One of the leading independent energy companies leading the way in the exploration and development of natural gas liquids (NGL) is Devon (DVN). While other energy companies are searching out alternative resources because of the downward pricing of natural gas, Devon is going for the liquid.

This is a smart move especially when analysts are expecting this company’s growth, due to NGL, to be close to 13% this year. Of course NGL is not Devon’s only energy resource to bring to market. The company is expecting growth of up to 24% from its oil plays. In the most recent quarter, the company reported record production of 694,000 barrels of oil equivalent (BOE) per day in the most recent quarter, up 10% from the first quarter of 2011. Devon is a company that I believe investors should not just keep a keen eye on, but own the company while watching its phenomenal growth.

Two of Devon’s competitors, Apache (APA) and Anadarko (APC) are in for a surprise when Devon’s plans finally begin to take hold. Lesser competitors such as Cabot Oil & Gas (COG), Comstock Resources (CRK), and Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) will also need to be on their toes as Devon begins taking action on its lofty goals. The company has set a goal to spend $1 billion more than originally planned for oil exploration, or close to $6.5 billion, with expectations of increasing its oil and gas production by 6% to 8% on an annual basis over the next five years.To continue reading, click here.

EMC (EMC) and Verizon (VZ) have just announceda new cloud computing partnership that will involve EMC, the giant data storage company and Verizon’s managed IT infrastructure subsidiary, Terremark. Terremark will provide standard offerings in its private cloud business on EMC infrastructure for public and hybrid cloud deployments by its customers. In addition, the two companies are expected to work together on the development of new cloud-based services and products that use EMC storage, backup and replication. Verizon paid $1.4 billion last year for Terremark as an entry into the potentially lucrative infrastructure and cloud services business. The companies have been working together for almost 10 years now.

Earlier, EMC reported strong results for the first quarter and this is the ninth consecutive quarter in which the company has achieved growth in double digits for revenue, EPS and net income. Revenue for the first quarter was $5.1 billion, an increase of 11% on a year on year basis and net income rose by 23% to $587 million. First-quarter EPS was $.37 a share an increase of 29% over the figure of $.27 a share in the same quarter of the previous year. Operating cash flow was $1.7 billion and free cash flow amounted to $1.4 billion. The company ended the quarter with $10.7 billion in cash and equivalents. The revenues were divided roughly equally between the United States and the rest of the world. The company reported strong customer demand for its leading mid-tier storage products portfolio3 while the Isilon scale-out NAS business nearly doubled its revenue .To continue reading, click here.

The number of homes refinanced under the new and improved Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) nearly doubled in the first quarter of 2012. That should benefit mortgage REITS that invest in government guaranteed mortgages, such as AG Mortgage Management (MITT), Hatteras Financial (HTS), American Capital Agency (AGNC), and Annaly Capital Management (NLY).

Stocks from mREITs like these should see a small boost in profits from this news. Even though the volume of refinances under HARP 2.0 has nearly doubled, the number is still very low. Around 180,000 mortgages were refinanced under the program in the first quarter, compared with around 93,000 in the last quarter of 2011.

The number of refinances does seem to be refinancing dramatically – around 80,000 HARP refinances were completed in March. The reason for this increase appears to be new mortgage refinancing software written expressly for HARP. The New York Times reported that the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHA) only made the program fully available at that time.

These numbers show that the refinancing business is getting a dramatic boost, which should increase the volume of business at mREITs. This should also increase their cash flow and profits. Also increased will be the amounts that those companies can leverage.

The major factor holding the number of HARP refinances down is the requirement that homeowners be current on their mortgage payments. Many underwater homeowners have had a hard time meeting mortgage payments because of the dismal economy.To continue reading, click here.

It could be a great time to invest in Oracle (ORCL) after CEO Larry Ellison announced that the company would debut its much anticipated cloud computing software next week. The stock is currently trading at around $26, staying in the same $10 range or so for the last decade. Based on the new cloud software rolled out by the charismatic Ellison, as well as favorable buzz over the safety of the always-consistent stock, I think Oracle could be poised for a solid rise.

The debut of its cloud software – which, according to Ellison, would give Oracle a significant leg up over competitor SAP (SAP) – represents a significant step up in technology for the tech giant. The concept of cloud computing, which has had a meteoric rise over the last few years, is having data access from pretty much anywhere, as opposed to locating data on a physical server. One example of cloud computing most are familiar with is Google’s (GOOG) Google Docs, which allow users to work on documents in the “cloud,” wherever they are. Users are then able to come back to their documents in other places at other times. Cloud software even allows users to work collaboratively in real-time on the same document, since it is in “the cloud” and not based in a physical server room based in any one location. PCMag explains cloud computing as “having every piece of data you need for every aspect of your life at your fingertips and ready for use.” To continue reading, click here.

Exxon Mobil (XOM) is a stalwart integrated oil company that offers very little risk to its investors. Exxon Mobil is the largest publicly owned oil company in the world, with stable earnings and a very consistent stock price that has remained between $67 to $87 over the past 52 weeks.

Currently at the year to date low of about $81, Exxon Mobil stock has stayed steady in the mid $80 range since the beginning of 2012. In the five months since January, investors have pushed Exxon shares against the apparent price ceiling of $87 no less than seven times. Along with the Standard & Poor’s assessment of low qualitative risk, Exxon Mobil deals out a healthy dividend rate of $2.28 per share. Given these factors, I believe Exxon Mobil has prepared itself for sustainable growth. Coupled with the nature of oil and gas prices as summer approaches, I think Exxon Mobil is a valuable stock to own.

Due to regulation from the US Environmental Protection Agency, oil companies like Exxon Mobil must use a special blend of gas for the summer season, putting a cap on vapor pressure in gasoline. Oil refineries often are forced to shut down at the beginning of the season so they can adjust the refinery to the new blend of gasoline they need to produce. This temporarily lowers the supply of oil, and thus gasoline produced by companies like Exxon Mobil. As driving vacation season comes with summer, the demand for gasoline increases in the United States and the final outcome is a rise in the price of gasoline.To continue reading, click here.

Things are looking up for BP (BP), which was recently able to restart its Cherry Point oil refinery in Washington after about 3 months of it being shut down.

This is good news for more than one reason. Firstly it obviously means that production can resume and the refinery will be able to start making a profit for the company again. In addition the company will no longer have to face angry claims from Washington residents regarding the fact that the shutdown apparently caused gas prices in the region to rise to unacceptably high levels. Taking a look at spot gas prices in the area now, it is easy to see that it was the BP shutdown, despite the company’s claims to the contrary, that caused the process to spike in the first place. Following the restart of the refinery prices have dropped noticeably. This is because the refinery, although still engaged in the start up process, has already restarted the production of motor fuel. The initial shutdown was caused by a fire that necessitated a number of repairs. The refinery is back up and running and full production will most likely be resumed by the end of the month.

And, of course, the company is still dealing with the backlash from the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. The company is very close to closing a deal that will resolve most of the civil lawsuits currently leveled against it regarding the spill.To continue reading, click here.