Best Cheap Stocks To Own Right Now

It's not just small Windows RT-based tablets that are getting cheaper. Small tablets running the more full-featured Windows 8 are also now seeing their value propositions improve.

Sources told Bloomberg earlier this week that Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT  ) is slashing licensing fees to manufacturers of small Windows RT devices, and now a Microsoft executive is confirming the discount across both operating systems.

Nick Parker -- VP of Microsoft's OEM division -- also says that the discount program will come with free Microsoft Office software. It will be up to the manufacturers to decide if they want to include Word, Excel, OneNote, and PowerPoint in their tablets -- no Outlook -- and it's hard to see them passing up on the offer.

This explains why the first 8-inch Windows 8 tablet -- Acer's Iconia W3 -- is set to hit the market at a refreshingly reasonable $379 price point.

Best Cheap Stocks To Own Right Now: Hologic Inc.(HOLX)

Hologic Inc. develops, manufactures, and supplies diagnostic, medical imaging systems, and surgical products for the healthcare needs of women. The company operates in four segments: Breast Health, Diagnostics, GYN Surgical, and Skeletal Health. The Breast Health segment offers breast imaging products, such as Selenia full field digital mammography system, breast tomosynthesis, healthcome mammography products, screen-film mammography systems, SecurView workstation, CAD systems, stereotactic breast biopsy systems, breast biopsy products, breast brachytherapy products, MammoPad breast cushions, and photoconductor coatings, as well as Sentinelle medical MRI breast coils and workstations. This segment also develops a breast imaging platform, Dimensions, which utilizes a tomosynthesis technology to produce 3D images. The Diagnostics segment provides ThinPrep system, a solution for cervical cancer screening; rapid fetal fibronectin test for pre-term birth risk assessment; and hu man papillomavirus offering and InVitro diagnostics for cervical cancer tests. The GYN Surgical segment offers NovaSure system, a minimally-invasive procedure that allows physicians to treat women suffering from excessive menstrual bleeding; MyoSure system for the hysteroscopic removal of fibroids; and Adiana system, a form of permanent female contraception intended as an alternative to tubal ligation. The Skeletal Health segment provides QDR X-Ray bone densitometers that assess the bone density of fracture sites; Sahara clinical bone sonometers, which assess the bone density of heels; and Mini C-Arm imaging systems that are used to perform minimally invasive surgical procedures on a patient?s extremities. Hologic Inc. sells its products through a combination of direct sales and service forces, a network of independent distributors, and sales representatives primarily in the United States, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific. The company was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in Bedford, Massachusetts.

Best Cheap Stocks To Own Right Now: Pitney Bowes Inc(PBI)

Pitney Bowes Inc. provides mail processing equipment and integrated mail solutions worldwide. It offers a suite of equipment, supplies, software, services, and solutions for managing and integrating physical and digital communication channels. The company?s Small & Medium Business Solutions group engages in the sale, rental, and financing of mail finishing, mail creation, and shipping equipment and software; provision of supply, support, and other professional services; and provision of payment solutions. Its Enterprise Business Solutions group sells, supports, and offers other professional services for high-speed production mail systems, and sorting and production print equipment; and sells and provides support services for non-equipment-based mailing, customer relationship and communication, and location intelligence software. This group also offers facilities management services; secure mail services; reprographic document management services; and litigation support and eDiscovery services, as well as provides presort mail services and cross-border mail services; and direct marketing services. Pitney Bowes Inc. markets its products and services through its sales force, direct mailings, outbound telemarketing, and independent distributors and dealers to various business, governmental, institutional, and other organizations. The company, formerly known as Pitney Bowes Postage Meter Company, was founded in 1920 and headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jim Lowell]

  Pitney Bowes (PBI) provides mail processing equipment and integrated mail solutions in the United States and internationally. The company is a member of the dividend aristocrats index and has raised distributions for 29 years in a row. Yield: 5.90%.

Hot High Tech Companies To Watch For 2014: Cliffmont Resources Ltd. (CMO.V)

Cliffmont Resources Ltd., a junior resource company, engages in the acquisition and exploration of mineral properties in Colombia. The company focuses on precious and base metal properties. It holds an interest in the San Luis gold project that covers approximately 2,701 hectares in Huila, Colombia. The company was formerly known as Atlas Minerals Inc. and changed its name to Cliffmont Resources Ltd. in February 2010. Cliffmont Resources Ltd. is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.