Top 10 Shipping Companies To Buy For 2014

Whatever many retailers made in profits over the holiday season might wash away with after-Christmas sales. USA Today has made the point that discounts seem greater than usual. The newspaper’s evidence appears strong.

Several retailers should hold profits, even with late holiday discounts. Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) should post huge revenue growth and net income, if the e-commerce firm has not undermined margins with free-shipping costs. Higher margin retailers that cater to the middle class, like Macy’s Inc. (NYSE: M), should have built good enough margins to keep them relatively high as they bring in people who shop between Christmas and the end of the year.

Much less certain are the fates of retailers who needed to make money this year. The Sears and Kmart units of Sears Holdings Corp. (NASDAQ: SHLD) sit at the top of that list, along with J.C. Penney Co. Inc. (NYSE: JCP). Each faces the vexing problem of how to drag in customers and liquidate inventory not sold in November and December. Investors have not shown optimism. J.C. Penney stock sold off from more than $10 nearly a month ago to as low as $8 recently. Shares of Sears Holdings have dropped more than 25% during the past month.

10 Best Retail Stocks To Buy For 2015: Oclaro Inc.(OCLR)

Oclaro, Inc. offers optical network components, modules, and subsystems to telecommunications equipment manufacturers. The company designs, manufactures, and markets products that generate, detect, amplify, combine, and separate light signals in telecommunications networks. It offers tunable laser products that include discrete lasers and co-packaged laser modulators; fixed laser products comprising discrete lasers and co-packaged laser modulators; lithium niobate external modulators; a portfolio of discrete receivers for metro and long-haul applications; small form factor pluggable transceivers; and transponder modules, which provide transmitter and receiver functions. Oclaro also provides Erbium doped fiber amplifiers, semi-custom product portfolio of multi-wavelength amplifiers, and narrow band mini-amplifiers; pump laser chips; and wavelength management products, including switching and routing solutions, multiplexing and signal processing solutions, and micro-optics a nd integrated modules. In addition, it offers dispersion compensation product family consisting of products that optically compensate for chromatic dispersion and dispersion degradation of transmission signals, including fixed and tunable products based on dispersion compensating fiber and cascaded etalons; and thin film filter products used for multiplexing and demultiplexing optical signals within dense WDM transmission systems, as well as markets advanced pump laser technology diodes. Further, the company sells low-power polarized products for optical mouse and finger navigation applications. It markets its products through direct sales and marketing organization, sales representatives, and resellers in Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Japan, and the United States. The company was formerly known as Bookham, Inc. and changed its name to Oclaro, Inc. in April 2009. Oclaro, Inc. was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in San Jose, Cali fornia.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lisa Levin]

  Oclaro (NASDAQ: OCLR) shares touched a new 52-week high of $2.36. Oclaro shares have jumped 71.32% over the past 52 weeks, while the S&P 500 index has gained 31.67% in the same period.

Top 10 Shipping Companies To Buy For 2014: ECOtality Inc (ECTYQ)

Ecotality, Inc., incorporated in 1999, is a provider of electric transportation and storage technologies. The Company provides electric vehicle infrastructure products and solutions that are used in on-road, grid-connected vehicles (including plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) and battery electric vehicles (BEV)), material handling and airport electric ground support applications. Through its main operating subsidiary, Electric Transportation Engineering Corporation (eTec), the Company�� primary product offering is the Minit-Charger line of advanced battery fast-charge systems that are designed for various motive applications. In addition to its electric transportation focus, Ecotality, Inc. is also involved in the development, manufacture, assembly and sale of specialty solar products, advanced battery systems, and hydrogen and fuel cell systems. Its subsidiaries and primary operating segments consist of eTec, Innergy Power Corporation (Innergy), and ECOtality Stores (doing business as Fuel Cell Store). In addition, the Company has a wholly owned subsidiary in Mexico providing manufacturing services for it and a wholly owned subsidiary in Australia, ECOtality Australia Pty Ltd, to market and distribute battery charging equipment to support on-road electric vehicles, industrial equipment, and electric airport ground support equipment.

The Company�� products include energy engineering services (hydrogen, solar, battery, coal gasification and energy delivery infrastructure); eTec�� Minit-Charger fast-charge systems for material handling and airport ground support equipment; charging systems (Level 2 and 3) for on-road grid-connected electric vehicles; eTec Bridge Power Manager (BPM) systems; hydrogen internal combustion engine (HICE) vehicle conversions; industrial battery systems; solar panel production; specialty solar solutions; specialty thin-sealed lead battery products, and various solar products for consumer, emergency response programs and remote power systems. The Compan! y�� products also include third-party hydrogen and education related products, and EV Microclimate Program.

Electric Transportation Engineering Corporation

As the Company�� primary operating subsidiary, eTec is engaged in the research, development and testing of advanced transportation and energy systems, and is the exclusive provider of the Minit-Charger line of battery fast-charge systems and technologies. Specializing in alternative-fuel, hybrid and electric vehicles and infrastructures, eTec offers consulting, technical support and field services. The Minit-Charger brand is the result of a consolidation of the two fast-charging technologies: eTec SuperCharge and Edison Minit-Charger. In March 2008, all eTec fast-charging products, including the eTec SuperCharge product line, were consolidated under the eTec Minit-Charger brand.

eTec holds the exclusive contract for the United States Department of Energy�� (DoE) Advanced Vehicle Testing Activity (AVTA) program and has conducted more than six million miles of vehicle testing on more than 200 advanced fuel vehicles. The Company acquired eTec as an expansion platform for its core capability in battery technologies, fast charging systems, energy distribution infrastructure, and advanced vehicle technologies and testing, which includes electric vehicle (EV), hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), PHEV and hydrogen vehicle technologies. As of December 31, 2009, eTec had installed more than 5,100 charging stations for motive applications.

On August 5, 2009, eTec was selected by the DoE for a grant to undertake the deployment of EVs and charging infrastructure. On September 30, 2009, eTec accepted the grant. eTec, as the lead applicant for the proposal, partnered with Nissan North America to deploy EVs and the charging infrastructure to support them. The project will install electric vehicle charging infrastructure and deploy up to a total of 4,700 Nissan battery electric vehicles in strategic markets in fiv! e states:! Arizona, California, Oregon, Tennessee and Washington.

Innergy Power Systems

Innergy Power Systems is based in San Diego, California, with a manufacturing facility in Tijuana, Mexico. Innergy is a manufacturer of both renewable energy solar modules and thin-sealed rechargeable batteries, as its solar photovoltaic (PV) product line addresses the worldwide demand for solar energy products and off-grid power. Innergy�� fiberglass reinforced panel (FRP) solar modules are designed to meet a range of applications for emergency preparedness and recreation. Applications include logistics tracking, asset management systems, off-grid lighting, mobile communications, mobile computing, recreational vehicles, signaling devices and surveillance cameras. Innergy and the Company�� wholly owned subsidiary providing manufacturing services, Portable Energy De Mexico, S.A. DE C.V., provides the Company the ability to further expand its production, manufacturing and assembly capabilities for Innergy�� solar products and energy storage devices, as well as products of its other subsidiaries, including eTec�� Minit-Charger products.

ECOtality Stores (doing business as Fuel Cell Store)

ECOtality Stores is the Company�� wholly owned subsidiary and operates as its online retail division. Fuel Cell Store (www.fuelcellstore.com) is an e-commerce marketplace that offers consumers an array of fuel cell products from around the globe. Based in San Diego, California, and with international operations in Japan, Russia, Italy and Portugal, Fuel Cell Store develops, manufactures and sells a range of fuel cell products that includes fuel cell stacks, systems, component parts and educational materials. In addition to primary retail operations, Fuel Cell Store also offers consulting services for high schools, colleges and research institutes, and is available to host workshops, conferences and corporate events.

Hydrality

Hydrality is a reactor system t! hat store! s and delivers hydrogen on-demand using magnesium compounds and water. The EPC/Hydrality technology was initially developed in conjunction with National Aeronautics and Space Administration�� (NASA) Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and subsequently advanced by Arizona State University, Green Mountain Engineering and Airboss Aerospace, Inc. The Company initially sought to design and license a Hydrality system for use in motorized vehicles and industrial equipment, it has identified several additional applications for Hydrality that include stationary applications for remote power, back-up power systems, and large-scale industrial and utility use.

The Company competes with AeroVironment, Inc., Aker Wade Power Technologies LLC, Power Designers, LLC, and C&D Technologies, Inc., Better Place, Coulomb Technologies, AeroVironment, Inc., Aker Wade Power Technologies, LLC, Delta-Q Technologies, Elektromotive, BP Solar International Inc., Evergreen Solar, Inc., First Solar Inc., Kyocera Corporation, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Motech Industries Inc., Q-Cells AG, Sanyo Corporation, Sharp Corporation, SolarWorld AG, Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd., Airgas, Inc., Air Liquide, Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., Linde AG, Praxair Technology, Inc., Distributed Energy Systems Corporation, Hydrogenics Corporation, Statoil Hydro, Teledyne Energy Systems, Inc., Heliocentris Fuel Cells AG, Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies, Ltd., BCS Fuel Cells, Inc., Electrochem, Inc., Fuel Cell Scientific, LLC, GasHub Technology, JHT Power, H-Tech, Inc., Element-1 Power Systems and miniHYDROGEN.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sean Williams]

  Captain, I just don't have the infrastructure!
  Without question, car companies are on a quest to create the perfect blend of performance, fuel-efficiency, and zero emissions. At the moment, only one company has done a good job of that, and its name is Tesla Motors. But looking at the big picture, the electric vehicles that Tesla produces make up just a fraction of the current automotive market. The real barrier to entry for any alternative modes of transportation is a lack of infrastructure, which is why I think the recent rally in ECOtality (NASDAQOTH: ECTYQ  ) is unwarranted.

• [By abirk]

  Founded in 1883, Kroger, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a retailer in the United States. The company also manufactures and processes food for sale in its supermarkets. With a market cap of 22.72 billion, this Cincinnati, Ohio, based company is the seventh largest grocery retailer in the world and, along with Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (WMT) and Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST), one of only three U.S. companies in the top ten. Extending well beyond its retail grocer core business, Kroger operates under nearly two dozen banners including: Kroger Real Estate, The Little Clinic, I-Wireless, Kroger Convenience Stores, Littman Jewelers, Fred Meyer Jewelers, Kroger Manufacturing, Kroger Pharmacies, and the recently-acquired Harris Teeter Supermarkets, Inc. (HTSI) (merger transaction between the two companies was completed on January 28, 2014). About half of the Kroger's supermarkets include gas stations. Further, partnering with Ecotality, Inc. (ECTYQ), Kroger has introduced electric car charging stations.

Top 10 Shipping Companies To Buy For 2014: Redpoint Bio Corp (RPBC)

Redpoint Bio Corporation (Redpoint), incorporated in August 1995, is a development-stage biotechnology company. The Company leverages discoveries in the molecular biology of taste to discover and develop taste modulators for the food and beverage industries. Its food and beverage program has been focused on identifying flavor modifiers that improve the taste of ingredients. In June 2009, the Company announced that it had identified an all-natural sweetness enhancer, RP44. RP44 is Reb-C (rebaudioside C), a component of the stevia plant.

Sweetness Enhancer Program

Redpoint announced that it had identified RP44, an all-natural sweetness enhancer, in June 2009. In January 2010, it disclosed that RP44 is Reb-C (rebaudioside C), a component of the stevia plant. RP44 is derived from material found in the side stream of the Reb A production process. A purified component of stevia known as Reb A has received regulatory approval in the United States. Unlike Reb A, RP44 has a low intrinsic level of sweetness and therefore is not useful as a sweetener.

Diabetes and Obesity Drug Discovery Program

The Company�� initial programs focused on the modulation of the TRPm5 ion channel, a signaling element in taste sensation, in order to discover compounds that modulate the taste of food and beverage products. Redpoint initiated a program designed to leverage the research it had already conducted on the discovery of modulators of the TRPm5 ion channel to further explore opportunities for the discovery of diabetes or obesity therapeutics. TRPm5 modulators discovered at Redpoint have been shown to elicit the secretion of hormones known to play roles in metabolism in relevant model systems.

The Company competes with International Flavors & Fragrances Inc., Givaudan SA, Symrise, Firmenich, Senomyx, PureCircle Ltd, GLG Life Tech Corporation, Eli Lilly and Company, Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Merck & Co., Inc., Metabolex, Inc., OSI Pharmaceuticals, GlaxoSmithKline! , Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Johnson & Johnson.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Peter Graham]

  Small cap stocks Greenfield Farms Food Inc (OTCMKTS: GRAS), International Stem Cell Corp (OTCMKTS: ISCO) and Redpoint Bio Corporation (OTCMKTS: RPBC) have all been getting some extra attention lately in various investment newsletters. However, none of these small cap stocks appear to have been the subject or paid promotions or investor relations activities. So does that make any of them good bets for traders and investors alike? Here is a quick look and a reality check:

Top 10 Shipping Companies To Buy For 2014: Powershares Dynamic Networking Portfolio (PXQ)

PowerShares Dynamic Networking Portfolio (the Fund) seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield of an equity index called the Dynamic Networking Intellidex Index (the Networking Intellidex). The Networking Intellidex consists of stocks of 30 United States networking companies. These are companies that are principally engaged in the development, manufacture, sale or distribution of products, services or technologies that support the flow of electronic information, including voice, data, images and commercial transactions. These companies may include providers of telecommunications and networking equipment, data storage, systems software, Internet hardware, including servers, routers, switches and related equipment, systems for data encryption and security, Internet services, including hosting and commercial exchanges, fiber optics, satellites, cable equipment, and other companies involved in supporting the flow of information. 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 networking companies. The Fund will normally invest at least 90% of its total assets in common stocks that comprise the Networking Intellidex. The Networking Intellidex is adjusted quarterly, and the Fund, using an indexing investment approach, attempts to replicate the performance of the Networking Intellidex. The Fund generally will invest in all of the stocks comprising the Networking Intellidex in proportion to their weightings in the Networking Intellidex.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Udovich]

  Just before Thanksgiving, small cap networking stock Infoblox Inc (NYSE: BLOX) sank 28.65% on guidance that was below expectations, but the stock has still outperformed the year-to-date�performance of�networking ETF like the PowerShares Dynamic Networking ETF (NYSEARCA: PXQ) and iShares S&P North American Networking ETF (NYSEARCA: IGN). So what went wrong and could investors have just overeacted?

Top 10 Shipping Companies To Buy For 2014: United Community Banks Inc. (UCBI)

United Community Banks, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for United Community Bank that provides retail and corporate banking services to individuals and small to mid-size businesses. It offers various deposit accounts, such as checking accounts, savings and time deposits, demand deposits, non-interest bearing deposits, NOW accounts, and money market accounts. The company�s loan portfolio comprises commercial loans secured by real estate, commercial and industrial loans, commercial construction loans, residential construction and mortgage loans, and consumer installment loans. It also offers wire transfers, brokerage services, and other financial services; and ATM, telephone, and online banking services. In addition, the company acts as an insurance agency, as well as provides retail brokerage services through an affiliation with a third party broker/dealer. As of March 25, 2013, it operated 103 banking offices in north Georgia, the Atlanta region, coastal Georgi a, western North Carolina, east Tennessee, and northwest South Carolina. The company was founded in 1950 and is headquartered in Blairsville, Georgia.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Louis Navellier]

  United Community Banks (UCBI) has 106 branches in Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee. The bank has seen continual credit improvements and a recovering economy drive 100% earnings gains this year. The bank is one of the few seeing strong loan growth, and business is so good that UCBI paid back its TARP obligations without needing to issue new equity. This cheap stock was upgraded to an ����last July and at the current price. The P/E ratio right now is just 5.

Top 10 Shipping Companies To Buy For 2014: MoneyGram International Inc (MGI)

MoneyGram International, Inc. (MoneyGram) incorporated on December 18, 2003, is a global payment services company. The Company�� products include global money transfers, bill payment solutions and financial paper products. MoneyGram conducts its business through its wholly owned subsidiary MoneyGram Payment Systems, Inc. (MPSI). The Company operates in two segments: Global Funds Transfer and Financial Paper Products. The Company�� global money transfer and bill payment services are its primary revenue drivers. The Company offers its money transfer services on the Internet via its MoneyGram Online service in the United States, United Kingdom and through agent Websites in Italy, Saudi Arabia and Japan. It also offers money transfer services via mobile phone, kiosks, ATM, receive cards and direct-to-bank account products in various markets worldwide. Effective July 8, 2013, MoneyGram International Inc acquired Latino Services, an Atlanta-based provider of money transfer services.

Global Funds Transfer

The Company�� Global Funds Transfer segment provides money transfer and bill payment services to consumers, who are often unbanked or underbanked. Unbanked consumers are those consumers who do not have a traditional relationship with a financial institution. Other consumers who use its services are convenience users and emergency users who may have a checking account with a financial institution, but prefer to use the Company�� services on the basis of convenience or to make emergency payments. MoneyGram offers services to consumers through third-party agents, including retail chains, independent retailers and financial institutions.

The Company provides Global Funds Transfer products and services utilizing a range of point-of-sale platforms. Its platforms include AgentConnect, which is integrated into an agent�� point-of-sale system, and DeltaWorks and Delta T3, which are separate software and stand-alone device platforms. Through its FormFree service, cust! omers may contact its call center and a representative will collect transaction information over the telephone, entering it directly into its central data processing system.

The Company offers money transfers to consumers in a choice of local currency, United States dollars or euros, in certain countries. MoneyGram�� bill payment services allow consumers to make urgent bill payments, pay routine bills, or load and reload prepaid debit cards. These industries include the credit card, mortgage, auto finance, telecommunications, corrections, satellite, property management, prepaid card and collections industries.

Financial Paper Products

The Company�� Financial Paper Products segment provides money orders to consumers through its retail and financial institution agent locations in the United States and Puerto Rico, and provides official check services for financial institutions in the United States. It sells money orders under the MoneyGram brand and on a private label or co-branded basis with certain of its retail and financial institution agents in the United States. During the year ended December 31, 2012, MoneyGram issued money orders through its network of 54,000 agent and financial institution locations in the United States and Puerto Rico. The Company generates revenue from its official check outsourcing services by charging per item and other fees, as well as from the investment of funds underlying outstanding official checks. As of December 31, 2012, the Company also provided official check outsourcing services at approximately 7,300 branch locations of more than 1,200 financial institutions.

The Company competes with The Western Union Company.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Seth Jayson]

  Moneygram International (Nasdaq: MGI  ) reported earnings on July 25. Here are the numbers you need to know.

  The 10-second takeaway
  For the quarter ended June 30 (Q2), Moneygram International beat expectations on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

Top 10 Shipping Companies To Buy For 2014: Liberty Media Corporation(LINTA)

Liberty Interactive, Inc. markets and sells a range of consumer products in the United States and internationally, primarily by means of televised shopping programs on the QVC networks and via the Internet through its Websites. It also provides online content, products, and services to consumers, publishers, and advertisers; performance gear products for backpacking, climbing, skiing, snowboarding, trail running, and adventure travel; supplements, clothing, tanning supplies, accessories, and other bodybuilding products, as well as hosts an online site where visitors could network and exchange information related to bodybuilding; nutraceutical and cosmeceutical products; integration and fulfillment solutions for multi-channel ecommerce merchants; online invitation and social event planning service; tools and information needed to research, plan, book, and experience travel for business and leisure travelers; and gift ideas and interactive, personalized shopping services. In addition, the company offers retailer and interactive lifestyle network products through television home shopping programming on HSN television network and HSN.com; membership services to the vacation ownership industry; commerce, content, and community converge services; perishable products; residential and commercial video, high-speed data, and voice services over its broadband cable systems; and filmed entertainment, interactive services, television networks, cable systems, and music and publishing. Further, it operates as a catalog and online retailer of party supplies and costumes; ecommerce and traditional retailer of premium baby gear and products that provide parents an assortment of products for their babies, such as travel gear, feeding, d�or, and toys; and an online lending and real estate business, which matches consumers with lenders and loan brokers. The company is headquartered in Englewood, Colorado.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lawrence Meyers]

  InterActiveCorp (IACI) is Barry Diller�� conglomerate of internet companies, not terribly different from John Malone�� Liberty Interactive (LINTA). The strategy for IACI stock has been to wait for a leader in a given sector to emerge and then buy it up, or at least a portion of it. These businesses either have a history of generating lots of cash flow, or have the potential to do so.

• [By Anders Bylund]

  Robert "Dob" Bennett was CEO of Liberty Interactive (NASDAQ: LINTA  ) from 1997 to 2005. He steered the Internet-leaning company through the dot-com bust and came out stronger. Under Bennett's leadership, Liberty Interactive grew annual sales from $1.2 billion to $7.6 billion. He's been known to stand up to Liberty chairman John Malone on occasion, and he still serves as a board member or executive in several of Liberty's offshoots.