Top 10 Prefered Companies To Own For 2014

If you want more evidence that the U.S. stock market is disconnected from the actual economy, you only need to look at its performance during the third-quarter earnings season.

Since earnings season began in early October, the Standard & Poor's 500 Index, Dow Jones Industrial Average, and NASDAQ Composite Index have climbed 5.7%, 5.2%, and 6.1%, respectively. The S&P has recently closed with consecutive record highs for four trading sessions and ended above the previous close on 13 of the last 17 trading sessions.

But the actual earnings results don't support this trend.

As of Oct. 25, 244 companies had reported results. In terms of revenue, 52% reported sales above the mean estimate, below the four-year average of 59%, according to FactSet's Earnings Insight. About 75% reported earnings per share above the mean estimate, only slightly above the four-year average of 73%.

Companies, however, only beat earnings per share estimates by about 0.8% on average, drastically down from the four-year average of 6.5%.

Hot Managed Healthcare Companies To Own In Right Now: USANA Health Sciences Inc.(USNA)

USANA Health Sciences, Inc. develops, manufactures, distributes, and sells nutritional and personal care products worldwide. It offers the USANA Nutritionals product line, which consists of essentials, which include vitamin and mineral supplements that provide a foundation of nutrition for various age groups; optimizers that are targeted supplements supporting needs, such as cardiovascular health, skeletal/structural health, and digestive health; and foods comprising low-glycemic meal replacement shakes, snack bars, and other related products that offer optimal macro-nutrition. Its Sense product line comprises personal care products that support healthy skin and hair. The company also offers materials and online tools, such as associate starter kit and product brochures that are designed to assist associates in building their businesses and in marketing our products. USANA Health Sciences, Inc. primarily distributes its products through a network marketing system of indepe ndent distributors. The company was founded in 1992 and is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Seth Jayson]

  USANA Health Sciences (NYSE: USNA  ) reported earnings on April 23. Here are the numbers you need to know.

  The 10-second takeaway
  For the quarter ended March 30 (Q1), USANA Health Sciences met expectations on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

• [By James E. Brumley]

  Two years and two weeks later - with a triple digit gain under my belt - I'm saying goodbye to USANA Health Sciences, Inc. (NYSE:USNA). My hypothetical portfolio of stocks that I like and want to play with as a trade in my 'sandbox' portfolio (a model portfolio I've admittedly ignored too much) added USNA back on July 8th of 2010. Now, up 119%, I'm pulling the plug on the position.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Shares of Nu Skin have gained 5.4% to $78.63, while Herblife�(HLF) has risen 1.5% to $66 and�Usana Health Sciences�(USNA) has advanced 5% to $75.53.

Top 10 Prefered Companies To Own For 2014: APM Automotive Holdings Bhd (APM)

APM Automotive Holdings Berhad is a Malaysia-based investment holding company. The Company operates in six divisions: Suspension Division, which includes products, such as leaf springs, parabolic springs, coil springs, shock absorbers, gas springs, U-bolts and metal parts; Interior & Plastics Division, which includes products, such as plastics parts, interiors, seatings for motor vehicles, buses, auditoriums and cinemas; Electrical & Heat Exchange Division, which includes products, such as air-conditioning systems, radiators, starter motors, alternators, wiper system, distributors and other electrical parts; Marketing Division, which includes trading and distribution of automotive components/parts manufactured by it for the replacement and export market; Others, which include operations related to the rental of investment properties in Malaysia, and Operations Outside Malaysia include businesses in Indonesia, Vietnam, Australia and United States. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Damian Illia]

  Since 1973 Compuware Corp (CPWR) has been providing software solutions both on-premise and through a software as a service (SaaS) model, as well as professional technical services related to mobile application developments and mainframe systems. The company reported revenues of $944.5 million in fiscal 2013, working through four segments: Performance Management (APM), Mainframe, Changepoint and Uniface. Through the APM segment Compuware provides services to maximize efficiency of web, non-web, mobile, streaming and cloud applications. Mainframe solutions are designed for organizations which require high developer productivity and enhanced service quality at lower costs, and through Changepoint it provides Professional Services Automation (PSA) and Project Portfolio Management services (PPM). Uniface, a rapid application development platform, creates renews and integrates enterprise applications. Currently, more than 7,100 companies, including many of the world's largest organizations, depend on Compuware and our new generation approach to performance management to do just that.

Top 10 Prefered Companies To Own For 2014: MicroFinancial Incorporated(MFI)

Microfinancial Incorporated, through its subsidiaries, operates as a specialized commercial finance company that provides microticket equipment leasing and rental, and other financing services in the United States. The company provides financing alternatives, and leases and rents commercial equipment to start-up and established businesses for use in their daily operations. It leases water filtration systems, food service equipment, security equipment, point-of-sale cash registers, salon equipment, health care and fitness equipment, and automotive equipment. The company primarily sources its originations through a network of independent equipment vendors, sales organizations, and other dealer-based origination networks. Microfinancial Incorporated was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in Woburn, Massachusetts.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Eric Lam]

  Alacer Gold Corp. and Iamgold Corp. rallied at least 5.9 percent as the metal traded at its highest in 11 weeks. Maple Leaf Foods Inc. (MFI) jumped 7.8 percent as it agreed to sell a unit for C$645 million ($614 million). Penn West Petroleum (PWT) Ltd. added 1.7 percent after cutting 25 percent of its workforce to reduce costs.

• [By Gerrit De Vynck]

  Maple Leaf Foods Inc. (MFI), the Canadian producer of foods from hamburgers to frozen pasta, has drawn bids for its bread unit from Grupo Bimbo SAB, Flowers Foods Inc. (FLO) and several private-equity firms, three people with knowledge of the matter said.

• [By Magic Diligence]

  One stock that has been in the official Magic Formula (MFI) screen for the past month or so has piqued my interest: Kraft (KRFT).

  The MFI screens, particularly the $50 million screen, are usually reserved for deep value stocks. Usually you find stocks in here suffering serious adverse business developments (LQDT, NSR, etc.), operate in out-of-favor industries (APOL, STRA, etc.), have volatile and difficult-to-predict future prospects (PDLI comes to mind), or are just simply cheap quantitatively (CSCO, COH, et.al.).

Top 10 Prefered Companies To Own For 2014: Key Energy Services Inc. (KEG)

Key Energy Services, Inc. operates as an onshore rig-based well servicing contractor in the United States and internationally. The company offers rig-based services, including the maintenance, workover, and recompletion of existing oil and gas wells; completion of newly-drilled wells; and plugging and abandonment of wells at the end of their lives, as well as specialty drilling services to oil and natural gas producers. It also provides fluid management services, such as vacuum truck services, fluid transportation services, and disposal services for operators, whose wells produce saltwater or other non-hydrocarbon fluids; and equipment trucks that are used to move large equipment from one well site to the next, as well as supplies frac tanks, which are used for temporary storage of fluids associated with fluid hauling operations. In addition, the company operates a fleet of hot oilers for pumping heated fluids that are used to clear soluble restrictions in a wellbore; and offers intervention services, such as coiled tubing, pumping, and nitrogen service. Further, it provides fishing services that involve recovering lost or stuck equipment in the wellbore utilizing an array of fishing tools; rental equipment comprising drill pipe, tubulars, pressure-control equipment, power swivels, and foam air units, as well as handling tools comprising Hydra-Walk pipe-handling units and services; oilfield service equipment controls, data acquisition, and digital information flow services; and drilling, project management, consulting, and reservoir engineering services. The company was formerly known as Key Energy Group, Inc. and changed its name to Key Energy Services, Inc. in December 1998. Key Energy Services, Inc. was founded in 1977 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Seth Jayson]

  Key Energy Services (NYSE: KEG  ) reported earnings on April 25. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Equities Trading DOWN
  Shares of Key Energy Services (NYSE: KEG) were down 6.51 percent to $7.32 after the company issued Q4 update.

  PBF Energy (NYSE: PBF) tumbled 5.85 percent to $28.16 after the company priced secondary offering of 15 million shares at $28 per share. Gulfport Energy (NASDAQ: GPOR) was down, falling 6 percent to $55.66 after the company reported 2013 exit rate of 27,780 barrels of oil equivalent per day. RBC Capital downgraded Gulfport Energy from Outperform to Sector Perform and cut the price target from $64.00 to $61.00.

• [By Roberto Pedone]

  Another energy player that's starting to move within range of triggering a big breakout trade is Key Energy Services (KEG), which provides well services to oil companies, foreign national oil companies and independent oil and natural gas production companies. This stock is off to a modest start in 2013, with shares up by just 7.9%.

  If you look at the chart for Key Energy Services, you'll notice that this stock has recently spiked higher back above both its 200-day moving average at $7.16 a share and its 50-day moving average of $7.28 a share. That move is quickly pushing shares of KEG within range of triggering a big breakout trade.

  Traders should now look for long-biased trades in KEG if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at $7.75 to $7.96 a share and then once it take out more resistance at $8.04 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 2.03 million shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then KEG will set up to re-test or possibly take out its 52-week high at $9.55 a share. Any high-volume move above that level will then give KEG a chance to tag its next major overhead resistance levels at $10 to $11 a share.

  Traders can look to buy KEG off any weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below some key near-term support levels at $7.14 a share or $6.83 a share. One can also buy KEG off strength once it takes out that breakout levels with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.

• [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 Key Energy Services (NYSE: KEG  ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.

Top 10 Prefered Companies To Own For 2014: Genetic Technologies Ltd (GENE)

Genetic Technologies Limited provides genetic testing services. It offers a range of DNA based genetic tests for cancer predisposition, including breast cancer, ovarian cancer, bowel cancer, and uterine cancer; neurogenetic diagnostic assays; and gene testing for gene related disorders. The company also provides forensics tests, such as presumptive and confirmatory testing, individual DNA profiling, species identification, and animal forensic testing; paternity tests, which include antenatal, deceased estate, grandparent, immigration, legal paternity, non-legal paternity, sibling, twins, and Y-Chromosome DNA testing, as well as DNA profiling; and personal DNA testing comprising sports performance and ancestry gene testing. In addition, it offers animals� tests consisting of disease testing, breed identification, coat color, and forensic DNA testing, as well as DNA clinical services; and plant tests, including genomic and Xpress sequencing services. Further, the company is involved in the out-licensing of its intellectual property relating to non-coding DNA; and research and development activities in the areas of genetics and related fields. It operates in Australia, the United States, China, Canada, and Switzerland. The company was formerly known as Duketon Goldfields N.L. and changed it name to Genetic Technologies Limited in August 2000 as a result of the change in business from mining to biotechnology. Genetic Technologies Limited is headquartered in Fitzroy, Australia

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Holly LaFon]

  Eugene (Gene) Abegg is arguably the greatest banker nobody has ever heard of. In fact, Abegg could have been cast as a crusty version of George Bailey of the Bailey Building and Loan Association in Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life.

• [By John Udovich]

  The National Cancer Institute estimates that about ten million Americans have or have had some form of cancer with the overall costs of the disease topping $126 billion annually ��meaning there is a big market for small cap cancer diagnostic stocks like Rosetta Genomics Ltd. (NASDAQ: ROSG), Genetic Technologies Limited (NASDAQ: GENE) and MetaStat Inc (OTCBB: MTST) just in the US alone without considering global cancer figures. After all, catching and doing something about cancer early on is critical to increase survival rates and bring down the cost of treatment. With that in mind, here are three small cap cancer diagnostic stocks helping to lead the fight to diagnose and stop cancer:

Top 10 Prefered Companies To Own For 2014: Franklin Street Properties Corp. (FSP)

Franklin Street Properties Corp. provides real estate and investment banking/investment services in the United States. The company�s Real Estate Operations segment involves in real estate rental operations, leasing, and secured financing of real estate for interim acquisition or other property financing, as well as provides asset management, property management, property acquisitions, dispositions, and development. As of December 31, 2008, it owned and operated a portfolio of 29 real estate properties, which include 28 office buildings and 1 industrial use property. The company�s Investment Banking/Investment Services segment involves in the structuring of real estate investments and broker/dealer services that include the organization of Sponsored real estate investment trusts (REITs), the acquisition and development of real estate on behalf of Sponsored REITs, and the raising of capital to equitize the Sponsored REITs through sale of preferred stock in private placemen ts. This segment offers investment banking/investment services primarily to institutions and high net-worth individuals. The company has elected to be taxed as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. As a REIT, it would not be subject to federal income tax, provided it distributes at least 90% of its taxable income to its shareholders. Franklin Street Properties Corp. was founded in 1981 and is headquartered in Wakefield, Massachusetts.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lawrence Meyers]

  I would consider BLE stock a somewhat risky choice, but not as crazy risky a full-on junk bond portfolio. It�� well-diversified, trades at $14 and certainly is a high-yield qualifier at roughly 7% annually.

  High-Yield Stocks: Franklin Street Properties (FSP)

  FSP Dividend Yield: 6.1%

• [By , DividendChannel.com]

  So when stocks turn up that see insider buying, and are also top ranked, investors are wise to take notice. One such company is Franklin Street Properties (FSP), which saw buying by Director John N. Burke.

Top 10 Prefered Companies To Own For 2014: Anheuser-Busch InBev (BUD)

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV, incorporated on August 2, 1977, is a brewing company. The Company produces, markets, distributes and sells a balanced portfolio of approximately 200 beer brands. These include global flagship brands Budweiser, Stella Artois and Beck��; multi-country brands, such as Leffe and Hoegaarden, and many local champions, such as Bud Light, Skol, Brahma, Quilmes, Michelob, Harbin, Sedrin, Klinskoye, Sibirskaya Korona, Chernigivske and Jupiler. The Company also produces and distributes soft drinks, particularly in Latin America. The Company operates in seven segments: North America, Latin America North, Latin America South, Western Europe, Central & Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific and Global Export & Holding Companies. On October 20, 2010, Companhia de Bebidas das Americas-AmBev (AmBev) and Cerveceria Regional S.A. closed a transaction pursuant, to which they combined their businesses in Venezuela, with Regional owning an 85% interest and AmBev owning the remaining 15% in the new company. On February 28, 2011, the Company closed a transaction with Dalian Daxue Group Co., Ltd and Kirin (China) Investment Co., Ltd to acquire a 100% equity interest in Liaoning Dalian Daxue Brewery Co., Ltd. The Company�� beer portfolio is divided into global, multi-country and local brands. Beer can be differentiated into the categories, such as premium brands; mainstream or core brands, and value, discount or sub-premium brands. The Company also has a presence in the soft drink market in Latin America through its subsidiary AmBev and in the United States through Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. (Anheuser-Busch). Soft drinks include both carbonated soft and non-carbonated soft drinks. Its soft drinks business includes both its own production and agreements with PepsiCo related to bottling and distribution. The brands that are distributed under these agreements are Pepsi, 7UP and Gatorade. AmBev has long-term agreements with PepsiCo whereby AmBev has the exclusive right to bottle, sell and distribute certain brands of PepsiCo�� portfolio of carbonated soft drinks in Brazil. In the United States, Anheuser-Busch also produces non-alcoholic malt beverage products, including O��oul�� and O��oul�� Amber, energy drinks and related products. In the United States, its indirect subsidiary, Metal Container Corporation, manufactures beverage cans at eight plants and beverage can lids at three plants for sale to its Anheuser-Busch beer operations and United States soft drink customers. Anheuser-Busch also owns a recycling business, which buys and sells used beverage containers and recycles aluminum and plastic containers; a manufacturer of crown liner materials for sale to its North American beer operations, and a glass manufacturing plant which manufactures glass bottles for use by its North American beer operations. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  The big news today wasn’t the economic data–weaker industrial production and a stronger Empire State manufacturing survey–but M&A, as SABMiller expressed interest in Heineken, and Aneheuser-Busch InBev (BUD) is thought to be pursuing SABMiller. UBS strategists�Julian Emanuel and�Omar Elangbawy�expect more takeovers thanks to the strong US dollar:

• [By Mike Deane]

  On Tuesday, Belgium-based�Anheuser Busch Inbev SA (BUD) finished its $5.8 billion purchase of Oriental Brewery, which BUD previously sold in 2009.

  Anheuser Busch Inbev sold Oriental Brewery for $1.8 billion to KKR & Co. and Affinity Equity Partners in 2009, when the company needed cash to help pay off debts incurred when purchasing Anheuser Busch in 2008 for $52 billion. BUD plans to promote Oriental Brewery outside of South Korea, and also stated that the brewery will be the official sponsor of 2014′s World Cup in Brazil.

  BUD’s chief executive, Carlos Brito, had the following to say about the purchase:�”We are excited to welcome the Oriental Brewery team back to the AB InBev family. We look forward to re-integrating OB into our global platform, as we endeavor to strengthen our position in the Asia Pacific region and continue growing our brands and providing additional consumer choice in South Korea.”

  Anheuser Busch Inbev stock was down 61 cents, or 0.58%, in pre-market trading. YTD, the company’s stock is up 1.69%.

  BUD Dividend Snapshot

  As of 8:15am on April 1, 2014

  
  

  Click here to see the complete history of BUD dividends.