Top Stock Picks 2014

DELAFIELD, Wis. (Stockpickr) -- Corporate insiders sell their own companies' stock for a number of reasons.

>>5 Stocks Set to Soar on Bullish Earnings

They might need the cash for a big personal purchase such as a new house or yacht, or they might need the cash to fund a charity. Sometimes they sell as part of a planned selling program that they have put in place for diversification purposes, which allows them to sell stock in stages instead of selling all at one price.

Other times they sell because they think their stock is overvalued and the risk/reward is no longer attractive. Some even dump their own stock because they have inside knowledge that a competitor is eating their lunch and stealing market share.

But insiders usually buy their own shares for one reason: They think the stock is a bargain and has tremendous upside.

>>5 Stocks Hedge Funds Love
��/p>

The key word in that last statement is "think." Just because a corporate insider thinks his or her stock is going to trade higher, that doesn't mean it will play out that way. Insiders can have all the conviction in the world that their stock is a buy, but if the market doesn't agree with them, the stock could end up going nowhere. Also, I say "usually" because sometimes insiders are loaned money by the company to buy their own stock. Those loans are often sweetheart deals and shouldn't be viewed as organic insider buying.

Top 5 Net Payout Yield Companies To Watch In Right Now: Banco Santander S.A.(STD)

Banco Santander, S.A. provides a range of banking and financial products. It accepts customer demand, time, and notice deposits, and international and domestic interbank deposits, as well as offers auto financing, personal loans, and credit cards; and automated cash dispensers, savings books updaters, telephone banking services, and electronic and Internet banking services. The company also engages corporate banking, treasury, and investment banking activities. It provides transaction banking services in cash management, trade finance, and basic financing; and corporate finance services for mergers and acquisitions, and asset and capital structuring, as well as involves in the origination activities and risk management, and distribution of structured products and debt in the credit markets; structuring and trading activities in financial markets of interest rate and exchange rate instruments; and activities relating to the equity markets. In addition, it engages in the des ign and management of mutual and pension funds, and life and general insurance products. The company operates primarily in Spain, the United Kingdom, other European countries, Brazil and other Latin American countries, and the United States. As of December 31, 2010, it had 6,063 branch offices in continental Europe; 1,416 branches in the United Kingdom; 5,882 branches in Latin America; and 721 branches in the United States. The company was formerly known as Banco Santander Central Hispano S.A. and changed its name to Banco Santander, S.A. in June 2007. Banco Santander, S.A. was founded in 1857 and is based in Madrid, Spain.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Holly LaFon]

  Charlie: Yes, I have a question. Do you think the opportunity is more in stocks or in debt, or both? If you look at Spain, the biggest companies in Spain, one is a bank, Bank Santander (STD). The other is Telefonica (TEF), a phone company. What other opportunities do you see there?

• [By Chandan Dubey]

  This article will describe what a bank does. Then we will move on to reading the balance sheet of a bank. As an example, I take the balance sheet of one of my holdings, Banco Santander (STD).

Top Stock Picks 2014: Cree Inc.(CREE)

Cree, Inc. develops and manufactures light emitting diodes (LEDs), LED lighting, and semiconductor solutions for wireless and power applications. Its LED products include blue and green LED chips that are used in various applications, including video screens, gaming displays, function indicator lights, and automotive backlighting; LED components comprising a range of packaged LED products and LED modules for lighting applications; LED lighting products, such as LED downlights, LED troffers, and LED lamps or bulbs for construction, retrofit, and renovation projects in commercial, governmental, and residential applications; and silicon carbide (SiC) wafers, which are used in the manufacture of optoelectronics, microwave, power switching, and other applications. The company also provides semiconductor materials and devices primarily based on silicon carbide (SiC), gallium nitride (GaN), and related compounds. Its power and radio frequency (RF) products include SiC-based power products comprising 600, 1,200, and 1,700-volt Schottky diodes, as well as 1,200-volt SiC metal semiconductor field-effect transistor switches that are used in power factor correction circuits for power supplies in computer servers and other applications, such as solar inverters; and RF devices, including a range of GaN high electron mobility transistors and monolithic microwave integrated circuits for military or commercial applications, as well as 10 watt and 60 watt SiC transistors and metal semiconductor field effect transistor products. The company primarily operates in China, the United States, Europe, South Korea, Japan, Malaysia, and Taiwan. Cree, Inc. was formerly known as Cree Research, Inc. and changed its name in January 2000. Cree, Inc. was founded in 1987 and is based in Durham, North Carolina.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Kell var popups = dojo.query(".socialByline .popC"); popups.forEach(func]

  Cree Inc.(CREE) said its fiscal third-quarter earnings climbed 27% on higher sales of its lighting bulbs. Shares declined 7.4% to $53.75 premarket as the company’s outlook was mostly below views.

• [By Monica Gerson]

  Cree (NASDAQ: CREE) issued a downbeat earnings forecast for the fiscal fourth quarter. Cree shares tumbled 15.23% to $63.00 in the after-hours trading session.

Top Stock Picks 2014: Gladstone Commercial Corporation(GOOD)

Gladstone Commercial Corporation operates as a real estate investment trust (REIT) in the United States. It engages in investing in and owning net leased industrial and commercial real properties, and making long-term industrial and commercial mortgage loans. The company leases its real estate properties to small businesses, as well as to large public companies. As of December 31, 2009, it owned 64 properties, and held 1 mortgage loan. The company qualifies as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. As a REIT, it would not be subject to federal tax to the extent that it distributes at least 90% of its taxable income to its shareholders. The company was founded in 2003 and is based in McLean, Virginia.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By GURUFOCUS]

  Gladstone Commercial Corporation (GOOD) operates as a real estate investment trust (REIT) in the United States.Yield: 7.9%

  Main Street Capital Corporation (MAIN) is a business development company specializing in long- term equity, equity related, and debt investments in small and lower middle market companies. Yield: 6.3%

Top Stock Picks 2014: Universal Health Realty Income Trust (UHT)

Universal Health Realty Income Trust (Trust) is a real estate investment trust (REIT). It invests in health care and human service related facilities, including acute care hospitals, behavioral healthcare facilities, rehabilitation hospitals, sub-acute facilities, surgery centers, childcare centers and medical office buildings (MOBs). As of February 29, 2012, it had 54 real estate investments or commitments located in 15 states in the United States consisting of seven hospital facilities, including three acute care, one behavioral healthcare, one rehabilitation and two sub-acute; 43 MOBs, and four preschool and childcare centers. In February, 2012, Canyon Healthcare Properties, in which it owned a 95% non-controlling ownership interest, completed the divestiture of the Canyon Springs Medical Plaza. In January, 2012, it purchased the PeaceHealth Medical Clinic, a single-tenant medical office building consisting of approximately 99,000 rentable square feet, located in Bellingham, Washington. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company acquired Lake Pointe Medical Arts Building, Forney Medical Plaza, Tuscan Professional Building and Emory at Dunwoody Building, and minority ownership interests held by third-party members in 11 limited liability companies (LLCs). On November 30, 2011 and December 16, 2011, eight LLCs in which it owned various non-controlling, ownership interests, completed the divestitures of medical office buildings and related real property.

As of February 29, 2012, the Company had investments in 54 facilities, located in 15 states and consisting of Southwest Healthcare System, Inland Valley Campus, McAllen Medical Center, Wellington Regional Medical Center, The Bridgeway, Kindred Hospital Chicago Central, Kindred Hospital Corpus Christi, HealthSouth Deaconess Rehabilitation Hospital, Family Doctor�� Medical Office Bldg., Kelsey-Seybold Clinic at Kings Crossing, Professional Bldgs. at Kings Crossing Building A and Building B, Chesterbrook Academy, Southern Cresce! nt Center I, Desert Valley Medical Center, Desert Springs Medical Plaza, and Santa Fe Professional Plaza. As of December 31, 2011, included in its portfolio are seven hospital facilities. During 2011, the leases with respect to these hospital facilities consisted approximately 65% of its revenue. As of December 31, 2011, these leases have fixed terms with an average of 4.4 years remaining and include renewal options ranging from one to five, five-year terms. During 2011, revenues generated from the leases on the Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) hospital facilities accounted for approximately 55% of its total revenue. During 2011, it had a total of 41 new or renewed leases related to the medical office buildings.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dividends4Life]

  Linked here is a detailed quantitative analysis of Universal HealthRealty Income Trust (UHT). Below are some highlights from the above linked analysis:

• [By Dividends4Life]

  Related Articles:
  - Universal HealthRealty Income Trust (UHT) Dividend Stock Analysis
  - Hasbro, Inc. (HAS) Dividend Stock Analysis
  - W.W. Grainger, Inc. (GWW) Dividend Stock Analysis
  - The Clorox Company (CLX) Dividend Stock Analysis
  - More Stock Analysis

• [By Holly LaFon]

  At this point I would like to circle back to a subject we are perhaps most often asked about, and that is why do we continue to hold such a concentrated position (nearly 32%) in our three largest holdings? First of all, it is important to note that over the past two year s we have actually reduced our holdings in all three stocks. Fortunately for our shareholders long - term price appreciation, particularly in Universal Health Services, Inc. and Precision Castparts Corp., has been exceptionally strong (in the case of Universal Health Services, Inc., which was purchased in 1999 and 2000 at an average cost per share of $9.41 and ha d increased to a price per share of $81.26 at the end of 2013, and Precision Castparts Corp. which was bought in 2000 at a n average cost per share of $9.82 and ha d increased to a price per share of $26 9. 3 0 at the end of 2013). In our view these two companies remain in the " sweet spot " of two compelling long - term investment opportunities. In the case of Universal Health Services, Inc., the company i s likely to be one of the prime beneficiaries of expanding health care insurance coverage dictated by the Affordable Care Act * ** ( " Obama - care " ). Unique to Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHT) is its position in mental health services which account s for three - q uarters of its earnings before deductions for interest expense, taxes, depreciation and amortization . Precision Castparts Corp. (PCP) is a prime component supplier to the commercial aircraft manufacturers. Indicative of the attractiveness of this business was The Boeing Company ' s recent announcement that its year - end backlog was 5,080 planes compared to the 648 jets delivered in 2013. By the same token, Airbus ' (a subsidiary of Airbus Group NV) backlog at the end of November was 5,400 versus the 562 planes del ivered in the first eleven months of the year.

• [By Fredrik Arnold]

  Ten Champion dogs that promised the biggest dividend yields into July included firms representing five of nine market sectors. The top stocks were three of five from the financial sector: Universal Health Realty Trust (UHT); Mercury General Corp. (MCY); Old Republic Int'l (ORI). The other two financial firms, HCP Inc., and United Bankshares Inc. (UBSI), placed sixth and eighth.

Top Stock Picks 2014: Tryg A/S (TRYG)

Tryg A/S, formerly TrygVesta A/S, is a Denmark-based insurance company. It is the parent company within the Tryg Group, which supplies insurance services in the Nordic countries. The Company is organized in four business areas, namely Private, Commercial, Industry and Sweden. Private sells insurance products to private individuals in Denmark and Norway. Commercial sells insurance products to small and medium-sized companies in Denmark and Norway. Industry sells insurance products to industrial customers under the Tryg brand in Denmark and Norway and the Moderna brand in Sweden. Sweden sells insurance products to private individuals in Sweden under the Moderna brand name. As of December 31, 2012, the Company had one wholly owned subsidiary, Tryg Forsikring A/S. On May 1, 2013, it sold its Finnish branch. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sofia Horta e Costa]

  Commodity producers slid as the release fueled concern about the slowdown in the world�� second-biggest economy. Burberry Group Plc (BRBY) gained 4.8 percent after the company�� spring-summer collection helped increase retail sales in its fiscal first quarter by more than analysts had estimated. Tryg A/S (TRYG) added 3.3 percent after posting better-than-forecast pretax profit as cost cuts offset increased weather-related claims.

Top Stock Picks 2014: Boral Ltd (BLD)

Boral Limited (Boral), is engaged in the manufacture and supply of building and construction materials in Australia, the United States and Asia. The Company�� operating segments include Construction Materials & Cement, Building Products, Boral Gypsum, and Boral USA. The Construction Materials & Cement is engaged in quarries, concrete, asphalt, transport, landfill, property, cement and concrete placing. The Building Products segment is engaged in Australian bricks, roof tiles, masonry, timber products and windows. The Boral Gypsum involves Australian and Asian plasterboard. The Boral USA is engaged in Bricks, cultured stone, roof tiles, fly ash, concrete and quarries. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Eric Lam]

  Ballard Power (BLD), which designs and manufactures hydrogen fuel cells, slumped 15 percent to C$1.42, the biggest decline since March. The company yesterday said it will sell about 9 million units at $1.40 a unit for proceeds of about $12.6 million. The cash generated will be used to fund working capital, support growth and general corporate purposes, the company said.

Top Stock Picks 2014: McDonald's Corporation(MCD)

McDonald?s Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a worldwide foodservice retailer. It franchises and operates McDonald?s restaurants that offer various food items, soft drinks, coffee, and other beverages. As of December 31, 2009, the company operated 32,478 restaurants in 117 countries, of which 26,216 were operated by franchisees; and 6,262 were operated by the company. McDonald?s Corporation was founded in 1948 and is based in Oak Brook, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Damian Illia]

  The restaurant industry has not been easy these days, as many setbacks seem to have interfered with companies��performance. Holiday seasons, bad weather and other challenges lead to under top-line results for many. Firms such as Chili�� of Brinker International (EAT) or McDonald's (MCD) have complained about the hostile weather conditions striking their business.

• [By Quantum Research]

  The American fast food giant McDonald�� (MCD), continues to face sluggish sales in the month of August. With the demand for burgers falling in its domestic market in the U.S. and health scare arising in China, comparable store sales are getting adversely hit. Issues regarding food safety leveled among the Chinese suppliers and growing health consciousness among Americans is having a bearing on the company�� revenue. Considering that this is the key revenue driver of the company, is it something the company should be worried about?