Top Stocks For 2014

Having bounced nicely off their recent low below $400 per share, Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL  ) shares have been heading higher ever since. The question that investors now want answered is whether the stock can reach $500 and beyond anytime soon. While competition for the iPhone from Google (NASDAQ: GOOG  ) Android devices and for the iPad from Microsoft, particularly given the recent news that Microsoft may be acquiring Nook Media from Barnes & Noble, are factors, the single biggest threat to Apple's race to $500 is the broader market. If the market can avoid a correction, Apple has a chance. If not, it's likely to put the next century mark on hold for at least a few months.

Short-term headwinds
In the immediate term, Apple is facing some real challenges that are primarily a product of timing. In the last earnings call, CEO Tim Cook alluded to several new products that will come out of Cupertino "this fall and beyond." In the interim, Samsung is expected to roll out several new versions of the Galaxy S4 and launch its own operating system later this summer. You should also expect to see new smartphone offerings from Nokia (NYSE: NOK  ) , which recently made clear that it's sticking with Windows as long as CEO Stephen Elop is at the helm. Finally, with BlackBerry (NASDAQ: BBRY  ) bringing the Q10 to market, Apple is waiting on the sidelines while all of its competitors push ahead. The slow product cycle is one of the chief complaints some have with the iPhone maker.

Top Stocks For 2014: Geron Corporation (GERN)

Geron Corporation, a biopharmaceutical company, develops therapies for cancer. Its clinical development product candidates include Imetelstat, a telomerase inhibitor, which is in Phase II clinical trials for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer, advanced non-small cell lung cancer, thrombocythemia, and myeloma. The company was founded in 1990 and is based in Menlo Park, California.

Top Stocks For 2014: Derma Sciences Inc.(DSCI)

Derma Sciences, Inc. operates as a medical technology company. The company provides advanced wound care products, including Medihoney dressings that are used for the management of non-chronic and hard-to-heal wounds, such as chronic ulcers, burns, and post-operative wounds; Bioguard dressings that are used for prophylactic use in the prevention of hospital or community acquired infections through wound sites; Algicell Ag, antimicrobial dressings; Xtrasorb dressings that convert fluid within the dressings to a gel and lock the exudates into the dressings; TCC-EZ, a dressing system for the management of diabetic foot ulcers; and occlusive dressings, such as hydrocolloids, foams, hydrogels, alginates, additional silver antimicrobial dressings, cleansers, and Dermagran products. It also offers traditional wound care products, such as of gauze sponges and bandages, non-adherent impregnated dressings, retention devices, paste bandages, and other compression devices, as well as a dhesive bandages and related first aid products. In addition, the company provides pharmaceutical wound care products, including DSC127, an angiotensin analog for use in wound healing and scar reduction. It markets wound closure strips, nasal tube and catheter fasteners, barrier creams and ointments, antibacterial cleansing foams and sprays, shampoos and body washes, hand sanitizers, bath additives, body oils, and moisturizers to doctors, clinics, nursing homes, hospitals, home healthcare agencies, and other institutions. The company sells its products to health care providers, such as wound care centers, extended care facilities, acute care facilities, home health care agencies, and physicians? offices through direct sales representatives in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom; retail channels; manufacturers? representatives and independent distributors in international markets. Derma Sciences, Inc. was founded in 1984 and is headquartered in Princeton, New Jersey.

Top 5 Growth Stocks To Invest In 2014: ProAssurance Corporation(PRA)

ProAssurance Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides medical and other professional liability insurance products to health care service, legal service, and other professional service providers in the United States. It primarily offers its products to physicians, dentists, chiropractors, optometrists, and allied health professionals. The company markets its products through an internal sales force, as well as independent agents. ProAssurance Corporation was founded in 1976 and is based in Birmingham, Alabama.

Top Stocks For 2014: Planar Systems Inc.(PLNR)

Planar Systems, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in developing, manufacturing, and marketing electronic display products and systems. The company provides customized, embedded, and ruggedized displays to original equipment manufacturers and other system suppliers; and active-matrix liquid crystal display panels for use in various applications and industries, including instrumentation, medical equipment, vehicle dashboards, indoor and outdoor digital signage, and military applications. It also offers liquid crystal display (LCD) video walls and rear-projection cube video walls for use in venue digital signage, as well as in various control room installations under the Clarity brand name. In addition, the company provides LCD based displays, including desktop monitors, touch displays, widescreen monitors, and front-projection equipment to the information technology market. Further, it offers home theater front-projection video systems, video processing equipment , large-format thin video displays, ?window wall? video applications, and accessories primarily to custom home installation dealers under the Runco brand name. Planar Systems, Inc. operates in the United States, the United Kingdom, Finland, Germany, Italy, France, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, India, Taiwan, and China. The company was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon.

Top Stocks For 2014: Cascade Microtech Inc.(CSCD)

Cascade Microtech, Inc. designs, develops, manufactures, and markets wafer probing and test socket solutions for the electrical measurement and testing of high performance chips. It offers a range of product lines, including probe stations, analytical probes, production probe cards, test sockets, and various services. The engineering probe station is used in conjunction with analytical probes to test chips in wafer form for forming a probing system; and analytical probes, production probe cards, and test sockets electrically connect test equipment to the chips under test and are sold as consumable test tooling, which are mounted into production or engineering probe stations. The company also offers Pyramid Probe card product line for use in wireless chip applications, as well as probe station accessories, including thermal control systems, microscopes, lasers, cameras, special cables, and connectors and other items. In addition, it provides installation and maintenance ser vices. The company sells its products to semiconductor manufacturers, test subcontractors, research organizations, and designers through a combination of manufacturers? representatives, distributors, and direct sales people primarily in the United States, the Asia Pacific, and Europe. Cascade Microtech, Inc. was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon.