Best Financial Companies To Invest In 2015

Wall Street is synonymous with global financial strength.

But have you actually been therein a while? It's a ghost town, even in the middle of the day.

On the New York Stock Exchange, the media-to-trader ratio is probably about 10-to-1 (to the left is a picture I took last week). Floor traders have been replaced by computers, many of which are located hundreds of miles from Wall Street. Major banks like Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS  ) and JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: JPM  ) are headquartered away from the Street, in different parts of New York (partly for security reasons -- banks don't want to be clustered around each other).

But there's more to it than computers and security. Wall Street may be thinning out because so much of the global financial system is now located in Asia and South America.

Is Wall Street's global power diminishing? I asked David Cowen, CEO of the Museum of American Finance, what he thought. Have a look (transcript follows):

Best Financial Companies To Invest In 2015: Euro/Swiss(RF)

Regions Financial Corporation operates as the holding company for Regions Bank that provides a range of commercial, retail, and mortgage banking services in the United States. It offers various deposit products, including savings and transaction accounts; demand deposit accounts; money market accounts; and time deposits, such as certificate of deposits and individual retirement accounts. The company?s loan portfolio comprises commercial loans, such as commercial and industrial, and owner occupied commercial real estate mortgage and construction loans; investor real estate loans, including commercial real estate mortgage and construction loans; and consumer loans, which consist of residential first mortgage, home equity, indirect, consumer credit card, and other consumer loans. Regions Financial Corporation, through other subsidiaries, also provides regional brokerage and investment banking products and services, such as securities brokerage, trust, asset management, finan cial planning, mutual funds, securities underwriting, sales and trading, and investment banking services for individual and institutional investors; and insurance brokerage services for various lines of personal and commercial insurance comprising property, casualty, life, health, and accident. In addition, the company offers credit-related insurance, including title, term life, credit life, environmental, crop, and mortgage insurance; debt cancellation products; and equipment financing products primary for commercial clients. As of December 31, 2011, it operated approximately 2,100 ATMs and 1,726 banking offices in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. The company was founded in 1970 and is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jay Jenkins]

  Huntington, and other regional banks like KeyCorp (NYSE: KEY  ) and Regions Financial (NYSE: RF  ) , are staying out of the headlines, bringing strong products to the market, and as a result, winning new business. In the video below, Motley Fool contributor Jay Jenkins highlights Huntington as an industry leader in customer-focused banking.

• [By Matthew Smith]

  We also think that Regions Financial (RF) should be bought on the weakness in their share price right now. The shares trade roughly $1/share below their 52-week high right now but with what we see happening in the financial space over the next few months and few years we think that this name is a deal under $10/share. Like the discount brokers, as the yield curve steepens the company's profits shall increase and with that taking place and the continued improvement in the company's balance sheet we think share buybacks and dividends will be carried out and even raised.

Best Financial Companies To Invest In 2015: Extra Space Storage Inc (EXR)

Extra Space Storage, Inc. operates as a real estate investment trust (REIT) in the United States. It engages in property management and development activities that include acquiring, managing, developing, and selling, as well as the rental of self-storage facilities. As of December 31, 2006, Extra Space Storage owned interests in 567 properties located in 32 states and Washington, D.C., as well as managed 74 properties owned by franchisees or third parties. As a REIT, the company would not be subject to federal corporate income taxes if it distributes at least 90% of its taxable income to its stockholders. The company was founded in 1977 and is based in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Shauna O'Brien]

  On Tuesday, Goldman Sachs announced that it has removed Extra Space Storage, Inc. (EXR) from its Conviction Buy List.

  The firm has maintained a “Buy” rating on EXR, and has lowered the company’s price target from $51 to $50. This price target suggests a 12% upside from the stock’s current price of $43.94.

  Analyst Andrew Rosivach commented: “We think the stock is inexpensive on forward 2018E AFFO, but the higher 2014E multiple may require the stock to consolidate.”

  Extra Space Storage shares were down 21 cents, or 0.47%, during Tuesday morning trading. The stock is up 21% YTD.

• [By Dividends4Life]

  Below are several companies confident and secure enough in their business to increase their cash dividends:Deere & Company (DE) manufactures and distributes agriculture and turf, and construction and forestry equipment worldwide. May 28, the company increased its quarterly dividend 17.6% to $0.60 per share. The dividend is payable Aug. 1, 2014 to stockholders of record on June 30, 2014. The yield based on the new payout is 2.6%.Questar Corporation (STR) operates as an integrated natural gas company in the United States. May 23, the company increased its quarterly dividend 5.6% to $0.19 per share. The dividend is payable June 23, 2014 to stockholders of record on June 6, 2014. The yield based on the new payout is 3.2%.Extra Space Storage Inc. (EXR) operates as a real estate investment trust (REIT) in the United States. May 23, the company increased its quarterly dividend 17.5% to $0.47 per share. The dividend is payable June 30, 2014 to stockholders of record on June 13, 2014. The yield based on the new payout is 3.6%.The Williams Companies Inc. (WMB) operates as an energy infrastructure company. May 22, the company increased its quarterly dividend 6.7% to $0.xx per share. The dividend is payable June 30, 2014 to stockholders of record on June 13, 2014. The yield based on the new payout is 3.6%. Selecting stocks with increasing dividends is critical for an income growth strategy. The above list contains stocks that recently raised their dividends; it is not a list of recommend buys. As always, due diligence should be performed before buying or selling any stock. For a list of stocks with a long string of consecutive cash dividend increases, see this list.Full Disclosure: No position in the aforementioned securities. See a list of all my dividend growth holdings here.Related Posts - 6 Healthcare Stocks With Growing Dividends Yielding In Excess of 2% - Why We Are Dividend Growth Investors - 6 Dividend Growth Stocks With Very Little Debt - What Determines A Divid

• [By Jonas Elmerraji]

  Up first is Extra Space Storage (EXR), a $5 billion self-storage facility owner. EXR has posted strong performance for 2013, rallying close to 19% since the calendar flipped over to January. That's more or less on par with the performance of the S&P, but it's a whole lot stronger than most REITs. That outsized relative strength looks ready to carry over to the second half of the year.

  That's because EXR is currently forming an ascending triangle pattern, a price setup that's formed by a horizontal resistance level to the upside and uptrending support to the downside. Essentially, as shares of EXR bounce in between those two technical levels, they're getting squeezed closer and closer to a breakout above resistance -- at $45 in this case. When that breakout happens, traders have a buy signal in shares.

  EXR's pattern isn't exactly textbook, but that doesn't change the trading implications in this stock. Momentum adds some extra confidence to EXR's ability to break out; 14-day RSI turned bullish just last week. After EXR clears $45, keep a tight protective stop in place.

Top China Stocks To Own For 2015: The Bancorp Inc.(TBBK)

The Bancorp, Inc. operates as the holding company for The Bancorp Bank that provides various commercial and retail banking and related products and services to small and mid-size businesses and their principals. The company?s deposit products include checking accounts, savings accounts, health savings accounts, money market accounts, individual retirement accounts, certificates of deposit, and stored value and payroll cards, as well as commercial accounts, such as general commercial checking, small business checking, business savings, and business money market accounts. Its loan portfolio comprises commercial term loans, commercial mortgage loans, commercial lines of credit, 1-4 family construction loans, direct lease financing, and commercial construction, acquisition, and development loans; and consumer loans comprising loans for consumers to finance personal residences, automobiles, home improvements, and for other purposes. The company also provides other banking serv ices, which include private label banking and merchant card processing services; and Internet banking services. It serves Philadelphia, Delaware, Chester, Montgomery, Bucks, and Lehigh counties in Pennsylvania; New Castle county in Delaware; and Mercer, Burlington, Camden, Ocean, and Cape May counties in New Jersey. The company was founded in 1999 and is based in Wilmington, Delaware.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  The Bancorp (TBBK) plunged 30% to $11.37 this week, earning it the honor of the biggest loser in the Russell 2000. The Bancorp said in a filing that the FDIC had demanded it to more to comply with the Bank Secrecy Act.

Best Financial Companies To Invest In 2015: Apollo Residential Mortgage Inc (AMTG)

Apollo Residential Mortgage, Inc. is a holding company, which conducts its business primarily through ARM Operating, LLC and its other operating subsidiaries. The Company is a residential real estate finance company that invests in residential mortgage assets in the United States. The Company invests in residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS) that are issued or guaranteed as to principal and/or interest by a federally chartered corporation, such as Fannie Mae (Freddie Mac), or an agency of us the United Sates Government, such as Ginnie Mae (collectively, the Agencies, with RMBS being issued or guaranteed by the Agencies being referred to as Agency RMBS), whose underlying collateral includes fixed rate mortgages, adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs) and interest-only and inverse interest-only securities (collectively, Agency Derivatives). The Company also invests in RMBS that are not issued or guaranteed by the United Sates government Agency (non-Agency RMBS) and considers investing in residential mortgage loans and other residential mortgage assets. As of December 31, 2011, the Company held a diversified portfolio. The Company is externally managed and advised by ARM Manager, LLC.

The assets that the Company targets for investment: Agency RMBS, Non-Agency RMBS, residential mortgage loans and other residential mortgage assets. Agency RMBS includes primarily whole pool Agency RMBS, and Agency collateralized mortgage obligations. Non-Agency RMBS includes highly rated, as well as non-investment grade and unrated, tranches backed by Alt-A mortgage loans, subprime mortgage loans and prime mortgage loans. Residential mortgage loans includes prime mortgage loans, jumbo mortgage loans, Alt-A mortgage loans and subprime mortgage loans. Other residential mortgage assets consist of interest-only and principal-only Agency RMBS and non-Agency RMBS, inverse floating rate and floating rate securities, and other Agency and non-Agency RMBS derivative securities, as well as other financial assets, includi! ng common stock, preferred stock and debt of other real estate-related entities.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Tim Melvin]

  I sat down this morning and spent some time looking for cheap stocks that might do well regardless of market action in 2014. While bargains are scarce there are still a few to be found. One such bargain is mortgage REIT Apollo Residential Mortgage (AMTG). The stock is trading at less than 80% of quarter-end book value, and management also announced a $50 million share buyback at the same time. There may be some erosion of book value as they look to adopt more credit-sensitive portfolio policies, but I doubt it will be substantial.

• [By Rich Duprey]

  Residential mortgage-backed securities REIT�Apollo Residential Mortgage (NYSE: AMTG  ) announced yesterday its second-quarter dividend of $0.70 per share, the same rate it's paid for the past three quarters after lowering the payout almost 18% from $0.85 per share.

Best Financial Companies To Invest In 2015: Charter Pacific Corporation Ltd (CHF)

Charter Pacific Corporation Limited is in the business of investments and the provision of corporate services. During the fiscal tear ended June 30, 2012 (fiscal 2012), the Company focused on development of its iron ore projects in Mauritania, maintained its holding in Monteray Mining Group Ltd to 30.36%, and maintained its investment in FarmWorks Australia Limited. The Company segments include corporate services, investments, share trading, and exploration and evaluation. Corporate services include provision of corporate services to other companies; Investments segment includes investment in listed and unlisted companies planned to deliver returns in through capital appreciation and/or interest on loan funds advanced. Share trading includes the purchase and sale of listed investment securities. Exploration and evaluation involves the exploration of iron ore permits. During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012, the Company closed its Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) segment. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Chandan Dubey]

  DatePrice/Share (CHF)SharesAmount08.08.20116.3812,57480,22208.08.20115.9715,00089,55010.08.20115.9945,00029,97218.08.20115.866,000383,10322.08.20115.410,00054,00022.08.20115.720,000114,500

Best Financial Companies To Invest In 2015: Special Opportunities Fund Inc.(SPE)

Special Opportunities Fund, Inc. is a close-ended fund of funds launched and managed by Brooklyn Capital Management LLC. It invests in close-ended funds investing in public equity and fixed income markets. The fund employs a combination of value, opportunistic and special situations strategies to make its investments. It benchmarks the performance of its portfolio against the S&P 500 Index. The fund was previously known as Insured Municipal Income Fund, Inc. Special Opportunities Fund, Inc. was formed on February 18, 1993 and is domiciled in the United States.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Whopper Investments]

  For example, his Special Opportunity Fund (SPE) needed more capital to effectively implement its activist strategy after he took over. Unfortunately, most of the ways to raise capital are expensive and seriously dilute shareholder value. For example, a common stock offering, the most common way a closed end fund would raise capital, has to be priced at a discount and an investment bank needs to be paid to organize and sell it. Obviously, paying to issue shares at a discount is a disaster for long term shareholder value, so he instead pursued a rights offering for convertible preferred stock, which allowed the company to raise money without the expense of an investment bank while allowing shareholders the opportunity to increase their holdings in the fund without paying a commission. From the prospectus,

Best Financial Companies To Invest In 2015: ProShares UltraShort FTSE China 25 (FXP)

ProShares UltraShort FTSE/Xinhua China 25 (the Fund) seeks daily investment results that correspond to twice (200%) the inverse (opposite) of the daily performance of the FTSE/Xinhua China 25 Index (the Index). The Index consists of 25 of the largest and most liquid Chinese stocks listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX). This free float-adjusted Index caps the weight of any of constituent stock at 10% to ensure broad representation of the Chinese economy. The Fund takes positions in securities and/or financial instruments that, in combination, should have similar daily return characteristics as -200% of the daily return of the Index. The Index is a price return index. The Fund�� investment advisor is ProShare Advisors 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.

Best Financial Companies To Invest In 2015: First Trust Portfolios LP (QQEW)

First Trust NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index Fund (the Fund) seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield of an equity index called the NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index (the Index). The Fund will normally invest at least 90% of its assets in common stocks that comprise the Index. The Index is the equal-weighted version of the NASDAQ-100 Index, which includes 100 of the largest non-financial securities listed on NASDAQ based on market capitalization. The Index contains the same securities as the NASDAQ-100 Index but each of the securities is initially set at a weight of 1% of the Index and is rebalanced quarterly. The Fund�� investment advisor is First Trust Advisors L.P. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Selena Maranjian]

  Perhaps the best reason to pass up this otherwise solid ETF is its market-cap-based weighting, which gives much more influence to some companies than others. If you're not a strong believer in Apple's future, for example, you may not want more than 13% of your money in this ETF tied up in it. If you agree that equal weighting makes more sense in indexes, consider the First Trust NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted ETF (NASDAQ: QQEW  ) , an ETF with the same stock focus as the PowerShares ETF that's also compelling in terms of fees and performance. It charges a bit more in fees, but it will give all its holdings an equal shot at boosting the value of the index.