How Good was the Earnings Season?

5 Best Tech Stocks To Own Right Now

MoneyShow's Jim Jubak takes a critical look at the earnings season and shares his thoughts on what it may mean for 2014.

"Earnings for the third quarter are coming in above expectations!" Well, that's how excited you might be if you weren't really paying attention to where expectations were. What we've got, with about 90% of the S&P 500 companies reporting, is, we've got earnings growth, year over year, about 3.7%. That is, indeed, better than the 1% that Wall Street was expecting, but 3.7% growth year over year is certainly nothing to write home about.

Now, the thing about projections is they always start off relatively optimistic and then get, well, more pessimistic or realistic, whatever you want. So, right now, fourth quarter, Wall Street is saying, "Oh, 7% earnings growth." A month ago, they were saying 10%, so we're already starting to come down. I think we'll continue to come down further, so we're looking at maybe another quarter that sort of looks like this one, which is either exciting or not exciting, good or bad news, depending on how you feel about 3.7% earnings growth. It's really not much to look at when you're looking at an S&P that's at a historic high.

Okay, for 2014, right now, the expectations are for about 11% earnings growth. That would be a pretty good year. If you look at that and say, "Oh, okay, so S&P price right now, earnings growth of 11%, it works out to about a 14.8 PE on projected earnings," which really doesn't sound too bad for this market. It would imply that there's room for this market to move up. The question is, of course, how good that projected 11% growth is. The more that comes down, the more that the PE goes up, and the less reasonable the pricing here seems.

So, a lot of this, of course, depends on what your view of the future is. My view of 2014 is that with the Fed beginning the taper and probably bringing its purchase of treasuries and mortgage-backed assets to an end sometime in 2014, without another rate cut from the European Central Bank, with growth in China maybe being set down at 7% as opposed to 7.5%, it's hard for me to see 2014 as being a great year. If that's so, then at current levels, when you ratchet down earnings expectations, the market seems fully priced, so you're not necessarily looking for a big collapse in 2014, but it's hard to figure out exactly why, on the fundamentals, US stocks would go up.

This is Jim Jubak for the MoneyShow.com video network.

Finra will be in charge of crowdfunding platforms

Usually the thought of Finra regulation sends a shudder through the target, but online platforms that will conduct equity sales in startup companies contend that they welcome the prospect.

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Inc. will oversee the portals under the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act, which eases securities registration for small companies. On Wednesday, the Securities and Exchange Commission and Finra released proposed rules for implementing the so-called crowdfunding provision of the measure.

“Equity crowdfunding will not survive if there aren't rules to help protect both [issuers and investors],” said Ryan Caldbeck, co-founder and chief executive of CircleUp Network Inc., a crowdfunding site that focuses on consumer and retail companies. “Having a governing body overseeing those rules is positive for all the parties involved.”

Finra already regulates Mr. Caldbeck's site, which conducts equity crowdfunding for accredited investors. The rules that were proposed on Wednesday would extend access to crowdfunding to ordinary investors, who could buy equity offerings in small amounts.

“We've had a productive and positive relationship [with Finra],” Mr. Calbeck said. “They're receptive to how we're trying to help investors and companies connect.”

Finra's regulation of crowdfunding portals will be less stringent than its oversight of broker-dealers, according to Robert Colby, the regulator's chief legal officer. Portals will not be allowed to engage in brokerage activities, such as soliciting investments, making recommendations or maintaining custody of client funds.

“This is one of our first efforts to create a slimmed-down rule book for a limited-purpose type of entity,” Mr. Colby said. “It is lighter than regulation of brokers consistent with what [portals] do.”

Finra will be monitoring the relationships between portals and brokers.

“We want to make sure the conduct stays in the right channels,” Mr. Colby said. “What I worry about is that in the go-go [online] environment, funding portals may not understand that they cannot go into full sales operations.”

MicroVentures, another crowdfunding site that works with accredited investors, has been overseen by Finra for the last three years. It has been examined twice by Finra in the past three years.

“It's never easy,” said Bill Clark, founder and president of MicroVentures. “They're very thorough. They follow up on everything. For us, it wasn't very painful. It's just time-consuming.”

He said that his portal has two full-time compliance officers and spends about $100,000 to $150,000 annually on ensuring that all regulations are followed.

Judd Hollas, founder and chief executive of Equitynet, said that he is not concerned about Finra regulation. But, he noted, it will pos! e a burden for new crowdfunding sites, most of which are small startups themselves.

“I'm assuming that a lot of crowdfunding operators would view regulatory oversight as an added challenge to their already full plates,” Mr. Hollas said. “It's certainly going to be a material cost in the tens of thousands of dollars at a minimum.”

Finra's more relaxed approach to this sector can be seen in part by the faster approval process for new portals than for new brokerages – 60 days compared to 180 days, according to Jilliene Helman, chief executive of Realty Mogul Co.

“It seems that their oversight of funding portals is going to be less onerous than their oversight of broker-dealers,” Ms. Helman said. “It suggests Finra understands how quickly things move in the tech world.”

Taking on regulation of crowdfunding portals won't distract Finra from its traditional broker-dealer constituency, according to Mr. Colby. The organization currently oversees about 4,200 securities firms. The SEC estimates that fewer than 100 crowdfunding portals will be operating when rules are approved. Finra has communicated with about 39 portals in a voluntary pre-registration initiative.

“If there are 50 to 100 portals, that's not a material change,” Mr. Colby said.

Mr. Clark said that he doesn't detect a culture clash between Finra and the online capital-formation community.

“The people I work with in [Finra's] Dallas district and in New York are open to crowdfunding, as long as they can have access to information they need to protect investors, which is the No. 1 goal,” Mr. Clark said.

Will a Restructuring Help Siemens?

With shares of Siemens (NYSE:SI) trading around $120, is SI an OUTPERFORM, WAIT AND SEE, or STAY AWAY? Let's analyze the stock with the relevant sections of our CHEAT SHEET investing framework:

T = Trends for a Stock’s Movement

Siemens is an integrated technology company with activities in the fields of industry, energy, and health care. Siemens operates in six segments: industry, energy, health care, equity investments, Siemens IT solutions and services, and Siemens financial services. The company has equity investments in telecommunications infrastructure and household appliance companies as well as in a company that provides open communications, network, and security solutions.

Siemens announced it will cut 7,500 jobs in the next fiscal year as the company undergoes restructuring to increase profitability and catch up to rival General Electric (NYSE:GE). CEO Joe Kaeser has said Siemens will cut 15,000 positions in total as a part of the reorganization, Bloomberg reports. Kaeser is working to regain investor confidence in the company after losses caused by his predecessor Peter Loescher, who lost his position after an announcement earlier this summer that Siemens would not reach its goal to make a profit equal to 12 percent of sales next year.

T = Technicals on the Stock Chart Are Strong

Siemens stock has struggled to make significant progress in recent years. However, the stock is currently breaking higher is trading at highs for the year. Analyzing the price trend and its strength can be done using key simple moving averages. What are the key moving averages? The 50-day (pink), 100-day (blue), and 200-day (yellow) simple moving averages. As seen in the daily price chart below, Siemens is trading above its rising key averages, which signal neutral to bullish price action in the near-term.

(Source: Thinkorswim)

Taking a look at the implied volatility (red) and implied volatility skew levels of Siemens options may help determine if investors are bullish, neutral, or bearish.

	Implied Volatility (IV)	30-Day IV Percentile	90-Day IV Percentile
Siemens Options	23.06%	90%	89%

What does this mean? This means that investors or traders are buying a very significant amount of call and put options contracts as compared to the last 30 and 90 trading days.

	Put IV Skew	Call IV Skew
October Options	Flat	Average
November Options	Flat	Average

As of today, there is an average demand from call buyers or sellers and low demand by put buyers or high demand by put sellers, all neutral to bullish over the next two months. To summarize, investors are buying a very significant amount of call and put option contracts and are leaning neutral to bullish over the next two months.

On the next page, let’s take a look at the earnings and revenue growth rates and the conclusion.

E = Earnings Are Mixed Quarter-Over-Quarter

Rising stock prices are often strongly correlated with rising earnings and revenue growth rates. Also, the last four quarterly earnings announcement reactions help gauge investor sentiment on Siemens’s stock. What do the last four quarterly earnings and revenue growth (Y-O-Y) figures for Siemens look like and more importantly, how did the markets like these numbers?

	2013 Q2	2013 Q1	2012 Q4	2012 Q3
Earnings Growth (Y-O-Y)	11.36%	-7.03%	-0.79%	54.97%
Revenue Growth (Y-O-Y)	-10.15%	3.83%	2.24%	-5.11%
Earnings Reaction	0.44%	-1.08%	1.35%	-0.62%

Siemens has seen mixed earnings and revenue figures over the last four quarters. From these numbers, the markets have been conflicted about Siemens’ recent earnings announcements.

P = Weak Relative Performance Versus Peers and Sector

How has Siemens stock done relative to its peers, General Electric (NYSE:GE), ABB (NYSE:ABB), Phillips (NYSE:PHG), and sector?

	Siemens	General Electric	ABB	Phillips	Sector
Year-to-Date Return	Hot Undervalued Companies To Invest In Right Now 10.22%	14.34%	13.90%	21.55%	14.18%

Siemens has been a poor relative performer, year-to-date.

Conclusion

Siemens provides a range of valuable technology products and services to a number of industries around the world. The company is set to cut 7,500 jobs as it restructures in an effort to compete in the industry. The stock has struggled in recent years but is now trading at highs for the year. Over the last four quarters, earnings and revenues are mixed, which has produced conflicting feelings among investors in the company. Relative to its peers and sector, Siemens has been a weak year-to-date performer. WAIT AND SEE what Siemens does this quarter

8 Buy-Rated Retail-Wholesale Stocks Under $10

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- The retail-wholesale sector may be 24.9% overvalued according to www.ValuEngine.com, but this sector of 360 companies has 80% of the stocks rated buy. With an overweight sector rating I decided to profile nine buy-rated stocks in the retail-wholesale sector that are trading below $10 a share.

All nine stocks profiled today are overvalued, six by more than 40%. Only one is lower in price over the last 12 months, while the others are up between 22.4% and 227.7%. Seven of nine are above their 200-day simple moving average, which reflects the risk of reversion to the mean. As you will observe one of the stocks in today's table ended above $10 on Tuesday and was downgraded to hold from buy.

Reading the Table OV/UN Valued: Stocks with a red number are undervalued by this percentage. Those with a black number are overvalued by that percentage according to ValuEngine. VE Rating: A "1-engine" rating is a strong sell, a "2-engine" rating is a sell, a "3-engine" rating is a hold, a "4-engine" rating is a buy and a "5-engine" rating is a strong buy. Last 12-Month Return (%): Stocks with a red number declined by that percentage over the last 12 months. Stocks with a black number increased by that percentage. Forecast 1-Year Return: Stocks with a red number are projected to decline by that percentage over the next 12 months. Stocks with a black number in the table are projected to move higher by that percentage over the next 12 months. Value Level: Price at which to enter a GTC limit order to buy on weakness. The letters mean; W-weekly, M-monthly, Q-quarterly, S-semiannual and A-annual. Pivot: A level between a value level and risky level that should be a magnet during the time frame noted. Risky Level: Price at which to enter a GTC limit order to sell on strength. Casual apparel retailer Aeropostale (ARO) ($10.17) had been above $10 a share until Aug. 22 when they missed EPS estimates by 10 cents reporting a loss of 34 cents a share. The stock traded as low as $7.78 on Sep. 4. On Tuesday private equity firm Sycamore Partners purchased an 8% stake in the retailer and the stock quickly moved back above $10 to a day's high at $10.47. This puts the stock within the price gap between the Aug. 22 low of $10.88 and the Aug. 23 high at $9.55. This morning the stock has been downgraded to hold from buy. My weekly value level is $7.61 with a quarterly risky level at $12.11.

Family-style restaurant chain Denny's (DENN) ($6.22) set a new multi-year high at $6.25 on Monday. Each time this stock dropped to its 200-day SMA, now at $5.57 this key support held; on June 24 at $5.30, on July 30 at $5.40 and on Aug. 28 at $5.50. My quarterly value level is $5.52 with a semiannual pivot at $5.97 and monthly risky level at $6.40.

Fitness machines maker Nautilus (NLS) ($7.21) approached $10 a share on July 15 then traded as low as $6.15 on Aug. 12 holding its 200-day SMA, then at $6.22. Today the stock is between its 200-day SMA at $6.67 and its 50-day SMA at $7.63. My semiannual value level is $6.27 with a quarterly pivot at $6.93 and monthly risky level at $10.58.

Women's fashion retailer New York & Co (NWY) ($5.46) fell from $6.87 on July 11 to $4.64 into Sept. 10 but ended that day above its 200-day SMA at $4.76. Today the stock is between its 200-day SMA at $4.80 and its 50-day SMA at $5.81. My weekly value level is $4.41 with a semiannual pivot at $5.49 and semiannual risky level at $5.53.

Office supply retailer Office Depot (ODP) ($4.31) held its 200-day SMA at $3.94 on Aug. 21. The stock is on the cusp of its 50-day SMA at $4.29. My weekly value level is $4.22 with a monthly risky level at $4.97. Drugstore chain Rite Aid (RAD) ($3.70) traded to a multi-year high at $3.75 on Sept. 11 with the 50-day SMA at $3.25. Weakness so far this yea has held the 50-day going all the way back to April 5 when the 50-day SMA was $1.71. My semiannual value level is $2.60 with a weekly pivot at $3.76 and monthly risky level at $3.86. Wholesale food and grocery distributor Supervalu (SVU) ($7.70) traded to a 2013 high at $8.26 on July 18 and has been trading back and forth around its 50-day SMA at $7.50 since Aug. 20. My semiannual value level is $2.78 with a weekly pivot at $7.78 and monthly risky level at $9.48.

The operator of travel service centers catering to truckers along the interstate TravelCenters of America (TA) ($8.00) has been a focus company of mine since I frequently travel on I75 and I95 between Tampa Bay, Fla., and the New York area. This stock was above $10 until Aug. 6 following disappointing earnings. After trading as low as $7.35 on Aug. 27 the stock failed at its 200-day SMA at $8.55 on Sep. 10. My semiannual value level is $7.18 with a quarterly pivot at $8.04 and semiannual risky level at $9.32.

Fast food chain Wendy's (WEN) ($8.54) set a multi-year high at $8.75 on Sept. 16 and is well above its 50-day SMA at $7.48 after holding that support on July 5 at $5.89. My monthly value level is $7.79 with a weekly risky level at $9.01.

At the time of publication the author held no positions in any of the stocks mentioned.

Follow @Suttmeier This article is commentary by an independent contributor, separate from TheStreet's regular news coverage.

Richard Suttmeier has an engineering degree from Georgia Tech and a master of science from Brooklyn Poly. He began his career in the financial services industry in 1972 trading U.S. Treasury securities in the primary dealer community. In 1981 he formed the Government Bond Department at LF Rothschild and helped establish that firm as a primary dealer in 1986. Richard began writing market research in 1984 and held positions as market strategist at firms such as Smith Barney, William R Hough, Joseph Stevens, and Rightside Advisors. He joined www.ValuEngine.com in 2008 producing newsletters covering the U.S. capital markets, and a universe of more than 7,000 stocks. Richard employs a "buy and trade" investment strategy and can be reached at RSuttmeier@Gmail.com.

Starbucks' profit beats Street, misses on sales

After markets closed Thursday, Starbucks reported a fiscal first-quarter profit of 71 cents a share, $540.7 million. It was 25% higher than in the same period a year ago, when it reported a profit if 57 cents a share, or $432.2 million.

Starbucks said benefited from lower coffee costs and stronger sales around the world.

Analysts had expected the Seattle-based company would earn 69 cents a share on revenue of $4.3 billion.

Shares rose $1.10, 1.5%, to $74.60 in after-hours trading. During the regular trading session, the stock fell 21 cents, 0.3%, to close at $73.39. In the past 52 weeks, the stock is up about 35%.

The coffee retailer posted revenue for the quarter ended Dec. 29 of $4.24 billion, 12% higher than the $3.79 billion in sales in the same period a year ago but missing Wall Street's estimates.

Best Casino Stocks To Watch For 2015

Same-store sales growth was up 5% globally and also in the Americas, the company said. In the China and Asia Pacific region, sales were up 8% year over year for the quarter. Operating margins expanded to 19.2% from 16.6% in the same quarter a year ago.

"Starbucks is likely to continue to outpace run-of-the mill retail," says Glen Petraglia, senior vice president and portfolio manager at Standard Life Investments U.S. office in Boston. "The transformation from a one-trick pony a decade ago to a multi-pronged consumer company is impressive."

Troy Alstead, the company's chief financial officer, said in a phone interview with the Associated Press that the slower growth for the last three months of the year was the result of the growing number of people who are choosing to shop online from the convenience of their homes, instead of heading out to stores.

"The impact to us is that there are fewer people out and about in the weeks leading up to Christmas," Alstead told the AP.

But he downplayed the impact that trend would have on ! sales growth going forward, saying that the advantage of Starbucks is that its offerings can't be replicated online and that its loyalty card business is growing.

The company has about 20,000 locations around the world.

Contributing: USA TODAY's Beth Belton and The Associated Press

Is JPMorgan Chase Well-Positioned for the Future?

With shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) trading around $57, is JPM an OUTPERFORM, WAIT AND SEE, or STAY AWAY? Let's analyze the stock with the relevant sections of our CHEAT SHEET investing framework:

T = Trends for a Stock’s Movement

JPMorgan Chase is a financial holding company that provides various financial services worldwide. The company is engaged in investment banking, financial services for consumers and small businesses, commercial banking, financial transaction processing, asset management, and private equity. Financial services companies like JPMorgan Chase are essential for well-functioning economies around the world.

The global pool of prized rainmakers shrank further on Tuesday after one of JPMorgan Chase's longest-serving deal bankers said he would retire. Klaus Diederichs, a 34-year veteran of JPMorgan and a brand-name adviser during several merger booms, is stepping down as Chair of European investment banking in April. The German-born banker joined JPMorgan straight out of university in 1980 and has held several senior leadership roles in his time with the bank, most recently the head of investment banking for Europe, Middle East and Africa.

A traditional relationship banker, Mr Diederichs helped establish JPMorgan's European deals and advisory business in the early 1990s, hiring bankers just as rivals were cutting back and competing with leading London corporate finance houses SG Warburg and Morgan Grenfell. To compete with what were then better-known European advisers, he staffed the JPMorgan team with pan-European specialists. The bank is highly regarded by its rivals for the way it has translated existing corporate relationships into financial advisory mandates. He also persuaded some of the continent's more-conservative companies to hire JPMorgan for external merger advice.

T = Technicals on the Stock Chart Are Strong

JPMorgan Chase stock has done relatively well in the past couple of years. However, the stock is currently trading sideways and may need time to consolidate. Analyzing the price trend and its strength can be done using key simple moving averages. What are the key moving averages? The 50-day (pink), 100-day (blue), and 200-day (yellow) simple moving averages. As seen in the daily price chart below, JPMorgan Chase is trading above its rising key averages which signal neutral to bullish price action in the near-term.

(Source: Thinkorswim)

Taking a look at the implied volatility (red) and implied volatility skew levels of JPMorgan Chase options may help determine if investors are bullish, neutral, or bearish.

	Implied Volatility (IV)	30-Day IV Percentile	90-Day IV Percentile
JPMorgan Chase options	18.05%	3%	0%

What does this mean? This means that investors or traders are buying a small amount of call and put options contracts, as compared to the last 30 and 90 trading days.

	Put IV Skew	Call IV Skew
February Options	Flat	Average
March Options	Flat	Average

As of today, there is an average demand from call buyers or sellers and low demand by put buyers or high demand by put sellers, all neutral to bullish over the next two months. To summarize, investors are buying a small amount of call and put option contracts and are leaning neutral to bullish over the next two months.

On the next page, let’s take a look at the earnings and revenue growth rates and the conclusion.

E = Earnings Are Mixed Quarter-Over-Quarter

Rising stock prices are often strongly correlated with rising earnings and revenue growth rates. Also, the last four quarterly earnings announcement reactions help gauge investor sentiment on JPMorgan Chase’s stock. What do the last four quarterly earnings and revenue growth (Y-O-Y) figures for JPMorgan Chase look like and more importantly, how did the markets like these numbers?

	2013 Q4	2013 Q3	2013 Q2	2013 Q1
Earnings Growth (Y-O-Y)	-6.47%	-112.14%	32.23%	33.61%
Revenue Growth (Y-O-Y)	-7.02%	-7.67%	13.67%	-3.57%
Earnings Reaction	0.06%	-0.01%	-0.30%	-0.60%

JPMorgan Chase has seen mixed earnings and decreasing revenue figures over the last four quarters. From these numbers, the markets have had mixed feelings about JPMorgan Chase’s recent earnings announcements.

P = Weak Relative Performance Versus Peers and Sector

How has JPMorgan Chase stock done relative to its peers, Bank of America (NYSE:BAC), Citigroup (NYSE:C), Wells Fargo (NYSE:WFC), and sector?

	JPMorgan Chase	Bank of America	Citigroup	Wells Fargo	Sector
Year-to-Date Return	-1.17%	9.60%	-0.21%	2.49%	3.67%

JPMorgan Chase has been a poor relative performer, year-to-date.

Conclusion

JPMorgan Chase is a bellwether in the banking space that forms an essential part of the United States financial system. Klaus Diederichs, the company’s Chair of European investment banking, is stepping down in April. The stock has done relatively well in recent months, but is currently trading sideways. Over the last four quarters, earnings have been mixed while revenues have been decreasing which has produced mixed feelings among investors. Relative to its peers and sector, JPMorgan Chase has been a poor year-to-date performer. WAIT AND SEE what JPMorgan Chase does this quarter.

Best Growth Companies To Own In Right Now

LONDON -- Next week is a big week for FTSE 100 news, and we've already taken a look at three top companies due to bring us tidings. But with a good proportion of firms having years ending in December, we're firmly into first-quarter season now. Here are three companies due to report on the first three months of the year:

Standard Life (LSE: SL  )
On Wednesday, we'll be getting a first-quarter update from Standard Life, whose shares have had a great time since last summer. They're up more than 65% since May to today's 335 pence -- although they have been higher, touching 387 pence in March.

Full-year results for 2012, released on 7 March, revealed a 65% jump in operating profit, with chief executive David Nish telling us: "Standard Life has undergone considerable change over the past three years. As a result we now have significant opportunities for further strong and sustainable growth."

The City, however, is forecasting a 20% fall in earnings per share this year, but a predicted dividend of around 15 pence per share should be well covered and would yield 4.5%.

Best Growth Companies To Own In Right Now: Eastern Insurance Holdings Inc.(EIHI)

Eastern Insurance Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides workers compensation insurance and reinsurance products in the United States. The company?s Workers Compensation Insurance segment provides traditional workers compensation insurance coverage products, including guaranteed cost policies, policyholder dividend policies, retrospectively-rated policies, deductible policies, and alternative market products to employers. This segment distributes its workers? compensation products and services through its independent insurance agents primarily in Pennsylvania, Delaware, North Carolina, Maryland, Indiana, and Virginia. Its Segregated Portfolio Cell Reinsurance segment offers alternative market workers compensation solutions comprising program design, fronting, claims administration, risk management, segregated portfolio cell rental, asset management, and segregated portfolio management services to individual companies, groups, and associations. Eastern Insurance Holdings, Inc. is headquartered in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lauren Pollock]

  ProAssurance Corp.(PRA) agreed to acquire Eastern Insurance Holdings Inc.(EIHI) for about $205 million, expanding the insurance company’s casualty insurance offerings. Eastern Insurance is a domestic casualty insurance group specializing in workers’ compensation products and services, among other things. ProAssurance plans to pay $24.50 in cash for each outstanding Eastern share, a 16% premium over Monday’s closing price.

Best Growth Companies To Own In Right Now: Buffalo Wild Wings Inc.(BWLD)

Buffalo Wild Wings, Inc. engages in the ownership, operation, and franchise of restaurants in the United States. The company provides quick casual and casual dining services, as well as serves bottled beers, wines, and liquor. As of July 26, 2011, it had 773 Buffalo Wild Wings locations in 45 states in the United States, as well as in Canada. The company was founded in 1982 and is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Smith]

  This series, brought to you by Yahoo! Finance, looks at which upgrades and downgrades make sense, and which ones investors should act on. Today, our headlines focus on the restaurant sector, where one analyst has just downgraded shares of Buffalo Wild Wings (NASDAQ: BWLD  ) , while a second analyst has initiated coverage on... just about everybody else. Let's dig right into the details, beginning with the new coverage.

Best Casino Stocks To Invest In Right Now: CNO Financial Group Inc. (CNO)

CNO Financial Group, Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the development, marketing, and administration of health insurance, annuity, individual life insurance, and other insurance products for senior and middle-income markets in the United States. The company markets and distributes Medicare supplement insurance, interest-sensitive and traditional life insurance, fixed annuities, and long-term care insurance products; Medicare advantage plans through a distribution arrangement with Humana Inc.; and Medicare Part D prescription drug plans through a distribution and reinsurance arrangement with Coventry Health Care. It also markets and distributes supplemental health, including specified disease, accident, and hospital indemnity insurance products; and life insurance to middle-income consumers at home and the worksite through independent marketing organizations and insurance agencies. In addition, the company markets primarily graded benefit and simplified issue life insurance products directly to customers through television advertising, direct mail, Internet, and telemarketing. It sells its products through career agents, independent producers, direct marketing, and sales managers. CNO Financial Group, Inc. has strategic alliances with Coventry and Humana. The company was formerly known as Conseco, Inc. and changed its name to CNO Financial Group, Inc. in May 2010. CNO Financial Group, Inc. was founded in 1979 and is headquartered in Carmel, Indiana.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Vanin Aegea]

  I have heard many people comment about the insurance policies for cars, houses, life, assets, etc. The arguments always revolve around the same issue: Is it really necessary? What are the chances to be hit by a Hurricane, or to meet a sudden death? Well, nobody really knows. Some individuals however, sleep better when they know a policy backs their life investments. Here, I will look into three insurance companies that concentrate on different policies, or geographies. These are: China Life (LFC), and Conseco (CNO).

• [By David Fried, Editor, The Buyback Letter]

  Insurance holding company CNO Financial Group (CNO) and its insurance subsidiaries��rincipally Bankers Life and Casualty Company, Washington National, and Colonial Penn Life Insurance Company��erve pre-retiree and retired Americans.

• [By Jonas Elmerraji]

  Up first is CNO Financial Group (CNO), a mid-cap financial stock that's rocketed close to 60% higher since the calendar flipped over to January. Yup, it's been a great year for the market, but it's been a far better one for investors who own CNO. But that strong performance isn't showing any signs of slowing yet. In fact, CNO looks primed for even more upside in the fourth quarter.

  That's because CNO is currently forming a bullish pattern called an ascending triangle. The ascending triangle pattern is formed by a horizontal resistance level above shares -- in this case at $14.75 -- and uptrending support to the downside. Basically, as CNO bounces in between those two technical price levels, it's getting squeezed closer and closer to a breakout above that $14.75 resistance level. When that breakout happens, it's time to become a buyer.

  ACCO's price action isn't exactly textbook. After all, the pattern is coming in at the bottom of a downtrend, not after an uptrend. But ultimately, that doesn't change the trading implications of a move through that $7.50 level.

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

  That $7.50 resistance level is a price where there has been an excess of supply of shares; in other words, it's a place where sellers have been more eager to step in and take gains than buyers have been to buy. That's what makes a breakout above it so significant. The move means that buyers are finally strong enough to absorb all of the excess supply above that price level.

  Don't be early on this trade.

Best Growth Companies To Own In Right Now: Intuitive Surgical Inc.(ISRG)

Intuitive Surgical, Inc. designs, manufactures, and markets da Vinci surgical systems for various surgical procedures, including urologic, gynecologic, cardiothoracic, general, and head and neck surgeries. Its da Vinci surgical system consists of a surgeon?s console or consoles, a patient-side cart, a 3-D vision system, and proprietary ?wristed? instruments. The company?s da Vinci surgical system translates the surgeon?s natural hand movements on instrument controls at the console into corresponding micro-movements of instruments positioned inside the patient through small puncture incisions, or ports. It also manufactures a range of EndoWrist instruments, which incorporate wrist joints for natural dexterity for various surgical procedures. Its EndoWrist instruments consist of forceps, scissors, electrocautery, scalpels, and other surgical tools. In addition, it sells various vision and accessory products for use in conjunction with the da Vinci Surgical System as surgical procedures are performed. The company?s accessory products include sterile drapes used to ensure a sterile field during surgery; vision products, such as replacement 3-D stereo endoscopes, camera heads, light guides, and other items. It markets its products through sales representatives in the United States, and through sales representatives and distributors in international markets. The company was founded in 1995 and is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Brian Stoffel]

  I'm going to attempt something a little odd today, Fools. Even though Intuitive Surgical (NASDAQ: ISRG  ) makes up 6% of my real-life holdings, and I wrote just last week about why I'm holding my shares, I'm going to be giving you three reasons to consider selling the stock today.

• [By Steven Russolillo]

  For instance, the worst-performing S&P 500 component –�Newmont Mining Corp. — is down 48% this year. In December, the stock is down 3.6%. Abercrombie & Fitch Co.(ANF) is off 30% this year, including a 2.6% decline this month. Intuitive Surgical Inc.(ISRG), which has dropped 25% this year, is down 2.6% in December.

• [By Matt Thalman]

  Editor's note: This video was shot before Intuitive Surgical's (NASDAQ: ISRG  ) recent earnings forecast, in which the stock fell more than 18% in one trading session. The chart presented during the video does not reflect that move.

• [By Steve Symington]

  In March, fellow Fool Brenton Flynn wondered aloud whether the onus for recent robotic surgery errors should really fall on�Intuitive Surgical (NASDAQ: ISRG  ) .

Best Growth Companies To Own In Right Now: MEDIFAST INC(MED)

Medifast, Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the production, distribution, and sale of weight management and disease management products, and other consumable health and diet products in the United States. The company?s product lines include weight and disease management, meal replacement, and vitamins. It also operates weight control centers that offer Medifast programs for weight loss and maintenance, customized patient counseling, and inbody composition analysis. The company markets its products under the Medifast and Essential brand names, including shakes, appetite suppression shakes, women?s health shakes, diabetics shakes, joint health shakes, coronary health shakes, calorie burn drinks, calorie burn flavor infusers, antioxidant shakes, antioxidant flavor infusers, bars, crunch bars, soups, chili, oatmeal, pudding, scrambled eggs, hot cocoa, cappuccino, chai latte, iced teas, fruit drinks, pretzels, puffs, brownie, pancakes, soy crisps, crackers, and omega 3 and digestive health products. Medifast Inc. sells its products through various channels of distribution comprising Web, call center, independent health advisors, medical professionals, weight loss clinics, and direct consumer marketing supported via the phone and the Web; Take Shape for Life, a physician led network of independent health coaches; and weight control centers. The company was founded in 1980 and is headquartered in Owings Mills, Maryland.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jon C. Ogg]

  Medifast Inc. (NYSE: MED) saw its stock down 5% in evening trading on Tuesday after the weight loss player had soft sales and guided expectations lower. Shares were still indicated down about 5%, but volume has not yet started.

• [By Robert Hanley]

  Consumer-goods marketer Blyth (NYSE: BTH  ) , owner of weight-loss upstart ViSalus, has been in the doghouse lately, sitting near a 52-week low due to poor results in its weight-loss unit.� Despite a large potential customer base of overweight people worldwide, the industry has had difficulty generating growth lately, with data provider Marketdata Enterprises estimating that industry sales rose only 1.7% in 2012.� However, Blyth caught a bid in late October from a proposed combination with marketing-services provider CVSL, indicating that some people see incremental value in Blyth's businesses.�So, should small investors bet on this small cap or should they focus their attention on Weight watchers International (NYSE: WTW  ) and Medifast (NYSE: MED  ) instead?

10 Best Tech Stocks To Watch For 2014

We talk with author and media theorist Douglas Rushkoff, who has published 10 books on media, culture, and technology. He joins us to discuss his most recent work, Present Shock, about living in today's immediate, always-on world.

What happens when there's nowhere left for the market to expand? In this video segment, Douglas suggests that our views on productivity and employment themselves need to evolve as human attention becomes the new commodity. The�full version�of the interview can be found�here.

A full transcript follows the video.

The Motley Fool's chief investment officer has selected his No. 1 stock for the next year. Find out which stock it is in the brand-new free report: "The Motley Fool's Top Stock for 2013." Just click here to access the report and find out the name of this under-the-radar company.

Brendan Byrnes: Right. Another thing I want to talk about is productivity, efficiency. Do you think workers today are more efficient, more productive, with this "live in the now" era, or do they get distracted too easily?

10 Best Tech Stocks To Watch For 2014: iPass Inc.(IPAS)

iPass Inc. provides enterprise mobility services primarily in the United states, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. The company offers enterprise mobility services to manage mobility economics, high speed network connectivity, and proliferation of employee-liable mobile devices. Its enterprise mobility services include cost analysis, reporting, and policy compliance management tools; and Wi-Fi network access to enterprise customers. The company provides Mobile Connect, a service that collects and transmits usage data and statistics from the mobile device; Mobile Insight to report and analyze mobile usage across networks, connections, and devices; Mobile Control, a policy enforcement service; Mobile Office, which delivers 3G mobile data, Wi-Fi hotspot, wired broadband, and dial-up access services; and Mobile Network that provides broadband and dial-up network coverage. It also offers Carrier Wi-Fi enablement services that provide mobile network operators , telecommunication carriers, and service provider partners with the infrastructure to both address their network infrastructure costs and service capabilities, as well as to offer their subscribers global revenue-generating Wi-Fi based mobility services. In addition, the company provides managed network services (MNS) that offer wireline and wireless VPN connectivity services to branch locations of enterprises, retail stores, and financial institutions. Its MNS products comprise MultiLink VPN, a managed Internet-based IP VPN wide area networking service; Branch/Retail VPN that allow for various customer design requirements, backup to MPLS networks, or a hybrid MultiLink/Branch VPN network; and managed Wi-Fi services. iPass Inc. offers its services worldwide directly through its sales force; and through network service providers, telecommunications carriers, systems integrators, and value added resellers. The company was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Redwood Shores , California.

10 Best Tech Stocks To Watch For 2014: Vrx Worldwide Inc (VRW.V)

VRX Worldwide Inc., through its subsidiary VRX Studios Inc., provides content production, management, hosting, and licensing services for the online travel industry. It licenses Destination Content, a tool that helps consumers in comparing various destinations to determine their vacation desires; Hotel Content, which addresses the content demands of online travel agencies, as well as those of individual hotels and hotel chains; and Cruise Content that includes interactive maps of participating cruise line's ships along with virtual tours and still images of the staterooms and amenities available. The company also provides custom content solutions. It serves online travel intermediaries, hotels and resorts, cruise lines, and tourism boards. The company was formerly known as Cambridge Ventures Ltd. and changed its name to VRX Worldwide Inc. in December 2000. VRX Worldwide Inc. was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

10 Best Heal Care Stocks To Buy Right Now: Glu Mobile Inc.(GLUU)

Glu Mobile Inc. designs, markets, and sells mobile games worldwide. It develops original games based on its intellectual property comprising Big Time Gangsta?, Blood & Glory, Bug Village, Contract Killer, Contract Killer: Zombies, Eternity Warriors, Frontline Commando, Gun Bros, Men vs. Machines, Stardom: The A-List, Super K.O. Boxing and Toyshop Adventures. The company also develops games based on licensed intellectual property consisting of Build-a-lot, Call of Duty, Deer Hunter, DJ Hero, Guitar Hero, Family Feud, Family Guy, Lord of the Rings, Paperboy, The Price Is Right, Transformers, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, and World Series of Poker. It offers a portfolio of action/adventure and casual games to smartphones and tablet devices users through direct-to-consumer digital storefronts, as well as to feature phone users served by wireless carriers and other distributors. The company was formerly known as Sorrent, Inc. and changed its name to Glu Mobile Inc. in May 20 05. Glu Mobile Inc. was incorporated in 2001 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Stone Fox Capital]

  After ten days of strong downloads for a new hit game followed up by strong stock gains, Glu Mobile (GLUU) must prove that its monetization platform actually works. Its successful Deer Hunter franchise released the latest version on September 18. Deer Hunter 2014 quickly jumped to the top of domestic iPhone download charts and reached the top ten grossing iPhone games in the U.S. and set company records for global revenues from a single game.

• [By Rick Munarriz]

  The market seems to think so. Shares of Zynga soared 23% last week on Mattrick's move. Even Glu Mobile (NASDAQ: GLUU  ) -- another publicly traded mobile gaming player -- popped 15% higher on the week.

• [By James E. Brumley]

  Truth be told, with just a quick glance, Glu Mobile Inc. (NASDAQ:GLUU) doesn't look all that compelling. Oh sure - the stock's up from a low of $2.10 in late June to $2.83 right now, but that's not an unusual move for GLUU. We've seen them before, with most of them petering out rather quickly. When you take a step back and really take a good luck at the bigger picture though, you might agree that now would be a great time to quietly step into a Glu Mobile position.

10 Best Tech Stocks To Watch For 2014: Lionbridge Technologies Inc.(LIOX)

Lionbridge Technologies, Inc. provides language, development, and testing services. Its Global Language and Content segment provides product localization services, such as creating foreign language versions of its clients? products and software applications, including the user interface, online help systems, and documentation; and content translation services, such as translating and maintaining clients? Web-based content, eLearning courseware and training materials, technical support, and sales and marketing information. It also offers technical authoring, eLearning courseware development, and production and integration of content; and global language and content services delivery. The company?s Global Development and Testing segment develops and maintains on-premise, SaaS, and smart phone and tablet applications, as well as provides Web production services. This segment also offers various testing services under the VeriTest brand, including managed test teams, test proc ess design, test automation, functional testing, performance testing, globalization testing, and product certification. In addition, it provides specialized search relevance, online content editorial, keyword optimization, and related services. Its Interpretation segment offers interpretation services for government business and healthcare organizations that require experienced linguists to facilitate communication. It provides interpretation communication services, such as onsite interpretation, over-the-phone interpretation and interpreter testing, training, and assessment services in approximately 360 languages and dialects. The company serves the technology, mobile and telecommunications, Internet and media, life sciences, government, manufacturing, automotive, retail, and aerospace sectors in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Lionbridge Technologies, Inc. was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Seth Jayson]

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

• [By Seth Jayson]

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

• [By Jeff Reeves]

  Lionbridge (LIOX) is the kind of cheap, small-cap stock that investors love. This player has soared 60% in the last three months thanks to nice earnings and improving investor sentiment.

10 Best Tech Stocks To Watch For 2014: NetApp Inc.(NTAP)

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

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Laura Brodbeck]

  Wednesday

  Earnings Expected From: Macy�� Inc. (NYSE: M), Millennial Media, Inc. (NYSE: MM), NetApp, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTAP) Economic Releases Expected: Spanish CPI, British unemployment rate, eurozone industrial production, US Federal budget balance, Japanese industrial production

  Thursday

10 Best Tech Stocks To Watch For 2014: USA Mobility Inc.(USMO)

USA Mobility, Inc. provides wireless communications solutions to the healthcare, government, enterprise, and emergency response sectors in the United States. The company provides one-way and two-way messaging services. One-way messaging consists of numeric and alphanumeric messaging services. The numeric messaging services enable subscribers to receive messages that are composed entirely of numbers, such as a phone number. The alphanumeric messages may include numbers and letters which enable subscribers to receive text messages. Its two-way messaging services enable subscribers to send and receive messages to and from other wireless messaging devices, including pagers, personal digital assistants and personal computers. USA Mobility also offers voice mail, personalized greeting, message storage and retrieval, and equipment loss and/or maintenance protection to its one-way and two-way messaging subscribers. In addition, the company provides mobile voice and data services t hrough third party providers, which include BlackBerry devices and global positioning system location applications. Further, it offers machine to machine telemetry solutions for various applications that include asset tracking, utility meter reading, and other remote device monitoring applications. USA Mobility serves businesses, professionals, management personnel, medical personnel, field sales personnel and service forces, members of the construction industry and construction trades, real estate brokers and developers, sales and service organizations, specialty trade organizations, manufacturing organizations, and government agencies. The company is based in Springfield, Virginia.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sally Jones]

  
  USA Mobility Inc. (USMO): Reduced

  Up 26% over 12 months, USA Mobility has a market cap of $307.81 million; its shares were traded at around $14.22 with a P/E ratio of 13.10. The dividend yield of USMO is 3.52%.

10 Best Tech Stocks To Watch For 2014: Globalstar Inc.(GSAT)

Globalstar, Inc. provides mobile voice and data communications services through satellite worldwide. The company offers various communications services, including fixed voice and data satellite communications services; and satellite data modem services for asset-tracking applications, which enables customers to control directly their remote assets and perform complicated monitoring activities. It also offers duplex two-way transmission products comprising GSP-1720 satellite voice and data modem boards, which enable resellers to integrate the satellite modem processing with the specific application; SPOT satellite GPS messenger for tracing geographically, or mapping the location of individuals or equipment; and SPOT satellite communicators. In addition, Globalstar, Inc. provides SPOT HUG, a device for monitoring of a boat's location, status of the operations, engine, pumps, hatch, and door status, as well as valuables onboard; SPOT Connect, a one-way messaging device that s ends messages through the company?s satellite network from smartphone or other smart devices, such as tablets; and simplex one-way transmission products. The company sells its products primarily to government; public safety and disaster relief; recreation and personal; oil and gas; maritime and fishing; natural resources, mining, and forestry; construction; utilities; and transportation markets. Globalstar, Inc. distributes its products through independent agents, dealers, and resellers, as well as independent gateway operators. It operates approximately 34 in-orbit satellites and 25 ground stations. The company was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in Covington, Louisiana.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sean Williams]

  Extraterrestrial valuation
  Last, but certainly not least, we have Globalstar (NASDAQOTH: GSAT  ) , a service provider of voice and data over satellite networks. I rarely delve into over-the-counter CAPS recommendations, but with a $1.1 billion valuation this is one company I regard as egregiously overvalued that investors may want to avoid.

• [By Peter Graham]

  Small cap communications or Internet stocks American Community Development Group Inc (OTCMKTS: ACYD), Globalstar, Inc (OTCMKTS: GSAT) and SearchCore Inc (OTCMKTS: SRER) have been rather quiet lately for investors after making some noise back in September. Nevertheless, all three are still getting some mentions in various investment newsletters or alerts and not because they are the subject of paid promotions. So are these small cap stocks about to make some noise? Here is a closer look:

• [By Peter Graham]

  Small cap stocks Soul and Vibe Interactive Inc (OTCBB: SOUL), Globalstar, Inc (OTCMKTS: GSAT) and Poly Shield Technologies Inc (OTCBB: SHPR) have been getting some attention lately in various investment newsletters or investor alerts with at least two of these stocks being the subject of some sort of paid stock promotional or investor relations type of activities. With that in mind, just how hot are these three small cap stocks for investors or traders? Here is a quick reality check:

10 Best Tech Stocks To Watch For 2014: Web.com Group Inc(WWWW)

Web.com Group, Inc. provides Internet services for small- to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in North America, South America, and the United Kingdom. It provides .com, .net, .co, .org, and .info domains, as well as domain services, including domain name registration, domain name transfers, domain name renewal, domain expiration protection, and domain privacy services; develops and supports a subscription Web service package that includes the tools and functionality necessary for a business to create and maintain online presence, as well as provide tutorials and tools for customers to edit and manage their sites. The company?s primary Do It For Me subscription offering comprise eWorks! XL, which provides domain name registration, initial site design, technical support, Webmail, online Web tools, and Internet scorecard; custom Website design services comprising map and directions pages, external links pages, Website statistics, database applications, password security, and e mail services; and social media and call center services. It also provides various Do-It-Yourself Website building and marketing solutions for SMBs, such as hosting services, Website design tools, email marketing tools, and LogoYes design and brand building tools. In addition, the company offers online marketing services, including search engine optimization, local and national search engine marketing, subscription-based services, budget-based search engine marketing, and click search engine marketing services; lead generation services consisting of Leads by Web.com to contractors, homebuilders, and remodeling professionals; and eCommerce merchant services. Web.com Group, Inc. markets its products and services through outbound and inbound telesales, online channel, affiliate network and private label partners, distribution partners, resellers, and direct sales. The company was incorporated in 1999 and is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Alex Planes]

  What: Shares of Web.com (NASDAQ: WWWW  ) rose more than 10% this morning -- and are still up around a 9% gain -- after the company surprised the Street with better-than-expected quarterly results and solid guidance for the rest of 2013.

10 Best Tech Stocks To Watch For 2014: MediSwipe Inc (MWIP)

MediSwipe Inc., formerly Cannabis Medical Solutions Inc., incorporated in February 18, 1997, offers a transaction processing and security solutions for the medical and healthcare industries, using traditional, Internet Point-of-Sale (POS), e-commerce and mobile (wireless) payment solutions. The Company's electronic payment processing suite of services will enable clients to accept all credit cards, in store or online, debit and automated teller machine (ATM) cards and ACH check drafts for payment whether a retail, service, mail-order or Internet merchant. The Company�� card-based processing services enable merchants to process both traditional card-present, or swipe, transactions, as well as card-not-present transactions. The Company also operates online payment processing services, gift and loyalty card program programs and prepaid debit cards for consumers through 800 Commerce Inc., the Company's subsidiary, under the domain name www.800Commerce.com .

The Company offers MasterCard prepaid cards branded with corporations��brands. The Company offers a line of merchant services for the healthcare sector, including, Visa, MasterCard and merchant accounts, debit & credit card transaction processing, cash advance, gift/loyalty card programs and POS terminals through its��private banking network. 800 Commerce electronic payment processing and additional services enables the Company's clients to accept all credit cards, as well as debit and ATM cards for payment whether a retail, service, mail-order or Internet merchant. The 800 Commerce Suite of e-Commerce Services Include Merchant Processing Customized Solutions; Private Label Gateway; Credit Card Acceptance; Debit/ATM Card Acceptance; Private Label Debit Card Issuance; Internet Processing; Gift, Payroll and Loyalty Cards; Check Services; Wireless/Mobile Payment Platforms; Web Development and consulting, and ACH.

The Company competes with First Data Corporation, Total System Services, Global Payments, Authorize.net and Bank! of America's BA Merchant Services.

10 Best Tech Stocks To Watch For 2014: Micronetics Inc.(NOIZ)

Micronetics, Inc. engages in the design and manufacture of radio frequency (RF) and microwave components and sub-assemblies for defense and commercial customers. The company offers RF microwave components, including receiver components, noise components, voltage controlled oscillators, linearized and non-linearized power amplifiers, and broadband mixers and ferrites; and microwave integrated multifunction subassemblies comprising low noise receivers, up and down conversion modules, RF microwave distribution networks, transmit drivers, broadband frequency synthesizers, and phase/amplitude control networks. It also provides test solutions, such as carrier-to-noise, automated noise generators, bench-top noise generators, and hand-held power meter instruments platforms that perform various tests used in performance verification, and emulation of impairments in cellular/PCN/PCS, satellite, television, and cable modem communication systems. The company?s microwave and RF compon ents, and integrated multifunction subassemblies are used in various commercial wireless, defense, and aerospace products, including satellite communications, electronic warfare, and electronic counter-measures; test equipment, subassemblies, and components used to test the strength, durability, and integrity of signals in communication equipment. Its products are embedded in various radars, electronic warfare systems, guidance systems, wireless telecommunications, and satellite equipment; and microwave devices used on subassemblies and integrated systems. The company sells its products in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, and Central and South America. Micronetics, Inc. was founded in 1975 and is headquartered in Hudson, New Hampshire.

Dreamliner Again Tests the Patience of Norwegian Airline

One of the two 787 Dreamliners in the fleet of Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA remains on the ground in Bangkok Friday due to problem with a hydraulic pump. This is at least the fourth problem the Norwegian carrier has had with the planes built by The Boeing Co. (NYSE: BA).

First there was the brake problem, which grounded one Dreamliner in Stockholm. Then there was the electrical problem that forced the airline to transfer passengers to an Airbus plane. Next came a problem with a hydraulic pump in New York that forced the airline to pay 70 passengers to stay in the Big Apple for another night.

Best Dividend Companies For 2014

At least the planes weren't delivered until after the original electrical problems were found and fixed.

Norwegian Air Shuttle plans to expand its local service with Dreamliner flights to Asia and the U.S., and has another six Dreamliners on order. Boeing executives were in Oslo earlier this week to meet with the airline to discuss all the problems its been having. The airline's CEO told The Wall Street Journal, "If this continues, it is totally unacceptable." That's probably an understatement.

Boeing's shares have been trading down on Friday, and are currently changing hands at $118.39, down 0.8% for the day in a 52-week range of $69.18 to $120.38.

Utility Bonds: A Flight to Safety

The Federal Reserve’s plan to curtail its extraordinary stimulus will inject considerable uncertainty into the market over the next six months. That’s why utility investors should be extremely conservative and invest in only the highest quality stocks and bonds until the market’s direction becomes clearer.

What kinds of securities meet our stringent criteria? We favor stocks whose underlying companies generate strong earnings that support both long-term valuations as well as dividend growth. Additionally, these utilities must also sport solid balance sheets with manageable debt burdens.

Equally important, such fundamentally superior firms should do a better job than their peers of holding their value in the event of a short-term correction. Finally, in a rising interest-rate environment these securities will need to offer competitive yields.

The current investment climate is exceedingly tricky to analyze. Some forecasters say the US economy is on the upswing and will support rising market valuations even as the stimulus recedes. Meanwhile, other market gurus worry that the Fed is acting too quickly, as the economy may not be ready to support itself without the continuing largesse of our central bank.

Should the latter scenario prove to be the case, there could be a sharp market correction sometime in the early part of the year. A protracted selloff accompanied by other signs of a deteriorating economy could prompt the Fed to pause or even reverse its taper.

Adding to this quandary is the fact that valuations do indeed look rich according to the Shiller P/E ratio, a metric created by Nobel Prize-winning economist Robert Shiller. This indicator, which is also known as the cyclically adjusted P/E ratio, uses a 10-year average of inflation-adjusted earnings to value the stock market. Historically, the S&P 500′s Shiller P/E has averaged 16.5 over the long term (See Chart A). At current levels, the market is priced about 50 percent above its long-term average.

Chart A: The S&P 500 Looks a Bit Rich

Source: YCharts

Additionally, the market typically suffers a correction of 10 percent or more about once every 7.6 months, but it’s been more than a year since that’s happened, leaving some investors wondering if a sudden drop is imminent.

Some institutional investors aren’t waiting around for a correction, but are already actively betting against certain sectors, including utilities. The number of shares sold short in the utilities space now stands at 14.9 million, a fourfold increase in two months, according to data compiled in early January by Bloomberg and Markit, a London-based research firm. That accounts for almost 13 percent of shares outstanding for the sector, the most since September 2009.

In 2013, Utility Forecaster focused on identifying those equities that would survive and thrive in a post-stimulus environment where earnings growth will necessarily drive valuations again. At the same time, a rising-rate environment means dividend stocks will face greater competition from fixed-income securities, such as bonds. The yield on benchmark 10-year Treasury notes climbed past 3 percent in early January, narrowing the premium that utility stocks offer in dividends to 1.1 percentage points, close to the smallest gap since July 2011, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

As this premium narrows further, only the very best utility stocks will successfully compete against Treasuries. However, utility bonds will also offer an attractive and reliable source of income in this environment.

That’s because there’s a limit to how high the Fed will allow Treasury rates to rise so as to not hinder the economic recovery. While we don’t know what that threshold might be, the central bank has said it expects to maintain interest rates at historic lows “well past the time” when the unemployment rate falls below 6.5 percent. And given the recent disappointing employment report, the Fed is likely to maintain its accommodative stance toward monetary easing for some time, even as the stimulus ends. In fact, some economists predict short-term rates won’t rise again until 2016.

2014: The Year Bonds Have More Fun

Dividend stocks have usurped fixed-income investments as a mainstay of income investors’ portfolios the past few years. But bonds are about to have their day again. Of course, bonds are an important component of any investment portfolio, as they help preserve wealth during uncertain economic times while providing a steady stream of income.

As bond yields rise, income investors will feel compelled to reallocate a portion of their portfolios from dividend stocks to bonds. As this occurs, lower quality utility stocks will see their valuations erode, which means it’s prudent to reduce holdings of such names and reallocate toward bonds, while maintaining exposure to only the highest quality stocks in the utilities space.

Generally, corporate bonds tend to outperform Treasuries during a healthy economy and underperform during a sluggish economy. According to a report from Barclays, over the period from 1982 through 2010, Treasuries returned about 8.6 percent annualized versus a 9.7 percent annual gain for investment-grade corporate bonds. That 1.1 percentage-point gap in performance may not seem like much, but it’s actually quite significant when compounded over such a long-term period.

There are some market critics who say that rates are too low this time around to offer the same protection as in prior periods. But the advantage of a rising-rate environment is that one can reinvest interest income at ever higher rates and, therefore, achieve steadily increasing total returns on their bond investments. And since rates are low, there really is no reinvestment risk.

Furthermore, if a strong economic rebound fails to materialize, bond investors will at least preserve their principal, as other asset classes presumably decline, while if growth does occur, income increases as rates rise. But there are risks in each scenario.

Morgan Stanley says the first risk “is the Fed begins to taper and growth disappoints, fears of deflation rise and long-end rates drop back toward 2 percent. In this scenario, we see investment-grade credit outperforming high yield for a short period of time, but persistently lower yields would likely pull investors back into high yield and the selloff may be short-lived.”

The second risk, according to the bankers, is basically the opposite of the first: Growth is much stronger than expected and the Fed is slow to reduce accommodation. Rates rise rapidly in this scenario, potentially breaching 4 percent as inflation fears surge. As a result, investment-grade credit would underperform high yield, and the selloff in long-dated bonds could persist for some time as the Fed struggles to rein in inflation without choking off growth. That’s why investors should have a decent balance between high-quality utility stocks and investment-grade fixed-income investments.

Nevertheless, at least one bond expert does not believe such uncertainty will deter investors. “Fixed-income investors will likely take a more nuanced and differentiated approach to investing in utility bonds. In an environment characterized by low absolute rates and extremely tight spreads, utility sector bond investors will likely look for differentiated performance by searching for opportunities they believe are attractive from a risk-reward standpoint,” a bond expert told industry journal, Public Utilities Fortnightly.

He believes each investor will find an individual comfort zone in this new environment, but some approaches include emphasizing transmission and distribution (T&D) names over integrated names, and adjusting the mix of first mortgage bonds versus unsecured bonds. “With a number of pure wires companies trading right on top of integrated utility names–with generation exposure–utility investors might ask themselves whether taking the perceived lower risk T&D name makes more sense than buying a comparably integrated name at the same spread or for a pick-up of a few extra basis points,” he noted.

Bonds of All Shapes and Sizes

Over the past few years, utilities have issued quite a bit of debt to fund their large capital expenditure programs. So there’s no shortage of bonds from which to choose. And some utility bonds have sold off in anticipation of higher Treasury yields, which has created some enticing opportunities.

Last August, PG&E Corp (NYSE: PCG), issued a callable 30-year bond (due Aug. 15, 2042) that yielded 3.75 percent at 99 (CUSIP: 694308HA8). But six months later, the bond was trading at a discount of 86.76 and yielding 4.586 percent, according to the last trade recorded by FINRA-Morningstar.

Similarly, Ameren Corp (NYSE: AEE) in August issued a 10-year bond (CUSIP: 02361DAL4) that yielded 2.7 percent at 99.96, and six months later was trading at 95.66 and yielding 3.281 percent, according to FINRA-Morningstar.

While the PG&E and Ameren bonds are callable, a feature that can be problematic in a low-rate environment when investors depend on every dollar and are loath to lose their higher rate, in a rising-rate environment this is not an issue.

Investors can research these and other bonds at InvestinginBonds.com, a free website maintained by the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association.

Many market prognosticators have argued that this year investors should focus on the short end of the duration curve. Duration, of course, is the formula that takes into account a bond’s par value, coupon rate, yield to maturity, and the number of years until the bond matures.

In essence, duration tells you how much a bond’s price will move in response to each percentage point change in interest rates. According to a recent BlackRock report, if the economy continues to gather steam and we see more upward rate pressure this year, it could lead to a flattening of the yield curve: The long end won’t move as much since it already had a big reset last year, but the two-to-five-year range could be where rates rise the most.

But this discussion is really for those investors who may want to take advantage of pricing opportunities. According to a standard text on bond investing, “If you hold an individual bond to maturity, or if you have no intention of selling your bond anytime in the near future, such fluctuations are less important than if you plan to collect your money and run.”

Meanwhile, in addition to investor-owned utility bonds, for those seeking tax benefits and the highest level of safety, there are federally owned energy companies that offer fixed-income investments. Take for example, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), a self-funded, but wholly-owned, government corporation.

TVA’s bonds are backed by the revenues of one of the largest power systems in the US and carry the highest ratings. ”That’s something no other power company can offer,” said Tammy Wilson, TVA’s vice president and treasurer. It should be noted that TVA bonds are not guaranteed by the US government, but the TVA Act of 1933 grants power bond investors first pledge of payment from net power system proceeds. TVA power bonds also carry a state and local income tax exemption.

In discussing the value proposition of TVA, Wilson noted that as the Fed unwinds its stimulus efforts, “stable credit quality will become even more important as markets adjust.” TVA offers a variety of debt securities, including short-term discount notes (similar to commercial paper), retail long-term notes, and long-term power bonds with maturities up to 50 years, along with lease-backed and other financings.

Given the dominance of large (government-sponsored enterprises) GSE and other issuers in the triple-A space, TVA’s bonds can offer a diversification benefit to investors, according to Josh Carlon, TVA’s director of corporate finance.

While TVA does not comment on broad market trends, there has been more interest in shorter-term maturities from investors given the recent movements in rates, Carlon said. “We have also seen strong interest in TVA bonds from domestic investors over the past few years. This is likely because TVA has issued larger amounts of long-dated bonds, which tend to be favored by certain domestic investors with longer duration needs. We have seen a consistent foreign demand for TVA bonds of shorter maturities (10 years and in),” he said.

The TVA securities trade on the short-end like agency or GSE bonds, and like investor-owned utilities at longer durations. Investors will have to ask their brokers to locate these bonds, as the majority of TVA’s debt securities are held by institutional investors.

The aforementioned discussion does not even begin to scratch the surface of the fixed-income world in the utilities space, as firms have begun to offer many other types of innovative debt securities. We plan to highlight more of these choices in future articles, now that fixed-income investments have new relevance to investors’ portfolios.

Bet on Las Vegas Sands and Melco Crown in Japan

Following the footsteps of Macau, Singapore, and the Philippines, Japan appears poised to clear away regulatory barriers and allow legalized gambling in casinos.

Analysts at Citi believe that Japan could become the second-largest gambling venue in Asia after Macau. Japan could generate gross gaming revenue of $13.4 to $15 billion annually.

The Singapore example
The topic of opening a casino in Singapore can be traced back to 2005 when key legislation and administrative infrastructure were put in place. Five years later two integrated casino resorts opened their doors, Las Vegas Sands (NYSE: LVS  ) ' Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World's Sentosa.  Within two years tourism receipts in the country doubled from SGD 12.6 billion in 2009 to SGD 23.0 billion in 2012.

The Japanese government has an objective of increasing the number of overseas tourists from 8.37 million in 2012 to 18 million in 2016, 25 million in 2020, and 30 million in 2030. These aggressive targets could serve as a subtle hint that casinos, as part of integrated tourist resorts, are expected to play a big role in Japan's ability to meet these targets.

How to invest
Several key international players have legitimate shots of receiving gaming licences in Japan. Las Vegas Sands would be the top pick along with Melco Crown. (NASDAQ: MPEL  )  Meanwhile MGM Resorts  (NYSE: MGM  )  is unlikely to emerge a winner.

The likely choice
Las Vegas Sands has a tremendous record in Asia, and the company will generate billions of dollars of free cash flow from its properties around the world in 2016. The financing for any Japan project should be no problem, especially after management decided to forego its $30 billion investment in Spain.

The company only has one project in the pipeline, a $2.7 billion investment in its Parisian project in Cotai, Macau that is set to open by the end of 2015. Las Vegas Sands became the first foreign player to open casinos in both the Macau Peninsula and Cotai, and the company can leverage this experience in Japan.

Las Vegas Sands' Chief Operating Officer said during the company's conference call on Oct. 18 that "Japan would obviously be the most expensive investment we've ever made from a single property standpoint. The estimates range anywhere from $6 billion in Tokyo and up."

George Tanasijevich, president of Marina Bay Sands, has visited Japan every month for the past seven years to lay the groundwork for the company's potential expansion into the country.

Investors need to look no further than comments coming from Las Vegas Sands CEO Sheldon Adelson for proof that the company will likely emerge a winner in Japan.

Anybody, any journalist, any analyst, anybody in the politics, in government, says that the frontrunner by far in the close position is Las Vegas Sands Corporation, because we're the experts in both of what they're looking for. They're looking to create tourism. Our Integrated Resorts, in the first 24 months, increased tourism in Singapore by 41%. They generally acknowledge, we have changed Las Vegas with our business model and convention base. We changed Macau, everybody in the government would acknowledge that. We've changed Singapore, and we can easily change any other city...I think that we may have a -- caught between a rock and a hard place, meaning we think that Tokyo wants us and Osaka wants us. So we've notified both governments, we're happy to accommodate them.

Asian operator holds "home field" advantage
Melco Crown's City of Dreams is performing very well in Macau, and according to Foolish analyst Travis Hoium the company has been taking market share from Las Vegas Sands, which proves that it can compete with the "big boys." The casino operator's second Macau property, Studio City, is slated for completion in 2015.

Building on its success in Macau, Melco Crown has entered the Philippines market to jointly develop a casino property in Manila Bay, set to open in 2014, which proves that the company can succeed across Asia.

Melco Crown recently donated $10 million to Tokyo's University of the Arts with the intention of fostering cultural development in Japan, and the company has been studying the Japanese gaming market for several years.

Melco Crown's Lawrence Ho told Bloomberg TV that he believes his company's Asian roots give it an advantage in any new potential Asian market in regards to respecting and preserving the unique culture. Ho also revealed that this company is ready and able to invest $4 to $5 billion in Japan.

Don't bet on it
MGM Resorts has an objective of lowering its target long-term debt to $10 billion over the coming years from its current $13 billion. The company is currently heavily investing in its MGM Cotai resort, which is expected to open in 2016 or 2017 with an investment cost of $2.5 billion. This might discourage MGM Resorts from aggressively pursuing any Japanese opportunity.

Bottom line
Naturally, Las Vegas Sands stole the stage at the gaming conference by revealing potential project designs and explaining that the company is more than prepared to finance any project with its existing operating cash.

MGM Resorts president Bill Hornbuckle "wasn't as forthcoming with the design prototypes" during a company presentation at the Union Gaming Development Conference in Tokyo. The company has also revealed that it could invest "several" billion dollars, but it shied away from offering anything concrete and substantial.

MGM Resorts has simply not been as public as Las Vegas Sands and Melco Crown have been in revealing its Japan intentions, and the company is currently on the outside looking in.  

Melco Crown is also a top pick and its Asian roots provide the company with an advantage in an extremely culturally sensitive environment.

Investors looking for extreme long-term exposure to the Japanese gaming market should invest in Las Vegas Sands or Melco Crown, as they are the clear early choices to succeed in the country.

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Can Men’s Wearhouse Continue This Bullish Run?

With shares of Men's Wearhouse (NYSE:MW) trading around $37, is the company an OUTPERFORM, WAIT AND SEE or STAY AWAY? Let's analyze the stock with the relevant sections of our Cheat Sheet investing framework:

T = Trends for a Stock’s Movement

Men's Wearhouse is a specialty retailer of men's suits and a provider of tuxedo rental products in the U.S. and Canada. The company operates 1,049 stores in the U.S. and 117 stores in Canada in two segments, retail and corporate apparel, operated under the brand names of Men's Wearhouse, Men's Wearhouse and Tux, K&G, and Moores Clothing for Men. Men’s Wearhouse also offers dry cleaning and laundry operations through MW Cleaners. Men’s suits will always be in demand — the styles have stood the test of time. Look for Men’s Wearhouse to continue to provide its customers with the products and services needed to always look their best.

T = Technicals on the Stock Chart are Strong

Men's Wearhouse stock has seen a fair amount of progress in recent years. The stock is now trading near highs established last year, so it may be a bit of time before its next leg rises. Analyzing the price trend and its strength can be done using simple moving averages. The key moving averages are the 50-day (pink), 100-day (blue), and 200-day (yellow). As seen in the daily price chart below, Men's Wearhouse is trading above its rising key averages, which signal neutral to bullish price action in the near-term.

Taking a look at the implied volatility and implied volatility skew levels of Men's Wearhouse options may help determine if investors are bullish, neutral, or bearish.

	Implied Volatility (IV)	30-Day IV Percentile	90-Day IV Percentile
Men's Wearhouse Options	31.06%	13%	11%

This means that investors or traders are buying a minimal amount of call and put options contracts, compared to the last 30 and 90 trading days.

	Put IV Skew	Call IV Skew
July Options	Flat	Average
August Options	Flat	Average

As of Tuesday, there is an average demand from call buyers or sellers and low demand by put buyers or high demand by put sellers, all neutral to bullish over the next two months. To summarize, investors are buying a very minimal amount of call and put option contracts and are leaning neutral to bullish in the next two months.

E = Earnings Are Increasing Quarter-Over-Quarter

Rising stock prices are often strongly correlated with rising earnings and revenue growth rates, and the last four quarterly earnings announcement reactions help gauge investor sentiment on Men's Wearhouse’s stock. What do the last four quarterly earnings and revenue growth (ar-over-year) figures for Men's Wearhouse look like and more importantly, how did the markets like these numbers?

	2013 Q1	2012 Q4	2012 Q3	2012 Q2
Earnings Growth (Y-O-Y)	25.00%	-9.21%	23.38%	5.50%
Revenue Growth (Y-O-Y)	5.11%	8.23%	7.93%	1.03%
Earnings Reaction	5.67%	19.09%	-2.67%	18.68%

Men's Wearhouse has seen increasing earnings and revenue figures over the past four quarters. From these numbers, the markets have been very happy with Men's Wearhouse’s recent earnings announcements.

P = Poor Relative Performance Versus Peers and Sector

How has Men's Wearhouse stock done relative to its peers, Jos. A. Bank (NASDAQ:JOSB), Express (NYSE:EXPR), Destination XL (NASDAQ:DXLG), and the sector?

	Men's Wearhouse	Jos A Bank	Express	Destination XL	Sector
Year-to-Date Return	19.14%	-3.05%	35.52%	45.95%	30.11%

Men's Wearhouse has been a poor relative performer, year-to-date.

Conclusion

Men's Wearhouse provides elegant men’s apparel that has remained a staple in every man’s closet in the U.S. and Canada. The stock has been on a path toward higher prices but is now moving sideways before continuing on its next leg. In the past four quarters, investors in the company have been happy as earnings and revenue figures have been on the rise. Relative to its peers and sector, Men’s Wearhouse has been an average year-to-date performer. Look for Men’s Wearhouse to continue to OUTPERFORM.

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Alaskan Telecoms Pool Resources to Fight Verizon and AT&T

AT&T (NYSE: T  ) entered the small Alaskan telecom marketplace in 2007 when it bought Dobson Communications. Verizon (NYSE: VZ  ) shoved its foot in that door when it purchased spectrum licenses in 2010, and just last month it turned on its 4G LTE network.

But to say the Alaskan market for wireless services is small would be an understatement. It is minuscule. The state has only around 723,000 residents, and more than half of them, 393,000, live in and around Anchorage.

For what that means to a telecom operating in the 49th state, read what Alaska Communications (NASDAQ: ALSK  ) CEO Anand Vadapalli touted during his company's second quarter 2012 earnings conference call after it got the iPhone:

"Our net subscriber adds of about 2,900 was the highest subscriber growth we've had in four years."

For comparison, Verizon (NYSE: VZ  ) added 1.2 million and AT&T (NYSE: T  ) 1.3 million net subscribers during that same period.

The indigenous Alaskan telecoms, such as Alaska Communications, had, of course, been dreading the entrance of the mainland duopoly into their turf, and the two largest of those -- before the entrance of AT&T and Verizon -- have finally closed on an agreement that they hope will help them survive.

Alaska Communications and General Communications, (NASDAQ: GNCMA  ) , or GCI, today signed the network sharing agreement they proposed last summer.

That deal has both companies pooling their wireless infrastructure, their spectrum licenses, and whatever wireless assets they have, to design, build, and operate the statewide 4G LTE wireless network they're calling the Alaskan Wireless Network, or AWN.

"The wireless business is capital intensive, requires scale to compete successfully against national carriers, and demands more spectrum than either of our two companies individually owns," said Alaska Communications CEO Vadapalli and GCI CEO Ron Duncan.

"By combining our respective wireless assets, we can provide a state-of-the-art Alaska wireless network owned and operated by Alaskans for Alaskans. We believe that The Alaska Wireless Network will ... [allow] us to compete more effectively in the retail market."

The AWN will be owned one-third by Alaska Communications and two-thirds by GCI. Alaska Communications will get $100 million in cash and could get up to $190 million in preferred distributions over the first four years of the network's operations. GCI will get whatever distributions are remaining during that time period. After that, all distributions will be made on an ownership percentage basis.

However, even though the two companies will be using the same network, they will remain separate companies and competitors for the retail market. The deal could work, but it still leaves four companies fighting over a very small pie.

Actually, I think in this case, we'd have to call it a cupcake.

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