I. Introduction – The Capital Raise Details

We begin with a quick review of the capital raise.

Tesla’s (NASDAQ:TSLA) agreement with its underwriters called for issuance of 1,335,978 shares, with an over-allotment option of up to 200,281 shares, all to be sold at $262.

That option was exercised, so the total share issuance was 1,536,259, resulting in total proceeds (after costs) of $400 million.

Additionally, the underwriters agreed to sell $850 million of 2.375% convertible notes due March 15, 2022, with an over-allotment option for up to an additional 127.5 million of such notes.

It’s unclear whether or to what extent the underwriters have exercised the over-allotment options on the notes (and the option period runs through April 20).

Let’s assume the underwriters also exercise options on the notes. Tesla’s net proceeds from the notes would then be about $967 million, for total net proceeds (stock plus notes) of about $1.37 billion.

However, Tesla entered into hedges, courtesy of its investment banker underwriters, who are collecting trading fees and, most likely, are also the counterparties. Netting the costs and receipts from the hedging, the net cost of the hedges will be close to $150 million.

Top 10 High Tech Stocks To Buy Right Now: Methanex Corporation(MEOH)

Advisors’ Opinion:

• [By Jim Robertson]

  Back in February of last year, we suggested Methanex Corporation (MEOH), which ended up providing us with some pretty good gains in a fairly short amount of time, and based on what’s happening with the stock technically right now, it could be another gainer over the next several days to few weeks.

• [By Stephan Byrd]

  Advisors Preferred LLC bought a new stake in shares of Methanex (NASDAQ:MEOH) (TSE:MX) in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm bought 1,703 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock, valued at approximately $103,000.

• [By VantagePoint]

  Methanex Corporation (NASDAQ: MEOH) has experienced some recent weakness, but according to the chart below the stock is still in a clear uptrend. Since experiencing a bullish crossover on March 16 following some consolidation, the stock is up 20 percent. Look out for its next earnings report on April 26. 

Top 10 High Tech Stocks To Buy Right Now: US Ecology, Inc.(ECOL)

Advisors’ Opinion:

• [By Ethan Ryder]

  US Ecology (NASDAQ: ECOL) and Republic Services (NYSE:RSG) are both business services companies, but which is the superior stock? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, analyst recommendations, risk, profitability, institutional ownership, valuation and earnings.

• [By Maxx Chatsko]

  Success can be defined as small wins that accumulate over time. That definition helps to put the slow-and-steady progress made by US Ecology (NASDAQ:ECOL) in the first quarter of 2018 into perspective. Revenue and profits grew for both of the environmental services leader’s segments compared to the prior-year period, which resulted in another solid quarter.

Top 10 High Tech Stocks To Buy Right Now: Franco-Nevada Corporation(FNV)

Advisors’ Opinion:

• [By Reuben Gregg Brewer]

  Gold streaming company Franco-Nevada Corporation (NYSE:FNV) offers investors a unique way to gain exposure to precious metals, but when you compare it to peers Royal Gold, Inc. (NASDAQ:RGLD) and Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. (NYSE:WPM)it looks relatively expensive. That said, if you are looking to gold for diversification you might still find that Franco-Nevada Corporation stock is a buy.

• [By Alex McGuire]

  This list ranks gold dividend stocks in the mining sector by dividend yield. And it also includes one of our top gold stock recommendations of 2017…

  Gold Dividend Stock Share Price Year-to-Date Performance Dividend Yield (as of June 30)
  DRDGOLD Ltd. (NYSE ADR: DRD) $3.19 -39.7% 10.24%
  Sibanye Gold Ltd. (NYSE ADR: SBGL) $4.70 -33.4% 5.98%
  Harmony Gold Mining Co. (NYSE ADR: HMY) $1.62 -26.7% 4.56%
  Gold Fields Limited (NYSE ADR: GFI) $3.41 +13.3% 2.73%
  Randgold Resources Ltd. (Nasdaq ADR: GOLD) $87.68 +14.9% 1.89%
  Franco Nevada Corp. (NYSE: FNV) $72.39 +21.1% 1.27%
  Royal Gold Inc. (Nasdaq: RGLD) $76.85 +21.3% 1.25%
  Eldorado Gold Corp. (NYSE: EGO) $2.58 -19.9% 1.16%
  Barrick Gold Corp. (NYSE: ABX) $15.90 -0.5% 0.75%
  Goldcorp Inc. (NYSE: GG) $13.02 -4.4% 0.62%

  Six of the 10 gold stocks listed above have posted negative returns so far in 2017. The main reason behind their losses has to do with gold price volatility.

• [By Alex McGuire]

  This list shows the top-performing gold stocks this month, which we’ll be watching in September 2017. While these stocks posted gains in August, we still aren’t recommending them. Instead, we’re going to show you Money Morning Resource Specialist Peter Krauth’s pick for the best gold stock to buy this year…

  Top Gold Stock Share Price August 2017 Gain
  Sibanye Gold Ltd. (NYSE ADR: SBGL) $6.35 +22.9%
  Iamgold Corp. (NYSE: IAG) $6.49 +20%
  Alamos Gold Inc. (NYSE: AGI) $8.17 +15.1%
  Franco Nevada Corp. (NYSE: FNV) $81.20 +11.6%
  Hudbay Minerals Inc. (NYSE: HBM) $8.70 +11.5%
  Gold Fields Ltd. (NYSE ADR: GFI) $4.42 +10.9%
  Randgold Resources Ltd. (Nasdaq ADR: GOLD) $101.90 +9.6%
  Harmony Gold Mining Co. (NYSE ADR: HMY) $1.97 +8.8%
  Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. (NYSE: AEM) $50.60 +8.4%
  Yamana Gold Inc. (NYSE: AUY) $2.81 +7.9%

  Life-Changing Profits: This investing strategy has racked up 30 triple-digit wins so far this year – and 46 in the last 12 months. To learn how to get in position for the next one, click here now…

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  Franco-Nevada (NYSE:FNV) went public in the U.S. market more than a decade ago, and over that time, the company has established itself as a major player in an important niche in the natural resources industry. Franco-Nevada neither mines gold nor drills for oil, but by helping to finance projects that mining companies and oil drillers want to pursue, it ensures it can get a cut of the profits. That’s been a winning business model lately, and throughout its history as a publicly traded company, Franco-Nevada has stood out for one thing that it’s done consistently well: paying and raising its dividend regularly over time.

• [By Shane Hupp]

  ARP Americas LP cut its position in Franco-Nevada (NYSE:FNV) (TSE:FNV) by 35.9% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 7,441 shares of the basic materials company’s stock after selling 4,167 shares during the period. ARP Americas LP’s holdings in Franco-Nevada were worth $507,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Top 10 High Tech Stocks To Buy Right Now: Blue Buffalo Pet Products, Inc.(BUFF)

Advisors’ Opinion:

• [By Peter Graham]

  Mid cap pet stock Blue Buffalo Pet Products Inc (NASDAQ: BUFF)reportedQ1 2017 earnings after the market closed Tuesday.Net sales increased 7.9% to $302.0 million driven primarily by volume growth. Net sales of Dry Foods increased 6.4% to $245.2 million while net sales of Wet Foods, Treats and Other Products increased15.1% to $56.8 million. Net income increased 18.1% to $44.1 million and cash and cash equivalents were $338.2 million as of March31, 2017 versus $292.7 million as of December31, 2016. The CEO commented:

• [By Monica Gerson] Related BUFF Mid-Afternoon Market Update: Crude Oil Rises 3.5%; Zagg Shares Fall Following Weak Q4 Results Mid-Day Market Update: Blue Buffalo Pet Products Rises Following Strong Q4 Results; Ocean Rig UDW Shares Slide Blue Buffalo Pet Products' (BUFF) CEO Kurt Schmidt on Q1 2016 Results – Earnings Call Transcript (Seeking Alpha)
  Related ARMK Earnings Scheduled For May 11, 2016 Earnings Scheduled For February 10, 2016

  Some of the stocks that may grab investor focus today are:

• [By Peter Graham]

  A long term performance chart shows shares of Petmed Express giving a steady performance before jolting higher this yearand pet stock peerCentral Garden & Pet Co (NASDAQ: CENT) also being agood performer while pet food stocks Blue Buffalo Pet Products Inc (NASDAQ: BUFF) and Freshpet Inc (NASDAQ: FRPT) have not yet lived up to investor expectations:

• [By Peter Graham]

  A long term performance chart shows shares of Petmed Express and pet stock peerCentral Garden & Pet Co (NASDAQ: CENT) being outstanding performers over the last year or two while pet food stocks Blue Buffalo Pet Products Inc (NASDAQ: BUFF) and Freshpet Inc (NASDAQ: FRPT) have not yet lived up to investor expectations:

• [By Peter Graham]

  The Q3 2016 earnings report formid cap pet stock Blue Buffalo Pet Products Inc (NASDAQ: BUFF)is scheduled for after the market closes onThursday (November 10th) with earnings beating expectations the last time around.

Top 10 High Tech Stocks To Buy Right Now: Vanguard Natural Resources LLC(VNR)

Advisors’ Opinion:

• [By Cameron Swinehart]

  Going forward I will be looking to add investments on my watchlist and trim other positions. It will be interesting to see how an overweight commodity portfolio will perform relative to the rest of the market.

   Cost Basis# SharesCurrent Price% of PortfolioCurrent ValueReturnMetal/Miners      Sprott Physical Gold Trust (PHYS)$12.4985$11.043.75%$938.40-13.13%Sprott Physical Silver Trust (PSLV)$7.95125$8.744.37%$1,092.509.04%FreePort-McMoran (FCX)$31.6731$33.874.20%$1,049.976.50%Ishares MSCI Global Gold Miners ETF (RING)$13.0695$10.644.04%$1,010.80-22.74%Energy      Statoil ASA(STO)$21.7940$22.683.63%$907.203.92%Vanguard Natural Resources LLC (VNR)$27.5636$27.874.01%$1,003.321.11%ConocoPhillips (COP)$63.6822.43$71.006.37%$1,592.5310.31%Agriculture      CVR Partner LP (UAN)$26.3630.9$18.932.34%$584.94-39.25%Adecoagro$6.78125$7.443.72%$930.008.87%Archer-Daniels Midland (ADM)$34.8030$37.244.47%$1,117.206.55%Mixed Commodity      Powershares DB Commodity Index (DBC)$26.3540$25.954.15%$1,038.00-1.54%Sprott Resource Corp$3.34400$2.714.34%$1,084.00-23.25%    Total % of portfolio49.40%               Cost Basis12,666.00      Current Value12,348.86      Return-2.50%  Source: Investing For The Future Surge In Commodity Prices

  Disclosure: I am long ADM, FCX, UAN, AGRO, RING, VNR, SCPZF.PK, COP, DBC, PHYS, PSLV. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. (More…)

Top 10 High Tech Stocks To Buy Right Now: Pound/Rand(PX)

Advisors’ Opinion:

• [By Lisa Levin] Companies Reporting Before The Bell
  General Motors Company (NYSE: GM) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $1.24 per share on revenue of $34.66 billion.
  Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE: BMY) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $0.85 per share on revenue of $5.24 billion.
  United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE: UPS) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $1.55 per share on revenue of $16.44 billion.
  Time Warner Inc. (NYSE: TWX) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $1.74 per share on revenue of $7.91 billion.
  ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $0.74 per share on revenue of $8.81 billion.
  PepsiCo, Inc. (NYSE: PEP) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $0.93 per share on revenue of $12.4 billion.
  American Airlines Group Inc. (NASDAQ: AAL) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $0.72 per share on revenue of $10.42 billion.
  Southwest Airlines Co (NYSE: LUV) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $0.74 per share on revenue of $5.01 billion.
  Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. (NYSE: FCAU) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $0.8 per share on revenue of $34.52 billion.
  Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $1.66 per share on revenue of $5.38 billion.
  D.R. Horton, Inc. (NYSE: DHI) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $0.85 per share on revenue of $3.76 billion.
  The Hershey Company (NYSE: HSY) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $1.4 per share on revenue of $1.94 billion.
  Praxair, Inc. (NYSE: PX) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $1.56 per share on revenue of $2.94 billion.
  Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE: MO) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $0.92 per share on revenue of $4.63 billion.
  Shire plc (NASDAQ: SHPG) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $3.54 per share on revenue of $3.72 billion.
  Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE: OSK) is projected to report quarter
• [By Ben Levisohn]

  The last twelve months haven’t been kind to Praxair (PX) and Air Products & Chemicals (APD), but UBS analyst John Roberts and team argue that’s about to change, as they upgrade their shares to Buy from Neutral arguing that their earnings can withstand a slowing global economy:

  In our view, the two stocks are more alike than different. NTM P/Es are within ~0.5 pts of each other. Both stocks have declined ~20% from their historical highs the largest corrections in 20+ years aside from the financial crisis…

  Industrial gas stocks have normally grown through changes in FX, oil & China demand within normal historical ranges. And investor concerns around China forAir Products & Chemicals may still prove much bigger than reality. Nevertheless, the combination of FX & oil sector impacts on Praxair, and FX & China issues for Air Products & Chemicals, have been much larger than previously seen. With oil already down, the dollar already appreciated, & China concerns already heightened we believe forward basis would appear to carry only normal risks (& lower if FX & oil are mean-reverting, which some theories support).

  Normal high single digit EPS growth projected for both in 2017 vs 2016: Four large firms serve 70%+ of the global merchant gas market, and price normally contributes ~2% to growth. Customer older captive units being outsourced contributes another 2%. Secular drivers for oxygen include energy savings (i.e. O2 burns more efficiently than air), life sciences (healthcare & microbial processes) nitrogen secular drivers include increasing purity requirements (food freezing & semiconductors). Topline growth ~2x global GDP more normal, with EPS growth ~2x sales growth due to high fixed costs (key variable costs are inexpensive air & power).

  Financial crisis demand drop was only a few %, in line with global GDP drop Most chemicals volumes dropped 10%+ (some 40%

Top 10 High Tech Stocks To Buy Right Now: Safeway Inc.(SWY)

Advisors’ Opinion:

• [By Peter Graham]

  A long term performance chart shows shares of small cap SUPERVALU now underperforming large cap Kroger Co (NYSE: KR) while shares of large cap Whole Foods Market, Inc (NASDAQ: WFM) and mid cap Safeway Inc (NYSE: SWY) appear to be back to where they started at:

• [By Peter Graham]

  A long term performance chart shows shares of SUPERVALU underperforming the underperformance ofmid caps Whole Foods Market, Inc (NASDAQ: WFM) and Safeway Inc (NYSE: SWY). while large capKroger Co (NYSE: KR)had outperformed up until the last two years when performance has been more mixed:

Top 10 High Tech Stocks To Buy Right Now: Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc.(GLPI)

Advisors’ Opinion:

• [By Travis Hoium]

  Penn National was the first major gaming company to launch a real estate investment trust, aka a REIT, known as Gaming and Leisure Properties Inc (NASDAQ:GLPI). The REIT has acquired most of Penn National Gaming’s real estate along with the real estate of Pinnacle Entertainment and other gaming companies as well.

• [By Monica Gerson]

  Gaming and Leisure Properties Inc (NASDAQ: GLPI) shares fell 3.25 percent to $31.90 in pre-market trading. Gaming and Leisure Properties priced offering of 10.53 million shares of common stock for gross proceeds of $333 million.

• [By Rich Duprey]

  Billionaire investor Carl Icahn is all but exiting the casino industry, selling his stake in Tropicana Entertainment for $1.85 billion. But maybe Eldorado Resorts (NASDAQ:ERI)– which will operate the properties bought by real estate investment trust (REIT)Gaming & Leisure Properties (NASDAQ:GLPI)– shouldn’t be going all in.

• [By Seth McNew]

  One way Penn has been able to unlock extra value is by spinning off a portion of operations as a real estate investment trust (REIT) as a way to split up the physical property from the gaming operations. Following that 2013 creation of Gaming and Leisure Properties Inc(NASDAQ:GLPI),Penn essentially pays leasing fees to the REIT so it can focus on operations with a leaner balance sheet. Here’s a more in-depth analysis of the upside of Penn’s REIT model.

Top 10 High Tech Stocks To Buy Right Now: Fitbit, Inc.(FIT)

Advisors’ Opinion:

• [By Chris Lange]

  Fitbit, Inc. (NYSE: FIT) reported fourth-quarter financial results after the markets closed on Wednesday. So far year to date the stock is down about 20%, and down even further when looking at the past 52-weeks.Theres no doubt that this stock has taken a beating in this time, but are traders finally coming around and calling a bottom to this stock?

• [By Dustin Blitchok]

  The NBA authorized jersey sponsorships last year, and Flagstar joins companies such as Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co (NASDAQ: GT), Fitbit Inc (NYSE: FIT), eBay Inc (NASDAQ: EBAY) and General Electric Company (NYSE: GE) in sponsoring a team’s jersey.

• [By WWW.THESTREET.COM]

  When it comes to personal electronics, market darling Fitbit (FIT) has clearly lost its mojo, while navigation giant Garmin (GRMN) has made a miraculous turnaround.

Top 10 High Tech Stocks To Buy Right Now: Costco Wholesale Corporation(COST)

Advisors’ Opinion:

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Costco Wholesale (COST) has risen 9% during the past 12 months of trading, less than half the S&P 500′s 21% gain during the same period. But that underperformance didn’t stop Barron’s Teresa Rivas from urging investors to “put Costco in your shopping cart” in December, or Oppenheimer from calling Costco one of the most intriguing names in large-cap retail last week. Now Goldman Sachs analyst Matthew Fassler and team have added Costco to the firm’s Conviction List, while reiterating their Buy rating. They explain why:

  Getty Images

  We believe the company is on the cusp of the earnings acceleration we cited when we upgraded the stock to Buy last spring, aided by its recent credit card deal both the incremental traffic associated with more attractive cashback incentives and expense cushion associated with new terms. We also like the firms attractive positioning as a low-cost/low-priced operator in the challenging retail environment. Our estimates stand above consensus. The stock is trading below long-run relative P/E averages despite the anticipated earnings recovery. Our $187, 12-month price target implies 14% upside.

  Shares of Costco Wholesale aren’t getting a boost from the upgrade this morning, however. Its shares have dipped 0.2% to $163.98 at 10:17 a.m. today.

• [By Isaac Pino, CPA]

  The membership model is not a new concept, but it’s one that has been dramatically underutilized by retail. The low-price warehouseCostco (NASDAQ:COST), for example, has been crushing the market’s returns for 30-plus years with its simple membership club formula. And if you need more evidence of Costco’s merits, Warren Buffett’s investing sidekick Charlie Munger has called it “one of the most admirable capitalistic institutions in the world.”

• [By Teresa Rivas]

  Costco (COST) is lower after hours, following its mixed first-quarter earnings report.

  Costco said that it earned $1.24 a share, a nickel ahead of analysts expectations.

  Its revenue of $28.1 billion was slightly below the $28.3 billion analysts were expecting. However, it was above the $27.5 billion it said that it expected to earn in its Nov. 30 pre-announcement.

  Costco is down 1% to $152.36 after hours, after closing up 1.9% during regular trading. The shares are down 4.7% year to date.

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  The retail industry has gone through major disruptions lately, and even warehouse giant Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST) hasn’t been immune to the difficult conditions. Yet last quarter, Costco said that it would implement membership-fee increases as of the beginning of June in an attempt to bolster a key source of revenue, and it hoped that improving conditions in the consumer economy would lead to better shopping results.

• [By Chris Lange]

  Costco Wholesale Corp. (NASDAQ: COST) released fiscal first-quarter earnings report after markets closed on Wednesday. The company posted $1.24 in earnings per share (EPS) and $28.1 billion in revenue. The consensus estimates from Thomson Reuters called for $1.19 in EPS and $28.3 billion in revenue. The same period of last year reportedly had EPS of $1.09 and $27.22 billion in revenue.

• [By Daniel B. Kline]

  Costco (NASDAQ:COST) has not raised membership fees in the United States and Canada since November 2011, and CFO RIchard Galanti hinted during its Q1 earnings call in December 2016 that an increase was coming this year.Those hints will become reality on June 1.