5 Best High Tech Stocks To Own For 2014

The recovery in the housing market is continuing its slow and steady recovery. The most recent data point showed pending home sales rising by 1.5% in March which reverses the February decline. According to the National Association of�Realtors�the pending home sales index increased to 105.7 in March from the 104.1 it hit last month. This represents a solid 7% year-over-year increase for the index.

Overall, the association's chief economist, Lawrence Yun, pointed out that "contract activity has been in a narrow range in recent months, not from a pause in demand but because of limited supply." He sees closings ending up modestly as the year progresses. All of which points to continued modest gains for a housing market that's been lackluster for the past few years.

Looking ahead, my wife and I are personally going to become statistics. Our home, which went on the market at the end of last month, is now under contract and will be one of what we all hope is an even larger number of pending home sales for April. Like the many Americans putting their homes on the market these days, I'm excited that the market is tight right now as we were able to get a fair price for our home which went under contract surprisingly fast. However, a more robust market is what our�economy�could really use these days.

Hot Chemical Companies To Watch For 2015: The Bon-Ton Stores Inc.(BONT)

The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates department stores in the mid-size and metropolitan markets of the United States. Its stores offer brand-name fashion apparel and accessories for women, men, and children, as well as provide cosmetics, home furnishings, and footwear. As of November 1, 2011, the company operated 275 stores under various nameplates, including the Bon-Ton, Bergner?s, Boston Store, Carson Pirie Scott, Elder-Beerman, Herberger?s, and Younkers in 23 northeastern, midwestern, and upper Great Plains states; and under the Parisian nameplate in Detroit, Michigan. The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. was founded in 1898 and is headquartered in York, Pennsylvania.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Laura Brodbeck]

  Tuesday

  Earnings Expected: The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc (NASDAQ: BONT), American Eagle Outfitters, Inc (NYSE: AEO), Codexis, Inc. (NASDAQ: CDXS), Verifone Systems, Inc. (NYSE: PAY), Caesars Entertainment Corporation (NASDAQ: CZR) Economic Releases Expected: Indian trade balance, German trade balance, British industrial production, British manufacturing production

  Wednesday

• [By Laura Brodbeck]

  Notable earnings released on Tuesday included:

  Caesars Entertainment Corporation (NASDAQ: CZR) reported a fourth quarter loss of $1.49 on revenue of $2.08 billion, compared to last year�� loss of $3.75 on revenue of $2.02 billion. American Eagle Outfitters, Inc (NYSE: AEO) reported fourth quarter EPS of $0.27 on revenue of $1.04 billion, compared to last year�� EPS of $0.55 on revenue of $1.12 billion. The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc.�(NASDAQ: BONT) reported fourth quarter EPS of $3.04 on revenue of $914.90 million, compared to last year�� EPS of $3.73 on revenue of $1.03 billion.

  Pre-Market Movers

5 Best High Tech Stocks To Own For 2014: Moody's Corporation(MCO)

Moody?s Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides credit ratings; credit and economic related research, data, and analytical tools; risk management software; and quantitative credit risk measures, credit portfolio management solutions, training, and financial credentialing and certification services worldwide. Its Moody?s Investors Service segment publishes credit ratings on debt obligations, including various corporate and governmental obligations, structured finance securities, and commercial paper programs, as well as the entities that issue such obligations in markets worldwide. This segment provides ratings in approximately 110 countries. Its ratings are disseminated via press releases to the public through print and electronic media, including the Internet and real-time information systems, which is used by securities traders and investors. As of December 31, 2010 this segment had ratings relationships with approximately 11,000 corporate issuers and approximate ly 22,000 public finance issuers. It also rated and monitored ratings on approximately 102,000 structured finance obligations. The company?s Moody?s Analytics segment develops products and services that support the risk management activities of institutional participants in financial markets. It also distributes investor-oriented research and data, including research on debt issuers, industry studies, and commentary on topical events developed by MIS as part of its rating process. In addition, this segment provides economic research, and credit data and analytical tools, such as quantitative credit risk scores; economic and regulatory capital risk management software and implementation services; and quantitative credit risk measures, credit portfolio management solutions, training, and financial credentialing and certification services. It serves approximately 4,100 institutions in approximately 115 countries. The company was founded in 1900 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Associated Press]

  Given modest economic growth of 2.5 percent in the first three months of this year, participants said Krueger made a point of emphasizing that growth was 4.1 percent if only the private sector was taken into account. That figure tracks with other economic assessments. Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's (NYSE: MCO  ) Analytics, says he too expects the drag on the economy caused by government tax increases and spending cuts to be about 1.5 percentage points for the entire year.

• [By Shauna O'Brien]

  On Tuesday morning, Moody’s Corporation (MCO) reported that it has boosted its outlook for FY2014.

  The rating agency has raised its adjusted FY2014 outlook to a range of $3.95 to $4.05 per share. The company previously reported an outlook of $3.90 to $4.00 per share. Analysts are expecting to see earnings of $4.02 per share.

  The expected EPS does not include a 36 cent gain in relation to MCO’s acquisition of controlling interest in ICRA Ltd. The outlook includes costs related to its WebEquity purchase.

  On a GAAP basis, MCO expects to see earnings between $4.31 and $4.41 per share. Revenue is expected to rise in the low double digits. Analysts expect to see revenue of $3.30 billion.

  MCO Dividend Snapshot

  As of market close on September 29, 2014

  Click here to see the complete history of MCO dividends.

  Moody’s Corporation shares were mostly flat during pre-market trading Tuesday. The stock is up 19.93% YTD.

• [By Anders Bylund]

  Credit bureaus seem eager to reduce the subprime auto loans tension. Moody's (NYSE: MCO  ) recently noted that banks have been "conservative" in their auto loan lending practices, doling out only 10% of their car loans to subprime consumers. These loan volumes aimed at credit ratings below 620 have not triggered an avalanche of defaults and delinquent payments, and the strong trends in new car loans mostly rest in high-quality borrowers.

• [By Sean Williams]

  Today's best performer was ratings agency Moody's (NYSE: MCO  ) , which surged 8.3% after it and McGraw-Hill (NYSE: MHFI  ) subsidiary Standard & Poor's settled a lawsuit with slightly more than a dozen plantiffs in a case involving their rating of financial securities relating to the financial crisis. Although no financial figures were disclosed, settlements in cases like this are extremely common and usually for less than the sought-after amount, since court fees can be quite expensive. This could also bode well for future and ongoing litigation such as the U.S. government's suit against McGraw-Hill's Standard & Poor's for its selected ratings during the financial crisis.

5 Best High Tech Stocks To Own For 2014: NovaBay Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NBY)

NovaBay Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company, engages in the development of various product candidates for the therapeutic needs of the anti-infective market. Its products include Aganocide compounds comprising NVC-422 that are synthetic molecules for the treatment of impetigo and adenoviral conjunctivitis, as well as for reducing the incidence of urinary catheter blockage and encrustation, and the associated urinary tract infections. The company is also involved in developing NeutroPhase, a solution for cleansing and debriding wounds. It has collaboration and license agreement with Galderma S.A. to develop and commercialize its Aganocide compounds, which covers acne, impetigo, and other dermatological conditions. The company was formerly known as NovaCal Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and changed its name to NovaBay Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in February 2007. NovaBay Pharmaceuticals, Inc. was incorporated in 2000 and is based in Emeryville, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By CRWE]

  NovaBay(r) Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Amex:NBY), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing its first-in-class, anti-infective Aganocide(r) compounds for the local non-systemic treatment and prevention of infections, reported that Tom Paulson, Chief Financial Officer, will present at the Rodman & Renshaw 14th Annual Healthcare Conference held September 9-11, 2012, in New York, NY.

5 Best High Tech Stocks To Own For 2014: BofI Holding Inc.(BOFI)

BofI Holding, Inc. operates as the holding company for BofI Federal Bank that provides various consumer and wholesale banking services primarily through the Internet in the United States. It accepts various deposit products, including demand deposit, savings, and certificates of deposit accounts. It also provides loan products, which consist of single family loans, home equity loans, multifamily loans, commercial real estate loans, recreational vehicle and automobile loans, and overdraft lines of credit In addition, the company offers online bill payment, interbank transfer, mobile banking, text message banking, ATM cards or VISA debit cards, and overdraft protection services. It serves approximately 36,000 retail deposit and loan customers across 50 states. BofI Holding, Inc. was incorporated in 1999 and is based in San Diego, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Charly Travers]

  2013 was an incredible year for investors, but has this amazing run-up left any climbing room for stocks in 2014? In this video, five of our analysts around Fool HQ answer the question, "What is one stock to watch in 2014?" They discuss�Twitter (NYSE: TWTR  ) ,�Bank of Internet (NASDAQ: BOFI  ) ,�Extendicare (NASDAQOTH: EXETF  ) ,�Potash Corporation (NYSE: POT  ) , and�Intel (NASDAQ: INTC  ) , and why these five stocks could be poised to outperform in 2014, even as the market continues to reach all-time highs.

5 Best High Tech Stocks To Own For 2014

With the broad-based S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC  ) getting a short break from big economic news, investors looked to earnings reports to fuel today's trading action. Not surprisingly, it was mixed.

Since earnings season began, the financial sector has been the real standout, with credit quality improving, loan amounts growing, and cost-cutting helping to drastically improve the bottom line for many of the nation's largest banks. However, all eyes today turned to technology juggernaut Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL  ) which is set to report its third-quarter results after the bell. Known for its notoriously conservative guidance, Apple has missed EPS estimates in two of the past four quarters, and shareholders have watched as most Wall Street analysts have cut growth targets on the tech giant one-by-one. Having such a large bearing on the S&P 500 in terms of weighting, it's not surprising to see both Apple and the index hovering around the flat-line.

By the end of a very earnings-mixed day, the S&P 500 had dipped by 3.14 points to close at 1,692.39. But what you'll notice is that the majority of today's biggest movers to the upside were commodity-based companies such as coal, iron ore, steel, and copper, which are benefiting from a bounce in underlying commodity prices and the hope that China's economy will stabilize and quickly return to its 30-year average of 10% GDP growth.

Top 5 Regional Bank Stocks To Own For 2015: STR Holdings Inc(STRI)

STR Holdings, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, designs, develops, manufactures, and sells encapsulants for the solar industry worldwide. Its encapsulants protect the embedded semiconductor circuits of solar panels. The company sells its products to crystalline silicon and thin-film solar module manufacturers. STR Holdings, Inc. was founded in 1944 and is headquartered in Enfield, Connecticut.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Udovich]

  Solar stocks have not exactly given buy and hold investors a smooth ride, but small cap�GT Advanced Technologies Inc (NASDAQ: GTAT) could be an interesting materials play on the solar sector���meaning its worth taking a closer look at the stock along with potential peers like Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc (NASDAQ: ASTI) and STR Holdings, Inc (NYSE: STRI) plus solar ETF Guggenheim Solar ETF (NYSEARCA: TAN). I should mention that just last week, we added GT Advanced Technologies to our�SmallCap Network Elite Opportunity (SCN EO) portfolio for both�fundamentals and technical reasons and we are already up almost 9%.

5 Best High Tech Stocks To Own For 2014: Rambus Inc.(RMBS)

Rambus Inc. engages in the creation, design, development, and licensing of patented innovations, technologies, and architectures to digital electronics products and systems. Its patented innovations include Dual Edge Clocking, which is designed to allow data to be sent on the clock pulse; Variable Burst Length that improves data transfer efficiency by allowing varying amounts of data to be sent per a memory read or write request in dynamic random access memory (DRAM) and flash memory; and FlexPhase technology, which synchronizes data output and compensates for circuit timing errors. The company also offers Channel Equalization to improve signal integrity and system margins in high speed parallel and serial link channels; Module Threading, which improves the power efficiency of a memory module by applying parallelism to module data accesses; and MicroLens optical design technology, which provides optimum utilization of high-brightness light-emitting diodes (LED) in edge-lit lighting applications. In addition, it licenses its architectures and industry-standard solutions for use in digital electronics products and systems, including XDR Memory Architecture enabling the production of DRAM; XDR2 Memory Architecture that incorporates DRAM micro-threading for graphics intensive applications, such as gaming and digital video; Mobile XDR Memory Architecture, which enables applications, such as HD video recording and 3D gaming on battery powered mobile devices; RDRAM Memory used in play stations, Intel-based personal computers, televisions, and routers; and FlexIO Processor Bus, a high speed chip-to-chip interface. Further, the company offers industry-standard chip interface solutions, including DDRx; digital logic controllers for peripheral component interconnect express and other industry standard interfaces; and custom solutions for displays, LED backlights, and general lighting. Rambus Inc. was founded in 1990 and is headquartered in Sunnyvale, Ca lifornia.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Rambus (NASDAQ: RMBS) was also up, gaining 13.36 percent to $9.66 as the company and Micron Technology (NASDAQ: MU) signed a broad patent cross license agreement.

• [By Rich Bieglmeier]

  One-time Wall Street darling and high-flyer Rambus Inc. (NASDAQ:RMBS) is bucking an ugly, bloody tape. The memory-chip make is up more than 4% as we type thanks to an upgrade from Citi.

5 Best High Tech Stocks To Own For 2014: Housing Development Finance Corporation Ltd (HDFC)

Housing Development Finance Corporation Limited is financing by way of loans for the purchase or construction of residential houses, commercial real estate and certain other purposes in India. The Company has a network of approximately 330 offices (which includes 83 offices of its wholly owned distribution company HDFC Sales Private Limited) catering to over 2,400 towns & cities spread across the country. It also has offices in Dubai, London and Singapore and service associates in the Middle East region, to provide housing loans and property advisory services to Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs). Its product range includes loans for purchase and construction of a residential unit, purchase of plot, home improvement loans, home extension loans, non-residential premises loans for professionals and loan against property, while its flexible repayment options include Step Up Repayment Facility (SURF) and Flexible Loan Installment Plan (FLIP). Advisors' Opinion:

• [By MONEYMORNING.COM]

  Vanguard favors India with investments in Infosys Ltd. (NSE: INFY), Reliance Industries Ltd. (NSE: RELIANCE), and Housing Development Finance Corp. Ltd. (NSE: HDFC) ranking among its top 20.

5 Best High Tech Stocks To Own For 2014: Weyerhaeuser Company(WY)

Weyerhaeuser Company, a forest products company, grows and harvests trees, builds homes, and manufactures forest products worldwide. It grows and harvests trees for use as lumber, other wood and building products, and pulp and paper. The company manages 6.4 million acres of private commercial forestland; and has long-term licenses on 13.9 million acres of forestland. It also offers timber; minerals, such as rock, sand, and gravel, as well as oil and gas to construction and energy markets; logs; timberland tracts; and seed and seedlings, poles, plywood, and hardwood lumber products. In addition, the company provides structural lumber products for structural framing; engineered lumber products for floor and roof joists, and headers and beams; structural panels for structural sheathing, subflooring, and stair treading for wood products dealers, do-it-yourself retailers, builders, and industrial users. Further, it offers building products comprising cedar, decking, siding, ins ulation, rebar, and engineered lumber connectors. Additionally, the company offers fluff pulp for use in sanitary disposable products; papergrade pulp for printing and writing papers, and tissues; specialty chemical cellulose pulp for use in textiles, absorbent products, specialty packaging, and high-bulking fibers; liquid packaging board converted into containers; and slush and wet lap pulp for manufacturing paper products. It also constructs single-family houses, as well as develops residential lots and land for construction and sale; and master-planned communities with mixed-use property. The company sells its cellulose fibers products through direct sales network, and liquid packaging products directly to carton and food product packaging converters; and wood products through sales organizations and distribution facilities. Weyerhaeuser Company has been elected to be taxed as a real estate investment trust. The company was founded in 1900 and is headquartered in Federal Way, Washington.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dimitra DeFotis]

  In the homebuidling category:

  Weyerhaeuser (WY), the producer of lumber, was up nearly 3%. On Thursday, Citigroup Analyst Anthony Pettinari wrote that Weyerhaeuser could sell its homebuilder unit for between $2.5 billion and $3.5 billion, and interested buyers in the unit, WRECO, could include Lennar�(LEN), Toll Brothers (TOL) and Brookfield Residential Properties (BRP). About 67% of the Weyerhaeuser unit’s roughly 27,000 lots are in California. Citi has a Buy rating on Weyerhauser and a $35 price target. Lennar, the home builder, was�up 2.6%. Masco (MAS), the building materials maker, was�up 2%.� PulteGroup (PHM), the home builder, was�up 2%. DR Horton�(DHI), the home builder, was�up 1.9%.

  Among real estate trusts:

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  This quarter, though, pricing trends haven't been as favorable, with lumber prices losing as much as 25% of their value before bouncing back somewhat. Moreover, Plum Creek has faced more of a competitive threat from rival Weyerhaeuser (NYSE: WY  ) , which bought up 645,000 acres of prime Pacific Northwest timberland from Brookfield Asset Management and its Brookfield Infrastructure Partners affiliate last month. The buy gives Weyerhaeuser more assets with easy access to export markets across the Pacific Ocean in Asia, although the Pacific Northwest does have closer proximity to areas destroyed by the mountain pine beetle.

• [By Saibus Research]

  We have an Accumulate rating on Weyerhaeuser's (WY) common stock. We believe that investors have bid Weyerhaeuser's stock up by 75% over the last six quarters because they are counting on a recovery in the housing market to serve as a catalyst for growth in WY's top and bottom lines. We can see that it would provide significant leverage to WY's bottom line because 53% of WY's operating income was used to pay debt interest, so any boost to revenue would boost WY's operating income and enable WY to generate significant gains in Net Income. We increased our fair intrinsic value per share for Weyerhaeuser from $29.02 in October to $34.88 in March and we're raising it again to $35.92. Although WY's share price has generated strong growth since 2011, we believe that the company will be able to enjoy steadily improving revenues and operating income, which will boost its pre-tax income and net income due to the financial leverage that it employs.

Top 10 Integrated Utility Companies To Buy For 2014

The stage is being set for General Electric Company (NYSE: GE) to outperform heading into CEO Jeff Immelt's year-ahead discussion with investors in mid-December, following general underperformance since the stock rose 5 percent on the company's second quarter earnings beat.

Founded in 1892, Fairfield, Connecticut-based GE is a diversified industrial conglomerate. Its manufacturing profile ranges from jet engines to drilling equipments to medical imaging technologies.

The stock has modestly underperformed since its second quarter earnings as investors remain skeptical that GE can achieve its second half targets while prospective dilution from a U.S. Consumer/PLCC transaction (eg, IPO, split-off) is likely weighing on the sentiment.

"We believe the company's second half targets remain on track. Moreover, we believe the wheels are in motion for GE to meaningfully raise its $2bn cost saving target by 2014 (beyond next year)," Deutsche Bank analyst John Inch wrote in a note to clients.

10 Best Stocks To Own For 2015: BioFuel Energy Corp.(BIOF)

BioFuel Energy Corp. produces and sells ethanol and its co-products in the United States. The company offers dried and wet distillers grains with solubles, corn oil, and carbon dioxide. It operates 2 ethanol production facilities located in Wood River, Nebraska and Fairmont, Minnesota with a combined production capacity of approximately 220 million gallons per year. The company sells its products to independent third party marketers and distributors. The company was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in Denver, Colorado.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Roberto Pedone]

  BioFuel Energy (BIOF) is engaged in the production and sale of ethanol and its co-products through its two ethanol production facilities located in Nebraska and Minnesota. This stock closed up 9.4% to $4.04 in Tuesday's trading session.

  Tuesday's Range: $3.69-$4.04
  
  52-Week Range: $2.70-$10.75
  
  Tuesday's Volume: 152,000
  
  Three-Month Average Volume: 57,949

  From a technical perspective, BIOF soared higher here back above its 50-day moving average of $3.76 with above-average volume. This move is quickly pushing shares of BIOF within range of triggering a major breakout trade. That trade will hit if BIOF manages to take out some near-term overhead resistance levels at $3.99 to $4.12 with high volume. At last check, BIOF hit an intraday high of $4.04 and volume was well above its three-month average action of 57,949 shares.

  Traders should now look for long-biased trades in BIOF as long as it's trending above its 50-day at $3.76 or above more near-term support at $3.50 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 57,949 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then BIOF will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at its 200-day of $4.63 to $5.19. Any high-volume move above $5.19 will then put $5.50 to $6 within range for shares of BIOF.

Top 10 Integrated Utility Companies To Buy For 2014: J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc.(JBHT)

J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a surface transportation, delivery, and logistics company in North America. It operates in four segments: Intermodal (JBI), Dedicated Contract Services (DCS), Full-Load Dry-Van (JBT), and Integrated Capacity Solutions (ICS). The JBI segment provides intermodal freight solutions, including origin and destination pickup and delivery services in the continental United States, Canada, and Mexico. This segment operates 45,666 pieces of company-controlled trailing equipment; and manages a fleet of 2,592 company-owned tractors. The DCS segment involves in the design, development, and execution of supply chain solutions, which support various transportation networks. This segment offers final mile delivery, replenishment, and specialized services supporting private fleet conversion, fleet creation, and transportation system augmentation. As of December 31, 2010, it operated 4,259 company-owned trucks, 357 customer-owned trucks, and 23 independent contractor trucks. The JBT segment provides full-load, dry-van freight services by utilizing tractors operating over roads and highways. It operated 1,697 company-owned tractors. The ICS segment provides non-asset, asset-light, and transportation logistics solutions. It offers flatbed, refrigerated, expedited, and less-than-truckload, as well as various dry-van and intermodal solutions. The company transports a range of freight, including general merchandise, specialty consumer items, appliances, forest and paper products, building materials, soaps and cosmetics, automotive parts, electronics, and chemicals. J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. was founded in 1961 and is headquartered in Lowell, Arkansas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Seth Jayson]

  Calling all cash flows
  When you are trying to buy the market's best stocks, it's worth checking up on your companies' free cash flow once a quarter or so, to see whether it bears any relationship to the net income in the headlines. That's what we do with this series. Today, we're checking in on JB Hunt Transport Services (Nasdaq: JBHT  ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.

Top 10 Integrated Utility Companies To Buy For 2014: FNB United Corp.(FNBN)

FNB United Corp. operates as the bank holding company for CommunityONE Bank, National Association that provides consumer, mortgage, and business banking services to individual and business customers in North Carolina. Its deposit products include checking accounts, interest checking accounts, money market accounts, savings accounts, certificates of deposit, and individual retirement accounts. The company?s loan products portfolio comprises commercial and agricultural loans, real estate construction loans, real estate residential loans, and consumer loans. It also offers debit cards, credit cards, online and mobile banking, cash management, investment management, and trust services, as well as operates automated teller machines. In addition, it originates, underwrites, and closes loans for sale into the secondary market. FNB United operates through 45 offices. The company was formerly known as FNB Corp. and changed its name to FNB United Corp. in April 2006. FNB United Cor p. was founded in 1907 and is headquartered in Asheboro, North Carolina.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Holly LaFon]

  The second stock, FNB United Corp. (FNBN), is 95.4% off of its three-year high, but it has also had a stock split in that time. It has also seen greater insider activity. Five unique insiders bought shares of the company, for a total number of six insider buy transactions in the past month.

Top 10 Integrated Utility Companies To Buy For 2014: Green Technology Solutions Inc (GTSO)

Green Technology Solutions Inc (GTSO), incorporated on February 22, 1991, is in the business of identifying and acquiring rights in early stage, green technologies, with the plan to develop these technologies into marketable products. The Company has identified several technology endeavors.

As of December 31, 2011, the Company has identified the advancement of mining technologies, with an emphasis on rare earth and precious metals mining applications, the development of additional markets for existing paint products that are being marketed in the United States, and smart grid technology. GTSO has also identified additional joint venture in China and South America.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By CRWE]

  Today, GTSO surged (+0.32%) up +0.0001 at $.0309 with 12,300 shares in movement thus far (ref. google finance Delayed: 10:31AM EDT June 20, 2013).

  Green Technology Solutions, Inc. previously reported it has finalized a joint venture agreement with leading Latin American e-waste recycler Chilerecicla.

  Latin America is a key emerging market in the booming the global e-waste recycling and reuse services industry, which Transparency Market Research predicts accounted for more than $9 billion in 2012. The firm expects the worldwide e-waste market to reach $18 billion in 2017, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 13.2 percent from 2012 to 2017.

Top 10 Integrated Utility Companies To Buy For 2014: Grupo Simec S.A. de C.V. (SIM)

Grupo Simec, S.A.B. de C.V., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the manufacture, processing, and distribution of special bar quality (SBQ) steel and structural products primarily in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Its steel products include I-beams; channels; structural and commercial angles; hot rolled bars, such as round, square, and hexagonal rods; flat bars; rebars; cold finished bars; wire rods; semi-finished tube rounds; and other semi-finished trade products. The company�s SBQ products are used in various engineered end-user applications, including axles, hubs, and crankshafts for automobiles and light trucks, machine tools, and off-highway equipment; and structural steel products are used in the non-residential construction market and other construction applications, as well as automotive industries. It also operates in Latin America, Europe, and Asia. The company was founded in 1969 and is headquartered in Guadalajara, Mexico. Grupo Simec, S.A.B. d e C.V. is a subsidiary of Industrias CH, S.A.B. de C.V.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Daniel Cross]

  Grupo Simec (NYSE: SIM) is a relatively obscure company with a $1.7 billion market cap that makes special bar-quality steel for North American markets. The company has significant downside protection in the form of its cash and cash equivalents of $623 million and total liabilities of just $665 million. Simec is also aggressively buying back stock. On a technical level, the relative strength index is hovering around 31, signaling that the stock may be oversold.

Top 10 Integrated Utility Companies To Buy For 2014: Zurich Insurance Group AG (ZURN)

Zurich Insurance Group Limited is a Switzerland-based holding company engaged in the insurance sector. The Company provides a range of general and life insurance products and services for individuals, small business, mid-sized and large-sized companies, and multinational corporations. The Company offers its products and services through three business segments, namely General Insurance, Global life and Farmers. The General Insurance segment offers motor, home and commercial products and services for individuals, as well as small and large business. The Global life segment offers life insurance, savings, investment and pensions solutions. The Farmers segment includes farmers management services, which provides non-claims management services to the farmers exchange, as well as Farmers Re business, which includes reinsurance assumed from the Farmers Exchange by the Company's group. Furthermore, the Company provides reinsurance and insurance business considered as non-core business. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Namitha Jagadeesh]

  Zurich Insurance Group AG (ZURN) lost 3.6 percent after second-quarter profit missed analysts��estimates. Hennes & Mauritz AB (HMB) declined the most in seven weeks as Europe�� second-biggest clothing retailer reported worse-than-expected sales. BG Group Plc, which derives 20 percent of its oil-and-gas production from Egypt, slipped 2.4 percent as the death toll from nationwide violence in the most populous Arab country climbed above 500.

Top 10 Integrated Utility Companies To Buy For 2014: Kennametal Inc. (KMT)

Kennametal Inc. manufactures and supplies tooling, engineered components, and advanced materials consumed in production processes worldwide. The company operates in two segments, Industrial and Infrastructure. It offers standard and customized technologies for metalworking, such as metal cutting tools, tooling systems, and services, as well as materials, including cemented tungsten carbide products, super alloys, coatings, and investment castings. It also manufactures and markets a line of tool holders, tool-holding systems, and rotary-cutting tools by machining and fabricating steel bars and other metal alloys; and tungsten powders, tungsten heavy alloys, tungsten carbide materials, and tungsten carbide cutting tools. In addition, the company produces compacts and metallurgical powders; products made from tungsten carbide or other hard materials that are used for custom-engineered and applications, including mining and highway construction; and engineered components and s urface technology solutions with proprietary metal cladding capabilities, as well as process technology and materials that focus on component deburring, polishing, and effecting controlled radii. The Industrial segment serves customers primarily in the aerospace, defense, transportation, and general engineering market sectors, as well as the machine tool industry; and offers its products and services for use in the manufacture of engines, airframes, automobiles, trucks, ships, and various types of industrial equipment. The Infrastructure segment serves customers in energy and earthworks sectors who support primary industries, such as oil and gas; power generation; food and beverage; chemicals; underground, and surface and hard-rock mining, highway construction, and road maintenance. The company sells its products through direct sales force; network of independent distributors and sales agents; and Internet. Kennametal Inc. was founded in 1938 and is headquartered in Latrobe, Pennsylvania.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Monica Wolfe]

  Kennametal (KMT)

  Richard Snow (Trades, Portfolio)�� fifth largest position is in Kennametal where he holds on to 1,872,839 shares of the company�� stock. This position represents 3.3% of his total portfolio as well as 2.41% of the company�� shares outstanding.

Top 10 Heal Care Stocks To Own Right Now

Nick Ut/AP Average rates on U.S. long-term fixed mortgages remained steady for a second straight week, giving prospective home buyers more time to lock in historically low levels. Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday that the average rate on the 30-year loan remained unchanged at 4.4 percent this week. That is a full percentage point higher than in early May, when rates neared record lows. Still, rates remain low by historical standards. The average on the 15-year fixed loan edged up to 3.44 percent from 3.43 percent. Mortgage rates spiked in June after Chairman Ben Bernanke indicated that the Federal Reserve could slow its bond purchases this year. The purchases have helped keep long-term interest rates low, encouraging more home buying. Despite the recent rate increases, mortgages remain a bargain for borrowers who qualify. Low rates have boosted home sales and prices, contributing to a housing recovery that has helped drive economic growth this year. Greater demand, along with a tight supply of homes for sale, has pushed up prices. It also has led to more home construction, which has created jobs. Confidence among U.S. builders is at its highest level in nearly eight years, fueled by optimism that demand for new homes will drive sales growth into next year. The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo builder sentiment index released Thursday reflected the brighter sales outlook. The index jumped to 59 this month from 56 in July. It was the fourth consecutive monthly gain. A reading above 50 indicates more builders view sales conditions as good rather than poor. Mortgage rates tend to follow the yield on the 10-year Treasury note, which has risen on speculation that the Fed could slow its bond-buying stimulus. The rate on the 10-year note rose to 2.79 percent Thursday morning, its highest level since July 2011.

Top 10 Energy Stocks For 2015: CBIZ Inc (CBZ)

CBIZ, Inc. (CBIZ) provides professional business services, products and solutions. These services are provided to businesses of various sizes, as well as individuals, governmental entities and not-for-profit enterprises throughout the United States and parts of Canada. CBIZ delivers its services through four practice groups: Financial Services, Employee Services, and National Practices. Its Financial Services group includes accounting, tax, financial advisory, valuation, litigation support, internal audit, family office services, fraud detection and real estate advisory. Its Employee Services group provides group health, property and casualty, retirement planning, payroll services, life insurance, human capital management, compensation consulting, recruiting and actuarial services. MMP group includes coding and billing, accounts receivable management and full practice management services. National Practices group includes managed networking and hardware services, health care consulting, and mergers and acquisitions. Effective July 1, 2012, the Company acquired the assets of Stoltz and Company, LTD., L.L.P. In October 2012, it acquired the assets of ProMedical, Inc. On December 31, 2012, the Company acquired the non-attest assets of PHBV Partners, L.L.P. Effective May 1, 2013, it announced that it has acquired Associated Insurance Agents. In September 2013, CBIZ, Inc completed the sale of its Medical Management Professionals (MMP) business to Zotec Partners, LLC.

On January 1, 2011, CBIZ sold its individual wealth management business. Effective November 1, 2011, the Company acquired the defined benefit actuarial consulting practice of PSA Insurance and Financial Services of Hunt Valley, Maryland. During the year ended December 31, 2011, CBIZ acquired four businesses: Thompson Dunavant PLC, Gresham Smith LLC, Multiple Benefit Services, Inc. and Atlantic MDR, LLC (d/b/a Advantage Benefit Planning). On January 1, 2012, the Company acquired Meridian Insurance Group, LLC.

Financial! Services

The Financial Services practice is divided into a Financial Services division, representing the United States, and a National Services division consisting of those units that provide their services nationwide. CBIZ and its subsidiaries maintain joint-referral relationships and administrative service agreements (ASAs) with independent licensed Certified Public Accounting (CPA) firms under which audit and attest services may be provided to CBIZ�� clients by such CPA firms. Under these ASAs, CBIZ provides a range of services to the CPA firms, including (but not limited to) administrative functions, such as office management, bookkeeping, and accounting, preparing marketing and promotion materials, providing office space, computer equipment, and systems support, and leasing administrative and professional staff. As of December 31, 2011, CBIZ maintained ASAs with four CPA firms.

Employee Services

The business units that comprise CBIZ�� Employee Services group are organized between Retail and National Services. The Retail offices provide services within their geographic area. The National group includes a number of specialty operations that provide services on a national scale. CBIZ�� Employee Services group maintains relationships with different insurance carriers. Some of these carriers have compensation arrangements.

National Practices

The National Practices group offers technology, health care consulting, and merger and acquisition services. The units within the National Practices group each have a Business Unit President.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Seth Jayson]

  CBIZ (NYSE: CBZ  ) reported earnings on July 29. Here are the numbers you need to know.

  The 10-second takeaway
  For the quarter ended June 30 (Q2), CBIZ whiffed on revenues and missed estimates on earnings per share.

Top 10 Heal Care Stocks To Own Right Now: Universal Electronics Inc.(UEIC)

Universal Electronics Inc. develops and manufactures pre-programmed wireless remote control products, audio-video accessories, and software products. The company offers infrared and radio frequency remote controls; audio-video accessories; integrated circuits; and software, firmware, and technology solutions, which enable devices, such as televisions, set-top boxes, stereos, automotive audio systems, cell phones, and other consumer electronic devices to wirelessly connect and interact with home networks and interactive services to deliver digital entertainment and information. It is also involved in intellectual property licensing activities. The company sells its products directly, as well as through distributors in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, the Middle East, Mexico, Asia, and Latin America under the One For All and Nevo brands. It primarily serves cable and satellite television service providers, original equipment manufacturers, retailers, custom inst allers, software development companies, private label companies, and personal computing companies. Universal Electronics Inc. was founded in 1986 and is headquartered in Cypress, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By , Zacks Investment Research]

  Universal Electronics (UEIC) makes a broad line of pre-programmed universal remote control products, audio-video accessories, and software that are marketed to enhance home entertainment systems. Its customers include subscription broadcasters (i.e., DirecTV (DTV)), original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”), international retailers, private labels, and companies in the computing industry. Approximately 63% of its sales came from outside the U.S. in the first quarter of 2014. It has a market cap of $645 million.

Top 10 Heal Care Stocks To Own Right Now: Baxter International Inc. (BAX)

Baxter International Inc., through its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures, and markets products for people with hemophilia, immune disorders, infectious diseases, kidney disease, trauma, and other chronic and acute medical conditions. It operates in three segments: BioScience, Medication Delivery, and Renal. The BioScience segment processes recombinant and plasma-based proteins to treat hemophilia and other bleeding disorders; plasma-based therapies to treat immune deficiencies, alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency, burns and shock, and other chronic and acute blood-related conditions; products for regenerative medicine, such as biosurgery products; and vaccines. The Medication Delivery segment manufactures intravenous solutions and administration sets; premixed drugs and drug-reconstitution systems; pre-filled vials and syringes for injectable drugs; intravenous nutrition products; infusion pumps; and inhalation anesthetics. It also offers products and services related to pha rmacy compounding, drug formulation, and packaging technologies. The Renal segment provides products to treat end-stage renal disease or irreversible kidney failure. It manufactures solutions and other products for peritoneal dialysis, a home-based therapy; and distributes product for hemodialysis, which is conducted in a hospital or clinic. It markets its products to hospitals, kidney dialysis centers, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, doctors? offices, clinical and medical research laboratories, and patients at home under physician supervision. The company was founded in 1931 and is based in Deerfield, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Shauna O'Brien]

  On Friday, healthcare company Baxter International Inc. (BAX) announced that it has finalized its acquisition of medical technology company Gambro AB.

  The acquisition will help Baxter’s long term growth in the healthcare industry and will expand its product and therapies portfolio. Baxter will also help grow Gambro’s international exposure by expanding into Latin American and Asia Pacific.

  The deal was worth about $3.9 billion and will be included in BAX’s third quarter and full year results.

  Robert L. Parkinson, Jr., chairman and chief executive officer of Baxter commented: “The combination of these two respected renal leaders – Baxter and Gambro – will enable Baxter to better serve healthcare providers and patients through a collective offering of innovative renal products and therapies.”

  “Together, we will advance the state of dialysis care for patients with kidney disease worldwide.”

  Baxter International shares were mostly flat during pre-market trading Friday. The stock is up 5% YTD.

• [By Eric Volkman]

  Baxter International (NYSE: BAX  ) will likely improve the lives of its shareholders with its latest announcement. The company has declared a new dividend of $0.49 per share of its common stock. It will be distributed on July 1 to shareholders of record as of June 7. That amount is 9% higher than each of Baxter's previous three payouts of $0.45 per share, the most recent of which was disbursed in early April.

• [By CRWE]

  Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX) reported results from two large, international multicenter trials demonstrating that a low glucose peritoneal dialysis (PD) regimen favorably impacted metabolic measures important for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients with diabetes, including blood glucose (sugar) control and selected lipids (fats and cholesterol).

Top 10 Heal Care Stocks To Own Right Now: BE Aerospace Inc.(BEAV)

BE Aerospace, Inc. designs, manufactures, sells, and services commercial aircraft and business jet cabin interior products worldwide. The company?s Commercial Aircraft segment offers seat frames, cushions, armrests, and tray tables; various optional features, such as adjustable lumbar supports, footrests, reading lights, head/neck supports, and other comfort amenities; oxygen storage, distribution, and delivery systems for commercial and business jet aircrafts; aircraft coffee and beverage makers, and coffee warmers and water boilers; convection, steam, and warming ovens; commercial aircraft refrigeration equipment; modular lavatory systems; vacuum waste water and galley systems; and thermal and power management solutions. This segment also offers engineering, design, integration, installation, and certification services for commercial aircraft passenger cabin interiors; in-house capabilities to design, manage, integrate, test, and certify reconfigurations and modificatio ns for commercial aircraft and to manufacture related products, including engineering kits and interface components; and interior reconfiguration services. Its Consumables Management segment provides inventory management and replenishment, electronic data interchange, special packaging and bar-coding, parts kitting, quality assurance testing, and purchasing assistance services; and creative and differential supply chain solutions, such as 3PL and 4PL programs. This segment also distributes aerospace fasteners and consumables. The company?s Business Jet segment offers a line of furnishings for business jets, including seating and sofa products, such as electric fully berthing lie flat seats, direct and indirect lighting, air valves, oxygen delivery systems, sidewalls, bulkheads, credenzas, closets, galley structures, lavatories, and tables; and super first class cabin interior products for commercial wide-body aircraft. The company was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in Wellington, Florida.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Smith]

  So quipped SNL's Seth Meyers recently, after hearing about Delta Air Lines' (NYSE: DAL  ) plan to buy 100 new 737-900 aircraft from Boeing (NYSE: BA  ) , outfitted with a new, space-saving lavatory built by B/E Aerospace (NASDAQ: BEAV  ) . Funny joke, but will airplane passengers appreciate the move? Will investors?

• [By Victor Selva] able to maintain a competitive position in the market, shows ATS麓s ability for great evolution and profitable growth.

  Alliant also benefits from a narrow economic moat. Having long-term contracts with its customers, that generate consistent revenue for years, is a great advantage. The long-term programs have high switching costs for the customer. For example, ATK produced the composite materials for the Hellfire missile for years.

  In addition, leading the solid rocket propellant market should ensure increased annual revenue. The new Space Launch System (SLS), for which ATK is working with the NASA, is expected be as successful as the Space Shuttle program years ago.

  Most important, Alliant is the biggest supplier of small-caliber ammunition for the U.S. military. Furthermore, ATK has managed to get new contracts in the U.S. military sector, such as the second full-rate production of the advanced anti-radiation guided missiles. This contract with the U.S. Navy was signed for a total of $102.4 million.

  New Contracts and acquisitions should increase profitability

  Alliant has developed a composite technology that brought in new customers such as Airbus Group NV (EADSY) and Boeing Co (BA). In addition, the company's composite material is required for the production of the F-35 jets. ATK produces around $1.8 million of the content in every F-35 jet that is constructed and generates $1.2 million worth of every A350.

  New acquisitions create great expectations for shareholders, and this is the case of Alliant. The acquisition of Bushnell Group Holding Inc., that was completed in November of 2013, will amplify the customer base of Alliant麓s Sporting Group even further, and is projected to increase earnings for the company.

  Good Outlook for the Company�� Future Performance

  The future looks bright for Alliant Techsystems Inc. The company麓s financial position will improve due to a better operating margin, cash flow opt

• [By GuruFocus]

  George Soros (Trades, Portfolio) just reported his first quarter portfolio. He buys Citrix Systems Inc, Baker Hughes Inc, Comcast Corp, Spansion Inc, etc during the 3-months ended 03/31/2014, according to the most recent filings of his investment company, Soros Fund Management LLC. As of 03/31/2014, Soros Fund Management LLC owns 305 stocks with a total value of $10.1 billion. These are the details of the buys and sells.New Purchases: BHI, CODE, CTRP, CLI, AVB, COMM, CNQ, AGO, AUY, ATML, ASH, BXMT, CSTM, AEM, CMA, ARE, CHKP, AUQ, BEAV, CX, ADSK, AALCP, BLK, AIG, BIIB, ADEP, AMRI, ARWR, ATHX, BALT, BCRX, BEAT, CFX, CLFD, CUR, CODE,Added Positions: CTXS, CMCSA, CNP, ALTR, BRCD, CBS, CRM, CHTR, CCJ, CIEN, BIDU, ALLE, ABT, CDNS, ACT,Reduced Positions: AAPL, CCI, AMT, ABBV, AAL, BITA, AL, ANGI, ARIA, CBST, BA, BIRT, EXAR,Sold Out: C, BAC, CRI, AMZN, AGN, CF, BRCM, COTY, BMY, AMCX, CAR, A, ADBE, AFL,For the details of George Soros (Trades, Portfolio)'s stock buys and sells, go to http://www.gurufocus.com/StockBuy.php?GuruName=George+SorosThis is the sector weightings of his portfolio:Technology18.9%Energy14%Healthcare8.3%Consumer Defensive8.2%Communication Services8.1%Consumer Cyclical5.4%Industrials5.1%Basic Materials4.9%Financial Services2.5%Real Estate1.9%Utilities0.5%These are the top 5 holdings of George Soros (Trades, Portfolio)1. Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd (TEVA) - 10,310,041 shares, 5.4% of the total portfolio. Shares added by 10.67%2. Herbalife Ltd (HLF) - 4,901,337 shares, 2.8% of the total portfolio. Shares added by 52.9%3. EQT Corp (EQT) - 2,573,814 shares, 2.5% of the total portfolio. Shares added by 3.27%4. Adecoagro SA (AGRO) - 25,915,076 shares, 2.1% of the total portfolio.5. Halliburton Co (HAL) - 3,596,353 shares, 2.1% of the total portfolio. Shares reduced by 20.73%New Purchase: Baker Hughes Inc (BHI)George Soros (Trades, Portfolio) initiated holdings in Baker Hughes Inc. His purchase prices were between $51.82 and $65.27, with an estimated

• [By Rich Smith]

  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 pair of hikes to price target at aerospace parts suppliers B/E Aerospace (NASDAQ: BEAV  ) and Precision Castparts (NYSE: PCP  ) . But the news isn't all good, so before we address those two, let's start with why one analyst thinks...

Top 10 Heal Care Stocks To Own Right Now: North American Oil & Gas Corp (NAMG)

Calendar Dragon Inc., incorporated on April 7, 2010, is a development-stage company. The Company was formed to create a new calendaring tool that incorporates a range of features not offered by other providers, all in one lean online package. Its Website www.calendardragon.com was formed to bridge the gap between current social networking, e-mail and calendaring / scheduling activities for the individual, with applications to business, government, law enforcement, and medical.

The calendardragon.com Website focuses on having each of the various windows within the interface: Contacts like an email app, traditional left location; Events & to do lists along with ability to hide / show events and to do lists with others; Calendar customizable view; Message text (thread), along with list of participants in a separate pane, and Options. During the fiscal year ended November 30, 2010, the Company did not generate any revenue.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Peter Graham]

  What�� the Catch With New Western Energy Corp? According to various disclosures, transactions of $3k and $4k have or will occur to mention New Western Energy Corp in various investment newsletters. Last Tuesday, New Western Energy Corp announced it had drilled the Anna #1 well to 1,793 ft. and the presence of coal gas was confirmed. If the quantity of gas is sufficient, the New Western Energy Corp will construct a gas gathering pipeline for no more than $200k to connect the field to the nearest sales point. Investors should be aware that the New Western Energy Corp has reported revenues of $19k (most recent reported quarter), $31k, $24k and $15k for the past four quarters along with net losses of $181k (most recent reported quarter), $1,025k, $106k and $110k.�Nevertheless and at the end of March, New Western Energy Corp had $793k in cash to cover $521k in current liabilities. That could be enough cash to sustain the company until it gets more revenue pumping in.

  North American Oil & Gas Corp (OTCBB: NAMG) Has Announced a Completed Strategic Review

  Small cap North American Oil & Gas Corp is focused on the prolific San Joaquin Basin in onshore California with existing foundation assets targeting exploration and exploitation of high impact oil and gas projects located near infrastructure and existing discoveries. On Friday, North American Oil & Gas Corp fell 1.05% to $0.940 for a market cap of $56.52 million plus NAMG is up 276% since November 2012 according to Google Finance.

Top 10 Heal Care Stocks To Own Right Now: Biosev SA (BSEV3)

Biosev SA, formerly LDC Bioenergia SA, is a Brazil-based company active in the sugar and energy business. It is primarily engaged in the sugarcane processing. The Company produces sugar and ethanol, and supplies its products to domestic and international markets. Its refined sugar is sold under the Estrela brand name on the Brazilian retail market. The ethanol products comprise: hydrous ethanol, anhydrous ethanol and neutral ethanol. Other products from its plants include animal feed, dry yeast, molasses powder and bioelectricity from sugarcane bagasse. The Company�� customers include Nestle, Coca-Cola, AmBev, Kraft, Dori and Unilever, among others. The Company's production units are present in five Brazilian states: Mato Grosso do Sul, Sao Paulo, Minas Gerais, Paraiba and Rio Grande do Norte. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lucia Kassai]

  Biosev SA (BSEV3), Louis Dreyfus Holding BV�� Brazil unit, tumbled in its debut after giving investors in its initial public offering a money-back guarantee.

Top 10 Heal Care Stocks To Own Right Now: Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated(PEG)

Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated, through its subsidiaries, operates in the energy industry primarily in the northeastern and mid Atlantic United States. The company primarily operates as a wholesale energy supply company that integrates its generating asset operations through its wholesale energy, fuel supply, energy trading, and marketing and risk management activities. It operates nuclear, coal, gas, and oil-fired generation facilities. The company also involves in the transmission of electricity and distribution of electricity and natural gas to residential, commercial, and industrial customers, as well as invests in the development of solar generation projects and energy efficiency programs. In addition, it owns and operates domestic projects engaged in the generation of energy; and offers appliance services and repairs to customers. As of December 31, 2010, it owned approximately 13,538 megawatts of generation capacity. The company also owned and operated approximately 17,608 miles of gas mains, 12 gas distribution headquarters, and 2 subheadquarters, as well as 62 natural gas metering and regulating stations. Public Service Enterprise Group was founded in 1985 and is based in Newark, New Jersey.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Stephen Quickel]

  The stock trades at forward P/E of 22.8 times the consensus 2014 earnings estimate. Factoring in its 23.2% a year expected bottom line growth, the stock's P/E to Growth (PEG) ratio of 0.98—right at the 1.00 level—is considered ideal by PEG ratio advocates.

Best Dividend Companies To Buy For 2014

The best thing about the stock market is that you can make money in�either direction. Historically, stock indexes tend to trend upward over the long term. But when you look at individual stocks, you'll find plenty that lose money over the long haul. According to hedge-fund institution Blackstar Funds, between 1983 and 2006,�even with dividends�included, 64% of stocks underperformed the�Russell 3000, a broad-scope market index.

A large influx of short-sellers isn't a condemning factor for any company, but it could be a red flag indicating that something is off. Let's look at three companies that have seen rapid increases in the number of shares sold short and see whether traders are blowing smoke or their worries have merit.

Company

Short Increase April 30 to May 15

Short Shares as a % of Float

Hillshire Brands (NYSE: HSH  )

Hot Logistics Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc.(SBGI)

Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., a television broadcasting company, owns or provides certain programming, operating, or sales services to television stations in the United States. The company broadcasts free over-the-air programming, such as network provided programs, news produced locally, local sporting events, programming from program service arrangements, and syndicated entertainment programs. It owns or provides programming and operating services pursuant to local marketing agreements, or provides sales services pursuant to outsourcing agreements to 58 television stations in 35 markets. The company was founded in 1952 and is based in Hunt Valley, Maryland.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dan Radovsky]

  Sinclair Broadcast Group (NASDAQ: SBGI  ) says it is on its way to becoming the nation's largest television broadcasting company if a� definitive agreement it signed with the Allbritton family comes to fruition, according to an announcement today by Sinclair.

• [By Eric Volkman]

  In the latest of a string of acquisitions, Sinclair Broadcast Group (NASDAQ: SBGI  ) is to buy Fisher Communications (NASDAQ: FSCI  ) . The merger transaction will cost the former roughly $373 million. Fisher stockholders are to receive a cash payout of $41.00 per share, which, according to Sinclair, is a 44% premium to the stock's recent closing price.

• [By John Udovich]

  Small cap media stock�LIN Media LLC (NYSE: LIN) might not be a household name, but there is a good chance you might be watching the company�� programs because like the Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc (NASDAQ: SBGI) and Nexstar Broadcasting Group, Inc (NASDAQ: NXST), its helping to consolidate the media industry plus its making investment in other forms of media like social media. The stock has also outperformed those two peers along with the�PowerShares Dynamic Media Portfolio ETF (NYSEARCA: PBS).

Best Dividend Companies To Buy For 2014: Microchip Technology Incorporated(MCHP)

Microchip Technology Incorporated, together with its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures, and sells semiconductor products for various embedded control applications. It offers a family of microcontroller products that include 8-bit, 16-bit, and 32-bit PIC microcontrollers; and 16-bit dsPIC digital signal controllers, which feature on-board flash memory technology. The company also provides a set of application development tools that enable system designers to program a PIC microcontroller and dsPIC DSC for specific applications. In addition, it offers analog and interface products, which consist of various families with approximately 600 power management, linear, mixed-signal, thermal management, safety and security, and interface products. Further, the company provides memory products comprising serial electrically erasable programmable read-only memory. Its products are used in various applications in automotive, communications, computing, consumer, and industrial contr ol markets. Microchip Technology Incorporated markets its products primarily through a network of direct sales personnel and distributors in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. The company was founded in 1989 and is based in Chandler, Arizona.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By ovenerio]

  The company has a current ROE of 22.99% which is higher than the one exhibit by Microchip Technology (MCHP), Analog Devices (ADI) and�Nvidia Corp. (NVDA).In general, analysts consider ROE ratios in the 15-20% range as representing attractive levels for investment. So for investors looking those levels or more, Micron Technologies (MU) could be the option. It is very important to understand this metric before investing and it is important to look at the trend in ROE over time.

Best Dividend Companies To Buy For 2014: E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company(DD)

E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company operates as a science and technology company worldwide. It operates in seven segments: Agriculture & Nutrition, Electronics & Communications, Performance Chemicals, Performance Coatings, Performance Materials, Safety & Protection, and Pharmaceuticals. The Agriculture & Nutrition segment provides hybrid seed corn and soybean seed, herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, value enhanced grains, and soy protein under the Pioneer brand name. The Electronics & Communications segment supplies materials and systems for photovoltaic products, consumer electronics, displays, and advanced printing. The Performance Chemicals segment offers fluorochemicals, fluoropolymers, specialty and industrial chemicals, and white pigments for various markets, such as plastics and coatings, textiles, mining, pulp and paper, water treatment, and healthcare. The Performance Coatings segment supplies high performance liquid and powder coatings for motor vehicle origi nal equipment manufacturers (OEM); the motor vehicle after-market; and general industrial applications, such as such as coatings for heavy equipment, pipes and appliances, and electrical insulation. The Performance Materials segment provides polymers, elastomers, films, parts, and systems and solutions for the automotive OEM and associated after-market industries, as well as electrical, electronics, packaging, construction, oil, photovoltaics, aerospace, chemical processing, and consumer durable goods. The Safety & Protection segment primarily offers nonwovens, aramids, and solid surfaces for the construction, transportation, communications, industrial chemicals, oil and gas, electric utilities, automotive, manufacturing, defense, homeland security, and safety consulting industries. The Pharmaceuticals segment represents its interest in the collaboration relating to Cozaar/Hyzaar antihypertensive drugs. The company was founded in 1802 and is headquartered in Wilmington, Dela ware.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  Monsanto's crop technology is the envy of the industry, and the company has had great success in getting its competitors to agree to cross-licensing deals. DuPont (NYSE: DD  ) and Monsanto settled their joint disputes in March, and Monsanto will receive $1.75 billion over 10 years under the deal they reached. Similarly, Dow Chemical (NYSE: DOW  ) agreed to trade its Enlist Weed Control System for Monsanto's Corn Rootworm III technology in April.

• [By Dan Carroll]

  Fellow Dow member DuPont (NYSE: DD  ) wasn't able to match UTC, posting earnings that missed expectations. However, the results haven't shaken up the stock: DuPont's shares are up 0.7% so far today. EPS fell by about 12% for the quarter, and sales dipped by 1%, with both results falling below Wall Street's projections after the company's performance chemicals division weighed on overall results.

Best Dividend Companies To Buy For 2014: TAL International Group Inc.(TAL)

TAL International Group, Inc. engages in the lease of intermodal containers and chassis. It operates in two segments, Equipment Leasing and Equipment Trading. The Equipment Leasing segment involves in the acquisition, lease, re-lease, and sale of various intermodal transportation equipment, such as dry freight containers, which are used for general cargo, including manufactured component parts, consumer staples, electronics, and apparel; refrigerated containers that are used for perishable items, such as fresh and frozen foods; and special containers, which are used for heavy and oversized cargo, such as marble slabs, building products, and machinery. It also leases chassis, which are used for the transportation of containers and tank containers that are used to transport bulk liquid products, such as chemicals, as well as finances port equipment, which includes container cranes, reach stackers, and other related equipment. The Equipment Trading segment purchases container s from shipping line customers and other sellers of containers, and resells these containers to container traders and users of containers for storage or one-way shipment. As of December 31, 2009, it had a fleet of 701,946 containers and chassis, including 31,137 containers under management for third parties, representing 1,139,523 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU). The company was founded in 1963 and is headquartered in Purchase, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Seth Jayson]

  Margins matter. The more TAL International Group (NYSE: TAL  ) keeps of each buck it earns in revenue, the more money it has to invest in growth, fund new strategic plans, or (gasp!) distribute to shareholders. Healthy margins often separate pretenders from the best stocks in the market. That's why we check up on margins at least once a quarter in this series. I'm looking for the absolute numbers, so I can compare them to current and potential competitors, and any trend that may tell me how strong TAL International Group's competitive position could be.

• [By ABN]

  TAL International Group (TAL) is one of the world's largest lessors of intermodal freight containers for the shipping business with 17 offices in 11 countries and approximately 230 third-party container depot facilities in 40 countries. TAL's fleet consists of approximately 1,238,000 containers and 2,031,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU).

• [By Brian Pacampara]

  Based on the aggregated intelligence of 180,000-plus investors participating in Motley Fool CAPS, the Fool's free investing community, freight container lessor TAL International (NYSE: TAL  ) has earned a coveted five-star ranking.

Top 10 Construction Material Stocks To Invest In 2015

Top 10 Construction Material Stocks To Invest In 2015: Eagle Materials Inc (EXP)

Eagle Materials Inc., incorporated on January 27, 1994, manufactures and distributes gypsum wallboard and also manufactures and sells cement. Gypsum wallboard is distributed throughout the United States with particular emphasis in the geographic markets nearest to its production facilities. The Company sells cement in six regional markets, including northern Nevada and California, the greater Chicago area, the Rocky Mountain region, the Central Plains region and Texas. Its gypsum wallboard business is supported by its recycled paperboard business, while its cement business is supported by its concrete and aggregates business. The Company operates in Cement and Concrete and Aggregates, and Gypsum Wallboard and Recycled Paperboard segments. As of March 31, 2013, the Company operated six cement plants (one of which belongs to its joint venture company), five gypsum wallboard plants, one recycled paperboard plant, seventeen concrete batching plants and four aggregates faciliti es. The Companys products are used in the construction and renovation of houses, roads, bridges, commercial and industrial buildings and other, newer generation structures like wind farms.

Cement, Concrete and Aggregates Operations

The Companys cement production facilities are located in or near Buda, Texas; LaSalle, Illinois; Laramie, Wyoming; Sugar Creek, Missouri; Tulsa, Oklahoma and Fernley, Nevada. The Companys cement subsidiaries are wholly-owned except the Buda, Texas plant, which is owned by Texas Lehigh Cement Company LP, a limited partnership joint venture owned 50% by the Company and 50% by Lehigh Cement Company LLC, a subsidiary of Heidelberg Cement AG. Its LaSalle, Illinois plant operates under the name of Illinois Cement Company; the Laramie, Wyoming plant operates under the name of Mountain Cement Company; the Fernley, Nevada plant operates under the name of Nevada Cement Company and its Sugar Creek, ! Missouri and Tulsa, Okla homa plants operate under the name Central Plains Cement Com! pany. The Company produces and distributes ready-mix concrete from Company-owned sites north of Sacramento, California; Austin, Texas and the greater Kansas City area. The Companys activities in its frac sand business are in the Utica, Illinois area and in south Texas. The Company sells aggregates to building contractors and other customers engaged in a variety of construction activities.

Gypsum Wallboard and Recycled Paperboard Operations

The Company owns five gypsum wallboard manufacturing facilities. As of March 31, 2013, the Companys gypsum wallboard production totaled 1,950 million square feet. Total gypsum wallboard sales were 1,909 million square feet during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013 (fiscal 2013). The Company also manufactures alternative products, including containerboard grades (such as linerboard and medium) and lightweight packaging grades (such as bag liner). In addition, recycled industrial paperboard grades (tube/cor e stock and protective angle board stock) are produced to maximize manufacturing efficiencies. The Companys manufactured recycled paperboard products are sold to gypsum wallboard manufacturers and other industrial users.

The Company competes with USG Corporation, National Gypsum Company and Koch Industries.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  Tomorrow, Eagle Materials (NYSE: EXP  ) will release its latest quarterly results. The key to making smart investment decisions on stocks reporting earnings is to anticipate how they'll do before they announce results, leaving you fully prepared to respond quickly to whatever inevitable surprises arise. That way, you'll be less likely to make an uninformed knee-jerk reaction to news that turns out to be exactly the wrong move.

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Top decliners in the sector included Newmont Mining (NYSE: NEM), off 6.3 percent, an! d Eagle M! aterials (NYSE: EXP), down 4.3 percent.

  Top Headline
  Forest Laboratories (NYSE: FRX) announced its plans to buy Furiex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: FURX) for up to $1.46 billion. Forest will pay around $95 per share, or around $1.1 billion in cash. Forest Labs will also pay up to $30 per share, or around $360 million in a contingent value right. The deal is projected to close in the second or third quarter of 2014.

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Top decliners in the sector included Newmont Mining (NYSE: NEM), off 6.3 percent, and Eagle Materials (NYSE: EXP), down 4.3 percent.

  Top Headline
  Forest Laboratories (NYSE: FRX) announced its plans to buy Furiex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: FURX) for up to $1.46 billion. Forest will pay around $95 per share, or around $1.1 billion in cash. Forest Labs will also pay up to $30 per share, or around $360 million in a contingent value right. The deal is projected to close in the second or third quarter of 2014.

source from Top Penny Stocks For 2015:http://www.seekpennystocks.com/top-10-construction-material-stocks-to-invest-in-2015-2.html

Top 5 Construction Companies To Watch For 2014

September 3, 2013: U.S. markets opened higher on Tuesday morning following Monday�� Labor Day holiday with an upbeat reaction to European and Asian PMI reports. ISM data for the U.S. rose unexpectedly�and July new construction spending also rose more than expected. House Speaker John Boehner�� statement of support for President Obama�� call to action in Syria�cut into early gains, but did not wipe them out.

European markets closed mixed today, while Asian markets closed higher and Latin American markets closed lower.

Wednesday�� calendar includes reports from automakers on August sales, speeches by Minneapolis Fed President Narayana Kocherlakota and San Francisco Fed President John Williams, and the following data releases and events (all times Eastern):

7:00 a.m. – Mortgage Bankers Association purchase applications 8:300 a.m. – International trade 10:00 a.m. – Quarterly services survey 11:30 a.m. – 4-week bill auction 2:00 p.m. – Beige Book

Here are the closing bell levels for Tuesday:

5 Best Integrated Utility Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Balfour Beatty PLC (BIH)

Balfour Beatty plc is a global infrastructure company that delivers services essential to the development, creation and care of infrastructure assets; from finance and development, through design and project management to construction and maintenance. The Company operates in four segments: Professional Services segment is engaged in the provision of project management; Construction Services segment is engaged in the activities resulting in the physical construction of an asset; Support Services segment is engaged in the activities, which support existing assets or functions, and Infrastructure Investments segment is engaged in the acquisition, operation and disposal of infrastructure assets, such as PPP concessions and airports. In July 2013, it announced the disposal of its 50% interest in the Salford Hospital PFI asset. In December 2013, Balfour Beatty Plc completed the sale of its UK facilities management business to GDF Suez Energy Services. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Vanina Egea]

  A few companies excel over their market peers, granting them an unconventional competitive advantage. Everybody knows the market leaders, or the mammoth companies, but there are other particular services that can give a firm greater exposure. No other example is more relevant than the rotary rig count offered by Baker Hughes (BIH). The Baker Hughes Rig Counts provides a weekly count of U.S. and Canadian drilling activity to the industry since 1944, and has become an important business barometer for the drilling industry and its suppliers. Most importantly, the index allows industry analysts to identify industry trends, while providing valuable information to prospect investors beyond Baker Hughes itself. After experiencing a decline in performance from mid-2011 to the end of 2012, the company saw great improvement in overall performance during 2013. Can the trend be expected to continue?

Top 5 Construction Companies To Watch For 2014: Tile Shop Holdings Inc (TTS)

Tile Shop Holdings, Inc., incorporated on June 21, 2012, is a specialty retailer of manufactured and natural stone tiles, setting and maintenance materials, and related accessories in the United States. The Company sells over 4,500 products from around the world, including ceramic, porcelain, glass, and stainless steel manufactured tiles and, marble, granite, quartz, sandstone, travertine, slate, and onyx natural tiles. It purchases its tile products and accessories directly from producers. The Company manufactures its own setting and maintenance materials, such as thinset, grout, and sealers under its brand name. The Company operates 70 stores in 22 states, with an average size of 23,000 square feet. It also sells its products on its Website. In January 2014 Tile Shop Holdings Inc launched its first retail store in Oklahoma City.

The Company offers a complete assortment of tile products, generally sourced directly from producers, including ceramic, porcelain, glass, and stainless steel manufactured tiles, and marble, granite, quartz, sandstone, travertine, slate, and onyx natural tiles. The Company also offers a range of setting and maintenance materials, such as thinset, grout and sealers, and accessories, including installation tools, shower and bath caddies, drains, and similar products.

The Company competes with Home Depot, Tile America, World of Tile, Century Tile, and Floor and Decor, Dal-Tile and Florida Tile.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Equities Trading DOWN
  Shares of Tile Shop Holdings (NASDAQ: TTS) were down 2.16 percent to $12.67. Citigroup downgraded Tile Shop from Buy to Neutral.

• [By Demitrios Kalogeropoulos]

  The Tile Shop's (NASDAQ: TTS  ) shares fell 11% yesterday despite no news coming from the company. Instead, investors were spooked by a big profit warning from a seemingly unrelated retailer: Lumber Liquidators (NYSE: LL  ) .�

Top 5 Construction Companies To Watch For 2014: Amcol International Corp (ACO)

AMCOL International Corporation (AMCOL), incorporated on December 3, 1959, is focused on the development and application of minerals and technology products and services to various industrial and consumer markets. It operates in five segments: performance materials, construction technologies, energy services, transportation and corporate. Its performance materials segment previously referred to as its minerals and materials segment is a supplier of bentonite related products. Its construction technologies segment previously referred to as its environmental segment provides products for non-residential construction, environmental and infrastructure projects worldwide. Its energy services segment previously referred to as its oilfield services segment offers a range of patented technologies, products and services for both upstream and downstream oil and gas production. Its transportation segment serves domestic subsidiaries, as well as third parties, is a dry van and flatbed carrier and freight brokerage service provider.

Performance Materials Segment

The Company supplies chromite and leonardite, and operates more than 25 mining or production facilities worldwide. It mines chromite, an iron chromium oxide, from open cast mines in South Africa and transport it to our nearby processing facility. Its primary uses include metalcasting, drilling fluid additive, and agricultural applications. Its performance materials segment conducts its business through wholly owned subsidiaries and investments in affiliates and joint ventures throughout the world. It consists of four product lines: metalcasting; specialty materials; basic minerals, and pet products. Its principal products are marketed under various registered trade names, including VOLCLAY, PANTHER CREEK, PREMIUM GEL, ADDITROL, ENERSOL, and Hevi-Sand.

The Company�� metalcasting products include blended mineral binders containing sodium and calcium bentonite and organic additives sold under the trade name ADDITROL. I! n the ferrous casting market, the Company specializes in blending bentonite of various grades by themselves or with mineral binders containing sodium bentonite, calcium bentonite, seacoal and other ingredients. It also has a line of formulated additives that introduce silicon and carbon in the melt phase of the casting process. In the steel alloy casting market, it sells a chromite product with a particle size distribution specific to a customer�� needs.

The Company�� specialty materials products contain bentonite and synthetic additives offering solutions for consumer and industrial applications. It also offers products for bio-agricultural applications. The markets and applications of its specialty materials products include fabric care, personal care, basic materials and pet products. It supply high-grade, agglomerated bentonite and other mineral additives used in fabric care products. It manufactures adsorbent polymers and purified grades of bentonite for sale to manufacturers of personal skin care products. The adsorbent polymers are used to deliver high-value actives in skin-care products. Microsponge and Poly-Pore are the principal trade names under which these products are sold. Its basic minerals product line supplies minerals to a variety of markets and industrial applications, including drilling fluid additives, ferro alloys and other industrial.

The Company�� pet products include sodium bentonite-based scoopable (clumping), traditional and alternative cat litters, as well as specialty pet products sold to grocery and drug stores, mass merchandisers, wholesale clubs and pet specialty stores throughout the United States. It is primarily a private-label producer of cat litter, and its products are marketed under various trade names. These products are sold solely in the United States from three principal sites from which it package and distribute finished goods. Its transportation segment provides logistics services and is a component of its capability in supplyi! ng custom! ers on a national basis.

Construction Technologies Segment

The Company�� construction technologies segment serves customers engaged in a range of construction projects, including site remediation, concrete waterproofing for underground structures, liquid containment on projects ranging from landfills to flood control, and drilling applications including foundation, slurry wall, tunneling, water well and horizontal drilling. Its construction technologies segment conducts its business through wholly owned subsidiaries and joint ventures throughout the world. This segment consists of four product lines: building materials; contracting services; drilling products, and lining technologies.

The Company sells lining and other products for a variety of applications, most of which are directed to preserving or remediating environmental issues. It helps customers protect ground water and soil through the sale of geosynthetic clay liner products containing bentonite. It market these products under the BENTOMAT and CLAYMAX trade names principally for lining and capping landfills, mine waste disposal sites, water and wastewater lagoons, secondary containments in tank farms, and other contaminated sites. It also provides associated geosynthetic materials for these applications, including geotextiles and drainage geocomposites.

The Company�� lining technologies product line also includes specialized technologies to mitigate vapor intrusion in new building construction. It also provides reactive capping technologies and solutions to contain residual contamination, reduce costs associated with ex-situ remedies, and aid in environmental protection. Products offered include Liquid Boot, a liquid applied vapor barrier system; REACTIVE CORE-MAT, an in-situ sediment capping material; ORGANOCLAY, which absorbs organic containments, and QUIK-SOLID, a super absorbent media.

The Company offer a variety of active and passive waterproofing and greenroof technolog! ies for u! se in protecting the building envelope of non-residential constructions, including buildings, subways, and parkway systems. Its products include VOLTEX, a waterproofing composite comprised of two polypropylene geotextiles filled with sodium bentonite; ULTRASEAL, an advanced membrane using a active polymer core, and COREFLEX, featuring heat-welded seams for protection of critical infrastructure. In addition to these membrane materials, it also provides roofing products and a variety of sealants and other accessories required to create a functional waterproofing system.

The Company drilling products are used in environmental and geotechnical drilling applications, horizontal directional drilling, mineral exploration and foundation construction. The products are used to install monitoring wells, facilitate horizontal and water well drilling, and seal abandoned exploration drill holes. VOLCLAY GROUT, HYDRAUL-EZ, BENTOGROUT and VOLCLAY TABLETS are among the trade names for products used in these applications. It also offer a range of drilling products used in the excavation of foundations for large buildings, bridges and dams; these products include SHORE PAC and PREMIUM GEL. Contracting services, which involve installation of products, are occasionally offered to customers for select projects.

Energy Services Segment

The Company�� energy services segment provides services to improve the production, costs, compliance, and environmental impact of activities performed in the oil and gas industry. Operating as CETCO Energy Services, it offer a range of patented technologies, products and services for all phases of oil and gas production, transportation, refining, and storage throughout the world. It provide both land-based and offshore water treatment, well testing, pipeline separation, nitrogen, coil tubing and other services to the oil and gas industry. The Company provides its services through subsidiaries located in Australia, Brazil, Malaysia, Nigeria, the United Ki! ngdom, an! d the United States, principally in the Gulf of Mexico and the surrounding on-shore area. Its principal services include water treatment, coil tubing, well testing, nitrogen services and pipeline. The Company helps customers comply with regulatory requirements by providing equipment, technologies, personnel and filtration media to treat waste water generated during oil production.

The Company's coil tubing services utilize metal piping, which comes spooled on a large reel. It provide both equipment and operating personnel to perform services ranging from acid stimulation, reverse circulation, cementing, pressure control, nitrogen injection, and other operations that involve pumping fluids into a well. Horizontal wells and shale completions are a large component of its operations. It provide equipment and personnel to help customers control well production, as well as to clean up, unload, separate, measure component flow, and dispose of fluids from oil and gas wells. Nitrogen services are provided in jetting wells that are loaded with fluid; stimulating wells, including fracturizing and acidizing; displacing completion fluids prior to perforating; inflating flotation devices for offshore installations, and pressure testing and other maintenance activities.

Transportation Segment

The Company operates a long-haul trucking business through Ameri-Co Carriers, Inc., and a freight brokerage business through Ameri-Co Logistics, Inc. primarily for delivery of finished products throughout the continental United States. These services are provided to its subsidiaries, as well as third-party customers.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Leading and Lagging Sectors
  In trading on Friday, Basic Materials shares were relative leaders, up on the day by 0.78 percent. Top gainer in the sector was AMCOL International (NYSE: ACO), up 9 percent.

• [By Seth Jayson]

  AMCOL International (NYSE: ACO  ) is expected to report Q2 earnings on July 26. 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 AMCOL International's revenues will grow 1.6% and EPS will wither -16.9%.

Top 5 Construction Companies To Watch For 2014: Assa Abloy AB (ASAZY.PK)

Assa Abloy AB is a Sweden-based company engaged in the secure door opening solutions. It is organized into five divisions: Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), North and South America (Americas), Asia, Australia and New Zealand (Asia Pacific), Global Technologies and Entrance Systems. The EMEA, Americas and Asia Pacific divisions manufacture mechanical and electromechanical locks, security doors and hardware in their respective geographical markets. The Global Technologies division operates in the product areas of access control systems, secure card issuance, identification technology and hotel locks. The Entrance Systems division is a supplier of entrance automation products and services. The Company�� subsidiaries include ASSA Sverige AB, Timelox AB and ABLOY Holdings Ltd., among others. In November 2013, it acquired Ameristar Fence Products Inc, a manufacturer of ornamental fences and gates. In January 2014, it acquired IdenTrust. In February 2014, it acquired Lumidigm. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Weighing Machine]

  Domiciled in Sweden, Assa Abloy (ASAZY.PK) is the largest lock maker in the world with a global market share of nearly 12%. While the construction market has been difficult since the financial crisis, Assa has continued to increase revenue and operating profit every year since 2010 and is on track to do so again in 2013. While commercial construction has been subdued, the aftermarket (which represents ~70% of the total lock market) is driven by changes in tenancy, renovation, and extensions have not been very cyclical and provides the company with a steady stream of profits. Assa has been cobbled together through 150+ acquisitions since the early 1990s and while management has done a good job of rationalizing facilities, there remain opportunities to increase manufacturing efficiencies. Similarly, the company's back office is still running dozens of IT systems (as a result of acquisitions) but management plans to consolidate these over the next few years. Further, Assa remains an active consolidator of the locks industry - it should be able to add 5% per year to sales via acquisitions (as an aside, those interested in micro-caps should have a look at Securidev in France which trades at less than half the private market value Assa has paid for lock makers on average over the past decade). Having the highest margins in the industry, Assa is able to achieve significant synergies on acquired businesses and earn good returns on capital for its shareholders through M&A. Thus even in a difficult economy, we expect Assa will continue to grow its operating profit given its steady after market revenue, opportunity to improve results through cost cutting, and through value accretive M&A. While its shares are not cheap, at 19x earnings, shares could offer investors with a five year holding period and an 8-10% annualized return.

Best Information Technology Stocks To Buy Right Now

The European equity rebound continues and within the region the small cap stocks have been quietly performing very well. The WisdomTree Europe Small Cap Dividend ETF (NYSE: DFE) focuses on small cap stocks that pay high dividends.

The index that the ETF tracks is composed of the bottom 25 percent of stocks based on market capitalization in the WisdomTree Europe Dividend Index. The companies are then weighted based on annual cash dividend paid. The current yield on the ETF is 2.6 percent.

The ETF is heavily weighted in the U.K., Sweden, Italy, and Germany, with the four countries making up over 60 percent of the allocation. The four top sectors are the industrials, consumer discretionary, financials, and information technology. The ETF is fairly diversified with the top ten making up only 18 percent of the portfolio.

Top Promising Stocks To Watch For 2015: CarMax Inc(KMX)

CarMax, Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates as a retailer of used vehicles in the United States. It also sells vehicles that do not meet its retail standards to licensed dealers through on-site wholesale auctions, as well as sells new vehicles under franchise agreements. In addition, the company provides customers financing alternatives through its finance operation, CarMax Auto Finance, as well as through its third-party financing providers. Further, it offers a range of other related products and services, including the sale of extended service plans, guaranteed asset protection, and accessories; the appraisal and purchase of vehicles directly from consumers; and vehicle repair services. As of December 21, 2011, the company operated 107 used car superstores in 52 markets. CarMax, Inc. was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Richmond, Virginia.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ben Eisen]

  Given that outlook, he sees ten stocks in the consumer discretionary sector that qualify as bargains at the moment, including some of the very stocks that are expecting downbeat holiday results. They include: Advance Auto Parts Inc. (AAP) , AutoNation, Inc. (AN) , Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. (BBBY) , Carmax, Inc. (KMX) �, Nordstrom Inc. (JWN) �, PetsMart, Inc. (PETM) �, Ross Stores, Inc. (ROST) , Staples, Inc. (SPLS) �, Target Corp. (TGT) �, and Urban Outfitters, Inc. (URBN) .

• [By Laura Brodbeck]

  Friday

  Earnings Expected From: �CarMax (NYSE: KMX) Economic Releases Expected: US nonfarm payrolls, German factory orders

  Posted-In: European Central Bank Mary Barra Reserve Bank of AustraliaEarnings News Previews Events Global Pre-Market Outlook Markets Trading Ideas Best of Benzinga

Best Information Technology Stocks To Buy Right Now: Genesee & Wyoming Inc. (GWR)

Genesee & Wyoming Inc. owns and operates short line and regional freight railroads, and provides railcar switching services in the United States, Canada, Australia, the Netherlands, and Belgium. The company?s railroads transport various commodities, including coal and coke; pulp and paper; metals commodities; minerals and stone commodities; lumber and forest products; farm and food products; chemicals and plastics; petroleum products; autos and auto parts; metallic ores; and intermodal commodities. It operates 63 railroads with approximately 7,400 miles of owned and leased track; and approximately 1,400 additional miles under track access arrangements. The company also offers rail services at 17 ports in North America and Europe. In addition, it provides car repair services, car hire and rental services, demurrage and storage, crewing services, and track access services, as well as sells diesel fuel to other rail operators. The company was founded in 1899 and is headquarte red in Greenwich, Connecticut.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Brian Pacampara]

  Based on the aggregated intelligence of 180,000-plus investors participating in Motley Fool CAPS, the Fool's free investing community, regional freight railroad operator Genesee & Wyoming (NYSE: GWR  ) has earned a respected four-star ranking.

Best Information Technology Stocks To Buy Right Now: Concho Resources Inc. (CXO)

Concho Resources Inc., an independent oil and natural gas company, engages in the acquisition, development, and exploration of producing oil and natural gas properties in the United States. Its operations are focused in the Permian Basin of Southeast New Mexico and West Texas. The company also has acreage positions in the Bakken/Three Forks play in North Dakota. As of December 31, 2010, Concho Resources had estimated proved reserves of 323.5 million barrel of oil equivalent. The company is headquartered in Midland, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Robert Rapier]

  There are numerous drillers making major investments in the Permian Basin. The list is long, but it includes Occidental Petroleum (NYSE: OXY), Chevron (NYSE: CVX), Devon Energy (NYSE: DVN), Pioneer Natural Resources (NYSE: PXD), Concho Resources (NYSE: CXO), ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) and Apache (NYSE: APA).

• [By Laura Brodbeck]

  Monday

  Earnings Releases Expected: �McKesson�(NYSE: MCK), Concho Resources (NYSE: CXO), Diamondrock Hospitality (NYSE: DRH) Economic Releases Expected: �US Federal budget balance, Indian industrial production

  Tuesday

• [By ovenerio]

  The company has a current ROE of 12.69% which is higher than the industry median and the ones exhibit by Encana (ECA), Crescent Point Energy (CPG), Concho Resources (CXO) and EQT (EQT). In general, analysts consider ROE ratios in the 15-20% range as representing attractive levels for investment. It is very important to understand this metric before investing and it is important to look at the trend in ROE over time.

Best Information Technology Stocks To Buy Right Now: Caribou Coffee Company Inc.(CBOU)

Caribou Coffee Company, Inc. owns and operates coffeehouses. The company offers premium coffee and espresso-based beverages, as well as specialty teas, handcrafted beverages, foods, coffee lifestyle items, branded merchandise, and related products. It also sells whole bean and ground coffee to grocery stores, mass merchandisers, office coffee providers, airlines, hotels, sports and entertainment venues, college campuses, and online customers. In addition, the company sells blended coffees and licenses its Caribou Coffee brand to Keurig, Inc. for sale and use in its K-Cup single serve line of business. Further, Caribou Coffee Company franchises its brand to partners to operate Caribou Coffee branded kiosks and coffeehouses, as well as sells Caribou Coffee branded products to partners for resale in these franchised locations. As of July 3, 2011, it operated 407 company-owned coffeehouses located in 16 states and the District of Columbia; and 147 franchised coffeehouses in th e United States and international markets. The company was founded in 1992 and is based in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Holly LaFon] ou Coffee is a gourmet coffee company that owns the second-largest number of coffeehouses in the U.S. After rising significantly in the second quarter of 2011, its stock price dropped in the fourth quarter, when Joel Greenblatt purchased it. He bought 52,794 shares at an average price of $13.27.

  The company has increased revenue and EBITDA almost every year since 2005, reaching $284 million and $22.4 million, respectively, in 2010. Its return on equity and return on assets also turned positive in 2009 and increased in 2010; return on assets increased from 10.1 percent in 2009 to 15 percent in 2010, and return on assets increased 6 percent to 9.2 percent in 2010. Free cash flow, which Greenblatt typically considers highly important, has been positive only two years since 2005, in 2008 and 2009.

  Cofeehouse sales have increased for the last eight quarters, including 4.1 percent in the quarter ended Oct. 2, 2011. Much of the company�� sales growth has come because it has begun selling food.

  The outlook for Caribou�� growth is also positive. Daily coffee consumption increased to 40 percent of 18-24 year olds in 2011 from 31 percent of the age group in 2010, returning to its 2009 level, according to the National Coffee Drinking Study from the National Coffee Association. Caribou recently began growing as well. In the third quarter of 2011, it opened three company-owned stores, its first in over three years, and in the fourth quarter, it opened five more. For 2012, it plans to open 55 to 70 new locations and issued fiscal year 2012 net sales growth guidance of 10 percent.

  Caribou�� P/E, P/S and P/B ratios:

  CBOU pe,ps,pb Interactive Chart

  See Joel Greenblatt�� portfolio here and also check out the Undervalued Stocks, Top Growth Companies, and High Yield stocks of Joel Greenblatt.

Best Information Technology Stocks To Buy Right Now: McCormick & Company Inc (MKC)

McCormick & Company, Incorporated (McCormick) manufactures, markets and distributes spices, seasoning mixes, condiments and other flavorful products to the food industry, retail outlets, food manufacturers and foodservice businesses. The Company�� sales, distribution and production facilities are located in North America and Europe. Additional facilities are based in China, Australia, Mexico, India, Singapore, Central America, Thailand and South Africa. The Company operates in two business segments: consumer and industrial. During the fiscal year ended November 30, 2011, the Company�� consumer business contributed 59% of sales and 79% of operating income and the industrial business contributed 41% of sales and 21% of operating income.

McCormick�� products are sold directly to customers and also through brokers, wholesalers, and distributors. In the consumer segment, products are resold to consumers through a range of retail outlets, including grocery, mass merchandise, warehouse clubs, discount, and drug stores under a range of brands. In the industrial segment, products are used by food and beverage manufacturers as ingredients for their finished goods and by food service customers as ingredients for menu items to enhance the flavor of their foods. Customers for the industrial segment include food manufacturers and the foodservice industry supplied both directly and indirectly through distributors.

Consumer Business

The Company�� brands in the Americas include McCormick, Lawry�� and Club House. The Company also markets brands, such as Zatarain��, Thai Kitchen and Simply Asia. In Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) its brands include the Ducros, Schwartz and Kamis brands of spices, herbs and seasonings and a line of Vahine brand dessert items. In the Asia/Pacific region its primary brand is McCormick, with the exception of India where its joint venture owns and trades under the Kohinoor brand. The Company�� customers span a variety of retail o! utlets that include grocery, mass merchandise, warehouse clubs, discount and drug stores, served directly and indirectly through distributors or wholesalers. In addition to marketing its products to these customers, the Company is also a supplier of private label items, also known as store brands. More than 250 other brands are sold in the United States with additional brands in international markets.

Industrial Business

In its industrial business, the Company provides a range of products to multinational food manufacturers and foodservice customers. The foodservice customers are supplied both directly and indirectly through distributors. Its range of products include seasoning blends, natural spices and herbs, wet flavors, coating systems and compound flavors. In addition to a broad range of flavor solutions, we strive to achieve customer intimacy.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Nicholas Ward]

  McCormick (MKC) was the clearest buy that I ran across this quarter. I own this stock in my actual portfolio as well as in The Seeking Alpha Experiment. MKC's stock price fell drastically after is 4th quarter earnings release. However, when looking at the numbers I realized that the company set records for revenue, net income, and EPS. These numbers did not meet analyst expectations which is why the stock fell. MKC does support a rather high P/E of 23x and some of this selloff was likely related to profit taking. However, when looking at the long term growth of the company's share price, its prominence within the spice trade, and the fact that MKC (especially in the post dip $60 price range) seemed to be a perfect acquisition candidate, it's lofty P/E did not dissuade me. MKC has given shareholders an annual return of 13% over the past 10 years. McCormick also pays a healthy dividend (1.86% at quarter's end) which it has increased for 27 consecutive years. The company's most recent dividend increase was 10%. MKC's current payout ratio is 42%. This number seems reasonable after MKC's record earnings year. I have no immediate plans for my position in MKC. I believe this stock to be of core holding quality and plan on adding to this position on any significant dips.

• [By Caroline Bennett]

  McCormick (NYSE: MKC  ) has named Lawrence Kurzius president, global consumer and chief administrative officer.

  Kurzius will take the position July 1, the company announced today. He will be responsible for McCormick's global consumer business, along with a number of corporate tasks such as IT, R&D, and quality assurance. Additionally, Kurzius will take over the chair of McCormick's Global Consumer Strategy Council.

• [By Vera Yuan]

  Two portfolio holdings were eliminated in the third quarter of 2014 ��American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. (AEO) and McCormick & Company, Inc. (MKC) as future returns were viewed as unlikely to reach the levels needed for retention in the portfolio.From Westport Asset Management (Trades, Portfolio)�� Westport Fund Third Quarter 2014 Commentary.Also check out: Westport Asset Management Undervalued Stocks Westport Asset Management Top Growth Companies Westport Asset Management High Yield stocks, and Stocks that Westport Asset Management keeps buying Currently 0.00/512345

  Rating: 0.0/5 (0 votes)

Best Information Technology Stocks To Buy Right Now: Greenhunter Resources Inc (GRH)

GreenHunter Resources, Inc., formerly GreenHunter Energy, Inc., incorporated on June 7, 2005, is engaged in providing Total Water Management Solutions to oil and gas operators who are active in the Marcellus, Eagle Ford and Bakken shale plays. The Company operates in three segments: Wind Energy, Water Management and Biomass. All of the Company�� segments are in development stages with no operations. The Company assembled a suite of water management products and services and markets them under the Total Water Management Solutions brand. The Company�� operations includes Total Water Management Solutions, Frac-Cycle, remote access management compliance asset tracking (RAMCAT), equipment and tank rentals, disposal wells, MAG Tank and salt water disposal animation. On February 17, 2012, the Company closed on the acquisition of 100% of the ownership interest of three fully operational commercial salt water disposal (SWD) wells and associated facilities located in Washington County, Ohio and Lee County, Kentucky. In March 2013, GreenHunter Water, LLC closed the purchase of a 10.8 acre barging terminal facility located in Wheeling, Ohio County, West Virginia. In February 2014, its wholly owned subsidiary, GreenHunter Water, LLC, sold its Kenedy Hunter salt water disposal (SWD) facilities and a SWD permit and surface acreage located at another South Texas property to Sable Environmental, LLC.

The Company�� subsidiary GreenHunter Water, LLC (GreenHunter Water) is focused on water resource management specifically as it pertains to the unconventional oil and natural gas shale resource plays with its business operations in the Appalachian and South Texas basins. GreenHunter Water engaged in providing a full range of solutions to address producers��needs and is built upon an identified need in the oilfield, to deliver a Total Water Management Solution to its customer base through long term agreements. The Company�� Total Water Management Solutions are custom developed to meet producers��wat! er resource planning needs. These solutions include owning and operating saltwater disposal facilities, fluids handling and hauling and logistics services, frac tank and next-generation modular above-ground tank rentals, mobile water treatment technologies and remote asset tracking to provide as value added services to its customers.

The Company�� asset included a fleet of nine water hauling vacuum trucks, and 37 frac tanks (500 barrel capacity each). As of December 31, 2011, total salt water disposal capacity is 9,000 barrels per day, of which 6,000 barrels per day is from two wells located in Ohio and approximately 3,000 barrels per day is from one well located in Kentucky. The Company is engaged in exploring various alternative means of water transport that include temporary and permanent above-ground or below-ground pipeline systems, and the use of rail and barge transport.

GreenHunter Water has assembled a variety of equipment and tanks for rental. Products available in the Eagle Ford and Marcellus Shale areas include 500 barrel frac Tanks, 425 barrel Weir Tanks, modular above-ground temporary storage tanks to replace frac ponds, available up to 41,000 barrel in capacity, frac manifolds and glass lined steel tanks, up to 100,000 barrel. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company Completed a project, that included the removal of chemicals and impurities in a sufficient amount for reuse in new wells that were scheduled for fracture stimulation. The project also included the treatment of a gel frac flowback and multiple sources of flowback water blended together. The Company purchased equipment assets to be used to service a long term contract to haul and dispose produced water for several oil companies that control mineral leasehold acreage positions in the Marcellus and Utica Shale plays located in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio. The equipment consists of five Peterbilt 388 trucks, five 130 barrel Vacuum Trailers and five vacuum pumps and related equipme! nt.

The Company�� water treatment services name is Frac-Cycle. Frac-Cycle�� flexible design allows the user to take in flow-back or produced water and recycle to either clean brine or fresh water. Recycled water can be used in subsequent frac jobs and in some cases an NPDES permit can be obtained to discharge fresh water into a stream. The Company�� RAMCAT is a system and compliance tool that bundles a combination of its software, advanced hardware and communications technologies to provide a method for remote activity observation via a Web-based portal for management of well-head fluids. RAMCAT includes online data monitoring, which provides oil and natural gas producers near real-time dynamic information on fluid levels, tank temperature, recent transactions, date and time of on-load and off-load, truck and driver identification, H2S and critical condition alarms and battery voltage.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By James E. Brumley]

  In a perfect world, a stock's price is merely a reflection of a predictable combination of a company's history and forward-looking prospects. We don't live - or trade - in a perfect world though. In the real world, a chart not only tells a story, but illustrates traders' changing opinion of a stock. The good news is, traders move, thing, buy, and sell in fairly predictable patterns, and when you see certain hints fall in place, you can make a very good trade. Enter Authentidate Holding Corp. (NASDAQ:ADAT) and Greenhunter Resources Inc. (NYSEMKT:GRH). Both GRH as well as ADAT have taken on a bullish shape as of today, and both are apt to be at much higher levels in the foreseeable future.

Best Information Technology Stocks To Buy Right Now: Sierra Wireless Inc. (SWIR)

Sierra Wireless, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides cellular wireless solutions to the machine-to-machine (M2M) and connected device markets in North America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific. The company operates through two segments, Mobile Computing and Machine-to-Machine. It offers AirPrime embedded wireless modules, which are used to wirelessly enable various products and solutions by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs); and AirLink intelligent gateways that are rugged and industrial-grade wireless terminals for M2M and mobile applications to public safety, transportation, field service, energy, industrial, and financial organizations. The company�s AirVantage M2M cloud platform provides secure, scalable, and device-to-cloud infrastructure for M2M applications. It also provides professional services to OEM customers during their product development and launch process. The company offers its products to consumer electronics, networking equipment, automotiv e, energy, security, sales and payment, industrial control and monitoring, fleet management, field service, and healthcare industries. It sells its products and solutions through various indirect channels, such as OEMs, wireless operators, distributors, and value-added resellers. Sierra Wireless, Inc. was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Richmond, Canada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Nathan Hamilton]

  With that in mind, Fool analysts Nathan Hamilton and Sean O'Reilly provide a primer on IoT. Nathan discusses its history while also touching upon both the IoT's potential and some of the technologies that companies such as Intel (NASDAQ: INTC  ) , Sierra Wireless (NASDAQ: SWIR  ) , Qualcomm (NASDAQ: QCOM  ) , and Calamp (NASDAQ: CAMP  ) are developing.

• [By Garrett Cook]

  Sierra Wireless (NASDAQ: SWIR) shares shot up 23.06 percent to $32.66 after the company reported upbeat Q3 results and issued a strong Q4 forecast.

• [By rusticnomad]

  There can't be a superior time to purchase Sierra Wireless (SWIR), the chip creator which is on track to profit from the development in Cisco's (CSCO) Internet of Things.