Home sales weaken more than expected

Home sales fell for the second consecutive month in October, while prices continue to rise given a limited supply of homes for sale, the National Association of Realtors says.

Total existing home sales fell 3.2% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.12 million in October from 5.29 million in September. They are 6% higher than the 4.83 million-unit level in October 2012.

Economists' median forecast was for an annual rate of 5.25 million last month, according to an Action Economics' survey.

A flattening trend is expected, says Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist.

"The erosion in buying power is dampening home sales," he said. "Moreover, low inventory is holding back sales while at the same time pushing up home prices in most of the country."

Single-family home sales fell 4.1% in October from September but remained 5.2% above year ago levels.

Homes also spent more time on the market, at a median of 54 days vs. 50 in September. And the supply of homes for sale edged up to 5 months from 4.9 months. That means they would all sell at the current pace if no more homes came on the market. Supplies are much tighter in some parts of the country.

Distressed sales accounted for 14% of sales vs. 25% a year ago.

The interest rate spike in May and June hurt October sales, says Jed Kolko, Trulia economist, while the effect of the recent rate decline has yet to be reflected in sales data.

Other recent housing data shows that the market "has come off the boil," says Paul Diggle, economist with Capital Economics.

Home builder confidence moderated in October and there have been signs that price gains are slowing.

Still, Diggle says that while the pace of recovery may be slowing, it's not reversing. Indeed, September home prices were up 12% from a year earlier, CoreLogic says.

The recent fall back in mortgage interest rates is also good news for housing, says Madeline Schnapp, director of economic research for home-sale tracker PropertyRadar.

Zil! low data shows the 30-year-fixed rate mortgage at 4.06% as of Tuesday. Rates will likely be helped by expectations that Janet Yellen, who is likely to succeed Ben Bernanke as the Federal Reserve's chairman next year, will push to keep rates low for several more years.

While it's normal for home sales to decline as the holiday season approaches, this time was different, says Ellen Haberle, economist for brokerage Redfin.

She says the uncertainty created by the government shutdown and debt ceiling battle in October left Americans worried about the economy. "It is no surprise that many buyers put their home-buying plans on hold that month."

Best Airline Companies To Invest In 2015

Best Airline Companies To Invest In 2015: AMR Corp (AAMRQ)

AMR Corporation (AMR), incorporated in October 1982, operates in the airline industry. The Company's principal subsidiary is American Airlines, Inc. (American). As of December 31, 2011, American provided scheduled jet service to approximately 160 destinations throughout North America, the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe and Asia. AMR Eagle Holding Corporation (AMR Eagle), a wholly owned subsidiary of AMR, owns two regional airlines, which do business as American Eagle - American Eagle Airlines, Inc. and Executive Airlines, Inc. (collectively, the American Eagle carriers). American also contracts with an independently owned regional airline, which does business as AmericanConnection (the AmericanConnection carrier). As of December 31, 2011, AMR Eagle operated approximately 1,500 daily departures, offering scheduled passenger service to over 175 destinations in North America, Mexico and the Caribbean.

American, AMR Eagle and the AmericanConnection airline ser ved more than 250 cities in approximately 50 countries with, on average, 3,400 daily flights and the combined network fleet numbered approximately 900 aircraft as of December 31, 2011. American Airlines is also a founding member of the oneworld alliance, which includes British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, LAN Airlines, Iberia, Qantas, JAL, Malev Hungarian, Mexicana, Royal Jordanian and S7 Airlines. Together, oneworld members serve 750 destinations in approximately 150 countries, with about 8,500 daily departures. American is also one of the scheduled air freight carriers in the world, providing a range of freight and mail services to shippers throughout its system onboard American's passenger fleet.

To improve access to each other's markets, American has established marketing relationships with other airlines and rail companies. As of December 31, 2011, A! merican had marketing relationships with Air Berlin, Air Pacific, Air Tahiti Nui, Alaska Airlines, B ritish Airways, Cape Air, Cathay Pacific, China Eastern Airl! ines, Dragonair, Deutsche Bahn German Rail, EL AL, Etihad Airways, EVA Air, Finnair, GOL, Gulf Air, Hawaiian Airlines, Iberia, Japan Airlines (JAL), Jet Airways, JetStar Airways, LAN (includes LAN Airlines, LAN Argentina, LAN Ecuador and LAN Peru), Niki Airlines, Qantas Airways, Royal Jordanian, S7 Airlines, and Vietnam Airlines.

American has established the AAdvantage frequent flyer program (AAdvantage). AAdvantage members earn mileage credits by flying on American, American Eagle and the AmericanConnection carrier or by using services of other participants in the AAdvantage program. Mileage credits can be redeemed for free, discounted or upgraded travel on American, American Eagle or other participating airlines, or for other awards. American sells mileage credits and related services to other participants in the AAdvantage program. There are over 1,000 program participants, including a credit card issuer, hotels, car rental companies, and other products and s ervices companies in the AAdvantage program. As of December 31, 2011, AAdvantage had approximately 69 million total members.

The Company competes with Alaska Airlines (Alaska), Delta Air Lines (Delta), Frontier Airlines, JetBlue Airways (JetBlue), Hawaiian Airlines, Southwest Airlines (Southwest) and AirTran Airways (Air Tran), Spirit Airlines, United Airlines (United) and Continental Airlines (Continental), US Airways and Virgin America Airlines.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Equities Trading UP
  AMR Corporation (OTC: AAMRQ), the parent company of American Airlines, gained 8.11 percent to $11.46 after a judge rejected a bid to block the AMR US Air merger on price claims.

• [By Dimitra DeFotis]

  On Wednesday, a federal judge cleared the way for American Airlines parent AMR (AAMRQ) to e! xit bankr! uptcy, which hastens the merger of American Air and U.S. Airways Group (LCC). Shares of AMR are down nearly 1% this morning, while U.S. Air stock dropped nearly 2%. The merged airline would be up against United Continental Holdings (UAL) and Delta Air Lines (DAL), which merged with Northwest. Shares of each are down 1%.

source from Top Stocks For 2015:http://www.topstocksblog.com/best-airline-companies-to-invest-in-2015.html

Top Dow Dividend Stocks To Invest In Right Now

Top Dow Dividend Stocks To Invest In Right Now: NetApp Inc.(NTAP)

NetApp, Inc. engages in the design, manufacturing, marketing, and technical support of networked storage solutions. It supplies enterprise storage and data management software, and hardware products and services. The company offers Data ONTAP, an operating system that supports storage area network (SAN) and network-attached storage (NAS) environments; storage efficiency technologies, including FlexVol, FlexClone, and Deduplication technologies; storage management and application integration software, such as OnCommand management software; fabric-attached storage unified storage systems, which support a range of data for users on various platforms; and virtual storage tier; V-Series network-based virtualization solutions that provide SAN and NAS access to the data stored in heterogeneous storage arrays. It also provides data protection software products, including Snapshot, SnapRestore, SnapVault, and Open Systems SnapVault techologies; MetroCluster products; and SnapMirror data replication solution. In addition, the company offers data retention and archive products, and Flash Cache modules; and storage security products for data security and key management in IP SAN, NAS, and tape backup environments; StorageGRID that enables intelligent data management and secure content retention; and professional services, global support solutions, and customer education and training. It serves energy, financial services, government, high technology, Internet, life sciences and healthcare services, manufacturing, media, entertainment, animation and video postproduction, and telecommunications industries. It offers its products in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and Japan. The company was formerly known as Network Appliance, Inc. and changed its name to NetApp, Inc. in March 2008. NetApp, Inc. was founded in 1992 ! and is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By gunjinvest]

  NetApp (NTAP) provides various storage solutions and has been constantly acquiring a sizeable chunk in the global storage market share. The growth of the company is illustrated by the fact that it is one of the top five storage solution providers in the world. Refer the table below for statistics.

• [By mitu77]

  NetApp (NTAP), provides various storage solutions and has been constantly acquiring a sizeable chunk in the global storage market share. The growth of the company is illustrated by the fact that it now charts in top 5 storage solution providers in the world. This goes on to prove that NetApp is one of the leaders in this business segments. Refer the table below for statistics.

source from Top Stocks For 2015:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-dow-dividend-stocks-to-invest-in-right-now-3.html

Top 10 Retail Companies For 2015

Top 10 Retail Companies For 2015: Inchcape PLC (INCH)

Inchcape plc is a global premium automotive distributor and retailer. The Company provides a professional and financed route to market for automotive manufacturers across five continents. Inchcape acts as a vehicle and parts distributor in 22 of its 26 markets. In these markets, the Company has responsibility for managing the value chain on behalf of a focused portfolio of premium and luxury brand partners. The Companys responsibilities as a distributor include specifying vehicles to meet local market requirements, organizing logistics from the factory gate through to the retail center, appointing and performance managing the retail network and acting as the national marketer of the brand. The Company derives over two third of its profit from Asia Pacific and emerging markets. Its markets include Hong Kong, Singapore, Russia, Chile, Ethiopia, Australia and the United Kingdom. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Inyoung Hwang]

  Inchcape Plc (INCH) surged 9.9 percent to 645 pence, the highest level since June 2008. The largest publicly traded U.K. car retailer and wholesaler reported first-half adjusted pretax earnings increased 11 percent. The company also announced share buybacks of 100 million pounds in the next year.

source from Top Penny Stocks For 2015:http://www.seekpennystocks.com/top-10-retail-companies-for-2015-2.html

Top 10 Rising Stocks To Buy Right Now

Top 10 Rising Stocks To Buy Right Now: HHGregg Inc.(HGG)

hhgregg, Inc. operates as a specialty retailer of consumer electronics, home appliances, and related services. The company offers video products, such as flat panel televisions, blu-rays, and DVD players; appliances, including washers and dryers, refrigerators, cooking ranges, dishwashers, freezers, and air conditioners; and digital camcorders, digital cameras, gaming bundles, home theater receivers, mattresses, MP3 players, computers, personal navigation, tablets, speaker systems, and telephones. It also sells a suite of services, including third-party premium service plans, and third-party in-home service and repair of products, as well as delivery and installation, and in-home repair and maintenance. The company operates its stores under the name of hhgregg. As of February 08, 2012, it operated 208 stores in Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. The company is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dan Burrows]

  True, there’s probably room for one national chain, such as Best Buy or maybe even HHGregg (HGG). After all, brick-and-mortar retail is hardly dead. But outside of a merger or roll-up, but it’s hard to see how RadioShack — a company that’s been behind the curve for a decade or more — could be the one left standing.

• [By Brian Pacampara]

  Based on the aggregated intelligence of 180,000-plus investors participating in Motley Fool CAPS, the Fool's free investing community, home-appliances and electronics retailer hhgregg (NYSE: HGG  ) has received a distressing two-star ranking.

• [By Rich Duprey]

  What's 4K? Well, they've got a gazillion pixels in them (almost 8.3 million, to be more exact), four times as many as today's 1080p sets, with large-s! creen formats of 55 inches and up. They also carry an equally large price tag. Although the sets Sony (NYSE: SNE  ) unveiled at CES sported price tags around $25,000, Best Buy will carry sets from the manufacturer with bargain-basement pricing starting below $5,000. Whilethey'll also be available at small chains like hhgregg (NYSE: HGG  ) and regional shops such as P.C. Richards & Sons, Best Buy is the only national chain carrying its sets.

• [By Sam Mattera]

  AFP/Getty Images TVs stand out as one of the premiere, big-ticket items of Black Friday. Even Kohl's (KSS), a store known for its clothing (not electronics), will have a few in stock that day, in an attempt to lure in a few extra bargain hunters. With so many different stores running specials, and all the different models on sale, there are literally dozens of different Black Friday TVs to choose from. While there are plenty of great deals available, a few stand out as being particularly noteworthy. Head to Walmart for the All-Around Cheapest Flat-Screen TV Walmart (WMT) will be selling a 32-inch LED Funai for just $98, making it one of the very cheapest TVs on sale this year. Discriminating buyers, however, should likely stay away -- Funai isn't in the same league as Sony (SNE) or Panasonic (PCRFY) when it comes to picture quality, and this particular set is just 720p (in contrast to full-HD 1080p). If you've never heard of Funai, the company generally sells its TVs under the Sylvania and Magnavox brands, two budget names not exactly known for their quality. Nevertheless, $98 for a 32-inch LED is hard (perhaps impossible) to beat. Shoppers looking for the cheapest flat-screen they can get their hands on should plan to be at Walmart Thanksgiving night. For a Great Deal on a Quality Samsung, Hit h.h. gregg At h.h. gregg (HGG), they'll also be offering a 32-inch LED, but unlike Walmart's Funai deal, this is on a model known for its quality. The set, Samsung's UN32EH5300, was declared one of ! the best ! 32-inch LCD TVs you can buy by LCD TV Buying Guide for 2012. It sports full-HD 1080p, and comes equipped with Samsung's smart TV suite -- owners can access digital content from sites like Netflix (NFLX) and Youtube. h.h. gregg will sell the TV for $299.99, what it claims is a 33 percent discount. Right now, Amazon (AMZN) is charging about $330 for the TV as part of its "Countdown to Black Friday" sale, making the h.h. gregg discount closer to 10 percent. (O

source from Top Stocks To Buy For 2015:http://www.topstocksforum.com/top-10-rising-stocks-to-buy-right-now.html

Top Consumer Service Stocks To Watch For 2014

Given the worries of a China economic slowdown, it's not surprising this stock has been down, however, MoneyShow's Jim Jubak, thinks you can get a better picture of how the company is doing by looking at these measures, rather than just by looking at earnings and revenue growth.

We��e been down this road with Home Inns and Hotels Management (HMIN) before. Which doesn�� make it any less scary.

The stock is down 22.2% in the last ten days��espite solid��ut certainly not spectacular��esults for the fourth quarter, reported on March 12.

The recent sell-off on worries about a slowdown in China�� economic growth, pretty much, mirrors the January plunge on China and emerging market worries. Then the shares fell 23.7% from December 31 to February 3, before rebounding, along with emerging market shares in general, by 15.1%, from February 3 to March 4.

When China�� markets slump and fear rises, Home Inns and Hotels Management is sold early and hard because, 1) as the big dog in the mid-to-low end of the lodging market in China, the company is seen as very exposed to shifts in growth in China�� economy, and 2) because the stock is so liquid that it is easy and cheap to sell at the slightest worry��nd easy and cheap to rebuy when the trend shifts.

Top 10 Specialty Retail Companies To Watch For 2015: Nucor Corporation(NUE)

Nucor Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the manufacture and sale of steel and steel products in North America and internationally. It operates through three segments: Steel Mills, Steel Products, and Raw Materials. The Steel Mills segment produces hot and cold-rolled sheet steel; plate steel; structural steel comprising wide-flange beams, beam blanks, and sheet piling; and bar steel, such as blooms, billets, concrete reinforcing bar, merchant bar, and special bar quality products. The Steel Products segment offers steel joists and joist girders, steel deck, fabricated concrete reinforcing steel, cold finished steel, steel fasteners, metal building systems, light gauge steel framing, steel grating and expanded metal, and wire and wire mesh products. The Raw Materials segment produces direct reduced iron (DRI); brokers ferrous and nonferrous metals, pig iron, hot briquetted iron, and DRI; supplies ferro-alloys; and processes ferrous and nonferrous scrap metal products. The company?s operations also include various international trading companies that buy and sell steel and steel products. It sells its hot-rolled steel and cold-rolled steel to steel service centers, fabricators, and manufacturers; steel joists and joist girders, and steel deck to general contractors and fabricators; and cold finished steel and steel fasteners to distributors and manufacturers. The company?s products are used by contractors in constructing highways, bridges, reservoirs, utilities, hospitals, schools, airports, stadiums, and high-rise buildings. Nucor Corporation was founded in 1940 and is based in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Damian Illia] e why.

  Modernizing Furnaces

  Structural overcapacity in the steel world is largely changing the rules by which suppliers compete. New demand patterns ��like the replacement of steel parts in the automotive industry for aluminum parts or the unequal cycles that different economies are experiencing ��are also shaping supply into a more ��ust-in-time��one. Thus, the current global economic volatility, which translates into constantly changing steel prices, is forcing producers to be more flexible. Hence, it�� increasingly becoming more important to possess a low per-unit cost structure than to be able to generate large economies of scale by producing bulky quantities.

  Here�� where I see that Nucor hold its competitive advantage: electric arc furnaces (EAF). These furnaces, in spite of being more electricity intensive, require a much lower per-unit investment and are significantly more efficient in terms of labor. Adding to this, the fact the Nucor has shifted its raw material usage from pig iron to direct-reduced iron (DRI) by building a new production capacity that utilizes cheap natural gas is also a way in which management is attaining a low-cost strategy to outperform its competitors. Moreover, Nucor�� acquisition of ferrous scrap metal broker David J. Joseph Company allows it to avoid price volatility.

  Steel Dynamics is also pointing towards a higher operational flexibility by using EAFs, while it has secured raw material provision by having in-house scrap metal and pig iron, hedging the company from variations in the price of inputs. What I consider that makes Nucor a more attractive bet than Steel Dynamics is that the latter is more leveraged, and so its expansion perspectives are less interesting. Nucor�� debt-to-equity ratio of 55% compares to Steel Dynamics�� of 71%, hence evidencing Steel Dynamics�� limitation to further growth.

  Unlike these two low-cost producers, US Steel maintains an old fleet

• [By Jayson Derrick]

  Wells Fargo downgraded two steel stocks this morning due to increasing amounts of cheaper imports that have been flooding the market. U.S. Steel (NYSE: X) and Nucor (NYSE: NUE) were downgraded to a $17 to $21 range and a $50 to $55 range respectively. U.S. Steel lost 2.98 percent for the day closing at $26.34 while Nucor lost 2.05 percent, closing at $51.96.

Top Consumer Service Stocks To Watch For 2014: Texas Rare Earth Resources Corp (TRER.PK)

Texas Rare Earth Resources Corp., formerly Standard Silver Corporation, incorporated on July 29, 1970. a mining company engaged in the business of the acquisition and development of mineral properties. As of August 31, 2012, it held a nineteen year lease to explore and develop a 950 acre rare earth uranium-beryllium prospect located in Hudspeth County, Texas known as Round Top and prospecting permits covering an adjacent 9,345 acres.

The Company�� principal focus will be on developing a metallurgical process to concentrate or otherwise extract the metals from the Round Top rhyolite. In addition to the Round Top Project, the Company also own title to 12 unpatented mining claims, the Macho group, comprising 240 acres covering the Old Dude Mine, located in Sierra County, New Mexico. Another 18 unpatented mining claims and fractional claims, the HA group, consisting 274 acres cover an andesite hosted vein system similar to and some 10 miles to the southwest of the Macho District.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jake Mitchell]

  As a speculative play on the industry, I came across Texas Rare Earth Resources (TRER.PK), which is principally focused on its 950 acre Round Top project. A Preliminary Economic Assessment by an independent third party found that there are an estimated over 1 billion metric tonnes of resources containing over 1 billion pounds of rare earth elements. A revised PEA, which was originally projected to have a capital cost of $2.1 billion is now estimated to be between $150 million to $350 million. A key concern in the exploration of these mines is how expensive it is to ultimately extract the rare earths from the ground. If Texas Rare Earth is able to show evidence that cost has been significantly reduced it will be the target of interested parties globally.

Top Consumer Service Stocks To Watch For 2014: Renaissance Oil Corp (ROE)

Renaissance Oil Corp, formerly San Antonio Ventures Inc., is developing a diversified shale and mature fields portfolio for development in Mexico and Spain. The Company is partnered with Grupo SAMCA, a diverse industrial with operations in energy, mining, industrial minerals, agriculture, environmental and various other business lines in Spain. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By nnnguyen1221]

  Return on Equity (ROE):

  If you had to teach a child about investment Returns, one of the first investing songs they may learn perhaps may be entitled, ��OE-ROE-ROE your Float.��All kidding aside, ROE is one of Warren Buffett (Trades, Portfolio)�� measures of a healthy company.

• [By Chris Mydlo]

  The macro view of the growth in electronic transactions and MasterCard�� high return on equity (ROE) support the rationale for buying the stock. ROE has averaged a high 38.25 percent over the past five years. Although the long-term prospects look good, the stock has climbed 269 percent over the past five years and has gotten ahead of itself and could lead to subpar performance over the next year. The stock has a high P/E of 27.7. According to the GuruFocus DCF Calculator, earnings will need to grow at a rate of 19.54 percent to justify its current price using a discount rate of 12 percent. The annualized 5-year growth rate in EPS has been 23.10 percent, but earnings growth has slowed to 14.5 percent over the past 12 months.

• [By Canadian Value]

  Financials were hit extremely hard during the 2008��009 financial crisis, and US and European bank valuations plunged to levels only seen twice before in the past 120 years, notably during the Great Depression of the 1930s and the Inflation Crisis of the 1970s. Over the past few years, many banks have rebuilt their balance sheets, altered their business mixes and cut costs. Financial valuations have tracked returns very closely, and both have recovered from the lows reached in mid-2011. We do not believe return on equity (ROE) will likely recover to prior peaks, but our analysis shows that bank holdings have potential to improve further, particularly as business conditions begin to normalize and lending activities (at some point in the cycle) resume.

Top Consumer Service Stocks To Watch For 2014: Cyren Ltd (CYRN)

Cyren Ltd, formerly Commtouch Software Ltd., incorporated on February 10, 1991, is a provider of messaging, antivirus and Web security solutions to a range of customers and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and service provider distribution partners. The Company�� messaging solutions include anti-spam, Outbound Spam Protection for service providers, Zero-Hour virus outbreak protection and GlobalView Mail Reputation services, as well as Command Antivirus and GlobalView URL Filtering services. It offers its solutions to network and security vendors offering content security gateways, unified threat management solutions (UTM), network routers and appliances, anti-virus solutions and to service providers, such as software-as-a-service vendors, Web hosting providers and Internet service providers. On October 1, 2012, it purchased FRISK Software International's antivirus business. On November 16, 2012, the Company acquired eleven GmbH.

Its messaging security offerings includes its Recurrent Pattern Detection (RPD) technology, which analyzes messages associated with mass e-mail outbreaks and directs the blocking of such e-mails, without the need to analyze individual messages. The Company�� Web security solutions includes its in the cloud infrastructure, which analyzes various feeds from worldwide sources, as well as data from its RPD pertaining to uniform resource locator (URL), and provides a classification of the URLs based on a set of categories. At the core of its Command Antivirus solutions is the Company�� detection and remediation technology and engine design based on a combination of heuristics, emulation and several types of signatures, as well as an in the cloud infrastructure. In February 2011, the Company announced the availability of all three of its service offerings, messaging, antivirus and Web security, in one, unified Software Development Kit (SDK). The unified SDK can be integrated into the products of security and networking vendors on an OEM basis, as well as into! service providers��infrastructure. The three service offerings, messaging, antivirus and Web security are available also in non-unified, individual SDKs for its OEM and service provider customers.

The Company offers an enterprise anti-spam and Zero-Hour virus outbreak detection solution, which allows the reseller�� customer to download an Enterprise Gateway, enabling the subject to its services to be provided in real time by the Company�� Detection Center. Through the Enterprise Gateway, messages are filtered at the customer organization�� entry point, before being distributed to recipients, with added user-level controls and a spam and virus detection services from the Detection Center, allowing for real-time reaction to worldwide attacks. Command Anti-Malware service (CSAM), offers anti-malware protection for consumers and small businesses, as well as enterprises.

The Company competes with Symantec, TrendMicro, Intel, Cisco, Cloudmark, Mailshell, Vade Retro, McAfee, Sophos, Kaspersky, Webroot, Symantec Corp, IBM, Microsoft, Intel, WebSense and Secure Computing.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By James E. Brumley]

  If you don't have Cyren Ltd (NASDAQ:CYRN), Globalstar, Inc. (NYSEMKT:GSAT), or Ossen Innovation Co Ltd (NASDAQ:OSN) on your radar, put them on there quick. All three stocks are knocking on the door of bigger (read "trade-worthy") moves at a point in time where big moves are rare... not to mention a period on the calendar that slightly favors small cap stocks. To then end, here's a closer look at why GSAT, CYRN, and OSN may be better than average bets here.

10 Best Clean Energy Stocks To Own For 2015

10 Best Clean Energy Stocks To Own For 2015: Linktone Ltd.(LTON)

Linktone Ltd., through its subsidiaries, provides entertainment-oriented telecom value-added services and content to mobile phone users over mobile telecommunications networks in China and Indonesia, as well as the 3G mobile telecommunications network in Indonesia. The company specializes in the development, aggregation, marketing, and distribution of user wireless content and applications for access by mobile phone users through three mobile network operators in China and nine mobile network operators in Indonesia. Its 2G short messaging service (SMS)-based services include ringtones, icons and screen savers, interactive SMS messaging in certain television programs, adventure, action, trivia and fortune-telling games, lunar and Western horoscopes, jokes, fan clubs, and event-driven or entertainment news updates. The company?s 2.5G services comprise multimedia messaging services, such as animated cartoons and screensavers, comic strips, magazine-style ?mobile articles? on various topics, and event-driven news updates; and WAP services, which consist of WAP-based ringtones, screensavers, games and dating services, and advanced Java games. It also offers audio-related services, including color ring-back tones; and interactive voice response services that allow users to listen to songs, jokes, stories, and coverage of various events. In addition, Linktone is launching 3G services in Indonesia, including e-paper/e-reading; video-on-demand on tablet devices and smart TVs; and radio streaming on mobile applications. Further, it distributes and sells home entertainment products, such as VCDs/DVDs/Blu-ray discs and video-on-demand in Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia; and engages in the theatrical distribution of movies, karaoke video licensing, karaoke system rental, and providing a karaoke-on-demand channel on Pay TV platforms. The company was founded in 1999 and is based in Shanghai, China. Linktone Ltd. is a subsidiary of MNC Int! ernational Li mi ted.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lisa Levin]

  Linktone (NASDAQ: LTON) shares touched a new 52-week low of $1.30. Linktone's trailing-twelve-month operating margin is -20.15%.

  TOR Minerals International (NASDAQ: TORM) shares touched a new 52-week low of $9.76. TOR Minerals shares have dropped 9.95% over the past 52 weeks, while the S&P 500 index has gained 27.45% in the same period.

source from Top Penny Stocks For 2015:http://www.seekpennystocks.com/10-best-clean-energy-stocks-to-own-for-2015-2.html

Best Undervalued Companies To Invest In Right Now

Best Undervalued Companies To Invest In Right Now: 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 i! s based in Houston, Texas .

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Aaron Levitt]

  For investors, oil stocks are certainly shining this earnings season. OXY and BP, as well previous reports by Schlumberger (SLB) and Halliburton (HAL), are proving that fact.

• [By Jim Jubak]

  The company's January 10 announcement that it was lowering its guidance for the fourth quarter on declines in drilling activity in North America and Europe/Africa/Russia, has certainly contributed to weakness in the oil services sector and in the shares of competitors such as Schlumberger (SLB). With Schlumberger scheduled to report fourth quarter earnings on January 17, and with Baker Hughes scheduled for January 21, the question now is, Has the lowered guidance from Baker Hughes de-risked the stocks in the sector or will there be enough disappointment in the actual reports to push the sector down farther?

• [By Matt DiLallo]

  For example, Halliburton (NYSE: HAL  ) saw record first-quarter revenue of $7 billion. Declining rig counts and pricing pressures in North America were still more than offset by the company's international operations. Meanwhile,Schlumberger's (NYSE: SLB  ) results seemed to mirror National Oilwell Varco's in that its revenue was up over the year-ago quarter but slipped sequentially. Again, though, the story here was strength internationally with weakness in North America. Further, both companies are very optimistic about the future and neither see any signs of a business slowdown.

source from Top Stocks To Buy For 2015:http://www.topstocksforum.com/best-undervalued-companies-to-invest-in-right-now-3.html

10 Best Services Stocks To Watch For 2014

The Securities and Exchange Commission is warning investors to watch out for scams using virtual currencies, namely Bitcoin.

Just as the SEC on Tuesday charged a Texas man and his company with defrauding investors in a Ponzi scheme involving Bitcoin, the SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy released an alert warning investors about fraudulent investment schemes that may involve Bitcoin and other virtual currencies.

As the SEC’s alert states, virtual currencies, such as Bitcoin, have recently become popular. These schemes, the agency states, “often promise high returns for getting in on the ground floor of a growing Internet phenomenon.”

These currencies “may be traded on online exchanges for conventional currencies, including the U.S. dollar, or used to purchase goods or services, usually online,” the SEC says.

The “rising use of virtual currencies in the global marketplace may entice fraudsters to lure investors into Ponzi and other schemes in which these currencies are used to facilitate fraudulent, or simply fabricated, investments or transactions,” the agency says. “The fraud may also involve an unregistered offering or trading platform.”

Top 5 Biotech Stocks To Buy Right Now: Axxess Unlimited Inc (AXXU)

Axxess Unlimited, Inc., incorporated on June 8, 2000, is the holding company for the Axxess family of companies. The Axxess family of companies includes both vertically-integrated operating businesses and horizontally-integrated companies with each supported by a common software technology - the Axxess RISE Platform. The Company provides next-generation business intelligence for a range of businesses and organizations. It provides information-driven business solutions through interactive marketing, interactive technologies, application and product development, customer relationship management, business intelligence, portals and collaboration, and infrastructure solutions. Its companies include Axxess Digital (AxxuD), Axxess Apps (AxxuA) and Axxess Brands (AxxuB).

Axxess Digital

AxxuD is an interactive digital agency company. The Company relies on the core logic of the Axxess Unlimited RISE platform.

Axxess Apps

AxxuA is a software development company. The focus of AxxuA includes: enterprise applications, custom applications, cloud applications and mobile applications. The Company has software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions and custom and mobile products available in the government services, automobile dealership, medical and consumer goods sectors.

Axxess Brands

AxxuB is a marketer and manufacturer of specialty brands in better-for-you and indulgent categories under a variety of Company owned and licensed brand names. AxxuB licenses brands and provides outsource management.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By James E. Brumley]

  A week and a half ago, yours truly penned some bullish thoughts on Axxess Unlimited Inc. (OTCMKTS:AXXU). Not too many traders read that take, and/or if they did, they didn't seem to care. The response to the commentary was non-existent (good or bad), and there was no sudden rush to go out and buy AXXU. Today's second look may have a different outcome.

• [By James E. Brumley]

  If the names Axxess Unlimited Inc. (OTCMKTS:AXXU) and MagneGas Corporation (NASDAQ:MNGA) ring a bell, it might be because yours truly posted some bullish thoughts on both names earlier this week. Although neither small cap stock had done everything they needed to do in order become a fully bullish trade at the time, both MNGA and AXXU have cleared those hurdles in the meantime. So, in case you forgot (or in case you missed the first look), an updated review of Axxess Unlimited and MagneGas is merited.

• [By James E. Brumley]

  Even if you're one of the few reading this now, odds are good that you'd still never heard of Axxess Unlimited Inc. (OTCMKTS:AXXU) until the beginning of February. Prior to that, trading in AXXU was thin and uneventful. The evidence? Prior to February 4th, the average daily volume was less than 10,000 shares per day, and had been stuck right around the $0.20 mark since the middle of last year. Since February 4th, though, things have changed for the better. Since then, volume has been considerably stronger, and Axxess Unlimited shares have finally woken up and decided to forge ahead.

• [By CRWE]

  Last Friday, WIZD remained (0.00%) +0.000 at $.200 at the close (ref. google finance August 23, 2013 ��Close).

  Axxess Unlimited, Inc. previously reported the second quarter 2013 financial results for the period ending June 30, 2013.

  Second quarter 2013 compared to second quarter 2012 results included:

  Total Revenues up 330% to $272,775 compared to $63,392
  Gross Profit grew 1076% to $193,961 compared to loss of $19,876
  Operating Expenses were up 97% as the company continued to invest in R&D and channel rollout for Axxess products and technology.
  Operating Net Income increased 103% to $3,118 compared to loss of $116,773
  Six-month period 2013 compared to six-month period 2012 results included:

  Total Revenues up 305% to $518,485 compared to $128,161
  Gross Profit grew 1212% to $352,532 compared to $26,868
  Operating Expenses were up 80%
  Operating Net Income increased 96% to a loss of $6,551 compared to a loss of $172,982

10 Best Services Stocks To Watch For 2014: Fleetcor Technologies Inc (FLT)

FleetCor Technologies, Inc. (FleetCor) is an independent global provider of specialized payment products and services to businesses, commercial fleets, oil companies, petroleum marketers and government entities in countries throughout North America, Latin America and Europe. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company processed more than 215 million transactions on its networks and third-party networks. The Company operates in two segments: North American and International segments. The Company provides its payment products and services in a variety of combinations to create payment solutions for its customers and partners. In August 2011, the Company acquired Mexican prepaid fuel card and food voucher business based in Mexico City, Mexico. On December 13, 2011, the Company acquired Allstar Business Solutions Limited, a fleet card company based in the United Kingdom. In July 2012, the Company acquired a Russian fuel card company. In July 2012, the Company acquired CTF Technologies, Inc.

The Company uses third-party networks to deliver its payment programs and services. In order to deliver its payment programs and services and process transactions, it owns and operates closed-loop networks through which it electronically connects to merchants and captures, analyzes and reports information. The Company also provides a range of services, such as issuing and processing. The Company markets its payment products directly to a range of commercial fleet customers, including vehicle fleets of all sizes and government fleets. Among these customers, it provides its products and services to small and medium commercial fleets. The Company also manages commercial fleet card programs for oil companies, such as British Petroleum (BP) (including its subsidiary Arco), Chevron and Citgo, and over 800 petroleum marketers.

The Company sells a range of fleet and lodging payment programs directly and indirectly through partners, such as oil companies and petroleum marketers. It provides it! s customers with various card products that function like a charge card to purchase fuel, lodging and related products and services at participating locations. The Company supports these cards with issuing, processing and information services that enable it to manage card accounts, facilitate the routing, authorization, clearing and settlement of transactions. The Company provides these services in a variety of outsourced solutions ranging from an end-to-end solution (consisting issuing, processing and network services) to limited back office processing services.

In addition, the Company offers a telematics solution in Europe that combines global positioning, satellite tracking and other wireless technology to allow fleet operators to monitor the capacity utilization and movement of their vehicles and drivers. The Company offers prepaid fuel and food vouchers and cards in Mexico that may be used as a form of payment in restaurants, grocery stores and gas stations. Approximately 10.4% of its revenue during the year ended December 31, 2011 came from its lodging and telematics products.

During 2011, the Company owns and operates eight closed-loop networks in North America and internationally. Fuelman network is the Company�� primary fleet card network in the United States. Corporate Lodging Consultants network (CLC) is the Company�� lodging network in the United States and Canada. The CLC Lodging network covers more than 17,700 hotels across the United States and Canada. Commercial Fueling Network (CFN) is the Company�� members only unattended fueling location network in the United States and Canada. Keyfuels network is the Company�� primary fleet card network in the United Kingdom.

CCS network is the Company�� primary fleet card network in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Petrol Plus Region (PPR) network is the Company�� primary fleet card network in Russia, Poland, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia. Mexican network is the Company�� fuel! and food! card and voucher network in Mexico. Allstar network is the Company�� fleet card network in the United Kingdom. In the United States, the Company issues corporate cards that utilize the MasterCard payment network, which includes 176,000 fuel sites and 398,000 maintenance locations across the country. The networks of locations owned by the Company�� oil and petroleum marketer partners in both North America and internationally are utilized to support the card programs of these partners.

UNION TANK Eckstein GmbH & Co. KG (UTA) operates a network of over 46,000 fleet card-accepting locations across 38 countries throughout Europe, including more than 31,000 fueling sites. DKV operates a network of over 45,000 fleet card-accepting locations across 36 countries throughout Europe, including more than 30,500 fueling sites. In Mexico, the Company issues fuel cards and food cards that utilize the Carnet payment network, which includes approximately 8,700 fueling sites and 78,890 food locations across the country.

The Company competes with Wright Express Corporation, Comdata Corporation, U.S. Bank Voyager Fleet Systems Inc., Edenred and Sodexo, Inc.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Louis Navellier] Popular Posts: 3 ‘A’ Stocks to Buy – Are They Still Buys for the Third Quarter?3 Gold Mining Stocks Ready to Shine2 High-Profile Chinese Stocks to Sell Recent Posts: The Best Is Yet to Come for FleetCor (FLT) 2 High-Profile Chinese Stocks to Sell 3 Gold Mining Stocks Ready to Shine View All Posts The Best Is Yet to Come for FleetCor (FLT)

  Editor�� note: This column is part of our Best Stocks for 2014 contest. Louis Navellier�� pick for the contest is FleetCor Technologies (FLT).

• [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 FleetCor Technologies (NYSE: FLT  ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.

10 Best Services Stocks To Watch For 2014: Home Inns & Hotels Management Inc.(HMIN)

Home Inns & Hotels Management Inc. develops, leases, operates, franchises, and manages a chain of economy hotels in the People?s Republic of China. The company operates its hotels under the Home Inn brand name. As of April 28, 2011, it had approximately 800 Home Inns in operation and 1,000 Home Inns sealed in franchise agreements. The company was incorporated in 2001 and is headquartered in Shanghai, the People?s Republic of China.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jim Jubak]

  We��e been down this road with Home Inns and Hotels Management (HMIN) before. Which doesn�� make it any less scary.

  The stock is down 22.2% in the last ten days��espite solid��ut certainly not spectacular��esults for the fourth quarter, reported on March 12.

10 Best Services Stocks To Watch For 2014: Building Turbines Inc (BLDW)

Building Turbines Inc (BTI), incorporated on November 17, 1997, is engaged in the designing and manufacturing rooftop mounted wind turbines. The patented BTI�� design is ideal for commercial applications and creates reliable, cost-effective, clean and on-site renewable electricity. The Company offers a different, patented wind turbine product that can bring the dream of clean, affordable wind energy to a reality. The turbine is mounted on a steel frame, it has a low profile, low maintenance needs, and creates almost no noise or vibration.

The Company�� design possesses these exemplary and robust structural, mechanical and electrical characteristics that are particularly important when mounting a renewable energy system onto a building's roof. The turbine can help office buildings, schools, warehouses, distribution centers, airports, hotels, and a variety of other buildings offset electricity purchased from the grid by creating it on-site from the wind. The turbine creates reliable, cost-effective and clean renewable electricity with little building modification required.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Peter Graham]

  Small cap green stocks Building Turbines Inc (OTCMKTS: BLDW), Virtual Sourcing, Inc (OTCMKTS: PGCX) and Unseen Solar, Inc (OTCMKTS: PCWT) have been getting some attention lately in various investment newsletters in part because some ��reen�� is being paid out in the form of paid promotions or investor relation activity. Of course, there is nothing wrong with properly disclosed paid promotions, but you do need to remember that small cap stocks (especially those in new ��reen�� industries) already come with risk. With that in mind, here is a quick reality check about these three green small cap stocks and whether you can expect to see some green in the form of profits:

  Building Turbines Inc (OTCMKTS: BLDW) Has Secured a $5 Million Line of Credit

  Small cap Building Turbines Inc is focused on the design and manufacture of patented rooftop wind turbines as well as vertically integrating them into other renewable energy solutions to complete a total ��reen Energy Solution��for any urban environment. Building Turbines Inc�� subsidiary, Green City Planet, is also a premier provider of LED lighting and environmentally sound industrial solutions. On Friday, Building Turbines Inc fell 9.76% to $0.0370 for a market cap of $8.71 million plus BLDW is up 51% over the past year and down 87.2% since June 2011 according to Google Finance.

• [By Peter Graham]

  Small cap green stocks Essential Innovations Technology Corp (OTCBB: ESIV), Building Turbines Inc (OTCMKTS: BLDW) and Kleangas Energy Technologies Inc (OTCMKTS: KGET) have all been getting some attention lately in various investment newsletters ��either because they were sinking, because of paid promotions or a combination of both. However, there aren�� many green stocks out there that have actually produced some green for investors in the form of profits. With that in mind, here is a quick reality check about all three green small cap stocks to help you decide whether any have the potential for long-term success:

10 Best Services Stocks To Watch For 2014: Red Robin Gourmet Burgers Inc.(RRGB)

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, develops, operates, and franchises casual-dining restaurants in the United States and Canada. As of February 16, 2012, the company operated 465 Red Robin restaurants, including 328 company-owned restaurants and 137 restaurants operating under franchise agreements. Its restaurants offer gourmet burgers, as well as various salads, soups, appetizers, entrees, desserts, and signature Mad Mixology alcoholic and non-alcoholic specialty beverages Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. was founded in 1969 and is headquartered in Greenwood Village, Colorado.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Steve Symington]

  Remember, last year�Red Robin Gourmet Burgers (NASDAQ: RRGB  ) partnered with Boston Beer Company�to eliminate the need for diners to choose between beer and a shake with their Sam Adams Oktoberfest Milkshake. Putting aside the potential negative post-dinner repercussions of mixing beer with a shake -- oof, I'm breathing heavy just thinking about it -- this was still a pretty fun collaborative idea which meshed well with Red Robin's atmosphere.

10 Best Services Stocks To Watch For 2014: Chemed Corp (CHE)

Chemed Corporation (Chemed), incorporated on April 2, 1970, purchases, operates and divests subsidiaries engaged in diverse business activities. During the year ended December 31, 2012, Chemed operated in two segments: the Vitas segment (Vitas) and the Roto-Rooter segment (Roto-Rooter). Vitas Healthcare Corporation focuses on hospice care, which helps make terminally ill patients' final days as comfortable as possible. Through its team of doctors, nurses, home health aides, social workers, clergy and volunteers, VITAS provides direct medical services to patients, as well as spiritual and emotional counseling to both patients and their families. Roto-Rooter provides plumbing and drain cleaning services to both residential and commercial customers. Its VITAS Healthcare Corporation (VITAS) subsidiary has acquired the operating assets of Houston-based Solari Hospice Care, effective April 1, 2013.

VITAS segment

The VITAS segment provides hospice services for patients with terminal illnesses. This type of care is aimed at making the terminally ill patient�� end of life as comfortable and pain-free as possible. Hospice care is available to patients who have been initially certified or re-certified as terminally ill by their attending physician, if any, and the hospice physician. VITAS offer all levels of hospice care in a given market, including routine home care, inpatient care and continuous care. During 2012, over 90% of VITAS��revenues are derived through the Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement programs.

Roto-Rooter segment

The Roto-Rooter segment provides repair and maintenance services to residential and commercial accounts using the Roto-Rooter registered service marks. Such services include plumbing and sewer, drain and pipe cleaning. They are delivered through Company-owned and operated territories, independent contractor-operated territories and franchised locations. This segment also manufactures and sells products and equipment used to prov! ide such services.

The Company competes with Gentiva Health Services, Inc.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sean Williams]

  What: Shares of Chemed (NYSE: CHE  ) , the nation's largest for-profit hospice care provider, nosedived 24% after the company announced the receipt of a false claims action complaint by the U.S. government.

• [By Benjamin Shepherd] Companies can become attractive value opportunities for a variety of reasons, such as a short-term drop in earnings or residence in an out-of-favor industry. In some instances, uncommon variables make a company difficult to value.
  
  The latter is the case with Chemed Corp (NYSE: CHE).
• [By Dividend]

  Chemed (CHE) has a market capitalization of $1.34 billion. The company employs 14,096 people, generates revenue of $1.430 billion and has a net income of $89.30 million. Chemed�� earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $199.24 million. The EBITDA margin is 13.93 percent (the operating margin is 10.94 percent and the net profit margin 6.24 percent).

10 Best Services Stocks To Watch For 2014: The Pantry Inc.(PTRY)

The Pantry, Inc. operates a chain of convenience stores in the southeastern United States. The company?s stores offer a selection of merchandise, fuel, and ancillary products and services. Its merchandise products include cigarettes, grocery and other tobacco products, packaged beverages, beer, and wine. The company operates stores under various selected banners, which primarily include Kangaroo Express. As of September 29, 2011, it operated 1,649 convenience stores located in Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi, Virginia, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Indiana, and Missouri; and 233 quick service restaurants. The company was founded in 1967 and is headquartered in Cary, North Carolina.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jeremy Bowman]

  What: Shares of The Pantry (NASDAQ: PTRY  ) were down as much as 15% today after the convenience-store chain posted a second-quarter loss and missed Wall Street estimates.

• [By Sean Williams]

  Much of the same can be said about The Pantry (NASDAQ: PTRY  ) , a predominantly Southeastern U.S. convenience store chain that operates under the Kangaroo Express name. Food inflation has been minimal, the weather hasn't been as cooperative, and consumer traffic fell 4.6% in its most recent quarter. But where other investors see weakness, I see an opportunity.

• [By Geoff Gannon]

  For one thing, I can�� tell a great oil company from a not so great oil company. I can�� evaluate the company�� culture, management, etc. There was no way I was ever going to answer questions like that. But I can easily split Murphy�� U.S. retail business from its other operations. And I can compare that part of the company to other public companies like Pantry (PTRY) and Susser (SUSS). I can also ��this is much harder ��look at Murphy�� reserves and compare them to other oil companies��reserves. The SEC now requires a standardized way of reporting discounted net cash flows for all oil companies. So, there�� certainly a specific number available for every company. Whether it�� a very good number or not depends on the assumptions the method uses.

If You Like Dell So Much, Marry It

Dell (NASDAQ: DELL  ) is on the clock.

Michael Dell's plans to take his struggling computer company private will either materialize of fizzle out on July 18 when shareholder votes will be tallied in consideration of the proposed buyout.

It's been five months since Dell and private equity giant Silver Lake Partners unveiled plans to acquire the company for $13.65 a share in cash.

Dell's front porch was busy with callers for awhile. Blackstone stepped up with a higher offer in March, only to back out a few weeks later. Billionaire investor Carl Icahn began to build up a stake in the company -- proposing that a generous payout would help prop up shareholder value -- but that, too, has been largely dismissed. If Dell's struggling financially now, imagine how poorly it will fare in a leveraged state.

This brings us back to Michael Dell, now seemingly the only one on bended knee. The PC maker's stock took a hit on Friday after reports indicated that Silver Lake has no plans of raising its offer. The shares fell to close out the week at $13.03, a price that suggests that this deal isn't going to happen.

Dell's special board committee is urging shareholders to vote in favor of the deal, arguing that the stock could fall to as low as $5.85 without the deal based on the negative fiscal trends and comparable valuations to larger rival Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ  ) .

Cynics will argue that the committee is too chummy with its founder. Icahn also isn't the only one that has argued that investors deserve more.

However, pride has rarely worked out for fading dinosaurs. Circuit City also rebuffed a buyout offer in the teens in 2005. It liquidated four years later.

Icahn, institutional investors, and even proxy-advisory firms may be vocal in arguing that $13.65 a share isn't enough, but we've been at this since February now. If Dell was worth more, surely somebody would have been offering more by now.

Dell's future isn't very bright. It's on the wrong side of the computing revolution, failing to make a dent in the smartphone and tablet markets that are growing at the expense of desktops and laptops.

Analysts see revenue declining at Dell and HP this year and again in 2014. Both companies are eyeing big declines in profitability this year as margins continue to contract. Both companies may have had the right idea by diversifying into new areas in recent years, but they generally overpaid for storage and business services acquisitions.

HP is in better shape. It's the global leader, generating twice the revenue that Dell is ringing up. However, the PC market is so out of favor that HP is fetching a mere seven times this fiscal year's projected earnings. Applying that multiple to Dell would only price it at a mere $8.68 based on next year's forecast, and even that may be optimistic. Dell used to trounce Wall Street income estimates, but it has fallen short in two of the past three quarters.

The scary thing for Dell investors right now is that we are in a global economic recovery. It will be easy to sway shareholders against the exit strategy, arguing that there's growth to be had -- even in the fading PC market -- as businesses begin updating their desktops and servers. Dell still has a global brand that's valuable, and a rising tide should lift its already steady server business and promising enterprise software solutions acquisitions.

That's the kind of swagger that won't end pretty.

It won't be a shock to see Dell investors pass on $13.65 a share next week. It also won't be much of a surprise to see Dell's stock trading much lower than that a year later, now an old maid, telling stories to anyone still willing to listen about the one that got away.

Hot Building Product Stocks To Own Right Now

Learn about the tech battle that Dell wasn't invited to fight
It's incredible to think just how much of our digital and technological lives are almost entirely shaped and molded by just a handful of companies. Find out "Who Will Win the War Between the 5 Biggest Tech Stocks?" in The Motley Fool's latest free report, which details the knock-down, drag-out battle being waged by the five kings of tech. Click here to keep reading.

Top 5 Clean Energy Stocks For 2014

BP (NYSE: BP  ) recently announced it was bailing on its wind power initiatives. The company will sell its U.S. assets, which are spread across nine states and can generate about 2,600 megawatts of power. Estimates place the value of the assets at around $1.5 billion. After getting rid of its solar business, BP is sending a clear message about its commitment to renewables, which may lead investors to consider clean energy investments off-limits for big oil. In this video, Fool.com contributor Aimee Duffy reviews the BP move, and highlights the long-term potential of one oil major who is getting this bet right.

Not all renewable energy investments are created equal. Investors and bystanders alike have been shocked by First Solar's precipitous drop over the past two years. The stakes have never been higher for the company: Is it done for good, or ready for a rebound? If you're looking for continuing updates and guidance on the company whenever news breaks, The Motley Fool has created a brand-new report that details every must know side of this stock. To get started, simply click here now.

Top 10 Low Price Companies To Buy Right Now: Allot Communications Ltd.(ALLT)

Allot Communications Ltd. engages in developing, selling, and marketing Internet protocol service optimization and revenue generation solutions in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Oceania. Its solutions are used to create policies to monitor network applications, enforce quality of service policies that guarantee mission-critical application performance, mitigate security risks, and leverage network infrastructure investments. The company offers traffic management systems, including Service Gateway platform for broadband service control and optimization based on DPI; and NetEnforcer traffic management system that inspects, monitors, and controls network traffic by application and by user. Its network management application suites comprise NetXplorer that provides service providers and enterprise customers a view of traffic on the network; and Subscriber Management Platform, a system that helps service providers build an intelligent service network d esigned to deliver the quality of experience. The company also offers ServiceProtector, which ensures service continuity, and guards network integrity against known and unknown threats, as well as enables surgical mitigation through immediate identification of denial of service attacks, zero day attacks, worms, zombie, and botnets. In addition, it provides MediaSwift that caches and accelerates popular Internet video. The company markets and sells its products to carriers, mobile operators, cable operators, educational institutions, governments, and enterprises, as well as wireless, wireline, and satellite Internet service providers. It sells it products through distributors, resellers, OEMs, value added resellers, and system integrators, as well as through direct sales. The company was formerly known as Ariadne Ltd. and changed its name to Allot Communications Ltd. in September 1997. Allot Communications Ltd. was founded in 1996 and is based in Hod-Hasharon, Israel.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Garrett Cook]

  Telecommunications services shares gained around 0.25 percent in today’s trading. Top gainers in the sector included NQ Mobile (NYSE: NQ), Allot Communications (NASDAQ: ALLT), and SK Telecom Co (NYSE: SKM).

• [By Jon C. Ogg]

  Allot Communications Inc. (NASDAQ: ALLT) was raised to Outperform with an $18 price target at Oppenheimer.

  Baxter International Inc. (NYSE: BAX) was added to the Conviction Buy list with an $86 price target at Goldman Sachs.

• [By Garrett Cook]

  Telecommunications services shares gained around 0.25 percent in today’s trading. Top gainers in the sector included NQ Mobile (NYSE: NQ), Allot Communications (NASDAQ: ALLT), and SK Telecom Co (NYSE: SKM).

Top 5 Clean Energy Stocks For 2014: Donaldson Company Inc (DCI)

Donaldson Company, Inc. (Donaldson) is a worldwide manufacturer of filtration systems and replacement parts. The Company's product mix includes air and liquid filtration systems and exhaust and emission control products. The Company operates in two segments: Engine Products and Industrial Products. Products in the Engine Products segment consist of air filtration systems, exhaust and emissions systems, liquid filtration systems, and replacement filters. Products in the Industrial Products segment consist of dust, fume, and mist collectors, compressed air purification systems, air filtration systems for gas turbines, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane-based products, and specialized air filtration systems for applications including computer hard disk drives. Effective January 14, 2014, Donaldson Co Inc acquired bankrupt Entreprise Dubourg Pere et Fils Sarl.

Donaldson�� products are manufactured at 40 plants around the world and through three joint ventures. The Engine Products segment sells to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in the construction, mining, agriculture, aerospace, defense, and truck markets and to OEM dealer networks, independent distributors, private label accounts, and large equipment fleets. The Industrial Products segment sells to various industrial end-users, OEMs of gas-fired turbines and OEMs and end-users requiring clean air.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By James Miller Phd]

  As we can see, the firm has a higher ROE than it peers: Sharps Compliance, Casella Waste Systems, Inc. (CWST), Donaldson Company, Inc. (DCI) and GSE Holding Inc. (GSEH).

• [By Rich Duprey]

  Filtration systems specialist Donaldson� (NYSE: DCI  ) �announced yesterday�its second-quarter dividend of $0.13 per share, a�30% increase from the $0.10 per share payout it made last quarter.

• [By Marc Bastow]

  Filtration parts and systems manufacturer Donaldson (DCI) raised its quarterly dividend 8% to 14 cents per share, payable on Dec. 20th to shareholders of record as of Dec. 9.
  DCI Dividend Yield: 1.33%

• [By Rick Munarriz]

  Friday
  The market is typically quiet on Friday, but that's certainly not the case during earnings season. Donaldson (NYSE: DCI  ) checks in with its latest quarterly results on Friday morning.

Top 5 Clean Energy Stocks For 2014: Ruckus Wireless Inc (RKUS)

Ruckus Wireless, Inc (Ruckus), incorporated August 19, 2002, is a provider of Wi-Fi solutions. The Company�� solutions, which it calls Smart Wi-Fi, are used by service providers and enterprises to solve network challenges. The Company�� products include gateways, controllers and access points. These products incorporate its technologies, including Smart Radio, Smart QoS, Smart Mesh, SmartCell and Smart Scaling. The Company sells its products to service providers and enterprises globally, and as of December 31, 2012, had sold its products to over 21,700 end-customers worldwide. During 2012, the Company added over 10,100 new end-customers. The Company�� enterprise end-customers are typically mid-sized organizations in a variety of industries, including hospitality, education, healthcare, warehousing and logistics, corporate enterprise, retail, state and local government and public venues, such as stadiums, convention centers, airports and outdoor public areas. Effective July 23, 2013, Ruckus Wireless Inc acquired YFind Technologies Pte Ltd.

The Company sells directly and indirectly to a range of service providers, including mobile operators, cable companies, wholesale operators and fixed-line carriers. As of December 31, 2012, the Company had over 65 service provider end-customers, including Bright House Networks, The Cloud (a BSkyB Company), KDDI, Tikona Digital Networks, Time Warner Cable and Towerstream. The Company�� Smart Wi-Fi solutions are marketed under the SmartCell, ZoneDirector, ZoneFlex and FlexMaster brands and include a range of indoor and outdoor access points (APs), long range point-to-point and point-to-multipoint bridges, wireless local area network (LAN), controllers, network management software and gateway systems with integrated advanced wireless software.

The Company�� core Smart Wi-Fi technologies include Smart Radio, Smart QoS, Smart Mesh, SmartCell and Smart Scaling. Smart Radio is a set of advanced hardware and software capabilities that auto! matically adjust Wi-Fi signals to changes in environmental conditions. A primary component of Smart Radio technology is BeamFlex, a smart antenna system that makes Wi-Fi signals stronger by focusing them only where they are needed and dynamically steering them in directions that yield the highest throughput for each receiving device. Another component is ChannelFly, a performance optimization capability that automatically determines, which radio frequencies or channels deliver the network throughput based on actual observed capacity, a key benefit for high-density, noisy Wi-Fi environments.

Smart QoS is a software technology that manages traffic load to enhance the user experience. Smart QoS was developed to handle the increasing volumes of voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) and streaming video traffic. Smart QoS offers automatic prioritization of different traffic types through intelligent analytics that classify, prioritize and schedule traffic for transmission. Smart QoS employs advanced queuing techniques and dedicated software queues on a per device basis to ensure fairness and optimize overall system performance. Smart QoS includes its band steering, rate limiting, client load balancing and airtime fairness techniques.

Smart Mesh is software technology that uses advanced self-organizing network principles to create Wi-Fi backbone links between access points. Smart Mesh automatically establishes wireless connections between individual access points using patented smart antenna technology and self-heals in the event of a failed link.

SmartCell is a key technology behind the Company�� SmartCell Gateway platform that integrates software and specialized hardware deployed at the edge of service provider networks to facilitate the integration of Wi-Fi and cellular infrastructures. SmartCell includes a set of modular software components ,as well as standard network interfaces into the mobile core that enable Wi-Fi to become a standard access mechanism for service ! providers! . Management components provide configuration, user management, analytics, accounting and other operational and maintenance functions.

Smart Scaling uses advanced database management techniques to enable the support of hundreds of thousands to millions of client devices across the Wi-Fi network. Smart Scaling employs intelligent data distribution techniques to extend client information, statistics and other vital user information across any number of nodes within the system without a single point of failure and with linear scalability. Smart Scaling is incorporated in its purpose-built hardware and software, making it capable of supporting hundreds of thousands of access points and user session workloads at the scale required by service providers.

SmartCell Gateway is a platform that integrates software and specialized hardware deployed at the edge of service provider networks to facilitate the integration of Wi-Fi and cellular infrastructures. The Company�� SmartCell Gateway is designed to be vendor-agnostic and can control third-party APs. SmartCell Gateway provides standard-based interfaces into existing and future mobile networks to simplify integration.

SmartCell access point addresses the capacity and density needs of service providers deploying networks within urban environments. SmartCell APs employ modular multimode architecture to enable service providers to deploy Wi-Fi, 3G/4G small cell cellular technology and Wi-Fi mesh backhaul within a single device. This provides operators with the ability to enhance and extend their macro networks, injecting much needed capacity into high traffic user environments with the flexibility to deploy Wi-Fi with Smart Mesh backhaul and upgrade to Wi-Fi with 3G/LTE when and where desired without any mounting or backhaul changes.

The Company�� ZoneDirector Smart WLAN controllers use a intuitive Web user interface to make configuration and administration extremely simple. This software includes a variety of ! advanced ! capabilities such as adaptive meshing, integrated client performance tools, authentication support, simplified guest access and user policy, wireless intrusion prevention, automatic traffic redirection, integrated Wi-Fi client performance tools and robust network management. ZoneFlex access points incorporate BeamFlex adaptive antenna array technology to deliver robust Wi-Fi performance, reliability and capacity. These devices support multiple virtual wireless LANs, Wi-Fi encryption and advanced traffic handling. The Company�� ZoneFlex outdoor Smart Wi-Fi access points and point-to-point and multipoint bridges can be deployed as stand-alone APs or be centrally managed.

In addition to the Company�� hardware products, the Company also sells software products. FlexMaster is a Linux-based Wi-Fi management service platform used by enterprises and service providers to monitor and administrate networks. FlexMaster provides configuration, fault detection, audit, performance management and optimization of remote Ruckus access points or wireless LAN controllers. It offers a single point for management and a number of automated and customized facilities such as an intuitive dashboard. FlexMaster is designed to operate with existing operational support system and features tiered administration to provide managed wireless LAN or cloud-based wireless services.

The Company competes with Cisco Systems, Ericsson; Hewlett-Packard, Motorola and Aruba Networks.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Luke Jacobi]

  Shares of Ruckus Wireless (NYSE: RKUS) were down 4.4 percent to $14.46. Buckingham Research downgraded Ruckus Wireless from Buy to Neutral and raised the price target from $15.00 to $16.00.

• [By gurujx]

  Ruckus Wireless (RKUS): CFO Seamus Hennessy Sold 50,000 Shares

  CFO Seamus Hennessy sold 50,000 shares of RKUS stock on Sept. 6 at the average price of $15.12. The price of the stock has increased by 1.19% since.

• [By Garrett Cook]

  Shares of Ruckus Wireless (NASDAQ: RKUS) were down 5.09 percent to $14.36. Buckingham Research downgraded Ruckus Wireless from Buy to Neutral and raised the price target from $15.00 to $16.00.

Top 5 Clean Energy Stocks For 2014: Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd (ONGC)

Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) is an India-based company. The Company is mainly engaged in the oil exploration and production activities. The Company operates in two segments: Offshore and Onshore. Its subsidiaries include ONGC Videsh Limited (OVL), Mangalore Refinery & Petrochemicals Ltd., ONGC Nile Ganga BV, ONGC Narmada Limited, ONGC Amazon Alaknanda Limited, ONGC Campos Ltda, ONGC Nile Ganga (Cyprus) Ltd. and ONGC Nile Ganga (San Cristobal) B.V. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Zahra Hankir]

  India�� (SENSEX) benchmark stock index fell for a fourth day, capping its biggest weekly loss in three months, as the rupee dropped to a six-week low. HDFC Bank Ltd. (HDFCB) dropped 1.9 percent, leading a gauge of banking shares to a fifth day of losses, the longest losing streak since July. Oil & Natural Gas Corp. (ONGC) slid to a three-week low, leading a slide in the S&P BSE India Oil & Gas Index.

• [By Jonathan Burgos]

  India�� biggest energy companies rose after the government agreed to raise the price of natural gas. Reliance Industries Ltd., operator of the world�� biggest oil refining complex, climbed 3.1 percent to 855.2 rupees in Mumbai. Oil & Natural Gas Corp. (ONGC) added 1.7 percent to 325.70 rupees.

• [By Lyubov Pronina]

  Reliance Industries Ltd. (RIL) and Oil & Natural Gas Corp. (ONGC), India�� biggest energy explorers, led Indian stocks higher as the nation�� cabinet agreed to lift the price of natural gas. The rupee posted the biggest quarterly drop since 2011.

Yahoo CEO Mayer Needs Ad Execs' Dollars, Not Just Attention

10 Best European Stocks To Watch Right Now

David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesYahoo CEO Marissa Mayer NEW YORK and SAN FRANCISCO -- Three weeks ago, Yahoo chief executive Marissa Mayer strode into a Manhattan hotel and was greeted like a rock star by hundreds of advertising executives who snapped pictures as she sat down for an interview with journalist Charlie Rose. That same audience a year ago would have been grousing that Mayer hadn't done enough to engage Madison Avenue, which is arguably Yahoo's most important constituent since the Internet company derives more than 75 percent of its revenue from ad sales. "I think that Marissa has gotten a bit of a bad rap," said David Cohen, the chief media officer at UM, the global media arm of Interpublic Group. The industry perceived Mayer as not caring about advertising, choosing instead to focus solely on products, Cohen said. Ad agency executives say that over the past six months Mayer and her team have been working hard to change that perception, courting advertisers at key industry events, hosting lunches and attending meetings with agency representatives that include Yahoo executives like Chief Operating Officer Henrique de Castro, Senior Vice President and head of Americas Ned Brody and Chief Marketing Officer Kathy Savitt. The charm offensive has impressed many on Madison Avenue, but getting advertisers to actually spend more on Yahoo's Web properties won't happen overnight, industry experts said. The shift to advertising exchanges, which allow marketers to instantly buy placement for their ads across a broad constellation of websites, has pushed down the prices that online publishers such as Yahoo can charge. That was painfully apparent in the second quarter of this year, when Yahoo's display advertising revenue slid 11 percent due in part to a double-digit decline in ad prices. "Advertisers will become more excited if there's clear evidence that Yahoo is growing again in terms of its users and its engagement," said Mark Mahaney, an analyst at RBC Capital Markets. Since Mayer became CEO, Yahoo's (YHOO) stock has more than doubled, recently reaching a near 8-year high of $35.06. But analysts say the gains are mostly due to aggressive share buybacks and the impending initial public offering of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group, in which Yahoo owns a 24 percent stake. More than a year into Mayer's tenure, Yahoo's core business remains stagnant. Revenue has been flat or down for the past four years and Wall Street doesn't expect the situation to improve when Yahoo reports its third-quarter results on Tuesday. Analysts are expecting third-quarter revenue to decline around 1 percent to $1.08 billion, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. A Yahoo representative said the company has built a team to specifically focus on agency relationships and has recently realigned its sales force according to industry expertise. Yahoo is "working closely with our advertisers to develop opportunities in a more integrated way across our full suite of media, programmatic, video and mobile properties," Yahoo said in an emailed comment. Mobile Target Yahoo is trying to play catch-up to Facebook (FB), Twitter and Google (GOOG) in the fast-growing mobile advertising business, as consumers increasingly access the Web on smartphones instead of PCs, and flock to social media websites that require novel ad formats. Spending on mobile ads grew 145 percent year over year to $3 billion in the first six months of 2013, according to the Internet Advertising Bureau. Mayer has revamped many of Yahoo's mobile apps to make them more attractive to consumers and advertisers. In May she spent $1.1 billion to acquire Tumblr, a popular blogging and social media website. "There's a promise there but it's not ready for prime time today," said Ritu Trivedi, managing director, digital marketplace at MediaVest, a Publicis media agency, referring to Yahoo's mobile ad efforts. Mayer has said that turning Yahoo's business around will be a multi-year process. She has accelerated the pace of product development, and added workplace perks such as free food and top-of-the-line smartphones for employees. But even as the CEO tries to forge closer ties with advertisers, she has made it clear that Yahoo's users come first. That is a big change from the old Yahoo, which was famous for loading its websites with advertising that critics said were overly intrusive and detrimental to the user experience. For instance, Yahoo's new mobile weather app, which takes basic weather feeds and links them with the Flickr photo-sharing service, has sparked interest from advertisers. The app could be particularly appealing to hotel and retail marketers, said Peter Stein, CEO of Razorfish, a digital marketing agency. So far however, Yahoo has kept the weather app ad-free. "There message has been very direct and on point, they are definitely focused on the consumer," said Ari Bluman, chief digital investment officer in North America for WPP's media buying arm GroupM. Consumers First Some ad experts say Mayer's prioritization of users before advertisers is a smart move that could ultimately pay off by increasing Yahoo's popularity with consumers. But others say it may not go over well on Madison Avenue in the short term. For instance, Yahoo did a major overhaul of its popular sports home page to coincide with the start of the NFL season this year. One advertising agency executive said they found out about the change a week before the launch, and so the agency had to scramble to re-design ads that would fit with the new format. "Our client was very upset," said the executive, who did not want to be identified because the agency works closely with Yahoo. "I have a six-page typed memo about the problems we had with Yahoo and this one client." A Yahoo representative said that the company has "moved faster in the past year than anytime in our recent history" to launch better products and to "evolve" the ads on its websites. "We think this will improve performance for our advertisers over time, and we're working closely with our advertising partners." Still, the overall assessment of Mayer is positive. Tamara Bousquet, senior vice president of media at digital marketing agency DigitasLBi, recalled a dinner she attended in late September with other advertising executives where Yahoo was the topic of conversation. "Every single person around that table thought the company was handled better since Marissa came on board," she said. Company: Oracle Cash compensation: $5.5 million Stock and options: $90.7 million Total compensation 1-year change: 24% Despite his $1 salary, Ellison is not only the highest paid tech CEO this year, but the highest paid of all CEOs.

Best Food Stocks To Own Right Now

Yahoo Yahoo announced some interesting products during CEO Marissa Mayer�� keynote speech at CES Tuesday in Las Vegas�� couple of digital magazines (food and tech), a news digest app, and a new smart TV guide, plus the acquisition of mobile home screen app Aviate, and for some added glitz, John Legend, Katie Couric, and a couple of Saturday Night Live stars.

Whew. But there was no mention of what�� ultimately the most important product for Yahoo��dvertising��ntil more than 45 minutes into the hourlong event. So I was all set to write a post titled something like, ��hy Were Ads Such An Afterthought At Yahoo�� Big CES Appearance?��/p>

Then I had a chance to talk to two Yahoo advertising executives. What emerges to my mind after my conversation with Scott Burke, senior VP of advertising and data platforms, and Dennis Buchheim, VP of product management for display advertising, is that Yahoo�� attempt to return to relevance for advertisers remains a work in progress��ut at least there appears to be progress.

5 Best Biotech Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Greenfield Farms Food Inc (GRAS)

Greenfield Farms Food, Inc., formerly Sweet Spot Games, Inc., is a consumer and wholesale driven producer of grassfed beef. As of March 2, 2011, the Company had product in 55 retail locations, 51 with Lowes Foods Stores throughout North and South Carolina, three retail locations with the Healthy Home Markets in Charlotte, North Carolina and one custom butcher, The Peach Stand located in Ft. Mill, South Carolina. On March 1, 2011, the Company executed a plan of exchange and merger and acquired Greenfield Farms Grassfed Beef, Inc., a North Carolina company. As of March 2, 2011, the Company and its collective group of producers represented over 2,500 acres in pasture under management and approximately 2,000 head of cattle. In November 2013, Greenfield Farms Food Inc acquired Carmela's Pizzeria.

The Company was established as a development-stage company, for developing online, multiplayer gaming applications. In February 2010, the Company abandoned the game development space.

The Company competes with White Oak Pastures (WOP).

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Peter Graham]

  Small cap stocks Greenfield Farms Food Inc (OTCMKTS: GRAS), International Stem Cell Corp (OTCMKTS: ISCO) and Redpoint Bio Corporation (OTCMKTS: RPBC) have all been getting some extra attention lately in various investment newsletters. However, none of these small cap stocks appear to have been the subject or paid promotions or investor relations activities. So does that make any of them good bets for traders and investors alike? Here is a quick look and a reality check:

Best Food Stocks To Own Right Now: Canada Bread Company Ltd (CBY)

Canada Bread Company, Limited is a manufacturer and marketer of flour-based products in its various markets, including fresh bread in Canada, frozen partially baked bread in the United States and Canada, specialty bakery products, including fresh pasta and sauces, sweet goods and snack cakes in Canada, and bagels, croissants and other specialty baked goods in the United Kingdom. It operates in two segments: Fresh Bakery business includes pantry breads, rolls, flatbreads, artisan breads, sweet goods and snack cakes sold under a number of brands, including Dempster��, Villaggio, POM, Bon Matin and Ben��, and Frozen Bakery segment consists of frozen par-baked bakery products sold in North America and the United Kingdom bakery business, which specializes in bagels, croissants, and specialty breads. In November 2013, the Company clearanced and closed the sale of Olivieri Foods, to Ebro Foods SA. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Gerrit De Vynck]

  The Toronto-based food producer, which owns 90 percent of Canada Bread Co. (CBY), said in October it would explore options for the stake, including a possible sale as it divests assets to focus on its meat business. With several suitors evaluating the company, a sale is looking more likely, said one of the people, who asked not to be named because the talks are private. Maple Leaf hired Centerview Partners LLC and Royal Bank of Canada to look for buyers, the people said.

Best Food Stocks To Own Right Now: Barry Callebaut AG (BARN)

Barry Callebaut AG is a Switzerland-based producer of cocoa, chocolate and confectionery products. The Company�� manufacturing process involves all stages of the cocoa and chocolate value chain from the sourcing of raw materials to the delivery of the finished products. The Company operates three geographical segments, including Europe, Americas and Asia-Pacific, as well as its business segment Global Sourcing & Cocoa. The Global Sourcing & Cocoa business segment is responsible for the procurement of ingredients for chocolate production, including mainly cocoa, as well as sugar, dairy and nuts as common ingredients, as well as the Company's cocoa processing business. The Company serves the food industry, from industrial food manufacturers to professional or artisanal users of chocolate. The Company operates more than 50 chocolate and cocoa factories, and is present in over 30 countries. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sofia Horta e Costa]

  Elan Corp. jumped 8.4 percent in Dublin after authorizing the process of its sale. Hochtief AG gained the most in four months after the German builder said it will buy as much as 260 million euros ($346 million) of its own shares. Michelin & Cie, Europe�� largest tiremaker, added 4.7 percent after data on its website showed tire demand surged in Brazil last month. Barry Callebaut AG (BARN) lost 3.4 percent after the maker of bulk chocolate sold about $302 million of new shares.

Best Food Stocks To Own Right Now: Nestle SA (NSRGY)

Nestle SA is a company engaged in the nutrition, health and wellness sectors. It is the holding company of the Nestle Group, which comprises subsidiaries, associated companies and joint ventures throughout the world. The Company has such business units as Food and Beverage, Nestle Waters and Nestle Nutrition. Nestle is also active in the pharmaceutical sector. It divides its products into nine categories: Prepared dishes and cooking aids, Beverages, Confectionery, Ice cream, Water, PetCare, Milk products, Nutrition and Pharma. It has numerous subsidiaries engaged in various areas of activity, including Alcon Ophthalmika GmbH (Austria), Alcon Bulgaria EOOD (Bulgaria) and Galderma Laboratorium GmbH (Germany) for pharmaceuticals; Novartis Nutrition GmbH (Austria) and Hjem-IS A/S (Denmark) for food and beverages, and Galderma International SAS (France) and Galderma Laboratorium GmbH (Germany) for health and beauty activities. The Company is headquartered in Vevey, Switzerland. In July 2008, Novartis AG acquired a 25% stake in Alcon, Inc. from Nestle SA. In March 2010, the Company acquired Kraft Foods Inc' frozen pizza business.

In April 2008, L'Oreal and Nestle SA's joint venture, Galderma Pharma S.A., announced that its United States holding company, Galderma Laboratories, Inc., had acquired approximately 97% interest in CollaGenex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. During the year ended December 31, 2004, Nestle had 500 factories in 83 countries around the world. In 2004, 15 factories were acquired or opened and 29 closed or divested.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Chuck Carnevale]

  We are witnessing, in real time, a major increase in the buying power of the majority of the people on our planet. Mass affluence, Aging and New technologies (especially in data transmission and storage), all translate into monster opportunities for the greatest companies in the world. Emerging market customers want what we in the West have, and they want it right now! And the great companies of the world are busy providing it to them. Defeat the declinists��buy companies"In order to support my position as a realist, I thought it would be fun to show the three companies that John mentioned in his writings. Like John, I believe that these are all examples of "great companies of the world." However, the realist in me is concerned about valuation. When looked at through the lens of F.A.S.T. Graphs��we see that Nestle (NSRGY) and Coca-Cola (KO) are both fully valued to slightly overvalued, and Nike (NKE) is significantly overvalued. Therefore, although I am optimistic about all three, I would wait for a better entry point before I invested in any of them.

• [By kusum]

  There appears to be a corporate titan making a social networking bungle consistently, and this time it was Nestle's (NSRGY) DiGiorno Pizza. The #whyistayed hashtag began inclining when Twitter clients started posting stories of abusive behavior at home in light of the Ray Rice and Janay Palmer lift feature that circulated around the web. The solidified pizza merchant tweeted, "You had pizza," nearby the hashtag. It immediately understood its coldhearted mix-up, apologizing about not perusing what the hashtag was about before posting. It was a snappy recuperation, yet its still a bumble.

• [By jaggom]

  This is a smart move by Hershey's since the Chinese chocolate confectionery business is an enormous one at $12 billion, with Mars and Nestle (NSRGY) the heading players. So, Hershey's latest acquisition should help it tap this business in a superior manner.

Top 5 High Dividend Companies To Invest In 2014

After being completely obliterated during the financial crisis, commercial real estate rose sharply in the subsequent years as investors sought the sectors high dividends and values. Overall, real estate investment trusts (REITs) managed to provide investors with a 17.8% annualized return from 2010 through 2012. Those gains continued into the beginning of 2013.

Then the Fed began its tapering talk.

With the potential of rising interest rates on the table, investors have shunned high dividend paying sectors and shares of REITs have plunged in wake of the Fed�� news. Yet, given the commercial real estate sectors long term history of outperformance, investors looking for bargains may want to scoop up shares of operators of shopping plazas, office buildings and hospitals.

SEE: The REIT Way

Better Valuations
After reaching a six-year high set on May 21, 2013, REITs have plunged about 14.75% since the Federal Reserve provided an update regarding its plans for future bond purchases. However, investors may not want to cast off their commercial real estate holdings just yet in the face of the Fed�� taper talk. That�� because REITs continue to offer plenty of portfolio benefits- and time to buy hasn�� been better.

Best Warren Buffett Stocks To Watch For 2015: USA Technologies Inc.(USAT)

USA Technologies, Inc. supplies cashless, remote management, reporting, and energy management solutions for the unattended point of sale market primarily in the United States. The company offers networked devices and associated services that enable the owners and operators of stand-alone distributed assets, such as vending machines, kiosks, personal computers, photocopiers, and laundry equipment the ability to remotely monitor, control, and report on the results of these distributed assets, as well as the ability to offer their customers cashless payment options. Its products include Intelligent Vending, an ePort connect solution for the vending industry; Kiosk, an ePort solution that offers an electronic payment option and Web-based remote monitoring and management for various kiosk types; eSuds, a solution for the commercial laundry industry; Business Express, which provides self-service business center solutions to the hotel and motel industry; and ePort Transact soluti on for the self-service business center devices, such as printers and copy machines. The company also manufactures and sells energy conservation products comprising VendingMiser, CoolerMiser, VM2IQ and CM2IQ, SnackMiser, and PlugMiser for various existing equipment, including refrigerated vending machines and glass front coolers. USA Technologies, Inc. was founded in 1992 and is based in Malvern, Pennsylvania.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Monica Gerson]

  USA Technologies (NASDAQ: USAT) is projected to report its Q3 earnings at $0.00 per share on revenue of $10.63 million.

  P&F Industries (NASDAQ: PFIN) is expected to report its quarterly results.

Top 5 High Dividend Companies To Invest In 2014: Kindred Healthcare Inc. (KND)

Kindred Healthcare, Inc. operates as a healthcare services company in the United States. The company�s Hospital division operates long-term acute care (LTAC) and inpatient rehabilitation (IRFs) hospitals, which provide services to medically complex patients, including the critically ill, suffering from multiple organ system failures, primarily the cardiovascular, pulmonary, kidney, gastro-intestinal, and skin systems, as well as life-threatening infections. Its Nursing Center division operates nursing and rehabilitation centers, and assisted living facilities that offer short stay patients and long stay residents with a range of medical, nursing, rehabilitative, pharmacy, and routine services. It also provides specialized programs for residents suffering from Alzheimer�s disease and other dementias through its reflections units. The company�s Rehabilitation division provides rehabilitation services, including physical and occupational therapies, and speech pathology ser vices under the RehabCare name to residents and patients of nursing centers, LTAC hospitals, outpatient clinics, home health agencies, assisted living facilities, school districts, and hospice providers. In addition, it offers specialized care programs that address medical needs, such as wound care, pain management, and cognitive retraining; and programs for neurologic, orthopedic, cardiac, and pulmonary conditions. Its Home Health and Hospice division offers home health, hospice, and private duty services to patients in various settings comprising homes, skilled nursing facilities, and other residential settings. As of December 31, 2011, it operated 121 LTAC hospitals with 8,597 licensed beds, and 5 IRFs with 183 licensed beds in 26 states; and 224 nursing and rehabilitation centers with 27,148 licensed beds, and 6 assisted living facilities with 413 licensed beds in 27 states. The company was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Brad Thomas]

  As the only healthcare REIT with a "hospital-focused" platform, MPW is a relatively new REIT that was formed (in 2004) to lease from many of the nation's leading hospital operators, including Prime Healthcare Services, Kindred Healthcare (KND), HealthSouth (HLS), Health Management Associates (HMA), Community Health Systems (CYH), Vibra Healthcare, Ernest Health Inc., and IASIS Healthcare.

• [By Erin McCarthy]

  Gentiva Health Services Inc.(GTIV) confirmed Thursday that its board has rejected Kindred Healthcare Inc.'s(KND) $533 million takeover bid, saying the proposal significantly undervalues the company.

Top 5 High Dividend Companies To Invest In 2014: Genomma Lab Internacional SAB de CV (LABB.MX)

Genomma Lab Internacional SAB de CV is a Mexico-based over-the-counter pharmaceutical (OTC pharmaceutical), generic drugs (GD) and personal care products company. The Company is engaged in the development, distribution and marketing of a range of products within different brands, for such treatments as anti-acne, varicose vein, hair loss, sexual stimulation and influenza; as well as analgesics and antifungals. The Company�� product portfolio includes such brands as Asepxia, Cicatricure, Goicoechea, Bengue, Diabet TX, Genoprazol, Goicotabs, Shot B, SilkaMedic, Siluet 40, Nikzon, X Ray, Next, Touch Me, Lomecan V and QG5, among others. The Company is a parent of a number of controlled entities, which have operations established in Mexico, the United States, Peru, Chile, Ecuador and Honduras, among others. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  He then took a deep dive into Genomma Lab�(LABB.MX), a Mexican producer of over-the counter pharmaceuticals, generic drugs, and personal care products. Now, I’m sitting with a Chromebook in a large auditorium, so I hope I’ve captured the essence of his argument.

Top 5 High Dividend Companies To Invest In 2014: JPMorgan Chase & Co (AMJ)

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPMorgan Chase), incorporated on October 28, 1968, is a financial holding company. The Company is a global financial services firm and a banking institution in the United States, with global operations. The Company is engaged in investment banking, financial services for consumers and small businesses, commercial banking, financial transaction processing, asset management and private equity. JPMorgan Chase�� principal bank subsidiaries are JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association (JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.), a national bank with the United States branches in 23 states, and Chase Bank USA, National Association (Chase Bank USA, N.A.), a national bank that is the Company�� credit card-issuing bank. JPMorgan Chase�� non-bank subsidiary is J.P. Morgan Securities LLC (JPMorgan Securities), the Company�� the United States investment banking firm. The bank and non-bank subsidiaries of JPMorgan Chase operate nationally, as well as through overseas branches and subsidiaries, representative offices and subsidiary foreign banks. One of the Company�� principal operating subsidiaries in the United Kingdom is J.P. Morgan Securities plc., a subsidiary of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. JPMorgan Chase�� activities are organized into four business segments, as well as Corporate/Private Equity. The Company�� consumer business is the Consumer & Community Banking segment. The Company�� wholesale businesses consists of Corporate & Investment Bank, Commercial Banking, and Asset Management segments. Effective January 7, 2014, JPMorgan Chase & Co acquired an undisclosed minority stake in Chi-X Global Holdings LLC.

Consumer & Community Banking

Consumer & Community Banking (CCB) serves consumers and businesses through personal service at bank branches and through automated teller machines (ATMs), online mobile and telephone banking.CCB is organized into Consumer & Business banking, Mortgage Banking (including Mortgage Production and Servicing, and Real Estate Portfolios! ) and Card, Merchant Services & Auto (Card). Consumer & Business Banking offers deposit and investment products and services to consumers, and lending, deposit, and cash management and payment solutions to small businesses. Mortgage Banking includes mortgage origination and servicing activities, as well as portfolios comprised of residential mortgages and home equity loans, including the purchased credit impaired (PCI) portfolio acquired in the Washington Mutual transaction. Mortgage origination channels consists of Retail, Wholesale, Correspondent and Correspondent negotiated transactions. Retail includes Borrowers who buy or refinance a home through direct contact with a mortgage banker employed by the Firm using a branch office, the Internet or by phone. Wholesale refers to third-party mortgage brokers loan application packages to the Company. The Company then underwrites and funds the loan. Correspondent includes Banks, thrifts, other mortgage banks and other financial institutions that sell closed loans to the Firm. Correspondent negotiated transactions include mid-to-large-sized mortgage lenders, banks and bank-owned mortgage companies sell servicing to the Firm on an as-originated basis (excluding sales of bulk servicing transactions). Card issues credit cards to consumers and small businesses, provides payment services to corporate and public sector clients through its commercial card products, offers payment processing services to merchants, and provides auto and student loan services.

Corporate & Investment Bank

The Corporate & Investment Bank (CIB) offers a suite of investment banking, market-making, prime brokerage, and treasury and securities products and services to a global client base of corporations, investors, financial institutions, government and municipal entities. Within Banking, the CIB offers a range of investment banking products and services in all major capital markets, including advising on corporate strategy and structure, capital-raising in equity ! and debt ! markets, as well as loan origination and syndication. The Company also provides Treasury Services, which includes transaction services, comprised primarily of cash management and liquidity solutions, and trade finance products. The Markets & Investor Services segment of the CIB is engaged in cash securities and derivative instruments, and also offers risk management solutions, prime brokerage, and research. Markets & Investor Services also includes the Securities Services business, which holds, values, clears and services securities, cash and alternative investments for investors and broker-dealers, and manages depositary receipt programs globally.

Commercial Banking

Commercial Banking (CB) provides industry knowledge, and service to the United States multinational clients, including corporations, municipalities, financial institutions and non-profit entities with annual revenue generally ranging from $20 million to $2 billion. CB provides financing to real estate investors and owners. CB also provides financial solutions, including lending, treasury services, investment banking and asset management to meet its clients��domestic and international financial needs. Commercial Banking is divided into four client segments: Middle Market Banking, Commercial Term Lending, Corporate Client Banking, and Real Estate Banking. Middle Market Banking covers corporate, municipal, financial institution and not-for-profit clients. Commercial Term Lending provides term financing to real estate investors/owners for multifamily properties, as well as financing office, retail and industrial properties. Real Estate Banking provides full-service banking to investors and developers of institutional-grade real estate properties. Lending and investment activity within the Community Development Banking and Chase Capital segments are included in other.

Asset Management

Asset Management (AM) clients include institutions, high-net-worth individuals and retail investors. AM offe! rs invest! ment management across all major asset classes including equities, fixed income, alternatives and money market funds. AM also offers multi-asset investment management, providing solutions to a broad range of clients��investment needs. For individual investors, AM also provides retirement products and services, brokerage and banking services including trust and estate, loans, mortgages and deposits. The majority of AM�� client assets are in actively managed portfolios. AM�� client segments consists of Private Banking, Institutional and Retail. Private Banking offers investment advice and wealth management services to high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families, money managers, business owners and small corporations worldwide, including investment management, capital markets and risk management, tax and estate planning, banking, capital raising and specialty-wealth advisory services. Institutional brings comprehensive global investment services including asset management, pension analytics, asset-liability management and active risk-budgeting strategies to corporate and public institutions.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jon C. Ogg]

  The ETFs and funds held up on Monday:

  JPMorgan Alerian MLP Index ETN (NYSEArca: AMJ) was down only 0.3% at $46.86, versus a 52-week range of $42.18 to $49.31. Volume was 1.1 million shares versus an average of about 628,000. ALPS Alerian MLP ETF (NYSEArca: AMLP) closed down 0.45 at $17.57, versus a 52-week range of $16.75 to $18.36. This ETF traded more than 3.1 million shares, up from an average of about 2.85 million shares. The closed-end fund of Kayne Anderson MLP Investment Company (NYSE: KYN) even managed to rise by 0.26% to $38.70 against a 52-week range of $33.11 to $40.22. Its volume was also almost 300,000 shares versus an average volume of closer to 218,000 shares.

  It still seems more than interesting that the investment community did not pound the rest of the sector in sympathy with Boardwalk. This Boardwalk MLP still has a $3.1 billion market cap, even after getting cut almost in half. Usually investors try to tie in peers when one implosion is seen versus others. It seems as though they are trusting that negative natural gas exposure here is not going to spill over into the rest of the sector, and maybe not even spill over into the price of units in its more direct peers.

• [By Robert Rapier]

  The biggest problem with the fund is that while it yields an attractive 7.5 percent annually based on the most recent quarterly distribution, the total expense ratio is presently an astronomical 4.4 percent. This is bound to be a drag on performance over the long run (although it still potentially offers an attractive short-term play). As a result, my preference for a long term investment in and IRA would be to own an exchange-traded note (ETN) based on one of the Alerian indices that I reviewed recently in Navigating the Universe of MLPs. There are several to choose from, including the JPMorgan Alerian MLP Index ETN (NYSE: AMJ), which presently yields 5 percent and has an expense ratio of 0.85 percent.