Mickelson Says He's Cooperating in Trading Inquiry

By Doug Ferguson DUBLIN, Ohio -- Hall of Fame golfer Phil Mickelson said he is cooperating in an insider trading investigation involving him, activist investor Carl Icahn and Las Vegas gambler Billy Walters. The five-time major champion maintains he has done nothing wrong. Mickelson's manager confirmed Saturday that the investigation was the same outlined in reports in several newspapers, including The Wall Street Journal. The newspapers report that federal investigators are looking into the trading patterns of Mickelson and Walters involving two stocks. The reports say the FBI and Securities and Exchange Commission are analyzing trades Mickelson and Walters made involving Clorox about the time Icahn was attempting to take over the company. The newspapers cited unidentified people who had been briefed on the investigation. The Associated Press could not immediately confirm details of the investigation. The Justice Department and SEC declined comment. Mickelson, one of the most popular figures in golf, was playing at the Memorial was unavailable for comment until after his round Saturday. "I have done absolutely nothing wrong," Mickelson said in a statement. "I have cooperated with the government in this investigation and will continue to do so. I wish I could fully discuss this matter, but under the current circumstances it's just not possible." The reports say the investigation is looking at Clorox trading in 2011. Icahn accumulated a 9.1 percent stake in Clorox in early 2011, and that summer made a $10.2 billion offer for the company that caused the stock value to rise. Icahn's bid for Clorox ended in September 2011. The newspapers say Mickelson and Walters placed their Clorox trades about the same time in 2011. Federal officials are looking into whether Icahn shared information of his Clorox takeover bid with Walters, and whether Walters passed that information on to Mickelson. The reports say investigators also are examining trades by Mickelson and Walters involving Dean Foods Co. in 2012. Icahn, 78, is one of Wall Street's most successful corporate raiders, famous for buying stock in underperforming companies, pressuring them to reform and selling out for a fat profit. In recent years, his targets have included Apple Inc. , eBay and Dell Inc. His efforts have made him one of America's richest people: Forbes magazine puts his net worth at more than $20 billion, making him the 18th-wealthiest American. In the 1980s, he pioneered so-called greenmail raids in which financiers threatened companies with hostile takeovers unless they were paid a premium to go away. Walters is a high-stakes gambler and developer who owns The Walters Group. The company operates several golf courses. He has said he earns $15 million a year gambling on sports. Mickelson, 43, was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2011. He goes to the U.S. Open next month in North Carolina with a chance to become only the sixth golfer to capture all four major championships. Mickelson has long had a reputation to gamble, though he has said he scaled back his habit after his son, Evan, was born in 2003 following a troublesome pregnancy. The most publicized payoff was when Mickelson and friends won $560,000 on a preseason bet (28-1 odds) that the Baltimore Ravens would win the 2001 Super Bowl. On the golf course, he has a long history of playing money games during the practice rounds. He occasionally gets a group of players and caddies together for dinner and small wagering during the NBA and NHL playoffs, and prominent fights. A year ago, Mickelson was criticized for public comments that tax increases in California kept him from being part of the San Diego Padres' new ownership group and might cause him to leave his native state. He said his federal and state taxes amount to over 60 percent.

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Apple WWDC: What to Expect

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Apple is hosting its Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) next week/this week, and while the event has segued to some bombshells in the past, including the iPhone in 2007, it's largely been run of the mill in recent years. That may be about to change, though. "My take is that with the dearth of hardware announced this spring, a publicly streamed keynote and the 7-1 stock split happening soon thereafter, we're in for some BIG announcements," said John Martellaro of The Mac Observer website, and a former Apple executive. This year's WWDC, held in the Moscone Center West in San Francisco, as it is most every year, will largely focus on updates to iOS 8, as well as Mac OS X. Given all the talk of a drastic redesign in user interface to match that of iOS 7, OS X, for which there is not a code name yet, may get the majority of the attention this year. It's expected that iOS 8 as well as Mac OS X will be shown in beta to developers, than released later to the public in the early fall, ahead of product launches, including a new iPhone and new Macs, as it has been in previous years. Last year, iOS 7 received a major redesign, giving a more flat look, as opposed to the skeuomorphism (looking like real world objects) design of previous versions of iOS, something former CEO Steven P. Jobs was in favor of. Goldman Sachs analyst Bill Shope, who raised his price target on Apple to $720, also believes the event will center around software, with few actual hardware announcements. "As for the WWDC event itself, we believe the event will be centered on Mac and iOS software refreshes, iOS platform enhancements, with some minor Mac refreshes being theonly hardware-centered announcements," Shope wrote in a research note. "More specifically, we believe it is likely that we will see (1) iOS 8 preview and beta release; (2) the next version of OS X for the Mac, with a beta release; (3) Internet of Things sub-platforms (likely related to personal health and the connected home); (4) standard Mac refreshes; and (5) a more detailed discussion of the recent Beats acquisition." Though Apple still sells millions of Macs each quarter, having sold 4.1 million Macs, generating $5.5 billion in revenue, the larger draw for developers, investors and the media is iOS, given the larger install base for both iPhones and iPads, as well as future devices which may use iOS. Recent speculation has surrounded Apple moving into wearable technology, with a device known as the iWatch, being one area where Apple does not currently participate. The rumored device is not set until at least the third quarter (most likely a Sept. release), so wearable technology market and its players have some time to figure it out before Apple comes in and dominates, just as it did with the iPod, iPhone and iPads. While iOS 8 and Mac OS X may be the big software initiatives talked about, there's likely to be a slew of other major announcements, including some potential hardware announcements and refreshes. The keynote address will stream on June 2 at 1 PM ET, something it generally reserves for special events, including new product announcements. "Watch streaming video from this special event and learn more about our exciting announcements," the company said on its Web site earlier this week. Here's what to expect from WWDC, which kicks off on Monday. Mac OS X Mac OS X 10.10 is likely to get a drastic overhaul, and look much like iOS 7, with a much more flatter look to it than previous version. That doesn't mean it's going to become the same as iOS, just that it will continue to take on similar features, such as bringing Messages, Notes, Maps and other features, as Apple has done over the years. Nomura research analyst Stuart Jeffrey, who rates Apple "neutral," is expecting to see continued convergence between the two platforms. "We expect OS X changes to drive greater convergence with iOS, from a user experience perspective rather than a Windows 8 style integration," Jeffrey wrote in a research note. "With Mac sales accounting for less than 13% of revenue (less of gross margin), this is a positive step but likely not that EPS sensitive." Aside from these slight changes, there are likely to be bigger announcements as it relates to Mac OS X, which Apple made free for updates at its iPad Air event in Oct. 2013. The last version of OS X was codenamed Mavericks, for the surfing location in Northern California. It's unclear what the name of this version of OS X will be known as, now that Apple has abandoned using cats for the name, with previous versions being known as Mountain Lion, Lion, Snow Leopard, Leopard, Tiger and others. iOS 8 Last year, Apple gave iOS 7 a major overhaul, changing the way it looks, and updating it for 2013. Now that the major design overhaul is over, Apple may wind up announcing several new parts to iOS 8, particularly as it thinks about moving into the health and fitness market, with the rumored iWatch. Healthbook, an app similar to Passbook, that will store all of your health and fitness related data in one place, is expected to be announced on the software side.Of the more notable features included in Healthbook, it tracks steps taken and calories, as well as monitoring things like blood pressure, oxygen levels, sleep activity and even monitors your breathing. There are several other features included in the app, but these are some of the most important. In a note previewing WWDC, Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster wrote a fitness app could be a precursor of things to come. "We believe an Apple fitness application would be a significant sign pointing to an Apple watch/band in 2H 2014," Munster penned in the note.Outside of Healthbook, there's the potential for Apple to get into the mobile payments industry, something that has been seeking leadership and a standard for a few years. Companies like eBay with its PayPal unit, Square, BrainTree (also owned by eBay), Google Wallet and a host of others have competed in the mobile payments space, but there appears to be no industry standard, as of yet. While this remains a long shot, it's clear Apple is working on something related to payments.On a recent earnings call, Cook noted the opportunity for Apple, using TouchID, a feature on the iPhone 5s. "The mobile payments area in general is one that we've been intrigued with, and that was one of the thoughts behind Touch ID," Cook said on Apple's fiscal first-quarter earnings call. "But we're not limiting ourselves just to that. So I don't have anything specific to announce today, but you can tell by looking at the demographics of our customers and the amount of commerce that goes through iOS devices versus the competition that it's a big opportunity on the platform." There's also been speculation that Apple would announce a standalone iTunes Radio app to be part of iOS 8 and boost usage. Given the recent Beats acquisition announcement for $3 billion, which includes both the headphone business and Beats Music streaming service, this seems less likely. Apple confirmed Beats Music service has 250,000 subscriptions following the deal, though that number pales in comparison to services like Spotify, Pandora and others. There may be other features to iOS 8 announced that are likely to capture the attention and imagination of both developers and investors alike, though these are less certain. "Meanwhile, we believe it is possible, though less likely, we will see (1) enhanced third-party app support for Siri and (2) third-party support for TouchID commerce APIs," Goldman Sachs Shope wrote in a note. There's also been increased speculation in recent weeks that Apple is working with Shazam in conjunction with Siri to identify songs based on their sounds, and then be able to download the song from iTunes if they want. Other potential features include VoLTE support, and apps to edit and preview text. >>Read More: Apple Acquires Beats for $3B Smart Home While the "Internet of Things," a phrase first coined by Cisco , may not have a lot of meaning to everyone, Apple's potential move into the smart home may just show how important connected devices are about to come, as the iPhone maker looks to squeeze more revenue out of its iconic device, and the arms race with Google heats up.The Financial Times recently reported that Apple may announce a plans for its smart home initiative at WWDC. The smart home initiative would use the iPhone as its base remote, with the smartphone controlling everything in your house -- lights, appliances, security systems and other connected devices, as technology companies turn their wares to the next "big thing." Piper Jaffray's Munster expects Apple to eventually get into automated home software, given the opportunity surrounding it. "We have expected Apple to eventually get into the automated home theme and note that they are already a significant indirect player given that many automated home users utilize iOS devices to control the home. We note that the most likely update at WWDC could be a software preview that shows Apple offering a single app to manage an entire home," Munster wrote in a note. The company has been busy filing patents over the years, particularly as it relates to the connected or smart home, with the iPhone being seen as the key, given its status and market share in developed and emerging market countries. One such patent reads: An electronic device operative to monitor and control processes and operations based on the power cost of those processes and operations are provided. The electronic device can identify processes or networked devices requiring power, determine the expected amount of power required for the process or networked device, and calculate the cost of the power requirement. For example, the electronic device can receive data or algorithms defining the manner in which a power supplier computes the cost of consumed power, and predict the expected cost of the particular power requirement. Based on the importance of the process or device, and the expected power cost, the electronic device can perform a process or provide power to a networked device, or alternatively delay or cancel a process to ensure that the power cost of the device remains within preset boundaries (e.g., the power cost of the device or of a home network of devices does not exceed a maximum cap). While these types of patents show that Apple is indeed working on network or connected devices, this patent, credited to Timothy Pryor, shows how deep and expansive Apple's ambitions are as it relates to the home: The disclosed invention is generally in the field of control of appliances in the home, and in their networking and connectivity also with audio systems and internet sources and the integration of these elements in a connected manner. Preferred apparatus generally employs a video projection system and one or more TV cameras. Embodiments of the invention may be used to enhance the social interaction and enjoyment of persons in the kitchen and reduce the work of food preparation. The invention may be used in many rooms of the house, and contribute to the well being of seniors and others living therein. >>Read More: How Apple Will Use the iPhone to Crush Google, Samsung Apple TV Apple has worked hard to turn Apple TV from a hobby into a real business. At Apple's recent shareholder meeting, CEO Timothy D. Cook said Apple TV generated over $1 billion in revenue last year, as competition from companies like Google, Amazon and others heats up. Jordan Edelson, CEO and founder of app software developing company Appetizer Mobile, is expecting Apple will update Apple TV at WWDC. "I think there is also a good chance they may announce a voice automated Apple TV," Edelson said via email. There's been a lot of speculation that Apple will incorporate Siri to control and search for content on Apple TV, similar to what Amazon has done with the Fire TV. There's also a lot of speculation that the next version of Apple TV will get its own App Store, as Apple has worked hard to increase the amount of content available on the $99 set-top box. Apple TV does not currently use iOS as its operating system, but it's possible the next version of Apple TV could run on iOS. Macs Though Apple isn't expected to make any Earth-shattering product announcements like it did in 2007 with the iPhone, WWDC may see some other hardware announced, aside from an Apple TV. Apple has in the past, used the event to update its Macbook lineup, announcing a MacBook Pro with Retina Display last year. Munster believes there's a 50% chance of a MacBook update, "most likely an Air with Retina display or spec bumps to the Macbook Pro line." He notes that Apple recently updated its MacBook Air line, while cutting the starting price to $899.Cantor Fitzgerald analyst Brian White, who rates Apple"buy" with a $777 price target, notes that Apple has typically updated the Mac lineup at WWDC, "thus we would not be surprised if a refresh of either the iMac or the MacBook Air/Pro occurs."There's been speculation that Apple will announce a MacBook Air with Retina Display, something Edelson believes is possible, given the positivity surrounding the MacBook Pro with Retina from last year. Edelson also notes the potential for Apple to announce a touch screen for MacBook Airs, though he cautions "this is less likely."Then there are other potential products, including the long-awaited Apple branded television, an iPad-MacBook hybrid, and the potential for the iWatch, but those seem much more suited for their own events, and less for WWDC. --Written by Chris Ciaccia in New York >Contact by Email. Follow @Chris_Ciaccia // 0;if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs"); // ]]>

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Jim Cramer's Top Stock Picks: TGT Q MSFT CRM

Search Jim Cramer's "Mad Money" trading recommendations using our exclusive "Mad Money" Stock Screener. NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Here are some of the hot stocks Jim Cramer talked about on Friday's Mad Money on CNBC: TGT data by YCharts Target : With a new CEO and a 3% yield, Cramer said it's time to take a second look at Target, especially as the economy continues to improve and shoppers trade up from the dollar stores. Q data by YChartsQuintiles Transnational : Cramer said investors looking to play biotech without all the risks should definitely consider this clinical trial outsourcing firm with great growth and solid results. MSFT data by YCharts Microsoft : Cramer said Microsoft, under its new CEO Satya Nadella, is proving to be a big win for shareholders as the company forges new alliances with former arch-enemies like Salesforce.com . To read a full recap of "Mad Money" on CNBC, click here. To watch replays of Cramer's video segments, visit the Mad Money page on CNBC. To sign up for Jim Cramer's free Booyah! newsletter with all of his latest articles and videos please click here. -- Written by Scott Rutt in Washington, D.C. To email Scott about this article, click here: Scott Rutt Follow Scott on Twitter @ScottRutt or get updates on Facebook, ScottRuttDC

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Jim Cramer's 'Mad Money' Recap: Next Week's Game Plan

Search Jim Cramer's "Mad Money" trading recommendations using our exclusive "Mad Money" Stock Screener. NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Has the market gotten too complacent about these new highs? Jim Cramer told his Mad Money viewers Friday he thinks that might be the case, and next week's game plan will be a difficult road for the bulls. Cramer said the markets will be ruled by two macro-economic events next week -- the European Central Bank's decision on interest rates on Thursday and the U.S. non-farm payroll numbers on Friday. Whatever stocks may gain earlier in the week can be easily be undone by these two events. Then there's the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference that kicks off on Monday. Cramer said this stock, which he owns for his charitable trust, Action Alerts PLUS, has created 300,000 jobs in the burgeoning app economy and this conference should help buoy the markets. Then, on Tuesday, Cramer said he'll be watching Dollar General . While he generally likes the dollar group, Cramer said he'd bet on Target with its 3% yield and its new CEO. Wednesday brings earnings from Brown-Forman and PVH Corp . Cramer said he'd be a buyer of Forman but would take profits and lock in gains with PVH because the stock has had a nice move higher. On Thursday, J.M. Smucker , Ciena , Joy Global and Zoe's Kitchen will all be reporting. Cramer said he wants to hear Smucker's thoughts on the recent wave of consolidation in the food stocks, but he'd avoid Joy Global. He was also not a fan of Ciena, preferring Cisco Systems , but does approve of owning Zoe's over the long term. To watch replays of Cramer's video segments, visit the Mad Money page on CNBC. To sign up for Jim Cramer's free Booyah! newsletter with all of his latest articles and videos please click here. -- Written by Scott Rutt in Washington, D.C. To email Scott about this article, click here: Scott Rutt Follow Scott on Twitter @ScottRutt or get updates on Facebook, ScottRuttDC

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Mary Barry Has to Tell America GM Is Sorry, Again and Again

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- General Motors keeps driving on. Despite a ton of bad publicity over its seemingly endless recall announcements over its faulty ignition switches and the resulting coverup, sales at General Motors have yet to show any signs of serious weakness. Kelley Blue Book forecasts GM to add a 7.2% gain to May's auto sales. Investors were very happy to hear CEO Mary Barra apologize for the problems that led to the recall and the resulting government fines when she testified before Congress. GM shares are currently trading around $34.50, down 15.6% for the year to date but are down a bit less than 1% for the preceding 52 weeks. However, it's the public who buys the cars and the fear is they will bypass GM and head over to buy at Ford , Toyota and elsewhere. So Barra and the rest of the company need to do more to emphasize GM cars are still safe cars. They have to make it big, as befitting one of the world's largest car companies. I suggest the company make a bold explanation and apology to the American public. Own up to its mistakes and explain it to everyone. Do it in the form of a TV ad. That's what GM could do to avoid bankruptcy. This is not the first time GM has faced bad press, of course. It got a lot of it after its government bailout in 2009. So if Mary Barra wants to do the right thing, let America know. Say "we're sorry." Explain why America should still buy the cars and still trust the brand. Buy time on every TV station for the ad. Make it the chatter of the U.S., even if it's short-lived. Put it on YouTube. Don't just run the ad once or twice. Run over and over and over again. Make it 60 seconds long. Did America believe Barra's apology before Congress? Do people even know she testified?Address the issue up front and maybe the automaker will regain respect rather than flack for doing so. It shows ownership and strength, not weakness. It would be commendable, not condemning.A General Motors spokesman told me that the recent issues have had "no effect" on sales and that any suggestion future sales will fall is only speculation. As to the speculation, GM had "no comment." Still, would it hurt to go before America and say, "We're sorry?" I don't think so. At the time of publication the author was long F. Follow @BretKenwell // 0;if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs"); // ]]> This article represents the opinion of a contributor and not necessarily that of TheStreet or its editorial staff.

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Why Marc Benioff Thinks Microsoft Is Making the Right Moves

NEW YORK (TheStreet) - Salesforce.com's Marc Benioff, once a vocal critic of Microsoft , is now becoming a partner of the software giant as it seeks to bolster it cloud and mobile capabilities under new CEO Satya Nadella. Read More: Microsoft's Chief Believabiliy Officer On Thursday evening, Salesforce.com and Microsoft unveiled a partnership to incorporate Salesforce.com's applications and cloud platform with Microsoft's Office and Windows products, seamlessly integrating many of both companies' best products for their respective customers. The deal will give Salesforce users access to Microsoft products such as Office Mobile, Office for the iPad, Office 365, SharePoint and Outlook. Salesforce is offering to connect its data to Excel and Power BI with Office 365. While financial aspects of the partnership weren't disclosed, the move is yet another sign that Microsoft CEO Nadella is following through on what he calls a mobile and cloud first strategy for the software giant. Partnerships such as the one signed with Salesforce and a deal with Apple to put Office 365 applications on the iPad are opening Microsoft's software to the various ways that customers now access it, whether it's through a mobile device or a set of CRM tools. Salesforce apps will be more deeply integrated with Office and Windows in the partnership, which will also expand the use of SQL Server on Salesforce's platform and create an in-road for Microsoft's Azure cloud platform. In reaching out to competitors in the tech sector to bolster Microsoft's services, Nadella appears willing to pull down the drawbridges to the company's empire so long as he believes it will allow new users will enter and will also keep existing customers from leaving. That appears to be playing a winning hand given that many investors believe Microsoft's Office 365 is under-appreciated and an industry-leading mobile offering. "This announcement is about taking Microsoft's core strategy, Office 365 and Windows, and integrating it with salesforce's core strategy, our CRM apps, and making a combined offering that offers more value to our users," Nadella said on a conference call with analysts on Thursday evening. Benioff, a visionary in the cloud computing world who has successfully taken on businesses as large as IBM , Oracle , SAP and Hewlett-Packard , said on Thursday that Nadella and Microsoft are focusing on the right things. "[W]e think that Microsoft is doing a lot of the right things to encourage its customers to move to the cloud, to move to the mobile world with some of the advancements in Windows 8, to move to new social computing and connect in a whole new way," Benioff said. "I couldn't be happier," he added Part of the partnership was made inevitable by Salesforce's acquisition of ExactTarget, Benioff said on Thursday. About his decision to partner with Microsoft, once considered a Goliath-type competitor to Salesforce, Benioff said: "[W]hen we acquired ExactTarget, we acquired a stronger relationship with Microsoft... and when Satya became the CEO of Microsoft, that gave us the opportunity to have an even stronger relationship with Microsoft, and that changed." Analysts React "It is another move in the right direction for Microsoft," Daniel Ives, an enterprise software analyst with FBR & Co. said of Microsoft's partnership in a Friday telephone interview. "They continue to double-down on the cloud strategy," Ives added, while noting that the Salesforce deal expands Microsoft's total addressable market in the cloud and could be indicative of future partnerships between the two companies. "Overall, this partnership should help both companies to reinforce their respective positions by providing a more convenient and efficient experience across the offerings of both players," Robert Breza, a Sterne Agee analyst said in a note to clients. Breza also noted the partnership could impact Oracle and SAP, two software giants that have spent billions of dollars to bolster their cloud offerings through acquisitions. Perhaps Microsoft users and investors will look favorably upon the company's to partner with the winning players in the cloud market instead of running the risk of being stranded years down the line. Read More: 3 Big Investing Trends from KPCB Read More: Microsoft's Chief Believabiliy Officer -- Written by Antoine Gara in New York. Follow @AntoineGara // 0;if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs"); // ]]>

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What To Hold: 3 Hold-Rated Dividend Stocks WWE, SID, CLMT

Editor's Note: Any reference to TheStreet Ratings and its underlying recommendation does not reflect the opinion of TheStreet, Inc. or any of its contributors including Jim Cramer or Stephanie Link. TheStreet Ratings' stock model projects a stock's total return potential over a 12-month period including both price appreciation and dividends. Our Buy, Hold or Sell ratings designate how we expect these stocks to perform against a general benchmark of the equities market and interest rates. While plenty of high-yield opportunities exist, investors must always consider the safety of their dividend and the total return potential of their investment. It is not uncommon for a struggling company to suspend high-yielding dividends which could subsequently result in precipitous share price declines. TheStreet Ratings' stock rating model views dividends favorably, but not so much that other factors are disregarded. Our model gauges the relationship between risk and reward in several ways, including: the pricing drawdown as compared to potential profit volatility, i.e. how much one is willing to risk in order to earn profits?; the level of acceptable volatility for highly performing stocks; the current valuation as compared to projected earnings growth; and the financial strength of the underlying company as compared to its stock's valuation as compared to its stock's performance. These and many more derived observations are then combined, ranked, weighted, and scenario-tested to create a more complete analysis. The result is a systematic and disciplined method of selecting stocks. As always, stock ratings should not be treated as gospel rather, use them as a starting point for your own research. The following pages contain our analysis of 3 stocks with substantial yields, that ultimately, we have rated "Hold." World Wrestling Entertainment Dividend Yield: 4.20% World Wrestling Entertainment (NYSE:WWE) shares currently have a dividend yield of 4.20%. World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc., an integrated media and entertainment company, is engaged in the sports entertainment business worldwide. It operates in four segments: Live and Televised Entertainment, Consumer Products, Digital Media, and WWE Studios. The average volume for World Wrestling Entertainment has been 2,742,000 shares per day over the past 30 days. World Wrestling Entertainment has a market cap of $836.3 million and is part of the media industry. Shares are down 32% year-to-date as of the close of trading on Thursday. TheStreet Ratings rates World Wrestling Entertainment as a hold. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures and solid stock price performance. However, as a counter to these strengths, we also find weaknesses including feeble growth in the company's earnings per share, deteriorating net income and disappointing return on equity. Highlights from the ratings report include: WWE's revenue growth trails the industry average of 14.9%. Since the same quarter one year prior, revenues slightly increased by 4.1%. This growth in revenue does not appear to have trickled down to the company's bottom line, displayed by a decline in earnings per share. WWE's debt-to-equity ratio is very low at 0.12 and is currently below that of the industry average, implying that there has been very successful management of debt levels. To add to this, WWE has a quick ratio of 1.51, which demonstrates the ability of the company to cover short-term liquidity needs. Looking at where the stock is today compared to one year ago, we find that it is not only higher, but it has also clearly outperformed the rise in the S&P 500 over the same period, despite the company's weak earnings results. Looking ahead, our view is that this company's fundamentals will not have much impact in either direction, allowing the stock to generally move up or down based on the push and pull of the broad market. The gross profit margin for WORLD WRESTLING ENTMT INC is currently lower than what is desirable, coming in at 32.22%. It has decreased from the same quarter the previous year. Along with this, the net profit margin of -6.39% is significantly below that of the industry average. Net operating cash flow has significantly decreased to -$9.37 million or 58.94% when compared to the same quarter last year. In addition, when comparing to the industry average, the firm's growth rate is much lower. You can view the full World Wrestling Entertainment Ratings Report. STOCKS TO BUY: TheStreet Quant Ratings has identified a handful of stocks that can potentially TRIPLE in the next 12 months. Learn more. Companhia Siderurgica Nacional Dividend Yield: 5.90% Companhia Siderurgica Nacional (NYSE:SID) shares currently have a dividend yield of 5.90%. Companhia Siderurgica Nacional operates as an integrated steel producer primarily in Brazil. It operates through five segments: Steel, Mining, Cement, Logistics, and Energy. The company has a P/E ratio of 26.67. The average volume for Companhia Siderurgica Nacional has been 4,600,800 shares per day over the past 30 days. Companhia Siderurgica Nacional has a market cap of $5.8 billion and is part of the metals & mining industry. Shares are down 35.5% year-to-date as of the close of trading on Thursday. TheStreet Ratings rates Companhia Siderurgica Nacional as a hold. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, impressive record of earnings per share growth and reasonable valuation levels. However, as a counter to these strengths, we find that the company has favored debt over equity in the management of its balance sheet. Highlights from the ratings report include: SID's revenue growth has slightly outpaced the industry average of 4.8%. Since the same quarter one year prior, revenues slightly increased by 7.5%. This growth in revenue appears to have trickled down to the company's bottom line, improving the earnings per share. COMPANHIA SIDERURGICA NACION reported significant earnings per share improvement in the most recent quarter compared to the same quarter a year ago. The company has demonstrated a pattern of positive earnings per share growth over the past year. We feel that this trend should continue. This trend suggests that the performance of the business is improving. During the past fiscal year, COMPANHIA SIDERURGICA NACION turned its bottom line around by earning $0.15 versus -$0.14 in the prior year. This year, the market expects an improvement in earnings ($0.52 versus $0.15). Compared to where it was a year ago today, the stock is now trading at a higher level, reflecting both the market's overall trend during that period and the fact that the company's earnings growth has been robust. We feel that the combination of its price rise over the last year and its current price-to-earnings ratio relative to its industry tend to reduce its upside potential. The company, on the basis of net income growth from the same quarter one year ago, has significantly underperformed compared to the Metals & Mining industry average, but is greater than that of the S&P 500. The net income increased by 81.5% when compared to the same quarter one year prior, rising from $13.52 million to $24.54 million. The debt-to-equity ratio is very high at 3.81 and currently higher than the industry average, implying increased risk associated with the management of debt levels within the company. Regardless of the company's weak debt-to-equity ratio, SID has managed to keep a strong quick ratio of 1.88, which demonstrates the ability to cover short-term cash needs. You can view the full Companhia Siderurgica Nacional Ratings Report. STOCKS TO BUY: TheStreet Quant Ratings has identified a handful of stocks that can potentially TRIPLE in the next 12 months. Learn more. Calumet Specialty Products Partners Dividend Yield: 8.80% Calumet Specialty Products Partners (NASDAQ:CLMT) shares currently have a dividend yield of 8.80%. Calumet Specialty Products Partners, L.P. produces and sells specialty hydrocarbon products in North America. It operates in two segments, Specialty Products and Fuel Products. The average volume for Calumet Specialty Products Partners has been 443,600 shares per day over the past 30 days. Calumet Specialty Products Partners has a market cap of $2.2 billion and is part of the energy industry. Shares are up 21.9% year-to-date as of the close of trading on Thursday. TheStreet Ratings rates Calumet Specialty Products Partners as a hold. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth and good cash flow from operations. However, as a counter to these strengths, we also find weaknesses including deteriorating net income, generally higher debt management risk and disappointing return on equity. Highlights from the ratings report include: CLMT's revenue growth has slightly outpaced the industry average of 3.0%. Since the same quarter one year prior, revenues slightly increased by 1.7%. This growth in revenue does not appear to have trickled down to the company's bottom line, displayed by a decline in earnings per share. Net operating cash flow has significantly increased by 217.15% to $39.60 million when compared to the same quarter last year. In addition, CALUMET SPECIALTY PRODS -LP has also vastly surpassed the industry average cash flow growth rate of 17.08%. CALUMET SPECIALTY PRODS -LP has experienced a steep decline in earnings per share in the most recent quarter in comparison to its performance from the same quarter a year ago. The company has reported a trend of declining earnings per share over the past two years. However, the consensus estimate suggests that this trend should reverse in the coming year. During the past fiscal year, CALUMET SPECIALTY PRODS -LP swung to a loss, reporting -$0.10 versus $3.53 in the prior year. This year, the market expects an improvement in earnings ($1.63 versus -$0.10). Return on equity has greatly decreased when compared to its ROE from the same quarter one year prior. This is a signal of major weakness within the corporation. Compared to other companies in the Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels industry and the overall market, CALUMET SPECIALTY PRODS -LP's return on equity significantly trails that of both the industry average and the S&P 500. The gross profit margin for CALUMET SPECIALTY PRODS -LP is currently extremely low, coming in at 11.56%. It has decreased from the same quarter the previous year. Along with this, the net profit margin of -3.71% is significantly below that of the industry average. You can view the full Calumet Specialty Products Partners Ratings Report. STOCKS TO BUY: TheStreet Quant Ratings has identified a handful of stocks that can potentially TRIPLE in the next 12 months. Learn more. Other helpful dividend tools from TheStreet: Our top-yielding stocks list. Our dividend calendar.

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Weaker Economic Data Set Up a June Swoon for Stocks and Bonds

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Investors have brushed off the unexpected 1% decline in first-quarter gross domestic product, the continued below-neutral readings for consumer sentiment, and Friday's weaker-than-expected consumer spending release. In my view, however, these negative reports more than offset better-than-expected purchasing manager readings, because the consumer represents about 70% of the economy. That means the Federal Reserve is likely to keep the federal funds rate at 0% to 0.25% longer than previously expected, and easy money has been a positive for both stocks and bonds. Even so, broad measures of the stock and bond markets are becoming overbought on their weekly charts, and investors may want to book profits now before a potential June swoon. The five key U.S. equities indices are ending May in sync with positive weekly chart profiles, but only the S&P 500 and Dow transports set new highs on Thursday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average set its all-time high in mid-May with the Nasdaq and Russell 2000 setting multiyear and all-time highs in early March. One twist is that the Wall Street call to "avoid bonds" has been wrong this year. Even as the S&P 500 and Dow Jones transport index are setting new all-time highs going into the end of May, the exchange-traded fund that tracks long-term U.S. Treasury bonds (iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF ) has fared even better. Investors with ETF portfolios should include a bond ETF in their holdings, as these ETFs allow investors to gain exposure to the bond market with a security that trades just like a stock. Two "Crunching the Numbers" tables follow profiles of ETFs that track broad markets. Note that all of these ETFs are above their five key moving averages, a sign of upward momentum. SPDR Dow 30 ETF ($166.78, up just 0.8% YTD) set an all-time intraday high at $167.29 on May 13 after trading below its 200-day simple moving average with a 2014 low at $153.12 on Feb. 5. The weekly chart for this ETF, which is also known as "Diamonds," is positive but overbought with its five-week modified moving average at $164.65. Quarterly and semiannual value levels are $164.18 and $162.05, respectively, with semiannual and monthly risky levels at $167.82 and $173.79, respectively. SPDR S&P 500 ETF ($192.37, up 4.2% YTD) set an all-time intraday high at $192.40 on Thursday and is well above its 200-day SMA at $179.56. The S&P Spider has not been below its 200-day since November 2012. The weekly chart is positive but overbought with its five-week MMA at $188.27. Quarterly and semiannual value levels are $185.03 and $179.50, respectively, with a monthly risky level at $200.33. PowerShares QQQ Trust ETF ($91.30, up 4.2% YTD) set a multiyear intraday high at $91.36 on March 7 and is knocking on the door for a new high Friday. This ETF, which tracks the Nasdaq 100, is being helped by the resurgence of the momentum stocks such as Apple and Google . This ETF has been above its 200-day SMA since January 2013. The weekly chart is positive with its five-week MMA at $88.37. Quarterly and semiannual value levels are $83.62 and $80.72, respectively, with a monthly risky level at $96.62. iShares Transportation ETF ($145.35, up 10 YTD) set an all-time intraday high at $145.36 on Thursday and has been above its 200-day SMA since December 2012. The weekly chart is positive but overbought with its five-week MMA at $139.31. Quarterly and semiannual value levels are $132.17 and $131.89, respectively, with a monthly risky level at $149.61. iShares Russell 2000 ETF ($113.37, down 1.7% YTD) set an all-time intraday high at $120.58 on March 4. Since April 15, this ETF, which tracks a well-known small-cap index, has traded back and forth around its 200-day SMA since, and that SMA is now at $111.19.The weekly chart is positive given a close today above its five-week MMA at $112.33. Semiannual and annual value levels are $112.56 and $96.09, respectively, with quarterly and monthly risky levels at $115.72 and $125.10, respectively. iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF ($114.15, up 12.1% YTD) set a 2014 intraday high at $115.19 on Thursday and has been above its 200-day SMA at $106.60 since March 12. The weekly chart is positive but overbought with its five-week MMA at $111.81. A monthly value level is $109.23 with an annual pivot at $114.98 and quarterly and annual risky levels at $115.64 and $116.12, respectively. Crunching the Numbers With Richard Suttmeier: Moving Averages & Stochastics This table provides the technical status for the stocks profiled in today's report. There are five columns with moving average titles: Five-Week Modified Moving Average; 21-Day Simple Moving Average; 50-Day Simple Moving Average; 200-Day Simple Moving Average; and the 200-Week Simple Moving Average. The column labeled 12x3x3 Weekly Slow Stochastics shows the pattern on each weekly chart with a reading of oversold, rising, overbought, declining or flat. Interpretations: Stocks below a moving average are listed in red. Five-Week Modified Moving Average (MMA) is one of two indicators that define whether a weekly chart profile is positive, neutral or negative. The other is the status of the 12x3x3 weekly slow stochastic. A stock with a positive technical rating is above its five-week MMA with rising or overbought stochastics. A stock with a negative technical rating is below its five-week MMA with declining or oversold stochastics. A stock with a neutral technical rating has a profile that is not positive or negative. The 200-Week Simple Moving Average (SMA) is considered a long-term technical support or resistance level and as a "reversion to the mean" over a rolling three- to five-year horizon. (Even Apple declined to its 200-week SMA in June 2013.) The 21-Day Simple Moving Average is a short-term technical support or resistance used by many hedge fund traders to adjust positions. A stock above its 21-day SMA will likely move higher over a rolling three- to five-day horizon and vice versa. The 50-Day Simple Moving Average is also a technical support or resistance used by many strategists and commentators in financial TV. The 200-Day Simple Moving Average is another technical support or resistance level, and I consider this level as a shorter-term "reversion to the mean" over a rolling six- to 12-month horizon. (Even Apple tested or crossed its 200-day SMA in nine of the last 10 years.) Crunching the Numbers With Richard Suttmeier: Earnings & Where to Buy & Where to Sell This table presents the EPS estimates including date and before or after the close, and where to buy on weakness and where to sell on strength. "EPS Date" is the day the company reports its quarterly results. "EPS Estimate" is the EPS estimate from Wall Street analysts. Value Levels, Pivots and Risky Levels are calculated based upon the last nine weekly closes (W), nine monthly closes (M), nine quarterly closes (Q), nine semiannual closes (S) and nine annual closes (A). I have one column for pivots, which is a magnet for the period shown. The columns to the left of the pivots are first and second value levels. The columns to the right of the pivots are first and second risky levels. Investors who wish to buy a stock should use a good-'til-canceled limit order to buy weakness to a value level. Investors who want to sell a stock should use a GTC limit order to sell strength to a risky level. At the time of publication the author held no positions in any of the stocks mentioned. Follow @Suttmeier // 0;if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs"); // ]]> >>Read More: Xerox Is the Biggest Secret in Value Stocks >>Read More: Investment Rx: Buy Value ETFs in the U.S. and Growth ETFs Overseas This article represents the opinion of a contributor and not necessarily that of TheStreet or its editorial staff

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Southwest Airlines Told Imaginary Seats Don't Count

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Southwest Airlines was fined $300,000 by the U.S. Department of Transportation for two incidents in which the airline advertised fares on seats that did not exist. The latest incident occurred in October, when Southwest ran a television ad claiming that flights to Chicago, Los Angeles and New York from Atlanta were only $59. The issue arose when customers called to book the discounted seats and Southwest claimed that it was a mistake, tickets to those cities were never intended to be part of the Atlanta fare sale. In the eyes of the Transportation Department, which announced its ruling on Thursday, Southwest's ads were deceptive and violated rules on advertising of airline fares. "DOT's full-fare advertising rules were put into place to ensure that consumers are not deceived when they search for plane tickets," Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said in a statement. The rule essentially requires that any advertisement for tickets state the entire price to be paid and offer a reasonable number of seats at that price. "As soon as we became aware of our mistake, we pulled all incorrect advertisements off the air," Southwest spokeswoman Brandy King said in a statement, adding that the airline did honor the $59 fare. Regulators levied a $200,000 penalty for the October advertisements and imposed a $100,000 fine that had been suspended last July upon Southwest's pledge to correct its violations. Last July, the DOT claimed Southwest had violated rules during a Valentine's Day "Luv a Fare Sale" promotion. The airline advertised one-way, nonstop fares "for $100 or less." The DOT asserts, however, that Southwest "failed to include a reasonable number of seats available in a significant number of city-pair markets in the fare sale." Southwest is known as a low-cost airline that skimps on luxury in order to get passengers from point A to point B for as cheaply as possible. Now fliers may have to be more wary of deals that appear too good to be true.Shares of Southwest were recently trading at $26.56, up 12 cents. The stock has soared 41% so far this year, compared with a gain of 4% for the Standard & Poor's 500 Index. >>Read More: Is Google Crazy for Selling a PC at $350? Definitely Not >>Read More: Xerox Is the Biggest Secret in Value Stocks as It Moves Beyond Copiers >>Read More: Mark Zuckerberg Bets Big on the Bay Area At the time of publication, the author had no position in the stock mentioned. Follow @macroinsights This article represents the opinion of a contributor and not necessarily that of TheStreet or its editorial staff.

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