Top US Stocks To Own For 2014

Mortgage-related muddles have been taking up a lot of headline space recently as banks take it on the chin about their laxity in upholding a $25 billion foreclosure settlement, and mortgage-mess maker Bank of America (NYSE: BAC  ) faces two active lawsuits concerning its treatment of homeowners and investors.

Now, the investigator that unearthed the robo-signing scandal has revealed that a new mortgage-based morass is in the works, as billions of dollars of hidden losses within mortgage-backed securities come to light, costing investors dearly.

Bank of America involved, again
Reuters reports that fraud fighter Lisa Epstein discovered that mortgage servicers have been feeding mortgage bond investors incorrect information concerning the mortgages that lie within the MBSes they hold. Servicers such as Bank of America and Ocwen Financial (NYSE: OCN  ) , for example, have supplied information to bond trustees Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC  ) and Bank of New York Mellon (NYSE: BK  ) indicating that homes that have long since been sold or paid off are still in foreclosure.

Hot Rising Companies For 2015: Prudential Financial Inc.(PRU)

Prudential Financial, Inc., through its subsidiaries, offers various financial products and services in the United States, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. The company operates through three divisions: The U.S. Retirement Solutions and Investment Management, The U.S. Individual Life and Group Insurance, and The International Insurance and Investments. The U.S. Retirement Solutions and Investment Management division provides individual variable and fixed annuity products, as well as offers retirement investment and income products and services to retirement plan sponsors in the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors. This division also provides investment management and advisory services to the public and private marketplace. The U.S. Individual Life and Group Insurance division offers individual variable life, term life, and universal life insurance products; and group life, long-term and short-term group disability, long-term care, and group corporate-, bank-and trus t-owned life insurance products to institutional clients. This division also sells accidental death and dismemberment, and other ancillary coverages, as well as provides plan administrative services; and offers preferred provider and indemnity dental coverage plans to clients. The International Insurance and Investments division provides international individual life insurance products in Japan, Korea, and other foreign countries; and offers proprietary and non-proprietary asset management, investment advice, and services to retail and institutional clients internationally. In addition, the company engages in real estate brokerage franchise business, which involves marketing its franchises to the real estate companies. Further, it provides institutional clients and government agencies with various services in connection with the relocation of their employees. Prudential Financial, Inc. was founded in 1875 and is headquartered in Newark, New Jersey.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sarah Jones]

  Prudential Plc (PRU) dropped 0.9 percent to 1,145 pence, after earlier losing as much as 3.2 percent. The shares fell even as the U.K.�� biggest insurer by market value reported first- quarter revenue of 1.04 billion pounds, beating analysts��estimates.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  MetLife (MET) has gained 3.1% to $48.53, while�Prudential�(PRU) has climbed 3.1% to $78.29 after Barclays upgraded the stocks to Overweight from Equal Weight Underweight. Analyst Jay Gelb and team explain why:

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Sometimes even a stodgy life insurer needs some love, and Merrill Lynch has provided it in spades to Prudential (PRU).

  NHLI via Getty Images Martin Brodeur plays at Prudential Center. Merrill Lynch makes the save. Or something like that.

  That’s because Merrill Lynch’s Seth Weiss and Ian Ryave decided to upgrade Prudential today. They explain why:

Top US Stocks To Own For 2014: Grillit Inc (GRLT)

Grillit Inc, formerly Holdings Energy Inc., incorporated on May 21, 2002, is a public corporation that discovers, invests and or acquires development-stage with solutions, clean technologies and eco-friendly products that serve the global alternative energy sector. The Company was formed to develop and engage in operations and management of digital wireless data communications services of 220 megahertz digital wireless data communications. In April 2013, the Company acquired Healthy & Tasty Ventures LLC. Effective December 19, 2013, GRILLiT Inc acquired a 10% interest in Natura Foods LLC.

Effective March 30, 2011, the Company had entered into a formal letter of intent with Remington Energy of Houston, Texas for the purchase of two oil and gas properties. On March 29, 2011, the Company disposed of its previous assets that represented the remaining business segment known as CX2 Technologies, Inc.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Peter Graham]

  Last Friday, small cap stocks Cambridge Heart, Inc (OTCMKTS: CAMH), Abby Inc (OTCMKTS: ABBY) and Grillit Inc (OTCMKTS: GRLT) surged 176.92%, 71.2% and 24.07%, respectively. Of course, that was last week and today is a new trading week. So what should investors and traders alike be prepared for this week with these three small caps? Here is a closer look to help you decide on an investing or trading strategy:

Top US Stocks To Own For 2014: China Yuchai International Limited (CYD)

China Yuchai International Limited, through its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells diesel and natural gas engines primarily in the People�s Republic of China (PRC). It operates in two segments, Yuchai and HLGE. The company provides engines for light, medium, and heavy-duty for highway vehicles; generator sets; and marine and industrial applications, as well as supplies after-market parts and services. It also offers diesel power generators that are used in the construction and mining industries; diesel engine parts; and remanufacturing services. In addition, the company operates hotels and engages in property development activities primarily in the PRC and Malaysia. It distributes its products directly to auto plants and agents. The company was founded in 1951 and is based in Singapore.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Duprey]

  Following the abrupt resignation of director and President Benny H. Goh on May 27, China Yuchai International (NYSE: CYD  ) has been operating with an interim officer, Kok Ho Leong,�who also held the position of CFO while a replacement was found.

Top US Stocks To Own For 2014: Vanguard FTSE All World ex US Index Fund Investor Shares (VEU)

Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US ETF (the Fund) is an exchange-traded class of shares of Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Index Fund. The Fund seeks to track the performance of an index that measures the investment return of stocks of companies located in developed and emerging markets worldwide. The Fund employs a passive management or indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the FTSE All-World ex US Index (the Index), a free-float-adjusted, market capitalization-weighted index designed to measure equity market performance of international markets.

The Index includes approximately 2,200 stocks of companies located in 47 countries, including both developed and emerging markets. The Fund typically holds 1,200 to 1,300 stocks in the Index (covering nearly 95% of the Index�� total market capitalization) and a representative sample of the remaining stocks. The Fund holds a range of securities that, in the aggregate, approximate the full Index in terms of key characteristics. These key characteristics include industry weightings and market capitalization, as well as certain financial measures, such as price/earnings ratio and dividend yield. The Fund�� investment advisor is The Vanguard Group, Inc.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Philip Springer, President, Retirement Wealth Management, Inc.]

  Our favorite is Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US (VEU). This all-in-one ETF combines broad diversification, a high yield (4.7%) and a rock-bottom expense ratio (0.15%).

Top US Stocks To Own For 2014: Jarden Corp (JAH)

Jarden Corporation (Jarden), incorporated on December 11, 2001, is a global consumer products company. The Company operates in three segments through a range of brands, including: Outdoor Solutions: Abu Garcia, Aero, Berkley, Campingaz, Coleman, ExOfficio, Fenwick, Gulp!, K2, Marker, Marmot, Mitchell, Penn, Rawlings, Shakespeare, Stearns, Stren, Trilene, Volkl and Zoot; Consumer Solutions: Bionaire, Crock-Pot, FoodSaver, Health o meter, Holmes, Mr. Coffee, Oster, Patton, Rival, Seal-a-Meal, Sunbeam, VillaWare and White Mountain, and Branded Consumables: Ball, Bee, Bernardin, Bicycle, Billy Boy, Crawford, Diamond, Dicon, Fiona, First Alert, First Essentials, Hoyle, Kerr, Lehigh, Lillo, Loew-Cornell, Mapa, NUK, Pine Mountain, Quickie, Spontex and Tigex. On December 31, 2012, American Capital Ltd sold its portfolio company Lifoam Holdings, Inc. to the Company. In October 2013, Jarden Corporation completed its acquisition of Yankee Candle Investments LLC from a fund managed by Madison Dearborn Partners, LLC.

Outdoor Solutions

The Outdoor Solutions segment manufactures or sources, markets and distributes global consumer lifestyle products for outdoor and outdoor-related activities. For general outdoor activities, Coleman is a brand for lifestyle products, offering an array of products that include camping and outdoor equipment such as air beds, camping stoves, coolers, foldable furniture, gas grills, lanterns and flashlights, sleeping bags, tents and water recreation products, such as inflatable boats, kayaks and tow-behinds. The Outdoor Solutions segment is also a provider of fishing equipment under brand names, such as Abu Garcia, All Star, Berkley, Fenwick, Gulp!, JRC, Mitchell, Penn, Pflueger, Sebile, Sevenstrand, Shakespeare, Spiderwire, Stren, Trilene, Ugly Stik and Xtools. Team sports equipment for baseball, basketball, field hockey, football, lacrosse and softball products are sold under brand names, such as deBeer, Gait, Miken, Rawlings and Worth. Alpine and nordic skiing! , snowboarding, snowshoeing and in-line skating products are sold under brand names, such as Atlas, Full Tilt, K2, Line, Little Bear, Madshus, Marker, Morrow, Ride, Tubbs, Volkl and 5150 Snowboards.

Water sports equipment, personal flotation devices and all-terrain vehicle gear are sold under brand names, such as Helium, Hodgman, Mad Dog Gear, Sevylor, Sospenders and Stearns. The Company also sells technical and outdoor apparel and equipment under brand names, such as CAPP3L, Ex Officio, K2, Marker, Marmot, Planet Earth, Ride, Volkl and Zoot, and air beds under brand names, including Aero, Aerobed and Aero Sport. The Company has warehouse and distribution facilities in Canada, Europe, Latin America, the Pacific Rim and the United States. It also uses third party warehouses and logistical services. It manufactures its products at facilities in China, Europe, Latin America and North America, as well as through third-party sourcing, primarily in Asia.

Consumer Solutions

The Consumer Solutions segment manufactures or sources, markets, and distributes a line of household products, including kitchen appliances and home environment products. This segment maintains a portfolio of brands, including Bionaire, Crock-Pot, FoodSaver, Health o meter, Holmes, Mr. Coffee, Oster, Patton, Rival, Seal-a-Meal, Sunbeam and Villaware. The principal products in this segment include clippers and trimmers for professional use in the beauty and barber and animal categories; electric blankets, mattress pads and throws; household kitchen appliances, such as blenders, coffeemakers, irons, mixers, slow cookers, toasters, toaster ovens and vacuum packaging machines; home environmental products, such as air purifiers, fans, heaters and humidifiers; products for the hospitality industry, and scales for consumer use.

Branded Consumables

The Branded Consumables segment manufactures or sources, markets and distributes a line of branded consumer products, including arts and c! rafts pai! nt brushes, brooms, brushes, buckets, children�� card games, clothespins, collectible tins, condoms, cord, rope and twine, dusters, dust pans, feeding bottles, fencing, fire extinguishing products, firelogs and firestarters, home canning jars and accessories, kitchen matches, mops, other craft items, pacifiers, plastic cutlery, playing cards and accessories, rubber gloves and related cleaning products, safes, security cameras, security doors, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, soothers, sponges, storage organizers and workshop accessories, teats, toothpicks, window guards and other accessories. This segment markets its products under the Aviator, Ball, Bee, Bernardin, Bicycle, Billy Boy, BRK, Crawford, Diamond, Dicon, Fiona, First Alert, First Essentials, Hoyle, Java-Log, KEM, Kerr, Lehigh, Lillo, Loew-Cornell, Mapa, NUK, Pine Mountain, Quickie Green Cleaning, Quickie Home-Pro, Quickie Microban, Quickie Original, Quickie Professional, Spontex, Tigex and Wellington brand names, among others.

The Company manufactures products, such as firelogs and firestarters, kitchen matches and metal closures for its home canning jars in its domestic facilities. It also manufactures playing cards and certain baby care products, home care products, healthcare products and home safety products at facilities worldwide, including facilities in Asia, Europe, Latin America, North America and South America.

Process Solutions

In addition to the three primary business segments, the Company�� Process Solutions segment manufactures, markets and distributes a variety of plastic products, including closures, contact lens packaging, medical disposables, plastic cutlery and rigid packaging. Its materials business produces specialty nylon polymers, conductive fibers and monofilament used in various products, including woven mats used by paper producers and weed trimmer cutting line, as well as fiberglass radio antennas for marine, citizen band and military applications. It is also a producer o! f niche p! roducts fabricated from solid zinc strip and is the supplier of copper-plated zinc penny blanks to the United States Mint and a supplier to the Royal Canadian Mint, as well as a supplier of brass, bronze and nickel-plated finishes on steel and zinc for coinage to other international markets. In addition, it manufactures a line of industrial zinc products marketed worldwide for use in the architectural, automotive, construction, electrical component and plumbing markets.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Zacks Investment Research]

  But what if that company has put together a hot streak of earnings beats? What if a company has beaten not just two or three quarters in a row, but 20 quarters in a row - or 5 years - without a miss? Apple (AAPL) had put together just such an impressive earnings surprise streak until it finally missed in late 2011. In the 6 quarters since the miss, it has missed another 3 times. Share price, however, peaked in between the second and third miss.

  But during its earnings surprise streak, investors were handsomely rewarded. Perfection Isn't Easy Even with all of the unknowns in investing, I'd rather buy a company that is on an earnings hot streak, than one that is dead cold. Companies with a perfect earnings track record for the last 5 years are a small select group. It's incredibly difficult to keep beating for 5 years through all the ups and downs in the economy. Management has to manage expectations very, very well. There's little room for error. That takes skill (and maybe some luck.) These three companies haven't missed in 5 years. I featured two of these companies last quarter and they came through with another earnings beat. Of course, an earnings beat doesn't necessarily mean a stock will rise afterwards. Being light on guidance or an earnings/sales warning, for instance, could put the damper on an earnings beat. But I still like my chances with an earnings beat versus an earnings miss. Will their streaks continue this earnings season? 3 Companies With Perfect Earnings Surprise Track Records1. Wyndham Worldwide (WYN)Wyndham is one of the largest hospitality companies in the world. It operates about 630,000 hotel rooms worldwide and operates vacation rentals and exchanges with over 106,000 vacation properties in 100 countries. It also operates a network of 190 timeshare properties with about 915,000 owners.Forward P/E = 15.4Expected 2013 earnings growth = 15%Zacks Rank #3 (Hold)Reporting second quarter results on July 24 2. Jarden Corporation (JAH)Jarde

Top US Stocks To Own For 2014: Ballard Power Systems Inc.(BLDP)

Ballard Power Systems Inc. engages in the design, development, manufacture, sale, and service of fuel cell products for motive and stationary power applications worldwide. It offers clean energy PEM (proton exchange membrane) fuel cell stacks, modules, and complete systems. The company provides fuel cell products and services for material handling and bus, back-up power, and distributed generation applications; and fuel cell engineering solutions for various fuel cell applications. It also offers carbon-based engineered material products in the form of roll goods as woven carbon fiber textile fabrics or carbon fiber papers primarily for automotive transmissions and gas diffusion layers. Ballard Power Systems Inc., through its interests in Dantherm Power A/S develops clean energy backup power through utilization of hydrogen fuel cell technology; and Automotive Fuel Cell Cooperation Corp. develops fuel cell products for the automotive fuel cell market. The company was founde d in 1979 and is headquartered in Burnaby, Canada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Paul Ausick]

  Canada-based fuel cell developer Ballard Power Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: BLDP) is getting a jolt on Friday after yesterday�� announcement that it had signed a non-bind agreement to develop zero-emissions, fuel cell vehicles with Netherlands-based Van Hool NV, Europe�� fourth-largest bus maker. According to the announcement there will be 27 Van Hool fuel cell buses operating in Europe next year, all powered by Ballard fuel cell systems.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Shares of Tesla have gained 0.8% to $232.83 at 12:18 p.m. That’s not bad considering that Plug Power (PLUG) is unchanged at $6.71, Ballard Power Systems (BLDP) has dropped 2.8% to $5.53 and FuelCell Energy (FCEL) has fallen 4.3% to $2.89.

• [By James E. Brumley]

  ZBB Energy is a power storage and a power management name that's found a market by serving the renewable energy and small-scale energy niche. It's been lumped in with similar plays like Plug Power Inc. (NASDAQ:PLUG) and Ballard Power Systems Inc. (NASDAQ:BLDP), and it's not an inappropriate comparison. Though much smaller than BLDP and PLUG, ZBB lives and dies by the same sword that Plug Power and Ballard Power Systems live and die by. There's one difference between ZBB Energy and its peers right now, however - ZBB is knocking on the door of a breakout.

Top US Stocks To Own For 2014: Powershares Dynamic Retail Portfolio (PMR)

PowerShares Dynamic Retail Portfolio (the Fund) seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield of an equity index called the Dynamic Retail Intellidex Index (the Retail Intellidex). The Retail Intellidex consists of stocks of 30 United States retailers. These are companies that are principally engaged in operating general merchandise stores, such as department stores, discount stores, warehouse clubs and superstores; specialty stores, including apparel, electronics, accessories and footwear stores;, and home improvement and home furnishings stores. Dealers of motor vehicles and parts, auction houses or rental companies may also be included. Stocks are selected principally on the basis of their capital appreciation potential as identified by the AMEX (the Intellidex Provider) pursuant to its Intellidex methodology. The Fund�� investment advisor is PowerShares Capital Management LLC.

The Fund will normally invest at least 80% of its total assets in common stocks of retail companies. It will normally invest at least 90% of its total assets in common stocks that comprise the Retail

Intellidex. The Fund, using an indexing investment approach, attempts to replicate the performance of the Retail Intellidex. The Fund generally will invest in all of the stocks comprising the Retail Intellidex in proportion to their weightings in the Retail Intellidex.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Udovich]

  Small cap Checkpoint Systems, Inc (NYSE: CKP) fights shoplifting or retail theft and other forms of�"shrink��that costs retailers over $112 billion worldwide last year (according to a study funded by the company), meaning it might be an interesting stock to take a closer look at and to compare its performance with that of SPDR S&P Retail ETF (NYSEARCA: XRT) and PowerShares Dynamic Retail ETF (NYSEARCA: PMR). Just how bad can shoplifting or shrink be for a retailer? Troubled retailer J.C. Penney Company, Inc (NYSE: JCP) has just reported that shoplifting took a full percentage point off the department store chain's profit margins during the quarter. Moreover and given that tens of millions of Americans are now facing higher health insurance costs thanks to Obamacare (which will likely impact consumer discretionary spending),�retailers�will need to find ways to shore up their margins and bottom lines by preventing�retail theft with solutions from company�� like Checkpoint Systems.

• [By Ron Rowland]

  The five funds consist of three ETFs and two traditional mutual funds. The names and gains of the three ETFs were PowerShares Dynamic Retailing ETF (PMR) 0.6%, Market Vectors Retail ETF (RTH) 0.7%, and SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT) 1.1%.