Barrons summary: positive on NEM; cautious on GE
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Features: 1) Cautious on GE: Investors welcomed conglomerate's move from real estate and consumer and commercial lending, but "shares look fully priced after a 14% jump"; 2) Positive on ADT, CFG, KLXI, POST, RSE: Among a range of recent spinoffs, these five are particularly promising, and each could be takeover targets; 3) Positive on NEM: Shares of mining company are down 70% from a November 2011 peak, but the world's No. 2 gold producer should see higher earnings this year even if gold falls further.
Tech Trader: Cautious on TC, STX, ARMH, MSFT: Tiernan Ray says it's likely all companies will miss consensus estimates when they report March-quarter revenue--providing a good opportunity to buy.
Trader: Uncertainty stemming from the Fed's guessing game about raising rates is weighing on investors; Study by Bespoke Investment Group finds that the stocks most hated by analysts tend to do better over long periods of time than the most-loved ones; Cautious on GWW: Shares are down because maintenance, repair, and operating-supplies distribution sector suffers in a low inflationary climate, but these headwinds won't matter for long-term investors looking for a high-quality business.
Small Caps: Positive on HRG: "Investment vehicle started by former hedge fund chieftain Phil Falcone looks like a good bet, notwithstanding Falcone's departure as CEO last December to run a smaller investment outfit."
Profile: Marc Dummer, manager, Principal Global Diversified Income, spends most of his time on portfolio construction, seeking the right mix of assets (allocation in descending order of size: U.S. high-yield bonds, commercial mortgage-backed securities, emerging market debt, global infrastructure, global value equities, preferred securities, global REIT, master limited partnerships, non-U.S. developed high yield).
Follow-Up: Positive on ACN: Consulting arm is benefiting from the push to digitize corporate operations, while outsourcing side has seen a boost as clients cut costs and improve productivity; Cautious on AVP: Despite a 40% drop in shares since last spring, company has made progress in reducing its cost structure, and earnings could potentially double as it moves past current pressures; Positive on CNK: Shares of world's largest movie-theater chain by attendance remain the best way to play Hollywood's ongoing strength as more blockbusters are released;
European Trader: Positive on BG Group: Energy company's tie-up with Royal Dutch Shell "looks more appealing than the stand-alone alternative"; Positive on FDX: Deal for TNT Express should work, since its European business is smaller than UPS's and it has a track record of successfully integrating acquisitions.
Asian Trader: The rally in Hong Kong seems to have legs, with Hong Kong-listed Chinese stocks 23% cheaper than their Shanghai clones.
Emerging Markets: Malaysia "has become the forgotten market in Asia for good reason" as it contends with dropping oil prices and a range of other problems that aren't likely to be resolved soon;
Commodities: Lead prices are on the rebound amid expectations of limited supplies of the metal;
Streetwise: "The market could bounce higher if first-quarter results come in above reduced targets."