Less than 50% of GM cars with at-risk switch…

General Motors' recall of the Chevy Cobalt and Pontiac G5 covers fewer than half the GM cars on U.S. roads that it years ago told dealers might have the ignition switch problem linked to at least six deaths.

The car company continues to decline to explain publicly why it believes some vehicles with the apparently identical ignition switches are at risk for shutting off unexpectedly and others are not.

GM says it based the Feb. 13 U.S. recall of 619,122 of its 2005 to 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt and 2007 Pontiac G5 compacts on its investigation of the problem. It says it doesn't rule out a wider recall, and talks with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration officials continue.

MORE: Lawsuit claims GM knew of Cobalt ignition problem

But another 658,172 vehicles of other models are on the road that were identified by GM as early as 2005 in a dealer alert as having the same potential switch problem. The vehicle tally is from an analysis of Polk vehicle registration data for USA TODAY by TrueCar.com.

Not recalled, but identified by GM in dealer service bulletins along with the recalled cars, are the 2006 and 2007 Chevrolet HHR and Pontiac Solstice, the 2003 to 2007 Saturn Ion and the 2007 Saturn Sky. They all use switches with the same part number, an automaker's definitive way to identify components, as the recalled cars.

MORE: Lawyer asks feds to force GM to explain recall timing

In announcing the recall, GM said that jarring or heavy key chains could cause switches to move out of the "on" position, shutting off the engine and power systems — and disabling air bags, which is the key safety issue in the recall. The company said it knew of 22 crashes, including five in which airbags did not deploy and six people were killed.

Hot Financial Stocks To Watch Right Now

Asked why jarring or heavy key chains would not lead to the lead same problems with the switc! h in the non-recalled vehicles, GM spokesman Alan Adler told USA TODAY in an e-mail, "GM has devoted significant time and resources to evaluating this issue, and has concluded that the 2005-2007 Chevrolet Cobalt and the 2007 G5 should be recalled ... given our present understanding of the 2005-2007 Cobalt and 2007 Pontiac G5 ignition" switch issue.

But there have been similar complaints made about the non-recalled models.

Two HHR owners complained to NHTSA about air bags not deploying in front-impact crashes.

A May 2009 report by TV station WTVD in Raleigh, N.C., quoted Loretta Barnes as saying her 2007 HHR "stalled on the train track" in Roanoke Rapids. She said she was able to quickly restart the vehicle but that it was a recurring problem, and "I'm scared."

She said she had taken her HHR to the dealership five times without the problem being solved. As a result of the TV report, Barnes said, GM gave her a deal on a new car.

Contributing: USA TODAY's Paul Overberg

M&T Bank Corporation Posts Lower Q4 Earnings; Misses Estimates (MTB)

M&T Bank (MTB) announced its fourth quarter and full year earnings before the bell on Friday, with quarterly GAAP earnings falling from last year’s Q4 while full year earnings rose 11%.

MTB Earnings in Brief

M&T Bank reported quarterly net income of $245.72 million, which was down from last year’s Q4 net income of $296.19 million. The company’s diluted EPS came in at $1.79 for the quarter, down from the $2.23 per diluted common share reported in last year’s Q4 results. MTB missed analysts’ estimates of $1.92 EPS. For the full year, MTB reported EPS of $8.38, marking an 11% increase from last year’s EPS of $7.54

CFO Commentary

Rene F. Jones, CFO and executive VP, had the following comments about the company’s earnings: “While expenses were elevated by investments in our infrastructure during 2013, M&T achieved a net operating return on average tangible common shareholders’ equity of 18.17% for the full year.  Our core capital position strengthened, as the Tier 1 common ratio grew to 9.25% at the 2013 year-end, up 17 basis points from September 30 and 168 basis points higher than at December 31, 2012.  We are also pleased with the continued improvement in credit quality.  M&T’s liquidity and risk profile was enhanced during the year through several actions, including replacing less liquid investment securities with Ginnie Mae securities and the securitization of loans held in the loan portfolio.  During the final two quarters of 2013 we invested heavily in several key areas, including risk management, capital planning and stress testing, regulatory compliance, and other operational and technology initiatives.  Those investments will better position M&T for the future.”

No Dividend Change

MTB did not announce a change to its quarterly dividend, and has not raised its dividend since 2007. It should be noted that MTB did not cut its dividend during the recession, as many of its peers did. The company’s most recent dividend was paid on December 31. Investors should look for MTB to declare its next dividend in the coming months.

Stock Performance

MTB stock was inactive in pre-market trading, but was down 35 cents, or 0.3%, at yesterday’s close. YTD, the company’s stock is down 0.34%.

IndyFilmCorp Gets a Monkey Off its Back. Here Comes Forward Progress. (IFLM, LGF, DIS)

The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) needs to look over its shoulder. For that matter, Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. (NYSE:LGF) may want to do the same. There's a little company called Independent Film Development Corporation (OTCMKTS:IFLM) that could become a big threat to both of those major players soon, now  that a nagging monkey is officially off its back.

What could a relatively unknown independent film and television outfit like Independent Film Development Corporation do that was a real threat to a name like The Walt Disney Company, or even the lesser-established Lions Gate Entertainment Corp.? Answer: You might be surprised. Remember, when Walt Disney got the ball rolling back in the late 30's, life didn't get easy - nor did the money start to flow in earnest - until the 50's. Prior to that, Disney was largely just another company being held together by sheer willpower. As for Lions Gate Entertainment, prior to huge success as the brains and marketing firepower behind the Twilight movie franchise and a stroke of luck with television's MadMen, Lions Gate wasn't exactly a name that stopped people in their tracks either. Point being, never say never. One good show or movie could literally change everything, the way Cinderella did for The Walt Disney Company in 1950.

But is Independent Film Development Corporation - aka IndyFilmCorp - going to attack on the television and film front, or the theme park front (where none have yet to dethrone Disney)? Despite the moniker, it's the theme park industry that makes IFLM such an interesting stock right now.

Just for the record, Independent Film Development Corporation really is an independent film company. Though it doesn't have the library that a name like Lions Gate Entertainment has - at least not yet - it's got a decent library, and has proven its chops in the arena. It's the producer of the Autograph celebrity biography series, and it owns the rights to the perennially popular Three Stooges shorts, just to drop a few names. It's not film and television that's apt to put IFLM on the map, however. No, the reason The Walt Disney Company needs to be particularly worried is because IndyFilmCorp is planning a new kind of theme park that could make DisneyLand and DisneyWorld look like a schoolyard playground.

Times are changing. So are tastes. Technology has a lot to do with that, whether you're talking about the realism seen on the big and small screen, or the telecommunications technologies that keep all of us connected to, well, everything, all the time. Most consumers have seen, heard, and done it all, if not in real life, then at least digitally. That's what makes it tough for Disney's theme parks to "wow' guests year in and year out. Independent Film Development Corporation has a plan, however, to actually get the adrenaline pumping for theme park guests again. It's going to immerse visitors in an experience that combines special effects with state-of-the-art film technologies that don't just show an amusement park patron something interesting, but lets them live it.... perhaps wondering if what they're seeing may well be real, and not some stage-show.

In other words, IndyFilmCorp is planning to build a theme park that crosses the "cute" line that Disney wouldn't (and won't) cross to enter the place in people's minds where "holy @#$%" will be a common response. Some of the planned attractions at the park being planned for the 500-acre property in the Catskills, New York, are a water flume ride that feels like a journey through the River Styx (with a narrow, splash-filled escape from Hades), a haunted house with ghosts rendered as holograms rather than just a light shining through cardboard cutouts, and instead of lovable cartoon characters walking around the park passing out hugs, guests at the IndyFilmCorp amusement park will catch a glimpse of Bigfoot lurking around the park's tree-laden areas.

Intense? Yes, but that's the point. Consumers want more intensity, and they want help suspending their beliefs of what they know to be real... something most theme parks like Disney can't quite do, as they lack the visual, movie-caliber special effects that Independent Film Development Corporation plans to make a part of the park.

So what, pray tell, is such a big deal all of a sudden? Per this morning's press release, IFLM was victorious in a key court case against a former partner. The end result of that courtroom victory is the cancellation of what would have been a disadvantageous funding deal, plus an award of a little more than $200,000 in cash. The real benefit of the court case, however, is that the company can now focus on the development of the first of what could be many such theme parks rather than worry about arguing things out in a court room. From here, investors and observers can probably expect to see more frequent progress updates on the theme park front. That's always helpful for the underlying stock.

For more information on the theme park concept, here's the company's letter to shareholders unveiling the idea.

Jefferies Lifts Price Targets on Some Top Stocks to Buy

When brokerage firms on Wall Street start to raise price targets on names that have already been doing well, investors should take note. Typically when companies are hitting on all cylinders, earnings continue to grow both sequentially and year over year. This gives Wall Street analysts the kind of confidence they need to retain their Buy ratings and raise the target price.

In a new Jefferies research report, the analysts highlight some of their top stocks to buy in multiple sectors that are doing so well that the price targets have to be moved higher. We screened their report for not only the top stocks to buy, but the stocks that are in sectors that are poised to do well in 2014. Despite the sizable rally in the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average, both are still down for the year. Now may still be an ideal time to scale in some investment capital to these quality names at Jefferies.

Arris Enterprises Inc. (NASDAQ: ARRS) got hit when press reports indicated that Apple may be working with Time Warner Cable and other companies on a new set-top box. The Jefferies team do not know the specifications of the device. It still may use “HDMI pass through” architecture like XBox One (and therefore will still require a cable STB to support cable content). That would bode well for Arris. The Jefferies target is lifted to $30. The Thomson/First Call estimate is $28.05. Arris closed on Friday at $27.87.

C&J Energy Services Inc. (NYSE: CJES) undertook an aggressive expansion plan for 2013. That strategy culminated in several deals during the fourth quarter and further plans for 2014. The domestic hydraulic fracturing specialist has spent the past couple of years expanding the business line and, surprisingly, building new equipment. Now with natural gas inventories plunging to five-year lows, C&J Energy is positioned to take advantage of a market where utilization is already firming. Jefferies price target holds steady at $28, and the consensus estimate is $25. Shares closed Friday at $24.50.

Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) is the top pick in credit cards at Jefferies. Not only did the analysts up the numbers dramatically for the year, they also think that the rest of Wall Street is way low on modeling asset growth for the company. Lower cost Internet deposits, better performing student loans, lower charge offs and slower delinquent account repricing will support margins. Investors are paid a 1.4% dividend. Jefferies lifts its price target from $57 to $65. The consensus target is $61.96. Discover closed Friday at $56.92.

Orbital Sciences Corp.‘s (NYSE: ORB) 2013 results and 2014 outlook point to the revenue growth and high free cash flow potential of the franchise. The Jefferies analysts see opportunities for new orders, 7% revenue growth and acceleration of free cash flow, and they expect shares to continue to advance. The company develops and manufactures small and medium-class rockets and space systems for commercial, military and civil government customers. Jefferies raises its price target from $27 to $31. The consensus number is $33.17. The stock closed on Friday at $28.27.

Precision Drilling Corp. (NYSE: PDS) is Canada’s leading oilfield services firm, which provides contract drilling, well servicing and strategic support services to its customers. The company was formed as a private drilling contractor in the early 1950s and has grown on the back of fleet expansion and acquisitions, most notably the $2 billion purchase of Grey Wolf in 2008. The company pays investors a 2.1% dividend. The Jefferies price objective goes from $11 to $13. The consensus stands at $12.78. The stock closed Friday at $10.39.

Qihoo 360 Technology Co. Ltd. (NYSE: QIHU) provides Internet and mobile security products in the People’s Republic of China. Its core Internet security products include 360 Safeguard, a solution for Internet security and system optimization; 360 Antivirus, an antivirus application that uses multiple scan engines to protect users’ computers against various kinds of malware; as well as 360 Mobile Safe, a security program for the Google Android, Apple iOS and Nokia Symbian smartphone operating systems. The Jefferies price target rises from $105 to $125, and the consensus target is $94.60. Those consensus numbers may go higher as the stock closed Friday at $99.25.

When analysts sense that a stock they cover has solid upside potential, they usually feel comfortable raising the price target as the stock nears the current target. When the same analysts see business grinding sideways, they typically cut a stock to Hold as it nears or hits the current target. Clearly the Jefferies analysts have confidence, as their numbers are going higher.

Celgene

Our conservative growth stock favorite for 2014 is a large-cap healthcare stock specializing in therapies for cancer and immune-inflammatory related diseases, suggests Stephen Quickel, editor of US Investment Report.

Celgene Corp. (CELG), of Summit, New Jersey, has had quite a run the last 18 months—rising from $60 in mid-2012, and from $80 last January, to the $160-$170 range during the final weeks of 2013.

We've recommended CELG for most of that period. But, because it is still reasonably valued thanks to its ongoing rapid growth, we believe the stock could continue rising into 2014—certainly to the $180-$190 range, and probably above $200.

And because it remains reasonably valued, it tends to resist the downside pressures that can plague stand-out growth stocks.

Fundamentally, Celgene has plenty of established drug products and several promising new ones coming along—including Revlimid, a treatment for multiple myeloma, and transfusion-dependent anemia, whose Stage Three trials recently revealed strong efficacy and safety data.

Recently, too, Celgene has formed a strategic partnership with OncoMed (OMED) to develop up to six anti-cancer stem-cell antibodies.

Celgene itself has posted four successive quarters of revenue growth, which is expected to lift annual sales from $5.5 to $6.4 billion for calendar 2013, and to $7.5 billion in 2014. Despite its expanding size, earnings per share are projected to grow by 23.2% a year, by 28 Street analysts following its stock.

The stock trades at forward P/E of 22.8 times the consensus 2014 earnings estimate. Factoring in its 23.2% a year expected bottom line growth, the stock's P/E to Growth (PEG) ratio of 0.98—right at the 1.00 level—is considered ideal by PEG ratio advocates.

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Best Warren Buffett Companies For 2015

The real-money Inflation-Protected Income Growth portfolio just finished a strong week, gaining a touch above $500 in the time covered since last week's update. For a portfolio that started a mere seven months ago with $30,000, last Friday's closing value of $34,722.56 represents what would ordinarily be an astounding performance.

Still, the portfolio's total return of 15.7% �in just over seven months trails the S&P 500's (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC  ) gain during that time. That index has gained around 16% during that same window, and when you add the dividends paid by S&P 500 companies to the total return, the index has easily outperformed the iPIG portfolio.

So what?
A strong case can be made that if your investing strategy can't beat a reasonable benchmark index, you'd be better off investing in the index. The thing is, in a rapidly rising market like the one we've been experiencing recently, it's very possible for the market to stay ahead of even proven winning strategies and master investors. Even Warren Buffett may be on track to trail the market for the first five-year period in basically forever.

Best Warren Buffett Companies For 2015: Northwest Pipe Company (NWPX)

Northwest Pipe Company manufactures and markets large-diameter, high-pressure steel pipeline systems for use in water infrastructure applications, primarily related to drinking water systems. Its pipeline systems are also used for hydroelectric power systems, wastewater systems, and other applications. The company also manufactures smaller diameter, electric resistance welded steel pipes and other welded steel pipe products for use in a range of applications, including energy, construction, agriculture, industrial, and traffic signpost systems. In addition, it manufactures products for various structural piling applications and in-plant pipeline systems for power plants and other industrial applications. The company sells its water transmission products to public water agencies directly or through installation contractors; and tubular products to distributors and original equipment manufacturers through a network of direct sales force personnel and sales agents in the Unit ed States and Canada. Northwest Pipe Company was founded in 1966 and is based in Vancouver, Washington.

Best Warren Buffett Companies For 2015: Sky-mobi Limited(MOBI)

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

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Roberto Pedone]

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

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

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

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

Top Blue Chip Companies To Watch For 2015: Weyerhaeuser Company(WY)

Weyerhaeuser Company, a forest products company, grows and harvests trees, builds homes, and manufactures forest products worldwide. It grows and harvests trees for use as lumber, other wood and building products, and pulp and paper. The company manages 6.4 million acres of private commercial forestland; and has long-term licenses on 13.9 million acres of forestland. It also offers timber; minerals, such as rock, sand, and gravel, as well as oil and gas to construction and energy markets; logs; timberland tracts; and seed and seedlings, poles, plywood, and hardwood lumber products. In addition, the company provides structural lumber products for structural framing; engineered lumber products for floor and roof joists, and headers and beams; structural panels for structural sheathing, subflooring, and stair treading for wood products dealers, do-it-yourself retailers, builders, and industrial users. Further, it offers building products comprising cedar, decking, siding, ins ulation, rebar, and engineered lumber connectors. Additionally, the company offers fluff pulp for use in sanitary disposable products; papergrade pulp for printing and writing papers, and tissues; specialty chemical cellulose pulp for use in textiles, absorbent products, specialty packaging, and high-bulking fibers; liquid packaging board converted into containers; and slush and wet lap pulp for manufacturing paper products. It also constructs single-family houses, as well as develops residential lots and land for construction and sale; and master-planned communities with mixed-use property. The company sells its cellulose fibers products through direct sales network, and liquid packaging products directly to carton and food product packaging converters; and wood products through sales organizations and distribution facilities. Weyerhaeuser Company has been elected to be taxed as a real estate investment trust. The company was founded in 1900 and is headquartered in Federal Way, Washington.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Matt DiLallo]

  Not only are�homebuilders�benefiting�but this improvement in housing has had a nice effect on the bottom line of forestry companies.�Weyerhaeuser (NYSE: WY  ) �saw its first-quarter earnings more than triple as its wood products business reported its strongest quarterly earnings since 2005. Industry peer Rayonier (NYSE: RYN  ) also experienced a successful first quarter as its income from continuing operations nearly doubled year over year from $52 million last year to $103 million.

• [By Rick Munarriz]

  Finally, we have Weyerhaeuser (NYSE: WY  ) stakeholders knocking on wood. The timberlands manager is boosting its quarterly dividend 18% to $0.20 a share. Weyerhaeuser has juiced up its distributions by 33% since last summer.

• [By John Divine]

  Weyerhaeuser (NYSE: WY  ) , which also earned a spot on this ignominious list yesterday, fell 2.9% today. Shares in the company -- which grows and harvests trees, as well as provides end-products such as beams, framing products, decking, insulation, rebar, and plywood -- have fallen four of the past five days. As you can imagine, the company is sensitive to changes in the housing market, and with April's pending home sales growth trailing estimates by 1.2%, investors may be concerned with growth expectations.�

Best Warren Buffett Companies For 2015: AmerisourceBergen Corp (ABC)

AmerisourceBergen Corporation (AmerisourceBergen), incorporated on March 16, 2001, is a pharmaceutical services companies serving the United States, Canada, and selected global markets. Servicing both healthcare providers and pharmaceutical manufacturers in the pharmaceutical supply channel, the Company provides drug distribution and related services. The Company distributes a range of pharmaceuticals (including specialty pharmaceutical products), generic pharmaceuticals, over-the-counter healthcare products, home healthcare supplies and equipment, and related services to a range of healthcare providers located in the United States, Canada and selected global markets, including acute care hospitals and health systems, independent and chain retail pharmacies, mail order pharmacies, medical and dialysis clinics, physicians and physician group practices, long-term care and other alternate site pharmacies, and other customers. The Company also provides pharmacy services to certain specialty drug patients. In addition, the Company furnishes healthcare providers and pharmaceutical manufacturers with an assortment of related services, including pharmacy automation, inventories management, reimbursement and pharmaceutical consulting services, logistics services, and pharmacy management. The Company serves its customers (healthcare providers, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and specialty drug patients) through a network of distribution service centers and other operations in the United States, Canada, and global markets. In the Company's pharmaceutical distribution business, the Company is a source of supply of pharmaceutical and related products to its healthcare provider customers.

As of September 30, 2012, the Company's operations were comprised of the Pharmaceutical Distribution reportable segment and Other. Other consists of the AmerisourceBergen Consulting Services (ABCS) and World Courier operating segments. In September 2011, the Company acquired IntrinsiQ, LLC (IntrinsiQ) and Premier Source! . IntrinsiQ is a provider of informatics solutions, which help community oncologists make treatment decisions for their patients. Premier Source is a provider of consulting and reimbursement services to medical device, pharmaceutical, molecular diagnostic, and biotechnology manufacturers, as well as other health services companies. On November 1, 2011, the Company acquired TheraCom, LLC (TheraCom). TheraCom is a provider of commercialization support services to the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry, including reimbursement and patient access support services. On April 30, 2012, the Company acquired World Courier Group, Inc. (World Courier), which is a global specialty transportation and logistics provider for the biopharmaceutical industry.

Pharmaceutical Distribution Segment

The Pharmaceutical Distribution reportable segment is consisted of two operating segments, which include the operations of AmerisourceBergen Drug Corporation (ABDC) and AmerisourceBergen Specialty Group (ABSG). Servicing healthcare providers in the pharmaceutical supply channel, the Pharmaceutical Distribution segment's operations provide drug distribution and related services. ABDC distributes a offering of brand-name pharmaceuticals (including specialty pharmaceutical products) and generic pharmaceuticals, over-the-counter healthcare products, home healthcare supplies and equipment, and related services to a range of healthcare providers, including acute care hospitals and health systems, independent and chain retail pharmacies, mail order pharmacies, medical clinics, long-term care and other alternate site pharmacies, and other customers. ABDC also provides pharmacy management, staffing and other consulting services; scalable automated pharmacy dispensing equipment; medication and supply dispensing cabinets, and supply management software to a range of retail and institutional healthcare providers. In addition, ABDC delivers packaging solutions to institutional and retail healthcare providers.!

ABSG, through a range of operating businesses, provides pharmaceutical distribution and other services to physicians who specialize in a range of disease states, especially oncology, and to other healthcare providers, including dialysis clinics. ABSG also distributes plasma and other blood products, injectible pharmaceuticals and vaccines. In addition, ABSG provides third party logistics and other services for biotechnology and other pharmaceutical manufacturers. The Company's use of the term specialty and specialty pharmaceutical products refers to drugs used to treat complex diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, and multiple sclerosis. Specialty pharmaceutical products are part of complex treatment regimens for serious conditions and diseases, which require ongoing clinical monitoring.

Other

ABCS, through a number of operating businesses, provides commercialization support services, including reimbursement support programs, outcomes research, contract field staffing, patient assistance and copay assistance programs, adherence programs, risk mitigation services, and other market access programs to pharmaceutical and biotechnology manufacturers. World Courier, which operates in over 50 countries, is a specialty transportation and logistics provider for the biopharmaceutical industry. As of September 30, 2012, the Company committed to a plan to divest AndersonBrecon.

The Company competes with Cardinal Health, Inc., McKesson Corporation, FFF Enterprises, Henry Schein, Inc. and UPS Logistics.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Marc Bastow]

  Pharmaceuticals company AmerisourceBergen (ABC) raised its dividend 12% to 23.5 cents per share, payable on Dec. 2 to shareholders of record as of Nov. 18.
  ABC Dividend Yield:

• [By Dividend King]

  Amerisource Bergen (ABC) offers packaging and distribution services to drugs manufacturers across the U.S. and Canada.

  Its shares are currently trading around $39, and the mean 12 month price target from analysts researching the stock is $45.33 (17% upside potential). This stock is trading above its 50-day exponential moving average of $38.40 and its 200-day exponential moving average of $38.25. The 50-day EMA has recently moved above the 200-day EMA, a potentially bullish indicator. There is good, solid support for the shares at around $35, though the low over the last 52 weeks is 34.33: a level from which there was an extremely strong bounce in August.

Best Warren Buffett Companies For 2015: Macfarlane Grp(clan)

Macfarlane Group PLC, through its subsidiaries, engages in designing, manufacturing, and assembling custom-designed packaging solutions. The company?s Packaging Distribution segment distributes packaging materials, and provides storage and warehousing services in the United Kingdom. Its Manufacturing Operations segment manufactures and supplies self-adhesive and resealable labels to various FMCG customers in the United Kingdom and Europe. This segment also designs, manufactures, and assemblies timber, corrugated, and foam-based packaging materials in the United Kingdom. The company offers its products and services primarily to aerospace, medical equipment, electronics, and automotive sectors. Macfarlane Group PLC was founded in 1949 and is based in Glasgow, the United Kingdom.

Best Warren Buffett Companies For 2015: Canadian Arrow Mines Limited (CRO.V)

Canadian Arrow Mines Limited engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties in Canada. It principally holds 100% interest in the Kenbridge nickel/copper project that comprises 74 patented mining claims located in Northwestern Ontario. Canadian Arrow Mines Limited is headquartered in Sudbury, Canada.

Best Warren Buffett Companies For 2015: Paramount Gold And Com Stk Usd0 (PZG.TO)

Paramount Gold and Silver Corp., an exploration stage company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of gold, silver, and precious metal properties in Mexico and the United States. The company owns a 100% interest in the San Miguel property located in southwestern Chihuahua, northern Mexico. Its projects also include the Sleeper Gold project located in Humboldt County; the Mill Creek property located to the south of Battle Mountain; the Reese River/Horse Mountain Window project located in Lander County; and the Spring Valley property located in the Spring Valley area in Pershing County, Nevada. The company was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in Winnemucca, Nevada.

Best Warren Buffett Companies For 2015: DARA Biosciences Inc.(DARA)

DARA BioSciences, Inc., a development stage biopharmaceutical company, engages in the development and commercialization of oncology treatment and supportive care pharmaceutical products in the United Sates. Its products include Soltamox for the treatment of breast cancer; Gemcitabine for first-line therapy for ovarian, breast, lung and pancreatic cancers; and other cancer support therapeutics, as well as generic sterile injectable cytotoxic products. Its drug development programs include KRN5500, a non-narcotic/non-opioid that has completed Phase IIa clinical trial for the treatment of neuropathic pain in cancer patients; and DB959, which has completed a Phase I study for the treatment of metabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes and dyslipidemia. The company?s pre-clinical drug candidate includes DB900 PPAR gamma/alpha/delta agonists for development in metabolic and inflammatory diseases; DB160, DPPIV enzyme inhibitors with applications in diabetes, stem cell transpl antation, and cancer therapy; and DB200, Carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 for skin diseases, including psoriasis. DARA BioSciences, Inc. was incorporated in 2002 and is headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Bryan Murphy]

  Without knowing the whole story, it would be easy to dismiss the big 9% jump from DARA Biosciences Inc. (NASDAQ:DARA) today as nothing more than a little volatility.... bullishness that wasn't destined to linger, especially considering how ugly the market turned in Monday's trading. As is always the case, though, with DARA, there's more to the story. Today's move may well be the official beginning of a much bigger, trade-worthy rally.

Best Warren Buffett Companies For 2015: Pebblebrook Hotel Trust(PEB)

Pebblebrook Hotel Trust, through Pebblebrook Hotel, L.P., operates as a real estate investment trust. The company acquires and invests primarily in hotel properties located in the United States. It holds interests in the Doubletree Bethesda Hotel and Executive Meeting Center located in Bethesda, Maryland; Sir Francis Drake Hotel located in San Francisco, California; and InterContinental Buckhead Hotel located in Atlanta, Georgia. As a REIT, the company is not subject to federal income tax to the extent that it distributes at least 90% of its taxable income to its shareholders. The company was founded in 2009 and is based in Bethesda, Maryland.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jonas Elmerraji]

  Small-cap hotel investment REIT Pebblebrook Hotel Trust (PEB) is setting up a similar pattern to the one in EXR -- with a few exceptions.

  PEB isn't forming an ascending triangle; support isn't in the same sort of uptrend in this stock. Instead, PEB is forming a rounding pattern with resistance at $28. Rounding patterns look just like they sound -- they indicate a shift in control from sellers to buyers. While this setup is most common as a "bottoming" pattern, PEB's price action doesn't change the implications if shares can break out above $28. That's our buy signal.

  Whenever you're looking at any technical price pattern, it's critical to think in terms of buyers and sellers. Triangles, rectangles and other price pattern names are a good quick way to explain what's going on in this stock, but they're not the reason it's tradable. Instead, it all comes down to supply and demand for shares.

  That resistance line at $28 is a price where there's an excess of supply of shares; in other words, it's a place where sellers have been more eager to take recent gains and sell their shares than buyers have been to buy. That's what makes the move above it so significant -- a breakout indicates that buyers are finally strong enough to absorb all of the excess supply above that price level. Wait for that signal to happen before you jump into this stock.

• [By Rich Duprey]

  Hotel operator�Pebblebrook Hotel Trust (NYSE: PEB  ) announced today its second-quarter dividend of $0.16 per share, the same rate it paid last quarter after raising the payout 33% from $0.12 per share.

• [By James E. Brumley]

  In a perfect world, an investor could simply look at a company's history and its plausible earnings forecasts, and jump in (or out) knowing the stock's current price basically made sense with respect to past and future performance. We don't live or trade in a perfect world though. In the world we're actually in right now, most stocks, sectors, and industries have run up far beyond a justifiable value... perhaps except for hotel and lodging REIT stocks Host Hotels and Resorts Inc. (NYSE:HST), Strategic Hotels and Resorts Inc. (NYSE:BEE), and Pebblebrook Hotel Trust (NYSE:PEB).

Best Warren Buffett Companies For 2015: China Yida Holding Co.(CNYD)

China Yida Holding, Co. operates as a diversified entertainment company in the People?s Republic of China. The company operates in two segments, Advertisement and Tourism. Its Advertisement segment operates and manages the Fujian Education Television Channel, a television channel in Fujian; and an outdoor on-train programming, including the Journey through China on the Train programming on China?s railway networks. This segment manages the content and re-sells airtime to advertisers and agencies for the television channel, and produces the content for outdoor on-train programming. The Tourism segment develops, operates, manages, and markets tourist destinations comprising natural, cultural, and historical tourist destinations and theme parks. This segment also creates/designs and constructs tourist concepts, attractions, and properties for its tourist destinations. This segment operates the Great Golden Lake tourist destination, Yunding Recreational Park tourist destinatio n, and Hua?An Tulou cluster tourist destination. The company is headquartered in Fuzhou City, the People's Republic of China.

Best Warren Buffett Companies For 2015: The Connecticut Bank and Trust Company(CTBC)

The Connecticut Bank and Trust Company provides commercial banking products and services in Connecticut. It accepts various interest bearing and noninterest bearing accounts with a range of maturity date options, including commercial and retail checking accounts, money market accounts, individual retirement accounts, savings accounts, certificates of deposit, and sweep accounts. The company?s loan portfolio comprises commercial, commercial real estate, construction, consumer and installment, and residential real estate loans. It also provides cash management services; courier service; sweep and client escrow accounts; direct deposit of payroll and social security checks; online banking; CBT Surepay; wire transfers, automated clearinghouse, and electronic data interchange services; debit cards; merchant credit card processing; and automated teller machine services. In addition, the company offers third party products and services consisting of fiduciary services, investmen t management, and stock brokerage services, as well as insurance products, including commercial and personal lines, and payroll processing. It serves privately-owned businesses and individuals, including attorneys, accountants and physicians, manufacturing companies, service companies, and commercial real estate developers. The company offers its products and services through seven offices located in Hartford, Glastonbury, Vernon, Newington, Windsor, and Rocky Hill. The Connecticut Bank and Trust Company was founded in 2004 and is based in Hartford, Connecticut.

Best Warren Buffett Companies For 2015: Move Inc.(MOVE)

Move, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates an online network of Websites for real estate search, finance, and moving and home enthusiasts in North America. The company operates REALTOR.com, a Web site that offers property listings and neighborhood profiles; and consumers information and tools designed to assist the customers in understanding the value of their home, preparing the home for sale, listing and advertising the home, home affordability, the offer process, applying for a loan, understand the mortgage options available, closing the purchase, and planning the move. REALTOR.com provides showcase listing enhancements; display ad products; and a series of template Websites primarily for agents and brokers. The company also offers 8i solution, a Web-based customer relationship management software application for real estate agents. In addition, it provides Market Snapshot and Market Builder products that allow real estate professionals to offer real-time mult iple listing services market updates and trend analysis to their online prospects and clients; and Move Rentals that displays rental listings. Further, the company provides graphical display advertisements, text links, sponsorships, and directories for advertisers for mortgage companies, home improvement retailers, moving service providers, and other consumer product and service companies. Additionally, it offers quotes from moving companies, truck rental companies, and self-storage facilities, as well as other move-related information on Moving.com Website. Move, Inc. also operates as an online real estate listing syndicator and provider of performance reporting solutions for the purpose of helping to drive an online advertising program for brokers, real estate franchises, and individual agents. The company was formerly known as Homestore, Inc. and changed its name to Move, Inc. in June 2006. Move, Inc. was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Westlake Village, Californi a.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Mark Holder]

  Zillow (NASDAQ: Z  ) is facing increasing pressure for the leadership position in the online real estate marketplace. The recent purchase of Market Leader by Trulia (NYSE: TRLA  ) places it in a more comparable position based on revenue. Move (NASDAQ: MOVE  ) continues to make long-needed enhancements to realtor.com, but it has fallen far behind the monthly unique users, or MUUs, of Zillow and Trulia.�

Best Warren Buffett Companies For 2015: Fiat SpA (FIAT)

Fiat SpA is an Italy-based company engaged in the automobile sector that designs, produces and sells cars for the mass market under the Fiat, Lancia, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Jeep, Abarth, Ferrari and Maserati brands. In addition, it also operates in the car components sector through Magneti Marelli, Teksid and Mopar and in the production systems sector through Comau. The Company is active in the Publishing and Communications sector and its activities are carried out through Editrice La Stampa SpA and reselling of advertising space through Publikompass SpA. As of December 31, 2012, the Company carried out industrial and financial services activities in the automotive sector through companies located in approximately 40 countries and a commercial presence in around 140 countries, such as France, Italy, Russia, Japan, the United States, Germany, Brazil, Switzerland, United Kingdom, China, Germany, Mexico, Canada, Sweden, Singapore, Netherlands and Belgium, among others.

Best Warren Buffett Companies For 2015: Textainer Group Holdings Limited(TGH)

Textainer Group Holdings Limited, through its subsidiaries, engages in the purchase, ownership, management, leasing, and resale of a fleet of marine cargo containers worldwide. The company leases dry freight containers, as well as special-purpose containers to shipping lines, freight forwarding companies, and the United States military; manages a fleet of containers for and on behalf of the owners; and buys and resells used containers. It operates a fleet of approximately 1.6 million containers. The company was founded in 1979 and is headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda. Textainer Group Holdings Limited is a subsidiary of Halco Holdings Inc.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Joseph Hogue]

  There is one particular shipping company of which investors are being especially fearful, to the point of hating it. I'm talking about Textainer Group Holdings (NYSE: TGH), a container leasing company with 2.6 million 20-foot equivalent containers, the largest fleet among its peers.

Emerging Markets: No Crisis to See Here

NEW YORK (The Street) -- Are emerging markets on the cusp of another crisis? No, according to Nomura analysts, though they expect weakness to persist for some time.

Despite recent market tremors, the analysts suggested a "crisis dynamic" will be avoided for several reasons. These include greater differentiation by investors between emerging economies vs. the indiscriminate selling that occurred last June (see dive below) at the first hint of Federal Reserve stimulus tapering.

In addition, emerging market banks continue to extend loans at a healthy pace, Jens Notdvig, Nomura's global head of G10 foreign exchange strategy, told clients. He noted that several countries -- such as Turkey and Brazil -- are beginning to normalize policy after years of very low interest rates, while balance sheets across emerging economies are generally in decent shape. The weakness in emerging market assets has also been consistent with moves in global risk assets (such as the jump in the yen and gold) rather than showing clear evidence of underperformance, Nordvig argued. On the flipside, many fund managers still steer clear of emerging market economies -- especially the so-called fragile five of Brazil, Turkey, Indonesia, India and South Africa -- which carry high current account deficits in favor of more stable developed markets such as Europe, Japan and the U.S. On a longer-term basis, they acknowledge clear appeal of backing faster growing emerging economies relative to developed markets. This isn't to say there aren't pressure points in emerging markets -- check out the jump in foreign currency debt for Turkey and Hungary below. Nordvig also warned of lingering risks in the most significant emerging economy -- China -- given its recent weak economic data. Overall, however, he reiterated that the general situation across emerging markets does not have crisis-like characteristics. "We think value is starting to be created, especially (in certain currencies)," he said.

--- By Jane Searle in New York

Stock quotes in this article: EMX 

FireEye Surges on Acquisition Deal

Investors of FireEye (NASDAQ: FEYE) are off to a great start in 2014.

On Friday, cyber security firm FireEye announced it has acquired Mandiant, a computer forensics specialist firm in a $1.05 billion deal.

Mandiant is most famous for releasing a report in February 2013 documenting evidence of cyber attacks by a secretive Chinese military unit (known as APT1) on U.S. companies.

The acquisition brings together two of the most respected executives in the cyber security industry.

FireEye's Dave DeWalt a former chief executive at McAfee has over 25 years of industry experience. Mandiant's Kevin Mandia is a retired military cyber-crime investigator, who revealed to the world a 76 page report based on seven years of research detailing the worldwide scope of Chinese government sanctioned hacking.

Related: Berkshire Hathaway Now Owns 27% of USG

The two companies have worked together in the past and have entered a technology development agreement making it easier to deploy their products together. DeWalt previously referred to Mandiant's team of experts as being "Navy 'cyber' Seals." The majority of Mandiant's staff consists of retired intelligence and law enforcement agents specializing in computer forensics.

Raising guidance

FireEye has yet to become a profitable company, but raised its guidance following the acquisition announcement.

The company raised its fourth quarter 2013 guidance with billings now pegged at $95 million to $100 million, compared to a previous guidance in the $82 million to $86 million range. The company is also projecting higher revenues in a $55 million to $57 million range from a previous projection of $52 million to $54 million.

FireEye also raised its 2014 outlook, which includes the Mandiant acquisition. The company sees full-year billings in a $540 million to $560 million range, higher than previous estimates of $350 million to $370 million. Revenue projections now stand at $400 million to $410 million, up from previous projections of $240 million to $250 million.

Several analysts viewed the deal as a strategic positive for FireEye. One analyst from Nomura suggested the deal will usher in a wider entry by FireEye into the IPS sector.

Shares of FireEye were trading higher by more than 30 percent in Friday morning's trading action.

Top 5 Value Stocks To Buy Right Now

Posted-In: APT1 Chinese Hacking Cybersecurity DaveDeWAlt FireEye Kevin Mandia Mandiant McAfeeNews Contracts Management Hot Markets Best of Benzinga

(c) 2014 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

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U.S. Nonprofits’ Ineptitude at Online Fundraising Is Costing Them

Many big U.S. charities are leaving significant money on the table because of their ineptitude in online fundraising, a new study has found.

Dunham+Co., a consulting outfit, and Next After, a fundraising think tank, analyzed the online practices of 151 charities, of which 100 appeared on The Chronicle of Philanthropy’s Philanthropy 400 largest organizations.

They wanted to find out how well nonprofit groups were keeping pace with changes in the current fundraising environment.

Online giving by charitably inclined Americans has been the most successful fundraising channel over the past 10 years, growing by double-digit rates and now exceeding $20 billion annually, Steve MacLaughlin, director of Blackbaud’s Idea Lab, wrote in a sidebar comment on the study.

Researchers went online to the 151 nonprofits to experience, document and assess 46 different metrics across four online fundraising processes.

Their findings include some bits of good news, startling deficiencies and areas that need improving.

The study first looked at the email registration process, positing that how an organization grows its email database is critically important. It noted that many other studies had shown that the more email addresses an organization has on file, the more money it can raise online.

Researchers found the following:

The study’s second area of focus was email communication, split into two components: the Email Message Envelope (To Line, From Line, Subject Line) and Email Message Body.

The frequency and manner in which charities communicate with donors are big factors in deciding the success of online fundraising, the researchers said.

The news was not good:

MacLaughlin commented: “Email addresses are like fish — they don’t age well.”

The online donation experience, the third study area, had more positive results.

Giving a gift online is very different from ordering a product online, the researchers said. Organizations that understand this subtle difference move closer to an optimized online giving experience.

They found the following:

Finally, saying “thank you” would seem a no-brainer for organizations that are primarily supported through the charitable contributions of individuals. Researchers wanted to make sure.

They found that 99% of charities understood the importance of thanking a donor. However, there was still room for improvement: 63% did not offer a donor “next steps” to take.

“These findings suggest there is a significant gap between best practice and the standard practices currently being used by nonprofit organizations,” MacLaughlin wrote.

“The pace of change will certainly only increase as mobile and social interactions continue to grow. There is a significant opportunity for nonprofits to increase their fundraising results by making some simple but important changes.”

AAA: Prepare for higher gas prices

NEW YORK (AP) — The auto group AAA reminded drivers that spring is on the way — and along with it, higher gasoline prices.

AAA said Thursday that the price of gas will be on the way up as refineries start to shut down for winter maintenance, which reduces supply. They also gradually switch to more expensive summer blends of gasoline over the coming weeks.

"Winter weather, weak demand and sufficient supplies have kept gas prices relatively low recently, but this trend may not last much longer," said Bob Darbelnet, President and CEO of AAA.

This rise in price happens nearly every spring. This year, AAA predicts the nationwide average price will peak between $3.55 and $3.75 per gallon, lower than last year's high of $3.79, reached on Feb. 27.

Right now, gas is on average 28 cents cheaper than at this time last year.

For all of 2014, AAA expects the nationwide average to be at least five cents cheaper than last year's $3.49

Thursday, oil prices rose as a positive report on the U.S. labor market and more cold temperatures boosted expectations of higher demand for heating oil.

Benchmark U.S. crude for March delivery was up 25 cents to $97.63 a barrel in afternoon trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange after earlier rising above $98.

The Labor Department said the number of people applying for U.S. unemployment benefits declined 20,000 last week to 331,000, suggesting that Americans are facing fewer layoffs and better job prospects. Those figures came a day before a widely anticipated report on January employment.

With chilly temperatures across the middle of the country and into the Northeast, demand for heating oil remains strong. That should boost refineries' need for crude oil.

The cool weather has had the opposite effect on gasoline demand: drivers hunkering down in their homes don't use the car. The average price for a gallon of gas in the U.S. is $3.27, down 5 cents from Jan. 1.

It's back! Market volatility sets advisers' defensive plans in motion

Bloomberg News

The recent spike in stock market volatility has put the financial advice community into scramble mode, with a lot of advisers fielding calls from nervous clients while simultaneously embracing defensive investment strategies.

“I'm telling my clients, first of all, we saw the potential for this kind of market pullback and that's why they already have a hedge in [their] portfolio. I'm also telling them if we get to a fork in the road, we're taking the more conservative path,” said Robert Isbitts, founder and chief investment strategist at Sungarden Investment Research.

With the Dow Jones Industrial Average down nearly 7% from the start of the year following a stretch of eight down trading days over the past two weeks, Mr. Isbitts is preparing clients for a downturn of between 10% and 20%.

“For the first time in a long time, we're looking at what arguably could be a technical break with a trend line to the downside,” he said. “That's something we haven't seen since 2011, and that starts to get into some serious stuff.”

The Dow has been positive from the opening bell Tuesday after falling by 475 points, or 3%, over the two previous trading days.

Investors are clearly nervous, which compounds the impact of every bit of fresh economic data, reminding them of the interconnected nature of the global markets.

“What we're seeing right now is the real importance of the emerging markets,” said Doug Coté, chief investment strategist at ING U.S. Investment Management.

From his perspective, the first steps toward winding down the five-year quantitative-easing program is having a direct impact on emerging markets, which had been benefiting from the artificially low interest rates in the U.S.

But now that the Federal Reserve has started tapering, investors are seeing the potential for higher yields in U.S. bonds, which are drawing a lot of hot money out of the emerging markets in a hurry.

“Speculative investors saw the writing on the wall with the tapering announcements, because now Treasury rates are going to rise and that will hurt the emerging and frontier markets,” Mr. Coté said. “It's all that QE money coming back home now that quantitative easing is ending.”

The emerging markets also are seen as vulnerable to an economic slowdown in China, a major importer of emerging-markets goods.

As Mr. Coté explained, the global economy feels the pain of the emerging markets directly and speedily.

“The emerging and frontier markets now contribute 38% to global GDP, which compares to 20% a decade ago,” he said. “That means a decade ago, a little unrest in the emerging markets would have hit our economy months later, but now it's direct.”

Scott Miller Jr., managing partner and chief ex! ecutive of Blue Bell Private Wealth Management, said his clients are not “overly anxious yet,” because they are still basking in the strength of last year's performance.

He recognizes that the winding down of quantitative easing is the painful consequence of the economy's strengthening to the point that some believe it is now strong enough to stand on its own.

“I think the volatility will be creeping its way back into the market, and with tapering under way, the market will have to start relying more on fundamentals,” he said. “But I still think we'll see a positive market by the end of the year.”

Mr. Miller has had clients asking about taking advantage of market pullbacks, particularly in some of the harder-hit emerging markets.

“I wouldn't go whole hog in the emerging markets, but it might be a good time to dollar-cost average your way in,” he said. “I think it's a great thing to go into with ETFs, and it's probably not too early for a long-term investor.”

Defense has been the name of the game for more than a year for Theodore Feight, owner of Creative Financial Design.

“I've had a few calls from clients who want to know if we're prepared for this market volatility, and I remind them that I've been telling them for a while that this was coming,” he said. “We've had [sell] stops kicking off on individual stocks like popcorn lately.”

Mr. Feight was not expecting a very strong start to the year, but he is looking for a market low point within the next few months, at which point he will put some cash to work.

“With the extra cost of Obamacare, we knew the companies were going to have to take some money out of the economy, and now the cold weather has also taken some money out of the economy,” he said. “The cold weather has been great for the price of natural gas, but nobody is buying anything else that they can't buy online.”

Jim Russell, senior equity strategist at U.S. Bank Weal! th Manage! ment, also blamed the weather for at least part of the sluggishness that is dragging down the equity markets.

“Either the domestic economy is not as strong as the market had hoped, or we're getting some weather-related effects,” he said. “The second thing the markets are contending with is the emerging markets. We thought the equity markets were due for a nice pullback as we finished 2013, although the catalyst was not evident to us.”

Mr. Russell now recognizes that catalyst as an emerging market downturn, which has been triggered by the start of tapering.

The next big shoe to drop, he explained, will come on Friday when non-farm payroll data show how many jobs were created in January. The consensus estimate is for 181,000 new jobs last month, but Mr. Russell is also expecting the surprisingly weak 74,000 new jobs in December to be revised upward.

“We're getting some data points that are a bit surprising and are a bit surprising to the growth scenario that we had in mind for 2014,” he said.

10 Best New Stocks To Buy For 2014

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit on Tuesday rejected an appeal brought by the Investment Company Institute, upholding new rules issued by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission that will require many investment companies to register as commodity pools.

ICI came out against the ruling, stating that the CFTC’s Rule 4.5 will result in redundant regulation of registered investment companies, such as mutual funds and exchange-traded funds.

Karrie McMillan, ICI’s general counsel, said in a statement after the ruling that the court’s decision “appears to reflect its judgment that the costs and benefits of the CFTC’s expanded regulation of investment companies cannot be fully assessed until the agency completes its rulemaking to ‘harmonize’ its rules with those of the Securities and Exchange Commission.”

The court “made clear,” McMillan continued, “that it expects the costs and benefits of the harmonization rule to be carefully considered.” She said ICI continues to believe the amendments made to CFTC Rule 4.5 “were improperly adopted,” and that ICI “intends to focus on ensuring that the CFTC’s regulatory regime as it evolves does not adversely affect fund investors.”

10 Best New Stocks To Buy For 2014: OriginOil Inc (OOIL.PK)

OriginOil, Inc., incorporated on June 1, 2007, is a technology company. The Company is primarily involved in research and development activities, and sales of pilot and demonstration equipment. The Company has developed an energy production process for harvesting algae and cleaning up oil and gas water. To develop the energy and ancillary markets, the Company sells smaller-scale equipment, such as the Algae Appliance. The Company�� process, CLEAN-FRAC, represents a generation of water treatment that is chemical free. The Company's water cleanup technology, Electro Water Separation (EWS), is a chemical-free process that extracts organic contaminants from large quantities of water. Its products include EWS Algae, EWS Algae A4, EWS Algae A60, EWS Algae A200, EWS Petro P160, and EWS Aqua Q60.

The Company intends to embed its technology into larger systems through licensing and joint ventures. The Company is in the process of pursuing secondary licensing oppo rtunities outside of energy, including aquaculture. EWS Algae A4 is an entry-level algae harvester designed to make it easier and faster for producers and researchers to try and buy the Company's harvesting technology. EWS Algae A60 is a pilot scale algae harvester providing a low energy, chemical-free, continuous flow wet harvest system to dewater and concentrate the microalgae. EWS Petro Model 160 is designed to remove organics, such as crude oil, and suspended solids and bacteria from process water, such as produced or frac flowback water at a continuous flow rate of one barrel per minute or 160 liters per minute in continuous, chemical free operation. EWS Aqua Q60 is a commercial fish farming pond water treatment system, designed to clean pond water of ammonia, bacteria and aquatic animal pathogens in a continuous loop.

10 Best New Stocks To Buy For 2014: OriginOil Inc (OOIL)

OriginOil, Inc., incorporated on June 1, 2007, is a technology company. The Company is primarily involved in research and development activities, and sales of pilot and demonstration equipment. The Company has developed an energy production process for harvesting algae and cleaning up oil and gas water. To develop the energy and ancillary markets, the Company sells smaller-scale equipment, such as the Algae Appliance. The Company�� process, CLEAN-FRAC, represents a generation of water treatment that is chemical free. The Company's water cleanup technology, Electro Water Separation (EWS), is a chemical-free process that extracts organic contaminants from large quantities of water. Its products include EWS Algae, EWS Algae A4, EWS Algae A60, EWS Algae A200, EWS Petro P160, and EWS Aqua Q60.

The Company intends to embed its technology into larger systems through licensing and joint ventures. The Company is in the process of pursuing secondary licensing opportunities outside of energy, including aquaculture. EWS Algae A4 is an entry-level algae harvester designed to make it easier and faster for producers and researchers to try and buy the Company's harvesting technology. EWS Algae A60 is a pilot scale algae harvester providing a low energy, chemical-free, continuous flow wet harvest system to dewater and concentrate the microalgae. EWS Petro Model 160 is designed to remove organics, such as crude oil, and suspended solids and bacteria from process water, such as produced or frac flowback water at a continuous flow rate of one barrel per minute or 160 liters per minute in continuous, chemical free operation. EWS Aqua Q60 is a commercial fish farming pond water treatment system, designed to clean pond water of ammonia, bacteria and aquatic animal pathogens in a continuous loop.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By CRWE]

  Today, OOIL�has shed (-3.12%) down -0.01 at $.31 with 95,929 shares in play thus far (ref. google finance Delayed: 2:04PM�EDT October 15, 2013).

  OriginOil, Inc. previously reported it has signed its first pay-per-barrel agreement with Industrial Systems, Inc. (ISI) for a water treatment system integrating OriginOil�� process as the first stage of treatment.

  Delta, Colorado-based ISI has agreed that it will operate the Model P160 as part of its overall frac flowback water cleanup service, and pay OriginOil a fee for each barrel processed.

Top Safest Stocks To Watch For 2015: Alterra Power Corp (MGMXF.PK)

Alterra Power Corp., formerly Magma Energy Corp., is a global renewable power company. It operates six power plants totaling 570 megawatt of capacity, including two geothermal facilities in Iceland, a geothermal plant in Nevada, British Columbia�� run of river hydro facilities and the province�� wind farm. As of June 30, 2011, its share of this production capacity was 315 megawatt. The Company also has a portfolio of exploration and development projects. The Company owns two geothermal power generation plants (the Svartsengi and Reykjanes Plants) and two geothermal exploration projects in Iceland (Eldvorp and Krysuvik) through its interest in HS Orka. In addition, it owns one geothermal power generation plant in Nevada (the Soda Lake Operation). In May 2011, it acquired Plutonic Power Corp. During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011 (fiscal 2011), it sold a 25% interest in HS Orka to Jardvarmi slhf (Jardvarmi), which is a company-owned by a group of Icelandic pension f unds.

10 Best New Stocks To Buy For 2014: Solar Power Inc (SOPW.PK)

Solar Power, Inc., incorporated on May 22, 2006, is a global solar energy facility (SEF) developer offering SEF development services. The Company offers an approach to design, engineer and construct photovoltaic (PV) solar systems for commercial and utility applications. In addition to developing SEFs using products manufactured by LDK Solar Co., Ltd. (LDK), its parent company, the Company also sells solar modules and balance of system components manufactured by third party vendors to other integrators in the United States, Asian, and European markets. In June 2012, the Company acquired 100% interest in Italy-based Solar Green Technologies (SGT) from LDK Solar Europe Holdings S.A., a wholly owned subsidiary of LDK Solar Co., Ltd.

In addition to designing, engineering and constructing SEFs, the Company also provides long-term operations and maintenance (O&M) services through its O&M program SPIGuardianTM. This service program provides a suite of services tha t commence upon a facility�� commissioning to provide performance monitoring, system reporting, preventative maintenance and full warranty support over the anticipated life of the SEF.

The Company competes with Sun Power Corporation, First Solar, SPG Solar, Sun Edison, Kyocera Corporation, Mitsubishi, Solar World AG, Sharp Corporation, Yiugli, Solar Fun and Suntech and Canadian Solar.

10 Best New Stocks To Buy For 2014: EcoloCap Solutions Inc (ECOS)

EcoloCap Solutions Inc. (EcoloCap), incorporated on March 18, 2004, is a development stage company. The Company is an integrated network of environmentally focused technology companies that design, develop, manufacture and sell cleaner alternative energy products.

The Company through its subsidiary Micro Bubble Technologies Inc. (MBT), developed and manufactures M-Fuel. The Company also developed the Carbon Nano Tube Battery (CNT-Battery), and the Nano Li- Battery both recyclable, rechargeable batteries. MBT has also developed a process that blends non-miscible liquids (oil and water) on a submicron level in order to create a non-emulsified fuel product that it calls EM-Fuel.

10 Best New Stocks To Buy For 2014: New Energy Technologies Inc (NENE)

New Energy Technologies, Inc., incorporated on May 5, 1998, is a development-stage company. The Company is engaged in renewable and alternative energy business. The Company conducts its operations through two wholly owned subsidiaries: Kinetic Energy Corporation (KEC), Sungen Energy, Inc. and New Energy Solar Corporation (New Energy Solar). The Company focuses on the development of two technologies: MotionPower Technology for capturing the kinetic energy of moving vehicles to generate electricity, and SolarWindow Technology, which enables see-through glass windows to generate electricity by spraying glass surfaces with its electricity-generating coatings to their glass surface. It has filed 10 patent applications for inventions related to its MotionPower Technology and one for its SolarWindow Technology. As of June 21, 2012, it had no commercial products. As of June 21, 2012, the Company had no revenues.

SolarWindow

The Company�� SolarWindow products in development are designed to generate electricity on glass while remaining see-through. It has six product development goals for its SolarWindow technology: SolarWindow - Commercial, which is a flat glass product for installation in new commercial towers under construction and replacement windows; SolarWindow - Structural Glass, which is a structural glass walls and curtains for tall structures; SolarWindow - Architectural Glass, which is a textured and decorative interior glass walls and room dividers; SolarWindow - Residential, which is a window glass for installation in residential homes under construction and replacement windows; SolarWindow - Flex , which is a film which may be applied directly onto glass, similar to aftermarket window tint films, for retrofit to existing commercial towers, buildings, and residential homes; and SolarWindow - BIPV, which is a building product components associated with building-integrated-photovoltaic (BIPV) applications in homes, buildings, and office towers.

MotionPower

MotionPower products are designed to generate electricity from the capture and conversion of available kinetic energy into electricity, which is present in vehicles which are slowing down before stopping. It is developing three MotionPower products: MotionPower - Heavy, which is a fluid-driven, system with limited moving mechanical components for installation at sites where big rigs, such as tractor trailers, buses, and commercial vehicles are traveling at below 15 miles per hour and are in the process of slowing down; MotionPower - Auto, which is a fluid-driven, system similar to MotionPower - Heavy for installation at sites where cars and light-duty trucks, such as sport utility vehicles and automobiles, are traveling at below 15 miles per hour and are in the process of slowing down; and MotionPower - Express, which is a mechanical system for installation at sites where all cars, light-duty trucks, motor homes, buses, big rigs, and commercial vehicles are traveling faster than 15 miles per hour and are in the process of slowing down.

The Company competes with Konarka Technologies, Inc., XsunX, Inc. and Sharp Corporation.

10 Best New Stocks To Buy For 2014: Solar Energy Initiatives Inc (SNRY)

Solar Energy Initiatives, Inc., incorporated on June 20, 2006, is a provider of solar solutions with three wholly owned subsidiaries focused on projects, solar education and distribution of solar products. Its products include solar panels, inverters, solar thermal systems, system design, financial consulting and analysis, construction management, and maintenance and monitoring. The SNRYPower subsidiary is a developer and manager of municipal and commercial scale solar projects. The Solar-EOS Inc subsidiary is engaged in education and continuous improvement of solar energy trade professionals. The SNRYSolar Inc subsidiary is a wholesale distributor of branded photovoltaic and thermal (water heating) systems selling via a network of dealers throughout the United States and the Caribbean. During the fiscal year ended July 31, 2010 (fiscal 2010), the Company sold its interests in SolarEnergy.com, a domain name and digital property back to its original owner. In February 2011, the sold its Solar (EOS) Division.

Solar EOS, Inc.

Solar EOS, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Solar Energy Initiatives, Inc. It is an education group dedicated to the creation, training, advancement and continuous improvement of professionals through standard and customized solar training programs and workforce development. It supports the growth of the solar industry through training and education. Solar EOS provides training through its Professional Development Institute and through its Technical Installation Schools, as well as through its Customized Training Programs.

Professional Development Institute offers programs to architects, engineers, general contractors, roofers, plumbers, facility managers and owner�� representatives. The institute offers solar courses to members of the professional communities. Many courses provide needed continuing education units for licensure and professional registrations. Solar EOS is also an approved Ukulele Society of Great Britain (USGB) Educatio! n Provider. These classes are paid for by the professional or his company when taking the course.

Technical Installation Schools focus on workforce development and public/private partnerships. The school trains the next generation of solar thermal and photovoltaic installers in construction best practices, utilizing hands-on training, real world situations, theory and design coursework, and professional development training. Career Services programs, partnerships and dealer relationships drive the job placement of the students. These courses are paid for by the business rather than the individuals.

Customized Training Programs work through partnerships with universities, community and technical colleges, non profits, corporations, professional organizations, municipalities and workforce redevelopment agencies to meet the specific needs of groups of students. The Company writes the curriculum, provides the instructors, coordinates workshops, develops training programs, and hosts webinars and on-demand webcasts. The students do not pay for the course but is paid for through a variety of government programs in the form of a grant. As of October, 2010, the Company entered the fourth class for the Technical Installation School and graduated over 50 students, and trained more than 100 professionals in its Professional Development Institute.

SNRY Solar Inc.

SNRY Solar Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Solar Energy Initiatives, Inc. (SEI). SNRY Solar is responsible for two areas: wholesale sales and government programs. SNRY Solar represents several manufacturers of solar systems and components in the Photovoltaic (PV), Solar Thermal / Hot Water (HW) and solar pool heating systems. SNRY Solar inventories and sells these components and systems to a network of installers, dealers and other business types across the United States and the Caribbean. SNRY Solar provides technical information, supply coordination and extensive sales support to aide these indep! endent bu! sinesses.. These support functions include but are not limited to preliminary engineering, scoping and drawings to support sales activity as well as lead generation tools, product recommendation and proposal support. SNRY Solar has developed business models which engage community groups, local, state and federal leaders and grass roots organizations to seek available funds to support job creation through solar.

SNRY POWER Inc.

SNRY POWER Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary that focuses on developing solar photovoltaic (PV) panel systems for either mounting on the ground or on rooftops. These systems, once installed, generate electricity that is sold to various third parties including utilities, home and business owners, municipalities and other government agencies. In the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) program, the Company builds the PV system at no charge to the host (the municipality or other customer). The system is built on space (either land or rooftop) provided by the host in exchange for a reduction in the hosts payment for electricity (usually expressed in cents per kilowatt hour (KWh).

The Company is constructing a one mega watt (MW) ground mounted solar PV system on land provided by the Cherokee School District in North Carolina. It has secured construction financing to build 50% of the system and considering selling the system in fiscal 2010.

Solar panels are solar cells electrically connected together and encapsulated in a weatherproof package. The Company purchases from Suntech, GE Solar, BP Solar and other vendors in the Unites States and off-shore. Inverters transform direct current (DC), electricity produced by solar panels into alternating current (AC), electricity used in homes and businesses. Inverters are used in every on-grid solar power system and feed power either directly into the structure�� electrical circuit or into the utility grid. In North America, it sells branded inverters designed for use in residential and commercia! l systems.! Inverters it sources include models spanning a power range of 2.5 to 500 kilowatts. Its inverters are manufactured by Solectria, Xantrex, SMA Technologies, AG and PV Powered. Solar thermal systems include a solar collector, which gathers solar radiation to heat air or water for domestic, commercial or industrial use, piping and/or pump(s) to move heated water and a tank for storage. The Company provides dealers and customers with a variety of services, including system design, energy efficiency, financial consulting and analysis, construction management and maintenance and monitoring. Solar electric and solar thermal systems are designed to take into account the customer�� location, site conditions and energy needs.

The Company competes with groSolar, Sunpower, Sunwize, BP Solar, Evergreen Solar and GE Solar.

10 Best New Stocks To Buy For 2014: Suzlon Energy Ltd (SUZLON)

Suzlon Energy Limited (SEL) is an India-based wind power company. The Company along with its subsidiaries is in the business of selling and installing wind turbine generators (WTGs). It is engaged in the manufacture of wind turbine generators of various capacities and its components. Its operations relate sale of WTGs and allied activities including sale/sub-lease of land, infrastructure development income; sale of gear boxes, and sale of foundry and forging components. Others primarily include power generation operations. The Company�� subsidiaries include Suzlon Towers and Structures Limited, Suzlon Power Infrastructure Limited, Suzlon Infrastructure Services Limited, Suzlon Gujarat Wind Park Limited, Suzlon Structure Limited, SE Forge Limited, SE Composites Limited, Suzlon Wind International Limited, SE Electricals Limited, Suzlon Rotor Corporation, AE Rotor Holding B.V. and Suzlon Energy A/S.

10 Best New Stocks To Buy For 2014: Alterra Power Corp (MGMXF)

Alterra Power Corp., formerly Magma Energy Corp., is a global renewable power company. It operates six power plants totaling 570 megawatt of capacity, including two geothermal facilities in Iceland, a geothermal plant in Nevada, British Columbia�� run of river hydro facilities and the province�� wind farm. As of June 30, 2011, its share of this production capacity was 315 megawatt. The Company also has a portfolio of exploration and development projects. The Company owns two geothermal power generation plants (the Svartsengi and Reykjanes Plants) and two geothermal exploration projects in Iceland (Eldvorp and Krysuvik) through its interest in HS Orka. In addition, it owns one geothermal power generation plant in Nevada (the Soda Lake Operation). In May 2011, it acquired Plutonic Power Corp. During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011 (fiscal 2011), it sold a 25% interest in HS Orka to Jardvarmi slhf (Jardvarmi), which is a company-owned by a group of Icelandic pension funds.

10 Best New Stocks To Buy For 2014: EcoloCap Solutions Inc (ECOS.PK)

EcoloCap Solutions Inc. (EcoloCap), incorporated on March 18, 2004, is a development stage company. The Company is an integrated network of environmentally focused technology companies that design, develop, manufacture and sell cleaner alternative energy products.

The Company through its subsidiary Micro Bubble Technologies Inc. (MBT), developed and manufactures M-Fuel. The Company also developed the Carbon Nano Tube Battery (CNT-Battery), and the Nano Li- Battery both recyclable, rechargeable batteries. MBT has also developed a process that blends non-miscible liquids (oil and water) on a submicron level in order to create a non-emulsified fuel product that it calls EM-Fuel.

Single women: Is buying a home is right for you?

Forget being homemakers—single women are now homebuyers.

Solo females began to outpace lone males in purchasing homes in the early 1990s. By 1999, single women represented about one in five total sales, buying homes at twice the level of single men, a proportion that has held roughly steady since, according to National Association of Realtors data.

"A lot of people, myself included, take pride in owning a home," says Portland, Ore., lawyer Katie Abbott, 36. She bought a two-bedroom, 1,100-square-foot Craftsman this summer. "There's no reason that it (homebuying) should be limited to only if you're married," she says.

Before you jump on this trend, take a few important steps to ensure the time is right for you. Buying a house is the biggest financial commitment most of us will make in a lifetime. A wrong move could haunt you for decades, but the right decision will make you a proud homeowner.

GET FINANCIALLY FIT

Save a big down payment. Many financial advisers recommend putting down at least 20 percent of the purchase price to make sure you can sell the house in the future, even if prices fall. "The less you put down, the greater the probability of being underwater (owing more than the value of the house) at some point," says Eleanor Blayney, a consumer advocate for the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards.

Take care of yourself. Before you acquire a major real estate asset, make sure you are contributing enough to a retirement fund, have six months of living expenses saved for emergencies and have purchased disability insurance—a must for single women, according to award-winning author and money manager Julie Jason, based in Stamford, Conn. "It's not a simple decision of, 'I like this house; let's go buy it!' The worst thing you can do is put all your money into a house and not put any money into retirement," Jason says. "You're deploying assets to make this purchase that you could be using for another purpose."

Educate yourself. Shop around to find! financial professionals you trust, including a real-estate agent and lender who are willing to answer all your questions and educate you about the transaction. Read all your mortgage documentation. Bone up on real estate basics, home repair, siding and roofs, garden care and home heating systems, even if you have to resort to books with the words "dummies" or "idiots" in the title.

MAKE SURE THE TIME IS RIGHT

Plan to stay in the home you buy for five or seven years. When you take out a mortgage, you pay closing fees, moving costs and other "friction" costs that can never be recovered. Make sure that the general area and the specific house will suit your needs long enough to make it worthwhile.

Consider what would change if you met a long-term partner. How long you would stay in a house depends in part on whether you remain single. Evaluate whether the property could accommodate two residents, or more if you might add children. Before Abbott bought her home, she had a structural engineer make sure she could build into the unfinished attic, which you currently enter through a ladder on the wraparound porch. "It's a home that I could grow and expand into," Abbott says.

Be sure your job and the local economy are stable. We all heard the horror stories of layoffs followed by foreclosures in the Great Recession. Be wary of buying a home if either your employer or the community is on shaky ground.

CALCULATE THE COSTS OF BUYING

Compare owning to renting. You can't necessarily afford a mortgage payment that's the same as your rent bill. There's homeowners' insurance and taxes to consider, and additional utilities and maintenance costs. Ask the existing homeowner what she pays for gas, electric, water, sewer, garbage removal and lawn maintenance. Remember extras like condo or neighborhood association fees. Build it into your budget. Ask colleagues and friends to recommend vendors who can help you keep the house in shape.

Consider moving costs. At a minimum, you'll spend ! time away! from work and shell out for packing supplies. Then you'll need money to fix up and furnish your new home. Abbott set aside $20,000 for moving, painting, and furnishing her new guest bedroom and dining room.

Keep in mind you'll be in charge of long-term repairs. During your home inspection, ask the inspector to explain everything that will need to be replaced or repaired, and make sure you know the age of each major system in the house. That will form the basis of your to-do list for the coming decade. "The biggest mistake people make when they buy a home is not to consider the non-routine expenses," says Jason. "You're probably doing one major project a year."

USA TODAY Modern Woman magazine contains articles about lifestyle, health, relationships, money, home, travel and more. Find it on magazines newsstands or at modernwoman.usatoday.com.(Photo: Cover photo by Robert Erdmann/August)

WAYS TO START SAVING TODAY

It's a big task to save up 20 percent of the purchase price of a home. Consider these ways to make it easier.

Set up an automatic, recurring transfer from your checking account to a savings account. If you never see the money, you won't spend it.Limit eating out and clothes shopping.Switch from pay services to free ones, and save the difference. For instance, ditch the gym membership for running and biking trails. Cancel cable and instead watch free television online or borrow from the library.Sell old clothes, books, music and belongings that you no longer use. Have a rummage sale or sell them online. As a bonus, you'll have less stuff to pack and move.Negotiate better rates for services such as insurance, banking and your phone bill. You never know what you can get unless you ask!Take a second job or ! start a s! ide-business. If you tutor kids in the evenings or walk dogs, all that money can go into your house fund.Live with your relatives—just for a while. Make sure it's limited, and invite them to your housewarming party when you move.

This article is excerpted from USA TODAY Modern Woman magazine, which contains articles about lifestyle, health, relationships, money, home, travel and more. Find it on magazines newsstands or at modernwoman.usatoday.com.