Ex-LPL, Schwab Recruiter Opens Office to Help Advisors Go Indie

Veteran recruiter Al McIntee is relying on his 13 years of experience with LPL Financial (LPLA), Charles Schwab (SCHW) and Cetera Advisor Networks to start a new business for advisors who want to go independent or change their business model.

The number of options for advisors has gone way up over the past decade or so, and reps need someone to help them with “the exhaustive discovery work,” says McIntee, 46, who worked as an advisor for Merrill Lynch (BAC) when he started in the field.

For instance, there are the numerous regulatory and financial considerations that go along with understanding whether or not it’s worthwhile to form your own RIA, he explains. “Many financial advisors think the hybrid-RIA model may be right for them, and I can help demystify what independence is,” said McIntee in a phone interview with ThinkAdvisor.  

The average third-party industry recruiter aims to put advisors in touch with five broker-dealers. “They do a high-volume business and need to place advisors where they can collect the highest fees. It can be very impersonal, and a lot of the work is done online.”

Rather than helping advisors simply switch firms, McIntee says he tailors his services. “I can look at their books of business and discuss the merits of forming their own RIA or working with a corporate RIA and of staying with a hybrid model vs. going RIA only,” he shared.

In addition, issues like software programs for portfolio management and client relationships, back-office integration and licensing have to be carefully discussed.

“Advisors want some flexibility. They need to understand what model is right for their book of business,” explained McIntee, whose office is located in the Greater San Diego area. “A generic recruiter typically tries to get an advisor in touch with four or five broker-dealers and hope that one sticks.”

Current Operations

McIntee, who is meeting with several potential clients in New York this week, says his sweet spot is working with wirehouse advisors who want to go independent or IBD reps "looking to find better mousetraps." This includes working with reps who may have a good percentage of their business in separately managed accounts, for instance, and with clients who need collateralized lending.

“I want to do the legwork for the advisor,” he explained. “Also, reps can get paralysis analysis when they are poring over spreadsheets. I can look at their mix of business and goals and narrow the search down to two or three of the top firms after doing lots of due diligence.” The work is “platform agnostic,” he adds.

His target reps and teams have about $400,000-$500,000 in yearly fees and commissions or more and at least $50 million in assets under management. In general, recruiters receive about 5%-7% of an advisor’s trailing 12-month production after a recruiting deal is signed — about 3% or 4% up front. The recruiting broker-dealer pays these fees, not the advisor, according to McIntee. Custodial firms typically pay recruiters 5-6 basis points for assets under management that are moved to them.

Working with a recruiter means an advisor’s confidentiality can be protected during the process, so an existing broker-dealer won’t find out a rep is looking around and getting ready to move.

“There are recruiters that will tell advisors just what they want to hear,” McIntee cautioned. “I can decipher the white noise, since I know what drives profitability. I can get advisors the top transitional assistance, as I know how margins and technology work."

Top 10 Heal Care Companies To Invest In 2014

WASHINGTON ��Labor-management agreements that help unions organize workers in exchange for concessions ran into skepticism at the Supreme Court Wednesday, but perhaps not enough to end a common practice that has served both sides well for decades.

The case involves a Hollywood, Florida, racetrack and casino that gave a hospitality services union a list of employees, access to its property and a pledge to remain neutral in the union's labor-organizing bid. In exchange, the union agreed not to strike or picket, and it spent $100,000 to support a state ballot initiative that led to legalizing slot machines.

A groundskeeper opposed to the union took the case to court and won a surprising victory at the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, which ruled that Mardi Gras Gaming gave the union "things of value" barred under the Labor Management Relations Act of 1947. If the Supreme Court upholds that verdict, labor groups say, it would cut off an increasingly important avenue for union organizing.

Top 10 Heal Care Companies To Invest In 2014: Choice Hotels International Inc. (CHH)

Choice Hotels International, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a hotel franchisor worldwide. It franchises lodging properties under its proprietary brand names, including Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Clarion, Sleep Inn, Econo Lodge, Rodeway Inn, MainStay Suites, Suburban Extended Stay Hotel, Cambria Suites, and Ascend Collection brands. As of March 31, 2011, it operated 6,128 open hotels comprising 492,733 rooms, as well as 606 hotels consisting of 49,908 rooms under construction, awaiting conversion, or approved for development in 49 states, and the District of Columbia in the United States; and approximately 40 countries and other territories. The company was founded in 1981 and is based in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jeremy Bowman]

  What: Shares of Choice Hotels (NYSE: CHH  ) were getting picked last by investors today, falling 11% after cutting EPS guidance in its quarterly report.

• [By Sean Williams]

  Don't make the wrong Choice
  I predict that 2013 will be the return of the "staycation." In the depths of the recession, instead of taking expensive getaways, consumers chose simply to take time off work and stay home or locally. I think we have the perfect confluence of factors that could make life difficult for Choice Hotels International (NYSE: CHH  ) , operator of Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, and a multitude of other mid-price-point hotels.

Top 10 Heal Care Companies To Invest In 2014: Storm Resources Ltd(SRX.V)

Storm Resources Ltd. engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids reserves in the provinces of Alberta and British Columbia in Canada. It owns interests in undeveloped lands totaling approximately 117,200 net acres in the Horn River Basin, Umbach, and Cabin/Kotcho/Junior areas in north eastern British Columbia; undeveloped land in the Red Earth area of Alberta; and a property at Mica in north eastern British Columbia. As of December 31, 2011, the company had proved plus probable reserves of 8,322 thousands barrels of oil equivalent. Storm Resources Ltd. is based in Calgary, Canada.

Best Penny Stocks To Watch Right Now: MICRO FOCUS ORD GBP0(MCRO.L)

Micro Focus International plc provides enterprise application management solutions worldwide. The company offers software that allows companies to develop, test, deploy, assess, and modernize business-critical enterprise applications. Its product portfolio includes i.Sight, an application portfolio management and analysis tool that enable strategic planning, and application overhaul and modernization; Caliber, a enterprise software requirements definition and management tool, which is used to drive the development and testing of applications to the exact and changing needs of end users; and Rumba, a terminal emulation and user interface modernization tool that streamlines and modernizes key business processes. The company also offers Enterprise, a platform modernization tool, which modernizes application portfolios and platforms; StarTeam, a software change and configuration management tool that tracks changes across the software development lifecycle; and VisiBroker, a CO RBA middleware and application server. In addition, it provides Micro Focus Developer COBOL and software developer tools to modernize business-critical enterprise applications; and Silk software test management, test automation, and performance testing suite. Further, the company offers professional services comprising value profile day services; test process, portfolio, language, platform, and resource modernization services; test data management; value assurance; health check; field development solutions; software process improvement; project review services; customer care and education; and training services. Micro Focus International plc was founded in 1976 and is headquartered in Newbury, the United Kingdom.

Top 10 Heal Care Companies To Invest In 2014: Morgan Crucible(MGCR.L)

The Morgan Crucible Company plc designs, manufactures, and markets carbon and ceramic components in Europe, North America, South America, Asia, and internationally. The company operates in two divisions: Morgan Engineered Materials and Morgan Ceramics. The Morgan Engineered Materials division offers electrical brushes, which are used in industrial and rail traction applications; seals and bearings that are used in fluid handling applications; protective ballistic armor, which are used in lightweight protective systems; ultra-high-temperature insulation for the production of silicon wafers; crucibles and furnaces that are used in the processing of non-ferrous metals; and lithium ion battery anode materials. It primarily serves industrial, security and defense, transportation, energy, electronics, and petrochemical markets. The Morgan Ceramics division offers insulating fiber, insulating bricks, and monolithics; ceramic cores for complex turbine blades; components for electr on tubes; feedthroughs for medical implants; and piezoelectric ceramic actuators. It principally serves industrial, transportation, electronics, petrochemical, energy, and healthcare markets. The company was founded in 1856 and is headquartered in Windsor, the United Kingdom.

Top 10 Heal Care Companies To Invest In 2014: St. Jude Medical Inc.(STJ)

St. Jude Medical, Inc. develops, manufactures, and distributes cardiovascular and implantable neurostimulation medical devices worldwide. It operates in four segments: Cardiac Rhythm Management, Cardiovascular, Atrial Fibrillation, and Neuromodulation. The Cardiac Rhythm Management segment offers products for cardiac arrhythmias, or irregular heart beats. Its products include tachycardia implantable cardioverter defibrillator systems to provide therapy to patients suffering from lethal heart conditions, such as sudden cardiac arrest; cardiac resynchronization therapy devices to treat heart failure patients; pacemakers to help people whose hearts beat too slowly or who suffer from other cardiac arrhythmias; and leads, which connect devices to the heart and carry the electrical impulses to the heart and information from the heart to the device. The Cardiovascular segment offers mechanical and tissue replacement heart valves, as well as heart valve repair products. It also pr ovides disposable interventional devices, including vascular closure devices, compression assist devices, percutaneous catheter introducers, diagnostic guidewires, and temporary bipolar pacing catheters, as well as diagnostic coronary imaging technology. The Atrial Fibrillation segment offers a system of products for access, diagnosis, visualization, and ablation that assist physicians in diagnosing and treating various irregular heart rhythms used in the electrophysiology lab and cardiac surgery. It provides electrophysiology introducers and catheters, cardiac mapping, navigation and recording systems, and ablation systems. The Neuromodulation segment offers a range of neurostimulation systems, such as rechargeable implantable pulse generators, primary cell implantable pulse generators, and radio frequency powered systems. St. Jude Medical markets its products through a direct sales force and independent distributors. The company was founded in 1976 and is headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dan Carroll]

  The Food and Drug Administration has approved�St. Jude Medical's (NYSE: STJ  ) new Ellipse implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) and its Assura cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator (CRT-D), high-voltage devices with new safety features.

Top 10 Heal Care Companies To Invest In 2014: Roper Industries Inc.(ROP)

Roper Industries, Inc. designs, manufactures, and distributes radio frequency (RF) products and services, industrial technology products, energy systems and controls, and medical and scientific imaging products and software. Its Medical and Scientific Imaging segment offers patient positioning devices, 3-D measurement technology, diagnostic and therapeutic disposable products, ultrasound bladder volume measurement instruments, and video laryngoscopes; digital imaging products and software; and handheld and vehicle mount computers and software. The company?s Energy Systems and Controls segment produces control systems, fluid properties testing equipment, industrial valves and controls, sensors and controls, and non-destructive inspection and measurement products and solutions. Its Industrial Technology segment produces water and fluid handling pumps, equipment and consumables, leak testing equipment, flow measurement and metering equipment, water meter, and automatic meter reading products and systems. The company?s RF Technology segment provides radio frequency identification communication technology and software solutions that are used in toll and traffic systems and processing; security and access control; campus card systems; software-as-a-service in the freight matching and food industries; and metering and remote monitoring applications. It markets its products to RF applications, medical, water, energy, research, education, software-as-a-service-based information networks, and security markets. The company distributes its products through direct sales personnel, manufacturers? representatives, value added resellers, original equipment manufacturers, and distributors. It principally operates in the United States, Canada, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and South America. Roper Industries, Inc. was founded in 1981 and is based in Sarasota, Florida.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Seth Jayson]

  Roper Industries (NYSE: ROP  ) reported earnings on July 29. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

• [By Rich Duprey]

  It's a bit incongruous, but industrial manufacturing specialist Roper� (NYSE: ROP  ) is now the proud owner of Managed Health Care Associates, a New Jersey-based supplier of services for�alternate site health-care providers.�The transaction was valued at approximately $1 billion, and was funded from Roper's�available cash and borrowings under its credit facility.

Top 10 Heal Care Companies To Invest In 2014: Petro Vista Energy Corp (PTV.V)

Petro Vista Energy Corp. engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and exploitation of oil and natural gas properties in Brazil. The company holds interests in the Tartaruga block located in the Sergipe Alagoas Basin of Brazil; and Block 170 located in the Rec么ncavo Basin of Brazil. Petro Vista Energy Corp. is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

Top 10 Heal Care Companies To Invest In 2014: St.James Place(STJ.L)

St. James's Place plc is a publicly owned investment manager. The firm provides its services to individuals, trustees, and corporations. It launches and manages equity, fixed income, and balanced mutual funds for its clients. The firm invests in public equity and fixed income market across the globe. It employs a combination of in-house and external research to make its portfolio. St. James's Place plc was founded in 1977 and is based in Cirencester, United Kingdom. St. James's Place plc operates as a subsidiary of Lloyds Banking Group plc.

Top 10 Heal Care Companies To Invest In 2014: Beacon Federal Bancorp Inc.(BFED)

Beacon Federal Bancorp, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Beacon Federal that provides various banking services. The company?s deposit products include savings accounts, health savings accounts, certificates of deposit, interest and noninterest-bearing checking accounts accounts, money market accounts, and individual retirement accounts. Its loan products portfolio comprises one-to four-family residential mortgage loans, consumer loans, home equity loans, commercial real estate loans, multi-family mortgage loans, and commercial business loans. The company also sells tax preparation services, as well as investment and insurance products on an agency basis. It operates from its corporate office located in East Syracuse, New York; and from eight full-service branches located in Syracuse, Marcy, and Rome, New York; Smartt and Smyrna, Tennessee; Tyler, Texas; and Chelmsford, Massachusetts. The company was founded in 1953 and is headquartered in East Syracuse, New Y ork.

Top 10 Heal Care Companies To Invest In 2014: Black Bull Resources Inc. (BBS.V)

Black Bull Resources Inc. engages in mining, processing, and marketing industrial minerals under the trademark Scotia White in Nova Scotia, Canada. The company holds 100% interest in the White Rock property located in Nova Scotia that contains quartz, kaolin, and mica minerals. It serves ferro silicon, specialty glass, swimming pool stucco, specialty flooring and counters, decorative landscape stone, paving stone, pre-cast concrete, exterior wall systems, golf course bunker sand, and textured coatings markets. Black Bull Resources Inc. was incorporated in 1997 and is based in Shelburne, Canada.

In Advance of Black Friday, Two Stock Picks in Retail

In the Thanksgiving holiday edition of its Weekend Warrior newsletter, Sterne Agee offers a couple of stock picks, one outstanding holiday pricing ad, and a weather forecast. That should about cover the bases.

The firm's first stock pick is Costco Wholesale Corp. (NASDAQ: COST). Sterne Agee notes that Costco's store traffic has remained at a high level in November, up about 4.5% and it is expecting a core same-store sales report showing that November is up 5% year-over-year excluding a 1% drop on fuel sales and a 0.75% drop related to currency exchange effects. Overall, Sterne Agee sees momentum in shares of Costco, up 26.8% so far this year, continuing into the end of the year and reiterates its Buy rating and $144 price target. Costco's shares are trading up about 0.3% in the noon hour on Wednesday at $125.59 in a 52-week range of $96.51 to $126.12.

The other stock the firm likes is Dollar Tree Inc. (NASDAQ: DLTR). The company's shares have lost about 4.6% since reporting an earnings per share (EPS) miss for the third quarter and the Sterne Agee analysts see the lower price as a "great entry point" for buying the stock. Dollar Tree raised fiscal year 2013 EPS guidance from a range of $2.66 to $2.77 to a new range of $2.72 to $2.78, effectively raising the mid-point by $0.04. Sterne Agee reiterated its Buy rating on the stock with a price target of $63. Dollar Tree's shares are trading down nearly 0.4% at $55.99 in a 52-week range of $37.47 to $60.19.

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

The analysts also note that the weather for the coming weekend is expected to be dry but one of the coldest on record for most of the U.S. For brick-and-mortar retailers, cold is better than rain or snow.

Can Microsoft Continue Its Uptrend?

With shares of Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) trading around $37, is MSFT an OUTPERFORM, WAIT AND SEE, or STAY AWAY? Let's analyze the stock with the relevant sections of our CHEAT SHEET investing framework:

T = Trends for a Stock’s Movement

Microsoft is engaged in developing, licensing, and supporting a wide range of software products and services. The company also designs and sells hardware and delivers online advertising to customers. It operates in five segments: Windows and Windows Live, Server and Tools, Online Services Division, Microsoft Business Division, and Entertainment and Devices. As a mature company, Microsoft is also offering a stable dividend, which is currently yielding around 3.32 percent annually.

Microsoft ended its recent business day with the advanced of 0.97 percent and closed at the price of $37.44 after opening at $37.20. The stock traded during its last trading session with the total volume of 17.61 million shares, as compared to its average volume of 40.94 million shares.

T = Technicals on the Stock Chart Are Strong

Microsoft stock has seen its fair share of volatility in the last couple of years. The stock is currently trading near all time highs and looks set to continue. Analyzing the price trend and its strength can be done using key simple moving averages. What are the key moving averages? The 50-day (pink), 100-day (blue), and 200-day (yellow) simple moving averages. As seen in the daily price chart below, Microsoft is trading above its rising key averages, which signal neutral to bullish price action in the near-term.

(Source: Thinkorswim)

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

	Implied Volatility (IV)	30-Day IV Percentile	90-Day IV Percentile
Microsoft options	24.25%	13%	10%

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

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

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

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

E = Earnings Are Mixed Quarter-Over-Quarter

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

	2013 Q3	2013 Q2	2013 Q1	2012 Q4
Earnings Growth (Y-O-Y)	-3.08%	11.94%	20.00%	-2.56%
Revenue Growth (Y-O-Y)	7.36%	10.17%	17.71%	2.78%
Earnings Reaction	5.96%	-10.85%	3.36%	0.90%

Microsoft has seen mixed earnings and increasing revenue figures over the last four quarters. From these numbers, the markets have been pleased with Microsoft’s recent earnings announcements.

P = Excellent Relative Performance Versus Peers and Sector

How has Microsoft stock done relative to its peers, Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), Oracle (NASDAQ:ORCL), Google (NASDAQ:GOOG), and sector?

	Microsoft	Apple	Oracle	Google	Sector
Year-to-Date Return	38.66%	9.26%	13.31%	57.27%	30.62%

Microsoft has been a relative performance leader, year-to-date.

Conclusion

Microsoft is a technology company that provides valuable software products and services to consumers and companies worldwide. The company ended its recent business day with the advanced of 0.97 percent and closed at the price of $37.44 after opening at $37.20. The stock has been moving higher in recent years and is now trading near all time highs. Over the last four quarters, earnings have been mixed while revenues have been rising which has left investors pleased about the company. Relative to its peers and sector, Microsoft has been a year-to-date performance leader. Look for Microsoft to OUTPERFORM.

What It's Like Turning Off Your Phone at 'World's Best' Spa

SAN DIEGO (TheStreet) -- It took me some time to truly appreciate all that Rancho La Puerta has to offer.

I've been to spas all over the world -- Turkey, Thailand, Vietnam, the Caribbean -- and have plenty of experience treating myself to luxurious facials and massages. And I understand the value of personal maintenance.

Rancho La Puerta, the legendary wellness center in Tecate, Mexico, is far more than a glorified spa.

One of the biggest luxuries the ranch delivers is solitude and the time to slow down, reconnect with yourself, your mind and your body in an environment that couldn't be more peaceful. With its many flower- and tree-lined winding paths, yoga classes, morning hikes and dozens of other health and wellness classes, as well as an gourmet organic vegetarian menu, the 3,000-acre ranch is truly an experience in revitalizing and recharging your body and spirit. Add to this the ranch's guideline regarding cellular phone usage -- all phones are to be on silent and use of them is firmly discouraged except when in your room -- and you've found the ideal place for a detox, digital and otherwise. Still, for a person who has two jobs and is constantly connected to some form of technology or is always "doing" something -- whether it's taking care of my son or working late -- slowing down, relaxing, reflecting and letting go of technology involved a mental adjustment that took time. During my first evening at the ranch, I had dinner with several other guests, all of whom raved about their love of Rancho La Puerta and many of whom confessed to returning to the ranch year after year, some for 20 years now, some multiple times in a single year. Also see: They've Emptied Out a 757 to Take You to Exotic Lands>> I stared blankly at these guests, trying to smile politely, wondering why someone would visit one place over and over when there is a whole world to see? The guests I spoke to aren't alone in their dedication to Rancho La Puerta, though. In 2010, 2011 and 2013 Ranch La Puerta won World's Best Destination Spa from Travel + Leisure's World's Best reader's poll -- meaning it beat out every other destination spa in the world, according to T+L readers. By the middle of my first full day at Rancho La Puerta, I began to understand the raves. Days at Rancho La Puerta can begin any way you want, but the schedule typically includes numerous early morning hike options. Located in the shadow of Baja California's mystical Mount Kuchumaa, on a property lined by mountains and dotted by meadows, the hiking terrain is stunning and inspiring.

After the morning hike, days at Rancho La Puerta can unfold in dozens of ways. There is different health and wellness classes offered every hour, and the list of class offerings from one day to the next is different, allowing each day to be a new adventure based on your mood. There's also cooking classes, and a world-class spa.

The variety of fitness class options is pages long in the ranch's guide and includes Body Bar, Cardio Boxing, Cardio Drumming, Cardio Muscle Blast, Circuit Training, Core Challenge, Dance, Parkour, Pilates Matwork, Pilates Reformer, Yoga Sculpt. I could go on and on.

On my first day, I chose just a few classes and activities -- Release & Mobilize -- a class focused on deep muscle release and mobility using tennis balls, followed by a 50-minute facial, and then the Shallow Water Workout class. The change in my mood and spirit after just these few activities, strolls along the ranch's grounds during the course of the first day and several healthy meals was dramatic. I felt relaxed, more at ease and ready to dive into even more of the class offerings the next day, to get more of this great feeling I was experiencing. Also see: Camping Under the Stars -- Atop a Manhattan Hotel>>

The next day, I chose a more ambitious variety of activities -- some I had never heard of and couldn't wait to take. The day suddenly became an interesting adventure in mental and physical fitness and fun. My class selections included Gentle Yoga, The Wave, Postural Therapy, Tennis and Crystal Bowl: Sound Healing. Interspersed between these classes was a reflexology appointment at the ranch's spa and a 90-minute Energy Balance session. Treatments available at Rancho La Puerta's spa are divided into four categories: cleanse, relax, energize and restore. Guests are encouraged to start with cleansing and move on to relaxing and restoring treatments, finishing a weeklong visit with some of the energizing options. Selections include cleansing facials, body polishes and aromatherapy wraps, relaxing massages and reflexology, and energizing healing therapies and energy rebalances. The ranch also just launched a personalized medical and wellness program called Executive Wellness. The goal of the $6,950 program is to alleviate health problems for those with high-stress jobs. It begins with a physical examination at the Lifewellness Institute, a medical center in San Diego, and is followed by a visit to Rancho La Puerta, where participants are given comprehensive fitness and nutrition plans customized for each individual's needs by the ranch's fitness and health experts. If the price tag seems steep, remember that Rancho La Puerta alone does not come cheap; weekly stays range between about $2,800 and $4,800. At least for me, the luxury of Rancho La Puerta's price tag was not in the accommodations. The guest rooms are lovely, many with charming patios and sweeping views of the landscape. Inside, the rooms are decorated with vibrant local artwork, tile floors and fireplaces. But at the same time, the rooms are spare, and simply furnished. No televisions. No luxurious couches to sink into after a long day. But that also seems to be the point. Why make the guest rooms full of comforts when there is so much to do and see all day long at Rancho La Puerta outside your room? When it came time to leave, I was full of reluctance and found myself wondering how soon I could make my way back. But more then that, I felt healthier then I had in a long time, and spent most of the drive back to San Diego thinking about how I could incorporate all the good from Rancho La Puerta into my daily life.

Hot Small Cap Companies To Own For 2014

They say you're known by the company you keep. In the business world, the equivalent to that axiom is that you're known by the caliber of talent you can attract. With that as the yardstick, Growlife Inc. (OTCBB:PHOT) is easily not only the stock market's top marijuana play, but one of the best speculative small cap stock ideas around. In fact, the PHOT management dossier just got even better looking today.

It's not pointed out enough, but a list of the upper management members of Growlife Inc. raises impressed eyebrows when investors and onlookers learn who's guiding the ship. Take CEO Sterling C. Scott for instance. Most investors likely just know that he's been at the helm of PHOT since April of last year. What they may not know is that prior to joining his current employer, he also led an incubation project for the Technical Management Services Company (TAMSCO), and prior to that was a partner in a law firm, focusing on federal regulatory issues and litigation. That experience alone will prove invaluable, as the debate over marijuana's legality heats up. Even where it is legal at the state level, regulation will be difficult to navigate.

Hot Small Cap Companies To Own For 2014: Petroquest Energy Inc(PQ)

PetroQuest Energy, Inc. operates as an independent oil and gas company. It engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and operation of oil and gas properties in Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Texas, as well as onshore and in the shallow waters offshore the Gulf Coast Basin. As of December 31, 2009, the company had estimated proved reserves of 1,931 thousand barrels of oil and 167,361 million cubic feet equivalent of natural gas. It owned working interests in 9 net producing oil wells and 277 net producing gas wells. PetroQuest Energy was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in Lafayette, Louisiana.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jon C. Ogg]

  PetroQuest Energy Inc. (NYSE: PQ) was downgraded to Neutral from Overweight at J.P. Morgan.

  Rubicon Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: RBCN) was downgraded to Underperform from Perform at Oppenheimer.

Hot Small Cap Companies To Own For 2014: Rackspace Hosting Inc(RAX)

Rackspace Hosting, Inc. operates in the hosting and cloud computing industry. It provides information technology (IT) as a service, managing Web-based IT systems for small and medium-sized businesses, as well as large enterprises worldwide. The company?s service suite includes dedicated hosting comprising customer management portal and other management tools that manage data center, network, hardware devices, and operating system software; and cloud computing that enables customers to provide and manage a pool of computing resources, as well as delivery of computing resources to business when they need them. It offers cloud servers, cloud files, and cloud sites, as well as cloud applications, such as email, collaboration, and file back-ups; and hybrid hosting that provides a combination of dedicated hosting and cloud computing services. The company also offers customer support services. It sells its service suite through direct sales teams, third-party channel partners, an d online ordering. The company was formerly known as Rackspace.com, Inc. and changed its name to Rackspace Hosting, Inc. in June 2008. Rackspace Hosting, Inc. was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in San Antonio, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By WALLSTCHEATSHEET.COM]

  Rackspace has fewer OpenStack contracts that they expected to have by this time, but it�� still early in the game. The stock is also trading at 52 times earnings, which is a negative, and it�� not likely to be resilient if the stock market falters.

Top High Tech Companies To Watch In Right Now: bebe stores inc.(BEBE)

bebe stores, inc. engages in the design, development, and production of women?s apparel and accessories. Its products include a range of separates, tops, dresses, active wear, and accessories in career, evening, casual, and active lifestyle categories. The company markets its products under the bebe, BEBE SPORT, bbsp, and 2b bebe brand names targeting 21 to 34-year-old woman. As of July 2, 2011, it operated 252 retail stores, and an online store at bebe.com in the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Japan, and Canada, as well as 60 international licensee operated stores in south east Asia, the United Arab Emirates, Israel, Russia, Mexico, and Turkey. The company was founded in 1976 and is headquartered in Brisbane, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jeremy Bowman]

  What: Shares of Bebe Stores (NASDAQ: BEBE  ) were back in style today, gaining as much as 11% after receiving an upgrade from Janney Capital from Neutral to Buy.

• [By Eric Volkman]

  bebe stores (NASDAQ: BEBE  ) continues to outfit its shareholders in cash by maintaining its dividend policy. The company has declared a fresh quarterly distribution of $0.025 per share of its stock, payable on June 20 to shareholders of record as of June 6.��That amount matches the company's preceding disbursement, which was handed out in mid-March.

• [By CRWE]

  bebe stores, inc. (Nasdaq:BEBE) reported that its Board of Directors declared bebe�� quarterly cash dividend of $0.025 per share. The dividend is payable on December 4, 2012 to shareholders of record at the close of business on November 20, 2012

Hot Small Cap Companies To Own For 2014: ATA Inc.(ATAI)

ATA Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides computer-based testing services in the People?s Republic of China. It offers services for the creation and delivery of computer-based tests utilizing its test delivery platform, proprietary testing technologies, and testing services; and provides logistical support services relating to test administration. The company?s computer-based testing services are used for professional licensure and certification tests in various industries, including information technology (IT) services, banking, securities, teaching, and insurance. Its e-testing platform integrates various aspects of the test delivery process for computer-based tests ranging from test form compilation to test scoring, and results analysis. ATA also provides career-oriented educational services, such as single course programs, degree major course programs, and pre-occupational training programs focusing on preparing students to pass IT and other vocational certification tests; test preparation and training programs and services to test candidates preparing to take professional certification tests in securities, futures, banking, insurance and teaching industries; online test preparation and training platform for the securities and banking industries; and test preparation software for the teaching industry. In addition, the company offers HR select employee assessment solution, an online system that utilizes its proprietary software and an inventory of test titles to help employers improve the efficiency and accuracy of their employee recruitment process. As of March 31, 2010, it had contractual relationships with 1,988 ATA authorized test centers. The company serves Chinese governmental agencies, professional associations, IT vendors, and Chinese educational institutions, as well as individual test preparation services. ATA Inc. was founded in 1999 and is based in Beijing, the People?s Republic of China.

Hot Small Cap Companies To Own For 2014: InterDigital Inc.(IDCC)

Interdigital, Inc. engages in the design and development of digital wireless technology solutions. The company offers technology solutions for use in digital cellular and wireless products and networks, including 2G, 3G, 4G, and IEEE 802-related products and networks. It holds patents related to the fundamental technologies that enable wireless communications. The company licenses its patents to equipment producers that manufacture, use, and sell digital cellular and IEEE 802-related products; and licenses or sells mobile broadband modem solutions, including modem IP, know-how, and reference platforms to mobile device manufacturers, semiconductor companies, and other equipment producers that manufacture, use, and sell digital cellular products. InterDigital?s solutions are incorporated in various products comprising mobile devices, such as cellular phones, tablets, notebook computers, and wireless personal digital assistants; wireless infrastructure equipment, such as base stations; and components, dongles, and modules for wireless devices. The company was founded in 1972 and is headquartered in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lauren Pollock]

  Wireless digital company Interdigital Inc.(IDCC) lost its patent-infringement case against a group of companies, including Nokia Oyj and Huawei Technologies Co., Bloomberg News reported. Shares dropped 11% to $28.50 premarket.

• [By Jason Shubnell]

  InterDigital (NASDAQ: IDCC) shot up 5.78 percent to $30.38 as the company and Huawei reached a settlement pact.

  Shares of Tesla Motors (NASDAQ: TSLA) got a boost, shooting up 6.48 percent to $152.85 after the NHTSA reaffirmed the Model S 5-star safety rating in 2014.

Best Value Companies To Own In Right Now

LONDON -- New management at Barclays (LSE: BARC  ) (NYSE: BCS  ) is determined to transform the culture and practices at the bank. Unfortunately for shareholders, this posturing seems to be deflecting the market's attention from just how successful the underlying business is. This is good for contrarian investors like me. The negative sentiment has depressed Barclays' share price, presenting the opportunity to continue increasing my stake.

Valuation
Barclays shares today trade on just 7.9 times forecast earnings per share for 2013. Growth of almost 20% is forecast for 2014, bringing the P/E down to 6.6 times expected earnings. For comparison, HSBC currently trades on a 2014 P/E of 10.1 times forecasts. Lloyds is priced at 9.4 times.

It has been eight years since I first bought shares in Barclays (selling within a year for a large profit). I cannot recall a point where the shares offered better value than they do today. Either the forecasts are wrong or Barclays shares should be at least 50% higher. If sentiment improves, Barclays shares could rise significantly.

Best Value Companies To Own In Right Now: Dollar Tree Inc.(DLTR)

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

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Paul Ausick]

  Big Earnings Movers: Target Corp. (NYSE: TGT) is down 3.5% at $64.19. Sears Holdings Corp. (NASDAQ: SHLD) is down 2.9% at $59.93 on a wider loss and tepid outlook. Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Inc. (NASDAQ: GMCR) is up 14.1% at $70.57 indicating that investors liked the results posted after markets closed on Wednesday. Dollar Tree Inc. (NASDAQ: DLTR) is down 4.5% at $56.28. Abercrombie & Fitch Inc. (NYSE: ANF) is down 0.1% at $34.97.

• [By Demitrios Kalogeropoulos]

  Costly market share gains
  The problem is that Family Dollar has had to pay up for its increasing market share and sales levels. The company's gross profit margin fell by more than a full percentage point, to 34.7% last quarter. In contrast, Dollar Tree (NASDAQ: DLTR  ) booked an expansion of profits, to 35.2%, continuing a trend that's seen it pull away from Family Dollar.

• [By Jacob Roche]

  With the economy starting to improve, you might think Dollar Tree's (NASDAQ: DLTR  ) fortunes will reverse. The deep discounter provided unemployed and lower-income consumers a safe place in the storm, but with the economic weather clearing up, it would be reasonable to expect consumers to venture out again to higher-end retailers. However, that assumption would be wrong.

Best Value Companies To Own In Right Now: Tupperware Corporation(TUP)

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

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Arie Goren]

  After running this screen on May 21, 2013, before the markets' open, I discovered the following eight stocks: Sunoco Logistics Partners LP (SXL), Leggett & Platt Inc (LEG), Copa Holdings SA (CPA), RPC Inc. (RES), Tupperware Brands Corp. (TUP), Herbalife Ltd. (HLF), John Wiley & Sons Inc. (JW.A) and C.H. Robinson Worldwide Inc. (CHRW).

• [By Eric Volkman]

  Tupperware Brands (NYSE: TUP  ) is reaching into its corporate bowl for a fresh payout to shareholders. The company has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.62 per share. This will be paid on July 8 to stockholders of record as of June 19. That amount matches the firm's previous distribution, which was paid in early April. Prior to that, Tupperware Brands was rather less generous, handing out $0.36 per share.

• [By Oliver Pursche]

  European large-cap pharmaceuticals like Novartis (NVS) �and Bristol Meyers Squibb (BMY) �count amongst some of our favorite stocks right now, as do U.S. multinationals that are growing revenue and margins in Asia ��Tupperware (TUP) �is a shining example. Stay away from utilities and energy stocks, as they are likely to be the laggards over the next year.

Top 5 Penny Companies To Invest In Right Now: Caterpillar Inc.(CAT)

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

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By ANUP SINGH]

  Coal consumption growth in China is estimated to have slowed down to 4% year on year in 2012, down from 10% in 2011. An economic slowdown in�the country�has affected demand, and this has been one of headwinds for Joy because it has substantial exposure to China. Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT  ) , one Joy's competitors, is also facing trouble in China of late.

Best Value Companies To Own In Right Now: Schlumberger N.V.(SLB)

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

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Tyler Crowe]

  Even though the country has so much oil, it has struggled to keep up production growth and has asked for outside help. This week, Venezuela has signed financing deals with Chevron (NYSE: CVX  ) , Schlumberger (NYSE: SLB  ) , and Russia's Rosneft that will total $5.6 to expand production. The country hopes to increase production from 3 to 5 million barrels per day by 2015.

Top Tech Stocks To Invest In Right Now

DELAFIELD, Wis. (Stockpickr) -- At Stockpickr, we track daily portfolios of stocks that are the biggest percentage gainers and the biggest percentage losers.

>>5 Big Trades to Take as the Fed Hits the Gas

Stocks that are making large moves like these are favorites among short-term traders because they can jump into these names and try to capture some of that massive volatility. Stocks that are making big-percentage moves either up or down are usually in play because their sector is becoming attractive or they have a major fundamental catalyst such as a recent earnings release. Sometimes stocks making big moves have been hit with an analyst upgrade or an analyst downgrade.

Regardless of the reason behind it, when a stock makes a large-percentage move, it is often just the start of a new major trend -- a trend that can lead to huge profits. If you time your trade correctly, combining technical indicators with fundamental trends, discipline and sound money management, you will be well on your way to investment success.

Top Tech Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Bitauto Holdings Limited (BITA)

Bitauto Holdings Limited provides Internet content and marketing services for the automotive industry primarily in the People?s Republic of China. The company offers subscription services to new automobile dealers that enable them to list pricing and promotional information on its bitauto.com Website and partner Websites, and to interact with consumers through its virtual call center, as well as provides advertising service to dealers and automakers on its bitauto.com Website. It also offers listing services to used automobile dealers, which enable them to display used automobile inventory information through its ucar.cn Website and partner Websites; and advertising services to used automobile dealers and automakers with certified pre-owned automobile programs on its ucar.cn Website. In addition, the company provides digital marketing solutions, including Website creation and maintenance, online public relationship, online marketing campaigns, and advertising agent service s. Bitauto Holdings Limited was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Beijing, the People?s Republic of China.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Evan Niu, CFA]

  What: Shares of Bitauto (NYSE: BITA  ) have plunged today by as much as 18% after the company reported first-quarter earnings.

  So what: Revenue in the first quarter added up to $38.6 million, which translated into non-GAAP profits of $3.7 million. The top and bottom lines were up 34.6% and 29.1% relative to a year ago, but investors were still left wanting more. The results were in line with Bitauto's guidance.

Top Tech Stocks To Invest In Right Now: iGo Inc(IGOI)

iGo, Inc. provides accessories and power management solutions for the electronics industry in North America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific. The company designs, develops, manufactures, and distributes various products for computers and mobile electronic devices. Its products include power products that allow users to charge a range of mobile electronic devices from a single power source; rechargeable alkaline batteries; skins, cases, and screen protectors for mobile electronic devices; audio products, such as earbuds, headphones, and speakers; and stands for portable computers and pico projectors, and other accessories. The company offers its products primarily for portable computers, mobile phones, smartphones, e-readers, portable media players, and portable game consoles. It markets and sells its products to original equipment manufacturers, private-label resellers, retailers, resellers, distributors, and wireless carriers, as well as directly to end users through its igo .com and aerial7.com Websites. The company was formerly known as Mobility Electronics, Inc. and changed its name to iGo, Inc. in May 2008. iGo, Inc. was founded in 1995 and is based in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Best Performing Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Amalphi AG (AMLP.DE)

Amalphi AG is a Germany-based company that offers multivendor services for the maintenance of hardware and software of all kinds of Information Technology (IT) equipment. Its main activity is the sale of services including quality assurance, whereas the physical services are provided via international service providers. The Company's products include amalphi ip and ip-pack. amalphi ip is a maintenance service concept for IT-, office- and other technical equipment based on electronic components, which include hardware and software maintenance, help desk service, patch management and asset management. ip-pack offers service packs for the OEM with Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for Hewlett-Packard and IBM products. The Company has a sales network throughout Germany. ES Investment GmbH holds approximately a 49%-stake in the Company.

Top Tech Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Csm Systems Corp (CKX.V)

CSM Systems Corp., through its subsidiary, Visionstate Inc., develops, installs, and customizes interactive touch screen customer service technology suitable for various types of public spaces. Its core software platform is known as ViCCi, an acronym for virtual customer care interface. The company offers building digital display networks and digital sales assistants to customers, including shopping centers, recreation centers, office buildings, and other places that require wayfinding. It also provides mobile iphone applications; and sells its kiosks to home development project for displaying information about the project. In addition, the company offers consulting, graphic, and Web design and related services and support. CSM Systems Corp. is based in Edmonton, Canada.

Top Tech Stocks To Invest In Right Now: USA Mobility Inc.(USMO)

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

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sally Jones]

  
  USA Mobility Inc. (USMO): Reduced

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

Top Tech Stocks To Invest In Right Now: PC-Tel Inc.(PCTI)

PCTEL, Inc. provides propagation and optimization solutions for the wireless industry. It designs and develops software-based radios (scanning receivers) for wireless network optimization; and develops and distributes antenna solutions. The company?s scanning receivers, receiver-based products, and interference management solutions are used to measure, monitor, and optimize cellular networks. It offers various antenna products for worldwide interoperability for microwave access antennas, land mobile radio antennas, and precision global positioning systems antennas that serve applications in telemetry, radio frequency identification, WiFi, fleet management, and mesh networks. The company?s antenna solutions address public safety, military, and government applications; supervisory control and data acquisition, health care, energy, smart grid, and agricultural applications; and indoor wireless, wireless backhaul, and cellular applications. PCTEL, Inc. supplies its products to public and private carriers, wireless infrastructure providers, wireless equipment distributors, value added resellers, and original equipment manufacturers through distributors and direct sales force. The company was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in Bloomingdale, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Stephen Simpson, CFA]

  I'm perfectly happy recycling past investment ideas, and PCTEL (PCTI) treated me quite well indeed when I owned the stock about a decade ago. Since that time, though, the company has gone through a significant transformation and is really only the same in name only. Different isn't always better, but I do believe that PCTEL now operates a collection of businesses with interesting growth and margin potential. PCTEL does not appear to be tremendously undervalued today on a cash flow basis, but with almost $3 per share in cash on the balance sheet further acquisitions could improve its growth prospects further.

• [By Roberto Pedone]

  PCTEL (PCTI) designs and develops software-based radios for wireless network optimization and develops and distributes innovative antenna solutions. This stock closed up 1.1% to $9.83 in Tuesday's trading session.

  Tuesday's Range: $9.70-$9.85
  
  52-Week Range: $5.65-$10.00
  
  Thursday's Volume: 77,000
  
  Three-Month Average Volume: 80,200

  From a technical perspective, PCTI bounced modestly higher here right above some near-term support at $9.50 with decent upside volume. This stock has been trending sideways in a consolidation pattern for the last month, with shares moving between $9.08 on the downside and $10 on the upside. Shares of PCTI are now quickly moving within range of triggering a major breakout trade. That trade will hit if PCTI manages to take out its 52-week high at $10 with high volume.

  Traders should now look for long-biased trades in PCTI as long as it's trending above near-term support at $9.50 or above $9.08 and then once it sustains a move or close above $10 with volume that hits near or above 80,200 shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then PCTI will set up to enter new 52-week-high territory, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that breakout are $12 to $13.

Top Tech Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Oracle Corporation(ORCL)

Oracle Corporation, an enterprise software company, develops, manufactures, markets, distributes, and services database and middleware software, applications software, and hardware systems worldwide. It licenses of database and middleware software, including database management software, application server software, service-oriented architecture and business process management software, data integration software, business intelligence software, identity and access management software, content management software, portals and user interaction software, development tools, and Java; and applications software comprising enterprise resource planning, customer relationship management, enterprise performance management, supply chain management, business intelligence applications, enterprise portfolio project management, Web commerce, and industry-specific applications software. The company also offers customers with rights to unspecified software product upgrades and maintenance releases; Internet access to technical content; and Internet and telephone access to technical support personnel. In addition, its hardware systems products consist of computer server and hardware-related software, including the Oracle Solaris Operating System; and storage products, such as tape, disk and networking solutions for open systems and mainframe server environments. Its hardware systems support solutions include software updates for the software components. Further, the company offers consulting solutions in business and IT strategy alignment, enterprise architecture planning and design, initial product implementation and integration, and ongoing product enhancements and upgrades; cloud services, including Oracle Cloud Services and Advanced Customer Services; and education solutions comprising instructor-led, media-based, and Internet-based training in the use of its software and hardware products. The company was founded in 1977 and is headquartered in Redwood Ci ty, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Anders Bylund]

  But the dog days seem to be over now. In the following video, Anders explains why he still owns the stock, discusses what advantage it holds over larger rivals Oracle (NYSE: ORCL  ) and IBM (NYSE: IBM  ) , and digs into the big opportunity right ahead. This is still a tremendous growth stock -- it just took a yearlong breather.

Top Tech Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Scancell Holdings PLC (SCLP.L)

Scancell Holdings PLC is a United Kingdom-based company. The Company�� principal activity of the consists of the discovery and development of monoclonal antibodies and vaccines for the treatment of cancer. In April 2012, the Company completed recruitment to the Phase 1 clinical trial of SCIBI. In May 2012, the Company commenced recruitment and treatment of the first patient in the second part of it Phase 1/2 clinical trial of SCIBI. The Phase 2 part of the trial is conducted in five United Kingdom centers in Nottingham, Manchester, Newcastle, Leeds, and Southampton. On August 15, 2012, the Company announced the development of a platform technology, Moditope.

Contrary Trio to Bet Against Shorts

These outperformers have seen a significant spike in short interest; in light of their technical prowess, they could end up benefiting from this increase in skepticism, making them fodder for potential bullish trades, suggests Terri Stridsberg of Schaeffer Investment Research.

Southwest Airlines (LUV) has been an outperformer on the charts, gaining nearly 43% year-to-date, and about 62.5% on a year-over-year basis.

What's more, the stock tagged a new multi-year high of $14.83 yesterday. Meanwhile, the equity's late August/early September pullback was contained by its 40-week moving average, which has acted primarily as a floor since late May.

However, there is still plenty of skepticism levied against the passenger airline. Short interest soared by more than 94% during the past two weeks, and now represents over four days' worth of pent-up buying pressure, at LUV's average pace of trading.

Should the shares continue to trek higher, they could benefit from a wave of short-covering activity down the road.

Elsewhere, the brokerage bunch is divided toward Southwest Airlines Co., as the security maintains six strong buy endorsements, compared to four holds, and two sell or worse suggestions.

Additionally, the stock's average 12-month price target of $15.46 reflects expected upside of just 6% to LUV's current perch at $14.59.

This leaves plenty of room for a round of upgrades and/or price-target hikes, which could end up serving as tailwinds for the airline concern.

Activision Blizzard (ATVI) has enjoyed a banner 2013, boasting a year-to-date advance of more than 57% to trade at $16.70.

Furthermore, the shares have outperformed the broader S&P 500 Index (SPX) by roughly 11 percentage points during the past three months. Also, a look at the charts reveals that the $16.60-$16.80 area has emerged as an area of support in recent weeks.

Nevertheless, the stock continues to be pummeled by pessimists. During the latest reporting period, ATVI saw a 28.7% spike in short interest, bringing the number of shares sold short to almost 11 million.

This ample amount of available sideline cash could fuel a short-squeeze scenario, should the equity continue along its upward trajectory.

Meanwhile, data from the International Securities Exchange, Chicago Board Options Exchange, and NASDAQ OMX PHLX shows a 10-day put/call volume ratio of 1.83 for Activision Blizzard, confirming puts bought to open have nearly doubled calls during the past two weeks.

In fact, this ratio ranks higher than 95% of similar readings taken over the past year, signaling speculators have been snapping up puts over calls at a near-annual-high pace. An unwinding of these bearish positions could add more fuel to ATVI's tank.

Michael Kors Holdings Ltd. (KORS) has also been a solid performer on the technical front, climbing more than 48% so far this year—and outshining the SPX by about 15 percentage points over the most recent three month time frame—to hover at $75.76.

The security also reached a fresh record peak of $78.62 on September 19, and the subsequent pullback was cushioned by its 40-day moving average.

Even so, the clothing designer remains surrounded by naysayers. KORS saw a 24.5% jump in short interest over the past couple of weeks, and now these pessimistic positions account for a healthy 4.3% of the stock's available float.

With north of 6.4 million shares currently sold short, the security could be poised for further gains, should this group of skeptics hit the exits.

Also, Schaeffer's put/call open interest ratio (SOIR) for Michael Kors checks in at 1.02, conveying puts slightly outweigh calls among options expiring in the next three months.

This ratio registers in the 77th annual percentile, implying near-term traders are more put heavy toward the equity than usual right now.

This host of put positions—particularly at the underfoot October 72.50 and 75 strikes, which collectively hold open interest of 3,054 contracts—could end up translating into options-related support in the short term.

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4 Ways Fidelity Can Capture the ETF Market

You heard it here first: The latest launch of 10 new Fidelity sector ETFs won’t be a game changer.  

Although Fidelity’s MSCI-linked sector ETFs are “nearly 80% below the industry average for passive sector ETFs,” the Boston-based fund giant still has a notoriously lackluster approach toward the ETF business, in my humble opinion.

If it doesn’t make drastic changes, it will lose one of its most significant battles yet.

To help them reverse the curse, I’ve come up with a bold and controversial roadmap for Fidelity that involves four key steps. I believe Fidelity can rediscover its mojo, but only if it makes a serious attempt.

1. Commission-Free Trading on ALL ETFs

The ability to buy and sell ETFs online without paying any trading commissions is one of Wall Street’s boldest moves yet at gathering assets. The only problem is that Fidelity is competing against other major brokerage firms that each offer their own menus of commission-free ETF trading.

How can Fidelity blow away the competition? By expanding its commission-free platform to include all ETFs. (Yes, you read that correctly – all ETFs!)

Frankly, the only way to beat today’s hyper-competitive ETF landscape is with a hyper-radical solution.

2. Focus on Core Asset Classes

It’s puzzling why Fidelity has (mis)focused its attention on niche parts of the ETF market, like sector funds, when it should be aggressively expanding its Fidelity branded ETFs in asset categories.

Why aren’t there any Fidelity broad market U.S. stock ETFs? Where are Fidelity’s self-branded international stock ETFs? What about Fidelity bond ETFs? What’s taking so long?

Investors need help today at building low-cost diversified ETF portfolios. And Fidelity – in its current state – can’t solve those needs, because it lacks self-branded ETFs across all major asset classes.

3. Introduce Fidelity ETF(k) Retirement Plans

Fidelity is already the nation’s largest 401(k) administrator.

Why doesn’t it leverage that enviable position to launch an all ETF 401(k) plan that attacks and totally disrupts the retirement plan market?

Rolling out its own lineup of broadly diversified or core portfolio ETFs would work well within the context of 401(k) plans, because these Fidelity-branded ETFs could become the menu of investment choices for 401(k) participants.

Ultimately, Fidelity has two choices: Watch competitors poach its mutual fund 401(k) business with low-cost ETF(k) plans or poach its own mutual fund 401(k) business with a proprietary ETF(k) solution and keep the assets from fleeing elsewhere.

I challenge Fidelity to launch an ETF(k) plan and do what Charles Schwab (up until now) has not been able to do.  

4. Partner and Acquire

Great companies recognize they can’t always build and innovate from within. Sometimes there’s a lack of talent, or a lack of technology, or maybe a lack of will.

In that case, great companies align themselves with partners that can help them to win the game. In other cases, an outright acquisition can help reverse an innovative slump and jumpstart business.

Fidelity needs to re-examine what independent and innovative companies within the ETF marketplace can help it to build a sustainable advantage. And as for the question of how much it will cost Fidelity, the better question is this: How much will it cost them if they don’t?  

Summary

Perhaps no asset manager here or abroad has more to lose than Fidelity. Its operating profits fell 31% last year and its ho-hum approach isn’t working. 

It’s impossible for Fidelity to make a significant impact in the ETF marketplace with a low-brow or conservative strategy. And the company should immediately fire any management consultants or executives who suggest otherwise. 

The only way for Fidelity to ever become a serious ETF contender is to force the industry to play by its rules. And the only way anyone will ever play by Fidelity’s rules is if the firm makes a purposeful, deliberate choice to enact big,bold moves that totally upend the ETF marketplace.

***

Ron DeLegge is the Editor of ETFguide.com, founder of the ETF(k) Retirement Group at LinkedIn, and publisher of the ETF Advisor Pro newsletter.

 

‘Warren Buffett' of Canada - Prem Watsa's High-Yield Stocks in Review

Often referred to as 'Canada's Warren Buffett' Prem Watsa is the founder, chairman and chief executive of Fairfax Financial Holdings.  His portfolio currently lists 42 stocks, six of them new, and a total value of $1.59 billion with a quarter-over-quarter turnover of 0%.

Watsa's partner in starting the investment firm, Tony Hamblin, once commented, "It doesn't take a lot of money to start up an investment counseling company. The cost of entry is qualitative. You need to have a track record, contacts and credibility, and fortunately Prem and I had all three."

 

After buying Markel Financial in 1986, Watsa renamed his firm Fairfax Financial Holdings.  Book value has grown dramatically over the years:  Book value per share was $1.52 in 1985 and grew to $10.50 in 1989, and then grew to $38.89 in 1995.  As of 2012, the Fairfax book value per share increased 3.7%.

Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited is a financial services holding company with a corporate objective to achieve a high rate of return on invested capital and build long-term shareholder value.  The company expects to compound its mark-to-market book value per share over the long term by 15% annually by running Fairfax and its subsidiaries for long-term benefit, even at the expense of short-term profits.  The Fairfax focus is long-term growth in book value per share and not quarterly earnings.  Watsa has commented, "Our long-term view has also meant that we have a commitment not to sell our core companies, no matter how attractive the price." The company emphasis is to be soundly financed, and to grow through internal means and also through friendly acquisitions. Fairfax also values transparency with shareholders.

The company structure is decentralized and run by the presidents, but Fairfax does the performance evaluations, succession planning, acquisitions and financing. Fairfax encourages open communication with its subsidiaries, and describes itself as a very small holding company an! d not an operating company.

Watsa's approach to business is relational.  He is a true inspiration in living the old-fashioned value of a hand shake.  He said, "Having shaken hands on an acquisition, we've never walked away from a commitment or gone back to change the deal."  He also said, "Work as hard as you can, as though everything depended on you."

The stocks bought by Prem Watsa averaged a 12-month return of 10.42%. In 2012, he returned 6.5% compared to the S&P500 at 15.4%. His 25-year cumulative return is 18.9% annually.

As of Sept. 30, 2013, the portfolio is weighted with top sectors: technology at 26.3%, basic materials 24.2% and energy at 16.6%.

While Watsa's typical buys are massive, here are three smaller stakes that deliver the highest yields in the Fairfax portfolio.  Trade details are as of the third quarter of 2013.

 

BCE Inc.  (BCE) – Yield:  5.20%

Current Shares:  268,300

Value:  $11,477,000

Down 1% since January, BCE Inc. is Canada's largest telecom services company.  The company has a market cap of $33.46 billion; its shares were traded at around $43.12.  Shares trade with a P/E ratio of 16.30 and a P/B of 3.00. GuruFocus ranked BCE with one out of five stars for business predictability.

Guru Action:  As of the third quarter of 2013, Prem Watsa gained 3.7% on 268,300 shares bought at an average price of $41.60 per share.

Over a five-year history, he averaged a gain of 116% on 3,180,000 shares at bought at an average price of $19.94 per share.  He gained 84% on 2,911,700 shares sold at an average price of $23.35 per share.

Track historical pricing, revenue and net income:

Here are more gurus and insiders trading BCE.

 

Nam Tai Electronics Inc. (NTE) – Yield:  8.70%

Current shares:  35,000

Value:  $272,000

Down 48% over 12 months, Nam Tai Electronics Inc., an! electron! ic components company in China, has a market cap of $310.9 million; its shares were traded at around $6.94.  Shares trade with a P/E ratio of 11.70 and a P/B of 0.90.  GuruFocus ranked NTE with one out of five stars for business predictability.

Guru Action:  As of the third quarter of 2013, Prem Watsa took a loss of 7.1% on this holding of 35,000 shares at an average price of $7.47 per share.

Since the third quarter of 2010, Watsa has averaged a gain of 50% on 10,000 shares bought at an average price of $4.63.

Track historical pricing, revenue and net income:

Four gurus hold NTE and no insider trading was found.

 

 

New York Community Bancorp Inc. (NYCB) – Yield:  6.00%

Current Shares:  40,000

Value:  $605,000

Up 29% over 12 months, New York Community Bancorp Inc. has a market cap of $7.36 billion; its shares were traded at around $16.69.  Shares trade with a P/E ratio of 15.30 and a P/B of 1.30.

NYCB is not ranked for business predictability.

Guru Action:  As of the third quarter of 2013, Prem Watsa gained 11.5% on this holding of 40,000 shares at an average price of $14.97 per share.

Overall, he has gained 26% on 20,000 shares bought at an average price of $13.21 per share.

Track historical pricing, revenue and net income:

Here are more gurus and insiders trading NYCB.

Check out the complete portfolio of Prem Watsa.

According to investor lore, India's Prem Watsa arrived in Ontario in 1972, with $8 in his pocket and a $600 draft toward the first year's tuition.  He earned his MBA and got his first job at  Confederation Life in 1974 where the book "Security Analysis" was required reading by the director of research.   In 1985, Watsa met Francis Chou, then working as a telephone technician at Bell Canada. �! �Chou ins! pired Watsa, telling him that Warren Buffett made his money with insurance float.  

 

Use the GuruFocus Value Screen to find 52-Week Lows and discover potentially deep value stocks held by billionaire Guru investors.

GuruFocus Real Time Picks reports the stock purchases and sales that Gurus have made within the prior 2 weeks. The report time lag can be as short as 2 days after the date of the transaction. This feature is for Premium Members only.

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List of 52-Week Lows, 52-Week Highs List of 3-Year Lows, 3-Year Highs List of 5-Year Lows,

On Turning Back Your Clock as Daylight Saving Time Ends

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Most people like the extra hour of sleep. Others relish having an extra hour of life to do one thing or another.

Turning back the clock to end daylight saving time has intrigued me ever since I was a young boy growing up in the small western New York hamlet of Niagara Falls. (It's actually not a hamlet.)

As a 38-year-old, I'll be as fascinated by it this weekend as I have ever been.

When I was a youngster, unable to stay up until two in the morning, I always thought something mysterious took place at 2:00 a.m. I just couldn't wrap my head around the notion of the one-o-clock hour going off twice. I used to say to my mother exactly what I say to my wife 30 years later: So it's one in the morning, but right when it hits two, it becomes one again. At some point in my pre-teen life, I stayed up until two, eyes focused on the television screen, to see if it would do a funky dance or self-destruct. Now, I'm enamored by the on-screen guide merely repeating the one-o-clock hour, but with a fresh slate of programming or infomercials. A year out of high school, I worked as a DJ at Q102, the Best Hits Without the Hard Rock and Rap, where, to avoid the obvious clash, I went by "Rich Pendola." I did weekend overnights. One year, on the night we had to turn back the clock, my program director, Rob Lucas, let me pick the music for that extra hour. The playlist went out the window, an oddity for what was, even back in 1993 or thereabouts, an over-programmed adult-contemporary radio station. The year after that, I spent the night we turn the clocks back as an underage drinker in the Allentown section of Buffalo at a famous watering hole called "Mulligan's Brick Bar." The place still exists, complete with a huge poster of Springsteen's The River album cover hanging on the wall. When the clock strikes two in Buffalo on this night, things get wild. At the Brick Bar, shots of Mad Dog 20/20 flowed for an extra hour till last call at four, which, because of the time switch was really five. Now, in my relative old age, I don't care much about the extra hour of sleep. I just like that it gets lighter faster and earlier on in the fall. It's actually light out when I wake up in the morning. Maybe it's my West Coast smug (I live in Santa Monica, just west of Los Angeles), but I relish darkness in the early evening hours. On LA's Westside, much like in my previous stomping grounds of San Francisco, there's just this cozy, cool feel that promotes a festive holiday mood. Of course, if you live on the East Coast or another place that experiences traditional winter you might go so far as feeling depressed when it's time to fall back. You prefer springing ahead, a sure sign that warmer weather is on the way. To each his/her own. In any event, just like there's no excuse for being an hour late to work or school on the Monday morning after we spring ahead, you'll look just as bad if you show up an hour too soon. With that in mind, whether you like or not, be sure to turn your clock back Sunday morning at 2:00 a.m. Follow @rocco_thestreet --Written by Rocco Pendola in New York City

U.S. stocks set for weekly drop amid DC gridlock

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) — U.S. stocks declined on Friday, with the S&P 500 index and Dow industrials in position for their first weekly drop in four, as Wall Street remained unsettled over the lack of progress in budget negotiations on Capitol Hill, with a deadline just days away.

"Right now there is going to be a lot of misplaced angst over the whole debt-ceiling argument. It's political brinkmanship, a sequel that has the same ending time after time; there will be a rash of negative headlines and people losing their tempers. It's going to create some choppiness in the market between here and October," said Matthew Kaufler, portfolio manager at Federated Investors.

One of four Dow components on the rise, Nike Inc. (NKE) jumped 5.1% after the athletic-apparel seller reported fiscal first-quarter profit that beat expectations. J.C. Penney Co. (JCP)  fell 8.8% after the retailer started selling 84 million shares.

Market uncertainty could be amplified with third-quarter earnings, "and the next 45 days or so will be fairly choppy," said Kaufler, who believes some sectors will fare better than others.

"There is a growing chorus that says consumers are shifting their disposable income towards buying high-ticket items like cars, homes and boats, and away from apparel, so stocks associated are going to benefit or lose, respectively," he added.

After a near 117-point fall, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA)  was lately off 71.73 points, or 0.5%, to 15,256.57, with Cisco Systems Inc. (CSCO) , Intel Corp. (INTC)   and International Business Machines Corp. (IBM)  among the top decliners.

Click to Play Scramble ahead to avoid government shutdown

A government shutdown is looking inevitable as House Majority Leader John Boehner says the House wouldn't accept the spending plan likely to emerge from the Senate. (Photo: Getty Images)

The S&P 500 index (SPX) retreated 6.57 points, or 0.4%, to 1,692.10, with telecommunications and consumer staples retreating the most among its 10 large sectors. Down five of its last six sessions, with S&P 500 is currently off 1% for the week and up 3.6% for the month, with next Monday's session still remaining.

The S&P 500 rose to a record on Sept. 18 after the Federal Reserve unexpectedly held off from cutting its $85 billion in monthly bond purchases. Fed Bank of Chicago President Charles Evans on Friday said the additional evidence of economic growth is needed before the Fed can begin tapering its monetary stimulus.

"Wall Street was its own worst enemy there. There was absolutely no commitment to September, and for whatever reason the crowd decided that was when it was going to begin," said Kaufler of market expectations that the Fed would start curbing its asset purchases this month.

The Nasdaq Composite (COMP) fell 2.82 points, or 0.1%, to 3,784.6.

For every stock rising, roughly two fell on the New York Stock Exchange, where 234 million shares traded as of 12 noon Eastern. Composite volume neared 1.3 billion.

The dollar (DXY)   declined against the currencies of major U.S. trading partners, including the euro (EURUSD)   and the yen (USDJPY)  . The yield on the benchmark 10-year note (10_YEAR)   used in calculating mortgages and other consumer loans was down 4 basis points at 2.616%.

Gold prices (GCZ3)   rose $15.00, or 1.1%, to $1,339.10 an ounce and energy costs as reflected in crude futures for November delivery (CLX3)   hit $103.31 a barrel, up 28 cents.

Equities have dropped this week on worries that Congress would not manage to pass a budget before Monday's deadline, which would translate into a government shutdown. Three days ahead of federal spending authority expiring, the Senate is expected to vote Friday on a spending measure. The nation is on track to hit its borrowing ceiling on Oct. 17.

"Washington observers believe Congress will reach a compromise to continue funding the government for a couple more months, but it may leave the government dangling for a couple of days past the Monday midnight deadline. Consequently, we expect the stock market to remain volatile for the next few days," emailed Fred Dickson, chief market strategist at Davidson Companies.

On Friday, the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan's final September read on consumer sentiment fell to 77.5 from 82.1 in August, with economic data continuing to yield little reaction from a market singularly fixated on the ongoing partisan brinkmanship among U.S. lawmakers.

Ahead of Friday's open, stock-index futures held losses as data showed consumer spending rising for a fourth month in August, up 0.3% after an upwardly revised 0.2% the prior month.

Top 10 Energy Stocks To Buy For 2014

With shares of Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM) trading around $89, is XOM an OUTPERFORM, WAIT AND SEE or STAY AWAY? Let�� analyze the stock with the relevant sections of our CHEAT SHEET investing framework:

T = Trends for a Stock’s Movement

Exxon Mobil is a manufacturer and marketer of commodity petrochemicals, including olefins, aromatics, polyethylene and polypropylene plastics, and a range of specialty products. The company has a number of divisions and affiliates with names that include ExxonMobil, Exxon, Esso or Mobil that operate or market products in the United States and other countries of the world. Exxon Mobil�� principal business is energy, involving exploration for and production of crude oil and natural gas; manufacture of petroleum products; and transportation and sale of crude oil, natural gas, and petroleum products. Energy is essential to global growth and day-to-day operations of companies and consumers worldwide. So long as crude oil is a main source of energy, a bellwether like Exxon Mobil will continue to see rising profits well into the future.

Top 10 Energy Stocks To Buy For 2014: GMX Resources Inc.(GMXR)

GMX Resources Inc. operates as an independent oil and natural gas exploration and production company primarily in the United States. It has interests in two oil shale resources, including the Williston Basin that targets the Bakken/Sanish-Three Forks in North Dakota/Montana; and the DJ Basin, which targets the Niobrara Formation in Wyoming. The company also holds interests in natural gas resources comprising the Haynesville/Bossier Formation and the Cotton Valley Sand Formation in the East Texas Basin. As of December 31, 2010, it had proved reserves of 319.3 billion cubic feet of natural gas equivalent; and 264 net producing wells in east Texas. The company was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Top 10 Energy Stocks To Buy For 2014: Apache Corporation(APA)

Apache Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the exploration, development, and production of natural gas, crude oil, and natural gas liquids. The company has exploration and production interests in the Gulf of Mexico, the Gulf Coast, east Texas, the Permian basin, the Anadarko basin, and the Western Sedimentary basin of Canada; and onshore Egypt, offshore Western Australia, offshore the United Kingdom in the North Sea, and onshore Argentina, as well as on the Chilean side of the island of Tierra del Fuego. Apache Corporation sells its natural gas to local distribution companies, utilities, end-users, integrated oil and gas companies, and marketers; and crude oil to integrated oil companies, marketing and transportation companies, and refiners. As of December 31, 2009, it had total estimated proved reserves of 1,067 million barrels of crude oil, condensate, and natural gas liquids, as well as 7.8 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. The company was founded in 1954 and is based in Houston, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Tyler Crowe]

  What a Fool believes
  The success of the U.S. energy renaissance has been due to a wide array of elements, and some of those elements have also put the U.S. ahead of the rest of the world in terms of shale gas production. This advantage won't hold forever, though, and several companies are looking to get in on the ground floor in some of these newer shale plays. Royal Dutch Shell (NYSE: RDS-A  ) plans to spend $1 billion a year to develop shale gas in China as part of a�production�sharing agreement with China National Petroleum, and 6% of Apache's� (NYSE: APA  ) total petroleum production comes from shale�deposits�in Argentina.

• [By Matt DiLallo]

  Speaking of the Gulf, Freeport is actually looking to sell some of its lower-growth assets in the region in an effort to pay down its debt. In fact, according to CEO Richard Adkerson, the company has already initiated plans to sell some of its conventional oil and gas production on the shelf of the Gulf of Mexico. This move would follow on the heels of�Apache's (NYSE: APA  ) , which recently announced a move to exit the Gulf's shelf.

• [By Selena Maranjian]

  Other companies didn't do as well last year, but could see their fortunes change in the coming years. Apache (NYSE: APA  ) , yielding 1.1%, shed 19% over the past year, in part due to lower-than-hoped-for production levels. But that's due to the company investing capital in projects that won't immediately bump production much. Only 11% of Apache's revenue last year came from natural gas, and unlike some peers, it's cash-flow positive as well. It hiked its next dividend by a big 18%, and its plans to drill more wells are also promising. On various counts, the stock seems inexpensive. Meanwhile, a board member recently bought�some $740,000 worth of shares.

• [By Paul Ausick]

  There were a several analyst upgrades and downgrades�today, including:

  RadioShack Corp. (NYSE: RSH) has been dropped from coverage by Oppenheimer; Intel Corp. (NASDAQ: INTC) raised to ��eutral��at Piper Jaffray; Apache Corp. (NYSE: APA) cut to ��old��at Stifel Nicolaus; Kaiser Aluminum Corp. (NASDAQ: KALU) raised to ��uy��with a price target of $80 at Sterne Agee; and Dollar General Corp. (NYSE: DG) raised to ��verweight��at J.P. Morgan.

  The only earnings reports of note since last Friday came from Saks Inc. (NYSE: SKS) which is trading down 0.2% at $15.99.

Best Insurance Stocks To Invest In 2014: LDK Solar Co. Ltd.(LDK)

LDK Solar Co., Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the design, development, manufacture, and marketing of photovoltaic (PV) products; and development of power plant projects. It offers solar-grade and semiconductor-grade polysilicon; and multicrystalline and monocrystalline solar wafers to the manufacturers of solar cells and solar modules. The company also provides wafer processing services to monocrystalline and multicrystalline solar cell and module manufacturers; and sells silicon materials, such as ingots and polysilicon scraps. In addition, it engages in the production and sale of solar cells and modules to developers, distributors, and system integrators; and design and development of solar power projects in Europe, the United States, and China, as well as provides engineering, procurement, and construction services. LDK Solar Co., Ltd. operates in Europe, the Asia Pacific, and North America. The company was founded in 2005 and is based in Xinyu City, t he People?s Republic of China.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Smith]

  China's LDK Solar (NYSE: LDK  ) defaulted on a scheduled payment on $23.8 million in convertible senior notes yesterday, sending shares of the vertically integrated solar power company tumbling.

• [By Paul Ausick]

  Notable earnings reports currently on tap for next week: Qihu 360 Technology Co. Ltd. (NASDAQ: QIHU), Avago Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ: AVGO), LDK Solar Co. Ltd. (NYSE: LDK), Tiffany & Co. (NYSE: TIF), Joy Global Inc. (NYSE: JOY), Campbell Soup Co. (NYSE: CPB), JA Solar Holdings Co. Ltd. (NASDAQ: JASO), Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc. (NYSE: KKD), and ReneSola Ltd. (NYSE: SOL).

Top 10 Energy Stocks To Buy For 2014: Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.(CLF)

Cliffs Natural Resources Inc., a mining and natural resources company, produces iron ore pellets, lump and fines iron ore, and metallurgical coal products. The company operates six iron ore mines in Michigan, Minnesota, and eastern Canada; two iron ore mining complexes in Western Australia; five metallurgical coal mines located in West Virginia and Alabama; and one thermal coal mine located in West Virginia. It also owns a 45% economic interest in a coking and thermal coal mine located in Queensland, Australia; and a 30% interest in Amapa, a Brazilian iron ore project in Latin America, as well as chromite properties in Ontario, Canada. The company, formerly known as Cleveland-Cliffs Inc, was founded in 1847 and is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Divine]

  Leading off the list is a familiar name: Cliffs Natural Resources (NYSE: CLF  ) , which mines for coal, iron ore, and other resources. The company saw shares slump 5.1% today after it held up the environmental assessment of a chromite project in Ontario earlier this week. Citing certain "unresolved issues,"�the company is delaying the launch of the operation until it ensures its compliance with Canada's laws -- probably a good call, but not great for the stock.

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  Sinking like steel
  The worst performer so far this year is Cliffs Natural Resources (NYSE: CLF  ) , which plunged 57% in the first six months of 2013. The producer of iron ore and metallurgical coal has suffered from the big drop in demand for steel production, as key users like China and other emerging markets have seen their economies slow and the pace of their construction and infrastructure projects decelerate recently. Recent news of summer layoffs and the need for it to temporarily idle its Wabush Scully mine in Labrador because of forest fires are just the latest in a series of shutdowns and other measures that Cliffs has taken to try to stem the bleeding that required the company to slash its dividend by more than 75% earlier this year.

• [By Selena Maranjian]

  Finally, Fisher's biggest closed positions included Komatsu and Men's Wearhouse. Other closed positions of interest include Cliffs Natural Resources (NYSE: CLF  ) . The stock, yielding about 3.4% after a massive 76% dividend cut, is down more than 70% over the past year, in part due to the struggling coal market. Some are bullish, though, given the company's debt reduction and a likely boost to business from a recovering housing market. The stock has fallen so far that some see it as attractive now.

Top 10 Energy Stocks To Buy For 2014: Caiterra International Energy Corp (CTI)

CaiTerra International Energy Corporation (Caiterra), formerly Cyterra Capital Corp., is a Canada-based company is engaged in the exploration and development of oil and gas properties. The Company�� project includes Faust, Amadou and Lac La Biche. On March 9, 2012, the Company completed its qualifying transaction with West Pacific Petroleum Inc. (WPP), pursuant to which the Company acquired all of WPP�� working interests in certain petroleum and natural gas leases and an oil sand lease in the Lac La Biche and Amadou Projects located in Alberta, Canada and certain other assets (the QT Oil and Gas Properties) from West Pacific Petroleum Inc. (WPP). On December 17, 2012 the Company acquired the Faust Property located just north of the Swan Hills oil field and south of the Town of Slave Lake.

Top 10 Energy Stocks To Buy For 2014: Africa Hydrocarbons Inc (NFK.V)

Africa Hydrocarbons Inc. (AHI) is a Canada-based oil and gas company engaged in the acquisition and development of energy assets, with an emphasis on Africa. The key asset of the Company is its 47.5% owned Bouhajla Block, which is located onshore in Tunisia within the productive Pelagian Basin. The Company completed approximately 60 square kilometer of three-dimensional (3D) seismic. The Company�� BHN-1 well was spud on the Bouhajla North oil prospect. The Company�� projects include Tunisia Project Highlights, Tunisia - Pelagian Basin Area, Bouhajla Prospects and Leads, Bouhajla Prospects, Bouhajla North Risk Mitigation, Tunisia - Bouhajla PSC and PSC Terms - Oil.

Top 10 Energy Stocks To Buy For 2014: Euro FX(P)

Ecopetrol S.A. operates as an integrated oil company in Colombia, Peru, Brazil, and the U.S. Gulf Coast. The company engages in the exploration, development, and production of crude oil and natural gas. As of December 31, 2010, its proved reserves of crude oil and natural gas consisted of 1,714.0 million barrels of oil equivalent. The company also transports crude oil, motor fuels, fuel oil, and other refined products, as well as mixture of diesel and palm oil. It owns transportation network consisting of 3,003 kilometers of crude oil pipeline directly, as well as an additional 2,178 kilometers of crude oil pipeline with its business partners; and 3,017 kilometers of multi-purpose pipelines for transportation of refined products from refinery to wholesale distribution points. As of the above date, Ecopetrol S.A. owned 58 stations with a nominal storage capacity of 19 million barrels of crude oil and 6 million barrels of refined products. In addition, the company owns and o perates refineries that produce a range of refined products, including gasoline, diesel, kerosene, jet fuel, aviation fuel, liquefied petroleum gas, sulfur, heavy fuel oils, motor fuels, and petrochemicals, including paraffin waxes, lube base oils, low-density polyethylene, aromatics, asphalts, alkylates, cyclohexane and aliphatic solvents, and refinery grade propylene, as well as provides industrial services to third parties. Further, it markets various refined and feed stock products, including regular and high octane gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuel, natural gas, and petrochemical products. The company was formerly known as Empresa Colombiana de Petroleos and changed its name to Ecopetrol S.A. in June 2003. Ecopetrol S.A. was founded in 1948 and is based in Bogota, Colombia.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Blake Bos]

  Over the last five days, shares of Pandora (NYSE: P  ) are up 12% on news that Pandora is now featured in 23 major automotive brands and eight aftermarket suppliers. In this video, Motley Fool consumer goods analyst Blake Bos takes asks two questions: Will this affect Pandora's profits in a meaningful way and could this increased auto presence for the streaming Internet radio provider mean trouble for Sirius XM (NASDAQ: SIRI  ) ? Blake discusses Pandora's plan for increased profits and what to watch to be sure it's on track, and talks about the differences between Pandora and Sirius.

• [By Douglas A. McIntyre]

  Several�very well-known apps are not on either top five list, but�each must get millions of downloads a month. Twitter, weather apps, Pandora Media Inc. (NYSE: P), eBay Inc. (NASDAQ: EBAY), Gmail, Pinterest, Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), Skype and Groupon Inc. (NASDAQ: GRPN) already rule across the PC, tablet and smartphone “ecosystems.” None of these is likely to lose popularity, and some probably will gain more.

Top 10 Energy Stocks To Buy For 2014: Helmerich & Payne Inc (HP)

Helmerich & Payne, Inc., incorporated on February 29, 1944, is engaged in contract drilling of oil and gases wells for others and this business. The Company's contract drilling business is composed of three reportable business segments: U.S. Land, Offshore and International Land. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2012 (fiscal 2012), the Company's U.S. Land operations drilled in Oklahoma, California, Texas, Wyoming, Colorado, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Utah, Arkansas, New Mexico, Montana, North Dakota and West Virginia. Offshore operations were conducted in the Gulf of Mexico, and offshore of California, Trinidad and Equatorial Guinea. During fiscal 2012, the Company's International Land segment operated in six international locations: Ecuador, Colombia, Argentina, Tunisia, Bahrain and United Arab Emirates. The Company is also engaged in the ownership, development and operation of commercial real estate and the research and development of rotary steerable technology. Each of the businesses operates independently of the others through wholly owned subsidiaries. The Company's real estate investments located exclusively within Tulsa, Oklahoma, include a shopping center containing approximately 441,000 leasable square feet, multi-tenant industrial warehouse properties containing approximately one million leasable square feet and approximately 210 acres of undeveloped real estate. The Company's subsidiary, TerraVici Drilling Solutions, Inc. (TerraVici), is developing rotary steerable technology. As of September 30, 2012, it had 176 rigs under fixed-term contracts. During fiscal 2012, the Company leased a 150,000 square foot industrial facility near Tulsa, Oklahoma for the purpose of overhauling/repairing rig equipment and associated component parts.

U.S. Land Drilling

As of September 30, 2012, the Company had 282 of its land rigs available for work in the United States. During fiscal 2012, the Company's U.S. Land operations contributed approximately 85% of the Compan! y's consolidated operating revenues. During fiscal 2012, rig utilization was approximately 89%. During fiscal 2012, the Company's fleet of FlexRigs had an average utilization of approximately 97%, while the Company's conventional and mobile rigs had an average utilization of approximately 11%. As of September 31, 2012, 231 out of an available 282 land rigs were working.

Off Shore Drilling

During fiscal 2012, the Company's Offshore operations contributed approximately 6% of the Company's consolidated operating revenues. During fiscal 2012, rig utilization was approximately 79%. During fiscal 2012, the Company had eight of its nine offshore platform rigs under contract and continued to work under management contracts for four customer-owned rigs. During fiscal 2012, revenues from drilling services performed for the Company's offshore drilling customer totaled approximately 56% of offshore revenues.

International Land Drilling

During fiscal 2012, the Company's International Land operations contributed approximately 9% of the Company's consolidated operating revenues. During fiscal 2012, rig utilization was 77%. As of September 30, 2012, the Company had nine rigs in Argentina. During fiscal 2012, the Company's utilization rate was approximately 52%. During fiscal 2012, revenues generated by Argentine drilling operations contributed approximately 2% of the Company's consolidated operating revenues. The Argentine drilling contracts are with international or national oil companies. As of September 30, 2012, the Company had seven rigs in Colombia. During fiscal 2012, the Company's utilization rate was approximately 79%. During fiscal 2012, revenues generated by Colombian drilling operations contributed approximately 3% of the Company's consolidated operating revenues. During fiscal 2012, revenues from drilling services performed for the Company's customer in Colombia totaled approximately 1% of consolidated operating revenues and approximately 16% of inter! national ! operating revenues. The Colombian drilling contracts are with international or national oil companies. As of September 30, 2012, the Company had five rigs in Ecuador. During fiscal 2012, the utilization rate in Ecuador was 97%. During fiscal 2012, revenues generated by Ecuadorian drilling operations contributed approximately 2% of consolidated operating revenues. As of September 30, 2012, the Company had two rigs in Tunisia, four rigs in Bahrain and two rigs in United Arab Emirates.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Robert Rapier]

  My opinion is that in this space Helmerich & Payne (NYSE: HP) looks better with respect to most metrics and pays a 3 percent dividend to boot. We recommended HP to subscribers in February, and it has returned more than 25 percent since. UNT hasn’t done too badly by comparison; it is up nearly 14 percent over the same time frame. But I would still favor HP today when I stack it up against UNT. HP’s debt is lower, its price/earnings ratio is lower, its volatility is lower, and its profit margin is higher than UNT’s.          

Top 10 Energy Stocks To Buy For 2014: Bankers Petroleum Ltd (BNK.TO)

Bankers Petroleum Ltd. (Bankers) is engaged in the exploration for and oil in Albania. The Company generates all of the oil revenue from its operations in Albania, which is located northwest of Greece in South Eastern Europe. In Albania, Bankers operates and has the rights to develop the Patos-Marinza and Kucova oilfields pursuant to License Agreements with the Albanian National Agency for Natural Resources (AKBN) and Petroleum Agreements with Albpetrol Sh.A (Albpetrol), the state-owned oil and gas corporation. The Patos-Marinza oilfield is an onshore oilfield in continental Europe, holding approximately 5.1 billion barrels of original-oil-in-place (OOIP). The Company also has rights to exploration Block F (adjacent to the Patos-Marinza oilfield), an 185,000 acre oil and gas prone exploration field. The Company�� subsidiaries include Bankers Petroleum Albania Ltd. (BPAL), Bankers Petroleum International Limited (BPIL) and Sherwood International Petroleum Ltd (Sherwood).

Top 10 Energy Stocks To Buy For 2014: Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Limited(YGE)

Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Limited, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the design, development, manufacture, marketing, sale, and installation of photovoltaic (PV) products in the People?s Republic of China and internationally. The company offers PV cells, PV modules, and integrated PV systems, as well as polysilicon ingots, blocks, and wafers. It sells its PV modules to distributors, wholesalers, power plant developers and operators, and PV system integrators in Germany, the United States, Italy, China, Spain, the Netherlands, Greece, the Czech Republic, the United Kingdom, South Korea, and Japan under the Yingli and Yingli Solar brand names. The company also offers its integrated PV systems directly to end-users or to contractors for use in the electricity projects, as well as to mobile communications companies in the People's Republic of China. Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Limited was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Baoding, the People? s Republic of China.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Eric Volkman]

  Yingli Green Energy (NYSE: YGE  ) is to be the supplier to a large-scale solar power plant in its home continent of Asia. The company announced it had reached a deal for its Singapore subsidiary to supply over 10 MW of its multicrystalline photovoltaic modules to a solar facility in Malaysia.

• [By Travis Hoium]

  Solar tariffs in Europe started at a low 11% rate last week, but if a deal between Europe, China, and even the U.S. isn't reached by Aug. 6 then they could go up to as much as 68%. This is clearly a negative development for Chinese manufacturers like Yingli Green Energy (NYSE: YGE  ) , LDK Solar (NYSE: LDK  ) , and Trina Solar (NYSE: TSL  ) , but it's not necessarily good for U.S. companies either. First Solar (NASDAQ: FSLR  ) has little presence in Europe right now and SunPower (NASDAQ: SPWR  ) won't see much benefit from tariffs either. In the end, tariffs are bad for nearly everyone, a sentiment Travis Hoium covers in the video below.�

• [By Travis Hoium]

  The effect on Chinese solar stocks
  To put the price floor into perspective, Yingli Green Energy (NYSE: YGE  ) had an average selling price of $0.67 per watt in the first quarter. The price increase would amount to about 11% under the new plan. �