Power FinancialCredit Union has 8 branches throughout Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beachcounties with more than 55,000 members and assets totaling $480 million. Formore information, consumers can call 800-548-5465 or visit *Investments offered through CUSO Financial Services, L.P. (CFS) are notNCUA/NCUSIF insured, not credit union guaranteed, and may lose value. RegisteredRepresentatives are employed by Power Financial Credit Union and registeredthrough CFS.Power Financial Credit Union is in partnership with CFS. (MemberNASD/SIPC)For Power Financial Credit UnionSherri Pfefer, Copyright Business Wire 2009. Reuters has stopped distributing the full text of Moody’s Investors Servicepress releases on ratings actions, effective April 1, 2009.
The text of thisMoody’s Investor Service rating is available at Stocks | Bonds Stocks Bonds. WASHINGTON, DC, Apr 22 (MARKET WIRE) — Hailed for her leadership in addressing the education and health needs ofchildren in the United States and in the developing world, Sen. SusanCollins (R-ME) was honored this week as Save the Children’s 2009Congressional Champion for Real and Lasting Change.”Senator Collins has demonstrated steady leadership and vigorous supportfor helping children in this country and around the world,” said CharlesMacCormack, president and CEO of Save the Children, a global humanitarianorganization that serves children in rural communities of the UnitedStates and in more than 50 developing countries. “You have been a tirelessadvocate for education and a partner of Save the Children on manyinitiatives and legislative efforts aimed at helping children,” MacCormacksaid.MacCormack praised Sen. Collins for leading the successful charge toincrease the funding for early reading initiatives in the United States.He recognized her steadfast support of Save the Children’s programsserving poor children in rural areas of America, and thanked her forpromoting legislation to establish a dedicated funding stream for ruralafterschool programs that would address transportation barriers, staffshortages, and inadequate facilities. He also acknowledged her leadershipin addressing the unique needs of children in disasters in the UnitedStates and her support for expanding the State Children’s HealthInsurance Program.Finally, McCormack applauded Sen Collins for her strong support for theU.S. playing a leading role in shaping a peaceful and prosperous world inwhich children are better able to develop and achieve their fullpotential.
He cited her signature on a letter asking then President-electObama to support a robust FY10 International Affairs Budget, which fundscritical programs that make a difference in the lives of vulnerablechildren and families worldwide Sen. Collins also supported the U.S.Commitment to Global Child Survival Act in the last Congress.”Improving the lives of poor and vulnerable children at home and abroadrequires leadership, and we commend Senator Collins for her dedicatedefforts on behalf of children in need,” MacCormack said.Each year, as part of Save the Children’s Advocacy Day activities onCapitol Hill, the agency recognizes select congressional leaders for theiroutstanding work in helping children in need both at home and around theglobe.Besides Sen Collins, the agency this week also honored Sen LisaMurkowski (R-AK) and honored Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN) for their work onbehalf of children in the United States and worldwide.Image Available: http:// 2009, Market Wire, All rights reserved.-0-. By Bhaswati Mukhopadhyay Stocks BANGALORE, April 22 (Reuters) – Shares of HospitalityProperties Trust (HPT.N) lost 70 percent of their value in thelast year, as the U.S lodging industry was pummelled by therecession. Hospitality Properties, which owns 289 hotels and 185travel centers, has been hit hard as the credit crisis ishurting its tenants and operators and their ability to payrents and returns.
The worst hit have been the luxury and upscale portfoliosof real estate investment trusts (REITs). Earlier this month, the company suspended its dividend,citing a shortage of capital to meet obligations such as debtmaturities from 2010 to 2012. [ID:nBNG459450] Shares of the REIT are currently trading at a multiple of2.61 times forward earnings, compared with the specializedREITs sector, which trades at a multiple of 7.88. The broader Dow Jones US Real Estate Index .DJUSRE hasmore than halved in the past year.Shares of the Newton, Massachusetts-based company weretrading at $10.31 at midday Wednesday on the New York StockExchange, down from a high of $33.89 in April 2008. Hospitality Properties’ hotels are operated as Courtyard byMarriott International Inc (MAR.N), which defaulted on an$837,601 payment due for the four-week period beginning March28.
The REIT’s properties are also operated by Hyatt Place,InterContinental Hotels & Resorts and Radisson Hotels &Resorts. Three analysts have a “buy” rating on the stock, one has an”outperform,” while two others rate it a “hold,” according toReuters data. Given the sheer drop in the REIT’s share price, is it agood time to buy? Here are some views: CAPITALIZE ON DIVIDEND SUSPENSION The current share price is a great entry point because thestock has pulled backed significantly due to the dividendsuspension, analyst Mike Salinsky of RBC Capital Markets said. He said the suspension would help the company preservecapital and take advantage of attractive debt and acquisitionopportunities that are likely to arise. “Hospitality Properties should trade ahead of the peergroup, given the attractive defensiveness of its platform aswell as the strength of its balance sheet,” Salinsky said. Napoleon Overton of Morgan, Keegan & Co said the decisionto postpone the 2009 dividend until the end of the year is arational one, given the uncertainties about capitalavailability and lodging demand trends Both the analysts have an “outperform” rating on the stock. Hospitality Properties will, however, have to pay a sizabledividend — which is usually 90 percent of the company’staxable net income — in the fourth quarter, to maintain itsREIT status.