1 Smaller Retailer With a Big Future

In one of its recent presentations (link opens PDF file) to the investing community, Gap (NYSE: GPS  ) lays out the retail landscape as it sees things. The company charts itself among competitors based on revenue and footprint. In the middle. Gap places its own brand moving up toward the higher-revenue brands, like H&M. Then, down at the bottom, are the small-footprint, low-revenue companies that Gap has already motored past.

On the slide, Abercrombie & Fitch (NYSE: ANF  ) , Aeropostale (NYSE: ARO  ) , and American Eagle (NYSE: AEO  ) all seem to be fighting it out in the smaller space, labeled "Single- to low-double-digit operating margins." That group may have a smaller footprint and lower revenue than Gap, but that doesn't mean that investors should overlook it completely.

The thin black line
The grouping that Gap has laid out isn't unfair. Of the three retailers, only American Eagle managed a positive move in comparable-store sales over the last year. American Eagle is also the only one to manage that low-double-digit operating margin, with Aeropostale hitting just 2.5% and Abercrombie coming in at 8.3%. As a reference point, Gap's operating margin was 12.4% -- which actually wasn't much higher than American Eagle's margin.

In fact, when you dive into the details, the line that Gap draws between itself and American Eagle starts to look more perforated than solid. Operating margins for both came in between 12% and 12.5% last year, and American Eagle managed stronger comparable-store growth than Gap -- 9% versus 5%. Maybe this isn't the scrum that Gap portrays, but is instead a set of two losers and a clear winner -- a winner in hot pursuit of Gap's territory.

Pulling away from the pack
On some fundamental basis, that might be a fair way to talk about it, but if you pull back, things become a bit clearer. Gap lumped American Eagle into the pile in part because American Eagle made $3.5 billion in revenue last year. Abercrombie and Aeropostale managed $4.5 billion and $2.4 billion, respectively. Gap cranked out $15.7 billion in revenue for the year, putting a huge piece of real estate between it and the other three retailers.

But the distance shouldn't preclude investors from looking into American Eagle. The company managed a strong showing last year, and it has every opportunity to continue playing to its strengths this coming year. The company is going to focus on growing brand strength in the U.S., increasing the value it generates form its intimates line, and launching a personal care line in time for the holidays.

While I've been a big Gap fan for the past year, American Eagle is quietly expanding its offerings, giving it a potentially broader customer base. Even after its good showing, the company's P/E hasn't pulled ahead of Gap's, with both companies trading at just over 16 times earnings.

With Abercrombie posting a 5% drop in comparable sales last year, and Areopostale running at a 2% decline, it seems that American Eagle is having the most success pulling customers in. While the company doesn't have the size or brand value that Gap has, American Eagle has a lot going for it right now. Investors looking for another apparel retailer should expand their horizons, and look at this smaller winner.

Another set of retail winners
The retail space is in the midst of the biggest paradigm shift since mail order took off at the turn of last century. Only those most forward-looking and capable companies will survive, and they'll handsomely reward those investors who understand the landscape. You can read about the 3 Companies Ready to Rule Retail in The Motley Fool's special report. Uncovering these top picks is free today; just click here to read more.

Top 5 Biotech Companies To Own In Right Now

From the smallest biotech to the biggest pharmaceutical stock The Motley Fool's Market Check-Up�covers the health care sector's biggest headlines, hottest market movers, and Obamacare's ongoing rollout.

In this segment from Monday's episode, health-care analyst David Williamson discusses Shire (NASDAQ: SHPG  ) , a biopharmaceutical company focusing on rare diseases, that just beat out several rivals with its bid of $4.2 billion to acquire ViroPharma (NASDAQ: VPHM  ) . ViroPharma sells the successful hereditary angioedema drug Cinryze, which is used in prophylactic treatment of the disease. Shire sees this as an immediately complementary fit with its drug Firazyr, which is for patients already suffering from the active disease.

In the video, David discusses why the deal is good for Shire, why he doesn't see critics' concerns over the deal as anything investors should worry about, and whether he likes the stock from here.

A path to biotech profits
The best way to play the biotech space is to find companies that shun the status quo and instead discover revolutionary, groundbreaking technologies. In The Motley Fool's brand-new free report "2 Game-Changing Biotechs Revolutionizing the Way We Treat Cancer," find out about a new technology that big pharma is endorsing through partnerships, and the two companies that are set to profit from this emerging drug class. Click here to get your copy today.

Top 5 Shipping Companies To Watch In Right Now: Immune Design Corp (IMDZ)

Immune Design Corp, incorporated on February 20, 2008, is a clinical-stage immunotherapy company. The Company has engineered its technologies to activate the immune system�� natural ability to create tumor-specific cytotoxic T cells (CTLs), to fight cancer. The Company is developing multiple product candidates from its two discovery platforms, DCVex and GLAAS. The Company�� product candidates, LV305, CMB305 and G100, utilize multiple immuno-oncology approaches. LV305 was developed from the DCVex platform and it is enrolling patients in a Phase I clinical trial for the treatment of five solid tumor types. CMB305 is a prime-boost approach that combines LV305 with a second agent, G305. G100 was developed from the GLAAS platform and it is enrolling patients with Merkel cell carcinoma in a Phase I clinical trial.

The Company�� immuno-oncology product candidates are being developed in two separate approaches: Specific Antigen and Endogenous Antigen. The Specific Antigen approach uses selected antigens that are also present in the patient�� tumor so that the immune system will be educated to recognize the tumor antigen and kill tumor cells expressing the antigen. The Endogenous Antigen approach, in contrast, does not require a selected antigen present in the tumor. It instead relies on treatments, such as chemotherapy or local radiation to lyse tumors and release endogenous antigens, which are then captured by neighboring GLAAS-activated dendritic cells, generating a varied immune response. The Company utilizes DCVex and GLAAS to develop product candidates that work in vivo and are designed to create and expand diverse armies of CTLs to fight tumors. DCVex is a discovery platform that uses a first-in-class vector to generate product candidates designed to create CTLs in vivo. The DCVex vector is a delivery system based on a re-engineered virus to carry the genetic information of a tumor antigen safely and selectively to dendritic cells (DCs), in the skin. The GLAAS platform also works in! vivo and is based on a small synthetic molecule called GLA, which stands for glucopyranosyl lipid A. GLA selectively binds to the TLR4 receptor and causes potent activation of the DC.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By WWW.DAILYFINANCE.COM]

  www.gopro.com Now that it's nearly over, we can definitively say that 2014 has been one of the best years for initial public stock offerings in history. In terms of proceeds raised from IPOs, 2014 will challenge or even exceed the year 2000. Which is saying something: That was the height of the dot.com frenzy, when seemingly every new company with a website felt compelled to list on the stock exchange. As can be expected of a busy IPO year, some of 2014's new stock market titles have been runaway hits soaring above their issue price, while others have belly-flopped. Since we're heading into the most optimistic time of the year, we'll shine a light on the three best performers. In order of stock price appreciation, they are: GoPro (GPRO) 2014's current IPO front-runner is this company, maker of the popular action photography camera -- the one that's usually responsible for those hairy point-of-view videos posted on Facebook (FB) and other online sharing sites. GoPro's stock hit the market at the end of June priced at $24, and as if this writing it now stands at $70.72 for a muscular 195 percent total return. Although that's impressive, it should be noted that the current price is quite a bit lower than the stock's high of nearly $94, which it touched in early October. But then the camera was effectively blamed for the horrific accident that befell Formula One racing star Michael Schumacher -- although the journalist making the allegation later recanted -- and the shares cratered. The stock recovered after the company reported strong third-quarter earnings, and all seemed well again... until GoPro decided to float a secondary issue of stock. It'll sell 10.3 million fresh shares on the market, adding to the nearly 126 million currently outstanding. When secondary share issues are announced, a company's stock often takes a hit, since investors aren't too crazy about their existing stakes being diluted. Regardless, on a fundamental basis GoPro is a popular, if

Top 5 Biotech Companies To Own In Right Now: Foundation Medicine Inc (FMI)

Foundation Medicine, Inc., incorporated on November 12, 2009, is a commercial-stage company. The Company is focused on fundamentally changing the way patients with cancer are treated. The Company�� platform includes methods and algorithms for analyzing tumor tissue samples across all types of cancer, as well as information aggregation and concise reporting capabilities. Its products provide genomic information about each patient�� individual cancer, enabling physicians to optimize treatments in clinical practice and enabling biopharmaceutical companies to develop targeted oncology therapies more effectively.

FoundationOne, its first clinical product, is, to its knowledge, the only commercially available comprehensive molecular information product designed for use in the routine care of patients with cancer. In addition, the Company is considered a non-contracting provider by commercial third-party payors because it has not entered into specific contracts to provide FoundationOne to their covered patients, and as a result it takes on primary responsibility for obtaining reimbursement on behalf of patients.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By James E. Brumley]

  It wouldn't be fair to say there's nothing like it "out there", because there is. A company called Foundation Medicine Inc. (NASDAQ:FMI) has developed a similar/comparable app. The CLRX version of the solution appears superior in most ways, however, if for no other reason than because of the projected revenue growth the company is apt to see.

• [By John Udovich]

  If you have not been watching the biotech sector lately, you should start paying attention as the sector along with small cap biotech stocks like Cell Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ: CTIC), BIND Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ: BIND) and TNI BioTech (OTCMKTS: TNIB) continue to produce a steady stream of good news for investors thanks to positive industry trends. Moreover, Ophthotech Corp (NASDAQ: OPHT), Foundation Medicine Inc (NASDAQ: FMI), Evoke Pharma and Fate Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ: FATE) are this week's biotech IPOs that will no doubt be watched closely by Wall Street and industry observers in general. With that in mind, consider the following biotech news or recent articles about the industry and the small cap players in it:

Top 5 Biotech Companies To Own In Right Now: Cell Therapeutics Inc (CTIC)

Cell Therapeutics, Inc. (CTI), incorporated in 1991, develops, acquires and commercializes treatments for cancer. The Company�� research, development, acquisition and in-licensing activities concentrate on identifying and developing new ways to treat cancer. As of December 31, 2011, CTI focused its efforts on Pixuvri (pixantrone dimaleate) (Pixuvri), OPAXIO (paclitaxel poliglumex) (OPAXIO), tosedostat, brostallicin and bisplatinates. As of December 31, 2011, it developed Pixuvri, an anthracycline derivative for the treatment of hematologic malignancies and solid tumors. Another late-stage drug candidate of the Company, OPAXIO, is being studied as a potential maintenance therapy for women with advanced stage ovarian cancer, who achieve a complete remission following first-line therapy with paclitaxel and carboplatin. As of December 31, 2011, it also developed tosedostat in collaboration with Chroma Therapeutics, Ltd. (Chroma). On May 31, 2012, CTI completed its acquisition gaining worldwide rights to S*BIO Pte Ltd.'s (S*BIO) pacritinib.

Pixuvri

As of December 31, 2011, the Company developed Pixuvri, an aza-anthracenedione derivative, for the treatment of non-Hodgkin�� lymphoma (NHL), and various other hematologic malignancies, and solid tumors. Pixuvri was studied in the Company�� EXTEND, or PIX301, clinical trial, which was a phase III single-agent trial of Pixuvri for patients with relapsed, refractory aggressive NHL who received two or more prior therapies and who were sensitive to treatment with anthracyclines. On September 28, 2011, CTI announced that a second independent radiology assessment of response and progression endpoint data from its PIX301 clinical trial of Pixuvri was achieved with statistical significance. The results of the EXTEND trial met its primary endpoint and showed that patients randomized to treatment with Pixuvri achieved a significantly higher rate of confirmed and unconfirmed complete response compared to patients treated with standard chem! otherapy had a significantly increased overall response rate and experienced a statistically significant improvement in median progression free survival. Pixuvri had predictable and manageable toxicities when administered at the proposed dose and schedule in the EXTEND clinical trial in heavily pre-treated patients. In March 2011, the Company initiated the PIX-R trial to study Pixuvri in combination with rituximab in patients with relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Pixuvri has also been studied in patients with HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer who have tumor progression after at least two, but not more than three, prior chemotherapy regimens. In the second quarter of 2010, the NCCTG opened this phase II study for enrollment. The study is closed to accrual and results are expected to be reported by the NCCTG later in 2012.

OPAXIO

OPAXIO is the Company�� biologically-enhanced chemotherapeutic agent that links paclitaxel to a biodegradable polyglutamate polymer, resulting in a new chemical entity. As of December 31, 2011, the Company focused its development of OPAXIO on ovarian, brain, esophageal, head and neck cancer. OPAXIO was designed to improve the delivery of paclitaxel to tumor tissue while protecting normal tissue from toxic side effects. In November 2010, results were presented by the Brown University Oncology Group from a phase II trial of OPAXIO combined with temozolomide (TMZ), and radiotherapy in patients with newly-diagnosed, high-grade gliomas, a type of brain cancer. The trial demonstrated a high rate of complete and partial responses and a high rate of six month progression free survival (PFS). Based on these results, the Brown University Oncology Group has initiated a randomized, multicenter, phase II study of OPAXIO and standard radiotherapy versus TMZ and radiotherapy for newly diagnosed patients with glioblastoma with an active gene termed MGMT that reduces responsiveness to TMZ. A phase I/II study of OPAXIO combined with radi! otherapy ! and cisplatin was initiated by SUNY Upstate Medical University, in patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer.

Tosedostat

In March 2011, the Company entered into a co-development and license agreement with Chroma Therapeutics, Ltd. (Chroma), providing the Company with marketing and co-development rights to Chroma�� drug candidate, tosedostat, in North, Central and South America. Tosedostat is an oral, aminopeptidase inhibitor that has demonstrated anti-tumor responses in blood related cancers and solid tumors in phase I-II clinical trials. Interim results from the phase II OPAL study of tosedostat in elderly patients with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) showed that once-daily, oral doses of tosedostat had predictable and manageable toxicities and results demonstrated response rates, including a high-response rate among patients who received prior hypomethylating agents, which are used to treat myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), a precursor of AML.

Brostallicin

As of December 31, 2011, the Company developed brostallicin through its wholly owned subsidiary, Systems Medicine LLC, which holds rights to use, develop, import and export brostallicin. Brostallicin is a synthetic deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) minor groove binding agent that has demonstrated anti-tumor activity and a favorable safety profile in clinical trials, in which more than 230 patients have been treated as of December 31, 2011. The Company uses a genomic-based platform to guide the development of brostallicin. A phase II study of brostallicin in relapsed, refractory soft tissue sarcoma met its predefined activity and safety hurdles and resulted in a first-line phase II clinical trial study that was conducted by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC).

The Company competes with Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Sanofi-Aventis, Pfizer, Roche Group, Genentech, Inc., Astellas Pharma, Eli Lilly and Company, Celgene, Telik, I! nc., TEVA! Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd. and PharmaMar.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By MONEYMORNING]

  Cell Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: CTIC), based in Seattle, Wash., acquires, develops, and commercializes treatments for cancers, including non-Hodgkin's leukemia and ovarian, neck, and brain cancers. The company just announced it has completed patient enrollment in clinical trials for an investigational agent to be used as a maintenance therapy in ovarian cancer patients. The trial is being conducted by the Gynecologic Oncology Group, one of the National Cancer Institute's funded research groups. Roth Capital recently reiterated a "Buy" rating on the stock and raised its price target from $6 to $7. Roth believes the company's treatment for leukemia, Pacritinib, is effectively evolving. Additionally, the investment firm sees potential in CTIC's Tosedostat, which deprives tumor cells of the amino acid building blocks needed to make proteins necessary for tumor cell survival. Shares rose 2% Tuesday to $3.52 on volume of 6 million shares.

• [By Sean Williams]

  Cell Therapeutics (NASDAQ: CTIC  )
  Certainly no discussion of companies with large accumulated deficits would be complete without discussing a biotechnology company. It's perfectly understandable to see a biotech, especially a clinical-stage one, run with an accumulated deficit, as it takes time and money to build up a drug pipeline. However, after multiple complete response letters (the equivalent of a rejection) by the Food and Drug Administration and years without an approved drug, Cell Therapeutics racked up an astounding $1.83 billion in accumulated deficits through the end of fiscal 2012. By comparison, that's nearly 56 times larger than its shareholder equity.�

Top 5 Biotech Companies To Own In Right Now: Kite Pharma Inc (KITE)

Kite Pharma, Inc., incorporated on June 1, 2009, is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of cancer immunotherapy products designed to harness the power of a patient�� own immune system to eradicate cancer cells. The Company does this using its engineered autologous cell therapy (eACT). eACT involves the genetic engineering of T cells to express either chimeric antigen receptors (CARs, or T cell receptors, or TCRs). These modified T cells are designed to recognize and destroy cancer cells. The Company funds multiple Phase I-2a clinical trials with CAR- and TCR-based therapies that are being conducted by its collaborator, the Surgery Branch of the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The Company plans to conduct a Phase I-2 clinical trial for its lead product candidate KTE-C19, a CAR-based therapy, in patients with relapsed/refractory diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL).

eACT involves harvesting T cells from the patient�� blood; genetically engineering T cells to express cancer-specific receptors; increasing the number of engineered T cells and infusing the functional cancer-specific T cells back into the patient. Using eACT technology, T cells can be genetically modified to express one of two classes of cancer-specific receptors: CARs or TCRs. CARs can recognize native cancer antigens that are part of an intact protein presented on the cancer cell surface. TCRs broaden the therapeutic approach by recognizing fragments on the cancer cell surface derived from intracellular proteins. By combining both CAR and TCR approaches, it has the potential to generate a portfolio of products that can target both solid and hematological tumors. It has a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA), through which it is funding the research and development of eACT-based product candidates utilizing CARs and TCRs for the treatment of advanced solid and hematological malignancies.

The Company�� lead product candidate, KTE-C19, ! is an anti-CD19 CAR T cell therapy. CD19 is a protein expressed on the cell surface of B cell lymphomas and leukemias. The Company is an ongoing NCI Phase I-2a clinical trial utilizing anti-CD19 CAR T cell therapy that is designed to establish a dose level and appropriate conditioning regimen, as well as to assess overall safety, in patients with B cell lymphomas and leukemias that had been heavily pretreated and were relapsed/refractory (unresponsive) to chemotherapy. KTE-C19 will use the identical anti-CD19 CAR construct and viral vector that is being used in the NCI trial. The Company a license with the NIH for intellectual property relating to a TCR-based T cell therapy targeting the antigen SSX2 for the treatment of head and neck cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, melanoma, prostate cancer and sarcoma, and a co-exclusive license to this intellectual property for the treatment of certain additional cancer types.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Matt Egan]

  While the health-care sector only raised $1.8 billion during the second quarter, it led the way with 24 IPOs, up from 17 the year before. Hot drug IPOs include Zs Pharma (ZSPH), Kite Pharma (KITE) and GlobeImmune (GBIM), all of which debuted in June and are trading more than 40% above their IPO price.

• [By John Udovich]

  Small cap cancer drug stock Kite Pharma Inc (NASDAQ: KITE) has surged after announcing a�strategic research collaboration and license agreement with Amgen, Inc (NASDAQ: AMGN)�involving Chimeric Antigen Receptors (CAR) ��meaning its worth taking a closer look at the stock, which had an IPO last June,�along with potential peers�Bellicum Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ: BLCM) and Juno Therapeutics (NASDAQ: JUNO) which are players in the CAR therapies space and had more recent IPOs.

• [By John Udovich]

  Biotech news this week was dominated by a number of healthcare and biotech related IPOs, including Parnell Pharmaceuticals Holdings Ltd (NASDAQ: PARN), Signal Genetics Inc (NASDAQ: SGNL), ZS Pharma Inc (NASDAQ: ZSPH), Ardelyx Inc (NASDAQ: ARDX)�and Zafgen Inc (NASDAQ: ZFGN) with Kite Pharma Inc (NASDAQ: KITE), Microlin Bio Inc (NASDAQ: MCLB) and�Syndax Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ: SNDX) presumably set to debut today (Note:�See�This Week�� Biotech IPOs: Two Losers and One Winner So Far (PARN, SGNL & ZSPH)):

Top 10 Information Technology Stocks To Invest In 2014

With shares of International Business Machines�(NYSE:IBM) trading around $174, is IBM an OUTPERFORM, WAIT AND SEE, or STAY AWAY? Let�� analyze the stock with the relevant sections of our CHEAT SHEET investing framework:

T = Trends for a Stock’s Movement

IBM is an information technology company. The company operates in five segments: Global Technology Services, Global Business Services, Software, Systems and Technology, and Global Financing. Technology products and services are in high demand worldwide as consumers want to be up-to-speed, and companies always need the latest and greatest to stay ahead of the competition. Cloud computing has been hot in recent times, which has not been good news for IBM. Should the company want to hold on to its market share, it needs to make moves quickly, and provide the technology products and services that worldwide consumers and companies demand.

IBM fell in premarket trading recently as the company reported earnings after the bell on Wednesday that missed estimates by $1 billion. IBM reported its sixth straight quarter of revenue declines. Revenue for the company fell 4 percent year-over-year to $23.7 billion. The company was hurt in particular by slow sales in China, where hardware revenue fell 40 percent. It wasn�� all bad news for IBM, though, as earnings were up 10 percent to $3.99 per share and income rose 6 percent to $4.4 billion.

Top Machinery Companies To Invest In Right Now: Tallgrass Energy Partners LP (TEP)

Tallgrass Energy Partners, LP incorporated on February 6, 2013, is a limited partnership company. It provides natural gas transportation and storage services for customers in the Rocky Mountain and Midwest regions of the United States through its Tallgrass Interstate Gas transportation system and processing services for customers in Wyoming through its Midstream Facilities. The Company operates in two segments: Gas Transportation and Storage and Processing. The Gas Transportation and Storage segment is engaged in ownership and operation of interstate natural gas pipelines and related natural gas storage facilities that provide services to third-party natural gas distribution utilities and other shippers. The Processing segment is engaged in ownership and operation of natural gas processing and treating facilities that produce natural gas liquids and residue gas that is sold in local wholesale markets or delivered into pipelines for transportation to additional end markets.

The Company provides processing services for customers in Wyoming through its Casper and Douglas natural gas processing and West Frenchie Draw natural gas treating facilities. The Casper and Douglas plants have combined capacity of 138.5 138.5 MMcf/d. The Company has its operations in Lakewood, Colarado. The Company owns and natural gas processing plants in Casper and Douglas, Wyoming and a natural gas treating facility at West Frenchie Draw, Wyoming through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Tallgrass Midstream, LLC.

The Company competes with Kinder Morgan and Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline, Inc.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Aimee Duffy]

  Tallgrass Energy Partners (NYSE: TEP  ) followed closely behind, going public on May 14. This midstream company picked up some of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners'�western-based natural gas assets when KMP was forced to divest them to receive the Department of Justice's blessing on the El Paso acquisition.

• [By Tyler Crowe]

  No. 5:�Tallgrass Energy Partners (NYSE: TEP  ) , up 60.5%
  If the saying goes "when life gives you lemons, then make lemonade," then one of the themes for the energy world was if oil prices plummet, buy energy investments isolated from oil prices. Tallgrass certainly fits that bill with its interstate gas transmission lines and partial ownership of the Pony Express crude pipeline.

• [By Robert Rapier]

  Tallgrass Energy Partners (NYSE: TEP) is a midstream limited partnership that provides natural gas transportation and storage services in the Rocky Mountain and Midwest regions of the US. The partnership launched on May 13, 2013 and in late June increased EBITDA guidance above analysts’ expectations, causing units to climb nearly 21 percent by year-end. In December TEP reiterated guidance for 1.2x distribution coverage for the entire year. The partnership recently declared a distribution of $0.3150 per unit for the fourth quarter of 2013 – a 5.9 percent increase from the Q3 2013 distribution. TEP’s annualized yield based on the most recent distribution is 4.8 percent, its current EV is $1.28 billion and its total debt/equity (mrq) is 30.5 percent.

• [By Robert Rapier] There were a half a dozen initial public offerings (IPOs) by master limited partnerships in the first half of the year, and all but one are now in the green while one has nearly doubled in value.
  
  The first MLP IPO of 2013 debuted on Jan. 15. USA Compression Partners (NYSE: USAC), which I mentioned in last week’s issue, provides compression services for the oil and gas industry. Units have advanced 36 percent since the IPO, and at the current price yield 7.3 percent.
  
  The day after the USA Compression Partners IPO, CVR Refining (NYSE: CVRR) made its debut.  CVRR was spun off from CVR Energy (NYSE: CVI), and both companies remain majority-owned by Carl Icahn. CVR Refining’s primary assets are two refineries located in Kansas and Oklahoma with a combined processing capacity of approximately 185,000 barrels per day (bpd). These refineries are strategically located near the major Cushing, Oklahoma shipment and storage hub, with easy access to discounted feedstock from the nearby Permian basin, as well as the Bakken shale and Canadian oil sands.
  
  But refiners have struggled with diminished margins in 2013 because of a much lower Brent-WTI differential. After the recently concluded second quarter, CVRR declared a distribution of $1.35 per unit, bringing its per-unit distributions for the first half of the year to $2.93. At the same time, CVR Refining lowered its annual distribution target to a range of $4.10 to $4.80 per unit. This was lower than the outlook issued in March, when it foresaw annual distributions of $5.50 to $6.50. CVRR units slid on the news, and are presently trading slightly below the $25 IPO price. The lower end of the revised forecast implies distributions of $1.17 per unit in the second half of the year, for a forward annualized yield of 10 percent based on the recent $23.50 unit price.
  
  SunCoke Energy Partners (NYSE: SXCP) was the third IPO to debut during a very busy third week of January. SXCP is the first M

Top 10 Information Technology Stocks To Invest In 2014: Kennametal Inc. (KMT)

Kennametal Inc. manufactures and supplies tooling, engineered components, and advanced materials consumed in production processes worldwide. The company operates in two segments, Industrial and Infrastructure. It offers standard and customized technologies for metalworking, such as metal cutting tools, tooling systems, and services, as well as materials, including cemented tungsten carbide products, super alloys, coatings, and investment castings. It also manufactures and markets a line of tool holders, tool-holding systems, and rotary-cutting tools by machining and fabricating steel bars and other metal alloys; and tungsten powders, tungsten heavy alloys, tungsten carbide materials, and tungsten carbide cutting tools. In addition, the company produces compacts and metallurgical powders; products made from tungsten carbide or other hard materials that are used for custom-engineered and applications, including mining and highway construction; and engineered components and s urface technology solutions with proprietary metal cladding capabilities, as well as process technology and materials that focus on component deburring, polishing, and effecting controlled radii. The Industrial segment serves customers primarily in the aerospace, defense, transportation, and general engineering market sectors, as well as the machine tool industry; and offers its products and services for use in the manufacture of engines, airframes, automobiles, trucks, ships, and various types of industrial equipment. The Infrastructure segment serves customers in energy and earthworks sectors who support primary industries, such as oil and gas; power generation; food and beverage; chemicals; underground, and surface and hard-rock mining, highway construction, and road maintenance. The company sells its products through direct sales force; network of independent distributors and sales agents; and Internet. Kennametal Inc. was founded in 1938 and is headquartered in Latrobe, Pennsylvania.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Monica Wolfe]

  Kennametal (KMT)

  Richard Snow (Trades, Portfolio)�� fifth largest position is in Kennametal where he holds on to 1,872,839 shares of the company�� stock. This position represents 3.3% of his total portfolio as well as 2.41% of the company�� shares outstanding.

Top 10 Information Technology Stocks To Invest In 2014: Pharma-Bio Serv Inc (PBSV.PK)

Pharma-Bio Serv, Inc.( Pharma-Bio), incorporated on June 8, 2006, is a compliance and technology transfer services consulting firm with a laboratory testing facility, servicing the Puerto Rico, United States and Europe markets. The Company is engaged in providing technical compliance consulting service, and microbiological and chemical laboratory testing services primarily to the pharmaceutical, chemical, medical device and biotechnology industries. The Company�� operating segments include Puerto Rico technical compliance consulting, United States technical compliance consulting, Ireland technical compliance consulting and a Puerto Rico microbiological and chemical laboratory testing division (Lab). These segments provide services primarily to the pharmaceutical, chemical, medical device and biotechnology industries in their respective markets. As on April 30, 2012, the Company acquired 100% interest in its subsidiary, Pharma-IR.

The Company provides a broad range of compliance related consulting services. It also provides microbiological testing services and chemical testing services through its laboratory testing facility in Puerto Rico. It provides information technology consulting services and technical training/seminars. The Company offers services to its core industries already serviced as well as the cosmetic and food industries. The Company seeks opportunities in markets that could yield profitable margins using its professional consulting force and also provide services such as those performed by its microbiological testing laboratory facility, its information technology service division, Integratek, and its technical training division, Pharma Serv Academy.

The Company�� information technology services and consulting division based in Puerto Rico (Integratek) provides a variety of information technology services, such as Web pages and portals development, digital art design, intranets, extranets, software development including database integration, Window! s and Web applications development, software technical training and learning management systems, technology project management, and compliance consulting services, among others.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By The Specialist]

  Normally when one of my stocks reports its earnings results after hours on a Friday, I cringe in anticipation of a bad report. Normally Friday after hours is a time slot reserved for companies who have disappointing results to deliver and wish to stay off radar. Naturally, when I got the alert on a Friday afternoon that Pharma-Bio Serv (PBSV.PK) had just reported its earnings results, I had one eye shut when opening the press release, fearing what would be inside.

Top 10 Information Technology Stocks To Invest In 2014: Tennant Company(TNC)

Tennant Company engages in the design, manufacture, and marketing cleaning solutions worldwide. The company offers floor maintenance and outdoor cleaning equipment; chemical-free cleaning technologies; and specialty surface coatings and related products for protecting, repairing, and upgrading floors. Its products are used to clean and coat surfaces in factories, office buildings, parking lots and streets, airports, hospitals, schools, warehouses, shopping centers, and other retail environments. The company also provides parts, consumables, and service maintenance and repair; business solutions, such as pay-for-use offerings, and rental and leasing programs; and cleaning technologies that enhance the performance of its cleaning equipment. In addition, it offers Green Machine 500ze, an electric vacuum street sweeper to clean crowded urban areas. The company serves building service contract cleaners, end-user businesses, healthcare facilities, and schools, as well as local, state, and federal governments through its direct sales and service organization, and authorized distributors. Tennant Company was founded in 1870 and is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Marc Bastow]

  Floor maintenance and cleaning service company Tennant (TNC) raised its quarterly dividend 11% to 20 cents per share payable June 6 to shareholders of record May 30.
  TNC Dividend Yield: 1.29%

Top 10 Information Technology Stocks To Invest In 2014: OSI Systems Inc.(OSIS)

OSI Systems, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, designs and manufactures electronic systems and components for homeland security, healthcare, defense, and aerospace markets worldwide. The company operates in three divisions: Security, Healthcare, and Optoelectronics and Manufacturing. The Security division provides security and inspection systems under the Rapiscan Systems name. Its products include baggage and parcel inspection, cargo and vehicle inspection, hold baggage screening, and people screening products to search for weapons, explosives, drugs, and other contraband, as well as for the verification of cargo manifests for monitoring the export and import of controlled materials. This division also offers various turn-key security screening solutions under the S2 trade name. The Healthcare division provides patient monitoring, diagnostic cardiology, and anesthesia delivery and ventilation systems under the Spacelabs name that are used in critical care, emergency, and perioperative areas within hospitals, as well as physician?s offices, medical clinics, and ambulatory surgery centers. The Optoelectronics and Manufacturing division offers optoelectronic devices for the aerospace and defense, avionics, medical imaging and diagnostic, renewable energy, biochemistry analysis, pharmaceutical, nanotechnology, telecommunications, construction, and homeland security markets under the OSI Optoelectronics name; and electronics manufacturing services to original equipment manufacturers under the OSI Electronics name. This division also provides laser-based remote sensing devices to detect and classify vehicles in toll and traffic management systems under the OSI Laserscan name; blood pressure cuffs and unifusors under the Statcorp Medical name; and solid-state laser products for aerospace, defense, telecommunication, and medical applications under the OSI LaserDiode trade name. The company was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in Hawthorne, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By James E. Brumley]

  While it's tragic that it took a string of tragedies to make school safety and security a priority in the United States, it can't be denied that the topic has been put front and center - school systems everywhere are asking themselves tough questions, mainly focusing on what can be done quickly and cost-effectively to secure school buildings. Part of that discussion has put companies like OSI Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:OSIS), American Science & Engineering, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASEI), and View Systems Inc. (OTCBB:VSYM) in the limelight. The three organizations all make security screening and weapons detection systems. If you've flown from anywhere inside the United States anytime since 2003, odds are pretty good you or your luggage passed through equipment made by ASEI or OSIS.

• [By Laura Brodbeck]

  Monday

  Earnings Releases Expected:  CNinsure (NASDAQ: CISG), Adept Technology (NASDAQ: ADEP), OSI Systems (NASDAQ: OSIS) Economic Releases Expected: U.S. new home sales, U.S. services PMI, German Ifo business climate index

  Tuesday

• [By James E. Brumley]

  For tech-savvy investors who know which companies make them, when they hear the words "weapons detection" or "body scanners", they tend to think of companies like American Science & Engineering, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASEI) and OSI Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:OSIS). And well they should. OSIS and ASEI are two of the biggest North American providers of the kind of equipment you might see being used by airport security personnel screening passengers before allowing them to their gate. There's just one challenge in the average school system tapping OSI Systems or American Science & Engineering to help defend their school grounds.... their hardware starts with a six-figure price tag, and rapidly works its way up to higher-capacity and more powerful versions. For a school with multiple doors, it's simply not feasible. View Systems Inc. is a viable alternative.

• [By Amber Hestla]

  Using my strategy, subscribers collected $130 "Instant Income" from a $520 "down payment" on Questcor Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: QCOR) in April. That's an immediate return of 25% in just 43 days, or 212% a year. And in July, we collected $100 in "Instant Income" from OSI Systems (Nasdaq: OSIS) -- a company that's never paid a single dividend -- for a return of 11.1% in 45 days, or 90.1% a year. I've listed of all my closed trades from this year here.

Top 10 Information Technology Stocks To Invest In 2014: Sally Beauty Holdings Inc.(SBH)

Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the distribution and retail of professional beauty supplies primarily in North America, South America, and Europe. The company operates in two segments, Sally Beauty Supply and Beauty Systems Group. The Sally Beauty Supply segment operates a chain of cash and carry retail stores that provide various third-party branded and exclusive-label professional beauty supplies, including hair color products, hair care products, hair dryers and hair styling appliances, skin and nail care products, and other beauty items to retail consumers and salon professionals. This segment sells various third-party brands, such as Clairol, Revlon, and Conair, as well as a selection of exclusive-label merchandise. The Beauty Systems Group segment distributes professional brands of beauty products directly to salons and salon professionals through its sales force and professional-only stores. This segment operates stores under the Co smoProf service mark. It sells a range of third-party brands, such as Paul Mitchell, Wella, Sebastian, Goldwell, Joico, and TIGI. As of September 30, 2011, the company operated a multi-channel platform of 4,128 company-owned stores, 181 franchised stores, and 1,116 professional distributor sales consultants in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, Chile, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Belgium, France, Germany, and Spain. Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc. was founded in 1964 and is headquartered in Denton, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Grace L. Williams]

  Investors got ugly on beauty supplier Sally Beauty Holdings (SBH) and shares tumbled 14.4% in trading after it reported a disappointing fiscal third quarter.

  For the period ended June 30, Sally Beauty reported earnings of $72.5 million, or of 42 cents a shares, up from $69.5 million, or 37 cents, a year prior. Sally Beauty also reported revenue of $912.1 million.

  Analysts polled by Factset forecasted earnings of $930.5 million.

  In a press release on the company�� website, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Gary Winterhalter noted some of the headwinds from the quarter and said, ��tore traffic from the non-Beauty Club Card customer in the Sally U.S. business was soft. We��e launched several initiatives specifically to address this customer and remain optimistic that traffic will recover over the next few months.��/p>

  Shares are up 16% in the past year.

• [By Brad Thomas]

  Also, Chambers Street has proven that the company can create value by way of expansions. In my home town of Spartanburg, SC, Chambers Street recently expanded a 100,606 square foot facility leased to Sally Beauty Holdings (SBH). By increasing the overall space by 90,000 square feet, Chambers Street was able to extend the primary lease term (now expiring May 31, 2013) and generate an accretive 12% return on the $3.4 million expansion.

• [By Roberto Pedone]

  Another earnings short-squeeze prospect is professional beauty supplies specialty retailer Sally Beauty (SBH), which is set to release numbers on Thursday before the market open. Wall Street analysts, on average, expect Sally Beauty to report revenue of $945.38 million on earnings of 40 cents per share.

  The current short interest as a percentage of the float for Sally Beauty is notable at 4.6%. That means that out of 146.18 million shares in the tradable float, 6.77 million shares are sold short by the bears. The bears have also been increasing their bets from the last reporting period by 1.3%, or by 91,000 shares. If the bears get caught pressing their bets into a strong quarter, then shares of SBH could easily rip higher post-earnings as the bears scramble to cover some of their positions.

  From a technical perspective, SBH is currently trending above both its 50-day and 200-day moving averages, which is bullish. This stock has been uptrending strong for the last four months, with shares moving higher from its low of $24.09 to its recent high of $29.73 a share. During that uptrend, shares of SBH have been consistently making higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. That move has now pushed shares of SBH within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade above some key overhead resistance levels.

  If you're bullish on SBH, then I would wait until after its report and look for long-biased trades if this stock manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at $29.53 to $29.73 a and then above its 52-week high at $31.86 a share with high volume. Look for volume on that move that registers near or above its three-month average action of 939,032 shares. If that breakout develops post-earnings, then SBH will set up to trend towards $35 to $40 a share.

  I would simply avoid SBH or look for short-biased trades if after earnings it fails to trigger that breakout and then drops back below some

• [By WWW.DAILYFINANCE.COM]

  AlamyWebsites can help direct you to beauty-related freebies. Inner beauty matters most in my book, but trying to look your best outwardly can be important, too. Striving for beauty on the outside by using beauty products can help boost your confidence and show others that you take good care of yourself. On average, Americans spend more than $400 a year on personal care products. Although cosmetics and beauty products can add up to a pretty penny, beauty doesn't need to come with a hefty price tag. Here are some tips to manage beauty on a budget. 1. Free Samples Marketers love giving out free samples so consumers have the chance to try new products and fall in love with their products. The hope is that if you try a little, you'll like it enough to buy the full-size product at its full retail price. For frugal shoppers, free samples can be a tool that allows us the chance to stretch our dollars. By taking advantage of a variety of free beauty samples from many manufacturers, over time we can end up with enough free sample products to replace a few full-size ones. One woman who has perfected the search for freebies is Heather Hernandez, founder of Freebies4Mom.com. She started her site, which curates the best free samples available online, back in 2007. By signing up for her free e-mail newsletter you can be notified when new free samples are available and where to get them. Besides visiting Freebies4Mom.com, Heather shares two of her favorite sources for online freebies: SampleSource and PinchMe. SampleSource.com is a relatively new site that allows users to get free brand name samples. She recently received a free shampoo and new toothbrush from their site, which is free to join. PinchMe.com allows consumers to try free products in exchange for providing feedback on a short survey. On her last visit to the site, she got to select a free nail polish in the color of her choice. PinchMe has become very popular, so she recommends that you "pay attention to

Top 10 Information Technology Stocks To Invest In 2014: Sabine Royalty Trust(SBR)

Sabine Royalty Trust receives a distribution of royalty and mineral interests from Sabine Corporation. Its royalty and mineral interests, include landowner?s royalties, overriding royalty interests, minerals, production payments, and other non-participatory interests in various producing and proved undeveloped oil and gas properties in Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. The company was founded in 1982 and is based in Dallas, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lawrence Meyers]

  The Sabine Royalty Trust (SBR) is diversified from a geographical perspective, with interests spreading across both producing and undeveloped gas properties in Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.� It essentially operates as a holding company into which all the royalties get deposited and all the money gets distributed to shareholders via its 9.2% yield.

5 Best Defensive Stocks To Own For 2014

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- The 2014 NFL Draft is in full swing this weekend at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. The crown jewel of the NFL's offseason, the draft features NFL teams looking to bolster their rosters with the top college prospects in the country.

This year's first round concluded on Thursday with Defensive End Jadeveon Clowney out of South Carolina being picked by the Houston Texans with the number one overall selection. Potential difference makers Sammy Watkins (WR Clemson, drafted by the Buffalo Bills), Teddy Bridgewater (QB Louisville, drafted by the Minnesota Vikings) and Johnny Manziel aka Johnny Football (QB Texas A&M, drafted by the Cleveland Browns) were all picked on the first day of the three day 7-round event.

A single draft can make or break a franchise for years to come. Waste a top pick on a bust, and it could set your franchise back immensely. However, score on a pick and the returns could set your franchise up for success for a decade.

Current and Future Hall of Famers Peyton Manning, Jerry Rice, Deion Sanders, John Elway and Dan Marino were all selected in the first round, and while there have certainly been gems taken in later rounds -- three time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady was chosen in the sixth round --, the first round represents the best opportunity for franchises to turn their fortunes around, or continue with the success they have already built.

That being said it often takes four or five seasons to fully evaluate a draft pick's impact on a team. These are the top 10 first round draft picks of the past 5 years.

10. 


Percy Harvin

Drafted By: Minnesota Vikings

Year/Selection: 2009/22nd pick

College: Florida

Position: Wide Receiver

Percy Harvin is one of the few players from this draft class to not be with the team that originally drafted him -- he was traded to the Seattle Seahawks last offseason -- but he is one of the most dangerous players in the league with the ball i! n his hands. The Wide Reciever and kick return specialist won a Super Bowl this past season with the Seahawks, and despite missing much of the year with various injuries, made an impact on the big game by returning a kick off for a touchdown.

Top 5 Consumer Service Companies To Watch For 2015: Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd (NAK)

Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. (Northern Dynasty) is engaged in the exploration of mineral properties. The Company holds 650 square miles of mineral claims in southwest Alaska, United States. As of December 31, 2011, the Company owned 50% interest in the Pebble Limited Partnership (the Pebble Partnership). The Pebble Partnership owns the Pebble Copper-Gold-Molybdenum Project (the Pebble Project). Its principal mineral property interest is located in Alaska, United States. The Pebble property (Pebble) is located in southwest Alaska, 19 miles (30 kilometers) from the villages of Iliamna and Newhalen, and approximately 200 miles (320 kilometers) southwest of the city of Anchorage. The Company�� wholly owned subsidiaries include 3537137 Canada Inc., Northern Dynasty Partnership and U5 Resources Inc. In December 2013, the Company announced that it has completed the re-acquired 100% ownership and control of the Pebble Partnership. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Paul Ausick]

  Stocks on the move: Boise Inc. (NYSE: BZ) is up 26% at $12.55 following the company�� acquisition by Packaging Corporation of America Inc. (NYSE: PKG) for $12.55 a share ($1.28 billion). Omeros Corp. (NASDAQ: OMER) is up 68.2% at $8.56 following an analyst upgrade. Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. (NYSEArca: NAK) is down 33.3% at $1.48 following an announcement from Anglo American plc that it was withdrawing from a massive copper mining project in Alaska.

• [By Ben Kramer-Miller]

  This article is about Northern Dynasty Minerals (NAK). Northern Dynasty Minerals has a market capitalization of $190 million. It is a 50% owner of the Pebble Mine in Alaska.

• [By Rich Duprey]

  Canadian mineral exploration and development company Northern Dynasty Minerals (NYSEMKT: NAK  ) has approved an $80 million budget for 2013 to advance its Pebble project in Alaska.

5 Best Defensive Stocks To Own For 2014: Vale SA (VALE5)

Vale SA (Vale) is a Brazil-based metals and mining company. The Company services are divided into four segments: Bulk Material, including the extraction of iron ore, manganese and ferroalloys, as well as pellet production; Basic metals, comprising the production of non-ferrous minerals, including nickel, copper and aluminum; Fertilizers, including the production of potash, phosphate and nitrogen; and Logistic services, including cargo transportation for third parties divided into rail transport, port and shipping services. Additionally, Vale is active in investments in joint ventures and associate in other businesses. The Company operates through subsidiaries and jointly-controlled entities, incorporated in Brazil, Chile, Australia, Canada, Switzerland, Mozambique, Singapore and the USA, among others. In December, 2013, the Company sold Sociedad Contractual Minera Tres Valles to Inversiones Porto San Giorgio SA. In December 2013, it sold entire stake in Log-in Logistica Intermodal SA. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ney Hayashi]

  Iron-ore producer Vale SA (VALE5) may be active after agreeing to pay 22.3 billion reais ($9.6 billion) to settle a tax dispute with Brazil over profits at its foreign units. Meatpacker Minerva SA may move after Russia lifted a ban on beef exports from one of its plants.

• [By Zahra Hankir]

  The MSCI Emerging Markets Index advanced 0.2 percent to 1,044.66. The Ibovespa jumped to the highest level since March 18 as iron-ore producer Vale SA (VALE5) rallied, while AngloGold Ashanti Ltd. drove the FTSE/JSE Africa All Shares Index to a record in Johannesburg. South Africa�� rand jumped to a one-month high, pacing gains among 24 developing-nation currencies.

5 Best Defensive Stocks To Own For 2014: Pervasive Software Inc.(PVSW)

Pervasive Software, Inc. provides embeddable software and SaaS services for data management, data integration, B2B exchange, and analytics. Its embeddable Pervasive PSQL database engine provides database reliability in a near-zero database administration environment for packaged business applications. Pervasive Software?s multi-purpose data integration platform, available on-premises and in the cloud, accelerates the sharing of information between multiple data stores, applications, and hosted business systems, and allows customers to re-use the same software for diverse integration scenarios. Pervasive DataRush is an embeddable parallel-processing platform enabling data-intensive applications, such as claims processing, risk analysis, fraud detection, data mining, predictive analytics, sales optimization, and marketing analytics. The company serves customers in approximately 150 countries. Pervasive Software, through Pervasive Innovation Labs, also invests in the explorat ion and creation of solutions for the data analysis and data delivery challenges. Pervasive Software, Inc. has a strategic alliance with A.D.A.M. Inc. The company was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in Austin, Texas with additional offices in Greenville, South Carolina; Brussels, Belgium; Frankfurt, Germany; Paris, France; and London, the United Kingdom.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By CRWE]

  Pervasive Software(R) Inc. (NASDAQ:PVSW), a global leader in cloud-based and on-premises data innovation, reported that it is in receipt of an unsolicited non-binding letter from Actian Corporation proposing to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Pervasive common stock for $8.50 per share in cash.

5 Best Defensive Stocks To Own For 2014: Charm Communications Inc.(CHRM)

Charm Communications Inc. operates as an advertising agency in China. The company offers a range of advertising agency services from planning and managing the advertising campaigns to creating and placing the advertisements. It places advertisements for its clients on a range of television channels, including CCTV, and satellite and regional television channels, and on other media platforms, including Internet and out-of-home media. The company also engages in media investment management through identifying, securing, and selling of advertising resources. In addition, it provides branding and identity services, including design, development, and production of advertisements; and marketing consulting services. The company is headquartered in Beijing, the People?s Republic of China.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Monica Gerson]

  Breaking news

  Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWC) reported a drop in its third-quarter profit. Time Warner Cable's quarterly profit fell to $532 million, or $1.84 per share, from $808 million, or $2.60 per share, in the year-ago period. To read the full news, click here. Synergy Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: SGYP) today announced the start of a phase 2 clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of SP-333, its second-generation GC-C agonist and once-daily oral treatment, in adult patients with opioid-induced constipation (OIC). To read the full news, click here. Cigna (NYSE: CI) reported a 19% rise in its third-quarter earnings and lifted its full-year earnings outlook. To read the full news, click here. Charm Communications (NASDAQ: CHRM) announced today that the special committee of the Company's board of directors, consisting of independent directors Mr. Zhan Wang, Mr. Andrew J. Rickards and Mr. Gang Chen, has retained China Renaissance Securities (Hong Kong) Limited as its financial advisor and Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian, LLP as its legal advisor. To read the full news, click here.

  Posted-In: Bank of America US Stock FuturesNews Eurozone Futures Global Pre-Market Outlook Markets

5 Best Penny Stocks To Buy For 2015

5 Best Penny Stocks To Buy For 2015: Sparton Corporation(SPA)

Sparton Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, offers electronic manufacturing services primarily for medical device, defense and security systems, and electronic manufacturing services industries worldwide. The company?s Medical segment engages in the contract development, design, production, and distribution of medical related electromechanical devices for the medical OEM and ET customers primarily in the vitro diagnostic and therapeutic device areas. Its EMS segment involves in the contract manufacturing, assembly, design, preproduction, prototyping, and/or box building assemblies, such as flight control systems and fuel control systems for the aerospace, medical diagnostics systems, security systems, detection systems, lighting, and defense. The company?s DSS segment engages in the design, development, and production of electromechanical equipment, such as sonobuoys, an anti-submarine warfare device used by the United States Navy and foreign governments; and perf orms an engineering development function for the United States military and prime defense contractors on advanced technologies for defense products, and replacement of current systems. It also offers non-sonobuoy related manufacturing and services. Sparton Corporation was founded in 1900 and is headquartered in Schaumburg, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jasmine Ng]

  Futures (SPA) on the Standard & Poor's 500 Index lost 0.3 percent today. The U.S. equities benchmark index dropped 0.3 percent yesterday amid data that showed manufacturing unexpectedly climbed last month and retail spending fell on the weekend after Thanksgiving for the first time since 2009.

• [By Louis Navellier]

  Sparton Corporation (SPA) provides electromechanical systems and operates in three segments: medical devices, complex systems and defense! and security systems. The medical devices segment makes devices used in diagnostic, therapeutic, surgical, and laboratory applications. Complex devices makes printed circuit assemblies used in military, aerospace, industrial and commercial OEMs, while the defense and security segment designs products for defense applications.

• [By Emma O'Brien]

  Futures (SPA) on the Standard & Poor's 500 Index fell and the yen climbed against the dollar as U.S. lawmakers continued to scrap over raising the debt limit and the government shutdown. Crude oil declined while gold rallied.

• [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 Sparton (NYSE: SPA  ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.

source from Top Stocks For 2015:http://www.topstocksblog.com/5-best-penny-stocks-to-buy-for-2015-2.html

Best Specialty Retail Stocks To Own Right Now

Best Specialty Retail Stocks To Own Right Now: Puget Technologies Inc (PUGE)

PUGET TECHNOLOGIES, INC., incorporated on March 17, 2010, is a development-stage company. The Company is engaged in the distribution of luxury wool bedding sets produced in Germany. The Companys product includes Lama Wool, Camel Wool, Cashmere Wool and Merino Wool.

The Companys Lama Wool is consists of 50% Lama Wool hair, and 50% Merino wool hair. The Camel wool is consists of 50% Camel wool hair, and 50% Merino wool hair. The Cashmere wool is blended with Merino wool.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Peter Graham]

  Small cap stocks Inscor, Inc (OTCMKTS: IOGA), Puget Technologies Inc (OTCBB: PUGE) and PTA Holdings Inc (OTCMKTS: PTAH) have all been getting some attention lately in various investment newsletters or investor alerts. However, two of these small caps have been the subject of paid promotions while the third is getting attention largely because its in the growing marijuana or cannabis business. With that in mind, are these stocks really all that hot or not? Here is a quick reality check:

source from Top Penny Stocks For 2015:http://www.seekpennystocks.com/best-specialty-retail-stocks-to-own-right-now-3.html

Hot Machinery Stocks To Buy Right Now

Popular Posts: 6 Biotechnology Stocks to Buy Now7 “Triple A” Stocks to Buy5 Pharmaceutical Stocks to Buy Now Recent Posts: 5 Oil and Gas Stocks to Buy Now 6 Machinery Stocks to Buy Now 5 Electrical Equipment Stocks to Sell Now View All Posts

This week, five Oil and Gas stocks are improving their overall ratings on Portfolio Grader. Each of these stocks is rated an “A” (“strong buy”) or “B” overall (“buy”).

Chesapeake Midstream Partners (NYSE:) ups its rating to a B (“buy”) this week after earning a C (“hold”) in the week before. Chesapeake Midstream Partners owns, operates, develops, and acquires natural gas, natural gas liquids, and oil gathering systems, as well as other midstream energy assets in the United States. .

Hot Gas Utility Companies To Own In Right Now: API Technologies Corp (ATNY)

API Technologies Corp. (API), incorporated on February 2, 1999, designs, develops and manufactures systems, subsystems, radio frequency (RF) and secure communications products, as well as provides electronics manufacturing and engineering services. Its product lines include engineered products (including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), aiming systems and synthesizers), secure communications products (including TEMPEST and emanation security, encryption and secure networking products), subsystems and components (including custom hybrids, terminals, transistors and magnetics), RF and microwave products (including custom filters, amplifiers, connectors and antennas), sensors, and power systems. It operates in two segments: Systems & Subsystems, and Secure Systems & Information Assurance. In June 2013, API sold its Data Bus product line to Data Device Corporation.

The Company offers engineering services (including engineering and design for payloads, ground control systems and commercial product design) and electronics manufacturing services (EMS), such as new product introductions (NPI) and prototypes, turnkey manufacturing and printed circuit board (PCB) assembly. It operates in North America, the United Kingdom, Mexico and China.

Systems & Subsystems

The Systems & Subsystems segment includes the products and services of its operating subsidiaries Spectrum, API Defense Inc., API Defense USA Inc., API Systems Inc., SenDEC, National Hybrid Group, API Electronics, Inc., TM Systems, Keytronics, Filtran Limited and Microwave Technology, Inc. (CMT). Its products and services include RF /microwave solutions, Engineered Systems and Products, Subsystems and Hybrids, Electronics Manufacturing Services, Power Solutions, Sensors and Measurement and Engineering Services. It specializes in the development of custom Integrated Microwave Assemblies (IMAs). It develops and markets engineered systems and products, used for force protection, communication, surveillance and reconnai! ssance. Featured solutions include Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and systems, Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) systems, aiming systems and synthesizers.

The Company�� Custom designed and off-the-shelf subsystems from API support mission critical applications, such as communication equipment, aircraft subsystems systems, computer peripherals, process control equipment, and instrumentation. Featured products include custom hybrids, terminals, transistors and magnetics solutions. It deliver Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS), including: New Product Introductions (NPI) and prototypes, turnkey manufacturing, Printed Circuit Board (PCB) assembly, electro-mechanical assembly, systems integration, test engineering, turnkey box build and supply chain services. Its power products offer commercial and defense customer�� superior power and energy efficiency. Products span power systems management, distribution, and panels, and custom-designed power supplies for defense and aerospace applications.

The Company offers a range of precision sensors and control products, including position sensing solutions for precision guided munitions, gyros, accelerometers, and inertial measurement sensors for defense and aerospace applications, and position and temperature sensors for industrial and commercial applications. It offers a range of design and engineering services for both defense and commercial customers. Featured areas of expertise include payloads, ground control systems, RF, microwave and millimeterwave.

Secure Systems & Information Assurance

The Secure Systems & Information Assurance segment includes the products and services of its subsidiaries Cryptek, Emcon Emanation Control Inc., Secure Systems and Technologies and the Ion Networks division. API offers customers various secure network and hardware solutions, including Emanation Security, Tempest and secures network access, ruggedized systems and secure networking products. Its products are marketed u! nder the ! Cryptek, ION, Emcon, SST and Netgard brand names. These product offerings are sold to governments and other international organizations that require the level of security in the areas of identity validation, network access management, TEMPEST network intrusion prevention, and secure and encrypted fax, computers and telephones.

The Company�� products and services include Emanation Security and TEMPEST Products, Secure Networking Products, Encryption and Professional Services. The Company�� emanation security products include computing systems, network and communications systems and office systems. Its security appliances and software intelligently enables secure information sharing and systems management across organizations and technologies. Service providers, IT and communications equipment manufacturers, enterprises and government agencies rely on its secure networking products for secure systems for remote management, database guards for secure information sharing and secure virtual enclaves.

The Company�� encryption products and services enable Federal, State and Local governments, Department of Defense agencies, the Department of Homeland Security and the Armed Services to interoperate securely across organizational boundaries and untrusted systems. Its professional services include information assurance and secure networking architecture and design solutions, emanation security testing and engineering and security certification and validation.

The Company competes with Aeroflex, Incorporated, Anaren Inc., Data Devices Inc., Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc., DRS.Finmeccanica, Ducommun Incorporated, Cobham plc, Comtech EF Data Corp. and M/A-COM Technology Solutions Inc.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Laura Brodbeck]

  Thursday

  Earnings Expected From: Lindsay Corporation (NYSE: LNN), Emmis Communications Corporation (NASDAQ: EMMS), API Technologies Corp. (NASDAQ: ATNY) Economic Releases Expected: Australian unemployment rate, Japanese consumer confidence, French industrial output, Italian industrial output, Bank of England interest rate decision, US initial and continuing jobless claims

  Friday

• [By Anna Prior]

  API Technologies Corp.(ATNY) said it has received a new order to supply high-power amplifier systems as part of a Defense Department maritime requirement. This initial order is part of a multimillion-dollar program with first production delivery set for May 2015, the company said. Shares jumped 6% to $2.81 premarket.

Hot Machinery Stocks To Buy Right Now: Energy Recovery Inc (ERII)

Energy Recovery, Inc. incorporated in April 1992, is engaged in developing, manufacturing and selling of energy recovery devices and circulation pumps primarily for uses in seawater desalination plants that use reverse osmosis technology. The Company's products are sold under the trademarks AquaBold, AquaSpire, ERITM, PXT, Pressure Exchanger, PX Pressure Exchanger, PEIT, Pump Engineering and Quadribaric. The Company develops and sells two main lines of energy recovery devices: PX pressures Exchanger devices and turbochargers. Each line includes a range of models and sizes to address the breadth of required process flow rates, plant designs and sizes. The company has two wholly owned subsidiaries: Energy Recovery Iberia, S.L. and ERI Energy Recovery Ireland Ltd. During the year ended December 2011, the Company merged three subsidiaries including, Osmotic Power, Inc.; Energy Recovery, Inc. International and Pump Engineering, Inc. into the parent company, Energy Recovery, Inc.

Energy recovery devices

The Company's PX offering includes: the PX-300 and PX-Q300; the 65 series (the PX-260, PX-220 and PX-180); the 4S series (PX-140S, PX-90S, PX-70S, PX-45S and PX-30S) and brackish PX devices (for the desalination of water with a lower concentration of salt than seawater). The Company's turbocharger offering includes: the HTCAT series (HTCAT-1800, HTCAT-2400, HTCAT-3600, HTCAT-4800, HTCAT-7200 and HTCAT-9600); the HALO line (HALO-50, HALO-75, HALO-100, HALO-150, HALO-225, HALO-300, HALO-450, HALO-500, HALO-600, HALO-900 and HALO-1200) and the LPT series for brackish water desalination applications (LPT-63, LPT-125, LPT-250, LPT-500, LPT-1000, LPT-2000 and LPT-3200).

High-pressure and Circulation pumps.

The Company manufactures and sells high-pressure feed, circulation and booster pumps for uses with its energy recovery devices in reverse osmosis desalination plants. The Company's line of pumps includes the AquaBold series (AquaBold 2x3x5, AquaBold 3x4x7 and ! AquaBold 4x6x9); the AquaSpire series (AquaSpire-300, AquaSpire-450, AquaSpire-600, AquaSpire-900, AquaSpire-1200, AquaSpire-1800, AaquaSpire-2400, AquaSpire-3600, AquaSpire-4800, AquaSpire-7200 and AquaSpire-9600) and a line of small circulation pumps.

Technical support and Replacement parts

The Company provides engineering and technical support to customers during product installation and plants commissioning. The Company also offers replacement parts and services for its PX devices and turbochargers. The Company's PX devices and turbochargers are also used to retrofit or replace older energy recovery devices in existing desalination plants.

The Company Competes with Flowserve Corporation (Flowserve) based in Irving, Texas and Fluid Equipment Development Company, Clyde Union Ltd., Duchting Pumpen Maschinenfabrik GmbH & Co KG, KSB Aktiengesellschaft, Torishima Pump Mfg. Co., Ltd. and Sulzer Pumps, Ltd.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ant贸nio Costa]

  Energy Recovery, Inc. (NASDAQ: ERII) broke out of a small consolidation area with heavy volume and will likely have the attention of the swing-traders in the next days.

Hot Machinery Stocks To Buy Right Now: Chart Industries Inc (GTLS)

Chart Industries, Inc., incorporated on June 25, 1992, is an independent global manufacturer of engineered equipment used in the production, storage and end-use of hydrocarbon and industrial gases. The Company supplies engineered equipment used throughout the global liquid gas supply chain. It operates in three segments: energy and chemicals (E&C), distribution and storage or (D&S), and biomedical. The E&C and D&S segments manufacture products used primarily in energy-related and general industrial applications, such as the separation, liquefaction, distribution and storage of hydrocarbon and industrial gases. Through its BioMedical segment, it supplies cryogenic and other equipment used in the storage and distribution of biological materials and oxygen, used primarily in the medical, biological research and animal breeding industries.

The Company�� products, including vacuum insulated containment vessels, heat exchangers, cold boxes and other cryogenic components, are used throughout the liquid gas supply chain for the purification, liquefaction, distribution, storage and end-use of hydrocarbon and industrial gases. It is a manufacturer of standard and engineered equipment primarily used for low-temperature and cryogenic applications. The Company�� primary customers are multinational producers and distributors of hydrocarbon and industrial gases and their suppliers. The Company sells its products and services to more than 2,000 customers worldwide.

Energy and Chemicals Segment

The Company is a designer and manufacturer of cryogenic brazed aluminum and air cooled heat exchangers. The Company�� brazed aluminum heat exchangers are incorporated into assemblies and cold boxes to facilitate the progressive cooling and liquefaction of air or hydrocarbon mixtures for the subsequent recovery or purification of component gases. In hydrocarbon processing industries, its brazed aluminum heat exchangers allow producers to obtain purified hydrocarbon by-products, such ! as methane, ethane, propane and ethylene, which are commercially marketable for various industrial or residential uses. In the industrial gas market, its brazed aluminum heat exchangers are used to produce high purity atmospheric gases, such as oxygen, nitrogen and argon, which have diverse industrial applications. The Company�� air cooled heat exchangers are used in multiple markets to cool fluids to allow for further processing or to provide condensing of fluids, including hydrocarbon, petrochemical, natural gas processing, and power generation. Its compact Core-in-Kettle heat exchangers are designed to replace shell-and-tube exchangers, offering significantly more heat transfer surface per unit volume and improving the efficiency of chillers, vaporizers, reboilers and condensers in hydrocarbon applications including ethylene, propylene and LNG.

The Company is a designer and fabricator of cold boxes. Cold boxes are engineered systems used to reduce the temperature of gas mixtures to the point where component gases liquefy and can be separated and purified for further use in multiple industrial, scientific and commercial applications. In the hydrocarbon processing industry, its cold box systems are used in natural gas processing and in the petrochemical industry. In the industrial gas industry, cold box systems are used to separate air into its atmospheric components, including nitrogen, oxygen and argon, where the gases are used in a diverse range of applications, such as metal production and heat treating, enhanced oil and gas production, coal gasification, chemical and oil refining, the quick-freezing of food, wastewater treatment and industrial welding. The construction of a cold box system generally consists of one or more brazed aluminum heat exchangers and other equipment packaged in a box consisting of a structural metal frame encasing a complex system of piping, valves and instrumentation.

The Company designs and manufactures of engineered hydrocarbon process syst! ems speci! fically for those markets requiring cryogenic processing technology. These Concept-to-Reality process systems incorporate many of Chart�� core products, including brazed aluminum heat exchangers, Core-in-Kettles, cold boxes, vessels, pipe work and air cooled heat exchangers. These systems are used for global LNG projects, including projects in the United States and China for both domestic LNG production for diesel displacement and in the conversion of LNG import terminals to export terminals, and also for use in global nitrogen rejection units (NRU) and propane dehydrogenation (PDH).

Distribution and Storage Segment

The Company is a supplier of cryogenic equipment to the global bulk and packaged industrial gas industry as well as for energy-related applications. Its products span the entire spectrum of industrial gas demand from small customers requiring cryogenic packaged gases to large users requiring custom engineered cryogenic storage systems. Its products in the D&S segment include Cryogenic Bulk Storage Systems, Cryogenic Packaged Gas Systems, Cryogenic Systems and Components, LNG Applications, Beverage Liquid CO2 Systems, and Cryogenic Services. The Company is a supplier of cryogenic bulk storage systems (stationary tanks, trailers, and ISO tanks) of various sizes ranging from 500 gallons to 250,000 gallons. End use customers for its cryogenic storage equipment include industrial gas producers and distributors, chemical producers, manufacturers of electrical components, health care organizations, food processors and businesses in the oil and natural gas industries.

The Company is supplier of cryogenic packaged gas systems of various sizes ranging from 160 liters to 3,000 liters. Cryogenic liquid cylinders are used extensively in the packaged gas industry to allow smaller quantities of liquid to be easily delivered to the customers of industrial gas distributors on a full-for-empty or fill-on-site basis. Principal customers for its liquid cylinders are th! e same gl! obal industrial gas producers and the North American industrial gas distributors who purchase its cryogenic bulk storage systems. It has developed two technologies in the packaged gas product area: ORCA Micro-Bulk systems and Tri-fecta Laser Gas assist systems. ORCA Micro-Bulk systems bring the ease of use and distribution economics of bulk gas supply to customers formerly supplied by high pressure or cryogenic liquid cylinders. The Tri-fecta Laser Gas assist system was developed to meet the assist gas performance requirements for new high powered lasers being used in the metal fabrication industry. The Company�� line of cryogenic components, including VIP, engineered bulk gas installations, specialty liquid nitrogen (LN2), end-use equipment and cryogenic flow meters are recognized in the market for their reliability, quality and performance. These products are sold to industrial gas producers, as well as to a diverse group of distributors, resellers and end users.

The Company supplies cryogenic solutions for the storage, distribution, vaporization, and application of LNG. LNG may be utilized as a primary source of heat or power at industrial or residential complexes located away from a natural gas pipeline. LNG may also be used for peak shaving or as a backup supply at remote locations. It refers to its LNG distribution products as a Virtual Pipeline as the natural gas pipeline is replaced with cryogenic distribution to deliver the gas to the end user. It supplies cryogenic trailers, bulk storage tanks, tap-off facilities, and vaporization equipment specially configured for LNG into Virtual Pipeline applications. LNG may also be used as a fuel to power vehicles or ships. The Beverage Liquid CO2 Systems product line consists primarily of vacuum insulated, bulk liquid CO2 containers used for beverage carbonation in restaurants, convenience stores and cinemas, in sizes ranging from 100 pounds to 750 pounds of liquid CO2 storage. It also manufactures and market non-insulated, bulk fountain ! syrup con! tainers for side-by-side installation with its CO2 systems. Its beverage systems are sold to national restaurant chains, soft drink companies and CO2 distributors. Its primary competitors for bulk liquid CO2 beverage delivery systems are Taylor-Wharton and other producers of high-pressure gaseous CO2 cylinders. The Company operates locations in the United States and Europe providing installation, service, repair and maintenance of cryogenic products, including storage tanks, liquid cylinders, cryogenic trailers, cryogenic railcars, cryogenic pumps, cryogenic flow meters and VIP.

BioMedical Segment

The Company�� BioMedical segment consists of various product lines built around its core competencies in cryogenics and pressure swing adsorption, but with a focus on the respiratory and biological users of the liquids and gases instead of the large producers and distributors of cryogenic liquids. Its products in the BioMedical segment include Respiratory Products, Cold Storage Systems, and Commercial Oxygen Generation Systems. Its respiratory oxygen product line consists of a range of medical respiratory products, including liquid oxygen systems and ambulatory oxygen systems, both of which are used primarily for the in-home supplemental oxygen treatment of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, such as bronchitis, emphysema and asthma.

The Cold Storage Systems product line consists of vacuum insulated containment vessels for the storage of biological materials. The primary applications for this product line include medical laboratories, biotech/pharmaceutical, research facilities, blood and tissue banks, veterinary laboratories, large-scale repositories and artificial insemination, particularly in the beef and dairy industry.

The Company competes with Linde, Sumitomo, Kobe, Fives, Linde, Air Products, Praxair, Air Liquide, Taylor-Wharton International or Taylor-Wharton and CVA/INOX, Taylor-Wharton and Beijing Tenhai Industrial Cylinders, Acme Cr! yogenics,! Vacuum Barrier Corporation, and Ind-Burma Petroleum Company.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Vera Yuan]

  Chart Industries (GTLS), which manufactures compressed and liquid natural gas tanks and heat exchangers, has detracted from performance during the third quarter as well as on a year-to-date basis. Longer term, the demand for Chart�� natural gas equipment should increase as significant new natural gas discoveries in the U.S. and overseas will likely keep prices in check relative to oil and diesel alternatives. In the short term, though, the market and infrastructure for these natural gas devices has been slower to develop in the U.S. than hoped. The company�� China-based operations have slowed significantly in keeping with that country�� current economic stumbles.

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Top losers in the sector included Chart Industries (NASDAQ: GTLS), Jacobs Engineering Group (NYSE: JEC), and ABB (NYSE: ABB).

  Top Headline
  Merck & Co (NYSE: MRK) reported a 7% rise in its first-quarter profit. Merck's quarterly profit surged to $1.71 billion, or $0.57 per share, compared to a year-ago profit of $1.59 billion, or $0.52 per share. Excluding certain items, Merck earned $0.88 per share, up from $0.85 per share Its revenue dropped 4% to $10.26 billion versus $10.67 billion. However, analysts were estimating earnings of $0.79 per share on revenue of $10.43 billion. Merck reiterated its full-year earnings forecast of $2.15 to $2.47 per share.

• [By Seth Jayson]

  Chart Industries (Nasdaq: GTLS  ) is expected to report Q1 earnings on April 25. Here's what Wall Street wants to see:

  The 10-second takeaway
  Comparing the upcoming quarter to the prior-year quarter, average analyst estimates predict Chart Industries's revenues will increase 32.2% and EPS will increase 39.6%.

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Top losers in the sector included Chart Industries (NASDAQ: GTLS), Jacobs Engineering Group (NYSE: JEC), and ABB (NYSE: ABB).

  Top Headline
  Merck & Co (NYSE: MRK) reported a 7% rise in its first-quarter profit. Merck's quarterly profit surged to $1.71 billion, or $0.57 per share, compared to a year-ago profit of $1.59 billion, or $0.52 per share. Excluding certain items, Merck earned $0.88 per share, up from $0.85 per share Its revenue dropped 4% to $10.26 billion versus $10.67 billion. However, analysts were estimating earnings of $0.79 per share on revenue of $10.43 billion. Merck reiterated its full-year earnings forecast of $2.15 to $2.47 per share.

Hot Machinery Stocks To Buy Right Now: Boewe Systec AG (BSY)

BOEWE SYSTEC AG is a Germany-based provider of paper management systems. The Company is primarily engaged in the production of inserting systems, for the secure distribution of printed documents and plastic cards. Its product portfolio also includes plastic card personalization and mailing solutions, software for the monitoring and interconnection of various mailroom systems, paper processing solutions, sorting and mail verification systems, and scanners. The Company developed reading technologies used for cutters, cut sheet feeders, enclosure feeders and inserting systems, which are integrated into its software solutions. BOEWE SYSTEC AG�� products are modular, allowing machinery from different manufacturers to be connected into a production line, offering solutions for the automated mailroom. In addition, the Company provides installation, commissioning and maintenance services, as well as spare parts for its products. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Inyoung Hwang]

  U.K. stocks erased losses in the last half hour of trading, leaving the FTSE 100 Index (UKX) little changed, as a rally in British Sky Broadcasting Group Plc (BSY) and SABMiller Plc (SAB) offset Dagong Global Credit Rating Co.�� downgrade of U.S. sovereign debt.

• [By Inyoung Hwang]

  BSkyB (BSY) sank 3.3 percent to 822 pence, the biggest slide since May 16, even as the U.K.�� largest pay-TV broadcaster reported sales that topped estimates. The company unveiled a box to link televisions to the Internet and said it will buy back 500 million pounds of shares.

Hot Machinery Stocks To Buy Right Now: Katy Industries Inc (KATY)

Katy Industries, Inc. (Katy) is a manufacturer, importer and distributor of commercial cleaning and storage products. The Company�� commercial cleaning products are sold primarily to janitorial/sanitary and foodservice distributors that supply end users, such as restaurants, hotels, healthcare facilities and schools. The Company�� storage products are primarily sold through home improvement and mass market retail outlets. Continental Commercial Products, LLC (CCP) is its wholly owned subsidiary and includes as divisions all of its business units. The Company�� business units are Continental, Contico, Container, Gemtex, Glit and Wilen. On October 4, 2011, the Company sold all assets and certain liabilities related to the DISCO division of CCP to DISCO Acquisition Corp. In February 2014, Katy Industries Inc completed the acquisition of Fort Wayne Plastics, Inc.

The Continental business unit is a plastics manufacturer and an importer and distributor of products for the commercial janitorial/sanitary maintenance, industrial and food service markets. Continental products include commercial waste receptacles, buckets, mop wringers, janitorial carts, and other products designed for commercial cleaning and food service. Continental products are sold under the brand names, such as Continental, Kleen Aire, Huskee, SuperKan, King Kan, Unibody, Tilt-N-Wheel, Wall Hugger, Collossus, Corner��Round, Rountop, Swingline, Kleen Tech and Structo Tuff.

The Contico business unit is a plastics manufacturer and distributor of home and tool storage products, sold primarily through home improvement and mass market retail outlets. Contico products include plastic home storage units, such as domestic storage containers, tool boxes, shelving and hard plastic gun cases and are sold under the brand names Contico and Tuffbin. Contico is a registered trademark used under license from Contico Manufacturing Limited.

The Container business unit is a plastics manufacturer and distributor ! of industrial storage drums and pails for commercial and industrial use. Products are sold under the Contico and Contico Container brand names.

The Gemtex business unit is a manufacturer and distributor of resin fiber disks and other coated abrasives for the original equipment manufacturer (OEM), automotive, industrial and home improvement markets. Gemtex products are sold under the brand names Trim-Kut and Grind R.

The Glit business unit is a manufacturer and distributor of non-woven abrasive products for commercial and industrial use and also supplies materials to various OEMs. Glit non-woven products include floor maintenance pads, hand pads, scouring pads, specialty abrasives for cleaning and finishing, growth medium and roof ventilation products. These products are sold primarily in the commercial sanitary maintenance, food service, industrial and construction markets under the brand names, such as Glit, Kleenfast, Glit/Microtron, Fiber Naturals, Blue Ice, Brillo, Cyclone, Cyclone D, Sponge Pro, Wipe Clean Pro, Joey, Jackeroo, Buckaroo, Cocopad, Safire and WalnutPad. Brillo is a registered trademark used under license from Armaly Brands, Inc. and BAB-O is a registered trademark used under license from Fitzpatrick Bros., Inc.

The Wilen business unit is a manufacturer, importer and distributor of professional cleaning products that include mops, brooms, brushes and plastic cleaning accessories. Wilen products are sold primarily through commercial sanitary maintenance, industrial and food service markets, with some products sold through consumer retail outlets. Products are sold under the brand names, such as Wilen, Wax-o-matic, Rototech, ErgoWorx and Derma-Tek.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Chris Mydlo]

  The guru, Mario Gabelli, purchased 724,729 shares of Katy Industries (KATY). According to the 13D filed with the SEC on March 21, 2014, Gabelli is deemed to have beneficial ownership of the securities owned by Gabelli Funds, GAMCO, Teton Advisors and MJG Associates. The total amount of shares owned is 1,711,045, representing 21.52% of the shares outstanding. Katy engages in the manufacture, import and distribution of commercial cleaning and storage products for commercial janitorial/sanitary maintenance, industrial, foodservice, mass merchant retail and home improvement markets in the U.S., Canada and Europe.

Hot Machinery Stocks To Buy Right Now: Badger Meter Inc (BMI)

Badger Meter, Inc., incorporated on March 9, 1905, is a manufacturer and marketer of products incorporating flow measurement and control technologies serving markets globally. The Company's product lines fall into three categories: sales of water meters and related technologies to municipal water utilities (municipal water), sales of meters to various industries for water and other fluids (industrial flow) and sales of concrete vibrators and gas meter radios to markets (specialty products). Municipal water includes water meters and related technologies and services used by water utilities as the basis for generating water and wastewater revenues. Industrial flow includes products sold globally to measure and control materials flowing through a pipe or pipeline, including water, air, steam, oil, and other liquids and gases. Specialty products include sales of radio technology to natural gas utilities for installation on their gas meters, and concrete vibrators.

The Company's products are primarily manufactured and assembled in the Company's Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Racine, Wisconsin; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Scottsdale, Arizona; Nogales, Mexico; Neuffen, Germany; Brno, Czech Republic; and Bern, Switzerland facilities. For municipal water, residential and commercial water meters are classified as either manually read meters or remotely read meters through radio technology. A manually read meter consists of a water meter and a register that gives a visual meter reading display. Meters equipped with radio transmitters (endpoints) use encoder registers to convert the measurement data from the meter into an encrypted digital format which is then transmitted through radio frequency to a receiver that collects and formats the data appropriately for water utility billing systems. In an AMR system, a vehicle equipped for meter reading purposes, including a radio receiver, computer and reading software, collects the data from the utility's meters.

Fixed network advanced metering infrastructure (AM! I) systems continue to build interest among water utilities. These systems incorporate a network of permanent data collectors or gateway receivers that are always active or listening for the radio transmission from the utilities' meters. AMI systems eliminate the need for utility personnel to drive through service territories to collect meter reading data. These systems provide the utilities with more frequent and diverse data from the utilities' meters at specified intervals.

The Company�� advanced metering analytics (AMA), along with a host of automated utility management tools to facilitate the ability of water and gas utilities to increase their productivity and revenue, as well as proactively utilize their data. AMA is consists of ReadCenter Analytics software coupled with ORION SE two-way fixed network or GALAXY one-way fixed network technology, which is complemented by a family of accurate and reliable water meters. The ORION SE system can operate as a mobile AMR system, a fixed network AMI system, or both. Industrial flow and specialty products serve flow measurement and control applications across an industrial spectrum. Specialized communication protocols that control the entire flow measurement process drive these markets.

The Company competes with Sensus USA Inc., Neptune Technology Group, Inc., Elster AMCO Metering, LLC and Master Meter, Inc.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jeremy Bowman]

  What: Shares of Badger Meter (NYSE: BMI  ) weren't measuring up today, falling as much as 15% after reporting an much lower profits than expected in it first quarter.

Hot Machinery Stocks To Buy Right Now: Toro Co (TTC)

The Toro Company (Toro), incorporated on November 7, 1983, designs, manufactures, and markets professional turf maintenance equipment and services, turf irrigation systems, agricultural micro-irrigation systems, landscaping equipment and lighting, and residential yard and snow removal products. The Company operates in three business segments: Professional, Residential, and Distribution. Its products are advertised and sold at the retail level under the names of Toro, Exmark, Irritrol, Hayter, Pope, Lawn-Boy and Lawn Genie. In October 2013, the Company acquired Xiamen Xiangfeng Water Saving Equipment Co., Ltd.

Professional

The Company designs professional turf, landscape, and agricultural products and markets them worldwide through a network of distributors and dealers, as well as directly to Government customers, rental companies, and retailers. These channel partners then sell its products to professional users engaged in creating and renovating landscapes, irrigating turf and agricultural fields, and maintaining turf, such as golf courses, sports fields, municipal properties, and residential and commercial landscapes.

Landscape Contractor Market

The Company market products to landscape contractors under the Toro and Exmark brands. Products for the landscape contractor market include zero-turn radius riding mowers, heavy-duty walk behind mowers, mid-size walk behind mowers, stand-on mowers, and turf renovation and tree care equipment. It also offers some products with electronic fuel injection engine options. In fiscal 2013, it enhanced its line of Toro Z Master Commercial 3000 Series mowers, featuring its TURBO FORCE cutting deck, integrated pump, and wheel motors designed for professional results, performance, and dependability. In addition, in fiscal 2013, it introduced the new Exmark Vantage X-Series stand-on mower.

Sports Fields and Grounds Market

Products for the sports fields and grounds market include riding rotar! y mowers and attachments, aerators, and debris management products, which include versatile debris vacuums, blowers, and sweepers. Other products include multipurpose vehicles, such as the Toro Workman, that can be used for turf maintenance, towing, and industrial hauling. These products are sold through distributors, who then sell to owners and/or managers of sports fields, Governmental properties, and residential and commercial landscapes.

Golf Course Market

The Company�� products for the golf course market include large reel and rotary riding products for fairway, rough and trim cutting; riding and walking mowers for putting greens and specialty areas; greens rollers; turf sprayer equipment; utility vehicles; aeration equipment; and bunker maintenance equipment. In fiscal 2013, it introduced the Reelmaster 3550-D, which features a productive 82 inch cutting width, enhanced ground-following capability with turf-friendly tires, and three-wheel drive system designed for traction in hilly and wet conditions. In addition, in fiscal 2013, it began offering versions of its golf products which are compliant with Tier 4 diesel engine emission requirements. It also manufacture and market underground irrigation systems for the golf course market, including sprinkler heads, controllers, turf sensors, and electric, battery-operated, and hydraulic valves. Its 835S/855S Series golf sprinklers are equipped with a unique TruJectory feature that provides enhanced water distribution control. Its Turf Guard wireless soil monitoring systems are designed to measure soil moisture, salinity, and temperature through buried wireless sensors that communicate through an Internet server for processing and presentation to a user through the Web.

Residential/Commercial Irrigation and Lighting Market

Turf irrigation products marketed under the Toro and Irritrol brands include rotors; sprinkler bodies and nozzles; plastic and brass valves; drip tubing and subsurface irrigation; ! electric ! and hydraulic control devices; and wired and wireless rain, freeze, and climate sensors. These products are designed to be used in residential and commercial turf irrigation systems that are installed into new systems or used to replace or retrofit existing systems. Most of the product lines are designed for underground automatic irrigation. Electric and hydraulic controllers activate valves and sprinkler bodies and nozzles in a typical irrigation system. Its retail irrigation products are marketed under the Toro and Lawn Genie brand names. These products are designed for homeowner installation and include sprinkler heads, valves, timers, and drip irrigation systems. Its ECXTRA sprinkler timers can be used with a home computer and its Scheduling Advisor recommends the proper watering schedule based on the local weather, plant type, and sprinkler. It manufactures and market lighting products under the Unique Lighting Systems brand name.

Micro-Irrigation Market

Products for the micro-irrigation market include products that regulate the flow of water for drip irrigation, including Aqua-Traxx PBX drip tape, Aqua-Traxx PC (pressure-compensating) drip tape, Blue Stripe polyethylene tubing, BlueLine drip line, and NGE emitters, all used in agriculture, mining, and landscape applications. In addition to these products, it offers control devices and connection options. These products are sold primarily through dealers and distributors who then sell to end users for use primarily in vegetable fields, fruit and nut orchards, vineyards, landscapes, and mines. In fiscal 2013, it expanded its product offering of the Neptune thinwall dripline into the North America market, featuring a medium-durability dripline that enables growers to install a subsurface drip irrigation system designed to last for up to ten years and to allow growers of medium-length crops to adopt drip irrigation. In addition, in fiscal 2013, it introduced AquaFlow 3.2 Drip Irrigation Design Software, a new software packag! e used to! help design drip irrigation systems.

Rental and Construction Market

The Company offers over 35 attachments for our compact utility loaders, including trenchers, augers, vibratory plows, and backhoes. In fiscal 2013, it launched the STX-38 Stump Grinder featuring high maneuverability and hydraulic sweep control. Products for the rental market include compact utility loaders, walk-behind trenchers, stump grinders, and turf renovation products, many of which are also sold to landscape contractors. Its presence in the construction market is driven by an equipment line of vibratory plows, trenchers, and horizontal directional drills, all of which are used in the installation, repair, and replacement of underground utilities with minimal impact on surrounding landscapes or structures. In fiscal 2013, it introduced the Toro Pro Sneak Vibratory Plow that delivers consistent and powerful plowing in a compact, maneuverable package.

Residential

The Company markets its residential products to homeowners through a variety of distribution channels, including outdoor power equipment dealers, hardware retailers, home centers, mass retailers, and over the Internet. These products are sold mainly in North America, Europe, and Australia, with the exception of snow removal products that are sold primarily in North America and Europe.

Walk Power Mower Products

The Company manufactures and markets a number of walk power mower models under its Toro and Lawn-Boy brand names, as well as the Pope brand in Australia and the Hayter brand in the United Kingdom. Toro also offers a line of rear-roller walk power mowers, a design that provides a striped finish, for the United Kingdom market.

Riding Products

The Company manufactures and markets riding products under the Toro brand name worldwide and under the Hayter brand name in the United Kingdom. Riding products primarily consist of zero-turn radius mowers. Lawn and garden tra! ctor mode! ls are sold worldwide. In addition, its rear engine and direct-collect riding mowers are manufactured and sold in the European market. A number of models are available with a variety of engines, decks, transmissions, and accessories.

Home Solutions Products

Toro designs and markets home solutions products under the Toro and Pope brand names, including electric and battery-operated grass trimmers, electric blower-vacuums, electric blowers, and electric snow throwers. In Australia, the Company also designs and markets underground and hose-end retail irrigation products under the Pope brand name.

Gas Snow Removal Products

The Company manufactures and markets a range of gas-powered single-stage and two-stage snow thrower models. Single-stage snow throwers are walk behind units with lightweight two- and four-cycle gasoline engines. Its two-stage snow throwers are designed for large areas of deep, heavy snow and use four-cycle engines. The Company�� two-stage snow throwers include a line of models featuring the Power Max auger system and the Quick Stick chute control technology.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Still, shares of Deere have gained 0.2% to $86.08, perhaps thanks to Toro (TTC), which has risen 1.8% to $62.34 after beating earnings forecasts by four cents today.

• [By Rich Duprey]

  Consumer landscape equipment maker�Toro� (NYSE: TTC  ) �announced yesterday its second-quarter dividend of $0.14 per share, the same rate it paid the past two quarters after raising the payout 27% from $0.11 per share.

• [By Charles Sizemore]

  Stuart Varney took it a step further, mentioning Toro Company (TTC), the maker of many of the snow blowers that have become a common sight across much of America this year. I agreed, adding that Toro is a major manufacturer of lawn and turf maintenance equipment — and because virtually every lawn, park and golf course in America has suffered damage this year, and Toro is well positioned to profit from the repairs.