Earlier today, Singlepoint, Inc. (OTC: SING) was announced as a featured company on this week’s edition of MoneyTV with Donald Baillargeon. MoneyTV is an internationally syndicated television program about “money and what makes it happen.” The show includes informative interviews with company CEOs, offering prospective investors insight into their operations and outlooks for the future.

To view this week’s program, visit www.MoneyTV.net

In the interview, Greg Lambrecht, chief executive officer of Singlepoint, discusses the company’s recent moves, including its acquisition of an interest in daily fantasy sports enterprise DraftFury and its efforts to capitalize on the current Pokémon Go phenomenon. In early August, Singlepoint issued a news release announcing plans to build a mobile app designed to bring “like-minded Pokémon Go players together by offering rewards backed communication opportunities.” Lambrecht told host Donald Baillargeon that Singlepoint’s management team is currently meeting with the company’s app developers in Seattle ahead of the release of the Singlepoint app in the coming months.

Perhaps the most significant progress noted by Lambrecht in the MoneyTV interview was in regard to Singlepoint’s efforts to uplist to the OTCQB Venture Market. He excitedly announced that the company is on “the five-yard line, ready to punch it in,” with Singlepoint currently planning to announce next week that it’s filed its Form 10 with the FCC. Following the planned uplisting, Singlepoint will be better positioned to attract institutional investors and market makers to invest in the company.

“We’re doing what we said we were going to do,” Lambrecht stated in the interview. “We’re moving up to a higher exchange, and I think that all of our shareholders and new shareholders are going to be very pleased with that progress.”

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.Singlepoint.com

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Pacific Health Care Organization, Inc. (OTCQB: PFHO), through its subsidiaries, engages in the management and administration of health care organizations (HCOs) and managed provider networks in California. Leveraging a network of medical providers, the company serves the workers’ compensation industry with two unique HCOs designed to offer choice to injured workers. In total, Pacific Health’s two HCO-certified programs, operating under its Medex subsidiary, have contracted more than 3,900 individual providers and clinics, as well as hospitals, pharmacies, rehabilitation centers and other ancillary services, in order to provide comprehensive medical services to clients across the Golden State.

According to data from the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California (WCIRB), the state’s workers’ compensation insurance system delivers medical and wage replacement benefits to roughly 800,000 injured workers each year (http://dtn.fm/42MQj). With a high frequency of permanent disability claims and a higher-than-average cost of handling claims in the state, California’s workers’ compensation premiums are the highest in the country. The WCIRB goes on to report that these premiums have continued to grow by double-digit percentages in recent years, spiking 11 percent from 2013 to 2014 alone. These increases have been attributed to a number of factors, including rising medical costs, inflation, fraud and other factors.

Medex aims to insulate employers from these rising costs without negatively impacting the quality of coverage and treatment received by employees. The company’s cost containment programs have been proven to drastically reduce workers’ compensation-related costs for employers. These programs include a certified HCO that features access to an exclusive, specialized network of medical providers; a medical provider network (MPN) that offers less complicated guidelines but provides less control for clients over employee’s claims; and an integrated HCO + MPN program that combines the benefits of the two programs in order to maximize medical control and minimize claim cost.

PFHO was incorporated in 1970 and is based in Newport Beach, California. The company is led by an experienced management team headed by chairman and Chief Executive Officer Tom Kubota, who has served in these positions since 2001. Kubota is joined by Fred Odaka, PFHO’s chief financial officer, who has been with the company since August 2008.

For more information, visit www.PacificHealthCareOrganization.com

Medical Transcription Billing Corp. (NASDAQ: MTBC) is a health care information technology company marketing a fully-integrated suite of web-based solutions to an expanding network of health care providers. The company’s product portfolio, which includes a web-based electronic health record solution (WebEHR), revenue cycle and practice management solutions and other related business services, is currently in use by health care organizations in more than 40 states across the country, ranging from single physician practices to independent physician associations. Leveraging these flexible solutions, MTBC’s clients are able to increase revenues, streamline workflows and make better business and clinical decisions while simultaneously limiting administrative burdens and operating expenses.

Since listing on the NASDAQ Capital Market in 2014, MTBC has relied on an aggressive acquisition strategy to expand its foothold in the health care information technology market, completing three concurrent acquisitions at the time of its IPO. The company has already completed three additional acquisitions this year, and its management team has indicated that more targets are on the radar moving forward. Perhaps the most noteworthy of the 2016 acquisitions to date, MTBC purchased Texas-based Gulf Coast Billing, Inc. in February. In addition to adding roughly $3 million in annualized revenues to its books, the acquisition strategically positioned MTBC to expand its client base moving forward, particularly in terms of niche specialty markets.

Last month, the company gave prospective shareholders some insight into the early impact of its 2016 acquisitions when it released its financial results for the second quarter. MTBC’s quarterly revenue of $5.2 million was up slightly from the results of Q1, while its GAAP net loss was down 35 percent from the first three months of 2016. Moreover, the company recorded its third consecutive quarter of positive adjusted EBITDA, reporting $14,000 for the period.

“Our quarter over quarter revenue growth is a milestone, marking the first time this has happened since the fourth quarter of 2014,” Mahmud Haq, chairman and chief executive officer of MTBC, stated in a recent news release. “This reflects the stabilization of our business after the three simultaneous acquisitions at the time of our IPO in 2014, and the fact that we had obtained capital to invest in growing our business at the end of 2015. We finished the quarter with $6.6 million of growth capital.”

This stabilization could be coming at a great time, as the health care information technology market is rapidly evolving and taking shape. According to Statista (http://dtn.fm/0mmKN), medical IT spending in the United States and Europe topped $341.8 billion in 2014, up more than 12 percent from 2009, and the proliferation of mobile and wearable technologies is expected to play a key role in continuing this upward trend in the years to come. In a 2015 report from Accenture (http://dtn.fm/uI10I), 41 percent of health executives reported that their organization’s data volume related to patients had grown by more than 50 percent in just one year. Meanwhile, a massive 52 percent of surveyed patients were interested in receiving enhanced access to this data, particularly as it relates to physician notes.

The effects of these changes can be seen throughout the health care industry. Kaiser Permanente, the largest managed care organization in the country, recently invested $4 billion in building its advanced HealthConnect platform, which provides real-time access to medical records for both clinicians and its roughly nine million members. For health care providers without $4 billion to invest, MTBC’s portfolio of products represents an attractive alternative.

The company’s KLAS-ranked EHR software ChartsPro™, for example, allows physicians to automate a variety of clinical activities in order to improve efficiency and productivity. The web-based platform empowers patients by offering convenient access to personal health records and streamlines the workflow of clinicians with a comprehensive WebEHR dashboard, convenient e-prescribing capabilities and direct lab integration.

All told, MTBC’s entire product portfolio functions as a cohesive platform designed to help health care providers improve their financial performance and transform their practices into successful business enterprises. By aiding physician practices in their efforts to successfully navigate a rapidly shifting health care industry environment, MTBC is strategically positioned to capitalize on the ongoing technological revolution in health care.

For more information, visit www.MTBC.com

Shares of Net Element climbed as much as 47% in Wednesday’s mid-day trade, a day after the payment processing innovator announced its inclusion to South Florida Business Journal’s Top 25 Fastest-Growing Technology Companies.

Net Element CEO Oleg Firer attributes the recognition to the company’s pattern of sustainable growth, as well as the diligence of corporate staff as the company moves toward deeper traction in its chosen markets.

“We are honored to be recognized for our consistent and strong growth,” Oleg Firer, CEO of Net Element stated in the news release. “This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the entire Net Element team as we continue to focus on powering global commerce and bringing disruptive technologies to our customers.”

The South Florida Business Journal selects companies for its annual list based on percentage growth over a two-year period. Each company honored with the 2016 Technology Award will be recognized at a formal event taking place October 13, 2016. The companies will also be listed in a special section of the Business Journal that will include coverage of the 2016 Technology Awards. For more information, visit http://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida.

Net Element is a global technology company delivering electronic payment solutions that enable merchants to process transactions through various integrated platforms. The company provides its services through a portfolio of operating companies with disruptive technologies in their respective fields. By tapping into large, relatively underserved markets, Net Element has a track record of impressive year-over-year growth, and continues to secure leading positions in select markets.

For more information, visit www.netelement.com

For many Americans, this has been a year for saving, with over 50% of U.S. citizens choosing saving money as their primary goal, rather than exercising more, eating healthier, or losing weight. According to an American Express press release (http://dtn.fm/Lb9DD), people in the U.S. are aiming to set aside an average of over $15,000 this year, a large increase over 2015.

In addition, more Americans today plan to save in order to spend on experiences such as travel. Approximately 70% of Americans plan to travel for leisure, versus 66% in 2015. U.S. citizens want to maximize their vacation time this year, and, according to an article at Parenting.com (http://dtn.fm/C4kMG), “family trips are one of the fastest-growing segments of the tourism industry, and despite the fact that the average vacation in the United States costs $4,580 for a family of four, parents are willing to spend that money on something they feel is important to their family.”

The article highlights key traveling family trends for 2016. First, families are traveling with friends and/or family. This has been put down to the fact that the millennial generation, starting families, is beginning to value experiences more than just material possessions. People are booking holidays with extended family in order to share new experiences. Instead of young parents taking their kids to their grandparents’ homes, there has been a significant shift toward family destination visits.

Secondly, family holidays are not limited to summer vacations. Thanks to the flexibility of people’s jobs today, parents are able to take time off from work knowing they can keep on track of their careers remotely, via the Internet. Without the limitations of a brick and mortar facility, families are able to travel for longer periods of time.

Thirdly, spontaneous travel is no longer just for the rich and famous. The Internet provides quick and easy travel planning for people of all demographics. Last minute hotel deals, car rentals, flights, and so on are all available at the click of a button. Not only is it affordable; it’s easy. In addition to this, travel companies worldwide now promote last minute holiday deals for thousands of destinations.

Finally, options for accommodation are growing. Motels are not the only affordable option out there anymore. The combination of new booking platforms, timeshares, resorts, and other innovative options has made family accommodation increasingly comfortable and something people now look forward to. Many families now opt for full homes for their holidays so that they can take advantage of the greater space, comfort, and ability to cook affordable meals.

The technology-driven travel company Monaker Group (OTCQB: MKGI) offers all of the above to traveling families. The company’s real-time booking engine features a creative range of alternative lodging such as resorts, villas, hotels, homes, and more. In addition to this, families are able to book car rentals, flights, tours, and concierge services, allowing them to fully enjoy their vacation rather than losing time planning when they arrive at their destination. The company offers its services around the world, with listings growing every year thanks to its growing list of partnerships and acquisitions.

For more information, visit www.MonakerGroup.com

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“Things sweet to taste prove in digestion sour,” the Bard of Avon reminds us, an observation that is confirmed by examining the history of carbonated beverages. Our love affair with fizzy drinks is souring. The American consumer is no longer as enamored of soda as in the heady days when he or she was told ‘Things Go Better with Coke’.

The soft drink market has turned soft. Quenching thirst (hydration in modern jargon) is no longer enough. Now consumers are asking for functional hydration that adds electrolytes and carbohydrates to their beverages, and companies like Laguna Blends (CSE: LAG) (OTC: LAGBF) (LB6A.F) are answering. For athletes, jocks, players, amateurs, pros and average Joes, Laguna Blends has brought two healthful hemp-based beverages to market. With its Caffe Protein Coffee and Pro369, Laguna Blends is set to taste success in the fast growing functional beverages market.

Functional beverages are drinks that not only keep our bodies hydrated but provide some added nutritional benefit. Under this category fall a variety of fortified drinks that address health and nutritional issues across all age groups. Ingredients added to fortify drinks include herbs, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fruit and vegetables. The market is segmented into energy drinks, sports drinks, nutraceutical drinks, dairy-based beverages, juices, and enhanced water. A nutraceutical is a food or drink that promotes health or has medicinal benefits. The three largest segments are, in order from largest down, energy drinks, sports drinks and nutraceutical drinks.

According to a white paper (http://nnw.fm/M9Tmu) from industry analysts First Beverage Group, smaller “better-for-you” brands like Caffe Protein Coffee and Pro369 have billions of dollars of market share in play. ‘Small brands… are expected to grow into… a $95 billion market by 2020’. In the white paper, released last year, First Beverage Group identifies three factors it believes will drive growth in the non-alcoholic beverage market.

The first is ‘an increased focus on “health and wellness” (that) has already shaped general consumption habits across food and beverage categories’. The second determinant is the rise of the “smart consumer” – the informed consumer who demands increased transparency, simplicity in ingredients, and truth in labeling. Thirdly, it cites the behavior of Millennials as an important characteristic, noting that this group is ‘the most socially and digitally connected generation in history and their consumption patterns, which demand better-for-you, authentic, hand-crafted, and local products, will continue to drive a significant shift not only in consumption patterns, but also in the way brands market themselves…’.

Laguna Blends is certainly ready for the challenge. The company markets products based on the nutritional health benefits derived from hemp. Its flagship product is Caffe Protein Coffee, which is loaded in proteins: both whey and hemp. Another product is Pro369, which combines HempOmega®, hemp protein and ginseng, and comes in four delicious flavors: Vanilla Caramel, Tropical Fruit, Mixed Berry and Chocolate Banana.

Research (http://nnw.fm/d57dO) has uncovered the nutritional benefits of hemp. Hempseed, typically, contains over 30 percent oil and about 25 percent protein, with considerable amounts of dietary fiber, vitamins and minerals. The hempseed oil contains over 80 percent in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and is an exceptionally rich source of the two essential fatty acids (EFAs), linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid. These EFAs are used, by the body, to build more complex fats called omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which have been shown to promote cardiovascular health.

For more information, visit www.lagunablends.com

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For years, virtual or augmented reality was the stuff of science fiction, a concept so innovative and unique that many people did not expect to see it come to fruition during their lifetime. But with rapid technological advancements, in particular the fast-growing, ever-expanding smartphone market and the associated technology that can power inexpensive VR headsets, virtual reality has now stepped beyond the realm of sci-fi and socialization games, and it is being used by multiple industries, ranging from healthcare to education, manufacturing or logistics.

The rise of new, more affordable hardware has put virtual reality technology in the hands of an increasing number of companies and individuals, becoming an essential part of numerous applications and services. It is estimated that over the next few years, the augmented reality/virtual reality market will grow from $5.6 billion in 2016 to $126 billion by 2020, and experts believe this technology will become more prominent in our everyday lives, fundamentally changing how we interact with each other and how we do our work.

A company that has already wholeheartedly embraced what virtual reality has to offer is eXp World Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB: EXPI), via its Agent-Owned Cloud Brokerage™ division, eXp Realty. With a network of more than 1,600 real estate professionals covering 41 states, the District of Columbia and Alberta, Canada, the residential and commercial brokerage uses cloud-based technologies and an advanced virtual reality platform to create a tightknit online community of agents and brokers.

All the operations are conducted through this platform, including training for its agents, lead generation, IT services and others. Leadership meetings are held in the same platform, where every attending management member has his or her avatar. The VR space is described by the company as a corporate campus, where agents can meet with other agents to exchange ideas and share experiences. They can take online real estate classes and even play a virtual game of soccer together.

Completely eliminating the costs associated with running a brick-and-mortar office, eXp Realty allows members to provide more efficient services to consumers while increasing their own profit with lower risk. The brokerage is built around the principle that agents should also have the opportunity to be owners and therefore offers members lucrative revenue sharing programs and the opportunity of becoming shareholders in exchange for their contributions to company growth. The beauty of the system is that agents and brokers can operate from the comfort of their own homes without having to worry about franchise fees, desk fees or other similar expenses, as their entire activity is in a cloud-based office environment.

The model proposed by eXp Realty has been a tremendous success so far, making the brokerage the driving force behind eXp World Holdings’ impressive growth over the last few months. The company has reported record revenues in the first two quarters (more than $7 million in Q1, $13 million in Q2) and a significant increase in its number of agents, topping 1,600 at the end of August.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.eXpWorldHoldings.com

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There are very few industries that can claim going through recession relatively unscathed, and the pet industry is one of them. Growing steadily by approximately 5.4% every year since 2002, the industry continues the trend this year as well, being expected to reach $62.75 billion in revenue in the U.S. by the end of the year. This figure marks a 4% increase from 2015. The trend is largely due to a general tendency to humanize our pets and treat them as members of the family, offering them the best care possible, whether it’s high-end accessories, medical services or super premium food.

Although competition is fierce, companies offering innovative or niche products are highly successful and anticipate the global growth trend to be mirrored by their own revenue this year. This is also the case of OurPet’s Company (OTCQX: OPCO), a leading provider of proprietary pet products in the United States and overseas. The company designs and manufactures a wide range of innovative, high-quality accessories and products, from toys to feeding and waste management solutions.

After a strong showing and record results in Q1 (http://nnw.fm/SW0Tp), the company reported a slight decline in revenue for the second quarter to $5.4 million, 2.7% lower than the $5.6 million reported in Q2 2015. The decline was caused primarily by a temporary drop in purchase orders from various major retail customers. The drop in orders does not however signal a reduced interest in the company’s offering. On the contrary, it was due to a major retailer clearing out its existing inventory to make room for upcoming OurPet’s products to be launched in the second half of 2016. The Q2 report also indicated that the company had a record order pipeline of $1.9 million and that, despite the temporary drop in sales, it was able to reduce inventory to a little under $7.2 million from $8 million at the beginning of the year.

The company’s CEO, Dr. Steven Tsengas, is not overly concerned about the lower revenue numbers and believes that if the inventory reduction hadn’t happened, OPCO would have shown strong growth in Q2 as well.

In addition, Dr. Tsengas is confident that the company will catch up in the second half of 2016. Based on the overall market tendencies, historical performance and the new products it will put on the market, OurPet’s anticipates a solid performance and record revenue again in Q3 and Q4, especially on the heels of its SuperZoo National trade show participation in early August. At the event, the company launched a strong showing of innovative pet products, including OurPets® Switchgrass Natural Cat Litter™ (http://nnw.fm/4LFug) – a high-end, all natural and fully biodegradable litter, and the Intelligent Pet Care™ (http://nnw.fm/Tp7gJ) BlueTooth® line of products, which monitor pet behavior via a smartphone app. OurPet’s also recently introduced a new generation of electronic cat toys.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.ourpets.com

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Analyst Siddharth Rajeev of Fundamental Research Corp. (“FRC”) recently reaffirmed the firm’s Buy rating on Laguna Blends, Inc. (CSE: LAG) (OTC: LAGBF) (LB6A.F), citing an increase in the company’s share price as well as improved revenue and its entrance into the lucrative skin care industry.

Read the full report here http://nnw.fm/G8XvK

Laguna Blends is a network marketing company focused on the generation of sales through a growing base of independent affiliates. In March of 2016, the company launched sales of its Caffe and Pro369 beverage products, marketing the products through a base of 135 affiliates in North America.

As noted in the reports, sales quickly took off, and by March 31, 2016 – Laguna’s fiscal fourth quarter – the company generated its first revenues of $17,000. As of its first fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2016, Laguna reported revenues of $47,000. In addition, the company’s affiliate network grew to 300 active affiliates.

While Laguna’s primary focus has centered on its hemp-based functional beverages, the company recently entered into a two-year, exclusive marketing agreement for the distribution of seven Swiss-made cannabinol (“CBD”) skin care products.

In clinical trials, the skin care products reportedly showed visible results within one week. In the report, Rajeev provides a summary of the skin care line, as well as results from the clinical trial and several benefits to Laguna’s decision to diversify its portfolio.

“Laguna’s focus is on daily consumable products and their strategy is to build a portfolio of diversified suite of products like larger MLM companies,” reads the report. “Most of the larger players sell a wide array of products including cosmetics, personal care, food and beverage, kitchenware and appliances, home care, wellness, electronics, etc. We believe that moving into skin care products was an obvious choice for Laguna. … Another reason for Laguna to enter the skincare market is that unique and niche products tend to do well with direct sales as they require person-to person product education and higher levels of customer service.”

After discussing Laguna’s functional beverage products, the report delves into the differences between MLM companies and “pyramid schemes,” and how Herbalife Ltd.’s (NYSE: HLF) $200 million settlement with the Federal Trade Commission helped influence the call for proper affiliate compensation.

The report also highlights the “success story” of Immunotec, Inc. (OTC: IMMTF), which offers nutritional products through independent consultants and whose performance has bucked the negative stigmas of MLM companies.

Marketing its products to Mexico, the U.S. and Canada, Immunotec grew annual revenues to $85 million in 2015, up from $40 million in 2010. For the first half of 2016, the company reported 28% year-over-year revenue growth.

“We believe the negative sentiment on MLM companies offers investors attractive opportunities to invest in well managed and growing MLM companies,” writes Rajeev.

Based on Laguna’s new skin care line and growing affiliate network, FRC raised its long-term forecasts on the company, now projecting that by the year 2020 the company will turn a profit of $3.3 million, or EPS of $0.12, on revenues of $38.3 million, and grow its number of affiliates to 30,000, among other forecasts.

In conclusion, Rajeev writes that “The average of our Discounted Cash Flow (“DCF”) and comparables valuation models increased from $0.44 per share to $0.80 per share. Details of our valuation models are presented in our initiating report, dated May 5, 2016. We are maintaining our BUY rating and risk rating of 4.”

Shares of Laguna have increased 83% since FRC initiated coverage on the company on May 5, 2016.

For more information, visit www.lagunablends.com

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Zinc is breaking away from the rest of the base metals in the world with an increase of 43% from $0.88 a pound in 2015 to $1.05 a pound this year. Since 1995, there have been no major investments in the zinc industry, with a number of mine closures leading to a supply-side deficit in both concentrates and refined metal. Not only this, the last tier one discovery was Cannington Mine, Australia, which first opened in 1997.

However, the world of zinc mining has taken an impressive turn in 2016. According to InvestingNews.com (http://nnw.fm/uA32h), by the end of 2015, China was leading the market with 4.9 million metric tons of production. Australia came in second with 1.58 million metric tons, Peru was third with 1.37 million metric tons, and the United States came in fourth with 860,000 metric tons. The U.S. showed the most impressive growth out of the four countries, with an increase from 832,000 metric tons in 2014. The U.S. Geological Survey (http://nnw.fm/pADx5) found that, in 2015, zinc was mined at 15 mines across five states by four different companies.

Currently, zinc mining in the U.S. is best known in the Northwest and East of the country, but this could change in 2017. The Balmat Mine in St. Lawrence County, New York, acquired in November 2015 by Star Mountain Resources, Inc. (OTC: SMRS) with the aim of reopening in the near future, was recently identified to have significant zinc mineralization in the Upper Marble unit.

Star Mountain Resources’ Sully Discovery shows promising potential for there to be more zinc deposits in the Balmat-Edwards area. Over the years, Balmat has produced over 30 million tons grading 8.6% zinc. However, the recent Sully discovery strongly increases the possibility that the reserves are larger than the original feasibility report suggests. The results showed that, out of the seven drill holes, the percentage of zinc ranged from over 1% to over 24%. With this in mind, Star Mountain Resources, Inc. aims to continue its exploration efforts in order to contribute its full potential to the United States zinc mining industry.

Star Mountain Resources, Inc. is a junior exploration and mining company focused on a number of mining activities including recommencing mining in the Balmat Zinc mine in Upstate New York. The company is backed by unparalleled mining experience thanks, in part, to its acquisition of Northern Zinc and maintains a vision to grow through responsibly developing promising assets and people.

For more information, visit www.starmountainresources.com

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