Its 2021, and thanks to the Traverse City Business News, heres a glimpse of what were watching in and around Traverse City as the New Year begins.

Weed In The City2020 was a year of upheaval in Traverse Citys burgeoning marijuana industry.On one hand, a dozen medical marijuana establishments officially opened their doors. On the other, critics have accused the Traverse City Board of Commissioners of dragging their feet on bringing recreational marijuana into the city.

With four lawsuits pending against the City of Traverse City regarding its handling of marijuana licenses, City Clerk Benjamin Marentette warns that recreational cannabis sales arent likely to commence in the city any time soon.

Michigan voters legalized adult-use marijuana in November 2018 and recreational sales have officially been allowed in the state since Dec. 1, 2019. The City of Traverse City has thus far opted out of allowing recreational marijuana businesses within city limits, with the reasoning that delaying licensing would allow city commissioners time to determine how to regulate these types of businesses.

In August, the city commission approved new rules that would have opened the door for recreational marijuana dispensaries in Traverse City. The rules ignited an uproar and led to the filing of three lawsuits (to date) against the City of Traverse City. A fourth cannabis lawsuit facing the city pertains to medical marijuana.

Marentette says that recreational cannabis is indefinitely stalled. His office has received two applications so far for non-dispensary businesses: one for a grower, one for a safety compliance facility. But per a ruling from the 13th Circuit Court, the city cannot accept applications for recreational marijuana dispensaries or microbusinesses until further notice.

Because of the lawsuits the city is facing, Judge (Thomas G.) Power ordered that my office not begin accepting applications until further order of the court, Marentette said. There's a lot of complexity to the lawsuits filed against the city that may or may not shape (the citys timeline on licensing or store openings).

TVC's Independent Airport AuthorityTraverse Citys Cherry Capital Airport (TVC) has been cleared locally to operate more independently than ever before.

Grand Traverse and Leelanau county commissioners voted in December to create an independent airport authority, such as what Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids and the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport are governed by. Currently, TVC is owned jointly by Grand Traverse and Leelanau counties and is governed by the Northwest Regional Airport Commission (NRAC).

As an independent authority, the two counties would still appoint board members, but the airport would have greater independence and autonomy to buy and sell property, control its own zoning, set standards for board members and remove board members that dont meet standards or fail in their duties.

As part of the post-approval process, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will need to sign off on changing the airports operating certificate. The review process is likely to take about nine months.

East Bay Township DevelopmentCould 2021 finally be the year that long-gestating development projects in East Bay Township come to fruition?

One area of interest is the stretch of U.S. 31 from Five Mile Road to Eighth Street, once referred to by locals as restaurant row. Many of the restaurants along that corridor have shuttered; those spaces all remain vacant heading in 2021, but at least one of them should be seeing some action in the New Year.

Nick Spallone is the designer for a new luxury car wash called Green Mitt, set to take over the 1840 U.S. 31 site previously occupied by Hooters.

Mark Hagan of Coldwell Banker, who represents the Ruby Tuesday property, says hes had a lot of larger chains that have expressed interest, kind of from all over the country, but that nothing has come together yet.

Old restaurant buildings arent the only commercial properties along U.S. 31 sitting vacant. Two hotel developments along that corridor one between Four Mile and Five Mile roads, adjacent to Hopscotch Brick Oven and Tap Room; the other between Hampton Inn and the Traverse City State Park appear to be stalled.

Away from restaurant row, East Bay Township could see some other development activity in 2021. An upscale manufactured home community called Alta Vista is planned for the 80 acres of vacant land east of Grand Traverse Academy, between Hammond and Vanderlip roads. Developers say construction will begin soon on the 165-unit community, with a three-phase buildout set to begin in February.

Hot HousingWith real estate demand in Traverse City holding strong, developers are boosting the areas apartment housing stock. Here are just a few of the projects on the horizon:

Breakwater:Breakwater on Garland Street is a new 77-unit mixed-use development that is just a stones throw from the Open Space. Steve Poole, the real estate agent representing the three commercial units on the ground floor, says to his knowledge the apartments are nearly 100% rented.

Ruth Park:Ruth Park is a planned 58-unit apartment complex on Wellington Street, across the street from Safe Harbor. It was approved in October for $1.2 million in funding from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA), which will help fund the $14.1 million project.

DDA projects:The DDA is assisting with multiple projects. One is a mixed-use development planned for the spot currently occupied by parking lot G next to Mode's Bum Steer. The DDA is also collaborating with Great Lakes Capital, a real estate private equity firm, on bringing two projects to downtown TC. One is planned for 309 W. Front St. next to the new 4Front headquarters. The second, another four-story mixed-use project, would take up residence in the long-vacant site next to J&S Hamburg, with approximately 80 new apartment units included.

Mosser apartment complex:A potential 168-unit apartment complex on the south side of Hartman Road is in the preliminary stages in Garfield Township but is facing potential hurdles due to the parcel's proximity to Miller Creek Nature Preserve. The complex would include three seven-story apartment buildings, as well as a clubhouse and pool area.

U.S. 31 South apartment complex:A 60-unit apartment complex has been proposed for a 1.6-acre parcel off U.S. 31 South, between Hartman and South Airport roads. The proposed site which Garfield Township Planning Director John Sych says is a "nice fit" falls in the middle of several commercial structures near Grand Traverse Mall.

Also on the way are several luxury condo developments, including long-gestating projects like Peninsula Place on State Street, 539 Bay Street and newer ones like Fresh Water Flats on Gillis Street.

Racial Reckoning2020s racial unrest sparked the birth of Traverse Connects Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Committee. The committee, which consists of members from across the business community, has a goal to lead the community in becoming a region that is attractive and enabling to people of all diversities racial, cultural, social economic and ability.The group will host a DEI summit on March 11, with the aim of educating local businesses about the value of diversity and providing resources that can help businesses embrace DEI.

Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS) will also likely take a closer look at DEI in the New Year. A former TCAPS student started a petition last summer urging the school district to incorporate BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of color) history and anti-racism education into educational curricula.

Relocating To Traverse CityThe Traverse City real estate market has rarely been hotter. According to the Traverse Area Association of Realtors (TAAR), November sales for the five-county region hit a record high of 350 homes totaling $136.64 million.

According to Warren Call, president and CEO of Traverse Connect, the real estate trends dovetail with other metrics to prove that more people are moving to Traverse City.

Spurred by a range of factors higher COVID-19 case numbers and more stringent pandemic restrictions in densely populated areas, more companies allowing their employees to work remotely on an indefinite basis city dwellers spent 2020 relocating in droves.According to the United States Postal Service, nearly 16 million American filed change-of-address requests between February and July, up more than 600,000 from the same period in 2019. Based on TAARs November real estate numbers, at least some of them are moving to Traverse City.

According to Call, a company called EMSI releases an annual talent attraction scorecard that ranks every county in the country. The 2020 version scores Grand Traverse County 81 out of over 2,200, small- and mid-sized counties in the country.

"So the timing has been fortuitous, because as the crisis struck we were already getting all these people that probably already had some inclination of moving here," Call says.NMC Student SurgeAt Northwestern Michigan College (NMC), the New Year is ringing in an out-of-the-ordinary surge in students.

Theyre coming from one possibly two fronts: The states new Futures for Frontliners program that offers free in-district community college tuition to essential workers who dont have a college degree; and another new statewide program called Michigan Reconnect, aimed at filling the states skills gap by helping adults over age 25 earn a degree or certificate.

Potential student numbers from Michigan Reconnect wont emerge until its application period opens in February, but Futures for Frontliners began adding NMC enrollment with this months start of spring semester.

As of early December, 1,465 students had applied for the Frontliners scholarship. Students through the Michigan Reconnect program will likely enroll starting in the fall.

Both programs could boost NMCs profile as an education and skills provider, which in turn could help the college with a continuing goal: attracting and offering aid to some of the approximately 19,000 people in NMCs six-county area who have some type of college experience but no degree.

Read the rest of the What To Watch list in the January TCBN, including:

- BATAs New HQ- Relief for Downtown Businesses- Downtown Property Tax Woes- Jody Trietch and Taste the Local Difference- Short's Growth Spurt- Continued COVID Innovations- Commercial Real Estate Questions- Frankforts Garden Theater Re-Do

See the article here:
What To Watch In Traverse City In 2021 - Traverse City Ticker

Mark Hughes Cobb|The Tuscaloosa News

One disaster 2020 hasn't dumped onthe Tuscaloosa area is severe weather, but as the calendar year closes,residents should be alert for possible high winds, heavy rainfall and a chance of tornadoes Thursday evening, rollinginto Friday.

After a freezing yule in which neighboring counties saw White Christmas flurries, temperatures may shoot ashigh as 70for New Year's Eve, said Jason Holmes, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Birmingham. Combine that with a strong cold front moving in from the west, currently threatening to bring snow and heavy rain to muchof Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana,and threats grow.

Typically this area suffers its heaviest severe-weather threatsin spring, and again in fall moving intowinter, he said.

"So this is like our secondary severe weather system, and it's been very quiet thankfully," Holmes said. "But it was very cold last week, and it's starting to warm up. We expect to have highs in the mid-60s in Tuscaloosa on Wednesday, and closer to 70 on Thursday.

"That just provides the energy, if you will, for those storms. Conditions will be rather humid with Gulf moisture streaming up ahead."

Staying aware of threats is a key to preparation, Holmessaid, noting that the NWS' forecasts will grow more detailed as the front moves in.

Winter cruise fans: 4 warm-weather trips to tide you over

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"We could have damaging winds up to 60 miles per hour, and a few tornadoes will be possible," he said. "This is a very moist air mass we're dealing with, so expect heavy rainfall, with potential for localized flooding, especially in areas with poorly functioning drainage systems."

Most smartphones now have free weather apps that will broadcast the local emergency alerts, so residents should check tosee if their phones have one of those installed, Holmes said. Media such as The Tuscaloosa News will also be updating their sites as information comes in, and further informationcan be found through the NWS' site at http://www.weather.gov/bmx, or atthe service's social media presences onFacebook and Twitter.

"Don't rely on the outdoor sirens. Awareness is key," Holmes said."Looking back just 10 or 20 years, it's amazing how much more technology we have now.

"Itgives you time to respond. Before, if you didn't have your TV or radio on, you'd be surprised."

The Tuscaloosa County Emergency Management Agency site, at http://www.tuscaloosacountyema.org, features useful advice including preparation and safety training, and an interactive map showing about two dozen storm shelter locations scattered throughout the county. If and when they open, the site map will indicate that, said Nick Lolley, Tuscaloosa County EMA director.

He also recommends signing up for the TuscALERT service, which provides weather and other warnings directly to your cellphone or email address. A link can be found on the site.

"It's free, and you can put up to five locations on it; it's location-specific," Lolley said.

In advance, understand the risks, and have a plan, Holmes said. Stock emergency supplies are always good to keeparound:flashlights and batteries, portable radios, bottled water, non-perishable food, first-aid kits, and the like.

In the event of a warning, find the safest possible shelter, whether at home, or in a business or school.

"You should always havea designated location to go to when there's bad weather, toward the center part of the building, in the interior, away from windows," he said.

"For thosein mobile homes, manufactured homes, they're just not that robust of a structure. Werecommend those peopleeither evacuate to a storm structure, or to a neighbor with a well-built home. In high winds, mobile homescan come apart fairly easily."

This week, keeping alert is crucial, as the worst of the storms may come late at night, Lolley said.

"Keep your phone charged," he said. "If you've got a weather radio, make sure you've got extra batteries."

Some people try to "outrun" storms in their vehicle. One word of advice about that from the NWS: Don't. Instead, stay alert to evolvingforecasts, and be prepared to leave the car to find shelter in a solid structure. If there's nothing available in an emergency, lie down in a gully, ditch or other low spot on the ground; flying debris is responsible for most deaths and injuries during tornadoes.

"With the trees and hills in (this area), we don't have a long visibility. It's not like out on the plains. In some places in the state you can barely see a storm before it's on top of you. Sobe ready to take action when a warning is issued," Holmes said.

But on those occasions where you do see severe weather, tornadoes or other dangers, forming, Holmes encourages submitting a storm report at the http://www.weather.gov/bmx site, or through messages on Facebook or Twitter. Or call the office directly at 205-664-3010.

"We always appreciate reports," Holmes said.

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Severe weather possible New Year's Eve in Tuscaloosa area - Tuscaloosa Magazine

Rob Savage's Host has a formula that cannot be copied by other COVID-19 inspired horror movies in 2021; here's why it can't to be replaced by others.

Rob Savage'sHostcame out at the most opportune time for COVID-19 pandemic inspired horror movies. While there are likely many more to come in the aftermath of the first wave, it is virtually impossible for its formula to be copied or manufactured a second time. The Zoom based horror movie may only be 56 minutes long, but its impeccable timing and innovative take on the found footage sub-genre has made it an immensely important movie that cannot be replicated.

Written bySavage, Gemma Hurley, and Jed Shepherd,Hostfollows a group of friends who have set up a Zoom video call to enjoy a night of fun and the supernatural. After participating in a sance lead by a seasoned psychic, each of the women start to experience bizarre events taking place in their homes. As the clock ticks on their Zoom call and social isolation confines them to their homes, they're all forced to watch in horror as their friends die one by one without the ability to safe them due to the fear of catching COVID-19. The movie released on Shudder in July, only three months after the official lockdown order was set in place. It was one of the first to capture the horrors that 2020 was presenting in real-life while including fictionalized paranormal events.

Related:Why Halloween: Resurrection Works Better As A Found Footage Movie

Hosthas been considered the best horror movie of 2020 due to its ability to capture the real fears, concerns, loneliness, isolation, and means of communication that have become prevalent in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was largely successful because of its timing, as the first wave left so much uncertainty for the future. SinceHosts'release, several movies have attempted to capitalize off of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the virus itself, but have been largely unsuccessful.

Hostdidn't create the webcam found footage movie, but it did present it in an all new form with the addition of COVID-19. Approximately five months after its release,Social Distancepremiered with a plot that attempted to draw inspiration from Savage's movie. Ultimately, it failed because it implemented government conspiracies alongside the pandemic,making it too disconnected from reality, which was part of the appeal ofHost.If another found footage horror movie takes on its structure, it would need to utilize a different kind of technology to communicate, such as Facetime. In doing so, it would add a level of personal depth to the relationships the characters share, which is very apparent between Emma, Caroline, Haley, Jemma, Radina, and Teddy.

It seems likely that there will be countless horror movies about the COVID-19 pandemic in the near future. The most important part about howHostused it was that it didn't make it the forefront of the movie. Instead, it was merely a backdrop that added a level of forced isolation that all of the characters - and viewers at home - felt in the midst of the paranormal activity. Friends can Zoom anytime, even before the pandemic. Savage's choice to use Zoom didn't have to come from COVID-19, but it did benefit from it because viewers could relate to using it as a tool to communicate with friends, family, and colleagues.

Read this article:
Host's Formula Can't Be Copied By Other Coronavirus Horror Movies In 2021 - Screen Rant

With major funding in hand, a project that will provide housing and support services for people in need is teed up for a possible 2021 construction start at the Highland Bridge redevelopment site in St. Paul.

Emma Norton, a nonprofit provider of housing and support services for women and families who have been homeless, is nearing construction thanks to an $18 million funding allocation announced last week by the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency.

The project will create 60 homes for women and children and office space for Emma Norton, said Tonya Brownlow, the organizations executive director. At present, Emma Norton operates a 50-unit building near downtown St. Paul and a townhome site in Maplewood.

The great thing is, it will allow us to expand [from 50 to 60 units] and it will be their own apartment versus what we have now, which is shared rooms, said Brownlow, whose organization is partnering on the project with Project for Pride in Living.

The allocation is part of a $195 million pool of funding approved last week by Minnesota Housing. The funding supports 73 developments that will create or preserve 2,387 housing units, including rental apartments and single-family houses.

With private and local money, the total development cost is $529 million, Minnesota Housing said.

Specific funding sources include $100 million in housing infrastructure bonds from the 2020 state bonding bill, which was approved by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Tim Walz in October during a special legislative session.

Jennifer Ho, Minnesota Housing Finance Agency commissioner, said the housing infrastructure bonds make it possible for us to create some of the most deeply affordable homes and serve Minnesotans with extremely low incomes. The permanent supportive housing we can create with these bonds are desperately needed and are in short supply across the state.

Most of the $195 million is going to multifamily projects. In all, Minnesota Housing selected 22 multifamily projects divided evenly by metro area and outstate locations. The projects will support 987 new units and rehab work on 402 units.

In addition, Minnesota Housing announced $2.6 million in grants to support 327 units of manufactured housing, and $3.5 million in loans to support 129 units of workforce housing. Earlier this year, Minnesota Housing allocated $9.6 million in loans for rehab of 544 homes.

Emma Nortons project, which also includes office space for the nonprofit organization, was fully funded on its first application to Minnesota Housing, which is pretty unheard of, Brownlow said.

Designed by UrbanWorks Architecture of Minneapolis, the Emma Norton project will serve people who have experienced homelessness, chemical dependency, and mental health issues, Brownlow said. Residents will have access to mental health programs and other support services.

This building will be a much better fit to support their needs, not just for housing but their whole health and recovery, Brownlow said.

Brownlow added that the project will increase Emma Nortons office and housing space from about 23,000 square feet at present to nearly 60,000 square feet.

The new building will rise near Mount Curve Boulevard and Hillcrest Avenue within Highland Bridge, a redevelopment of the 122-acre former Ford Plant in St. Paul. The Emma Norton site is about a block away from a bus stop on Ford Parkway, Brownlow said.

The next steps are to finalize design and get through the closing process with Minnesota Housing. Emma Norton hopes to raise another $1.5 million or $2 million in private money and begin construction sometime in 2021, Brownlow said.

Other notable projects selected for funding include:

A complete list of projects is available at http://www.mnhousing.gov.

RELATED:Emmas Place getting $2.2M upgrade

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Funding boosts Highland housing - Finance and Commerce

By Independent Newsmedia

Here are commercial permits the city of Surprise completed in November:

COMMERCIAL UNCLASSIFIEDSURPRISE SPA 1 CAMPUS PUBLIC ART13627 W. Cactus Road

MANUFACTURING/WAREHOUSESKYWAY BUSINESS PARK BLDG H211180 N. Dysart RoadSKYWAY BUSINESS PARK BLDG H111304 N. Dysart Road

MOBILE/MANUFACTURED HOME17200 W. Bell Road

MULTI-FAMILY/2 UNITSCHRISTOPHER TODD COMMUNITIES AT MOUNTAIN VIEW14155 W. Mountain View Blvd. (12 permits)

PARKING GARAGECHRISTOPHER TODD COMMUNITIES AT MOUNTAIN VIEW14155 W. Mountain View Blvd. (4 permits)

RESIDENTIAL GARAGE/CARPORT29718 N. 165 Ave.

RESIDENTIAL POOL/SPA25 total permits

RESIDENTIAL SOLAR PV53 total permits

SIGN/COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENTT-MOBILE PH320003A14878 W. Major League DriveDESERT FINANCIAL CREDIT UNION15215 N. Cotton LaneTHE PURPLE CHAIR18795 N. Reems Road

SINGLE FAMILY-DETACHED61 total permits

TENANT IMPROVEMENTSWILLIAM LYON HOMES MHC14217 W. Buckskin TrailSUITE BEAUTY LLC15508 W. Bell RoadDESERT MIRAGE MEDICAL OFFICE12361 W. Bola DriveBONFIRE CRAFT KITCHEN AND TAP HOUSE15332 W. Bell RoadPLAYER 1 LLC17239 N. Litchfield Road

Contact the city of Surprise Community Development Department at 623-222-3000.

See more here:
Dozens of permits completed in November | Your Valley - Your Valley

The market has been high on UMH Properties, Inc (UMH) stock recently. UMH gets a Bullish score from InvestorsObserver's Stock Sentiment Indicator.

In investing, sentiment generally means whether or not a given security is in favor with investors. It is typically a pretty short-term metric that relies entirely on technical analysis. That means it doesnt incorporate anything to do with the health or profitability of the underlying company.

Sentiment is how investors, or the market, feels about a stock. There are lots of ways to measure sentiment. At the core, sentiment is pretty easy to understand. If a stock is going up, investors must be bullish, while if it is going down, sentiment is bearish.

InvestorsObservers Sentiment Indicator looks at price trends over the past week and also considers changes in volume. Increasing volume can mean a trend is getting stronger, while decreasing volume can mean a trend is nearing a conclusion.

For stocks that have options, our system also considers the balance between calls, which are often bets that the price will go up, and puts, which are frequently bets that the price will fall.

UMH Properties, Inc (UMH) stock is trading at $16.30 as of 11:23 AM on Friday, Dec 18, a drop of -$0.24, or -1.45% from the previous closing price of $16.54. The stock has traded between $16.20 and $16.67 so far today. Volume today is 135,654 compared to average volume of 156,695.

To screen for more stocks like UMH Properties, Inc click here.

UMH Properties Inc together with its subsidiaries is a real estate investment trust. It is engaged in the business of ownership and operation of manufactured home communities - leasing manufactured homesites to private manufactured home owners. It also leases homes to residents. The company also owns the land, utility connections, streets, lighting, driveways, common area amenities, and other capital improvements. It earns income from leasing, brokerage, and appreciation. It is located in New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Indiana, Michigan, and Maryland.

Click Here to get the full Stock Score Report on UMH Properties, Inc (UMH) Stock.

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What is the Market's View on UMH Properties, Inc (UMH) Stock's Price and Volume Trends - InvestorsObserver

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) today welcomed Clayton Homes of Bean Station, a Tennessee-based producer of manufactured homes, into the Tennessee Green Star Partnership.

This is the third Clayton Homes site in Tennessee that has joined the partnership. The others are Clayton-Rutledge and Clayton-Savannah.

The Tennessee Green Star Partnership is an environmental leadership program that recognizes manufacturers who are committed to sustainability and exhibit continuous improvement throughout their entire operation.

Clayton Homes of Bean Station demonstrates environmental responsibility throughout its work, and we are pleased to add it to the Green Star Partnership, Kendra Abkowitz, director of TDECs Office of Policy and Sustainable Practices, said. It is a worthy member of this program.

Clayton Homes has made significant commitments to sustainability across all operations and manufacturing plants across the state, especially at its Clayton Homes of Bean Station location. Clayton Homes of Bean Station diverted 200 tons of waste from the landfill in 2020 through recycling metal, cardboard, wire, and plastic. The facility has also achieved a 50 percent reduction in water in one year by upgrading to waterless urinals and motion-sensor faucets, which in turn saved 40,000 gallons annually.

In addition, the entire facility has gone through a lighting retrofit, converting all lights to LED. Clayton Homes of Bean Station is going beyond adopting sustainability measures in its facility; it has also passed those environmental and economic savings on to its customers. Homes manufactured by Clayton Homes come standard with LED lights and Energy Star certification.

The Bean Station location can produce over 1,600 manufactured homes annually. Clayton Homes is the largest builder of manufactured housing and modular homes in the United States. Clayton Homes was founded in Tennessee and is owned by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Group. The company is headquartered in Maryville.

To become a member in the Tennessee Green Star Partnership, a manufacturer must operate under an ISO 14001 certification, a voluntary environmental management standard developed by the International Organization for Standardization, and/or an environmental management system that conforms to ISO 14001, and must have a minimum of three years of exceptional environmental compliance with TDEC.

For more information about TDECs Green Star Partnership program, please visit this site.

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TDEC Welcomes Clayton Homes of Bean Station Into Green Star Partnership - tn.gov

TipRanks

After a year that most of us want to forget, 2021 is shaping up to start with stability and an even keel. The election is safely behind us, the new Biden Administration promises a no drama approach, a closely divided and hyper-partisan Congress is unlikely to enact any sweeping legislation, reform or otherwise, and COVID vaccines are ready for distribution. Its a recipe for a calm news cycle.Which makes it a perfect time to buy into the stock market. Investors can read the tea leaves, or study the data whatever their preferred mode of stock analysis and use this period of calm to make rational choices on the stock moves. Using the TipRanks database, weve pulled up three stocks that present a bullish case. All three meet a profile that should interest value investors. They hold unanimous Strong Buy consensus ratings, along with a perfect 10 from the Smart Score. That score, a unique measure, evaluates a stock based on 8 factors with a proven high correlation to future overperformance. A 10 score indicates a strong likelihood that the stock will rise in the coming year. And finally, all three of these stocks present with double-digit upside potentials, indicating that they are still undervalued.UMH Properties (UMH)Well start in the real estate investment trust (REIT) sector, with UMH Properties. This company, which started out after WWII in the mobile home industry, later become the premier builder of manufactured housing. Today, UMH owns and manages a portfolio of 124 manufactured housing communities, spread across 8 states in the Northeast and Midwest, and totaling well over 23,000 units. As a REIT, UMH has benefitted from the nature of manufactured houses as affordable options in the housing market. UMH both sells the manufactured homes to residents, while leasing the plots on which the properties stand, and leases homes to residents. The companys same-property income, a key metric, showed 8.6% year-over-year increase in the third quarter.Also in the third quarter, UMH reported a 16% yoy increase in top line revenue, showing $43.1 million compared to $37.3 million in the year-ago quarter. Funds from Operations, another key metric in the REIT sector, came in at 11 cents per share, down from 14 cents in 3Q19. The decrease came as the company redeemed $2.9 million in Series B Preferred Stock.REITs are required to return income to shareholders, and UMH accomplishes this with a reliable dividend and a high yield of 4.7%. The payment, at 18 cents per common share, is paid quarterly and has been held stable for over a decade.Compass Point analyst Merrill Ross believes the company is in a sound position to create value for both households and shareholders.We believe that UMH has proven that it can bring attractive, affordable housing to either renters or homeowners more efficiently than has been possible with vertical rental housing. As UMH improves its cost of funds, it can compete more effectively with other MH community owners in the public and private realms, and because it has a successful formula to turn around undermanaged communities, we think that UMH can consolidate privately-owned properties over the next few years to build on its potential for value creation, Ross opined.To this end, Ross rates UMH a Buy, and her $20 price target implies a 25% one-year upside. (To watch Rosss track record, click here)Overall, the unanimous Strong Buy on UMH is based on 5 recent reviews. The stock is selling for $15.92, and the $18.40 average price target suggests it has room for 15% growth from that level. (See UMH stock analysis on TipRanks)Laird Superfood (LSF)Laird Superfood is a newcomer to the stock markets, having gone public just this past September. The company manufactures and markets a range of plant-based, nutrient-dense food additives and snacks, and is most known for its line of specialized non-dairy coffee creamers. Laird targets customers looking to add nutrition and an energy boost to their diet.Since its September IPO, the company has reported Q3 earnings. Revenue was strong, at $7.6 million, beating the forecast by over 26% and coming in 118% above the year-ago figure. The company also reported a 115% yoy growth in online sales. Ecommerce now makes up 49% of the companys net sales no surprise during the corona year.The review on the stock comes from Robert Burleson, a 5-star analyst from Canaccord. Burleson reiterates his bullish position, saying, We continue to view LSF as an attractive platform play on strong demand trends for plant-based, functional foods, noting LSFs competitively differentiated omni-channel approach and ingredients ethos. Over time, we expect LSF to be able to leverage its brand and vertically integrated operation into success in a broad range of plant-based categories, driving outsized top-line growth and healthy margin expansion.Burleson rates LSF shares a Buy alongside a $70 price target. This figure indicates his confidence in ~63% growth on the one-year horizon. (To watch Burlesons track record, click here)Laird has not attracted a lot of analyst attention, but those who have reviewed the stock agree with Burlesons assessment. LSF has a unanimous Strong Buy analyst consensus rating, based on 3 recent reviews. The stocks $62.33 average price target suggests room for ~39% upside in the coming year. (See LSF stock analysis on TipRanks)TravelCenters of America (TA)Last but not least is TravelCenters of America, a major name in the transportation sector. TravelCenters owns, operates, and franchises full-service highway rest stops across the US an important niche in a country that relies heavily on long-haul trucking, and in which private car ownership has long encouraged the road trip mystique. TAs network of rest stops offers travelers convenience stores and fast-food restaurants in addition to gasoline and diesel fuel and the expected amenities.The corona crisis has been hard time for TA, as lockdown regulations put a damper on travel. The companys revenues bottomed out in Q2, falling to $986 million, but rose 28% sequentially to hit $1.27 billion in Q3. EPS, at 61 cents, was also strong, and showed impressive 165% year-over-year growth. These gains came as the economy started reopening and with air travel still restricted, automobiles become the default for long distance, a circumstance that benefits TravelCenters. Covering TravelCenters for BTIG is analyst James Sullivan, who rates the stock a Buy, and his $40 price target suggests a 22% upside over the coming year. (To watch Sullivans track record, click here)Backing his stance, Sullivan noted, TA is in the process of moving on from a series of unsuccessful initiatives under the prior management team. The current new management team has strengthened the balance sheet and intends to improve operations through both expense cuts and revenue-generating measures which should boost margins [] While we expect the 2020 spend to be focused on non-revenue generating maintenance and repair items, we expect in 2021 and beyond that higher spending should generate good ROI All in all, TravelCenters shares get a unanimous thumbs up, with 3 Buys backing the stocks Strong Buy consensus rating. Shares sell for $32.87, and the average price target of $38.33 suggests an upside potential of ~17%. (See TA stock analysis on TipRanks)To find good ideas for stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks equity insights.Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analysts. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment.

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Bill Gates-backed electric car battery startup is on the cusp of changing the industry - Report Door

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After a year that most of us want to forget, 2021 is shaping up to start with stability and an even keel. The election is safely behind us, the new Biden Administration promises a no drama approach, a closely divided and hyper-partisan Congress is unlikely to enact any sweeping legislation, reform or otherwise, and COVID vaccines are ready for distribution. Its a recipe for a calm news cycle.Which makes it a perfect time to buy into the stock market. Investors can read the tea leaves, or study the data whatever their preferred mode of stock analysis and use this period of calm to make rational choices on the stock moves. Using the TipRanks database, weve pulled up three stocks that present a bullish case. All three meet a profile that should interest value investors. They hold unanimous Strong Buy consensus ratings, along with a perfect 10 from the Smart Score. That score, a unique measure, evaluates a stock based on 8 factors with a proven high correlation to future overperformance. A 10 score indicates a strong likelihood that the stock will rise in the coming year. And finally, all three of these stocks present with double-digit upside potentials, indicating that they are still undervalued.UMH Properties (UMH)Well start in the real estate investment trust (REIT) sector, with UMH Properties. This company, which started out after WWII in the mobile home industry, later become the premier builder of manufactured housing. Today, UMH owns and manages a portfolio of 124 manufactured housing communities, spread across 8 states in the Northeast and Midwest, and totaling well over 23,000 units. As a REIT, UMH has benefitted from the nature of manufactured houses as affordable options in the housing market. UMH both sells the manufactured homes to residents, while leasing the plots on which the properties stand, and leases homes to residents. The companys same-property income, a key metric, showed 8.6% year-over-year increase in the third quarter.Also in the third quarter, UMH reported a 16% yoy increase in top line revenue, showing $43.1 million compared to $37.3 million in the year-ago quarter. Funds from Operations, another key metric in the REIT sector, came in at 11 cents per share, down from 14 cents in 3Q19. The decrease came as the company redeemed $2.9 million in Series B Preferred Stock.REITs are required to return income to shareholders, and UMH accomplishes this with a reliable dividend and a high yield of 4.7%. The payment, at 18 cents per common share, is paid quarterly and has been held stable for over a decade.Compass Point analyst Merrill Ross believes the company is in a sound position to create value for both households and shareholders.We believe that UMH has proven that it can bring attractive, affordable housing to either renters or homeowners more efficiently than has been possible with vertical rental housing. As UMH improves its cost of funds, it can compete more effectively with other MH community owners in the public and private realms, and because it has a successful formula to turn around undermanaged communities, we think that UMH can consolidate privately-owned properties over the next few years to build on its potential for value creation, Ross opined.To this end, Ross rates UMH a Buy, and her $20 price target implies a 25% one-year upside. (To watch Rosss track record, click here)Overall, the unanimous Strong Buy on UMH is based on 5 recent reviews. The stock is selling for $15.92, and the $18.40 average price target suggests it has room for 15% growth from that level. (See UMH stock analysis on TipRanks)Laird Superfood (LSF)Laird Superfood is a newcomer to the stock markets, having gone public just this past September. The company manufactures and markets a range of plant-based, nutrient-dense food additives and snacks, and is most known for its line of specialized non-dairy coffee creamers. Laird targets customers looking to add nutrition and an energy boost to their diet.Since its September IPO, the company has reported Q3 earnings. Revenue was strong, at $7.6 million, beating the forecast by over 26% and coming in 118% above the year-ago figure. The company also reported a 115% yoy growth in online sales. Ecommerce now makes up 49% of the companys net sales no surprise during the corona year.The review on the stock comes from Robert Burleson, a 5-star analyst from Canaccord. Burleson reiterates his bullish position, saying, We continue to view LSF as an attractive platform play on strong demand trends for plant-based, functional foods, noting LSFs competitively differentiated omni-channel approach and ingredients ethos. Over time, we expect LSF to be able to leverage its brand and vertically integrated operation into success in a broad range of plant-based categories, driving outsized top-line growth and healthy margin expansion.Burleson rates LSF shares a Buy alongside a $70 price target. This figure indicates his confidence in ~63% growth on the one-year horizon. (To watch Burlesons track record, click here)Laird has not attracted a lot of analyst attention, but those who have reviewed the stock agree with Burlesons assessment. LSF has a unanimous Strong Buy analyst consensus rating, based on 3 recent reviews. The stocks $62.33 average price target suggests room for ~39% upside in the coming year. (See LSF stock analysis on TipRanks)TravelCenters of America (TA)Last but not least is TravelCenters of America, a major name in the transportation sector. TravelCenters owns, operates, and franchises full-service highway rest stops across the US an important niche in a country that relies heavily on long-haul trucking, and in which private car ownership has long encouraged the road trip mystique. TAs network of rest stops offers travelers convenience stores and fast-food restaurants in addition to gasoline and diesel fuel and the expected amenities.The corona crisis has been hard time for TA, as lockdown regulations put a damper on travel. The companys revenues bottomed out in Q2, falling to $986 million, but rose 28% sequentially to hit $1.27 billion in Q3. EPS, at 61 cents, was also strong, and showed impressive 165% year-over-year growth. These gains came as the economy started reopening and with air travel still restricted, automobiles become the default for long distance, a circumstance that benefits TravelCenters. Covering TravelCenters for BTIG is analyst James Sullivan, who rates the stock a Buy, and his $40 price target suggests a 22% upside over the coming year. (To watch Sullivans track record, click here)Backing his stance, Sullivan noted, TA is in the process of moving on from a series of unsuccessful initiatives under the prior management team. The current new management team has strengthened the balance sheet and intends to improve operations through both expense cuts and revenue-generating measures which should boost margins [] While we expect the 2020 spend to be focused on non-revenue generating maintenance and repair items, we expect in 2021 and beyond that higher spending should generate good ROI All in all, TravelCenters shares get a unanimous thumbs up, with 3 Buys backing the stocks Strong Buy consensus rating. Shares sell for $32.87, and the average price target of $38.33 suggests an upside potential of ~17%. (See TA stock analysis on TipRanks)To find good ideas for stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks equity insights.Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analysts. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment.

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The Fed just pretty much guaranteed that mortgage rates will stay low - Report Door

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After a year that most of us want to forget, 2021 is shaping up to start with stability and an even keel. The election is safely behind us, the new Biden Administration promises a no drama approach, a closely divided and hyper-partisan Congress is unlikely to enact any sweeping legislation, reform or otherwise, and COVID vaccines are ready for distribution. Its a recipe for a calm news cycle.Which makes it a perfect time to buy into the stock market. Investors can read the tea leaves, or study the data whatever their preferred mode of stock analysis and use this period of calm to make rational choices on the stock moves. Using the TipRanks database, weve pulled up three stocks that present a bullish case. All three meet a profile that should interest value investors. They hold unanimous Strong Buy consensus ratings, along with a perfect 10 from the Smart Score. That score, a unique measure, evaluates a stock based on 8 factors with a proven high correlation to future overperformance. A 10 score indicates a strong likelihood that the stock will rise in the coming year. And finally, all three of these stocks present with double-digit upside potentials, indicating that they are still undervalued.UMH Properties (UMH)Well start in the real estate investment trust (REIT) sector, with UMH Properties. This company, which started out after WWII in the mobile home industry, later become the premier builder of manufactured housing. Today, UMH owns and manages a portfolio of 124 manufactured housing communities, spread across 8 states in the Northeast and Midwest, and totaling well over 23,000 units. As a REIT, UMH has benefitted from the nature of manufactured houses as affordable options in the housing market. UMH both sells the manufactured homes to residents, while leasing the plots on which the properties stand, and leases homes to residents. The companys same-property income, a key metric, showed 8.6% year-over-year increase in the third quarter.Also in the third quarter, UMH reported a 16% yoy increase in top line revenue, showing $43.1 million compared to $37.3 million in the year-ago quarter. Funds from Operations, another key metric in the REIT sector, came in at 11 cents per share, down from 14 cents in 3Q19. The decrease came as the company redeemed $2.9 million in Series B Preferred Stock.REITs are required to return income to shareholders, and UMH accomplishes this with a reliable dividend and a high yield of 4.7%. The payment, at 18 cents per common share, is paid quarterly and has been held stable for over a decade.Compass Point analyst Merrill Ross believes the company is in a sound position to create value for both households and shareholders.We believe that UMH has proven that it can bring attractive, affordable housing to either renters or homeowners more efficiently than has been possible with vertical rental housing. As UMH improves its cost of funds, it can compete more effectively with other MH community owners in the public and private realms, and because it has a successful formula to turn around undermanaged communities, we think that UMH can consolidate privately-owned properties over the next few years to build on its potential for value creation, Ross opined.To this end, Ross rates UMH a Buy, and her $20 price target implies a 25% one-year upside. (To watch Rosss track record, click here)Overall, the unanimous Strong Buy on UMH is based on 5 recent reviews. The stock is selling for $15.92, and the $18.40 average price target suggests it has room for 15% growth from that level. (See UMH stock analysis on TipRanks)Laird Superfood (LSF)Laird Superfood is a newcomer to the stock markets, having gone public just this past September. The company manufactures and markets a range of plant-based, nutrient-dense food additives and snacks, and is most known for its line of specialized non-dairy coffee creamers. Laird targets customers looking to add nutrition and an energy boost to their diet.Since its September IPO, the company has reported Q3 earnings. Revenue was strong, at $7.6 million, beating the forecast by over 26% and coming in 118% above the year-ago figure. The company also reported a 115% yoy growth in online sales. Ecommerce now makes up 49% of the companys net sales no surprise during the corona year.The review on the stock comes from Robert Burleson, a 5-star analyst from Canaccord. Burleson reiterates his bullish position, saying, We continue to view LSF as an attractive platform play on strong demand trends for plant-based, functional foods, noting LSFs competitively differentiated omni-channel approach and ingredients ethos. Over time, we expect LSF to be able to leverage its brand and vertically integrated operation into success in a broad range of plant-based categories, driving outsized top-line growth and healthy margin expansion.Burleson rates LSF shares a Buy alongside a $70 price target. This figure indicates his confidence in ~63% growth on the one-year horizon. (To watch Burlesons track record, click here)Laird has not attracted a lot of analyst attention, but those who have reviewed the stock agree with Burlesons assessment. LSF has a unanimous Strong Buy analyst consensus rating, based on 3 recent reviews. The stocks $62.33 average price target suggests room for ~39% upside in the coming year. (See LSF stock analysis on TipRanks)TravelCenters of America (TA)Last but not least is TravelCenters of America, a major name in the transportation sector. TravelCenters owns, operates, and franchises full-service highway rest stops across the US an important niche in a country that relies heavily on long-haul trucking, and in which private car ownership has long encouraged the road trip mystique. TAs network of rest stops offers travelers convenience stores and fast-food restaurants in addition to gasoline and diesel fuel and the expected amenities.The corona crisis has been hard time for TA, as lockdown regulations put a damper on travel. The companys revenues bottomed out in Q2, falling to $986 million, but rose 28% sequentially to hit $1.27 billion in Q3. EPS, at 61 cents, was also strong, and showed impressive 165% year-over-year growth. These gains came as the economy started reopening and with air travel still restricted, automobiles become the default for long distance, a circumstance that benefits TravelCenters. Covering TravelCenters for BTIG is analyst James Sullivan, who rates the stock a Buy, and his $40 price target suggests a 22% upside over the coming year. (To watch Sullivans track record, click here)Backing his stance, Sullivan noted, TA is in the process of moving on from a series of unsuccessful initiatives under the prior management team. The current new management team has strengthened the balance sheet and intends to improve operations through both expense cuts and revenue-generating measures which should boost margins [] While we expect the 2020 spend to be focused on non-revenue generating maintenance and repair items, we expect in 2021 and beyond that higher spending should generate good ROI All in all, TravelCenters shares get a unanimous thumbs up, with 3 Buys backing the stocks Strong Buy consensus rating. Shares sell for $32.87, and the average price target of $38.33 suggests an upside potential of ~17%. (See TA stock analysis on TipRanks)To find good ideas for stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks equity insights.Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analysts. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment.

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Esports Entertainment Pushes Further Into Sports Betting, iGaming With Acquisition - Report Door