Hot Financial Companies To Own For 2014

U.S. securities regulators issued a proposal requiring private venues including dark pools to release more data, including weekly volume reports and disclosures on how much trading of each stock they handle.

The rules, if approved by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, would shed light on operators that have historically faced no obligation to publicly report their market share, so information has either been self-reported or estimated by analysts. The shift applies to dark pools and venues known as alternative trading systems, not the transactions broker-dealers handle within their walls via a process called internalization.

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, the private-sector overseer of U.S. brokerages, announced the proposed rules in a filing dated yesterday. If approved, Finra would start releasing data to the public on a two- or four-week delay depending on the stock. The decision comes as the SEC prepares to publicly release its reports on U.S. trading amid criticism regulators haven�� kept up with changes in modern markets.

Top Prefered Stocks To Own For 2015: Golub Capital BDC Inc (GBDC)

Golub Capital BDC, Inc. (Golub Capital BDC), incorporated on November 9, 2009, is an externally managed, closed-end, non-diversified management investment company. The Company's investment objective is to generate current income and capital appreciation by investing primarily in senior secured, one stop, second lien, subordinated loans of, and warrants and minority equity securities in, United States middle market companies. The Company seeks to create a diverse portfolio that includes senior secured, one stop, second lien and subordinated loans and warrants and minority equity securities by primarily investing in the securities of United States middle market companies. The Company's investment activities are managed by the Company's investment adviser, GC Advisors LLC (GC Advisors).

The Company seeks to generate risk-adjusted net returns by assembling a diversified portfolio of investments across a broad range of industries and private equity investors. The Company seeks to create a diverse portfolio that includes senior secured, one stop, second lien and subordinated loans and warrants and minority equity securities by primarily investing on average, in the securities of United States middle market companies. The Company primarily targets United States middle markets companies controlled by private equity investors that require capital for growth, acquisitions, recapitalizations, refinancings and leveraged buyouts. The Company may also make opportunistic loans to independently owned and publicly held middle market companies. The Company focuses on senior secured loans and one stops investments, given the principal protection from the first lien security interest associated with such loans.

Senior Secured Loans

The Company structures these investments as senior secured loans. The Company obtains security interests in the assets of the portfolio company that serve as collateral in support of the repayment of such loans. This collateral may take the form of! first-priority liens on the assets of the portfolio company borrower. The Company's senior secured loans may provide for moderate loan amortization in the early years of the loan, with the majority of the amortization deferred until loan maturity.

One Stop Loans

The Company structures its one stop loans as senior secured loans. The Company obtains security interests in the assets of the portfolio company that serve as collateral in support of the repayment of these loans. This collateral may take the form of first-priority liens on the assets of the portfolio company. One stop loans typically provide for moderate loan amortization in the initial years of the facility, with the majority of the amortization deferred until loan maturity. One stop loans generally allow the borrower to make a lump sum payment of principal at the end of the loan term, and there is a risk of loss if the borrower is unable to pay the lump sum or refinance the amount owed at maturity.

Second Lien Loans

The Company structures these investments as junior, secured loans. The Company obtains security interests in the assets of the portfolio company that serve as collateral in support of the repayment of such loans. This collateral may take the form of second priority liens on the assets of a portfolio company. Second lien loans typically provide for moderate loan amortization in the initial years of the facility, with the majority of the amortization deferred until loan maturity.

Subordinated Loans

1The Company structures these investments as unsecured, subordinated loans that provide for relatively high, fixed interests rates that provide the Company with interest income. These loans typically have interest-only payments (often representing a combination of cash pay and payment-in-kind, or PIK, interest) with amortization of principal deferred until loan maturity.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Monica Gerson]

  Golub Capital BDC (NASDAQ: GBDC) dipped 2.88% to $17.89 in pre-market trading after the company announced a public offering of 3.5 million shares of its common stock.

• [By GuruFocus]

  SVP and CFO Michael D James bought 2,500 shares of GMAN stock on 12/17/2013 at the average price of 7.1. Michael D James owns at least 69,158 shares after this. The price of the stock has increased by 6.9% since.

  Golub Capital BDC, Inc. (GBDC): CEO, 10% Owner David Golub Bought 5,000 Shares

  CEO, 10% Owner of Golub Capital BDC, Inc. (GBDC) David Golub bought 5,000 shares on 12/23/2013 at an average price of $18.71. Golub Capital BDC, Inc. was formed in November 2009. Golub Capital Bdc, Inc. has a market cap of $810.256 million; its shares were traded at around $18.71 with a P/E ratio of 13.90 and P/S ratio of 7.70. The dividend yield of Golub Capital Bdc, Inc. stocks is 6.84%.

• [By Jordan Wathen]

  Alas, Eliasek's second comment about making sure the assets are qualifying rules out a senior secured lending program -- a strategy employed by competitors including Golub Capital� (NASDAQ: GBDC  ) and Ares Capital� (NASDAQ: ARCC  ) .

Hot Financial Companies To Own For 2014: Franklin Universal Trust (FT)

Franklin Universal Trust (the Fund) is a diversified, closed-end investment company. The Fund�� primary investment objective is to provide high current income consistent with preservation of capital. Its secondary objective is growth of income through dividend increases and capital appreciation. The Fund invests primarily in two asset classes: high-yield bonds and utility stocks.

The Fund invests in sectors, such as non-energy minerals, utilities, commercial services, communications, consumer durables, consumer non-durables, electronic technology, industrial services, process industries, technology services and transportation. The Fund may invest in the Franklin Institutional Fiduciary Trust Money Market Portfolio (the Sweep Money Fund), an open-end investment company managed by its investment manager. The Fund may invest in restricted securities. The Fund�� investment manager is Franklin Advisers Inc. Its administrative manager is Franklin Templeton Services, LLC.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Canadian Value]

  (FT): Russia's central bank has warned that Russia's consumer lending sector threatens the country's "financial stability", the same day that it revoked the licence of Master Bank, a midsized retail lender.

Hot Financial Companies To Own For 2014: ProAssurance Corporation(PRA)

ProAssurance Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides medical and other professional liability insurance products to health care service, legal service, and other professional service providers in the United States. It primarily offers its products to physicians, dentists, chiropractors, optometrists, and allied health professionals. The company markets its products through an internal sales force, as well as independent agents. ProAssurance Corporation was founded in 1976 and is based in Birmingham, Alabama.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Duprey]

  Specialty insurance company�ProAssurance� (NYSE: PRA  ) �announced yesterday�its second-quarter dividend of $0.25 per share, the same rate it's paid since it initiated a payout in 2011.

• [By Lauren Pollock]

  ProAssurance Corp.(PRA) agreed to acquire Eastern Insurance Holdings Inc.(EIHI) for about $205 million, expanding the insurance company’s casualty insurance offerings. Eastern Insurance is a domestic casualty insurance group specializing in workers’ compensation products and services, among other things. ProAssurance plans to pay $24.50 in cash for each outstanding Eastern share, a 16% premium over Monday’s closing price.

Hot Financial Companies To Own For 2014: ING Groep NV (INGA)

ING Groep N.V. (ING) is a global financial institution offering banking, investments, life insurance and retirement services to meet the needs of the customers. The Company�� segments include banking and insurance. Banking segment includes retail Netherlands, retail Belgium, ING direct, retail central Europe (CE), retail Asia, commercial banking (excluding real estate), ING real estate and corporate line banking. Insurance segment includes insurance Benelux, insurance central and rest of Europe (CRE), insurance United States (US), Insurance US closed block VA, insurance Asia/Pacific, ING investment management (IM) and corporate line insurance. In November 2013, the Company completed the sale of ING Hipotecaria to Banco Santander (Mexico), S.A. In December 2013, the Company completed the sale of its 33.3% interest in China Merchants Fund to its joint venture partners China Merchants Bank Co Ltd and China Merchants Securities Co Ltd, and divested ING Life Korea to MBK Partners. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sofia Horta e Costa]

  ING (INGA), which received a 10 billion-euro government bailout in 2008, gained 5.1 percent to 8.26 euros. Underlying pretax profit for the banking unit rose 14 percent to 1.15 billion euros in the second quarter as the interest margin improved and cost cuts paid off, the biggest Dutch financial-services company said.