Review: What's Ouya's Place in the Suddenly Crowded Video-Game Space?

Another Day of Blood-Letting at Bank of America?

It's a red-number day for the stock market so far this morning, as nerves rubbed raw by Fed Chief Ben Bernanke's comments last week continue to roil markets. Financials are down overall, as is the Dow and the S&P 500, with Citigroup (NYSE: C  ) and Bank of America (NYSE: BAC  ) leading the big-bank plunge into the depths.

B of A, Citi, and JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: JPM  ) are all experiencing heavy trading right now, and all are falling. Even last week's favorite, Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC  ) is heading downward, though trading volume is not excessive.

Choppy waters are sinking all ships
News coming out of the big bank sector isn't horrible, so it seems that the general market panic is likely at work here. Indeed, the news that Citi has secured permission to open offices in Iraq, considering the potential market that will likely emerge as the country heals, should be greeted in a positive manner. Yet, Citi is leading the dive, just ahead of B of A.

Similarly, Wells' drop is unexpected, since news late last week identifying the bank as the only one of the Big Four to have adequate capital to pass the stricter requirements currently being discussed caused its share price to jump considerably on Friday.

Despite myriad problems surrounding Bank of America -- including one that may cause a slew of new lawsuits -- today's downward spiral is probably due to the general nervousness pervading the market. Days like today stress the importance of the long-term view, which Foolish investors know paves the way to successful investing. Both stocks and entire markets can and will have bad days, and savvy investors know that time is the true test of a good investment, not one-day jumps and dives. 

As markets calm and Bank of America continues to deal with its legal issues, this snapshot in time may be looked upon as a buying opportunity. With significant challenges still ahead, however, it's critical to have a solid understanding of this megabank before adding it to your portfolio. In The Motley Fool's premium research report on B of A, analysts Anand Chokkavelu, CFA, and Matt Koppenheffer, Financials bureau chief, lift the veil on the bank's operations, including detailing three reasons to buy and three reasons to sell. Click here now to claim your copy.

Top 5 Trucking Companies To Own In Right Now

Although we don't believe in timing the market or panicking over market movements, we do like to keep an eye on big changes -- just in case they're material to our investing thesis.

What: Shares of Universal Truckload Services (NASDAQ: UACL  ) , a North American provider of trucking and logistics solutions, jumped as much as 12% after receiving an upgrade from BB&T�Capital Markets.

So what: According to BB&T Capital Markets, Universal Truckload's product offerings should broaden and its gross margins should improve following its $335 million purchase of privately held LINC Logistics, announced last year. BB&T upgraded Universal Trucking to a buy from a hold and set its price target at $33, implying 32% upside based on Friday's closing price.

Now what: As usual, the first thing you need to do is not allow the extremely short-term movements of analysts to cloud your long-term investing thesis. In the case of Universal Truckload, it's going to be a bumpy ride but management seems to have the steering wheel pointed in the right direction. The purchase of LINC adversely affected the company's bottom line because of a change in tax code last quarter and Universal could suffer as it sheds lower margin and unprofitable operations. However, I do see value in the LINC purchase and feel, after a moderate pullback, that this could be a name worth keeping an eye on in the trucking sector.

Top 5 Trucking Companies To Own In Right Now: Oasis Petroleum Inc.(OAS)

Oasis Petroleum Inc., an independent exploration and production company, engages in the acquisition and development of oil and natural gas resources in the Montana and North Dakota regions of the Williston Basin. The company?s primary project areas include West Williston, East Nesson, and Sanish. As of December 31, 2011, it had approximately 78.7 million barrels of oil equivalent of estimated net proved reserves. Oasis Petroleum Inc. was founded in 2007 and is based in Houston, Texas.

Top 5 Trucking Companies To Own In Right Now: Amplefield Limited (C60.SI)

Amplefield Limited, an investment holding company, engages in components manufacturing, precision machining, and precision assembly businesses in Malaysia and the Philippines. It also invests in properties and provides trading services. The company is based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Top Financial Companies To Invest In 2014: Hauppauge Digital Inc.(HAUP)

Hauppauge Digital Inc. engages in the design, development, manufacture, and marketing of analog and digital TV tuner products for the personal computer (PC) market in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. It offers video recorder products, such as USB-Live2, a standard definition video recorder used to record video tapes and other types of video into a PC; HD PVR, a high-definition video recorder for making real-time H.264 compressed video recordings at resolutions up to 1080i, and to record old home video tapes into an AVCHD format; and Colossus to record high definition video from a cable TV or satellite set top box, or an Xbox 360 or Sony playstation 3 game console. The company also provides TV receivers, including Broadway that connects to a TV signal and then transmits that TV signal through a Wi-Fi network or the Internet; analog TV tuners to enable a PC user to watch analog cable TV in a resizable window; digital TV receivers and hybrid analog/digital TV receivers, which allow a PC user to watch digital television in a resizable window on a PC or laptop screen; and PCTV TV tuner products that allow users to view television programming on their computers. In addition, it offers non-TV tuner products comprising WinTV application, a PC-based TV watching, pause, and recoding application; WinTV Extend software product, a PC-based Internet video server that streams live TV or other video content to remote devices; Impact video capture board for PC-based video conferencing and video capture in industrial applications; MediaMVP-HD, a Linux-based digital media device that links TV sets and PCs; and MediaMVP to watch and listen to PC-based videos, music, and pictures on a TV set through a home network, as well as provides an on-TV-screen display of media directory listings. The company sells its products through retailers, PC manufacturers, and distributors. Hauppauge Digital Inc. was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in Hauppauge, New York.

Top 5 Trucking Companies To Own In Right Now: EMCORE Corporation(EMKR)

EMCORE Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides compound semiconductor-based products for the broadband, fiber optics, satellite, and solar power markets. The company operates in two segments, Fiber Optics and Photovoltaics. The Fiber Optics segment offers broadband products, including cable television, fiber-to-the-premises, satellite communication, video transport, and defense and homeland security products; and digital products comprising telecom optical, enterprise, laser/photodetector component, parallel optical transceiver and cable, and fiber channel transceiver products. This segment?s products enable information that is encoded on light signals to be transmitted, routed, and received in communication systems and networks. The Photovoltaics segment provides gallium arsenide (GaAs) multi-junction solar cells, covered interconnected cells, and solar panels for satellite applications; and concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) power systems for commercial and utility scale solar applications, as well as GaAs solar cells and integrated CPV components for use in other solar power concentrator systems. The company markets its products through its direct sales force, external sales representatives and distributors, and application engineers worldwide. EMCORE Corporation was founded in 1984 and is headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Bill]

  EMCORE Corp.(NASDAQ: EMKR) closing price in the stock market Tuesday, Jan. 3, was $0.951. EMKR is trading 2.16% above its 50 day moving average and -39.24% below its 200 day moving average. EMKR is -70.74% below its 52-week high of $3.25 and 15.98% above its 52-week low of $0.82. EMKR‘s PE ratio is N/A and its market cap is $89.46M .

  EMCORE Corp. provides compound semiconductor-based products for the broadband, fiber optics, space, and solar power markets. The company operates in two segments, Fiber Optics and Photovoltaics.

Top 5 Trucking Companies To Own In Right Now: Txt E-solutions(TXTS.MI)

TXT e-solutions S.p.A. provides various software products and solutions to the industrial sector in Italy and internationally. It offers TXT PERFORM, a suite of demand and supply chain management solutions, which comprises TXT CDMi, a collaborative demand management and intelligence tool; TXTPLAN that provides optimization algorithms, what-if capabilities, and performance management capabilities within an integrated environment for production, inventory, distribution, and replenishment planning; PDMi, a product data management and intelligence tool, which provides product data management and collection design and development capabilities; TXTCHAIN, a Web-based supplier relationship management tool for communication and process management with partners; and TXTMAKE, that supports planning and managing production operations? workflows and reporting. The company also provides TXT NEXT, that offers a portfolio of system integration and information technology services, primari ly for aerospace and defense, and high tech manufacturing, and banking and finance sectors. In addition, TXT e-solutions offers TXT Polymedia Video, that captures, manages, handles, and distributes videos on different media and channels; and Polymedia advertising, which provides interactive advertising solutions to various channels and media. The company has strategic partnerships with Microsoft, IBM, Accenture, and HP. The company was formerly known as TXT Ingegneria Informatica S.p.A and changed its name to TXT e-solutions S.p.A. in March 2000. TXT e-solutions S.p.A. was founded in 1989 and is headquartered in Milan, Italy.

10 Best Low Price Stocks To Buy For 2014

In this video, Fool.com contributor Aimee Duffy gives three reasons to buy Enterprise Products Partners (NYSE: EPD  ) :

Enterprise Products Partners unlocks tremendous value by operating assets throughout the entire midstream process, controlling the entire flow from wellhead to customer. Enterprise Products Partners is primed to increase its distribution with no general partner collecting an IDR fee. With $7.5 billion in growth projects under construction, Enterprise is in a great position to increase its market share in a number of developing U.S. oil and gas plays.

Enterprise is one of the best-run partnerships in the midstream industry, and any investor looking for yield should have it on their radar. For more details, check out the video.

The growing production of natural gas from hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling is flooding the North American market and resulting in record-low prices for natural gas. Enterprise Products Partners, with its superior integrated asset base, can profit from the massive bottlenecks in takeaway capacity by taking on large-scale projects. To help investors decide whether Enterprise Products Partners is a buy or a sell today, click here now to check out The Motley Fool's brand new premium research report on the company.

10 Best Low Price Stocks To Buy For 2014: MicroFinancial Incorporated(MFI)

Microfinancial Incorporated, through its subsidiaries, operates as a specialized commercial finance company that provides microticket equipment leasing and rental, and other financing services in the United States. The company provides financing alternatives, and leases and rents commercial equipment to start-up and established businesses for use in their daily operations. It leases water filtration systems, food service equipment, security equipment, point-of-sale cash registers, salon equipment, health care and fitness equipment, and automotive equipment. The company primarily sources its originations through a network of independent equipment vendors, sales organizations, and other dealer-based origination networks. Microfinancial Incorporated was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in Woburn, Massachusetts.

10 Best Low Price Stocks To Buy For 2014: Zillow Inc (Z)

Zillow, Inc. (Zillow), incorporated on December 13, 2004, is a real estate and home-related information marketplaces. Zillow provides products and services to help consumers through every stage of homeownership buying, selling, renting, borrowing and remodeling. The Company make home-related decisions, and enabling homeowners, buyers, sellers and renters to find and connect with local professionals. Individuals and businesses that use Zillow have updated information on more than 37 million homes and have added nearly 100 million home photos. These profiles include detailed information about homes such as property facts, listing information, and purchase and sale data. In June 2012, the Company acquired RentJuice Corporation. In October 2012, the Company acquired Buyfolio, an online and mobile collaborative shopping platform. In December 2012, the Company acquired San Francisco-based HotPads, a map-based rental and real estate search site.

Zillow generates revenues from local real estate professionals, primarily on an individual subscription basis, and from mortgage professionals and brand advertisers. The Company�� revenues include marketplace revenues, consisting of subscriptions sold to real estate agents and advertising sold on a cost per click (CPC) basis to mortgage lenders, and display revenues consisting of advertising placements sold primarily on a cost per thousand impressions (CPM) basis. The Company provides current home value estimates, or Zestimates, and current rental price estimates, or Rent Zestimates, on approximately 100 million United States homes.

Marketplace Revenues

Marketplace revenues consist of subscriptions sold to real estate agents under its Premier Agent program and CPC advertising related to the Company�� Zillow Mortgage Marketplace sold to mortgage lenders. The Company�� premier agent program offers a suite of marketing and business technology solutions to help real estate agents grow their businesses and personal brands. The! premier agent program allows agents to select products and services that they can tailor to meet their business and advertising needs. In Zillow Mortgage Marketplace, participating qualified mortgage lenders make a prepayment to gain access to consumers interested in connecting with mortgage professionals. Consumers who request rates for mortgage loans in Zillow Mortgage Marketplace are presented with personalized lender quotes from participating lenders. The Company charges mortgage lenders a fee when users click on their links for more information regarding a mortgage loan quote. Mortgage lenders who exhaust their initial prepayment can then prepay additional funds to continue to participate in the marketplace.

Display Revenues

Display revenues primarily consist of graphical Web and mobile advertising sold on a CPM basis to advertisers primarily in the real estate industry, including real estate brokerages, home builders, mortgage lenders and home services providers. The Company�� advertising customers also include telecommunications, automotive, insurance and consumer products companies.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Roberto Pedone]

  My final earnings short-squeeze play today is real estate and home-related information marketplace player Zillow (Z), which is set to release numbers on Tuesday after the market close. Wall Street analysts, on average, expect Zillow to report revenue of $37.39 million on a loss of 3 cents per share.

  The current short interest as a percentage of the float for Zillow is extremely high at 27.6%. That means that out of the 21.77 million shares in the tradable float, 5.4 million shares are sold short by the bears. This is a stock with a very high short interest and low tradable float. This is the perfect combination needed for a monster short-squeeze, so make sure to have this name on your post-earnings earnings trading radar.

  From a technical perspective, Z is currently trending above both its 50-day and 200-day moving averages, which is bullish. This stock has been uptrending strong for the last six months, with shares moving higher from its low of $23 to its recent high of $63.24 a share. During that move, shares of Z have been consistently making higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. That move has now pushed shares of Z within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade post-earnings.

  If you're in the bull camp on Z, then I would wait until after its report and look for long-biased trades if this stock manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at $62.50 to $63.24 a share with high volume. Look for volume on that move that hits near or above its three-month average volume of 736,000 shares. If that breakout triggers, then Z will set up to enter new 52-week and all-time high territory, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that breakout are $70 to $75 a share.

  I would simply avoid Z or look for short-biased trades if after earnings it fails to trigger that breakout and then drops back below some key near-term support at $60 a share with volume. If we get that move, then Z will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major support levels at its 50-day moving average of $53.39 a share to $51 a share.

Top 5 Food Stocks To Invest In 2014: Plastoform Holdings Limited (P82.SI)

Plastoform Holdings Limited, an investment holding company, engages in the design, development, and manufacture of compact powered speakers for personal computing, mobile, and multimedia devices primarily in the United States of America, Europe, and Asia. The company�s products include multimedia speakers designed as compatible speakers for MP3 players; portable gaming devices, including iPods, iPhones, and Sony PSPs; and personal computer audio speakers, bluetooth speakers, and home theatre speaker systems. It also manufactures original design manufacturer speaker drivers; and trades in electronic devices and accessories. The company was founded in 1982 and is headquartered in Hong Kong.

10 Best Low Price Stocks To Buy For 2014: Ocean Bio-Chem Inc.(OBCI)

Ocean Bio-Chem, Inc. engages in the manufacture, marketing, and distribution of various appearance and maintenance products for boats, recreational vehicles, automobiles, and home care markets under the Star brite brand name, as well as private label formulations in the United States and Canada. The company?s marine product line consists of polishes, cleaners, protectants, and waxes of various formulations. This line also includes motor oils, boat washes, vinyl cleaners, protectants, teak cleaners, teak oils, bilge cleaners, hull cleaners, silicone sealants, polyurethane sealants, polysulfide sealants, gasket materials, lubricants, antifouling additives, and anti-freeze coolants, as well as brushes, poles and tie-downs, and other related marine accessories. Its automotive product line comprises hydraulic, gear, and motor oils; anti-freeze and windshield washes; and automotive polishes, cleaners, and associated appearance items. Ocean Bio-Chem also offers cleaners, polishes , detergents, fabric cleaners and protectors, silicone sealants, water proofers, gasket materials, degreasers, vinyl cleaners, protectors, toilet treatment fluids, and anti-freeze coolants to the recreational vehicle/power sports markets. In addition, it blends and packages various chemical formulations, as well as manufactures PVC and HDPE blow molded bottles. Further, the company offers StarTron enzyme fuel treatment for diesel and gas engines, as well as for the recreational vehicles, including snow mobiles, all terrain vehicles, and motorcycles. It sells its products to retail outlets through retailers and distributors. The company was formerly known as Star brite Corporation and changed its name to Ocean Bio-Chem, Inc. in 1984. Ocean Bio-Chem, Inc. was founded in 1973 and is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

10 Best Low Price Stocks To Buy For 2014: Combined Group Contracting Co SAKC (CGC)

Combined Group Contracting Company KSCC is a Kuwait-based public shareholding company that operates in the construction industry. The Company�� activities include general contracting, mechanical and engineering works, construction of industrial and commercial buildings, bridges, and highways; manufacture and import of building materials; trade and packaging of cement, sand and related materials; ready-mix works; asphalt production; owning the transportation intermediaries for the Company�� activities, and the investment of excess funds in portfolios managed by specialized companies. The Company operates mainly in the State of Kuwait and other Gulf countries. As of December 31, 2011, the Company�� subsidiaries included Combined Group for Trading and Contracting Co WLL, Combined International Real Estate Company KSCC and Combined Group Contracting Company KSC, among others.

10 Best Low Price Stocks To Buy For 2014: Iron Mountain Incorporated(IRM)

Iron Mountain Incorporated, together with its subsidiaries, provides information management services primarily in North America, Europe, Latin America, and the Asia Pacific. The company offers records management services, including records management program development and implementation based on best-practices to help customers comply with specific regulatory requirements; implementation of policy-based programs that feature storage for various media comprising paper; flexible retrieval access and retention management; hybrid services to help organizations gain control over their paper records; and specialized services for vital records and regulated industries, such as healthcare, energy, government, and financial services. It also provides data protection and recovery services, such as disaster preparedness; off-site vaulting of data backup media for data recovery in the event of a disaster, human error, or virus; online backup and recovery solutions for desktop and la ptop computers, and remote servers; and technology escrow services to protect and manage source code and other proprietary information. In addition, the company offers information destruction services that primarily consist of physical secure shredding operations; and is involved in the shredding of sensitive documents to third-party recyclers. Further, it provides fulfillment services that assemble custom marketing packages and orders, as well as provide reporting on customer marketing literature inventories; and professional consulting services to develop and implement comprehensive records and information management programs. Iron Mountain Incorporated serves commercial, legal, banking, health care, accounting, insurance, entertainment, and government organizations. The company was founded in 1951 and is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Paul Goodwin]

  In Q3 2010, Buffett sold his entire holding of 8 million shares at an average price of $22.33.

  In 2010, revenues inched up by 3.78% to $3.12 billion, but GAAP EPS fell into negative territory to -$0.27. However, the profit margin improved to 59.90% from 57.82%. With a net margin of -1.6%, IRM is less profitable than the Commercial Services & Supplies industry median. The next earnings release is on April 25. For Q1 2011, analysts estimate IRM will earn $0.27 per share, an increase of 116.43% over the prior year first quarter results. For the first quarter 2011, analysts estimate IRM will generate revenues of $790.3 million, an increase of 1.77% over the prior year first quarter results. IRM shares trade well above our fair value estimates, and it should be near trading no more than $30 per share. Also, the company will continue to be hurt by the lackadaisical global economy.

  Iron Mountain Incorporated provides information management services that help organizations lower the costs, risks and inefficiencies of managing their physical and digital data.. Founded in 1951, Iron Mountain manages billions of information assets, including business records, electronic files, medical data, emails and more for organizations around the world.

10 Best Low Price Stocks To Buy For 2014: United Online Inc.(UNTD)

United Online, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides consumer products and services over the Internet in the United States, Europe, and internationally. The company operates in three segments: FTD, Content and Media, and Communications. The FTD segment provides floral and related products, including occasion gifts, bath and beauty products, jewelry, wine, fruit and other gift baskets, chocolates, and stuffed animals to consumers and retail florists, as well as to other retail locations offering floral and related products and services primarily through the ftd.com, interflora.co.uk, and interflora.ie Web sites and various telephone numbers. This segment also offers a suite of products and services that enable its floral network members to receive, send, and deliver floral orders. The Content and Media segment provides online nostalgia products and services under the Memory Lane, Classmates, StayFriends, and Trombi brands; and loyalty marketing services under the MyPoint s brand. The Communications segment offers dial-up Internet access under the NetZero and Juno brands, as well as broadband, email, Internet security services, and Web hosting services. United Online, Inc. also offers Internet marketing services for advertisers. The company was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in Woodland Hills, California.

10 Best Low Price Stocks To Buy For 2014: Imperial Tobacco (ITYBY.PK)

Imperial Tobacco Group PLC (Imperial Tobacco), incorporated on August 6, 1996, is a tobacco company. Through the Company�� total tobacco portfolio it provides consumers a range of brands and products, including cigarettes, fine cut tobacco, cigars and snus. Its total tobacco portfolio includes fine cut tobacco, cigars, rolling papers and tubes. Its non-European Union (EU) markets consist of Eastern Europe, Africa and the Middle East and Asia and markets of the United States and Australasia. Its international cigarette brands include Davidoff, Gauloises Blondes and West. It offers services across the whole logistics value chain to its customers, including order reception, storage and stock management, order preparation, transport and distribution, invoicing and collection and customer services. Its business has two aspects: tobacco logistics and non-tobacco logistics. Imperial Tobacco comprises two distinct businesses: Tobacco and Logistics. The Tobacco business comprises the manufacture, marketing and sale of tobacco and tobacco-related products, including sales to (but not by) the Logistics business. The Logistics business comprises the distribution of tobacco products for tobacco product manufacturers, including Imperial Tobacco, as well as a range of non-tobacco products and services. The Logistics business is run on an operationally neutral basis. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Robert Holmes]

   Analyst Toby McCullagh says the market is underestimating Imperial Tobacco's medium-term growth potential.

  "In addition to robust, reliable high single digit earnings growth, IMT has further capacity to surprise positively on cash returns, given leverage ratios that are comfortably in check, and perennially strong cash generation," McCullagh writes. "We see scope for upside surprises on the dividend and the buyback in the coming years."

  While McCullagh's base scenario calls for a 14% increase in share price over the next year, his most bullish view has shares rising 41% while his bearish view expects shares to drop 16%.

  The chart below shows shares of Imperial Tobacco that trade on the Pink Sheets in the U.S., but Morgan Stanley is recommending buying shares in London.

10 Best Low Price Stocks To Buy For 2014: Primoris Services Corporation(PRIM)

Primoris Services Corporation, a specialty contractor and infrastructure company, provides a range of construction, fabrication, maintenance, replacement, water and wastewater, and product engineering services in the United States and internationally. It offers construction services, including installation of underground pipeline, cable, and conduits for entities in the petroleum, petrochemical, and water industries; installation and maintenance of industrial facilities for petroleum, petrochemical, and water industries; installation of commercial and industrial cast-in-place structures; and construction of highways, as well as industrial and environmental constructions. The company also engages in designing, supplying, and installing high-performance furnaces, heaters, burner management systems, and related combustion and process technologies for clients in the oil refining, petrochemical, and power generation industries, as well as furnishes turnkey project management se rvices and delivers custom engineering solutions. It serves public utilities, petrochemical companies, energy companies, municipalities, state departments of transportation, and other customers. Primoris Services Corporation is based in Dallas, Texas.

10 Best Low Price Stocks To Buy For 2014: Charter Communications Inc.(CHTR)

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

Top 5 Consumer Service Companies To Invest In 2014

This series, brought to you by Yahoo! Finance, looks at which upgrades and downgrades make sense, and which ones investors should act on. Today, our headlines focus on the housing sector, as one analysts shifts its stance on three big names in homebuilding -- downgrading both PulteGroup (NYSE: PHM  ) and Ryland Group (NYSE: RYL  ) , but...

Upping MDC Holdings to buy
Before moving on to the bad news, let's start with some good. Investment banker KeyBanc Capital Markets thinks that in view of the broad strength in housing stocks lately, it's time to revisit the sector, take some winnings off the table, and move a bit of that money into stocks with perhaps a bit more potential to keep growing. It's choice today: MDC Holdings (NYSE: MDC  ) .

According to KeyBanc, MDC's numbers are showing improvement, yet the stock continues to trade at a discount relative to its peers in the housing sector. And in a sense, KeyBanc is right about that. Due to weakness among some players in the industry, MDC's numbers are lower than the average in many respects. For example, Yahoo! Finance has the average price-to-sales ratio in this industry at 5.4... but MDC's P/S ratio is only 1.4. The average P/E (hurt by unprofitable players, no doubt), is in the quadruple digits, yet MDC costs "only" 24 times earnings.

Top 5 Consumer Service Companies To Invest In 2014: ABB Ltd(ABB)

ABB Ltd. provides power and automation technologies for utility and industrial customers worldwide. The company?s Power Products division manufactures and sells high- and medium-voltage switchgear and apparatus, circuit breakers, power and distribution transformers, and sensors. ABB?s Power Systems division provides integrated power and automation solutions for power generation plants; alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) transmission systems; and flexible alternating current systems technologies. It also offers land and submarine cables, as well as accessories and services for medium- to high-voltage AC and DC systems; air- and gas-insulated substations; and network management solutions to help manage power networks. In addition, this division offers support agreements and retrofits to spare parts, service, consulting, and training; and undertakes analyses and design of new transmission and distribution systems. The company?s Discrete Automation and Motion div ision manufactures and sells motors, generators, variable speed drives, programmable logic controllers, rectifiers, excitation systems, robotics, and related services for a range of applications in factory automation, process industries, and utilities. Its Low Voltage Products division provides protection, control, and measurement for electrical installations, enclosures, switchboards, electronics, and electromechanical devices for industrial machines, plants, and related services. It also makes building control systems for home and building automation. The company?s Process Automation division offers integrated process control and instrumentation systems, plant electrification systems, information management systems, and industry-specific application knowledge for industries, such as pulp and paper, minerals and mining, metals, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, oil and gas, turbocharging, power, and marine. ABB Ltd. was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerla nd.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Matthews]

  ABB Ltd. (NYSE:ABB): Change 0% to $16.77. ABB Limited provides power and automation technologies. The Company operates under segments that include power products, power systems, automation products, process automation and robotics.

Top 5 Consumer Service Companies To Invest In 2014: WSFS Financial Corporation(WSFS)

WSFS Financial Corporation operates as the thrift holding company for the Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB, which provides various financial services primarily in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It accepts a range of deposit products, including savings accounts, demand deposits, interest-bearing demand deposits, money market deposit accounts, and certificates of deposits, as well as jumbo certificates of deposit. The company?s loan portfolio comprises residential mortgage loans; residential real estate loans; nonresidential real estate loans; real estate mortgage loans; commercial construction loans; commercial lending that includes loans for the purpose of working capital, financing equipment acquisitions, business expansion, and other business purposes; consumer credit products that primarily comprise home improvement loans, home equity lines of credit, automobile loans, unsecured lines of credit, and other secured and unsecured personal installment lo ans. It also offers a range of trust and wealth management services. The company, through its other subsidiaries, markets various third-party investment and insurance products, such as single-premium annuities, whole life policies, and securities; and provides investment advisory services to high net-worth individuals and institutions. As of October 3, 2011, it operated 49 banking offices, including 39 in Delaware, 8 in Pennsylvania, 1 in Virginia, and 1 in Nevada. The company was founded in 1832 and is headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware.

Best Solar Stocks To Buy Right Now: Hawkins Inc. (HWKN)

Hawkins, Inc. distributes bulk chemicals, as well as blends, manufactures, and distributes specialty chemicals. The company operates through two segments, Industrial and Water Treatment. The Industrial segment provides industrial chemicals, products, and services primarily to the agriculture, energy, electronics, food, chemical processing, pulp and paper, pharmaceutical, medical device, and plating industries. This segment primarily offers acids, alkalis, and industrial and food-grade salts; and receives, stores, and distributes various chemicals, including liquid caustic soda, sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid, potassium hydroxide, and aqua ammonia. In addition, it manufactures sodium hypochlorite, agricultural products, and certain food-grade products comprising Cheese-Phos liquid phosphate, lactates, and other blended products; repackages water treatment and bulk industrial chemicals; and performs custom blending of certain chemicals, and contract and pr ivate label packaging for household chemicals. This segment primarily conducts its operations through distribution centers and terminal operations. The Water Treatment segment provides chemicals, equipment, and solutions for potable water, municipal and industrial wastewater, industrial process water, and non-residential swimming pool water. Hawkins, Inc. was founded in 1938 and is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Top 5 Consumer Service Companies To Invest In 2014: HDFC Bank Ltd (HDB)

HDFC Bank Limited (HDFC Bank), incorporated in August 1994, is a banking company engaged in providing a range of banking and financial services, including commercial banking and treasury operations. The Bank has overseas branch operations in Bahrain and Hong Kong. The Bank operates in four segments: treasury, which primarily consists of net interest earnings from the Bank�� investment portfolio, money market borrowing and lending, gains or losses on investment operations and on account of trading in foreign exchange and derivative contracts; retail banking, which serves retail customers through a branch network and other delivery channels; wholesale banking, which provides loans, non-fund facilities and transaction services to corporate, public sector units, government bodies, financial institutions and medium scale enterprises, and other banking business, segment includes income from para banking activities, such as credit cards, debit cards, third party product distribution, primary dealership business and the associated costs. Revenues of the retail banking segment are derived from interest earned on retail loans, net of commission (net of subvention received) paid to sales agents and interest earned from other segments for surplus funds placed with those segments, fees from services rendered, foreign exchange earnings on retail products.

Retail Banking

The Bank is a financial services provider of various deposit products, of retail loans (auto loans, personal loans, commercial vehicle loans, mortgages, business banking, loan against gold jewellery), credit cards, debit cards, depository (custody services), investment advisory, bill payments and several transactional services. Apart from its own products, the Bank distributes third party financial products, such as mutual funds and life and general insurance. As of March 31, 2012, the Bank had 2,544 branches in 1,399 Indian cities. The Bank had 8,913 automated teller machines (ATMs) during the fiscal year ended March 31,! 2012. In addition to the Bank does home loans in conjunction with HDFC Limited. Under this arrangement the Bank sells loans provided by HDFC Limited through its branches. HDFC Limited approves and disburses the loans, which are booked in their books, with the Bank receiving a sourcing fee for these loans. HDFC Limited offers the Bank an option to purchase up to 70% of the fully disbursed home loans sourced under this arrangement through either the issue of mortgage backed pass through certificates (PTCs) or by a direct assignment of loans; the balance is retained by HDFC Limited. It also distributes life, general insurance and mutual fund products through its tie-ups with insurance companies and mutual fund houses.

Wholesale Banking

The Bank provides its corporate and institutional clients a range of commercial and transactional banking products. The Bank�� commercial banking business covers the corporate sector, the emerging corporate segments and some small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The Bank has a number of business groups catering to various segments of its wholesale banking customers with a range of banking services covering their working capital, term finance, trade services, cash management, foreign exchange and electronic banking requirements. The Bank�� financial institutions and government business group (FIG) offers commercial and transaction banking products to financial institutions, mutual funds, public sector undertakings, central and state government departments. The main focus for this segment is offering various deposit and transaction banking products to this segment besides offering funded, non-funded treasury and foreign exchange products.

The Bank provides its customers both working capital and term financing. The Bank�� corporate banking business includes cash management and vendor and distributor (supply chain) finance products. The Bank has a wholesale banking branch in Bahrain, a branch in Hong Kong and two representative offic! es in the! United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Kenya. The branches offer the Bank�� suite of banking services including treasury and trade finance products to its corporate clients. The Bank offers wealth management products, remittance facilities and markets deposits to the non-resident Indian community from its representative offices.

Treasury

The treasury group is responsible for compliance with reserve requirements and management of liquidity and interest rate risk on the Bank�� balance sheet. On the foreign exchange and derivatives front, revenues are driven primarily by spreads on customer transactions based on trade flows and customers��demonstrated hedging needs. The Bank offers Indian rupee and foreign exchange derivative products to its customers. The Bank enters into foreign exchange and derivative deals with counterparties after it has set up appropriate counterparty credit limits based on its evaluation of the ability of the counterparty to meet its obligations in the event of crystallization of the exposure. The Bank also deals in Indian rupee derivatives on its own account, including for the purpose of its own balance sheet risk management.

Other banking business

The Bank has two subsidiaries: HDFC Securities Limited (HSL) and HDB Financial Services Limited (HDBFS). HSL is primarily in the business of providing brokerage services through the Internet and other channels. As of March 31, 2012, HSL had a network of 184 branches across the country. HDBFS is a non-deposit taking non-bank finance company (NBFC). Apart from lending to individuals, it grants loans to small and medium business enterprises and micro small and medium enterprises, the principle businesses of HDBFS include loans, which offers a range of loans in the secured and unsecured loans space that fulfill the financial needs of its target segment; insurance services, HDBFS is a corporate agent for HDFC Standard Life Insurance Company and sells insurance products ,as well as products, ! such as L! oan Cover and Asset Cover, and collections-BPO services, which runs six call centres. These centres cover collection requirements at over 200 towns through its calling and field teams. As on March 31, 2012, HDBFS had 180 branches in 135 cities in order to distribute its products and services.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Halah Touryalai]

  The largest privately owned retail bank in India with a network of 1,986 branches in 996 cities across the country. The bank has a strong deposit franchise and technology backbone.  EPS has grown at a rate of 26% per year, over the past 10 years.

Top 5 Consumer Service Companies To Invest In 2014: Research in Motion Ltd (BBRY.O)

Research In Motion Limited, incorporated on March 7, 1984, is a designer, manufacturer and marketer of wireless solutions for the worldwide mobile communications market. Through the development of integrated hardware, software and services, it provides platforms and solutions for seamless access to information, including e-mail, voice, instant messaging, short message service (SMS), Internet and intranet-based applications and browsing. The Company's technology also enables an array of third party developers and manufacturers to enhance their products and services through software development kits, wireless connectivity to data and third-party support programs.Its portfolio of products, services and embedded technologies are used by thousands of organizations and millions of consumers around the world and include the BlackBerry wireless solution, the RIM Wireless Handheld product line, the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet, software development tools and other software and har dware.

On March 25, 2011, the Company purchased 100% of the shares of a company whose technology is being incorporated into the Company�� developer tools. On April 26, 2011, the Company purchased certain assets of a company whose acquired technologies will be incorporated into the Company�� products. In June 2011, the Company acquired Scoreloop. On March 8, 2012, the Company acquired Paratek Microwave Inc. During the fiscal year ended March 3, 2012 (fiscal 2012), the Company purchased 100% interests of a company, whose technology will be incorporated into its technology; whose technology offers cloud-based services for storing, sharing, accessing and organizing digital content on mobile devices; whose technology is being incorporated into an application on the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet; whose technology offers a customizable and cross-platform social mobile gaming developer tool kit, and whose technology will provide a multi-platform BlackBerry Enterprise Solution for managing and securing mobile devices for enter! p! rises and government organizations.

On April 24, 2012, the Company launched BlackBerry 7 smartphone, the BlackBerry Curve 9220, for customers in Indonesia. April 18, 2012, it launched BlackBerry 7 smartphone, the BlackBerry Curve 9220, for customers in India. On April 17, 2012, it announced availability of the BlackBerry Bold 9790 smartphone in Spain. On April 3, 2012, it launched BlackBerry Mobile Fusion, and launched four BlackBerry smartphones powered by the BlackBerry 7 operating system (OS) in Cambodia, which included BlackBerry Bold 9900, BlackBerry Bold 9790, BlackBerry Curve 9360 and BlackBerry Curve 9380. On April 2, 2012, it announced the availability of BlackBerry App World, the official application store for BlackBerry smartphones in Brunei, and it announced availability of the BlackBerry Bold 9790 and BlackBerry Curve 9380 smartphones for Cell C customers in South Africa. On March 27, 2012, it launched of the BlackBerry solution in Benin Republic. On March 15, 2012, it launched of BlackBerry services in China. On March 7, 2012, it launched the BlackBerry service in Angola.

The Company's primary revenue stream is generated by the BlackBerry wireless solution, consists of smartphones and tablets, service and software. BlackBerry service is provided through a combination of its global BlackBerry Infrastructure and the wireless networks of its carrier partners. On February 21, 2012, it released the BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 software. It generates hardware revenues from sales, primarily to carriers and distributors. During fiscal 2012, the Company launched the wireless fidelity (WiFi)-enabled BlackBerry PlayBook tablet in 44 markets around the world. On July 21, 2011, the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet received Federal Information Processing Standard 140-2 certification.

BlackBerry Smartphones and Tablets

BlackBerry smartphones uses wireless, push-based technology that delivers data to m obile users��business and consumer applications. Black! Berr! y s! martph! ones integrate messaging including instant messaging, email and SMS; voice calling; Webkit browser; multimedia capabilities; calendar, and other applications. During fiscal 2012, it introduced 10 new smartphones and launched software updates to both its smartphone and tablet platforms. BlackBerry smartphones are available from hundreds of carriers and indirect channels, through a range of distribution partners, and are designed to operate on a variety of carrier networks, including HSPA/HSPA+/UMTS, GSM/GPRS/EDGE, CDMA/Ev-DO, and iDEN.

During fiscal 2012, its BlackBerry smartphone and tablet portfolio included BlackBerry Bold series, BlackBerry Torch series, BlackBerry Curve series and The BlackBerry PlayBook tablet. Its BlackBerry Bold series includes BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930 and BlackBerry Bold 9790. The Company�� BlackBerry Torch series include BlackBerry Torch 9810 and All-Touch BlackBerry Torch 9850 and 9860. The Company's BlackBerry Curve series inc lude BlackBerry Curve 9350/9360/9370 and All-Touch BlackBerry Curve 9380 Smartphone. The BlackBerry PlayBook tablet features the BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0. The BlackBerry PlayBook offers a seven-inch high definition display, a dual core one gigahertz processor, dual high definition cameras, multitasking and a Web browsing.

BlackBerry Enterprise Solution

BlackBerry Enterprise Server is software that acts as the centralized link between BlackBerry smartphones, enterprise systems, business applications and wireless networks. BlackBerry Enterprise Server integrates with enterprise messaging systems including Microsoft Exchange, IBM Lotus Domino and Novell GroupWise to synchronize with BlackBerry smartphones to provide mobile users with wireless access to e-mail, calendar, contacts, notes and tasks. It also provides access to business applications and enterprise systems. In addition, it provides security features and offers administrative tools. BlackBe rry Enterprise Server is required for certain othe! r enterpr! i! se soluti! ons, such as BlackBerry Mobile Voice System (for bringing desk phone functionality to BlackBerry smartphones); BlackBerry Clients for Microsoft Office Communications Server, IBM Lotus Sametime and Novell GroupWise Messenger (for enterprise instant messaging); IBM Lotus Connections (for enterprise social networking); IBM Lotus Quickr (for document sharing and collaboration); and Chalk Pushcast Software (for corporate podcasting).

The Company�� BlackBerry Mobile Fusion provides a Web-based interface that allows enterprises to provision, audit, and protect mobile devices including BlackBerry smartphones, BlackBerry PlayBook tablets, and devices that use iOS and Android. BlackBerry Balance helps enterprises support the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) trend. BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express is free server software that synchronizes BlackBerry smartphones with Microsoft Exchange or Microsoft Windows Small Business Server. BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express works with Microsoft Exchange 2010, 2007 and 2003 and Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2008 and 2003 to provide users with wireless access to e-mail, calendar, contacts, notes and tasks, as well as other business applications and enterprise systems behind the firewall.

BlackBerry Mobile Voice System (BlackBerry MVS) allows organizations to converge office desk phones and BlackBerry smartphones. BlackBerry MVS is consists of three components: BlackBerry MVS Client, BlackBerry MVS Services, and BlackBerry MVS Server. It unifies fixed and mobile voice communications. Hosted BlackBerry services bring the BlackBerry Enterprise Server features, functionality, and security capabilities in a package that is managed for end users. Hosted BlackBerry services are conveniently handled and supported by a BlackBerry certified partner from the BlackBerry Alliance Program, giving small and medium -sized enterprise (SME) enterprises the support and convenience they need.

Service

The Company gen! erates se! rvice ! revenues ! from billings to RIM's BlackBerry subscriber account base. It generates service revenues primarily from a monthly infrastructure access fee charged to a carrier or reseller, which the carrier or reseller in turn bills the BlackBerry subscriber.

BlackBerry Technical Support Services

BlackBerry Technical Support Services are a suite of annual technical support and software maintenance programs. The programs are designed to meet the customer�� BlackBerry support needs by offering a contact for BlackBerry wireless solution technical support directly from the Company.

Non-Warranty Repairs

The Company generates revenue from its repair and maintenance program for BlackBerry smartphones that are returned to it by the carrier, the reseller, or the customer. It generates revenue for repair after the expiration of the contractual warranty period.

The Company competes with Apple Inc., Microsoft Inc., Nokia Corporation, Dell, Inc., Fujitsu Limited, General Dynamics Corporation, Hitachi America, Ltd., HTC Corporation, Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd., LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company, Mitsubishi Corporation, Motorola Mobility Holdings, Inc., NEC Corporation, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Sharp Corporation, Sony Corporation, ZTE Corporation, IBM Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, Notify Technology Corporation, Openwave Systems Inc., Seven Networks, Inc., Sybase, Inc. and Good Technologies.

Why Fusion-io Is Poised to Bounce Back

Based on the aggregated intelligence of 180,000-plus investors participating in Motley Fool CAPS, the Fool's free investing community, storage memory platform company Fusion-io (NYSE: FIO  ) has earned a respected four-star ranking.

With that in mind, let's take a closer look at Fusion-io and see what CAPS investors are saying about the stock right now.

Fusion-io facts

Headquarters (founded)	Salt Lake City (2005)
Market Cap	$1.3 billion
Industry	Computer storage and peripherals
Trailing-12-Month Revenue	$432.9 million
Management	Chairman/CEO Shane Robison CFO Dennis Wolf
Trailing-12-Month Return on Equity	(3.5%)
Cash/Debt	$354.7 million / $0
Competitors	EMC NetApp STEC

Sources: S&P Capital IQ and Motley Fool CAPS.

On CAPS, 90% of the 295 members who have rated Fusion-io believe the stock will outperform the S&P 500 going forward.   

Just yesterday, one of those bulls, mwlove, tapped Fusion-io as a particularly attractive turnaround pick:

I love the products this company makes. The change in CEO caused the stock to tank, but it was for the best. The new CEO, Shane Robison, says he has three goals: 1) expansion into new customers and geographies; (2) integration of recent acquisitions and (3) innovate at a faster rate than competitors. The company needs to diversify beyond Apple and Facebook but Robison is the guy to get it done.

If you want market-thumping returns, you need to put together the best portfolio you can. Of course, despite a strong four-star rating, Fusion-io may not be your top choice.

It's incredible to think just how much of our digital and technological lives are almost entirely shaped and molded by just a handful of companies. Find out "Who Will Win the War Between the 5 Biggest Tech Stocks?" in The Motley Fool's latest free report, which details the knock-down, drag-out battle being waged by the five kings of tech. Click here to keep reading.

Top Logistics Stocks To Buy Right Now

The Department of Defense handed out 20 new defense contracts�on Monday, awarding $717.7 million in total. For a change, the vast majority of Monday's awards went to traditional "defense contractors" as opposed to privately owned construction, logistics, and similar firms -- as has been the case with many Pentagon contracts lately. Among today's winners:

Honeywell (NYSE: HON  ) won an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract with firm-fixed-price provisions valued at a maximum of $14.2 million. Honeywell will conduct Command Cyber Readiness Inspections, Cyber Security Inspections, training, and command assessments in support of the Navy's Fleet Cyber Command Cyber Security Inspection Certification Program. Although the $14.2 million figure is stated as the contract's maximum value, in fact, if options for extending the contract through June 23, 2016, are exercised, its value could rise to nearly $25.9 million. Dell (NASDAQ: DELL  ) won a firm-fixed-price contract to supply the Army with up to 13,000 printers for a maximum total purchase cost of $12.5 million. FLIR Systems (NASDAQ: FLIR  ) was awarded a $10.1 million firm-fixed-priced, foreign military sales IDIQ contract to supply SEE SPOT III+ Systems to the Hungarian military. SEE SPOT III+ is a device that enables a user to view Special Operations Force Laser Acquisition Markers' "invisible" laser designators. This contract should be completed by May 2018. L-3 Communications (NYSE: LLL  ) won an $8.1 million firm-fixed-price General Services Administration delivery order to supply the U.S. Marine Corps with Hawkeye III Lite tri-band antennas and Hawkeye diplexer kits for the Deployable Joint Command, and also Control Rapid Response kits and Sensitive Compartmented Information kits for the expeditionary command and control suite.�Fulfillment is expected by Sept. 2013. Raytheon (NYSE: RTN  ) was awarded a maximum $7.5 million firm-fixed-price, undefinitized, sole-source contract to supply miscellaneous spare parts for radios to the U.S. Navy.�

Additionally, the DoD awarded privately held Metron of Reston, Va., a $7.3 million cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to conduct R&D work for the Navy on a large displacement unmanned undersea vehicle (LDUUV) -- a robotic submarine. This one-year contract may be extended by two one-year options. Exercise of both these options would raise the contract value to $18.3 million.

Top Logistics Stocks To Buy Right Now: Atlantic Coast Federal Corporation(ACFC)

Atlantic Coast Financial Corporation operates as the bank holding company for Atlantic Coast Bank that provides various banking services to individual and business customers primarily in northeastern Florida and southeastern Georgia. Its deposit products include checking accounts, savings accounts, money market accounts, demand deposit accounts, time deposit accounts, and certificates of deposit. The company?s loan portfolio comprises one- to four-family real estate loans, home-equity loans, commercial real estate loans, commercial and residential construction loans, land and multi-family real estate loans, commercial business loans, and automobile and other consumer loans. It provides its services through 11 full service branch offices. The company was founded in 1939 and is based in Jacksonville, Florida.

Top Logistics Stocks To Buy Right Now: Rosetta Stone(RST)

Rosetta Stone Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides technology-based language-learning solutions in the United States and internationally. The company develops, markets, and sells language-learning solutions, such as software, online services, mobile applications, and audio practice tools in approximately 30 languages primarily under the Rosetta Stone brand. Its products and services include Rosetta Course, a self-study interactive language-learning curriculum that consists of sequences of listening, speaking, reading, and writing interactions designed to teach, reinforce, and test learners through its software program; Rosetta Studio comprising a series of coach-led practice sessions that provide learners to practice what they have previously learned through the software program; and Rosetta World, an interactive community of language learners, which gives learners the opportunity to play games with other learners. The company also offers Audio Companion, which i s a series of digital audio files that contain lessons aligned to the Rosetta Stone curriculum, allowing users to practice previously learned material; and TOTALe Companion HD, a learning tool that includes a series of practice lessons, which use images, audio, and speech recognition technology to enable users refine their speaking skills. The company also offers SharedTalk, an online peer-to-peer practice environment at sharedtalk.com; and ReFLEX, a solution designed for English learners who want to enhance listening and speaking skills. Rosetta Stone sells its products and services through Websites, call centers, retailers, direct sales force, and a network of kiosks. Its customers include individuals, home school parents, educational institutions, armed forces, government agencies, corporations, and not-for-profit institutions. Rosetta Stone Inc. was founded in 1992 and is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.

Hot Insurance Stocks To Own For 2014: Vera Bradley Inc.(VRA)

Vera Bradley, Inc., through its subsidiary, Vera Bradley Designs, Inc., engages in the design, production, marketing, and retail of functional accessories for women under the ?Vera Bradley? brand. Its products include a range of handbags, accessories, and travel and leisure items. The company sells its products to independent retailers located in the United States, as well as to national retailers and third party e-commerce sites. As of January 29, 2011, Vera Bradley, Inc. sold its products directly through 35 full-price stores, 4 outlet stores, verabradley.com, and an annual outlet sale in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The company was founded in 1982 and is headquartered in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Stockpickr]

  One final earnings short-squeeze play is Vera Bradley (VRA), set to release numbers on Tuesday after the market close. This is a designer, producer, marketer and retailer of accessories for women. The products include offering of handbags, accessories and travel and leisure items. Wall Street analysts, on average, expect Vera Bradley to report revenues of $96.82 million.

  I like this stock for a post-earnings short-squeeze play because the bears have cleaned up on this name recently in a big way. This stock has dropped dramatically from its May high of $52.35 a share to its current low of $24.83 a share. That huge drop could be setting up this stock for a sharp rebound if the bulls hear what they're looking for.

  The current short interest as a percentage of the float for Vera Bradley is an extremely large 29.5%. That means that out of the 19.74 million shares in the tradable float, 5.83 million are sold short by the bears. It's worth pointing out that the bears have been increasing their bets from the last reporting period by 10.5%, or by around 554,000 million shares. If the bears are pressing too much ahead of this quarter, then this stock could easily see a big short-squeeze.

  From a technical standpoint, the stock is currently trading significantly below both its 50-day and 200-day moving averages, which is bearish. That said, the stock just found some buying support at around $25 a share and has since bounced up towards its current price of around $29 a share.

  I would look to be a buyer of this stock after they report if it trades above $30 to $31.56 a share on strong volume. Look for volume the following day that's tracking in close to or greater than its three-month average action of 582,000 shares. I would target a run back towards $35 a share (50-day) or possible $38 a share (200-day) if the bulls gain full control of this stock post-earnings.

  I would only short this name if it drops below $25 a share on big volume after the company reports its results. I woul! d add to any bearish bets if it then drops below $22.50 a share and ride this stock down with the short-sellers.

Top Logistics Stocks To Buy Right Now: NuFarm Ltd(NUF.AX)

Nufarm Limited, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a crop protection company worldwide. The company engages in the manufacture and supply of agricultural chemicals, including turf and ornamental, glyphosate, insecticide, fungicide, and non-glyphosate herbicides. It also operates a seeds business focusing on canola, sorghum, and sunflower seeds, as well as offers seed treatment products. The company supplies its products to farmers to protect crops from damage caused by weeds, pests, and diseases. Nufarm Limited sells its products in 100 countries. The company is headquartered in Laverton, Australia.

Top Logistics Stocks To Buy Right Now: Great Panther Res Com Npv(GPR.TO)

Great Panther Silver Limited engages in the business of acquisition, exploration, development, and operation of mineral properties and mines in Mexico. The company owns a 100% interest in the Topia Mine consisting of 4 groups of mining concessions covering a total area of 6,399 hectares located in the northwest Durango State; and a 100% interest in the Guanajuato silver-gold mine complex comprising 28 non-contiguous concessions totaling 1,107.28 hectares situated in Guanajuato. It also owns interest in the San Ignacio, a development stage property and Santa Rosa, an exploration stage property. The company was formerly known as Great Panther Resources Limited and changed its name to Great Panther Silver Limited in January 2010. Great Panther Silver Limited was founded in 1965 and is based in Vancouver, Canada.

Tim Cook's Future Riches Will Depend on Apple Stock Performance

Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL  ) stockholders, rejoice!

On Friday, Apple's board of directors amended CEO Tim Cook's equity bonus compensation package to now be dependent on the company's stock performance. Before the revision, Tim Cook received restricted stock units after a specified period of time, regardless of how the Apple's stock performed relative to its S&P 500's constituents.

The takeaway here is that Apple investors should consider this to be the dawn of a new era for how it compensates executives. Additionally, it's officially in Cook's best interest for Apple's stock to outperform.  

The rule of thirds
Cook's original 1 million restricted stock units will still vest over a 10-year period, but now 800,000 units will be directly tied to Apple's stock performance. Of those 800,000 units, a maximum of 80,000 units can be awarded to Cook each year. For Cook to earn the entire 80,000 units allotted yearly, Apple's stock performance must rank in the in the top third of all S&P 500 companies. Ultimately, Apple's stock performance will be measured on a three-year rolling time horizon based on previous vesting dates, but in the beginning, performance will be measured on either one- or two-year time horizons until August 2016.

If Apple's stock performance ranks in the middle-third compared to its S&P 500 constituents during a specified period, Cook loses 25% of his yearly award. For Cook to lose 50% of his award, Apple's stock performance must rank in the lower-third compared to its peers.

Aligning interests
Not only did Tim Cook request this change in compensation, he refused to take an upside performance multiplier, which Apple's board of directors believes should be part of a performance-based compensation package. With this move, Cook has better aligned his own interests with that of individual shareholders, which do not have the opportunity to be gifted additional shares if Apple's stock outperforms. It's becoming increasingly clear that Apple is transforming itself into a more shareholder-centric company.

The titans of tech
It's incredible to think just how much of our digital and technological lives are almost entirely shaped and molded by just a handful of companies. Find out "Who Will Win the War Between the 5 Biggest Tech Stocks?" in The Motley Fool's latest free report, which details the knock-down, drag-out battle being waged by the five kings of tech. Click here to keep reading.

Don't Get Too Excited About This BlackBerry Upgrade

Shares of smartphone-maker BlackBerry (NASDAQ: BBRY  ) rose 6.3% Thursday after Societe Generale analyst Andy Perkins raised the firm's rating on the stock from sell, all the way up to buy. At the same time, Perkins set a $17 price target on shares of Blackberry, up from his previous target of $13, and representing a nearly 18% potential gain from Thursday's closing price at $14.42 per share.

So what made made him change his mind?

In short, Perkins writes, their "channel checks have come up with some surprisingly strong numbers for RIM's unit sales for" the current fiscal quarter. More specifically, he thinks BlackBerry might be able to sell more than four million of their new Z10 smartphones during this quarter alone.

At the same time, Perkins also stated they would be "surprised" if the QWERTY keyboard-sporting Q10 smartphone sold more than one million units -- but that's understandable given the fact the Q10 has only been available for just over a month in a few countries, and was only released in the massive United States market last week.

In total, Societe Generale now believes BlackBerry could sell more than five million Blackberry 10 handsets for the quarter, which is above consensus estimates calling for sales of between 3 million and 4 million BB10-enabled units.

The catch?
Curiously enough, Perkins also noted that sell side analyst guestimates are unsurprisingly all over the map given the difficulty in nailing down exact unit sales numbers, with revenue "estimates published over the last month ranging from $3.1 billion to $4.1 billion, and operating results from a loss of $100 million to a profit of $344 million." Remember, BlackBerry management told investors during its latest quarterly earnings report in March to expect the company to "approach breakeven financial results" for the current quarter.

What's more, while he admitted they can't find any "direct support of [their] forecast of a large rise in sales of new portfolio products," they were optimistic. BlackBerry's previous painful losses in the mobile Internet market seem to have "stabilized and even risen slightly" in the United Kingdom -- that is, at least, according to recent data from Global Stats' StatCounter webpage.

And remember, the United Kingdom is an important market for BlackBerry, especially considering it was the first market to receive both the Z10 and the Q10 smartphones in late January and April, respectively. 

When we zoom out a bit from a laser focus on the UK, however, Perkins' also reminded us of the same data that fellow Fool Evan Niu recently referenced from Kantar Worldwide, which indicated last week that BlackBerry's most formidable competitors are only extending their lead in the massive United States market.

Specifically, while Google's Android browser still holds a commanding lead, with 51.7% of the domestic market, Apple's (NASDAQ: AAPL  )  iOS managed to gain 2.3% share in the United States to secure 41.4%, while Microsoft's mobile OS also gained an impressive 1.8% over the past year, and now holds a 5.6% share.

Meanwhile, as Evan pointed out last week, those gains by Apple and Microsoft came largely at the expense of -- you guessed it -- BlackBerry, whose share of the U.S. smartphone market has fallen from 5.3%, to a dismal 0.7% over the last year.

A sliver of hope
This, of course, doesn't necessarily rule out the possibility that BlackBerry might be able to pick up the slack in other markets, especially considering the company last month unveiled a lower-cost BB10-enabled smartphone, dubbed the "Q5," aimed at developing markets like India and China.

Remember, however, as I wrote in February, those territories already come with built-in competitors in the in the form of lower-cost Chinese phone makers like Huawei and ZTE, both of which rocketed last year past the likes of HTC, Nokia, and Blackberry to secure the third and fifth spots, respectively, in the top five global vendors in terms of fourth-quarter smartphone unit shipments.

Unsurprisingly, IDC data from last quarter showed BlackBerry fared no better, as Samsung and Apple remained firmly on top by shipping 32.7%, and 17.3%, of all smartphone units, while LG, Huawei, and ZTE took the third, fourth, and fifth positions in the list by shipping 10.3 million, 9.9 million, and 9.1 million smartphones, respectively.

What's more, recent rumors also suggest Apple could be planning a more affordable iPhone of its own going forward, which could itself easily turn the world of smartphones on its head by capturing the very developing markets that Blackberry needs in order to succeed.

Grasping at straws
As for now, BlackBerry has remained cash-flow positive, and does have some time to right its ship, thanks largely to its impressive absence of debt, and $2.9 billion in cash and investments at the end of last quarter. This is good for 39% of BlackBerry's current total market capitalization. 

But, while this particular upgrade may hold an element of truth over the short term with regard to BlackBerry's stabilizing U.K. market share, I think it's a stretch to say that it's enough for the company to successfully maintain a steadily profitable business over the long haul.

As a result, I'm afraid that the risk of BlackBerry continuing to get squeezed out of the mix in today's increasingly crowded global market simply makes this a bet I'm not yet willing to take.

More expert advice from The Motley Fool
There's no doubt that Apple is at the center of technology's largest revolution ever, and that longtime shareholders have been handsomely rewarded with over 1,000% gains. However, there is a debate raging as to whether Apple remains a buy. The Motley Fool's senior technology analyst and managing bureau chief, Eric Bleeker, is prepared to fill you in on reasons to buy and reasons to sell Apple, and what opportunities are left for the company (and your portfolio) going forward. To get instant access to his latest thinking on Apple, simply click here now.

1 Fast-Food Restaurant Focusing on What Its Consumers Ignore

Are healthy menu options important to the American fast-food consumer? A recently released study found one restaurant where consumers couldn't care less about healthy choices. Yet this company is emphasizing nutritious menu items with even more vigor.

Healthy menu choices: Offer the whole enchilada?
A recently released Placed survey, "Dining Out in America, Part 2: The Impact of New Menu Items, Value, and Nutrition," found that consumers who would fork over more money for healthy menu options were 10% more likely to visit Wendy's (NASDAQ: WEN  ) , which ranked at the top of the list among big burger chains. In fact, Wendy's was the only burger joint where consumers stated a willingness to pay more for healthy menu items.

Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Wendy's is trying to distinguish itself as a premium brand. The company has rolled out more upscale menu items such as its Monterey Ranch Chicken Sandwich, Apple Pecan Chicken Salad, and Asiago Ranch Chicken Club. The company boasts sea salt on its fries and strawberries and almonds on its salads.

Wendy's faces a challenging rebranding battle and stiff competition from fast-casual restaurants, namely Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE: CMG  ) , Panera Bread (NASDAQ: PNRA  ) , and Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX  ) , which the study found health-conscious consumers most likely to patronize (in that particular order). But Wendy's customers clearly care about and seek out healthy options, and the company is listening.

... or as few as possible?
Yet at the opposite end of the spectrum, Yum! Brands' (NYSE: YUM  ) Taco Bell loiters near the bottom of the list, with health-conscious consumers 10% less likely to patronize its restaurants. Its taco-loving clientele appears to be not at all focused on calorie counts and fat grams.

Source: Wikimedia Commons.

But, interestingly enough, Yum! plans to place more emphasis on the health-conscious consumer. For example, Taco Bell's higher-quality Cantina Bell menu, which was released last July, more directly competes with Chipotle's premium offerings.

Taco Bell recently announced its plan to roll out more nutrition-focused menu items, including a "Power Protein" menu. For several years, Taco Bell has had its "fresco" menu, which features offerings with reduced fat and calories, but revenues from these items account for only a sliver of total sales. Yum! expects better results with its "Power Protein" options.

Foolish takeaway
Taco Bell might want to ditch its focus on good-for-you menu items altogether. After all, if consumers are less likely to seek your restaurant out for healthy options, is it wise to put even more of them on your menu? Time for investors to keep a close eye on sales of Taco Bell's healthy menu items. Time for Yum! to go back to the drawing board.

Profiting from our increasingly global economy can be as easy as investing in your own backyard. The Motley Fool's free report "3 American Companies Set to Dominate the World" shows you how. Click here to get your free copy before it's gone.

Chesapeake Energy Sets Common and Preferred Dividends

Natural gas producer Chesapeake Energy (NYSE: CHK  ) announced today its third-quarter dividend of $0.0875 per share, the same rate it's paid since 2011.

The board of directors said the quarterly dividend is payable on July 31 to the holders of record at the close of business on July 15. The nat gas producer has made quarterly payouts to investors since 1997. 

The board also declared dividends on four series of preferred shares as follows:

4.5% convertible preferred, which trades on the NYSE under the symbol CHK PrD, of $1.125 per share, payable on Sept. 16 to holders of record on Sept. 3. 5% Series 2005B convertible preferred of $1.25 per share payable on Aug. 15 to holders of record on Aug. 1. 5.75% non-voting convertible preferred of $14.375 per share payable on Aug. 15 to holders of record on Aug. 1. 5.75% Series A non-voting convertible preferred of $14.375 per share payable on Aug. 15 to holders of record on Aug. 1.

The regular dividend payment equates to a $0.35-per-share annual dividend, yielding 1.7% based on the closing price of Chesapeake Energy's stock on June 14.

CHK Dividend data by YCharts.

link

Productivity Rises, Costs Fall for Q1 2013

Americans are working more for less pay, according to a Q1 Productivity and Costs report (link opens in PDF) released today by the Labor Department.

Nonfarm business sector labor productivity bumped up an annualized 0.5% for Q1, driven primarily by a quarter-to-quarter 2.6% improvement in output and a 1.6% increase in hours worked. After improving 0.7% in Q4 2012, analysts had expected similar gains for Q1 2013.

But where productivity didn't quite pack the punch, cheaper labor surprised analyst estimates. Predictions called for a concurrent 0.5% increase in costs, but unit labor costs plummeted 4.3% after jumping 11.8% the previous quarter (a calculation error had previously pinned costs up 0.5% in the previous quarter).  

The combination of a 3.8% decrease in hourly wages, as well as the aforementioned 0.5% productivity boost were the main drivers behind May's cost cutting.

Source: bls.gov. 

For manufacturing, productivity headed 3.5% higher, while labor costs fell 10%. For all nonfinancial corporations, productivity bumped up a relatively small 0.3%.  

Comparing this quarter to Q1 2012, productivity has managed 0.9% gains, while unit labor costs are up 1.1%. 

link

Hot Net Payout Yield Companies To Buy For 2014

General Motors (NYSE: GM  ) has been working to revive its old luxury brand Cadillac for over a decade now. Lately, there are some promising signs of success: Sales are up big so far this year, in both the U.S. and overseas.

In this video, Fool contributor John Rosevear checks in on GM's ongoing effort to turn Cadillac around and explains why the ancient brand's success has become so important to GM's biggest goals now.

Is GM a buy now? Or should you run away?
Few companies lead to such strong feelings as General Motors. But ignoring emotions to make good investing decisions is hard. The Fool's premium GM research service�can help, by telling you the truth about GM's growth potential in coming years. (Hint: It's even bigger than you think. But it's not a sure thing, and we'll help you understand why.) It might help give you the courage to be greedy while others are still fearful, as well as a better understanding of the real risks facing General Motors. Just click here�to get started now.

Hot Net Payout Yield Companies To Buy For 2014: (ENTI)

Encounter Technologies, Inc. operates as an online video distribution and technology company that launches proprietary syndication platforms and offers a range of video technology and distribution services to other companies. The company develops and programs solutions for the online streaming, distribution, and networking, as well as for the social network and distribution platforms. It offers end-to-end technology and online marketing services, including design, build, hosting, and online marketing support. The company primarily operates GlobalAdOn.com, a patented technology for the yellow pages publishing industry. Its sales and management platform facilitates the sales and video production process for Internet yellow page publishers and their sales forces, as well as integrates and facilitates various processes, such as video shoot, sales rep, and publisher. The company was formerly known as Encounter.com, Inc. and changed its name to Encounter Technologies, Inc. in De cember 2009. Encounter Technologies, Inc. is based in Fort Myers, Florida.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Stock Chaser]

  Encounter Technologies, Inc. (PINK:ENTI) is up 75% at $0.0007 with an intraday high of $0.0008. Encounter Technologies announced today that they are in strategic discussions with Pegasus Tel, Inc.

Hot Net Payout Yield Companies To Buy For 2014: Summit Financial Group Inc.(SMMF)

Summit Financial Group, Inc. operates as a financial holding company for Summit Community Bank that provides commercial and retail banking services primarily in the eastern Panhandle and south central regions of West Virginia, and the northern region of Virginia. It offers a range of community banking services, including demand, savings, and time deposits; commercial, commercial real estate, construction and development, residential real estate, and consumer loans; letters of credit; and cash management services. The company also operates Summit Insurance Services, LLC, an insurance agency, which offers commercial and personal lines of insurance, including group health, life, and disability benefit plans. As of December 31, 2010, it operated 15 banking offices in West Virginia and Virginia, as well as an insurance agency. The company was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in Moorefield, West Virginia.

Best Casino Stocks To Watch For 2014: Petroquest Energy Inc(PQ)

PetroQuest Energy, Inc. operates as an independent oil and gas company. It engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and operation of oil and gas properties in Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Texas, as well as onshore and in the shallow waters offshore the Gulf Coast Basin. As of December 31, 2009, the company had estimated proved reserves of 1,931 thousand barrels of oil and 167,361 million cubic feet equivalent of natural gas. It owned working interests in 9 net producing oil wells and 277 net producing gas wells. PetroQuest Energy was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in Lafayette, Louisiana.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By SmallCap Investor]

  Shares traded sharply higher after the oil and gas explorer issued an operational update that revealed details of a discovery at its La Cantera site in Louisiana. Raymond James analysts bumped the stock rating to market perform based on the new findings and an improving balance sheet.

Hot Net Payout Yield Companies To Buy For 2014: Ucore Uranium Inc (UCU.V)

Ucore Rare Metals Inc., a junior exploration company, engages in the exploration and development of rare earth element (REE) and uranium properties. The company�s flagship property includes the Bokan Mountain/Dotson Ridge REE property comprising 422 claims located on the southern end of the Prince of Wales Island in southern Alaska. It also has various properties in Ray Mountains, Alaska; Elliott Lake, Ontario; Greater Newfoundland; Sandybeach Lake, Nunavut; and Lost Pond, Newfoundland. The company was formerly known as Ucore Uranium Inc. and changed its name to Ucore Rare Metals Inc. in June 2010. Ucore Rare Metals Inc. is headquartered in Hammonds Plains, Canada.

Best Energy Stocks For 2014

There is a lot of buzz over recent energy activity in Sub-Saharan Africa. With Anadarko Petroleum (NYSE: APC  ) and Eni (NYSE: E  ) making large gas finds off the coast of Mozambique, several majors are now looking to get in the game as well. BP plans to spend $540 million over the next five years to develop a part of this gas field that could hold well over 100 trillion cubic feet.�

Better drilling technology and relative political stability in the region have allowed several companies to start investing money in the region, and if some of these plays hit paydirt, some companies could be in for big paydays. In this video, Fool.com contributor Tyler Crowe talks with Aimee Duffy about some of the hot energy plays on the African continent and what we should expect from this region in the years to come. �

Best Energy Stocks For 2014: MONDI PLC ORD EUR0.20 WI(MNDI.L)

Mondi plc operates as an international paper and packaging company worldwide. It principally engages in the manufacture and sale of packaging paper, converted packaging products, and uncoated fine paper (UFP) products. The company produces hardwood and softwood pulp; UFP under the Color Copy, MAESTRO, and IQ, as well as the Russian Snegurochka and South African ROTATRIM brands; virgin and recycled containerboards for corrugated packaging applications; and corrugated packaging products, including conventional boxes and trays, point-of-sale displays, and shelf-ready and heavy-duty packaging. It also provides kraft papers used in supermarket shelves, and specialized packaging and heavy-duty industrial applications; industrial bags used in packaging cement, chemicals, seeds, animal feed, flour, milk powder, automotive parts, and organic bio-waste; extrusion coating products, release liners, and consumer packaging products; newsprint and telephone directory paper products; and carbon neutral office paper. In addition, the company offers films and laminate products that consist of printed laminates and barrier materials, consumer films, industrial films, and biodegradable films; and consumer bags, such as pouches, reclosable bags, paper-based bags, labels, and microwaveable packaging products. Further, it provides application engineering services, consisting of pre and post-sales technical consultancy, and training services. Mondi plc serves automotive, building, and construction; chemicals and dangerous goods; farming and agriculture; food; industrial paper and packaging; medical and pharmaceutical; office and printing paper; pet food; photographic and graphic; and toiletries and hygiene industries. The company was founded in 1967 and is based in Addlestone, the United Kingdom.

Best Energy Stocks For 2014: S&P GSCI(GD)

General Dynamics Corporation, an aerospace and defense company, provides business aviation; combat vehicles, weapons systems, and munitions; military and commercial shipbuilding; and communications and information technology products and services worldwide. Its Aerospace group designs, manufactures, and outfits various large and mid-cabin business-jet aircraft; provides maintenance, repair work, fixed-based operations, and aircraft management services; and performs aircraft completions for aircraft. The company?s Combat Systems group offers tracked and wheeled military vehicles, weapons systems, and munitions. Its product lines include wheeled combat and tactical vehicles; battle tanks and infantry vehicles; munitions and propellant; rockets and gun systems; and axle and drivetrain components and aftermarket parts. This group also manufactures and supplies engineered axles, suspensions, and brakes for heavy-load vehicles for military and commercial customers. The company Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dave Friedman]

  The shares closed at $62.77, up $1.59, or 2.6%, on the day. They have traded in a 52-week range of $55.46 to $78.27. Volume today was 2,338,444 shares, against a 3-month average volume of 2,440,760 shares. Its market capitalization is $22.71 billion, its trailing P/E is 8.95, its trailing earnings are $7.01 per share, and it pays a dividend of $1.88 per share, for a dividend yield of 3.10%. About the company: General Dynamics Corporation is a diversified defense company. The Company offers a broad portfolio of products and services in business aviation; combat vehicles, weapons systems and munitions; shipbuilding design and construction; and information systems, technologies and services

• [By Vatalyst]

  General Dynamics (GD) operates in the aerospace/defense industry, is the fifth largest military contractor and one of the world’s largest makers of corporate jets. Its Gulfstream jet is one of the world’s most popular corporate aircraft.

  The common stock currently trades at price to earnings ratio of 8.9, well below industry average of 13.1 and its historical average of 13. Price to book ratio is 1.62 while price to cash flow ratio is 7.

• [By Dave Friedman]

  The shares closed at $62.77, up $1.59, or 2.6%, on the day. They have traded in a 52-week range of $55.46 to $78.27. Volume today was 2,338,444 shares, against a 3-month average volume of 2,440,760 shares. Its market capitalization is $22.71 billion, its trailing P/E is 8.95, its trailing earnings are $7.01 per share, and it pays a dividend of $1.88 per share, for a dividend yield of 3.10%. About the company: General Dynamics Corporation is a diversified defense company. The Company offers a broad portfolio of products and services in business aviation; combat vehicles, weapons systems and munitions; shipbuilding design and construction; and information systems, technologies and services

10 Best Gold Stocks To Buy Right Now: Reg Technologies Inc. (RRE.V)

Reg Technologies Inc., a development stage company, focuses on developing and commercially exploiting the Rand Cam/RadMax rotary technology, an improved axial vane type rotary engine. The company intends to offer its Rand Cam/RadMax rotary technology, which is used in the design of lightweight and high efficiency engines, compressors, and pumps. The company was formerly known as Reg Resources Corp. and changed its name to Reg Technologies Inc. in February 1993 to reflect its main area of business development. Reg Technologies Inc. was incorporated in 1982 and is headquartered in Richmond, Canada.

Top 10 Promising Companies To Invest In 2014

Judging solely from the name, you'd expect General Electric (NYSE: GE  ) to have a fondness for electric businesses -- and it does.

On Thursday, GE announced that in yet another move toward trying to midwife an American electric car industry, it will begin the financing of commercial purchases of low-speed electric vehicles from Polaris Industries (NYSE: PII  ) subsidiary�Global Electric Motorcars (GEM).

GE already supports the nascent electric car industry in several ways, for example, by promising to buy 25,000 electric cars�over five years, and by developing the "WattStation" tower for charging electric cars.

The cars GE says it will be financing today -- smaller than better-known Chevy Volt or Nissan Leaf motorcars -- more resemble golfcarts�in size, but can travel at up to 25 mph, and are street-legal for use on many roads. According to a press release, GEM has sold 46,000 of the vehicles to date.

Top 10 Promising Companies To Invest In 2014: OpenTable Inc.(OPEN)

OpenTable, Inc. provides restaurant reservation solutions in the United States, Canada, Germany, Japan, Mexico, and the United Kingdom. It offers solutions that form an online network connecting reservation-taking restaurants and people who dine at those restaurants. The company provides electronic reservation book (ERB) that combines proprietary software and computer hardware to deliver a solution, whcih computerizes restaurant host-stand operations. The ERB streamlines and enhances various functions and processes for restaurants, including reservation management, table management, guest recognition, and email marketing. The company also operates opentable.com, a restaurant reservation Website that enables diners to find, choose, and book tables at restaurants on the OpenTable network in real time. In addition, it offers Connect, a Web-based service that enables restaurants to accept online reservations from the OpenTable network, as well as through its mobile application s and restaurants' Websites. Further, the company provides POP program, which lets restaurants offer diners bonus Dining Reward Points for reservations at select times; and telephone reservation management services for restaurants. Additionally, it operates toptable.com, a restaurant reservation site; designs, builds, and operates the OTRestaurant Website, which serves as an information and services portal for its restaurant customers; and offers versions of the OpenTable Websites for use on mobile devices, as well as free mobile applications. OpenTable, Inc. was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Fabian]

  Open Table Inc. (OPEN) Open Table has a market cap of $1.27 billion with a price- to-earnings ratio of 67.27. The stock has been trading in a 52-week range of $52.46 to $118.66. The stock is currently trading around $53. The company reported second quarter revenue of $34.3 million compared with revenue of $22.5 million in the second quarter of 2010. Second quarter net income was $6.3 million compared with net income of $5.07 million in the second quarter of 2010.

  IAC/InteractiveCorp (IACI) operates the same type of internet business as Open Table. IACI currently trades around $41 with a market cap of $3.52 billion and a price- to-earnings ratio of 24.12.

  Open Table is an established internet company that has posted a profit in six out of the last seven years. In 2010, the company increased its net income by 178%. The company’s stock price has been volatile and is currently near its 52-week low. CNBC stock analyst Jim Cramer thinks Open Table is a safe stock even though its momentum has slowed. I believe that Open Table will continue to be a profitable company, but would wait for the stock price to stabilize before purchasing shares. I rate Open Table Inc. as a hold.

Top 10 Promising Companies To Invest In 2014: Companhia Energetica de Minas Gerais Cemig (CIG)

Companhia Energetica de Minas Gerais (CEMIG), incorporated on May 22, 1952, is a Brazil-based holding company mainly engaged in the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity. In the generation segment, CEMIG operates through hydroelectric plants, thermoelectric plants and wind farms. In the transmission segment, as of December 31, 2008, CEMIG�� transmission network was comprised of 38 substations with a total of 94 transformers and an aggregate transformation capacity of 15,583 Megavolt amperes. In the distribution business, as of December 31, 2008, the Company owned and operated 451,539 kilometers of distribution lines, supplying electricity to approximately 10 million customers. CEMIG is also engaged in the natural gas distribution business in Minas Gerais, through its subsidiary Companhia de Gas de Minas Gerais - GASMIG, as well as in the telecommunications business, through its subsidiary Cemig Telecomunicacoes SA - Cemig Telecom, which provides optical fiber and coaxial cable network.

Power Generation and Trading

As of December 31, 2009, the Company generated electricity at 54 hydroelectric plants, three thermoelectric plants and two wind farms, and had a total installed capacity of 6,624 megawatts. As of December 31, 2009, it owned and operated 3,085 miles of transmission lines and 281,756 miles of distribution lines. It holds concessions to distribute electricity in 96.7% of the territory of Minas Gerais. Eight of CEMIG�� hydroelectric plants accounted for approximately 81% of its installed electric generation capacity during the year ended December 31, 2009. CEMIG operates the Ipatinga thermoelectric plant, through its subsidiary Usina Termica Ipatinga S.A. The plant has an installed capacity of 40 megawatts, generated by two units and that uses blast furnace gas as fuel. The Company operates the Sa Carvalho hydroelectric power plant, located on the Piracicaba River in the municipality of Antonio Dias in the State of Minas Gerais, through its subsid! iary Sa Carvalho S.A. The Company�� Rosal hydroelectric plant has an installed capacity of 55 megawatts. The Rosal plant is located on the Itabapoana River, which runs along the border between the states of Espirito Santo and Rio de Janeiro.

Cemig Capim Branco Energia S.A. is engaged in developing the Capim Branco Generating Complex in partnership with Companhia Vale do Rio Doce (CVRD), a mining company, Comercial e Agricola Paineiras, an agricultural company, and Companhia Mineira de Metais (CMM) a metallurgical company. Horizontes Energia S.A. was formed by the Company to generate and trade electricity, through the commercial operation of its hydroelectric plants: the Machado Mineiro Power Plant (located on the Pardo River in the municipality of Ninheira in the State of Minas Gerais with an installed capacity of 1.72 megawatts); the Salto do Paraopeba Power Plant (located on the Paraopeba River in the town of Jeceaba in the State of Minas Gerais with an installed capacity of 2.37 megawatts); the Salto Voltao Power Plant (located on the Chapecozinho River in the town of Xanxere in the State of Santa Catarina with an installed capacity of 8.2 megawatts), and the Salto do Passo Velho Power Plant (located on the Chapecozinho River in the town of Xanxere in the State of Santa Catarina with an installed capacity of 1.8 megawatts), as well as other generating projects.

Usina Termeletrica Barreiro S.A. holds the assets of the Barreiro thermoelectric power plant. The Irape Hydroelectric Power Plant, which has an installed capacity of 360 megawatts, is located on the Jequitinhonha River, in northern Minas Gerais. The Company�� wind farm, Morro do Camelinho is located in Gouveia, a municipality in northern Minas Gerais. It has a total generation capacity of 1 megawatt, powered by four turbines with a capacity of 250 kilowatts each. Central Eolica Praia do Morgado S.A is located in the county of Acarau, in the State of Ceara. Central Eolica Volta do Rio S.A is located in the county ! of Acarau! , in the State of Ceara.

Transmission

The Company�� transmission business consists of the bulk transfer of electricity from the power plants where it is generated to the distribution system, which carries the electricity to final consumers, and others consumer agents connected directly in the transmission grid. Its transmission system comprises transmission lines and step-down substations with voltages ranging from 230 kilovolt to 500 kilovolt. As of December 31, 2009, the Company�� transmission network in Minas Gerais consisted of 1,352 miles of 500 kilovolt lines, 1,244 miles of 345 kilovolt lines and 485 miles of 230 kilovolt lines, as well as 35 substations with a total of 94 transformers and an aggregate transformation capacity of 15,506 megavolt ampere. The Company transmits the energy that it generates and the energy that it purchases from Itaipu and other sources, as well as the energy for the interconnected power system. On December 31, 2009, the Company also had 13 industrial consumers, to whom it transported 4,103 gigawatt hour directly with high voltage energy, through their connections to its transmission lines. Nine of these industrial consumers accounted for approximately 66.9% of the transported total volume of electricity. The Company also transmits energy to distribution systems, through the south/southeast-linked system of the grid.

Distribution and Purchase of Electric Power

The Company�� distribution operation consists of electricity transfers from distribution substations to final consumers. Its distribution network consists of a network of overhead and underground lines and substations with voltages lower than 230 kilovolts. The Company supplies electricity to industrial consumers at the higher end of the voltage range and residential and commercial consumers at the lower end of the range.

Other Businesses

The Company holds approximately 55% of Gasmig and Petrobras, through its subsidiary, Gaspet! ro-Petrob! ras Gas S.A., holds 40%. In 2009, Gasmig supplied approximately 1.5 million cubic meters of natural gas per day to 276 consumers, including 175 industrial and commercial clients, 93 retail distribution stations for natural gas vehicles, two thermal power plants and six distributors of compressed natural gas (CNG). Gasmig supplied 0.2 million cubic meters of gas per day to thermal power plants and 1.3 million cubic meters of gas per day to retail consumers. In addition to, Gasmig also supplied eight customers with re-gasified liquefied natural gas (LNG). In 2009, Gasmig distributed approximately 4.1% of all natural gas distributed in Brazil.

The Company�� owns a 99.9% interest in Cemig Telecomunicacoes S.A., which has an optical fiber-based long-distance communications backbone installed along the Company�� power grid using optical ground wire cables. This communications backbone is connected to an access network that is based on hybrid fiber-coaxial cable technology and is deployed along its power grid. The telecommunication services provided by Cemig Telecomunicacoes S.A., through its network are signal transportation and access, both for point-to-point and point-to-multipoint applications, delivered to telecommunications operators and Internet service providers on a channel basis. Cemig Telecomunicacoes S.A. also provides intra-company data transmission services to the Company. CEMIG provides consulting services to governments and public utility companies in the electricity industry. The Company has a 100% interest in Efficientia S.A.

Top 10 Diversified Bank Stocks For 2014: Vital Metals Ltd(VML.AX)

Vital Metals Limited engages in the development and exploration of mineral properties. It primarily explores for tungsten and gold. The company?s projects include the Watershed Tungsten project in far north Queensland, Australia; and the Doulnia Gold Project in southern Burkina Faso, West Africa. Vital Metals Ltd is based in Subiaco, Australia.

Top 10 Promising Companies To Invest In 2014: Samson Oil and Gas Ltd (SSN)

Samson Oil & Gas Limited (Samson), incorporated on April 6, 1979, is engaged in exploration and development of oil and natural gas properties in the United States. Samson owns a working interest in each of its three material producing properties, through which it has entered into operating agreements with third parties under which the oil and gas are produced and sold. The Company also has 100% working interest in one exploration property and 50% to 100% in a second property. As of June 30, 2012, the Company�� properties included North Stockyard Project; State GC Oil and Gas Field, New Mexico; Davis Bintliff (Sabretooth Prospect), Brazoria County, Texas; Hawk Springs Project, Goshen County, Wyoming, and Roosevelt Project, Roosevelt County, Montana. As of June 30, 2012, the Company along with its subsidiaries produced approximately 87,956 barrels of oil and 214,463 thousand cubic feet of gas.

North Stockyard Project -Williston Basin, North Dakota

Samson has 34.5% working interest in 3,303 acres adjacent to the North Stockyard Oil Field, which is located in the Williston Basin in North Dakota and is operated by Zavanna LLC. Together with the Company�� working interest owners, it has drilled seven wells in this field, six in the Bakken formation and one in the Mission Canyon formation. During July 2012, the Harstad #1-15H well averaged 15 barrels of oil per day (BOPD). The Leonard-23H (10% working interest, 37.5% after non-consent penalty) is a Mississippian Middle Bakken Formation. In July 2011, this well averaged 46 barrels of oil per day. The Company drilled its third Bakken well in the North Stockyard Field, the Gary-24H (37% working interest). During July 2012, this well averaged 75 BOPD. It drilled its fourth Bakken well in the North Stockyard Field, the Rodney-14H (27% working interest). In July 2011, this well averaged 92 BOPD. It drilled its fifth Bakken well in the North Stockyard Field in Williams County, North Dakota, the Earl 1-13H (32% working interest). In Jul! y 2011, the well averaged 193 BOPD. In June 2011, it drilled its sixth Mississippian Bakken well in the North Stockyard field in Williams County, North Dakota, the Everett 1-15H (26% working interest). As of June 30, 2012, the North Stockyard project had net proved reserves of 598,500 barrels of oil and 757,800 thousand cubic feet (of natural gas).

State GC Oil and Gas Field, New Mexico

The State GC oil and gas field is located in Lea County, New Mexico, and covers approximately 600 acres. As of June 30, 2012, the field had two wells, the State GC#1 and State GC#2. Average daily production during the year ended June 30, 2012 from the State GC oil and gas field was approximately 43 BOPD and 37 million standard cubic feet per day. As of June 30, 2012, the State GC oil and gas field had net proved reserves of 65,500 barrels of oil and 87,300 thousand cubic feet (of natural gas).

Davis Bintliff #1 Well (Sabretooth Prospect), Brazoria County, Texas

The Davis Bintliff #1 well is operated by Davis Holdings. During the year ended June 30, 2012, this well averaged 29 BOPD and 2.61million cubic feet per day. As of June 30, 2012, the Davis Bintliff well had net proved reserves of 700 barrels of oil and 66,400 Thousand cubic feet (of natural gas).

Hawk Springs Project, Goshen County, Wyoming

The Company has 37.5%-100% working interest in Hawk Springs Project. The Spirit of America 1 replacement well, Spirit of America 2, was successfully drilled to a total depth of 10,634 feet during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012 (fiscal 2012).

Roosevelt Project, Roosevelt County, Montana

The well was drilled to a total measured depth of 14,972 feet with the horizontal lateral remaining within the target zone for the entire lateral length. approximately 3,425 barrels of oil have been produced.

Top 10 Promising Companies To Invest In 2014: Keegan Resources Inc(KGN.TO)

Keegan Resources Inc., a natural resource company, engages in the acquisition and exploration of mineral resources in west Ghana, Africa. The company primarily explores for gold ores. It principally owns interests in the Esaase gold property and the Asumura gold property located in south west Ghana. The company was formerly known as Quicksilver Ventures Inc. and changed its name to Keegan Resources Inc. in August 2004. Keegan Resources Inc. was incorporated in 1999 and is based in Vancouver, Canada.

Top 10 Promising Companies To Invest In 2014: Weight Watchers International Inc(WTW)

Weight Watchers International, Inc. provides weight management services worldwide. It offers various services and products that are built upon its weight management plans comprising nutritional, exercise, and behavioral tools and approaches. The company, through its WeightWatchers.com offerings, provides two Internet subscription products, Weight Watchers Online and Weight Watchers eTools. Weight Watchers Online provides online content, functionality, resources, and interactive Web based weight management plans. Weight Watchers eTools is an Internet weight management tool for the Weight Watchers meetings members that helps to manage the day-to-day aspects of weight management plan online, discover various food options, stay informed, and keep track of their weight management efforts. Weight Watchers International also sells various products that complement its weight management plans, such as bars, snacks, cookbooks, food and restaurant guides with PointsPlus values, Weigh t Watchers magazines, and PointsPlus calculators primarily to its members and franchisees. In addition, it offers iPhone application, which provides subscribers with access to a suite of weight-loss tools, as well as helpful content; and iPad application, which provides subscribers with access to a set of recipe tools. The company was founded in 1961 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

Top 10 Promising Companies To Invest In 2014: Silver Wheaton Cor Com Npv(SLW.TO)

Silver Wheaton Corp., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a silver streaming company worldwide. The company has 14 long-term silver purchase agreements and 2 long-term precious metal purchase agreements whereby it acquires silver and gold production from the counterparties located in Mexico, the United States, Canada, Greece, Sweden, Peru, Chile, Argentina, and Portugal. Silver Wheaton Corp. is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Glenn]

  Silver Wheaton is considered to be one of the most stable silver stocks due to its unique and stable business model.

  “They don't have the risks of excavating and not finding anything,” said Yu Dee Chang, Principal at ACE Investments. “Their costs are fixed. That's why their profit margin is also fixed. I like this as a more stable play.”

  Silver Wheaton's core approach lies in buying already-excavated ores from miners, then extracting silver from it. The company's portfolio includes silver streams from Goldcorp's Peñasquito mine in Mexico and Barrick's Pascua-Lama project spanning the border of Chile and Argentina.

  The company says it currently has 15 silver purchase agreements and two precious metals agreements where it has the right to purchase all or a portion of the silver production at a low fixed cost from high-quality mines located in politically stable regions. Silver Wheaton estimates that it will have exposure to 40 million silver equivalent ounces of annual production by 2013, from about 23.5 million silver equivalent ounces in 2010.

  David Christie of Scotia Capital has a sector outperform rating and one-year, $40 price target for the stock. “Silver Wheaton performed better than any other silver investment including the metal itself year-to-date,” he told investors in late 2010, noting that few silver stocks have outperformed the metal. Christie praises the company for being the best-leveraged and safest operational growth story of the precious metals companies he covers.

Top 10 Promising Companies To Invest In 2014: Cambium Learning Group Inc.(ABCD)

Cambium Learning Group, Inc. provides intervention curricula, educational technologies, professional services, and other research-based education solutions in the United States. Its Voyager segment offers reading, math, and professional development programs, as well as online courseware and credit recovery solutions for at-risk and special education student populations. This segment also offers reading, literacy, and targeted intervention programs; interactive Web-based programs; math programs for additional student practice for grades 2-8, students in the 25th percentile and below in grades 5-9, and students at risk of failure in algebra; professional development services for teachers and leadership; and online instruction, supplemental courseware, and intervention programs. The company?s Sopris segment provides printed and technology based supplemental solutions comprising assessments, literacy and mathematics interventions, positive behavior supports, and professional development. It offers various programs that address students who score at or below the basic skill level in writing; reading and writing intervention programs; literary screening and progress monitoring tools; professional development programs for educators; programs to improve reading fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension for grades 3-12; and intensive, multisensory, and small group reading intervention programs for primary through intermediate grades. The company?s Cambium Learning Technologies segment provides integrated Websites for individual classrooms, schools, and districts; subscription-based online library of interactive simulations for math and science in grades 3-12; text-to-speech software literacy solutions for individuals with special needs and learning difficulties; and hardware products that target students with physical, visual and cognitive disabilities. Cambium Learning Group, Inc. was founded in 2002 and is headquartered in Dallas, Texas.

Top 10 Promising Companies To Invest In 2014: Bassett Furniture Industries Incorporated(BSET)

Bassett Furniture Industries, Incorporated, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the manufacture, marketing, import, and retail of branded home furnishings in the United States. The company operates in three segments: Wholesale, Retail, and Investments and Real Estate. The Wholesale segment engages in the design, manufacture, sourcing, sale, and distribution of furniture products and accessories to a network of 89 Bassett Home Furnishings stores, including independently-owned and company-owned retail stores; and independent furniture retailers. This segment is also involved in wood and upholstery operations. The Retail segment operates 39 licensee-owned stores and 49 company-owned and operated stores in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. The Investments a nd Real Estate segment consists of retail real estate related to licensee stores; equity investments in Zenith Freight Lines, LLC; and investments in marketable securities; investment in the Fortress Value Recovery Fund I, LLC. Bassett Furniture Industries, Incorporated was founded in 1902 and is based in Bassett, Virginia.

Top 10 Promising Companies To Invest In 2014: Astivita Renewables Limited(AIR.AX)

AstiVita Renewables Limited, through its subsidiaries, imports, warehouses, and distributes bathroom, kitchen, and solar products for retailers, plumbing merchants, hardware suppliers, and licensed dealers in Australia and New Zealand. It offers tap ware, bath spouts, shower heads, bathroom vanities, baths and spas, basins, shower cubicles, bathroom accessories, mirrors and cabinets, bathroom toilets, plugs and wastes, kitchen sinks, kitchen appliances, and solar hot water and home solar electricity products. AstiVita Renewables Limited was founded in 2004 and is based in Rocklea, Australia.