Top Retail Stocks To Buy For 2015

Developing-nation stocks slid for the first time in four days, led by India, as commodities declined on concern the global outlook is deteriorating and Infosys Ltd. (INFO) forecast lower-than-estimated sales.

Infosys, India�� second-largest software services exporter, dropped the most in a decade in Mumbai and New York after saying revenue will expand at a rate around 50 percent below the pace projected by analysts. The S&P BSE India Index sank the most since February. Technology stocks led declines on the MSCI Emerging Markets Index. (MXEF) Brazil�� Bovespa index pared a slump of as much as 1.7 percent as Vale SA rallied.

The gauge of developing-country stocks dropped 0.9 percent to 1,019.61 in New York, trimming a weekly advance to 1.1 percent. The S&P GSCI Spot Index of commodities retreated 1.3 percent after the International Energy Agency cut its estimates for global oil demand. Crude sank 2.4 percent in New York as U.S. retail sales unexpectedly fell in March by the most in nine months and a gauge of consumer sentiment slipped.

Top Retail Stocks To Buy For 2015: Tranzbyte Corp (ERBB.PK)

The Tranzbyte Corporation, incorporated on November 12, 1998, is a driving force behind Altitude Organic Corporation, One Bode, The YO! Debit Card, and ProximaRF. Altitude Organic Corporation is a medical marijuana dispensary brand. It has developed retailing, branding, and commercial cultivating strategies in conjunction with its licensed medical marijuana retail dispensaries operating under the Altitude Organic Medicine brand name.

Tranzbyte houses the technology division, which is engaged in the sale of its optical media enhancement products to customers in the United States and Asia. Products in the Tranzbyte division include FLASHAlbum and FlixStix technologies that enable distributors of optical media (compact discs, digital video discs, etc.) to consolidate the features of each medium onto a single content-protected universal serial bus (USB) flash drive. One Bode has created an assortment of products focusing on plant-based nutrients and enzymes. A pplied radio frequency identification (RFID) and its operating subsidiaries (www.proximarf.com), have a portfolio of RFID reader, sensor tag and data logging products.

Top Retail Stocks To Buy For 2015: Kohl's Corporation(KSS)

Kohl?s Corporation operates department stores in the United States. The company?s stores offer private and exclusive, as well as national branded apparel, footwear, and accessories for women, men, and children; soft home products, such as sheets and pillows; and housewares primarily to middle-income customers. As of January 29, 2011, it operated 1,089 stores in 49 states. The company also offers on-line shopping on its Web site at Kohls.com. Kohl?s Corporation was founded in 1962 and is headquartered in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Tim Melvin]

  Opinions are dangerous things when it comes to the financial markets. I may think retail will be slow, but until it happens and stocks like Macy�� (M) or Kohl�� (KSS) trade at really low multiples of assets and earnings, there�� nothing for me to do with my guess. I have made far more money reacting to what the markets actually do than I ever have betting on what they might do.

• [By Michael Lewis]

  Where from here?
  The stock pushed to new highs last week, and has seemed to stabilize above the $90 mark, giving it a forward P/E of 11.61 times. Now, the company is in much better shape and deserves higher valuation multiples than, say, J.C. Penney (NYSE: JCP  ) , which has negative earnings but trades at just 0.32 times sales. But when comparing Dillard's to other, healthy department chains, such as Kohl's (NYSE: KSS  ) , we see a more interesting picture. Kohl's trades at 10.7 times forward earnings, and while it saw lower same-store sales due to bad weather, the company still beat estimates and is set to grow via new stores.

• [By Varun Chandan, Arora]

  This has been an excellent year for most department stores. Year-to-date, shares of Macy's (NYSE: M  ) have gained nearly 43%, while�Kohl's (NYSE: KSS  ) has gained nearly 30%. One notable, but not surprising, exception has been J.C. Penney (NYSE: JCP  ) . Shares of the Plano, Texas-based company have fallen more than 55% this year as the company has continued to struggle. However, last month the company reported encouraging quarterly results which indicate that its turnaround plan is working. So, is this a good time to buy J.C. Penney?

Hot Healthcare Technology Companies To Invest In Right Now: Nordstrom Inc.(JWN)

Nordstrom, Inc., a fashion specialty retailer, offers apparel, shoes, cosmetics, and accessories for women, men, and children in the United States. It offers a selection of brand name and private label merchandise. The company sells its products through various channels, including Nordstrom full-line stores, off-price Nordstrom Rack stores, Jeffrey? boutiques, treasure & bond, and Last Chance clearance stores; and its online store, nordstrom.com, as well as through catalog. Nordstrom also provides a private label card, two Nordstrom VISA credit cards, and a debit card for Nordstrom purchases. The company?s credit and debit cards feature a shopping-based loyalty program. As of September 30, 2011, it operated 222 stores, including 117 full-line stores, 101 Nordstrom Racks, 2 Jeffrey boutiques, 1 treasure & bond store, and 1 clearance store in 30 states. The company was founded in 1901 and is based in Seattle, Washington.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Casey Kelly-Barton]

  Wet Seal (NASDAQ: WTSL  ) earned raves last year in the press and the disability community for its ads featuring 17-year-old Karrie Brown, an aspiring model who has Down syndrome. Target� (NYSE: TGT  ) and Nordstrom� (NYSE: JWN  ) both featured a 6-year-old with Down syndrome named Ryan in their catalogs without any fanfare, but shoppers and parents noticed and appreciated it.

• [By Andrew Marder]

  Then and now
  We won't dwell on the past, since it's not going to help us predict the future, but it would be silly not to hit the highlights. Starting at the top, Macy's has increased its revenue for four years running, and it hit $27 billion in 2012. Earnings per share have kept up as well, rising from $0.78 in 2009 to $3.29 last year. That's a 321% increase over four years. To put some context around that, Nordstrom (NYSE: JWN  ) has grown earnings per share by 78% over the same period.

• [By Sue Chang and Saumya Vaishampayan]

  Nordstrom Inc. (JWN) �shares rose 3.2%. The retailer on Wednesday announced plans to close underperforming stores in Portland, Ore. and Vancouver, Wash. The closures will affect about 280 employees.

• [By Alex Planes]

  This graph represents the "purchase consideration" of Men's Wearhouse against some of its largest suit-selling competitors, listed as Jos. A. Bank (NASDAQ: JOSB  ) , Macy's (NYSE: M  ) , and Nordstrom (NYSE: JWN  ) , among others. The industry average has been pretty steady, but Men's Wearhouse appears to be wearing thin among millennials (and among male consumers on the bubble between the millennial generation and Generation X). If that's so, then why did Men's Wearhouse report a nice spike in profits in its latest report? Well, older consumers still like the way they look in a Zimmer-promoted suit:

Top Retail Stocks To Buy For 2015: Target Corporation(TGT)

Target Corporation operates general merchandise stores in the United States. The company offers household essentials, including pharmacy, beauty, personal care, baby care, cleaning, and paper products; hardlines comprising music, movies, books, computer software, sporting goods, and toys, as well as electronics that comprise video game hardware and software; apparel and accessories consisting of apparel for women, men, boys, girls, toddlers, infants, and newborns; and intimate apparel, jewelry, accessories, and shoes. It also provides food and pet supplies, including dry grocery, dairy, frozen food, beverages, candy, snacks, deli, bakery, meat, produce, and pet supplies; and home furnishings and d�or, such as furniture, lighting, kitchenware, small appliances, home d�or, bed and bath, home improvement, and automotive products, as well as seasonal merchandise, which include patio furniture and holiday d�or. The company sells its merchandise products under private-labe l and exclusive licensed brands. In addition, it provides in-store amenities. As of January 28, 2012, Target Corporation operated 1,763 stores in 49 states and the District of Columbia under Target and SuperTarget names. Further, it offers general merchandise through its Website, Target.com. The company distributes its merchandise through a network of distribution centers, as well as third parties and direct shipping from vendors. Additionally, it offers credit to guests through its branded proprietary credit cards, the Target Visa Credit Card and the Target Credit Card, as well as through its branded proprietary Target Debit Card. Target Corporation was founded in 1902 and is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dividend Growth Investor]

  Target Corporation (TGT) operates general merchandise stores in the United States. I like the perceived quality of Target relative to Wal-Mart. The stores look more upscale than the Wal-Marts of the world, and target customers with higher incomes. In addition, the company is much smaller, and just starting to expand internationally. I view this as an opportunity. Management is trying to earn $8/share by 2017, which would make shares purchased today even cheaper. The company has increased dividends for 46 years in a row, and has managed to boost them by 18.60%/year over the past decade. Currently, the stock trades at 16.80 times earnings and yields 2.40%. Check my analysis of Target.

Top Retail Stocks To Buy For 2015: L Brands Inc (LTD)

L Brands, Inc., formerly Limited Brands, Inc, incorporated on March 16, 1982, operates in the specialty retail business. The Company is a specialty retailer of women�� intimate and other apparel, beauty and personal care products and accessories. The Company operates in two segments: Victoria�� Secret and Bath & Body Works. It sells its merchandise through Company-owned specialty retail stores in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, which are primarily mall-based, and through Websites, catalogue and international franchise, license and wholesale partners. The Company operates in brands, such as Victoria�� Secret, Victoria�� Secret Pink, Bath & Body Works, La Senza, and Henri Bendel. The Company�� business for both the Victoria�� Secret and Bath & Body Works segments is principally conducted from office, distribution and shipping facilities located in the Columbus, Ohio area.

As of February 2, 2013, it operated 255 retail stores located in leased facilities, primarily in malls and shopping centers, throughout the Canadian provinces. As of February 2, 2013, it operated two retail stores in London. As of February 2, 2013, it operated 2,619 retail stores located in leased facilities, primarily in malls and shopping centers, throughout the United States. As of February 2, 2013, it also had 339 licensed La Senza stores in 32 countries; 38 franchised Bath & Body Works stores in nine countries; three franchised Victoria's Secret stores in two Middle Eastern countries, and 108 independently owned Victoria�� Secret Beauty and Accessories stores and various small-format locations in over 50 countries.

Victoria�� Secret, including Victoria�� Secret Pink, is a specialty retailer of women�� intimate and other apparel with fragrances and cosmetics, supermodels and runway shows. The Company sells its Victoria�� Secret products at more than 1,000 Victoria�� Secret stores in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and through the Victoria�� Secret catal! ogue and online at www.VictoriasSecret.com. Additionally, Victoria�� Secret brand products are also sold in stores operated by partners under a franchise or wholesale model throughout the world.

Bath & Body Works is a specialty retailer of home fragrance and personal care products, including shower gels, lotions, soaps and sanitizers. The Company sells its Bath & Body Works products at more than 1,600 Bath & Body Works stores in the United States and Canada and online at www.BathandBodyWorks.com. Additionally, Bath & Body Works brand products are available at franchise locations throughout the world.

La Senza is a specialty retailer of women�� intimate apparel. The Company sells its La Senza products at more than 150 La Senza stores in Canada and online at www.LaSenza.com. Additionally, La Senza has more than 330 stores in 32 countries operating under franchise and licensing arrangements. Henri Bendel sells upscale accessory products through its New York flagship and 28 other stores, as well as online at www.HenriBendel.com.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  It’s gotten bad enough that Lazard Capital Market’s Jennifer Davis posed the question “What’s happened to the consumer?” in a report released today, as she considers next week’s announcements from American Eagle Outfitters (AEO), Aeropostale (ARO), the Gap (GPS), L Brands (LTD) and TJX (TJX). She writes:

• [By Sean Williams]

  Finally, Victoria's Secret owner Limited Brands (NYSE: LTD  ) jumped 4.3% after following Ross's lead, and reporting impressive March sales results. For the five-week period, net sales rose 6%, while comparable store sales ticked higher by 3%. For the rolling nine-week period, comparable sales are up 3%, as well. Limited has taken a lot of heat for slowing same-store sales growth in recent months after years of high single-digit growth. However, I believe this was largely unwarranted pessimism given the company's penchant for putting the right product in front of its customers, and minimizing discounts.

• [By Michael Lewis]

  Not only is management wisely targeting the Internet as a growth node, but it is putting the pedal down on a new outlet division. Similar to its former parent L Brands (NYSE: LTD  ) , Express looks to take advantage of the ongoing expansion of outlet malls and their value proposition to customers. Real estate trusts such as Simon Property Group have used outlet malls as a primary source of expansion in recent years, driven by customers' desire to own luxury brands at discount prices.

• [By Katie Spence]

  You've probably heard the slogan "Sex sells." While it's undoubtedly true in some circumstances, there are many situations where the opposite is true -- sex alienates consumers. Take, for example, L Brands' (NYSE: LTD  ) Victoria's Secret and its PINK "Bright Young Things" line. The official market for PINK is college-age girls; however, in January, Victoria's Secret's chief financial officer, Stuart Burgdoerfer, said: "When somebody's 15 or 16 years old, what do they want to be? They want to be older, and they want to be cool like the girl in college, and that's part of the magic of what we do at PINK."

Top Retail Stocks To Buy For 2015: Group 1 Automotive Inc. (GPI)

Group 1 Automotive, Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the marketing and sale of automotive products and services. It sells new and used cars, light trucks, and vehicle parts. The company also provides vehicle financing services; service and insurance contract services; and automotive maintenance and repair services. The company has operations located in metropolitan areas in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Texas in the United States; and in the towns of Brighton, Hailsham, and Worthing in the United Kingdom. As of October 25, 2012, it owned and operated 121 automotive dealerships, 158 franchises, and 30 collision centers in the United States and the United Kingdom that offer 32 brands of automobiles. The company was founded in 1995 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ning Jia]

  In 2001, Advance Auto Parts acquires Carport Auto Parts, a regional retail chain with 29 stores in Alabama and Mississippi. The combination of Advance and Carport locations establishes Advance Auto Parts as the market leader in Alabama and Mississippi. In November of 2011, Advance acquires 671 Discount Auto Parts, Inc., a regional auto parts chain in Florida, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and Louisiana. The acquisition strengthens the company's position as the market leader in Florida. Upon completion of this merger, Advance Auto Parts becomes a publicly traded company, listed as a common stock on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AAP. After the Company went public in 2001, AAP continued to expand both organically and through acquisition. On October 16th 2013, Advance Auto Parts entered into a definitive agreement to acquire General Parts International, Inc. (GPI), a leading privately held distributor and supplier of original equipment and aftermarket replacement products for commercial markets operating under the CARQUEST and WORLDPAC brands, in an all-cash transaction with an enterprise value of $2.04 billion. The transaction has been approved by the boards of directors for both companies. The deal creates the largest automotive aftermarket parts provider in North America, with annual sales of more than $9.2 billion and more than 70,000 employees.

Top Retail Stocks To Buy For 2015: J.C. Penney Company Inc. Holding Company(JCP)

J. C. Penney Company, Inc., through its subsidiary, J. C. Penney Corporation, Inc., operates department stores in the United States and Puerto Rico. The company sells family apparel and footwear, accessories, fine and fashion jewelry, beauty products, and home furnishings. It also provides various services, such as styling salon, optical, portrait photography, and custom decorating. The company also sells its products through its Internet Web site, jcp.com. J. C. Penney Company, Inc. has strategic alliance with Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. As of December 7, 2011, it operated approximately 1,100 department stores. The company was founded in 1902 and is based in Plano, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Michael Lewis]

  Since the very public ousting of CEO Ron Johnson, J.C. Penney (NYSE: JCP  ) bulls (including this author) have been quietly licking their wounds, telling themselves that this is a moment of faith and that their stock-picking abilities do not resemble the "Wheel of Fortune" letter-selection process. On April 10, investor extraordinaire Bill Ackman said he has no plans to dump his 17.8% stake in the company and may even dig in deeper. That particular vote of confidence, given the wide range of opinions surrounding the hedge fund manager, did little to soothe investors' and analysts' concerns.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  J.C. Penney�(JCP) has dropped 8.8% to $10.52, its lowest price in 12 years, continuing its recent selloff.

  JPMorgan Chase (JPM) has gained 1.5% to $51.05 on reports that it’s trying to reach a $3 billion settlement with the government.

• [By Jeff Reeves]

  What�� there to say about JCPenney (JCP) that�� good?

  The stock is in a tailspin, down 65% year-to-date and about 75% from its late-2012 highs.

Top Retail Stocks To Buy For 2015: Natural Grocers By Vitamin Cottage Inc (NGVC)

Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc., incorporated on April 9, 2012, is a specialty retailer of natural and organic groceries and dietary supplements. The Company operates within the natural products retail industry. The Company offers products and brands, including a selection of natural and organic food, dietary supplements, body care products, pet care products and books.

The Company offers its customers an average of approximately 18,000 store-keeping units (SKUs) of natural and organic products per store, including an average of approximately 7,000 SKU of dietary supplements. As of June 30, 2012, the Company operated 55 stores in 11 states, including Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah and Wyoming, as well as a bulk food repackaging facility and distribution center in Colorado. The size of its stores varies from 5,000 selling square feet to 14,500 selling square feet, and a new store averages 9,500 selling square feet.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By David Mamos]

  The Fresh Market Inc. (Nasdaq: TFM), Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage Inc. (NYSE: NGVC), and privately held Trader Joe's are others crowding into the field.

• [By John Udovich]

  Small cap Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage (NYSE: NGVC) and mid cap Sprouts Farmers Market Inc (NASDAQ: SFM) are taking aim at natural and organic foods supermarket giant Whole Foods Market (NASDAQ: WFM), but do either of these stocks have what it takes to take on the the king of organic retailing? Whole Foods Market was founded in Austin way back in 1978 by a�twenty-five year old college dropout and a twenty-one year old�at a time when there were only a handful of natural or organic�supermarkets in the country. Today, Whole Foods Market�has 364 stores in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom���which are sometimes referred to as ��hole Wallet��r ��hole Paycheck��given how much it costs to shop there.

Top Retail Stocks To Buy For 2015: Caseys General Stores Inc.(CASY)

Casey?s General Stores, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates convenience stores under the Casey?s General Store, HandiMart, and Just Diesel names in 11 Midwestern states, primarily Iowa, Missouri, and Illinois. Its stores offer foods, beverages, dairy and bakery products, sandwiches, fountain drinks, donuts, cookies, brownies, Danish rolls, ham and cheese sandwiches, pork and chicken fritters, sausage sandwiches, chicken tenders, popcorn chicken, breakfast croissants and biscuits, breakfast pizza, hash browns, quarter-pound hamburgers and cheeseburgers, and potato cheese bites. The company?s stores also provide nonfood items, which include tobacco products, health and beauty aids, school supplies, house wares, pet supplies, photo supplies, and automotive products. In addition, it offers gasoline or gasohol for sale on a self-service basis. As of July 31, 2011, the company operated 1,665 stores. The company was founded in 1959 and is headquartered in Ankeny, Iowa.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Emerson]

  My selection of stocks was now almost entirely based upon themes. Instead of seeking out value in out-favor-sectors, I had temporarily diverted to the path of attempting to identify investing themes, although I would only purchase a stock if I deemed it to be a bargain. The major themes I had identified were natural gas related stocks, material stocks such as cement companies, and discounted Chinese growth stocks which made their money by selling their products to Chinese consumers. I also owned significant positions in some other purely American companies which included Casey�� (CASY) and Gray Television (GTN). Ultimately, Gray Television would turn out to be a colossal failure (more on GTN later).

• [By Editor , Dividend Growth Investor]

  Casey’s General Stores (CASY) has managed to increase dividend for 14 consecutive years. Over the past decade, the company has managed to boost dividends by 19.10% per year.Yield: 1.10% (analysis)

• [By Seth Jayson]

  Casey's General Stores (Nasdaq: CASY  ) reported earnings on June 13. Here are the numbers you need to know.

  The 10-second takeaway
  For the quarter ended April 30 (Q4), Casey's General Stores met expectations on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

• [By Mike Deane]

  After the bell on Monday, Casey’s General Stores (CASY) announced its fiscal Q1 earnings, posting a strong increase in profits and overall revenues compared to the same time period last year.

  The Ankeny, IA-based convenience store company announced quarterly revenues of $2.11 billion, which were up from $1.87 billion in last year’s same quarter. Profits for the company came in at $55.71 million, or $1.43 per share, compared to $39.03 million, or $1.01 per share, in last year’s Q1.

  Both of these figures beat analysts’ estimates, which were EPS of $1.26 on revenues of $2.1 billion.

  CASY shares were up $1.01, or 1.49%, at market close on Monday. YTD, the stock is up more than 26%.

Top Retail Stocks To Buy For 2015: Sonic Automotive Inc.(SAH)

Sonic Automotive, Inc. operates as an automotive retailer in the United States. It engages in the sale of new and used cars, light trucks, and replacement parts; provision of vehicle maintenance, warranty repair, paint, and collision repair services; and arrangement of extended service contracts, financing, insurance, and other aftermarket products. As of December 31, 2011, the company operated 119 dealerships representing 30 brands of cars and light trucks, and 23 collision repair centers in 15 states. The company was founded in 1997 and is based in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Top Retail Stocks To Buy For 2015: Family Dollar Stores Inc.(FDO)

Family Dollar Stores, Inc. operates a chain of self-service retail discount stores primarily for low and middle income consumers in the United States. The company offers consumables, including household chemicals, paper products, candy and snack products, health and beauty aids, hardware and automotive supplies, and pet food products and supplies; and home products, which comprise domestics, housewares, giftware products, and home decor products. It also provides apparel products and accessories consisting of men?s and women?s clothing products, boys? and girls? clothing products, infants? clothing products, shoes, and fashion accessories; and seasonal products and electronics, such as toys, stationery and school supplies, seasonal goods, and personal electronics. As of August 11, 2011, the company operated approximately 7,000 stores in rural and urban settings across 44 states. Family Dollar Stores, Inc. was founded in 1959 and is headquartered in Matthews, North Carolina .

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Laura Brodbeck]

  Next week investors will be waiting for several key earnings reports including Family Dollar Stores�(NYSE: FDO), Micron Technology�(NASDAQ: MU), Constellation Brands�(NYSE: STZ),�IHS (NYSE: IHS), and Sonic (NASDAQ: SONC).

Top Retail Stocks To Buy For 2015: Five Below Inc (FIVE.O)

Five Below, Inc. (Five Below), incorporated on January 30, 2002, is a retailer offering a range of merchandise for teen and pre-teen customer. The Company offers products, including select brands and licensed merchandise across a number of categories, which it refer to as worlds-Style, Room, Sports, Media, Crafts, Party, Candy and Seasonal (which it refer to as Now). As of October 27, 2012, The Company operated 243 stores throughout the eastern half of the United States. Its Style consists primarily of accessories such as novelty socks, sunglasses, jewelry, scarves, gloves, hair accessories and attitude t-shirts. Its beauty offering includes products such as nail polish, lip gloss, fragrance and branded cosmetics. Its Room consists of items used to complete and personalize its customer�� living space, including glitter lamps, posters, frames, fleece blankets, pillows, candles, incense and related items. The Company also offers storage options for the customer�� room and locker.

The Company�� Sports consists of an assortment of sport balls, team sports merchandise and fitness accessories, including hand weights, jump ropes and gym balls. It also offers a variety of games, including name brand board games, puzzles, toys and plush items. In the summer season, its sports offering also include pool, beach and outdoor toys, games and accessories. Its Media consists of a selection of accessories for personal computers (PCs), cell phones, Moving Picture Experts Group Layer-3 Audio (MP3) players and tablet computers. The offering includes cases, chargers, headphones and other related items. It also carries a range of media products including books, video games and Digital Versatile Disc (DVDs). It offers an assortment of craft activity kits, as well as arts and crafts supplies, such as crayons, markers and stickers. It also offer trend-right items for school, such as backpacks, fashion notebooks and journals, novelty pens and pen cils, as well as everyday name brand items.

T! h! e Company�� Party consists of party goods, decorations and greeting cards, as well as everyday and special occasion merchandise. Its Candy consists of branded items that appeal to teens and pre-teens. This category includes an assortment of classic and novelty candy bars and movie-size box candy, as well as gum and snack food. It also sells chilled drinks through coolers. Its Seasonal consists of seasonally-specific items used to celebrate and decorate for events such as Christmas, Easter, Halloween and St. Patrick�� Day.

Top Retail Stocks To Buy For 2015: Horiyoshi Worldwide Inc (HHWW.OB)

Horiyoshi Worldwide Inc. (HWI), incorporated on November 3, 2006, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, Horiyoshi the Third Limited and Horiyoshi Worldwide (UK) Limited is engaged in the business of fashion apparel design and distribution. The Company's principal activities are the design and production of the Horiyoshi and Heroes & Demons collections and the operation of its branded retail store in London, England. The Company's products are sold both in the United States and internationally in premium stores, including Harvey Nichols and Saks Fifth Avenue, and in a number of boutique and speciality stores. The Company also sells its products through its branded retail store in London, England and through its Horiyoshi and Heroes & Demons branded Websites.

The Company's product line for the Horiyoshi collection consists of three general categories of goods, which include casual wear for men, casual wear for women, and unisex accessories. The Company's men swear collection features knit cardigans and crew and v-neck sweaters made from wool, silk and cashmere, as well as hooded sweatshirts and t-shirts. The Company's women's wear collection is highlighted by short knit dresses, tank tops, leggings and scarves. The Company's accessories line features a range of jewelry, including rings, earrings, bracelets and pendants. The Company's product line for the Heroes & Demons collection consists of t-shirts for men.

Top Retail Stocks To Buy For 2015: AutoZone Inc.(AZO)

AutoZone, Inc. retails and distributes automotive replacement parts and accessories. The company?s stores offer various products for cars, sport utility vehicles, vans, and light trucks, including new and remanufactured automotive hard parts, maintenance items, accessories, and non-automotive products. Its automotive hard parts product line includes A/C compressors, batteries and accessories, belts and hoses, carburetors, chassis, clutches, CV axles, engines, fuel pumps, fuses, ignition, lighting, mufflers, starters and alternators, water pumps, radiators, and thermostats. The company?s maintenance items include antifreeze and windshield washer fluid; brake drums, rotors, shoes, and pads; chemicals, including brake and power; steering fluid, oil, and fuel additives; oil and transmission fluids; oil, air, fuel, and transmission filters; oxygen sensors; paint and accessories; refrigerant and accessories; shock absorbers and struts; spark plugs and wires; and windshield wiper s. Its discretionary product line comprises air fresheners, cell phone accessories, drinks and snacks, floor mats and seat covers, mirrors, performance products, protectants and cleaners, sealants and adhesives, steering wheel covers, stereos and radios, tools, and wash and wax products. The company also offers commercial sales program that provides the delivery of parts and other products to local, regional, and national repair garages, dealers, service stations, and public sector accounts. In addition, it sells the ALLDATA brand automotive diagnostic and repair software through the Website, alldata.com; and automotive hard parts, maintenance items, accessories, and non-automotive products through the Website, autozone.com. As of May 7, 2011, the company operated 4,467 stores in the United States and Puerto Rico, and 261 stores in Mexico. AutoZone, Inc. was founded in 1979 and is based in Memphis, Tennessee.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jon C. Ogg]

  AutoZone Inc. (NYSE: AZO)
  > Cost for 100 shares: $44,000

  Does the great auto parts seller named AutoZone remind you of a stock that would trade above $400 per share? With its shares around $440, it has a 52-week trading range of $341.98 to $452.19. This industry leader has a $15.6 billion market capitalization as well. AutoZone has split its stock on a two-for-one basis twice, but back in 1994 and 1992. In today’s share price terms, that most recent split was around $27 back then, and that means its stock has risen sixteenfold since then. How many customers going into an AutoZone would think that a stock price of $440 or so seems right? We do not even see a dividend from AutoZone as it reinvests earnings into growth.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Heading into last night’s earnings report, O’Reilly had returned 50% this year including reinvested dividends, easily besting peers Autozone (AZO), which had returned 22%, Genuine Parts (GPC), which has returned 26%, and Advance Auto Parts (AAP), which had returned 38%,� thanks in large part to a 25% gain in the last month due to its purchase of General Parts International. Clearly, investors thought O’Reilly had something going for it its competitors did not.

• [By Rich Bieglmeier]

  Two directors at AutoZone, Inc. (AZO) bought $150,001 and $101,729 worth of the Auto Parts Stores. While the average daily volume for AZO is just 260,569, more than an average of $11 million flows through the stock every trading day, which makes AutoZone liquid.

Top Retail Stocks To Buy For 2015: Spectrum Brands Holdings Inc.(SPB)

Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a consumer products company worldwide. It offers consumer batteries, including alkaline and zinc carbon batteries, rechargeable batteries and chargers, and hearing aid batteries and other specialty batteries; pet supplies, such as aquatic equipment and supplies, dog and cat treats, small animal foods, clean up and training aids, health and grooming products, and beddings; and home and garden control products comprising household insect controls, insect repellents, and herbicides. The company also provides electric shaving and grooming devices; small appliances, including small kitchen appliances and home product appliances; electric personal care and styling devices; and portable lighting. Its sells its products through various trade channels, including retailers, wholesalers and distributors, hearing aid professionals, industrial distributors, and original equipment manufacturers primarily under t he Rayovac, Remington, Varta, George Foreman, Black & Decker, Toastmaster, Farberware, Tetra, Marineland, Nature?s Miracle, Dingo, 8-in-1, Littermaid, Spectracide, Cutter, Repel, Hot Shot, Black Flag, and TAT brands. The company was headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin. As of January 7, 2011, Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc. operates as a subsidiary of Harbinger Group Inc.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Marc Bastow]

  Consumer products manufacturer Spectrum Brands (SPB) raised its quarterly dividend 20% to 30 cents per share, payable on Mar. 18 to shareholders of record as of Feb. 19.
  SPB Dividend Yield: 1.58%

Is Amazon Making A Big Strategic Mistake?

Of all big strategic mistakes leaders of fast-growing corporations make, one stands out: Taking the customer for granted. Blinded by growth, these leaders assume that their products and services are unique and indispensable, so customers will always be there to buy them at any price.

This mind-set may have worked in the old days when corporations and managers were at the center of the economic universe. But it doesn't apply in today's world, where customers occupy that position.

Aside from a few exceptions, products are no longer either unique nor indispensable. Customers will search elsewhere for value, when corporations fail to meet their expectations or become greedy.

Amazon.com Amazon.com may be making this strategic mistake.

For years, the company has been building warehouses and distribution centers, and expanding its subscription customer base by keeping the price for its product and services low. That's how it amassed close to $75 billion in revenues at razor thin margins (see table).

Amazon.com versus Wal-Mart Stores Wal-Mart Stores

Biotech Buyout Bolsters Novartis Cancer Portfolio

Pharmaceutical giant Novartis A.G. (NYSE: NVS) announced Monday morning that it will acquire startup biotech CoStim Pharmaceuticals. Terms of the deal were not revealed, but it will bolster Novartis’s cancer immunotherapy portfolio and could provide an entry into the race for PD-1 targeting therapies.

CoStim Pharmaceuticals is a Cambridge, Mass.-based, privately held biotechnology company that is focused on harnessing the immune system to eliminate immune-blocking signals from cancer. Novartis has been focused on chimeric antigen receptor (CAR-T) technology, so the expanded pipeline will allow a combined approach.

Mark Fishman, president of the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, said in a statement:

Top 5 Medical Companies To Watch For 2014

Therapy for many types of cancers are expected to increasingly rely upon rational combinations of agents. Immunotherapy agents provide additional arrows in our quiver for such combinations.

Novartis earnings and revenue fell short of consensus expectations in the fourth quarter. The company continues to struggle to rein in costs, and it announced in early February that it would cut up to 4,000 jobs, or about 6% of its workforce. Expiring patents continue to sink sales of the best-selling drugs at many pharmaceutical companies. Patent expirations for blockbuster drugs Diovan and Zometa reduced Novartis’s top line by more than $2 billion in 2013.

There has been some recent speculation about a possible break up of Novartis. Both Merck & Co. (NYSE: MRK) and Eli Lilly & Co. (NYSE: LLY) reportedly may be interested in its animal health business.

Shares of Novartis were inactive in premarket trading Monday, after ending last week at multiyear high of $82.94. That is well above the mean price target posted by Thomson/First Call.

Hot Trucking Stocks To Buy For 2015

Among recent enforcement actions, the Department of Labor oversaw the restoration of nearly $2 million in 401(k) benefits to the employees of Lange Trucking Inc., a contractor with the U.S. Postal Service.

In addition, the SEC charged Diamond Foods for boosting earnings growth via an accounting scheme to inflate the price of walnuts.

DOL Sees Nearly $2 Million Restored to U.S. Postal Contractors

After an investigation by the Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor, Lange Trucking Inc. was on the hook for nearly $2 million in unpaid 401(k) contributions for its employees.

Lange, which had a contract with the U.S. Postal Service that employed 515 drivers, had failed to make the contributions — and had been previously investigated several times by Wage and Hour. It was acquired, subsequent to its violations, by Eagan, Minn.-based Hoovestal Inc., which voluntarily agreed to provide the bulk of the missing benefit contributions — $1.48 million — while Lange itself agreed to provide $500,000.

Hot Trucking Stocks To Buy For 2015: ARK Resources Bhd (ARKS.KL)

ARK Resources Berhad is a Malaysia-based company. The company is engaged in the provision of management services. The Company�� business segments include construction, property development, investment and other operations.The Company�� subsidiaries include Ark Development Sdn. Bhd., which is engaged in the Property development and turnkey construction, and Ark Engineering & Construction Sdn. Bhd, which is engaged in the civil, building construction and engineering works.

Hot Trucking Stocks To Buy For 2015: Stamps.com Inc.(STMP)

Stamps.com Inc. provides Internet-based postage solutions. The company offers solutions to mail and ship various mail pieces, including postcards, envelopes, flats, and packages. Its products and services include the United States Postal Service (USPS)-approved PC Postage Service that enables users to print electronic stamps directly onto envelopes, plain paper, or labels using personal computer, printer, and Internet connection; and PhotoStamps, a patented form of postage, which allows consumers to turn digital photos, designs, or images into valid United States postage. The company also sells NetStamps labels, shipping labels, other mailing labels, postage printers, scales, and other mailing and shipping-focused office supplies through its mailing and shipping supplies store, as well as offers back-end integration solutions, an electronic postage for transactions to manage the front-end process. In addition, it offers Stamps.com branded insurance enabling users to insure their mail or packages; and official USPS package insurance. Stamps.com Inc. serves individuals, small businesses, home offices, medium-size businesses, and large enterprises. The company was formerly known as StampMaster, Inc. and changed its name to Stamps.com Inc. in December 1998. Stamps.com Inc. was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Los Angeles, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Michael Lewis]

  While the United States Postal Service may be limping toward extinction, postage itself is far from a dying business. Web-based Stamps.com (NASDAQ: STMP  ) had worried investors and analysts for some time that demand would soften along with the USPS decline, but it's done nearly the opposite. In its most recent quarter, Stamps.com broke company records and showed strong promise in the future. The announcement delighted investors, sending the stock up more than 13% immediately following. But with a relatively rich valuation, the company may only be a buy for opportunistic, growth-happy investors. Here's what you need to know.

• [By Alex Planes]

  Investors love stocks that consistently beat the Street without getting ahead of their fundamentals and risking a meltdown. The best stocks offer sustainable market-beating gains, with robust and improving financial metrics that support strong price growth. Does Stamps.com (NASDAQ: STMP  ) fit the bill? Let's take a look at what its recent results tell us about its potential for future gains.

• [By Jon C. Ogg]

  Then there is that lucky or unlucky outcome of price hikes. The public will pay more for stamps, making you and me the losers in this. The question to ask is whether or not Stamps.com Inc. (NASDAQ: STMP) just get a built-in revenue booster per customer on a static basis?

5 Best Life Sciences Stocks To Buy Right Now: Indiana Community Bancorp(INCB)

Indiana Community Bancorp operates as the holding company for Indiana Bank and Trust Company that provides consumer and commercial community banking services in Indiana. Its deposit products include savings accounts, checking accounts, certificates of deposit, NOW accounts, individual retirement accounts, health savings accounts, and commercial demand deposit accounts. The company?s loan portfolio comprises residential and commercial real estate loans; commercial loans; construction loans; and consumer loans, which consist of second mortgage and home equity loans, mobile home loans, automobile loans, loans secured by savings accounts, and other consumer loans. It also offers debit cards, credit cards, and trust services. As of April 26, 2011, the company operated 20 branch offices in central and southeastern Indiana. Indiana Community Bancorp was founded in 1908 and is based in Columbus, Indiana.

Hot Trucking Stocks To Buy For 2015: Ntg Clarity Networks Inc (NCI.V)

NTG Clarity Networks Inc. provides network, telecom, information technology, and infrastructure solutions worldwide. Its products include NTS, an operations support system/business support system, which provides service providers with a range of provisioning and management capabilities; Knowledge Management-Virtual Nervous System, a central repository for data that allows access to up-to-date information for those who need to view and/or maintain it; Smart2Go, an enterprise software platform to deliver e-business applications; and NTS-Smart Compound System, an operations support and billing system for real estate complex needs. The company�s products also comprise Vendor Parts Management System, which automates manual processes for parts management and purchasing; Universal Invoicing system, which enables clients to create, manage, and print invoices/statements and cashing; Mall Kiosk Information System, which provides mall visitors with essential information about the ma ll; Corporate Online Ordering, a Web-based application that supports online ordering and e-care responsibilities for corporate accounts; Network Service Manager, which enables telecom service providers to automatically provision multi-vendor and multi-platform data networks, and perform fault and performance monitoring; Filling Station and Trucks Management system, which controls the supply and distribution of water and gas to commercial and residential customers; and Health Management Information System, which helps clients in managing health care information and in making payments to service providers. In addition, it provides wireless engineering and integration, business process re-engineering, data migration, project management, network, and training services. NTG serves telecommunications service providers; health care, oil and gas, financial, and utility companies; and government departments. The company was founded in 1992 and is headquartered in Markham, Canada.

Hot Trucking Stocks To Buy For 2015: John David Group(JD.L)

JD Sports Fashion Plc engages in the retail and distribution of sport and athletic inspired fashion, footwear, apparel, and accessories. It operates its sports fascias under JD, Size?, Chausport, and Champion names, as well as Fashion Fascias under Bank and Scotts names. The company also designs and distributes team wear and fashion products, including rugby jerseys, rugby apparel and equipment, and men?s footwear and clothing, as well as bespoke sports team wear to schools, universities, and sports clubs. In addition, it licenses a fashion brand; distributes leisure wear and rugby apparel. The company operates approximately 500 stores in various retail fascias, as well as operates on-line and catalogue businesses for its retail fascias. It has its operations in the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, France, Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and Hong Kong. The company was founded in 1981 and is based in Bury, the United Kingdom. JD Sports Fashion Plc is a s ubsidiary of Pentland Group Plc.

Hot Trucking Stocks To Buy For 2015: Meridex Software Corp (MSC.V)

Meridex Software Corporation IP security and facilities management software solutions in Canada. It offers emergency management software solutions for schools; and calendar marketing software for individuals, corporations, and organizations. The company focuses on integrated building security, camera monitoring, HAVC, and lighting control. It also develops intelligent IP surveillance and business optimization software solutions to enable real-time monitoring systems through mobile devices and wireless networks. Meridex enables educational institutions, governments, hospitals, and retail and corporate enterprises to manage, monitor, and optimize security and facilities management systems. The company�s product includes Meridex MicroView FM mobile software solution, which enables customers to record and update ARCHIBUS facilities data on the spot through the use of Palm or Windows handheld devices. Meridex Software Corporation is based in Vancouver, Canada.

Hot Trucking Stocks To Buy For 2015: Quad Graphics Inc(QUAD)

Quad/Graphics, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the provision of print and related products and services in North America, Latin America, and Europe. It offers print solutions, including catalogs, consumer magazines, special interest publications, direct mail, packaging and other commercial and specialty printed products, retail inserts, books, and directories. The company also provides media solutions comprising creative, digital imaging, video, photography, workflow solutions, mobile and social media, and response data analytics services. In addition, it offers logistics services, such as mailing, distribution, logistics, and data optimization and hygiene services; and printing-related auxiliary equipment for original equipment manufacturers and printing companies, as well as provides ink. The company markets its products and services to various companies that operate in a range of industries and serve businesses and consumers consisting of retailers, pub lishers, and direct marketers. Quad/Graphics, Inc. was founded in 1971 and is headquartered in Sussex, Wisconsin.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Roberto Pedone]

  My first earnings short-squeeze play is commercial printing services player Quad/Graphics (QUAD), which is set to release numbers on Tuesday after the market close. Wall Street analysts, on average, expect Quad/Graphics to report revenue of $1.32 billion on earnings of 92 cents per share.

  The current short interest as a percentage of the float Quad/Graphics is very high at 17.1%. That means that out of the 26.02 million shares in the tradable float, 5.18 million shares are sold short by the bears. This is a high short interest on a stock with a relatively low tradable float. Any bullish earnings news could easily set off a monster short-squeeze for shares of QUAD post-earnings.

  From a technical perspective, QUAD is currently trending above both its 50-day and 200-day moving averages, which is bullish. This stock has been uptrending strong for the last month, with shares moving higher from its low of $28.44 to its intraday high of $35.99 a share. During that uptrend, shares of QUAD have been consistently making higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action.

  If you're bullish on QUAD, then I would wait until after its report and look for long-biased trades if this stock manages to break out above its 52-week high at $35.99 a share (or Tuesday's intraday high if higher) with high volume. Look for volume on that move that hits near or above its three-month average action of 149,155 shares. If that breakout hits, then QUAD will set up to enter new 52-week-high territory, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that move are $45 to $50 a share.

  I would simply avoid QUAD or look for short-biased trades if after earnings it fails to trigger that breakout, and then drops back below some near-term support levels at $34 to $33 a share with high volume. If we get that move, then QUAD will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major support areas at its 50-day moving average o

Hot Trucking Stocks To Buy For 2015: SoundBite Communications Inc.(SDBT)

SoundBite Communications, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides cloud-based, multi-channel services enabling businesses to design, execute, and measure customer communication campaigns for various marketing, customer care, payment, and collection processes. It offers the SoundBite Engage and SoundBite Insight platforms to communicate with customers through automated voice messaging, predictive dialing, text, email messages, and Web communications. The company?s multi-channel communications platform, SoundBite Engage, enables clients to design, execute, and measure customer communications across the customer lifecycle; and preference management platform, SoundBite Insight, helps businesses design relevant and targeted customer communications strategies. It also provides a range of client management services, including script development, campaign strategy, professional voice talent recording, custom reporting, and detailed analysis of campaign results. The company offers its services through its direct sales force to business-to-consumer companies in the energy and utilities, financial services, consumer package goods, retail, and telecommunications and media industries in the United States and Europe. SoundBite Communications, Inc. was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Bedford, Massachusetts.

Hot Trucking Stocks To Buy For 2015: Wintrust Financial Corporation(WTFC)

Wintrust Financial Corporation, through its subsidiaries, engages in community banking, specialty finance, and wealth management operations. Its Community Banking segment offers banking and financial services primarily to individuals, small to mid-sized businesses, local governmental units, and institutional customers. This segment?s products and services include deposit products, such as demand, negotiable order of withdrawal, money market, savings, and time deposit accounts; home equity, home mortgage, consumer, real estate, and commercial loans; safe deposit facilities; automated teller machines (ATMs); and Internet banking services. The company?s Specialty Finance segment offers financing for the payment of commercial insurance premiums to businesses and individuals; short-term accounts receivable financing; and out-sourced administrative services, including data processing of payrolls, billing, and cash management services to customers in the temporary staffing indu stry, as well as engages in the origination and purchase of residential mortgages for sale into the secondary market and provides the document preparation and other loan closing services to a network of mortgage brokers. This segment markets its products primarily through insurance agents and brokers. Its Wealth Management segment provides trust and investment services, asset management, and securities brokerage services, which are marketed primarily under the Wayne Hummer name. As of December 31, 2009, the company operated through 78 banking facilities, as well as owned 123 ATMs. Wintrust Financial Corporation was founded in 1992 and is based in Lake Forest, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Monica Gerson]

  Wintrust Financial (NASDAQ: WTFC) is projected to post its Q4 earnings at $0.70 per share on revenue of $196.07 million.

  International Business Machines (NYSE: IBM) is expected to post its Q4 earnings at $5.99 per share on revenue of $28.25 billion.

Hot Trucking Stocks To Buy For 2015: Diagnocure Inc Com Npv (CUR.TO)

DiagnoCure, Inc., a life sciences company, engages in the development and commercialization of cancer diagnostic tests for the detection and management of cancer. The company primarily focuses on molecular diagnostic tests. It has granted a worldwide exclusive license agreement to Gen-Probe for the development and commercialization of a prostate cancer test using PCA3. The company was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in Quebec, Canada.

Hot Trucking Stocks To Buy For 2015: Opawica Explorations Inc (OPW.V)

Opawica Explorations Inc., a junior resource company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and evaluation of mineral properties in Canada. It owns a 100% interest in the Bro Property that consists of four mineral claims located southeast of Faro, Yukon Territory. The Bro Property is a sulphide, silver, lead, and zinc property with exploration potential for gold and copper. The company was founded in 1978 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

Hot Trucking Stocks To Buy For 2015: Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.(RCL)

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. operates in the cruise vacation industry worldwide. It owns five cruise brands, which comprise Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Pullmantur, Azamara Club Cruises, and CDF Croisi�es de France. The Royal Caribbean International brand provides various itineraries and cruise lengths with options for onboard dining, entertainment, and other onboard activities primarily for the contemporary segment. It offers surf simulators, water parks, ice skating rinks, rock climbing walls, and shore excursions at each port of call, as well as boulevards with shopping, dining, and entertainment venues. The Celebrity Cruises brand operates onboard upscale ships that offer luxurious accommodations, fine dining, personalized services, spa facilities, venue featuring live grass, and glass blowing studio for the premium segment, as well as resells computers and other media devices. The Pullmantur brand provides an array of onboard activities and serv ices to guests, including exercise facilities, swimming pools, beauty salons, gaming facilities, shopping, dining, complimentary beverages, and entertainment venues serving the contemporary segment of the Spanish, Portuguese, and Latin American cruise markets. The Azamara Club Cruises brand offers various onboard services, amenities, gaming facilities, fine dining, spa and wellness, butler service for suites, and interactive entertainment venues for the up-market segment of the North American, United Kingdom, German, and Australian markets. The CDF Croisieres de France brand offers seasonal itineraries to the Mediterranean; and various onboard services, amenities, entertainment venues, exercise and spa facilities, fine dining, and gaming facilities for the contemporary segment of the French cruise market. As of December 31, 2011, the company operated 39 ships with a total capacity of approximately 92,650 berths. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. was founded in 1968 and is headqua rtered in Miami, Florida.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rick Munarriz]

  Ever since Royal Caribbean (NYSE: RCL  ) introduced outdoor rock walls for daring climbers, cruise lines have tried to raise the stakes in attracting young passengers who can't be wooed by mere spa treatments or midnight buffets. Carnival (NYSE: CCL  ) , Royal Caribbean, and the recently public Norwegian Cruise Lines (NASDAQ: NCLH  ) have added zip lines, indoor bowling alleys, and even bumper cars to make sea life more appealing to young families with toddlers and young adults.

• [By Monica Wolfe]

  Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL)

  Chairman and CEO Richard Fain has made the largest insider buy this week, buying nearly one million dollars worth of shares.

Hot Trucking Stocks To Buy For 2015: Bitterroot Resources Ltd. (BTT.V)

Bitterroot Resources Ltd. engages in the acquisition and exploration of mineral properties. It holds interests in copper and nickel projects located in Upper Peninsula, Michigan; the Mineral Creek gold property situated to the southeast of Port Alberni on British Columbia's Vancouver Island; and the GK gold/silver property located near Beaverdell in south-central British Columbia. The company also has interests in the North Brenda gold project situated to the southeast of Merritt in southwestern British Columbia; and the SPN project located to the southeast of Barriere in southeastern British Columbia. Bitterroot Resources Ltd. is headquartered in West Vancouver, Canada.

Hot Trucking Stocks To Buy For 2015: Nuveen Municipal Value Fund Inc.(NUV)

Nuveen Municipal Value Fund, Inc. is a closed-ended fixed income mutual fund launched by Nuveen Investments, Inc. The fund is managed by Nuveen Asset Management. It invests in the fixed income markets of the United States. The fund also invests some portion of its portfolio in derivative instruments. It invests in undervalued municipal securities and other related investments the income, exempt from regular federal income taxes that are rated Baa or BBB or better. It employs fundamental analysis with bottom-up stock picking approach to create its portfolio. The fund benchmarks the performance of its portfolio against the Standard & Poor?s (S&P) National Municipal Bond Index. Nuveen Municipal Value Fund, Inc. was formed on April 8, 1987 and is domiciled in the United States.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Donald van Deventer]

  The latest implied forward rate forecast from Kamakura Corporation shows projected 10-year U.S. Treasury yields differing -0.07% to 0.03% from last week while fixed rate mortgage yields varied by -0.01% to 0.08%. Mortgage yields, determined by the Monday through Wednesday weekly survey of the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, lag Treasury movements simply because of the 3-day yield calculation used in the Primary Mortgage Market Survey. The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield is projected to rise from 2.92% at Thursday's close (down 0.06% from last week) to 3.374% (down 0.06% from last week) in one year. The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield in ten years is forecast to reach 4.639%, 1 basis point lower than last week. The 15-year fixed rate mortgage rate is forecast to rise from the effective yield of 3.69% on Thursday (down 0.001% from last week) to 4.222% (down 0.006% from last week) in one year and 6.29% in 10 years, up 0.038% from last week. We explain the background for these calculations in the rest of this note, along with some mortgage servicing rights metrics. The forecast allows investors in exchange traded U.S. Treasury funds (TLT) (TBT), total return bond funds (BOND), municipal bonds (NUV) and exchange traded mortgage funds (REM) to assess likely total returns over the next 120 months. Treasury-related exchange traded funds affected by the forward rates include:

• [By Aaron Levitt]

  Everyone hates paying taxes. So when investors have the ability to get a 7.3% taxable-equivalent yield, they should jump at the opportunity. As one of the largest and oldest municipal CEFs, the Nuveen Municipal Value Fund (NUV) makes it possible.

Hot Trucking Stocks To Buy For 2015: Farm Pride Foods Ltd(FRM.AX)

Farm Pride Foods Ltd engages in producing, processing, manufacturing, and selling egg and egg products primarily in Australia. Its product range includes chilled and frozen whole egg products, chilled and frozen egg whites and egg yolk products, egg powders, hard boiled eggs, scrambled egg mix, fried eggs, poached eggs, crepes, and egg and mayonnaise fillings. The company offers its products primarily under Free Range, Omega 3 Free Range, Cage Free Barn Laid, Omega 3 Cage, and Cage Laid brands. It serves primarily to food manufacturers, caterers, and food service industries, as well as other institutions. The company is based in Keysborough, Australia.

Hot Trucking Stocks To Buy For 2015: Suzlon Energy Ltd (SUZLON)

Suzlon Energy Limited (SEL) is an India-based wind power company. The Company along with its subsidiaries is in the business of selling and installing wind turbine generators (WTGs). It is engaged in the manufacture of wind turbine generators of various capacities and its components. Its operations relate sale of WTGs and allied activities including sale/sub-lease of land, infrastructure development income; sale of gear boxes, and sale of foundry and forging components. Others primarily include power generation operations. The Company�� subsidiaries include Suzlon Towers and Structures Limited, Suzlon Power Infrastructure Limited, Suzlon Infrastructure Services Limited, Suzlon Gujarat Wind Park Limited, Suzlon Structure Limited, SE Forge Limited, SE Composites Limited, Suzlon Wind International Limited, SE Electricals Limited, Suzlon Rotor Corporation, AE Rotor Holding B.V. and Suzlon Energy A/S.

Hot Defensive Companies To Watch For 2015

Well, I'll be the first to admit it took way longer than I expected, but Mediabistro Inc. (NASDAQ:MBIS) has finally unleashed the strength I saw brewing up four months ago. Now get out. Seriously. Go ahead and take your profits on MBIS and walk away while you still can.

Surprised to hear me say that? I understand. I'm not joking though. But, it's worth adding that my bearish call on MBIS is purely a short-term, technical-based, defensive one only intended to protect what we've gained so far. After a pullback and subsequent hints of a renewed (and better-paced recovery), I'll be encouraging everyone to start wading back into a Mediabistro position again.

I suppose I should go back to the beginning and explain what I saw unfurling with Mediabistro Inc. back on July 30th. There were two things going on. One of them was the fact that after more than a year of lower lows and lower highs, we had finally seen a few weeks' worth of higher highs and higher lows... and they were steady, bordering on freakishly smooth. The other bullish clue popping up at the time was the way MBIS was working on crossing above the 200-day moving average line, which would be a huge buy signal. See the July 30th write-up to see what things looked like then.

Hot Defensive Companies To Watch For 2015: KDR Industrials Ltd (KDR.V)

KDR Industrials Ltd., formerly North American Medical Services Inc., through its wholly owned subsidiaries, North American Medical Services Inc. (NAMS-Nevada), NuCelle Inc. (NuCelle) and N.A.M.S. Capital Corp. (NAMS-CC), is engaged in the manufacture and sale of skin treatment formulations, products, and systems bearing brand of NuCelle and Mandelic Marine Complex. NuCelle�� provides skin care formulations for all skin types, sensitive, ethnic, trouble-prone, and aging. The Company operates two product lines: NuCelle Rx and NuCelle Mandelic Marine Complex. Its NuCelle Rx, physician only line of products, is formulated for, and distributed to physicians and medical professionals. Its NuCelle Mandelic Marine Complex, the aesthetician only line of products, consists of a five step regimen, including Mandelic Wash, Mandelic Mint Scrub, Mandelic Toner, Mandelic Laser-lift Serum and Mandelic Anti-Oxidant Treatment Moisturizer.

Hot Defensive Companies To Watch For 2015: Santa Fe Metals Corp(SFM.V)

Santa Fe Metals Corp., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of precious and base metal properties primarily in Mexico. The company principally holds a 100% interest in the Cuatro Cienegas copper property that consists of 6 concessions totaling approximately 3,408 hectares located northeast of the city of Torreon in the State of Coahuila, Mexico. It also focuses on the acquisition of producing or near-term producing gold properties. The company was formerly known as Tequila Minerals Corp. and changed its name to Santa Fe Metals Corp. in February 2008. Santa Fe Metals Corp. was incorporated in 2006 and is based in Vancouver, Canada.

5 Best Solar Stocks To Invest In 2015: Rainy Mountain Royalty Corp (RMO.V)

Rainy Mountain Royalty Corp., an exploration stage company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral resource properties in Canada. It primarily explores for copper, gold, zinc, nickel, and precious metals, as well as platinum group metals in northwestern Ontario. The company was formerly known as East West Resource Corporation and changed its name to Rainy Mountain Royalty Corp. in February 2010. Rainy Mountain Royalty Corp. was incorporated in 1979 and is based in West Vancouver, Canada.

Hot Defensive Companies To Watch For 2015: Ameron International Corporation(AMN)

AMN Healthcare Services, Inc. provides healthcare staffing and clinical workforce management solutions in the United States. The company?s Nurse and Allied Healthcare Staffing segment provides staffing solutions for hospitals and other healthcare facilities, including medical, surgical, specialty, licensed practical or vocational, and advanced practice nurses, as well as surgical technologists and dialysis technicians. This segment also offers allied health professionals under the Med Travelers, Club Staffing, and Rx Pro Health brand names to acute-care hospitals and other healthcare facilities, such as skilled nursing facilities, rehabilitation clinics, and retail and mail-order pharmacies. These allied health professionals include physical, surgical, respiratory, and occupational therapists, as well as medical and radiology technologists, speech pathologists, rehabilitation assistants, pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians. Its Locum Tenens Staffing segment places physic ians of various specialties, certified registered nurse anesthetists, nurse practitioners, and dentists on a temporary basis as independent contractors with various healthcare organizations, including hospitals, medical groups, occupational medical clinics, individual practitioners, networks, psychiatric facilities, government institutions, and managed care entities. The company?s Physician Permanent Placement Services segment provides permanent physician placement services to hospitals, healthcare facilities, and physician practice groups under the Merritt Hawkins and Kendall & Davis brand names. This segment also offers specialty offerings, including internal medicines, family practices, and surgeries. Its Home Healthcare Services segment provide home healthcare services to individuals with acute-care illness, long-term chronic health conditions, permanent disabilities, terminal illnesses, and post-procedural needs. The company was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in S an Diego, California.

Hot Defensive Companies To Watch For 2015: Cgx Energy Inc (OYL.V)

CGX Energy Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the exploration, development, and production of petroleum and natural gas in Guyana, South America. The company holds a 100% interest in the Corentyne petroleum agreement (PA), which covers an area of approximately 2.9 million acres; 25% interest in the Georgetown PA covering 1.7 million acres; 100% interest in the Annex petroleum prospecting license that covers 1.0 million acres; and 100% interest in the Pomeroon PA covering an area of approximately 2.8 million acres located offshore in the Guyana basin. It also owns a 62% interest in The Berbice Block, which includes the onshore Corentyne license and the Berbice license covering an area of approximately 504,658 net acres situated onshore in the Guyana basin. The company was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.

Hot Defensive Companies To Watch For 2015: Igm Financial Inc Com Npv (IGM.TO)

IGM Financial Inc., a personal financial services company, through its subsidiaries, engages in the distribution, management, and administration of mutual funds and other managed asset products primarily in Canada. It provides financial planning advice, products, and services through a network of 4,500 consultants; and offers investment funds, segregated funds, insurance, securities, mortgage and other financial services through integrated financial planning. The company also provides investment advisory and related services; and multi-manager asset allocation solutions through Symmetry and fund of fund structures. In addition, it provides investment management, securities, insurance, tax planning, and mortgage products through multiple distribution channels to retail and institutional investors, as well as banking products, such as investment loans, lines of credit, personal loans, creditor insurance, deposit accounts, and credit cards. The company was founded in 1894 and is headquartered in Winnipeg, Canada. IGM Financial Inc. operates as a subsidiary of Power Financial Corporation.

Hot Defensive Companies To Watch For 2015: Oshkosh Truck Corporation(OSK)

Oshkosh Corporation designs, manufactures, and markets a range of specialty vehicles, and vehicle bodies worldwide. Its Defense segment manufactures severe-duty, heavy, and medium-payload tactical trucks for the Department of Defense, including hauling tanks, missile systems, ammunition, fuel, and troops and cargo for combat units. The company?s Access Equipment segment offers aerial work platforms and telehandlers used in a range of construction, agricultural, industrial, institutional, and general maintenance applications. This segment also manufactures towing and recovery equipment and related parts; and leases equipments for short-term to rental companies. The company?s Fire and Emergency segment provides custom and commercial fire apparatus, and emergency vehicles, including pumpers, aerial and ladder trucks, tankers, rescue vehicles, wildland rough terrain response vehicles, mobile command and control centers, bomb squad vehicles, hazardous materials control vehicl es, and other emergency response vehicles. This segment also offers snow removal vehicles in airports; custom ambulances for private and public transporters, and fire departments; mobile medical trailers for medical centers and service providers; mobile command and control centers and simulation units; and vehicles for broadcasters, TV stations, broadcast production, and radio stations. Oshkosh Corporation?s Commercial segment manufactures refuse collection vehicles for the waste services industry; front and rear discharge concrete mixers, and portable and stationary concrete batch plants for the concrete ready-mix industry; and field service vehicles and truck-mounted cranes for the construction, equipment dealer, building supply, utility, tire service, and mining industries. The company was formerly known as Oshkosh Truck Corporation and changed its name to Oshkosh Corporation in February 2008. Oshkosh Corporation was founded in 1917 and is based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Smith]

  Heavy equipment and vehicle-maker Oshkosh (NYSE: OSK  ) reported a more than doubling in quarterly net income Tuesday, confirming strength in its sales to the residential construction market, as well as an ability to charge higher prices for military vehicles.

• [By James Brumley]

  If the idea of Carl Icahn wanting to split a company up seems vaguely familiar, too … well, that’s hardly anything new, either. Icahn was the key driver behind Transocean (RIG) opting to divest some of its master limited partnership holdings, he desperately wanted OshKosh (OSK) to spin off JLG, and somehow Icahn got credit for sparking Motorola’s (MSI) spinoff of its mobile phone business.

• [By Rich Smith]

  Oshkosh, Wis.-based Oshkosh (NYSE: OSK  ) landed a sizable contract award from the Pentagon on Thursday.

  The firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the procurement of P-19R Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting (ARFF) vehicles for the U.S. Marine Corps has a completion date of May 29, 2018, and a ceiling value of $192.8 million. In addition to the vehicles themselves, Oshkosh will provide the USMC with "support and sustainment" services on the new vehicles.

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Shares of Oshkosh (NYSE: OSK) got a boost, shooting up 7.96 percent to $55.55 after the companyposted upbeat fiscal first-quarter earnings and lifted its full-year forecast.

Hot Defensive Companies To Watch For 2015: Amg Bioenergy Resources Holding (ABG.V)

AMG Bioenergy Resources Holdings Ltd. operates as a development stage renewable energy company in China. The company is developing a jatropha feedstock plantation in China to produce crude jatropha oil for conversion into biodiesel. It also focuses on managing the preparation of the land; the plantation of seedlings; the maintenance of the plantation; the harvesting of jatropha; and the extraction of crude jatropha oil from the seeds harvested. The company is headquartered in Singapore.

Hot Defensive Companies To Watch For 2015: Mercer International Inc.(MERC)

Mercer International Inc., together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells pulp produced from wood chips and pulp logs. The company offers northern bleached softwood kraft (NBSK) pulp and market pulp. Mercer International sells its products primarily in Europe, Asia, and North America. The company was founded in 1968 and is based in Vancouver, Canada.

Hot Defensive Companies To Watch For 2015: United States Steel Corporation(X)

United States Steel Corporation produces and sells steel mill products in North America and Central Europe. It operates in three segments: Flat-rolled Products (Flat-rolled), U. S. Steel Europe (USSE), and Tubular Products (Tubular). The Flat-rolled segment offers slabs, rounds, strip mill plates, sheets, and tin mill products, as well as iron ore and coke. This segment serves service center, conversion, transportation, construction, container, and appliance and electrical markets in North America. The USSE segment offers slabs, sheets, strip mill plates, tin mill products, and spiral welded pipes, as well as heating radiators and refractory ceramic materials. This segment serves the European construction, service center, conversion, container, transportation, and appliance and electrical, as well as and oil, gas, and petrochemical markets. The Tubular segment offers seamless and electric resistance welded steel casing and tubing; and standard, and line pipe and mechanical tubing. It primarily serves customers in the oil, gas, and petrochemical markets. The company also provides transportation services, including railroad and barge operations. In addition, it owns, develops, and manages various real estate assets, which include approximately 200,000 acres of surface rights primarily in Alabama, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania; participates in joint ventures that are developing real estate projects in Alabama, Maryland, and Illinois; and owns approximately 4,000 acres of land in Ontario, Canada. The company was founded in 1901 and is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  In looking at the ArcelorMittal earnings report, look to see how the company fares in Europe. U.S. Steel (NYSE: X  ) was able to announce a profit in its European business in its earnings announcement this morning, and if ArcelorMittal can find greater strength on its home turf, then it could lead to the turnaround investors have so desperately wanted to see. Otherwise, the recovery for ArcelorMittal could take a while longer.

Hot Defensive Companies To Watch For 2015: WellPoint Inc.(WLP)

WellPoint, Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates as a health benefits company in the United States. The company offers various network-based managed care plans to large and small employer, individual, Medicaid, and senior markets. Its managed care plans include preferred provider organizations; health maintenance organizations; point-of-service plans; traditional indemnity plans; and other hybrid plans, including consumer-driven health plans, hospital only, and limited benefit products. The company also provides various managed care services comprising claims processing, underwriting, stop loss insurance, actuarial services, provider network access, medical cost management, disease management, wellness programs, and other administrative services to self-funded customers. In addition, it offers specialty and other products and services, including life and disability insurance benefits; dental, vision, and behavioral health benefit services; radiology benefit management; personal health care guidance; and long-term care insurance. Further, the company serves as an intermediary providing administrative service for the Medicare program that offers coverage for persons, who are 65 or older and for persons who are disabled or with end-stage renal disease. WellPoint, Inc. markets its products through a network of independent agents and brokers, consultants, in-house sales force, or Internet. The company, formerly known as Anthem, Inc., was founded in 1944 and is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Keith Speights]

  What's in it for them?
  Don't expect Walgreen or any of the members of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, which includes 14 plans owned by WellPoint (NYSE: WLP  ) , to talk about any benefit that they might obtain from promoting education about Obamacare. That doesn't necessarily mean that they won't receive any benefits, though.

• [By Dan Carroll]

  The good feelings have helped UnitedHealth Group's (NYSE: UNH  ) stock gain 2.3% to top the Dow today. Despite the uncertainty over health care reform coming next year, UnitedHealth investors found some stability when the company decided not to immediately participate in California's state insurance exchange next year, joining several other public insurers. It's potentially an opportunity lost for UnitedHealth, but with rising premiums due to Obamacare still a concern, America's largest insurer is playing health care reform safely. However, UnitedHealth's caution could be WellPoint's (NYSE: WLP  ) gain. The country's second-largest insurer is a major player in California's individual-insurance market, and if its biggest public competitor is out of the race for millions of previously uninsured consumers, WellPoint could narrow the market-share gap between it and UnitedHealth.

• [By Sean Williams]

  For the insurers themselves, it would be a bit of a mixed bag. On one hand, the big three insurers that reached into their pockets and spent a fortune in the wake of Obamacare's passing --�WellPoint (NYSE: WLP  ) with its purchase of Amerigroup, Cigna� (NYSE: CI  ) with its purchase of HealthSpring, and Aetna (NYSE: AET  ) buying Coventry Health Care -- will be left waiting even longer for their membership numbers to rise. No enforceable mandate means enrollment figures will only marginally move higher in a best-case scenario.

• [By Sean Williams]

  The expected influx of Medicaid patients into the health care system is precisely what prompted WellPoint (NYSE: WLP  ) to buy Amerigroup for $4.5 billion and CIGNA (NYSE: CI  ) to purchase Healthspring for $3.8 billion. Although Medicaid patients don't drive the best margins, they are guaranteed income for health-benefits providers.

Hot Defensive Companies To Watch For 2015: Lloyds-tsb(LLOY.L)

Lloyds Banking Group plc provides banking and financial services to personal and corporate customers primarily in the United Kingdom. The company?s Retail division provides banking, mortgages, and other financial services to personal customers. This division?s products comprise current accounts, savings, personal loans, and credit cards. In addition, this division operates as a general insurance and bancassurance distributor, and offers range of long-term savings, investment, and general insurance products. Its Wholesale division provides banking and related services to multinational corporates and financial institutions. This division also offers risk management solutions, specialized lending services, access to capital markets and multi product financing solutions, access to financial markets, and trading infrastructure. In addition, this division engages in corporate banking, mid markets, portfolio management, structured corporate finance, transaction banking, structu red transactions, and development capital activities. The company?s Commercial division serves the needs of small and medium-size enterprises, and community organizations. This division also offers hire purchase, leasing, and supplier finance products; and supports trading, investment, and protection needs of business customers. Its Wealth and International division offers private banking, wealth management, and asset management services. This division is also involved in corporate, commercial, asset finance, and retail businesses internationally. The company?s Insurance division provides life assurance, pensions, and investment products in the United Kingdom and Europe, as well as general insurance, including home and payment protection insurance to personal customers. The company was formerly known as Lloyds TSB Group plc and changed its name to Lloyds Banking Group plc in January 2009. Lloyds Banking Group plc was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in London, the Unit ed Kingdom.

Hot Defensive Companies To Watch For 2015: Boston Private Financial Holdings Inc.(BPFH)

Boston Private Financial Holdings, Inc. operates as the multi-bank holding company in the United States. The company provides private banking, investment management, and wealth advisory services to high net worth individuals, families, small and medium-sized businesses, and professionals in New England, Northern California, Southern California, the Pacific Northwest, Pennsylvania, and New York. It offers various deposit products, including checking accounts, demand deposits, NOW accounts, savings accounts, money market accounts, and certificates of deposit. The company?s loan portfolio comprises residential mortgage loans, and mortgage loans on investment and vacation properties to individuals; unsecured and secured personal lines of credit, home equity loans, and overdraft protection; revolving lines of credit; working capital loans; equipment financing; community lending programs; and commercial, construction, and land loans. In addition, it offers financial planning, t ax planning and preparation, estate and insurance planning, retirement planning, charitable planning, and intergenerational giving planning. The company was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts.

Despite Rocky Start, Investors Keep U.S. Stocks in Sight

As last year ended, investment advisers warned clients to expect a choppier, less-satisfying 2014.

They have been right. While money managers were relieved at the stock rally late last week, many remain nervous.

When Robert Pavlik spoke with a prospective new client Friday morning, stocks were racing higher, but Mr. Pavlik's mood remained restrained.

"If I were thinking about stepping in and buying, I would be a little cautious about it," urged Mr. Pavlik, chief market strategist of money manager Banyan Partners, which oversees $4.5 billion. "Don't buy with both hands," he told the prospect, advocating a plan to invest a quarter to a third of his assets in stocks now.

And the unused money? Mr. Pavlik would simply hold it aside, in cash.

That advice reflects the widespread mood of the market now. In some ways, the economic outlook looks good for stocks. The economy is growing steadily but, as Friday's job-creation figures indicate, not so fast as to generate much inflation. That means corporate profits should rise and inflation won't force the Federal Reserve to make any sharp, unexpected shifts in what remains an easy, supportive monetary policy.

Some analysts were saying Friday that the job-creation numbers might be soft enough to make the Fed lighten up a little more, by slowing down its plans to gradually eliminate the bond buying it has been using to stimulate markets. Regardless, the weak jobs data reinforced the view that the Fed will be extra ginger in coming months and years about withdrawing support from markets.

Despite last week's gains, however, stocks are starting 2014 weakly. The Dow Jones Industrial Average remains down 4.7% on the year. Many analysts predict that the Dow will finish with a full-year 2014 gain of 10% or so, at something like 18234. If so, it would rise more than 15% from Friday's close of 15794.08.

The reason people like Mr. Pavlik aren't feeling more upbeat is that investors anticipated a lot of this good news last year, when they pushed up the S&P 500 stock index 32% including dividends.

Roughly 80% of that gain was based on expectations of good news to come, rather than on actual corporate earnings gains, according to calculations by Jason Trennert, founder of Strategas Research Partners. What that means is that corporate and economic reports need to be pretty positive now just to live up to the stock gains the market has already recorded.

Mr. Trennert said he wouldn't be surprised to see stocks fall again in coming weeks, though he thinks they would rebound later in the year. Bottom line: a lot choppier than last year. "It will be very hard to reprise what you did in 2013," he said.

Ned Davis Research Friday put out a report warning that a bear market, often defined as a drop of 20% or more in a major stock index, can't be ruled out this year. The research firm, which has been bullish for most of the stock rebound since 2009, expects stocks to keep recovering for now. Its concern is that, if investors get too excited and push stocks up too far in the coming weeks, they could pay a price later in the year. The Venice, Fla., firm introduced a set of indicators meant to signal the risk of a bear market. The indicators focus on whether stocks are rising as a broad group across many business sectors and countries, or being propelled by a narrowing group of big, high-price stocks. The latter scenario has been a recipe for trouble in the past. So far, while the indicators have deteriorated a bit, they aren't yet in bearish territory. Ned Davis isn't telling clients to pull back from stocks, at least not yet.

Mr. Trennert likes to talk about a concept he has dubbed TINA, meaning There Is No Alternative. If you don't invest in U.S. stocks, the thinking goes, where else are you going to invest? Developing-country markets have turned unstable. Europe is struggling. Cash and high-grade bonds offer the tiniest of yields. Many experts consider junk bonds overpriced. Hedge funds are struggling. The Fed is determined to get people investing again by keeping rates down and forcing them to take risks. Anyone who refuses to buy stocks, in other words, is fighting the Fed.

That's why, despite worries about a balky U.S. economy, Washington dysfunction, a less-friendly Fed and uncertain earnings, many investors remain reluctant to get too far away from U.S. stocks. After the shaky start to 2014, they are just a little less comfortable occupying that position.

Security opens door to truly connected home

The latest advances in home security don't just make your home safer, they increase its IQ.

Modern next-generation security systems let you monitor your home — break-ins, smoke, comings and goings — using your smartphone, tablet or computer. And your home can talk to you, filling you in on what is happening with specific alerts, photos and video.

And since most newer systems use cellular connections, they are more reliable than older ones that relied on traditional phone line connections. So if you lose electricity and phone service, cellular systems retain power for at least 24 hours, plenty of time to alert you and a security company that there's a problem.

"You are buying peace of mind, that's really what it is, to know that I have a security system that is not going to go down if someone cuts these two wires," says John Sciacca of Custom Theater and Audio, an installer of audio/video, security and automation systems in Murrells Inlet, S.C. "I can check in on the system remotely and if the alarm is tripped I'm going to get notified."

More than 15% of U.S. homes have a home security system that will alert a monitoring firm in case of incidents, according to Parks Associates. The installations, equipment and recurring fees generate as much as $10 billion annually for the U.S. security industry. Home security spending is expected to double over the next decade, the research firm estimates, as nearly three in 10 homes are expected to get systems.

Top Blue Chip Stocks To Own Right Now

The killer app literally driving installations? All-in-one apps that let you monitor your home using portable devices. "The whole ecosystem that goes with smartphones has really helped it take off," says Tom Kerber, director of research for home controls at Park Associates. Monthly fees run a bit higher than with older systems — $30 on up to $50 or so — but, he says, "you get a lot more cap! ability and functionality."

Until recently, only high-end security systems costing upward of $20,000 were truly "smart," with one system that handled security, video monitoring, motion detection, remote access and security-enhancing home automation features such as programmed lighting.

Now, those aspects are filtering down to more mainstream customers. "The lower- cost systems are moving up the chain and gaining functionally," says Ryan Boder, founder and president of SuretyCAM, a home security and automation firm in Columbus, Ohio.

New, more cost-effective sensors and video cameras operate wirelessly, cutting installation costs. And central control panels deliver real-time data via cellular signals to offsite security monitoring stations. "The actual brain is in the cloud," Boder says.

Competition is driving prices down, too. Traditional players such as ADT, Alarm.com and Honeywell have been joined in the home security marketplace by AT&T, Comcast, Cox, Time Warner Cable and Verizon, all of which are bundling security with pay TV, broadband and other services. Also getting into the act is home improvement retailer Lowe's, which offers GE and Iris systems that consumers can install on their own.

The typical do-it-yourself installation of a 24-7 monitored system starts at about $300 and includes a $20-$30 monthly service fee. Those who pay a slightly higher monthly fee ($50-$60), could get their system designed and installed by a professional and only have to pay an installation fee of $100 or so.

What you can get:

Security. The basics of a "smart" home security system include a security control panel that will, during an emergency, contact a monitoring company using standard cellular connections from! AT&T! , Sprint, Verizon or other providers. Systems can incorporate phone lines as a backup and broadband connectivity for video streaming.

Wireless door, window and motion sensors are deployed throughout the house to track activity. They can also be used to alert you when someone opens cabinets, a gun case or basement door. Other family safety-enhancing sensors can be added to monitor for glass breakage (for intruder detection), smoke and fire, carbon monoxide and flooding.

Security add-ons. Motion-triggered video cameras can be used to monitor activity inside and outside the house, letting you check to see that the kids got home from school or if an intruder is inside. These allow you to view real-time video or photos on a smartphone, tablet or computer. Some newer cameras use night vision and will pan and tilt to cover a wide viewing swath.

Home automation. With an "intelligent" home you can also layer on various automation features to increase security and efficiency. Home lighting can be turned on and off and dimmed based on your schedule to deter burglars — and to save on the electricity bill. Other nice touches can include your garage door automatically opening when it senses your Smartphone pull into the driveway.

Programmable door locks can be monitored and activated remotely using you smartphone or computer. Babysitters or dog walkers can be given their own time-sensitive key code to open the front door. Thermostat control can also be linked into most systems, allowing you to easily adjust those when you are away. "Your security system is now becoming a broader home awareness system," says Jay Kenny, vice president of marketing at Alarm.com.

The Vienna, Va.-based home security and automation firm — its system and equipment is installed by 5,000 dealers in the U.S. and Canada — uses cellular-connected security panels. That provides an added level of redundancy beyond standard phone line and broadband connections that many other firms rely on, Kenny says.

On! ce you've! embraced a connected home, you can also create entire lighting and automation scenarios to personalize your system. Sciacca has a "bedtime" setting that locks all the doors, arms the security system, turns on outside lights and dims or turns off inside lights. "I push one button and all that stuff happens," he says. "Automation ties it all together."

The value of a fully connected system often isn't fully realized until a homeowner lives with it for awhile, Boder says.

Should you be thinking of selling your home in the future, it might help seal the deal. "I could definitely see (a system) as something that would help (a) buyer make the decision," Boder says. "It doesn't mean you will get more for your home, but it could help them pull the trigger."

TIPS

Some considerations for those looking to add a security system to your home:

1) The installation. Do you want to install it yourself or have it professionally installed? There are DIY kits such as the Iris Home Management System (starting at $179 with no monthly fee) from Lowe's that will alert you via smartphone if your alarm is triggered. And some home security and automation firms will sell you equipment if you want to install it on your own. If you are considering a professionally monitored system from major providers such as Alarm.com and ADT, the cost of an installation might be less than you think because your willingness to agree to monthly monitoring fees can subsidize some of the cost of the project.

2) The connection. If you want the redundancy of a system that can send alerts even if landline and electricity are lost, make sure to get a system that uses cellular as its primary form of communication. Some systems continue to use phone lines or broadband connections as the link to a monitoring service.

3) Remote access. Most newer systems provide some type of app-based software that lets you use your security system via smartphone, tablet or computer. You will want to decide if you want to get photos ! and video! s from home when you are away.

4) Home automation. Lighting and thermostat controls can easily be added to many security systems and lighting schemes that turn lights on even when you are way can enhance security. So decide if that – and energy-saving thermostat controls – is something you might want to add as part of your installation.