Top 10 Long Term Companies To Own For 2015

Longtime Washington Post columnist and retirement expert Stan Hinden has said that preparing for retirement is like preparing for a long trip overseas. For a vacation, you'd research all manner of logistics -- where to stay, where to sightsee, where to eat, how to get from place to place, how to pay for things, what languages you'll need to brush up on in advance, and more.

Retirement planning is no different. In the video below, Robert Brokamp, a Certified Financial Planner and advisor of Motley Fool Rule Your Retirement, tells senior editor Dayana Yochim four things would-be retirees should absolutely prepare before their golden years begin.

The best investing approach is to choose great companies and stick with them for the long term. The Motley Fool's free report "3 Stocks That Will Help You Retire Rich" names stocks that could help you build long-term wealth and retire well, along with some winning wealth-building strategies that every investor should be aware of.�Click here now�to keep reading.

10 Best Promising Stocks To Buy Right Now: NMI Holdings Inc (NMIHZ)

NMI Holdings, Inc. (NMIH), incorporated on May 19, 2011, is a development-stage company. The Company through its subsidiaries provides private mortgage insurance in the United States. The Company�� wholly owned subsidiaries include National Mortgage Insurance Corporation and National Mortgage Reinsurance Inc One.

On April 24, 2012, NMI Holdings, Inc. (NMI) closed an agreement with MAC Financial Ltd. to acquire MAC Financial Holdings Corporation and its wholly owned subsidiaries. On September 30, 2013, the Company merged MAC Financial Holding Corporation into NMIH, with NMIH surviving the merger, and it merged NMRI Two into NMIC, with NMIC surviving the merger.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Zachary Tracer]

  NMI Holdings Inc. (NMIHZ), a mortgage insurer backed by funds tied to Carlyle Group LP (CG) and Kyle Bass, filed to sell shares in an initial public offering as investors bet on a housing-market rebound.

Top 10 Long Term Companies To Own For 2015: RLI Corp. (RLI)

RLI Corp., through its subsidiaries, underwrites property and casualty insurance primarily in the United States. The company operates in three segments: Casualty, Property, and Surety. The Casualty segment provides general liability services consisting of coverage for third party liability of commercial insurers, including manufacturers, contractors, apartments, and mercantile; commercial and personal umbrella coverage; and commercial transportation that include automobile liability and physical damage insurance to local, intermediate, and long haul truckers, public transportation risks, and equipment dealers, as well as incidental and related insurance coverage. It also offers professional liability coverages, such as directors? and officers? liability insurance, employment practices liability, and other miscellaneous professional liability coverage; and specialty program coverages, such as commercial property, general liability, inland marine, and crime, as well as deduc tible buy-back. The Property segment offers property coverage that consists primarily of excess and surplus lines and specialty insurance, such as fire and earthquake. It also provides insurance for commercial and industrial risks, such as office buildings, apartments, condominiums, and certain industrial and mercantile structures, as well as writes boiler and machinery coverage; marine coverage, including hull, cargo, and protection and indemnity; homeowners and dwelling fire insurance; and property facultative reinsurance for insurance companies. The Surety segment specializes in writing small-to-large commercial and small contract surety coverages, as well as for the energy, petrochemical, and refining industries. It offers miscellaneous bonds, such as license and permit, notary, and court bonds; and fidelity and crime coverage for commercial insured and select financial institutions. RLI Corp. was founded in 1965 and is headquartered in Peoria, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  For the past several years, Berkshire has contrasted its own cost-free float provided by profitable underwriting against the industry�� (unimpressive) tendency to lose money on underwriting while generating net returns from investment income. So far, so good. Less edifying, though, is the repeated contrast of Berkshire�� track record of profitability to State Farm��…even though, as a mutual company, State Farm�� profitability goals are inherently different from for-profit insurers like Berkshire. It�� true that through year-end 2013, Berkshire�� underwriters have ��ow operated at an underwriting profit for eleven consecutive years,��but so have ACE (ACE), American Financial (AFG),� AmTrust Financial (AFSI), Arch Capital (ACGL), Chubb (CB), HCC (HCC), Progressive (PGR), RLI (RLI), and W.R. Berkley (WRB), any or all of whom provide a more meaningful comparison than contrasting Berkshire�� results to a company that�� not out to produce a profit in the first place.

Top 10 Long Term Companies To Own For 2015: Norsk Hydro ASA (NHY)

Norsk Hydro ASA is a Norway-based company engaged in a number of activities along the aluminum industry�� value chain. The Company is organized into six segments; the Bauxite & Alumina segment includes the Company�� mining activities, sourcing arrangements and alumina commercial operations; the Primary Metal segment consists of aluminum production, re-melting and casting activities; the Metal Markets segment includes sales and distribution activities relating to products from metal plants, metal sourcing and trading activities; the Rolled Products segment comprises operations of the Company�� rolling mills; the Extruded Products segment focuses on delivering solutions to the building and construction, transportation, and engineered products industries and includes aluminum building systems and precision tubing activities, and the Energy segment is responsible for managing the Company�� captive hydropower production and external power sourcing arrangements to the aluminum business. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Corinne Gretler]

  Norsk Hydro (NHY) ASA slumped the most in one year after Vale SA sold a stake in the aluminum maker. UniCredit SpA (UCG) and Infineon Technologies AG added at least 1 percent each after posting quarterly profit that beat projections. Henkel AG rose 2.1 percent as third-quarter profit beat analysts��estimates.

Top 10 Long Term Companies To Own For 2015: First Advantage Bancorp(FABK)

First Advantage Bancorp operates as the holding company for First Federal Savings Bank that provides various financial services to individuals and businesses in Tennessee. The company offers various deposit products comprising non-interest-bearing demand deposits, such as checking accounts; interest-bearing demand accounts, including NOW and money market accounts; regular savings accounts; and certificates of deposit. Its loan portfolio include real estate mortgage loans, including one-to-four family residential loans and nonresidential real estate loans; construction loans for one-to-four family homes, commercial, multi-family, and other nonresidential purposes; land loans for developing vacant land; consumer loans consisting primarily of home equity loans; and commercial business loans secured by equipment, inventory, or accounts receivable to small businesses. As of June 10, 2010, the company operated five full-service offices in Montgomery County. First Advantage Banco rp was founded in 1953 and is headquartered in Clarksville, Tennessee.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Tim Melvin]

  PL Capital has not filed any 13Ds in a couple of months, but earlier this year it disclosed a 5.99% position in shares of First Advantage Bancorp (FABK). The Clarksville, Tenn.-based bank has seven branches and trades at about 75% of book value. PL Capital also filed a 13D announcing 8% ownership of Mutual First Financial (MFSF) over the summer. The bank has 31 branches and is based in Muncie, Ind. — an area that has seen substantial consolidation in the past few years.

Top 10 Long Term Companies To Own For 2015: Fortune Brands Home & Security Inc (FBHS)

Fortune Brands Home & Security, Inc., incorporated on June 9, 1988, is engaged in home and security products with companies focused on the design, manufacture and sale of products in Kitchen & Bath Cabinetry, Plumbing & Accessories, advanced material windows & entry door Systems, and security and storage products. The Company operates through four business segments: Kitchen & Bath Cabinetry, Plumbing & Accessories, Advanced Material Windows & Door Systems, and Security & Storage. The Kitchen & Bath Cabinetry segment manufactures custom, semi-custom, and stock cabinetry for the kitchen, bath, and other areas of the home. Plumbing & Accessories segment manufactures and assembles faucets, accessories, and kitchen sinks. The Advanced Material Windows & Door Systems segment manufactures and sells fiberglass and steel entry door systems. The Security & Storage segment provides locks, safety, and security devices and electronic security products. In June 2013, Fortune Brands Home & Security Inc completed the acquisition of WoodCrafters Home Products.

Kitchen & Bath Cabinetry

The Company�� Kitchen & Bath Cabinetry segment�� products includes brand names, such as Aristokraft, Omega, Kitchen Craft, Schrock, Diamond, HomeCrest, Decora, Kemper, Thomasville and Martha Stewart Living. Principally all of this segment�� sales are in North America. The Company sells directly to kitchen and bath dealers, home centers, wholesalers and builders. During the year ended December 31, 2012, sales to The Home Depot and Lowe's consisted of approximately 32% of net sales of the Kitchen & Bath Cabinetry segment.

The Company competes with Masco and American Woodmark.

Plumbing & Accessories

The Plumbing & Accessories segment manufactures accessories and kitchen sinks in North America, China and India, predominantly under the Moen brand. The sells its Plumbing & Accessories products principally in the United States and Canada. It also sells them in China, India, ! Mexico, South America and Southeast Asia. It sells directly through its own sales force and indirectly through independent manufacturers��representatives, primarily to wholesalers, home centers, mass merchandisers and industrial distributors. During 2012, sales to The Home Depot and Lowe's consisted of approximately 29% of net sales of the Plumbing & Accessories segment.

The Company competes with Delta, Kohler, Pfister and American Standard.

Advanced Material Windows & Door Systems

The Company�� Advanced Material Windows & Door Systems segment manufactures fiberglass and steel entry door systems, vinyl-framed window and patio doors, and urethane millwork product lines. Therma-Tru products include fiberglass and steel residential entry door and patio door systems, primarily for sale in the United States and Canada. Simonton brand of vinyl-framed windows and patio doors are mainly manufactured and sold in the United States. The segment�� principal customers are home centers, millwork building products and wholesale distributors, and specialty dealers that provide products to the residential new construction market, as well as to the remodeling and renovation markets. During 2012, sales to The Home Depot and Lowe�� comprised approximately 17% of net sales of the Advanced Material Windows & Door Systems segment.

The Company competes with Masonite, JELD-WEN and Plastpro, Silverline, Atrium and Milgard.

Security & Storage

The Company�� Security & Storage segment consists of locks, safety and security devices, and electronic security products manufactured, sourced and distributed by Master Lock and tool storage and garage organization products manufactured by Waterloo. The segment sells products principally in the United States Canada, Europe, Australia and Central America. Master Lock manufactures and sells key-controlled and combination padlocks, bicycle and cable locks, built-in locker locks, door hardware, automotive, t! railer an! d towing locks, and other specialty safety and security devices. Master Lock sells products for consumer use to hardware and other retail outlets, wholesale distributors and home centers, industrial and institutional users, original equipment manufacturers and retail outlets. During 2012, Security & Storage sales to international markets comprised approximately 20% of sales.

Waterloo manufactures tool storage and garage organization products, steel toolboxes, tool chests, workbenches and related products. Waterloo primarily sells to Sears retail stores. In addition, Waterloo sells under the Waterloo and private-label brand names to specialty industrial and automotive dealers, mass merchandisers, home centers and hardware stores.

The Company competes with Asian importers, Homak, Stanley Black & Decker, Snap-On, Kennedy, Stack-On and others in the metal storage segment and with Stanley Black & Decker, Keter, Newell Rubbermaid

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Udovich]

  After the bedroom, the kitchen is probably the place where we spend the most time awake in our homes with small cap kitchen stocks Caesarstone Sdot-Yam Ltd (NASDAQ: CSTE) and American Woodmark Corporation (NASDAQ: AMWD) along with diversified midcap Fortune Brands Home & Security Inc (NYSE: FBHS) all putting in a good performance. After all, any sort of housing recovery with more new homes being sold will�help kitchen stocks and so will increased sales of older or foreclosed homes that need to have their kitchens remodeled. But which is the better kitchen stock for investors? Here is�closer look at all three:

• [By Holly LaFon]

  Despite economic and political turmoil, equity markets performed well across the board in September of 2013 and over the trailing twelve months. The September gains reversed losses in August and also resulted in positive overall quarterly performance with a number of major indexes moving further into record territory. After disturbing the markets in May and June with comments that they may taper Quantitative Easing (QE), the Fed surprised investors with an announcement that it would not reduce its asset purchases in the near-term. The announcement removed fears that a continued rise in interest rates may stall the economic recovery, as seen by the market's negative reaction to the sharp rise in the 10-year Treasury rate in August of 2013. Investors were also comforted by improving fundamentals both domestically and abroad. The Eurozone may finally be emerging from its prolonged recession and a number of economic reports in the U.S. continue to show progress. Specifically, initial unemployment claims dropped to a multiyear low early in September and the housing market continued to improve, as evidenced by prices rising 12.4 percent year-over year, which along with the stock market's strength, has created a positive wealth effect for consumers. In response to this general economic improvement, consumer confidence increased at the end of September, and the index of leading economic indicators ticked up as well, suggesting that, absent the effects of politics, the recovery in the real economy was continuing. Our portfolios that focus on corporate restructuring (Keeley Small Cap Value, Keeley Small-Mid Cap Value, Keeley Mid Cap Value, Keeley All Cap Value, and Keeley Alternative Value) have all experienced a productive investment cycle with respect to their opportunity sets, and many of our holdings have posted impressive results in recent quarters. Although we acknowledge an improving economy has boosted the outlook for our more cyclical holdings, our research has gu

Top 10 Long Term Companies To Own For 2015: iShares MSCI Russia Capped ETF (ERUS)

iShares MSCI Russia Capped ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares MSCI Russia Capped Index Fund,, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the MSCI Russia 25/50 Index (the Underlying Index). The Underlying Index is a free-float adjusted market capitalization weighted index designed to measure the performance of equity securities in the top 85% by market capitalization of equity securities listed on stock exchanges in Russia. The Underlying Index is a customized variation of the MSCI Russia Index, designed to cap certain weightings to take into account the investment diversification requirement applicable to regulated investment companies. The Fund�� investment advisor is BlackRock Fund Advisor. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Charles Sizemore]

  But what exactly are you buying when you buy Russian stocks? Let�� take a look under the hood at the ETFs that track the Russian market: the Market Vectors Russia ETF (RSX), the iShares MSCI Russia Capped Index (ERUS) and the SPDR S&P Russia (RBL).

Top 10 Long Term Companies To Own For 2015: Compania de Transporte de Energia Electrica en Alta Tension Transener Sa (TRAN)

Compania de Transporte de Energia Electrica en Alta Tension Transener SA (Transener) is an Argentina-based company primarily engaged in the provision and distribution of high-voltage electric power, through its own transmission network of approximately 8,800 kilometers of transmission lines. The Company also offers such professional services as lines and substations maintenance, lines and substations operation, supervision and inspection of transmission works, as well as engineering and consulting services, among others. As of December 31, 2012, the Company had majority owned subsidaries Empresa de Transporte de Energia Electrica por Distribucion Troncal de la Provincia de Buenos Aires SA (Transba SA) and Transener Internacional Ltda. In addition, Compania Inversora en Transmision Electrica Citelec SA was its majority shareholder. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Nikolaj Gammeltoft]

  U.S. stocks climbed, extending the longest winning streak for the Standard & Poor�� 500 Index (TRAN) since July, as data showed China�� economy is improving amid signs of easing tensions over Syria.

America's least healthy cities

There's no doubt that great strides have been made in Americans' health over the years. Americans smoke less, are more likely to be insured and live longer. However, significant health disparities remain across the nation, influenced by individual choices, the community and clinical care.

To determine the well-being of Americans, Gallup-Healthways surveyed hundreds of thousands of Americans in 189 metropolitan areas in the United States in 2012 and 2013. The survey recorded the physical and emotional health of the residents, as well as measuring job satisfaction and access to basic needs. The resulting Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index allows for comparisons between places and over time.

Not surprisingly, the physical health of residents was influenced by their habits. While less than 20% of Americans surveyed were smokers, more than 34% of Charleston, W.Va., residents smoked, the most in the nation. Residents also reported among the highest rates of obesity in the country.

In America's healthier areas, on the other hand, smoking rates tended to be much lower. San Jose had the second lowest smoking rate, with just around 11% of respondents reporting a smoking habit. Obesity rates in the areas were among the lowest.

According to Dan Witters, research director for the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, there is a clear relationship between poor physical health outcomes, such as obesity, and many of these habits. "When you're talking about obesity, the big three are healthy eating, exercise, and smoking."

Having access to basic needs, such as medical care, medicines, food and shelter, also appeared to play a major role in determining the physical well-being of residents. Witters explained that "providing people with a safe place to exercise" obviously plays a role in regional obesity rates. Additionally, having a personal doctor "increases the probability that they'll have a trusted professional advising them about their healthy habits."

In addition to having access to ! basic needs, a healthy state of mind made a difference in the physical health of many area-residents. In fact, half of the metro areas with the best physical health index scores were also among the least likely to report recent bouts of depression. Emotional states such as anger, stress and sadness became much less common in areas with high physical health scores as well.

Survey participants who were "clinically diagnosed with depression had a significantly elevated probability of carrying around obesity," Witters said, as well as a variety of other chronic conditions.

Poverty and financial instability can make it very difficult to stay healthy. All but one of the 10 healthiest metro areas had poverty rates considerably lower than the national rate in 2012. Seven of the least healthy metro areas, on the other hand, had poverty rates exceeding the national rate. While access to healthy food has an impact on good nutrition, Witters pointed out that poverty played a greater role.

THE HEALTHIEST CITIES: Yes, 24/7 Wall St. has that list, too

Many components of staying healthy are learned. If people are poorly educated, they are less likely to know how best to care for themselves. Nine of the least healthy metro areas had college education attainment rates below the national rate. Residents of eight of the healthiest regions, conversely, were considerably more likely to have attained a bachelor's degree than Americans as a whole.

To identify the best and worst cities for physical health, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the metropolitan areas with the best and worst scores on the Physical Health Index, part of the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index. The Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index assessed 189 metropolitan statistical areas. The Physical Health Index is one of five subindices included in the groups' overall score. The index measures physical well-being for the United States, states, metropolitan areas and occupations, based on answers to a variety of questions. In addition to these! figures,! we also considered income, poverty and educational attainment data from the U.S. Census Bureau, all from 2012.

AMERICA'S LEAST HEALTHY CITIES:

10. Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, Ark.

> Physical Health Index: 72.2
> Obesity rate: 35.1% (5th highest)
> Blood pressure: 37.8% (5th highest)
> Poverty rate: 15.1% (134th lowest)

Unhealthy behaviors may help explain the poor physical health of Little Rock area's residents. Just 56.4% of respondents told Gallup they ate healthy all day the previous 24 hours, the worst rate nationwide. Additionally, more than one-quarter of survey respondents were smokers, compared with less than 20% of Americans nationwide. Although Little Rock residents were more likely than most Americans to exercise, more than 35% were classified as clinically obese in 2013, among the largest proportions in the country. A high obesity rate may have contributed to other health issues inflicting area residents. More than 37% of survey respondents had been told by a medical practitioner that they had high blood pressure, worse than all but four other metro areas.

MORE: Ten cities where people can't find work

9. Spartanburg, S.C.

> Physical Health Index: 71.9
> Obesity rate: 30.0% (34th highest)
> Blood pressure: 36.3% (10th highest)
> Poverty rate: 20.0% (70th highest)

More than 30% of Spartanburg residents surveyed told Gallup they were unable to participate in age appropriate activities due to their health. This was one of the highest rates in the nation and one of a number of physical health problems that plagued residents. Even worse, 36.3% of respondents said they had high blood pressure, 13.7% said they had been diagnosed with diabetes and nearly 6% said they had previously suffered a heart attack — all among the worst rates in the nation. One contributing factor may be people's unhealthy behaviors. Less than 48% of respondents exercised regularly, among the lowest rates in the nation. Also! , 27.5% o! f people stated they smoked, one of the highest rates in America.

MORE: Cities with the most content (and miserable) workers

8. Chattanooga, Tenn.-Ga.

> Physical Health Index: 71.7
> Obesity rate: 29.7% (40th highest)
> Blood pressure: 35.7% (14th highest)
> Poverty rate: 15.8% (164th lowest)

Less than 80% of respondents living in the Chattanooga metro area said they had enough energy to accomplish what they needed to the day before, worse than all but two other metro areas. Also, nearly 31% of respondents had health problems that hindered their ability to participate in age appropriate activities. Low incomes in the region may be contributing to the poor physical health of residents — median household income was just $43,475 in 2012, considerably lower than the national median of $51,371 that year. Low incomes may have limited Chattanooga-area residents' ability to access basic needs, such as health care, which in turn may have also contributed to poor physical health. While the percentage of area residents covered by health insurance was inline with the national rate, just three-quarters of respondents said they had enough money for health care and medicine, among the lowest rates nationwide.

MORE: America's most content (and miserable) cities

7. Clarksville, Tenn.-Ky.

> Physical Health Index: 71.6
> Obesity rate: 33.8% (8th highest)
> Blood pressure: 29.3% (92nd highest)
> Poverty rate: 19.3% (93rd highest)

Clarksville-area residents were among the nation's most likely to be obese, with 33.8% considered obese based on their height and weight. Residents were also exceptionally likely to report recurring pains, with more than 37% stating they suffered from neck or back pain and more than 35% stating they suffered from leg or knee pain, both among the highest rates in the country. Residents' poor health was not just limited to physical ailments. People in the Clarksville area were more likely than Americans in ! most metr! o areas to have felt angry and among the least likely to have felt happy within the previous day. Both measures are important components of emotional health, for which Clarksville was among the worst rated metro areas in the nation.

MORE: Nine cities where wealth is soaring

6. Fort Smith, Ark.-Okla.

> Physical Health Index: 71.4
> Obesity rate: 29.8% (38th highest)
> Blood pressure: 35.4% (16th highest)
> Poverty rate: 22.6% (32nd highest)

Like most metro areas with poor physical health scores, health issues prevented many Fort Smith residents from participating in age-appropriate activities. Nearly 35% of survey respondents said health problems prevented them from performing activities people their age normally perform, worst among all areas surveyed. Chronic pain was likely an obstacle to usual activities for many residents. Nearly 40% of respondents reported recurring neck or back pains, second worst nationwide. In addition to poor health, residents suffered from poor economic conditions. Median household income was just $36,061 in 2012, among the lowest in the nation. Further, more than 22% were living in poverty that year, also among the worst rates in the United States.

MORE: America's most (and least) literate cities

5. Redding, Calif.

> Physical Health Index: 71.4
> Obesity rate: 27.6% (82nd highest)
> Blood pressure: 30.1% (78th highest)
> Poverty rate: 16.6% (166th highest)

Nearly a third of Redding area respondents said health problems prevented them from participating in age-appropriate activities, and 36.9% said their health kept them from their usual routines. Both rates were among the highest in the nation. Recurring pain was a common problem for many respondents, but even worse, 10.7% of those surveyed said they had previously been diagnosed with cancer, one of the highest rates in the nation. Drug use has also been a major health issue in the area. Shasta County, which makes up the Redding metro ! area, is ! considered part of the Central Valley High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, and use of hard drugs such as methamphetamine has been cited as a problem in the county.

MORE: Cities with highest (and lowest) taxes

4. Columbus, Ga.-Ala.

> Physical Health Index: 70.7
> Obesity rate: 32.5% (13th highest)
> Blood pressure: 32.8% (36th highest)
> Poverty rate: 18.7% (102nd highest)

Individuals in the Columbus metro area were among the nation's most likely to suffer from recurring pain and a lack of energy. Only 68.2% said their health allowed them to take part in age-appropriate activities, one of the lowest rates in the nation. Columbus residents were among the least likely to eat healthy on a daily basis. Less than 60% of survey respondents said they ate healthy all day the previous day, worse than all but two metro areas reviewed. Financial constraints explain poor eating habits more than any other factor. More than 20% of residents were on food stamps in 2012, and just 67.1% of residents told Gallup they were able to afford food at all times the year before — among the worst rate in the nation. By comparison, 80.9% of Americans reported sufficient resources for food.

3. Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol, Tenn.-Va.

> Physical Health Index: 70.5
> Obesity rate: 30.9% (25th highest)
> Blood pressure: 40.6% (3rd highest)
> Poverty rate: 16.4% (176th highest)

Kingsport area residents suffered from a variety of health issues the past few years, including chronic pain and heart problems. More than 31% of respondents reported recurring knee and leg pain, and 40.6% complained of high blood pressure, both among the nation's worst rates. The region's health concerns may be tied to low rates of educational attainment and low incomes. Less than 20% of Kingsport area adults had at least a bachelor's degree in 2012, a considerably lower rate than the nearly 30% of Americans with at least a bachelor's degree. The area was also not particularly we! althy. A ! typical family in the Kingsport metro area earned just $37,769 in 2012, among the lowest median incomes nationwide.

MORE: The best (and worst) paying cities for women

2. Charleston, W.Va.

> Physical Health Index: 69.0
> Obesity rate: 34.6% (6th highest)
> Blood pressure: 45.4% (2nd highest)
> Poverty rate: 15.0% (130th lowest)

Fewer survey respondents from Charleston said they were well-rested and had enough energy to go about their day during the previous day than those in all but one other metro area. Just two-thirds of respondents said health problems did not prevent them from participating in age-appropriate activities, second worst among all areas reviewed. Poor behaviors may have played a role in respondents' poor physical health. Area residents had the highest smoking rate in the country, with more than one-third reporting a smoking habit. Poor emotional health can often be associated with poor physical health as well, and people in Charleston did not fare well on emotional health measures either. For example, only 52.1% of respondents said they learned something new or interesting in the previous 24 hours, less than any other metro area reviewed.

MORE: Ten U.S. cities where violent crime is soaring

1. Huntington-Ashland, W.Va.-Ky.-Ohio

> Physical Health Index: 66.2
> Obesity rate: 39.5% (the highest)
> Blood pressure: 46.9% (the highest)|
> Poverty rate: 18.3% (111th highest)

No metro area rated worse than Huntington for physical health. Nearly 40% of area residents were considered obese, the most of any metro area reviewed. Additionally, nearly 47% of residents had high blood pressure and 34.4% had been diagnosed as having high cholesterol, the highest rates of any metro area. Residents also were among the most likely Americans to suffer serious health consequences. Nearly 10% had previously suffered a heart attack, again worse than any metro area. Additionally, 12.5% of the population had been diagnosed! with can! cer, third most in the nation. Poor healthy behaviors, such as high smoking rates and limited exercise, may have been contributing factors to residents' poor health. Additionally, limited access to basic needs, such as health care and medicine, may have also played a role.

24/7 Wall St. is a USA TODAY content partner offering financial news and commentary. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.

5 Best Value Stocks To Invest In Right Now

5 Best Value Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Caterpillar Inc.(CAT)

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

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jayson Derrick]

  Analysts at Credit Suisse maintained an Outperform rating on Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT) with a price target raised to $109 from a previous $110. Analysts at Citigroup maintained a Neutral rating with a price target lowered to $110 from a previous $115. Shares gained 0.17 percent, closing at $99.44.

• [By reports.droy]

  The heavy machinery honcho, Caterpillar (CAT), posted its third quarter results on October 23. The company was able to post much better earnings than was predicted, and the report card was completely in the green for the company. The stock market also reacted positively to the news and sent the Caterpillar stock soaring higher with the share price opening 3.3% higher at $97.69 on Thursday morning. Let's find out the details of the third quarter earnings. 

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Why the massive rally? Chalk it up to solid earnings from some bellwether companies. Caterpillar (CAT), for instance, gained 4.6% this week after reporting surprisingly good results, while 3M (MMM) rose 8.1% following its own beat, and Microsoft (MSFT) advanced 5.7% this week after beating earnings and reporting that it was finally making a profit on its Surface tablet. Apple (AAPL), the biggest company in the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite, rose 7.7% after the tech giant beat the Street’s earnings and revenue forecasts, and offered above-consensus guidance.

source from Top Stocks For 2015:http://www.topstocksblog.com/5-best-value-stocks-to-invest-in-right-now-5.html

5 Best Insurance Stocks For 2015

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The ratings of 10 insurance stocks are down this week, according to the Portfolio Grader database. Each of these rates a “D” (“sell”) or “F” overall (“strong sell”).

10 Best Building Product Stocks To Watch For 2016: Federated National Holding Co (FNHC)

Federated National Holding Company (Federated National), formerly 21st Century Holding Company, is an insurance holding company, which through its subsidiaries and its contractual relationships with its independent agents and general agents, controls all aspects of the insurance underwriting, distribution and claims processes. Federated National is authorized to underwrite homeowners��multi-peril (homeowners), personal umbrella, commercial general liability, following form commercial excess liability, personal and commercial automobile, fire, allied lines, workers��compensation, business personal property and commercial inland marine insurance. On January 26, 2011, Federated National merged into the Company�� other wholly owned subsidiary, American Vehicle Insurance Company (American Vehicle), with resulting entity being Federated National.

Federated National markets and distributes its own and third-party insurers��products and its other services through a network of independent agents. The Company also utilize a select number of general agents for the same purpose. During 2010, the Company processed property and liability claims stemming from its homeowners�� commercial general liability and private passenger automobile lines of business. Through contractual relationships with a network of approximately 4,200 independent agents, of which approximately 400 sell and service its products, Federated National is authorized to underwrite homeowners�� fire, allied lines and personal automobile insurance in Florida.

American Vehicle is licensed as an admitted carrier in Florida, and underwrites commercial general liability, and personal and commercial automobile insurance. American Vehicle is also licensed as an admitted carrier in Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia and Texas, and underwrites commercial general liability insurance in those states. American Vehicle operates as a non-admitted carrier in Arkansas, California, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nevada, Oklahoma, South ! Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia, and can underwrite commercial general liability insurance in all of these states. During 2010, 79.7%, 12.3%, 4.1% and 3.9% of the premiums the Company underwrote were for homeowners�� commercial general liability, federal flood, and personal automobile insurance, respectively. Federated National internally processes claims made by its insured through its wholly owned claims adjusting company, Superior Adjusting, Inc. (Superior). It also offers premium financing to its own and third-party insured through its wholly owned subsidiary, Federated Premium Finance, Inc. (Federated Premium).

Homeowners��Property and Casualty Insurance

Federated National underwrites homeowners��insurance primarily in the South, West and Central Florida regions. Homeowners��insurance protects an owner of real and personal property against covered causes of loss to that property. The Company�� homeowner insurance products provide maximum dwelling coverage in the amount of approximately $0.8 million, with the aggregate maximum policy limit being approximately $1.5 million. Premium rates are regulated and approved by the Florida OIR.

Commercial Residential Property Insurance

The Florida OIR has granted Federated National the authority to write commercial residential property insurance under the fire line of business. This class of business affords property coverage primarily to associations with property commonly owned by the tenants of the association. Aggregate policy limits ranged between $1.0 million and $20 million. Additionally, Federated National has secured automatic facultative reinsurance for insured values up to $10 million with permission to individually submit attractive risks greater than $10 million to its reinsurers for quote and binding authority.

Commercial General Liability and Inland Marine

The Company underwrite commercial general liability insurance for approximately 350 classes of artisan ! (excludin! g home-builders and developers) and mercantile trades (such as owners, landlords and tenants). The limits of liability range from $100,000 per occurrence with a $200,000 policy aggregate to $1 million per occurrence with a $2 million policy aggregate. The Company markets the commercial general liability insurance products through independent agents and a limited number of general agencies unaffiliated with the Company.

Personal Automobile

Personal automobile insurance markets can be divided into two categories: standard automobile and nonstandard automobile. Standard personal automobile insurance is provided to insureds who present an average risk profile in terms of driving record, vehicle type and other factors. Nonstandard personal automobile insurance is provided to insureds that are unable to obtain standard insurance coverage because of their driving record, age, vehicle type or other factors, including market conditions. During 2010, the average annual premium on policies was approximately $1,325, and the nonstandard personal automobile insurance lines represented 100% of its written premiums for personal automobile insurance. Federated National underwrites new and renewal policies for this coverage on primarily an annual basis and to a much lesser extent, on a semi-annual basis. American Vehicle underwrites standard personal automobile insurance policies.

Flood

Federated National writes flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The Company writes the policy for the NFIP, which assumes 100% of the flood risk while it retains a commission for its service. The average flood policy premium is approximately $570 with limits up to $250,000.

Assurance MGA

Assurance MGA, a wholly owned subsidiary of Federated National, acts as Federated National�� and American Vehicle�� exclusive managing general agent in the state of Florida and is also licensed as a managing general agent in the states of Al! abama, Ar! kansas, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, North Carolina, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, Nevada, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia. Assurance MGA has contracted with several unaffiliated insurance companies to sell commercial general liability, workers compensation, personal umbrella and inland marine insurance through Assurance MGA�� existing network of agents. Assurance MGA earns commissions and fees for providing policy administration, marketing, accounting and analytical services, and for participating in the negotiation of reinsurance contracts. The homeowner policy provides Assurance MGA the right to cancel any policy within a period of 90 days from the policy's inception with 25 days��notice, or after 90 days from policy inception with 95 days��notice, even if the risk falls within its underwriting criteria.

Superior

Superior processes claims made by insured from Federated National and American Vehicle. Its agents have no authority to settle claims or otherwise exercise control over the claims process. Federated National also employs an in-house legal department to manage claims-related litigation and to monitor its claims handling practices for compliance.

Federated Premium

Federated Premium provides premium financing to Federated National's, American Vehicle�� and third-party�� insureds. Premium financing has been marketed through the Company�� distribution network of general agents and independent agents. Premiums for property and casualty insurance, in certain circumstances, are payable at the time a policy is placed in- force or renewed. Federated Premium's services allow the insured to pay a portion of the premium when the policy is placed in-force and the balance in monthly installments over a specified term, between six and nine months.

Insure-Link, Inc. (Insure-Link)

Insure-Link serves as an independent insurance agency. The insurance agency markets direct to the public to provide a variety of in! surance p! roducts and services to individual clients, as well as business clients, by offering a line of insurance products, including, but not limited to, homeowners�� personal and commercial automobile, commercial general liability and workers��compensation insurance through their agency appointments with over fifty different carriers. There were no other agency relationships with affiliated captive or franchised agents during 2010.

The Company competes with Castle Key (formerly Allstate Floridian) Indemnity Insurance Company, Fidelity National Insurance Company, Universal Property and Casualty Insurance Company, Royal Palm Insurance Company, St. Johns Insurance Company, Cypress Property and Casualty Insurance Company, American Strategic Insurance Company, Century Surety Insurance Company, Atlantic Casualty Insurance Company, Colony Insurance Company, Burlington/First Financial Insurance Companies, Kingsway Amigo Insurance Company, United Automobile Insurance Company, Direct General Insurance Company, Ocean Harbor Insurance Company, Progressive Casualty Insurance Company, and GEICO.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Damian Illia]

  As we can see, the firm ratio is higher than the ones shown by Alleghany, Fidelity, Federated National Holding Co. (FNHC) and Global Indemnity Plc (GBLI).

• [By , Zacks Investment Research]

  Here are five�stocks that made it through this week’s screen:

  AmTrust Financial (AFSI) Allied World Assurance (AWH) Chatham Lodging Trust (CLDT) Federated National Holding Co. (FNHC) Whitewave Foods (WWAV)

  Get the rest of the stocks on this list and start screening for these companies on your own.

5 Best Insurance Stocks For 2015: Triad Guaranty Inc (TGICQ)

Triad Guaranty Inc., incorporated in 1993, is a holding company which, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Triad Guaranty Insurance Corporation (TGIC), is a nationwide mortgage insurer. During the year ended December 31, 2011, Collateral Mortgage, Ltd. (CHL) owns 16.8% of the common stock of TGI. The Company has historically provided Primary and Modified Pool mortgages guaranty insurance coverage on United States residential mortgage loans.

Primary insurance provides mortgage default protection to lenders on individual loans and covers a percentage of unpaid loan principal, delinquent interest and certain expenses associated with the default and subsequent foreclosure (collectively, the insured amount or claim amount). Primary insurance was written on both flow and structured bulk transactions. Flow transactions consisted of loans originated by lenders that were submitted to the Company on a loan-by-loan basis, whereas structured bulk transactions involved underwriting and insuring a group of loans with individual coverage for each loan. Insurance on primary policies consists of 80% of the Company's total insurance in force at December 31, 2011.

Modified Pool insurance was written only on structured bulk transactions. Policies insured as part of a Modified Pool transaction have individual coverage, but an aggregate stop-loss limit applies to the entire group of insured loans. In addition, some of the Modified Pool transactions included deductibles representing a percentage of the total risk originated under which the Company pays no claims until the losses exceed the deductible amount. Modified Pool insurance consists of 20% of the Company's total insurance in force at December 31, 2011.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Zachary Tracer]

  Mortgage insurers PMI and Triad Guaranty Inc. (TGICQ) filed for bankruptcy after housing crashed. Old Republic International Corp. also retreated from the mortgage guaranty business.

5 Best Insurance Stocks For 2015: HCI Group Inc (HCI)

HCI Group Inc, formerly Homeowners Choice, Inc., incorporated in 2006, is a holding company. The Company, through its subsidiaries, is primarily engaged in the property and casualty insurance business. The Company is authorized to underwrite homeowners' property and casualty insurance in the state of Florida through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Homeowners Choice Property & Casualty Insurance Company, Inc. (HCPC). Through HCPC and subsidiaries, primarily Homeowners Choice Managers, Inc. (HCM), Southern Administration, Inc., Claddaugh Casualty Insurance Company, Ltd., and its subsidiary, HCPCI Holdings LLC, the Company provides property and casualty homeowners' insurance, condominium-owners' insurance, and tenants' insurance to individuals owning property in Florida. The Company�� subsidiaries also include TV Investment Holdings LLC, which owns and operates a marina facility located in Florida; Unthink Technologies Private Limited, which is a software development firm. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company organized TV Investment Holdings LLC, HCI Holdings LLC and HCI Technical Resources, Inc. In November 18, 2011, the Company acquired Unthink Technologies Private Ltd. In November 2011, it acquired the Florida policies of HomeWise Insurance Company.

The Company�� subsidiary, HCM provides underwriting policy administration, marketing, accounting and financial services to HCPC, and participates in the negotiation of reinsurance contracts. Southern Administration, Inc. provides policy administration services. Claddaugh Casualty Insurance Company Ltd. provides reinsurance coverage to HCPC. Asof December 31, 2011, the Company has approximately 119,000 policies in force. Citizens Property Insurance Corporation requires the Company to offer renewals on the policies the Company acquires for a period of three years subsequent to the initial expiration of the assumed policies. The policyholders have the option to renew with the Company or they may ask their agent to place their co! verage with another insurance company.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Tower Group has dropped 40% to $4.43 today, and some other small insurers are also getting dinged this morning. HCI Group (HCI) has fallen 1.8% to $39.36, Stewart Information Services (STC) has declined 0.7% to $31.36 and the Navigators Group (NAVG) has ticked down 0.4% to $56.10.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Tower Group has dropped 12% to $3.88 today at 11:39 a.m., while Stewart Information Services (STC) has dipped 0.1% to $31.16, the�Navigators Group�(NAVG) has fallen 1.4% to $54.78 and HCI Group�(HCI) has gained 1% to $38.16.

• [By Marc Bastow]

  Property and casualty insurance holding company HCI Group (HCI) raised its quarterly dividend 22.2% to 27.5 cents per share, payable Dec. 20 to shareholders of record Nov. 15.
  HCI Dividend Yield:�2.48%

5 Best Insurance Stocks For 2015: Fidelity National Financial Inc. (FNF)

Fidelity National Financial, Inc. provides title insurance, mortgage services, and diversified services in the United States. The company provides title insurance, escrow, and other title related services, including collection and trust activities, trustee’s sales guarantees, recordings, and reconveyances, as well as home warranty insurance to various customers in the residential and commercial market sectors of the real estate industry. It is also involved in the design, manufacture, remanufacture, market, and distribution of aftermarket and original equipment electrical components for automobiles, light trucks, heavy-duty trucks, and other vehicles worldwide. In addition, the company owns and operates restaurants comprising the O'Charley's, Ninety Nine Restaurants, Max & Erma's, Village Inn, Bakers Square, and Stoney River Legendary Steaks concepts in the United States. Fidelity National Financial, Inc. is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By WWW.DAILYFINANCE.COM]

  Getty Images One of the joys we have as parents is teaching our three kids about money. With the oldest being just 6, a big part of that revolves around her piggy bank. Whenever she gets a small amount of money, it goes in there, and we talk with her about the importance of saving, giving, and having some to spend on things she wants, which is usually along the lines of a gumball. With a piggy bank, you put money in and take it out. It's a fairly simple tool, and it's great for what it's used for. A 401(k), on the other hand, is a great tool to save for retirement. But increasingly, 401(k)s are being used as something they aren't -– piggy banks. Startling Statistics Recent studies show that Americans are increasingly pilfering from their 401(k) accounts. With the economy being the way it has been since the financial crisis, that's understandable on one level, but the choice can put your retirement plans on a slippery slope. According to the IRS, $57 billion was withdrawn prematurely from 401(k) accounts in 2011 -- up 37 percent in inflation-adjusted dollars from 2003. You could argue that if a person needed the money to survive, then an early withdrawal from a 401(k), even with the tax penalty, is better than other options. That would be right -- to a point. The most disconcerting number, in my opinion, is that younger individuals are withdrawing the most. According to a Fidelity (FNF) study, nearly 40 percent of workers between 20 and 39 are cashing out their 401(k) plans when they change jobs. There could be many reasons for this, but the Fidelity study points out that many don't see the need to roll over their old 401(k)s when the amount being considered is "only" several thousand dollars or a little more. Add that to those people who take out 401(k) loans to fund such things as real estate purchases, and it paints a worrisome picture. The Real Purpose of a 401(k) To a degree that it hasn't for decades, the burden of retirement planning now fall

Hot Mid Cap Companies To Invest In Right Now

Recent IPO�FibroGen Inc (NASDAQ: FGEN) surged 22.96% today, reportedly after the journal Hepatology published the results of a workshop between the FDA and the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease (AASLD) which laid out criteria for a phase three study of a treatment for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)���meaning its worth taking a closer look at the stock along with the performance of potential small cap or mid cap liver disease stock peers like Conatus Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ: CNAT), Intercept Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ: ICPT) and Raptor Pharmaceutical Corp (NASDAQ: RPTP) which rose 24.35%, 10.98% and 2.02%, respectively. According to Investors Business Daily, NASH (the more serious version of fatty liver disease) is potentially an enormous market with about 6 million�US patients but the�lack of previous treatments had left it unclear how the FDA would measure success against the disease while FibroGen Inc doesn't yet have a NASH human trial in the works, it has said it hopes to start one for its lead candidate FG-3019 (its in mid-stage trials for pulmonary fibrosis and liver fibrosis due to hepatitis B infection).

Hot Specialty Retail Companies To Watch For 2016: Demand Media Inc. (DMD)

Demand Media, Inc. operates as an Internet media and domain services company worldwide. The company focuses on an Internet-based model for the professional creation and distribution of content at scale. It offers content and media, and registrar services. The company�s content and media services include creating media content primarily consisting of text articles and videos, and delivering together with its social media and monetization tools to the company's owned and operated Websites and mobile applications, and network of customer Websites and their mobile applications to publishers, brands, and retailers. Its content and media services are delivered through the company's content and media platform, which includes its content creation studio, social media applications, and a system of monetization tools designed to match content with advertisements. The company deploys its content and media platform to it�s owned and operated Websites, such as eHow.com, LIVESTRONG.CO M, and Cracked.com, as well as to Websites operated by its customers. Its registrar service offering provides domain name registration and related value added services, such as third-party Website security services, identification protection services, Web hosting plans, customizable email accounts, and business listing services to resellers, including small businesses, e-commerce Websites, Internet service providers, Web-hosting companies, and retail consumers. Demand Media, Inc. was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in Santa Monica, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Roberto Pedone]

  One under-$10 Internet services player that's starting to move within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade is Demand Media (DMD), which focuses on an Internet-based model for the professional creation and distribution of content at scale. This stock has been hit hard by the bears so far in 2013, with shares off by 44%.

  If you take a look at the chart for Demand Media, you'll notice that this stock has recently formed a triple bottom over the last month, with shares finding buying interest at $4.80, $4.72 and $4.88 a share. Shares of DMD have now started to spike higher off those support levels, and the stock is quickly moving within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade.

  Traders should now look for long-biased trades in DMD if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at $5.39 to $5.46 and then once it takes out its 50-day moving average at $5.76 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above those levels with volume that hits near or above its three-month average action of 681,665 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then DMD will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $6.50 to $7 a share. Any high-volume move above $7.14 would then give DMD a chance to re-fill some of its previous gap down zone from June that started near $8.50 a share.

  Traders can look to buy DMD off any weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below some key near-term support levels at $4.88 or at $4.72 a share. One can also buy DMD off strength once it clears those breakout levels with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.

• [By Wallace Witkowski]

  Demand Media Inc. (DMD) �shares declined 0.3% to $5.84 in light volume after the company said it had accepted the resignation of its chief executive, Richard Rosenblatt, effective Oct. 31.

• [By Benjamin Pimentel]

  Shares of Demand Media (DMD) �shed almost 9% after the company announced that Chief Executive Richard Rosenblatt was stepping down.

• [By Lisa Levin]

  Demand Media (NYSE: DMD) shares reached a new 52-week low of $4.23. Demand Media is expected to announce its Q1 results on May 8, 2014.

  Express (NYSE: EXPR) shares fell 2.49% to touch a new 52-week low of $14.28. Express shares have dropped 14.83% over the past 52 weeks, while the S&P 500 index has gained 20.97% in the same period.

Hot Mid Cap Companies To Invest In Right Now: Ishares Trust Dow Jones United States (IDU)

iShares Dow Jones U.S. Utilities Sector Index Fund (the Fund) seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Dow Jones U.S. Utilities Index (the Index). The Index measures the performance of the utilities sector of the United States equity market. The Index includes companies in industry groups, such as electricity and gas, water and multi-utilities. The Index is a subset of the Dow Jones U.S. Total Market Index and is capitalization weighted. The Index is reconstituted quarterly.

The Fund will concentrate its investments in a particular industry or group of industries to approximately the same extent as the Index is so concentrated. The Fund�� investment advisor is Barclays Global Fund Advisors.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Richard Stavros]

  In early August, Vanguard Utilities ETF (NYSE: VPU), iShares US Utilities (NYSE: IDU), and Fidelity MSCI Utilities Index ETF (NYSE: FUTY) added almost $250 million in new assets combined, more than enough to offset outflows from Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund (NSDQ: XLU).

Hot Mid Cap Companies To Invest In Right Now: 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]

  On Tuesday, the Pentagon announced its latest funding for the war effort, awarding armored vehicle maker Oshkosh (NYSE: OSK  ) a firm-fixed-price contract worth $14.5 million to supply the U.S. Army with "A-kits" (extra armor) for mine resistant ambush protected all terrain vehicles, or MRAPs.

• [By Rich Smith]

  Better protection for soldiers, too
  A smaller contract went to Oshkosh Corp. (NYSE: OSK  ) to bolster protection for troops on the ground. Valued at $45 million, the award will fund repairs and upgrades on 800 of the company's Mine-Resistant, Ambush-Protected All-Terrain Vehicles, dubbed "M-ATV," and used primarily to transport troops and supplies in Afghanistan. Work performed under this contract will continue through the end of next year -- which suggests U.S. troops will be present in Afghanistan at least that long as well.

Hot Mid Cap Companies To Invest In Right Now: Zebra Technologies Corporation(ZBRA)

Zebra Technologies Corporation offers products and solutions that assist in identifying, authenticating, and tracking assets, people, and transactions. The company?s products include direct thermal and thermal transfer label and receipt printers, radio frequency identification printer/encoders, dye sublimation card printers, real-time location solutions, and related accessories and support software. It also designs, manufactures, and sells specialty printing devices that print variable information on demand at the point of issuance. The company offers its printers to print bar code labels, receipts, plastic identification cards, wristbands, and tags, as well as to encode passive RFID smart labels and cards. In addition, it provides printer management, label design, and driver solutions under the ZebraNet brand name. The company?s printer supplies consist of stock and customized thermal labels, wristbands, plastic cards, card laminates, and thermal transfer ribbons. Its p roducts have applications in inventory control, small package delivery, baggage handling, automated warehousing, just-in-time manufacturing, employee time and attendance records, file management systems, patient barcode wrist banding, medical specimen labeling, shop floor control, in-store product labeling, employee ID cards, driver?s licenses, and access control systems. The company sells its products worldwide through distributors, value-added resellers, and original equipment manufacturers. Zebra Technologies Corporation was founded in 1969 and is headquartered in Lincolnshire, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jayson Derrick]

  Zebra Technologies (NASDAQ: ZBRA) has agreed to acquire Motorola's Enterprise business for $3.45 billion in an all cash transaction. "This acquisition will transform Zebra into a leading provider of solutions that deliver greater intelligence and insights into our customers' enterprises and extended value chains," stated Anders Gustafsson, Zebra's chief executive officer. Shares of Zebra lost 10.09 percent, closing at $61.39.

• [By Andy Obermueller]

  I first told StreetAuthority readers about this game-changing technology in an article about another stock in this sector I like: payment processing firm Zebra (Nasdaq: ZBRA).

• [By Vera Yuan]

  The Fund made one new purchase during the quarter, Zebra Technologies Corp (ZBRA), Class A shares (��ebra��. This company has established a leading position in data collection and product identification and announced the acquisition of a unit of Motorola Solutions, Inc. This deal will expand Zebra�� market position into mobile and network solutions while doubling the company�� size and adding significantly to its earnings per share. From Westport Asset Management (Trades, Portfolio)�� Westport Select Cap Fund Second Quarter 2014 Commentary.Also check out: Westport Asset Management Undervalued Stocks Westport Asset Management Top Growth Companies Westport Asset Management High Yield stocks, and Stocks that Westport Asset Management keeps buying Currently 0.00/512345

  Rating: 0.0/5 (0 votes)

• [By John Kell and Lauren Pollock var popups = dojo.query(".socialByline .popC"); ]

  Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in Tuesday’s session are Coca-Cola Co.(KO), Johnson & Johnson(JNJ) and Zebra Technologies Corp.(ZBRA)

Top Beverage Stocks To Buy For 2016

Top Beverage Stocks To Buy For 2016: C&C Group PLC (CCGGY)

C&C Group plc, incorporated on March 19, 2004, is engaged the production, marketing and selling of cider and beer. The Company operates in five segments: Republic of Ireland (ROI), Cider United Kingdom (Cider UK), Tennents United Kingdom (Tennents UK), International, and Third Party Brands United Kingdom (Third Party Brands UK). The Companys cider brands include Bulmers, Magners, Gaymers Cider, Blackthorn Cider, Olde English, Addlestones, Woodchuck Hard Cider, Wyders Cider and Hornsbys. Its other cider brands include Bulmers Berry, Bulmers Pear, Magners Pear, Magners Specials, Special Vat, K, Natch and Diamond White.

ROI includes the results from sale of all products in the Republic of Ireland (ROI), including Bulmers, Tennents, Caledonia Smooth and third party brands. Cider UK segment includes the results from sale of the Companys cider products in the United Kingdom, with Magners, Gaymers and Blackthorn the principal brands. Tennents UK segment includes the results from sale of the Companys owned beer brand Tennents in the United Kingdom and sales of Caledonia Best in the United Kingdom. International segment includes the results from sale of the Companys cider and beer products, principally Magners, Blackthorn, Hornsbys, Woodchuck and Tennents in all territories outside of the ROI and the United Kingdom. Third Party Brands UK segment relates to the distribution of third party brands and the production and distribution of private label products in the United Kingdom.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Duprey]

  The growth in 2012 follows the success of hard cider sales the year before, which saw a 40% increase. Yet the industry leader remains C&C Group's (NASDAQOTH: CCGGY  ) Vermont Hard Cider, whose Woodchuck Hard Cider has a 41% share of the market, though analysts say Angry Orchard owns nearly half of the on-premises market at the end of the first quarter.

• [By! Rich Duprey]

  At C&C Group's (NASDAQOTH: CCGGY  ) annual meeting earlier this month, it was revealed that when it bought the Hornsby brand two years ago, it paid $25 million and got a 20% share of the market for its efforts. It paid more than 10 times that amount, or about $300 million, for Vermont Hard Cider and its top Woodchuck brand, and got another 42% share of the market. So C&C had almost two-thirds of the cider market all to itself.

• [By Rich Duprey]

  WhileAnheuser-Busch InBev (NYSE: BUD  ) introduced some fruit-flavored margarita drinks and even Beam offered flavored bourbons to water down the market more,the bigger threat may be coming from the explosive growth being witnessed inhard cider.Brewer Boston Beer (NYSE: SAM  ) rolled out its Angry Orchard cider brand just last year and has already catapulted to the top of the market, surpassing C&C Group's (NASDAQOTH: CCGGY  ) Vermont Hard Cider, the previous market leader.

source from Top Stocks To Buy For 2015:http://www.topstocksforum.com/top-beverage-stocks-to-buy-for-2016.html

Retailers With Stingy Return Policies

Top Valued Companies To Own In Right Now

It's bound to happen. As you unwrap your gifts there probably will be at least one you don't like. Maybe it will be a sweater three sizes too big, the same "World's Greatest Dad" tie you got last year, or a "Gone Fishin'" plaque (even though you don't fish). Whatever it may be, you better hope that it came from a store with a good return policy.

SEE ALSO: 5 Reasons Your Gift Will Be Returned

Some retailers really do make it easy for consumers by giving them a year or more to return purchases they're not satisfied with (see Retailers With Generous Return Policies). However, most retailers offer a 30-day window for refunds or exchanges. There are a few, though, that give consumers even less time to bring back items or have strict requirements for issuing refunds.

Some merchants have adopted strict policies in an effort to curb return fraud, which costs retailers billions of dollars a year, according to the National Retail Federation. In particular, retailers are trying to head off "wardrobing" -- the practice of buying, using and then returning a product (usually clothing or electronics) for a refund.

These five retailers have particularly stingy return policies, based on our research and a comparison of retailers' policies by Cheapism.com. The descriptions below highlight the key points of retailers' policies. For more detailed information, visit their Web sites.

Barnes & Noble gives customers just 14 days to return items with a receipt for a refund. However, the bookstore extended its policy for the holidays to allow returns until January 31, 2014, for purchases made between November 11 and December 31. It will not accept returns for Nook books and magazines. And returns with a gift receipt will be refunded in the form of a gift card.

Best Buy won't let you return or exchange products after 15 days, unless you're a Best Buy Elite member (which gives you 30 days) or Elite Plus member (which gives you 45 days). However, gift purchases made between November 3 and December 31 can be returned through January 15, 2014. The original receipt, gift receipt or packing slip is required for all refunds and exchanges. And you'll have to show a photo ID to return an item in-store. Best Buy requires identification because it tracks returns and exchanges to identify customers who frequently bring back purchases.

GameStop limits returns to seven to 30 days, depending on the item, and requires a receipt for all exchanges and returns. Unopened new merchandise can be returned for a refund or exchange within 30 days. Opened items can only be exchanged for identical items within 30 days. And pre-owned products must be returned within seven days for a refund or 30 days for an exchange for the identical item. Customers with a gift receipt can exchange an item or receive a gift card of equal value.

Gilt has a relatively short return window and a complicated policy. For starters, this members-only shopping site allows only sized items -- clothing, footwear and belts -- to be returned for a refund. Handbags, toys, ties and other non-sized items aren't eligible for return. Customers have 21 days to return eligible items, which must be unused and in their original packaging. Items priced at $199.99 or less can be returned for Gilt credits. Items priced at $200 or more can be returned for Gilt credits or a refund minus $7.95 for return shipping. On its Web site, Gilt justifies its return policy as a trade-off for "instant insider access to top designer labels and coveted products at a significant discount."

Overstock.com will give customers a full refund if they return new, unopened items within 30 days of delivery. However, the online retailer will issue only a partial refund if an item has been opened or shows signs of wear. According to Cheapism.com, this policy seems punitive compared with other retailers that impose similar restrictions on only a select few product categories. Overstock also will issue a reduced refund when returns are initiated after 30 days or are received at its processing facility 45 days after delivery. On its Web site, the company defends its 30-day return window because "products devalue over time." Overstock has, however, extended its policy to give customers more time to return holiday purchases. Returns for purchases made November 1 through December 31 must be initiated by January 31.

Visa Offers More Cash Back: 19 Companies Increasing Dividends

Popular Posts: BBY: Could We See a Quadrupler in Best Buy Stock?3 Retail Stocks With Surprising Revivals3 Dividend Stocks That March to a Different Beat Recent Posts: Visa Offers More Cash Back: 19 Companies Increasing Dividends Can 3-D Printing Save Hewlett-Packard? YHOO – Yahoo Hiring Pogue is Another Notch in Mayer’s Belt View All Posts

As earnings reports keep rolling in and the country emerges out of the debt ceiling crisis, companies from all industries are raising dividends in an attempt to attract investors.

A total of 19 companies raised their dividends this week, led by big names like Visa (V) and Honeywell (HON). (Note: All dividend yields are as of Oct. 25.)

Midwest utility holding company AEP (AEP) raised its quarterly dividend 2% to 50 cents per share, payable on Dec. 10 to shareholders of record as of Nov. 8.
AEP Dividend Yield: 4.24%

Green Bay-based bank holding company Associated Banc Corp (ASBC) raised its quarterly dividend 12.5% to 9 cents per share, payable on Dec. 16 to shareholders of record as of Dec. 2.
ASBC Dividend Yield: 2.19%

Bar Harbor, Maine based bank holding company Bar Harbor Bankshares (BHB) raised its quarterly dividend 1.6% to 32 cents per share, payable on Dec. 13 to shareholders of record as of Nov. 15. The increase marks the 10th consecutive quarter of dividend increases.
BHB Dividend Yield: 3.39%

Recreation products designer and manufacturer Brunswick (BC) raised its quarterly dividend 300% to 10 cents per share, payable on Dec. 13 to shareholders of record as of Nov. 20. The action moves BC into paying its dividend quarterly instead of annually.
BC Dividend Yield: 0.22%

Specialized products and services supplier Cintas (CTAS) raised its quarterly dividend 20.3% to 77 cents per share, payable on Dec. 11 to shareholders of record as of Nov. 8. The increase marks the 31st consecutive annual dividend increase.
CTAS Dividend Yield: 1.43%

Independent investment advisory firm Evercore Partners (EVR) raised its quarterly dividend 13.6% to 25 cents per share, payable on Dec. 13 to shareholders of record as of Nov. 29.
EVR Dividend Yield: 1.9%

Property and casualty insurance holding company HCI Group (HCI) raised its quarterly dividend 22.2% to 27.5 cents per share, payable Dec. 20 to shareholders of record Nov. 15.
HCI Dividend Yield: 2.48%

Diversified technology and manufacturing conglomerate Honeywell (HON) raised its quarterly dividend 10% to 45 cents per share, payable on Dec. 10 to shareholders of record as of Nov. 21.
HON Dividend Yield: 2.06%

Utility operator Middlesex Water (MSEX) raised its quarterly dividend 1.3% to 18 cents per share, payable on Dec. 2 to shareholders of record as of Nov. 15. The increase marks the 41st consecutive annual dividend increase.
MSEX Dividend Yield: 3.53%

Motion and control systems manufacturer Parker-Hannifin (PH) raised its quarterly dividend 4.6% to 45 cents per share, payable on Dec. 6 to shareholders of record as of Nov. 8. The increase marks the 57th consecutive annual dividend increase.
PH Dividend Yield: 1.55%

Automotive retail and transportation services giant Penske (PAG) raised its quarterly dividend 6.3% to 17 cents per share, payable on Dec. 2 to shareholders of record as of Nov. 11.
PAG Dividend Yield: 1.72%

Phoenix-based bank holding company Pinnacle West (PNW) raised its quarterly dividend 4% to 56.75 cents per share, payable on Dec. 2 to shareholders of record as of Nov. 1.
PNW Dividend Yield: 3.91%

Specialty chemical maker Stepan (SCL) raised its quarterly dividend 6% to 17 cents per share, payable on Dec. 13 to shareholders of record as of Nov. 29. This marks the 46th consecutive annual dividend increase.
SCL Dividend Yield: 1.13%

Property management and financing real estate investment trust SL Green Realty (SLG) raised its quarterly dividend 52% to 50 cents per share. SLG did not release a payment or ex-dividend date for the new dividend.
SLG Dividend Yield: 2.04%

Upscale hotel property real estate investment trust Sotherby (SOHO) raised its quarterly dividend 12.5% to 4.5 cents per share, payable on Jan. 1, 2014 to shareholders of record as of Dec. 13.
SOHO Dividend Yield: 3.87%

Midstream oil and gas provider Targa Resources Partners (NGLS) raised its quarterly dividend 7% to 57 cents per share, payable on Nov. 15 to shareholders of record as of Oct. 31.
NGLS Dividend Yield: 3.83%

Credit card and financial services company Visa (V) raised its quarterly dividend 21% to 40 cents per share, payable on Dec. 3 to shareholders of record as of Nov. 15.
V Dividend Yield: 0.79%

Global apparel company VF (VFC) raised its quarterly dividend 21% to $1.05 per share, payable on Dec. 20 to shareholders of record as of Dec. 10. VFC also announced a 4:1 stock split, effective on Dec. 20 to shareholders of record as of Dec. 10.
VF Dividend Yield: 1.99%

Integrated municipal solid waste services company Waste Connections (WCN) raised its quarterly dividend 15% to 11.5 cents per share, payable on Nov. 19 to shareholders of record as of Nov. 5.
WCN Dividend Yield: 1.04%

Marc Bastow is an Assistant Editor at InvestorPlace.com. As of this writing, he did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities. For more payout winners, see previous weeks' lists of Companies Increasing Dividends.

Top 10 Gas Utility Companies To Buy For 2016

Top 10 Gas Utility Companies To Buy For 2016: Foresight Energy LP (FELP)

Foresight Energy LP, incorporated on January 26, 2012, is an underground coal producer in the United States. The Company operates four underground mining complexes, all in the Illinois Basin region of the United States. The Company's mining complexes consist of: Williamson Energy, LLC, Sugar Camp Energy, LLC, Hillsboro Energy, LLC and Macoupin Energy, LLC.

Williamson Energy, LLC is a longwall mining complex in southern Illinois, producing coal with one longwall mining system and two continuous miner units, with a productive capacity in excess of approximately 7.5 million tons per year. Sugar Camp Energy, LLC is a longwall mining complex in southern Illinois, producing coal with one longwall mining system and three continuous miner units. Hillsboro Energy, LLC is a longwall mining complex in central Illinois, producing coal with one longwall mining system and two continuous miner units. The complex has a productive capacity of 24.0 million tons per year with all three of its longwall mining systems operational. Macoupin Energy, LLC is a continuous miner operation in central Illinois, producing with one continuous miner. The complex has a productive capacity of 8.7 million tons per year with the operation of a second continuous miner unit and the development of a new mine with a longwall mining system accessing its additional reserves.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Monica Gerson]

  Nonmetallic Mineral Mining:
  This industry declined 0.62% by 11:00 am with Foresight Energy LP (NYSE: FELP) moving down 2.2%. Foresight Energy's trailing-twelve-month EPS is $0.50.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  The upshot: “The fundamental case for coal is strengthening but requires several years of patience,” Bridges says. in the meantime, he recommends Consol Energy(CNX), Alliance ! Resource Partners (ARLP) and Foresight Energy (FELP), as the yield from coal MLPs are the “only segment that [is] resonating with investors.” Last week, Consol said it may form an MLP for coal assets.

• [By Robert Rapier]

  Foresight Energy Partners (NYSE: FELP), a coal producer operating four underground mining complexes in the Illinois Basin. FELP is one of the largest owners of coal reserves in the US, and claims to be the lowest cost and highest margin domestic thermal coal producer

• [By Robert Rapier]

  Foresight Energy Partners (NYSE: FELP) is a coal producer operating four underground mining complexes in the Illinois Basin. The partnership was formed in 2006 to develop and operate the Illinois mining assets of the Cline Group, a prominent mine developer. The $350 million IPO represented a 13.5 percent limited partner interest, putting the total market capitalization at $2.6 billion. The partnership has $1.3 billion of debt, giving it an enterprise value (EV) of $3.9 billion. The Cline Group owns 70 percent of the general partner, while private equity group Riverstone owns the other 30 percent.

source from Top Stocks For 2015:http://www.topstocksblog.com/top-10-gas-utility-companies-to-buy-for-2016.html

Best Defensive Companies To Watch In Right Now

For a company that trades largely on the basis of being a defensive stock with strong margins, 3M's (NYSE:MMM) repeated margin weakness in the second quarter is starting to become a cause for concern. Moreover, while 3M's growth doesn't look too bad compared to many of its peers, the relative comps are likely to get less favorable and 3M isn't really built to produce growth spurts. Much as I like and respect this company, the shares too look overpriced today and I'm considering selling my own shares.

Not A Very Good Quarter By Most Measures
3M gets a lot of credit for its strong margins, its defensive characteristics, and its strong global footprint. All of that may be true on balance, but it's hard to say that performance isn't eroding.

Revenue was up 3% this quarter, or a little more than 2% on an organic basis, with about three-quarters of that growth fueled by volume gains. Three of the five business units reported organic growth (with Industrial and Consumer at 3% and Health Care at 6%), while Safety/Graphics and Electronics/Energy both declined 2%.

Hot Transportation Stocks To Buy Right Now: ING US Inc (VOYA)

ING U.S., Inc., incorporated on April 7, 1999, is a retirement, investment and insurance company serving the financial needs of approximately 13 million individual and institutional customers in the United States. The Company offers its products and services through a group of financial intermediaries, independent producers, affiliated advisors and dedicated sales specialists throughout the United States. The Company operates its principal businesses through three business lines: Retirement Solutions, Investment Management and Insurance Solutions. In addition, it also has closed Blocks and corporate reporting segments. Closed Blocks consists of three businesses where it has placed its portfolios in run-off-Closed Block Variable Annuity, Closed Block Institutional Spread Products and Closed Block Other. The Company�� corporate segment includes its corporate activities and corporate-level assets and financial obligations.

Retirement Solutions

The Company is a provider of retirement services and products in the United States. The Company provides a product range addressing both the accumulation and income distribution needs of customers, through a distribution footprint of nearly 2,500 affiliated representatives and thousands of non-affiliated agents and third party administrators (TPAs). The Company�� Retirement Solutions business consists of two financial segments: Retirement and Annuities.

Retirement provides tax-deferred, employer-sponsored retirement savings plans and administrative services to more than 49,000 plan sponsors covering approximately 5.3 million plan participants in corporate, education, healthcare and government markets. Retirement also provides rollover IRAs, and other retail financial products as well as comprehensive financial advisory services to individual customers. Annuities provide fixed and indexed annuities, tax-qualified mutual fund custodial products and payout annuities for pre-retirement wealth accumulation and post-retirement i! ncome management sold through multiple channels.

Investment Management

The Company is a service asset manager delivering client-oriented investment solutions and advisory services. The Company serves both individual and institutional customers, offering them domestic and international fixed income, equity, multi-asset and alternative investment products and solutions across a range of geographies, investment styles and capitalization spectrums.

Insurance Solutions

The Company is a provider of life insurance in the United States. The Company�� Insurance Solutions business consists of two financial segments: Individual Life and Employee Benefits. Individual Life provides wealth protection and transfer opportunities through universal, variable, and term products, distributed through independent channels to meet the needs of a range of customers from the middle-market through affluent market segments. Employee Benefits provides stop loss, group life, voluntary employee-paid and disability products to mid-sized and large businesses.

Closed Blocks

The Company separated its Closed Block Variable Annuity and Closed Block Institutional Spread Products segments from its other operations, placing them in run-off, and made a strategic decision to stop actively writing new retail variable annuity products with substantial guarantee features and to run-off the institutional spread products portfolio over time. The Company�� focus in managing its Closed Block Variable Annuity segment is on protecting regulatory reserves.

The Company competes with Fidelity, Vanguard, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, TIAA-CREF and Ameriprise.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  The portfolio does have its biases. It owns companies that have exposure to the U.S. economy–and limits those with exposure to Europe and energy. The picks also appear to point towards a pickup in spending by middle-income families, as companies like J.C. Penney (JCP), which�Peery called a buy at the $7 level, figure prominently. Other stocks include Valspar (VAL), Pilgrim’s Pride (PPC) and Voya Financial (VOYA).

• [By Mike Deane]

  On Friday, Dutch company ING Groep announced that it will be selling off shares in the American arm of its firm, ING US Inc (VOYA).

  VOYA went public in May of this year, and its Dutch parent company currently holds a stake in 71% of the company. ING US will rebrand as Voya Financial, according to the Associated Press. ING Groerp did not disclose the timing or size of the sale.

  VOYA shares were down 48 cents, or 1.62%, at market close on Monday. YTD the company’s stock is up over 44%.

Best Defensive Companies To Watch In Right Now: BPZ Resources Inc (BPZ)

BPZ Resources, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, focuses on the exploration, development, and production of oil and natural gas in Peru and Ecuador. It owns rights and license agreements for oil and gas exploration and production covering approximately 2.2 million acres in 4 blocks in northwest Peru and off the northwest coast of Peru in the Gulf of Guayaquil. The company also owns a 10% non-operating net profits interest in an oil and gas producing property located in the southwest region of Ecuador. As of December 31, 2011, it had estimated net proved oil reserves of 34.7 million barrels (MMBbls) of crude oil or other liquid hydrocarbons, including 27.8 MMBbls were in the Corvina field and 6.9 MMBbls were from the Albacora field located in northwest Peru. The company was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lee Jackson]

  BPZ�Resources Inc. (NYSE: BPZ) may be a small cap investor’s dream stock to buy. Its first well drilled�in the Corvina�field since 2010 was spudded in late July and likely will take about 12 weeks. It will take another week or so to achieve a stabilized flow rate before results are reported to the market, which means it will not expect to hear anything until November. The Raymond James price target for the stock is $4.50, the same as the consensus target.

Best Defensive Companies To Watch In Right Now: China Lodging Group Limited (HTHT)

China Lodging Group, Limited, together with its subsidiaries, develops, operates, and manages a chain of hotels in the People?s Republic of China. It operates HanTing Express Hotel that targets knowledge workers and value-conscious travelers; HanTing Seasons Hotel, which targets mid-level corporate managers and owners of small and medium enterprises; and HanTing Hi Inn for budget-constrained travelers. As of March 31, 2011, the company had 473 hotels consisting of 259 leased-and-operated hotels and 214 franchised-and-managed hotels; and 162 hotels under development, including 74 leased-and-operated hotels and 88 franchised-and-managed hotels. China Lodging Group, Limited was incorporated in 2007 and is headquartered in Shanghai, the People?s Republic of China.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Seth Jayson]

  Calling all cash flows
  When you are trying to buy the market's best stocks, it's worth checking up on your companies' free cash flow once a quarter or so, to see whether it bears any relationship to the net income in the headlines. That's what we do with this series. Today, we're checking in on China Lodging Group (Nasdaq: HTHT  ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.

• [By Seth Jayson]

  Calling all cash flows
  When you are trying to buy the market's best stocks, it's worth checking up on your companies' free cash flow once a quarter or so, to see whether it bears any relationship to the net income in the headlines. That's what we do with this series. Today, we're checking in on China Lodging Group (Nasdaq: HTHT  ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.

Best Defensive Companies To Watch In Right Now: PIMCO Global StocksPLUS & Income Fund (PGP)

PIMCO Global StocksPLUS & Income Fund (the Fund) is a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company. The Fund invests in equity index derivative instruments relating to United States and non-United States markets, backed by a low-duration (1 to 3 year) debt portfolio with an average credit quality that is investment grade. The Fund's investment manager is Allianz Global Investors Fund Management LLC, which is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Allianz Global.

The Fund intends to gain substantially all of its equity index exposure by investing in equity index derivatives based on the Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Stock Price Index (S&P 500 Index), and the Morgan Stanley Capital International Europe, Australasia, Far East Index (the MSCI EAFE Index). Substantially all of the Fund's assets will be invested in a portfolio of income producing debt securities and debt-related derivative securities.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Robert Rapier]

  Note that the partnerships that have chosen to pay taxes as corporations are almost exclusively engaged in marine transportation. Outside of this category, the only publicly traded partnership that has chosen corporate taxation is Plains GP Holding (NYSE: PGP), the general partner for Plains All American Pipeline (NYSE: PAA).

• [By GURUFOCUS]

  Special Purpose Funds- Eaton Vance Tax-Adv. Global Dividend Oppor. Fund (ETO) | Yield: 7.3%
  - The Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust (GLU) | Yield: 6.2%
  - Pimco Global Stocksplus Income Fund (PGP) | Yield: 9.5%
  - LMP Real Estate Income Fund Inc. (RIT) | Yield: 7.0%

Best Defensive Companies To Watch In Right Now: Jazz Pharmaceuticals Inc.(JAZZ)

Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company, engages in the identification, development, and commercialization of pharmaceutical products to meet unmet medical needs. The company markets Xyrem, a sodium oxybate oral solution for the treatment of both cataplexy and excessive daytime sleepiness in patients with narcolepsy; and Luvox CR extended-release capsules for the treatment of obsessive compulsive disorder. Its product candidates under clinical development include JZP-6, a Phase III pivotal clinical trials completed product for the treatment of fibromyalgia; and JZP-8, an intranasal formulation of clonazepam, which has completed Phase II clinical trial for the treatment of acute repetitive seizures in epilepsy and solid oral dosage forms of sodium oxybate. The company sells its products through specialty sales force targeting sleep specialists, psychiatrists, neurologists, and pulmonologists. Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inc. was founded in 2003 and is headq uartered in Palo Alto, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Myra Ramdenbourg]

  Jazz Pharmaceuticals PLC (JAZZ): EVP and CFO Kathryn E. Falberg Sold 2,000 Shares

  On 02/12/2014, EVP and CFO Kathryn E. Falberg sold 2,000 shares at an average price of $157. The price of the stock has decreased by 1.12% since. Jazz Pharmaceuticals PLC has a market cap of $9.01 billion and its shares were traded at around $155.24. The company has a P/E ratio of 44.00 and P/S ratio of 10.96. Over the past five years, Jazz Pharmaceuticals PLC had an annual average earnings growth of 68.30%.

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Shares of Jazz Pharmaceuticals Public Limited Company (NASDAQ: JAZZ) got a boost, shooting up 7.77 percent to $123.65 after the company announced its plans to buy Gentium SpA (NASDAQ: GENT) for around $1 billion.

• [By Jayson Derrick]

  Analysts at Barclays reinstated coverage of Jazz Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: JAZZ) with an Overweight rating and $200 price target. Shares gained 2.48 percent, closing at $155.24.

• [By MONEYMORNING]

  That story suggested Jazz Pharmaceuticals PLC (Nasdaq: JAZZ) and Alkermes PLC (Nasdaq: ALKS) could be targets, as well.

  More drug stocks to buy now: One of the big organic and strategic growth opportunities for the pharmaceutical industry is for generic drugs in the emerging markets. Take a look at four ways to capitalize on this trend.

Best Defensive Companies To Watch In Right Now: AVG Technologies NV (AVG)

AVG Technologies N.V. (AVG), incorporated on March 3, 2011, provides software and online services. The Company is primarily engaged in the development and sale of Internet security software and online service solutions branded under the AVG name. The Company�� solutions include software and online services, include security, personal computer (PC) management, online backup and other products. As of December 31, 2011, the Company had approximately 15 million subscription users. AVG�� portfolio consists of Anti-Virus suite, Internet Security suite, Premium Security suite, AVG Mobilation, AVG Threatlabs, Family Safety, TuneUp Utilities and PC Tuneup, LiveKive and MultiMi. On January 4, 2011, the Company acquired DroidSecurity Ltd. On March 3, 2011, the Company established AVG Holding Cooperatief U.A. On May 18, 2011, the Company acquired iMedix Web Technologies Ltd. In August 2011, it acquired TuneUp Software GmbH. On August 19, 2011, AVG Technologies GER GmbH acquired TuneUp Software GmbH. On October 31, 2011, AVG Technologies Holdings B.V. acquired AVG Distribution Switzerland AG. In November 2011, the Company acquired Bsecure Solutions, Inc. On January 13, 2012, AVG Technologies USA, Inc. acquired OpenInstall, Inc. In May 2013, AVG Technologies NV acquired online privacy organisation PrivacyChoice.

The Company�� products include AVG Internet Security, AVG Anti-Virus, AVG Email Server Edition, AVG File Server Edition, AVG Linux Server Edition, AVG Rescue CD and AVG Remote Administration. The Company�� subsidiaries include AVG Technologies USA Inc., AVG Technologies CZ, s.r.o., AVG Technologies UK Ltd, AVG Exploit Prevention Labs, Inc., AVG Technologies GER, GmbH, AVG Technologies FRA SAS, AVG Technologies HK, Limited, AVG (Beijing) Internet Security Technologies Company Limited, AVG Mobile Technologies Ltd, AVG Netherlands B.V., AVG Ecommerce CY Ltd, AVG Technologies Holding B.V., TuneUp Software GmbH, TuneUp Distribution GmbH, TuneUp Corporation and AVG Distribution Switzerland AG! .

The Company competes with Microsoft, Google, Apple, Qihoo, Tencent, Facebook, UniBlue, Symantec, Trend Micro, Avast!, Avira, Symantec, Carbonite, Dropbox, Intel Corporation, Trend Micro, Eset, Kaspersky Labs, Panda Software, Sophos, Rising, Kingsoft, Check Point and F-Secure.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Seth Jayson]

  AVG Technologies (NYSE: AVG  ) reported earnings on April 24. Here are the numbers you need to know.

  The 10-second takeaway
  For the quarter ended March 31 (Q1), AVG Technologies beat expectations on revenues and crushed expectations on earnings per share.

• [By MONEYMORNING]

  For instance, in the March 15 Private Briefing report, "Double Your Money With this Cyber-Hacking of America Stock," we recommended AVG Technologies NV (NYSE: AVG), an Amsterdam-based cybersecurity whose shares we believed were good for a 100% gain in a year.

• [By Igor Novgorodtsev]

  InterActiveCorp (IACI) bought Ask.com for $1.85 billion in 2005. The new Perion will be worth only about 40% of that. After the merger, Perion will leapfrog its much larger rivals: Babylon and AVG (AVG). Finally, Perion should be able to increase its operating margins as it can spread its SG&A costs over a much larger base (Conduit EBITDA margin is 32% vs. Perion's 23%). Perion will keep its senior management team intact: Josef Mandelbaum will remain its CEO and Yacov Kaufman its CFO. Perion has successfully orchestrated a roll-up acquisitions of privately-held Sweetpacks and Smilebox, so I have high confidence that they know how to integrate a new business.