Top Transportation Companies To Invest In 2015

Top Transportation Companies To Invest In 2015: Saia Inc.(SAIA)

Saia, Inc., an asset-based trucking company, provides transportation and supply chain solutions primarily to the retail, chemical, and manufacturing industries in the United States. The company, through it subsidiary, Saia Motor Freight Line, LLC, offers regional and interregional less than truckload (LTL) services, selected national LTL, and time-definite services. It was formerly known as SCS Transportation, Inc. Saia, Inc. was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Johns Creek, Georgia.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Udovich]

  Despite what can best be described as a soft economy, small cap trucking stocks YRC Worldwide, Inc (NASDAQ: YRCW), Arkansas Best Corporation (NASDAQ: ABFS), Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc (NASDAQ: FFEX), Saia Inc (NASDAQ: SAIA) and USA Truck, Inc (NASDAQ: USAK) have been trucking some pretty impressive returns since the start of the year. In fact, these small cap trucking stocks are up anywhere from 72% to 150% or so since the start of the year despite the slow economy. Certainly trucking stocks provide a good indicator of how the economy is doing, but might investors be jumping the gun by pushing up these trucking stocks?

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

Top Consumer Companies To Watch For 2014

Poor DreamWorks Animation SKG (DWA). In How to Train Your Dragon 2, it thought it had the blockbuster animated film to make up for disappointments like Mr. Peabody & Sherman (which I enjoyed) and take on the Walt Disney Machine (DIS).

20th Century Fox Film/Everett Co

And yet, here we are on Monday morning following the release of How to Train Your Dragon 2 and shares of DreamWorks Animation SKG have plunged 12% to $24.16 at 12:20, even as Walt Disney has gained 0.2%. The reason: How to Train Your Dragon 2 pulled in just $50 million over the weekend, despite earning rave reviews from critics. Sterne Agee’s Vasily Karasyov and Kutgun Maral explain why investors have pounded DreamWorks Animation SKG:

A softer than expected opening of ��ow to Train Your Dragon 2��shows that sequels are not risk-free, especially when bulls��expectations escalate to compensate for weak originals��performance. We think the next negative surprise could be Classic Media�� consumer products revenue, with total consumer products revenue down 56% Y/Y in 1QFY14 and very unlikely to grow this year. We reiterate Underperform.

10 Best Prefered Stocks To Own For 2015: World Acceptance Corp (WRLD)

World Acceptance Corporation operates a small-loan consumer finance business in 12 states and Mexico. The Company is engaged in the small-loan consumer finance business, offering short-term small loans, medium-term larger loans, related credit insurance and ancillary products and services to individuals. As of March 31, 2012, the Company offered standardized installment loans through 1,137 offices in South Carolina, Georgia, Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Tennessee, Illinois, Missouri, New Mexico, Kentucky, Alabama, Wisconsin, and Mexico. The Company serves individuals with limited access to consumer credit from banks, credit unions, other consumer finance businesses and credit card lenders. In the United States offices, the Company also offers income tax return preparation services to its customers and others.

During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2012 (fiscal 2012), the Company opened 69 new offices. In each state in which it operates and in Mexico, the Company offers consumer installment loans, which are standardized by amount and maturity. The Company's loans are consumer installment loans, which are payable in fully amortizing monthly installments with terms generally of 4 to 36 months, and all loans are pre-payable at any time without penalty. During fiscal 2012, the Company's average originated gross loan term was approximately 12 months. As of March 31, 2012, the annual percentage rates on loans offered by the Company, which include interest, fees and other charges as calculated for the purposes of the requirements of the federal Truth in Lending Act, ranged from 24% to 204% depending on the loan size, maturity and the state, in which the loan is made. In addition, in certain states, the Company, as agent for an unaffiliated insurance company, sells credit insurance in connection with its loan transactions.

Specific allowable charges vary by state and, consistent with industry practice, the Company generally charges at or close to the maximum rates allowable under app! licable state law in those states that limit loan rates. Statutes in Texas and Oklahoma allow for indexing the maximum loan amounts to the Consumer Price Index. The Company�� loan products are pre-computed loans in which the finance charge is a combination of origination or acquisition fees, account maintenance fees, monthly account handling fee and other charges permitted by the relevant state laws.

The Company, as an agent for an unaffiliated insurance company, markets and sells credit life, credit accident and health, credit property, and unemployment insurance in connection with its loans in selected states where the sale of such insurance is permitted by law. Credit life insurance provides for the payment in full of the borrower's credit obligation to the lender in the event of death. Credit accident and health insurance provides for repayment of loan installments to the lender, which come due during the insured's period of income interruption resulting from disability from illness or injury. Credit property insurance insures payment of the borrower's credit obligation to the lender in the event, which the personal property pledged as security by the borrower is damaged or destroyed by a covered event. Unemployment insurance provides for repayment of loan installments to the lender, which come due during the insured�� period of involuntary unemployment. The Company requires each customer to obtain specific credit insurance in the amount of the loan for all loans originated in Georgia under the Georgia Industrial Loan Act, and encourages customers to obtain credit insurance for all loans originated in South Carolina, Louisiana, Alabama and Kentucky and on a limited basis in Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Texas. Customers in those states obtain such credit insurance through the Company.

In South Carolina, Georgia, Louisiana, Kentucky and Alabama, the Company charges its borrowers for its non-file premiums in connection with certain loans in lieu of recording and perfecting the! Company� �s security interest in the loan collateral. The premiums are remitted to a third party insurance company for non-file insurance coverage. The Company also markets automobile club memberships to its borrowers in Georgia, Tennessee, New Mexico, Louisiana, Alabama, Texas, and Kentucky as an agent for an unaffiliated automobile club. Club memberships entitle members to automobile breakdown and towing reimbursement and related services. The Company is paid a commission on each membership sold.

The Company offers income tax return preparation and electronic filing. This program is provided in all but a few of the Company�� the United States offices. During fiscal 2012, the Company prepared 44,000 returns. During fiscal 2012, 93.4% of the Company�� revenues were attributable to the United States customers and 6.6% were attributable to customers in Mexico. During fiscal 2012, approximately 84.7% of the Company's loans were generated through refinancings of outstanding loans and the origination of new loans to previous customers.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Canadian Value]

  So I�� going to stick my next out and share my views on four battleground stocks that are among my favorite shorts: World Acceptance (WRLD), Green Mountain (GMCR), Herbalife (HLF), and InterOil (IOC). And next week at the Value Investing Congress I will present another short, my largest.

Top Consumer Companies To Watch For 2014: Monro Muffler Brake Inc.(MNRO)

Monro Muffler Brake, Inc. provides automotive undercar repair and tire services. The company offers a range of services on passenger cars, light trucks, and vans for brakes; mufflers and exhaust systems; and steering, drive train, suspension, and wheel alignment. It also provides other products and services, including tires and routine maintenance services, including state inspections. The company?s maintenance services include oil change, heating and cooling system flush and fill service, belt installation, fuel system service, and a transmission flush and fill service. In addition, it replaces and services batteries, starters, and alternators, as well as offers air conditioning services. As of June 25, 2011, the company had 802 company-operated stores and 3 franchised locations. It operates stores primarily under the Monro Muffler Brake & Service, Tread Quarters Discount Tire, Mr. Tire, Autotire Car Care Center, and Tire Warehouse names in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Connecticut, Massachusetts, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Vermont, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, Indiana, Rhode Island, Delaware, Maine, Illinois, and Missouri. Monro Muffler Brake, Inc. was founded in 1957 and is headquartered in Rochester, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Seth Jayson]

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

• [By kcpl]

  Monro Muffler Brake (MNRO) is a popular name in the DIFM & Services segment, while Pep Boys - Manny, Moe & Jack (PBY) is a hybrid of DIFM-DIY. The present perspective seems bright for such aftermarket service providers. However, these two are entirely different from aftermarket retailers such as Advance Auto Parts (AAP). Let us take a look at the present aftermarket scenario and its prospects.

• [By Jeremy Bowman]

  What: Shares of Monro Muffler Brake (NASDAQ: MNRO  ) were going in reverse today, falling as much as 11% after missing on all counts in its earnings report.

Top Consumer Companies To Watch For 2014: Vector Group Ltd (VGR)

Vector Group Ltd is a holding company. The Company operates in Tobacco and Real Estate. The Tobacco segment consists of the manufacture and sale of cigarettes. The Real Estate segment includes the Company�� investments in consolidated and non-consolidated real estate businesses. The Company is engaged in the manufacture and sale of cigarettes in the United States through its Liggett Group LLC (Liggett) and Vector Tobacco Inc. (Vector Tobacco) subsidiaries, and the real estate business through its New Valley LLC (New Valley) subsidiary, which is seeking to acquire additional operating companies and real estate properties. New Valley has real estate-related investments, including Douglas Elliman Realty, LLC (Douglas Elliman Realty) (50% interest), New Valley Oaktree Chelsea Eleven LLC (40% interest) and Fifty Third-Five Building LLC (50% interest), Sesto Holdings S.r.L (7.2% interest), MS/WG 1107 Broadway Holdings LLC (1107 Broadway) (5% interest), NV SOCAL LLC (26% interest) and HFZ East 68th Street (18% interest), where other partners hold interests.

As of February 15, 2012, 52 of the 54 units in the Chelsea Eleven LLC real estate development had been sold. During the year ended December, 31, 2011, New Valley invested in MS/WG 1107 Broadway Holdings LLC for an approximate indirect 5% interest. In September 2011, MS/WG 1107 Broadway Holdings LLC acquired the 1107 Broadway property in Manhattan, New York. In February 2011, New Valley invested in Lofts 21 LLC for an approximate 12% interest. In October 2011, New Valley invested in Hill Street Partners LLP (Hill) for an approximate 17.39% interest. Hill purchased a 37% interest in Hill Street SEP (Hotel Taiwana), which owns a hotel located in St. Barts, French West Indies. The hotel consists of 30 suites, six pools, a restaurant, lounge and gym. The purpose of the investment is to renovate and the sell the hotel in its entirety or as hotel-condos. In December 2011, New Valley invested in a condominium conversion project for an approximate 1! 8% interest. The building is a 12-story, 105,000 square foot residential rental building located on 68th Street between Fifth Avenue and Madison Avenue in Manhattan, New York.

Tobacco Operations

Liggett is the operating successor to Liggett & Myers Tobacco Company. During 2011, Liggett was a manufacturer of cigarettes in the United States. Liggett�� manufacturing facilities are located in Mebane, North Carolina where it manufactures most of Vector Tobacco�� cigarettes pursuant to a contract manufacturing agreement. As of December 31, 2011, Liggett and Vector Tobacco have no foreign operations. The Company�� tobacco subsidiaries manufacture and sell cigarettes in the United States. Liggett produces cigarettes in approximately 118 combinations of length, style and packaging. Liggett�� brand portfolio includes PYRAMID, GRAND PRIX , LIGGETT SELECT , EVE and USA and various Partner Brands and private label brands.

Liggett Vector Brands LLC (LVB), which coordinates its tobacco subsidiaries��sales and marketing efforts, along with certain support functions, has an agreement with Circle K Stores, Inc., which operates more than 3,300 convenience stores in the United States under the Circle K and Mac�� names, to supply MONTEGO, a deep discount brand, exclusively for the Circle K and Mac�� stores. The MONTEGO brand was offered under LVB's Partner Brands program. LVB also has an agreement with Sunoco Inc., which operates approximately 675 Sunoco APlus branded convenience stores in the United States, to manufacture SILVER EAGLE. SILVER EAGLE, a deep discount brand, is exclusive to Sunoco and was the second brand to be offered under LVB's Partner Brands program. Liggett also manufactures BRONSON cigarettes as part of a multi-year Partner Brands agreement with QuikTrip, a convenience store chain with more than 580 stores.

New Valley LLC

New Valley is engaged in the real estate business and is seeking to acquire additional real estate properties an! d operati! ng companies. New Valley owns a 50% interest in Douglas Elliman Realty, LLC, which operates residential brokerage company in the New York City metropolitan area. New Valley also holds an investment in a 450-acre approved master planned community in Palm Springs, California (Escena), holds investment interests in various real estate projects in Manhattan, New York, southern California and Milan, Italy through both debt and equity investments.

Douglas Elliman Realty, LLC

Douglas Elliman Realty is engaged in the real estate brokerage business through its two subsidiaries which conduct business as Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate. The two brokerage companies have 62 offices with approximately 3,975 real estate agents in the metropolitan New York area. The Long Island brokerage operation, is the residential brokerage company on Long Island with 44 offices and approximately 1,850 real estate agents. During 2011, the Long Island brokerage operation closed approximately 6,163 transactions. Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate acts as a broker in residential real estate transactions.

Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate also offers relocation services to employers, which provide a variety of specialized services primarily concerned with facilitating the resettlement of transferred employees. These services include sales and marketing of transferees��existing homes for their corporate employer, assistance in finding homes, moving services, educational and school placement counseling, customized videos, property marketing assistance, rental assistance, area tours, international relocation, group move services, marketing and management of foreclosed properties, career counseling, spouse/partner employment assistance, and financial services. Clients can select these programs and services on a fee basis according to their needs. DE Capital Mortgage LLC primarily originates loans for purchases of properties located on Long Island, New York City and Westchester. Approx! imately o! ne-half of these loans are for home sales transactions, in which Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate acts as a broker.

Douglas Elliman Realty is also engaged in the management of cooperatives, condominiums and apartments though its subsidiary, Residential Management Group, LLC, which conducts business as Douglas Elliman Property Management and is a manager of apartments, cooperatives and condominiums in the New York metropolitan area. Residential Management Group provides service third-party fee management for approximately 350 properties, representing approximately 47,000 units in New York

The Company competes with Philip Morris USA Inc., Reynolds America Inc., Lorillard Tobacco Company, Commonwealth Brands, Inc., Century-21, ERA, RE/MAX, Coldwell Banker, GMAC Home Services and NRT LLC.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  The IPO has a mixed impact on other real-estate related companies.�Realogy (RLGY) has fallen 0.2% to $43.62, while Vector Group (VGR), which has both tobacco and real-estate brokerage businesses, has dropped 0.5% to $15.99. Zillow�(Z) has jumped 4.1% to $90.44.

Top Consumer Companies To Watch For 2014: Cal-Maine Foods Inc (CALM)

Cal-Maine Foods, Inc., incorporated on September 10, 1969, is a producer and marketer of shell eggs in the United States. During the fiscal year ended June 1, 2013 (fiscal 2013), the Company sold approximately 948.5 million dozen shell eggs. Its primary business is the production, grading, packaging, marketing and distribution of shell eggs. It sells most of its shell eggs in the southwestern, southeastern, mid-western and mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The Company markets its shell eggs through its distribution network to a group of customers, including national and regional grocery store chains, club stores, foodservice distributors and egg product manufacturers. It sells shell eggs to a majority of the food retailers in the United States. It is also a producers and marketers of specialty shell eggs in the United States. Specialty shell eggs include cage free and organic eggs. The Company owns 100% of Benton County Foods, LLC. In March 2014, the Company acquired 50% interests of Delta Egg Farm, LLC from Sunbest Foods of Iowa, Inc., a Moark, LLC affiliate, as result Delta Egg Farm, LLC, is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company.

The Company markets its specialty shell eggs under various brands, such as Egg-Land�� Best, Land O��Lake, Farmhouse, and 4-Grain. It also produces specialty eggs, such as Egg-Land�� Best, Land O��Lake, Farmhouse, and 4-Grain. It has exclusive license agreements to market and distribute Egg-Land�� Best specialty shell eggs in major metropolitan areas, including New York City, and a number of states in the southeast and southwest. It markets cage free eggs under its trademarked Farmhouse brand and distribute those shell eggs across the southeast and southwest regions of the United States. It markets organic, all natural, cage-free, vegetarian, and omega-3 eggs under its 4-Grain trademark. It also produces market and distributes private label specialty shell eggs to several customers. Sales of specialty shell eggs accounted for approximately ! 16.4% of its total shell egg dozen volumes during fiscal 2013.

The Company�� operations are integrated. At its facilities, it hatches chicks, grows pullets, manufactures feed, and produces and distributes shell eggs. It produces approximately 95% of its chicks in its own hatcheries. It owns breeder facilities producing 18.5 million pullet chicks per year. These pullets are distributed to 42 laying operations around the southwestern, southeastern, mid-western and mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The facilities produce an average of 1.9 million dozen shell eggs per day and process the shell eggs through grading and packaging without handling by human hands.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Barbara Kollmeyer]

  Earnings are expected from Cal-Maine Foods Inc. (CALM) �and UTI Worldwide Inc. (UTIW) �ahead of the opening bell. See Facebook, Biogen, Cal-Maine are stocks to watch

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  Yet the ongoing challenge that Sysco has faced is the rising cost of food products. Typically, you'd expect a company Sysco's size to be able to pass those costs on to its customers. Sysco has made efforts to use its scale to impose pricing power on food producers, as margins at egg-giant Cal-Maine Foods (NASDAQ: CALM  ) and chicken-producer Tyson (NYSE: TSN  ) have fallen much more sharply. Yet Sysco has still seen greater margin compression than United Natural Foods (NASDAQ: UNFI  ) , its organic-specialist peer. That may simply be due to the fact that organic prices have always been somewhat higher than conventional food, leaving United's customers more acquainted with the fluctuations in prices than Sysco's customers.

• [By Victor Reklaitis]

  On the earnings front, Cal-Maine (CALM) �is slated to report quarterly earnings at 6:30 a.m. Eastern Time on Monday. The egg producer is expected to report earnings per share of $1.59 on revenue of $386 million, according to a FactSet survey of one analyst. Shares of Cal-Maine are down 4.5% this year, trimming their 12-month gain to 35%.

• [By Dividends4Life]

  Fair Value: In calculating fair value, I consider the NPV MMA Differential Fair Value along with these four calculations of fair value, see page 2 of the linked PDF for a detailed description:
  
  1. Avg. High Yield Price
  2. 20-Year DCF Price
  3. Avg. P/E Price
  4. Graham Number
  
  HRL is trading at a premium to all four valuations above. The stock is trading at a 27.6% premium to its calculated fair value of $35.92. HRL did not earn any Stars in this section.
  
  Dividend Analytical Data: In this section there are three possible Stars and three key metrics, see page 2 of the linked PDF for a detailed description:
  
  1. Free Cash Flow Payout
  2. Debt To Total Capital
  3. Key Metrics
  4. Dividend Growth Rate
  5. Years of Div. Growth
  6. Rolling 4-yr Div. > 15%
  
  HRL earned one Star in this section for 2.) above. The stock earned a Star as a result of its most recent Debt to Total Capital being less than 45%. The company has paid a cash dividend to shareholders every year since 1928 and has increased its dividend payments for 48 consecutive years.
  
  Dividend Income vs. MMA: Why would you assume the equity risk and invest in a dividend stock if you could earn a better return in a much less risky money market account (MMA) or Treasury bond? This section compares the earning ability of this stock with a high yield MMA. Two items are considered in this section, see page 2 of the linked PDF for a detailed description:
  
  1. NPV MMA Diff.
  2. Years to > MMA
  
  HRL earned a Star in this section for its NPV MMA Diff. of the $984. This amount is in excess of the $500 target I look for in a stock that has increased dividends as long as HRL has. If HRL grows its dividend at 13.2% per year, it will take 7 years to equal a MMA yielding an estimated 20-year average rate of 3.68%.
  
  Memberships and Peers: HRL is a member of the S&P 500, a Dividend Aristocrat, a member of the Broad Dividend Achiever

Top Consumer Companies To Watch For 2014: Vera Bradley Inc.(VRA)

Vera Bradley, Inc., through its subsidiary, Vera Bradley Designs, Inc., engages in the design, production, marketing, and retail of functional accessories for women under the ?Vera Bradley? brand. Its products include a range of handbags, accessories, and travel and leisure items. The company sells its products to independent retailers located in the United States, as well as to national retailers and third party e-commerce sites. As of January 29, 2011, Vera Bradley, Inc. sold its products directly through 35 full-price stores, 4 outlet stores, verabradley.com, and an annual outlet sale in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The company was founded in 1982 and is headquartered in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lauren Pollock]

  Vera Bradley Inc.'s(VRA) fiscal third-quarter earnings fell 14% as the handbag designer recorded a drop in sales. The company also lowered its annual guidance again, with Chief Executive Robert Wallstrom citing recent trends. The news sent Vera Bradley’s shares down 8% at $20.95 premarket.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Men’s Wearhouse (MW) fell 12.1% to $34.08 after reporting disappointing earnings, while Vera Bradley (VRA) managed to turn a 10% loss at the open into a 3.1% drop at the close as investors tried to digest its earnings report.

• [By David Sterman]

  For now, there are two distinct groups making fresh lows: teen apparel retailers and emerging markets. I've written a great deal recently about emerging markets, so I will instead give a deep look in search of value among the beaten-down retailers. Here's a quick snapshot of the struggling group. (I've included Vera Bradley (NYSE: VRA), which appeals to a slightly older demographic.)

Top Consumer Companies To Watch For 2014: Wolverine World Wide Inc.(WWW)

Wolverine World Wide, Inc. designs, manufactures, sources, markets, licenses, and distributes branded footwear, apparel, and accessories. It offers industrial work shoes, boots, uniform shoes, outdoor sports footwear, rugged casual footwear, lifestyle footwear, sandals, and closed-toe products. It also provides outdoor apparel, and work and rugged casual apparel; and accessories, such as packs, bags, and luggage, as well as eyewear, gloves, handbags, socks, watches, and plush toys. The company offers its products under various brand names, including Bates, Cat Footwear, Chaco, Cushe, Harley-Davidson Footwear, Hush Puppies, HyTest, Merrell, Patagonia Footwear, Sebago, Soft Style, and Wolverine. It sells its products to a range of retail customers, which comprise department stores, national chains, catalogs, specialty retailers, mass merchants, Internet retailers, governments, and municipalities in the United States, Canada, and Europe. The company also markets its products in approximately 190 countries and territories through company-owned wholesale operations, licensees, and distributors. It also licenses its brands for use on non-footwear products. As of December 31, 2011, the company operated 101 retail stores in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom; and operated 42 consumer-direct Websites. Further, it markets pigskin leather, and purchases raw pigskins from other source. Wolverine World Wide, Inc. was founded in 1883 and is based in Rockford, Michigan.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dividends4Life]

  Memberships and Peers: NKE is a member of the S&P 500 and a member of the Broad Dividend Achievers��Index. The company's peer group includes: Crocs Inc. (CROX) with a 0.0% yield, Deckers Outdoor Corporation (DECK) with a 0.0% yield and Wolverine World Wide Inc. (WWW) with a 0.4% yield.

Top Consumer Companies To Watch For 2014: Fresh Start Private Management Inc (CEYY)

Fresh Start Private Management, Inc. (FSPM), incorporated on January 28, 2008, is an alcohol treatment and rehabilitation company. The Company has developed a patented treatment that delivers target therapeutic levels of Naltrexone that significantly reduce patients' cravings for alcohol.

The program is administered on an outpatient basis with patients need not missing more than a day of work and can receive treatment without co-workers or even family members being aware. The Company operates in the Unites States.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Peter Graham]

  Small cap stocks Fresh Start Private Management Inc (OTCMKTS: CEYY), 7 Star Entertainment Inc (OTCMKTS: SAEE) and Refill Energy, Inc (OTCMKTS: REFG) have been getting some attention lately in various investment newsletters thanks to paid promotions. Of course, there is nothing wrong with a properly disclosed promotional or investor relations campaign, but unwary investors or traders could find themselves in trouble if they are not careful. So do these three small caps have what it takes to remain hot? Here is a quick reality check before you invest or trade:

  Fresh Start Private Management Inc (OTCMKTS: CEYY)is Expecting ��xponential Revenue Growth��

  Small cap Fresh Start Private Management is an alcohol treatment and rehabilitation company on the leading edge of alcohol addiction treatment. On Friday, Start Private Management rose 13.99% to $0.044 for a market cap of $5.19 million plus CEYY is down 92.7% since last March according to Google Finance.

Top Undervalued Stocks To Invest In 2014

Tim Cook gets paid more if Apple Apple stock outperforms the S&P 500 index in 2014. His compensation is structured in a way that pays him more when his efforts reward shareholders. What�� not for investors to love about a CEO like that?

Given his compensation structure, Tim Cook probably feels pretty good about the way 2014 is shaping up. His company�� stock is undervalued right now, demand for its wares is strong and its biggest competitors are running scared.

Apple�� stock ended the year with a price-to-earnings ratio of around 14. That�� about 20% below the historical average for an S&P 500 stock. Investors are paying well above the historical average for the majority of S&P 500 stocks. If Apple were valued by investors in the same way they value most large company stocks, the company would have traded about $100 higher to close out 2013. The only rationale for the stock price to be so low would be that investors see bleaker times ahead for the company. But year-end data would suggest that any such sentiment is likely unjustified.

5 Best Telecom Stocks To Watch For 2015: Caterpillar Inc.(CAT)

Caterpillar Inc. manufactures and sells construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines, and diesel-electric locomotives worldwide. It operates through three lines of businesses: Machinery, Engines, and Financial Products. The Machinery business offers construction, mining, and forestry machinery, including track and wheel tractors, track and wheel loaders, pipelayers, motor graders, wheel tractor-scrapers, track and wheel excavators, backhoe loaders, log skidders, log loaders, off-highway trucks, articulated trucks, paving products, skid steer loaders, underground mining equipment, tunnel boring equipment, and related parts. It also manufactures diesel-electric locomotives; and manufactures and services rail-related products and logistics services for other companies. The Engines business provides diesel, heavy fuel, and natural gas reciprocating engines for Caterpillar machinery, electric power generation systems, marine, petrol eum, construction, industrial, agricultural, and other applications. It offers industrial turbines and turbine-related services for oil and gas, and power generation applications. This business also remanufactures Caterpillar engines, machines, and engine components; and offers remanufacturing services for other companies. The Financial Products business provides retail and wholesale financing alternatives for Caterpillar machinery and engines, solar gas turbines, and other equipment and marine vessels, as well as offers loans and various forms of insurance to customers and dealers. It also offers financing for vehicles, power generation facilities, and marine vessels. The company markets its products directly, as well as through its distribution centers, dealers, and distributors. It was formerly known as Caterpillar Tractor Co. and changed its name to Caterpillar Inc. in 1986. Caterpillar Inc. was founded in 1925 and is headquartered in Peoria, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Vanina Egea]

  After hitting a historical high in 2011, prices for mining products entered a downtrend that continues throughout 2013, further pressuring margins and reducing demand for new equipment. Hence, prospects for Caterpillar (CAT), Komatsu (OTC: KMTUY) and Joy Global (JOY) have suffered. But, have managements taken the cue? And, how have hedge funds reacted?

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  But looking at how various stocks are performing today gives some hints that investors might not be quite as bullish as you'd expect. Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT  ) and Alcoa (NYSE: AA  ) , which have lagged the Dow badly this year and have acted as a proxy for sentiment about the global economy, posted only modest gains of around 0.1%. Although a single day doesn't provide much information about long-term prospects, the first day of the month often represents a big day for money flowing into the market, so watching these stocks fail to attract investor attention signals that investors aren't convinced that the construction and commodities businesses are likely to be the strongest performers in the near future. Alcoa continues to make moves to shut down production facilities in response to poor pricing conditions, while Caterpillar's acquisition this morning of marine propulsion and control company Berg Propulsion wasn't enough to drive interest in the construction equipment giant.

• [By Neha Chamaria]

  The market was a little wary, though, when some days prior to Oshkosh's announcement, leading construction equipment maker Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT  ) slashed its full-year revenue guidance significantly to $57 billion-$61 billion, from its earlier projection of $60 billion-$68 billion. But what investors should know is that Caterpillar is largely dependent on the beleaguered mining industry for revenue, unlike Terex. That's also the major reason why Caterpillar downgraded its guidance.

Top Undervalued Stocks To Invest In 2014: Dollar Tree Inc.(DLTR)

Dollar Tree, Inc. operates discount variety stores in the United States and Canada. Its stores offer merchandise primarily at the fixed price of $1.00. The company operates its stores under the names of Dollar Tree, Deal$, Dollar Tree Deal$, Dollar Giant, and Dollar Bills. Its stores offer consumable merchandise, including candy and food, and health and beauty care, as well as household consumables, such as paper, plastics, household chemicals, in select stores, and frozen and refrigerated food; variety merchandise, which includes toys, durable housewares, gifts, party goods, greeting cards, softlines, and other items; and seasonal goods, such as Easter, Halloween, and Christmas merchandise. As of April 30, 2011, it operated 4,089 stores in 48 states and the District of Columbia, as well as 88 stores in Canada. The company was founded in 1986 and is based in Chesapeake, Virginia.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Nickey Friedman]

  Dollar Tree (NASDAQ: DLTR  ) continues to impress each quarter with robust sales, same-store sales growth, and diluted earnings-per-share increases. This dollar chain credits in large part a budget-conscious and cash-strapped consumer filling up its stores looking for bargains. Further growth seems like a no-brainer, but there are two things to watch for that could become speed bumps on its road to further riches.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Shares of Supervalu have dropped 8.3% to $6.31 at 2:59 p.m., within spitting distance of Goldman’s $6 target price, while competitors Family Dollar Stores (FDO) has gained 0.2% to $70.16,�Dollar General�(DG) has fallen 0.4% t0 $59.02,�Dollar Tree (DLTR) is off 1% to $59.33 and Wal-Mart (WMT) is little changed at $79.19.

Top Undervalued Stocks To Invest In 2014: Schlumberger N.V.(SLB)

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

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By David Smith]

  Big and not so big at your service
  In the services sector, perhaps the most difficult to comprehend of the sub-sectors, you likely have a good handle on the kingpin, Schlumberger (NYSE: SLB  ) . The company, with a $100 billion market cap, operates in about 85 countries, through the efforts of more than 100,000 employees. Its services include everything from soup to nuts, or seismic to production assistance. So, if you're looking for an ideal company to constitute a single proxy for the services contingent, Schlumberger's a good bet.

• [By John Kell]

  Schlumberger Ltd.(SLB) reported its fourth-quarter income rose a bigger-than-expected 22% as oil-field services revenue jumped in the Middle East and Asia. Shares edged up 1.3% to $89.79 premarket.

• [By David Smith]

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

Top Undervalued Stocks To Invest In 2014: Tupperware Corporation(TUP)

Tupperware Brands Corporation operates as a direct seller of various products across a range of brands and categories through an independent sales force. The company engages in the manufacture and sale of kitchen and home products, and beauty and personal care products. It offers preparation, storage, and serving solutions for the kitchen and home, as well as kitchen cookware and tools, children?s educational toys, microwave products, and gifts under the Tupperware brand name primarily in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, the Asia Pacific, and North America. The company provides beauty and personal care products, which include skin care products, cosmetics, bath and body care, toiletries, fragrances, nutritional products, apparel, and related products principally in Mexico, South Africa, the Philippines, Australia, and Uruguay. It offers beauty and personal care products under the Armand Dupree, Avroy Shlain, BeautiControl, Fuller, NaturCare, Nutrimetics, Nuvo, and Swissgar de brand names. The company sells its Tupperware products directly to distributors, directors, managers, and dealers; and beauty products primarily through consultants and directors. As of December 26, 2009, the Tupperware distribution system had approximately 1,800 distributors, 61,300 managers, and 1.3 million dealers; and the sales force representing the Beauty businesses approximately 1.1 million. The company was formerly known as Tupperware Corporation and changed its name to Tupperware Brands Corporation in December 2005. The company was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Orlando, Florida.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Shares of Herbalife have gained 0.9% to $79.51 this morning in pre-open trading. Its shares have gained 139% this year, a nice gain, but lagging Nu Skin Enterprises 271% rise. Avon Products�(AVP), another multi-level marketer, has gained 21% so far this year, while Tupperware Brands�(TUP) has risen 49%.

Top Industrial Disributor Companies To Own In Right Now

WASHINGTON ��The Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that private contractors are entitled to federal whistle-blower protection when they expose fraud at public companies.

The 6-3 decision, written by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, was a victory for private employees who advised or managed Fidelity mutual funds, but it's sure to have a broader impact in the future.

Mutual funds often have no employees, so the court reasoned that whistle-blower protections enacted by Congress after the Enron scandal ��in what became known as the Sarbanes-Oxley law ��were intended to extend to contractors such as law firms and accountants.

"Based on the statutory text, and the mischief to which Congress was responding, we hold that (the law) shelters employees of private contractors that serve public companies," Ginsburg said in announcing her opinion from the bench.

Top 5 Cheapest Companies To Invest In Right Now: Revolution Lighting Technologies Inc (RVLT)

Revolution Lighting Technologies Inc., incorporated on December 16, 1993, designs, manufacture, market and sells commercial grade, light emitting diode (LED) replacement light bulbs and LED-based signage, channel letter and contour lighting products. The Company sells these products under the Seesmart, Array Lighting and Lumificient brand names. The Company operates in two segments: LED replacement lamps and fixtures and LED signage and lighting strips. On December 20, 2012, the Company acquired Seesmart Technologies, Inc., headquartered in Simi Valley, California. In August 2013, the Company announced that it has completed the acquisition of Relume Technologies (Relume). In October 2013, the Company announced that it has acquired a portfolio of general illumination LED lighting products, including several product lines from CMG Energy Solutions (CMG). In November 2013, the Company acquired Tri-State LED.

The Company�� LED replacement lamps and fixtures segment include the Seesmart business and the Array business, which has been integrated with the Seesmart business. The LED signage and lighting strips segment is comprised of the Lumificient business.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Smith]

  As you've probably heard by now, shares of LED lighting specialist Revolution Lighting� (NASDAQ: RVLT  ) popped by nearly 18% in Monday trading. But why?

• [By Roberto Pedone]

  Another under-$10 stock that's starting to move within range of triggering a big breakout trade is Revolution Lightning Technologies (RVLT), which designs, manufactures, markets and sells, commercial grade, LED replacement lamps, LED fixtures and LED-based signage, channel-letter and contour lighting products. This stock has been a monster for the bulls so far in 2013, with shares up a whopping 445%.

  If you take a look at the chart for Revolution Lightning Technologies, you'll notice that this stock has recently formed a double bottom chart pattern at $2.19 to $2.22 a share. Following that bottom, shares of RVLT exploded to the upside and hit a recent high of $3.96 a share with strong upside volume flows. Shares of RVLT are now finding some buying interest right around its 50-day moving average of $3.36 a share. If that level can hold, then RVLT will set up to resume its uptrend and potentially trigger another big breakout trade.

  Market players should now look for long-biased trades in RVLT if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at $3.70 to $3.80 a share and then above more resistance at $3.96 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above those levels with volume that hits near or above its three-month average action of 1.21 million shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then RVLT will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $4.94 to $5.50 a share.

  Traders can look to buy RVLT off weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below its 50-day moving average at $3.36 a share, or around $3 a share. One can also buy RVLT off strength once it clears those breakout levels with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.

Top Industrial Disributor Companies To Own In Right Now: Five Below Inc (FIVE)

Five Below, Inc. (Five Below), incorporated on January 30, 2002, is a retailer offering a range of merchandise for teen and pre-teen customer. The Company offers products, including select brands and licensed merchandise across a number of categories, which it refer to as worlds-Style, Room, Sports, Media, Crafts, Party, Candy and Seasonal (which it refer to as Now). As of October 27, 2012, The Company operated 243 stores throughout the eastern half of the United States. Its Style consists primarily of accessories such as novelty socks, sunglasses, jewelry, scarves, gloves, hair accessories and attitude t-shirts. Its beauty offering includes products such as nail polish, lip gloss, fragrance and branded cosmetics. Its Room consists of items used to complete and personalize its customer�� living space, including glitter lamps, posters, frames, fleece blankets, pillows, candles, incense and related items. The Company also offers storage options for the customer�� room and locker.

The Company�� Sports consists of an assortment of sport balls, team sports merchandise and fitness accessories, including hand weights, jump ropes and gym balls. It also offers a variety of games, including name brand board games, puzzles, toys and plush items. In the summer season, its sports offering also include pool, beach and outdoor toys, games and accessories. Its Media consists of a selection of accessories for personal computers (PCs), cell phones, Moving Picture Experts Group Layer-3 Audio (MP3) players and tablet computers. The offering includes cases, chargers, headphones and other related items. It also carries a range of media products including books, video games and Digital Versatile Disc (DVDs). It offers an assortment of craft activity kits, as well as arts and crafts supplies, such as crayons, markers and stickers. It also offer trend-right items for school, such as backpacks, fashion notebooks and journals, novelty pens and pencils, as well as everyday name brand items.

The C! ompany�� Party consists of party goods, decorations and greeting cards, as well as everyday and special occasion merchandise. Its Candy consists of branded items that appeal to teens and pre-teens. This category includes an assortment of classic and novelty candy bars and movie-size box candy, as well as gum and snack food. It also sells chilled drinks through coolers. Its Seasonal consists of seasonally-specific items used to celebrate and decorate for events such as Christmas, Easter, Halloween and St. Patrick�� Day.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Five Below (NASDAQ: FIVE) down, falling 4.02 percent to $46.55 after the company announced the secondary offering of 7.1 million shares by selling shareholders.

• [By DailyFinance Staff]

  Job creation last month was shockingly weak, but analysts couldn't really explain why –- other than to blame the weather -- which left investors unsure how to react Friday. Many analysts say the numbers are likely to be revised higher next month, and in the end, market reaction was muted. The Dow Jones industrial average (^DJI) lost ground for a third straight day, declining nearly 8 points, but the Standard & Poor's 500 index (^GPSC) added 4, and the Nasdaq composite index (^IXIC) rose 18 points. Target (TGT) lost more than a point after saying the data breach that began on Black Friday was much worse than previously thought. The company now says as many as 70 million customers had personal information stolen. Target also lowered its fourth quarter outlook, partly because sales slumped after the data breach was first revealed. Sears (SHLD) tumbled by around 13.5 percent. It expects a big quarterly loss as sales fell during the holiday shopping season. Several smaller, specialty retailers also fell: Pacific Sunwear (PSUN) slid 16 percent, Five Below (FIVE) fell 7 percent, Shoe Carnival (SCVL) lost 5 percent, and Conn's (CONN) lost 2 percent. But Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF) jumped 12 percent. It raised its earnings forecast as sales were not as bad as expected. Elsewhere, Alcoa (AA) fell about 5.5 percent. It's not quite the economic bellwether it used to be, but the aluminum giant still matters, and its net came in a bit shy of expectations. YRC Worldwide (YRCW) tumbled 13 percent after workers rejected a contract offer. That has raised fears the trucking company could be forced into bankruptcy. On the upside, the weak jobs report could keep mortgage rates from rising, and that boosted housing stocks. KB Homes (KBH) rose 3 percent, William Lyons up 4 percent, and Lennar (LEN) was up 2 percent. And on Thursday we reported that shares of Intercept Pharmaceuticals nearly quadrupled in price on news of a positive clinical study for its liver dr

• [By Paul Ausick]

  Specialty retailer Five Below Inc. (NASDAQ: FIVE) gets a nod for its holiday ad. Sterne Agee analysts compared a basket of 12 advertised products with prices at Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) and with 4 products at Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT). Five Below�� price for the 12 items was $60 (exactly $5 apiece), compared with an Amazon price of $143.51. The analysts also compared the Five Below price to the lowest price it could find for each of the items at any retailer selling through Amazon. That basket cost $81.95 through Amazon, more than 36% higher than the Five Below price. For the four items sold at Walmart, Five Below�� prices were about 65% lower. Sterne Agee rates Five Below a Buy with a price target of $56. The stock is trading down about 0.5% at $53.20 in a 52-week range of $27.75 to $55.28.

Top Industrial Disributor Companies To Own In Right Now: Ultra Petroleum Corp.(UPL)

Ultra Petroleum Corp., an independent oil and gas company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, production, and operation of oil and natural gas properties in the United States. It primarily focuses on developing a tight gas sand trend located in the Green River Basin of southwest Wyoming; and assessing, exploring, and developing its position in the Marcellus Shale and other horizons located in the north-central Pennsylvania area of the Appalachian Basin. As of December 31, 2011, the company owned interests in approximately 53,000 net acres in Wyoming covering approximately 190 square miles; 258,000 net acres in Pennsylvania; and 130,000 net acres in eastern Colorado?s Denver Julesburg Basin. Ultra Petroleum Corp. was founded in 1979 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Aaron Levitt]

  For those investors looking for natural gas companies with a bit more ��omph,” energy stock Ultra Petroleum (UPL) could be the prime portfolio play. As of the end of 2012, UPL�� mix of production included about 96% dry natural gas. While that seems awfully scary given just how much prices for the fuel have swayed, Ultra is a low-cost leader ��just like both SWN and COG.

• [By Matt DiLallo]

  One company that has showed it's not afraid of natural gas is Ultra Petroleum (NYSE: UPL  ) . The company is one of the lowest-cost producer,s meaning it's profitable even in this low-price�environment.�Further, the company is focused on driving natural-gas-fueled returns by investing within its cash flow instead of pushing growth for the sake of growth. With massive natural gas reserves in the Marcellus Shale and the Green River Basin of Wyoming, Ultra's future is firmly levered to natural gas.

Top Industrial Disributor Companies To Own In Right Now: Cato Corp (CATO)

The Cato Corporation (Cato) is a women�� fashion specialty retailer. As of January 28, 2012, the Company operated 1,288 fashion specialty stores in 31 states, principally in the southeastern United States, under the names Cato, Cato Fashions, Cato Plus, It�� Fashion, It�� Fashion Metro and Versona Accessories. It operates in two segments: stores and Credit. The Company�� stores offer a assortment of on-trend apparel and accessory items in primarily junior/missy, plus sizes, girls sizes 7 to 16, men�� and kids sizes newborn to seven. Its merchandise lines include dressy, career, and casual sportswear, dresses, coats, shoes, lingerie, costume jewelry, handbags, men�� wear and lines for kids and newborns. Its merchandise is sold under its private label and is produced by various vendors in accordance with the Company�� specifications.

The Company offers its own credit card and a layaway plan to make the purchase of its merchandise convenient for its customers. The Company�� stores are located in the southeastern United States in a variety of markets ranging from small towns to metropolitan areas with trade area populations of 20,000 or more. Stores average approximately 4,500 square feet in size. The Company offers its own credit card, which accounted for 4.8% of retail sales during the fiscal year ended January 28, 2012 (fiscal 2012).

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  The Cato (NYSE: CATO) was down, falling 6.35 percent to $28.19 on Q4 results. Cato reported its Q4 earnings of $0.13 per share, versus analysts' estimates of $0.13 per share. Cato Corporation expects FY14 earnings of $1.47 to $1.66 per share, versus estimates of $1.86 per share.

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  The Cato (NYSE: CATO) was down, falling 11.89 percent to $26.52 on Q4 results. Cato reported its Q4 earnings of $0.13 per share, versus analysts' estimates of $0.13 per share. Cato Corporation expects FY14 earnings of $1.47 to $1.66 per share, versus estimates of $1.86 per share.

• [By Reuters]

  Joshua Lott/Getty Images NEW YORK -- Several major U.S. retailers posted disappointing sales for November after cautious shoppers pinched their pennies at the start of a shorter holiday season. Some of the companies that reported sales gains ramped up bargains to bring in shoppers who appeared hesitant to splurge. Costco Wholesale (COST) said Thursday that sales at stores open at least a year rose 2 percent, below the 3.3 percent increase analysts were looking for, according to Thomson Reuters. The warehouse club chain said consumer electronics sales fell. Same-store sales at L Brands (LTD), owner of the Victoria's Secret lingerie chain, also came in below expectations. Its drop of 5.5 percent was far deeper than the 1.1 percent decline analysts were projecting. Wall Street analysts are expecting 11 top retailers to report a 2.7 percent increase in same-store sales for November, according to Thomson Reuters. Excluding drugstore operators, which get two-thirds of revenue from prescriptions, that gain is estimated at 2.3 percent. Gap (GPS) will report its November sales after U.S. markets close. Retailers have been contending with low consumer confidence and the need to prod shoppers with bargains this holiday season, which has six fewer days because of a late Thanksgiving. The National Retail Federation on Sunday said U.S. shoppers had spent 2.9 percent less this year over the Thanksgiving weekend, the kickoff to the holiday season. The Conference Board, an industry group, said last week that U.S. consumer confidence fell in November after a sharp drop in October as Americans worried about their future jobs and earnings prospects. Earlier this week, J.C. Penney (JCP) reported a 10.1 percent comparable sales increase, partially reversing a disastrous decline in 2012, but the department store chain had to resort to aggressive bargains. The "environment will remain as competitive" through the holiday season, Chief Executive Officer Myron Ullman said. I

Top 5 Clean Energy Stocks To Watch Right Now

With shares of Molycorp (NYSE:MCP) trading around $5, is MCP an OUTPERFORM, WAIT AND SEE or STAY AWAY? Let�� analyze the stock with the relevant sections of our CHEAT SHEET investing framework:

T = Trends for a Stock’s Movement

Molycorp engages in the production and sale of rare earth products that include oxides, metals, alloys, and magnets for various inputs in existing and emerging applications comprising clean energy technologies, multiple high-tech uses, defense applications, and water treatment technology. The research and exploration of rare earth products has been a hot trend in recent times. If these products to indeed produce significant results, companies like Molycorp stand to see explosive growth. As these technologies continue to be developed, look for Molycorp to make enormous profits if they become mainstream.

T = Technicals on the Stock Chart are Weak

Molycorp stock has witnessed a fair amount of selling pressure that has taken it to relatively low prices. The stock seems to be stabilizing at these prices but there does not seem to be an indication of a trend. Analyzing the price trend and its strength can be done using key simple moving averages. What are the key moving averages? The 50-day (pink), 100-day (blue), and 200-day (yellow) simple moving averages. As seen in the daily price chart below, Molycorp is trading slightly below its key averages which signal neutral to bearish price action in the near-term.

Best New Stocks To Own Right Now: CSB Bancorp Inc (CSBB)

CSB Bancorp, Inc. (CSB), incorporated in 1991, is a financial holding company. The Commercial and Savings Bank of Millersburg, Ohio (the Bank) is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. CSB operates primarily through the Bank and its other subsidiaries, providing a range of banking, trust, financial and brokerage services to corporate, institutional and individual customers throughout northeast Ohio. The Bank provides retail and commercial banking services to its customers, including checking and savings accounts, time deposits, individual retirement accounts (IRAs), safe deposit facilities, personal loans, commercial loans, real estate mortgage loans, installment loans, night depository facilities, brokerage and trust services.

Lending Activities

The Bank provides residential real estate, commercial real estate, commercial and consumer loans to customers located primarily in Holmes, Tuscarawas, Wayne, Stark and portions of surrounding counties in Ohio. Commercial loan rates are variable as well as fixed, and include operating lines of credit and term loans made to small businesses, primarily based on their ability to repay the loan from the cash flow of the business. Business assets, such as equipment, accounts receivable and inventory typically secure such loans. Commercial real estate loans are primarily secured by borrower-occupied business real estate. Commercial real estate loans are generally originated with a loan-to-value ratio of 80% or less. Commercial construction loans are secured by commercial real estate and in most cases the Bank also provides the permanent financing. Residential real estate loans carry both fixed and variable rates and are secured by the borrower�� residence. Home equity lines of credit are made to individuals and are secured by second or first mortgages on the borrower�� residence. Installment loans to individuals include loans secured by automobiles and other consumer assets, including second mortgages on personal residences.

Investment Activities

As of December 31, 2011, the Company�� securities available-for-sale totaled $123,026,000. Its portfolio of securities available-for-sale includes the United States treasury securities, the United States Government corporations and agencies, mortgage-backed securities, obligations of states and political subdivisions, equity securities, and corporate bonds.

Sources of Funds

As of December 31, 2011, the Company�� portfolio of deposits included noninterest-bearing demand, interest-bearing demand deposits, savings deposits and time deposits. Short-term borrowings consist of securities sold under agreements to repurchase, short-term advances through Federal Home Loan Bank and federal funds purchased.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By CRWE]

  Today, CSBB remains (0.00%) +0.000 at $18.75 thus far (ref. google finance Delayed: 3:53PM EDT July 30, 2013).

  CSB Bancorp, Inc. previously reported second quarter 2013 net income of $1.25 million or $.45 per basic and diluted share, as compared to $1.14 million or $.41 per basic and diluted share for the same period in 2012.

  Annualized returns on average common equity (��OE�� and average assets (��OA�� for the quarter were 9.32% and 0.88%, respectively, compared with 8.98% and 0.82% for the second quarter of 2012.

  Eddie Steiner, President and CEO commented, ��e continue to focus on growing relationships with current and new customers. The bank�� average loan balances have increased 10% in the past year, and although margins remain tight, this growth has provided increases of approximately 4% in net interest income.��/p>

Top 5 Clean Energy Stocks To Watch Right Now: Guggenheim S&P 500 Pure Growth ETF (RPG)

Rydex S&P 500 Pure Growth ETF (the Fund) seeks to replicate as closely as possible the performance of the S&P 500/Citigroup Pure Growth Index (the Index). The S Index is narrow in focus, containing only those S&P 500 companies with strong growth characteristics as selected by Standard & Poor��. The Index contains approximately one-third of the equities of the S&P 500 Index.

The Fund uses a passive management strategy to track the performance of the Index. The Fund invests in substantially all of the securities in the Index in approximately the same proportions as in the Index. The Fund's investment advisor is Rydex Investments.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Udovich]

  Yesterday, small cap geothermal stock U.S. Geothermal Inc (NYSEMKT: HTM) produced a geyser of a return when it surged 26.79%, meaning its worth taking a closer look at the stock verses the performance of other geothermal stocks like small cap Ormat Technologies, Inc (NYSE: ORA) and mid cap Calpine Corporation (NYSE: CPN).�First of all, I should mention there are some other geothermal stocks out there like Alterra Power Corp (CVE: AXY) and Ram Power Corp (TSE: RPG) who have their primary listing on Canadian exchanges with secondary ones on the OTC���meaning they may not be a good deal for American investors or easy to invest in. Second, U.S. Geothermal Inc itself is a good geothermal proxy as its�focused on developing, owning, and operating clean, sustainable electric power from geothermal energy resources and its�operating geothermal power projects at Neal Hot Springs, Oregon; San Emidio, Nevada; and Raft River, Idaho plus El Ceibillo, an advanced stage, geothermal prospect located within a 24,710 acre energy rights concession area near Guatemala City, the largest city in Central America.

Top 5 Clean Energy Stocks To Watch Right Now: Select Sector Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF)

Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide investment results that correspond to the price and yield performance of the Financial Select Sector of the S&P 500 Index (the Index). The Index includes financial service firms with diversified business lines ranging from investment management to commercial and investment banking.

The Fund utilizes a passive or indexing investment approach to invest in a portfolio of stocks that seek to replicate the Index. The Fund�� investment advisor is SSgA Funds Management, Inc.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Chris Ciovacco]

  Investment Implications
  The Fed's desire to taper their bond purchases is concerning and something that we will monitor closely. However, the known desire to taper has not yet shown up in the credit markets in the form of risk aversion as it did in 2007 and 2011 prior to sharp declines in stocks. As long as that is the case, we will continue to favor stocks (SPY) over bonds (AGG). We will also hold our positions in leading sectors such as financials (XLF), technology (QQQ), and small caps (IWM). If the messages from the markets change, we are happy to migrate toward a more conservative stance.

• [By Sital S. Patel]

  Stock react: Shares are trading at $45.68, down 12% year-to-date and 17% below their 52-week high. Shares have lagged the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) , which tracks financial stocks in the S&P 500 (SPX) and is down 2.7% year-to-date. Analysts have an average price target of $58.06, according to FactSet. Rival J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. (JPM) �shares fell 3.7% after it reported earnings Friday.

• [By Sital S. Patel]

  Bank shares have performed well in the last year, with many major and regional bank stocks being up anywhere from 25% to 50% in the last 12 months. The Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) �, which tracks financial stocks in the S&P 500 (SPX) , was up nearly 30% in the last 12 months.

• [By Chris Ciovacco]

  We can learn much about the market's conviction during an advance by scanning the sector leadership lists. If Wednesday's pop in stocks was led by defensive consumer staples (XLP), utilities (XLU) and healthcare (XLV), it would have cast serious doubt on the sustainability of the rally. That is not what we saw. The sectors providing leadership after the debt deal was announced were economically sensitive energy (XLE) and financials (XLF). Some big-name investors have mentioned valuations as a driver of interest in energy stocks. From Forbes:

Top 5 Clean Energy Stocks To Watch Right Now: Federated Investors Inc. (FII)

Federated Investors, Inc. is a publicly owned investment manager. The firm provides its services to individuals, including high net worth individuals, banking or thrift institutions, investment companies, pension and profit sharing plans, pooled investment vehicles, charitable organizations, state or municipal government entities, and registered investment advisors. Through its subsidiaries, it manages separate client-focused equity, fixed income, and money market mutual funds and separate client-focused equity, fixed income, and balanced portfolios. The firm invests in the public equity and fixed income markets across the globe. It invests in growth and value stocks of small-cap, mid-cap, and large-cap companies. The firm makes its fixed income investments in ultra-short, short-term, and intermediate-term mortgage-backed, U.S. Government, U.S. Corporate, high yield, and municipal securities. It employs a fundamental and a quantitative analysis to make its equity investmen ts. The firm also makes sector-focused equity investments. Federated Investors was founded in 1955 and is based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with an additional office in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  But there are winners–and they’re any stock that’s helped by higher rates. There are mutual fund companies with big money-market fund businesses, who wouldn’t be forced to run these funds for what is essentially free. Federated Investors (FII), for instance, has jumped 2.1% to $27.99. Life insurance companies, too, are rising because they should be able to earn more on their investments. MetLife (MET), for instance, has risen 1.3% to $53.03.

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  For money market fund managers, the debt ceiling drama is just the latest in a long series of challenges. Low rates have forced Federated Investors (NYSE: FII  ) , Schwab (NYSE: SCHW  ) , and many other major money market fund managers to subsidize their funds, accepting reduced management fees just to keep their interest rates from going negative. As the graph below shows, fund levels have fallen sharply in response to those low rates as well, hurting fund managers' profitability.

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  Lately, though, T. Rowe Price hasn't benefited as much from share-price gains. Competitor Invesco (NYSE: IVZ  ) has managed to expand its margins and produce growth among its current lineup of funds, with exposure to a big range of markets that leaves it broadly placed to serve its customers' needs. But for T. Rowe Price and peer Federated Investors (NYSE: FII  ) , investors haven't been putting as much money to work in their funds as analysts had expected to see, and that has led to some growth shortfalls. Federated in particular missed its earnings estimates in its most recent quarter, and analysts see growth there slowing to just 3%. T. Rowe Price has better prospects, retaining its double-digit revenue growth, but after a substantial move upward at the beginning of the year, its stock has treaded water.

5 Best Industrial Disributor Stocks To Invest In Right Now

The bond markets are presenting an interesting position. Bond prices have been going higher and bond yields head lower for incessantly past two week.

There have been handsome gains of about Rs 4-5 (from the lows that bond prices reached four-five weeks ago) for bond prices. Ashish Parthasarthy of HDFC Bank expects 10-year bond yields to be in a broad range of 8.25-8.75% from now till March.

He also mentioned that a cash reserve ratio (CRR) cut is reasonably expected. Moreover, his forecast for the credit growth is around 17-17.5%.

Here is the edited transcript of his interview to CNBC-TV18. Also watch the accompanying videos.

Q: What is the market pricing in at this point in time? At 8.42%, is the yield telling you that a CRR cut is getting priced in on Friday?

A: There is a reasonable expectation of CRR cut. That is not the only thing which has been priced in. The IIP figure came quite low. It� very clear that the next monetary action would be to ease monetary policy. RBI has been aggressively conducting open market operations (OMOs). All this put together are driving the bond yields to new lows.

5 Best Heal Care Stocks To Watch For 2015: Turkiye Halk Bankasi AS (HALKB)

Turkiye Halk Bankasi A.S. (Halkbank) is a Turkey-based bank that provides banking products and services to a range of customers, including tradesmen, small- to medium-sized enterprises (SME) and large corporations. The Company�� segments are: consumer and retail banking, which offers consumer loans, credit and debit cards, deposit and overdraft accounts and payroll services; corporate and commercial banking, each offering assistance loans targeting specific sectors, budget loans, domestic and international non-cash credit line facilities, such as letters of credit and guarantees, cash management, investment banking, brokerage, factoring, leasing and insurance services for clients with varying annual turnovers, and tradesmen/SME banking. It also offers telephone, Internet, mobile and television banking services. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Harry Suhartono]

  The Borsa Istanbul National 100 Index jumped 3.7 percent, the most among major emerging-market gauges, as Akbank TAS (AKBNK) and Turkiye Halk Bankasi AS (HALKB) rallied. Benchmark measures in Poland and the Czech Republic added at least 0.5 percent, while Hungarian shares retreated for a fourth day.

Best Bank Stocks To Invest In Right Now: HomeTrust Bancshares Inc (HTBI)

HomeTrust Bancshares, Inc. is a bank holding company. The Company operates through HomeTrust Bank (the Bank). The Bank is a federally chartered mutual savings bank with 20 retail offices located in North Carolina. The business of the Bank is conducted through its seven operating divisions: HomeTrust Bank, Cherryville Federal Bank, Home Savings Bank of Eden, Industrial Federal Bank of Lexington, Shelby Savings Bank, Tryon Federal Bank and Rutherford County Bank. Its wholly owned subsidiary, Western North Carolina Service Corporation (WNCSC), owns office buildings in Asheville and Hendersonville, North Carolina that are leased to the Bank and several other tenants. Effective July 31, 2013, it announced the completion of its acquisition of BankGreenville Financial Corporation, the holding company for BankGreenville.

Lending activities

The Bank�� loan portfolio is organized into two segments (retail consumer loans and commercial loans) and into four classes within each segment. Its loan portfolio also includes one to four family loans, commercial real estate loans, home equity lines of credit, commercial loans and consumer loans. The Bank underwrites its retail consumer loans using automated credit scoring and analysis tools. These credit scoring tools take into account factors, such as payment history, credit utilization, length of credit history, types of credit in use and recent credit inquiries. One to four family and construction and land/lot loans are to individuals and are typically secured by one-to-four family residential property, undeveloped land, and partially developed land in anticipation of pending construction of a personal residence. Consumer loans include loans secured by deposit accounts or personal property, such as automobiles, boats, and motorcycles, as well as unsecured consumer debt.

The Bank�� commercial loans are centrally underwritten based primarily on the customer�� ability to generate the required cash flow to service the debt in a! ccordance with the contractual terms and conditions of the loan agreement. Real estate owned consists of real estate acquired as a result of customers��loan defaults.

Investment activities

The Company�� investment securities consist of United States Government Agencies, Residential Mortgage-backed Securities of United States Government and Agencies. It also includes Government-Sponsored Enterprises. Securities available for sale were $26.7 million, as of March 31, 2012.

Sources of funds

The Company offers a variety of deposit accounts for individuals, businesses and nonprofit organizations. Deposits are its primary source of funds for lending and investing activities.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Tim Melvin]

  Home Trust Bancshares (HTBI) is another example of a cheap, well-financed community bank that has the potential for strong performance over the next couple of years. While the bank�� nonperforming assets are a little above average at 3.87% of total assets, HTBI has plenty of excess capital. The equity-to-assets ratio is more than 20 as of the end of the third quarter, and HTBI has been using its capital to buy back HTBI shares below book value.

Best Bank Stocks To Invest In Right Now: State Bank of India (SBIN)

State Bank of India (SBI) is an India-based commercial bank. Its primary banks include Treasury, Corporate / Wholesale Banking, Retail Banking and Other Banking business. The Treasury Segment includes the entire investment portfolio and trading in foreign exchange contracts and derivative contracts. The Corporate / Wholesale Banking segment comprises the lending activities of Corporate Accounts Group, Mid Corporate Accounts Group and Stressed Assets Management Group. These include providing loans and transaction services to corporate and institutional clients and further include non-treasury operations of foreign offices. The Retail Banking Segment consists of branches in National Banking Group, which primarily includes Personal Banking activities, including lending activities to corporate customers having banking relations with branches in the National Banking Group. This segment also includes agency business and automated teller machines (ATMs). Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lyubov Pronina]

  India�� S&P BSE Sensex Index dropped 4 percent in Mumbai as State Bank of India (SBIN) tumbled to the lowest level in four years. ICICI Bank Ltd. slumped 5.2 percent. The rupee touched an unprecedented 62.0050 per dollar today before closing 0.3 percent weaker from Aug. 14 at 61.6550 in Mumbai, according to prices from local banks compiled by Bloomberg.

• [By Calev Ben-David]

  Credit-default swaps for the State Bank of India (SBIN), a proxy for the sovereign, have risen by almost two thirds since May 22, while the rupee slid about 10 percent. In Turkey, swaps jumped by about half, and the currency dropped about 6 percent.

Best Bank Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Deutsche Bank AG (DBK)

Deutsche Bank AG is a global investment bank. The Company offers a variety of investment, financial and related products and services to private individuals, corporate entities and institutional clients around the world. The Company operates through such divisions as: Private and Business Clients, Asset and Wealth Management, Corporate Banking and Securities, Global Transaction Banking and Non-Core Operations Unit. Deutsche Bank AG is active domestically and in various countries, through the network of numerous branches. In February 2014, the Company and its related bodies corporate ceases to a share holder in the capital of the Company. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jonathan Morgan]

  RWE AG (RWE), Germany�� second-largest utility, slipped 2.4 percent after RBC Capital Markets cut its recommendation on the stock. Lufthansa followed its European peers higher, recovering some of its Aug. 2 selloff. Xing AG (O1BC), the business social network, jumped the most since October as Deutsche Bank AG (DBK) upgraded its rating on the shares.

• [By Jonathan Morgan]

  Deutsche Bank AG (DBK) lost 0.6 percent as a gauge of banks posted the largest drop of the 19 industry groups in the Stoxx Europe 600 Index. Deutsche Telekom AG (DTE) advanced 2.2 percent as a gauge of telecom companies rose the most on the Stoxx 600.

• [By Tom Stoukas]

  Deutsche Lufthansa AG (LHA) and Allianz SE (ALV) led airlines and insurers lower, retreating at least 1.5 percent. Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW) slid 1.6 percent. Deutsche Bank AG (DBK) rose after JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its recommendation on the shares. Gildemeister AG (GIL) added 3.4 percent after Deutsche Bank upgraded the maker of cutting tools.

Best Bank Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Umpqua Holdings Corp (UMPQ)

Umpqua Holdings Corporation (Umpqua) is a financial holding company. Umpqua has two principal operating subsidiaries, Umpqua Bank (the Bank) and Umpqua Investments, Inc. (Umpqua Investments). The Bank is primarily engaged in the business of commercial and retail banking and the delivery of retail brokerage services. The Bank provides a range of banking, wealth management, mortgage banking and other financial services to corporate, institutional and individual customers. Umpqua Investments is a broker-dealer and investment advisor with offices in Portland, Lake Oswego, Medford, Oregon, and in many Umpqua Bank stores. Umpqua Investments offers a range of investment products and services, including stocks, fixed income securities (municipal, corporate, and government bonds, Certificate of Deposits (CDs), and money market instruments), mutual funds, annuities, options, retirement planning, money management services and life insurance. In December 2011, the Bank launched a commercial real estate division. In November 2012, the Company acquired Circle Bancorp, parent company of Circle Bank. In July 2013, Umpqua Holdings Corp completed its acquisition of Financial Pacific Holding Corp.

The Company offers a Switch Kit, which allows a customer to open a primary checking account with Umpqua Bank in less than 10 minutes. Other avenues, through which customers can access its products, include its Website equipped with an e-switchkit, which includes Internet banking through umpqua.online, mobile banking, and its 24-hour telephone voice response system. Umpqua Private Bank serves high net worth individuals with liquid investable assets by providing customized financial solutions and offerings. Umpqua private bank works collaboratively with the Bank�� affiliate retail brokerage Umpqua Investments and with the independent capital management firm Ferguson Wellman Capital Management. Umpqua Investments provides a range of brokerage services, including equity and fixed income products, mutual funds, annui! ties, options, retirement planning and money management services. Additionally, Umpqua Investments offers life insurance policies. At December 31, 2011, Umpqua Investments had 41Series seven-licensed financial advisors serving clients at three stand-alone retail brokerage offices and Investment Opportunity Centers located in many Bank stores.

Lending Activities

Umpqua offers loans for business and commercial customers, including accounts receivable and inventory financing, equipment loans, international trade, real estate construction loans and permanent financing and SBA program financing, as well as capital markets and treasury management. Additionally, it offers designed loan products for small businesses through its Small Business Lending Center. It also has a business banking division to increase lending to small and mid-sized businesses. The Company is also engaged in initiatives that continue to diversify the loan portfolio, including a focus on commercial and industrial loans in addition to financing owner-occupied properties.

Real estate loans are available for construction, purchase and refinancing of residential owner-occupied and rental properties. Borrowers can choose from a variety of fixed and adjustable rate options and terms. It sells residential real estate loans that originate into the secondary market. It also supports the Home Affordable Refinance Program and Home Affordable Modification Program. The Bank also provide loans to individual borrowers for a variety of purposes, including secured and unsecured personal loans, home equity and personal lines of credit and motor vehicle loans. The Bank makes both secured and unsecured loans to individuals and businesses. During 2011, its commercial real estate, commercial, residential, and consumer and other represented approximately 64%, 25%, 10%, and 1%, respectively, of the total non-covered loan and lease portfolio.

Source of Funds

The Company offers an array of deposit p! roducts, ! including non-interest-bearing checking accounts, interest-bearing checking and savings accounts, money market accounts and certificates of deposit. These accounts earn interest at rates established by management based on market factors. It also offers a seniors program to customers over fifty years old, which includes an array of banking services and other amenities, such as purchase discounts, vacation trips and seminars.

Investment Activities

As of December 31, 2011, Umpqua's portfolio of investments securities included securities issued by United States Treasury and agencies, and residential mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations. It also includes obligations of states and political subdivisions, other debt securities, and investments in mutual funds and other equity securities.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Roberto Pedone]

  Umpqua (UMPQ) is engaged in the business of commercial and retail banking and the delivery of retail brokerage services. This stock closed up 5% at $17.11 in Monday's trading session.

  Monday's Volume: 2.16 million
  
  Three-Month Average Volume: 686,781
  
  Volume % Change: 235%

  From a technical perspective, UMPQ ripped sharply higher here right off its 50-day moving average of $16.51 with strong upside volume. This move is quickly pushing shares of UMPQ within range of triggering a big breakout trade. That trade will hit if UMPQ manages to take out Monday's intraday high of $17.46 and then once it clears its 52-week high at $17.48 with high volume.

  Traders should now look for long-biased trades in UMPQ as long as it's trending above its 50-day at $16.51 or above more near-term support at $16 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that's near or above 686,781 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then UMPQ will set up to enter new 52-week-high territory above, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that breakout are $20 to $23.

Best Bank Stocks To Invest In Right Now: CommunityOne Bancorp (COB)

CommunityOne Bancorp , formerly FNB United Corp., incorporated in 1984, is a bank holding company. The Company has two banking subsidiaries: CommunityOne Bank, N.A. (CommunityOne), a national banking association, and through Bank of Granite Corporation (Granite Corp.), Bank of Granite (Granite), a state-chartered bank headquartered in Granite Falls, North Carolina. As of December 31, 2011, CommunityOne had 45 branches, $843.9 million in loans and $1.4 billion in deposits. As of December 31, 2011, Granite had 18 branches, $373.9 million in loans and $688.5 million in deposits. Through its banking subsidiaries, it offers a line of consumer, mortgage and business banking services, including loan, deposit, cash management, investment management and trust services, to individual and business customers through operations located in Alamance, Alexander, Ashe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Chatham, Gaston, Guilford, Iredell, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Moore, Orange, Randolph, Richmond, Rowan, Scotland, Watauga and Wilkes counties in North Carolina. On October 21, 2011, it acquired Granite Corp., through the merger of a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, Gamma Merger Corporation, merging into Granite Corp, with Granite Corp. continuing as the surviving corporation and as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. On June 8, 2013, CommunityOne Bank, N.A., the principal bank subsidiary of FNB United Corp. announced that it had completed the merger of its sister bank, Bank of Granite, into CommunityOne.

Lending Activities

The Company's loan portfolio segments are commercial and agricultural, real estate - construction, real estate - mortgage, and consumer loans. The commercial and agricultural portfolio includes owner occupied and non-owner occupied. The real estate - construction portfolio includes retail properties, multi-family, industrial and warehouse, and other commercial real estate. The real estate - mortgage portfolio includes one-to four-family residential and commercial and othe! r. As of December 31, 2011, its total loan portfolio totaled $1.2 billion.

Investment Activities

The Company�� available-for-sale investment securities portfolio includes obligations of the United Sates treasury and government agencies, obligations of the United Sates government sponsored agencies, obligations of states and political subdivisions, residential mortgage-backed securities- (government-sponsored enterprise (GSE)), residential mortgage-backed securities-(Private), and corporate notes. As of December 31, 2011, it no longer had securities in the held-to-maturity portfolio.

Sources of Funds

Traditional deposit accounts are the primary source of funds for the Company. As of December 31, 2011, deposits totaled $2.1 billion, consisting of approximately $234.6 million of non-interest-bearing demand deposits, $349 million of interest-bearing demand deposits, $68 million of savings deposits, approximately $431.7 million of money market deposits, $112 million of brokered deposits, $538 million of time deposits less than $100,000, and $398 million of time deposits $100,000 or more. As of December 31, 2011, it had $8.8 million of total short-term borrowings. As of December 31, 2011, its long-term debt included $58 million of Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) advances and $56 million of junior subordinated debt. Funds are borrowed on an overnight basis through retail repurchase agreements with bank customers and federal funds purchased from other financial institutions. Retail repurchase agreement borrowings are collateralized by securities of the United Sates Treasury and the United Sates Government agencies and corporations. As of December 31, 2011, CommunityOne and Granite had no lines of credit at the Federal Reserve Bank. As of December 31, 2011, CommunityOne had an available line of credit of $80.5 million with the FHLB and Granite had no line of credit with the FHLB.

Subsidiary Activity

CommunityOne owns three subsidiari! es, which! include Dover Mortgage Company (Dover), First National Investor Services, Inc. and Premier Investment Services, Inc. (Premier). Dover ceased operations during the year ended December 31, 2011, and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on February 15, 2012. First National Investor Services, Inc. holds deeds of trust for CommunityOne. Premier is inactive. Through Granite Corp., it also own Granite Mortgage, Inc., which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on February 15, 2012. FNB also owns FNB United Statutory Trust I, FNB United Statutory Trust II, and Catawba Valley Capital Trust II, which were formed to facilitate the issuance of trust preferred securities.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Namitha Jagadeesh]

  Cobham Plc (COB) retreated 4.6 percent to 272.9 pence, the biggest drop in six months. A shareholder of the world�� largest maker of airborne-refueling kit is selling 39.1 million shares in the company, terms obtained by Bloomberg News show.

Best Chemical Companies To Buy For 2015

Best Chemical Companies To Buy For 2015: Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc.(POT)

Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc. produces and sells fertilizers and related industrial and feed products primarily in the United States and Canada. The company mines and produces potash, which is used as fertilizer. It also offers solid and liquid phosphate fertilizers; animal feed supplements; and industrial acids that are used in food products and industrial processes. In addition, the company produces nitrogen fertilizers, as well as nitrogen feed and industrial products, including ammonia, urea, nitrogen solutions, ammonium nitrate, and nitric acid. Further, it holds the right to mine 785,759 acres of land in Saskatchewan; and 58,263 acres of land in New Brunswick in Canada. The company sells its fertilizers primarily to retailers, dealers, co-operatives, distributors, and other fertilizer producers; industrial products primarily to chemical product manufacturers; and purified phosphoric acid directly to consumers of the product. Potash Corporation was founded i n 1953 and is based in Saskatoon, Canada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Cameron Swinehart]

  A diversified agriculture ETF with holdings in a variety of the largest agribusiness companies globally. Holdings include Bunge (BG), Archer Daniel Midland (AMD), PotashCorp (POT) and Deere (DE).

source from Top Penny Stocks For 2015:http://www.seekpennystocks.com/best-chemical-companies-to-buy-for-2015.html

5 Best Long Term Stocks To Buy Right Now

Considering how much Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL  ) has fallen over the past seven months, it might seem that investors are having commitment issues. Instead of sticking with the Mac maker for the long term, shareholders are moving on and looking for the next hot growth story. Well, Apple has some commitment issues of its own.

It's not you, it's me
As part of managing a massive global supply chain, Apple has numerous off-balance sheet commitments related to third-party manufacturing and component purchases. This is an aggregate figure that I keep an eye on for hints as to what Apple is expecting in the near-term, since the metric is related to Apple's projected "demand information."

Third-party manufacturing and component commitments soared in September to $21.1 billion and declined modestly in December to $18.9 billion. In the March quarter, this total just dropped precipitously back to previously seen levels.

Source: SEC filings.

5 Best Long Term Stocks To Buy Right Now: Wasgau Produktions & Handels AG (MSH)

Wasgau Produktions & Handels AG is a Germany-based retailer and producer of food articles. The Company divides its business activities into the two main segments Wholesale and Retail. The Wholesale�� businesses include seven Cash and Carry markets for restaurateurs and wholesale customers, as well as commercial businesses of the holding company WASGAU Produktions & Handels AG, which are supported by its subsidiary WASGAU Dienstleistungs & Logistik GmbH, active within warehouse management and transportation. The Operations within the Retail segment are mainly carried out through Company�� subsidiaries WASGAU Metzgerei GmbH and WASGAU Baeckerei & Konditorei GmbH, which produce and supply its stores with a variety of meats and bakery products, respectively. As of December 31, 2011, the Company operated through 24 affiliated companies and subsidiaries located in Germany. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Benjamin Pimentel]

  The Morgan Stanley High Tech 35 Index (MSH) �and the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) �both closed in the red.

• [By Benjamin Pimentel]

  With H-P and JD in the spotlight, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (COMP) �rose almost 23 points to close at 4,154. The Morgan Stanley High Tech 35 Index (MSH) �and the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) �were up a fraction.

5 Best Long Term Stocks To Buy Right Now: DCT Industrial Trust Inc (DCT)

DCT Industrial Trust Inc. (DCT) is an industrial real estate company that owns, operates and develops bulk distribution and light industrial properties in distribution markets in the United States and Mexico. The Company is structured as an umbrella partnership real estate investment trust (REIT), under which substantially all of its business is, and will be, conducted through a majority-owned and controlled subsidiary, DCT Industrial Operating Partnership LP (the operating partnership), a Delaware limited partnership, for which DCT Industrial Trust Inc. is the sole general partner. The Company owns properties through its operating partnership and its subsidiaries. As of December 31, 2011, DCT owned approximately 90% of the outstanding equity interests in its operating partnership. In March 2012, DCT acquired a 32.6 acre land parcel in Romeoville, within the southern I-55 industrial submarket of Chicago. In May 2012, the Company acquired two Class A industrial buildings totaling 98,000 square feet in Houston, known as DCT Claymoore Center. Located in the Northwest submarket of Houston, DCT Claymoore Center encompasses a bulk and light industrial facility and is 95.8%-occupied.

During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company acquired 24 buildings comprising 2.8 million square feet and controlling ownership interests in three buildings totaling 0.4 million square feet. In 2011, the Company sold 16 operating properties totaling approximately 2.7 million square feet to third-parties. As of December 31, 2011, the Company�� consolidated operating properties had leases with approximately 900 customers with no single customer accounting for more than 1.7% of the total annualized base rents of its properties. As of December 31, 2011, the Company owned interests in, managed or had under development approximately 75.5 million square feet of properties leased to approximately 900 customers, including 58.1 million square feet comprising 408 consolidated properties owned in its operating portfo! lio, which were 90.6% occupied; 0.2 million square feet comprising one consolidated property under redevelopment, and 17.2 million square feet comprising 52 unconsolidated properties, which were 86.3% occupied and one managed-only property operated on behalf of five institutional capital management partners. As of December 31, 2011, its total consolidated portfolio consisted of 409 properties with an average size of 142,000 square feet and an average age of 20.2 years.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Brad Thomas]

  Other REITs mentioned: (O), (NNN), (STAG), (DCT), (EGP), (PDM), (DRE), (LRY)

  Source: Chambers Street: More Liquidity Magic On The Way In REIT-Dom

  Disclosure: I have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. (More...)

Best Small Cap Stocks To Invest In Right Now: AMN Healthcare Services Inc(AHS)

AMN Healthcare Services, Inc. provides healthcare staffing and clinical workforce management solutions in the United States. The company?s Nurse and Allied Healthcare Staffing segment provides staffing solutions for hospitals and other healthcare facilities, including medical, surgical, specialty, licensed practical or vocational, and advanced practice nurses, as well as surgical technologists and dialysis technicians. This segment also offers allied health professionals under the Med Travelers, Club Staffing, and Rx Pro Health brand names to acute-care hospitals and other healthcare facilities, such as skilled nursing facilities, rehabilitation clinics, and retail and mail-order pharmacies. These allied health professionals include physical, surgical, respiratory, and occupational therapists, as well as medical and radiology technologists, speech pathologists, rehabilitation assistants, pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians. Its Locum Tenens Staffing segment places physic ians of various specialties, certified registered nurse anesthetists, nurse practitioners, and dentists on a temporary basis as independent contractors with various healthcare organizations, including hospitals, medical groups, occupational medical clinics, individual practitioners, networks, psychiatric facilities, government institutions, and managed care entities. The company?s Physician Permanent Placement Services segment provides permanent physician placement services to hospitals, healthcare facilities, and physician practice groups under the Merritt Hawkins and Kendall & Davis brand names. This segment also offers specialty offerings, including internal medicines, family practices, and surgeries. Its Home Healthcare Services segment provide home healthcare services to individuals with acute-care illness, long-term chronic health conditions, permanent disabilities, terminal illnesses, and post-procedural needs. The company was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in S an Diego, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Seth Jayson]

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

5 Best Long Term Stocks To Buy Right Now: Chesapeake Gold Corp (CHPGF.PK)

Chesapeake Gold Corp. is a mineral exploration company focusing on the discovery and development of gold-silver deposits in North and Central America. The Company�� primary asset is the Metates gold-silver project (Metates) located in Durango State, Mexico. The Company also has a portfolio of exploration properties in Mexico comprising 57,067 hectares in the states of Durango, Sinaloa, Oaxaca and Veracruz. The Escorpion property is located 85 kilometers by paved road southeast of Guatemala City. The Metates property is the undeveloped disseminated gold and silver deposits in Mexico. The property is consists of 14 mineral concessions totaling 14,727 hectares. Talapoosa property is a low-sulphidation gold/silver property in the Walker Lane gold trend of western Nevada, approximately 45 kilometers east of Reno. The property consists of 535 unpatented lode mining claims and seven additional fee land sections which cover 10,780 hectares. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Hebba Investments]

  Therefore the situation is still very bullish for investors in physical gold and the gold ETFs (GLD, CEF, and PHYS). Investors interested in leveraging this situation into higher potential profits may also consider buying gold miners such as Randgold (GOLD), Goldcorp (GG), Yamana Gold (AUY), and any of the other gold miners. Finally, those willing to shoulder much larger risks may consider some of the exploration and micro-cap companies that offer significant profits at a high risk such as Chesapeake Gold (CHPGF.PK), Pretium Resources (PVG), Western Copper (WRN), or any other of the junior exploration companies. Though investors should keep in mind that gold mining companies and explorers do not always rise with a rising gold price - do your research before you invest in the miners.