Top 5 Oil Companies To Watch For 2014

SandRidge Energy (NYSE: SD  ) is emerging as one of the more intriguing oil and gas producers in the nation. It has basically sold everything it owned in order to concentrate on one big opportunity. Now, its building the company around the oil coming from the Mississippi Lime formation.�

When I describe SandRidge as intriguing, I do so for good reason.�You have boardroom drama with an embattled CEO, tremendous liquids growth opportunities, and a company that's selling for a compelling discount to its net asset value. The�parallels�to Chesapeake Energy are rather striking, and the opportunity is as good, if not better, due to the higher ratio of liquids to gas production.�

The company has undergone a lot of changes over the past year. That's why I recently updated a premium report�on the company. With so many changes, and more on the way, this is a company that investors need to keep close tabs on. �

Hot Value Companies For 2015: Magnum Hunter Resources Corp (MHR)

Magnum Hunter Resources Corporation (Magnum Hunter), incorporated in June 1997, is an independent oil and gas company engaged in the exploration for and the exploitation, acquisition, development and production of crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids, primarily in the states of West Virginia, Ohio, Texas, Kentucky and North Dakota and in Saskatchewan, Canada. The Company is also engaged in midstream operations, including the gathering of natural gas through its ownership and operation of a gas gathering system in West Virginia and Ohio, named as its Eureka Hunter Pipeline System. The Company�� portfolio includes Marcellus/Utica Shales in West Virginia and Ohio, the Eagle Ford Shale in south Texas, and the Williston Basin/Bakken Shale in North Dakota and Saskatchewan, Canada. As of December 31, 2011, its proved reserves were 44.9 million barrels of oil equivalent and were approximately 48% oil. In August 2012, the Company closed on the acquisition of 1,885 net mineral acres located in Atascosa County, Texas. With this acquisition, the Company has approximately 7,278 gross acres and 5,212 net acres located in Atascosa County, Texas.

On May 3, 2011, it acquired NuLoch Resources Inc. In April 2011, Triad Hunter, its wholly owned subsidiary, acquired certain Marcellus Shale oil and gas properties located in Wetzel County, West Virginia. On April 13, 2011, it acquired NGAS Resources, Inc. In February 2012, Triad Hunter acquired leasehold mineral interests located primarily in Noble County, Ohio.

Eagle Ford Shale Properties

Eagle Ford Shale is located in Gonzales, Lavaca, Atascosa and Fayette Counties, Texas. The Eagle Ford Shale properties are held primarily by its wholly owned subsidiary, Eagle Ford Hunter, Inc. As of February 27, 2012, the Company�� Eagle Ford Shale properties included approximately 54,000 gross (24,000 net) acres primarily targeting the Eagle Ford Shale oil window, principally in Gonzales and Lavaca Counties, Texas. As of December 31! , 2011, proved reserves attributable to the Eagle Ford Shale properties were 5.4 million barrels of oil equivalent, of which 94% were oil and 24% were classified as proved developed producing, and 5.4 million barrels of oil equivalent. As of February 27, 2012, its Eagle Ford Shale properties included 18 gross (10 net) productive wells, of which it operated 14.

Williston Basin Properties

The Williston Basin is spread across North Dakota, Montana and parts of southern Canada. The basin produces oil and natural gas from a range of producing horizons, including the Madison, Bakken, Three Forks/Sanish and Red River formations. As of February 27, 2012, the Company�� Williston Basin properties included approximately 413,003 gross (122,561 net) acres. As of December 31, 2011, proved reserves attributable to the Williston Basin properties were 8.9 million barrels of oil equivalent, of which 94% were oil and 42% were classified as proved developed producing, and 8.8 million barrels of oil equivalent. As of February 27, 2012, the Williston Basin properties included approximately 288 gross (98.9 net) productive wells.

The Williston Hunter United States property acreage is located in Divide and Burke Counties, North Dakota, with its primary production from the Bakken Shale and Three Forks/Sanish formations. As of February 27, 2012, its Williston Hunter United States properties included approximately 36,355 net acres in the Williston Basin in North Dakota. As of February 27, 2012, the Williston Hunter United States properties included approximately 105 gross (9.5 net) productive wells. The Company�� Williston Hunter Canada property is located primarily in Enchant, near Vauxhall, Alberta, Canada, at Balsam near Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada and at Tableland, near Estevan, Saskatchewan, Canada. As of February 27 2012, the Williston Hunter Canada properties included approximately 107,270 gross acres (79,693 net acres). At December 31, 2011, the Williston Hunter Canada prope! rties inc! luded approximately 65 gross productive wells. As of December 31, 2011, Williston Hunter Canada had 41,797 gross (32,944 net) acres of land that is prospective for Bakken and Three Forks/Sanish oil in the Tableland field. The Enchant property consists of 10,720 acres. As of December 31, 2011, 48 wells (44.1 net) were producing on this acreage. As of December 31, 2011, the Company owned approximately 43% average interest in 15 fields located in the Williston Basin in North Dakota consisting of 151 wells, and approximately 15,000 gross (6,450 net) acres.

Appalachian Basin Properties

The properties acquired in the NGAS acquisition are held by its wholly owned subsidiary, Magnum Hunter Production, Inc. As of February 27, 2012, its Appalachian Basin properties included a total of approximately 484,412 gross (412,323 net) acres, located primarily in the Marcellus Shale, Utica Shale and southern Appalachian Basin. At December 31, 2011, proved reserves attributable to its Appalachian Basin properties were 29.9 million barrels of oil equivalent, of which 27% were oil and 59% were classified as proved developed producing, and 30.2 million barrels of oil equivalent. As of February 27, 2012, the Appalachian Basin properties included approximately 3,112 gross (2,257 net) productive wells, of which we operated approximately 88%.

As of February 27, 2012, it had approximately 58,426 net acres in the Marcellus Shale area of West Virginia and Ohio. The Company�� Marcellus Shale property is located principally in Tyler, Pleasants, Doddridge, Wetzel and Lewis Counties, West Virginia and in Washington, Monroe and Noble Counties, Ohio. As of February 27, 2012, the Company operated 33 vertical Marcellus Shale wells and 16 horizontal Marcellus Shale wells. As of February 27, 2012, approximately 63% of its leases in the Marcellus Shale area were held by production.

Other Properties

The Company�� East Chalkley field is located in Cameron Parish, Louisiana.! The fiel! d consists of approximately 714 gross acres (443 net acres). This developmental project is an exploitation of bypassed oil reserves remaining in a natural gas field located at depths between 9,300 and 9,400 feet. As of February 27, 2012, the Company operated the East Chalkley field and owned an approximately 62% working interest and an approximately 42.7% net revenue interest in the field. Other properties of the Company are located in Nacogdoches, Colorado, Lavaca, Bee, Fayette and Wharton Counties, Texas and Desoto Parish, Louisiana. As of February 27, 2012, these properties consisted of an aggregate of approximately 7,050 gross (1,188 net) acres.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Matt DiLallo]

  One such company that's hated by investors is Magnum Hunter Resources (NYSE: MHR  ) . As of two months ago, investors had sold short 20% of shares outstanding; however, that has increased to a staggering 32% of shares outstanding as of April 15. With shares down by a third over the past month, it would appear that the shorts are right about this company. Let's drill down into what happened and see what investors can expect.

Top 5 Oil Companies To Watch For 2014: Equal Energy Ltd (EQU)

Equal Energy Ltd. (Equal), incorporated on April 8, 2010, is an exploration and production company with oil and gas properties located principally in Alberta, and Oklahoma. Equal is engaged in the exploration for, and acquisition, development and production of, petroleum and natural gas with operations in western Canada and Oklahoma. During the year ended December 31, 2011, production averaged 10,142 barrel of oil equivalent per day and was consisted of approximately 47% natural gas, 23% crude oil and 30% natural gas liquids (NGLs). Equal Energy Production Partnership (EEPP) holds all of Equal�� Canadian oil and gas properties and associated assets. Equal and Equal Energy Partner Corp. (EEPC) are the partners in EEPP and respectively hold a 99.9957% and 0.0043% interest in EEPP. Equal Energy US Holdings Inc. (EEUSHI) is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Equal. EEUSHI holds all of Equal�� Oklahoma oil and gas properties and associated assets through its wholly owned subsidiary, Equal Energy US Inc. On January 31, 2012, it sold Primate. During 2011, it sold non-core assets in Alberta and British Columbia. On October 15, 2012, it sold the Halkirk/Alliance/Wainwright/Clair Assets (HAWC) and all remaining Canadian non-producing assets. Effective October 1, 2012, the Company sold its Lochend Cardium assets.

The Company�� production comes from both its Canadian and United States based operations. The Canadian core areas lie in western Canada and include assets primarily in the province of Alberta. The United States area assets are located mainly in the Grant, Jefferson, Lincoln and Logan counties of Oklahoma. It also has an inventory of minor producing assets, minor royalty interests and various exploration and exploitation prospects on undeveloped lands in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Oklahoma.

Alberta

The Company�� assets include a 100% working interest in 7,360 gross (4,260 net) acres of land (1,220 net undeveloped acres), 16 producing wells, six water inj! ection wells, and a interest in an oil blending facility. Natural gas is conserved and processed at the Encana Sexsmith gas plant. Oil is delivered into the Pembina Peace Pipeline System. Oil and natural gas production is primarily from the Doe Creek (Dunvegan) formation. There is also natural gas production from one Charlie Lake well. As of December 31, 2011, average working interest production was 227 barrel per day of oil and 316 million cubic feet per day of natural gas.

Lochend is located approximately 20 kilometers northwest of Calgary. At Lochend, the Company holds 8,653 gross (7,996 net) acres of land with 5,970 net undeveloped acres, and 11 producing wells. Oil is produced into single or multi-well batteries and trucked to terminal facilities. Half of the solution gas is conserved at the TriOil Shiningbank gas plant by the third quarter majority of the gas should be conserved. Oil and natural gas production is from the Cardium formation. As of December 31, 2011, average working interest production was 330 barrel per day of oil and 69 thousand cubic feet per day of gas. The McDaniel Report has assigned total proved plus probable reserves of 1,621 thousand barrels of crude oil, 2.6 billion cubic feet of natural gas, and 64.8 thousand barrels of NGL to the Lochend property.

Oklahoma

In Oklahoma the principal producing horizon is the Hunton formation. The Hunton is a carbonate rock formation. As of December 31, 2011, average Hunton production in Oklahoma was 29.9 million cubic feet of natural gas per day of natural gas and 3,862 barrels of oil per day of crude oil and NGLs. The Haas Report has attributed total proved and probable reserves of 499 thousand barrels of crude oil, and 108 billion cubic feet of natural gas and 13,931 thousand barrels of NGLs to the Hunton.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Leading and Lagging Sectors
  In trading on Friday, energy shares were relative leaders, up on the day by about 0.06 percent. Among the leading sector stocks, gains came from Equal Energy (NYSE: EQU) and Niska Gas Storage Partners LLC (NYSE: NKA). Financial sector was the leading decliner in the US market today.

Top 5 Oil Companies To Watch For 2014: QEP Midstream Partners LP (QEPM)

QEP Midstream Partners, LP (QEP), incorporated on April 19, 2013, is a limited partnership formed by QEP Resources, Inc. to owns, operates, acquires and develops midstream energy assets. The Company�� primary assets consist of ownership interests in four gathering systems and two Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)-regulated pipelines, through which it provides natural gas and crude oil gathering and transportation services. The Company�� assets are located in, or are within close proximity to, the Green River Basin located in Wyoming and Colorado, the Uinta Basin located in eastern Utah, and the portion of the Williston Basin located in North Dakota. As of December 31, 2012, the Company�� gathering systems had 1,475 miles of pipeline and an average gross throughput of 1.8 million british thermal units per hour of natural gas and 18,224 barrels of crude oil.

Green River System

The Company�� Green River System, located in western Wyoming, consists of three complimentary systems owned by Green River Gathering, Rendezvous Gas and Rendezvous Pipeline and gathers natural gas production from the Pinedale, Jonah and Moxa Arch fields. In addition to gathering natural gas, the system also gathers and stabilizes crude oil production from the Pinedale Field, transports the stabilized crude oil to an interstate pipeline interconnect, and gathers and handles produced and flowback water associated with well completion activities in the Pinedale Field. The Green River Gathering assets are comprised of 405 miles of natural gas gathering pipelines, 61 miles of crude oil gathering pipelines, 81 miles of water gathering pipelines and a 60-mile, FERC-regulated crude oil pipeline located in the Green River Basin. The Rendezvous Gas assets consist of three parallel, 103-mile high-pressure natural gas pipelines, with 1,032 million cubic feet per day of throughput capacity and 7,800 basic hydrogen peroxide of gas compression. Rendezvous Pipeline�� sole asset is a 21-mile, FERC-regu! lated natural gas transmission pipeline that provides gas transportation services from QEP�� Blacks Fork processing complex in southwest Wyoming to an interconnect with the Kern River Pipeline.

Vermillion Gathering System

The Vermillion Gathering System consists of gas gathering and compression assets located in southern Wyoming, northwest Colorado and northeast Utah, which, when combined, include 454 miles of low-pressure, gas gathering pipelines and 23,197 basic hydrogen peroxide of gas compression. The Vermillion Gathering System is primarily supported by life-of-reserves and long-term, fee-based gas gathering agreements with minimum volume commitments, which are designed to ensure that it will generate a certain amount of revenue over the life of the gathering agreement by collecting either gathering fees for actual throughput or payments to cover any shortfall. The primary customers on our Vermillion Gathering System include Questar, Samson Resources Corporation (Samson Resources), QEP and Chevron USA, Inc. (Chevron).

Three Rivers Gathering System

Three Rivers Gathering is a joint venture between QEP and Ute Energy Midstream Holdings, LLC (Ute Energy) that was formed to transport natural gas gathered by Uintah Basin Field Services, L.L.C., an indirectly owned subsidiary of QEP (Uintah Basin Field Services), and other third-party volumes to gas processing facilities owned by QEP and third parties. The Three Rivers Gathering System consists of gas gathering assets located in the Uinta Basin in northeast Utah, including approximately 50 miles of gathering pipeline and 4,735 basic hydrogen peroxide of gas compression.

Williston Gathering System

The Williston Gathering System is a crude oil and natural gas gathering system located in the Williston Basin in McLean County, North Dakota. The Williston Gathering System includes 17 miles of gas gathering pipelines, 17 miles of oil gathering pipelines 239 basic hydrogen peroxide o! f gas com! pression, and a crude oil and natural gas handling facility, located primarily on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation.

The Company competes with Enterprise Products Partners, L.P., Western Gas and The Williams Companies, Inc.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dimitra DeFotis]

  But things aren’t all bad. A spate of initial public offerings traded at nice prices Friday. Among them was QEP Midstream Partners (QEPM), an energy master limited partnership. (Press release here). More on IPOs from Bloomberg here.

• [By Lauren Pollock]

  QEP Resources Inc.(QEP) plans to separate its midstream business, QEP Field Services Co., into a separate entity, including its interest in QEP Midstream Partners LP(QEPM).

• [By Jon C. Ogg]

  QEP Midstream Partners L.P. (NYSE: QEPM) was started as Buy at Janney Capital, and note that four other firms started coverage earlier this week.

  ServiceNow Inc. (NYSE: NOW) was started as Buy with a $55 price target at Canaccord Genuity.

Top 5 Oil Companies To Watch For 2014: Total SA (FP)

Total SA is a France-based integrated international oil and gas company. It is an integrated international oil and gas company and a chemicals manufacturer. Total engages in all aspects of the petroleum industry, including Upstream operations (oil exploration and production, together with activities related to natural gas), Refining & Chemicals (refining, petrochemicals, speciality chemicals, crude oil trading and shipping) and Marketing & Services (focused on the supply and sale of petroleum products, together with activities related to renewable energy). In April 12, 2013, it inaugurated the partnership with Veolia Environnement SA the Osilub plant. In July 2013, it sold its TIGF (Transport et Infrastructures Gaz France), gas transport and storage business. In September 2013, it announced the transfer to The National Gas Company of Trinidad &Tobago of all of its E&P assets in Trinidad through the sale of Total E&P Trinidad B.V and Elf Exploration Trinidad B.V. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sofia Horta e Costa]

  Lloyds dropped 3.5 percent after the U.K. government sold a 3.2 billion-pound ($5.1 billion) stake in the lender. Continental and Galp Energia SGPS SA fell at least 2.5 percent as investors sold shares in the companies. Total SA (FP) retreated 1.3 percent following a report that Groupe Bruxelles Lambert SA may dispose of its 4 percent stake in the French oil producer.

• [By Namitha Jagadeesh]

  Telecom Italia (TIT) SpA gained 1.7 percent as Telefonica SA agreed to increase its stake in the phone operator. Nokia Oyj added 2.4 percent after a U.S. judge found that HTC Corp. violated two of its patents. Total (FP) SA climbed 2.6 percent after Barclays Plc raised its rating on the oil producer. Burckhardt Compression Holding AG slid 7.3 percent after saying fiscal first-half net income will decline from the year-earlier period.

Hot Cheapest Companies To Own In Right Now

The bears are back on Wall Street as recent commentary from several Fed officials has served to remind investors that policymakers are preparing to scale back on stimulus as soon as this September. While a reduction in bond-repurchases should be seen as confirmation of the domestic recovery moving on track, investors are still worried about meaningful economic growth, especially after last Friday�� lackluster employment report .

Nonetheless, the bulls remain very much in the driver�� seat and the product development front has remained very active throughout the summer months. Global X expanded its lineup of niche strategies with the launch of the cheapest MLP exchange-traded fund yet: the MLP & Energy Infrastructure ETF (MLPX).

MLPX Takes the Lead in Race to Rock-Bottom FeesThe new ETF expands the firm�� reach in the MLP space, which continues to hold tremendous appeal among yield-hungry investors. MLPX boasts the reputation as the cheapest offering in the MLPs ETFdb Category, featuring a price tag of 0.45% compared to the category average of 0.80%. Global X �� MLPA also sports a 0.45% expense fee, although there is an important distinction that must be made here .

Best High Dividend Companies To Watch In Right Now: Renewable Energy Group Inc (REGI)

Renewable Energy Group, Inc., incorporated in August 2006, is a producer of biodiesel in the United States. The Company is engaged in each aspect of biodiesel production, from acquiring feedstock, managing construction and operating biodiesel production facilities to marketing, selling and distributing biodiesel and its co-products. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company sold approximately 150 million gallons of biodiesel. As of December 31, 2011, the Company operated a network of six biodiesel plants, with an aggregate production capacity of 212 million gallons per year. On July 12, 2011, the Company acquired SoyMor Biodiesel, LLC (SoyMor), which has 30 million gallons per year biodiesel production facility in Albert Lea, Minnesota. In January 2012, it exercised its option to purchase the 60 million gallons per year facility in Seneca, Illinois, which it operated under a lease. In August 2013, the Company acquired biodiesel plant in Mason City, Iowa. In January 2014, Renewable Energy Group Inc acquired renewable chemical technology developer LS9, Inc.

The Company produces its biodiesel from a range of feedstocks, including inedible animal fat, used cooking oil and inedible corn oil. It also produces a smaller portion of its biodiesel from virgin vegetable oils. It owns biodiesel production facilities with capacities consisting of 12 million gallons per year facility in Ralston, Iowa; 35 million gallons per year facility near Houston, Texas, or the Houston facility; 45 million gallons per year facility in Danville, Illinois, and 30 million gallons per year facility in Newton, Iowa.

The Company competes with Archer Daniels Midland Company, Cargill, Incorporated, Louis Dreyfus Commodities Group, Ag Processing Inc., Mansfield, Astra, Gavilon, Tenaska, ED&F Man, Dynamic Fuels, LLC, Syntroleum Corporation, Tyson Foods, Inc., Diamond Green Diesel, LLC and Darling International.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Travis Hoium]

  What: Shares of biodiesel maker Renewable Energy Group (NASDAQ: REGI  ) jumped 15% today after the company reported earnings.

  So what: The company sold 39 million gallons of biodiesel during the quarter, up 14% from a year ago, and net income rose from $14 million, to $46 million. On a per share basis earnings were $1.25 versus an expectation of $0.51 from Wall Street.�

• [By Roberto Pedone]

  Renewable Energy Group (REGI) is a producer of biodiesel in U.S. This stock closed up 11.5% at $15.59 in Wednesday's trading session.

  Wednesday's Volume: 1.59 million
  
  Three-Month Average Volume: 634,616
  
  Volume % Change: 235%

  From a technical perspective, REGI exploded higher here right off its 50-day moving average of $13.83 with heavy upside volume. This move pushed shares of REGI into breakout and all-time high territory, since the stock flirted with some near-term overhead resistance levels at $14.75 to its former all-time high at $15.71. At last check, REGI closed near the highs of the day at $15.75 and volume was well above its three-month average action of 634,616 shares.

  Traders should now look for long-biased trades in REGI as long as it's trending above its 50-day at $13.83 and then once it sustains a move or close above its new all-time high of $15.75 with volume that's near or above 634,616 shares. If we get that move soon, then REGI will set up to enter new all-time high territory, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that move are $20 to $22.

• [By Maxx Chatsko]

  The third well-researched pick was Renewable Energy Group (NASDAQ: REGI  ) . The nation's largest biodiesel producer was a recently public company at the time and probably got caught in the punishment unleashed upon industrial biotech companies that failed to live up to their early promises. I just didn't think it was justified for REG. Biodiesel is produced in a relatively simple process. Better yet, the company was growing and poised to continue growing with capacity additions looming. Investors finally caught on after REG notched its first year with $1 billion in sales in 2012, and sent shares 120% higher in 2013.

• [By John Udovich]
  Syntroleum Corp. A producer of synthetic fuels from a wide variety of feedstock, from natural gas to fats, oils and greases, Syntroleum Corp uses the�Fischer-Tropsch process to produce significant amounts of synthetic diesel and jet fuel as well as its Bio-Synfining庐�technology to produce renewable synthetic fuels with the same superior qualities. Back in December, it was announced that Renewable Energy Group Inc (NASDAQ: REGI) would acquire substantially all of the assets of Syntroleum Corp with the terms of the transaction calling for SYNM to receive 3,796,000 shares of REG common stock (subject to reduction in the event that the aggregate market value of the REG common stock to be issued would exceed $49 million or if the cash transferred to REG is less than $3.2 million). The CEO of the Renewable Energy Group commented:

  ��ombining Syntroleum�� renewable and synthetic fuel technologies with REG�� expertise in biodiesel production, sales, marketing and logistics should be a positive outcome for investors in both companies. This will help us grow our advanced biofuel business, enhance our intellectual property portfolio, expand our geographic footprint and launch REG into new customer segments.��/p>

Hot Cheapest Companies To Own In Right Now: CVR Partners LP(UAN)

CVR Partners, LP engages in the production of nitrogen fertilizers including ammonia and urea ammonium nitrate. The company was incorporated in 2007 and is based in Sugar Land, Texas. CVR Partners, LP operates as a subsidiary of CVR Energy, Inc.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Maxx Chatsko]

  Nitrogen fertilizer producer CVR Partners (NYSE: UAN  ) just cannot catch a break lately. It was pushed aside during Carl Icahn's takeover bid for parent CVR Energy last year. A biannual turnaround at its sole facility at the end of 2012 pushed down onstream factors on its production lines and made sales, income, and dividend distributions appear weak, albeit artificially. And although a recent divestment from one of its holding companies seemed to spook investors earlier this spring, the number of shares outstanding was not affected. In the following video, Fool.com contributor Maxx Chatsko explains why he's adding to his personal position in the company.

• [By Neha Chamaria]

  To take advantage of UAN's better pricing, CF smartly cut down on urea to scale up UAN production during the last quarter. The capability to flex production mix according to market conditions is among CF's biggest strengths. UAN is a high-margin product, so focusing on it makes sense. In its last quarter, UAN specialist CVR Partners (NYSE: UAN  ) converted 72% of ammonia produced to UAN. If that sounds incredible, there's more. From 80,700 tons of ammonia, CVR churned out a whopping 196,200 tons of UAN.

Hot Cheapest Companies To Own In Right Now: Polaris Industries Inc. (PII)

Polaris Industries Inc. designs, engineers, and manufactures off-road vehicles. It offers all terrain vehicles and side-by-side vehicles for recreational and utility use; snowmobiles; and on-road vehicles, including motorcycles and low emission vehicles. The company also provides replacement parts and accessories, including winches, bumper/brushguards, plows, racks, mowers, tires, pull-behinds, cabs, cargo box accessories, tracks, and oil for off-road vehicles; covers, traction products, reverse kits, electric starters, tracks, bags, windshields, oil, and lubricants for snowmobiles; and saddle bags, handlebars, backrests, exhaust, windshields, seats, oil, and various chrome accessories for motorcycles. Polaris Industries sells its products through dealers and distributors primarily under the RANGER, RANGER RZR, RANGER Crew, Victory Vision, Victory Cross Roads, Polaris RUSH, and Cross Country trade marks. In addition, it markets helmets, jackets, bibs and pants, leathers, a nd hats through dealers and distributors, as well as online under the Polaris brand name. The company principally operates in the United States and Canada. Polaris Industries Inc. was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in Medina, Minnesota.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Seth Jayson]

  Polaris Industries (NYSE: PII  ) reported earnings on July 23. Here are the numbers you need to know.

  The 10-second takeaway
  For the quarter ended June 30 (Q2), Polaris Industries met expectations on revenues and beat slightly on earnings per share.

• [By Rich Smith]

  The Department of Defense awarded a total of 16 contracts Tuesday, worth a combined $2.7 billion. One award, however, stood out from the pack both for its sheer size and the unusual identity of the recipient: Polaris Industries (NYSE: PII  ) , a company better known for its snowmobiles and ATVs than for its military hardware.

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  Yet the March quarter is traditionally a slow period for Arctic Cat because of its concentration on snowmobiles. The company also makes all-terrain vehicles in an attempt to diversify its seasonal exposure, but rival Polaris (NYSE: PII  ) has done a far better job of building out an all-season lineup of vehicles that includes not only snowmobiles and ATVs but also motorcycles. For its part, Polaris reported record first-quarter sales late last month, and a rise of more than 200% for its snowmobile segment's revenues suggests that Arctic Cat investors should expect solid sales as well.

• [By Lawrence Meyers]

  Thus, I�� not the primary customer for Polaris Industries (PII).

  However, plenty of people would find such an activity thrilling … and the equipment behind such an activity makes up a�surprisingly robust sector of the economy.

Hot Cheapest Companies To Own In Right Now: Expedia Inc.(EXPE)

Expedia, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as an online travel company in the United States and internationally. It provides travel products and services to leisure and corporate travelers, offline retail travel agents, and travel service providers through a portfolio of brands, including Expedia.com, hotels.com, Hotwire.com, Expedia Affiliate Network, Classic Vacations, Expedia Local Expert, Expedia CruiseShipCenters, Egencia, eLong, Inc., and Venere Net SpA. The company?s travel offerings consist of airline tickets, hotel rooms, car rentals, destination services, cruises, and package travel provided by various commercial airlines, lodging properties, car rental companies, destination service providers, cruise lines, and other travel product and service companies on a stand-alone and package basis. It also facilitates the booking of hotel rooms, airline seats, car rentals, and destination services from its travel suppliers; and acts as an agent in the transa ction, passing reservations booked by its travelers to the relevant travel provider. The company was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Bellevue, Washington.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Hibah Yousuf]

  While Priceline shares are not cheap, they're not terribly overvalued either for being the leader in online travel. Shares are trading around 21 times 2014 earnings estimates. That makes it more expensive than rival Expedia (EXPE), but the stock is trading at a discount compared to Orbitz (OWW) and TripAdvisor (TRIP).

• [By Sofia Horta e Costa]

  Companies like Expedia Inc. (EXPE), which provides online travel booking services, and Arcadis NV (ARCAD), a Dutch designer of bridges and dikes, are likely to increase profit at a faster pace than larger firms during an improving economy, Duret said. Smaller companies are also less leveraged, with U.S. mid-caps holding 46 percent less debt per share than firms listed on the S&P 500, data compiled by Bloomberg show.

• [By Bryan Murphy]

  If you're reading this, then you likely already know that Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) has thrown its hat all the way into the online travel arrangement ring, deciding to go head-to-head with the likes of Expedia Inc. (NASDAQ:EXPE), Priceline Group Inc. (NASDAQ:PCLN), and Tripadvisor Inc. (NASDAQ:TRIP).... three of Google's best advertising customers. While the assessments of the foray into travel-booking have ranged from fairly irrelevant to concerning for the big three of the internet-based travel agencies, the acquisition of Room 77's hotel-booking platform may be a far bigger game-changer - and a far bigger problem for TRIP, EXPE, and PCLN - than most investors may realize.

Hot Cheapest Companies To Own In Right Now: United Rentals Inc.(URI)

United Rentals, Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates as an equipment rental company. It offers approximately 3,000 classes of equipment for rent to customers comprising construction and industrial companies, manufacturers, utilities, municipalities, homeowners, and government entities. The company?s fleet of rental equipment includes general construction and industrial equipment, such as backhoes, skid-steer loaders, forklifts, earthmoving equipment, and material handling equipment; aerial work platforms consisting of boom lifts and scissor lifts; and general tools and light equipment, including pressure washers, water pumps, generators, heaters, and power tools. Its fleet also comprise trench safety equipment, such as trench shields, aluminum hydraulic shoring systems, slide rails, crossing plates, construction lasers, and line testing equipment for underground work; and power and heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment, which consists of portable diesel generators, electrical distribution equipment, and temperature control equipment, including heating and cooling equipment. In addition, the company sells new and used equipment, as well as related contractor supplies, parts, and service; and offers repair, maintenance, and rental protection services. Further, it develops and markets RENTALMAN, an enterprise resource planning application for equipment rental companies; and INFOMANAGER, which offers solution for creating a business intelligence system. As of January 1, 2012, the company had an integrated network of 529 rental locations in the United States and Canada. United Rentals, Inc. was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in Greenwich, Connecticut.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Monica Gerson]

  United Rentals (NYSE: URI) is estimated to post its Q3 earnings at $1.60 per share on revenue of $1.32 billion.

  eBay (NASDAQ: EBAY) is projected to post its Q3 earnings at $0.63 per share on revenue of $3.90 billion.

Hot Cheapest Companies To Own In Right Now: General Growth Properties Inc. (GGP)

General Growth Properties, Inc is an equity real estate investment trust. The firm invests in the real estate markets of the United States. It engages in owning, managing, leasing, and redeveloping high-quality regional malls. General Growth Properties, Inc was founded in 1986 and is based in Chicago, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jon C. Ogg]

  BMO Capital Markets made a REIT switch in its coverage: It raised Simon Property Group (NYSE: SPG) to Outperform from Market Perform based on an attractive entry point now that shares are down 20% or so from the highs, and it downgraded General Growth Properties (NYSE: GGP) to Market Perform from Outperform based on its relative valuation gap having dwindled.

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  Admittedly, Sears has had some success raising cash with outright sales of its assets. Last year, for instance, Sears sold nearly a dozen lucrative properties, including its crown-jewel Ala Moana location in Hawaii, to General Growth Properties (NYSE: GGP  ) for $270 million. As Fool contributor Adam Levine-Weinberg noted earlier today, the fact that major J.C. Penney investor Bill Ackman also has a big position in General Growth Properties boosts the odds that a potential deal will go through.

• [By Myra P. Saefong]

  After the close Monday, fourth-quarter results are due from the Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. (HIG) , which is projected to report earnings of 90 cents per share, Edwards LifeSciences Corp. (EW) , expected to post earnings per share of 82 cents and General Growth Properties Inc. (GGP) , expected to report a profit per share of 35 cents. For its first quarter, Hologic Inc. (HOLX) �is expected to post earnings per share of 31 cents.

• [By Adam Levine-Weinberg]

  I think J.C. Penney's best bet for generating cash is selling off a few of its most desirable stores. This is not a palatable strategy, as it means losing some of the highest-potential stores, but it could produce cash without severely diluting the interests of J.C. Penney shareholders or adding interest expense that J.C. Penney cannot afford. For example, Sears Holdings,�another struggling department store giant, was able to sell 11 stores to General Growth Properties (NYSE: GGP  ) for $270 million last year. Bill Ackman's Pershing Square hedge fund happens to be a major shareholder in General Growth.� This could open up an opportunity for J.C. Penney to pursue a similar deal -- if any of its real estate would be sufficiently valuable to General Growth.

2 Stocks Spiking on Unusual Volume

DELAFIELD, Wis. (Stockpickr) -- Professional traders running mutual funds and hedge funds don't just look at a stock's price moves; they also track big changes in volume activity. Often when above-average volume moves into an equity, it precedes a large spike in volatility.

>>5 Rocket Stocks Worth Buying Now

Major moves in volume can signal unusual activity, such as insider buying or selling -- or buying or selling by "superinvestors."

Unusual volume can also be a major signal that hedge funds and momentum traders are piling into a stock ahead of a catalyst. These types of traders like to get in well before a large spike, so it's always a smart move to monitor unusual volume. That said, remember to combine trend and price action with unusual volume. Put them all together to help you decipher the next big trend for any stock.

>>5 Stocks Set to Soar on Bullish Earnings

With that in mind, let's take a look at several stocks rising on unusual volume recently.

HollySys Automation Technologies

HollySys Automation Technologies (HOLI) provides automation and control technologies and products to customers in industrial, railway, subway, nuclear power, building retrofit and mechanical and electronic industries primarily in the People's Republic China, Hong Kong, Southeast Asia and the Middle East. This stock closed up 5.4% at $21.54 in Monday's trading session.

Monday's Volume: 742,000

Three-Month Average Volume: 404,003

Volume % Change: 81%

From a technical perspective, HOLI ripped sharply higher here and broke out above some key near-term overhead resistance levels at $20.50 to its 52-week high at $21.34 with strong upside volume. This breakout pushed shares of HOLI above the upper-end of its recent sideways trading chart pattern, which is bullish price action. Market players should now look for a continuation move higher in the short-term if HOLI manages to take out Monday's high and its new 52-week high of $21.66 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in HOLI as long as it's trending above Monday's low of $20.60 or above $19.50 and then once it sustains a move or close above $21.66 with volume that this near or above 404,003 shares. If that move materializes soon, then HOLI will set up to enter new 52-week-high territory, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that move are $25 to $30.

Cigna

Cigna (CI), a health services organization, provides insurance and related products and services in the U.S. and internationally. This stock closed up 5.4% at $83.73 in Monday's trading session.

Monday's Volume: 5.91 million

Three-Month Average Volume: 2.11 million

Volume % Change: 223%

From a technical perspective, CI spiked sharply higher here right off its 200-day moving average of $80.11 and back above its 50-day moving average of $81.02 with strong upside volume. This stock recently formed a double bottom chart pattern at $76.41 to $76.79. Since forming that bottom, shares of CI have ripped sharply higher and it's now quickly moving within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade. That trade will hit if CI manages to take out Monday's high of $84.28 to some more near-term overhead resistance at $84.37 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in CI as long as it's trending above its 50-day at $81.02 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that's near or above 2.11 million shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then CI will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $88 to its 52-week high at $90.63.

To see more stocks rising on unusual volume, check out the Stocks Rising on Unusual Volume portfolio on Stockpickr.

-- Written by Roberto Pedone in Delafield, Wis.

RELATED LINKS:

>>3 Big Stocks Getting Big Attention

>>5 Toxic Stocks That Could Sink Your Portfolio

>>5 Big Trades to Brace for a Correction

Follow Stockpickr on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.

At the time of publication, author had no positions in stocks mentioned.

Roberto Pedone, based out of Delafield, Wis., is an independent trader who focuses on technical analysis for small- and large-cap stocks, options, futures, commodities and currencies. Roberto studied international business at the Milwaukee School of Engineering, and he spent a year overseas studying business in Lubeck, Germany. His work has appeared on financial outlets including

CNBC.com and Forbes.com. You can follow Pedone on Twitter at www.twitter.com/zerosum24 or @zerosum24.

Best Forestry Companies To Own In Right Now

Best Forestry Companies To Own In Right Now: Giant Interactive Group Inc (GA)

Giant Interactive Group Inc. (Giant Interactive), incorporated on July 26, 2006, is an online game developer and operator in China. The Company focuses on massively multiplayer online role playing games (MMORPG) that are played through networked game servers, in which a number of players are able to simultaneously connect and interact. The Company operates 11 online games, among which nine are self-developed, including the five games in the Zheng Tu (ZT) Online Series. As of December 31, 2010, its game development team consisted of 934 members, which includes product development and enhancement teams for each of its MMORPG and multiplayer online (MMO) games.

In January 2010, the Company acquired China operation licenses for Elsword and Allods Online, two three dimensional (3D) MMORPGs. In November 2010, the Company acquired Julun Network. On December 6, 2010, Zhengtu Information, Giant Network and Shanghai Juyan Network Technology jointly established Beijing Huayi Juren Information Technology Co., Ltd with 51%, 34% and 15% interest, respectively. On December 31, 2010, Zhengtu Information sold its 51% interest in Huayi Juren Information to Huayi Brothers Media Corporation. In May 2010, the Company acquired Snow Wolf.

The Company has built nationwide distribution and marketing networks to sell and market its prepaid game cards and game points. As of December 31, 2010, its distribution network consisted of more than 130 non-exclusive regional distributors and reached over 96,000 retail outlets, including Internet cafes, software stores, supermarkets, bookstores, newspaper stands and convenience stores located throughout China. The Company also sells game points through its official game Website. The Company generates its revenues from licensing of its games to third party operators in other territor! ies, including Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Russia and other Russian speaking territories. In a ddition, it has also licensed its ZT Online Green Edition to! Shenzhen Tencent Computer Systems Company Limited (Tencent), on a non-exclusive basis for operation of such game on Tencent's QQ game platform in China.

ZT Online

ZT Online is a two-dimensional, online role-playing game set in ancient China, and was the first game that was wholly developed by its internal product development team. ZT Online players assume one of five different roles, including soldiers and magicians, in 10 different kingdoms. In order to play ZT Online, players must log into one of multiple shards, or independent copies of the game world. Players can only interact with other players in his or her respective shard at any given time, and its technology enables players to travel among the different shards. The Company has developed technology for use in ZT Online that allows up to 40,000 players to play together in a single shard at any given time. ZT Online is free of charge to play. Players may purchase physical or virtual prepaid game cards and game points on its game Website or from Internet cafes and other distribution points, which allow their characters to obtain gold coins, one of the currencies used in the ZT Online game. Players may also earn silver coins for their characters when they fulfill tasks or adventures in the game world.

The game has gold coin vouchers, which are offered both as a salary to players who meet certain requirements and as a reward in connection with certain of its promotions. Players may trade silver coins for gold coins, and vice-versa, inside the game. Neither gold coins, gold coin vouchers, nor silver coins may be used by players to purchase any items or services outside of the ZT Online game. ZT Online allows players to purchase a range of virtual items and services for their characters using their gold and/or silver coins. T! hese incl! ude weapons, clothing, pets, ceremonies and rites, and others. Weapons may be repaired or replaced by purchases of certa in in-game raw materials or by payment of additional gold or! silver c! oins. ZT Online offers a play experience, where players can choose to enter the game 24 hours a day, seven days a week. ZT Online can be accessed from any location with an Internet connection. It has licensed ZT Online to Lager Network for operation in Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Malaysia and Singapore, licensed ZT Online to VinaGame for operation in Vietnam, and licensed ZT Online to Atrum Nival for operation in the Russia and other Russian speaking territories.

ZT Online PTP

ZT Online PTP is pay-to-play MMORPG game developed by the Company, and is based on the ZT Online free-to-play game. As in ZT Online, players assume one of five different roles in 10 different kingdoms. ZT Online PTP also requires players to log into one of multiple shards, while enabling players to travel between different shards. ZT Online PTP requires players to pay to play the game by purchasing physical or virtual prepaid game cards on its game Website or from Internet cafes and other distribution points. ZT Online PTP shares the same graphics and system requirements as ZT Online.

Giant Online

Giant Online is a military-themed MMORPG. Giant Online players may assume one of 14 different roles, such as detectives and spies. As with ZT Online, the game world in Giant Online is divided into a number of regions. Each player must guide his or her character to develop skills and cooperate with other players to fight against players from other regions. Players can equip their characters with a range of modern weaponry. Apart from waging war, characters can also engage in forms of in-game social interaction, such as friendship and even romance. Giant Online enables players, and groups of players, to purchase a range of virtual items and services. These virtual items and services include weap! ons, vehi! cles and pets. Giant Online is a 2.5 dimensional game, the background and items in the game are depicted three dimensionally, whil e the characters are depicted two dimensionally.

King of! Kings III

K III is a three-dimensional online role-playing experience set in a European-style magical world. Players assume the roles of K III heroes as they explore across a virtual world of forests and medieval cities and castles. K III is the third episode of the King of Kings series of MMORPGs.

My Sweetie

My Sweetie is a 2.5D free-to-play casual MMO game, which allows players to create virtual characters, raise virtual pets on their personal computer desktops and go online to interact with other virtual pet-owners. My Sweetie is the game developed pursuant to its Win@Giant program.

XT Online is a 2.5D ancient Chinese martial arts MMORPG that was developed by Snow Wolf, a game development studio. XT Online enables users to practice different schools or styles of martial arts with the goal of becoming a master, while focusing on brotherhood and trust-building with other martial artists. The Golden Land is a free-to-play medieval strategy browser game, which was developed by Juhe Network, one of its 51% owned game development studios. ZT Online II is an internally-developed free-to-play 2D sequel to its game ZT Online. ZT Online II was developed by an internal studio that it is reorganizing into Jujia Network, one of its 51% owned game development studios.

Dragon Soul is an internally developed 3D ancient Chinese MMORPG developed by Chengdu Jufan Network Technology Co. Ltd. (Jufan Network) one of its 51% owned game development studios. Spirits of the Warriors is a free-to-play 3D MMORPG based on the Three Kingdoms period of ancient Chinese history.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lauren Pollock]

  Giant Interactive Group Inc.(GA) named three of its directors to a special committee intended to review a nonbinding! proposal! to take the online-game company private. Last week, investors including former chief executive Chairman Yuzhu Shi and Baring Private Equity Asia offered to acquire the stake they don’t already own for $11.75 a share.

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Equities Trading UP
  Giant Interactive Group (NYSE: GA) shot up 12.29 percent to $11.36 after the company received a non-binding proposal to acquire the company for $11.75 per share.

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Equities Trading UP
  Giant Interactive Group (NYSE: GA) shot up 11.97 percent to $11.34 after the company received a non-binding proposal to acquire the company for $11.75 per share.

• [By Eric Volkman]

  Giant Interactive Group (NYSE: GA  ) has quickly replaced its chief executive. One week after announcing the resignation of Yuzhu Su, the company revealed that its board has tapped Wei Liu as its new CEO.

source from Top Stocks For 2015:http://www.topstocksblog.com/best-forestry-companies-to-own-in-right-now-2.html

As Online Shopping Grows So Do Growing Pains

Ross D. Franklin/APAmazon.com employee Hugh Johnson Jr. packs up a box at an Amazon.com warehouse earlier this month. Americans waited until the last minute to buy holiday gifts, but retailers weren't prepared for the spike in sales. Heavy spending in the final days of the mostly lackluster season sent sales up 3.5 percent between Nov. 1 and Tuesday, according to MasterCard Advisors SpendingPulse, which tracks payments but doesn't give dollar figures. Online shopping led the uptick, with spending up 10 percent to $38. 91 billion between Nov. 2 and Sunday, research firm ComScore (SCOR) said. "We always have last-minute Charlies, but this year even people who normally complete shopping earlier completed shopping later," said Marshal Cohen, chief retail analyst at market research firm NPD Group. The late surge caught companies off guard. UPS (UPS) and FedEx (FDX) failed to deliver some packages by Christmas due to a combination of poor weather and overloaded systems, leaving some unhappy holiday shoppers. Justin Londagin and his wife ordered their 7-year-old son a jersey of Russell Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks from NFL's website on Dec. 19. They paid $12.95 extra for two-day shipping to get it to their Augusta, Kan., home before Christmas, but it didn't arrive in time. "We had to get creative and wrote him a note from Santa to tell him that the jersey fell out of the sleigh and Santa will get it to him as soon as he could," he said. Amazon.com (AMZN) is offering customers with delayed shipments a refund on their shipping charges and $20 toward a future purchase. And other retailers such as Macy's said they are looking into the situation. The last-minute surge this year solidifies the increasing popularity of online shopping, which accounts for about 10 percent of sales during the last three months of the year. It also underscores the challenges that companies face delivering on the experience, particularly during the holiday shopping season that runs from the beginning of November through December. Analysts say FedEx and UPS typically work closely with big retailers to get a sense of the volume of packages they'll handle during peak times like the holiday season. Extra flights, trucks and seasonal workers can be added if the projections are large. But this year, David Vernon, a senior research analyst at Sanford C. Bernstein, said weather played a role. The early December ice storms in Dallas could have hurt operations, he said, and packages can start to accumulate. And that got compounded by a late surge in shipments, he said. "Clearly, as a group, [they] underestimated the demand for Internet retailing during the holidays," Vernon said. Another problem was the growing popularity of retailers offering free shipping. Amazon, for one, has a two-day free shipping offer that comes with its $79 annual Prime membership. The company said in the third week of December alone, more than 1 million people signed up for the membership. "Frankly the right hand wasn't talking to the left," said Forrester analyst Sucharita Mulpuru. "The marketing teams of a lot of web retailers [offering free shipping] were not talking to the operations and supply chain teams." The resulting delayed shipments could be a problem for shippers. UPS and FedEx didn't quantify how many packages were affected but said they were just a small fraction of total holiday deliveries. "The central pillar of their business is a perception of reliability with their customers," said Jeremy Robinson-Leon, COO of Group Gordon, a corporate and crisis PR firm. This year's snafus "just really erodes trust among customers." Still, analysts say people will still shop online. "Consumers tend to have a short memory, especially if you fast forward to another year," said Andrew Lipsman, vice president of industry analysis for comScore. Indeed, some shoppers are taking the delays in stride. Traci Arbios, who lives in Clovis, Calif., did about 90 percent of her shopping online. Most items included free shipping and everything arrived on time except one package she ordered from a seller on eBay (EBAY) that was sent first class by the U.S. Postal Service on Dec. 12. It still hadn't arrived by Thursday. "Everything arrived on time except this one item," she said. "It's not going to stop me from shopping online." -.

Hot Oil Companies To Own For 2015

Best Managed Healthcare Stocks For 2014

Two groups affiliated with independent broker-dealer Securities America shared news Monday on how they expect to recruit both more hybrid advisors and wirehouse reps to their platforms.

Arbor Point Advisors — formed by Securities America and NorthStar Financial Services Group as a joint venture in July to support hybrid advisory firms — has hired Jeffrey Schmaltz as a regional sales director in Fort Worth, Texas.

“When hiring a business development professional, we strive to find someone who already understands the complexities associated with the independent advisory model,” said Curtis Reed, president of Arbor Point Advisors, in a press release. "Jeff’s years of experience working with large, complex advisory firms, and being an advisor himself, make him the perfect addition to our team. His leadership and insight into the ever-changing investment advisory landscape has helped hundreds of firms grow, compete and succeed.”

Schmaltz began work in the financial services industry in 1986 as a Fidelity Investments representative in Dallas. He was with Bear Stearns from 1989 to 1995, when he returned to Fidelity Investments. He joined the institutional division of Fidelity in 2001 and became responsible for developing new business relationships with advisors in transition, RIAs, family offices, broker-dealers, financial planners and consulting firms.

Hot Value Companies To Invest In 2015: MagnaChip Semiconductor Corporation (MX)

MagnaChip Semiconductor Corporation designs and manufactures analog and mixed-signal semiconductor products for high-volume consumer applications. It operates in three segments: Display Solutions, Power Solutions, and Semiconductor Manufacturing Services. The Display Solutions segment offers source and gate drivers, and timing controllers that cover a range of flat panel displays used in liquid crystal displays (LCDs), light emitting diodes (LEDs), 3D and organic light emitting diode televisions and displays, notebooks, and mobile communications and entertainment devices. The Power Solutions segment develop, manufactures, and markets power management solutions, including metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors, power modules, analog switches, LED drivers, DC-DC converters, voice coil motor drivers, and linear regulators. This segment offers its products for a range of devices, including LCD, LED, 3D televisions, smartphones, mobile phones, desktop PCs, notebooks , tablet PCs, and other consumer electronics, as well as for industrial applications, such as power suppliers, LED lighting, and home appliances. The Semiconductor Manufacturing Services segment manufactures various products comprising display drivers, LED drivers, audio encoding and decoding devices, microcontrollers, touch screen controllers, RF switches, park distance control sensors for automotives, electronic tag memories, and power management semiconductors. This segment offers semiconductor manufacturing services to fabless analog and mixed-signal semiconductor companies. MagnaChip Semiconductor Corporation provides its products and services to consumer electronics OEMs, subsystem designers, and contract manufacturers through a direct sales force, as well as through a network of authorized agents and distributors in the United States, Korea, Taiwan, China, Japan, Hong Kong, and Macau. The company is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Wallace Witkowski]

  Shares of MagnaChip Semiconductor Corp. (MX) �fell 13% to $12.50 on moderate volume after the company said it incorrectly stated revenue and has to restate its financial statements going back to 2011. Also, the company withdrew its guidance for the fourth quarter.

• [By Brian Pacampara]

  Based on the aggregated intelligence of 180,000-plus investors participating in Motley Fool CAPS, the Fool's free investing community, consumer gadget chip maker MagnaChip Semiconductor (NYSE: MX  ) has earned a coveted five-star ranking.

Best Managed Healthcare Stocks For 2014: BGC Partners Inc.(BGCP)

BGC Partners, Inc. operates as a financial intermediary to the financial markets specializing in the brokering of various financial products. It provides electronic marketplaces, including government bond markets, spot foreign exchange, foreign exchange options, corporate bonds, and credit default swaps in various financial markets through its eSpeed- and BGC Trader- branded trading platform which can be accessed through its high speed data network, over the Internet, or third party communication networks. The company?s brokerage services include trade execution, broker-dealer services, clearing, processing, information, and other back office services, as well as cover various products, including fixed income securities, interest rate swaps, foreign exchange, equities, equity derivatives, credit derivatives, commodities, futures, and structured products. It also provides financial technology solutions, market data, and analytics related to financial instruments and markets . In addition, the company offers customized screen-based market solutions, which enables its clients to develop a marketplace, trade with their customers, issue debt, trade odd lots, access program trading interfaces, and access its network and intellectual property. Further, it licenses intellectual property portfolio and software solutions to various financial markets participants; and provides software development, software maintenance, customer support, infrastructure, and internal technology services to support electronic trading platforms. The company serves banks, broker-dealers, investment banks, trading firms, hedge funds, governments, investment firms, professional trading firms, futures commission merchants, and other professional market participants and financial institutions in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Asia, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and other Americas. The company was founded in 1999 and is based in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Selena Maranjian]

  Finally, Tudor Investment's biggest closed positions included Apple�and the iShares MSCI Emerging Market Index Fund ETF. Other closed positions of interest include Frontier Communications (NASDAQ: FTR  ) and BGC Partners (NASDAQ: BGCP  ) . Frontier, recently yielding more than 9%, is a rural telecom specialist. It's weighed down with considerable debt, and is shifting its business focus, favoring business customers more. It's been posting declining revenue lately, though, and its credit rating took a hit in recent months, also. Some worry that its acquisition of landline business from Verizon�may not be as lucrative as expected, and fear a dividend cut.

• [By Eric Volkman]

  BGC Partners (NASDAQ: BGCP  ) is waxing optimistic about its current quarter. The company updated its previously issued guidance, indicating that its nearly complete Q2 will come in at the higher end of the range for revenues and EPS. The former was for distributable earnings revenue of $435 million-$465 million, while the latter anticipated pre-tax distributable earnings of $42 million-$53 million.

• [By Brian Womack]

  ��t�� a defensive strategy because R&D costs are going up and the number of customers is going down,��said Amir Anvarzadeh, a manager of Japanese equity sales at BGC Partners Inc. (BGCP) in Singapore. ��his tells you there�� a problem in the industry.��

Best Managed Healthcare Stocks For 2014: Cardiovascular Systems Inc.(CSII)

Cardiovascular Systems, Inc., a medical device company, focuses on developing and commercializing minimally invasive treatment solutions for vascular disease. Its primary products include catheter-based platforms, such as the Diamondback 360�PAD System, the Diamondback Predator 360�PAD System, and Stealth 360�PAD System that are used for the treatment of a range of plaque types in leg arteries above and below the knee. The PAD Systems consists of a single-use catheter that travels over its proprietary ViperWire guidewire and are used in conjunction with a reusable external control unit or a saline infusion pump. It markets and sells its products through direct sales force to hospitals and office based laboratories in the United States. The company was founded in 1989 and is headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Todd Campbell]

  So far I've outlined the reasons for the robust returns last year at diabetes device maker Dexcom and cardiovascular device play Cardiovascular Systems (NASDAQ: CSII  ) . That brings us to No. 3 in my series,�Abiomed (NASDAQ: ABMD  ) , a company that saw its latest product line propel its shares 98% higher in 2013.

• [By Brian Pacampara]

  Based on the aggregated intelligence of 180,000-plus investors participating in Motley Fool CAPS, the Fool's free investing community, medical device company Cardiovascular Systems (NASDAQ: CSII  ) has received a distressing two-star ranking.

Best Managed Healthcare Stocks For 2014: Acura Pharmaceuticals Inc.(ACUR)

Acura Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company, engages in the research, development, and manufacture of pharmaceutical product candidates utilizing its proprietary Aversion and Impede technologies. Its Aversion Technology is a proprietary platform technology providing abuse deterrent features and benefits to orally administered pharmaceutical drug products containing abusable active ingredients, such as tranquillizers, stimulants, sedatives, and decongestants. The company offers OXECTA Tablets CII, which are oral formulations of oxycodone HCl for the management of acute and chronic moderate to severe pain; and Impede PSE, a pseudoephedrine hydrochloride tablet product candidate. It is also developing opioid analgesic product candidates, which would be used to relieve pain while discouraging common methods of opioid product misuse and abuse, including intravenous injection of dissolved tablets or capsules; nasal snorting of crushed tablets or capsules; and intentional swallowing of excess quantities of tablets or capsules. In addition, the company investigates and develops mechanisms to incorporate abuse deterrent features into abused and misused pharmaceutical products using its Impede Technology. Acura Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has a license, development, and commercialization agreement with King Pharmaceuticals Research and Development, Inc. to develop and commercialize certain opioid analgesic products utilizing the company?s proprietary Aversion Technology in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The company was founded in 1935 and is based in Palatine, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Udovich]

  On Tuesday, small cap specialty pharmaceutical company�Acura Pharmaceuticals, Inc (NASDAQ: ACUR) surged 27.52% to $1.90 on no apparent news beyond a speculative Seeking Alpha article that talked about certain catalysts����meaning its worth taking a closer look at the company to see what�� going on and whether shares could move higher.�

• [By Sean Williams]

  ALKS-7106 for the treatment of pain has big potential as it encompasses a broad audience, but it'll need to overcome the common stigma of pain drugs with regard to easy abuse potential. According to the press release, Alkermes will be introducing newer technology that will make its opioid-based drug more resistant to abuse. It should be curious to see how well this performs as there aren't many successful abuse-resistant drugs, or companies developing those drugs for that matter. Acura Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: ACUR  ) , for instance, successfully brought moderate-to-severe painkiller Oxecta to market in 2011 (which it subsequently licensed to Pfizer) and a bioequivalent version of decongestant pseudoephedrine to market last year, but sales of neither drug has exactly taken off. Like with its MMF prodrug, Alkermes anticipates a mid-2014 clinical trial launch date.

• [By Rick Munarriz]

  Thursday
  Acura Pharmaceuticas (NASDAQ: ACUR  ) checks in on Thursday. Drugmakers use Acura's Aversion and Impede technologies to create abuse-deterrent treatments. In short, if an abuser tries to extract the active ingredient of a drug to heighten addictive experiences, Acura's technologies kick in to make the whole dose unusable.

Best Managed Healthcare Stocks For 2014: Essar Energy Plc (ESSR)

Essar Energy plc is a holding company. The Company is an energy company with assets across the power and oil and gas industries. The Company operates in the areas petroleum refining and marketing, exploration and production and power transmission and generation. The Refining and Marketing business in India comprises of the Vadinar refinery located on the west coast of India and a retail franchise network of around 1,400 fuel stations across India and the Refining, and Marketing business in the United Kingdom comprises of the Stanlow refinery located near Liverpool, north west England and on the south bank of Manchester ship canal. The Company�� exploration and production segment includes a portfolio of 15 blocks and fields in the various stages of exploration and production of oil and gas in India, Indonesia, Nigeria and Vietnam. In Power segment, the Company operates coal fired, captive fuel and gas based power plants in India and Canada together with a number of mining assets. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sarah Jones]

  Essar Energy Plc (ESSR) climbed 2.5 percent to 122 pence after reporting that revenue rose 24 percent to $27.3 billion in the 12 months through March. The company cited higher margins and volumes at its Vadinar refinery in India and its Stanlow refinery in the U.K.

Best Managed Healthcare Stocks For 2014: Columbia Sportswear Company(COLM)

Columbia Sportswear Company, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the design, development, sourcing, marketing, and distribution of outdoor apparel, footwear, accessories, and equipment in the United States, Latin America, the Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Canada. It provides apparel, accessories, and equipment for men, women, and youth under Columbia and Mountain Hardwear brands used during outdoor activities, such as skiing, snowboarding, hiking, climbing, mountaineering, camping, hunting, fishing, trail running, water sports, and adventure travel. The company also offers footwear products, including lightweight hiking boots, trail running shoes, rugged cold weather boots, sandals, and casual shoes for men and women under Columbia, Sorel, and Montrail brands, as well as for youth under the Columbia and Sorel brands. Columbia Sportswear Company sells its products through wholesale distribution channels, independent distributors, direct-to-consum er channels, and licensees, as well as online to independent distributors and consumers. As of December 31, 2011, it operated 43 outlet retail stores and 8 branded retail stores in the United States; 7 outlet retail stores and 3 branded retail stores in various locations in western Europe; and 2 outlet retail stores in Canada, as well as 111 and 236 dealer-operated, branded, outlet, and shop-in-shop locations in Japan and Korea. Columbia Sportswear Company was founded in 1938 and is headquartered in Portland, Oregon.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Roberto Pedone]

  Columbia Sportswear (COLM) is engaged in the design, develop, market and distribute active outdoor apparel, footwear, accessories and equipment under four brands namely Columbia, Mountain Hardwear, Sorel and Montrail. This stock closed up 1% to $65.29 in Monday's trading session.

  Monday's Volume: 126,000
  
  Three-Month Average Volume: 75,362
  
  Volume % Change: 50%

  From a technical perspective, COLM trended modestly higher here right above its 50-day moving average of $62.08 with above-average volume. This stock has been uptrending strong for the last five months, with shares pushing higher from its low of $54.66 to its recent high of $66.69. During that move, shares of COLM have been consistently making higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. That move is now pushing shares of COLM within range of triggering a major breakout trade. That trade will hit if COLM manages to take out some key near-term overhead resistance levels at $65.90 to its 52-week high at $66.69 with high volume.

  Traders should now look for long-biased trades in COLM as long as it's trending above its 50-day at $62.08 or above more support at $61.75 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 75,362 shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then COLM will set up to enter new 52-week-high territory, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that breakout are $70 to $75.

• [By Anh HOANG]

  Another peer, Columbia Sportswear Company (NASDAQ: COLM  ) has also spent a lot of money on a major marketing campaign for its Omni-Freeze ZERO fabric. This fabric uses the industry's leading cooling technology and provides prolonged cooling for its users. This could be considered an important new franchise to complement the existing franchise innovations portfolio of Columbia Sportswear. Its fall 2014 product lines have been structured so that they were more reasonably priced to drive sales growth for the company.

• [By John Kell]

  Columbia Sportswear Co.'s(COLM) fourth-quarter profit slipped 7% as an asset impairment charge weighed on the active outdoor apparel maker’s bottom line, masking a rise in revenue. Shares rose 6.4% to $83.70 premarket.

• [By Grace L. Williams]

  With recent M&A in the yoga and athletic-wear space (such as Prana�� acquisition by Columbia (COLM) and Lorna Jane now up for sale as per recent media reports), Lululemon’s geographical diversification efforts are timely given that the domestic competitive environment is certainly showing no signs of abating.

Top 5 Clean Energy Companies To Own For 2014

Synthesis Energy Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: SYMX) shares were among the Friday’s biggest percentage gainers, all because it has a deal to become a leader in the clean coal gasification market in China.

The question is whether the deal really means much other than speculators in low-priced shares pushing the stock up.

The Houston company will partner with Zhangjiagang Chemical Machinery to form a joint venture called ZCM-SES Sino-U.S. Clean Energy Technologies.

ZCM will contribute approximately $16.5 million to the venture for a 65% ownership interest, while Synthesis Energy will contribute exclusive usage of its advanced, proprietary gasification technology in Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, the Philippines and Vietnam for a 35% ownership interest.

The cash may be the most important part of the deal, as far as Synthesis Energy is concerned. It has had a rocky history. It had operated a commercial scale coal gasification plant in the Shandong Province of China, but the plant was shut down.

5 Best Healthcare Technology Stocks To Watch Right Now: Johnson & Johnson(JNJ)

Johnson & Johnson engages in the research and development, manufacture, and sale of various products in the health care field worldwide. The company operates in three segments: Consumer, Pharmaceutical, and Medical Devices and Diagnostics. The Consumer segment provides products used in baby care, skin care, oral care, wound care, and women?s health care fields, as well as nutritional, over-the-counter pharmaceutical products, and wellness and prevention platforms under the brands of JOHNSON?S, AVEENO, CLEAN & CLEAR, JOHNSON?S Adult, NEUTROGENA, RoC, LUBRIDERM, DABAO, LISTERINE, REACH, BAND-AID, CAREFREE, STAYFREE, SPLENDA, TYLENOL, SUDAFED, ZYRTEC, MOTRIN IB, and PEPCID AC. The Pharmaceutical segment offers products in various therapeutic areas, such as anti-infective, antipsychotic, contraceptive, dermatology, gastrointestinal, hematology, immunology, neurology, oncology, pain management, and virology. Its principal products include REMICADE for the treatment of immune me diated inflammatory diseases; STELARA for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis; SIMPONI, a treatment for adults with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis; VELCADE for the treatment of multiple myeloma; PREZISTA and INTELENCE for treating HIV/AIDS patients; NUCYNTA for moderate to severe acute pain; INVEGA SUSTENNAtm for the acute and maintenance treatment of schizophrenia in adults; RISPERDAL CONSTA for the management of bipolar I disorder and schizophrenia; and PROCRIT to stimulate red blood cell production. The Medical Devices and Diagnostics segment primarily offers circulatory disease management products; orthopaedic joint reconstruction, spinal care, and sports medicine products; surgical care, aesthetics, and women?s health products; blood glucose monitoring and insulin delivery products; professional diagnostic products; and disposable contact lenses. The company was founded in 1886 and is based in Ne w Brunswick, New Jersey.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Maxx Chatsko]

  It doesn't help that a new therapy from Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ  ) recently gained approval from the Food and Drug Administration. Invokana works by a completely different mechanism than Januvia. Although it's not without risks itself, Invokana beat Januvia head-to-head in a phase 3 trial. Things could get dicey for Merck in the next few months and quarters as investors get their first glimpse into the effect, if any, on sales.

• [By Sara Sjolin]

  Shares of Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) �climbed 0.5% in premarket trade on news Carlyle Group LP is in exclusive talks to acquire the health-care company�� blood-testing unit, which is expected to fetch about $4 billion.

• [By WALLSTCHEATSHEET]

  Johnson & Johnson provides valuable and essential health care products and services to many consumers and companies operating worldwide. The company is facing an additional $4 billion settlement over its metal-on-metal hip replacements after already paying a $2.2 billion settlement related to the misbranding of Risperdal a little more than a week ago. The stock has been has been trending higher over the last several years and is currently trading near highs for the year. Over the last four quarters, earnings have been mixed while revenues have been rising. However, investors have been pleased during recent earnings announcements. Relative to its peers and sector, Johnson & Johnson has been a year-to-date performance leader. Look for Johnson & Johnson to OUTPERFORM.

• [By Brian Orelli]

  An oldie but a goodie
  Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ  ) has increased its dividend for 51 consecutive years. Just last week, the company bumped its dividend 8.2% from $0.61 per share each quarter to $0.66 per share. Nothing is guaranteed, but it would take a major disruption in Johnson & Johnson's business before the health-care giant would cut its dividend. They don't make dividend stocks much more solid than that.

Top 5 Clean Energy Companies To Own For 2014: Jack Henry & Associates Inc.(JKHY)

Jack Henry & Associates, Inc. (JHA) provides integrated computer systems and services for in-house and outsourced data processing to commercial banks, credit unions, and other financial institutions primarily in the United States. It engages in processing transactions, automating business processes, and managing information services. The company?s Jack Henry Banking brand provides integrated data processing systems to de novo or start-up institutions and mid-tier banks, as well as markets three core banking software systems, such as SilverLake, a robust IBM i-based system designed for commercial-focused banks; CIF 20/20, a parameter-driven and easy-to-use system; and Core Director, a Windows-based and client/server system that offers intuitive point-and-click operation. Its Symitar brand supports credit unions with information and transaction processing platforms that provide enterprise-wide automation. This brand?s solutions include Episys, a robust IBM p-based system p rimarily designed for credit unions; and Cruise, a Windows-based and client/server system for credit unions. The company?s ProfitStars brand provides specialized products and services that enhance the performance of financial service organizations and corporate entities. Its iPay Technologies brand operates as an electronic bill pay for banks and credit unions with turnkey, and configurable retail and small business electronic payment platforms. JHA also offers complementary solutions comprising business intelligence and bank management, retail and business banking, member and member business services, Internet banking and electronic funds transfer, risk management and protection, and item and document imaging solutions. In addition, it provides data conversion, software implementation, training, and support services, as well as sells hardware systems. The company has strategic relationship with IBM Corporation. JHA was founded in 1969 and is based in Monett, Missouri.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jay Jenkins]

  For U.S. Bancorp, a fine of this magnitude is nothing more than a slap on the wrist. However, it is a harbinger for change in how regulators view third-party relationships. Banks will now have to think long and hard about outsourcing, even to reputable companies like Jack Henry and Associates (NASDAQ: JKHY  ) and Fiserv (NASDAQ: FISV  ) .�

• [By Jay Jenkins]

  It doesn't matter if the bank is a mega bank like Bank of America (NYSE: BAC  ) , a regional player like BB&T (NYSE: BBT  ) , or a third-party software provider like Jack Henry and Associates (NASDAQ: JKHY  ) , the capabilities and usability of online banking services are noticeably stuck in the mud.�

• [By Seth Jayson]

  Margins matter. The more Jack Henry & Associates (Nasdaq: JKHY  ) keeps of each buck it earns in revenue, the more money it has to invest in growth, fund new strategic plans, or (gasp!) distribute to shareholders. Healthy margins often separate pretenders from the best stocks in the market. That's why we check up on margins at least once a quarter in this series. I'm looking for the absolute numbers, so I can compare them to current and potential competitors, and any trend that may tell me how strong Jack Henry & Associates's competitive position could be.

Top 5 Clean Energy Companies To Own For 2014: Stillwater Mining Company(SWC)

Stillwater Mining Company engages in developing, extracting, processing, smelting, refining, and marketing palladium, platinum, and platinum group metals (PGMs). The company conducts its mining operations at the Stillwater mine, which is located near Nye, Montana; and at the East Boulder mine located near Big Timber, Montana. It is also involved in developing Marathon, a PGM/copper property, which is located in Ontario, Canada; and exploring Altar, a copper/gold property located in San Juan, Argentina. In addition, the company operates a smelter and base metal refinery located in Columbus, Montana. Further, it recycles spent catalyst material to recover palladium, platinum, and rhodium at its smelter and base metal refinery. As of December 31, 2011, the company had proven and probable ore reserves of approximately 42.5 million tons at its Montana operations; and approximately 91.4 million tones at the Marathon development project. Stillwater Mining Company was founded in 1 992 and is headquartered in Billings, Montana.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Mani]

  Outside of South Africa, only a few listed companies operate in this space, Stillwater Mining Company (NYSE:SWC) is one among them. Stillwater has steered clear of the flawed copper strategy and is now re-focused on making more of the PGM asset base.

• [By Eric Volkman]

  Stillwater Mining (NYSE: SWC  ) is now on the hunt for a new chief executive. The company announced that its current CEO, Frank McAllister, is to retire. His replacement, on an interim basis, is Terrell Ackerman, the firm's vice president of corporate development.

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  4. Platinum-group metals
  Platinum and palladium both fell sharply, losing 5% and 6% of their value, respectively. Those losses weren't as extreme as gold's, but they nevertheless represented a drop to levels not seen since late last year. The two major miners producing the white metals, Stillwater Mining (NYSE: SWC  ) and North American Palladium (NYSEMKT: PAL  ) , both lost more than 10% on the day.

• [By Rich Duprey]

  Stillwater Mining (NYSE: SWC  ) says it disagrees with a shareholder advisory service's support of some of the board candidates put forth by a dissident shareholder. However, the company said in a press release today that it takes heart from some of the service's conclusions about shortcomings in the attempt by Clinton Group to force change at the company.

Top 5 Clean Energy Companies To Own For 2014: Pool Corporation (POOL)

Pool Corporation operates as a wholesale distributor of swimming pool supplies, equipment, and related leisure products in North America and Europe. The company offers approximately 100,000 national brand and Pool Corporation branded products. It sells maintenance products, such as chemicals, supplies, and pool accessories; repair and replacement parts for cleaners, filters, heaters, pumps, and lights; packaged pool kits, including walls, liners, braces, and coping for in-ground and above-ground pools; pool equipment and components for new pool construction and the remodeling of existing pools; and irrigation and landscape products, such as professional lawn care equipment. The company also offers complementary products, including building materials used for pool installations and remodeling, such as concrete, plumbing and electrical components, and pool surface and decking materials; and other discretionary recreational and related outdoor lifestyle products. Pool Corpora tion serves swimming pool remodelers and builders, retail swimming pool stores, swimming pool repair and service businesses, landscape construction and maintenance contractors, and golf courses. The company was founded in 1993 and is based in Covington, Louisiana.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Seth Jayson]

  When judging a company's prospects, how quickly it turns cash outflows into cash inflows can be just as important as how much profit it's booking in the accounting fantasy world we call "earnings." This is one of the first metrics I check when I'm hunting for the market's best stocks. Today, we'll see how it applies to Pool (Nasdaq: POOL  ) .

Hot Dividend Stocks To Invest In 2014

DELAFIELD, Wis. (Stockpickr) -- Professional traders running mutual funds and hedge funds don't just look at a stock's price moves; they also track big changes in volume activity. Often when above-average volume moves into an equity, it precedes a large spike in volatility.

>>5 Stocks Poised for Breakouts

Major moves in volume can signal unusual activity, such as insider buying or selling -- or buying or selling by "superinvestors."

Unusual volume can also be a major signal that hedge funds and momentum traders are piling into a stock ahead of a catalyst. These types of traders like to get in well before a large spike, so it's always a smart move to monitor unusual volume. That said, remember to combine trend and price action with unusual volume. Put them all together to help you decipher the next big trend for any stock.

>>5 Dividend Stocks Ready to Pay You More in 2014

With that in mind, let's take a look at several stocks rising on unusual volume today.

10 Best Media Stocks For 2015: Cincinnati Financial Corporation(CINF)

Cincinnati Financial Corporation engages in the property casualty insurance business in the United States. Its Commercial Lines Property Casualty Insurance segment provides coverage for commercial casualty, commercial property, commercial auto, and workers? compensation. It also offers specialty packages, including coverages for property, liability, and business interruption for specific industry classes, such as artisan contractors, dentists, or street businesses. In addition, this segment provides contract and commercial surety bonds, fidelity bonds, and director and officer liability insurance, as well as machinery and equipment coverage. The company?s Personal Lines Property Casualty Insurance segment offers coverage for personal auto and homeowners, as well as other insurance products, such as dwelling fire, inland marine, personal umbrella liability, and watercraft coverages to individuals. Cincinnati Financial?s Excess and Surplus Lines Property Casualty Insurance s egment offers commercial casualty insurance that covers businesses for third-party liability from accidents occurring on their premises or arising out of their operations, including products and completed operations; and commercial property insurance, which insures loss or damage to buildings, inventory, equipment, and business income from causes of loss, such as fire, wind, hail, water, theft, and vandalism. The company?s Life Insurance segment provides term insurance; universal life insurance; whole life insurance; and worksite products, which include term, whole life, universal life, and disability insurance offered to employees through their employer. This segment also markets disability income insurance, deferred annuities, and immediate annuities. Its Investment segment invests in fixed-maturity investments, equity investments, and short-term investments. Cincinnati also offers commercial leasing and financing services. The company was founded in 1950 and is headquarte red in Fairfield, Ohio.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Insider Monkey]

  Cincinnati Financial (CINF), lastly, is an under-covered insurance company that has grown dividends in 53 straight years. The stock pays a yield of 3.5% at a modest payout of 47% of earnings, and in 2013, it has appreciated by more than 20%. Three Cincinnati Financial insiders-one director, a senior VP and the company's CFO-have bought shares in the past six months. CFO Michael Sewell initiated the biggest transaction of the bunch when he bought $147K worth of the stock in the last few days of July.

Hot Dividend Stocks To Invest In 2014: H.J. Heinz Company (HNZ)

H. J. Heinz Company manufactures and markets food products for consumers, and foodservice and institutional customers in North America, Europe, the Asia Pacific, and internationally. The company primarily offers ketchup, condiments and sauces, frozen food, soups, beans and pasta meals, infant nutrition, and other food products. It sells its products through its sales organizations, independent brokers, agents, and distributors to chain, wholesale, cooperative, and independent grocery accounts; convenience stores; bakeries; pharmacies; mass merchants; club stores; foodservice distributors; and institutions, including hotels, restaurants, hospitals, health-care facilities, and government agencies. The company was founded in 1869 and is based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Steve Symington]

  10. Not including its equity holdings and recently acquired 50% stake in Heinz (NYSE: HNZ  ) , Berkshire is made up of 56 distinct subsidiary businesses.

Hot Dividend Stocks To Invest In 2014: Consolidated Edison Company of New York Inc. (ED)

Consolidated Edison, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides electric, gas, and steam utility services in the United States. It provides electric service to approximately 3.3 million customers and gas service to approximately 1.1 million customers in New York City and Westchester County, as well as provides steam service to office buildings and apartment houses in parts of Manhattan. The company also provides electric service to approximately 0.3 million customers in southeastern New York and in adjacent areas of northern New Jersey, and northeastern Pennsylvania; and gas service to approximately 0.1 million customers in southeastern New York and adjacent areas of northeastern Pennsylvania. In addition, Consolidated Edison involves in the sale and related hedging of electricity to wholesale and retail customers; operation of generating plants; participation in other infrastructure projects; and provision of energy-efficiency services, including the design and installation of lighting retrofits, high-efficiency heating, ventilating and air conditioning equipment, and other energy saving technologies to government and commercial customers. It serves residential, industrial, and large commercial customers. The company was founded in 1884 and is based in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Shauna O'Brien]

  On Wednesday, Jefferies reported that it has downgraded energy company Consolidated Edison, Inc. (ED) to “Hold.”

  The firm has cut its rating on ED from “Buy” to “Hold,” and has slashed its price target from $67 to $58. This price target suggests a 4% upside from the stock’s current price of $55.90.

  Analyst Paul B. Fremont noted: “We are downgrading Con Edison to Hold from Buy due to lower estimates that are predicated on a reduction in retail margins at the company’s unregulated business (Con Ed Solutions).”

  “Additionally we believe parties involved in the current electric, gas and steam rate filing will be unable to reach a settlement agreement, which could put further downward pressure on the company’s earnings,” added the analyst.

  Looking ahead, analysts have lowered third quarter earnings estimates on ED from $1.45 to $1.35 per share. For FY2013, estimates have been cut from $3.80 to $3.65 per share. FY2014 estimates have been reduced from $3.90 to $3.75 per share.

  Consolidated Edison shares were down 40 cents, or 0.72%, during pre-market trading Wednesday. The stock has been mostly flat YTD.

• [By Michael Flannelly]

  Early on Wednesday, analysts at Goldman Sachs upgraded utility company Consolidated Edison, Inc. (ED), noting that rate case concerns are already priced into the stock’s current valuation.

  The analysts upgraded ED from “Sell” to “Neutral” and see shares reaching $57, up from the previous target of $55. This new price target suggests a slight upside to the stock’s Tuesday closing price of $55.28.

  “While ED faces a challenging rate case in New York, we see this risk as well understood by the market now,” Goldman Sachs analyst Michael Lapides said.

  Con Edison shares were inactive during pre-market trading on Wednesday. The stock is down a fraction year-to-date.

Hot Dividend Stocks To Invest In 2014: Intel Corporation(INTC)

Intel Corporation engages in the design, manufacture, and sale of integrated circuits for computing and communications industries worldwide. It offers microprocessor products used in notebooks, netbooks, desktops, servers, workstations, storage products, embedded applications, communications products, consumer electronics devices, and handhelds. The company also provides system on chip products that integrate its core processing functionalities with other system components, such as graphics, audio, and video, onto a single chip. In addition, it offers chipset products that send data between the microprocessor and input, display, and storage devices, including keyboard, mouse, monitor, hard drive, and CD, DVD, or Blu-ray drives; motherboards designed for desktop, server, and workstation platforms, and that has connectors for attaching devices to the bus; and wired and wireless connectivity products consisting of network adapters and embedded wireless cards used to translate and transmit data across networks. Further, the company provides NAND flash memory products primarily used in portable memory storage devices, digital camera memory cards, and solid-state drives; software products comprising operating systems, middleware, and tools used to develop, run, and manage various enterprise, consumer, embedded, and handheld devices; and software development tools that enable the creation of applications. Additionally, it develops computing platforms, which are integrated hardware and software computing technologies designed to offer an optimized solution. The company sells its products principally to original equipment manufacturers, original design manufacturers, PC components and other products users, and other manufacturers of industrial and communications equipment. It has a strategic alliance with Scientific Conservation Inc. Intel Corporation was founded in 1968 and is based in Santa Clara, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Paul Ausick]

  Within the first hour of trading on Monday morning, shares of Facebook Inc. (NASDAQ: FB) have risen more than 3% and the company�� market cap has risen to about $102 billion. Intel Corp. (NASDAQ: INTC) has slipped a little and the chipmaker�� market cap now stands at about $111.5 billion. Can it be that social media will soon be more valuable than the world�� largest maker of semiconductors?