10 Best Tech Stocks To Buy Right Now

The 2013 Ford Escape. Source: Ford.

Ford's (NYSE: F  ) Escape has been one of the company's best success stories over the past couple of years. It has a chance to do something that only the F-Series has accomplished over the past decade -- break 300,000 in vehicle sales for an entire year. That would be a huge accomplishment, since the F-Series has been America's best-selling vehicle for 31 years, and the best-selling truck for 36.

But what makes the new Escape so popular? Let's look at what consumers love about the new ride, what critics are saying, and why Ford investors should be excited.

So many perks!
Consumers have gravitated toward the Escape SUV because of its numerous technological and fuel-efficient options. Here's a quick run-down of what you can expect when buying a new, fully loaded Escape. Let's start with the fresh outside appearance and design.

10 Best Tech Stocks To Buy Right Now: MakeMusic Inc.(MMUS)

MakeMusic, Inc. develops and markets music education technology solutions that transform how music is composed, taught, learned, and performed. It offers SmartMusic, an interactive music teaching and learning solution for band, orchestra, and vocal students to use at schools and homes; SmartMusic Gradebook, a Web-based grade book for teachers to post assignments to students, receive completed assignments from students, assess student achievement, and manage student records; and SmartMusic Inbox, a free application for Android and Apple platforms. The company also provides Finale family of music notation products for use with Macintosh and Windows PC operating systems that enable a musician to enter musical data into a computer using the computer keyboard, a musical instrument digital interface (MIDI)-equipped electronic music keyboard, or other MIDI-equipped instruments, as well as to display the data on a computer screen as a musical score. Its SmartMusic software solutio ns serve public and private school music administrators, instrumental music educators, and their students primarily in the United States and Canada; and Finale family of notation products serve composers, arrangers, publishers, and music teachers worldwide. The company markets its SmartMusic software solutions directly through its Website, smartmusic.com; and Finale family of notation products through channel-specific distributors and retailers in musical instrument, educational, and consumer electronic channels, as well as directly through its Website. MakeMusic, Inc. was founded in 1990 and is based in Eden Prairie, Minnesota.

10 Best Tech Stocks To Buy Right Now: QLogic Corporation(QLGC)

QLogic Corporation engages in the design and supply of storage networking, high performance computing networking, and converged networking infrastructure solutions. It offers various host products, including fiber channel and Internet small computer systems interface (iSCSI) host bus adapters; fiber channel over Ethernet (FCoE) converged network adapters; and intelligent Ethernet adapters. The company also provides network products, which consist of fiber channel switches, including stackable edge switches, bladed switches, virtualized pass-through modules, and high-port count modular-chassis switches; Ethernet pass-through modules; and storage routers for bridging fiber Channel, FCoE, and iSCSI networks, as well as for migrating data between storage devices. In addition, it offers silicon products comprising fiber channel, iSCSI, converged network, and Ethernet controllers. Further, the company involves in the design and development of application-specific integrated circ uits, adapters, and switches based on fiber channel, iSCSI, FCoE, and Ethernet technologies. Its products are used in server, workstation, and storage subsystem solutions that are used by small, medium, and large enterprises with various business data requirements. The company sells its products to original equipment manufacturers and distributors worldwide. QLogic Corporation was founded in 1992 and is headquartered in Aliso Viejo, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Geoff Gannon]

  I��l focus on a particularly interesting case here: Q-Logic (QLGC). Q-Logic has a high buyback yield (around 12%). And it has a very, very high return on its buyback (about 25%). However, there is a complication with Q-Logic. It is using what I call ��nti-leverage.��This makes the buyback less effective ��because it�� actually much smaller ��than it first appears to be.

• [By Sean Williams]

  Also in the news ...
  Let's not sugarcoat this one iota: It was a really busy week for earnings news, with network equipment maker QLogic (NASDAQ: QLGC  ) , printing and IT specialist Xerox (NYSE: XRX  ) , and telecommunication services provider Orange (NYSE: ORAN  ) all reporting results.

Top 10 Financial Companies To Own For 2014: Mobile TeleSystems (MBT)

Mobile TeleSystems OJSC, together with its subsidiaries, provides telecommunications services primarily in the Russian Federation, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Armenia, and Belarus. The company provides a range of mobile and fixed line voice and data telecommunications services, including transmission, broadband, pay-TV, and various value-added services; and sells equipment and accessories. It also offers network access services, including mobile cellular voice and data communication services; automatic roaming services; GPRS and Internet access services; and 3G technology. In addition, the company�s services include the design, construction, and installation of local voice and data networks capable of interconnecting with fixed line operators; installation and maintenance of cellular payphones; lease of digital communication channels; and provision of access to open computer databases and data networks, including the Internet, as well as video conferencing, and fixed, local, and long-distance telecommunications services. Its value-added services comprise call divert/forwarding, caller ID and anti-caller ID display, conference calling, WiFi, GPRS, intelligent call assistant, APN remote access point, fixed mobile convergence, enhanced data rates for GSM Evolution, call barring, SMS, mobile office, voicemail, mobile banking, wireless application protocol, MTS-Connect, SIM-browser, point-to-point transfer, unstructured supplementary services data, downlink packet access, mobile TV, call waiting, MMS, ring tones, missed call alert, itemization of monthly bills, information and directory, international access, WEB and WAP portal, customer care system, ring back tone, collect call, and location-based services. As of December 31, 2011, the company had a mobile subscriber base of approximately 101.14 million. It has a strategic partnership with Vodafone. The company was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Moscow, the Russian Federation.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Smith]

  Over in Russia, market-leading cell phone provider Mobile TeleSystems (NYSE: MBT  ) has just confirmed that, as of 2012, it no longer sells Apple's (NASDAQ: AAPL  ) new iPhone models to its customers directly. The company does still stock, and sell, some older iPhone models. But for iPhone5 and on up, MTS now answers phone calls from Apple with a Spasibo, ne nada. ("Thanks, but no thanks.")

• [By Eric Lam]

  Manitoba Telecom (MBT) gained 5.7 percent to C$33.93 after selling its Allstream fiber network business to Accelero Capital Holdings for C$520 million. The company will use the cash to invest in new wireless spectrum and improve the speed of its existing networks, Manitoba Telecom said in a statement.

• [By Dan Radovsky]

  VimpleCom, a joint venture of Norwegian telecom Telnor and the Russian Alfa Group, operates under the BeeLine brand in Russia. BeeLine has joined the two other ex-iPhone carrying Russian heavyweight mobile carriers, Megafon and Mobile TeleSystems (NYSE: MBT  ) , and not renewed its iPhone contract with Apple.

10 Best Tech Stocks To Buy Right Now: Semtech Corporation(SMTC)

Semtech Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, designs, produces, and markets analog and mixed-signal semiconductor products. The company?s product lines include protection products comprising filter and termination devices that provide protection for electronic systems from voltage spikes; power management products consisting of switching voltage regulators, combination switching and linear regulators, smart regulators, and charge pumps; and discrete semiconductor products, such as rectifiers, assemblies, and other products. It also offers wired communication, ultra-high speed Serializer/Deserializer, and modulator driver products that perform timing, synchronization, and amplification functions in high-speed networks; chips and transceivers for short reach, metro, and long haul applications; and high performance transceivers for datacenter applications. In addition, the company provides wireless and sensing products that perform radio frequency functions in indust rial, medical, and networking applications; and sensing functions in industrial and consumer applications. It serves original equipment manufacturers and their subcontractors in the computing, communications, consumer, and industrial end-markets directly, and through independent distributors and sales representative firms in North America, the Asia Pacific, and Europe. Semtech Corporation was founded in 1960 and is headquartered in Camarillo, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Seth Jayson]

  When judging a company's prospects, how quickly it turns cash outflows into cash inflows can be just as important as how much profit it's booking in the accounting fantasy world we call "earnings." This is one of the first metrics I check when I'm hunting for the market's best stocks. Today, we'll see how it applies to Semtech (Nasdaq: SMTC  ) .

10 Best Tech Stocks To Buy Right Now: KVH Industries Inc.(KVHI)

KVH Industries, Inc. engages in the development, manufacture, and marketing of mobile communication products for the marine, land mobile, and aeronautical markets primarily in North America, Europe, and Asia. The company also offers navigation, guidance, and stabilization products for the defense and commercial markets. Its mobile communications products and airtime services include TracVision; TracPhone; CommBox system, a middleware software; and mini-VSAT broadband airtime, which enable customers to receive voice, Internet, and live digital television services in their marine vessels, recreational vehicles, automobiles, and commercial airplanes through satellite. The company?s guidance and stabilization products consist of precision fiber optic gyro based systems that help stabilize platforms, such as gun turrets, remote weapon stations, and radar units, as well as provides guidance for munitions; and tactical navigation systems that offer access to navigation and point ing information in a range of military vehicles, including tactical trucks and light armored vehicles. Its guidance and stabilization products are used in various commercial applications comprising precision mapping, dynamic surveying, autonomous vehicles, train location control and track geometry measurement systems, industrial robotics, and optical stabilization. The company sells its mobile communications products through an international network of retailers, distributors, and dealers; and guidance and stabilization products directly to the United States and allied governments, and government contractors, as well as through an international network of authorized independent sales representatives. It also leases its products directly to end users. The company was founded in 1978 and is headquartered in Middletown, Rhode Island.

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 KVH Industries (Nasdaq: KVHI  ) , 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 KVH Industries (Nasdaq: KVHI  ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.

10 Best Tech Stocks To Buy Right Now: Responsys Inc.(MKTG)

Responsys, Inc. provides on-demand software and professional services primarily in North America, the Asia Pacific, and Europe. The company offers Responsys Interact suite, a software-as-a-service platform that provides marketers with a set of integrated applications to create, execute, optimize, and automate marketing campaigns in various channels, including email, mobile, social, and the Web. Its platform also leverages third-party applications and data from real-time sources allowing customers to deliver targeted content to its customers and known prospects as part of their interactive marketing campaigns. In addition, it provides professional services, such as strategic, creative, deliverability, campaign, and education services. The company offers its on-demand software and professional services to retail and consumer, travel, financial services, and technology industries through a direct sales force. Responsys, Inc. was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in San Bru no, California.

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 Responsys (Nasdaq: MKTG  ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.

• [By The GeoTeam]

  Our recent 2013 articles on SaaS companies Selectica (SLTC), E2open (EOPN), Responsys (MKTG), Vocus (VOCS), and ExactTarget (ET) highlighted such opportunities. The average return since the inception of our coverage currently stands at around 34% (55% at their highs).

10 Best Tech Stocks To Buy Right Now: tw telecom inc.(TWTC)

tw telecom inc. engages in the provision of managed network services in the United States. The company offers data networking, converged, Internet protocol based virtual private network (IP VPN), and Internet access services. The company?s data services include switched native local area network (NLAN), point-to-point elite NLAN, E-Line, extended NLAN, regional ethernet, and IP VPN and managed IP VPN services; and converged and integrated services. It also provides high capacity Internet service with bandwidth speeds ranging from 1.5 Mbps to 10 Gbps to access the Internet and other external networks; and managed services comprising enhanced management services, managed security services, collocation services, and distributed denial of service mitigation. In addition, the company offers network access services for voice, data, image, and video transmission, such as private line, special access, transport arrangements, and metropolitan and regional connectivity; and voice s ervices that provide customers with local and long distance calling capabilities consisting of access trunk, long distance, local toll, local telephone, business access line, and IP trunk services. Further, it offers intercarrier services, such as switched access and local traffic termination services. As of December 31, 2011, the company?s fiber network spanned approximately 27,000 route miles connecting to 15,438 buildings. Its customers include enterprise organizations in the distribution, health care, finance, service, and manufacturing industries; state, local, and federal government entities; system integrators; and communication service providers, such as incumbent local exchange carriers, competitive local exchange carriers, wireless communications, and cable companies. The company was formerly known as Time Warner Telecom Inc. and changed its name to tw telecom inc. in March 2008. tw telecom inc. was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Littleton, Colorado.

10 Best Tech Stocks To Buy Right Now: Warwick Valley Telephone Company(WWVY)

Warwick Valley Telephone Company provides communication services to the residential and business customers. It operates in two segments, Telephone and Online. The Telephone segment provides telecommunication services, including local network services, network access services, and long distance services; directory services comprising publishing and selling yellow and white page advertising in print and online; wholesale services, such as origination and termination services to carriers and business customers; and voice conferencing services. It also offers billing and collections services to other carriers; and resells toll telephone services. The Online segment provides broadband and dial-up Internet access services, voice over Internet protocol services, and video over its landline network. It also offers digital television services, domain name registration, and Web hosting services. The company provides its services primarily in the towns of Warwick, Goshen, and Wallkil l, New York; and the townships of Vernon and West Milford, New Jersey. Warwick Valley Telephone Company was founded in 1902 and is based in Warwick, New York.

10 Best Tech Stocks To Buy Right Now: Keynote Systems Inc.(KEYN)

Keynote Systems, Inc. provides Internet and mobile cloud monitoring and testing solutions worldwide. The company?s Internet cloud products and services comprise Transaction Perspective for visibility into the performance and availability of Web transactions; Application Perspective, a Web application monitoring service; Cloud Application Perspective that provides software-based performance monitoring; Private Agents for the performance of mission critical extranet and intranet applications; Streaming Perspective to measure, compare, and assure the performance of audio and video streams; and Performance Scoreboard, a custom dashboard to monitor Web performance. Its Internet cloud products and services also include Enterprise Adapters to integrate performance measurement data into enterprise systems management platforms; Keynote Internet Testing Environment, a desktop tool for real-time testing, diagnosing, and troubleshooting Web performance issues; LoadPro, a Web load tes ting service; Test Perspective, a self-service load testing service; Red Alert to test devices connected to the Internet; and consulting services, such as performance insights, Web site performance assessment, automated reporting, and custom competitive research. In addition, the company?s mobile cloud products and services primarily consist of System Integrated Test Environment System to test and measure the quality and reliability of mobile networks and applications, and content delivery for mobile operators; GlobalRoamer to certify and validate roaming agreements; Mobile Device Perspective to enhance the quality of mobile content, applications, and services; Mobile Web Perspective to monitor and troubleshoot the quality and performance for mobile Web sites; and Mobile Internet Testing Environment, a desktop tool. Further, it offers professional services, mobile competitive monitoring and analysis, and mobile insights. The company was founded in 1995 and is headquartered in San Mateo, California.

10 Best Tech Stocks To Buy Right Now: Quintiles Transnational Holdings Inc (Q)

Quintiles Transnational Holdings Inc. is a provider of biopharmaceutical development services and commercial outsourcing services. The Company operates in two segments: Product Development and Integrated Healthcare Services. The Company�� Product Development segment operates as a contract research organization (CRO) focused primarily on Phase II-IV clinical trials and associated laboratory and analytical activities. The Company�� Integrated Healthcare Services segment is a global commercial pharmaceutical sales and service organizations and Integrated Healthcare Services provides a range of services, including commercial services, such as providing contract pharmaceutical sales forces in geographic markets, as well as healthcare business services for the healthcare sector, such as outcome-based and payer and provider services. In August 2012, it acquired Expression Analysis, Inc.

Product Development

Product Development provides services and that allow biopharmaceutical companies to outsource the clinical development process from first in man trials to post-launch monitoring. The Company�� service offering provides the support and functional necessary at each stage of development, as well as the systems and analytical capabilities. Product Development consists of clinical solutions and services and consulting. Clinical solutions and services provides services necessary to develop biopharmaceutical products, including project management and clinical monitoring functions for conducting multi-site trials (generally Phase II-IV) (core clinical) and clinical trial support services that improve clinical trial decision making and include global laboratories, data management, biostatistical, safety and pharmacovigilance, and early clinical development trials, and strategic planning and design services that improve decisions and performance. Consulting provides strategy and management consulting services based on life science and advanced analytics, as well as regulatory and comp! liance consulting services.

The Company competes with Covance, Inc., Pharmaceutical Product Development, Inc., PAREXEL International Corporation, ICON plc, inVentiv Health, Inc. (inVentive), INC Research and PRA International.

Integrated Healthcare Services

Integrated Healthcare Services provides the healthcare industry with both geographic presence and commercial capabilities. The Company�� commercialization services are designed to accelerate the commercial of biopharmaceutical and other health-related products. Service offerings include commercial services (sales representatives, strategy, marketing communications and other areas related to commercialization), outcome research (drug therapy analysis, real-world research and evidence-based medicine, including research studies to prove a drug�� value) and payer and provider services comparative and cost-effectiveness research capabilities, clinical management analytics, decision support services, medication adherence and health outcome optimization services, and Web-based systems for measuring quality improvement.

The Company competes with inVentiv, PDI, Inc., Publicis Selling Solutions, United Drug plc, EPS Corporation and CMIC HOLDINGS Co., Ltd.