Top 10 Construction Material Companies To Buy For 2015

SolarCity Corporation (SCTY) has a lot more to add to today's advance of more than 4% according to Baird. The broker upgraded SolarCity to an "Outperform" from a "Neutral" rating. Analyst Ben Kallo upped his price-target to $70 from $50, which is potential upside of 24.4% to target as we type.

SolarCity engages in the design, installation, and sale or lease of solar energy systems to residential and commercial customers, and government entities in the United States. SCTY installs solar panels at minimal or no cost to customers who agree to purchase the energy from SCTY.

Kallo likes that SCTY was able to raise money with a debt offering backed by revenue from rooftop solar projects. Bloomberg New Energy Finance analyst Stefan Linder says, "This is really the first time we've seen asset-backed financing for a distributed-solar company." The green-tech company raised $54.4 million.

Top 10 Construction Material Companies To Buy For 2015: CEMEX SAB de CV (CX)

CEMEX, S.A.B. de C.V. (CEMEX), incorporated on January 20, 1931, is a global cement manufacturer with operations in North America, Europe, South America, Central America, the Caribbean, Africa, the Middle East and Asia. The Company is a holding company engaged through the operating subsidiaries in the production, distribution, marketing and sale of cement, ready-mix concrete, aggregates and clinker. As of December 31, 2009, the Company�� cement production facilities were located in Mexico, the United States, Spain, the United Kingdom, Germany, Poland, Croatia, Latvia, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Panama, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, Egypt, the Philippines and Thailand.

The Company manufactures cement through a closely controlled chemical process, which begins with the mining and crushing of limestone and clay, and, in some instances, other raw materials. The clay and limestone are then pre-homogenized, a process which consists of combining different types of clay and limestone. The mix is typically dried, then fed into a grinder, which grinds the various materials in preparation for the kiln. The raw materials are calcined, or processed, at a very high temperature in a kiln, to produce clinker. Clinker is the intermediate product used in the manufacture of cement.

Ready-mix concrete is a combination of cement, fine and coarse aggregates, admixtures (which control properties of the concrete including plasticity, pumpability, freeze-thaw resistance, strength and setting time), and water. The Company is a supplier of aggregates primarily the crushed stone, sand and gravel, used in virtually all forms of construction.

Mexican Operations

During the year ended December 31, 2009, the Mexican operations represented approximately 21% of the Company�� net sales. CEMEX Mexico is a direct subsidiary of CEMEX and is both a holding company for some of the operating companies in Mexico and an operating company involved in the manufacturing and ma! rketing of cement, plaster, gypsum, groundstone and other construction materials and cement by-products in Mexico. CEMEX Mexico, indirectly, is also the holding company for the international operations. The Company owns Tolteca, Monterrey, Maya, Anahuac, Campana, Gallo, and Centenario brands in Mexico. As of December 31, 2009, the Company owned 100% of CEMEX Mexico.

The Company competes with Holcim Ltd., Sociedad Cooperativa Cruz Azul, Cementos Moctezuma, Grupo Cementos Chihuahua and Lafarge Cementos in Mexico.

U.S. Operations

As of December 31, 2009, the Company�� operations in the United States represented approximately 19% of the Company�� net sales. As of December 31, 2009, the Company held 100% of CEMEX, Inc. As of December 31, 2009, CEMEX had a cement manufacturing capacity of approximately 17.9 million tons per year in the United States operations. As of December 31, 2009, the Company operated 14 cement plants located in Alabama, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Texas. As of December 31, 2009, it also had 48 rails or water served active cement distribution terminals in the United States. As of December 31, 2009, the Company had 336 ready-mix concrete plants located in the Carolinas, Florida, Georgia, Texas, New Mexico, Nevada, Arizona, California, Oregon and Washington and aggregates facilities in North Carolina, South Carolina, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, and Washington.

Spanish Operations

As of December 31, 2009, the operations in Spain represented approximately 5% of the Company�� net sales. As of December 31, 2009, the Company held approximately 99.8% of CEMEX Espana, the main operating subsidiary in Spain. The cement activities in Spain are conducted by CEMEX Espana. The ready-mix concrete activities in Spain are conducted by Hormicemex, S.A., a subsidiary of CEMEX Espana, and the aggregates activities in Spain ar! e conduct! ed by Aricemex S.A., also a subsidiary of CEMEX Espana.

U.K. Operations

As of December 31, 2009, the Company�� operations in the United Kingdom represented approximately 8% of the Company�� net sales. As of December 31, 2009, it held 100% of CEMEX Investments Limited, the holding subsidiary in the United Kingdom. The Company is a provider of building materials in the United Kingdom with vertically integrated cement, ready-mix concrete, aggregates and asphalt operations. It is also a provider of concrete and precast materials solutions, such as concrete blocks, concrete block paving, roof tiles, flooring systems and sleepers for rail infrastructure.

The Company competes with Lafarge, Heidelberg, Tarmac, and Aggregate Industries in the United Kingdom.

German Operations

As of December 31, 2009, the operations in the Rest of Europe consisted of the operations in Germany, France, Ireland, Poland, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Latvia, Austria and Hungary, as well as the other European assets. The Company is a provider of building materials in Germany, with vertically integrated cement, ready-mix concrete, aggregates and concrete products operations (consisting mainly of prefabricated concrete ceilings and walls). It maintains a network for ready-mix concrete and aggregates in Germany. As of December 31, 2009, the Company held 100% of CEMEX Deutschland AG, the holding subsidiary in Germany.

The Company competes with Heidelberg, Dyckerhoff, Lafarge, Holcim and Schwenk in Germany.

French Operations

As of December 31, 2009, the Company held 100% of CEMEX France Gestion (S.A.S.), the holding subsidiary in France. It is a ready-mix concrete producer and aggregate producer in France. As of December 31, 2009, the Company operated 239 ready-mix concrete plants in France, one maritime cement terminal located in LeHavre, on the northern coast of France, 20 land distribution centers and 42 aggregates quarries.

The Company competes with Lafarge, Holcim, Italcementi, Vicat, Lafarge, Italcementi, Colas (Bouygues) and Eurovia (Vinci) in France.

Irish Operations

As of December 31, 2009, the Company held approximately 61.2% of Readymix Plc, the operating subsidiary in the Republic of Ireland. The operations in Ireland produce and supply sand, stone and gravel, as well as ready-mix concrete, mortar and concrete blocks. As of December 31, 2009, we operated 43 ready-mix concrete plants, 27 aggregates quarries and 15 block plants located in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man. The Company imports and distributes cement in the Isle of Man.

The Company competes with CRH, the Lagan Group and Kilsaran in the Republic of Ireland.

Polish Operations

As of December 31, 2009, the Company held 100% of CEMEX Polska Sp. z.o.o. (CEMEX Polska), the holding subsidiary in Poland. It is a provider of building materials in Poland serving the cement, ready-mix concrete and aggregates markets. As of December 31, 2009, CEMEX operated two cement plants and one grinding mill in Poland, with a total installed cement capacity of three million tons per year. As of December 31, 2009, the Company also operated 39 ready-mix concrete plants and nine aggregates quarries in Poland. As of December 31, 2009, the Company also operated 10 land distribution centers and two maritime terminals in Poland.

The Company competes with Heidelberg, Lafarge, CRH and Dyckerhoff in Poland.

Southeast European Operations

As of December 31, 2009, the Company held 100% of CEMEX Hrvatska d.d. (Hrvatska), the operating subsidiary in Croatia. As of December 31, 2009, it operated three cement plants in Croatia, with an installed capacity of 2.4 million tons per year. As of December 31, 2009, the Company also operated ten land distribution centers, three maritime cement terminals, eight ready-mix concrete facilities and one aggregates quarry! in Croat! ia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, Serbia and Montenegro.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Monica Wolfe]

  Cemex SAB de CV (CX)

  As of the close of the third quarter there were nine guru owners of Cemex. These gurus held a combined weighting of 5.30%. During the third quarter, there were three gurus making buys and nine making sells of their stake in CX.

Top 10 Construction Material Companies To Buy For 2015: Cimpor Cimentos de Portugal SGPS SA (CPR.LS)

Cimpor Cimentos de Portugal SGPS SA is a Portugal-based holding company engaged in the construction materials sector. The Company is primarily active in the production and sale of cement and clinker. It also involved in the manufacturing and marketing of ready-mix concrete, dry mortars and aggregates. As of December 20, 2012, the Company operated in Portugal, Egypt, Cape Verde, Angola, Mozambique, South Africa, Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. The Company�� investments are held essentially through two subsidiaries: Cimpor Portugal SGPS SA, which holds the investments in companies dedicated to the production of cement, concrete, aggregates and mortar in Portugal, and Cimpor Inversiones SA, which holds the investments in companies operating abroad.

Top 10 Computer Hardware Stocks To Watch Right Now: Amcol International Corp (ACO)

AMCOL International Corporation (AMCOL), incorporated on December 3, 1959, is focused on the development and application of minerals and technology products and services to various industrial and consumer markets. It operates in five segments: performance materials, construction technologies, energy services, transportation and corporate. Its performance materials segment previously referred to as its minerals and materials segment is a supplier of bentonite related products. Its construction technologies segment previously referred to as its environmental segment provides products for non-residential construction, environmental and infrastructure projects worldwide. Its energy services segment previously referred to as its oilfield services segment offers a range of patented technologies, products and services for both upstream and downstream oil and gas production. Its transportation segment serves domestic subsidiaries, as well as third parties, is a dry van and flatbed carrier and freight brokerage service provider.

Performance Materials Segment

The Company supplies chromite and leonardite, and operates more than 25 mining or production facilities worldwide. It mines chromite, an iron chromium oxide, from open cast mines in South Africa and transport it to our nearby processing facility. Its primary uses include metalcasting, drilling fluid additive, and agricultural applications. Its performance materials segment conducts its business through wholly owned subsidiaries and investments in affiliates and joint ventures throughout the world. It consists of four product lines: metalcasting; specialty materials; basic minerals, and pet products. Its principal products are marketed under various registered trade names, including VOLCLAY, PANTHER CREEK, PREMIUM GEL, ADDITROL, ENERSOL, and Hevi-Sand.

The Company�� metalcasting products include blended mineral binders containing sodium and calcium bentonite and organic additives sold under the trade name ADDITROL. I! n the ferrous casting market, the Company specializes in blending bentonite of various grades by themselves or with mineral binders containing sodium bentonite, calcium bentonite, seacoal and other ingredients. It also has a line of formulated additives that introduce silicon and carbon in the melt phase of the casting process. In the steel alloy casting market, it sells a chromite product with a particle size distribution specific to a customer�� needs.

The Company�� specialty materials products contain bentonite and synthetic additives offering solutions for consumer and industrial applications. It also offers products for bio-agricultural applications. The markets and applications of its specialty materials products include fabric care, personal care, basic materials and pet products. It supply high-grade, agglomerated bentonite and other mineral additives used in fabric care products. It manufactures adsorbent polymers and purified grades of bentonite for sale to manufacturers of personal skin care products. The adsorbent polymers are used to deliver high-value actives in skin-care products. Microsponge and Poly-Pore are the principal trade names under which these products are sold. Its basic minerals product line supplies minerals to a variety of markets and industrial applications, including drilling fluid additives, ferro alloys and other industrial.

The Company�� pet products include sodium bentonite-based scoopable (clumping), traditional and alternative cat litters, as well as specialty pet products sold to grocery and drug stores, mass merchandisers, wholesale clubs and pet specialty stores throughout the United States. It is primarily a private-label producer of cat litter, and its products are marketed under various trade names. These products are sold solely in the United States from three principal sites from which it package and distribute finished goods. Its transportation segment provides logistics services and is a component of its capability in supplyi! ng custom! ers on a national basis.

Construction Technologies Segment

The Company�� construction technologies segment serves customers engaged in a range of construction projects, including site remediation, concrete waterproofing for underground structures, liquid containment on projects ranging from landfills to flood control, and drilling applications including foundation, slurry wall, tunneling, water well and horizontal drilling. Its construction technologies segment conducts its business through wholly owned subsidiaries and joint ventures throughout the world. This segment consists of four product lines: building materials; contracting services; drilling products, and lining technologies.

The Company sells lining and other products for a variety of applications, most of which are directed to preserving or remediating environmental issues. It helps customers protect ground water and soil through the sale of geosynthetic clay liner products containing bentonite. It market these products under the BENTOMAT and CLAYMAX trade names principally for lining and capping landfills, mine waste disposal sites, water and wastewater lagoons, secondary containments in tank farms, and other contaminated sites. It also provides associated geosynthetic materials for these applications, including geotextiles and drainage geocomposites.

The Company�� lining technologies product line also includes specialized technologies to mitigate vapor intrusion in new building construction. It also provides reactive capping technologies and solutions to contain residual contamination, reduce costs associated with ex-situ remedies, and aid in environmental protection. Products offered include Liquid Boot, a liquid applied vapor barrier system; REACTIVE CORE-MAT, an in-situ sediment capping material; ORGANOCLAY, which absorbs organic containments, and QUIK-SOLID, a super absorbent media.

The Company offer a variety of active and passive waterproofing and greenroof technolog! ies for u! se in protecting the building envelope of non-residential constructions, including buildings, subways, and parkway systems. Its products include VOLTEX, a waterproofing composite comprised of two polypropylene geotextiles filled with sodium bentonite; ULTRASEAL, an advanced membrane using a active polymer core, and COREFLEX, featuring heat-welded seams for protection of critical infrastructure. In addition to these membrane materials, it also provides roofing products and a variety of sealants and other accessories required to create a functional waterproofing system.

The Company drilling products are used in environmental and geotechnical drilling applications, horizontal directional drilling, mineral exploration and foundation construction. The products are used to install monitoring wells, facilitate horizontal and water well drilling, and seal abandoned exploration drill holes. VOLCLAY GROUT, HYDRAUL-EZ, BENTOGROUT and VOLCLAY TABLETS are among the trade names for products used in these applications. It also offer a range of drilling products used in the excavation of foundations for large buildings, bridges and dams; these products include SHORE PAC and PREMIUM GEL. Contracting services, which involve installation of products, are occasionally offered to customers for select projects.

Energy Services Segment

The Company�� energy services segment provides services to improve the production, costs, compliance, and environmental impact of activities performed in the oil and gas industry. Operating as CETCO Energy Services, it offer a range of patented technologies, products and services for all phases of oil and gas production, transportation, refining, and storage throughout the world. It provide both land-based and offshore water treatment, well testing, pipeline separation, nitrogen, coil tubing and other services to the oil and gas industry. The Company provides its services through subsidiaries located in Australia, Brazil, Malaysia, Nigeria, the United Ki! ngdom, an! d the United States, principally in the Gulf of Mexico and the surrounding on-shore area. Its principal services include water treatment, coil tubing, well testing, nitrogen services and pipeline. The Company helps customers comply with regulatory requirements by providing equipment, technologies, personnel and filtration media to treat waste water generated during oil production.

The Company's coil tubing services utilize metal piping, which comes spooled on a large reel. It provide both equipment and operating personnel to perform services ranging from acid stimulation, reverse circulation, cementing, pressure control, nitrogen injection, and other operations that involve pumping fluids into a well. Horizontal wells and shale completions are a large component of its operations. It provide equipment and personnel to help customers control well production, as well as to clean up, unload, separate, measure component flow, and dispose of fluids from oil and gas wells. Nitrogen services are provided in jetting wells that are loaded with fluid; stimulating wells, including fracturizing and acidizing; displacing completion fluids prior to perforating; inflating flotation devices for offshore installations, and pressure testing and other maintenance activities.

Transportation Segment

The Company operates a long-haul trucking business through Ameri-Co Carriers, Inc., and a freight brokerage business through Ameri-Co Logistics, Inc. primarily for delivery of finished products throughout the continental United States. These services are provided to its subsidiaries, as well as third-party customers.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Leading and Lagging Sectors
  In trading on Friday, Basic Materials shares were relative leaders, up on the day by 0.78 percent. Top gainer in the sector was AMCOL International (NYSE: ACO), up 9 percent.

• [By Seth Jayson]

  AMCOL International (NYSE: ACO  ) is expected to report Q2 earnings on July 26. Here's what Wall Street wants to see:

  The 10-second takeaway
  Comparing the upcoming quarter to the prior-year quarter, average analyst estimates predict AMCOL International's revenues will grow 1.6% and EPS will wither -16.9%.

Top 10 Construction Material Companies To Buy For 2015: Cimpor Cimentos de Portugal SGPS SA (CPR)

Cimpor Cimentos de Portugal SGPS SA is a Portugal-based holding company engaged in the construction materials sector. The Company is primarily active in the production and sale of cement and clinker. It also involved in the manufacturing and marketing of ready-mix concrete, dry mortars and aggregates. As of December 20, 2012, the Company operated in Portugal, Egypt, Cape Verde, Angola, Mozambique, South Africa, Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. The Company�� investments are held essentially through two subsidiaries: Cimpor Portugal SGPS SA, which holds the investments in companies dedicated to the production of cement, concrete, aggregates and mortar in Portugal, and Cimpor Inversiones SA, which holds the investments in companies operating abroad.

Merrill Lynch Continues to Add Top Stocks to Its Sell List

It has been impossible not to notice a marked increase in Underperform and Sell ratings emerging from the top firms on Wall Street. When you have a 30% market increase that is immediately followed by a 6% downdraft right after the new year starts, some firms start to look for stocks that need to be taken off the table. As we have pointed out recently, some names are simply fully valued. With other names, something may be broken and will not be fixed anytime soon.

In a new daily research report, the Merrill Lynch analysts again encourage investors to sell certain stocks that had been big favorites in the past. In an odd twist, while they keep many of the names as Sell-rated but lift their price targets. In some cases, the targets are raised dramatically. Here are additional names that are Sell-rated at Merrill Lynch.

BlackBerry Ltd. (NASDAQ: BBRY) has been circled by short sellers for years. Despite countless efforts to reboot the company, the smartphone revolution has knocked the company from former lofty heights to single digits. Short sellers covered 14,193,136 shares, or 13.2% of the outstanding shares sold short, in January. The Merrill Lynch price target for the stock is $6. The Thomson/First Call consensus price target for the stock is $7.15. BlackBerry closed Friday at $8.98.

Burger King Worldwide Inc. (NYSE: BKW) recently beat fourth-quarter earnings estimates, but it missed on revenues. Even though Burger King posted higher earnings in the quarter, its revenues have been soft due to difficult consumer discretionary environment in the United States. Government budget cuts, high tax rates and still-tightened credit availability continue to hurt consumers’ discretionary spending. Investors are paid a 1.1% dividend. The Merrill Lynch price target goes from $18 to $20. The consensus estimate is at $25.78, very close to where the stock closed Friday at $25.63. This could simply be a valuation call.

Entergy Corp. (NYSE: ETR) is also a stock to Sell at UBS and hit its list recently. The company has decided to stay the course with its nuclear power plants, and that does not sit that well with the UBS team. Possible litigation risks and the always possible nuclear accident risks are outweighing the positive dividend and demand for energy. Investors are paid a 5.3% dividend. Merrill Lynch raised its price objective from $60 to $62. The consensus target is $63.13. Entergy closed Friday at $64.49.

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. (NASDAQ: GT) may also be a straight valuation call. The stock roared last week on the back of good earnings. With bad weather severely slowing new car sales, and the stock very close to 52-week highs, the logic is there. Much of Wall Street does not seem to agree. Investors are paid a tiny 0.7% dividend. The Merrill Lynch target is raised again from $11 to $18. The consensus target is $27.20. Goodyear closed Friday at $26.76.

Hot High Dividend Stocks To Watch Right Now

Lexmark International Inc. (NYSE: LXK) is another name that has slowly, but surely, lost its cache as an industry leader. Once one of the premiere names in high-end printers, the company continues to lose market share. It also has very little to offer in terms of innovation and new and exciting products. The stock does pay shareholders a solid 2.9% dividend. The Merrill Lynch price target is $31, and the consensus price target is $31.75. That is far below Friday’s closing price of $41.12.

Molson Coors Brewing Co. (NYSE: TAP), like many beer companies, has seen beer consumption drop in favor of wine and liquor. The only standout in the recent poor numbers was an increase in sales of “above-premium beers.” Despite a new brewer opening up almost every day in the United States, Molson Coors accounts for nearly one of every three additional brews sold at the craft-brew level. Shareholders are paid a 2.7% dividend. Merrill Lynch lifts the price target from $50 to $52. The consensus target is $58.25. The stock closed Friday at $55.02.

We will continue to track the major firms on Wall Street for their Sell ratings. The sooner we can get that information to our readers, the better. Big institutional clients often get the reach around when it comes to rating changes, the smaller investors are not quite as lucky. That is a practice not likely to change anytime soon.

Stocks: Uncertainty abounds as investors return

Click chart for in-depth premarket data.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) It should be the first big trading day of the year Monday as investors and traders return to work in numbers, but there's a wary mood in the markets.

U.S. stock futures were swinging between modest gains and losses ahead of the opening bell Monday, after a lackluster start to 2014. Stocks ended mixed last week and trading volume was anemic.

U.S. investors and traders will likely be cautious Monday as they await Friday's jobs report and other economic news later this week.

Coming up Wednesday will be the release of minutes from the Federal Reserve's December meeting, when it announced plans to trim its monthly bond purchases by $10 billion to $75 billion beginning this month.

Later Monday, the U.S. Senate is expected to confirm Janet Yellen to serve as the next chair of the Federal Reserve, after Ben Bernanke's second term ends in January.

At 10 a.m. ET, the Census Bureau will release its monthly report on factory orders for November. At the same time, the Institute for Supply Management will publish its monthly report on the services sector for December.

European markets were mixed in morning trading after the latest purchasing managers' survey showed the euro zone services sector lost some momentum in December.

Many Asian markets reopened after an extended holiday break Monday and pushed lower. Japan's Nikkei fell 2.4% over the course of the day, playing catch-up with other international markets that declined last week. Chinese stocks also dropped.

The latest report from HSBC on China's services sectors showed a slower rate of growth in December, adding to the downbeat tone.

On Friday, the Dow rose slightly while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq finished lower again, adding ! to Thursday's 1% declines.

An ETF to Invest in Spin-Offs

A study of 85 spin-offs between 2000 and 2005 found that they beat the S&P 500 by as much as 45% in their first two years as independent companies, explains Michael Robinson in Money Morning.

Academics have come to similar conclusions. Two professors at Penn State University examined 30 years of market data, covering 174 spin-offs. Their study revealed that, in the first three years of operations, these new companies showed price appreciations of 76%, beating the S&P 500 (SPX) by 31%.

The Guggenheim Spin-Off ETF (CSD) specializes in just these kinds of deals. The ETF invests in technology, as well as a broad array of sectors, such as energy, restaurants, and entertainment.

But it includes three spin-off firms in particular that will help this ETF outperform the overall market's returns.

Exelis (XLS) is a leader in military technology, covering everything from surveillance to communications to advanced materials. The company became a stand-alone unit back in January 2011, when it was also spun-off from ITT Corp.

And the spin-offs from the old ITT unit aren't quite done yet. Exelis, itself, plans to spin-off part of its Information and Technical Services segment into an independent unit by the summer of this year in a tax-free transaction.

CSD is also tapping into the biotech boom. Another firm that it holds, and we like, is Prothena Corporation PLC (PRTA), a clinical-stage biotechnology firm focused on Parkinson's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders.

In December, Prothena signed a deal with drug giant Roche Holding AG (RHHBY) to develop and commercialize Parkinson's treatments that could be worth up to $600 million.

But Prothena has followed a circuitous route to achieve its current success. Elan Corporation acquired the forerunner of the firm back in 1996.

Elan went through a demerger of its discovery and early development efforts in December 2012, and Prothena was born. Since the shares began trading at that time, they are up more than 270%.

CSD also holds shares in a stock that has prospered after being spun-off from troubled Tyco—The ADT Corp. (ADT), which is best known as a leading home security firm.

But in reality, it offers much more than that. Its advanced sensor technology also is making ADT's home automation an integral part of the company's services that play off the mobile revolution.

At the same time, ADT does show the risks inherent in newly-traded firms. When the firm missed guidance for its fiscal 2014 first quarter, the stock sold off, losing more than 20% over five sessions.

That's one of the reasons why we think average investors ought to consider CSD as a great proxy for the whole spin-off space.

The ETF itself is up some 79% over the past two years. That's more than double the S&P 500's (SPX) roughly 36% return over the period. Not bad for an investment vehicle that costs just $43 a share.

CSD is an ETF that has winner written all over it. It provides a profitable combination of recent spin-offs, broad economic exposure, and access to some great tech stocks.

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Top 5 Sliver Stocks To Invest In Right Now

Most emerging-market stocks fell as Samsung Electronics Co.�� earnings missed estimates and planemaker Embraer SA (EMBR3) posted a surprise loss. Turkish stocks capped the biggest weekly loss since June after policy makers raised borrowing costs.

Samsung, the world�� biggest smartphone maker, retreated for the first time in a week in Seoul. Embraer, the world�� largest regional-jet maker, fell the most in more than a year in Sao Paulo. Akbank TAS, the Turkish lender part-owned by Citigroup Inc., dropped to a two-week low after profit trailed projections. Homebuilder Desarrolladora Homex SAB sank 30 percent in Mexico City after posting a record quarterly loss.

The MSCI Emerging Markets Index fell 0.1 percent to 961.53, with 433 of its member stocks falling. The decline pared the gauge�� five-day gain to 1.2 percent, a third weekly advance. About 55 percent of companies in the index that posted quarterly earnings this month trailed estimates. The Federal Open Market Committee will hold a meeting next week, and a July 31 report may show U.S. economic growth slowed in the April-to-June period.

Top 5 Sliver Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Maxim Integrated Products Inc.(MXIM)

Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. engages in designing, developing, manufacturing, and marketing various linear and mixed-signal integrated circuits worldwide. The company also provides various high-frequency process technologies and capabilities for use in custom designs. It primarily serves industrial, communications, consumer, and computing markets. The company markets its products through a direct-sales and applications organization, as well as through its own and other unaffiliated distribution channels. Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California.

Top 5 Sliver Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Menika Mining Ltd. (MML.V)

Menika Mining Ltd., an exploration stage company, engages in the sourcing, exploration, and development of mineral properties in Canada. It holds a 100% interest in the Reliance gold property that consists of approximately 977.7 hectares located to the east of the town of Goldbridge, British Columbia. The company also holds interest in the AVA property claims with approximately 2,336.479 hectares located in the Deadman valley of British Columbia. Menika Mining Ltd. was incorporated in 1974 and is based in Langley, Canada.

Top Services Stocks To Own For 2015: Crown Ltd(CWN.AX)

Crown Limited operates in gaming and entertainment industry primarily in Australia. It owns and operates two integrated resorts, including Crown Entertainment Complex in Melbourne and Burswood Entertainment Complex in Perth. The company?s Crown Entertainment Complex comprises 2,500 electronic gaming machines and approval to operate 500 table games; three hotels offering approximately 1,600 rooms, including 31 luxury villas; conference centre; banqueting facilities; 70 restaurants and bars; boutiques and retail outlets; a multi-screen cinema complex; a bowling alley; and an interactive gaming auditorium. Its Burswood Entertainment Complex includes approval to operate 2,000 gaming machines and 220 table games; 2 hotels; 22 restaurants and bars; a nightclub; a convention centre; 2,300 seat Burswood theatre; 20,000 seat Burswood dome; a day spa; and retail outlets. The company also owns and operates the Aspinalls Club, a high end casino in London. In addition, Crown holds int erest in casino/hotel properties in Macau, which include the City of Dreams, Altira Macau, and Mocha Clubs; and owns a portfolio of gaming investments comprising an online betting exchange, four casinos in Nevada and Western Pennsylvania, and a casino business in the United Kingdom. The company is based in Southbank, Australia.

Top 5 Sliver Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Westwood Holdings Group Inc(WHG)

Westwood Holdings Group, Inc. manages investment assets and provides services for its clients. It operates through two subsidiaries, Westwood Management Corp. and Westwood Trust. The Westwood Management Corp. provides investment advisory services to corporate retirement plans, public retirement plans, endowments and foundations, mutual funds, individuals, and clients of Westwood Trust. The Westwood Trust provides trust and custodial services to institutions and high net worth individuals, and participates in common trust funds that it sponsors. The company was founded in 1983 and is based in Dallas, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Will Ashworth]

  Even though APAM stock has been hitting its 10-month high in recent days, its yield is still 2.6% — 50 basis points higher than BLK, WDR and WETF. If you like asset managers that handle big chunks of institutional money while still playing the retail mutual fund game, this is the smart choice.

  Westwood Holdings Group (WHG)

  I first became aware of the Dallas-based asset manager Westwood Holdings Group (WHG) when I read about its founder, Susan Byrne, in an article that appeared in Fortune magazine several years ago. Her firm has been doing great things outside the bright lights of Manhattan ever since.

Top 5 Sliver Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Network Exploration Ltd. Cl A (NET.V)

Network Exploration Ltd., a junior mineral exploration company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties. The company focuses on base and precious metal properties comprising gold, silver, and copper. It has interests in the Caldera gold and copper prospect located in the Huasco province, Chile; Pistala property comprising 1,600 hectares in southern Peru; and 25 Strike quartz claims in Yukon Territory, Canada. The company was incorporated in 1983 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

Top 5 Sliver Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Stanley Black & Decker Inc.(SWK)

Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. manufactures tools and engineered security solutions worldwide. The company?s Security segment provides a range of mechanical and electronic security products and systems, as well as various security services consisting of security integration systems, software, and related installation, maintenance, monitoring services; automatic doors, door closers, and exit devices; healthcare storage and supply chain solutions; patient protection products; hardware; and locking mechanisms. This segment sells its products to retailers; educational, financial, and healthcare institutions; and commercial, governmental, and industrial customers through direct sales forces and third party distributors. Its Industrial segment offers mechanics tools and storage systems, including wrenches, sockets, electronic diagnostic tools, tool boxes, and industrial storage and retrieval systems; engineered healthcare storage and retrieval systems; hydraulic tools and accessor ies; plumbing, heating, and air conditioning tools; assembly tools and systems; and specialty tools. This segment sells its products to industrial customers through third party distributors and direct sales forces. The company?s Construction & Do-It-Yourself segment manufactures hand tools, including measuring and leveling tools, planes, hammers, demolition tools, knives and blades, saws, chisels, and consumer tackers; consumer mechanics tools; storage units comprising plastic and metal tool boxes; and pneumatic tools and fasteners for use in construction, remodeling, furniture making, pallet and manufacturing applications. This segment sells its products to professional end users and consumers through retailers, including home centers, mass merchants, hardware stores, and retail lumber yards. The company was formerly known as The Stanley Works and changed its name to Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. in March 2010. Stanley Black & Decker was founded in 1843 and is based in New B ritain, Connecticut.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Monica Gerson]

  Stanley Black & Decker (NYSE: SWK) is estimated to report its Q3 earnings at $1.38 per share on revenue of $2.82 billion.

  Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) is projected to report its Q3 earnings at $0.18 per share on revenue of $22.03 billion.

• [By David Trainer]

  Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. (SWK) is in the Danger Zone this week. It is also on April's Most Dangerous Stocks list. Last week I warned investors to watch out for stocks that are bid up due to optimism surrounding their particular sector. This week I present another, even more extreme example of sector hype causing a dangerous overvaluation of a company with shaky financials.

• [By Caroline Bennett]

  The Board of Directors for industrial tool producer Stanley Black & Decker (NYSE: SWK  ) has approved an increase to its quarterly dividend. The company's payout will go up $0.01 to a total of $0.50 per share, and will be payable on Sept. 17 to recorded shareholders as of Sept. 6.

Top 5 Sliver Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Data#3 Ltd (DTL.AX)

Data#3 Limited, together with its subsidiaries, provides information and communication technology (ICT) solutions company in Australia and the Asia Pacific. The company provides software licensing, software asset management, and workforce productivity solutions to optimize and manage the acquisition and use of software licensed in volume from global manufacturers; integrated solutions to design and deploy hardware and software infrastructure for the desktop, network, and data centre; and product solutions for procuring, configuring, rolling-out, and disposing of technology cost effectively. It also offers managed services to provide outsourced solutions for infrastructure operations, support, and maintenance; and people solutions to provide contract and permanent recruitment and human capital performance management. The company�s services include strategic consulting, software licensing, asset management, business productivity, SaaS, security, hardware procurement and lif ecycle management, mobility, recruitment and HR, managed operations and support, maintenance, IaaS, end-user support, datacenter, virtualization, systems management, network integration, disaster recovery, collaboration, end-user computing, and enterprise productivity applications. The company serves a range of industries, including banking and finance, mining, tourism and leisure, legal, healthcare, manufacturing, distribution, government, and utilities sectors. Data#3 Limited was founded in 1977 and is headquartered in Toowong, Australia.

Top 5 Sliver Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Amarillo Gold Corporation (AGC.V)

Amarillo Gold Corporation, a development stage company, focuses on the acquisition, discovery, and development of gold resources primarily in Brazil. The company�s principal properties include the Mara Rosa Gold project, which consists of 42 exploration permits covering a total area of 74,089 hectares and 3 mining concessions that cover an area of 2,552 hectares located near the town of Mara Rosa in Goias State in central Brazil; and the Lavras do Sul project, which covers a total of 220 square kilometers and is located in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. Amarillo Gold Corporation is based in Vancouver, Canada.

Top 5 Sliver Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Netease.com Inc.(NTES)

NetEase.com, Inc., an Internet technology company, engages in the development of applications, services, and other technologies for the Internet in China. It provides online game services to Internet users through the in-house development or licensing of massively multi-player online role-playing games, including Fantasy Westward Journey, Westward Journey Online II, Westward Journey Online III, Tianxia II, Heroes of Tang Dynasty, and Datang, as well as the licensed game, Blizzard Entertainment's World of Warcraft. The company also offers online advertising on its Web sites. In addition, NetEase has paid listings on its search engine and Web directory, and classified advertising services, as well as an online mall, which provides opportunities for e-commerce and traditional businesses to establish their own storefront on the Internet. Further, it provides wireless value-added services, such as news and information content, matchmaking services, music, and photos from the We b over SMS, MMS, WAP, IVR, and Color Ring-back Tone technologies. Additionally, the company offers community services, including instant messaging, online personal advertisements, matchmaking, alumni clubs, and community forums; and aggregates news content on world events, sports, science and technology, and financial markets, as well as entertainment content, such as cartoons, games, astrology, and jokes from over 100 international and domestic content providers. NetEase.com, Inc. was founded in 1997 and is based in Beijing, the People?s Republic of China.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Kevin Chen]

  Two companies that seem on an unstoppable path of profits are Giant Interactive� (NYSE: GA  ) and NetEase (NASDAQ: NTES  ) .�Meanwhile, Shanda Games� (NASDAQ: GAME  ) and Perfect World� (NASDAQ: PWRD  ) haven't done as well.

• [By Demitrios Kalogeropoulos]

  Following the customers
  That's what makes Activision's new title, Hearthstone, so important. With it, the company is making its first jump into free-to-play games, aiming to extend the Warcraft brand into casual and smaller scale titles.�And it's also targeting the Chinese market. Activision will be licensing the game to NetEase (NASDAQ: NTES  ) , the company that runs its Warcraft operation there and helped it bring popular games such as Starcraft to China.

Top 5 Sliver Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Liberty Global Inc.(LBTYA)

Liberty Global, Inc. provides video, broadband Internet, and telephony services primarily in Europe and Chile. The company offers broadband services over cable distribution systems, including video, broadband Internet, and telephony; and video services through direct-to-home satellite, or through multichannel multipoint distribution systems. Its analog video services comprise basic and expanded basic programming; and digital cable services include basic and premium programming, digital video recorders, and high definition programming, as well as pay-per-view programming, such as video-on-demand and near video-on-demand. In addition, the company offers voice-over-Internet-protocol and circuit-switched telephony services, as well as mobile telephony services using third-party networks. Further, it owns programming networks that provide video programming channels to multi-channel distribution systems owned by the company and the third parties. As of December 31, 2011, the com pany owned and operated networks that passed 33,262,100 homes; and served 18,405,500 video subscribers, 8,159,300 broadband Internet subscribers, and 6,225,300 telephony subscribers. Liberty Global, Inc. was founded in 2004 and is based in Englewood, Colorado.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Holly LaFon]

  Besides Yahoo, Loeb�� top holdings are AIG (AIG), Liberty Global Group Inc. (LBTYA) and Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (TMO), up 42%, 19% and 17%, respectively, from his average purchase price.

Top 5 Sliver Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Marshalls(MSLH.L)

Marshalls plc, through its subsidiaries, engages in the design, manufacture, and supply of landscape, driveway, and garden products for use in construction, home improvement, and landscape projects to domestic, public sector, and commercial end markets primarily in the United Kingdom. The company provides various consumer landscape products, such as paving and walling products for use in domestic driveways, patios, greenhouses, and garages to home improvement and home building markets. It also offers a range of natural stone, concrete, and fabricated products, including paving, kerbs, edging, surface drainage products, and street furniture to public sector and commercial end markets that are used to transform landscapes in retail and industrial developments in new build, and repair and maintenance projects. The company?s customers include builders? merchant groups, independent builders? merchants, garden centers, contractors, local authorities, and domestic consumers. M arshalls plc is based in Huddersfield, the United Kingdom.

Top 5 Sliver Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Sqi Diagnostics Inc (SQD.V)

SQI Diagnostics Inc., a life sciences company, develops and commercializes proprietary technologies and custom products for microarray and multiplexed diagnostics. The company offers SQiDworks diagnostics platform, a multiplex immunoassay instrument that automates the process of sample pipetting, serum dilution, plate incubation, washing, drying, and reporting of various assay marker results for each patient sample; QuantiSpot rheumatoid arthritis assay RA panel; and Celiac IgXPLEX assay, an anti-tissue transglutaminase. Its products under development include SQiDLITE platform and SQiDman analyzer; autoimmune vasculitis 4-plex; autoimmune thyroid panel 3-plex; anti-phospholipid syndrome panel 9-plex; IBD/Crohn�s panel 4-plex; IgX PLEX Lupus panel; IgX PLEX Celiac DGP panel; and IgX PLEX TNF assay, as well as IVDPlus-Plex assays that enables to multiplex diagnostic biomarkers simultaneously with therapeutic markers and drug efficacy markers for the purpose of patient thera peutic monitoring. The company also provides custom array printing, assay development, and scalable automation services. It serves clinical, academic, and diagnostic development laboratories; research laboratories; medical diagnostics manufacturers; and pharmaceutical companies. The company is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.

Top 5 Sliver Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Antares Pharma Inc (ATRS.W)

Antares Pharma, Inc. (Antares) is a pharma company that focuses on self-injection pharmaceutical products and technologies and topical gel-based products. The Company�� subcutaneous and intramuscular injection technology platforms include Vibex disposable pressure-assisted auto injectors, Vision reusable needle-free injectors, and disposable multi-use pen injectors. In the injector area, it has licensed its reusable needle-free injection device for use with human growth hormone (hGH) to Teva, Ferring Pharmaceuticals BV (Ferring) and JCR Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. (JCR), with Teva and Ferring being its two primary customers. The Company has also licensed both disposable auto and pen injection devices to Teva for use in certain fields and territories and is engaged in product development activities for Teva utilizing these devices.

In the gel-based area, it received Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval in December 2011 for its oxybutynin gel 3% produ ct, Anturol, for the treatment of overactive bladder. Antares also has a licensing agreement with Watson Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Watson) under which Watson will commercialize its topical oxybutynin gel 3% product in the United States and Canada. Its gel portfolio also includes Elestrin (estradiol gel) in the United States for the treatment of moderate-to-severe vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause. Antares has designed disposable, pressure assisted auto injector devices to address acute medical needs, such as allergic reactions, migraine headaches, acute pain, emesis and other daily therapies.

Pressure Assisted Injection Devices

The Company�� Pressure Assisted Injection Devices consists of three products: reusable needle-free injectors, disposable pressure assisted auto injectors and disposable pen injectors. Reusable needle-free injectors deliver precise medication doses through high-speed, pressurized liquid penetration of the skin without a needle. The injector employs a disposabl! e! plastic needle-free syringe, which offers liquid medication delivery through an opening that is approximately half the diameter of a standard, 30-gauge needle.

Disposable pressure assisted auto injectors is a technology of controlled pressure delivery of drugs into the body utilizing a spring power source. The Vibex is designed to provide fast subcutaneous or intramuscular injections of up to 0.5ml with minimal discomfort and improved convenience in conjunction with the enhanced safety of a shielded needle. Disposable pen injectors are needle-based devices designed to deliver multiple injections from multi-dose drug cartridges. The devices contain mechanisms that specify the dose to be delivered by defining the amount of movement by the stopper in the cartridge with each device actuation.

The Vision/Tjet has been sold for use in more than 30 countries to deliver either insulin or hGH. The product features a reusable, spring-based power source and disposable needle-free syringe, which acts as the pathway for the injectable drug through the skin and allows for viewing of the medication dose prior to injection. The product is also reusable, with each device designed to last for approximately 3,000 injections (or approximately two years) while the needle-free syringe, when used with insulin or hGH, is disposable after approximately one week when used by a single patient for injecting from multi-dose vials. The Vision/Tjet administers injectables by using a spring to push the active ingredient in solution or suspension through a micro-fine opening in the needle-free syringe. The opening is approximately half the diameter of a 30-gauge needle. The Vision/Tjet is primarily used in the United States, Europe, Asia and Japan.

Antares has designed disposable, pressure assisted auto injector devices to address acute medical needs, such as allergic reactions, migraine headaches, acute pain, emesis and other daily the rapies. Its Vibex disposable product combines a low-energ! y, ! spri! ng-ba! sed power source with a hidden needle, which delivers up to 0.5ml of the needed drug solution subcutaneously or intramuscularly. Antares is also developing a Vibex MTX auto injector for delivery of methotrexate for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. The Company�� multi use, disposable pen injector complements its portfolio of single-use pressure assisted auto injector devices. The disposable pen injector device is designed to deliver drugs by injection through needles from multi- dose cartridges. The disposable pen is in the stage of development where devices are being used in clinical evaluations.

Transdermal Products

The Company�� ATD system penetrates the skin to deliver a variety of treatments. The gels consist of a hydro-alcoholic base, including a combination of permeation enhancers. Products being developed/ commercialized include Anturol, Elestrin and Nestragel. Elestrin is a transdermal estradiol gel for the treatment of moderate-to-se vere vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause. Its other injectable drugs that are presently self-administered and may be suitable for injection with its systems include therapies for the prevention of blood clots and treatments for multiple sclerosis, migraine headaches, inflammatory diseases, impotence, infertility, acquired immune deficiency symdrome (AIDS) and hepatitis.

The Company competes with Ypsomed AG, SHL Group AB, OwenMumford Ltd., West Pharmaceuticals, Becton Dickinson, Haselmeir GmbH, Elcam Medical, Vetter Pharma, Bioject Medical Technologies Inc., The Medical House PLC, Watson, Abbott, Eli Lilly, Auxillium, Inc., Endo Pharmaceuticals, Teva, Mylan, Roxane, Bedford Labs, APP Pharmaceuticals, Hospira, Pfizer, GSK/Astellas, Warner Chilcott and Allergan.

Top 5 Sliver Stocks To Invest In Right Now: PPG Industries Inc.(PPG)

PPG Industries, Inc. manufactures and supplies protective and decorative coatings. The company offers coatings products for automotive and commercial transport/fleet repair and refurbishing, specialty coatings for signs, and light industrial coatings; and sealants, coatings, and technical cleaners/transparencies for commercial, military, regional jet, general aviation aircraft, and transparent armor for military land vehicles. It also provides coatings and finishes for the protection of metals and structures to metal fabricators, heavy duty maintenance contractors, and manufacturers of ships, bridges, rail cars, and shipping containers; and coatings to painting and maintenance contractors. In addition, PPG sells industrial and automotive coatings to manufacturing companies; adhesives and sealants for the automotive industry; metal pretreatments and related chemicals; and coatings and inks for aerosol, food, and beverage containers. Further, it supplies lenses, sunlenses, a nd optical lens materials; amorphous precipitated silicas for tire and battery separator markets; and Teslin substrate used in radio frequency identification tags and labels, e-passports, drivers? licenses, and identification cards applications. Additionally, PPG offers chlor-alkali and derivative products, such as chlorine, caustic soda, vinyl chloride monomer, chlorinated solvents, calcium hypochlorite, ethylene dichloride, hydrochloric acid, and phosgene derivatives to chemical processing, rubber and plastics, paper, minerals, metals, and water treatment industries. It also produces flat glass and continuous-strand fiber glass for commercial and residential construction, wind energy, energy infrastructure, transportation, and electronics industries. PPG sells its products through company-owned stores, home centers, paint dealers, and independent distributors, as well as directly to customers worldwide. The company was founded in 1883 and is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pe nnsylvania.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Laura Brodbeck]

  Thursday

  Earnings Expected From: UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE: UNH), Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ), PrivateBancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: PVTB), PPG Industries, Inc. (NYSE: PPG), Philip Morris International Inc (NYSE: PM), Nokia Corporation (NYSE: NOK), Peabody Energy Corporation (NYSE: BTU), Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ: ISRG), Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE: CMG) Economic Releases Expected: Chinese GDP, Chinese industrial production, Chinese retail sales, US industrial production, US housing starts, US building permits

  Friday

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  But the industry has gone through some major merger and acquisition activity recently. Sherwin-Williams announced last November that it will acquire Mexico's Consorcio Comex for $2.34 billion, giving the company greater geographical and product diversity. That'll be an important source of growth for Sherwin-Williams, as rival PPG Industries (NYSE: PPG  ) recently closed on its $1.05 billion acquisition of Akzo Nobel and its architectural coatings business. Moreover, with DuPont (NYSE: DD  ) having sold off its performance-coatings business, which focuses largely on automotive paint, to private equity firm Carlyle Group, Sherwin-Williams needed to boost its size in order to keep up with its competition.

• [By Sean Williams]

  Paint and coating specialist PPG Industries (NYSE: PPG  ) advanced 6.2% after following Peabody's lead, and reporting solid first-quarter earnings results. For the quarter, PPG reported what was essentially flat revenue at $3.33 billion, and a profit of $1.58 per share, versus consensus estimates calling for $3.44 billion in revenue, and $1.56 in EPS. Furthermore, PPG boosted its quarterly dividend by 3%, to $0.61, for a new forward yield of 1.7%. The quarter was influenced by a $2.19 billion sale of one of its units to Georgia Gulf, but it speaks more to the ongoing strength in the paint business from a consumer and commercial level.

• [By Rich Duprey]

  Privately held specialty-coatings producer Deft will be acquired by PPG Industries (NYSE: PPG  ) for an undisclosed sum.�

  Deft's primary business is supplying structural primers and military topcoats to the North American aviation industry, as well as architectural and industrial coatings, though they comprise much�smaller parts of its business.

Market Hustle: U.S. Stocks Mixed on Yellen Assurances, China Data

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- U.S. stocks were mixed Wednesday, taking a breather after dovish statements on monetary policy from Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen and better-than-expected data from China fueled a rally earlier in the session.
The S&P 500 was gaining 0.06% to 1,820.86 while the Dow Jones Industrial Average was off 0.10% to 15,979.53. The Nasdaq was 0.28% higher at 4,202.91. U.S. stock indices closed higher for the fourth consecutive session Tuesday as Yellen underscored in her testimony before the House Financial Services Committee that the central bank will continue to scale back its economic stimulus program at a guarded pace. She reminded investors that the window for raising the short-term fed funds rate remains firmly shuttered. Also fueling positive sentiment was the House's vote to raise the government debt ceiling until March 2015. International markets advanced after Yellen's appearance. The FTSE 100 in the U.K. on Wednesday was up 0.17%, the DAX in Germany was up 1.09%, the Hong Kong Hang Seng rose 1.47%, and the Nikkei 225 in Japan increased 0.56%. Caterpillar (CAT) was the top gainer in the Dow, up 1.6%, while Trip Advisor (TRIP) led gains in the S&P 500, adding 6.9% after it posted Tuesday a 26% rise in quarterly revenue, helped by a jump in display-based advertising. Bank of England officials now forecast that the U.K. economy will grow by 3.4% this year, faster than the 2.8% forecast in November. The BOE also said it expects upcoming data to show the unemployment rate in the U.K. fell to 7% in January. China's exports unexpectedly increased 10.6% in January, assuaging some concerns about the health of emerging market economies. St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank President James Bullard said the central bank would probably have to return to more "traditional" policy-making and "make more qualitative judgments" on when to tighten policy. Bullard was speaking at a panel in New York on Wednesday. The U.S. Treasury budget is due at 2 p.m. EST with a deficit of $30.8 billion expected for January.  Fourteen companies in the S&P 500 are expected to report earnings on Wednesday. Cisco (CSCO) is expected by analysts to report fiscal second-quarter earnings of 46 cents a share on revenue of $11.03 billion. Zillow (Z), the real estate Web site, is forecast to report fourth-quarter earnings of 7 cents a share. Whole Foods Market (WFM) is expected by Wall Street to report fiscal first-quarter earnings of 44 cents a share on revenue of $4.29 billion.  -- Written by Jane Searle in New York

Stock quotes in this article: DJI, ^GSPC, ^IXIC, CSCO, WFM, Z, CAT, TRIP 

3 Stocks Spiking on Big 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.

>>4 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 Toxic Stocks to Sell Now

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

RetailMeNot

RetailMeNot (SALE) operates a digital coupon marketplace that connects consumers with retailers and brands. This stock closed up 3.4% to $38.54 in Friday's trading session.

Friday's Volume: 2.58 million

Three-Month Average Volume: 634,226

Volume % Change: 275%

>>5 Stocks Under $10 Set to Soar

From a technical perspective, SALE trended higher here with heavy upside volume. This stock has been uptrending strong for the last two months, with shares moving higher from its low of $25.51 to its recent high of $39.38. During that uptrend, shares of SALE have been consistently making higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. This spike on Friday is quickly pushing shares of SALE within range of triggering a big breakout trade. That trade will hit if SALE manages to take out some key overhead resistance levels at $39.38 to its all-time high at $39.50 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in SALE as long as it's trending above $36 or $35.50 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 634,226 shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then SALE will set up to enter new all-time-high territory, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that breakout are $45 to $50.

Lannett

Lannett (LCI) develops, manufactures, packages, markets and distributes generic versions of branded pharmaceutical products in the U.S. This stock closed up 12.3% at $35.97 in Friday's trading session.

Friday's Volume: 1.25 million

Three-Month Average Volume: 341,082

Volume % Change: 255%

>>5 Big Trades to Take in February

From a technical perspective, LCI gapped up sharply higher here back above its 50-day moving average of $33.02 with strong upside volume. This move is quickly pushing shares of LCI within range of triggering a major breakout trade. That trade will hit if LCI manages to take out some near-term overhead resistance levels at $36.92 to its 52-week high at $38.16 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in LCI as long as it's trending above Friday's low of $35.05 or above its 50-day at $33.02 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that's near or above 341,082 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then LCI will set up to enter new 52-week-high territory, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that breakout are $45 to $50.

Liquidity Services

Liquidity Services (LQDT), operates online auction marketplaces for sellers and buyers of surplus, salvage and scrap assets in the U.S. This stock closed up 15.5% at $24.61 in Friday's trading session.

Friday's Volume: 2.07 million

Three-Month Average Volume: 676,782

Volume % Change: 239%

>>5 Stocks Insiders Love Right Now

From a technical perspective, LQDT gapped up sharply higher here back above its 50-day moving average of $22.20 with strong upside volume. This move also pushed shares of LQDT into breakout territory, since the stock took out some near-term overhead resistance levels at $24.01 to $24.24 and at $24.50. Market players should now look for a continuation move higher in the short-term if LQDT manages to take out Friday's high of $25.74 with strong volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in LQDT as long as it's trending above Friday's low of $23.08 or above its 50-day at $22.20 and then once it sustains a move or close above $25.74 with volume that's near or above 676,782 shares. If we get that move soon, then LQDT will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $28 to its 200-day moving average of $29.24. Any high-volume move above those levels will then give LQDT a chance to tag $32.

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:

Top Warren Buffett Stocks To Invest In Right Now

>>3 Hot Stocks to Trade (or Not)

>>4 Stocks Under $10 Moving Higher

>>5 Ways to Invest Like a Pension Fund

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.

At Work: How to pursue your dream and get paid

What can you do when you hate your career but must support you and your family?

In the 27 years I have been writing about careers and helping people steer theirs, this question has popped up conservatively, 9,000 times.

STORY: 5 ways to use Web to score dream job
COLUMN: Live the dream and do what you love

It is at the core of just about every career issue. It is the epitome of the war that rages mercilessly in all of us: the desire to be happy vs. the desire for security.

Even if you don't know what you would rather be doing, the dilemma fumes.

It goes like this: "I hate what I do, but I can't quit and find what I want. I have to support myself!"

And if you have no career-related position now, it still wraps itself around every thought you have: "I can't try that. Or even that. What if doesn't work out? I have to support myself!"

What if I told you you can have it all, a way to be happy and secure?

First, a quick comment on security. Even with a job, you are never safe. A multitude of circumstances could be brewing or crop up without warning.

Then "security" can go poof.

But for the purpose of our discussion, let's define feeling secure as having a way to financially cover the basics.

Now, for how to be both happy and secure — no matter which scenario fits you.

Researching the steps needed to secure your dream job while you still have your less-than-ideal work can help you parachute into what you want.(Photo: Getty Images)

Step 1. Really, truly decide to be all in.

Say it. "I choose to go after a new career as an editor and proofreader." "I choose to follow my dream to start my salsa verde burrito stand."

We're not talking a sorta, maybe, kinda dec! ision here.

Make your mind up. Resolve to do it.

Something magical happens when you are all in. You jump to the other side, the I-have-chosen side that propels you forward.

Before that, you were on the I-can't-do-this-because side that keeps you stuck.

Once you're all in, you have to have a to-do list. You'll have places to go, people to see and research to conduct.

This is exhilarating! You're doing what will move you toward this thing you want. How can you not feel happy?

Step 2. Map out a reasonable timetable based on what needs to happen first.

What's do you need to do to achieve this? If you need to beef up your experience as a proofreader to show that you're qualified, how many freelance assignments or freebies must you do? How much time will that take?

How many evenings or weekends can you devote to get that done? What will it take? Do you need to take a class, talk to certain people, save money, buy equipment?

What will that take? Six months? A year?

Thinking this through helps you figure out a realistic time frame and see that you're moving toward something you want.

Wouldn't that make you happy?

It never fails. Whenever I'm working with people who do these steps, good things happen.

Suddenly, their day jobs are not so horrible. Relationships and projects improve because they themselves are different.

They are in higher spirits because they see they're working toward a different and better future.

Pie in the sky?

Not if you give up the obsession to arrive and that you must get there now. Not if you take the first step, then the next one that will move you onward.

Before you know it, you will be happier. You'll also see that the only security is inside yourself.

Career consultant Andrea Kay is the author of This Is How To Get Your Next Job: An Inside Look at What Employers Really Want. Reach her at andrea@andreakay.com. Twitter: @AndreaKayCareer.

All 50 States Have Gas Prices Over $3

In a sign that gasoline prices may not take a predicted dip, the cost of a gallon of regular has moved above $3 in all 50 states. Even states near refineries and large oil fields no longer can boast they have broken the $3 barrier on the downside. As oil prices pick up, the trend is a sign that the American consumer cannot count on a low cost to fueling their cars to be an economic advantage to their household budgets, at least in the early part of 2014.

Gas prices never fell much below the $4 level in several states. They are still above $3.50 in New York, California and six other states, according to research firm GasBuddy. Among them, these states have 20% of the U.S. population, so the effects of high gas prices are more widespread than a simple count of the 50 states would indicate.

At the other end of the spectrum, where gas prices did drop below $3, now 13 states have moved up to between $3 and $3.10. These include oil-rich states and those near Gulf of Mexico refinery capacity — Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi. Also on the list are northern Plains states, with their small populations near shale deposits — South Dakota, Wyoming and Montana. Gas prices are traditionally very low in these states.

The most closely watched barometer for gasoline price direction has always been oil, even if the relationship can be distorted by refinery capacity and efficiency. After a very sharp dip in early 2014, it has taken an equally sharp rise to more than $97 a barrel.

After a relative period of peace in many oil producing nations in the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa, tensions in several have flared up again. Additionally, very cold weather in the United States and northern Europe has driven demand. Additionally, several agencies, including the International Monetary Fund, believe that global gross domestic product will expand more than previously expected this year. Unless production capacity rises sharply at the same time, oil prices likely will remain at current levels, or rise higher.

Top Solar Stocks For 2015

Gas prices across all 50 states may well be a trend that is here to stay for the foreseeable future.

5 Best Energy Stocks For 2014

Clayton Williams Energy (Nasdaq: CWEI  ) is expected to report Q1 earnings around April 24. Here's what Wall Street wants to see:

The 10-second takeaway
Comparing the upcoming quarter to the prior-year quarter, average analyst estimates predict Clayton Williams Energy's revenues will decrease -8.9% and EPS will shrink -32.8%.

The average estimate for revenue is $99.4 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.43.

Revenue details
Last quarter, Clayton Williams Energy logged revenue of $101.6 million. GAAP reported sales were 4.6% lower than the prior-year quarter's $105.5 million.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Dollar amounts in millions. Non-GAAP figures may vary to maintain comparability with estimates.

EPS details
Last quarter, EPS came in at $0.14. GAAP EPS were $0.14 for Q4 against -$1.28 per share for the prior-year quarter.

5 Best Energy Stocks For 2014: IHS Inc. (IHS)

IHS Inc. (IHS), incorporated on May 5, 1994, is a source of information and insight in areas, such as energy and power; design and supply chain; defense, risk, and security; environment, health and safety (EHS) and sustainability; country and industry forecasting, and commodities, pricing, and cost. The Company is organized by geographies into three business segments: Americas, which includes the United States, Canada, and Latin America; EMEA, which includes Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, and APAC (Asia Pacific). IHS sources data and transforms it into information and insight that businesses, Governments, and others use every day to make decisions. Its product development teams have also created Web services and application interfaces. These services allow its customers to integrate the Company�� information with other data, business processes and applications (computer-aided design, enterprise resource planning, supply chain management, and product data/lifecycle management). The Company develops its offerings based on its customers' workflows, and it sells and delivers them into the industries in which IHS�� customers operate. As of November 30, 2011, HIS focused on five customer workflows: strategy, planning, and analysis; energy technical; product engineering; supply chain, and EHS & sustainability. As of November 30, 2011, it was focused on six verticals: energy and natural resources; Government, defense and security; chemicals; transportation; manufacturing, and technology, media, and telecommunications. In March 2012, the Company acquired Displaybank, a global authority in market research and consulting for the display industry; the Computer Assisted Product Selection (CAPSTM) electronic components database and tools business, including CAPS Expert, from PartMiner Worldwide, and the digital oil and gas pipeline and infrastructure information business from Hild Technology Services. In March 2012, the Company acquired IMS Research. In March 2012, the Company acquired BDW Automotive GmbH. I! n May 2012, it acquired Xedar Corporation, a developer and provider of geospatial information products and services. In July 2012, the Company acquired CyberRegs business from Citation Technologies, Inc. In July 2012, the Company acquired GlobalSpec, Inc. On April 16, 2011, IHS acquired ODS-Petrodata (Holdings) Ltd. ODS-Petrodata is a provider of data, information, and market intelligence to the offshore energy industry. On April 26, 2011, it acquired Dyadem International, Ltd. (Dyadem). Dyadem offers operational risk management and quality risk management solutions. On May 2, 2011, the Company acquired Chemical Market Associates, Inc. (CMAI). CMAI is a leading provider of market and business advisory services for the worldwide petrochemical, specialty chemicals, fertilizer, plastics, fibers, and chlor-alkali industries. On August 10, 2011, the Company acquired Seismic Micro-Technology (SMT). SMT offers Windows-based exploration and production software, and its solutions are used by geoscientists worldwide to evaluate potential reservoirs and plan field development. On November 10, 2011, it acquired Purvin & Gertz. Purvin & Gertz is a global advisory and market research firm that provides technical, commercial, and strategic advice to international clients in the petroleum refining, natural gas, natural gas liquids, crude oil and petrochemical industries. Energy and Power IHS covers the technical and economic spectrum of energy and power. Detailed records and forecasts on oil, gas and coal supplies, combined with insights on traditional and emerging energy markets, help enable its customers to make decisions. Its offerings include production information on more than 90 % of the world's oil and gas production in more than 100 countries; oil and gas well data that includes geological information on more than four million current and historic wells worldwide; energy activity data that includes current and future seismic, drilling and development activities in more than 180 countries and 335 hydrocarbon-producing regions worldwide; information and research to develop unconventional hydrocarbon resources-shale gas, coal bed methane and heavy oil; knowledge of energy markets, strategies, industry trends, and companies; information and research summits, such as IHS CERAWeek and the IHS Herold Pacesetters Energy Conference, which offer decision makers the opportunity to interact with its experts, and critical information about analysis of coal, nuclear and renewables, including wind, solar, and hydro power. The Company competes with DrillingInfo, Inc., TGS-NOPEC Geophysical Company, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, Accenture, Deloitte, Wood Mackenzie, Ltd., Schlumberger Limited, Halliburton, LMKR and Paradigm Ltd. Design and Supply Chain IHS Design and Supply Chain solutions provide information for customers that allow them to manage a product from conception to research and development to production, maintenance and disposal. It also provides companies access to specifications and standards. The Company�� offerings include market and technology research and analysis; standards management solutions, including more than 370 commercial and military standards and specification publishing organizations; advanced product design and process engineering; strategic product content and supply chain management; environmentally compliant product design; counterfeit part risk mitigation; product performance and cost optimization, and indirect parts and maintenance, repair, and operations logistics, inventory and cash flow optimization tables, including wind, solar, and hydro power. The Company competes with SAI Global and Thomson Reuters Corporation. Defense, Risk and Security IHS delivers open source intelligence in the areas of global defense, risk, and security, including maritime domain awareness. IHS offers open source intelligence solutions for military planners, national security analysts, and defense and maritime industry strategy and planning professionals. The Company�� offerings include military and national security assessments; defense equipment and technology information; defense budgets and procurement forecasting; defense industry trends and analysis; terrorism and insurgency analysis; global commercial ship identification and specifications; live tracking of commercial ship movements; shipping and shipbuilding markets and forecasts, and ports and port security information. The Company competes with McGraw-Hill, Gannett, Forecast International and Control Risks Group. EHS and Sustainability IHS EHS and Sustainability solutions support critical decisions around environmental, health and safety, operational risk, greenhouse gas and energy, product stewardship and corporate responsibility. The Company�� offerings include global and local software implementations; material compliance and lifecycle information content; strategic planning services in greenhouse gas management and cap-and-trade; compliance and verification expertise for local, regional, national, and international EHS and sustainability management system responsibilities, and risk management assessment across a range of industries. The Company competes with SAP and Verisk. Country and Industry Forecasting IHS delivers detailed forecasts and analysis of economic conditions within political, economic, legal, tax, operational, and security environments worldwide. Additionally, IHS provides forecasts, market-sizing, and risk assessments for a number of industries worldwide, including aerospace and defense, agriculture, automotive, chemicals, construction, consumer and retail, energy, finance, government, healthcare and pharmaceutical, military and security, mining and metals, commerce and transport, and telecommunications. Its offerings include in-depth analysis of the business conditions, economic prospects, and risks in more than 200 countries and more than 170 industries; security risk analysis and daily updates on both Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and sovereign risk ratings in more than 200 countries; event-driven updates of its risk analysis and ratings; short-, medium- and long-term forecasts for business planning and decision making; historical information since 1970; Deep market intelligence for the automotive, agriculture, chemicals, construction, consumer goods, commerce and transport, energy, financial, healthcare and pharmaceutical, telecommunications, and steel industries; and scenario explorations examining alternative outcomes to the questions impacting global business. The Company competes with Economist Intelligence Unit and Moody's Corporation. Commodities, Pricing and Cost IHS offers information, forecasts, and analysis to help its customers understand the how, when, and what of commodity prices and labor costs. IHS analysts monitor and forecast more than 1,300 global price, wage, and manufacturing costs across the regions for sectors, including energy products, chemicals, steel, nonferrous metals, industrial machinery and equipment, electronic components, paper and packaging, transportation, and building materials. Its offerings include analysis and forecasts for more than 1,300 global price, wage, and manufacturing costs; market intelligence of drivers, assumptions, and risks relating to commodity and service prices; cost and price data with actionable insights; forecasts covering global spot market prices, wages, and material costs; advisory forums to assist in monitoring, forecasting, and managing power and energy portfolio project costs, and consulting capabilities that enable clients to source materials. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Paul Ausick]

  The dollar value of global merger & acquisition (M&A) transactions in the oil & gas industry plunged by nearly 50% in 2013 from a record high level in 2012. The transaction count fell by 20% led by a very sluggish first half of the year. The data was reported last Thursday by research firm IHS Inc. (NYSE: IHS).

• [By Rich Smith]

  Colorado-based IHS (NYSE: IHS  ) will be under new management soon. The business analytics provider announced Wednesday that current President and Chief Operating Officer Scott Key will take over the role of President and Chief Executive Officer from Jerre Stead on June 1.

• [By Aaron Levitt]

  Data provided by IHS (IHS) show that ReneSola merchant shipments more than tripled in the first six months of 2013 when compared to the first half of 2012 — something that should obviously have SOL stock investors smiling. More importantly, that’s something other solar stocks have not yet done.

• [By Laura Brodbeck]

  Next week investors will be waiting for several key earnings reports including Family Dollar Stores�(NYSE: FDO), Micron Technology�(NASDAQ: MU), Constellation Brands�(NYSE: STZ),�IHS (NYSE: IHS), and Sonic (NASDAQ: SONC).

5 Best Energy Stocks For 2014: HRT Participacoes em Petroleo SA (HRTPY.PK)

HRT Participacoes em Petroleo SA, formerly BN 16 Participacoes Ltda, is a Brazil-based holding company engaged in the oil and gas industry. The Company is primarily involved in the exploration and production (E&P) of oil and natural gas in Brazil and Namibia. Through its subsidiaries, it is active in the geophysical and geological research, exploration, development, production, import, export and sale of oil and natural gas, as well as in the provision of air logistics services in transporting people and equipment related to oil and gas activities in the exploratory campaign in the Solimoes Basin. As of December 31, 2011, the Company had seven subsidiaries, including Integrated Petroleum Expertise Company Servicos em Petroleo Ltda (IPEX), HRT O&G Exploracao e Producao de Petroleo Ltda, HRT Netherlands BV, HRT America Inc, HRT Africa, HRT Canada Inc and Air Amazonia Servicos Aereos Ltda.

Hot Forestry Stocks To Buy For 2015: Tiger Oil and Energy Inc (TGRO)

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5 Best Energy Stocks For 2014: Seadrill Limited(SDRL)

Seadrill Limited, an offshore drilling contractor, provides offshore drilling services to the oil and gas industries worldwide. It also offers platform drilling, well intervention, and engineering services. As of March 31, 2011 the company owned and operated 54 offshore drilling units, which consist of drillships, jack-up rigs, semisubmersible rigs, and tender rigs for operations in shallow and deepwater areas, as well as in benign and harsh environments. Seadrill Limited was founded in 1972 and is based in Hamilton, Bermuda.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Eric Volkman]

  Results for Seadrill's (NYSE: SDRL  ) first quarter show operating revenue totaled $1.27 billion, up from $1.05 billion in the same period the previous year. Attributable net profit over that time frame dipped slightly, coming in at $409 million ($0.85 per diluted share) from Q1 2012's $416 million ($0.87).

5 Best Energy Stocks For 2014: Weatherford International Ltd(WFT)

Weatherford International Ltd. provides equipment and services used in the drilling, evaluation, completion, production, and intervention of oil and natural gas wells worldwide. It offers artificial lift systems, which include reciprocating rod lift systems, progressing cavity pumps, gas lift systems, hydraulic lift systems, plunger lift systems, hybrid lift systems, wellhead systems, and multiphase metering systems. The company also provides drilling services, including directional drilling, ?Secure Drilling? services, well testing, drilling-with-casing and drilling-with-liner systems, and surface logging systems; and well construction services, such as tubular running services, cementing products, liner systems, swellable products, solid tubular expandable technologies, and inflatable products and accessories. In addition, it designs and manufactures drilling jars, underreamers, rotating control devices, and other pressure-control equipment used in drilling oil and nat ural gas wells; and offers a selection of in-house or third-party manufactured equipment for the drilling, completion, and work over of oil and natural gas wells for operators and drilling contractors, as well as a line of completion tools and sand screens. Further, the company provides wireline and evaluation services; and re-entry, fishing, and thru-tubing services, as well as well abandonment and wellbore cleaning services; stimulation and chemicals, including fracturing and coiled tubing technologies, cement services, chemical systems, and drilling fluids; integrated drilling services; and pipeline and specialty services. It serves independent oil and natural gas producing companies. The company was founded in 1972 and is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Weatherford International (WFT) has dropped 6.3% to $14.75 before the open of trading after it announced the departure of its CFO in an 8-K filing. Wells Fargo and Raymond James both cut Weatherford’s shares as a result of the change.

• [By Tony Daltorio]

  The biggest oilfield service companies should get a big lift from the boom, Moors said. That includes Schlumberger Ltd. (NYSE: SLB), Halliburton Co. (NYSE: HAL), Weatherford International Ltd. (NYSE: WFT), and Baker Hughes Inc. (NYSE: BHI).

• [By Dr. Kent Moors]

  That's why some of the biggest OFS providers - like Schlumberger (NYSE: SLB), Halliburton (NYSE: HAL) and Weatherford International (NYSE: WFT) - have been buying up oil and gas equipment companies.

• [By Rich Bieglmeier]

  And that belongs to William Macaulay who is a director at Weatherford International, Ltd. (WFT). The director bought 78,000 shares of WFT on September 27, 2013 for a total of $1.19 million. Mr. Macaulay's recent purchase is particularly peculiar.

5 Best Energy Stocks For 2014: PROS Holdings Inc.(PRO)

PROS Holdings, Inc. provides pricing and margin optimization software worldwide. It offers PROS Pricing Solution Suite, a set of integrated software products that enables enterprises to apply pricing and margin optimization science to determine, analyze, and execute optimal pricing strategies through the aggregation and analysis of enterprise application data, transactional data, and market information. The PROS Pricing Solution Suite consists of Scientific Analytics to gain insight into pricing performance; Price Optimizer to institute control of pricing policies; and Deal Optimizer to provide guidelines, additional context, and information to sales force. Its products also include PROS Revenue Management Solution Suite, a suite of industry specific revenue management software products for the enterprises in travel target markets. The PROS Revenue Management Solution Suite comprises PROS Analytics to identify hidden revenue leaks and opportunities, PROS Revenue Management product to manage passenger demand with leg- or segment-based revenue optimization, PROS O&D products to manage passenger demand with passenger name record or PNR based revenue optimization, PROS Real-Time Dynamic Pricing product to determine the optimal prices, PROS Group Revenue Management product to manage group request and booking revenues, PROS Network Revenue Planning product to deliver network-oriented fare class segmentation, PROS Cruise Pricing and Revenue Optimization for customers to understand consumers price sensitivities and track competitor behavior, PROS Hotel Revenue Optimization product that helps customers to enhance pricing decision. In addition, the company provides pricing and implementation professional, and ongoing support and maintenance services. It serves customers in the manufacturing, distribution, services, hotel and cruise, and airline industries primarily through its direct sales force. The company was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.

5 Best Energy Stocks For 2014: Halcon Resources Corp (HK)

Halcon Resources Corporation (Halcon Resources), incorporated on February 5, 2004, is an independent energy company focused on the acquisition, production, exploration and development of onshore liquids-rich oil and natural gas assets in the United States. The Company has oil and natural gas reserves located primarily in Texas, North Dakota, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Montana. On August 1, 2012, the Company acquired GeoResources by merger. On December 6, 2012, the Company completed the acquisition of entities owning approximately 81,000 net acres prospective for the Bakken / Three Forks formations primarily located in Williams, Mountrail, McKenzie and Dunn Counties, North Dakota (the Williston Basin Assets), from Petro-Hunt, L.L.C. and Pillar Energy, LLC (the Petro-Hunt parties). As of December 31, 2012, the Company has working interests in approximately 128,000 net acres prospective for the Bakken / Three Forks formations in North Dakota and Montana.

The Company�� Woodbine / Eagle Ford acreage is prospective for the Woodbine, Eagle Ford and other formations, with targeted depths ranging anywhere from 7,000 feet to 10,400 feet. As of December 31, 2012, The Company has approximately 198,000 net acres leased or under contract primarily in Leon, Madison, Grimes, Brazos, and Polk Counties, Texas. The Company is the operator and has a 100% working interest in more than 12,000 net acres in Wichita and Wilbarger Counties, Texas that it is actively water flooding in shallow Cisco aged Pennsylvania sandstone and limestone reservoirs. As of December 31, 2012, the Company produced 484 million barrels of oil equivalent from approximately 700 active producing wells and approximately 230 active water injection wells.

The Company�� position in the La Copita Field covers 3,720 gross acres and 2,829 net acres in Starr County, Texas. As of December 31, 2012, the Company�� average net daily production was 623 barrels of oil equivalent per day. The Company operates 100% of this production a! nd its working interest ranges from 75% to 100%. The Company has various other oil and natural gas properties with varying working interests located across the United States, including the Austin Chalk Trend and Eagle Ford Shale in Texas, the Fitts-Allen Fields in Central Oklahoma, and various other areas across South Louisiana, Montana, North Dakota, New Mexico, and West Virginia.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Adam Haigh]

  Hong Kong�� Hang Seng Index yesterday rose past 24,000 for the first time since April 2011, before declining 0.1 percent at the close. Equities traded in the city will extend their rally on optimism about China�� biggest package of policy changes since the 1990s and a stronger global economy, according to investors from JPMorgan Asset Management to Pictet Asset Management (HK) Ltd.

• [By Jeremy Bowman]

  What: Shares of Halcon Resources (NYSE: HK  ) were flowing in the wrong direction today, falling as much as 15% after reporting earnings this morning.

• [By Robert Rapier]

  Q: What is your opinion on Halcon Resources?

  Halcon Resources (NYSE: HK) is an upstream oil and gas producer with operations focused in the Bakken in North Dakota, the Utica in Ohio and Pennsylvania, and in the Eagle Ford in Texas. Over the past two years shares of the company have been on a steady decline, falling 71 percent.
  
  
  
  A big knock on Halcon is that it significantly overpaid for its Utica acreage and that its relatively high level of debt will make it difficult to climb out of the hole they dug for themselves. I believe the share price will turn up this year, but I would wait on the sidelines for now as it still seems to be seeking a bottom. With this much downward momentum and bad news, it would be a really speculative play until it is clear that the company has turned the corner. At present, that isn’t the case.
  

  Q: Could you offer any insight/comment on Swift Energy, which seems to be moving towards oil from natgas?

5 Best Energy Stocks For 2014: JinkoSolar Holding Company Limited(JKS)

JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the manufacture and sale of solar power products in China and internationally. The company provides solar modules, silicon wafers and ingots, and solar cells, as well as processing services, including silicon wafer tolling services. It sells its products under the JinkoSolar brand name. The company?s customers include distributors, project developers, and system integrators. It trades its products under short-term contracts and by spot market sales. The company also produces accessory materials for solar power products, such as solar aluminum frame, solar junction box, aluminum materials windows, and other metal component parts. JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. was founded in 2006 and is based in Shangrao, the People?s Republic of China.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Paul Ausick]

  Provided that the Chinese government either encourages or permits consolidation, any of these three could be an acquirer. The likeliest target, of course, is SunTech Power Holdings Co. Ltd. (NYSE: STP), which is reorganizing and which the government has already seemed to give up on. Other possible targets include ReneSola Ltd. (NYSE: SOL) and JinkoSolar Holding Co. Ltd. (NYSE: JKS).

• [By Zacks]

  On Dec 17, Zacks Investment Research upgraded JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. (NYSE: JKS) to a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).

  Why the Upgrade?