Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Pfenex, Inc.: Providing Cost Efficient, Safe and Effective Drugs

Biosimilars provide the world access to the same nature of medications, but at a more cheaper cost. Through these therapeutics, millions of lives around the world are given the relief they need without creating a hole in their pockets. The emergence of these drugs also pushes pharmaceutical companies to price their medications competitively.

Pfenex, Inc. is one of the leading biologics companies that provide access to effective, safe and affordable medicines. The company has a highly diversified platform of protein production and bioanalytic technology that allows the company to create several biosimilars. Additionally, they also have the capacity to rapidly identify production strains, which allows the company to take on research and development of vaccines for infectious diseases. Pfenex put in a strong focus on non-glycosylated biosimilars which allow the company to create a robust pipeline of high-quality therapeutics.

The company has several products in its pipeline development. These therapeutics are being developed by the company or through its partnership with other pharmaceutical businesses. Upon the completion of these advancements, the company has forecasted billions of dollars in sales. The PF529, PF708, PF688 ad PF530 are the biosimilars created by the company drawn from the advancements of Neulasta, Betaseron, Forteo and Cimzia, respectively. The PF582 is a biosimilar drawn from Lucentis, which is being developed by the company in partnership with Hospira. There are three other biosimilars being developed by the company through their joint venture with Stridies Arcolab Limited, these are PF444 (Genotrobin),PF694 (Pegasys) and PF690 (Oncaspar).

In addition to the company’s own research and development and its partnership with other pharmaceutical companies, Pfenex, Inc. also receives funding from the government to continue with the research and development of three vaccines: Px563L (rPA based), Px563L (SDI rPA based) and Px 533. The first two are vaccines for Anthrax, while the last one is for Malaria. Pfenex, Inc. is headquartered in San Diego, California and continues to publicly trade on the American Stock Exchange (PFNX).

Friday, September 25, 2015

PBF Logistics, LP: A Midstream Energy Company

PBF Logistics, LP is a company created by PBF Energy, Inc. and PBF Logistics GP LLC. The company is a growth-oriented master limited partnership that operates as a midstream energy company. The business is headquartered in Parsippany, New Jersey.

As one of the trusted and most reliable midstream companies, PBF Logistiics, LP operates storage facilities, pipelines, terminals and similar logistics assets. The business engages in the transferring and handling of crude oil and other similar products. It continues to service clients across the United States and in Canada. The operations of the company are divided into two reporting segments, namely storage and terminaling. It maintains 3 refineries that are located in Phio, Delaware and in New Jersey.

PBF Logistics processes various kinds of crude oil. Its storage facilities are capable of holding about 3.9 million barrels of products. The business trades publicly on the New York Stock Exchange (PBFX).

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Park-Ohio Holdings: A Diversified Industrial and Manufacturing Company

There are about 6,000 associates who are working for Park-Ohio Holdings, an industrial supply chain logistics and diversified manufacturing company. The business operates on a global scale and offers its services to a wide range of industries. It is in Cleveland, Ohio that the company holds its corporate office.

Incorporated in February 1998, the business was created in 1907 and has grown its operations through the company’s aggressive stance in acquiring competing businesses. Through a series of acquisitions, the company was able to diversify its offerings. The main subsidiary of the business is the Park-Ohio Industries, Inc., which has several subsidiaries under its umbrella operations. There are three reporting segments within the company, namely Assembly Components, Engineered Products and Supply Technologies. These segments generate the company’s annual revenue of more than $1.4 billion.

The Assembly Components segment manufactures various products, including industrial rubber, thermoplastic products, fuel filler and hydraulic assemblies, cast and machined aluminum components. These products are used in the automotive, heavy-duty truck, marine equipment, construction equipment and agriculture equipment industries. Additionally, the segment provides design, engineering, assembly and machining services. The Engineered Products department works with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), and to end users of ferrous and non-ferrous metals. It designs and manufactures a wide range of products that are specific to the needs of their business partners. The Supply Technologies unit of Park-Ohio Holdings offers Total Supply Management services and works with a range of consumers.

The customer base of the company is mostly listed on the Global 2000 companies in the field  of household products, business, personal items, infrastructure and automotive. Park-Ohio Holdings maintains a total of 90 manufacturing facilities. These sites also host the distribution and service capacity of the company. The company is listed on the NASDAQ and markets its common shares using the ticker symbol PKOH.

Friday, September 18, 2015

Old Point Financial Corp: A Financial Holding Company

As a financial holding company, Old Point Financial Corporation conducts its business through its two subsidiaries: Old Point Trust & Financial Services, N.A. and The Old Point National Bank of Phoebus. It currently holds its corporate office in Hampton, Virginia.

The bank is registered as an independent community bank that serves the areas of the Hampton Roads, which covers several counties. Its 18 branch offices are located in the Virginia Beach, James City County, Norfolk, Newport News, York County, Isle of Wight County, Hampton and in Chesapeake. It offers a wide range of consumer and business banking services. Some of the products offered by the company include deposit and cash management services, savings accounts and certificates of deposits, estate and trust administration, retirement plan administration, financial planning, investment management services and tax services, among others.

As of December 2014, the company has a total deposit of more than $720 million. Old Point Financial Corporation publicly trades on the NASDAQ Capital Market (OPOF).

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Oclaro: Leading Provider of Optical Components

San Jose, California-based Oclaro is one of the world’s leading producers of optical components. The company has been around since 1988 and powers the next generation of fast optical networks and high-speed connections. Its innovation continues to leverage from the company’s expertise in laser technology innovation, subsystem design, transceiver and photonic integration.

The business was created in the United Kingdom as the Bookham Technology. It then moved its headquarters to the United States and delisted its stocks from the London Stock Exchange. Today, it continues to publicly market its shares on the NASDAQ and trades its common shares using the ticker symbol OCLR. Known for being the first company to create optical components that can be integrated in a silicon integrated circuits, Oclaro produces several products that power some of the fastest technology today.

The offerings of the company are categorized under two main segments, namely DWDM Transmission and Client Side/ Datacom. Under their DWDM Transmission lines, Oclaro markets linecards and subsystems; components and transponder modules and transceivers. Their Client Side/ Datacom segment produces transponder and transceivers components and modules and transceivers. The growth of the company is strongly attributed to the business’ strong take on acquisition and merger. Through the years, it has purchased several competing businesses, which started with the optical components business of  Marconi and Nortel Networks.

As the need for optical components increases, Oclaro is strongly positioned in the market to address the influx of demands for their products. Its offerings continue to power the next wave of cloud computing, voice over IP, video streaming, SaaS and several other applications that are high-speed and bandwidth-intensive. Through the years, the business ceaselessly supported the operations of three distinctly growing markets, namely the core optical transport network, wireless access and enterprise networks and data centers.

Friday, September 11, 2015

Northstar Realty Finance: A REIT

Organized as a real estate investment trust (REIT) firm, NorthStar Realty Finance Corporation engages in commercial real estate. It remains publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange and markets its stocks using the symbol NRF.

It was in 2004 that the company was founded and is now being externally managed by NorthStar Asset Management Group, a business unit that was spun off in 2014. As a REIT, the business continues to engage in the acquisition of real estate properties across the country; originating, structuring and acquiring of commercial real estate debts and making investments in real estate properties. The interest of the business includes retail net lease and multifamily properties; offices, healthcare facilities and manufactured housing.

It is listed as a component of the Wilshire 5000 Index. The business is headquartered in New York City and maintains offices in Irving, Texas; Bethesda, Maryland and in Greenwood Village, Colorado.

Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Newmont Mining Corporation: A Gold Mining Company

Gold is one of the most sought after commodities in the world. This precious mineral has several uses and special characteristics that are not seen in other elements. There are several companies around the world that have allotted their resources in mining this product. Newmont Mining Corporation is one of these ventures, in fact, the company is considered as one of the world’s largest producers of this element.

Headquartered in Greenwood Village, Colorado, the company produces gold, silver and copper, among other products. It has global operations and is capable of generating more than $9.5 billion annually. The business serves as a holding company to mining ventures that operate in New Zealand, the United States, Ghana, Peru, Canada, Mexico and in Indonesia. Next to Barrick Gold, the business is listed as the world’s second largest producer of gold.

In addition to the company’s joint venture projects, it owns and operates Battle Mountain Gold, Santa Fe Gold, Franco-Nevada Corp, Fronteer Gold and Normandy Mining. During the company’s 2010 fiscal year operations, they were able to produce about 5.4 million equity ounces of gold. They have declared their reserves to be around 93.5 million ounces of gold. Through a series of acquisitions, the business expands its operations and widens its area of mining. The company’s gold quarry in Nevada is considered as the largest project of the business. It was in 1921 that the company started its operations. It was William Boyce Thompson, who created the business as a diversified holding company.

Today, the business continues its international operations. It employs the assistance of more than 28,000 employees. The business has gone public in 1925 and it remains publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange, using the ticker symbol NEM. It is listed on the Wilshire 500 and the S&P 500 Indices as the only gold company.

Friday, September 4, 2015

Nathan’s Famous: Maker of the World Famous Hot Dog

When it comes to hot dogs, one of the brightest names that would pop into mind is Nathan’s Famous. In the United States, the business is one of the specialty restaurants that offer hot dogs. It operates a chain of fast food restaurants with a history that goes back to its founding in 1916.

The first restaurant was established in Coney Island, New York. Its headquarters is located in Jericho, New York. It started as a nickel hot dog stand in Coney Island with Nathan Handwerker as its founder. Together with his wife, Ida, they created the perfect hot dog recipe that has withstood time and remains to be a preferred taste for Americans.

Today, Nathan’s Famous has grown into a multi-million venture with more than 1,400 stores around the country. They also have stores located in Guam, the District of Columbia and in 17 other countries. It is now a publicly traded company with its common shares marketed on the NASDAQ (NATH).

Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Nanosphere, Inc.: A Diagnostic Company

Early detection and diagnosis of diseases can save lives and improve the economy of the country. Diagnostic companies have contributed to the growth of the economy by enhancing medicine and improving health care costs. These businesses also improve patient outcomes and ease the complex works of medical practitioners.

One of the trusted diagnostic companies in the United States is Nanosphere, Inc. Through the company’s patented technologies, they are able to help doctors and medical practitioners diagnose and detect bacteria and viruses that are responsible for deadly infections and costly diseases. The complex and highly advanced solutions offered by the company are on point with its diagnosis. Its test menu targets the detection of infections of the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory tract and the bloodstream. For years, the experts in the company have perfected their Verigene System to remain accurate with its reading. Through this platform, they are able to help clinicians rapidly identify these deadly bacteria and viruses.

The Verigene System is capable of running multiple tests using just one sample. This would mean that clinicians need not draw more blood and do other sample collection as this platform allows genomic and protein testing in one go. This system uses several reagents and other disposable consumables to prepare the specimen. Its components include a microfluidics processor, target amplification, test cartridges and a touchscreen reader. It is then connected to the web, and allows its users to continuously monitor and remotely access results and reports. This diagnostic platform is strongly focused on the infectious disease diagnostic market.

Headquartered in Northbrook, Illinois, Nanosphere was created in 1999 by Dr. Robert Letsinger and Dr. Chad Mirkin. They developed their system at Northwestern University. In 2007, the business went public and today, continues to trade on the NASDAQ. It uses the ticker symbol NSPH to market its common shares.