5 Best Electric Utility Stocks To Own Right Now

It�� no April Fool�� joke. New York state doubled its estate tax exemption as of today. And it�� set to rise gradually through 2019��f you hang on that long��o eventually match the generous federal exemption, projected to be $5.9 million by then. That will sure make planning much easier for a lot of folks, but there are still big traps in the new law to watch out for.

One trap in New York is a new ��liff,��so called because if it�� triggered you basically fall into a state estate tax abyss.

Before April 1, 2014, the amount an individual could leave at death without owing state estate tax in New York was $1 million, one of the lowest exemption amounts in the 19 states (plus the District of Columbia) that impose state level death taxes. That meant you�� pay New York estate tax (at up to a 16% top rate) on your assets above $1 million.

As of April 1, 2014, the exemption amount is $2,062,500.  That shields way more people from the state levy. But if you die with just 5% more than $2,062,500, you face a cliff. That means you��e taxed on the full value of your estate, not just the amount over the exemption amount.

Top 10 Healthcare Technology Companies To Own For 2015: Mid-America Apartment Communities Inc (MAA)

Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc., incorporated on September 22, 1993, is a self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust (REIT). The Company focuses on acquiring, owning and operating apartment communities in the Sunbelt region of the United States. The Company�� segments include Large market same store communities , Secondary market same store communities and Non same store communities and other . As of December 31, 2012 , the Company owned 100% of 160 properties representing 47,809 apartment units. Four properties include retail components with approximately 108,000 square feet of gross leasable area.

As of December 31, 2012 , the Company also had 33.33% ownership interests in Mid-America Multifamily Fund I, LLC, or Fund I, and Mid-America Multifamily Fund II, LLC, or Fund II, which owned two properties containing 626 apartment units and four properties containing 1,156 apartment units, respectively. These apartment communities were located across 13 states. In October 2013, Mid-America Apartment Communities Inc merged with Colonial Properties Trust. In October 2013, Mid America Apartment Communities Inc and Colonial Properties Trust announced the completion of the merger of the two companies.

The Company�� Large market same store communities are generally communities in markets with a population of at least one million and at least 1% of the total public multifamily REIT units that the Company has owned and that has been stabilized for at least a full 12 months and have not been classified as held for sale. Communities are considered stabilized after achieving and maintaining at least 90% occupancy for 90 days. Secondary market same store communities are generally communities in markets with populations of more than one million but less than 1% of the total public multifamily REIT units or markets with populations of less than one million that the Company has owned and that has been stabilized for at least a full 12 months and have not been cl! assified as held for sale. Communities are considered stabilized after achieving and maintaining at least 90% occupancy for 90 days. Non same store communities and other includes recent acquisitions, communities in development or lease-up and communities that have been classified as held for sale. Also included in non same store communities are non multifamily activities which represent less than 1% of the Company's portfolio.

The Company's business is conducted principally through Mid-America Apartments, L.P., which the Company refers to as its Operating Partnership. As of December 31, 2012 , the Company owned or had an ownership interest in 166 multifamily apartment communities in 13 different states. The Company also provides its own in-house leadership development program, which consists of a three-module program followed by two comprehensive case studies, which was developed with the assistance of U.S. Learning, Inc. During the year ended December 31, 2012, the Company purchased 10.6 acres of land and began construction on a new 270-unit community located in the Charleston, South Carolina metropolitan area. As of December 31, 2012 , no units have been delivered for the land in Charleston, South Carolina. During 2012, the Company also purchased 2.0 acres of land and began construction on a new 294-unit community located in Jacksonville, Florida.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Duprey]

  Apartment-only real estate investment trust Mid-America Apartment Communities (NYSE: MAA  ) added yet another multi-family housing community to its portfolio, announcing yesterday it had�completed the acquisition of Station Square at Cosner's Corner, a 260-unit upscale multi-family apartment community located in�Fredericksburg, Va.

• [By GURUFOCUS]

  Mid-America Apartment Communities Inc. (MAA) is an independent real estate investment trust. Dec. 3, the company increased its quarterly dividend 5% to $0.73 per share. The dividend is payable on Jan. 31, 2014, to shareholders of record on Jan. 15, 2014. The yield based on the new payout is 4.8%.

5 Best Electric Utility Stocks To Own Right Now: iShares Russell 3000 Index Fund (IWV)

iShares Russell 3000 Index Fund (the Fund) seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Russell 3000 Index (the Index). The Index measures the performance of the United States equity market. The Index serves as the underlying index for Russell 3000 Growth and Value Series, and the Russell 1000 and Russell 2000 Indexes, as well as their respective Growth and Value series. The Index is a capitalization-weighted index and consists of the 3000 largest companies domiciled in the United States and its territories.

The Fund invests in a representative sample of securities included in the Index that collectively has an investment profile similar to the Index. iShares Russell 3000 Index Fund's investment advisor is Barclays Global Fund Advisors.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Maxfield]

  Over the past five years, this ETF has beaten the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI  ) by 23 percentage points. It's outperformed the Russell 3000 (NYSEMKT: IWV  ) by 21 percentage points. And it's done the same to the eponymous S&P 500, exceeding it by 11 percentage points.

5 Best Electric Utility Stocks To Own Right Now: Strattec Security Corporation(STRT)

Strattec Security Corporation engages in the design, development, manufacture, and marketing of automotive access control products. The company?s products include mechanical locks and keys, electronically enhanced locks and keys, steering column and instrument panel ignition lock housings, latches, power sliding door systems, power lift gate systems, power deck lid systems, door handles, and related products. It also provides full service and aftermarket support for its products. The company offers its products primarily for automotive manufacturers. It markets its products in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, South America, Korea, and China. The company was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Monica Wolfe]

  Strattec Security (STRT)

  Last week Mario Gabelli increased his position in Strattec Security. The guru increased his position 4.82% by adding a total of 13,136 shares to his holdings. He bought these shares at an average price of $43.15, and since then the price per share has increased approximately 5%.

• [By Martin Vlcek]

  Strattec Security Corp. (STRT) is a growing small-cap company with more than 100 years in the automotive supply industry and strong sales growth since 2009. The success and growth of Strattec are still mostly influenced by the global automotive markets. As many analysts still predict ongoing industry growth, the company is poised to continue strongly benefiting from this automotive tailwind. However, the company's recent diversification efforts into new product lines, industries outside of automotive and countries outside of the U.S. have created multiple new growth drivers that will ensure Strattec's continued robust sales and EPS expansion. The company's growth has also become much more balanced and more resilient to a potential automotive industry shock or U.S. slowdown.

5 Best Electric Utility Stocks To Own Right Now: Charter Communications Inc.(CHTR)

Charter Communications, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides entertainment, information, and communications solutions to residential and commercial customers in the United States. The company offers cable video programming services, such as basic and digital video, premium channels, OnDemand, pay-per-view, high definition television, digital video recorder, and online video services; Internet services; Charter.net, which provides multiple e-mail addresses, as well as various entertainment, games, news, and sports content; and telephone services. It also provides broadband communications solutions, such as Internet access, data networking, fiber connectivity to cellular towers and office buildings, video entertainment services, and business telephone services under the Charter Business brand name to business and carrier organizations. As of December 31, 2011, the company served approximately 4.1 million video customers; approximately 3.5 million Internet customers; appr oximately 1.7 million telephone customers; and approximately 476,200 commercial primary service units. Charter Communications, Inc. was founded in 1999 and is based in St. Louis, Missouri.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Paul Ausick]

  Seeing how its initial bid of $132.50 per share ($37.3 billion) for Time Warner Cable Inc. (NYSE: TWC) produced an immediate rejection, cable operator Charter Communications Inc. (NASDAQ: CHTR) is reported to be considering sweetening its offer to somewhere in the low $140s.

• [By Jon C. Ogg]

  What 24/7 Wall St. wanted to do was evaluate this based upon past coverage and future pricing. The latest report of merit was that Comcast Corp. (NASDAQ: CMCSA) would make a joint offer with Charter Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: CHTR) to acquire Time Warner Cable. The question was, is, and likely will remain in place… At what price?

• [By Saumya Vaishampayan and Ben Eisen]

  Time Warner Cable Inc. (TWC) ��shares jumped 10%. The Wall Street Journal reported late Thursday that Charter Communications Inc. (CHTR) �was preparing to make a bid for the cable operator. Charter was said to be in talks with at least four banks to line up financing to buy Time Warner, which has a $35 billion market capitalization. Shares of Charter Communications rallied 6.1%.

• [By Will Ashworth]

  If other cable companies — like Charter Communications (CHTR), Cablevision (CVC) and Cox Communications — decide to merge in order to keep pace with Comcast, content providers could be under the gun once more.