10 Best Regional Bank Stocks To Own Right Now

Among America's bigger regional bankers, PNC (NYSE: PNC  ) stock can probably claim claim its priciness as its biggest distinguishing factor. Valued at 12.7 times trailing earnings, shares of PNC Financial Services cost 18% more than rival Regions Financial (NYSE: RF  ) , and a whopping 53% more than SunTrust Banks (NYSE: STI  ) . But is there a good reason for investors to pay up for PNC stock?

That's what we're going to try to find out today, as we examine a couple of predictions Wall Street analysts are making about the stock ... and then turn to a prediction of my own.

Prediction No. 1: Superior sales
Wall Street analysts see PNC's revenues growing to about $16.5 billion by 2015. That's about 6.3% revenue growth -- total -- across three years' time.

While that may not sound like much, it's significantly sprightlier than the expectations for either SunTrust (1.4%) or Regions (3.5%). That's particularly significant, given that PNC is already so much larger than its rivals, and might ordinarily be expected to have trouble making its already big revenue stream ... even bigger.

Best Gas Stocks To Watch Right Now: ING Prime Rate Trust (PPR)

ING Prime Rate Trust (the Trust) is a diversified closed-end management investment company. The Trust seeks to provide a high a level of current income together with the preservation of capital. It invests least 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in United States dollar-denominated, floating-rate secured senior loans. It also invests a substantial portion of its assets in below investment-grade senior loans and other below investment-grade assets.

The Trust invests in sectors, such as healthcare, education and childcare; cable; chemicals, plastics and rubber; utilities; printing and publishing; leisure, amusement and entertainment; oil and gas; retail stores; data and Internet services, and beverage, food and tobacco. The Trust�� investment advisor is ING Investments, LLC. ING Prime Rate Trust�� sub-advisor is ING Investment Management Co. and its administrator is ING Funds Services, LLC. ING Investments, LLC, ING Investment Management Co. and ING Funds Services, LLC are indirect, wholly owned subsidiaries of ING Groep N.V.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Dowdee]

  The following 10 funds satisfied all of these conditions:

  BlackRock Float Rate Strategies (FRA). This CEF sells at a discount of 3%, which is low compared to an average premium of 2% over the past year. The distribution has been managed at 6.1% and a small amount (less than 10%) has been return of capital (ROC). However, this has not negatively affected net asset value (NAV) so has not been destructive. The fund holds 447 securities, with 90% in floating rate loans. FRA utilizes 27% leverage and has an expense ratio of 1.7%, including interest payments. Eaton Vance Floating Rate (EFR). This CEF sells at a 1% premium, which is low compared to an average premium of 5% over the past year. The distribution is 6.2%, none of which was ROC. The fund holds 800 securities, with 90% in floating rate loans. About 85% of the securities are from U.S. companies. EFR utilizes 35% leverage and has an expense ratio of 1.8% including interest payments. ING Prime Rate Trust (PPR). This CEF sells for a premium of 2%, which is below the average premium of 5%. It has a distribution of 6.8%, none of which was ROC. The fund has 350 holdings, virtually all in senior loans and from US companies. PPR utilizes 29% leverage and has a high expense ratio of 2.1%, including interest payments. Invesco VK Dynamic Credit Opportunities (VTA). This CEF sells for a discount of 5%, which is below the average discount of 1%. It has a distribution of 7.1%, none of which was ROC. The fund has 495 holdings, with 76% in floating rate loans. About 25% of the loans are from non-US companies. VTA utilizes a relatively low 20% leverage but still has a high expense ratio of 2.1%, including interest payments. Invesco VK Senior Income (VVR). This CEF sells for a discount of 1%, which is below the average premium of 3%. It has a distribution of 7.1%, none of which was ROC. The fund has over 500 holdings, with 89% in floating rate loans. Almost all (95%) securities are from US companies. VVR ut
• [By Aaron Levitt]

  The main reason why investors fled bounds during the taper tantrum is that bond prices have a negative correlation with rising interest rates. The ING Prime Rate Trust (PPR) avoids some of those problems.

10 Best Regional Bank Stocks To Own Right Now: Hasbro Inc.(HAS)

Hasbro, Inc. engages in the design, manufacture, and marketing of games and toys. The company principally provides children?s and family leisure time and entertainment products and services. It offers various games, including traditional board, card, hand-held electronic, trading card, roleplaying, and DVD games, as well as electronic learning aids and puzzles. Hasbro?s toy products include boy?s action figures, vehicles and playsets, girl?s toys, electronic toys, plush products, preschool toys and infant products, electronic interactive products, creative play products, and toy related specialty products. The company also licenses certain of its trademarks, characters, and other property rights to third parties for use in connection with consumer promotions and for the sale of noncompeting toys and games, and non-toy products. It offers its products primarily under PLAYSKOOL, TRANSFORMERS, NERF, MY LITTLE PONY, LITTLEST PET SHOP, TONKA, G.I. JOE, SUPER SOAKER, MILTON BRAD LEY, PARKER BROTHERS, CRANIUM, AVALON HILL, TIGER, FURREAL FRIENDS, BABY ALIVE, STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE, and WIZARDS OF THE COAST brand names. The company markets its products to various customers, including wholesalers, distributors, chain stores, discount stores, mail order houses, catalog stores, department stores, and other retailers, as well as Internet-based e-tailers. It has a strategic licensing agreement with Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), which provides EA with the worldwide rights to create digital games for various platforms, including mobile phones, personal computers, and game consoles, as well as; and a strategic relationship with Universal Pictures to produce approximately three motion pictures based on certain of company?s brands. Hasbro sells its products through its own sales force and distributors primarily in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, the Asia Pacific, Latin America, and South America. The company was founded in 1923 and is headquartered in Paw tucket, Rhode Island.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Chris Hill]

  Hasbro's (NASDAQ: HAS  ) first-quarter loss widened because of some restructuring charges. Shares hit a new 52-week high on Monday. Hasbro reported an increase in revenues from its games, girls, and preschool divisions. But revenue was down for Hasbro's boys division. In this installment of MarketFoolery, our analysts discuss the toy retailer and take a Transformers quiz.

• [By Patricio Kehoe]

  However, I must point out that 2013�� restructuring plan also led to the suspension of JAKKS's quarterly dividend, making competitors like Hasbro Inc. (HAS) and Mattel Inc. (MAT) much more attractive investment options, given their consistent dividend increases. Nonetheless, I believe JAKKS has the potential to regain its financial strength in the long term, and the stock�� price of $7.2 is much cheaper than its rivals, making it a cheap investment. Therefore, patient investors looking for long-term growth might be surprised by this company�� future profitability.

10 Best Regional Bank Stocks To Own Right Now: NETGEAR Inc.(NTGR)

NETGEAR, Inc. engages in the design, development, marketing, and sale of networking products. The company offers home networking, storage, and digital media products to connect users with the Internet and their content and devices; networking, storage, and security solutions to commercial businesses; and whole home networking solutions to service providers for sale to their customers. Its products include commercial business networking products consisting of Ethernet switches, wireless controllers, Internet security appliances, and network attached storage devices; broadband access products, such as routers, gateways, IP telephony products, and media servers; and network connectivity products comprising wireless access points, wireless network interface cards and adapters, Ethernet network interface cards and adapters, media adapters, powerline adapters and bridges, and multimedia over coax alliance standard adapters and bridges. The company produces its products through t hird-party manufacturers. NETGEAR, Inc. markets its products primarily through retailers, online retailers, wholesale distributors, direct market resellers, value added resellers, and broadband service providers worldwide. NETGEAR, Inc. was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in San Jose, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Seth Jayson]

  Netgear (Nasdaq: NTGR  ) is expected to report Q2 earnings on July 25. Here's what Wall Street wants to see:

  The 10-second takeaway
  Comparing the upcoming quarter to the prior-year quarter, average analyst estimates predict Netgear's revenues will grow 10.2% and EPS will contract -12.5%.

10 Best Regional Bank Stocks To Own Right Now: Ambassadors Group Inc. (EPAX)

Ambassadors Group, Inc. provides educational travel experiences and online education research materials worldwide. Its Ambassador Programs and Other segment offers educational travel services to students and professionals. The company�s BookRags segment provides online research in the form of book summaries, critical essays, study guides, lesson plans, film summaries, biographies, literary criticisms, and references to encyclopedia articles. It offers People to People Ambassador Programs for the development and conducting of programs to grade school and high school students; and for the development, marketing, and operation of programs for professionals, college students, and athletes. The company also provides People to People Student Ambassador Programs, which offer educational opportunities for grade school, middle school, and high school students to visit foreign destinations to learn about the history, government, economy, and culture of such countries, as well as pr ovides educational and entertaining travel experience. In addition, it offers People to People Sports Ambassador Programs; and People to People Leadership Summit and World Leadership Forum Programs that provide domestic travel experiences for grade school, middle school, and high school students emphasizing leadership, community involvement, and government education. The company also offers People to People Citizen Ambassador Programs, which provide professionals to travel abroad to meet and exchange ideas with foreign citizens. In addition, it offers Discovery Student Adventures, a teacher recruited student travel program that provides opportunities for grade school, middle school, and high school students to visit destinations emphasizing adventure and scientific exploration. Further, the company operates bookrags.com, an educational Website. Ambassadors Group, Inc. was founded in 1967 and is headquartered in Spokane, Washington.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By CRWE]

  Ambassadors Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:EPAX), a leading provider of educational travel experiences, reported that its board of directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.06 per share, which will be paid on June 7, 2012 to all common shareholders of record on May 24, 2012.

10 Best Regional Bank Stocks To Own Right Now: Honda Motor Company Ltd. (HMC)

Honda Motor Co., Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the development, manufacture, and distribution of motorcycles, automobiles, and power products primarily in North America, Europe, and Asia. Its motorcycle line consists of business and commuter models, as well as sports models, including trial and moto-cross racing; all?terrain vehicles; personal watercrafts; and multi utility vehicles. The company also produces various automobile products, including passenger cars, minivans, multi-wagons, sport utility vehicles, and mini cars; and power products comprising tillers, portable generators, general-purpose engines, grass cutters, outboard marine engines, water pumps, snow throwers, power carriers, power sprayers, lawn mowers and lawn tractors, home-use cogeneration units, and thin film solar cells for home, public, and industrial uses. In addition, it sells spare parts and provides after sales services are through retail dealers, as well as offers retail lendin g and leasing to customers, and wholesale financing to dealers. The company was founded in 1946 and is based in Tokyo, Japan.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By MARKETWATCH]

  LOS ANGELES (MarketWatch) -- Stocks in Japan stumbled at the start of trading Wednesday, with the yen winning back a portion of recent losses against the U.S. dollar . The Nikkei Stock Average (JP:NIK) dropped 212 points, or 1.3%, to 15,538.10, and the broader Topix fell 0.9%. Auto stocks declined despite a climb in U.S. car sales in November. Shares of Nissan Motor Co. (JP:7201) (NSANY) pulled back 0.8%, and Toyota Motor Corp. (JP:7203) (TM) fell 0.6%. U.S. sales for Nissan and Toyota rose 11% and 6%, respectively. Honda Motor Co. shares (JP:7267) (HMC) lagged, down by 1.1% after sales for American Honda Motor decreased 0.1%. But shares of Renesas Electronics Corp. (JP:6723) (RNECY) stood out as they climbed 2.1% after a Nikkei newspaper report that Sony Corp. (JP:6758) (SNE) wants to buy Renesas's main chip-fabrication facility.

• [By John Rosevear]

  Since its launch in 1986, Honda's (NYSE: HMC  ) Acura brand has kind of occupied an in-between space -- more upscale than a mass-market brand, but not quite a true luxury brand, either. Lately, Honda has been hinting that it wants to change that, and it has an all-new ad agency ready to push Acura up the luxury scale.

10 Best Regional Bank Stocks To Own Right Now: Tesoro Petroleum Corporation(TSO)

Tesoro Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in refining and marketing petroleum products in the United States. It operates in two segments, Refining and Retail. The Refining segment refines crude oil and other feed stocks into transportation fuels, such as gasoline, gasoline blendstocks, jet fuel, and diesel fuel, as well as other products, including heavy fuel oils, liquefied petroleum gas, petroleum coke, and asphalt. This segment also sells refined products in the wholesale market primarily through independent unbranded distributors; and in the bulk market primarily to independent unbranded distributors, other refining and marketing companies, utilities, railroads, airlines and marine, and industrial end-users. It owns and operates 7 refineries with a combined crude oil capacity of 665 thousand barrels per day. The Retail segment sells gasoline, diesel fuel, and convenience store items through company-operated retail stations, and third-party branded dea lers and distributors in the western United States. As of December 31, 2011, this segment had 1,175 branded retail stations under the Tesoro, Shell, and USA Gasoline brands. The company was formerly known as Tesoro Petroleum Corporation and changed its name to Tesoro Corporation in November 2004. Tesoro Corporation was founded in 1939 and is headquartered in San Antonio, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Claudia Assis]

  Top decliners Friday also included refiner Tesoro Corp. (TSO) , with shares down 2.2%.

• [By John Divine]

  Oil refiner Tesoro (NYSE: TSO  ) lost 2.9% today, on a day when the oil and gas sector, as a whole, was the worst performing of the 10 major sectors. Tesoro is reeling from a recent shutdown in a Washington state refinery earlier this week after a leak was discovered. Thankfully, the issue has been resolved, but the 125,000-barrel-per-day refinery lost some meaningful business in the process.

10 Best Regional Bank Stocks To Own Right Now: First Mexican Gold Corp (FMG)

First Mexican Gold Corp. (First Mexican) is exploration-stage company engaged principally in the acquisition, exploration and development of precious mineral properties through its wholly owned subsidiary, Cornelius Exploration S. de R.L. de C.V., in Mexico. The Hilda Properties consist of three properties: Hilda 30 property, the Hilda 37/38 property and Hilda 31/32 property. On January 1, 2011, the Company signed an agreement to acquire the Claim of Santa Martha, which consists of approximately 68 hectares in the district of Yecora, State of Sonora, Mexico. On February 4, 2011, the Company signed a letter of intent to acquire the claims of Vianney Fraccion III, San Martin and El Panda. On February 14, 2011, the Company signed a letter of intent to acquire the claims of El Hoyo and Santa Maria. On January 24, 2012, the Company completed its 80% option earn-in on the Guadalupe property in Sonora State, Mexico. On February 15, 2012, it acquired 100% interest of Guadalupe project. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Adam Haigh]

  Fortescue Metals Group Ltd. (FMG) sank 4.2 percent after Teck Resources Ltd. sold a stake worth about A$500 million ($473 million) in Australia�� third-biggest iron-ore exporter. Sony Corp., a TV maker that gets 68 percent of sales outside Japan, lost 2.7 percent after the yen yesterday surged against the dollar, curbing the outlook for exporters. Samsung Electronics Co. preferred shares declined 5 percent in Seoul after Citigroup Inc. managed the sale of a $350 million stake in the electronics firm.