Top 5 Diversified Bank Companies To Own In Right Now

Ford world headquarters. Photo Credit: Ford Motor Company.

I've written many articles regarding Ford's (NYSE: F  ) total debt and how it's often misunderstood. Most of Ford's total debt belongs to its finance arm, Ford Motor Credit, which takes large loans at low interest rates and dishes them back out to its consumers, making a fair profit. Right now Ford's debt from automotive operations is $15.8 billion, while its Ford Motor Credit counterpart owns roughly $90 billion in debt.

As long as you understand that the total debt situation isn't something to worry about: Ford has been diligent in paying down its debts. However, there's a debt problem with Ford that isn't as visible; its underfunded pension is a larger obligation than its $15.8 billion automotive debt. There's good news, though ��it's an improving situation, and here's what it means for investors.

Pension obligations
Ford's pension obligation is a complicated issue with many variables. In its simplest form, it comes down to whether discount rates are rising or falling. If discount rates sink lower then it forces Ford to increase what it is obligated to have in its pension fund. Discount rates have been sitting at low levels and that has caused Ford's pension obligation to rise quickly. Ford has put billions into its fund over the last couple years but it hasn't been enough to keep up with soaring obligations, leaving the pension plan underfunded by $18.7 billion at the end of 2012.�

Hot Construction Material Companies To Buy For 2015: Middlesex Water Co (MSEX)

Middlesex Water Company (Middlesex), incorporated in 1897, is a water utility company. The Company owns and operates regulated water utility and wastewater systems in New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania. Middlesex also operates water and wastewater systems under contract on behalf of municipal and private clients in New Jersey and Delaware. It operates in two segments: Regulated and Non-Regulated. During the year ended December 31, 2011, its Regulated segment contributed approximately 90% of total revenues. The Regulated segment consists of collecting, treating and distributing water on a retail and wholesale basis to residential, commercial, industrial and fire protection customers in parts of New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania. This segment also includes regulated wastewater systems in New Jersey and Delaware. The Non-Regulated segment consists of non-regulated contract services for the operation and maintenance of municipal and private water and wastewater systems in New Jersey and Delaware.

The Company�� subsidiaries include Tidewater Utilities, Inc. (Tidewater) and Tidewater�� wholly owned subsidiaries, Southern Shores Water Company, LLC (Southern Shores) and White Marsh Environmental Systems, Inc. (White Marsh). Its other subsidiaries are Pinelands Water Company (Pinelands Water) and Pinelands Wastewater Company (Pinelands Wastewater) (collectively, Pinelands), Utility Service Affiliates, Inc. (USA), Utility Service Affiliates (Perth Amboy) Inc., (USA-PA), Tidewater Environmental Services, Inc. (TESI) and Twin Lakes Utilities, Inc. (Twin Lakes).

Middlesex System

The Middlesex System in New Jersey provides water services to approximately 60,000 retail customers, primarily in eastern Middlesex County, New Jersey and provides water under wholesale contracts to the City of Rahway, Townships of Edison and Marlboro, the Boroughs of Highland Park and Sayreville and the Old Bridge Municipal Utilities Authority. The Middlesex System treats, stores and dis! tributes water for residential, commercial, industrial and fire prevention purposes. The Middlesex System also provides water treatment and pumping services to the Township of East Brunswick under contract. The Middlesex System produced approximately 64% of its 2011 consolidated operating revenues.

The Middlesex System�� retail customers are located in an area of approximately 55 square miles in Woodbridge Township, the City of South Amboy, the Boroughs of Metuchen and Carteret, portions of the Township of Edison and the Borough of South Plainfield in Middlesex County and, to a minor extent, a portion of the Township of Clark in Union County. Retail customers include a mix of residential customers, industrial concerns and commercial and light industrial facilities.

The contract customers of the Middlesex System comprise an area of approximately 146 square miles with a population of approximately 303,000. Contract sales to Edison, Sayreville, Old Bridge, Marlboro and Rahway are supplemental to the existing water systems of these customers. The Middlesex System provides treated surface water under long-term agreements to East Brunswick, Marlboro, Old Bridge and Sayreville. Middlesex provides water service to approximately 300 customers in Cumberland County, New Jersey. Its Middlesex System, which produced approximately 15.6 billion gallons in 2011, obtains water from surface sources and wells, or groundwater sources.

Tidewater System

Tidewater, together with its wholly owned subsidiary, Southern Shores, provides water services to approximately 36,000 retail customers for domestic, commercial and fire protection purposes in over 300 separate community water systems in New Castle, Kent and Sussex Counties, Delaware. White Marsh is an additional wholly owned subsidiary that is unregulated as to rates and operates water and wastewater systems under contract for approximately 4,700 residential customers. White Marsh also owns the office buildings that Tid! ewater us! es as its central business office campus. The Tidewater System produced approximately 25% of its 2011 consolidated operating revenues. Its Tidewater System produced approximately 2 billion gallons in 2011 from 159 wells.

Utility Service Affiliates-Perth Amboy

Utility Service Affiliates-Perth Amboy (USA-PA) operates the City of Perth Amboy, New Jersey�� water and wastewater systems under a 20-year agreement, which expires in 2018. USA-PA serves approximately 11,000 homes and businesses, most of which are served by both the water and wastewater systems. USA-PA produced approximately 9% of its 2011 consolidated operating revenues.

Pinelands System

Pinelands Water provides water services to approximately 2,500 residential customers in Burlington County, New Jersey. Pinelands Water produced less than 1% of its 2011 consolidated operating revenues. Pinelands Water is not physically interconnected with the Middlesex System. Pinelands Wastewater provides wastewater services to approximately 2,400 residential customers. Under contract, it also services one municipal wastewater system in Burlington County, New Jersey with approximately 200 residential customers. Water supply to its Pinelands System is derived from four wells, which produced approximately 159.1 million gallons in 2011.

Utility Service Affiliates, Inc.

Utility Service Affiliates, Inc. (USA) offers residential customers in New Jersey and Delaware water service line and sewer lateral maintenance programs (LineCare). USA produced less than 1% of its 2011 consolidated operating revenues.

TESI System

TESI provides wastewater services to approximately 2,200 residential retail customers in Delaware. TESI produced approximately 1% of its 2011 consolidated operating revenues. The TESI System treated approximately 76.8 million gallons in 2011. The TESI System consists of seven wastewater treatment systems in Southern Delaware.

Twin Lakes Sys! tem

Twin Lakes provides water services to approximately 120 residential customers in Shohola, Pennsylvania. Twin Lakes produced less than 1% of its 2011 consolidated operating revenues. Water supply to Twin Lakes��customers is derived from two wells, which delivered approximately 26.6 million gallons in 2011.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dividends4Life]

  Starting in 2013 the federal tax rates on qualified dividends are 0%, 15% and 20%. The 20% rate is for taxpayers in the 39.6% tax bracket. For those in the 10% and 15% brackets, there is no tax on qualified dividends. In contrast, ordinary income is taxed at rates up to up to 39.6%. Below are several stocks that have consistently paid dividends through depressions, recessions, world wars, and other political and economic upheavals:WGL Holdings Inc. (WGL) provides natural gas service in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area and surrounding regions, including Maryland and Virginia. Yield: 4.1% | Paid Dividends Since: 1852Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM), formed through the merger of Exxon and Mobil in late 1999, is the world's largest publicly owned integrated oil company. Yield: 2.7% | Paid Dividends Since: 1882Consolidated Edison, Inc. (ED) is an electric and gas utility holding company serves parts of New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Yield: 4.4% | Paid Dividends Since: 1885The Procter & Gamble Company (PG) is a leading consumer products company that markets household and personal care products in more than 180 countries. Yield: 3.2% | Paid Dividends Since: 1891The Coca-Cola Company (KO) is the world's largest soft drink company, KO also has a sizable fruit juice business. Yield: 2.9% | Paid Dividends Since: 1893General Mills, Inc. (GIS) is a major producer of packaged consumer food products, include cereal, yogurt and Betty Crocker desserts/baking mixes. Yield: 3.0% | Paid Dividends Since: 1898Avista Corp. (AVA) generates, transmits and distributes energy as well as engages in energy-related businesses in the United States and Canada. Yield: 3.0% | Paid Dividends Since: 1899MGE Energy Inc. (MGEE) is a public utility holding company that supplies electric service to apx. 140,000 customers; and natural gas service to apx. 145,000 customers in Wisconsin (as of December 2012). Yield: 2.8% | Paid Dividends Since: 1909Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL) offers energy-related prod

Top 5 Diversified Bank Companies To Own In Right Now: Premiere Opportunities Group Inc (PPBL)

Premiere Opportunities Group, Inc., formerly Premiere Publishing Group, Inc., incorporated on March 25, 2005, was a magazine publishing company. The Company�� primary objective is to identify an operating company with a view to achieving long-term growth.

The Company had operated principally through two wholly owned subsidiaries Sobe Life LLC and Poker Life LLC. The Company has discontinued all publishing activities. As of December 31, 2011, it had not generated any revenues.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jonathan Yates]

  For investors, there are three reasons to be bullish about luxury item stocks, ranging from well-known brands such as Ralph Lauren (NYSE: RL) and Coach (NYSE: COH), to promising small caps like Premier Opportunities Group (OTC: PPBL).

Top 5 Diversified Bank Companies To Own In Right Now: BE Aerospace Inc.(BEAV)

BE Aerospace, Inc. designs, manufactures, sells, and services commercial aircraft and business jet cabin interior products worldwide. The company?s Commercial Aircraft segment offers seat frames, cushions, armrests, and tray tables; various optional features, such as adjustable lumbar supports, footrests, reading lights, head/neck supports, and other comfort amenities; oxygen storage, distribution, and delivery systems for commercial and business jet aircrafts; aircraft coffee and beverage makers, and coffee warmers and water boilers; convection, steam, and warming ovens; commercial aircraft refrigeration equipment; modular lavatory systems; vacuum waste water and galley systems; and thermal and power management solutions. This segment also offers engineering, design, integration, installation, and certification services for commercial aircraft passenger cabin interiors; in-house capabilities to design, manage, integrate, test, and certify reconfigurations and modificatio ns for commercial aircraft and to manufacture related products, including engineering kits and interface components; and interior reconfiguration services. Its Consumables Management segment provides inventory management and replenishment, electronic data interchange, special packaging and bar-coding, parts kitting, quality assurance testing, and purchasing assistance services; and creative and differential supply chain solutions, such as 3PL and 4PL programs. This segment also distributes aerospace fasteners and consumables. The company?s Business Jet segment offers a line of furnishings for business jets, including seating and sofa products, such as electric fully berthing lie flat seats, direct and indirect lighting, air valves, oxygen delivery systems, sidewalls, bulkheads, credenzas, closets, galley structures, lavatories, and tables; and super first class cabin interior products for commercial wide-body aircraft. The company was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in Wellington, Florida.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Smith]

  B/E Aerospace (NASDAQ: BEAV  ) is looking to reap as much as $100 million in new contracts for lavatory systems aboard airplanes manufactured by the world's two biggest plane producers.

• [By Rich Smith]

  On Tuesday, airplane interiors outfitter B/E Aerospace (NASDAQ: BEAV  ) announced that one of its customers has just hired it to retrofit its fleet of Boeing (NYSE: BA  ) 737 airplanes with new, smaller lavatories. Henceforth, fearers of flying can add claustrophobia to their worry-list.

• [By Lisa Levin]

  Breaking news

  Weyerhaeuser Co (NYSE: WY) reported a 34% rise in its third-quarter profit. Weyerhaeuser's quarterly profit surged to $157 million, or $0.27 per share, from $117 million, or $0.22 per share, in the year-ago period. To read the full news, click here. Sorrento Therapeutics (NASDAQ: SRNE) announced the pricing of an underwritten public offering of 4,150,000 shares of common stock at an offering price of $7.25 per share. To read the full news, click here. Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) has acquired Voodoo Music & Arts Experience, New Orleans' critically-acclaimed music festival. To read the full news, click here. B/E Aerospace (NASDAQ: BEAV) today announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Werner Lieberherr, who is currently President and Chief Operating Officer of B/E Aerospace, Inc., as co-Chief Executive Officer of B/E Aerospace, Inc. effective as of January 1, 2014. To read the full news, click here.

  Posted-In: JP Morgan US Stock FuturesNews Eurozone Futures Global Pre-Market Outlook Markets

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  The big question now: What impact will the closure happen to the fund’s biggest stock holding? As an activist investor, Relational doesn’t take many small positions. It holds 1.5% of Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) shares, for instance, 15% of SPX Corp. (SPW), 3.5% of B/E Aerospace (BEAV) and 4.6% of Timken (TKR).

Top 5 Diversified Bank Companies To Own In Right Now: Dreyfus Strategic Municipal Bond Fund Inc (DSM)

Dreyfus Strategic Municipal Bond Fund, Inc. (the fund) is a diversified closed-end management investment company. The fund�� investment objective is to maximize current income exempt from federal income tax to the extent consistent with the preservation of capital. The Dreyfus Corporation serves as the fund�� investment adviser.

The fund invests at least 80% of its assets in municipal bonds. The fund also issues auction rate preferred stock and invests the proceeds in a manner consistent with its investment objective.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sherine El Madany]

  Dubai�� DFM General Index (DSM) posted the biggest drop in the Middle East, losing 2.3 percent, the most since June 10, to 2,345.47 at the 2 p.m. close in the emirate. Emaar Properties PJSC (EMAAR), developer of the world�� tallest tower in Dubai, registered its biggest decrease since April. The ADX General Index (MSM30) fell 0.9 percent, while the Bloomberg GCC200 Index (BGCC200) was down 0.2 percent.

• [By Jonathan Morgan]

  Royal DSM NV (DSM) gained 6.4 percent to 56.02 euros. The Dutch chemical company posted second-quarter profit that beat analyst estimates after a $3.1 billion-acquisition spree and as it cut costs. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization jumped 19 percent to 345 million euros. That exceeded the 333 million-euro average estimate of 11 analysts.

• [By Tom Stoukas]

  Royal DSM NV (DSM) slid 5.4 percent to 55.13 euros. The company that spent $3.2 billion on nutrition-ingredient acquisitions said profit this year may fall short of an initial target because of stagnant markets in Europe and lower chemical prices.