Best High Tech Stocks To Buy For 2016

Best High Tech Stocks To Buy For 2016: SMART Technologies Inc.(SMT)

SMART Technologies Inc. designs, develops, and sells interactive technology products and solutions that enhance learning and enable people to collaborate worldwide. The company offers a range of SMART Board interactive whiteboards and displays, as well as other interactive products, such as interactive tables, interactive pen displays, student response systems, wireless slates, audio enhancement systems, document cameras, conferencing software, and a line of interactive learning software. Its portfolio of related attachment products include SMART Response, SMART Slate, SMART Document Camera, SMART Table, SMART Audio, and SMART Classroom Suite. SMART Technologies also provides free online learning resources, an online teacher community, and training and professional development. It sells its interactive whiteboards through a network of distributors and dealers to the education, business, and government markets. The company was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in Calgary , Canada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Michael Robinson]

  Smart Technologies (SMT)

  Smart Technologies is a company that literally lives up to its name. It's a supplier of interactive education tools, used by more than 40 million students, in more than 175 countries.

• [By MONEYMORNING.COM]

  Smart Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq: SMT) is a company that literally lives up to its name. It's a supplier of interactive education tools used by more than 40 million students in more than 175 countries.

source from Top Stocks For 2015:http://www.topstocksblog.com/best-high-tech-stocks-to-buy-for-2016.html

Top Promising Companies To Own In Right Now

Top Promising Companies To Own In Right Now: Aviva plc (AV)

Aviva plc provides insurance, savings, and fund management products and services worldwide. It offers life insurance and savings products, which comprise pensions products, such as personal and group pensions, stakeholder pensions, and income drawdown; annuities; protection products, including term assurance, mortgage life insurance, flexible whole life, and critical illness cover; bonds and savings comprising single premium investment bonds, regular premium savings plans, mortgage endowment products, and funding agreements; and investment products consisting of unit trusts, individual savings accounts, and open ended investment companies, as well as equity release and structured settlements. The company also provides general and health insurance products that include personal lines of insurance products, such as motor, household, travel, and creditor insurance; commercial lines of insurance products consisting of fleet, liability, and commercial property insurance; health insurance products comprising private health, income protection, personal accident, and corporate healthcare insurance products; and insurance for corporate and specialty risks. In addition, it offers fund management products and services for institutional, pension fund, and retail clients. Aviva plc sells its products through various distribution channels, including direct sales forces, intermediaries, corporate partnerships, bancassurance, and joint ventures, as well as through the telephone and Internet. The company was formerly known as CGNU plc and changed its name to Aviva plc in July 2002. Aviva plc is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jason Shubnell]

  Shares of Aviva plc (NYSE: AV) were down 5.40 percent to $15.24 after the company announced its plans to sell US equity manager River Road to Affi! liated Managers Group.

• [By Rupert Hargreaves]

  Unfortunately, Prudential only offers a dividend yield of 2.4% at present, below that of its peers, such as Aviva (AV) and Legal & General (LGEN). Moreover, city analysts only expect Prudential to increase its payout by 10% this year and 5% during 2014.

• [By Alastair Millar]

  LONDON -- Last month, shares of Aviva  (LSE: AV  ) (NYSE: AV  )  plummeted on news that the insurer's dividend would be slashed 44% as the firm attempted to tackle its debts and rebuild its capital reserves. 

source from Top Stocks For 2015:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-promising-companies-to-own-in-right-now-2.html

Top Life Sciences Companies To Watch For 2016

Top Life Sciences Companies To Watch For 2016: Basic Energy Services Inc. (BAS)

Basic Energy Services, Inc. provides various well site services to oil and natural gas drilling and producing companies in the United States. Its Completion and Remedial Services segment provides pumping services, such as cementing, acidizing, fracturing, coiled tubing, nitrogen, and pressure testing; rental and fishing tools; snubbing services; thru-tubing; cased-hole wireline services; and underbalanced drilling in low pressure and fluid sensitive reservoirs. This segment operates 228 pressure pumping units. It also operates 14 coiled tubing units; 49 air compressor packages; 12 wireline units; and 34 snubbing units. The company's Fluid Services segment offers oilfield fluid supply, transportation, storage, and construction services, which comprise the transportation of fluids and salt water; sale and transportation of fresh and brine water; rental of portable frac tanks and test tanks; operation of company-owned fresh water and brine source wells and non-hazardous wast ewater disposal wells; and preparation, construction, and maintenance of access roads, drilling locations, and production facilities. This segment owns and operates 955 fluid services trucks with a fluid hauling capacity of up to 150 barrels apiece. Its Well Servicing segment provides various services performed with a mobile well servicing rig and ancillary equipment, such as maintenance work, hoisting tools and equipment required by the operation, and plugging and abandonment services, as well as manufactures and sells workover rigs. It operates a fleet of 425 well servicing rigs. The company's Contract Drilling segment employs drilling rigs and related equipment to penetrate the earth to a desired depth and initiate production. This segment owns and operates 12 land drilling rigs. The company was formerly known as Sierra Well Service, Inc. and chan! ged its name to Basic Energy Services, Inc. in 2000. Basic Energy Services, Inc. was founded in 1992 and is based in Fort Wor t h, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Garrett Cook]

  Energy services shares fell by 0.12 percent on Friday. Top losers in the sector included Basic Energy Services (NYSE: BAS), down 8.6 percent, and Vaalco Energy (NYSE: EGY), off 5.7 percent.

• [By Garrett Cook]

  Energy services shares fell by 0.52 percent on Friday. Top losers in the sector included Basic Energy Services (NYSE: BAS), down 10 percent, and Clean Energy Fuels (NASDAQ: CLNE), off 6.1 percent.

• [By Dimitra DeFotis]

  The market seems to be showing fatigue particularly with positive onshore oil service data points that may no longer seem incremental. Investors have become especially focused on potential issues and macro concerns. We believe this phase of enhanced risk perceptions will pass and still recommend owning selective stocks based on attractive valuations and healthy fundamentals. Of the 16 oilfield services companies having reported their quarters to date, the share price changes have at times been difficult to tie to specific results.  … Five of the 12 companies who have beaten earnings expectations have seen their share prices drop on the day, including Basic Energy Services (BAS) (-9.0%), Baker Hughes (BHI) (-2.5%), National Oilwell Varco (NOV) (-1.5%), Oceaneering (OII) (-4.2%), and Schlumberger (SLB) (-2.0%). Other stocks beating expectations have traded higher as expected, including Cameron International (CAM) (+4.1%), FMC Technologies (FTI) (+3.1%), Mitcham In dustries (MIND) (+3.8%), Nabors Industries (NBR) (+1.2%), Patterson-UTI Energy (PTEN) (+1.8%), RPC (RES) (+8.4%), and Weatherford International (WFT) (+2.3%). Companies which have missed have universally seen their share prices decline, including Diamond Offshore Drilling (DO) (-4.3%), Gulfmark Offshore (GLF) (-0.1%), and Hercules Offshore (HERO) (-6.9%).! Hallibur! ton (HAL) was in line and flat on the day.

• [By Travis Hoium]

  What: Shares of oil and gas industry service company Basic Energy Services, Inc (NYSE: BAS  ) fell as much as 12% after reporting earnings.

source from Top Stocks For 2015:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-life-sciences-companies-to-watch-for-2016.html

Top 5 Consumer Service Stocks To Watch For 2016

Top 5 Consumer Service Stocks To Watch For 2016: Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.(CLF)

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

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  After yesterday’s announcement that Cliffs Natural Resources (CLF) would look to exit its Bloom Lake project, Deutsche Bank’s Jorge Beristain and team slashed their rating on the struggling iron miner to Hold from Buy. They explain why:

  Agence France-Presse/Getty Images

  Stripping out [Eastern Canada iron ore] operations from 1Q15 onwards, lowers Deustche Bank’s estimated EBITDA by an average of 5% over the next 3 years to ~$650m/yr, while reduced depreciation & amortization increases EPS. Incorporating estimated related closure costs of $700m (assuming $150m/yr in first three years and $125m/yr in following two) and
  $71m legal loss in 1Q15, [net-present value, or] NPV declines $4/sh to $12/sh. However, we note some potential NPV offsets (not yet considered) include reduced maintenance capex and SG&A costs reduce could provide ~$1/sh tailwind. Should Cliffs be in a position to forego remaining $750m tailings dam capex, NPV could increase a further ~$3/sh…!

  Cliffs' price target of $10 [down from $17. Ed.] is now based on 0.85x (from prior ~1.0x) our revised NPV of ~$12 ($16), calculated under a  discounted cash-flow methodology. Increased net-debt-to-EBITDA is becoming a source concern and reason for applying 15% discount to NPV. Risks include higher-/lower-than-expected iron ore and coal prices, possibility of breaching covenants (on reduced cash flow generation) and increase/decrease of foreign exchange rates, particularly for the Australian Dollar.

  Investors don’t appear too worried today, however. Cliffs shares have gained 6.3% to $8.69 at 1:35 p.m. today, even as BHP Billiton (BHP) has fallen 1.5% to $55 and Rio Tinto (RIO) has dropped 2.4% to $45.07.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Last week, Cliffs Natural Resources (CLF) surged after reports that U.S. steel-maker Nucor (NUE) was interested in a joint venturein Cliff’s troubled Bloom Lake project.

  Dado Galdieri

  JPMorgan’s Michael Gambardella and team explain the impact on Cliffs Natural Resources–and why Nucor might be interested:

  Heading into 3Q14 earnings, expectations for the potential value Cliffs could secure from Bloom Lake were negative given its high cost and burdensome rail take-or-pay contracts. However, as noted in our post-earnings report, management stated the Canadian subsidiary (which holds Bloom Lake) could be put into bankruptcy without any recourse to Cliffs. This effectively reset the Bloom Lake value to near zero with a positive upside should a JV be finalized to develop Phase II and take the increased production. A report in the Wall Street Journal refocused sentiment on the potential upside, naming Nucor and two Japanese steel mills as the potential partners in Phase II.

  The company is approaching the one year anniversary of the initial startup for the largest single [direct-reduced iron, or] DRI module in the world located in Louisiana. With deep water access and infrastructure to add a second modul! e, Nucor�! ��s interest in building Phase II centers on the possibility of securing a captive source of iron ore for its DRI capacity along with its fully integrated feed. While Bloom Lake has premium Fe content required to make DRI pellets, it does not have a pellet plant and in the past struggled to balance silica content with production volume and costs. In our view, Nucor's ultimate desire to participate in a Bloom Lake JV is likely contingent on securing low silica (~2%), DRI grade iron ore but would also require the investment to build a pellet plant.

  Shares of Cliffs Natural Resources has dropped 2.1% to $11 at 10:03 a.m. today, Nucor has fallen 1.7% to $53.17.

• [By Jayson Derrick]

  According to The Wall Street Journal, Nucor (NYSE: NUE) is interested in investing in Cliffs Natural Resources (NYSE: CLF) iron ore mine Bloom Lake in Quebec. Shares of Nucor gained 1.87 percent, closing at $54.06 while shares of Cliffs Natural Resources gained 6.95 percent, closing at $11.23.

• [By Chris Mydlo]

  Headlines across the financial news today include a write-down of $6 billion by Cliffs Natural Resources (CLF). The write-down is on its seaborne iron ore and metallurgical coal assets as iron-ore prices have dropped more than 40 percent this year. Based on the more recent quarterly filing ending June 30, Cliffs had a book value of $6.028 billion. Writing down $6 billion will bring the book value to near zero. The company is still going to operate as this is not a cash event and the credit rating was already dropped to junk status (BB-) leading up the event.

source from Top Stocks For 2015:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-5-consumer-service-stocks-to-watch-for-2016.html

5 Best Sliver Stocks To Buy For 2015

In the video below we hear from Fedele Bauccio, founder and CEO of Bon Appetit Management. His company has built its reputation on locally sourced, seasonal, healthy foods, and is actively involved in sustainability issues affecting every aspect of the food industry.

Bauccio recounts his decision to leave a private company after a takeover and pursue his dream of making a difference in the institutional food-service industry by introducing the concept of a chef-driven restaurant company.

The Motley Fool's chief investment officer has selected his No. 1 stock for the next year. Find out which stock it is in the special free report: "The Motley Fool's Top Stock for 2013." Just click here to access the report and find out the name of this under-the-radar company.

Isaac Pino: Along the way -- you've been in the food industry for quite some time, ever since those days -- at what point did you decide that you wanted to do something entrepreneurial, and kind of break off? What went into that decision-making process?

10 Best Low Price Stocks To Own For 2016: Lam Research Corporation(LRCX)

Lam Research Corporation designs, manufactures, markets, refurbishes, and services semiconductor processing equipments used in the fabrication of integrated circuits. The company offers etch products that remove portions of various films from the wafer in the creation of semiconductor devices. Its etch products include dielectric etch, conductor etch, three-dimensional integrated circuit etch, MEMS devices, CMOS image sensors, and power devices for etching process. Lam Research Corporation also provides wafer cleaning steps that comprise post-etch and post-strip cleans, and pre-diffusion and pre-deposition cleans; and single-wafer wet clean and plasma-based bevel clean systems. The company offers its products to semiconductor manufacturers. It operates in the United States, Europe, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, and the Asia Pacific. Lam Research Corporation was founded in 1980 and is headquartered in Fremont, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Companies that could benefit from a pickup in capital spending include Akamai Technologies (AKAM) and priceline.com (PCLN), which have the highest sensitivity to “non-residential fixed investment in Intellectual Property Products,” Frontier Communications (FTR) and Lam Research (LRCX), which have the highest sales sensitivity to non-residential fixed investment in Equipment,” and Transocean (RIG), which is among the companies with a high exposure to “non-residential fixed investment in Structures.”

• [By Sue Chang and Saumya Vaishampayan]

  $KLAC: KLA-Tencor Corp. (KLAC) �shares rose 1.9%. Analysts at J.P. Morgan on Monday initiated coverage of KLA-Tencor and Lam Research Corp. (LRCX) �at overweight.

• [By Ben Axler]

  In addition, the company announced in December 2012 that it entered a strategic collaboration agreement on ion implant, dry-strip, etch processes, and photoresist strip applications, including material modification implants and high-dose implant strip (HDIS) with Lam Research (LRCX). Lam also agreed to acquire ACLS's dry strip intellectual property and technology for $10.7m ($8.7m received immediately, and $2.0m based on milestones). ACLS will indefinitely retain the entire service and support contracts of its dry strip installed base. In addition to the immediate financial benefits, ACLS benefits from a partnership with Lam by getting better visibility into end customer problems, and the ability to expand addressable market opportunities.

• [By Brian Stoffel]

  3. Lam Research (NASDAQ: LRCX  ) , P/E of 166
  Lam's core business is in making equipment that helps to manufacture computer chips. The company trades at a lofty 166 times earnings right now, but if Lam is able to meet analyst expectations for 2013, today's price is just 12 times expected earnings.

5 Best Sliver Stocks To Buy For 2015: Energy Partners Ltd. (EPL)

EPL Oil & Gas, Inc. operates as an independent oil and natural gas exploration and production company. The company�s operations primarily focuses on the U.S. Gulf of Mexico shelf on state and federal waters offshore Louisiana. As of December 31, 2012, it had estimated proved reserves of 77.4 million barrels of oil equivalent, as well as interests in 37 producing fields located in the Gulf of Mexico shelf region. The company was formerly known as Energy Partners, Ltd. and changed its name to EPL Oil & Gas, Inc. in September 2012. EPL Oil & Gas, Inc. was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Udovich]

  Yesterday, small cap Energy XXI (Bermuda) Limited (NASDAQ: EXXI)�announced a deal to acquire�EPL Oil & Gas Inc (NYSE: EPL) to create the largest publicly held independent oil producer on the Gulf of Mexico shelf, meaning it might be a good idea to look at other small cap Gulf oil stocks like W&T Offshore, Inc (NYSE: WTI), Stone Energy Corporation (NYSE: SGY) and Contango Oil & Gas Company (NYSEMKT: MCF). Energy XXI�� CEO John Schiller has talked about the details of the acquisition�with Jim Cramer on CNBC's "Mad Money" and he noted that��EPL Oil & Gas offers areas of expertise that EXXI currently lacks. However, investors who missed out on�yesterday�� 29% surge for EPL Oil & Gas�may want to check out these other small cap Gulf Oil stocks:

5 Best Sliver Stocks To Buy For 2015: Perfumania Holdings Inc(PERF)

Perfumania Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates as a wholesale distributor and specialty retailer of perfumes and fragrances in the United States and Puerto Rico. The company distributes designer fragrances to mass market retailers, drug and other chain stores, retail wholesale clubs, traditional wholesalers, and other distributors. It also owns and licenses designer and other fragrance brands. The company sells its products in retail stores on a consignment basis; and online through perfumania.com, an Internet retailer of fragrances and other specialty items. As of July 30, 2011, it operated a chain of 343 retail stores specializing in the sale of fragrances and related products. The company is based in Bellport, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Udovich]

  Vitamin Shoppe Inc (NYSE: VSI), Books-A-Million, Inc (NASDAQ: BAMM) and Perfumania Holdings, Inc (NASDAQ: PERF) have the dubious distinction of being�the worst performing small cap�specialty retail stocks for this year (according to Finviz.com) with losses of 4.85% and�3% and a gain of 0.61%, respectively, since the start of the year (See my previous article: This Year�� Best Performing Small Cap Specialty Retail Stocks? UNTD, TA & HZO). I should mention that the definition of specialty retail stocks might vary from one stock screener to another, but what�� clear is that these three small cap retail stocks have been heading in the wrong direction for investors for much of this year. �With that in mind, what sort of performance should investors expect from these small cap specialty retail stocks on Black Friday and for the all important holiday season? Here is what you need to be aware of:

5 Best Sliver Stocks To Buy For 2015: Nash-Finch Company(NAFC)

Nash-Finch Company operates as a wholesale food distributor in the United States. The company?s Military segment distributes grocery products to the United States military commissaries and exchanges in the United States and the District of Columbia, Europe, Puerto Rico, Cuba, the Azores, Egypt, and Bahrain. Its Food Distribution segment sells and distributes various branded and private label grocery products and perishable food products to approximately 1,500 independent retail locations through its 14 distribution centers. This segment also provides various services, including promotional, advertising, and merchandising programs; installation of computerized ordering, receiving, and scanning systems; retail equipment procurement assistance; accounting, budgeting, and payroll contract services; consumer and market research; remodeling and store development services; supply chain through Internet services; and securing existing grocery stores. The company?s Retail segment operates corporate-owned grocery stores under the Sun Mart, Econofoods, AVANZA, Family Thrift Center, Pick ?n Save, Family Fresh Market, Prairie Market, Saver?s Choice, Wally?s Supermarkets, and Wholesale Food Outlet banners primarily in the states of Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. This segment?s conventional grocery stores offer a range of grocery products and services, such as fresh meat counters, delicatessens, bakeries, eat-in cafes, pharmacies, banks, and floral departments, as well as provide check cashing, fax services, and money transfer services. As of December 31, 2011, the company served 93 retail stores operating under the IGA banner and 50 retail stores under the Food Pride banner; and operated 43 conventional supermarkets, 1 AVANZA grocery store, 1 Wholesale Food Outlet grocery store, and 1 Saver?s Choice store. Nash-Finch Company was founded in 1885 and is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Alex Planes]

  Sysco has avoided the margin compression suffered by chicken producers Tyson (NYSE: TSN  ) and Cal-Maine Foods (NASDAQ: CALM  ) and which was more deeply felt by smaller food-service operator Nash-Finch (NASDAQ: NAFC  ) . (It is omitted from this chart due to its drop into outright negative operating margin territory (a decline of roughly 250% in two years.) However, fellow food-service company United Natural Foods (NASDAQ: UNFI  ) has actually improved its margins, and restaurant chains both large and small (well, mid-size) have done an admirable job of holding the margin line in the face of rising input costs. So it appears that scale alone isn't enough to help Sysco outrun the rising costs of its products.

• [By Jeremy Bowman]

  What: Shares of Nash-Finch (NASDAQ: NAFC  ) and Spartan Stores (NASDAQ: SPTN  ) jumped as much as 16% and 15%, respectively, after Spartan said it would buy Nash-Finch, primarily for its military stores.

Top 5 Asian Companies To Buy For 2016

Top 5 Asian Companies To Buy For 2016: Hi Crush Partners LP (HCLP)

Hi Crush Partners LP, formerly Hi-Crush Partners LP, is a domestic producer of monocrystalline sand, a specialized mineral that is used as a proppant to enhance the recovery rates of hydrocarbons from oil and natural gas wells. The Company reserves consist of Northern White sand, a resource existing in Wisconsin and limited portions of the upper Midwest region of the United States. It owns, operates and develops sand reserves and related excavation and processing facilities and will seek to acquire or develop additional facilities. The Company's 561-acre facility with integrated rail infrastructure, located near Wyeville, Wisconsin, enables it to process and deliver approximately 1,600,000 tons of frac sand per year. In June 2013, Hi Crush Partners LP announced the completion of its acquisition of D&I Silica, LLC (D&I).

The Company's frac sand production is sold to investment grade-rated pressure pumping service providers under long-term, contracts that req uire its customers to pay a specified price for a specified volume of frac sand each month. The Company owns and operates the Wyeville facility, which is located in Monroe County, Wisconsin and, as of December 31, 2011, contained 48.4 million tons of proven recoverable sand reserves of mesh sizes it has contracted to sell. From the Wyeville in-service date to March 31, 2012, it had processed and sold 555,250 tons of frac sand.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Robert Rapier]

  The fracking revolution has created enormous opportunities for Master Limited Partnerships (MLPs) across the oil and gas industry. Upstream MLPs like BreitBurn Energy Partners (NASDAQ: BBEP) and Legacy Reserves (NASDAQ: LGCY) produced the oil and gas. There was a huge new requirement for sand in the fracking operations, and this encouraged new MLPs like Emerge Energy Services�! �(NYSE: EMES) and Hi-Crush Partners (NYSE:HCLP) — both of which have more than doubled in price over the past 12 months. Fracking also requires large volumes of water, which Cypress Energy Partners (NYSE: CELP) provides.

• [By Robert Rapier]

  MLPs that specialize in sand for hydraulic fracturing, like Hi-Crush Partners (NYSE: HCLP) and Emerge Energy Services (NYSE: EMES),  have shown outstanding performance since their IPOs, but if there is any slowdown in business each could be in for a sharp correction.

source from Top Stocks For 2015:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-5-asian-companies-to-buy-for-2016.html

Hot Prefered Companies To Watch In Right Now

With the�SPDR S&P Biotech Index�up 38% over the trailing-12-month period, it's evident that investment dollars are willingly flowing into the biotech sector. Keeping that in mind, let's have a look at some of the rulings, studies, and companies that made waves in the sector last week.

All eyes are certainly on the annual American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting going on right now, but that didn't stop a gambit of positive and negative news from emerging in the biotech sector this week.

Omthera Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: OMTH  ) certainly made waves for investors by announcing its agreement to be purchased by AstraZeneca�for $323 million, with $120 million in additional contingency value dependent on the success of its pipeline. Omthera's lead compound is a late-stage fish-oil capsule known as Epanova, which is being targeted at lowering triglyceride levels in patients with a high risk of developing cardiovascular disease. With obesity remaining such a big concern in the U.S., fish oil products could become a booming market in terms of heart health maintenance in the future, and AstraZeneca may have snagged itself a steal of a deal. Omthera shareholders probably aren't complaining, either, as their stock doubled this week.

Top Mid Cap Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Ur Energy Inc(URG)

Ur-Energy Inc., an exploration stage junior mining company, engages in the identification, acquisition, evaluation, exploration, and development of uranium mineral properties. The company has 13 projects located in Wyoming and Nebraska, the United States; and 3 exploration projects located in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, Canada. Its landholdings cover approximately 90,000 acres in the United States and approximately 140,000 acres in Canada. The company was founded in 2004 and is headquartered in Littleton, Colorado.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Udovich]

  Small cap nuclear fuel stock USEC Inc (NYSE: USU) is up some 300% this week���meaning its worth taking a closer look at the company along with the performance potential uranium or nuclear stock peers Uranium Resources, Inc (NASDAQ: URRE), Denison Mines Corp (NYSEMKT: DNN), Ur-Energy Inc (NYSEMKT: URG) and Uranerz Energy Corp (NYSEMKT: URZ).

• [By James Brumley]

  PLAB’s per share income is expected to double next year, from 2013′s profit of 30 cents per share to 60 cents per share in 2014.

  Ur-Energy (URG)

  12/2 Price: $1.15

• [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.

Hot Prefered Companies To Watch In Right Now: YOU On Demand Holdings Inc (YOD)

YOU On Demand Holdings, Inc., incorporated on October 19, 2004, operates in the Chinese media segment through the Company�� Chinese subsidiaries and variable interest entities (VIEs) an integrated service solutions business for the delivery of video on demand (VOD) and enhanced premium content for digital cable providers, IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) providers, Over-the-Top (OTT) providers and mobile manufacturers. The Company is a multi-platform entertainment company delivering premium content, including Hollywood and China-produced movie titles, to customers across China via Subscription Video On Demand (SVOD) and Transactional Video On Demand (TVOD). The Company�� distribution partners include digital cable operators, IPTV operators, OTT operators and mobile smartphone manufacturers.

The Company provides customers the ability to view the Hollywood titles, as well as indigenous Chinese titles. The Company�� multiple platforms distribution capabilities provide viewers with access to the top selection of quality content during the earliest possible VOD windows for the viewing experience with full DVD-like control. The Company also offers free content including trailers, behind-the-scenes footage, celebrity interviews and more. The Company operates under a national government license obtained by CHC to serve as their exclusive agent in the People�� Republic of China (PRC), for operating and marketing TVOD, SVOD, Near Video on Demand (NVOD), and related Value-Added Services (VAS). Its platform and services include content and distribution agreements, governmental partnerships and approvals, infrastructure, encoding and transcoding, metadata management, marketing services and data reporting, collection and remittance.

The Company has content agreements with Warner Bros. Entertainment, Disney Media Distribution, Paramount Pictures, NBCUniversal, Miramax, Lionsgate, Magnolia Pictures, Screen Media Ventures, Gravitas Ventures, 3Net, K2 Communications and Film Buff. ! As of December 31, 2013, it had distribution agreements with several Chinese Cable television (TV) broadcast companies and IPTV providers which in total can potentially reach approximately 20 million households. In addition, the Company has distribution agreements with FutureTV (an OTT operator which is a subsidiary of China Network Television [CNTV], the official online division of Chinese national public broadcaster China Central Television [CCTV]) and Huawei (global information and communications technology solutions provider and the third largest global smartphone manufacture).

The Company competes with Youku, Tencent and Sohu.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Bryan Murphy]

  It's not the kind of stock you'd want to get married to here, but you might want to date You On Demand Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:YOD) for the next few days. Shares of YOD broke above a major resistance line on Friday, and put some distance between themselves and that line today. It's a clue that the bulls have overpowered the bears, and now that the ball is rolling, it should keep rolling for a while.

• [By Bryan Murphy]

  It's fun to be right, but that doesn't mean it's not also frustrating. With that being said, if you happened to get into You On Demand Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:YOD) on Tuesday based on my advice, let's go ahead and take your 30% profit - give or take - by selling YOD at the market.

Hot Prefered Companies To Watch In Right Now: Solta Medical Inc(SLTM)

Solta Medical, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the design, development, manufacture, and marketing of energy-based medical device systems for aesthetic applications primarily in North America, the Asia Pacific, Europe, and the Middle East. It offers Fraxel re:pair system for use in dermatological procedures requiring ablation, coagulation, and resurfacing of soft tissue, as well as for rhytides, pigmentation, dyschromia, fine lines, acne, surgical scars, deeper lines, wrinkles, and actinic keratoses; and Clear + Brilliant system for patients who want to take control of their aging process. The company also provides Thermage CPT system that provides non-invasive treatment options for skin tightening; Liposonix system to destroy unwanted fat cells resulting in waist circumference reduction; Isolaz system for the treatment of inflammatory acne, comedonal acne, and mild to moderate inflammatory acne; and the CLARO device, a consumer handheld device for the tre atment of mild-to-moderate inflammatory acne, including pustular acne. Its customers principally include dermatologists, plastic surgeons, general and family practitioners, gynecologists, and ophthalmologists. The company sells its products primarily through a direct sales force, as well as through independent distributors; and CLARO device through retail and associated retailer?s Websites, and television retail networks, as well as through its own website in the United States. The company was formerly known as Thermage, Inc. and changed its name to Solta Medical, Inc. in January 2009. Solta Medical, Inc. was incorporated in 1996 and is headquartered in Hayward, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lauren Pollock]

  Solta Medical Inc.(SLTM) unveiled restructuring plans to improve its financial performance and has hired an adviser to help evaluate strategic alternatives, including a possible sale or merger of the medical aesthetics device maker. Investors cheered the news, sending shares up 7.7% to $1.97 premarket.

• [By Tess Stynes]

  Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in Monday’s session are Sprint Corp.(S), American International Group Inc.(AIG)�and Solta Medical Inc.(SLTM)

Hot Prefered Companies To Watch In Right Now: UIL Holdings Corp (UIL)

UIL Holdings Corporation, incorporated on March 22, 1999, is engaged in the ownership of its operating regulated utility businesses. The utility businesses consist of the electric distribution and transmission operations of The United Illuminating Company (UI) and the natural gas transportation, distribution and sales operations of The Southern Connecticut Gas Company (SCG), Connecticut Natural Gas Corporation (CNG), and The Berkshire Gas Company (Berkshire, and together with SCG and CNG, the Gas Companies). The Company operates in Electric Distribution, Electric Transmission and Gas Distribution segments.

UI is an electric distribution and transmission utility. UI is also a party to a joint venture with certain affiliates of NRG Energy, Inc. (NRG affiliates) pursuant to which UI holds 50% of interests in GCE Holding LLC, whose wholly owned subsidiary, GenConn Energy LLC operates generation plants in Devon, Connecticut (GenConn Devon) and Middletown, Connecticut (GenConn Middletown).

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Utilities sector was the only decliner in the US market today. Top losers in the sector included UIL Holdings (NYSE: UIL), off 2.1 percent, and Crosstex Energy (NASDAQ: XTXI), down 2.2 percent.

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Utilities sector was the only decliner in the US market today. Top losers in the sector included UIL Holdings (NYSE: UIL), off 2.1 percent, and Crosstex Energy (NASDAQ: XTXI), down 2.2 percent.

Hot Prefered Companies To Watch In Right Now: Old Dominion Freight Line Inc. (ODFL)

Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. operates as a less-than-truckload (LTL) motor carrier primarily in the United States. The company provides regional, inter-regional, and national LTL services. It also offers a range of logistics services, including ground and air expedited transportation, supply chain consulting, transportation management, truckload brokerage, container delivery, and warehousing services. In addition, the company provides door-to-door international freight services to and from North America, Central America, South America, and the Far East. As of December 31, 2010, it owned a fleet of 5,718 tractors and 20,986 trailers, as well as operated 213 service centers. The company was founded in 1934 and is based in Thomasville, North Carolina.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Smith]

  Consider: According to YRC, the $150.9 million it currently pays in annual interest exceeds the $92.6 million in interest obligations paid by "all [of its] competitors combined." Con-Way (NYSE: CNW  ) , for example, sports a debt load about half of YRC's, yet pays only about one-third �as much in interest on that debt. Old Dominion Freight (NASDAQ: ODFL  ) has 12% the debt �of YRC, but only 7% of the interest expense.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Wunderlich’s Nicholas Bender thinks FedEx’s results bode well for Old Dominion (ODFL), Con-way (CNW) and Saia (SAIA):

  We expect all less-than-truckload carriers to benefit in 2Q14 from the same trends that carried FedEx Freight to a banner 4Q14. This includes Hold-rated Old Dominion, which will continue to grow at well above market rates, and Buy-rated Con-way, which we believe can leverage a strong 2Q14 to prime the pump on margin enhancement efforts. Our favorite name in the space remains Saia (SAIA-$42.92, Buy), which will once again see accelerating tonnage growth in 2Q14. Though tonnage growth will moderate in� 2H14 due to steeper comps, there remains considerable potential for the company to boost yield and continue winning incremental business with new accounts.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Shares of Heartland Express have gained 50% this year, trumping the 38% rise in Con-Way (CNW) and the 29% advance in J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) but lagging Old Dominion Freight Lines (ODFL) and Swift Transportation (SWFT).

Top Penny Companies To Own For 2015

The results are in, and investors have jumped on 3D Systems' (NYSE: DDD  ) bandwagon again after the 3D-printing leader produced third-quarter earnings that were largely in line with Wall Street's expectations. A 4% rise in 3D Systems' stock price today may simply reflect widespread relief that the company, unlike its chief rival Stratasys, did not issue reduced forecasts for its full year. However, 3D Systems only bettered one of Wall Street's two key targets for the third quarter -- its $166.9 million top line came in slightly below the $167.7 million analysts had expected, but $0.18 in adjusted earnings per share was a penny better than the analyst consensus.

3D Systems held fast on its full-year guidance, which still calls for revenue to range from $650 million to $690 million, and for adjusted EPS to range from $0.70 to $0.80. With three quarters now in the tank, we can use the midpoints of these full-year ranges to estimate 3D Systems' expectations for its fourth quarter. Let's take a look at the results from this quarter and the expectations for the next, to see how they compare to 3D Systems' recent financial history:

10 Best Semiconductor Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Enstar Group Limited (ESGR)

Enstar Group Limited, through its subsidiaries, acquires and manages insurance and reinsurance companies in run-off. The company settles insurance and reinsurance claims. It also offers management and consultancy, claims inspection, and reinsurance collection services to its affiliates and third-party clients. The company operates in the United States, Bermuda, the United Kingdom, Europe, and Australia. Enstar Group Limited was formerly known as Castlewood Holdings Limited and changed its name to Enstar Group Limited. Enstar Group Limited was founded in 2001 and is based in Hamilton, Bermuda.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Matt Koppenheffer and David Hanson]

  In this segment from Thursday's Where the Money Is, Motley Fool financial analysts Matt Koppenheffer and David Hanson discuss Matt's stock pitch of the week, Enstar Group Ltd. (NASDAQ: ESGR  ) . In the insurance world, insurers can start an insurance business, or a line of insurance, that ends up performing poorly. This can force the insurer to then put that line of insurance, or the entire business, into what is known as run-off. This means they are no longer selling policies, and will only continue to manage the existing policies for the life of those policies. That is where Enstar comes in.

Top Penny Companies To Own For 2015: Ruth's Hospitality Group Inc.(RUTH)

Ruth?s Hospitality Group, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates restaurants in the United States and internationally. It operates the Ruth?s Chris Steak House, Mitchell?s Fish Market, Columbus Fish Market, Mitchell?s Steakhouse, and Cameron?s Steakhouse restaurant concepts in the full-service dining industry. The company?s restaurants cater to families, special occasion diners, and business clientele. As of December 27, 2009, it owned or operated 152 restaurants, including 64 company-owned Ruth?s Chris Steak House Company restaurants, 66 Ruth?s Chris Steak House franchise restaurants, 19 company-owned Mitchell?s Fish Markets, and 3 company-owned Mitchell?s Steakhouse restaurants. The company was formerly known as Ruth?s Chris Steak House, Inc. and changed its name to Ruth?s Hospitality Group, Inc. in February 2008. Ruth?s Hospitality Group, Inc. was founded in 1965 and is headquartered in Heathrow, Florida.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jeremy Bowman]

  What: Shares of Ruth's Hospitality Group (NASDAQ: RUTH  ) were making investors feel at home today, gaining as much as 14% after topping estimates, and announcing a quarterly dividend in its report today.

• [By Timothy Green]

  Another steakhouse operator which recently started paying a dividend is Ruth's Hospitality Group (NASDAQ: RUTH  ) . Ruth's is a small company that operates a handful of restaurant concepts, mainly steakhouses. In 2012 the company recorded about $400 million in revenue and $16 million in net income. The stock trades for about 27 times earnings.

Top Penny Companies To Own For 2015: American Capital Ltd.(ACAS)

American Capital, Ltd. is a private equity and venture capital firm specializing in management and employee buyouts, mezzanine, acquisition, recapitalization, middle market, and growth capital investments. The firm seeks to invest in senior debt mezzanine and equity financing for buyouts of private equity firms and direct in private and public companies. It also invests in special situations and in government. In special situations, the firm invests in troubled situations and in distressed situations. In this area, it invests in acquisitions of true turnarounds, 363 auctions, portfolio add-ons, operationally challenged companies; financings in exit, ABL loans, second lien refinance, and direct lending to distressed companies. The firm invests in manufacturing, services, and distribution companies with a special focus on energy sector. In energy production sector, the firm invests in lower risk oil and gas exploration, production and development; natural gas liquids; coal m ining and coal-fired generation; uranium mining and nuclear-fired generation; wind-powered generation; and solar-powered generation. In energy transmission sector, the firm invests in oil and gas pipelines; LNG tankers and regasification facilities; and power transmission. In energy distribution sector, it targets propane distribution; gas distribution; electricity distribution. In energy services sector, the firm invests in oil and gas services and utility services. The firm also targets investments in companies that provide services or products to federal, state or local governments. It seeks to invest in information technology, human resources/benefit administration, outsourcing, transaction processing, engineering and construction, logistics, original equipment manufacturers ? homeland security and component, after market parts and supplies, and technology. It invests as lead or participative investor. The firm and its affiliates invest from $5 million to $300 million pe r company in North America and ?5 million ($6.92520 millio! n) to ?25 million ($34.6260 million) per company in Europe. American Capital, Ltd. was founded in 1986 and is based in Bethesda, Maryland with additional offices in United States, Europe, and Asia.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By James Brumley]

  The market’s starting to realize the selloff was an errant one, as DHI shares are perking up again. There’s still a ways to go before the stock’s back to where it started, though.

  American Capital Ltd (ACAS)

  12/2 Price: $15.29

• [By Dividend Growth Investor]

  As a dividend investor, I would expect that names in my portfolio in 2042 would likely be different than the names present in 2012. After all, since 2008 I have experienced several cuts in my income portfolio. I had one cut in 2008 (ACAS), two cuts in 2009 (GE, STT), one cut in 2010 (BP) and no cuts in 2011 and 2012. With three months to go in 2013, I have not experienced any dividend cuts either. By maintaining a relatively diversified portfolio consisting of over 40 individual issues, my total dividend income is somewhat immune by dividend cuts or eliminations. If two companies in an equally weighted portfolio of 40 issues completely eliminate dividends but the remaining 38 issues raise distributions by 5%, my dividend income would be unchanged for the year. Assuming that I manage to replace the fallen dividends stocks I sold with fresh income stocks, I might even be able to eke out a gain in total dividend income. Monitoring 40 ��50 positions should not take a lot of time as well. Assuming that investors have done their homework in the initial stage, future time could be allocated reading annual reports and maybe quarterly reports while also performing an annual checkup of their position. I would not expect this to take more than 10 -15 hours/week.

• [By BDC Buzz]

  FDUS is one of the few BDCs to consistently grow its NAV on a quarterly basis over the last two years. This is because most BDCs are regulated investment companies ("RIC") required to distribute at least 90% of capital gains, dividends and interest to shareholders to avoid taxation at the corporate level and 98% of net investment income to avoid paying a 4% excise tax. Excluding American Capital (ACAS) which converted from a RIC to a Subchapter C and does not pay a dividend, only a few BDCs have been able to pay a healthy dividend while increasing value per share - as discussed in "Triangle Capital: Is It Priced For Total Return?" including Main Street Capital (MAIN) and Triangle Capital (TCAP).

• [By Amanda Alix]

  The hunt for yield has led many investors to the doorsteps of mortgage REITs and business development companies, both of which are legally required to hand over 90% of their profits to shareholders in order to enjoy special tax status. With few exceptions, such as American Capital (NASDAQ: ACAS  ) , these BDCs often pay out healthy dividends, providing double-digit yields similar to many mREITs.

Top Penny Companies To Own For 2015: USA Technologies Inc.(USAT)

USA Technologies, Inc. supplies cashless, remote management, reporting, and energy management solutions for the unattended point of sale market primarily in the United States. The company offers networked devices and associated services that enable the owners and operators of stand-alone distributed assets, such as vending machines, kiosks, personal computers, photocopiers, and laundry equipment the ability to remotely monitor, control, and report on the results of these distributed assets, as well as the ability to offer their customers cashless payment options. Its products include Intelligent Vending, an ePort connect solution for the vending industry; Kiosk, an ePort solution that offers an electronic payment option and Web-based remote monitoring and management for various kiosk types; eSuds, a solution for the commercial laundry industry; Business Express, which provides self-service business center solutions to the hotel and motel industry; and ePort Transact soluti on for the self-service business center devices, such as printers and copy machines. The company also manufactures and sells energy conservation products comprising VendingMiser, CoolerMiser, VM2IQ and CM2IQ, SnackMiser, and PlugMiser for various existing equipment, including refrigerated vending machines and glass front coolers. USA Technologies, Inc. was founded in 1992 and is based in Malvern, Pennsylvania.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Monica Gerson]

  USA Technologies (NASDAQ: USAT) is projected to report its Q3 earnings at $0.00 per share on revenue of $10.63 million.

  P&F Industries (NASDAQ: PFIN) is expected to report its quarterly results.

• [By Monica Gerson]

  USA Technologies (NASDAQ: USAT) is estimated to report its Q4 earnings at $0.02 per share on revenue of $9.89 million.

  Vail Resorts (NYSE: MTN) is projected to post a Q4 loss at $1.71 per share on revenue of $117.82 million.