Past efforts have gotten you this far, keep going

Good afternoon, Gladys, Sometimes I catch myself feeling that life has cheated me out of a good life. I am almost 55 years old and I spent my life working at low paying jobs in order to feed and care for my children. I would love to be in my own business. But, I have reached a point in my life where I feel like it's too late for me to start something new. Am I off base to think that it's possible to start anything new at this stage in life? -- A.B.

I sometimes tell people that I can imagine how Moses must have felt when he got the divine notification that he would not be retiring anytime soon. For 40 years, Moses was a shepherd and I doubt if he had any vision of leading anything but his passive sheep.

Just when he thought he had done his thing and that life was moving toward an end, God called and told him that the 40 years he had spent with sheep was just a beginning. Now it was time for the real work to begin and his real job was to lead the Israelites to the Promised Land.

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I sometimes feel that way about my own life.

I spent years operating my travel company and just when I thought that successfully owning the company for many years was as good as it would get, other opportunities showed up. Today I'm writing both fiction and non-fiction, I own a successful business development company, and I do lectures and seminars around the country.

Those years that I spent in the travel industry helped prepare me for this time in my life. And yet I somehow feel that as life moves on, more opportunities with show up.

I once met a woman who in her mid 50s returned to school and after many long and hard hours finally got her degree in fine arts and has moved to Hollywood in search of both a screenwriting and acting career.

I remember being very impressed with this woman's goals and dreams. I see a lot of movies, and most of the o! lder actresses have been acting since their youth. I asked her if she felt intimidated by getting such a late start. She responded by saying that she had done a great job in raising her children and making certain that they all had gotten a good education and now it was her turn and that she believed all her goals would happen.

Not once did she hint at being too old or display feelings of having been cheated by life.

We each have our own ideas of success. If you managed to find work that paid well enough for you to take care of your children I would consider that successful. So what you are in search of now is to extend that success. Only this time, it will be more for you.

Life does not cheat us nearly as badly as we can cheat ourselves. Count your blessings that you had what it took to meet the challenges in your early life. Think of the life you have lived so far as a prelude to help you with this part of your current life.

Get a new attitude! And realize that you are moving into a new phase of life that can be quite rewarding. And make a point to dream big and hold great visions and do something each day, no matter how small, that will move you toward those dreams.

Who knows? You just might be an emerging shepherd.

Gladys Edmunds, founder of Edmunds Travel Consultants in Pittsburgh, is an author and coach/consultant in business development. E-mail her at gladys@gladysedmunds.com

Is Verizon Stock a Buy After Its Recent Record Move?

With shares of Verizon (NYSE:VZ) trading around $46, is VZ an OUTPERFORM, WAIT AND SEE, or STAY AWAY? Let's analyze the stock with the relevant sections of our CHEAT SHEET investing framework:

T = Trends for a Stock’s Movement

Verizon is a provider of communications, information, and entertainment products and services to consumers, businesses, and governmental agencies. It operates in two primary segments: Verizon Wireless and Wireline. Verizon Wireless's communications products and services include wireless voice, data services, and equipment sales, which are provided to consumer, business, and government customers across the United States. Wireline's communications products and services include voice, Internet access, broadband video and data, Internet protocol network services, network access, long distance, and other services.

Verizon plans to sell between $45 billion and $49 billion in bonds to finance its $130 billion buyout of Vodafone's (NASDAQ:VOD) 45 percent stake in Verizon Wireless. The eight-part record bond offering could begin as soon as Thursday, according to sources who spoke to Bloomberg. The offering will consist of fixed-rate debt with maturities ranging between three and 30 years and two sets of floating-rate securities, sources said.

T = Technicals on the Stock Chart Are Mixed

Verizon stock has been part of an uptrend over the last several years. In the last few months, the stock has been pulling-back and heading towards opening prices for the year. Analyzing the price trend and its strength can be done using key simple moving averages. What are the key moving averages? The 50-day (pink), 100-day (blue), and 200-day (yellow) simple moving averages. As seen in the daily price chart below, Verizon is trading above its below key averages which signal neutral to bearish price action in the near-term.

(Source: Thinkorswim)

Taking a look at the implied volatility (red) and implied volatility skew levels of Verizon options may help determine if investors are bullish, neutral, or bearish.

	Implied Volatility (IV)	30-Day IV Percentile	90-Day IV Percentile
Verizon Options	22.83%	70%	69%

What does this mean? This means that investors or traders are buying a very significant amount of call and put options contracts as compared to the last 30 and 90 trading days.

	Put IV Skew	Call IV Skew
October Options	Steep	Average
November Options	Steep	Average

As of today, there is an average demand from call buyers or sellers and high demand by put buyers or low demand by put sellers, all neutral to bearish over the next two months. To summarize, investors are buying a very significant amount of call and put option contracts and are leaning neutral to bearish over the next two months.

On the next page, let’s take a look at the earnings and revenue growth rates and the conclusion.

E = Earnings Are Rising Quarter-Over-Quarter

Rising stock prices are often strongly correlated with rising earnings and revenue growth rates. Also, the last four quarterly earnings announcement reactions help gauge investor sentiment on Verizon’s stock. What do the last four quarterly earnings and revenue growth (Y-O-Y) figures for Verizon look like and more importantly, how did the markets like these numbers?

	2013 Q2	2013 Q1	2012 Q4	2012 Q3
Earnings Growth (Y-O-Y)	14.06%	15.25%	-107.21%	14.29%
Revenue Growth (Y-O-Y)	4.32%	4.17%	5.66%	3.92%
Earnings Reaction	-1.51%	2.76%	0.58%	2.37%

Verizon has seen rising earnings and revenue figures over the last four quarters. From these numbers, the markets have mostly been happy with Verizon’s recent earnings announcements.

P = Average Relative Performance Versus Peers and Sector

How has Verizon stock done relative to its peers AT&T (NYSE:T), T-Mobile (NASDAQ:TMUS), Sprint (NYSE:S), and sector?

	Verizon	AT&T	T-Mobile	Sprint	Sector
Year-to-Date Return	7.33%	1.51%	27.21%	16.31%	10.38%

Verizon has been an average relative performer, year-to-date.

Conclusion

Verizon provides communications products and services through a variety of mediums to consumers and companies around the world. The company is involved in a record-breaking bond offering that is being used for the purchase of Vodafone’s stake in Verizon Wireless. The stock has not been doing well in the last several months as it continues to pull-back. Over the last four quarters, investors have mostly been happy as earnings and revenues have been rising. Relative to its peers and sector, Verizon has been an average year-to-date performer. WAIT AND SEE what Verizon does this coming quarter.

Top 5 Heal Care Companies For 2014

Although we don't believe in timing the market or panicking over market movements, we do like to keep an eye on big changes -- just in case they're material to our investing thesis.

What: Shares of Xoom (NASDAQ: XOOM  ) have rocketed higher today and are now sitting 15% above yesterday's close after obliterating analyst estimates with strong earnings.

So what: Wall Street was looking for revenue of $26.2 million and a loss of $0.07 per share. Xoom didn't settle for this -- its results, which showed 60% year-over-year revenue growth to $33.5 million and a stunning $0.14 in adjusted earnings per share, were far better. Third-quarter guidance was also slightly ahead of estimates, with a range of $27 million to $28 million in revenue coming up against the $26.7 million consensus, and a $0.02 to $0.07 loss per share against the $0.06 loss per share Wall Street had sought.

Top 5 Heal Care Companies For 2014: Prudential Bancorp Inc. of Pennsylvania(PBIP)

Prudential Bancorp, Inc. of Pennsylvania operates as the holding company for Prudential Savings Bank that provides various financial products and services in Pennsylvania. Its deposit products include interest-bearing and non-interest-bearing checking, money market, savings, and certificate of deposit accounts. The company?s loan portfolio comprises single-family residential mortgage loans, construction and land development loans, non-residential or commercial real estate mortgage loans, home equity loans and lines of credit, commercial business loans, and consumer loans. The company also provides securities and insurance products, as well as automated teller machine and online banking services. As of September 30, 2010, it operated a main office and six branch offices located in Philadelphia and Delaware Counties. The company was founded in 1886 and is headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Prudential Bancorp, Inc. of Pennsylvania is a subsidiary of Prudential Mutu al Holding Company.

Top 5 Heal Care Companies For 2014: Fenner(FENR.L)

Fenner PLC engages in the manufacture and distribution of conveyor belting and precision polymer products primarily in Europe, the Americas, the Asia Pacific, and Africa. It operates through two segments, Conveyor Belting and Advanced Engineered Products. The Conveyor Belting segment manufactures heavyweight ply, woven, PVC, and steel cord conveyor belting for mining, power generation, and industrial applications. This segment also installs, monitors, and services conveyor systems for its mining customers. The Advanced Engineered Products segment produces precision polymer products, which comprise precision drives for computer peripherals, copiers, and ATMs; power transmission and motion transfer components; silicone and complex hoses for heavy duty trucks, buses, and off-road vehicles; seals and sealing solutions for the fluid power and oil and gas industries; technical textiles for medical and industrial applications, and silicone based products for medical applications; rollers for digital image processing and medical diagnostics; and fluropolymer components for fluid and gas handling. The company?s principal markets include underground mining; hardrock mining; aggregates; power generation; grain; forestry; package handling; moving walkways; paper handling; computer peripherals; copiers; electrical/mechanical equipment; agricultural machinery; heating, ventilating, and air conditioning; diesel engines; pharmaceuticals; machine tools; mobile hydraulics; off-highway machines; mechanical handling; construction equipment; process industries; electronics, oil, gas, and aerospace; medical textiles; digital image transfer rollers; and technical fabrics. Fenner PLC was founded in 1861 and is based in Hessle, the United Kingdom.

Top 5 Performing Stocks For 2014: (CG)

The Carlyle Group is an investment firm specializing in direct and fund of fund investments. Within direct investments, it specializes in management-led buyouts, divestitures, strategic minority equity investments, equity private placements, consolidations and buildups, leveraged finance, and venture and growth capital financings. The firm typically invests in agriculture, aerospace, defense, automotive, consumer, retail, industrial, infrastructure, energy, power, healthcare, software, technology, real estate, financial services, transportation, business services, telecommunications, and media sectors. Within the industrial sector, the firm invests in manufacturing, building products, packaging, chemicals, metals and mining, forestry and paper products, and industrial consumables and services. In consumer and retail sectors, it invests in food and beverage, retail, restaurants, consumer products, consumer services, personal care products, direct marketing, and education. W ithin aerospace, defense, business services, and government services sectors, it seeks to invest in defense electronics, manufacturing and services, government contracting and services, information technology, distribution companies. In telecommunication and media sectors, it invests in cable TV, directories, publishing, entertainment and content delivery services, wireless infrastructure/services, fixed line networks, satellite services, broadband and Internet, and infrastructure. The firm seeks to hold its investments for four to six years. In the healthcare sector, it invests in healthcare services, outsourcing services, companies running clinical trials for pharmaceutical companies , managed care, pharmaceuticals, pharmaceutical related services, healthcare IT, medical, products, and devices. It seeks to invest in companies based in Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, Middle East, North America, and South America. The firm seeks to invest in food, financial, and healthcare industries in Western China. In the real estate! sector, the firm seeks to invest in Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States with a target on Florida and Atlanta. It typically invests between $5 million and $50 million for venture investments and between $50 million and $1 billion for buyouts. It typically holds its investments for three to five years. Within automotive and transportation sectors, the firm seeks to hold its investments in for four to six years. The firm originates, structures, and acts as lead equity investor in the transactions. The Carlyle Group was founded in 1987 and is based in Washington, District of Columbia with additional offices across North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Europe.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Inyoung Hwang]

  Credit Suisse (CSGN)�� Chen took a new look at publicly listed private-equity firms, including Apollo Global Management LLC, Blackstone Group LP (BX) and Carlyle Group LP. (CG) Investors are still struggling to properly value them, he says.

• [By GuruFocus] ref="http://www.gurufocus.com/StockBuy.php?GuruName=Tom+Gayner">Tom Gayner initiated holdings in Carlyle Group LP. His purchase prices were between $24.19 and $32.87, with an estimated average price of $29.56. The impact to his portfolio due to this purchase was 0.02%. His holdings were 20,000 shares as of 06/30/2013.

  Sold Out: EOG Resources (EOG)

  Tom Gayner sold out his holdings in EOG Resources. His sale prices were between $113.44 and $137.9, with an estimated average price of $128.22.

  Sold Out: State Street Corp (STT)

  Tom Gayner sold out his holdings in State Street Corp. His sale prices were between $56.51 and $67.44, with an estimated average price of $62.2.

  Sold Out: Bunge Ltd (BG)

  Tom Gayner sold out his holdings in Bunge Ltd. His sale prices were between $66.4 and $73.51, with an estimated average price of $70.39.

  Added: UnitedHealth Group Inc (UNH)

  Tom Gayner added to his holdings in UnitedHealth Group Inc by 45.25%. His purchase prices were between $58.54 and $66.09, with an estimated average price of $62.22. The impact to his portfolio due to this purchase was 0.4%. His holdings were 569,800 shares as of 06/30/2013.

  Added: Liberty Media Corporation (LMCA)

  Tom Gayner added to his holdings in Liberty Media Corporation by 102.38%. His purchase prices were between $108.75 and $130.01, with an estimated average price of $119.32. The impact to his portfolio due to this purchase was 0.2%. His holdings were 85,000 shares as of 06/30/2013.

  Added: National Oilwell Varco, Inc. (NOV)

  Tom Gayner added to his holdings in National Oilwell Varco, Inc. by 40.44%. His purchase prices were between $64.14 and $71.57, with an estimated average price of $68.35. The impact to his portfolio due to this purchase was 0.14%. His holdings were 191,000 shares as of 06/30/2013.

  Added: Google, Inc. (GOOG)

  Tom Gayner added to his holdings in Google, Inc. by 86%. His purchase prices were between $765.914

• [By Shauna O'Brien]

  On Monday, asset management firm Carlyle Group LP (CG) announced that it has agreed to acquire a New Jersey based power plant from Energy Capital Partners.

  Carlyle Group will acquire the Red Oak power generation plant, which is located in Sayreville, NJ. The Red Oak facility is a highly efficient 823-MW natural gas-fired combined-cycle power plant and operates under a long term power purchase agreement.

  Separately, the firm has agreed to purchase five power plants in California. These five facilities account for 320 MW. The deal was made in conjunction with CG’s power affiliate Cogentrix.

  Carlyle shares were mostly flat during pre-market trading Monday. The stock has been mostly flat YTD.

Top 5 Heal Care Companies For 2014: Psion(PON.L)

Psion plc, through its subsidiaries, provides enterprise mobile computing solutions, integration services, and product support and maintenance services worldwide. It offers hardware and software, professional services, and customer services and support. The company?s products include hand held computers; rugged vehicle mount computers; connectivity solutions comprising access points, network management products, emulators, and utilities; and companion products, such as printers, speech solutions, imagers and scanners, and tablet PCs. It also provides professional services, including assessment and consultation, infrastructure development, project management, and installation and deployment services. In addition, the company offers reconditioned and rental products, as well as repair services. It serves airport, automotive, cold chain, field service, public sector, passenger management, port and container yard, postal and courier, retail, and warehouse and distribution ind ustries. The company sells its products through a network of third party resellers, distributors, and system integrators, as well as through its direct sales force. The company was founded in 1967 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom.

Top 5 Heal Care Companies For 2014: Harris Interactive Inc. (HPOL)

Harris Interactive Inc. operates as a consultative market research company primarily in North America, Europe, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany. The company provides market research and polling services, which include ad-hoc and customized qualitative and quantitative research, service bureau research, and long-term tracking studies; and consultative solutions in areas, such as market assessment, product development, brand and communications, stakeholder relationships, reputation management, and youth and education. It also conducts market research projects for clients in automotive, transportation, travel, tourism, energy, professional services, consumer goods, restaurants, retail, financial services, healthcare, public affairs and policy, technology, media, and telecommunications industries. In addition, the company conducts custom research, including customer satisfaction surveys, market share studies, new product introduction studies, brand recognition s tudies, reputation studies, and ad concept testing; provides tracking study research comprising design, execution, and maintenance of custom and online tracking studies; and offers service bureau research, such as mixed-mode data collection, panel development, and syndicated and tracking research consultation services. Further, it provides multi-client research; and omnibus research consisting of online, telephone, and face-to-face solutions. Harris Interactive Inc. was founded in 1956 and is headquartered in Rochester, New York.

Five years after crisis, advisers can sleep at night, but clients still nervous

Hope fades: Days before filing for bankruptcy court protection, Lehman Brothers reported the biggest loss in its 158-year history and set plans to sell assets and cut its dividend to shore up capital and regain investor confidence. Bloomberg News

Five years ago, as Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. was allowed to fail and Merrill Lynch & Co. Inc. sold its 17,000 brokers to Bank of America Corp. to avoid its demise, financial advisers quickly realized the country wasn't facing just another market blip.

“There was the sense that unthinkable things were happening behind the scenes and that this wasn't like previous market crises,” said Gerard Klingman, president of Klingman & Associates LLC. “We were looking at the potential reworking of our financial and banking systems.”

Five years later, those systems are largely restructured but even clients who have recovered losses — and in some cases enjoyed noteworthy gains — are still hesitant to invest and lack confidence for the future, advisers said. They're worried that it will happen again.

Our visual timeline of the main events of 2008's crisis:

During the darkest days from Sept. 10 to Oct. 10, 2008, when the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost a quarter of its value, advisers and planners spent sleepless nights stressed over their clients' investment losses and trying to make smart decisions. They also worried about their own revenue, which, in most cases, tumbled along with assets under management.

Brokers, who also tried to limit client losses, watched the value of their personal deferred compensation sink along with financial company stocks. At the same time, the cachet of working for a Wall Street giant became an encumbrance almost overnight.

“It didn't take advisers long to figure out there were big systemic problems that were going to impact investor confidence for a long time,” said Rebecca Pomering, chief executive of Moss Adams Wealth Advisors LLC.More cash than ever

Wealthy Americans are sitting on more cash now than before 2008 and they are spending less, said Ron Carson, founder and chief executive of Carson Wealth Management Group. He describes a client who sold a company two years ago for $60 million but continues to deny himself the $300,000 Ferrari he wants.

“People are making irrational, emotional decisions,” Mr. Carson said. “We still have scarring from that time.”

Investors also have become more skeptical financial consumers, asking more questions about the risks associated with everyone and every institution touching their money. Clients ask their advisers which companies actually hold their funds, where their money is invested, how they expect the market to perform in the short and long term, and about fees, Ms. Pomering said.

“Since 2008, the nature of the conversations with clients has changed a little, and with prospects, it's changed a lot,” she said. “They are asking questions now that they should have been asking all along.”

Rick Kahler, president and founder of Kahler Financial Group Inc., said he pays more attention today to controlling client costs — everything from investment fees to taxes. He's also created a blog just for clients, to keep them abreast of his current thinking on the markets.

In addition, he encourages his retired clients to have cash reserves that would cover one to four years' needs.

Many financial advisers said they communicate more often with clients today than they did before the market crisis of 2008-09.Biggest client acquisition opportunity

Mr. Klingman said keeping in regular contact with clients over that difficult time, including daily e-mails during the most volatile periods, helped him retain investors and even build his firm.

“I never want to live through it again,” he said. “But it was the single biggest client acquisition opportunity of our lifetime.”

Clients who couldn't get any or enough feedback from their advisers during that stressful period and — those who were unhappy with how their advisers had positioned them leading up to the turmoil — have largely left firms they had stayed with for years.

Mr. Klingman said his firm picked up two clients from an adviser who was traveling on a month-long European vacation during the Lehman collapse.

Today, Klingman and Associates reaches out even more regularly and frequently than it did before 2008, including formal quarterly commentary on the markets and interim outlooks as things change. Despite consistent communication, clients are still risk averse and concerned about debt, Mr. Klingman said.

Many advisers — and their thoughts on financial planning — were changed by the financial crisis, which was touched off by a bursting housing bubble and Lehman's bankruptcy.

About 47% of 56 financial planners advisers questioned in February and March 2009 said the financial crisis had caused them to rethink how they help people create the life they want. The study, published last year in the Journal of Financial Therapy, theorized that the high anxiety levels advisers experienced during the crisis led many to shift away from strategic asset allocation (or simply setting target allocations and re-balancing to them) toward tactical asset management — investing based more on fluctuating market movements than buy and hold.

One of the study's authors, Brad Klontz, a therapist and certified financial planner, also points to advisers' increasing use of annuities — a product many looked on with skepticism before the ! crash.

“This was an event so stressful that advisers want to do whatever is possible to avoid that stress,” he said.Going tactical

Mr. Klingman said he relies more on tactical investing today than before 2008. The firm's advisers regularly make changes to their asset allocation models based on their outlook on valuations and models, he said.

“I came to believe that markets can go to extremes and you can't simply say … stick to the plan no matter what,” he said.

Even the makeup of the financial advice industry has been altered by Lehman's collapse and the events that followed. The advisory firms that survived the economic downturn are those that were already focused on running the business as a business — or learned to do so quickly — Ms. Pomering said.

“Management consultants had been talking about this already,” she said. “But in 2009, advisers came back and said, 'What did you mention about managing to a bottom line? I'm ready to listen to that now.'”

Meanwhile, the economic reasons for working at a brokerage firm buckled with the drop in financial company shares and Wall Street's image problems. The breakaway trend that began before the Lehman collapse hastened. From the end of 2007 through 2011, the asset share of the four wirehouses fell to a combined 41.1% from 47.8%, according to data from Cerulli Associates Inc.

The big brokerages took note of consumer preferences and shifted the focus of their adviser forces toward more-comprehensive financial planning and use of fee-based compensation models. Distinctions among the different channels in the financial advice industry — and those evident to consumers — have grown less apparent ever since.

Steer Clear of ConAgra

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- When it rains, it pours. Unfortunately for ConAgra (CAG) shareholders, there is no shelter for a stock that has been in a perpetual decline, losing close to 20% over the past month.

While it hasn't been a "nutritious" year for the overall packaged food industry, ConAgra hasn't been able to stop the bleeding -- unlike Kraft (KRFT) and Kellogg (K), which have also faced headwinds due to weak volumes.

For all of the criticism I've unleashed towards this company this year, ConAgra's managemen has produced nothing but dismal growth and eroding margins and has yet to prove me wrong. Now, after the company issued worse-than-expected guidance last week following another disastrous quarter, investors who insist on holding this stock might as well starve themselves. [Read: Apple Gets Goldman Boost]

On some levels, I take it personal for how poorly managed this company is now. It's sacrilege to condemn the maker of Swiss Miss and Peter Pan peanut butter. Just a year ago the company posted a net income of $250 million. But with year-over-year profits declining 42% to $144 million, one has to wonder if ConAgra's consumer segment, which is the company's largest division, will ever recover. Essentially, earnings, on a per-share basis, declined from 61 cents to 34 cents. Although on an adjusted basis, earnings inched up to 37 cents per share, the company still missed Street estimates by 2 cents. This prolongs what has been a poor history of execution, which has made it tough to nibble on this stock, even when shares appeared to have bottomed. Although a case can be made the stock has reached the discount bin, the company still lags its peers in areas like returns on capital and more importantly, margins. With revenue in the consumer segment shedding another 2% this quarter combined with a 21% decline in profits, I don't think anyone can justify having a glass-half-full view, regardless of the angle. ConAgra bulls will disagree. As have been the case for the past couple of quarters, they will play the "Ralcorp card." It's true that ConAgra's overall revenue growth did climb 27% year over year. But astute investors understand that without the acquisition of Ralcorp, virtually all of that 27% growth never would have been realized.

Let me remind you that even with the 27% growth, the company still missed Street estimates. Plus, it's not just the Consumer business that is struggling. ConAgra's Commercial foods segment shed 0.4% in revenue, with a 7% decline in profits.

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I won't deny that management is making some progress with synergizing Ralcorp. It just doesn't seem that management is able to produce any organic growth, which measures a company's operational performance and excluding events like acquisitions.

I'm not suggesting investors should completely dismiss ConAgra's absolute performance. But given how quickly this sector is known to consolidate, it's not enough to look at a single revenue number -- in this case, 27% growth -- and believe that it's digestible. With CEO Gary Rodkin making statements like, "We are revising our merchandising and promotion plans to improve our volume," it is clear that there is still a lot of work to be done. [Read: Here's Your Obamacare Calculator]

In that regard, given that ConAgra has guided earnings for this current quarter to 8 cents below Street estimates of 63 cents per share, it's going to be a while before this company can revert to growing margins and generating the sort of cash needed to support a higher share price. The tough part, however, is the stock looks cheap. Even so, investors should remain off the ConAgra diet until the company shows consecutive quarters of organic growth and improved margins. At the time of publication, the author held no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Follow @saintssense This article was written by an independent contributor, separate from TheStreet's regular news coverage.

Richard Saintvilus is a co-founder of StockSaints.com where he serves as CEO and editor-in-chief. After 20 years in the IT industry, including 5 years as a high school computer teacher, Saintvilus decided his second act would be as a stock analyst - bringing logic from an investor's point of view. His goal is to remove the complicated aspect of investing and present it to readers in a way that makes sense. His background in engineering has provided him with strong analytical skills. That, along with 15 years of trading and investing, has given him the tools needed to assess equities and appraise value. Richard is a Warren Buffett disciple who bases investment decisions on the quality of a company's management, growth aspects, return on equity, and price-to-earnings ratio. His work has been featured on CNBC, Yahoo! Finance, MSN Money, Forbes, Motley Fool and numerous other outlets. Follow @saintssense

Which Massive Growth Private Companies Are the Next Hot IPOs?

Inc. has released its 2013 Inc. 5000 List, which is quite simply the fastest growing private companies that it can track in America. It is a massive list, and the effort must be a huge undertaking by more than a few hard-working people. As most investors know, it is fast growth private companies that are often the hot initial public offerings (IPOs) of tomorrow.

Each year 24/7 Wall St. previews what it thinks will be the next hot IPOs and before the end of what we consider the summer season (up to Labor Day). We wanted to preview the companies on the Inc. 5000 List to see which companies could be the hot IPOs of 2013 and even 2014. We have also included some IPO filings and likely IPOs that were not on the list. We noticed that making the Inc. 5000 List requires a company to apply to be included.

Before you consider this just to be a bit of IPO pondering, take a step back and understand that some of this list membership already has filed to come public or actually has made it public recently. Boise Cascade Co. (NYSE: BCC), CDW Corp. (NASDAQ: CDW), Coty Inc. (NYSE: COTY), Global Brass and Copper Holdings Inc. (NYSE: BRSS), Noodles & Company (NASDAQ: NDLS), Restoration Hardware Holdings Inc. (NYSE: RH), Sprouts Farmers Market Inc. (NASDAQ: SFM) and many others are on the list and have made it to the post-IPO stage in the stock market.

Then there are the other big companies that will come public that are not on the Inc. 5000 List. One warning, and admission, is that picking any list of future IPOs is very subjective. It is also a situation that can change literally on a dime.

It is a mystery as to whyGoDaddy.com has not ever gone public. At one point it was supposed to hold an IPO, but that effort was withdrawn. It has seen 49% growth in the past three years to $910.9 million and was listed as having 3,369 employees. Of the 5,000 on the Inc. list, Godaddy was ranked #4,532 but was in the top 30 by total sales. With a recent acquisition, maybe things will point toward an IPO again.

Kum & Go could be next on the proposed IPO list because its co-founder recently passed away at the young age of 78 years. This company is a leading convenience store chain that dates all the way back to 1959 and now has roughly 420 stores across eleven states. We do not want to press an issue, but frequently IPOs come in the months or years after the death of a founder. One hurdle that may be a problem for some future shareholders is that Kum & Go says that it donates 10% of its profits back to charities and local communities.

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Living Social is ranked as number 16 of the 5,000 and that is very high. Sales growth was listed as 12,333%, with sales now at $536 million. It was also listed as having 4,100 employees, and we would bet that there are more than just a few of those workers with stock options who would like to become instant millionaires. Rival Groupon Inc. (NASDAQ: GRPN) may be a part of the problem, because its IPO was not well received and the business of “daily deals” is not turning out to be quite as much “social media” as it is online couponing.

Another big growth name on the list was Fuhu, which makes tablets for children. Sales growth in a three-year period was 42,000% to almost $118 million. We will leave the rest of the massive list’s potential IPO filings up to the companies themselves.

Here are great growth or large companies that are not on the Inc. 5000 List but that will be watched closely:

Chegg Inc. has recently filed. It was not on the Inc. 5000 List that we saw, but it is the leader and a potential revolutionizing agent of school textbooks. Its rental business has grown rapidly and it claims that it can handle about 90% of its requests when in the target market.

Re/Max, the real estate agency, filed just in August to come public. It is a name you know well if you have been in the housing market any time in the past couple of decades. We detailed this one in full, with the supposition that its success will depend on housing sales for the rest of 2013.

Twitter is another social media, or emerging news player, that we expect will come public within the first half of 2014. Until we see financials and filings, we cannot comment on its finances other than to be the one-millionth place to say how much Twitter is changing (maybe not for the better) the media industry around breaking news.

Two other IPO filings will be key to watch as well. One is called Antero Resources Corp., which is an independent oil and gas player in the Appalachian Basin. The size of the filing was what drives the interest here because it was for up to $1 billion. The second, and even more important, will be the Hilton IPO which was filed for at the start of August. This was close to a $27 billion acquisition back in the private equity boom and one of the biggest deals ever, so all eyes will be watching very closely here.

As a reminder, BDO recently projected that the IPO market would pick up during the rest of 2013. Now it is time to prove whether the projection is true. We would caution investors that some scheduled IPOs simply do not come about, and maybe for reasons you might not guess or ever find out about. That is the game, and of course market conditions dictate the IPO flow perhaps more than anything.

Stay tuned.

The Deal: European, Asian Markets Retreat

LONDON (The Deal) -- European and Asian stocks retreated Tuesday as the U.K. government sold a 6% stake in Lloyds Banking Group in the country's largest privatization in a decade, and as investors awaited the start of a two-day Federal Reserve monetary policy meeting in the U.S.

The U.K. government sold just over 3.2 billion pounds ($5.1 billion) of Lloyds' shares to institutional investors, five years after the previous Labour government arranged for Lloyds to take over troubled peer HBOS. The state selldown is the largest British privatization since 1993, when the U.K. government raised $8.1 billion from the sale of British Telecommunications shares.

The U.K.'s benchmark FTSE fell 17.26 points, or 0.27%, to 6,604.90, as Lloyds shed 2.09% to 75.74 pence.

In Germany, a report by the ZEW Centre for European Economic Research showed investor confidence in Europe's largest economy rose for the second straight month and to its highest level since April 2010. The index, which seeks to predict economic developments six months in advance, rose to a higher than expected 49.6 in September from 42 in August. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, seeking her third term in national elections on Sunday, said last week that while the euro-area crisis is not yet over, she sees the "first small green shoots" of hope. Germany's benchmark Dax Index fell 10.42 points, or 0.12%, to 8,602.58. The biggest loser was tire maker Continental AG. Its shares fell €4.75, or 3.74%, to €122.30 after its biggest shareholder, closely held auto parts maker Schaeffler AG and its holding company, sold a 4% stake for about €950 million ($1.27 billion) to repay debt. The Hang Seng closed down 71.89, or 0.31%, to 23,180.52, while the Nikkei shed 93.00, or 0.65%, to 14,311.67. Standard & Poor's futures gained 9.61, or 0.57%, to 1,697.60, on the first day of a two-day meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee. --Written by Renee Cordes

Market Wrap-Up for Sept. 5 (WAG, LTD, CPB, DE, more)

Out of the gate today, stocks rose mostly higher, as investors went into buy mode following the release of a number of economic indicators that beat analysts’ estimates. However, that bit of euphoria soon wore off and stocks came back to earth, especially as the yield on the 10 Year U.S Treasury Note started to close in on 3.00%. By the close, the major indices were just able to squeak out gains.

Stocks on the Rise

Among the stocks that closed in positive territory today were Alliant Technologies (ATK), Carlyle Group (CG), and Kaydon Corp. (KDN), after these companies announced various acquisitions. Walgreen Company (WAG) shares rallied as well, following its release of better-than-expected August sales.

Furthermore, Omnicom Group (OMC) and Humana Inc. (HUM) shares rose into positive territory following Wall Street analysts’ upgrades.

Stocks on the Decline

Top 10 Oil Stocks To Own For 2014

In contrast, shares of L Brands (

Mortgage Loan Rates Moderate, Lending Up

The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) released its weekly report on mortgage applications this morning, noting a rise of 1.3% in the group's seasonally adjusted composite index following a decline of 2.5% for the previous week. Mortgage loan rates decreased across the board last week.

The seasonally adjusted purchase index decreased by 0.4% from the last report. On an unadjusted basis, the composite index rose 0.3% week-over-week. The unadjusted purchase index decreased by 3% for the week, but is up about 6% year-over-year.

The MBA's refinance index rose 2% after dropping 5% in the previous week.

10 Best Gold Stocks To Invest In 2014

The share of refinancings rose from 60% to 61%. Adjustable rate mortgage loans account for 7% of all applications.

The average mortgage loan rate for a conforming 30-year fixed-rate mortgage decreased from 4.8% to 4.73%. The rate for a jumbo 30-year fixed-rate mortgage fell from 4.78% to 4.71%. The average interest rate for a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage fell from 3.84% to 3.75%.

The contract interest rate for a 5/1 adjustable rate mortgage loan rose from 3.5% to 3.49%.

Mortgage interest rates remain near two-year highs and the decline in refinancings has been halted, at least for one week.

Purchase applications remain higher than they were a year ago and that is the best news out of the reports for the past few weeks. The modest increase in refinancings does not signal anything in particular.

16 Reasonably Priced Dividend Shares with Low Long-Term Debt to Lift Share Buybacks

I love dividend growth stocks and dividend-paying companies in general but it's also important to see that the company buys its own shares back.

The process of share repurchases is a special way to give shareholders money back in a very tax-optimized way.

A low-yielding stock with a 2 percent yield can lift the total yield via stock repurchases to 4 percent or so. For sure, share buybacks are no cash yields on your trading account; it's an indirect way to reduce the current shares and lift the potential share price.

There is an index outside that covers some of the best stocks with share repurchases that bought at least 5 percent of its outstanding shares within the past 12 months.

Today I would like to screen the buyback achievers index by the best-yielding stocks with a low forward P/E as well as a very low debt-to-equity ratio. Low debt is a good indicator for potential growth or additional share buybacks.

These are my criteria in detail:

- Positive Dividend Yield
- Forward P/E under 15
- Long-Term Debt-To-Equity below 0.2
- Member of the Buyback Achievers Index

In total, sixteen Buyback Achievers Index stocks fulfilled the above mentioned restrictions of which ten have a current buy or better rating.

Here are some of the highest yielding stocks:

Corning (GLW) has a market capitalization of $21.38 billion. The company employs 28,700 people, generates revenue of $8.012 billion and has a net income of $1.728 billion. Corning's earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $2.465 billion. The EBITDA margin is 30.77 percent (the operating margin is 16.16 percent and the net profit margin 21.57 percent).

Financial Analysis: The total debt represents 11.77 percent of Corning's assets and the total debt in relation to the equity amounts to 16.09 percent. Due to the financial situation, a return on equity of 8.12 percent was realized by Corning. Twelve trailing months earnings per shar! e reached a value of $1.30. Last fiscal year, Corning paid $0.32 in the form of dividends to shareholders. Share Buyback Rate 3-Years: 1.3 percent.

Market Valuation: Here are the price ratios of the company: The P/E ratio is 11.22, the P/S ratio is 2.64 and the P/B ratio is finally 0.99. The dividend yield amounts to 2.76 percent and the beta ratio has a value of 1.37.

Guess? (GES) has a market capitalization of $2.54 billion. The company employs 15,200 people, generates revenue of $2.658 billion and has a net income of $181.49 million. Guess?'s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $364.22 million. The EBITDA margin is 13.70 percent (the operating margin is 10.33 percent and the net profit margin 6.83 percent).

Financial Analysis: The total debt represents 0.60 percent of Guess?'s assets and the total debt in relation to the equity amounts to 0.94 percent. Due to the financial situation, a return on equity of 15.68 percent was realized by Guess?. Twelve trailing months earnings per share reached a value of $1.89. Last fiscal year, Guess? paid $0.80 in the form of dividends to shareholders. Share Buyback Rate 3-Years: 1.9 percent.

Market Valuation: Here are the price ratios of the company: The P/E ratio is 15.83, the P/S ratio is 0.95 and the P/B ratio is finally 2.33. The dividend yield amounts to 2.69 percent and the beta ratio has a value of 1.82.

GameStop (GME) has a market capitalization of $6.17 billion. The company employs 17,000 people, generates revenue of $8.886 billion and has a net income of $-269.80 million. GameStop's earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $815.50 million. The EBITDA margin is 9.18 percent (the operating margin is -0.47 percent and the net profit margin -3.04 percent).

Financial Analysis: The total debt represents 0.00 percent of GameStop's assets and the total debt in relation to the equity amounts to 0.00 percent. Due to the financi! al situat! ion, a return on equity of -10.12 percent was realized by GameStop. Twelve trailing months earnings per share reached a value of $-2.29. Last fiscal year, GameStop paid $0.80 in the form of dividends to shareholders. Share Buyback Rate 3-Years: 9.0 percent.

Market Valuation: Here are the price ratios of the company: The P/E ratio is not calculable, the P/S ratio is 0.65 and the P/B ratio is finally 2.56. The dividend yield amounts to 2.22 percent and the beta ratio has a value of 0.75.

Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF) has a market capitalization of $2.84 billion. The company employs 10,000 people, generates revenue of $4.510 billion and has a net income of $237.01 million. Abercrombie & Fitch's earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $604.16 million. The EBITDA margin is 13.39 percent (the operating margin is 8.30 percent and the net profit margin 5.25 percent).

Financial Analysis: The total debt represents 2.14 percent of Abercrombie & Fitch's assets and the total debt in relation to the equity amounts to 3.52 percent. Due to the financial situation, a return on equity of 12.64 percent was realized by Abercrombie & Fitch. Twelve trailing months earnings per share reached a value of $2.74. Last fiscal year, Abercrombie & Fitch paid $0.70 in the form of dividends to shareholders. Share Buyback Rate 3-Years: 2.1 percent.

Market Valuation: Here are the price ratios of the company: The P/E ratio is 13.57, the P/S ratio is 0.63 and the P/B ratio is finally 1.61. The dividend yield amounts to 2.15 percent and the beta ratio has a value of 1.75.

Take a closer look at the full list of cheap dividend stocks from the Buyback Achievers index with low debt. The average P/E ratio amounts to 15.02 and forward P/E ratio is 12.47. The dividend yield has a value of 1.60 percent. Price to book ratio is 2.25 and price to sales ratio 2.06. The operating margin amounts to 27.94 percent and the beta ratio is 0.12. Stocks from the list have an averag! e debt to! equity ratio of 0.12.

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Related Stock Ticker Symbols:
GLW, GES, PROV, ANF, GME, EWBC, MRVL, QCOR, KAI, AGII, FFG, RNR, DV, CNO, PTP, WIRE

Selected Articles:
· 11 Amazing Dividend Growth Stocks With Little Debt
· 8 Predictable Dividend Stocks At Historical Book-Value Lows
· 18 Undervalued Stocks With Good Dividends And A Predictable Business
· Best Dividend Paying Stock List As Of September 2013

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Iron Mountain: REIT Conversion Not Dead Yet, Piper Jaffray Says

How’s this for an ugly chart?

That’s a 52-week chart of Iron Mountain (IRM), and that big decline–and gap–you see is what happens when investors have their hearts set on seeing a company convert into a REIT only to have their hearts broken by the IRS.

Whether a company can convert into a REIT is dependent on the definition of “real assets,” and when the IRS announced in June that it had put together a working group to figure define just what a real asset is, investors freaked. In case you’re wondering, that’s a 35% drop from peak to trough.

But there may be hope yet, say Piper Jaffray analysts George Tong and Peter Appert. First, they note that the IRS’s decision to convene a working group does not mean that it’s eager to change the definition, but rather to formalize it. They also believe there’s a good chance that Iron Mountain’s storage racks will be deemed “real assets.” For instance, Iron Mountain’s assets are likely to meet the IRS’s definition of “permanence.” Tong and Appert write:

IRM’s racks consist of beams permanently affixed to the foundation of the building capable of withstanding significant weight over many decades. They are not modular in nature, such as grocery aisle shelves (which do not qualify as real assets) that can be taken apart and pieced back together. The racks are never meant to be moved nor have they ever been moved. Removing the racks at IRM will immediately turn them into scrap metal since they cannot be reused. This is because the racks are custom built for each unique building and blueprint, taking into account structural and physical idiosyncrasies, and because of warping that occurs with time.

They also do not believe that the racks will be determined to be deemed “[accessories] to the operation of a business,” because they “do not produce a product” and “are not equipment or machinery,” among other reasons. As a result, they believe that Iron Mountain’s racks will be “treated as qualifying real assets in a REIT conversion,” and they reiterated their $37 dollar price target for the stock.

Top Stocks To Buy For 2014

The biggest downside might be time. Tong and Appert say that a “resolution may take over a year,” but should be issued by the end of next year.

Iron Mountain has gained 2.6% to $26.55 at 3:05 p.m., making it the fourth-best performer in the S&P 500, ahead of WPX Energy (WPX), which has gained 2.4% to $19.94, Pinnacle West Capital (PNW), which has gained 2.3% to $53.55 and Dominion Resources (D), which has risen 2.1% to $59.85.

5 Best Clean Energy Stocks To Watch For 2014

The Oklahoman reported last week about a movement out of Oklahoma City to get the United States Postal Service to switch from gasoline and diesel to natural-gas-powered vehicles. Natural gas is cheaper than either of those two fuels right now, which would be good for the USPS, but the real story here is in the power of demand. In this video, Fool.com contributor Aimee Duffy takes a look at what would happen if the Post Office pursued this idea.

The movement toward alternative energy is gaining momentum. One potential opportunity in this field is Clean Energy Fuels, which focuses its natural gas efforts primarily on trucking and fleets. It's poised to make a big impact on an essential industry. Learn everything you need to know about Clean Energy Fuels in The Motley Fool's premium research report on the company. Just click here now to claim your copy today.

5 Best Clean Energy Stocks To Watch For 2014: United States Natural Gas Fund LP (UNG)

United States Natural Gas Fund, LP (USNG) is a limited partnership. The Company is a commodity pool that issues limited partnership interests (units) traded on the NYSE Arca, Inc. (the NYSE Arca). The investment objective of USNG is for the changes in percentage terms of its units��net asset value (NAV) to reflect the changes in percentage terms of the spot price of natural gas delivered at the Henry Hub, Louisiana as measured by the changes in the Futures Contract on natural gas traded on the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) that is the near month contract to expire, except when the near month contract is within two weeks of expiration, in which case the futures contract will be the next month contract to expire. The Company�� general partner is United States Commodity Funds LLC (the General Partner) and is responsible for the management of USNG.

USNG invests in futures contracts for natural gas, crude oil, heating oil, gasoline, and other petroleum-based fuels that are traded on the NYMEX, ICE Futures or other United States and foreign exchanges (collectively, Futures Contracts). USNG also invests in other natural gas-related investments, such as cash-settled options on Futures Contracts, forward contracts for natural gas, cleared swap contracts, and over-the-counter transactions that are based on the price of natural gas, oil and other petroleum-based fuels, Futures Contracts and indices based on the foregoing (collectively, Other Natural Gas-Related Investments). USNG invests in Natural Gas Interests to the fullest extent possible. In pursuing this objective, the primary focus of the General Partner is the investment in Futures Contracts and the management of USNG�� investments in short-term obligations of the United States of two years or less (Treasuries), cash and/or cash equivalents for margining purposes and as collateral.

5 Best Clean Energy Stocks To Watch For 2014: Skyworks Solutions Inc.(SWKS)

Skyworks Solutions, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, offers analog and mixed signal semiconductors worldwide. The company provides power amplifiers and front-end solutions for cellular devices from entry level to multimedia platforms and smart phones. Its product portfolio consists of amplifiers, attenuators, detectors, diodes, directional couplers, front-end modules, hybrids, infrastructure RF subsystems, mixers/demodulators, phase shifters, PLLs/synthesizers/VCOs, power dividers/combiners, receivers, switches, and technical ceramics. Skyworks also offers MIS silicon chip capacitors, transceivers, and modulators. The company markets its products to automotive, broadband, cellular infrastructure, energy management, industrial, medical, military, and cellular handset applications. Skyworks sells its products primarily through its direct sales force, as well as through independent manufacturers? representatives and distribution partners. The company was founded in 1962 and is headquartered in Woburn, Massachusetts.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sam Collins]

  Semiconductor maker Skyworks Solutions Inc. (NASDAQ: SWKS) is an innovator of high reliability analog and mixed signal semiconductors for dual- and triple-mode smartphones, tablets and data cards.

  Although its P/E ratio appears high at over 39 times 2011 earnings, its five-year earnings growth of over 35% appears to justify it. Analysts at Stifel Nicolaus recently raised SWKS from a “hold” to a “buy.”?

  Technically, SWKS is in a powerful uptrend and recently flashed a new buy signal from the slow stochastic. This is a speculative stock and buyers should place a 10% trailing stop loss in order to protect against a reversal. But if the trend continues, a target of $45 in one month is possible.

Top 10 Dividend Stocks To Buy For 2014: Ratti(RATI.MI)

Ratti S.p.A. engages in the production and sale of printed and dyed-in-the-yarn silk, wool, cotton, linen, and other fabrics for apparel, neckwear, furnishings, and other accessories. It also produces apparel fabrics for the wholesale and retail sectors, as well as for tailoring work shops. In addition, the company designs and creates foulards, scarves, shawls, and stoles, as well as manufactures printed and plain fabrics for furniture. It has operations primarily in Europe, the United States, and Japan The company, formerly known as Antonio Ratti Silk Weaving, was founded by Antonio Ratti in 1945. Ratti S.p.A. is headquartered in Guanzate, Italy.

5 Best Clean Energy Stocks To Watch For 2014: Akela Pharma Inc He Company] (AKL.TO)

Akela Pharma, Inc. operates as a specialty contract pharmaceutical formulation developer in the United States. It offers contract pharma services comprising formulation and process development of drug in tablets, capsules, multiparticulates, fast formulations, oral and topical liquids, powders for suspension/reconstitution, and semi-solid forms. The company also provides analytical services, which include research and development analytical testing and support for formulation development; analytical method development and phase-appropriate validation; quality control testing for API and raw materials release; and stability testing and ICH compliant stability storage. In addition, it offers drug delivery solutions, such as hot melt extrusion for amorphous dispersions, spray-drying for amorphous dispersions, controlled release dosage forms, liquid solutions (encapsulated and bottled), and novel dosage forms, as well as beads, granulation, and drug layering services. Further, the company�s contract services consist of handling of potent compounds; pharmaceutical patent litigation support services; GMP clinical and commercial manufacturing; clinical labeling and packaging; and IP validation and contestation consulting services. The company was formerly known as LAB International Inc. and changed its name to Akela Pharma, Inc. in June 2007. Akela Pharma, Inc. was founded in 1979 and is headquartered in Austin, Texas.

5 Best Clean Energy Stocks To Watch For 2014: Transol Corporation Ltd(TNC.AX)

Transol Corporation Limited engages in the development and commercialization of computerized driver license theory testing system; digital music business; and investment in mineral exploration assets in Australia, New Zealand, Cambodia, and Asia. The company offers computerized theory testing systems, which include online Web services platforms for the delivery of education, assessment, and collaboration services for road code and rules; and corus-share.com, a Web 2.0 collaboration software platform, which utilizes social computing software tools and functionality to integrate a range of Web-based applications that allows users to communicate, interact, create, and share information. It also engages in the digital distribution, publishing, and online marketing of music and video content focused primarily on content and services in the Asia Pacific region selling to various online stores. In addition, the company holds investment in mineral exploration assets, including six projects in the Kingdom of Cambodia and Australia. It primarily explores for gold, lead, and bauxite. The company was formerly known as Online Trading Systems Limited and changed its name to Transol Corporation Limited in August 2003. Transol Corporation Limited was founded in 1999 and is based in Melbourne, Australia.

Top 5 Performing Companies To Own In Right Now

Sales at America's automakers have been going great guns these past few quarters, and you'd think that would be great news for the companies that make parts for all these shiny new autos. In some cases, you'd be right to think that. But in at least one case -- the case of Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI  ) stock -- you'd be very, very wrong.

Shares of auto-parts makers such as Lear (NYSE: LEA  ) and Magna International (NYSE: MGA  ) have rocketed this past year, outperforming the S&P 500 with 46% and 56% returns, respectively. Yet Johnson Controls stock has lagged the market average by more than five points. Why?

Three reasons.

Johnson Controls stock is worse than average
Turns out that when you stack up Johnson Controls stock against its two smaller rivals, there's precious little to recommend it. Johnson Controls' P/E ratio of 27.8 is no bargain. It's more than twice the cost of a share of Magna (which costs 10.5 times earnings), and nearly six times the cost of Lear, which sells for only 4.7 times earnings.

Top 5 Performing Companies To Own In Right Now: Weingarten Realty Investors(WRI)

Weingarten Realty Investors operates as a real estate investment trust (REIT). The company engages in the management, acquisition, and development of real estate. It operates in two segments, Shopping Center and Industrial. The Shopping Center segment engages in the acquisition, development, and management of real estate, primarily anchored neighborhood and community shopping centers located in Texas, California, Louisiana, Arizona, Nevada, Arkansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Kansas, Colorado, Missouri, Illinois, Florida, North Carolina, Mississippi, Georgia, Utah, Kentucky, and Maine. Its customer base includes supermarkets, discount retailers, drugstores, and other retailers. The Industrial segment engages in the acquisition, development, and management of bulk warehouses and office/service centers. Its properties are located in Texas, Nevada, Georgia, Florida, California, and Tennessee. As of June 30, 2005, Weingarten Realty Investors owned or operated under long -term leases, directly or through its interest in joint ventures or partnerships, a total of 350 developed properties and 3 properties that are in various stages of development. Its properties include 294 shopping centers and 59 industrial properties. Weingarten Realty Investors qualifies as a REIT for federal income tax purposes. As a REIT, it would not be taxed on the portion of its income, which is distributed to shareholders, provided it distributes at least 90% of its taxable income. The company was founded in 1948 and is based in Houston, Texas.

Top 5 Performing Companies To Own In Right Now: Dynasty Metals I (DMM.TO)

Dynasty Metals & Mining Inc. engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties in Ecuador. The company primarily explores for gold, silver, and copper ores. Its principal properties include the Zaruma gold project comprising 46 unsurveyed concessions that cover 103 square kilometers located in the El Oro Province of southwestern Ecuador; the Jerusalem gold project consisting of 1 concession that covers 225 hectares located in the Zamora Chinchipe Province of southeastern Ecuador; and the Dynasty copper-gold project that comprises 51 concessions covering a total project area of approximately 979.81 square kilometers located in the Loja Province of southern Ecuador. The company is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

Top 10 Growth Companies To Watch In Right Now: Steven Madden Ltd.(SHOO)

Steven Madden, Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, designs, sources, markets, and sells fashion-forward name brand and private label footwear for women, men, and children. It offers wholesale footwear under the Steve Madden Women?s, Madden Girl, Steve Madden Men?s, Steven, l.e.i., Elizabeth and James, Olsenboye, Stevies, Big Buddha Shoes, Madden, Betsey Johnson shoes, Report, and Superga to department stores, mid-tier department stores, better specialty stores, and independently owned boutiques in the United States. The company also provides wholesale handbags and accessories under the Daisy Fuentes, Olsenboye, Steve Madden, Steven by Steve Madden, Betsey Johnson, Betseyville, and Big Buddha brand names, as well as sells cold weather accessories, fashion scarves, wraps, and other trend accessories primarily under the Cejon and Steve Madden brand names to department stores and specialty stores. As of December 31, 2011, it operated 84 retail stores, including 73 Steve Ma dden full price stores, 6 Steve Madden outlet stores, 3 Steven stores, 1 Report store, and 1 e-commerce Website. In addition, the company licenses its Steve Madden and Steven by Steve Madden trademarks for use in connection with the manufacturing, marketing, and sale of cold weather accessories, sunglasses, eyewear, outerwear, bedding, hosiery and women?s fashion apparel, jewelry, and luggage, as well as licenses Betsey Johnson and Betseyville trademarks for sale of apparel, jewelry, swimwear, eyewear, watches, fragrances, and outerwear. Steven Madden, Ltd. distributes its products through its retail stores and e-commerce Website in department stores, specialty stores, luxury retailers, national chains, and mass merchants in the United States; and through special distribution arrangements in Asia, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Mexico, Australia, Central and South America, and India. The company was founded in 1990 and is headquartered in Long Island City, New York.

Top 5 Performing Companies To Own In Right Now: Triangle Energy(global)

Triangle Energy (Global) Limited engages in the exploration and production of gas primarily in Indonesia. The company holds a 100% working interest in the production sharing contract of the Pase Block consisting of 3 production wells covering an area of approximately 922 square kilometers located in Aceh province, north Sumatra, Indonesia. It also holds a 20% interest in Reid?s Dome gas field, which covers an area of 181 square kilometers located in the Bowen Basin, Queensland. The company is based in Cottesloe, Australia.

Top 5 Performing Companies To Own In Right Now: Trafford Resources Ltd(TRF.AX)

Trafford Resources Limited engages in the mineral exploration activities in Australia. It primarily explores for iron oxide, copper, gold, silver, lead, zinc, and uranium deposits. The company primarily holds interests in the Wilcherry Hill project covering 976 square kilometers located in South Australia; and the Lynas Find project consisting of 10 granted prospecting licenses covering approximately 792 hectares located in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Trafford Resources Limited is based in West Perth, Australia.

5 Best Value Stocks To Watch For 2014

Cliffs Natural Resources (NYSE: CLF  ) has hit a pretty rough patch this year. The entire steel industry has been hit hard so far, but both Morgan Stanley and Credit Suisse have downgraded Cliffs recently over fears of�debt�load. The combined effect of these events has been enough to drag the stock down 73% over the past year. While early Q1 results from Alcoa (NYSE: AA  ) have given a little encouragement to the industry, Cliffs still has a long way to go to in order to get back to where it was a year ago.

With the company's stock trading at 70% of tangible book value, this could be a great�time�to get in with this steel specialist. In this video, Fool.com contributor Tyler Crowe explains how the concerns of the debt load may be a little overplayed, and how the long-term outlook for steel demand is promising enough that this temporary blip might not be�worrisome�for long-term investors.

5 Best Value Stocks To Watch For 2014: Tupperware Corporation(TUP)

Tupperware Brands Corporation operates as a direct seller of various products across a range of brands and categories through an independent sales force. The company engages in the manufacture and sale of kitchen and home products, and beauty and personal care products. It offers preparation, storage, and serving solutions for the kitchen and home, as well as kitchen cookware and tools, children?s educational toys, microwave products, and gifts under the Tupperware brand name primarily in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, the Asia Pacific, and North America. The company provides beauty and personal care products, which include skin care products, cosmetics, bath and body care, toiletries, fragrances, nutritional products, apparel, and related products principally in Mexico, South Africa, the Philippines, Australia, and Uruguay. It offers beauty and personal care products under the Armand Dupree, Avroy Shlain, BeautiControl, Fuller, NaturCare, Nutrimetics, Nuvo, and Swissgar de brand names. The company sells its Tupperware products directly to distributors, directors, managers, and dealers; and beauty products primarily through consultants and directors. As of December 26, 2009, the Tupperware distribution system had approximately 1,800 distributors, 61,300 managers, and 1.3 million dealers; and the sales force representing the Beauty businesses approximately 1.1 million. The company was formerly known as Tupperware Corporation and changed its name to Tupperware Brands Corporation in December 2005. The company was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Orlando, Florida.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sam Collins]

  Household name Tupperware Brands Corp. (NYSE:TUP) is a global direct seller of products with multiple brands through an independent sales force of 2.4 million people. Its product line focuses on kitchen storage and serving solutions, as well as personal-care products. Over 60% of sales in 2011 are expected to come from Europe and Asia, and the stock has appeal as an emerging markets story.

  S&P estimates that 2011 earnings will increase to $4.54 versus $3.53 in 2010, and it increased its rating to a “five-star strong buy” with a recently revised 12-month target of $81, up from $73. The 2005 purchase of Sara Lee’s (NYSE:SLE) direct-sales business, which has a high growth rate, should be a long-term benefit. TUP’s annual dividend yield is 1.92%.

  Technically TUP had a pullback following a new high at over $70 and is currently oversold. Buy TUP at the current market price with a trading target of $70, but longer term a much higher target will likely be attained.

5 Best Value Stocks To Watch For 2014: Dollar Tree Inc.(DLTR)

Dollar Tree, Inc. operates discount variety stores in the United States and Canada. Its stores offer merchandise primarily at the fixed price of $1.00. The company operates its stores under the names of Dollar Tree, Deal$, Dollar Tree Deal$, Dollar Giant, and Dollar Bills. Its stores offer consumable merchandise, including candy and food, and health and beauty care, as well as household consumables, such as paper, plastics, household chemicals, in select stores, and frozen and refrigerated food; variety merchandise, which includes toys, durable housewares, gifts, party goods, greeting cards, softlines, and other items; and seasonal goods, such as Easter, Halloween, and Christmas merchandise. As of April 30, 2011, it operated 4,089 stores in 48 states and the District of Columbia, as well as 88 stores in Canada. The company was founded in 1986 and is based in Chesapeake, Virginia.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sam Collins]

  Dollar Tree (NASDAQ:DLTR) is a leading operator of discount variety stores. The stock has hugged its 50-day moving average since mid-February. But a recent minor revision of earnings for this year by several analysts and the recent market sell-off have resulted in a fall from its high of the year at over $70 to under $66. However, Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) increased its price target to $73 from $69.

  Technically DLTR is oversold, according to MACD. A break below its 50-day moving average could result in a pullback to $64, but positions could be taken at the current market price. The trading target for DLTR is $72.

10 Best Safest Stocks To Buy Right Now: Caterpillar Inc.(CAT)

Caterpillar Inc. manufactures and sells construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines, and diesel-electric locomotives worldwide. It operates through three lines of businesses: Machinery, Engines, and Financial Products. The Machinery business offers construction, mining, and forestry machinery, including track and wheel tractors, track and wheel loaders, pipelayers, motor graders, wheel tractor-scrapers, track and wheel excavators, backhoe loaders, log skidders, log loaders, off-highway trucks, articulated trucks, paving products, skid steer loaders, underground mining equipment, tunnel boring equipment, and related parts. It also manufactures diesel-electric locomotives; and manufactures and services rail-related products and logistics services for other companies. The Engines business provides diesel, heavy fuel, and natural gas reciprocating engines for Caterpillar machinery, electric power generation systems, marine, petrol eum, construction, industrial, agricultural, and other applications. It offers industrial turbines and turbine-related services for oil and gas, and power generation applications. This business also remanufactures Caterpillar engines, machines, and engine components; and offers remanufacturing services for other companies. The Financial Products business provides retail and wholesale financing alternatives for Caterpillar machinery and engines, solar gas turbines, and other equipment and marine vessels, as well as offers loans and various forms of insurance to customers and dealers. It also offers financing for vehicles, power generation facilities, and marine vessels. The company markets its products directly, as well as through its distribution centers, dealers, and distributors. It was formerly known as Caterpillar Tractor Co. and changed its name to Caterpillar Inc. in 1986. Caterpillar Inc. was founded in 1925 and is headquartered in Peoria, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Roberto Pedone]

  Caterpillar (CAT) is staging a textbook breakout in May. Shares of heavy equipment maker haven't exactly been kind to investors year-to-date; CAT has barely broken even during a time when the broad market has been in a historic rally. But a textbook breakout should change that.

  CAT started forming an inverse head and shoulders pattern back in early April. The inverse head and shoulders is formed by two swing lows that bottom out around the same level (the shoulders), separated by a lower low called the head; the buy signal comes on the breakout above the pattern's "neckline" level, which was just below $86 for CAT. That puts this stock's upside target right around $92.

  Even though CAT has nearly hit its upside target already (the post-breakout buying has been very quick), the longer-term implication for investors is a break of the downtrend that had been haranguing shares this year. Now, with that downtrend broken, CAT should have more room to move higher. I'd just expect some consolidation first.

• [By Jim Cramer,TheStreet]

  Caterpillar (CAT) could be a monster in 2011, especially with the integration of Bucyrus International (BUCY), which I think will turn out to be a fantastic acquisition.

  Current earnings-per-share estimates of about $6 are, I think, way too low. I see this stock going to $120 in the next year. Too gutsy? Ask yourself what happens if the United States comes back as a growth nation? Right now almost all of the growth is overseas.

  Still a fantastic mineral play and a terrific call on world growth.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  For one day at least, this CAT is not a dog.

  Caterpillar (CAT) has gained 2% to $86.22 today, its largest gain since in a month and the largest gain among the Dow components. The machinery manufacturer has dropped 11% during the past six months, however, as a slowdown in China and cost-cutting at mining companies have hit its shares.

  Bloomberg

  Susquehanna’s Ted Grace offers reasons for optimism, even as he lowers his 12-month price target to $97 from $104:

  CAT remains Positive rated with 15% upside to our $97 price target and upside-downside of 1.2-to-1 (which, like most of our machinery names, is admittedly shy of the 2-to-1 or better ratio we prefer). Despite our 2014-15 EPS being ~6% below consensus, we view our updated estimates as closer to buyside expectations while noting that consensus appears to embed a low tax rate that explains over half of the variance. While there remains plenty of uncertainty on 2014/15, particularly in mining, we believe CAT shares currently discount reasonable top-line expectations while recent meetings with mgmt suggest potential for structural cost savings that could drive better than expected margins/ incrementals. While difficult to identify discernible catalysts, if CAT’s framework for flat-to-better RI revenue growth in 2014 proves correct (admittedly not assumed in our estimates), this would almost certainly debunk the core of the bear thesis and be meaningfully positive for shares.

  Investors waiting for the stock to actually, you know, rise can take comfort in Caterpillar’s $2.40 dividend per share and its more than $3 per share in buybacks in 2013, Grace says.

  Caterpillar’s 2% gain has trumped the Dow Jones Industrial Average’s 0.04% rise, and United Technology’s (UTX) 0.1% drop, while competitor Deere (DE) has gained 1.9% to $83.22.

5 Best Value Stocks To Watch For 2014: Schlumberger N.V.(SLB)

Schlumberger Limited, together with its subsidiaries, supplies technology, integrated project management, and information solutions to the oil and gas exploration and production industries worldwide. The company?s Oilfield Services segment provides exploration and production services; wireline technology that offers open-hole and cased-hole services; supplies engineering support, directional-drilling, measurement-while-drilling, and logging-while-drilling services; and testing services. This segment also offers well services; supplies well completion services and equipment; artificial lift; data and consulting services; geo services; and information solutions, such as consulting, software, information management system, and IT infrastructure services that support oil and gas industry. Its WesternGeco segment provides reservoir imaging, monitoring, and development services; and operates data processing centers and multiclient seismic library. This segment also offers variou s services include 3D and time-lapse (4D) seismic surveys to multi-component surveys for delineating prospects and reservoir management. The company?s M-I SWACO segment supplies drilling fluid systems to improve drilling performance; fluid systems and specialty tools to optimize wellbore productivity; production technology solutions to maximize production rates; and environmental solutions that manages waste volumes generated in drilling and production operations. Its Smith Oilfield segment designs, manufactures, and markets drill bits and borehole enlargement tools; and supplies drilling tools and services, tubular, completion services, and other related downhole solutions. The company?s Distribution segment markets pipes, valves, and fittings, as well as mill, safety, and other maintenance products. This segment also provides warehouse management, vendor integration, and inventory management services. Schlumberger Limited was founded in 1927 and is based in Houston, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Robert Holmes]

   Schlumberger has the most potential upside of any stock in this group of 50 that also makes the firm's Best Ideas list. Analyst Ole Slorer says Schlumberger has "what we consider the most advanced technology portfolio in the industry."

  "Its fundamentals are impressive, with what we think are some of the best field personnel, a pristine service and performance reputation, and leading market share in most of its product lines," Slorer writes.

  Though Slorer's price target is 42% above current levels, his most bullish scenario for Schlumberger over the next year would see shares climb a whopping 116%. On the downside, his most bearish scenario for the company would see shares slide 38% over the next 12 months.

• [By Brian Stoffel]

  This company has been a pick of both Jordan DiPietro and Bryan White. And both analysts have pointed to the company's opportunity for oil exploration abroad -- which is where much of the demand will soon be coming from as well.

  Bryan points out that three-fourths of the company's revenue comes from abroad, with "Brazil, the Middle East, and Africa [as] key regions where activity is expected to be robust and growing."

  Jordan adds, "[Schlumberger] has an important presence in high-growth regions of the world such as Iraq, Mexico, and Russia, and has the competitive advantage to be able to offer full services, from managing entire oil fields to drilling wells."

• [By Rebecca Lipman]

   Together with its subsidiaries, supplies technology, integrated project management, and information solutions to the oil and gas exploration and production industries worldwide. Market cap of $91.49B. EPS growth (5-year CAGR) at 24%. According to Morgan Stanley: "Thanks to an estimated $1 billion investment per year in R&D, Schlumberger has what we consider the most advanced technology portfolio in the industry."

Top 10 Energy Companies To Invest In Right Now

A little more than a month ago, I poked and prodded�at�GT Advanced Technologies (NASDAQ: GTAT  ) to try and determine whether the stock might actually be able to regain even a fraction of its former glory.

After all, shares of GTAT were down more than 68% over the previous year after its core polysilicon business had collapsed along with the broader solar industry. What's more, that was even after popping 10% in a single day after the company announced a memorandum of understanding with Powertec Energy, which stated Powertec's intention to buy polysilicon technology and equipment from GTAT sometime in the second half of 2014.

In addition, the stock had already jumped 10% just two days earlier after an MIT Technology Review�article�pitched its sapphire tech as a promising potential alternative to Corning's (NYSE: GLW  ) Gorilla Glass product. Of course, overcoming Corning is easier said than done, considering just last week the company�informed elated investors that its�Specialty Materials segment sales should improve sequentially in the 15% to 20% range next quarter. Of course, that was all thanks to -- you guessed it -- strong demand for Gorilla Glass.�

Top 10 Energy Companies To Invest In Right Now: Gran Tierra Energy Inc (GTE)

Gran Tierra Energy Inc. (Gran Tierra) is an independent international energy company engaged in oil and gas acquisition, exploration, development and production. Gran Tierra owns oil and gas properties in Colombia, Argentina, Peru and Brazil. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company focused on development of producing fields and generation of exploration prospects in Colombia, including the acquisition of three blocks in the Petrolifera acquisition and the acquisition of a working interest in the Llanos 22 Block. It delivers its oil to Ecopetrol S.A. (Ecopetrol) through its transportation facilities, which include pipelines, gathering systems and trucking. On March 18, 2011, the Company acquired of all the issued and outstanding common shares and warrants of Petrolifera Petroleum Limited (Petrolifera).

Top 10 Energy Companies To Invest In Right Now: Linn Energy LLC (LINE)

Linn Energy, LLC (LINN Energy) is an independent oil and natural gas company. The Company�� properties are located in the United States, primarily in the Mid-Continent, the Permian Basin, Michigan, California and the Williston Basin. Mid-Continent Deep includes the Texas Panhandle Deep Granite Wash formation and deep formations in Oklahoma and Kansas. Mid-Continent Shallow includes the Texas Panhandle Brown Dolomite formation and shallow formations in Oklahoma, Louisiana and Illinois. Permian Basin includes areas in West Texas and Southeast New Mexico. Michigan includes the Antrim Shale formation in the northern part of the state. California includes the Brea Olinda Field of the Los Angeles Basin. Williston Basin includes the Bakken formation in North Dakota. On December 15, 2011, the Company acquired certain oil and natural gas properties located primarily in the Granite Wash of Texas and Oklahoma from Plains Exploration & Production Company (Plains).

On November 1, 2011, and November 18, 2011, it completed two acquisitions of certain oil and natural gas properties located in the Permian Basin. On June 1, 2011, it acquired certain oil and natural gas properties in the Cleveland play, located in the Texas Panhandle, from Panther Energy Company, LLC and Red Willow Mid-Continent, LLC (collectively Panther). On May 2, 2011, and May 11, 2011, it completed two acquisitions of certain oil and natural gas properties located in the Williston Basin. On April 1, 2011, and April 5, 2011, the Company completed two acquisitions of certain oil and natural gas properties located in the Permian Basin. On March 31, 2011, it acquired certain oil and natural gas properties located in the Williston Basin from an affiliate of Concho Resources Inc. (Concho). During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company completed other smaller acquisitions of oil and natural gas properties located in its various operating regions. As of December 31, 2011, the Company operated 7,759 or 69% of its 11,230 gross productiv! e wells.

Mid-Continent Deep

The Mid-Continent Deep region includes properties in the Deep Granite Wash formation in the Texas Panhandle, which produces at depths ranging from 10,000 feet to 16,000 feet, as well as properties in Oklahoma and Kansas, which produce at depths of more than 8,000 feet. Mid-Continent Deep proved reserves represented approximately 47% of total proved reserves, as of December 31, 2011, of which 49% were classified as proved developed reserves. The Company owns and operates a network of natural gas gathering systems consisting of approximately 285 miles of pipeline and associated compression and metering facilities that connect to numerous sales outlets in the Texas Panhandle.

Mid-Continent Shallow

The Mid-Continent Shallow region includes properties producing from the Brown Dolomite formation in the Texas Panhandle, which produces at depths of approximately 3,200 feet, as well as properties in Oklahoma, Louisiana and Illinois, which produce at depths of less than 8,000 feet. Mid-Continent Shallow proved reserves represented approximately 20% of total proved reserves, as of December 31, 2011, of which 70% were classified as proved developed reserves. The Company owns and operates a network of natural gas gathering systems consisting of approximately 665 miles of pipeline and associated compression and metering facilities that connect to numerous sales outlets in the Texas Panhandle.

Permian Basin

The Permian Basin is an oil and natural gas basins in the United States. The Company�� properties are located in West Texas and Southeast New Mexico and produce at depths ranging from 2,000 feet to 12,000 feet. Permian Basin proved reserves represented approximately 16% of total proved reserves, as of December 31, 2011, of which 56% were classified as proved developed reserves.

Michigan

The Michigan region includes properties producing from the Antrim Shale formation in the northern ! part of t! he state, which produces at depths ranging from 600 feet to 2,200 feet. Michigan proved reserves represented approximately 9% of total proved reserves, as of December 31, 2011, of which 90% were classified as proved developed reserves.

California

The California region consists of the Brea Olinda Field of the Los Angeles Basin. California proved reserves represented approximately 6% of total proved reserves, as of December 31, 2011, of which 93% were classified as proved developed reserves.

Williston Basin

The Williston Basin is one of the premier oil basins in the United States. The Company�� properties are located in North Dakota and produce at depths ranging from 9,000 feet to 12,000 feet. Williston Basin proved reserves represented approximately 2% of total proved reserves, as of December 31, 2011, of which 48% were classified as proved developed reserves.

Best Stocks To Buy Right Now: Freedom Energy Holdings Inc (FDMF)

Freedom Energy Holdings, Inc. (FDMF), incorporated in June 2005, is a holding company with a focus on the identification of opportunities within the oil and energy sectors. KC-9000 is the Company�� heavy oil technology, to assist in the recovery of heavy oil. As of December 31, 2011, the Company research had developed and shown a new product SR-139 at breaking down asphalt shingles allowing the extraction and recovery of hydrocarbons.

KC-9000 is a micro-emulsion technology. KC 9000 is a micro-emulsion developed to assist in the recovery and extraction of heavy based hydrocarbons that are saturated with high metals and paraffin content. KC 9000 is used for tank cleaning processes. By injecting KC 9000 directly into the tank port holes, at the tank bottom, with the emulsifies turning into an easily extractable slurry.

Top 10 Energy Companies To Invest In Right Now: Marathon Petroleum Corp (MPC)

Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC), incorporated on November 9, 2009, is a petroleum product refiners, transporters and marketers in the United States. The Company operates in three segments: Refining & Marketing, Speedway and Pipeline Transportation. Marathon Petroleum�� refining, marketing and transportation operations are concentrated in the Midwest, Gulf Coast and Southeast regions of the United States. MPC has two retail brands: Speedway and Marathon. Effective as of June 30, 2011, MPC was separated from Marathon Oil Corporation (Marathon Oil) and became an independent company in a spin-off transaction.

Refining & Marketing

The Company owned and operated six refineries in the Gulf Coast and Midwest regions of the United States with an aggregate crude oil refining capacity of approximately 1.2 million barrels per calendar day as of December 31, 2011. During 2011, its refineries processed 1,177 million barrels per day of crude oil and 181 mbpd of other charge and blend stocks. Its refineries include crude oil atmospheric and vacuum distillation, fluid catalytic cracking, catalytic reforming, desulfurization and sulfur recovery units. The refineries process a range of crude oils and produce numerous refined products, ranging from transportation fuels, such as reformulated gasolines, blend-grade gasolines intended for blending with fuel ethanol and ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuel, to heavy fuel oil and asphalt. Additionally, MPC manufacture aromatics, propane, propylene, cumene and sulfur.

The Company�� Garyville, Louisiana refinery is located along the Mississippi River in southeastern Louisiana between New Orleans and Baton Rouge. The Garyville refinery is configured to process heavy sour crude oil into products, such as gasoline, distillates, asphalt, polymer grade propylene, propane, isobutane, sulfur and fuel-grade coke. The Catlettsburg, Kentucky refinery is located in northeastern Kentucky on the western bank of the Big Sandy River, near the confluence! with the Ohio River. The Catlettsburg refinery processes sweet and sour crude oils into products such as gasoline, distillates, asphalt, cumene, petrochemicals, propane and propylene. The Robinson, Illinois refinery is located in southeastern Illinois. The Robinson refinery processes sweet and sour crude oils into products, such as multiple grades of gasoline, distillates, anode-grade coke, propane, butane and propylene.

MPC�� Detroit, Michigan refinery is located near Interstate 75 in southwest Detroit. It is the petroleum refinery operating in Michigan. The Detroit refinery processes light sweet and heavy sour crude oils, including Canadian crude oils, into products, such as gasoline, distillates, asphalt, slurry, propane, and propylene. Its Canton, Ohio refinery is located approximately 60 miles southeast of Cleveland, Ohio. The Canton refinery processes sweet and sour crude oils into products such as gasoline, distillates, asphalt, propane, slurry and roofing flux. Its Texas City, Texas refinery is located on the Texas Gulf Coast approximately 30 miles south of Houston, Texas. The refinery processes sweet crude oil into products such as gasoline, chemical grade propylene, propane, slurry and aromatics.

As of December 31, 2011, the Company owned and operated 62 light product and 21 asphalt terminals. In addition, it distributes through approximately 52 third-party light product and 12 third-party asphalt terminals in its market area. During 2011, marine transportation operations included 15 towboats, as well as 167 owned and 14 leased barges that transport refined products on the Ohio, Mississippi and Illinois rivers and their tributaries, as well as the Intercoastal Waterway. As of December 31, 2011, the Company leased or owned approximately 1,950 railcars of various sizes and capacities for movement and storage of refined products. In addition, it own 124 transport trucks for the movement of refined products.

The Company produces propane at all six of its! refineri! es. Propane is primarily used for home heating and cooking, as a feedstock within the petrochemical industry, for grain drying and as a fuel for trucks and other vehicles. The Company is also a producer and marketer of feedstocks and specialty products. Product availability varies by refinery and includes propylene, cumene, dilute naphthalene oil, molten sulfur, toluene, benzene and xylene. Propane is primarily used for home heating and cooking, as a feedstock within the petrochemical industry, for grain drying and as a fuel for trucks and other vehicles.

Speedway

The Company sells transportation fuels and convenience products in the retail market in the Midwest, primarily through Speedway convenience stores. The Speedway segment sells gasoline and merchandise through convenience stores that the Companu owns and operates, primarily under the Speedway brand. Speedway-branded convenience stores offer a range of merchandise, such as prepared foods, beverages and non-food items, including a number of private-label items. As of December 31, 2011, Speedway had 1,371 convenience stores in seven states.

Pipeline Transportation

The Company transports crude oil and other feedstocks to our refineries and other locations, delivers refined products to wholesale and retail market areas and includes, among other transportation-related assets, a majority interest in LOOP LLC, which is the owner and operator of the United States deepwater oil port. It owns common carrier pipeline systems through Marathon Pipe Line LLC (MPL) and Ohio River Pipe Line LLC (ORPL), both of which are wholly owned subsidiaries. These pipeline systems transport crude oil and refined products, primarily in the Midwest and Gulf Coast regions, to its refineries, its terminals and other pipeline systems. The Company�� MPL and ORPL wholly owned carrier systems consist of 1,707 miles of crude oil lines and 1,825 miles of refined product lines comprising 31 systems located in 11 states, as of Decem! ber 31, 2! 011. In addition, MPL leases and operates 217 miles of common carrier refined product pipelines.

The common carrier refined product pipelines include the owned and operated Cardinal Products Pipeline and the Wabash Pipeline. The Cardinal Products Pipeline delivers refined products from Kenova, West Virginia, to Columbus, Ohio. The Wabash Pipeline system delivers refined products from Robinson, Illinois, to various terminals in the area of Chicago, Illinois. Other refined product pipelines owned and operated by MPL extend from: Robinson, Illinois to Louisville, Kentucky; Robinson, Illinois to Lima, Ohio; Wood River, Illinois to Indianapolis, Indiana; Garyville, Louisiana to Zachary, Louisiana, and Texas City, Texas to Pasadena, Texas.

As of December 31, 2011, the Company had partial ownership interests in the pipeline companies that have approximately 110 miles of crude oil pipelines and 3,600 miles of refined products pipelines, including about 970 miles operated by MPL, which include Centennial Pipeline LLC (Centennial), Explorer Pipeline Company (Explorer), LOCAP LLC (LOCAP), LOOP LLC (LOOP), Muskegon Pipeline LLC (Muskegon) and Wolverine Pipe Line Company (Wolverine).

The Company holds a 50% interest in Centennial, which owns a refined products pipeline system connecting the Gulf Coast region with the Midwest market. The Company holds a 17% interest in Explorer, a refined products pipeline system extending from the Gulf Coast to the Midwest. It holds a 51% interest in LOOP, the owner and operator of the Louisiana Offshore Oil Port, which is a deepwater oil port capable of receiving crude oil from large crude carriers, located 18 miles off the coast of Louisiana, and a crude oil pipeline connecting the port facility to storage caverns and tanks at Clovelly, Louisiana. The Company holds a 60% interest in Muskegon, which owns a refined products pipeline extending from Griffith, Indiana to North Muskegon, Michigan. It hold a 6% interest in Wolverine, a refined prod! ucts pipe! line system extending from Chicago, Illinois to Toledo, Ohio.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jim Jubak]

   A river of oil from the oil-shale boom in North Dakota and Texas is gradually making its way to the country's Gulf Coast refineries as pipelines and other infrastructure are built out. The arrival of oil from resources like the Eagle Ford and Bakken shales will mean rising margins at Gulf Coast refineries as they begin their work with cheaper oil.

  Marathon Petroleum (MPC) will get a big hunk of that refining business -- and those higher refining margins -- and it seems determined to gather in even more with its purchase in October of BP's (BP) Texas City refinery. Texas City gives Marathon a refinery close to growing crude production from Eagle Ford and the Permian Basin. What I like about this deal -- and Marathon Petroleum's positioning -- is that as the infrastructure buildout continues, the company will be able to grow margins and earnings by simply substituting cheaper mid-continent oil for more expensive imported oil.

Top 10 Energy Companies To Invest In Right Now: Kodiak Oil & Gas Corp (KOG)

Kodiak Oil & Gas Corp. (Kodiak) is an independent energy company focused on the exploration, exploitation, acquisition and production of crude oil and natural gas in the United States. Kodiak has developed an oil and natural gas asset base of proved reserves, as well as a portfolio of development and exploratory drilling opportunities on high-potential prospects with an emphasis on oil resource plays. The Company�� oil and natural gas reserves and operations are primarily concentrated in the Williston Basin of North Dakota. As of January 31, 2012, it had approximately 169,000 net acres under lease, including 157,000 net acres in the Bakken oil play in the Williston Basin of North Dakota and Montana. In January 2012, the Company acquired Williston Basin oil and gas producing properties and undeveloped leasehold. On January 10, 2012, it acquired certain oil and gas leaseholds, overriding royalty interests and producing properties located in North Dakota.

Top 10 Energy Companies To Invest In Right Now: SolarCity Corp (SCTY.W)

SolarCity Corporation (SolarCity), incorporated on June 21, 2006, is engaged in the design, installation and sale or lease of solar energy systems to residential and commercial customers, or sale of electricity generated by solar energy systems to customers. The Company sells renewable energy to its customers. As of December 12, 2012, the Company served customers in 14 states. The Company�� residential customers are individual homeowners and homeowners. The Company�� commercial customers represent several business sectors, including technology, retail, manufacturing, agriculture, nonprofit and houses of worship. The Company has installed solar energy systems for several government entities, including the the United States Air Force, Army, Marines and Navy, and the Department of Homeland Security. The Company purchases major components, such as solar panels and inverters directly from multiple manufacturers. As of September 30, 2012, its primary solar panel suppliers were Trina Solar Limited, Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Limited and Kyocera Solar, Inc., among others, and its primary inverter suppliers were Power-One, Inc., SMA Solar Technology, AG, Schneider Electric SA, Fronius International GmbH and SolarEdge Technologies, among others.

Solar Energy Products

The Company�� solar energy products include Solar Energy Systems, and SolarLease and power purchase agreement finance products. The major components of its solar energy systems include solar panels that convert sunlight into electrical current. Most of its solar energy customers choose to purchase energy from the Company pursuant to one of two payment structures: a SolarLease or a power purchase agreement. In both structures, the Company charges customers a monthly fee for the power produced by its solar energy systems. In the lease structure, this monthly payment is pre-determined and includes a production guarantee. In the power purchase agreem ent structure, the Company charges customers a fee per kilo! w! att hour based on the amount of electricity actually produced by the solar energy system.

Energy Efficiency Products and Services

The Company�� energy efficiency products and services include home energy evaluation and energy efficiency upgrades. The Company sells home energy efficiency evaluations to new solar energy system customers and existing customers. The Company�� energy efficiency upgrade products and services address heating and cooling, air sealing, duct sealing, water heating, insulation, furnaces, weatherization, pool pumps and lighting. As of December 12, 2012, the Company had completed over 13,000 home energy evaluations and performed more than 2,000 energy efficiency upgrades.

Other Energy Products and Services

The Company�� other energy products and services include electric vehicle charging and energy storage. The Company installs electric vehicle (EV) charging equipment that it sources from t hird parties. SolarCity markets EV equipment to residential and commercial customers through retail partnerships with companies, such as The Home Depot, and through EV manufacturers and dealerships, such as its partnership with Tesla Motors, Inc. The Company is developing a battery management system built on its solar energy monitoring communications backbone. As of December 12, 2012, the Company had over 100 energy storage pilot projects under contract. As of December 12, 2012, the Company had sold over 750 charging stations.

Enabling Technologies

The Company�� enabling technologies include SolarBid Sales Management Platform, SolarWorks Customer Management Software, Energy Designer, Home Performance Pro and SolarGuard and PowerGuide Proactive Monitoring Solutions. SolarBid is a sales management platform, which incorporates a database of rate information by utility, sun exposure, roof orientation and a range of other factors to enable a detailed a nalysis and customized graphical presentation of each c! ustom! er! �� sa! vings.

SolarWorks is the software platform the Company uses to track and manage project. Energy Designer is a software application its field engineering auditors use to collect pertinent site-specific design details on a tablet computer. Home Performance Pro is its energy efficiency evaluation platform that incorporates the United States Department of Energy�� Energy Plus simulation engine. Home Performance Pro collects and stores details of a building�� construction and energy use. SolarGuard and PowerGuide provide its customers a view of their home�� or business�� energy generation and consumption.

The Company competes with American Solar Electric, Inc., Astrum Solar, Inc., Petersen Dean, Inc., Real Goods Solar, Inc., REC Solar, Inc., Sungevity, Inc., Trinity Solar, Inc., Verengo, Inc., SunRun Inc. and Ameresco, Inc.

Top 10 Energy Companies To Invest In Right Now: Contango Oil & Gas Co (MCF)

Contango Oil & Gas Company (Contango) is an independent natural gas and oil company. The Company�� core business is to explore, develop, produce and acquire natural gas and oil properties onshore and offshore in the Gulf of Mexico in water-depths of less than 300 feet. Contango Operators, Inc. (COI), its wholly owned subsidiary, acts as operator on its properties.

Offshore Gulf of Mexico Activities

Contango, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, COI and its partially owned affiliate, Republic Exploration LLC (REX), conducts exploration activities in the Gulf of Mexico. COI drills, and operates its wells in the Gulf of Mexico, as well as attends lease sales and acquires leasehold acreage. As of August 24, 2012, the Company's offshore production was approximately 83.5 million cubic feet equivalent per day, net to Contango, which consists of seven federal and five state of Louisiana wells in the shallow waters of the Gulf of Mexico. These 12 operated wells produce through the four platforms: Eugene Island 24 Platform, Eugene Island 11 Platform, Ship Shoal 263 Platform, Vermilion 170 Platform and Other Activities.

This third-party owned and operated production platform at Eugene Island 24 was designed with a capacity of 100 million cubic feet per day and 3,000 barrels of oil per day. This platform services production from the Company�� Dutch #1, #2 and #3 federal wells. From this platform, the gas flows through an American Midstream pipeline into a third-party owned and operated on-shore processing facility at Burns Point, Louisiana, and the condensate flows through an ExxonMobil pipeline to on-shore markets and multiple refineries. As of August 24, 2012, it was producing approximately 22.5 million cubic feet equivalent per day, net to Contango, from this platform. The Company finished laying six inches auxiliary flowlines from the Dutch #1, #2, and #3 wells to its Eugene Island 11 Platform and is in the process of redirecting production from the Eugene Island 24! Platform to the Eugene Island 11 Platform.

The Company�� Company-owned and operated platform at Eugene Island 11 was designed with a capacity of 500 million cubic feet equivalent per day and 6,000 barrels of oil per day. These platforms service production from the Company�� five Mary Rose wells, which are all located in state of Louisiana waters, as well as its Dutch #4 and Dutch #5 wells, which are both located in federal waters. From these platforms, it can flow its gas to an American Midstream pipeline through its eight inches pipeline and from there to a third-party owned and operated on-shore processing facility at Burns Point, Louisiana. It can flow its condensate through an ExxonMobil pipeline to on-shore markets and multiple refineries.

The Company�� gas and condensate can flow to its Eugene Island 63 auxiliary platform through its 20 inches pipeline, which has been designed with a capacity of 330 million cubic feet equivalent per day and 6,000 barrels of oil per day, and from there to third-party owned and operated on-shore processing facilities near Patterson, Louisiana, through an ANR pipeline. As of August 24, 2012, it was producing approximately 44.6 million cubic feet equivalent per day, net to Contango, from this platform.

The Company�� owned and operated platform at Ship Shoal 263 was designed with a capacity of 40 million cubic feet equivalent per day and 5,000 barrels of oil per day. This platform services natural gas and condensate production from our Nautilus well, which flows through the Transcontinental Gas Pipeline to onshore processing plants. As of August 24, 2012, it was producing approximately 3.0 million cubic feet equivalent per day, net to Contango, from this platform. As of June 30, 2012, the Company owed a 100% working interest and 80% net revenue interest in this well and platform.

The Company�� owned and operated platform at Vermilion 170 was designed with a capacity of 60 million cubic feet equivalent per ! day and 2! ,000 barrels of oil per day. This platform services natural gas and condensate production from its Swimmy well, which flows through the Sea Robin Pipeline to onshore processing plants. As of August 24, 2012, it was producing approximately 13.4 million cubic feet equivalent per day, net to Contango, from this platform.

On July 10, 2012, the Company spud its South Timbalier 75 prospect (Fang) with the Spartan 303 rig. It has a 100% working interest in this wildcat exploration prospect. On July 3, 2012, the Company spud its Ship Shoal 134 prospect (Eagle) with the Hercules 205 rig. The Company purchased the deep mineral rights on Ship Shoal 134 from an independent third-party. It has a 100% working interest in this wildcat exploration prospect. On December 21, 2011, the Company purchased an additional 3.66% working interest (2.67% net revenue interest) in Mary Rose #5 (previously Eloise North). The Company has a 47.05% working interest (38.1% net revenue interest) in Dutch #5.

Offshore Properties

During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012 (fiscal 2012), State Lease 19396 expired and was returned to the state of Louisiana. As of August 24, 2012, the interests owned by Contango through its affiliated entities in the Gulf of Mexico, which were capable of producing natural gas or oil included Eugene Island 10 #D-1, Eugene Island 10 #E-1, Eugene Island 10 #F-1, Eugene Island 10 #G-1, Eugene Island 10 #I-1, S-L 18640 #1, S-L 19266 #1, S-L 19266 #2, S-L 18860 #1, S-L 19266 #3 and S-L 19261, Ship Shoal 263, Vermilion 170 and West Delta 36. As of August 24, 2012, interests owned by Contango through its related entities in leases in the Gulf of Mexico included Eugene Island 11, East Breaks 369, South Timbalier 97, Ship Shoal 121, Ship Shoal 122, Brazos Area 543, Ship Shoal 134 and South Timbalier 75.

Onshore Exploration and Properties

As of August 24, 2012, the Company had invested in Alta Energy Canada Partnership (Alta Energy) to purchase over! 60,000 a! cres in the Kaybob Duvernay. Contango has a 2% interest in Alta Energy and a 5% interest in the Kaybob Duvernay project. On April 9, 2012, the Company announced that through its wholly owned subsidiary, Contaro Company, it had entered into a Limited Liability Company Agreement (the LLC Agreement) to form Exaro Energy III LLC (Exaro). The Company owns approximately a 45% interest in Exaro. Exaro has entered into an Earning and Development Agreement (the EDA Agreement) with Encana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc. (Encana) to provide funding to continue the development drilling program in a defined area of Encana�� Jonah field asset located in Sublette County, Wyoming.

As of June 30, 2012, the Exaro-Encana venture had three rigs drilling, has completed five wells and achieved first production. As of August 24, 2012, the Company had invested to lease approximately 25,000 acres in the Tuscaloosa Marine Shale (TMS), a shale play in central Louisiana and Mississippi.

Top 10 Energy Companies To Invest In Right Now: Natural Gas(NG)

NovaGold Resources Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the exploration and development of mineral properties primarily in North America. The company primarily explores for gold, silver, copper, zinc, and lead ores. It holds interests in the Donlin Creek property covering 81,361 acres and the Ambler property comprising 90,614 acres located in Alaska; and the Galore Creek property comprising 293,838 acres located in northwestern British Columbia, Canada. The company was formerly known as NovaCan Mining Resources (1985) Limited and changed its name to NovaGold Resources Inc. in March 1987. NovaGold Resources Inc. was founded in 1984 and is based in Vancouver, Canada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Holly LaFon] John Paulson bough 20, 181,818 shares of NovaGold in the first quarter of 2010 at an average of $6 per share; he added 26,200 shares in the third quarter at an average of $9 per share, and 2,746,800 in the fourth quarter at an average of $9 per share. According to GuruFocus Real Time Picks, in February he increased this holding 30.49% and now owns 29,954,818 shares or 10.8% of the company.
  
  NovaGold Resources is a gold and copper company engaged in the exploration and development of mineral properties in Alaska and Western Canada. NovaGold has a market cap of $2.26 billion; its shares were traded at around $7.68 with and P/S ratio of 5622. NovaGold had an annual average earnings growth of 31.1% over the past 10 years.
  
  It is not a surprise that Paulson would increase his gold holdings. He said in his 2011 investor letter that ��y gold fund will top all others.��He added:
  We anticipate that the divergence between gold and gold equities will narrow, given the booming earnings that a number of the major gold producers are delivering...We remain excited about the outlook for the Paulson Gold Funds over the next few years. Central banks have engaged in unprecedented amounts of quantitative easing, while investors are increasingly losing faith in paper currencies. The sovereign debt crisis in Europe continues to threaten the stability of the global financial system. In this environment, gold stands out as the most stable and credible currency alternative and we would argue that the potential upside in gold outweighs the potential downside. Gold equities are attractively priced given the strong financial performance than many of these companies are delivering... The Paulson Gold Funds, which are designed to outperform gold in a rising gold price environment, provides investors with a hedge against inflation and more.NovaGold does not have the robust earnings Paulson speaks of. But for the year ended Nov. 30, 2011, the company�� loss narrowed to $153 million, from $203.5 million, for 2010. ! Revenues declined to $111 million for 2011 from $172 for 2010. The company had $66.8 mil
• [By Vodicka]

  Novagold Resources Inc New Ord (AMEX:NG): This equity had 11,424,918 shares sold short as of Aug 31st, as compared to 11,493,664 on Aug 15th, which represents a change of -68,746 shares, or -0.6%. Days to cover for this company is 4 and average daily trading volume is 2,735,045. About the equity: NovaGold Resources Inc. is a mineral exploration company. The Company, through its subsidiaries, explores and develops mineral properties in North America. NovaGold primarily focuses on gold properties, which may include copper, silver and zinc resources.

Top 10 Energy Companies To Invest In Right Now: JinkoSolar Holding Company Limited(JKS)

JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the manufacture and sale of solar power products in China and internationally. The company provides solar modules, silicon wafers and ingots, and solar cells, as well as processing services, including silicon wafer tolling services. It sells its products under the JinkoSolar brand name. The company?s customers include distributors, project developers, and system integrators. It trades its products under short-term contracts and by spot market sales. The company also produces accessory materials for solar power products, such as solar aluminum frame, solar junction box, aluminum materials windows, and other metal component parts. JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. was founded in 2006 and is based in Shangrao, the People?s Republic of China.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By ChemTrade]

  JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd.(NYSE: JKS) closing price in the stock market Tuesday, Jan. 3, was $5.25. JKS is trading -6.87% below its 50 day moving average and -59.29% below its 200 day moving average. JKS is -83.70% below its 52-week high of $32.21 and 15.38% above its 52-week low of $4.55. JKS‘s PE ratio is 1.35 and its market cap is $121.71M.

  JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. engages in the manufacture and sale of solar power products in China and internationally through its subsidiaries. JKS provides solar modules, silicon wafers and ingots, and solar cells, as well as processing services, including silicon wafer tolling services.

Top 10 Energy Companies To Invest In Right Now: LDK Solar Co. Ltd.(LDK)

LDK Solar Co., Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the design, development, manufacture, and marketing of photovoltaic (PV) products; and development of power plant projects. It offers solar-grade and semiconductor-grade polysilicon; and multicrystalline and monocrystalline solar wafers to the manufacturers of solar cells and solar modules. The company also provides wafer processing services to monocrystalline and multicrystalline solar cell and module manufacturers; and sells silicon materials, such as ingots and polysilicon scraps. In addition, it engages in the production and sale of solar cells and modules to developers, distributors, and system integrators; and design and development of solar power projects in Europe, the United States, and China, as well as provides engineering, procurement, and construction services. LDK Solar Co., Ltd. operates in Europe, the Asia Pacific, and North America. The company was founded in 2005 and is based in Xinyu City, t he People?s Republic of China.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Paul]

  LDK Solar Co., Inc.(NYSE: LDK) closing price in the stock market Tuesday, Jan. 3, was $4.38. LDK is trading 9.48% above its 50 day moving average and -11.82% below its 200 day moving average. LDK is -70.74% below its 52-week high of $14.97 and 71.76% above its 52-week low of $2.55. LDK‘s PE ratio is 6.53 and its market cap is $573.78M.

  LDK Solar Co., Inc. engages in the design, development, manufacture, and marketing of photovoltaic (PV) products; and development of power plant projects together with its subsidiaries. LDK offers solar-grade and semiconductor-grade polysilicon; and multicrystalline and monocrystalline solar wafers to the manufacturers of solar cells and solar modules.