Chevron Corporation: Oil Major on the Cheap

n a market constantly claimed to be overvalued, the major oil exploration and production firms provide attractive valuations. Not only are global energy prices at highs, with Brent crude hovering near $110, but several catalysts also exist to keep prices high going forward.

Chevron (NYSE: CVX  ) is a prime example of a strong E&P firm with a solid dividend and numerous large-scale projects ready to usher in growth.

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Disclosure: No positions mentioned. Please review the disclaimer page for more details. 

Schlumberger: Severe Weather Can't Stop All-Time Highs

Summary

• Schlumberger generated substantial earnings growth despite severe weather.
• North America revenue saw a sequential increase.
• Oil services stocks sit near all-time highs.

While the oil services firms had every excuse to turn in a weak first quarter, the initial results were very solid. Baker Hughes (BHI) solidly beat analyst expectations and Schlumberger (SLB) squeaked out a small beat.

Read the full article at Seeking Alpha.


Disclosure: Long HAL. Please review the disclaimer page for more details. 

Apple: Already Too Late To The Phablet Market

Summary

• Research firms expect huge growth for phablet devices.
• Analyst sees enthusiasm in Asia around a larger screen iPhone.
• Apple appears already late to the large screen device market.

The evidence continues to mount that Apple (AAPL) is extremely late to the large screen smartphone market and the in-between phablet market. Legendary CEO Steve Jobs claimed that consumers didn't want or need large screen smartphones. To a certain extent, he was probably right when viewing a domestic market where consumers largely have a computer at home. Unfortunately, in the developing Asian markets and other emerging economies where consumers don't own computers, a phablet provides an almost required phone size. These consumers get a mobile phone plus a screen capable of some computing and gaming functions that bridges them into the modern world.

Read the full article at Seeking Alpha.


Disclosure: Long AAPL. Please review the disclaimer page for more details. 

Comstock Resources Inc: A Hidden Play on LNG Exports

The recent data points from the CEO of Cheniere Energy (NYSEMKT: LNG  ) should catch the attention of all investors interested in the natural gas revolution ongoing in the U.S. For those not familiar with Cheniere Energy, the company is working toward exporting liquefied natural gas, or LNG, at the Sabine Pass Terminal in La. and the Corpus Christi Terminal in Tx.

With Cheniere nearly doubling over the past year, one of the best ways to play the export boom are natural gas producers in the Haynesville shale in La. One such producer is Comstock Resources (NYSE: CRK  ) , and naturally the largest landholder in that area is Chesapeake Energy (NYSE: CHK  ).

Read the full article here.


Disclosure: No positions mentioned. Please review the full disclaimer page for more details. 

Top 10 Net Payout Yield Stocks For April 2014

Summary

• Net Payout Yield stocks outperformed the market in March.
• The Top 10 Net Payout Yield stocks averaged 11.9% yields.
• Dollar Tree joined the list for April and Halliburton dropped off.

This article is a continuation of a monthly series highlighting the top net payout yield (NPY) stocks that was started back in June, 2012 (see article) and explained in August, 2012 (see article). The series highlights the best stocks for the upcoming month. Please review the original articles for more information on the NPY concept.

Read the full article at Seeking Alpha.


Disclosure: Long AAPL, CTL, HAL, NLY, NOC, SDRL, T. Please review the disclaimer page for more details. 

New PotashCorp CEO Won't Change Fundamental Issues

Over the weekend, PotashCorp (NYSE: POT  ) announced that an external mining executive had been chosen to replace longtime CEO Bill Doyle. While investors have been unhappy with the company's stock returns, the industry as a whole faces numerous fundamental issues that will override the effect of the CEO selection. The recent breakdown in the Belarusian potash marketing arrangement and new market entrants such as BHP Billiton (NYSE: BHP  ) will have bigger impacts on the stock.

PotashCorp is the leading contributor to the North American potash marketing organization called Canpotex. The new leader will have to stabilize demand for this arrangement with the disruptions caused by Russia and determine how to deal with high margins for potash that are drawing global miners into the market.

Read the full article here. 


Disclosure: No positions mentioned. Please review the disclaimer page for more details. 

Marathon Patent Group: Steady Cash Flows From Patents

Summary

• Seeking strong cash flow from monetizing patents.
• Conducting numerous licensing campaigns providing catalysts for the stock.
• The patent stocks are currently unloved after big losses during the last couple of years.

A few years back, the patent investment segment was one of the hottest sectors in the stock market. Now the segment has gone mostly flat with few big patent victories and declining stock prices. The momentum investor looking for the big gains moved into the hot social media and biotech stocks. Typically, once investors lose interest in a sector is the best time to become interested.

Read the full article at Seeking Alpha.


Disclosure: No positions mentioned. Please review the disclaimer page for more details.