Hot Integrated Utility Stocks To Watch For 2014

If you bought a U.S. equity fund this year, there's about a 98% chance you invested in a fund managed by the Vanguard Group Inc.

Vanguard, best known for its index funds and emphasis on low-cost investing, received $41.4 billion of net inflows into its U.S equity funds in 2013 through Nov. 30, according to Morningstar Inc. U.S. stock funds not managed by the company founded by John C. Bogle in 1974 took in a net total of about $1.1 billion.

Much of Vanguard's success in attracting investors is thanks to Mr. Bogle's creation — the index fund. Of the $41.4 billion invested in its domestic equity funds this year, about $36 billion went into the firm's U.S. equity index mutual funds, including the $296.4 billion Vanguard Total Stock Market Fund (VITSX), which passed the $244 billion Pimco Total Return Fund (PTTAX) as the world's largest mutual fund last month.

Top 5 Consumer Service Stocks To Invest In 2015: Advent Software Inc. (ADVS)

Advent Software, Inc. provides software and services that automate work flows and data across investment management organizations, as well as the information flows between an investment management organization and external parties. The company develops, markets, and sells stand-alone and client/server software products, hosting services, data and data interfaces, and related maintenance and services that automate, integrate, and support the functions of the front, middle, and back offices of investment management organizations. It also provides professional services, such as consulting, project management, implementation, integration, custom report writing, and training. The company?s clients include asset managers, registered investment advisors, prime brokers, fund administrators, hedge funds, family offices, broker dealers, foundations, endowments, fund of funds, and wealth managers. It operates in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Advent Software, Inc. was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Roberto Pedone]

   

  Advent Software (ADVS) provides software products and services for automating and integrating data and work flows across the investment management organization, as well as between the investment management organization and external parties worldwide. This stock closed up 4% at $33.49 in Wednesday's trading session.

   

  Wednesday's Volume: 720,000
  
  Three-Month Average Volume: 296,403
  
  Volume % Change: 165%

   

  From a technical perspective, ADVS ripped sharply higher here right off its 50-day moving average of $32.05 with above-average volume. This strong spike higher on Wednesday also pushed shares of ADVS into breakout territory, since the stock took out some near-term overhead resistance at $33.25. Shares of ADVS are now quickly moving within range of triggering another big breakout trade. That trade will hit if ADVS manages to clear Wednesday's intraday high of $33.55 to some more key overhead resistance levels at $34.59 to its 52-week high of $36.11 with volume.

   

  Traders should now look for long-biased trades in ADVS as long as it's trending above its 50-day at $32.05 or above its 200-day at $31.15 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that's near or above 296,403 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then ADVS will set up to enter new 52-week-high territory above $36.11, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that breakout are $40 to $45, or even $50.

   

Hot Integrated Utility Stocks To Watch For 2014: Dynamic Materials Corporation(BOOM)

Dynamic Materials Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides explosion-welded clad metal plates, oil field perforating equipment and explosives, and welding services worldwide. It operates in three segments: Explosive Metalworking, Oilfield Products, and AMK Welding. The Explosive Metalworking segment primarily manufactures explosion-welded clad metal plates that are used in the construction of heavy and corrosion resistant pressure vessels, and heat exchangers for oil and gas, alternative energy, chemical and petrochemical, hydrometallurgy, aluminum production, shipbuilding, power generation, and industrial refrigeration industries. This segment sells its products through senior management, direct sales personnel, program managers, and independent sales representatives. The Oilfield Products segment engages in the manufacture, marketing, and sale of perforating explosives and associated hardware, as well as seismic explosives for the oil and gas industry. Its p roducts include shaped charges, detonators, detonating cords, bidirectional boosters, and perforating guns for the perforation of oil and gas wells. This segment offers its products through direct selling, licensed distributors, independent sales representatives, and international distribution centers. The AMK Welding segment provides welding, heat treatment, and inspection services primarily to power turbine manufacturers, and commercial and military aircraft engine manufacturers. The company was formerly known as Explosive Fabricators, Inc. and changed its name to Dynamic Materials Corporation in 1994. Dynamic Materials Corporation was founded in 1965 and is headquartered in Boulder, Colorado.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Chris Hill]

  In this installment of Motley Fool Money, our analysts talk about why they're watching Dynamic Materials (NASDAQ: BOOM  ) , Gentex (NASDAQ: GNTX  ) , and Western Union (NYSE: WU  ) .

Hot Integrated Utility Stocks To Watch For 2014: Bona Film Group Limited(BONA)

Bona Film Group Limited distributes films in the People?s Republic of China. It distributes films to movie theaters, as well as to non-theatrical distribution channels, including DVD and Blu-ray and other home video products; Internet and digital distribution; in-flight entertainment; and cable, satellite, and broadcast televisions. The company also invests in the production of Chinese and Hong Kong films in order to obtain the distribution rights for movie theaters and non-theatrical channels. In addition, Bona Film Group operates six movie theaters in five cities of the People?s Republic of China; operates a talent agency business that represents artists; and involves in film advertising and television production businesses. The company was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in Beijing, the People?s Republic of China.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Bryan Murphy]

  With just a quick glance at the chart, Bona Film Group Ltd (NASDAQ:BONA) doesn't look like anything other than an erratic mess. When you take a step back and take a look at the longer-term chart of BONA, however, you can see the last several weeks have ushered in a major bullish change of direction for the stock... meaning now's a great time to start wading into a position.

• [By Bryan Murphy]

  It's certainly no The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS). It's not even a Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. (NYSE:LGF). Yet, Bona Film Group Ltd (NASDAQ:BONA) is a solid company in its own right, and BONA shares are looking more compelling right now than DIS or LGF are here, even though all three companies are in the same industry.

Hot Integrated Utility Stocks To Watch For 2014: Golden Star Resources Ltd(GSS)

Golden Star Resources Ltd., a gold mining and exploration company, through its subsidiaries, engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of gold properties. It owns and operates the Bogoso/Prestea gold mining and processing operation that covers approximately 40 kilometers of strike along the southwest-trending Ashanti gold district in western Ghana; and the Wassa open-pit gold mine located to the east of Bogoso/Prestea in southwest Ghana. The company also has an 81% interest in the Prestea underground gold mine located in Ghana. In addition, it holds interests in various gold exploration projects in Ghana, Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Cote d?Ivoire, as well as holds and manages exploration properties in Brazil in South America. The company was founded in 1984 and is based in Littleton, Colorado.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Duprey]

  Clash of the titans
  When bears are raging on the gold bullion market, it's not surprising to see gold stocks getting mauled as well. Golden Star Resources (NYSEMKT: GSS  ) was the biggest loser in the sector, losing a quarter of its market cap on no company-specific news, though a report last Friday indicated that a large number of hedge funds had recently dumped their positions in the mid-tier miner. Yet it wasn't all that much better among the majors, either, as Barrick Gold (NYSE: ABX  ) fell almost 13% and Kinross Gold (NYSE: KGC  ) was down 14%.

• [By Patricio Kehoe] some future and gave several reasons for my bearish stance towards the stock. A small market, high geopolitical risk in some of the countries the firm operates, along with overexpansion in times of fluctuating gold prices gave tune to the massive shedding of shares by investment gurus. Five months have past since I last considered Golden Star�� potential, and everything indicates the situation has not changed.

  Guru Activity Shows a Clear Tendency

  Steven Cohen (Trades, Portfolio), Chuck Royce (Trades, Portfolio) and Arnold Schneider (Trades, Portfolio), had already sold their entire holdings in the company by October 2013, indicating they had little faith in the gold miner�� recovery. By the end of the year, Jim Simons' (Trades, Portfolio) Renaissance Technologies took a similar decision, reducing its stake in the firm by 32%. This tendency towards the sale of Golden Star stock was duly noted by investors and analysts alike, and concurs with the company�� poor performance.

  A Look at the Numbers

  In an industry plagued by fluctuating metal prices, operating with lofty margins can be quite helpful. Yet Golden Star cannot afford such luxuries. With an operating margin of 0.1% and a net margin of -56.8% the firm is in a tight spot, especially when compared to the industry average. Unlike its industry peers��median, which are of 2.26% and -0.09%, respectively, the Toronto-based gold miner is struggling to generate decent cash flow levels. Further metrics depict a even worse situation for shareholders: return on equity is currently at -370% and revenue growth is estimated to reach a poor 2.5%. Purchasing overpriced assets, relative to current gold prices, is surely one of the reasons for such grim figures, as financial losses have taken their toll on Golden Star.

  The announcement of its 2013 full year, and fourth quarter earnings only helped to add to shareholders��concerns. A 15% decline in revenue was expected by those

• [By Patricio Kehoe] ating price of the commodity, along with the geopolitical risks involved in mining in African nations such as Ghana, are just two of the obstacles the firm is facing. In addition, as one of the smallest gold mining firms in the industry, with a market cap of just $122 million, Golden Star has had a very difficult time financing its latest expansion projects. With share prices tumbling towards all-time lows, gurus such as Steven Cohen, Chuck Royce and Arnold Schneider have already sold out their positions in the troubled firm.

  Why Have Gurus Lost Faith in Golden Star?

  Despite aggressive expansion over the past decade, the Toronto-based gold mining firm has not been able to take advantage of its increased production output. Gold prices might have exploded over a ten-year period, yet the recent six-month decline has put a huge strain on Golden Star. The expedited maturation of its mines is particularly troubling, since the accelerated extraction rates, which allowed for short-term profits, are now falling considerably. The impact of the company�� excessive overproduction on profits and growth is clear: decreasing gold reserves mean less production, and thus reduced revenue for the gold miner. When the decline in metal prices are taken into account, the outlook is even more grim.

  In addition to overexpansion at the wrong time, Golden Star�� position has weakened due to its comparably less efficient operations. Unlike industry peers, such as IamGold Corp. (IAG) or Gold Fields Ltd. (GFI), the majority of the Toronto-based miner�� assets contain refractory ore, which is far more expensive to extract than non refractory ore. And, in an attempt to switch production to the lower cost gold ore, and thus increase margins, Golden Star has depleted its mines��non refractory ore. With low reserves and mounting cash costs, the firm inevitably turned to new acquisitions.

  Overpriced Acquisitions and Geopolitical Risk

  The purchase

• [By Sean Williams]

  Golden Star Resources (NYSEMKT: GSS  )
  It's simple physics: The bigger they are, the harder they fall. When gold prices nosedived earlier this week, gold miners with historically higher operating costs took the brunt of the hit. For the most part, that meant that development-stage miners, and those operating in Africa, where labor and political costs make cost-effective mining a challenge, took it on the chin. Possibly no stock was hammered more than Golden Star Resources, a gold miner in Ghana, which lost about one-quarter of its value on Monday alone.

Hot Integrated Utility Stocks To Watch For 2014: Sharps Compliance Corp(SMED)

Sharps Compliance Corp. provides management solutions for medical waste, used healthcare materials, and unused dispensed medications in the United States. The company offers a range of product and service solutions, including sharps recovery system for the containment, transportation, treatment, and tracking of medical waste and used healthcare materials generated outside the hospital and health care facility settings. It also provides takeaway environmental return systems, complete needle collection and disposal systems, Rx takeaway recovery and reporting systems, sharps MWMS, takeaway recovery systems, and sharpstracer solutions. In addition, the company offers various other logistical solutions, such as pitch-it IV poles, trip lessystem, sharps pump and asset return boxes, sharps secure needle collection and containment systems, sharps recovery system needle collection and mailback disposal systems, isowash linen recovery systems, and biohazard spill clean-up kit and di sposal systems. It serves consumers in government, home health care, retail clinics and immunizing pharmacies, pharmaceutical manufacturers, professional offices, hospitality, commercial, industrial, and agriculture markets. Sharps Compliance Corp. was founded in 1992 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By James Miller Phd]

  The firm is currently Zacks Rank # 3��old, and it also has a longer-term recommendation of ��eutral�� A Hold rating indicates that the stock, over the next one to three months, will perform at an annualized rate of 10.56%, very similar to the S&P 500. For investors looking for a better Zacks Rank, Sharps Compliance Corp. (SMED) is the option.

Hot Integrated Utility Stocks To Watch For 2014: Dephasium Corp (DPHS)

Dephasium Corp., formerly Pay Mobile, Inc., incorporated on November 17, 2005, is a development-stage company. As of December 31, 2012, the Company was seeking new business opportunities. On June 3, 2013, Dephasium Corp announced that it has completed the acquisition of the ANCILIA from Dephasium Ltd.

The Company was engaged in the business of providing integrated payment solutions for consumers and corporate clients by incorporating its mobile payment technology with the issuance of open-loop prepaid Visa and MasterCard cards. As of December 31, 2012, the Company had no operations.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Peter Graham]

  Small cap stocks BluForest Inc (OTCMKTS: BLUF), Dephasium Corp (OTCMKTS: DPHS) and IceWEB, Inc (OTCBB: IWEB) have been getting some attention for at least a few weeks now thanks to paid for promotional activity. Of course, there is nothing wrong with properly disclosed stock promotions, but one of these stocks also has a former shareholder who has filed a civil action against it alleging there is an illegal ��ump and dump��scheme going on. So what�� the whole story and more importantly, what will happen with these small cap stocks when the well from promoters eventually goes dry? Here is a closer look and a quick reality check: