While ExxonMobil would make a great partner for the NOC's

ExxonMobil Corp (XOM): Resource nationalism has always been a challenge for international oil companies (IOC's) and their ability to grow production, but now that the majority of the world's remaining resources are government controlled, that challenge is quickly increasing. Large oil providers like ExxonMobil need sizable projects in order to operate at the level they are accustomed, but with oil-rich nations continuing to favor national oil companies (NOC's) over international ones, fewer projects exist. While ExxonMobil would make a great partner for the NOC's, partnerships are less profitable and harder to secure, to the point, some would argue, of being uneconomical. Due to their long development times, investing exclusively in "megaprojects"is risky; therefore, management must make the decision to take on more projects at less favorable terms or pursue frontier locations. Short interest is at 0.56%.

Avon Products Inc. (AVP): Following several years of rapid international expansion, Avon is now working tirelessly to rid itself of all the inefficiencies created by that very same expansion, including a bloated management structure and poor supply chain. Incurring $700 million in restructuring costs in 2010 alone, CEO Andrea Jung must fix these follies fast, as tight consumer spending and execution issues in developing markets continue to stall sales growth as is. Given that about 80% of Avon's consolidated sales are international, the company faces significant exposure to currency fluctuations. Also, key markets in Japan will be hit especially hard due to the crisis following the March 11 earthquake and subsequent tsunami. Some investors now wonder if the full benefits of Avon's restructuring will take longer than initially forecast. Short interest is 2.00%.

American Express Co (AXP): In stark contrast to their lend-centric competitors like Visa and MasterCard, Amex has always been spend-centric, relying on merchant fees--instead of loan rates--to account for most of their earnings. In order to increase those earnings, they encourage the use of their cards. But while it may sound okay to entice cardholder spending, Amex was doing so pre-2008, at a time when the housing market was booming and cards were in the hands of high-spending clients who were spending beyond their means. Then came the 2008 financial crisis, which rocked Amex so hard it shook the putty from every little crack in their business model. Three years later, the card lender is still patching holes. In an effort to speed up repairs, Amex has recently opened their "closed-loop"model by partnering with banks and third party lenders in an attempt to build their client base, but concerned investors wonder if it is smart for Amex to look for growth outside its core clientele of high-net-worth individuals. Other risks concerning investors: Amex will continue to struggle as long as the unemployment rate remains high; the company still faces regulation. Short interest: 0.78%.