Goldcorp, Yamana Gold Offer Less Risk, Barclays Says

Finding safety in gold miners seems a bit unlikely considering that the Market Vectors Gold Miners ETF (GDX) fell 54% last year. Barclays, however, believes that some gold miners offer “downside protection,” if the price of gold doesn’t fluctuate too much in 2014.

REUTERS

Barclays’ Farooq Hamed and team explain:

Given gold equities broadly sold off in 2013 and are broadly under owned to start 2014, we believe that when capital begins to flow back into the sector (due to less volatility in the gold price), some investors will favour gold companies that offer protection from lower gold prices or leverage to flat gold prices. In our opinion, companies with production growth, shrinking operating costs, declining capital obligations and conservative balance sheets will be best suited to offer that protection or leverage.

Hamed singles out Goldcorp (GG) and Yamana Gold (AUY) as two companies that have strong production growth, falling costs, declining capital obligations and less debt than competitors. New Gold (NGD), meanwhile, should have the lowest all-on costs in the group at $731 an ounce, but its capital spending is likely to notes, Hamed says. Hamed rates Goldcorp and Yamana Overweight, while New Gold is rated Equal Weight.

Goldcorp has gained 4% to $23.20 today at 3:33 p.m., while Yamana Gold has risen 3% to $9.60 and New Gold has advanced 1.8% to $5.81. The Market Vectors Gold Miners ETF is up 2.7% at $23.22 as the SPDR Gold ETF (GLD) has risen 0.8% to $120.71.

Dow Gains 100 Points as Data Restores Optimism; Inflation Scare to Come?

Stocks are surging today following a benign inflation reading that has helped soothe investor worries over imminent Fed rate hikes. E.I. Dupont de Nemours (DD), ExxonMobil (XOM), Home Depot (HD), International Business Machines (IBM) and Caterpillar (CAT) gained.

REUTERS

The S&P 500 has gained 0.6% to 1,839.20, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average has risen 106 points, or 0.7%, to 16,146. The Dow’s been given a boost by Dupont, which has advanced 1.7% to $65.34, ExxonMobil, which has risen 1.6% to $95.47 as oil trades higher, and Home Depot, which is making back some of yesterday’s housing-related losses while gaining 1.1% to $77.28. International Business Machines has gained 1% to $184.70, while Caterpillar has risen 1.2% to $97.32 after Deutsche Bank initiated it with a Buy rating.

Yesterday, stocks fell because the Fed minutes showed its members debating when to raise interest rates. The data today, however, allayed those worries by showing that while the economy might be improving–the Markit Flash U.S. Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index rose to 56.7, up from 53.7–inflation is not yet a concern–the consumer price index rose 1.6% year-over-year, below the Fed’s 2% target. Sterne Agee’s Lindsey Piegza explains:

Another benign inflation report despite a rise in fuels and utilities costs this winter, on the heels of a tepid rise in producer prices shown in yesterday’s PPI (Producer Price Index). While some Fed officials have voiced concern regarding inflation as a near-term concern, most officials are more concerned about inflation remaining considerably below the Fed’s 2% target. Although the Fed expects inflation to reverse course, nonexistent wage pressures threaten that forecast with ample slack in the labor market and minimal credit creation.

Capital Economics’ Paul Dales thinks inflation might be stronger than it looks. He writes:

January’s US CPI inflation figures were benign, but the unusually bad weather may be hiding a strengthening in underlying price pressures…This could easily explain the 0.3% m/m fall in clothing prices, 0.5% drop in used vehicles prices and 0.3% decline in new vehicle prices. Those falls could be reversed when the weather returns to seasonal norms.

In contrast, price gains in other areas are more likely to be sustained. The 0.3% m/m rise in rent of shelter was partly due to a 1.3% rise in hotel prices. Even so, low vacancy rates and rising wage growth will support rents inflation. And although the 0.3% m/m gain in medical prices was partly due to a 0.6% rebound in prescription drug prices, medical inflation will rise in April when the effects of sequester’s 2% Medicare payment cut drops out of the annual comparison. So although core inflation fell to 1.6% in January from 1.7%, we think it will rise to 2% later this year.

Marketfield’s Michael Shaoul worries that we might be witnessing the end of the Fed consensus. He explains:

In other words despite the firming of guidance towards a prolonged period of monetary laxity even as stated policy goals are reached, there is clearly a risk that the consensus within the Committee is at risk of fracturing later in 2014. This is not a risk which is adequately priced into the US yield curve, which keeps its belly close to the ground between a 2 year yield of 0.31% and a 5 year yield of 1.52%. Although the abnormal weather conditions have served to dampen a number of important economic statistics in early 2014 this actually serves to heighten the risk that a robust springtime bounce will cause a further erosion of the common ground between the various factions within the FOMC.

Now wouldn’t that be fun?

Hot Life Sciences Stocks For 2015

The US health care industry is among the heaviest regulated in the nation. Most health care-related companies must answer to federal, state and, in many cases, local regulators.

That regulatory burden will only grow more complex, as myriad new rules under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, or “Obamacare,” come into effect over the next few months. In just 22 days, the first insurance exchanges are supposed to come online. On January 1, the individual mandate and changes in coverage standards become effective.

Many health care businesses and organizations were dragging their feet in complying with Obamacare’s provisions, waiting to see how the Supreme Court would come down on the law. The court didn’t rule on Obamacare until June 2012, a decision in which it upheld the law almost in its entirety.

Given that delayed decision, a study conducted by the Government Accountability Office this past June found that only 44 percent of key activities required for full compliance had been completed, particularly where health insurance exchanges were concerned.

As a result, there’s a massive scramble underway to achieve minimum compliance levels with the law. But there’s a paucity of workers with the requisite knowledge of federal and insurance regulations required to help companies and state governments navigate the labyrinth of regulations.

That’s creating a lot of work for consultancies such as Huron Consulting Group (NSDQ: HURN), which focuses almost exclusively on the health care sector.

While the company also works in the legal, financial, education and life sciences arenas, it primarily helps hospitals, health systems and physician groups reduce costs, maximize reimbursements from both federal and private insurers and transition towards the value-based care mandated under Obamacare. In future years, reimbursements will transition towards rewarding health care organizations that achieve results rather than just prov! ide services.

As the pace of adaptation has picked up ahead of next year, Huron grew earnings 131.7 percent year-over-year in 2011 and 71.6 percent last year. In the second quarter, earnings were up 137.9 percent year-over-year, reaching $0.71 in earnings per share (EPS).

For full-year 2013, EPS is forecast to total $3.08 on revenue of $640 million, with a further 16.2 percent EPS gain to $3.58 in 2014 on $730 million.

In addition to a low debt-to-equity ratio of 0.3, Huron also throws off free cash flow of about $3.50 per share in an average year. Much of that free cash is being put towards retiring debt, with long-term debt falling from $257 million in 2011 to $194 million last year. That has left the company cash poor, with just $5 million on the balance sheet, representing one of the company’s few blemishes.

Despite being one the strongest business consulting companies, the company’s shares are currently trading at just 19.2 times trailing earnings versus an industry average of 27.2 times. The stock also trades at just 14.5 times forward earnings, although there isn’t a significant discount in terms of prices to sales or cash flow.

The rush to get health insurance exchanges up and running is also benefiting Towers Watson & Company (NYSE: TW).

The company is heavily involved in the health insurance business, although it provides a number of consultancy services that cover human resources issues such as talent recruitment and retention, as well as actuarial and risk management geared towards the insurance industry.

Several large pension plans, including most recently the one offered by IBM (NYSE: IBM), have found it increasingly expensive to provide health benefits to retirees through company-sponsored health plans.

Consequently, they have begun offering retirees a fixed sum of money to purchase their own health insurance. The pension plans then contract with Towers Watson, which runs a private health insurance exchange know! n as OneE! xchange, to offer coverage options.

Federally mandated public health exchanges are encountering difficulties getting started, but the OneExchange network is an excellent example of how the private sector is filling the gap. That’s gotten the government’s attention, which recently contracted the company to help steer consumers into the 36 state health insurance exchanges that will be operated by the federal government.

For the company’s latest fiscal year ended in June, revenue was up 5.2 percent while EPS was up 24.2 percent year-over-year.

But like Huron, Towers Watson trades at a discount to its industry, commanding a price-to-earnings multiple of just 19 versus the average of 27.3 for its peers. That’s despite the fact that EPS is expected to reach $6.45 in fiscal 2014, for growth of 44.6 percent, and increase another 13.5 percent in fiscal 2015 to EPS of $7.32.

Wall Street is clearly still taking a wait-and-see approach to both Huron and Towers Watson given their lower multiples, but with Obamacare here to stay there are profits ahead.

 

Hot Life Sciences Stocks For 2015: Cedar Woods Properties Ltd (CWP.AX)

Cedar Woods Properties Limited engages in property investment and development activities in Australia. It develops and sells lots and units at its residential estates in Western Australia and Victoria. The company�s property portfolio also includes apartment projects, integrated housing developments, business parks, mixed use developments, and various large scale master planned communities. Cedar Woods Properties Limited was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in West Perth, Australia.

Hot Life Sciences Stocks For 2015: InSite Vision Inc (INSV.PK)

InSite Vision Incorporated (InSite), incorporated in 1986, is an ophthalmic product development company advancing ophthalmic pharmaceutical products to address unmet eye care needs. The Company's current portfolio of products is based on the Company's DuraSite sustained drug delivery technology. Its DuraSite sustained drug delivery technology is a synthetic polymer-based formulation designed to extend the residence time of a drug relative to conventional topical therapies. It enables topical delivery of a drug as a solution, gel or suspension and can be customized for delivering a wide variety of drug candidates. The Company is focused its research and development and commercial support efforts on the topical products formulated with its DuraSite drug delivery technology. It may also utilize its DuraSite technology platform for the formulation of new ocular product candidates using either non drugs or compounds developed by others for non-ophthalmic indications.

< /p>

AzaSite (azithromycin ophthalmic solution) 1% is a DuraSite formulation of azithromycin developed as a spectrum ocular antibiotic and approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye). Azithromycin has a spectrum of antibiotic activity and is used to treat respiratory and other infections in its oral and parenteral forms.

Besivance (besifloxacin ophthalmic suspension) 0.6% is a DuraSite formulation of besifloxacin, a spectrum ocular antibiotic approved by the FDA to treat bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye). Besivance is the fluoroquinolone specifically developed for ophthalmic use. AzaSite Plus (ISV-502) is a fixed combination of azithromycin and dexamethasone in DuraSite for the treatment of ocular inflammation and infection (blepharitis and/or blepharoconjunctivitis).

DexaSite (ISV-305) is a DuraSite formulation of dexamethasone in development for the treatment of ocular inflammati on. DexaSite is included in the Phase 3 clinical trial SPA! f! or AzaSite Plus. The Company developed a topical formulation of the corticosteroid dexamethasone to treat eye inflammation caused by infections, injury, surgery or other conditions.

BromSite (ISV-303) is a DuraSite formulation of bromfenac in development for the treatment of post-operative inflammation and eye pain. ISV-101 is a DuraSite formulation with a low concentration of bromfenac for the treatment of dry eye disease.

The Company competes with Alcon Laboratories, Inc., Allergan, Inc., Bausch & Lomb, Novartis Ophthalmics, Johnson & Johnson, Merck & Co. and Pfizer.

Top Services Stocks To Own For 2015: InterMune Inc.(ITMN)

InterMune, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, engages in the research, development, and commercialization of therapies in pulmonology and fibrotic diseases. In pulmonology, the company focuses on therapies for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a progressive and fatal lung disease. It markets pirfenidone, an orally active drug that inhibits the synthesis of TGF-beta under the Esbriet name in the European Union, as well as in a Phase III clinical trial in the United States. Pirfenidone is also approved for the treatment of IPF in Japan, where it is marketed by Shionogi & Co. Ltd. under the Pirespa trade name. The company?s research programs focus on the discovery of small-molecule therapeutics and biomarkers to treat and monitor serious pulmonary and fibrotic diseases. InterMune, Inc. was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Brisbane, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Brian Pacampara]

  What: Shares of biotechnology company Intermune (NASDAQ: ITMN  ) surged 13% today after its quarterly results and outlook topped Wall Street expectations.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Markey rates the stock a Buy with an $11 price target. Shares of MannKind have jumped 14% to $7.85 today. The SPDR Biotech ETF (XBI) has gained 0.7% to $119.85 today, while Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY) has gained 1% to $49.05, NPS Pharmaceuticals (NPSP) has fallen 4.1% to $23.56, and InterMune (ITMN) has risen 2.6% to $14.89.

• [By Keith Speights]

  Lunging forward
  Intermune (NASDAQ: ITMN  ) announced second-quarter earnings on Wednesday. Higher-than-expected revenue helped shares advance almost 16% for the week.

Hot Life Sciences Stocks For 2015: LaSalle Hotel Properties (LHO)

LaSalle Hotel Properties, a real estate investment trust (REIT), engages in the purchase, ownership, redevelopment, and leasing of primarily upscale and luxury full-service hotels in convention, resort, and urban business markets in the United States. It owns 34 hotels, totaling approximately 9,200 guest rooms in 15 markets in 11 states and the District of Columbia. The company qualifies as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. As a REIT, it would not be subject to federal corporate income tax to the extent that it distributes at least 90% of its taxable income to its shareholders. The company was founded in 1998 and is based in Bethesda, Maryland.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Duprey]

  Upscale hotel operator�LaSalle Hotel Properties (NYSE: LHO  ) announced yesterday its third-quarter dividend of $0.28 per share, a 40% increase in the payout made to investors from the $0.20 per share paid last quarter.

• [By Marshall Hargrave]

  The other key benefit for Strategic is that it enjoys industry-leading earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) per available room. For 2012, Strategic generated $81 per room of EBITDA. Compare this to top comps LaSalle Hotel (NYSE: LHO) at $74 per room and Pebblebrook Hotel Trust (NYSE: PEB) at $71. The reason for this is that Strategic is much less reliant than its peers on rooms, with much greater exposure to food and beverages. Strategic earns 53% of its revenue from rooms, while its peers get around 66% of revenues from rooms.

Hot Life Sciences Stocks For 2015: Augyva Mining Resources Inc (AUV)

Augyva Mining Resources Inc. (Augyva) is an exploration company with activities in Canada. The Company is involved in the exploration of mining properties with a view to commercial production. As of February 29, 2012, the Company�� portfolio consists of mineral properties located in the Province of Quebec, Canada. Augyva's activities are mainly focused on the Duncan Lake Iron Ore property (Duncan Lake) located in the James Bay area of Quebec. Its mining properties include Duncan, Yasinski, Kali / Lac-Elmer, Senneville and Malartic. Augyva holds a 49% interest in the Duncan Property, which is located at the Western Part of the La Grande Greenstone Belt and hosts iron ore deposits of the Algoma type. The Company holds a 100% interest in the Yasinski property, which covers 5,628 hectares. It holds a 100% interest in the Kali/Lac-Elmer property located in the James Bay region, Quebec, which covers 7,818 hectares. Augyva holds a 100% interest on the Senneville and the Malartic properties.

Hot Life Sciences Stocks For 2015: KeyCorp (KEY)

KeyCorp is a bank holding company for KeyBank National Association (KeyBank). Through KeyBank and certain other subsidiaries, the Company provides a range of retail and commercial banking, commercial leasing, investment management, consumer finance and investment banking products and services to individual, corporate and institutional clients through two business segments: Key Community Bank and Key Corporate Bank. As of December 31, 2011, these services were provided through KeyBank�� 1,058 full-service retail banking branches in 14 states, additional offices, a telephone banking call center services group and a network of 1,579 automated teller machines (ATMs) in 15 states. On January 17, 2012, the Company opened another national bank subsidiary.

In addition to the banking services of accepting deposits and making loans, the Bank and trust company subsidiaries offer personal and corporate trust services, personal financial services, access to mutual funds, cash management services, investment banking and capital markets products, and international banking services. Through its bank, trust company and investment adviser subsidiaries, the Company provides investment management services to clients that include corporate and public retirement plans, foundations and endowments, individuals and trust funds. The Company provides other financial services - both within and outside of its primary banking markets - through various nonbank subsidiaries. These services include community development financing, securities underwriting and brokerage. It is also an equity participant in a joint venture that provides merchant services to businesses.

Lending Activities

As of December 31, 2011, the Company�� Commercial, Financial and Agricultural loans, also referred to as Commercial and Industrial, represented 39% of its total loan portfolio. As of December 31, 2011, commercial real estate loans represented approximately 19% of its total loan portfolio. These loans include bo! th owner and nonowner-occupied properties and constitute approximately 27% of its commercial loan portfolio. Its commercial real estate lending business is conducted through two primary sources: its 14-state banking franchise, and Real Estate Capital and Corporate Banking Services. The Company conducts financing arrangements through its equipment finance line of business. Commercial lease financing receivables represented 17% of commercial loans at December 31, 2011. The home equity portfolio is the largest segment of its consumer loan portfolio.

Investment Activities

The Company�� securities portfolio totaled $18 billion at December 31, 2011. Available-for-sale securities were $16 billion at December 31, 2011. Held-to-maturity securities were $2.1 billion at December 31, 2011. At December 31, 2011, it had $2.1 billion in collateralized mortgage obligations (CMOs) in its held-to-maturity securities portfolio. At December 31, 2011, the Company had $15.9 billion invested in CMOs and other mortgage-backed securities in the available-for-sale portfolio. Federal Agency CMOs constitute most of its held-to-maturity securities along with foreign bonds and preferred equity securities. The investments in equity and mezzanine instruments made by its principal investing unit represented 61% of other investments at December 31, 2011. They include direct investments (investments made in a particular company), as well as indirect investments (investments made through funds that include other investors).

Sources of Funds

Domestic deposits are the Company�� primary source of funding. During the year ended December 31, 2011, these deposits averaged $58.5 billion and represented 80% of the funds it used to support loans and other earning assets. Wholesale funds, consisting of deposits in its foreign office and short-term borrowings, averaged $3.4 billion during 2011. At December 31, 2011, the Company had $4.7 billion in time deposits of $100,000 or more.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jon C. Ogg]

  KeyCorp (NYSE: KEY) was raised to Outperform from Neutral at Credit Suisse.

  Oasis Petroleum Inc. (NYSE: OAS) was raised to Buy from Hold with a $55 price target at Deutsche Bank and was raised to Buy from Neutral with a $53 price target at SunTrust.

• [By Jay Jenkins]

  With this much cash on the line (not to mention reputation risk and regulatory risk), its critical for investors to assess the impact for their investment of choice. In the video below, Motley Fool contributor Jay Jenkins discusses who deserves a pat on the back (Citigroup (NYSE: C  ) and Bank of America (NYSE: BAC  ) ) and who should be nervous (looking at you,�KeyCorp (NYSE: KEY  ) .

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Don’t look for big banks to soften the blow today, however. JPMorgan Chase (JPM) has fallen 0.5% to $51.84, Wells Fargo (WFC) has declined 0.9% to $42.06 and KeyCorp (KEY) is off 1% at $12.54. Citigroup (C) has gained 0.2% to $48.71.

• [By Eric Volkman]

  KeyCorp (NYSE: KEY  ) is continuing to unlock shareholder payouts, declaring a set of dividends for its Q3. The payout for its common stock will be $0.055 per share, to be paid on September 13 to shareholders of record as of August 27. That amount matches the financial service firm's previous distribution; this was paid last month. Prior to that, KeyCorp handed out $0.05 per share.

Hot Life Sciences Stocks For 2015: Avery Dennison Corp (AVY)

Avery Dennison Corporation (Avery Dennison), incorporated on February 23, 1977, is engaged in the production of pressure-sensitive materials, and a variety of tickets, tags, labels other converted products, and office and consumer products through embossing, printing, stamping and die-cutting. The Company operates in two segments: Pressure-sensitive Materials and Retail Branding and Information Solutions. In addition to its reportable segments, the Company has other specialty converting businesses comprised of Vancive Medical Technologies (Vancive) and Designed and Engineered Solutions (DES). Some are sold by the Company in converted form as printable media, tapes and reflective sheeting. The Company also manufacture and sells office and consumer products, other converted products and items not involving pressure-sensitive components, such as binders, organizing systems, markers, fasteners and business forms, as well as tickets, tags, radio-frequency identification (RFID) inlays and tags, and imprinting equipment and related services for retailers and apparel manufacturers. In 2012, the PSM and RBIS segments contributed approximately 71% and 25%, of its total sales, respectively. In 2012, international operations constituted a substantial majority of its business, representing approximately 72% of its sales. As of December 29, 2012, the Company operated approximately 200 manufacturing and distribution facilities worldwide, employed approximately 30,000 persons, and had operations in over 50 countries. In July 2013, Avery Dennison Corp completed the sale of its Office and Consumer Products and Designed and Engineered Solutions businesses to CCL Industries Inc.

Pressure-sensitive Materials Segment

Pressure-sensitive Materials segment manufactures and sells Fasson-,JAC -, and Avery Dennison-brand pressure-sensitive label and packaging materials, Avery- and Avery Dennison-brand graphics and graphic films, Avery Dennison-brand reflective products, and performance polymers (largel! y used to manufacture pressure-sensitive materials). The business of this segment tends not to be seasonal, except for certain outdoor graphics and reflective products and operations in Europe. Pressure-sensitive materials consist primarily of papers, plastic films, metal foils and fabrics, which are coated with company-developed and purchased adhesives, and then laminated with specially coated backing papers and films. They are sold in roll or sheet form with either solid or patterned adhesive coatings, and are available in a wide range of face materials, sizes, thicknesses and adhesive properties. These label and packaging materials are sold worldwide to label printers and converters for labeling, decorating, fastening, electronic data processing and special applications in the home and personal care, beer and beverage, durables, pharmaceutical, wine and spirits, and food market segments. A pressure-sensitive, or self-adhesive, material is one that adheres to a surface by press-on contact.

The Company�� graphics and reflective businesses sell a variety of films and other products to the architectural, commercial sign, digital printing, and other related market segments. The Company also sells durable cast and reflective films to the construction, automotive and fleet transportation market segments; and reflective films for traffic and safety applications. The Company provides sign shops, commercial printers and designers a range of pressure-sensitive materials to enable the creation of impactful and informative, brand and decorative graphics. The Company has an array of pressure-sensitive vinyl and specialty materials designed for digital imaging, screen printing and sign cutting applications.

The Company�� performance tapes business manufactures and sells coated tapes and adhesive transfer tapes for use in non-mechanical fastening, bonding and sealing systems in various industries. These tapes are sold to industrial original equipment manufacturers, converters, and dispo! sable dia! per producers worldwide in roll form and are available in a range of face materials, sizes, thicknesses and adhesive properties. Performance polymer products include a range of solvent- and emulsion-based acrylic polymer adhesives, protective coatings and other polymer additives for internal use, as well as for sale to other companies.

The Company competes with Raflatac, MacTac, Ritrama, Inc., Flexcon Corporation, Inc., Orafol Group, Inc., 3M, Tesa-SE, and Nitto Denko Corporation.

Retail Branding and Information Solutions Segment

The Company�� Retail Branding and Information Solutions segment (RBIS) designs, manufactures and sell a wide variety of branding and information solutions to retailers, brand owners, apparel manufacturers, distributors and industrial customers on a worldwide basis. RBIS branding solutions include creative services, brand embellishments, graphic tickets, tags, and labels, and sustainable packaging. RBIS information solutions include RFID-enabled inventory accuracy, visibility and loss prevention solutions, price ticketing and marking, care and content or origin compliance solutions, and brand protection and security solutions.

The Company competes with SML Group, R-pac Internation Corporation, and Checkpoint Systems.

Other specialty converting businesses

The Company�� specialty converting businesses include its designed and engineered solutions and Vancive businesses. These businesses manufacture and sell specialty tapes, engineered films, pressure-sensitive postage stamps and other converted products. These businesses are generally not seasonal, except for certain automotive products due to plant shutdowns by automotive manufacturers. It�� designed and engineered solutions business manufactures custom pressure-sensitive labels and multi-layer film constructions for durable goods, electronics and consumer packaged goods. These products are sold primarily to original equipment manufacturers, tie! r supplie! rs and packaging converters. For the automotive market segment, the businesses manufactures custom pressure-sensitive and heat-seal labels, and pressure-sensitive films, which are sold primarily to original equipment manufacturers and their suppliers. Its Vancive business manufactures an array of pressure-sensitive adhesive products for surgical, wound care, ostomy, and electromedical applications. These products are sold primarily to medical supply and device manufacturers and healthcare providers.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  3M has also done a good job of defending its intellectual property. Late last month, the company announced that it had won a lawsuit against Avery Dennison (NYSE: AVY  ) for patent infringement, and the court dismissed counterclaims that Avery had filed against 3M.

Hot Life Sciences Stocks For 2015: Archer Ltd (ARCHER)

Archer Ltd, formerly Seawell Limited is a Bermuda-based global oilfield service company. The Company provides drilling services, such as platform drilling, land drilling, modular rings, directional drilling, drill bits, tubular services, drilling and completion fluids, cementing tools, plugs and packers, underbalanced services, rentals and engineering. It specialises also in well services, such as wireline intervention, specialist intervention, frac valves, wireline logging, integrity diagnostics, imaging, production monitoring, coiled tubing, completion services and fishing. As of January 3, 2012, the Company's organizational structure centered on four geographic and strategic areas: North America (NAM), North Sea (NRS), Latin America (LAM) and Emerging Markets & Technologies (EMT). As of December 31, 2010, it was active through a number of subsidiaries, namely Seawell, Allis-Chalmers Energy, Gray Wireline, Rig Inspection Services and TecWel, among others.

Hot Life Sciences Stocks For 2015: Dorato Resources Inc. (DRI.V)

Dorato Resources Inc., a mineral exploration company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties. It primarily explores for gold and copper ores. It holds 100% interest in the Deborah property located in the Cajamarca region of Peru. The company, through a series of option agreements, also holds right to acquire mineral claims and mining concessions in Cordillera del Condor property located in northern Peru. The company was formerly known as Quest Ventures Inc. and changed its name to Dorato Resources Inc. in April 2006. Dorato Resources Inc. was incorporated in 1981 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

Hot Life Sciences Stocks For 2015: Cardtronics Inc.(CATM)

Cardtronics, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides automated consumer financial services through its network of automated teller machines (ATMs) and multi-function financial services kiosks. As of December 31, 2011, it offered services to approximately 52,900 devices across its portfolio, which included approximately 46,000 devices located in 50 states of the United States, as well as in the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands; approximately 3,500 devices throughout the United Kingdom; approximately 2,800 devices throughout Mexico; and approximately 600 devices in Canada. The company also deployed approximately 2,200 multi-function financial services kiosks in the United States. Its ATMs and financial services kiosks offer cash dispensing and bank account balance inquiry services, as well as other consumer financial services, including bill payments, check cashing, remote deposit capture, and money transfer services. In addition, the compan y provides various forms of managed service solution, including monitoring, maintenance, cash management, customer service, and transaction processing services. Further, it partners with national financial institutions to brand its ATMs and financial services kiosks with their logos. As of December 31, 2011, the company had approximately 15,400 company-owned ATMs under contract with financial institutions to place their logos on those machines. Additionally, it provides financial institutions with surcharge-free program through its Allpoint network, as well as owns and operates an electronic funds transfer transaction processing platform that provides transaction processing services to its network of ATMs and financial services kiosks, and ATMs owned and operated by third parties. The company was formerly known as Cardtronics Group, Inc. and changed its name to Cardtronics, Inc. in January 2004. Cardtronics, Inc. was founded in 1989 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.

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 Cardtronics (Nasdaq: CATM  ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.

Hot Life Sciences Stocks For 2015: Armstrong Industrial Corp Ltd (A14.SI)

Armstrong Industrial Corporation Limited, an investment holding company, engages in the manufacture and sale of foam and rubber components focusing on noise, vibration, and heat management for use in the automotive and electronics industries. The company offers rubber parts and components of electronic and other instruments; rubber products, hardware, industrial parts, and components; and precision die-cutting, die fabrication, rubber molding, stamping, vacuum forming, heat press molding, and EPP molding components, as well as provides related product�s tooling fabrication, processing, and sale services. It also provides automotive products; gasket connectors, crash stops/latch bumpers, insulators, and damper adhesives for the data storage industry; rubber/ foam rollers, insulation films/foams, dampers, rubber feet products, cushion pads, panel acoustics, reflectors/ scanner foam assemblies, and labels and separator pads used in the office automation industry; and acousti c foams, dust sealants, filter foams, foots, heat sink gaskets, lens film spacers, microphone holders, insulator films, motor gaskets, O-rings, and silicon plugs for the consumer electronics industry. The company�s solutions are used for dampening, insulation, sealing, cushioning, sound absorption, and related applications. In addition, it produces noise and vibration reduction components, silkscreen nameplates, labels, and stickers; provides architectural, engineering, and related technical consultancy services; and trades in various materials and machineries, as well as adhesive and foam products. The company primarily operates in the People's Republic of China, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam. It has a strategic partnership with Odenwald-Chemie GmbH. The company was founded in 1974 and is headquartered in Singapore.

Hot Life Sciences Stocks For 2015: Kodiak Oil & Gas Corp (KOG)

Kodiak Oil & Gas Corp. (Kodiak) is an independent energy company focused on the exploration, exploitation, acquisition and production of crude oil and natural gas in the United States. Kodiak has developed an oil and natural gas asset base of proved reserves, as well as a portfolio of development and exploratory drilling opportunities on high-potential prospects with an emphasis on oil resource plays. The Company�� oil and natural gas reserves and operations are primarily concentrated in the Williston Basin of North Dakota. As of January 31, 2012, it had approximately 169,000 net acres under lease, including 157,000 net acres in the Bakken oil play in the Williston Basin of North Dakota and Montana. In January 2012, the Company acquired Williston Basin oil and gas producing properties and undeveloped leasehold. On January 10, 2012, it acquired certain oil and gas leaseholds, overriding royalty interests and producing properties located in North Dakota. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Matt DiLallo]

  According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, Bakken-focused Kodiak Oil & Gas (NYSE: KOG  ) had hired bankers last year to explore a potential sale of the company. So far talks with potential suitors haven't ended in a deal as potential buyers have been balking at the price. With the company rumored to still be exploring a future sale, how likely is it that Kodiak investors will enjoy a big payday?

• [By Value Digger]

  B) Kodiak Oil (KOG) an one-basin energy play, lacking any land diversification. Kodiak operates solely at the Williston basin. Although the company's D/CF ratio (annualized) is 2.75x, Kodiak trades at $155,700/boepd and $34.8/boe of proved reserves, based on its current EV of $3.3 billion and production of 21,190 boepd (80% oil and liquids).

• [By Matthew Smith]

  Speaking of leaders in the E&P names, we also want to point out the strength at Kodiak Oil & Gas (KOG) and Chesapeake Energy (CHK). Kodiak has quietly been moving higher and broke above $10/share on Friday with decent volume. The company continues to build upon their successes in the Bakken and it is still our belief that the company will ultimately get taken over because of their success. The company has a rich valuation but we continue to see costs fall as drilling techniques are standardized and the company gets to do more 'infill' drilling as opposed to exploration drilling to lock in leased land via held-by-production rights. Remember, as more infrastructure is built to take production out of the Bakken we will see transportation prices decline further (see article from above for more on this) and should see realized prices for that production increase as well. One should continue to be bullish here.

• [By Matt DiLallo]

  Few companies though are as levered to the Bakken as Kodiak Oil & Gas (NYSE: KOG  ) and Continental Resources (NYSE: CLR  ) . All of Kodiak's capital this year will be devoted to developing its Bakken acreage. The company expects to spend $740 million to drill about 75 net wells. This should boost the company's production from an average daily rate of 14,400 barrels of oil equivalent last year to between 29,000 and 31,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day this year before taking into account its recent acquisition.

Hot Life Sciences Stocks For 2015: PacWest Equities Inc (PWEI.PK)

PacWest Equities Inc., incorporated on June 4, 2004, specializes in working with underperforming companies and bringing together the resources needed for them to attain financial stability and growth. The Company�� focus is on companies showing a positive upside while struggling to bring new technologies and products to market. The Company provides solutions by leveraging investor relations, facilitating creative product development and fostering interactive services partnerships. The Company�� focus is on expanding green market products as a key component of its PacWest strategy. The Company�� subsidiary, World EcoSource Corp, is a technology-based company, which has developed the MobileFeed(R) and MobileFood(R) systems helping offset deficient worldwide food production for both animals and humans. On October 15, 2012, the Company announced that, through its wholly owned subsidiary, World EcoSource Corp., it completed the acquisition of PurGro Electronics, LLC.

MobileFeed(R) and MobileFood(R) systems provides turnkey solutions for either the production of livestock based consumables or human based protein and vegetable consumables. The Company�� subsidiary, Green Rhino Inc., manufactures products and markets the Green Rhino line of products. Green Rhino provides a line of biodegradable all purpose, non toxic cleaners that can be coupled with a heavy duty equipment parts and military weapons washing systems using its bio-remediation process. Green Rhino All Purpose Cleaner Degreaser (APC) is non toxic, non abrasive, and biodegradable.

The Company competes with Clorox (Green Works), SC Johnson and Sons, Simple Green Ecolab, Seventh Generation and Method Products.

Hot Life Sciences Stocks For 2015: AuthenTec Inc.(AUTH)

AuthenTec, Inc. provides mobile and network security solutions for enterprise, government, and consumer markets worldwide. The company operates in two segments, Smart Sensor Solutions and Embedded Security Solutions. The Smart Sensor Solutions segment designs, develops, and sells mixed-signal fingerprint sensor semiconductors primarily used in the personal computer and mobile device markets; touch-based sensors for government and access control applications; sensors that enable users to access and control various functions on an electronic device; fingerprint sensor chipsets and modules; USB fingerprint readers; and identity management software. The Embedded Security Solutions segment provides a range of embedded security solutions, including hardware intellectual property (IP) and software for implementing in Internet protocols, such as IPsec, MACsec, and SSL/TLS for communications protection; digital rights management for multimedia content piracy prevention; and functio ns comprising secure boot and hardware-based key protection for computing platform integrity. The company primarily sells its products through direct sales force, independent sales representatives, and distributors to original equipment manufacturers, original design manufacturers, contract manufacturers, software application vendors, and service providers. AuthenTec, Inc. was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Melbourne, Florida.

Hot Life Sciences Stocks For 2015: Enhanced Oil Resources Inc (EOR)

Enhanced Oil Resources Inc. is a natural resource company. The Company is engaged in the acquisition, exploration, exploitation, and development of natural resource properties in the Southwestern United States. The Company produces oil and gas from three Permian Basin crude oilfields located in eastern New Mexico and certain oilfield properties (Winters Fields) located near Abilene, Texas. The Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary EOR Operating Inc., owns a 98% interest in the 800 acre Crossroads Siluro-Devonian Unit and a 100% interest in an adjacent 160 acre lease. The Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary EOR Operating Inc., owns a 99% interest in the 4,880 acre Milnesand San Andres Unit and a 100% interest in the adjacent 1,800 acre Horton Federal lease.

Hot Life Sciences Stocks For 2015: Derek Oil & Gas Corporation (DRK.V)

Derek Oil and Gas Corporation engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of oil and gas properties in the United States. It primarily holds a 100% interest in the LAK Ranch Project located near Newcastle, Wyoming. The company was formerly known as Derek Resources Corporation and changed its name to Derek Oil and Gas Corporation in March 2003. Derek Oil and Gas Corporation was incorporated in 1981 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

Top 5 Trucking Stocks To Buy Right Now

Dividend stocks are everywhere, but many just downright stink. In some cases, the business model is in serious jeopardy, or the dividend itself isn't sustainable. In others, the dividend is so low, it's not even worth the paper your dividend check is printed on. A�solid dividend�strikes the right balance of growth, value, and sustainability.

Today, and one day each week for the rest of the year, we're going to look at one dividend-paying company that you can put in your portfolio for the long term without too much concern. This isn't to say that these stocks don't share the same macro risks that other companies have, but they are a step above your common grade of dividend stock. Check out�last week's selection.

This week, we'll turn our attention to a company that literally keeps America trucking, Cummins (NYSE: CMI  ) , and I'll show you why it and its dividend could drive your portfolio to big gains.

Cummins, a manufacturer of diesel and natural gas engines, as well as a provider of engine components and power generation products, has soared some 500% since its recession lows. The most amazing aspect about this heavy-duty engine maker is that it could still have plenty of room to run higher.

Top 5 Trucking Stocks To Buy Right Now: ProShares Ultra 7-10 Year Treasury (UST)

NA

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Donald van Deventer]

  Long-duration Treasury Exchange-Traded Funds: (TLH), , (IEF), (DTYL), (DLBL), (ILTB), (TENZ), (ITE), (TLO), (EDV), (VGIT), (VGLT), (TMF), (TYD), (LBND), (UBT), (UST), (TMV), (TYO), (DSTJ), (DSXJ), (SBND), (PST), (DTYS), (DLBS), (TBF), (TTT), (TYNS), (TYBS), (TBX).

Top 5 Trucking Stocks To Buy Right Now: Merrimack Pharmaceuticals Inc (MACK)

Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc., incorporated in 1993, is a biopharmaceutical company discovering, developing and preparing to commercialize medicines paired with companion diagnostics for the treatment of serious diseases, with an initial focus on cancer. The Company�� product candidates include MM-398, MM-121, MM-111, MM-302 and MM-151. As of June 31, 2011, the Company owned approximately 74% interest of Silver Creek.

The Company�� Network biology is an interdisciplinary approach to drug discovery and development that enables the Company to build functional and predictive computational models of biological systems based on quantitative, kinetic, multiplexed biological data. The Company provides its scientists with insights into how the complex molecular interactions that occur within cell signaling pathways, or networks, regulate cell decisions and how dysfunction within these networks leads to disease. The Company applies network biology throughout the research and development process, including for target identification, lead compound design and optimization, diagnostic discovery, in vitro and in vivo predictive development and the design of clinical trial protocols.

MM-398

MM-398 is a stable nanotherapeutic encapsulation, or enclosed sphere carrying an active drug, of the marketed chemotherapy drug irinotecan. MM-398 achieved its primary efficacy endpoints in Phase 2 clinical trials in pancreatic and gastric cancer. In an open label, single arm Phase 2 clinical trial of MM-398 as a monotherapy in 40 metastatic pancreatic cancer patients who had previously failed treatment with gemcitabine, patients treated with MM-398 achieved median overall survival of 22.4 weeks. Additionally, 20% of the patients in this Phase 2 trial survived for more than one year, and the Company observed a disease control rate, meaning patients exhibited stable disease or partial or complete response to treatment, of 47.5% at six weeks.

The Company focuses on initiati! ng a Phase 3 clinical trial of MM-398 for the treatment of patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer who have previously failed treatment with gemcitabine. The trial is expected to enroll approximately 250 patients and is designed to compare the efficacy of MM-398 as a monotherapy against the combination of the chemotherapy drugs fluorouracil, or 5-FU, and leucovorin. There are multiple ongoing Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical trials of MM-398. In July 2011, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted MM-398 orphan drug designation for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.

MM-121

MM-121 is a fully human monoclonal antibody that targets ErbB3, a cell surface receptor, or protein attached to the cell membrane that mediates communication inside and outside the cell, that the Company�� network biology approach identified as a target in a range of cancers. A monoclonal antibody is a type of protein normally produced by cells of the immune system that binds to just one epitope, or chemical structure, on a protein or other structure. MM-121 is designed to inhibit cancer growth directly, restore sensitivity to drugs to which a tumor has become resistant and delay the development of resistance of a tumor to other agents. In collaboration with Sanofi, the Company focuses on testing MM-121 in combination with both chemotherapies and other targeted agents across a range of spectrum of solid tumors, including lung, breast and ovarian cancers. The Company partnered MM-121 with Sanofi after it initiated Phase 1 clinical development of the product candidate.

MM-111

MM-111 is a bispecific antibody designed to target cancer cells that are characterized by overexpression of the ErbB2 cell surface receptor, also referred to as HER2. A bispecific antibody is a type of antibody that is able to bind simultaneously to two distinct proteins or epitopes. The Company�� network biology approach identified that ligand-induced signaling through the complex of ErbB2 ! (HER2) an! d ErbB3 is a promoter of tumor growth and survival than previously appreciated.

MM-302

MM-302 is a nanotherapeutic encapsulation of doxorubicin with attached antibodies that are designed to target MM-302 to cells that over express the ErbB2 (HER2) receptor. The Company is conducting a Phase 1 clinical trial of MM-302 in patients with advanced ErbB2 (HER2) positive breast cancer.

MM-151

MM-151 is an oligoclonal therapeutic consisting of a mixture of three fully human monoclonal antibodies designed to bind to non-overlapping epitopes of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). EGFR is also known as ErbB1. An oligoclonal therapeutic is a mixture of two or more distinct monoclonal antibodies. The Company has designed MM-151 to block signal amplification that occurs within the ErbB cell signaling network. The Company has submitted an investigational new drug application (IND), to the FDA for MM-151 in July 2011.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Eric Volkman]

  Merrimack Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: MACK  ) is gearing up for a double dose of fund-raising. The company announced that it will concurrently float both a common stock and a convertible notes issue in a public offering. In the former, Merrimack will offer $50 million worth of shares, while the latter will take the form of $75 million in senior notes maturing in 2020. Additionally, the company expects that it will grant its underwriters a 30-day purchase option for up to an additional $7.5 million worth of common shares and $11.25 million of the convertible notes.

• [By Roberto Pedone]

  One under-$10 biopharmaceuticals player that's just starting to trigger a breakout trade is Merrimack Pharmaceuticals (MACK), which focuses on discovering, developing and preparing to commercialize medicines paired with companion diagnostics for the treatment of serious diseases, with an initial focus on cancer. This stock has been hit hard by the bears so far in 2013, with shares off by 38%.

  If you take a look at the chart for Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, you'll notice that this stock has been downtrending badly for the last two months, with shares plunging from its high of 7.09 to its recent low of $3.26 a share. During that move, shares of MACK have been consistently making lower highs and lower lows, which is bearish technical price action. That said, shares of MACK have just formed a double bottom chart pattern at $3.26 to $3.32 a share and it's now starting to break out above some near-term overhead resistance at $3.64 a share. This move could be signaling a trend change for MACK as the stock starts to move higher off oversold conditions.

  Traders should now look for long-biased trades in MACK if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance at $3.64 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above that level with volume that hits near or above its three-month average action of 1.87 million shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then MACK will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance level at its 50-day moving average of $4.75 a share. Any high-volume move above that level and above more resistance at $5.06 will then give MACK a chance to tag its 200-day moving average at $5.71 a share.

  Traders can look to buy MACK off weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below some key near-term support levels at $3.32 or at $3.26 a share. One can also buy MACK off strength once it clears $3.64 a share with volume and then simply use a stop tha

• [By Keith Speights]

  Not so merry
  Merrimack Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: MACK  ) shareholders have had reason to party since early May, with the stock surging more than 60%. The merriment came to a stop this week, though, as shares tanked by 27%.

• [By Monica Gerson]

  Merrimack Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: MACK) dipped 15.38% to $2.86 after the company reported that Phase 2 study Of MM-121 missed primary endpoint.

  IAC/InterActiveCorp (NASDAQ: IACI) shares fell 14.51% to $49.50 in the pre-market trading after the company reported downbeat Q3 revenue.

10 Best Penny Stocks To Buy Right Now: Eaton Vance Corporation (EV)

Eaton Vance Corp., through its subsidiaries, engages in the creation, marketing, and management of investment funds in the United States. It also provides investment management and counseling services to institutions and individuals. Further, the company operates as an adviser and distributor of investment companies and separate accounts. As of October 31, 2004, the company provided investment advisory or administration services to approximately 150 funds; approximately 1,300 separately managed individual and institutional accounts; and participated in approximately 40 retail-managed account broker/dealer programs. It markets and distributes shares of funds through a retail network of national and regional broker/dealers, banks, insurance companies, and financial planning firms. Eaton Vance Corp. was founded in 1944 and is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts.

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 Eaton Vance (NYSE: EV  ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.

• [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 Eaton Vance (NYSE: EV  ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.

Top 5 Trucking Stocks To Buy Right Now: Mengold Resources Inc. (MNI.V)

MGold Resources Inc. engages in mineral exploration for precious and base metals in Canada. It primarily explores for gold, copper, lead, nickel, zinc, and molybdenum deposits. It holds interests in the Burchell Lake and Goldcreek properties located in the Shebandowan area of northwestern Ontario. The company was formerly known as Mengold Resources Inc. and changed its name to MGold Resources Inc. in September 2010. MGold Resources Inc. was incorporated in 1946 and is based in Montreal, Canada.

Top 5 Trucking Stocks To Buy Right Now: Brookdale Senior Living Inc. (BKD)

Brookdale Senior Living Inc. owns and operates senior living communities in the United States. It operates in six segments: Retirement Centers, Assisted Living, Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs)�Rental, CCRCs-Entry Fee, Innovative Senior Care, and Management Services. The Retirement Centers segment owns or leases communities comprising independent living and assisted living units in a single community that are primarily designed for middle to upper income senior citizens. The Assisted Living segment owns or leases communities consisting of freestanding, multi-story communities, and freestanding single story communities, which offer housing and 24-hour assistance to mid-acuity frail and elderly residents. This segment also operates memory care communities for residents with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. The CCRCs-Rental segment owns or leases communities that offer various living arrangements and services to accommodate physical ability and health. The CCRCs-Entry Fee segment allows residents in the independent living apartment units to pay a one-time upfront entrance fee to use certain amenities and services. The Innovative Senior Care segment provides outpatient therapy, home health, and hospice services to residents of its communities and other senior living communities. The Management Services segment operates third party communities under the management agreements. As of December 31, 2012, it operated 76 retirement center communities with 14,528 units; 433 assisted living communities with 21,594 units; 27 rental CCRC communities with 6,748 units; 14 entry fee CCRC communities with 5,866 units; and 97 communities with 17,998 units for third parties. Brookdale Senior Living Inc. is based in Brentwood, Tennessee.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Tom Lydon]

  Top holdings based on the index include Acadia Healthcare Companies (ACHC), Amsurg Corporation (AMSG), Brookdale Senior Living (BKD), Clarcor (CLC) and Community Health Systems (CYH).

Top 5 Trucking Stocks To Buy Right Now: Dupont Fabros Technology Inc. (DFT)

DuPont Fabros Technology, Inc., a real estate investment trust (REIT), engages in the ownership, acquisition, development, operation, management, and lease of large-scale data center facilities in the United States. The company leases its data centers to the American and international technology companies to house, power, and cool the computer servers that support their critical business processes. It also provides certain technical services to tenants, including layout design and installation of electrical power circuits, data cabling, server cabinets and racks, computer room airflow analyses, and monitoring. As of December 31, 2011, the company owned and operated seven data centers located in Northern Virginia; one data center in suburban Chicago, Illinois; one data center in Piscataway, New Jersey; one data center in Santa Clara, California. DuPont Fabros Technology, Inc. has elected to be taxed as a REIT. As a REIT, it would not be subject to federal corporate income t axes if it distributes at least 90% of its taxable income to its stockholders. The company was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Washington, District of Columbia.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ong Kang Wei]

  For example, Digital Realty (DLR) is the undoubted leader in the data storage industry, with a market cap of $8.3B. Its other three competitors, DuPont Fabros (DFT), CoreSite Realty (COR) and CyrusOne (CONE), have market caps of $1.5B, $930M and $430M respectively. In addition, with the level of complexity involving Digital's business making it immensely difficult for companies to operate data centre facilities, the company is in a good position for future growth. The company also has a wide network of 595 tenants (significantly more than other competitors), including CenturyLink (CTL), AT&T and Morgan Stanley (MS). This further secures its long term business prospects and also its dominance over its competitors.

• [By alicet236]

  Dupont Fabros Technology Inc. (DFT): President and CEO Hossein Fateh Sold 146,687 Shares

  President and CEO of Dupont Fabros Technology Inc. (DFT) Hossein Fateh sold 146,687 shares on 01/10/2014 at an average price of $24.62. DuPont Fabros Technology Inc. was incorporated in March 2007 under the laws of the State of Maryland. Dupont Fabros Technology Inc. has a market cap of $1.61 billion; its shares were traded at around $24.92 with a P/E ratio of 100.90 and P/S ratio of 4.47. The dividend yield of Dupont Fabros Technology Inc stocks is 3.82%. Dupont Fabros Technology Inc. had an annual average earnings growth of 14.50% over the past five years.

• [By Rich Duprey]

  As noted last month, DuPont Fabros Technology�� (NYSE: DFT  ) �increased its�second-quarter dividend�25%, which will be paid on July 15 to shareholders of record on July 5. In addition to announcing this regular $0.25-per-share payout for its common stock, the data center operator also announced yesterday it would be paying dividends on two series of preferred stock, both of which will also be payable on July 15 to shareholders of record on July 5.

Top 5 Trucking Stocks To Buy Right Now: Nxa Inc. (NXI.V)

NXA Inc. does not have significant operations. It focuses on investigating for future business opportunities. Previously, the company was engaged in the exploration of base and precious metals. NXA Inc. is based in Toronto, Canada.

Top 5 Trucking Stocks To Buy Right Now: AmerisourceBergen Corp (ABC)

AmerisourceBergen Corporation (AmerisourceBergen), incorporated on March 16, 2001, is a pharmaceutical services companies serving the United States, Canada, and selected global markets. Servicing both healthcare providers and pharmaceutical manufacturers in the pharmaceutical supply channel, the Company provides drug distribution and related services. The Company distributes a range of pharmaceuticals (including specialty pharmaceutical products), generic pharmaceuticals, over-the-counter healthcare products, home healthcare supplies and equipment, and related services to a range of healthcare providers located in the United States, Canada and selected global markets, including acute care hospitals and health systems, independent and chain retail pharmacies, mail order pharmacies, medical and dialysis clinics, physicians and physician group practices, long-term care and other alternate site pharmacies, and other customers. The Company also provides pharmacy services to certain specialty drug patients. In addition, the Company furnishes healthcare providers and pharmaceutical manufacturers with an assortment of related services, including pharmacy automation, inventories management, reimbursement and pharmaceutical consulting services, logistics services, and pharmacy management. The Company serves its customers (healthcare providers, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and specialty drug patients) through a network of distribution service centers and other operations in the United States, Canada, and global markets. In the Company's pharmaceutical distribution business, the Company is a source of supply of pharmaceutical and related products to its healthcare provider customers.

As of September 30, 2012, the Company's operations were comprised of the Pharmaceutical Distribution reportable segment and Other. Other consists of the AmerisourceBergen Consulting Services (ABCS) and World Courier operating segments. In September 2011, the Company acquired IntrinsiQ, LLC (IntrinsiQ) and Premier Source! . IntrinsiQ is a provider of informatics solutions, which help community oncologists make treatment decisions for their patients. Premier Source is a provider of consulting and reimbursement services to medical device, pharmaceutical, molecular diagnostic, and biotechnology manufacturers, as well as other health services companies. On November 1, 2011, the Company acquired TheraCom, LLC (TheraCom). TheraCom is a provider of commercialization support services to the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry, including reimbursement and patient access support services. On April 30, 2012, the Company acquired World Courier Group, Inc. (World Courier), which is a global specialty transportation and logistics provider for the biopharmaceutical industry.

Pharmaceutical Distribution Segment

The Pharmaceutical Distribution reportable segment is consisted of two operating segments, which include the operations of AmerisourceBergen Drug Corporation (ABDC) and AmerisourceBergen Specialty Group (ABSG). Servicing healthcare providers in the pharmaceutical supply channel, the Pharmaceutical Distribution segment's operations provide drug distribution and related services. ABDC distributes a offering of brand-name pharmaceuticals (including specialty pharmaceutical products) and generic pharmaceuticals, over-the-counter healthcare products, home healthcare supplies and equipment, and related services to a range of healthcare providers, including acute care hospitals and health systems, independent and chain retail pharmacies, mail order pharmacies, medical clinics, long-term care and other alternate site pharmacies, and other customers. ABDC also provides pharmacy management, staffing and other consulting services; scalable automated pharmacy dispensing equipment; medication and supply dispensing cabinets, and supply management software to a range of retail and institutional healthcare providers. In addition, ABDC delivers packaging solutions to institutional and retail healthcare providers.!

ABSG, through a range of operating businesses, provides pharmaceutical distribution and other services to physicians who specialize in a range of disease states, especially oncology, and to other healthcare providers, including dialysis clinics. ABSG also distributes plasma and other blood products, injectible pharmaceuticals and vaccines. In addition, ABSG provides third party logistics and other services for biotechnology and other pharmaceutical manufacturers. The Company's use of the term specialty and specialty pharmaceutical products refers to drugs used to treat complex diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, and multiple sclerosis. Specialty pharmaceutical products are part of complex treatment regimens for serious conditions and diseases, which require ongoing clinical monitoring.

Other

ABCS, through a number of operating businesses, provides commercialization support services, including reimbursement support programs, outcomes research, contract field staffing, patient assistance and copay assistance programs, adherence programs, risk mitigation services, and other market access programs to pharmaceutical and biotechnology manufacturers. World Courier, which operates in over 50 countries, is a specialty transportation and logistics provider for the biopharmaceutical industry. As of September 30, 2012, the Company committed to a plan to divest AndersonBrecon.

The Company competes with Cardinal Health, Inc., McKesson Corporation, FFF Enterprises, Henry Schein, Inc. and UPS Logistics.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Duprey]

  The world's largest pharmaceuticals distributor, AmerisourceBergen (NYSE: ABC  ) , has completed the divestiture of its Canadian�distribution business to�Kohl & Frisch Limited, the country's only Canadian-owned national full-line pharmaceutical distributor, AmerisourceBergen announced yesterday.

• [By Dividends4Life]

  Memberships and Peers: CAH is a member of the S&P 500, a Dividend Aristocrat and a member of the Broad Dividend Achievers��Index. The company's peer group includes: AmerisourceBergen Corporation (ABC) with a 1.3% yield, McKesson Corporation (MCK) with a 0.6% yield and Owens & Minor Inc. (OMI) with a 2.5% yield.

Top 5 Trucking Stocks To Buy Right Now: Dominion Resources Black Warrior Trust (DOM)

Dominion Resources Black Warrior Trust operates as a grantor trust in the United States. The company acquires and holds overriding royalty interests burdening proved natural gas properties that are owned by Walter Black Warrior Basin LLC and located in the Pottsville coal formation of the Black Warrior basin, Tuscaloosa county, Alabama. As of December 31, 2012, its underlying properties comprised 34,212 gross acres of land that contained 532 wells that were producing gas. The company was founded in 1994 and is based in Dallas, Texas.

Top 5 Trucking Stocks To Buy Right Now: Pericom Semiconductor Corporation(PSEM)

Pericom Semiconductor Corporation designs, develops, manufactures, and markets high performance digital, analog, and mixed-signal integrated circuits (ICs) and frequency control products (FCPs) used in electronic systems worldwide. The company?s products are used for the transfer, routing, and timing of digital and analog signals within and between computer, networking, data communications, and telecommunication systems. It offers SiliconConnect family products, including PCI and PCI-X bridges, PCI Express Bridges and packet switches, drivers, receivers, and transceivers, as well as low-voltage differential signaling products; SiliconSwitch family products comprising application-specific standard product switches, analog switches, and digital switches; SiliconInterface family products consisting of redrivers/signal conditioners, universal level shifters, lower balanced drives, application specific logic functions, 3.3-volt interface logic products, 5-volt FCT logic product s, and gates; and SiliconClock family products, such as clock buffers and zero-delay clock drivers, voltage controlled crystal oscillators, clock frequency synthesizers, and programmable clocks. The company?s FCPs include crystals that resonate at a frequency; and crystal oscillators used in various electronic devices. Its ICs and FCPs are used in various applications, such as notebook computers, servers, network switches and routers, storage area networks, digital TVs, cell phones, GPS, and digital media players. The company markets and distributes its products through a network of independent sales representatives and distributors to original equipment manufacturers and contract manufacturers in the computer, peripherals, networking, and telecommunications markets, as well as to end-user customers. Pericom Semiconductor Corporation was founded in 1990 and is headquartered in San Jose, California.

Top 5 Trucking Stocks To Buy Right Now: Goldcliff Resource Corporation(GCN.V)

Goldcliff Resource Corporation, a junior exploration company, engages in the acquisition and exploration of mineral properties in Canada. It holds 100% interests in the Panorama Ridge gold project covering an area of 8,980 hectares, located in the Nickel Plate mining district, Osoyoos Mining Division, British Columbia; and the Ainsworth silver project that covers an area of 10,280 hectares, located in the Kootenay mining district, Slocan Mining Division, British Columbia. The company also holds 100% interests in the Tulameen copper project comprising 26,333 hectares, located in the Princeton mining district, Similkameen Mining Division, British Columbia. Goldcliff Resource Corporation was founded in 1986 and is based in Vancouver, Canada.

Old LeapFrog's New Tricks Can't Compete with Real Tablets

Getty Images Shares of LeapFrog (LF) opened lower on Thursday after posting uninspiring quarterly results. By market close, it was down almost 9 percent. The leading maker of electronic learning toys for children had warned investors that it would disappoint during the seasonally potent holiday quarter. Back in November, it stunned the market by forecasting sales to drop by 9 percent to 17 percent. It turned out to be a lot worse. From Learning Leader to Laggard Sales plunged 24 percent to $186.7 million, well short of the $215.4 million that analysts were expecting. LeapFrog broke even on an adjusted basis, missing Wall Street projections calling for a small profit. LeapFrog knows that young children have abandoned its signature handheld learning toys for apps on full-function tablets. Its own entry into the tablet game failed to generate material buzz in a market that's now overrun with cheap kid-friendly devices. Retailers also didn't help by discounting its entry-level LeapPad2 tablet in December to drive traffic to their stores, a move that disrupted the value proposition of its more expensive higher margin LeapPad2 Power and LeapPad Ultra. LeapFrog used to be on top of the toy world. It was the toast of the industry in 2011 with the debut of its original LeapPad tablet. The rugged touchscreen device didn't surf the Web nor fire up third-party apps, but it dovetailed nicely with its proven ecosystem of learning programs, including storybooks where the words get more complex as a child's aptitude grows. Parents flocked to the brand, and by mid-November of that year LeapPad was the most requested toy on Walmart's (WMT) layaway program. Demand outstripped supply, and by early December, bids for the learning tablet on eBay were roughly twice the suggested retail price. LeapFrog was ready in 2012. It introduced the enhanced LeapPad2, making sure that there were plenty of both tablets available for shoppers. LeapFrog was thriving, but the success didn't last. Today, the stock is hitting lows last seen nearly two years ago. Is it too late for the leader in electronic learning toys to learn a few new tricks of its own? C Is for Competition LeapFrog updated its product line again last year, adding a long overdue recharger in the LeapPad2 Power. It also introduced LeapPad Ultra. This should have been a proud moment for LeapFrog. It was an evolutionary leap forward from the LeapPad and LeapPad2, an ambitious push toward something that resembled an actual tablet with Wi-Fi access. Kids couldn't surf the Web or stream YouTube clips, but LeapPad Ultra worked with hundreds of educator-approved apps. It could have been a game changer, but then came negative reviews, analyst skepticism, and an onslaught of cheap kid-friendly tablets. Apple (AAPL) had introduced the iPad mini in 2012, but it dropped the price of the original petite tablet to $299 in the fall of 2013. It wasn't just Apple. Samsung took its popular Galaxy Tab 3 device and repurposed it with a sturdy cover that could sustain the clumsy pounding of young users. The Galaxy Tab 3 Kids cost a little more than the original tablet when it hit the market in October, but it also offered parental controls, a restricted app store, and dozens of free apps. Amazon.com (AMZN) also blurred the marketplace for kid tablets by continuing to lower Kindle Fire prices and making its Kindle FreeTime service for kids more compelling. This all added up to a difficult market for LeapFrog. Instead of positioning its LeapPad Ultra as a more complete tablet experience than the original LeapPad, it had to face tech giants with full-blown tablets at low prices. LeapFrog thinks it can win young users back, but if it's right, it won't happen right away. The toymaker isn't forecasting sales to grow again until the second half of this year. However, after seeing its stock shed nearly half of its value since peaking two years ago, there's so much to gain if LeapFrog can buck the trend and fight its way back to relevance for young families.

Government rests case in Madoff employees trial

NEW YORK — Federal prosecutors rested their case against five former Bernard Madoff employees Tuesday after presenting a jury with dozens of witnesses, charts and exhibits about the financier's historic Ponzi scheme in a fraud trial that began in October.

The end of government evidence came after prosecutors entered a final group of charts shoowing gains that three of the defendants made on backdated trades and hundreds of dollars in credit card expenses one ran up for a hotel stay, California wines and Cuban cigars.

The defendants are charged with knowingly participating in and profiting from the scam Madoff ran for decades as he defrauded thousands of ordinary investors, charities, celebrities and others out of an estimated $19 billion.

5 Best Financial Stocks To Invest In Right Now

Charged in the case are Annette Bongiorno, a former Madoff assistant; Daniel Bonventre, the company's ex-general manager; JoAnn Crupi, a former financial assistant; ex-Madoff computer programmers Jerome O'Hara and George Perez.

They have pleaded not guilty and contended they did not know about the fraud and were instead hoodwinked by Madoff.

Defense lawyers for all but Bongiorno had said their clients will not testify at the trial.

The case is the first presented to a jury weighing evidence about the record-setting fraud, because Madoff pleaded guilty in 2009 without standing trial. He is now serving a 150-year prison term.

Bonventre defense lawyer Andrew Frisch began presenting defense evidence later Tuesday, calling his client's daughter-in-law and a New Jersey real estate broker. He is expected to call Frank DiPascali, the former Madoff finance chief who was also the prosecution's star witness.

Top 5 Cheap Companies To Buy For 2014

NEW YORK ��Wall Street, with its dependence on cheap money, is worried the stock market will suffer withdrawal when the Federal Reserve starts dialing back its stimulus.

For years, the Federal Reserve has been Wall Street's best friend as it injected tens of billions of dollars each month into the arteries of the stock market and economy �� the financial world equivalent of a performance-enhancing drug.

But the Fed keeps hinting that it's getting ever closer to dialing back on its $85 billion monthly bond-purchase program, known as quantitative easing, or QE. Wall Street, despite first hearing about the Fed's plan to trim its asset purchases in May, still can't seem to get comfortable with the idea of less Fed support.

Joseph Quinlan, strategist at U.S. Trust, says investors are overreacting to "tapering," which he says is a sideshow to true policy "tightening," or when the Fed starts raising short-term rates, currently around 0%. "That's a story for late 2014 or 2015," he says.

Top 5 Cheap Companies To Buy For 2014: Majesco Entertainment Company(COOL)

Majesco Entertainment Company develops and markets video game products primarily for family oriented mass-market consumers. The company publishes video games for various interactive entertainment hardware platforms, including Nintendo?s DS, DSi, and Wii; Sony?s PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable; Microsoft?s Xbox 360; and personal computers. It also publishes games for various digital platforms consisting of mobile platforms comprising iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch, as well as online platforms, including Facebook. The company sells its products primarily to retail chains, specialty retail stores, video game rental outlets, and distributors. The company was founded in 1998 and is based in Edison, New Jersey.

Top 5 Cheap Companies To Buy For 2014: Lionbridge Technologies Inc.(LIOX)

Lionbridge Technologies, Inc. provides language, development, and testing services. Its Global Language and Content segment provides product localization services, such as creating foreign language versions of its clients? products and software applications, including the user interface, online help systems, and documentation; and content translation services, such as translating and maintaining clients? Web-based content, eLearning courseware and training materials, technical support, and sales and marketing information. It also offers technical authoring, eLearning courseware development, and production and integration of content; and global language and content services delivery. The company?s Global Development and Testing segment develops and maintains on-premise, SaaS, and smart phone and tablet applications, as well as provides Web production services. This segment also offers various testing services under the VeriTest brand, including managed test teams, test proc ess design, test automation, functional testing, performance testing, globalization testing, and product certification. In addition, it provides specialized search relevance, online content editorial, keyword optimization, and related services. Its Interpretation segment offers interpretation services for government business and healthcare organizations that require experienced linguists to facilitate communication. It provides interpretation communication services, such as onsite interpretation, over-the-phone interpretation and interpreter testing, training, and assessment services in approximately 360 languages and dialects. The company serves the technology, mobile and telecommunications, Internet and media, life sciences, government, manufacturing, automotive, retail, and aerospace sectors in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Lionbridge Technologies, Inc. was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts.

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 Lionbridge Technologies (Nasdaq: LIOX  ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.

• [By Jeff Reeves]

  Lionbridge (LIOX) is the kind of cheap, small-cap stock that investors love. This player has soared 60% in the last three months thanks to nice earnings and improving investor sentiment.

• [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 Lionbridge Technologies (Nasdaq: LIOX  ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.

Top 10 China Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Lattice Semiconductor Corporation(LSCC)

Lattice Semiconductor Corporation designs, develops, manufactures, and markets programmable logic products and related software. The company offers field programmable gate array (FPGA) products, including LatticeECP family for deployment in wireless infrastructure and wireline access equipment, as well as in video and imaging applications; and LatticeXP for the security, surveillance, and display markets. It also provides programmable logic device (PLD) products comprising various versions of ispMACH4000 in-system programmable complex programmable logic device family; MachXO family that is designed for a range of low density applications; platform manager, power manager, and ispClock programmable mixed signal devices; and software development tools and intellectual property cores. The company sells its products directly to end customers through a network of independent manufacturers? representatives and indirectly through a network of independent sell-in and sell-through distributors. It primarily serves original equipment manufacturers in the communications, computing, consumer, industrial, military, automotive, and medical end markets. The company was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in Hillsboro, Oregon.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lee Jackson]

  Lattice Semiconductor Corp. (NASDAQ: LSCC) is a top chip stock to buy at Jefferies. The company announced last month three new complete reference designs that will make it easier for electronic OEMs to deliver media-rich experiences to their end users by taking advantage of low-cost, industry-standard MIPI (Mobile Industry Processor Interface) camera, application processor and display technologies. The Jefferies price objective for the stock is $6.50, and the consensus is also at $6.50. Lattice closed yesterday at $4.63.

Top 5 Cheap Companies To Buy For 2014: AeroVironment Inc.(AVAV)

AeroVironment, Inc. designs, develops, produces, and supports unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), and efficient energy systems for various industries and governmental agencies. Its UAS provide intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, including real-time tactical reconnaissance, tracking, combat assessment, and geographic data to the small tactical unit or individual war fighter. The UAS wirelessly transmit critical live video and other information generated by their payload of electro-optical or infrared sensors directly to a hand-held ground control system, enabling the operator to view and capture images during the day or at night on a hand-held ground control unit. AeroVironment also provides spare equipment, alternative payload modules, batteries, chargers, repair services, and customer support for the UAS. In addition, the company produces industrial productivity and clean transportation solutions for commercial and government customers, develops potential clean t ransportation solutions, and performs contract engineering services; offers PosiCharge electric vehicle charging systems for industrial electric material handling fleets, electric vehicle charging systems for passenger and fleet vehicles, and power cycling and test systems for developers and manufacturers of plug-in electric and hybrid vehicles, as well as battery packs, electric motors, and fuel cells; and supplies power cycling and test systems to research and development organizations that focus on developing electric propulsion systems, electric generation systems, and electricity storage systems. It supplies its UAS primarily to the organizations within the United States department of defense. AeroVironment, Inc. was incorporated in 1971 and is headquartered in Monrovia, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Roberto Pedone]

  One aerospace player that insiders are loading up on here is AeroVironment (AVAV), which is engaged in the design, development, production and support of unmanned aircraft systems and efficient energy systems for various industries and governmental agencies. Insiders are buying this stock into decent strength, since shares are up 23% during the last six months.

  AeroVironment has a market cap of $504 million and an enterprise value of $379 million. This stock trades at a premium valuation, with a trailing price-to-earnings of 108.75 and a forward price-to-earnings of 44.35. Its estimated growth rate for this year is 47.4%, and for next year it's pegged at 82.1%. This is a cash-rich company, since the total cash position on its balance sheet is $128.81 million and its total debt is zero.

  A director just bought 5,000 shares, or about $112,000 worth of stock, at $22.50 per share.

  From a technical perspective, AVAV is currently trending right below its 50-day moving average and above its 200-day moving averages, which is neutral trendwise. This stock has been trending sideways for the last two months, with shares moving between $20.78 on the downside and $23.97 on the upside. Shares of AVAV are now starting to trend within range of triggering a breakout trade above the upper-end of its recent sideways trading chart pattern.

  If you're bullish on AVAV, then look for long-biased trades as long as this stock is trending above support at $22.30 or above its 200-day at $21.05 and then once it breaks out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at $23.60 to $23.97 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above those levels with volume that hits near or above its three-month average volume of 205,927 shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then AVAV will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $25 to $28 a share.

• [By Rex Moore and Blake Bos]

  The latest in drone and robotics technology was on display recently at the world's largest unmanned systems exhibition in Washington, D.C. California-based AeroVironment (NASDAQ: AVAV  ) , which makes several unmanned aircraft systems, announced at the conference that a solar solution for its hand-launched Puma AE drone has extended its flight time from three to nine hours -- significantly longer than other small drones used in the field today.

• [By Rich Smith]

  AlamyA US Navy X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System aircraft is towed into the hanger bay aboard the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush -- the first aircraft carrier to successfully catapult launch an unmanned aircraft from its flight deck. With a fiscal 2013 defense budget of nearly $614 billion, the United States is widely known to be a big spender on defense. By some estimates, U.S. defense spending accounts for nearly 60 percent of the $1.19 trillion the top 10 military powers spent on defense in 2011. In fact, our country allocates more than five times more money to defense than does its closest spending rival, China. And that's not the half of it. In the cutting-edge field of military unmanned aerial vehicles, the United States has such a huge lead over its rivals that it makes their combined UAV fleets look like a rounding error in a world that's essentially 100 percent dominated by U.S. drones. Pax Americana As The Wall Street Journal recently reported, the U.S. military commands a fleet of 429 "large drone" aircraft such as the General Atomics Predator and Northrop Grumman (NOC) Global Hawk. Meanwhile, America's smaller drones, built by everyone from Boeing (BA) to Textron (TXT) to tiny AeroVironment (AVAV), maker of the ubiquitous Raven man-portable UAV, number in the thousands. In contrast, the military of the United Kingdom, not even a U.S. rival but a close ally, boasts a fleet of precisely 10 large drones, most of which we built for them, and the rest imported from Israel. Italy has nine, France, four, and Germany has three. As a result, when allied forces need a drone to "put eyes" on a target, more often than not, they have to ring up the U.S. military to get one. Who You Gonna Call? For allied nations, that has to be embarrassing -- but it's a situation unlikely to change soon. As the Journal reports, European defense giant European Aeronautic Defence & Space (EADSY), the parent company of Airbus, is only just now beginning to test a

• [By Blake Bos]

  In the video below, Blake observes how smaller companies like iRobot� (NASDAQ: IRBT  ) and AeroVironment (NASDAQ: AVAV  ) , as well as huge defense contractors such as Lockheed Martin� (NYSE: LMT  ) and Northrop Grumman� (NYSE: NOC  ) , are positioned to benefit from this trend.

Top 5 Cheap Companies To Buy For 2014: Rent-A-Center Inc.(RCII)

Rent-A-Center, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, primarily engages in leasing household durable goods to customers on a rent-to-own basis. The company?s stores offer durable products, such as consumer electronics, appliances, computers, and furniture and accessories under flexible rental purchase agreements that allow the customer to obtain ownership of the merchandise at the conclusion of an agreed upon rental period. It also provides merchandise on an installment sales basis in its stores. As of December 31, 2010, the company operated 3,008 company-owned stores in the United States, and in Canada, Puerto Rico, and Mexico, including 42 retail installment sales stores under the names ?Get It Now? and ?Home Choice?; and 18 rent-to-own stores located in Canada under the ?Rent-A-Centre? name. It also operates 209 franchised rent-to-own stores in 32 states under the ColorTyme trade name; and 384 kiosk locations under the ?RAC Acceptance? model. In addition, the company, th rough its ColorTyme?s franchised stores, offers custom rims and tires for sale or rental under the trade names ?RimTyme? or ?ColorTyme Custom Wheels?. Rent-A-Center, Inc. was founded in 1986 and is headquartered in Plano, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Equities Trading DOWN
  Shares of Rent-A-Center (NASDAQ: RCII) were down 21.51 percent to $24.51 on Q4 results.

  Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) shares tumbled 7.80 percent to $507.55 after the company issued weak sales forecast for the second quarter and reported downbeat holiday iPhone sales.

• [By Marc Bastow]

  Rent-to-own consumer products company Rent-A-Center (RCII) raised its quarterly dividend 10% to 23 cents per share, payable on Jan. 23 to shareholders of record as of Jan. 3.
  RCII Dividend Yield: 2.77%

Top 5 Cheap Companies To Buy For 2014: Emerson Electric Company(EMR)

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

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Chuck Saletta]

  Emerson Electric (NYSE: EMR  ) is a selection for the real-money Inflation-Protected Income Growth portfolio. Like any investment, it needs to be reviewed from time to time to see if it's still worth owning. In the brief video below, portfolio manager Chuck Saletta reviews its valuation, balance sheet, and dividends, and decides whether to hold on to the stock, or let it go.

• [By Chuck Carnevale]

  Actually, there are several companies on these lists that qualified for either or both of my favorites lists. For example, Aflac (AFL) and or Emerson Electric (EMR) could easily be on both lists. My point is that I feel the reader should give the same consideration to each of these names as they would the two top 10 lists. To be clear, selecting the top 10 was difficult and therefore to a great extent subjective on my part. My method was to simply run a F.A.S.T. Graphs��on each Dividend Champion with above-average total return calculations. Then my lists were created by picking and choosing those companies that from my review looked best based on value, earnings and safety.

• [By The Part-time Investor]

  The following stocks met the criteria in January of 2008 and were put into the initial portfolio:

  Abbot Labs (ABT)Advanced data processing (ADP)Associated Banc-Corp (ASBC)Bank of America (BAC)BB&T Corp. (BBT)Bemis Company (BMS)Anheuser Busch (BUD)The Chubb Corporation (CB)Clorox (CLX)Comerica Inc. (CMA)Diebold Inc. (DBD)Emerson Electronics (EMR)First Dollar Corp. (FDO)First Third BanCorp. (FITB)Gannett Co, Inc. (GCI)General Electric (GE)Hershey (HSY)Illinois Tools Works (ITW)Johnson and Johnson (JNJ)Leggett and Platt (LEG)Eli Lilly (LLY)La-Z-Boy (LZB)McDonald's (MCD)Marsh and Ilsley (MI)M&T Bancorp (MTB)PepsiCo (PEP)Pfizer (PFE)Procter & Gamble (PG)Pentair Ltd. (PNR)Regions Financial Corp. (RF)Rohm and Haas (ROH)RPM International (RPM)Sherwin Williams (SHW)Sysco Corp. (SYY)UDR Inc. (UDR)

  Historical quotes were taken from Yahoo Finance. $10,000 was put into each position, to the nearest whole share, so a total of $349,262.89 was invested. From 1/15/08 through 5/16/13 all dividends were reinvested back into the stock that paid them. If a dividend cut was announced, that stock was sold on the ex-div date of the new, lower dividend.

• [By Chuck Saletta]

  On the flip side, the iPIG portfolio initially passed on Emerson Electric (NYSE: EMR  ) , in spite of its great business and dividend history, because its stock price was above the portfolio's buy-below valuation. Yet when the market later offered up Emerson at a lower, more reasonable price tag, the portfolio snapped up shares.

Top 5 Cheap Companies To Buy For 2014: LifePoint Hospitals Inc.(LPNT)

LifePoint Hospitals Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates general acute care hospitals in non-urban communities in the United States. The company?s hospitals provide a range of medical and surgical services comprising general surgery, internal medicine, obstetrics, emergency room care, radiology, oncology, diagnostic care, coronary care, rehabilitation services, and pediatric services, as well as specialized services, such as open-heart surgery, skilled nursing, psychiatric care, and neuro-surgery. Its hospitals also offer outpatient services, including one-day surgery, laboratory, x-ray, respiratory therapy, imaging, sports medicine, and lithotripsy. As of December 31, 2009, LifePoint Hospitals owned or leased 47 hospitals with a total of 5,552 licensed beds in 17 states. The company was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee. Lifepoint Hospitals Inc. (NasdaqNM:LPNT) operates independently of HCA Inc. as of May 11, 1999.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Keith Speights]

  The fun wasn't just limited to the big three hospital operators. Lifepoint Hospitals (NASDAQ: LPNT  ) stock jumped 5% on the CMS news, reflecting a $109 million market cap expansion. Likewise, Vanguard Health Systems (NYSE: VHS  ) shares climbed 5%, bumping its market cap up by�$55 million.

Top 5 Cheap Companies To Buy For 2014: Uranium Resources Inc.(URRE)

Uranium Resources, Inc. engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and mining of uranium properties, using the in situ recovery or solution mining process. It owns developed and undeveloped uranium properties in South Texas; and undeveloped uranium properties in New Mexico. The company?s primary customers include utilities who utilize nuclear power to generate electricity. Uranium Resources, Inc. was founded in 1977 and is based in Lewisville, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Udovich]

  Since the start of the week, small cap nuclear fuel stock USEC Inc (NYSE: USU) more than doubled for investors, something that has not happened for investors in uranium stocks like Uranium Resources, Inc (NASDAQ: URRE), Denison Mines Corp (NYSEMKT: DNN), Ur-Energy Inc. (NYSEMKT: URG) and Uranerz Energy Corp (NYSEMKT: URZ). To recap: USEC Inc closed at the $6 level on Friday, but then it surged to the $15 level on Monday only to open at the $10 level on Tuesday when it ultimately closed at $12.46. So what in the world is going on with USEC Inc and is it time to revisit nuclear fuel and uranium stocks?

• [By James E. Brumley]

  Well, I'll give myself an A for effort, but a C- for timing. But, I can bump that C- up to a B+ if my intuition is right as we head into the last few days of 2013 and the first few of 2014. What I'm talking about is a bullish commentary I penned back on November 26th regarding Uranerz Energy Corp. (NYSEMKT:URZ), Uranium Resources, Inc. (NASDAQ:URRE), and Ur-Energy Inc. (NYSEMKT:URG). All three stocks were perking up, and more than that, the buzz surrounding URG, URRE, and URZ was getting louder. More often than not, when the fervor and bullish action and chatter reaches the levels they had reached a month ago, an explosion is right around the corner.

Top 5 Cheap Companies To Buy For 2014: Oracle Corporation(ORCL)

Oracle Corporation, an enterprise software company, develops, manufactures, markets, distributes, and services database and middleware software, applications software, and hardware systems worldwide. It licenses of database and middleware software, including database management software, application server software, service-oriented architecture and business process management software, data integration software, business intelligence software, identity and access management software, content management software, portals and user interaction software, development tools, and Java; and applications software comprising enterprise resource planning, customer relationship management, enterprise performance management, supply chain management, business intelligence applications, enterprise portfolio project management, Web commerce, and industry-specific applications software. The company also offers customers with rights to unspecified software product upgrades and maintenance releases; Internet access to technical content; and Internet and telephone access to technical support personnel. In addition, its hardware systems products consist of computer server and hardware-related software, including the Oracle Solaris Operating System; and storage products, such as tape, disk and networking solutions for open systems and mainframe server environments. Its hardware systems support solutions include software updates for the software components. Further, the company offers consulting solutions in business and IT strategy alignment, enterprise architecture planning and design, initial product implementation and integration, and ongoing product enhancements and upgrades; cloud services, including Oracle Cloud Services and Advanced Customer Services; and education solutions comprising instructor-led, media-based, and Internet-based training in the use of its software and hardware products. The company was founded in 1977 and is headquartered in Redwood Ci ty, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jonas Elmerraji]

  Normally, I wouldn't call heavy institutional buying in Oracle (ORCL) a surprise. After all, the $153 billion enterprise software firm is one of the biggest names in the whole tech sector -- it's usually a go-to name for investors. But Oracle has had all the upside of a wet rag year-to-date, falling 2% at the same time that the S&P climbed 19%. That's horrific underperformance, and yet, institutional investors added 18.6 million shares to their portfolios in the last quarter, hiking their stakes by more than half a billion dollars.

  So what does ORCL have to offer investors right now?

  For starters, Oracle's biggest business is application software; the firm sells mission-critical software packages to firms that need database tools for everything from customer resource management to supply chain analysis. Because Oracle's software is integrated so tightly into firms' operations, customers have extremely high switching costs and competitors have big barriers to entry.

  Financially, the firm is in impeccable shape, carrying close to $14 billion in net cash on its balance sheet. In other words, cash on hand covers nearly 10% of the firm's market cap right now -- that's a pretty substantial risk reducer as the S&P scrapes up against all-time highs.

  Earnings in September could be a big catalyst for Oracle this summer. Even though shares have missed the mark in the first half of the year, this stock is starting to look cheap.

• [By Alex Dumortier, CFA]

  An interesting fundamental story
  Yesterday afternoon, enterprise software provider Oracle (NYSE: ORCL  ) announced results for its fiscal fourth quarter ended May 31. Earnings per share were up 5% (excluding items), and the company announced a doubling in its dividend to $0.12 per share and an additional $12 billion for its existing share-repurchase program. The market's reaction? Unimpressed, to say the least: Shares are down 8.6%. What's the problem?

Top 5 Cheap Companies To Buy For 2014: Local.com Corporation(LOCM)

Local.com Corporation operates as an Internet search advertising company that enables businesses and consumers to find each other and connect locally. Its Owned and Operated business unit manages its flagship online property Local.com and a proprietary network of approximately 20,000 local Websites that reach approximately 15 million monthly unique visitors. The company places various display, performance, and subscription advertisement products on its Local.com and proprietary network. Its Network business unit operates a private label local syndication network of approximately 1,000 U.S. regional media Websites; 80,000 third-party local Websites; and its own organic feed of local businesses plus third-party advertising feeds that focus primarily on local consumers to a distribution network of hundreds of Websites. The company?s Sales and Ad Services business unit provides approximately 45,000 direct monthly subscribers with Web hosting or Web listing products. The compan y was formerly known as Interchange Corporation and changed its name to Local.com Corporation in November 2006. Local.com Corporation was founded in 1999 and is headquarters in Irvine, California.

Top 5 Cheap Companies To Buy For 2014: Cardero Resource Corporation(CDY)

Cardero Resource Corp., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties in Mexico, Peru, Argentina, the United States, and Canada. The company holds a 75% interest in the Carbon Creek deposit, a metallurgical coal development project located in the Peace River Coal Field of northeast British Columbia, Canada. It also has an option to acquire 100% interest in the Pampa El Toro project, an iron sands deposit, located in southern Peru; option to acquire up to an 85% interest in the Longnose property in St. Louis county, northeastern Minnesota; and 100% leasehold interest in the Titac property, located in St. Louis county, northeastern Minnesota. The company was formerly known as Sun Devil Gold Corp. and changed its name to Cardero Resource Corp. in May 1999. Cardero Resource Corp. was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.