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.

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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.

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

China Recycling Energy

China Recycling Energy (CREG) engages in the recycling energy business, providing energy savings and recycling products and services. This stock closed up 9.2% to $3.07 in Tuesday's trading session.

Tuesday's Range: $2.69-$3.14

52-Week Range: $0.78-$3.14

Tuesday's Volume: 410,000

Three-Month Average Volume: 95,671

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From a technical perspective, CREG spiked sharply higher here right above some near-term support at $2.60 with heavy upside volume. This stock has been uptrending strong for the last three months, with shares moving higher from its low of $1.66 to its recent high of $3.16. During that uptrend, shares of CREG have been consistently making higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. That move has now pushed shares of CREG within range of triggering a major breakout trade. That trade will hit if CREG manages to take out some near-term overhead resistance levels at $3.16 to $3.50 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in CREG as long as it's trending above support at $2.60 or above its 50-day at $2.41 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 95,671 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then CREG will set up to tag $4 to $5.

Performance Technologies

Performance Technologies (PTIX) is a supplier of advanced network communications solutions to carrier, government and OEM markets. This stock closed up 14.1% to $3.15 in Tuesday's trading session.

Tuesday's Range: $2.80-$3.20

52-Week Range: $0.73-$3.97

Tuesday's Volume: 364,000

Three-Month Average Volume: 262,357

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From a technical perspective, PTIX skyrocketed higher here right above some near-term support at $2.70 and back above its 50-day moving average of $2.94 with above-average volume. This stock has been trending sideways and consolidating for the last three months, with shares moving between $2.59 on the downside and $3.97 on the upside. Shares of PTIX are now starting to move within range of triggering a big breakout trade above the upper-end of its recent range. That breakout will hit if PTIX manages to take out some key near-term overhead resistance levels at $3.20 to $3.25, and then once it takes out more resistance at $3.79 to its 52-week high at $3.97 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in PTIX as long as it's trending above support at $2.70 or $2.59 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 262,357 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then PTIX will set up to enter new 52-week-high territory above $3.97, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that breakout are $5 to $6.

Altair Nanotechnologies

Altair Nanotechnologies (ALTI) develops, manufactures and sells nano lithium titanate batteries and energy storage systems. This stock closed up 6.8% to $4.82 in Tuesday's trading session.

Tuesday's Range: $4.45-$5.05

52-Week Range: $2.02-$8.00

Tuesday's Volume: 76,000

Three-Month Average Volume: 103,311

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From a technical perspective, ALTI spiked sharply higher here right above some near-term support at $4.30 with lighter-than-average volume. This stock recently dropped sharply from its high of $8 to $4.30 with heavy downside volume flows. During that plunge, shares of ALTI have been consistently making lower highs and lower lows, which is bearish technical price action. That said, shares of ALTI now look ready to see an end to its downside volatility, since the stock is starting to rebound off that $4.30 low and move within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade. That trade will hit if ALTI manages to take out some near-term overhead resistance at $5.08 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in ALTI as long as it's trending above Tuesday's low of $4.45 or above more support at $4.30 and then once it sustains a move or close above $5.08 with volume that hits near or above 103,311 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then ALTI will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels $6 to $6.50.

AK Steel

AK Steel (AKS) is a producer of flat-rolled carbon, stainless and electrical steels, and tubular products through its wholly owned subsidiary, AK Steel Corporation. This stock closed up 5.8% to $4.43 in Tuesday's trading session.

Tuesday's Range: $4.11-$4.45

52-Week Range: $2.76-$5.77

Tuesday's Volume: 8.76 million

Three-Month Average Volume: 5.23 million

From a technical perspective, AKS spiked sharply higher here with heavy upside volume. This stock has been uptrending strong for the last month, with shares moving higher from its low of $3.73 to its recent high of $4.46. During that uptrend, shares of AKS have been consistently making higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. That move has now pushed shares of AKS within range of triggering a major breakout trade. That trade will hit if AKS manages to take out some near-term overhead resistance levels at $4.46 to $4.65 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in AKS as long as it's trending above Tuesday's low of $4.11 or above its 50-day at $3.89 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 5.23 million shares. If that breakout hits soon, then AKS will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $4.94 to its 52-week high at $5.77.

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

-- Written by Roberto Pedone in Delafield, Wis.

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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.

Potash Producer ICL Weighing on Benchmark: Israel Markets

Israel Chemicals Ltd. (ICL), the fourth-largest potash producer in the world by sales, is weighing on the Tel Aviv benchmark stock index on concern the government will exact higher royalties amid a global oversupply.

ICL, as the Israeli crop maker is known, has tumbled 36 percent this year, while parent company Israel Corp. has slumped 29 percent. The stocks were set for the steepest annual plunges since 2008 and 2011, respectively. That compares with an 8.8 percent jump for the TA-25 index. With the two companies making up an average 10 percent of the index's weighting, their declines trimmed the advance of the equity gauge by 4.4 percentage points, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Finance Minister Yair Lapid said in April that natural resources are a public asset and set up a panel to review royalties paid by ICL, a year after the government doubled the producer's taxes to 10 percent. The Tel Aviv-based company will probably report the smallest profit in four years, according to the mean estimate of 13 analysts surveyed by Bloomberg.

"Everything that is going on with ICL with regards to raising royalties is diminishing confidence investors have in Israel," Gilad Alper, a senior analyst at Excellence Nessuah Brokerage Ltd. in Ramat Gan, said by phone on Oct. 28. "The index could have done a lot better if we didn't have the issue with ICL."

ICL derived 29 percent of revenue from potash fertilizers last year, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The company said on Aug. 8 that it's considering boosting its potash production at existing mines, while also planning to list shares outside of Israel.

Potash Revenue

The government panel will probably submit recommendations on royalties only by mid-2014, Alper, who has a hold rating on the stock, said.

The Israeli producer's potash revenue fell last year to $1.96 billion from $2.28 in 2011, lagging behind sales of OAO Uralkali, Mosaic Co. and Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan Inc., according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Earnings per share will probably slump 19 percent this year, to 83 cents, the data show.

Uralkali's move to withdraw from an export sales venture with Belaruskali on July 30 sank shares of potash producers worldwide on concern profits will crumble because of lower prices and surplus supply. Uralkali estimated the price of the fertilizer may decline below $300 per ton from about $400 currently.

Potash on Oct. 24 posted lower-than-expected third-quarter revenue and cut its full-year earnings forecast. Chief Executive Officer Bill Doyle called Uralkali's decision self-destructive as the price of the commodity has slumped.

Takeover Scrapped

"When it comes to the fundamental situation in the potash market it is hard to see how things will significantly improve anytime soon for ICL," Alper said.

Shares of ICL also fell after a deal with Potash Corp. fell through. Finance Minister Lapid has said he will oppose the Canadian company's bid and ICL employees protested against the plans. Potash scrapped plans to buy ICL in April.

"There must be receptivity to foreign investment and certainty in the rules that govern such investment," Potash said in a PRNewswire statement on April 25.

The company said on Aug. 7 that it's considering boosting production of potash and dual-listing their shares overseas. Shares have rebounded 14 percent since falling to a four-year low on Sept. 8.

ICL's impact on the index is over, said Guil Bashan, an analyst at Israel Brokerage & Investment Ltd. in Tel Aviv. "I'm not so sure about recovery, but there isn't much more downside at this level."

Higher Taxes

The potash sector isn't the only industry where the government raised taxes. The Israeli parliament passed a law to raise taxes on profits from domestic energy resources in March 2011. The nation collects as much as 62 percent of energy profits from 30 percent previously.

Foreign investors may be discouraged by the government's steps to boost royalty taxes, ICL said in an e-mailed statement.

Shares gained 5.3 percent in the first quarter, before sinking 40 percent through yesterday. Israel Corp. rallied 13 percent in the first three months of the year and has lost 37 percent since then.

"The stock has been hit by several reasons," Joel Jackson, an analyst at BMO Financial Group, said by phone from Toronto yesterday. "It could be just a small increase for royalties or it could be in taxes or it could be meaningful. It would be hard to say but that is what's keeping a lot of investors on the sidelines."

The Top Bank Prospect Isn't One of the Majors (BAC, SBCF, C)

Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida (NASDAQ:SBCF) is certainly no Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C) or Bank of America Corp. (NYSE:BAC), but then again, that may be a good thing - both larger banks are still dealing with the headaches of their sheer size. The smaller bank is far more nimble, and better still, appears to be on the verge of doling out a huge reward for shareholders.

Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida is a (as the name implies) a Florida-based regional banking company. For perspective, the $212 million market cap SBCF boasts is dwarfed by the Citigroup market cap of $152 billion, and the Bank of America market cap of the same... $152 billion. As they say, though, all things are relative - SBCF is still packing a potential punch that C or BAC shares aren't right now.

There are a couple of reasons and clues this is so, one of which is simply the shape of the chart - SBCF bushed a key support level a couple of weeks ago, and has since pushed up and off that floor on higher volume.

The daily chart of Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida tells the tale. That key line in the sand that prodded a reversal of a lethargic pullback was the 200-day moving average line (green) in early October. All it took was a touch, and poof - the bulls were running again. In the mean time, we've seen no major setbacks, but we have seen two decided accumulation (high-volume buy-in) days since the brush of the 200-day moving average line. Better still, it looks as if all of the shorter-term moving average lines have started to act as a technical floor for SBCF shares.

That's not even the most technically-compelling aspect of Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida shares right now. When you take a step back and look at a much longer-term weekly chart, you'll see there's a paradigm shift for the better underway. Click here an appropriately-sized image of said chart. What you'll see is a stock that consolidated for more than a couple of years between $1.10 and $1.95, and over the course of the past ten months or so has wiggled its way out of a sideways range and into a rising/bullish channel. The brewing effect of that consolidation phase has already been put into place, though, and we're due for a lot more upside than the 15% rally we've seen above the upper edge of that range at $1.95. The added upside of getting into SCBF right now is that we've just kissed the lower edge of the new rising trading range; there's a lot of near-term upside potential to get us started on the right foot.

The clincher for all the bullishness is the fact that Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida is supporting it with legitimate earnings growth. The company is projected to swing to a profit of $0.07 per share this year versus a loss of $0.05 per share last year, and continue at that pace in 2014 when it's expected to earn $0.09 per share. It's only 2 cents per share, but it's a 28% increase. Eat your hearts out Bank of America and Citigroup.

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5 Tech Stocks Rising on Big Volume

DELAFIELD, Wis. (Stockpickr) -- Professional traders running mutual funds and hedge funds don't just look at a stock's price moves; they also track big changes in volume activity. Often when above-average volume moves into an equity, it precedes a large spike in volatility.

Major moves in volume can signal unusual activity, such as insider buying or selling -- or buying or selling by "superinvestors."

Unusual volume can also be a major signal that hedge funds and momentum traders are piling into a stock ahead of a catalyst. These types of traders like to get in well before a large spike, so it's always a smart move to monitor unusual volume. That said, remember to combine trend and price action with unusual volume. Put them all together to help you decipher the next big trend for any stock.

With that in mind, let's take a look at several stocks rising on unusual volume today.

Chipmos Technologies

Chipmos Technologies (IMOS) is a provider of semiconductor testing and assembly services. This stock closed up 6% at $16.23 in Friday's trading session.

Best Performing Stocks To Own For 2014

Friday's Volume: 405,000

Three-Month Average Volume: 375,400

Volume % Change: 50%

From a technical perspective, IMOS ripped higher here right off some near-term support at $14.93 with decent upside volume. This stock had has been downtrending badly for the last month, with shares plunging from its high of $20.69 to its recent low of $14.93. During that move, shares of IMOS have been consistently making lower highs and lower lows, which is bearish technical price action. That said, the downside volatility for IMOS looks to have stopped and the stock could be ready to reverse its downtrend and begin a new uptrend.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in IMOS as long as it's trending above its recent low of $14.93 and then once it sustains a move or close above Friday's high of $16.30 with volume that hits near or above 375,400 shares. If we get that move soon, then IMOS will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at its 50-day moving average of $18.14 to $19.28.

Fluidigm

Fluidigm (FLDM) develops, manufactures and markets microfluidic systems for growth markets, such as single-cell genomics, applied genotyping and sample preparation for targeted sequencing and agricultural biotechnology industries. This stock closed up 9.8% at $19.55 in Friday's trading session.

Friday's Volume: 430,000

Three-Month Average Volume: 96,902

Volume % Change: 375%

From a technical perspective, FLDM gapped up sharply here and broke out above some near-term overhead resistance at $18.54 with heavy upside volume. This move also pushed shares of FLDM into new 52-week-high territory, since the stock took out $19.96 before closing at $19.55. Shares of FLDM are now trending within range of triggering a major breakout trade. That trade will hit if FLDM manages to take out Friday's high of $20.04 and then once it clears its all-time high of $20.20 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in FLDM as long as it's trending above Friday's low of $18.52 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that's near or above 96,902 shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then FLDM will set up to enter new 52-week- and all-time-high territory, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that breakout are $25 to $30.

PDF Solutions

PDF Solutions (PDFS) provides infrastructure technologies and services to improve yield and optimize performance of integrated circuits. This stock closed up 2.6% at $21.51 in Friday's trading session.

Friday's Volume: 543,000

Three-Month Average Volume: 112,159

Volume % Change: 393%

From a technical perspective, PDFS trended up here right above some near-term support at $20.50 and into new 52-week-high territory with above-average volume. This stock has been uptrending strong for the last three months, with shares moving higher from its low of $14.95 to its intraday high on Friday of $21.64. During that move, shares of PDFS have been consistently making mostly higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. That move has also been accompanies by heavy upside volume flows since mid-July.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in PDFS as long as it's trending above some near-term support at $20.50 or above its 50-day at $19.06 and then once it sustains a move or close above Friday's high of $21.64 with volume that's near or above 112,159 shares. If we get that move soon, then PDFS will set up to enter new 52-week-high territory, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that breakout are $25 to $28.

Ellie Mae

Ellie Mae (ELLI), an electronic mortgage origination network in the U.S, closed up 16% at $28 in Friday's trading session.

Friday's Volume: 2.17 million

Three-Month Average Volume: 468,756

Volume % Change: 372%

Shares of ELLI skyrocketed higher on Friday after the company reported a profit and met Wall Street's expectations and beat the revenue expectation.

From a technical perspective, ELLI soared higher here right above both its 50-day moving average of $23.64 and its 200-day moving average of $23.71 with heavy upside volume. This move sent shares of ELLI into breakout territory, since the stock took out some key overhead resistance levels at $25.39 to $25.75 and then above more resistance at $26.34. This move also pushed shares of ELLI into new 52-week high territory, which is bullish technical price action. Shares of ELLI are now starting to move within range of triggering another major breakout trade. That trade will hit if ELLI manages to take out Friday's high of $28.100 and then once it clears its three-year high at $30.59 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in ELLI as long as it's trending above those breakout levels of $26.34 to $25.75 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that's near or above 468,756 shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then ELLI will set up to enter new 52-week- and three-year-high territory, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that breakout are $35 to $40.

Web.com Group

Web.com Group (WWWW) is a provider of a full line of Internet services for small- to medium-sized businesses and is a domain name registrar. This stock closed up 2.8% at $28.19 in Friday's trading session.

Friday's Volume: 1.70 million

Three-Month Average Volume: 518,784

Volume % Change: 256%

Shares of WWWW spiked higher on Friday after the company said it earned 51 cents per share in the second quarter, up 34% from the year-earlier quarter, and beat analyst estimates by 2 cents. Non-GAAP revenue rose 8% to $131.4 million vs. analysts' estimates of $130.6 million. The company also raised its full-year revenue guidance by about $3 million to a range of $531 million to $534 million, vs. $408 million last year.

From a technical perspective, WWWW trended up here above some near-term support levels at $26 to $25.22 and into new 52-week-high territory above $28.25 with above-average volume. This stock has been uptrending strong for the last three months, with shares soaring higher from its low of $15.87 to its intraday high of $29.48. During that move, shares of WWWW have been consistently making higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in WWWW as long as it's trending above Friday's low of $26.78 or above $26 and then once it sustains a move or close above Friday's high of $29.48 with volume that's near or above 518,784 shares. If we get that move soon, then WWWW will set up to enter new 52-week-high territory, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that move are $35 to $37.

To see more stocks rising on unusual volume, check out the Stocks Rising on Unusual Volume portfolio on Stockpickr.

-- Written by Roberto Pedone in Delafield, Wis.

Tax-free bonds: Is it a good bet?

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A: I am not a big believer of tax-free bond for simple reason that if you are a high net worth individual and you invest in mutual fund and you disinvest after one year, you just pay 10 percent long-term capital gain but when you invest in a tax-free bond, government take a calculation saying that all investors are in highest bracket. So, he starts from day one paying highest tax slab.

It is a tax-free bond, nice but in a ten year period you find many times capital losses in your books. So, if you have a mutual fund bond portfolio and you have a capital losses somewhere else then you can adjust these things which is not possible in tax-free bond, for instance if you are running a business; you have a business of investing and that you have some losses where many people keep having for various reasons. Now you have a taxable instrument like mutual fund or lower instrument like mutual fund, you can adjust those. So, I am not a big believer in tax-free bond and I do not think they serve much purpose to the investor but the lure of them is too high for many investors to avoid.

Cash Gushes Into Stock Funds

Inflows last week into U.S. stock mutual funds and exchange-traded funds were the most in two months, with investors pumping money into stock funds as the S&P 500 rose again to record highs.

Investors placed $11.5 billion into both U.S. stock mutual funds and ETFs in the week ended Oct. 23, according to fund tracker Lipper. Last week’s intake was the largest since Sept. 18, and compares with an inflow of $9.7 billion in week ended Oct. 16.

Traditional U.S. stock mutual funds, excluding ETFs, took in $4 billion, the largest single-week gain since the week of Jan. 9, towering over the $915 million that flowed in during the previous week.

Domestic stock ETFs received $7.5 billion, compared with $8.8 billion a week earlier.

The biggest takers among ETFs all are made up of U.S. stock funds. The market's behemoth, the $156 billion SPDR S&P 500 ETF(SPY5.LN) (SPY), took in $2.9 billion last week. Enthusiasm for tech stocks saw the Nasdaq-100 Index tracking PowerShares QQQ (QQQ) rake in $1 billion, while the SPDR S&P MidCap 400 (MDY) absorbed $750 million.

Demand picked up for funds made up of overseas stocks as well. International equity mutual funds and ETFs took in $4.2 billion last week, also the most in two months. Investors have been particularly keen on Europe, where signs of stability for are cropping up for the first time in years. Investors poured $5 billion into European stock mutual funds and ETFs last week, the most ever, according to Michael Hartnett, chief investment strategist at Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

Europe-based stock funds have soaked up cash for 17 consecutive weeks.

The S&P is sitting less than one point beneath a new record. Stocks have been pushing higher since lawmakers averted a U.S. debt crisis earlier and as concerns that the Federal Reserve will start to cut back its stimulus efforts this year recede.

Top 10 Biotech Companies To Buy For 2014

I've taken bullish swings on - and been wrong to do so - Amarantus BioScience, Inc. (OTC:AMBS) before. My most recent bullish call on the budding biotech name was in April... a rally that fizzled shortly after I said it was just getting started. Somehow though, I find myself coming back to AMBS as a breakout candidate. This time, however, it's for a slightly different reason.

Just a little background - Amarantus BioScience's claim to fame is its work in the field of apoptosis, or programmed cell death, as it pertains to a handful of conditions like Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's, breast cancer, chronic myelogenous leukemia, and a handful of other illnesses. Clearly the technology AMBS is working on has broad potential. The company, however, is focusing on Parkinson's, brain injuries, and ischemic heart disease first in its pipeline. It's also developing three diagnostic tools based on the same (apoptosis) technology.

Top 10 Biotech Companies To Buy For 2014: Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated(VRTX)

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated engages in discovering, developing, manufacturing, and commercializing small molecule drugs for the treatment of serious diseases worldwide. Its products include telaprevir, a prescription medicine used for the treatment of patients with genotype 1 hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection; and Ivacaftor, a prescription medicine used for the treatment of cystic fibrosis. The company markets its products under the INCIVEK brand name in the United States and Canada; INCIVO brand in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Sweden, Austria, Finland, Denmark, Switzerland, and Norway; KALYDECO brand in the United States; and TELAVIC brand in Japan. Its drug candidates comprise VX-222, a Phase II clinical trial drug candidate, and ALS-2200 and ALS-2158, a Phase I clinical trial drug candidates that are designed to inhibit the replication of HCV; VX-809 and VX-661, a Phase II clinical trial drug candidates that improve the function of defective cystic fibro sis; VX-509, a Phase II clinical trial drug candidate for the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and other immune-mediated inflammatory diseases; VX-765, a Phase II clinical trial drug for the treatment of epilepsy; and VX-787, an investigational drug candidate for the treatment of influenza A. The company was founded in 1989 and is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sue Chang and Saumya Vaishampayan]

  Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. (VRTX) �shares gained 3.9%. Geoff Meacham, an analyst at J.P. Morgan, said last week that he rates the drug maker�� stock at overweight due to opportunities for the company in the cystic fibrosis area.

• [By Dan Carroll]

  Good was the opposite of Vertex Pharmaceuticals' (NASDAQ: VRTX  ) week, as shares of the firm fell 8.8% over the past five days. Vertex scored big back in 2011 with the approval of its hepatitis-C drug Incivek, but that therapy's reliance on an injectable combination therapy has set back the drug's progress as all-oral hep-C medications have become all the rage. Vertex is working on its own all-oral therapy, VX-135.

• [By Jon C. Ogg]

  Vertex Pharmaceuticals�Inc. (NASDAQ: VRTX) was started with an Outperform rating at Oppenheimer

  Zynga Inc. (NASDAQ: ZNGA) was started with a Hold rating by Benchmark.

• [By Brian Orelli]

  Investors should also watch Johnson & Johnson's hepatitis C drug Incivo that the health-care giant sells abroad for Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: VRTX  ) . Even though it has to ship some of the profits to Vertex, Incivo is a moneymaker because doctors in Europe haven't started cutting back on prescribing the drug while they wait for next-generation hepatitis C drugs as they have in the U.S., where it's called Incivek.

Top 10 Biotech Companies To Buy For 2014: Scancell Holdings PLC (SCLP)

Scancell Holdings PLC is a United Kingdom-based company. The Company�� principal activity of the consists of the discovery and development of monoclonal antibodies and vaccines for the treatment of cancer. In April 2012, the Company completed recruitment to the Phase 1 clinical trial of SCIBI. In May 2012, the Company commenced recruitment and treatment of the first patient in the second part of it Phase 1/2 clinical trial of SCIBI. The Phase 2 part of the trial is conducted in five United Kingdom centers in Nottingham, Manchester, Newcastle, Leeds, and Southampton. On August 15, 2012, the Company announced the development of a platform technology, Moditope.

5 Best Value Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Prima BioMed Ltd (PRR)

Prima BioMed Ltd is a biotechnology company is engaged in the development and commercialization of medical therapies with a focus on oncology. Its product candidates in development include Cvac, an autologous dendritic cell vaccine for ovarian cancer, monoclonal antibodies for multiple tumour types, and an oral formulation for the human papilloma virus (HPV), vaccine. Its product candidate Cvac is a dendritic cell therapy, for which it is conducting a Phase IIb trial for the treatment of ovarian cancer. Cvac is designed to target the tumour antigen mucin-1, which is expressed at high levels on different tumour types. It also has two preclinical product development programs. In May 2011, Prima BioMed GmbH, a 100 % owned subsidiary of Prima BioMed Ltd, was incorporated in Germany. In May 2011, Prima BioMed Middle East FZLLC, a 100 % owned subsidiary of Prima BioMed Ltd, was incorporated in the United Arab Emirates.

Top 10 Biotech Companies To Buy For 2014: Algeta ASA (ALGETA)

Algeta ASA is a Norway-based biotechnology company engaged in the development of targeted cancer therapies based on its alpha-pharmaceutical platform. The Company�� principal product is Alpharadin for the treatment of bone metastases resulting from castration-resistant prostate cancer. The Company�� pipeline also includes Alpharadin for the treatment of bone metastases resulting from breast cancer, a combination of Alpharadin with Taxotere for the treatment of bone metastases resulting from prostate cancer and Thorium-227 showing various cancer indications. The Company develops Alpharadin in a development and marketing cooperation with Bayer Schering Pharma. Algeta ASA is active through the two wholly owned subsidiaries, Algeta Innovations AS and Algeta UK Limited. On April 12, 2012, the Company announced that it estabilished a subsidiary active in the United States, Algeta US.

Top 10 Biotech Companies To Buy For 2014: ViroPharma Incorporated(VPHM)

ViroPharma Incorporated, a biotechnology company, develops and commercializes therapeutic products that address serious diseases in the United States and internationally. It focuses on developing products used by physician specialists or in hospital settings. The company markets and sells Cinryze, a C1 esterase inhibitor therapy for the routine prophylaxis against angioedema attacks in adolescent and adult patients with hereditary angioedema, a life-threatening genetic disorder; and Vancocin HCl capsule, an oral capsule formulation for the treatment of C. difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD) and to treat enterocolitis caused by staphylococcus aureus, including methicillin-resistant strains. It also offers Plenadren, an orphan drug for treatment of adrenal insufficiency in adults; Buccolam, a oromucosal solution for treatment of prolonged, acute, and convulsive seizures in infants, toddlers, children, and adolescents; and maribavir, an antiviral compound for the treatment o f CMV disease through a license agreement with GlaxoSmithKline. The company?s primary development programs include Cinryze, a C1 esterase inhibitor for management of hereditary angioedema; and VP 20621, a non-toxigenic strain of C. difficile. Its clinical stage drug candidate comprises VP-20629 for the treatment of Friedreich?s Ataxia. The company sells its products directly to wholesale drug distributors and specialty pharmacies/distributors. ViroPharma Incorporated was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in Exton, Pennsylvania.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Max Macaluso and David Williamson]

  At the end of last week, a Bloomberg article revealed that Shire (NASDAQ: SHPG  ) and pharmaceutical giant Sanofi� (NYSE: SNY  ) may be circling ViroPharma� (NASDAQ: VPHM  ) . The the following video, from The Motley Fool's health care show Market Checkup, analysts David Williamson and Max Macaluso take a close look at ViroPharma and discuss the recent interest in this small biotech company.

• [By Sean Williams]

  Beyond clinical data, rare disease-focused biopharmaceutical company ViroPharma (NASDAQ: VPHM  ) rose after a Reuters report noted multiple unnamed pharmaceutical companies showing early interest in acquiring the company. Although ViroPharma itself may not be interested in selling itself, big pharmaceutical companies with aging pipelines certainly have to like the way sales of hereditary angioedema drug Cinryze have exploded higher. In addition, ViroPharma received orphan drug status in Europe for maribavir, its anti-cytomegalovirus drug, just over a week ago. Even if a buyout isn't on the table, there are plenty of reasons ViroPharma should be on your Watchlist.

• [By John Udovich]

  Small cap orphan drug stocks Zalicus Inc (NASDAQ: ZLCS), Omeros Corporation (NASDAQ: OMER) and Viropharma Inc (NASDAQ: VPHM) have been active lately thanks to good news about their orphan drug treatments. In case you aren�� familiar with the term, orphan drug designation by the FDA is granted for drugs targeting conditions affecting 200,000 or fewer US patients annually that are expected to provide significant therapeutic advantage over existing treatments. The designation will also qualify companies for benefits across all stages of drug development, such as�accelerated approval processes, seven years of market exclusivity�after marketing approval, tax credits on�any US�clinical trials, grants and waiver of certain administrative fees.

Top 10 Biotech Companies To Buy For 2014: AMAG Pharmaceuticals Inc.(AMAG)

AMAG Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, engages in the development and commercialization of a therapeutic iron compound to treat iron deficiency anemia (IDA). Its principal product includes Feraheme (ferumoxytol) injection for intravenous (IV) use, which was approved for marketing in the United States in June 2009 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, for use as an IV iron replacement therapy for the treatment of IDA in adult patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The company is pursuing marketing applications in the European Union, Canada, and Switzerland for Feraheme for the treatment of IDA in CKD patients. AMAG Pharmaceuticals was founded in 1981 and is based in Lexington, Massachusetts.

Top 10 Biotech Companies To Buy For 2014: ArQule Inc.(ARQL)

ArQule, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company, engages in the research and development of cancer therapeutics directed toward molecular targets and biological processes. Its lead product ARQ 197 is non-adenosine triphosphate competitive inhibitor of the c-Met receptor tyrosine kinase, which is being evaluated as monotherapy and in combination therapy in a Phase II clinical development program that includes trials in non-small cell lung cancer, c-Met-associated soft tissue sarcomas, pancreatic adenocarcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, germ cell tumors, and colorectal cancer. The company is also developing ARQ 621, a Phase I program focused on inhibition of the Eg5 kinesin spindle protein. Its clinical stage products include ARQ 501, ARQ 761, and ARQ 171, which are designed to kill cancer cells selectively while sparing normal cells through the direct activation of DNA damage response/checkpoint pathways. In addition, the company involves in pre-clinical development o f B-RAF and AKIP Kinase inhibitors. The company has collaborations with Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co., Ltd. and Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd. ArQule, Inc. was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Woburn, Massachusetts.

Top 10 Biotech Companies To Buy For 2014: OncoSec Medical Inc (ONCS)

OncoSec Medical Incorporated, incorporated on February 8, 2008, is an emerging drug-medical device company. The Company focused on designing, developing and commercializing medical approaches for the treatment of solid cancers. In March 2011, the Company acquired from Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Inovio) certain assets related to the use of drug-medical device combination products for the treatment of different cancers.

The Company�� acquired assets relate to certain non-deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) vaccine technology and property relating to selective tumor ablation technologies, which it refers to as the OncoSec Medical System (OMS), a therapy which uses an electroporation device to facilitate delivery of chemotherapy agents, or nucleic acids encoding cytokines, into tumors and/or surrounding tissue for the treatment and diagnosis of various cancers. As of January 24, 2012, the Company had not generated any revenue from operations.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Bio-Wire]

  Another company that has benefitted from Inovio�� newfound attention is OncoSec Medical (OTC: ONCS) ��a newer ��ffshoot�� company that uses a similar but distinctly different electroporation device known as the OncoSec Medical System (OMS) that is based on Inovio�� technology. The specific amplitude and frequency of the OMS electroporation is calibrated such that plasmid delivery into solid tumor masses is fully optimized, while CELLECTRA electroporation is less specialized and focus more on the vaccination of skin cells. The cross-license agreement made between Inovio and Oncosec also covers the two devices for their distinctly different applications.

• [By John Udovich]

  Small cap biotech stocks AVEO Pharmaceuticals, Inc (NASDAQ: AVEO), OncoSec Medical Inc (OTCMKTS: ONCS) and MetaStat Inc (OTCBB: MTST) are focused on or are developing treatments or diagnostic technologies for metastatic cancers. In case you aren�� familiar with the term metastasis or metastatic, it�� the�spread of cancer from its primary site to other places in the body as cancer cells break away from a primary tumor, penetrate into lymphatic and blood vessels, circulate through the bloodstream and then grow in a new focus (metastasize) in normal tissues elsewhere in the body. In other words, it�� a dangerous form of cancer, but there are some small cap biotech stocks targeting it for diagnostics or treatment:

Top 10 Biotech Companies To Buy For 2014: Inergetics Inc (NRTI)

Inergetics, Inc., formerly Millennium Biotechnologies Group, Inc., incorporated on November 9, 2000, is a holding company for its sole operating subsidiary, Millennium Biotechnologies, Inc. (Millennium). The Company through its subsidiary Millennium, engages in the research, development, and marketing of specialized nutritional supplements as an adjunct to medical treatments for select medical conditions, as well as for athletes seeking improved recovery and advanced performance. The Company markets products, which are targeted toward immuno-compromised individuals undergoing medical treatment for diseases, such as cancer, as well as wound healing and post-surgical healing and geriatric patients in long-term care facilities among other conditions. In January 2013, the Company acquired Bikini Ready and SlimTrim brands from Whole Products Group.

The Company�� product portfolio include, Resurgex Select, Ready-To Drink Resurgex Essential and Ready-To-Drink Resurgex Essential Plus. Resurgex Select is a whole foods-based, calorically dense, high-protein powdered nutritional formula developed for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiation treatments. Resurgex Essential and Resurgex Essential Plus represent Millennium�� Ready-to-Drink product line and are being sold into the Long-Term Care geriatric markets.

Resurgex Select

Resurgex Select is a whole foods-based nutritional product that is designed to be used throughout the course of cancer treatment (chemotherapy, radiation, etc.), as many times patients lose weight and cannot consume adequate nutrition. This product combines dietary fiber (3 g), low sugar (5 g), and high protein (15 g) with no added antioxidants to be a high-calorie (350 calorie) supplement. It is available in three flavors (Vanilla Bean, Chocolate Fudge, and Fruit Smoothie) and each can be mixed with water, milk, juices, or in soft cold foods, such as yogurt, apple sauce or pudding.

Surgex

Surgex (www.surgexspor! ts.com), is a nutritional support formula that aims to address the concerns of many elite athletes who suffer from symptoms, such as fatigue, lean muscle loss, lactic acid buildup, oxidative stress, and stressed immune systems. This formula is designed to improve recovery parameters in efforts to enhance the performance of professional and collegiate athletes.

Resurgex Essential

The Essential line is a ready-to-drink alternative to Ensure and Boost designed to be marketed into the long-term care channel. Resurgex Essential has 250 whole food calories containing no corn syrup or corn oil. The product also contains fruit and vegetable extracts, and FOS Fiber to provide calories and taste.

The Company competes with Nestle and Abbott Laboratories Inc.

Top 10 Biotech Companies To Buy For 2014: Celgene Corp (CELG)

Celgene Corporation is a global biopharmaceutical company primarily engaged in the discovery, development and commercialization of therapies designed to treat cancer and immune-inflammatory related diseases. The Company is engaged in the research and development, which is designed to bring new therapies to market, and is engaged in research in several scientific areas that may deliver therapies, focusing areas, such as intracellular signaling pathways in cancer and immune cells, immunomodulation in cancer and autoimmune diseases, and therapeutic application of cell therapies. The Company�� primary commercial stage products include REVLIMID, VIDAZA, THALOMID, ABRAXANE and ISTODAX. Additional sources of revenue include a licensing agreement with Novartis, which entitles it to royalties on FOCALIN XR and the entire RITALIN family of drugs, the sale of services through its Cellular Therapeutics subsidiary and other miscellaneous licensing agreements. In March 2012, it acquired Avila Therapeutics.

The Company invests in research and development, and the drug candidates in its pipeline at various stages of preclinical and clinical development. These candidates include pomalidomide and apremilast, its oral anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory agents, PDA-001, its cellular therapy, oral azacitidine, CC-223 and CC-115 for hematological and solid tumor malignancies, CC-122, its anti-cancer pleiotropic pathway modifier, and ACE-011 and ACE-536 biological products for anemia in several clinical settings of unmet need. Celgene product candidates include Pomalidomide (CC-4047), Oral Anti-Inflammatory: Apremilast (CC-10004), CC-11050, Kinase Inhibitors:Tanzisertib (CC-930), Cellular Therapies: PDA-001, Activin Biology: Sotatercept (ACE-011) ACE-536, and Anti-tumor Agents: CC-22, CC-115, CC-122 and Oral Azacitidine. It owns and operates a manufacturing facility in Zofingen, Switzerland. The Company also owns and operates a drug product manufacturing facility in Boudry, Switzerland.

Commercial! Stage Products

REVLIMID (lenalidomide) is an oral immunomodulatory drug marketed in the United States and many international markets, in combination with dexamethasone, for treatment of patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least one prior therapy. It is also marketed in the United States and certain international markets for the treatment of transfusion-dependent anemia due to low- or intermediate-1-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) associated with a deletion 5q cytogenetic abnormality with or without additional cytogenetic abnormalities. REVLIMID is distributed in the United States through contracted pharmacies under the RevAssist program, which is a risk-management distribution program. Internationally, REVLIMID is distributed under mandatory risk-management distribution programs.

REVLIMID continues to be evaluated in numerous clinical trials worldwide either alone or in combination with one or more other therapies in the treatment of a range of hematological malignancies, including multiple myeloma (MDS) various lymphomas, chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) other cancers and other diseases. VIDAZA (azacitidine for injection) is a pyrimidine nucleoside. VIDAZA is a Category 1 recommended treatment for patients with intermediate-2 and high-risk MDS and is marketed in the United States for the treatment of all subtypes of MDS. In Europe, VIDAZA is marketed for the treatment of intermediate-2 and high-risk MDS, as well as acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with 30% blasts and has been granted orphan drug designation for the treatment of MDS and AML.

THALOMID (thalidomide) is marketed for patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma and for the acute treatment of the cutaneous manifestations of moderate to severe erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL) an inflammatory complication of leprosy and as maintenance therapy for prevention and suppression of the cutaneous manifestation of ENL recurrence. THALOMID is distributed in the United States under its System f! or Thalid! omide Education and Prescribing Safety (S.T.E.P.S.) program. Internationally, THALOMID is also distributed under mandatory risk-management distribution programs. ABRAXANE (paclitaxel albumin-bound particles for injectable suspension) is a solvent-free chemotherapy treatment option for metastatic breast cancer, which was developed using its nab technology platform. This protein-bound chemotherapy agent combines paclitaxel with albumin. As of December 31, 2011, ABRAXANE was in various stages of investigation for the treatment of expanded applications for metastatic breast; non-small cell lung; malignant melanoma; pancreatic; bladder and ovarian.

ISTODAX (romidepsin) has received orphan drug designation for the treatment of non-Hodgkin's T-cell lymphomas, which includes CTCL and PTCL. The Company has licensed the worldwide rights (excluding Canada) regarding certain chirally pure forms of methylphenidate for FOCALIN and FOCALIN XR to Novartis. It also licensed to Novartis the rights related to long-acting formulations of methylphenidate and dex-methylphenidate products which are used in FOCALIN XR and RITALIN LA.

Preclinical and Clinical-Stage Pipeline

The product candidates in the Company�� pipeline are at various stages of preclinical and clinical development. Pomalidomide is a small molecule that is orally available and modulates the immune system and other biologically important targets. Pomalidomide is being evaluated in a phase III clinical trial for the treatment of myelofibrosis and a phase III clinical trial evaluating pomalidomide as a treatment for patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma is accruing patients.

The Company is developing a product, ORAL ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AGENTS, which is orally available small molecules that target PDE4, an intracellular enzyme that modulates the production of multiple pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory mediators, including interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-10, IL-12, IL-23, INF-gamma, TNF-a, leukotrienes,! and nitr! ic oxide synthase. Its investigational drug, apremilast (CC-10004), is used for the treatment of moderate to severe psoriasis and active psoriatic arthritis and is being evaluated in a phase II trial for rheumatoid arthritis and six phase III multi-center international clinical trials. In addition, it is investigating its oral PDE4 inhibitor, CC-11050, which is an anti-inflammatory compound that treat a variety of chronic inflammatory conditions, such as Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus (CLE).

The Company�� oral kinase inhibitor platform includes inhibitors of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) mTOR kinase, spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) c-fms tyrosine kinase (c-FMS) and DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNAPK). Its oral Syk, c-FMS and DNAPK kinase inhibitors are being investigated in pre-clinical studies. The Company�� new second generation JNK inhibitor, tanzisertib (CC-930), is being evaluated in a phase II trial for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and a phase II trial for the treatment of discoid lupus is accruing patients. Amrubicin is a third-generation fully synthetic anthracycline molecule with potent topoisomerase II inhibition.

At Celgene Cellular Therapeutics (CCT), it is researching stem cells derived from the human placenta, as well as from the umbilical cord. CCT is the Company�� research and development division. Stem cell based therapies provide disease-modifying outcomes for serious diseases, which lack adequate therapy. It has developed technology for collecting, processing and storing placental stem cells with broad therapeutic applications in cancer, auto-immune diseases, including Crohn's disease, multiple sclerosis, neurological disorders, including stroke and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), graft-versus-host disease, and other immunological / anti-inflammatory, rheumatologic and bone disorders.

The Company has collaborated with Acceleron Pharma, Inc. (Acceleron) to develop sotatercept. Two phase I clinical studies have been co! mpleted. ! An additional phase II clinical study has been initiated and is ongoing related to treatments for end-stage renal anemia and to evaluate effects on red blood cell mass and plasma volume.

The Company competes with Abbott Laboratories, Amgen Inc. (Amgen), AstraZeneca PLC., Biogen Idec Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., Eisai Co., Ltd., F. Hoffmann-LaRoche Ltd., Johnson and Johnson, Merck and Co., Inc., Novartis AG, Pfizer, Sanofi and Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. (Takeda).

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sean Williams]

  Keep in mind that some companies�deserve�their current valuations. Celgene (NASDAQ: CELG  ) , despite its already enormous rally, could have room to run higher according to RBC Capital, which expects big growth out of its drugs not named Revlimid. Based on Celgene's organic growth and expanding disease indications, it's very likely the company could hit its robust growth targets announced earlier this year of a doubling in revenue and a tripling in profits by 2017.

• [By Keith Speights]

  Compared to other biotechs, Amgen's valuation based on trailing P/E looks attractive. Regeneron sports a trailing P/E ratio of 35, while Gilead's multiple stands at 31. Biogen Idec (NASDAQ: BIIB  ) and Celgene (NASDAQ: CELG  ) are even pricier, with trailing P/E values near 37.

• [By David Williamson]

  In this video, David Williamson reviews some of his favorite biotech firms. Many analysts have thrown their weight behind Biogen� (NASDAQ: BIIB  ) and its new BG12 drug for multiple sclerosis. However, David favors Gilead� (NASDAQ: GILD  ) over Biogen since Gilead�has a�larger, more diverse product pipeline. Celgene� (NASDAQ: CELG  ) is the No. 1 biotech in David's opinion since it also has blockbuster drugs but a PEG of less than 1.0. Amgen� (NASDAQ: AMGN  ) is�a big company with more products in development than most people realize. Overall, for value and future earnings potential, David likes Celgene the best.

• [By Keith Speights]

  If it could get past regulators' antitrust concerns, Celgene (NASDAQ: CELG  ) would be a good fit to buy Onyx. Celgene already dominates the multiple myeloma market with Revlimid. Pomalyst, which was approved by the FDA earlier this year, competes against Onyx' Kyprolis as third-line and fourth-line treatments for the blood disease. Celgene's sales force would be able to easily merge Kyprolis into the rest of the company's product lineup.

Stereotaxis is Worth Every Penny (STXS, ISRG, BEAT)

Look out Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG), and step aside BioTelemetry Inc. (NASDAQ:BEAT). There's a new cardiac name in town, and its name is Stereotaxis Inc. (NASDAQ:STXS). This small company's stock is soaring today on the heels of encouraging news, though the prompt for the stock's strength has been brewing for quite some time. This nudge for STXS, however, may well mean it has a lot more potential than ISRG or BEAT do for the foreseeable future.

And that's saying something. BioTelemetry shares are up more than 200% over the past four months on news of an agreement with UnitedHealthcare, a glimmer of hope on the revenue and earnings front, and a new corporate structure that the market seems to like much better than the old one.

Intuitive Surgical, Inc. shares haven't had the same luck of late, still under pressure from a scare earlier in the year that robotic surgeries were going the way of the Edsel due to safety concerns that could ultimately crimp demand for its products. And so far, those fears haven't been unmerited. Last quarter's revenue from ISRG was noticeable weaker.

So what makes Stereotaxis Inc. such a superior investment idea now? Two things. One of them is Japan. The other is safety.

On the safety front, the STXS approach to treating cardiac arrhythmia is different than most procedures in that the catheter used to do the repair work is soft, flexible, and can reach further into the reaches of the heart in order to place the radiofrequency energy (which restores the heart's normal pattern of beats). Stereotaxis catheters are also guided magnetically, making them more precise in addition to farther reaching. Traditional heart catheters tend to be stiff, and therefore risky, as they can puncture the heart. And, traditional catheters don't offer the same precision placement of the RF treatment.

Top 10 Cheap Stocks To Buy Right Now

The quality of the product, however, is only part of the reason the medical community is apt to start gravitating toward safer and perhaps more effective options while steering clear of now-questionable robotic surgeries. Another reason may be that insurance companies and regulators see the value of this less-invasive yet more-effective approach supplied by Stereotaxis.

Enter Japan. The Niobe heart catheter system from STXS has been categorized in the highest reimbursement class of medical products in that country, meaning it's going to be readily easy to sell the product and approach to doctors and patients there. Japan's attitude toward the device, however, may just be a microcosm of how the rest of the world and its insurers are going to see Stereotaxis-made equipment.

Even beyond Japan, and even beyond the transition away from robotic surgeries and toward laparoscopic approaches, however, STXS has some key drivers in its future. The V-drive and its recurring revenue potential is one of them. That's $30 million worth of hardware/upgrade sales, plus all the follow-on revenue. Another catalyst is expansion into China if it can find the right partner. All told, the company could be penetrating what's a $1 billion robotic (and minimally invasive) catheter market that's still a little fuzzy, but rife with acquisitions. 

Yes, STXS is overbought thanks to today's pop, but worth every penny in the grand scheme of things. The current market cap of $38.2 million in no way reflects the potential upside of its heart catheter surgery systems, now that they're proven, and now that the medical community is supporting them.

If you'd like to get more trading ideas and insights like this one, sign up for the free SmallCap Network daily e-newsletter. It's full of stock picks, market calls, and more.

Rieder: ‘Post’ alums gather to honor Graham

It was an extraordinary tribute to an extraordinary run.

Hundreds of journalists who have worked at The Washington Post got together to pay homage to the Graham family and particularly to Donald Graham, who had overseen the newspaper with such distinction for so long.

The phrase "end of an era" is tossed around way too often, but in this case it fits.

The Post became an iconic institution for its defining role in helping to uncover the Watergate scandal. It famously acquired and published the Pentagon Papers after The New York Times was enjoined from doing so. It continued to produce first-rate journalism even as the digital revolution overwhelmed the newspaper industry.

But for all of its glory and grandeur, it was also a family business.

Don Graham, the Washington Post Co. CEO who sold his beloved newspaper to Amazon.com founder and CEO Jeff Bezos in August, knew the names of everybody who worked at the place. And their kids' names. (Disclosure: I worked at the Post in the 1980s as its deputy metro editor.)

The Monday night event in what had once been the Post press room had the feel of a family gathering. Journalists near and far made the pilgrimage to pay tribute to a man, a family and a journalistic treasure.

There was, inevitably, a bittersweet feel to the event. The Post, like newspapers everywhere, has been pummeled in the Internet era. Plummeting advertising led to painful staff cuts, While the paper still does fine work, it's a far cry from what it was at its peak.

In what had to have been an excruciating decision, Graham sold the heirloom his family had owned for 80 years to someone with deeper pockets, someone who would have a better shot at securing its future in a rapidly evolving and brutally challenging media climate.

He sold it to tech billionaire Bezos — he's said to have 25 of those billions — someone who could invest in the paper and try to devise a digital-era survival strategy without worrying so much about the short-term! numbers.

RIEDER: Bezos wows Washington Post staff

There were speeches at the Grahamfest paying deserved tribute to the owning family for what they had achieved. So, yes, there was a program, but not too much of a program. The night was for reconnecting with former colleagues and celebrating what had been.

One highlight was a drop-dead impression of Graham by John Harris, editor in chief of Politico. But there was a bittersweetness to this, as well: Harris and colleague Jim VandeHei had wanted to launch a politics-obsessed website under the aegis of the Post. When the Post demurred, they took their idea to Robert Allbritton. Politico rapidly became a major new-media success.

While Graham was groomed to take over the family business from his legendary mother, Katharine Graham, he was hardly one of those rich kids who wanted everything handed to him. After Harvard, he served in Vietnam while so many of his contemporaries were doing everything they could to stay out of the war. When he came back, he walked the beat as a Washington, D.C., police officer. And when he at last joined the Post in 1971, it wasn't as a big-shot executive but as a sports department staffer.

With his down-to-earth manner and accessibility, the fashion-challenged Graham was the antithesis of the flashy, glamorous leader. Yet, the impact he had on his troops was enormous

The news that Graham was selling the Post came as a shock. But after 42 years at the place, finding himself in a very different journalism world, Graham realized the time had come. Like the David Carradine character in Kill Bill: Vol. 2, he was ready.

"Time and technology changed, and every one of my 1971 heroes has left the newsroom," he told the journalists who had come to honor him. "Now it's time for me to go, too."

And now it's Bezos' turn. There's talk that he'll soon be hiring lots of new reporters to help win the future.

The Washington Post's next act will be fascinating to watch.

Some SodaStream Shorts Caught a Break

The pool of naysayers is thinning out at SodaStream (NASDAQ: SODA  ) and Green Mountain Coffee Roasters  (NASDAQ: GMCR  ) , with short interest at the end of May for both companies clocking in at a little more than half of last year's peak levels. 

This was particularly good timing for those bailing on SodaStream, as PepsiCo's (NYSE: PEP  ) buyout chatter broke the next week.

In this video, Fool contributor Rick Munarriz explores the lucky break for SodaStream, but also reveals why there's still enough ammo for another short squeeze.

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The Latest Perspectives on Photo Collecting

With the arrival of phone cameras and social media sites, it seems everyone is a photographer nowadays. Investors who enjoy photography and want to add a new hard asset to their portfolios, however, might want to consider purchasing historic, collectible photos or contemporary photos taken with stand-alone cameras.

Like other fine art markets, it’s misleading to speak of a single photography market, because there are multiple sub-markets.

Denise Bethel, head of the photographs department at Sotheby’s in New York, notes that classic photos—the equivalents of blue-chip stocks—are a major category. Several of these photos, often dating from the early 20thCentury, each have sold for over $1 million at auction.

There’s also a thriving market in contemporary photography, says Bethel, and the top photos in that category can command seven figures.

The variety of categories gives collectors considerable range of choice.

“We do have collectors who collect across the board,” says Bethel. “So, for instance, collectors who start with Daguerreotypes and go all the way to contemporary photography.

“And, we also have collectors who specialize so there are collectors who only collect, let’s say, American modernist photography from the first half of the 20thCentury or European 19th-Century photography or contemporary photography,” she explains. “So, we’ve got people who collect every decade of photography and then we have people who are more specialized.”

In addition to numerous periods and types, photo prices cover the spectrum. Consider Sotheby’s early October auction in New York. Sales totaled over $5 million, but a large number of the lots sold for less than $10,000.

Apart from the auction houses, online galleries such as PurePhoto.com also offer collectible photos at a wide range of prices.

Careful Consideration

There’s a standard piece of advice given to collectors of fine paintings and other expensive collectibles: Unless they have very deep pockets, they can either buy art that they love and not worry about building a collection or they can focus on building a collection that will have more appeal to potential buyers.

Photo collectors can accomplish both goals, says Bethel. “You can certainly craft a very good collection by buying what you like,” she says. “You can do both simultaneously. I don’t think you have to do one or the other. I’d recommend that you do both simultaneously.”

As with any collectible, buyers need to know their market or be able to hire experts with that knowledge. Fortunately, there are ample educational resources available, including websites, books, auction catalogs, and museum and gallery displays, for example.

Bethel advises prospective collectors to spend at least a year looking before purchasing anything. The learning process can include going to museum exhibitions, photography galleries and fine art galleries that sell photography and previewing multiple auctions.

There’s also a vast wealth of photography books available today, she says. “I know that when I started back in 1980, you could buy the essential photography books you needed by buying 10 or 20 books,” she says. “Now, walk into any bookstore and the photography section is huge.”

The expert also suggests that potential buyer get on the mailing lists for catalogues put out by the different auction houses.

“Look and learn before making that first purchase. And, then, once you do start to purchase things, I recommend keeping up, keeping up with the auction market, keeping up with what’s going on in museums, keeping up with the gallery scene,” Bethel explains. “And, of course, there’s always the option of hiring an art advisor who knows the territory to help you.”

3 Fashion and Apparel Stocks to Buy Now

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This week, three Fashion and Apparel stocks are improving their overall ratings on Portfolio Grader. Each of these stocks is rated an “A” (“strong buy”) or “B” overall (“buy”).

Wolverine World Wide, Inc. (NYSE:) is bumping up its rating from a C (“hold”) to a B (“buy”) this week. Wolverine World Wide is a designer, manufacturer, and marketer of a range of quality casual shoes, rugged outdoor and work footwear. In Portfolio Grader’s specific subcategories of Earnings Surprise and Equity, WWW also gets A’s. Shares of WWW have increased 5.4% over the past month, better than the 1.7% decrease the S&P 500 has seen over the same period of time. .

Iconix Brand Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:) is seeing ratings go up from a C last week to a B this week. Iconix Brand Group is a brand management company that is engaged in licensing, marketing, and providing trend direction for several owned consumer brands. .

Zuoan Fashion (NYSE:) improves from a C to a B rating this week. Zuoan engages in the design and distribution of fashion menswear. .

Louis Navellier’s proprietary Portfolio Grader stock ranking system assesses roughly 5,000 companies every week based on a number of fundamental and quantitative measures. Stocks are given a letter grade based on their results — with A being “strong buy,” and F being “strong sell.” Explore the tool here.

EPA GHG Effort to Get Supreme Court Review

It’s not as sweeping a case as business and industry groups would perhaps prefer, though manufacturers must surely be pleased that a process that is adding to costs will be reviewed.

And environmental groups are touting the narrow scope of the question to be considered, though the vulnerability of a regulatory as opposed to a legislative approach to climate change is once again exposed.

The US Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to review the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) first set of rules designed to limit greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from facilities such as factories, refineries and power plants.

In its Order granting certiorari on six of nine petitions submitted the Court specified that arguments in the consolidated case will be limited to the question, “Whether EPA permissibly determined that its regulation of greenhouse gas emissions from new motor vehicles triggered permitting requirements under the Clean Air Act for stationary sources that emit greenhouse gases.”

Petitioners had sought review of a June 2012 decision of the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit upholding the EPA’s “endangerment finding” that GHG are a threat to human health and welfare.

The Supreme Court won’t consider–in fact it dismissed three petitions that raised the questions–challenges to the EPA’s basic finding that GHG are a threat to public welfare and to the EPA’s power to regulate such emissions from vehicles.

The Court will consider whether the EPA properly used its 2010 rule governing auto emissions as a basis to set permit standards for stationary sources as well, including a “tailoring rule” that shields smaller stationary sources from GHG permitting.

The EPA and the US Dept of Transportation have set joint carbon emissions and mileage standards for automobile model years 2012 through 2016 and are crafting rules for future years. This process will continue uninterrupted.

The EPA in 2011 began Clean Air Act (CAA) permitting for some large new and modified stationary emissions sources on a case-by-case basis. This permitting process is the source of the injury or damage petitioners argue underlies their standing to challenge the EPA’s rules.

The EPA permitting program has required facilities to improve their energy efficiency, which companies have been doing anyway. Approximately 100 facilities have been affected per year thus far, mostly electric power generators and natural gas processing plants. The process includes consideration of cost and is subject to judicial review.

Oral arguments early next year and a decision in July 2014 are actually two more steps in a process that’s been underway for more than five years.

More than 70 business groups and public policy organizations, plus 13 states, filed petitions asking the Supreme Court to review various aspects of the EPA’s new regulations. A range of environmental groups and 17 states filed briefs supporting the EPA action and urging the Supreme Court to decline to hear any of the appeals.

In 2007 the Supreme Court ruled in a 5-to-4 decision on the case of Massachusetts v. Environmental Protection Agency that the federal agency had the authority under the CAA to regulate GHG emissions from vehicles if it determined that GHGs endangered the public welfare. The Court “remanded”–or sent back for reconsideration–the issue to the EPA.

In 2009 the EPA under the Obama administration concluded that GHG “in the atmosphere may reasonably be anticipated both to endanger public health and to endanger public welfare.” This is the foundation for regulations to be issued in June 2014 that would impact existing power plants, the largest unregulated source of GHGs.

The June 26, 2012, DC Circuit decision dismissed the challenges to the EPA’s endangerment finding and the related GHG regulations. A three-judge panel unanimously upheld the EPA’s central finding that GHG such as carbon dioxide endanger public health and were likely responsible for the global warming experienced over the past half century.

Arguments and the Court’s decision will provide significant insight into a process that’s likely to play out in similar fashion once new EPA rules on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from power plants take effect.

Announced on Sept. 20, 2013, and due to be finalized after a comment period of 60 days following publication in the Federal Register, the EPA’s latest set of regulations would essentially require new coal-fired plants to capture and store a portion of the carbon dioxide CO2 they produce.

Regulations governing emissions from existing plants will be proposed in June 2014.

The EPA’s proposal for new plants would set a limit of 1,100 pounds of carbon dioxide per megawatt hour (MWh) for coal plants and 1,000 pounds for most natural gas plants.

The average US coal plant emits 1,768 pounds per MWh, so coal plants would have to capture and store 20 percent to 40 percent of the CO2 they produce. Natural gas plants wouldn’t be required to capture their emissions.

Standards for new power plants will give coal-fired producers an option to meet a “somewhat tighter limit” if they opt to average emissions over several years.

According to the EPA the new rules will ensure new plants are built with “available clean technology to limit carbon pollution,” a requirement in line with investment in “clean” energy technologies already taking place across the industry.

A broad interpretation of the Supreme Court’s Oct. 15 Order is that it the EPA’s authority to regulate climate-altering pollution from both stationary and mobile sources is intact, that the agency has both legal authority and the responsibility to address climate change and the GHG emissions that cause it.

Petitioners will likely argue that the EPA has taken extra-Constitutional steps, going beyond the letter of the CAA and Congress’ intent. The CAA only requires pre-construction permits for six specific emissions that impact national air quality.

The EPA’s broad interpretation of the “air pollutant” definition in the CAA gave it the scope to expand federal regulation to include GHG.

But Congress set thresholds for harmful pollutants that would require permits, 250 million tons per year for some facilities and 100 million tons for others. The limits were set for six specifically identified pollutants: particulate matter, carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide and ozone.

High concentrations of these pollutants in the air are considered capable of causing an immediate threat to human health. The purpose of the CAA is to cure that threat.

The threat from GHG–including CO2, methane, nitrous oxide, and hydrofluorocarbons–don’t themselves pose an immediate threat to human health. But the EPA is claiming broad regulatory power to address those wider threats to public welfare said to be posed by GHG and global warming.

That the Supreme Court declined to hear petitions challenging the EPA’s “endangerment finding”–that GHG pose a threat to public health and welfare–is significant because it’s the basis for the permitting process underway since 2011 and the CO2 regulations for new plants recently announced and those for existing plants to come next year.

In denying three petitions but granting six others, the high court signaled that it will focus on issues further down the regulatory process.

Lebenthal Launches Wealth Firm, Names Campanale CEO

Lebenthal Holdings announced Tuesday that two Wall Street veterans, Frank Campanale and Jeffrey Lane, have been brought on to lead the firm’s newly launched Lebenthal Wealth Advisors.

Campanale will be chairman and CEO of Lebenthal Wealth Advisors. A pioneer in the managed accounts business, Campanale was most recently chairman and CEO of First Allied Wealth Management and before that served as president and CEO of Smith Barney Consulting Group.

Lane — who formerly held such high-level positions as CEO of Bear Stearns Asset Management, chairman and CEO of Neuberger Berman and vice chairman of Lehman Brothers — will be board chairman of Lebenthal Holdings.

“The establishment of Lebenthal Wealth Advisors is a natural progression of our firm, founded by my grandparents in 1925, enabling it to leverage our successful brand and proven capital markets and asset management expertise while forging a new model for entrepreneurial financial advisors,” said Alexandra Lebenthal, Lebenthal Holdings’ CEO and president, in a statement.

“Our goal is simple,” added Lane in the same statement. “We want to attract the best independent registered investment advisors and entrepreneurial wealth managers from across the nation by providing them with a culture that empowers them to deliver the best service and unconflicted advice to their clients.”

Brought on to expand the company’s wealth management and investment advisory business, Lane told The Wall Street Journal that the business, currently at about $500 million in assets, could grow to about $25 billion with about 100 advisors within the next five years.

Lane went on to say in the statement that it was “increasingly clear that advisors and clients are not being effectively served by the choices on Wall Street today and are looking for an alternative. A cornerstone of our business is higher payouts for financial advisors, an open platform to a wide array of products, and participation as partners in the firm’s growth and success.”

Camapanale added that he and Lane “share a common vision of supporting advisors in every way possible so that they can do what they do best—service their clients.

“Upon meeting the Lebenthal family, it became abundantly evident that they understood that we are in the people business, and I am very proud to be a partner with the Lebenthals and their legendary brand.”

Andrew Grillo, a former regional director of Smith Barney, will assume the role of president of Lebenthal Wealth Advisors, while James B. Lebenthal will serve as the chief investment officer and market strategist, and James A. Lebenthal will be chairman emeritus.

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Check out First Allied's Campanale on Products to Get Retirement Back on Track: Weekend Interview on ThinkAdvisor.

Best Gold Stocks To Watch For 2014

 Get out.

 

Don't wait for it to get better. Don't try to pick the bottom. Don't look for cheap stocks. Just get to the sidelines... because it could get worse.

 

Over the last few weeks, gold stocks are down 25%, as measured by the major gold-stock index (the "HUI"). As you can see in the chart below, it's a full-blown crash...

 

 

Investors are bailing out of gold stocks in droves. The stocks have gone from cheap to crazy-cheap. They've gone from oversold to crazy-oversold. And if you're a contrarian type, that has piqued your interest.

Best Gold Stocks To Watch For 2014: Newmont Mining Corporation(Holding Company)

Newmont Mining Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and production of gold and copper properties. The company?s assets or operations are located in the United States, Australia, Peru, Indonesia, Ghana, Canada, New Zealand, and Mexico. As of December 31, 2009, it had proven and probable gold reserves of approximately 93.5 million equity ounces and an aggregate land position of approximately 27,500 square miles. The company was founded in 1916 and is headquartered in Greenwood Village, Colorado.

Best Gold Stocks To Watch For 2014: Northgate Minerals Corporation(NXG)

Northgate Minerals Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in exploring, developing, processing, and mining gold and copper deposits in Canada and Australia. Its principal producing assets include 100% interests in the Fosterville and Stawell Gold mines in Victoria, Australia; and the Kemess South mine located in north-central British Columbia, Canada. The company was formerly known as Northgate Exploration Limited and changed its name to Northgate Minerals Corporation in May 2004. Northgate Minerals Corporation was founded in 1919 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.

Top 5 Canadian Stocks To Invest In Right Now: NEW GOLD INC.(NGD)

New Gold Inc. engages in the acquisition, exploration, extraction, processing, and reclamation of mineral properties. The company primarily explore for gold, silver, and copper deposits. Its operating properties include the Mesquite gold mine in the United States; the Cerro San Pedro gold-silver mine in Mexico; and the Peak gold-copper mine in Australia. The company also has development projects, including the New Afton gold, silver, and copper project in Canada; and a 30% interest in the El Morro copper-gold project in Chile. The company was formerly known as DRC Resources Corporation and changed its name to New Gold Inc. in June 2005. New Gold Inc. was founded in 1980 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Bridges favorite stocks include Goldcorp, Newmont, Eldorado Gold (EGO) and New Gold (NGD).

  Note, however, that these recommendations are all qualified in one way or another. Investors should keep that in mind before going all in on the gold miners.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Even bad news has failed to dent the rise in gold stocks today. NewGold (NGD), for instance, has gained 1.8% to $7.49 despite the fact that the wall of one of its mines collapsed. The Wall Street Journal has the details:

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  One group of stocks not feeling the optimism today: Gold miners. With fewer concerns that a U.S. attack on Syria will be disruptive and more evidence that tapering will begin this month, the price of the precious metal has dropped 1.6% to $1,388.90 an ounce–and gold stocks are falling with it. New Gold (NGD), for one, has dropped 3% to $6.55, while Barrick Gold (ABX) has fallen 1.3% to $19.25.

Best Gold Stocks To Watch For 2014: CME Group Inc.(CME)

CME Group Inc. operates the CME, CBOT, NYMEX, and COMEX regulatory exchanges worldwide. The company provides a range of products available across various asset classes, including futures and options on interest rates, equity indexes, energy, agricultural commodities, metals, foreign exchange, weather, and real estate. It offers various products that provide a means of hedging, speculation, and asset allocation relating to the risks associated with interest rate sensitive instruments, equity ownership, changes in the value of foreign currency, credit risk, and changes in the prices of commodities. CME Group owns and operates clearing house, CME Clearing, which provides clearing and settlement services for exchange-traded contracts and counter derivatives transactions; and also engages in real estate operations. Its primary trade execution facilities consist of its CME Globex electronic trading platform and open outcry trading floors, as well as privately negotiated transact ions that are cleared and settled through its clearing house. In addition, the company offers market data services comprising live quotes, delayed quotes, market reports, and historical data services, as well as involves in index services business. CME Group?s customer base includes professional traders, financial institutions, institutional and individual investors, corporations, manufacturers, producers, and governments. It has strategic partnerships with BM&FBOVESPA S.A., Bursa Malaysia Derivatives, Singapore Exchange Limited, Green Exchange, Dubai Mercantile Exchange, Johannesburg Stock Exchange, and Bolsa Mexicana de Valores, S.A.B. de C.V., as well as joint venture agreement with Dow Jones & Company. The company was formerly known as Chicago Mercantile Exchange Holdings Inc. and changed its name to CME Group Inc. in July 2007. CME Group was founded in 1898 and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sean Williams]

  Shares of future exchange operator CME Group (NASDAQ: CME  ) advanced 1.5% after being mentioned favorably on CNBC by commentator Simon Baker. While I normally would recommend paying little attention to the opinions of analysts, today's move could have more to do with the increasing volatility, given the move lower, which is very likely to increase futures contract volume. Sometimes, the worst of times brings about the best business for CME Group, and we could be seeing signs of that with today's big move higher.

• [By Seth Jayson]

  CME Group (Nasdaq: CME  ) reported earnings on May 2. Here are the numbers you need to know.

  The 10-second takeaway
  For the quarter ended March 31 (Q1), CME Group met expectations on revenues and met expectations on earnings per share.

• [By Shauna O'Brien]

  CME Group Inc (CME) reported on Wednesday that September volume average increased 10% from September 2012, while its third quarter volume average grew 11% from last year.

  For September, volume averaged 13.1 million contracts per day, totaling 261 million for the month. Equity index volume in September averaged 2.9 million contracts per day, a 4% increase from last year. Equity index options volume was up 52% in September.

  Third quarter volume average was 12 million per day, up 11% from a year ago.

  CME Group shares were mostly flat during pre-market trading Wednesday. The stock is up 48% YTD.

• [By Jeff Reeves]

  Options traders and commodity junkies should recognize CME Group (CME) as the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, a financial entity that operates a host of futures exchanges as well as providing its own exchange-traded products and derivatives.

Best Gold Stocks To Watch For 2014: Thompson Creek Metals Company Inc.(TC)

Thompson Creek Metals Company Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in mining, milling, processing, and marketing molybdenum products in the United States and Canada. The company?s principal properties include the Thompson Creek Mine and mill in Idaho; a metallurgical roasting facility in Langeloth, Pennsylvania; and a joint venture interest in the Endako Mine, mill, and roasting facility in British Columbia. It also holds interests in development projects comprising the Davidson molybdenum property and the Berg copper-molybdenum-silver property located in northern British Columbia; the Howard?s Pass property, a lead and zinc project situated in the Yukon territory-northwest territories border; and the Maze Lake property, a gold project located in the Kivalliq district of Nunavut. The company produces molybdenum products, primarily molybdic oxide and ferromolybdenum, as well as soluble technical oxide, pure molybdenum tri-oxide, and high purity molybdenum disulfide. As o f December 31, 2010, its consolidated recoverable proven and probable ore reserves totaled 462.2 million pounds of contained molybdenum in the Thompson Creek Mine and the Endako Mine. The company was formerly known as Blue Pearl Mining Ltd. and changed its name to Thompson Creek Metals Company Inc. in May 2007. Thompson Creek Metals Company Inc. is based in Denver, Colorado.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Selena Maranjian]

  The biggest new holdings are Chesapeake Energy�puts, and shares of Discovery Communications. Other new holdings of interest include Halcon Resources (NYSE: HK  ) , and Thompson Creek Metals (NYSE: TC  ) . Oil and gas company Halcon, operating in the promising Bakken region, as well as Texas's productive Eagle Ford shale region, among others, is expected to grow by 30% annually over the coming years. It recently reported 2012 net daily production 128% higher than year-ago levels, and proven reserves up 417%. Halcon was recently one of my colleague Joel South's top two energy holdings, and analysts at Stifel recently upped its rating�from Hold to Buy.

• [By Jim Jubak]

  The stock market liked what it heard Wednesday, August 7, from Thompson Creek Metals (TC) after the close in New York. Second quarter adjusted net earnings of 8 cents a share crushed the Wall Street consensus of a penny a share. Revenue climbed 3.8% to $117.8 million versus expectations for revenue of just $1.3.8 million. The company also said that its new Mt. Milligan mine is on schedule with a start-up for the concentrator expected this month, with first ore-feed by mid-August. The company said it expects commercial production to begin in the fourth quarter of 2013, with production ramping to full capacity over the next twelve months.

• [By Jon C. Ogg]

  Thompson Creek Metals Co. Inc. (NYSE: TC) was at 54% discount to its book value of $8.30 per share at the time, and the stock price of $3.90 is up from $3.03 Deutsche Bank’s team nailed upside of more than 28% here. Its price target was $4 at the time versus a consensus target of $4.50 at the time. The 52-week range here is $2.42 to $4.55, but we would point out that the consensus price target is $3.93.

Best Gold Stocks To Watch For 2014: First Majestic Silver Corp.(AG)

First Majestic Silver Corp. engages in the production, development, exploration, and acquisition of mineral properties with a focus on silver in Mexico. The company owns interests in La Encantada Silver Mine comprising 4,076 hectares of mining rights and 1,343 hectares of surface land located in Coahuila; La Parrilla Silver Mine consisting of mining concessions covering an area of 69,867 hectares; and San Martin Silver Mine comprising approximately 7,841 hectares of mineral rights and approximately 1,300 hectares of surface land rights located in Jalisco. It also holds interests in Del Toro Silver Mine consisting of 393 contiguous hectares of mining claims and an additional 129 hectares of surface rights located in Zacatecas; Real de Catorce Silver Project comprising 22 mining concessions covering 6,327 hectares located in San Luis Potosi state; and Jalisco Group of Properties consisting of mining claims totalling 5,240 hectares located in Jalisco. The company was founded in 1979 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Doug Ehrman]

  In terms of individual companies, there are several good choices, but these can behave very differently. Pan American Silver (NASDAQ: PAAS  ) , for example, missed revenue expectations and beat earnings expectations in its last earnings release. But despite the beat, EPS shrank considerably from a year earlier on a GAAP basis. The stock has been fairly flat ever since. Conversely, First Majestic (NYSE: AG  ) reported strong revenue growth and a small bump in profits, sending the stock higher since the announcement. First Majestic reported increased cash costs and tightening margins, largely driven by lower silver prices. Each of these companies faces pressure from increasing production costs and environmental concerns.

• [By Doug Ehrman]

  While many precious-metals companies have been in a slump of late, there is one that belongs perpetually in your portfolio: Silver Wheaton (NYSE: SLW  ) . The company is not like other miners -- including Pan American Silver (NASDAQ: PAAS  ) and First Majestic (NYSE: AG  ) -- in that it has a unique business plan that insulates it against many of the vagaries of the mining business. Moreover, because silver will always have a significant industrial demand component, even with the heightened volatility you see in the silver market, maintaining exposure to silver is appropriate.

Best Gold Stocks To Watch For 2014: Goldcorp Incorporated(GG)

Goldcorp Inc. engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and operation of precious metal properties in Canada, the United States, Mexico, and Central and South America. It produces and sells gold, silver, copper, lead, and zinc. The company was founded in 1954 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Hebba Investments]

  Either way we believe that despite the gold rise, the COMEX inventory situation is still very bullish for investors in physical gold and the gold ETFs (GLD, CEF, and PHYS). They may also consider buying gold-focused miners such as Randgold (GOLD), Goldcorp (GG), and Barrick Gold (ABX).

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  The Market Vectors Gold Miners ETF (GDX) has gained 2.6% to $29.85 today at 10:35 a.m., while Barrick Gold (ABX) has climbed 3.2% to $20.30, Goldcorp (GG) has gained 3% to $30.80 and Newmont Mining (NEM) has risen 1.9% to $32.71. The SPDR Gold Shares ETF (GLD) has ticked up 0.2% today.

Best Gold Stocks To Watch For 2014: Goldman Sachs Group Inc.(The)

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides investment banking, securities, and investment management services to corporations, financial institutions, governments, and high-net-worth individuals worldwide. Its Investment Banking segment offers financial advisory, including advisory assignments with respect to mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, corporate defense, risk management, restructurings, and spin-offs; and underwriting securities, loans and other financial instruments, and derivative transactions. The company?s Institutional Client Services segment provides client execution activities, such as fixed income, currency, and commodities client execution related to making markets in interest rate products, credit products, mortgages, currencies, and commodities; and equities related to making markets in equity products, as well as commissions and fees from executing and clearing institutional client transactions on stock, options, and fu tures exchanges. This segment also engages in the securities services business providing financing, securities lending, and other prime brokerage services to institutional clients, including hedge funds, mutual funds, pension funds, and foundations. Its Investing and Lending segment invests in debt securities, loans, public and private equity securities, real estate, consolidated investment entities, and power generation facilities. This segment also involves in the origination of loans to provide financing to clients. The company?s Investment Management segment provides investment management services and investment products to institutional and individual clients. This segment also offers wealth advisory services, including portfolio management and financial counseling, and brokerage and other transaction services to high-net-worth individuals and families. In addition, it provides global investment research services. The company was founded in 1869 and is headquartered in New York, New York.