Best Sliver Companies To Invest In 2014

It's hard to compete against "free."

Free-to-play and casual games finally took a big bite out of Activision Blizzard's (NASDAQ: ATVI  ) tent pole franchise, World of Warcraft. The subscription-based game lost 1.3 million members last quarter, or 14% of its total user base.

In the following video, Fool contributor Demitrios Kalogeropoulos says there's a sliver lining to this bad news, and that Activision has some levers it can pull to keep Warcraft afloat. Still, the best-case scenario is for a more steady decline for this aging game that will give the company time to build up its newer franchises.

While Activision and Microsoft have been taking the headlines when it comes to console gaming, investors following the gaming sector would do well to also keep tabs on Electronic Arts. We can help. The Motley Fool's special report breaks down the risks and opportunities facing the company to help you decide if EA is right for your portfolio. Click here to get your copy now.

Best Sliver Companies To Invest In 2014: Cross(A.T.)

A.T. Cross Company engages in the design and marketing of personal and business accessories. It operates in two segments, Cross Accessory Division (CAD) and Cross Optical Group (COG). The CAD segment manufactures and markets writing instruments under the Cross brand, including ball-point pens, fountain pens, selectip rolling ball pens, mechanical pencils, and writing instrument accessories, such as refills and desk sets. It also provides various personal and business accessories, including leather goods, reading glasses, watches, desk sets, cufflinks, and stationery. This segment sells its products through direct sales force and manufacturers' agents or representatives to approximately 2,400 retail and wholesale accounts; and directly to consumers through its Web site, cross.com, and the Cross retail stores in the United States, as well as through distributors and retailers worldwide. The COG segment designs, manufactures, and markets polarized sunglasses and goggles under the Costa and Native brnads in the United States. This segment sells its products through employee representatives and manufacturers? agents to optical and sunglass specialty shops, department stores, and sporting goods retailers in the United States. A.T. Cross Company was founded in 1846 and is headquartered in Lincoln, Rhode Island.

Best Sliver Companies To Invest In 2014: Vigil Health Solutions Inc.(VGL.V)

Vigil Health Solutions Inc. engages in the development, marketing, and distribution of emergency response and monitoring solutions to the providers of seniors housing in Canada and the United States. The company offers Vigil Integrated Care Management System, a technology platform combining software and hardware to provide solutions that guide care of and monitor seniors living in long-term care facilities. Its Vigil Integrated Care Management System includes Vitality Care System, a wireless or hybrid call system designed to alert caregivers or security staff when a resident is in need of assistance, identify who the resident is, and provide a general description of his/her location; and Vigil Nurse Call System, which allows residents to call caregivers through hardwired call buttons with call cords, emergency push stations, or emergency pull stations. The company?s Vigil Integrated Care Management System also includes Vigil Perimeter Monitoring, a bed monitoring system t hat offers an additional form of notification for those facilities where door alarms and resident smoke detectors may not be heard throughout the facility; Vigil Resident Check-In System that alerts staff when a resident is not well enough to have checked-in for the day; and Vigil Dementia System, which provides long-term care residents suffering from dementia and monitors resident rooms to detect unexpected behavior. Its solutions are used in independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing facilities. Vigil Health Solutions Inc. is based in Victoria, Canada.

Best Diversified Bank Companies For 2014: Essential Energy Services Ltd (ESN.TO)

Essential Energy Services Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, provides oilfield services that are related to the ongoing servicing of producing wells and new drilling activity for oil and gas producers in western Canada and Colombia. The company operates in two segments, Well Servicing, and Downhole Tools and Rentals. The Well Servicing segment offers well completion and production/workover services through its fleet of coil tubing rigs, nitrogen and fluid pumpers, service rigs, rod rigs, and hybrid drilling rigs. As of March 12, 2012, it had a fleet of 49 coil tubing rigs, 10 nitrogen pumpers, 15 fluid pumpers, 57 service rigs, 14 rod rigs, and 5 hybrid drilling rigs in Canada; and 2 coil tubing rigs, 2 nitrogen pumpers, 2 service rigs, and 3 rod rigs in Colombia. The Downhole Services and Rentals segment engages in the sale and rental of downhole tools, including the Tryton MSFS, retrievable and permanent packers, flow control accessories, liner hanger systems, bridge plugs, casing scrapers, cement retainers, and selective/straddle simulation tools for completion, production, and workover projects. This segment is also involved in the rental of oilfield equipment comprising drill pipe, heavy weight pipe, collars, degassers, blowout preventer rams, spools, pipe racks, handling tools, stabilizers, and reamers. Essential Energy Services Ltd. is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.