Best Financial Companies To Watch In Right Now

DELAFIELD, Wis. (Stockpickr) -- Professional traders running mutual funds and hedge funds don't just look at a stock's price moves; they also track big changes in volume activity. Often when above-average volume moves into an equity, it precedes a large spike in volatility.

Major moves in volume can signal unusual activity, such as insider buying or selling -- or buying or selling by "superinvestors."

Unusual volume can also be a major signal that hedge funds and momentum traders are piling into a stock ahead of a catalyst. These types of traders like to get in well before a large spike, so it's always a smart move to monitor unusual volume. That said, remember to combine trend and price action with unusual volume. Put them all together to help you decipher the next big trend for any stock.

With that in mind, let's take a look at several stocks rising on unusual volume today.

Sterling Financial

Sterling Financial (STSA) is engaged in the business of purchasing, managing and collecting portfolios of defaulted consumer receivables, as well as offering accounts receivable management and payment services. This stock closed up 2% to $26.84 in Thursday's trading session.

Best Financial Companies To Watch In Right Now: The First Bancshares Inc.(FBMS)

The First Bancshares, Inc. operates as the banking holding company for The First, A National Banking Association that provides commercial and retail banking services to small to medium-sized businesses, professional concerns, and individuals in Mississippi. It accepts various deposit products, such as checking accounts, negotiable order of withdrawal accounts, savings accounts, and other time deposits, ranging from daily money market accounts to longer-term certificates of deposit, as well as retirement account services, such as individual retirement accounts. The company provides commercial loans, such as secured and unsecured loans for working capital, business expansion, and purchase of equipment and machinery; consumer loans, which include equity lines of credit and secured and unsecured loans for financing automobiles, home improvements, education, and personal investments; and real estate construction and acquisition loans. It also originates loans to purchase existi ng or construct new homes, and to refinance existing mortgages. In addition, the company offers Internet banking services, voice response telephone inquiry services, commercial sweep accounts, cash management services, safe deposit boxes, travelers? checks, direct deposit of payroll and social security checks, automatic drafts for various accounts, network of automated teller machines, and VISA and MasterCard credit card services. It operates 10 branch offices in Mississippi. The company was incorporated in 1995 and is headquartered in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

Best Financial Companies To Watch In Right Now: BlackRock Inc (BLK)

BlackRock, Inc. (BlackRock) is an independent investment management firm. The Company provides a range of investment and risk management services. The Company serves its clients as a fiduciary, and derives all of its revenues from client business. It invests in capital markets globally. Its clients include taxable, tax-exempt and official institutions (including pension funds, endowments, insurance companies, corporations, financial institutions, central banks and sovereign wealth funds) as well as retail investors and high net worth individuals. Its product range includes single- and multi-asset class portfolios investing in equities, fixed income, alternatives and/or money market instruments. It offer its products directly and through intermediaries in a range of vehicles, including open-end and closed-end mutual funds, iShares exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and other exchange-traded products ( ETPs), collective investment funds and separate accounts. The Company also offers its BlackRock Solutions (BRS) investment systems, risk management and advisory services to institutional investors. In March 2012, it acquired Claymore Investments, Inc. from Guggenheim Partners, LLC.

Equity and Fixed Income

Equity and fixed income assets under management (AUM) include a range of active and passive strategies. Merger-related outflows in equities and fixed income, respectively, due to manager concentration.

Multi-Asset Class

BlackRock�� multi-asset class team manages a range of bespoke mandates. Investment solutions include a combination of long-only portfolios and alternative investments, as well as tactical asset allocation overlays. As of December 31, 2011, institutional investors represented 63% of multi-asset class AUM, while retail and high net worth investors accounted for 37%. Flows were almost evenly split as well. During the year ended December 31, 2011, with 55% of multi-asset class AUM managed for clients based in the Americas, 38% in Europe, the Mi! ddle East and Africa (EMEA) and 7% in Asia-Pacific. As of December 31, 2011, asset allocation and balanced products represented 56% of multi-asset class AUM. As of December 31, 2011, fiduciary management services accounted for 22% of multi-asset class AUM. As of December 31, 2011, target date and target risk funds is 22% of multi-asset class AUM.

Alternative Investments

As of December 31, 2011, the alternative investment client base was predominantly institutional, representing 73% of alternatives AUM with retail and high net worth investors comprising an additional 9% of AUM. As of December31, 2011, iShares consisted 18% of ending AUM. The geographic mix was well diversified, with 56% of AUM managed for clients in the Americas, 22% for clients in EMEA and 22% for clients in Asia-Pacific. The BlackRock Alternative Investors (BAI) group coordinates its alternative investment efforts, including product management, business development and client service. The products offered under the BAI umbrella are: core, which includes hedge funds, funds of funds and real estate offerings, and currency and commodities. Offerings include high yield debt and core, value-added and opportunistic equity portfolios. It also offers open-end hedge funds and similar products and closed-end funds. These products include a range of active and passive products managed through institutional separate accounts.

Cash Management and Securities Lending

Cash management products include taxable and tax-exempt money market funds and customized separate accounts. Portfolios may be denominated in the United States dollar, euro or pound sterling. As of December 31, 20110, its cash management clientele is institutional, with 84% of cash AUM managed for institutions and 16% for retail and high net worth investors. The investor base was also domestic, with 70% managed for investors in the Americas and 30% for clients in other regions, almost all EMEA-based.

Active Strategies

! The Company offers two types of active strategies: those that rely primarily on fundamental research and those that utilize primarily quantitative models to drive security selection and portfolio construction. As of December 31, 2011, active long-term AUM consisted of 23% equities, 52% fixed income, 18% multi-asset and 7% alternatives.

Active Equity

A range of products are offered, including global and regional portfolios; value, growth and core products; large, mid and small cap strategies, and selected sector funds. BlackRock manages active equity portfolios for a range of institutional and retail and high net worth investors globally. Approximately 48% of its active equity AUM was managed for investors based in the Americas, 38% in EMEA and 14% in Asia-Pacific.

Active Fixed Income

Fixed income mandates are tailored to client-specified liabilities, accounting, regulatory or rating agency requirements, or other investment policies. As of December 31, 2011, of BlackRock�� total active fixed income AUM, 81% was managed on behalf of institutional investors and 19% for retail and high net worth investors. The client base reflects 70% of active fixed income AUM managed for investors in the Americas, 21% for EMEA domiciled clients, and 9% for investors in the Asia-Pacific region.

Multi-Asset and Alternatives

During 2011, 97% of AUM in multi-asset class mandates, and 76% of AUM in alternative investments are managed in active strategies. As of December 31, 2011, equity products consisted 64% of institutional index AUM. Fixed income products represented 35% of institutional index AUM. Less than 1% of institutional index AUM is in alternatives or multi-asset class products.

iShares / ETPs

During 2011, the Company introduced 45 new ETPs, maintaining dual commitment innovation and responsible product structuring. Its product range offers investors the building blocks required to assemble diversified portfolio! s. As of ! December 31, 2011, its iShares product mix included 71%, in equity offerings, and 26%, in fixed income ETPs and 3%, in multi-asset class and alternative investments. In addition, the Company is an ETF manager in Mexico and has products in Chile, Peru, Brazil, Australia, Hong Kong and Japan. In addition, the Company is the ETP manager in Latin America.

BlackRock Solutions

BlackRock offers investment systems, risk management, outsourcing and advisory services under the BlackRock Solutions brand name. Its Aladdin operating platform serves as the investment system for BlackRock and institutional investors globally. BRS also offers comprehensive risk reporting through the Green Package and risk management advisory services, interactive fixed income analytics through its Web-based calculator, AnSer, middle and back office outsourcing services and investment accounting. Clients have also retained BRS��Financial Markets Advisory (FMA) group for a range of engagements, such as valuation and risk assessment of illiquid assets, portfolio restructuring, workouts and dispositions of distressed assets and financial and balance sheet strategies.

Transition Management Services

BlackRock also offers transition management services, involving the temporary oversight of a client�� assets as they transition from one manager to another or from one strategy to another. It provides service that includes project management and implementation based on achieving execution consistent with the client�� risk management tolerances. The average transition assignment is executed within three weeks. These portfolios are not included in AUM unless BlackRock has been retained to manage the assets after the transition phase.

Risk & Quantitative Analysis

Across all asset classes, the Risk & Quantitative Analysis (RQA) group at BlackRock provides risk management advice and independent risk oversight of the investment management processes, identifies and hel! ps manage! counterparty and operational risks, coordinates standards for firm wide investment performance measurement and determines risk management-related analytical and information requirements.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jay Jenkins]

  BlackRock (NYSE: BLK  ) is far and away the largest money manager with over $3.6 trillion in assets under management (AUM). The company saw quarterly earnings per share increase 16% year over year in Q1, as AUM increased nearly 9%. In line with the thesis laid out by Greenwood and Scharfstein, 98% of the company's increase in AUM, $279 billion, was driven by market gains.

10 Best Gold Stocks To Own For 2014: Oppenheimer Holdings Inc.(OPY)

Oppenheimer Holdings Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates as a middle-market investment bank and full service broker-dealer. It offers full-service brokerage services covering various investment alternatives, such as exchange-traded and over-the-counter corporate equity and debt securities, money market instruments, exchange-traded options and futures contracts, municipal bonds, mutual funds, and unit investment trusts. The company also provides financial and wealth planning services; margin lending; securities lending; and online equity investing and discount brokerage services. In addition, it offers asset management services for equity, fixed income, large-cap balanced, and alternative investments offered through vehicles, such as privately managed accounts, and retail and institutional separate accounts. Further, the company provides strategic advisory services and capital markets products; institutional equity sales and trading; equity research; equity options and derivatives; convertible bonds; and event driven sales and trading services. Additionally, it trades in non-investment grade public and private debt securities, mortgage-backed securities, sovereign and corporate debt, and distressed securities; provides fixed income research, public finance, and municipal trading services; and is involved in proprietary trading and investment activities. The company also participates in loan syndications and operates as underwriting agent in financing transactions; trades syndicated corporate loans in the secondary market; offers various trust services; and provides mortgage services to developers of commercial properties. It serves high-net-worth individuals and families, corporate executives, small and mid-sized businesses, endowments and foundations, and institutions in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and South America. The company was founded in 1977 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

Best Financial Companies To Watch In Right Now: St.James Place(STJ.L)

St. James's Place plc is a publicly owned investment manager. The firm provides its services to individuals, trustees, and corporations. It launches and manages equity, fixed income, and balanced mutual funds for its clients. The firm invests in public equity and fixed income market across the globe. It employs a combination of in-house and external research to make its portfolio. St. James's Place plc was founded in 1977 and is based in Cirencester, United Kingdom. St. James's Place plc operates as a subsidiary of Lloyds Banking Group plc.

Best Financial Companies To Watch In Right Now: Sing Investments & Finance Ltd (S35.SI)

Sing Investments & Finance Limited provides financing services to individuals and corporations in Singapore. The company offers various loan and financing products, including housing loans, commercial property loans, HDB home loans, car loans, share loans, shipping loans, and land and construction loans, as well as block discounting financing, floor stock financing, machinery financing, and local enterprise finance scheme products. It also accepts deposit products, such as fixed deposits and savings accounts. In addition, the company provides invoice factoring/account receivables; and nominee and safe deposit box services, as well as leases properties. Sing Investments & Finance Limited is headquartered in Singapore.

Best Financial Companies To Watch In Right Now: LoopNet Inc.(LOOP)

LoopNet, Inc. owns and operates an online marketplace for commercial real estate in the United States. The company?s online marketplace, LoopNet.com enables commercial real estate agents working on behalf of property owners and landlords to list properties for sale or for lease, and submit detailed information on property listings, including descriptions, financial and tenant information, photographs, and property characteristics to find a buyer or tenant. As of December 31, 2011, the LoopNet online marketplace contained approximately 820,391 listings. It also operates BizBuySell and BizQuest online marketplaces that enable business owners, sellers, and brokers to list and search for operating businesses for sale; LoopLink, an online real estate marketing and database services suite that enables commercial real estate firms to showcase their available properties on the LoopNet marketplace and brokerage firm?s own Website using the company?s hosted search software. In ad dition, the company provides Property Comps, a database to review precedent sales data to inform commercial real estate valuation analysis based on asset type, asking and sale price, sale date, property address, and size; and Property Facts that aggregates data from the LoopNet marketplace, LoopNet research, independent data providers, public records, and LoopNet members to deliver data on properties. Further, it offers advertising and lead generation; operates LandsofAmerica and LandAndFarm online marketplaces for rural land for sale; and offers REApplications that provides an integrated suite of commercial brokerage automation software. The company was formerly known as Loop Ventures, Inc. and changed its name to LoopNet, Inc. in November 1998. LoopNet, Inc. was incorporated in 1997 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California.

Best Financial Companies To Watch In Right Now: Auburn National Bancorporation Inc.(AUBN)

Auburn National Bancorporation, Inc. operates as a holding company for AuburnBank that offers various banking products and services in east Alabama. The company?s deposit products include checking, savings, and transaction deposit accounts, as well as certificates of deposit, NOW accounts, money market accounts, and time deposits. Its loan portfolio comprises commercial, financial, agricultural, real estate construction, and consumer loans. In addition, the company provides automated teller services; Visa Checkcards, which are debit cards with the Visa logo that work where Visa is accepted, including automated teller machines (ATMs); online banking and bill payment services; and safe deposit boxes. As of December 31, 2009, it operated nine branches in Alabama, as well as three mortgage loan offices in Mountain Brook, Phenix City, and Valley, Alabama; and ATM machines in 13 locations. The company was founded in 1907 and is headquartered in Auburn, Alabama.

Best Financial Companies To Watch In Right Now: Redwood Trust Inc.(RWT)

Redwood Trust, Inc., a real estate investment trust, together with its subsidiaries, engages in investing, financing, and managing real estate assets. The company?s investments include residential and commercial real estate loans; and securities backed by residential and commercial loans, including senior and subordinate securities. The senior securities are those interests in a securitization that have the first right to cash flows and are last to absorb losses; and subordinate securities are those interests in a securitization that have the last right to cash flows and are first in line to absorb losses. As of March 31, 2011, it had 77 real estate owned properties primarily in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, and Georgia. It would elect to be taxed as a real estate investment trust (REIT) for federal income tax purposes. As a REIT, the company would not be subject to federal income tax, if it distributes at least 90% of net taxable income to its stockholders. Red wood Trust, Inc. was founded in 1994 and is based in Mill Valley, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Amanda Alix]

  On the mortgage front, Two Harbors notes that it has acquired a passel of prime jumbo home loans, which it likely plans to securitize. The company's CEO, Tom Siering, also addresses this issue on the earnings call, where he states that the trust was involved in a $400 million securitization of prime jumbo loans. This puts Two Harbors in the company of mREIT Redwood Trust (NYSE: RWT  ) , which has nearly single-handedly brought back the jumbo-loan securitization market over the past two years. If Redwood's success is any indication -- it recently reported first-quarter net income�of $61 million, compared to the year-ago figure of $30 million -- Two Harbors is on the right track.

• [By Amanda Alix]

  Luxury market is doing just fine
  Jumbo loans are back, and these mortgages -- which start at $625,000 in some affluent areas -- are being given out like candy�to those with the wealth to back them up. Once considered risky because they are not backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, lenders are falling over themselves to make these loans, driven by a securitization market dominated by entities like Redwood Trust (NYSE: RWT  ) and JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: JPM  ) . Earlier this month, Redwood offered its seventh securitization backed by jumbos, and JPMorgan just recently announced�its second offering of the year, as well.

• [By Rich Duprey]

  Real estate investment trust��Redwood Trust� (NYSE: RWT  ) announced today its third-quarter dividend of $0.28 per share, the same rate it's paid for the past two quarters after raising the payout 12% from $0.25 per share.