Barron’s summary: positive on Ford, BC, CMI
Cover Story: Strong exports and dynamic economies have put Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand-taken together-on the path to becoming the "New China"; Their collective economies are smaller than China's, but their collective annual output, at $641B last year, equals that of China 20 years ago; Among other attractions are low wages, prompting foreign companies to pressure Chinese suppliers to set up shop in these countries; Funds and ETFs are the easiest way to play the New China (+ MSMLX, WAFMX, THD, VNM), in addition to some stocks (+Vietnam Dairy Products, Kinh Do, Hoa Phat Group, Land & Houses, Thai Union Frozen Products).Features: Positive on F: Automaker had a rough year due to high warranty costs, poor results in Russia and South America, and lost production during F-150 transition, but the new aluminum model of the iconic truck should give the company a boost, and shares could rise 30%; Positive on BC: Leading maker of recreational powerboats and marine engines in the U.S. has undergone a major restructuring, recently posting a 13% rise in revenue and an earnings win, and stands poised to benefit as economy grows and consumer confidence rises; shares could rise 20% or more; Positive on CMI: Worry about competition facing maker of diesel and natural-gas truck engines, which has sent shares down, appears overdone, and they could rise by as much as 15% over the next year.Tech Trader: Cautious on T, VZ, CMCSA, NFLX: Columnist Alexander Eule says President Obama's statement in support of net neutrality has created turmoil on Wall Street; some analysts feel full imposition of Title II regulations would be a disaster for the cable and telecom industries and are calling for a less onerous approach.Trader: Positive on HAL, BHI: A merger would bring large synergies, says Alexander Roepers of Atlantic Investment Management, but Baker Hughes would be hard-pressed to approve a deal at less than $75 per share, where the stock was just a few months ago; "A low-yielding Treasury market appears to be in the cards for 2015's first half, which makes stocks more attractive; Cautious on ANET: At current valuation, stock will meet expectations for the next few quarters, but growth is likely to slow.Small Caps: Positive on BHLB: Share price of the bank, one of New England's largest, has been restrained over concerns about its ability to do more deals due to relatively low capital base, but a solid acquisition could lead to a 15% rally.Mutual Funds: Interview with Dennis Lynch, Portfolio Manager, Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund Growth Portfolio (top ten holdings: FB, AMZN, ILMN, TWTR, ISRG, GOOG, PCLN, TSLA, GOOGL, CRM). Special Report on the $2T ETF industry, which offers more than 1,600 products for investors. A panel, including Sam Katzman of Constellation Wealth Advisors, Terri Jacobsen of UBS, Frank Marzano of GM Advisory Group, and Ben Johnson of Morningstar discuss the best strategies for investors.European Trader: Positive on Casino Guichard Perrachon: French food retailer is in a sector that is seeing lower profits overall, but management has been quick to identify trends and re-focus operations, and investors could see a handsome payout.Asian Trader: In Japan, "there is some evidence that the value-added tax is undermining the stimulative effects of Abenomics, which combines central-bank easing with added government spending to try to get Japan's economy growing.”Emerging Markets: Though the Mexican government has adopted a number of finance, energy, and market reforms, investors should still expect setbacks as the economy improves.Commodities: "U.S. cattle futures have posted some of the biggest gains among commodities this year, and the rally looks to be far from over.”Follow-Up: Cautious on HAS: Partnering with DWA makes sense for toymaker, but since the studio has produced neither hits nor free cash lately, a buyout doesn't make sense, and could leave Hasbro saddled with significant debt and lower free cash flow; Positive on SRC: REIT that owns buildings used by retailers such as WMT and HD has restructured debt, improved credit quality, and diversified through acquisitions, and remains a good buy for investors.CEO Spotlight: Profile of MTN chief Robert Katz, who has created a new business model for the skiing business.Streetwise: Cautious on SHLD: Understanding the value of Sears' real estate would seem to be essential to investing in the stock, says Jacqueline Doherty, who calls for more disclosure from the retailer.