Thinking about taking a European vacation this summer? If so, you won�� be doing your wallet any favors by heading overseas during the peak travel season. That�� right, summer is the most expensive time to go to Europe because so many tourists head there at that time.
SEE ALSO: 8 Great International Vacations You Can AffordThe cheapest time to visit Europe is November through March, says SmarterTravel.com executive editor Anne Banas. Even Europen vacations in early fall and late spring are more affordable than in the summer. But don�� despair. If a summer vacation to Europe is what works best for your schedule, there are ways to avoid paying an exorbitant amount to get across the Atlantic.
Book your flight as early as possible. Ideally, you should book a flight to Europe 11 months before your trip to get the lowest fare, says Jeff Klee, CEO of CheapAir.com, which monitored fares for more than 4 million flights in 2013 to determine the best time to book flights. But that doesn�� mean you��l pay top dollar for a summer flight to Europe if you book now. Just make sure you purchase tickets at least six weeks before your departure because fares will dramatically increase after that point, Klee says.
Hot Safest Stocks To Buy For 2015: Government Properties Income Trust (GOV)
Government Properties Income Trust (GOV) is a real estate investment trust (REIT). As of December 31, 2011, GOV owned 71 properties located in 29 states and the District of Columbia containing approximately 9.0 million rentable square feet, of which 68.2% was leased to the United States Government, 17.5% was leased to eight state governments, and 2.1% was leased to the United Nations, an international intergovernmental organization. As of December 31, 2011, the United States Government, eight state governments and the United Nations combined were responsible for 91.9% of the Company�� annualized rental income. As of December 31, 2011, 95.0% of its rentable square feet were leased. During the year ended December 31, 2011, it acquired 16 office properties located in 11 states. The Company�� manager is Reit Management & Research LLC (RMR).
In December 2011, GOV acquired an office property located in Salem, Oregon with 233,358 rentable square feet. This property is 84% leased to five tenants, of which 70% is leased to the State of Oregon and occupied by the Oregon Department of Human Services, the Oregon Department of Justice and the Oregon Employment Department. In October 2011, the Company acquired three office properties located in Indianapolis, Indiana with 433,927 rentable square feet. These properties are 94% leased to 15 tenants, of which 56% is leased to the United States Government and occupied by the United States Customs and Border Protection Agency. In September 2011, the Company acquired an office property located in Sacramento, California with 87,863 rentable square feet. This property is 100% leased to the State of California and occupied by the California State Employment Development Department and it also acquired an office property located in Atlanta, Georgia with 375,805 rentable square feet. This property is 97% leased to 19 tenants, of which 78% is leased to the State of Georgia and occupied by the Georgia Department of Transportation.
In August 2011, GO! V acquired an office property located in Holtsville, New York with 264,482 rentable square feet. This property is 82% leased to three tenants, of which 72% is leased to the United States Government and occupied by the Internal Revenue Service and United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. In June 2011, the Company acquired an office property located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with 29,297 rentable square feet. This property is 100% leased to the United States Government and occupied by the Military Entrance Processing Station and it also acquired two office properties located in Stafford, Virginia with 64,488 rentable square feet. These properties are 100% leased to the United States Government and occupied by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. In June 2011, it acquired an office property located in Montgomery, Alabama with 57,815 rentable square feet. This property is 100% leased to the United States Government and serves as the office of the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama.
In May 2011, GOV acquired an office property located in Plantation, Florida with 135,819 rentable square feet. This property is 100% leased to the United States Government and occupied by the Internal Revenue Service and it also acquired an office property located in New York with 187,060 rentable square feet. This property is 100% leased to the United Nations. In February 2011, the Company acquired an office property located in Quincy, Massachusetts with 92,549 rentable square feet. This property is 100% leased to four tenants, of which 90% is leased to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and occupied by the Registry of Motor Vehicles as its headquarters. In February 2011, it acquired two office properties located in Woodlawn, Maryland with 182,561 rentable square feet. These properties are 100% leased to two tenants, of which 94% is leased to the United States Government and occupied by the Social Security Administration.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By 4Percent]
Government Properties Income Trust (GOV) is a real estate investment trust which owns properties primarily leased to the government. GOV owns 68 properties, 49 of which are leased to the U.S. government, 16 to state governments and one to the United Nations.
- [By Eric Volkman]
Government Properties Income Trust (NYSE: GOV ) has decided to keep its dividend steady. The company announced it will pay a fresh quarterly distribution of $0.43 per share of its common stock "on or about" May 24 to shareholders of record as of April 26. That amount matches the REIT's preceding two payouts, the most recent of which was handed down in January. Before that, the company paid $0.42 per share.
- [By Eric Volkman]
Real estate investment trust�Government Properties Income Trust (NYSE: GOV ) this week declared a quarterly common-stock distribution of $0.43 per share, to be dispensed on or about Aug. 23 to shareholders of record as of July 26. That amount matches each of Government Properties' three previous payouts, the most recent of which was distributed in May. Prior to that, it paid $0.42 per share.
Hot Cheapest Stocks To Buy For 2014: Changyou.com Limited(CYOU)
Changyou.com Limited develops and operates online games in the People?s Republic of China. It involves in the development, operation, and licensing of massively multi-player online role-playing games (MMORPGs), which are interactive online games that might be played simultaneously by various game players. The company operates seven MMORPGs that include its in house developed Tian Long Ba Bu; and licensed Blade Online, Blade Hero 2, Da Hua Shui Hu, Zhong Hua Ying Xiong, Immortal Faith, and San Jie Qi Yuan. As of December 31, 2010, Changyou?s games in China had approximately 111.4 million aggregate registered accounts; 1.0 million aggregate peak concurrent users; and 2.7 million aggregate active paying accounts. The company was founded in 2003 and is based in Beijing, the People?s Republic of China. Changyou.com Limited is a subsidiary of Sohu.com Inc.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Damian Illia]
In the video game industry no one is playing games. Users are seeking entertainment on all kinds of devices, and companies strive hard to stand out and profit in this shifting field. Competition might be stiff, but it�� a highly profitable business for those that make it to the next level. Electronic Arts (EA), Changyou.com (CYOU) and Activision Blizzard (ATVI) are three game developers with different, but interesting, prospects ahead. Let�� take a closer look at them and see if you��e up for play:
- [By Jake L'Ecuyer]
Changyou.com (NASDAQ: CYOU) shares tumbled 11.75percent to $26.02 after the company issued a weak Q1 guidance and announced the resignation of its CFO.
- [By Yiannis Mostrous]
Changyou.com (CYOU)
A subsidiary of Internet portal Sohu.com, video game developer Changyou.com specializes in massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPG).
Hot Cheapest Stocks To Buy For 2014: Valero Energy Corporation(VLO)
Valero Energy Corporation operates as an independent petroleum refining and marketing company. The company operates through three segments: Refining, Ethanol, and Retail. The Refining segment engages in refining, wholesale marketing, product supply and distribution, and transportation operations. It produces conventional gasoline, distillates, jet fuel, asphalt, petrochemicals, lubricants, and other refined products. This segment also offers conventional blendstock for oxygenate blending, reformulated gasoline blendstock for oxygenate blending, gasoline meeting the specifications of the California Air Resources Board (CARB), CARB diesel fuel, low-sulfur and ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuel. The Ethanol segment produces ethanol and distillers grains. The Retail segment sells transportation fuels at retail stores and unattended self-service cardlocks; convenience store merchandise and services in retail stores; and home heating oil to residential customers. Valero Energy Corpora tion markets its refined products through bulk and rack marketing network; and sells refined products through a network of approximately 6,800 retail and wholesale branded outlets under the Valero, Diamond Shamrock, Shamrock, Ultramar, Beacon, and Texaco names in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Aruba, and Ireland. As of December 31, 2011, it owned 16 petroleum refineries with a combined throughput capacity of approximately 3.0 million barrels per day; and operated 10 ethanol plants with a combined nameplate production capacity of approximately 1.1 billion gallons per year. The company was formerly known as Valero Refining and Marketing Company and changed its name to Valero Energy Corporation in August 1997. Valero Energy Corporation was founded in 1955 and is based in San Antonio, Texas.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Paul Ausick]
Valero Energy Corp. (NYSE: VLO) posted a jump of 6.3% in short interest to a total of 12.6 million shares. Short interest comprises about 2.3% of Valero�� float. The company is scheduled to release fourth-quarter results Wednesday, and analysts are expecting EPS of $1.51 on revenues of $30.85. As with the two large integrated companies, Valero’s earnings and revenues are seen lower than a year ago.
- [By Ben Levisohn]
Shares of Tesoro have gained 1.9% to $56.42, besting Phillips 66′s (PSX) 1.5% rise to $68.22, Hollyfrontier’s (HFC) 0.1% drop to $46.19 and Valero Energy’s (VLO) 0.,1% dip to $42.86. Tesoro Logistics has dropped 6% to $49.82.
- [By Igor Greenwald]
The leading US Gulf Coast refiners have been big winners in The Energy Strategist portfolios, with Marathon Petroleum (NYSE: MPC) up 27 percent since our Oct. 24 upgrade to a Buy, and Valero Energy (NYSE: VLO) returning 43 percent since the Buy recommendation on the same day.
- [By Teresa Rivas]
Big gainers today included Fossil (FOSL) and Michael Kors (KORS), which both bounced on better-than-expected earnings reports. Valero Energy (VLO) and other refiners jumped after the Environmental Protection Agency released its final targets for required renewable fuel use.
Hot Cheapest Stocks To Buy For 2014: Vanguard Natural Resources LLC(VNR)
Vanguard Natural Resources, LLC, through its subsidiaries, engages in the acquisition and development of oil and natural gas properties in the United States. Its properties are located in the southern portion of the Appalachian Basin, primarily in southeast Kentucky and northeast Tennessee; the Permian Basin, primarily in west Texas and southeastern New Mexico; and south Texas. As of December 31, 2010, the company had estimated proved reserves of 69.3 million barrels of oil equivalent, as well as working interests in 2,270 net productive wells. Vanguard Natural Resources, LLC was founded in 2006 and is based in Houston, Texas.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Tyler Crowe]
If you're looking for income investments, then it's awfully hard to argue with the massive distribution payments from LINN Energy (NASDAQ: LINE ) (NASDAQ: LNCO ) , Breitburn Energy Partners (NASDAQ: BBEP ) , and Vanguard Natural Resources (NASDAQ: VNR ) . Thing is, though, income investments need both a decent yield and a level of certainty that it will keep that distribution going for many years to come. Other than being high-yielding investments, they are also all master limited partnerships, which means you need to look beyond just the operations to see how these companies will stand the test of time.
- [By Matt DiLallo]
Vanguard Natural Resources (NASDAQ: VNR )
Clocking in at No. 2 with a five-year compound annual growth rate of 172% is Vanguard Natural Resources. The company started with just 67 billion cubic feet equivalent of mainly natural gas reserves in Kentucky and Tennessee back in 2007. Today, the company has 175 million barrels of oil equivalent reserves spread across nine operating areas. - [By Matt DiLallo]
Two-thirds of the reserves are located in the midcontinent, which are well-known for holding great MLP-type assets that have long life and low decline. Peers like LINN Energy (NASDAQ: LINE ) and Vanguard Natural Resources (NASDAQ: VNR ) each has a substantial presence in the midcontinent region. Eagle Rock's reserves there have a heavy natural gas component; gas is 64% of these reserves. However, Eagle Rock has an exciting oil play in the region, which I'll get to in a moment.
Hot Cheapest Stocks To Buy For 2014: Harsco Corp (HSC)
Harsco Corporation, incorporated on February 28, 1956, is a diversified, multinational provider of industrial services and engineered products serving global industries. The Company operates in four segments: Harsco Metals & Minerals, Harsco Infrastructure, Harsco Rail and Harsco Industrial. The Company's principal lines of business include outsourced, on-site services to steel mills and other metals producers; resource recovery technologies for the re-use of industrial waste stream by-products; industrial abrasives and roofing granules; engineered scaffolding, concrete forming and shoring, and other access-related services, rentals and sales; railway track maintenance services and equipment; industrial grating products; air-cooled heat exchangers, and heat transfer products. In January 2014, the Company acquired Hammco Corp.
Harsco Metals & Minerals Segment
The Harsco Metals & Minerals Segment is a provider of on-site, outsourced services to the global metals industries. The Metals business provides its services and solutions on a long-term contract basis, supporting each stage of the metal-making process from initial raw material handling to post-production slag processing and metal recovery. The Minerals business extracts metallic content from stainless steel by-products and also specializes in the development of minerals technologies for commercial applications, including agriculture fertilizers. The Minerals business also produces industrial abrasives and roofing granules from power-plant utility coal slag at a number of locations throughout the United States. Harsco Minerals' BLACK BEAUTY abrasives are used for industrial surface preparation, such as rust removal and cleaning of bridges, ship hulls and various structures. Roofing granules are sold to residential roofing shingle manufacturers, primarily for the replacement roofing market. As of December 31, 2012, the Harsco Metals & Minerals Segment operated in approximately 35 countries. During the year ended December 3! 1, 2012, the Harsco Metals & Minerals Segment generated 46% of the Company�� total revenue.
Harsco Infrastructure Segment
The Harsco Infrastructure Segment is global organization for the rental and sale of engineered scaffolding, shoring, concrete forming and other access-related solutions for construction projects as well as industrial plant maintenance programs. The Segment operates from a network of branches throughout the world, including North America, Latin America, Europe, the Gulf Region of the Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific. The services include the provision of concrete shoring and forming systems; scaffolding for non-residential and infrastructure construction projects and industrial maintenance requirements, and a variety of other infrastructure services including project engineering and design, equipment erection and dismantling services, industrial insulation and painting services and equipment sales. During 2012, the Harsco Infrastructure Segment generated 31% of the Company�� total revenue.
Harsco Rail Segment
The Harsco Rail Segment is a global provider of equipment and services for the maintenance, repair and construction of railway track. The Segment's equipment and services support private and government-owned railroads and urban transit systems worldwide. The Segment's rail products are produced in three countries and products and services are provided worldwide. During 2012, the Harsco Rail Segment generated 11% of the Company�� total revenue.
Harsco Industrial Segment
Harsco Industrial Segment includes the Harsco Industrial IKG, Harsco Industrial Air-X-Changers and Harsco Industrial Patterson-Kelley businesses. Approximately 90% of this Segment's revenues originate in North America. Harsco Industrial IKG manufactures a line of industrial grating products at several plants in the United States and international plants located in Mexico and China. These products include a range of bar grating c! onfigurat! ions, which are used mainly in industrial flooring, as well as safety and security applications in the energy, paper, chemical, refining and processing industries.
Harsco Industrial Air-X-Changers is a supplier of custom-designed and manufactured air-cooled heat exchangers for the natural gas industry from plants in the United States and Australia. Harsco Industrial Air-X-Changers' heat exchangers are the primary apparatus used to condition natural gas during recovery, compression and transportation from underground reserves through the pipeline distribution channels. Harsco Industrial Patterson-Kelley is a manufacturer of heat transfer products, such as boilers and water heaters for commercial and institutional applications. During 2012, the Harsco Rail Segment generated 12% of the Company�� total revenue.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Rich Smith]
Barry Malamud's long tour of duty as interim chief financial officer at Harsco (NYSE: HSC ) has come to an end.
On Monday, the Camp Hill, Pa.-based metals company announced that it is hiring F. Nicholas Grasberger as its new CFO, effective April 22. On that date, Malamud will resume his prior position as vice president and corporate controller for the company.
- [By Ben Levisohn]
Shares of Harsco (HSC) have gained today after BB&T Capital Markets upgraded its shares to Buy from Hold.
Analysts Robert Norfleet III and Basil Jones III explain the decision to raise their rating:
�We believe that the strategic transformation of HSC’s portfolio, as evidenced by the recently announced sale of its Infrastructure segment, as well as additional best practices and productivity enhancements (LEAN, etc.) should result in improved financial metrics, valuation, and, ultimately, a less complex business structure. While our non-consensus call is not primarily based on an expedited improvement in financial performance, it is a reflection of our confidence in the new management team and its ability to deliver value to shareholders through asset repositioning, improved ROICs and free cash flow generation. HSC remains a “turnaround story,” but we believe the market is underestimating out-year earnings growth, which will be driven by the Brand Energy JV, lower corporate expenses, improved margins in Metals & Minerals and the likelihood of an accretive acquisition.
Shares of Harsco have gained 4.7% to $26.43 today at 1:16 p.m., outpacing other construction & engineering companies. Dycom (DY) has advanced 0.5% to $30, KBR Inc. (KBR) has ticked up 0.1% to $33.03, Worthington Industries�(WOR) has risen 2.8% to $38.85�and Tutor Perini (TPC) has rallied 3.6% to $22.46.
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