Mid-Day Market Update: Coach Slips After Q3 Results; Orbital Shares Spike Higher

Related BZSUM Mid-Morning Market Update: Markets Rise; Merck Earnings Beat Street View #PreMarket Primer: Tuesday, April 29: US Steps Up Sanctions Against Russia

Midway through trading Tuesday, the Dow traded up 0.49 percent to 16,529.94 while the NASDAQ surged 0.45 percent to 4,092.63. The S&P also rose, gaining 0.41 percent to 1,877.02.

Leading and Lagging Sectors
In trading on Tuesday, energy shares were relative leaders, up on the day by about 1.41 percent. Meanwhile, top gainers in the sector included Stone Energy (NYSE: SGY), up 9 percent, and Westmoreland Coal Co (NYSE: WLB), up 7.8 percent. Industrials services shares gained by just 0.02 percent in Tuesday's trading.

Top losers in the sector included Chart Industries (NASDAQ: GTLS), Jacobs Engineering Group (NYSE: JEC), and ABB (NYSE: ABB).

Top Headline
Merck & Co (NYSE: MRK) reported a 7% rise in its first-quarter profit. Merck's quarterly profit surged to $1.71 billion, or $0.57 per share, compared to a year-ago profit of $1.59 billion, or $0.52 per share. Excluding certain items, Merck earned $0.88 per share, up from $0.85 per share Its revenue dropped 4% to $10.26 billion versus $10.67 billion. However, analysts were estimating earnings of $0.79 per share on revenue of $10.43 billion. Merck reiterated its full-year earnings forecast of $2.15 to $2.47 per share.

Equities Trading UP
Kulicke and Soffa Industries (NASDAQ: KLIC) shares shot up 8.95 percent to $13.76 after the company reported upbeat Q2 earnings and issued a strong Q3 revenue forecast.

Shares of Orbital Sciences (NYSE: ORB) got a boost, shooting up 19.68 percent to $31.80 after the company and Allian Techsystems' (NYSE: ATK) Aerospace and Defense Groups agreed to combine to create Orbital ATK.

Banco Santander (Brasil) SA (NYSE: BSBR) shares were also up, gaining 15.74 percent to $6.69 on Q1 results. The company reported Q1 recurring net income of 1.427 billion reais ($637 million).

Equities Trading DOWN
Shares of Gogo (NASDAQ: GOGO) were 22.52 percent to $14.24 following news that AT&T (NYSE: T) intended to launch high-speed 4G in-flight connectivity service.

Chart Industries (NASDAQ: GTLS) shares tumbled 6.10 percent to $69.37 after the company reported weaker-than-expected Q1 results and lowered its FY14 outlook.

Coach (NYSE: COH) was down, falling 8.19 percent to $46.29 after the company reported downbeat quarterly sales. The company reported Q3 earnings of $0.68 per share on revenue of $1.10 billion.

Commodities
In commodity news, oil traded up 0.89 percent to $101.74, while gold traded up 0.04 percent to $1,299.50. Silver traded down 0.50 percent Tuesday to $19.52, while copper fell 0.71 percent to $3.07.

Eurozone
European shares were higher today.

The Spanish Ibex Index surged 1.31 percent, while Italy's FTSE MIB Index rose 2.15 percent.

Meanwhile, the German DAX surged 1.48 percent and the French CAC 40 rose 0.83 percent while U.K. shares gained 0.91 percent.

Economics
The Federal Open Market Committee begins its two-day policy meeting today.

The ICSC-Goldman same-store sales index gained 1.6% in the week ended April 26 versus the prior week.

The Johnson Redbook Retail Sales Index dropped 0.3% in the first three weeks of April versus March.

The S&P/Case-Shiller home price index rose 0.76% in February, versus economists' expectations for a 0.80% gain. On a year-over-year basis, the index climbed 12.9% in February.

The Conference Board's consumer confidence index came in at 82.30 in April, versus a revised 83.90 in March. However, economists were expecting a reading of 83.00.

Posted-In: Earnings News Guidance Eurozone Futures Forex Global Econ #s Economics Intraday Update Markets Movers Tech

© 2014 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

  Most Popular Market Wrap For April 28: Apple Hits New 52-Week Highs In a Volatile Start To the Trading Week Apple Issuing More Bonds to Fund Increased Buyback Amazon's 'Big Spender' Act Not Impressing Investors Financials, Futures Move Lower Following News BofA Has Suspended 2014 Capital Plan Earnings Scheduled For April 29, 2014 UPDATE: Organovo Reports Pre-Release Availability of 3D Liver Contract Services Related Articles (ABB + ATK) Mid-Day Market Update: Coach Slips After Q3 Results; Orbital Shares Spike Higher Mid-Morning Market Update: Markets Rise; Merck Earnings Beat Street View Stocks Hitting 52-Week Highs Zacks Rank #1 Additions for Tuesday - Tale of the Tape Morning Market Movers Orbital Sciences, Alliant Techsystems' Aerospace & Defense Groups to Combine in $5B Merger-of-Equals

Positive Start to Q2 Earnings Season - Ahead of Wall Street

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

A largely tame inflation report, a positive looking Industrial Production reading, and strong earnings reports from Goldman Sachs (GS) and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) provide the backdrop for today's trading action. Earnings and economic data aside, the market is looking forward to the Bernanke testimony to Congress tomorrow, likely his last one as the Fed Chairman. The Fed Chairman's comments last week were instrumental in easing QE related worries and he will likely be aiming for another do-no-harm type of performance tomorrow.

On the earnings front, the Goldman Sachs and JNJ reports were quite strong, while Coke (KO) came short of expectations on case-volume weakness. Including these three reports, we now have Q2 reports from 36 S&P 500 companies that combined account for 11.8% of the index's total market capitalization.

Total earnings for these 36 companies are up +19.2% from the same period last year, with 58.3% beating expectations. On the revenue side, we have a growth rate of +8.7% and 44.4% of the companies are coming ahead of top-line expectations. Of this morning's reports, Goldman and JNJ beat on the top- and bottom-lines, while Coke met EPS expectations, but missed on the top-line. The Q2 results thus far compare favorably with the 4-quarter average for the same set of 36 companies in terms of earnings and revenue growth rates, but a bit soft in terms of earnings and revenue beat ratios.

This is still fairly early going in the reporting cycle and these initial numbers will shift in the coming days. But the trend for the Finance sector will likely endure as we have Q2 reports now from more than a quarter of the sector's total market capitalization (26.1% to be precise). Total Finance sector earnings are up an impressive +33.3%, while the sector's revenues are up +17.6%, a better performance than what we saw from the group in Q1 and the 4-quarter average. Bank of America (BAC) will report tomorrow.

The sector's earn! ings momentum is not surprising as it was all along expected to be the sole growth driver this quarter. There is not much growth outside of Finance, with the composite Q2 total earnings growth rate for the S&P 500 (combining the 36 reports that have come out with the 464 still to come) currently at +1.1%. Excluding the Finance sector's +24.1% growth rate, the composite Q2 earnings growth for the S&P 500 drops to a decline -3.4% from the same period last year.

We may not be seeing much earnings growth outside of Finance, but the overall 'level' of total earnings remains very high. Total earnings for the S&P 500 were at an all-time record level in Q1 and we will likely surpass that in Q2 as well. Consensus expectations are for a notable pick up in the growth pace in the second half of the year and beyond. Hard to envision those growth expectations panning out in a growth-constrained global economy, but that's what investors are pinning their hopes on.

The market has not paid much attention to negative estimate revisions in recent quarters, largely owing to the Fed's supportive role. But the Fed's plans to start pulling back on its QE program may force the market weigh the earnings picture a bit more closely. What they will find is an earnings picture that is not necessarily bad, but it's not worthy of pushing stocks to record levels either.

Sheraz Mian
Director of Research

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Taylor Swift Isn't Country (And Apple's Not High-End)

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Taylor Swift plays both sides of the country-pop divide. That's what this article's about. But, by way of comparison, I'm going to talk first about Apple (AAPL). 

Just as Taylor Swift isn't country, Apple's not high-end, even it positions itself as a producer and retailer of premium products for an elite consumer. Investors (and music fans) need to understand the dynamics that underlie both points.

Apple's a bit like Barack Obama -- everything to everybody.

When you're on Oprah, you act one way. When you're campaigning in Beverly Hills, you act another way. That's akin to Apple slumming its products in your local Wal-Mart (WMT) at the same time as it stocks accessories from names such as Bang & Olufsen and locates retail enclaves alongside luxury brands like Michael Kors (KORS).

The typical first of the month Walmart customer isn't rockin' $400 headphones or $200 earbuds by B&O. And they're certainly not dropping several grand on skirts and dresses. While I contend this dual image dilutes Apple's brand and could have negative long-term consequences, I respect the argument that it's smart for Apple to straddle both sides of the fence. It explicitly floats between high and low end on pricing and availability within product categories. Apple subtly markets its products as elite and aspirational; however, outside of a few exceptions, they're not. You can buy the best at Walmart. Or get it for really cheap, if not free, via promotion at a handful of third-party retailers. If that's not a contradiction, I'm not sure what is. Along similar lines, I agree with TheStreet's Jason Notte that Taylor Swift isn't country, but I come at it a bit differently. Notte's correct ... While (The New York) Times still somehow considers Taylor Swift "country" -- despite long ago transcending that genre and eschewing twang and drawl for beats and Tegan and Sara covers -- the most prominent face of country music in the last decade or so has been the tanned, hat-shaded Tennessee visage of Kenny Chesney and the cocktail country that comes along with it. But it's not the Times that considers Taylor Swift country. It's the powers that be within the country music industry. And, smartly, Swift goes along for the ride. Like Apple, she runs in multiple worlds.  Country music benefits because it gets headlines like the one Notte was referring to -- "Young, Rich and Ruling Radio, Country Walks a Broader Line." Country tops lists as the most popular radio format and such. However, it can only achieve this status because of Swift's broad star power. She is, beyond a shadow of doubt, the best crossover phenomenon of our time. While Swift hasn't kept quite as much twang as, say, Shania Twain did during her crossover heyday, she keeps just enough. Just enough so not too many country diehards hate her for crossing over (and not really being country any longer). Just enough to get nominated (and sometimes win) at every awards show from the CMAs to the VMAs to the Grammys. Just enough to show respect and prop up the format that launched her. Just enough to give hope to Top 40 and, eventually, save everything from indie pop to rock and roll. Swift keeps a residence in Nashville, though she's rarely in it. She claims she spends time in Nashville, but we just don't see it because the paparazzi leave her alone there. In Nashville, we're to believe she's just like a low-profile Springsteen in Asbury Park or Rumson. As much as I love Taylor Swift (and I do), I call bull. She has probably spent more time at the West Hollywood Whole Foods Market (WFM) in 2014 than Nashville. Swift splits time between Manhattan and LA. 

Like Wayne Gretzky, who's about as far from being Canadian as somebody born there could possibly be, both do justice to symbolism -- for their own good and for the good of the machines that helped make them. Country music for Swift. The National Hockey League and Canadian hockey pride for Gretzky. Because Number 99 effectively rebuffed Canada a long time ago, there's been some strain in the relationship. It's not too tough to find a bitter Canadian miffed that Gretzky coached the Phoenix Coyotes instead of taking a post with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Or another native angry that he lives on the American West Coast as opposed to the icy Toronto waterfront. For goodness sake, late last year somebody apparently defaced a Gretzky statue in Brantford. As Swift's music veers further and further away from being country, she'll wind up in the same boat. Country music will reluctantly disown her and the format will take its rightful place somewhere south of where it is now. Because, as she prepares to release her fifth record, I reckon Taylor Swift's about to sound a lot more like Tegan & Sara -- who she brought on stage last year in LA -- than anything you might expect to hear on a country station. Simply put, country won't be able to play her songs without making a total mockery of the genre. So if everybody's smart, soon Taylor Swift will star in an Apple commercial shot in Nashville on Music Row. Follow @rocco_thestreet --Written by Rocco Pendola in Santa Monica, Calif.

Stock quotes in this article: AAPL 

5 Stocks Ready to Break Out

 DELAFIELD, Wis. (Stockpickr) -- Trading stocks that trigger major breakouts can lead to massive profits. Once a stock trends to a new high, or takes out a prior overhead resistance point, then it's free to find new buyers and momentum players that can ultimately push the stock significantly higher.

One example of a successful breakout trade I flagged recently was biopharmaceutical player Vanda Pharmaceuticals (VNDA), which I featured in July 11's "5 Stocks Setting Up to Break Out" at around $8.70 a share. I mentioned in that piece that shares of VNDA had recently pulled back sharply from its 52-week high of $13.30 to its low of $7.44 a share. Following that pullback, shares of VNDA were starting to reverse its downtrend and enter an uptrend with the stock moving back above its 50-day moving average. That move was quickly pushing VNDA within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade above some key overhead resistance levels at $8.74 to $10 a share.

Guess what happened? Shares of VNDA started to move into breakout territory the following week with the stock hitting an intraday high of $9.50 a share. Then shares of VNDA pulled back again back below its 50-day moving average to a low of $8.01 a share. That pullback never took VNDA below that prior $7.44 a share low. Then VNDA exploded higher on July 30 with monster upside volume after U.S. regulators said they would give a priority review to the company's treatment for sleep disorders. This stock went on to hit an intraday high of $12.12 a share on July 31 with strong upside volume. That represents a gain of close to 40% for anyone who bought the stock near $8.70 a share.

Breakout candidates are something that I tweet about on a daily basis. I frequently tweet out high-probability setups, breakout plays and stocks that are acting technically bullish. These are the stocks that often go on to make monster moves to the upside. What's great about breakout trading is that you focus on trend, price and volume. You don't have to concern yourself with anything else. The charts do all the talking.

Trading breakouts is not a new game on Wall Street. This strategy has been mastered by legendary traders such as William O'Neal, Stan Weinstein and Nicolas Darvas. These pros know that once a stock starts to break out above past resistance levels, and hold above those breakout prices, then it can easily trend significantly higher.

With that in mind, here's a look at five stocks that are setting up to break out and trade higher from current levels.

AcelRx Pharmaceuticals

One stock that's starting to trend within range of triggering a major breakout trade is AcelRx Pharmaceuticals (ACRX), a specialty pharmaceutical company involved in the development and commercialization of therapies for the treatment of acute and breakthrough pain. This stock is off to a booming start for the bulls so far in 2013, with shares up a whopping 189%.

If you take a look at the chart for AcelRx Pharmaceuticals, you'll notice that this stock recently formed a double-bottom chart pattern at $11.46 to $11.43 a share. Following that bottom, shares of ACRX have now started to spike higher and move within range of taking out some key near-term overhead resistance levels. If those levels get taken out with volume soon, then ACRX will trigger a major breakout trade.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in ACRX if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at $12.57 to its 52-week high at $13.50 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above those levels with volume that hits near or above its three-month average volume of 648,667 shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then ACRX will set up to enter new 52-week-high territory above $13.50, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that breakout are $17 to $20 a share.

Traders can look to buy ACRX off any weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below $11.43 a share, or near its 50-day at $10.27 a share. One could also buy ACRX off strength once it takes out those breakout levels with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.

This stock is a favorite target of the bears, since the current short interest as a percentage of the float for ACRX is very high at 16.9%. The bears have also been increasing their bets from the last reporting period by 35.5%, or by about 836,000 shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then ACRX could easily experience a monster short-squeeze, so make sure to put this name on your breakout trading radar.

Jive Software

Another stock that looks poised to trigger a near-term breakout trade is Jive Software (JIVE), which provides a social business software platform. It provides the Jive Engage platform for its customers for business. This stock has been under selling pressure over the last six months, with shares off by 14%.

If you take a look at the chart for Jive Software, you'll notice that this stock recently gapped down sharply from over $17 a share to under $13.50 a share with heavy downside volume. Following that move, shares of JIVE went on to tag its recent low of $12.74 a share. That move has now pushed shares of JIVE into oversold territory, since its current relative strength index reading is 19.23. Oversold can always get more oversold, but it's also an area from which a stock can experience a powerful bounce higher. Shares of JIVE are now starting to trend back up and move within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in JIVE if it manages to break out above Friday's intraday high of $13.87 a share and then once it clears its gap down day high of $14.13 a share high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above those levels with volume that hits near or above its three-month average action of 812,638 shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then JIVE will set up to re-fill some of its previous gap down zone that started just above $17 a share.

Traders can look to buy JIVE off any weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below its recent low of $12.74 a share. One could also buy JIVE off strength once it takes out those breakout levels with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.

The short-sellers love this stock, since the current short interest as a percentage of the float for JIVE is very high at 17.6%. This stock could easily experience a sharp short-covering rally if it gets into that gap with volume soon, so make sure to put this name on your breakout trading radar.

Cliffs Natural Resources

Another stock that's starting to move within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade is Cliffs Natural Resources (CLF), a mining and natural resources company that produces iron ore pellets, fines and lump ore, and metallurgical coal. This stock has been hammered by the sellers so far in 2013, with shares off by 47%.

If you look at the chart for Cliffs Natural Resources, you'll notice that this stock recently formed a double bottom chart pattern at $15.50 to $15.41 a share. Following that bottom, shares of CLF have started to uptrend strong, with the stock moving higher from its low of $15.41 to its intraday high of $20.50 a share. During that uptrend, shares of CLF have been consistently making higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. That move has now pushed shares of CLF within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in CLF if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at $20.30 to $21.96 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above those levels with volume that hits near or above its three-month average action of 9.87 million shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then CLF will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $23.59 to its 200-day moving average at $26.26 a share. Any high-volume move above its 200-day will then put $30 within range for shears of CLF.

Traders can look to buy CLF off any weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below some key near-term support at $19.27 a share, or right near its 50-day at $17.93 a share. One can also buy CLF off strength once it takes out those breakout levels with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.

This is another name that is very popular among the bears, since the current short interest as a percentage of the float for CLF is very high at 36.8%. If that breakout hits soon, then CLF could easily see a monster short-squeeze, so be prepared to play it if it triggers with volume.

Celldex Therapeutics

Another stock that's quickly moving within range of triggering a major breakout trade is Celldex Therapeutics (CLDX), which is focused on the development and commercialization of several immunotherapy technologies for the treatment of cancer and other difficult-to-treat diseases. This stock has been red hot so far in 2013, with shares up 222%.

If you look at the chart for Celldex Therapeutics, you'll notice that this stock has recently formed a perfect double bottom chart pattern at $19.20 a share. Following that bottom, shares of CLDX have started to uptrend and move within range of triggering a major breakout trade. That trade will trigger if CLDX manages to take out some key near-term overhead resistance levels with strong upside volume flows.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in CLDX if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance at $21.88 to its 52-week high at $21.98 a share volume. Look for a sustained move or close above those levels with volume that hits near or above its three-month average action of 1.79 million shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then CLDX will set up to enter new 52-week-high territory, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that breakout are $25 to $30 a share.

Traders can look to buy CLDX off any weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below $19.20 a share, or below more support at $18 a share. One can also buy CLDX off strength once it takes out those breakout levels with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.

The short-sellers love to target this stock, since the current short interest as a percentage of the float for CLDX is pretty high at 10.5%. A decent short-squeeze could materialize for CLDX if it breaks out soon with volume, so keep an eye on this name.

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals

My final breakout trading prospect is Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY), which is developing novel therapeutics based on RNA interference, a naturally occurring biological pathway within cells for selectively silencing and regulating the expression of specific genes. This stock has been on fire so far in 2013, with shares up 166%.

If you look at the chart for Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, you'll notice that this stock has been uptrending strong for the last month, with shares moving higher from its low of $42.19 to its intraday high of $49.73 a share. During that uptrend, shares of ALNY have been consistently making higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. That move is coming after ALNY recently pulled back from its 52-week high of $51 to $42.19 a share. Shares of ALNY are now quickly moving within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in ALNY if it manages to break out above Friday's intraday high of $49.73 a share and then once it takes out its 52-week high at $51 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above those levels with volume that hits near or above its three-month average action of 647,812 shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then ALNY will set up to enter new 52-week-high territory, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that breakout are $55 to $65 a share.

Traders can look to buy ALNY off any weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below some key near-term support at $45 a share, or below more support at $42.19 a share. One could also buy ALNY off strength once it clears those breakout levels with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a conformable percentage from your entry point.

Keep in mind that this company is set to report earnings on Thursday, August 8, 2013 after the market close. Temper your upside expectations if you play the breakout ahead of the quarter, and look for much bigger upside after the quarter if the stock remains in its uptrend. Holding through earnings is always risky, so only play ALNY after earnings if the stock reacts positively to the numbers.

To see more breakout candidates, check out the Breakout Stocks of the Week portfolio on Stockpickr.

-- Written by Roberto Pedone in Delafield, Wis.

Sell Dean Foods To Buy Hain Celestial And WhitWave

The dairy industry in the U.S. is trying to solve an difficult puzzle: how to revive milk sales. According to a report by Packaged Facts, the dairy alternative beverages or plant-based beverages market in the U.S. is growing rapidly. In addition, per capita fluid milk consumption has fallen to about 0.61 cup-equivalents per day from an earlier level of 0.96 cup-equivalents per day, according to a new report from the USDA's economic research service.

In response to this shift in consumer preferences, Dean Foods (DF) was quick to spin off its fast-growing WhiteWave division, which makes Horizon Organic Milk and Silk soy products, into WhiteWave Foods (WWAV). WhiteWave Foods competes with the likes of Hain Celestial (HAIN) and Blue Diamond Growers in the plant-based beverages market, but is it a good buy?

WhiteWave is on a roll

WhiteWave is known for its popular Silk brand of plant-based milk (soy, coconut, and almond milks), International Delight and Land O'Lakes creamers and iced coffees, and the Horizon brand of organic milk. WhiteWave is having a terrific run after going public in October of 2012, which has led to more than seven positive estimate revisions after the release of its third-quarter results. In its third quarter, the company reported 10% revenue growth and earnings-per-share growth of 21% from the year-ago quarter. The company ended the third quarter with $87.1 million in cash and equivalents.

WhiteWave continues to maintain the No. 1 position in all of its sub-categories with a 75% share in soy, a 65% share in coconut, and a 53% share in almond. In order to consolidate its position and propel growth to the next level, WhiteWave announced the acquisition of Earthbound Farms. Earthbound is the largest organic produce brand in North America and a leader in organic packaged salads, with anticipated sales of $500 million in fiscal 2013. The deal is expected to contribute $0.07 per share to adjusted earnings in the first fiscal year after the deal is closed.

Another good option

Hain Celestial is also having a stellar run, like WhiteWave, as a result of consumers switching to organic and natural food thanks to growing health awareness. On the back of strong demand for its assortment of organic products, Hain has posted 14 straight quarters of double-digit earnings growth . In the first quarter of fiscal 2014, Hain's revenue jumped 32.7% year-over-year to $477.5 million and adjusted earnings per share moved up 26.8% .

Hain's WestSoy brand proudly sits at the No. 1 spot in non-dairy soy beverages . Rice Dream and Soy Dream are the other milk substitutes in Hain's portfolio. The company plans to roll out numerous coconut milks, nut milk blends, almond milks, and rice milks under the Dream brand. In order to expand its offerings and also gain a stronger foothold in the international market, Hain announced the acquisition of U.K.-based Basmati rice business Tilda .

Going forward, Hain expects sales growth of 17% and earnings in the range of $2.95-$3.05 per share, which would represent a 16%-20% year-over-year gain.

Dean tries to get back to normal

Dean Foods has been struggling in the wake of declining fluid milk consumption. To make matters worse, it lost a contract from Wal-Mart last year. As a result of this, the company has completed seven of its eight announced plant closures. The plant closures are part of Dean Foods' cost-cutting initiative, with targets of $120 million in fiscal 2013 and $80 million-$100 million in the next fiscal year.

These plant closures will improve the efficiency of the remaining network and drive increased competitiveness going forward. As a consequence, Dean Foods has already added significant business wins in fiscal 2013, positively impacting fourth quarter volumes. However, looking at the current industry volume trends, Dean Foods expects volumes to decline.

One of the factors dragging Dean Foods down currently is the cost of raw milk, which is used as a feed-stock. The price of raw milk has been increasing on the back of strong demand for milk powder, especially in China. Management has cautioned that prices are expected to remain high until the second half of 2014.

As of now, Dean Foods is trying to cope with the loss of a contract from Wal-Mart and implementing a turnaround. It is also betting on products such as TruMoo low-sugar chocolate milk to fuel revenue growth going forward. Until Dean Foods shows signs of recovery from the Wal-Mart contract loss, it's worth staying on the sidelines.

Bottom line

Dean Foods is trying to recover and it has found some success. However, it will still suffer because of a drop in milk volumes. In comparison, WhiteWave would be a better buy as the company has a wide range of products that include milk substitutes. The same can be said about Hain, which is a diversified player in organic food. Investors can easily find their way around declining milk volumes in the U.S. by investing in WhiteWave or Hain.

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What to Expect from Sourcefire

Sourcefire (Nasdaq: FIRE  ) is expected to report Q2 earnings on July 29. Here's what Wall Street wants to see:

The 10-second takeaway
Comparing the upcoming quarter to the prior-year quarter, average analyst estimates predict Sourcefire's revenues will increase 22.6% and EPS will shrink -6.3%.

The average estimate for revenue is $62.0 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.15.

Revenue details
Last quarter, Sourcefire booked revenue of $56.2 million. GAAP reported sales were 21% higher than the prior-year quarter's $46.3 million.

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

EPS details
Last quarter, non-GAAP EPS came in at $0.11. GAAP EPS of $0.00 were the same as the prior-year quarter.

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

Recent performance
For the preceding quarter, gross margin was 76.5%, 10 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was -2.4%, 270 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 0.0%, 10 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $278.5 million. The average EPS estimate is $0.96.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a two-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 134 members out of 173 rating the stock outperform, and 39 members rating it underperform. Among 43 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 36 give Sourcefire a green thumbs-up, and seven give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Sourcefire is hold, with an average price target of $60.50.

Software and computerized services are being consumed in radically different ways, on new and increasingly mobile devices. Many old leaders will be left behind. Whether or not Sourcefire makes the coming cut, you should check out the company that Motley Fool analysts expect to lead the pack in "The Next Trillion-dollar Revolution." Click here for instant access to this free report.

Add Sourcefire to My Watchlist.

Dodge brings back big hood scoops

LAS VEGAS -- There's going to be a new option for buyers of the Dodge Challenger next year that will pay even more homage to the great muscle cars of the 1960s.

It's an air-induction scoop sticking up through a hole in the hood.

With an assist from Chrysler's Mopar aftermarket parts division, buyers of the 2014 Dodge Challenger R/T will be able to buy a "shaker" edition -- so named for the so-called "shaker hood" that will come with it. It is designed to further showcase the car's 5.7-liter V-8 Hemi engine.

That might not sound like rocket science, but bringing the look back is tougher than it sounds. Lots of safety regulations have changed since the heyday of the 1960s muscle cars. Plus, engineers had to make sure the scoop won't be clogged by snow, sleet and rain.

The hood scoop's return came at the place where Dodge and Mopar are likely to find a high concentration of nostalgic high-performance addictes, the SEMA aftermarket auto parts trade show here. Dodge showed off a 1970 Challenger, as well as the new one, to see how close in concept the new shaker hood is to the original.

"The legendary 'shaker' performance hood is back...making the new 2014 Dodge Challenger R/T Shaker the real deal," said Tim Kuniskis, CEO of the Dodge Brand in a statement. "With Challenger having its best sales-year ever, the time is right to provide our most loyal fans with the return of the shaker."

It's called a shaker because back when they were popular, you could see the engine vibrating, or shaking, from the parts sticking oer the hood.

The new 2014 Challenger R/T Shaker will arrive at Dodge dealerships in the early next year at $36,995 before delivery charges are added, or $37,495 a buyer wants the racing stripes too. The shaker option, which includes a few other performance items, is $2,500 more than the Challenger R/T Classic. Through Mopar, the shaker hood feature can also be added to other late-model Challengers.

5 Stocks Poised for Breakouts

DELAFIELD, Wis. (Stockpickr) -- Trading stocks that trigger major breakouts can lead to massive profits. Once a stock trends to a new high or takes out a prior overhead resistance point, then it's free to find new buyers and momentum players who can ultimately push the stock significantly higher.

>>5 Mega-Cap Stocks to Trade for Gains

Breakout candidates are something that I tweet about on a daily basis. I frequently tweet out high-probability setups, breakout plays and stocks that are acting technically bullish. These are the stocks that often go on to make monster moves to the upside. What's great about breakout trading is that you focus on trend, price and volume. You don't have to concern yourself with anything else. The charts do all the talking.

Trading breakouts is not a new game on Wall Street. This strategy has been mastered by legendary traders such as William O'Neal, Stan Weinstein and Nicolas Darvas. These pros know that once a stock starts to break out above past resistance levels and hold above those breakout prices, then it can easily trend significantly higher.

>>QE5 Is Coming -- Here's What It Means to Your Portfolio

With that in mind, here's a look at five stocks that are setting up to break out and trade higher from current levels.

Gigamon

One technology player that's starting to move within range of triggering a major breakout trade is Gigamon (GIMO), which designs, develops and sells products and services that provide customers with visibility and control of network traffic for enterprises and services providers in the U.S. and the rest of the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Asia Pacific. This stock has been destroyed by the bears over the last six months, with shares off sharply by 47%.

>>5 Stocks Under $10 Set to Soar

If you take a look at the chart for Gigamon, you'll see that this stock is gapping up sharply higher here with heavy upside volume. Volume so far today has registered 1.58 million shares, which is well above its three-month average action of 627,044 shares. This spike higher on Friday has pushed shares of GIMO into breakout territory, since the stock has taken out some near-term overhead resistance at $16.64 a share. That move is starting to push shares of GIMO within range of triggering another big breakout trade.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in GIMO if it manages to break out above Friday's intraday high of $18.02 a share to its recent gap-down-day high of $20.01 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above those levels with volume that hits near or above its three-month average action of 627,044 shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then GIMO will set up to re-fill some of its gap-down-day zone that started at $26 a share.

Traders can look to buy GIMO off weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below some near-term support at $16 a share. One can also buy GIMO off strength once it starts to clear those breakout levels with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.

Hercules Offshore

An energy player that's starting to move within range of triggering a big breakout trade is Hercules Offshore (HERO), which provides shallow-water drilling and marine services to the oil and natural gas exploration and production industry worldwide. This stock has been hit hard by the sellers over the last six months, with shares down sharply by 38%.

>>3 Stocks Rising on Big Volume

If you take a glance at the chart for Hercules Offshore, you'll notice that this stock has trending sideways and consolidating for the last three months, with shares moving between $4.21 on the downside and $4.98 on the upside. Shares of HERO are now starting to bounce higher off that $4.21 low and it's starting to move within range of triggering a big breakout trade above some key near-term overhead resistance levels.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in HERO if it manages to break out above its 50-day moving average at $4.58 a share and then once it takes out more key overhead resistance levels at $4.70 to $4.98 share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above those levels with volume that hits near or above its three-month average volume of 4.22 million shares. If that breakout materializes soon, then HERO will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $5.50 to $6 a share, or even $6.50 a share.

Traders can look to buy HERO off weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below its 52-week low of $4.21 a share. One could also buy HERO off strength once it starts to clear those breakout levels with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.

Alamos Gold

Another stock that's starting to trend within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade is Alamos Gold (AGI), which is engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development, and extraction of precious metals, primarily gold.  This stock has been hit hard by the bears over the last six months, with shares down sharply by 39%.

>>5 Stocks With Big Insider Buying

If you take a glance at the chart for Alamos Gold, you'll notice that this stock has been trending sideways and consolidating for the last month and change, with shares moving between $8.89 on the downside and $9.92 on the upside. Shares of AGI have also been forming a major bottoming pattern over the last three months and change, with the stock finding buying interest each time it's trended down just below $9 a share. Shares of AGI are now starting to bounce higher off those support levels and it's quickly moving within range of triggering a major breakout trade above the upper-end of its recent sideways trading chart pattern.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in AGI if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at $9.50 to its 50-day moving average at $9.63 a share and then once it takes out $9.92 to $10 a share with high volume. Watch for a sustained move or close above those levels with volume that registers near or above its three-month average action of 391,795 shares. If that breakout kicks off soon, then AGI will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $11.11 a share. Any high-volume move above that level with volume will then give AGI a chance to re-fill some of its previous gap-down-day zone from January that started at near $12.50 a share.

Traders can look to buy AGI off weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below some key near-term support levels at $8.89 to $8.78 a share. One can also buy AGI off strength once it starts to take out those breakout levels share with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.

Lake Shore Gold

Another basic materials player that's starting to trend within range of triggering a major breakout trade is Lake Shore Gold (LSG), which is engaged in the acquisition, exploration and development of gold properties in Canada. It also explores for silver ores. This stock has been on fire so far in 2014, with shares up sharply by 75%.

>>Do You Own These 5 Toxic Stocks? Watch Out!

If you look at the chart for Lake Shore Gold, you'll notice that this stock has been uptrending strong for the last month and change, with shares moving higher from its low of 60 cents per share to its recent high of 84 cents per share. During that uptrend, shares of LSG have been making mostly higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. Shares of LSG recently pulled back off that 84 cents high to around 70 cents per share, and subsequently the stock has now resumed its uptrend. That move is quickly pushing shares of LSG within range of triggering a major breakout trade.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in LSG if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at 80 to 84 cents per share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above those levels with volume that registers near or above its three-month average action of 509,824 shares. If that breakout gets underway soon, then LSG will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance level at its 52-week high of 91 cents per share to 94 cents per share. Any high-volume move above those levels will then give LSG a chance to tag $1 to $1.10 a share.

Traders can look to buy LSG off weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below some key near-term support at 69 cents per share. One can also buy LSG off strength once it starts to take out those breakout levels with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.

Wet Seal


My final breakout trading prospect is retailer Wet Seal (WTSL), which operates stores that sell fashionable and contemporary apparel and accessory items for female consumers. This stock is down big so far in 2014, with shares off by 60%.

>>3 Stocks Under $10 Triggering Breakout Trades

If you look at the chart for Wet Seal, you'll notice that this stock has been uptrending over the last few weeks, with shares moving higher from its low of $1.05 to its intraday high of $1.25 a share. During that uptrend, shares of WTSL have been consistently making higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. This uptrend is coming after a major downtrend for shares of WTSL that took the stock significantly lower over the last six months from over $3.40 to that $1.05 low. Shares of WTSL are now starting to spike higher and move within range of triggering a big breakout trade.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in WTSL if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance at $1.25 share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above that level with volume that registers near or above its three-month average action of 1.53 million shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then WTSL will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance level at $1.37 a share. Any high-volume move above that level will then give WTSL a chance to tag its 50-day moving average of $1.53 to possibly even $1.80 a share.

Traders can look to buy WTSL off weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right around some near-term support levels at $1.14 a share or at $1.10 a share. One can also buy WTSL off strength once it busts above those breakout levels with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a conformable percentage from your entry point.

To see more breakout candidates, check out the Breakout Stocks of the Week portfolio on Stockpickr.

-- Written by Roberto Pedone in Delafield, Wis.

RELATED LINKS:

>>3 Hot Stocks on Traders' Radars

>>5 Health Care Stocks Hedge Funds Love

>>5 Financial Stocks to Trade for Gains

Follow Stockpickr on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.

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

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

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

Hot Defensive Stocks For 2015

The stock market continues to linger at all-time record highs as both the Dow Jones Industrials (DJINDICES: ^DJI  ) and the S&P 500 climbed modestly this morning to push further into uncharted territory. With a lack of any significant economic data or market-moving news, the market seems to be climbing on autopilot, and the Dow has breached the 15,000 level. As of 10:55 a.m. EDT, the Dow is up 42 points, while the S&P has risen about three points to 1,620.

Rather than focusing on big market milestones, it's important on quiet days to look at which stocks are making more dramatic moves. Today, for instance, Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT  ) is leading the Dow's gainers with a rise of 1.7%. Quietly, the construction equipment giant has seen its shares bounce 10% off their April lows, even though prospects for the overall global economy haven't begun to rebound markedly. Caterpillar has a long way to go to recover its highs from earlier in the year, but greater investor optimism about cyclical stocks could lead to a new leg for the bull market, given its reliance until now on more defensive stocks like consumer products companies.

Hot Defensive Stocks For 2015: Kinder Morgan Energy Partners L.P. (KMP)

Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. operates as a pipeline transportation and energy storage company in North America. Its Products Pipelines segment delivers gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuel, and natural gas liquids to various markets through approximately 8,600 miles of refined petroleum products pipelines; and operates 62 associated product terminals and petroleum pipeline transmix processing facilities. The company�s Natural Gas Pipelines segment gathers, transports, stores, treats, processes, and sells natural gas through approximately 33,000 miles of natural gas transmission pipelines and gathering lines, as well as natural gas storage, treating, and processing facilities. Its CO2 segment produces, markets, and transports carbon dioxide through approximately 1,500 miles of pipelines to oil fields. This segment also owns and operates 7 oil fields, and a 450 mile crude oil pipeline system in west Texas. The company�s Terminals segment transloads, stores, and delivers bulk, petroleum, petrochemical, and other liquids products through approximately 113 liquids and bulk terminal facilities; and approximately 35 rail transloading and materials handling facilities. Its Kinder Morgan Canada segment transports crude oil and refined petroleum products through approximately 2,500 miles of pipelines from Alberta, Canada to marketing terminals and refineries in British Columbia, the state of Washington, and the Rocky Mountains, as well as in the central regions of the United States. This segment also operates the Jet Fuel aviation turbine fuel pipeline that serves the Vancouver (Canada) International Airport. Kinder Morgan G.P., Inc. serves as the general partner of the company. Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. was founded in 1992 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Charles Sizemore]

  If you are an income investor, you are no doubt familiar with Kinder Morgan Energy Partners (KMP). It�� one of the most popular and widely-held pipeline MLPs, and with good reason. Since going public in 1992, KMP stock has delivered returns of more than 1,200% … and that does not include distributions.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Kinder’s little boost of confidence appears to have worked today. Kinder Morgan’s shares have gained 3% to $36.28 today, while Kinder Morgan Energy Partners (KMP) has ticked up 0.2% to $80.38. Kinder Morgan Management (KMR) has dropped 1.7% to $75.41.

Hot Defensive Stocks For 2015: ISA Internationale Inc (ISAT)

ISA Internationale Inc. (ISAI),), incorporated on June 2, 1989, is a business development company. The Company�� business is to acquire relationships with the business community to develop into client companies that can lead to consulting contracts and the providing of services to assist American client companies in complying with the reporting requirements to the government and in communicating with shareholders, customers and the public and the accessing of needed growth capital.

The Company also did use third party agencies and attorneys to collect its portfolios. The Company is in the process of changing its business plan of operation. As of September 30, 2012, the Company has not generated and sales and gross profit from any of its new operations as a Business Development Company. The Company is seeking additional sources of debt financing other than additional convertible notes payable issued by a related party.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Tom Stoukas]

  Inmarsat Plc (ISAT) gained 5.4 percent to 732.5 pence. Morgan Stanley upgraded the world�� biggest supplier of maritime satellite services to overweight from equal weight, meaning that investors should hold more of the shares than are represented in benchmark indexes. Morgan Stanley said the outlook for the company�� core business has improved.

5 Best Solar Stocks To Watch Right Now: McDonald's Corporation(MCD)

McDonald?s Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a worldwide foodservice retailer. It franchises and operates McDonald?s restaurants that offer various food items, soft drinks, coffee, and other beverages. As of December 31, 2009, the company operated 32,478 restaurants in 117 countries, of which 26,216 were operated by franchisees; and 6,262 were operated by the company. McDonald?s Corporation was founded in 1948 and is based in Oak Brook, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Alyce Lomax]

  These figures are particularly impressive, given difficulties in the industry. Take former parent McDonald's (NYSE: MCD  ) , which reported results that analysts and investors found disappointing yesterday. The fast-food giant's comps increased an anemic 1%, and management disclosed "weak sales trends" with the warning that the rest of the year could remain difficult for its business.

• [By Jeremy Bowman]

  Four Dow components reported earnings today, including�McDonald's� (NYSE: MCD  ) , which fell 0.4% after a lackluster quarter. The Golden Arches' domestic problems continued as same-store sales fell 1.7% in the U.S, though they were up globally by 0.5%. Total revenue improved 1%, or 3% when adjusting for currency fluctuations, to $6.7 billion, short of estimates at $6.73 billion, while EPS of $1.21 missed expectations of $1.24 per-share profit, though the figure would have been $1.24 after adjusting for currency changes. While the results weren't terrible, the quarter painted a portrait of a company struggling to maintain its fast-food leadership.

• [By Associated Press]

  DETROIT (AP) -- The only two McDonald's (NYSE: MCD  ) restaurants in the United States that serve food prepared according to Islamic law have stopped doing so.

• [By John Maxfield]

  Heading down, on the other hand, are shares of McDonald's (NYSE: MCD  ) , which are off by 0.7% in mid-afternoon trading. As my colleague Matt Thalman observed earlier, investors in the fast-food giant are likely seeing the dark side of today's cheery news. As the economy improves, the Federal Reserve becomes more likely to reduce its support for the economy. And when it does, investors are expected to flee higher-yielding dividend stalwarts like McDonald's in favor of bonds, which should see their interest rates climb.

Hot Defensive Stocks For 2015: Plains Exploration & Production Company(PXP)

Plains Exploration & Production Company, an independent oil and gas company, primarily engages in acquiring, developing, exploring, and producing oil and gas in California, Texas, and Louisiana. It owns oil and gas properties with principal operations in onshore California; offshore California; the Gulf Coast region, including Haynesville Shale, Eagle Ford Shale, and south and east Texas; the Mid-Continent region; and the Rocky Mountains. As of December 31, 2010, the company had estimated proved reserves of 416.1 million barrels of oil equivalent. Plains Exploration & Production Company was founded in 2002 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Duprey]

  Gold and copper miner�Freeport-McMoRan� (NYSE: FCX  ) has completed its acquisition of Plains Exploration & Production (NYSE: PXP  ) and, as previously planned, the board of directors says it will pay investors a supplemental dividend of $1.00 per share that is in addition to the regular quarterly payout of $0.3125 per share.

Hot Defensive Stocks For 2015: Phoenix New Media Ltd (FENG)

Phoenix New Media Limited (PNM), incorporated on November 22, 2007, is a new media company providing content on an integrated platform across Internet, mobile and television (TV) channels in China. PNM enables consumers to access professional news and other content and share user-generated content (UGC), on the Internet and through their mobile devices. The Company also transmits its UGC and in-house produced content to TV viewers primarily through Phoenix TV. Its platform includes its ifeng.com channel, consisting of its ifeng.com Website, its video channel, consisting of its dedicated video vertical and video services and applications, and its mobile channel, including its mobile Internet Website and mobile applications.

PNM offers a variety of paid services across all of its channels, including mobile Internet and value-added services (MIVAS), which includes its digital reading services, mobile game services and wireless value-added services (WVAS), such as messaging-based services (short message service and multi-media messaging services); video value-added services (video VAS), which consists of its online subscription and pay-per-view video services, its mobile subscription and pay-per-view video services, and video content sales, and Internet value-added services (Internet VAS). The Company primarily generates its paid service revenues from its WVAS, digital reading services and mobile video subscription and pay-per-view services by providing content to mobile device users and collecting revenue shares or fixed fees for its content services from the relevant mobile operator. The Company also earns paid service revenues in the form of fixed fees from China Mobile Communications Corporation (China Mobile), for its digital reading services.

Video Channel

The Company�� video channel is consists of its online video vertical at v.ifeng.com; mobile video subscription and pay-per-view services and mobile video application, video content sales business. The Compa! ny offers its video VAS paid services through its video channel, which include its online subscription and pay-per-view services, its mobile subscription and pay-per-view video services and video content sales. The Company�� v.ifeng.com vertical offers four categories of video products and services, namely free online video on demand (VOD), live Phoenix TV broadcasts, subscription online video service and pay-per-view online video service. It organizes and presents video content, supplemented by text, images, user surveys and comment postings on its v.ifeng.com vertical.

The VODs typically consist of short clips of up to five minutes of news programs, interviews, documentaries and other programs. Its VOD content is easily searchable on its Website and is organized into over 10 verticals of v.ifeng.com for easy browsing, including news, finance, culture, sports, history, entertainment, news commentary, military affairs, society, biographies history, entertainment, movies and TV, style, vblog, VIP channel, Phoenix TV, live broadcast, and original videos.It offers live streams of Phoenix TV's flagship channels, the Phoenix Chinese Channel and the Phoenix InfoNews Channel. Its online subscription video service enables users to watch advertisement-free premium content, such as feature-length documentaries and exclusive online Phoenix TV programming.

The Company�� online pay-per-view video service enables users to watch advertisement-free premium videos by purchasing access to particular videos on vip.v.ifeng.com. Like its online subscription videos, its pay-per-view videos include longer videos of up to 20 minutes in length. The Company offers video content through the mobile video platforms of telecom operators, primarily China Mobile and China Telecom. Mobile users who access its videos on China Mobile's platform either by subscription or on a pay-per-view basis pay a fixed fee.

Mobile Channel

The Company�� mobile channel consists of its 3g.ifeng! .com mobi! le Website and its MIVAS. The Company offers MIVAS paid services through its video channel, which include its digital reading services, mobile game services and WVAS. Users can access its mobile content and MIVAS directly from their mobile phones on its mobile Internet Website, 3g.ifeng.com; from a mobile operator's platform; by downloading its applications, and by opening a pre-installed application on their mobile devices. The Company provides and markets its MIVAS through cooperation with mobile operators, as well as various mobile device manufacturers, Internet sites, technology and media companies.

The Company�� 3g.ifeng.com Website is a modified version of its ifeng.com site reformatted for use on mobile devices and tailored to the preferences of its mobile users. 3g.ifeng.com allows its users to access ifeng.com and v.ifeng.com content. Similar to ifeng.com, its 3g.ifeng.com features an array of interest-based and interactive verticals, including news, stocks, micro-blog, user surveys, and digital reading, as well as a mobile video site for watching free mobile VOD.

The Company competes with NetEase.com, Inc., Sina Corporation, Sohu.com Inc., Tencent Technology Limited, Youku Tudou Inc., iqiyi.com, Sohu video, QQ video, PPlive.com, PPS.com, China Network Television, 3G Menhu, A8.com, and Kong Zhong Corporation, Wenxuecity.com, Duowei News and Yahoo!.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Seth Jayson]

  Phoenix New Media (NYSE: FENG  ) reported earnings on May 14. Here are the numbers you need to know.

  The 10-second takeaway
  For the quarter ended March 31 (Q1), Phoenix New Media beat slightly on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

• [By Belinda Cao]

  E-Commerce China Dangdang Inc. (DANG), the nation�� biggest online book retailer, rose 8.5 percent to $11.70, the highest price since Aug. 13. YY Inc. (YY), owner of a social entertainment website, rallied 4.9 percent to $50.47, the highest level since its listing in November. TV and Internet news outlet Phoenix New Media Ltd. (FENG) added 4.5 percent to a two-year high of $12.23.

• [By Belinda Cao]

  Phoenix New Media Ltd. (FENG), a TV and Internet news outlet, gained 11 percent last week to $11.66 in New York, bringing its surge this year to 220 percent.

Hot Defensive Stocks For 2015: Rexnord Corp (RXN)

Rexnord Corporation (Rexnord), incorporated on July 13, 2006, is a multi-platform industrial company. The Company comprises of two platforms, Process & Motion Control and Water Management. Rexnord�� Process & Motion Control product portfolio includes gears, couplings, industrial bearings, aerospace bearings and seals, FlatTop chain, engineered chain and conveying equipment, and are marketed and sold globally under brands, including Rexnord, Rex, Falk and Link-Belt. Its Water Management platform operates in the commercial construction market for water management products and the municipal water and wastewater treatment markets. Its Water Management product portfolio includes drainage products, flush valves and faucet products, backflow prevention pressure release valves, PEX piping and engineered valves and gates for the water and wastewater treatment markets. These products are marketed and sold through brand names, including Zurn, Wilkins, VAG, GA, Rodney-Hunt and Fontaine. In August 2013, Rexnord Corp announced that it has acquired the assets of Micro Precision Gear Technology Limited. In December 2013, Rexnord acquired Precision Gear Holdings, LLC (PGH). PGH has two operating subsidiaries, Merit Gear LLC and Precision Gear LLC.

Process & Motion Control

The Company�� Process & Motion Control platform designs, manufactures, markets and services mechanical components used within complex systems. The Company sells its Process & Motion Control products into a diverse group of end markets, including mining, general industrial applications, cement and aggregates, agriculture, forest and wood products, petrochemical, energy, food and beverage, aerospace and wind energy. The Company is a manufacturer of gear drives and gear sets for the heavy duty industrial market. Its gear drives, service and gear sets are used in a number of heavy duty industries. These primary industries include the natural resource extraction, steel, pulp and paper, chemical, forest and wood industries. ! Rexnord manufactures a range of heavy duty, medium and light duty gear drives used for bulk material handling, mixing, pumping and general gearing applications. It also operates a gear service and repair business through its Product Service group (Prager and Renew). Its Couplings are primarily used in high-speed, high-torque applications and are the interface between two shafts that permit power to be transmitted from one shaft to the other. Rexnord�� couplings are sold to a range of end markets, including the petrochemical and refining, wood processing, chemical, power generation and natural resources industries. Couplings comprise of the grid, flexible disc, elastomeric and gear product lines and are sold under the Steelflex, Thomas, Omega, Rex, Viva, Wrapflex, Lifelign, True Torque, Addax and Autogard brand names.

The Company primarily produces mounted bearings, which are offered in a range of specialized housings to suit specific industrial applications. Its FlatTop chain provides a continuous conveying surface that is critical to high-speed operations, such as those used to transport cans and bottles in beverage-filling operations, and is primarily sold to the food and beverage, consumer products, warehousing and distribution, and parts processing industries. The Company supplies its aerospace bearings and seals to the commercial aircraft, military aircraft and regional jet end markets for use in door systems, engine accessories, engine controls, engine mounts, flight control systems, gearboxes, landing gear and rotor pitch controls. Rexnord�� aerospace bearings and seals products consist of rolling element airframe bearings sold under the Shafer brand name, slotted-entry and split-ball sliding bearings sold under the PSI brand name and aerospace seals that are sold under the Cartriseal brand name, which are primarily sold for use in both aerospace and industrial applications.

The Company�� special components products consist of three primary product lines: electri! c motor b! rakes, miniature Process & Motion Control components and security devices for utility companies. These products are manufactured by its businesses, such as Stearns, W.M. Berg and Highfield. Stearns��products are used in a range of applications, including steel mills, oil field equipment, pulp processing equipment, large textile machines, rubber mills, metal forming machinery and dock and pier handling equipment. W.M. Berg sells its products to a range of markets, including aerospace, semiconductor, medical equipment, robotics, instrumentation, office equipment and satellite communications. Highfield�� products are sold to a range of markets, including electric, gas, water, telecommunications, utilities and plumbing and heating.

The Company�� conveying equipment and industrial chain products are used in various applications in a number of industries, including food and food processing, beverage and container, mining, construction and agricultural equipment, hydrocarbon processing and cement and aggregates processing. Its primary products include conveying equipment, engineered steel chain, and roller chain. Its conveying equipment product group provides design, assembly, installation and after-the-sale services primarily to the mining, cement and aggregates industries. Its products include engineered elevators, conveyors and components for medium to heavy duty material handling applications. The Company�� engineered steel chain products are sold under the Link-Belt and Rexnord brand names. These products are used in a number of applications, including cement elevators, construction and mining equipment and conveyors, and they are supplied to the cement and aggregates, energy, food and beverage, and forest and wood products industries.

Water Management

The Company�� Water Management platform designs, procures, manufactures and markets products that provide and enhance water quality, safety, flow control and conservation. The Water Management product port! folio inc! ludes professional grade specification drainage products, flush valves and faucet products, engineered valves and gates for the water and wastewater treatment market and PEX piping and are marketed and sold through brand names, including Zurn, Wilkins, VAG, GA, Rodney Hunt and Fontaine. Rexnord�� Water Management platform has a network of approximately 1,100 independent sales representatives across approximately 210 sales agencies in North America, who work with local engineers, contractors, builders and architects to specify its products for use in construction projects. Its water control and safety products are sold under the Wilkins brand name and encompass a variety of valves, including backflow preventers, fire system valves, pressure reducing valves and thermostatic mixing valves. These products are sold into the commercial and industrial construction applications, as well as the fire protection, waterworks and irrigation end markets.

Zurn�� commercial brass products include manual and sensor operated flush valves marketed under the Aquaflush, AquaSense, AquaVantage and HydroVantage brand names and heavy duty commercial faucets marketed under the AquaSpec brand name. Water conserving fixtures are marketed under the EcoVantage and Zurn One brand names. These products are used in office buildings, schools, hospitals, airports, sports facilities, convention centers, shopping malls, restaurants and industrial production buildings. The Zurn One Systems integrate commercial brass and fixtures into plumbing systems. PEX is its product line manufactured out of cross-linked polyethylene into tubing and is suited for high temperature and pressure fluid distribution piping. Its PEX products include lines of pipe, fittings, valves and installation tools for both potable water and radiant heating systems. Its water and wastewater products are sold under the VAG, GA, Rodney Hunt and Fontaine brand names and are used to control the flow of water and wastewater throughout the water cycle from ra! w water t! hrough collection, distribution and wastewater treatment. Products include automatic control valves, check valves, air valves, butterfly valves, water control gates, hydrants, actuation systems, and other specialized products for municipal, industrial, and hydropower applications. Its product lines are primarily sold into the water supply and treatment markets worldwide.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By gurujx]

  Rexnord Corp (RXN): SVP & CFO Mark W Peterson Sold 35,983 Shares

  SVP & CFO of Rexnord Corp (RXN) Mark W Peterson sold 35,983 shares on 09/19/2013 at an average price of $20.03.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Each month, Credit Suisse’s small-cap strategists ask the firm’s analyst to name their favorite small- and mid-cap stocks. This month, six new stocks made the list: RPM International (RPM), SunCoke Energy (SXC), Zions Bancorp (ZION), Signature Bank (SBNY), Edwards Lifesciences (EW) and�Rexnord (RXN).

Google’s This Innovative Technique Will Take It Far

Tech Giant Google (GOOG) recently launched its newest innovative advertisement techniques in an effort to further the interests of its multimillion dollar ad-network. The new plan, dubbed AdWords, will offer mobile users specific targeted data by using knowledge already garnered from previous app usage.

According to the search giant, app installed across the AdMob network will be able to target consumers based on the data already on file, like what apps a user typically uses, how often they are used and purchases made, if any. This latest move comes in response to similar techniques employed by industry rivals like Facebook (FB), Yahoo (YHOO) and Twitter (TWTR). Even according to the Chief Marketing Officer of Marin Software, Matt Ackley, "We're seeing an escalating war between Google and Facebook on mobile".

How does it work? In a mobile system 80% apps downloaded are used only once or twice before being uninstalled. Apps from third party developers typically see a steep fall in usage after the initial launch. By offering relevant ads to users, the hope is that consumers will be more interested in downloading the apps. The consumers, too, will not be disappointed, claims Google. The new feature, the company assures, will prove beneficial to parties at both end of the marketing spectrum as users will be able to find required apps more quickly and efficiently. In regards to this, the VP of Product Management for AdWords, Jerry Dischler had this to say:

"From a consumer perspective, people aren't necessarily looking for apps. They're looking for solutions to their problems."

For example, a person who regularly follows a strict exercise regime, and uses an app to keep track of it, will see health related app ads.

Deep Linking Apart from this Google has also developed "Deep-Linking" technology that will revolutionize the face of the ad-display market. Although rumors about the company's service were out and about, most were under the impression that this feature was still months away.

Deep Linking, as explained by Google, connects the user to relevant pages in already downloaded applications when the user clicks on an ad of the application. To understand this, let's assume a user has HotelTonight app installed and said person uses Google search engine to look for, say, "Hotels in California". He will be taken to page where he will get to see an ad from HotelTonight. On clicking that add he will then be redirected to the Hotel listings in California as provided by HotelTonight, thereby making the search process much easier.What does it mean for Google? The utility of using a search engine in order to retain customers for third party app developers can be far-reaching. As we can see, Deep Linking bridges the gap between public search engines and stand alone mobile applications which struggled to retain its user market. Needless to say, we can expect huge ad revenue from Google in the coming quarter.

Deep Linking may place Google firmly in the position of revenue leader in the ad-display market, experts claim. The company has already announced that 24 mobile apps would be integrated in to the technology, including Goodreads, Huffington Post and Tumblr.

Parting Words Google has never been one to do things half-way and its latest technology proves just that. AdWord, coupled with Deep Linking is a unique approach to the ad-revenue network. There is no doubt that Google will make the most of it. Our only concern remaining is the volume of private information at Google's disposal.

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Top 10 Tech Stocks To Watch For 2015

Radnor, Pa.-based Qlik Technologies (NASDAQ: QLIK  ) has purchased Sweden's NComVA AB, Qlik announced Monday.

NComVA tech permits the display of business intelligence data "through table lens, radar plot, scatter matrix, parallel coordinate, tree map, and fish eye bars," and also "allows users to see how changes in data relate to each other and the passing of time."

A Qlik partner company since 2011, NComVA specializes in "advanced visualization technology," which Qlik says will help in "delivering a deeper understanding of data" by making relationships easier to see, "especially when multiple data sources are analyzed together."

Qlik did not disclose financial specifics of the acquisition, revealing neither the price it's paying, nor the revenue streams or profits numbers of the company it's getting. Nonetheless, investors applauded the deal, bidding up Qlik shares by 2.2% to close at $26.81 in Monday trading.

Top 10 Tech Stocks To Watch For 2015: KongZhong Corporation(KONG)

KongZhong Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides wireless interactive entertainment, media, and community services to mobile phone users in the People's Republic of China. It also involves in the development, distribution, and marketing of consumer wireless value-added services, including wireless application protocol, multimedia messaging services, short messaging services, interactive voice response services, and color ring back tones. In addition, it offers interactive entertainment services, such as mobile games, pictures, karaoke, electronic books, mobile phone personalization features, entertainment news, chat, and message boards; and through Kong.net offer news, community services, games, and other interactive media and entertainment services; and sells advertising space in the form of text-link, banner, and button advertisements. Further, the company develops and publishes mobile games, including downloadable mobile games and online mobile games cons isting of action, role-playing, and leisure games. As of December 31, 2009, it had a library of approximately 300 internally developed mobile games. Additionally, it develops online games; and provides consulting and technology services, as well as media and net book services. The company was formerly known as Communication Over The Air Inc. and changed its name to KongZhong Corporation in March 2004. KongZhong Corporation was founded in 2002 and is headquartered in Beijing, the People?s Republic of China

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Seth Jayson]

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

• [By Roberto Pedone]

  One under-$10 wireless services player that looks poised for a big spike higher is KongZhong (KONG), which is a provider of WVAS and mobile games to mobile phone users and a wireless media company providing news, content, community and mobile advertising services through its wireless Internet sites in the PRC. This stock is off to a hot start in 2013, with shares up sharply by 53%.

  If you take a look at the chart for KongZhong, you'll notice that this stock has been downtrending badly for the last two months, with shares plunging lower from its high of $14.92 to its recent low of $7.78 a share. During that downtrend, shares of KONG have been consistently making lower highs and lower lows, which is bearish technical price action. That move has now pushed shares of KONG into oversold territory, since its current relative strength index reading is 30.21. Shares of KONG are now starting to spike higher off its recent low of $7.78 a share and off its 200-day moving average of $7.95 a share. This spike could be signaling that the downside volatility for KONG is over in the short-term and the stock is ready to trend higher.

  Traders should now look for long-biased trades in KONG if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance at $8.50 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above that level with volume that hits near or above its three-month average action of 519,857 shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then KONG will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $10 to its 50-day moving average at $11.33 a share.

  Traders can look to buy KONG off any weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below some key near-term support at $7.78 a share. One can also buy KONG off strength once it takes out $8.50 a share with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Top losers in the sector included China Unicom (Hong Kong) (NYSE: CHU), off 4.5 percent, and Kongzhong (NASDAQ: KONG), down 4.7 percent.

  Top Headline
  The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA) reported better-than-expected first-quarter profit. Boeing's quarterly profit declined to $965 million, or $1.28 per share, from a year-ago profit of $1.11 billion, or $1.44 per share. Its adjusted earnings surged to $1.76 per share compared to $1.73 per share. Its revenue climbed to $20.47 billion versus $18.89 billion. However, analysts were projecting earnings of $1.57 per share on revenue of $20.24 billion. For the full year, Boeing expects adjusted earnings of $7.15 to $7.35 per share.

Top 10 Tech Stocks To Watch For 2015: Redhill Biopharma Ltd (RDHL)

Redhill Biopharma Ltd. is an Israel-based biopharmaceutical company. The Company is focused on the development and acquisition of therapeutic candidates. The Company�� pipeline consists of six late clinical development therapeutic candidates, two of which have completed bioequivalence clinical trials subject to review and approval by the United States Food and Drug Administration and, in some cases, regulatory authorities in other countries. The Company�� six clinical stage therapeutic candidates include RHB-101, RHB-102, RHB-103, RHB-104, RHB-105 and RHB-106.

RHB-101

RHB-101 is a treatment of hypertension, heart failure and left ventricular dysfunction (following myocardial infraction) by means of controlled release of an active ingredient known as carvedilol, which is designed to be administered to patients on a once-daily basis. RHB-101 is based on a patented technology for the controlled release of drugs administered orally.

RHB-102

RHB-102 is a once-daily controlled release oral formulation of ondansetron. RHB-102 utilizes a technology called CDT that uses salts to provide a controlled release of ondansetron.

RHB-103

RHB-103 is an oral thin film formulation of rizatriptan intended for the treatment of acute migraine headaches. Migraine is a neurovascular disorder (related to nerves and blood vessels) characterized by recurrent headaches in one side or both sides of the head.

The product is based on a technology called VersaFilm.

RHB-104

RHB-104 is an antibiotic combination therapy for the treatment of Crohn's disease (with a PIII clinical study underway), as well as Multiple Sclerosis (with an ongoing PIIa clinical study) and Rheumatoid Arthritis. RHB-104 is a combination of clarithromycin, clofazimine and rifabutin, three generic antibiotic ingredients, in a single capsule.

RHB-105

RHB-105, an antibiotics and proton pump inhibitor drug targeting Helico! bacter Pylori infection. RHB-105 is a combination of three approved drug products omeprazole, which is a proton pump inhibitor (the natural body pump that produces the gastric acids used for digesting the food in the stomach), and amoxicillin and rifabutin which are antibiotics. Chronic infection with Helicobacter pylori irritates the mucosal lining of the stomach and small intestine.

RHB-106

RHB-106, is a tablet for the preparation and cleansing of the gastrointestinal tract prior to the performance of abdominal procedures. Its abdominal procedures include diagnostic tests, such as colonoscopy, barium enema or virtual colonoscopy, as well as surgical interventions, such as laparotomy.

The company competes with GlaxoSmithKline, Sanofi-Aventis Groupe, Hoffman-La Roche Ltd, Merck and Co., Inc, Ferring Pharmaceuticals and Salix Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Monica Gerson]

  Breaking news

  Vitran Corporation (NASDAQ: VTNC) announced today that it has entered into a definitive arrangement agreement with TransForce pursuant to which TransForce has agreed to acquire all of the outstanding common shares of Vitran not already owned by TransForce for US$6.50 in cash per share, in accordance with TransForce's prior proposal. To read the full news, click here. ReneSola (NYSE: SOL) today announced it signed a Memorandum of Intent (MOI) to sell three utility-scale projects in Western China, with a total capacity of 60MW, to Jiangsu Akcome Solar Science & Technology Co on December 30, 2013. To read the full news, click here. Cooper Tire & Rubber Company (NYSE: CTB) today announced it has terminated the merger agreement with Apollo Tyres (NSE:ApolloTYRE). To read the full news, click here. RedHill Biopharma (NASDAQ: RDHL) today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement with leading healthcare investor OrbiMed Israel Partners Limited Partnership, an affiliate of OrbiMed Advisors LLC, for the sale of RedHill's American Depository Shares and warrants in a private placement transactionor a total sum of $6.0 million. To read the full news, click here.

  Posted-In: Guggenheim US Stock FuturesNews Eurozone Futures Global Pre-Market Outlook Markets

Top 10 Retail Stocks To Buy Right Now: Sohu.Com Inc (SOHU)

Sohu.com Inc. (Sohu), incorporated in August 1996, is a Chinese online media, search, gaming, community and mobile service group. The Company operates matrices of Chinese language Web properties, and it operates multi-player online games and Web-based games in the People�� Republic of China. Its businesses consist of the online advertising business, the online game business, the wireless business and the others business, among which online advertising and online games are its core businesses. Its online advertising business consists of the brand advertising business, as well as the search and others business. Its brand advertising business offers products and services, such as free of charge premier content, interactive community and other competitive Internet services to its users, and provides advertising services to advertisers on its matrices of Chinese language Web properties consisting of sohu.com, a portal and online media destination; focus.cn, a real estate Website; and 17173.com, a game information portal. On December 15, 2011, the Company sold assets associated with the business of 17173.com (the 17173 Business), a game information portal in China to Changyou.com Limited (Changyou). On August 1, 2011, The Company acquired Focus Yiju Network Information Technology Co., Ltd. (Focus Yiju). On May 11, 2011, Changyou acquired, through its VIE Gamease, 68.258% of the interests of 7Road Technology Co., Ltd. (7Road).

The Company�� brand advertising business offers advertisements on its Web properties to companies. Its search and others business, provided by its search subsidiary Sogou Inc. (Sogou), offers customers pay-for-click services, priority placements in a search directory, and online marketing services on the Sogou Web Directory. Its online game business is conducted through Sohu�� subsidiary Changyou, which is an online game developer and operator in China. Changyou engages in the development, operation and licensing of online games, including massively multi-player onl! ine games (MMOGs) and Web-based games. Changyou developed and operates MMOGs Tian Long Ba Bu (TLBB) and, through licensees, operates DDTank, which is a multi-player Web-based shooting games in China.

The Company�� wireless business offers mobile related services through different types of wireless products to mobile phone users. The mobile related services consist of the provision of content, such as news, weather forecasts, chatting, entertainment information, mobile games, mobile phone ringtones and logo downloads. The content is purchased from third party content providers. The wireless products consist of short messaging services (SMS), Ring Back Tone (RBT), interactive voice response (IVR) and mobile games. Its others business includes sub-licensing of licensed video content to third parties and offering cinema advertisement slots to be shown in theaters before the screening of movies.

Online Advertising Business

The Company�� brand advertising business falls into fits categories: online portal, online video, vertical sites, and community and communication products. Sohu portal consists of Chinese language Web navigational capabilities, a range of main content channels, and Web-based communication and community services. It offers a range of free channels, which provides comprehensive content. Sohu Video is an online video service provider in China. It delivers licensed professionally produced video content and original in-house produced video content. It provides users free access its video content library, such as domestic and overseas television dramas, movies, television programs, documentaries, news, animations, entertainment related contents, live television Webcasts, in-house produced shows and programs, and user-generated content. It also offers selected content, such as movies and educational content on its advertisement-free paid channel.

Focus.cn is a real estate Websites in China, providing solutions for house seekers, homeowners! , potenti! al property or household appliance buyers with high incomes, and real estate professionals. Focus.cn provides new home and existing home information and develops thousands of homeowner�� online forums in over 100 cities across China, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. The 17173.com Website provides news channels, which cover topics of interest to game players, including news channels for MMOGs, Web-based games and Flash games, community pages for game player unions, and game pages for different online games.

Communication and community services help users to build customized space and personalized page layouts and offer information sharing and real-time communication. It offers a range of communication and community tools for its Chinese online users, which is promoting user affinity to its portal network micro-blog, message boards, blog and e-mail.

Micro-blog enables the Company�� users to follow topics being discussed online, as well as discussions related to people they know. Message Boards allow users to post and exchange information on message boards covering 50 topics, including education, travel, fashion, sports and all-news Web pages. Blog is an interactive platform for users to build their personalized space by posting their articles and pictures, uploading videos, and sharing information among users. In addition, Sohu blogs provide multiple applications for user-customized front page layouts, interactive communication facilities and services integrated with a selection of Sohu products. E-Mail offers free e-mail services with up to two gigabytes of memory and mail services with different features.

The Company provides brand advertising services across its matrices of Web properties. Its offerings enable advertisers to post their advertisements in different forms, including textual, rich media and video advertisements, and in different locations across the Sohu matrix of Web properties. Its brand advertising products include b! anners, l! inks, logos, buttons and stream advertisements placed on its Websites and sponsorships, which focus on a particular event or a particular Website area. It charges advertisers on a time basis with fixed fees. It also adopted a Cost Per Click (CPC) pricing model and a Cost Per Impression (CPM) pricing model. During the year ended December 31, 2011, approximately 2,600 companies advertised on its Websites. Its customers include multinational companies, which have operations in Chinese markets, as well as Chinese domestic companies.

Sogou.com, which means Search Dog, is Sohu�� search engine. Upon a search query, the user is taken through an interactive process to reach integrated Website and page search results. Sogou Browser is its self-developed browser. Sogou browser has features, including embedded playing of Web video, quick proxy functions for education networks, smart address bar, privacy protection mode, and a column for the most-visited Websites. During 2011, it launched a new version of Sogou browser, which accelerates browsing speeds and adds Web page update notification feature, as well as an online shopping security protection function. Sogou Web Directory is a Chinese Web directory navigation site which serves as an access point to Websites and applications. Online marketing services on Sogou Web Directory consist of displaying links to Sogou�� advertisers��Websites on the Web pages of Sogou Web Directory. Sogou Pinyin is the Company�� self-developed Chinese character input method software, with a vocabulary database that is tied to the search queries database of the Sogou search engine and can capture the latest trends in words used by Internet users.

Online Game Business

The Company�� online game business is conducted through Changyou. Changyou is an online game developer and operator in China by its games TLBB and DDTank. Changyou engages in the development, operation and licensing of MMOGs, which are interactive online games, which may be ! played si! multaneously by game players, and Web-based games, which are played over the Internet using a Web browser. Changyou operates several MMOGs in China, including the in-house developed TLBB and Duke of Mount Deer (DMD) and other MMOGs, which Changyou has licensed from third parties. As of December 31, 2011, Changyou�� MMOGs in China had approximately 175.5 million aggregate registered accounts. Changyou also licenses DDTank, a Web-based game developed by Changyou�� variable interest entity (VIE) 7Road. TLBB is licensed to third-party operators in Vietnam, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Thailand. DDTank is licensed to third-party operators in China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Brazil. Changyou also operates a modified version of TLBB in the United States and certain European countries. All of Changyou�� games are operated under the item-based revenue model, where game players play the games for free but can purchase virtual items.

TLBB is an in-house developed 2.5D martial arts MMORPG adapted from Chinese novel, Tian Long Ba Bu. TLBB features a combination of martial arts-style-fighting and community-building among its game players. As of December 31, 2011, Changyou has developed 21 expansion packs. DDTank is a two dimensional (2D) Q-style Web-based shooting game developed by Changyou�� VIE 7Road. Players use keyboards to control weapons to compete with others, using different weapons to produces different firing effects. The game features a master and apprentice system, a card system, and customization options for avatars. DMD is an in-house developed three dimensional (3D) martial arts MMORPG. The game recreates Louis Cha�� final martial arts world with cartoon-style graphics, supported by 3D animation engine. The Blade Online (BO) series consist of two 2.5D martial-arts style fighting MMORPGs, BO, which Changyou licensed from a third party, and BH2, which is a sequel of BO. Both games are martial arts-style fighting games set to the backdrop of a Chinese myth. In BO, game play! ers can s! et their own rules for in-game fighting and take on various roles, including a human, an evil spirit or an immortal in the game. Each role has different skill sets that can be learned and improved by completing different tasks. BH2 incorporates features of BO, as well as features, such as maps, characters, fighting techniques and additional team-combat functions to give players a more intense and realistic fighting experience. DHSH is a 2D Q-style, turn-based MMORPG, which Changyou licensed from a third party.

SJQY is a 2D cartoon-style turn-based MMORPG, which Changyou licensed from a third party. Adapted from the novels, Journey to the West, it engages game players in martial arts combat and other activities, such as gardening and home building.

Changyou has several MMOGs and Web-based games in its pipeline with different graphic styles, themes and features. Games in Changyou�� pipeline include the MMORPG Tao Yuan and the Web-based game Shen Qu, which Changyou is developing in-house, and the massively multi-player first-person shooter game (MMOFPS) (MMOFPS is a subset of the MMOG category) Battlefield Online, which Changyou licensed from a third party.

Tao Yuan is a 3D cartoon-style turn-based MMORPG adapted from the stories of Three Kingdoms heroes. The game is created using the Unreal3 game engine and features cartoon-style characters and 3D graphics. The game incorporates traditional Chinese culture, such as five elements, divination inquiry and Chinese acupuncture treatment, into its gameplay design. Battlefield Online is a MMOFP developed from Electronic Arts Inc.�� Battlefield franchise, a series of first-person shooter games, for the personal computer (PC). Battlefield Online is focused on the fights for interests between the Empire and the Commonwealth. The game allows players not only to compete in small teams in group battles and raids, but also to participate in large-scale combat of up to 100 players. In addition, sub-categories of battle classes! can be f! ound in Battlefield Online. Shen Qu is a 2.5D real time strategy Web-based game set against a western universe, which is being developed by Changyou�� VIE 7Road. The game focuses on the exploration of cities and instances. When exploring instances, players can experience diverse playing modes, including chasing, escaping and counterattacking, and finally become the overlord of an area.

Wireless Business and Other Business

The Company�� wireless business offers mobile related services through different types of wireless products to mobile phone users. The mobile related services consist of the provision of content, such as news, weather forecasts, chatting, entertainment information, mobile games, mobile phone ringtones and logo downloads. The content is purchased from third party content providers. The wireless products consist of SMS, RBT, IVR and mobile games. Its other businesses includes sub-licensing of licensed video content to third parties and offering cinema advertisement slots to be shown in theaters before the screening of movies.

The Company competes with Sina Corporation, Tencent Holdings Ltd., NetEase.com, Inc., YouKu Inc., Tudou Holdings Limited, Beijing Xin Lian Xin De Advertising Media Co., Ltd., SouFun Holdings Limited, China Real Estate Information Corporation, Bitauto Holdings Limited, Bitauto Holdings Limited, Guangzhou Hua Duo Network Technology Co., Ltd., Pacific Online Limited, Yahoo! Inc., Microsoft Corporation, AOL Inc., Qihoo 360 Technology Co., Ltd., Baidu, Shanghai Ruichuang Internet Technology Development Co., Ltd., Google, Qihoo, Maxthon International Limited, Mozilla Corporation, Shanda Games Limited, Perfect World Co., Ltd., Giant Interactive Group Inc., NetDragon Websoft Inc., Kingsoft Corporation Limited, The9 Limited, Shenzhen ZQGame Co., Limited, Taomee Holdings Limited, Beijing Guangyu Huaxia Technology Limited, Guang Huan Zhong, Hangzhou Bianfeng Technology Limited, Shanghai Game Reign Network Technology Limited, Play Town! Entertai! nment Limited, Tian Shen Hu Dong Limited, Sichuan Tianshang Youjia Technology Limited and Suzhou Snail Electronics Limited.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Paul Ausick]

  Add to that a rumored attempt to acquire Sohu.com Inc. (NASDAQ: SOHU), a Baidu competitor, that currently gets about a quarter of China�� search market. The deal fell through, but in today�� earnings report the company said that it plans to continue to invest in ��roduct and technology development ��particularly in mobile Internet and search technology where we see tremendous opportunity for future expansion.��/p>

• [By Rick Munarriz]

  Reports late last week claim that the new Chinese dot-com darling is in talks to acquire Sohu.com's (NASDAQ: SOHU  ) Sogou search engine.

Top 10 Tech Stocks To Watch For 2015: Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc (INO)

Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc., incorporated on June 29, 1983, is engaged in the development of a new generation of vaccines, called synthetic vaccines, focused on cancers and infectious diseases. The Company's SynCon technology enables the design of universal vaccines capable of providing cross-protection against existing or changing strains of pathogens, such as influenza and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The Company's electroporation delivery technology uses brief, controlled electrical pulses to increase cellular uptake of the vaccine. Its clinical programs include cervical dysplasia (therapeutic), avian influenza (preventive), prostate cancer (therapeutic), leukemia (therapeutic), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HIV vaccines. It is advancing preclinical research and clinical development for a universal seasonal/pandemic influenza vaccine, as well as preclinical work for other products, including malaria and prostate cancer vaccines. Its partners and collaborators include University of Pennsylvania, Drexel University, National Microbiology Laboratory of the Public Health Agency of Canada, Program for Appropriate Technology in Health/Malaria Vaccine Initiative (PATH/MVI), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Merck, ChronTech, University of Southampton, United States Military HIV Research Program (USMHRP), the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) and HIV Vaccines Trial Network (HVTN). As of December 31, 2011 it owned 16.1% interest in VGX Int��.

Inovio�� Solution

The Company�� synthetic vaccine platform consists of its SynCon vaccine design process and electroporation delivery technology. It has developed a preclinical and clinical stage pipeline of vaccines. The Company�� synthetic vaccines are designed to prevent a disease (prophylactic vaccines) or treat an existing disease (therapeutic vaccines). Its synthetic vaccine consists of a deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) plasmid encoding a selected antigen! (s), which is introduced into cells of humans or animals with the purpose of evoking an immune response to the encoded antigen. The Company�� synthetic vaccines are designed to generate specific antibody and/or T-cell responses.

The Company�� SynCon technology provides processes that employ bioinformatics, which combine extensive genetic data and sophisticated algorithms. Its design process uses the genetic make-up of a common antigen(s) from multiple strains of a virus within a viral sub-type or taxonomic group (family) of pathogens, such as HIV, hepatitis C virus (HCV), human papillomavirus (HPV), influenza and other diseases to synthetically create a new antigen for the desired pathogen target that does not exist in nature. Its synthetic vaccine candidates are being delivered into cells of the body using its electroporation (EP) DNA delivery technology.

Cancer Synthetic Vaccines

The Company has two broad types of cancer vaccines: preventive (or prophylactic) vaccines, which are intended to prevent cancer from developing in healthy people, and treatment (or therapeutic) vaccines, which are intended to treat an existing cancer by strengthening the body�� natural defenses against the cancer. Two types of cancer preventive vaccines are available in the United States. The United States Food and Drug Administration (the FDA) has approved two vaccines, Gardasil and Cervarix that protect against infection by the two types of HPV-types 16 and 18-that cause approximately 70% of all cases of cervical cancer worldwide. In addition, Gardasil protects against infection by two additional HPV types, 6 and 11, which are responsible for about 90% of all cases of genital warts in males and females but do not cause cervical cancer.

Cervarix manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline, is composed of virus-like particles (VLPs) made with proteins from HPV types 16 and 18. Cervarix is approved for use in females��ages 10 to 25 for the prevention of cervical cancer caused by! HPV type! s 16 and 18. Gardasil manufactured by Merck, is approved for use in females for the prevention of cervical cancer, and some vulvar and vaginal cancers, caused by HPV types 16 and 18 and for use in males and females for the prevention of genital warts caused by HPV types 6 and 11. The vaccine is approved for these uses in females and males ages 9 to 26. The FDA has also approved a cancer preventive vaccine that protects against hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.

Inovio�� VGX-3100 is designed to raise immune responses against the E6 and E7 genes of HPV types 16 and 18 that are present in both pre-cancerous and cancerous cells transformed by these HPV types. E6 and E7 are oncogenes that play an integral role in transforming HPV-infected cells into cancerous cells. In March 2011, it initiated a randomized, double-blind Phase II study of VGX-3100 delivered using the CELLECTRA intramuscular electroporation device in women with HPV Type 16 or 18 and diagnosed with, but not yet treated for, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 2/3. The study is designed to enroll 148 subjects. In January 2011, it announced the publication of a scientific paper in the journal Human Vaccines detailing potent immune responses in a preclinical study of its SynCon vaccine for prostate cancer targeting two antigens, prostate specific antigen (PSA) and prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA).

In January 2011, the Company announced the regulatory approval of a Phase II clinical trial (WIN Trial) to treat leukemia utilizing its new ELGEN 1000 automated vaccine delivery device. The single dose level, Phase II study, called WT1 immunity via DNA fusion gene vaccination in haematological malignancies by intramuscular injection followed by intramuscular electroporation. Cancer Vaccines encodes for hTERT, an antigen related to non-small cell lung, breast and prostate cancers. The vaccine is delivered using its electroporation delivery technology.

Infectious Disease Synthetic Vaccines

In Marc! h 2011, the Company announced the initiation of a follow-on open label, single dose Phase II clinical study in collaboration with ChronTech of the ChronVac-C HCV DNA vaccine delivered using its electroporation technology in treatment naive HCV infected individuals. Its HIV vaccines consist of candidates for HIV prevention, as well as therapy or treatment. PENNVAX-B is designed to target HIV clade B (most commonly found in the United States, North America, Australia and the European Union (EU). PENNVAX-G is designed to target HIV clades A, C and D, which are more commonly found in Asia, Africa, Russia and South America. This Phase I clinical study of PENNVAX-B (HVTN-080) vaccinated 48 healthy, HIV-negative volunteers to assess safety and levels of immune responses generated by Inovio�� PENNVAX-B vaccine delivered with its CELLECTRA electroporation device. PENNVAX-B is a SynCon vaccine that targets HIV gag, pol, and env proteins.

The Company�� VGX-3400X targets H5N1. The vaccine consists of three distinct DNA plasmids coded for a consensus hemagglutinin (HA) antigen derived from different H5N1 virus strains; a consensus neuraminidase (NA) antigen derived from different N1 sequences; and a consensus nucleoprotein (NP) fused to a small portion of the m2 protein (m2E) based on a broader cross-section of influenza viruses in addition to H5N1 and H1N1. Conventional vaccines are strain-specific and have limited ability to protect against genetic shifts in the influenza strains they target. They are therefore modified annually in anticipation of the next flu season�� new strain(s). It is focused on developing DNA-based influenza vaccines able to provide broad protection against known as well as newly emerging, unknown seasonal and pandemic influenza strains.

Animal Health/Veterinary

VGX Animal Health, Inc. (VGX AH), a majority-owned subsidiary, has licensed LifeTide, a plasmid-based growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) technology for swine. LifeTide is one of onl! y four DN! A-based treatments approved for use in animals and is the only DNA-based agent delivered using electroporation that has been granted marketing approval (Australia). VGX AH is also developing a GHRH-based treatment for cancer and anemia in dogs and cats. It is developing a synthetic vaccine for foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) administered by its vaccine delivery technology. The FMD virus is one of the most infectious diseases affecting farm animals, including cattle, swine, sheep and goats, and is a serious threat to global food safety.

The Company competes with Crucell N.V, Sanofi-Aventis, Novartis, Inc., GlaxoSmithKline plc, Merck, Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Inc., Novartis, Inc., MedImmune and CSL.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sean Williams]

  No fairytale ending
  Fairytale endings work great in the movies, but you rarely see them come to fruition in the real world. Small-cap biopharmaceutical Inovio Pharmaceuticals (NYSEMKT: INO  ) has seen shares nearly triple since April on the heels of multiple intriguing studies, but will the glass slipper fit over the long term?

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Inovio Pharmaceuticals (NYSE: INO) was also up, gaining 10.53 percent to $3.57 after the company received the ��est Theraputic Vaccine��award at the World Vaccine Congress after the close Wednesday.

• [By George Budwell]

  Inovio Pharmaceuticals (NYSEMKT: INO  ) develops DNA-based vaccines and delivers them using a proprietary electroporation technique. Shares of Inovio have been a roller coaster all year long, and have certainly been the playground of day traders. Last week, Inovio shares lost more than 10% of their value on heavy volume, suggesting the stock may continue to experience downward pressure. This rapid move downward is surprising because the company recently signed a licensing deal with Roche (NASDAQOTH: RHHBY  ) to commercialize Inovio's multi-antigen DNA immunotherapies for prostate cancer and hepatitis B. As part of the deal, Inovio received $10 million upfront, and milestone payments could go as high as $412 million.

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Equities Trading DOWN
  Shares of Inovio Pharmaceuticals (NYSE: INO) were down on Friday's session, falling 13.28 percent to $2.488 despite seemingly little news on the company.

Top 10 Tech Stocks To Watch For 2015: KVH Industries Inc.(KVHI)

KVH Industries, Inc. engages in the development, manufacture, and marketing of mobile communication products for the marine, land mobile, and aeronautical markets primarily in North America, Europe, and Asia. The company also offers navigation, guidance, and stabilization products for the defense and commercial markets. Its mobile communications products and airtime services include TracVision; TracPhone; CommBox system, a middleware software; and mini-VSAT broadband airtime, which enable customers to receive voice, Internet, and live digital television services in their marine vessels, recreational vehicles, automobiles, and commercial airplanes through satellite. The company?s guidance and stabilization products consist of precision fiber optic gyro based systems that help stabilize platforms, such as gun turrets, remote weapon stations, and radar units, as well as provides guidance for munitions; and tactical navigation systems that offer access to navigation and point ing information in a range of military vehicles, including tactical trucks and light armored vehicles. Its guidance and stabilization products are used in various commercial applications comprising precision mapping, dynamic surveying, autonomous vehicles, train location control and track geometry measurement systems, industrial robotics, and optical stabilization. The company sells its mobile communications products through an international network of retailers, distributors, and dealers; and guidance and stabilization products directly to the United States and allied governments, and government contractors, as well as through an international network of authorized independent sales representatives. It also leases its products directly to end users. The company was founded in 1978 and is headquartered in Middletown, Rhode Island.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  In trading on Thursday, technology shares were relative laggards, down on the day by about 0.08%. Top decliners in the sector included KVH Industries (NASDAQ: KVHI), off 8.6%, and Yandex NV (NASDAQ: YNDX), down 7.3%.

• [By Seth Jayson]

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

Top 10 Tech Stocks To Watch For 2015: GigaMedia Limited (GIGM)

Gigamedia Limited, through its subsidiaries, primarily engages in the operation of online games for online game players in Asia. The company provides a portfolio of online games, including MahJong, a traditional Chinese tile game; MMORPG, an Internet-based computer game; advanced casual games; and card, chance-based, and simple casual games. It also develops and licenses online poker, casino, and sports betting gaming software solutions, as well as offers application services for the online poker and casino markets primarily in the continental European markets. The company has strategic alliances with SoftStar Entertainment Inc., Neostorm Holdings Limited, XLGames Inc., Access China Holding Limited, Gorilla Banana Entertainment Corp., JC Entertainment Corporation, Possibility Space Incorporated, East Gate Media Contents & Technology Fund, and BetClic. GigaMedia Limited was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Eric Volkman]

  GigaMedia (NASDAQ: GIGM  ) results for the company's fiscal Q4 and 2012 have been released. For the quarter, revenue was $4.8 million, down by 34% from the $7.4 million in the same period the previous year. Attributable net loss, however, narrowed considerably to $15.4 million ($0.30 per diluted share) from Q4 2011's shortfall of $51.3 million ($1.01).

Top 10 Tech Stocks To Watch For 2015: Stemline Therapeutics Inc (STML)

Stemline Therapeutics, Inc. (Stemline), incorporated on August 8, 2003, is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, acquiring, developing and commercializing therapeutics that target both cancer stem cells (CSCs) and tumor bulk. The Company is developing two clinical-stage product candidates, SL-401 and SL-701, for which it holds global marketing rights. The indication for SL-401, a biologic-drug conjugate, is acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The indications for SL-701, a synthetic peptide vaccine, are pediatric and adult brain cancer. It has a platform, StemScreen, for the discovery of CSC-targeted compounds, from which it has discovered or validated several of its clinical and preclinical product candidates. Stemline�� StemScreen consists of StemScreen-1 and StemScreen-2 for the identification of CSC-directed compounds.

SL-301 is a small molecule gamma-secretase inhibitor that inhibits Notch, a pathway expressed by CSCs and tumor bulk of multiple cancer types. SL-101 is a monoclonal antibody-based (mAb -based) compound that targets CD123 and has shown in vitro activity against certain hematologic cancers. SL-201 is a small molecule active against certain hematologic and solid tumor types. SL-601 is a mAb-based compound that targets a cell surface marker on bladder CSCs, which is also expressed on a variety of other solid tumor types. It has also in-licensed certain intellectual property directed to mAb-based therapeutics to validated oncology targets, including Glypican-3, Tie-1, CD133, Frizzled, Smoothened and Patched.

SL-401 - An IL-3R-Directed Compound Targeting Cancer Stem Cells and Tumor Bulk

SL-401 is a clinically active biologic-drug conjugate consisting of human interleukin-3 (IL-3) genetically linked to a truncated version of diphtheria toxin. SL-401 targets the IL-3 receptor (IL-3R), which is overexpressed on both the CSCs and tumor bulk of multiple hematologic cancers, including AML. SL-401 has demonstrated preclinical in vit! ro and in vivo activity against both leukemia blasts (which includes tumor bulk) and CSCs of a range of human leukemia cell lines and primary leukemia cells from patients.

SL-701

SL-701 is a clinically active synthetic peptide vaccine that targets several epitopes on CSCs and tumor bulk of brain cancer. In two completed Phase 1/2 clinical trials, SL-701 demonstrated single agent anti-tumor activity in pediatric patients with newly diagnosed brainstem glioma (BSG) and other high-grade gliomas (HGGs) and in adult patients with refractory or recurrent GBM, and other HGGs.

StemScreen-1

StemScreen-1 is a drug discovery platform designed to identify CSC-targeted compounds based on the isolation of CSCs and evaluation of CSC gene expression profiles. CSCs are isolated from primary tumor tissue or cell lines, and then subjected to gene expression analysis using a variety of technologies, including microarray. A control tissue, such as normal bone marrow is analyzed as a comparator against the gene expression profile of the isolated CSCs. These data are then interfaced with an information base of compounds and their mechanisms of action (that is which gene products and pathways they impact). It has utilized StemScreen-1 to discover a number of its preclinical drug candidates. These include SL-201, SL-301, and SL-601. In addition, SL-401 demonstrated activity against CSCs as determined by both an in vitro colony formation and in vivo animal implantation assay, thereby validating certain StemScreen-1 anti-CSC assays.

StemScreen-2

StemScreen-2 is a high throughput drug discovery platform it is developing to discover anti-CSC compounds. StemScreen-2 utilizes a cell-based assay that can track and follow CSCs in their natural state during high throughput screening. In particular, StemScreen-2 utilizes a CSC-specific promoter linked to a reporter as a method for identifying and following CSCs in their native environment of surrounding tumor b! ulk. In t! his way, StemScreen-2 enables the identification of compound hits, in a high throughput manner, with anti-CSC activity.

The Company competes with Boston Biomedical, Inc., Eclipse Therapeutics, Inc., OncoMed Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Verastem, Inc., Astellas Pharma US, Inc., Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH, Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma Co. Ltd., Geron Corp., GlaxoSmithKline plc, ImmunoCellular Therapeutics, Ltd, Macrogenics Inc., Amgen, Inc., Pfizer Inc., Roche Holding AG, Sanofi U.S. LLC., Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Sunesis Pharmaceuticals Inc., Clavis Pharma ASA, Ambit Biosciences Corporation, Celgene Corporation, Eisai Co. Ltd., Celator Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Merck & Co., Inc., Eisai Co., Inc., Roche Holding AG, Novartis AG and Celldex Therapeutics, Inc.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jay Silverman]

  Some of the biggest leaders in that field, and there have been dozens in fields, if not more this year, such as Bluebird (BLUE) and Stemline Therapeutics (STML) and have all pulled back to significantly lower levels; even below, in Bluebird's case, the price that had actually opened up as an IPO, even though it's above its IPO price.

• [By David Zeiler]

  3. Stemline Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: STML): This biotech develops drugs that target cancer stem cells and tumors. Stemline went public January 29 at $10 a share and rose just 11.78% on its first day. But STML has climbed steadily since, and currently trades at $37.46, up 274.6% from its IPO price.

• [By Keith Speights]

  Best-performing biotech IPO
  Stemline Therapeutics� (NASDAQ: STML  ) has only traded publicly this year, but what a year it's been. The stock's performance ranks Stemline as the best-performing biotech IPO so far in 2013. This week has been pretty good also, with shares moving up by 28%.

Top 10 Tech Stocks To Watch For 2015: SilverSun Technologies Inc (SSNT)

SilverSun Technologies Inc, formerly Trey Resources, Inc., incorporated on October 3, 2002, is a business consultant for small and medium sized businesses and resellers and developers of financial accounting software. It also publishes its own electronic data interchange (EDI) software. It specializes in software integration and deployment, programming, and training and technical support, aimed at improving the financial reporting and operational efficiencies of small and medium sized companies. The sale of its financial accounting software is concentrated in the northeastern United States, while its EDI software and programming services are sold to corporations nationwide. It also provides software customization, data migration, business consulting, and implementation assistance for complex design environments. The Company�� three product categories include Financial Accounting Software, Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) Software and Warehouse Management Systems. Its services include network services and business consulting. In January 2012, the Company acquired the Sage software customer accounts of IncorTech. In January 2012, the Company acquired remaining 20% of SWK Technologies. In April 2012, its subsidiary, SWK Technologies, sold the Sage ERP X3 global enterprise solution to a power generation facility in the Northeastern United States. In June 2012, the Company acquired Micro-Point, Inc. In February 2013, the Company's SWK Technologies, Inc. acquired Sage business partner accounts of Point Solutions, LLC. In February 2013, its wholly owned subsidiary, SWK Technologies Inc., completed the acquisition of the Sage business partner accounts of Colleyville, Texas-based SGEN, LLC (d/b/a Software Generation).

Financial Accounting Software

The Company resells accounting software published by Sage Software, Inc. (Sage) and Intuit, Inc. for the financial accounting requirements of small and medium sized businesses focused on manufacturing and distribution, and the delivery of! related services from the sales of these products, including installation, support and training. These product sales are primarily packaged software programs installed on a user workstation, on a local area network server, or in a hosted environment. The programs perform and support a variety of functions related to accounting, including financial reporting, accounts payable and accounts receivable, and inventory management. The Company provides a variety of services along with its financial accounting software sales. These services include training, technical support, and professional services. It also provides on-site training services that are tailored to meet the needs of a particular customer. It provides end-user technical support services through our support/help desk. Its professional services include project-focused offerings, such as software customization, data migration, and small and medium sized business consulting.

The Company competes with Microsoft.

Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) Software

The Company publishes its own EDI software MAPADOC. The MAPADOC EDI solution is a fully integrated EDI solution that provides users of Sage Software�� MAS family of accounting software products. MAPADOC provides the user with data entry time, elimination of redundant steps, the lowering of paper and postage costs, the reduction of time spent typing, signing, checking and approving documents and the ability to self-manage EDI. The Company markets MAPADOC solutions to its existing and new small and medium-sized business customers, and through a network of resellers.

The Company competes with True Commerce and Kissinger Associates.

Warehouse Management System (WMS)

The Company is a reseller of the Warehouse Management System (WMS) software published by Accellos, Inc. Accellos, Inc. develops warehouse management software for mid-market distributors. The primary purpose of a WMS is to control the movement and storage of mat! erials wi! thin an operation and process the associated transactions. The detailed setup and processing within a WMS can vary from one software vendor to another. The basic WMS uses a combination of item, location, quantity, unit of measure, and order information to determine where to stock, where to pick, and in what sequence to perform these operations. Accellos works as part of a operational solution by integrating seamlessly with RF hardware, accounting software, shipping systems and warehouse automation equipment. The Company markets the Accellos solution to its existing and new medium-sized business customers.

Network Services And Business Consulting

The Company provides network maintenance and service upgrades for its business clients. It provides various services for its clients, including server implementation, support and assistance, operation and maintenance of central systems, technical design of network infrastructure, technical troubleshooting for large scale problems, network and server security, and backup, archiving, and storage of data from servers.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By CRWE]

  Today, SSNT has shed (-8.33%) down -0.010 at $.110 with 3,500 shares in play thus far (ref. google finance Delayed: 10:08AM EDT September 12, 2013).

  SilverSun Technologies, Inc. previously reported its second quarter results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2013.

  Financial highlights for 3 months ended June 30, 2013 compared to 3 months ended june 30, 2012 are as follows. The Company reported revenues increased to $3,870,598, rising 26% from $3,071,425. Software sales climbed 14% to $528,368 from $462,151. Services revenues totaled $3,342,230, increasing 28% from $2,609,264. Income from operations rose to $77,339 from a loss from operations of $319,781. Net income was $62,185, or $0.00 earnings per basic and diluted share, compared to a net loss of $334,031, or 0.00 loss per basic and diluted share.

Top 10 Tech Stocks To Watch For 2015: QUALCOMM Incorporated(QCOM)

QUALCOMM Incorporated engages in the development, design, manufacture, and marketing of digital wireless telecommunications products and services. The company operates in four segments: Qualcomm CDMA Technologies (QCT), Qualcomm Technology Licensing (QTL), Qualcomm Wireless and Internet (QWI), and Qualcomm Strategic Initiatives (QSI). The QCT segment develops and supplies code division multiple access (CDMA)-based integrated circuits and system software for wireless voice and data communications, multimedia functions and global positioning system products. The QTL segment grants licenses to use portions of its intellectual property portfolio comprising patent rights useful in the manufacture and sale of wireless products, such as products implementing cdmaOne, CDMA2000, WCDMA, CDMA TDD, GSM/GPRS/EDGE, and/or OFDMA standards and their derivatives The QWI segment consists of Qualcomm Internet Services that provides content enablement services for the wireless industry and pu sh-to-talk and other products and services for wireless network operators; Qualcomm Government Technologies, which offers development, hardware, and analytical services to the United States government agencies involving wireless communications technologies; Qualcomm Enterprise Services that provides satellite and terrestrial-based two-way data messaging, position reporting, wireless application services, and managed data services to transportation and logistics companies and other enterprise companies; and Firethorn, which builds and manages software applications that enable mobile commerce services. The QSI segment makes strategic investments to support the worldwide adoption of CDMA- and OFDMA-based technologies and services. QUALCOMM Incorporated primarily operates in China, South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, and the United States. The company was founded in 1985 and is based in San Diego, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Paul Ausick]

  Stocks on the Move: ParkerVision Inc. (NASDAQ: PRKR) is down 59.2% at $2.89 following a smaller-than-hoped-for award in its patent suit against Qualcomm Inc. (NASDAQ: QCOM). NQ Mobile Inc. (NYSE: NQ) is down 50.7% at $11.28 following a blistering from analysts at Muddy Waters.

Top 10 Tech Stocks To Watch For 2015: SciQuest Inc.(SQI)

SciQuest, Inc. provides an on-demand strategic procurement and supplier enablement solution worldwide. The company?s solution integrates its customers with their suppliers for automating the source-to-settle process. Its solution include various modules, such as sourcing director, spend director, requisition manager, order manager, settlement manager, supplier contract management and authoring, total supplier manager, supplier diversity manager, and materials management. The company delivers its solutions over the Internet using a software-as-a-service model. It serves higher education, life sciences, healthcare, state and local government entities, and commercial customers through direct sales force. SciQuest, Inc. was founded in 1995 and is headquartered in Cary, North Carolina.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Holly LaFon]

  A second company that makes enterprise software is SciQuest (SQI), which provides procurements and spending management software on a subscription basis. Unlike one of its chief competitors, which targets everyday supply purchases made by big companies, SciQuest provides automated purchasing to a different segment by focusing on universities, hospitals, local and state governments, etc.