5 Best Mid Cap Stocks To Buy For 2014

Whenever you talk about which sectors of the market are working, market cap is one aspect that is usually overlooked. In the charts below, we highlight the relative strength of each S&P sector compared to its corresponding index across all three market cap levels (S&P 500 large cap, S&P 400 mid cap and S&P 600 small cap). For example, in the Consumer Discretionary sector we compare the performance of small cap Consumer Discretionary stocks to the S&P 600 Small Cap Index. Rising lines indicate that the sector is outperforming its index while a falling line indicates that the sector is underperforming. As you will see in the charts, normally the sector's relative strength moves in the same direction across all three market cap levels, but there are times when they diverge, and these divergences can be a sign that a turn is coming.

In the Consumer Discretionary sector, large caps have been leading the way by outperforming the S&P 500 by a wide margin. Mid caps and small caps on the other hand have barely been outperforming their respective indices. If you look closely at the charts, however, the sector has recently faltered, and that underperformance coincided with the start of the government shutdown.

Top Gas Utility Companies To Invest In Right Now: Apricus Biosciences Inc(APRI)

Apricus Biosciences, Inc. engages in the design and development of pharmaceutical products and product candidates based on its patented NexACT drug delivery technology. The NexACT drug delivery technology is designed to enhance the delivery of an active drug to improve therapeutic outcomes and reduce systemic side effects that accompany existing oral and injectable medications. The company?s pipeline includes Vitaros, approved in Canada for the treatment of erectile dysfunction; and Totect approved in the U.S. for the treatment of anthracycline extravasation, as well as compounds in development from pre-clinical through pre-registration, focused on sexual dysfunction, oncology, dermatology, autoimmune, pain, anti-infectives, diabetes, and consumer healthcare. The company was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in San Diego, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Eric Volkman]

  Apricus Biosciences (NASDAQ: APRI  ) is hoping to widen its capital base significantly. The company is floating a mix of common stock and warrants that it hopes will raise net proceeds of nearly $16 million. Six million shares will be sold in an underwritten public offering at $2.85 apiece, and 3 million warrants will be issued separately at an exercise price of $3.40 per share.�

• [By John Udovich]

  On Friday, small cap pharma stock Apricus Biosciences Inc (NASDAQ: APRI) jumped just over 10% and not only�did the stock hold onto those gains, it made�another 10% jumps on Monday���meaning its time to take a closer look at the stock along with the performance of other potential benchmarks in the sexual health or reproductive health spaces like The Female Health Company (NASDAQ: FHCO) and Repros Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ: RPRX).

• [By Jon C. Ogg]

  Apricus Biosciences Inc. (NASDAQ: APRI) was initiated with a Hold rating and a $2 price target at Cantor Fitzgerald. Be advised that $2 is almost 10% under the prior close of $2.18, against a 52-week range of $1.89 to $3.49.

5 Best Mid Cap Stocks To Buy For 2014: Centerra Gold Inc (CAGDF.PK)

Centerra Gold Inc. (Centerra) is a gold mining company. The Company is engaged in the production of gold and related activities, including exploration, development, mining and processing in the Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Turkey, China and the Russian Federation. The Company�� producing gold mines properties include Kumtor, in the Kyrgyz Republic (100%) and Boroo, in Mongolia (100%). Centerra�� development project includes Gatsuurt, in Mongolia. Its exploration projects include ATO, in Mongolia (100%); Oksut, in Turkey (100%); Kara Beldyr, in Russia (70%); Dvoinoy, in Russia (40%), and Ulaan Bulag, in Mongolia (100%). Kumtor gold mine is located in the Kyrgyz Republic, about 350 kilometers southeast of the capital Bishkek and about 60 kilometers north of the border with the People�� Republic of China. The Boroo gold mine is located in Mongolia some 110 kilometers to the northwest of the capital city of Ulaanbaatar. The Kara Beldyr project is a joint venture with Auriant Mining Company. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Itinerant]

  Goldcorp, Newmont (NEM) or Agnico-Eagle use similar definitions. The important element here is the so-called 'sustaining capital expenditure', which is the capital required to sustain existing production levels. The table below is taken from the Agnico-Eagle presentation referenced above and provides a comparison of company-wide AISC for some of the major gold miners, including Goldcorp, Barrick Gold, Newmont Mining, Yamana Gold (AUY), Randgold (GOLD), Kinross (KGC), Agnico-Eagle Mines, Eldorado Gold (EGO), Goldfields and Centerra (CAGDF.PK). The difference between cash costs and AISC is significant. It is also important to note that these AISC are still noticeably below the present spot price for gold.

5 Best Mid Cap Stocks To Buy For 2014: Surge Energy Inc (ZPTAF.PK)

Surge Energy Inc. is an oil focused exploration and production (E&P) company. The Company has projects in Southern Saskatchewan/the Williston Basin, SE Alberta and Valhalla/Nipisi. In January 2014, Surge Energy Inc. announced the SE Saskatchewan light oil acquisition. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Value Digger]

  In late January 2013, I wrote an article about Surge Energy (ZPTAF.PK), an oil-weighted intermediate producer with operations in Canada and US. It was when the price dropped below $4. Actually, I recommended Surge Energy back then at $3.7, for the reasons mentioned here.

5 Best Mid Cap Stocks To Buy For 2014: MTS Systems Corporation(MTSC)

MTS Systems Corporation supplies test systems and industrial position sensors in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. The company?s Test segment provides testing solutions, including road simulators for durability simulation; tire performance and rolling resistance measurement systems; moving road-plane systems and balances use for aerodynamics measurements in wind tunnels; systems for the physical characterization of materials, such as ceramics, composites, and steel; systems to test durability and performance of implants, prostheses, and other medical and dental materials and devices. This segment also offers products, systems, and software to perform static and fatigue testing of aircraft and space vehicles; systems for structural engineering, including high force static and dynamic testing; and seismic simulation tables to test the designs of structures and set building codes. In addition, it provides various accessories and spare parts, as well as installation, calibratio n, maintenance, training, and consulting services. This segment serves automobile, truck, motorcycle, motorsports vehicle, construction equipment, agricultural equipment, rail, and off-road vehicle manufacturers and their suppliers, as well as power generation, aerospace, bio-medical, wind energy, structural engineering, and petroleum industries. The company?s Sensors segment manufactures products utilizing magnetostriction technology for manufacturers of mobile equipment, plastic injection molding machines, and wood product processing equipment, as well as to steel mill, fluid power, oil and gas, medical, and alternative energy industries. It also offers products to measure fluid displacement for customers in the process industries. The company sells its products through direct sales organization, and independent representatives and distributors, as well as through the Internet and catalogs. MTS Systems Corporation was founded in 1966 and is headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota.

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, road simulator specialist MTS Systems (NASDAQ: MTSC  ) has earned a coveted five-star ranking.

• [By Evan Niu, CFA]

  What: Shares of MTS Systems (NASDAQ: MTSC  ) dropped by as much as 13% today after the company reported disappointing earnings.

  So what: Revenue in the fiscal second quarter came in at $137.7 million, which topped the $135 million analysts were expecting. However, the bottom-line result of $0.69 per share was significantly worse than the $0.86-per-share consensus forecast. The sensors segment continues to face soft market conditions.