10 Best Industrial Disributor Stocks To Own Right Now

Facebook and Google are spending billions of dollars to ensure that they remain relevant in the rapidly changing technology landscape.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) Facebook and Google are locked in a high-stakes, multi-billion dollar battle to shape the future.

Both companies are spending like crazy on emerging technologies. Their aims: when their current businesses are disrupted -- and they will be -- they'll have a fallback plan.

"While Facebook is doing well now, it knows that its core business could degrade just as MySpace's did," said Carl Howe, analyst at Yankee Group.

That's why Facebook (FB, Fortune 500) has poured billions of dollars into a photo sharing network, facial recognition software, a chat app and now virtual reality company Oculus. Google (GOOG, Fortune 500), in turn, has invested billions in driverless cars, wearable gadgets, military robots and -- most recently through its purchase of Nest -- connected home devices like smoke detectors and thermostats.

5 Best Dividend Stocks To Watch For 2016: Analytica Bio - Energy Corp (ABEC)

Analytica Bio-Energy Corp., formerly Uniwell Electronic Corporation, incorporated on January 12, 2004, is a company with water purification system. The Company was a shell company.

The Company focused on acquiring an active business. In September 2013, the Company changed its name to Analytica Bioenergy, Inc.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dan Burrows]

  Most importantly, on days when this penny stock did see heavy volume, it tumbled — a classic red flag for the “dump” part of pump-and-dump schemes, which penny stocks are ripe for.

  Top Penny Stocks: Analytica Bio-Energy Corp. (ABEC)

  YTD Performance: 29,300%
  52-Week Range: $0.0017 – $0.50
  Average Volume (3 months): 9,574
  Market Cap: $10.6 million

10 Best Industrial Disributor Stocks To Own Right Now: CRB Futures Index(CR)

Crane Co. manufactures and sells engineered industrial products in the United States and internationally. The company operates in five segments: Aerospace & Electronics, Engineered Materials, Merchandising Systems, Fluid Handling, and Controls. The Aerospace & Electronics segment offers pressure, fuel flow, and position sensors and subsystems; brake control systems; coolant, lube and fuel pumps; and seat actuation products. This segment also provides power supplies and custom microelectronics for aerospace, defense, medical, and other applications; and electrical power components, power management products, electronic radio frequency, and microwave frequency components and subsystems for the defense, space, and military communications markets. The Engineered Materials segment manufactures fiberglass-reinforced plastic panels for the truck trailer and recreational vehicle markets, industrial markets, and the commercial construction industry. The Merchandising Systems segmen t offers vending solutions, such as food, snack, and beverage vending machines; and vending machine software and online solutions, as well as payment solutions, including coin accepters and dispensers, coin hoppers, coin recyclers, bill validators, and bill recyclers. The Fluid Handling segment manufactures and sells various industrial and commercial valves and actuators; provides valve testing, parts, and services; manufactures and sells pumps and water purification solutions; distributes pipe, pipe fittings, couplings, and connectors; and designs, manufactures, and sells corrosion-resistant plastic-lined pipes and fittings. The Controls segment produces ride-leveling, air-suspension control valves for heavy trucks and trailers; pressure, temperature, and level sensors; ultra-rugged computers, measurement and control systems, and intelligent data acquisition products; and water treatment equipment. Crane Co. was founded in 1855 and is based in Stamford, Connecticut.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Duprey]

  Engineered industrial products manufacturer Crane (NYSE: CR  ) announced yesterday its third-quarter dividend of $0.30 per share, a 7% increase in the payout it made to investors of $0.28 per share.�

• [By Seth Jayson]

  Basic guidelines
  In this series, I examine inventory using a simple rule of thumb: Inventory increases ought to roughly parallel revenue increases. If inventory bloats more quickly than sales grow, this might be a sign that expected sales haven't materialized. Is the current inventory situation at Crane (NYSE: CR  ) out of line? To figure that out, start by comparing the company's inventory growth to sales growth. How is Crane doing by this quick checkup? At first glance, OK, it seems. Trailing-12-month revenue increased 0.6%, and inventory decreased 2.4%. Comparing the latest quarter to the prior-year quarter, the story looks decent. Revenue dropped 2.8%, and inventory contracted 2.4%. Over the sequential quarterly period, the trend looks OK but not great. Revenue dropped 0.4%, and inventory grew 2.0%.

10 Best Industrial Disributor Stocks To Own Right Now: Taylor Capital Group Inc.(TAYC)

Taylor Capital Group, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Cole Taylor Bank that provides a range of commercial banking products and services primarily to closely-held commercial customers and their owner operators in the Chicago area. It offers various deposit products, including checking, savings, and money market accounts, as well as time deposits, and other deposit and credit services to commercial clients and community-based customers, including individuals and small local businesses. The company?s commercial lending activities primarily consist of providing loans for working capital and business expansion or acquisition; owner-occupied commercial real estate financing; revolving lines of credit; and stand-by and commercial letters of credit. It also originates and sells mortgage loans. In addition, the company provides treasury cash management services, including repurchase agreements, Internet balance reporting, remote deposit capture, positive pay, automa ted clearing house products, imaged lock-box processing, controlled disbursement, and account reconciliation services to commercial clients; and investment management and brokerage services. Further, it offers asset-based financing, including revolving lines of credit supported by receivables and inventory; and term loans supported by equipment and real estate. The company?s target commercial lending customers include businesses engaged in various industries, such as manufacturing, wholesale and retail distribution, transportation, construction contracting, and professional services. It operates through nine banking centers in the Chicago area. The company was founded in 1929 and is headquartered in Rosemont, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Duprey]

  Commercial banking concern Taylor Capital Group (NASDAQ: TAYC  ) announced yesterday its third-quarter dividend of $0.50 per share on its�Series A perpetual non-cumulative preferred stock, which trades on the Nasdaq exchange under the symbol TAYCO.

• [By Rich Duprey]

  Looking to expand its banking business in the Windy City, MB Financial (NASDAQ: MBFI  ) jointly announced with Taylor Capital (NASDAQ: TAYC  ) that it was buying the�holding company of�Cole Taylor�Bank, a Chicago-based commercial bank with $5.9 billion in assets, $3.3 billion in loans, and $3.7 billion in deposits.

• [By Sean Williams]

  What: Shares of Taylor Capital (NASDAQ: TAYC  ) , the holding company of Cole Taylor Bank, a commercial and consumer lending and financial services company located in the Chicago area, skyrocketed as much as 22% after agreeing to be purchased by MB Financial (NASDAQ: MBFI  ) .

10 Best Industrial Disributor Stocks To Own Right Now: Providence Resources Corp (PV)

Providence Resources Corp. (Providence) is a Canada-based exploration stage company engaged in the evaluation and exploration of its interests in the Iron Range property (the property) located in south-eastern British Columbia near the community of Creston. The Iron Range Project is located near Creston, in Southeastern British Columbia, and spans 56,200 hectares (560 square kilometers). The project is a Joint Venture between Providence Resources (60%) and Eagle Plains Resources Ltd (40%) and has no underlying royalties or encumbrances. The Iron Range property covers over 50 kilometers(km) strike length of the Iron Mountain Fault (IMF) complex which consists of a number of north-striking faults which occur across an east-west extent of about three kilometers and a strike extent of approximately 90 kilometers. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Aaron Levitt]

  The last few weeks haven�� been great for Chinese manufacturers of photovalic (PV) panels. Share prices for key solar panel producers like Trina Solar (TSL) and Yingli Green Energy (YGE) have basically imploded since reaching March highs. YGE alone is down about 40% since then.

10 Best Industrial Disributor Stocks To Own Right Now: IntriCon Corporation(IIN)

IntriCon Corporation, through its subsidiaries, engages in the design, development, engineering, and manufacture of body-worn devices. It offers microelectronics, micro-mechanical assemblies, and injection-molded plastic components to medical device manufacturers of portable and lightweight battery powered devices; bio-telemetry devices, which include wireless continuous glucose monitors that measure glucose levels and provide real-time blood glucose trend information; and cardiac diagnostic monitoring devices. The company also provides bubble sensors and flow restrictors that monitor and control the flow of fluid in an intravenous infusion system; and a family of safety needle products for original equipment manufacturing customers. In addition, it offers hybrid amplifiers and integrated circuit components along with faceplates for use in-the-ear and in-the-canal hearing instruments; and microminiature electromechanical components consisting of volume controls, microphone s, receivers, trimmer potentiometers, and switches to hearing instrument manufacturers. Further, the company provides professional audio headset products used for homeland security and emergency response applications in fire, law enforcement, safety, aviation, and military markets; and a line of miniature ear and head-worn devices for use by performers and support staff in music and stage performance markets. It markets its products directly through its internal sales force in the United States, as well as through sales representative primarily in Europe and the Asian Pacific. IntriCon Corporation has strategic alliances with Dynamic Hearing Pty Ltd. to use its technology for the development of new body-worn ULP-DSP applications; and Advanced Medical Electronics Corp. to develop new bio-telemetry devices. The company, formerly known as Selas Corporation of America, was founded in 1930 and is headquartered in Arden Hills, Minnesota.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lisa Levin]

  Intricon (NASDAQ: IIN) shares gained 33.98% to touch a new 52-week high of $6.23 after the company reported Q1 results.

  Abraxas Petroleum (NASDAQ: AXAS) shares gained 2.19% to reach a new 52-week high of $5.60. Abraxas Petroleum shares have jumped 154.88% over the past 52 weeks, while the S&P 500 index has gained 18.57% in the same period.

10 Best Industrial Disributor Stocks To Own Right Now: Pearson Plc(PSO)

Pearson plc engages in education, business information, and consumer publishing businesses worldwide. The company?s North American Education segment provides higher education services, such as higher education publishing; MyLab digital learning, homework, and assessment programs; and LearningStudio, a suite of learning management technologies, including eCollege and Fronter. This segment also offers assessment and information services; school curriculum services consisting of school publishing; enVisionMATH, a digital math curriculum; America's Choice school reform services; online learning platform for teachers and students; Poptropica video game; digital programs, such as digits, a digital middle school math?s program; Writing Coach, a blended print and online program; and Online Learning Exchange, a personalized digital learning program. Its International Education segment provides educational content, assessment, technologies, and related services to educational inst itutions. This segment offers spoken English training for adults, as well as provides eCollege and Fronter learning management systems. It also offers MyLab digital learning, homework, and assessment programs. The company?s Professional segment focuses on publishing, training, testing, and certification for professionals. Its Financial Times group segment provides business and financial news, data, comment, and analysis in print and online formats to the international business community. Its products include Financial Times newspaper; FT.com Website; financial magazines and online services; and Mergermarket, which provides forward-looking insights and intelligence to businesses and financial institutions. The company?s Penguin Group segment engages in book publishing business, under the Hamish Hamilton, Putnam, Berkley, Viking, Dorling Kindersley, Puffin, and Ladybird imprints. It also offers ebooks. The company was founded in 1844 and is headquartered in London, the Unite d Kingdom.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Andrew Marder]

  What's in it for Barnes & Noble investors?
  The reason the shares jumped is that the Nook is like a treasure chest, hidden deep in the world of Barnes & Noble. Microsoft purchased a $300 million stake in the Nook business last year, and then late in the year, Pearson (NYSE: PSO  ) spent $90 million on a 5% stake. That purchase valued the Nook business at $1.79 billion, up from a $1.7 billion valuation based on Microsoft's investment.

10 Best Industrial Disributor Stocks To Own Right Now: CC Media Holdings Inc (CCMO)

CC Media Holdings, Inc., incorporated May 2007, is a diversified media and entertainment company. The Company provides radio, digital, out-of-home, mobile and on-demand entertainment, and information services for audiences and local communities, and providing opportunities for advertisers. The Company operates in three segments: Media and Entertainment (CCME, formerly Radio), Americas outdoor advertising (Americas outdoor) and International outdoor advertising (International outdoor). On April 29, 2011, the Company acquired the traffic business of Westwood One, Inc. (the Traffic acquisition). The Company, during 2011, also purchased a cloud-based music technology business. During 2011, the Company also acquired Brouwer & Partners, a street furniture business. During 2011, the Company divested and exchanged its 27 radio stations.

CCME

The CCME segments operations include radio broadcasting, online and mobile services and products, program syndication, entertainment, traffic data distribution and music research services. The Company�� radio stations and content can be heard on amplitude modulation (AM) / frequency modulation (FM) stations, high definition (HD) radio stations, satellite radio, the Internet at iHeartRadio.com, and the Company�� radio stations Websites, through the Company�� iHeartRadio mobile application on iPads and smart phones, and via navigation systems. As of December 31, 2011, the Company owned 866 radio stations, including 249 AM and 617 FM servicing approximately 150 the United States markets.

The Company operates premiere networks (Premiere), a national radio network that produces, distributes or represents approximately 90 syndicated radio programs, and serves approximately 5,800 radio station affiliates. The Company�� syndicated radio programs include Rush Limbaugh, Jim Rome, Steve Harvey, Ryan Seacrest, Elvis Duran and Delilah. It also delivers real-time traffic information via navigation systems, radio and television broadcast m! edia and wireless and Internet-based services through the Company�� traffic business, total traffic network. During 2011, the CCME segment generated 48% of the Company�� revenues. The primary source of revenue in the CCME segment is the sale of commercials on the Company�� radio stations for local, regional and national advertising. The Company�� advertisers include consumer services, retailers, entertainment, health and beauty products, telecommunications, automotive and media.

Americas Outdoor Advertising

The Americas outdoor advertising segment operates in the markets of the United States, Canada and Latin America. It consists of billboards, street furniture and transit displays, airport displays, mall displays, and wall scapes, and other spectaculars, which the Company owns or operates under lease management agreements. As of December 31, 2011, the Company owned and operated approximately 125,000 display structures in its Americas outdoor advertising segment with operations in the United States. The Americas outdoor advertising segment generated 21% of the Company�� revenues during 2011. Americas outdoor revenue is derived from the sale of advertising copy placed on the Company�� digital displays and traditional displays. The Company�� display inventory consists primarily of billboards, street furniture displays and transit displays.

The street furniture displays of the Company include advertising surfaces on bus shelters, information kiosks, freestanding units and other public structures. The transit displays advertise on various types of vehicles or within transit systems, including on the interior and exterior sides of buses, trains, trams, and in the common areas of rail stations and airports. The other display inventories consist of spectaculars, wall scapes and mall displays.

International Outdoor Advertising

The International outdoor business segment includes the Company�� operations in Asia, Australia and E! urope, wi! th approximately 34% of its revenue in this segment derived from France and the United Kingdom during 2011. As of December 31, 2011, the Company owned or operated approximately 630,000 displays across 30 countries. The International outdoor segment generated 27% of the Company�� revenues during 2011. International outdoor advertising revenue is derived from the sale of traditional advertising copy placed on the Company�� display inventory and electronic displays, which are part of the Company�� network of digital displays. The International outdoor display inventory consists primarily of street furniture displays, billboards, transit displays and other out-of-home advertising displays, such as neon displays.

The Company competes with JCDecaux, CBS and Lamar Advertising Company.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By CRWE]

  Today, CCMO� remains (0.00%) +0.000 at $4.71 thus far (ref. google finance Delayed:�� 3:18PM EDT August 5, 2013).

  CC Media Holdings, Inc. previously reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2013.

  Revenue grew 1% to $1.6 billion, excluding foreign exchange and divestitures
  OIBDAN1 declined 5% year over year to $505 million, excluding foreign exchange and divestitures; OIBDAN margin of 31%
  Extended $5.0 billion of term loans to 2019 from 2016, and exchanged senior notes due 2016 for senior notes due 2021

Hot Recreation Stocks To Watch Right Now

Hot Recreation Stocks To Watch Right Now: MarineMax Inc (HZO)

MarineMax, Inc., incorporated in January 1998, is a recreational boat dealer in the United States. Through 54 retail locations in Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Tennessee, and Texas, the Company sells new and used recreational boats, including pleasure and fishing boats. It also sells related marine products, including engines, trailers, parts, and accessories. In addition, the Company provides repair, maintenance, and slip and storage services; it arranges related boat financing, insurance, and extended service contracts; it offers boat and yacht brokerage services, and it operates a yacht charter business. It is also retailer of Sea Ray, Boston Whaler, Bayliner, Cabo, Hatteras, and Meridian recreational boats and yachts, all of which are manufactured by Brunswick Corporation (Brunswick). In March 2013, it acquired Parker Boat Company's retail boat sales and service operations in Orlando and Daytona, Florida.

The Company is a dealer for Hatteras Yachts throughout the state of Florida (excluding the Florida panhandle) and the states of New Jersey, New York, and Texas; the exclusive dealer for Cabo Yachts throughout the states of Florida, New Jersey, and New York; the exclusive dealer for Boston Whaler in many of its markets; the exclusive dealer for Bayliner in many of its markets, and the exclusive dealer for Meridian Yachts in most of its markets. In addition, it is the exclusive dealer for Italy-based Azimut-Benetti Group for Azimut mega-yachts, yachts, and other recreational boats for the Northeast United States from Maryland to Maine and the state of Florida.

New Boat Sales

The Company sells recreational boats, including pleasure boats and fishing boats. The products it offers are manufactured by Brunswick, the manufacturer of recreational! boats, includ ing Sea Ray pleasure boats, Boston Whaler fishing boats, Cab! o Yachts, Hatteras Yachts, and Meridian Yachts. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2011 (fiscal 2011), it derived approximately 48% of its revenue from the sale of new boats manufactured by Brunswick. During fiscal 2011, new boat sales accounted for 60.6% of its revenue. It offers recreational boats in most market segments. Hatteras Yachts and Azimut are two of the premier yacht builders. The motor yacht product lines include designs with live-aboard luxuries. Hatteras offers a flybridge with guest seating; covered aft deck, which may be fully or partially enclosed, providing the boater with additional living space; an elegant salon; and multiple staterooms for accommodations.

Hatteras Yachts and Cabo Yachts are convertible yacht builders and offer designs with live-aboard luxuries. Convertibles are primarily fishing vessels, which are well equipped to meet the needs of even the most serious tournament-class competitor. Hatteras features interiors that offer luxurious salon/galley arrangements, multiple staterooms with private heads, and a cockpit that includes a bait and tackle center, fishbox, and freezer. Cabo is known for spacious cockpits and accessibility to essentials, such as bait chests, livewells, bait prep centers, and tackle lockers.

Sea Ray and Meridian pleasure boats target both the luxury and the family recreational boating markets and come in a range of configurations to suit each customers particular recreational boating style. Sea Ray sport yachts and yachts serve the luxury segment of the recreational boating market and include living accommodations with a salon, a fully equipped galley, and multiple staterooms. Sea Ray sport yachts and yachts are available in cabin, bridge cockpit, and cruiser models. Meridian sport yachts and yachts are available in sedan, motoryacht, and pilothouse models.

The fishing boats the Company offers, such as Boston Whaler and G! rady Whit! e, range from entry level models to advanced models designed for fish! ing and w! ater sports in lakes, bays, and off-shore waters, with cabins with limited live-aboard capability. The fishing boats feature livewells, in-deck fishboxes, rodholders, rigging stations, cockpit coaming pads, and fresh and saltwater washdowns. The ski boats it offers, such as Malibu, Axis, and Nautique by Correct Craft, range from entry level models to advanced models.

Used Boat Sales

The Company sells used versions of the new makes and models it offers and, to a lesser extent, used boats of other makes and models generally taken as trade-ins. During fiscal 2011, used boat sales accounted for 19.0% of its revenue, and 77.1% of the used boats it sold were Brunswick models. It also sells used boats at various marinas and other offsite locations throughout the country. In addition, it offers the Sea Ray Legacy warranty plan available for used Sea Ray boats less than six years old. The Legacy plan applies to each qualifying used Sea Ray boat, which has pa ssed a 48-point inspection, and provides protection against failure of most mechanical parts for up to three years.

Marine Engines, Related Marine Equipment, and Boating Parts and Accessories

The Company offers marine engines and propellers, substantially all of which are manufactured by Mercury Marine, a division of Brunswick. It sells marine engines and propellers primarily to retail customers as replacements for their existing engines or propellers. It also sells a range of marine parts and accessories at its retail locations, at various offsite locations, through its print catalog, and through the Website portal. These marine parts and accessories include marine electronics; dock and anchoring products, such as boat fenders, lines, and anchors; boat covers; trailer parts; water sport accessories, such as tubes, lines, wakeboards, and skies; engine parts; oils; lubricants; steering and control systems; corrosion contro! l product! s, service products ; high-performance accessories, such as propellers and instr! uments, a! nd a complete line of boating accessories, including life jackets, inflatables, and water sports equipment. It also offers novelty items, such as shirts, caps, and license plates bearing the manufacturers or dealers logos. The sale of marine engines, related marine equipment, and boating parts and accessories accounted for 6.2% of the Companys during fiscal 2011 revenue.

Maintenance, Repair, and Storage Services

The Company provides maintenance and repair services at most of its retail locations, with extended service hours at certain of its locations. In addition, in many of its markets, it provides mobile maintenance and repair services at the location of the customers boat. The Company performs both warranty and non-warranty repair services. It derives the majority of its warranty revenue from Brunswick products. Its maintenance and repair services are performed by manufacturer-trained and certified service technicians. At many of the Companys locations, it offers boat storage services, including in-water slip storage and inside and outside land storage. Maintenance, repair, and storage services accounted for 8.9% of its revenue during fiscal 2011. This includes warranty and non-warranty services.

F&I Products

At each of the Companys retail locations, it offers the customers the ability to finance new or used boat purchases and to purchase extended service contracts and arrange insurance coverage, including boat property, credit life, and accident, disability, and casualty insurance coverage (collectively, F&I). The Company also offers third-party extended service contracts under which, for a predetermined price, it provides all designated services pursuant to the service contract guidelines during the contract term at no additional charge to the customer above a deductible. Credit life insurance policies provide for repayment of the boat financi! ng contra! ct if the p urchaser dies while the contract is outstanding. Accident an! d disabil! ity insurance policies provide for payment of the monthly contract obligation during any period in which the buyer is disabled. Property and casualty insurance covers loss or damage to the boat.

Brokerage Services

Through employees or subcontractors that are licensed boat or yacht brokers, the Company offers boat or yacht brokerage services at most of its retail locations. It also offers for sale brokered boats or yachts, listing them on various Internet sites, advising its other retail locations, and posting them on its Website, www.MarineMax.com. Its maintenance and repair services, including mobile service, also are generally available to its brokerage customers.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Udovich]

  As we head towards Black Friday, small cap specialty retail stocks United Online, Inc (NASDAQ: UNTD), TravelCenters of America LLC (NYSE: TA) and MarineMax, Inc (NYSE: HZO) have the distinction of being the best performing small capspecialty retail stocks for this year (according to Finviz.com) with gains of 181.2%, 123.8% and 71.8%, respectively. With those returns in mind, what are these small cap specialty retail stocks doing right and will the performance last through the all important holiday season? Here is what new and existing investors and traders alike need to know or consider:

source from Top Penny Stocks For 2015:http://www.seekpennystocks.com/hot-recreation-stocks-to-watch-right-now-3.html

Intel Beats Q1 Earnings Estimates; Revenue Misses (INTC)

After the closing bell on Tuesday, Intel Corp (INTC) reported its first quarter earnings results.

INTC’s Earnings in Brief

INTC reported Q1 earnings of $1.95 billion, or 38 cents per share, down from $2.05 billion, or 40 cents per share, a year ago. Revenue rose to $12.8 billion from $12.58 billion reported last year. On average, analysts expected to see earnings of 37 cents per share and revenue of $12.81 billion. For Q2, INTC expects revenues of $13 billion, versus the expected $12.94 billion. In FY2014, the company expects to see revenue remain approximately flat.

CEO Commentary

Brian Krzanich, CEO of Intel, commented: “In the first quarter we saw solid growth in the data center, signs of improvement in the PC business, and we shipped 5 million tablet processors, making strong progress on our goal of 40 million tablets for 2014. Additionally, we demonstrated our further commitment to grow in the enterprise with a strategic technology and business collaboration with Cloudera, we introduced our second-generation LTE platform with CAT6 and other advanced features, and we shipped our first Quark products for the Internet of Things.”

INTC’s Dividend

INTC will pay its next quarterly dividend of $0.225 on June 1 to shareholders of record on May 7. The stock goes ex-dividend May 5. The company last raised its dividend in 2013 by 3.4%.

Stock Performance 

Intel shares rose 0.79% during Tuesday’s session. The stock is up 2.99% year-to-date.

INTC Dividend Snapshot

As of Market Close on April 15, 2014

Click here to see the complete history of INTC dividends.

Man in Home Depot fraud gets 2½ years in prison

FLINT, Mich. (AP) — A Michigan man who switched price stickers on Home Depot products and then returned the items for refunds was sentenced Thursday to 2 ½ years in prison in a multi-state scheme that cost the big retailer more than $300,000.

Larry D. Fields, Chris M. Smith and others executed the scam over two years at more than 100 Home Depot stores in 13 states, according to federal agents.

Fields appeared Thursday in federal court in Flint, a few months after Smith was sentenced to 3 ½ years in prison for his role.

The fraud was simple but lucrative: They took bar code stickers off inexpensive items and placed them on goods that cost more before paying at a self-checkout register. The items later were returned to Home Depot with the original higher price code.

Refunds were put on Home Depot store cards that were peddled to others. Some items that weren't immediately returned were put in storage in the Detroit area or resold for a profit.

After his arrest last May, Smith met with Home Depot officials and "offered suggestions as to how to improve store security measures in order to prevent similar schemes from occurring in the future," Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Vance said in a court filing.

During one of Smith's many visits to a store, he bought lights worth $530 for just $40. He got a bath drain costing $85 for $4.20 after switching bar codes. Other products included a chain saw, hand truck, shower drains and ceiling tiles.

In Atlanta, Home Depot spokesman Stephen Holmes said the company was grateful for the work of federal agents. He declined to say whether the case has influenced how the retailer puts prices on its products.

"I wouldn't be able to discuss any of our security measures, even in general," Holmes said.

5 Best Safest Stocks To Watch For 2015

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -

A weekly collection of design, data and interactive links. Design/Data viz inFORM | MIT's Dynamic Shape Display renders 3D content physically What is the safest time to drive? | New statistics show the safest and most dangerous times to drive The Latest | An automatic list of links from Twitter Sorting algorithms visualized | Video visualization of 15 different sorting algorithms Waterbear Playground | Code in ProcessingJS using just blocks Photo/Video Robot Cars | Toymaker brings robot cars to market 20 years early The Mill VFX | The Mill VFX showreel 2013 Drum machines | Greatest drum machines ever made Synth Kit | littleBits Synth Kit in collaboration with KORG Illustration Roman Muradov | Illustrations by Roman Muradov

See last week's links Have a nice weekend! @dubly and @talyellin

Best Clean Energy Companies To Invest In Right Now: Alumina Ltd (AWC)

Alumina Limited, through its 40% equity interest in Alcoa World Alumina and Chemicals, engages in the bauxite mining, alumina refining, and aluminum smelting businesses. It has interests in eight alumina refineries and eight bauxite mines, as well as operates two aluminum smelters in Victoria, Australia. The company also owns interests in a network of mines, refineries, and smelters in the United States, Guinea, Suriname, Jamaica, Brazil, and Spain. In addition, it owns and operates a shipping operation that transports alumina, aluminum, and raw materials worldwide. The company, formerly known as WMC Limited, was founded in 1970 and is based in Southbank, Australia.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Shares of Alcoa have dropped 3.3% to $7.90 today at 9:30 a.m. The downgrade has also hit other aluminum producers this morning. Alumina (AWC) has fallen 1.1% to $3.73, Kaiser Aluminum (KALU) has declined 0.7% to $71.17, and BHP Billiton (BHP), of which aluminum is but a small piece, is off 0.3% at $66.22.

• [By Peter Krauth]

  Prospects are strong, as AA continues to push productivity gains and further penetrate sectors like aerospace and automotive. As automobiles look to improve fuel consumption, the average U.S. car will likely go from about 14 lbs. to 55 lbs. of aluminum in just the next three years. Alcoa CEO Klaus Kleinfeld thinks cars will contain 135 lbs. of aluminum within twelve years.

  The Even Better-Looking Sister Is... Another way to play aluminum might be through Alumina Ltd. (ADR) (NYSE: AWC).

  Alumina owns 40% of the world's largest alumina business, Alcoa World Alumina and Chemicals (AWAC), with Alcoa owning and managing the other 60%.

• [By Tim Melvin]

  One such company is Alumina Limited (NYSE ADR: AWC), an Australian aluminum company.

  Alumina, which mines and refines aluminum, operates eight refineries and two aluminum smelters and owns or has interest in seven mining operations. It has a shipping operation that transports aluminum-related raw materials.

5 Best Safest Stocks To Watch For 2015: Eaton Vance Corporation (EV)

Eaton Vance Corp., through its subsidiaries, engages in the creation, marketing, and management of investment funds in the United States. It also provides investment management and counseling services to institutions and individuals. Further, the company operates as an adviser and distributor of investment companies and separate accounts. As of October 31, 2004, the company provided investment advisory or administration services to approximately 150 funds; approximately 1,300 separately managed individual and institutional accounts; and participated in approximately 40 retail-managed account broker/dealer programs. It markets and distributes shares of funds through a retail network of national and regional broker/dealers, banks, insurance companies, and financial planning firms. Eaton Vance Corp. was founded in 1944 and is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Seth Jayson]

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

• [By Value Digger]

  Halcon produced 18,348 boepd (81% oil and liquids) in Q4 2012, and it had 108.8 MMboe proved reserves as of December 2012. With Enterprise Value (EV) at $5.5 billion currently (including the recent additional debt), Halcon trades at $300,000 per flowing barrel, $50.5/boe of proved reserves and PBV=2.

5 Best Safest Stocks To Watch For 2015: Sky-mobi Limited(MOBI)

Sky-mobi Limited engages in the operation of a mobile application store in the People?s Republic of China. It works with handset companies to pre-install its Maopao mobile application store on handsets and with content developers to provide users with applications and content titles. The users of its Maopao store could browse, download, and purchase a range of applications and content, such as single-player games, mobile music, and books. The company?s Maopao store enables mobile applications and content to be downloaded and run on various mobile handsets with hardware and operating system configurations. It also operates a mobile social network community, the Maopao Community, where it offers localized mobile social games, as well as applications and content with social network functions to its registered members. The company owns proprietary mobile application technology in the cloud computing, the MRP format, and SDK development environment. As of March 31, 2011, it had entered into cooperation agreements with approximately 523 handset companies to pre-install Maopao. The company was formerly known as Profit Star Limited and changed its name to Sky-Mobi Limited in October 2010. Sky-mobi Limited was incorporated in 2007 and is headquartered in Hangzhou, China.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Monica Gerson]

  Sky-mobi (NASDAQ: MOBI) is projected to report its Q2 results.

  Perfect World Co (NASDAQ: PWRD) is estimated to post its Q2 earnings at $0.41 per share on revenue of $150.56 million.

• [By Roberto Pedone]

  Another stock that's starting to move within range of triggering a big breakout trade is Sky-mobi (MOBI), which, through its subsidiaries, engages in the operation of a mobile application platform embedded on mobile phones to provide mobile application store and services in the People�s Republic of China. This stock has been red hot so far in 2013, with shares up a whopping 88%.

  If you look at the chart for Sky-mobi, you'll notice that this stock recently formed a triple bottom chart pattern at $3.31, $3.28 and $3.40 a share. That bottoming pattern occurred over the last two months. Shares of MOBI have now started to uptrend and flirt with its 50-day moving average of $3.76 a share. That move is quickly pushing MOBI within range of triggering a big breakout trade.

  Traders should now look for long-biased trades in MOBI if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at $3.71 to $3.83 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above those levels with volume that hits near or above its three-month average action of 145,934 shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then MOBI will set up to re-test or possibly take out its 52-week high at $4.96 a share. Any high-volume move above that level will then give MOBI a chance to tag its next major overhead resistance levels at $5.55 to $6.13 a share.

  Traders can look to buy MOBI off any weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below some key near-term support levels at $3.40 to $3.28 a share. One can also buy MOBI off strength once it takes out that breakout levels with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.

5 Best Safest Stocks To Watch For 2015: Asbury Automotive Group Inc (ABG)

Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. (Asbury), incorporated on February 15, 2002, is an automotive retailers in the United States. As of December 31, 2011, the Company operated 99 franchises (79 dealership locations). It offers a range of automotive products and services, including new and used vehicles; vehicle maintenance; replacement parts and collision repair services; new and used vehicle financing, and aftermarket products, such as insurance, warranty and service contracts. As of December 31, 2011, it offered 30 domestic and foreign brands of new vehicles. Its brand mix is weighted 84% towards luxury and mid-line import brands, with the remaining 16% consisting of domestic brands. As of December 31, 2011, it operated dealerships in 18 metropolitan markets throughout the United States. As of December 31, 2011, its retail network consisted of eight locally-branded dealership groups. As of December 31, 2011, its brand names included Nalley Automotive Group, Courtesy Autogroup, Coggin Automotive Group, Crown Automotive Company, David McDavid Auto Group, North Point Auto Group, Gray-Daniels Auto Family and Plaza Motor Company. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company sold its heavy truck business in Atlanta, Georgia, two franchises and one additional ancillary business. On May 2, 2011, the Company sold its luxury brand dealership in California. In December 2012, the Company acquired a Volkswagen and a Bentley store in the Atlanta, Georgia market.

New Vehicle Sales

As of December 31, 2011, the Company owned a range of 30 American, European and Asian brands. Its new vehicle unit sales consist of the sale of new vehicles to individual retail customers (new vehicle retail) and the sale of new vehicles to commercial customers (fleet). During the year ended December 31, 2011, it sold 71,449 new vehicles through its dealerships. During 2011, new vehicle sales were 54% of its total revenues and 22% of its total gross profit. The Company�� new vehicle revenues include new vehi! cle sale and lease transactions arranged by its dealerships with third parties.

Used Vehicle Sales

The Company sells used vehicles at all of its dealership locations. Used vehicle sales include the sale of used vehicles to individual retail customers (used retail) and the sale of used vehicles to other dealers at auction (wholesale). During 2011, it sold 55,805 used retail vehicles through its dealerships. During 2011, sales of used retail vehicles accounted for approximately 25% of its total revenues. During 2011, wholesale sales represented 4% of its total revenues.

The Company�� new vehicle operations provide its used vehicle operations with a supply of trade-ins and off-lease vehicles. It also purchases a portion of its used vehicle inventory at auctions restricted to new vehicle dealers and open auctions, which offer vehicles sold by other dealers and repossessed vehicles. Its used vehicle inventory is sold as wholesale if a vehicle is not sold at retail within 60 days, except for used vehicles, which does not fit within its inventory mix. The reconditioning of used vehicles also generates revenue for its parts and service departments.

Parts and Service

Asbury sells replacement parts and provides vehicle maintenance and collision repair service at all of its franchised dealerships, for the vehicle brands sold at those dealerships. As of December 31, 2011, in addition, it maintained 25 free-standing collision repair centers either on the premises of, or in close proximity to, its dealerships. During 2011, parts and service revenues accounted for approximately 14% of its total revenues.

Finance and Insurance

The Company refers to the finance and insurance portion of its business as F&I. Through its F&I business, it arranges, and receives commissions for, third-party financing of the sale or lease of new and used vehicles to customers, as well as offers a range of aftermarket products, such as extended servi! ce contra! cts, guaranteed asset protection (GAP) debt cancellation, pre-paid maintenance and credit life and disability insurance. It also generates F&I revenues from the receipt of marketing fees paid to it under agreements with preferred lenders. During 2011, its F&I business generated approximately 3% of its total revenues. Extended service contracts cover repair work after the expiration of the manufacturer warranty. GAP debt cancellation covers the customer after a total loss for the difference between the value of the vehicle and the outstanding loan or lease obligation after insurance proceeds. Prepaid maintenance covers routine maintenance work, such as oil changes, cleaning and adjusting of brakes, multi-point vehicle inspections and tire rotations. Credit life and disability covers the remaining amounts due on an auto loan or a lease in the event of death or disability.

The Company earns sales-based commissions from third-party lenders, including manufacturer captive finance subsidiaries which arranges on behalf of its customers. It may be charged back (chargebacks) for these commissions in the event a finance contract is cancelled or repaid, typically within the first 90 days of such contract. During 2011, it arranged customer financing on approximately 70% of the vehicles it sold. The Company is a party to a range of preferred lender agreements. These payments are determined by the lenders based upon an agreed-upon earnings schedule.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Seth Jayson]

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

• [By Inyoung Hwang]

  Fresnillo Plc (FRES) and Polymetal International Plc sank at least 7 percent to lead declines in the Stoxx 600 after the precious-metals producers were not included in the NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index. Fresnillo tumbled 13 percent to 1,045 pence. Polymetal plunged 7.1 percent to 659.5 pence. African Barrick Gold Plc (ABG) also fell, losing 12 percent to 143.9 pence.

Investors cheer record-setting year on Wall St.

Stock investors will soon be in 401(k) heaven.

The broad U.S. stock market put an exclamation point on its record-breaking year on the final trading day of 2013, powering to yet another all-time high and posting its biggest percentage gain since 1997, or 16 years ago.

"Good to the last drop," is the way Dwayne Adams, a certified financial planner at Adams Wealth Management Group, summed up the best year for the Standard & Poor's 500 stock index since 1997. The closely tracked benchmark index rose 29.6%, a mega-move that will be reflected in much fatter retirement account balances when investors rip open their statements in coming weeks.

RAGING BULL: Nothing could stop red-hot stocks in 2013

2014 OUTLOOK: Will it be another slam dunk for stocks?

TOP PICKS: Investment strategists share their stock picks for 2014

The superlative returns posted by all of the nation's best-known indexes tell the story of a stock market in full-blown bull market mode, as the bull nears its fifth birthday in March. Blue-chip stocks skyrocketed in 2013. So did large-cap names. Small-company stocks posted big gains, too. As did tech stocks, which partied like it was 1999.

Stocks surged on the back of an improving economy, unprecedented stimulus from the Federal Reserve and a knack for dodging possible sinkholes. The stock market sidestepped the "fiscal cliff" at the start of the year, the Boston Marathon bombings, a near war with Syria, a government shutdown and a jump in yields on long-term government bonds to their highest level since July 2011. Wall Street also made peace with the Federal Reserve's decision to begin dialing back its market-friendly stimulus in the new year.

Performance statistics tell the story best.

• The Dow Jones industrial average finished the year up 26.5%, its best return since 1995. It closed the year out with its 52nd record close of the year, rising 72.37 points to 16,576.66. That pushed the bull market to an even more notable milestone: At! Tuesday's close the Dow is more than 10,000 points above its 2009 bear market low -- 10,030 points, to be exact.

LOSERS: Dow's worst performing stocks of 2013

• The S&P 500 soared nearly 30%, its best performance since a 31.01% jump in 1997. The large-company index also closed out the year with a fresh record, only the sixth time that has happened in its history, according to S&P Dow Jones Indices. It posted 45 record closes, the most in 15 years.

S&P 500: Winners and losers of 2013

* The tech-dominated Nasdaq composite was the biggest winner in 2013, racking up a gain of 38.3%, its seventh-biggest annual gain ever and its best since 2009 when it rebounded sharply from its bear-market low.

• The small-cap Russell 2000 also posted a 30%-plus gain and finished at a new record high. For the year, it skyrocketed 37%, marking its best annual return since 2003.

"2013 was a great year," says Gary Alexander of the Navellier mutual fund family. "The year was far better than most pundits thought possible last January."

Best Prefered Companies To Buy Right Now

It’s been a painful day for most biotech stocks after Janet Yellen said that smaller ones look pricey. And even Gilead Sciences (GILD) has plunged, despite the fact that Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) earnings hinted at big sales for hepatitis C drug Sovaldi.

Special to The Chronicle

Today, Johnson & Johnson said it earned $1.66 a share on revenue of $4.3 billion. A big part of that beat came from booming sales of its new hepatitis-C drug Olysio. RBC Capital Market’s Michael Yee and team explain why that’s good news for Gilead:

Johnson & Johnson� Olysio US sales were $725M, up from Q1 US sales of $291M. Using our Olysio-Sovaldi sales conversion APP calculator, this implies strong US Sovaldi Q2 sales of potentially $2.8-3.2B+ (our app takes�Johnson & Johnson sales and determined a 91% capture rate for scripts; we assume $80M of�Johnson & Johnson was stocking; the higher end estimate is based on using IMS/WK sales capture rate of 70-80% and applying that to�Gilead Sciences IMS sales).

Top 10 Trucking Companies To Watch In Right Now: JMP Group Inc (JMP)

JMP Group Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates as an investment banking, asset management, and corporate credit management company in the United States. The company provides various investment banking products and services, such as capital raising, mergers and acquisitions transaction, and other strategic advisory services to corporate clients. It also offers sales and trading services, which include distributing equity research products, communicating proprietary investment recommendations, executing equity trades on behalf of institutional clients, and marketing the securities of companies, as well as related brokerage services to institutional investors. In addition, the company provides proprietary equity research in five industries, including consumer, financial services, healthcare, real estate, and technology industries. Further, it provides asset management products and services to institutional investors, and high net-worth individuals; and involves in the man agement of collateralized loan obligations. JMP Group Inc. was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California with additional offices in New York, New York; Boston, Massachusetts; Chicago, Illinois; and Alpharetta, Georgia.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Marc Bastow]

  Full-service investment banking, asset management and corporate credit management firm JMP Group (JMP) raised its quarterly dividend 13% to 4.5 cents per share, payable April 11 to shareholders of record as of March 28.
  JMP Dividend Yield: 2.41%

Best Prefered Companies To Buy Right Now: Questerre Energy Corp (QEC)

Questerre Energy Corporation (Questerre) is engaged in the exploration for, and the development, production and acquisition of oil and gas projects, particularly shale oil and gas. Questerre holds assets in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Quebec. Questerre has three core areas where it conducts the majority of its activity: Oil Shale Mining, Western Canada and the St. Lawrence Lowlands, Quebec. The Company has a 100% interest in two licenses covering approximately 100,000 acres in the Pasquia Hills area of east central Saskatchewan. The Antler area is approximately 200 kilometers from Regina in southeast Saskatchewan. The Vulcan area in Southern Alberta is prospective for natural gas and oil in multiple horizons. The Lowlands are situated in Quebec south of the St. Lawrence River between Montreal and Quebec City. As at December 31, 2011, the Company had an interest in 98 gross (55.2 net) producing and 40 gross (17.8 net) non-producing oil and natural gas. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Udovich]

  While the Bakken formation is already on most investor radars,�few American investors may realize that the formation stretches North into the oil and gas rich Canadian province of Saskatchewan where�stocks like Surge Energy Inc (TSE: SGY), Questerre Energy Corp (TSE: QEC), Crescent Point Energy Corp (TSE: CPG), Keyera Corp (TSE: KEY) and Centor Energy Inc (OTCBB: CNTO) have been pumping out a good flow of newsworthy news in recent weeks. I should mention that Canada�� oil reserves are ranked #3 after to Venezuela and Saudi Arabia with over 95% of these reserves being the oil sands of Alberta while the neighboring province of Saskatchewan (which the Bakken formation stretches into from South Dakota and Montana) along with offshore areas of Newfoundland also contain substantial production and reserves (Note:�Excluding oil sands, Alberta would have 39% of Canada�� remaining conventional oil reserves,�followed by�offshore Newfoundland with�28% and Saskatchewan with 27%).

Best Prefered Companies To Buy Right Now: New York & Company Inc.(NWY)

New York & Company, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a specialty retailer of women's fashion apparel and accessories in the United States. The company offers a range of wear-to-work, and casual apparel and accessories, including pants, jackets, knit tops, blouses, sweaters, denim, T-shirts, activewear, handbags, and jewelry. It sells its products under the New York & Company, Lerner, Lerner New York, New York Style, City Stretch, City Style, and NY&C brand names. The company sells its branded merchandise through its network of retail stores and E-commerce store at nyandcompany.com. As of March 15, 2012, it operated 532 stores in 43 states. The company, formerly known as NY & Co. Group, Inc., was founded in 1918 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Anna Prior]

  New York & Co(NWY).’s fiscal third-quarter loss narrowed as the women’s apparel retailer recorded comparable-store-sales growth and benefited from lower costs.

Best Prefered Companies To Buy Right Now: Eaton Vance Senior Floating-Rate Trust (EFR)

Eaton Vance Senior Floating-Rate Trust (the Fund) is a closed-end management investment company. The Fund�� investment objective is to provide a high level of current income and preservation of capital by investing primarily in senior, secured floating rate loans (Senior Loans). Eaton Vance Senior Floating-Rate Trust invests in various industries, including healthcare, publishing, cable and satellite television, chemicals and plastics, and business equipment and services.

The Fund invests at least 80% of its total assets in Senior Loans. The Fund may also invest in second lien loans and high yield bonds. Eaton Vance Management serves as the investment advisor of the Fund.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Dowdee]

  The following 10 funds satisfied all of these conditions:

  BlackRock Float Rate Strategies (FRA). This CEF sells at a discount of 3%, which is low compared to an average premium of 2% over the past year. The distribution has been managed at 6.1% and a small amount (less than 10%) has been return of capital (ROC). However, this has not negatively affected net asset value (NAV) so has not been destructive. The fund holds 447 securities, with 90% in floating rate loans. FRA utilizes 27% leverage and has an expense ratio of 1.7%, including interest payments. Eaton Vance Floating Rate (EFR). This CEF sells at a 1% premium, which is low compared to an average premium of 5% over the past year. The distribution is 6.2%, none of which was ROC. The fund holds 800 securities, with 90% in floating rate loans. About 85% of the securities are from U.S. companies. EFR utilizes 35% leverage and has an expense ratio of 1.8% including interest payments. ING Prime Rate Trust (PPR). This CEF sells for a premium of 2%, which is below the average premium of 5%. It has a distribution of 6.8%, none of which was ROC. The fund has 350 holdings, virtually all in senior loans and from US companies. PPR utilizes 29% leverage and has a high expense ratio of 2.1%, including interest payments. Invesco VK Dynamic Credit Opportunities (VTA). This CEF sells for a discount of 5%, which is below the average discount of 1%. It has a distribution of 7.1%, none of which was ROC. The fund has 495 holdings, with 76% in floating rate loans. About 25% of the loans are from non-US companies. VTA utilizes a relatively low 20% leverage but still has a high expense ratio of 2.1%, including interest payments. Invesco VK Senior Income (VVR). This CEF sells for a discount of 1%, which is below the average premium of 3%. It has a distribution of 7.1%, none of which was ROC. The fund has over 500 holdings, with 89% in floating rate loans. Almost all (95%) securities are from US companies. VVR ut

Best Prefered Companies To Buy Right Now: Hexcel Corp (HXL)

Hexcel Corporation (Hexcel), incorporated in 1948, is a composites company. The Company develops, manufactures and markets composites, including carbon fibers, reinforcements, prepregs, honeycomb, matrix systems, adhesives and composite structures, for use in Commercial Aerospace, Space and Defense, and Industrial Applications. Its products are used in a variety of end applications, such as commercial and military aircraft, space launch vehicles and satellites, wind turbine blades, automotive, bikes, skis and a variety of other industrial applications. Hexcel has two segments: Composite Materials and Engineered Products. The Composite Materials consists of carbon fiber, reinforcements for composites, honeycomb core and matrix product lines. The Engineered Products consists of composite structures and specially machined honeycomb product lines.

Composite Materials

The Composite Materials segment manufactures and markets carbon fibers, fabrics and specialty reinforcements, prepregs, structural adhesives, honeycomb, composite panels, molding compounds, polyurethane systems and laminates that are incorporated into many applications, including military and commercial aircraft, wind turbine blades, recreational products and other industrial applications. HexTow carbon fibers are manufactured for sale to third-party customers, as well as for its own use in manufacturing certain reinforcements and composite materials. Carbon fibers are woven into carbon fabrics, used as reinforcement in conjunction with a resin matrix to produce pre-impregnated composite materials. Carbon fibers is also used in filament winding, hand layup, automatic tape layup and advanced fiber placement to produce finished composite components. Its carbon fibers��product applications include structural components for commercial and military aircraft, space launch vehicles, and certain other applications, such as recreational and industrial equipment.

Industrial fabrics and specialty reinforcements are ma! de from a variety of fibers, including carbon, aramid and other polymers, several types of fiberglass, quartz, ceramic and other specialty fibers. These reinforcements are used in the production of prepregs and other matrix materials used in primary and secondary structural aerospace applications, such as wing components, horizontal and vertical stabilizer components, fairings, radomes and engine nacelles, as well as overhead storage bins and other interior components. Hexcel�� reinforcements are also used in the manufacture of a variety of industrial and recreational products, such as wind energy blades, automotive components, boats, surfboards, skis and other sporting goods equipment.

HexPly prepregs are manufactured for sale to third-party customers and for internal use by its engineered products segment in manufacturing composite laminates and monolithic structures, including finished components for aircraft structures and interiors. Prepregs are manufactured by combining reinforcement fabrics or unidirectional fibers with a resin matrix to form a composite material with structural properties not present in either of the constituent materials. Reinforcement fabrics used in the manufacture of prepregs include glass, carbon, aramid, quartz, ceramic and other specialty reinforcements. Resin matrices include bismaleimide, cyanate ester, epoxy, phenolic, polyester, polyimide and other specialty resins.

Other fiber reinforced matrix developments include HexMC, a form of quasi-isotropic carbon fiber prepreg that enables small to medium sized composite components to be mass produced. HexTOOL is a specialized form of HexMC for use in the construction of high temperature composite tooling. HexFIT film infusion material is a product that combines resin films and dry fiber reinforcements in production and enables the manufacture of contoured composite structures, such as wind turbine blades.

Polymer matrix materials are sold in bulk and film form for use in direct pro! cess manu! facturing of composite parts. Resins can be combined with fiber reinforcements in manufacturing processes, such as resin transfer molding (RTM), resin film infusion (RFI) or vacuum assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) to produce composite components for both aerospace and industrial applications. Hexcel manufactures and markets a range of Redux film and paste adhesives. These structural adhesives, which bond metal to metal and composites and honeycomb structures, are used in the aerospace industry and for many industrial applications.

HexWeb honeycomb is a cellular structure consisting of nested hexagonal cells. The product is similar in appearance to a cross-sectional slice of a beehive. It can also be manufactured in asymmetric cell configurations for more specialized applications. Honeycomb is primarily used as a lightweight core material and acts as an energy absorber. When sandwiched between composite or metallic facing skins, honeycomb increases the stiffness of the structure, while adding very little weight. The Company produces honeycomb from a number of metallic and non-metallic materials. Its metallic honeycomb is made from aluminum and is available in a selection of alloys, cell sizes and dimensions. Non-metallic materials used in the manufacture of honeycomb include fiberglass, carbon fiber, thermoplastics, non-flammable aramid papers, aramid fiber and other specialty materials. During the year ended December 31, 2011, revenues for the Composite Materials segment to third-party customers represented approximately 77% of its total revenues.

Engineered Products

The Engineered Products segment manufactures and markets composite structures and precision machined honeycomb parts for use in the aerospace industry. Composite structures are manufactured from a variety of composite and other materials, including prepregs, honeycomb, structural adhesives and advanced molding materials, using such manufacturing processes, as autoclave processing, multi-axis nu! merically! controlled machining, heat forming, compression molding and other composite manufacturing techniques. During 2011, revenues for the Engineered Products segment to third-party customers represented approximately 23% of its total revenues. The Engineered Products business unit has a 50% ownership interest in a Malaysian joint venture, Asian Composites Manufacturing Sdn. Bhd.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Seth Jayson]

  Hexcel (NYSE: HXL  ) reported earnings on July 22. Here are the numbers you need to know.

  The 10-second takeaway
  For the quarter ended June 30 (Q2), Hexcel met expectations on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

• [By John Persinos]

  The standout stocks in this segment are Hexcel Corp. (HXL), the leading producer of carbon composites, and Allegheny Technologies (ATI), which dominates the market in titanium.

• [By MONEYMORNING.COM]

  There's also the advanced materials firm Hexcel Corp. (NYSE: HXL), which supplies honeycomb composites to some of the biggest names in the aerospace industry.

• [By Rich Smith]

  This series, brought to you by Yahoo! Finance, looks at which upgrades and downgrades make sense, and which ones investors should act on. Today, our headlines include a pair of aerospace upgrades for European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (NASDAQOTH: EADSY  ) and Hexcel (NYSE: HXL  ) . But it's not all good news, so let's start off by finding out why.

Best Prefered Companies To Buy Right Now: Quadrant 4 Systems Corp (QFOR)

Quandrant4 Systems Corp., formerly Zolon Corporation, incorporated on May 9, 1990, is focused in the information technology (IT) sector as a provider of Software as a Service (SaaS) based technology products to enterprise customers in addition to custom software development, life cycle maintenance, outsourcing and consulting services. The Company intends to provide IT consulting services; managed services; software product architecture; software development, maintenance and outsourcing and industry-specific software solutions primarily to enterprises engaged in the Financial Services, Retail and Healthcare sectors, but not limited to, IT services/solutions, managed services, software product architecture, development, maintenance and outsourcing, IT consulting and specific industry-focused software products and/or technology. On July 1, 2011, the Company merged VSG Acquisition Corp. and Resource Mine Acquisition Corp. into ISS Acquisition Corporation, all wholly-owned subsidiaries, which was then, renamed Quadrant 4 Consulting, Inc. Effective February 26, 2013, the Company acquired BlazerFish LLC, Teledata Technology Solutions Inc and Momentum Mobility.

Financial Services

The Company recognizes the changing regulatory environment as well as trends in the interaction between financial services providers and their customers and the role of technology and business-process solutions. It helps its customers implement customer-relationship-management tools based on newer trends and technology. Ite also helps its customers develop and maintain their technology infrastructure in light of regulatory factors, investing markets and demands for analysis.

Health Care and Life Sciences

In the Healthcare sector, the Company represent marketing opportunities. These opportunities are in part driven by regulatory climate while both payers and providers are recognizing that new set of technologies can play a role in achieving additional cost savings and efficiencies. I! t helps its customers integrate their needs of providing Healthcare services, managing information, managing preventive health services with the ever-increasing regulatory framework in which Healthcare services are provided. Its consulting services help customers deliver Healthcare or financing for Healthcare to get the affordability and availability to the patients using technology and business-processes in the areas of records management, billing, back-office services and service-provision analysis.

The Company competes with Accenture, IBM Global Services and Cap Gemini.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By RedChip]

  Quadrant 4 Systems (OTCQB: QFOR), a provider of informational technology software and services, is focused on four key areas that are shaping the future of business: social media, mobile technology, big-data analytics, and cloud computing. According to market research firm IDC, these four areas are expected to account for $5 trillion in spending by 2020. QFOR's solutions help blue-chip companies such as Walgreens, Ford, Citibank, and Cisco improve their efficiency and better serve their customers.

• [By RedChip]

  Q4 Systems Corporation (OTCQB: QFOR) today released Version 2.0 of its healthcare exchange platform. The Q4 healthcare exchange (QHIX) was launched in July, 2013. The Version 2.0 includes a Reach and Teach Member Engagement module, which the company believes makes its exchange the most comprehensive, easy-to-use, private health exchange platform available and far superior to all government exchanges.

The 10 Most Important Earnings in the Week Ahead

Earnings season is in full swing and this coming week will bring many key earnings reports. This will also be the last week of major on-calendar earnings for the third quarter, even if important earnings will still be coming out in the next two weeks or three weeks.

24/7 Wall St. has decided to publish previews for what it feels are the ten most important earnings reports on the calendar for the week ahead. These are possible market movers on their own right, but they are definitely all sector movers.

Earnings per shares (EPS) and revenue estimates have been provided by Thomson Reuters and we have added color on each if applicable. As a reminder, the earnings estimates can easily change before the reports. It is also possible that even the earnings date itself can change.

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) is set to report earnings on Monday after the closing bell. You will want to consider that tech giants have been doing well, even at Microsoft. You will also want to consider that this is an expected earnings drop down to $7.93 EPS from $8.67 EPS a year ago. Revenue is expected to be $36.84 billion, which will represent 2.4% sales growth from a year ago. The stock is back up to $525 now and that is the highest point since January of 2013. The company showed last quarter that gross margin was 36.9% versus 42.8% a year ago and also that international sales represented 57% of all sales. Apple gave guidance for this quarter of 36% to 37% margins on sales of $34 billion to $37 billion. Apple’s cash and cash equivalents came to $146 billion at the end of the last quarter. Carl Icahn wants an unbelievable $150 billion buyback conducted now, a move which Tim Cook is likely to address and likely to temper simultaneously.

Merck & Co. (NYSE: MRK) is set to report on Monday and estimates are $0.88 EPS, down from $0.95 EPS a year ago. Revenue is expected to be down 3% to $11.12 billion. At $46.54, the 52-week range for this DJIA stock is $40.02 to $50.16 and the consensus analyst price target is $51.05.

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) reports on Tuesday and earnings are expected to be $0.56 EPS versus $0.53 EPS a year ago. Revenue is expected to be down about 9% to $12.7 billion. Shares are at $30.61 against a 52-week range of $23.55 to $31.15. The consensus analyst price target for this DJIA Big Pharma giant is $31.91.

Comcast Corp. (NASDAQ: CMCSA) reports on Wednesday and earnings are expected to be $0.61 EPS versus last year’s third quarter report of $0.46 EPS. Revenue is expected to be down 1.8% to $16.25 billion. Comcast closed at $48.17 and we would point out that the high for the year and all-time was just put in at $48.19.

Starbucks Corp. (NASDAQ: SBUX) reports earnings on Wednesday afternoon. The new Teavana initiative has yet to kick in significantly as the first store was just launched. Earnings estimates are $0.60 EPS and $3.81 billion in revenue, representing earnings growth of 30% and sales growth of 13%. At $79.96 Starbucks is only about $1 shy of an all-time high and its value is now $60 billion.

American International Group (NYSE: AIG) reports on Thursday and estimates are $ EPS and $ billion in sales. While this is no longer a DJIA stock and while it is no longer beholden to the US government, AIG remains very systemically important. The insurance giant is expected to have earnings of $0.94 EPS versus $1.00 EPS a year ago. Revenue is expected to be down 1.4% to $8.63 billion. AIG’s share price of $51.85 is within $1.50 of a pre-meltdown high and the company’s market cap is $76.5 billion.

ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) is set to report earnings on Thursday morning and estimates are $1.44 EPS. That would be flat versus a year ago. Revenue estimates are $13.04 billion, although most Wall Street analysts do not make revenue projections based upon this being highly dependent upon the price of oil and other upstream and downstream factors. The $74.10 price hit on Friday is a new high.

Exxon Mobil Corp. (NYSE: XOM) also reports on Thursday morning. Estimates are $1.78 EPS versus $2.09 EPS a year ago. Revenue is expected to be $107.4 billion, although again analysts generally omit revenue estimates. Exxon Mobil shares have been underperforming compared to other oil giants. At $87.97, its 52-week trading range is $84.70 to $95.49. It has yet to unlock value with spin-offs or divestitures of entire units even if it routinely buys and sells oil fields. This DJIA component’s market cap is a whopping $387 billion.

MasterCard Inc. (NYSE: MA) reports on Thursday and estimates are $6.94 EPS versus $6.17 EPS a year ago. Revenue is expected to be up over 11% at $2.13 billion. At$723.78, this just hit a new all-time high of $732.45. Rival Visa just hit a new high as well, and MasterCard’s extremely high share price is keeping its trading volume exceptionally low considering its $87 billion market cap. Visa’s market cap is now about $131 billion for a comparison. For a comparison, Visa generated about 40% higher sales than MasterCard in 2012 yet its market cap is just over 50% higher than MasterCard. Maybe MasterCard needs to consider a stock split.

Chevron Corp. (NYSE: CVX) is due to report on Friday morning and will be the last of the major oil giants to report earnings. The consensus earnings estimate is $2.73 EPS versus $2.57 EPS a year ago. The oil giant is a DJIA component and its market cap is about $233 billion. Chevron recently closed at $120.59 against a 52-week range of $100.66 to $127.83.

Hot Recreation Stocks To Watch Right Now

Hot Recreation Stocks To Watch Right Now: Nikon Corp (NINOF)

NIKON CORPORATION is mainly engaged in the manufacture and sale of image and video equipment. The Company operates in four business segments. The Precision Equipment segment offers semiconductor exposure apparatus and liquid crystal (LC) exposure apparatus. The Image segment provides digital single-lens reflex (SLR) cameras, compact digital cameras and interchangeable lens. The Instruments segment offers microscopes, measuring machines and semiconductor inspection equipment. The Others segment provides LC photomask substrates and optical components. As of March 31, 2013, the Company has 87 subsidiaries and 10 associated companies. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By MARKETWATCH]

  LOS ANGELES (MarketWatch) -- Japanese stocks opened lower Thursday, as gains for the yen and losses for Wall Street conspired to drive the Nikkei Stock Average (JP:NIK) down 1.2% to 15,333.35, extending Wednesday's 0.6% loss. The Topix fell 0.7%, with the U.S. dollar (USDJPY) slipping to 102.46 yen, down from around 楼102.80 at the start of the previous session, but off its lows in late Wednesday trade. Electronics firms and other techs helped lead the loss, with Sony Corp. (JP:6758) (SNE) falling 1.4%, Nikon Corp. (JP:7731) (NINOF) off 2.4%, and Alps Electric Co. (JP:6770) 1.8% lower. The Nikkei Asian Review reported Thursday that Japan looked set to post its first trade deficit for electronics goods this year. Shares of Yahoo Japan Corp. (JP:4689) (YAHOF) ! lost 1.4%, even as Bloomberg reported the firm was offering its stake in market-research firm Macromill Inc. (JP:3730) to U.S. private-equity firm Bain Capital at a premium to its most recent close. Shares of Macromill were untraded. Among gainers, Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp. (JP:9432) (NTT) rose 2.1%, following a 1.1% gain for its U.S.-listed shares.

• [By MARKETWATCH]

  LOS ANGELES (MarketWatch) -- With the yen holding on to its gains and investors cautious as earnings season kicks off, Japanese stocks slid lower Friday after closing the previous day with some late-session gains. The Nikkei Stock Average (JP:NIK) fell 0.9% to 14,358.28, with the Topix down 0.8%, as the dollar bought 97.36 yen, little changed from 24 hours earlier. The relatively strong yen weighed on some names with high global exposure, as Sharp Corp. (JP:6753) (SHCAF) lost 1%, Pioneer Corp. (JP:6773) (PNCOF) dropped 1.6%, and Bridgestone Corp. (JP:5108) (BRDCF) fell 1.2%. An outlook cut from Canon Inc. (JP:7751) (CAJ) helped send its shares down 1%, while rival Nikon Corp. (JP:7731) (NINOF) lost 1.8%, though Olympus Corp. (JP:7733) ! ! (OCPNF) gained 1%. Telecoms were weak, with Softbank Corp. (JP:9984) (SFTBF) falling 2.5%, KDDI Corp. (JP:9433) (KDDIF) down 1.7%, and NTT DoCoMo Inc. (JP:9437) (NTDMF)

source from Top Penny Stocks For 2015:http://www.seekpennystocks.com/hot-recreation-stocks-to-watch-right-now-2.html

3 Top Defense Stocks For The 21st Century

"The 20th century was the era of manned aircraft; the 21st century is the era of unmanned aircraft." -- U.S. Coast Guard Capt. Christopher Martino.

	Flickr/Don DeBold
	A Predator drone at the Smithsonian Institute.

Political opinions aside, there's no doubt drones are big business. You may embrace the new technology, or you may fear it is simply the next step toward an Orwellian "Big Brother" society.

But either way, one thing is certain: There is a lot of money to be made in this new technology and in national security as a whole.

After all, who makes for a better customer than the government? The government doesn't just collect money, it prints money.

Let's start with some numbers:

30,000: The number of drones estimated to be flying in U.S. airspace by 2020.

$4.5 million to $11 million: The average cost of an MQ-1 Predator drone.

65,000 to 70,000: The number of Air Force personnel currently employed to process drone data.

$82 billion: The estimated value of the drone industry by 2025.

In StreetAuthority's special new report, "The 11 Most Shocking Investment Predictions of 2014," you can learn about a promising small-cap stock in this sector that has been flying under the radar.

As tensions in the Middle East flare up yet again, it's a good time to look at opportunities in the aerospace and defense industries.  

As you probably know, the U.S. spends far more than any other country on national defense. In fact, in 2011, the U.S. spent more on its military than the next 13 nations combined. The U.S. defense budget has soared 154% from 2001, to $729 billion in 2012.

There are concerns within the industry that government sequestration and austerity measures will cut spending. But the fact remains that defense spending on a large scale will almost certainly continue for decades to come.

On average, the sector is not cheap at this time. Many companies are currently trading at high valuations. Remember that buying high adds risk to the trade. The chances that stock prices will fall rather than rise increases dramatically when share prices get into the "frothy" zone.

For example, the world's largest defense contractor, Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT), is a great stock I would be happy to add to my portfolio. But not at 57 times book value, which is where the stock is trading.

Let's take a look at three stocks in the aerospace and defense sector that look more attractive at today's prices.

General Dynamics (NYSE: GD)

General Dynamics is currently trading around $86 per share, which is close to its 52-week high of $87.85. Yet earnings support this valuation, and the company's forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is only 11, compared with an industry average of 18. The current price to book value is 2.5. The company also carries very little debt, with a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.3. General Dynamics generates huge revenue through its contracts with the U.S. government. Its marine systems division owns three of the six submarine shipyards in the U.S. Long-term contracts with the U.S. government are estimated to be worth $78 billion for attack submarines and $140 billion for ballistic missile submarines. The company has also had a lot of success manufacturing private jets. It boasts a 30% market share for large business jets, and this market keeps growing. In 2009, General Dynamics sold 94 jets. Last year, it sold 121. In this year's second quarter, the company repurchased 6.6 million shares, which yield a 2.5 % dividend.

 

Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC)

Northrop Grumman is currently trading at a forward P/E ratio of 11 and a price-to-book (P/B) ratio of 2.3, despite a 38% run-up in prices so far this year. The company generated $2.3 billion in free cash flow last year. While sales have not been as robust this year, the company's focus on especially profitable defense sectors should allow operating margins to remain around 12%. Northrop specializes in the production of manned and unmanned aircraft, which includes radar, navigation, and targeting systems for the U.S. military's top fighter planes. In 2012, 11% of Northrop's sales came from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). UAVs have applications that extend far beyond military use, such as land surveying and helping catch drug boats along the coastline. Northrop sports a yield of 2.5% and has increased its dividend each year since 2008.

 

Raytheon (NYSE: RTN)

Raytheon is currently trading at a slightly higher cost, with a P/E ratio of 12 and a P/B ratio of 3. With a yield of 2.7%, the company has an impressive history of raising dividends over the past five years. During the same period, it has reduced its outstanding share count by almost 100 million shares since 2008, to 329 million. Raytheon's primary strength lies in its international sales. Customers include the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Turkey, Oman, Kuwait and India. Overseas sales, which make up about a quarter of total revenue, should help the company lock in profits should domestic spending continue to decline. The company's proven and successful Patriot missile defense system is a highly coveted asset around the world, and the company operates under a duopoly with Lockheed Martin in this system's production and implementation. Raytheon CEO William Swanson has been with the company since 1972, and under his leadership management has been committed to returning 50% of free cash flow to investors over the long term.

Risks to Consider: The biggest headwind in this sector is the threat of reduced U.S. government defense spending. Expenditures can be delayed, reduced or cut during annual congressional budget allocations.

Action to Take --> Along with death and taxes, armed conflict has historically been a fact of life. Demand for defense products and services isn't going anywhere. Should short-term U.S. defense spending decline, it's only a matter of time before a foreign or domestic event causes Congress to increase spending again. 

For long-term investors interested in this sector, all three stocks deserve a closer look. I find Northrop particularly attractive based on its 11% share of the drone market, which is currently in the early stages of explosive growth. Under U.S. law, companies that manufacture drones are allowed to sell them to foreign allies, creating enormous opportunities to profit from this new technology.

P.S. -- The three stocks I mentioned above are suitable for conservative investors, but we're really excited about a small-cap play on the "age of the drone" that Andy Obermueller has identified in his special new report, "The 11 Most Shocking Investment Predictions of 2014." You can learn about this and the rest of his exciting investment predictions by clicking here.

Hot Up And Coming Companies For 2014

Popular Posts: Hottest Energy Stocks Now – TPLM HK KOG SDBiggest Movers in Healthcare Stocks Now – TARO PCRX FMS INO10 Best “Strong Buy” Stocks ��BITA SHPG TRGP and more Recent Posts: Hottest Financial Stocks Now – WLP HTGC CACC CG Hottest Technology Stocks Now – AYI WDC NUAN YHOO Hottest Healthcare Stocks Now – THC KND VRTX ABBV View All Posts 8 Biotechnology Stocks to Buy Now

The grades of eight biotechnology stocks are better this week, according to the Portfolio Grader database. Every one of these stocks has an “A” (“strong buy”) or “B” overall (“buy”) rating.

Top 5 Defensive Companies To Own In Right Now: Compucon Computer Applications SA (COMP)

Compucon Computer Applications SA is a Greek company engaged mainly in the information technology sector. The Company's activities include the manufacture and trade of electronics and software for the embroidery, telematics, laser, Web solutions and medical fields. In the embroidery field it offers album presentation or embroidery designs, lettering with a variety of fonts, frames and specialized features, and realistic three-dimensional views of embroidery designs. The Company also produces laser cutting and engraving devices for the embroidery sector. The range of telematics applications includes automotive positioning systems, fleet management and navigation systems. Its Web solutions offering includes the SiteCosmos, which is an integrated tool for on-line content management and Website design for small and medium enterprises, while the medical applications target the management of patient-oriented information, diet schedules, word processing, prescriptions and other services. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Victor Reklaitis]

  The Nasdaq Composite (COMP) �rose 8.71 points, or 0.2%,to end at 4,368.04, its highest finish since April 2000. The tech-heavy index saw a 1.3% weekly rise.

Hot Up And Coming Companies For 2014: Henry Schein Inc. (HSIC)

Henry Schein, Inc. distributes healthcare products and services primarily to office-based healthcare practitioners. It operates in two segments, Healthcare Distribution and Technology. The Healthcare Distribution segment offers consumable dental products, dental laboratory products, and small equipment, including X-ray products, infection-control products, handpieces, preventatives, impression materials, composites, anesthetics, teeth, dental implants, gypsum, acrylics, articulators, and abrasives; and large dental equipment comprising dental chairs, delivery units and lights, X-ray equipment, equipment repair, and high-tech equipment. It also provides medical products, including branded and generic pharmaceuticals, vaccines, surgical products, diagnostic tests, infection-control products, and vitamins; and animal health products, such as branded and generic pharmaceuticals, surgical and consumable products and services, and equipment. The Technology segment offers softwar e and related products, and value-added products that primarily include practice management software systems for dental and medical practitioners, and animal health clinics. Its services also consist of financial services and continuing education services for practitioners. Henry Schein, Inc. primarily serves dental practitioners and laboratories, physician practices, and animal health clinics, as well as government and other institutions. It operates in the United States, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. The company was founded in 1932 and is headquartered in Melville, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Charles Mizrahi]

  Several stocks in our portfolio will benefit from this trend: Drugstore chain Walgreens (WAG), healthcare products distributor Henry Schein (HSIC), and pharmaceutical maker AstraZeneca (AZN)

• [By John Bonnanzio]

  The fund�� top holdings are Telsa, Henry Schein (HSIC), United Rentals (URI), Gartner (IT) and Kansas City Southern (KSU).

  The fund also has some exposure to pricey biotech. Even so, this is hardly a shoot-the-lights-out growth fund as volatility is below all his mid-cap peers. To that end, this trade actually tempers risk while increasing growth exposure.

Hot Up And Coming Companies For 2014: Sarepta Therapeutics Inc (SRPT)

Sarepta Therapeutics Inc., formerly AVI BioPharma, Inc., incorporated on July 22, 1980, biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of ribonucleic acid (RNA)-based therapeutics for the treatment of rare and infectious diseases. The Company�� product candidates include Eteplirsen, AVI-6002, AVI-6003, and AVI-7100. As of December 31, 2011, the Company primarily focused on advancing the development of its Duchenne muscular dystrophy drug candidates, including its lead product candidate, eteplirsen, which is in a Phase IIb trial. The Company is also focused on developing therapeutics for the treatment of infectious diseases, including its lead infectious disease programs aimed at the development of drug candidates for the Ebola and Marburg hemorrhagic fever viruses. The Company's program focuses on the development of disease-modifying therapeutic candidates for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). The Company initiated a Phase IIb trial for eteplirsen in August 2011 with an objective of initiating a pivotal trial subsequent to 2011.

The Company is also leveraging the capabilities of its RNA-based technology platforms to develop therapeutics for the treatment of infectious diseases. The Company's RNA-based drug programs are clinically evaluated for the treatment of DMD and have also demonstrated anti-viral activity in infectious diseases such as Ebola, Marburg and H1N1 influenza in certain animal models. The Company's lead product candidates are at various stages of development.

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Program

The Company's lead program is designed to address specific gene mutations that result in DMD by forcing the genetic machinery to skip over an adjacent contiguous piece of RNA and, thus, restore the ability of the cell to express a new, truncated but functional, dystrophin protein.

Eteplirsen is an antisense PMO-based therapeutic in clinical development for the treatment of individuals with DMD who have an error in the gene codi! ng for dystrophin that can be treated by skipping exon 51. Eteplirsen targets the frequent series of mutations that cause DMD. Eteplirsen has been granted orphan drug designation in the United States and European Union. In addition to the Company's lead product candidate, eteplirsen, the Company is actively pursues development of a product candidate that skips exon 45 through an IND-enabling collaboration.

Anti-Viral Programs

The Company is implementing its RNA-based technology platforms in its anti-viral programs for the development of therapeutics to treat viruses, such as Ebola, Marburg and influenza. The Company's arrangement with DoD supporting the development of the Company's Ebola and Marburg virus drug candidates provides funding for all clinical and licensure activities necessary to obtain approval of a New Drug Application (NDA), by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), if DoD exercises all of its options under the arrangement. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company paused its clinical development efforts on AVI-7100 and is exploring funding opportunities or partnerships with DHHS and industry collaborators to advance its development.

The Company's anti-viral therapeutic programs use the Company's translation suppression technology and applies its PMOplus chemistry backbone, an advanced generation of its base PMO chemistry backbone that selectively introduces positive backbone charges to improve selective interaction between the drug and its target. The Company's translation suppressing technology is based on Translation Suppressing Oligomers (TSOs), which are PMO-based compounds that stop or suppress the translation of a specific protein by binding to their specific target sequence in mRNA.

The Company is pursuing development and regulatory approval of its Ebola and Marburg hemorrhagic fever virus product candidates under the FDA's Animal Rule. The Company's lead product candidate against the Ebola virus infec! tion is A! VI-6002. For Marburg virus infection, the Company's lead product candidate has been AVI-6003. In February 2012, the Company announced that the Company received approval from the FDA to remove one of the two oligomers composing AVI-6003 and proceed with a single oligomer approach, AVI-7288, given that efficacy in non-human primates has been demonstrated to be attributable to this single oligomer. The Company is exploring the feasibility of alternate routes of administration of its Ebola and Marburg drug candidates, and at DoD's invitation, the Company is developing a proposal to be submitted for a study to demonstrates feasibility of the intramuscular route.

AVI-6002, which is a combination of AVI-7537 and AVI-7539, is designed for post-exposure prophylaxis after documented or suspected exposure to the Ebola virus. The Company is evaluating the feasibility of developing AVI-7537 as a single agent for the post-exposure prophylaxis after documented or suspected exposure to Ebola virus. AVI-6003, which is a combination of AVI-7287 and AVI-7288, is designed for post-exposure prophylaxis after documented or suspected exposure to Marburg virus. In February 2012, the Company announced that the Company received approval from the FDA to proceed with AVI-7288 as a single agent against Marburg virus infection. The Company intends to proceed with dosing AVI-7288 in the Phase I multiple ascending dose studies and in non-human primate studies.

Influenza Program

The Company's anti-viral therapeutic programs are also focused on the development of the Company's product candidates designed to treat pandemic influenza viruses. AVI-7100 is the Company's lead product candidate for the treatment of influenza and employs its PMOplus technology. In June 2011, the Company initiated dosing of AVI-7100 through intravenous infusion in single-ascending doses in up to 48 healthy adult volunteers. As of December 31, 2011, the Company paused its clinical development efforts on AVI-7100 and are exp! loring fu! nding opportunities or partnerships to advance its development.

The Company has developed three new phosphorodiamidate-linked morpholino oligomers (PMO)-based chemistry platforms in addition to its original PMO-based technology. The Company's PMO-based molecules are designed to sterically block the access of cellular machinery to pre-mRNA and mRNA without degrading the RNA. Through this selective targeting, two distinct biologic mechanisms of action can be initiated: modulation of pre-mRNA splicing and inhibition of mRNA translation.

The Company competes with GlaxoSmithKline plc, Toyama Chemical, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corp., Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Prosensa, and Santaris Pharma A/S.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Leading and Lagging Sectors
  Monday morning, the healthcare sector proved to be a source of strength for the market. Leading the sector was strength from Sarepta Therapeutics (NASDAQ: SRPT) and STAAR Surgical Company (NASDAQ: STAA). In trading on Monday, basic materials shares were relative laggards, down on the day by about 0.45 percent.

• [By Keith Speights]

  Sometimes, even the hint of an unfavorable regulatory decision can impact a biotech stock. Sarepta Therapeutics (NASDAQ: SRPT  ) shares lost more than 25% of their value in April. There wasn't an outright adverse FDA decision in this case. Instead, the FDA requested additional information related to a potential accelerated approval for Duchenne muscular dystrophy drug eteplirsen.

• [By Sean Williams]

  What: Shares of Sarepta Therapeutics (NASDAQ: SRPT  ) , a biopharmaceutical company focused on RNA-based therapies, fell as much as 16% after updating its status in an attempt to gain an accelerated approval for its Duchenne muscular dystrophy drug, eteplirsen.

• [By Roberto Pedone]

  One name that's starting to trend within range of triggering a big breakout trade is Sarepta Therapeutics (SRPT), which discovers and develops RNA-based therapeutics for the treatment of rare and infectious diseases. Its lead product candidate is eteplirsen. This stock has been uptrending strong so far in 2013, with shares up 45%.

  If you take a look at the chart for Sarepta Therapeutics, you'll notice that this stock has been uptrending strong over the last month, with shares moving higher from its low of $29.71 to its intraday high of $38.16 a share. During that uptrend, shares of SRPT have been consistently making higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. Shares of SRPT have now started to spike back above its 50-day moving average of $37.50, and that move is quickly pushing SRPT within range of triggering a big breakout trade.

  Traders should now look for long-biased trades in SRPT if it manages to break out above its 50-day at $37.50 a share and then once it clears some key near-term overhead resistance at $39.12 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above those levels with volume that hits near or above its three-month average volume of 1.65 million shares. If that breakout hits soon, then SRPT will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $46 to $47 a share.

  Traders can look to buy SRPT off any weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below some key near-term support levels at $35.31 to $35 a share. One can also buy SRPT off strength once it takes out those breakout levels with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.

Hot Up And Coming Companies For 2014: Western Copper and Gold Corp (WRN)

Western Copper and Gold Corporation (Western), formerly Western Copper Corporation, is an exploration-stage company. The Company is engaged in the development of the Casino mineral property located in Yukon, Canada. The Casino property contains gold, copper, and molybdenum. The Casino Project is an open-pit mine and concentrator complex located in the Yukon Territory of Canada. The Casino property consists of 705 full and partial active quartz mineral claims. The total area covered is 13,124 hectares. CRS Copper Resources Corp. (CRS), a 100% owned subsidiary of the Company, is the registered owner of all claims. On October 17, 2011, the Company completed a plan of arrangement (the Arrangement) involving the Company and two of its subsidiaries Copper North Mining Corp. (Copper North), and NorthIsle Copper and Gold Inc. (NorthIsle). Pursuant to the Arrangement, it transferred the Carmacks Copper Project and the Redstone Project to Copper North and the Island Copper property. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Hebba Investments]

  Therefore the situation is still very bullish for investors in physical gold and the gold ETFs (GLD, CEF, and PHYS). Investors interested in leveraging this situation into higher potential profits may also consider buying gold miners such as Randgold (GOLD), Goldcorp (GG), Yamana Gold (AUY), and any of the other gold miners. Finally, those willing to shoulder much larger risks may consider some of the exploration and micro-cap companies that offer significant profits at a high risk such as Chesapeake Gold (CHPGF.PK), Pretium Resources (PVG), Western Copper (WRN), or any other of the junior exploration companies. Though investors should keep in mind that gold mining companies and explorers do not always rise with a rising gold price - do your research before you invest in the miners.

Hot Up And Coming Companies For 2014: Teucrium Wheat Fund (WEAT)

Teucrium Wheat Fund (the Fund) is a commodity pool. The Fund is a series of the Teucrium Commodity Trust (Trust). The Fund provides investors unleveraged direct exposure to wheat without the need for a futures account. The investment objective of the Fund is to have the daily changes in percentage terms of a weighted average of the closing settlement prices for three futures contracts for wheat (Wheat Futures Contracts) that are traded on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT), which includes the second-to-expire CBOT Wheat Futures Contract, weighted 35%; the third-to-expire CBOT Wheat Futures Contract, weighted 30%, and the CBOT Wheat Futures Contract, weighted 35%. The Fund is managed by Teucrium Trading, LLC. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Paul Ausick]

  The Teucrium Wheat Fund (NYSEMKT: WEAT) closed down 2.43% on Friday to finish the week at $16.47. For the week the fund was up 0.8%. The 52-week range is $13.31 to $19.50. Like corn, the price is up more than 12% since the beginning of the year and down 10.5% over the past 12 months. This fund trades averages just 41,000 shares traded in a day, but nearly tripled that on Friday, when wheat prices fell more than 2% on the CBOT to close at $6.955 a bushel.

Hot Up And Coming Companies For 2014: Autoliv Inc (ALV)

Autoliv, Inc. (Autoliv) is a holding company. Autoliv is the supplier of automotive safety systems, with a range of product offerings, including modules and components for passenger and driver-side airbags, side-impact airbag protection systems, seatbelts, steering wheels, safety electronics, whiplash protection systems and child seats, as well as night vision systems, radar and other active safety systems. Autoliv has two main operating segments: airbags/seatbelt (including restraint electronics) products and active safety electronics products. In March 2010, the Company acquired Visteon Corporation's radar system business. In April 2010, the Company acquired Delphi's Occupant Protection Systems (OPS) operations in Korea and China. In addition, in April 2010, Autoliv Inc.'s Automotive Holding AS increased its stake in Norma AS from 51% to 93.74%. Additionally, Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB and ING Luxembourg SA sold their 6.67% and 10% stake, respectively, held in Norma AS. In October 2010, the Company acquired 51% interest in Bejing Delpi Automotive Safety Products. In November 2011, the Company acquired the airbag cushion cut&sew assets from Milliken. In June 2012, the Company sold its subsidiary Autoliv Mekan AB to Verktygs Allians i Hassleholm AB.

Autoliv has approximately 80 wholly or partially owned or leased production facilities located in 28 countries, consisting of both component factories and assembly factories. The Company�� component factories manufacture inflators, initiators, textile cushions, webbing materials, electronics, pressed steel parts, springs and overmoulded steel parts used in seatbelt and airbag assembly, seat subsystems, steering wheels and its active safety and night vision systems, and its other safety electronic systems. During the year ended December 31, 2010, Autoliv�� revenues were approximately 67% of airbags and associated products and approximately 33% of seatbelts and associated products. The Company�� markets are in Europe, North A! merica, Asia-Pacific and Japan. Its customers include the car manufacturers.

During 2010, the products manufactured by Autoliv�� consolidated subsidiaries consisted of approximately 121 million complete seatbelt systems (of which approximately 49 million were fitted with pretensioners), approximately 57 million side-impact airbags (including curtain airbags), approximately 28 million frontal airbag modules, approximately 12 million steering wheels, approximately 11 million electronic units (airbag control), approximately 0.4 million active safety systems and 0.1 million night vision systems. Autoliv owns two principal subsidiaries, AAB and Autoliv ASP, Inc. (ASP). Its AAB and ASP are developers, manufacturers and suppliers to the automotive industry of automotive safety systems. AAB and ASP�� products include seatbelts, frontal and side-impact airbags, steering wheels and seat sub-systems, as well as components for such systems.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sarah Jones]

  Allianz (ALV) gained 3.6 percent to 120.70 euros after reporting a 24 percent rise in first-quarter profit to about 1.7 billion euros after results improved at all of its businesses. Operating profit of 2.8 billion euros also topped analysts��estimates.

• [By Tom Stoukas]

  Deutsche Lufthansa AG (LHA) and Allianz SE (ALV) led airlines and insurers lower, retreating at least 1.5 percent. Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW) slid 1.6 percent. Deutsche Bank AG (DBK) rose after JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its recommendation on the shares. Gildemeister AG (GIL) added 3.4 percent after Deutsche Bank upgraded the maker of cutting tools.