6 Charts That Will Scare You Away From For-Profit Schools (APOL, CECO, COCO)

While the given problems that are plaguing Corinthian Colleges Inc. (NASDAQ:COCO) are unique to that particular for-profit school today, the underpinnings for today's 62% implosion from COCO shares are just as big of a threat to the likes of Apollo Education Group Inc. (NASDAQ:APOL), Career Education Corp. (NASDAQ:CECO), and most other for-profit education names. In fact, those woes have been well documented for a while, and showing up each company's books for almost as long. Pictures tell the grim tale for CECO, APOL, and all the rest as effectively as any words could, so let's let the images of what's going on here do most of the talking, beginning with... Career Education Corp.

As the chart of the Career Education revenue and earnings trends indicate, things have been deteriorating since 2010's peak, when a massive number of displaced and unemployed people decided to make themselves more marketable by gaining a new credential. A string of credibility problems has been digging in since then, however, pulling CECO down as much as it's pulled the company's results down.

Hot Gold Companies To Buy Right Now

The future doesn't look any better for CECO shareholders either. In fact, it looks worse. The pros feel Career Education is on pace to post a loss of $2.22 this year, down from the loss of $1.44 last year.

Apollo Education Group is in just as much trouble. It's on a collision course with losses within the next couple of years if things don't turn around.

And, from a fundamental as well as a socio-political perspective, it doesn't look like anything's going to change. The pros believe CECO is going to see its per-share profit slump from 2013's $3.16 to $2.33 this year.

And just for the record, it's not like Corinthian Colleges isn't in the same boat - today's alarming news is just a microcosm of the bigger, underlying problems the company as well as the industry is facing. COCO has seen its top line and bottom line faltering since 2011.

Corinthian Colleges could slip into the red at a moment's notice too... or without notice. From a per-share profit of $1.65 in 2010 to only $0.20 last year to a predicted profit of only $0.09 this year, there's little for COCO owners to look forward to, with or without today's dark cloud.

To be fair, there are some for-profit schools hanging on, offering glimmers of hope. Most of them look a little too much like Corinthian Colleges, Apollo Education Group, and Career Education, however, to say there's not a bigger, systemic problem in place that may be insurmountable. That problem, of course, is a combination of dwindling student loan support and weaker-than-touted job placements rates. It's going to take years - and maybe a complete implosion and overhaul - for the for-profit school industry to becoming investment-worthy again. 

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10 Best Stocks To Buy For 2014

Every quarter, many money managers have to disclose what they've bought and sold, via "13F" filings. Their latest moves can shine a bright light on smart stock picks.

Today, let's look at Tiger Global Management. The company's reportable stock portfolio totaled $6.4 billion in value as of March 31, 2013 and contained just a few dozen stocks. Indeed, the top 10 holdings make up about 50%of the overall portfolio's value.

Interesting developments
So what does Tiger Global's latest quarterly 13F filing tell us? Here are a few interesting details:

The biggest new holdings are Liberty Media�and Dollar General. Other new holdings of interest include Stratasys (NASDAQ: SSYS  ) . 3-D printing specialist Stratasys has been surging in recent years, posting double-digit (and accelerating) revenue growth and topping analyst estimates. Bulls like strong sales growth for the composite material used in its printers, but bears worry that the stock has gotten ahead of itself and don't like a drop in free cash flow.

Best Paper Stocks To Own Right Now: Twitter (TWTR)

Instantly connect to what's most important to you. Follow your friends, experts, favorite celebrities, and breaking news. TechCrunch is a leading technology media property, dedicated to obsessively profiling startups, reviewing new Internet products, and breaking ... Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jonathan Berr]

  Cash Hoard: Apple has $160 billion in cash and investments that has been gathering dust for quite a while. The aggregate number certainly is huge — more than the GDP of Vietnam currently. Out of its cash and short-term investments alone, Apple could buy either Twiter (TWTR) ($27.5 billion), Tesla (TSLA) ($25 billion) or eBay (EBAY) and still have plenty left. Of course, AAPL can afford to buy plenty of its shares — its most recent program was for $14 billion in Apple stock. Between dividends, buybacks and acquisitions, Apple has a lot of dry powder, and a lot of places to potentially use it.

10 Best Stocks To Buy For 2014: MELA Sciences Inc(MELA)

MELA Sciences, Inc., a medical device company, focuses on the design and development of a non-invasive, point-of-care instrument to assist in the detection of early melanoma. The company?s principal product, MelaFind, features a hand-held imaging device that emits multiple wavelengths of light to capture images of suspicious pigmented skin lesions and extract data. This product uses automatic image analysis and statistical pattern recognition to help identify lesions to be considered for biopsy to rule out melanoma. It consists of hand-held imaging device, which employs high precision optics and multi-spectral illumination; database of pigmented skin lesions; and lesion classifiers, which are mathematical algorithms that extract lesion feature information and classify lesions. MELA Sciences submitted the MelaFind pre-market approval application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in June 2009 and is under review at the FDA. The company was formerly known as E lectro-Optical Sciences, Inc. and changed its name MELA Sciences, Inc. in April 2010. MELA Sciences, Inc. was founded in 1989 and is based in Irvington, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lisa Levin]

  MELA Sciences (NASDAQ: MELA) shares reached a new 52-week low of $0.303 after the company approved a one-for-ten reverse stock split of the common stock.

10 Best Stocks To Buy For 2014: ProShares UltraShort Russell2000 (TWM)

ProShares UltraShort Russell2000 (the Fund) seeks daily investment results that correspond to twice (200%) the inverse (opposite) of the daily performance of the Russell 2000 Index (the Index). The Fund intends to invest at least 80% of its net assets, including any borrowings for investment purposes, to investments that, in combination, have economic characteristics that are inverse to those of the Index. The Fund also intends to invest assets not invested in financial instruments, in debt instruments and/or money market instruments. The Fund intends to concentrate its investments in a particular industry or group of industries to approximately the same extent as the Index is so concentrated. ProShare Advisors LLC serves as the investment advisor to the Fund. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Richard Rhodes]

  We remain short, via a position, the Russell 200 2X Short (TWM) as well as short positions in Tesla (TSLA) and Chipolte (CMG).

  Subscribe to The Rhodes Report here��/p>

10 Best Stocks To Buy For 2014: Leapfrog Enterprises Inc(LF)

LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. designs, develops, and markets technology-based learning platforms and related proprietary content primarily for infants and children worldwide. The company offers interactive reading systems, such as the Tag reading system that focuses on fundamental reading skills and offers a library of software-based books; and Tag Junior reading system used for the introduction of younger children to books and reading. It also provides mobile learning system products, including Leapster platform, a handheld device with a multi-directional control pad and a touch-screen enabled by a built-in stylus; Leapster2 platform, a Web-connected version of Leapster; and Leapster Explorer to download digital content, such as games, e-Books, videos and flash cards. In addition, the company offers Scout collection, a line of learning toys that are Web-enabled and connect to the Learning Path; and My Own Leaptop, a Web-enabled customizable laptop; Fridge Collection, a line of magnetic learning toys that introduce letter names, letter sounds, spelling, and songs; Learn and Groove Collection, which include bilingual musical learning toys; and various products that address basic learning needs and milestones. Further, it provides LeapFrog Learning Path, an online tool enabling parents to track what their children are learning with Web-connected products; and LeapWorld, which allows children to play online games, customize their mobile learning and gaming experiences, access new content, watch trailers for new games, and view demonstrations. It sells its products directly to national and regional mass-market and specialty retailers; other retail stores and distributors; school-related distributors and resellers; and through online store and other Internet-based channels. The company was founded in 1995 and is headquartered in Emeryville, California. LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. is a subsidiary of Mollusk Holdings, LLC.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rick Munarriz]

  3. Sometimes you have to kiss a prince to get a frog
  LeapFrog (NYSE: LF  ) came through with strong results during its seasonally sleepy post-holiday quarter.

10 Best Stocks To Buy For 2014: Fuwei Films(Holdings)

Fuwei Films (Holdings) Co., Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the development, manufacture, distribution, and export of plastic film using the biaxially-oriented stretch technique in China. The company offers its biaxially oriented polyethylene terephthalate (BOPET) film under the ?Fuwei Films? brand name primarily for use in flexible packaging, printing, laminating, and aluminum-plating applications, as well as in electrical and electronic uses. Its products include printing base film used in printing and lamination applications; stamping foil base film and transfer base films used for the packaging of luxury items, such as cigarettes and alcohol; metallization film or aluminum plating base film used for vacuum aluminum plating for flexible plastic lamination; high-gloss film used for aesthetically enhanced packaging purposes; and heat-sealable film used for construction, printing, and heat sealable bags making. The company?s products also comprise laser holographic base film used as anti-counterfeit film for food, medicine, cosmetics, cigarettes, and alcohol packaging; dry film used in circuit boards production, and for nameplate and crafts etching; and heat shrinkage film used for special-shaped packaging for alcohol, cans, mineral water, and cleaning products. It exports its products to packaging customers and distributors primarily in Europe, Asia, and North America. The company was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in Weifang, China. As of May 1, 2011, Fuwei Films (Holdings) Co., Ltd. operates as a subsidiary of Weifang State-owned Assets Operation Administration Company.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Adam Haigh]

  Among stocks that fell, Yue Yuen Industrial (Holdings) Ltd. (551), a supplier of shoes to Nike Inc. and Adidas AG, sank 12 percent to HK$23.80. The company said its first-quarter results showed a ��ignificant downturn��compared with a year earlier and this could adversely affect interim performance.

10 Best Stocks To Buy For 2014: Agility Public Warehousing Co KSC (AGLTY)

Agility Public Warehousing Company KSC is a Kuwait-based company engaged, along with its subsidiaries, in the provision of global integrated logistics solutions. The Company is organized into two business segments: the Logistic and Related services segment provides logistics offering to its clients, including freight forwarding, transportation, contract logistics, project logistics and fairs and events logistics, and the Infrastructure segment provides other services, which include industrial real estate airport and airplane ground handling and cleaning services, customs consulting, private equity and waste recycling. The Company operates under the brand name of Agility. The Company�� subsidiaries include Global Express Transport Co. WLL, PWC Transport Company WLL, Agility DGS Logistics Services KSCC and Gulf Catering Company for General, among others. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Fiona MacDonald]

  The Kuwait SE Price Index rose for a sixth day, climbing 0.5 percent to 6,851.17 at the close. Kuwait Real Estate Co. (KRE) climbed to the highest level in a month. Agility (AGLTY) advanced 1.7 percent after winning a $190 million UN contract in Sudan�� Darfur region. The Bloomberg GCC 200 Index, which tracks the biggest 200 companies in the Gulf Cooperation Council, fell 0.1 percent.

10 Best Stocks To Buy For 2014: Maiden Hldgs Ltd(MHLD)

Maiden Holdings, Ltd., through its subsidiaries, provides reinsurance solutions to regional and specialty insurers primarily in the United States and Europe. The company offers property, casualty, accident, and health reinsurance products. It offers its products through the treaties with other insurers on a quota share or excess of loss basis, as well as on a facultative basis through third-party intermediaries and on direct basis. Maiden Holdings, Ltd. was founded in 2007 and is headquartered Hamilton, Bermuda.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Marc Bastow]

  Bermuda-based reinsurance solutions provider Maiden Holdings (MHLD) raised its quarterly dividend 22% to 11 cents per share, payable on Jan. 15 to shareholders of record as of Jan. 2.
  MHLD Dividend Yield: 3.79%
  

Top Trucking Companies To Watch For 2014

In 1905, Charles Henry Robinson spotted a unique opportunity.

After moving west with his family to the North Dakota town of Grand Forks, he soon realized that settlers were in need of supplies. He founded a transportation company with the goal of delivering perishable products to consumers before they spoiled -- a difficult challenge in the horse-and-buggy days.  

The company Robinson founded changed with the times, taking advantage of historic advances in the transportation industry. These advances included the first refrigerated truck (without ice) in 1939, the construction of the interstate highway system beginning in 1945, and the deregulation of the trucking industry in 1980.

Deregulation allowed the company freedom in setting its own rates. It also freed up the types of cargo that could be carried and the geographical areas in which the company could operate.

As it's known today, C.H. Robinson (Nasdaq: CHRW) has again changed with the times.

Top Integrated Utility Companies To Buy For 2015: RRSat Global Communications Network Ltd.(RRST)

RRsat Global Communications Network Ltd. provides content management and distribution services to television and radio broadcasting industries. The company, through its proprietary ?RRsat Global Network? comprising satellite and terrestrial fiber optic transmission capacity and the public Internet, offers distribution services for content providers. Its content distribution services consist of worldwide transmission of video and audio broadcasts. The company also offers content management services, including digital archiving and compilation of customer?s programming and advertising content into various broadcast channels. In addition, RRsat Global Communications Network Ltd. provides various production services on a contractual basis and satellite newsgathering services through its fleet of vans for outside broadcasting and electronic news gathering crews and packages. Further, it offers live broadcast studios and editing facilities to its customers. The company?s RRs at Global Network delivers content to various end markets, including cable operators, satellite operators, Internet protocol television operators, direct to home market, and public Internet. Additionally, RRSat Global Communications Network provides mobile satellite telecommunications services, such as global telephony, fax, data, Internet, and other value added services for shipping, aviation, construction, and oil companies; humanitarian aid organizations; governmental agencies; and other end customers that require telephony and Internet services in remote areas. As of December 31, 2009, it provided services to approximately 545 television and radio channels in approximately 150 countries. The company was founded in 1981 and is headquartered in D.N. Shikmim, Israel.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Garrett Cook]

  Telecommunications services shares fell by 0.74 percent in Wednesday’s trading. Meanwhile, top decliners in the sector included RRSat Global Communications Network (NASDAQ: RRST), down 5.9 percent, and China Unicom (Hong Kong) (NYSE: CHU), off 4.6 percent.

• [By Garrett Cook]

  In trading on Friday, telecommunications services shares were relative leaders, up on the day by about 0.88 percent. Meanwhile, top gainers in the sector included RRSat Global Communications Network (NASDAQ: RRST), up 3.4 percent, and China Mobile (NYSE: CHL), up 2.3 percent.

Top Trucking Companies To Watch For 2014: Eastman Chemical Company (EMN)

Eastman Chemical Company, a chemical company, engages in the manufacture and sale of chemicals, plastics, and fibers in the United States and internationally. The company operates in four segments: Coatings, Adhesives, Specialty Polymers, and Inks (CASPI); Fibers; Performance Chemicals and Intermediates (PCI); and Specialty Plastics. The CASPI segment manufactures resins, specialty polymers, and solvents that are used in the production of paints and coatings, inks, adhesives, and other formulated products. The Fibers segment offers Estron acetate tow and Estrobond triacetin plasticizers used in cigarette filters; Estron natural and Chromspun solution-dyed acetate yarns for use in apparel, home furnishings, and industrial fabrics; and cellulose acetate flake and acetyl raw materials for acetate fiber producers. The PCI segment offers intermediates; performance chemicals; and complex organic molecules, such as diketene derivatives, specialty ketones, and specialty anhydrides for medical, pharmaceutical, fiber, and food and beverage ingredients, which are used in specialty market applications. This segment?s products are used in various markets and end uses, including agriculture, transportation, beverages, nutrition, pharmaceuticals, coatings, medical devices, toys, adhesives, household products, polymers, textiles, and consumer and industrial products, as well as used for health and wellness uses. The Specialty Plastics segment primarily offers engineering and specialty polymers, specialty film and sheet products, and packaging film and fiber products. This segment?s products include specialty copolyesters and cellulosic plastics, which are used in specialty packaging, in-store fixtures and displays, consumer and durable goods, medical goods, personal care and consumer packaging, photographic film, optical film, fibers/nonwovens, tapes/labels, and LCD?s. The company was founded in 1920 and is headquartered in Kingsport, Tennessee.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lauren Pollock]

  Eastman Chemical Co.'s(EMN) third-quarter earnings surged as the diversified chemical and materials producer reported sales growth as well as fewer charges related to its acquisition of Solutia Inc. last year. But it lowered its earnings estimate for the year on expectations it will continue to face challenges in its adhesives and plasticizers business, as well as higher raw-materials and energy costs. Shares dropped.

• [By Monica Gerson]

  Eastman Chemical Co (NYSE: EMN) is expected to post its Q3 earnings at $1.64 per share on revenue of $2.34 billion.

  Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan (NYSE: POT) is projected to report its Q3 earnings at $0.43 per share on revenue of $1.53 billion.

• [By Michael A. Robinson]

  Today, Eastman Chemical Company (NYSE: EMN) ranks as an industry leader with a $12 billion market cap and whose stock is up 350% over the past five years, not counting the 1.5% dividend.

• [By Victor Selva] e exception. The firm has made an emphasis on its acetate tow production, mainly used for cigarettes. The company stands out for using coal as its input, in contrast with other competitors using petroleum and gas, both more expensive for production. This mark up has allowed Eastman to transfer some of its increasing costs onto prices, �without compromising its sales revenue.

  In addition to this, the acquisition of Solutia Inc. (former global leader in performance materials) completed on July 2, 2012, broadened Eastman�� specialty chemicals output by adding automotive and solar end products to its portfolio.

  Although Eastman is a highly diversified company, it has proven to be severely affected by negative cycles of the economy. Even though this feature is not appealing whatsoever to investments, it certainly has caused it to become a cheap alternative. And, a quite promising one, since the economic recovery boosted its revenue, as a result of Eastman�� focus on cost-advantage production methods.

  Other specialty chemical competitors, such as Ashland Incorporated (ASH) didn�� show such a promising comeback, and the drop in revenue during 2012 was anticipated by investor Jean-Marie Eveillard (Trades, Portfolio), who sold out his 3.9 million share position by the third quarter of that year.

  Another industry giant, Huntsman Corporation (HUN) did show more promising results, and less volatile revenues during these last years. This, of course, has led to a high price to earnings ratio discouraging investors as we see later.

  Geographically Diversified

  On 2012, almost 50% of Eastman sales were generated in North America, while more than 25% were in Asia and 20% in Europe, Middle East and Africa. This diversification is to be taken into account since it guarantees long-term revenue, even if cigarette consumption decreases in some specific region (for instance, American sales declined �in recent years),

Top Trucking Companies To Watch For 2014: Meadwestvaco Corporation (MWV)

MeadWestvaco Corporation (MWV) provides packaging solutions to the healthcare, personal care and beauty, food, beverage, home and garden, tobacco, and commercial print industries worldwide. The company?s Packaging Resources segment produces bleached paperboard, Coated Natural Kraft paperboard, and linerboard. Its Consumer Solutions segment designs and produces multi-pack cartons and packaging systems primarily for the beverage take-home and tobacco market. In addition, it offers a range of converting and consumer packaging solutions, including printed plastic packaging and injection-molded products used for personal care, beauty, and pharmaceutical products; and dispensing and sprayer systems for personal care, beauty, healthcare, fragrance, and home and garden markets. In addition, this segment has a pharmaceutical packaging contract with a mass-merchant, and manufactures equipment that is leased or sold to its beverage and dairy customers to package their products. The c ompany?s Consumer & Office Products segment manufactures, sources, markets, and distributes school and office products, time-management products, and envelopes in North America and Brazil through both retail and commercial channels. Its Specialty Chemicals segment manufactures, markets, and distributes specialty chemicals derived from sawdust and other byproducts of the papermaking process in North America, South America, and Asia. Its products include activated carbon used in emission control systems for automobiles and trucks, as well as for water and food purification applications, and performance chemicals used in printing inks, asphalt paving, adhesives, and lubricants for the agricultural, paper, and petroleum industries. MWV?s Community Development and Land Management segment involves in real estate development, forestry operations, and leasing activities. MeadWestvaco Corporation was founded in 1888 and is based in Glen Allen, Virginia.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Eric Volkman]

  MeadWestvaco (NYSE: MWV  ) is continuing to deliver payouts for its shareholders. The company has declared a fresh quarterly dividend of $0.25 per share, to be handed out on September 3 to shareholders of record as of August 31.�That amount matches each of the company's regular quarterly payouts stretching back to late 2010. Prior to that, it paid $0.23 per share.

Top Trucking Companies To Watch For 2014: Whiting Petroleum Corporation(WLL)

Whiting Petroleum Corporation engages in the acquisition, development, exploitation, exploration, and production of oil and gas primarily in the Permian Basin, Rocky Mountains, Mid-Continent, Gulf Coast, and Michigan regions of the United States. As of December 31, 2010, its estimated proved reserves were 304.9 million barrels equivalent of oil; and had interests in 9,698 gross productive wells covering approximately 1,115,000 gross developed acres. The company sells its oil and gas to end users, marketers, and other purchasers. Whiting Petroleum Corporation was founded in 1983 and is Denver, Colorado.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Bret Jensen]

  The company also offers a solid balance sheet with over $70mm (>20% of its current market capitalization) after a recent offering. In addition, an interesting note came out from SunTrust Robinson on Friday that buoyed the shares. SunTrust's analyst believes the technology being pioneered by Whiting Petroleum (WLL) will spread to other Bakken producers.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Since Friday, three major acquisitions have been announced. AECOM Technology�(ACM) said it would buy URS�(URS) for $4 billion; Mylan�(MYL) agreed to pay $5.3 billion for�Abbott Laboratories�(ABT) non-U.S. generic drug business; and Whiting Petroleum (WLL) said it would take over Kodiak Oil & Gas (KOG). And amazingly, none of them appear to be overpriced.

• [By Robert Rapier]

  The second largest producer in the Bakken is Whiting Petroleum (NYSE: WLL), which averaged 80,195 boe/d in Q2 2014, an increase of 33% in a year. Whiting has a total of 674,162 net acres in the Williston Basin in North Dakota and Montana. Whiting has held the top producer spot in the past, and should soon regain that spot. It recently announced a $6 billion all stock acquisition of Kodiak Oil & Gas (NYSE: KOG), the eighth largest oil producer in the Bakken. The transaction will create the largest Bakken/Three Forks producer, with production of more than 107,000 boe/d in the first quarter of 2014, 855,000 combined net acres and an inventory of 3,460 net future drilling locations.

Top Trucking Companies To Watch For 2014: News Corporation(NWS)

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

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lawrence Meyers]

  In retrospect, all of these purchases make sense. Would News Corporation (NWS) studio subsidiary 20th Century Fox have made more sense for Indy’s new home? What about Time Warner (TWX) conglomerate�� Warner Bros.? Or maybe Lionsgate Entertainment (LGE)? No, no, and no.

• [By Brett Gold]

  The most coveted time period on TV has unquestionably become the post-Super Bowl time slot. Over the past two decades, it's seen everything from established series to promising new ones, each time drawing a huge crowd. In 1999, Fox (a subsidiary of News Corp (NASDAQ: NWS  ) ) gave its post-Super Bowl bump to a pair of animated shows -- one a fan favorite and the other a promising up-and-comer titled Family Guy. Fifteen years and one amazing story later, the show has grown into a proven money-making empire that still hits a chord with audiences.

• [By Holly LaFon]

  A good example of knowing the investment universe would be News Corporation (NWS). Several years ago we had a big position in Liberty Media which itself was a large shareholder of News Corporation, so we studied the company thoroughly. In 2008 News Corp�� shares fell with the decline in the market and the media sector got hit especially hard. We took the opportunity to establish a position in the shares when the price became attractive. As we like to say at the firm, ��t�� almost all about the price.��/p>

• [By CNNMoney Staff]

  News Corp (NWS) shares jumped following quarterly earnings that beat expectations.

  Shares of Outerwall Inc. (OUTR), which produces Redbox and Coinstar dispensers, surged 12% on news that the company plans to buy back $350 million worth of stock.

Top Trucking Companies To Watch For 2014: AAR Corp.(AIR)

AAR CORP. provides products and services to aviation, government, and defense markets worldwide. The company?s Aviation Supply Chain segment purchases and sells new, overhauled, and repaired engine and airframe parts and components. It also repairs, overhauls, and sells avionics, electrical, electronic, fuel, hydraulic, and pneumatic components and instruments, as well as internal airframe components; and provides customized inventory supply and management programs for engine and airframe parts and components. In addition, this segment sells and leases commercial jet engines and used commercial aircraft; and provides advisory services, including assistance in remarketing aircraft, records management, and storage maintenance. Its Government and Defense Services segment involves in fixed- and rotary-wing flight operations; and performs engineering and design modifications on rotary-wing aircraft for government customers. This segment also provides customized performance-base d logistics programs in support of the U.S. Department of Defense and foreign governments; and engineering, design, manufacturing, and system integration services. The company?s Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul segment provides airframe maintenance inspection and overhaul, painting, line maintenance, airframe modifications, structural repairs, avionic service and installation, exterior and interior refurbishment, and engineering services, as well as support for commercial and military aircraft; and repairs and overhauls landing gears, wheels, and brakes. Its Structures and Systems segment designs, manufactures, and repairs airdrop and other transportation pallets, and containers and shelters used in support of military and humanitarian tactical deployment activities. This segment also designs, manufactures, and installs in-plane cargo loading and handling systems for commercial and military aircraft and helicopters. AAR CORP. was founded in 1951 and is headquartered in Wood Dale, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Monica Gerson]

  AAR Corp. (NYSE: AIR) is estimated to post its Q2 earnings at $0.37 per share on revenue of $485.30 million.

  Cintas Corporation (NASDAQ: CTAS) is projected to post its Q2 earnings at $0.78 per share on revenue of $1.11 billion.

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  AAR (NYSE: AIR) shares tumbled 10.32 percent to $26.84 after the company reported a drop in its fiscal first-quarter profit.

  J. C. Penney Company (NYSE: JCP) was down, falling 15.17 percent to $10.10 despite a Dow Jones report stating that J.C. Penney will hire around 35,000 holiday season workers.

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  AAR (NYSE: AIR) shares tumbled 9.01 percent to $28.14 after the company reported a drop in its Q3 profit and lowered its FY14 forecast.

  Nike (NYSE: NKE) was down, falling 3.33 percent to $76.63 after the company issued a cautious forecast for 2015 earnings. Nike posted its quarterly adjusted profit of $0.73 per share on revenue of $6.97 billion.

Top Low Price Companies To Own For 2014

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Arrowhead Research  (ARWR) hit a five-year high of $27.21 on Wednesday after the FDA approved a phase 2a trial of its hepatitis B drug ARC-520, and several analysts consequently praised the company.

Deutsche Bank initiated coverage on the stock with a "buy" rating and a target price of $45. The firm predicted the drug could peak at annual sales of $5.2 billion, and noted clinical trial data prior to that in 2014 and 2015 could elevate the stock further.

RBC Capital Markets also initiated coverage at "outperform" with a target price of $35. The firm notes that the FDA approval could eventually lead to a multi-billion-dollar product and more drugs derived from the same platform.

Arrowhead has had quite the turnaround in the last year, as its one year low price is $1.65. Must Read: Warren Buffett's 10 Favorite Dividend Stocks STOCKS TO BUY: TheStreet Quant Ratings has identified a handful of stocks that can potentially TRIPLE in the next 12 months. Learn more. TheStreet Ratings team rates ARROWHEAD RESEARCH CORP as a "sell" with a ratings score of D. TheStreet Ratings Team has this to say about their recommendation: "We rate ARROWHEAD RESEARCH CORP (ARWR) a SELL. This is driven by several weaknesses, which we believe should have a greater impact than any strengths, and could make it more difficult for investors to achieve positive results compared to most of the stocks we cover. The company's weaknesses can be seen in multiple areas, such as its deteriorating net income and weak operating cash flow."

ARWR data by YCharts STOCKS TO BUY: TheStreet Quant Ratings has identified a handful of stocks that can potentially TRIPLE in the next 12 months. Learn more.

Hot Industrial Disributor Companies For 2015: CommonWealth REIT (CWH)

CommonWealth REIT is a real estate investment trust launched and managed by Reit Management & Research LLC. The fund invests in the real estate markets of the United States. It seeks to invest in office buildings, industrial buildings, and leased industrial land. CommonWealth REIT was founded in 1986 and is domiciled in United States.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Tim Brugger]

  In an on-going effort to oust the board of directors of Commonwealth REIT (NYSE: CWH  ) , its second largest shareholder, Corvex Management, recently forwarded a record request date to Commonwealth management. The latest request by Corvex follows an earlier consent solicitation proposal in late March. Corvex's ultimate objective of the shareholder meeting is to "remove all of CWH's Trustees without cause," according to a Commonwealth press release issued today.

Top Low Price Companies To Own For 2014: Petrosonic Energy Inc (PSON)

Petrosonic Energy, Inc, incorporated on June 11, 2008, is a development-stage company. The Company focused on the treatment and upgrading of heavy oil by sonicated solvent de-asphalting. On July 27, 2012, the Company completed the acquisition of 60% ownership in Petrosonic Albania, SHA. from Sonoro.

The Company�� core technology is an industrial scale sonic reactor that transfers sonic energy on an industrial scale to physical, chemical or biological processes. As of December 31, 2012, the Company had not generated any revenue.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Inyoung Hwang]

  Pearson (PSON) jumped 6.2 percent to 1,329 pence, the highest price since May 2001. The media and education company said first-half revenue climbed 7 percent to 2.76 billion pounds ($4.3 billion), surpassing the 2.69 billion-pound average prediction of analysts. Profit fell 26 percent as the company invested in new products.

• [By Namitha Jagadeesh]

  Pearson Plc (PSON) surged 6.2 percent to 1,329 pence, its highest price since 2001. The publisher of the Financial Times newspaper posted first-half sales of 2.76 billion pounds ($4.2 billion), exceeding the 2.69 billion pounds estimated by analysts in a Bloomberg survey.

Top Low Price Companies To Own For 2014: Citadel Capital SAE (CCAP)

Citadel Capital SAE is an Egypt-based company engaged in the private equity investment activities. The Company manages an investment portfolio that consist of 19 Opportunity-Specific Funds (OSFs), which controls entities platform distributed across 12 countries in the Middle Eastern and North African markets, and span 14 industrial sector such as energy, cement manufacturing, solid waste management, real estate, mining, agricultural, glass manufacturing, transportation and metallurgy. Its OSFs entities include Asec Holding, Ascom Geology and Mining SAE, Nile Logistics, Rift Valley Railways, Gozour, Wafra, Nopc / Rally Energy Group, Nile Valley Petroleum Ltd, Egyptian Refining Company, Taqua Arabia, GlassWorks and Finance Unlimited, among others. On December 9, 2012, the Company announced that it has sold 100% of its interest in National Petroleum Company Egypt Limited (NPC Egypt), a wholly owned portfolio company, to Sea Dragon Energy Inc. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Joshi Madhavi]

  Charlemagne Capital Limited (CCAP) is an established asset management group in the UK with an exclusively emerging markets focus and bottom-up stock picking process. The business is cyclical with fortunes linked to emerging market performance. The company�� strategy is to grow each category within its broad fund range: mutual funds, hedge funds, specialist funds and institutional products.

• [By Julia Leite]

  Declines provided an opportunity for ��rofit taking��for ��hort term players who bought in the last week or so,��Julian Mayo, who helps manage $2.5 billion in emerging-market assets as the co-chief investment officer at Charlemagne Capital Ltd. (CCAP) in London, said by e-mail. ��fter a 5 to 10 percent gain in some emerging markets in such a short time, some correction is always likely.��

Top Low Price Companies To Own For 2014: ExactTarget Inc (ET)

ExactTarget, Inc. is a global provider of cross-channel, interactive marketing software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions. The Company�� solutions provide marketers with a suite of integrated applications. The Company�� suite of cross-channel, interactive marketing applications include e-mail, mobile, social media and sites, is built on its flexible multi-tenant SaaS platform. These channel applications are integrated with its campaign management, calendaring, dashboard, integrated reporting, marketing automation and data management tools. The Company also provides open application programming interfaces (APIs) and developer tools that allow third parties to embed its technology into their solutions and build applications on its platform. The Company generates revenue through the sale of subscriptions to its suite of cross-channel, interactive marketing SaaS solutions and the delivery of professional services. It serves a range of clients across many industries and sizes. Professional services revenue consists primarily of fees associated with training, implementation, integration, deliverability, campaign services and strategic consulting. In October 2012, it acquired iGoDigital.

The Company�� direct client base consisted of over 4,700 organizations as of June 30, 2012, ranging from enterprises to small businesses in numerous industries, including retail and e-commerce, media and entertainment, travel and hospitality, financial services and insurance, technology, daily-deal and flash-sale and marketing service providers. Among its direct clients are the United States-based companies, such as Ally Financial, Inc., Angie�� List, Inc., CareerBuilder, LLC, Groupon, Inc., Microsoft Corporation, Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, Oakley, Inc., OneAmerica Financial Partners, Inc., One King�� Lane, Inc., Papa John�� International, Inc., priceline.com Incorporated, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, Tommy Hilfiger Group, WellPoint, Inc. and Zappos.com, Inc. Companies also include Abril Gro! up (Brazil), Fairfax Media Limited (Australia), Icelandair Group (Iceland) and Telegraph Media Group Limited (United Kingdom).

Interactive Marketing Hub

The Interactive Marketing Hub provides marketers with a solution to engage in cross-channel marketing. The Interactive Marketing Hub integrates its e-mail, mobile, social media and sites Channel Applications with data management and marketing automation Hub Applications. Built on its cloud-based FUEL platform, these applications integrate with Hub Tools, which include a calendar, campaigns, dashboards and integrated reporting. Channel Applications provide interactive marketing engagement solutions to plan, automate, deliver and optimize messages across e-mail, mobile, social media and sites. The Company�� core edition is designed for small and medium-sized organizations, as well as departments within enterprises and provides content management tools, segmentation tools and reporting, such as opens, clicks, bounces and other performance metrics.

The Advanced Edition includes content syndication, dynamic content, relational data, advanced marketing automation, triggered and transactional communications for e-statements, alerts and order confirmations and advanced reporting. The Advanced Edition also provides full access to its FUEL platform�� open integration framework and developer tools that facilitates integration with other business systems and applications. Enterprise Edition is built for large, distributed enterprises that need centralized control and compliance for e-mail marketing communications. The Enterprise Edition includes international sending, advanced role and permission administration, content locking and sharing, and enterprise analytics and reporting. The Enterprise Edition can also include its Xpress Sending interface that enables non-technical users within distributed marketing organizations to create and send e-mails using pre-approved content via defined templates.

The Company� �s mobil! e applications enable marketers to create, automate, deliver personalized inbound and outbound short message service (SMS) mobile messages and support messaging in more than 80 countries worldwide. Through these applications, clients can easily create polls, quizzes, surveys, contests, mobile tickets, coupon redemption, SMS alerts and mobile opt-in for e-mail campaigns. Its social media applications provide solutions to manage engagement on social networks, such as Twitter and Facebook and integrate social data and interactions into cross-channel campaigns. SocialEngage (powered by CoTweet) provides a social media management application that enables teams to manage multiple social media accounts with administrator-defined user permissions and roles.

SocialPages provides a drag and drop interface that allows marketers to create, publish and manage branded Facebook pages and tabs that display content and incorporate engaging features, such as forms, YouTube videos, Flickr galleries and the Facebook Like button. The Company�� sites application provides a solution to drag and drop interface microsites into cross-channel marketing campaigns. Hub Applications provide capabilities for advanced cross-channel marketing automation, data management, customer data segmentation and analysis. Audience Builder provides a drag-and-drop interface that enables marketers to explore multiple data scenarios through filtering and segmentation to create target audiences in for any campaign or automated messaging series.

Automation Studio provides a drag and drop interface to plan, create and execute complex, multi-stage, recurring cross-channel campaigns based on consumer behavior, time or custom attributes. Automated communications can be triggered by events, such as product purchases, online registrations or Website browsing behavior. The Company�� Hub Tools enable integrated planning, cross-channel campaign management and reporting. Calendar provides a single view of planned and completed camp! aigns, ev! ents and interactions across e-mail, mobile, Facebook, Twitter and Websites. Campaigns enables marketers to define interactive marketing campaigns and associated content and interactions across e-mail, mobile, Facebook, Twitter and Websites.

Pulse provides dashboards that display information, such as the number of Facebook fans, Twitter followers, e-mail subscribers and current status of automated programs and engagement metrics, such as opens, clicks and conversions. Integrated Reporting provides contextual and reporting throughout its Interactive Marketing Hub. The Company�� applications are built and delivered on its cloud-based FUEL platform. FUEL provides an open integration framework, enabling clients and third-party application providers to integrate data from systems, such as customer relationship management (CRM), Web analytics, and e-commerce through its partner ecosystem of productized integrations with providers, such as Microsoft Dynamics CRM, salesforce.com, inc., SAP, and Adobe Omniture.

Common Data Model creates a cross-channel view of each consumer by aggregating online behavioral data, channel engagement history, communication preferences and other online or offline data. Security provides a single sign-on environment for all Interactive Marketing Hub applications secured by multiple technologies, including but not limited to two-factor authentication, Internet protocol (IP) whitelisting and IP blocking, and enables monitoring and alerting of system activity.

Developer Tools provide a library of user interface controls and APIs that enable developers to build applications with a common look and feel on its cloud-based platform. Integration Framework provides a suite of integration capabilities that include its open APIs, CRM and Web analytics integrations, Embedded/Xpress Marketing and HubExchange. Its Embedded/Xpress Marketing solution enables independent software vendors and developers to embed the functionality of its e-mail and mobile applic! ations di! rectly into their technology offerings. The Company�� HubExchange enables marketing technology providers to develop and sell applications built on its platform.

Services

The Company complements its suite of cross-channel, interactive marketing SaaS solutions with a range of professional services. Its collaborative and full-service offerings include Training, Implementation, Integration, Deliverability, Campaign Services and Strategic Consulting. The Company offers a variety of methods of introduction to its products, including self-help resources, Web-based and on-site training, enterprise workshops and train the trainer programs. Clients who purchase implementation services are assigned an implementation consultant who works with them to adopt and deployment its solutions. Through its platform�� integration framework, the Company�� applications can be integrated with CRM, Web analytics, e-commerce and other business systems. It provides consulting and program management to help clients define, develop and implement interactive communication strategies.

The Company competes with Aprimo, Inc., CheetahMail Inc., e-Dialog Inc., Eloqua Limited, Epsilon Data Management, LLC, Marketo, Inc., Responsys, Inc., Silverpop Systems Inc., StrongMail Systems, Inc., Unica Corporation, Yesmail, Buddy Media, Inc. and Radian6 Technologies, Inc.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Chris Hill]

  Dollar General's (NYSE: DG  ) first-quarter profits rose rose 3%, but the retailer cut guidance for the full year. Business market software maker ExactTarget (NYSE: ET  ) rose more than 50% after Salesforce.com (NYSE: CRM  ) agreed to buy the company for more than $2.3 billion. Zynga (NASDAQ: ZNGA  ) held firm after shares tanked on Monday in the wake of the company announcing it's cutting 18% of its staff. And IBM (NYSE: IBM  ) buys a company to better compete in the cloud computing space. In this installment of Investor Beat, our analysts discuss four stocks making big moves.

• [By Tim Brugger]

  At a premium of slightly more than 50%, it's not surprising that salesforce.com's (NYSE: CRM  ) decision to acquire cloud marketing specialist ExactTarget (NYSE: ET  ) wasn't greeted with cheers from investors. The aggressive move by Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff to drop $2.5 billion on a company that has issued revenue guidance of just $376 million to $379 million for the year seems a bit much, and based on Salesforce's share price drop at the open, the market agrees. But don't be too hasty to abandon Salesforce shares -- there may be a method to Benioff's madness.

Top Low Price Companies To Own For 2014: iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLT)

iShares Lehman 20+ Year Treasury Bond Fund (the Fund) seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the long-term sector of the United States Treasury market as defined by the Lehman Brothers 20+ Year U.S. Treasury Index (the Index). The Index includes all publicly issued, the United States Treasury securities that have a remaining maturity greater than 20 years, are non-convertible, are denominated in United States dollars, are rated investment grade (Baa3 or better) by Moody�� Investors Service, are fixed rate, and have more than $150 million par outstanding. Excluded from the Index are certain special issues, such as flower bonds, targeted investor notes, state and local government series bonds, and coupon issues that have been stripped from assets that are already included in the Index.

The Index is a market capitalization-weighted index. The Fund invests in a representative sample of the securities in the Index, which has a similar investment profile as the Index. The Fund�� investment advisor is Barclays Global Fund Advisor.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Alex Dumortier, CFA]

  iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond Fund (NYSEMKT: TLT  )
  From Wednesday through the end of the week, the average daily volume of the iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond Fund was 21.6 million shares -- almost two and a half times the daily volume over the past three months. The ETF, which holds long-dated U.S. Treasury bonds, lost 4.8% on the week (price return), virtually all of which occurred during the last three days of the week. To put that figure in context, it is the fund's third worst week in its nearly 11-year history, and the worst since July 2009. What was the reason behind this drop?

• [By Tom Aspray]

  The emerging markets are still lagging badly as the Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets (VWO) is still down 8.6% this year, while the big loser has been the bonds as the iShares Barclays 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLT) is down over 15%.

Top Low Price Companies To Own For 2014: Towers Watson & Co (TW)

Towers Watson & Co. operates as a global professional services company that provides human capital, and financial consulting services worldwide. The company operates in four segments: Benefits, Risk and Financial Services, Talent and Rewards, and Exchange Solutions. The Benefits segment offers benefits consulting and administration services, such as retirement solutions, which support organizations in designing, managing, administering, and communicating retirement plans; and health and group benefits that provides advice on the strategy, design, financing, delivery, ongoing plan management, and communication of health and group benefit programs. This segment also offers its technology and administration solutions to deliver benefit outsourcing solutions; and international consulting services, which provide expertise in dealing with international human capital management and related benefits, and compensation advice. The Risk and Financial Services segment offers risk cons ulting and financial modeling software solutions primarily to the insurance industry; reinsurance and insurance brokerage services; and investment consulting and solutions covering investment strategy risk assessment, asset allocation, and investment manager selection to institutional investors. The Talent and Rewards segment provides executive compensation advisory services; employee rewards, talent management, and communication and change management services; and data, analytics, survey, and technology solutions. The Exchange Solutions segment operates the private Medicare insurance exchange in the United States that enables employers to transition their retirees to individual, defined contribution health plans. The company was formerly known as Watson Wyatt Worldwide, Inc. and changed its name to Towers Watson & Co. in January 2010 as a result of merging with Towers, Perrin, Forster & Crosby, Inc. Towers Watson & Co. was founded in 1871 and is headquartered in New York, N ew York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  The real test for Obamacare
  In any event, the biggest challenge that Obamacare faces is getting its Health Insurance Marketplace up and running by Oct. 1. Although private exchanges from Marsh & McLennan (NYSE: MMC  ) subsidiary Mercer as well as Towers Watson (NYSE: TW  ) have done a good job of getting Aetna, UnitedHealth, and other popular insurers to participate in their programs, the reception that public exchanges have gotten has been far less favorable. Without a smooth launch in less than three months, Obamacare could find itself facing much greater criticism than it is today.

• [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 Towers Watson (NYSE: TW  ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.

• [By Anna Prior]

  Towers Watson(TW) & Co.’s board authorized a roughly 22% increase to the consulting firm’s dividend. The company said Friday it will now pay a quarterly cash dividend of 14 cents per share, up from 11.5 cents a share previously.

• [By Teresa Rivas]

  Towers Watson & Co. (TW) is down slightly today, but analysts are optimistic that the stock can climb higher, given its acquisition of privately held Liazon Corporation for $125 million.

  Liazon develops private benefit exchanges and online benefit markets for employees, an area where human resources and benefit solutions provider Towers Watson has already built a name for itself.

  Analysts are looking at the acquisition favorably, even if the market is skeptical today. Deutsche Bank analysts Paul Ginocchio and Ato Garrett today reiterated their Buy rating on Towers Watson and raised their target price by $5 to $130.

  From the note:

  TW has gotten more bullish on the adoption rate of exchanges: The adoption rate of exchanges is happening faster than TW expected just 6 months ago. TW agrees with forecasts of 35-70m covered lives (employees + dependents) on an exchange in 5-yrs. TW expects middle market companies to potentially adopt faster than large market companies, thus it has acquired Liazon to meet that need now. OneExchange Active will continue to focus on the large market (>10,000 employees) while Liazon focuses on the mid-market (1,000 to 10,000) via its insurance brokerage sales network.

  Liazon should help TW close the gap in the active exchanges: On 1/1/14, TW will have about 140,000 lives on its two active exchange platforms (40,000 on OneExchange Active and 100,000 on Liazon) and is targeting up to 1m lives for 1/1/15. AON has stated it will have over 600,000 covered lives on its exchange on 1/1/14, Bucks (Xerox) will have 400,000 and Mercer 165,000. The Liazon acquisition moves TW�� size much closer to Mercer and puts TW in a position to capture 25-33% market share longer-term.

  MKM Partners is also bullish about Towers��prospects. Analysts Darren Marcus and Harry Fong reiterated a Buy rating and $140 price target on the stock writing: ��hile Towers had an existing presence in the active employee excha

Hot Integrated Utility Companies To Own In Right Now

When we write about Australia�� resource boom, it�� important to remember that this term refers to the period of high commodity prices and the record investment that followed as a consequence. But just because commodity prices have fallen and mining investment has peaked, this doesn�� mean that Australia�� resource story is over.

In fact, many of the projects that were initiated during the peak years of investment in the sector are about to come on line, meaning that we��e now entering a strong production phase, with rising commodity volumes as a result.

While the slowdown in mining investment could detract half a percentage point from gross domestic product (GDP) growth in 2014 and a full point in 2015, according to economists with Westpac, that will be more than offset by resource exports, which are expected to contribute nine-tenths of a percentage point per year to GDP during this period.

Hot International Companies To Buy Right Now: Vapor Corp (VPCO)

Vapor Corp (Vapor), incorporated in 1987, is engaged in designing, marketing and distributing electronic cigarettes and accessories under the Fifty-One, Krave, VaporX, EZ Smoker, Green Puffer, Americig, Fumre Hookah Stix and Smoke Star brands. Electronic cigarettes or e-cigarettes, are battery-powered products that enable users to inhale nicotine vapor without smoke, tar, ash, or carbon monoxide. Electronic cigarettes look like traditional cigarettes and consists of three functional components: a mouthpiece, which is a small plastic cartridge that contains a liquid nicotine solution; a heating element that vaporizes the liquid nicotine so that it can be inhaled; and the electronics, which include: a lithium-ion battery, an airflow sensor, a microchip controller and an light emitting diode (LED), which illuminates to indicate use. When a user draws air through the electronic cigarette, the air flow is detected by a sensor, which activates a heating element that vaporizes the solution stored in the mouthpiece/cartridge, the solution is then vaporized and it is this vapor that is inhaled by the user. The cartridge contains either a nicotine solution or a nicotine free solution, either of which may be flavored. The Company offers rechargeable and disposable electronic cigarettes in two varieties: a two-piece unit, which the Company markets under its DUO product line; and a three-piece unit, which the Company markets under its TRIO product line.

The DUO

The DUO's 2-part construction (battery component and cartridge) features a disposable all-in-one atomized cartridge (also known as a cartomizer). This cartomizer is replaced when the nicotine or nicotine free solution is depleted from use. The all-in-one configuration eliminates the need for maintenance of a separate atomizer and maintains consistent performance of the e-cigarette over time.

The TRIO

The TRIO's 3-part construction (battery component, atomizer, and filter cartridge) features a separate atom! izer from the cartridge; the atomizer is reused and requires separate maintenance over its useful life. Replacement atomizers are available for sale and are easily serviceable by the user. In the TRIO, the only component that needs to be routinely replaced is the refill cartridge (either with or without nicotine).

The Company's electronic cigarettes are sold in kits. In addition to kits the Company sells replacement batteries, replacement mouthpieces that contain the liquid solution and atomizer, for its two-piece configurations as well as mouthpieces with the liquid solution and separate atomizers for its three-piece units. In addition to the Company's electronic cigarette products the Company sells an assortment of accessories, including chargers and simple and fashionable cases. The Company also offers refill cartridges and accessories for its electronic cigarettes. The Company's refill cartridges consist of assorted flavors and nicotine levels (including cartridges without nicotine).

The Company competes with Altria Group, Inc. and Reynolds American Inc.,

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By James E. Brumley]

  Fans and investors of American Heritage International Inc. (OTCBB:AHII) - not to mention frenemies Vapor Corp. (OTCMKTS:VPCO) and Victory Electronic Cigarettes Corp. (OTCMKTS:ECIG) - can all breathe a sigh of relief today. As it turns out, while the electronic cigarette industry is more than likely be regulated by the FDA, it's going to be regulated in such a way that tends to favor the likes of AHII, ECIG, and VPCO.

• [By John Udovich]

  Small cap electronic cigarette stocks Vapor Corp (OTCMKTS: VPCO), Smokefree Innotec�(OTCMKTS: SFIO), Hop-On Inc (OTCMKTS: HPNN) and American Heritage International Inc (OTCBB: AHII) are what�� left of the e-Cig market not controlled by ��ig Tobacco��and at least one of these stocks is positioning itself or its technology to exploit opportunities in marijuana or cannabis. Last year, industry experts were saying that�US retail sales of e-cigarettes could reach $1 billion for the year or�1% of the country's cigarette market but twice that of 2012�as sales go off the Internet and into more mainstream retailers. Moreover, they are being positioned as a ��ealthier��alternative to smoking (albeit some places have already extended their smoking bans to cover the devices). It should be stated that electronic cigarettes look just like traditional cigarettes and are usually comprised of three functional components:

• [By John Udovich]

  Last week, I talked about small cap electronic cigarette stocks Vapor Corp (OTCMKTS: VPCO) and Hop-On Inc (OTCMKTS: HPNN) as being among the last of the e-Cig�stocks not controlled by ��ig Tobacco,��but Victory Electronic Cigarettes Corp (OTCMKTS: ECIG), mCig Inc (OTCBB: MCIG) and American Heritage International (OTCBB: AHII)�are also�positioning themselves or their technology to exploit opportunities in the e-Cig market or even in�marijuana or cannabis. Last year, industry experts were already saying that�US retail sales of e-cigarettes could reach $1 billion for the year�for roughly�1% of the country's cigarette market. That number might appear small, but its more than double 2012 sales�as sales increasingly�move off the Internet and into more mainstream retailers thanks to their positioning as a���ealthier��alternative to smoking.

Hot Integrated Utility Companies To Own In Right Now: Harris & Harris Group Inc.(TINY)

Harris & Harris Group, Inc. is a venture capital and venture debt firm specializing in seed, start up, early stage, and mid venture investments. It primarily invests in tiny-technology-enabled companies with a focus on nanotechnology, microsystems, and microelectromechanical systems technology. Harris & Harris Group, Inc. was founded in 1981 and is based in New York, New York with additional offices in Palo Alto, California and Los Angeles, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sally Jones]

  Highlight: Harris & Harris Group Inc. (TINY)

  The TINY share price is currently $3.07 or 22.1% off the 52-week high of $3.94. The company does not pay a dividend.

Hot Integrated Utility Companies To Own In Right Now: Robogroup TEK Ltd (ROBO)

RoboGroup T.E.K Ltd. is a global, diversified enterprise with proprietary technologies on the forefront of robotics, motion control and technology education. RoboGroup's activities are organized in two related business operations: Yaskawa Eshed Technology (YET) and Intelitek.

YET, a joint venture with Japan's Yaskawa Electric Corp., which provides industrial motion controls, particularly those based on its algorithms. Intelitek, which develops, manufactures and markets training products and e-learning systems. Intelitek�� broad educational product line covers subjects such as computer-aided design, computer-aided manufacturing, configurable network computing, robotics, machine vision, hydraulics, pneumatics, sensors, process control and data acquisition. Intelitek also designs and produces integrated and customized manufacturing workcells, ranging from small-scale flexible manufacturing systems to complete computer integrated manufacturing systems.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Udovich]

  Spruce Point Capital Management, LLC has released a research report about small cap robotics stock iRobot Corporation (NASDAQ: IRBT) entitled ��bout to Short Circuit,��meaning investors should take a closer look at the report, the�stock�and the performance of�robotics peer Adept Technology Inc (NASDAQ: ADEP) and�the Robo-Stox Global Robotics & Automation ETF (NASDAQ: ROBO). I should mention that we used to have both Adept Technology and iRobot Corporation in our SmallCap Network Elite Opportunity (SCN EO) portfolio�because we see the�robotics subsector improving as companies aim to reduce overhead and improve efficiencies through machine to machine (M2M) automation.

• [By Matt Krantz]

  Another way for investors to play the robotics industry is a new exchange traded fund, Robo-Stox Robotics & Automation (symbol: ROBO). The ETF owns a basket of robotics and automation stocks. One major caution, though, is that not all the stocks in the ETF are those investors traditionally think of when it comes to robotics. The largest weighting is in 3D Systems, a maker of a 3D printer, and Faro Technologies, which makes measurement devices. But none of the stocks in the ETF account for more than 4% of the total value, so the diversification helps give investors a way to play the speculative industry.

Hot Integrated Utility Companies To Own In Right Now: dELIA*s Inc.(DLIA)

dELiA*s, Inc. operates as a direct marketing and retail company in the United States. It offers a collection of apparel, dresses, swimwear, roomwear, footwear, outerwear, and key accessories primarily for teenage girls. The company sells its products through direct mail catalogs, Websites, and mall-based specialty retail stores under the dELiA*s brand name. As of January 29, 2011, it operated 114 dELiA*s retail stores. The company also markets and sells branded junior apparel, dresses, accessories, swimwear, footwear and outerwear primarily to young women through catalogs and Internet under the Alloy brand name. dELiA*s, Inc. was founded in 1997 and based in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sean Williams]

  Don't fight history
  Sometimes we just have to remember as investors that there isn't room enough for every company to succeed. Thus enters dELiA*s (NASDAQ: DLIA  ) , an online and mail catalog retailer that markets apparel to teenage girls and young women.

• [By Eric Volkman]

  dELIA*s (NASDAQ: DLIA  ) is now a lighter company following the divestment of one of its brand lines. The company announced that it has sold its Alloy subsidiary to HRSH Acquisitions, which is conducting business under the name Alloy Apparel and Accessories. dELIA*s was paid $3.7 million in cash for the unit, and the buyer will assume roughly $3.1 million in liabilities.

Hot Integrated Utility Companies To Own In Right Now: Federal Realty Investment Trust (FRT)

Federal Realty Investment Trust (the Trust) is an equity real estate investment trust (REIT) specializing in the ownership, management, and redevelopment of retail and mixed-use properties located in metropolitan markets in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States, as well as in California. As of December 31, 2011, the Trust owned or had interest in community and neighborhood shopping centers and mixed-use properties, which are operated as 87 retail real estate projects, consisting approximately 19.3 million square feet. On December 30, 2011, it acquired an 8.1 acre land parcel adjacent to Plaza El Segundo. In January 2012, the Company acquired 89.9% interest in Montrose Crossing. In January 2013, the Company acquired East Bay Bridge shopping center. In April 2013, it acquired a shopping center on 9 acres directly across from the Noroton Heights train station. In January 2014, Federal Realty Investment Trust acquired controlling interest in two shopping centers totaling 285,600 square feet in affluent Monmouth County, New Jersey.

The Company�� portfolio includes retail in many formats ranging from regional community and neighborhood shopping centers, which are anchored by grocery stores to mixed-use properties, which are centered around a retail component but also include office, residential and/or hotel components. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company signed leases for a total of 1,417,000 square feet of retail space, including 1,294,000 square feet of comparable space leases. As of December 31, 2011, the real estate projects were 93.4% leased and 92.4% occupied. As of December 31, 2011, it owned a 30% interest in seven retail real estate projects totaling approximately one million square feet. As of December 31, 2011, the Company owned 90.9% interest in joint venture properties, which were leased and occupied.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Shauna O'Brien]

  Jefferies reported on Wednesday that it has upgraded real estate investment trust Federal Realty Investment Trust (FRT).

  The firm has raised its rating on FRT from “Hold” to “Buy,” and has increased the company’s price target from $112 to $116. This price target suggests a 13% upside from the stock’s current price of $100.75.

  Analyst Omotayo Okusanya noted: “Based on our recent tour of Assembly Row, we are now convinced about the long term value of this development project. Our recent management meetings on Sept 4th also indicate that: 1) development projects at Pike and Rose as well as Santana Row remain on track and 2) FRT remains on track to keep generating industry leading SS NOI growth. With FRT also well positioned for rising rates, we find the story compelling and upgrade the stock to Buy from Hold.”

  Looking ahead, the firm has cut its estimates for FY2013 from $4.64 to $4.62 per share. FY2014 estimates have also been lowered from $4.97 to $4.96 per share.

  Federal Realty Investment Trust shares were mostly flat during pre-market trading Wednesday. The stock has been mostly flat YTD.

• [By Ken McGaha] rong>These Businesses Aren�� Cheap By Any Measure

  Value investors, such as myself, seem to always be compulsive about business fundamentals when assessing fair value. The numbers here do not paint a pretty picture in terms of compelling value.

  Company Ticker

  KRC

  KIM

  EGP

  FRT

  Dividend Yield

  2.25%

  3.88%

  3.34%

  2.54%

  Payout Ratio

  1,031%

  171%

  199%

  147.91%

  5-Div. Gwth.

  -9.61%

  -12.64%

  0.54%

  3.69%

  2014 P/E Ratio

  22.79

  16.69

  18.85

  25

  5-yr. Proj. Gwth.

  7.2%

  4.3%

  6.3%

  6.5%

  Price/Cash Flow

  22.12

  15.77

  17.92

  24.88

  Being a value oriented investor, I am always looking for ways to mitigate my risk and increase my upside potential through the acquisition of valuable assets at distressed prices. That is not what I see here. Each of these businesses are trading at huge multiples to their projected earnings growth rates for the next 5 years.

  In terms of the prices to free cash flow, KIM and EGP trade at multiples that would be reasonable for world-class businesses that are dominant in a critical industry. But a commercial REIT? I don�� think so. The price to cash flow multiples for KRC and FRT are simply outrageous for these businesses and would be very difficult to justify for any business. Are you really willing to buy a business that will take between 22 and 25 years to earn enough money to pay you back? Not me.

  Excellent Management Can Justify High Valuations

  Quite often in my life, I have come across people who failed to understand the distinction between price and cost or price and value. A business that appears to be expensive on the surface can, and sometimes does, offer an excellent value due to the existence of exceptional manage

• [By Dan Burrows]

  Heck, over the last 20 years, NNN stock generated an annual return of 12.3%. That beats the broader market by more than 3 percentage points, making this one of the top dividend stocks to ride out any roughness.

  Dependable Dividend Stocks: Federal Realty Investment Trust (FRT)

  Dividend Yield: 2.8%
  YTD Gain: 12%

• [By Brad Thomas]

  REITs mentioned: (VTR), (OHI), (O), (DLR), (HCP), (HTA), (KIM), (FRT), (SPG), and (SKT).

  Note: This article is intended to provide information to interested parties. As I have no knowledge of individual investor circumstances, goals, and/or portfolio concentration or diversification, readers are expected to complete their own due diligence before purchasing any stocks mentioned or recommended.

Best Healthcare Technology Companies For 2014

The number of bad China bank loans tripled in just six months of 2013, but bank profits remained mainly unscathed, writes MoneyShow's Jim Jubak, also of Jubak's Picks.

China's biggest banks cleaned house in the first half of 2013, tripling the amount of bad loans written off in the period from the first half of 2012.

That kind of coming clean would be a good thing—analysts have argued that China's banks have dragged their feet on writing off loans that have gone bad and are clearly never going to be repaid—except that it has raised fears that China's banks are cleaning house now in anticipation of a new wave of bad loans to come, as a result of a slowdown in China's economic growth.

In the first six months of 2013, China's five biggest banks wrote off 22.1 billion yuan ($3.65 billion) in debt. That was up from 7.65 billion yuan in the first half of 2012.

The worry is, with growth forecast to slow to 7.6% in 2013, the lowest growth rate since 1999, China's banks are facing a surge in bad loans as a result of the credit boom that began in 2009. The five biggest banks; Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, Bank of Communications, Agricultural Bank of China, Bank of China, and the China Construction Bank, showed a 22.4 billion yuan ($3.68 billion) increase in nonperforming loans in the first half of 2013. That took the total for nonperforming loans to 350 billion yuan ($57.5 billion), or 1% of total loans, according to Bloomberg. In the first half of the year, the big five banks added 83 billion yuan ($13.6 billion) to their reserves for loan losses.

Top 10 Beverage Stocks To Watch Right Now: Safeway Inc.(SWY)

Safeway Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a food and drug retailer in North America. The company operates stores that provide an array of grocery items, food, and general merchandise, as well as features specialty departments, such as bakery, delicatessen, floral, and pharmacy, as well as coffee shops and fuel centers. It also offers SELECT line of products that include baked goods, sparkling ciders and lemonades, salsas, whole bean coffees, frozen pizzas and entrees, and fresh and dry pastas and sauces, as well as an array of ice creams, hors d'oeuvres, and desserts; O ORGANICS line, which comprises milk, chicken, salads, juices, and entrees; Lucerne line of dairy products; Eating Right line of better-for-you products; Bright Green line of home care products; Total Pet Care line of pet foods and pet care products; and Value Red line of value-priced paper goods. As of December 31, 2009, Safeway operated approximately 1,725 stores in California, Oregon, Wash ington, Alaska, Colorado, Arizona, Texas, the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Mid-Atlantic region, as well as British Columbia, Alberta and Manitoba/Saskatchewan. In addition, the company owns and operates GroceryWorks.com Operating Company, LLC, an online grocery channel, doing business under the names Safeway.com, Vons.com, and Genuardis.com; and Blackhawk Network Holdings, Inc., which provides third-party gift cards, prepaid cards, telecom cards, and sports and entertainment cards to North American retailers for sale to retail customers. Additionally, it engages in gift card businesses in the United Kingdom, France, Mexico, and Australia. Further, the company, through a 49% ownership interest in Casa Ley, S.A. de C.V. operates 156 food and general merchandise stores in Western Mexico. The company was formerly known as Safeway Stores, Incorporated and changed its name to Safeway Inc. in February 1990. Safeway was founded in 1915 and is based in Pleasanton, California. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Monica Gerson]

  Safeway (NYSE: SWY) reported a 58% drop in its third-quarter net income and announced its plans to exit the Chicago market by 2014. Safeway shares surged 5.64% to $33.35 in after-hours trading.

• [By Charles Sizemore]

  Supermarket giants Albertsons and Safeway (SWY) made news last week by agreeing to merge, creating a combined company that will fall just shy of Kroger (KR) in terms of store count. Cerberus Capital, the private equity firm that owns Albertsons, has offered to pay $40 per share for Safeway.

Best Healthcare Technology 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.

Best Healthcare Technology Companies For 2014: PowerShares DWA Energy Momentum Portfolio (PXI)

PowerShares Dynamic Energy Sector Portfolio (the Fund) seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield of an equity index called the Dynamic Energy Sector Intellidex Index (the Index). The Index consists of stocks of 60 United States energy companies. These are companies that are principally engaged in the business of producing, distributing or servicing energy-related products, including oil and gas exploration and production, refining, oil services, pipeline, and solar, wind and other non-oil-based energy. Stocks are selected principally on the basis of their capital appreciation potential as identified by the AMEX (the Intellidex Provider) pursuant to an Intellidex methodology. The Fund�� investment adviser is PowerShares Capital Management LLC.

The Fund, using an indexing investment approach, attempts to replicate the performance of the Index. The Fund generally will invest in all of the stocks comprising the Index in proportion to their weightings in the Index. The Fund will normally invest at least 80% of its total assets in common stocks of energy companies. The Fund will normally invest at least 90% of its total assets in common stocks that comprise the Index.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Todd Shriber, ETF Professor]

  Unusual volume (at least 5X ADV): QuantShares US Market Neutral Anti-Beta ETF (NYSE: BTAL), iShares 10+ Year Credit Bond ETF (NYSE: CLY), iShares Morningstar Small Value ETF (NYSE: JKL) and the PowerShares Dynamic Energy ETF (NYSE: PXI).

Best Healthcare Technology Companies For 2014: EZchip Semiconductor Limited(EZCH)

EZchip, a fabless semiconductor company, engages in the development and marketing of Ethernet network processors for networking equipment. Its products include network processor chips, evaluation boards and network-processor based systems, and development software toolkits. The company offers network processors for use in forming the silicon core of networking equipment, such as switches and routers; and for voice, video and data integration in various applications. Its network processors are single-chip solutions, which enable its customers to design multi-port line cards, such as processing and classification engines, traffic managers, media access controllers, as well as a range of specialized hardware blocks that accelerate various functions. The company offers Evaluation systems which enable customers to test NPU-based systems; and toolkits that assist customers in creating, verifying, and implementing solutions based on its network processors. It provides a library f eaturing data plane code for a range of applications, which include Metro Ethernet protocols, Multi-Protocol Label Switching, IPv4 and IPv6 routing, Access Control Lists, GPON/EPON OLT functionality, Network Address Translation, and Server Load Balancing. The company sells its products directly, and through contract manufacturers and distributors to network equipment vendors. It markets its products in Israel, China, Hong Kong, the Far East, Canada, the United States, and Europe. The company was formerly known as LanOptics Ltd. and changed its name to EZchip Semiconductor Ltd. in July 2008. EZchip Semiconductor Ltd. was founded in 1989 and is based in Yokneam, Israel.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Evan Niu, CFA]

  What: Shares of EZchip (NASDAQ: EZCH  ) have jumped today by as much as 13% after the company reported first-quarter earnings.

  So what: Revenue in the first quarter totaled $15.3 million, topping the Street's forecast of $15.1 million. Non-GAAP net income per share came in at $0.23, which was right on target with expectations.

• [By Lisa Levin]

  EZchip Semiconductor (NASDAQ: EZCH) shares climbed 5.80% to $23.53. The volume of EZchip Semiconductor shares traded was 635% higher than normal. EZchip Semiconductor's PEG ratio is 1.57.

• [By Paul McWilliams]

  Paul McWilliams: Oh, absolutely. Another company that most investors probably have never heard of is a tiny little Israeli semiconductor company named EZChip (EZCH).

• [By Lisa Levin]

  EZchip Semiconductor (NASDAQ: EZCH) surged 9.38% to $26.13. The volume of EZchip Semiconductor shares traded 407% higher than normal. EZchip Semiconductor reported better-than-expected Q1 results.

Best Healthcare Technology Companies For 2014: Silver Spring Networks Inc (SSNI)

Silver Spring Networks, Inc., incorporated on July 3, 2002, provides a networking platform and solutions that enable utilities to transform the power grid infrastructure into the smart grid. The Company�� networking platform provides two-way communications between the utility back office and devices on the power grid. In addition to its networking platform, it offers a suite of solutions that run on top of its network and complementary services, all of which is referred to as its Smart Energy Platform. Its service offerings include professional services to implement its products, managed services and software as a service ( SaaS), to assist utilities with managing the network and solutions, and ongoing customer support. Its Smart Energy Platform consists of hardware, software and services and combines with devices manufactured by third-party partners to form end-to-end smart grid offerings.

The Company�� solutions include advanced metering, which allows utilities to automate a number of manual processes and improve operational efficiencies, offer flexible pricing programs to consumers, and improve customer service with faster outage detection and restoration; distribution automation, which provides utilities with real-time visibility into the health of the grid, enabling better management and control of power distribution assets to improve grid reliability, and demand-side management, which enables utilities to offer consumers a variety of programs and incentives to use energy more efficiently and reduce usage at times of peak demand. The Company markets its Smart Energy Platform directly to utilities around the world. The Company�� network is composed of its hardware, such as access points and relays, its UtilOS network operating system, and GridScape software suite, which together provide utilities the ability to communicate with and control devices connected to the power grid.

The Company also offers a suite of solutions that run on top of its network, including ad! vanced metering, distribution automation, and demand-side management. These solutions include additional hardware, such as its communications modules and bridges, and applications from UtilityIQ and CustomerIQ software. Its solutions combine with devices from the large number of third parties with whom it collaborates to form end-to-end smart grid offerings built on its network. In addition, itoffers a range of services that enable its utility customers to deploy, operate and maintain its networking platform and solutions. These service offerings include professional services to implement its products, managed services and SaaS to assist utilities with managing the network and solutions, and ongoing customer support.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Roberto Pedone]

  A technology stock that's quickly moving within range of triggering a big breakout trade is Silver Spring Networks (SSNI), which provides a networking platform and solutions that enable utilities to transform the power grid infrastructure into the smart grid. This stock has been on a hot streak over the last six months, with shares up by 22%.

  If you look at the chart for Silver Spring Networks, you'll notice that this stock has been uptrending strong for the last month and change, with shares moving higher from its low of $14.63 to its recent high of $22 a share. During that uptrend, shares of SSNI have been making mostly higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. That move has now pushed shares of SSNI within range of triggering a big breakout trade.

  Traders should now look for long-biased trades in SSNI if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at $22 to $22.73 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 491,731 shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then SSNI will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $23.90 to its gap down day high from August at $25.25 a share. Any high-volume move above $25.25 a share will then give SSNI a chance to re-fill some of that previous gap down zone that started near $32 a share.

  Traders can look to buy SSNI off any weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below some key near-term support at $19.01 a share, or near $18 a share. One can also buy SSNI 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.

• [By John Udovich]

  Although small cap smart metering stock Silver Spring Networks Inc (NYSE: SSNI) recently soared on earnings, it also plunged yesterday�after loosing�out on important contract ��meaning it might be time to take a closer look at it along with other smart metering stocks like Itron, Inc (NASDAQ: ITRI) or Echelon Corporation (NASDAQ: ELON) to see if they are smart investments.

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Equities Trading DOWN
  Shares of Silver Spring Networks (NYSE: SSNI) were down 23.66 percent to $17.91 after the company issued downbeat Q4 forecast. Credit Suisse downgraded the stock from Outperform to Neutral and cut the price target from $26.00 to $23.00.

Best Healthcare Technology Companies For 2014: Vivo Participacoes S.A.(VIV)

Telecomunicacoes de Sao Paulo S.A.-TELESP provides fixed-line telecommunications services to residential and commercial customers in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Its services include local voice services, such as activation, monthly subscription, measured service, and public telephones; intraregional, interregional, and international long-distance voice services; data services comprising broadband services; pay TV services through direct to home satellite technology and land based wireless technology multichannel multipoint distribution service; and network services, such as interconnection and rental of facilities, as well as other services consisting of extended maintenance, caller identification, voice mail, cell phone blockers, computer support, and antivirus for Internet service subscribers. The company also offers multimedia communication services, such as audio, data, voice and other sounds, images, and texts and other information. In addition, it provides interc onnection services to cellular service providers and other fixed telecommunications companies through the use of its network. Further, the company offers telecommunications solutions and IT support designed to address the needs and requirements of companies operating various types of industries, including retail, manufacturing, services, financial institutions, and government. Telecomunicacoes de Sao Paulo S.A.-TELESP provides its products and services through person-to-person sales, telesales, indirect channels, Internet, and door-to-door sales. As of December 31, 2010, its telephone network included 11.3 million fixed lines in service, including residential, commercial, and public telephone lines; 3.3 million broadband clients; and 0.5 million pay TV clients. The company was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Telecomunicacoes de Sao Paulo S.A.-TELESP is a subsidiary of Telefonica S.A.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Mike Deane]

  Telefonica Brasil SA (VIV) reported its first quarter earnings before the opening bell on Friday, posting slightly higher revenues and much lower earnings compared to last year’s first quarter.
  

  VIV’s Earnings in Brief

  Telefonica Brasil�reported first quarter revenues of 8.6 billion reals, up from last year’s Q1 revenues of 8.56 billion reals. Net earnings for the quarter came in at 660.8 million reals, down from 810.2 million reals reported for last year’s Q1. Analysts were expecting earnings of 746 million reals. According to Reuters, the company also warned that the World Cup, which is taking place in Brazil this summer, could end up dragging down earnings.

  VIV’s Dividend

  Telefonica Brasil did not mention any changes to its dividend in its first quarter earnings release. Currently, the company has an annualized dividend of $1.13.

  Stock Performance

  VIV stock was inactive in pre-market trading. YTD, the company’s stock is up 13.33%.

  VIV�Dividend Snapshot

  As of Market Close on May 8, 2014

  Click here to see the complete history of VIV dividends.