The Securities and Exchange Commission Tuesday charged four promoters with ties to the Pacific Northwest for manipulating the securities of several microcap companies, including marijuana-related stocks of GrowLife Inc. and Hemp Inc.
The SEC alleges that the four promoters bought inexpensive shares of thinly traded penny stock companies on the open market and conducted prearranged, manipulative matched orders and wash trades to create the illusion of an active market in these stocks.
They then sold their shares in coordination with aggressive promotional campaigns that urged investors to buy the stocks because the prices were on the verge of rising substantially, the SEC said in a Tuesday statement. “However, these companies had little to no business operations at the time. The promoters reaped more than $2.5 million in illegal profits through their schemes.”
Two of the companies manipulated in this case — GrowLife Inc. and Hemp Inc. — claim to be related to the medical marijuana industry.
10 Best Defensive Stocks To Watch Right Now: Tutor Perini Corporation(TPC)
Tutor Perini Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides diversified general contracting, construction management, and design-build services to private clients and public agencies worldwide. It operates in three segments: Civil, Building, and Management Services. The Civil segment involves in public works construction, and the repair, replacement, and reconstruction of infrastructure. This segment?s civil contracting services include construction and rehabilitation of highways, bridges, mass transit systems, and wastewater treatment facilities. The Building segment provides services to various specialized building markets for private and public works clients, such as the hospitality and gaming, transportation, healthcare, municipal offices, sports and entertainment, education, correctional facilities, biotech, pharmaceutical, industrial and high-tech markets, electrical and mechanical, plumbing, and HVAC services. The Management Services Segment offers diversifie d construction and design-build services to the United States military and government agencies, surety companies, and multi-national corporations in the United States and internationally. This segment also provides rapid response and contract completion services; and management or general contracting services to fulfill the contractual and financial obligations of the surety on notification from the surety of a contractor bond default. The company was founded in 1894 and is headquartered in Sylmar, California.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Rich Smith]
On Wednesday, civil engineering firm Tutor Perini Corp. (NYSE: TPC ) said the California High-Speed Rail Authority has identified its $985 million bid to design the initial Madera-to-Fresno segment�of California's high-speed railway as the "apparent best value" of all bids received.
- [By Ben Levisohn]
Shares of Harsco have gained 4.7% to $26.43 today at 1:16 p.m., outpacing other construction & engineering companies. Dycom (DY) has advanced 0.5% to $30, KBR Inc. (KBR) has ticked up 0.1% to $33.03, Worthington Industries�(WOR) has risen 2.8% to $38.85�and Tutor Perini (TPC) has rallied 3.6% to $22.46.
- [By Travis Hoium]
What: Shares of construction company Tutor Perini (NYSE: TPC ) jumped 12% today after the company released earnings.
So what: First quarter revenue was up 9%, to $992.9 million, and earnings nearly quadrupled, to $0.31 per share. Wall Street expected revenue to be $983.2 million and earnings of just $0.24, so investors were pleasantly surprised by the results.�
- [By Rich Smith]
Following up on the news that it's the likely winner of a $985 million contract to design the Madera-to-Fresno segment�of California's new high-speed railway, civil engineering firm Tutor Perini� (NYSE: TPC ) announced Tuesday that it's scored a second major contract win.
Top Penny Companies To Invest In 2014: Books-A-Million Inc.(BAMM)
Books-A-Million, Inc. operates as a book retailer in the southeastern United States. The company operates superstores and traditional bookstores that offer a selection of hardcover and paperback books, magazines, and newspapers. It also offers other merchandise, including gifts, cards, collectibles, magazines, music, DVDs, and electronic accessories, as well as coffee, tea, and other edible products. The company markets its products under the trademarks of Books-A-Million, BAM! Books-A-Million, Bookland, Books & Co., Millionaire?s Club, Sweet Water Press, Thanks-A-Million, Big Fat Coloring Book, Up All Night Reader, Read & Save Rebate, Readables Accessories for Readers, Kids-A-Million, Teachers First, The Write-Price, Bambeanos, Hold That Thought, Book$mart, BAMM, BAMM.com, BOOKSAMILLION.com, Chillatte, Joe Muggs Newsstand, Page Pets, JOEMUGGS.com, FAITHPOINT.com, Faithmark, Joe Muggs, Anderson?s Bookland, Snow Joe, Summer Says, On the John University, OTJU, American Whole sale Book Company, AWBC, and NetCentral. It also offers its products over the Internet at Booksamillion.com. As of August 11, 2011, the company operated 231 stores in 23 states and the District of Columbia. Books-A-Million, Inc. was founded in 1917 and is based in Birmingham, Alabama.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By John Udovich]
Vitamin Shoppe Inc (NYSE: VSI), Books-A-Million, Inc (NASDAQ: BAMM) and Perfumania Holdings, Inc (NASDAQ: PERF) have the dubious distinction of being�the worst performing small cap�specialty retail stocks for this year (according to Finviz.com) with losses of 4.85% and�3% and a gain of 0.61%, respectively, since the start of the year (See my previous article: This Year�� Best Performing Small Cap Specialty Retail Stocks? UNTD, TA & HZO). I should mention that the definition of specialty retail stocks might vary from one stock screener to another, but what�� clear is that these three small cap retail stocks have been heading in the wrong direction for investors for much of this year. �With that in mind, what sort of performance should investors expect from these small cap specialty retail stocks on Black Friday and for the all important holiday season? Here is what you need to be aware of:
Top Penny Companies To Invest In 2014: Cash America International Inc.(CSH)
Cash America International, Inc. provides specialty financial services to individuals primarily in the United States and Mexico. The company operates in three segments: Pawn Lending, Cash Advance, and Check Cashing. The Pawn Lending segment offers pawn loans through its pawn lending locations, which operate under the names Cash America Pawn and SuperPawn in the United States, and Prenda Facil in Mexico. This segment also sells previously-owned merchandise acquired from customers who do not redeem their pawned goods, as well as sells items purchased from third-parties or customers. The Cash Advance segment offers unsecured cash advances in selected lending locations that are operated under the names Cash America Payday Advance and Cashland in the United States; and short-term cash advances over the Internet under the names CashNetUSA in the United States, QuickQuid in the United Kingdom, and DollarsDirect in the Canada and Australia. This segment also involves in arranging loans for customers with independent third-party lenders through a credit services organization program; providing marketing and loan processing services for a third-party bank issued line of credit on certain stored-value debit cards that the bank issues; and purchasing a participation interest in certain line of credit receivables originated by the bank. The Check Cashing segment provides check cashing and other financial services, such as stored-value cards, money orders, and money transfers. This segment operates its check cashing locations under the Mr.Payroll name. As of December 31, 2009, it operated 676 pawn lending locations, including 667 company-owned units and 9 unconsolidated franchised units; 246 cash advance locations; and 120 unconsolidated franchised and 6 consolidated company-owned check cashing locations. The company was founded in 1984 and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Jon C. Ogg]
Cash America International Inc. (NYSE: CSH) was raised to Neutral from Underperform and its price target was increased to $40 from $38 by Sterne Agee.
Top 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 Paul Ausick]
Ethanol producers like Pacific Ethanol Inc. (NASDAQ: PEIX), The Andersons Inc. (NASDAQ: ANDE) and Archer Daniels Midland Co. (NYSE: ADM), as well as other members of the trade group Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), are mightily displeased by this EPA proposal. Refiner and ethanol producer Valero Corp. (NYSE: VLO), which is not a member of the trade group, has been among the loudest critics of the higher blending requirements.
- [By Chad Fraser]
This agriculture ETF gives you exposure to a wide range of businesses within the farming sector, from fertilizer makers like The Mosaic Company (NYSE: MOS) to food producers like Archer Daniels Midland (NYSE: ADM) and equipment makers like Kubota Corp. (OTC: KUBTY) and Deere.
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