3 Costly Mistakes You Are Making on Life Insurance

Alamy Thinking about your life insurance is not much fun, and far too many people ignore this necessary task. Too few people have adequate life insurance coverage. And the ones who do aren't getting the best coverage at the best premiums, either. Let's consider three common mistakes. 1. Blindly Auto-Renewing Your Policy My life insurance is bundled with my homeowners and car insurance for the best deal in premiums. So my insurance policies renew every six months, and the personal property insurance recalculates the premium every six months as well. The price I pay fluctuates a little bit every time. But is this the best price for life insurance? Of course I'm a little bit older, but I've also worked hard to lose weight. I've been working out with a personal trainer. Could I negotiate a discount if I simply do not blindly renew my life insurance policy? It may be worth a call to my insurance company to find out. 2. Not Re-evaluating Your Coverage You should re-examine your coverage either every year or every couple of years at the very least. It is imperative that you update life insurance coverage when your life changes. "Life insurance is a key foundation for any long-term financial plan," says Michael H. Baker, a certified financial planner with Vertex Capital Advisors in Charlotte, North Carolina. "It's important that you review your coverage any time there is a significant life event. You want to be sure that your current coverage can replace that lost income if something unexpected happens to you or your spouse." "While I don't think it's necessary to get new life insurance quotes every few years, I do think it's important to review the amount of coverage you need even more often than that," says Scott Halliwell, a certified financial planner with USAA. "Typically, I say to check to see if you have enough coverage at least annually, or with any major life events like the birth of a child, marriage, divorce, new home purchase, etc." Halliwell favors adding to your existing coverage, rather than buying a new policy. "Every situation will be different so it wouldn't hurt to check both ways. In my experience, people often have too little life insurance, not too much," he says. No matter which option you choose, ensure that you wait until your new life insurance policy takes effect before you cancel your old policy. You don't want any gaps in your life insurance coverage. 3. Not Getting Multiple Quotes Nothing good comes from settling on the first offer that comes your way. Ask my friend who accepted a bad offer on refinancing his home. There is a reason that the government requires three bids on almost every contract. You're better and safer in numbers. If you want a good deal on products and services, life insurance included, you need to get multiple quotes. "It is essential that you get multiple quotes when purchasing life insurance as prices can vary widely for essentially similar benefits," says Todd Tresidder, financial coach, author and publisher of The Financial Mentor. "The reasoning behind the shopping process is intuitive to anyone who has hired a contractor, purchased a home or bought groceries. You must be a savvy consumer by getting multiple quotes and reading the contracts to get the best value for your money." Do not settle on the first offer or quote for, not only premiums, but benefits as well. You should read all of the clauses in your policy. You should understand exactly which perils that the insurance company will pay out to your beneficiaries. While price of the premiums may be the same among many policies, the terms and clauses may be the differentiating factor. You could be overspending and leaving savings on the table by blindly renewing your life insurance policies.

India Has a (Likely) Winner

If you've ever thought that American elections take on a certain element of the carnival, you should experience or follow Indian elections at least once. Essentially a five-week free-for-all, more than 800 million people are eligible to vote in nine-phases which run from April 7 to May 12 this year. Because typically voter turnout is about 60 percent, if the average turnout rate holds, 100 million more people than live in the US will cast ballots in India.

Seeing that process through is an expensive proposition, with this year's elections in India ultimately being estimated to cost at least $5 billion. They will likely cost much more once all of the candidate spending figures are accounted for. More than 200,000 security personnel have also been deployed to ensure a peaceful process.

While it is still too soon for official tallies, Narendra Modi is already being called the next Prime Minister of India.

While India has liberalized some of its economic policies over the years, in a government dominated by the Congress Party, the country's subsidy program remains at a bloated INR2.2 trillion, covering everything from food and fertilizers to diesel fuel. There's also still a streak of protectionism in the country's economic policies, making foreign investment in India somewhat spotty. That has helped keep the country's fiscal deficit stubbornly in the neighborhood of 5 percent of gross domestic product.

Already a three-term chief minister of Gujarat, the seventh largest state in India with a population similar in size to Italy, Modi has developed an almost peerless record for being business-friendly. Over his time in office the roads in Gujarat have become some of the best and most expansive, businesses have flourished as red tape has been slashed, and government headcount in the state has shrunk. He also helped to attract huge foreign investment in Gujarat, creating one of India's leadi! ng industrial states.

In some news reports, Modi is even being referred to as the Indian Ronald Reagan; a member of the more conservative Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Modi's free market economic stance is a clear contrast to the Congress Party's more liberal, state-driven economic ideas. Many believe Modi's elevation to PM will mark a watershed moment for the Indian economy, which is struggling with sluggish growth and high unemployment, particularly among the nation's 1.2 billion people under 25. It's estimated that 12 million new jobs need to be created each year to absorb the country's growing workforce.

But while Modi's success in Gujarat has led to high hopes he'll be able to achieve similar results on a national scale, it's not guaranteed.

For one thing, Modi's strategy has focused primarily on attractive capital-intensive heavy industries to his state, and has been widely criticized for not creating a better class of jobs. Also, without radically easing the process by which foreign companies can invest in India, it would be difficult to drive such large-scale industrialization across the country.

At the same time the BJP's track record at the helm of the national government is a bit spotty. When it last ruled, from 1998 to 2004, it made little headway on labor reforms, and strict job protection measures and wage rules are sacred cows in Indian politics. That's one of the key reasons why the Congress Party with its populist brand of politics has been able to maintain its control of the government for so many years.

 It should also be noted that current Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, with a doctorate in economics from Oxford, also promised wide ranging labor and economic reforms over his two terms but made scant little progress because of the political realities in the country. In fact, Singh is widely criticized for "governance by non-governing" because it is so incredibly difficult to build a consensus thanks to radically diverse regiona! l needs a! nd beliefs.

But after years of graft scandals, the weakest period of economic growth in more than a decade and torrid capital outflows that have devastated the rupee, it's hardly surprising that Modi has received such strong support. The real question is whether or not he'll be able to rally enough support in such a huge, diverse country to make any progress on an agenda of meaningful reform.

7 Financial Tasks You Should Tackle Right Now

We're all busy … with work, family obligations, social commitments and more. That's why it can be hard to find time to do everything that needs to get done, especially those things that we assume don't need immediate attention.

SEE ALSO: 10 Financial To-Dos for 2014

But there are several tasks you should stop putting on the back burner because they could be affecting your financial well-being. More importantly, there are things you should tackle right away because, if something were to happen to you, the financial well-being of your loved ones could be affected.

Here are seven financial tasks you should start right now. Many of these you can easily knock off your to-do list in a day. Others might take a little longer but are worth the effort.

1. Make a list of your accounts and passwords. If something were to happen to you, would your spouse, significant other or family members know about all of your various accounts and how to access them? That's why it's important to make a list of all those accounts and the passwords to access them online or the phone numbers for the financial institutions where the accounts are held. If you also pay the majority of your family's bills, you should list each one and when it is due. Keep this list in a secure place and let your significant other know where it is, as well as a trusted friend or family member in case something happens to both of you, says Jeb Zoller, a certified financial planner and partner with DaVinci Financial Designs in Columbia, S.C. You should also draft a durable power of attorney, a legal document that designates someone (or several people) to manage all of your finances if you become incapacitated. (See The Power of Power of Attorney.)

2. Set up alerts for debit and credit cards. The recent security breach at Target, in which the personal information of tens of millions of the retailers' customers was stolen, makes it painfully clear that anyone can become a victim of fraud at any time. So it's important to keep constant tabs on your bank or credit accounts to spot fraudulent activity and stop it quickly. Most debit- and credit-card issuers will let you sign up to receive alerts by e-mail or text message when transactions are made in your account. By setting up these alerts, you can quickly spot unauthorized transactions, says Gerri Detweiler, director of consumer education at Credit.com. Plus, you can be alerted when your account balance falls below a certain level or when a payment is due, which will help you avoid overdrawing your account or getting hit with a late fee on a bill.

3. Check your credit report and score. A study by the Federal Trade Commission found that one in four consumers had errors on their credit reports that might affect their credit scores and, in turn, lead them to pay more for loans. The credit bureaus have no obligation to correct errors until consumers point them out and dispute them. So if you're not checking you're report regularly, you won't catch mistakes that could be lowering your credit score and affecting your ability to get a loan or a good rate on a credit card, Detweiler says. Checking your report can also help you find out if you've become a victim of an identity thief who has opened accounts in your name. You can get free copy of your credit report from the three credit bureaus-- Equifax, Experian and TransUnion -- by visiting Annualcreditreport.com. You can get your FICO credit score, which most lenders use, for $19.95 at myFICO.com, or you can get free Experian and Vantage credit scores when you set up a free account at Credit.com.

4. Create a home inventory. When disasters strike, it pays to be prepared. Zoller says that a client lost all of his belongings when the moving truck transporting them from Virginia to Texas caught fire. Fortunately, the client had an inventory of his possessions and was able to tell his insurer everything he had lost and its value so that he could be fully reimbursed. Without a home inventory, filing a claim can be difficult, and you might not get enough money from your insurance company's settlement to replace your belongings. Several insurance companies have apps that help you maintain your inventory and file claims online. Or you can use the Insurance Information Institute's free Know Your Stuff home inventory software.

5. Write a will. Zoller says that the majority of his clients come to him either without a will or with one that hasn't been updated in years. This is one document you shouldn't put off drafting, especially if you have children. If you die without a will, your state's laws dictate where your assets go and a judge will likely decide who will care for your children. If your finances and circumstances are uncomplicated, you can create a will with forms you find online. Nolo and LegalZoom sell forms for as little as $34.99. Alternatively, consult a lawyer. See Six Steps to a Good Will for more information.

6. Review the beneficiaries on your accounts. If you opened a financial account years ago and have since married or had children, you should update the beneficiaries on those accounts. Otherwise, the parent or sibling you listed years ago as a beneficiary could end up with your money, leaving your spouse and kids with nothing. Don't assume this is unnecessary if you have a will, Zoller says, because the money in certain accounts will go to the people you've designated as beneficiaries regardless of what your will states.

7. Get disability insurance. Hopefully you already have life insurance to help support your family after you die. However, there's a greater chance that you'll have a disabling event than die before age 65, Zoller says. So how would you or your family get by if an accident left you unable to work for several months? You can apply for Social Security disability benefits, but Zoller says the process can be long, difficult and uncertain. You'll be better off with a disability insurance policy. Even if you have disability coverage through work, you might need more because your work policy likely won't replace all of your income and might only cover you for a short period of time. Plus, if you buy your own policy, you won't lose it if you switch jobs, Zoller says. See Better Deals on Disability Insurance for more information.

For more tasks you should tackle to get your finances on track, see 10 Financial To-Dos for 2014.

Hangover Time for Stocks as S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average Slump

So here’s the hangover after the party, as 3M (MMM) and Pioneer Natural Resources (PXD) outweigh gains in U.S. Steel (X), Chico’s FAS (CHS) and Wal-Mart (WMT).

Bloomberg News

The S&P 500 has dropped 0.8% to 1,832.77 at 12:01 p.m., while the Dow Jones Industrial Average has fallen 123 points, or 0.7% to 16,4547.13.

Why is the market dropping? It’s certainly not the economic data, which indicates further strength in 2014. Initial jobless claims fell to 339,000, beating forecasts for 344,000, but the numbers have been erratic–and not necessarily trustworthy– thanks to the holiday season. The ISM Manufacturing Index fell to 57 in December, beating forecasts for 56.8, an indication that the manufacturing recovery is rolling along. Jefferies’ Thomas Simons explains:

Recent data suggests that the manufacturing recovery is gaining traction once again and that the combination of the government shutdown and the latest round of fiscal follies in Washington have had little more than a passing effect on the sector…We have been expecting an acceleration in manufacturing based on auto production, developments in the energy sector, and the strength of the housing recovery and we think that this acceleration will continue through the second half of the year to buoy overall economic growth.

Deutsche Bank’s Alan Ruskin notes that the ISM order minus inventories is “the highest since mid 2010 – an encouraging forward looking growth signal.”

Considering the general strength of the day, why are investors feeling down today? Bloomberg blames Wells Fargo’s downgrade of Apple (AAPL), which has weighed on tech shares today. The Wall Street Journal says its the fault of weak overseas markets. Considering that a number of last year’s top-performing stocks are falling today, it could just be early-year rebalancing.

Consider: Wal-Mart, which returned just 18% in 2013, has gained 0.6% to $79.18 at 11:59 a.m., despite having to recall Chinese donkey meat. 3m, which rose 54% last year, has fallen 1.4% to $138.30. United States Steel, meanwhile, has gained 4% to $30.68after it was upgraded to Buy from Hold by KeyBanc. It rose 25% in 2013 including reinvested dividends. Pioneer Natural Resources, which advanced 73% last year, has dropped 3% to $178.54today. Chico’s FAS, which returned just 3.4% in 2013, has gained 3.5% to 19.49 after being upgraded by Jefferies.

Is it out with the old and in with the new?

Hangover Time for Stocks as S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average Slump

So here’s the hangover after the party, as 3M (MMM) and Pioneer Natural Resources (PXD) outweigh gains in U.S. Steel (X), Chico’s FAS (CHS) and Wal-Mart (WMT).

Bloomberg News

The S&P 500 has dropped 0.8% to 1,832.77 at 12:01 p.m., while the Dow Jones Industrial Average has fallen 123 points, or 0.7% to 16,4547.13.

Why is the market dropping? It’s certainly not the economic data, which indicates further strength in 2014. Initial jobless claims fell to 339,000, beating forecasts for 344,000, but the numbers have been erratic–and not necessarily trustworthy– thanks to the holiday season. The ISM Manufacturing Index fell to 57 in December, beating forecasts for 56.8, an indication that the manufacturing recovery is rolling along. Jefferies’ Thomas Simons explains:

Recent data suggests that the manufacturing recovery is gaining traction once again and that the combination of the government shutdown and the latest round of fiscal follies in Washington have had little more than a passing effect on the sector…We have been expecting an acceleration in manufacturing based on auto production, developments in the energy sector, and the strength of the housing recovery and we think that this acceleration will continue through the second half of the year to buoy overall economic growth.

Deutsche Bank’s Alan Ruskin notes that the ISM order minus inventories is “the highest since mid 2010 – an encouraging forward looking growth signal.”

Considering the general strength of the day, why are investors feeling down today? Bloomberg blames Wells Fargo’s downgrade of Apple (AAPL), which has weighed on tech shares today. The Wall Street Journal says its the fault of weak overseas markets. Considering that a number of last year’s top-performing stocks are falling today, it could just be early-year rebalancing.

Consider: Wal-Mart, which returned just 18% in 2013, has gained 0.6% to $79.18 at 11:59 a.m., despite having to recall Chinese donkey meat. 3m, which rose 54% last year, has fallen 1.4% to $138.30. United States Steel, meanwhile, has gained 4% to $30.68after it was upgraded to Buy from Hold by KeyBanc. It rose 25% in 2013 including reinvested dividends. Pioneer Natural Resources, which advanced 73% last year, has dropped 3% to $178.54today. Chico’s FAS, which returned just 3.4% in 2013, has gained 3.5% to 19.49 after being upgraded by Jefferies.

Is it out with the old and in with the new?

Tesla Motors Inc (TSLA): How Tesla Fares Against Upcoming Electric Cars

Electric cars are the new flavor of the season, and they are here to stay. The success of Tesla Motors, Inc. (NASDAQ: TSLA) gave the industry a much needed boost, and many automakers (small and large) are aiming to get a share of the market given the increased regulatory awareness over zero emissions.

From the investment perspective too, electric car companies are getting their due. Investors support for Tesla is a huge example as its stock price climbed 272 percent in the last two years.

Tesla's  Model S is being offered with two battery packs: a base model with a 60 kW·h battery which can deliver 230 miles (370 km) and an 85 kW·h battery which can deliver 300 miles (480 km). It is a premium sedan costing $71,000.

[Related -Tesla Motors, Inc.'s (TSLA): Is It Time To Buy?]

In addition, Tesla will start selling the Model X crossover in 2014 with full-fledged sales expected in 2015. The company is working hard to get the design of the Model X right. The company expects to sell Model X in limited volumes at the end of next year, and then volume production would recur in 2015.

Since Model S is expensive, competitors are working on affordable affordable vehicles. Even, Tesla CEO Elon Musk hinted at $30,000 car arriving probably in 2016.

All leading automakers, including General Motors (NYSE: GM), Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F) and Toyota (NYSE: TM), are working on their own electric vehicles. Here is a brief overview of upcoming electric cars that may challenge Tesla.

[Related -Tesla Motors Inc (TSLA): The 'Secret' Reason To Sell Your Tesla Shares Now]

GM already has an affordable all-electric car—the Chevy Spark—in its lineup, which features a range of 82 miles and costs about $28,000.

GM's Chevrolet Volt (plug-in hybrid) and Ford Focus Electric gives a mileage of 38 miles and 76 miles, respectively. Both these vehicles cost around $35k to $40k.

Meanwhile, Kia Motors has confirmed that a new all-electric version of the Kia Soul is scheduled to! go on sale in overseas markets during the second half of 2014. Equipped with a high-capacity 27 kWh lithium-ion polymer battery pack, the Soul EV will be able to drive more than 200 km on a single charge.

The all-new Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric Drive could hit the markets next year. It claims an estimated range of around 115 miles (200 km). The maximum speed is electronically limited to 100 mph (160 km/h).

BMW i3 is expected come to the United States next year, and can travel 186 miles when equipped with an optional range extender. Sans this feature, the car will be able to travel about about 93 miles, on a single charge. The company has not yet revealed the price for the i3 or any of its options, but it is likely to be well under $42,000.

Automakers Nissan and Renault are trying to expand their EV line-up by investing more than $5 billion. The Renault-Nissan alliance has six electric vehicles on offer, including Nissan's Leaf and Renault's Zoe mass-market sub-compact cars.

Nissan Leaf comes with a range of 75 miles in the sub-$30,000 category. Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid costs around $32,000 and gives 11 miles in its electric run. Honda Fit comes for about $37,000 and provides a driving range of 82 miles.

The competition is interesting, but, the focus point is how these automakers will convince buyers and improve the uptake of electric cars. They could do that by providing vehicles with decent mileage at affordable prices. They should also prove the safety of their vehicles as even a 5-star rated car (Model S) in safety couldn't avoid fire risks.

From Tesla's point of view, it should release a sub-$30,000 vehicle to reach the mass market. The company boasts of a compelling technology coupled with R&D and marketing acumen.

Jefferies Upgrades Federal Realty Investment Trust to “Buy”; Lowers Outlook (FRT)

Jefferies reported on Wednesday that it has upgraded real estate investment trust Federal Realty Investment Trust (FRT).

The firm has raised its rating on FRT from “Hold” to “Buy,” and has increased the company’s price target from $112 to $116. This price target suggests a 13% upside from the stock’s current price of $100.75.

Analyst Omotayo Okusanya noted: “Based on our recent tour of Assembly Row, we are now convinced about the long term value of this development project. Our recent management meetings on Sept 4th also indicate that: 1) development projects at Pike and Rose as well as Santana Row remain on track and 2) FRT remains on track to keep generating industry leading SS NOI growth. With FRT also well positioned for rising rates, we find the story compelling and upgrade the stock to Buy from Hold.”

Looking ahead, the firm has cut its estimates for FY2013 from $4.64 to $4.62 per share. FY2014 estimates have also been lowered from $4.97 to $4.96 per share.

Federal Realty Investment Trust shares were mostly flat during pre-market trading Wednesday. The stock has been mostly flat YTD.

Stalled Progress in the Fight Against HIV?

Has a stalemate been reached in the fight against HIV? After years of significant progress, a recent development could give the impression that progress might be stalled.

In late April, the largest active study of an HIV vaccine was halted by the National Institutes of Health. Only a month after the full enrollment of more than 2,500 patients was completed, the decision was made to pull the plug on the study. Preliminary findings showed that the vaccine simply wasn't working.

While this setback was certainly discouraging, one piece of bad news doesn't necessarily mean that progress has stopped altogether. The larger picture of where we are in the fight against HIV provides more reasons for cautious optimism.

Where things stand
First, let's look at some good news. The rate of growth in numbers of individuals across the world with HIV is definitely slowing.

Source: Avert. 

In the U.S., the outlook for HIV and AIDS looks quite encouraging. Both diagnoses of HIV and death rates have fallen significantly

Source: Centers for Disease Prevention and Control. 

A major factor in the improvement in reducing deaths associated with HIV has been the ongoing development of antiretroviral drugs. Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ: GILD  ) stands as the leader in this market. Its Atripla, a combination of three Gilead HIV drugs, generated nearly $3.6 billion in sales last year. One of Atripla's component drugs, Viread, made more than $848,000 in 2012.

Merck (NYSE: MRK  ) also ranks as a significant developer of HIV drugs. In 2007, Isentress became the first integrase inhibitor to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treating HIV. The drug brought in more than $1.5 billion in revenue last year.

While the recent vaccine effort failed, some successes have been achieved in preventing people from acquiring HIV. Gilead received FDA approval last July for Truvada, the first HIV prevention drug. Clinical studies found that Truvada significantly reduced the likelihood of acquiring HIV infections.The drug was already approved as a treatment for HIV and generated nearly $3.2 billion in revenue during 2012.

Progress has also been made on the diagnostic front. The FDA approved OraSure Technologies' (NASDAQ: OSUR  ) OraQuick home HIV test in July 2012. OraQuick allows an individual to use a mouth swab and find out the results within 40 minutes. The test hasn't exactly leaped off store shelves as of yet, though. OraSure reported only $1.5 million in gross sales for the OraQuick home test during the most recent quarter.

Moving forward
Antiretroviral drugs continue to improve. Gilead launched its integrase inhibitor, Stribild, in the latter part of 2012. Stribild is similar to Atripla, but it reduces some side effects, and clinical studies found it to be a little more effective than its predecessor.

ViiV Healthcare, a collaboration between GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE: GSK  ) , Pfizer (NYSE: PFE  ) , and Japanese drugmaker Shionogi, could soon have another powerful HIV drug to market. The FDA granted priority review status for dolutegravir in February. A decision on ultimate approval of the drug is expected in August. Glaxo is the majority owner in Viiv with a 76.5% stake, with Pfizer holding a 13.5% share.

Higher adoption rates of home testing could also help. The CDC estimates that almost one in five people with HIV don't know that they have the virus. Use of home tests should enable more individuals with HIV to begin taking appropriate treatments and take actions to reduce the spread of the virus.

There's still hope that an effective vaccine can be developed. A 2009 late-stage study in Thailand found modest results in preventing HIV. The 31% reduction in HIV infection rates obtained by that vaccine wasn't enough to warrant a public rollout, but it did show promise. Just this week, the Makerere University Walter Reed Project in Uganda announced plans to launch another HIV vaccine effort in July.

More disappointments are likely to come, of course. Progress often comes in fits and starts. However, what looks like a stall at first could really just be the beginning of the next big breakthrough.

While the fight against HIV quietly moves forward, America could be losing another battle. What macro trend was Warren Buffett referring to when he said "this is the tapeworm that's eating at American competitiveness"? Find out in our free report: What's Really Eating At America's Competitiveness. You'll also discover an idea to profit as companies work to eradicate this efficiency-sucking tapeworm. Just click here for free, immediate access.

3 Stocks Getting Bulldozed Today

The market is up again today, but some stocks are getting left behind. After an analyst downgraded both stocks, E*TRADE (NASDAQ: ETFC  ) and TD AMERITRADE  (NYSE: AMTD  ) are stuck in the red. Elsewhere, another mREIT focused on Agency mortgaged-backed securities is feeling the heat and trading lower.

In this video, Motley Fool financial analysts David Hanson and Matt Koppenheffer discuss these three companies and tell investors if they believe the concerns are short-term or long-term issues for the stocks.

Annaly Capital is another mREIT that has been in the headlines and there's no question its double-digit dividend is eye-catching. But can investors count on that payout sticking around? In The Motley Fool's premium research report on Annaly, senior analysts Ilan Moscovitz and Matt Koppenheffer uncover the key challenges the company faces and divulge three reasons investors may consider buying it. Simply click here now to claim your copy today!

The Adrenaline-Pumping Ride of GoPro's IPO

gopro.com If a thrill-seeking mountain biker wants to take on some choppy terrain, it might not be a bad idea to ride GoPro's (GPRO) stock chart. One of the market's most volatile stocks is the maker of wearable cameras that extreme sporting enthusiasts -- like our mountain biker here -- don to record their feats of fancy. It's been a tale of two quarters for GoPro in its first six months as a public company. GoPro went public at $24 in late June, soaring in subsequent weeks. It peaked in early October, more than quadrupling to hit $98.47. It has gone on to shed more than 40 percent of its value. The wild swings aren't a surprise. GoPro went public with plenty of hype this summer, and valuation concerns were bound to come up after it roared out of the gate. Why was GoPro so hot six months ago? Why has it been so cold this quarter? Let's take a look at the two sides of the GoPro mania. Meet the Hot IPO of 2014 It's easy to see why investors gravitated toward GoPro. We've all seen those breathtaking helmet-mounted high-def videos of skateboarders, skiers and hang gliders, and GoPro is the wearable camera of choice for adrenaline junkies like these. GoPro came to market with the speed of some of its action videos. Revenue more than doubled in 2012, and nearly did so again in 2013 when its top line soared 87 percent to hit $985.7 million. Earnings and operating profits were also on a tear. Another thing that helped GoPro was that it more than lived up to the hype. It posted better-than-expected earnings in its first two quarterly reports as a public company, and first impressions for Wall Street debutantes linger. Investors sometimes stay away from hardware plays, especially in a cutthroat market like video cameras. However, GoPro made it clear at the time of its IPO that its grander goal was to become a media company. It wanted to tap into the growing content created by GoPro users to create a social video platform of its own. It went on to hire Guggenheim Digital Media executive Zander Lurie in November to lead its media division. GoPro was rolling along nicely, but then Mr. Market realized that the stock was growing faster than its decelerating top-line growth. The Wipeout Will Be Televised Valuations matter. At its peak during the first week of October, the stock was trading at nearly 100 times this year's earnings and nearly 80 times next year's profit target. That wouldn't be so rich if the stock was still huffing and puffing at last year's pace, but GoPro's starting to prove mortal. Analysts see GoPro's revenue climbing 36 percent this year, followed by a 24 percent top-line spurt next year. That's the kind of growth that most companies would love to brandish, but it's a more sobering proposition when you're trading at GoPro's multiples. 10 Million Shorted Shares Then there are also folks who are skeptical about its media strategy. Will GoPro's push to become a content hub succeed when GoPro users are perfectly fine uploading their clips on Vimeo or Google's (GOOG) (GOOGL) YouTube? As strong as the GoPro brand may be, is it enough to offset the success of established video-sharing sites and the monetization options for original content on YouTube? There's no shortage of skeptics, and that includes speculators who have shorted more than 10 million shares of GoPro. That's not necessarily a bad thing, especially if a positive development forces them to cover their positions. GoPro investors who got in at the June IPO price aren't complaining. The stock has gone on to more than double despite the swings. Unlike at many companies, where only well-heeled investors get in on a stock's debut, GoPro was considerate enough to its fans to allocate a block of the IPO for individual investors. A strong holiday season could make GoPro a winner in its third quarter as a public company, but the valuation concerns may also end up having the last laugh. Just hit the record button and play along. More from Rick Aristotle Munarriz
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Tesla Motors: Third Quarter ‘Wobbly,’ Goldman Sachs Says

Investors seem pleased with Tesla Motors’ (TSLA) numbers, even if the third quarter looked “wobbly,” in the words of Goldman Sachs analyst Patrick Archambault and team say. They explain what’s going on:

Bloomberg News

3Q was a difficult quarter with deliveries, gross margins, and 4Q guidance all below expectations driving us to lower our 2014 EPS forecast to $0.54 from $0.86, previously. We were also a bit surprised by commentary that seemed to de-emphasize the importance of China in 2015. On the positive side management was plainspoken in its expectation for Model S orders and deliveries to be up 50% in 2015 (even with a diminished China delivery outlook), and moved forward expected initial Gigafactory cell production timing to 2016. With this leaving the longer-term growth story broadly intact we don't expect out year profit expectations to change much (as was the case with our forecasts), which perhaps explains the stock being up in after-hours trading despite the quite wobbly 3Q14 result.

Shares of Tesla Motors have gained 3.7% to $239.50 at 9:47 a.m. today.

The Dow Chemical Company Flaunts Its Blue Chip Status, Grows Earnings 44%

Make that four consecutive quarters now that The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW  ) has beaten Wall Street expectations. More important for investors, the company has now posted eight straight quarters of year-over-year growth in adjusted earnings per share, EBITDA, and profit margin. The growth may continue for the foreseeable future, as management announced plans to cut fixed expenses by $1 billion in the next three years. But is the growth sustainable and are the goals realistic? Here's what you need to know.

By the numbers

The Dow Chemical Company grew handsomely compared to the year-ago period. While revenue grew a respectable 5%, net income and adjusted EPS grew 43% and 44%, respectively. How did the company manage to do that? A strict focus on operational efficiency and prudent management of cash spending in recent quarters continues to pay off. Meanwhile, favorable market conditions and improving manufacturing performance are providing boosts as well.

Metric 

Q3 2014

Q3 2013

% Change

Net sales	$14.4 billion	$13.7 billion	5.1%
Net income	$852 million	$594 million	43%
Adjusted EPS	$0.72	$0.50	44%

Source: Dow Chemical press release.

The numbers are great, but not all revenue and income growth is created equally. Remember, Dow Chemical has five major business segments, each with unique challenges and opportunities, contributing to the top and bottom lines. What were the key drivers of success?

Shining stars

Three segments significantly outperformed the year-ago period.

 Segment

Q3 2014 EBITDA

Q3 2013 EBITDA

% Change

Electronic & Functional Materials	$320 million	$287 million	11.5%
Performance Materials	$506 million	$314 million	61%
Performance Plastics	$1,300 million	$995 million	30.6%

Source: Dow Chemical presentation.

Electronic & Functional Materials was largely driven by gains in functional materials for energy and pharmaceutical applications. For instance, the company's broad portfolio of microbial control products has found an important niche in America's energy boom. The average shale gas well requires roughly 2 million to 5 million gallons of water, so it's easy to see why drillers would attempt to recycle as much water as possible. However, reusing water that contains high concentrations of microbial cells can lead to inefficient processes, broken pumps, and costly downtime. By actively managing the buildup of bacteria and fungi cells in recycled water with Dow Microbial Control products, drillers can cut costs and downtime. 

Performance Materials was driven in part by double-digit growth in specialty chemicals (thanks again to America's shale energy boom) and novel automotive adhesive technologies that allow automakers to slash curb weight without sacrificing performance or functionality. However, much of the segment's gains were derived from productivity improvements in polyurethane and propylene derivatives. Both enjoyed boosts from seasonal trends: the former from bedding and furniture sales and the latter from inventory buildup of aircraft deicing fluids.

Performance Plastics capitalized on the world's growing middle class, which has resulted in a steady stream of momentum in personal-care packaging and consumer product applications. Pricing power and support -- driven by increased demand, more certain supply chains for raw materials in the Gulf Coast, and scheduled downtime at manufacturing facilities -- were major factors in the segment's growth during the quarter. While not every contributing factor is permanent, Dow Chemical should be able to enjoy growth as middle classes swell and less volatility as chemical producers gobble up excess raw materials.

Propylene glycol-based deicing fluids are among the most common used at airports. Image source: Alex Pereslavtsev/ Wikimedia Commons.

The remaining two segments, Coatings & Infrastructure and Agricultural Sciences, were the laggards of the group. The former only barely managed to grow revenue for the seventh consecutive quarter, although efficiency gains led to stronger gains of 2% in EBITDA compared to the year-ago period. Meanwhile, Dow AgroSciences reported record year-to-date revenue, but challenging market conditions and a loss of pricing power sank EBITDA 72%. Investors do get to look forward to the launch of the recently approved Enlist Weed Control System, which stacks two herbicide traits to provide farmers with more robust tools.

Is the growth sustainable?

The answer to this question depends largely on whether or not North America's petrochemical pricing power is permanent, or how long it remains. Falling oil prices will probably help lessen the pressure to export petroleum, which will result in a higher domestic supply of raw materials for chemical manufacturers such as Dow Chemical to tap into. A large focus on monetizing the chemical building blocks found in natural gas, such as ethane and propane, by converting them into higher-value products, such as ethylene and propylene, will also begin to enable significant cost reductions, vertical integrations, and pricing power for chemical manufacturers near shale energy plays.

Investors should also not forget the long-term value creation that will be enabled when Sadara, the joint venture formed with Saudi Arabian Oil Company in 2011, begins producing in the second half of 2015. Dow Chemical stands to earn roughly $500 million in annual equity earnings through 2026 and realize cash flow positive operations by 2020.

The bottom line on Dow Chemical's third quarter

At this time there's nothing to suggest that Dow Chemical will struggle to keep the momentum going. A new focus on efficiency will continue to boost profit margin and income over the next several years, even if specific business segments fail to impress in a quarter here or there. Efficiency will also help the company respond to or weather a period of slower-than-expected economic growth or volatile commodity prices. While some variables are out of the company's control, management appears to be executing on the things it can control -- which will help Dow Chemical retain its status as a blue chip stock.

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Coal: When Tax Loss Selling is a ‘Better Opportunity Than Hanging On’

Should investors be afraid of coal stocks like Arch Coal (ACI), Alpha Natural Resources (ANR) and Peabody Energy (BTU)? Yes, unless they happen to be very long-term investors, says JPMorgan’s John Bridges and team:

ASSOCIATED PRESS

The coal equities have fallen two-thirds from their 2011 peak as supply has overtaken faltering demand. We remain convinced that coal is an essential base load fuel source for the US and other's power grids. This situation is probably offering opportunities for farsighted investors. It was interesting that recently Chris Cline secured control over 480mt of permitted coal in Canada. Last year, Kinder Morgan announced plans to buy royalties on coal so it could benefit at the exports ports and at the source of the coal. Without seeing any near term catalysts that can lift coal prices and with their often elevated debt levels buying the listed equities is a more risky strategy. We do see real long term value in the coal equities with the better balance sheets. However, given the growing supplies of nat gas, without a chilly winter, gas prices could weaken further, and create a better buying opportunity for the coal space. In this environment, coal bulls seems to have been seeing tax loss selling as a better opportunity than hanging on, and deep value buyers are failing to see positive catalysts…

Until mid-2014 the best performers had been the thermal producers Alliance Resource Partners (ARLP) Cloud Peak Energy (CLD) and Consol Energy (CNX), but since nat gas prices disappointed in July, there's no safe equity in the sector. With booming supplies of nat gas, a demand still playing catch up, without a cold winter gas prices could be weak into 2015.

As for Arch Coal and Alpha Natural resources, Bridges dubs them the “terrible twos.” He explains why:

…after falling from peaks of $67 and $36 respectively, both Alpha and Arch now trade with a $2 handle. The stocks are essentially trading as options on a coal sector recovery while some of their higher risk debt is sending a message by trading between $.60 and $.70 on the dollar. Arch has $4.2bn of net debt carried by $0.47bn of market capitalization while Alpha is only half as leveraged…However, both companies have balance sheet liquidity and have pushed out debt maturities to give themselves time for the coal market to recover. The only thing missing is the catalyst. Peabody has relatively more balanced financials with net debt to market cap of 1.6x but still feels uncomfortable with its debt.

Still, while Bridges leave Arch Coal and Alpha Natural Resources without price targets, his targets on Peabody, Cloud Peak and Alliance Resource are all well above their current prices.

Shares of Peabody Energy have fallen 0.5% to $12.02 at 3:47 p.m. today, while Alpha Natural Resources has slid 4.7% to $2.25, Arch Coal has gained 0.5% to $2.10, Cloud Peak Energy has dropped 0.7% to $12.23, Consol Energy has advanced 1% to $37.42 and Alliance Resource has declined 1.6% to $43.56.

U.S. Markets Trade Flat; Liberty Media Shares Surge On Senior Note Conversation Rate Change

Related BZSUM U.S. Markets Edge Higher; Facebook Shares Surge On Upbeat Results Markets Mostly Flat; Ford Posts Upbeat Profit

Entering into the last 60 minutes of trading on Thursday, the Dow traded down 0.05 percent to 17,078.62 while the NASDAQ traded flat, up 0.03 percent to 4,472.28.  The S&P rose, gaining 0.03 percent to 1,987.69.

Leading and Lagging Sectors

Financial sector was the top gainer in today’s trading. Meanwhile, top gainers in the sector included CoStar Group (NASDAQ: CSGP), up 11.5 percent, and Intermountain Community Bancorp (NASDAQ: IMCB), up 10.36 percent.

In trading on Thursday, healthcare shares were relative leaders, up on the day by about 0.16 percent. Top decliners in the sector included Clearfield (NASDAQ: CLFD), down 15.30 percent, and Invacare (NYSE: IVC), off 16.77 percent.

Top Headline

Ford Motor Co (NYSE: F) reported better-than-expected second-quarter earnings.

The Dearborn, Michigan-based company posted a quarterly profit of $1.31 billion, or $0.32 per share, versus a year-ago profit of $1.23 billion, or $0.30 per share. Its earnings after tax, excluding special items, came in at $0.40 per share.

Its revenue fell to $37.4 billion from $37.9 billion. However, analysts were expecting earnings of $0.36 per share on revenue of $36.16 billion.

Equities Trading UP

Logitech International SA (NASDAQ: LOGI) shares shot up 15.08 percent to $15.34 after the company reported better-than-expected quarterly results and raised its operating income forecast.

Shares of Facebook (NASDAQ: FB) got a boost, shooting up 5.34 percent to $75.10 after the company reported stronger-than-expected second-quarter results on strong growth in daily users and advertising revenue.

VASCO Data Security International (NASDAQ: VDSI) shares were also up, gaining 16.12 percent to $13.47 after the company reported upbeat quarterly results and issued a strong FY14 revenue forecast.

Equities Trading DOWN

Shares of Liberty Media (NASDAQ: LMCA) were down 65.30 percent to $49.03 after the company announced adjustment to the conversion rate of its 1.375% cash convertible senior notes due 2023.

TripAdvisor (NASDAQ: TRIP) shares tumbled 5.74 percent to $101.24 after the company reported weaker-than-expected second-quarter profit.

QUALCOMM (NASDAQ: QCOM) was down, falling 6.74 percent to $76.11 after the company issued downbeat earnings forecast for the current quarter. However, the company reported a 42% rise in its fiscal third-quarter net income. Evercore Partners downgraded QUALCOMM from Overweight to Equal-weight and lowered the price target from $88.00 to $83.00.

Commodities

In commodity news, oil traded down 0.89 percent to $102.20, while gold traded down 1.03 percent to $1,291.30.

Silver traded down 2.98 percent Thursday to $20.37, while copper rose 1.79 percent to $3.26.

Eurozone

European shares were higher today. The eurozone’s STOXX 600 jumped 0.29 percent, the Spanish IBEX Index climbed 1.89 percent, while Italy’s FTSE MIB Index rose 1.88 percent. Meanwhile, the German DAX gained 0.42 percent and the French CAC 40 climbed 0.78 percent while UK shares rose 0.19 percent.

Economics

US jobless claims fell by 19,000 to 284,000 in the week that ended July 19. However, economists were expecting initial claims of 310,000 in the week.

The flash reading of Markit PMI manufacturing index fell to 56.30 in July, versus a prior reading of 57.30. However, economists were expecting a reading of 57.50.

Sales of new homes dropped 8.1% to an annual rate of 406,000 in June. However, economists were expecting a rate of 475,000.

The Kansas City Fed manufacturing index rose to 9.00 in July, versus a prior reading of 6.00. However, economists were expecting a reading of 6.00.

US natural-gas stockpiles increased 90 bcf last week, the Energy Information Administration reported.

Data on money supply will be released at 4:30 p.m. ET.

Posted-In: Earnings News Guidance Downgrades Eurozone Futures Price Target Commodities

© 2014 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

  Most Popular 4 Habits Of A Successful At-Home Trader Earnings Scheduled For July 24, 2014 Earnings Scheduled For July 23, 2014 Apple Shares Up Slightly Following Q3 Earnings, Bank Of America Comments Benzinga's M&A Chatter for Wednesday July 23, 2014 3 Business Tips From Pandora Founder Tim Westergren Related Articles (CLFD + BZSUM) U.S. Markets Trade Flat; Liberty Media Shares Surge On Senior Note Conversation Rate Change U.S. Markets Edge Higher; Facebook Shares Surge On Upbeat Results Markets Mostly Flat; Ford Posts Upbeat Profit Morning Market Losers

Yellen: Cheap oil is good for America

  Fed chief Yellen: Oil drop is 'positive' for U.S. NEW YORK (CNNMoney) The dramatic plunge in oil prices might be spooking some investors, but Janet Yellen isn't worried at all.

The Federal Reserve chief believes oil tumbling below $55 a barrel is like a tax cut for American consumers.

"From the standpoint of the U.S. and U.S. outlook, the decline we've seen in oil prices is likely to be, on net, a positive," said Yellen at a press conference on Wednesday.

"It's good for families, for households. It's putting more money in their pockets," she said.

Thanks to the oil price decline, drivers in at least 13 states around the country can now find gas for cheaper than $2 a gallon.

Cheaper energy also translates to lower expenses for many U.S. businesses, especially ones in the transportation industry like airlines.

Yellen acknowledged that the plunge in oil prices may cause cutbacks in the drilling industry, which is likely to slow capital spending for wells that aren't profitable in the current environment.

However, the Fed chief noted that despite the shale boom, the U.S. is still a net importer of oil. That means cheaper prices are good for the overall economy.

"On balance, I would see these developments as a positive," she said.

Yellen also alluded to how the energy shakeout is creating shockwaves overseas, especially in Russia where the ruble has plunged.

While the Fed is "monitoring potential spillovers" to the U.S. economy from the turmoil in Russia, Yellen said the trade and financial linkages to Moscow are "relatively small."

1 in 3 Americans Are Shopping Online at Work

Goodluz/Shutterstock Americans give multiple reasons for shopping online from work, such as keeping purchases secret, not having time outside of work to shop and a faster Internet connection. But it comes with risks, too. That's the conclusion of a recent survey by legal information website FindLaw.com, where 35 percent of Americans said the shopped online at work. Stephanie Rahlfs of FindLaw in a statement warned that shopping online while at work could give employers grounds for discipline or termination. Most workplaces have policies restricting employees' use of the company Internet for personal uses. In addition, even if such policies are not explicitly stated, it's a safe bet that most employers would frown on employees cyber-shopping on company time. Just how much time is online shopping sucking out of the work day? According to Ebates, 16 percent of Americans said they spend an hour or two each week shopping online at work, while 14 percent spend three to four hours a week, and 4 percent said they spend a decent chunk of their work time, five to seven hours per week, online shopping from their office. Mashable offers this advice: "How to Shop Discreetly at Work." Some Leniency According to Cleveland.com, some employers are lenient when it comes to their employees' online shopping, as long as they're not spending an exorbitant amount of time. "One of the reasons most employers are lenient regarding shopping at work is that senior management is more likely than their rank-and-file employees to do the shopping," Ryan Hunt, senior career adviser at CareerBuilder in Chicago, said in an email to Cleveland.com. Robert Half Technology, an international information technology staffing company, recently asked employers about their company policy regarding online shopping. Here's what they said: 27 percent of employers allow their employees unrestricted online shopping access. 42 percent allow some access but monitor the online shopping for excessive use. 30 percent of employers block access to online shopping sites. "It is part of a growing trend allowing more flexibility, to increase not only employee satisfaction, but ultimately employee productivity while at work," Eric Younkin, Cleveland branch manager for Robert Half Technology, told Cleveland.com.

Tina Fey's sitcom moves from NBC to Netflix

"30 Rock" creator Tina Fey's next television series will be on Netflix. NEW YORK (CNNMoney) "30 Rock" creator Tina Fey's next television series won't be coming to NBC, after all -- it'll be on Netflix.

The sitcom, called "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt," will debut on the streaming TV service in March 2015.

This arrangement, announced Friday, illustrates how the lines have blurred between traditional TV networks and newfangled options like Netflix (NFLX, Tech30). It comes a few months after a canceled NBC sitcom, "Community," was resuscitated by Yahoo, and just one day after Netflix revived the canceled A&E drama "Longmire."

In this case, NBCUniversal's studio, Universal Television, was the production company behind "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt," and it was scheduled to premiere on the NBC broadcast network sometime in the spring.

Now, it'll still be produced by Universal -- so NBCUniversal will still make money from the show -- but Netflix will stream the show instead.

In a coup for Fey and her co-creator Robert Carlock, Netflix has committed to two seasons of 13 episodes. NBC had previously only committed to one season.

The deal is a coup for Netflix, too, since it gives the streaming service a high-profile comedy series to promote.

"It makes a lot of sense for Netflix to want to be in the Tina Fey business, to me," NPR pop culture writer Linda Holmes wrote. "They haven't got a foothold in real comedy, do they?" (Netflix's closest show to it is "Orange is the New Black.")

Since it's on Netflix, the entire first season of "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" will debut at the same time, so viewers can binge-watch it if they choose.

Fey and Carlock's "30 Rock" ended its NBC run in January 2013. The pair said in a statement that they're thrilled to have "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" "exclusively on Netflix, which has proven to be such an outstanding place for distinctive, original programming." But they added, "We grew up at NBC and will continue to develop broadcast projects with them as well."

Robert Greenblatt, the chairman of NBC Entertainment, explained the NBC-to-Netflix shift this way: "While it was originally developed for NBC, we have a very drama-heavy mid-season schedule so we're thrilled about this Netflix op! portunity; it's an instant win-win for everyone, including Tina, Robert, and Universal Television."

Fey will not star in the new show, she will only work on it behind the scenes. Netflix says the sitcom will star Ellie Kemper, previously a star of NBC's "The Office," as "a woman who escapes from a doomsday cult and starts life over in New York."

Sterne Agee Rolls up the Yoga Mat on Lululemon

We've long wondered why even after ticking off consumers and the general female population at large, luxury yoga wear and apparel maker Lululemon Athletica (LULU) remained such a darling among analysts.

It appears that thread may be wearing thin at Sterne, Agee & Leach. A few days ago, Sam Poser fired off a zinger on the news Lululemon was donating to the Dalai Lama Center for Peace & Education.

Poser is at it again today and downgraded Lululemon from Neutral to Underperform in a note. Poser writes:

 The Lululemon brand has been damaged due to the many events of 2013 and the uninspiring tenure thus far of the new CEO. Many customers have left and it’s hard to get them back, especially given the focus on the women’s active apparel business from brands such as Nike (NKE) and Under Armour (UA), and retailers such as Athleta, Sweaty Betty, Victoria’s Secret, and others which have bitten into Lululemon. Low-single digit same-store sales are likely through 2015; such sales growth does not warrant anything more than a 20 times multiple.

Lululemon is down 0.3% to $45.06 this afternoon.

Google Calendar now auto-creates events and appointments from Gmail

The new Google Calendar is now available for Android devices. NEW YORK (CNNMoney) Google Calendar is becoming more like a personal assistant.

A new version of the popular calendar app is now available for users of the new Android Lollipop operating system, Google announced Monday.

The biggest new feature is that the app can now scan your email and automatically create new events based on incoming messages. That means when you do things like buy concert tickets or book a flight, they'll show up right away on your calendar.

The events will update on your calendar if you receive additional emails about them -- for example, a notification that your flight's been delayed.

The new Calendar app will also make auto-complete suggestions based on previous events, and it automatically includes photos of where the event will take place.

The app will work on all devices running Android 4.1 or later, with an update coming in the Google Play store within a few weeks. The company says it's still at work on a version for iPhone.

Google (GOOGL, Tech30) also recently released a new version of its Gmail mobile app, which now lets you manage accounts from alternative email providers. Lollipop, meanwhile, is available for a handful of new devices, and will become available more widely in the coming months as hardware makers incorporate it into their designs.

GoPro’s Q3 Has Been A Promising One

The digital-sports camera maker, GoPro (GPRO), went public this June and in fact this was the first-quarter earnings release after its formal IPO. Last Thursday, after the company disclosed its third-quarter results, analysts cheered and GoPro's shares which had gone down tumbling in early October surged 19% to a high of $81.13 making investors throw a sigh of relief. So is there a growing demand for GoPro's product mix? How did it fare in the third quarter – was it so impressive as indicated through the stock movement. Let's peek into the quarter highlights to derive the final answer.

The quarter numbers

Revenue came in to $280 million versus $266 million estimated by Wall Street analysts. The top line is up 46% compared to the year-ago quarter, and 14.5% up sequentially on the strength of its new camera lineup, including Hero4, which produces 4-K quality video. The company also released updates to GoPro Studio and the GoPro App, including HiLight Tag and Flux.

Earnings were at $0.12 a share, which outpaced the analysts' expectations by $0.04 a share during the quarter.

The adjusted EBITDA was up by a whopping 320% year-over-year to $36.2 million. That makes it 41% up on a sequential basis. GoPro reported a remarkable hike of 101% in terms of cash flow generated from operations in the quarter which stood at $47 million, from $23.4 million reported in the similar quarter last year. Also cash and equivalents balance showed strength this quarter with $237.7 million as cash balance at the end of the quarter which was about 400% increment from $47.6 million in the similar quarter last year.

Demand for Hero4 – a prime contributor

The company cited data from research firm NPD Group that showed GoPro products accounted for the top three camera units sold in the U.S. in September, and seven of the top 10 such products sold during the month. Analysts have opined that the demand saw a further boost after the company released the Hero4 camera into the market.

According to some analysts unit growth was spectacular and was 33% higher year-over-year, which is a huge improvement from the second quarter of the fiscal year.

GoPro's CEO and founder Nicholas Woodman stated, "The global scale and execution of our HERO4 launch made this the most successful rollout in GoPro's history… HERO4 pushes the performance envelope of our Emmy Award-winning capture technology. Advancements in our desktop and mobile content management applications continue to make it easier for our customers to create and share compelling content stories that go on to virally drive awareness and demand for our business. This positions us well for an exciting holiday season."

Stock movement has been eye-popping

Since the company went public in June at $24, the stock price did barely take a breather, and has moved up around 238% over the last four months. This shows that the company has been competent enough to create a winning streak.

The best part has been the 27% slide in share price in October, which was followed by 7.5% spike in share price in after-hours trading on Thursday after the earnings release. This indicates that the company has done exceptionally well this quarter.

To conclude

GoPro shares have been trading only for the past four months in the U.S. stock exchange, but its investors have every right to rejoice as the company's products are gaining traction in the U.S. market. Hero4 launch has earmarked the winning edge for the company which has to regularly face challenges from rival companies. So let's stay tuned and keep an eye on the forward moves of GoPro in the coming quarter.

About the author:reports.droyWe are a group of analysts exploring and analyzing different domains of business and writing reviews based on information available in public domain web portals. We do not hold any stock or investment position in any of the companies that we write for.

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The Hang Seng closed 0.41% higher while the Nikkei jumped 1.95%.  The Dow and S&P 500 closed at record highs on Monday amid Chinese capital markets reforms and a mostly peaceful weekend vote in Ukraine. -- By Jane Searle in New York  Stock quotes in this article: TTWO, PFE, GOOG, AZN, RDEN, FSL, ^DJI, ^IXIC, ^GSPC  Thursday, October 23, 2014 Market Wrap-up for Oct. 23 – Shopping for Retailers Major U.S. equity indexes appear to have found some stable footing after enduring a steep one-month correction that wiped out nine months worth of gains for the S&P 500. In light of the equally impressive rebound we’ve seen since the trading frenzy on October 15th, it would appear that stocks are gearing up for another leg higher as we enter the final stretch of the year. Looking ahead, the start of November marks the “Best Six Months” period according to the Stock Trader’s Almanac; the period spanning the months of November through April has historically been the most favorable time period for domestic equities. Also consider that gas prices have dipped in recent weeks and the jobs market has been slowly, but steadily, improving, and we have two tailwinds that fundamentally resonate well for consumer spending. The Best Brands for Dividends Now, consider the quickly approaching holiday shopping season, the two fundamental factors mentioned above, as well as the “Best Six Months” period. Put another way, now might be an opportune time for investors who are looking to put their cash to work to consider some popular retailers. More specifically, we think it’s worthwhile to focus on the companies that have a history of bringing in shoppers as well as rewarding shareholders [see also Best Global Brands that Pay Dividends]. With that in mind, the table below features 10 well-known consumer goods and retail companies that also boast a solid dividend history: Ticker Name Years of Dividend Increases (VFC) V.F. Corporation 41 (TIF) Tiffany & Co. 4 (TJX) TJX Companies 17 (JWN) Nordstrom Inc. 4 (M) Macy’s 3 (GPS) The Gap Inc. 4 (AAPL) Apple Inc. 1 (BBY) Best Buy 2 (COH) Coach, Inc. 5 (NKE) Nike Inc. 5 While you may not have heard of V.F. Corporation (VFC), this dividend-payer not only boasts an impressive track record, but is also the force behind some very popular clothing brands, including: The North Face, Timberland, Wrangler, and licensed MLB and NFL apparel. 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