Top 10 Financial Stocks To Invest In 2014

At the top of the list sits JPMorgan Chase JPMorgan Chase with a whopping $2.46 trillion in assets followed by Bank of America Bank of America with $2.12 trillion. The two banks are the only ones with assets exceeding $2 trillion.

Citigroup Citigroup, the third largest bank by assets, isn�� too far behind with $1.89 trillion and San Francisco-based Wells Fargo Wells Fargo is fourth with $1.48 trillion.

From there the 5th largest bank�� assets, Bank of New York Mellon Bank of New York Mellon, drop off dramatically to $371 billion.

The ranking comes from SNL Financial which compiles the data each quarter.

There�� hasn�� been much change at the top of the ranking since 2011 when JPM claimed the #1 spot from BofA.

Ever since, JPM has held a steady lead over the rest of the nation�� banks�� lead that keeps getting bigger. Just a year ago in the third quarter 2012, JPM�� assets stood at $2.32 trillion; they��e since increased 6%.

It will be interesting to see how JPM�� assets evolve over the next 12 months. 2013 wasn�� JPM�� best. CEO Jamie Dimon reported the bank�� first quarterly loss under his watch, it paid $13 billion to settle a big case with the Department of Justice and paid out billions in other suits as well. It was also the first time the bank made a big announcement recently about shutting down a line of business; in September JPM announced it would no longer accept applications for student loans.

10 Best Prefered Stocks To Own For 2015: Direxion Daily FTSE China Bear 3X Shares ETF (YANG)

Direxion Daily China Bear 3x Shares (the Fund) seeks daily investment results of 300% of the inverse (or opposite) of the price performance of the BNY China Select ADR Index (the China Index). The China Index is a free float-adjusted capitalization-weighted index designed by the Bank of New York to track the performance of a basket of companies who have their primary equity listing on a stock exchange in China and which also have depositary receipts that trade on a United States exchange or on the National Association of Securities and Dealers Automated Quotation. Under normal circumstances, it focuses on creating short positions, by investing at least 80% of its net assets in the equity securities that comprise its underlying index and/or futures contracts; options on securities, indices and futures contracts; equity caps, collars and floors; forward contracts; repurchase agreements, and reverse repurchase agreements. The Fund�� investment adviser is Rafferty Asset Management LLC. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By pamatlarge]

  Three short ETFs are designed to profit from China�� economic downward slide. The ProShares Short FTSE China 25 (YXI), an unleveraged ETF, holds shares in iShares FTSE China Large-Cap (FXI) swaps. Investors looking to magnify their returns can choose from two leveraged short ETFs: ProShares Ultra Short FTSE China 25 (FXP) and Direxion Daily China Bear 3x Shares (YANG). Both ProShares Ultra Short and Direxion Daily hold shares that increase in value three times faster than an unleveraged ETF. The downside is that the per share price of these leveraged ETFs also drops three times faster.

Top 10 Financial Stocks To Invest In 2014: iShares Cohen & Steers REIT ETF (ICF)

iShares Cohen & Steers Realty Majors Index Fund (the Fund) seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Cohen & Steers Realty Majors Index (the Index). The Index consists of selected real estate investment trusts (REITs). The objective of the Index is to represent relatively large and liquid REITs that may benefit from future consolidation and securitization of the United States real estate industry. The Index is modified capitalization-weighted with constituent companies having a maximum index weight of 8%.

The Fund invests in a representative sample of securities included in the Index that collectively has an investment profile similar to the Index. Barclays Global Fund Advisors is the investment advisor of the Fund.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Matthew McCall]

  The SPDR Utilities ETF (NYSE: XLU) is up 1.5 percent today and is breaking to a one-month high. The iShares Cohen & Steers Realty ETF (NYSE: ICF), which owns a basket of REITs, is up 1.1 percent, also looking for a one-month high.

Top 10 Financial Stocks To Invest In 2014: Aircastle Ltd (AYR)

Aircastle Limited (Aircastle), incorporated on October 29, 2004, is a global company that acquires, leases, and sells high-utility commercial jet aircraft to customers throughout the world. As of December 31, 2012, the Company's aircraft portfolio consisted of 159 aircraft that were leased to 69 lessees located in 36 countries. The Company manages its fleet through offices in the United States, Ireland and Singapore. The Company invests in aircraft that the Company places on operating or finances leases. The Company also makes investments in other aviation assets, including debt investments secured by commercial jet aircraft. The Company operates in single segment being Aircraft leases. The Company owned 133 passenger aircraft, representing approximately 71% of the net book value of flight equipment, while its 26 freighter aircraft account for 29% of its portfolio value. Effective July 12, 2013, Marubeni Corp acquired a 15.25% interest in the Company.

The Company leases its aircraft on an operating lease basis. Under an operating lease, the Company retains the benefit, and bear the risk, of re-leasing and of the residual values of the aircraft upon expiration or early termination of the lease. Under the Company's leases, the lessees agree to lease the aircraft for a fixed term, although certain of its operating leases allow the lessee the option to extend the lease for an additional term or, in rare cases, terminate the lease prior to its expiration. During the year ended December 31, 2012, the Company's three customers, Martinair , including its affiliates, KLM, Transavia and Transavia France, U.S. Airways, Inc., and Hainan Airlines Company, accounted for 9%, 6% and 6% of the Company�� revenues.

As of December 31, 2012, the Company had 19 aircraft having scheduled lease expirations in 2013 and the Company has lease or leases extension commitments for two of these aircraft. The remaining 17 aircraft with scheduled expiries in 2013. The Company entered into early termination! agreements for two Boeing Model 737-700 aircraft, one Airbus model A330-200 aircraft, one Boeing Model 767-300ER aircraft and one Airbus Model A319-100 aircraft, which the Company is marketing for sale or leases.

The Company competes with GE Commercial Aviation Services, International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC), AerCap Holdings NV, Air Lease Corporation, Aviation Capital Group, CIT Aerospace, AWAS, SMBC Aviation Capital (formerly RBS Aviation Capital), BOC Aviation, FLY Leasing, Ltd., Avolon, Guggenheim Aviation Partners, Volito, Deucalion, Oak Hill Aviation and AerSale

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Seth Jayson]

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

• [By Roberto Pedone]

  One commercial leasing player that insiders are active in here is Aircastle (AYR), which acquires, leases and sells high-utility commercial jet aircraft to passenger and cargo airlines throughout the world. Insiders are buying this stock into notable strength, since shares are up sharply by 52% in 2013.

  Aircastle has a market cap of $1.5 billion and an enterprise value of $4.8 billion. This stock trades at a premium valuation, with a trailing price-to-earnings of 124.68. This is not a cash-rich company, since the total cash position on its balance sheet is $238.15 million and its total debt is $3.48 billion. This stock currently sports a dividend yield of 4.2%.

  A director just bought 30,000 shares, or about $563,000 worth of stock, at $18.79 per share.

  From a technical perspective, AYR is currently trending above both its 50-day and 200-day moving averages, which is bullish. This stock has been uptrending strong for the last five months, with shares moving higher from its low of $15.84 to its recent high of $19.50 a share. During that uptrend, shares of AYR have been consistently making higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. That move has now pushed shares of AYR within range of triggering a big breakout trade.

  If you're bullish on AYR, then I would look for long-biased trades as long as this stock is trending above its 50-day at $18.67 or above more support near $18, and then once it breaks out above its 52-week high at $19.50 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above that level with volume that hits near or above its three-month average volume of 430,032 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then AYR will set up to enter new 52-week high territory, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that breakout are $25 to $30 a share.

• [By David Sterman]

  As a result, many recent insider purchases are now "underwater." That spells opportunity. If these stocks are even cheaper than the levels in which insiders found them to be appealing, then we may witness even deeper insider buying in coming weeks, further validating this "buy" signal. Here's a look at six examples.

  1. Aircastle (NYSE: AYR) In early June, this aircraft leasing firm agreed to sell a 15% stake in itself to Japan's Marubeni Corp. The two firms aim to leverage each other's global transport divisions, cross-selling services and equipment to each other's customer base.

  Marubeni began buying shares in subsequent weeks, and by early August, already qualified as an insider as its ownership stake moved above 5%. Throughout the past month, Marubeni has kept on buying, even as shares moved past the $17 mark. Yet in recent days, the market turmoil has pushed shares down close to $16. Look for Marubeni to keep buying until it hits the 15% ownership threshold. Meanwhile, analysts have yet to project the benefits of these two firms' partnership, as forward earnings estimates have remained largely static over the past 90 days.

• [By Vera Yuan]

  We initiated a new position in Aircastle Ltd. (AYR), an aircraft leasing company with a flexible business model and a rational capital allocation philosophy. We took advantage of an opportunity to purchase shares in the heavily capitalized Georgia bank State Bank Financial Corp. (STBZ) as the depressed stock price reflected investors��lack of patience with a slower than expected pace of capital deployment. We like State Bank�� management team led by Georgia banker Joe Evans. This management team has experience successfully building and selling other Georgia banks. We also received shares of transportation infrastructure company XPO Logistics, Inc. (XPO) as a result of its acquisition of holding Pacer International, Inc.

Top 10 Financial Stocks To Invest In 2014: Terra Catalyst Fund (TCF)

Terra Catalyst Fund is a closed-end investment fund. The Company's investment objective and policy is to seek realization of its portfolio of investments in the ordinary course of business and, subject to retaining sufficient cash to meet operating costs and liabilities, to return the net proceeds of all such realizations to Shareholders on a periodic basis, following which the Company will be wound-up. The investment manager of the Company is Laxey Partners Limited. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rustic Nomad]

  Analyst Jiang, on the other hand, is seeing good pace in gas storage, exiting the summer at about 0.05 trillion cubic feet (Tcf), which is 0.8 Tcf below the normal and is on track to match the lowest winter exit for storage inventories since 2004.

Top 10 Financial Stocks To Invest In 2014: National Health Partners Inc (NHPR)

National Health Partners, Inc., incorporated on March 10, 1989, is a national healthcare membership organization that was formed to address the need for affordable healthcare nationwide. The Company creates, markets and sells membership programs targeted toward underserved markets in the healthcare industry through a national healthcare savings network called CARExpress. CARExpress is a network of over 1,000,000 participating hospitals, doctors, dentists, pharmacists and other healthcare providers that have agreed to render their services and products to the Company's members at discounted prices. CARExpress enables the Company's members to engage in point-of-service transactions directly with participating healthcare providers and pay discounted prices.

The Company has designed membership programs that range from its traditional health discount programs that provide access to networks of providers that have agreed to provide its members with a reduced rate for services, to membership programs that include limited liability insurance benefits. The Company offers two families of CARExpress membership programs to its members, its CARExpress health discount programs, and its CARExpress Plus membership programs.

The Company's CARExpress health discount programs consists of healthcare, including physicians, hospitals, ancillary services, dentists, prescription drugs, vision care, hearing aids, chiropractic services, alternative care, 24-hour nurseline, medical supplies and equipment, and long-term care facilities, which include skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, respite care and home health care. The Company provides its members with access to over 1,000,000 healthcare providers through its agreements with CareMark, Aetna, Optum, Outlook Vision, Integrated Health, Three Rivers, International Med-Care and HealthFi International.

The Company's CARExpress Plus programs are membership programs consists of the Company's CARExpress health discount progr! ams and limited liability insurance benefits underwritten by United States.The limited liability insurance benefits included in these programs are accidental death and dismemberment coverage (AD&D), accident medical expense coverage (AME), accident disability coverage, a daily hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) benefit, doctor visit benefits, inpatient/outpatient surgical visit benefits, as well as emergency room and ambulance benefits. With CARExpress Plus, the Company's health discount programs provide its members with a point of service discount on their healthcare expenses at the time of service. The Company offers three standard CARExpress Plus programs, which include CARExpress Plus Platinum Program, CARExpress Plus Gold Program and CARExpress Plus Silver Program.

The Company competes with Alliance HealthCard, Inc., AmeriPlan, Best Benefits, Careington International, Family Care, Full Access Medical, International Association of Businesses, New Benefits, Inc. and People's Benefit Services.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Peter Graham]

  Last Friday, small cap stocks National Health Partners, Inc (OTCMKTS: NHPR) surged 816.7% while Timios National Corp (OTCMKTS: HOMS) and Medical Care Technologies Inc (OTCMKTS: MDCE) sank 32.28% and 25%, respectively. So what will these three small caps do for investors and traders this week? Here is a closer look to help you decide on a trading strategy:

  National Health Partners, Inc (OTCMKTS: NHPR) Surged 816.7% On Friday

  Small cap National Health Partners is a national healthcare savings organization that provides discount healthcare membership programs to uninsured and underinsured people through a national healthcare savings network called "CARExpress." On Friday, National Health Partners surged 816.7% to $0.044 for a market cap of $107,933 plus NHPR is down 78% over the past year and up 923.3% since June 2012 according to Google Finance.

Top 10 Financial Stocks To Invest In 2014: Arbor Realty Trust Inc (ABR)

Arbor Realty Trust, Inc., incorporated in June 2003, is a specialized real estate finance company. The Company invests in a diversified portfolio of structured finance assets in the multi-family and commercial real estate markets. It invests primarily in real estate-related bridge and mezzanine loans, including junior participating interests in first mortgages, preferred and direct equity, and in limited cases, discounted mortgage notes and other real estate-related assets (collectively, structured finance investments). The Company also holds investments in mortgage-related securities and real estate property. It conducts all of its operations and investing activities through its operating partnership, Arbor Realty Limited Partnership, and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. The Company serves as the general partner of its operating partnership, and owned a 100% partnership interest in its operating partnership as of December 31, 2011.

Targeted Investments

The Company offers bridge financing products to borrowers who are seeking short-term capital to be used in an acquisition of property. The bridge loans it makes range in size from $1 million to $75 million and are predominantly secured by first mortgage liens on the property. The Company offers junior participation financing in the form of junior participating interest in the senior debt. Junior participation financings have the same obligations, collateral and borrower as the senior debt. Its junior participation loans range in size from $1 million to $60 million and have terms of up to 10 years. The Company offers mezzanine financing in the form of loans that are subordinate to a conventional first mortgage loan and senior to the borrower�� equity in a transaction. The Company holds a majority of its mezzanine loans through subsidiaries of its operating partnership that are pass-through entities for tax purposes or taxable subsidiary corporations. The Company provides financing by making preferred equity investments in entit! ies that directly or indirectly own real property. Its preferred equity investments typically range in size from $1 million to $75 million, and have terms up to 10 years.

Structured Finance Investments

The Company owns a diversified portfolio of structured finance investments consisting primarily of real estate-related bridge, junior participation interests in first mortgages, and mezzanine loans, as well as preferred equity investments and mortgage-related securities. As of December 31, 2011, it had 119 loans and investments in its portfolio, totaling $1.5 billion. These loans and investments were for 72 multi-family properties, 25 office properties, nine land properties, seven hotel properties, three retail properties, two condominium properties and one commercial property.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lee Jackson]

  Arbor Realty Trust Inc. (NYSE: ABR) recently increased its cash position with a secondary offering of 6 million shares of stock. The company invests in multifamily and commercial real estate-related bridge loans, junior participating interests in first mortgages, mezzanine loans, preferred and direct equity, discounted mortgage notes and other real estate-related assets, as well as holds investments in mortgage-related securities and real estate property. Arbor Realty Trust is rated as a stock to buy at Deutsche Bank with a $9.50 price target. The Thomson/First Call estimate for the stock is $9.25. Investors are paid a very solid 7.2% divided. The stock closed Friday at $6.88.

Top 10 Financial Stocks To Invest In 2014: Endurance Specialty Holdings Ltd (ENH)

Endurance Specialty Holdings Ltd. underwrites specialty lines of personal and commercial property and casualty insurance and reinsurance worldwide. The company operates in two segments, Insurance and Reinsurance. The Insurance segment provides agriculture insurance covering traditional multi-peril crop insurance, crop hail, livestock risk protection, and other agriculture risk management products; and professional lines of insurance products, including directors� and officers� liability, errors and omissions, employment practices liability, environmental liability, and pension trust liability insurance. This segment also offers casualty and other specialty insurance products for third party liability; hospital medical professional liability; contract and commercial surety; and workers� compensation, as well as property insurance primarily for earthquake and flood coverage. The Reinsurance segment provides catastrophe reinsurance for catastrophic perils primarily for pro perty and workers� compensation business; property reinsurance for property insurance policies; and casualty reinsurance for third party liability exposures, such as automobile, professional, directors� and officers�, and umbrella liabilities, as well as for workers� compensation. This segment also offers aerospace reinsurance covering hull, aircraft liability, and aircraft products; marine reinsurance of bluewater and brownwater hull, and cargo risks; surety reinsurance for contract and commercial surety, and fidelity insurers; agriculture reinsurance for risks associated with the production of food and fiber; and personal accident and terrorism reinsurance products. The company distributes its products through independent agents, and insurance and reinsurance brokers. Endurance Specialty Holdings Ltd. was founded in 2001 and is based in Pembroke, Bermuda.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Equities Trading UP
  Aspen Insurance Holdings (NYSE: AHL) shares shot up 11.33 percent to $43.83 after Endurance Specialty Holdings (NYSE: ENH) offered to buy Aspen Insurance for $47.50 per share in a cash and stock deal.

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Equities Trading UP
  Aspen Insurance Holdings (NYSE: AHL) shares shot up 11.05 percent to $43.72 after Endurance Specialty Holdings (NYSE: ENH) offered to buy Aspen Insurance for $47.50 per share in a cash and stock deal.