Hot Regional Bank Companies For 2015

Hot Regional Bank Companies For 2015: Central Goldtrust (GTU)

Central GoldTrust (GoldTrust) is a passive, self-governing, single purpose, closed-end trust. GoldTrust is a gold holding trust created to buy and hold substantially all of its assets in long-term holdings of gold bullion. The primary objective of GoldTrust is to provide a exchange-tradeable alternative for investors interested in holding an investment in gold bullion. All gold bullion owned by GoldTrust must be stored in Canada in the treasury vault facilities of a tier 1 Canadian chartered bank on an allocated and segregated basis.

GoldTrust holds long-term holdings of pure, unencumbered gold bullion, in 400 troy ounce international bar sizes, and does not speculate with regard to short-term changes in gold prices. At least 95% of the total net assets of GoldTrust should be held in gold with at least 90% in physical bullion and up to 5% in gold certificate form. The property of GoldTrust, as at December 31, 2011, was consisted of 698,496 fine ounces of gold bullion and 6,156 fine ounces of gold in certificate form for a total of 704,652 fine ounces. GoldTrust is almost entirely invested in pure refined gold bullion in international bar form. As at December 31, 2011, GoldTrust's assets were made up of 98.1% gold.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Eric Parnell]

  It also remains worthwhile to hedge stock allocations to protect against any major downside event along the way. This includes positions with low correlations such as the PIMCO Total Return ETF (BOND) or the PIMCO Global Advantage Inflation Linked Bond ETF (ILB). This also includes allocations that are likely to rally sharply in the event of a stock pullback but can also continue to rise along with the market such as long-term Treasuries (TLT) or Build America Bonds (BAB). And despite the recent thrashing they have endured, the precious metals complex in! cluding gold (GLD), silver (SLV), platinum (PPLT) and palladium (PALL) continue to provide attractive long-term portfolio diversification benefits. I remain long all of these metals via the Central GoldTrust (GTU), the Central Fund of America (CEF), the Sprott Physical Silver Trust (PSLV) and the Sprott Physical Platinum and Palladium Trust (SPPP).

source from Top Stocks For 2015:http://www.topstocksblog.com/hot-regional-bank-companies-for-2015-3.html

Contributing to a Health Savings Account in 2014

I signed up for a high-deductible health insurance policy for 2014. Am I eligible to contribute to a health savings account? And if so, where can I open the account?

SEE ALSO: How Employees Can Save Money on Health Care Costs

To make tax-deductible (or pre-tax) contributions to a health savings account in 2014, your health insurance policy must have a deductible of at least $1,250 for individual coverage and $2,500 for family coverage. Plus, all covered benefits (except for preventive care) must be subject to the deductible; some plans, for example, don't meet the requirements because they don't have a deductible for drug benefits. Ask your health insurer whether your policy qualifies. Some providers clearly mark their HSA-eligible policies (Cigna, for example, calls its policies "myCigna Health Savings"), but others do not.

You may purchase an HSA-eligible policy through your employer, through the health insurance exchanges, or directly from an insurer or agent. Research firm HSA Consulting Services found that 42% of the bronze policies, 15% of the silver policies and 9% of the gold plans sold on the 36 federally run exchanges are HSA-eligible. "If you're going to take a high deductible, you might as well take the HSA to pay for those expenses on a tax-free basis," says president Todd Berkley. If you're buying directly, eHealthInsurance.com makes it easy to search for HSA-eligible policies and find a health savings account administrator.

You can contribute up to $3,300 to a health savings account if you have individual coverage, or up to $6,550 for family coverage in 2014. Your contributions are tax-deductible (or pre-tax if through an employer plan), and the money may be used tax-free in any year to pay for your deductible and other out-of-pocket medical expenses.

You may open an HSA at many banks and brokerage firms. Your employer or insurer may pair your policy with a particular HSA, but you aren't required to get the account through that administrator. Be careful, however, that you don't give up any matching contributions; employers offering Fidelity HSAs, for example, contribute a median of $600 for singles and $1,200 for family coverage to employees' accounts.

Eric Remjeske, president of consulting firm Devenir, identifies two types of HSA users: short-term saver/spenders and longer-term saver/investors. Short-term savers are looking to deposit money into an HSA and use it for medical expenses in the next six to 12 months. If you're a short-term saver, look for a low-cost provider that links your bank account or other funding source to the HSA so that the funds are conveniently available. But you'll get the biggest tax benefits if you use the HSA as a longer-term investing vehicle (see Strategies for Your Health Savings Account). That means using other money for current medical bills and keeping HSA money growing tax-free for future medical expenses. Remjeske recommends that longer-term saver/investors look for an HSA that offers investments in mutual funds from a variety of fund companies and investment styles. "Also consider the total fees for the features you want as some of them can add up," he says. You can search for HSA administrators using Devenir's HSA search tool.

Some HSA providers give you a variety of investing choices. HSA Bank, for example, lets you invest in mutual funds, stocks and other investments through a TD Ameritrade brokerage account (including about 2,600 no-transaction-fee mutual funds and more than 100 commission-free ETFs). It pays to keep a high balance in the account; the $2.50 monthly account maintenance fee and $3 monthly investing fee are waived if you have at least $4,925 in your account in 2014.

Health Savings Administrators offers 22 Vanguard funds with an average expense ratio of 0.21%. The firm charges a $45 annual fee and a custodial fee of 80 cents per $1,000 invested (capped at $16 per fund per year).

Cigna pairs its high-deductible accounts with Chase HSAs, which offer 36 no-load mutual funds managed by 12 different investment managers. The firm was charging a $2.50 monthly fee to participate in the investment account, but the fee will be waived starting on January 1, 2014.

For more information about HSAs, see FAQs About Health Savings Accounts.

Got a question? Ask Kim at askkim@kiplinger.com.

BlackRock’s Fink: There are ‘bubble-like markets again’

Laurence D. Fink Bloomberg News

BlackRock Inc. Chief Executive Officer Laurence D. Fink, whose company is the world’s largest money manager with $4.1 trillion in assets, said Federal Reserve policy is contributing to “bubble-like markets.”

“It’s imperative that the Fed begins to taper,” Fink said today at a panel discussion in Chicago, referring to the central bank’s $85 billion in monthly bond purchases. “We’ve seen real bubble-like markets again. We’ve had a huge increase in the equity market. We’ve seen corporate-debt spreads narrow dramatically.”

10 Best Retail Stocks For 2015

The Fed in September decided against reducing the bond purchases as economic growth remained muted. Following a partial U.S. government shutdown this month, policy makers will probably delay slowing the stimulus until March, according to a Bloomberg survey of economists conducted Oct. 17-18.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index has gained 24 percent this year, after advancing 13 percent in 2012. The extra yield investors demand to hold high-risk, high-yield bonds has dropped to 444 basis points from this year’s high of 534 in June, according to the Bank of America Merrill Lynch U.S. High Yield Index. That spread reached 440 basis points on Oct. 24, the narrowest since May 28.

“We have issues of an overzealous market again,” Fink said at the event, which was sponsored by the Paulson Institute

Top Oil Service Companies To Invest In 2014

With shares of Citigroup (NYSE:C) trading around $48, is C 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

Citigroup is a global diversified financial services holding company providing consumers, corporations, governments, and institutions with a broad range of financial products and services. It operates in two segments: Citicorp and Citi Holdings. The company�� products and services are: consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, securities brokerage, wealth management, and transaction services to consumers, corporations, governments, and institutions worldwide.

Citigroup said on Friday that it discovered fraudulent loans in its Mexico subsidiary and that its employees may have been in on the crime.�Writing down the loans will reduce the bank’s 2013 net income by $235 million, bringing the previously reported total to $13.91 billion, the bank said in a statement.�Citigroup said it believes at this point that the incident was an isolated episode. The bad loans were made to Oceanografia SA de CV, a Mexican oil services company that is a contractor for the nation’s state-owned oil company, Pemex. Oceanografia is in the middle of a corruption probe in Mexico.�Oceanografia borrowed from Citigroup’s Mexican unit, Banco Nacional de Mexico or Banamex, using expected payments from Pemex as collateral.�Banamex discovered in a recent review that Oceanografia appeared to have falsified invoices to Pemex that were collateral for loans, Citigroup Chief Executive Michael Corbat said in a separate memo to employees. The bank wrote down about $400 million of loans backed by the bogus invoices.

Top 5 Media Stocks To Watch For 2015: Mueller Water Products Inc (MWA)

Mueller Water Products, Inc., incorporated on September 22, 2005, is a manufacturer and marketer of products and services used in the transmission, distribution and measurement of water. The Company�� product portfolio includes engineered valves, fire hydrants, pipe fittings, water meters, leak detection and pipe condition assessment which are used by municipalities, as well as the residential and non-residential construction industries. The Company operates in two segments: Mueller Co. and Anvil. Mueller Co. The Company�� valve or fire hydrant products are specified for use in the 100 metropolitan areas in the United States.

Mueller Co.

Mueller Co. manufactures valves for water and gas systems, including iron gate, butterfly, tapping, check, plug and ball valves, as well as dry-barrel and wet-barrel fire hydrants and a of pipe repair products, such as clamps and couplings used to repair leaks. The Company offers residential and commercial metering products and systems and leak detection and pipe condition assessment products and services. Mueller Co. products are sold through waterworks distributors.

The Company�� fire hydrants consist of an upper barrel and nozzle section and a lower barrel and valve section that connects to a water main. In dry-barrel hydrants, the valve connecting the barrel of the hydrant to the water main is located below ground at or below the frost line, which keeps the hydrant upper barrel dry. It sells dry-barrel fire hydrants with the Mueller and U.S. Pipe Valve and Hydrant brand names in the United States and the Mueller and Canada Valve brand names in Canada. The Company also makes wet-barrel hydrants, where the valves are located in the hydrant nozzles and the barrel contains water at all times. It also makes wet-barrel hydrants, where the valves are located in the hydrant nozzles and the barrel contains water at all times.

Mueller Co. manufactures a variety of intelligent water technology products under the Mue! ller Systems and Hersey Meters brand names that are designed to help water providers accurately measure water usage. These products include water meters, advanced metering infrastructure systems and automated meter reading products, have the capability to measure water usage ranging from small residential flows to large commercial and industrial applications.

Mueller Co. offers leak detection and pipe condition assessment products and services under the Echologics brand name. Other products include pipe repair products, such as clamps and couplings used to repair leaks and municipal castings, such as manhole covers and street drain grates. It sells these products under the Mueller and Jones brand names.

The Company competes with McWane, Inc., American Cast Iron Pipe Company, The Ford Meter Box Company, Inc., A.Y. McDonald Mfg, Sensus, Neptune Technology Group, Inc., Badger Meter, Inc., Aclara LLC and Itron, Inc.

Anvil

Anvil manufactures and sources a range of products, includes fittings, couplings, hangers, valves and related products for use in many non-residential constructions for HVAC, fire protection, energy and oil and gas applications. Anvil's products are sold through distributors who then sell the products to a variety of end users. These distributors are serviced primarily through Anvil's distribution centers.

Fittings and Couplings manufactures threaded and grooved pipe fittings and couplings. Pipe fittings and couplings join two pieces of pipe together. The five categories of pipe fittings and couplings are cast iron fittings, malleable iron fittings and unions, grooved fittings, couplings and valves, threaded steel pipe coupling and nipples. Hangers, manufacture an array of pipe hangers and supports. Standard pipe hangers and supports are used in fire protection sprinkler systems and HVAC applications where the objective is to provide rigid support from the building structure.

The Company competes with Ward Man! ufacturin! g L.L.C., malleable iron fittings, Victaulic Company, Tyco International Ltd., ERICO International Corporation, Cooper Industries plc and Carpenter & Paterson, Inc.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Travis Hoium]

  What: Shares of Mueller Water Products (NYSE: MWA  ) jumped as much as 17% today after the company released earnings.

  So what: Fiscal-second-quarter revenue jumped 12.6% to $283.1 million and net income was $6.2 million, or $0.05 per share. Analysts only expected revenue to be $270.8 million and earnings of $0.02 per share so this was well ahead of estimates. �

Top Oil Service Companies To Invest In 2014: Ishares Msci Switzerland (EWL)

iShares MSCI Switzerland Index Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of publicly traded securities in the aggregate in the Swiss market, as measured by the MSCI Switzerland Index (the Index). The Index seeks to measure the performance of the Swiss equity market. The Index is a capitalization-weighted index that aims to capture 85% of the (publicly available) total market capitalization. Component companies are adjusted for available float and must meet objective criteria for inclusion in the Index. The Index is reviewed quarterly.

The Fund invests in a representative sample of securities included in the Index that collectively has an investment profile similar to the Index. The Fund�� investment advisor is Barclays Global Fund Advisors.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Mark Salzinger]

  iShares MSCI Germany (EWG) and iShares MSCI Switzerland (EWL) continue to have relatively attractive valuations.

  EWG recently sported an average price/earnings (P/E) ratio on 2013's projected earnings of 12.6 and a price/book value (P/B) of just 1.4.

• [By Carlton Delfeld]

  The iShares Switzerland (EWL) is a wonderful way to gain exposure to a basket of Switzerland's leading multinationals and has an expense ratio of only 0.59%. In addition, while a rising Swiss franc puts pricing pressure on Swiss exporters, a strong Swiss franc supercharges returns for investors in EWL.

Top Oil Service Companies To Invest In 2014: Thermon Group Holdings Inc.(THR)

Thermon Group Holdings, Inc. offers heat tracing solutions for process industries worldwide. The company?s solutions provide an external heat source to pipes, vessels, and instruments for the purposes of freeze protection, temperature and flow maintenance, environmental monitoring, and surface snow and ice melting. Its products comprise a range of electric heat tracing cables, steam tracing components, and tubing bundles. The company also offers instrument and control products, including self-regulating and power limiting heating cables; mineral insulated cables; heat traced tube bundles for environmental gas sampling systems; heat transfer compounds and steam tracers for steam tracing solutions; control and monitoring systems for electric tracing of pipes, tanks, hoppers, and instrument sampling systems; and hopper heating modules. In addition, it provides various turnkey solutions for heat tracing, such as design, front-end optimization, product supply, engineering deli verables, system integration, installation, commissioning, and maintenance services. The company offers its solutions to the energy, chemical processing, power generation, and industrial and commercial infrastructure, as well as engineering, procurement, and construction companies. It serves customers through a network of sales and service professionals, and distributors in approximately 30 countries. The company is headquartered in San Marcos, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Seth Jayson]

  Thermon Group Holdings (NYSE: THR  ) reported earnings on June 5. Here are the numbers you need to know.

  The 10-second takeaway
  For the quarter ended March 31 (Q4), Thermon Group Holdings missed estimates on revenues and missed estimates on earnings per share.

• [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 Thermon Group Holdings (NYSE: THR  ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.

• [By CRWE]

  Thermon Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:THR), will issue a press release reporting its fourth quarter and full fiscal 2012 consolidated financial results before the market opens on Friday, June 1 2012.

Top Oil Service Companies To Invest In 2014: UIL Holdings Corp (UIL)

UIL Holdings Corporation, incorporated on March 22, 1999, is engaged in the ownership of its operating regulated utility businesses. The utility businesses consist of the electric distribution and transmission operations of The United Illuminating Company (UI) and the natural gas transportation, distribution and sales operations of The Southern Connecticut Gas Company (SCG), Connecticut Natural Gas Corporation (CNG), and The Berkshire Gas Company (Berkshire, and together with SCG and CNG, the Gas Companies). The Company operates in Electric Distribution, Electric Transmission and Gas Distribution segments.

UI is an electric distribution and transmission utility. UI is also a party to a joint venture with certain affiliates of NRG Energy, Inc. (NRG affiliates) pursuant to which UI holds 50% of interests in GCE Holding LLC, whose wholly owned subsidiary, GenConn Energy LLC operates generation plants in Devon, Connecticut (GenConn Devon) and Middletown, Connecticut (GenConn Middletown).

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Utilities sector gained 0.78 percent in the US market today. Among the utilities stocks, Huaneng Power International (NYSE: HNP) was down more than 1.4 percent, while UIL Holdings (NYSE: UIL) tumbled around 0.7 percent.

Best Media Companies To Own For 2014

Bob Doll

U.S. equities finished lower for the second straight week as the S&P 500 declined 2.04%, narrowly escaping its worst week of the year. A specific catalyst behind the pullback was not identified by us or market analysts. Media reports focused on the tapering debate, shareholder activism and the emergence of the Eurozone from a record long recession. Increased violence in Egypt did not appear to be a major factor in the decline; however, crude oil prices gained almost 2% for the week and precious metals rallied. U.S. bond yields backed up again, which depressed equities in the U.S. but did not impact the rest of the world. Emerging market equities were up 0.78% for the week.

Given the U.S. Treasury yield rise of more than 100 basis points since the start of the year despite lower inflation, lower growth and accelerated quantitative (QE) buying around the world, a possible explanation includes an imminent end of easy money that is forcing unwinding of fixed income holdings. Obviously this asset class has been the primary beneficiary of loose global monetary policy over the last five years.

Initial unemployment claims dropped to a new low for the expansion, decreasing 15,000 to 320,000. Over the last three months, unemployment has moved largely sideways. As claims decline, this increases the odds increase that the Fed will taper QE in September, and second half economic growth may improve somewhat.

Top 5 Heal Care Companies To Own For 2015: News Corporation(NWSA)

News Corporation operates as a diversified media company worldwide. Its Cable Network Programming segment produces and licenses news, business news, sports, general entertainment, and movie programming for distribution through cable television systems and direct broadcast satellite operators primarily in the United States, Latin America, Europe, and Asia. The company?s Filmed Entertainment segment produces and acquires live-action and animated motion pictures for distribution and licensing in entertainment media, as well as produces and licenses television programming worldwide. Its Television segment operates 27 broadcast television stations in the United States. The company?s Direct Broadcast Satellite Television segment distributes programming services via satellite and broadband directly to subscribers in Italy. Its Publishing segment provides newspapers and information services, such as publishing national newspapers in the United Kingdom, approximately 146 newspapers in Australia, and a metropolitan and a national newspaper in the United States; book publishing services, including the publishing of English language books worldwide; and integrated marketing services comprising the publishing of free-standing inserts, which are marketing booklets containing coupons, rebates, and other consumer offers, as well as provides in-store marketing products and services, primarily to consumer packaged goods manufacturers in the United States and Canada. The company also sells advertising, sponsorships, and subscription services on the company?s various digital media properties and outdoor advertising space on various media primarily in Russia and eastern Europe; and provides data systems and professional services that enable teachers to use data to assess student progress and deliver individualized instructions. News Corporation was founded in 1922 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Corey Rosenbloom]

  We’ll skip News Corp. (NWSA) and focus on the other names for candidates.

  Specifically, Newmont Mining (NEM) has formed an interesting retracement to compress again between the 20- and 50-day EMAs:

Best Media Companies To Own For 2014: Comcast Corporation(CMCSA)

Comcast Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides entertainment, information, and communications products and services in the United States and internationally. Its Cable Communications segment provides video, high-speed Internet, and phone services to residential and business customers. As of June 30, 2011, its cable systems served approximately 22.5 million video customers, 17.5 million high-speed Internet customers, and 9.1 million phone customers. The company?s Cable Networks segment operates cable entertainment networks, such as USA Network, Syfy, E!, Bravo, Oxygen, Style, G4, Chiller, Sleuth, and Universal HD; news and information networks, including CNBC, MSNBC, and CNBC World; cable sports networks comprising Golf Channel and VERSUS; regional sports and news networks; international entertainment, and news and information networks, such as CNBC Europe, CNBC Asia, and Universal Networks International portfolio of networks; cable television production oper ations; and digital media properties consisting primarily of brand-aligned Websites and other Websites, such as DailyCandy, Fandango, and iVillage. Its Broadcast Television segment operates the U.S. broadcast networks, NBC and Telemundo; 10 NBC and 15 Telemundo owned local television stations; broadcast television productions; and related digital media properties. The company?s Filmed Entertainment segment operates Universal Pictures, which produces, acquires, markets, and distributes filmed entertainment and stage plays worldwide in various media formats for theatrical, home entertainment, television, and other distribution platforms. Its Theme Parks segment operates Universal Studios Hollywood park and Wet ?n Wild water park, as well as licenses intellectual properties and provides services to third parties that own and operate Universal Studios Japan and Universal Studios Singapore. Comcast Corporation was founded in 1963 and is based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Associated Press]

  With 29.2 million U.S. subscribers -- far more than the 21.9 million TV subscribers that leading cable provider Comcast (NASDAQ: CMCSA  ) has -- Netflix has already reshaped home entertainment.

• [By Quick Pen]

  The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Department of Justice (DoJ) do not want the number of players in the telecom sector to shrink below four ��Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile. To this Sprint�� Son argues that the industry already has four players ��Verizon that purchased Vodafone�� stake in it, AT&T which plans to acquire DirecTV (DTV), and Comcast (CMCSA); Sprint would be the fourth one. But these antitrust issues have been a challenge for Sprint.

Best Media Companies To Own For 2014: DISH Network Corporation(DISH)

DISH Network Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides direct broadcast satellite (DBS) subscription television services in the United States. It offers programming that includes approximately 280 basic video channels, 60 Sirius satellite radio music channels, 30 premium movie channels, 35 regional and specialty sports channels, 2,800 local channels, 250 Latino and international channels, and 55 channels of pay-per-view content. The company also offers local HD channels in approximately 160 markets and 215 national HD channels; and receiver systems, including a small satellite dish, digital set-top receivers, and remote controls. In addition, it provides DISHOnline.com, which enables DISH Network subscribers to watch 150,000 movies, television shows, clips, and trailers; DISH Remote Access that enables subscribers to remotely manage their DVRs using compatible mobile devices, such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops through their broadband-connected receiver; and Go ogle TV that enables DISH Network subscribers to search the Internet, check email, interact with social media, and find additional online programming content while simultaneously watching television. As of March 31, 2011, the company had approximately 14.191 million customers. DISH Network provides receiver systems and programming through direct sales channels; and independent third parties, such as small satellite retailers, direct marketing groups, local and regional consumer electronics stores, nationwide retailers, and telecommunications companies. The company was founded in 1980 and is headquartered in Englewood, Colorado.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Michael Lewis]

  DISH Network (NASDAQ: DISH  ) investors were likely too preoccupied with the continued M&A battle brewing among the company, Sprint (NYSE: S  ) , Clearwire (NASDAQ: CLWR  ) , and SoftBank. Depending on what happens in the next couple of weeks, investors may have even more offers to look over and analyze, as the company's chief shows no shyness in his willingness to partner with major telecoms or even sell the company. There is more, though, going on at DISH than just supporting investment banks, as the company recently announced its first-quarter earnings. Here's the highlights, and advice for investors going forward.

Best Media Companies To Own For 2014: Time Warner Inc.(TWX)

Time Warner Inc. operates as a media and entertainment company in the United States and internationally. It operates in three segments: Networks, Filmed Entertainment, and Publishing. The Networks segment provides domestic and international networks, premium pay and basic tier television programming services, and digital media properties, which primarily consist of brand-aligned Websites. Its premium pay television services consist of the multi-channel HBO and Cinemax premium pay television services. This segment provides programming to cable system operators, satellite service distributors, telephone companies, and other distributors; sells advertising; and licenses original programming to domestic and international television networks. The Filmed Entertainment segment produces and distributes feature films, television and other programming, and videogames; distributes home video products; and licenses rights to its feature films, television programming, and characters. T he Publishing segment publishes magazines and books; and operates various Websites, as well as engages in marketing services and direct-marketing businesses. This segment publishes magazines on style and entertainment, lifestyle, news, and sports. The company?s brands include TNT, TBS, CNN, HBO, Cinemax, Warner Bros., New Line Cinema, People, Sports Illustrated, and Time. Time Warner Inc. was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Mike Deane]

  Time Warner (TWX)�reported its second quarter results before the opening bell on Wednesday morning,�with earnings and revenues coming in higher than last year’s Q2.

  TWX’s�Earnings in Brief

  Time Warner�reported second quarter revenues of $6.79 billion, up from last year’s Q2 revenues of $6.61 billion. Total adjusted operating income came in at $1.62 billion, an increase from last year’s Q2 figure of $1.39 billion. The company�� adjusted EPS for the quarter was 98 cents, marking a solid uptick from last year’s Q2 EPS of 76 cents. Time Warner beat analysts’ EPS estimates of 84 cents, but revenues came in slightly below the $6.87 billion expectation. In addition to releasing its Q2 earnings, TWC also reaffirmed its 2014 EPS outlook, and still sees percentage growth in the low-teens.

  CEO Commentary

  TWX Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jeff Bewkes released the following comments:���e had another strong quarter, reflecting the strength of our businesses and our potential for continued growth as we deliver on our strategic plan to be the world�� leading video content company. Adjusted Operating Income increased 17%, while Adjusted EPS rose 29%, and over the first half of the year we generated $2 billion of Free Cash Flow, up 16% year-over-year. We achieved these results in a milestone quarter during which we spun off Time Inc. as an independent, publicly-traded company, further unlocking value for our shareholders and giving Time Warner even more operational focus.”

  TWX’s�Dividend and Buyback

  Time Warner paid its last dividend on June 6. We expect the company to declare its next quarterly payout of 32 cents in the coming days. In its earnings report, the company announced that the board of directors have authorized and additional $5 billion in stock repurchases.

  Stock Performance

  TWX stock was down $10.94, or 12.84%, in pre-market trading. YTD, the stock is

• [By Rick Munarriz]

  Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX  ) and Time Warner's (NYSE: TWX  ) HBO squared off with original content last week. Orange Is the New Black debuted on Netflix's streaming platform on Thursday. The second season of HBO's celebrated Newsroom kicked off on Sunday.

• [By Rick Munarriz]

  Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter -- a notorious bear who's been burned with his $65 price target on Netflix that he recently raised to $80 -- argued on Yahoo!'s Breakout last week that Netflix isn't a fitting rival to Time Warner's (NYSE: TWX  ) HBO because it doesn't own its original programming the way HBO does with Game of Thrones or The Sopranos.

Best Media Companies To Own For 2014: Thomson Reuters Corp(TRI)

Thomson Reuters Corporation provides intelligent information for businesses and professionals worldwide. The company allows market participants to connect, access content, and trade in a secure environment through Thomson Reuters Eikon desktop, Thomson Reuters Elektron network, content integration and management technology, content feeds and databases, and transactions infrastructure solutions that support buy- and sell-side customers to trade in foreign exchange, fixed income and derivatives, equities, exchange-traded instruments, and commodities and energy markets. It also offers information, analytics, workflow, and technology solutions to buy-side and off-trading floor customers; access to liquidity in over-the-counter markets, trade execution, and connections for market participants and financial professionals? communities; and a suite of solutions offering informed outcomes to regulated industries and law firms. In addition, the company provides critical information , decision support tools, and software and services to legal, investigation, business, and government professionals; integrated tax compliance and accounting software and services for accounting and law firms, corporations, and government professionals; intellectual property and scientific resources that enable its customers to discover, develop, and deliver innovations; and data analytics, and performance benchmarking solutions and services to healthcare sector. Further, it offers coverage of global, regional, and national news in 20 languages covering politics, business, finance, entertainment, lifestyle, technology, health, science, and sports; and engages in advertising-supported direct-to-consumer publishing activities of Reuters.com and its network of Websites, mobile applications, and electronic out-of-home displays. The company was formerly known as The Thomson Corporation and changed its name to Thomson Reuters Corporation in April 2008. The company is headquartered in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Smith]

  Thomson Reuters (NYSE: TRI  ) has acquired Canadian trademark search, monitoring, and screening firm Onscope, Thomson announced Tuesday.

• [By Jonas Elmerraji]

  It's been a solid year for Thompson Reuters (TRI); since the calendar flipped over to January, this $30 billion financial media firm has rallied more than 22%. But don't worry if you've missed out on the move -- TRI looks well-positioned for higher levels thanks to the pattern that's been setting up in shares.

  Thompson Reuters is currently forming an ascending triangle pattern, a bullish setup that's formed by horizontal resistance above shares at the $35.50 level and uptrending support to the downside. Basically, as TRI bounces in between those two technically-important price levels, it's getting squeezed closer and closer to a confirmed breakout above that $35.50 price level. When the breakout happens, it's time to be a buyer.

  TRI closed above the $35.50 level in yesterday's session, but it's a little early to call it a breakout just yet. If shares can hold above that breakout level all through today's session, then the buy signal is worth heeding.

Best Media Companies To Own For 2014: Charter Communications Inc.(CHTR)

Charter Communications, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides entertainment, information, and communications solutions to residential and commercial customers in the United States. The company offers cable video programming services, such as basic and digital video, premium channels, OnDemand, pay-per-view, high definition television, digital video recorder, and online video services; Internet services; Charter.net, which provides multiple e-mail addresses, as well as various entertainment, games, news, and sports content; and telephone services. It also provides broadband communications solutions, such as Internet access, data networking, fiber connectivity to cellular towers and office buildings, video entertainment services, and business telephone services under the Charter Business brand name to business and carrier organizations. As of December 31, 2011, the company served approximately 4.1 million video customers; approximately 3.5 million Internet customers; appr oximately 1.7 million telephone customers; and approximately 476,200 commercial primary service units. Charter Communications, Inc. was founded in 1999 and is based in St. Louis, Missouri.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Paul Ausick]

  Although Maffei did not say as much, swallowing Sirius gives Liberty access to the satellite radio provider�� free cash flow of about $625 million to use in pursuit of Time Warner Cable Inc. (NYSE: TWC). Charter Communications Inc. (NASDAQ: CHTR), in which Liberty holds a 27% stake, has been trying to put together the financing to make an offer for much larger Time Warner. For its part, Time Warner, the nation�� second largest cable provider, is trying to put together a deal with the nation�� largest cable provider, Comcast Corp. (NASDAQ: CMCSA), that would shut Liberty out.

• [By Michael Lewis]

  Other highlights beyond the financial statements include the company's new 27.3% stake in cable operator Charter Communications (NASDAQ: CHTR  ) . Liberty now represents four board seats at Charter and it is likely that Liberty will continue to build ownership of the company.

Top 5 Cheap Stocks To Invest In Right Now

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- We're hearing plenty of talk that the U.S. has been pushing the E.U. to enact sanctions against Russia related to its actions towards Ukraine. If the E.U., as an ostensible extended arm of the U.S., were to get further involved in the game, it's likely the natural gas supply across the region would be severely hampered. 

The E.U.'s involvement in the conflict region, sanctions or otherwise, should be for its own independent reasons and not premised on the erroneous belief in the salvation of supposedly cheap U.S. natural gas.

The development of the so-called shale gas boom in the U.S. follows a script employed by Wall Street: A topic is medially placed. Investors begin with high expectations and then securities are purchased for which the buyer assumes big profits based on production forecasts. In order to meet these expectations, the business is expanded, invested and promoted without regard to the real financial situation and the actual costs of operations. Option programs serve some decision-makers here as a thinking aid. The capital expansion is funded through the sale of new shares, bonds or structured vehicles.

5 Best Cheap Stocks To Watch Right Now: Merck & Company Inc.(MRK)

Merck & Co., Inc. provides various health solutions through its prescription medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies, animal health, and consumer care products. The company?s Pharmaceutical segment provides human health pharmaceutical products, such as therapeutic and preventive agents for the treatment of human disorders in the areas of bone, respiratory, immunology, dermatology, cardiovascular, diabetes and obesity, infectious diseases, neurosciences and ophthalmology, oncology, vaccines, and women's health and endocrine. This segment also offers human health vaccines, such as preventive pediatric, adolescent, and adult vaccines. Its Animal Health segment discovers, develops, manufactures, and markets animal health products. This segment offers antibiotics, anti-inflammatory products, vaccines, products for the treatment of fertility disorders, and parasiticides for cattle, swine, horses, poultry, dogs, cats, salmons, and fish. The Consumer Care segment develops, manufac tures, and markets over-the-counter, foot care, and sun care products. Its over-the-counter product line includes non-drowsy antihistamines; treatment for occasional constipation; decongestant-free cold/flu medicine for people with high blood pressure; nasal decongestant spray; and treatment for frequent heartburn. This segment?s foot care products comprise topical antifungal, and foot and sneaker odor/wetness products; and sun care products include sun care lotions, sprays and dry oils; and sunburn relief products. The company serves drug wholesalers and retailers, hospitals, government agencies, physicians, physician distributors, veterinarians, animal producers, and managed health care providers, as well as food chain and mass merchandiser outlets in the United States and Canada. Merck & Co., Inc. was founded in 1891 and is headquartered in Whitehouse Station, New Jersey.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Tim Brugger]

  The phase 3 clinical program for Merck's (NYSE: MRK  ) new drug preladenant, a receptor antagonist in the treatment of Parkinson's disease, will be discontinued based on a lack of efficacy compared to a placebo, the company�announced�yesterday. After studying the results of three independent phase 3 clinical trials, Merck has decided to "discontinue the extension phases of these studies and no longer plans to pursue regulatory filings for preladenant," the company said in a statement.

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  One area that has been more promising lately has been Lilly's Elanco animal health division, which has had its revenue climb almost 50% and its pre-tax profits more than double between 2010 and 2012. Elanco faces huge competition from the recently spun-off Zoetis (NYSE: ZTS  ) , as well as the Merck (NYSE: MRK  ) animal-health division, both of which managed to post stronger revenue growth in the first quarter than Elanco did. One big question that Lilly will face is whether it makes sense to follow Pfizer's (NYSE: PFE  ) lead and spin off Elanco, but given Lilly's overall challenges elsewhere, it might want to hold onto Elanco if only to maintain a brighter spot in the gloom of patent expirations.

• [By Peter Stephens]

  In addition, Merck (NYSE: MRK  ) has recently reported a number of encouraging developments, notably lambrolizumab, where Merck has announced four collaborations to evaluate novel combination regimens and initiation of a Phase 1 study in 20 new cancer types. As with Pfizer and Bristol-Myers Squibb, Merck is battling against patent expiries, but the market is warming to its comeback, with shares being up 12% already in 2014.

Top 5 Cheap Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Wendy's/Arby's Group Inc.(WEN)

The Wendy's Company operates as a quick-service hamburger company in the United States. The company, through its subsidiary, Wendy's International, Inc., operates as a franchisor of the Wendy's restaurant system. As of December 26, 2011, the Wendy's system comprised approximately 6,500 franchise and company restaurants in the United States and the United States territories, as well as in 26 other countries worldwide. The company was formerly known as Wendy's/Arby's Group, Inc. and changed its name to The Wendy's Company in July 2011. The Wendy's Company was founded in 1884 and is headquartered in Dublin, Ohio.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Chad Fraser]

  Nearly four years later, the call has paid off nicely, with Tim’s shares rising 104.0% since that article was released. The company has also paid a dividend since it was spun off by Wendy’s (NYSE: WEN) in 2006 and has raised its payout every year since 2008. It currently yields 1.76%.

Top 5 Cheap Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Hewlett-Packard Company(HPQ)

Hewlett-Packard Company and its subsidiaries provide products, technologies, software, solutions, and services to individual consumers and small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), as well as to the government, health, and education sectors worldwide. Its Personal Systems Group segment offers commercial personal computers (PCs), consumer PCs, workstations, calculators and other related accessories, and software and services for the commercial and consumer markets. The company?s Services segment provides consulting, outsourcing, and technology services to infrastructure, applications, and business process domains. Its Imaging and Printing Group segment provides consumer and commercial printer hardware, supplies, media, and scanning devices, such as inkjet and Web solutions, laser jet and enterprise solutions, managed enterprise solutions, graphics solutions, and printer supplies. The company?s Enterprise Servers, Storage, and Networking segment offers industry standard s ervers, business critical systems, storage platforms, and networking products, including switches, routers, wireless LAN, and TippingPoint network security products. Its HP Software segment provides enterprise IT management software, information management solutions, and security intelligence/risk management solutions. The company?s HP Financial Services segment offers leasing, financing, utility programs, and asset recovery services; and financial asset management services for enterprise customers, as well as specialized financial services to SMBs, and educational and governmental entities. Hewlett-Packard Company also provides business intelligence solutions that enable businesses to standardize on consistent data management schemes, connect and share data across the enterprise, and apply analytics, as well as licenses its specific technology to third parties. The company was founded in 1939 and is headquartered in Palo Alto, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Chris Hill]

  Shares of Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT  ) fell on Thursday in the wake of a report by IDC that PC sales declined 14% in the first quarter. IDC cited the shift to tablets and smartphones and pointed to a slow start for Windows 8. What do slumping PC sales mean for investors in Microsoft? What does the trend mean for Dell (NASDAQ: DELL  ) and Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ  ) ? Is the PC dead? This story, plus a recap of the Dow today, four of the biggest movers and shakers on today's market, and two stocks we'll be watching closely this week.

• [By Sue Chang]

  After Thursday�� closing bell, Hewlett-Packard Co. (HPQ) said its fiscal first-quarter profit edged up to $1.43 billion, or 74 cents a share, from $1.41 billion, or 73 cents a share, a year ago. Revenue fell to $28.15 billion from $29.13 billion. On an adjusted basis, the technology giant earned 90 cents a share, above the 85 cents a share forecast in a FactSet survey. Shares of Hewlett-Packard were off 0.6% in after-hours trading.

Top 5 Cheap Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Bank of America Corporation(BAC)

Bank of America Corporation, a financial holding company, provides banking and nonbanking financial services and products to individuals, small- and middle-market businesses, large corporations, and governments in the United States and internationally. The company?s Deposits segment generates savings accounts, money market savings accounts, certificate of deposits, and checking accounts; and Global Card Services segment provides the U.S. consumer and business card, consumer lending, international card and debit card services. Its Home Loans & Insurance segment offers consumer real estate products and services, including mortgage loans, reverse mortgages, home equity lines of credit, and home equity loans. It also provides property, disability, and credit insurance. The company?s Global Commercial Banking segment offers lending products, including commercial loans and commitment facilities, real estate lending, leasing, trade finance, short-term credit, asset-based lending, and indirect consumer loans; and capital management and treasury solutions, such as treasury management, foreign exchange, and short-term investing options. Its Global Banking & Markets segment provides financial products, advisory services, settlement, and custody services; debt and equity underwriting and distribution, merger-related advisory services, and risk management products; and integrated working capital management and treasury solutions. The company?s Global Wealth & Investment Management segment offers investment and brokerage services, estate management, financial planning services, fiduciary management, credit and banking expertise, and asset management products. Bank of America Corporation serves customers through a network of approximately 5,900 banking centers and 18,000 automated teller machines. It was formerly known as NationsBank Corporation and changed its name on October 1, 1998. Bank of America Corporation was founded in 1874 and is based in Charlott e, North Carolina.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Maxfield]

  Shares of Bank of America (NYSE: BAC  ) and JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: JPM  ) , the Dow's only banking components, are oscillating between positive and negative territory on the news. While higher interest rates will fuel these institutions' net interest margins, investors fear they will weigh on mortgage-underwriting activity as fewer homeowners seek to refinance their loans. To be candid, I'm skeptical about the claim that the net result will necessarily be bad.

Top 10 Gas Utility Stocks To Own Right Now

Top 10 Gas Utility Stocks To Own Right Now: Deutsche Bank AG (DBK)

Deutsche Bank AG is a global investment bank. The Company offers a variety of investment, financial and related products and services to private individuals, corporate entities and institutional clients around the world. The Company operates through such divisions as: Private and Business Clients, Asset and Wealth Management, Corporate Banking and Securities, Global Transaction Banking and Non-Core Operations Unit. Deutsche Bank AG is active domestically and in various countries, through the network of numerous branches. In February 2014, the Company and its related bodies corporate ceases to a share holder in the capital of the Company. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Tom Stoukas]

  Deutsche Lufthansa AG (LHA) and Allianz SE (ALV) led airlines and insurers lower, retreating at least 1.5 percent. Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW) slid 1.6 percent. Deutsche Bank AG (DBK) rose after JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its recommendation on the shares. Gildemeister AG (GIL) added 3.4 percent after Deutsche Bank upgraded the maker of cutting tools.

• [By Jonathan Morgan]

  Deutsche Bank AG (DBK) lost 0.6 percent as a gauge of banks posted the largest drop of the 19 industry groups in the Stoxx Europe 600 Index. Deutsche Telekom AG (DTE) advanced 2.2 percent as a gauge of telecom companies rose the most on the Stoxx 600.

source from Top Penny Stocks For 2015:http://www.seekpennystocks.com/top-10-gas-utility-stocks-to-own-right-now.html

Hot Gold Companies To Buy For 2015

Hot Gold Companies To Buy For 2015: Pershing Gold Corp (PGLC)

Pershing Gold Corporation, incorporated on August 2, 2007, is a gold and precious metals exploration company. The Company is pursuing exploration and development opportunities primarily in Nevada. It is focused on exploration at its Relief Canyon properties in Pershing County in northwestern Nevada. None of the Companys properties contain proven and probable reserves, and all of its activities on all of its properties are exploratory in nature. The Company seeks properties with known mineralization that are in an advanced stage of exploration and have previously undergone some drilling but are under-explored. It is focused on exploration of the Relief Canyon properties, recommissioning the Relief Canyon gold processing facility and, if economically feasible, commencing mining at the Relief Canyon Mine.

Relief Canyon Mine Property

The Companys Relief Canyon properties totals approximately 25,000 acres and consists of approximately 940 owned u npatented mining claims, 120 owned millsite claims, 170 leased unpatented mining claims, and leased and subleased private lands. The Company drilled 44 holes for approximately 28,500 feet in 2013. This drilling was on land adjacent to the current deposit and focused on extending and upgrading the existing deposit. In January 2013 the Company reported 32,541,000 tons of mineralized material at an average grade of 0.017 ounces of gold per ton and a cut-off grade of 0.0046 ounces of gold per ton.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By ValueInvestor7]

  I listen to investing advice from self-made billionaire investors, and I try to ignore advice from everyone else. I suspect readers on this website will appreciate this, where thankfully the Focus is still Gurus. To this end, I bring you the instructive story of Pershing Gold Corp (PGLC) and Levon Resources (TSE: LVN) (LVNVF).

source from Top Penny Stoc! ks For 2015:http://www.seekpennystocks.com/hot-gold-companies-to-buy-for-2015-2.html

What Does Wall Street See for Valero Energy's Q2?

Valero Energy (NYSE: VLO  ) is expected to report Q2 earnings around July 23. 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 Valero Energy's revenues will compress -12.9% and EPS will shrink -35.3%.

The average estimate for revenue is $30.18 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.97.

Revenue details
Last quarter, Valero Energy tallied revenue of $33.47 billion. GAAP reported sales were 4.9% lower than the prior-year quarter's $34.93 billion.

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

EPS details
Last quarter, EPS came in at $1.18. GAAP EPS were $1.18 for Q1 compared to -$0.78 per share for the prior-year quarter.

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

Recent performance
For the preceding quarter, gross margin was 5.0%, 240 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 3.2%, 210 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 2.0%, 320 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $123.24 billion. The average EPS estimate is $4.46.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 4,359 members out of 4,550 rating the stock outperform, and 191 members rating it underperform. Among 955 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 926 give Valero Energy a green thumbs-up, and 29 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Valero Energy is outperform, with an average price target of $48.44.

Is Valero Energy the right energy stock for you? Read about a handful of timely, profit-producing plays on expensive crude in "3 Stocks for $100 Oil." Click here for instant access to this free report.

Add Valero Energy to My Watchlist.

10 Best Value Stocks For 2014

You��e tired of ��hrowing money away��on rent. You want to buy your own home. But you��e not sure if now is the right time.

You hesitate about ��ow��for two reasons: time and money. In term of time, you��e not sure if you��e committed enough to staying in one place. How long will you really live in this home? And on an economic level, you��e not sure if you can afford all of the expenses that come with having a mortgage.

Before you do something impulsive, let�� assess whether you should buy a house right now �� or whether you should wait.

Home Prices

In most parts of the U.S., home prices are currently higher than they��e been in the past five years. Does this mean that you should lock-in the current prices before they rise even higher? Or does it mean that we might be heading for another downturn?

The best answer: Do what�� right for you. If you��e planning on staying in your home for a decade or more, short-term fluctuations in the houses��underlying value shouldn�� make a difference. After all, the primary purpose of your home is to provide you with a place to live, coupled with the opportunity to grow equity over time.

10 Best Gas Utility Stocks To Watch Right Now: Tupperware Corporation(TUP)

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

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jonathan Berr]

  Multilevel marketing (MLM) groups such as Herbalife operate through independent sales representatives, who earn money both through the sales of product and by recruiting other people to join their team. This business model — which is used by scores of companies, including�Pampered Chef, which is owned by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B), Tupperware (TUP) and Mary Kay Cosmetics — is legal provided that actual products are sold.

• [By James Brumley]

  CSCO stock might be one of the market’s dark-horse stories of 2014; the dividend yield is the icing on the cake.

  Dividend Stocks to Buy: Tupperware Brands (TUP)

  Dividend Yield: 3.2%

10 Best Value Stocks For 2014: Caterpillar Inc.(CAT)

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

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dan Dzombak]

  The other big news today has been earnings reports. Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT  ) is today's worst Dow stock, down 2.7% after it reported earnings per share of $1.45 -- a full 40% below the prior-year quarter's $2.54 and well short of analyst expectations of $1.71. Revenue came in at $14.6 billion, down 16% from a year ago and below analyst expectations of $14.9 billion. On top of the disappointing earnings, the company also cut its forecast for 2013 EPS from $7 to $6.50 and lowered its revenue guidance from $56 billion-$58 billion to $57 billion-$61 billion. Fool contributor Neha Chamaria recently discussed what investors should look for in Caterpillar's earnings release.

• [By Mike Deane]

  Before the opening bell on Monday, Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) announced its fourth quarter and full year earnings, posting lower revenue compared to last year’s quarterly and FY results.

  CAT’s Earnings in Brief

  Caterpillar reported fourth quarter revenues of $14.402 billion, down 10% from last year’s Q4 revenue of $16.075 billion. The company’s Q4 profit came in at $1 billion, up from last year’s Q4 profit of $697 million. SWK’s EPS for the quarter was $1.54, up from last year’s Q4 EPS of $1.04. CAT beat analysts’ estimates of $1.28 EPS on revenues of $13.64 billion. For the full year, CAT posted revenues of $55.565 billion, down from $65.875 billion, and profit of $3.789 billion versus last year’s $5.681 billion. For the FY2014, CAT expects EPS of $5.85.

  CEO Commentary

  Caterpillar’s chairman and CEO Doug Oberhelman had the following comments about the company’s earnings:�”In such a challenging environment, I am proud of the way our employees came together in 2013. Despite a sales and revenues decline of about $10 billion, we set a record for operating cash flow, strengthened our balance sheet and improved our overall market position for machines. We continued to improve safety in our facilities and the quality of the products we ship each day. Cost flexibility is critical to our strategy and was a significant focus in 2013 as we took substantial actions to help maintain profitability as sales declined. Excluding the impact of cost absorption our�manufacturing costs�and SG&A and R&D expenses were favorable by $1.2 billion compared with 2012. It wasn’t easy, especially for our employees who endured an incredibly tough year, but the actions we initiated helped us deliver strong operational performance in 2013.”

  CAT’s Dividend and Stock Buyback

  Caterpillar did not announced any changes to its dividend in its earnings report. The compa

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  For the Dow to make another run higher of nearly 7% to get to 16,000, it'll need support from the same stocks that led it higher today. Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT  ) soared 3.5%, the top gainer in the Dow, as investors applauded the prospects of stronger economic activity in the company's key U.S. market. Yet, even with today's gains, Caterpillar remains more than 10% below its recent highs, reflecting anxiety about the company's other key market: China. Fellow industrial component Alcoa (NYSE: AA  ) , which climbed almost 2% today, faces the same general issue, as sluggishness in the Chinese economy has contributed to weak aluminum prices industrywide that have held down profits.

• [By Travis Hoium]

  Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT  ) is one of the big winners today, climbing 2.3% after reporting a pretty terrible first quarter. The company's net income fell 45% as the sale of mining equipment dropped, and management now expects full-year revenue to be between $57 billion and $61 billion from a previous guidance of $60 billion to $68 billion. The only positive item was a $1 billion stock buyback announced today, and investors are clinging to the only good news available right now.�

10 Best Value Stocks For 2014: Schlumberger N.V.(SLB)

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

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Arjun Sreekumar]

  Not surprisingly, the industry's annual capital spending has more than tripled over the past decade, coming in at $550 billion in 2011, according to oil-field services firm Schlumberger (NYSE: SLB  ) . Yet despite shelling out all that money, the industry as a whole has been unable to secure enough new reserves to offset production.

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  Halliburton has focused much of its attention on the booming U.S. market, giving it more exposure to domestic production than more globally focused rival Schlumberger (NYSE: SLB  ) . With domestic drilling activity having been fairly weak lately, Halliburton's U.S. concentration has raised concerns among investors, as land-based rig counts have fallen sharply. But with efficiency gains from multi-pad drilling and multi-stage hydraulic fracturing, bulls hope that rig counts don't accurately reflect actual production activity and therefore that Halliburton's earnings will hold up better than some expect.

• [By Joel South and Tyler Crowe]

  U.S. energy policy has been shaped by one critical event that happened 40 years ago this week: the OPEC oil embargo of 1973. Since then, the United States has embarked on an ambitious goal of drilling for our own oil and gas, as well as diversifying our energy portfolio. In this segment, Joel discusses why the shift away from OPEC domination could be a major opportunity for companies like Schlumberger (NYSE: SLB  ) and Kinder Morgan (NYSE: KMI  ) as well as whether OPEC is still the force it once was.

• [By DAILYFINANCE]

  Alamy HOUSTON -- Halliburton says it lost $18 million in the first quarter, pulled down by $637 million in charges related to its role in the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill. But it made money if unusual items are excluded, beating Wall Street expectations. The oil services company's loss amounted to 2 cents a share. That compares with net income of $627 million, or 68 cents a share, a year earlier. Halliburton Co. (HAL), which is in talks to settle claims against it related to the oil spill, said that excluding the charges it posted adjusted earnings of 67 cents a share. That beat the 57 cents that analysts expected. The Houston company, which provides a variety of services for the petroleum industry, is benefiting from a boom in U.S. oil production, which is at the highest level in more than two decades. At the same time, Halliburton's natural gas business has slowed as drillers slowed production due to falling prices for the fuel. Revenue rose slightly to $6.97 billion from $6.87 billion. Analysts expected $6.88 billion. Halliburton shares jumped $1.44, or 3.9 percent, to $38.65 in premarket trading an hour before the market opening. Halliburton is the biggest provider of oil field services in North America, including hydraulic fracturing, a technology that has helped unlock large supplies of oil and natural gas from shale rock formations in the U.S. North American revenue fell 11 percent to $3.71 billion, while operating income tumbled 43 percent to $605 million. Dave Lesar, the company's chairman, president and CEO, said a drop in Halliburton's rig count and pricing pressures in North America were more than offset by the company's growing international business. International revenue increased 21 percent from a year ago. For the full year, Halliburton still expects total international revenue growth in the "low teens," he said. Rival Schlumberger Ltd. (SLB), which has a larger international business, said Friday that its revenue climbed in region

10 Best Value Stocks For 2014: Dollar Tree Inc.(DLTR)

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

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Duprey]

  The dollar store operator at the center of a takeover bidding battle between two rival chains on Thursday reported fiscal 2015 first quarter earnings that were nearly cut in half as new pricing policies took effect. As Family Dollar (NYSE: FDO  ) continues struggling to turn around its operations, the subpar performance raises a legitimate question: Just what do Dollar Tree (NASDAQ: DLTR  ) and Dollar General (NYSE: DG  ) continue see in the chain that makes them think it's so valuable?

• [By Steven Russolillo]

  WATCH FOR:�Weekly Jobless Claims (8:30 a.m. Eastern Time): seen 310K; previously 297K. May Markit “Flash” PMI (9:45). April Existing Home Sales (10:00): seen +2.0% at 2.68M; previously -0.2% at 4.59M. April Leading Index (10:00): seen +0.5%; previously +0.8%. May Kansas City Fed Manufacturing Survey (11:00): seen 8; previously 7. Aeropostale, Best Buy(BBY), Borcade, Buckle, Dollar Tree(DLTR), GameStop(GME), Gap(GPS), Hewlett-Packard(HPQ), Marvell Tech(MRVL), Mentor Graphics(MENT), Ross Stores(ROST) and TiVo are among companies scheduled to report quarterly results.

• [By Melvin Backman]

  3. Dollar store drama and coffee surge: Shares in Dollar General (DG) are down more than 7% after CEO Rick Dreiling announced that he was retiring in 2015. Activist investor Carl Icahn has a 9.4% stake in Family Dollar (FDO), which many suspect he wants to merge with Dollar General. Family Dollar stock is down 2%. Related company Dollar Tree (DLTR) is slightly negative as well.

Why This Bull Market Will Keep Running

Jim Stack says this is no time to sell stocks. Even though we're more than 5½ years into a bull market, he believes low oil prices and low interest rates, along with rising consumer and business confidence, will power this bull market ahead for many months to come. In fact, he currently recommends that investors keep 83% of their assets in stocks.

See Also: 25 Stock Picks for an Aging Bull Market

Why should you care what Jim Stack says? Because Stack, a money manager and editor of the newsletter InvesTech Research Market Analyst, has been nearly perfect in his market calls over the past decade. He correctly predicted the onset of the 2007–09 bear market, flipped to a bullish stance near the bottom in March 2009, and has remained steadfastly positive even as a steady stream of scares have frightened more timid strategists out of the market. Over the past 10 years through September 30, the recommendations in Stack's newsletter have produced an annualized return of 9.9%—an average of two percentage points per year more than Standard & Poor's 500-stock index, according to the Hulbert Financial Digest.

Top 5 Canadian Stocks To Buy Right Now

Stack bases his forecasts on analysis of the economy and business conditions, as well as on technical indicators—that is, the action of the stock market itself.

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He musters strong arguments to bolster his current bullish stance. The U.S. economy is growing steadily—yet that growth hasn't sparked a pickup in either inflation or interest rates. The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index is hitting new post-recession highs practically every month, as is its Index of Leading Economic Indicators. So are the Institute for Supply Management's reports on both the manufacturing and service sectors of the economy. "These are perfect conditions for a bull market," Stack says. "The probability of a recession—and accompanying bear market—before the end of 2015 is remarkably low."

That's not all. Stack can hardly contain his enthusiasm over the recent plunge in oil prices, which have dropped 25% since late June to $78 a barrel. Think of falling oil prices as a lubricant for the entire economy. Cheaper oil makes almost everything less expensive, both for businesses and consumers. Or, think of cheaper oil as a gigantic tax cut: It leaves hundreds of billions of dollars that can be spent on other things.

If oil is the economy's lubricant, low long-term interest rates are its propellant. Much of the economy, both for businesses and individuals, runs on borrowed money. The less expensive that money is, the faster the economy can expand, all other things being equal. Stack expects cheap oil and cheap money to power corporations to higher profits next year—higher than analysts are currently forecasting.

More than economic fundamentals put Stack in the bullish camp. His technical indicators are mostly flashing a buy signal, too.

The InvesTech Bellwether Index, an index of economically sensitive stocks, is surging to record highs. Stack's Negative Leadership Composite, which measures the number of stocks posting new 52-week highs compared with those hitting new lows, fell during the October sell-off, but is now recovering nicely.

Stack, however, is nothing if not flexible. He remains a nervous bull. "Bull markets do not last forever," he says. He thinks we're in the latter third of the bull market, and that sometime in the next two or three years the economy will fall into recession. Typically, bear markets begin three to six months before recessions start.

What's more, Stack expects the coming bear market to be a doozy. That's because every bear market save one since 1950 has taken back at least half of the gains of the preceding bull market. He thinks the next bear market will subtract 35% or more from the major stock indexes. But that's tomorrow's worry. For now, the bull market looks strong and healthy.

Steve Goldberg is an investment adviser in the Washington, D.C., area.

Top 10 Rising Stocks For 2014

It was another wild week on Wall Street, but at the end of the week the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI  ) was up 0.88% and the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC  ) had gained 0.78%. Early in the week, stocks dropped because investors feared the Federal Reserve would taper off a bond-buying program that's helped keep interest rates low, but by the end of the week, losses had reversed on another pretty mediocre employment report.

Pfizer (NYSE: PFE  ) led the Dow this week by gaining 3.8%. The company partnered with a company called CytomX to build antibody-drug conjugate products to fight cancer. The company can get an upfront payment of $25 million and a much as $610 million if sales goals are reached. Cancer drugs are really the next frontier for drug companies, and hopefully this is a winner for Pfizer. �

Verizon (NYSE: VZ  ) was second in the Dow this week with a 3.6% gain -- surprising, considering how much the company was in the headlines. The Guardian broke a story about Verizon's cooperating with an NSA requirement to turn over information about both domestic and international phone calls, and another privacy debate erupted around the country. Verizon didn't have much of a choice considering the court order, so you can't really blame the company for cooperating. If we focus on the longer term, I think Verizon is still in prime position in the wireless market, and the NSA debate will grab headlines for only a short time. A 4.2% dividend yield and a wide competitive moat make this one of the best stocks on the Dow.

Top Restaurant Stocks To Watch For 2015: American Lorain Corp (ALN)

American Lorain Corporation (ALN), incorporated on February 4, 1986, is an integrated food manufacturing company. The Company develops, manufactures and sells food products, which includes chestnut products, convenience foods, including ready-to-cook (RTC) foods, ready-to-eat (RTE) foods and meals ready-to-eat (MRE)), and frozen food products. The Company conducts its production activities in China. Its products are sold in 26 provinces and administrative regions in China and 42 foreign countries. The Company derives its revenues from sales in China, Japan and South Korea. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company produced 254 products, including 16 new products in its chestnut and convenience foods segment. During 2011, it discontinued three products in the convenience segment. In February 2014, American Lorain Corp acquired a 51% interest in Athena Group.

The Company manufactures its products in six facilities in China, three of which are located in Junan County, Shandong Province, one in Luotian County, Hubei Province, one in Miyun County, Beijing City and one leased facility in Dongguan, Guandong Province. As of December 31, 2011, the Company manufactured its products using 26 production lines. Each production line is used to produce between 10 and 50 products. The Company operates three product lines: deep-freezing lines, canning lines and convenience food lines. The Company sells its products in all first-tier cities in China, including Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin and Guangzhou. Its export sales destinations include Asia pacific, primarily Japan, South Korea and Malaysia, but also Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia and Australia; Europe, primarily Belgium and the United Kingdom, but also France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Poland, and Denmark the Middle East, primarily Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Israel; North America, including the United States and Canada.

ALN owns 100% of International Lorain Holding, Inc. (ILH). ILH wholly owns two Chinese operating subsi! diaries, Luotian Green Foodstuff Co., Ltd. (Luotian Lorain) and Junan Hongrun Foodstuff Co., Ltd. (Junan Hongrun), directly. Junan Hongrun, in turn, wholly owns Dongguan Green Foodstuff Co., Ltd. (Dongguan Lorain). In addition, together with Junan Hongrun, ILH wholly owns Beijing Green Foodstuff Co., Ltd. (Beijing Lorain), Shandong Greenpia Foodstuff Co., Ltd. (Shandong Greenpia), and owns approximately 80% of Shandong Green Foodstuff Co., Ltd. (Shandong Lorain) (Shandong Economic Development Investment Co. Ltd. owns approximately 20%).

Chestnut Products

During 2011, the Company produced 57 processed chestnut products. During 2011, this segment contributed 51.7% of its total revenues. The Company's products include its aerated open-bottom chestnuts, which are chestnuts packaged with nitrogen; sweetheart chestnuts, which are sweet preserved chestnuts; chestnuts in syrup, and golden chestnut kernels.

Convenience Foods

The Company's convenience food products include RTC food products, RTE food products and MRE food products. During 2011, the Company's RTCs included beef and lamb products, and its RTEs included bean products and pickle products. The Company's self heating MREs are primarily for military use since no cooking device or other ingredients are needed other than water. The Company also introduced microwavable MREs for civilian uses, such as camping, traveling and other situations. The Company produces various MREs based on Chinese cuisine, which include its pork with garlic sauce over rice and kungpao chicken with rice. The Company produced 138 convenience food products, during 2011, including 14 new products, such as filled buns and fried sweet potato.

Frozen Food Products

The Company produces a variety of frozen foods, including frozen vegetables, frozen fruits, frozen fish, and frozen meats. The Company produced 63 frozen food products in 2011. The Company's frozen foods included, during 2011, were frozen asparagus a! nd frozen! corn.

The Company competes with Hebei Liyuan, Foodwell Corporation, Weifang Langdong Food Co. Ltd., Yuyao Hongji Food Co. Ltd. and Yantai Pengshun Food Co. Ltd.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By James E. Brumley]

  Truth be told, were it just today's 11% pop from American Lorain Corporation (NYSEMKT:ALN), it might not even be worth mentioning. It's not just today's 11% rally from ALN, though, that's made this stock so interesting. It's everything that's happened up until this point that may mean American Lorain deserves a spot at the top of your watchlist, if not in your portfolio.

Top 10 Rising Stocks For 2014: Actuate Corp (BIRT)

Actuate Corporation (Actuate), incorporated in November 1993, provides software and services to develop and deploy custom Business Intelligence and information applications. Actuate offers ActuateOne to develop and deploy Business Intelligence and Reporting Tools (BIRT)-based custom Business Intelligence and information applications focusing on browsers and mobile devices that deliver content hosted in cloud, software-as-a-service (SaaS) and on premises deployments. Its products and services are used by its customers to develop and deploy applications across a range of business functions, including financial management, sales management, account management, and customer self-service. Xenos solutions, based on Xenos Enterprise Server, loads, transforms and presents high volumes of data and documents across multiple channels. Actuate�� BIRT Spreadsheet products are Excel-based. In February 2014, Actuate Corporation announced the acquisition of legodo ag.

ActuateOne-Business Intelligence, Analytics and Reporting

Actuate offers a range of BIRT-based Business Intelligence (BI), analytics and reporting features within the integrated ActuateOne platform, providing 64-bit, in-memory analytics, user configurable dashboards, ad-hoc query, interactive mobile and Web content, brochure-quality reporting, and spreadsheet analysis. ActuateOne provides a platform upon which Global 9000 and packaged application software vendors develop and deploy BI and information applications. Such applications retrieve business information from databases, as well as print streams and deliver it as dashboards, interactive Web pages, spreadsheets, mobile content and analytic cubes to customers, partners and employees worldwide.

Xenos Enterprise Server Framework

Xenos Enterprise Server (ES) is an application that captures, identifies, routes, stores and retrieves structured and unstructured documents and data. Xenos ES supports the processing, extraction, transformation, repurposi! ng and personalization of structured and unstructured data in both legacy and SOA environments. Xenos ES distributes documents across multiple channels, such as Web, mobile and tablet devices in addition to providing interactivity and document analytics through its integration with ActuateOne.

Performance Analytics

Actuate BIRT Performance Analytics provides interactive dashboards, analytics, and scorecards. With Web interface, users across the enterprise can monitor operations, identify and analyze performance issues and enact initiatives.

BIRT Spreadsheet

Actuate�� BIRT Spreadsheet products deliver Excel-like reporting, formatting and calculation functionality within Java applications. Actuate BIRT Spreadsheet products can also leverage all the Actuate deployment options-embedded in applications or deployed cloud or on-premise enterprise environments.

The Company competes with Information Builders, Qlik Tech, Pentaho, Jaspersoft, MicroStrategy, IBM, Microsoft, Oracle and SAP.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Udovich]

  Yesterday, small cap business intelligence stock MicroStrategy Incorporated (NASDAQ: MSTR) surged 18.44%�after reporting better-than-expected third quarter earnings ��meaning it might be a good idea to take a closer look at it�along with�small cap peers Actuate Corporation (NASDAQ: BIRT) and Qlik Technologies Inc (NASDAQ: QLIK) to see what they might offer small cap investors. After all, everyone is being inundated with huge amounts of data from multiple sources, but its the following small cap stocks that provide software platforms to help customers try to make sense of it all:�

• [By Roberto Pedone]

  Actuate (BIRT) provides software solutions and services to corporate and government customers worldwide. This stock closed up 1.7% to $4.54 in Tuesday's trading session.

  Tuesday's Range: $4.43-$4.57
  52-Week Range: $3.41-$8.23
  Tuesday's Volume: 213,000
  Three-Month Average Volume: 319,262

  From a technical perspective, BIRT trended modestly higher here back above its 50-day moving average of $4.51 with lighter-than-average volume. This move to the upside on Tuesday is starting to push shares of BIRT within range of triggering a major breakout trade. That trade will hit trigger if BIRT manages to take out some key overhead resistance levels at $4.60 to $4.75 and then above more resistance at $4.85 with high volume.

  Traders should now look for long-biased trades in BIRT as long as it's trending above some key near-term support levels at $4.30 to $4.25 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 319,262 shares. If that breakout starts soon, then BIRT will set up to re-fill some of its previous gap-down-day zone from May that started near $6.

Top 10 Rising Stocks For 2014: InfoSonics Corp(IFON)

InfoSonics Corporation engages in the design, development, sourcing, and sale of wireless handsets and accessories in Latin America and the Asia Pacific. The company offers a line of entry-level, mid-tier, and high-end products under the verykool brand name. It contracts with electronic manufacturing services providers to manufacture its branded products. The company?s customers include carriers, agents, distributors, resellers, and original equipment manufacturers. InfoSonics Corporation was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in San Diego, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Monica Gerson]

  Infosonics (NASDAQ: IFON) shares jumped 22.64% to $2.06. Infosonics shares have jumped 170.97% over the past 52 weeks, while the S&P 500 index has gained 23.35% in the same period.

• [By Bryan Murphy]

  Looking for some new trading ideas? Start by putting Arrowhead Research Corp. (NASDAQ:ARWR) and InfoSonics Corporation (NASDAQ:IFON) on your watchlist... though not yet in your portfolio. Though both IFON and ARWR have laid the foundation for a rally, neither has gotten above their final humps. Here's a closer look at what it's going to take.

Top 10 Rising Stocks For 2014: Tiffany & Co.(TIF)

Tiffany & Co., through its subsidiaries, engages in the design, manufacture, and retail of fine jewelry worldwide. Its jewelry products include fine and solitaire jewelry; diamond engagement rings and wedding bands for brides and grooms; and non-gemstone, sterling silver, gold, and platinum jewelry. The company also provides timepieces, sterling silver goods, china, crystal, stationery, fragrances, personal accessories, and leather goods. Tiffany & Co. sells its products through retail sales, Internet and catalog sales, business-to-business sales, and wholesale distribution primarily in the Americas, the Asia-Pacific, and Europe. The company also sells its products through its stores, as well as through department store boutiques in Japan. As of January 31, 2011, it operated 233 TIFFANY & CO. stores and boutiques worldwide. The company was founded in 1837 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Monica Gerson]

  Analysts expect Tiffany & Co (NYSE: TIF) to report its Q1 earnings at $0.78 per share on revenue of $955.05 million. Tiffany shares climbed 0.87% to $89.00 in the after-hours trading session.

• [By Paul Ausick]

  Big Earnings Movers: Tiffany & Co. (NYSE: TIF) is up 8.7% at $88.05 following positive results and a raised outlook. Barnes & Noble Inc. (NYSE: BKS) is down 6% at $15.45 as the bookseller watches its revenue slide. JA Solar Holdings Co. Ltd. (NASDAQ: JASO) is down 10.3% at $XX on a mixed earnings report and LDK Solar Co. Ltd. (NYSE: LDK) is flat at $1.60.

Top 10 Rising Stocks For 2014: PIMCO Municipal Income Fund III(PMX)

PIMCO Municipal Income Fund III is a closed ended fixed income mutual fund launched and managed by Allianz Global Investors Fund Management LLC. The fund is co-managed by Pacific Investment Management Co LLC. It invests in fixed income markets. The fund invests in a portfolio of municipal bonds, including long and short U.S. Treasury Notes, and U.S. Treasury Bond Futures. PIMCO Municipal Income Fund III was formed in 2002 and is domiciled in United States.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By maarnio]

  Spectral is focused on the development and commercialization of a treatment for severe sepsis utilizing its Endotox in Activity Assay (EAA) and the Toraymyxin therapeutic (PMX). If approved, this will be the first theranostics product, a targeted therapy guided by a specific diagnostic, in the area of sepsis. The company also manufactures and sells certain proprietary reagents.

Top 10 Rising Stocks For 2014: Durata Therapeutics Inc (DRTX)

Durata Therapeutics, Inc., incorporated on November 4, 2009, is a pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of therapeutics for patients with infectious diseases and acute illnesses. The Company enroll and dose patients in two global Phase III clinical trials with its product candidate, dalbavancin, for the treatment of patients with acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (abSSSI). Dalbavancin is an intravenous antibiotic product candidate designed for once-weekly dosing. In addition to abSSSI, the Company focuses on the development of dalbavancin for additional indications, including osteomyelitis, diabetic foot infection and pneumonia.

As of December 31, 2011, Dalbavancin had already completed three Phase III clinical trials, in which more than 1,000 patients in total received dalbavancin. Dalbavancin achieved its primary efficacy endpoint of non-inferiority in each of these three completed Phase III clinical trials when compared to linezolid, cefazolin or vancomycin, three of the standard-of-care agents for uncomplicated skin and skin structure infections (uSSSI), and complicated skin and skin structure infections (cSSSI). Its two ongoing Phase III clinical trials are designed to compare dalbavancin to vancomycin, with an option to switch to oral linezolid, under the new FDA draft guidance.

The Company competes with Pfizer, Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Theravance, Inc., Forest Laboratories, Inc., Sanofi-Aventis Ltd., The Medicines Company, Trius Therapeutics, Inc., Cempra, Inc., Rib-X Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Paratek Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Nabriva Therapeutics AG, Tetraphase Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Furiex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lisa Levin]

  Durata Therapeutics (NASDAQ: DRTX) shares climbed 5.30% to $14.18. The volume of Durata Therapeutics shares traded was 861% higher than normal. The FDA Advisory Committee unanimously recommended the approval of Durata's Dalvance.

• [By Bob's Stocks]

  Durata Therapeutics (DRTX) is developing Dalbavancin, a once a week, intravenous antibiotic product candidate, for the treatment of patients with acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections, or ABSSSI. The company is expected to file a NDA (New Drug Application) at any moment and MAA (Marketing Authorization Application) at the end of 2013.

Top 10 Rising Stocks For 2014: Spirit Realty Capital Inc (SRC)

Spirit Realty Capital, Inc., incorporated on August 14, 2003, is a self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust (REIT). The Company�� operations are carried out through Spirit Realty, L.P. (the Operating Partnership). The Company invests in single-tenant, operationally essential real estate throughout the United States that is leased on a long-term, triple-net basis primarily to tenants engaged in retail, service and distribution industries. Single-tenant, operationally essential real estate consists of properties that are generally free-standing, commercial real estate facilities where its tenants conduct retail, service or distribution activities. as of December 31, 2012, the Company�� portfolio of 1,122 owned properties were leased to approximately 165 tenants. In July 2013, the Company merged with Cole Credit Property Trust II.

The Company�� tenants operate in 18 different industries, which include medical/other office properties; recreational properties; educational properties; automotive dealers, parts and services facilities; industrial properties; building material suppliers; movie theatres; restaurants-casual dining; specialty retail properties; restaurants-quick service, and general and discount retail properties. The Company�� properties are geographically diversified across 47 states, with only 4 states contributing more than 5.0% of its annual rent. As of December 31, 2012, approximately 98.0% of its lease and loan revenues were attributable to long-term leases. As of December 31, 2012, the Company leases 181 properties to Shopko/Pamida, 179 of which are leased pursuant to three master leases.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Duprey]

  With Spirit Realty Capital (NYSE: SRC  ) set to merge with�Cole Credit Property Trust II in the third quarter, the commercial real estate REIT announced yesterday�it would pay a pro-rated dividend for the third quarter based on a quarterly payout of $0.3125 per share, the same rate it paid last quarter. Spirit only went public last September and began paying dividends in January.