5 Best Valued Stocks To Buy Right Now

Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT  ) claimed 10% of the 20 contracts the Pentagon awarded Monday, winning a total of about $20 million in new government work. Specifically:

Lockheed's Integrated Systems unit was awarded $8 million as a modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to provide information technology services to Army offices at the Pentagon, and elsewhere in the National Capital Region. The Department of Defense confirms that this award raises the cumulative face value of this contract to $49.7 million. Lockheed also won a cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to perform support services in the field upon PATRIOT Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) surface-to-air-missile batteries. This contract is valued at up to $12 million. Work is to be performed both domestically in Dallas, El Paso, and Killeen, Texas, and in Lawton, Okla., and Fayetteville, N.C., but also abroad at locations in Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Germany, South Korea, Japan, and Turkey.�DoD did not classify this contract award as a foreign military sales contract, however, suggesting the foreign work will be done at U.S. Army bases abroad.�

Lockheed describes the PAC-3, a "hit-to-kill" missile, as "the world's most advanced, capable, and powerful terminal air defense missile" and bills it as capable of shooting down everything from aircraft and cruise missiles to tactical ballistic missiles.

5 Best Valued Stocks To Buy Right Now: Dollar Tree Inc.(DLTR)

Dollar Tree, Inc. operates discount variety stores in the United States and Canada. Its stores offer merchandise primarily at the fixed price of $1.00. The company operates its stores under the names of Dollar Tree, Deal$, Dollar Tree Deal$, Dollar Giant, and Dollar Bills. Its stores offer consumable merchandise, including candy and food, and health and beauty care, as well as household consumables, such as paper, plastics, household chemicals, in select stores, and frozen and refrigerated food; variety merchandise, which includes toys, durable housewares, gifts, party goods, greeting cards, softlines, and other items; and seasonal goods, such as Easter, Halloween, and Christmas merchandise. As of April 30, 2011, it operated 4,089 stores in 48 states and the District of Columbia, as well as 88 stores in Canada. The company was founded in 1986 and is based in Chesapeake, Virginia.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Shares of Supervalu have dropped 8.3% to $6.31 at 2:59 p.m., within spitting distance of Goldman’s $6 target price, while competitors Family Dollar Stores (FDO) has gained 0.2% to $70.16,�Dollar General�(DG) has fallen 0.4% t0 $59.02,�Dollar Tree (DLTR) is off 1% to $59.33 and Wal-Mart (WMT) is little changed at $79.19.

5 Best Valued Stocks To Buy 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 Inc. in 1986. Caterpillar Inc. was founded in 1925 and is headquartered in Peoria, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Nikolaj Gammeltoft]

  Caterpillar (CAT) slid 4.2 percent to $82.06 for the steepest loss in the Dow. Earnings for the world�� largest maker of mining and construction machinery trailed analysts��estimates for a third straight quarter and cut its forecast as mining-equipment sales declined on slower commodity demand from emerging markets.

• [By WALLSTCHEATSHEET.COM]

  Caterpillar is a provider of construction and related industrial products and services during a time where countries around the world are seeing expansion. The stock has not done so well in the last year as it trades at the low-end of an established price range. Over the last four quarters, earnings and revenue figures have been mixed which has surprisingly sat well with investors in the company. Relative to its peers and sector, Caterpillar has been a poor year-to-date performer. WAIT AND SEE what Caterpillar does in coming quarters.

• [By Taylor Muckerman and Joel South]

  On the heels of a better-than-expected release from Peabody Energy (NYSE: BTU  ) and expectations from Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT  ) that coal prices could rise somewhat in 2013, both businesses might be set to succeed in tandem. The price of natural gas has been climbing rapidly to start 2013, which should help coal regain some traction. And its East Coast export facility continues to provide access to the demanding European market. In the following video, Taylor Muckerman expects some positive news on Thursday and thinks you should, too.

10 Best Gold Stocks For 2015: Schlumberger N.V.(SLB)

Schlumberger Limited, together with its subsidiaries, supplies technology, integrated project management, and information solutions to the oil and gas exploration and production industries worldwide. The company?s Oilfield Services segment provides exploration and production services; wireline technology that offers open-hole and cased-hole services; supplies engineering support, directional-drilling, measurement-while-drilling, and logging-while-drilling services; and testing services. This segment also offers well services; supplies well completion services and equipment; artificial lift; data and consulting services; geo services; and information solutions, such as consulting, software, information management system, and IT infrastructure services that support oil and gas industry. Its WesternGeco segment provides reservoir imaging, monitoring, and development services; and operates data processing centers and multiclient seismic library. This segment also offers variou s services include 3D and time-lapse (4D) seismic surveys to multi-component surveys for delineating prospects and reservoir management. The company?s M-I SWACO segment supplies drilling fluid systems to improve drilling performance; fluid systems and specialty tools to optimize wellbore productivity; production technology solutions to maximize production rates; and environmental solutions that manages waste volumes generated in drilling and production operations. Its Smith Oilfield segment designs, manufactures, and markets drill bits and borehole enlargement tools; and supplies drilling tools and services, tubular, completion services, and other related downhole solutions. The company?s Distribution segment markets pipes, valves, and fittings, as well as mill, safety, and other maintenance products. This segment also provides warehouse management, vendor integration, and inventory management services. Schlumberger Limited was founded in 1927 and is based in Houston, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Duprey]

  But with two agencies seemingly giving the procedure a green light to continue, the Justice Department is stepping in to investigate supposed anticompetitive practices. Halliburton (NYSE: HAL  ) , the favorite whipping post of environmental activists, is the industry leader, with an estimated 29% share of the pressure pumping market, while Baker Hughes had a 4% share.�Schlumberger (NYSE: SLB  ) , which is the second biggest services provider with a 21% share, hasn't said whether it's received any inquiries from the government.

• [By Aaron Levitt]

  Sanctions that keep Western oil service firms — like Halliburton (HAL) and Schlumberger (SLB) �� from doing business in Iran remain firmly in place. That’s a huge issue because Iran needs their help in order to get oil flowing and keep it flowing. Like much of the Middle East, Iran is facing the problem of dwindling output from its legacy oil fields and needs some Western-style technology to keep pumping.

• [By Aaron Levitt]

  For investors, oil stocks are certainly shining this earnings season. OXY and BP, as well previous reports by Schlumberger (SLB) and Halliburton (HAL), are proving that fact.

• [By Jim Jubak]

  And a few attractive names are down even more. Schlumberger (SLB), for instance, is down 7.1% from November 11 through December 4, and Middleby (MIDD) is down 8.8% from October 25 through December 4.

5 Best Valued Stocks To Buy Right Now: Tupperware Corporation(TUP)

Tupperware Brands Corporation operates as a direct seller of various products across a range of brands and categories through an independent sales force. The company engages in the manufacture and sale of kitchen and home products, and beauty and personal care products. It offers preparation, storage, and serving solutions for the kitchen and home, as well as kitchen cookware and tools, children?s educational toys, microwave products, and gifts under the Tupperware brand name primarily in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, the Asia Pacific, and North America. The company provides beauty and personal care products, which include skin care products, cosmetics, bath and body care, toiletries, fragrances, nutritional products, apparel, and related products principally in Mexico, South Africa, the Philippines, Australia, and Uruguay. It offers beauty and personal care products under the Armand Dupree, Avroy Shlain, BeautiControl, Fuller, NaturCare, Nutrimetics, Nuvo, and Swissgar de brand names. The company sells its Tupperware products directly to distributors, directors, managers, and dealers; and beauty products primarily through consultants and directors. As of December 26, 2009, the Tupperware distribution system had approximately 1,800 distributors, 61,300 managers, and 1.3 million dealers; and the sales force representing the Beauty businesses approximately 1.1 million. The company was formerly known as Tupperware Corporation and changed its name to Tupperware Brands Corporation in December 2005. The company was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Orlando, Florida.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Oliver Pursche]

  European large-cap pharmaceuticals like Novartis (NVS) �and Bristol Meyers Squibb (BMY) �count amongst some of our favorite stocks right now, as do U.S. multinationals that are growing revenue and margins in Asia ��Tupperware (TUP) �is a shining example. Stay away from utilities and energy stocks, as they are likely to be the laggards over the next year.

• [By Eric Volkman]

  Tupperware Brands (NYSE: TUP  ) is reaching into its corporate bowl for a fresh payout to shareholders. The company has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.62 per share. This will be paid on July 8 to stockholders of record as of June 19. That amount matches the firm's previous distribution, which was paid in early April. Prior to that, Tupperware Brands was rather less generous, handing out $0.36 per share.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Shares of Herbalife have gained 0.9% to $79.51 this morning in pre-open trading. Its shares have gained 139% this year, a nice gain, but lagging Nu Skin Enterprises 271% rise. Avon Products�(AVP), another multi-level marketer, has gained 21% so far this year, while Tupperware Brands�(TUP) has risen 49%.

• [By John Udovich]

  Everyone is familiar with�the Tupperware brand from�consumer products stock Tupperware Brands Corporation (NYSE: TUP) and you are probably familiar with the brands�of mid cap stock Jarden Corp (NYSE: JAH) along with small cap stocks Libbey Inc (NYSEMKT: LBY) and Lifetime Brands Inc (NASDAQ: LCUT); but what about the stocks themselves? Chances are, their brands or products are right under your nose at home and you probably don�� know anything about the mid cap or small cap stock behind them.

5 Cheap Ways to Buy Global Growth in 2014

Popular Posts: 10 Cheap Stocks to Buy Under $105 Cheap Tech Stocks to Buy Now5 Simple Ways to Invest $1,000 Now Recent Posts: 5 Cheap Ways to Buy Global Growth in 2014 10 Cheap Stocks to Buy Under $10 5 Simple Ways to Invest $1,000 Now View All Posts

There's a lot of talk about how U.S. stocks have run up a lot in 2013, and that valuations are getting a bit stretched.

Right now the S&P 500 trades for a current P/E of about 19.9 and a forward P/E of 16.3 based on data from Finviz.com. And investors should easily be able to name a few stocks that trade for tremendous earnings multiples — Amazon (AMZN), Twitter (TWTR) and Tesla (TSLA) being the prime examples.

So will the run continue for these stocks? Maybe. After all, multiple expansion is the hallmark of a bull market and its not necessarily a sign of disaster to see high-growth companies trading at big valuations. I mean, AMZN stock is up 44% in the last year and 600% since 2009 with barely a downtick despite trading at a steep premium to earnings.

But if you're an investor who wants to look for some value investments as well as some growth investments, you may have to look overseas for companies trading at deep discounts to earnings, sales or book value.

Here are 5 cheap countries to consider, and the ETFs and stocks that will let you play them — without making a single trade on foreign stock exchanges:

South Africa

Among U.S.-listed stocks that trade as ADRs, South African issues total a market capitalization of a little less than $40 billion. That makes South Africa the 25th most valuable region by assets — straddled by Sweden at No. 24 and Argentina at No. 26.

But South Africa is an interesting play for 2014 in that it is the best way to directly invest in sub-Saharan Africa and all it's growth potential. And with forward P/E of just 9.3, it's also a pretty decent value play at the same time.

Charles Sizemore, editor of Macro Trend Investor, is a massive bull on Africa in general:

"It's the last major investment frontier, and the growth is very real. Per capita GDP has more than doubled in the past decade, and according to Deloitte, seven of the 10 fastest-growing countries in the world are in Africa."

So how can you play this trend if you want to share in the potential of South Africa?

For starters, there's the iShares MSCI South Africa ETF (EZA). The fund is down about 11% in the last year, but remember that emerging markets dramatically underperformed across the board in 2013. And if you believe in value investing, this may be a good opportunity to buy.

If you want to play stocks directly, one great options is telecom play MTN Group (MTNOY). Smartphones can provide even remote villages tremendous communications and commerce power to unlock growth, and MTN is a key part of that narrative across Africa. Chemicals and energy company Sasol (SSL) is more of a cyclical play but also headquartered in South Africa.

South Korea

Though North Korea clearly has its problems under the Kim regime, South Korea is very much an emerging western power with a functional government and economy.

The Korea Stock Exchange, or KOSPI, is valued at roughly $1 trillion — with heavyweight Samsung (SSNLF) representing almost 20% of that total.

Of course, Samsung's massive presence has weighed on the region lately. In the last 12 months, the iShares MSCI South Korea Index Fund (EWY) has declined about 4%, pretty much the same performance as Samsung's stock.

But after the declines, there may be good value to be found. South Korean stocks that trade on U.S. exchanges have an average P/E of around 9.6 according to Finviz, and also trade at about a 40% discount to sales and a 40% discount to book value.

The EWY fund is about 20% allocated in Samsung if you want to play the region broadly instead of simply in the tech and industrial giant itself. After all, Samsung is clearly a global play and not just a Korean one.

Other options include Korean steel giant Posco (PKX), though admittedly this is much more of a global player and subject to commodity trends instead of South Korean growth.

France

Lest you think only emerging markets and frontier markets have value, consider the developed economy of France if you're looking for a bargain buy. The region trades for a forward price-to-earnings ratio of about 10.0 and a 20% discount to sales.

Surprising? Well, you'll probably find this even more interesting: French stocks are up about 20% in the last six months or so to almost double the performance of the S&P 500. So this discount valuation comes even after a decent period of growth.

So how can you play this trend? The iShares MSCI France ETF (EWQ) is one way, via a diversified fund that owns some of the biggest names in France. There's also oil giant Total (TOT), which is headquartered in France but has a global flavor, as well as French healthcare giant Sanofi (SNY)

But if you want a true French investment, consider French financial giant Societe Generale (SCGLY). Soc Gen is a giant in retail and investment banking for the nation, with a market cap of almost $50 billion. And like American banks, SCGLY is a focused play on a cyclical recovery that results in increased business and consumer lending.

China

This is one of my personal favorite regions for investment in 2014.

There’s no doubt that China is evolving from an emerging economy to a developed one, and that evolution is going to come with growing pains.

But China just projected that its GDP likely grew at 7.6% in 2013 — above the 7.5% forecast set in March, and down only 0.1 percentage points from 2012 GDP. And while early last year we saw trouble in manufacturing and exports, those trends have started to stabilize and move in the right direction.

From a valuation perspective, China is cheap compared with future earnings. Chinese stocks have a forward P/E of about 10.6, trading at a price/sales ratio of 0.65 for a 35% discount. Also, The PEG ratio — that is, the price compared with earnings growth — is attractive. Furthermore, Hong-Kong based companies that do a lot of business in China are also looking cheap. The P/E for this neighboring nation is 10.7.

Of course, China stocks got gutted in 2013, so some investors are still leery. Furthermore, risks of opacity or corruption thanks to the command-and-control government in Beijing are very real.

So if you want to play China, I advise a broad play via the SPDR S&P China ETF (GXC). It's reasonably cheap with expenses of 0.59%, or $59 annually for every $10,000 invested. It's also much more diversified with only three stocks allocated at over 3% of the fund and no pick over 7% allocation. That's much safer than the more popular iShares FTSE China Large Cap ETF (FXI), whose top five holdings have a massive 40% allocation collectively.

If you want a direct play on China, one of the few individual equities I feel comfortable owning is oil giant CNOOC (CEO). It's a state-run oil company that is a decent play on the region's growth, and also a decent bargain right now.

Russia

Russia may want to act like the top-down approach of the Soviet-era is a thing of the past, however this nation shares many of the same problems with China in regards to government interference and corruption.

But in contrast to China, the growth isn't as impressive. Russia's economy is projected to grow about 2.6% after a pretty weak 1.5% expansion in GDP for 2013.

So why buy Russia?

Well, because the BRICS have been pretty much left for dead lately. As a result, Russian stocks on U.S. exchanges typically have a forward P/E of about 11.3 and trade at or slightly below book value.

And when you talk about untapped potential, Russia could be one of those regions like China that sees explosive growth once it manages to leverage its massive population and resources in the right way.

This pick is even riskier than China, so your best bet is the diversified Market Vector Russia ETF (RSX).

But if you want to roll the dice on a risky but high-reward play, consider telecom giant Yandex (YNDX). This company is actually based in the Netherlands, but operates the leading Russian web portal, with search and email services. It's essentially the Google (GOOG) of Russia.

Jeff Reeves is the editor of InvestorPlace.com and the author of The Frugal Investor's Guide to Finding Great Stocks. As of this writing, he did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities. Write him at editor@investorplace.com or follow him on Twitter via @JeffReevesIP. 

Groupon stumbles on earnings report

Groupon, which misstepped with a President's Day promotion honoring "President" Andrew Hamilton, hit stride on Wall Street Thursday, then stumbled again after reporting higher fourth-quarter revenue but said 2014 earnings would be only slightly above 2013 levels.

The discount coupon giant posted fourth-quarter revenue of $768.4 million, up 20% from the year-ago quarter. Full year revenue rose 10% to $2.6 billion. But the company posted losses of amounting to 12 cents a share for the quarter, unchanged from 2012. But the company said investments in recent acquisitions such as Ticket Monster would increase 2014 costs and curb full year earnings.

Groupon shares, which closed up 2.6% to $10.28, surged more than 15% to $11.88 in after hours trading following the company's earnings 4 p.m. earnings release. But shares quickly reversed, trading off over 5% at $9.73.

CEO Eric Lefkofsky said the company had gained momentum from holiday shoppers. Nearly 50% of December customer deals were made on mobile devices.

Groupon shares had been down more than 10% since the start of the year. The President's Day marketing gaffe didn't help its image. Hamilton, the face on $10 bills and the nation's first Treasury Secretary, was featured in $10 discount promotion that fast became a joke, gaining derision from middle school history teachers to Madison Avenue.

Groupon did not comment for several days, then claimed the marketing effort featuring Hamilton as "undeniably one of our greatest presidents,'' was an intentional, attention-getting stunt.

The Chicago-based company is known for quirkiness. A 2011 Super Bowl ad, intended to parody celebrity charity endorsements, was widely criticized. Then founder and CEO Andrew Mason didn't apologize.

"Our ads highlight the often trivial nature of stuff on Groupon when juxtaposed against bigger world issues, making fun of Groupon, then founder and CEO Andrew Mason said in post Super Bowl blog post. "Why make fun of ourselves? Because it's d! ifferent - ads are traditionally about shameless self-promotion, and we've always strived to have a more honest and respectful conversation with our customers."

Mason was ousted in February 2013, famously tweeting in uncharacteristic CEO fashion; "I was fired today."

follow Strauss on twitter @gbstrauss

Stocks to Watch: Forest Labs, Coca-Cola, Waste Management

Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in Tuesday’s session are Forest Laboratories Inc.(FRX), Coca-Cola Co.(KO) and Waste Management Inc.(WM)

Actavis(ACT) PLC confirmed plans to acquire rival drug maker Forest Labs in a cash-and-stock deal that values Forest at about $25 billion. Shares of Forest Labs rose 30% to $93.06 premarket. Actavis shares rose 8.2% to $207.70.

Coca-Cola said it is looking for ways to “restore momentum” as it posted lower fourth-quarter results that concluded a challenging year for the soft-drink giant. Coke’s revenue for the quarter missed Wall Street expectations, while profit declined. Shares dropped 1.6% to $38.32 premarket.

Waste Management swung to a fourth-quarter loss as the waste-disposal company posted high asset impairment charges and reported higher accruals from incentive compensation. Adjusted bottom-line results missed estimates, and the company offered a disappointing earnings outlook for 2014. Shares dropped 3.4% to $42.20 premarket.

Navidea Biopharmaceuticals Inc.(NAVB) said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted a priority review for an expanded use of its Lymphoseek drug for some patients with head and neck cancer. Shares dropped 5.4% to $1.97 premarket.

Prana Biotechnology Ltd.(PBT.AU) said its experimental treatment for Huntington disease met its primary goals of safety as well as significant improvement in cognitive function in a Phase II study. Shares rose 17% to $8.45 in recent premarket trading.

Ameren Corp.(AEE) named Warner L. Baxter as its new chief executive, replacing Thomas R. Voss, who is retiring from the utility operator. Mr. Baxter will take on the new position on April 24, at which time Mr. Voss will become executive chairman.

Duke Energy Corp.(DUK) said its fourth-quarter earnings rose a bigger-than-expected 58%, helped by strength in its regulated utilities and international businesses.

Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc.(FDP) said sales rose in the fourth quarter, driven by a surge in its banana business. The company, however, posted a wider net loss due to higher impairment charges and costs.

Medtronic Inc.(MDT) said its fiscal third-quarter earnings fell 23% on a big write-down related to the medical-device maker’s renal denervation program that masked revenue growth. The company narrowed its earnings forecast for the year.

Rothesay Life Ltd. agreed to buy MetLife Inc.'s(MET) U.K.-based annuity pension unit as it continues to build out its annuity portfolio. Financial terms of the deal, which is expected to close in the second quarter, weren’t disclosed.

NiSource Inc.(NI) said its fourth-quarter profit rose 13% as all three of the utility company’s segments posted revenue growth. But the top line missed estimates.

Stryker Corp.(SYK) agreed to acquire privately held surgical-equipment company Berchtold Holding AG for an enterprise value of $172 million. Berchtold, which has operations in Germany and the U.S., generated sales of roughly $125 million last year. The company’s products include surgical tables, equipment booms and surgical lighting systems.

Plug Power Inc (NASDAQ:PLUG) and FedEx Corporation (NYSE:FDX): A Green Producing Relationship

Plug Power Inc (NASDAQ:PLUG) shares are getting the juice today. Shares of the alternative energy technology are up nearly 40% today following news that PLUG will develop hydrogen fuel cell range extenders for 20 FedEx Corporation (NYSE:FDX) electric delivery trucks.

The range extenders will nearly double the amount of territory the FDX vehicles can cover with one charge. As it stands now, the electric FedEx trucks are limited to traveling about 80 miles per charge. So, the new range will extend to nearly 160 miles, which covers nearly all of the FDX's delivery routes.

[Related -FedEx Corporation (NYSE:FDX) Q2 Preview: Can FedEx Deliver Another Earnings Upside?]

While the initial focus of investors is on PLUG, let's take a look at what the benefit could be for FDX by moving to more electric routes. We'll have a follow up story on PLUG tomorrow.

The best we can tell, FedEx currently has somewhere close to 43 electric vehicles in its fleet, according to statisticbrain.com. In a 2011 opinion article in Fortune, FDX Chief Executive Frederick W. Smith says the company's couriers travel 2.5 million miles using 70,000 motorized vehicles worldwide -- nearly every single one of which is fueled by oil.

Considering modest improvements in the global economy, iStock would anticipate that the miles driven, and number of vehicles is up since the February 2011 piece, which called for an energy "solution that may become economically attractive sooner than most think: cars and trucks powered by electricity."

[Related -Plug Power Inc (PLUG) Q3 Earnings Preview: Another Swing And Miss?]

It would be a mistake for investors to consider today's news as a one-off event given the CEO's green quest – connect the dots. If today's initial test proves successful, we'd expect the relationship to expand. Smith says, "Early results confirm that the costs of operating and maintaining electric vehicles are significantly less than those for traditional internal-combustion-engine vehicles. In some cases we've achieved savings of 70% to 80%."

FDX's most recent 10-Q showed fuel to be the third largest operating expense at 9.9% of sales in the last three months and 10% for the last six months. The delivery company spent $2.42 billion on fuel for the six months ended November 30, 2013. That's some serious cheese.

Now, some of the fuel costs are for Jet Fuel and don't apply to electric vehicles – not sure how safe an electric powered plane sounds. FDX's financial statements do not break our fuel costs by ground versus air, but we can make a calculated guess. If the FedEx Express segment's (which includes airplanes) fuel cost were divided 60% aircraft to 40% vehicles, then trucks and vans company-wide would account for $1.075 billion in costs for the first six months and closer to $2 billion per year.

Plug Power says its range extender solution could cut fuel expenses by approximately 35 to 40%. The difference between Smith's numbers and PLUG's is probably due to the cost of the batteries, which are most likely not included in Smith's calculations.

At the low end, 35% saved from $2 billion equals $750 million. That could mean an additional $2.40 per share a year in earnings for FDX using 312.23 million shares outstanding.

During the last five-years, FedEx's average price-to-earnings ratio was 29.44. An additional $2.40 per share in EPS would equal $70.66, which could add nearly 50% to the current stock price.

Overall: The Plug Power Inc (NASDAQ:PLUG) and FedEx Corporation (NYSE:FDX) could add up to some serious green for both companies if today's range extender news eventually extends to FedEx's full-fleet, which is something CEO Fred Smith seems to have on his wish-list. 

Is the next Silicon Valley in Columbus, Ohio?

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Chris Olsen believes the next great tech firm could emerge right here from the heartland.

Sure, Silicon Valley is home to most huge tech household names (Apple, Facebook, Twitter, eBay and so many more), with New York (Tumblr) and Boston (Trip Advisor) creeping up, but as he sees it, why not Ohio or Michigan?

Hundreds of brilliant engineers are churned out yearly from top Midwestern schools like Ohio State University and University of Michigan. Graduates shouldn't have to leave for California to get funding for their dreams, he says.

So Olsen is literally putting investors' money where his mouth is, with a $250 million fund to bankroll tech start-ups from the Midwest.

"Silicon Valley is great," he says. "But everyone forgets that 40 years ago it was just apple fields and orchards. When we look around the Midwest, we see a lot of the raw ingredients for what could potentially be a great economic driver for tech, which over time will create great industries."

Olsen and partner Mark Kvamme are general partners at Drive Capital, which is based in the heart of Ohio's capital city here, in the city's trendy Short North district. It's a quick hop from 50,000 student-plus Ohio State University, in a historic neighborhood lined with funky coffee shops, antique stores and fancy restaurants.

Olsen and Kvamme are Ohio natives who worked together at the Silicon Valley-based Sequoia Capital firm. Sequoia's hit list includes some of the most successful tech firms ever, including Google, Apple, YouTube, PayPal, Instagram, Yahoo and Zappos.

At Sequoia, Olsen and Kvamme helped fund over 20 companies, including LinkedIn and comedy website Funny or Die. Kvamme left Sequoia to return to Ohio to work with the state economic development team. He liked what he saw and convinced Olsen to return and open a VC firm focused on the Midwest.

Their territory extends from Ann Arbor, Mich., and Pittsburgh through the three Ohio cities — Columbus, Cleveland and Cincinna! ti — and Indianapolis, Kansas City, Chicago and Minneapolis.

So far, the pair have invested in four Midwest companies, including Cincinnati-based travel advice website Roadtrippers, Chicago-based Channel IQ, which helps manufacturers set prices, Ann Arbor's farm software firm FarmLogs, and Columbus-based health care firm CrossChx.

James Fisher picked up $2.5 million for his Roadtrippers after Drive met him in Cincinnati, where Roadtrippers was based in the four-month Brandery accelerator program. He had expected to eventually find funding in California — and was pleasantly surprised when he didn't have to leave, he says.

Can the Drive Capital dream come true for others?

"Absolutely," says Fisher. "There are plenty of really smart people here."

James Fisher, co-founder of Cincinnati-based Roadtrippers, received $2.5 million in funding from Drive Capital.(Photo: Jefferson Graham, USA TODAY)

Drive isn't the only Midwest VC firm. Chicago has two — Arch Venture Partners and Pritzker Group Venture Capital, while Milwaukee has Capital Midwest Fund and Minneapolis has Split Rock Partners.

In the Midwest, tech successes include Groupon and GrubHub (Chicago), the big Google high-speed Internet project in Kansas City, Angie's List in Indianapolis, and Duolingo, the Pittsburgh-based app that teaches languages. It was created by a Carnegie Mellon professor and his student. Apple in 2013 selected Duolingo as the app of the year.

On the plus side,! the Midw! est offers far cheaper real estate than Silicon Valley, and engineer salaries are also much lower.

But the region has extreme weather (many schools and offices have had closures this year due to extensive snow) and the community of talent is much smaller.

The partners spend much of their time driving or flying to nearby cities, but Kvamme says that with traffic in Silicon Valley, it can take as much time to get from Columbus to nearby Cincinnati (90 minutes) as it does from San Jose to San Francisco.

And as Olsen reminds, not all tech is born in California or East Coast tech hubs.

"It doesn't just happen at Stanford and MIT," he says. "These students graduate with tech degrees and are more than capable of building these products."

Kvamme says traditional investors have signed up to be part of his fund, including university endowments, charitable foundations and pension funds. "They all believed in the premise that you don't have to be in Silicon Valley to start a great tech firm."

Readers: Can Columbus become the next hotbed for tech? What do you think? Let's chat about it on Twitter, where I'm @Jeffersongraham.

4 Stocks Under $10 Moving Higher

DELAFIELD, Wis. (Stockpickr) -- At Stockpickr, we track daily portfolios of stocks that are the biggest percentage gainers and the biggest percentage losers.

>>5 Stocks Ready to Explode Higher

Stocks that are making large moves like these are favorites among short-term traders because they can jump into these names and try to capture some of that massive volatility. Stocks that are making big-percentage moves either up or down are usually in play because their sector is becoming attractive or they have a major fundamental catalyst such as a recent earnings release. Sometimes stocks making big moves have been hit with an analyst upgrade or an analyst downgrade.

Regardless of the reason behind it, when a stock makes a large-percentage move, it is often just the start of a new major trend -- a trend that can lead to huge profits. If you time your trade correctly, combining technical indicators with fundamental trends, discipline and sound money management, you will be well on your way to investment success.

>>5 Oversold Stocks Ready to Rebound

With that in mind, let's take a closer look at a several stocks under $10 that are making large moves to the upside.

Acura Pharmaceuticals

Acura Pharmaceuticals (ACUR), a specialty pharmaceutical company, engages in the research, development, and commercialization of product candidates intended to address medication abuse and misuse utilizing its proprietary Aversion and Impede technologies. This stock closed up 5.3% to $1.76 in Thursday's trading session.

Thursday's Range: $1.67-$1.77

52-Week Range: $1.35-$3.78

Thursday's Volume: 399,000

Three-Month Average Volume: 215,069

From a technical perspective, ACUR spiked sharply higher here right off its 50-day moving average of $1.68 with above-average volume. This move is starting to push shares of ACUR within range of triggering a big breakout trade. That trade will hit if ACUR manages to take out Thursday's high of $1.77 to its 200-day moving average of $1.82 and then once it clears some more resistance at $1.91 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in ACUR as long as it's trending above some key near-term support levels at $1.65 or at $1.59 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 215,069 shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then ACUR will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $2.23 to $2.59.

Parkervision

Parkervision (PRKR) designs, develops, and markets proprietary radio frequency (RF) technologies and products for use in semiconductor circuits for wireless communication products in the U.S. This stock closed up 2.9% to $4.62 a share in Thursday's trading session.

Thursday's Range: $4.47-$4.72

52-Week Range: $2.16-$7.78

Thursday's Volume: 419,000

Three-Month Average Volume: 884,027

From a technical perspective, PRKR spiked notably higher here right above some near-term support at $4.43 with lighter-than-average volume. This stock has been trending sideways and consolidating for the last two months and change, with shares moving between $4 on the downside and $5.30 on the upside. Shares of PRKR are now starting to trend within range of triggering a major breakout trade. That trade will hit if PRKR manages to take out some near-term overhead resistance levels at $4.93 to $5.12 and then $5.30 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in PRKR as long as it's trending its 200-day at $4.13 or above $4 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 884,027 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then PRKR will set up to re-fill some of its previous gap-down-day zone from last October that started near $7.50.

zipRealty

zipRealty (ZIPR) operates as an online technology-enabled real estate brokerage company in the U.S. This stock closed up 5.9% to $4.83 a share in Thursday's trading session.

Thursday's Range: $4.50-$4.83

52-Week Range: $2.67-$7.07

Thursday's Volume: 31,000

Three-Month Average Volume: 62,218

From a technical perspective, ZIPR ripped sharply higher here right off its 200-day moving average of $4.55 with lighter-than-average volume. This move is starting to push shares of ZIPR within range of triggering a big breakout trade. That trade will hit if ZIPR manages to take out some near-term overhead resistance levels at $5.04 to its 50-day moving average of $5.30 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in ZIPR as long as it's trending above some key near-term support at $4.44 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 62,218 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then ZIPR will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance level at $6.

Broadwind Energy

Broadwind Energy (BWEN) provides products and services to the energy, mining, and infrastructure sector customers, primarily in the U.S. This stock closed up 5.1% to $8.57 a share in Thursday's trading session.

Thursday's Range: $8.07-$8.60

52-Week Range: $2.97-$11.94

Thursday's Volume: 76,000

Three-Month Average Volume: 244,632

From a technical perspective, BWEN jumped sharply higher here right off some near-term support at $8 with lighter-than-average volume. This stock has been downtrending badly for the last month, with shares moving lower from its high of $11.94 to its recent low of $7.52. During that downtrend, shares of BWEN have been consistently making lower highs and lower lows, which is bearish technical price action. That said, shares of BWEN now look ready to reverse that downtrend and possibly start a new uptrend.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in BWEN as long as it's trending above support at $8 and then once it sustains a move or close its 50-day moving average of $8.73 with volume that hits near or above 244,632 shares. If we get that move soon, then BWEN will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $9.50 to $10, or even $10.50.

To see more stocks that are making notable moves higher, check out the Stocks Under $10 Moving Higher portfolio on Stockpickr.

-- Written by Roberto Pedone in Delafield, Wis.

RELATED LINKS:

>>5 Stocks Under $10 Set to Soar

>>5 Tech Stocks to Trade for Gains This Week

>>5 Dividend Stocks That Want to Give You a Raise in 2014

Follow Stockpickr on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.

At the time of publication, author had no positions in stocks mentioned.

Roberto Pedone, based out of Delafield, Wis., is an independent trader who focuses on technical analysis for small- and large-cap stocks, options, futures, commodities and currencies. Roberto studied international business at the Milwaukee School of Engineering, and he spent a year overseas studying business in Lubeck, Germany. His work has appeared on financial outlets including

CNBC.com and Forbes.com.

You can follow Pedone on Twitter at www.twitter.com/zerosum24 or @zerosum24.

Sprint loss narrows on higher postpaid plan sales

Sprint said Tuesday that its net loss narrowed in the fourth quarter as more customers bought tablets and signed on for its contract-based plans.

But with high costs of developing its wireless network and dealing with device makers lingering, the wireless carrier reported $1 billion in net loss, including $1.5 billion in depreciation and write-offs related to the Nextel unit that was shut down last year. In the year-ago period, Sprint lost $1.3 billion.

The quarterly loss per share totaled 26 cents, better than analysts' estimate of 33 cents of per-share loss.

Shares of Sprint rose 2.7% Tuesday to end at $7.90.

Sprint's customers in all wireless plan types totaled 53.9 million at the end of the year, up from 53.5 million a year ago after years of losing business to bigger rivals like Verizon Wireless and AT&T.

Operating revenue for the Overland Park, Kansas-based company grew to $9.1 billion from $9 billion a year ago.

Sprint underwent massive changes in 2013, with results reflected in the year-end earnings. Softbank, a wireless carrier based in Japan, completed buying a controlling stake in Sprint -- about 80% -- in July. Shortly before the acquisition was completed, Sprint shut down the network operated by its subsidiary Nextel, leading to an exodus of customers.

The dissolution of Nextel hampered revenue and forced Sprint to write off assets related to the unit, but operating one fewer network helped improve the bottom line, the company said.

Since the acquisition closed, Softbank has invested cash in improving Sprint's network and product lineup in order to stem the loss of customers. Sprint still lags Verizon and AT&T in deploying LTE (Long-Term Evolution), the fastest data network technology currently available. Sprint's LTE coverage is available at about 340 markets nationwide.

"After a difficult start in deploying LTE and phasing out (Nextel's) network, there seem to be early signs of improving performance," says Roger Entner, mobile a! nalyst at Recon Analytics. "Going forward, Sprint has to continue to dramatically improve the LTE network while offering affordable plans."

About 58,000 subscribers -- after accounting for defections -- signed up for its "postpaid" plans, based typically on two-year contracts and considered more profitable for the company.

Prepaid plans, with cheaper monthly payments, are the fastest growing segment in the industry. Sprint's prepaid customer total grew by 322,000 during the quarter, outpacing postpaid plans.

About 5.6 million smartphones were sold during the period, but tablets were the hottest sellers in the stores. Sprint added 466,000 tablets to its network during the quarter. "This is what's pushing Sprint's customer growth," Entner says.

About 2.07% of Sprint customers ditched their postpaid plans during the quarter, slightly up from last year's "churn rate" of 1.98%.

Valentine's Day gift goes up in smoke

Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! No, it's a pie-in-the-sky Valentine's Day stunt.

Or perhaps, it's the Valentine's Day gift for the person who has everything there is — on the ground. On Thursday, MasterCard will announce plans to link-up with the hot ride app, Uber, which becomes UberSky for the day. They will give away free, on-demand sky writing to up two dozen MasterCard customers on Valentine's Day.

Okay, it's not like Justin Timberlake showing up at your front door for an impromptu jam session — another surprise stunt that MasterCard concocted last month — but it's buzz-worthy, which is the marketing magnet behind it. On a day when most Americans will settle for candy, flowers or perfume, skywriting's got to be a head-turner.

Folks can order-up skywriting messages such as "I LOVE YOU" or 'BE MINE" for Valentine's Day — and MasterCard will take care of the $10,000 or so skywriting bill through a social-media giveaway. Consumers living in four major cities are in the running: New York; Los Angeles; Dallas; and San Diego.

Fast as a Domino's pizza delivery, the brand promises to post the message in the sky within a half hour of the request — weather permitting. It's all about the credit card giant trying to pump new life into its "Priceless" campaign by adding the element of what it calls priceless surprises.

For MasterCard — and for all major brands looking for the eyes and ears of Millennials — the Holy Grail is social-media buzz. By linking up with a Valentine's Day skywriting promo, MasterCard hopes to attract just that. Cardholders who use the hashtag #PricelessSurprises on Twitter on Feb. 14 will be randomly selected for the chance to deliver a personal sky-written message to a loved one.

"It's all about novelty," says Raja Rajamannar, chief marketing officer at MasterCard. "It's about getting consumers to engage with our brand."

One brand guru says the promo could have wings. "The 'Priceless' brand idea lends itself wel! l to using social media," says Allen Adamson, managing director at Landor Associates. "If the winners each have 1,000 followers, it will be $10,000 well spent."

But there is a limit on the number of sky characters: 12.

There's a reason for that — and it's not just price. It takes about two minutes for the aircraft to create each letter. Shortly after 12 characters are made, the first character may begin to dissipate. (Messages last for 30 minutes.)

AirSign, the company posting the messages-in-the-sky on Friday, will have 15 planes up in the air, says CEO Patrick Walsh.

If your V-Day sweetie is an environmentalist, not to worry. A special smoke oil is injected into an exhaust nozzle on the aircraft, which creates the smoke. It's environmentally friendly because it's completely burnt, says Walsh, and even certified by the EPA.

CES 2014: A tech extravaganza in Vegas

Coffee makers and a dishwasher that can be fired up while you're out doing errands. Driverless cars. Wearable tech gear, and not just smartwatches, goggles and sunglasses — there's even a line of smart jewelry that displays new photos from your Facebook and Instagram feeds.

No, you haven't stepped into an episode of The Jetsons. You're looking at the big trends on tap for the 2014 International CES, the mammoth annual consumer electronics show in Las Vegas. Preview events begin Sunday for the show, which runs through Friday.

And it's not just a big deal for tech insiders. CES often sets the tone for the rest of the year for what hot new gadgets will win the hearts, minds and wallets of consumers.

Each year, CES packs in thousands of attendees despite its seemingly diminished influence: This year, over 150,000 are expected. Some of the most popular tech products of recent times — Apple's iPad and iPhone, Amazon's Kindle and Samsung's Galaxy smartphone — were introduced elsewhere. But CES remains the biggest tech show in America, and a place for the entire industry to congregate.

Tim Bajarin, a long-time independent analyst who has attended CES since 1975, says the show is more relevant than ever.

"The promotional value that comes from the show, the chance to see new technologies and trends that will emerge through the year, is unmatched," says Bajarin, president of Creative Strategies.

In many ways, CES is the Super Bowl for geeks – a week-long bacchanal of parties, exhibits and keynote speeches from the likes of Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer and Intel CEO Brian Krzanich. Among bands performing at private events during the coming week: Fleetwood Mac, the Dave Matthews Band and Lynyrd Skynyrd. Celebrities touting products at booths include singer Pharrell Williams, rapper 50 Cent and football's Tim Tebow.

Deals are made behind the scenes. Headlines and reputations are made onstage and in the cavernous exhibit halls. Heavy hitters such as Samsung Electronics and S! ony are going all out, with a slew of new products and press events.

The show is considered essential for most of tech's biggest players. "It's the World's Fair of technology," says Richard Doherty, research director for market research firm The Envisioneering Group. "All the forces are in town to bless or condemn a new idea."

Despite smash successes like upgraded video game systems (Microsoft's xBox One and Sony's PlayStation4), hot tablet sales and the ubiquitous presence of smartphones in our lives, electronics sales will have been flat for 2013, according to the Consumer Electronics Association, which stages CES.

CEA projects 2013 sales at $202.6 billion, up slightly from $202.3 billion in 2012.

For several years, CES has been all about TVs. First, it was 3-D sets, a trend that never took off. Last year it was Ultra HD — super pricey 4K TVs with four times the resolution of standard HD.

But this year, while TVs will continue to dominate the show floor if for nothing more than their mammoth size (LG and Samsung will both showcase 4K TVs over 100 inches), there are many other trends emerging for products that will start showing up on shelves in coming months and years.

Of the thousands of products that will be showcased, here are some highlights:

— Smart everything. It started with Internet-connected TVs and expanded further into the home in 2013 with smart light bulbs and other products that can be controlled by a mobile device. Now, look for more ways to always be connected. CES will feature kitchen products (coffee makers, crock pots, refrigerators, dishwashers and microwave ovens) that can be turned on and off and adjusted via a smartphone or tablet. The idea is that you can be out and, for instance, turn on the stove to get the pot roast going before you get home. Or you can wake up, brush your teeth and start the coffee maker from the bathroom via the smartphone, so that a fresh cup of coffee is waiting for you when you enter the kitchen.

LG wi! ll show o! ff its smart dishwasher at CES, while Whirlpool will show a microwave that can scan bar codes to operate the oven.

"The consumer expects this from us," says Chris Quatrochi, director of user experience for Whirlpool, of the push for connected kitchen products. "You have to deliver future value now."

— Auto tech. Last year, auto manufacturers came to CES to tout in-dash stereos that could incorporate popular music apps like Pandora and iHeartRadio. This year, it's all about the truly connected car. Nine of the top 10 auto manufacturers will be on hand, several with concept versions of cars that drive themselves. Ford will also show off a solar-powered concept car that will run for much of the time via sunlight from the sun roof.

Auto manufacturers will also be showcasing new ways to bring popular review and mapping websites into the dashboard as well.

Wearable $99 audio recorder from Kapture will be shown at the Consumer Electronics Show(Photo: Kapture)

— Wearable tech. One of the most distinctive — if odd-looking — products of 2013 was Google Glass, the computer that sits atop your nose. Look for many more gadgets in this vein at CES, with regular glasses, sunglasses and ski goggles that can display maps, restaurant reviews and more while you're out and about. CES will feature a Fashion Zone showcasing wearable devices, and smart clothing. "We'll have a sweater that will measure the weather around you," says CEA senior vice-president Jeff Joseph. "It will adjust the thickness based on the outside temperature." There will even be a solar charging handbag to power up those battery-hogging smartphones. A new startup, Kiwi Wearable Technology will showcase a wearable sensor that fits in the palm of your hand, and can both turn on musi! c and tra! ck your ski moves.

— Smartwatches. Last year's CES saw the introduction of Dick Tracy-type connected watches from Pebble and Martian that told the time and showed text messages. Samsung followed in the fall with the Galaxy Gear watch.

None has taken off in a big way, but that hasn't deterred manufacturers. Doherty expects to see "dozens" of new smartwatches on display. (Apple is expected to unveil its version of a smartwatch in 2014 as well.)

— Healthy living. Some of the most popular new smartphone apps monitor what we eat, how many steps we take and how long we sleep. CES will have a special section of the convention floor devoted to healthier lifestyles via technology. Muse, a Tornoto-based company, will showcase a "brain sensing headband" that connects to a smartphone with games and exercises to work on your mental skills.

— Bigger and more beautiful TVs. TVs will not only still dominate CES, they'll be bigger than ever. Both Samsung and LG have their 100-plus inch sets, and many more companies will showcase 4K sets at lower prices.

And look for more of the pricey new sets with curved screens that had critics raving in 2013. LG will show off a curved 77-inch Ultra HD OLED display.

Additionally, Doherty expects to see a new high-definition TV format introduced, somewhere in between HD and Ultra HD, that will be more affordable.

Lower priced TVs that look amazing and won't break the bank? Happy new year, everybody.

5 Stocks With Big Insider Buying

Delafield, Wis. (Stockpickr) -- Corporate insiders sell their own companies' stock for a number of reasons.

>>5 Unusual-Volume Stocks Triggering Breakout Trades

They might need the cash for a big personal purchase such as a new house or yacht, or they might need the cash to fund a charity. Sometimes they sell as part of a planned selling program that they have put in place for diversification purposes, which allows them to sell stock in stages instead of selling all at one price.

Other times they sell because they think their stock is overvalued and the risk/reward is no longer attractive. Some even dump their own stock because they have inside knowledge that a competitor is eating their lunch and stealing market share.

But insiders usually buy their own shares for one reason: They think the stock is a bargain and has tremendous upside.

>>5 Rocket Stocks to Buy for a Santa Claus Rally

The key word in that last statement is "think." Just because a corporate insider thinks his or her stock is going to trade higher, that doesn't mean it will play out that way. Insiders can have all the conviction in the world that their stock is a buy, but if the market doesn't agree with them, the stock could end up going nowhere. Also, I say "usually" because sometimes insiders are loaned money by the company to buy their own stock. Those loans are often sweetheart deals and shouldn't be viewed as organic insider buying.

At the end of the day, its large institutional money managers running big mutual funds and hedge funds that drive stock prices, not insiders. That said, many of these savvy stock operators will follow insider buying activity when they agree with the insider that the stock is undervalued and has upside potential. This is why it's so important to always be monitoring insider activity, but it's twice as important to make sure the trend of the stock coincides with the insider buying.

>>5 Dividend Stocks Ready to Pay You More in 2014

Recently, a number of companies' corporate insiders have bought large amounts of stock. These insiders are finding some value in the market, which warrants a closer look at these stocks.

Here's a look at five stocks insiders have been doing some big buying in per SEC filings.

Restoration Hardware

One stock that insides are loading up on here is home furnishings retailer Restoration Hardware (RH). Insiders are buying this stock into big time strength, since shares are up sharply in 2013 by 94%.

>>4 Big Stocks on Traders' Radars

Restoration Hardware has a market cap of $2.5 billion and an enterprise value of $2.6 billion. This stock trades at a reasonable valuation, with a forward price-to-earnings of 30.23. Its estimated growth rate for this year is 45.5%, and for next year it's pegged at 25.9%. This is not a cash-rich company, since the total cash position on its balance sheet is $8.20 million and its total debt is $134.49 million.

A director just bought 15,400 shares, or about $1 million worth of stock, at $64.97 per share. Another director also just bought 7,875 shares, or about $497,000 worth of stock, at $63.10 to $63.31 per share.

From a technical perspective, RH is currently trending above its 200-day moving average and just below its 50-day moving average, which is neutral trendwise. This stock has been uptrending a bit over the last few weeks, with shares moving higher from its low of $60.15 to its recent high of $68.12 a share. During that move, shares of RH have been making mostly higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. That move has now started to push shares of RH within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade.

If you're bullish on RH, then I would look for long-biased trades as long as this stock is trending above some near-term support at $64 or at $62.37 and then once breaks out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at $68.12 a share to its 50-day moving average at $69.87 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 1.05 million shares. If that breakout hits soon, then RH will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $74 to $77 a share. Any high-volume move above those levels will then give RH a chance to re-test or possibly take out its 52-week high at $78.50 a share.

EV Energy Partners

Another stock that insiders are snapping up a large amount of stock in here is EV Energy Partners (EVEP), which is engaged in the development and production of oil and natural gas properties. Insiders are buying this stock into notable weakness, since shares are down by 38% in 2013.

>>5 Big Trades for Post-Taper Gains

EV Energy Partners has a market cap of $1.6 billion and an enterprise value of $2.7 billion. This stock trades at a reasonable valuation, with a forward price-to-earnings of 26.06. Its estimated growth rate for this year is 5.3%, and for next year it's pegged at 466.70%. This is not a cash-rich company, since the total cash position on its balance sheet is $10.64 million and its total debt is $1.08 billion. This stock currently sports a dividend yield of 9%.

The chairman of the board just bought 150,000 shares, or about $4.81 million worth of stock, at $32.08 per share.

From a technical perspective, EVEP is currently trending below both its 50-day and 200-day moving averages, which is bearish. This stock has been uptrending a bit for the last few weeks, with shares moving higher from its low of $30.53 to its recent high of $34.63 a share. During that move, shares of EVEP have been consistently making higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. That move has now pushed shares of EVEP within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade.

If you're in the bull camp on EVEP, then I would look for long-biased trades as long as this stock is trending above some near-term support levels at $33 or at $32, and then once it breaks out above its 50-day moving average of $34.64 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above that level with volume that hits near or above its three-month average action of 336,170 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then EVEP will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $39 to $41 a share.

EOG Resources

One energy player that insiders are in love with here is EOG Resources (EOG), which engages in the exploration, development, production and marketing of natural gas and crude oil. Insiders are buying this stock into strength, since shares jumped higher by 37% in 2013.

>>5 Stocks Poised for Breakouts

EOG Resources has a market cap of $45 billion and an enterprise value of $50 billion. This stock trades at a reasonable valuation, with a trailing price-to-earnings of 40.87 and a forward price-to-earnings of 18.44. Its estimated growth rate for this year is 44.1%, and for next year it's pegged at 10.8%. This is not a cash-rich company, since the total cash position on its balance sheet is $1.32 billion and its total debt is $6.32 billion

A director just bought 6,000 shares, or about $1.01 million worth of stock, at $168.61 per share.

From a technical perspective, EOG is currently trending above its 200-day moving average and just below its 50-day moving average, which is neutral trendwise. This stock has been uptrending a bit for the last few weeks, with shares moving higher from its low of $156.01 to its recent high of $169.84 a share. During that uptrend, shares of EOG have been consistently making higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. That move has started to push shares of EOG within range of triggering a big breakout trade.

If you're bullish on EOG, then I would look for long-biased trades as long as this stock is trending above some near-term support at $165, and then once it breaks out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at $169.84 to its 50-day at $171.07 and then above more resistance at $172.20 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 volume of 1.92 million shares. If that breakout hits soon, then EOG will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $185 to its 52-week high at $188.30 a share.

Amtrust Financial Services

One insurance player that insiders are very active in here is Amtrust Financial Services (AFSI), a multinational specialty property and casualty insurer focused on generating consistent underwriting profits. Insiders are buying this stock into decent strength, since shares are up 19% in 2013.

>>4 Stocks Spiking on Big Volume

Amtrust Financial Services has a market cap of $2.3 billion and an enterprise value of $2.7 billion. This stock trades at a cheap valuation, with a trailing price-to-earnings of 8.73 and a forward price-to-earnings of 8.90. Its estimated growth rate for this year is 22.2%, and for next year it's pegged at 13.6%. This is not a cash-rich company, since the total cash position on its balance sheet is $508.27 million and its total debt is $935.25 million. This stock currently sports a dividend yield of 1.8%.

A director just bought 300,000 shares, or about $8.69 million worth of stock, at $28.99 per share. A beneficial owner also just bought 500,000 shares, or about $15.12 million worth of stock, at $30.25 per share.

From a technical perspective, AFSI is currently trending below both its 50-day and 200-day moving averages, which is bearish. This stock recently plunged sharply lower from its high of $42.64 to its recent low of $27.90 a share. During that drop, shares of AFSI have been making mostly lower highs and lower lows, which is bearish technical price action. That drop for AFSI has now pushed the stock into oversold territory, since its current relative strength index reading is 33.19. Oversold can always get more oversold, but it's also an area where a stock can make a powerful bounce higher from.

If you're bullish on AFSI, then I would look for long-biased trades as long as this stock is trending above its recent low of $27.90 and then once it takes out Tuesday's intraday high of $31.40 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above that level with volume that hits near or above its three-month average volume of 867,166 shares. If we get that move soon, then AFSI could bounce sharply higher towards its next major overhead resistance levels at its 200-day moving average of $34.82 or its 50-day moving average at $38.40 a share.

GulfMark Offshore

One final name with some large insider buying is GulfMark Offshore (GLF), which provides offshore marine services to companies involved in offshore exploration and production of oil and natural gas. Insiders are buying this stock into solid strength, since shares are up 35% in 2013.

GulfMark Offshore has a market cap of $1.2 billion and an enterprise value of $1.6 billion. This stock trades at a cheap valuation, with a trailing price-to-earnings of 30.40 and a forward price-to-earnings of 10.53. Its estimated growth rate for this year is 146.1%, and for next year it's pegged at 76.1%. This is not a cash-rich company, since the total cash position on its balance sheet is $38.18 million and its total debt is $500.90 million. This stock currently sports a dividend yield of 2.2%.

A officer just bought 51,739 shares, or about $2.31 million worth of stock, at $44.19 per share.

From a technical perspective, GLF is currently trending above its 200-day moving average and below its 50-day moving average, which is neutral trendwise. This stock has been downtrending badly for the last two months, with shares moving lower from its high of $53.59 to its recent low of $43.82 a share. During that downtrend, shares of GLF have been making mostly lower highs and lower lows, which is bearish technical price action. That said, shares of GLF have now started to rebound off that $43.82 low and it's starting to trend back above its 200-day moving average at $46.12 a share.

If you're bullish on GLF, then look for long-biased trades as long as this stock is trending above its 200-day at $46.12 or above $45 and then once it takes out some near-term overhead resistance at $47 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above that level with volume that hits near or above its three-month average action of 180,522 shares. If we get that move soon, then GLF will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at its 50-day moving average of $49.19 or at $52 a share. Any high-volume move above those levels will then give GLF a chance to re-test or possibly take out its 52-week high at $53.89 a share.

To see more stocks with notable insider buying, check out the Stocks With Big Insider Buying portfolio on Stockpickr.

-- Written by Roberto Pedone in Delafield, Wis.

RELATED LINKS:

>>4 Stocks Rising on Unusual Volume

>>3 Hot Stocks to Trade (or Not)

>>5 Cash-Rich Stocks for Triple the Gains in 2014

Follow Stockpickr on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.

At the time of publication, author had no positions in stocks mentioned.

Roberto Pedone, based out of Delafield, Wis., is an independent trader who focuses on technical analysis for small- and large-cap stocks, options, futures, commodities and currencies. Roberto studied international business at the Milwaukee School of Engineering, and he spent a year overseas studying business in Lubeck, Germany. His work has appeared on financial outlets including

CNBC.com and Forbes.com. You can follow Pedone on Twitter at www.twitter.com/zerosum24 or @zerosum24.

Symantec Corp After Reporting Better Than Expected Earnings

Profitability is one of the main factors one must look at when analyzing a company. It is not only the reason behind a company's existence, but also a key element when determining whether to invest in a company or not. Thus, in this article I will look into Symantec Corp (SYMC)´s earnings and earnings growth (which came in better than expected on the last reported quarter), profit margins and other profitability ratios.

Additionally, I will evaluate which institutional investors bought the stock in the recent quarters (institutional backup can tell a lot about a stock), and the initiatives that the company is putting in motion in order to ameliorate its sales and margins.

Earnings

The first step is analyzing Symantec Corp's earnings growth. I am looking for companies that are able to expand both their quarterly and annual earnings by more than 15% a year. Last quarter the company generated 13% quarterly EPS growth when compared to the same quarter last year. Thus, I am not encouraged by SYMC's numbers. Past growth winners (Apple, Baidu, etc.) generated consistent quarterly EPS growth above 15% and I am certainly looking for that level before investing.

In addition, SYMC generated three-year average annual EPS growth of 10%. This is an important metric to follow in growth stocks because it highlights how well the stock grew in the past years. I like to invest in companies that are growing consistently.

Revenue

Let's take a look at SYMC´s revenue growth. This is a key metric that needs to be analyzed before investing in a company, as it is one of the scarce figures that cannot be modified through accounting tricks and similar dodges.

The company reported a 5% quarterly revenue drop year over year. On the contrary, I look for companies that generate more than 15% in quarterly growth.

When betting on a company, an investor wants to see sales grow or improve over time — and not just in the last reported quarter. Looking at the company's financials in comparison to previous years will give participants a much better idea of how well a company is doing. Symantec Corp generated a three-year average annual sales growth rate of 4%.

A New Strategic Plan

Accepting the problems in its past performance (poor management, integration difficulties, etc.), Symantec — led by its CEO Steve Bennett — has come up with a plan that aims at satisfying investors' expectations. The company's new strategic plan will focus on better attending customer needs by revamping its product portfolio, restructuring its sales force and management team, and expanding its cloud platforms and e-commerce business, among other initiatives. At the same time, it will seek to improve the company's complicated sales and marketing structure. Management expects this new scheme to generate organic revenue CAGR of more than 5%, and operating margins above 30% for fiscal 2015 (mainly on the back of its cloud infrastructure platforms).

In fact, the plan has been already retrieving encouraging results. For fiscal 2014, sales and marketing expenses (in relation to total revenues) decreased by 7.5%, to 37%, compared to the previous year. This reduction in operating costs is expected to continue as the plan advances.

To keep investors happy in the meantime, the company recently initiated dividend payments that are now projected at 2.94% of the current stock price.

Gross Profit Margin

The gross profit margin is a measure of a company's manufacturing and distribution efficiency during the production process. The gross profit tells an investor the percentage of revenue/sales left after subtracting the cost of the goods/services sold. A company that operates on a higher profit margin than its competitors is more efficient. Investors tend to pay more for businesses that have higher efficiency ratings, as these should be able to make a decent profit as long as overhead costs are controlled (overhead refers to rent, utilities, etc.).

Symantec has managed to make its gross margins grow over the past years, in spite of its questionable performance in other areas. The five-year low for the gross margin was reported at 80%. On the opposite, the five-year high for the margin was reported in 2012, when the company retrieved a 83.9% margin. In fact, the 2013 gross profit margin of 83.0% is above the five-year average of 82.3%.

A gross margin above the five-year average implies that management has been successful in making the manufacturing and distribution during the production process more efficient over the past five years. I like to find companies that operate with high profit margins.

Operating Margin = Operating Income / Total Sales

The operating margin is a measure of the proportion of a company's revenue that is left over after paying for variable costs of production, such as wages, raw materials, etc. A healthy operating margin is required for a company to be able to pay for its fixed costs such as interest on debt. If a company's margin is increasing, it is earning more per dollar of sales. Needless to say: the higher the margin, the better.

Over the past five years, the operating margin of Symantec Corp has been increasing. In 2008, the company reported an operating margin of -105.2%. In 2012 the margin reached 16.9%.

The 2013 operating margin of 16.3% is above the five-year average of -8.6%. This implies that there has been an increase in the percentage of the total sales left over after paying for variable costs of production such as wages and raw materials compared to the five-year average. I am always looking for companies that have improving operating margin trends.

Net Profit Margin = Net Income / Total Sales

A ratio of profitability calculated as net income divided by revenue, or net profits divided by sales. It measures how much out of every dollar of sales a company actually keeps in earnings.

The profit margin is a very useful metric when comparing companies in the same — or similar — industries. A higher profit margin indicates a more profitable company that has better control over its costs compared to its competitors. Profit margin is displayed as a percentage; a 20% profit margin, for example, means the company has a net income of $0.20 for each dollar of sales.

Over the past five years, Symantec Corp's net profit margin has been increasing in comparison to the five-year average margin. The TTM net profit margin of 12.9% is above the five-year average of -11.9%. This implies that there has been an increase in the percentage of earnings that the company is able to keep compared to the company's five-year average. The listed profitability margins show that the company is gaining strength.

Institutional Investors

I also evaluate recent institutional activity in the stock. In other words, which hedge funds bought the stock over the past few months.

In the recent quarter, both Dodge & Cox and Jim Simons (Trades, Portfolio) — among other prominent investors — bought SYMC at an average price of $23.70.

Analyst Outlook

Currently, many analysts have a good outlook for Symantec Corp Analysts at MSN money are predicting that Symantec Corp will retrieve EPS of $1.86 for fiscal year 2013 and an EPS of $1.87 for fiscal year 2014. Analysts at Bloomberg estimate Symantec Corp's revenue to reach $6.69 billion for fiscal year 2013 and $6.72 billion for fiscal year 2014. On Oct. 24, 2013, Standpoint Research gave Symantec Corp a rating of "Buy" with a target price of $25.14. A $25.14 price target signifies significant upside potential from this point.

Conclusion

Trading at only 16.4 times the company's earnings (versus an industry average of 48x) while retrieving above average margins and returns (see table below), this stock certainly looks attractive.

	Symantec (SYMC)	Ind. Avg	Adobe Systems (ADBE)
Price/Earnings TTM	16.4	48.3	105.3
Price/Book	2.5	5.0	4.4
Price/Sales TTM	2.1	4.6	7.6
Operating Margin % TTM	16.9	13.9	10.4
Net Margin % TTM	13.0	9.6	7.2
ROA TTM	6.5	5.7	2.9
ROE TTM	16.1	10.5	4.3

Source: Morningstar

The problems that the company once experienced seem to be being corrected. With a strong position in the consumer segment and presence in more than 200 countries, Symantec seems poised to expand. At current price levels (the stock is down about 13% since the start of 2014), adding this stock to your long-term equity portfolio might be a good idea.

Disclosure: Vanina Egea holds no position in any stocks mentioned

Also check out: Dodge & Cox Undervalued Stocks Dodge & Cox Top Growth Companies Dodge & Cox High Yield stocks, and Stocks that Dodge & Cox keeps buying
About the author:Vanina EgeaA fundamental analyst at Lone Tree Analytics

Visit Vanina Egea's Website

Currently 4.80/512345 Rating: 4.8/5 (5 votes)

Subscribe via Email Subscribe RSS Comments Damianillia - 15 hours ago

Great In-Depth Analysis. Thanks

Please leave your comment:
More GuruFocus Links

Latest Guru Picks	Value Strategies
Warren Buffett Portfolio	Ben Graham Net-Net
Real Time Picks	Buffett-Munger Screener
Aggregated Portfolio	Undervalued Predictable
ETFs, Options	Low P/S Companies
Insider Trends	10-Year Financials
52-Week Lows	Interactive Charts
Model Portfolios	DCF Calculator
RSS Feed	Monthly Newsletters
The All-In-One Screener	Portfolio Tracking Tool

MORE GURUFOCUS LINKS

Latest Guru Picks	Value Strategies
Warren Buffett Portfolio	Ben Graham Net-Net
Real Time Picks	Buffett-Munger Screener
Aggregated Portfolio	Undervalued Predictable
ETFs, Options	Low P/S Companies
Insider Trends	10-Year Financials
52-Week Lows	Interactive Charts
Model Portfolios	DCF Calculator
RSS Feed	Monthly Newsletters
The All-In-One Screener	Portfolio Tracking Tool

SYMC STOCK PRICE CHART 20.47 (1y: -9%) $(function() { var seriesOptions = [], yAxisOptions = [], name = 'SYMC', display = ''; Highcharts.setOptions({ global: { useUTC: true } }); var d = new Date(); $current_day = d.getDay(); if ($current_day == 5 || $current_day == 0 || $current_day == 6){ day = 4; } else{ day = 7; } seriesOptions[0] = { id : name, animation:false, color: '#4572A7', lineWidth: 1, name : name.toUpperCase() + ' stock price', threshold : null, data : [[1360303200000,22.59],[1360562400000,22.64],[1360648800000,22.7],[1360735200000,22.62],[1360821600000,22.67],[1360908000000,22.53],[1361253600000,22.6],[1361340000000,22.555],[1361426400000,22.31],[1361512800000,22.93],[1361772000000,22.43],[1361858400000,22.46],[1361944800000,23.23],[1362031200000,23.44],[1362117600000,23.68],[1362376800000,23.955],[1362463200000,24.2],[1362549600000,24.52],[1362636000000,24.665],[1362722400000,24.57],[1362978000000,24.48],[1363064400000,24.445],[1363150800000,24.54],[1363237200000,24.73],[1363323600000,24.545],[1363582800000,24.51],[1363669200000,24.22],[1363755600000,24.52],[1363842000000,24.4],[1363928400000,24.63],[1364187600000,24.56],[1364274000000,24.57],[1364360400000,24.53],[1364446800000,24.68],[1364792400000,24.46],[1364878800000,24.66],[1364965200000,24.45],[1365051600000,24.5],[1365138000000,24.29],[1365397200000,24.25],[1365483600000,24.21],[1365570000000,24.445],[1365656400000,24.295],[1365742800000,24.25],[1366002000000,23.95],[1366088400000,24.15],[1366174800000,23.78],[1366261200000,23.56],[1366347600000,23.55],[1366606800000,23.67],[1366693200000,24.16],[1366779600000,24.37],[1366866000000,24.45],[1366952400000,24.42],[1367211600000,24.59],[1367298000000,24.3],[1367384400000,24.35],[1367470800000,24.56],[1367557200000,24.84],[1367816400000,24.95],[1367902800000,25.1],[1367989200000,24.49],[1368075600000,24.37],[1368162000000,24.35],[1368421200000,24.22],[1368507600000,24.52],[1368594000000,24.66],[1368680400000,24.3],[1368766800000,24.3],[1369026000000,24.15],[1369112400000,24.025],[1369198800000,23.62],[1369285200000,23.06],[1369371600000,22.85],[1369717200000,22.9],[1369803600000,22.88],[1369890000000,22.95],[1369976400000,22.39],[1370235600000,22.4],[1370322000000,21.9],[1370408400000,21.62],[1370494800000,21.85],[1370581200000,22.19],[1370840400000,22.25],[1370926800000,22.01],[1371013200000,22.18],[1371099600000,22.49],[1371186000000,22.36],[1371445200000,22.33],[1371531600000,22.73],[1371618000000,22.7],[1371704400000,22.385],[1371790800000! ,22.23],[1372050000000,22.005],[1372136400000,22.1],[1372222800000,22.52],[1372309200000,22.5],[1372395600000,22.48],[13726

Top 10 Gas Utility Companies To Own In Right Now

The second quarter wasn't a blowout for Noble (NYSE: NE  ) but it was an incremental improvement without the help of new drilling rigs to boost results. It really sets a solid foundation until new rigs commanding high dayrates will begin contributing to revenue.

Overall, second-quarter revenue was up 13%, to $1.02 billion, assisted by an $18-million contract cancellation fee. Net income improved 10%, to $176.6 million, or $0.69 per share, although results were flat when the cancellation fee was included.�

The big improvement was higher utilization of drillships and jackups during the quarter. But if you're buying Noble,or any deepwater driller, you have to have an eye on growth.

An eye on the future
Noble took shipment of two ultra-deepwater drillships this quarter, and they'll begin contributing to revenue later this year. There will also be one more ultra-deepwater rig delivered this year, and two more next year, and to add to the impact, the company has contracts signed for all of its newbuilds, and a backlog of $16 billion.

Top 10 Gas Utility Companies To Own In Right Now: CPFL Energia S.A.(CPL)

CPFL Energia S.A., through its subsidiaries, engages in the generation, distribution, and sale of electricity in Brazil. It generates electricity through hydroelectric, thermal, biomass, and wind power plants. The company also involves in the provision of energy commercialization, consultancy, and advisory services to agents in the energy sector; manufacture, commercialization, rental, and maintenance of electromechanical equipment; and provision of administrative services, as well as telephone answering services. It has an installed generating capacity of 2,309 MW. The company was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Selena Maranjian]

  Brazilian electricity giant CPFL Energia S.A. (NYSE: CPL  ) sank 20%, and recently yielded 5.9%. Its long-term debt has been rising, largely due to acquisitions, and its free cash flow has been shrinking (and even turning negative�recently). But it has been investing heavily in alternative energies, and it serves a massive and growing market in Brazil. The country's growth has been slower than many would like, but that won't last forever.

Top 10 Gas Utility Companies To Own In Right Now: Winnebago Industries Inc.(WGO)

Winnebago Industries, Inc. manufactures and sells recreation vehicles primarily for leisure travel and outdoor recreation activities. The company offers motor homes, which are self-propelled mobile dwellings that provide living accommodations for approximately seven persons and include kitchen, dining, sleeping, and bath areas, as well as a lounge; and optional equipment accessories, such as generators, home theater systems, king-size beds, upholstery, and interior equipment. It manufactures motor homes constructed directly on medium- and heavy-duty truck chassis, which include engine and drivetrain components; and on van-type chassis onto which the motor home manufacturer constructs a living area with access to the driver's compartment under the Winnebago and Itasca brand names, as well as panel-type vans with sleeping, kitchen, and/or toilet facilities under the Era brand name. The company also produces original equipment manufacturing parts, including extruded aluminum and other component products for other manufacturers and commercial vehicles. Winnebago Industries markets its motor homes through independent dealers primarily in the United States and Canada. The company was founded in 1958 and is headquartered in Forest City, Iowa.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Grace L. Williams]

  Recreational vehicle maker Winnebago Industries (WGO), which makes, you know, Winnebagos, is trucking today after reporting strong revenue and increased demand in its fourth quarter.

  AP

  For the period ended Aug. 31, Winnebago reported profit of $10.6 million, or 38 cents a share, down from $40.9 million, or $1.41 a share, a year earlier, while sales rose to $214.2 million in the quarter. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters recently predicted earnings of 28 cents a share and sales of $206 million.

  Looking at the solid quarter and optimistic forecasts, Citigroup analyst Gregory Badishkanian raised estimates after noting several positive factors at the company including the current backlogs, which more than doubled, and dealer inventories, which were up 38%. He writes:

  The company highlighted two issues that appear to be diminishing: 1) towables division was dilutive for the year, but headed in the right direction with a breakeven quarter 2) shortage in Class A Gas chassis, though the issue should be resolved by mid-winter…

  Given strong margin and retail demand trends, we��e raising our 2014 and 2015 estimates by 26 cents each. We introduce our 2016 estimate of $ 1.60.

  Shares of Winnebago have gained 4.4% to $28.47 today at 3pm. Thor Industries (THO), which also makes recreational vehicles, has ticked up 0.1% to $57.56, Drew Industries (DW) has risen 0.3% to $48.74, Arctic Cat (ACAT) has advanced 1% to $59.87 and Polaris Industries (PII) has fallen 0.3% to $132.08.

• [By David Sterman]

  I took a close look at all of the companies that appeared in the first part of this series, and there were some great companies in the mix. If price were no object, I'd be a huge fan of:

  Oceaneering (NYSE: OII), which is prospering form the ongoing trends toward undersea naval warfare and undersea oil drilling. Oceaneering is poised to grow at a sustained double-digit pace, which is something few other defense contractors can say. Cree (Nasdaq: CREE): LED lighting is a revolutionary game-changer, and Cree's heavy emphasis on R&D is leading the charge towards ever-lower prices for these low-energy light sources that also have remarkable longevity compared to regular bulbs. Still, profit margin gains may be tough in a very competitive environment.  Polaris Industries (NYSE: PII): If Winnebago's (NYSE: WGO) recreational vehicles are suitable for retirees, Polaris has become the go-to name for activity-oriented vehicles. Notably, it has a revenue base that is four times larger than Winnebago as well. If S&P wants to position for future demographic trends, then Polaris is a great choice.

  I love these companies, but I don't love their stock prices, and I'd prefer to wait for some sort of pullback before singing their praises. That said, there are two investment ideas that hold great appeal on their own. If they get added to the S&P 500, then they are also set up for a timely trade.

Hot Companies To Invest In 2014: MONDI PLC ORD EUR0.20 WI(MNDI.L)

Mondi plc operates as an international paper and packaging company worldwide. It principally engages in the manufacture and sale of packaging paper, converted packaging products, and uncoated fine paper (UFP) products. The company produces hardwood and softwood pulp; UFP under the Color Copy, MAESTRO, and IQ, as well as the Russian Snegurochka and South African ROTATRIM brands; virgin and recycled containerboards for corrugated packaging applications; and corrugated packaging products, including conventional boxes and trays, point-of-sale displays, and shelf-ready and heavy-duty packaging. It also provides kraft papers used in supermarket shelves, and specialized packaging and heavy-duty industrial applications; industrial bags used in packaging cement, chemicals, seeds, animal feed, flour, milk powder, automotive parts, and organic bio-waste; extrusion coating products, release liners, and consumer packaging products; newsprint and telephone directory paper products; and carbon neutral office paper. In addition, the company offers films and laminate products that consist of printed laminates and barrier materials, consumer films, industrial films, and biodegradable films; and consumer bags, such as pouches, reclosable bags, paper-based bags, labels, and microwaveable packaging products. Further, it provides application engineering services, consisting of pre and post-sales technical consultancy, and training services. Mondi plc serves automotive, building, and construction; chemicals and dangerous goods; farming and agriculture; food; industrial paper and packaging; medical and pharmaceutical; office and printing paper; pet food; photographic and graphic; and toiletries and hygiene industries. The company was founded in 1967 and is based in Addlestone, the United Kingdom.

Top 10 Gas Utility Companies To Own In Right Now: PURICORE PLC ORD GBP0.01(PURI.L)

PuriCore plc, a water-based clean technology company, engages in developing and commercializing proprietary products that kill pathogens. It offers Sterilox food safety systems that are used by retail supermarkets to keep produce, cut fruit, floral, and seafood fresh, as well as to address cross-contamination; and FloraFresh Systems to keep flowers fresher for leading supermarket and floral chains. The company also provides Vashe wound therapy, an FDA-cleared medical device used for moistening, irrigating, cleaning, and debriding acute and chronic wounds, including stage I through IV pressure ulcers, stasis ulcers, diabetic ulcers, post-surgical wounds, first- and second-degree burns, abrasions, and minor irritations of the skin. In addition, it offers Aqualox water treatment systems that produce hypochlorous acid for water and wastewater disinfection, as well as for killing E.coli, Legionella, and other harmful micro-organisms; Sterilox Biosafety system that rapidly disin fects surfaces to protect against the spread of infectious pathogens; and Sterilox dental systems that generate solutions to decontaminate and disinfect hard surfaces and inside dental unit water lines ensuring a clean environment for dental professionals, patients, and staff. Further, the company?s products address various public health threats of MRSA, M.tuberculosis, Legionella, E.coli, HIV, poliovirus, Helicobacter pylori, norovirus, Salmonella, and animal and human influenza virus. PuriCore plc is headquartered in Malvern, Pennsylvania.

Top 10 Gas Utility Companies To Own In Right Now: Lon & Assoc Props(LAS.L)

London & Associated Properties PLC, along with its subsidiaries, engages in the property investment and development in the United Kingdom. It holds a portfolio of retail properties, including Antiquarius and Chenil House in Chelsea; King Edward Court, a shopping centre in Windsor; Kings square in west Bromwich; Market Row and Brixton Village in London; Orchard Square shopping centre in Sheffield; Saxon Square, a medium sized building with residential upper parts to the rear of shopping centre; and the Mall and adjacent buildings in Islington. The company is based in London, the United Kingdom.

Top 10 Gas Utility Companies To Own In Right Now: Golden Dory Resources Corp (GDR.V)

Golden Dory Resources Corp., an exploration stage company, engages in the exploration of mineral properties in North America. The company primarily explores for gold, uranium, and lithium/rare metals. It holds interest in the Huxter Lane-Brady project located in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada; and Long Canyon (Pequop south) and Reef properties in the state of Nevada, the United States. The company also focuses on its earlier stage gold, uranium, and base metal properties in Newfoundland; and lithium/rare metals projects in Ontario. Golden Dory Resources Corp. is based in Gander, Canada.

Top 10 Gas Utility Companies To Own In Right Now: Mayen Minerals Ltd. (MYM.V)

Rift Basin Resources Corp. operates as an independent, international oil and gas exploration and development company that focus on advanced-stage exploration and near-production opportunities in Africa and the Middle East. The company has a strategic alliance with Gulfsands Petroleum plc for the acquisition of petroleum projects in Tunisia and rest of the Middle East, and north Africa region. It also has the right to earn a 15% participating interest in the Chorbane exploration permit located in Tunisia The company was formerly known as Mayen Minerals Ltd. and changed its name to Rift Basin Resources Corp. in September 2012. Rift Basin Resources Corp. was incorporated in 1981 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

Top 10 Gas Utility Companies To Own In Right Now: Sandstorm Gold Ltd (SAND)

Sandstorm Gold Ltd. (Sandstorm Gold), formerly Sandstorm Resources Ltd., is a gold streaming company. The Company provides financing to gold mining companies that are looking for capital and in return, receives a gold streaming agreement. It is a non-operating gold mining company with seven gold streams in the portfolio, five of which are producing gold. The Company�� projects include the Aurizona Gold project, the Santa Elena project, the Summit Mine project, the Ming Mine project, the Black Fox Mine project, Bracemac-McLeod project and the Bachelor Lake Mine. It holds 17% interest in the mine gold production from Aurizona. Santa Elena Project, in which the Company holds 20% interest. It holds 12% interest in the mine gold production from Black fox mine project. The Summit Mine project, in which it has 50% interest, 25% interest in Ming mine project and 17.5% interest in Bracemac-McLeod project. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Duprey]

  Still a glittering opportunity?
  While virtually every name in the precious metal fell yesterday in line with gold's percentage drop, or worse, gold streamer Sandstorm Gold (NYSEMKT: SAND  ) really took it on the chin, falling more than 8% despite reporting a few days earlier a sharp jump in proven and probable reserves at its Aurizona Gold Mine in Brazil. It represents one of the streamer's best opportunities for the future, as it has the opportunity to buy 17% of the gold produced for the life of mine at $400 an ounce on an inflation-adjusted basis.

• [By Tony Daltorio]

  The chief executive officers (CEOs) of both Silver Wheaton (NYSE: SLW) and Sandstorm Gold (NYSE MKT: SAND) told the Forum now was a great time to bolster their gold streams at a nice discount in price.

• [By The Investment Doctor]

  Another, less likely possibility to raise equity is through selling a part of the precious metals in a streaming deal. I can imagine Sandstorm Gold (SAND) and Silver Wheaton (SLW) would be very interested in a substantial precious metals streaming agreement. At the current gold and silver prices NGEX wouldn't even have to sell its entire precious metals production under a streaming arrangement.