Top 10 Services Companies To Buy For 2015

Top 10 Services Companies To Buy For 2015: Carnival Corporation(CCL)

Carnival Corporation operates as a cruise and vacation company. It provides cruises to various vacation destinations with a portfolio of cruise brands comprising Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, and Seabourn in North America; and AIDA Cruises, Costa Cruises, Cunard, Ibero Cruises, and P&O Cruises in Europe, Australia, and Asia. The company also involves in operation of hotels, as well as offers tour and transportation services. It operates approximately 98 ships, as well as owns and operates 15 hotels or lodges that include 3,420 guest rooms; 395 motorcoaches; and 20 domed rail cars. The company sells its cruises through travel agents, including wholesalers and tour operators. Carnival Corporation was founded in 1974 and is headquartered in Miami, Florida.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Shauna O'Brien]

  Before Friday’s opening bell, Carnival Corporation (CCL) released its fourth quarter earnings. The cruise ship company reported a net loss, but beat analysts’ expectations. 

  CCL’s Earnings in Brief

  CCL posted a net loss of $102, or 13 cents per share, compared to net income of $66 million, or 8 cents per share, a year ago. Adjusted earnings were $210 million, or 27 cents per share, up from $35 million, or 4 cents per share, last year. Revenue increased to $3.72 billion from $3.66 billion. On average, analysts expected to see adjusted earnings of 20 cents and $3.81 billion in revenue. Looking ahead, the company expects to see FY2015 non-GAAP earnings between $2.30 and $2.60 per share. Analysts expect to see EPS of $2.34.

  CEO Commentary

  Carnival Corporation & plc President and CEO Arnold Donald commented: “Full year earnings were significantly higher than the prior year primarily due to strong profit improvement at both our Carniv! al Cruise Lines and Costa Cruises brands. We enjoyed some early wins from our collaboration efforts that contributed to our improved results, particularly for onboard revenues. We worked hard to contain costs and achieved an almost five percent reduction in fuel consumption for the year as we continue to implement energy conservation measures. We also made a number of strategic decisions in fleet investments that will position us well for the future.”

  CCL’s Dividend

  CCL paid its last 25 cent dividend on November 21. We expect the company to declare its next dividend in January.

  CCL Dividend Snapshot

  As of market close on December 18, 2014

  Click here to see the complete history of CCL dividends.

  Carnival shares were down 37 cents, or 0.87%, during Friday morning trading. The stock is up 9.73% YTD.

• [By WWW.DAILYFINANCE.COM]

  www.halowaypoint.com Let's check out some of the potentially market-shaping events that will take place in the coming weeks. Nov. 10 It's been a rough year for 3D Systems (DDD). One of the leaders in the 3-D printing revolution, it saw its stock get hammered in 2014 after soaring ninefold in the previous three years. 3D Systems announced preliminary quarterly results late last month, but it will be kicking off next week with its official third-quarter report. It won't be pretty. Printers that crank out physical objects still intrigue the early adapters, but the business has yet to cross over and become a mass-market industry. Nov. 11 Microsoft (MSFT) has been a laggard in this generation of video game consoles, with its Xbox One not selling as well as the PlayStation 4. However, momentum has started to turn in Microsoft's favor in this country, and that shift could accelerate when "Halo: The Master Chief Collection" hits the market next week. The new game will only be available for Xbox One, leaving Xbox 360 owners who are fans of the series with a meaty incentive to upgrade. The Xbox One was r! eleased a! year ago this month, and proprietary games could help woo gamers who have been slow to embrace Microsoft's new console. Nov. 19 Keurig Green Mountain (GMCR) has been a market darling for a while, dominating the single-serve coffee market with its Keurig platform. It has had its bumps along the way. The market figured that Keurig would struggle after its key K-Cup patents ran out two years ago. However, the company bounced back with stronger licensing relationships, unveiling new platforms -- Keurig Vue and Keurig 2.0 -- that have new clocks on patent protection. The java heavyweight will have the market's attention after the market close on Nov. 19, when it reports quarterly results. Analysts predict an 11 percent uptick in revenue. They also foresee profitability taking a step back as it pushes out new products. It should be a highly caffeinated repor

• [By Ben Rooney]

  Cruise ship operators have also been in focus after a healthcare worker who handled Ebola test samples was quarantined on a cruise ship earlier this month. Shares of both Carnival (CCL) and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) have been under pressure recently.

• [By Jayson Derrick]

  A Dallas based lab worker has been isolated on a Carnival Cruise (NYSE: CCL) for possible Ebola exposure. The company said that the passenger is in isolation despite the CDC confirming the passenger is at a very low risk of infection. Shares gained 0.66 percent, closing at $34.92.

source from Top Stocks For 2015:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-10-services-companies-to-buy-for-2015-2.html