Top 10 Clean Energy Companies To Watch For 2014

Exchange-traded funds offer a convenient way to invest in sectors or niches that interest you. If you'd like to add some clean-energy-related stocks to your portfolio, the PowerShares WilderHill Clean Energy Portfolio ETF (NYSEMKT: PBW  ) could save you a lot of trouble. Instead of trying to figure out which companies will perform best, you can use this ETF to invest in lots of them simultaneously.

The basics
ETFs often sport lower expense ratios than their mutual fund cousins. The PowerShares ETF's expense ratio -- its annual fee -- is 0.70%. The fund is fairly small, too, so if you're thinking of buying, beware of possibly large spreads between its bid and ask prices. Consider using a limit order if you want to buy in.

This ETF has performed�terribly, significantly underperforming the world market over the past three and five years. But the future counts more than the past, and it's been a rough few years for the entire solar energy industry, among others. And, as with most investments, of course, we can't expect outstanding performances in every quarter or year. Investors with conviction need to wait for their holdings to deliver. Indeed, stocks that have fallen sharply are sometimes great bargains.

Top 10 Clean Energy Companies To Watch For 2014: Mckay Secs(MCKS.L)

McKay Securities PLC, a commercial property investment company, engages in the development and refurbishment of buildings in central London and the southeast of England. The company?s portfolio consists of office, industrial, retail, and residential properties. As of March 31, 2008, its property portfolio comprised 38 properties. The company was founded in 1946 and is based in Reading, the United Kingdom.

Top 10 Clean Energy Companies To Watch For 2014: BBVA Banco Frances S.A. (BFR)

BBVA Banco Franc茅s S.A., together with its subsidiaries, provides various financial services to corporations, medium and small companies, and individual customers in the Republic of Argentina. The company offers checking and savings accounts, time deposits, and investment accounts. It also provides short and long-term loans to companies, overdraft lines of credit, discounted instruments, loans to financial institutions and the governmental sector, collateral loans, and real estate mortgage, as well as consumer loans comprising credit card loans and other consumer loans. In addition, the company offers home and personal accident insurance; payroll services; asset management services; and insurance advisory services to customers in the areas of coverage of risks related to life, personal accidents and home insurance, and automated teller machine (ATM) robbery insurance. Further, it provides foreign trade services, including letters of credit, collections, bank drafts, fund transfers, and foreign currency transactions; and electronic banking, ATM, self-service terminals, Internet and mobile banking, call center, and trust services. Additionally, the company engages in capital market and securities activities, principally underwriting and placement of corporate bonds, commercial paper, and equity securities; corporate advisory; and securities brokerage. As of December 31, 2011, it operated 268 branches comprising 240 retail branches, 28 branches specialized in small and medium enterprises segment, 13 in-company branches, 7 corporate banking units, and 3 points of sale, as well as 654 ATM�s and 695 quick deposit boxes. The company was formerly known as Banco Frances del Rio de la Plata S.A. and changed its name to BBVA Banco Franc茅s S.A. in October 2000. The company was founded in 1886 and is based in Buenos Aires, the Republic of Argentina. BBVA Banco Franc茅s SA operates as a subsidiary of Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Federico Zaldua]

  Banco Frances (BFR), 75% controlled by Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria, is among the biggest banks in Argentina. The bank has the smallest exposure to Argentina's public debt out of the three banks analyzed in the article and presents the lowest pace of growth. That said, its one of the healthiest banks in the country given that it has the lowest NPL ratio and the highest reserve ratio to absorb potential losses. The bank also trades cheaply at 3.5 times P/E and 85% its book value. Being more expensive (although still very cheap relative to the sector's average) and with the lowest liquidity among this group of three, I would exclude Banco Frances from my Argentinean bank portfolio.

10 Best Small Cap Stocks To Buy Right Now: Golden Dory Resources Corp (GDR.V)

Golden Dory Resources Corp., an exploration stage company, engages in the exploration of mineral properties in North America. The company primarily explores for gold, uranium, and lithium/rare metals. It holds interest in the Huxter Lane-Brady project located in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada; and Long Canyon (Pequop south) and Reef properties in the state of Nevada, the United States. The company also focuses on its earlier stage gold, uranium, and base metal properties in Newfoundland; and lithium/rare metals projects in Ontario. Golden Dory Resources Corp. is based in Gander, Canada.

Top 10 Clean Energy Companies To Watch For 2014: j2 Global Inc (JCOM)

j2 Global, Inc., incorporated on December 14, 1995, is a provider of services delivered through the Internet. The Company provides cloud services to businesses of all sizes, from individuals to enterprises. The Company operates in two segments: Business Cloud Services and Digital Media. The Company's Digital Media business segment consists of the Web properties and business operations of Ziff Davis, Inc. (Ziff Davis). The Company�� cloud services and solutions include fax, voice and unified communications, email and customer relationship management, online backup, global network and operations, and customer support services. In February 2013, it acquired IGN Entertainment, Inc. On November 9, 2012, the Company acquired Ziff Davis. Effective March 18, 2013, it acquired MetroFax Inc. In April 2013, the Company acquired Backup Connect BV.

Business Cloud Services

The Company's eFax and MyFax online fax services enable users to receive faxes into their email inboxes and to send faxes via the Internet. eVoice and Onebox provides the Company's customers a virtual phone system with various available enhancements. The Company's FuseMail service provides the Company's customers email, archival and perimeter protection solutions, while Campaigner provides its customers email marketing solutions. KeepItSafe enables the Company's customers to securely backup their data and dispose of tape or other physical systems. The Company's CampaignerCRM business provides customer relationship management solutions designed to increase the Company's customers' sales and increase efficiency. The Company also generates Business Cloud Services revenues from patent licensing and sales and advertising. The Company�� Business Cloud Services and solutions are of two types: direct inward-dial number (DID) -based, which are services provided in whole or in part through a telephone number and non-DID-based, which are its other cloud services for business. As of December 31, 2012, the Company had DIDs issued! to approximately 2.1 million paying subscribers.

The Company's services allow individuals to receive and send faxes as email attachments. In addition to eFax , the Company offers online fax services under a variety of alternative brands, including MyFax , eFax Plus , eFax Pro, eFax Corporate and eFax Developer . eVoice is a virtual phone system that provides small and medium-sized businesses on-demand voice communications services, featuring a toll-free or local company DID, auto-attendant and menu tree. With these services, a subscriber can assign departmental and individual extensions that can connect to multiple United States or Canadian DIDs, including land-line and mobile phones and Internet protocol (IP) networks. These services also include advanced integrated voicemail for each extension, unifying mobile, office and other separate voicemail services and improving efficiency by delivering voicemails in both native audio format and as transcribed text. Onebox is a unified communications suite. It combines the features of many of the Company's other branded services, plus added functionality, to provide a virtual office. Onebox includes a virtual phone system, hosted email, online fax, audio conferencing and Web conferencing.

FuseMail offers hosted email, email encryption and email archival services to businesses. These solutions are hosted offsite and seamlessly integrated into a customer's existing email system. The services include hosted email, VirusSMART virus scanning, CypherSMART encryption services, SpamSMART SPAM filtering and VaultSMART / PolicySMART archiving, which delivers a secure, scalable email archiving and customizable compliance tool to correspond with a company's retention policy. Campaigner is an email marketing service that enables businesses to easily create and send personalized one-to-one email communications to subscribers and customers to build better relationships. Campaigner also helps businesses increase the size of their mailing lists, compl! y with em! ail regulations like CAN-SPAM and get more emails to more inboxes. CampaignerCRM is a cloud-based CRM solution specifically designed to help small/medium-sized businesses close more deals, reduce the sales cycle and sell larger deals. CampaignerCRM has a sales checklist capability that gives sales representatives a step-by-step plan to closing a deal. With CampaignerCRM's Social CRM capabilities, companies can seamlessly integrate a customer's latest information from Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook directly into their Contact profile. KeepItSafe provides managed and monitored online backup solutions for businesses, using its ISO-certified platform.

The Company's Business Cloud Services business operates multiple physical Points of Presence (POPs) worldwide, a central data center in Los Angeles and several remote disaster recovery facilities. The Company connects its POPs to its central data centers through redundant, and often times diverse, Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) using the Internet. The Company's network is designed to deliver value-added user applications, customer support and billing services for the Company's customers anywhere in the world and a local presence for its DID-based service customers from thousands of cities in 49 countries on six continents. The Company offers DIDs covering all major metropolitan areas in the United States, United Kingdom and Canada, and such other major cities as Berlin, Hong Kong, Madrid, Manila, Mexico City, Milan, Paris, Rome, Singapore, Sydney, Taipei, Tokyo and Zurich. The Company has customers located throughout the world.

The Company's Business Cloud Services customer service organization supports the Company's cloud services customers through a combination of online self-help, email communications, interactive chat sessions and telephone calls. The Company's Internet-based online self-help tools enable customers to resolve simple issues on their own, eliminating the need to speak or write to the Company's customer service re! presentat! ives. The Company's Business Cloud Services segment customer service organization provides email support seven days per week, 24 hours per day to all subscribers. Paying subscribers have access to live-operator telephone support seven days per week, 24 hours per day. Dedicated telephone support is provided for corporate customers 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Live sales and customer support services are available in nine languages, including English, Spanish, Dutch, German, French and Cantonese.

Digital Media

The Ziff Davis portfolio of Web properties, including PCMag.com, ExtremeTech.com, Geek.com, ComputerShopper.com, LogicBuy.com and Toolbox.com features reviews of technology products, technology-oriented news and commentary, professional networking tools for IT professionals and online deals and discounts for consumers. The Company generates Digital Media revenues from the sale of display advertising targeted to in-market technology buyers and from the sale of customer leads to online merchants and business-to-business leads to IT vendors. During the year ended December 31, 2012, Digital Media Web properties attracted 345 million visits and 1.1 billion page views.

PCMag is a trusted online resource for laboratory-based product reviews, technology news and buying guides. Toolbox.com is a network of online communities that allows experienced technology professionals to share collective knowledge and collaborate to resolve problems more efficiently. Toolbox.com includes professional networking tools, blogs, collaboration tools and reference guides. Geek.com is an online technology resource and community for technology enthusiasts and professionals. Its gaming site includes IGN.com and men's lifestyle site includes AskMen.com.

The Company competes with Google AdSense, DoubleClick Ad Exchange, AOL's Ad.com and Microsoft Media Network.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Chuck Carnevale]

  j2 Global Inc. (JCOM)

  One company that many readers may not be familiar with is j2 Global Inc. My purpose in featuring this aggressive candidate was to offer an example of a historically pure growth technology company that appears to be morphing into a dividend growth stock. But before I show that, I offer the following slide that provides an overview of j2 Global�� business.

Top 10 Clean Energy Companies To Watch For 2014: PIMCO Municipal Income Fund(PMF)

PIMCO Municipal Income Fund is a closed ended fixed income mutual fund launched and managed by Allianz Global Investors Fund Management LLC. It is co managed by Pacific Investment Management Company LLC. The fund invests in the fixed income markets of the United States. It primarily invests in investment grade municipal bonds. The fund employs fundamental analysis with a top down stock picking approach to create its portfolio. It conducts in house research using proprietary models. PIMCO Municipal Income Fund was formed on June 29, 2001 and is domiciled in the United States.

Top 10 Clean Energy Companies To Watch For 2014: Med Biogene Inc. (MBI.V)

Med BioGene Inc., a life science company, engages in the development and commercialization of genomic-based clinical laboratory diagnostic tests. The company�s products include LungExpress Dx, a gene expression-based test for early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer that analyzes the molecular profile of a patient�s tumor to provide information to assist in tailoring treatment for that specific patient; and LymphExpress Dx, a gene expression-based microarray diagnostic test for common subtypes of lymphoma. It has collaboration agreement with the University of Ottawa Heart Institute for gene expression-based blood tests for cardiovascular disease. The company also has collaboration agreements with the University Health Network and Duke University. Med BioGene Inc. was founded in 2002 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

Top 10 Clean Energy Companies To Watch For 2014: Enzon Pharmaceuticals Inc. (ENZN)

Enzon Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biotechnology company, engages in the research and development of therapeutics for cancer patients with unmet medical needs. The company?s drug-development programs utilize two platforms-Customized PEGylation Linker Technology and third-generation mRNA-targeting agents utilizing the Locked Nucleic Acid (LNA) technology. It currently holds four compounds in clinical development and multiple novel LNA targets in preclinical research. The company?s development product pipeline consists of PEG-SN38 compound that utilizes Customized Linker Technology, which is in Phase II clinical trials for the treatment of metastatic colorectal and breast cancer, as well as a Phase I trial for pediatric patients with cancer; and the Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1 alpha antagonist in Phase I studies for the treatment of solid tumors and lymphoma. Its product line also comprises Survivin antagonist in Phase I study in pediatric patients with recurrent acute lymphoblas tic leukemia; Androgen Receptor antagonist, a validated target for the treatment of prostate cancer that is in a Phase I study in patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer; and rights to five compounds, including AR, HER3, beta-catenin, PI3KCA, and Gli2. Enzon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. was founded in 1981 and is headquartered in Piscataway, New Jersey.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Equities Lab]

  The stocks that currently pass the stock screen in order of market cap are Frontier Communications Corp , Crown Media Holdings (CRWN), Vonage Holding (VG), MCG Capital Corp (MCGC), 1-800-FLOWERS.COM (FLWS), MTR Gaming Corporation (MNTG), Alaska Communications (ALSK), and Enzon Pharmaceuticals (ENZN).

Top 10 Clean Energy Companies To Watch For 2014: Sol Spa(SOL.MI)

Sol S.p.A. engages in the production, applied research, and distribution of industrial, pure, and medicinal gases in door-to-door medical care, and for related medical equipment primarily in Italy, and other western and central-eastern European countries, as well as in India. The company produces, markets, and distributes oxygen, nitrogen, argon, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, acetylene, nitrous oxide, helium, gas mixtures, refrigerating gases, medicinal gases, special gases, and high purity gases. It offers its products and services in the areas of healthcare, energy and industry, food and agriculture, ecology and environment, scientific research, and carbon dioxide blasting. The company also engages in research, design, construction, and operation of on-site production plants at its clients' plants. In addition, it supplies medical products, including oxygen; and materials and equipment for home-care therapy. The company offers various medical services, such as home-based res piratory care equipment for oxygen therapy, ventilation therapy, and artificial nutrition. Further, it markets and distributes a range of equipments, machines, and materials for welding, metal cutting, and electric arch cutting systems under the brand names of Sol Welding, Join, and e-robot. Sol S.p.A. was founded in 1927 and is based in Monza, Italy.

Top 10 Clean Energy Companies To Watch For 2014: Pacific Premier Bancorp Inc(PPBI)

Pacific Premier Bancorp, Inc. operates as the holding company for Pacific Premier Bank that provides various commercial banking services to businesses and consumers in Southern California. The company?s deposit products include passbook savings, checking accounts, money market accounts, and certificates of deposit. Its loan portfolio comprises multi-family real estate, commercial non-owner occupied real estate, one-to-four family real estate, commercial owner-occupied business, commercial and industrial, and U.S. small business administration loans, as well as other loans, such as saving accounts and auto loans. In addition, the company offers cash management, electronic banking, and on-line bill payment services. As of July 27, 2011, it operated nine full-service depository branches in the cities of Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach, Los Alamitos, Newport Beach, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, San Bernardino, and Seal Beach, Southern California. The company was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in Costa Mesa, California.

Top 10 Clean Energy Companies To Watch For 2014: Natuzzi S.p.A.(NTZ)

Natuzzi S.p.A., together with its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, and markets leather and fabric upholstered furniture. The company?s products comprise sofas, loveseats, armchairs, sectional furniture, motion furniture and sofa beds, and living room furnishings and accessories. It sells its products primarily under the Natuzzi, Italsofa, and Natuzzi Editions/Editions brand names. The company sells its Natuzzi branded furniture primarily through franchised Divani & Divani by Natuzzi, and Natuzzi furniture stores. As of March 31, 2011, it sells its furniture through 111 Divani & Divani by Natuzzi, and 178 Natuzzi stores, as well as had 358 Natuzzi galleries worldwide. The company was founded in 1959 and is based in Santeramo in Colle, Italy.