5 Best Asian Stocks For 2014

We used to have an old saying that you can always come in late the day of a Fed announcement, but that may not be the case today. As unpredictable as the stock markets are, the Fed can be even more unpredictable. The Asian markets closed mixed and Europe is trading higher after a quiet night in the global markets. This morning's economic calendar starts with the mortgage applications, housing starts and the API.

What we know for sure is that the E-mini S&P futures (CME ticker ESZ) has been on a tear. As of yesterday's close the S&P futures have closed higher 9 out of the first 11 trading days in September and up 7 out of the last 8. Instead of increased volatility and trade leading up to the two-day Fed meeting, we are actually seeing a lull.

Yesterday's 1.4 million ESZs traded sounds low, but when you take out the 400,000 ESZ traded in Globex pre-open and the 550k ESU/Z spreads (S&P e-mini spread), the total day session volume drops down to an astonishingly low 450,000 contracts traded.

S&P 1700, Dow 16,000 and NASDAQ 3800 are all considered big figures. Currently the ESZ has rallied back to its all-time contract highs but has failed to hold above the big figure. What we do know is that all the major indices are trading at or near their respective highs.

The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) closed below 14 yesterday. The majority of the floor traders we spoke to said they felt the Fed would announce a $10bil taper and that the public has already accepted the idea.

Top 5 Media Companies To Own In Right Now: Corrections Corporation of America (CXW)

Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) incorporated on September 24, 1998, is a real estate investment trust. The Company is the owner of privatized correctional and detention facilities and prison operators in the United States. As of December 31, 2012, the Company operated 67 correctional and detention facilities, including 47 facilities that the Company own, with a total design capacity of approximately 92,500 beds in 20 states and the District of Columbia. Beginning of January 1, 2013, the Company has provided correctional services and conducted other operations through TRSs. A TRS is a subsidiary of a REIT that is subject to applicable corporate income tax and certain qualification requirements. In January 2012, the Company closed the operations of the 1,172-bed Delta Correctional Facility in Greenwood, Mississippi. In January 2013, the Company announced that it has completed an internal reorganization of its business operations.

The Company specializes in owning, operating, and managing prisons and other correctional facilities and providing inmate residential and prisoner transportation services for governmental agencies. In addition to providing the fundamental residential services relating to inmates, its facilities offer a variety of rehabilitation and educational programs, including basic education, religious services, life skills and employment training and substance abuse treatment. These services are intended to help reduce recidivism and to prepare inmates for their re entry into society upon their release. The Company also provides health care (including medical, dental, and mental health services), food services, and work and recreational programs.

The Company�� customers consist of federal, state and local correctional and detention authorities. During the year ended December 31, 2012, federal correctional and detention authorities represented 43% of its total revenue. Federal correctional and detention authorities primarily consist of the Federal Burea! u of Prisons (BOP), the United States Marshals Service (USMS), and the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Its management services contracts typically have terms of three to five years and contain multiple renewal options. Its facility contracts also contain clauses that allow the government agency to terminate the contract at any time without cause, and its contracts are generally subject to annual or bi-annual legislative appropriations of funds.

The Company is compensated for providing prison bed capacity and correctional services at an inmate per diem rate based upon actual or minimum guaranteed occupancy levels. Occupancy rates for a particular facility are typically low when opened or immediately following an expansion. However, beyond the start-up period, which typically ranges from 90 to 180 days, the occupancy rate tends to stabilize. During 2012, the average compensated occupancy of its facilities, based on rated capacity, was 88.2% for all of the facilities it owned or managed, exclusive of facilities where operations have been discontinued.

The Company provides a variety of rehabilitative and educational programs at its facilities. Inmates at facilities the Company manage may receive basic education through academic programs designed to improve literacy levels and the opportunity to acquire GED certificates. The Company also offers vocational training to inmates who lack marketable job skills. Its craft vocational training programs are accredited by the National Center for Construction Education and Research. This foundation provides training curriculum and establishes industry standards for over 4,000 construction and trade organizations in the United States and several foreign countries. In addition, the Company offers life skills transition-planning programs that provide inmates with job search skills, health education, financial responsibility training, parenting training, and other skills associated with becoming productive citizens.

! As of December 31, 2012, the Company provides transportation services to governmental agencies through its wholly owned TRS, TransCor America, LLC, or TransCor. CCA owns 49 correctional and detention facilities in 15 states and the District of Columbia, two of which it leases to third-party operators. The Company also owns two corporate office buildings. Additionally, it manages 20 correctional and detention facilities owned by government agencies. Owned and managed facilities include facilities placed into service that the Company owned and managed. Managed-only facilities include facilities owned by a third party and managed by the Company.

The Company competes with The GEO Group, Inc. and Management and Training Corporation.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sean Williams]

  The premise here would be that any increase in nationwide drug testing would be bound to turn up additional drug users and could boost the prison population. That would be great news for the GEO Group (NYSE: GEO  ) and Corrections Corp. of America (NYSE: CXW  ) , which are contracted out through the government to run and service prisons around the country.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Prison REIT Corrections Corp of America (CXW) yields 6.2% and trades at 24.9 times earnings, while�Geo Group (GEO) yields 6.4% on a P-E ratio of 20.8 times.

5 Best Asian Stocks For 2014: PowerShares International Dividend Achievers Portfolio (PID)

PowerShares International Dividend Achievers Portfolio (the Fund) seeks to replicate, before fees and expenses, the International Dividend Achievers Index (the Index). The Fund invests in sectors, including financials, utilities, consumer staples, commercial banks, insurance, utilities and information technology. PowerShares Capital Management LLC is the adviser of the Fund.

The Index seeks to identify an international group of American Depository Receipts that have qualified as International Dividend Achievers. The Index is designed to track the performance of dividend paying American Depository Receipts and non-United States common or ordinary stocks trading on the NYSE, NADDAQ or AMEX.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Editor , DividendChannel.com]

  According to the ETF Finder at ETF Channel, Enbridge stock is an underlying holding representing 1.97% of the Powershares International Dividend Achievers ETF (PID), which holds $20,709,837 worth of ENB shares.

• [By Carlton Delfeld]

  Second, add to the mix, one of my long-time favorite ETFs, the PowerShares International Dividend Achievers (PID).

  To get into this exclusive basket, companies have to have a record of increasing dividends for five consecutive years. The United Kingdom and Canada make up 50% of its holdings with the US at only 6%.

5 Best Asian Stocks For 2014: Sibanye Gold Ltd (SBGL)

Sibanye Gold Limited (Sibanye Gold), formerly GFI Mining South Africa (Pty) Limited, incorporated on December 12, 2002, is a producer of gold in South Africa. Sibanye Gold is primarily engaged in underground and surface gold mining and related activities, including extraction, and processing. Sibanye Gold�� operations are located in South Africa. Its principal mining operations include Kloof-Driefontein Complex (KDC) and Beatrix. Exploration activities are focused on the extension of existing ore bodies and identification of new ore bodies at existing sites. As of January 10, 2013, Sibanye Gold mined only gold, with silver as a by-product.

KDC Operation

The KDC mine is located in the Gauteng Province of South Africa in the Far West Rand mining district, some 60 kilometers southwest of Johannesburg. KDC consists of the Driefontein and Kloof mines. As of January 10, 2013, KDC is consisted of 13 producing shaft systems that mine different contributions from pillars and open ground and five gold plants of which two process mainly underground ore and three process mainly surface material. Driefontein is situated some 70 kilometers west of Johannesburg. Kloof is situated in the Magisterial District of Westonaria, some 60 kilometers west of Johannesburg.

Beatrix Operation

The Beatrix operation is located in the Free State Province of South Africa, some 240 kilometers southwest of Johannesburg, near Welkom and Virginia, and consists of the Beatrix mine. Beatrix operates under mining rights covering a total area of approximately 16 800 hectares. As of January 10, 2013, Beatrix had four shaft systems, with five ventilation shafts to provide additional up-cast and down-cast ventilation capacity and is serviced by two metallurgical plants. It is a shallow to intermediate-depth mining operation, at depths between 700 meters and 2 200 meters below surface. The mine has a refrigeration and cooling infrastructure in both its North and West Sections. Beatrix is man! aged as three operational sections: the North Section (consists of Shaft No. 3), the South Section (consists of Shaft No. 2 and Shaft No. 1) and the West Section (consists of Shaft No. 4).

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lisa Levin]

  Gold: This industry rose 0.65% by 10:25 am ET. The top performer in this industry was Sibanye Gold (NYSE: SBGL), which gained 4.9%. Gold futures fell 0.17% to trade at $1,216.70 an ounce.

• [By Lisa Levin]

  Gold: This industry jumped 1.20% by 11:40 am. The top performer in this industry was Sibanye Gold (NYSE: SBGL), which rose 3.2%. Gold futures gained 0.44% to trade at $1,281.00 an ounce.

5 Best Asian Stocks For 2014: Oceaneering International Inc.(OII)

Oceaneering International, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides engineered products and services primarily to the offshore oil and gas industry with a focus on deepwater applications. The company?s Remotely Operated Vehicles segment provides submersible vehicles operated from the surface to support offshore oil and gas exploration, production, and construction activities. Its Subsea Products segment supplies various built-to-order specialty subsea hardware products. The company?s Subsea Projects segment provides multiservice vessels, oilfield diving, and support vessel operations, which are used primarily in inspection, repair, and maintenance and installation activities; and mobile offshore production systems. Its Inspection segment offers customers with a range of third-party inspection services to satisfy contractual structural specifications, internal safety standards, and regulatory requirements. The company?s Advanced Technologies segment offers project management, and engineering services and equipment for applications in non-oilfield markets. Oceaneering International, Inc. also serves defense and aerospace industries. It operates primarily in west Africa, Norway, the United Kingdom, Asia, Australia, Brazil, and the United States. The company was founded in 1965 and is based in Houston, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Chris Hill]

  Gold continues its decline. Citigroup (NYSE: C  ) gets a boost from its investment banking business. Netflix� (NASDAQ: NFLX  ) gets a boost from analyst upgrades. And Oceaneering International (NYSE: OII  ) slips on falling oil prices. In this installment of Investor Beat, our analysts discuss four stocks making moves.

Top 5 Defensive Stocks To Buy For 2014

The Hidden Dangers of Defensive Stocks Source: Flickr

If recent market action has you thinking about using defensive stocks as a way to protect your portfolio against downside risk, you might want to think again.

Defensive stocks can provide a measure of protection in a down market … but not if the reason for the broader-market weakness is concern about Federal Reserve rate hikes.

Here�� why: Investors have poured cash into higher-yielding segments of the stock market, since they’re the only option at a time of low yields for bonds. As a result, defensive investments — including dividend stocks and low-volatility market ETFs — now have a substantial amount of imbedded interest rate risk.

Top Industrial Disributor Stocks To Watch Right Now: Ambit Biosciences Corp (AMBI)

Ambit Biosciences Corporation, incorporated on May 17, 2000, is a biopharmaceutical company. The Company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of drugs to treat unmet medical needs in oncology, autoimmune and inflammatory diseases by inhibiting kinases that are important drivers for those diseases. The Company�� lead drug candidate, quizartinib, is in Phase IIb clinical development in patients with relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The Company�� second drug candidate in clinical development, AC410, is a potent, selective, orally-administered, small molecule inhibitor of Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) that has potential utility for the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. The Company�� third program consists of two selective small molecule compounds, AC708 and AC855, which inhibit the colony-stimulating factor-1 receptor (CSF1R), a receptor tyrosine kinase.

Quizartinib

The Company�� lead drug candidate, quizartinib, is a once-daily, orally-administered, potent and selective inhibitor of FLT3, a validated target in the treatment of AML, and is in Phase IIb clinical development. The FLT3-ITD mutation acts like a power switch that causes leukemic cells, or blasts, to spread more aggressively and grow back more rapidly following chemotherapy, conferring an especially poor survival outcome. Quizartinib is designed to turn off this switch. The Company is developing a companion diagnostic test with Genoptix Medical Laboratory, a Novartis company, to identify FLT3-ITD positive patients.

AC410

The Company�� advanced drug candidate, AC410, is a potent, selective, orally-administered, small molecule inhibitor of JAK2, which has potential utility for the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Signaling through JAK controls the activation, proliferation and survival of various types of immune cells, and overactivation of such cells can exacerbate a range of normal inflammatory processes, resulting i! n inflammation. The Company�� initial JAK2 drug candidate, AC430, is a racemic mixture (50/50) of two enantiomers (mirror images), AC410 and AC409, and was studied in a Phase I clinical trial.

CSF1R Program

The Company is developing two potent and exquisitely selective small molecule compounds, AC708 and AC855 that both inhibit CSF1R and have potential utility in oncology, autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Signaling through CSF1R controls the activation, proliferation and survival of macrophages, which are key mediators of immune system function and over-activation of macrophages, may result in exacerbation of certain diseases.

The Company competes with Abbvie Inc., Akinion Pharmaceuticals AB, Amgen Inc., ARIAD Pharmaceuticals, Inc., AROG Pharmaceuticals, LLC, ArQule, Inc., Astellas, AstraZeneca plc, Bayer AG, Celgene Corporation, Daiichi-Sankyo Company Limited, Galapagos NV, GlaxoSmithKline plc, Incyte Corporation, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Johnson & Johnson, Eli Lilly and Company, Novartis, Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Pfizer, Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc., F. Hoffman-LaRoche Ltd, and Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Wallace Witkowski]

  Ambit Biosciences Corp. (AMBI) �shares fell more than 37% to $8 in moderate volume. The small-cap biotech said it will not file an accelerated approval application with the Food and Drug Administration for its leukemia drug quizartinib after the agency disagreed with the company about the use of certain study data to support the drug�� efficacy.

Top 5 Defensive Stocks To Buy For 2014: Great Plains Energy Inc (GXP)

Great Plains Energy Incorporated (Great Plains Energy), incorporated on February 26, 2001, is a public utility holding company. The Company does not own or operate any assets other than the stock of its subsidiaries. Great Plains Energy�� wholly owned direct subsidiaries with operations or active subsidiaries includes Kansas City Power & Light Company (KCP&L), and KCP&L Greater Missouri Operations Company (GMO). The Company is engaged in the business segment of electric utility. The electric utility segment consists of KCP&L, a regulated utility, and GMO�� regulated utility operations, which include its Missouri Public Service and St. Joseph Light & Power (L&P) divisions. Electric utility serves approximately 825,300 customers located in western Missouri and eastern Kansas.

KCP&L is an integrated, regulated electric utility that provides electricity to customers in the states of Missouri and Kansas. KCP&L has one active wholly owned subsidiary, Kansas City Power & Light Receivables Company (Receivables Company). GMO is an integrated, regulated electric utility that provides electricity to customers in the state of Missouri. GMO also provides regulated steam service to certain customers in the St. Joseph, Missouri area. GMO wholly owns MPS Merchant Services, Inc. (MPS Merchant), which has certain long-term natural gas contracts remaining from its former non-regulated trading operations.

Customers include approximately 726,100 residences, 96,600 commercial firms, and 2,600 industrials, municipalities and other electric utilities. During the year ended December 31, 2012, electric utility�� retail revenues averaged approximately 90% of its total operating revenues. Wholesale firm power, bulk power sales and miscellaneous electric revenues accounted for the remainder of electric utility�� revenues. During 2012, electric utility�� total electric revenues were 100% of Great Plains Energy�� revenues. During 2012, electric utility�� net income accounted for approximately! 108%, of Great Plains Energy�� income from continuing operations, respectively.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Justin Loiseau]

  Reeling in rates
  Great Plains Energy (NYSE: GXP  ) shares are up 18.3% in the past year, a sign that something's going right for this Missouri/Kansas utility company. Fiscal 2013 EPS bumped up 8%, but the real gains came from regulation risk reduction. After filing for rate increases in early 2012, Great Plains got the green light from regulators to boost its 2013 prices. On the unregulated front, the utility generates 83% of its electricity from coal and 14% from nuclear power, a (recently revealed) welcome relief from natural gas' rapidly rising prices.

• [By Justin Loiseau]

  As coal prices regain their competitive edge, investors should watch TECO Energy (NYSE: TE  ) , Great Plains Energy (NYSE: GXP  ) , and FirstEnergy (NYSE: FE  ) .

• [By Eric Volkman]

  Great Plains Energy (NYSE: GXP  ) is keeping its dividend as level as the geographical feature in its company name. The company will distribute $0.2175 per share of its common stock on June 20 to shareholders of record as of May 20.� This amount matches the company's previous two disbursements, the most recent of which was paid in March. Before that, Great Plains handed out $0.2125.

• [By David Dittman]

  Question: It�� not a popular name, but what are your thoughts on Great Plains Energy Inc (NYSE: GXP) with regard to dividend hikes and price?

  Answer: I have Great Plains Energy rated ��old��right now. But 100 percent of revenue is regulated–i.e., predictable and stable–and 2013 earnings growth was outstanding due to a resurgent regional economy.

Top 5 Defensive Stocks To Buy For 2014: Synovus Financial Corp.(SNV)

Synovus Financial Corp., a diversified financial services and bank holding company, provides commercial and retail banking, financial management, insurance, and mortgage services in Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Florida, and Tennessee. Its retail banking services include accepting customary types of demand and savings deposits; mortgage, installment, and other retail loans; investment and brokerage services; safe deposit services; automated banking services; automated fund transfers; Internet based banking services; and bank credit card services, including mastercard and visa services. The company?s commercial banking services comprise cash management and asset management services, capital markets services, and institutional trust services, as well as commercial, financial, and real estate loans. It also provides various other financial services, which include the portfolio management for fixed-income securities, investment banking, the execution of securities transac tions as a broker/dealer, and the provision of individual investment advice on equity and other securities; trust services; mortgage services; and financial planning services. Synovus Financial Corp. was founded in 1888 and is headquartered in Columbus, Georgia.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Duprey]

  Southeastern regional bank�Synovus Financial (NYSE: SNV  ) �announced this morning�its second-quarter dividend of $0.01 per share, the same rate it's paid since 2009.

• [By Robert Eberhard]

  Much-maligned regional bank Synovus Financial (NYSE: SNV  ) reported first-quarter earnings this morning, and it pretty much went as expected. With consensus estimates pegging the Georgia bank at $0.02 earnings per share, Synovus didn't disappoint and met that number, and the stock has risen in trading today.

• [By Eric Volkman]

  Synovus (NYSE: SNV  ) is tapping the markets for a fresh round of financing. The company announced that it will float just under 59.9 million shares of its common stock in an underwritten public offering priced at $3.09 per share. The estimated net proceeds of the issue are estimated at $175 million. This cash pile, in conjunction with a planned preferred stock issue and dividends from a subsidiary, will be used to repay nearly $1 billion in TARP funds the government provided to Synovus.

Top 5 Defensive Stocks To Buy For 2014: Resolute Energy Corporation(REN)

Resolute Energy Corporation, an independent oil and gas company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, exploitation, and development of oil and gas properties in the United States. It primarily holds interests in the Aneth Field properties that cover approximately 43,000 gross acres on the Navajo Reservation in southeast Utah. The company? producing properties are located in the Powder River Basin, Wyoming; the Bakken shale trend of the Williston Basin in North Dakota; and the Permian Basin of Texas It also owns exploration properties in the Permian Basin of Texas; and the Big Horn and Powder River Basins of Wyoming. As of December 31, 2011, the company had estimated net proved reserves of approximately 64.8 million equivalent barrels of oil. Resolute Energy Corporation is based in Denver, Colorado.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Garrett Cook]

  In trading on Wednesday, energy shares were relative leaders, up on the day by about 0.59 percent. Top gainers in the sector included Parker Drilling Co (NYSE: PKD), Alpha Natural Resources (NYSE: ANR), and Resolute Energy (NYSE: REN).

Top 5 Prefered Stocks To Invest In 2014

LONDON -- Home Retail Group� (LSE: HOME  ) -- the owner of Argos and Homebase -- this morning published its full-year results for the 52 weeks to March 2, 2013. Sales were reported as essentially flat, at 5,475 million pounds, but underlying pre-tax profit was down just over 10%, at 91 million pounds. Argos saw its underlying operating profit rise 6.5%, to 100 million pounds, but Homebase's plunged over 50%, to just 11 million pounds, despite a reported gain in market share.

Both businesses suffered from what John Coombe, Home Retail Group's chairman, described as "subdued consumer spending." Earnings per share were down 11%, at 7.7 pence, and the company's full-year dividend will be only 3.0 pence per share, down over a third on 2012's 4.7 pence.

The results also reiterate the group's intention to transform Argos from a dowdy catalogue-based operation, to a digitally led business. So far, the plan appears to be bearing fruit, with multichannel sales now accounting for over half of Argos's total sales. The group also reports that Argos has delivered like-for-like sales growth for the first time in five years.

Top Recreation Companies For 2015: Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA)

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (the Bank) is engaged in the provision of a range of banking and financial products and services to retail, small business, corporate and institutional clients. The Bank is a provider of integrated financial services, including retail, business and institutional banking, superannuation, life insurance, general insurance, funds management, broking services and finance company activities. Its operating segments include Retail Banking Services, Business and Private Banking, Institutional Banking and Markets, Wealth Management, New Zealand, Bankwest and Other. Its retail banking services include home loans, consumer finance, retail deposits and distribution. Its business and private banking include corporate financial services, regional and agribusiness banking, local business banking, private bank and equities and margin lending. The Bank and its subsidiaries ceased to be a substantial holder in Ten Network Holdings Limited, as of September 12, 2012. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Michael Ugulini]

  Investors can take away that Craft Brew Alliance (CBA) is experiencing growth in all brands as noted by the company's President of Commercial Operations, Mr. Andy Thomas in an August Earning's Call, "For the first time in CBA's history, CBA's quarterly growth was propelled by growth in all brand families and across all CBA sales divisions. Our overall plus 12% STR growth came from a healthy blend of plus 23% growth for Kona, plus 14% growth for Redhook, and plus 1% growth for Widmer Brothers; all accompanied by the continued expansion of Omission in our international markets."

• [By Jan Schalkwijk]

  M-Pesa, the system that revolutionized mobile payments in Kenya and beyond, is not capital intensive for Safaricom, but the company has to pay 10% of revenues to Vodafone, which runs the system's technology backbone. Safaricom is planning to take this job on itself going forward, which should increase profitability, though there would be some operational risk if they can't deliver the same level of service. M-Pesa has now spawned M-Shwari, which is the same concept but adds mobile banking services such as the provision of credit. This new service is delivered in partnership with the unlisted Commercial Bank of Africa (CBA).

• [By Yoshiaki Nohara]

  Panasonic Corp., Japan�� largest consumer electronics maker, climbed 6.8 percent after posting profit that beat estimates. STX Offshore & Shipbuilding Co. (067250) jumped 15 percent in Seoul after agreeing to restructure it debt. Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA), the nation�� biggest lender, fell 1.5 percent, pacing losses among the nation�� financial shares on a report the government will impose a new tax on banks.

• [By Toshiro Hasegawa]

  Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) fell 1.1 percent to A$73.73. Singapore Telecommunications Ltd. (ST) retreated 1.1 percent to S$3.78 today after posting earnings.

Top 5 Prefered Stocks To Invest In 2014: Jack In The Box Inc.(JACK)

Jack in the Box Inc. operates and franchises Jack in the Box quick-service restaurants and Qdoba Mexican Grill fast-casual restaurants. As of February 22, 2012, it operated and franchised 2,200 Jack in the Box restaurants in 20 states in the United States; and 600 Qdoba Mexican Grill restaurants in 42 states and the District of Columbia. The company was founded in 1951 and is based in San Diego, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sue Chang]

  Jack in the Box Inc. (JACK) �is expected to post earnings of 52 cents a share in the second quarter.

• [By Andrew Marder]

  Actually, that's not entirely true. Panera's drop pulled it closer to companies such as Darden (NYSE: DRI  ) -- operator of Red Lobster and Olive Garden -- and Jack in the Box (NASDAQ: JACK  ) , which also runs Qdoba. It fell away from what seems like its closest competitor, Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX  ) . But that's not necessarily a bad thing for investors.

Top 5 Prefered Stocks To Invest In 2014: Wind Works Power Corp (WWPW)

Wind Works Power Corp. (Wind Works), incorporated on November 20, 2002, the Company intends to develop wind parks. The Company will assemble land packages, secure requisite environmental permitting, provide wind testing by erecting towers to measure wind speed. The Company operates 4.6 megawatts in Germany, in which it has a 49% ownership stake.

The Company�� projects include Ganaraska Wind Park, Settlers Landing, Skyway 126, Ganaraska and Thunder Spirit. The Company focuses to develop 77 megawatts of near-term permitted projects in Germany; 50 megawatts of FIT contracted projects in Ontario; and 320 megawatts of projects in the United States.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Peter Graham]

  Small cap green stocks Geo Finance Corporation (OTCMKTS: GEFI), Dragon Polymers Inc (OTCMKTS: DRAG) and Wind Works Power Corp (OTCMKTS: WWPW) have been getting some extra attention lately from various investment newsletters or investor alerts. However, two of these small cap green stocks have also been the subject of paid promotions or investor relations types of activities. So will these green small cap stocks produce some greenbacks for investors and traders alike? Here is a closer look and a reality check:

Top 5 Prefered Stocks To Invest In 2014: Silver Spring Networks Inc (SSNI)

Silver Spring Networks, Inc., incorporated on July 3, 2002, provides a networking platform and solutions that enable utilities to transform the power grid infrastructure into the smart grid. The Company�� networking platform provides two-way communications between the utility back office and devices on the power grid. In addition to its networking platform, it offers a suite of solutions that run on top of its network and complementary services, all of which is referred to as its Smart Energy Platform. Its service offerings include professional services to implement its products, managed services and software as a service ( SaaS), to assist utilities with managing the network and solutions, and ongoing customer support. Its Smart Energy Platform consists of hardware, software and services and combines with devices manufactured by third-party partners to form end-to-end smart grid offerings.

The Company�� solutions include advanced metering, which allows utilities to automate a number of manual processes and improve operational efficiencies, offer flexible pricing programs to consumers, and improve customer service with faster outage detection and restoration; distribution automation, which provides utilities with real-time visibility into the health of the grid, enabling better management and control of power distribution assets to improve grid reliability, and demand-side management, which enables utilities to offer consumers a variety of programs and incentives to use energy more efficiently and reduce usage at times of peak demand. The Company markets its Smart Energy Platform directly to utilities around the world. The Company�� network is composed of its hardware, such as access points and relays, its UtilOS network operating system, and GridScape software suite, which together provide utilities the ability to communicate with and control devices connected to the power grid.

The Company also offers a suite of solutions that run on top of its network, including ad! vanced metering, distribution automation, and demand-side management. These solutions include additional hardware, such as its communications modules and bridges, and applications from UtilityIQ and CustomerIQ software. Its solutions combine with devices from the large number of third parties with whom it collaborates to form end-to-end smart grid offerings built on its network. In addition, itoffers a range of services that enable its utility customers to deploy, operate and maintain its networking platform and solutions. These service offerings include professional services to implement its products, managed services and SaaS to assist utilities with managing the network and solutions, and ongoing customer support.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Udovich]

  Although small cap smart metering stock Silver Spring Networks Inc (NYSE: SSNI) recently soared on earnings, it also plunged yesterday�after loosing�out on important contract ��meaning it might be time to take a closer look at it along with other smart metering stocks like Itron, Inc (NASDAQ: ITRI) or Echelon Corporation (NASDAQ: ELON) to see if they are smart investments.

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Equities Trading DOWN
  Shares of Silver Spring Networks (NYSE: SSNI) were down 23.66 percent to $17.91 after the company issued downbeat Q4 forecast. Credit Suisse downgraded the stock from Outperform to Neutral and cut the price target from $26.00 to $23.00.

5 Best Sliver Stocks To Invest In Right Now

5 Best Sliver Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Viasystems Group Inc.(VIAS)

Viasystems Group, Inc. provides multi-layer printed circuit boards (PCBs) and electro-mechanical solutions worldwide. The company?s products and services are used in a range of applications, including, automotive engine controls, data networking equipment, telecommunications switching equipment, complex medical, technical and industrial instruments, and flight control systems. Its PCBs products include circuitry and mounting surfaces to interconnect discrete electronic components, such as integrated circuits, capacitors, and resistors. The company?s electro-mechanical solutions comprise assembly of backplanes, assembly of printed circuit boards, fabrication of custom and standard metal enclosures, cabinets, racks, sub-racks and bus bars; systems integration; final assembly; and product testing and fulfillment. It also offers various manufacturing services consisting of design and prototyping, PCB and backpanel fabrication, backpanel assembly, PCB assembly, custom metal e n closure fabrication, full system assembly and test, packaging and global distribution, after-sales support, and supply chain management. The company markets its products and services to original equipment manufacturers and contract electronic manufacturers in automotive, industrial and instrumentation, telecommunications, computer and data communications, and military and aerospace markets through its own sales and marketing organization, and through relationships with independent sales agents. The company was formerly known as Circo Technologies, Inc. and changed its name to Viasystems Group, Inc. in January 1997. Viasystems Group, Inc. was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri.

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 Viasystems Group (Nasdaq: VIAS  ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.

• [By Garrett Cook]

  Shares of Viasystems Group (NASDAQ: VIAS) got a boost, shooting up 35.81 percent to $15.89 after TTM Technologies (NASDAQ: TTMI) announced its plans to buy Viasystems for a total value of $16.46 per share.

source from Top Penny Stocks For 2015:http://www.topstocksforum.com/5-best-sliver-stocks-to-invest-in-right-now.html

Hot Prefered Stocks To Own For 2014

I expect the Brookfield Group of Companies, which is composed of no fewer than 15 publicly traded entities, to be very active acquisitive in the near-term future. Here I focus my attention on three members of the Brookfield Group that are going to be the most active with M&A. While Brookfield Asset Management (BAM) will concentrate its M&A efforts into all geographies and all asset classes, Brookfield Renewable Energy Partners (BEP) and Brookfield Infrastructure Partners (BIP) will concentrate on their respective industries. Let's see whether you should go long on any of this separate -although related - entities.

Good Operational Performance

Brookfield Asset Management, held by Lou Simpson and Ron Baron, counts with a liquidity position of more than $5 billion at the parent and principal subsidiaries along with nearly $10 billion drawable private fund commitments. More importantly, the company has expressed its interest into using this liquidity to make acquisitions. Management clearly stated in its letter to shareholders:

Top Food Companies To Buy Right Now: TPC Group Inc.(TPCG)

TPC Group Inc. produces and sells value-added products derived from petrochemical raw materials to chemical and petroleum based companies in North America. The company operates in two segments, C4 Processing and Performance Products. The C4 Processing segment offers butadiene that is primarily used to produce synthetic rubber used in tires and other automotive products; butene-1, which is principally used in the manufacture of plastic resins and synthetic alcohols; raffinates that are primarily used to manufacture alkylate; and methyl tertiary butyl ether, which is principally used as a gasoline blending stock. The Performance Products segment provides high purity isobutylene, which is primarily used in the production of synthetic rubber, lubricant additives, surfactants, and coatings; conventional polyisobutylenes and highly reactive polyisobutylenes that are principally used in the production of fuel and lubricant additives, caulks, adhesives, sealants, and packaging; di isobutylene, which is primarily used in the manufacture of surfactants, plasticizers, and resins; and nonene and tetramer that are principally used in the production of plasticizers, surfactants, and lubricant additives. The company was formerly known as Texas Petrochemicals Inc. and changed its name to TPC Group Inc. in January 2010. TPC Group Inc. was founded in 1943 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By CRWE]

  TPC Group Inc. (Nasdaq:TPCG), a leading fee-based processor and service provider of value-added products derived from niche petrochemical raw materials, reported that it has entered into a definitive merger agreement with investment funds sponsored by First Reserve Corporation, a leading global investment firm dedicated to the energy industry, and SK Capital Partners, a U.S. based private investment firm focused on the chemicals sector.

Hot Prefered Stocks To Own For 2014: Emerson Electric Company(EMR)

Emerson Electric Co. operates as a diversified manufacturing and technology company. The company engages in appliance solutions, climate technologies, industrial automation, motor technology, network power, process management, professional tools, and storage solutions businesses. Its appliance solutions business provides appliance controls, appliance motors, heating products, and white-rodgers; climate technology business provides heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR) solutions for residential, industrial, and commercial applications; and industrial automation business offers bearings and power transmission products, electrical power generation products, electric motors, variable speed drives and servos, electrical products, material joining solutions, fluid automation products, and wind turbine systems. The company?s motor technology business provides appliance motors, HVACR motors, DC motors, fractional horsepower motors, integral horsepower a nd larger motors, and drives; network power business provides power, precision cooling, connectivity, and embedded solutions; and process management business provides various wireless related products from self-organizing field networks to wireless asset and people tracking. Its professional tools business offers pipe working and threading equipment, pressing technology, utility locating and visual diagnostics systems, drain maintenance tools, power tools, air tools, general purpose hand tools, wet/dry vacs, job site storage equipment, truck tool boxes and equipment, and van storage equipment; and storage solutions business provides shelving and storage products for residential, commercial, and foodservice needs, as well as offers specialized carts, mobile computer workstations, and cabinet fixtures. The company was founded in 1890 and is headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dividends4Life]

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Hot Prefered Stocks To Own For 2014: Medical Marijuana Inc (MJNA.PK)

Medical Marijuana Inc. (MJNA), incorporated on May 23, 2005, is the publicly held company vested in the medical marijuana and industrial hemp markets. The Company is comprised of a diversified portfolio of products, services, technology and businesses solely focused on the cannabis and hemp industries. These products range from patented based cannabinoid products, to whole plant or isolated high value extracts specifically manufactured and formulated for the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and cosmeceutical industries. In March 2013, it sold certain equipment and inventory, web domain names, phone numbers, and all existing and pending agreements with hemp production and processing facilities to CannaVEST Corp.

The Company�� services are varied, ranging from medical clinic management to the capitalization and development of existing industry business and product leaders. Services include development of cannabinoid based health and wellness products, and the development of medical grade compounds. MJNA provides over 50 and patented cannabinoid delivery methods that are more socially and medically acceptable than smoking.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Alan Brochstein]

  Taking into account all of the data I have shared, I want to introduce my take on the most important names to follow. My initial list takes into account not only the market cap, but also business model and interest level. These are the stocks that I think merit the most attention (in alphabetical order):

  CannaVest (CANV.OB)GW Pharma (GWPH)MedBox (MDBX.PK)Medical Marijuana, Inc. (MJNA.PK)

  CANV doesn't really trade, as it is held closely by insiders (99.7%, including MJNA). I have a few concerns, including the valuation and some near-term financial challenges typical of a start-up with just one client looking to expand its customer base, but I like the focus and the fact that it is an SEC filer with a relatively clean history (i.e. none of the baggage of some of these other companies). I have spoken to its outsourced CFO and am impressed by his background (has been CFO or held key financial roles at publicly-traded healthcare companies). CANV is the partner to MJNA that is responsible for manufacturing the CBD (Cannibidiol, the cannabinoid in marijuana that is increasingly viewed as offering substantial medical benefits). I am very concerned about the near-term financials, but this is a pure-play with probably a two-year lead over other companies. I don't see a moat in terms of intellectual property or brands, but they have a good lead in terms of sourcing of supply and penetration into potential customers. Quite simply, they don't appear to have competition at present. The company, then, is a call option on CBD demand taking off. It appears that it could be a supplier to even Big Pharma should medical marijuana research move into the mainstream.

Hot Prefered Stocks To Own For 2014: MEDNAX Inc (MD)

MEDNAX, Inc. (MEDNAX), incorporated in 2007, is a provider of physician services, including newborn, maternal-fetal, pediatric subspecialties and anesthesia care. As of December 31, 2011, the Company�� national network consisted of 1,839 affiliated physicians, including 996 physicians who provided neonatal clinical care, in 34 states and Puerto Rico, primarily within hospital-based neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), to babies born prematurely or with medical complications. The Company has 190 affiliated physicians who provide maternal-fetal care to expectant mothers experiencing complicated pregnancies and obstetrical hospitalist services in many areas where its affiliated neonatal physicians practice. In March 2014, the Company acquired Piedmont Neonatology, P.C.Piedmont Neonatology, P.C, is a private neonatal physician group practice based in Greensboro, North Carolina.

MEDNAX�� network includes other pediatric subspecialists, including 108 physicians providing pediatric cardiology care, 85 physicians providing pediatric intensive care, 43 physicians providing hospital-based pediatric care and six physicians providing pediatric surgical care. In addition, it has 411 physicians who provide anesthesia care to patients in connection with surgical and other procedures, as well as pain management. The Company provides clinical care to babies born prematurely or with complications within specific units at hospitals, primarily NICUs, through a team of neonatal physician subspecialists (neonatologists), neonatal nurse practitioners and other pediatric clinicians. Neonatal nurse practitioners are nurses who have training and education in managing the healthcare needs of newborns, infants and their families.

MEDNAX provides outpatient and inpatient clinical care to expectant mothers and their unborn babies through its affiliated maternal-fetal medicine subspecialists, obstetricians and other clinicians, such as maternal-fetal nurse practitioners, nurse mid-wives, ultrasonogra! phers and genetic counselors. It provides inpatient and outpatient pediatric cardiology care of the fetus, infant, child, and adolescent patient with congenital heart defects and acquired heart disease, as well as adults with congenital heart defects through its affiliated pediatric cardiologist subspecialists and other clinicians, such as pediatric nurse practitioners, echocardiographers and other diagnostic technicians, and exercise physiologists.

The Company�� network includes pediatric intensivists, who are hospital-based pediatricians with education and training in caring for critically ill or injured children and adolescents, pediatric hospitalists, who are hospital-based pediatricians specializing in inpatient care and management of acutely ill children and pediatric surgeons, who provide specialized care for patients ranging from newborns to adolescents, for all problems or conditions affecting children that require surgical intervention. Its affiliated physicians also provide clinical services in other areas of hospitals, particularly in the labor and delivery area and nursery and pediatric department.

The Company provides anesthesia care through a team of physician anesthesiologists, certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) and anesthesia assistants (AAs). The Company also provides acute and chronic pain management services. Postoperative acute pain management is often initiated in the hospital recovery room and may continue for the remainder of the hospital stay. Chronic pain services are offered through outpatient medical offices or hospital clinics.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Seth Jayson]

  MEDNAX (NYSE: MD  ) is expected to report Q2 earnings around July 30. 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 MEDNAX's revenues will increase 18.4% and EPS will grow 11.5%.

• [By Bryan Murphy]

  Looking for some fresh trading ideas in a market environment that isn't offering many? Take a look at MEDNAX Inc. (NYSE:MD) and Westport Innovations Inc. (NASDAQ:WPRT). Though they're pointed in different directions, both MD and WPRT appear to be on the verge of trade-worthy moves. The fact that the two are nearly mirror images of one another is strictly coincidental.

Hot Trucking Stocks To Own For 2014

Watch out, grocery chain investors: The $250 billion freight train that is Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT  ) is looking to push you off the rails.

On Monday Wal-Mart announced changes across its sourcing, training, and operations "that will ensure the quality and freshness of the fruits and vegetables that it offers customers."

The plan
So how, exactly, does this corporate behemoth intend to achieve its goal?�

First, the initiative includes plans to purchase produce directly from growers with the guidance of new produce experts hired by the company. As a result, Wal-Mart will be able to take greater advantage of its own industry-leading network of distribution centers and trucking systems to bring fruits and vegetables to store shelves even faster than its current system allows.

Next, Wal-Mart will be performing "independent weekly checks in its more than 3,400 Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets and Express Stores that sell produce," the reports for which will be sent to "every level of store management" to help benchmark itself and competitors on a week-over-week basis.

Best Japanese Companies For 2015: Granite Broadcasting Corp (GRRP)

Granite Broadcasting Corporation (Granite), incorporated in 1988, is a television broadcasting company focused on developing and operating small- to middle-market television broadcast stations in the United States. The Company owns and operates six middle-market stations, and has shared services agreements and advertising representation agreements to two additional stations owned by Malara Broadcast Group and one additional station owned by Four Seasons Broadcast Company. Granite's revenues are derived principally from local and national advertising and, to a lesser extent, from network compensation for the broadcast of programming, and from studio rental and commercial production activities. On July 26, 2006, the Company completed the acquisition of WBNG, Channel 12, the CBS-affiliated television station serving Binghamton and Elmira, New York. In December 2006, Granite, along with certain of its subsidiaries, voluntarily filed petitions for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York.

The stations that Granite owns and the stations to which the Company provides services under local services agreements operate in geographically diverse markets. With respect to the stations the Company owns, as of December 31, 2005, two stations are located in the west region (KBWB-San Francisco, California and KSEE-Fresno, California); four stations are located in the mid-west region (WDWB- Detroit, Michigan; WEEK-Peoria, Illinois; WISE-Fort Wayne, Indiana, and KBJR-Duluth, Minnesota), and two stations are located in the northeast region (WKBW-Buffalo and WTVH-Syracuse, New York).

As of December 31, 2005, four of the eight stations the Company owns are affiliated with NBC, one is affiliated with ABC, one is affiliated with CBS and two are affiliated with the WB Network, which has announced that it will no longer provide programming to WB affiliates effective September 2006. All three of the s! tations to which the Company provides services under local services agreements are located in the midwest region (WPTA-Fort Wayne, Indiana; KDLH-Duluth, Minnesota, and WAOE- Peoria, Illinois). WPTA is affiliated with ABC, KDLH is affiliated with CBS and WAOE is affiliated with UPN.

Affiliates of the major networks, which include NBC, ABC, CBS and Fox, receive a significant portion of their programming each day from the network. These major networks provide programming, and in some cases, cash payments, to their affiliated stations in exchange for a significant portion of the affiliates' advertising inventory during the network provided programs. These networks then sell this advertising time and retain the revenue.

Granite has entered into affiliation agreements with networks for each of the stations the Company owns. KSEE, WEEK, WISE (acquired on March 8, 2005) and KBJR are affiliated with NBC, WKBW is affiliated with ABC, WTVH is affiliated with CBS, and KBWB and WDWB stations are affiliated with WB. WPTA, which Granite sold, on March 7, 2005, to Malara Broadcast Group, is affiliated with ABC. With respect to the two stations that are owned by Malara Broadcast Group to which, since March 8, 2005, the Company provides services under local services agreements, KDLH is affiliated with CBS and WPTA is affiliated with ABC. WAOE, which is owned by Four Seasons Broadcast Company, is affiliated with UPN. In addition to these network affiliation agreements, Granite delivers WB programming on leased cable channels in Fort Wayne, Indiana and Duluth, Minnesota-Superior, Wisconsin. In the Duluth, Minnesota-Superior, Wisconsin, the Company delivers UPN programming on one of KBJR's digital streams, which programming is retransmitted in analog format by certain major cable systems in the DMA. In addition, KRII multicasts Weather Plus on another of KBJR's digital streams.

Since March 8, 2005, Granite has shared services agreements and advertising representation agreements (or loc! al servic! e agreements) to provide advertising, sales promotion and administrative services, and selected programming to two additional stations owned by Malara Broadcast Group, all of which Granite and Malara stations are affiliated with either ABC, NBC or CBS, the Company's Big Three Affiliates. On September 8, 2005, Granite entered into a definitive agreement (the KBWB Purchase and Sale Agreement) to sell substantially all of the assets of KBWB-TV, the WB affiliate serving the San Francisco, California television market, to AM Broadcasting KBWB, Inc. (the KBWB Buyer). In addition, on September 8, 2005, the Company entered into a definitive agreement (the WDWB Purchase and Sale Agreement, and together with the KBWB Purchase and Sale Agreement, the Purchase and Sale Agreements) to sell substantially all of the assets of WDWB-TV, the WB affiliate serving the Detroit Michigan television market, to AM Broadcasting WDWB, Inc. (the WDWB Buyer).

On September 1, 2005, Granite entered into an arrangement with Four Seasons Broadcast Company, under which the Company will provide advertising, sales promotion and administrative services to Four Seasons Broadcast Company-owned station WAOE-TV, the UPN affiliate serving Peoria-Bloomington, Illinois, in return for certain fees that will be paid by Four Seasons Broadcast Company to Granite. On January 13, 2006, Granite and certain of its subsidiaries entered into a definitive agreement with Television Station Group Holdings, LLC and certain of its subsidiaries to purchase substantially all of the assets of WBNG-TV, Channel 12, the CBS-affiliated television station serving Binghamton and Elmira, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lauren Pollock]

  E.W. Scripps Co.(SSP) agreed to acquire two television stations, one in Detroit and another in Buffalo, N.Y., for a combined $110 million from Granite Broadcasting Corp.(GRRP)

Hot Trucking Stocks To Own For 2014: Westell Technologies Inc.(WSTL)

Westell Technologies, Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the design, distribution, marketing, and servicing a range of broadband, digital transmission, remote monitoring, power distribution, and demarcation products used by telephone companies and other telecommunications service providers. It operates in three segments: Customer Networking Systems (CNS) equipment, Outside Plant Systems (OSP) equipment, and ConferencePlus services. The CNS equipment segment provides networking and high-speed transmissions products, such as modems, routers, versatile gateway devices, and wireless broadband home routers that allow service providers to deliver broadband services over existing copper, fiber, coax, or wireless infrastructures. The OSP segment offers next generation outdoor cabinets; enclosures; power distribution; fiber, Ethernet, and coax edge connectors; remote monitoring equipment; and DS1 and DS3 transmission plugs. This segment also markets and sells power distribu tion and remote monitoring solutions. The ConferencePlus services segment provides audio, Web, and video conferencing services to businesses and individuals. This segment sells its services directly to Fortune 1000 companies, and indirectly through its private reseller programs. The company offers its products through field sales organizations and selected distributors in the United States, as well as in Canada and Europe. Westell Technologies, Inc. was founded in 1980 and is headquartered in Aurora, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Smith]

  Late last month, the networking equipment maker had to scramble when its acting chief financial officer, Tom Minichiello, announced plans to retire on July 12 to become the new CFO at Westell Technologies (NASDAQ: WSTL  ) . On Friday, though, just as the deadline was happening, Tellabs announced that it has found a replacement.

Hot Trucking Stocks To Own For 2014: adidas AG (ADDDF)

adidas AG is a Germany-based holding company for the adidas Group, which is engaged in sports footwear, apparel and accessories. The Company diversifies its activities into three operating segments: Wholesale Business; Retail Business, and Other Businesses. The Wholesale Business segment comprises the adidas and Reebok business activities with retailers. The Retail Business segment comprises the own-retail and e-Commerce activities of the adidas and Rebook brands. The Other Businesses segment comprises the brands TaylorMade-adidas Golf, Rockport, Reebok-CCM Hockey and other centrally managed brands. Furthermore, the Company diversifies its activities by geographical regions into Western Europe, European Emerging Markets, North America, Greater China, Other Asian Markets and Latin America. As of December 31, 2012, the Company operated a total of 177 subsidiaries and affiliated companies located in Germany and abroad. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Mark Thompson]

  World Cup winner Germany, and runner-up Argentina, both wore Adidas (ADDDF) in Sunday's final in Rio de Janeiro.

  Adidas also sponsored the three players who took top honors for individual performances during the tournament in Brazil.

• [By Ben Rooney]

  Shares of Adidas (ADDDF), which trade in Frankfurt and also have a small listing in the U.S., are down 7% since the World Cup started on June 12, though they were bouncing back Friday. Nike shares are up more than 5% over the same period of time.

Hot Trucking Stocks To Own For 2014: Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc.(EGLE)

Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc. engages in the ocean transportation of bulk cargoes in the dry bulk industry. The company primarily transports iron ore, coal, grain, cement, and fertilizer along worldwide shipping routes. As of December 31, 2009, it owned and operated a fleet of 27 oceangoing vessels with a combined carrying capacity of 1,412,535 deadweight tons. The company was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rebecca McClay]

  And dry bulk shippers like FreeSeas Inc. (Nasdaq: FREE), Seanergy Maritime Holdings Corp. (Nasdaq: SHIP), and Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc. (Nasdaq: EGLE) are noting big gains today as shipping rates strengthen. FREE is up 8%, SHIP is up 13%, and EGLE is up 7% as capesize shipping rates increased overnight by about 10%, exceeding $20,000 for the first time since January 2012.

• [By Bryan Murphy]

  September is on pace to be a banner month for shipping stocks FreeSeas Inc. (NASDAQ:FREE), DryShips Inc. (NASDAQ:DRYS), and Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc. (NASDAQ:EGLE). They're up 290%, 62%, and 115%, respectively, month-to-date, overcoming an amazingly long dry spell. The question is, why have EGLE, FREE, and DRYS been so strong all of a sudden, and more than that, are these rallies built to last?

• [By John Del, Vecchio,]

  Shape up or ship out
  The two companies above have done a relatively great job at staying proactive during a troubled time, and Eagle Bulk Shipping (NASDAQ: EGLE  ) is doing its best to follow suit. After putting up very strong earnings last quarter, reporting $72.2 million net revenue, compared with $52.6 million for the same quarter last year, Eagle looks to be on the right track.

Top 10 Solar Companies To Buy Right Now

Top 10 Solar Companies To Buy Right Now: Peabody Energy Corporation(BTU)

Peabody Energy Corporation engages in the mining of coal. It mines, prepares, and sells thermal coal to electric utilities and metallurgical coal to industrial customers. The company owns interests in 30 coal mining operations located in the United States and Australia, as well as owns joint venture interest in a Venezuela mine. It is also involved in marketing, brokering, and trading coal. In addition, the company develops a mine-mouth coal-fueled generating plant; and Btu Conversion projects that are designed to convert coal to natural gas or transportation fuels; and clean coal technologies. As of December 31, 2011, it had 9 billion tons of proven and probable coal reserves. The company was founded in 1883 and is headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Peabody Energy(BTU) has dropped 1.1% to $18.93 after it lowered its full-year EBITDA target.

  Carnival Cruise Lines (CCL) has gained 4.4% to $39.73 as it appears set to add to yesterday’s earnings-inspiredgain of 2.5%.

• [By Aaron Levitt]

  While Gazprom will be the major winner of this, the potential losers include U.S. coal stocks Arch Coal (ACI) and Peabody Energy (BTU). Both have already felt the one-two punch of dwindling demand here at home coupled with rising environmental regulations. As two of the biggest suppliers to China, the deal could mean more losses for investors as the Asian Dragon replaces coal with Russian piped gas.

source from Top Penny Stocks For 2015:http://www.seekpennystocks.com/top-10-solar-companies-to-buy-right-now.html

Top 5 Information Technology Stocks To Invest In 2014

With shares of International Business Machines (NYSE:IBM) trading around $189, is IBM an OUTPERFORM, WAIT AND SEE, or STAY AWAY? Let�� analyze the stock with the relevant sections of our CHEAT SHEET investing framework.

T = Trends for a Stock’s Movement

IBM is an information technology company. The company operates in five segments: Global Technology Services, Global Business Services, Software, Systems and Technology, and Global Financing. Technology products and services are in high demand worldwide, as consumers want to be up to speed and companies always need the latest and greatest to stay ahead of the competition. Cloud computing has been hot in recent times, which has not been good news for IBM. Should the company want to hold on to its market share, it needs to make moves quickly and provide the technology products and services that worldwide consumers and companies demand.

IBM announced a $1.2 billion commitment on Friday to build 15 data centers in key financial and geographic hubs as it initiates its first major cloud expansion since acquiring SoftLayer in June for $2 billion.�The cloud expansion will cover 15 countries in five continents (all but Africa and Antarctica), including new data centers in China, Hong Kong, London, Japan, India, Washington D.C., Canada, Mexico City, and Dallas, as well as a number of local “cloud hubs.”

Top Media Stocks To Watch For 2015: IGI Laboratories Inc. (IG)

IGI Laboratories, Inc. engages in developing, manufacturing, filling, and packaging topical semi-solid and liquid products for cosmetic, cosmeceutical, and pharmaceutical customers in the United States. The company�s products are used for various skin conditions, including the treatment of symptoms of dermatitis, acne, psoriasis, and eczema. It offers contract formulation and contract manufacturing services to a range of topical formulations, including creams, ointments, lotions, gels, and topical liquids. The company is also developing a portfolio of prescription generic formulations in topical dosage forms. IGI Laboratories, Inc., through its license agreement with Novavax, Inc., utilizes the Novasome lipid vesicle encapsulation and certain other technologies for applications in animal pharmaceuticals, biologicals, and other animal health products; foods, food applications, nutrients, and flavorings; cosmetics, consumer products, and dermatological over-the-counter and prescription products; fragrances; and chemicals, including herbicides, insecticides, pesticides, paints and coatings, photographic chemicals, and other specialty chemicals. The company was formerly known as IGI, Inc. and changed its name to IGI Laboratories, Inc. in May 2008. IGI Laboratories, Inc. was founded in 1977 and is based in Buena, New Jersey.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Holly LaFon]

  The Barclays Aggregate Index rose by 0.57% in 3Q13, having stood at a loss of -0.36% the day before the FOMC's declaration to not slow QE. Despite the bounce, the Index remains in negative territory YTD and for the trailing 12-months at -1.77% and -1.68%, respectively. In stark contrast to 2Q13, Investment Grade (IG) corporate spreads tightened 10bps during 3Q13, producing a positive nominal return of 0.82% and an excess return of 0.92%. The respective YTD total returns in IG remain a disappointing -2.62%, but excess returns are still positive at 0.61% YTD. The 1-Yr results for IG Credit now fall to a nominal -1.58%, but 1.79% in excess of Treasuries.

Top 5 Information Technology Stocks To Invest In 2014: WisdomTree International Dividend Ex Financial Fund (DOO)

WisdomTree International Dividend Top 100 Fund (The Fund) is a non-diversified fund. It seeks investment results that closely correspond to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the WisdomTree International Dividend Top 100 Index (The Index). The fund is managed by WisdomTree Asset Management, Inc.

The Index measures the performance of the 100 highest dividend-yielding companies in the WisdomTree International LargeCap Dividend Index. The Index is created by selecting the top 100 companies ranked by highest dividend yield from the WisdomTree International LargeCap Dividend Index.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Eric Lam]

  ��ompanies that come to market are coming from sectors that work,��said Brian Huen, managing partner at Red Sky Capital Management Ltd. in Toronto. He helps manage C$220 million with the firm, and participated in the offerings for Choice Properties, Information Services Corp., and Ski-Doo maker BRP Inc. (DOO) ��eople certainly aren�� bringing any gold IPOs to market. So investors are focusing on buying deals in the right markets, as opposed to the wider market which has exposure to resources.��

Top 5 Information Technology Stocks To Invest In 2014: Movado Group Inc. (MOV)

Movado Group, Inc. designs, sources, markets, and distributes fine watches. It operates in two segments, Wholesale and Retail. The company offers its watches under the Coach, Concord, Ebel, ESQ, Scuderia Ferrari, HUGO BOSS, Juicy Couture, Lacoste, Movado, and Tommy Hilfiger brands to jewelry store chains, department stores, independent regional jewelers, licensed partner retail stores, and a network of independent distributors. It is also involved in the after-sales service activities and shipping. In addition, Movado Group, Inc. operates retail outlet stores. As of January 31, 2013, the company operated 34 outlet stores. It operates principally in the United States, the Middle East, Europe, Asia, and the Americas. The company was formerly known as North American Watch Corporation and changed its name to Movado Group, Inc. in 1996. Movado Group, Inc. was founded in 1961 and is headquartered in Paramus, New Jersey.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  On Wednesday, Movado (NYSE: MOV  ) will release its latest quarterly results. The stock has hit some bumps in the road lately, raising questions about whether it can successfully compete with its luxury-retail peers.

Top 5 Information Technology Stocks To Invest In 2014: Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. (CWCO)

Consolidated Water Co. Ltd., through its subsidiaries, develops and operates seawater desalination plants and water distribution systems. It operates through three segments: Retail, Bulk, and Services. The Retail segment produces and supplies water to end-users, including residential, commercial, and government customers, as well as tourist properties. The Bulk segment supplies potable water to government utilities and private customers. The Services segment designs, constructs, and sells desalination plants to third parties, as well as provides desalination plant management and operating services to plants owned by others. The company uses reverse osmosis technology to produce fresh water from seawater. It operates approximately 14 reverse osmosis desalination plants in the Cayman Islands, The Bahamas, Belize, the British Virgin Islands, and the United States. Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. was founded in 1973 and is based in Grand Cayman, the Cayman Islands.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By David Dittman]

  Question: Hi, Dave. Thanks for the chat! Are you still positive on Consolidated Water Co Ltd�� (NSDQ: CWCO) and Verizon�� long, long term prospects?

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Among the sector stocks, Consolidated Water Co (NASDAQ: CWCO) was down more than 1.9 percent, while Pepco Holdings (NYSE: POM) tumbled around 0.9 percent.

Wells Fargo Earnings Don’t Warrant Selloff in WFC Stock

Popular Posts: 5 Stocks to Buy for July5 Stocks to Sell for JulyThe Top 10 S&P 500 Dividend Stocks for March Recent Posts: Wells Fargo Earnings Don’t Warrant Selloff in WFC Stock Portugal: An Unusual Suspect for a Market Correction Left for Dead, Emerging Markets Are Having a Great 2014 (EEM) View All Posts Wells Fargo Earnings Don’t Warrant Selloff in WFC Stock

Hot Blue Chip Stocks To Buy For 2015

Wells Fargo (WFC) earnings were just fine on the top and bottom lines, but the market quibbled with some of what came in between, sending WFC stock lower in midday Friday trading.

Although Wells Fargo earnings per share rose to match Wall Street’s estimate — and revenue beat expectations by declining less than forecast — a key measure of Wells Fargo profitability continued to slip, and that was enough to ding WFC stock.

That doesn’t really affect the trajectory of WFC, however, which should continue to grind higher — at least as long as the market does.

Shares were up a market-beating 14% for the year-to-date heading into the Wells Fargo earnings release, but the immediate pullback on the earnings report doesn’t change the thesis.

WFC stock is a must-own if you’re bullish on the economy and the market. After all, Wells Fargo represents the nation’s largest mortgage lender and biggest bank by market cap.

It’s hard to see either the economy or the market going anywhere without WFC participating.

Wells Fargo Earnings – Nitpicking Over NIM

For the most recent quarter, Wells Fargo earnings rose 3.8% to $5.73 billion, or $1.01 a share, from $5.52 billion, or 98 cents, a year earlier. As noted above, earnings matched Street estimates. Revenue, meanwhile, slipped 1.5% to $21.07 billion, beating the Street view for a drop to $20.84 billion.

There were no big surprises in the broad strokes of the Wells Fargo earnings release. Revenue has been sluggish because higher interest rates pinched off the mortgage refinancing boom some time ago. Home lending originations totaled $47 billion in the second quarter, down from $112 billion booked a year ago.

Additionally, Wells Fargo earnings aren’t getting the same goosing from the release of loan-loss reserves as they once did because credit quality has improved to the point where it’s pretty much topped out. No surprise there, either.

That left the Street to worry about the nitty-gritty of basic banking, where rising costs and lower margins remain a Wells Fargo bugaboo.

For years now, historically low interest rates have made it tough for Wells Fargo earnings to show an improvement in net interest margin, or NIM. (That’s the bread-and-butter difference between what a bank pays for deposits and charges for loans.)

It’s tough to grow net interest margin when benchmark rates are plumbing the depths.

However, rates are no longer stuck at ultra-depressed levels, yet Wells Fargo earnings still showed contraction in this key measure of profitability. Indeed, Wells Fargo net interest margin fell to 3.15% vs. 3.4% year-over-year, and from 3.2% in the prior quarter.

If there was a blemish on the Wells Fargo earnings report, this was it.

Bottom Line

In the grand scheme of WFC stock, recalcitrant net interest margins amount to a pimple — not psoriasis. That makes the pullback in WFC stock more of a buying opportunity than a signal that’s something wrong.

As of this writing, Dan Burrows did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities.

Top Up And Coming Stocks To Buy For 2015

Top Up And Coming Stocks To Buy For 2015: AZ Electronic Materials SA (AZEM)

AZ Electronic Materials SA is a producer and supplier of specialty chemical materials. AZ operates in four segments: IC Materials, which includes products for use in integrated circuits and devices; Optronics, which includes products used in the production of flat panel displays for use in televisions, computer monitors and similar equipment and light emitting diode technology; Printing and Other, which includes printing and similar products used in photo lithographic processes, and Corporate. The Companys products enable the manufacture of integrated circuits (ICs) and flat panel displays (FPDs) that are integral to a range of electronic devices and applications, including computers and tablet devices, flat screen televisions, mobile communication devices, industrial and automotive applications and the developing light and energy markets. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Corinne Gretler]

  AZ Electronic (AZEM) surged 43 percent, the most since its at least November 2010, after Merck on Dec. 5 said it had agreed to buy the company for about 1.6 billion pounds. Merck added 0.4 percent. Shareholders will get 403.5 pence for each share, Merck said. The price is 53 percent above the Dec. 4 closing level in London trading.

source from Top Penny Stocks For 2015:http://www.topstocksforum.com/top-up-and-coming-stocks-to-buy-for-2015-2.html

Top 10 Forestry Companies To Watch In Right Now

Top 10 Forestry Companies To Watch In Right Now: Glencore Xstrata PLC (GLENN)

Glencore Xstrata Plc is a diversified natural resource company. The Company operates in three segments: Metals and Minerals, which includes copper, nickel, zinc/lead, alloys, alumina/aluminum and iron ore; Energy Products, which includes controlled and non-controlled coal mining and oil production operations and investments in strategic handling, storage and freight equipment and facilities, and Agricultural Products, which focuses on grains, oils/oilseeds, cotton and sugar. The Company's operations consist of over 150 mining and metallurgical sites, offshore oil production assets, farms and agricultural facilities. The Company is a producer and marketer of over 90 commodities, such as mobile phones, bicycles, cutlery, plastics and electricity. Effective January 2, 2014, Post Holdings Inc acquired Agricore United Holdings Inc from Viterra Inc, a unit of Glencore Xstrata PLC, and the transaction also included Dakota Growers Pasta Company, Inc. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jay Silverman]

  The CEO (Erck), CFO (Phillips), and CMO (Glenn) are a solid management team, well-experienced in their respective roles, and have a sound working chemistry and quiet confidence.

source from Top Stocks For 2015:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-10-forestry-companies-to-watch-in-right-now-2.html