Top Recreation Stocks To Watch For 2014

If you have the ability and the will to relocate, you may reasonably seek out states with no income tax. There are seven of those ��Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. (Tennessee and New Hampshire tax dividends and interest income.) That's probably not the best way to find a perfect new home for yourself, though. It's better to consider a state's big picture -- and the overall quality of life that it can offer you.

Money isn't everything
Remember, for starters, that there's more to a good life than money. Along with a state's tax rates, you might consider the cost of living, incorporating the cost of housing, food, gas, recreation, and so on. That's still too broad, though, since costs can vary widely between a state's cities and rural areas, and even between cities. Upstate New York, for instance, offers a much different setting than New York City.

Still, the folks at top50states.com have taken a stab at determining an overall ranking of states. The states with the lowest cost of living are Oklahoma, Tennessee, Arkansas, Kentucky, South Dakota, Kansas, and Nebraska. Note that most of those are not among the states with no income tax. The highest cost of living can be found in California, Hawaii, New Jersey, Alaska, Maryland, and Connecticut. The states with no income tax do include Alaska, but that's it.

Hot Prefered Companies To Invest In 2015: Thomas Cook Group plc (TCG)

Thomas Cook Group plc is a United Kingdom-based leisure travel company. The Company operates in 19 source markets and operates under brands, including Thomas Cook, Neckermann, Condor, Jet tours, Ving, Spies and Tja reborg. Thomas Cook directly or indirectly controls a number of subsidiaries. The Company also has investments in other companies. It operates a combined fleet of 87 aircraft. The Company�� operating structure comprises four segments which are principally organized according to the location of the customer�� origin. These are United Kingdom, Continental Europe, Northern Europe and Airlines Germany. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Inyoung Hwang]

  Thomas Cook Group Plc (TCG) tumbled 9.9 percent for the biggest drop in five months. UBS AG removed the 172-year-old U.K. tour operator from its list of preferred stocks, citing the ��igh-profile media coverage��of the violence in Egypt.

Top Recreation Stocks To Watch For 2014: Life Time Fitness Inc (LTM)

Life Time Fitness, Inc., incorporated on October 15, 1990, operates multi-use sports and athletic, professional fitness, family recreation and spa centers in a resort-like environment. As of February 28, 2013, the Company operated 105 centers under the LIFE TIME FITNESS and LIFE TIME ATHLETIC SM brands primarily in suburban locations in 28 major markets in the United States and Canada. The Company�� model centers target 7,500 to 11,000 memberships by offering, on average, 114,000 square feet of multi-use sports and athletic, professional fitness, family recreation, spa amenities and programs and services in a resort-like environment. Life Time programs include a range of interest areas, such as group fitness, yoga, swimming, running, racquetball, squash, tennis, Pilates, martial arts, kids activities and camps, adult activities and leagues, rock climbing, cycling, basketball, personal training, weight loss and nutrition initiatives, spa, medi-spa and chiropractic services. Life Time program offerings may vary by location. Effective August 28, 2012, MGC Diagnostics Corporation sold the assets of its New Leaf business to the Company.

The Company's offerings also include the Company's line of nutritional products and supplements, and its magazine, Experience Life. The Company also has an Athletic Events division, which offers more than 100 events each year, including running, cycling and triathlon events from entry-level to ultra-endurance. Additionally, the Company offers a portfolio of health assessments to its members at its centers, as well as employees at corporate clients, along with partnerships with health insurance companies. The Company offers different types of membership plans for individuals, couples and families. The Company's memberships include the primary member's children under the age of 12 at a modest per child monthly cost. The Company provides the majority of its members with a variety of services with their membership, including group fitness classes and fitness asse! ssments, towel and locker service and an online subscription to its magazine, Experience Life. The Company's membership plans include initial 14-day money back guarantees and are month-to-month, cancelable by giving up to 60 days advance notice. The Company's ancillary businesses include media, athletic events and related services, health promotion programs and training and certification programs.

The Company offers one-on-one sessions and small group sessions for individual member and a group of two to four members. The Company offers large group (typically eight to 12 members) programs under its T.E.A.M. platform. The Company's T.E.A.M. Weight Loss program focuses on exercise, education and nutrition and provides the resources and support toward long-term weight loss. The T.E.A.M. Fitness program combines cardio exercise with strength training. The Company's endurance program focuses on training in the proper heart rate zones, for the proper duration of time and at the proper frequency to burn fat more efficiently while improving overall health and fitness. The Company's T.E.A.M. Boot Camp enables members to test their strength, agility and stamina. From time to time, the Company also offers other weight loss and nutrition programs, such as the Life Time 90-Day Weight Loss Challenge, as an opportunity for members to receive education, training and motivation. The Company's centers offer fitness programs, including group fitness classes and health and fitness training seminars on subjects ranging from metabolism to personal nutrition. On average, the Company offers 85 group fitness classes per week at each current model center, including studio cycling, step workout, dance classes, circuit training and fitness yoga classes.

The Company's large format centers feature a Life Cafe, which offers fresh and healthy made-to-order and pre-prepared breakfast, lunch and dinner items, including sandwiches, salads, snacks, shakes and more. The Company's Life Cafes offer customers the cho! ice of di! ning indoors, ordering their meals and snacks to go or, in each of the Company's model centers and certain of its other large format centers, dining outdoors at the poolside bistro. Life Cafes also typically offer the Life Time line of nutritional products and supplements, third-party nutritional products, exercise accessories and personal care products. The Company's LifeSpa is a salon and spa. Each in-center LifeSpa offers hair, body, skin care and massage therapy services, customized to each client's individual needs. The Company also offers medi-spa services in select locations. LifeClinic Chiropractic services are provided by licensed chiropractors. LifeClinic Chiropractic offers non-invasive form of soft tissue and joint treatment. The Company's centers offer on-site child centers for children from three months through 11 years of age as part of a monthly fee per child. All of the Company's large format centers offer a variety of additional programs for children, which may include birthday parties, school break camps, parents' night out, sports and fitness classes and swimming lessons. For adults, the Company offers a variety of sports leagues and interest-driven clubs.

During the year ended December 31, 2012, the Company produced over 100 events, serving over 90,000 participants. The Company's events range from entry level to ultra endurance events and draw from local, regional, national and international markets. The Company's larger events include triathlons such as the Life Time Tri Minneapolis and Life Time Tri Chicago, as well as the iconic Leadville Trail 100 Mountain Bike Race Across the Sky. The Company produces events primarily in markets in which the Company operates centers, including themed runs such as the Torchlight 5K Run and Turkey Day 5K. The Company offers a line of nutritional products, including Men's and Women 's Performance Multivitamins, Omega-3 Fish oils, Joint Maintenance Formulation, LeanSource Soft Gels, VeganMax, Whey Protein, and FastFuel Complete, its me! al replac! ement product.

The Company competes with 4 Hour Fitness Worldwide, Inc., Equinox Holdings, Inc., LA Fitness International, LLC, Town Sports International, Inc. and Gold's Gym.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Seth Jayson]

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

• [By amigobulls@twitter]

  Twitter currently trades at a Last Twelve Months (LTM) Price to Sales (PS) ratio of 27, which translates to astronomical valuations. Consider a comparison with Facebook which generates about 10 times the revenue and still grows at a healthy 60 odd percent. Facebook trades at an LTM PS multiple of 19. Here one should note that Facebook also delivered a net profit margin of 27% in Q2 vs Twitter's loss margin of 46% and has nearly 5 times Twitter's active users.

• [By John Udovich]

  On Thursday, small cap fitness club owner Life Time Fitness, Inc (NYSE: LTM) lost some weight for investors as analysts gave the stock a workout after its Analyst Day failed to ease their concerns, meanings its worth taking a closer look at the stock along with the performance of Town Sports International Holdings, Inc (NASDAQ: CLUB)�and Steiner Leisure Ltd (NASDAQ: STNR).

Top Recreation Stocks To Watch For 2014: TripAdvisor Inc (TRIP)

TripAdvisor, Inc. (TripAdvisor), incorporated on July 20, 2011, is an online travel research company, enabling users to plan and have a trip. TripAdvisor features reviews and advice on hotels, resorts, flights, vacation rentals, vacation packages and travel guides. TripAdvisor�� travel research platform features reviews and opinions from its community of travelers about destinations, accommodations (hotels, bed and breakfasts, specialty lodging and vacation rentals), restaurants and activities worldwide, through its TripAdvisor brand. TripAdvisor Websites include tripadvisor.com in the United States and versions of the Website in 30 countries, including in China under the brand daodao.com. TripAdvisor Websites also include links to the Websites of its travel advertisers allowing travelers to directly book their travel arrangements. In addition to the TripAdvisor brand, TripAdvisor, Inc. manages and operates Websites under 18 other travel media brands, providing travel planning resources across the travel sector. On December 20, 2011, Expedia, Inc. (Expedia) completed the spin-off of TripAdvisor, Inc. (TripAdvisor) to Expedia stockholders. TripAdvisor consists of the domestic and international operations previously associated with Expedia�� TripAdvisor Media Group. In October 2012, it acquired Wanderfly. In March 2013, it acquired Tiny Post (tinypost.co). In April 2013, the Company acquired Jetsetter.com and Gilt Travel Inc. In May 2013, TripAdvisor Inc acquired key technology and talent from CruiseWise Inc. In May 2013, TripAdvisor Inc acquired Guia de Apartamentos Niumba SL. In June 2013, the Company announced that it has acquired GateGuru.

TripAdvisor provides access worldwide to online travel agencies, including Expedia, Orbitz, Travelocity, hotels.com, Priceline and Booking.com. TripAdvisor Media Group offers travel suppliers graphical advertising and cost-per-click marketing platforms. TripAdvisor operates sites in 30 countries and in 21 languages, including sites in the United S! tates (http://www.tripadvisor.com), the United Kingdom (http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk), France (http://www.tripadvisor.fr), Ireland (http://www.tripadvisor.ie), Germany (http://www.tripadvisor.de), Italy (http://www.tripadvisor.it), Spain (http://www.tripadvisor.es), India (http://www.tripadvisor.in), Japan (http://www.tripadvisor.jp), Portugal and Brazil (http://www.tripadvisor.com.br), Sweden (http://www.tripadvisor.se), The Netherlands (http://www.tripadvisor.nl), Canada (http://www.tripadvisor.ca), Denmark (http://www.tripadvisor.dk), Turkey (http://www.tripadvisor.com.tr), Mexico (http://www.tripadvisor.com.mx), Norway (http://no.tripadvisor.com), Poland (http://pl.tripadvisor.com), Australia (http://www.tripadvisor.com.au), Singapore (http://www.tripadvisor.com.sg), Thailand (http://th.tripadvisor.com), Russia (http://www.tripadvisor.ru), Greece (http://www.tripadvisor.com.gr), Indonesia(http://www.tripadvisor.co.id), Argentina (www.tripadvisor.co.ar), Taiwan (www.tripadvisor.tw),Malaysia(http://www.tripadvisor.com.my), and Egypt (http://www.tripadvisor.com.eg). TripAdvisor also operates in China under the brand daodao.com (http://www.daodao.com) and Kuxun.cn (http://www.kuxun.cn).

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Victor Selva]

  Expedia Inc. (EXPE) is one of the world's largest online travel services companies. Businesses include Expedia, Hotels.com and Hotwire. In December 2011, Expedia spun off TripAdvisor (TRIP) as a publicly traded company.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Stocks are displaying their resilience after making back their early-morning losses today, as Pfizer (PFE), Walt Disney (DIS), TripAdvisor (TRIP), Netflix (NFLX) and Johnson Controls (JCI) have gained.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  The S&P 500 rose 0.6% to 2,023.57 today, while the small-company Russell 2000 advanced 0.1% to 1,167.07. Only the Nasdaq Composite dipped today, finishing down 0.1% at 4,620.72 thanks to the 14% decline in TripAdvisor (TRIP) following its disappointing earnings.

Top Recreation Stocks To Watch For 2014: Mountain China Resorts Holding Ltd (MCG)

Mountain China Resorts (Holding) Limited (MCR) is a Canada-based investment holding company. The Company is a Mountain resort developer in the People�� Republic of China. The Company�� subsidiaries engaged in the development and operation of mountain resorts and provision of hotel services in the People's Republic of China. The Company holds 100% interest in Mountain China Resorts Investment Limited, which in turn holds 100% interest in Mountain China Resorts Limited. The Company owns and operates the ski resort in the People�� Republic of China, Sun Mountain Yabuli Resort in Heilongjiang Province. The Sun Mountain Yabuli Resort also has two luxury five star hotels, restaurants, spa, retail, and conference facilities. It holds 140 million square meters of land for commercial development purpose around the Sun Mountain Yabuli Resort. As of December 31, 2011, the Company�� resort real estate development project was at the Sun Mountain Yabuli Resort. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By ICRAOnline]

  Apart from the Data Center Group, Intel expects the Axxia deal to boost the performance of the other two segments ��Internet of Things Group (IoTG) and Mobile and Communications Group (MCG).

Top Recreation Stocks To Watch For 2014: IMAX Corp (IMAX)

IMAX Corporation, incorporated on January 1, 2002, together with its wholly owned subsidiaries, is an entertainment technology companies, specializing in motion picture technologies and presentations. The Company�� customers who purchase lease or otherwise acquire the IMAX theatre systems are theatre exhibitors, which operate commercial theatres, museums, science centers, and destination entertainment sites. IMAX theatre systems combine the Company�� digital re-mastering movie conversion technology (IMAX DMR), projectors with equipment and automated theatre control systems, sound system components, screens, theatre geometry, and theatre acoustics.

The Company�� principal business is the design, manufacture and delivery of theater systems (IMAX theater systems). The Company�� customers who purchase, lease or otherwise acquire the IMAX theater systems through joint revenue sharing arrangements are theater exhibitors that operate commercial theaters (particularly multiplexes), museums, science centers, or destination entertainment sites. The Company does not own IMAX theaters, but licenses the use of its trademarks along with the sale, lease or contribution of the IMAX theater system.

IMAX Systems, Theater System Maintenance and Joint Revenue Sharing Arrangements

The Company provides IMAX theater systems to customers on a sales or long-term lease basis with an initial 10-year term. These agreements consist of initial fees and ongoing fees (which can include a fixed minimum amount per annum and contingent fees in excess of the minimum payments) and maintenance and extended warranty fees. The initial fees vary depending on the system configuration and location of the theater and generally are paid to the Company in installments between the time of system signing and the time of system installation. Ongoing fees are paid over the term of the contract, commencing after the theater system has been installed and are generally equal to the greater of a fixed minimu! m amount per annum or a percentage of boxoffice receipts. The Company also provides IMAX theater systems to customers under joint revenue sharing arrangements, pursuant to which the Company provides the IMAX theater system in return for a portion of the customer�� IMAX box-office receipts, and in some cases concession revenues and/or a small upfront or initial payment. As at December 31, 2012, the Company had 316 theaters in operation under joint revenue sharing arrangements.

Production and Digital Re-Mastering (IMAX DMR)

The Company�� technology digitally re-masters Hollywood films into IMAX digital cinema package format or 15/70-format film. IMAX DMR digitally enhances the image resolution of motion picture films for projection on IMAX screens while maintaining or enhancing the visual clarity and sound quality to levels for which The IMAX Experience is known. This technology enabled the IMAX theater network to release Hollywood films simultaneously with domestic release. In a typical IMAX DMR film arrangement, the Company will receive a percentage of net box-office receipts of any commercial films released in the IMAX network, which is generally 10-15%, from a film studio for the conversion of the film to the IMAX DMR format and access to its distribution platform. During the year ended December 31, 2012, 35 films converted through the IMAX DMR process were released to theaters within the IMAX network. As of December 31, 2012, the Company released 23 IMAX DMR titles to theaters within the IMAX network. During 2012, five local language IMAX DMR films were released, including one French film, Houba! On the Trail of the Marsupilami: The IMAX Experience and four Chinese IMAX DMR titles: Tai Chi 0: An IMAX 3D Experience, Tai Chi Hero: An IMAX 3D Experience, Back to 1942: The IMAX Experience and CZ12: The IMAX Experience.

Film Distribution and Post-Production

The Company is also a distributor of large-format films, primarily catering to its institution! al theate! r partners. The Company generally distributes films, which it produces or for which it has acquired distribution rights from independent producers. The Company generally receives a percentage of the theater box-office receipts as a distribution fee. Films produced by the Company are typically financed through third parties, whereby the Company will generally receive a film production fee in exchange for producing the film and a distribution fee for distributing the film. The Company utilizes third-party funding for the majority of original films it produces and distributes. In 2012, the Company, along with Warner Bros. Pictures (WB) and MacGillivray Freeman Films (MFF) released an original title, To the Artic 3D: An IMAX 3D Experience.

The Company derives a small portion of its revenues from other sources. As of December 31, 2012, the Company had four owned and operated theaters. In addition, the Company has a commercial arrangement with one theater resulting in the sharing of profits and losses and provides management services to two theaters. The Company also rents its two dimensional (2D) and three dimensional (3D) large-format film and digital cameras to third party production companies. The Company maintains cameras and other film equipment and also offers production advice and technical assistance to both documentary and Hollywood filmmakers. Additionally, the Company generates revenues from the sale of after-market parts and 3D glasses. As of December 31, 2012, approximately 54.2% of IMAX systems in operation were located in the United States and Canada. As at December 31, 2012, approximately 45.8% of IMAX systems in operation were located within international markets (other than the United States and Canada).

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Anders Bylund]

  IMAX (NYSE: IMAX  ) reported results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2013. Non-GAAP earnings fell 9% year over year to $0.08 per share. Sales came in 10.3% lower, at $49.9 million. Analysts had expected adjusted earnings of $0.09 per share on $54.1 million in revenue.

Top Recreation Stocks To Watch For 2014: Manchester United PLC (MANU)

Manchester United plc, formerly Manchester United Ltd., incorporated on April 30, 2012, is engaged in the operations of professional sports team. It provides manchester united a platform to generate revenue from multiple sources, including sponsorship, merchandising, product licensing, new media & mobile, broadcasting and matchday. The Company had three principal sectors: Commercial, Broadcasting and Matchday.

Commercial

Within the Commercial revenue sector, the Company had three revenue streams which include sponsorship revenue; retail, merchandising, apparel and product licensing revenue; and new media and mobile revenue. Retail, Merchandising, Apparel and Product Licensing, it markets and sells sports apparel, training and leisure wear and other clothing featuring the Manchester United brand on a global basis. In addition, it also sells other licensed products, from coffee mugs to bed spreads, featuring the Manchester United brand and trademarks. These products are distributed through Manchester United branded retail centers and e-commerce platforms, as well as its partners' wholesale distribution channels.

The Company retails, merchandizes, apparel & product licensing business is managed by Nike, who pays it a minimum guaranteed amount and a share of the business' cumulative profits. It has formed mobile telecom partnerships in 44 countries. In addition, it markets content directly to its followers through its Website, www.manutd.com, and associated mobile properties.

Broadcasting

The Company generates revenue from distribution and broadcasting of live football content. Broadcasting revenue is derived from the global television rights relating to the Premier League, Champions League and other competitions. In addition, its global television channel, MUTV, delivers Manchester United programming to 54 countries around the world. Broadcasting includes all revenue covering domestic and international television and radio rights. Broadc! asting revenue including, in some cases, prize money received by it in respect of the various competitions.

Matchday

The Company generates revenue during the matchday from the Old Trafford, a sports venue.

Other Matchday revenue includes matchday catering, event parking, program sales as well as membership and travel, Manchester United Museum revenue and a share of the ticket revenue from away matches in domestic cup competitions. Matchday revenue also includes revenue from other events hosted at Old Trafford, including other sporting events (including football matches as part of the London 2012 Olympic Games and the annual Rugby Super League Grand Final), music concerts and entertainment events.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By CRWE]

  Manchester United plc (NYSE:MANU), one of the most popular and successful sports teams in the world, playing one of the most popular spectator sports on Earth, reported that it has rescheduled its fourth quarter and fiscal 2012 earnings conference call and live webcast.

Top 10 Internet Stocks To Watch For 2015

Top 10 Internet Stocks To Watch For 2015: Google Inc.(GOOG)

Google Inc. maintains an index of Web sites and other online content for users, advertisers, and Google network members and other content providers. It offers AdWords, an auction-based advertising program; AdSense program, which enables Web sites that are part of the Google Network to deliver ads from its AdWords advertisers; Google Display, a display advertising network that comprises the videos, text, images, and other interactive ads; DoubleClick Ad Exchange, a real-time auction marketplace for the trading of display ad space; and YouTube that provides video, interactive, and other ad formats for advertisers. The company also provides Google Mobile that optimizes Google?s applications for mobile devices in browser and downloadable form; and enables advertisers to run search ad campaigns on mobile devices, as well as Google Local that provides local information on the Web; and Google Boost for small businesses to participate in the ads auction. In addition, it offers And roid, an open source mobile software platform; Google Chrome OS, an open source operating system; Google Chrome, a Web browser; Google TV, a platform for the consumers to use the television and the Internet on a single screen; and Google Books platform to discover, search, and consume content from printed books online. Further, the company provides Google Apps, a cloud computing suite of message and collaboration tools, which includes Gmail, Google Docs, Google Calendar, and Google Sites; Google Search Appliance that offers real-time search of business and intranet applications, and public Web sites; Google Site Search, a custom search engine; Google Commerce Search for online retail enterprises; Google Checkout to make online shopping and payments streamlined and secure; Google Maps Application Programming Interface; and Google Earth Enterprise, a firewall software solution for imagery and data visualization. Google Inc. was founded in 1998 and is headquartered ! in Mountain View, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lyons George]

  In the following video, Motley Fool research analyst Lyons George takes a question from a Fool reader, who writes, "I hear Google (NASDAQ: GOOG  ) is expanding its 'Free Internet' project from Kansas City to Austin, Texas. Should we expect 'Fiber' to keep growing...and what does it mean for Google's business?"

• [By Damian Illia]

  However, it is unfair, in some ways, to compare Facebook with the internet content and information industry, since there are few companies that can compete with it. But, if compared to Google (GOOG), for example, Facebooks valuation is more than 8 times higher. In addition, Googles advertising income is considerably larger and more effective. Nevertheless, Facebooks publicity income continues to rise, quarter after quarter. Furthermore, several initiatives within the company point towards changing the ways that users interact with its website.

source from Top Penny Stocks For 2015:http://www.seekpennystocks.com/top-10-internet-stocks-to-watch-for-2015.html

Hasbro, Inc. Reports Higher Q1 Earnings; Beats EPS Estimates, Misses on Revenues (HAS)

Hasbro Inc. (HAS) reported its first quarter earnings before the opening bell on Monday, posting higher revenue than last year’s first quarter.

Hasbro’s Earnings in Brief

HAS reported first quarter revenues of $679.45 million, which were up 2% from last year’s Q1 revenues of $663.69 million. Net earnings for the quarter came in at $31.51 million, up from last year’s first quarter loss of $6.67 million. The company's adjusted operating profit was $18.6 million, or 14 cents per share, up from last year’s Q1 figure of $13.5 million, or 10 cents per share. Hasbro’s results beat analysts’ EPS estimates of 10 cents, but revenues came in slightly below view of $686.91 million.

CEO Commentary

Hasbro's president and CEO Brian Goldner had the following comments: “Our first quarter results reflect continued strong performance across several key initiatives including Hasbro Franchise Brands, Emerging Markets and the Entertainment and Licensing segment. Growth in both revenues and operating profit for the first quarter despite a later Easter this year and ahead of our major theatrical launches speaks to the strength of the brand innovation we are delivering to consumers globally.

Hasbro’s Dividend

Hasbro announced a dividend raise in February for its May 15 payout. The company boosted its quarterly dividend to 43 cents from 40 cents. The stock goes ex-dividend on April 29.

Stock Performance

Hasbro stock was inactive in pre-market trading. YTD, the company’s stock is up just 0.05%.

HAS Dividend Snapshot

As of Market Close on April 17, 2014

Click here to see the complete history of HAS dividends.

Top Value Companies To Invest In 2015

Top Value Companies To Invest In 2015: Schlumberger N.V.(SLB)

Schlumberger Limited, together with its subsidiaries, supplies technology, integrated project management, and information solutions to the oil and gas exploration and production industries worldwide. The company?s Oilfield Services segment provides exploration and production services; wireline technology that offers open-hole and cased-hole services; supplies engineering support, directional-drilling, measurement-while-drilling, and logging-while-drilling services; and testing services. This segment also offers well services; supplies well completion services and equipment; artificial lift; data and consulting services; geo services; and information solutions, such as consulting, software, information management system, and IT infrastructure services that support oil and gas industry. Its WesternGeco segment provides reservoir imaging, monitoring, and development services; and operates data processing centers and multiclient seismic library. This segment also offers variou s services include 3D and time-lapse (4D) seismic surveys to multi-component surveys for delineating prospects and reservoir management. The company?s M-I SWACO segment supplies drilling fluid systems to improve drilling performance; fluid systems and specialty tools to optimize wellbore productivity; production technology solutions to maximize production rates; and environmental solutions that manages waste volumes generated in drilling and production operations. Its Smith Oilfield segment designs, manufactures, and markets drill bits and borehole enlargement tools; and supplies drilling tools and services, tubular, completion services, and other related downhole solutions. The company?s Distribution segment markets pipes, valves, and fittings, as well as mill, safety, and other maintenance products. This segment also provides warehouse management, vendor integration, and inventory management services. Schlumberger Limited was founded in 1927 and is based in H! ouston, Texas .

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By David Smith]

  A promising partnership
  Total outlays for subsea facilities were slightly more than $25 billion in 2011. That number is expected to rocket to about $130 billion by 2020. Among several companies that will benefit from this nearly five-fold growth are Schlumberger (NYSE: SLB  ) and Cameron International (NYSE: CAM  ) .

source from Top Penny Stocks For 2015:http://www.seekpennystocks.com/top-value-companies-to-invest-in-2015-3.html

Best Telecom Stocks To Watch For 2015

Best Telecom Stocks To Watch For 2015: Vodafone Group PLC (VOD)

Vodafone Group Plc (Vodafone), incorporated in 1984, is a mobile communications company operating across the globe providing a range of communications services. The Company offers a range of products and services, including voice, messaging, data and fixed-line solutions and devices to assist customers in meeting their total communications needs. Vodafone has a global presence, with equity interests in over 30 countries and over 40 partner markets worldwide. It operates in three geographic regions: Europe, Africa and Central Europe; Asia Pacific, and the Middle East, and has an investment in Verizon Wireless in the United States. In October 2010, Vodafone Global Enterprise, the business within Vodafone, announced the acquisition of two telecom expense management (TEM) companies, Quickcomm and TnT Expense Management. In November 2011, the Company sold 24.4% interest in Polkomtel in Poland. In March 2012, Verizon Wireless, which is a joint venture of Verizon Communications I nc. and Vodafone, purchased the operating assets of Cellular One of Northeast Pennsylvania from the Company. In April 2012, its Netherlands-based division, Vodafone Libertel BV, acquired Telespectrum-DJ. On October 31, 2012, the Company acquired TelstraClear Limited. In May 2013, Vodafone Group Plc announced launch of its carrier services business unit.

In Europe, the Companys mobile subsidiaries and joint venture operate under the brand name Vodafone. Its associate in France operates as SFR and Neuf Cegetel, and its fixed-line communication businesses operate as Vodafone, Arcor, Tele2 and TeleTu. Vodafones subsidiaries in Africa and Central Europe operate under the Vodafone brand, or in the case of Vodacom and its mobile subsidiaries, the Vodacom and Gateway brands. Its joint venture in Poland operates as Polkomtel and its associate in Kenya operates as Safaricom. The Companys subsidiaries and joint venture in Fiji operate under the Vodafone br! and, an d its joint venture in Australia operates under the brands V! odafone and 3. The Companys associate in the United States operates under the brand Verizon Wireless.

Vodafone has an international customer base with 370 million mobile customers across the world as of March 31, 2011. Vodafone also caters to all business segments ranging from small-office-home-office (SoHo) and small-medium enterprises (SMEs) to corporates and multinational corporations. Through its subsidiaries, Vodafone directly owns and manages approximately 2,200 stores around the world. The Company also has around 10,300 Vodafone-branded stores run through franchise and exclusive dealer arrangements.

The Companys range of handsets covers all its customer segments and price points, and is available in a variety of designs. During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011 (fiscal 2011), 14 new handsets were released under its own brand and it shipped 5.8 million. In addition to handsets, it supplies a range of connected smart devices. It suppl ies the iPhone in 19 markets. During fiscal 2011, the Company launched its USB stick based on 4G/LTE technology in Germany and Verizon Wireless launched in the United States.; Vodafone WebBox; a smartphone roaming data plan that allows the European customers to use their home data plan abroad for only 2 a day to access the Internet, emails and applications; the Android-powered Vodafone 845 and 945 devices; Vodafone TV services; Vodafone 252, which comes pre-loaded with Vodafone M-Pesa for mobile payment services and a prepaid balance indicator that helps customers to keep track of their phone credit to avoid overspending; Vodafone M-Pesa in South Africa, Qatar and Fiji; 3G services in India, and LTE services by acquiring LTE spectrum in Germany.

The Company is a carrier of mobile voice traffic in the world providing domestic, international and roaming voice services to more than 370 million customers. Its networks sent and received over 292 billion text! , pictur ! e, music and video messages during fiscal 2011. The Company ! serves mo! re than 75 million customers with data services, which allow access to the Internet, email and applications on their phones, tablets, laptops and netbooks. The Company provides a range of data products, including Machine-to-machine (M2M) connections, which allow devices to communicate with one another via built-in mobile SIM cards; Third party billing; Financial services; Near field communication (NFC), and Mobile advertising. The Company, as of March 31, 2011, served 5.3 million M2M connections around the world. NFC allows communication between devices when they are touched together or brought within a few centimetres of each other. The Company has mobile advertising business in 18 countries with a range of capabilities. Over six million customers use its fixed broadband services in 13 markets to meet their total communications needs. In addition, through Gateway, it provides wholesale carrier services to more than 40 African countries. Other service revenue inc ludes business managed services, such as secure remote network access, and revenue from mobile virtual network operators generated from selling access to its network at the wholesale level. The Companys enterprise customers range from small-office-home-office (SoHo) businesses and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), through to domestic and multinational companies. The Company has 34 million enterprise customers accounting for around 9% of all customers and around 23% of service revenue. The Company focuses on SoHos and SMEs to provide customers with integrated fixed and mobile communications solutions. Vodafone Global Enterprise manages the communication needs of over 560 of the multinational corporate customers. It provides a range of managed services, such as Central Ordering, Device Manager, Spend Manager Solutions, Invoice Manager, Vodafone Neverfail and Telecoms management. The Company offers a range of total communications applications, as well as service! s for ent! erprise and consumer customers. Vodafone Alw! ays Best ! Connected software enables customers to stay connected to the Internet on the available connection wherever they are by automatically managing the switching between connection types including mobile broadband, Wi-Fi and LAN. Vodafone PC Backup is an online back-up and restores service that enables users to remotely store data securely and automatically via their Internet connection.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Paul Ausick]

  Big Deals: Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ) will pay $130 billion for the 45% stake in Verizon Wireless by Vodafone Group plc (NASDAQ: VOD) in one of the three largest acquisitions ever.Vodafone was involved in two of them.

• [By Alex Planes]

  Verizon's potential buyout of Vodafone's (NASDAQ: VOD  ) stake in the companies' joint wireless venture could make it difficult to accurately assess Verizon's long-term outlook. Verizon has long been trying to resolve underlying control issues with the British telecom powerhouse, which owns a 45% stake in Verizon Wireless. There have even been talks of Verizon buying Vodafone's stake outright in the world's largest leveraged buyout. This would leapfrog Verizon over many competitors in the global telecom race, but at the price of adding a massive debt overhang to its already hefty debt commitments.

• [By Jonas Elmerraji]

   

  Nearest Resistance: N/A
  
  Nearest Support: $31
  
  Catalyst: Verizon Stake Buyout

   

   

  Shares of Vodafone Group (VOD) are up big today after news that Verizon Communications (VZ) could pay as much as $130 billion for the 45% of Verizon's wireless business that Vodafone owns. The possibility that the deal could be completed this week is spiking shares of VOD by as much as 8% in this afternoon's trading, as investors salivate over a balance sheet flush with cash.

   

  From a technical standpoint, things don't get m! uch bette! r than Vodafone: shares of the UK-based phone carrier gapped up to a new high this morning on the news. Making new highs is significant from an investor psychology standpoint because it means that everyone who has bought shares in the last year is sitting on gains. As a result, the "back to even" mentality is less of a concern than it would be for a name with a higher proportion of shareholders sitting on losses.

   

  Investors who aren't risk-averse may want to consider jumping in here; just keep a tight stop in place.

   

source from Top Penny Stocks For 2015:http://www.seekpennystocks.com/best-telecom-stocks-to-watch-for-2015.html

Top 5 Specialty Retail Stocks To Watch For 2014

Women's fashion leader bebe (NASDAQ: BEBE  ) has a new face on its board of directors. The specialty retailer announced Monday it has named Narry Singh to join the board, noting his contributions in the world of digital entertainment.

bebe CEO Steve Birkhold said: "Throughout his distinguished career, Narry has combined visionary thinking with an ability to execute on strategy and build growing businesses. His expertise in digital commerce, in particular, will help to reinforce bebe's position as an innovator in the digital space." In 2012, bebe made investments in its digital channels a key component of�an omni-channel expansion.

Singh was most recently the "chief business guru" of Outfit7, a leading mobile entertainment company known for its�Talking Friends�mobile app, which he helped build to more than 650 million users in more than 100 countries.

Non-employee directors for bebe are paid a fee of $4,000 for each meeting they attend in person and $750 for the third and subsequent telephonic meetings�attended during a fiscal year. In 2012, each�non-employee director received a restricted stock unit award of 3,384�shares and�an option to purchase 53,252�shares of our common stock, a number chosen to represent approximately $150,000 in value. The awards vest over four years.

Top 5 Solar Companies For 2015: CSS Industries Inc (CSS)

CSS Industries, Inc. (CSS), incorporated on November 5, 1923, is a company primarily engaged in the design, manufacture, procurement, distribution and sale of seasonal and all occasion social expression products, principally to mass market retailers. These seasonal and all occasion products include gift wrap, gift bags, gift boxes, gift card holders, boxed greeting cards, gift tags, decorative tissue paper, decorations, classroom exchange Valentines, decorative ribbons and bows, floral accessories, Halloween masks, costumes, make-up and novelties, Easter egg dyes and novelties, craft and educational products, stickers, memory books, stationery, journals, notecards, infant and wedding photo albums, scrapbooks, and other gift items that commemorate life�� celebrations. In September 5, 2012, it sold the Halloween portion of its Paper Magic business to Gemmy Industries (HK) Limited.

CSS��product provides its retail customers the opportunity to use a single vendor for much of their seasonal product requirements. A substantial portion of CSS��products are manufactured, packaged and/or warehoused in 10 facilities located in the United States, with the remainder purchased primarily from manufacturers in Asia and Mexico. The Company�� products are sold to its customers by national and regional account sales managers, sales representatives, product specialists and by a network of independent manufacturers��representatives. The Company�� principal operating subsidiaries include Paper Magic Group, Inc. (Paper Magic), Berwick Offray LLC (Berwick Offray) and C.R. Gibson, LLC (C.R. Gibson). CSS designs, manufactures, procures, distributes and sells a range of seasonal consumer products primarily through the mass market distribution channel. Christmas products include gift wrap, gift bags, gift boxes, gift card holders, boxed greeting cards, gift tags, decorative tissue paper and decorations. CSS��Valentine product offerings include classroom exchange Valentine cards and other related Valen! tine products, while its Easter product offerings include Dudley�� brand of Easter egg dyes and related Easter seasonal products. CSS also designs and markets decorative ribbons and bows, all occasion boxed greeting cards, gift wrap, gift bags, gift boxes, gift card holders, decorative and waxed tissue, decorative films and foils, stickers, memory books, stationery, journals, notecards, infant and wedding photo albums, scrapbooks, floral accessories and other gift and craft items to its mass market, craft, specialty and floral retail and wholesale distribution customers, and teachers' aids and other learning oriented products to the education market through mass market retailers, school supply distributors and teachers' stores. Key brands include Paper Magic, Berwick, Offray, C.R. Gibson, Markings, Creative Papers, Tapestry, Dudley��, Don Post Studios, Eureka, Learning Playground, Stickerfitti and iota. Key brands include Paper Magic, Berwick, Offray, C.R. Gibson, Markings, Creative Papers, Tapestry, Seastone, Dudley��, Eureka, Learning Playground and Stickerfitti.

CSS operates 10 manufacturing and/or distribution facilities located in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Alabama and Texas. Its boxed greeting cards are produced by Asian manufacturers to the Company�� specifications. Halloween make-up and Easter egg dye products are manufactured in Asia to specific formulae by contract manufacturers who meet regulatory requirements for the formularization and packaging of such products. Ribbons and bows are primarily manufactured and warehoused in seven facilities located in Pennsylvania, Maryland, South Carolina and Texas. Memory books, stationery, journals and notecards, infant and wedding photo albums, scrapbooks, and other gift items are imported from Asian manufacturers and warehoused and distributed from a distribution facility in Florence, Alabama. Floral accessories, including pot covers, foil, waxed tissue, shred, aisle runners, corsage bags and other paper! and film! products, are manufactured in a facility located in Milford, New Hampshire and Juarez, Mexico. Manufacturing includes gravure and flexo printing, waxing and converting. Products are warehoused and distributed from a distribution facility in Berwick, Pennsylvania. Other products including, but not limited to, decorative tissue paper, all occasion gift wrap, gift tags, gift bags, gift boxes, gift card holders, classroom exchange Valentine products, Halloween masks, costumes and novelties, Easter products, decorations and school products are designed to the specifications of CSS and are imported primarily from Asian manufacturers.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Duprey]

  Gifts maker�CSS Industries� (NYSE: CSS  ) �announced yesterday its second-quarter dividend of $0.15 per share, the same rate it's paid since 2008.

Top 5 Specialty Retail Stocks To Watch For 2014: Natural Grocers By Vitamin Cottage Inc (NGVC)

Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc., incorporated on April 9, 2012, is a specialty retailer of natural and organic groceries and dietary supplements. The Company operates within the natural products retail industry. The Company offers products and brands, including a selection of natural and organic food, dietary supplements, body care products, pet care products and books.

The Company offers its customers an average of approximately 18,000 store-keeping units (SKUs) of natural and organic products per store, including an average of approximately 7,000 SKU of dietary supplements. As of June 30, 2012, the Company operated 55 stores in 11 states, including Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah and Wyoming, as well as a bulk food repackaging facility and distribution center in Colorado. The size of its stores varies from 5,000 selling square feet to 14,500 selling square feet, and a new store averages 9,500 selling square feet.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Udovich]

  Large cap natural and organic foods supermarket giant Whole Foods Market, Inc (NASDAQ: WFM), otherwise known as ��hole Wallet��r ��hole Paycheck,��is not the only player in the natural or organics supermarket space for consumers and investors alike as mid cap Sprouts Farmers Market Inc (NASDAQ: SFM) and small caps Fairway Group Holdings Corp (NASDAQ: FWM) and Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage Inc (NYSE: NGVC) are also players in the space. It should be mentioned that Whole Foods Market is down 15.7% since the start of the year and has a downward trending technical chart, but�shares are�still up 13% over the past year, up 426.3% over the past five years and up 3,108.6% since January 1992.

• [By John Udovich]

  Small cap Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage (NYSE: NGVC) and mid cap Sprouts Farmers Market Inc (NASDAQ: SFM) are taking aim at natural and organic foods supermarket giant Whole Foods Market (NASDAQ: WFM), but do either of these stocks have what it takes to take on the the king of organic retailing? Whole Foods Market was founded in Austin way back in 1978 by a�twenty-five year old college dropout and a twenty-one year old�at a time when there were only a handful of natural or organic�supermarkets in the country. Today, Whole Foods Market�has 364 stores in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom���which are sometimes referred to as ��hole Wallet��r ��hole Paycheck��given how much it costs to shop there.

• [By Brian Stoffel]

  Much has been made recently about new entrants into the organic/natural food space in America. While Sprouts Farmers Market� (NASDAQ: SFM  ) , The Fresh Market (NASDAQ: TFM  ) , and Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage� (NYSE: NGVC  ) attempt to use Whole Foods' blueprint, Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT  ) is teaming up with Wild Oats to offer more organic goods in its discount stores.

• [By David Mamos]

  The Fresh Market Inc. (Nasdaq: TFM), Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage Inc. (NYSE: NGVC), and privately held Trader Joe's are others crowding into the field.

Top 5 Specialty Retail Stocks To Watch For 2014: Sa Sa International Holdings Ltd (SAXJF)

Sa Sa International Holdings Limited is an investment holding company. The Company�� subsidiaries are principally engaged in the retailing and wholesaling of cosmetic products. Its business covers Hong Kong and Macau, Mainland China, Taiwan, Singapore, and Malaysia. The Company operates in two segments: retail segment, engaged in the operation of cosmetics specialty stores, which offer a variety of products from over 600 beauty brands, covering a wide of products from skin care, fragrance, make-up, body care and hair care to health foods, and brand management segment, engaged in the management of over 100 beauty brands. It also offers round-the-clock online shopping services along with product and corporate information through its e-commerce platform, sasa.com. The Company�� subsidiaries include Alibaster Management Limited, Base Sun Investment Limited, Cyber Colors Limited, Docile Company Limited and Elegance Trading (Shanghai) Company Limited, among others. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By WWW.MARKETWATCH.COM]

  HONG KONG (MarketWatch) -- Hong Kong stocks swung between small gains and losses early Thursday after hitting a seven-month high in the previous session, with the Hang Seng Index (HK:HSI) down less than 0.1%. Most mainland Chinese property developers outperformed the markets, with Guangzhou R&F Properties Co. (HK:2777) (GZUHF) rallying 3.4%, after the company reported a 44% month-on-month jump in sales for June. Shimao Property Holdings Ltd. (HK:0813) (SIOPF) climbed 2.6%, and China Resources Land Ltd. (HK:1109) (CRBJF) rose 1.7%. However, several retailers were weak, as Want Want China Holdings Ltd. (HK:0151) (WWNTF) , the country's top food and beverage maker, declined 2%. Hong Kong-based cosmetics brand Sa Sa International Holdings (HK:0178) (SAXJF) fell 1.6%, with a decline in Chinese June non-manufacturing data helping weigh on some retailers. Over on the Chinese mainland, the Shanghai Composite Index (CN:SHCOMP) retreated 0.4%, pulling back from its highest close in two weeks.

Top 5 Specialty Retail Stocks To Watch For 2014: Vitamin Shoppe Inc (VSI)

Vitamin Shoppe, Inc., incorporated on September 27, 2002, is a specialty retailer and direct marketer of vitamins, minerals, herbs, specialty supplements, sports nutrition and other health and wellness products. During the fiscal year ended December 29, 2012 (fiscal 2012), the Company marketed over 400 different brands, as well as its own brands, which include Vitamin Shoppe, BodyTech and True Athlete. The Company sells its products through two segments: retail and direct. In the Company's retail segment, the Company had a total of 286 new stores during the fiscal 2012. As of January 26, 2013, the Company operated 579 stores in 42 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Ontario, Canada, primarily located in high-traffic regional retail centers. In the Company's direct segment, the Company sells its products directly to consumers through the Internet, primarily at www.vitaminshoppe.com. On February 14, 2013, Vitamin Shoppe Mariner, Inc. acquired Super Supplements, Inc.

Retail

The Company's retail segment includes its retail store format. Its retail stores are is located in diverse geographic and demographic markets, ranging from urban locations in New York City, to suburban locations in Plantation, Florida and Manhattan Beach, California. As of January 26, 2013, the Company leased the property for all of its 579 stores. The Company's primary warehouse and distribution center and corporate headquarters are consolidated into a leased, 230,000 square-foot facility.

Products

The Company offers a selection of vitamins, minerals, herbs, homeopathic remedies, specialty supplements, such as fish oil, probiotics, glucosamine and Co Q10, sports nutrition, weight management, as well as natural bath and beauty, pet supplements and options for a healthy home. The Company's offers includes approximately 17,500 stock keeping units (SKUs) from over 400 brands. The Company offers products to its assortment in its Vitamin Shoppe, BodyTech, True Athlete and O! ptimal Pet brands, which include products, such as Ultimate Man, Ultimate Women, Whey Tech Pro 24 and Natural Whey Protein. The Company also offers an assortment from national brands, such as Optimum Nutrition, USP Labs, Garden of Life, Cytosport, Nature's Way, Solaray and Solgar. This assortment is designed to provide the Company's customers with a selection of available product in order to help them achieve their health and wellness goals.

The vitamin and mineral product category includes multi-vitamins, which many consider to be a foundation of a healthy regimen, lettered vitamins, such as Vitamin A, C, D, E, and B-complex, along with trace minerals, such as calcium, magnesium, chromium and zinc. Certain herbs can be taken to help support specific body systems, including ginkgo to support brain activity and milk thistle to help support liver function, as well as other less common herbs, such as holy basil for stress support and blood sugar control and black cohosh for menopause support. Herbal products include whole herbs, standardized extracts, herb combination formulas and teas.

Categories of specialty supplements include omega fatty acids, probiotics and condition specific formulas. Certain specialty supplements, such as organic greens, psyllium fiber and soy proteins, are taken for added support during various life stages. Folic acid is specifically useful during pregnancy. Super antioxidants, such as coenzyme Q-10, grapeseed extract and pycnogenol, are taken to address specific conditions. High ORAC (oxygen radical absorptive capacity) fruit concentrates like gogi, mangosteen, pomegranate and blueberry are taken to prevent oxygen radical damage. Other specialty supplement formulas are focused to support specific organs, biosystems and body functions. The Company offers approximately 3,000 SKUs in sports nutrition.

The Company's other category include natural beauty and personal care, diet and weight management supplements, natural pet food, and low carb foo! ds. Natur! al beauty and personal care products offer an alternative to traditional products that often contain synthetic and/or other ingredients that the Company's customers find objectionable. The Company offers approximately 3,000 SKUs for its other category. The Company's natural pet products include nutritionally balanced foods and snacks along with condition specific supplements such as glucosamine for joint health. Its variety of diet and weight management products range from low calorie bars, drinks and meal replacements to energy tablets, capsules and liquids.

The Company competes with Vitamin World, GNC, Whole Foods, Costco, Wal-Mart, Rite-Aid, Walgreens, Amazon.com, Puritan's Pride, Vitacost.com, Bodybuilding.com, Doctors Trust, Swanson and iHerb.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Barclays upgraded share s of Vitamin Shoppe (VSI) today, expressing a confidence in management that was, well, heartwarming.

  Barclays’ analysts Meredith Adler and Sean Kras call Vitamin Shoppe’s management team “thoughtful, deliberate and disciplined” and praise their ability to diversify the business. As a result, they upgraded Vitamin Shoppe to Overweight from Equal Weight two days after Vitamin Shoppe released its earnings.

  But Adler and Kras also spent a good number of words explaining what Vitamin Shoppe isn’t–specifically, it’s not GNC Holdings (GNC):

  [Vitamin Shoppe] said it saw no fundamental change in consumer demand, nor did it feel much pressure from the bad media reports about things like multi-vitamins and fish oil, unlike GNC. [Vitamin Shoppe] has a much broader offering than GNC, however, so weakness in any one category rarely has a major impact on�[Vitamin Shoppe's] overall sales the way it does at GNC. Conversely, it benefits less when there are few very successful products. For example, diet is a far smaller part of the sales mix at�[Vitamin Shoppe] than at GNC. Last year diet had some strong products, but this year there are fewer. GNC�� comps were stronger than�[Vitamin Shoppe's] last year, but we like the stability of�[Vitamin Shoppe's] business, especially in the current environment.

  Shares of Vitamin Shoppe have gained 1.8% to $43.42 at 3:24 p.m., while GNC has risen 0.8% to $37.43.

• [By Brian Pacampara]

  Sales growth this last quarter was up only about 6%, but net income per share was up 21%. They pay a $0.60 dividend which gives them a dividend yield of 1.4%. Their cash flow yield is 4.6%, so they could easily raise their dividend. They are by far the leader in a very fragmented industry. I believe both [Vitamin Shoppe (NYSE: VSI  ) ] and GNC will do well and I think they may make a fair pairing in a portfolio. Stability versus growth.
  
  They do have $1.1 billion in debt. But they generate about $200 million in cash flow a year and they have $174 million in cash, so that shouldn't be a problem. Their cash flow is very high, so in my opinion, is reason enough to believe they will beat the S&P 500 over the next ten years.

• [By John Udovich]

  Vitamin Shoppe Inc (NYSE: VSI), Books-A-Million, Inc (NASDAQ: BAMM) and Perfumania Holdings, Inc (NASDAQ: PERF) have the dubious distinction of being�the worst performing small cap�specialty retail stocks for this year (according to Finviz.com) with losses of 4.85% and�3% and a gain of 0.61%, respectively, since the start of the year (See my previous article: This Year�� Best Performing Small Cap Specialty Retail Stocks? UNTD, TA & HZO). I should mention that the definition of specialty retail stocks might vary from one stock screener to another, but what�� clear is that these three small cap retail stocks have been heading in the wrong direction for investors for much of this year. �With that in mind, what sort of performance should investors expect from these small cap specialty retail stocks on Black Friday and for the all important holiday season? Here is what you need to be aware of:

Top 5 US Companies To Watch In Right Now

Buffett-inspired Biglari Holdings (NYSE: BH  ) is not nearly as followed as its model business, Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK-B  ) , but investors in the latter would be wise to keep an eye on the moves of this restaurant-focused holdings company.

Led by 35-year-old "combative" investor Sardar Biglari, the company may be most widely known for its acquisition and turnaround of fast-food chain Steak n Shake. Since going public in 2008 (shortly before the financial crisis), the company's stock has returned more than 200% for shareholders, with 23% of shares still held by inside owners. Though management releases limited commentary and analysis with its quarterly reports, we can take a closer look at the recent SEC filing to see whether Biglari Holdings is headed higher still.

Quarterly results
Biglari derives the bulk of its revenue from restaurant operations, with the investment management arm of the company, The Lion Fund, contributing a much smaller amount. Year over year, earnings are almost identical, with restaurant earnings bringing in $218.74 million, compared with $218.36 million in the year-ago period. The increase was mainly due to a 0.3% increase in same-store sales for Steak n Shake, even with a 0.2% decrease in customer traffic. Franchise and royalty fees were up an impressive 26%, while investment income performed very strongly, growing from $1.84 million in 2012 to $2.29 million in this year's first 16 weeks. Overall, net revenues grew to $225.2 million from $223.68 million -- a forgettable gain.

5 Best Beverage Stocks To Own For 2015: Avon Products Inc. (AVP)

Avon Products Inc. manufactures and markets beauty and related products worldwide. Its product categories include color cosmetics, fragrances, skin care, and personal care; fashion jewelry, watches, apparel, footwear, and accessories; and gift and decorative products, housewares, entertainment and leisure, and children?s and nutritional products. Avon Products Inc. markets its products through direct selling and independent representatives, as well as through distributorships. The company was founded in 1886 and is based in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Teresa Rivas]

  Shares of Kimberly-Clark (KMB) were rising 1.4% just after 3 on Tuesday, while Avon Products (AVP) was down 1.4%, a neat symmetry that reflects BMO Capital Markets��take on the two companies.

• [By Ben Rooney]

  Herbalife has repeatedly denied that it operates as a pyramid scheme, saying its business model is no different from marketing at other companies that uses sales representatives, such as Avon (AVP). The company has said Ackman's attacks are baseless and that he is trying to manipulate Herbalife's stock price.

• [By John Divine]

  While losers outnumbered gainers by a 2-to-1 margin in the stock market today, some stocks felt the pain more harshly than others. Avon Products (NYSE: AVP  ) and the two stocks below are such examples. Shares of the beauty products company lost 2.8% Monday, perhaps because investors realize the significant challenges Avon still faces. The entire business model depends on the size and capability of Avon's sales representatives, and last year their fleet size fell by 15%. With North American sales halved since 2007, sales still falling in the most recent quarter, and a net loss in the fourth quarter, things don't look great right now. Thankfully, Avon is popular with the Hispanic community, which should be a boon to its revenue as U.S. demographics change over time.

Top 5 US Companies To Watch In Right Now: InnerWorkings Inc (INWK)

InnerWorkings, Inc. (InnerWorkings), incorporated on September 26, 2001, is a provider of global print management and promotional solutions to corporate clients across a ranges of industries. The Company's software applications and database create a solution that stores, analyzes and tracks the production capabilities of the Company's supplier network, as well as quote and price data for print jobs. The Company offers a range of print, fulfillment and logistics services. The Company procures printed products for clients across a range of industries, such as retail, financial services, hospitality, non-profits, healthcare, food and beverage, broadcasting and cable, education, transportation and utilities. Utilizing the Company's technology and database, the Company provides its clients a global solution to procure and delivers printed products. In March 2013, InnerWorkings Inc acquired DB Studios. In August 2013, InnerWorkings Inc. acquired Professional Packaging Services Ltd. In July 2013, the Company announced that it has acquired EYELEVEL, a global provider of permanent retail displays and store fixtures.

The Company's network of more than 10,000 global suppliers offers a range of printed products and a full range of print, fulfillment and logistics services. The Company's technology is a solution that stores equipment profiles for the Company's supplier network and price data for jobs the Company quotes and executes. The Company's technology allows the Company to match print jobs with the suppliers in the Company's network that are optimally suited to produce a job. The Company's technology also allows the Company to efficiently manage the critical aspects of the print procurement process, including gathering job specifications, identifying suppliers, establishing pricing, managing print production and coordinating purchase and delivery of the finished product.

The Company's database stores the production capabilities of the Company's supplier network, as well as price and! quote data for bids the Company receives and transactions the Company executes. The Company's solution automatically generates customized data entry screens based on product type and guides the production manager to enter the required job specifications. The Company's solution reconciles supplier invoices to executed print orders to ensure the supplier adhered to the pricing and other terms contained in the print order. In addition, it includes checks and balances that allow the Company to monitor important financial indicators relating to a print order, such as projected gross margin and job alterations.

The Company's solution generates transaction reports that contain quote, supplier capability, price and customer service information regarding the print jobs the client has completed with the Company. The Company's solution creates a work order checklist that sends e-mail reminders to the Company's production managers regarding the time elapsed between certain milestones and the completion of specified deliverables. These automated notifications enable the Company's production managers to focus on more critical aspects of the print process and eliminate delays. Some of the Company's clients provided the Company with pricing data for print jobs they completed before they began to use its solution. The Company procures printed products for corporate clients across a range of industries, such as retail, publishing, financial services, hospitality, non-profits, healthcare, food and beverage, broadcasting and cable, education, transportation and utilities.

The Company offers a range of print, fulfillment and logistics services in more than 60 different print categories, which allows the Company to procure printed products on virtually any substrate. The printed products the Company procures for its clients may is printed with any of the eight types of printing, which include offset sheet-fed, Web offset, digital offset, letterpress, screen printing, waterless, flexography and grav! ure, as w! ell as several forms of specialty printing. The Company offers a range of fulfillment and logistics services, such as kitting and assembly, inventories management and pre-sorting postage. These services are often essential to the completion of the finished product. The Company also provides creative services, including copywriting, graphics and Website design, identity work and marketing collateral development, and pre-media services, such as image and print-ready page processing and proofing capabilities.

The Company's eStores empower the Company's clients with branded self-service ecommerce Websites that prompt quick and easy online ordering, fulfillment, tracking and reporting.The Company's network of more than 10,000 global suppliers includes printers, graphic designers, paper mills and merchants, digital imaging companies, specialty binders, finishing and engraving firms and fulfillment and distribution centers.

The Company competes with Williams Lea, Logisource, Cirqit and Noosh.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By David Trainer]

  
  For examples of large investment firms propping up stock prices and fueling large moves, see my recent Danger Zone articles on InnerWorkings (NASDAQ: INWK) and Tangoe (NASDAQ: TNGO). Both stocks had heavy institutional ownership and rapid upward price moves driven by Wall Street propaganda and momentum traders. Soon after we revealed how disconnected the price moves were from the companies’ fundamentals the stocks fell 30+%.

• [By Monica Gerson]

  InnerWorkings (NASDAQ: INWK) shares dipped 34.83% to touch a new 52-week low of $6.19 after the company reported downbeat Q3 results and issued a weak FY13 outlook.

Top 5 US Companies To Watch In Right Now: iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF (IJR)

iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF, formerly iShares S&P SmallCap 600 Index Fund, seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Standard & Poor's SmallCap 600 Index (the Index). The Index measures the performance of publicly traded securities in the small-capitalization sector of the United States equity market. The Index serves as the underlying index for the S&P 600/Citigroup Growth and Value Index series. The component stocks are weighted according to the total float-adjusted market value of their outstanding shares. The component stocks in the Index have a market capitalization between $300 million and $1 billion (which may fluctuate depending on the overall level of the equity markets), and are selected for liquidity and industry group representation. The Index is adjusted to reflect changes in capitalization resulting from mergers, acquisition, stock rights, substitutions and other capital events.

The Fund invests in a representative sample of securities included in the Index that collectively has an investment profile similar to the Index. iShares S&P SmallCap 600 Index Fund�� investment advisor is Barclays Global Fund Advisors.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Chris Ciovacco]

  In Thursday's ETF analysis, evidence is presented that supports increasing demand for assets that get a tailwind from a weak U.S. dollar, including emerging markets (EEM) and foreign stocks (EFA). Casting a wider economic net, our market model told us to start buying stocks last week even with the threat of a U.S. default. Wednesday, we continued with our incremental allocation shifts by adding some exposure to the energy sector. Thursday, we sat tight holding long positions in small caps (IJR), Europe (FEZ), emerging markets and technology (QQQ). The upper bounds of the bullish S&P 500 trend channel shown below may offer some resistance to the market's near vertical ascent.

Top 5 US Companies To Watch In Right Now: Mohawk Industries Inc. (MHK)

Mohawk Industries, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the production and sale of floor covering products for residential and commercial applications primarily in the United States and Europe. The company operates through three segments: Mohawk, Dal-Tile, and Unilin. The Mohawk segment designs, manufactures, sources, distributes, and markets floor covering product lines, which include carpets, ceramic tiles, laminates, rugs, carpet pads, hardwood, and resilient. This segment offers its products under the brand names of Mohawk, Aladdin, Mohawk ColorCenters, Mohawk Floorscapes, Portico, Mohawk Home, Bigelow, Durkan, Horizon, Karastan, Lees, and Merit. In addition, this segment markets and distributes its soft and hard surface products through independent floor covering retailers, home centers, mass merchandisers, department stores, commercial dealers, and commercial end users, as well as through private labeling programs. The Dal-Tile segment designs, manufactur es, sources, distributes, and markets a line of ceramic tile, porcelain tile, and natural stone products. This segment offers its products primarily under the Dal-Tile and American Olean brand names through company-owned service centers, independent distributors, home center retailers, tile and flooring retailers, and contractors. The Unilin segment offers laminate and hardwood flooring under the brand names of Quick-Step, Columbia Flooring, Century Flooring, and Universal Flooring through retailers, independent distributors, and home centers. This segment also produces roofing systems, insulation panels, and other wood products. Mohawk Industries, Inc. was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in Calhoun, Georgia.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jeremy Bowman]

  What: Shares of Mohawk Industries (NYSE: MHK  ) were looking stronger today, gaining as much as 10% after the flooring specialist topped earnings estimates in its first-quarter report.

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  Facebook certainly took the spotlight in the decision from S&P Dow Jones Indices to include the social media giant in the S&P 500. But lost in the Facebook news was the fact that Alliance Data Systems (NYSE: ADS  ) and Mohawk Industries (NYSE: MHK  ) also gained admission to the prestigious index, while Abercrombie & Fitch (NYSE: ANF  ) , JDS Uniphase (NASDAQ: JDSU  ) , and Teradyne (NYSE: TER  ) made their exit. Let's take a closer look at the other winners and losers in the Facebook index shuffle.

• [By David Goodboy]

  The leading company in this industry, Mohawk Industries (NYSE: MHK) boasts a market cap of more than $9 billion, and its stock is up nearly 65% over the past year. However, at nearly $130, the share price precludes many investors from making a substantial long-term investment in the company. Using this performance as a guide, I scanned for lower-priced stocks in the same business with similar performance.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Going through his papers, he found a list of stocks that UBS said to buy if Obama won the election in 2012, including the likes of United Rentals (URI) , First Solar (FSLR),�Alliant Techsystems (ATK), Alkermes (ALKS) and Mohawk Industries (MHK). And wouldn’t you know it, those stocks have gained 58% this year, compared to the S&P 500′s 27% gain. And just in case you’re wondering, those stocks have also trumped UBS’s Romney basket, which has gained 33%.

Top 5 Information Technology Stocks To Buy For 2014

With shares of Oracle (NASDAQ:ORCL) trading around $34, is ORCL�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

Oracle�is a provider of enterprise software and computer hardware products and services. The company’s software, hardware systems, and services businesses develop, manufacture, markets, host, and support database and middleware software, applications software, and hardware systems, with the latter consisting primarily of computer server and storage products. It is organized into three businesses: software, hardware systems, and services. Information technology products and services are seeing increasing demand due to the surge of companies in developing economies. As businesses continue to grow, look for Oracle to offer the support required that will send it to rising profits.

NEW! Discover a new stock idea each week for less than the cost of 1 trade. CLICK HERE for your Weekly Stock Cheat Sheets NOW!

T = Technicals on the Stock Chart are Mixed

Top 10 New Stocks To Watch Right Now: Triple-S Management Corporation (GTS)

Triple-S Management Corporation, through its subsidiaries, offers a portfolio of managed care and related products in the commercial and Medicare markets in Puerto Rico. The company operates in three segments: Managed Care, Life Insurance, and Property and Casualty Insurance. It provides managed care products, including health maintenance organization plans; preferred provider organization plans; Medicare Supplement products; Medicare Advantage products; Medicaid plans; and Medicare Part D, a prescription drug plan; and claims processing and other administrative services. The company offers its managed care products to employers, professional and trade associations, individuals, and government entities. It also provides various life, accident, disability, and health and annuity insurance products to individuals; and property and casualty insurance products, which include commercial multi-peril, commercial property mono-line, auto physical damage, auto liability, and dwelli ng policies to commercial customers. The company markets its products through a network of internal sales force, direct mail, independent brokers and agents, telemarketing staff, and the Internet. Triple-S Management Corporation was incorporated in 1997 and is based in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Brian Pacampara]

  What: Shares of Puerto Rican managed-care company Triple-S Management (NYSE: GTS  ) popped 11% today after its quarterly results topped Wall Street expectations.

Top 5 Information Technology Stocks To Buy For 2014: PhotoMedex Inc.(PHMD)

PhotoMedex, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a skin health company in North America and internationally. It offers disease management and aesthetic solutions to dermatologists, professional aestheticians, and consumers. The company provides no!no! hair removal products; professional products, including capital equipment to physicians and skin care specialists; XTRAC laser products for the treatment of psoriasis and vitiligo; NEOVA formulations for premature skin aging due to UV-induced DNA damage; Omnilux Light-emitting diode (LED) systems to treat wrinkles, acne, minor muscle pain, and pigmented lesions; Lumi�e light therapy equipment, a non-invasive skin care solution for use in non-medical applications primarily salons and spas; and topical lotions to improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, skin tone, and blemishes. It also provides home-use devices under the no!no! brand for various indications, including hair removal, acne treatment, and ski n rejuvenation; and a professional product line for acne clearance, skin tightening, psoriasis care, and hair removal to physician clinics and spas. In addition, the company engages in the development, manufacture, and sale of surgical products, including proprietary free-beam and Contact Laser Systems for surgery. Further, it sells surgical disposables and accessories to hospitals and surgery centers; and repairs, maintains, and provides replacement parts for the company?s products. The company is headquartered in Montgomeryville, Pennsylvania.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lisa Levin]

  PhotoMedex (NASDAQ: PHMD) shares rose 2.47% to $13.27. The volume of PhotoMedex shares traded was 659% higher than normal. PhotoMedex lifted its Q4 revenue forecast.

• [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 PhotoMedex (Nasdaq: PHMD  ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.

Top 5 Information Technology Stocks To Buy For 2014: Bridgeline Digital Inc.(BLIN)

Bridgeline Digital, Inc. engages in the development of Web experience management (WEM) product and interactive technology solutions that help organizations to optimize business processes. Its iAPPS product suite includes iAPPS Content Manager that allows non-technical users to create, edit, and publish content through a browser-based interface; iAPPS Commerce, an online B2B and B2C eCommerce solution, which allows users to maximize and manage various aspects of commerce initiatives; and iAPPS Marketier, a marketing lifecycle management solution that comprises customer transaction analysis, email management, surveys and polls, event registration, and issue tracking to measure campaign return on investment and client satisfaction. The company also provides iAPPS Analyzer to manage, measure, and optimize Web properties by recording detailed events and mine data within a Web application for statistical analysis; and iAPPS Rapid Site for building custom Websites. It delivers it s iAPPS product suite through cloud-based software as a service business model or via a traditional perpetual licensing business model. The company?s end-to-end interactive technology solutions consist of digital strategy, user-centered design, Web application development, SharePoint development, rich media development, search engine optimization, and Web application hosting management. Bridgeline Digital serves various markets, such as financial services, consumer products and goods, health services and life sciences, high technology (software and hardware), retail brand names, transportation and storage, associations and foundations, and the U.S. Government through its direct sales force. The company was formerly known as Bridgeline Software, Inc. and changed its name to Bridgeline Digital, Inc. in March 2010. Bridgeline Digital, Inc. was founded in 2000 and is based in Burlington, Massachusetts.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Bryan Murphy]

  Congratulations to anyone who owned shares of Bridgeline Digital Inc. (NASDAQ:BLIN) before today. You're now up 35% for the day so far, and still counting. The big pop from BLIN stemmed from the announcement that it scored a pretty significant deal with an organization consisting of nearly 4000 dentists and doctors. The terms of the deal are simple enough... Bridgeline Digital will host and service websites for the practitioners in the group for a period of three years, and in return, BLIN will receive $7 million.

Top 5 Information Technology Stocks To Buy For 2014: Investview Inc (INVU)

InvestView, Inc. (InvestView), incorporated on April 20, 2005, is an investor technology and education company. The Company provides a broad suite of products that allow the individual investor to find, analyze, track and manage his or her portfolio. The Company's educational services focus on empowering investors with the skills that allow them to rely on their own investing knowledge to make intelligent and sound investment decisions. The Company's flagship product is InvestView, an on-line education, analysis and application platform. InvestView is equipped with in-house, qualified professionals who have collectively taught over a quarter of a million students in the past decade on how to trade in the stock market. The Company specializes in assisting common investors through this process by offering them the tools, training and confidence that is required to successfully navigate the market in these trying times.

The Company helps the everyday investor turn market uncertainty into opportunity. The Company does this by providing investment tools and training , coupled with a rules-based system that allows individuals to makes more intelligent and disciplined investment decisions. The Company�� offerings include a comprehensive program of successively more complex financial educational courses that are sold to customers on a subscription basis and are delivered on line through the Company�� Website; Inhouse developed trading tools with actionable trading indicators; Blogs, newsletters and other reference materials that describe investment strategies, and Mentoring, coaching and advisory services that are available on a subscription basis.

The principal tool the Company offers is Market Point. It consists of five categories for both fundamental and technical analysis for proper stock evaluation: Charts, Stock Watch, Markets, Calendars and Campus.

The Company's 7-Minute Trader is the first of the 7-Minute products. The 7-Minute Trader was developed for everyone who ! is frustrated with the returns inside of their retirement accounts and personal investment portfolios, but just do not have the time to do all of the necessary research themselves. The Company created a program that literally takes just seven minutes per week. The Company accomplishes this through a newsletter that is sent out every week with just a single trade idea in it.

The Company�� 7-Minute Stocks product was introduced to address those subscribers who have expressed an interest in adding an equity strategy. Similar to the 7-Minute Trader, the 7-Minute Stocks product is scalable since it provides only on-demand education and one new trade idea per week via its newsletter service. Contrary to the 7-Miinute Trader, the 7-Minute Stocks is a more conservative, longer time horizon product. Most 7-Minute Stocks trades are expected to be held for multiple weeks or even months in duration compared to just 2-3 days for the 7-Minute Trader.

The Company�� 7-Minute Options product was introduced to address those subscribers who wanted a less aggressive option trading strategy than the one provided with the 7-Minute Trader. Similar to the 7-Minute Trader, the 7-Minute Options product is scalable since it provides only on-demand education and one new trade idea per week via its newsletter service. Contrary to the 7-Minute Trader, the 7-Minute Options is a more conservative, slightly longer time horizon product. Most 7-Minute Options trades are expected to be held for 2-8 weeks in duration compared to 2-3 days for the 7-Minute Trader.

The Company competes with Edgar Online, BankRate.com, TheStreet.com and Morningstar.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jonathan Yates]

  Louro, who is the head of Investview (OTC: INVU), emphasizes this as the overall appeal of this strategy. Many buyers of options do it for hedging purposes.

• [By Jonathan Yates]

  Options expert Dr. Joseph Louro, head of Investview (OTC: INVU), an investor education and financial technology entity, says that more than 70 percent of options are never exercised. And that makes selling covered call options on a company like BHP Billiton even more rewarding and even less risky.

Top 10 US Companies To Own For 2014

The Financial Times recently reported that cola giant The Coca-Cola Company (KO) will launch smaller and slimmer versions of its Coke, Diet Coke and Coke Zero brands of soft drink cans in U.K. later this month.

Coca-Cola will launch a 250 ml can, which will contain 105 calories as compared to 139 calories in the larger 330 ml can. The slimmer cans are expected to be priced at the same rate per 100 ml as its larger counterpart.

Beverage giants are witnessing a decline in the sales of carbonated soft drinks (CSD), especially the colas, due to rising health consciousness and increasing public and governmental concerns regarding obesity and other co-morbidities.

To reinvigorate the sales of its sparkling beverages, like Coke and Fanta, The Coca-Cola Company is offering more choices to its customers in package sizes, sweeteners and beverages (including more low- and no-calorie selections). The new slim cans are part of this ongoing plan.

Other beverage companies are also gearing up to cater to the emerging trend. PepsiCo, Inc.�� (PEP) low-calorie cola, Pepsi Next, which contains 60% less sugar, achieved nearly $100 million in retail sales in less than 12 months in the market. PepsiCo is now making evolutionary natural sweeteners and flavorings aimed at reducing calories to re-vitalize declining sales of its colas. The food and beverage giant also aims to grow its nutrition brands like Quaker, Tropicana and Gatorade.

Top 10 Consumer Service Stocks To Buy Right Now: LMP Real Estate Income Fund Inc (RIT)

LMP Real Estate Income Fund Inc. (the Fund) is a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company. The Fund�� primary investment objective is to provide high current income. Its secondary investment objective is capital appreciation. Legg Mason Partners Fund Advisor, LLC (LMPFA) is the Fund�� investment manager and AEW Management and Advisors, L.P. (AEW) is the Fund�� subadviser. LMPFA is a wholly owned subsidiary of Legg Mason, Inc.

The Fund invests in securities related to the real estate industry. Its portfolio includes common stocks, preferred stocks and short-term investments. The Fund invests in sectors, such as office, healthcare, diversified, apartments, industrial, shopping centers, home financing, lodging/resorts, regional malls and specialty.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By GURUFOCUS]

  Special Purpose Funds- Eaton Vance Tax-Adv. Global Dividend Oppor. Fund (ETO) | Yield: 7.3%
  - The Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust (GLU) | Yield: 6.2%
  - Pimco Global Stocksplus Income Fund (PGP) | Yield: 9.5%
  - LMP Real Estate Income Fund Inc. (RIT) | Yield: 7.0%

Top 10 US Companies To Own For 2014: Implant Sciences Corp (IMSC)

Implant Sciences Corporation (Implant Sciences), incorporated in August 31,1984, develops, manufactures and sells sensors and systems for the security, safety and defense (SS&D) industries. Its technologies are used worldwide in security and inspection applications. Implant Sciences has developed technologies used in explosives trace detection (ETD), and and narcotics trace detection (NTD) applications and market and sell handheld ETD and benchtop ETD and NTD systems that use its technologies. The systems are used by private companies and Government agencies to screen baggage, cargo, vehicles, other objects and people for the detection of trace amounts of explosives. Implant Sciences have developed explosives detection systems designed for use in aviation and transportation security, high threat facilities and infrastructure, military installations, customs and border protection, and mail and cargo screening. The systems use the Quantum Sniffer technologies, including photon-based, non-radioactive ion source in combination with ion mobility spectrometry, a detection tool sensitive to the speeds with which ions of various substances move through the air to electronically detect minute quantities of explosives vapor and particles.

Quantum Sniffer QS-H150 Portable Explosives Detector

The Quantum Sniffer QS-H150 Portable Explosives Detector employs a vortex collector for the simultaneous detection of explosives particulates and vapors with or without physical contact and in real-time. The QS-HS150 can detect vapors and nanogram quantities of explosives particulates for explosives substances considered to be threats. The substances include military and commercial explosives, improvised and homemade explosives, and propellants and taggants.

The QS-H150 has automatic and continuous self-calibration. It monitors its environment, senses changes that would affect its accuracy, and re-calibrates accordingly. The system requires no user intervention and no calibration cons! umables. The detection process begins with the collection of a sample with its vortex collector. After collection, the sample is ionized photonically and analyzed using ion mobility spectrometer (IMS) technology. The presence of a threat substance is indicated by a visible and audible alarms. The threat substance is then identified and displayed on the integrated liquid crystal display (LCD) screen. When detecting a threat substance, the QS-H150 rapidly alarms. This real-time detection limits equipment contamination and allows for fast clear-down.

Quantum Sniffer QS-B220 Benchtop Explosives and Narcotics Detector

QS-B220 Benchtop Explosives and Narcotics Detector uses dual IMS with non-radioactive ionization for the detection and identification of a range of military, commercial, and improvised explosives as well as narcotics. The QS-B220 uses a sample trap which is wiped on the surface to be interrogated for explosives or narcotics particles.

The QS-B220 has automatic and continuous self-calibration. It monitors its environment, senses changes that would affect its accuracy, and re-calibrates accordingly.

Quantum Sniffer TM QS-Hx Portable Explosives Detector

The Company is focusing in developing a next-generation handheld detector that will use dual IMS non-radioactive ionization for the detection and identification of a range of military, commercial and improvised explosives, as well as narcotics. The QS-Hx will have automatic and continuous self-calibration, multi-level password-protected data security and will include a data management interface with data export to a network for recordkeeping, providing a link with the central command centers and logistics systems used by carriers.

Miniature Mass Spectrometer

The Company�� acquisition of Ion Metrics enabled it to obtain miniaturized quadrupole mass spectrometry (QMS) detector technology. The QMS detector is roughly the size of an AA battery and has low manufactur! ing costs! . When used in conjunction with an IMS, the QMS detector senses the molecular weight of the chemical species resulting in an orthogonal detection method in which a more fundamental characteristic of a substance is measured. It is developing interfaces for integrating the QMS detector into its future products.

Hyphenated Detectors

Depending on the application and the number of interfering background chemicals, it may be necessary to incorporate additional orthogonal detection methods. The combination of multiple sensors in series is known as employing hyphenated methods. By measuring different properties of the same species, interferents are separated from target species for a deterministic detection and identification and have minimum rates of false alarms. It is developing hyphenated systems employing conventional ion mobility, differential mobility and quadrupole mass spectrometry. As of June 30, 2012, it has one patent issued in real-time trace detection by IMS and QMS and two hyphenated system patents pending.

The Company competes with Morpho Detection, Inc., NucTech Company Limited and Smiths Detection, Inc.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By James E. Brumley]

  It's not an uncompetitive market. Names like Implant Sciences Corporation (OTCMKTS:IMSC) and NXT-ID (OTCBB:NXTD) are battling in the security and facility-defense arena as well; IMSC makes explosives-detection and drug-detection hardware, while NXTD designs 3D image-rendering software that caters to the unique needs of prison security personnel, though the same technology has been proven in more traditional functions like building-security systems that keep certain people out rather than in. Neither Implant Sciences nor NXT-ID compete directly head-to-head with View Systems, however ... fortunately for them. See, VSYM is considered by some to be the best in the industry.

Top 10 US Companies To Own For 2014: Target Corporation(TGT)

Target Corporation operates general merchandise stores in the United States. The company offers household essentials, including pharmacy, beauty, personal care, baby care, cleaning, and paper products; hardlines comprising music, movies, books, computer software, sporting goods, and toys, as well as electronics that comprise video game hardware and software; apparel and accessories consisting of apparel for women, men, boys, girls, toddlers, infants, and newborns; and intimate apparel, jewelry, accessories, and shoes. It also provides food and pet supplies, including dry grocery, dairy, frozen food, beverages, candy, snacks, deli, bakery, meat, produce, and pet supplies; and home furnishings and d�or, such as furniture, lighting, kitchenware, small appliances, home d�or, bed and bath, home improvement, and automotive products, as well as seasonal merchandise, which include patio furniture and holiday d�or. The company sells its merchandise products under private-labe l and exclusive licensed brands. In addition, it provides in-store amenities. As of January 28, 2012, Target Corporation operated 1,763 stores in 49 states and the District of Columbia under Target and SuperTarget names. Further, it offers general merchandise through its Website, Target.com. The company distributes its merchandise through a network of distribution centers, as well as third parties and direct shipping from vendors. Additionally, it offers credit to guests through its branded proprietary credit cards, the Target Visa Credit Card and the Target Credit Card, as well as through its branded proprietary Target Debit Card. Target Corporation was founded in 1902 and is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dan Moskowitz]

  Then there's Target (NYSE: TGT  ) , which attracts a higher-end consumer than Wal-Mart and is attempting to increase its online presence. However, Target still doesn't know what the total costs for its data breach will look like. Once this news comes out, then it might be time to consider Target as an investment option. Until then, there's a lot of uncertainty.

• [By Johanna Bennett]

  For two years, Stifel analyst David Schick has rated Target (TGT) (or Tar-zhay, as some people like to say) at a Hold .That dates back long before�the retailer got hammered last year when hackers breached the company�� security and stole information regarding tens of millions of customers.

  Today, Schick has upgraded the stock to a Buy and set a six- to 12-month price target at $76.

  Granted, at today�� $65.80, the stock has regained�ground since falling to a 52-week low of $54.66 in February.

  With sales of more than $71 billion during the fiscal year ended Feb. 1, Target operates stores in the U.S. and Canada, bring its brand of so-called cheap-chic to middle-class shoppers. Target had a rough 2013 as losses in Canada, where Target received a chilly reception, pressured earnings. Constrained consumer spending in the U.S., where Target competes with Wal-Mart (WMT) and Amazon.com (AMZN), hurt too.

  Barrons.com weighed in on the stock in February, arguing that much of the bad news was worked into the share price. Since then, the shares have climbed less than 5%.

  The retail giant�is slated to report fiscal third-quarter financial results on Wednesday. Ahead of the news, Schick sees better times ahead short term, including improved store traffic in the fourth quarter and topline upside if management initiatives bear fruit.

  A buyback could also help boost results.

  As Schick writes:

  ��we do not model any buyback in FY14 just yet, but TGT historically offers next year repurchase guidance in 3Qs (and we still model some buyback in FY15) ��we think any share repurchase guidance would be incremental positive to the Street (and capex guidance should improve without spend on Canada rollout). We are now modeling US comp of 2% for 4Q14, 1.5% for FY15 and 1.5% for FY16. We are also modeling $1.5 bn 2015 buyback and $2 bn 2016 buyback.

  �

  Target rose 2.6% during today�� market action.

• [By Jon C. Ogg]

  After all the concerns in guidance from Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT) and Target Corp. (NYSE: TGT), we chose not identify any of the big giant retail destination chains.�If shopping was only responded to as a top thing by 43% and behind visiting friends and family, then it seems obvious that the�nearly no-cost�visit will win out over�retail shops.

Top 10 US Companies To Own For 2014: Document Security Systems Inc (DSS)

Document Security Systems, Inc. (DSS), incorporated on May 30, 1984, develops, markets, secure technologies. The Company specializes in fraud and counterfeit protection for all forms of printed documents and digital information. The Company holds numerous patents for optical deterrent technologies that provide protection of printed information from unauthorized scanning and copying. The Company operates three production facilities, a security and commercial printing facility, a packaging facility and a plastic cards facility, where the Company produces secure and non-secure documents for its customers. The Company licenses its anti-counterfeiting technologies to printers and brand-owners. In addition, the Company has a digital division which provides cloud computing services for its customers, including disaster recovery, back-up and data security services. The Company operates in four segments: DSS Printing Group, DSS Plastics Group, DSS Packaging Group and DSS Digital Group. In June 2013, Document Security Systems Inc announced the closing of its previously announced merger with Lexington Technology Group, Inc. In October 2013, the Company announced that it has acquired two portfolios that will enable DSS to develop protected hardware and peripherals that incorporate core DSS security technologies.

The Company provides document security technology to security printers, corporations, consumer product companies and governments worldwide and for currency, identifications, certifications, travel documents, prescription and medical forms, consumer product and pharmaceutical packaging, and school transcripts. Its products are delivered on paper, plastic, or digitally via its AuthentiGuard DX product suite.

DSS Printing Group

The DSS Printing Group provides secure and commercial printing services for end-user customers along with technical support for the Company�� technology licensees. The division produces a wide array of printed materials such as security paper,! vital records, prescription paper, birth certificates, receipts, manuals, identification materials, entertainment tickets, secure coupons, parts tracking forms, brochures, direct mailing pieces, catalogs, business cards, etc. The division also provides the basis of research and development for its security printing technologies.

DSS Plastics Group

The DSS Plastics Group manufactures laminated and surface printed cards which can include magnetic stripes, bar codes, holograms, signature panels, invisible ink, micro fine printing, guilloche patterns, biometric, radio frequency identification (RFID) and watermarks for printed plastic documents such as identity cards, event badges, and driver�� licenses.

DSS Packaging Group

The DSS Packaging Group produces custom paperboard packaging serving clients in the pharmaceutical, beverage, photo packaging, toy, specialty foods and direct marketing industries, among others. The division incorporates the Company's security technologies into printed packaging to help companies prevent or deter brand and product counterfeiting.

DSS Digital Group

The DSS Digital Group provides data center centric solutions to businesses and governments delivered via the cloud. This division is also develops digital data security technologies based on the Company�� optical deterrent technologies.

The Company competes with Standard Register Company, De La Rue Plc, Sharp, Xerox Canon, Ricoh, Hewlett Packard, Eastman Kodak, NoCopi Technologies, Graphic Security Systems Corporation, RR Donnelley, Canadian printer Quebecor World, Bristol ID, AbNote, LaserCard Corporation and L-1 Identity Solutions, Rock-Tenn Company, Caraustar Industries, Inc., Graphic Packaging Holding Company and Mead Westvaco.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Susan Decker]

  Document Security Systems Inc. (DSS), based in Rochester, New York, is suing Facebook Inc. and LinkedIn Corp. for infringing technology covering online collaboration. The patents were acquired in a reverse merger with Lexington Technology Group Inc., an intellectual property company. The shares have fallen 33 percent since the deal closed on July 1.

Top 10 US Companies To Own For 2014: iRobot Corp (IRBT)

iRobot Corporation (iRobot), incorporated in August 1990, designs and builds robots. The Company�� home care robots perform time-consuming domestic chores while its government and industrial robots perform tasks, such as battlefield reconnaissance and bomb disposal, multi-purpose tasks for local police and first responders, and long-endurance oceanic missions. It sells its robots to consumers through a range of distribution channels, including chain stores and other national retailers, and through its on-line store, and to the United States military and other government agencies globally. It designs and builds robots for the consumer and government and industrial markets. It sells its products through distinct sales channels to the consumer and government and industrial markets. In the United States and Canada, it sells its consumer products through a network of national retailers. As of December 31, 2011, this network consisted of more than 30 retailers, which often sell either one or some combination of its products. Its smaller domestic retail operations are supported by distributors to whom it sells product directly. It sells its government and industrial products directly to end users and indirectly through prime contractors and distributors. During the year ended December 31, 2011, sales to non-the United States customers accounted for 45.5% of total revenue.

Consumer Products

The Company sells various products, which are designed for use in and around the home. Its consumer products are focused on both indoor and outdoor cleaning applications. It offers multiple Roomba floor vacuuming robots and Scooba floor washing robots. Its Roomba robot�� compact disc shape allows it to clean under beds and other furniture, resulting in cleaner floors. In addition, it cleans automatically upon the push of a button. Its Scooba robot�� cleaning process allows the robot to simultaneously sweep, wash, scrub and dry hard floors, all at the touch of a button. Its Verro Pool Cleani! ng Robot is used to clean a residential pool and removes debris as small as two microns from the pool floor, walls and stairs. Verro is brought to market under the iRobot brand through a relationship with the Aqua Products Group companies, including AquaJet LLC and Aquatron, Inc., which developed the pool cleaning robots.

The Company�� Looj Gutter Cleaning Robot cleans an entire stretch of gutter. The Looj also features a detachable handle that doubles as a wireless remote control, providing control of the robot while cleaning.

Government and Industrial Products

In government and industrial product markets, the Company offers both ground and maritime unmanned vehicles. Its tactical ground robots include the combat-tested 510 PackBot line of small, unmanned ground robots, the 310 small unmanned ground vehicle (SUGV) and XM1216 SUGV (Small Unmanned Ground Vehicle) multi-purpose ground robots, the 110 FirstLook small, light, throwable robot, and the 710 Warrior multi-purpose robot capable of carrying heavy payloads. The PackBot, SUGV, FirstLook, and Warrior robot series make up a family of robots using many common platform components and offer its flipper technology, which enables robots to climb stairs, navigate rubble, and penetrate inaccessible areas. These robots keep war fighters and public safety officials out of harm�� way and are designed for performing search, reconnaissance, mapping, bomb disposal and other dangerous missions. As of December 31, 2011, more than 4,500 robots had been delivered to military and civil defense forces globally. Its Aware 2 software is incorporated into the 510 PackBot chassis and operator control unit. As a result, PackBot can support multiple configurations and payloads with the same chassis and operator control unit, providing customers with a single robot capable of performing multiple missions.

Contract Research and Development Projects

The Company is involved in several contract development pr! ojects wi! th the United States governmental agencies and departments. The durations of these projects range from a few months to several years. These projects are usually funded as either cost-plus, firm fixed price, or time and materials contracts. In a cost-plus contract, it is allowed to recover its actual costs plus a fixed fee. Under a firm fixed price contract, it receives a fixed amount upon satisfying contractually defined deliverables. On its time and materials contracts, it recovers a specific amount per hour worked based on a bill rate schedule, plus the cost of direct materials, subcontracts, and other non-labor costs, including an agreed-upon mark-up.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Udovich]

  Small cap robotics stocks Adept Technology Inc (NASDAQ: ADEP) and iRobot Corporation (NASDAQ: IRBT) have both been putting in a great performance for investors, but which is the better robotics stock for�investors? I should mention that we have had Adept Technology in our SmallCap Network Elite Opportunity (SCN EO) portfolio since mid-September and we are already sitting on a 71.38% return so far plus we have just added iRobot Corporation to our portfolio because we see the�robotics subsector improving as companies aim to reduce overhead and improve efficiencies through machine to machine (M2M) automation.

• [By Beth McKenna]

  Shares of iRobot (NASDAQ: IRBT  ) were pummeled after the company released its second-quarter 2014 results last month. The robot maker fell short of revenue estimates, and missed earnings estimates by a hair if we exclude the benefit of a one-time tax valuation allowance.�

• [By Steve Symington]

  Then there's iRobot (NASDAQ: IRBT  ) , which�filed a patent recently for what it's calling a Robotic Fabricator, or a 3-D printer which can print and assemble a robot without the need for human interaction. While we likely won't see this awesome invention implemented anytime soon, it also serves as another reminder of the industry's potential.

• [By Steve Symington]

  With shares of iRobot (NASDAQ: IRBT  ) having nearly doubled so far in 2013, some investors are wondering whether it might be time to take profits in the relatively small robot maker.

Top 10 US Companies To Own For 2014: SPDR S&P Dividend ETF (SDY)

SPDR S&P Dividend ETF (the Fund) seeks to replicate the price and yield of the S&P High Yield Dividend Aristocrats Index (the Index). The Index is designed to measure the performance of 50 highest dividend yielding S&P Composite 1500 constituents that have followed a managed-dividends policy of consistently increasing dividends every year for at least 25 years. These stocks have both capital growth and dividend income characteristics.

The Fund utilizes a passive or indexing approach and attempts to approximate the investment performance of its benchmark index, by investing in a portfolio of stocks intended to replicate the Index. SSgA Funds Management, Inc. acts as the Adviser of the Fund.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Maxfield]

  Plenty of investment products are specifically designed to reward lazy investors -- think passive exchange-traded funds such as the SPDR S&P 500 (NYSEMKT: SPY  ) or its higher-yielding counterpart, the SPDR S&P Dividend (NYSEMKT: SDY  ) . Alternatively, absent blind luck, few individual stocks will do the same.

• [By Vaughan Scully]

  Investors who would like to gain exposure to the Aristocrats may want to consider the ProShares S&P 500 Aristocrats ETF (NOBL), which tracks the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats index. The fund has attracted almost $12.5 billion in assets since launching in October, 2013. Also, State Street's SPDR S&P Dividend ETF (SDY) tracks the S&P High Yield Dividend Aristocrats index.

Top 10 US Companies To Own For 2014: Radioshack Corporation(RSH)

RadioShack Corporation engages in the retail sale of consumer electronic goods and services through its RadioShack store chain and kiosk operations. Its products include postpaid and prepaid wireless handsets and communication devices, such as scanners and global positioning system (GPS) products; home entertainment, wireless, music, computer, video game, and GPS accessories; media storage, power adapters, digital imaging products, and headphones; home audio and video end-products, personal computing products, residential telephones, and voice over Internet protocol products; digital cameras, digital music players, toys, satellite radios, video gaming hardware, camcorders, and general radios; general and special purpose batteries and battery chargers; and wires and cables, connectivity products, components and tools, and hobby products. The company also provides consumers access to third-party services, such as prepaid wireless airtime and extended service plans in its ser vice platform. In addition, it manufactures various products, including telephones, antennas, wires, and cable products, as well as various hard-to-find parts and accessories for consumer electronics products; and provides repair services. As of March 31, 2011, the company operated 4,467 company-operated retail stores under the RadioShack brand name in the United States; and 1,304 kiosks located in Target and Sam?s Club stores. As of December 31, 2010, it operated 211 company-operated stores under the RadioShack brand, 9 dealers, and 1 distribution center in Mexico; a network of 1,207 RadioShack dealer outlets, including 34 located outside of North America; and 4 distribution centers in the United States. Further, the company sells its products through its Website, radioshack.com. RadioShack Corporation was founded in 1899 and is based in Fort Worth, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By WALLSTCHEATSHEET]

  RadioShack is a consumer electronics retailer that operates in the United States and its regions. The company is said to be looking to hire a financial adviser that will help straighten out its balance sheet. The stock has not done well over the past couple of years and is now experiencing some volatility. Over the last four quarters, earnings and revenue figures have been decreasing, although the markets have been optimistic about recent earnings announcements. Relative to its peers and sector, RadioShack has been a year-to-date performance leader. WAIT AND SEE what RadioShack does in coming quarters.

• [By Rich Duprey]

  I've been predicting the demise of RadioShack (NYSE: RSH  ) for a few years now. Four years ago, it was one of four stocks that I thought might be seeing its last Christmas, yet it has managed to hang on despite the collapse of movie rental chain Blockbuster, and bookstore Borders. (The fourth stock I felt was doomed, Sears Holdings, also is managing to cling to life.)

• [By Paul Ausick]

  Big Earnings Movers: Netflix Inc. (NASDAQ: NFLX) is down 9% at $322.99 after a stellar report and some cautionary comments from the CEO. VMware Inc. (NYSE: VMW) is up 2.9% at $85.01 after a very positive report. Delta Air Lines Inc. (NYSE: DAL) is up 3.3% at $25.51 after a solid quarter. Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. (NYSE: FCX) is up 3.7% at $36.35 on an earnings boost from its recent oil and gas acquisitions. RadioShack Corp. (NYSE: RSH) is down 17.9% at $2.89 after a reporting dismal results.