Top 10 Life Sciences Companies To Buy For 2014

Malaysia's state-owned agri-business conglomerate FELDA is looking to tap growing demand for botanical drugs and treatments with a planned $300 million IPO (Initial Public Offering) of its life sciences unit on the Nasdaq exchange by March 2015, a press release confirmed.

Felda Wellness Corp (IPO-FWCP.O) is a unit of the Federal Land Development Authority of Malaysia (FELDA). The company had for long been thinking about going public and finally announced the listing today. It has chosen to list on the U.S. market for technology and biotech companies because of the country's well developed market for health products and U.S. investors' familiarity with such offerings, they said.

The only other Malaysian firm to have announced a Nasdaq listing is MOL Global Pte Ltd (IPO-MOLL.O), an online payment firm that also owns social networking site Friendster Inc. The company plans to raise $300 million from its U.S. IPO scheduled for this year end. Felda Wellness has been working with a New York-based investment bank with expertise in raising funds for life sciences companies in the United States. Bankers to advice on the deal will be chosen in September after the listing is approved by the FELDA board.

Hot Heal Care Companies To Watch In Right Now: Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS)

The Bank of Nova Scotia (the Bank) is a diversified financial institution. As of October 31, 2011, the Bank offered a range of products and services, including retail, commercial, corporate and investment banking to more than 18.6 million customers in more than 50 countries around the world. The Bank has four business lines: Canadian Banking, International Banking, Scotia Capital and Global Wealth Management. In January 2012, the Company closed its acquisition of 51% of Banco Colpatria. In April 2012, the Company through Scotia Capital Inc. acquired Howard Weil Incorporated. In April 2013, Bank of Nova Scotia acquired a 50% interest in Administradora de Fondos de Pensiones Horizonte SA. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By MONEYMORNING.COM]

  The London Silver Market Fixing Ltd. currently operates with just three members: Deutsche Bank AG (USA) (NYSE: DB), HSBC Holdings Plc. (NYSE ADR: HSBC), and Bank of Nova Scotia (USA) (NYSE: BNS).

• [By Will Ashworth]

  TD Rating: 7.5

  Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS)

  Dividend Yield: 3.9%

  The last of the major Canadian banks is Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS). Not known for its Canadian retail banking, its biggest calling cards are its businesses outside of Canada in Latin America and Asia. Analysts expect it to deliver a 9.1% increase in adjusted net income in the fourth quarter to C$1.6 billion, 47% of which will come from outside of Canada.

• [By Brian Pacampara]

  Based on the aggregated intelligence of 180,000-plus investors participating in Motley Fool CAPS, the Fool's free investing community, Canadian banking giant Bank of Nova Scotia (NYSE: BNS  ) has earned a respected four-star ranking. �

• [By Alex Barinka]

  Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) fell 1.7 percent to C$57.71. Canada�� third-largest lender by assets said net income for the period fell 14 percent from a year earlier when the bank had a one-time gain. Earnings from its global banking and markets business slipped 3 percent in the latest quarter.

Top 10 Life Sciences Companies To Buy For 2014: NextStage Inc (NXT)

NextStage, Inc. is a holding company. The Company is engaged in the management of its investments in shares of stocks of its subsidiaries. The Company�� subsidiaries include Mondex Philippines Inc. (MXP), Infinit-e Asia Inc. (Infinit-e Asia) and Technology Support Services, Inc. (TSSI). MXP operates a multi-application smart card system in Philippines. Infinit-e Asia is a software development company specializing on smart card and e-commerce solutions tailored to enhance the business of its clients. Infinit-e Asia develops smart card solutions for both real and online applications and on both contact and contactless platform. Infinit-e Asia�� spectrum of products and applications are classified as payments, data capture and security. TSSI is engaged in the business of business process outsourcing (BPO), applications service providers (ASP) and managed service providers (MSP). Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Namitha Jagadeesh]

  HSBC Holdings Plc (HSBA), Europe�� largest bank, slid 2.1 percent. International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (IAG) declined 2 percent as it canceled some of its flights following a disruption caused by one of its planes at Heathrow airport. Next Plc (NXT) retreated 2.4 percent as Morgan Stanley cut its recommendation on the shares.

Top 10 Life Sciences Companies To Buy For 2014: Capital City Bank Group(CCBG)

Capital City Bank Group, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Capital City Bank that provides commercial and retail banking products and services. Its deposit products include negotiable order of withdrawal accounts, money market accounts, checking and savings accounts, and time deposits. The company offers financing for commercial business properties, equipment, inventories, and accounts receivable, as well as commercial leasing and letters of credit; commercial and residential real estate lending; retail credit products, including personal loans, automobile loans, boat/recreational vehicle loans, home equity loans, and credit card programs; and tax-exempt loans, lines of credit, and term loans. It also provides treasury management services, merchant credit card transaction processing services, automated teller machines (ATMs), debit/credit cards, night deposit services, safe deposit facilities, PC/Internet banking, and mobile banking services. In addition, the c ompany offers asset management, trust, mortgage banking, merchant services, and data processing services, as well as securities brokerage services, including U.S. government bonds, tax-free municipal bonds, stocks, mutual funds, unit investment trusts, annuities, life insurance, and long-term health care. It serves individuals, corporations, and other business clients, including commercial developers and investors, residential builders and developers, community developers, state and local governments, public schools and colleges, charities, and membership and not-for-profit associations. As of January 27, 2012, the company operated 70 banking offices and 79 ATMs in Florida, Georgia, and Alabama. Capital City Bank Group, Inc. was founded in 1895 and is headquartered in Tallahassee, Florida.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [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
  
  CTBI is trading at a premium to all four valuations above. The stock is trading at a 53.5% premium to its calculated fair value of $29.43. CTBI 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%
  
  CTBI earned one Star in this section for 1.) above. A Star was earned since the Free Cash Flow payout ratio was less than 60% and there were no negative Free Cash Flows over the last 10 years. The company has paid a cash dividend to shareholders every year since 1988 and has increased its dividend payments for 33 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
  
  The negative NPV MMA Diff. means that on a NPV basis the dividend earnings from an investment in CTBI would be less than a similar amount invested in MMA earning a 20-year average rate of 3.41%. If CTBI grows its dividend at 1.5% per year, it will never equal a MMA yielding an estimated 20-year average rate of 3.41%.
  
  Memberships and Peers: CTBI is, a member of the Broad Dividend Achieve

Top 10 Life Sciences Companies To Buy For 2014: Fleetcor Technologies Inc (FLT)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Steve Sears]

  New stocks in what Goldman calls the “Hedge Fund VIP list,”�include Actavis (ACT), Baidu (BIDU), Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B), Crown Castle International (CCI), Entergy Louisiana (ELB), �Equinix (EQIX), Facebook (FB), Fleetcor Technologies (FLT), W.R. Grace (GRA), MetLife (MET), Macquarie Infrastructure (MIC), Micron (MU), Time Warner Cable (TWC), and Time Warner (TWX).

• [By MONEYMORNING.COM]

  One of the best companies in this business is FleetCor Technologies Inc. (NYSE: FLT) - and it just got substantially better thanks to a very strategic acquisition. Investors loved the deal, and FLT stock skyrocketed 9.2% in one day on news of the acquisition - and has revved up another 5% since then.

Top 10 Life Sciences Companies To Buy For 2014: SPDR S&P International Consumer Discretionary Sector ETF (IPD)

SPDR S&P International Consumer Discretionary Sector ETF (the Fund) seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the total return performance of the S&P Developed Ex-U.S. BMI Consumer Discretionary Sector Index (the Index), an index that tracks the consumer discretionary sector of developed global markets outside the United States. The Index represents the non-United States consumer discretionary sub-industry of developed countries included in the S&P Broad Market Index (the Global BMI Index). The Global BMI Index captures the full universe of institutionally investable stocks in developed and emerging markets with float-adjusted market capitalizations of at lease $100 million. The Fund�� investment advisor is SSgA Funds Management, Inc. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By WilliamBriat]

  The SPDR S&P International Consumer Discretionary Sector (NYSE: IPD) is an ETF that tracks the consumer discretionary sector of developed global markets. Holdings include luxury brand stock juggernaut LVMH Moët Hennessy – Louis Vuitton SA and Swedish luxury brand stock multinational retail clothing company H & M Hennes & Mauritz AB.

Top 10 Life Sciences Companies To Buy For 2014: Forward Industries Inc.(FORD)

Forward Industries, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, designs, markets, and distributes carry and protective solutions. The company offers soft-sided carrying cases, bags, clips, hand straps, protective plates, and skins, as well as other accessories for hand held electronic devices, including medical monitoring and diagnostic kits, bar code scanners, GPS and location devices, and cellular telephones. It also designs, markets, and distributes carry and protective solutions for other consumer products, such as laptop computers, MP3 players, firearms, sporting, recreational, and aeronautical products. The company provides its products for used by consumers in protecting, and carrying or transporting portable electronic and other products. Forward Industries, Inc. sells its products to original equipment manufacturers and contract manufacturers in the Asia Pacific, the Americas, and Europe. Forward Industries was founded in 1954 and is based in Santa Monica, California. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Chris Woodyard]

  Visitors can see the new Mustang convertible on the observation deck for 54 hours from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. on April 16 and 17, which just happens to coincide with the New York Auto Show.

  The original 1965 Ford Mustang convertible in Wimbledon White -- the early version known to many as the 1964 1/2. Mustang went on sale on April 17, 1964 and sold more than 418,000 in the first 12 months.  (Photo: Ford)View Fullscreen The sixth-generation, redesigned 2015 Mustang.  (Photo: Ford)View Fullscreen The 1963 Ford Special Falcon: A prototype of the upcoming Mustang on the Falcon chassis before the name was final. At this time it was referred to as the ��pecial Falcon��and had Cougar badges, one of names under consideration.   (Photo: Ford)View Fullscreen Company head Henry Ford II with the 1964 1/2 Mustang Ford at the car's unveiling at the New York World's Fair in Flushing Meadows, N.Y. on April 17, 1964.  (Photo: Ford)View Fullscreen The 1965 Ford Mustang hardtop on display in the Ford Pavilion at the 1964 New York World's Fair where the car was introduced April 17, 1964.  (Photo: Ford)View Fullscreen 1964 Ford Mustang ad from the New York World's Fair.  (Photo: Ford)View Fullscreen Ad photo for the 1965-model Mustang: By June 1964, Mustang has three body styles -- fastback, hardtop and convertible -- with four engine options.  (Photo: Ford)View Fullscreen A 2010 photo of Gail Wise, the first known retail buyer of a Mustang, with her 1965 convertible bought in Chicago. She still owns it and it has been restored.  (Photo: Ford)View Fullscreen Another view of the 1965 Ford Mustang convertible  (Photo: Ford)View Fullscreen 1965 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350: Carroll Shelby helped establish Mustang�� performance credentials by developing the 1965 Mustang Shelby GT350. 
• [By James R. Healey and Fred Meier] Ford Motor's F-150 continued a sales boom in 2013. Ford's F-series lineup was the best-selling vehicle of any kind in the U.S. for 32nd consecutive year. An F-150 Tremor sport truck model is shown.(Photo: Ford)

Top 10 Life Sciences Companies To Buy For 2014: Boise Cascade Co (BCC)

Boise Cascade Company, formerly Boise Cascade, L.L.C., incorporated on July 26, 2004, is a vertically-integrated wood products manufacturer and building materials distributor with operations throughout the United States and Canada. The Company operates in two segments: wood products segment and our building materials distribution segment. The Company manufactures engineered wood products, plywood, lumber, and particleboard and distributes a line of building materials, including wood products manufactured by the Company�� wood products division. The Company�� products are used primarily in new residential construction, residential repair and remodeling projects, light commercial construction and industrial applications. In September 2013, the Company announced that it has completed the acquisition of Wood Resources LLC's Southeast Operations, which include Chester Wood Products LLC and Moncure Plywood LLC.

Wood Products

The Company�� wood products segment is a manufacturer of engineered wood products (EWP) and plywood in North America. It manufactures LVL, I-joists and laminated beams and also produces plywood, studs, particleboard and ponderosa pine lumber, a lumber grade sold primarily to manufacturers of specialty wood windows, moldings and doors. Most of its wood products are sold to wholesalers, including its building materials distribution segment, home improvement centers, retail lumberyards and industrial converters.

Building Materials Distribution

The Company is a wholesale distributor of building materials in the United States. Its nationwide network of 31 strategically-located distribution facilities sells a line of building materials, including EWP, oriented strand board OSB), plywood, lumber and general line items, such as framing accessories, composite decking, roofing, siding and insulation. It also operates a truss manufacturing plant located in Maine. Its products are used in the construction of new residential housing,! including single-family, multi-family and manufactured homes, repair and remodeling projects and the construction of light industrial and commercial buildings.

The Company markets its products primarily to retail lumberyards and home improvement centers that then sell the products to end customers, who are typically professional builders, independent contractors and homeowners engaged in residential construction projects. It also markets its products to industrial converters, which use its products to assemble windows, doors, agricultural bins and other products used in industrial and repair and remodel applications. The Company has more than 4,500 customers, which includes a diverse mix of wholesalers, home improvement centers, retail lumberyards and industrial converters. The Company supplies its customers through 49 located facilities (consisting of 18 manufacturing facilities and 31 distribution facilities).

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Blake Bos]

  Investors searching for a lucrative investment to capitalize on a continued rebound in housing may have found the process to be quite precarious, as many companies have experienced significant run-ups in stock price. While most company valuations appear frothy,�Boise Cascade (NYSE: BCC  ) �stands out as a possible cheaper alternative. In the video below, analyst Blake Bos shows you how to ask the right questions when deciding to invest and draws some valuable comparisons to competitor�Weyerhaeuser� (NYSE: WY  ) .�

• [By Eric Volkman]

  A sizable block of Boise Cascade (NYSE: BCC  ) stock is to land in new hands if a secondary common stock offering goes as planned. The company announced that major shareholder Boise Cascade Holdings will sell 10 million shares in an underwritten issue, at a price of $27.00 apiece. Additionally, the offering's underwriters have been granted a 30-day purchase option for up to an additional 1.5-million shares at the same price, minus underwriting discounts.

• [By Jon C. Ogg]

  Boise Cascade LLC (NYSE: BCC) was raised to Buy from Neutral at D.A. Davidson.

  Embraer�S.A. (NYSE: ERJ) was initiated as Outperform at RBC Capital Markets.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Shares of Rayonier have plunged 15% to $46.97 at 12.36 p.m., but its fall doesn’t seem to have damaged other timber companies. Weyerhaeuser (WY) has gained 3.7% to $31.43 after it reported a profit of 27 cents today, beating estimates of 21 cents. Plum Creek Timber (PCL) is little changed at $49.47 and Boise Cascade (BCC) has risen 1.1% to $27.83.