Today, 127 companies set a new 52-week low. Of these companies, these are the companies that look interesting based on my initial research:
AOL Inc (AOL, Financial)
AOL offers its users numerous free services, e-mail, instant messenger, financial information, news, search, and a variety of community platforms. Advertising on AOL and third-party sites represents about 50% of revenue. The remaining revenue is primarily generated from its legacy dialup Internet access business.
Anadarko Petroleum (APC, Financial)
Anadarko is one of the largest independent exploration and production companies in North America. Its asset base is characterized by domestic, onshore natural gas and deep-water exploration, primarily in the Gulf of Mexico and Africa. In 2009, average daily production was 3.6 billion cubic feet equivalent per day, weighted 62% toward natural gas, and reserves totaled 13.7 bcfe.
Alliant Techsystems (ATK, Financial)
Alliant Techsystems manufactures weapons, ammunition, and space systems for the U.S. government and allies. It operates in four divisions: aerospace systems, armament systems, missile products, and security and sporting. The company employs more than 17,000 people in the U.S. and internationally. Alliant is the leading supplier of bullets to the U.S. military, and the producer of the rockets found on NASA's space shuttles.
BP Plc (BP, Financial)
BP is global integrated oil and gas company with operations across six continents. BP's upstream operations produced 4.0 million barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2009. Downstream operations include refineries with 2.7 million barrels per day of capacity, petrochemical plants, and retail marketing operations with 22,600 service stations.
Brink’s Company (BCO, Financial)
The Brink’s Company is a provider of secure transportation, cash logistics and other security-related services to banks and financial institutions, retailers, government agencies, mints, jewelers and other commercial operations worldwide. The Company’s international network serves customers in more than 50 countries and employs approximately 59,400 people. Its operations include approximately 875 facilities and 10,500 vehicles. 71% of its revenues are from outside North America.
Bolt Technology (BOLT, Financial)
Bolt Technology Corporation is a leading worldwide developer and manufacturer of seismic energy sources, seismic energy source controllers and synchronizers and underwater connectors used in offshore seismic exploration for oil and gas.
Cameco (CCJ, Financial)
Canada-based Cameco is an integrated nuclear energy company involved in uranium mining, conversion services, and power generation. The company is the world's largest uranium producer and owns some of the richest deposits. Cameco participates in power generation through a stake in Bruce Power, a large Canadian nuclear power facility. Cameco also owns stakes in Centerra Gold, a publicly traded gold miner, and GLE, a uranium enrichment company.
Calamos Asset Management (CLMS, Financial)
Calamos provides investment management advice and services to institutional and individual investors. The firm offers more than a dozen mutual funds and five closed-end funds, as well as separately managed accounts. Two of the firm's funds--Calamos Growth and Calamos Growth and Income--account for more than 40% of AUM.
First American Financial (FAF)
First American is the United States' second-largest title insurer and also offers similar products internationally. The firm also has a small presence in specialty insurance, primarily homeowners and home warranty insurance.
FBR Capital Markets (FBCM)
FBR Capital Markets is an indirect taxable REIT, a subsidiary of Friedman, Billings, Ramsey & Co, a full-service investment banking, trading, research and asset management firm. By separating the capital markets and asset management businesses, FBR Group created FBR Capital Markets to allow investors to invest in the capital markets business at FBR.
Nomura Holdings (NMR)
With almost $329 billion in assets as of Dec. 31, 2009, Nomura Holdings is the largest securities and investment banking firm in Japan. Its primary lines of business include retail investment services, fixed-income and equity trading, mergers and acquisition advisory services, merchant banking, and asset management. Nomura was founded in Osaka, Japan, in 1925 by Tokushichi Nomura II. The company is currently based in Tokyo.
Nokia Corporation (NOK)
Nokia is the world's largest manufacturer of mobile devices and a leader in mobile network equipment and software. The company's mobile phones provide consumers with experiences in voice, video, gaming, navigation, imaging, and music. Through its 50%-owned Nokia Siemens Networks joint venture, the company provides equipment and services to network operators, service providers, and corporations.
RailAmerica (RA)
RailAmerica is an owner and operator of short line and regional freight railroads in North America, operating a portfolio of 40 individual railroads with approximately 7,400 miles of track in 27 Unites States and three Canadian provinces. During the year ended December 31, 2009, its railroads transported over 800,000 carloads of freight for approximately 1,500 customers, hauling a range of products, such as farm and food products, lumber and forest products, paper and paper products, metals, chemicals and coal. The Company provides its freight services under a contract or similar arrangement with either the customer located on its rail line or the connecting Class I railroad. Contracts and arrangements vary in terms of duration, pricing and volume requirements
Sharps Compliance (SMED)
Sharps Compliance is a provider of solutions for the proper disposal of medical waste by industry and consumers.
Tejon Ranch (TRC)
Tejon Ranch owns around 270,000 acres of land north of Los Angeles. Although at one time used almost exclusively for agricultural purposes, the majority of income is now earned through transactions related to real estate. The company owns and operates an industrial complex on the land, which leases space to industrial and commercial users, as well as ranching and recreational facilities. Agricultural operations still produce significant portions of revenue, earned through the sale of fruits, vegetables and nuts to commercial buyers
Toyota Motor (TM)
Toyota Motor has grown to become the world's largest automaker. Its brands include Toyota, Lexus, Scion, and Hino, and market share in Japan is over 45% while U.S. share is about 17%. The firm also owns nearly 23% of Denso, a parts supplier. Toyota sold 7.6 million vehicles in fiscal 2009; automotive sales were JPY 19.2 trillion. Toyota also has a financing arm, holds ownership in telecommunications firm KDDI, and manufactures homes.
Transocean (RIG)
Transocean is an offshore drilling company. Its fleet of 138 vessels includes drillships, semisubmersibles, and jackups, which operate in technically demanding environments, such as Brazil, Nigeria, and Italy. It contracts primarily with some of the largest global exploration and production companies. In November 2007, Transocean completed a merger with offshore driller GlobalSantaFe in a $53 billion cash and stock transaction.
Disclosure: The author holds shares in BCO.
AOL Inc (AOL, Financial)
AOL offers its users numerous free services, e-mail, instant messenger, financial information, news, search, and a variety of community platforms. Advertising on AOL and third-party sites represents about 50% of revenue. The remaining revenue is primarily generated from its legacy dialup Internet access business.
Anadarko Petroleum (APC, Financial)
Anadarko is one of the largest independent exploration and production companies in North America. Its asset base is characterized by domestic, onshore natural gas and deep-water exploration, primarily in the Gulf of Mexico and Africa. In 2009, average daily production was 3.6 billion cubic feet equivalent per day, weighted 62% toward natural gas, and reserves totaled 13.7 bcfe.
Alliant Techsystems (ATK, Financial)
Alliant Techsystems manufactures weapons, ammunition, and space systems for the U.S. government and allies. It operates in four divisions: aerospace systems, armament systems, missile products, and security and sporting. The company employs more than 17,000 people in the U.S. and internationally. Alliant is the leading supplier of bullets to the U.S. military, and the producer of the rockets found on NASA's space shuttles.
BP Plc (BP, Financial)
BP is global integrated oil and gas company with operations across six continents. BP's upstream operations produced 4.0 million barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2009. Downstream operations include refineries with 2.7 million barrels per day of capacity, petrochemical plants, and retail marketing operations with 22,600 service stations.
Brink’s Company (BCO, Financial)
The Brink’s Company is a provider of secure transportation, cash logistics and other security-related services to banks and financial institutions, retailers, government agencies, mints, jewelers and other commercial operations worldwide. The Company’s international network serves customers in more than 50 countries and employs approximately 59,400 people. Its operations include approximately 875 facilities and 10,500 vehicles. 71% of its revenues are from outside North America.
Bolt Technology (BOLT, Financial)
Bolt Technology Corporation is a leading worldwide developer and manufacturer of seismic energy sources, seismic energy source controllers and synchronizers and underwater connectors used in offshore seismic exploration for oil and gas.
Cameco (CCJ, Financial)
Canada-based Cameco is an integrated nuclear energy company involved in uranium mining, conversion services, and power generation. The company is the world's largest uranium producer and owns some of the richest deposits. Cameco participates in power generation through a stake in Bruce Power, a large Canadian nuclear power facility. Cameco also owns stakes in Centerra Gold, a publicly traded gold miner, and GLE, a uranium enrichment company.
Calamos Asset Management (CLMS, Financial)
Calamos provides investment management advice and services to institutional and individual investors. The firm offers more than a dozen mutual funds and five closed-end funds, as well as separately managed accounts. Two of the firm's funds--Calamos Growth and Calamos Growth and Income--account for more than 40% of AUM.
First American Financial (FAF)
First American is the United States' second-largest title insurer and also offers similar products internationally. The firm also has a small presence in specialty insurance, primarily homeowners and home warranty insurance.
FBR Capital Markets (FBCM)
FBR Capital Markets is an indirect taxable REIT, a subsidiary of Friedman, Billings, Ramsey & Co, a full-service investment banking, trading, research and asset management firm. By separating the capital markets and asset management businesses, FBR Group created FBR Capital Markets to allow investors to invest in the capital markets business at FBR.
Nomura Holdings (NMR)
With almost $329 billion in assets as of Dec. 31, 2009, Nomura Holdings is the largest securities and investment banking firm in Japan. Its primary lines of business include retail investment services, fixed-income and equity trading, mergers and acquisition advisory services, merchant banking, and asset management. Nomura was founded in Osaka, Japan, in 1925 by Tokushichi Nomura II. The company is currently based in Tokyo.
Nokia Corporation (NOK)
Nokia is the world's largest manufacturer of mobile devices and a leader in mobile network equipment and software. The company's mobile phones provide consumers with experiences in voice, video, gaming, navigation, imaging, and music. Through its 50%-owned Nokia Siemens Networks joint venture, the company provides equipment and services to network operators, service providers, and corporations.
RailAmerica (RA)
RailAmerica is an owner and operator of short line and regional freight railroads in North America, operating a portfolio of 40 individual railroads with approximately 7,400 miles of track in 27 Unites States and three Canadian provinces. During the year ended December 31, 2009, its railroads transported over 800,000 carloads of freight for approximately 1,500 customers, hauling a range of products, such as farm and food products, lumber and forest products, paper and paper products, metals, chemicals and coal. The Company provides its freight services under a contract or similar arrangement with either the customer located on its rail line or the connecting Class I railroad. Contracts and arrangements vary in terms of duration, pricing and volume requirements
Sharps Compliance (SMED)
Sharps Compliance is a provider of solutions for the proper disposal of medical waste by industry and consumers.
Tejon Ranch (TRC)
Tejon Ranch owns around 270,000 acres of land north of Los Angeles. Although at one time used almost exclusively for agricultural purposes, the majority of income is now earned through transactions related to real estate. The company owns and operates an industrial complex on the land, which leases space to industrial and commercial users, as well as ranching and recreational facilities. Agricultural operations still produce significant portions of revenue, earned through the sale of fruits, vegetables and nuts to commercial buyers
Toyota Motor (TM)
Toyota Motor has grown to become the world's largest automaker. Its brands include Toyota, Lexus, Scion, and Hino, and market share in Japan is over 45% while U.S. share is about 17%. The firm also owns nearly 23% of Denso, a parts supplier. Toyota sold 7.6 million vehicles in fiscal 2009; automotive sales were JPY 19.2 trillion. Toyota also has a financing arm, holds ownership in telecommunications firm KDDI, and manufactures homes.
Transocean (RIG)
Transocean is an offshore drilling company. Its fleet of 138 vessels includes drillships, semisubmersibles, and jackups, which operate in technically demanding environments, such as Brazil, Nigeria, and Italy. It contracts primarily with some of the largest global exploration and production companies. In November 2007, Transocean completed a merger with offshore driller GlobalSantaFe in a $53 billion cash and stock transaction.
Disclosure: The author holds shares in BCO.
