The Retirement Trick That Will Help You Reach Your Dreams

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The numbers are sobering.

According to a recent report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the median retirement savings for Americans between age 55 and 64 was only $107,000.

If you broke that down into monthly payments for 30 years, it only amounts to around $300 a month – a fraction of what you need to live comfortably. It gets even worse, too. The median retirement savings for all Americans is a meager $5,000.

The sad truth is that countless Americans are well below the bar they need to meet in order to fully enjoy the best years of their life.

But it doesn't have to be this way, even if you're nearing retirement age.

Today, we're taking a hard look at the numbers behind retirement – and how you can beat the trend and invest in a better life…

America Is Not Ready to Retire

As the GAO's report suggests, millions of Americans are lagging far behind on meeting their retirement goals.

But that's not the worst of it.

According to a survey from GoBankingRates, one in three Americans have absolutely nothing saved for retirement at all.

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And according to a survey from the same firm, 42% of the nation's overall population has less than $10,000 put away for retirement.

That's only 1% of the $1 million many experts recommend saving before you reach 65.

That might sound like a huge number, but that's what you'll need. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, adults 65 and older spend an average of $45,000 a year.

If you have $1 million in the bank at 65, you can expect to run out of cash after 22 years.

That's just over the average retirement length of 18 years. And with the average life span increasing, it means you might even struggle to make ends meet.

That's increasingly the case with many folks of retirement age who are struggling to stay afloat by relying on their nest egg. In the last 10 years, the number of seniors declaring bankruptcy has risen to over 7%.

That's a 233% increase over senior bankruptcy levels in 1991.

Now, many retirees tend to dismiss these concerns, saying that the money they've paid into social security should be enough to get them out of a tight corner.

However, you shouldn't be so sure.

Without significant reform, the Social Security Administration (SSA) estimates that it will need to cut social security payments by 23% by 2033.

That means after the SSA runs out reserve cash, it will only be able to meet 77% of public demand for social security.

And that's not going to do much to protect your bottom line if you haven't saved enough in advance.

Plus, investing in the stock market alone might not be enough to fully fund a retirement plan anymore. According to Morningstar Investment Management, U.S. stocks are unlikely to yield more than a 1.8% annual return over the next 10 years.

That's barely higher than the U.S. Federal Reserve's projected 10-year inflation rate of 1.73%.

But you don't have to suffer, take on a second job, or keep working through your golden years.

By mixing strategic trading into your investment plan, you can amplify your income and meet your retirement goals.

And that's even if you've already retired, too.

Take a look at just how our system has helped investors like you…

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Mastek rallies 2% after HDFC Securities initiates coverage with buy call, sees 50% upside

Software firm Mastek shares gained 2 percent intraday Friday after HDFC Securities initiated coverage with a buy call on the stock and expects it to return 50 percent.

The stock gained 19 percent in last one month. It was quoting at Rs 443.35, up Rs 3.95, or 0.90 percent on the BSE, at 13:13 hours IST.

Mastek is well placed to generate revenue/EPS CAGR of 15/16 percent over FY19-21E (despite US softness and Brexit uncertainty) and is available at attractive valuations of 8.3x FY21 versus midcap average of around 13x, the brokerage house said.

Stake in Majesco US (around Rs 79 per share), net cash position (Rs 82 per share) provides additional comfort, it added.

related news Indiabulls Integrated Services gains 5% on preference shares redemption D-Street Buzz: Auto stocks rally led by Tata Motors; Indiabulls Housing jumps 4%, IndusInd Bank drags TCPL Packaging rallies 4% on new plant

Hence the brokerage initiated coverage with a buy rating and a price target of Rs 660, based on 11x FY21E EPS.

HDFC Securities said Mastek's differentiating factors are (1) UK focus (75 percent), (2) Among the top vendors for UK government and (3) Focus on high growth UK Retail & Financial services verticals.

Under the leadership of CEO, John Owen, Mastek has strengthened its relationship with UK Govt and improved operational efficiencies, it added.

Mastek is blessed with lower exposure to Legacy (Digital is around 80 percent of revenue) but generates low-teen margins (around 13 percent) due to higher on-site revenue mix (around 72 percent versus mid-cap average of around 55 percent).

Mastek, founded in 1982, is one of the oldest IT companies in India. Mastek has experience spanning over three decades but in its current version, it's just a four-year-old organisation (demerger with Majesco happened in Q4FY15).

The company has transformed itself post the demerger, led by (1) Appointment of experienced and capable CEO, John Owen, in November-2016 (2) Direct relationship with UK government versus being a sub-contractor earlier and (3) Acquisition of TAIS Tech (SI for Oracle ATG), which marks its entry in the US.

Under the new leadership, Mastek has delivered healthy revenue CAGR of 32 percent (around 23 percent organic) and margin expansion of around 370bps over FY17-19.

Disclaimer: The above report is compiled from information available on public platforms. Moneycontrol advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. First Published on Mar 29, 2019 01:33 pm

Hot Warren Buffett Stocks To Watch For 2019

tags:NTGR,PNNT,CBA ,HNP,CUR,

It's no secret that Warren Buffett is an incredible investor. Arguably the greatest of all-time. His track record speaks for itself -- 20.5% compound annual gains from 1965 through 2018. That's more than double S&P 500's 9.7% annual return over the same time frame.

But I'm not here to talk about Buffett's successes, or his recent shareholder letter (which you can read here.)

Instead, I want to talk about one of Buffett's biggest failures  -- and how we can take those lessons and profit. It's the largest investment loss, in dollar terms, of his entire career.

Here's the story of how Warren Buffett lost billions in the oil business... 

It starts in 2007 when the Oracle of Omaha began purchasing shares of ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP). By the end of 2007, Buffett had spent just over $1 billion.

Hot Warren Buffett Stocks To Watch For 2019: NETGEAR, Inc.(NTGR)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Duprey]

  The stock of home security camera specialist Arlo Technologies (NYSE:ARLO) had a wild ride after separating from Netgear (NASDAQ:NTGR) with its Aug. 3 IPO. Priced at $16 per share, it advanced, retreated, then jumped to almost $24 before collapsing to $18 following its first earnings report as an independent company.

• [By Ethan Ryder]

  ValuEngine upgraded shares of Netgear (NASDAQ:NTGR) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report sent to investors on Wednesday.

  A number of other equities analysts have also weighed in on the stock. Zacks Investment Research lowered shares of Netgear from a strong-buy rating to a strong sell rating in a research report on Wednesday. Guggenheim reiterated a buy rating and issued a $76.00 price target on shares of Netgear in a research report on Friday, April 27th. BidaskClub upgraded shares of Netgear from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Saturday, January 13th. Finally, BWS Financial set a $75.00 price target on shares of Netgear and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, January 12th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. The company currently has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus price target of $73.20.

• [By Max Byerly]

  ValuEngine upgraded shares of NetGear (NASDAQ:NTGR) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report sent to investors on Tuesday morning.

  Other analysts also recently issued research reports about the stock. BidaskClub downgraded shares of NetGear from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, June 26th. TheStreet downgraded shares of NetGear from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a research report on Monday, August 13th. Raymond James set a $80.00 target price on shares of NetGear and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 5th. Cowen assumed coverage on shares of NetGear in a research report on Monday. They set a hold rating and a $63.00 target price for the company. Finally, Zacks Investment Research raised shares of NetGear from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, June 27th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. The company presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $70.40.

• [By Ethan Ryder]

  NetGear (NASDAQ: NTGR) and Fabrinet (NYSE:FN) are both computer and technology companies, but which is the superior stock? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, dividends, profitability, earnings, valuation and risk.

Hot Warren Buffett Stocks To Watch For 2019: PennantPark Investment Corporation(PNNT)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ethan Ryder]

  Shares of PennantPark Investment Corp. (NASDAQ:PNNT) have earned an average rating of “Hold” from the seven ratings firms that are covering the firm, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and one has issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 12 month price target among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $8.00.

• [By Ethan Ryder]

  Live Ventures (NASDAQ: LIVE) and PennantPark Investment (NASDAQ:PNNT) are both small-cap computer and technology companies, but which is the better business? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their valuation, dividends, analyst recommendations, risk, earnings, profitability and institutional ownership.

• [By Motley Fool Transcribers]

  PennantPark Investment Corporation  (NASDAQ:PNNT)Q1 2019 Earnings Conference CallFeb. 08, 2019, 10:00 a.m. ET

  Contents: Prepared Remarks Questions and Answers Call Participants Prepared Remarks:

  Operator

• [By Ethan Ryder]

  Get a free copy of the Zacks research report on PennantPark Investment (PNNT)

  For more information about research offerings from Zacks Investment Research, visit Zacks.com

Hot Warren Buffett Stocks To Watch For 2019: ClearBridge American Energy MLP Fund Inc.(CBA )

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Max Byerly]

  Sit Investment Associates Inc. grew its position in shares of ClearBridge American Energy MLP Fund Inc (NYSE:CBA) by 20.8% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 795,051 shares of the investment management company’s stock after acquiring an additional 136,834 shares during the quarter. Sit Investment Associates Inc. owned 1.36% of ClearBridge American Energy MLP Fund worth $6,003,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

• [By Ethan Ryder]

  News headlines about ClearBridge American Energy MLP Fund (NYSE:CBA) have been trending somewhat positive on Tuesday, Accern Sentiment reports. The research firm identifies negative and positive press coverage by analyzing more than 20 million news and blog sources. Accern ranks coverage of companies on a scale of negative one to positive one, with scores nearest to one being the most favorable. ClearBridge American Energy MLP Fund earned a news sentiment score of 0.13 on Accern’s scale. Accern also assigned media coverage about the investment management company an impact score of 47.3026009142931 out of 100, meaning that recent press coverage is somewhat unlikely to have an impact on the stock’s share price in the immediate future.

Hot Warren Buffett Stocks To Watch For 2019: Huaneng Power International, Inc.(HNP)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ethan Ryder]

  Media coverage about Huaneng Power International (NYSE:HNP) has been trending somewhat positive on Sunday, Accern Sentiment reports. Accern identifies negative and positive press coverage by analyzing more than 20 million news and blog sources in real time. Accern ranks coverage of companies on a scale of negative one to positive one, with scores closest to one being the most favorable. Huaneng Power International earned a news impact score of 0.04 on Accern’s scale. Accern also gave news articles about the utilities provider an impact score of 46.9751001433333 out of 100, meaning that recent press coverage is somewhat unlikely to have an effect on the stock’s share price in the next several days.

• [By Max Byerly]

  CEMIG (NYSE:CIG) and Huaneng Power International (NYSE:HNP) are both mid-cap utilities companies, but which is the superior stock? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their institutional ownership, valuation, analyst recommendations, dividends, earnings, risk and profitability.

• [By Stephan Byrd]

  Huaneng Power International (NYSE: HNP) and Avangrid (NYSE:AGR) are both large-cap utilities companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their risk, analyst recommendations, earnings, dividends, valuation, profitability and institutional ownership.

• [By Ethan Ryder]

  Huaneng Power International Inc (NYSE:HNP) has been assigned an average recommendation of “Hold” from the six analysts that are covering the company, Marketbeat reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, three have issued a hold recommendation and two have issued a buy recommendation on the company.

Hot Warren Buffett Stocks To Watch For 2019: Neuralstem, Inc.(CUR)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Logan Wallace]

  Shares of Neuralstem, Inc. (NASDAQ:CUR) were down 16% during mid-day trading on Friday . The stock traded as low as $1.24 and last traded at $1.37. Approximately 595,500 shares were traded during mid-day trading, an increase of 205% from the average daily volume of 195,111 shares. The stock had previously closed at $1.63.

• [By Logan Wallace]

  Pluristem Therapeutics (NASDAQ: CUR) and Neuralstem (NASDAQ:CUR) are both small-cap medical companies, but which is the better business? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their dividends, earnings, risk, analyst recommendations, valuation, institutional ownership and profitability.

Top 10 Financial Stocks To Invest In Right Now

tags:NC,GLRE,CSWC,SPE,STRS,RNR,SFST,PNBK,PMT,DLR, show chapters David Stockman: Trump tax cuts are ‘irresponsible crazy,’ Wall Street heading for financial shock    15 Hours Ago | 03:32

David Stockman is intensifying his bear case.

Top 10 Financial Stocks To Invest In Right Now: New Century Bancorp Inc.(NC)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Stephan Byrd]

  Whirlpool (NYSE: WHR) and NACCO Industries (NYSE:NC) are both consumer discretionary companies, but which is the superior stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their profitability, valuation, risk, dividends, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations and earnings.

• [By Motley Fool Transcribers]

  NACCO Industries Inc  (NYSE:NC)Q4 2018 Earnings Conference CallMarch 07, 2019, 8:30 a.m. ET

  Contents: Prepared Remarks Questions and Answers Call Participants Prepared Remarks:

  Operator

Top 10 Financial Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Greenlight Capital Re Ltd.(GLRE)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Logan Wallace]

  Greenlight Capital Re (NASDAQ:GLRE) was upgraded by analysts at ValuEngine from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Wednesday.

• [By Max Byerly]

  Shares of Greenlight Capital Re, Ltd. (NASDAQ:GLRE) hit a new 52-week low on Wednesday . The company traded as low as $14.05 and last traded at $14.15, with a volume of 249308 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $14.65.

• [By Logan Wallace]

  Get a free copy of the Zacks research report on Greenlight Capital Re (GLRE)

  For more information about research offerings from Zacks Investment Research, visit Zacks.com

• [By Ethan Ryder]

  Greenlight Capital Re (NASDAQ:GLRE) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, April 30th. The financial services provider reported ($3.85) EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($4.43) by $0.58. Greenlight Capital Re had a negative return on equity of 23.81% and a negative net margin of 40.65%. The firm had revenue of $0.14 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $30.20 million. sell-side analysts forecast that Greenlight Capital Re, Ltd. will post -4.2 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Top 10 Financial Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Capital Southwest Corporation(CSWC)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Logan Wallace]

  Advisors Asset Management Inc. decreased its stake in shares of Capital Southwest Co. (NASDAQ:CSWC) by 5.6% in the 2nd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 82,556 shares of the asset manager’s stock after selling 4,935 shares during the quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc.’s holdings in Capital Southwest were worth $2,164,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

• [By Max Byerly]

  Capital Southwest (NASDAQ: CSWC) and TRIPLEPOINT VEN/COM (NYSE:TPVG) are both small-cap finance companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their earnings, valuation, institutional ownership, risk, profitability, dividends and analyst recommendations.

• [By Motley Fool Staff]

  Capital Southwest (NASDAQ:CSWC) Q4 2018 Earnings Conference CallJun. 5, 2018 11:00 a.m. ET

  Contents: Prepared Remarks Questions and Answers Call Participants Prepared Remarks:

  Operator

• [By Stephan Byrd]

  Press coverage about Capital Southwest (NASDAQ:CSWC) has been trending positive recently, Accern Sentiment Analysis reports. Accern ranks the sentiment of news coverage by monitoring more than twenty million blog and news sources in real-time. Accern ranks coverage of public companies on a scale of negative one to one, with scores closest to one being the most favorable. Capital Southwest earned a coverage optimism score of 0.27 on Accern’s scale. Accern also assigned news stories about the asset manager an impact score of 44.9331419606621 out of 100, indicating that recent news coverage is somewhat unlikely to have an impact on the stock’s share price in the near term.

Top 10 Financial Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Special Opportunities Fund Inc.(SPE)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Max Byerly]

  Spartan Energy (TSE:SPE) insider Albert Jason Stark sold 21,706 shares of Spartan Energy stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$6.48, for a total transaction of C$140,654.88.

• [By Ethan Ryder]

  Special Opportunities Fund, Inc. (NYSE:SPE) insider Gerald Hellerman bought 1,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, October 11th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $14.47 per share, with a total value of $14,470.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 22,793 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $329,814.71. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link.

Top 10 Financial Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Stratus Properties Inc.(STRS)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Shane Hupp]

  Here are some of the media stories that may have impacted Accern Sentiment’s analysis:

  Get Stratus Properties alerts: Analyzing Stratus Properties (STRS) & City Developments (CDEVY) (americanbankingnews.com) Stratus Properties (STRS) versus City Developments (CDEVY) Financial Survey (americanbankingnews.com) Reviewing Stratus Properties (STRS) and St. Joe (JOE) (americanbankingnews.com) Stratus Properties (STRS) versus City Developments (CDEVY) Head-To-Head Analysis (americanbankingnews.com) Contrasting Stratus Properties (STRS) & St. Joe (JOE) (americanbankingnews.com)

  NASDAQ STRS traded down $0.25 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $31.10. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 528 shares, compared to its average volume of 7,123. Stratus Properties has a 52 week low of $26.15 and a 52 week high of $32.15. The company has a quick ratio of 1.09, a current ratio of 1.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.74.

Top 10 Financial Stocks To Invest In Right Now: RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd.(RNR)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Logan Wallace]

  Kemper (NYSE: RNR) and RenaissanceRe (NYSE:RNR) are both mid-cap finance companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their dividends, valuation, profitability, earnings, risk, institutional ownership and analyst recommendations.

• [By Shane Hupp]

  Earnest Partners LLC grew its holdings in shares of RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:RNR) by 2.1% during the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 307,192 shares of the insurance provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 6,389 shares during the period. Earnest Partners LLC’s holdings in RenaissanceRe were worth $42,549,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

• [By Logan Wallace]

  Kemper (NYSE: RNR) and RenaissanceRe (NYSE:RNR) are both mid-cap finance companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their risk, earnings, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, profitability, valuation and dividends.

• [By Joseph Griffin]

  Rhumbline Advisers trimmed its position in shares of RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:RNR) by 8.0% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 74,399 shares of the insurance provider’s stock after selling 6,510 shares during the period. Rhumbline Advisers owned about 0.18% of RenaissanceRe worth $8,952,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Top 10 Financial Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Southern First Bancshares Inc.(SFST)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Stephan Byrd]

  Get a free copy of the Zacks research report on Southern First Bancshares (SFST)

  For more information about research offerings from Zacks Investment Research, visit Zacks.com

• [By Shane Hupp]

  Southern First Bancshares (NASDAQ:SFST) was downgraded by research analysts at BidaskClub from a “sell” rating to a “strong sell” rating in a research report issued on Wednesday.

• [By Shane Hupp]

  DBS Grp HOLDING/S (OTCMKTS: DBSDY) and Southern First Bancshares (NASDAQ:SFST) are both finance companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, earnings, dividends, valuation, risk, profitability and institutional ownership.

Top 10 Financial Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Patriot National Bancorp Inc.(PNBK)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Shane Hupp]

  Patriot National Bancorp (NASDAQ: PNBK) and Community Bank, N.A. (NYSE:CBU) are both finance companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, earnings, valuation, institutional ownership, risk, analyst recommendations and profitability.

• [By Logan Wallace]

  Patriot National Bancorp (NASDAQ:PNBK)‘s stock had its “buy” rating reiterated by analysts at Brean Capital in a research report issued to clients and investors on Monday.

• [By Max Byerly]

  Patriot National Bancorp (NASDAQ:PNBK) had its hold rating reaffirmed by analysts at Brean Capital.

  KeyCorp initiated coverage on shares of Republic Services (NYSE:RSG). KeyCorp issued a sector weight rating on the stock.

Top 10 Financial Stocks To Invest In Right Now: PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust(PMT)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Stephan Byrd]

  Pennymac Mortgage Investment (NYSE:PMT) shares reached a new 52-week high and low on Monday . The company traded as low as $18.60 and last traded at $18.62, with a volume of 19306 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $18.50.

• [By Stephan Byrd]

  Pennymac Mortgage Investment (NYSE:PMT) – Equities researchers at Wedbush lifted their Q1 2019 earnings per share estimates for shares of Pennymac Mortgage Investment in a research note issued to investors on Thursday, May 10th. Wedbush analyst J. Weaver now anticipates that the real estate investment trust will post earnings per share of $0.36 for the quarter, up from their previous estimate of $0.34. Wedbush also issued estimates for Pennymac Mortgage Investment’s Q2 2019 earnings at $0.43 EPS, Q3 2019 earnings at $0.43 EPS, Q4 2019 earnings at $0.52 EPS and FY2019 earnings at $1.74 EPS.

Top 10 Financial Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Digital Realty Trust Inc.(DLR)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Matthew DiLallo]

  Meanwhile, the company also sees large opportunities in data and water infrastructure. Brookfield recently made two data deals, investing in 31 data centers built by AT&T, and partnered on a joint venture with Digital Realty (NYSE:DLR) to acquire Ascenty, a leading data center operator in Brazil. The JV has significant growth potential since it has six facilities under construction, with plenty of upside beyond that given the demographic and macro trends in Latin America. In addition to data centers, Brookfield continues to seek out communications tower acquisitions in markets like India.

• [By Matthew Frankel]

  With that in mind, here's why Digital Realty Trust (NYSE:DLR), Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRK-A) (NYSE:BRK-B), and Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) could be excellent additions to your portfolio, as well as those of your children and grandchildren, for decades to come.

• [By Matthew Frankel, CFP®]

  And to be clear, this quote doesn't just apply when the entire market is greedy or fearful. As a personal example, one data center real estate investment trust posted some troubling results, so investors became fearful of all data center REITs, driving down prices. In the midst of the selling, I decided to pick up some more shares of Digital Realty Trust (NYSE: DLR), one of my favorite stocks. Since I bought them earlier this year, the market seems to have acknowledged the fears were overblown, and shares are up by more than 20% since then.

The 2 Best Biotech Stocks to Buy Now

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Biotech companies are known for their potential to break out when a new drug comes to market, and today we're giving you two of the best biotech stocks to buy now.

Now that the bull market is over a decade old and valuations are near all-time highs, investors need more than an index fund to net a solid return. And buying the top biotech stocks offers the sort of upside that's so hard to find right now.

In order to find the best biotech stocks, we've turned to the Money Morning Stock VQScore.

The VQScore system is our proprietary stock-ranking algorithm that helps us separate the wheat from the chaff. The VQScore finds only the 1,500 most profitable companies trading on the major American exchanges and then ranks them based on their growth potential.

Today, we've screened the biotech industry in the VQScore system to uncover our top biotech stocks to buy right now.

Best Biotech Stocks to Buy Now, No. 2

Biogen Inc. (NASDAQ: BIIB) is a Massachusetts-based company that focuses on discovering, developing, manufacturing, and delivering therapies for neurodegenerative and neurological diseases worldwide.

The company offers four major drugs for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). It also has drugs for the treatment of plaque psoriasis, spinal muscular atrophy, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), and pemphigus vulgaris.

5G Is Coming: The Tech Breakthrough of the Century Could Rest on This $6 Stock – Get All the Details Here

Biogen is also involved in the development of drugs to treat dementia and Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, chronic pain, and other neuromuscular disorders.

Company execs had promised to diversify its pipeline and make good this with a new acquisition. On March 4, Biogen announced that it would buy Nightstar Therapeutics Plc., a gene therapy developer, in a deal worth $877 million.

This new deal gives the company access to more later-stage assets. Specifically, Nightstar makes a gene therapy for choroideremia, an inherited and rare eye disease that can lead to blindness. It also has several gene therapies in its pipeline that are focused on treating rare eye disorders.

The company has beat earnings estimates over the past four consecutive quarters and is expected to make $28.67 per share this year. This represents 10% growth over the $26.24 EPS in 2018.

While some Wall Street analysts predict an earnings recession in 2019, this isn't a prediction for Biogen.

Growth is expected in both sales and revenue this year.

If history repeats itself and earnings bypass expectations, Biogen shares could soar past their 52-week high of $350 per share. Right now, you can pick up shares for about $319.

Currently, investors can get this stock for just 11 times expected earnings this year, which is exceptionally cheap. Plus, the company has committed to a $3.5 billion stock buyback, which is nearly 5% of its market cap.

Analysts predict shares of Biogen could soar 43% higher to $455 in the next 12 months.

But our top biotech stock to buy right now could soar even higher.

Join the conversation. Click here to jump to comments…

Ujjivan Financial, Coal India fall 1-2% on interim dividend news

Shares of Ujjivan Financial Services and Coal India fell 1.2 percent intraday Friday after announcement of interim dividend.

The board of directors of Ujjivan Financial Services considered and declared an interim dividend of Rs 0.85 (i.e. 8.5 percent) per equity share of Rs 10 each, as per BSE filing.

The aforesaid interim dividend will be paid on or before March 29, 2019.

Coal India said in its BSE release that the board approved payment of second interim dividend for the financial year at Rs 5.85 per share of the face value of Rs 10 as recommended by the audit committee of the company.

related news D-Street Buzz: Nifty IT outshines led by TCS; ICICI Bank at new 52-week high, Zee Ent jumps Hindustan Unilever declines 2% on management rejig; analysts remain bullish

The date of payment of second interim dividend for 2018-19 is on and from March 29, 2019.

At 11:50 hrs Coal India was quoting at Rs 240.25, down Rs 3.10, or 1.27 percent on the BSE.

At 11:50 hrs Ujjivan Financial Services was quoting at Rs 336.25, down Rs 3.45, or 1.02 percent on the BSE.

For more market news, click here

First Published on Mar 15, 2019 12:06 pm

Better Buy: Shopify vs. Zendesk

You want amazing returns? Few investors have experienced a two-year run on par with those holding shares of e-commerce platform Shopify (NYSE:SHOP) and/or customer-service software provider Zendesk (NYSE:ZEN). Both companies have tripled in value over that time frame.

A huge factor in that growth is the power of the software-as-a-service (SaaS) model being adopted by these two companies. It's a trend that is only becoming more prevalent as time goes on.

Image source: Getty Images.

Between the two, which is a better buy today? We can't know that answer with 100% certainty. But by comparing the companies on three different dynamics, we can get a better idea for which we'd feel more comfortable putting our money behind.

Financial fortitude

When evaluating financial fortitude, what I'm really wondering is this: Which of these two companies would fare better if an economic crisis hit today?

I'm not just talking about surviving -- I'm talking about actually getting stronger. While the stock price might suffer, a company with lots of cash and little debt can capture long-term market share as weaker players bow out during a recession.

Keeping in mind that Shopify is valued at two-and-a-half times the size of Zendesk, here's how the two stack up.

Company Cash Debt Free Cash Flow

Shopify	$2,000 million	$0	($19 million)
Zendesk	$821 million	$458 million	$43 million

Data source: Yahoo! Finance. Cash includes long- and short-term investments. Free cash flow presented on trailing-12-month basis.

Both of these companies have strong balance sheets, but I'm going to side with Shopify. Here's why: The company's negative free cash flow is almost entirely by design -- it doesn't want to hit the brakes on reinvestment too early. There's tons of market share to gain. If an economic crisis hit, Shopify could tap the spending brakes and be cash flow positive if it wanted to.

Thus, the fact that Shopify has a net cash position of $2 billion, versus Zendesk's $360 million, gives it the edge here.

Winner = Shopify

Valuation

Next, we have valuation. This is part art, part science. But as you'll see below, both of these stocks can be summed up in one word: expensive.

Company P/E P/FCF P/S PEG Ratio

Shopify	564	N/A	20.9	8.0
Zendesk	335	202	14.6	5.4

Data source: Yahoo! Finance, E*Trade. P/E calculated using non-GAAP earnings.

Anyone who has a value-investing bone in their body would likely faint from such numbers. It is very rare to find companies trading for 300 to 500 times earnings. 

This, however, is also by design. Both of these companies have wide moats (more on that below) from high switching costs. The recurring revenue that they take in is very reliable and unlikely to disappear. In fact, spending per customer usually grows over time. 

That assurance encourages management teams to invest in long-term growth and profitability at the expense of short-term concerns. Therefore, earnings are sparse, for now.

Both stocks are expensive, but Zendesk is technically "cheaper."

Winner = Zendesk

Sustainable competitive advantages

Finally, we have to evaluate the most important factor: a company's sustainable competitive advantages -- or its moat. Both of these companies benefit from a primary moat of high switching costs.

If an e-commerce start-up (and that's what almost every start-up in retail is these days) wants a platform to operate on, Shopify is the go-to choice. Once everything is up and running  -- a website, payment solution, order tracking, analytics, etc. -- a vendor would be loath to switch to a different platform. Doing so would incur both financial and emotional costs.

The same is true for Zendesk. Most customers get started with Zendesk Support, but then add on other tools over time -- like Chat, Talk, Guide, and Support. This is evidenced by the company's dollar-based net expansion rate of 119%. In essence, this means Zendesk customers are not only sticking with the company but spending 19% more every year. 

But the differentiator here is the fact that Shopify has a second powerful moat starting to form around it: network effects. As I recently covered in an article on the topic:

Shopify now has around 2,200 apps available in its app store. It only keeps a 20% cut of sales of those apps -- not a huge needle mover. But that's not the point: They make the platform more valuable -- and Shopify doesn't have to do much of anything.

Shopify currently has over 800,000 merchants on its platform. That means more third-party app developers will build up Shopify's base. That, of course, will only draw in more merchants. That provides a solid second moat for Shopify, and gives it the edge here.

Winner = Shopify

And my winner is...

So there you have it: Shopify is my winner. But don't shy away from Zendesk, either. I own both stocks in my own portfolio -- and they comprise 10% of my real-life holdings. I think both are worthy of your consideration. If you have to choose one to start with, though, make it Shopify.

Best Blue Chip Stocks For 2019

tags:FEIC,ADAP,FNLC,

Kistler Tiffany Companies LLC cut its position in shares of General Electric (NYSE:GE) by 20.1% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 55,160 shares of the conglomerate’s stock after selling 13,892 shares during the period. Kistler Tiffany Companies LLC’s holdings in General Electric were worth $751,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Mount Yale Investment Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of General Electric during the first quarter valued at approximately $116,000. Santori & Peters Inc. bought a new stake in shares of General Electric during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $120,000. Archford Capital Strategies LLC bought a new stake in shares of General Electric during the first quarter valued at approximately $121,000. Blue Chip Wealth Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of General Electric during the first quarter valued at approximately $135,000. Finally, Harborview Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of General Electric during the first quarter valued at approximately $137,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 53.72% of the company’s stock.

Best Blue Chip Stocks For 2019: FEI Company(FEIC)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Joseph Griffin]

  Media headlines about FEI (NASDAQ:FEIC) have trended somewhat positive on Monday, according to Accern. Accern ranks the sentiment of news coverage by reviewing more than 20 million blog and news sources. Accern ranks coverage of publicly-traded companies on a scale of negative one to one, with scores nearest to one being the most favorable. FEI earned a news impact score of 0.17 on Accern’s scale. Accern also gave media stories about the scientific and technical instruments company an impact score of 43.5801711111494 out of 100, meaning that recent news coverage is somewhat unlikely to have an impact on the company’s share price in the next few days.

Best Blue Chip Stocks For 2019: Adaptimmune Therapeutics plc(ADAP)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Stephan Byrd]

  Adaptimmune Therapeutics (NASDAQ:ADAP) was downgraded by stock analysts at TheStreet from a “c-” rating to a “d+” rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Monday.

• [By Ethan Ryder]

  Adaptimmune Therapeutics (NASDAQ:ADAP) announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday. The biotechnology company reported ($0.04) EPS for the quarter, topping the Zacks’ consensus estimate of ($0.24) by $0.20, Bloomberg Earnings reports. Adaptimmune Therapeutics had a negative return on equity of 32.26% and a negative net margin of 185.39%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned ($3.00) EPS.

• [By Logan Wallace]

  Here are some of the news stories that may have impacted Accern Sentiment Analysis’s rankings:

  Get Adaptimmune Therapeutics alerts: Analysts Anticipate Adaptimmune Therapeutics PLC – (ADAP) to Post -$0.28 Earnings Per Share (americanbankingnews.com) Peritoneal Cancer Market Pipeline Review H1- Target Drug Profile, Top Industry Intelligence, Major Key Players and … (thefreenewsman.com) Escherichia coli Infections Market Research Report Pipeline Review H1 Assessment by Mechanism of Action, Drug … (theperfectinvestor.com) Adaptimmune Therapeutics plc (ADAP): Do You Have This Stock in Portfolio?: (bitcoinpriceupdate.review)

  Several equities analysts have weighed in on the company. Leerink Swann reissued an “outperform” rating on shares of Adaptimmune Therapeutics in a report on Thursday, March 15th. BidaskClub downgraded Adaptimmune Therapeutics from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report on Wednesday. ValuEngine upgraded Adaptimmune Therapeutics from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Monday. SunTrust Banks increased their target price on Adaptimmune Therapeutics to $18.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, May 10th. Finally, Cowen restated a “buy” rating on shares of Adaptimmune Therapeutics in a research report on Wednesday, May 9th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. The company presently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $16.94.

Best Blue Chip Stocks For 2019: First Bancorp, Inc (ME)(FNLC)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Shane Hupp]

  Media stories about First Bancorp (NASDAQ:FNLC) have trended somewhat positive this week, Accern reports. Accern ranks the sentiment of media coverage by reviewing more than twenty million blog and news sources in real-time. Accern ranks coverage of companies on a scale of negative one to one, with scores nearest to one being the most favorable. First Bancorp earned a coverage optimism score of 0.14 on Accern’s scale. Accern also gave media headlines about the bank an impact score of 45.5895151979188 out of 100, meaning that recent media coverage is somewhat unlikely to have an impact on the company’s share price in the near future.

• [By Shane Hupp]

  First Bancorp (NASDAQ: FNLC) and Industrial & Cmrcl Bnk f China (OTCMKTS:IDCBY) are both finance companies, but which is the better business? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, institutional ownership, profitability, analyst recommendations, earnings, valuation and risk.

• [By Shane Hupp]

  News headlines about First Bancorp (NASDAQ:FNLC) have been trending somewhat positive recently, according to Accern. Accern scores the sentiment of news coverage by monitoring more than 20 million news and blog sources in real time. Accern ranks coverage of companies on a scale of negative one to positive one, with scores closest to one being the most favorable. First Bancorp earned a news impact score of 0.15 on Accern’s scale. Accern also gave media headlines about the bank an impact score of 47.3922417488866 out of 100, meaning that recent news coverage is somewhat unlikely to have an effect on the company’s share price in the next several days.

• [By Max Byerly]

  Media coverage about First Bancorp (NASDAQ:FNLC) has trended somewhat positive recently, according to Accern. Accern identifies positive and negative press coverage by reviewing more than 20 million blog and news sources. Accern ranks coverage of companies on a scale of negative one to one, with scores nearest to one being the most favorable. First Bancorp earned a daily sentiment score of 0.08 on Accern’s scale. Accern also assigned media stories about the bank an impact score of 45.7895413212244 out of 100, meaning that recent press coverage is somewhat unlikely to have an effect on the stock’s share price in the near term.

Why Pivotal Software Climbed 21.3% in February

What happened

Pivotal Software (NYSE:PVTL) stock gained 21.3%% in February, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence. Investors poured back into the stock as the market warmed back up to growth-dependent tech companies following the sell-offs in late 2018. 

PVTL data by YCharts.

There wasn't much in the way of big news for the cloud-platform-as-a-service company last month, but Pivotal stock has been prone to volatile swings since its initial public offering last April. The company has been delivering solid sales gains and has avenues to continued growth, but for better or worse, the somewhat unpredictable nature of its trajectory makes it likely that the stock will continue to be volatile.

Image source: Getty Images.

So what

Like many growth-dependent technology stocks, Pivotal saw steep sell-offs in the second half of 2018. Shares have recovered to some degree along with the broader market in 2019, and have posted roughly 32% gains year to date. However, the stock still trades down roughly 32% from the high that it hit last fall. 

The company's Pivotal Cloud Foundry, a platform for partners to run their apps on, is used by customers including T-Mobile, Ford, Comcast, and many other big names. Pivotal appears to be a ways off from profitability, but that's the norm for companies in its category, and it's reasonable that the business remains focused on adding new customers to the platform and building its subscription revenue base. 

Now what

Pivotal Software stock has given up a bit of ground in March, with shares trading down roughly 4.4% in the month so far. 

PVTL data by YCharts.

The company is scheduled to report fourth-quarter and full-year results after market close on March 14, and is guiding for quarterly revenue between $169 million and $171 million and an adjusted per-share loss between $0.09 and $0.10. Total revenue for the year is expected to come in at roughly $658 million, which would value Pivotal at about 8.5 times 2018's projected sales. Shares trade at roughly seven times the average analyst sales target for 2019. 

Like the stocks of many other small- and mid-cap cloud services companies, Pivotal Software has the marks of a high-risk, high-reward investment.

Buy Oberoi Realty, target Rs 539: Anand Rathi

Anand Rathi

Oberoi Realty reported a growth of 48.4 percent in its consolidated revenue at Rs 5,286 million in Q3-FY19 as against Rs 3562 million in Q3-FY18. Real estate segment revenue came in at Rs 4917 million registering a growth of 53.3 percent Y-o-Y whereas hospitality segment revenue registered a growth of 4.2 percent Y-o-Y at Rs 3692 million in Q3-FY19.

On profitability front, the company has reported operating margins of 35.6 percent at Rs 1881 million in Q3-FY19. The company's profit after tax for the quarter stood at Rs.1379 million in Q3-FY19 registering a growth of 14 percent Y-o-Y.

The company achieved its FY19E full year base-target of 100-120 units at Esquire with sales of 102 units in 9MFY19. It will further look to incrementally sell 18 apartments to achieve its upper-end target of 120 apartments in FY19E. Also, it clocked strong sales momentum at Borivali (75,195 sq ft) project. It also commenced bookings for a fifth tower at Sky City and received a good response to the project in Q3FY19. However, tepid sales at Goregaon projects (31,555 sq ft) and no sales at Worli project were also witnessed during the quarter.

related news Buy Deepak Nitrite, target Rs 346: Anand Rathi 'Weak global sentiment, general elections likely to keep market volatile'

On the new launches front, the company has postponed the launch of the Goregaon Phase-III near the festive season in Q2FY20E whereas the Thane project would be probably launched in Q3FY20E. It could also launch Maxima project in FY20E.

The company have commenced bookings for the fifth tower at Sky City in Q3FY19, which received a strong response during the quarter. With overall bookings achieved at this project in Q3FY19 (51 units on 75,195 sq ft), the company have crossed 1000 units sales in the project.

The company has planned two mixed-use developments at Borivali (Gross Leasable Area: 1.73 msf) and Worli (Gross Leasable Area: 1.70 msf). On this front, it has already incurred a capex of Rs. 40-50 crore. At Borivali, it shall develop 1.2 msf mall, 0.3-0.4 msf hotel and remainder office space. In contrast, at Worli, it will develop 0.9-1.0 msf mall, 80-90 room hotel while rest would be for office space. These assets, which would be developed at an expenditure of Rs.800 crore each, are expected to be operational in the next four to five years.

Three Sixty West project is in advanced stage of completion of construction work with the remaining construction left being a slab, lobby and common area. Revenue recognition from the project will start once the company achieves 25 percent sales threshold. The company will apply for occupancy certificate for the project in H1CY2019 and start giving possession to buyers in Q1FY20E. Also, it would be ready to move in by Q4FY20E.

Furthermore, Commerz II has achieved 100% occupancy in Q3FY19. The company would start receiving rental income from March, 2019. Commerz II clocked an average rental of Rs 141 psf per month in Q3FY19. Also, along with these assets, the upcoming mixed-use development projects & Commerz-III (1.7 msf) will significantly drive rental income, going ahead.

Overall, with strong launches planned in FY20E and Borivali project expected to drive sales momentum, we continue to remain positive on the company over medium to longer term perspective.

Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts on moneycontrol.com are their own, and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. First Published on Mar 10, 2019 09:27 am

Acadian Asset Management LLC Takes $341,000 Position in Sandy Spring Bancorp Inc. (SASR)

Acadian Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in Sandy Spring Bancorp Inc. (NASDAQ:SASR) during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor bought 10,892 shares of the bank’s stock, valued at approximately $341,000.

Several other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its stake in shares of Sandy Spring Bancorp by 6.1% in the 3rd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 2,383,316 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $93,688,000 after purchasing an additional 137,735 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Sandy Spring Bancorp by 2.7% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 1,645,043 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $64,666,000 after purchasing an additional 43,886 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc boosted its stake in shares of Sandy Spring Bancorp by 2.7% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc now owns 1,645,043 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $64,666,000 after purchasing an additional 43,886 shares in the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC boosted its stake in shares of Sandy Spring Bancorp by 2.9% in the 3rd quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 956,210 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $37,589,000 after purchasing an additional 26,500 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Alliancebernstein L.P. boosted its stake in shares of Sandy Spring Bancorp by 53.0% in the 3rd quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 841,736 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $33,089,000 after purchasing an additional 291,680 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 69.04% of the company’s stock.

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Sandy Spring Bancorp stock opened at $33.05 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.87, a current ratio of 1.06 and a quick ratio of 1.06. Sandy Spring Bancorp Inc. has a 12-month low of $29.87 and a 12-month high of $43.87. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.24 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.56 and a beta of 0.72.

Sandy Spring Bancorp (NASDAQ:SASR) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 17th. The bank reported $0.72 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the Zacks’ consensus estimate of $0.79 by ($0.07). Sandy Spring Bancorp had a net margin of 26.19% and a return on equity of 10.10%. The business had revenue of $80.18 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $81.94 million. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.34 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Sandy Spring Bancorp Inc. will post 3.14 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 20th. Investors of record on Wednesday, February 13th were issued a $0.28 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 12th. This represents a $1.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.39%. Sandy Spring Bancorp’s dividend payout ratio is 39.16%.

In other Sandy Spring Bancorp news, Director Mark E. Friis purchased 1,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, January 22nd. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $31.86 per share, with a total value of $31,860.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now directly owns 11,235 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $357,947.10. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, EVP Ronda M. Mcdowell sold 744 shares of Sandy Spring Bancorp stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $35.02, for a total value of $26,054.88. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 6,034 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $211,310.68. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 3.31% of the company’s stock.

SASR has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. BidaskClub downgraded shares of Sandy Spring Bancorp from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 22nd. Gabelli reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of Sandy Spring Bancorp in a report on Friday, January 18th. Zacks Investment Research cut Sandy Spring Bancorp from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a report on Thursday, December 20th. Sandler O’Neill cut Sandy Spring Bancorp from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and set a $35.00 price target for the company. in a report on Friday, January 18th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods cut Sandy Spring Bancorp from an “outperform” rating to a “market perform” rating and cut their price target for the company from $44.00 to $35.00 in a report on Friday, January 18th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the stock. The stock currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $40.00.

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Sandy Spring Bancorp Profile

Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc operates as the bank holding company for Sandy Spring Bank that provides commercial banking services to individuals and businesses in central Maryland, Northern Virginia, and Washington DC markets. It operates through three segments: Community Banking, Insurance, and Investment Management.

Further Reading: Analyzing a company's cash flow statement

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SASR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Sandy Spring Bancorp Inc. (NASDAQ:SASR).

Insider Selling: Veeva Systems Inc (VEEV) Insider Sells 946 Shares of Stock

Veeva Systems Inc (NYSE:VEEV) insider Eleni Nitsa Zuppas sold 946 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $114.66, for a total transaction of $108,468.36. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 11,738 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,345,879.08. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website.

NYSE VEEV traded up $0.33 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $113.78. The company had a trading volume of 1,236,990 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,405,002. Veeva Systems Inc has a 1-year low of $68.11 and a 1-year high of $124.00. The stock has a market capitalization of $16.48 billion, a P/E ratio of 91.76, a PEG ratio of 4.46 and a beta of 1.72.

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Veeva Systems (NYSE:VEEV) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, February 26th. The technology company reported $0.45 EPS for the quarter, beating the Zacks’ consensus estimate of $0.40 by $0.05. Veeva Systems had a net margin of 23.61% and a return on equity of 15.51%. The company had revenue of $232.32 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $227.15 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $0.23 earnings per share. Veeva Systems’s revenue for the quarter was up 24.9% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Veeva Systems Inc will post 1.54 EPS for the current fiscal year.

A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on VEEV shares. Zacks Investment Research raised shares of Veeva Systems from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $126.00 price objective for the company in a report on Saturday, February 9th. Bank of America reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $120.00 price objective (up previously from $110.00) on shares of Veeva Systems in a report on Thursday, November 29th. Needham & Company LLC reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $135.00 price objective (up previously from $110.00) on shares of Veeva Systems in a report on Wednesday, February 27th. DA Davidson upped their price objective on shares of Veeva Systems to $140.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, February 27th. Finally, SunTrust Banks upped their price objective on shares of Veeva Systems to $140.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, February 27th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. The stock has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $117.65.

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Ffcm LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Veeva Systems during the fourth quarter worth about $26,000. Bollard Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Veeva Systems during the fourth quarter worth about $27,000. Private Capital Group LLC lifted its position in shares of Veeva Systems by 508.6% during the fourth quarter. Private Capital Group LLC now owns 353 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 295 shares in the last quarter. Executive Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Veeva Systems during the fourth quarter worth about $34,000. Finally, Valeo Financial Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Veeva Systems by 319.1% during the fourth quarter. Valeo Financial Advisors LLC now owns 394 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $35,000 after purchasing an additional 300 shares in the last quarter. 77.09% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

COPYRIGHT VIOLATION NOTICE: This report was originally reported by Ticker Report and is owned by of Ticker Report. If you are accessing this report on another publication, it was illegally copied and republished in violation of U.S. & international copyright law. The original version of this report can be read at https://www.tickerreport.com/banking-finance/4204659/insider-selling-veeva-systems-inc-veev-insider-sells-946-shares-of-stock.html.

About Veeva Systems

Veeva Systems, Inc engages in the provision of industry-specific, cloud-based software solutions for the life sciences industry. Its solutions enable pharmaceutical and other life sciences companies to realize the benefits of modern cloud-based architectures and mobile applications for their most critical business functions, without compromising industry-specific functionality or regulatory compliance.

Further Reading: Calculate Your Return on Investment (ROI)

Mortgage Loan Rates Rise, New Applications Dip

The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) released its weekly report on mortgage applications Wednesday morning, noting a decrease of 2.5% in the group’s seasonally adjusted composite index for the week ending March 1. Mortgage interest rates increased on all five types of loans the MBA tracks. MBA data for the prior week included an adjustment for the President’s Day holiday.

On an unadjusted basis, the MBA’s composite index rose by 10% in the past week. The seasonally adjusted purchase index decreased by 3% compared with the week ended February 22. The unadjusted purchase index rose by 11% for the week and was 1% higher year over year.

Mortgage loan rates for a top-tier 30-year fixed-rate loan jumped from 4.49% to 4.57% last week, according to Mortgage News Daily. As of Tuesday night, top-tier borrowers were paying 4.53% for that loan. The yield on a 10-year U.S. Treasury note rose in the past week from 2.67% to 2.72%, as of last night’s close. A year ago the 10-year note yielded 2.88%.

Mike Fratantoni, MBA Senior Vice President and Chief Economist said:

Slightly higher mortgages rates last week led to a decrease in application volume. Furthermore, the average loan size for purchase applications increased to a record high, led by a rise in the average size of conventional loans. This suggests that move-up and higher-end buyers have so far become a greater share of the spring market. Overall, conventional purchase loans are up 2.1 percent relative to last year, indicating that homebuyers continue to be inspired by the stable rate environment and the modest increase in housing supply.

The MBA’s refinance index decreased by 2% week over week, and the percentage of all new applications that were seeking refinancing dropped from 40.4% to 40.0%.

Adjustable rate mortgage loans accounted for 7.4% of all applications, up 0.1 percentage points compared with the prior week.

According to the MBA, last week’s average mortgage loan rate for a conforming 30-year fixed rate mortgage increased from 4.65% to 4.67%. The rate for a jumbo 30-year fixed-rate mortgage ticked up from 4.40% to 4.41%. The average interest rate for a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage rose from 4.00% to 4.08%.

The contract interest rate for a 5/1 adjustable rate mortgage loan increased from 3.95% to 4.080%. Rates on a 30-year FHA-backed fixed-rate loan increased from 4.64% to 4.66%.

ALSO READ: Cities Where Crime Is Soaring in Every State

A Correction Is on the Way, so Lock in Your Wayfair Stock Profits

Few sectors invite near-universal consensus like ecommerce. Digitalization has impacted every area of our lives, so it’s only natural that investors are bullish for online retail. That said, individual names like Wayfair (NYSE:W) invite robust debate. After soaring to dramatic heights this year, people unsurprisingly have questioned the longer-term viability of Wayfair stock.

Source: Shutterstock

At first glance, the enthusiasm appears well-justified. Recently, management delivered a better-than-expected earnings report, paring expected earnings losses of $1.28 a share with $1.12 per share. Further, management rang up revenues of $2.01 billion, exceeding consensus estimates calling for $1.97 billion. Notably, this represented a nearly 40% lift against the year-ago quarter.

Following the report, the W stock price gapped up to just under $150, or a 28% profit against the prior day’s session.

Of course, that pleased me to no end. Earlier this year, I put Wayfair stock at the top of my list of publicly-traded companies to buy for 2019. Year-to-date, shares are up over 92%. It’s an unbelievable result, but that also raises the question: is this sustainable?

You’re not the only one asking. Analysts from Wells Fargo (NYSE:WFC) warned that the W stock price has gotten ahead of itself. Citing risk factors such as an expected profit downturn in Q1, low brand visibility, and widening international losses, the premium has turned excessive.

Additionally, the latest Q4 earnings report had the feeling of avoiding a bullet as opposed to producing purely substantive numbers. For example, management warned in November 2018 that it could face holiday profitability pressures. This dark forecast stemmed from possible price cuts to stay competitive, as well as spikes in advertising expenses.

Neither headwind showed up, which probably caused a “relief rally” effect in Wayfair stock. But is that enough to justify taking a shot here?

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Wayfair Is Overvalued

When I wrote about the home-furnishings specialist earlier, I focused on its longer-term potential. Despite some fiscal challenges, the fundamental shift from traditional commerce to e-commerce significantly benefits Wayfair stock.

Largely, the free markets have priced shares fairly. In Q4 2014, the company generated $408.6 million in top-line sales. As I mentioned earlier, in four years’ time, that figure jumped to slightly over $2 billion. During this timeframe, the W stock price skyrocketed from an average $23.07 to $102.19.

Mathematically, this relationship between revenue and market value translates to a 92% correlation. In other words, as sales rise, so too does W stock.

More important, Wayfair’s year-over-year revenue growth is very consistent. In the previously-mentioned period, average sales growth is 50.2%. As you can see from Q4’s YOY growth of 40%, this metric has slipped, but only by a little.

Plus, sales growth when Wayfair revenues were in the sub-billion category was 54.5%. After sales breached the billion-dollar mark, growth is still a very healthy 43.4%. Despite working against the law of large numbers, the company still brings home the goods.

So why should investors, and especially prospective buyers be concerned right now? Because the market premium for Wayfair is unfair.

During the company’s sub-billion sales quarters, YOY growth in the W stock price averaged 26%. But during the plus-billion quarters, this metric jumped to 73%. Put another way, you’re paying substantially higher premiums for lesser growth.

But the kicker is the recent spike in Wayfair stock. So far this quarter, shares are up almost 95% from the year-ago period. Based on historical trends, the company has been unable to sustain such lopsided premiums for its equity.

Although I like the company longer-term, I don’t think anything is going to change here.

The Bottom Line on Wayfair Stock

If you received a nice profit already on paper, this is a great time to capture those gains. You can refer to my analysis above. However, you can also rely on common sense: shares that zoom over 90% in less than three months usually correct sharply.

If you’re considering a position in Wayfair stock, do it, but don’t do it now. Not only have shares gotten technically overheated, they’ve demonstrated wild trading in recent years.

But once some of this looney-tunes valuation fades, I like W stock for the long haul. Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) has consistently demonstrated disruptive nature of ecommerce. While Wayfair is no Amazon, it has the potential to do the same for its core market.

But like I said, I’d just wait for a more favorable entry point.

As of this writing, Josh Enomoto did not hold a position in any of the aforemen

How to score March meal deals and freebies

March is a lucky month for meal deals.

We have the luck of the Irish with St. Patrick's Day, and freebies are in the forecast for the first day of spring on March 20.

But before those two big days, there's IHOP's Free Pancake Day on March 12, and Pi Day is March 14.

Here are the deals, big days and ongoing specials, available at participating locations. To be on the safe side, always check with your closest location before heading out. Also, some will require you to have a restaurant's app or be signed up for emails.

Bookmark this page because it'll be updated frequently with more specials.

Businesses with 20 or more locations can submit meal deals here.

Year of freebies: Free coffee, doughnuts, cheeseburgers and more: How to fill 2019 with freebies and deals

Go green!: McDonald's is ready for St. Patrick's Day with the limited return of Shamrock Shakes

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If you want to celebrate St. Patrick's day with a green menu, here are some naturally green ideas. Keri Lumm (@thekerilumm) reports. Buzz60

Limited-time offers

Del Taco: For a limited time, get two of Del Taco's Beer Battered Fish Tacos for $4 at locations nationwide. Price and participation may vary by location.

Dunkin': Through Sunday, March 3, get a medium-sized latte or cappuccino, hot or iced, for $2 from 2 to 6 p.m. at participating locations.

Hardee's: Through Sunday, March 10, buy any menu item at regular price and get a free cup of coffee. The deal is to promote the company's new Rise and Shine Coffee. Limit one per customer per visit.

View this post on Instagram

Now you can reel in 2 Beer Battered Fish Tacos for just $4 bucks. #CatchOfTheDay

A post shared by Del Taco (@deltaco) on Feb 19, 2019 at 12:15pm PST

Jack in the Box: For a limited time, get two tacos for 99 cents on the chain's mobile app. To get this deal, download the restaurant's mobile app, then click "menu" section in the app, then select "app exclusives" to add the tacos to your cart. Also here's a deal for Postmates orders: Get two free tacos March 4-10, no minimum, and get free delivery with orders $10 or more with promo code TACOJACK.

P.F. Chang's: The chain's Year of the Pig celebration continues through March 25 and features three Year of the Pig hand-crafted cocktails. One of the limited-time drinks is served in a bacon and sugar-rimmed glass. Dine-in and get a limited-edition Fortune-Telling Pig that "once placed in the palm of the hand, reveals your hidden secrets," according to a news release. Learn more about the signs of the Zodiac and about P.F. Chang's special drinks and menu items at www.chinesenewyear.com.

Popeyes: For a limited time, get a $5 Southern Butterfly Shrimp meal, which comes with eight butterfly shrimp "marinated in traditional Louisiana seasonings."

Red Lobster: Lobsterfest is back for a limited time and the seafood chain has its largest selection of lobster dishes available all year. Also for a limited time on Tuesdays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., get the Ultimate Lobster Roll and Bisque for $15.

TGI Fridays: Through Sunday, March 3, get free delivery through the Uber Eats app. A minimum $30 purchase is required and use promo code EATSFRIDAYS in the app. 

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The discount shoe retailer Payless ShoeSource is set to close all of its stores when its files for bankruptcy later this month. Veuer's Mercer Morrison has the story. Buzz60

March 1: Last day for Payless returns

Payless ShoeSource bankruptcy: Friday last day to make returns

March 1: National Kolache Day

To celebrate National Kolache Day Friday, March 1, all Kolache Factory locations are giving away a free fruit kolache from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.  To get the freebie, just say "National Kolache Day." One per customer and no substitutions. 

Can't wait to see you all this Friday, March 1 as we celebrate National Kolache Day for the second year in a row. #FREESTUFFALERTpic.twitter.com/V0ljCgK9am

— Kolache Factory (@KolacheFactory) February 27, 2019March 1: National Hotel Slipper Day

Hotels.com has declared March 1 as "National Hotel Slipper Day" and picked the date because it is Justin Bieber's birthday and the travel website says Bieber is "arguably hotel slipper's biggest fan and advocate."

To celebrate, get $25 off reservations $250 or more booked on March 1 with code SLIPPERS.

Hit product: Justin Bieber has launched his own line of 'hotel slippers'

Happy early bday @justinbieber! - A gift to you, March 1st will now forever be #NationalHotelSlipperDay. pic.twitter.com/GEAJzcX3iP

— Hotels.com (@hotelsdotcom) February 27, 2019March 1: Early Read Across America Day deal

Read Across America Day is officially March 2, however many schools and libraries will celebrate the day on Friday. And on Friday, Hooked on Phonics is giving away free one-year subscriptions to its Learn To Read digital app, a $40 value. To get the freebie, use promo code READ2019. Learn more at www.hookedonphonics.com/read2019.

What is #ReadAcrossAmericaDay? It's a nationwide celebration that promotes #reading motivation & awareness. Get ready to celebrate on March 2, by downloading our number one learn to #read app, today! https://t.co/RO9Gzue4Gc#reading#literacy#childrensbookspic.twitter.com/E1v0Cbqcqt

— Hooked on Phonics (@hookedonphonics) February 26, 2019March 2: Read Across America Day

Target stores nationwide are holding free story time events to celebrate Dr. Seuss's 115th birthday from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, March 2. There will be readings of "What Pet Should I Get" at the top of every half hour, Dr. Seuss giveaways and activities. Learn more at www.target.com. The events are hosted by Dr. Seuss Enterprises in partnership with Random House.

Dr. Seuss Day: 5 great life lessons I learned from reading the beloved children's author

Dr. Seuss: Here are the top 10 children's books according to USA TODAY's best-selling books list

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Dr. Seuss would be proud. Time

March 2-3: Bank of America free museum admission

The Bank of America "Museums on Us" program is held the first full weekend of each month in 2019. Bank of America, Merrill Lynch and U.S. Trust credit and debit cardholder get free general admission to select cultural attractions throughout the country by presenting credit or debit card and a photo ID.

There are more than 225 Museums on Us partners in 123 cities across the U.S. The offer is for cardholders only. Guests are not eligible for free admission and the program excludes fundraising events, special exhibitions and ticketed shows.

For March, the program is highlighting women's contributions to art, culture, sports, civil rights, music and more for Women's History Month. Find a list of participating museums on the Bank of America website. 

.oembed-frame { width: 100%; height: 100%; margin: 0; border: 0; } March 3: Baskin-Robbins' freebie

From 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday, get a free sample of a featured Milkshake Mixology flavor combination at participating Baskin-Robbins' locations.

March 5: Mardi Gras

Check back soon for more Mardi Gras and Fat Tuesday promotions.

Applebee's: The Dollar Hurricane was the chain's February drink of the month is available through Mardi Gras. The drink served in a 10-ounce mug is a mix of rum, passion fruit, orange, black cherry and lime and costs $1 at participating locations.

Fatburger: The chain has a Fat Tuesday dine-in promotion Tuesday, March 5. Get a free Fat Fries with a purchase at all locations.

Houlihan's: Get $5 Hurricane drinks with bead garnish and Happy Hour drink specials on Tuesday, March 5.

Tijuana Flats: Get a free Megajauana upgrade on burritos, bowls and chimichangas Tuesday, March 5, which means double the meat and double the cheese. This offer is valid in-store only and cannot be combined with any other offer or promotion, including Tijuana Tuesdaze.

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Founded in 1718, New Orleans will turn 300 years old this year. The city plans to celebrate with a series of talks, concerts and street parades. Rick Jervis, USA TODAY

March 6-April 18: Lent season deals

Bojangles': The BojAngler Fish Sandwich & Platter returns to participating Bojangles' restaurants through April 21 or while supplies last. Many locations will offer two BojAngler sandwiches for $5.

Bonefish Grill: Starting March 8, get the Angler's Catch on Fish Frydays served every Friday during lent with "tempura-style, hand-battered crispy cod, sea scallops and shrimp served on a bed of French fries with house-made coleslaw and a side of cocktail and tartar sauce for under $20."

Captain D's: Through April 28, choose from the Giant Fish Sandwich or two North Atlantic Lobster Rolls for $3.99. A side and drink can be added for $1.79 more.

Church's Chicken: For a limited time, the chain has a $5 Pick-Your-Platter with three options: Garlic Butter Shrimp Platter, Shrimp 'n' Tenders Platter and the Crispy Fish Platter.

Shrimpin' done the down home way.  pic.twitter.com/MmjBNgxz3p

— Church's Chicken (@ChurchsChicken) February 25, 2019

Cotton Patch Cafe: For a limited time, "All You Can Eat Catfish Frydays" are back. For $13.99, get made-to-order crispy catfish fillets served over fries with jalapeno hushpuppies and two tradition sides.

Del Taco: For a limited time, get two of Del Taco's Beer Battered Fish Tacos for $4 at locations nationwide. Price and participation may vary by location.

Golden Chick: Starting March 4, the chain has a Southern Fried Catfish Combo, which includes two pieces of catfish, fries, coleslaw, a yeast roll and a 20-ounce drink for $7.99.

Morton's The Steakhouse: For a limited time on every Friday during Lent, Morton's is offering Twin Lobster Tails for $39. Reservations are required, and the offer is available from 5 p.m. to close Fridays through April 12.

Romano's Macaroni Grill: Starting March 6 and through Easter, the Italian restaurant chain will have a Fresh Catch menu with two fish dishes: the Italian Fish Fry for $20, which is beer battered sole, shrimp and calamari, and the Grilled Fish Feast, a mahi-mahi filet, served with shrimp and scallop spiedini for $25.

Roy Rogers: Through May 5, get the Wild Pacific Cod Sandwich for $4.99 or the Wild Pacific Cod Platter for $7.99, which includes two cod portions and two sides.

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Lent is a time for prayer and self-examination, but fasting doesn't have to mean going hungry. Here's some options for the modern Christian. Wochit

March 6: Applebee's new drink debuts

Applebee's March Neighborhood Drink of the Month is the new $2 Absolut Rainbow Punch. Served in a 10-ounce mug, it's made with Absolut vodka and "the combination of green apple, ginger and lemon flavors, topped with a rainbow gummy garnish."

"We created a crisp, refreshing cocktail to help us forget about the rough winter we all went through," said Patrick Kirk, vice president of beverage innovation at Applebee's, in a statement. "So, we made a vibrant green punch, packed it with flavor, and topped it with a rainbow. Literally, it comes with a rainbow that you can eat!"

Price and participation varies.

March's #NeighborhoodDrink, the $2 ABSOLUT Rainbow Punch is made with ABSOLUT vodka, green apple, lemon, ginger, and topped with a candy rainbow. And our DOLLAR HURRICANE is available till Fat Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/eM5027Aouh

— Applebee's (@Applebees) March 1, 2019March 7: National Cereal Day

Kellogg's is celebrating National Cereal Day on March 7 by debuting a Tony the Tiger capsule t-shirt. The limited-edition capsule includes seven different Tony designs. The $28 shirt will be available while supplies last at www.kelloggsnyc.com.

Cookies for breakfast?: No, but maple bacon doughnut and chicken and waffles cereals, yes?

March 9: National Meatball Day

Carrabba's Italian Grill is offering a free order of Meatballs & Ricotta with purchase of two entrees Saturday, March 9 for National Meatball Day.

March 9-11: Noodles & Company deal

From March 9-11, Noodles & Company's NoodlesREWARDS members get 20 percent off online orders of $10 or more when they take advantage of the "Quick Pickup" option. Sign up for the loyalty program at www.noodles.com/rewards by March 8 to get the offer.

March 11: Last day to use Payless gift cards

Payless ShoeSource bankruptcy: Monday, March 11 last day for gift cards

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IHOP is giving away free pancakes today, but they're hoping you'll use that money for something even better. USA TODAY

March 12: Where to get free pancakes

IHOP: The chain's 14th annual National Pancake Day is March 12 and participating restaurants are giving away free short stacks of buttermilk pancakes. Although the pancakes are free, Glendale, Calif.-based IHOP hopes customers will donate to charity partners. Learn more at www.ihop.com.

Metro Diner: The chain is celebrating National Pancake Day on March 12 with a free stack of six sweet and fluffy silver dollar pancakes for every child under the age of 12. No minimum purchase necessary.

March 14: Pi Day

Here are the deals from Pi Day 2018. We will be adding the new deals in shortly. 

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A USA TODAY motion graphic explaining the significance of Pi. By Berna Elibuyuk and Ramon Padilla, USA TODAY. USA TODAY

March 17: St. Patrick's Day

Here's how restaurants celebrated St. Patrick's Day in 2018. Stay tuned for green food beer and other deals.

Lucky Charms beer?: A Virginia brewery's new beer is a twist on the popular cereal

March 18: Baskin-Robbin's free sample

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, March 18, Baskin-Robbins and Dunkin' combination stores have an "Affogato Sampling Day." The two brands are "teaming up to bring ice cream and espresso fans a new treat: the affogato, a classic Italian dessert featuring a scoop of vanilla ice cream covered in a warm shot of espresso." The free sample is for March 18 but the item is available for a limited time.

March 19-April 8: March Madness season

Here's how restaurants celebrated March Madness in 2018. The deals for 2019 are coming soon.

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'Saturday Night Live' didn't hold back this week in its St. Patrick's Day episode that takes aim at the White House's most recent reorganization. Wochit

March 20: First day of spring

Rita's Italian Ice has confirmed it will celebrate the first day of spring with a freebie like in past years.

Spring 2018: Celebrate first day of spring with freebies from Dairy Queen, Rita's Italian Ice

March 31: Baskin-Robbin's deal

On Sunday, March 31, get a regular or kids-sized scoop of ice cream for $1.70 or two pre-packaged quarts for $7.99 as part of the ice cream chain's Celebrate 31 promotion, which occurs with months that have 31 days.

Ongoing specials

Bonefish Grill: From March 5 through April 19, the seafood chain has "the O M G (Ocean Mixed Grill)" four-course for $49, which includes a starter of Bang Bang Shrimp, salad, select sides and choice of wood-grilled seafood selections. Select bottles of wine can be added for $25.

Cicis: The pizza buffet chain has joined forces with Nickelodeon's Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to create "Rise of the Turtles Tuesdays." Each Tuesday through March 12 from 4 p.m. to close, kids 10 and under get a kid's buffet for 99 cents with the purchase of one adult buffet and large drink. Limit one kid's buffet per adult buffet and drink purchase. Learn more about the promotion at www.cicis.com/rtmnt.

McDonald's: With an offer on the fast-food chain's app, buy one sandwich and get a second for 25 cents. Some sandwiches are excluded including the new bacon items. According to the offer details, this deal will be valid once per week through March 31.

Olive Garden: The fast-casual Italian restaurant announced its first-ever Never Ending Stuffed Pastas. For a limited time, get unlimited refills while dining in on four stuffed pastas including Stuffed Ziti Fritta and Cheese Ravioli with a choice of four sauces and five toppings. Prices start at $12.99.

On the Border: The chain has a $9.99 Chicken Fajita special through April 6. Learn more at www.ontheborder.com.

Taco Bell: Through April 3, get a free small Pepsi Zero Sugar and Mountain Dew Baja Blast Zero Sugar with any mobile or online pick-up order. The new drinks are available at participating locations nationwide. For a limited time get a Naked Chicken Chalupa combo with Nacho Fries, a crunchy taco and large drink for $5.99 or a $5 box with the Naked Chicken Chalupa, crunchy taco, Cinnamon Twists, and a medium drink.

Follow Kelly Tyko on Twitter: @KellyTyko

VMware Earnings: VMW Stock Gains as Revenue Gains 15%, Beats Guidance

VMware (NYSE:VMW) revealed its latest quarterly earnings results after hours today, bringing in revenue that topped Wall Street’s guidance and gained more than 15% year-over-year, playing a role in VMW stock’s late-afternoon surge.

The Palo Alto, Calif.-based cloud software and services provider said that its fourth quarter of 2018 yielded a net profit of $502 million, or $1.21 per share. During its fourth quarter of fiscal 2017, the business posted a net loss of $387 million, or 96 cents per share.

VMware added that its earnings tallied up to $1.98 per share on an adjusted basis when taking into account stock-based compensation and other items, nearly 40 cents ahead of its year-ago adjusted profit of $1.60 per share. Analysts saw the cloud business as amassing adjusted earnings of $1.88 per share, according to a survey conducted by FactSet.

The company’s revenue surged to about $2.58 billion, about 15.7% higher than its sales of $2.23 billion from its fourth quarter of the previous year. Wall Street’s consensus estimate predicted that VMware would tally up sales of $2.5 billion, also per a FactSet survey.

For its first quarter of its fiscal 2019, the brand forecasts earnings of $1.23 per share on an adjusted basis, while sales are slated to reach $2.23 billion.

VMW stock popped roughly 3.4% after the bell as the Dell Technologies subsidiary had a positive quarter on the sales front. Shares had been declining close to 2.4% during regular trading hours as VMware readied itself to report for the period.

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