10 Best States for Business Taxes

The Tax Foundation released on Wednesday the results of its 2014 State Business Tax Climate Index. This is the 10th iteration of the index from the Tax Foundation, a non-partisan research firm.

A state’s position on the index is not just a question of total taxes paid. For a state’s tax climate to be considered good, the Tax Foundation looked at how many major taxes were levied on companies doing business there. States that either forgo major taxes or keep rates low were more likely to appear in the top 10.

However, states’ position in the index is also relative. One state’s ranking might be higher simply because another state’s tax code is more burdensome. “Every tax law will in some way change a state’s competitive position relative to its immediate neighbors, its geographic region and even globally,” according to the report.

(See if the states ranked here also made ThinkAdvisor’s 20 Best & Worst States for Pension Funding.)

“The states that lost ground this year usually did so because they changed policy in a way that makes the tax code more complex, burdensome or economically harmful,” Scott Drenkard, Tax Foundation economist, said in a statement. “By contrast, the states that improved did so because they are moved closer to a tax code that collects revenue without unnecessarily distorting business decisions. Their tax codes became more neutral.”

Best High Dividend Companies For 2015

The Tax Foundation rated states based on five tax categories. Each category was weighted differently based on how likely each component is to change; those with greater variability have more weight.

10. Indiana

9. Utah

8. New Hampshire

7. Montana

6. Washington

5. Florida

4. Alaska

3. Nevada

2. South Dakota

1. Wyoming

Check out these Top 10 lists on ThinkAdvisor:

10 Best Media Stocks To Own Right Now

When it comes to market-moving news, the Federal Reserve has been just about the biggest newsmaker in the business in recent years. Ever since the bull market began in 2009, the Fed's constant support has pushed stock markets sharply higher, defying skeptics and helping stock benchmarks set dozens of new all-time record highs along the way. Yet in more recent meetings, concerns about when the Fed's support may have to end have caused turbulence in share prices and a big spike in interest rates. With the Fed meeting this week, investors saw this morning's weaker numbers on pending home sales as a reminder that the Fed's impact on rates is rippling through the economy, with implications not only for bonds, but for stocks as well. As of 10:45 a.m. EDT, the Dow Jones Industrials (DJINDICES: ^DJI  ) are down 37 points, or 0.24%, while the broader market has fallen by a similar percentage.

Yet some of the news hitting Dow component stocks seems almost trivial compared to its impact. Take Boeing (NYSE: BA  ) , for instance, which has expanded its inspection of locator beacons to aircraft models beyond the 787 Dreamliner after airlines flying the Dreamliner reported problems with emergency-transmitter wiring. This would ordinarily be a routine matter -- just one of probably hundreds of inspections that Boeing does on a regular basis. The stock's 0.5% drop reflects just how anxious investors are about anything that has to do with the 787 right now, and further worries could create buying opportunities for longer-term investors willing to look beyond immediate concerns.

Top Wireless Telecom Companies To Watch For 2015: News Corporation(NWSA)

News Corporation operates as a diversified media company worldwide. Its Cable Network Programming segment produces and licenses news, business news, sports, general entertainment, and movie programming for distribution through cable television systems and direct broadcast satellite operators primarily in the United States, Latin America, Europe, and Asia. The company?s Filmed Entertainment segment produces and acquires live-action and animated motion pictures for distribution and licensing in entertainment media, as well as produces and licenses television programming worldwide. Its Television segment operates 27 broadcast television stations in the United States. The company?s Direct Broadcast Satellite Television segment distributes programming services via satellite and broadband directly to subscribers in Italy. Its Publishing segment provides newspapers and information services, such as publishing national newspapers in the United Kingdom, approximately 146 newspapers in Australia, and a metropolitan and a national newspaper in the United States; book publishing services, including the publishing of English language books worldwide; and integrated marketing services comprising the publishing of free-standing inserts, which are marketing booklets containing coupons, rebates, and other consumer offers, as well as provides in-store marketing products and services, primarily to consumer packaged goods manufacturers in the United States and Canada. The company also sells advertising, sponsorships, and subscription services on the company?s various digital media properties and outdoor advertising space on various media primarily in Russia and eastern Europe; and provides data systems and professional services that enable teachers to use data to assess student progress and deliver individualized instructions. News Corporation was founded in 1922 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Brian Stelter]

  Of Murdoch's two companies, News Corp (NWSA). would be the one interested in more newspapers. It already owns Wall Street Journal publisher Dow Jones and the New York Post.

• [By WALLSTCHEATSHEET]

  News Corp. is a media and information services company that was recently spun off of its very profitable entertainment segment. A popular hedge fund has recently acquired a significant portion of the company’s voting stock. The stock has been moving higher after its recent spinoff. Over the last four quarters, earnings and revenues have been rising, which has pleased investors in the company. Relative to its peers and sector, News Corp. has been a weak year-to-date performer. WAIT AND SEE what News Corp. does this coming quarter.

10 Best Media Stocks To Own Right Now: Discovery Communications Inc(DISCA)

Discovery Communications, Inc. operates as a non fiction media and entertainment company worldwide. The company provides original and purchased programming across various distribution platforms. Its content covers science, exploration, survival, natural history, sustainability of the environment, technology, docu-series, anthropology, paleontology, history, space, archaeology, health and wellness, engineering, adventure, lifestyles, forensics, civilization, and current events. The company owns and operates nine national television networks in the United States, including Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Science Channel, Investigation Discovery, Military Channel, Planet Green, Discovery Fit & Health, and Velocity. Discovery Communications also has interests in Oprah Winfrey Network, a pay-television network and Web site; The Hub that features original programming, game shows, and live-action series and specials; and 3net, a three-dimensional network. In addition, it o ffers network branded Web sites, and mobile and video-on-demand services; and distributes various national and pan-regional television networks. Further, the company develops and sells curriculum-based products and services to public and private K-12 schools, such as access to an online VOD service that includes curriculum-based tools, professional development services, and student assessment and publication of hardcopy curriculum-based content; and postproduction audio services to motion picture studios, independent producers, broadcast networks, cable channels, advertising agencies, and interactive producers. As of December 31, 2011, it operated approximately 150 distribution feeds in 40 languages. The company is headquartered in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lauren Pollock]

  Discovery Communications Inc.(DISCA) is mulling a bid for Scripps Network Interactive Inc.(SNI), the owner of cable channels like the Food Network and HGTV, according to a person familiar with the matter. Shares of Scripps jumped 10% to $83.01 premarket.

• [By Sean Williams]

  To begin with, partnerships are a key component to Hasbro's ongoing success. In 2009, Hasbro entered into a deal with media company Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA  ) to create a channel known as the Hub, which would feature programming based on Hasbro's owned toy lines. Since 2010, when the channel made its debut, sales of My Little Pony have taken off. In the wake of its renewed success, the franchise released a new movie in June, which will go onto DVD later this summer.�

10 Best Media Stocks To Own Right Now: Liberty Global Inc.(LBTYA)

Liberty Global, Inc. provides video, broadband Internet, and telephony services primarily in Europe and Chile. The company offers broadband services over cable distribution systems, including video, broadband Internet, and telephony; and video services through direct-to-home satellite, or through multichannel multipoint distribution systems. Its analog video services comprise basic and expanded basic programming; and digital cable services include basic and premium programming, digital video recorders, and high definition programming, as well as pay-per-view programming, such as video-on-demand and near video-on-demand. In addition, the company offers voice-over-Internet-protocol and circuit-switched telephony services, as well as mobile telephony services using third-party networks. Further, it owns programming networks that provide video programming channels to multi-channel distribution systems owned by the company and the third parties. As of December 31, 2011, the com pany owned and operated networks that passed 33,262,100 homes; and served 18,405,500 video subscribers, 8,159,300 broadband Internet subscribers, and 6,225,300 telephony subscribers. Liberty Global, Inc. was founded in 2004 and is based in Englewood, Colorado.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By WWW.MARKETWATCH.COM]

  SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Philippe Laffont of Coatue Management gave Liberty Global's (LBTYA) stock a big boost on Monday after he noted how the company will benefit from increasing demand for broadband, in part due to Netflix's expansion. He also speculated the possiblity of a high-profile takeover from major mobile operators such as Vodafone (VOD) . Liberty Global is a cable holding company owned by John Malone. Shares of Liberty Global were up 2.2% and shares of Vodafone gained 0.6% following Laffont's presentation at the Ira Sohn conference .

10 Best Media Stocks To Own Right Now: Cablevision Systems Corporation (CVC)

Cablevision Systems Corporation provides telecommunications and media services. It operates in two segments, Telecommunications Services and Other. The Telecommunications Services segment is involved in television business, including video, high-speed data, and VoIP operations, as well as the provision of commercial data and voice services. The Other segment offers Newsday, a daily newspaper; amNewYork, a free daily newspaper; and Star Community Publishing, a group of weekly shopper publications; and newsday.com and exploreLI.com. This segment also engages in motion picture theatre business, Clearview Cinemas; provision of the News 12 Networks, a regional news programming services; and the MSG Varsity network, a network covering high school sports and activities, and other local programs, as well as cable television advertising. Cablevision Systems Corporation was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in Bethpage, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Tom Reese]

  Regional cable TV and Internet provider Cablevision Systems Corporation (CVC) on Friday announced better-than-expected third quarter earnings results, reversing a year-ago loss.

  Cablevision’s Q3 Earnings in Brief
  - Net income totaled $294.6 million, or $1.10 per share, reversing last year’s loss of $3.79 million, or -1 penny per share.
  - Revenue rose 1.8% from last year to $1.57 billion.
  - Analysts expected much lower earnings of just 11 cents per share, on matching revenue.

  Latest Dividend Reiterated; Yield Surpasses Peers
  In its earnings release, Cablevision announced it would continue its dividend payout of 15 cents per share. The latest dividend will be paid on Dec. 13 with an ex-dividend date of Nov. 20. The company has not raised its dividend payout since May of 2011.

  Despite the lack of dividend raise, CVC’s dividend yield of 3.84% compares favorably with other stocks in its industry. Time Warner Cable (TWC) offers a yield of 2.2%, while Comcast Corporation (CMCSA) yields just 1.65%. The average dividend yield for S&P 500 companies is around 2.5%, so Cablevision’s yield is well above both its industry average as well as the wider market average. Still, its lofty yield has come more as a result of poor price performance, rather than dividend increases.

  Shares Rise, but Still Tail Indexes
  Cablevision shares rose more than 2% in early trading on Friday, but the company’s stock performance has lagged the wider markets for quite some time. Year-to-date, CVC has gained about 6%, compared with a 24% gain in the benchmark S&P 500 index. The stock was trading around the $38 level as recently as early 2011, so its dividend yield has risen significantly as its stock price plunged to around $16.

10 Best Media Stocks To Own Right Now: Thomson Reuters Corp(TRI)

Thomson Reuters Corporation provides intelligent information for businesses and professionals worldwide. The company allows market participants to connect, access content, and trade in a secure environment through Thomson Reuters Eikon desktop, Thomson Reuters Elektron network, content integration and management technology, content feeds and databases, and transactions infrastructure solutions that support buy- and sell-side customers to trade in foreign exchange, fixed income and derivatives, equities, exchange-traded instruments, and commodities and energy markets. It also offers information, analytics, workflow, and technology solutions to buy-side and off-trading floor customers; access to liquidity in over-the-counter markets, trade execution, and connections for market participants and financial professionals? communities; and a suite of solutions offering informed outcomes to regulated industries and law firms. In addition, the company provides critical information , decision support tools, and software and services to legal, investigation, business, and government professionals; integrated tax compliance and accounting software and services for accounting and law firms, corporations, and government professionals; intellectual property and scientific resources that enable its customers to discover, develop, and deliver innovations; and data analytics, and performance benchmarking solutions and services to healthcare sector. Further, it offers coverage of global, regional, and national news in 20 languages covering politics, business, finance, entertainment, lifestyle, technology, health, science, and sports; and engages in advertising-supported direct-to-consumer publishing activities of Reuters.com and its network of Websites, mobile applications, and electronic out-of-home displays. The company was formerly known as The Thomson Corporation and changed its name to Thomson Reuters Corporation in April 2008. The company is headquartered in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Monica Wolfe]

  Thomson Reuters (TRI)

  On Feb. 11, Thomson Reuters declared a dividend of $0.330 per share, representing 3.80% dividend yield for the company. This dividend is payable on March 17 to shareholders of the record at the close of business on Feb. 24, 2014.

10 Best Media Stocks To Own Right Now: Comcast Corporation(CMCSA)

Comcast Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides entertainment, information, and communications products and services in the United States and internationally. Its Cable Communications segment provides video, high-speed Internet, and phone services to residential and business customers. As of June 30, 2011, its cable systems served approximately 22.5 million video customers, 17.5 million high-speed Internet customers, and 9.1 million phone customers. The company?s Cable Networks segment operates cable entertainment networks, such as USA Network, Syfy, E!, Bravo, Oxygen, Style, G4, Chiller, Sleuth, and Universal HD; news and information networks, including CNBC, MSNBC, and CNBC World; cable sports networks comprising Golf Channel and VERSUS; regional sports and news networks; international entertainment, and news and information networks, such as CNBC Europe, CNBC Asia, and Universal Networks International portfolio of networks; cable television production oper ations; and digital media properties consisting primarily of brand-aligned Websites and other Websites, such as DailyCandy, Fandango, and iVillage. Its Broadcast Television segment operates the U.S. broadcast networks, NBC and Telemundo; 10 NBC and 15 Telemundo owned local television stations; broadcast television productions; and related digital media properties. The company?s Filmed Entertainment segment operates Universal Pictures, which produces, acquires, markets, and distributes filmed entertainment and stage plays worldwide in various media formats for theatrical, home entertainment, television, and other distribution platforms. Its Theme Parks segment operates Universal Studios Hollywood park and Wet ?n Wild water park, as well as licenses intellectual properties and provides services to third parties that own and operate Universal Studios Japan and Universal Studios Singapore. Comcast Corporation was founded in 1963 and is based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lee Jackson]

  Comcast Corp. (NASDAQ: CMCSA) has everything from content to delivery, after its purchase of NBC Universal. The consensus price target for the largest cable company in the United States is $51. Investors are paid a 1.8% dividend.

• [By Evan Niu, CFA]

  Along the way, the industry became segregated into wired and wireless sectors. Comcast (NASDAQ: CMCSA  ) and Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWC  ) dominated the wired side, while AT&T and Verizon (NYSE: VZ  ) primarily call the shots in wireless.

• [By Marc Bastow]

  Information, entertainment, and cable provider Comcast (CMCSA) raised its quarterly dividend 15.4% to 22.5 cents per share, payable on Apr. 23 to shareholders of record as of Apr. 2.
  CMCSA Dividend Yield: 1.67%

10 Best Media Stocks To Own Right Now: 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.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Michael Calia]

  Comcast Corp.(CMCSA) is much more likely to work with Charter Communications Inc.(CHTR) on a bid for Time Warner Cable Inc.(TWC) than to pursue an offer on its own, said a person familiar with the situation–a major boost to Charter’s hopes of winning the takeover battle.

• [By Jon C. Ogg]

  If Liberty is able to swallow Sirius, it gives Liberty access to the satellite radio leader’s full free cash flow of about $625 million. That will almost certainly be used in Liberty’s pursuit of Time Warner Cable Inc. (NYSE: TWC). Liberty holds about a�27% stake in Charter Communications Inc. (NASDAQ: CHTR) and has been trying to put together the financing to buy out the much larger Time Warner.

5 Best Prefered Stocks To Buy Right Now

5 Best Prefered Stocks To Buy Right Now: Safe Bulkers Inc(SB)

Safe Bulkers, Inc. provides marine drybulk transportation services worldwide. The company transports various bulk cargoes, primarily coal, grain, and iron ore. As of July 15, 2011, it had a fleet of 16 drybulk vessels, with an aggregate carrying capacity of 1,443,800 deadweight tons. The company?s fleet consists of Panamax, Kamsarmax, Post-Panamax, and Capesize class vessels, as well as 11 further contracted additional drybulk new build vessels to be delivered at various times through 2014. Safe Bulkers, Inc. was incorporated in 2007 and is based in Athens, Greece.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By James E. Brumley]

  The recent strength from Sino-Global Shipping America, Ltd. (NASDAQ:SINO) and the now-renewed strength from Safe Bulkers, Inc. (NYSE:SB) would suggest those two stocks are among the very best ways to play the rebound currently unfurling in the shipping sector. And to be fair, both are fine companies in their own right. The top play in the dry goods maritime shipping arena, however, may well be Diana Shipping Inc. (NYSE:DSX). No, DSX isn't one of the fun and exciting small caps in the maritime shipping space. But, there's a lot to be said for size and stability, which SB and SINO can't offer.

• [By Rick Munarriz]

  Wednesday
  Safe Bulkers (NYSE: SB  ) reports on Wednesday. The Greek provider of marine drybulk transportation services is in a volatile sector that should improve as the global economy gets better. Wall Street sees revenue and earnings declining by double-digit percentage clips this time around.

source from Top Penny Stocks For 2015:http://www.seekpennystocks.com/5-best-prefered-stocks-to-buy-right-now-2.html

10 Best Consumer Service Stocks To Buy Right Now

KeyBanc announced on Thursday that it has boosted its rating on AvalonBay Communities Inc (AVB) to “Buy.”

The firm has upgraded AVB from “Hold” to “Buy,” and has given the company a $139 price target. This price target suggests a 15% upside from the stock’s current price of $120.55. KeyBanc has also upgraded residential REIT UDR, Inc. (UDR) and has cut its rating on Essex Property Trust Inc (ESS).

Top Defense Stocks To Own Right Now: Gazprom OAO (GAZP)

Gazprom OAO is a Russia-based company engaged in the operation of gas pipeline systems and gas supply to European countries. In addition, it is involved in the oil production and refining activities, as well as energy generation. It�� activities comprise exploration and production of gas, transportation of gas, sale of gas domestically and abroad, gas storage, production of crude oil and gas condensate, processing of oil, gas condensate and other hydrocarbons, and sales of refined products, as well as electric and heat energy generation and sales. On January 9, 2013, the Company sold its 76.69% stake in Zapsibgazprom OAO and whole stake in March Kauno termofikacijos elektrine. In April 2013, it also created Gazprom Invest LLC, as well as, signed a purchase-sale contract for shares in 72 gas distribution organizations belonging to Rosneftegaz OAO. In November 2013, the Company raised its stake to 100% in CJSC Gazprom Neft Orenburg. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ian Sayson]

  Russian stocks fell for a third day as crude oil, the nation�� chief export earner, retreated. Mechel fell to the lowest level since Sept. 6, while OAO Gazprom (GAZP), the natural-gas export monopoly, retreated 0.9 percent.

10 Best Consumer Service Stocks To Buy Right Now: LendingClub Corp (LC)

LendingClub Corporation, incorporated on October 2, 2006, provides online marketplace connecting borrowers and investors. The Company operates an online market that connects borrowers looking for loans with individuals with the money to fund them. It lends money to help consumers pay off credit-card bills, consolidate debt and take vacations. Its platform enables customers in investing in and obtaining personal loans by providing financial data and credit information.

The Company provides search algorithm, credit decisioning, a secondary market, and a choice of loan durations. The Company serves the professional fixed income investors, such as family offices and insurance companies.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rana Pritanjali]

  Lending Club's (NYSE: LC  ) stock is up a stellar 66% since the company went public in December. The peer-to-peer lending specialist offers an alternative to the traditional banking system with an online platform for borrowers and lenders. It has a leading 40% share of the�peer-to-peer lending market, far outstripping No. 2 player�Prosper.com and its 8% market share.�

10 Best Consumer Service Stocks To Buy Right Now: Uranium Resources Inc.(URRE)

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

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Udovich]

  Small cap nuclear fuel stock USEC Inc (NYSE: USU) is up some 300% this week���meaning its worth taking a closer look at the company along with the performance potential uranium or nuclear stock peers Uranium Resources, Inc (NASDAQ: URRE), Denison Mines Corp (NYSEMKT: DNN), Ur-Energy Inc (NYSEMKT: URG) and Uranerz Energy Corp (NYSEMKT: URZ).

• [By John Udovich]

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

10 Best Consumer Service Stocks To Buy Right Now: MYR Group Inc.(MYRG)

MYR Group Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides electrical construction service in the continental United States. The company operates in two segments, Transmission and Distribution, and Commercial and Industrial. The Transmission and Distribution segment provides design, engineering, procurement, construction, upgrade, maintenance, and repair services. Its services include the construction and maintenance of high voltage transmission lines, substations, and lower voltage underground and overhead distribution systems; and emergency restoration services in response to hurricane, ice, or other storm related damages. This segment?s customers include investor-owned utilities, municipal utilities, cooperatives, federally-owned utilities, independent power producers, independent transmission companies, industrial facility owners, and other contractors. The Commercial and Industrial segment provides electrical contracting services for commercial and industrial construction in the western United States. It offers electrical contracting services for airports, hospitals, data centers, hotels, casinos, arenas, convention centers, manufacturing plants, processing facilities, and transportation control and management systems. This segment?s customers include general contractors, commercial and industrial facility owners, local governments, and developers. MYR Group Inc. was founded in 1891 and is headquartered in Rolling Meadows, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By CRWE]

  MYR Group Inc. (Nasdaq:MYRG), a leading specialty contractor serving the electrical infrastructure market in the United States, reported that the Company will be attending the 2012 Wedbush Securities Clean Technology & Industrial Growth Management Access Conference. The conference will take place in San Francisco, California, at The Westin Hotel, September 12, 2012.

• [By Seth Jayson]

  Calling all cash flows
  When you are trying to buy the market's best stocks, it's worth checking up on your companies' free cash flow once a quarter or so, to see whether it bears any relationship to the net income in the headlines. That's what we do with this series. Today, we're checking in on MYR Group (Nasdaq: MYRG  ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.

• [By Damian Illia]

  Finally, I always like to see one of the most important financial ratios applying to stockholders, the best measure of performance for a firm's management: the return on equity. The ratio has decreased when compared to its ROE from the same quarter one year prior. This is a signal of major weakness. Moreover, it is worse than those shown in the table like Aegion Corporation (AEGN), EnerNOC Inc. (ENOC), MYR GroupInc. (MYRG) and Pike Corporation (PIKE).

10 Best Consumer Service Stocks To Buy Right Now: Cisco Systems Inc (CSCO)

Cisco Systems, Inc., incorporated on December 10, 1984, designs, manufactures, and sells Internet protocol (IP)-based networking and other products related to the communications and information technology (IT) industry and provide services associated with these products and their use. The Company provides a line of products for transporting data, voice, and video within buildings, across campuses, and around the world. Its products are designed to transform how people connect, communicate, and collaborate. Its products are installed at enterprise businesses, public institutions, telecommunications companies, commercial businesses, and personal residences. The Company has five segments: United States and Canada, European Markets, Emerging Markets, Asia Pacific, and Japan. The Emerging Markets theater consists of Eastern Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa, and Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States. In July 30, 2012, it acquired NDS Group Ltd. In October 2012, it acquired virtual networking company, vCider. In August 2011, the Company acquired Versly. In November 2011, it acquired BNI Video. In March 2012, the Company acquired Lightwire, Inc. In May 2012, the Company acquired ClearAccess. In December 2012, the Company acquired Cloupia. In December 2012, the Company acquired Cariden Technologies Inc. In December 2012, the Company acquired Meraki, Inc.

The Company�� product offerings fall into three categories: its core technologies, routing and switching; advanced technologies, and other products. In addition to its product offerings, the Company provides a range of service offerings, technical support services and advanced services. The advanced services program supports networking devices, applications, solutions, and complete infrastructures.

Routing

The Company offers a range of routers, from core network infrastructure for service providers and enterprises to access routers for branch offices and for telecommuters and consumers at ho! me. Key products within its routing category are the Cisco ASR 901/903, Cisco 1000, 5000, and 9000 Cisco Aggregation Services Routers (ASR), as well as the Cisco ASR 800, 1900, 2900 and 3900 Cisco Integrated Services Routers (ISR):; Cisco CRS-1, 7600 and Cisco CRS-3 Cisco Carrier Routing Systems (CRS). During the fiscal year ended July 31, 2010 (fiscal 2010), Cisco introduced the Cisco CRS-3 Carrier Routing System (CRS-3) and Cisco 7600 Series Routers.

Service Provider Video

The Company�� end-to-end, digital video distribution systems and digital interactive set-top boxes enable service providers and content originators to deliver entertainment, information, and communication services to consumers and businesses around the world. Key product areas within its Service Provider Video category are: Set-Top Boxes, IP set-top boxes (both High-Definition (HD) and Standard Definition (SD)); Digital cable set-top boxes (both HD and SD); Cable Modem CPE (Data, EMTA, and Gateways); Videoscape Software Products and Headend Equipment (Encoders, Decoders, and Transcoders).

Switching

The Company�� switching products offer many forms of connectivity to end users, workstations, IP phones, access points, and servers, and also function as aggregators on local-area networks (LANs), metropolitan-area networks (MANs), and wide-area networks (WANs). Its switching systems employ several widely used technologies, including Ethernet, Power over Ethernet, Fibre Channel over Ethernet, Packet over Synchronous Optical Network, and Multiprotocol Label Switching. Many of its switches are designed to support an integrated set of advanced services, allowing organizations to be more efficient by using one switch for multiple networking functions rather than multiple switches to accomplish the same functions.

Cisco offers a family of Ethernet switching solutions from fixed-configuration switches for small and medium-sized businesses to modular switches for enterprise! s and ser! vice providers. Its fixed-configuration switches are designed to provide a foundation for converged data, voice, and video services. Key products within its switching category are the Cisco Catalyst 2960, 3560, 3750, 4500 and 6500 Series; the Cisco Nexus 2000, 3000, 5000 and 7000 Series switches; and MDS Series: MDS 9000.

Fixed-configuration switches are designed to cover a range of deployments in small and medium-sized businesses. It fixed-configuration switches are designed to provide a foundation for converged data, voice, and video services. They range from small, standalone switches to stackable models that function as a single, scalable switching unit. Modular switches are typically utilized by enterprise and service provider customers. Fixed-configuration and modular switches also include products such as optics modules which are shared across multiple product platforms.

NGN Routing

Routing technology is fundamental to the Internet, and this technology interconnects public and private IP networks for mobile, data, voice, and video applications. The Company's NGN Routing products are designed to enhance the intelligence, security, reliability, scalability, and level of performance in the transmission of information and media-rich applications. It offers a broad range of routers, from core network infrastructure and mobile Internet network for service providers and enterprises to access routers for branch offices and for telecommuters and consumers at home. Key product areas within its NGN Routing category are, Cisco Aggregation Services Routers: Cisco ASR 901/903, Cisco ASR 1000, Cisco ASR 5000 and Cisco ASR 9000. Cisco Integrated Services Routers: Cisco ISR 800, Cisco ISR 1900, Cisco ISR 2900 and Cisco ISR 3900. Cisco Carrier Routing Systems: Cisco CRS-1, Cisco CRS-3 and Cisco 7600 Series Routers.

Security

Cisco security solutions deliver identity, network and content security solutions designed to enable customers to reduce the ! impact of! threats and realize the benefits of a mobile, collaborative, and cloud-enabled business. The products in this category span firewall, intrusion prevention, remote access, virtual private networks (VPNs), unified clients, network admission control, Web gateways, and email gateways. Its AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client solution enables users to access networks with their mobile device of choice, including laptops and smartphone-based mobile devices, while allowing organizations to manage the security risks of networks. Its cloud-based Web security service is designed to provide real-time threat protection and to prevent malware from reaching corporate networks, including roaming or mobile users. It focuses on a proactive, layered approach to counter both existing and emerging security threats. During the fiscal year ended July 28, 2012, it introduced the Cisco ASA 5500-X Series Midrange Security Appliance, Cisco Security Manager 4.3, the IPS 4500 Series, and Prime Security Manager.

Wireless

The Cisco Unified Wireless Network aims to harness the network to solve business problems, uniting high-performance wireless access across campus, branch, remote and outdoor environments. Its offerings include wireless access points (including the Cisco Aironet product family), controllers, antennas, and integrated management. The Company�� offerings provide users with simplified management and mobile device troubleshooting features which are designed to reduce operational cost and maximize flexibility and reliability. It is also investing in custom chipsets to deliver functions such as CleanAir proactive spectrum intelligence, ClientLink acceleration for mobile devices and VideoStream multicast optimization technology.

Data Center

The Company�� data center product category has been its major product category for the past two fiscal years. Cisco Unified Computing System (UCS) and Server Access Virtualization form the core of the Data Center product category.! Key prod! uct areas within its Data Center product category are: Cisco UCS B-Series Blade Servers, Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers and Cisco UCS Fabric Interconnects.

Other Products

The Company�� other products category primarily consists of Linksys home networking products, certain emerging technologies, and other networking products. In addition to its product offerings, it provide a range of service offerings, including technical support services and advanced services.

The Company competes with Alcatel-Lucent; ARRIS Group, Inc.; Aruba Networks, Inc.; Avaya Inc.; Belden Inc.; Brocade Communications Systems, Inc.; Check Point Software Technologies Ltd.; Citrix Systems, Inc.; D-Link Corporation; LM Ericsson Telephone Company; Extreme Networks, Inc.; F5 Networks, Inc.; Force10 Networks, Inc.; Fortinet, Inc.; Hewlett-Packard Company; Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.; International Business Machines Corporation; Juniper Networks, Inc.; LogMeIn, Inc.; Meru Networks, Inc.; Microsoft Corporation; Motorola, Inc.; NETGEAR, Inc.; Polycom, Inc.; Riverbed Technology, Inc.; and Symantec Corporation.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Michael A. Robinson]

  Networking heavyweight Cisco Systems Inc. (NasdaqGS: CSCO) estimates that there were 8.7 billion Internet-connected devices in place at the end of last year. Cisco says that number will nearly double to 15 billion by the end of 2015 and will approach 40 billion by the end of the decade.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  What caused the selloff, the Dow’s largest since June 20?� If Bloomberg is to be believed, it was a combination of bad earnings–Cisco Systems (CSCO) and Wal-Mart (WMT), Dow components each, plunged after disappointing earnings–good economic data and speculation about the end of the Feds bond buying. Its reporters even quote a source saying something to that effect:

• [By Alex Planes]

  Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO  ) is one of the Dow's newest components. It only joined the index four years ago as a last-ditch replacement for a bankrupt automaker. That's not to say that Cisco doesn't deserve a place on the Dow. It is, essentially, the Intel of the Internet: More than half of all Ethernet switches, routers, wireless LAN products, and telepresence apps in the world come from Cisco, and the company also holds more than 30% of the market in voice-over-IP. There's no such thing as an impregnable moat in the tech industry, but Cisco has done an excellent job thus far of holding the line against numerous competitors and competing technologies. Cisco only recently established its dividend, which could hurt its chances in this contest, but let's try not to hold inexperience against it just yet.

10 Best Consumer Service Stocks To Buy Right Now: Burberry Group PLC (BURBY)

Burberry Group plc (Burberry) is a holding company. The Company designs and sources luxury apparel and accessories, selling through a diversified network of retail (including digital), wholesale and licensing channels worldwide. The Company�� Retail/wholesale channel is engaged in the sale of luxury goods through Burberry mainline stores, concessions, outlets and digital commerce, as well as Burberry franchisees, prestige department stores globally and multi-brand specialty accounts. The Company�� retail channel includes approximately 206 mainline stores, 214 concessions within department stores, digital commerce and 49 outlets. The Company�� wholesale channel includes sales to department stores, multi-brand specialty accounts, Travel Retail and franchisees who operates approximately 65 Burberry stores. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Reuters]

  Peter Foley/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesBurberry Group CEO Angela Ahrendts. LONDON -- Christopher Bailey, the designer credited with restoring the cachet to fashion brand Burberry, is to become chief executive next year when long-standing boss Angela Ahrendts will move to Apple. The 157-year-old British fashion house, famous for its camel, red and black check pattern, said Tuesday that Ahrendts would step down by mid-2014 after which Bailey would combine his role as chief creative officer with chief executive. News the 42-year-old Yorkshireman would hold both positions sparked concern among some analysts that he might be taking on too much, and sent shares in the group down 6 percent in early trading, valuing the business at 6.6 billion pounds. "There will undoubtedly be relief that Mr. Bailey, the driving force behind the brand for the last 12 years, is staying," Morgan Stanley (MS) said in a note to clients. "But we anticipate some investor concern about combining the chief creative officer and CEO roles, which are both time consuming and require very different skill sets." Ahrendts, who has been Burberry (BURBY) boss for eight years, during which time its share price has soared about 250 percent, will take up a newly created position at Apple as a senior vice president with oversight of retail and online stores. She will report directly to CEO Tim Cook. Ahrendts will be looking to do better than the last chief executive of a British company who left London to join Apple (AAPL) -- John Browett who quit Dixons to lead the iPad and iPhone maker's global retail expansion in 2012. He left six months later. Bailey joined Burberry in 2001 and has held the major creative role for six years, helping to rebuild the group after it became a victim of its own success in the 1990s when its trademark pattern was embraced by the mass market, losing its appeal to its core wealthy clientele. Under Ahrendts and Bailey, the group has refocused on the luxury market, inc

• [By Charles Riley]

  2. Shop some more: While most sellers on Taobao are small businesses, big brands are found on Tmall, a marketplace Alibaba launched in 2008. Retailers including Apple (AAPL, Tech30), Gap (GPS), Marks & Spencer, Esprit (ESHDF) and Burberry (BURBY) all operate storefronts on the website.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Rambourg’s favored luxury stocks include Burberry (BURBY), Richemont, Coach (COH)…and Tiffany, whose “higher-end repositioning, along with lower raw material prices, should continue to support the stock,” he says.

10 Best Consumer Service Stocks To Buy Right Now: Delphi Financial Group Inc. (DFG)

Delphi Financial Group, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides integrated employee benefit services. The company operates in two segments, Group Employee Benefit Products and Asset Accumulation Products. The Group Employee Benefit Products segment provides disability, group life, and excess workers? compensation insurance products to small and mid-sized employers. It also offers travel accident, voluntary accidental death and dismemberment, group dental, and limited benefit health insurance products, as well as assumed workers? compensation and casualty reinsurance. This segment markets its group products to employer-employee groups and associations in various industries primarily through independent brokers and agents. The Asset Accumulation Products segment primarily offers fixed annuities, such as single premium deferred annuities, flexible premium annuities, and multi-year interest guarantee products to individuals through networks of independent insurance agen ts. The company also provides integrated disability and absence management services, including event reporting, leave of absence management, claims and case management, and return to work management. Delphi Financial Group, Inc. was founded in 1987 and is based in Wilmington, Delaware.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Holly LaFon]

  Some of Elliott Management�� top equity positions in the first quarter 2012 are Brocade Communications Systems (BRCD), Delphi Automotive (DFG), Iron Mountain (IRM) and News Corp. (NWS).

Top 5 Oil Service Companies To Own In Right Now

Top 5 Oil Service Companies To Own In Right Now: Hudson Global Inc (HSON)

Hudson Global, Inc. (Hudson) incorporated on January 1, 2003, provides specialized professional-level recruitment and related talent solutions worldwide. The Company's Core service offerings include Permanent Recruitment, Contract Consulting, Legal eDiscovery, Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) and Talent Management solutions. As of December 31, 2012, the Company operated in 20 countries with three geographic business segments: Hudson Americas, Hudson Asia Pacific, and Hudson Europe. The Company's core service offerings include Permanent Recruitment, Contract Consulting, Legal eDiscovery,RPO and Talent Management Solutions.

The Company's Permanent Recruitment services leverage the firm's more than 1,200 consultants, supported by the Company's psychologists and other scientific specialists in the development and delivery of its methods to identify, select and engage the best-fit talent for critical client roles. In Contract Consulting, Hudson provides a rang e of project management, interim management and professional contract staffing services. Hudson's Legal eDiscovery services consists of eDiscovery solutions, managed document review including logistical deployment, project management, process design and productivity management, and contract attorney staffing. Hudson's RPO delivers outsourced recruitment solutions tailored to the individual needs of mid- to large-cap multinational companies. Hudson RPO services include complete recruitment outsourcing, project-based outsourcing, contingent workforce solutions and recruitment consulting. Hudson's Talent Management Solutions capability encompasses services such as talent assessment, interview training, executive coaching, employee development and outplacement.

The Company's clients include small to large-sized corporations and government agencies. As of December 31, 2012 , there were approximately 460 Hudson Americas clients, 1,200 Hudson ! Asia Pacific clients and 2 ,700 Hudson Europe clients.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Udovich]
  Staffing 360 Solutions Inc. Having a consolidation strategy that is well suited for the highly fragmented temporary staffing industry, small cap Staffing 360 Solutions is an interesting staffing stock because it intends to become a major international publicly-held staffing organizationthrough atargeted accretive acquisition strategy.The companyhas already developed a significant pipeline of acquisition targets in the IT, financial, accounting, healthcare and banking industries while its executive chairman Brendan Flood spent seven years at Hudson Global Inc (NASDAQ: HSON) in various roles in Europe and the United States. His stint atHudson Globalculminated with him leading the company's IPO on the Nasdaq in 2003. During 2004 and 2005, Flood was also the CFO/COO for Hudson North America when he returned the business to profitability after several loss-making years (Note:Before theIPO, Hudson was part of what is now Monster Worldwide, Inc (NYSE: MWW)). In addit ion, CEO Matt Briand has 17 years of staffing industry experience from various recruitment, sales, management and executive roles. Back in June,Staffing 360 Solutions announced revised revenue guidance for the company's fiscal quarter ended May 31, 2014, with revenue now expected to be in excess of $26.8 million, as opposed to the verses a previously forecast amount of $24.1 million for an increase of $2.7 million or 11% over the forecast. The update also noted that Staffing 360 Solutions hassuccessfully completed five acquisitions over the past year, including operations in the United States and Europe.Moreover, Staffing 360 Solutions previously reported revenues of approximately $557,000 for the quarter ended May 31, 2013 versus $26.8 million for the quarter ended May 31, 2014 for a year-over-year increase of $26.2 million or 4,711%. On Thursday, Staffing 360 Solutions fell 1.02% to $1.95 (STAF has a 52 week trading r! ange of $! 0.55 to $2.20 a share) for a market cap o f $59.75 mill
• [By John Udovich]

  The government's closely watched jobs report today is expected to show that nonfarm payrolls increased by 218,000 positions and may have finally returned employment to its pre-recession level, but executive search or staffing stocks like Hudson Global Inc (NASDAQ: HSON), Robert Half International Inc (NYSE: RHI) and up and coming Staffing 360 Solutions Inc (OTCBB: STAF) have already made investors winners since the official end of the recession:

• [By John Udovich]

  Staffing 360 Solutions Inc. Having a consolidation strategy that is well suited for the highly fragmented temporary staffing industry, small cap Staffing 360 Solutions intends to become a major international publicly-held staffing organization with diversified staffing services by engaging in a targeted accretive acquisition strategy. Staffing 360 Solutions has already developed a significant pipeline of acquisition targets in the IT, financial, accounting, healthcare and banking industries. Moreover, its executive chairman Brendan Flood spent seven years at Hudson Global Inc (NASDAQ: HSON) in various roles in Europe and the United States, culminating with him leading the company's IPO and listing of its common stock on the Nasdaq National Market in 2003. During 2004 and 2005 he was the CFO/COO for Hudson North America (returning the business to profitability after several loss-making years) whileprior to the IPO, it should be noted that Hudson was part of what is now Mo nster Worldwide, Inc (NYSE: MWW). CEO Matt Briand also has 17 years of staffing industry experience from various recruitment, sales, management and executive roles. On Wednesday, Staffing 360 Solutions issued an updated forecast for the next three fiscal quarters is as follows: $24.1 million for the quarter ending May 31, 2014, $30.2 million for the quarter ending August 31, 2014, and $32.1 million for the quarter ending November 30, 2014. Staffing 360 Solut! ions has ! also recently completed the acquisition ofPeopleSERVE, whichprovides IT professional and management consultants on a contract and direct hire basis to state and local government, multinational and regional businesses and entrepreneurial firms throughout the greater Boston area.On Wednesday, Staffing 360 Solutions fell 0.50% to $1.99 (STAF has a 52 week trading range of $0.55 to $2.10 a share) for a market cap of $60.98 million plus the stock is down 0.5% since the start of the year, up 20.6% over the past y ear and up 165.3% ove

source from Top Penny Stocks For 2015:http://www.seekpennystocks.com/top-5-oil-service-companies-to-own-in-right-now-2.html

Top 5 Canadian Stocks To Own For 2015

Top 5 Canadian Stocks To Own For 2015: Enbridge Inc(ENB)

Enbridge Inc. engages in the transportation and distribution of crude oil and natural gas primarily in Canada and the United States. Its Liquids Pipelines segment operates common carrier and contract crude oil, natural gas liquids (NGLs), and refined products pipelines and terminals. The company?s Gas Distribution segment distributes natural gas to residential, commercial, and industrial customers primarily in central and eastern Ontario, northern New York State, Quebec, and New Brunswick. Enbridge?s Gas Pipelines, Processing and Energy Services segment invests in natural gas pipelines, processing and green energy projects, and commodity marketing businesses, as well as performs commodity storage, transport, and supply management services. Its Sponsored Investments segment transports crude oil and other liquid hydrocarbons through common carrier and feeder pipelines, as well as transports, gathers, processes, and markets natural gas and NGLs; operates a crude oil and liqui ds pipeline and gathering system; and owns a 50% interest in the Canadian portion of Alliance Pipeline and partial interests in various green energy investments. The company was formerly known as IPL Energy Inc. and changed its name to Enbridge Inc. in October 1998. Enbridge Inc. was founded in 1949 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Robert Rapier]

  Enbridge Energy Partners is sponsored by Calgary-based Enbridge (NYSE: ENB, TSE: ENB). Enbridge provides the single largest conduit of crude oil into the US, moving 13% of US crude imports.

• [By Garrett Cook]

  In trading on Friday, utilities shares were relative leaders, up on the day by about 0.27 percent. Top gainers in the sector included Enbridge (NYSE: ENB), up 2.2 percent, and NiSource (NYSE: NI), up 1.6 percent.

• [By Aaron L! evitt]

  Thus, investors looking for Canadian pipeline growth might want to turn their attention away from TRP stock … and toward rival Enbridge (ENB).

• [By GURUFOCUS]

  Enbridge Inc. (ENB) operates as an energy transportation and distribution company in the United States and Canada. Dec. 4, the company increased its quarterly dividend 16.7% to $0.35 per share. The dividend is payable March 1, 2014, to shareholders of record on Feb. 14, 2014. The yield based on the new payout is 3.4%.

source from Top Stocks For 2015:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-5-canadian-stocks-to-own-for-2015-4.html

Would you move abroad for a job?

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) Moving to a new city for work is a pretty big deal. Moving to another country for a job is something else entirely.

Yet a new survey found 64% of people worldwide say they would be game to cross borders for their careers.

The Boston Consulting Group and The Network, an online recruiting firm, culled through more than 200,000 responses to their online survey, which sought to gauge who is willing to work abroad and why.

Respondents from less developed economies - such as Pakistan, Jamaica, Honduras and Ghana - were much more willing to uproot themselves than workers in more stable economies. But France and the Netherlands broke that mold: More than 90% of the French and Dutch respondents said they'd be willing to go abroad.

By contrast, less than half of the American, British and German respondents felt the same way. That's also true of the survey takers from Denmark, which is regularly found to be among the best for working parents and quality of life.

Location, of course, makes a difference when choosing a new place to live. Among those who said they were willing to work abroad, non-U.S. citizens said they would most like to work in the United States, while Americans looking to ex-patriate said the United Kingdom would be their top destination.

Survey takers also chose their favorite cities for jobs. Among all respondents, the top 10 cities were London, New York, Paris, Sydney, Madrid, Berlin, Barcelona, Toronto, Singapore and Rome.

Even though the global workforce has become more mobile than ever, not every type of worker is eager to pack her bags.

The BCG survey found that 70% of engineers, particularly! those in information technology and telecommunications, were willing to go abroad. Far less willing were those who worked in the fields of health and social work, with only about half saying they'd take a job in another country.

Related links:

Unlimited vacation days and other perks you don't get

Cure burnout, lose 25 lbs.: The perks of taking a sabbatical

Workaholism: Regain balance before you burn out

Top Beverage Companies To Invest In Right Now

With shares of Pepsi (NYSE:PEP) trading around $79, is PEP an OUTPERFORM, WAIT AND SEE, or STAY AWAY? Let�� analyze the stock with the relevant sections of our CHEAT SHEET investing framework.

T = Trends for a Stock’s Movement

Pepsi operates as a food and beverage company worldwide. The company is organized into four business units: PepsiCo Americas Foods; PepsiCo Americas Beverages; PepsiCo Europe; and PepsiCo Asia, Middle East, and Africa. It manufactures, markets, and sells a range of salty, convenient, sweet, and grain-based snacks; carbonated and non-carbonated beverages; dairy products; and other foods. Convenience foods are seeing significant demand worldwide as consumers in growing economies are opting for these products. Pepsi stands to see a continued rise in profits for many years as a leading provider of quick, convenient, inexpensive, and enjoyable products worldwide.

Pepsi on Thursday reported its�fourth-quarter and full-year 2013 results and announced a substantial increase in its�targeted shareholder cash returns for 2014, as well as an extension of its $1 billion annual�productivity savings targets through 2019. The company also announced 2014 financial�targets that are consistent with its long-term goals.���e are pleased to report that PepsiCo achieved its financial goals for 2013, despite�continued challenging and volatile macroeconomic conditions around the globe. We met�or exceeded our organic revenue, cash flow, productivity, and core operating margin,�constant currency EPS, and net ROIC targets and, at the same time, continued to invest�in our brands, innovation and execution to strengthen the long-term health of our�business,��said Chairman and CEO Indra Nooyi in a press release.

Hot International Companies To Own For 2015: Molson Coors Brewing Company(TAP)

Molson Coors Brewing Company brews, markets, sells, and distributes beer brands. It sells its products in Canada, under the Coors Light, Molson, Rickard's Red, Carling, Pilsner, Keystone Light, Creemore Springs, and Granville Island brands. The company also brews or distributes products under license from third parties, which include Heineken, Amstel Light, Murphy's, Asahi, Asahi Select, Miller Lite, Miller Genuine Draft, Miller Chill, Milwaukee's Best, Milwaukee's Best Dry, and Foster's. In addition, it imports, distributes, and markets the Corona, Coronita, Negra Modelo, and Pacifico brands, through a joint venture agreement with Grupo Modelo. Further, the company sells various brands in the United States, which include Coors Light, Miller Lite, Coors Banquet, Miller Genuine Draft, MGD 64, Miller Chill, Sparks, Miller High Life, Miller High Life Light, Keystone Light, Icehouse, Mickey's, Milwaukee's Best, Milwaukee's Best Light, Old English 800, Blue Moon, Henry Weinhard 's, George Killian's Irish Red, Leinenkugel's, Peroni Nastro Azzurro, Pilsner Urquell, Grolsch, Coors Non-Alcoholic, and Sharp's. Additionally, it sells various brands in the United Kingdom comprising Carling, C2, Coors Light, Worthington's, White Shield, Caffrey's, Kasteel Cru, and Blue Moon, as well as various regional ale brands. The company also sells the Grolsch brands through a joint venture with Royal Grolsch N.V. and the Cobra brands through a joint venture called Cobra Beer Partnership Ltd.; and distributes brands sold under license, including Corona, Coronita, Negra Modelo, Pacfico, Singha, and Magners Draught Cider. In addition, it markets and sells Zima, Si'hai, Coors Gold, and Coors Extra brands to various international markets. The company was formerly known as Adolph Coors Company and changed its name to Molson Coors Brewing Company as a result of its merger with Molson Inc. in February 2005. Molson Coors Brewing Company was founded in 1873 and is headquartere d in Denver, Colorado.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Holly LaFon]

  Company % of Assets Pepsico (PEP) 3.4 Philip Morris (PM) 2.3 Tesco PLC ADR (TSCO) 2.1 Molson Coors Brewing (TAP) 2.1 Microsoft (MSFT) 1.9 Merck (MRK) 1.9 Procter & Gamble (PG) 1.8 Avon Products (AVN) 1.6 Wal��art (WMT) 1.6 Medtronic 1.6 Hospira (HSP) 1.5 BP (BP) 1.4 Medco Health Solutions (MHS) 1.3 Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) 1.3 Unilever NV (UL) 1.3
  Jeff is also optimistic about natural gas and believes the recession in Europe could be setting up "a generational buying opportunity."

• [By sandyinvestment]

  As the craft beer industry has a considerable measure of room to develop, Boston Beer confronts rivalry from Molson Coors Brewing (TAP) and Constellation Brands (STZ) (STZ.B). Each of the three organizations have had great runs on the Street, however Boston Beer and Constellation Brands have been the greatest outperformers. We should investigate each of them.

• [By Rex Moore]

  The craft brewing industry saw 15% volume growth in 2012, while the big guys -- led by Anheuser-Busch InBev (NYSE: BUD  ) , SABMiller, and Molson Coors (NYSE: TAP  ) -- are watching their megabrands lose market share.

Top Beverage Companies To Invest In Right Now: MOJO Organics Inc (MOJO)

MOJO Organics, Inc., incorporated on August 2, 2007, engages in product development, production, marketing and distribution of CHIQUITA TROPICALS. CHIQUITA TROPICALS are a 100% fruit juice, produced under license agreement from Chiquita Brands. The Company�� product flavors include Banana Strawberry, Mango, Passion Fruit, and Pineapple.

The Company�� juices are produced without preservatives and without added sugar. The Company produces and packages the CHIQUITA TROPICALS products through production facilities and services on a contract basis.

The Company competes with The Coca-Cola Company and PepsiCo, Inc.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lisa Levin]

  Catalog & Mail Order Houses: The industry gained 1.13% by 10:15 am. The top performer in this industry was Mojo Organics (OTC: MOJO), which gained 6.6%. Mojo Organics shares have jumped 361.54% over the past 52 weeks, while the S&P 500 index has gained 16.18% in the same period.

Top Beverage Companies To Invest In Right Now: Brown-Forman Corp (BF.B)

Brown-Forman Corporation, incorporated on October 19, 1933, primarily manufactures, bottles, imports, exports, markets, and sells a variety of alcoholic beverage brands. The Company�� principal brands are Jack Daniel�� Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel�� Tennessee Whiskey, Pepe Lopez Tequilas, Jack Daniel�� Single Barrel, Woodford Reserve Bourbons, Jack Daniel�� Ready-to-Drinks, Canadian Mist Blended Canadian Whiskies, Jack Daniel�� Tennessee Honey, Chambord Liqueur, Jack Daniel�� Winter Jack Chambord Vodka, Gentleman Jack, Collingwood Canadian Whisky, Southern Comfort, Early Times Bourbon, Southern Comfort Ready-to-Drinks, Early Times flavored line extensions, Southern Comfort flavored line extensions, Early Times Kentucky Whisky, Finlandia Vodkas, Korbel California Champagnes, Finlandia Ready-to-Drinks, Little Black Dress Vodkas, Antiguo Tequila, Maximus Vodkas, el Jimador Tequilas, Old Forester Bourbon, el Jimador New Mix Ready-to-Drinks, Sonoma-Cutrer Wines, Herradura Tequilas, and Tuaca Liqueur.

The Company�� products are sold in more than 150 countries around the world. The Company�� international markets include Australia, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Germany, Poland, France, Russia, Japan, Turkey, Canada, Spain, Czech Republic, South Africa, Brazil and Italy.

The Company competes with Bacardi Limited, Beam Inc., Davide Campari-Milano S.p.A., Diageo plc, LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton S.A., Pernod Ricard S.A., and Remy Cointreau S.A.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sure Dividend]

  No matter how much information we have, people will always need to eat. One way to look at if an industry has managed to grow over decades is to see how many Dividend Aristocrats the industry claims. Dividend Aristocrats are businesses that have increased their dividend payments for 25 or more consecutive years, and meet certain size and liquidity requirements. These are businesses that have withstood all of the changes of the last 25 or more years, and managed to grow consistently and profitably. There are 54 Dividend Aristocrats. The list below shows the Dividend Aristocrats whose primary business relates to food and/or beverages:

  McDonald�� (MCD) Coca-Cola (KO) PepsiCo (PEP) McCormick & Co. (MKC) Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) Hormel Foods (HRL) Brown-Forman (BF.B) Sysco (SYY)

  Of the 54 Dividend Aristocrats, eight (~15%) make their money from food and/or beverages. Interestingly, six of the seven (ADM and SYY are the exception) make their money from branded consumer food and beverages. If you are looking for slow-changing businesses that grow year after year, branded food companies are a good place to search.

• [By Marc Bastow]

  Alcohol manufacturer and distributor Brown-Forman (BF.B) raised its quarterly dividend 13.7% to 29 cents per share, payable on Dec. 27 to shareholders of record as of Dec. 4.
  BF.B Dividend Yield: 1.54%

• [By Sue Chang and Saumya Vaishampayan]

  BFB: Brown-Forman Corp. (BF.B) �Class B shares gained 3.7%. The alcoholic beverage maker reported fiscal third-quarter earnings Wednesday that beat expectations and boosted its full-year view on per-share earnings to between $2.95 and $3.05.

Top Beverage Companies To Invest In Right Now: Dr Pepper Snapple Group Inc (DPS)

Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. (DPS), incorporated on October 24, 2007, is an integrated brand owner, manufacturer and distributor of non-alcoholic beverages in the United States, Canada and Mexico with a diverse portfolio of flavored (non-cola) carbonated soft drinks (CSDs) and non-carbonated beverages (NCBs), including ready-to-drink teas, juices, juice drinks and mixers. The Company operates in three segments: Beverage Concentrates, Packaged Beverages and Latin America Beverages. The Company primarily serves two groups of customers: bottlers and distributors and retailers. As of December 31, 2011, it operated 20 manufacturing facilities across the United States and Mexico, excluding its manufacturing facility for its joint venture with Acqua Minerale San Benedetto. Effective March 1, 2013, it acquired Dr. Pepper/7-UP Bottling Co of the West, a producer and wholesaler of bottled soft drinks.

Beverage Concentrates

The Company�� Beverage Concentrates segment is principally a brand ownership business. In this segment the Company manufactures and sells beverage concentrates in the United States and Canada. Most of the brands in this segment are CSD brands. Its brand portfolio includes CSD brands, such as Dr Pepper, Sunkist soda, 7UP, A&W, Canada Dry, Crush, Squirt, Penafiel and Schweppes. Beverage concentrates are shipped to third party bottlers, as well as to its own manufacturing systems, who combine them with carbonation, water, sweeteners and other ingredients, package it in PET containers, glass bottles and aluminum cans, and sell it as a finished beverage to retailers. Beverage concentrates are also manufactured into syrup, which is shipped to fountain customers, such as fast food restaurants, who mix the syrup with water and carbonation to create a finished beverage at the point of sale to consumers. Its Beverage Concentrates brands are sold by its bottlers, including its own Packaged Beverages segment, through all retail channels, including supermarkets, fountains, mas! s merchandisers, club stores, vending machines, convenience stores, gas stations, small groceries, drug chains and dollar stores.

Packaged Beverages

The Company�� Packaged Beverages segment is principally a brand ownership, manufacturing and distribution business. In this segment, it primarily manufacture and distribute packaged beverages and other products, including its brands, third party owned brands and certain private label beverages, in the United States and Canada. Key NCB brands in this segment include Hawaiian Punch, Snapple, Mott's, Yoo-Hoo, Clamato, Deja Blue, AriZona, FIJI, Mistic, Nantucket Nectars, ReaLemon, Mr and Mrs T, Rose's and Country Time. Key CSD brands in this segment include 7UP, Dr Pepper, A&W, Sunkist soda, Canada Dry, Squirt, RC Cola, Big Red, Sun Drop, Diet Rite, IBC and Vernors. Approximately 87% of its 2011 Packaged Beverages net sales of branded products come from its own brands, with the remaining from the distribution of third party brands, such as Big Red, AriZona tea, FIJI mineral water, Neuro beverages, Vita Coco coconut water and Hydrive energy drinks. A portion of its sales also comes from bottling beverages and other products for private label owners or others, which is also referred to as contract manufacturing. Its Packaged Beverages��products are manufactured in multiple facilities across the United States and are sold or distributed to retailers and their warehouses by itsown distribution network or by third party distributors. The Company sells its Packaged Beverages��products both through its Direct Store Delivery system (DSD), supported by a fleet of approximately 6,000 vehicles and 12,000 employees, including sales representatives, merchandisers, drivers and warehouse workers, as well as through its Warehouse Direct delivery system (WD), both of which include the sales to retail channels, including supermarkets, fountain channel, mass merchandisers, club stores, vending machines, convenience stores, gas stations, small groce! ries, dru! g chains and dollar stores.

Latin America Beverages

The Company�� Latin America Beverages segment is a brand ownership, manufacturing and distribution business. This segment participates mainly in the carbonated mineral water, flavored CSD, bottled water and vegetable juice categories, with particular strength in carbonated mineral water, vegetable juice categories and grapefruit flavored CSDs. Its brands include Squirt, Penafiel, Aguafiel, Crush and Clamato.

In Mexico, it manufactures and distributes its products through its bottling operations and third party bottlers and distributors. In the Caribbean, it distributes its products through third party bottlers and distributors. In Mexico, it also participate in a joint venture to manufacture Aguafiel brand water with Acqua Minerale San Benedetto. The Company sells its finished beverages through Mexican retail channels, including mom and pop stores, supermarkets, hypermarkets, and on premise channels.

The Company competes with The Coca-Cola Company (Coca-Cola), PepsiCo, Inc. (PepsiCo), Nestle, S.A. (Nestle), Kraft Foods Inc. (Kraft) and The Cott Corporation (Cott).

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By P.I.A.]

  Doctor Pepper Snapple Group Inc. (DPS) is a mature business, and a remarkably shareholder friendly one at that. The dividend yield is currently a hefty 3.41%, and the company has bought back 6% of its shares through the past three years. An investor can sensibly look for income and capital appreciation with long-term horizons. The stock goes ex-dividend in the near future, on Sept. 12, and scrutiny is appropriate.

• [By Editor , Dividend Growth Investor]

  The following three dividend growth stocks have managed to defy skeptics expectations, and prove them wrong, time and again. The companies are Digital Realty Trust (DLR), Dr Pepper Snapple (DPS) and PepsiCo (PEP).

• [By Rich Duprey]

  In contrast, soda sales are falling. Coke's soda sales were down 4% in the second quarter, Dr Pepper Snapple Group (NYSE: DPS  ) sold�3% less, and Pepsi's sales have fizzled in the mid-single-digit range. And Beverage Digest says says per capita consumption of soda has been on the wane since 1998.

• [By Eileen Rojas]

  Changing consumer habits are influenced by other beverage options
  Dwindling diet soda sales are bad news for PepsiCo (NYSE: PEP  ) and its competitors Coca-Cola� (NYSE: KO  ) and Dr. Pepper Snapple Group (NYSE: DPS  ) , which derive a quarter or more of their U.S. sales from soft drinks. In the third-quarter earnings call, PepsiCo chairman Indra Nooyi noted that "a fundamental shift in consumer habits and behaviors" is taking place within the beverage segment. In addition to the artificial sweetener issue, more beverage options have become available and this has played a major part in the loss of consumer interest in diet sodas.

4 U.S. Stocks Getting Boosted by the Eurozone Stimulus

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Europe is opening the easy-money spigot — the European Central Bank announced last week that it was putting together plans for a quantitative easing program — and that is fantastic news for high-yielding American dividend-paying stocks and REITs.

That may not make sense at first glance, but hear me out. Capital markets are global, and liquidity sloshes across borders almost instantly. We certainly saw this last year when the Fed's initial comments about tapering caused a severe correction in U.S. bonds and "bond-like" income investments as well as emerging-market stocks, bonds and currencies.

Most of these asset classes, both in the U.S. and in emerging markets, have enjoyed a rally in the first half of 2014 as investors have come to realize that, even with Fed tapering going ahead at full steam, there remains a remarkable amount of liquidity chasing after a finite supply of income-yielding assets.

As ECB President Mario Draghi takes the stimulus torch from Fed Chairman Janet Yellen, record-low eurozone yields will make U.S. Treasuries look appealing by comparison, which will in turn keep continued pressure on U.S. yields.

Have trouble following all of that? Let me sum it up like this: A new round of eurozone stimulus promises to make U.S. income investments attractive. And today, I'm going to offer four solid American income stocks that should do very well in a low-yielding world.

Annaly Capital Management (NLY)

I'll start with mortgage REIT Annaly Capital Management (NLY), which, despite its strong performance in 2014, is still down by about 16% over the past 12 months.

Mortgage REITs were in a class of their own, taking a post-taper beating. Annaly lost about 40% of its market share between May and December of last year. The reason? Mortgage REITs are highly leveraged, and the market feared that rising yields would take a bite out of net asset values, which could in turn force the REITs to liquidate their holdings at unfavorable prices.

It’s a valid concern. But most of the sector now trades at a discount to NAV, and Annaly trades for just 94% of book value. Buying a dollar's worth of assets for 94 cents gives you a decent margin of safety.

And it would appear that I’m not the only person who sees value in Annaly at current prices. Company insiders bought aggressively throughout last year's decline, with several making purchases at prices significantly higher than today's.

Annaly currently yields about 10.4%, and I highly expect total returns of 20-30% over the next 12 months.

American Realty Capital (ARCP)

Next on the list is triple-net retail REIT American Capital Realty Properties (ARCP), which — uniquely among its industry peers — is trading near 52-week lows.

What gives? Why the recent underperformance? Two words: "Red" and "Lobster."

ARCP's recent $1.5 billion acquisition of Red Lobster real estate assets did not go over well with investors. For a stock with a $9 billion market cap, the Red Lobster purchase represents a large investment in a tenant of, shall we say … questionable quality.  Investors have also been agitating for CEO Nick Schorsch to slow down his breakneck speed of acquisitions and focus on stabilizing what he has. ARCP emerged from virtually nowhere to become the largest triple-net retail REIT in the world in less than three years.

I take a balanced view here. Sure, the Red Lobster acquisition adds a fair amount of risk. Red Lobster will account for about 7.3% of ARCP's assets and 10% of its revenues. Some percentage of these restaurants may close, potentially leaving ARCP tenantless for some period of time. But how many and when? Let's say things get bad and 25% of the restaurants close five years from now. That would be just 2.5% of today's revenues, not taking into account any new property acquisitions between now and then. So there’s no reason to panic at the moment.

ARCP trades at book value and pays 8.3% in dividends. At this price ARCP is too cheap to ignore, and as investors scramble for high-yielding assets, I'm betting the Red Lobster deal is forgotten in a hurry.

Realty Income (O)

Next is one of ARCP's chief competitors, the “Monthly Dividend Company,” Realty Income (O).

Realty Income paid its first dividend in 1970, before it was publicly traded, and hasn't slowed down since. It has paid 526 consecutive monthly dividends and raised its dividend 75 times — and in 66 consecutive quarters.

Since 1994, when Realty Income started trading on the NYSE, the REIT's annualized dividend has risen from 90 cents per share to $2.19 per share. At its current price, that amounts to a dividend yield of 5%.

Realty Income is one of those rare stocks that I believe you can truly buy, put in a drawer, and forget about for years at a time. As a conservative, triple-net REIT, It's what I would call an "Armageddon-proof" investment. It owns a diversified portfolio of 3,800 properties spread across 49 states that are rented under long-term leases, primarily to high-quality tenants. The "typical" property for Realty Income would be your local Walgreens or CVS pharmacy — a high-traffic, highly visible location that you pass on your daily commute.

Under a triple-net lease, it is the tenants responsibility to take care of the property and to pay the taxes and expenses. The landlord's only role is to collect the rent check. Not bad work, if you can find it.

In a global scramble for yield, a bond-like solid performer like Realty Income should perform well.

DoubleLine Opportunistic Credit Fund (DBL)

My final recommendation is not a stock but rather a bond fund managed by one of the best minds in the business, DoubleLine Capital's Jeff Gundlach: the DoubleLine Opportunistic Credit Fund (DBL).

Gundlach made a splash last month by suggesting that U.S. Treasuries were on the verge of "one of the biggest short-covering scrambles of all time."  And it appeared that he was correct, as bond yields quickly dipped after he made his comment, though they have since recovered.

We may or may not see the short squeeze Gundlach envisions. But I do believe that, at a minimum, we will continue to see long-term yields near their historic lows. That bodes well for DBL, which yields 8.3% at current prices.

DBL is very much a bet on Gundlach himself, as the fund has a very open mandate: It may invest in "income-producing securities of any kind."

I'm OK with that. Gundlach is one of the sharpest bond managers in the game, and he's been very prescient over the past several years of volatile swings.

Like what you see? Sign up for our Dividend Insights e-letter and get income investment advice delivered to your inbox every Friday!

Charles Lewis Sizemore, CFA, is the editor of Macro Trend Investor and chief investment officer of the investment firm Sizemore Capital Management. As of this writing, he was long O and ARCP. Click here to receive his FREE weekly e-letter covering top market insights, trends, and the best stocks and ETFs to profit from today's best global value plays.

Why You Should Pick Cree Over General Electric

LED lighting specialist Cree (CREE) was identified as one of 2014's 50 Smartest Companies in MIT Technology Review's annual list of the world's most innovative technology companies. The company has been growing via breakthrough innovations and improving gross margin, however, the stock price has been inconsistent. Cree's earnings have climbed 54% in each of the last two quarters, but the stock price hasn't reflected this growth and is down almost 23% since August 2013. The drop may be frustrating for Cree investors, but the company's prospects look very strong.

The company released its quarterly report in January. The numbers were impressive as the company easily beat the Wall Street's estimates. Non-GAAP earnings came in at $0.46 per share, up 54% y-o-y, way above the analysts' estimate of $0.39. Top-line also rose 20% over the year-ago period and came in at $415 million, ahead of the consensus of $412 million. But the shares didn't pop as the company's guidance fell short of the consensus estimates. However, investors shouldn't worry as Cree has always been a tad bit conservative with its guidance and its long-term prospects look great.

The Bulb Ban And The Opportunity

The standard incandescent light bulb as we know it is now a thing of the past. As per the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act, it is no longer legal to produce or import 40-watt and 60-watt incandescent bulbs in the U.S. The 100-watt and 75-watt variants were phased out in 2012 and 2013, and the latest ban has completely knocked out the incandescent bulbs. Incandescent bulbs have not changed much since Thomas Edison first invented them. These bulbs have a very low efficiency and convert only about 10% of their energy into light.

The ban bodes well for the LED industry, which has been growing at a fast pace in the previous years. The ban clearly indicates that the LED market is not going to run out of fuel anytime soon and will grow considerably in the coming years. Presently, LED accounts for merely 1% of the U.S. lighting market, signifying that it has a lot of room to grow. Digitimes expects the LED market to grow 25% to $5.7 billion in 2014, while Lux Research's report implies that it will grow 12-folds to $25 billion by 2023.

Details from the report include:

· Cost of LED packages will drop more than 80% thanks to improved efficiency and increased manufacturing yields.

· The recessed modular market will increase from $1.5 billion in 2013 to $14.5 billion in 2023, by replacing incumbent products like fluorescents.

· The secondary optics market will rise to $6.9 billion in 2023.

The opportunity is huge and Cree, along with competitors like General Electric (GE) and Koninklijke Philips (PHG), is looking to make the most of it by the means of their LED offerings.

Growing Via innovations

While General Electric and Koninklijke Philips are diversified companies, Cree is a pure-play LED company. This is the primary reason why I think investors should prefer Cree over its peers. Being a pure-play LED company gives Cree the chance to focus on innovations, which in turn will benefit the company in the long run. Cree's inventive vision is demonstrated by a series of new product launches over the last few months. In August of 2013, Cree launched the first $99 street light, called the XSPR, as a direct replacement for residential street lights. The XSPR delivers better lighting while consuming 65% less power, and the company claims that it is an ideal replacement for the outdated HID luminaries currently installed in North America.

The company further extended its outdoor lighting portfolio by adding the advanced XSP Series Area and the XSPW Wall Pack LED luminaries to its XSP series. These LEDs are not only 65% more efficient, but also nearly eliminate maintenance costs. The company says: "These new luminaires provide high performance, nearly maintenance-free lighting for up to 100,000 hours, ending the need for compromised metal halide alternatives."

The market for the outdoor lighting is expected to grow at a CAGR of 26% from 2010 to 2015 and Cree's initiatives will help it to make the most of this opportunity. The company's partnership with Home Depot (HD) has been fruitful until now and the company has continued to reinvest the profits from the operations into further enhancing its product portfolio.

The company recently added the 75-watt replacement bulb to its product line. This new bulb is expected to last 25 times longer and consume 82% less energy. In addition, Cree also introduced the SmartCast technology this month. This is the first self-programming wireless lighting control system that decreases energy consumption by more than 70% at less than 50% of the cost of traditional lighting controls.

Norbert Hiller, Cree's executive VP of lighting, said:

"Commercial lighting customers have resisted installing traditional lighting controls because of excess cost and complexity, and the majority of those who have installed controls stop using them as intended after the first year because they're difficult to maintain. Cree SmartCast™ Technology eliminates these barriers to adoption and delivers the enormous benefit of significantly greater energy cost savings, allowing customers to finally realize the promise of lighting controls."

This is the company's first foray into the lighting controls market, which is estimated to grow 200% to $5.3 billion by 2020.

Going forward, Cree will continue focusing on developing new products, which is why it is a good bet for investors who are looking to benefit from the growth of LED market.

General Electric's Position

General Electric was the leading producer of incandescent light bulbs and the ban will certainly have a negative effect on the company. GE, however, also manufactures CLFs and LEDs and is more than capable of offsetting any loss it bears due to the death of the incandescent bulb market.

General Electric's LED segment has been growing very nicely. The company recorded a 35% jump in sales in 2013 and is looking to sustain its run in 2014 as well. General Electric enhanced its LED portfolio by acquiring Albeo Technologies in 2012, which exposed the company to the enterprise sphere. GE is now looking to build upon this acquisition. The company is so confident about growth that it has shifted the Boulder, Colorado-based team to a much bigger site in nearby Longmont. GE has been deploying its LED lights in various industries and will ramp up its production in order to make the most of this acquisition. In addition, the company is also providing custom lighting solutions and implementing turnkey projects.

General Electric does possess an advantage over Cree. It's certain that the increasing competition in the LED market will give rise to a price war, and GE being the bigger company could produce its LEDs at a lower price when it increases production.

Conclusion

Just to be clear, this is not an anti-General Electric article. The LED market is growing rapidly and both Cree and General Electric have taken the right measures to capitalize on this growth. GE's LED market share may continue to grow in 2014; however that doesn't mean its share price will go up as well. Since GE is a big company, it might incur losses in other segments, which can offset its gains of the LED market. Again, I'm not implying that it will incur losses, but since GE's share price depends on multiple segments, I think investors looking to benefit from the LED market should prefer Cree.

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