Top 10 Prefered Companies To Invest In 2014

Despite efforts to change the way we use energy, we still need oil. A lot of it.�

Fortunately, the Kashagan oilfield -- the largest oil discovery in the past 30 years -- just started production. Unfortunately for those involved in the project, it may not turn out to be as promising as originally thought. Let's look at what this new discovery means to the companies that hope to turn a profit from it.�

"Cash all gone"

Source: Eni S.p.A Media Relations.

The Kashagan field in the Caspian Sea has been one of the biggest cautionary tales for the future of oil. While it holds a ton of promise with more than 13 billion barrels of recoverable oil, the project so far has been described as a boondoggle at best. It took the consortium of companies working on the project more than 12 years to get the first drop of oil out of the ground. Also, once the project hits its target capacity of 375,000 barrels per day, the costs will have swelled to more than $80,000 per barrel of capacity, which is more than 5 times what it costs for oil to come from places such as Saudi Arabia. The extremely high costs on this project coupled with how long it has taken to bring online has given it the nickname "Cash all gone."

Top 10 Japanese Companies For 2015: Danone SA (BN)

Danone SA is a France-based food company that primarily produces fresh milk products, baby foods, biscuits, cereal products and medical nutrition products. It also co-produces bottled water. The Company's portfolio of brands and products include Danone, a brand of fresh dairy products; Evian, a brand of bottled still water; Volvic, its international brand of bottled still water, and Aqua, a brand of packaged water in Indonesia. It has presence in the infant food market in France through its subsidiary, Bledina. It has also developed two probiotic dairy product lines known under the names Actimel, and Activia, as well as a line of low-fat products under the names Taillefine, Vitalinea and Ser. The Company operates through numerous subsidiaries in Europe, Asia and Americas. In February 2013 it acquired majority stake in Centrale Laitiere SA. In May 2013, it acquired an equity interest of over 90% in Happy Family, a baby food producer. In August 2013, it acquired YoCrunch. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Namitha Jagadeesh]

  Danone SA (BN) declined 1.6 percent to 56.34 euros after saying baby-nutrition sales will fall in Asia in the third quarter. The company said it had to recall infant-formula products after milk-powder supplier Fonterra Cooperative Group Ltd. warned of a contaminated ingredient.

Top 10 Prefered Companies To Invest In 2014: WGL Holdings Inc (WGL)

WGL Holdings, Inc. (WGL Holdings) is a holding company. The Company own subsidiaries, which sells and delivers natural gas and/or provide a range of energy-related products and services to customers in the District of Columbia and the surrounding metropolitan areas in Maryland and Virginia. The Company operates in three subsidiaries: regulated utility segment, retail energy-marketing segment and design-build energy systems segment. The Company�� wholly owned subsidiaries include Washington Gas Light Company (Washington Gas), Washington Gas Resources Corporation (Washington Gas Resources), Hampshire Gas Company (Hampshire) and Crab Run Gas Company (Crab Run). Washington Gas is a regulated public utility that sells and delivers natural gas to customers in the District of Columbia and adjoining areas in Maryland, Virginia and several cities and towns in the northern Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Washington Gas Resources owns four subsidiaries include Washington Gas Energy Services, Inc. (WGEServices), Washington Gas Energy Systems, Inc. (WGESystems), Capitol Energy Ventures Corp. (CEV) and WGSW, Inc. (WGSW).

Regulated Utility Segment

The Company�� regulated utility segment consists of Washington Gas and Hampshire. Washington Gas delivers natural gas to retail customers. Washington Gas also sells natural gas to customers who have not elected to purchase natural gas from un-regulated third-party marketers. Washington Gas recovers the cost of the natural gas to serve firm customers through gas cost recovery mechanisms. Hampshire operates and owns full and partial interests in underground natural gas storage facilities, including pipeline delivery facilities located in and around Hampshire County, West Virginia. Washington Gas purchases all of the storage services of Hampshire and includes the cost of these services in the bills sent to its customers.

As of September 30, 2011, Washington Gas had 1.083 million active customer meters. During the fiscal year ! ended September 30, 2011 (fiscal 2011), the Company delivered 1,772.5 million therms.

Washington Gas is responsible for acquiring sufficient natural gas supplies, interstate pipeline capacity and storage capacity. Washington Gas obtains natural gas supplies, which originate from multiple regions throughout the United States and Canada. It also obtains natural gas in the form of vaporized liquefied natural gas (LNG) through the Cove Point LNG terminal owned by Dominion Cove Point LNG, LP and Dominion Transmission, Inc. (collectively Dominion). As of September 30, 2011, Washington Gas had service agreements with four pipeline companies, which provided firm transportation and/or storage services directly to Washington Gas�� city gate.

Retail Energy-Marketing Segment

The retail energy-marketing segment consists of the operations of WGEServices, which sells the natural gas and electric commodity directly to residential, commercial and industrial customers. These commodities are delivered to retail customers through the distribution systems owned by regulated utilities, such as Washington Gas or other unaffiliated natural gas or electric utilities. Washington Gas delivers the natural gas sold by WGEServices, and unaffiliated electric utilities deliver all of the electricity sold. In addition, WGEServices bills its customers through the billing services of the regulated utilities, which deliver its commodities, as well as directly through its own billing capabilities. WGEServices owns multiple solar photovoltaic (Solar PV) power generating systems. As of September 30, 2011, WGEServices served approximately 172,000 residential, commercial and industrial natural gas customers accounts and approximately 183,000 residential, commercial and industrial electricity customers located in Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia.

Design-Build Energy Systems Segment

The design-build energy systems segment, which consists ! of the op! erations of WGESystems, provides design-build energy solutions to governmental and commercial clients. WGESystems focuses on upgrading the mechanical, electrical, water and energy-related systems of governmental and commercial facilities by implementing both traditional, as well as alternative energy technologies, in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia.

Other Activities

Other activities consist of the operations of CEV, an unregulated, non-utility subsidiary of Washington Gas Resources, which engages in the acquisition, management and optimization of natural gas storage and transportation assets and WGSW, which was formed to invest in solar power generation and other energy efficiency solutions for customers. In addition other activities include the operation of Crab Run, a small exploration company, and administrative with WGL Holdings and Washington Gas Resources. WGSW, a wholly owned subsidiary of Washington Gas Resources, holds a 99% partnership interest in ASD Solar, LP.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ali Berri]

  Utilities shares surged around 0.47 percent in today’s trading. Meanwhile, top gainers in the sector included WGL Holdings (NYSE: WGL), up 5.8 percent, and American Water Works Company (NYSE: AWK), up 1.6 percent.

• [By Shauna O'Brien]

  Brean Capital reported on Friday that it has upgraded natural gas utility company WGL Holdings Inc (WGL).

  The firm has raised its rating on WGL from “Hold” to “Buy,” and has given the company a $46 price target. This price target suggests a 12% increase from the stock’s current price of $40.62. The upgrade was primarily based on valuation and future investment opportunities.

  “Like many utilities in the gas LDC space, the shares of WGL Holdings have come off recent highs and are now trading at a level we consider attractive,” analyst Michael Gaugler comments. “Beyond valuation, we consider the recent announcement of conditional approval of Dominion’s Cove Point facility for LNG export as a positive development in terms of future investment opportunities, given the company’s one-third interest in the Commonwealth Pipeline project, which we believe will be revisited due to future increased demand.”

  WGL Holdings shares were mostly flat during pre-market trading Friday. The stock has been mostly flat YTD.

• [By Seth Jayson]

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

Top 10 Prefered Companies To Invest In 2014: Shenandoah Telecommunications Co(SHEN)

Shenandoah Telecommunications Company, a diversified telecommunications company, provides regulated and unregulated telecommunications services to end-user customers and other communications providers in the southeastern United States. It offers a suite of voice, video, and data communications services; and sells telecommunications equipment. The company?s Wireless segment provides digital wireless service to a portion of a four-state area covering the region from Harrisburg, York, and Altoona, Pennsylvania to Harrisonburg, Virginia. It owns 149 towers and leases tower space to other wireless communications providers in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. This segment also offers personal communications services through a digital wireless telephone and data network. Its Wireline segment provides regulated and unregulated telephone services and leases fiber optic facilities primarily in the northern Shenandoah Valley. This segment also offers information s ervices and Internet access to customers in the northern Shenandoah Valley and surrounding areas. In addition, it is involved in the resale of long distance service for calls placed to locations outside the regulated telephone service area by telephone customers. As of December 31, 2011, this segment had approximately 1,410 dial-up customers and 12,351 digital subscriber line customers, as well as served approximately 10,483 long distance customers. The company?s Cable Television segment provides coaxial cable-based television service in the portions of Shenandoah County, Virginia, as well as in communities in West Virginia, southern and southwestern Virginia, and western Maryland. It had approximately 137,238 cable revenue generating units. The company was founded in 1902 and is headquartered in Edinburg, Virginia.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Leading and Lagging Sectors
  Wednesday morning, the healthcare sector proved to be a source of strength for the market. Leading the sector was strength from Horizon Pharma (NASDAQ: HZNP) and Pernix Therapeutics Holdings (NASDAQ: PTX). In trading on Wednesday, telecommunications services shares were relative laggards, down on the day by about 0.39 percent. Top decliners in the sector included Shenandoah Telecommunications Co (NASDAQ: SHEN), off 3.3 percent, and CalAmp (NASDAQ: CAMP), down around 2.4 percent.

Top 10 Prefered Companies To Invest In 2014: Biota Pharmaceuticals Inc (BOTA)

Biota Pharmaceuticals, Inc., formerly Nabi Biopharmaceuticals, incorporated on March 14, 1969, is an anti-infective drug development company, with key expertise in respiratory diseases, particularly influenza. Biota developed the neuraminidase inhibitor, zanamivir, subsequently marketed by GlaxoSmithKline as Relenza. The Company�� researches include a series of candidate drugs aimed at treatment of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease and Hepatitis C (HCV) virus infections. In addition, Biota and Daiichi Sankyo co-own a range of second generation influenza anti-virals, of which the lead product lnavir, is approved for marketing in Japan.

The Company�� products include Zanamivir, Inavi, Phoslyra, BioStar OIA FLU and BioStar OIA FLU A/B. Zanamivir is a neuraminidase inhibitor for the treatment and prophylaxis of influenza marketed as Relenza by GlaxoSmithKline. Inavi (laninamivir) is a neuraminidase inhibitor marketed by Daiichi Sankyo in Japan. Phoslyra is a phosphate binder indicated to reduce serum phosphorus in patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD). BioStar OIA FLU and BioStar OIA FLU A/B are influenza diagnostic tests, which are marketed by Inverness Medical as part of their BioStar product range.

Relenza is delivered directly to the primary site of infection on the lungs, using a Disk Inhaler device. Relenza is approved in over 50 countries for the treatment of influenza, including in the United States, the European Union, Japan and Australia. Relenza is also approved for use as a preventative (prophylactic) treatment against influenza. Inavir is approved for sale in Japan for the treatment of influenza in adults and children. Daiichi Sankyo has applied to sell Inavir in Japan for the prevention of influenza.

PhosLo and Phoslyra are different dose forms of calcium acetate; a phosphate binder approved in multiple countries for the control of hyperphosphatemia (high serum phosphate) in patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD). PhosLo and Pho! slyra were sold to Fresnius Medical Care. Biota, together with its Japanese based partner, Daiichi Sankyo, have developed an inhaled antiviral compounds for influenza, called long acting inhaled neuraminidase inhibitors (LANI). Biota's human rhinovirus (HRV) drug for the prevention and treatment of the causes of the common cold, BTA798, has completed Phase I, Phase IIa and Phase IIb clinical trials.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By gurujx]

  Biota Pharmaceuticals Inc (BOTA) Reached the 3-year Low of $2.42

  The prices of Biota Pharmaceuticals Inc (BOTA) shares have declined to close to the 3-year low of $2.42, which is 93.3% off the 3-year high of $34.92.

Top 10 Prefered Companies To Invest In 2014: Ion Geophysical Corporation (IO)

ION Geophysical Corporation provides planning and seismic processing services, software, and acquisition equipment to the energy industry worldwide. Its Solutions segment provides seismic data processing services for marine and land environments, reservoir solutions, onboard processing and quality control, and seismic data libraries, as well as services to manage the seismic process that comprise survey planning and design, data acquisition and management, pre-processing, and final subsurface imaging. The company�s Systems segment offers DigiSTREAMER system, a towed streamer; redeployable ocean bottom cable seismic data acquisition systems; shipboard recorders; DigiCOURSE, a marine streamer positioning system; DigiFIN streamer control systems; source and source control systems, such as air guns; and analog geophone sensors. Its Software segment provides software systems and services comprising Orca, a command and control software for towed streamer acquisition; Gator, an integrated navigation and data management software system for multi-vessel ocean bottom cable and transition zone operations; and post-survey tools, including Reflex software for seismic coverage and attribute analysis, as well as Optimiser, a technology planning tool. This segment also offers consulting services for planning, designing, and supervising surveys, including 4D and WATS survey operations. ION Geophysical Corporation also offers cable-based, cable less, and radio-controlled seismic data acquisition systems; digital sensors; vibroseis vehicles, such as vibrator trucks; and source controllers for detonator and energy sources. The company was formerly known as Input/Output, Inc. ION Geophysical Corporation was founded in 1968 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Roberto Pedone]

  ION Geophysical (IO) is a technology-focused seismic solutions company that provides advanced seismic data acquisition equipment, seismic software and seismic planning, processing and interpretation services to the global energy industry. This stock closed up 3.7% to $6.38 in Thursday's trading session.

  Thursday's Range: $6.25-$6.43
  
  52-Week Range: $5.52-$7.87
  
  Thursday's Volume: 1.38 million
  
  Three-Month Average Volume: 945,989

  From a technical perspective, IO gapped higher here back above its 50-day moving average at $6.14 with above-average volume. This stock has been trending sideways for the last four months, with shares moving between $6.90 on the upside and $5.55 on the downside. This move today is now starting to push shares of IO within range of triggering a breakout trade above the upper-end of its recent sideways trading chart pattern. That trade will hit if IO manages to take out some key overhead resistance levels at $6.45 to $6.70 and then once it clears more resistance at $6.90 with high volume.

  Traders should now look for long-biased trades in IO as long as it's trending above its 50-day at $6.14 or above more support at $5.95 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 945,989 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then IO will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $7.25 to $7.70. Any high-volume move above those levels will then put its next major overhead resistance levels at $8 to $8.79 into range for shares of IO.

Top 10 Prefered Companies To Invest In 2014: Ashmore Group PLC (ASHM)

Ashmore Group plc (Ashmore) is engaged in providing investment management services. The Company is a fund manager across six core investment themes, such as external debt, local currency, corporate debt, blended debt, equities, multi-strategy, alternatives and overlay/liquidity. External debt is a diversified portfolio of emerging market debt assets. Local currency takes advantage of the expanding local currency and local currency denominated debt market. Corporate debt focuses on the developing corporate debt asset class. Blended debt mandates specifically combine external, local currency and corporate debt measured against tailor-made blended indices. Multi-strategy is a dynamic asset allocation across other investment themes. Equities Focuses on liquidity and top down macro country selection in publicly traded. Overlay/liquidity helps to separate and centralize the currency risk of an underlying emerging market asset class. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Inyoung Hwang]

  Ashmore Group Plc (ASHM) jumped 5.3 percent to 382.2 pence. The U.K. fund manager that invests in emerging markets reported full-year pretax profit and revenue that exceeded estimates. The London-based company also raised its dividend.

Top 10 Prefered Companies To Invest In 2014: SVB Financial Group(SIVB)

SVB Financial Group, a diversified financial services company, provides various banking and financial products and services. The company offers deposit products, such as traditional deposit and checking accounts, certificates of deposit, money market accounts, and sweep accounts, as well as lockbox and merchant services; and lending products and services, including traditional term loans, equipment loans, asset-based loans, revolving lines of credit, accounts-receivable-based lines of credits, capital call lines of credits, and credit cards. It also provides cash management products and services comprising wire transfer and automated clearing house payment services, collection services, disbursement services, electronic funds transfers, and online banking services. In addition, the company offers foreign exchange services; letters of credit, including export, import, and standby letters of credit; investment services and solutions; brokerage; asset management; investment a dvisory services, such as outsourced treasury services; and non-banking products and services, such as funds management, venture capital/private equity investment, and equity valuation services. Further, it provides private banking services comprising mortgages, home equity lines of credit, restricted stock purchase loans, and other secured and unsecured lending services. As of March 09, 2012, the company operated 26 offices in the United States and 7 offices internationally. It serves customers in the technology, venture capital/private equity, life science, wine, and clean tech industries. The company was founded in 1982 and is headquartered in Santa Clara, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Will Ashworth]

  While airlines have their ups and downs, Copa is about the best I can think of to weather the storm.

  Best Stocks #4 (Midcap): SVB Financial (SIVB)
  

  I never would have thought one of my picks for the next 20 years would be a bank — let alone one that focuses on entrepreneurs — but here I am.

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