The Best Stock to Own in the Coal Industry

Top Healthcare Equipment Companies To Invest In 2014

The wealth-building power of compound interest will never cease to amaze me. It's a story of patience and attention to detail, where small, short-term differences add up to massive divergence over decades. And in the end, the biggest winners don't always deliver the fattest share-price returns.

United Technologies (NYSE: UTX  ) is one of those extremely boring businesses that can rake up untold billions in shareholder value without turning heads on Wall Street. There's nothing sexy about building elevators or fire safety systems, but these products are at the very bedrock of modern society. United Technologies runs a cash machine that is unlikely to ever run out of fuel.

And the company isn't shy about returning that cash directly to shareholders -- by the bucketload. This is why United Technologies is such an attractive income stock:

Top Healthcare Equipment Companies To Invest In 2014: NCC Group Plc(NCC.L)

NCC Group plc provides information technology assurance and protection services to the public and private sectors worldwide. The company operates in two segments, Escrow and Assurance Testing. The Escrow segment ensures source code, data, or other business critical material is protected and accessible, as well as confirms the material held is protected by verifying that could be rebuilt from its source code components. The Assurance Testing segment provides site confidence services, including testing and monitoring relevant aspects of system, network, and Web site performance to ensure that the technology used could deliver optimum performance. It also offers security testing services, including forensics, vulnerability research, and the development of software to aid organizations in their on-going with information security breaches; and penetration testing, secure systems development, security education, software design verification, and security assessments. This segmen t also conducts security audits; and offers strategic advisory services for card manufacturing, data preparation, and personalization, as well as provides business analysis, project management, test resourcing, network and application performance analysis, functional and non-functional testing, test automation, software testing, and tools training. The company was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in Manchester, the United Kingdom.

Top Healthcare Equipment Companies To Invest In 2014: SunTrust Banks Inc.(STI)

SunTrust Banks, Inc. operates as the holding company for SunTrust Bank, which provides various financial services in the United States. The company?s Retail Banking segment offers consumer deposits, home equity lines, consumer lines, indirect auto, student lending, bank card, and other consumer loan and fee-based products. Its Diversified Commercial Banking segment provides commercial lending, financial risk management, capital raising, commercial card, and other treasury and payment solutions; insurance premium financing; and equipment and lease financing. The company?s Commercial Real Estate segment offers construction, mini-perm, and permanent real estate financing; capital raising services; financial risk management; treasury and payment solutions; and investment advisory and management services, as well as tailored financing and equity investment solutions. Its Corporate and Investment Banking segment provides investment banking products and services, such as strate gic advice, capital raising, and financial risk management; and traditional lending, leasing, treasury management, and institutional investment management services. The company?s Mortgage segment offers residential mortgage products. Its Wealth and Investment Management segment provides brokerage, professional investment management, and trust services; family office solutions; administration and custody services; administrative and investment solutions; escrow; and investment advisory services. The company also offers mortgage banking, credit-related insurance, asset management, securities brokerage, and capital market services. SunTrust Banks, Inc. serves individuals and families; businesses; institutions; and governmental agencies through its network of traditional and in-store branches, automated teller machines, Internet, and telephone. As of December 31, 2011, the company operated 1,659 full-service banking offices. The company was founded in 1891 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Elissa]

  Based in Atlanta, Georgia, SunTrust Banks offer a variety of banking services to individuals, small businesses, and institutions throughout the Southern states. With total assets of $178 billion, the company excels in technology-based banking through the internet and mobile devices.

  Since 81 financial stocks have added $430 billion to the stock indices in the past few years, it seems that these ten bank stocks are good investments now. Analysts encourage investors to join the market again and to invest in big banks. As consumer confidence rises, they can expect to see large returns this year and in years to come.

Top Biotech Stocks To Watch Right Now: Avon Rubber(AVON.L)

Avon Rubber p.l.c. engages in the design, test, and manufacture of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear respiratory protection products and solutions for military, homeland security, law enforcement, first responder, emergency services, fire, and industrial markets primarily in the United States and the United Kingdom. The company?s products include respirators or gas masks with various spares and accessories; emergency hood and self contained breathing apparatus; consumable filters; thermal imaging camera equipment; hovercraft skirts; industrial coated fabric solutions; and flexible storage tanks and fittings for military, industrial, and agricultural markets. It is also involved in the manufacture and sale of dairy products, primarily rubberware, such as liners and tubing used in the automated milking process under the Milk-Rite brand. Avon Rubber p.l.c. sells its respiratory protection products through a distribution network in the United States; and diary p roducts to original equipment manufacturers, as well as through distributors. The company was founded in 1885 and is headquartered in Melksham, the United Kingdom.

Top Healthcare Equipment Companies To Invest In 2014: Chip Eng Seng Corporation Ltd (C29.SI)

Chip Eng Seng Corporation Ltd., an investment holding company, engages in the construction, and property development and investment businesses in Singapore. The company operates as a general building contractor for public and private construction projects, including Housing & Development Board projects, residential and commercial properties, institutional buildings, industrial buildings, columbariums, shop houses, and precast projects. It also invests, develops, leases, and manages residential, commercial, and industrial properties in Singapore, Australia, and Vietnam. In addition, the company engages in manufacturing and trading precast products; and providing general building engineering, and project management and consultancy services. Chip Eng Seng Corporation Ltd. is based in Singapore.

Top Healthcare Equipment Companies To Invest In 2014: Acegas(AEG.MI)

Acegas-Aps S.P.A. operates as a multi-utility company in north-eastern Italy. It engages in the management and distribution of water, electricity, and gas; and collection and treatment of waste primarily in the areas of Trieste and Padova, as well as in the production of electric energy. The company also offers public services, such as funeral services, facility management, district heating, public lighting, management of traffic lights system, and re-lining services. In addition, it involves in waste collection and recycling activities. The company serves families, block of flats, small and medium companies, big companies, sectoral trade associations, and public administrations. Acegas-Aps S.P.A. is headquartered in Trieste, Italy.

Top Healthcare Equipment Companies To Invest In 2014: WSI Industries Inc.(WSCI)

WSI Industries, Inc. engages in precision contract metal machining business in the United States. The company offers metal components in medium to high volumes requiring tolerances in accordance with customer specifications. It primarily serves aerospace/avionics/defense, recreational vehicles, energy, and bioscience industries. The company was founded in 1950 and is headquartered in Monticello, Minnesota.

Don't Be Fooled by the Dow's Drop Today

On another volatile day, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI  ) finished down 115 points, or 0.8%. However, the IBM (NYSE: IBM  ) effect was in full splendor today as the tech giant once again pushed the blue chips down disproportionately. Since the Dow is price-weighted, IBM contributes a sixth of the value of the index, and today, it knocked an additional 0.4% off the finish. Meanwhile, the broad-based S&P 500 fell just 0.4%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq actually closed up slightly.

There was no particular negative news pushing stocks down today, as equities were likely taking a breather after three days of strong gains. Consumer sentiment numbers beat expectations, coming in at 84.1 for June versus projections of 82.7, but the Chicago Purchasing Managers Index missed estimates by four points. Still, it showed an expansion in manufacturing with a 51.6 reading, indicating that that sector continues to improve. Of the two, the consumer confidence numbers seem to be more important as survey director Richard Curtin interpreted the results, saying, "Consumers believe the economic recovery has achieved an upward momentum that will not be easily reversed." The continuing high level of consumer confidence should reassure investors that the economy won't collapse, even as the Fed tapers its stimulus.

As alluded to above, IBM was the Dow's biggest loser today, falling 2.3%, in tandem with rival Accenture, which tumbled 10.3% after sales badly missed estimates, and the consulting firm slashed its guidance for the current quarter. IBM has had difficulty finding ways to add revenue in recent quarters, and Accenture's miss could be a further indicator that IT management-consulting is now a slow-growth or no-growth field.

Home Depot (NYSE: HD  ) , on the other hand, was the blue chips' best performer today, gaining 1.6%. There was no company-specific news on the home-improvement retailer, but it seems to have benefited from the recent easing in interest rates, the rise in which had been making investors nervous about the housing recovery's ability to continue. The strong consumer confidence numbers also add credibility to the bull thesis for Home Depot.

Outside the Dow, Blackberry (NASDAQ: BBRY  ) shares were looking rotten today, falling 28% after the smartphone maker posted a worse loss than expected. The industry's first mover said it shipped just 2.7 million of the new Blackberry 10s in its first quarter, spelling concern that its turnaround plan will not come to fruition. Despite the new phone, its subscriber base continued to decline, and the company posted a per-share loss of $0.16 against analyst expectations of a profit of $0.05 a share.

With Blackberry's latest flop, it looks even apparent that it will never regain its place among the big boys of tech. But primacy among the tech titans seems to continuously changing. Find out "Who Will Win the War Between the 5 Biggest Tech Stocks?" in The Motley Fool's latest free report, which details the knock-down, drag-out battle being waged by the five kings of tech. Click here to keep reading.

Top 10 Valued Stocks To Watch For 2014

Every quarter, many money managers have to disclose what they've bought and sold, via "13F" filings. Their latest moves can shine a bright light on smart stock picks.

Today, let's look at Viking Global Investors, founded in 1999 by Andreas Halvorsen and David Ott, who had previously worked together at Julian Robertson's respected Tiger Management firm. Viking is known as a long-short global equity fund, meaning that it aims to maintain long positions in companies on which it's bullish and short positions in those where it's bearish.

The company's reportable stock portfolio totaled $16.7 billion in value as of March 31, 2013.

Interesting developments
So what does Viking's latest quarterly 13F filing tell us? Here are a few interesting details:

The biggest new holdings are Boeing�and cement giant Cemex. Other new holdings of interest include Sarepta Therapeutics (NASDAQ: SRPT  ) and National Oilwell Varco (NYSE: NOV  ) . Sarepta stock has soared more than�tenfold over the past year. After the company petitioned the FDA for accelerated approval for its Duchenne muscular dystrophy drug, eteplirsen, the FDA requested more information, sending shares lower. But management is optimistic about its recent interactions with the FDA, and new data reported this week was encouraging. Some see the stock as reasonably or attractively valued, but there are risks to consider.

Top 10 Valued Stocks To Watch For 2014: Caterpillar Inc.(CAT)

Caterpillar Inc. manufactures and sells construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines, and diesel-electric locomotives worldwide. It operates through three lines of businesses: Machinery, Engines, and Financial Products. The Machinery business offers construction, mining, and forestry machinery, including track and wheel tractors, track and wheel loaders, pipelayers, motor graders, wheel tractor-scrapers, track and wheel excavators, backhoe loaders, log skidders, log loaders, off-highway trucks, articulated trucks, paving products, skid steer loaders, underground mining equipment, tunnel boring equipment, and related parts. It also manufactures diesel-electric locomotives; and manufactures and services rail-related products and logistics services for other companies. The Engines business provides diesel, heavy fuel, and natural gas reciprocating engines for Caterpillar machinery, electric power generation systems, marine, petrol eum, construction, industrial, agricultural, and other applications. It offers industrial turbines and turbine-related services for oil and gas, and power generation applications. This business also remanufactures Caterpillar engines, machines, and engine components; and offers remanufacturing services for other companies. The Financial Products business provides retail and wholesale financing alternatives for Caterpillar machinery and engines, solar gas turbines, and other equipment and marine vessels, as well as offers loans and various forms of insurance to customers and dealers. It also offers financing for vehicles, power generation facilities, and marine vessels. The company markets its products directly, as well as through its distribution centers, dealers, and distributors. It was formerly known as Caterpillar Tractor Co. and changed its name to Caterpillar Inc. in 1986. Caterpillar Inc. was founded in 1925 and is headquartered in Peoria, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Roberto Pedone]

  Caterpillar (CAT) is staging a textbook breakout in May. Shares of heavy equipment maker haven't exactly been kind to investors year-to-date; CAT has barely broken even during a time when the broad market has been in a historic rally. But a textbook breakout should change that.

  CAT started forming an inverse head and shoulders pattern back in early April. The inverse head and shoulders is formed by two swing lows that bottom out around the same level (the shoulders), separated by a lower low called the head; the buy signal comes on the breakout above the pattern's "neckline" level, which was just below $86 for CAT. That puts this stock's upside target right around $92.

  Even though CAT has nearly hit its upside target already (the post-breakout buying has been very quick), the longer-term implication for investors is a break of the downtrend that had been haranguing shares this year. Now, with that downtrend broken, CAT should have more room to move higher. I'd just expect some consolidation first.

Top 10 Valued Stocks To Watch For 2014: Schlumberger N.V.(SLB)

Schlumberger Limited, together with its subsidiaries, supplies technology, integrated project management, and information solutions to the oil and gas exploration and production industries worldwide. The company?s Oilfield Services segment provides exploration and production services; wireline technology that offers open-hole and cased-hole services; supplies engineering support, directional-drilling, measurement-while-drilling, and logging-while-drilling services; and testing services. This segment also offers well services; supplies well completion services and equipment; artificial lift; data and consulting services; geo services; and information solutions, such as consulting, software, information management system, and IT infrastructure services that support oil and gas industry. Its WesternGeco segment provides reservoir imaging, monitoring, and development services; and operates data processing centers and multiclient seismic library. This segment also offers variou s services include 3D and time-lapse (4D) seismic surveys to multi-component surveys for delineating prospects and reservoir management. The company?s M-I SWACO segment supplies drilling fluid systems to improve drilling performance; fluid systems and specialty tools to optimize wellbore productivity; production technology solutions to maximize production rates; and environmental solutions that manages waste volumes generated in drilling and production operations. Its Smith Oilfield segment designs, manufactures, and markets drill bits and borehole enlargement tools; and supplies drilling tools and services, tubular, completion services, and other related downhole solutions. The company?s Distribution segment markets pipes, valves, and fittings, as well as mill, safety, and other maintenance products. This segment also provides warehouse management, vendor integration, and inventory management services. Schlumberger Limited was founded in 1927 and is based in Houston, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dug]

  Schlumberger(SLB) continues to lead the sector, particularly outside the U.S. in the growing markets for vertical drilling. Schlumberger remains my favorite. Another smaller company to look at with growing work in complex procedures is Helmerich & Payne(HP).

• [By Kathy Kristof]

  Headquarters: Houston
  
  52-Week High: $79.38
  
  52-Week Low: $56.86 
  
  Annual Sales: $39.5 bill.
  
  Projected Earnings Growth: 18% annually over the next five years 
  
  
  Energy-services giant Schlumberger is the prototypical multinational. The company derives roughly 85% of its revenues from overseas, including developing markets in Africa, Brazil and Asia. 
  
  With particular expertise in deep-water drilling, Schlumberger is well-positioned to compete in a world where oil is harder to find, says Argus Research analyst Philip Weiss. Admittedly, oil exploration is a cyclical business, driven largely by crude prices. And weak prices for natural gas have hit the company’s stock, Weiss says. But the price of natural gas has little to do with Schlumberger’s profits, so Weiss just sees this as an opportunity to get the shares at a more reasonable price.

Top 5 Healthcare Technology Companies To Invest In 2014: Tupperware Corporation(TUP)

Tupperware Brands Corporation operates as a direct seller of various products across a range of brands and categories through an independent sales force. The company engages in the manufacture and sale of kitchen and home products, and beauty and personal care products. It offers preparation, storage, and serving solutions for the kitchen and home, as well as kitchen cookware and tools, children?s educational toys, microwave products, and gifts under the Tupperware brand name primarily in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, the Asia Pacific, and North America. The company provides beauty and personal care products, which include skin care products, cosmetics, bath and body care, toiletries, fragrances, nutritional products, apparel, and related products principally in Mexico, South Africa, the Philippines, Australia, and Uruguay. It offers beauty and personal care products under the Armand Dupree, Avroy Shlain, BeautiControl, Fuller, NaturCare, Nutrimetics, Nuvo, and Swissgar de brand names. The company sells its Tupperware products directly to distributors, directors, managers, and dealers; and beauty products primarily through consultants and directors. As of December 26, 2009, the Tupperware distribution system had approximately 1,800 distributors, 61,300 managers, and 1.3 million dealers; and the sales force representing the Beauty businesses approximately 1.1 million. The company was formerly known as Tupperware Corporation and changed its name to Tupperware Brands Corporation in December 2005. The company was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Orlando, Florida.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sam Collins]

  Household name Tupperware Brands Corp. (NYSE:TUP) is a global direct seller of products with multiple brands through an independent sales force of 2.4 million people. Its product line focuses on kitchen storage and serving solutions, as well as personal-care products. Over 60% of sales in 2011 are expected to come from Europe and Asia, and the stock has appeal as an emerging markets story.

  S&P estimates that 2011 earnings will increase to $4.54 versus $3.53 in 2010, and it increased its rating to a “five-star strong buy” with a recently revised 12-month target of $81, up from $73. The 2005 purchase of Sara Lee’s (NYSE:SLE) direct-sales business, which has a high growth rate, should be a long-term benefit. TUP’s annual dividend yield is 1.92%.

  Technically TUP had a pullback following a new high at over $70 and is currently oversold. Buy TUP at the current market price with a trading target of $70, but longer term a much higher target will likely be attained.

Top 10 Valued Stocks To Watch For 2014: Dollar Tree Inc.(DLTR)

Dollar Tree, Inc. operates discount variety stores in the United States and Canada. Its stores offer merchandise primarily at the fixed price of $1.00. The company operates its stores under the names of Dollar Tree, Deal$, Dollar Tree Deal$, Dollar Giant, and Dollar Bills. Its stores offer consumable merchandise, including candy and food, and health and beauty care, as well as household consumables, such as paper, plastics, household chemicals, in select stores, and frozen and refrigerated food; variety merchandise, which includes toys, durable housewares, gifts, party goods, greeting cards, softlines, and other items; and seasonal goods, such as Easter, Halloween, and Christmas merchandise. As of April 30, 2011, it operated 4,089 stores in 48 states and the District of Columbia, as well as 88 stores in Canada. The company was founded in 1986 and is based in Chesapeake, Virginia.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sam Collins]

  Dollar Tree (NASDAQ:DLTR) is a leading operator of discount variety stores. The stock has hugged its 50-day moving average since mid-February. But a recent minor revision of earnings for this year by several analysts and the recent market sell-off have resulted in a fall from its high of the year at over $70 to under $66. However, Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) increased its price target to $73 from $69.

  Technically DLTR is oversold, according to MACD. A break below its 50-day moving average could result in a pullback to $64, but positions could be taken at the current market price. The trading target for DLTR is $72.

Friday's Top Upgrades (and Downgrades)

This series, brought to you by Yahoo! Finance, looks at which upgrades and downgrades make sense, and which ones investors should act on. Today, our headlines feature a downgrade for ITT Educational (NYSE: ESI  ) , an upgrade for Facebook (NASDAQ: FB  ) , and a much improved price target for tiny iRobot (NASDAQ: IRBT  ) . Let's dive right in, beginning with why one analyst just...

Flunked ITT Educational
Citing negative trends in enrollment, regulatory pressures, and reduced government funding for Pell Grants, analysts at Argus Research cut their recommendation on ITT Educational to "sell" this morning. The stock's already down some 4.8% in response to the downgrade, but what we really want to know is... will it fall further?

I think it will, and I'll tell you why.

Priced at just over five times earnings today, ITT stock sure looks cheap, but it's cheap for a reason. Several reasons, actually. Chief among them is the fact that while most investors like to buy companies that grow, ITT is expected to shrink, with its earnings declining nearly 6% per year, on average, over the next five years. Such shrinkage already looks to be in the cards given that ITT reported earning $110 million over the past year, but its actual cash profits for the period, its free cash flow, amounted to a mere $9.5 million -- just 8.6 cents on the dollar.

This doesn't bode well for the company's earnings trends going forward. It's part of the reason most analysts think next year's earnings will be bad enough to nearly double ITT's forward P/E ratio (to 9.5). And it's a good reason to play hooky from ITT stock.

Cut school, and hang out on Facebook instead? 
Happier news greeted Facebook shareholders today, as Swiss megabanker UBS weighed in with an upgrade to "buy," and an improved price target of $30.

UBS says it likes Facebook's idea of allowing users to post 15-second videos on its Instagram service, and especially likes the prospects for Facebook selling ad space on these video postings. UBS says video ads could generate something on the order of "sevenfigure" revenue for Facebook, and expects to see video ad placements begin sometime in the second half of this year. Brother banker RBC Capital, which also likes the stock, agreed that this form of advertising could prove "lucrative" for Facebook.

Shareholders had better hope the bankers are right about this one, though, and that ad spending will be considerably bigger than "sevenfigure." Because Facebook is going to need a whole lot more revenue, and high-margin revenue at that, if it's to justify the 526-times-earnings valuation that its stock is already lugging around.

Granted, from a free cash flow perspective, the stock's throwing off enough cash to give it a price-to-free cash flow ratio closer to 75. But even that valuation looks stretched in light of Facebook's 31% projected profits growth rate.

In short, faster profits growth from placement of lucrative video ads could help to justify the stock's sky high valuation. But "could" isn't the operative word here. That word is "must." Absent literal hypergrowth, there's simply no justifying a triple-digit P/E like the one Facebook sports. Absent literal hypergrowth... Facebook stock will continue to fall.

"Domo arigato," said Mr. Roboto
Last but not least, we come to what's no doubt the oddest ratings / stock performance pairing of the day. This morning, analysts at The Benchmark Company took a close look at Roomba-maker iRobot, a stock they've already recommended buying, and already had a $32 price target on. They looked at it and promptly hiked their price target by 40%, to $45 a share.

The question is, why? Sure, earlier this month, Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO  ) announced it's collaborating with iRobot on the development of an Ava 500 video-conferencing robot. Last week, iRobot landed a $30 million Pentagon contract for itself. So the news flow is certainly in iRobot's favor of late. But does this make the stock a 40% better investment than Benchmark thought it was as recently as yesterday?

I don't think it does. At $36 and change, iRobot shares already cost nearly 42 times earnings, which is quite a lot for a stock that most analysts agree will only grow earnings at about 9% annually over the next five years. Meanwhile, free cash flow at the firm, while strong at $28 million, isn't all that much better than the company's GAAP earnings number of $25 million. It's enough to pull the price-to-free cash flow ratio down to just under 37 -- but no better than that.

On a 9% grower, that's still too much to pay.

Fool contributor Rich Smith has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Cisco Systems, Facebook, and iRobot. The Motley Fool owns shares of Facebook.

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Top 5 Low Price Companies To Buy Right Now

Given the overall performance of the midstream industry during the past year and a half, a company that repeatedly offers up a poor performance come earnings time is going to stand out. Enbridge Energy Partners (NYSE: EEP  ) is one such company. In this video, Fool.com contributor Aimee Duffy takes a quick look at what is hurting EEP, how it compares to its midstream peers, and whether or not this master limited partnership has a bright future ahead of it.

The growing production of natural gas from hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling is flooding the North American market and resulting in record-low prices for natural gas. Enterprise Products Partners, with its superior integrated asset base, can profit from the massive bottlenecks in takeaway capacity by taking on large-scale projects. To help investors decide whether Enterprise Products Partners is a buy or a sell today, click here now to check out The Motley Fool's brand-new premium research report on the company.

Top 5 Low Price Companies To Buy Right Now: Terramin Australia Ltd(TZN.AX)

Terramin Australia Limited engages in the exploration, evaluation, and development of base metal projects in Australia and internationally. It focuses on zinc and lead metals. The company?s flagship project Tala Hamza is located on the Mediterranean coast of Algeria. It also holds 100% interest in Angas zinc mine located near the town of Strathalbyn in South Australia; 100% interest in Oued Amizour zinc project located on the north coast of Algeria on the Mediterranean Sea; and Menninnie zinc project located on northern Eyre Peninsula, South Australia. The company was incorporated in 1993 and is based in Adelaide, Australia.

Top 5 Low Price Companies To Buy Right Now: Claude Resources Inc.(CGR)

Claude Resources Inc. engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of precious metal properties, as well as production and marketing of minerals in Canada. It primarily explores for gold in northern Saskatchewan and northwestern Ontario. The company holds interests in the Seabee gold mine located at Laonil Lake, northern Saskatchewan; and the Madsen property that consists of 6 contiguous claim blocks totaling approximately 10,000 acres, located in the Red Lake Mining District of northwestern Ontario. It also holds interest in the Amisk Gold project, which covers an area of 13,800 hectares in the province of Saskatchewan. The company was founded in 1980 and is based in Saskatoon, Canada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Christopher Barker]

  Hardly a johnny-come-lately, Claude Resources initiated small-scale gold production from its flagship Seabee mine in Saskatchewan in 1991. Just last year, Claude added the Santoy 8 mine to that operation to offer a touch of timely growth. Meanwhile, the operation hosts a number of compelling exploration targets like the recently discovered Neptune zone. After 10 of 15 recent drill holes from Neptune featured visible gold, including a nice high-grade intercept of 84.66 g/t over 3.2 meters, prospects are building for Claude to add some additional years to this time-tested operation.

  While I welcome the existing cash flow from Seabee, my investment thesis for Claude Resources centers around a pair of exciting exploration properties: the Amisk joint venture project southeast of Seabee and the Madsen property at Red Lake, Ontario. At Madsen, historical gold production between 1938 and 1976 yielded 2.4 million ounces at an average grade of 9 g/t. To date, Claude has identified an indicated resource of 928,000 ounces at a comparable grade. At Amisk, drill intercepts of eye-catching thickness suggest strong potential for a profitable open pit operation, including an intercept of 2.16 g/t over 241 meters! The deposit's 921,000 indicated gold-equivalent ounces represent only an early stage hint of the deposit's full potential. The stock is a top-10 holding for Sprott Asset Management, and a core holding for this Fool as well.

10 Best China Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Gulf Island Fabrication Inc. (GIFI)

Gulf Island Fabrication, Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates as a fabricator of offshore drilling and production platforms, hull and deck sections of floating production platforms, and other specialized structures used in the development and production of offshore crude oil and natural gas reserves. The company fabricates jackets and deck sections of fixed production platforms; hull, tendon, and/or deck sections of floating production platforms, such as tension leg platforms (TLP), floating production storage and offloading vessels, minimum deepwater operating concepts, and SPARs; piles, wellhead protectors, and subsea templates; offshore living quarters and various other types of steel structures; water towboats; barges; lift boats; offshore support vessels; and mid-body sections for offshore supply vessels, as well as produces and repairs pressure vessels used in the oil and gas industry. It also fabricates piles and other rolled goods; templates; bridges for connec ting offshore platforms; wellhead protectors; and various production, processing, compressor, and utility modules and other structures used in offshore oil and gas production and development activities. In addition, the company provides interconnect piping services on offshore platforms; inshore steel and wood structure construction; fabrication of pressure vessels, and large and small packaged skid units; on-site construction and maintenance services; and platform refurbishment services, as well as performs heavy lift services consisting of ship and TLP module integration, and load and offload jack-up drilling rigs, semi-submersible drilling rigs, TLPs, SPARs, or other cargo. It serves independent oil and gas exploration and production companies primarily in the United States. The company was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in Houma, Louisiana.

Top 5 Low Price Companies To Buy Right Now: Cementir(CEMI.MI)

Cementir Holding SpA, through its subsidiaries, manufactures and distributes cement, aggregates, and concrete products worldwide. The company offers various grey cement products, including traditional Portland cement, composite Portland cement, blast furnace cement, pozzolanic cement, and composite cement. It also provides white Portland cement that is used in dry white and colored mixtures as a binder in various types of mortar; and used in concrete for panels, balconies, cornices, ornaments, paving stones and flags, sculptures, and swimming pools, as well as used to produce road signs, tunnel linings and ramps, kerbs, road-markings, and medium barriers. In addition, the company offers ready-mix concrete; and pre-cast concrete products that are used in civil engineering projects and transport industries. Further, it extracts and distributes aggregates, such as sand, gravel, or crushed stones used as structural construction components. The company was incorporated in 1947 and is headquartered in Rome, Italy.

Top 5 Low Price Companies To Buy Right Now: Goldbank Minin(GLB.V)

Goldbank Mining Corporation operates as a resource property exploration and development company. The company has an option to acquire a 100% interest in the Leota Gold Property located on the Klondike Goldfields in the Dawson Mining District, Yukon Territory. It also has an option to acquire the Hasenfuss or Rabbit Foot claims located at the headwaters of Hunker Creek in the Klondike region of the Yukon. The company was formerly known as Ballad Gold & Silver Ltd. and changed its name to Goldbank Mining Corporation in January 2009. Goldbank Mining Corporation is based in Vancouver, Canada.

Best Net Payout Yield Companies To Buy For 2014

Fifty years ago, Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS  ) was a partnership, most stock transactions occurred by face-to-face contact, and no one had ever heard of a credit default swap.

Wall Street changes, fast.

What will it look like 50 years from now?

That's anyone's guess, but I asked David Cowen, CEO of the Museum of American Finance and a financial historian, what he thought. Here's what he had to say (transcript follows):

Morgan Housel: As a historian who focuses on the past, what do you think Wall Street will look like, let's say, 50 years from now?

David Cowen: So, Morgan, you're asking me about my crystal ball and, as you allude to first, financial historians and economic historians look backwards first. There's a couple of sweeping trends: we alluded to one much earlier, which was the shift in paradigm to Asia, but I think the second one is the whole concept of Wall Street as a physical location. Right, it starts here: 1792 is one of the inaugural events, the Buttonwood Tree, and people have to come together at a physical space or add exchanges, and what we're seeing now is Wall Street is virtual. It's everywhere, and so the role of having to come to an actual physical place will be entirely, I believe, diminished, as we look forward.

Best Net Payout Yield Companies To Buy For 2014: Teekay Lng Partners L.P.(TGP)

Teekay LNG Partners L.P. provides marine transportation services for liquefied natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, and crude oil worldwide. It transports liquid petroleum gases, including propane, butane, and methane; petrochemical gases comprising ethylene, propylene, and butadiene; and ammonia. The company provides its services through a time-charter or bareboat charter contract basis. As of August 16, 2011, it operated a fleet of 21 LNG carriers, including 1 LNG regasification unit; 5 LPG/multigas carriers; and 11 conventional tankers. Teekay GP L.L.C. serves as the general partner of Teekay LNG Partners L.P. The company was founded in 2004 and is headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda. Teekay LNG Partners L.P. is a subsidiary of Teekay Corporation.

Best Net Payout Yield Companies To Buy For 2014: (EPIC.BO)

Epic Energy Limited provides energy management solutions in India and internationally. It operates in two divisions, Energy Conservation, and Solar and Wind Energy. The Energy Conservation division principally offers power conditioner and energy saver that reduces the unbalance current and the neutral current, and neutral shifting problems in the transformers, as well as reduces the system current and ensures that the impedance matching is achieved for the load, and accordingly the optimum power is transferred. The Solar and Wind Energy division provides solar products, including solar water heaters, solar lanterns, and solar street lights, as well as solar inverters, solar radio plus torches, solar cool caps, and solar fans, and solar home generators; and wind products, including wind solar hybrid for remote power solutions. This division caters to energy needs of remote households, street lighting, telecommunication, and defense sectors. In addition, Epic Energy offers v arious services, including design, supply, and implementation of SCADA for power utilities and process industries; energy and power quality solutions; energy audit services; and custom products and systems for automatic meter reading. The company was founded in 1991 and is based in Mumbai, India.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Toby]

  Epic Energy Ltd is an ISO 9001:2000 certified company engaged in the manufacture of energy conservation and renewable energy devices like wind-solar hybrids, solar water heaters, solar lanterns, solar street lights, integrated back-up power systems etc. located in Mumbai.

  EPIC has manufacturing facilities at Vadodara and Navi Mumbai. The company is completely committed to the cause of energy conservation and making and marketing renewable energy devices all over India. EPIC Energy Limited has been assigned a "CRISIL-BUREAU OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY Grade 3" by CRISIL.

Best Japanese Stocks To Buy Right Now: SWS Group Inc.(SWS)

SWS Group, Inc., a diversified financial services holding company, provides a range of investment and commercial banking, and related financial services to individual, corporate, and institutional investors, as well as broker/dealers, governmental entities, and financial intermediaries in the United States. It operates in four segments: Clearing, Retail, Institutional, and Banking. The Clearing segment provides clearing and execution services for general securities broker/dealers, bank affiliated firms, and firms specializing in high volume trading. The Retail segment offers retail securities products and services, such as equities, mutual funds, and fixed income products; insurance products; and managed accounts. The Institutional segment provides securities lending, investment banking and public finance, fixed income sales and trading, proprietary trading, and agency execution services to institutional customers. The Banking segment offers various banking products and se rvices, including certificates of deposit, money market accounts, interest-bearing demand accounts, savings accounts, federal home loan bank advances, federal funds purchased, and non interest-bearing demand accounts, as well as one to four family residential loans and construction loans, lot and land development loans, commercial real estate loans, multi family loans, commercial loans, and consumer loans. SWS Group, Inc. was founded in 1972 and is headquartered in Dallas, Texas.

Best Net Payout Yield Companies To Buy For 2014: Bacanora Minerals Ltd (BCN)

Bacanora Minerals Ltd. (Bacanora) is an exploration-stage company. The Company is a mining company engaged in exploration for mineral deposits in Mexico. The Company�� mineral properties include Tubutama Borate, Magdalena Borate and Sonora Lithium. The Company�� exploration activities include Borate Properties and Lithium Property. Mineramex Limited is the Company�� wholly owned subsidiary, whose assets consist of 99.9% interest of Minera Sonora Borax, S.A. de C.V. (MSB) and 60% interest of Minerales Industriales Tubutama, S.A. de C.V. (MIT). Tubutama Borate project consists of six mining concessions with a total area of 1,661 hectares. The concessions are located 15 kilometers from the town of Tubutama, and they are 100% owned by MIT. The Magdalena Borate project consists of seven concessions, with a total area of 15,508 hectares. The concessions are located 15 kilometers from the city of Magdalena and the city of Santa Ana, and are 100% owned by MSB.

Best Net Payout Yield Companies To Buy For 2014: Eastern Virginia Bankshares Inc.(EVBS)

Eastern Virginia Bankshares, Inc. operates as the holding company for EVB, a state-chartered community bank that provides a range of personal and commercial banking services to individuals and small to medium-sized businesses primarily in eastern Virginia. The company offers various interest-bearing deposits, including checking, savings, money market, and certificate of deposit and other time deposit accounts, as well as noninterest-bearing demand deposits. It also provides commercial business, industrial, agricultural, one-to-four family residential real estate, multi-family residential real estate, construction, farmland, non-farm and non-residential real estate, and consumer loans. In addition, the company, through the subsidiaries of its bank, offers investment brokerage services; originates and sells residential mortgages; underwrites and sells title insurance to mortgage loan customers; and sells various insurance products as an agent. As of December 31, 2010, it own ed and operated 24 full-service branch offices that serve customers in Caroline, Essex, Gloucester, Hanover, Henrico, King and Queen, King William, Lancaster, Middlesex, New Kent, Richmond, Northumberland, Southampton, Surry, and Sussex counties, as well as in the city of Colonial Heights. The company was founded in 1910 and is headquartered in Tappahannock, Virginia.

5 Best Value Stocks To Buy For 2014

The FHFA is the Conservator of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac -- two entities with an uncertain future

2013 has been a great year for most stocks. Only 49 companies in the S&P 500 are trading lower so far this year.

However, the mREIT industry has been left in the dust. mREITs, essentially leveraged mortgage-backed security (MBS) funds that receive special tax treatment by the IRS and spit off massive dividends, have been whacked, and more pain could be on the way.

The primary reason for the sell-off of�Annaly Capital (NYSE: NLY  ) ,�American Capital Agency (NASDAQ: AGNC  ) , and Armour Residential (NYSE: ARR  ) , just three of the funds that mainly invest in MBSes backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, is the fear that the inevitable rise in interests rates will damage firms' book values and further squeeze net interest margins, thus shrinking net income and dividend payouts.

5 Best Value Stocks To Buy For 2014: Schlumberger N.V.(SLB)

Schlumberger Limited, together with its subsidiaries, supplies technology, integrated project management, and information solutions to the oil and gas exploration and production industries worldwide. The company?s Oilfield Services segment provides exploration and production services; wireline technology that offers open-hole and cased-hole services; supplies engineering support, directional-drilling, measurement-while-drilling, and logging-while-drilling services; and testing services. This segment also offers well services; supplies well completion services and equipment; artificial lift; data and consulting services; geo services; and information solutions, such as consulting, software, information management system, and IT infrastructure services that support oil and gas industry. Its WesternGeco segment provides reservoir imaging, monitoring, and development services; and operates data processing centers and multiclient seismic library. This segment also offers variou s services include 3D and time-lapse (4D) seismic surveys to multi-component surveys for delineating prospects and reservoir management. The company?s M-I SWACO segment supplies drilling fluid systems to improve drilling performance; fluid systems and specialty tools to optimize wellbore productivity; production technology solutions to maximize production rates; and environmental solutions that manages waste volumes generated in drilling and production operations. Its Smith Oilfield segment designs, manufactures, and markets drill bits and borehole enlargement tools; and supplies drilling tools and services, tubular, completion services, and other related downhole solutions. The company?s Distribution segment markets pipes, valves, and fittings, as well as mill, safety, and other maintenance products. This segment also provides warehouse management, vendor integration, and inventory management services. Schlumberger Limited was founded in 1927 and is based in Houston, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Robert Holmes]

   Schlumberger has the most potential upside of any stock in this group of 50 that also makes the firm's Best Ideas list. Analyst Ole Slorer says Schlumberger has "what we consider the most advanced technology portfolio in the industry."

  "Its fundamentals are impressive, with what we think are some of the best field personnel, a pristine service and performance reputation, and leading market share in most of its product lines," Slorer writes.

  Though Slorer's price target is 42% above current levels, his most bullish scenario for Schlumberger over the next year would see shares climb a whopping 116%. On the downside, his most bearish scenario for the company would see shares slide 38% over the next 12 months.

• [By Michael]

  Schlumberger Limited (NYSE: SLB): Cramer also had more than $100,000 invested in SLB. As of Feb. 15, his charitable trust owns 1,300 shares for a total of about $100,724. SLB is also quite popular among hedge funds. At the end of last September, there were 42 hedge funds with SLB positions in their 13F portfolios. Ken Fisher was the most bullish hedge fund manager about SLB -- Fisher Asset Management had nearly $500 million invested in SLB at the end of the third quarter. Jim Simons’ Renaissance Technologies also invested nearly $200 million in this stock.

  Schlumberger has reasonable debt levels, growing net income and revenue, and healthy cash flow from operations. It is relatively expensive compared with its competitors though. SLB has a forward P/E ratio of 13.6. Its expected annual EPS growth rate is 21.82% on the average for the next five years, which means that its P/E ratio for 2014 will be around 9.2. This is quite low compared with the market, but not so versus its peers.

5 Best Value Stocks To Buy For 2014: Dollar Tree Inc.(DLTR)

Dollar Tree, Inc. operates discount variety stores in the United States and Canada. Its stores offer merchandise primarily at the fixed price of $1.00. The company operates its stores under the names of Dollar Tree, Deal$, Dollar Tree Deal$, Dollar Giant, and Dollar Bills. Its stores offer consumable merchandise, including candy and food, and health and beauty care, as well as household consumables, such as paper, plastics, household chemicals, in select stores, and frozen and refrigerated food; variety merchandise, which includes toys, durable housewares, gifts, party goods, greeting cards, softlines, and other items; and seasonal goods, such as Easter, Halloween, and Christmas merchandise. As of April 30, 2011, it operated 4,089 stores in 48 states and the District of Columbia, as well as 88 stores in Canada. The company was founded in 1986 and is based in Chesapeake, Virginia.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sam Collins]

  Dollar Tree (NASDAQ:DLTR) is a leading operator of discount variety stores. The stock has hugged its 50-day moving average since mid-February. But a recent minor revision of earnings for this year by several analysts and the recent market sell-off have resulted in a fall from its high of the year at over $70 to under $66. However, Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) increased its price target to $73 from $69.

  Technically DLTR is oversold, according to MACD. A break below its 50-day moving average could result in a pullback to $64, but positions could be taken at the current market price. The trading target for DLTR is $72.

Hot Railroad Companies To Watch In Right Now: Caterpillar Inc.(CAT)

Caterpillar Inc. manufactures and sells construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines, and diesel-electric locomotives worldwide. It operates through three lines of businesses: Machinery, Engines, and Financial Products. The Machinery business offers construction, mining, and forestry machinery, including track and wheel tractors, track and wheel loaders, pipelayers, motor graders, wheel tractor-scrapers, track and wheel excavators, backhoe loaders, log skidders, log loaders, off-highway trucks, articulated trucks, paving products, skid steer loaders, underground mining equipment, tunnel boring equipment, and related parts. It also manufactures diesel-electric locomotives; and manufactures and services rail-related products and logistics services for other companies. The Engines business provides diesel, heavy fuel, and natural gas reciprocating engines for Caterpillar machinery, electric power generation systems, marine, petrol eum, construction, industrial, agricultural, and other applications. It offers industrial turbines and turbine-related services for oil and gas, and power generation applications. This business also remanufactures Caterpillar engines, machines, and engine components; and offers remanufacturing services for other companies. The Financial Products business provides retail and wholesale financing alternatives for Caterpillar machinery and engines, solar gas turbines, and other equipment and marine vessels, as well as offers loans and various forms of insurance to customers and dealers. It also offers financing for vehicles, power generation facilities, and marine vessels. The company markets its products directly, as well as through its distribution centers, dealers, and distributors. It was formerly known as Caterpillar Tractor Co. and changed its name to Caterpillar Inc. in 1986. Caterpillar Inc. was founded in 1925 and is headquartered in Peoria, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dave Friedman]

  The shares closed at $91.37, up $1.56, or 1.74%, on the day. They have traded in a 52-week range of $63.34 to $116.55. Volume today was 10,450,473 shares, against a 3-month average volume of 9,960,260 shares. Its market capitalization is $59.03billion, its trailing P/E is 15.11, its trailing earnings are $6.05 per share, and it pays a dividend of $1.84 per share, for a dividend yield of 2.00%. About the company: Caterpillar Inc. designs, manufactures, and markets construction, mining, agricultural, and forestry machinery. The Company also manufactures engines and other related parts for its equipment, and offers financing and insurance. Caterpillar distributes its products through a worldwide organization of dealers.

• [By Sam Collins]

  Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT) is the world’s largest producer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, and industrial gas turbines. The stock has been in a bull market since the market bottomed in March 2009. CAT was one of our Top Stocks to Buy for December because of its position as a major supplier to the third world and China. The company should also be a beneficiary of orders from Japan due to the damage from earthquakes and the tsunami.

  Revenues in 2011 are expected to increase by 36%, according to S&P, and margins are expected to increase, as well. Earnings for 2012 are forecast at $9.10, up from $7.50 this year, and S&P has a target of $142 over the next 12 months.

  Technically CAT has strong support at $95 and currently appears to be oversold, according to Moving Average Convergence/Divergence (MACD). If it is able to hold at the support line, look for a rally to $110 within 30 days. Longer term the stock could trade north of $125.

• [By Roberto Pedone]

  Caterpillar (CAT) is staging a textbook breakout in May. Shares of heavy equipment maker haven't exactly been kind to investors year-to-date; CAT has barely broken even during a time when the broad market has been in a historic rally. But a textbook breakout should change that.

  CAT started forming an inverse head and shoulders pattern back in early April. The inverse head and shoulders is formed by two swing lows that bottom out around the same level (the shoulders), separated by a lower low called the head; the buy signal comes on the breakout above the pattern's "neckline" level, which was just below $86 for CAT. That puts this stock's upside target right around $92.

  Even though CAT has nearly hit its upside target already (the post-breakout buying has been very quick), the longer-term implication for investors is a break of the downtrend that had been haranguing shares this year. Now, with that downtrend broken, CAT should have more room to move higher. I'd just expect some consolidation first.

5 Best Value Stocks To Buy For 2014: Tupperware Corporation(TUP)

Tupperware Brands Corporation operates as a direct seller of various products across a range of brands and categories through an independent sales force. The company engages in the manufacture and sale of kitchen and home products, and beauty and personal care products. It offers preparation, storage, and serving solutions for the kitchen and home, as well as kitchen cookware and tools, children?s educational toys, microwave products, and gifts under the Tupperware brand name primarily in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, the Asia Pacific, and North America. The company provides beauty and personal care products, which include skin care products, cosmetics, bath and body care, toiletries, fragrances, nutritional products, apparel, and related products principally in Mexico, South Africa, the Philippines, Australia, and Uruguay. It offers beauty and personal care products under the Armand Dupree, Avroy Shlain, BeautiControl, Fuller, NaturCare, Nutrimetics, Nuvo, and Swissgar de brand names. The company sells its Tupperware products directly to distributors, directors, managers, and dealers; and beauty products primarily through consultants and directors. As of December 26, 2009, the Tupperware distribution system had approximately 1,800 distributors, 61,300 managers, and 1.3 million dealers; and the sales force representing the Beauty businesses approximately 1.1 million. The company was formerly known as Tupperware Corporation and changed its name to Tupperware Brands Corporation in December 2005. The company was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Orlando, Florida.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sam Collins]

  Household name Tupperware Brands Corp. (NYSE:TUP) is a global direct seller of products with multiple brands through an independent sales force of 2.4 million people. Its product line focuses on kitchen storage and serving solutions, as well as personal-care products. Over 60% of sales in 2011 are expected to come from Europe and Asia, and the stock has appeal as an emerging markets story.

  S&P estimates that 2011 earnings will increase to $4.54 versus $3.53 in 2010, and it increased its rating to a “five-star strong buy” with a recently revised 12-month target of $81, up from $73. The 2005 purchase of Sara Lee’s (NYSE:SLE) direct-sales business, which has a high growth rate, should be a long-term benefit. TUP’s annual dividend yield is 1.92%.

  Technically TUP had a pullback following a new high at over $70 and is currently oversold. Buy TUP at the current market price with a trading target of $70, but longer term a much higher target will likely be attained.

10 Best Japanese Stocks To Own Right Now

After a few days of no real news earlier in the week, the markets seem to be using up all their stored energy. With the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI  ) losing 80 points yesterday after spiking in earlier trading, the downward trend continues today. Down 49 points just after 11 a.m. EDT, the index is suffering from more speculation and discouraging international activity.

Outside the U.S.
The Asian markets fell overnight, with the Japanese Nikkei dropping 7.3% by the time the markets closed. With weak manufacturing data from China and increased bond yields in Japan, the pressure on the markets was too great. European markets followed suit, though losses were not as severe. Both the unexpected contraction in China and the eurozone are unsettling to U.S. investors.

10 Best Japanese Stocks To Own Right Now: Sarepta Therapeutics Inc (SRPT.W)

Sarepta Therapeutics Inc., formerly AVI BioPharma, Inc., incorporated on July 22, 1980, biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of ribonucleic acid (RNA)-based therapeutics for the treatment of rare and infectious diseases. The Company�� product candidates include Eteplirsen, AVI-6002, AVI-6003, and AVI-7100. As of December 31, 2011, the Company primarily focused on advancing the development of its Duchenne muscular dystrophy drug candidates, including its lead product candidate, eteplirsen, which is in a Phase IIb trial. The Company is also focused on developing therapeutics for the treatment of infectious diseases, including its lead infectious disease programs aimed at the development of drug candidates for the Ebola and Marburg hemorrhagic fever viruses. The Company's program focuses on the development of disease-modifying therapeutic candidates for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). The Company initiated a Phase IIb trial for eteplirsen in August 2011 with an objective of initiating a pivotal trial subsequent to 2011.

The Company is also leveraging the capabilities of its RNA-based technology platforms to develop therapeutics for the treatment of infectious diseases. The Company's RNA-based drug programs are clinically evaluated for the treatment of DMD and have also demonstrated anti-viral activity in infectious diseases such as Ebola, Marburg and H1N1 influenza in certain animal models. The Company's lead product candidates are at various stages of development.

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Program

The Company's lead program is designed to address specific gene mutations that result in DMD by forcing the genetic machinery to skip over an adjacent contiguous piece of RNA and, thus, restore the ability of the cell to express a new, truncated but functional, dystrophin protein.

Eteplirsen is an antisense PMO-based therapeutic in clinical development for the treat ment of individuals with DMD who have an error in the gene ! c! oding for dystrophin that can be treated by skipping exon 51. Eteplirsen targets the frequent series of mutations that cause DMD. Eteplirsen has been granted orphan drug designation in the United States and European Union. In addition to the Company's lead product candidate, eteplirsen, the Company is actively pursues development of a product candidate that skips exon 45 through an IND-enabling collaboration.

Anti-Viral Programs

The Company is implementing its RNA-based technology platforms in its anti-viral programs for the development of therapeutics to treat viruses, such as Ebola, Marburg and influenza. The Company's arrangement with DoD supporting the development of the Company's Ebola and Marburg virus drug candidates provides funding for all clinical and licensure activities necessary to obtain approval of a New Drug Application (NDA), by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), if DoD exercises all of its options under the arra ngement. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company paused its clinical development efforts on AVI-7100 and is exploring funding opportunities or partnerships with DHHS and industry collaborators to advance its development.

The Company's anti-viral therapeutic programs use the Company's translation suppression technology and applies its PMOplus chemistry backbone, an advanced generation of its base PMO chemistry backbone that selectively introduces positive backbone charges to improve selective interaction between the drug and its target. The Company's translation suppressing technology is based on Translation Suppressing Oligomers (TSOs), which are PMO-based compounds that stop or suppress the translation of a specific protein by binding to their specific target sequence in mRNA.

The Company is pursuing development and regulatory approval of its Ebola and Marburg hemorrhagic fever virus product candidates under the FDA's Animal Rule. The Company's lead product candidate against the Ebola viru! s in! fec! tion i! s AVI-6002. For Marburg virus infection, the Company's lead product candidate has been AVI-6003. In February 2012, the Company announced that the Company received approval from the FDA to remove one of the two oligomers composing AVI-6003 and proceed with a single oligomer approach, AVI-7288, given that efficacy in non-human primates has been demonstrated to be attributable to this single oligomer. The Company is exploring the feasibility of alternate routes of administration of its Ebola and Marburg drug candidates, and at DoD's invitation, the Company is developing a proposal to be submitted for a study to demonstrates feasibility of the intramuscular route.

AVI-6002, which is a combination of AVI-7537 and AVI-7539, is designed for post-exposure prophylaxis after documented or suspected exposure to the Ebola virus. The Company is evaluating the feasibility of developing AVI-7537 as a single agent for the post-exposure prophylaxis after documented or suspected exposure to Ebola virus. AVI-6003, which is a combination of AVI-7287 and AVI-7288, is designed for post-exposure prophylaxis after documented or suspected exposure to Marburg virus. In February 2012, the Company announced that the Company received approval from the FDA to proceed with AVI-7288 as a single agent against Marburg virus infection. The Company intends to proceed with dosing AVI-7288 in the Phase I multiple ascending dose studies and in non-human primate studies.

Influenza Program

The Company's anti-viral therapeutic programs are also focused on the development of the Company's product candidates designed to treat pandemic influenza viruses. AVI-7100 is the Company's lead product candidate for the treatment of influenza and employs its PMOplus technology. In June 2011, the Company initiated dosing of AVI-7100 through intravenous infusion in single-ascending doses in up to 48 healthy adult volunteers. As of December 31, 2011, the Company paused its clinical development efforts on AVI-7100 ! and are !! exploring! funding opportunities or partnerships to advance its development.

The Company has developed three new phosphorodiamidate-linked morpholino oligomers (PMO)-based chemistry platforms in addition to its original PMO-based technology. The Company's PMO-based molecules are designed to sterically block the access of cellular machinery to pre-mRNA and mRNA without degrading the RNA. Through this selective targeting, two distinct biologic mechanisms of action can be initiated: modulation of pre-mRNA splicing and inhibition of mRNA translation.

The Company competes with GlaxoSmithKline plc, Toyama Chemical, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corp., Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Prosensa, and Santaris Pharma A/S.

10 Best Japanese Stocks To Own Right Now: CABLE & WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS ORD USD0.05(CWC.L)

Cable & Wireless Communications Plc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a telecommunications company. The company provides mobile, broadband, and domestic/international fixed line services to consumers, businesses, and governments. It also offers mobile data services; entertainment services, such as pay TV services; data centers and hosting services; carrier, enterprise, and social telecoms services; managed services for corporate and Government clients; and financing services, as well as sells equipment, including handsets. The company provides services to approximately 10.7 million mobile, 630,000 broadband, and 1.6 million fixed line customers. It has operations in the Caribbean, Panama, Macau, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Indian and Atlantic Oceans. The company was formerly known as Cable and Wireless plc and changed its name to Cable & Wireless Communications Plc in March 2010. Cable & Wireless Communications Plc was founded in 1929 and is headqua rtered in London, United Kingdom.

Top 10 Mid Cap Companies To Watch In Right Now: Brigadier Gold Limited (BRG.V)

Brigadier Gold Limited, an exploration stage company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development on mining properties in Canada and Argentina. It primarily explores for gold, copper, and silver, as well as other precious metals. The company�s principal property includes the Incamayo project consisting of 3,495 hectares located at the southeastern end of the Olacapata-El Toro Lineament in north western Argentina. It also holds interests in various mining claims in the Larder Lake mining division of northern Ontario, Canada; and various properties in Mozambique. Brigadier Gold Limited is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.

10 Best Japanese Stocks To Own Right Now: Oxygen Biotherapeutics Inc.(OXBT)

Oxygen Biotherapeutics, Inc., a development stage company, engages in developing biotechnology products that deliver oxygen to target tissues in the body in the United States. The company primarily offers Oxycyte, a perfluorcarbon (PFC) based oil in water emulsion that carries oxygen and is been formulated for intravenous delivery for the treatment of traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, and decompression sickness; and other PFC-based oxygen carriers for use in personal care, topical wound healing, and other topical indications. It also provides Dermacyte line of topical cosmetic products that promote the appearance of skin health and other cosmetic benefits; and Wundecyte, a wound-healing gel. It markets its Dermacyte line of products through buydermacyte.com; and to dermatologists and medical spas with a combination of in-house sales, independent sales agents, and distributors. The company was formerly known as Synthetic Blood International, Inc. and changed its n ame to Oxygen Biotherapeutics, Inc. in June 2008. Oxygen Biotherapeutics, Inc. was founded in 1967 and is based in Morrisville, North Carolina.

10 Best Japanese Stocks To Own Right Now: Endologix Inc(ELGX)

Endologix, Inc. develops, manufactures, markets, and sells medical devices for the treatment of aortic disorders. It offers the ELG System, a stent graft and delivery system for the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms through minimally-invasive endovascular repair. The company also provides aortic extensions and limb extensions, which attach to the main body of ELG Device, enabling physicians to customize it to fit the patient?s anatomy. In addition, it offers accessories, such as guidewires, snares, and catheter introducer sheaths that facilitate the optimal delivery of its ELG Device. Endologix, Inc. sells its products through direct sales force and independent distributors in the United States, Europe, Asia, South America, and Mexico. The company was formerly known as Radiance Medical Systems, Inc. and changed its name to Endologix, Inc. in May 2002. Endologix, Inc. was founded in 1992 and is headquartered in Irvine, California.

10 Best Japanese Stocks To Own Right Now: Industrial Services of America Inc.(IDSA)

Industrial Services of America, Inc. engages in recycling stainless steel, ferrous, and non-ferrous scrap, as well as provides waste services. The company operates in two segments, Recycling and Waste Services. The Recycling segment collects, purchases, processes, and sells stainless steel, and ferrous and non-ferrous scrap metal to steel mini-mills, integrated steel makers, foundries, and refineries. It purchases ferrous and non-ferrous scrap metals from industrial and commercial generators of steel, iron, aluminum, copper, stainless steel, and other metals, as well as from scrap dealers and retail customers who deliver these materials directly to the company?s facilities. This segment also processes scrap metal through its sorting, shearing, shredding, cutting, and baling operations. In addition, it purchases, processes, and sells stainless steel, nickel-based, and high-temperature alloys. Further, this segment?s scrap recycling operations consist of collecting, sortin g, and processing various grades of copper, aluminum, and brass. The Waste Services segment provides waste management services, including contract negotiations with service providers, centralized billing, invoice auditing, and centralized dispatching. It also rents, leases, sells, and services waste handling and recycling equipment. This segment represents contracts with retail, commercial, and industrial businesses to handle their waste disposal needs, primarily by subcontracting with commercial waste hauling and disposal companies. The company offers its services primarily in the United States and Canada. Industrial Services of America, Inc. was founded in 1953 and is headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky.

10 Best Japanese Stocks To Own Right Now: Ivanhoe Energy Inc Com Npv(IE.TO)

Ivanhoe Energy Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the development and production of oil and gas properties. The company holds interests in the Tamarack property, which is a 6,880 acre block located to the northeast of Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada; the Zitong block that covers an area of approximately 248,000 gross acres and is located in the Sichuan basin, China; the Dagang field, which covers an area of 10,255 gross acres and is located in Hebei province, China; the Nyalga Block XVI that covers an area of approximately 3.1 million gross acres and is located in the Khenti and Tov provinces, Mongolia; and the Pungarayacu heavy oil field in Block 20 that covers an area of 426 square miles and is located to the southeast of Quito, Ecuador. As of December 31, 2011, it had 49 gross producing oil wells; and proved reserves of 1,729 thousand barrels. The company was formerly known as Black Sea Energy Limited and changed its name to Ivanhoe Energy Inc. in June 1999 . Ivanhoe Energy was founded in 1995 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.

10 Best Japanese Stocks To Own Right Now: Convergent Minerals Ltd(CVG.AX)

Convergent Minerals Ltd engages in the exploration and evaluation of mineral resources in Australia. It primarily explores for gold and nickel. The company holds 100% interest in the Bounty Gold Project comprising a tenement package of 42.06 square kilometers located southeast of Southern Cross, Western Australia. Convergent Minerals Ltd is based in West Perth, Australia.

10 Best Japanese Stocks To Own Right Now: Aurion Resources Ltd (AU.V)

Aurion Resources Ltd. engages in the evaluation, acquisition, and exploration of mineral properties in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. It holds interests in the Lavington gold and silver project located in British Columbia; Logan Pass and Bull projects located in Nevada; and La Bandera project located in Mexico. The company was incorporated in 2006 and is based in St. John's, Canada.

10 Best Japanese Stocks To Own Right Now: Digital Dispatch (DD.TO)

DDS Wireless International Inc. provides wireless mobile data solutions for vehicle fleet applications primarily in the United States, Canada, Europe, and internationally. The company engages in the design, development, and deployment of turnkey solutions, including application software, mobile devices, infrastructure products, professional services, and maintenance. It operates in four business units: Taxi, Transit, eFleet, and Digital Wireless. The Taxi business unit provides computerized dispatching and turnkey wireless fleet management solutions for taxi fleets; and TaxiBook, an Internet-based fleet management and dispatch solution. It also offers mobile commerce and Web-based interactive multimedia information, entertainment, and advertising solutions for taxis through a passenger information monitor. The Transit business unit provides mobile devices and wireless data infrastructure; scheduling, dispatching, and client management software; and service-based managed sc heduling and dispatching solutions for the transit market. The eFleet business unit offers software, hardware, and data networks that are accessible via Web browser to provide dispatching and management functionality for fleets of commercial vehicles. It integrates computer aided wireless dispatch, GPS fleet tracking, GPS navigation, two-way text messaging, and point-of-sale payment processing into a single hosted system. This business unit�s primary markets are work trucks, waste management trucks, and limousines. The Digital Wireless business unit provides in-vehicle wireless data computers, communications infrastructure products, and related in-vehicle peripheral devices. It markets its products as an OEM directly to customers and third-party solution providers. The company was formerly known as Digital Dispatch Systems Inc. and changed its name to DDS Wireless International Inc. in March 2008. The company was founded in 1978 and is headquartered in Richmond, Canada.

Hot Construction Material Companies To Own For 2014

CBRE Group (NYSE: CBG  ) is expected to report Q1 earnings on April 25. Here's what Wall Street wants to see:

The 10-second takeaway
Comparing the upcoming quarter to the prior-year quarter, average analyst estimates predict CBRE Group's revenues will grow 7.8% and EPS will grow 28.6%.

The average estimate for revenue is $1.46 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.18.

Revenue details
Last quarter, CBRE Group reported revenue of $2.01 billion. GAAP reported sales were 14% higher than the prior-year quarter's $1.76 billion.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Dollar amounts in millions. Non-GAAP figures may vary to maintain comparability with estimates.

Hot Construction Material Companies To Own For 2014: IntriCon Corporation(IIN)

IntriCon Corporation, through its subsidiaries, engages in the design, development, engineering, and manufacture of body-worn devices. It offers microelectronics, micro-mechanical assemblies, and injection-molded plastic components to medical device manufacturers of portable and lightweight battery powered devices; bio-telemetry devices, which include wireless continuous glucose monitors that measure glucose levels and provide real-time blood glucose trend information; and cardiac diagnostic monitoring devices. The company also provides bubble sensors and flow restrictors that monitor and control the flow of fluid in an intravenous infusion system; and a family of safety needle products for original equipment manufacturing customers. In addition, it offers hybrid amplifiers and integrated circuit components along with faceplates for use in-the-ear and in-the-canal hearing instruments; and microminiature electromechanical components consisting of volume controls, microphone s, receivers, trimmer potentiometers, and switches to hearing instrument manufacturers. Further, the company provides professional audio headset products used for homeland security and emergency response applications in fire, law enforcement, safety, aviation, and military markets; and a line of miniature ear and head-worn devices for use by performers and support staff in music and stage performance markets. It markets its products directly through its internal sales force in the United States, as well as through sales representative primarily in Europe and the Asian Pacific. IntriCon Corporation has strategic alliances with Dynamic Hearing Pty Ltd. to use its technology for the development of new body-worn ULP-DSP applications; and Advanced Medical Electronics Corp. to develop new bio-telemetry devices. The company, formerly known as Selas Corporation of America, was founded in 1930 and is headquartered in Arden Hills, Minnesota.

Hot Construction Material Companies To Own For 2014: Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services Inc (LTS)

Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services Inc., an investment bank, through its subsidiaries, provides independent brokerage and advisory services primarily to corporate and institutional clients, and high net-worth individuals in the United States. Its independent brokerage and advisory services include securities brokerage and advisory services for mutual funds, variable annuities, and advisor managed accounts packaged products; and asset management products and services comprise asset management program, investment consulting services, alternative strategies fund, private investment management program, retirement plan sponsor services, alternative investments, architect program, and third-party advisory services. The company�s brokerage support services comprise access to stock and options execution; products, such as insurance, mutual funds, unit trusts, and investment advisory programs; and research, compliance, supervision, accounting, and related services. The company also provides trust administration services consisting of personal and retirement accounts, estate and financial planning, wealth management, and custody services. In addition, it offers investment banking services, such as corporate finance, and strategic and financial advisory, and securities underwriting services; engages in institutional sales and trading operation; and provides research services, including reviewing and analyzing general market conditions and other industry groups, issuing written reports on companies, furnishing information to retail and institutional customers, and responding to inquires from customers and account executives. Further, the company is involved in purchasing, selling, and holding securities for use in investment activities. Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services Inc. was founded in 1876 and is headquartered in Miami, Florida.

Top Airline Companies To Invest In 2014: Kesa Electricals(KESA.L)

Kesa Electricals plc, through its subsidiaries, engages in retailing electrical products. The company offers products in three categories: white, brown, and grey electrical goods and related accessories. The white category goods comprise large and small sized domestic appliances, such as refrigerators, washing machines, microwaves, coffee machines, and irons. The brown category goods include various vision and audio products consisting of flat-screen televisions, DVD players, MP3 players, and camcorders The grey category goods comprise telecommunications and multimedia products, including mobile telephones, personal computers, laptops, digital cameras, printers, scanners, games, and electronics. The company also provides various associated services, which include home delivery and installation, and credit and extended warranties. It operates approximately 700 stores under the brand names of DARTY, Comet, BCC, Vanden Borre, and Datart in France, the United Kingdom, Belgium , Holland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Italy, Luxembourg, Turkey, and Spain. Kesa Electricals plc is based in London, the United Kingdom.

Hot Construction Material Companies To Own For 2014: First Citizens BancShares Inc.(FCNCA)

First Citizens BancShares, Inc. operates as the holding company for First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company that provides various banking products and services to retail and commercial customers in the United States. It offers transaction and savings deposit accounts, commercial and consumer loans, deposit and treasury services and products, cardholder and merchant services, wealth management services, and other commercial banking services. The company also operates as a broker-dealer in securities that provides investment services, including the sale of annuities and third party mutual funds, as well as title insurance agency services. In addition, it owns and leases real estate properties. The company provides its services through branch, telephone and online banking, and automated teller machine network. It operates branches in 17 states and the District of Columbia. The company was founded in 1893 and headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Hot Construction Material Companies To Own For 2014: Mt Dimer Gold Mines(MDG.AX)

Medtech Global Limited engages in the development of healthcare technologies in New Zealand and Australia. It offers Medtech32, a clinical management solution utilized in primary healthcare applications; Medtech Evolution, an enterprise health management system used for medical practices, hospitals, and managed service and corporate health service providers; ManageMyHealth, a clinical and health portal that enables the individuals to manage their healthcare needs; MD Analyze, which creates clinical registries for surgeons and other specialist consultants; Linktech, a data mining and aggregation tool that allows population-based health analysis; and Medtech Clinical Audit Tool, a clinical audit system, which analyzes patient data. The company also provides tools for the management of chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes; Specialty Registries; and Clinical Knowledge Management that allows clinicians to customize data collection. In addition, it offer s solutions for depression and geriatric health; prototypes and software solutions for the management of mental health, including Talking Therapy modules for the primary mental health sector and mental health referral pathways; and a solution that provides an electronic record of the sports person?s medical history and injury management. Further, the company offers data services comprising data conversion, data extract/splits/merge, and data repair; digitization services, which converts medical records into an electronic format; medical billing services, such as medical claims processing, billing, and collections and coding; medical transcription services to clinics, hospitals, physician practices, outpatient clinics, rehabilitation facilities, long term care facilities, and other health related organizations; and healthcare consultancy and training services. The company was founded in 1980 and is based in Auckland, New Zealand. Medtech Global Limited is a subsidiary of Cer eus Holdings Ltd.

Hot Construction Material Companies To Own For 2014: RBC Bearings Incorporated(ROLL)

RBC Bearings Incorporated manufactures and markets engineered precision plain, roller, and ball bearings primarily in North America, Europe, and Latin America. It operates in four segments: Plain Bearings, Roller Bearings, Ball Bearings, and Others. The Plain Bearings segment produces plain bearings with self-lubricating or metal-to-metal designs, including rod end bearings, spherical plain bearings, and journal bearings that are primarily used to rectify misalignments in various mechanical components. The Roller Bearings segment provides tapered roller bearings, needle roller bearings, and needle bearing track rollers and cam followers, which are anti-friction products that utilize cylindrical rolling elements. The Ball Bearings segment specializes in high precision aerospace, airframe control, thin section, and industrial ball bearings that utilize high precision ball elements to reduce friction in high speed applications. The Other segment consists of precision mechanic al components, which are used in various general industrial applications; and machine tool collets that are used for holding circular or rod-like pieces in a lathe or other machine. It serves construction and mining, oil and natural resource extraction, heavy truck, packaging, and semiconductor machinery; and aerospace and defense markets. The company offers its products through direct sales force and a network of industrial and aerospace distributors. RBC Bearings Incorporated is headquartered in Oxford, Connecticut.

Why Progenics Is Poised to Plunge

Based on the aggregated intelligence of 180,000-plus investors participating in Motley Fool CAPS, the Fool's free investing community, biotechnology company Progenics Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: PGNX  ) has received a distressing two-star ranking.

With that in mind, let's take a closer look at Progenics and see what CAPS investors are saying about the stock right now.

Progenics facts

Headquarters (founded)	Tarrytown, N.Y. (1986)
Market Cap	$245.9 million
Industry	Biotechnology
Trailing-12-Month Revenue	$14.1 million
Management	CEO Mark Baker (since 2011) CFO Angelo Lovallo Jr. (since 2011)
Trailing-12-Month Return on Equity	(42.7%)
Cash/Debt	$55.3 million / $0
Competitors	Dendreon Nektar Therapeutics

Sources: S&P Capital IQ and Motley Fool CAPS.

On CAPS, 10% of the 187 members who have rated Progenics believe the stock will underperform the S&P 500 going forward.

One of those Fools, All-Star zzlangerhans, tapped yesterday's huge surge as particularly unsustainable:

Progenics is a highly volatile stock at the moment, which makes it a great stock for skilled swing traders and a terrible stock for the unskilled ones. [T]he stock is up ... with no specific catalyst other than [Monday's] ho-hum press release regarding prostate cancer imaging agents acquired from failed biopharma outfit Molecular Insight. There's no good reason for the price spike to have occurred, let alone be sustained, which means it probably will be. Meanwhile, as I've stated many times previously, the long-term prospects of the company are bad as Relistor is a dead end and PSMA has been the light at the end of the tunnel for six years and counting.

While you can certainly make quick gains in hot biotech plays, the best investing approach is to choose great companies and stick with them for the long term. The Motley Fool's free report "3 Stocks That Will Help You Retire Rich" names stocks that could help you build long-term wealth and retire well, along with some winning wealth-building strategies that every investor should be aware of. Click here now to keep reading.

Hot Blue Chip Stocks To Invest In 2014

After breaking up and down on differing jobs reports, stocks surged today as investors got the news they were hoping for from the Department of Labor. Both the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI  ) �finished up 1%, with the S&P finally cracking 1,600, and the blue chips topping 15,000 before receding slightly to finish at 14,974.

The Labor Department said the country added 176,000 jobs in April, just 10,000 more than economists projected, but it also sharply revised up numbers from the previous two months. March's official figure was boosted from 88,000, to 138,000, while February's numbers jumped to 332,000, from 268,000. The drop from February to March may be, in part, an effect of sequestration. The unemployment dropped to 7.5%, from 7.6%, though the Labor Department said the number of unemployed was roughly the same.

Hot Blue Chip Stocks To Invest In 2014: Crosstex Energy L.P.(XTEX)

Crosstex Energy, L.P. operates as an independent midstream energy company. The company, through its subsidiary, Crosstex Energy Services, L.P., engages in gathering, transmission, processing, and marketing natural gas and natural gas liquids (NGLs) in the north Texas Barnett shale area and Louisiana. Its activities include connecting the wells of natural gas producers to its gathering systems; processing natural gas for the removal of NGLs; fractionating NGLs into purity products, such as ethane, propane, isobutene, normal butane, natural gasoline, and stabilized condensate; marketing those NGL products; transporting natural gas; and providing it to various markets. The company also purchases natural gas from natural gas producers and other supply sources, and sells that natural gas to utilities, industrial consumers, and other marketers and pipelines. In addition, it purchases natural gas from producers not connected to its gathering systems for resale. The company operat es approximately 3,300 miles of natural gas gathering and transmission, and NGL pipelines. Crosstex Energy GP, LLC serves as the general partner of the company. Crosstex Energy, L.P. was founded in 1992 and is headquartered in Dallas, Texas.

Hot Blue Chip Stocks To Invest In 2014: Cabot Microelectronics Corporation(CCMP)

Cabot Microelectronics Corporation engages in the development, manufacture, and sale of chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) consumables to the semiconductor industry primarily in the United States, Asia, and Europe. CMP is a polishing process used by integrated circuit (IC) device manufacturers to planarize or flatten the multiple layers of material that are deposited upon silicon wafers in the production of advanced ICs. The company offers CMP slurries, which are liquid solutions composed of high-purity deionized water, proprietary chemical additives, and engineered abrasives that chemically and mechanically interact with the surface material of the IC device at an atomic level; and CMP polishing pads that are engineered polymeric materials designed to distribute and transport the slurry to the surface of the wafer and distribute it evenly across the wafer. Its CMP slurries are used for various polishing applications, including materials that conduct electrical signal s, such as tungsten, copper, tantalum, and aluminum; the dielectric insulating materials that separate conductive layers within logic and memory IC devices; and the disk substrates and magnetic heads used in hard disk drives. The company also designs and produces precision polishing and metrology systems to attain shape and surface finish on various optical components, such as mirrors, lenses, and prisms. It serves producers of logic IC devices and memory IC devices, as well as IC foundries. The company was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in Aurora, Illinois.

Top 10 Financial Companies To Watch For 2014: First Republic Bank (FRC)

First Republic Bank is a full-service bank and wealth management firm. First Republic Bank and its subsidiaries provide private banking, private business banking and private wealth management, including investment, trust and brokerage services. The Company specializes in delivering service through offices in San Francisco, Palo Alto, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Newport Beach, San Diego, Portland, Boston, Greenwich and New York City. The Company's products and services include residential lending, commercial real estate lending, personal lending, private business banking, deposit services, trust services, brokerage services and investment management services. Investment advisory services are provided by First Republic Investment Management, Inc. Trust services are provided by First Republic Trust Company. Brokerage services are offered through First Republic Securities Company, LLC. In March 2012, the Company announced the opening of a new trust company.

The Company offers full-service banking on both coasts, including free online banking, free bill pay and free access to over 800, 000 automated teller machines (ATMs) worldwide. Its private business banking provides specialized services for accounting firms, architecture and design, art and antique dealers, business management firms, business partnership, entertainment/media, entrepreneurs, family offices, financial services, independent school, investment firms, law firms, medical firms, non-profit organizations, private equity funds, property management firms, real estate investors, venture capital funds, wineries, and yacht, golf, city and country clubs. The Company�� private wealth management offers customized investment management, trust, and brokerage services for individuals, trust endowments, and pension plans. Wealth management services include asset allocation, trust administration and custody, portfolio management, financial and estate planning, manager selection and comprehensive brokerage services.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dan Freed]

  Shares of First Republic currently trade at "a modest 4% premium to peers" and JPMorgan does expect the bank's stock to keep pace with a 2012 15% top line growth range.

  The report argues that FRC has a "strong a management team with a strong track record of creating shareholder value" and that its growth model is "highly differentiated" from other banks since a majority of growth comes from existing customers rather gathering new customers.

Top 10 Beverage Companies To Watch For 2014

Watch out, Oreos. You too, Sprite. Quit laughing, Fruity Pebbles. You aren't immune from this, either.

In the wake of the most recent recession, many consumers are rethinking past cavalier spending habits. And a recent study shows one way people are cutting back is by switching to private-label goods. Big brands, are your days numbered?

A shift in the way people shop
According to Deloitte's annual American Pantry Study, brand loyalty has dropped for the second year in a row, signaling a dwindling number of consumers who are staying loyal to their favorite brands. The study shows nearly nine in 10 consumers are swapping out big branded goods for private-label ones.�

The survey also found that 94% of Americans indicate they'll remain cautious and keep their spending for foods, beverages, and household goods at current levels, despite the rising stock market and strengthening economy.

Top 10 Beverage Companies To Watch For 2014: Molson Coors Brewing Company(TAP)

Molson Coors Brewing Company brews, markets, sells, and distributes beer brands. It sells its products in Canada, under the Coors Light, Molson, Rickard's Red, Carling, Pilsner, Keystone Light, Creemore Springs, and Granville Island brands. The company also brews or distributes products under license from third parties, which include Heineken, Amstel Light, Murphy's, Asahi, Asahi Select, Miller Lite, Miller Genuine Draft, Miller Chill, Milwaukee's Best, Milwaukee's Best Dry, and Foster's. In addition, it imports, distributes, and markets the Corona, Coronita, Negra Modelo, and Pacifico brands, through a joint venture agreement with Grupo Modelo. Further, the company sells various brands in the United States, which include Coors Light, Miller Lite, Coors Banquet, Miller Genuine Draft, MGD 64, Miller Chill, Sparks, Miller High Life, Miller High Life Light, Keystone Light, Icehouse, Mickey's, Milwaukee's Best, Milwaukee's Best Light, Old English 800, Blue Moon, Henry Weinhard 's, George Killian's Irish Red, Leinenkugel's, Peroni Nastro Azzurro, Pilsner Urquell, Grolsch, Coors Non-Alcoholic, and Sharp's. Additionally, it sells various brands in the United Kingdom comprising Carling, C2, Coors Light, Worthington's, White Shield, Caffrey's, Kasteel Cru, and Blue Moon, as well as various regional ale brands. The company also sells the Grolsch brands through a joint venture with Royal Grolsch N.V. and the Cobra brands through a joint venture called Cobra Beer Partnership Ltd.; and distributes brands sold under license, including Corona, Coronita, Negra Modelo, Pacfico, Singha, and Magners Draught Cider. In addition, it markets and sells Zima, Si'hai, Coors Gold, and Coors Extra brands to various international markets. The company was formerly known as Adolph Coors Company and changed its name to Molson Coors Brewing Company as a result of its merger with Molson Inc. in February 2005. Molson Coors Brewing Company was founded in 1873 and is headquartere d in Denver, Colorado.

Top 10 Beverage Companies To Watch For 2014: Central European Distribution Corp (CEDCQ)

Central European Distribution Corporation (CEDC), incorporated on September 4, 1997, operates primarily in the alcohol beverage industry. CEDC is a producer of vodka and is Central and Eastern Europe�� integrated spirit beverages business. During the year ended December 31, 2011, as measured by total volume, the Company produced and distributed approximately 33.2 million nine-liter cases . The Company�� business primarily involves the production and sale of its own spirit brands (principally vodka), and the importation on a basis of a range of spirits, wines and beers. Its primary operations are conducted in Poland and Russia. In addition the Company also has operations in Hungary and Ukraine. CEDC has six manufacturing facilities located in Poland and Russia. On February 7, 2011, the Company completed purchasing of the remaining stake of the Whitehall Group.

CEDC is an importer of spirits, wines and beers in Poland, Russia and Hungary. The Company maintains import contracts for a number of internationally recognized brands, including Jim Beam Bourbon, Campari, Jagermeister, Remy Martin Cognac, Corona, Budweiser (Budvar), E&J Gallo wines, Carlo Rossi wines, Sutter Home wines, Metaxa Brandy, Sierra Tequila, Teacher�� Whisky, Cinzano, Old Smuggler, Grant�� Whisky and Concha y Toro wines. In addition to its operations in Poland, Russia, and Hungary the Company has Ukraine and distribution agreements for its vodka brands in a number of key export markets including the United Kingdom, Ukraine, the Baltics and the CIS for Green Mark, Zhuravli, Parliament and Zubrowka, the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, France for Zubrowka and many other Western European countries. In 2011, exports represented 11% of its sales by value.

Poland

In Poland, CEDC is the vodka producers with a brand portfolio that includes Absolwent, Zubrowka, Zubrowka Biala, Bols, Palace and Soplica brands, each of which it produces at its Polish distilleries. It produces and sells vodka! s primarily in three vodka sectors: premium, mainstream, and economy. The Company owns two production sites in Poland: one in Oborniki and one in Bialystok. In the Oborniki distillery, it produces the Bols and Soplica vodka brands, among other spirit brands. In Bialystok it produces Absolwent and Zubrowka. Zubrowka is also exported out of Poland to many markets around the world, including the United States, England, Japan and also France. In addition to the Absolwent and Zubrowka brands, in Bialystok it produces the Zubrowka Biala brand. The Company has rights to import and distribute approximately 70 brands of spirits, wine and beer into Poland. It also provides marketing support to the suppliers. During 2011, the Company sold approximately 10.7 million nine-liter cases of vodka, wine and spirits through its Polish business during 2011 including both its own produced vodka brands as well as its exclusive agency import brands. During 2011, the Company sold approximately 191 thousand nine-liter cases of Zubrowka outside of Poland. During 2011, the Company�� Polish operations accounted for 26.3% of its revenue.

Russia

CEDC produces Green Mark in Russia and the sub-premium vodkas in Russia, Parliament and Zhuravli. During 2011 the Company introduced new brands to the Russian market Talka, Sotka and Silver Blend. The Company also produces Yamskaya, the economy vodka in Russia, and premixed alcohol drinks, or long drinks. The Company also owns Whitehall, which holds the exclusive rights to the import of such leading premium wine and spirit brands as Concha y Toro, Paul Masson, Robert Mondavi, DeKuyper, Jose Cuervo and Label 5. In addition to these import activities, Whitehall has distribution centers in Moscow, Saint Petersburg, and Rostov as well as a wine and spirits retail network located in Moscow. During 2011, the Company�� Russian operations accounted for 70.2% of its revenue. During 2011,the Company produced and sold approximately 16.6 million nine-liter cases of vodka th! rough its! Russian business in the main vodka segments in Russia: premium, sub-premium, mainstream, economy and cheap. In addition it produced and sold approximately 2.8 million nine-liter cases of long drinks.

Hungary

The Company sells Royal Vodka in Hungary through its Bols Hungary subsidiary. The imported brands to Hungary include Bols Vodka, Zubrowka, Royal Vodka, Campari, Cinzano, Jaegermeister, Bols Liqueurs, Cointreau, Carolans, Galliano, Irish Mist, Jose Cuervo, Calvados Boulard, Remy Martin, Metaxa, St Remy, Grant��, Glenfiddich, Tullamore Dew and Old Smuggler.

Hot Insurance Companies For 2014: Fomento Economico Mexicano SAB de CV (FMX)

Fomento Economico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V. (FEMSA), incorporated on May 30, 1936, is a holding company. The Company conducts its operations through principal holding companies, each of which it refers to as a principal sub-holding company. These companies are Coca-Cola FEMSA, S.A.B. de C.V. (Coca-Cola FEMSA), which engages in the production, distribution and marketing of soft drinks, and FEMSA Comercio, S.A. de C.V. (FEMSA Comercio), which operates convenience stores. The Company�� convenience store chain OXXO operated a total of 7,492 stores as of March 31, 2010. Compania Internacional de Bebidas, S.A. de C.V. (CIBSA) owns a 53.7% interest in Coca-Cola FEMSA. On April 30, 2010, FEMSA announced the closing of the transaction, pursuant to which FEMSA agreed to exchange 100% of its beer operations conducted by FEMSA Cerveza for a 20% economic interest in the Heineken Group. In February 2009, Coca-Cola FEMSA acquired with The Coca-Cola Company the Brisa bottled water business in Colombia from Bavaria, a subsidiary of SABMiller. Coca-Cola FEMSA acquired the production assets and the rights to distribute in the territory, and The Coca-Cola Company obtained the Brisa brand.

Coca-Cola FEMSA, S.A.B. de C.V.

Coca-Cola FEMSA is a bottler of Coca-Cola trademark beverages. Coca-Cola FEMSA operates in various territories, including Mexico, a substantial portion of central Mexico (including Mexico City and the states of Michoacan and Guanajuato) and southeast Mexico (including the Gulf region); Central America, including Guatemala (Guatemala City and surrounding areas), Nicaragua (nationwide), Costa Rica (nationwide) and Panama (nationwide); Colombia; Venezuela; Argentina, including Buenos Aires and surrounding areas, and Brazil, including the area of greater Sao Paulo, Campinas, Santos, the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, the state of Minas Gerais and part of the state of Goias.

Coca-Cola FEMSA produces, markets and distributes Coca-Cola trademark beverages, own brands and b! rands licensed from the Company. The Coca-Cola trademark beverages include sparkling beverages (colas and flavored sparkling beverages), water, and still beverages (including juice drinks, ready-to-drink teas and isotonics). Out of the more than 100 brands and line extensions of beverages sold and distributed by Coca-Cola FEMSA, its most important brand, Coca-Cola, together with its line extensions, Coca-Cola light, Coca-Cola Zero and Coca-Cola light caffeine free, accounted for 61.4% of total sales volume during the year ended December 31, 2009. Coca-Cola FEMSA�� next largest brands, Ciel (a water brand from Mexico), Fanta (and its line extensions), Sprite (and its line extensions), ValleFrut and Hit, accounted for 10.5%, 5.8%, 2.6%, 1.5% and 1.3%, respectively, of total sales volume in 2009. Coca-Cola FEMSA uses the term line extensions to refer to the different flavors in which it offers its brands.

Coca-Cola FEMSA produces, markets and distributes Coca-Cola trademark beverages in each of its territories in containers authorized by The Coca-Cola Company, which consist of a variety of returnable and non-returnable presentations in the form of glass bottles, cans and plastic bottles made of polyethylene terephtalate (PET). Coca-Cola FEMSA uses the term presentation to refer to the packaging unit in which it sells its products. Presentation sizes for its Coca-Cola trademark beverages range from a 6.5-ounce personal size to a 3-liter multiple serving size. For all of its products excluding water, Coca-Cola FEMSA considers a multiple serving size as equal toor larger than one liter. In addition, it sells some Coca-Cola trademark beverage syrups in containers designed for soda fountain use, which it refers to as fountain. It also sells bottled water products in bulk sizes, which refers to presentations equal to or larger than five liters, which have a much lower average price per unit case than its other beverage products.

In Mexico, Coca-Cola FEMSA�� product portfolio consis! ts of Coc! a-Cola trademark beverages, and includes Mundet trademark beverages licensed from FEMSA in some Mexican territories. Coca-Cola FEMSA�� product sales in Latincentro consist predominantly of Coca-Cola trademark beverages. Per capita consumption of its sparkling beverages products in Colombia and Central America was 92 and 146 eight-ounce servings, respectively, in 2009. Its product portfolio in Venezuela consists of Coca-Cola trademark beverages. Sparkling beverages per capita consumption of its products in Venezuela was 174 eight-ounce servings during 2009. Coca-Cola FEMSA�� product portfolio in Mercosur consists mainly of Coca-Cola trademark beverages, and the Kaiser beer brand in Brazil, which Coca-Cola FEMSA sells and distributes on behalf of FEMSA Cerveza. Sparkling beverages per capita consumption of its products in Brazil and Argentina was 214 and 359 eight-ounce servings, respectively, in 2009.

The Company competes with Pepsi Beverage Company, Grupo Embotelladores Unidos, S.A.B. de C.V., Grupo Jumex, Groupe Danone, Cadbury Schweppes, Big Cola, Consorcio AGA, S.A. de C.V., Postobon, Florida Ice and Farm Co. S.A., Cerveceria Nacional, S.A., Pepsi-Cola Venezuela, C.A., AmBev and Quilmes Industrial S.A.

FEMSA Comercio, S.A. de C.V.

FEMSA Comercio operates a chain of convenience stores in Mexico, under the trade name OXXO. OXXO stores are concentrated in the northern part of Mexico, but also have a presence in central Mexico and the Gulf coast. FEMSA Comercio is the largest single customer of FEMSA Cerveza and of the Coca-Cola system in Mexico. During 2009, a typical OXXO store carried 1,954 different store keeping units (SKUs) in 31 main product categories.

The Company competes with 7-Eleven, Super Extra, Super City, Circle-K and AM/PM.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jon Markman]

  Renowned trader, journalist and money manager Jon Markman finished one spot ahead of La Monica last year thanks to Hershey‘s (NYSE:HSY) 20% returns. This year, he’s trading in the sweets for emerging market pick Fomento Economico Mexicano (NYSE:FMX), often referred to asFemsa.

  While Markman thinks the U.S. will struggle with austerity in the coming months, he also believes that if we head just a little bit south, we will find one of the greatest potential growth profiles in the world: Mexico, where Femsa is based.

  “Femsa caters to more than 1.7 million retailers and 215 million consumers, and is the No. 1 beverage provider in every region that it operates in. The firm has grown revenues by 16% annually for the last 10 years,” he explains.

  In fact, last year, FMX tallied impressive 44% gains. On the next pullback, he says, it will be time to buy.

Top 10 Beverage Companies To Watch For 2014: Pepsico Inc.(PEP)

PepsiCo, Inc. engages in the manufacture, marketing, and sale of foods, snacks, and carbonated and non-carbonated beverages worldwide. The company operates in four divisions: PepsiCo Americas Foods (PAF); PepsiCo Americas Beverages (PAB); PepsiCo Europe; and PepsiCo Asia, Middle East, and Africa (AMEA). The PAF division offers Lay?s and Ruffles potato chips, Doritos and Tostitos tortilla chips and dips, Cheetos cheese flavored snacks, Fritos corn chips, Quaker Chewy granola bars, and SunChips multigrain snacks in North America; Quaker oatmeal, Aunt Jemima mixes and syrups, Cap?n Crunch cereal, Quaker grits, and Life cereal, as well as Rice-A-Roni, Pasta Roni, and Near East side dishes in North America; and various snack foods under Doritos, Marias Gamesa, Cheetos, Ruffles, Emperador, Saladitas, Sabritas, and Lay?s brands in Latin America. The PAB division provides carbonated soft drinks, beverage concentrates, fountain syrups, and finished goods under Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Gatorade, 7UP, Tropicana Pure Premium, Electropura, Sierra Mist, Epura, and Mirinda brands; ready-to-drink tea, coffee, and water products through joint ventures with Unilever and Starbucks; and sells concentrate to authorized bottlers, and branded finished goods directly to independent distributors and retailers. This division also manufactures third-party brands, such as Dr Pepper, Crush, Rock Star, and Muscle Milk. The PepsiCo Europe division offers Frito Lay Snacks, Pepsi-Cola beverages, Gatorade sports drinks, Tropicana juices, and Quaker foods in Europe. The AMEA division provides snack food under the Lay?s, Kurkure, Chipsy, Doritos, Smith?s, Cheetos, Red Rock Deli, and Ruffles brands; Quaker-brand cereals and snacks; and beverage concentrates, fountain syrups, and finished goods under the Pepsi, Mirinda, 7UP, and Mountain Dew brands. PepsiCo, Inc. was founded in 1898 and is headquartered in Purchase, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By JON C. OGG]

  Pepsico, Inc. (NYSE: PEP) was most recently at $64.67 and the analyst community price target is $76.67.  Investors get a 3.2% dividend here and its shares are down 10% from its 52-week high. The price to book value is 4 and its return on equity is about 28%.  S&P has an “A” rating its local long-term system.  Pepsi is often considered to be more like Coca-Cola, but its snack food business gives it at least some of the same aspects of Kraft.  CEO Indra Nooyi has been performing well and growing its international operations.  We would not expect for Pepsi to break itself up.
  

• [By ETF Authority]

  Unlike its competitor, PepsiCo has a large exposure to the food industry. This has helped the company generate strong performance over the past decade versus Coca-Cola. I personally prefer the taste of Coke over Pepsi, however, and many consumers seem to have similar taste buds. PepsiCo tends to make large acquisitions, which have worked so far. Sometimes it tends to overpay them, like the recent acquisition of Wimm-Bill-Dann. PepsiCo is cheaper than Coca-Cola, and both have similar near-term prospects.

• [By Dennis Slothower]

  PepsiCo, Inc. (PEP) manufactures, markets, and sells various foods, snacks, and carbonated and non-carbonated beverages worldwide. The company operates in four divisions: PepsiCo Americas Foods (PAF), PepsiCo Americas Beverages (PAB), PepsiCo Europe, and PepsiCo Asia, Middle East and Africa (AMEA). PAF divisions. The company has raised distributions for 38 years in a row and yields 2.90%. The company is attractively valued at the moment at 16.60 times earnings.

• [By Hesler]

  PepsiCo, Inc. (PEP) engages in the manufacture, marketing, and sale of foods, snacks, and carbonated and non-carbonated beverages worldwide. The company has raised distributions for 39 years in a row. The 10 year annual dividend growth rate is 13%/year. The last dividend increase was 7.30% to 51.50 cents/share. Analysts are expecting that PepsiCo will earn $4.65/share in 2012. I expect that the quarterly dividend will reach 55 cents/share in 2012. Yield: 3.20%