Friday, November 21, 2014

Diamond Resorts International: A Hospitality and Resort Management Company


The concept of Diamond Resort International works similarly to timeshare and destination clubs. The business is registered as a vacation ownership company that is publicly held on the NASDAQ. Founded in 1996, the company holds its headquarters in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The operations of the company cover 33 countries. Every individual who wants to purchase any real estate interest operated by the Diamond Resorts are able to choose from their 89 managed resorts. In addition, they also have163 affiliated resorts that were formerly owned by Sunterrra Resorts and Timeshares. They also have four cruise itineraries that are made available through their DRI timeshare exchange. Claiming to be one of the largest hospitality companies in the world, the business has over 490,000 members and owners.

The company was founded by Stephen J. Cloobeck, who also created the US Corporation for Travel Promotion. The company is known or not having any accreditation from the Better Business Bureau.

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Douglas Dynamics, Inc.: The Snow and Ice Control Equipment Expert


There are currently six brand names that Douglas Dynamics, Inc. markets. These brand names include BLIZZARD, FISHER, SnowEx, SweepEx, WESTERN and TurfEx. Each of these brand names serves various functions in different marketplaces and are considered to be leaders in their niche.

This American company is known as a premier manufacturer of vehicle attachments and equipment across North America. The business is best known for their snow and ice control equipment that are most useful especially during heavy snowy seasons. Douglas Dynamics designs, manufactures and markets these products across the United States and in Canada. Millions of people rely on the services provided by these vehicles to help them go about their daily lives despite heavy snows. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the business markets their products and services through their network of distributors. Their end users are mostly snowplowers and those professionals, who have contracts with residential, commercial and municipal areas to remove snow.

Douglas Dynamics has committed its operations to innovation and constant marketing of products that are not only state of the art but are also marked with the highest quality. Through their continuous improvement processes, they are able to generate value for their shareholders, while making an impact on the lives of those who rely on their products and services. For more than 65 years, the company has created products that helped companies improve their job efficiency, business profitability and impact to the population’s way of living.

The solutions expertise of the business served as one of the driving force that has made the business float despite emerging competitions. Douglas Dynamics is well positioned in the market and is set to continue creating growth opportunities and generate the much needed revenue. The business continues to publicly trade on the New York Stock Exchange, under the symbol PLOW.

Friday, November 14, 2014

Chart Industries: Manufacturing Equipment for Cryogenic and Gas Storage and Distribution


The products and equipment that are manufactured by Chart Industries are most useful in the production, storage and distribution of natural gas, atmospheric and other industrial gases. The company is a publicly held business that trades on the NASDAQ.

As a leading manufacturing of equipment, their products are globally marketed and are categorized as either standard or custom engineered and are used in various applications in gas processing and cryogenic. The business serves a wide array of industries. As of, they have 3 major markets served that have significant sub-sectors that utilize the products manufactured by Chart. These markets are the general industrial, biomedical and energy industries. Sub-sectors include food & beverage, natural gas processing, biomedical and metal fabrication.

The offerings of the business might not be useful to us directly, but every day, these products get to touch our lives one way or another. Their products are used in fountain soft-drink carbonation and beer dispensing, oxygen respiratory therapy, preservation of carbonated beverages and flash freezing of produce, poultry and fish.

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Comfort Systems USA: Creating Healthy and Comfortable Environments


Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) are three essential elements needed to create a conducive working environment for all employees. It is in the provisioning of these necessities that Comfort Systems USA conducts their business. This publicly held company is traded on the New York Stock Exchange, under the symbol FIX and holds its headquarters in Houston, Texas.

The company offers installation, maintenance, repair and replacement services of HVAC systems primarily in the commercial, industrial and institutional HVAC markets. In addition, some of their operations also offer electrical and mechanical contracting to businesses that range from small sizes to those that are part of the Fortune 500 companies. Through its subsidiaries, they are also able to offer building services and retrofit systems for virtually any kind of establishment. Throughout the country, the business has changed the HVAC systems of museums, schools, high rise buildings, hospitals and even manufacturing plants. Comfort Systems exist to provide buildings and establishments the comfort, efficiency and safety it needs to continue its operations.

They take complex building issues head on by integrating their strategic planning with engineering, implementation and operational support that are customized to address the issue at hand. The venture remains to be the preferred brand name when it comes to energy efficiency, building environments and comfortable workplace.

The operations of Comfort Systems are categorized into three primary segments: construction, building service and maintenance and retrofit. As the company continues to expand, they have ventured outside the HVAC markets and offers refrigeration services, automation, security, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, water treatment and BIM.

Regardless of the size of any project, the company guarantees success and quality through their best in class practices, ideas and technology. Their nationwide coverage provides the company an advantage over their competitions and allows them to create several “centers of excellence” across the nation.

Friday, November 7, 2014

Cara Therapeutics: Creating the Future of Analgesics and Anti-Inflammatory Drugs


As an emerging biotechnology company, Cara Therapeutics has focused its resources in developing novel medications for diseases associated with pain and inflammation. The company has a product candidate that is currently being studied as treatment for various human maladies.

Founded in 2004 and based in Shelton, Connecticut, Cara Therapeutics has the CR845 as its lead product candidate. This novel medication has completed its phase II of clinical trial for treatment of acute postoperative pain in adult patients. It has also completed its phase I trial for usage in moderate to severe acute and chronic pain. They also have the CR701 which is currently being looked into as a medication for treating inflammatory and neuropathic pain. The chemical entities that the company is developing are designed to target kappa opioid receptors, thereby alleviating pain.

The company is publicly traded on the NASDAQ and trades under the ticker symbol CARA. It continues to do its research to create novel products for future analgesics and anti-inflammatory therapeutics.

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Cabela’s: A Premiere Outdoor Recreational Activity Equipment Provider


In the United States, when you talk about outdoor recreational activities, nobody knows those words better than Cabela’s Inc. The business has been around since its inception in 1961 in Chappell, Nebraska. The company is best known as a specialty retailer and direct marketer of products for camping, shooting, fishing, hunting and several other outdoor recreation activities.

Headquartered in Sidney, Nebraska, Cabela’s Inc. has grown from a very small venture into a multi-billion dollar company that has captured the hearts of the Americans. Every year, thousands of items are sold to their consumers who have trusted the company for their expertise in outdoor recreational activities. The company bore the name “World’s Foremost Outfitter” and even marketed their products internationally. Enthusiasts never miss the opportunity to browse the catalogs that are distributed in over 120 countries. Cabela’s market their products through mail-order catalogs, through their 60 locations and through their eCommerce shop. Their direct marketing scheme is considered to be one of the largest in the United States.

In addition to supplying the world with all the outdoor recreational activity equipment, the company also has four other operations that are marketed under the names Trophy Properties LLC (real estate), the Gun Library (features collectible firearms, for buying and selling of new and used portable guns), World’s Foremost Bank (issuer of their Visa credit cards) and Outdoor Adventures (for fishing and hunting trip arrangements and bookings).

By posting an ad in Sports Afield, founder Dick Cabela was able to let the entire country know that his business of selling fishing flies exists. The business has a grown into a $3 billion dollar venture that publicly trades on the New York Stock Exchange. It was in 2004 that the business made its initial public offering and in that same year, they were able to send out more than 120 million catalogs around the world.