Conoco-Phillips (COP) has had a long and profitable history, more than tripling in value in the last ten years. These gains came despite the fact that the prior CEO made a few unwise acquisitions, especially a sizable stake in the Russian firm, Lukoil, which it has since sold.
Incidentally, that stake in Lukoil was the reason we cut this stock from our portfolio a few years back. The new CEO (since last June) is aware of these mistakes and is unlikely to repeat them.
The company is no longer an "integrated" oil firm, after spinning off its retail sales network (gas stations) a few months ago.
Conoco continues to tune-up its operations after the spin-off, disposing of non-core or underperforming assets as the opportunities present themselves. Q1 revenues were down 8.9%, but only 2.9% excluding gains on asset dispositions, which were much higher last year.
Top Performing Companies To Buy For 2015: NL Industries Inc (NL)
NL Industries, Inc. (NL) is a holding company. The Company operates in the component products industry through NL's majority-owned subsidiary, CompX International Inc. The Company operates in the chemicals industry through its non-controlling interest in Kronos Worldwide, Inc. As of December 31, 2011, it owned 87% interest in CompX International Inc and 30% interest in Kronos Worldwide, Inc. The Company also owns 100% of EWI RE, Inc., an insurance brokerage and risk management services company. In July of 2011, CompX completed the acquisition of an ergonomic component products business.
Component Products-Compx International Inc.
Through the Company�� subsidiary, CompX, it manufactures components that are sold to a variety of industries including office furniture, recreational transportation (including boats), mailboxes, toolboxes, home appliances, banking equipment, vending equipment and computer-related equipment. CompX�� Security Products business, with one manufacturing facility in South Carolina and one in Illinois shared with the Marine Components business, manufactures mechanical and electronic cabinet locks and other locking mechanisms used in a variety of applications including ignition systems, mailboxes, file cabinets, desk drawers, tool storage cabinets, vending and gaming machines, high security medical cabinetry, electrical circuit panels, storage compartments and gas station security. These products include disc tumbler locks, pin tumbler locking mechanisms, and eLock and Stealthlock electronic locks.
CompX�� Furniture Components business, with facilities in Canada and Taiwan, manufactures a line of ball bearing slides and computer keyboard, monitor and central processing unit (CPU) support systems for use in applications, such as file cabinets, desks, computer server racks, wall mounted computer applications, home appliances, tool storage cabinets, imaging equipment, automated teller machines and other applications. These products include I! ntegrated Slide Lock, Ball Lock, Self-Closing Slide, articulating computer keyboard support arms along with the LeverLock keyboard arm, CPU storage devices, flat panel computer monitor support systems and keyboard, monitor and CPU wall mounts.
CompX�� Marine Components business, with a facility in Wisconsin and a facility shared with the Security Products business in Illinois, manufactures and distributes stainless steel exhaust components, gauges, throttle controls, hardware and accessories primarily for performance and ski/wakeboard boats. These products include original equipment and aftermarket stainless steel exhaust headers, exhaust pipes, mufflers and other exhaust components; gauges, such as global positioning system (GPS) speedometers and tachometers; controls, throttles, steering wheels and other billet aluminum accessories, and dash panels, light emitting diode (LED) lighting, rigging and other accessories. CompX operated five manufacturing facilities, as of December 31, 2011, including one facility in Grayslake, Illinois that housed operations relating to Security Products and Marine Components.
Chemicals-Kronos Worldwide, Inc.
Kronos is a global producer and marketer of titanium dioxide pigments (TiO2), a base industrial product used in a range of applications. Kronos, along with its distributors and agents, sells and provides technical services for NL's products to over 4,000 customers in approximately 100 countries with the majority of sales in Europe and North America. TiO2 is a white inorganic pigment used in a range of products. Kronos offers customers a portfolio of products that include over 40 different TiO2 pigment grades. Kronos��major customers include domestic and international paint, plastics, decorative laminate and paper manufacturers. Kronos ships TiO2 to customers in either a powder or slurry form via rail, truck or ocean carrier. Kronos and its agents and distributors primarily sell and provide technical services for Kronos��pr! oducts in! three markets: coatings, plastics and paper.
Kronos��TiO2 is also found in food products, such as candy and confectionaries and in pet foods. In pharmaceuticals, TiO2 is used commonly as a colorant in pill and capsule coatings, as well as in liquid medicines. Kronos owns and operates two ilmenite mines in Norway. Kronos manufactures and sells iron-based chemicals, which are co-products and processed co-products of the sulfate and chloride process TiO2 pigment production. These co-product chemicals are marketed through Kronos��Ecochem division and are primarily used as treatment and conditioning agents for industrial effluents and municipal wastewater, as well as for the manufacture of iron pigments, cement and agricultural products. Kronos manufactures and sells titanium oxychloride and titanyl sulfate. Kronos produces TiO2 in two crystalline forms: rutile and anatase. Rutile TiO2 is manufactured using both a chloride production process and a sulfate production process, whereas anatase TiO2 is only produced using a sulfate production process.
The chloride process is a continuous process, in which chlorine is used to extract rutile TiO2. The sulfate process is a batch process, in which sulfuric acid is used to extract the TiO2 from ilmenite or titanium slag. Kronos operates four TiO2 plants in Europe, which includes one in each of Leverkusen, Germany; Nordenham, Germany; Langerbrugge, Belgium, and Fredrikstad, Norway. In North America, Kronos has a TiO2 plant in Varennes, Quebec, Canada. Kronos produced 550,000 metric tons of TiO, during the year ended December 31, 2011. Kronos and a subsidiary of Huntsman Corporation each hold a 50% interest in a manufacturing joint venture, Louisiana Pigment Company, L.P. (LPC). LPC owns and operates a chloride process TiO2 facility located in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
The Company competes with E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., National Titanium Dioxide Company Ltd., Huntsman Corporation, Tronox Incorporated and Sachtleben Chemi! e GmbH. Advisors' Opinion:
- [By John Udovich]
Dallas billionaire Harold Simmons died over the weekend with investors sending shares of some of his publically traded companies like Valhi, Inc (NYSE: VHI), Kronos Worldwide, Inc (NYSE: KRO), NL Industries, Inc (NYSE: NL) and�CompX International Inc (NYSEMKT: CIX)to higher levels as they anticipate changes���such as asset sales or spin offs. Harold Simmons was the embodiment of the American dream because he was born during the depths of the Great Depression in Golden, Texas to schoolteacher parents and he spent�his early years living without indoor plumbing or electricity. However and by recognizing�underpriced assets and through the use of massive amounts of leverage (e.g. junk bonds),�he built an empire and�ranked #40 on the 2013 Forbes 400 with a fortune estimated to be worth some $10 billion.
Top Performing Companies To Buy For 2015: Sysco Corporation(SYY)
Sysco Corporation, through its subsidiaries, distributes food and related products primarily to the foodservice or food-away-from-home industry in North America and Europe. The company offers a line of frozen foods, such as meats, fully prepared entrees, fruits, vegetables, and desserts; a line of canned and dry foods; fresh meats, custom-cut fresh steaks, other meat, seafood, and poultry; dairy products; beverage products; imported specialties; and fresh produce. It also supplies various non-food items, including paper products, such as disposable napkins, plates, and cups; tableware, which include china and silverware; cookware comprising pots, pans, and utensils; restaurant and kitchen equipment and supplies; and cleaning supplies. In addition, the company offers personal care guest amenities, equipment, housekeeping supplies, room accessories, and textiles to the lodging industry. It serves restaurants, hospitals and nursing homes, schools and colleges, hotels and mote ls, lodging establishments, and other foodservice customers. Sysco Corporation was founded in 1969 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Monica Wolfe]
Sysco Corporation (SYY)
Over the past quarter, Hussman has increased his position in Sysco by 33333.3%. The guru purchased a total of 500,000 shares at an average price of $34.43 per share. Since this addition the share price has increased approximately 0.8%.
- [By Rich Smith]
The Department of Defense awarded a dozen separate contracts today, worth $949.1 million in aggregate. Nearly half the dollar value was accounted for by a single contract let out for environmental remediation services in New Jersey. But even so, several companies managed to win sizable contracts of their own, including:
Top 10 Wireless Telecom Stocks To Buy Right Now: Scana Corporation(SCG)
SCANA Corporation and its subsidiaries engage in the generation, transmission, distribution, and sale of electricity to retail and wholesale customers in South Carolina. It owns nuclear, coal, hydro, oil and gas, and biomass generating facilities. The company also purchases, sells, and transports natural gas; offers energy-related risk management services; acquires, owns, and provides financing for nuclear fuel, fossil fuel, and emission allowances; and offers service contracts on home appliances, and heating and air conditioning units. In addition, SCANA Corporation owns two liquefied natural gas plants, including one located near Charleston, and the other in Salley, South Carolina; and provides tower site construction, management, and rental services in South Carolina and North Carolina. As of December 31, 2010, the company supplied electricity to approximately 660,000 customers; and natural gas to approximately 482,000 residential, commercial, and industrial customers i n North Carolina, and 313,500 customers in South Carolina, as well as to approximately 460,000 customers in Georgia. Further, SCANA Corporation owns and operates a 500-mile fiber optic telecommunications network and Ethernet network, and data center facilities in South Carolina. Through a joint venture, it builds, manages, and leases communications towers with interest in 2,280 miles of fiber in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia. The company?s retail customers comprise municipalities, electric cooperatives, other investor-owned utilities, registered marketers, and federal and state electric agencies. It primarily serves chemicals, educational services, paper products, food products, lumber and wood products, health services, textile manufacturing, rubber and miscellaneous plastic products, and fabricated metal products industries. The company is based in Cayce, South Carolina.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Chuck Carnevale]
SCANA Corp (SCG): A Low Growth Regulated Utility
Our first example plots SCANA Corp. whose earnings growth rate has averaged only 3.3% per annum. Here, we would like to remind the reader that our position is that fair valuation is a function of the earnings yield that ��urrent earnings��represent. Consequently, purchasing a company at fair valuation implies that the investor is making a sound financial decision. However, as previously stated, this does not necessarily guarantee a high future rate of return. As we will illustrate in Part 2, that will be determined by the company�� future earnings growth rate.
- [By David Dittman]
Answer: I like NextEra Energy, which has significant renewables exposure and operates in a region with solid economic fundamentals. I also like smaller utes that operate in smaller footprints with solid long-term fundamentals, including Cleco (NYSE: CNL), Pinnacle West, Vectren (NYSE: VVC) and SCANA (NYSE: SCG).
- [By Justin Loiseau]
In March 2012, Southern Company (NYSE: SO ) received the first construction approval in over 30 years for two new units at its Vogtle plan in Georgia totaling 2,200 MW of electric capacity. SCANA (NYSE: SCG ) wasn't far behind with approval for two units of its own in South Carolina totaling around 2,100 MW. Southern expects its units to come on line by 2017, while both of SCANA's will power up by 2019.
Top Performing Companies To Buy For 2015: SuperValu Inc.(SVU)
SUPERVALU INC., together with its subsidiaries, operates retail food stores in the United States. Its stores offer grocery, general merchandise, health and beauty care, pharmacy, and fuel products. The company operates stores under the Acme, Albertsons, Cub Foods, Farm Fresh, Hornbacher?s, Jewel-Osco, Lucky, Shaw?s, Shop ?n Save, Shoppers Food & Pharmacy, and Star Market banners, as well as in-store pharmacies under the Osco and Sav-on banners. It operates approximately 2,394 traditional and hard-discount retail food stores, including 899 licensed Save-A-Lot stores. The company also offers supply chain services, which include wholesale distribution of products to independent retailers, including single and multiple grocery store independent operators, regional and national chains, mass merchants, and the military customers, as well as provides logistics support services. SUPERVALU was founded in 1871 and is based in Eden Prairie, Minnesota.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Ben Levisohn]
Shares of Safeway have gained 4.2% to $32.91 at 9:40 a.m., while Kroger�(KR) has ticked up 10.4% to $40.83.�Whole Foods Market�(WFM) has ticked down 0.1% to $59.77, and Supervalu�(SVU) is off 0.6% at $7.96.
- [By Dan Caplinger]
Finally, grocery store operator SUPERVALU (NYSE: SVU ) has soared 17% following its own favorable earnings report. The company sold off many of its most popular chains to private-equity firm Cerberus Capital earlier this year, but SUPERVALU's efforts to cut its costs and capitalize on its remaining chains have borne fruit as the company reported adjusted profits that more than doubled estimates. Going forward, the grocery industry remains challenging, as same-store sales declines reflect. But in the midst of its reorganization, SUPERVALU appears to be moving in the right direction.
- [By Vanina Egea] of 700 to 800 small format stores annually adds to an increasing number of dollar stores subscribing to loss-leader strategies. In this context, the firm undertook a fair price plus promotion strategy in fiscal 2013. This initiative has lowered prices to a competitive position at the expense of margins, in the hope for market share gains in the long term.
Cost Cuts
Apart from underperforming stores sellout, Supervalu has undertaken additional cost reduction initiatives which are expected to lower administrative expenses by $250 million through fiscal 2014. The reduction of its store count, I turn, is expected to generate $80 million to $90 million in savings in the next three years.
Moving Forward
In the third quarter of fiscal 2013, the firm reported adjusted earnings of $0.13, a significant improvement compared to the negative $0.07 delivered the year before. Revenues, however, fell by $1.05 in relation to the prior year, due to negative comps in the retail segment, which have been declining for four consecutive years.
Further, the firm does not have any share buyback plans for fiscal 2014 and will not pay dividends to shareholders until March 2018.
Supervalu showcases a negative return on capital of -9.24% compared to the industry average of 20.02%. And its three-year average revenue growth delivered a dismal -25.1% compared to its peers��median of 1.0%.
Investment guru John Keeley (Trades, Portfolio) recently sold out his holding in the company, backing my feeling that despite the company�� efforts, a good position in a highly competitive market will be hard to achieve.
Disclosure: Vanina Egea holds no position in any stocks mentioned.
About the author:Vanina EgeaA fundamental analyst at Lone Tree AnalyticsVisit Vanina Egea's Website
Currently 5.00/512345Rating: 5.0/5 (2 votes)
Voters: Subscribe via Email Subscribe RSS Comments Please leave your comment: $(document). - [By Caroline Bennett]
Grocery store chain SUPERVALU (NYSE: SVU ) has appointed Bruce Besanko to be its new executive vice president and chief financial officer, effective as of Aug. 7.
Top Performing Companies To Buy For 2015: Molycorp Inc (MCP)
Molycorp, Inc. (Molycorp) is a rare earth oxide (REO) producer in the Western hemisphere. The Company owns developed rare earth projects outside of China. The Company also owns rare earth oxide and rare metal producer in Europe. The Company is the producer of rare earth alloys in the United States. It has three operating segments: Molycorp Mountain Pass, Molycorp Tolleson and Molycorp Sillamae. On April 1, 2011, the Company acquired 90% interest in AS Silmet located in Sillamae, Estonia. On April 15, 2011, it acquired Santoku America, Inc. On October 24, 2011, it acquired the remaining 9.9% interest in Molycorp Sillamae. On August 22, 2011, Molycorp opened an office in Tokyo, Japan to provide customer support, as well as consulting and technical services to its customers in Japan. In June 2012, the Company acquired Neo Material Technologies Inc.
The Company sells and transports a portion of the REOs it produces at its Molycorp Mountain Pass and Molycorp Sillamae facilities to customers for use in their particular applications. The remainder of the REOs are processed into rare earth metals and rare earth alloys. The Company produces rare earth metals outside of the United States through third-party tolling arrangements and through tolling at its Molycorp Sillamae facility. A portion of these metals is sold to end-users, and it processes the rest into rare earth alloys at its Molycorp Tolleson facility in Arizona. These rare earth alloys can be used in a variety of applications, including but not limited to electrodes for nickel metal hydride battery production; samarium cobalt (SmCo), magnet production, and neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) magnet production.
Molycorp Sillamae sells products to customers in Europe, North and South America, Asia, Russia, and other former Soviet Union countries. At the Molycorp Mountain Pass facility, the Company owns an open-pit mine containing rare earth deposits outside of China. In addition to the mine, its Molycorp Mountain Pass facility includ! es associated crushing, milling, flotation and separation facilities. Its Molycorp Mountain Pass facility is located approximately 60 miles southwest of Las Vegas, Nevada near Mountain Pass, San Bernardino County, California.
The Company�� Molycorp Sillamae facility consists of various manufacturing, research and administration buildings located on 67 acres of land at 2 Kesk Street, Sillamae, Estonia, 200 kilometers from Tallinn, the Estonian capital. The Company�� Molycorp Tolleson facility includes various manufacturing, research, and administration buildings situated on seven acres of land at 8220 West Harrison Street, Tolleson, Arizona, which is just south of Interstate 10 about 15 miles west of Phoenix, Arizona's Sky Harbor Airport. As of December 31, 2011, its Molycorp Tolleson facility had the installed capacity to produce approximately 1,350 tons of ingot cast alloys and 750 tons of strip cast alloys per year.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Ben Levisohn]
Knapp and Slover were also kind enough to provide a screen of stocks that could outperform. They started with the Russell 2000, removed the smallest 40% based on market cap (the aforementioned liquidity issues), then selected the 5% worst performers from among the 30% cheapest stocks based on book-to-price. The result is a bunch of names you never heard of, including Infinity Pharmaceuticals (INFI), Fusion-IO (FIO), Walter Energy (WLT), Hecla Mining (HL) and Molycorp�(MCP).
Top Performing Companies To Buy For 2015: Pioneer Exploration Inc (PIEX)
Pioneer Exploration Inc. (Pioneer) is an exploration-stage company. The Company is primarily engaged in the acquisition and exploration of mining properties.
As of August 31, 2012, the Company has not generated any revenue. As of August 31, 2012, the Company does not have any manufacturing facilities, operations, suppliers, products, or customers.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Peter Graham]
Small cap stocks Metrospaces Inc (OTCMKTS: MSPC), LEEP INC (OTCMKTS: LPPI) and Pioneer Exploration Inc (OTCMKTS: PIEX) have been getting some attention lately due to either promotions or share trading activity. Unfortunately, there are still unanswered questions about these three ��ark horse��stocks which make it more difficult for investors and traders alike to evaluate. With that in mind, let�� try to shine the light on what we know about all three small caps:
Top Performing Companies To Buy For 2015: Leggett & Platt Incorporated(LEG)
Leggett & Platt, Incorporated designs and produces various engineered components and products worldwide. Its Residential Furnishings segment offers bedding components, such as innersprings and wire forms; furniture components, including steel mechanisms, springs, seat suspensions, steel tubular seat frames, bed frames, ornamental beds, and power foundations; and structural fabrics, carpet underlay materials, and geo components. This segment serves manufacturers of finished bedding products or upholstered furniture. The company?s Commercial Fixturing & Components segment provides shelving, counters, showcases, and garment racks; standardized shelvings; point-of-purchase displays; and bases, columns, back rests, casters, and frames. This segment offers its products to retail chains and specialty shops; brand name marketers; distributors of consumer products; and office, institutional, and commercial furniture manufacturers. Its Industrial Materials segment provides steel rod s, drawn wires, steel billets, fabricated wire products, welded steel tubing, and fabricated tube components to bedding and furniture, and mechanical spring makers; automotive seating, and lawn and garden equipment manufacturers; and waste recyclers, waste removal businesses, and medical supply businesses. The company?s Specialized Products segment offers manual and power lumbar support and massage systems; seat suspension systems; automotive control cables; low voltage motors; actuation assemblies; formed metal and wire components; quilting machines; machines for shaping wire into springs; industrial sewing/finishing machines; van interiors; and docking stations, as well as specialty trailers for telephone, cable, and utility companies. It serves bedding and automobile seating manufacturers. The company sells its products through its sales representatives and distributors. Leggett & Platt, Incorporated was founded in 1883 and is based in Carthage, Missouri.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Oliver Pursche]
I think the first step will be an increase in share-buybacks and an increase in dividends. As such, I am once again overweighting large-cap multinationals, including some great European names. My favorites include Novartis (NVS) , Legget and Platt (LEG) and Visa (V) .� Of course, the potential risk is that the cash horde remains and even grows, likely creating a deeper negative interest rate environment ��something that surely would be damaging to our economy.
- [By Dividends4Life]
Linked here is a detailed quantitative analysis of Leggett & Platt Inc. (LEG). Below are some highlights from the above linked analysis:
Company Description: Leggett & Platt Inc. makes a broad line of bedding and furniture components and other home, office and commercial furnishings, as well as products for non-furnishings markets.
- [By Holly LaFon]
Leggett & Platt (LEG) is a leading manufacturer of engineered products and components. As the pioneer of steel coil springs found in mattresses and furniture, the company continues to supply a variety of components to bedding and furniture manufacturers. Additionally, Leggett & Platt's broader product line includes retail store fixtures, office furniture components, automotive seating components and industrial steel wire and tubing. Customers choose Leggett & Platt as a supplier because the company's manufacturing scale and processes result in lower costs than customers can produce themselves. We believe earnings should grow based on the contribution of new products, cost reduction efforts and the improving housing market. Moreover, future dividend growth appears likely based on a 42-year record of dividend increases. We believe Leggett & Platt is an attractive investment based on its 3.8% dividend yield and positive growth outlook.
- [By Holly LaFon]
Leggett & Platt (LEG) is a leading manufacturer of engineered products and components. As the pioneer of steel coil springs found in mattresses and furniture, the company continues to supply a variety of components to bedding and furniture manufacturers. Additionally, Leggett & Platt's broader product line includes retail store fixtures, office furniture components, automotive seating components and industrial steel wire and tubing. Customers choose Leggett & Platt as a supplier because the company's manufacturing scale and processes result in lower costs than customers can produce themselves. We believe earnings should grow based on the contribution of new products, cost reduction efforts and the improving housing market. Moreover, future dividend growth appears likely based on a 42-year record of dividend increases. We believe Leggett & Platt is an attractive investment based on its 3.8% dividend yield and positive growth outlook.
Top Performing Companies To Buy For 2015: Sprint Corp (S&LS)
Sprint Corporation, incorporated on May 10, 2012, offers a range of wireless and wireline communications services to consumers, businesses and government users. On July 10, 2013, the Company, SoftBank Corp. and Sprint Nextel Corporation (Sprint Nextel) completed the merger. In the Merger, Sprint Corporation was merged into Sprint Nextel, New Sprint became the parent company of Sprint Nextel, with Sprint Nextel becoming its direct wholly owned subsidiary, and Sprint Nextel changed its name to Sprint Communications, Inc.
The Company develops, engineers and deploys technologies, including the first wireless fourth generation (4G) service from a national carrier in the United States; offering mobile data services, prepaid brands, including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities, and a global Tier 1 Internet Service. The Company also offers unlimited data services.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Holly LaFon]
Since Wilmers & Co. took over M&T Bank in 1983 the bank has acquired 23 banks and Savings and Loans (S&Ls) ��expanding from a single state to seven ��and assets have grown from $2 billion to $110 billion. M&T's branch count has grown from 60 to over 870. The bank currently boasts a customer base of over 2 million retail household customers and nearly 220,000 commercial customers.
Top Performing Companies To Buy For 2015: ANI Pharmaceuticals Inc (ANIP)
ANI Pharmaceuticals, Inc., incorporated on April 11, 2001, is an integrated specialty pharmaceutical company developing, manufacturing, and marketing branded and generic prescription pharmaceuticals. In two facilities with combined manufacturing, packaging and laboratory capacity totaling 173, 00 square feet, the Company manufactures oral solid dose products, as well as liquids and topicals, including narcotics. Its other products include The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved testosterone gel, which is licensed to Teva Pharmaceuticals USA. In December 2013, the Company acquired 31 generic drug products from Teva Pharmaceuticals, which includes 20 solid-oral immediate release products, four extended release products and seven liquid products.
The Company performs contract manufacturing for other pharmaceutical companies. It has launched three products and has 11 products in development. The Company�� targeted areas of product development include narcotics, anti-cancers and hormones (potent compounds), and extended release niche generic product opportunities.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Monica Gerson]
ANI Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: ANIP) reported that it has bought 31 generic drug products from Teva Pharmaceuticals (NYSE: TEVA) for $12.5 million in cash and a percentage of future gross profits. ANI Pharmaceuticals shares surged 5.14% to $18.00 in the after-hours trading session.
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