Healthcare Conference in Boston. A lot was said, but here are the three highlights you'll want to know about.
- [By Jake L'Ecuyer]
Leading and Lagging Sectors
Healthcare sector moved up 0.39 percent, with Keryx Biopharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: KERX) moving up 15 percent to gain the top spot. Top gainers in the sector included China Biologic Products (NASDAQ: CBPO), with shares up 7.4 percent, and Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings (NYSE: LH), with shares up 5.5 percent. - [By Eric Ho]
Keryx (NASDAQ: KERX ) is a development-stage biotech company currently awaiting approval of its NDA�for phosphate binder drug Zerenex (ferrous citrate).�This niche kidney failure space, which generated more than $1 billion in annual sales in 2009, already includes a few major contenders to Zerenex.
- [By Selena Maranjian]
Among holdings in which D.E. Shaw increased its stake was Keryx Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: KERX ) , which is up more than 350% over the past year. Bulls are excited about its kidney-disease drug, Zerenex. Results for the drug have been promising, and the company is looking to expand its applications and approvals. Not as promising is that the company's experimental colorectal cancer drug perifosine recently posted disappointing results, sending the stock down some. A plus for the company is its ample cash, which should support its drive toward approvals and eventual profits.
Top 10 Promising Companies To Buy For 2014: American Superconductor Corporation(AMSC)
American Superconductor Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides wind and power grid products and services primarily in North America, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific. The company?s Wind segment designs, develops, and licenses engineered wind turbine designs to wind turbine manufactures; provides engineering and customer support services; supplies power electronics and software-based control systems to wind turbine manufactures to regulate voltage, control power flows, and maximize wind turbine efficiency; offers consulting services to the wind industry; and provides products that enhance power quality for industrial operations. This segment serves the transmission and distribution, wind power, and manufacturing industries. Its Grid segment manufactures high-temperature superconductor wire and coils; designs and develops superconductor products, such as power cables, fault current limiters, electric motors, generators, and synchronous condensers; manages large-s cale superconductor projects; and provides transmission planning services that identify power grid congestion, poor power quality, and other risks. This segment?s products enable electric utilities and renewable energy project developers to connect, transmit, and distribute power. Its products include D-VAR systems that provide the reactive power needed to stabilize voltage on the grid, and are used to connect wind farms and solar power plants to the power grid; SolarTie Grid Interconnection Systems, which provide the inversion and reactive compensation necessary to connect megawatt-scale solar photovoltaic power plants to the power grid; superconductor wires for various applications, including motors, generators, fault current limiters, and power cables; and power cable systems that are manufactured by third parties, as well as turnkey project management services to electric utilities. American Superconductor Corporation was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in Devens, Massachusetts.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Dan Caplinger]
On Friday, American Superconductor (NASDAQ: AMSC ) will release its latest quarterly results. After the loss of its largest customer two years ago, the company has had to make a massive readjustment in its business model, and investors still aren't sure whether it can bounce back from that major setback.
- [By Lisa Levin]
American Superconductor (NASDAQ: AMSC) shares touched a new 52-week low of $1.89. American Superconductor shares have dropped 39.25% over the past 52 weeks, while the S&P 500 index has gained 26.62% in the same period.
- [By Travis Hoium]
To make matters even more contentious, China has been stealing trade secrets and other intellectual property for years, and that may finally be coming to a head now that it's the second largest economy in the world. Last week, American Superconductor's (NASDAQ: AMSC ) trade dispute with China was taken to another level when the Department of Justice indicted former AMSC partner Sinovel for stealing trade secrets. All indications are that this should have been an open-and-shut case in China, but the Chinese court system has thrown out the case, or dragged its feet for two years.�
Top 10 Promising Companies To Buy For 2014: PowerShares DB US Dollar Index Bullish Fund (UUP)
PowerShares DB US Dollar Index Bullish Fund (the Fund) is a separate series of PowerShares DB US Dollar Index Trust (the Trust). The Fund�� subsidiary is DB US Dollar Index Bullish Master Fund (the Master Fund), a separate series of DB US Dollar Index Bullish Master Trust (the Master Trust). The Fund offers common units of beneficial interest (the Shares) only to certain eligible financial institutions (the Authorized Participants) in one or more blocks of 200,000 Shares, called a Basket. The proceeds from the offering of Shares are invested in the Master Fund.
The Master Fund invests in futures contracts (the DX Contracts) with a view to tracking the changes, whether positive or negative, in the level of the Deutsche Bank US Dollar Index (USDX) Futures Index - Excess Return (Long Index) (referred to as the Long Index or the Index), over time. The Fund earns interest income from the United States Treasury obligations and other high credit quality short-term, fixed-income securities. The Index is calculated to reflect the changes in market value over time, whether positive or negative, of long positions in DX Contracts. DX Contracts are traded through the currency markets of ICE Futures U.S. under the symbol DX. The changes in market value over time, whether positive or negative, of the DX Contracts are related to the changes, whether positive or negative, in the level of the U.S. Dollar Index (the USDX). The Index provides a general indication of the international value of the United States dollar relative to the six major world currencies (the Index Currencies), which comprise the USDX, including Euro, Japanese Yen, British Pound, Canadian Dollar, Swedish Krona and Swiss Franc.
The Fund, through its Master Fund, establishes long positions in DX Contracts with a view to tracking the changes, whether positive or negative, in the level of the Index. The performance of the Fund also is intended to reflect the excess, if any, of its Master Fund�� interest income from its hol! dings of the United States Treasury obligations and other high credit quality short-term, fixed-income securities over the expenses of the Fund and the Master Fund. DB Commodity Services LLC serves as the managing owner, commodity pool operator and commodity trading advisor of the Fund and the Master Fund. DB Commodity Services LLC is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Deutsche Bank AG. The Bank of New York Mellon serves as the administrator of the Fund and the Master Fund.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Richard Cox]
In ETFs, this translates to substantially bearish moves in PowerShares DB US Dollar Index Bullish (UUP) and highly bullish moves in theCurrencyShares Japanese Yen Trust (FXY). The BoJ left policy unchanged, with no stated plans to alter the 60 trillion Yen ($611 billion) in annual injections to the country's monetary base. Most analysts were expecting the BoJ would approve loan operations that extend to two years (or longer), and the results put renewed focus on the 10-year Japanese treasury note. Since the BoJ announced its historic stimulus plan in April, the 10-year note has risen from its all-time lows at 0.315% to highs of 1%. The main ideological thrust of the BoJ must be kept in perspective, however, as there is still clear long-term concern for the prospects of the country's export companies and pronounced efforts in place to bring consumer inflation levels back toward normal ranges.
- [By Luke Jacobi]
The U.S. dollar recovered Thursday’s losses to once again make a new 2014 high. The PowerShares ETF (NYSE: UUP), which tracks the value of the greenback versus a basket of foreign currencies, gained 0.5 percent to $22.55.
- [By Jonathan Yates]
Like a roller coaster, the exchange traded funds for the United States Dollar (NYSE: UUP) and gold, SPDR Gold Shares (NYSE: GLD), have gone up and down in response to statements from the Federal Reserve. What is obvious by the continuation of Quantitative Easing III by Federal Reserve Chairman is that the United States economy is still weak. With that and the improving Chinese economy (NYSE: FXI), the future for gold assets such as the GLD, Barrick Gold (NYSE: ABX), and Wishbone Gold PLC (PINK: WISHY) is bullish.
- [By Luke Jacobi]
The U.S. Dollar lost value with a down equity market to end the week. Near the close, the PowerShares DB US Dollar Index Bullish ETF (NYSE: UUP), which tracks the performance of the greenback versus a basket of foreign currencies, had fallen 0.37 percent to $21.65.
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