Top 10 Stocks For 2014

Q. How do you make a small fortune in commodities?

A. Start with a large fortune.

If you've been investing for a while, chances are you've happened upon that maxim, or a variation of it. I first heard it on the trading floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, where I was a cub reporter covering the commodity markets for The Wall Street Journal in the late 1970s.

Not a lot has changed since then. Commodities -- and the companies that dig them up or process them -- are still sensitive to boom-and-bust cycles.

A retailer like Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) or a consumer products vendor such as Starbucks (Nasdaq: SBUX) might be able to deliver relatively consistent growth year after year. But raw materials like copper, coal and platinum are different -- they are susceptible to the types of peaks and valleys you see in the chart below.

This cyclicality doesn't mean there is no place for commodity stocks in even the most conservative portfolios. Investors of all stripes are profiting from commodities today -- sometimes in dramatic fashion, as you'll see below.  

Top 10 Stocks For 2014: Sage Grp(SGE.L)

The Sage Group plc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the development, distribution, and support of business management software and related products and services for small and medium-sized enterprises worldwide. The company provides products and services in the areas of accounting, payroll, customer relationship management, financial forecasting, payment processing, job costing, human resources, business intelligence, taxation and other products for accountants, business stationery, development platforms, e-business, and enterprise resource planning, as well as offers solutions for various industries. The Sage Group plc was founded in 1981 and is based in Newcastle Upon Tyne, the United Kingdom.

Top 10 Stocks For 2014: Beasley Broadcast Group Inc.(BBGI)

Beasley Broadcast Group, Inc., a radio broadcasting company, primarily engages in the operation of radio stations in the United States. The company sells commercial advertising airtime to local and national advertisers. It owns and operates 42 radio stations in various markets, including Atlanta and Augusta in Georgia; Boston, Massachusetts; Fort Myers-Naples, Miami-Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach-Boca Raton in Florida; Fayetteville and Greenville-New Bern-Jacksonville in North Carolina; Las Vegas, Nevada; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Wilmington, Delaware. The company also operates one radio station in the expanded AM band in Augusta, Georgia. In addition, it provides management services to two FM stations in Las Vegas, Nevada. Beasley Broadcast Group was founded in 1961 and is based in Naples, Florida.

Top 10 Dividend Companies To Buy For 2014: Signet Group(SIG.L)

Signet Jewelers Limited operates as a specialty jewelry retailer in the United States, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, and the Channel Islands. The company retails jewelry, watches, and associated services. As of January 28, 2012, it operated a network of 1,318 stores in 50 states in the United States that trade nationally in malls and off-mall locations as ?Kay Jewelers?, and regionally under various mall-based brands, as well as operated as destination superstores under the ?Jared The Galleria Of Jewelry? trade name. The company also operated a network of 535 stores in the United Kingdom, including 14 stores in the Republic of Ireland and 3 in the Channel Islands under the ?H.Samuel?, ?Ernest Jones?, and ?Leslie Davis? trade names in high street locations and shopping malls. Signet Jewelers Limited was founded in 1950 and is based in Hamilton, Bermuda.

Top 10 Stocks For 2014: MEMSIC Inc.(MEMS)

MEMSIC, Inc. provides semiconductor sensor and system solutions based on integrated micro electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) technology and mixed signal circuit design. It offers sensor products, principally accelerometers. The company?s sensors are used for motion, direction, and pressure sensing applications; and accelerometer products are used to measure tilt, shock, vibration, and acceleration, as well as in various applications, such as mobile phones, automotive safety systems, video projectors, global positioning systems, video gaming systems, interactive toys, inclination sensing, earthquake detection, cardiac pacemakers, and image projectors. Its system solution products include wireless sensors that connect the physical environment with enterprise management and information systems to provide monitoring, automation, and control solutions for a range of industries, as well as inertial systems that provide end-users and systems integrators with MEMS-based solutions for the measurement of static and dynamic motion in a various environments, such as avionics, remotely operated vehicles, agricultural and construction vehicles, automotive test, and wind power turbines. The company also engages in the development of multi-sensor and MCU integrated system products at the integrated circuit level for the consumer and mobile market, as well as at the module level for the industrial, automotive, and general aviation markets. It sells its products directly, as well as through systems integrators, resellers, distributors, and sales representatives worldwide. The company was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in Andover, Massachusetts.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Triska Hamid]

  In Abu Dhabi, researchers at the ATIC-SRC Center of Excellence for Energy Efficient Electronic Systems (ACE4S), a center jointly established by the Advanced Technology Investment Company and the Semiconductor Research Corporation, are working on the development of systems on chip (SOC) and micro-electromechanical systems (MEMs) in health care.

Top 10 Stocks For 2014: CenturyLink Inc.(CTL)

CenturyLink, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as an integrated communications company. The company provides a range of communications services, including voice, Internet, data, and video services in the continental United States. Its services include local exchange and long distance voice telephone services, as well as enhanced voice services, such as call forwarding, caller identification, conference calling, voicemail, selective call ringing, and call waiting; wholesale local network access services; and data services, including high-speed Internet access services, data transmission services over special circuits and private lines, and switched digital television services, as well as special access and private line services. The company also offers fiber transport, competitive local exchange carrier, security monitoring, and other communications, as well as professional and business information services. In addition, it provides other related services, such as leasing, selling, installing, and maintaining customer premise telecommunications equipment and wiring; payphone services; and network database services, as well as participates in the publication of local telephone directories. Further, the company offers printing, direct mail services, and cable television services; and wireless broadband Internet access services and satellite television services. As of December 31, 2010, it operated approximately 6.5 million telephone access lines. CenturyLink, Inc was founded in 1968 and is based in Monroe, Louisiana.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rick Munarriz]

  Finally, we have CenturyLink� (NYSE: CTL  ) coming through with encouraging bottom-line results. Its adjusted profit of $0.76 a share was ahead of the $0.68 a share it posted a year earlier. The pros were targeting flat earnings growth.

• [By Muhammad Bazil]

  Windstream has the highest debt/equity ratio of all direct competitors, as well as from the industry. Companies like Verizon (VZ) and CenturyLink (CTL), have a debt to equity ratio which is slightly above the industry average of 0.92, while AT&T (T) has a debt/equity ratio of 0.88, which is lower than the industry average. A debt/equity ratio demonstrates how many times a company's long-term debt exceeds its equity. A higher proportion of debt compared to equity leads to higher volatility in earnings and increases the probability that a company may default on debt due to higher financial leverage. Given that Windstream has been very acquisitive over the past few years, the financial risk is fairly explained by the company's inability to increase its profits through debt financing. However, the ratio is extremely high.

• [By Selena Maranjian]

  Telecom company CenturyLink (NYSE: CTL  ) shed 4%, and recently yielded 6.1% (which reflects a dividend cut of about 25% as the company focuses more on share buybacks). The company landed a hefty Pentagon contract in April, with a possible 10-year value of $750 million, and has been moving into promising arenas such as cloud computing (via its purchase of SAVVIS). The company has substantial debt, though, topping $19 billion, but also significant free cash flow, near $3 billion�annually. Its EPS has been rising �in the past few years, but revenue growth is mixed.

Top 10 Stocks For 2014: Alliance Data Systems Corporation (ADS)

Alliance Data Systems Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides data-driven and transaction-based marketing, and customer loyalty solutions primarily in the United States and Canada. The company operates in three segments: LoyaltyOne, Epsilon, and Private Label Services and Credit. The LoyaltyOne segment includes AIR MILES Reward Program that enables consumers to earn AIR MILES reward miles as they shop within a range of retailers and other sponsors participating in the AIR MILES Reward Program; and offers loyalty services, including loyalty consulting, customer analytics, and creative services. The Epsilon segment provides integrated direct marketing solutions, which combine database marketing technology and analytics with a range of direct marketing services comprising email marketing campaigns. This segment's products and services consist of marketing database services, analytical services, strategic consulting and creative services, proprietary data service s, and digital communications. The Private Label Services and Credit segment encompasses credit card processing, billing and payment processing, customer care and collections services for private label retailers, as well as private label retail credit card receivables financing, including securitization of the credit card receivables that it underwrites from its private label retail credit card programs. The company serves financial services, specialty retail, grocery and drugstore chains, petroleum retail, technology, hospitality and travel, media, and pharmaceuticals end markets. Alliance Data Systems Corporation was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Plano, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lee Jackson]

  Alliance Data Systems Corp. (NYSE: ADS) has had a very strong year so far. The company and its combined businesses are North America’s largest and most comprehensive provider of transaction-based, data-driven marketing and loyalty solutions serving large, consumer-based industries. The Thomson/First Call price target for the stock is set at $220.

• [By James O'Toole]

  S&P also announced Wednesday that clothing retailer Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF) and communication technology firm JDS Uniphase Corp. (JDSU) will be leaving the index, to be replaced by Alliance Data Systems (ADS) and floor-covering producer Mohawk Industries (MHK, Fortune 500).

• [By Rich Duprey]

  Loyalty and marketing specialist Alliance Data Systems (NYSE: ADS  ) grabbed a tiger by the tail with a multiyear agreement to�provide private label credit card services�to�Systemax (NYSE: SYX  ) subsidiary TigerDirect.

Top 10 Stocks For 2014: Silvore Fox Minerals Corp (SFX.V)

Silvore Fox Minerals Corp., a development stage company, engages in the acquisition and exploration of mineral resource properties in Canada. The company explores for base and precious metals, such as copper, gold, silver, molybdenum, zinc, and cobalt. It primarily holds interest in the Coxheath property and Oceanview claims located in the Nova Scotia. The company was formerly known as Silvor Foxx Capital Corp. and changed its name to Silvore Fox Minerals Corp. in October 2008. Silvore Fox Minerals Corp is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.

Top 10 Stocks For 2014: Senior Eng Grp(SNR.L)

Senior plc designs, manufactures, and markets high technology components and systems worldwide. The company operates through two divisions, Aerospace and Flexonics. The Aerospace division offers aerospace ducting systems, aerospace fabricated components, aerospace machined components, bellows and seals, couplings and valves, hydraulic and fuel systems, machined aero structures, machined airframe and interiors, and sensors and monitoring systems. The Flexonics division provides automotive common rail, drain tube, exhaust connector, flexible tube, heat exchangers, and high pressure lines; fabric expansion joints; fuel cells; industrial air ducts, dampers and diverters, flexible tubing, and metal bellows; and metal expansion joints and spring hangers. Senior plc serves original equipment producers in the aerospace, defense, diesel engine, exhaust system, land vehicle, and energy markets. The company was formerly known as Senior Engineering Group plc and changed its name to Se nior plc in 1999. Senior plc was incorporated in 1933 and is headquartered in Rickmansworth, the United Kingdom.

Top 10 Stocks For 2014: New York Mortgage Trust Inc.(NYMT)

New York Mortgage Trust, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a real estate investment trust (REIT) in the United States. The company engages in acquiring, investing, financing, and managing mortgage-related assets. It primarily invests in agency residential adjustable-rate, hybrid adjustable-rate, and fixed-rate mortgage-backed securities (RMBS); non-Agency RMBS; prime adjustable-rate residential mortgage loans held in securitization trusts; commercial mortgage-backed securities; commercial mortgage loans; and other commercial real estate-related debt investments. The company has elected to be taxed as a REIT and will not be subject to federal income tax if it distributes at least 90% of its REIT taxable income to its stockholders. New York Mortgage Trust, Inc. was founded in 1989 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Amanda Alix]

  More mREITs stay the course, but two trim payouts
  Despite suffering many tumbles and bruises, several mREITs have announced that their dividends will be unchanged from the previous quarter. Several did so last week, and yesterday saw Hatteras Financial (NYSE: HTS  ) , an agency-only trust, keeping its own $0.70 per share�payout the same. Hybrid New York Mortgage Trust (NASDAQ: NYMT  ) also kept its dividend stable, at $0.27 per share, in line with its four most recent distributions.

Top 10 Stocks For 2014: Apollo Global Management LLC(APO)

Apollo Global Management, LLC is a publicly owned investment manager. The firm primarily provides its services to pension and endowment funds, institutional investors, individual investors, pooled investment vehicles, and corporations. It manages client focused portfolios, hedge funds, real estate funds, and private equity funds for its clients. The firm invests in the fixed income and alternative investment markets across the globe. Its alternative investments include investment in private equity and real estate markets. The firm's private equity investments include traditional buyouts, distressed buyouts and debt investments, corporate partner buyouts, distressed asset, turnaround, corporate restructuring, special situation, acquisition, and industry consolidation transactions. Its fixed income investments include distressed debt, senior bank loans, and value oriented fixed income securities. The firm seeks to invest in chemicals; commodities; consumer and retail; oil an d gas, metals, mining, agriculture, commodities, distribution and transportation; financial and business services; manufacturing and industrial; media distribution, cable, entertainment, and leisure; energy, packaging and materials; and satellite and wireless. It seeks to invest in companies based in across North America with a focus on United States, and Europe. The firm employs a combination of contrarian, value, and distressed strategies to make its investments. It conducts an in-house research to create its investment portfolio. The firm seeks to acquire minority positions in its portfolio companies. Apollo Global Management, LLC was founded in 1990 and is headquartered in New York, New York with nine additional offices in North America, Europe, and Asia.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Hilary Kramer]

   

  3. Private Equities Private equities are also no longer an exclusive asset class for ultra-high-net-worth investors. You may not be able to buy into Bain Capital's funds, but you can certainly own shares of elite management companies like Blackstone (NYSE: BX) and Apollo Global Management (NYSE: APO) and share a piece of their behind-the-scenes expertise and financial success.

   

• [By David Hanson and Matt Koppenheffer]

  Private equity firm Apollo Global Management (NYSE: APO  ) has reported first-quarter earnings, with profit up 72% to $792. However, this is an industry full of volatility, and there's a lot to understand here before jumping in. Where should investors be looking? In this video, Fool financial analysts David Hanson and Matt Koppenheffer discuss some of the key metrics involved in understanding the private equity business and compare some of the biggest players in this space.