17 Oil and Gas Stocks to Sell Now

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This week, the overall grades of 17 oil and gas stocks are lower, according to the Portfolio Grader database. Each of these rates a “D” (“sell”) or “F” overall (“strong sell”).

PDC Energy () is on the decline this week, earning a D (“sell”) after receiving a C (“hold”) last week. PDC is an oil and gas company with drilling and production operations in the Rocky Mountains, the Appalachian Basin, and Michigan. In Portfolio Grader’s specific subcategories of Earnings Revisions and Cash Flow, PETD also gets F’s. As of Nov. 29, 2013, 12.5% of outstanding PDC Energy shares were held short. .

EOG Resources, Inc. () earns a D this week, moving down from last week’s grade of C. EOG Resources is in the business of the exploration, development, production, and marketing of natural gas and crude oil. The stock gets F’s in Earnings Growth, Earnings Momentum, and Margin Growth. The stock price has dropped 5.2% over the past month, worse than the 1.7% decrease the S&P 500 has seen over the same period of time. The stock currently has a trailing PE Ratio of 41.10. .

Suncor Energy () earns an F (“strong sell”) this week, moving down from last week’s grade of D (“sell”). Suncor Energy is an integrated energy company in Canada. The stock gets F’s in Earnings Momentum and Earnings Surprise. .

Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P. Class A () experiences a ratings drop this week, going from last week’s D to an F. Enbridge Energy Partners transports crude oil and natural gas liquids to refineries in the midwestern United States and eastern Canada. The stock receives F’s in Earnings Growth, Earnings Revisions, and Earnings Surprise. Cash Flow and Sales Growth also get F’s. The trailing PE Ratio for the stock is 50.50. .

PVR Partners, L.P. () gets weaker ratings this week as last week’s C drops to a D. Penn Virginia Resource Partners owns and operates a network of natural gas pipelines and processing plants which provide gathering, transportation, compression, processing, dehydration and related services to natural gas producers. The stock rates an F in Earnings Growth, Earnings Revisions, and Equity. Cash Flow, Margin Growth, and Sales Growth also get F’s. The stock has a trailing PE Ratio of 79.60. .

This week, Midstates Petroleum Company, Inc.’s () rating worsens to an F from the company’s D rating a week ago. Macau Property Opportunities Fund Ltd. is a closed-end investment fund/investment trust. Its investment objective is to provide shareholders with an attractive total return, which is intended to comprise capital growth but with the potential for dividends over the medium to long term. The Fund aims … The stock gets F’s in Earnings Revisions and Cash Flow. .

Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc. () earns a D this week, falling from last week’s grade of C. Green Plains Renewable Energy constructs and operates dry mill, fuel-grade ethanol production facilities. The stock gets F’s in Earnings Growth, Earnings Revisions, and Margin Growth. As of Nov. 29, 2013, 16.7% of outstanding Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc. shares were held short. .

Chevron Corporation () is having a tough week. The company’s rating falls from a C to a D. Chevron gives management and technological support to international subsidiaries that operate petroleum, chemicals, mining, power generation, and energy services. The stock also gets an F in Sales Growth. .

Slipping from a C to a D rating, ONEOK Partners, L.P. () takes a hit this week. ONEOK Partners is engaged in the gathering, processing, storage, and transportation of natural gas in the United States. The stock also gets an F in Sales Growth. .

This week, Continental Resources, Inc. () drops from a D to an F rating. Continental Resources explores for, develops, and produces oil and natural gas properties in the United States. The stock gets F’s in Earnings Growth, Earnings Momentum, Cash Flow, and Sales Growth. .

The rating of Teekay Corporation () slips from a C to a D. Teekay is a provider of international crude oil and petroleum product transportation services. The stock gets F’s in Earnings Momentum, Earnings Revisions, and Earnings Surprise. Equity and Cash Flow also get F’s. .

Frontline’s () rating weakens this week, dropping to an F versus last week’s D. Frontline owns a fleet of very large crude carriers and Suezmax tankers that transport crude oil and oil products between ports. In Earnings Revisions, Equity, Cash Flow, and Sales Growth the stock gets F’s. As of Nov. 29, 2013, 12.9% of outstanding Frontline shares were held short. .

Endeavour International Corporation () earns an F this week, moving down from last week’s grade of D. Endeavour International is an international oil and gas exploration and production company that acquires, explores, and develops energy reserves. The stock gets F’s in Equity and Cash Flow. As of Nov. 29, 2013, 20.2% of outstanding Endeavour International Corporation shares were held short. .

Best Heal Care Companies To Watch In Right Now

This is a rough week for North European Oil Royalty Trust (). The company’s rating falls to F from the previous week’s D. North European Oil Royalty Trust is involved in gas and oil production, and it holds overriding royalty rights in certain concessions or leases in the Federal Republic of Germany. The stock also rates an F in Sales Growth. .

The rating of SandRidge Energy, Inc. () declines this week from a D to an F. SandRidge Energy explores and produces natural gas and crude oil. The stock receives F’s in Earnings Growth, Earnings Momentum, and Equity. Cash Flow and Margin Growth also get F’s. As of Nov. 29, 2013, 12.8% of outstanding SandRidge Energy, Inc. shares were held short. .

Slipping from a D to an F rating, Gevo () takes a hit this week. Gevo operates as a technology development company for biobutanol. The stock gets F’s in Equity, Cash Flow, and Sales Growth. As of Nov. 29, 2013, 17.1% of outstanding Gevo shares were held short. .

This week, Teekay Offshore Partners L.P.’s () rating worsens to a D from the company’s C rating a week ago. Teekay Offshore Partners LP provides marine transportation and storage services to the offshore oil industry. The stock also gets an F in Sales Growth. .

Louis Navellier’s proprietary Portfolio Grader stock ranking system assesses roughly 5,000 companies every week based on a number of fundamental and quantitative measures. Stocks are given a letter grade based on their results — with A being “strong buy,” and F being “strong sell.” Explore the tool here.

Sell Supervalu on Competition, Food Stamp Hit, Goldman Says

Down, down, down Supervalu (SVU) goes and where it stops, no one knows. Not even Goldman Sachs, which cut Supervalu’s shares to Sell from Neutral, though it does have a guess.

Goldman Sachs analysts Stephen Grambling and Christopher Prykull explain their thinking:

SVU shares are up 183% year-to-date (vs. S&P 500 +26%) as management's initiatives have slowed the top-line deterioration at the company's retail banners and Save-A-Lot. As the market has started to factor in stable-to-improving EBITDA on a highly levered equity base, the stock has re-rated from 4.5X EV/EBITDA to 6.1X EV/EBITDA. With the shares now trading above the historical average and roughly in line with peers, we expect future downward revisions to consensus estimates will likely drive a rerating of the shares to a more normalized level.

While we have been encouraged by the new management team's success in effecting change, we believe cuts to food stamps (SNAP benefits), potential reductions to the transition service agreement, and encroaching competition will likely overwhelm operational improvements…

Shares of Supervalu have dropped 8.3% to $6.31 at 2:59 p.m., within spitting distance of Goldman’s $6 target price, while competitors Family Dollar Stores (FDO) has gained 0.2% to $70.16, Dollar General (DG) has fallen 0.4% t0 $59.02, Dollar Tree (DLTR) is off 1% to $59.33 and Wal-Mart (WMT) is little changed at $79.19.

10 Best Canadian Stocks To Buy For 2014

AP TORONTO -- BlackBerry (BBRY) said Friday that it will lay off 4,500 employees, or 40 percent of its global workforce, as it reports a nearly $1 billion second-quarter loss a week earlier than expected. The stock dropped 23 percent to $8.11 after reopening for trading. Shares had been halted earlier pending the news. BlackBerry had been scheduled to release earnings next week. But the Canadian company said late Friday afternoon that it expects to post a staggering loss of $950 million to $995 million for the quarter, including a massive write down of the value of its inventory due to increasing competition. Revenue of $1.6 billion is only about half of the $3 billion that analysts expected, according to FactSet. The company's expected adjusted loss of 47 cents to 51 cents per share falls far below the loss of 16 cents per share projected by Wall Street. BlackBerry said it wants to slash operating costs in half by the first quarter of 2015 so cutting its global headcount to 7,000 total employees is necessary. "We are implementing the difficult, but necessary operational changes announced today to address our position in a maturing and more competitive industry, and to drive the company toward profitability," Thorsten Heins, President and CEO of BlackBerry, said in a statement. The BlackBerry, pioneered in 1999, was the dominant smartphone for on-the-go business people and other customers before Apple debuted the iPhone in 2007. Since then, BlackBerry Ltd. has been hammered by competition from the iPhone as well as Android-based rivals like Samsung. In January, the company unveiled new phones running a revamped operating system called BlackBerry 10. The Z10 and Q10 were designed to better compete for customers and rejuvenate the brand. But vendor marketing was uneven and BlackBerry's market share continues to lag its rivals. BlackBerry said last month that it would consider selling itself. The Waterloo, Ontario-based company reiterated Friday that a special committee of its board of directors continues to evaluate all options. It also seemed to say that it would shift its focus back to competing mainly for the business customers most loyal to its brand. "Going forward, we plan to refocus our offering on our end-to-end solution of hardware, software and services for enterprises and the productive, professional end user," said Heins. "This puts us squarely on target with the customers that helped build BlackBerry into the leading brand today for enterprise security, manageability and reliability."

10 Best Canadian Stocks To Buy For 2014: Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc.(POT)

Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc. produces and sells fertilizers and related industrial and feed products primarily in the United States and Canada. The company mines and produces potash, which is used as fertilizer. It also offers solid and liquid phosphate fertilizers; animal feed supplements; and industrial acids that are used in food products and industrial processes. In addition, the company produces nitrogen fertilizers, as well as nitrogen feed and industrial products, including ammonia, urea, nitrogen solutions, ammonium nitrate, and nitric acid. Further, it holds the right to mine 785,759 acres of land in Saskatchewan; and 58,263 acres of land in New Brunswick in Canada. The company sells its fertilizers primarily to retailers, dealers, co-operatives, distributors, and other fertilizer producers; industrial products primarily to chemical product manufacturers; and purified phosphoric acid directly to consumers of the product. Potash Corporation was founded i n 1953 and is based in Saskatoon, Canada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sean Williams]

  Working against the entire industry have been weaker commodity prices, which have sacked fertilizer prices across the board. Potash producers such as PotashCorp (NYSE: POT  ) and Agrium have seen prices per ton sink from more than $455 last year to just $390 as of the end of March. Things are even worse, though, for nitrogen-based fertilizer producers in terms of the price drop they've witnessed. Last spring, liquid UAN had been going for $450 a ton and was down to $350 a ton to start the year. The drop was even more noticeable for dry urea nitrogen, which tumbled from as high as $750 a ton to $440 a ton.�

• [By Neha Chamaria]

  Which companies are in danger?
  Members of Canpotex --�PotashCorp (NYSE: POT  ) , Mosaic (NYSE: MOS  ) , and Agrium (NYSE: AGU  ) �-- are the worst hit when India slows down potash purchases, since Canpotex controls all potash exports out of Saskatchewan, Canada. Similarly, marketing association, PhosChem handles phosphate exports from the U.S., so its two members, PotashCorp and Mosaic, bear the brunt of lower sales in that regard, too.

10 Best Canadian Stocks To Buy For 2014: Progressive Waste Solutions Ltd. (BIN)

Progressive Waste Solutions Ltd. operates as a vertically integrated non-hazardous solid waste management company in North America. It operates through three segments: Canada, the U.S. south, and the U.S. northeast. The company provides waste collection, transfer, recycling, and disposal services to commercial, industrial, municipal, and residential customers in 13 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and 6 Canadian provinces. It also owns and operates a power generating plant fuelled by landfill gas; and generates and sells methane gas. The company was formerly known as IESI-BFC Ltd. and changed its name to Progressive Waste Solutions Ltd. in May 2011. Progressive Waste Solutions Ltd. was founded in 2001 and is based in Vaughan, Canada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sean Williams]

  Keep in mind, though, this is a sectorwide problem, not just one affecting Waste Management. Canada's Progressive Waste Solutions (NYSE: BIN  ) delivered an 11% increase in first-quarter revenue but succumbed to a decrease of 0.5% in recycling revenue because of lower realized metal prices. �

Best Small Cap Stocks To Watch For 2014: Suntech Power Holdings Co. LTD.(STP)

Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd., a solar energy company, engages in the design, development, manufacture, and marketing of photovoltaic (PV) products. The company also provides engineering, procurement, and construction services to building solar power systems for certain related party and third party customers. Its products include monocrystalline and multicrystalline silicon PV cells; PV modules; and building-integrated photovoltaics products. In addition, the company provides PV system integration services, including designing, installing, and testing PV systems used in lighting for outdoor urban public facilities, as well as in farms, villages, and commercial buildings; and project development services. Its products are used to provide electric power for residential, commercial, industrial, and public utility applications. The company sells its products through value-added resellers, such as distributors and system integrators; and to end users, such as project develo pers primarily in Germany, Italy, Spain, France, Benelux, Greece, the United States, Canada, China, the Middle East, Australia, and Japan. Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. is headquartered in Wuxi, the People?s Republic of China.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Travis Hoium]

  What: After a two-day run-up in solar stocks, the party ended quickly, and every stock in the industry is dropping like a rock. Suntech Power (NYSE: STP  ) led the declines by falling 23%, and LDK Solar (NYSE: LDK  ) , Yingli Green Energy (NYSE: YGE  ) , and JA Solar (NASDAQ: JASO  ) all dropped at least 15%.

10 Best Canadian Stocks To Buy For 2014: Mad Catz Interactive Inc(MCZ)

Mad Catz Interactive, Inc. designs, manufactures, markets, sells, and distributes accessories for videogame platforms and personal computers (PC), as well as for iPod and other audio devices. Its products include videogame, PC, and audio accessories, such as control pads, video cables, steering wheels, joysticks, memory cards, light guns, flight sticks, dance pads, microphones, car adapters, carry cases, mice, keyboards, and headsets. It markets its products primarily under the Mad Catz, Saitek, Cyborg, Eclipse, Joytech, GameShark, Tritton, and AirDrives brands. The company also develops flight simulation software; operates flight simulation centers under its Saitek brand; operates a videogame content Website under its GameShark brand; publishes games under its Mad Catz brand; and distributes games and videogame products for third parties. It distributes its products through retailers in the United States, Europe, and Canada, as well as in Australia, Japan, Korea, New Zeal and, and Singapore. The company was founded in 1989 and is headquartered in San Diego, California

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Bryan Murphy]

  If the name Mad Catz Interactive, Inc. (NYSEMKT:MCZ) rings a bell, it might be because yours truly penned some bullish thoughts on the video-gaming hardware (joysticks, control pads, headsets, etc.) back on August 20th. Neither MCZ nor my write-up were received as anything partially special at the time - it was just another stock dissected by just another guy, and you may or may not have given it a second thought. The 37% rally in the meantime, however, may garner a little more attention.

10 Best Canadian Stocks To Buy For 2014: Cameco Corporation(CCJ)

Cameco Corporation operates as a uranium producer, supplier of conversion services, and fuel manufacturer. The company?s Uranium segment is involved in the exploration for, mining, milling, purchase, and sale of uranium concentrate. Its operating uranium properties include the McArthur River and Key Lake, and Rabbit Lake located in Saskatchewan, Canada; the Crow Butte located in Nebraska and the Smith Ranch-Highland located in Wyoming; and the Inkai uranium deposit located in Kazakhstan. Cameco Corporation?s Fuel Services segment engages in the refining, conversion, and fabrication of uranium concentrate; and the purchase and sale of conversion services. Its products include uranium trioxide, uranium hexafluoride, and uranium dioxide. This segment also manufactures fuel bundles, reactor components, and monitoring equipment to Candu reactors; and provides nuclear fuel and consulting services to Candu operators. The company?s Electricity segment engages in the generation and sale of nuclear electricity, through its 31.6% interest in Bruce Power L.P. This segment operates four nuclear reactors at the Bruce B generating station in southern Ontario, Canada. The company was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in Saskatoon, Canada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Selena Maranjian]

  Among holdings in which GMT Capital increased its stake was Canada-based uranium specialist Cameco (NYSE: CCJ  ) . The company's business is expected to improve as gas and coal prices eventually rise, and also due to new nuclear plants being built. My colleague Sean Williams likes Cameco's transparency, expects higher uranium prices, and notes that China is also expected to demand more uranium over time. Some see the stock having a fair chance to appreciate substantially.

• [By The Energy Report]

  JH: There are several companies that are in production that we follow in the U.S., such as Cameco Corp. (CCJ). Cameco produces at the Smith Ranch-Highland in the Powder River Basin. There's Uranium One, also in the Powder River Basin. There's Uranium Energy Corp. (UEC). A few near-term producers are rapidly coming online. Ur-Energy Inc. (URG) is one company we like in Wyoming.

• [By Brian Pacampara]

  Based on the aggregated intelligence of 180,000-plus investors participating in Motley Fool CAPS, the Fool's free investing community, uranium producer Cameco (NYSE: CCJ  ) has earned a respected four-star ranking.

• [By The Energy Report]

  DS: Two of our top picks are Cameco Corp. (CCJ) and Ur-Energy Inc. (URG). For Cameco, we've got a $25/share target and an outperform rating. This company is the industry's go-to, the blue chip uranium company. It's organically growing very low-cost operations, which are for the most part in very safe jurisdictions. It has a lower-risk approach to contracts, with a targeted pricing mix of about 40% fixed-pricing and 60% market-related pricing in the contract book. The company's got a solid balance sheet. We think it's going to end Q3/13 with about $800M in working capital and another $2 billion [$2B] in undrawn lines of credit. It's also diversified across the nuclear fuel chain, with exposure not only to its core uranium mining business but also with nuclear fuel services, like conversion and fuel fabrication. It's got a stake in the Bruce nuclear power plant as well as a newly bolted-on uranium trading business, so it's quite diversified. On top of that, Cameco pays a 2% dividend. We think it offers a very attractive risk/reward proposition at these levels.

10 Best Canadian Stocks To Buy For 2014: Comstock Resources Inc. (CRK)

Comstock Resources, Inc., an independent energy company, engages in the acquisition, development, exploration, and production of oil and natural gas properties in the United States. The company�s oil and gas operations are primarily located in East Texas/North Louisiana and South Texas. It owns interests in approximately 1,570 producing oil and natural gas wells. As of December 31, 2012, the company had proved reserves of 551 billion cubic feet of natural gas equivalent. Comstock Resources, Inc. was founded in 1919 and is headquartered in Frisco, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Value Digger]

  It is clear that these key metrics match the metrics of a heavily natural gas weighted company that also carries significant debt. To prove this, let's check out Comstock Resources (CRK). Comstock sold some assets recently to Rosetta Resources (ROSE) to reduce its long term debt which still remains high though.

10 Best Canadian Stocks To Buy For 2014: 3M Company(MMM)

3M Company, together with subsidiaries, operates as a diversified technology company worldwide. The company?s Industrial and Transportation segment offers tapes, coated and non-woven abrasives, adhesives, specialty materials, filtration products, energy control products, closure systems for personal hygiene products, acoustic systems products, and components and products that are used in the manufacture, repair, and maintenance of automotive, marine, aircraft, and specialty vehicles. Its Health Care segment provides medical and surgical supplies, skin health and infection prevention products, inhalation and transdermal drug delivery systems, dental and orthodontic products, health information systems, and food safety products. The company?s Display and Graphics offers optical film solutions for LCD electronic displays; computer screen filters; reflective sheeting for transportation safety; commercial graphics sheeting and systems; and mobile interactive solutions, includin g mobile display technology, visual systems products, and computer privacy filters. The company?s Consumer and Office segment provides office supply products, stationery products, construction and home improvement products, home care products, protective material products, certain consumer retail personal safety products, and consumer health care products. Its Safety, Security and Protection Services segment offers personal protection products, safety and security products, cleaning and protection products for commercial establishments, track and trace solutions, and roofing granules for asphalt shingles. The company?s Electro and Communications segment provides packaging and interconnection devices; fluids that are used in the manufacture of computer chips, and for cooling electronics and lubricating computer hard disk drives; high-temperature and display tapes; insulating materials, including tapes and resins; and related items. The company was founded in 1902 and is based in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By WALLSTCHEATSHEET.COM]

  3M provides technology solutions and services to companies participating in a multitude of industries worldwide. The stock is seeing an explosive move higher which has taken it to all-time high prices. Earnings and revenue figures have been increasing over most of the last four quarters, producing mixed feelings among investors. Relative to its peers and sector, 3M has been a year-to-date performance leader. Look for 3M to OUTPERFORM.

• [By Dividends4Life]

  Linked here is a detailed quantitative analysis of 3M Company (MMM). Below are some highlights from the above linked analysis:

  Company Description: 3M Co. is a diversified global company provides enhanced product functionality in electronics, health care, industrial, consumer, office, telecommunications, safety & security and other markets via coatings, sealants, adhesives, and other chemical additives.

10 Best Canadian Stocks To Buy For 2014: Potomac Electric Power Company(POM)

Pepco Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the transmission, distribution, and supply of electricity. The company also distributes and supplies natural gas. It distributes electricity to approximately 1.8 million customers in the mid-Atlantic region and delivers natural gas to approximately 123,000 customers in Delaware. In addition, the company involves in the retail supply of electricity and natural gas; provision of energy efficiency services to federal, state, and local government customers; and designs, constructs, and operates combined heat and power and central energy plants, as well as owns and operates two oil-fired generation facilities. Further, it offers high voltage electric construction and maintenance services, low voltage electric construction and maintenance services, and streetlight construction and asset management services to utilities, municipalities, and other customers in the Washington, District of Columbia. Additionally, the company holds investments in eight cross-border energy leases. Pepco Holdings, Inc. was founded in 1896 and is based in Washington, District of Columbia.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sean Williams]

  Powering up
  It's pretty rare for stocks in the electric utility sector to see a prolonged dip given that electricity is a necessity product, but that's what we've seen from Mid-Atlantic electric utility provider Pepco Holdings (NYSE: POM  ) .

• [By Sally Jones]

  
  Highlight: Pepco Holdings Inc. (POM)

  The POM share price is currently $18.17 or 20.0% off the 52-week high of $22.72. Its yield is 5.90%.

10 Best Canadian Stocks To Buy For 2014: Canadian Pacific Railway Limited(CP)

Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, through its subsidiaries, operates as a transcontinental railway providing freight transportation services, logistics solutions, and supply chain expertise in Canada and the United States. It transports bulk commodities, including grain, coal, sulphur, and fertilizers; merchandise freight; finished vehicles and automotive parts; forest products, which include wood pulp, paper, paperboard, newsprint, lumber, panel, and oriented strand board; and industrial and consumer products comprising chemicals, energy, and plastics, as well as mine, metals, and aggregates. The company provides rail and intermodal transportation services over a network of approximately 14,700 miles serving the principal business centers of Canada, from Montreal to Vancouver, British Columbia; and the Midwest and Northeast regions of the United States. Canadian Pacific Railway Limited was founded in 1881 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jon C. Ogg]

  Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. (NYSE: CP) was upgraded to Outperform from Neutral and the price target was raised to $144 from $139 at Credit Suisse.

• [By Arjun Sreekumar]

  Not surprisingly, Union Pacific (NYSE: UNP  ) , one of largest rail companies in the U.S., tripled the amount of crude oil it shipped last year, while Berkshire Hathaway's (NYSE: BRK-B  ) Burlington Northern Santa Fe, or BNSF, another rail giant, is currently moving about 650,000 barrels of crude oil per day, up from next to nothing just five years ago. And Canadian Pacific Railway (NYSE: CP  ) expects to ship some 70,000 carloads of crude this year, up from just 500 in 2009.

• [By Matt DiLallo]

  Canada's national tragedy
  Unfortunately, the year was marred by more than just close calls. Earlier this month, a runaway train loaded with oil derailed in a quaint lakeside town in Quebec. An ensuing explosion caused an estimated 1.5 million gallons of oil to catch fire, ultimately killing 47 people. Despite a previously stellar safety record, oil-by-rail has seen several spills this year, including three small spills earlier this year by Canadian Pacific (NYSE: CP  ) . Its largest accident resulted in a spill of 30,000 gallons of oil in Minnesota. However, those spills are really a drop in the bucket when compared with the devastating tragedy in Canada, which is by far the worst oil-by-rail disaster since the industry started relying on the rails because of a lack of pipeline capacity.�

• [By Matt DiLallo]

  The biggest concern here is that 2013 has been a terrible year for oil-by-rail; the recent disaster in Canada isn't the only derailment. Canadian Pacific (NYSE: CP  ) had three derailments involving oil tank cars in the first four months of this year. One of the accidents, in Minnesota, resulted in 30,000 gallons of oil being spilled. It remains to be seen if these spills will be the tipping point for the approval of additional pipeline projects.

10 Best Canadian Stocks To Buy For 2014: Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce(CM)

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce provides various financial products, services, and advice to individual, small business, commercial, corporate, and institutional clients in Canada and internationally. The company offers retail markets services comprising personal banking, business banking, and wealth management services, as well as investment management services to retail and institutional clients. It also provides wholesale banking services, including credit, capital markets, investment banking, merchant banking, and research products and services to government, institutional, corporate, and retail clients. The company provides its services through its branch network, automated bank machines, mobile banking, and online banking site. As of June 3, 2011, it operated approximately 1,100 branches and 4,000 automated bank machines in Canada. The company was founded in 1867 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Reese, Founder and CEO, Validea.com And Validea Capital Management]

  As you might imagine, the portfolio will tread into areas of the market others ignore, because of its contrarian bent. Right now, its holdings include some very unloved firms, including several financials, emerging market stocks, and much-maligned BP. Here's a look at five of the stock in our Dreman portfolio:

  Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CM)
  
  BP Plc (BP)
  
  Telecom Argentina SA (TEO)
  
  China Mobile Limited (CHL)
  
  Vale SA (VALE)
  
  

  Subscribe to Validea here��/P>

Stocks To Watch For October 1, 2013

Top 5 Dividend Stocks To Own For 2014

Some of the stocks that may grab investor focus today are:

Wall Street expects Walgreen Co (NYSE: WAG) to report its Q4 earnings at $0.72 per share on revenue of $17.95 billion. Walgreen shares gained 0.91% to $54.29 in after-hours trading.

Paychex (NASDAQ: PAYX) reported its FQ1 earnings of $0.44 per share on revenue of $607.9 million. However, analysts projected earnings of $0.43 per share on revenue of $605.1 million. Paychex shares fell 0.74% to $40.34 in the after-hours trading session.

Analysts are expecting Acuity Brands (NYSE: AYI) to have earned $$1.02 per share on revenue of $569.33 million in the fourth quarter. Acuity Brands shares rose 0.95% to close at $92.02 yesterday.

Diamond Foods (NASDAQ: DMND) posted a FQ4 loss of $147.1 million, or $6.71 per share, versus a year-ago loss of $32.9 million, or $1.52 per share. Its revenue dropped 11% to $199.8 million from $224 million. Excluding one-time items, it earned $0.09 per share. However, analysts expected the company to break even on revenue of $194 million. Diamond Foods shares tumbled 7.77% to $21.72 in the after-hours trading session.

Analysts expect Actuant (NYSE: ATU) to report its Q4 earnings at $0.50 per share on revenue of $328.79 million. Actuant shares fell 0.21% to $38.76 in after-hours trading.

Posted-In: Stocks To WatchEarnings News Pre-Market Outlook Markets Trading Ideas

(c) 2013 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

Partner Network   Around the Web, We're Loving... Petition urges Wal-Mart, McDonald's to pay more Obama's Syria Waffle Huge Blow to US Credibility in Mideast Microsoft Buys Nokia Phone Unit for $7.2B - And CEO? What Should You Know About AMZN? Most Popular iPad Mini 2 Rumor Roundup The Pending U.S. Government Shutdown: What Does It Mean For You? Bargain Shopping the S&P 500 World's Favorite Game Maker to IPO UPDATE: Credit Suisse Lowers PT on Arena Pharmaceuticals Following Management Meeting JC Penney Continues To Search For A Bottom As Shares Hit 31-Year Low Related Articles (ATU + AYI) Stocks To Watch For October 1, 2013 Earnings Expectations For The Week Of September 30: Walgreen, Monsanto And More Benzinga Weekly Preview: Italian Senate To Decide Berlusconi's Fate UPDATE: Goldman Sachs Initiates Acuity Brandsat Neutral Awaiting Better Entry Point Benzinga's Top Initiations UPDATE: Stifel Nicolaus Raises PT on Actuant Following Viking SeaTech Acquisition Announcement View the discussion thread. Partner Network #marketfy-ae-block {

Michael Kors: Big Earnings Beat Good for Fossil, Bad for Coach?

Shares of Michael Kors Holdings (KORS) have gained 6.4% to $79.54 today, after reporting better than forecast earnings. That could be good news for Fossil (FOSL), but Coach (COH) could be in trouble.

Cassandra Giraldo for The Wall Street Journal

Reuters has the details on Michael Kors’ earnings:

Michael Kors’ net income jumped 49 percent to $145.8 million, or 71 cents per share, in the second quarter ended September 28 from $97.8 million, or 49 cents per share, a year earlier. Analysts on average had expected 68 cents, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Revenue rose 40 percent to $740.3 million, beating the average analyst estimate of $726 million.

Comparable-store sales in North America, the company’s largest market, rose 21 percent…

Michael Kors said it expected to earn 83-85 cents per share in the current quarter, on revenue of $845 million-$855 million. Analysts on average expect a profit of 85 cents per share on revenue of $841.2 million.

Kors’ results could be good news for Fossil, according to Citigroup’s Oliver Chen. He writes:

We are incrementally more confident in FOSL's European and North America wholesale growth given strong comments from KORS. We believe Europe watch growth continues to  outpace North America given awareness build and easier comparisons in Europe. At KORS, licensing segment experienced +65% growth on strength in luxury watches and jewelry with plans to rollout additional watch/jewelry shops in wholesale channel. KORS had 85 watch and jewelry shop-in-shops and can ultimately support 500 shop-in-shops worldwide. We remain excited by KORS jewelry, which is complementary to watches, and fashion execution remains top notch, in our view.

It’s definitely not good for Coach, however. Chen writes:

Hot High Tech Companies To Own In Right Now

…we believe KORS is seizing opportunities where competitors are weaker much like it has done successfully in the dept store channel. (2) KORS is already looking to innovate in watches version 2.0 whereas COH has just relaunched this product to compete on a level playing field with current offerings: we est. watches are 15-25% of mix at KORS vs. less than 5% at COH. (3) KORS is seeing +DD traffic and +SD conversion with ticket staying flat which is outpacing flat to negative traffic concerns at COH and increased promotional factors; our call is that this sequential momentum will continue.

Shares of Fossil have gained 1.3% to $131.92 today, while Coach has gained 1.5% to $51.81.

Broadcom Boosts NFC-Enabled Printers - Analyst Blog

Leading semiconductor solutions provider Broadcom Corp (BRCM) recently announced that its Near Field Communication (NFC) and Wi-Fi technology will be integrated into Brother Industries' multi-function printers.

Broadcom's low power-consuming BCM20792 NFC controller offers wireless connectivity and flexible solutions and will provide flawless printing experience by pairing NFC and Wi-Fi-enabled multi-function printers.

The NFC-compliant printers deliver tap-to-print and tap-to-scan capabilities for its users. Consumers can tap their NFC and Wi-Fi-enabled smart devices to the printer and utilize WLAN transmission to print documents. Broadcom is uniquely positioned to lead the NFC market with its vast intellectual property (IP) portfolio and expertise in developing standard-based integrated solutions.

The high-performance and highly-integrated NFC solutions, including Wi-Fi, are enjoying increasing demand. The NFC solutions also offer the scope for the next generation wireless innovation.

Broadcom is well placed in the fast-growing wired and wireless communications markets with cutting-edge solutions for a growing number of connected users, who are demanding more content and bandwidth.

Based in Irvine, Calif., Broadcom is engaged in designing and marketing semiconductor components of network voice, video, and data traffic for various applications. The company continues to drive innovation and engineering excellence across a broad range of communication end markets to help its customers enhance device performance and overall efficiency.

Broadcom currently has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). Other stocks that look promising and are worth a look in the industry include Marvell Technology Group Ltd (MRVL), TriQuint Semiconductor, Inc. (TQNT) and PMC-Sierra Inc (PMCS), each carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy)

Coke's Earnings Disappoint and the Dow Dips

Earnings season has dealt its first blow to the Dow Jones Industrial Average's (DJINDICES: ^DJI  ) blue-chip stocks today: Coca-Cola's (NYSE: KO  ) disappointing results have sent its stock into the red. The index has fallen about 35 points as of 2:25 p.m. EDT, and while few Dow stocks are moving much, only a handful of stocks are in the green. Coke's getting the news, but it's not the only story on tap as we make our way into earnings season. Let's catch up on the movers and stories you need to know.

All eyes on Coke
Coca-Cola's shares have led the way down today, falling 1.6%. The firm's $0.63 adjusted earnings per share matched up with analyst projections for the previous quarter, but revenue at the beverage maker declined slightly year over year to $12.75 billion, missing analyst expectations of $12.95 billion. Worse for Coke's future, volume in North America fell by 1%, including a 4% drop in soda volume, even as the company's worldwide volume picked up by 1% for the quarter.

Top 5 Penny Companies To Own In Right Now

It's not an entirely unexpected problem: Americans are simply drinking less soda as the public grows increasingly concerned about widespread obesity and other health problems. If Coca-Cola wants to improve in the region, it will have to cater to changing tastes with healthier options. The good news is that Coke is still succeeding and growing overseas, so the slight dip in the North American market isn't a major cause for concern just yet. Coca-Cola also cited poor economic conditions as part of the reason its earnings didn't exceed expectations, so the company may turn around its results in the U.S. as the economy picked up steam.

Coke's not the only Dow stock delivering earnings this week. Intel (NASDAQ: INTC  ) , which reports its results tomorrow, is getting a pre-release bounce today. Shares of the chip maker have been bid up 1.3%, even though many observers remain uncertain of how the PC market's decline will affect the company's results. Intel predicted a small rise in 2013 sales back in April, and the company says its rising sales of chips for servers will offset potential PC-related losses.

Still, Intel's expectations for this quarter aren't optimistic. The company projects sales to slump 4.5% year over year, and analysts project earnings of just $0.39 per share -- more than a 30% drop from last year's second-quarter result.

Finally, fellow Dow component Merck's (NYSE: MRK  ) shares have fallen 0.9% after the FDA advisory committee canceled a meeting scheduled this week that would have reviewed Merck's surgical drug sugammadex. The FDA already rejected the drug once back in 2008, and the committee's asking for more time to look over the drug before coming to conclusions. No big pharma investor likes delays in the long, drawn-out developmental and regulatory process that is bringing new drugs to market, but this isn't a killer for Merck. Although the firm needs all the new drugs it can get today as the patent cliff hammers its sales, analysts only expect peak sales of about $663 million for the drug by 2018, according to Reuters.

Obamacare will undoubtedly have far-reaching effects in health-care-related industries. The Motley Fool's new free report, "Everything You Need to Know About Obamacare," lets you know how your health insurance, your taxes, and your portfolio could be impacted. Click here to read more.

Investors cheer Twitter's glitch-free IPO

  NYSE CEO on Twitter IPO and Facebook NEW YORK (CNNMoney) Retail investors jumped into Twitter (TWTR) on its first day of trading. It looks like many were thankful that Twitter avoided the snafus that marred Facebook's (FB, Fortune 500) opening day of trading last year.

The relatively calm and glitch-free debut for Twitter has helped the stock enjoy a solid run up Thursday. Shares soared more than 70% above their $26 initial public offering price. Facebook's stock barely managed to eke out a gain on its first (and tumultuous) day of trading in May 2012.

"The screw up in Facebook clearly changed investors' behavior that day," said TD Ameritrade's chief strategist J.J. Kinahan.

That didn't happen today. Twitter's launch on the New York Stock Exchange was much smoother than Facebook's rocky beginnings on the Nasdaq.

And Kinahan said that's one reason why retail investors have been steadily buying Twitter since shares started trading

The interest from average investors is a bit of a surprise. Many experts thought that individuals would shun Twitter -- partly because of Facebook's high-profile problems last year. Many individuals complained that offers they made for Facebook were never executed.

But Adil Najam, a professor of international relations at Boston University, decided to make a run at Twitter, investing a "small amount." Najam said he's only a casual investor, and Twitter is just the second company he's ever bought on the first day of trading. The first was Facebook.

"People are talking about this IPO all over the world," said Najam. "There's just this sense of excitement that's been building up. I use Twitter so I decided to put my money where my mouth is."

Brian Moore, a 27 year old sales manager for a Philadelphia, Pa. tech company, made his first ever IPO investment in Twitter's stock Thursday morning, buying up 16 shares at $45.39.

"This is definitely a long-term investment," said Moore. "I don't have a price in mind to sell at. Even if it goes up to $70 today, I'm not touching it."

By early afternoon, TD Ameritrade (AMTD) said roughly 5% of its daily trading volume came from Twitter.

That's much lower than the volume during Facebook's IPO. Even with the glitches, roughly 22% of TD Ameritrade's volume came from trading in Facebook stock when it debuted on May 18, 2012.

But the volume for Twitter was in line with other hot IPOs of the past few years such as General Motors (GM, Fortune 500) after it emerged from bankruptcy.

Kinahan said TD Ameritrade's customers received roughly the same allocation to Twitter as they did to Facebook during its IPO.

But there's much less angst among Twitter's investors than there was with Facebook's last year.

CNNMoney's Hibah Yousuf contributed to this story.

5 Stocks Under $10 in Breakout Territory

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

>>5 Breakout Trades Under $10

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

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

>>5 Stocks With Big Insider Buying

With that in mind, let's take a closer look at a several stocks under $10 that are making large moves to the upside today.

Cenveo

Cenveo (CVO) provides an array of print and related solutions in the areas of envelops, custom labels, specialty packaging and business documents, among others. This stock closed up 4.6% to $3.16 a share in Thursday's trading session.

Thursday's Range: $2.87-$3.16

52-Week Range: $1.85-$3.22

Thursday's Volume: 3.70 million

Three-Month Average Volume: 634,385

From a technical perspective, CVO spiked sharply higher here right off its 50-day moving average of $2.95 with heavy upside volume. This stock has been uptrending for the last month and change, with shares moving higher from its low of $2.69 to its recent high of $3.22. During that uptrend, shares of CVO have been consistently making higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. That move has now pushed shares of CVO within range of triggering a big breakout trade. That trade will hit if CVO manages to take out some near-term overhead resistance at $3.20 to its 52-week high at $3.22 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in CVO as long as it's trending above Thursday's low of $2.87 or above more support at $2.80 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 634,385 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then CVO will set up to enter new 52-week-high territory, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that move are $3.50 to $4.

Arca Biopharma

Arca Biopharma (ABIO) is a biopharmaceutical company developing genetically targeted therapies for cardiovascular diseases. This stock closed up 14.2% to $1.60 in Thursday's trading session.

Thursday's Range: $1.40-$1.60

52-Week Range: $1.13-$5.94

Thursday's Volume: 3.27 million

Three-Month Average Volume: 669,132

From a technical perspective, ABIO exploded higher here back above its 50-day moving average of $1.47 with monster upside volume. This move is quickly pushing shares of ABIO within range of triggering a major breakout trade. That trade will hit if ABIO manages to take out some near-term overhead resistance levels at $1.63 to $1.70, and then once it takes out more resistance at $1.76 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in ABIO as long as it's trending above its 50-day at $1.47 or above more support at $1.30 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 669,132 shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then ABIO will set up to re-fill some of its previous gap down zone from May that started near $2.80 a share.

Accretive Health

Accretive Health (AH) is a provider of services to the health care providers. This stock closed up 1.6% to $8.69 in Thursday's trading session.

Thursday's Range: $8.54-$8.81

52-Week Range: $8.03-$13.54

Thursday's Volume: 809,000

Three-Month Average Volume: 335,380

From a technical perspective, shares of AH spiked modestly higher here with above-average volume. This stock has been downtrending badly for the last six months, with shares sliding lower from over $11 to its recent low of $8.03. During that downtrend, shares of AH have been consistently making lower highs and lower lows, which is bearish technical price action. That said, shares of AH have now started to rebound off that $8.03 low and it's quickly moving within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade. That trade will hit if AH manages to take out some near-term overhead resistance levels at its 50-day moving average of $8.93 to more resistance at $9.06 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in AH as long as it's trending above that recent low of $8.03 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 335,380 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then AH will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $10.06 to $10.20, or even $11.

ENGlobal

ENGlobal (ENG) is a provider of engineering and other professional project services related to design, fabrication, procurement, maintenance, environmental and other governmental compliance and construction management. This stock closed up 5.3% to $1.37 in Thursday's trading session.

Thursday's Range: $1.32-$1.38

52-Week Range: $0.30-$1.54

Thursday's Volume: 50,000

Three-Month Average Volume: 50,134

From a technical perspective, ENG ripped higher here and broke out above some near-term overhead resistance at $1.35 with decent upside volume. This move is quickly pushing shares of ENG within range of triggering another big breakout trade. That trade will hit if ENG manages to take out Thursday's high of $1.38 to its 52-week high at $1.54 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in ENG as long as it's trending above some near-term support at $1.20 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 50,134 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then ENG will set up to enter new 52-week-high territory, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that breakout are its next major overhead resistance levels at $1.76 to $2, or even $2.20.

Two Harbors Investment

Two Harbors Investment (TWO) is a Maryland corporation formed to invest primarily in residential mortgage-backed securities. This stock closed up 1.8% to $9.64 in Thursday's trading session.

Thursday's Range: $9.49-$9.65

52-Week Range: $8.95-$13.05

Thursday's Volume: 5.50 million

Three-Month Average Volume: 4.96 million

From a technical perspective, TWO trended modestly higher here back above its 50-day moving average of $9.52 with above-average volume. This move is starting to push shares of TWO within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade. That trade will hit if TWO manages to take out some near-term overhead resistance levels at $9.89 to $9.94, and then once it takes out its 200-day at $10.29 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in TWO as long as it's trending above support at $9.15 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 4.96 million shares. If that breakout hits soon, then TWO will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $11.50 to $12.

Hot High Tech Companies To Watch In Right Now

To see more stocks that are making notable moves higher today, check out the Stocks Under $10 Moving Higher portfolio on Stockpickr.

-- Written by Roberto Pedone in Delafield, Wis.

RELATED LINKS:

>>Buy These 5 REITs to Cash In This Year

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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.

Tennant Misses on the Top and Bottom Lines

Tennant (NYSE: TNC  ) reported earnings on April 22. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended March 31 (Q1), Tennant missed estimates on revenues and missed estimates on earnings per share.

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue contracted. Non-GAAP earnings per share expanded. GAAP earnings per share dropped.

Margins dropped across the board.

Revenue details
Tennant tallied revenue of $168.1 million. The four analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ looked for sales of $174.7 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were the same as the prior-year quarter's.

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

EPS details
EPS came in at $0.29. The four earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated $0.36 per share. Non-GAAP EPS of $0.29 for Q1 were 3.6% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.28 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.27 for Q1 were 3.6% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.28 per share.

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

Margin details
For the quarter, gross margin was 43.1%, 30 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 4.1%, 70 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 3.0%, 10 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $200.6 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.75.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $760.4 million. The average EPS estimate is $2.39.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 139 members out of 148 rating the stock outperform, and nine members rating it underperform. Among 41 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 40 give Tennant a green thumbs-up, and one give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Tennant is outperform, with an average price target of $51.67.

Looking for alternatives to Tennant? It takes more than great companies to build a fortune for the future. Learn the basic financial habits of millionaires next door and get focused stock ideas in our free report, "3 Stocks That Will Help You Retire Rich." Click here for instant access to this free report.

Add Tennant to My Watchlist.

The Five Best Bond Funds for 2014

Bond prices rose and yields fell almost without interruption for 30 years before 2013. With the benchmark ten-year Treasury bond paying just 2.9%, yields are still low by historical standards. Since 1962, the ten-year Treasury has yielded 6.3%, on average. So even a small improvement in the global economy should push yields higher in 2014, especially once the Federal Reserve starts paring back its aggressive bond-buying program in January.

See Also: Best Stock Funds for 2014

With bonds facing these headwinds, I think investors should keep interest-rate sensitivity relatively low in the fixed-income portion of their portfolios. That means avoiding long-term bond funds and even many high-quality intermediate-term funds. I'd rather take my risks in 2014 owning funds that invest in bonds with lower credit quality.

But keep in mind that if the economy were to slide into recession in 2014, which I view as unlikely, not only would your stock funds be hammered, your lower-quality bond funds would take hits, too. High-quality bonds, by contrast, usually perform well when the economy tanks.

Here are my five favorite funds for 2014, listed in order from lowest to highest risk.

FPA New Income (symbol FPNIX) won't make you rich, but neither will it send you to the poorhouse—even if rates shoot up. The fund's primary objective is to avoid losses over any 12-month period, and it has met that goal since FPA took over management of the fund in 1984. Year to date, New Income has returned 0.8%. (All returns and yields are as of December 17.)

New Income yields 3.2%, and the short-term nature of its holdings will minimize the damage if rates rise. The fund should lose about 2% if rates rise by one percentage point. I don't think you'll find another fund that takes as little risk and pays as generous a yield. Almost 80% of the fund is in bonds rated single-A and higher. The fund's average credit quality is triple-B, the lowest investment-grade rating. More than half the fund's assets are in U.S. government-backed securities. "We're belt-and-suspenders investors," says Tom Atteberry, who has co-managed the fund since 2004. The fund does have a chunk of its assets in lower-quality, non-government-backed commercial mortgages and asset-backed securities. Annual expenses are 0.58%.

Metropolitan West Unconstrained Bond (MWCRX) employs a proven strategy—with one major twist. The fund's three co-managers have also piloted the $25 billion Metropolitan West Total Return (MWTRX), an intermediate-term bond fund, since 1997. Total Return is currently invested in a stew of mortgage securities, corporate bonds, asset-backed securities and emerging-markets bonds. All but 15% of the fund's assets are rated investment grade. It returned an annualized 6.5% over the past ten years—an average of 1.9 percentage points more per year than Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond index.

The main difference between Unconstrained and Total Return is that the former can short Treasury bonds—that is, bet on Treasuries to decline in price. Unconstrained's current short positions sharply cut the fund's exposure to rising interest rates. The fund would lose only 1.4% in price if yields were to rise one percentage point.

Aside from betting against Treasuries, Unconstrained's holdings are similar to Total Return's. But if the managers are right, Unconstrained will avoid the pain of rising rates. The fund yields 2.1% and charges 0.99% in annual fees.

So far, returns have been excellent. Since Unconstrained's inception in late 2011, the fund has returned an annualized 12.1%—an average of 10.5 percentage points per year more than the Barclays Aggregate index. Another plus: The fund is relatively undiscovered. Assets are a mere $624 million.

Loomis Sayles Bond (LSBRX) has been one of the friskier bond funds since Dan Fuss launched it in 1991. Over the past ten years, the fund returned an annualized 7.8%—an average of 3.2 percentage points per year better than the Barclays Aggregate index. However, that stellar long-term record includes a 22.1% drop in 2008, when Barclays Aggregate gained 5.2%.

Fuss—the fund's lead manager—and two co-managers believe the yield on ten-year Treasuries will rise to 4.5% to 5% in the next three to five years. "Long-term, high-quality bonds are one of the riskiest investments you can make," says co-manager Elaine Stokes. That's because the better a bond's quality, the lower its yield and the more sensitive it is to changes in interest rates.

Accordingly, the Loomis managers are avoiding high-quality bonds. Indeed, the fund has an average credit quality of just triple-B (firmly in junk bond territory). Moreover, the fund has 10% of its assets in convertible securities, which can behave like stocks. About one-third of its assets are in short-term bonds denominated in foreign currencies, mainly in Canada, New Zealand and Norway. The fund, which charges 0.92% per year, yields 3.2%.

TCW Emerging Markets Income N (TGINX) isn't for the faint of heart. Of course, the same could be said for just about all emerging-markets bond funds, which showed in 2013 that they are suitable for only a small part of a typical investor's fixed-income allocation. The group got hammered because of fears of higher interest rates in the U.S. A stronger dollar also hurt investments denominated in foreign currencies.

But in many emerging markets the worst may be over. Countries that are growing at a rapid clip and have low debt levels as a percentage of gross domestic product may well see their currencies and their bonds recover. Unlike most of its peers, which invest almost entirely in dollar-denominated bonds or entirely in bonds issued in currencies of emerging markets, the TCW fund invests in both. It also owns both government bonds and corporates. I think that flexibility will pay off over time. Indeed, over the past five years, the fund returned an annualized 16.1%, putting it in the top 4% of emerging-markets bond funds. TCW, which lost 5.2% in 2013, yields a generous 6.5%. Annual expenses are 1.1%.

Vanguard Convertible Securities (VCVSX) isn't, strictly speaking, a bond fund. It invests in convertible bonds—hybrids that are part stock and part bond. Like conventional bonds, convertibles pay some interest, though they yield less than ordinary bonds. But as their name implies, convertibles can be converted into stock at a preset price at any time.

When a convertible trades at or near a price at which conversion makes economic sense, it tends to closely track the issuer's stock. Conversely, when a convertible is far below its conversion price, it trades almost entirely as a bond would, independent of movements in the stock's price. Larry Keele, who is the Vanguard fund's lead manager, and his two co-managers generally like convertibles that trade between those two extremes.

Their fund has been a winner. Over the past ten years, it returned an annualized 7.9%—beating Standard & Poor's 500-stock index by an average of 0.7 percentage point per year. Yet it has been 20% less volatile than the S&P index.

Convertibles are risky. Almost all of them have junk ratings; this fund's average credit rating is double-B. Although Keele, who has been on the fund since 1996, and his co-managers have a terrific record of avoiding defaults, Vanguard Convertible still lost 29.8% in 2008. The S&P 500 plunged 37% that year.

You can only buy the fund directly from Vanguard. But, in my view, it's by far the best fund in its class. Expenses are just 0.52% annually, and the fund yields 2.2%.

How did my 2013 picks do? On average, the funds have returned negative 2.1% so far this year, compared with a loss of 1.6% for the Barclays Aggregate index. Pulling the average down was Pimco Emerging Local Bond D (PLBDX), which tumbled 10.2%. All of my other picks beat the index.

Steven T. Goldberg is an investment adviser in the Washington, D.C., area.

5 Cash-Rich Stocks That Could Pay Triple the Gains in 2014

BALTIMORE (Stockpickr) -- More than ever before, companies are stashing their cash. The S&P 500 alone is up to more than $1 trillion in corporate coffers, the result of record-high profits and a low-interest-rate environment that's kept investment options low.

>>5 Hated Earnings Stocks You Should Love

Don't know what to do with a trillion dollars? Put it under the mattress.

On an absolute basis, companies have never held such high levels of cash in their treasuries. And as a percentage of assets, cash has reached a level that's been unheard of since the 1970s. Around 25% of the S&P's current price is covered by cash in the bank.

But if you think that excessive cash holdings are a drag on performance right now, think again.

Over the last decade, the top tier of cash-rich stocks worldwide generated total returns of 297%. That's triple what the S&P 500 earned over the same period. Yes, cash is still king this year.

>>5 Stocks Ready to Break Out

Part of that stellar outperformance has to do with what cash enables companies to do. Capital gains are great, but historically speaking, the majority of portfolio growth comes from other sources. Dividends, share buybacks, and debt repurchases all inject value directly into your shares, and on a year-to-year basis, they also account for around 50% of annual stock performance. Only companies with cash that have the wherewithal to boost those payouts on command.

In short, cash provides options. Firms with cash can opt to increase shareholder value by paying a dividend or initiating a share buyback. Plus, they have the ability to take advantage of pricey M&A opportunities and internal investments.

>>5 Rocket Stocks Worth Buying This Week

So today, we're taking a look at five firms that fit the tight set of quantitative criteria that beat the S&P by a factor of 3.

Google

Search engine giant Google (GOOG) is the perfect example of a cash-rich company that didn't sacrifice capital gains for its cash cushion: shares of the $357 billion internet giant have rallied more than 50% since the calendar flipped over to January. Google's net cash and investment balance currently sits at $53 billion, enough to pay for around 15% of the firm's outstanding shares today.

>>The Truth About Amazon Drones

Despite products such as Chrome, Android and YouTube, Google is best-known for being the biggest internet search engine, and that's still the firm's bread and butter. Today, around 80% of sales (and an even bigger chunk of profits) come from search ads. But Google's investments in finding "the next big thing" are more than just a hobby; they're keeping consumers within the Google ecosystem, creating more ways to monetize eyeballs on content.

Google's huge cash position is interesting because the firm is one of the few cash-rich stocks that's using its money for interesting acquisitions. "Interesting" is the operative word here. Transformative acquisitions are too often destroyers of shareholder value, so Google's tuck-in buys mean that shareholders aren't getting left holding the bag.

Recent M&A moves such as robotics firm Boston Dynamics aren't going to change Google's core business overnight, but they're truly innovative firms that the Mountain View, Calif.-based company is likely to do something amazing with. Most importantly, Google can afford to experiment with new businesses as long as ad sales keep growing along the way.

Analog Devices

Semiconductor stock Analog Devices (ADI) has had a less inspiring run in 2013; the chipmaker is only up around 16% year-to-date. That's great performance during a normal year, but it's pretty weak when the S&P 500 is 25% higher during the same period.

>>3 Big Stocks on Traders' Radars

Still, with semis coming off of a cyclical low, and with a smattering of chip names like ADI holding onto serious cash positions, it may be time to take a closer look. At last count, Analog Devices carried $3.81 billion in cash on its balance sheet, good for about 25% of the firm's current market cap.

Analog Devices is the leader in the market for chips that translate between analog and digital signals, which gives them a role in everything from cell phones to cars. In total, ADI serves more than 60,000 customers worldwide, a broad customer base that exempts the firm from worrying about the fortunes or decisions of a single major customer. Since ADI's chips are just a necessary afterthought in most consumer devices, competition is relatively low -- OEMs would rather just buy them than engineer and build them. The advantages in the market come from ingenious design and from scale, and ADI has both.

New markets present big opportunities for ADI. As more and more products add electronic sensors to them, ADI is finding its way into new niches. Tailwinds in the wireless communications industry should add some extra fuel to an existing one as well. With a 2.8% dividend yield at current levels, ADI is paying cash out to shareholders slowly but surely.

Altera

Altera (ALTR) is another specialty chipmaker that's flush with cash right now. Altera is the second-largest designer of programmable logic devices, a subset of chips that can have their circuitry reprogrammed by the manufacturer's clients. While the chips are different from ADI's, the buyers aren't: Altera's customers include original equipment manufacturers of everything from communications devices to automobile components.

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Since PLDs can be reprogrammed to carry out individualized tasks, they've historically been a costlier way to add features to a device. But as costs come down and the need for fast movement at electronics makers increases, Altera is getting customers in industries it didn't before. Since newer and higher-end PLDs are particularly suited to lower production runs (their unit cost is cheaper than the huge fixed costs of purpose-built chips), the firm's historic customer base is relatively cost immune -- the chips make up a tiny portion of overall cost of goods sold.

One reason for Altera's stellar balance sheet is the fact that it doesn't manufacture the chips itself. Instead, it has penned a production deal with Intel (INTC) that gives Altera an edge over competitors who don't have access to the most advanced chip foundries in the world. At last count, ALTR's balance sheet cash position weighed in at $2.46 billion.

News Corp.

In the past, News Corp. (NWSA) has been the poster child for value-destroying acquisitions. The firm paid $580 million for Myspace in 2005, only to sell it for $35 million in 2011. Enough said. But after spinning off its entertainment unit into 21st Century Fox (FOX), the "new" News Corp. is hoping to fix its former ills with ample cash on hand. The remaining company owns Wall Street Journal parent Dow Jones (it paid too much for that too), as well as a bigger business in U.K. and Australian newspapers.

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After unloading its most well known assets, NWSA actually still owns a very attractive collection of companies. Exposure to partially-owned TV carrier Foxtel and online real estate classified provider REA Group in Australia provide nice complements to the core newspaper businesses. Education investment Amplify has some impressive growth room ahead of it, and it's in a space that's heating up very quickly in the private equity world.

News Corp. has taken a lot from its acquisition mistakes – that makes Chairman Rupert Murdoch a lot less likely to repeat them. And anyway, let's not forget that Murdoch and company are no strangers to successful M&A. Right now, NWSA holds $2.7 billion in cash and no debt -- enough to buy back more than a quarter of the firm's outstanding shares at current prices. Expect management to use it well.

Garmin

GPS giant Garmin (GRMN) takes a lot of flack from investors. After finding huge success in the personal navigation market, Garmin suddenly became an unwelcome name in investors portfolios on fears that GPS devices were becoming too commoditized. Sure enough, we've got GPS chips in everything from our phones and cameras to dog collars today – but none of that has turned off Garmin's cash-making machine.

While standalone car GPS units have become a low-margin product, Garmin has managed to add value to its technology by finding creative new ways to put GPS to work -- products such as the Garmin Approach golf watch have been smash hits and big margin contributors. Garmin's positioning in niche markets, like aviation and marine, is key to its strategy. It means that Garmin is able to pour R&D into big-ticket equipment and then transition the tech to the more margin-sensitive consumer market. The result is net profit margins that consistently reach above the 20% mark.

The fitness segment (products for runners, cyclists, and golfers) has been a big growth driver for Garmin, one where it's stood head and shoulders above rivals. And while investors questioned Garmin's fundamentals, the firm has kept packing its flawless balance sheet with cash. Right now, Garmin sports $2.8 billion in cash and investments, with zero debt. It's historically used some of that cash to fund a hefty dividend payout; at present, it amounts to a 3.87% yield.

To see these value-centric names in action, check out the Cash Rich Buys December 2013 portfolio on Stockpickr.

-- Written by Jonas Elmerraji in Baltimore.

RELATED LINKS:

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Follow Stockpickr on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.

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

Jonas Elmerraji, CMT, is a senior market analyst at Agora Financial in Baltimore and a contributor to

TheStreet. Before that, he managed a portfolio of stocks for an investment advisory returned 15% in 2008. He has been featured in Forbes , Investor's Business Daily, and on CNBC.com. Jonas holds a degree in financial economics from UMBC and the Chartered Market Technician designation.

Follow Jonas on Twitter @JonasElmerraji

Tesla Motors: 3 Things to Watch

Electric-car start-up Tesla Motors (NASDAQ: TSLA  ) is on the verge of its first profit, a huge milestone for the audacious Silicon Valley start-up. But plenty of potential pitfalls remain. In this video, Fool contributor John Rosevear outlines three things that any Tesla investor should be watching carefully and that any potential Tesla investor should take into account before buying.

Is it too late to buy Tesla?
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5 Best Growth Stocks To Invest In 2014

10 Best Financial Stocks To Watch For 2014

With shares of Lennar (NYSE:LEN) trading around $35, is the stock an OUTPERFORM, WAIT AND SEE or STAY AWAY? Let�� analyze it with the relevant sections of our Cheat Sheet investing framework:

T = Trends for a Stock’s Movement

Lennar is a home builder and a provider of financial services as well as an investor and manager of funds that invest in real estate assets. The company�� homebuilding operations include the construction and sale of single-family attached and detached homes, as well as the purchase, development, and sale of residential land directly and through unconsolidated entities in which it has investments. Lennar operates in several segments: homebuilding east, homebuilding central, homebuilding west, homebuilding Southeast Florida, homebuilding Houston, financial services, and Rialto. The homebuilder industry has seen rising demand in the past couple of years that has driven profits much higher for these companies. Look for a homebuilder recovery to continue, and companies such as Lennar to increase profits.

10 Best Financial Stocks To Watch For 2014: C.A. Bancorp Inc Com Npv (BKP.TO)

C.A. Bancorp Inc. is a private equity firm specializing in management buyouts, acquisitions, expansions, restructurings, refinancing, PIPE transactions of middle-market companies, and other alternative investment opportunities. It also participates in open market purchases, equity investments in private issuers, and privatization of public companies. The firm seeks to invest in industrials, real estate, infrastructure, and financial services. Within industrials, it seeks to invest in mature industrial companies with a focus on manufacturing, distribution, and service sectors. The firm�s investment in real estate includes industrial, commercial, healthcare, hospitality, and retail properties. Its infrastructure investment opportunities focus on power generation, transportation, and utilities. Within financial services the firm invests in Canadian and international financial services businesses, including asset managers and investment counselors. From time to time, the firm will seek to invest in Capital Pool Companies within the real estate, infrastructure, and other asset-rich areas. It seeks to invest in the private and public companies based in Canada. The firm�s public investments will focus on mid-market companies trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange. It typically invests between $0.5 million and $20 million in companies with enterprise values between $25 million and $200 million. The firm seeks to pursue investments that offer returns between 1.5 percent and three percent. It seeks a board seat in its portfolio companies. The firm exits its investments through sale to strategic buyers or financial investors, open market sales, normal course retirement of securities, refinancing, and public offerings. It was previously known as C.A. Bancorp Ltd. C.A. Bancorp Inc. is based in Ontario, Canada.

10 Best Financial Stocks To Watch For 2014: Macatawa Bank Corporation(MCBC)

Macatawa Bank Corporation operates as the holding company for Macatawa Bank that provides various commercial and personal banking services. It offers various deposit products, which comprise checking accounts, savings accounts, time deposits, transaction accounts, savings and time certificates, non-interest bearing and interest bearing demand deposits, and money market accounts. The company?s loan portfolio comprises commercial and industrial loans, commercial real estate loans, construction and development loans, and multi-family and other non-residential real estate loans; residential mortgage loans; and consumer loans, including automobile loans, home equity lines of credit, installment loans, home improvement loans, deposit account loans, and other loans for household and personal purposes. It also provides cash management services, safe deposit boxes, travelers checks, money orders, and trust services; ATMs, Internet banking, telephone banking, and debit cards; and b rokerage services, including discount brokerage, personal financial planning, and consultation regarding mutual funds. In addition, the company offers personal trust services, such as financial planning, investment management services, trust and estate administration, and custodial services; and retirement plan services, including provision of various qualified retirement plans, such as profit sharing, 401(k)s, and pension plans. It operated a network of 26 branches and a lending and operation service facility in Kent, Ottawa, and northern Allegan counties of Michigan. The company was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in Holland, Michigan.

Top Low Price Companies To Buy Right Now: IFCI Ltd (IFCI)

IFCI Limited is engaged in financing business. Its products include short-term loans for different short term requirements including bridge loan, corporate Loan etc, medium-term loans for business expansion, technology up-gradation, long-term Loans for project finance for new industrial/infrastructure projects, lease financing, takeover of accounts from Banks, financing promoters contribution and purchase of standard Assets. The Company is a Nodal Agency for monitoring of Sugar Development Fund (SDF) loans for projects related to modernization and expansion, co-generation of power and production of alcohol/ethanol in the private sector. Its corporate advisory services include corporate advisory and infrastructure services, infrastructure advisory, monitoring agency for public issues, restructuring advisory services and bid process management.

10 Best Financial Stocks To Watch For 2014: Transpac Industrial Hldgs Ltd (T55.SI)

Transpac Industrial Holdings Limited, an investment holding company, provides venture capital to companies with capital appreciation potential in Asia. It invests in the securities of growing private companies principally located in China/Hong Kong SAR, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia. The company is based in Singapore.

10 Best Financial Stocks To Watch For 2014: LPL Investment Holdings Inc.(LPLA)

LPL Investment Holdings Inc. provides an integrated platform of brokerage and investment advisory services to independent financial advisors and financial advisors at financial institutions in the United States. The company?s brokerage offerings include variable and fixed annuities, mutual funds, general securities, alternative investments, retirement and 529 education savings plans, and fixed income; and insurance offerings comprise personalized advance case design, point-of-sale service, and product support for a range of life, disability, and long-term care products. Its fee-based advisory platforms and support solutions offer access to no-load/load-waived mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, stocks, bonds, conservative option strategies, unit investment trusts and no-load, institutional money managers, and multi-manager variable annuities through five platforms, as well as third-party equity research and asset-management services, and fee-based advisory and consulting services to retirement plans. The company?s cash sweep programs consist of money market sweep vehicles and an insured bank deposit sweep vehicles. Its services also include tools and services that enable advisors to maintain their practice; and trust, investment management oversight, and custodial services for estates and families, as well as technology and open architecture investment management solutions to trust departments of financial institutions. LPL Investment Holdings Inc. provides its services to approximately 12,800 independent financial advisors from a range of firms, including wirehouses, regional and insurance broker dealers, banks, and other independent firms; and registered investment advisors, and advisors at small and mid-sized financial institutions. The company was founded in 1968 and is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts.

10 Best Financial Stocks To Watch For 2014: The Herzfeld Caribbean Basin Fund Inc. (CUBA)

Herzfeld Caribbean Basin Fund Inc. is a closed-ended equity mutual fund launched by Thomas J. Herzfeld Advisors, Inc. The fund is managed by Herzfeld/Cuba. It invests in the public equity markets of the Caribbean Basin Countries and the United States. The fund makes its investments in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors. Herzfeld Caribbean Basin Fund Inc. was formed on March 10, 1992 and is domiciled in the United States.

10 Best Financial Stocks To Watch For 2014: CMS Bancorp Inc.(CMSB)

CMS Bancorp, Inc. operates as the holding company for Community Mutual Savings Bank, which provides various banking services to individuals and small businesses primarily in Westchester County and the neighboring areas in New York State. It offers various deposit products, including savings deposits consisting of passbook and statement savings accounts; interest- and non-interest-bearing demand accounts; money market accounts; and time deposits. The company also provides loan products comprising residential, commercial real estate, and consumer loans, as well as multi-family, non-residential, construction, home equity, and second mortgage loans. In addition, it invests in various assets, including securities of various government-sponsored enterprises and mortgage-backed securities. As of September 30, 2010, CMS Bancorp operated 1 corporate office in White Plains and 5 retail banking offices in Westchester County, New York. The company is headquartered in White Plains, New York.

10 Best Financial Stocks To Watch For 2014: Invesco Mortgage Capital Inc (IVR)

Invesco Mortgage Capital Inc., incorporated in June 2008, is a real estate investment trust (REIT). The Company is primarily focused on investing in, financing and managing residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities and mortgage loans, which it collectively refers to as its target assets. The Company�� target assets consist of residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS) for which the United States Government agency, such as the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae) or a federally chartered corporation, such as the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) or the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) guarantees payments of principal and interest on the securities. It refers to these securities as Agency RMBS. Its Agency RMBS investments include mortgage pass-through securities and may include collateralized mortgage obligations (CMOs). It also invests in RMBS that are not issued or guaranteed by the United States Government agency (non-Agency RMBS), commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) and residential and commercial mortgage loans.

The Company finances its Agency RMBS, non-Agency RMBS and CMBS investments through short-term borrowings structured as repurchase agreements. The Company�� manager is Invesco Advisors Inc. The Company also finances its investments in certain non-Agency RMBS, CMBS and residential and commercial mortgage loans by contributing capital to the Invesco Mortgage Recovery Feeder Fund (Invesco IMRF Fund) that invests in public-private investment funds (PPIF) managed by the Company�� manager. The Company's manager is a wholly owned subsidiary of Invesco Ltd.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Amanda Alix]

  Analysts at odds over mREITs
  Financial analysts have been busy noting the underperformance of mREITs lately, especially since the Fed dropped the QE3 taper bombshell almost two weeks ago -- immediately igniting fears of rising interest rates, which would decrease the value of the trusts' legacy assets, thus dinging book values. The pain hasn't been limited to the stocks mentioned above,� as CYS Investments (NYSE: CYS  ) , and even hybrids like Invesco (NYSE: IVR  ) , have been on a roller-coaster ride ever since.

• [By Amanda Alix]

  All mREITs are taking it on the chin
  The agency crew, led by heavy hitters Annaly Capital (NYSE: NLY  ) , American Capital Agency (NASDAQ: AGNC  ) , and Armour Residential (NYSE: ARR  ) , have all been close to hitting 52-week lows, but the blood-letting hasn't stopped there. Even hybrid mortgage REITs, which also buy some non-agency paper, have plunged, as well. Two Harbors (NYSE: TWO  ) , which enjoyed such a nice lift post-earnings about a month ago, recently sunk to new lows, and Invesco Mortgage Capital (NYSE: IVR  ) has also slipped, even after its CIO's recent show of faith, making a sizable insider purchase�of stock less than two weeks ago.

• [By Monica Wolfe]

  Invesco Mortgage Capital (IVR)

  President and CEO of Invesco Richard King reported a rather notable insider buy on Aug. 5. The CEO purchased 6,500 shares of company stock at an average price of $15.41 per share. This purchase cost King a total of $100,165. Since this buy, the share price has increased a minor 0.13%. King now holds on to at least 56,545 shares of Invesco Mortgage stock.

• [By Sean Williams]

  In contrast, non-agency mREITs often have to be more careful with their leverage since loan defaults actively impact their bottom-line profit, and rapidly rising interest rates, such as what we saw over the past few weeks, can trigger MBS and other security sales at a loss. In return for more risk, non-agency securities pay out higher yields. Take, for example, Invesco Mortgage Capital (NYSE: IVR  ) , a buyer of agency and non-agency RMBSes, which delivered what might seem like an uninspiring 1.64% net interest margin in the first quarter with a leverage ratio of 6.4. Now compare that to agency-only mREIT Annaly Capital, whose net interest margin fell 80 basis points from the year-ago period in the first quarter to just 0.91%, but with a higher leverage ratio of 6.6.

10 Best Financial Stocks To Watch For 2014: Princeton National Bancorp Inc.(PNBC)

Princeton National Bancorp, Inc. operates as the holding company for Citizens First National Bank, which provides commercial banking and trust services to individuals, businesses, and governmental bodies in Illinois. The company provides consumer services, such as demand, savings, and time deposit accounts; home mortgage loans; installment loans; and brokerage services. It also offers secured and unsecured commercial loans, including real estate loans to companies and individuals for business purposes, and to governmental units; and agricultural and agricultural real estate loans secured by crops, machinery, and real estate to finance capital improvements and farm operations, as well as acquisitions of livestock and machinery. In addition, the company offers ATM and debit cards, and Internet banking services. Further, it provides insurance and farm management services; and equity, bond, and mutual fund portfolio management services. As of December 31, 2010, it managed or a dministrated 907 trust accounts. The company operates through 21 offices in 17 in Aurora, DePue, Genoa, Hampshire, Henry, Huntley, Millbrook, Minooka, Newark, Oglesby, Peru, Plainfield, Plano, Princeton, Sandwich, Somonauk, and Spring Valley; and 25 automated teller machines. Princeton National Bancorp, Inc. was founded in 1865 and is headquartered in Princeton, Illinois.

10 Best Financial Stocks To Watch For 2014: CenterState Banks Inc.(CSFL)

CenterState Banks, Inc., a multi bank holding company, provides consumer and commercial banking services to individuals, businesses, and industries in central Florida. Its deposit products include demand interest-bearing and noninterest-bearing accounts, money market deposit accounts, time deposits, direct deposits, savings accounts, negotiable order of withdrawal accounts, and certificates of deposit. The company also offers real estate loans to individuals and businesses for the purchase, improvement of, or investment in real estate; for the construction of single-family residential and commercial units; and for the development of single-family residential building lots. In addition, it provides commercial loans to individuals and small-to-medium sized businesses for working capital, equipment purchases, and various other business purposes; and consumer loans that comprise loans to individuals for various consumer purposes, and business purpose loans payable on an instal lment basis. Further, the company offers safe deposit services, cash management, notary services, money orders, night depository, travelers? checks, cashier?s checks, domestic collections, savings bonds, bank drafts, automated teller services, drive-in tellers, banking by mail and Internet, and automated teller machine cards. Additionally, it provides mutual funds, annuities, and other products. The company also sells fixed income securities; and provides correspondent bank deposits and checking accounts, as well as safe-keeping services, bond accounting services for correspondents, and asset/liability consulting services for small to medium size financial institutions. As of July 18, 2011, it had 52 full service branch banking locations in 14 counties throughout central Florida. CenterState Banks, Inc. was founded in 1989 and is headquartered in Davenport, Florida.