Top 10 Communications Equipment Companies To Buy Right Now

With shares of Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) trading around $23, is INTC 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

Intel designs and manufactures integrated digital technology platforms, including microprocessors and chipsets. The company sells these platforms primarily to original equipment manufacturers, original design manufacturers, and industrial and communications equipment manufacturers in the computing and communications industries. Intel�� platforms are used in a range of applications, such as personal computers, data centers, tablets, smartphones, automobiles, automated factory systems, and medical devices.

The company also develops and sells software and services primarily focused on security and technology integration. Microprocessors, chipsets, and software products and services are at the root of most technological progress. A bellwether and main provider like Intel will see rising demand and increased market share, as it is the only viable option for a growing consumer base and expanding companies worldwide.

Best Computer Hardware Companies To Watch In Right Now: Juniper Networks Inc (JNPR)

Juniper Networks, Inc. (Juniper Networks), incorporated on September 10, 1996, designs, develops, and sells products and services that together provide its customers with network infrastructure. It operates in two segments: Infrastructure and Service Layer Technologies (SLT). The Company�� Infrastructure segment primarily offers routing and switching products that are used to control and direct network traffic from the core, through the edge, aggregation, and the customer premise equipment level. Infrastructure products include its Internet protocol (IP) routing, carrier Ethernet routing portfolio, and Ethernet switching portfolio. In addition, the Infrastructure segment offers a complete wireless local area network (WLAN) solution. Its SLT segment offers solutions that meet a range of its customers' priorities, from protecting the users, applications and data on the network itself to providing network services across a distributed infrastructure. Effective September 13, 2013, Juniper Networks, Inc. acquired Contrail Networks Inc.

Brilliant is a supplier of packet-based, network synchronization equipment and monitoring solutions. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company introduced its network architecture and fabric technology for the data center, QFabric. It serves the high-performance networking requirements of global service providers, enterprises, and public sector organizations. The Company�� open cross-network software platform includes the Junos operating system (Junos OS), Junos Space network application platform, and Junos Pulse integrated network client. The Company offers a product portfolio that spans routing, switching, security, application access, and mobility device security.

Infrastructure Products

The Company�� T Series core routers are primarily designed for core IP infrastructures and are also being sold into the multi-service environment. Its PTX Series is a large capacity (8 and 16 tera-bits per second) MPLS-optimized packe! t transport switch for the core networks, of content service providers and Tier 1 service providers, with high throughout of packet traffic. The Company�� E Series products are a full featured platform designed for the network edge with support for carrier-class routing, broadband subscriber management services, and a set of IP services. The MX Series is a product family developed to address emerging Ethernet network architectures and services in service provider and enterprise networks. The Company�� EX Series family extends its product portfolio running its Junos OS to address the Ethernet switch market. Ethernet is a used technology, which is used to transport information in enterprise networks. Infrastructure Products also includes QFabric Products and WLAN product.

SLT Products

SLT Products include Services Gateway, Integrated Firewall, and VPN Solutions, Secure Access Appliances, Secure Access Appliances, IDP Series Appliances and Identity and Policy Control Solutions. The Company�� SRX Series of dynamic services gateways, running its Junos software, provides firewall/VPN and combines routing, switching, and security functionality. The series is designed to meet network and security requirements for data center consolidation, rapid managed services deployments, and aggregation of security services. Its firewall and VPN systems and appliances are designed to provide integrated firewall, VPN, and denial of service protection capabilities for both enterprise environments and service provider network infrastructures. These products range from its SSG product series, which combines LAN/WAN routing capabilities with threat management features, such as antivirus, anti-spam, and Web filtering technologies, to its ISG and NetScreen Series firewall and VPN systems, which are designed to deliver security in medium/large enterprises, carrier networks, and data centers.

The Company�� Junos Pulse, Junos Pulse Mobile Security Suite, and SA Series SSL VPN appliances,! designed! for use in companies of all sizes, are used to provide secure access to corporate resources for remote and mobile users from any Web-enabled device, regardless of location. Its portfolio of identity and policy control solutions integrates subscriber privileges, application requirements, and business policies with the IP network infrastructure.

The Company competes with Cisco Systems, Inc. (Cisco), Alcatel-Lucent, Brocade Communications Systems, Inc. (Brocade), Extreme Networks, Inc., Hewlett Packard Company (HP), Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei), Check Point Software Technologies, F5 Networks, Inc., Palo Alto Networks, Inc., and Riverbed Technology, Inc.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jayson Derrick]

  Juniper Networks (NASDAQ: JNPR) issued downside third quarter guidance last night and expects its third quarter revenue to be $1.11 billion to $1.12 billion, lower than the company's prior guidance of $1.15 billion to $1.28 billion. The company also lowered its earnings per share guidance to $0.34 from $0.36 from a previous range of $0.35 to $0.40. The company blamed its downside guidance on a “lower-than-anticipated demand from service providers, particularly in the U.S.” Shares lost 9.07 percent, closing at $19.04.

Top 10 Communications Equipment Companies To Buy Right Now: Digicore Holdings Ltd (DGC)

Digicore Holdings Limited is a South Africa-based holding company engaged in the manufacturing and distribution of fleet management and vehicle tracking solutions. The Company operates in three segments: South African Distribution, Foreign Distribution, Product Development and Manufacturing and Group Management. The Company's South African distribution segment focuses on distribution of manufactured fleet management and vehicle tracking solutions within the South African consumer market. Foreign distribution focuses on the distribution of manufactured fleet management and vehicle tracking solutions all around the world. Product development and manufacturing segment focuses on investing in research, manufacturing and development of vehicle tracking and fleet management solutions for distribution. Group Management segment renders management services to the Company. On August 31, 2012, the Company obtained an additional 27% shareholding in Ctrack (Pty) Ltd. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Eric Lam]

  Detour Gold (DGC) plunged 18 percent to C$6.35, an almost five-year low. The company said in a statement it will not reach its 2013 production target of 270,000 ounces of gold and now forecasts 240,000 to 260,000 ounces.

Top 10 Communications Equipment Companies To Buy Right Now: Audience Inc (ADNC)

Audience, Inc., incorporated on May 24, 2011, is a provider of voice and audio solutions that improve voice quality and the user experience in mobile devices. The Company�� solutions include hardware-accelerated digital signal processors (DSPs), and audio codecs and associated algorithms for noise suppression in mobile devices. Its computational auditory scene analysis (CASA) maps the sound separation functions in human hearing, into a computational framework. The Company�� platform consists of its DSPs and audio codec, analog and mixed signal circuits and algorithms for voice isolation and noise suppression.

The Company also provides its AuViD graphical design tools to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). The Company had sold over 250 million processors to its OEM customers as of December 31, 2012. In addition to the mobile device market, the Company�� voice and audio technology is also applicable to a range of other market segments, including automobile infotainment systems, digital cameras, digital televisions, headsets and set top boxes.

The Company�� product portfolio supports both analog and digital interfaces. As of December 31, 2012, the Company offered eS515, eS325, eS305, eS310, eS110, A1028 and A1026 custom voice and audio processors for device platforms, including smartphones, feature phones and media tablets. eS515 is a third generation voice and audio processor with an integrated audio codec, featuring support of three-microphones; eS325is a third generation voice and audio processor that features simultaneous three microphone processing; eS305 is a second generation voice and audio processor utilizing new hardware acceleration architecture and algorithms for far-field, wideband communications and capable of advanced speech recognition assist, and uses an all digital interface; eS310, provides similar capabilities to the eS305; eS110 is a first generation narrowband voice processor designed for real-time communications and far-field as well as near-field u! se with features such as acoustic echo cancelation, voice equalization and automatic gain control; A1026, is a first generation narrowband voice processor designed for real-time communications and typical near-field use, and A1028, which is a first generation narrowband voice processor designed for real-time communications and far-field, as well as near-field use.

The Company derives its revenue primarily from the sale of voice and audio processors to OEMs, which incorporate them into mobile devices. As of December 31, 2012, OEMs, CMs and distributors worldwide had purchased more than 250 million of its processors and incorporated them in over 140 mobile device models.

The Company competes with Maxim, ON Semiconductor, Qualcomm, Texas Instruments Incorporated, Wolfson Microelectronics plc, DSP Group, Inc. and Yamaha Corporation.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Seth Jayson]

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

Top 10 Communications Equipment Companies To Buy Right Now: PositiveID Corp (PSID)

PositiveID Corporation (PositiveID), incorporated in November 2001, is engaged in developing, marketing and selling radio frequency identification (RFID), systems used for the identification of people in the healthcare market. PositiveID is focused on providing health and security identification tools to protect consumers and businesses, operating in two segments: HealthID and ID Security. The Company�� HealthID segment is focused on the development of four products, which includes the GlucoChip, iglucose, Easy Check and the rapid flu detection system. Its ID Security segment includes the identity security suite of products, sold through its NationalCreditReport.com brand and its Health Link personal health record (PHR) business. In July 2011, it completed the sale of substantially all of the assets of NationalCreditReport.com. On May 23, 2011, the Company acquired all of the interest of MicroFluidic Systems (MicroFluidic). In November 2013, the Company sold its interest in VeriTeQ Corporation (VeriTeQ).

HealthID Segment

PositiveID�� HealthID segment product GlucoChip is a glucose-sensing microchip is developed in conjunction with Receptors LLC (Receptors). Iglucose is a self-contained unit that automatically queries a diabetic user�� data-capable glucometer for blood glucose data and sends that data via encrypted text messaging to the iglucose online database. Easy Check is a non-invasive breath glucose detection system, based on the correlation of acetone in exhaled breath to blood glucose levels. The rapid flu detection system is also developed in conjunction with Receptors. The Company�� HealthID segment also includes the VeriMed system, which uses an implantable passive RFID microchip (the VeriChip) that is used in patient identification applications. Each implantable microchip contains a verification number that is read when it is scanned by its scanner.

ID Security Segment

PositiveID�� NationalCreditReport.com business offers consu! mers a range of identity security products and services primarily on a subscription basis. These services help consumers protect themselves against identity theft or fraud and understand and monitor their credit profiles and other personal information, which include credit reports, credit monitoring and credit scores. The Company has Health Link PHR business.

Healthcare Products

PositiveID�� Healthcare products include the GlucoChip, a product that combines a glucose-sensing microtransponder. The Company has partnered with Receptors to develop an in-vivo glucose sensor to detect glucose levels in the human body. In conjunction with Receptors, the Company has completed Phase I and Phase II development of the glucose-sensing microchip and are in Phase III development. The Easy Check breath glucose test, as of January 31, 2012 is under development, is a non-invasive glucose detection system that measures acetone levels in a patient�� exhaled breath. The iglucose system uses machine to machine technology to automatically communicate a diabetic�� glucose readings to the iglucose online database.

MicroFluidic Systems

MicroFluidic specializes in the production of automated instruments for a range of applications in the detection and processing of biological samples, ranging from rapid medical testing to airborne pathogen detection for homeland security. MicroFluidic�� substantial portfolio of related to sample preparation and rapid medical testing applications are the portfolio of virus detection and diabetes management products.

Identity Security Products and Services

National Credit Report.com, LLC (NCRC) is engaged in the consumer provision of credit reports, credit score and credit monitoring products. This business provides a medium for consumers to retrieve and review their credit history, as well as monitor their credit files with one or all three of the major credit reporting bureaus: Experian, Equifax and TransUni! on. The C! ompany�� products and services are offered to consumers on a monthly subscription basis.

Health Link Personal Health Record and Other Applications

Health Link is a patient-controlled, online repository to store personal health information, such as medications, allergies, family history, previous surgeries, vaccinations and lab results. Health Link also connects the patient to a multitude of customized materials, such as personalized health education and online connectivity to caregivers. Patients can also utilize Health Link to connect with numerous Electronic Medical Record (EMR) systems that are accessible through Microsoft HealthVault and Google Health. In conjunction with Raytheon Microelectronics Espana, the Company developed an eight millimetre microchip, which has functionality that is substantially equivalent to the VeriChip.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By James E. Brumley]

  Ever heard of PositiveID Corp. (OTCMKTS:PSID)? Most people haven't, so don't worry if it's an unfamiliar name. What's surprising is that PSID is still a little unfamiliar to the masses at this stage of the Ebola game. It's not just a worry that we only have to worry about domestically. It's now spreading within the United States, which is a whole different ball game than preventing it from getting to the United States. This presents a real risk of pandemic spreading within our borders. PositiveID can help.

Top 10 Communications Equipment Companies To Buy Right Now: Nokia Oyj (NOK1V)

Nokia Oyj is a Finland-based company engaged in the manufacture of mobile devices and networks. It operates three business segments. Devices & Services segment is divided into two areas, Smart Devices, focused on Nokia�� advanced products, such as smart phones, product development and marketing; and Mobile Phones, active in the area of mass market entry and feature phones, affordable smart phones, services, and applications. It also includes net sale of spare parts. Location & Commerce (HERE) segment develops location-based products and services for consumers, as well as platform services and local commerce services for the Group. Additionally, it provides content and map data to NAVTEQ�� customers. Nokia Siemens Networks segment provides a portfolio of mobile, fixed and converged network technology, and professional services, such as consultancy, systems integration, deployment and maintenance. In August 2013, it acquired Siemens AG's whole stake in Nokia Siemens Networks. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Tom Stoukas]

  Alcatel Lucent SA (ALU) jumped 6.3 percent to 2.69 euros. Nokia Oyj (NOK1V), which is set to become a manufacturer focusing on wireless networks after the sale of its handset business, is evaluating a linkup with the French company, two people with knowledge of the matter said.

Top 10 Communications Equipment Companies To Buy Right Now: Houston Wire & Cable Co (HWCC)

Houston Wire & Cable Company, incorporated in 1997, provides wire and cable and related services to the United States market. The Company offers its customers with a single-source solution for wire and cable, hardware and related services. The Company offers products in categories of wire and cable, including continuous and interlocked armor cable, control and power cable, electronic wire and cable, flexible and portable cords, instrumentation and thermocouple cable, lead and high temperature cable, medium voltage cable, premise and category wire and cable, wire rope and wire rope slings, as well as nylon slings, chain, shackles and other related hardware. It also offers private branded products, including its brand LifeGuard, a low-smoke, zero-halogen cable. On January 1, 2011, the acquired companies were merged into HWC Wire & Cable Company.

The Company�� products are used in repair and replacement, also known as maintenance, repair and operations (MRO), and related projects, larger-scale projects in the utility, industrial and infrastructure markets and a diverse range of industrial applications, including communications, energy, engineering and construction, general manufacturing, mining, construction, oilfield services, infrastructure, petrochemical, transportation, utility, wastewater treatment, marine construction and marine transportation. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company served approximately 6,000 customers.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Seth Jayson]

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

Top 10 Communications Equipment Companies To Buy Right Now: Belden Inc (BDC)

Belden Inc. (Belden), incorporated on May 18, 1988, designs, manufactures and markets cable, connectivity, and networking products in markets including industrial, enterprise, and broadcast. The Company operates in three segments: the Americas segment, the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) segment and the Asia Pacific segment. The Company�� offers cable, connectivity and networking products, including power generation and distribution, data centers, oil and gas, broadcast, transportation, healthcare and industrial automation. In December 2012, Carlisle Companies Inc acquired Thermax-Raydex business from the Company. In December 2012, the Company sold Consumer Electronics Assets in China to Shenzhen Woer Heat-Shrinkable Material Co Ltd. During the year ended December 31, 2012, the Company acquired Miranda Technologies Inc. (Miranda).

The categories of cable products are copper cables, including shielded and unshielded twisted pair cables, coaxial cables, and stranded cables, fiber optic cables, which transmit light signals through glass or plastic fibers and composite cables, which are combinations of multiconductor, coaxial, and fiber optic cables jacketed together or otherwise joined together to serve complex applications and provide ease of installation. Connectivity products include fiber and copper connectors for the enterprise, broadcast, broadband, and industrial markets. Networking products include Industrial Ethernet switches and related equipment and security features, fiber optic interfaces and media converters used to bridge fieldbus networks over long distances, networking infrastructure for the television broadcast, cable, satellite and IPTV industry, and load-moment indicators for mobile cranes and other load-bearing equipment.

For industrial end markets, the Company supplies cable, connectivity, and networking products for applications ranging from advanced industrial networking and robotics to traditional instrumentation and control systems. The Compa! ny�� cable products are used in discrete manufacturing and process operations involving the connection of computers, programmable controllers, robots, operator interfaces, motor drives, sensors, printers and other devices. The Company sells its industrial products primarily through value-added resellers, industrial distributors, and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). It designs, manufactures and markets Industrial Ethernet switches and related equipment, both rail-mounted and rack-mounted, for factory automation, power generation and distribution, process automation, and infrastructure projects, such as bridges, wind farms and airport runways. It also designs, manufactures and markets fiber optic interfaces and media converters. In addition, it designs, manufactures, and markets a range of industrial connectors for sensors and actuators, cord-sets, distribution boxes, and fieldbus communications. These products are used both as components of manufacturing equipment and in the installation and networking of such equipment. The Company also designs, manufactures and markets load-moment indicators. Its switches, communications equipment, connectors, and load-moment indicators are sold directly to industrial equipment OEMs and through a network of distributors and system integrators.

For enterprise end markets, the Company supplies structured cabling solutions, connectors, and networking products for the electronic and optical transmission of data, sound, and video over local- and wide- area networks. Products for this market include copper cables including 10-gigabit Ethernet technologies, fiber optic cables, connectors, wiring racks, panels, interconnecting hardware, intelligent patching devices, and cable management solutions for complete end-to-end network structured wiring systems. End-use customers include hospitals, financial institutions, governments, service providers, and data centers. Its systems are installed through a network of trained system integrators and are supplied t! hrough au! thorized distributors.

For broadcast end markets, the Company is a provider of hardware and software solutions for the television broadcast, cable, satellite and IPTV industry. Its solutions also span the full breadth of television operations, including production, playout and delivery. The Company also manufactures a variety of multiconductor and coaxial cable and connector products, which distributes audio and video signals for use in broadcast television including digital television and high definition television, broadcast radio, pre- and post-production facilities, recording studios, and public facilities such as casinos, arenas, and stadiums. Its audio/video cables are also used in connection with microphones, musical instruments, audio mixing consoles, effects equipment, speakers, paging systems, and consumer audio products.

The Company manufactures networking infrastructure products for the television broadcast, cable, satellite and IPTV industry. Its primary market channels for this broadcast, music, and entertainment products are broadcast specialty distributors and audio systems installers. It also sells directly to music OEMs and the television networks including ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC. The Company also provides specialized cables for security applications such as video surveillance systems, airport baggage screening, building access control, motion detection, public address systems, and advanced fire alarm systems. It manufactures flexible, copper-clad coaxial cable and associated connector products for the high-speed transmission of data, sound, and video (broadband) that are used for the drop section of cable television (CATV) systems and satellite direct broadcast systems.

For the broadband end market, Belden manufactures and develops connectivity solutions in several product categories: coax connector products that allow for connections from the provider network to the subscribers��devices, hardline connectors that allow service providers to dist! ribute th! eir services within a city, a town or a neighborhood and entry devices that serves to manage and remove network signal noise that could impair performance for the subscriber, and traps and filtering devices that allow service providers to control the signals that are transmitted to the subscriber.

During 2012, the Americas segment contributed approximately 64% of its consolidated revenues. This segment sells the full array of its products for the industrial, enterprise,and broadcast markets. The EMEA segment contributed approximately 19% of its consolidated revenues. This segment sells the full array of its products for the industrial, enterprise,and broadcast markets. The Asia Pacific segment contributed approximately 17% its consolidated revenues. This segment sells the full array of its products for the industrial, enterprise,and broadcast markets.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Seth Jayson]

  Belden (NYSE: BDC  ) reported earnings on May 2. Here are the numbers you need to know.

  The 10-second takeaway
  For the quarter ended March 31 (Q1), Belden met expectations on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

• [By John Seward]

  Belden Inc. (NYSE: BDC) will replace Fidelity National Inc. (NYSE: FNF) in the S&P MidCap 400 June 30, when Synergy Resources (AMEX: SYRG) will replace Belden in the S&P SmallCap 600. Fidelity is reclassifying its shares into two tracking stocks which are ineligible for S&P indexes.

• [By Damian Illia]

  Finally, I always like to see one of the most important financial ratios applying to stockholders, the best measure of performance for a firm's management: the return on equity. The ratio has decreased when compared to its ROE from the same quarter one year prior. Currently, a ROE of 45.9% is higher than all the 1,805 companies in the Diversified Industrials industry. Competitors such General Cable Corp. (BGC) has a very low ROE of 0.3% which is clearly not attractive. An alternative could be Belden Inc. (BDC) with a positive ROE of 24%.

• [By Rich Duprey]

  Signal transmission specialist�Belden� (NYSE: BDC  ) �announced yesterday�its second-quarter dividend of $0.05 per share, the same rate it has paid since 2004 when it first began making a payout.

5 Best Defensive Stocks To Invest In Right Now

Bloomberg News

The recent spike in stock market volatility has put the financial advice community into scramble mode, with a lot of advisers fielding calls from nervous clients while simultaneously embracing defensive investment strategies.

“I'm telling my clients, first of all, we saw the potential for this kind of market pullback and that's why they already have a hedge in [their] portfolio. I'm also telling them if we get to a fork in the road, we're taking the more conservative path,” said Robert Isbitts, founder and chief investment strategist at Sungarden Investment Research.

With the Dow Jones Industrial Average down nearly 7% from the start of the year following a stretch of eight down trading days over the past two weeks, Mr. Isbitts is preparing clients for a downturn of between 10% and 20%.

Top Consumer Stocks To Buy For 2015: China Teletech Holding Inc (CNCT)

China Teletech Holding, Inc., formerly Guangzhou Global Telecom, Inc., incorporated on March 29, 1999, is a distributor of pre-paid calling card and integrated mobile phone handsets and a provider of mobile handset value-added services. The Company serves as one of principal distributors of China Telecom, China Unicom, and China Mobile products in Guangzhou City. The Company is also developing an on-line refill platform with China Mobile to develop its on-line business in the Guangdong Province. On March 30, 2012, the Company acquired China Teletech Limited.

The Company operates its business through its subsidiaries in China: Guangzhou Renwoxing Telecom Co., Ltd., Guangzhou Global Telecommunication Co., Ltd., Guangzhou Rongxin Technology Co., Ltd., and Shenzhen Rongxin Investment Co., Ltd. The Company also engages in the business of wholesale and distribution of mineral water, as well as trading of wine in China. The Company has cooperative distribution relationships with Panasonic, Motorola, LG, GE, Bird, Samsung corporations for their mobile handsets.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By MARKETWATCH]

  HONG KONG (MarketWatch)-- Hong Kong stocks rose early Thursday, as China Mobile Ltd. shined on news of iPhone pre-orders hitting 1 million units. The Hang Seng Index (HK:HSI) added 0.6% to 23,032.09. Market heavyweight China Mobile (HK:941) (CHL) rallied 0.9%, as the world's largest mobile carrier said it has received more than 1 million pre-orders for the iPhone before it goes on sale in the carrier's stores on Friday, at a time when Apple Inc. (AAPL) Chief Executive Tim Cook visited Beijing for future cooperation between the two giants. Telecom equipment shares also advanced, with ZTE Corp. (HK:763) (ZTCOF) rising 1.2%. Meanwhile, China Mobile's smaller rivals slipped, as China Unicom (HK:762) (CHU) dropped 0.7%, and China Telecom (HK:738) (CNCT) fell 0.5%. China South City Holdings (HK:1668) , a developer of logistics and trade centers, surged 56%, after the company announced that Internet giant Tencent Holdings (HK:700) (TCTZF) would invest about 1.5 billion Hong Kong dollars ($195 million) for an almost 10% stake in the developer in order to expand their business online, including e-commerce and online payment services. Tencent Holdings (HK:700)

5 Best Defensive Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Morgans Hotel Group Co.(MHGC)

Morgans Hotel Group Co., a hospitality company, engages in the acquisition, ownership, operation, development, and redevelopment boutique hotels, nightclubs, restaurants, bars, and other food and beverage venues. It has operations primarily in the United States, Europe, and internationally. The company was incorporated in 2005 and is based in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By WWW.DAILYFINANCE.COM]

  Michael Tullberg/Getty Images Los Angeles County's fabled Sunset Strip -- home to numerous legendary nightclubs -- is going corporate. Goodbye, Rat Pack and Guns N' Roses; hello, Marriott International (MAR). Gangsters and Guitarists Through a quirk of urban planning, the Strip -- a 1.6-mile stretch of Sunset Boulevard -- was part of unincorporated land within Los Angeles city limits (these days, it belongs to the micro-city of West Hollywood). As such, it was overseen not by the L.A. Police Department, but by the more lax County Sheriff's department. Entrepreneurs took advantage of this, and in the early 20th century the Strip soon became the hottest entertainment destination in the L.A. area, home to clubs, bars and the occasional house of ill repute. In the 1940s and 1950s its nightclubs frequently hosted the top stars of the era. Many a band across the subsequent decades rose to prominence playing joints like The Roxy, Whisky A Go Go (still going strong at 50), and the Viper Room. Throughout the world, the Strip was nearly synonymous with nightlife. So much so that, according to some, its name was cribbed by the burgeoning city of Las Vegas to title the strategic section of its main thoroughfare. For many years now, the heart of Las Vegas Boulevard has been known simply as "The Strip." The City That Sometimes Sleeps The Strip is not the only game in town for visitors. Close by is the gay mecca of West Hollywood's "Boy's Town" neighborhood, while the tiny city's location in the kernel of L.A. makes it the perfect springboard for visiting Hollywood, L.A.'s beaches, and the neighboring Beverly Hills. Tourism is big business for West Hollywood. Twenty percent of the municipality's fiscal 2013 take came from the transient occupancy (i.e., lodging) taxes levied on those visitors. This brought in a cool $18 million that year -- 18 percent higher year over year, by the way -- making it WeHo's No. 2 revenue source. And there's more where that came from. Las

5 Best Defensive Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Spdr Dj Wilshire Small Cap Value Etf (SLYV)

SPDR DJ Wilshire Small Cap Value (ETF) seeks to replicate, as closely as possible, the performance of the Dow Jones Wilshire Small Cap Value Index (the Index). The Index represents the small-cap portion of the Dow Jones Wilshire 5000 Composite Index (the Composite Index). The Composite Index tracks all the United States common stocks regularly traded on the NYSE, the AMEX and the NASDAQ National Market.

The Index includes the components of the Composite Index ranked 751 to 2,500 by full market capitalization and that are classified as value based on analysis that accounts for six factors. The six factors are projected price-to-earnings ratio (P/E), projected earnings growth, price-to-book ratio, dividend yield, trailing revenue growth and trailing earnings growth. The Fund uses a passive management strategy designed to track the total return performance of the float-adjusted Index.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Tom Lydon]

  The following ETFs are some of the top-ranked small-cap ETFs by Zacks. SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Value ETF (SLYV) is up 5.8% over the past three months, and up 20.6% in 2013. The financial and industrial sectors are top weightings. Vanguard S&P Small Cap 600 Value ETF (VIOV) is up 6.4% and has gathered 21.5% year-to-date. Similar to SLYV, VIOV is heavy on the financial and industrial sectors.

5 Best Defensive Stocks To Invest In Right Now: World Energy Solutions Inc(DE)

World Energy Solutions, Inc. provides a range of energy management solutions to commercial and industrial businesses, institutions, utilities, and governments. It offers technology-enabled solutions, such as online audits of facilities to identify retrofit options and project management services for retrofit implementation, as well as cross-selling opportunities for commodity auctions. The company primarily focuses on retail and wholesale energy procurement clients via its online auction platforms, including the World Energy Exchange, the World Green Exchange, and the World DR Exchange. The World Energy Exchange enables energy consumers in North America to negotiate for the purchase or sale of electricity, natural gas, and other energy resources from energy suppliers who have agreed to participate on auction platform. The World Green Exchange enables buyers and sellers to negotiate for the purchase or sale of environmental commodities, such as renewable energy certificates , verified emissions reductions, and certified emissions reductions. The World DR Exchange enables curtailment service providers and energy consumers to negotiate in structured auction events designed to yield price transparency. The company was formerly known as World Energy Exchange, Inc. World Energy Solutions, Inc. was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jim Powell]

  Steve Halpern: Okay, so let's look at the some of the individual plays that you recommend on this trend. One company you like is John Deere (DE). How is that company applying technology to its markets?

• [By Chad Tracy]

  TransCanada is not the only company that stands to profit from the possible Keystone XL approval. Refiners such as Valero and LyondellBasell Industries (NYSE: LYB), as well as construction companies Deere & Co. (NYSE: DE) and Quanta Services (NYSE: PWR) all stand to gain if Keystone XL gets the green light.

• [By Rich Duprey]

  The dichotomy between the two segments would seem to represent what we've seen in the broader market where agriculture equipment powerhouse Deere (NYSE: DE  ) beat analyst expectations in the first quarter as it said it strong, 5% growth throughout the year should be expected, while construction equipment leader Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT  ) had to cut jobs�because of waning demand.

• [By Rich Bieglmeier]

  [Related -Deere & Company (DE) Q3 Earnings Preview: Nothing Runs Backwards Like A Deere]

  Deere & Company operates in three segments: agriculture and turf, construction and forestry and financial services.

Top 10 Sliver Stocks To Watch For 2015

With shares of Time Warner Cable (NYSE:TWC) trading around $132, is TWC 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

Time Warner Cable is a provider of video, high-speed data, and voice services in the United States, with systems located in five geographic areas: New York, the Carolinas, Ohio, Southern California, and Texas. The company offers its residential and business services customers numerous services over its broadband cable systems. With such a large and growing user base, look for Time Warner Cable to continue to see rising profits from its media, entertainment, and communications offerings.

Time Warner Cable is loathed by many consumers and loved by many investors. It�� shareholders who may give incoming Chief Executive Officer Rob Marcus the will to reject a $62 billion offer for the company.�Even as it has lost TV customers for almost five years, the New York-based company has delivered a total return of more than 462 percent since its spinoff from Time Warner Inc. in March 2009 — gains that will help convince shareholders not to press for a sale. The returns have followed almost $7 billion in stock buybacks and net income that�� nearly doubled on the growth of the highly profitable Internet business.

Top 10 Sliver Stocks To Watch For 2015: Matthews International Corporation(MATW)

Matthews International Corporation designs, manufactures, and markets memorialization products and brand solutions for the cemetery and funeral home industries in the United States, Mexico, Canada, Europe, Australia, and Asia. The company's Bronze segment offers cast bronze memorials and other memorialization products; and cast and etched architectural products, as well as builds mausoleums. Its Casket segment provides wood and metal caskets; and casket components, such as stamped metal parts, metal locking mechanisms for gasketed metal caskets, adjustable beds, interior panels, and plastic ornamental hardware, as well as provides assortment planning and merchandising, and display products to funeral service businesses. The company's Cremation segment offers cremation equipment; cremation caskets; equipment service and supplies; and cremation urns and memorial products, as well as offers environmental systems; crematory operations and management services; and cremation col umbarium and niche units. Its Graphics Imaging segment provides brand management, pre-press services, printing plates, gravure cylinders, steel bases, embossing tools, special purpose machinery, engineering and print process assistance, print production management, digital asset management, content management, and package design services. The company's Marking Products segment offers a range of marking and coding products and related consumables, and industrial automation products for identifying, tracking, and conveying consumer and industrial products, components, and packaging containers. Its Merchandising Solutions segment provides merchandising displays and systems, such as permanent and temporary displays, custom store fixtures, brand concept shops, interactive kiosks, custom packaging, and screen and digitally printed promotional signage; and offers design and engineering services. The company was founded in 1850 and is based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  The first thing to realize about StoneMor is that arcane and flexible accounting rules make it important to dig beneath its GAAP earnings. Growth throughout the industry has been substantial, as up-and-coming Carriage Services (NYSE: CSV  ) continued to stay on pace for double-digit sales growth as it rapidly expands its reach. Even well-established player Matthews International (NASDAQ: MATW  ) managed to grow revenue by nearly 14% in the quarter that ended in March, although its earnings fell slightly from the year-ago quarter. Still, StoneMor's sales haven't been able to rise as quickly as its peers, with its previous report including just a 6% gain in revenue.

Top 10 Sliver Stocks To Watch For 2015: Southwest Airlines Co (LUV)

Southwest Airlines Co., incorporated on March 9, 1967, operates Southwest Airlines, a passenger airline, which provides scheduled air transportation in the United States. As of December 31, 2011, the Company was serving 72 cities in 37 states throughout the United States. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company added addition services in two new states and three new cities: Charleston, South Carolina; Greenville-Spartanburg, South Carolina; and Newark, New Jersey. Southwest provides point-to-point. On May 2, 2011, the Company acquired AirTran Holdings, Inc. (AirTran).

AirTran�� route system provides hub-and-spoke, rather than point-to-point, service, with approximately half of AirTran�� flights originating or terminating at its hub in Atlanta, Georgia. AirTran also serves a range of markets with non-stop service from bases of operation in Baltimore, Maryland; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and Orlando, Florida. As of December 31, 2011, AirTran was serving 68 United States and near-international destinations, including San Juan, Puerto Rico; Cancun, Mexico; Montego Bay, Jamaica; Nassau, The Bahamas; Oranjestad, Aruba; Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, and Bermuda. As of January 31, 2012, AirTran served 65 destinations. During 2011, approximately 71% of Southwest�� customers flew non-stop, and Southwest�� average aircraft trip stage length was 664 miles with an average duration of approximately 1.8 hours.

As of December 31, 2011, Southwest offered 25 weekday roundtrips from Dallas Love Field to Houston Hobby, 13 weekday roundtrips from Phoenix to Las Vegas, 13 weekday roundtrips from Burbank to Oakland, and 12 weekday roundtrips from Los Angeles International to Oakland. Southwest offers connecting service opportunities from over 60 Southwest cities to different Volaris airports in Mexico including Aguascalientes, Guadalajara, Mexico City (MEX), Mexico City-Toluca (TLC), Morelia, and Zacatecas. The Company�� International Connect portal conducts two separate transac! tions: one with Southwest�� reservation system and one with Volaris�� reservation system.

Southwest bundles fares into three categories: Wanna Get Away, Anytime, and Business Select. Wanna Get Away fares are lowest fares. Business Select fares are refundable and changeable, and funds may be applied toward future travel on Southwest. Business Select fares also include additional perks, such as priority boarding, a frequent flyer point multiplier, priority security and ticket counter access in select airports, and one complimentary adult beverage coupon for the day of travel. The Company�� Internet Website, southwest.com, is the avenue for Southwest Customers to purchase tickets online. During 2011, southwest.com accounted for approximately 78% of all Southwest bookings. During 2011, approximately 84% of Southwest�� Passenger revenues came through its Website, including revenues from SWABIZ, the Company�� business travel reservation Web page.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  United Continental (DAL) has gained 20% since the start of the year, while American Airlines (AAL) and Delta Air Lines (DAL) have risen 15%. Southwest Airlines (LUV) has gained 11%.

• [By Lisa Levin]

  Southwest Airlines Co (NYSE: LUV) shares reached a new 52-week high of $21.99 after the company reported a strong rise in its fourth-quarter profit.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Shares of AMR Corp. have gained 9.7% to $6.91–just 3.4% from its 52-week high–while US Airways has risen 5.5% to $22.57. Southwest Airlines (LUV) has advanced 3.4% to $16.96, Delta Air Lines (DAL) has jumped 2.6% to $26.27 and JetBlue Airways (JBLU) is up 2.9% at $12.31.

Top Oil Companies To Watch In Right Now: Checkpoint Systms Inc.(CKP)

Checkpoint Systems, Inc. manufactures and markets identification, tracking, security, and merchandising solutions for the retail and apparel industry worldwide. The company operates in three segments: Shrink Management Solutions, Apparel Labeling Solutions, and Retail Merchandising Solutions. The Shrink Management Solutions segment provides shrink management and merchandise visibility solutions. It offers electronic article surveillance systems, such as EVOLVE, a suite of RF and RFID-enabled products that act as a deterrent to prevent merchandise theft in retail stores; and electronic article surveillance consumables, including EAS-RF and EAS-EM labels that work in combination with EAS systems to reduce merchandise theft in retail stores. This segment also provides keepers, spider wraps, bottle security, and hard tags, as well as Showsafe, a line alarm system for protecting display merchandise. In addition, it offers physical and electronic store monitoring solutions, incl uding fire alarms, intrusion alarms, and digital video recording systems for retail environments; and RFID tags and labels. The Apparel Labeling Solutions segment provides apparel labeling solutions to apparel retailers, brand owners, and manufacturers. It has Web-enabled apparel labeling solutions platform and network of 28 service bureaus located in 22 countries that supplies customers with customized apparel tags and labels. The Retail Merchandising Solutions segment offers hand-held label applicators and tags, promotional displays, and queuing systems. The company serves retailers in the supermarket, drug store, hypermarket, and mass merchandiser markets through direct distribution and reseller channels. Checkpoint Systems was founded in 1969 and is based in Thorofare, New Jersey.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Udovich]

  Small cap Checkpoint Systems, Inc (NYSE: CKP) fights shoplifting or retail theft and other forms of�"shrink��that costs retailers over $112 billion worldwide last year (according to a study funded by the company), meaning it might be an interesting stock to take a closer look at and to compare its performance with that of SPDR S&P Retail ETF (NYSEARCA: XRT) and PowerShares Dynamic Retail ETF (NYSEARCA: PMR). Just how bad can shoplifting or shrink be for a retailer? Troubled retailer J.C. Penney Company, Inc (NYSE: JCP) has just reported that shoplifting took a full percentage point off the department store chain's profit margins during the quarter. Moreover and given that tens of millions of Americans are now facing higher health insurance costs thanks to Obamacare (which will likely impact consumer discretionary spending),�retailers�will need to find ways to shore up their margins and bottom lines by preventing�retail theft with solutions from company�� like Checkpoint Systems.

• [By Lisa Levin]

  Checkpoint Systems (NYSE: CKP) surged 17.73% to $14.21. The volume of Checkpoint Systems shares traded was 525% higher than normal. Checkpoint announced its intent to extend the filing date of its annual report.

• [By ovenerio]

  But the firm must continue working hard because growth remains below management's expectations from a few years ago. Competition includes Checkpoint Systems, Inc. (CKP), R-pac International Corporation, and SML Group Limited.

Top 10 Sliver Stocks To Watch For 2015: SanDisk Corporation(SNDK)

Sandisk Corporation designs, develops, and manufactures NAND flash memory storage solutions that are used in various consumer electronics products. The company offers removable cards under the SanDisk Ultra, SanDisk Extreme, and SanDisk Extreme PRO brands; embedded products under the iNAND brand; universal serial bus (USB) flash drives under the Cruzer brand; digital media players under the Sansa brand; solid state drives under the Lightning brand; and wafers and memory components. Its removable card products are used in a range of consumer electronics devices, including mobile phones, digital cameras, gaming devices, and laptop computers; and embedded flash products are used in mobile phones, tablets, ultrabooks, eReaders, global positioning system devices, gaming systems, imaging devices, and computing platforms. The company also provides high-capacity storage solutions, such as solid-state drives that are used in lieu of hard disk drives. It offers its products to the m obile phone, consumer electronics, and computing end markets through original equipment manufacturers, distributors, and retail sales channels in the Americas, the Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Japan. The company was formerly known as SunDisk Corporation and changed its name to SanDisk Corporation in August 1995. SanDisk Corporation was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in Milpitas, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By MONEYMORNING.COM]

  We first talked about SanDisk Corp. (Nasdaq: SNDK) last August. My note to you suggested you buy this winner "before Wall Street gets wise."

  I hope you acted on that advice. Because Bernstein's new study shows that the Street definitely sees this Silicon Valley firm as a winner.

• [By Rich Bieglmeier]

  SanDisk Corp. (SNDK) will host a conference call Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2013 at 2 p.m., Pacific to discuss its third quarter 2013 financial results.

• [By BLOGS.BARRONS.COM]

  SanDisk: Shares of SanDisk (SNDK) have fallen more than 10% in the past month. But Wordell says the demand for the company’s flash memory is strong and growing. And after this�Apple (AAPL) upgrade cycle SanDisk will be able to sell excess capacity at higher margins. ��t�� a great opportunity to own a really good company on a pullback.��/p>

Top 10 Sliver Stocks To Watch For 2015: China HGS Real Estate Inc.(HGSH)

China HGS Real Estate Inc., through its subsidiary, Shaanxi Guangsha Investment and Development Group Co., Ltd., engages in the real estate development in the People?s Republic of China. It is involved in the construction and sale of residential apartments, parking lots, and commercial properties. The company develops multi-layer, sub-high-rise, and high-rise apartment buildings, as well as office buildings. China HGS Real Estate Inc. was founded in 1995 and is headquartered in Hanzhong City, the People?s Republic of China.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Top losers in the sector included China HGS Real Estate (NASDAQ: HGSH), off 4.8 percent, and China Life Insurance Co (NYSE: LFC), down 4 percent.

Top 10 Sliver Stocks To Watch For 2015: CF Industries Holdings Inc. (CF)

CF Industries Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiary, CF Industries, Inc., manufactures and distributes nitrogen and phosphate fertilizer products, serving agricultural and industrial customers worldwide. It operates in two segments, Nitrogen and Phosphate. The Nitrogen segment principally offers ammonia, granular urea, urea ammonium nitrate solution, urea liquor, diesel exhaust fluid, and aqua ammonia. The Phosphate segment primarily offers diammonium phosphate and monoammonium phosphate. The company also owns 50% interests in the GrowHow UK Limited, a nitrogen products producer in the United Kingdom; Point Lisas Nitrogen Limited, an ammonia producer; and KEYTRADE AG, a global fertilizer trading company. CF Industries Holdings� customers include cooperatives and independent fertilizer distributors primarily in the midwestern United States. The company was founded in 1946 and is headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Neha Chamaria]

  When CF Industries' (NYSE: CF  ) stock dropped like a rock in April, I strongly felt that it was nearing a reversal. Urging investors to buy the stock, I backed it up with an outperform call on my CAPS portfolio.

• [By Michael Flannelly]

  CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (CF) announced early on Monday that its Chairman and Chief Executive Office Stephen R. Wilson will step down and retire as CEO effective January 1, 2014.

  W. Anthony Will, CF Industries’ Senior Vice President, Manufacturing and Distribution, has been selected to succeed Wilson as CEO on January 1, 2014. Mr. Wilson will remain with the company as a director and serve as non-executive chairman.

  Mr. Will joined CF Industries in 2007 as the company’s first vice president of corporate development. He was promoted to his present position in 2009 and has been responsible for annual production of 15 million tons of fertilizer and its distribution through some 70 locations.

  CF Industries Holdings shares were up $5.47, or 2.82%, during pre-market trading on Monday. The stock is down 4.59% year-to-date.

Top 10 Sliver Stocks To Watch For 2015: Roadrunner Transportation Systems Inc (RRTS)

Roadrunner Transportation Systems, Inc. operates as a non-asset based transportation and logistics service company. It provides a suite of solutions, including customized and expedited less-than-truckload, truckload brokerage, transportation management solutions, intermodal solutions, and domestic and international air services. The company is headquartered in Cudahy, Wisconsin.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Smith]

  This series, brought to you by Yahoo! Finance, looks at which upgrades and downgrades make sense, and which ones investors should act on. Today, our headlines feature a pair of downgrades for lululemon athletica (NASDAQ: LULU  ) and Roadrunner Transportation (NYSE: RRTS  ) . But the news isn't all bad, so before we get into that news, let's find out first why one analyst thinks...

• [By Seth Jayson]

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

• [By WWW.DAILYFINANCE.COM]

  Stock Connection Blue/Alamy Love them or loathe them, every once in a while, credit cards really come in handy. Take last month, for example. In a fit of pre-winter remodeling, I decided to replace our home's el-cheapo, contractor-grade front door with a spiffy model with geometric windows, beveled glass -- the works. But being a cheapskate, I didn't want to pay retail prices. So, I did a quick search for "door depot." (Pro tip: Lawyers notwithstanding, the "depot" concept of bargain-shopping has gone as generic as Kleenex. Nowadays, there's a website out there offering discount prices on just about any item you've ever considered buying. Home Depot (HD), of course. Used car depot. Battery depot. And yes, a door depot, too). That last search led me to a discount door wholesaler halfway across the country. I ordered a pretty door for the family castle and put the door -- $999 plus $99 for delivery from Texas -- on my card. Crossed Wires A week after placing my order, the door still hadn't arrived. Calling customer service, I discovered that the record of my order had been misplaced -- so would I like to place the order again? I did. A week later, the door arrived by truck -- 300 pounds of glass and steel, caged within a wood frame -- and we got it installed without a hitch. Then came the hitch. Thank You, Sir. May I Have Another? Several days later, Roadrunner Transportation (RRTS) called and asked when I would like my door delivered. As I would later discover, my first door order hadn't been lost -- my name had been misspelled. And this misspelled order was now en route to me (despite it having been placed prior to the reorder). I rushed to check my credit card statement. Sure enough, I found two bills -- for two doors at $1,098 each. When One Door Closes... After querulous emails sent to the door vendor went unanswered, I recalled that scattered among the fine print on the pound of paper that JPMorgan Chase (JPM) sent me when I received my credit c

• [By Seth Jayson]

  Roadrunner Transportation Systems (NYSE: RRTS  ) reported earnings on May 1. Here are the numbers you need to know.

  The 10-second takeaway
  For the quarter ended March 31 (Q1), Roadrunner Transportation Systems beat slightly on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

Top 10 Sliver Stocks To Watch For 2015: Encana Corporation(ECA)

Encana Corporation and its subsidiaries engage in the exploration for, development, production, and marketing of natural gas, oil, and natural gas liquids. The company owns interests in resource plays that primarily include the Greater Sierra, Cutbank Ridge, Bighorn, and Coalbed Methane resource plays located in British Columbia and Alberta, as well as the Deep Panuke natural gas project offshore Nova Scotia in Canada. It also holds interests in resource plays comprising the Jonah in southwest Wyoming, Piceance in northwest Colorado, Haynesville in Louisiana, and Texas resource play, including east Texas and north Texas. The company serves primarily local distribution companies, industrials, energy marketing companies, and other producers. Encana Corporation was founded in 1971 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Bruce Kennedy]

  The EIA examined annual reports from 42 oil and natural gas companies, from giants like Brazil's Petrobras (NYSE: PBR) and ExxonMobil (NYSE: XOM) to smaller firms like Talisman Energy (NYSE: TLM) and Encana (NYSE: ECA) ��companies that reportedly made up about 40 percent of non-OPEC production last year, and that had combined market capitalization of over $2.4 trillion.

• [By Arjun Sreekumar]

  Comparing CEO compensations
  Last year, McClendon received a base salary of $975,000 and a total compensation of $16.9 million. Meanwhile, chief executives at Encana (NYSE: ECA  ) and Southwestern Energy (NYSE: SWN  ) , two natural gas producers with very similar market capitalizations, had substantially smaller pay packages last year.

• [By Arjun Sreekumar]

  Encana (NYSE: ECA  ) , Canada's largest natural gas producer, yesterday announced its eagerly anticipated new strategy to help it become a leaner, more focused energy company.

Top 10 Sliver Stocks To Watch For 2015: The Children's Place Retail Stores Inc.(PLCE)

The Children's Place Retail Stores, Inc. operates as a children's specialty apparel retailer in North America. It provides apparel, accessories, and shoes for children from newborn to 10 years of age. The company designs, contracts to manufacture, and sells merchandise under The Children's Place brand name. It serves the wardrobe needs of girls and boys, baby girls and boys, and newborn. As of January 28, 2012, the company operated 1,049 The Children's Place stores, including 732 stores located in malls, 140 in strip centers, 135 in outlet centers, and 42 street stores; and an Internet store at childrensplace.com. The Children's Place Retail Stores, Inc. was founded in 1969 and is based in Secaucus, New Jersey.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  The Children's Place Retail Stores (NASDAQ: PLCE) shares tumbled 6.62 percent to $51.08 after the company reported an 18% drop in its fiscal fourth-quarter earnings and issued a weak outlook.

• [By Anna Prior]

  Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in Thursday’s session are Children's Place Retail Stores Inc.(PLCE), Costco Wholesale Corp.(COST) and Staples Inc.(SPLS)

Top 10 Sliver Stocks To Watch For 2015: Avago Technologies Limited(AVGO)

Avago Technologies Limited engages in the design, development, and supply of analog semiconductor devices with a focus on III-V based products. Its product portfolio comprises RF amplifiers, RF filters, RF front-end modules, ambient light sensors, light emitting diodes, low noise amplifiers, mm-wave mixers, optical finger navigation products, diodes, fiber optic transceivers, serializer/deserializer ASICs, motion control encoders and subsystems, optocouplers, and optical mouse sensors. The company?s products are used in cellular phones, consumer appliances, data networking and telecommunications equipment, enterprise storage and servers, renewable energy and smart power grid, factory automation, displays, optical mice, printers, voice and data communications, keypad and display backlighting, backlighting control, base stations, storage area networking, in-car infotainment, lighting, motor controls, power supplies, and optical disk drives applications. It markets its produ cts through a network of distributors and its direct sales force worldwide. The company sells approximately 6,500 products to original equipment manufacturers of wireless communications, wired infrastructure, industrial and automotive electronics, and consumer and computing peripherals markets. Avago Technologies Limited was founded in 2005 and is based in Singapore.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Mani]

  Avago Technologies Ltd (NASDAQ:AVGO) should benefit from the robust LTE market in China in the first half of 2014. The company is seeing order strength from low-end, mid, and high-end segments primarily from bands 38-41.

• [By Alex Planes]

  What: Shares of Avago Technologies (NASDAQ: AVGO  ) have gained 10% today after the company reported strong earnings following Wednesday's market close. Shares have also been buoyed by increasing analyst optimism for the company, particularly after Avago raised its guidance.

• [By rusticnomad]

  Avago Technologies (AVGO) has made a good comeback. The company, despite seeing weakness all through the year, posted fantastic results. The company�� good results make it a promising investment. The operational efficiencies led Avago to see a good 20% growth in its top line. But looking at the ratios, the company is still expensive with a trailing P/E of 29. Also, the decline in the dividend yield to 1.70% might scare a few investors away.

Top 5 Industrial Conglomerate Stocks To Watch Right Now

Top 5 Industrial Conglomerate Stocks To Watch Right Now: Wartsila Oyj Abp (WRT1V.HE)

Wartsila Oyj Abp is a Finland-based company. Its operations are divided into four segments: Power Plants, Ship Power, Services and PowerTech. The Power Plants segment offers multi-fuel solutions for power generation markets, such as gas power plants, dual-fuel power plants, oil power plants and liquid biofuel power plants, among others. The Ship Power segment offers a range of products and services to both shipyards and ship owners, such as medium-speed and low-speed engines, seals and bearings, automation systems, ship design and ballast water treatment systems, among others. The Services segment offers solutions, such as basic support, installation and commissioning, performance optimization and upgrades, among others. The PowerTech segment comprises research and development for medium-speed engines and other operations, with a focus on gas, environmental solutions and Smart Power Generation drives. It has operations in more than 160 locations in over 70 countries around th e world. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Robert Wall var popups = dojo.query(".socialByline .popC"); popups.forEach(fu]

  The British company tried to strengthen its maritime engine business through a $10 billion takeover of Finland's Wärtsilä Oyj (WRT1V.HE) which rebuffed Rolls-Royce’s preliminary approach. The attempted acquisition of a company of that size surprised investors who hadn't realized expansion was on management's agenda so soon after its full takeover of Tognum, a German engineering company originally acquired in partnership with Daimler.

source from Top Stocks For 2015:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-5-industrial-conglomerate-stocks-to-watch-right-now.html

Hot Prefered Companies To Buy For 2015

The nation's largest bank isn't out of financial jeopardy for its business link to the Bernard Madoff fraud scandal.

The court-appointed trustee trying to recover billions Madoff stole in the now-infamous Ponzi scheme petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court this month, asking it to issue the final word on whether JPMorgan Chase should pay for taking little action on suspicious activity in the account Madoff held at the bank.

The petition also argues that Swiss banking giant UBS, global bank HSBC and other financial institutions should share legal liability with JPMorgan for failing to stop the fraud.

"Madoff did not sustain this unprecedented fraud for more than two decades by himself," David Rivkin, the counsel for trustee Irving Picard, wrote in the Oct. 9 petition. "Instead, he was aided by a network of financial institutions, feeder funds and individuals who funneled investments" into Madoff's firm, provided financial services "and (of course) skimmed off substantial amounts for their efforts."

Hot Prefered Companies To Buy For 2015: Gulfport Energy Corporation(GPOR)

Gulfport Energy Corporation engages in the exploration, development, and production of oil and natural gas properties. Its principal properties are located in the Louisiana Gulf Coast, in west Texas in the Permian Basin and in western Colorado in the Niobrara Formation. The company also holds acreage position in the Alberta oil sands in Canada; and interests in entities that operate in southeast Asia, including the Phu Horm gas field in Thailand, as well as leasehold interests in the Utica Shale in eastern Ohio. As of December 31, 2011, it had 19.4 million barrels of oil equivalent of proved reserves. The company is headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Shares of Penn Virginia have gained 8.5% to $14.01 at $3:08 p.m., putting it up 49% so far this year. Shares of EQT Corp. (EQT) have ticked up 0.2% to $100.23, while Devon Energy (DVN) has risen 0.5% to $64.54, EOG Resources (EOG) has advanced 0.6% to $179.84 and Gulfport Energy (GPOR) is up 0.1% at $64.87.

• [By Holly LaFon]

  Another area that is intriguing to us is the North American energy sector which looks to have a number of interesting catalysts currently. While the energy sector is at present only a modest overweight in the portfolios, we have been encouraged by several trends taking place for a number of years. These positive developments are also having an impact that goes far beyond the energy sector itself. Many believe that the U.S. will become energy independent and possibly a net exporter of natural gas and oil (currently restricted by law) in the next decade. This opinion is based primarily on the development of new drilling techniques (i.e. horizontal drilling, and high pressure fracking) that have enabled companies to access oil and natural gas reserves in shale formations that were previously not economically viable. The ability to tap into this acreage is a game-changer in our view and is already having a tremendous impact on the economy. Employment rates in these mostly rural areas surrounding the shale basins are very high and companies thus find hiring extremely competitive. Strong labor markets tend to create strong local economies. Oil States International (OIS) has been able to capitalize on this trend by providing housing and other services to oil service workers that are in demand in the area. CST Brands (CST) operates gas stations in Texas, but it is increasingly looking to broaden its product offering beyond fuel. Rail companies like Union Pacific (UNP), Canadian Pacific (CP), Kansas City Southern (KSU) and Genesee and Wyoming (GWR) have also benefited substantially. Given that shale areas are rural and often lacking infrastructure, substantial investment must be made to support drilling and production activities. Without pipelines in place, railroads have been the primary takeaway mechanism for moving production to the various clusters of refining capacity around the United States. In order to serve this demand, massive investment in railcars has been nee

• [By Monica Gerson]

  Gulfport Energy (NASDAQ: GPOR) dropped 18.26% to $59.70 in pre-market trading after the company reported weaker-than-expected first-quarter results.

• [By Anna Prior]

  Oil-and-natural-gas producer Gulfport Energy Corp.(GPOR) cut its production outlook for the year and reported weaker earnings for the quarter. Shares declined 19% to $59.50 premarket.

Hot Prefered Companies To Buy For 2015: StanCorp Financial Group Inc.(SFG)

StanCorp Financial Group, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides insurance products and asset management solutions in the United States. The company operates in two segments, Insurance Services and Asset Management. The Insurance Services segment offers group and individual disability, group life, group accidental death and dismemberment, group dental, and group vision insurance products, as well as absence management services to individuals and employers. This segment sells its group insurance products through sales representatives, as well as through independent employee benefit brokers and consultants; and individual disability insurance products through brokers and master general agents primarily to physicians, lawyers, executives, other professionals, and small business owners. As of December 31, 2010, it had approximately 31,000 group insurance policies in force covering approximately 6.8 million employees. The Asset Management segment provides 401(k) plans, 403(b) plans, 457 plans, defined benefit plans, money purchase pension plans, profit sharing plans, and non-qualified deferred compensation products and services through an affiliated broker-dealer. This segment also offers investment advisory and management, commercial mortgage loan origination and servicing, and financial planning services, as well as individual fixed-rate annuity, group annuity, and retirement plan trust products. In addition, the company owns and manages real estate properties for sale; and operates an online financial life planning and management service. StanCorp Financial Group, Inc. was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Portland, Oregon.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By David Merkel]

  The two stocks in question are Stancorp Financial (SFG) and National Western Life Insurance (NWLI). The short cases for both are based on a naive view of how insurance companies work.

Top 10 Restaurant Stocks For 2015: Alamos Gold Inc (AGI)

Alamos Gold Inc. is engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development and extraction of precious metals in Mexico and Turkey. It owns and operates the Mulatos mine (Mulatos or the Mine) and holds the mineral rights to the Salamandra group of concessions in the State of Sonora, Mexico. The Mulatos mine is approximately 220 kilometers by air east of the City of Hermosillo. In addition, the Company owns the Agi Dagi and Kirazli advanced-stage gold development projects located in the Biga Peninsula of northwestern Turkey. Agi Dagi is located about 50 kilometers southeast of Canakkale, and Kirazli is located approximately 25 kilometers northwest of Agi Dagi. In January 2013, it acquired 14.3% interest of Aurizon Mines Ltd. (Aurizon). In August 2013, the Company acquired Esperanza Resources Corp. In September 2013, the Company announced that it has completed the acquisition of Orsa Ventures Corp. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jon C. Ogg]

  Alamos�Gold Inc. (NYSE: AGI) was reinstated as Buy with a target price of $21 in Canada, which would translate to closer to $20 in U.S. share prices (versus $16.33 current), at BofA/Merrill Lynch.

Hot Prefered Companies To Buy For 2015: Aviat Networks Inc.(AVNW)

Aviat Networks, Inc. engages in the design, manufacture, and sale of a range of wireless networking products, solutions, and services worldwide. It offers point-to-point and point-to-multipoint digital microwave transmission systems for first/last mile access, middle mile/backhaul, and long distance trunking applications. The company?s products include broadband wireless access base stations and customer premises equipment for fixed and mobile; point-to-point digital microwave radio systems for access, backhaul, trunking, and license-exempt applications; and supporting network deployments, network expansion, and capacity upgrades. It also provides network management software solutions to enable operators to deploy, monitor, and manage its systems, as well as third party equipment, such as antennas, routers, and multiplexers to build and deploy a wireless transmission network and a suite of turnkey support services. In addition, the company offers professional services, su ch as network planning and design, site surveys and builds, systems integration, installation, maintenance, network monitoring, training, and customer services. It serves mobile and fixed communications service providers, original equipment manufacturers, private network operators, government agencies, transportation and utility companies, system integrators, public safety agencies, and broadcast system operators, as well as pipeline, railroad, and other industrial enterprises that operate wireless networks. The company was formerly known as Harris Stratex Networks, Inc. and changed its name to Aviat Networks, Inc. in January 2010. Aviat Networks, Inc. is headquartered in Santa Clara, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Kell]

  Aviat Networks Inc.(AVNW) cut its fiscal second-quarter revenue forecast, citing lower-than-expected customer orders in Africa. The microwave networking company said it is working on a plan to lower expenses, with cost savings expected to come in part from consolidating Aviat’s supply chain and locations. Shares dropped 1.4% to $2.20 premarket.

• [By Peter Graham]

  The third quarter 2014�earnings report for network communication platform maker�Ubiquiti Networks Inc (NASDAQ: UBNT), a peer of small cap stocks�Aviat Networks Inc (NASDAQ: AVNW), Ceragon Networks Ltd (NASDAQ: CRNT) and�DragonWave, Inc (NASDAQ: DRWI), is due out after the market closes on Thursday with shares already trending upwards as they closed 4.08% higher on Tuesday. Aside from the Ubiquiti Networks earnings report, it should be said that Aviat Networks Inc reported earnings yesterday after the market closed (shares were sinking hard in after hours trading); Ceragon Networks Ltd will report earnings before the market opens on Thursday; and DragonWave, Inc is scheduled to report after the market closes next Wednesday. So it�� a busy week for network communications stocks.

Hot Prefered Companies To Buy For 2015: Bk Of Nova Scotia Com Npv (BNS.TO)

The Bank of Nova Scotia provides various personal, commercial, corporate, and investment banking services in Canada and internationally. It operates in four segments: Canadian Banking, International Banking, Global Wealth & Insurance, and Global Banking & Markets. The Canadian Banking segment provides retail and small business banking products and services, including deposit accounts, investments, mortgages, loans, debit cards, credit cards, and related creditor insurance products to individuals and small businesses; and commercial banking solutions comprising deposit, lending, and cash management solutions to medium and large businesses. This segment offers its products through a network of 1,038 branches and 3,800 automated banking machines, and specialized sales teams, as well as through Internet, mobile, and telephone banking in Canada. The International Banking segment provides retail and commercial banking services to customers located in the Caribbean, Latin America , Central America, and Asia through a network of approximately 3,000 branches and offices, 7,500 automated banking machines, in-store banking kiosks, and specialized sales forces, as well as through mobile, Internet, and telephone banking. The Global Wealth & Insurance segment provides wealth management services, comprising asset management and client-facing services; and insurance products and services, such as creditor, life and health, home, and auto and travel insurance products. The Global Banking & Markets segment offers corporate lending, equity and debt underwriting, and mergers and acquisitions advisory services, as well as fixed income, derivatives, prime brokerage, securitization, foreign exchange, equity sales, trading and research, energy and agricultural commodities, and precious and base metals to corporate, government, and institutional investor clients. The Bank of Nova Scotia was founded in 1832 and is based in Toronto, Canada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Roadmap2Retire]

  Monthly Contributions: I add to my positions in the following stock and funds on a monthly basis:

  Claymore S&P US Dividend Growers ETF (CUD.TO) is an ETF of 83 dividend growers and provides me with exposure to excellent corporations across all sectors. The ETF has a 1.8% yield and pays distributions monthly. iShares Canadian Financial Monthly Income Fund (FIE.A.TO) is an ETF of 24 Canadian financial equities (70%) and bonds (30%). The fund yields 6.5% and pays distributions monthly. Scotia Canadian Balanced Fund (mutual fund) is an index fund tracking the Canadian S&P/TSX Composite Index and the DEX Universe Bond Index. The fund yields 0.52% and pays distributions quarterly. The Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS.TO) is the third largest of the Canadian banks by deposits and market cap. BNS is also the most international of the Canadian banks with exposure in 55 countries outside Canada. BNS saw a pause in its dividend growth during the financial crisis. However, BNS has started raising dividends after the crisis with a 5-yr DGR of 5.15%. I have a DRIP plan in BNS and invest monthly to this holding. My Watchlist

  I am also considering various stocks that are not currently in my portfolio, but the current high valuations do not provide many options.

Hot Prefered Companies To Buy For 2015: Nicor Inc. (GAS)

Nicor Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in natural gas distribution business in the United States. The company distributes natural gas to approximately 2.2 million residential, commercial, and industrial customers in northern Illinois. It also provides natural gas storage and transmission-related services to marketers and other gas distribution companies. The company?s gas distribution, transmission, and storage network includes approximately 34,000 miles of steel, plastic, and cast iron main; approximately 2.0 million steel, plastic/aluminum composite, plastic, and copper services connecting the mains to customers? premises; and 8 underground storage fields. In addition, Nicor offers shipping services, including the transportation of containerized freight between Florida, the eastern coast of Canada, the Bahamas, and the Caribbean region. It transports building materials, and food and other necessities for developers, manufacturers, and residents in the Caribbean an d the Bahamas; tourist-related shipments intended for use in hotels and resorts, and on cruise ships; and interisland shipments and northbound shipments of apparel and agricultural products, as well as provides inland transportation and cargo insurance services. As of December 31, 2009, the company operated a fleet of 11 owned vessels and 4 chartered vessels with a container capacity totaling approximately 5,270 Twenty-foot equivalent units. Further, it owns and/or leases containers, container-handling equipment, chassis, and other equipment. Additionally, Nicor involves in the marketing of energy-related products and services, including warranty and maintenance contracts, as well as repair and installation services of heating, air conditioning and indoor air-quality equipment, and customer move connection services for other utilities; and wholesale marketing of natural gas supply services. The company was founded in 1953 and is based in Naperville, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Corinne Gretler]

  Gas Natural SDG SA (GAS), Spain�� biggest gas supplier, advanced 4 percent to 15.45 euros and Enagas SA, the operator of the nation�� natural-gas pipelines, gained 1.1 percent to 18.24 euros. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. raised both stocks to buy from neutral, citing the impending review of gas regulation in Spain as positive for both companies.

• [By Marc Bastow]

  Energy services holding company AGL Resources (GAS) raised its quarterly dividend 4.3% to 49 cents per share, payable on Mar. 1 to shareholders of record as of Feb. 14.
  GAS Dividend Yield: 4.23%

• [By Garrett Cook]

  Utilities shares fell by 0.78 percent in Wednesday’s trading. Meanwhile, top decliners in the sector included Ormat Technologies (NYSE: ORA), down 3.8 percent, and AGL Resources (NYSE: GAS), off 3.1 percent.

• [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 AGL Resources (NYSE: GAS  ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.

Best Retail Stocks To Own Right Now

Best Retail Stocks To Own Right Now: Five Below Inc (FIVE)

Five Below, Inc. (Five Below), incorporated on January 30, 2002, is a retailer offering a range of merchandise for teen and pre-teen customer. The Company offers products, including select brands and licensed merchandise across a number of categories, which it refer to as worlds-Style, Room, Sports, Media, Crafts, Party, Candy and Seasonal (which it refer to as Now). As of October 27, 2012, The Company operated 243 stores throughout the eastern half of the United States. Its Style consists primarily of accessories such as novelty socks, sunglasses, jewelry, scarves, gloves, hair accessories and attitude t-shirts. Its beauty offering includes products such as nail polish, lip gloss, fragrance and branded cosmetics. Its Room consists of items used to complete and personalize its customer's living space, including glitter lamps, posters, frames, fleece blankets, pillows, candles, incense and related items. The Company also offers storage options for the customer's room an d locker.

The Company's Sports consists of an assortment of sport balls, team sports merchandise and fitness accessories, including hand weights, jump ropes and gym balls. It also offers a variety of games, including name brand board games, puzzles, toys and plush items. In the summer season, its sports offering also include pool, beach and outdoor toys, games and accessories. Its Media consists of a selection of accessories for personal computers (PCs), cell phones, Moving Picture Experts Group Layer-3 Audio (MP3) players and tablet computers. The offering includes cases, chargers, headphones and other related items. It also carries a range of media products including books, video games and Digital Versatile Disc (DVDs). It offers an assortment of craft activity kits, as well as arts and crafts supplies, such as crayons, markers and stickers. It also offer trend-rig! ht items for school, such as backpacks, fashion notebooks and journals, novelty pens and pencil s, as well as everyday name brand items.

The C! ompany's Party consists of party goods, decorations and greeting cards, as well as everyday and special occasion merchandise. Its Candy consists of branded items that appeal to teens and pre-teens. This category includes an assortment of classic and novelty candy bars and movie-size box candy, as well as gum and snack food. It also sells chilled drinks through coolers. Its Seasonal consists of seasonally-specific items used to celebrate and decorate for events such as Christmas, Easter, Halloween and St Patrick's Day.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rick Munarriz]

  Thrifty teens continue flocking to Five Below (NASDAQ: FIVE  ) . The deep discounter posted fiscal second-quarter results after Wednesday's market close.

• [By WWW.DAILYFINANCE.COM]

  Business Wire/Getty Images From an iconic auto parts retailer hoping to shift into reverse after a streak of negative quarters to the world's most valuable consumer tech giant showing off its new gadgetry, here are some of the things that will help shape the week that lies ahead on Wall Street. Monday -- Pep Rally The new trading week kicks off with Pep Boys (PBY) reporting quarterly results. The auto-parts retailer and provider of car maintenance and repair services has 800 locations across the country. This has historically been an all-weather niche for investors. When the economy's smoking, drivers spruce up their rides. When the economy's in the tank, drivers hold on to their cars longer, requiring more money invested in maintaining and repairing their vehicles. This doesn't mean that investors should be expecting a strong report. Analysts see flattish earnings and sales growth. Making matters worse, Pep Boys has fallen short of Wall Street's profit targets in each of the four previous quarters. The trend suggests that Pep Boys may earn! less tha! n the 17 cents a share that the pros are forecasting. Tuesday -- The Big Apple We will finally get our first look at the iPhone 6 on Tuesday. Apple (AAPL) has scheduled a media event for Tuesday, and this is the time of year when the world's most valuable consumer tech company refreshes its smartphone line. Everything is pointing to a larger device. Sources have been telling tech blogs that we're also looking at a scratch-resistant screen and a chip-based transaction platform. We may get more than just a shiny new smartphone out of Apple. Some have suggested that Apple will finally make its big splash into wearable computing. Apple could also update some of its other product lines or shock the world in a good way by entering into a brand-new product category. Wednesday -- Retailers on Parade A handful of retail chains will be updating the market with fresh quarterly reports. Wet Seal (WTSL), Five Below (F

• [By WWW.DAILYFINANCE.COM]

  www.youtube.com There were plenty of winners and losers this week on Wall Street, with a restaurant chain embracing more natural ingredients and an old website digging into your past to woo you back. Here's a rundown of the week's smartest moves and biggest blunders. YouTube -- Winner It's been two summers since Psy uploaded the official "Gangnam Style" video to Google's (GOOG) YouTube. It blew up as a global single later in the year. This week, it surpassed 2 billion views on YouTube. It's a notable achievement for the South Korean pop music star, but it's also a big deal for YouTube. After all, the milestone shows how popular YouTube is as a video-sharing platform. Most folks may have tired of the video and the song ages ago, but clips live on forever in cyberspace. YouTube just validated itself again. MySpace -- Loser Speaking of bringing pop stars to life, MySpace -- yes, MySpace -- turned heads this week by sending out old photos posted years ago to the emails of folks with dormant accounts. MySpace had its moment in the sun before givin! g way to ! Facebook (FB), but the social networking dinosaur now jointly owned by Specific Media and pop icon Justin Timberlake, is struggling to regain its relevance. Sending old pics to folks that have moved on may seem like a clever tactic given the popularity of Throwback Thursday, but it comes off desperate at best, and creepy at worst. Panera Bread (PNRA) -- Winner Panera became the latest eatery to climb onto the organic food bandwagon this week. The chain of bakery cafes revised its food policy, moving to do rid its menu of artificial colors, flavors and preservatives by 2016. It's a smart move for Panera. Growth at the former quick-service darling has been slowing lately, with analysts targeting top- and bottom-line growth in the mid-single digits. Anything it can do to beef up its profile with the growing number of consumers angling for natural foods will only help. Walmart (WMT) -- Loser The world's larg

source from Top Stocks For 2015:http://www.topstocksblog.com/best-retail-stocks-to-own-right-now.html

5 Best Retail Stocks To Buy For 2015

5 Best Retail Stocks To Buy For 2015: Family Dollar Stores Inc.(FDO)

Family Dollar Stores, Inc. operates a chain of self-service retail discount stores primarily for low and middle income consumers in the United States. The company offers consumables, including household chemicals, paper products, candy and snack products, health and beauty aids, hardware and automotive supplies, and pet food products and supplies; and home products, which comprise domestics, housewares, giftware products, and home decor products. It also provides apparel products and accessories consisting of men?s and women?s clothing products, boys? and girls? clothing products, infants? clothing products, shoes, and fashion accessories; and seasonal products and electronics, such as toys, stationery and school supplies, seasonal goods, and personal electronics. As of August 11, 2011, the company operated approximately 7,000 stores in rural and urban settings across 44 states. Family Dollar Stores, Inc. was founded in 1959 and is headquartered in Matthews, North Carolina .

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Monica Gerson]

  Family Dollar Stores (NYSE: FDO) is projected to report its Q4 earnings at $0.84 per share on revenue of $2.56 billion.

  Fastenal Company (NASDAQ: FAST) is estimated to report its Q3 earnings at $0.41 per share on revenue of $862.54 million.

• [By Monica Gerson]

  Family Dollar Stores (NYSE: FDO) shares fell 1.98% to touch a new 52-week low of $56.04. Bank of America maintained Family Dollar with a Underperform and cut the price target from $58.00 to $53.00.

source from Top Penny Stocks For 2015:http://www.topstocksforum.com/5-best-retail-stocks-to-buy-for-2015-2.html

Top 5 Solar Companies To Watch For 2015

Top 5 Solar Companies To Watch For 2015: JA Solar Holdings Co. Ltd.(JASO)

JA Solar Holdings Co., Ltd., through its subsidiaries, engages in the design, development, manufacture, and sale of photovoltaic solar cells and solar products, which convert sunlight into electricity in the People's Republic of China. The company?s principal products include monocrystalline and multicrystalline solar cells, as well as various solar modules. It also provides silicon wafer and solar cell processing services. The company sells its products primarily under the JA Solar brand name, as well as produces equipment for original equipment manufacturing customers under their brand names. It sells its solar cell and module products primarily to module manufacturers, system integrators, project developers, and distributors in the Germany, Italy, the United States, Hong Kong, Spain, India, the Czech Republic, France, and South Korea. The company has strategic partnerships with various solar power companies, such as BP Solar, Solar-Fabrik, and MEMC/SunEdison. JA Solar H oldings Co., Ltd. was founded in 2005 and is based in Shanghai, the People?s Republic of China.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Paul Ausick]

  JA Solar Holdings Co. Ltd. (NASDAQ: JASO) stands to benefit from the increased demand for solar power from China. That country is set to overtake Europe, the U.S., and Japan as the worlds largest consumer of solar panels and modules. Thats good for the Chinese solar makers, but it will be difficult for U.S. analysts and investors to figure out exactly whats happening with the individual companies due to the lack of real transparency into their operations.

source from Top Penny Stocks For 2015:http://www.seekpennystocks.com/top-5-solar-companies-to-watch-for-2015.html

10 Best Healthcare Equipment Stocks To Buy For 2014

The spirits industry is filled to the brim with brawling competition. Fickle consumers keep major players on their toes, and changing economic environments have them bobbing and weaving. Yet liquor giant Diageo (NYSE: DEO  ) stands unwavering.

I see three reasons for the U.K. spirits maker's continued success.�

1. Fully stocked portfolio of top-shelf brands
The world's largest liquor company by revenue, Diageo boasts an extremely diverse source of revenue and profits. Spirits account for more than 70% of net sales, yet no individual spirits category makes up more than 29% of company sales. Scotch, beer, vodka, and ready-to-drink categories bring in 29%, 12%, 12%, and 7% of sales, respectively.

Aside from offering a diverse portfolio of brands, the liquor maker boasts a first-class lineup. Seven of the top 20 premium spirits brands are housed in Diageo's watering hole, including Smirnoff, the No. 1 brand by volume, and Johnnie Walker, the No. 1 brand by value. ��

Best Tech Companies For 2015: Silicon Image Inc.(SIMG)

Silicon Image, Inc. provides wireless and wired high-definition (HD) connectivity solutions that enable the distribution and presentation of HD content for consumer electronics, mobile, and personal computer (PC) markets. It delivers its technology via semiconductor and intellectual property products. The company?s consumer electronics products include high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) port processors, HDMI and mobile high-definition link (MHL) transmitters, MHL-to-HDMI bridges, and HDMI receiver products; PC products comprise MHL/HDMI-to-HDMI bridges and digital visual interface receivers; and storage products consist of a line of serial advanced technology attachment controllers used in PC, DVR, and network attached storage applications. Its products are deployed by the electronics manufacturers in various devices, such as desktop and notebook PCs, DTVs, Blu-ray disc players, and audio-video receivers, as well as mobile phones, tablets, and digital cameras. The company, through its subsidiaries, provides manufacturers comprehensive standards interoperability and compliance testing services; and acts as an agent for promoting and administering HDMI and MHL specifications, and for licensing the serial port memory technology memory interface specification. It sells its products to original product manufacturers worldwide through direct sales force, as well as through a network of distributors and manufacturer?s representatives. The company has operations in the United States, Taiwan, Japan, China, and Korea, as well as Europe and internationally. Silicon Image, Inc. was founded in 1995 and is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Bryan Murphy]

  Quick - what do Simon Property Group Inc. (NYSE:SPG), Dr. Pepper Snapple Group Inc. (NYSE:DPS), and Silicon Image, Inc. (NASDAQ:SIMG) have in common? If you said absolutely nothing, you'd be about 99% right. There's one common thing between SIMG, SPG, and DPS right now, however. What's that? All three stocks are on my personal "buy" list this week.

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Technology shares dropped by 0.14 percent in the US market today. Among the sector stocks, Liquidity Services (NASDAQ: LQDT) was down more than 11.2 percent, while Silicon Image (NASDAQ: SIMG) tumbled around 6.7 percent.

10 Best Healthcare Equipment Stocks To Buy For 2014: Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.(CLF)

Cliffs Natural Resources Inc., a mining and natural resources company, produces iron ore pellets, lump and fines iron ore, and metallurgical coal products. The company operates six iron ore mines in Michigan, Minnesota, and eastern Canada; two iron ore mining complexes in Western Australia; five metallurgical coal mines located in West Virginia and Alabama; and one thermal coal mine located in West Virginia. It also owns a 45% economic interest in a coking and thermal coal mine located in Queensland, Australia; and a 30% interest in Amapa, a Brazilian iron ore project in Latin America, as well as chromite properties in Ontario, Canada. The company, formerly known as Cleveland-Cliffs Inc, was founded in 1847 and is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Yes, there are still more than two hours left in the day, but it’s New Year’s Eve and unless something crazy happens these five stocks look to be the worst of the worst in the S&P 500 in 2013. So let’s raise a big hand for Newmont Mining (NEM), Cliff’s Natural Resources (CLF) Edwards Lifesciences (EW), Peabody Energy (BTU) and Teradata (TDC).

10 Best Healthcare Equipment Stocks To Buy For 2014: Micron Technology Inc.(MU)

Micron Technology, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the manufacture and marketing of semiconductor devices worldwide. Its products include dynamic random access memory (DRAM) products that provide data storage and retrieval, which include DDR2 and DDR3; and other specialty DRAM memory products, including DDR, SDRAM, DDR and DDR2 mobile low power DRAM, pseudo-static RAM, and reduced latency DRAM. The company also offers NAND flash memory products, which are electrically re-writeable and non-volatile semiconductor devices that retain content when power is turned off. In addition, it provides NOR flash memory products that are electrically re-writeable and non-volatile semiconductor memory devices; phase change memory products; and image sensor products. Micron Technology?s products are used in a range of electronic applications, including personal computers, workstations, network servers, mobile phones, flash memory cards, USB storage devices, digital still c ameras, MP3/4 players, and in automotive applications. It sells its products to original equipment manufacturers and retailers through internal sales force, independent sales representatives, and distributors, as well as through a Web-based customer direct sales channel. The company was founded in 1978 and is headquartered in Boise, Idaho.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Paul Ausick]

  Stocks on the Move: NQ Mobile Inc. (NYSE: NQ) is up 26% at $11.09 as the company fights back against a short-seller report. Celsion Corp. (NASDAQ: CLSN) is up 339.3% at $5.14 following a reverse 1:4.5 stock split. Micron Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: MU) is up 4.7% at $17.50.

10 Best Healthcare Equipment Stocks To Buy For 2014: Williams-Sonoma Inc.(WSM)

Williams-Sonoma, Inc. operates as a specialty retailer of home products. It offers culinary and serving equipment, including cookware, cookbooks, cutlery, informal dinnerware, glassware, table linens, specialty foods, and cooking ingredients; and bridal and gift items under the Williams-Sonoma brand name. The company also provides home furnishing categories, including furniture, textiles, decorative accessories, lighting, and tabletop items under the West Elm brand name; bed and bath products under the Pottery Barn brand name; and children?s furnishings and accessories under the Pottery Barn Kids brand name. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. sells its home products through four retail store concepts, which include Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, and West Elm; six direct-mail catalogs that comprise Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, Pottery Barn Bed and Bath, PBteen, and West Elm; and six e-commerce Websites, which consist of williams-sonoma.com, potte rybarn.com, potterybarnkids.com, pbteen.com, westelm.com, and wshome.com. As of January 30, 2011, it operated 592 stores, including 260 Williams-Sonoma, 193 Pottery Barn, 85 Pottery Barn Kids, 36 West Elm, and 18 outlet stores located in 44 states of the United States; Washington, D.C.; Canada; and Puerto Rico. The company was founded in 1956 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Traders Reserve]

  This new spending pattern means Americans, whether spending less, more�or the same as last year,�are diverting their�spending to buy fewer items of higher quality for the gift season. They��l buy quality brands and items from Apple (AAPL), Coach (COH), Ralph Lauren (RL) and Williams Sonoma (WSM).� These retailers will benefit.

• [By Chris Hill]

  In this installment, Motley Fool One analyst Jason Moser explains why he's watching Joy Global (NYSE: JOY  ) . And Motley Fool Asset Management's Tim Hanson explains why he's watching Williams-Sonoma (NYSE: WSM  ) .

• [By Don Lucek]

  I think these stocks are worthy of consideration by more intrepid investors right now: Cabela's (CAB), rated A, a sporting-goods super store, Williams-Sonoma (WSM), rated A-, a high-end home-goods affair, and Tiffany (TIF), rated A-, the high-end jeweler.

10 Best Healthcare Equipment Stocks To Buy For 2014: Integrated Silicon Solution Inc.(ISSI)

Integrated Silicon Solution, Inc., a fabless semiconductor company, designs and markets integrated circuits for digital consumer electronics, networking and telecommunications, mobile communications, automotive electronics, and industrial markets. Its primary products include low and medium density DRAM; and high speed and low power SRAM. The company?s low and medium density DRAM products are used in wireless local area networks (WLANs), base stations, networking switches and routers, fiber to the home (FTTH), DSL and cable modems, set top boxes, digital cameras, MP3, flat panel TVs, LCD TVs, HDTVs, video phones, Voice over Internet Protocol, printers, disk drives, tape drives, audio/video equipment, instrumentation, global positioning systems (GPS), telematics, infotainment, smart meters, and other applications. Its SRAM products are used in WLANs, cell phones, base stations, networking switches and routers, FTTH, DSL modems, LCD TVs, set-top boxes, GPS systems, instrumen tation, engine control systems, medical equipment, telematics, audio and video equipment, satellite radio, POS terminals, fax machines, copiers, tape drives, and other applications. Integrated Silicon Solution, Inc. also designs and markets application specific standard products, including high performance serial EEPROMs for use in TVs, networking systems, modems, telephone sets, security systems, video games, automobiles, and other consumer products; and SmartCards that have applications in transportation passes, payment cards, health care cards, and other cards that store secure data. The company markets and sells its products in Asia, the United States, and Europe through direct sales force, independent sales representatives, and distributors. Integrated Silicon Solution, Inc. was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in San Jose, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Seth Jayson]

  Basic guidelines
  In this series, I examine inventory using a simple rule of thumb: Inventory increases ought to roughly parallel revenue increases. If inventory bloats more quickly than sales grow, this might be a sign that expected sales haven't materialized. Is the current inventory situation at Integrated Silicon Solution (Nasdaq: ISSI  ) out of line? To figure that out, start by comparing the company's inventory growth to sales growth. How is Integrated Silicon Solution doing by this quick checkup? At first glance, not so great. Trailing-12-month revenue increased 7.0%, and inventory increased 43.7%. Comparing the latest quarter to the prior-year quarter, the story looks potentially problematic. Revenue grew 20.0%, and inventory grew 43.7%. Over the sequential quarterly period, the trend looks OK but not great. Revenue dropped 1.8%, and inventory dropped 0.8%.

10 Best Healthcare Equipment Stocks To Buy For 2014: FreeSeas Inc.(FREE)

FreeSeas Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates as a bulk transportation company. The company transports various drybulk commodities, including iron ore, grain, and coal, as well as bauxite, phosphate, fertilizers, steel products, cement, sugar, rice, and minor bulks. As of December 31, 2010, it owned and operated nine vessels, including seven Handysize and two Handymax dry bulk carriers. The company was formerly known as Adventure Holdings S.A. and changed its name to FreeSeas Inc. in April 2005. FreeSeas Inc. was incorporated in 2004 and is based in Piraeus, Greece.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Bryan Murphy]

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

• [By James E. Brumley]

  October wasn't an easy month to own FreeSeas Inc. (NASDAQ:FREE), NewLead Holdings Ltd (NASDAQ:NEWL), DryShips Inc. (NASDAQ:DRYS), or any maritime shipper for that matter. They were all down rather sharply after heroic runups in September. DRYS fell 22% last month. NEWL slumped 41% in October. FREE gave up 44% of its value last month. What happened? After all, these same stocks were among some of the hottest names in September. In simplest terms, what happened here is what happens all too often... the market "got it right" in terms of the premise, but overdid it. Now that the dust is settling though, the undertow is kicking in again, but this time at a more reasonable/sustainable pace.

10 Best Healthcare Equipment Stocks To Buy For 2014: Legal & General Group PLC (LGEN)

Legal & General Group Plc is a provider of risk, savings and investment management products in the United Kingdom. The Company's operating segments include Protection and Annuities segment consisting of individual and group protection, individual and bulk purchase annuities, longevity and general insurance; Savings segment consisting of non-profit investment bonds, non-profit pensions (including self-invested personal pensions (SIPPs)), individual savings account (ISAs), retail unit trusts and retail platform businesses; Investment management segment consisting of institutional fund management and LGIM America (LGIMA); US Protection segment consisting of individual protection and universal life contracts, and Group capital and financing consists of shareholders��equity supporting the non profit Protection and Annuities and Savings businesses. In August 2013, Legal & General Group Plc announced the acquisition of Lucida Limited. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rupert Hargreaves]

  Unfortunately, Prudential only offers a dividend yield of 2.4% at present, below that of its peers, such as Aviva (AV) and Legal & General (LGEN). Moreover, city analysts only expect Prudential to increase its payout by 10% this year and 5% during 2014.