10 Best Cheapest Stocks To Own For 2014

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) Shopping for car insurance? You may want to check the calendar first.

That's the takeaway from a yearlong study released Thursday by InsuranceQuotes.com, which found that the cost of car insurance can vary by up to 48% depending on what month it's purchased.

Nationally, December was the most affordable month to buy, with coverage 8% cheaper on average than policies purchased in March, the most expensive month.

The price swings were much larger in many individual states. In Hawaii, it was 48% cheaper to buy in December than in March, the study found; in Pennsylvania, December was 34.5% cheaper than the most expensive month, April.

  Tiny cars flunk crash test

Researchers said they couldn't identify any single factor driving the variability. Complicating matters was the fact that the patterns vary across states; although December was the cheapest month nationally on average, it was the most expensive month in 11 individual states.

Top 5 Bank Companies To Own In Right Now: Brown Shoe Company Inc. (BWS)

Brown Shoe Company, Inc., a footwear company, engages in the retail and wholesale of footwear. It operates through Famous Footwear, Wholesale Operations, and Specialty Retail segments. The company provides licensed, branded, and private-label casual, dress, and athletic footwear products to women, men, and children. It operates retail shoe stores under the Famous Footwear name that offer shoes of various brands, including Nike, Skechers, New Balance, Converse, adidas, DC, LifeStride, Reebok, Sperry, Asics, Puma, Dr. Scholl�s Shoes, Vans, BOC by Born, Sof Sole, Fergalicious, and Bearpaw. The company also operates shoe stores under the Naturalizer name, which provide women�s footwear, including casual, dress, sandals, and boots under the Naturalizer brand; operates retail stores under Dr. Scholl�s Shoes and Sam Edelman names; and sells its products through Internet retail that include Shoes.com, Famous.com, Naturalizer.com, Naturalizer.ca, and DrSchollsShoes.com, as well as ViaSpiga.com, LifeStride.com, and Ryka.com. As of February 2, 2013, it operated 1,277 retail shoe stores in the United States, Canada, China, and Guam. In addition, the company designs, sources, and markets footwear to retail stores, such as national chains, department stores, independent retailers, mass merchandisers, online retailers, and catalogs. Brown Shoe Company, Inc. was founded in 1878 and is headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Duprey]

  Global footwear maker�Brown Shoe� (NYSE: BWS  ) �announced yesterday�its second-quarter dividend of $0.07 per share, the same rate it's paid since 2007.

• [By Laura Brodbeck]

  Notable earnings released on Friday included:

  Brown Shoe Company (NYSE: BWS) reported fourth quarter EPS of $0.14 on revenue of $600.00 million, compared to last year�� EPS of $0.14 on revenue of $640.18 million. ANN INC (NYSE: ANN) reported fourth quarter EPS of $0.10 on revenue of $623.30 million, compared to last year�� EPS of $0.05 on revenue of $607.68 million. Buckle, Inc�(NYSE: BKE) reported fourth quarter EPS of $1.23 on revenue of $339.00 million, compared to last year�� EPS of $1.28 on revenue of $360.62 million.

  Pre-Market Movers

10 Best Cheapest Stocks To Own For 2014: Office Depot Inc.(ODP)

Office Depot, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, supplies office products and services. Its North American Retail division sells an assortment of merchandise, such as general office supplies, computer supplies, business machines and related supplies, and office furniture under various labels, including Office Depot, Viking Office Products, Foray, Ativa, Break Escapes, Niceday, and Worklife through its chain of office supply stores. It also provides printing, reproduction, mailing, shipping, and other services, as well as personal computer support and network installation service. As of December 25, 2010, this division operated 1,147 office supply stores in the United States and Canada. The company?s North American Business Solutions division sells nationally branded and private brand office supplies, technology products, furniture, and services to small- to medium-sized customers through a dedicated sales force, catalogs, and Internet. Its International division sells o ffice products and services through direct mail catalogs, contract sales forces, Internet sites, and retail stores using a mix of company-owned operations, joint ventures, licensing and franchise agreements, alliances, and other arrangements. As of December 25, 2010, it sold its office products to customers in 53 countries in North America, Europe, Asia, and Latin America. This division operated, through wholly-owned or majority-owned entities, 97 retail stores in France, Hungary, South Korea, and Sweden; and participates under licensing and merchandise arrangements in South Korea, Thailand, India, Israel, Japan, and the Middle East. The company was founded in 1986 and is headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Shares of Office Depot (NYSE: ODP) got a boost, shooting up 3.94 percent to $5.81 after the US Federal Trade Commission closed probe of proposed Office Depot/OfficeMax merger.

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Top Headline
  Office Depot (NYSE: ODP) reported upbeat first-quarter results and announced its plans to close at least 400 stores in the United States. For the full year, Office Depot also lifted its adjusted operating income outlook to at least $160 million versus $140 million. Office Depot posted a quarterly net loss of $109 million, or $0.21 per share, versus a year-ago loss of $17 million, or $0.06 per share.

10 Best Cheapest Stocks To Own For 2014: Kraft Foods Group Inc (KRFT)

Kraft Foods Group, Inc. (Kraft Foods Group), incorporated on March 16, 2012, operates food and beverage businesses in North America. The Company manufactures and markets food and beverage products, including convenient meals, refreshment beverages and coffee, cheese and other grocery products, in the United States and Canada, under a stable of iconic brands. Its product categories span breakfast, lunch and dinner meal occasions, both at home and in foodservice locations. The Company sells its products to supermarket chains, wholesalers, supercenters, club stores, mass merchandisers, distributors, convenience stores, drug stores, gasoline stations, value stores and other retail food outlets in the United States and Canada. On September 14, 2012, the Company�� parent company, Kraft Foods Inc. (Kraft ParentCo), issued a press release relating to the anticipated trading markets for Kraft Foods Inc. and Kraft Foods Group, Inc. common stock through the completion of its spin-off from Kraft Foods Inc. In October 2012, Mondelez International, Inc. completed the spin-off of North American grocery business, Kraft Foods Group. In June 2013, Kraft Foods Group Inc announced plans to create two new, standalone business units: Meals and Desserts, and Enhancers and Snack Nuts.

The Company�� brand portfolio consists of food brands in North America, including three brands: Kraft cheeses, dinners and dressings; Oscar Mayer meats, and Maxwell House coffees- plus over 20 brands. It manufactures and sells food and beverage products in 50 categories. The Company operates in five segments: U.S. Beverages, which manufactures packaged juice drinks, powdered beverages and coffee; U.S. Cheese, which manufactures processed, natural and cream cheeses; U.S. Convenient Meals, which manufactures processed meats and lunch combinations; U.S. Grocery, which manufactures spoonable and pourable dressings, condiments, desserts, packaged dinners and snack nuts, and Canada & N.A. Foodservice, which sells products that span ! all of its segments and includes the Canadian and Puerto Rico grocery business, the North American foodservice operations and the North American Grocery Export Business.

U.S. Beverages

During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company�� U.S. Beverages segment contributed 16% of its combined net revenues. This segment manufactures refreshment beverages, including Capri Sun (under license) and Kool-Aid packaged juice drinks, Kool-Aid, Crystal Light and Country Timepowdered beverages and MiO liquid concentrate, and coffee products, including Maxwell House, Gevalia and Yuban coffees, Maxwell House Internationalbeverage mixers and Tassimo (under license) hot beverage system.

U.S. Cheese

During 2011, U.S. Cheese segment had contributed 20% of the Company�� combined net revenues. This segment manufactures processed cheese, including Velveeta and Cheez Whiz processed cheeses, Kraft and Deli Deluxe processed cheese slices, Kraft grated cheeses and Polly-O and Athenos hummus and cheeses; natural cheese, including Kraft and Cracker Barrel natural cheeses, and cream cheese, including Philadelphia cream cheese and cooking creme.

U.S. Convenient Meals

During 2011, the Company�� U.S. Convenient Meals segment contributed 18% of its combined net revenues. This segment�� principal brands and products include Oscar Mayer lunch meats, hot dogs and bacon, Lunchables lunch combinations, Boca soy-based meat alternatives, and Claussen pickles.

U.S. Grocery

During 2011, the Company�� U.S. Grocery segment contributed 25% of its combined net revenues. This segment�� principal brands and products include Kraft and Kraft Deluxe macaroni & cheese dinners, Planters nuts, trail mixes and peanut butter, Corn Nuts corn snacks, Jell-O dry packaged desserts and refrigerated gelatin and pudding snacks, Cool Whip whipped topping, Jet-Puffed marshmallows, Baker�� chocolate and baking ingredients, Kraft and Miracle Whip sp! oonable d! ressings, Kraft and Good Seasons salad dressings, A.1. steak sauce, Kraft and Bull��-Eye barbecue sauces, Grey Poupon mustards, Shake N��Bake coatings, Stove Top stuffing mix, Taco Bell Home Originals (under license) meal kits, Velveeta shells and cheese dinners, and Velveeta Skillets meal kits.

Canada & N.A. Foodservice

During 2011, the Company�� Canada & N.A. Foodservice segment contributed 21% of its combined net revenues. The principal products and brands in this segment span all of its segments. Canadian grocery offerings include Nabob coffee and Kraft peanut butter, as well as a range of products in the Grocery Business Lines. The North American foodservice business sells branded products, including Maxwell House coffee, A.1. steak sauce and a range of Kraft sauces, dressings and cheeses, and serves the needs of restaurants and other foodservice operations. Puerto Rico grocery offerings include all grocery business lines, except for powdered and liquid concentrate beverages, such as Crystal Light, Tang and MiO. The North American Grocery Export Business products and brands span all grocery business lines, except for powdered and liquid concentrate beverages and certain products sold under brands, such as Philadelphia cream cheese and Kraftmayonnaise, which marketed and sold locally by Kraft ParentCo in countries outside the United States and Canada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Heather Long]

  Starting this fall, Keurig (GMCR) will partner with Kraft (KRFT) to offer Maxwell House, Yuban and Gevalia K-Cups.

  Kraft has been selling a "single serve" coffee product for awhile that works in Keurig machines, but this will be the first time the companies are collaborating on branding and distribution.

10 Best Cheapest Stocks To Own For 2014: Itron Inc.(ITRI)

Itron, Inc. provides products and services for the energy and water markets worldwide. It produces standard electricity, natural gas, and water meters for residential, commercial, industrial, and transmission and distribution customers. The company also offers advanced and smart electronic, gas, and water meters, as well as communication modules; handheld, mobile, and fixed network collection technologies; meter data management software; prepayment systems comprising smart key, keypad, and smart card communication technologies; data warehousing; and knowledge application solutions. It provides communication technologies, which include telephone, radio frequency, global system for mobile communications, power line carrier, and Ethernet devices. In addition, the company offers professional services, including implementation, installation, consulting, system management, and analysis. It markets its products through direct sales, distributors, representative agencies, partners , and meter manufacturer representatives. The company was founded in 1977 and is headquartered in Liberty Lake, Washington.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Garrett Cook]

  Shares of Itron (NASDAQ: ITRI) got a boost, shooting up 8.49 percent to $39.49 after the company reported Q2 earnings of $0.54 per share on revenue of $489.40 million.

• [By John Udovich]

  Although small cap smart metering stock Silver Spring Networks Inc (NYSE: SSNI) recently soared on earnings, it also plunged yesterday�after loosing�out on important contract ��meaning it might be time to take a closer look at it along with other smart metering stocks like Itron, Inc (NASDAQ: ITRI) or Echelon Corporation (NASDAQ: ELON) to see if they are smart investments.

• [By Garrett Cook]

  Shares of Itron (NASDAQ: ITRI) got a boost, shooting up 9.53 percent to $39.87 after the company reported Q2 earnings of $0.54 per share on revenue of $489.40 million.

• [By John Udovich]

  Small cap cloud stock Opower Inc (NYSE: OPWR), a cloud�solutions provider to the utility sector, IPO�� at $19�on Friday to�close at $23 a share, meaning its worth taking a closer look at the stock plus�take a look at the performance of smart meter or smart grid�stocks like�Itron, Inc (NASDAQ: ITRI), Echelon Corporation (NASDAQ: ELON) and EnerNOC, Inc (NASDAQ: ENOC).

10 Best Cheapest Stocks To Own For 2014: Edison International (EIX)

Edison International, incorporated on April 20, 1987, is a holding company of Southern California Edison Company (SCE). SCE is a public utility primarily engaged in the business of supplying electricity to an approximately 50,000 square-mile area of southern California. The SCE service territory contains a population of nearly 14 million people and SCE serves the population through approximately 5 million customer accounts. In August 2013, Edison International completed the acquisition of SoCore Energy, LLC.

SCE's retail operations are subject to regulation by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). SCE has a five tier residential rate structure. SCE supplies electricity to its customers through transmission and distribution networks. Its transmission facilities, which are located primarily in California but also in Nevada and Arizona, deliver power from generating sources to the distribution network and consist of lines ranging from 33 kilovolts to 500 kilovolts and substations. SCE's distribution system, which takes power from substations to customers, includes over 59,000 circuit miles of overhead lines, 44,000 circuit miles of underground lines and over 700 distribution substations, all of which are located in California. San Onofre, Four Corners, certain of SCE's substations, and portions of its transmission, distribution and communication systems are located on lands owned by the United States or others under licenses, permits, easements or leases, or on public streets or highways pursuant to franchises. Thirty-one of SCE's 36 hydroelectric plants and related reservoirs are located in whole or in part on United States-owned lands and are subject to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) licenses.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Justin Loiseau]

  More than a year after they were initially shut down, Edison International (NYSE: EIX  ) announced today that it will permanently retire Units 2 and 3 of its San Onofre Nuclear Generating Stations (SONGS�) in California.

• [By Justin Loiseau]

  Duke forecasts sunshine
  On Wednesday, Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK  ) announced its purchase of two California solar farms from Germany-based SolarWorld. The new acquisitions will add 21 megawatts of solar electricity to its current 61 MW of capacity. Collectively, the two farms will become Duke's largest commercial solar farm in the nation, and the company has already arranged a 20-year power purchase agreement with Edison International (NYSE: EIX  ) .

10 Best Cheapest Stocks To Own For 2014: Verifone Systems Inc.(PAY)

Verifone Systems, Inc. designs, markets, and services electronic payment solutions in North America and internationally. It provides system solutions, including countertop electronic payment systems that accepts magnetic, smart card, contactless/ radio frequency identification(RFID) cards, and near field communication(NFC) enabled mobile phones; secure PIN pads that support credit and debit transactions; and wireless system solutions that support Internet protocol-based code division multiple access, general packet radio service, bluetooth, and wireless fidelity technologies. The company also offers products for consumer-activated functionality at the point of sale; contactless/NFC payment solutions consisting of contactless readers primarily for consumer-activated transactions with contactless cards, tokens, and NFC-enabled mobile phones; and Gemstone family of products comprising integrated electronic payment systems for petroleum companies. In addition, it provides serv er-based payment processing software and middleware; unattended and self-service payments hardware and software integration modules, such as vending machines, ATMs, ticketing kiosks, petroleum dispensers, public transportation turnstiles and buses, self-checkout, bill payment, and photo finishing kiosks; retail bank branch solutions; mass transportation solutions; and network access solutions. Further, the company offers client services, customized application development, advertising publishing, taxi payments and advertising, cardholder data security, annual software maintenance program, and repair services. It serves financial institutions, payment processors, petroleum companies, large retailers, taxi fleets, government organizations, healthcare companies, independent sales organizations, and advertisers. The company was formerly known as VeriFone Holdings, Inc. and changed its name to VeriFone Systems, Inc in May 2010. VeriFone Systems, Inc. is headquartered in San Jose, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Roland Head]

  VeriFone (NYSE: PAY  ) may fall this morning after the firm revealed a second-quarter loss of $0.54 per share after markets closed last night, down from a $0.03 per-share profit for the same period last year. The firm blamed high legal costs for the loss, but its shares closed down by 5% last night and are down by almost 15% in premarket trading this morning. Vera Bradley may also fall after reporting a 27% fall in first-quarter profit and cutting its full-year guidance; the handbag designer's share price is down 11% in premarket trading this morning.

10 Best Cheapest Stocks To Own For 2014: Nordion Inc. (NDZ)

Nordion Inc., a health science company, provides various products and services for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases worldwide. The company operates in two segments, Sterilization Technologies and Medical Isotopes. The Sterilization Technologies segment offers Cobalt-60, a radioactive metal that emits radiation and sterilizes items by destroying contaminating micro-organisms; and dosimetry and professional services, as well as designs, constructs, and maintains commercial gamma sterilization systems. The Medical Isotopes segment provides various products that are used in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, including cardiac and neurological conditions, and various types of cancer. It offers Molybdenum-99, which decays into Technetium-99, a diagnostic that is used in nuclear medical procedures; Xenon-133 used in lung scans; Iodine-131 to treat hyperthyroidism, thyroid cancer, and non-Hodgkin�s lymphoma; Iodine-125 to treat prostate cancer; and Yttri um-90 to treat liver cancer and non-Hodgkin�s lymphoma. This segment also provides cyclotron isotopes, such as Iodine-123 to diagnose thyroid disease; Thallium-201 to diagnose and assess risk of coronary artery heart disease; Palladium-103 for treating prostate cancer; Strontium-82 for cardiac imaging; and Indium-111 and Gallium-67 to diagnose cancer, as well as offers radiopharmaceutical and contract manufacturing services. Nordion Inc. serves radiopharmaceutical and pharmaceutical manufacturers, biotechnology companies, manufacturers of medical supplies and devices, contract sterilizers, hospitals, and academic and government institutions, as well as to food and consumer goods industries. The company was formerly known as MDS Inc. and changed its name to Nordion Inc. in November 2010. Nordion Inc. was founded in 1946 and is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Leading and Lagging Sectors
  Monday morning, the healthcare sector proved to be a source of strength for the market. Leading the sector was strength from Nordion (NYSE: NDZ) and Pacira Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: PCRX). Utilities sector rose by just 0.19 percent in the US market today.

Top Biotech Companies To Own In Right Now

DELAFIELD, Wis. (Stockpickr) -- Professional traders running mutual funds and hedge funds don't just look at a stock's price moves; they also track big changes in volume activity. Often when above-average volume moves into an equity, it precedes a large spike in volatility.

>>5 Stocks Insiders Love Right Now

Major moves in volume can signal unusual activity, such as insider buying or selling -- or buying or selling by "superinvestors."

Unusual volume can also be a major signal that hedge funds and momentum traders are piling into a stock ahead of a catalyst. These types of traders like to get in well before a large spike, so it's always a smart move to monitor unusual volume. That said, remember to combine trend and price action with unusual volume. Put them all together to help you decipher the next big trend for any stock. >>5 Stocks Set to Soar on Bullish Earnings With that in mind, let's take a look at several stocks rising on unusual volume today. Vanda Pharmaceuticals Vanda Pharmaceuticals (VNDA) is a biopharmaceutical company focusing on the development and commercialization of clinical-stage drug candidates for central nervous system disorders. This stock closed up 9.1% to $13.03 in Wednesday's trading session. Wednesday's Volume: 2.17 million Three-Month Average Volume: 1.01 million Volume % Change: 145% >>5 Biotech Stocks Under $10 to Watch From a technical perspective, VNDA ripped higher here and broke out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at $12.34 to $12.66 with heavy upside volume. This move is quickly pushing shares of VNDA within range of triggering another big breakout trade. That trade will hit if VNDA manages to take out Wednesday's high at $13.11 to its 52-week high at $13.30 with high volume. Traders should now look for long-biased trades in VNDA as long as it's trending above that first breakout level at $12.34 or above support at $12 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 1.01 million shares. If that breakout hits soon, then VNDA will set up to enter new 52-week-high territory, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that move are $15 to $17.

Top Tech Companies To Watch For 2015: ARIAD Pharmaceuticals Inc.(ARIA)

ARIAD Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, focuses on the discovery, development, and commercialization of small-molecule drugs for the treatment of cancer. The company?s lead cancer product, ridaforolimus is being studied in multiple clinical trials in patients with various types of cancers, including metastatic sarcomas, breast cancer, endometrial cancer, prostate cancer, and non-small cell lung cancer. Its product pipeline also includes ponatinib, a pan BCR-ABL inhibitor in phase 2 clinical trial for applications in various hematological cancers and solid tumors; and AP26113, an anaplastic lymphoma kinase inhibitor in preclinical studies for the treatment of various cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer, lymphoma, and neuroblastoma. In addition, the company focuses on a drug discovery program centered on small-molecule therapies that are molecularly targeted to cell-signaling pathways implicated in cancer. Further, it licenses its ARGENT cell-sign aling regulation technologies to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to develop and commercialize therapeutic products, and to conduct drug discovery research. The company has collaboration and license agreements with Merck & Co., Inc. for the development, manufacture, and commercialization of ridaforolimus; and license agreements with Medinol Ltd. and ICON Medical Corp. to develop and commercialize stents and other medical devices to deliver ridaforolimus to prevent restenosis of injured vessels. ARIAD Pharmaceuticals, Inc. was founded in 1991 and is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By George Budwell]

  Ariad Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: ARIA  ) is an oncology company whose leukemia drug Iclusig made headlines recently when it was pulled from the market by the Food and Drug Administration after a late-stage trial showed an elevated risk of blood clots. Shares of Ariad fell more than 25% this week as a result, despite already being down more than 80% in the last month. The problem facing Ariad is clear: Iclusig is its bread and butter. So if the FDA does not allow it back on the market, and that looks doubtful at this point, Ariad is in big trouble. Currently, the company only has one other clinical candidate, and that drug is still in the very early stages of development.

Top Biotech Companies To Own In Right Now: Prosensa Holding NV (RNA)

Prosensa Holding N.V., formerly Prosensa Holding B.V., is a biotechnology company engaged in the discovery and development of ribonucleic acid-modulating (RNA)-modulating, therapeutics for the treatment of genetic disorders. The Company�� primary focus is on rare neuromuscular and neurodegenerative disorders with a large unmet medical need, including Duchenne muscular dystrophy, myotonic dystrophy and Huntington�� disease. The Company�� clinical portfolio of RNA-based product candidates is focused on the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). The Company�� platform technology allows the development of RNA-modulating therapeutics that either interferes with splicing (exon skipping, exon inclusion, or splice mutation correction), remove mutant RNA, or block RNA expression, for different indications.

DMD is a rare, severe muscle wasting disease that occurs in up to 1 in 3,500 male births. It is commonly diagnosed between the ages of three to five, when boys begin to show signs of impaired motor development. PRO044, the Company�� product candidate, addresses a separate sub-population of DMD patients. The Company developed PRO044 using its exon-skipping technology to generate a product candidate with the same mechanism of action that is used by drisapersen.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Udovich]

  It should also be mentioned that earlier in the week, GlaxoSmithKline plc (NYSE: GSK) returned full rights of Duchenne muscular dystrophy drug drisapersen to their partner�Prosensa Holding NV (NASDAQ: RNA) and that news sent shares down 12.48% on�Monday. Moreover,�Prosensa Holding also sank some 70% last fall when Drisapersen failed a phase 3 trial by missing a primary endpoint measuring for how far patients could walk over the course of six minutes (the improvement�wasn't significantly better than the placebo).�However, Prosensa Holding also rose 24.37% yesterday after announcing�initial findings from further analyses from the aggregate data for drisapersen, with the CEO saying:

Top Biotech Companies To Own In Right Now: Furiex Pharmaceuticals Inc (FURX)

Furiex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a drug development collaboration company. The Company�� product pipeline includes two marketed products and three programs in development, including late-stage compounds, in multiple therapeutic areas. Its programs include Priligy, Alogliptin Nesina, Alogliptin/Actose Combination, Alogliptin/Metformin Combination, Fluoroquinolone, Mu Delta and PPD 10558. In November 2011, it acquired full exclusive license rights to develop and commercialize the compound MuDelta under its existing development and license agreement with Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V.

Priligy (dapoxetine) is a drug developed for the on-demand treatment of premature ejaculation (PE). Dapoxetine is a short-acting, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) designed to be taken only when needed one to three hours before sexual intercourse is anticipated rather than every day. Nesina (alogliptin) is a drug for the oral treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Alogliptin is a DPP-4 inhibitor that slows the inactivation of incretin hormones glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP).

Fluoroquinolone drug candidate is a Phase II-ready novel fluoroquinolone antibiotic that is being developed by the Company for the treatment of complicated skin and skin structure infections, such as abscesses that occur deep in the skin layers and respiratory infections. This antibiotic has a spectrum of activity and is able to treat methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections. The Company is developing both oral and intravenous (IV) formulations. The Company is developing Mu Delta for treatment of diarrheal predominant irritable bowel syndrome (d-IBS). The Company is conducting a Phase II study on an oral formulation of Mu Delta.

The Company is developing PPD 10558 for the treatment of dyslipidemia. PPD 10558 has shown muscle safety in preclinical studies by minimizing the delivery of the drug to the muscle. The Company has filed an inve! stigational new drug (IND) application with the United States Food and Drug Association and completed five clinical studies.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Michael Calia]

  Furiex Pharmaceuticals Inc.(FURX) said its treatment for diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome showed simultaneous improvements in stool consistency and abdominal pain in two Phase III studies. The drug developer’s shares surged 78% to $82 in recent premarket trading.

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Top Headline
  Forest Laboratories (NYSE: FRX) announced its plans to buy Furiex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: FURX) for up to $1.46 billion. Forest will pay around $95 per share, or around $1.1 billion in cash. Forest Labs will also pay up to $30 per share, or around $360 million in a contingent value right. The deal is projected to close in the second or third quarter of 2014.

• [By Lisa Levin]

  Furiex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: FURX) shares moved up 28.41% to $102.92. The volume of Furiex Pharmaceuticals shares traded was 2285% higher than normal. Forest Labs (NYSE: FRX) announced its plans to buy Furiex Pharma for up to $1.46 billion.

• [By CRWE]

  Furiex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:FURX) reported dosing of the first patient in its Phase III randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies evaluating efficacy, safety and tolerability of MuDelta (JNJ-27018966) in the treatment of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D).

Top Biotech Companies To Own In Right Now: Gilead Sciences Inc.(GILD)

Gilead Sciences, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, engages in the discovery, development, and commercialization of therapeutics for the treatment of life threatening diseases worldwide. Its products include Atripla, Truvada, Viread, Emtriva for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus infection in adults; Hepsera, an oral formulation for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B; AmBisome, a amphotericin B liposome injection to treat invasive fungal infections; Letairis, an endothelin receptor antagonist for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension; Ranexa for the treatment of chronic angina; Vistide, an antiviral medication for the treatment of cytomegalovirus retinitis in patients with AIDS; and Cayston, an inhaled antibiotic used as a treatment to enhance respiratory systems. The company?s products also comprise Tamiflu, an oral antiviral for the treatment and prevention of influenza A and B; Macugen, an intravitreal injection for the treatment of neovascular a ge-related macular degeneration; and Lexiscan/Rapiscan, an injection used as a pharmacologic stress agent in radionuclide myocardial perfusion imaging. Its products under the Phase III clinical trials consist of Cobicistat, a pharmacoenhancer that is under evaluation as a boosting agent for HIV medicines; Elvitegravir, an oral integrase inhibitor being evaluated as part of combination therapy for HIV; Integrase Single-Tablet, a ?Quad? regimen of elvitegravir, cobicistat, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, and emtricitabine for the treatment of HIV/AIDS in treatment-naive patients; and Aztreonam for inhalation solution for the treatment of cystic fibrosis patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The company?s Phase II clinical trials products comprise Cicletanine, Ranolazine, and Aztreonam, as well as GS 9190, GS 9256, and GS 9451. Its Phase I clinical trial products include GS 7340, GS 5885, GS 6620, GS 9620, and GS 6624. The company was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in Fost er City, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Maxx Chatsko]

  The Food and Drug Administration recently granted Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ: GILD  ) priority review for its much-awaited hepatitis C drug sofosbuvir. Current treatments are far from perfect for the 3.2 million people suffering from chronic forms of the disease. This novel oral therapy has a lot going for it, which has some analysts thinking it could potentially hit $5 billion in peak sales. In the following video, Fool contributor Maxx Chatsko explains how Gilead's drug raises the bar for the future of hepatitis C treatment.�

Top Biotech Companies To Own In Right Now: Actelion Ltd (ATLN.VX)

Actelion Ltd is a Swiss biopharmaceutical holding company that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialization of small molecule drugs. The Company has four approved drugs on the market: Tracleer, an oral dual endothelin receptor antagonist; Veletri, a prostanoid vasodilator; Ventavis, an inhaled formulation of iloprost, and Zavesca, an oral treatment for type 1 Gaucher disease. Furthermore, the Company has a number of compounds various stages of development. The Company operates through a number of worldwide subsidiaries, including Actelion Registration Ltd, which holds marketing authorizations for products marketed in the European Union; Actelion Clinical Research, Inc, engaged in clinical development on behalf of the Company's group; Actelion Re SA, providing insurance solutions for the Company's group and Actelion US Holding Company, engaged in the holding activities of the Company's United States-based units. In September 2013, it acquired Ceptaris Therapeutics, Inc. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Victor Selva]

  Forest Laboratories has a current ratio of 2.69% which is higher than the ones registered by Endo International Plc (ENDP), Valeant Pharmaceuticals International (VRX) and Cubist Pharmaceuticals Inc. (CBST). For investors looking for a higher ROE, Allergan Inc. (AGN) and Actelion Ltd. (ATLN.VX) are good options.

Top Airline Companies To Own In Right Now

Stocks have kept up the market's record rise today after the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI  ) hit a new all-time high to close last week's run. Boeing (NYSE: BA  ) has come back in a big way from Friday's Dreamliner-fire-fueled plunge, although the rest of the Dow has risen only slightly, and blue-chip stocks are split evenly between risers and losers. Let's catch up on the stories you need to know.

Boeing lifts off
Boeing's shares have bounced back with a 3.7% gain today, leading the Dow after an early probe of the 787 Dreamliner fire at London's Heathrow airport last week didn't �indict the plane's battery as a cause of the incident. That's a relief for Boeing investors after the 787's battery-caused grounding dominated talk of the company for the majority of early 2013. Still, the company's PR headaches regarding its newest airliner haven't stopped its stock from shooting up by more than 32% year to date.

Given the company's impressive backlog of commercial aircraft and renewed orders for the 787, it's hard to imagine that the Heathrow fire will do much, if anything, to slow this stock down, outside the dent it inflicted on Friday. Even as sequestration's budget cuts impact Boeing's defense division, this company's commercial airline segment has stepped up to outpace any losses.

Hot Media Stocks To Buy Right Now: Grupo Aeromexico SAB de CV (AEROMEX*)

Grupo Aeromexico SAB de CV is a Mexican holding company primarily engaged in the provision of passenger and cargo air transport services. It offers destinations in Mexico, the United States, Europe, Central and South America, Asia and Canada. It operates a fleet of over 110 aircrafts. The Company is primarily engaged in the passenger transportation segment, comprising regional, domestic and international routes, and package holidays; as well as in cargo transportation segment, handled mainly by its subsidiary Aeromexico Cargo. By its subsidiaries the Company is also engaged in real estate sector and in providing services to the aviation companies, including personnel training, management, and aircraft maintenance and modification. Its subsidiaries include Aerovias de Mexico SA de CV, Premier Loyalty & Marketing SAPI de CV, and Inmobiliaria Avenida Fuerza Aerea Mexicana 416 SA de CV, among others. In addition, it is a member of the SkyTeam airline alliance. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jonathan Levin]

  Volaris became Mexico�� second publicly traded carrier, after larger competitor Grupo Aeromexico SAB (AEROMEX*) sold stock in 2011. Airlines in Mexico have expanded into a void left when Cia. Mexicana de Aviacion, then largest based on passenger traffic, sought protection from creditors and ceased operations in 2010.

Top Airline Companies To Own In Right Now: Global Eagle Entertainment Inc (ENT)

Global Eagle Entertainment Inc., formerly Global Eagle Acquisition Corp., incorporated on February 2, 2011, is the full service platform offering both content and connectivity for the worldwide airline industry. Through its combined content, distribution and technology platforms, the Company provides airlines and the millions of travelers they serve with the offering of in-flight video content, e-commerce and information services. Through its Row 44 subsidiary, the Company utilizes Ku-band satellite technology to provide airline passengers with Internet access, live television, shopping and travel-related information. As of February 1, 2013, the Company installed on more than 450 aircraft, Row 44 has the fleet of connected entertainment platforms operating over land and sea globally. In addition, through its AIA division, the Company provides film and television content, games and applications to more than 130 airlines worldwide. In July 2013, the Company announced the acquisition of Post Modern Group, LLC. In October 2013, Global Eagle Entertainment Inc announced that it has acquired Travel Entertainment Group Equity Limited, the United Kingdom-based parent company of IFE Services Limited (IFE Services) from GCP Capital Partners LLP.

The Company�� Row 44 subsidiary provides satellite-based broadband service to the global airline industry. The Company�� Advanced Inflight Alliance (AIA) business is the provider of content services, products and solutions for the global inflight entertainment market. AIA also serves as the exclusive representative in sourcing Hollywood content for 60 airline customers and is the exclusive distributor of content from select Hollywood studios and independent producers to the airline market. In addition, AIA is the airline distributor of Asian, Bollywood, European, Latin American and Middle Eastern content.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Garrett Cook]

  Shares of Global Eagle Entertainment (NASDAQ: ENT) got a boost, shooting up 10.38 percent to $12.12 after the company and Boeing (NYSE: BA) announced a satellite connectivity partnership.

• [By Steve Symington]

  What:�Shares of Global Eagle Entertainment� (NASDAQ: ENT  ) �rose 12% early Friday, then settled close up around 7% after the in-flight content and connectivity specialist released solid first-quarter results.

• [By Richard Stavros]

  This was particularly the view of Leo Denault, CEO of Entergy Corp (NYSE: ENT). Mr. Denault and his fellow panelist, James Robo, CEO of NextEra Energy Inc (NYSE: NEE), offered rather refreshing perspectives on the industry’s challenges, as they are pursuing strategies that are directionally opposed.

Top Airline Companies To Own In Right Now: Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes SA (GOL)

Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes S.A. (GoL) is a low-cost, low-fare airline in the world providing service on routes connecting all of Brazil�� cities and from Brazil to cities in South America and select touristic destinations in the Caribbean. As of March 31, 2010, GoL offered approximately 800 daily flights per day to 61 destinations connecting cities in Brazil, as well as destinations in Argentina, Bolivia, Curacao, Aruba, Chile, Colombia, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela. GoL is a holding company, which owns directly or indirectly shares of five subsidiaries: VRG Linhas Aereas S.A. (VRG) and four offshore finance subsidiaries, Gol Finance Cayman and GAC Inc., which owns Sky Finance and Sky Finance II. VRG is the Company�� operating subsidiary, under which it conducts its business. Gol Finance, GAC Inc., Sky Finance and Sky Finance II are off-shore companies established for the purpose of facilitating cross-border general and aircraft financing transactions.

GoL�� passenger transportation services include ticketless travel; online sales, check-in, seat assignment and flight change and cancellation services; online flight status service; Web-enabled cell phone ticket sales and check-in; self check-in at kiosks at designated airports; designated female lavatories; friendly and efficient in-flight service; modern aircraft interiors; quick turnaround times at airport gates; free or discounted shuttle services between airports and drop-off zones on certain routes; buy on board services on certain flights; mobile check-in and boarding pass (100% paperless boarding), and iPhone application for check-in, electronic boarding pass and Smiles account management. On December 31, 2009, the Company had an operational fleet of 108 operational aircraft and a total fleet of 127. As of March 31, 2010, one of its Boeing 767 aircrafts was subleased to a charter company in the United States, one is under final formalization process for a wet lease to a Brazilian company for flights connecting Brazil to! Angola and three are under final stages of negotiation to be chartered to operate intercontinental flights. At December 31, 2009, GoL had a total of 127 aircraft, 94 of which were under operating leases and 33 were under finance leases.

The Company competes with TAM Linhas Aereas S.A.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jim Jubak]

  One place to look for it this week has been in the ADRs, the New York traded ADRs, American Depository Receipts of GOL. One of the two big Brazilian airlines is the only one that is not owned by somebody else. The symbol is (GOL). It went up like 9.5% on October 21; it went up about 4.5% on October 22, pulled back a tiny little bit on October 23, but still a major, major move. This is basically on the effect of a weaker dollar versus the Brazilian real, since GOL is basically a domestic airline and almost all their revenue is denominated in real, which means that when the real gets cheap against the dollar, it hurts their revenue, especially because most of their costs, a lot of their costs, probably about 80% of their costs are denominated in dollars. A strong dollar means what they pay for oil, kerosene, jet fuel, what they pay for debt service, what they pay on airplane leases, all denominated in dollars, goes up, so GOL has been getting hammered on this. The reversal of this is a big deal for the stock.

Top Airline Companies To Own In Right Now: American Airlines Group Inc (AAL)

American Airlines Group Inc., formerly AMR Corporation, incorporated in October 1982, operates in the airline industry. The Company's principal subsidiary is American Airlines, Inc. (American). As of December 31, 2011, American provided scheduled jet service to approximately 160 destinations throughout North America, the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe and Asia. AMR Eagle Holding Corporation (AMR Eagle), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, owns two regional airlines, which do business as American Eagle-American Eagle Airlines, Inc. and Executive Airlines, Inc. (collectively, the American Eagle carriers). American also contracts with an independently owned regional airline, which does business as AmericanConnection (the AmericanConnection carrier). As of December 31, 2011, AMR Eagle operated approximately 1,500 daily departures, offering scheduled passenger service to over 175 destinations in North America, Mexico and the Caribbean.

American, AMR Eagle and the AmericanConnection airline served more than 250 cities in approximately 50 countries with, on average, 3,400 daily flights and the combined network fleet numbered approximately 900 aircraft as of December 31, 2011. American Airlines is also a founding member of the oneworld alliance, which includes British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, LAN Airlines, Iberia, Qantas, JAL, Malev Hungarian, Mexicana, Royal Jordanian and S7 Airlines. Together, oneworld members serve 750 destinations in approximately 150 countries, with about 8,500 daily departures. American is also one of the scheduled air freight carriers in the world, providing a range of freight and mail services to shippers throughout its system onboard American's passenger fleet.

To improve access to each other's markets, American has established marketing relationships with other airlines and rail companies. As of December 31, 2011, American had marketing relationships with Air Berlin, Air Pacific, Air Tahiti Nui, Alaska Airlines, British Airways, Cape Air, C! athay Pacific, China Eastern Airlines, Dragonair, Deutsche Bahn German Rail, EL AL, Etihad Airways, EVA Air, Finnair, GOL, Gulf Air, Hawaiian Airlines, Iberia, Japan Airlines (JAL), Jet Airways, JetStar Airways, LAN (includes LAN Airlines, LAN Argentina, LAN Ecuador and LAN Peru), Niki Airlines, Qantas Airways, Royal Jordanian, S7 Airlines, and Vietnam Airlines.

American has established the AAdvantage frequent flyer program (AAdvantage). AAdvantage members earn mileage credits by flying on American, American Eagle and the AmericanConnection carrier or by using services of other participants in the AAdvantage program. Mileage credits can be redeemed for free, discounted or upgraded travel on American, American Eagle or other participating airlines, or for other awards. American sells mileage credits and related services to other participants in the AAdvantage program. There are over 1,000 program participants, including a credit card issuer, hotels, car rental companies, and other products and services companies in the AAdvantage program. As of December 31, 2011, AAdvantage had approximately 69 million total members.

The Company competes with Alaska Airlines (Alaska), Delta Air Lines (Delta), Frontier Airlines, JetBlue Airways (JetBlue), Hawaiian Airlines, Southwest Airlines (Southwest) and AirTran Airways (Air Tran), Spirit Airlines, United Airlines (United) and Continental Airlines (Continental), US Airways and Virgin America Airlines.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  With airlines like United Continental (UAL), Delta Air Lines (DAL) and American Airlines (AAL) up more than 20% so far this year, it’s fair to ask: Can investors get any more bullish on the share?

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  We expect domestic [available seat miles, or] ASMs, to increase below 3%, led by a 4-5% growth rate from Southwest Airlines (LUV). We expect�Southwest Airlines will grow its seat count in the 2-3% range, with the difference coming from longer stage length flying. We believe United Continental (UAL) will continue to trim domestic capacity slightly as management downgauges 757s to 737-900ERs and rapidly puts down its 50-seat fleet. We expect modest growth from Delta Air Lines (DAL) and American Airlines (AAL) due to upgauging of domestic aircraft and as Delta Air Lines grows in Seattle and�American Airlines defends its�Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport hub from Southwest Airlines��Wright Amendment flying. We��e ok with all of that.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Remember when the merger of American Airlines (AAL) and US Airways was greeted with little angels singing hosannas and strumming their harps? Well, the integration has hit what might be its first notable snag: US Airways’ mechanics want to strike.

  REUTERS

  As a result, shares of American Airlines has dropped 1.2% to $36.11 at 1:54 p.m. today, while United Continental Holdings (UAL) has fallen 2.1% to $44.27 and Delta Air Lines (DAL) is off 1.8% at $33.05.

  The Dallas Star-Telegram has the details on the union’s plans:

  Union leaders for US Airways mechanics and ground workers met with American Airlines management and federal mediators this week in Washington, D.C., but made no significant progress on contract talks.

  After the meetings, held at National Mediation Board offices, the International Association of Machinists reiterated its request to be released from talks and to have an impasse declared. The two sides have been in contract talks since 2011.

  Before an airline union can consider a strike against its employer, it must first ask for ��elease��from negotiations from federal mediators. A 30-day cooling-off period begins before a union can take any stop-work action.

  Cowen’s Helane Becker and Conor Cunningham call the mechanics’ request “mostly posturing.” They explain why:

  We believe the statements by the IAM are mostly posturing to attempt to gain control of the combined labor group when American and US Airways are combined…We believe any strike is highly unlikely in the near term, and we would continue to remain a buyer of the shares.

  Still, shares of American Airlines have gained 43% so far this year, while United Continental Holdings has risen 17% and Delta Air Lines is up 20%.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  If this is the year that airline stocks like United Continental Holdings (UAL), Delta Air Lines (DAL) and American Airlines (AAL) take off, JetBlue (JBLU) has been the exception that proves the rule.

Top Airline Companies To Own In Right Now: Alaska Air Group Inc. (ALK)

Alaska Air Group, Inc., through its subsidiaries, Alaska Airlines, Inc. and Horizon Air Industries, Inc., operates as an airline company serving destinations in the western United States, Canada, and Mexico. The company provides passenger air services; and freight and mail services primarily to and within the state of Alaska and on the West Coast. As of December 31, 2009, it operated a fleet of 110 jet aircraft; and Horizon Air Industries operated a fleet of 18 jets and 40 turboprop aircraft. The company was founded in 1932 and is based in Seattle, Washington.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Shares of American Airlines (AAL) have dropped 7% this week, while Delta Air Lines (DAL) has fallen 6.3%, United Continental (UAL) has slid 10%, Southwest Airlines (LUV) has declined 4.9% and Alaska Air (ALK) is off 4.5%.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  DeNardi also rates Alaska Air (ALK), Spirit Airlines (SAVE) and Allegiant Travel (ALGT) as Buys and Southwest, JetBlue Airways (JBLU) and Hawaiian Holdings (HA) as holds.

• [By Michael Lewis]

  Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK  ) may be the best airline available to investors. It's been incredibly successful in its slow, steady expansion plan that not only increases routes but increases revenue per seat along the way. It's no secret either, as the stock has gone up north of 80% in the last 12 months. Yet, even with its tremendous run-up in stock price, the company still trades under 10 times forward earnings. Let's take a look at the first quarter and see if it's time to back up the truck for Alaska Air.

Top Airline Companies To Own In Right Now: Latam Airlines Group SA (LFL)

LAN Airlines S.A. (LAN), incorporated in 1983, is the international and domestic passenger airline in Latin America and the cargo operator in the region. As of February 9, 2012, LAN and its affiliates provided domestic and international passenger services in Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Argentina and Colombia and cargo operations through the use of belly space on its passenger flights and cargo freighter aircraft through its cargo airlines in Chile, Brazil, Colombia and Mexico. LAN and its affiliates offered passenger flights to 15 destinations in Chile, 59 destinations in other South American countries, 15 destinations in other Latin American countries and the Caribbean, five destinations in the United States, two destinations in Europe and four destinations in the South Pacific and, through various codeshare agreements, service to 25 additional destinations in North America, 16 additional destinations in Europe, 27 additional destinations in Latin America and the Caribbean (including Mexico), and two destinations in Asia, as of February 9, 2012. LAN and its affiliates provide cargo service to all of their passenger destinations and to 20 additional destinations served only by freighter aircraft. LAN also offers other services, such as ground handling, courier, logistics and maintenance. LAN and its affiliates operated a fleet, with 135 passenger aircraft and 14 cargo aircraft as of December 31, 2011. On February 15, 2011, Lan Pax Group S.A., subsidiary of Lan Airlines S.A. acquired 100% of Colombian society AEROASIS S.A.

LAN is primarily involved in the transportation of passengers and cargo. Its operations are carried out principally by Lan Airlines and also by a number of different subsidiaries. As of February 28, 2011, in the passenger business the Company operated through six main airlines: Lan Airlines, Transporte Aereo S.A. (which does business under the name Lan Express), Lan Peru S.A. (Lan Peru), Aerolane Lineas Aereas Nacionales del Ecuador S.A. (Lan Ecuador), Lan Argentina S.A. (Lan ! Argentina, previously Aero 2000 S.A.) and the Aerovias de Integracion Regional, Aires S.A. (Aires). As of February 28, 2011, the Company held a 99.9% interest in Lan Express through direct and indirect interests, a 70.0% interest in Lan Peru through direct and indirect interests, a 71.9% indirect interest in Lan Ecuador, a 99.0% indirect interest in Lan Argentina and a 94.99% indirect interest in Aires (a Colombian entity which was acquired on November 26, 2010). Its cargo operations are carried out by a number of companies, including Lan Airlines and Lan Cargo. As of February 28, 2011, the Company held a 69.2% interest in Aero Transportes Mas de Carga S.A. de C.V. (MasAir), through direct and indirect participations, a 73.3% interest in ABSA through direct and indirect participations, and a 90.0% interest in LANCO through direct and indirect participations. In the cargo business, the Company markets itself primarily under the Lan Cargo brand. In addition to its air transportation activities, the Company provides a series of ancillary services. It offers handling services, courier services and logistics, small package and express door-to-door services through Lan Airlines and various subsidiaries.

Passenger Operations

As of February 28, 2011, the Company operated passenger airlines in Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Argentina and Colombia. As of February 28, 2011, our passenger operations were performed through airlines in Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Argentina and Colombia where we operate both domestic and international services. As of February 28, 2011, the Company�� network consisted of 15 destinations in Chile, 14 destinations in Peru, four destinations in Ecuador, 14 destinations in Argentina, 24 destinations in Colombia, 14 destinations in other Latin American countries and the Caribbean, five destinations in the United States, one destination in Canada, three destinations in Europe and four destinations in the South Pacific. Within Latin America, it has routes to and from Argentina, B! olivia, B! razil, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela. The Company also flies to a variety of international destinations outside Latin America, including Auckland, Fort Lauderdale, Frankfurt, Los Angeles, Madrid, Miami, Mount Pleasant (Falkland Islands), New York, Toronto, Papeete (Tahiti), Paris, San Francisco, and Sydney. In addition, as of February 28, 2011, through its various code-share agreements, the Company offered service to 25 additional destinations in North America, 16 additional destinations in Europe, 25 additional destinations in Latin America and the Caribbean (including Mexico), and two destinations in Asia. As of February 28, 2011, the Company operated scheduled international services from Chile, Peru, Ecuador and Argentina through Lan Airlines; Lan Express in Chile; Lan Peru in Peru; Lan Ecuador in Ecuador; Lan Argentina in Argentina and Aires in Colombia. Its international network combines the Company�� Chilean, Peruvian, Ecuadorian, Argentinean and Colombian affiliates. It provides long-haul services out of its four main hubs in Santiago, Lima, Guayaquil and Buenos Aires. It also provides regional services from Chile, Peru, Ecuador and Argentina.

Cargo Operations

The Company�� cargo business operates on the same network used by the passenger airlines business, which is supplemented by freighter-only operations. The Company carries cargo for a variety of customers, including other international air carriers, freight-forwarding companies, export oriented companies and individual consumers. As of February 28, 2011, the Company operated a fleet of 140 aircraft, comprised of 126 passenger aircraft and 14 cargo aircraft.

The Company competes with UPS, FedEx, Centurion, Transportes Aereos Mercantiles Panamericanos S.A., Polar Air, Cargolux, Lufthansa Cargo, Martinair and Air France-KLM.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Laura Brodbeck]

  Notable earnings releases expected on Monday include:

  LAN Chile S.A. (NYSE: LFL) is expected to report fourth quarter EPS of $0.24 on revenue of $3.50 billion, compared to last year�� EPS of $0.02 on revenue of $3.48 billion. JA Solar Holdings, Co. Ltd (NASDAQ: JASO) is expected to report EPS of $0.03 on revenue of $291.75 million, compared to last year�� loss of $2.65 per share on revenue of $268.09 million. Sterling Construction Company, Inc�(NASDAQ: STRL) is expected to report a fourth quarter loss of $1.47 per share on revenue of $153.07 million, compared to last year�� EPS of $0.18 on revenue of $158.09 million.

  Economics

• [By Monica Gerson]

  LATAM Airlines Group SA (NYSE: LFL) is expected to post its Q1 earnings at $0.20 per share on revenue of $3.42 billion.

  Gladstone Investment (NASDAQ: GAIN) is projected to post its Q4 earnings at $0.17 per share on revenue of $8.90 million.

Top Airline Companies To Own In Right Now: China Eastern Airlines Corp Ltd (CEA)

China Eastern Airlines Corporation Limited (China Eastern), incorporated on April 14, 1985, is an air carriers operating in the People�� Republic of China. As of December 31, 2010, the Company served a route network that covers 182 domestic and foreign cities in 30 countries. It operates from Shanghai�� Hongqiao International Airport and Pudong International Airport. During the year ended December 31, 2010, its flights accounted for 52.2% and 37.9% of all the flight traffic at Hongqiao International Airport and Pudong International Airport, respectively. During 2010, it accounted for approximately 31.1% of the total passenger traffic volume and 19% of the total freight volume on routes to and from Shanghai. As of December 31, 2010, it had a fleet of 355 aircraft, including 337 passenger jets each with a seating capacity of over 100 seats and 18 freighters.

Passenger Operations

During 2010, the Company operated approximately 9,600 scheduled flights per week, excluding charter flights, serving a route network that covers 182 domestic and foreign cities in 30 countries. During 2010, its domestic routes generated approximately 71.5% of its passenger revenues. Its heavily traveled domestic routes link Shanghai to the commercial and business centers of the People�� Republic of China, such as Beijing, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. During 2010, it also operated approximately 361 flights per week to and from Hong Kong, originating from Shanghai and 16 major cities in eastern, northern and western the People�� Republic of China. During 2010, it operated approximately 103 flights per week between mainland China and Taiwan. During 2010, its regional routes accounted for approximately 5.4% of its passenger revenues. During 2010, it operated approximately 1,079 international flights per week, serving 60 cities in 29 countries, linking Shanghai to cities in Asian and Southeast Asian countries, such as Japan, Korea, India, Singapore, Thailand and Bangladesh and locations in Europe, the Un! ited States and Australia.

During 2010, the Company re-started its Shanghai to London and Shanghai to Moscow routes. During 2010, revenues derived from its operations on international routes accounted for approximately 23.2% of its passenger revenues. During 2010, revenues derived from its operations to and from Japan accounted for approximately 7.7% of its passenger revenues and approximately 33.4% of its international passenger revenues. Its international and regional flights and a portion of its domestic flights either originate or terminate in Shanghai, the central hub of its route network. Its operations in Shanghai are conducted at Hongqiao International Airport and Pudong International Airport. On March 16, 2010, it moved its operations at Hongqiao International Airport to the terminal two of Hongqiao International Airport. It operates its flights through three hubs located in eastern, northwestern and southwestern China, namely Shanghai, Xi��n and Kunming, respectively.

Cargo and Mail Operations

The Company�� cargo and mail business utilizes the same route network used by its passenger airline business. It carries cargo and mail on its freight aircraft, as well as in available cargo space on its passenger aircraft. Its cargo and mail routes are international routes. As of December 31, 2010, it had seven MD-11F, four B777F and two B757-200F freight aircraft under operating leases for cargo and mail operations. It also has three Airbus A300-600R aircraft, as well as two Boeing 747-400ER freighters for its cargo operations.

The Company competes with Air China Limited, China Southern Airlines Company Limited, Hong Kong Dragon Airlines Limited, Cathay Pacific Airways, Thai Airways International, Singapore Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, American Airlines, Air Canada, Delta, Alitalia, Air France-KLM Group, Asiana Airlines, Korean Air, Virgin Atlantic Airways, British Airways, Lufthansa German Airlines, Aeroflot and Qantas Airways.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Belinda Cao]

  The Bloomberg China-US Equity Index (CH55BN) of the most-traded Chinese companies in the U.S. slumped 3.4 percent last week to a seven-month low of 89.04. The gauge traded at 13.5 times estimated earnings, 3.6 percent below the S&P�� valuation, data compiled by Bloomberg show. China Southern Airlines Co. (ZNH) and China Eastern Airlines Corp. (CEA) lost more than 6 percent April 5, while Home Inns & Hotels Management Inc. (HMIN) tumbled 16 percent in the week.

Top 5 Defensive Stocks For 2014

It seems that one industry that has become highly defensive in recent times is the pet industry. It would appear that no matter how hard the economic situation has become, pets still get care and attention from their owners.

In addition, pets require almost constant medical attention as this guidance from the Royal Society for the Protection of Animals in the UK shows:

When puppies and kittens are born they are usually protected from infections by their mother's milk, providing she has been regularly vaccinated. However, this protection only lasts a few weeks so they need regular vaccinations from an early age.

Puppies are typically vaccinated at eight and 10 weeks, kittens at nine and 12 weeks, with an initial course of two injections. Your young pet should then be given a booster 12 months after their first vaccination.

Pet treatments are needed
So, like the market for human pharmaceuticals, pet treatments are in demand. In addition, demand for animal pharmaceuticals is not limited to dogs and cats.�Zoetis (NYSE: ZTS  ) , which was recently spun off from parent Pfizer, develops and produces animal health medicines and vaccines for livestock around the world. A more defensive play than a company that just supplies the pet market, Zoetis is experiencing near record demand for its products as beef and pork consumption rises in China and the African continent starts to develop -- there are now several large multi-national farming conglomerates operating on the African continent. Currently, Zoetis is only generating 2% of its revenue in China, but this figure should be set to rise dramatically in the near term.

Top Diversified Bank Stocks To Own Right Now: Smiths Group PLC (SMGKF.PK)

Smiths Group plc is a technology company. It has five divisions: Smiths Detection, Smiths Medical, John Crane, Smiths Interconnect and Flex-Tek. The Company and its subsidiaries develop, manufacture, sale and support advanced security equipment, including trace detection, millimeter-wave, infrared, biological detection and diagnostics; mechanical seals, seal support systems, engineered bearings, power transmission couplings and specialist filtration systems, and medical devices aligned to specific therapies, principally airway, pain and temperature management, and vascular access. It also develops, manufactures, sells and supports specialized electronic and radio frequency products for the global wireless telecommunications, aerospace, defense, space, medical, rail, test and industrial markets, and engineered components, including ducting, hose assemblies and heating elements. In May 2011, it acquired the entire issued share capital of SDBR Comercio De Equipamentos De Seguanca LTDA. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Daniel Lauchheimer]

  Currently, three main companies supply security equipment to the TSA - Safran (SAFRY.PK), Smiths (SMGKF.PK), and Level-3 Holdings (LLL). All three of these companies sell the whole range of their products to the TSA, with an ETD offering included. Recently, however, a new company, Implant Sciences Corporation (IMSC.PK) received approval from the TSA to begin selling their ETD equipment to airport security professionals. This approval has opened the door for IMSC to begin taking some market share away from the more established players in the US and beyond.

Top 5 Defensive Stocks For 2014: Warner Chilcott plc(WCRX)

Warner Chilcott Public Limited Company, a specialty pharmaceutical company, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the development, manufacture, and promotion of branded pharmaceutical products focusing on the women?s healthcare, gastroenterology, dermatology, and urology markets in North America and western Europe. Its principal products include ACTONEL for the prevention and treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis; ATELVIA for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis; LOESTRIN 24 FE and LO LOESTRIN FE, which are oral contraceptives for the prevention of pregnancy; ESTRACE cream, a vaginal cream for the treatment of vaginal and vulvar atrophy; ASACOL for the treatment of ulcerative colitis for orally administered 5-aminosalicylic acid products and maintenance of remission; ASACOL HD for the treatment of moderately active ulcerative colitis; DORYX, a tetracycline-class oral antibiotic for the treatment of severe acne; and ENABLEX for the treatment of overactive b ladder. The company markets its products and services through wholesale pharmaceutical distributors, and retail drug store chains. It has a strategic collaboration agreement with Sanofi-Aventis U.S. LLC. Warner Chilcott Public Limited Company was founded in 1968 and is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Smith]

  On Friday, shares of branded pharmaceutical manufacturer Warner Chilcott (NASDAQ: WCRX  ) jumped 20% in response to rumors that the company was in talks to sell itself to larger rival Actavis (NYSE: ACT  ) . Warner also reported steady earnings, where a decline had been expected, and reiterated full-year guidance.

• [By Sean Williams]

  What: Shares of Warner Chilcott (NASDAQ: WCRX  ) , a branded pharmaceutical company focused on women's health care, shot higher by as much as 20% after the company reported its first-quarter earnings results, and on news that it could be a buyout target.

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  Tomorrow, Warner Chilcott (NASDAQ: WCRX  ) will release its latest quarterly results. The key to making smart investment decisions on stocks reporting earnings is to anticipate how they'll do before they announce results, leaving you fully prepared to respond quickly to whatever inevitable surprises arise. That way, you'll be less likely to make an uninformed kneejerk reaction to news that turns out to be exactly the wrong move.

Top 5 Defensive Stocks For 2014: GSV Capital Corp (GSVC)

GSV Capital Corp. (GSV Capital), formerly NeXt Innovation Corp., is a development-stage company. The Company is an externally managed, non-diversified closed-end management investment company. The Company�� investment objective is to maximize capital appreciation. The Company will seek to achieve its investment objective by investing primarily in privately held high growth venture backed companies and select mid cap and large cap publicly traded companies.

The Company may also invest in select publicly-traded equity securities of companies that otherwise meet its investment criteria. It seeks to acquire its investments primarily through private secondary market transactions and, to a lesser extent, through transactions executed on public securities exchanges and direct investments in its portfolio companies. The Company�� investment activities will be managed by GSV Asset Management. GSV Capital Service Company will provide the administrative services.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Financial sector was the leading decliner in the US market today. Top losers in the sector included GSV Capital (NASDAQ: GSVC), off 9.3 percent, and Cninsure (NASDAQ: CISG), down around 6.6 percent.

• [By Jon C. Ogg]

  Chegg, Inc. (NYSE: CHGG) was the IPO disappointment of the week. Sure it has a lot of competition, but IPOs are supposed to be on fire now. Chegg managed to gain almost 3% on Friday to close at $9.13, but one must remember that the IPO price at $12.50 never saw the $12.50 open. The stock opened at $9.80 and closed at $8.88 on the first day, a move which will baffle IPO investors of growth companies who are buying an IPO at a time when major indexes are hitting new all-time highs. By the way, GSV Capital Corp. (NASDAQ: GSVC) was a runner-up�loser along with Chegg, as this fund owned shares of Twitter and Chegg pre-IPO. The stock price was above $16 before the Twitter IPO and is now down to $12.03 after another 8.8% drop on Friday. Bye-bye.

Top 5 Defensive Stocks For 2014: New Jersey Resources Corp (NJR)

New Jersey Resources Corporation (NJR), incorporated in 1981, is an energy services holding company providing retail and wholesale energy services to customers in states from the Gulf Coast and Mid-Continent regions to the Appalachian and Northeast regions, the West Coast and Canada. NJR's subsidiaries and businesses include New Jersey Natural Gas (NJNG), NJR Clean Energy Ventures (NJRCEV), NJR Energy Services (NJRES) and NJR Energy Holdings Corporation (NJREH). NJNG is a local natural gas distribution company, which provides regulated retail natural gas service to approximately 500,100 residential and commercial customers in central and northern New Jersey and participates in the off-system sales and capacity release markets. NJR Clean Energy Ventures (NJRCEV) comprises the Company's Clean Energy Ventures segment and reports the results of operations and assets related to the Company's capital investments in renewable energy projects, including commercial and residential solar projects, as well as on-shore wind projects through a 19.9% interest in OwnEnergy. NJRES maintains and transacts around a portfolio of physical assets consisting of natural gas storage and transportation contracts. NJRES also provides wholesale energy management services to other energy companies and natural gas producers. NJRES comprises the Company's Energy Services segment. NJREH invests in energy-related ventures through its subsidiaries, NJNR Pipeline Company (Pipeline), which holds the Company's 5.53% ownership interest in Iroquois Gas Transmission L.P. (Iroquois) and NJR Steckman Ridge Storage Company, which holds the Company's 50% combined interest in Steckman Ridge GP, LLC and Steckman Ridge, LP (collectively, Steckman Ridge), a natural gas storage facility. Iroquois and Steckman Ridge comprise the Company's Energy Holdings segment.

NJR has retail and other operations (Retail and Other). NJR Retail Holdings (Retail Holdings) is consolidates the Company's unregulated retail operations. Retail Holdings consi! sts of wholly owned subsidiaries, including NJR Home Services (NJRHS), a company which provides heating, ventilation and cooling (HVAC) service repair and contract services to approximately 134,900 customers, as well as solar installation projects; Commercial Realty & Resources (CR&R), a company that holds and develops commercial real estate holds and develops commercial real estate, and NJR Plumbing Services (NJRPS), a company that provides plumbing repair and installation services.

NJR Energy Investments (NJREI) is an unregulated affiliate, which consolidates the Company's unregulated energy-related investments. NJREI includes the wholly owned subsidiaries, including NJR Investment, a company which makes and holds energy-related investments, through equity instruments of public companies. NJR Energy Corporation (NJR Energy), a company that invests in energy-related ventures. NJR Service an unregulated company, which provides shared administrative services, including corporate communications, financial and planning, internal audit, legal, human resources and information technology for NJR and all subsidiaries.

The Company operates within four reportable business segments: Natural Gas Distribution, Clean Energy Ventures, Energy Services and Energy Holdings. The Natural Gas Distribution segment consists of regulated energy and off-system, capacity and storage management operations. The Clean Energy Ventures segment consists of capital investments in renewable energy projects. The Energy Services segment consists of unregulated wholesale energy operations. The Energy Holdings segment consists of investments in the midstream natural gas market, such as natural gas transportation and storage facilities.

Natural Gas Distribution

NJNG provides natural gas service to approximately 500,100 customers. NJNG's service territory is in New Jersey's Monmouth and Ocean counties and parts of Burlington, Morris, Middlesex and Sussex counties. It encompasses 1,516 sq! uare mile! s, covering 105 municipalities with an population of 1.4 million people. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2012 (fiscal 2012), NJNG added 6,704 new customers and added natural gas heat and other services to another 539 existing customers. During fiscal 2012, NJNG's gas supply portfolio consists of long-term (over seven months), winter-term (November through March) and short-term (seven months or less) contracts. During fiscal 2012 , NJNG purchased gas from approximately one hundred suppliers under contracts ranging from one day to one year and purchased over 10% of its natural gas from two suppliers. NJNG maintains agreements for firm transportation and storage capacity with several interstate pipeline companies. NJNG receives natural gas at eight citygate stations located in Middlesex, Morris and Passaic counties in New Jersey.

The pipeline companies, which provide firm contract transportation service for NJNG and supply the above pipelines are ANR Pipeline Company (ANR), Iroquois Gas Transmission L.P., Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, Dominion Transmission Corporation (Dominion) and Columbia Gulf Transmission Company. In addition, NJNG has storage and related transportation contracts, which provide additional maximum daily deliverability to NJNG's citygate stations of 102,941 decatherm from storage fields in its Northeast market area.

Clean Energy Ventures

NJRCEV is an unregulated company, which invests, owns and operates renewable energy projects located in the State of New Jersey and owns an interest in an on-shore wind project developer. NJRCEV invests in, owns and operates residential and commercial solar installations in the State of New Jersey. As of September 30, 2012 , NJRCEV has placed a total of 35.9 megawatts of solar assets into service, including a combination of residential and commercial rooftop and ground mount solar systems.

Energy Services

NJRES provides unregulated wholesale energy services and engages in! the busi! ness of optimizing natural gas storage and transportation assets. The rights to these assets are acquired in anticipation of delivering natural gas or performing asset management activities for the Company's customers or in conjunction with identifying arbitrage opportunities that exist in the marketplace. These activities are conducted in the market areas, which include states from the Gulf Coast and Mid-Continent regions to the Appalachian and Northeast regions, the West Coast and Canada.

NJRES has developed a portfolio of natural gas storage and transportation capacity in the Gulf Coast, Mid-Continent, Appalachian and Northeast regions, the West Coast and Canada. NJRES also participates in park-and-loan transactions with pipeline and storage counterparties, where NJRES will park (store) natural gas to be redelivered to NJRES at a later date or borrow to be returned to the pipeline or storage field at a later date. NJRES has built a portfolio of customers, including local distribution companies, industrial companies, electric generators, retail aggregators, natural gas producers and other wholesale marketing companies.

Energy Holdings

Energy Holdings include investments in natural gas transportation and storage assets and is consisted of NJNR Pipeline, which consists of its 5.53% equity investment in Iroquois Gas Transmission System, which is a 412 -mile natural gas pipeline from the New York-Canadian border to Long Island, New York, and NJR Steckman Ridge Storage Company, which holds the Company's 50% equity investment in Steckman Ridge. Steckman Ridge is a partnership, jointly owned and controlled by subsidiaries of the Company and subsidiaries of Spectra Energy Corporation, which built, owns and operates a 17.7 billion cubic feet natural gas storage facility in western Pennsylvania.

Other Business Operations

Retail and Other operations consist of the unregulated affiliates, including NJRHS, which provides HVAC service, sales and ! installat! ion of appliances to approximately 134,900 customers, as well as installation of solar equipment, and CR&R, which holds and develops commercial real estate. As of September 30, 2012 , CR&R's real estate portfolio consisted of 27 acres of undeveloped land in Monmouth County, 52 acres of undeveloped land in Atlantic County, and a 56,400 -square-foot office building on five acres of land in Monmouth County. NJR Investment invests in and holds certain energy-related investments, through equity instruments of public companies. NJR Energy invests in energy-related ventures. NJR Service provides shared administrative and financial services to the Company and all its subsidiaries.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Charles Carlson]

  If you are new to DRIP investing, treat yourself to a few DRIPs this holiday season. Trust me��t'll change your life.

  American Water Works (AWK)��ielding 2.7% with a DRIP minimum of $100
  
  Cincinnati Financial (CINF)��ielding 3.2% with a DRIP minimum of $25
  
  CVS Caremark (CVS)��ielding 1.4% with a DRIP minimum of $100
  
  Dominion Resources (D)��ielding 3.4% with a DRIP minimum of $40
  
  Domino's Pizza (DPZ)��ielding 1.2% with a DRIP minimum of $65
  
  Eaton (ETN)��ielding 2.3% with a DRIP minimum of $100
  
  Flowserve (FLS)��ielding 0.8% with a DRIP minimum of $100
  
  Kellogg (K)��ielding 3.0% with a DRIP minimum of $50
  
  New Jersey Resources (NJR)��ielding 3.7% with a DRIP minimum of $100
  
  Quest Diagnostics (DGX)��ielding 2.0% with a DRIP minimum of $100
  
  Tim Hortons (THI)��ielding 1.7% with a DRIP minimum of $25
  
  

  Subscribe to Dow Theory Forecasts here��/p>

Top 5 Blue Chip Companies To Invest In Right Now

Top 5 Blue Chip Companies To Invest In Right Now: Colgate-Palmolive Company(CL)

Colgate-Palmolive Company, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and markets consumer products worldwide. It offers oral care products, including toothpaste, toothbrushes, and mouth rinses, as well as dental floss and pharmaceutical products for dentists and other oral health professionals; personal care products, such as liquid hand soap, shower gels, bar soaps, deodorants, antiperspirants, shampoos, and conditioners; and home care products comprising laundry and dishwashing detergents, fabric conditioners, household cleaners, bleaches, dishwashing liquids, and oil soaps. The company offers its oral, personal, and home care products under the Colgate Total, Colgate Max Fresh, Colgate 360 Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Shares of Procter & Gamble have dropped 3.2% during the past 12 months, lagging Unilever’s (UL) 2.5% rise, Colgate-Palmolive’s (CL) 8.7% advance and Kimberly-Clark’s (KMB) 3.1% gain.

• [By Lee Jackson]

  Colgate-Palmolive Co. (NYSE: CL) is a top consumer staples name to make the UBS. Colgate sells its products in more than 200 countries and makes more than 75% of its revenue outside the United States, which provides geographic diversification and growth opportunities in emerging markets for the company. This diversity, matched with a huge list of consumer products, keeps revenues and dividends growing. Investors are paid a 2.3% dividend. The consensus target is $67.14. Colgate closed Tuesday at $64.34.

• [By Monica Gerson]

  Colgate-Palmolive Co (NYSE: CL) is expected to report its Q3 earnings at $0.73 per share on revenue of $4.46 billion.

  Precision Castparts (NYSE: PCP) is projected to report its Q2 earnings at $2.83 per share on revenue of $2.36 billion.

source from Top Penny Stocks For 2015:http://www.topstocksforum.com/to! p-5-blue-chip-companies-to-invest-in-right-now-2.html

Hot Insurance Companies To Invest In Right Now

CEO compensation, relative to the amount the average American is paid, has skyrocketed in the past few decades. In 1965, the average CEO pay was 18.3 times the average worker pay. By 2012, CEOs made 200 times workers pay.

In addition to huge paychecks, the nation's biggest corporate heads are often receiving special treatment and perks. Like many corporate employees, executives receive pensions and 401(k)s. But that's frequently just the beginning.

Often, they are allowed the use of the company jet for personal use, or are issued a personal security detail. In others, they are compensated for insurance, accounting and legal fees in the tens of thousands of dollars or more. 24/7 Wall St reviewed some of the most outsized perks that companies give their already highly compensated CEOs.

Best Defensive Companies To Own In Right Now: ING Groep NV (ISP)

ING Groep N.V. (ING) is a global financial institution offering banking, investments, life insurance and retirement services to meet the needs of the customers. The Company�� segments include banking and insurance. Banking segment includes retail Netherlands, retail Belgium, ING direct, retail central Europe (CE), retail Asia, commercial banking (excluding real estate), ING real estate and corporate line banking. Insurance segment includes insurance Benelux, insurance central and rest of Europe (CRE), insurance United States (US), Insurance US closed block VA, insurance Asia/Pacific, ING investment management (IM) and corporate line insurance. In November 2013, the Company completed the sale of ING Hipotecaria to Banco Santander (Mexico), S.A. In December 2013, the Company completed the sale of its 33.3% interest in China Merchants Fund to its joint venture partners China Merchants Bank Co Ltd and China Merchants Securities Co Ltd, and divested ING Life Korea to MBK Partners. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Tom Stoukas]

  UniCredit SpA and Intesa Sanpaolo SpA (ISP), Italy�� biggest banks, dropped more than 1 percent as the nation�� benchmark FTSE MIB Index slid 1.2 percent. Rio Tinto Group led mining companies lower after a measure of Chinese manufacturing missed a preliminary estimate. Aryzta AG rallied the most in six months as the Swiss supplier of bakery products reported results that topped projections.

Hot Insurance Companies To Invest In Right Now: Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd (FRFHF)

Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited (Fairfax) is a financial services holding company. The Company, through its subsidiaries, is principally engaged in property and casualty insurance and reinsurance and the associated investment management. The Company�� segments consist of Insurance, Reinsurance, Insurance and Reinsurance Other, Runoff, and Corporate and Other. On December 22, 2011, the Company completed the acquisition of 75% interests in Sporting Life Inc. On August 16, 2011, the Company acquired William Ashley China Corporation. On March 24, 2011, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Fairfax completed the acquisition of The Pacific Insurance Berhad. On February 9, 2011, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Fairfax completed the acquisition of First Mercury Financial Corporation. In October 2012, its RiverStone runoff subsidiary acquired all the outstanding shares of Brit Insurance Limited. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  That business model has been so successful that other, smaller insurance companies have emulated it. For instance, Fairfax Financial (NASDAQOTH: FRFHF  ) and Markel (NYSE: MKL  ) have used the same investing model to take advantage of their respective core insurance businesses. Both Fairfax and Markel have had substantial success, showing the power of using temporarily available premium reserves to make higher-return investments.

• [By Tim Brugger]

  Citing the letter of intent to be acquired�for $9 a share signed Monday with a consortium led by its largest shareholder, Fairfax Financial (NASDAQOTH: FRFHF  ) , BlackBerry� (NASDAQ: BBRY  ) �has opted to cancel its conference call and webcast following the 7 .a.m EST release of Q2 earnings this Friday, the company announced yesterday.

Hot Insurance Companies To Invest In Right Now: 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.

Hot Insurance Companies To Invest In Right Now: Metlife Inc (MET)

MetLife, Inc. (MetLife), incorporated on August 10, 1999, is a provider of insurance, annuities and employee benefit programs, serving 90 million customers in over 50 countries. Through its subsidiaries and affiliates, MetLife operates in the United States, Japan, Latin America, Asia Pacific, Europe and the Middle East. It is organized into six segments: Insurance Products, Retirement Products, Corporate Benefit Funding and Auto & Home (collectively, U.S. Business), and Japan and Other International Regions (collectively, International). In addition, the Company reports certain of its results of operations in Corporate & Other, which includes MetLife Bank, National Association (MetLife Bank) and other business activities. U.S. Business provides insurance and financial services products, including life, dental, disability, auto and homeowner insurance, guaranteed interest and stable value products, and annuities through independent retail distribution channels, as well as at the workplace. Outside the U.S., it operates in Japan and over 50 countries within Latin America, Asia Pacific, Europe and the Middle East. MetLife is the life insurer in Mexico and also holds positions in Japan, Poland, Chile and Korea. This business provides life insurance, accident and health insurance, credit insurance, annuities, endowment and retirement and savings products to both individuals and groups. In August 2012, it acquired Reynolds Plantation. In January 2013, the Company completed the sale of MetLife Bank, N.A.'s deposit business. Effective July 25, 2013, MetLife Inc acquired Broadstone Laurel Highlands, from Alliance Residential Fund I. In September 2013, MetLife Inc and Thayer Lodging Group acquired the 365-room Hilton Los Cabos Beach & Golf Resort in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico in a joint venture.

Insurance Products

The Insurance Products segment offers a range of protection products and services aimed at serving the financial needs of its customers throughout their lives. These pro! ducts are sold to individuals and corporations, as well as other institutions and their respective employees. It is organized in three businesses: Group Life, Individual Life and Non-Medical Health.

The Group Life insurance products and services include variable life, universal life, and term life products. It offer group insurance products as employer-paid benefits or as voluntary benefits where all or a portion of the premiums are paid by the employee. These group products and services also include employee paid supplemental life and are offered as standard products or may be tailored to meet specific customer needs.

The Individual Life insurance products and services include variable life, universal life, term life and whole life products. Additionally, through its broker-dealer affiliates, it offers a full range of mutual funds and other securities products. The products within both Group Life and Individual Life include Variable Life, Universal Life, Term Life and Whole Life. Variable life products provide insurance coverage through a contract that gives the policyholder the policyholder flexibility in investment choices and, depending on the product, in premium payments and coverage amounts, with certain guarantees. With variable life products, premiums and account balances can be directed by the policyholder into a variety of separate account investment options or directed to the Company�� general account. In the separate account investment options, the policyholder bears the entire risk of the investment results.

Universal life products provide insurance coverage on the same basis as variable life, except that premiums, and the resulting accumulated balances, are allocated only to the Company�� general account. Universal life products may allow the insured to increase or decrease the amount of death benefit coverage over the term of the contract and the owner to adjust the frequency and amount of premium payments.

Term life products provid! e a guara! nteed benefit upon the death of the insured for a specified time period in return for the periodic payment of premiums. Specified coverage periods range from one year to 30 years, but in no event are they longer than the period over, which premiums are paid. Death benefits may be level over the period or decreasing. Decreasing coverage is used principally to provide for loan repayment in the event of death. Premiums may be guaranteed at a level amount for the coverage period or may be non-level and non-guaranteed. Term insurance products are sometimes referred to as pure protection products, in that there are typically no savings or investment elements. Term contracts expire without value at the end of the coverage period when the insured party is still living.

Whole life products provide a guaranteed benefit upon the death of the insured in return for the periodic payment of a fixed premium over a predetermined period. Premium payments may be required for the entire life of the contract period, to a specified age or period, and may be level or change in accordance with a predetermined schedule. Whole life insurance includes policies that provide a participation feature in the form of dividends. Policyholders may receive dividends in cash or apply them to increase death benefits, increase cash values available upon surrender or reduce the premiums required to maintain the contract in-force.

The Non-Medical Health products and services include dental insurance, group short- and long-term disability, individual disability income, long-term care (LTC), critical illness and accidental death & dismemberment coverage. Other products and services include employer-sponsored auto and homeowners insurance provided through the Auto & Home segment and prepaid legal plans. The Company also sells administrative services-only (ASO) arrangements to some employers. The products in this area are Dental, Disability and Long-term Care (LTC). Dental products provide insurance and ASO plans that ass! ist emplo! yees, retirees and their families in maintaining oral health while reducing out-of-pocket expenses and providing superior customer service. Dental plans include the Preferred Dentist Program and the Dental Health Maintenance Organization. Disability products provide a benefit in the event of the disability of the insured. This benefit is in the form of monthly income paid until the insured reaches age 65. In addition to income replacement, the product may be used to provide for the payment of business overhead expenses for disabled business owners or mortgage payment protection. This is offered on both a group and individual basis. LTC products provide protection against the potentially high costs of LTC services. They generally pay benefits to insureds that need assistance with activities of daily living or have a cognitive impairment.

Retirement Products

The Retirement products segment includes a variety of variable and fixed annuities that are primarily sold to individuals and employees of corporations and other institutions. The products in this area are Variable Annuities and Fixed Annuities. Variable annuities provide for both asset accumulation and asset distribution needs. Variable annuities allow the contract holder to make deposits into various investment options in a separate account, as determined by the contract holder. The risks associated with such investment options are borne entirely by the contract holder, except where guaranteed minimum benefits are involved.

Fixed annuities provide for both asset accumulation and asset distribution needs. Fixed annuities do not allow the same investment flexibility provided by variable annuities, but provide guarantees related to the preservation of principal and interest credited.

Corporate Benefit Funding

The Corporate Benefit Funding segment includes a range of annuity and investment products, including, guaranteed interest products and other stable value products, income annuitie! s, and se! parate account contracts for the investment management of defined benefit and defined contribution plan assets. This segment also includes certain products to fund postretirement benefits and company, bank or trust owned life insurance used to finance non-qualified benefit programs for executives. The products in this area are Stable Value Products, Pensions Closeouts, Torts and Settlements, Capital Markets Investment Products and other Corporate Benefit Funding Products and Services. The Company offers general account guaranteed interest contracts, separate account guaranteed interest contracts, and similar products used to support the stable value option of defined contribution plans. It also offers private floating rate funding agreements that are used for money market funds, securities lending cash collateral portfolios and short-term investment funds.

The Company offers general account and separate account annuity products, generally in connection with the termination of defined benefit pension plans, both in the United States and the United Kingdom. It also offers partial risk transfer solutions that allow for partial transfers of pension liabilities and annuity products that include single premium buyouts. It offers strategies for complex litigation settlements, primarily structured settlement annuities. Under the Capital Markets Investment Products, the products offered include funding agreements, Federal Home Loan Bank advances and funding agreement-backed commercial paper. Under the Other Corporate Benefit Funding Products and Services, it offers specialized insurance products designed specifically to provide solutions for non-qualified benefit and retiree benefit funding purposes.

Auto & Home

The Auto & Home segment includes personal lines property and casualty insurance offered directly to employees at their employer�� worksite, as well as to individuals through a variety of retail distribution channels, including independent agents, property and casu! alty spec! ialists, direct response marketing and the individual distribution sales group. Auto & Home primarily sells auto insurance, which represented 67% of Auto & Home�� total net earned premiums in 2011. Homeowners and other insurance represented 33% of Auto & Home�� total net earned premiums in 2011. The products in this area are Auto Coverages and Homeowners and Other Coverages. Auto insurance policies provide coverage for private passenger automobiles, utility automobiles and vans, motorcycles, motor homes, antique or classic automobiles and trailers. Auto & Home offers traditional coverage, such as liability, uninsured motorist, no fault or personal injury protection, as well as collision and comprehensive. Homeowners��insurance policies provide protection for homeowners, renters, condominium owners and residential landlords against losses arising out of damage to dwellings and contents from a variety of perils, as well as coverage for liability arising from ownership or occupancy. Other insurance includes personal excess liability (protection against losses in excess of amounts covered by other liability insurance policies), and coverage for recreational vehicles and boat owners. Most of Auto & Home�� homeowners��policies are traditional insurance policies for dwellings, providing protection for loss on a replacement cost basis. These policies also provide additional coverage for reasonable, normal living expenses incurred by policyholders that have been displaced from their homes.

International

International provides life insurance, accident and health insurance, credit insurance, annuities, endowment and retirement & savings products to both individuals and groups. The Company focuses on markets primarily within Japan, Latin America, Asia Pacific, Europe and the Middle East. It operates in international markets through subsidiaries and affiliates. The Company operates in 22 countries in Latin America, with operations in Mexico, Chile and Argentina. It operates in fou! r countri! es in Asia Pacific with operations in Korea, Hong Kong and Australia. It operates in 35 countries in Europe and the Middle East with operations in Poland, the United Kingdom, France, and the United Arab Emirates, as well as through a consolidated joint venture in India.

Corporate & Other

Corporate & Other contains the excess capital not allocated to the segments, which is invested to optimize investment spread and to fund company initiatives and various start-up and run-off entities. Mortgage products offered by MetLife Bank include forward and reverse residential mortgage loans. Residential mortgage loans are originated through MetLife Bank�� national sales force, mortgage brokers and mortgage correspondents. The residential mortgage banking activities include the origination and servicing of mortgage loans. Mortgage loans are held-for-investment or sold primarily into Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA), Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC) or Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA) securities. Deposit products include traditional savings accounts, money market savings accounts, certificates of deposit (CDs) and individual retirement accounts.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  Beyond mortgage insurance, not everything has gone well at Genworth. Its long-term care insurance business continues to struggle, with operating profits having fallen by more than 40% as Genworth struggles to get regulators to allow it to increase rates enough to make the business economically viable. Major competitors MetLife (NYSE: MET  ) and Prudential (NYSE: PRU  ) have already pulled back from long-term care, and Genworth might have to follow suit if it can't find other ways to make money from the segment. In addition, Genworth joined other insurers in settling claims that it and others failed to pay policy benefits to life-insurance customers, serving as a reminder that litigation risks continue to exist throughout the financial industry.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  It’s been a good day for life insurers across the board today, thanks to speculation that the Fed could get more hawkish following today’s jobs report–and higher interest rates would benefit insurers. Shares of Prudential have gained 2% to $88.47 at 2:53 p.m. today, while Metlife (MET) has risen 1.3% to $53.04 and Lincoln National (LNC) has advanced 1.6% to $52.75. American International Group (AIG) has dropped 0.2% to $51.05.