Another Way to Play the 3D Printing Boom: Invest in Media that Covers the Industry

One lightly traded stock making a big move today is Mediabistro Inc. (NASDAQ: MBIS), an Internet media company that offers a variety of services in a number of vertical media markets. The company today announced a strategic investment in 3dprintingindustry.com, a media firm that covers the hot 3D printer market. No financial details were provided.

The two companies plan to produce a series of trade shows called Inside 3D Printing in a number of cities around the world. The first show from the two companies is scheduled for March in Berlin, followed by shows in New York, Saõ Paulo, Seoul, Melbourne, Shenzhen, and Santa Clara. 3dprintingindustry.com has sponsored previous 3D printing events on its own.

The companies also promise to offer the Internet's first online job board specifically for the 3D printing industry.

While only the publicly traded 3D printing firms get much notice, there are perhaps dozens of others working on products in the field. One of those, Microboards Technology of Chanhassen (Minnesota), is being sued by industry biggie Stratasys Ltd. (NASDAQ: SSYS) which Tuesday filed a suit against the small company seeking unspecified damages and a permanent injunction prohibiting sales of Microboards' Afinia 3D printer. Stratasys said this is the first time in its 24-year history that it has filed a patent-infringement suit.

The low-cost, consumer oriented Afinia Series H printer competes with the MakerBot system that Stratasys recently acquired, and the patented technology Stratasys is seeking to protect is used in many other 3D printers according to 3dprintingindustry.com. The implications of this lawsuit could be game-changing, no matter which company emerges with a victory.

Shares of Stratasys are up about 0.2% in mid-afternoon trading Tuesday at $118.10 in a 52-week range of $60.20 to $134.00.

Mediabistro's shares are up 85% at $4.05 after posting a new 52-week high of $5.43 earlier today. The stock's 52-week low is $0.80.

European Stocks Are Little Changed, Paring Gains

European stocks were little changed as investors weighed German data that showed business confidence in Europe's largest economy increased to the highest level since April 2012. U.S. index futures and Asian shares were also little changed.

Novartis AG climbed 1.5 percent after proposing a share buyback and saying it will enter new business segments. Solarworld AG rallied 6.1 percent after a report that it will announce the takeover of Bosch Solar Energy AG next week. Rhoen-Klinikum AG fell 2.9 percent after saying its second-biggest shareholder sued to block the sale of 43 clinics to Fresenius SE's Helios unit.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index gained 0.1 percent 322.83 at 10:29 a.m. in London. The benchmark gauge has lost 0.1 percent this week as Federal Reserve minutes signaled policy makers may reduce stimulus sooner than investors predicted. Standard & Poor's 500 Index futures added less than 0.1 percent today, while the MSCI Asia Pacific Index increased 0.1 percent.

In Germany, the Ifo institute's business climate index, based on a survey of 7,000 executives, increased to 109.3 this month from 107.4 in October. That beat economists' forecast for a gain to 107.7, according to a Bloomberg News survey.

Separate data confirmed a preliminary estimate that showed German economic growth slowed to 0.3 percent in the third quarter, from 0.7 percent in the previous three months. The expansion was driven by domestic demand that offset weaker exports, the report showed.

Eurogroup Meeting

Euro-area finance ministers meet in Brussels today. The so-called Eurogroup will for the first time discuss the European Commission's opinions on member states' draft budgets and whether they comply with rules to ensure transparency in the budget-making process and fiscal sustainability.

Novartis gained 1.5 percent to 73.45 Swiss francs. Europe's biggest drugmaker said it will start a $5-billion share buyback immediately. Novartis also said it will develop new business segments in dermatology, heart failure, respiratory illnesses and cell therapy.

Solarworld advanced 6.1 percent 81.2 euro cents. Germany's biggest maker of solar panels has agreed on most points with Bosch Solar on a takeover of the company, according to a Wall Street Journal Deutschland report, which cited two unnamed sources close to the talks.

Rhoen-Klinikum fell 2.9 percent to 20.54 euros. B. Braun Melsungen AG, which holds a 10.98 percent stake in the company, asked the court to void the sale of clinics or rule it needs 90 percent shareholder support, Rhoen-Klinikum said in a statement. In September, Helios agreed to pay Rhoen-Klinikum 3.07 billion euros ($4.1 billion) for the German clinics, a deal that would create Europe's largest chain of private hospitals.

Mid-Day Market Update: Campbell Soup Tumbles On Downbeat Earnings; Brocade Shares Spike Higher

Midway through trading Tuesday, the Dow traded up 0.17 percent to 16,003.46 while the NASDAQ surged 0.11 percent to 3,953.41. The S&P also rose, gaining 0.11 percent to 1,793.53.

Top Headline
Home Depot (NYSE: HD) reported a 43% gain in its fiscal third-quarter profit and lifted its forecast for the year.

Home Depot now expects full-year earnings of $3.72 per share on sales growth of 5.6%. The company had earlier expected earnings of $3.60 per share on sales growth of 4.5%.

Home Depot's quarterly profit surged to $1.35 billion, or $0.95 per share, from a year-ago profit of $947 million, or $0.63 per share. Its sales increased 7.4% to $19.47 billion. However, analysts were expecting earnings of $0.90 per share on revenue of $19.18 billion. Home Depot's same-store sales climbed 7.4% in the quarter.

Equities Trading UP
Qiwi plc (NASDAQ: QIWI) shot up 5.02 percent to $44.15 on Q3 results.

Shares of Brocade Communications Systems (NASDAQ: BRCD) got a boost, shooting up 8.40 percent to $8.77 after the company reported a better-than-expected Q4 profit.

Trina Solar (NYSE: TSL) was also up, gaining 2.47 percent to $16.59 after the company posted a profit in the third quarter and lifted its full-year shipment outlook.

Equities Trading DOWN
Shares of Oiltanking Partners LP (NYSE: OILT) were down 7.23 percent to $59.79 after the company priced an offering of 2.6 million common units.

Best Buy Co (NYSE: BBY) shares tumbled 8.67 percent to $39.78 after the company swung to a profit in the fiscal third-quarter profit.

Campbell Soup Company (NYSE: CPB) was down, falling 5.88 percent to $39.35 after reported a 30% drop in its fiscal first-quarter earnings and lowered its forecast for the year.

Commodities
In commodity news, oil traded down 0.10 percent to $92.94, while gold traded up 0.13 percent to $1,273.90.

Silver traded down 0.18 percent Tuesday to $20.32, while copper rose 0.21 percent to $3.17.

Eurozone
European shares were lower today. The Spanish Ibex Index fell 1.57 percent, while Italy's FTSE MIB Index tumbled 1.77 percent. Meanwhile, the German DAX fell 0.35 percent and the French CAC 40 dropped 1.12 percent while U.K. shares declined 0.38 percent.

Economics
US employment cost index rose 0.4% in the third quarter, versus a 0.5% growth in the second quarter. However, economists were expecting a 0.5% growth.

The ICSC-Goldman Sachs store sales index rose 0.1% in the week ending Saturday versus previous week.

The Johnson Redbook Retail Sales Index declined 0.7% in the first two weeks of November versus October.

Posted-In: Earnings News Guidance Eurozone Commodities Forex Global Econ #s Economics Hot Intraday Update Markets Movers Tech

(c) 2013 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

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Senators Push Bill to End Debt Ceiling’s Use as ‘Political Weapon’

Three Democratic senators introduced legislation Tuesday that would permanently allow Congress to disapprove debt ceiling increases, instead of approving them.

Sens. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif.; Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., and Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, introduced the Pay Our Bills Act, which they said was based on the "McConnell rule" first proposed in 2011 and employed again in the most recent agreement to end the government shutdown and avoid default.

The bill “would drastically reduce the chances that the debt ceiling could be used as a political weapon designed to extract policy concessions from the opposing party,” the senators said.

“We know from recent history that even the threat of not paying our bills does serious damage to our economy,” Boxer said in a statement. “It’s time for us to put in place a straightforward process to avoid a catastrophic default on our nation’s debt. The Pay Our Bills Act gives both houses of Congress and the president a say, but sends a strong message of certainty to the markets, to our families and to the world.”

“The way it works right now, the debt ceiling is like a ticking time bomb that threatens massive economic destruction,” added Schumer. “This bill would defuse it. By forcing Congress to disapprove debt ceiling increases, we greatly reduce the risk of default that would be a crushing blow to our economy – taking money out of middle-class pockets and destroying middle-class jobs. I hope our Republican colleagues will do the right thing and join in our efforts to limit the risk of default and provide certainty to American families and businesses.”

The disapproval mechanism, or McConnell Rule, was temporarily included in the bipartisan Senate agreement that reopened the government and avoided default earlier this month. This same mechanism was also used to lift the debt ceiling twice following passage of the Budget Control Act.

President Barack Obama has suspended the debt ceiling until Feb. 7, and under the new law, to disapprove the suspension Congress must draft and consider a resolution of disapproval. “If Congress passes the resolution of disapproval, the president has the option to veto the resolution. If Congress so chooses, it may attempt to override the veto with a two-thirds majority. However, subsequent increases in the debt ceiling will still have to be approved by Congress,” the lawmakers explained.

Boxer, Schumer and Hirono said they are pushing for the McConnell rule to be made permanent for all future increases in the debt limit, requiring that if Congress chooses to consider a resolution of disapproval it does so within 15 days after the President proposes an increase.

Sen. Orrin Hatch., R-Utah, said on the Senate floor Tuesday that “the debt limit debate provides us with an opportunity to re-examine our nation’s fiscal course and take steps to correct it.”

He continued: “Sadly, we have a President who appears unwilling to have that conversation.  Instead, he apparently wants to press forward full steam ahead on our already unsustainable course, saddling future generations with unheard of debts and broken entitlement promises in the process. Quite simply, it would be folly to approve of yet another debt limit increase without also working to address these programs, which are the main drivers of our debts and deficits.  Therefore, I disapprove of the President’s exercise of an authority to suspend the debt limit, and I urge all of my colleagues to similarly disapprove.”

---

Check out Senate Agrees on Debt Deal, as SIFMA Chief Blasts GOP and Obama for Woes on ThinkAdvisor.

Shutdown, Schmutdown: Midwest Business Activity Surges

Daniel Acker/Bloomberg via Getty Images WASHINGTON -- Business activity in the U.S. Midwest surged past expectations in October as new orders hit their highest level since 2004, countering recent evidence of soft economic growth. Weekly unemployment claims also fell, in welcome news for the nation's battered labor market after the impact of a government shutdown on furloughed federal workers diminished. The Institute for Supply Management-Chicago business barometer jumped to 65.9 from 55.7, the strongest reading since March 2011 and well above the most optimistic forecast in a Reuters poll. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits dropped by 10,000 to a seasonally adjusted 340,000, the Labor Department said on Thursday. The U.S. job market has apparently slackened in recent months, with private-sector employers hiring fewer workers in October after uncertainty caused by budget brinkmanship in Washington dented confidence among both consumers and businesses. Given that backdrop, analysts treated the ISM-Chicago numbers with some skepticism. "The report may be exaggerating the extent of economic growth momentum," said Millan Mulraine, director of research at TD Securities (TD). Financial markets showed little reaction to the figures, with stocks lower on investor caution following recent record highs. Treasury bonds were also down modestly. Other recent data on hiring, factory output and home sales in September have suggested the economy lost a step even before the government shut down. Readings on consumer confidence this month have shown the fiscal standoff rattled households. Anxious to maintain policy support while the economy works through this soft spot, the U.S. Federal Reserve on Wednesday extended its asset purchase campaign at a policy meeting that opted to keep buying bonds at a $85 billion monthly pace. A 16-day partial shutdown of the federal government had pushed up claims in recent weeks as furloughed workers applied for benefits, but this factor appeared to be diminishing. Claims filed by federal employees dropped 29,713 in the week ended Oct. 19 to 14,423. The shutdown ended Oct. 17. In addition, a Labor Department analyst said California, which had been dealing with a backlog, reported no carryover in claims last week from previous weeks. Technical problems as California converted to a new computer system have distorted the claims data since September, which had made it hard to get a clear read of labor market conditions. The four-week moving average for new claims, considered a better measure of labor market trends, increased 8,000 to 356,250. Federal Reserve officials are closely focused on improvements in the labor market, which they have made a condition for tapering their massive bond buying program, while stressing they will wait a considerable period before beginning to raise interest rates after asset purchases have halted. Markets have pushed out their expectations for a rate hike to June 2015, when the chance of a move was priced at 60 percent. Earlier this week, the Fed funds futures contract had signaled a 52 percent chance of a hike in April 2015. The government will publish October's employment report on Nov. 8. Payrolls gained 148,000 in September, with the unemployment rate hitting a near five-year low of 7.2 percent. But if average monthly jobs growth continues at less than 150,000, where it has been over the last three months, that would make it difficult for the jobless rate to fall further.

Why Comcast's Happiest Quarter in 7 Years Was Probably a Fluke

Alamy The cord cutting trend may have stalled at Comcast (CMCSK), but let's not assume that the country's largest cable provider has completely reversed the pattern of folks kissing their cable providers goodbye. Yes, in the fourth quarter Comcast posted its first sequential net gain of video customers since early 2007. It closed out 2013 with 43,000 more cable TV subscribers than it had in September. After 26 quarters, growth is back on the cable menu at Comcast. Don't expect it to last. It's All Connected Tuesday morning's announcement wasn't much of a revelation. CEO Brian Roberts spilled the beans at a Citigroup conference in Las Vegas three weeks ago. He pointed out how Comcast posted a "modest" gain in video customers during the fourth quarter. However, even Roberts wasn't ready to declare it the end of the cord cutter era. The fourth quarter is a seasonally strong period for Comcast, and it's widely expected that it will post another year of net video customer defections for all of 2014. Yes, Comcast may have grown in the past three months to serve 21.7 million cable TV accounts, but it started out last year with 22 million. There are plenty of reasons to feel that the uptick won't stick. Beyond the seasonality, we can point to the current strength in the housing market, which is unlikely to stick around in 2014 as interest rates move higher. Some see Comcast as a thinking investor's housing play since folks buying new homes often follow the purchase with a call to get cable installed. Therefore, if the real estate market cools, demand for new subscriptions will likely follow. We also can't forget that the services that many credit with triggering the cord-cutting trend are still growing even faster. Netflix (NFLX) added 2.3 million net subscribers domestically during the same quarter. We also saw the introduction late last year of three extremely popular devices -- the Xbox One, PS4, and Chromecast -- that make it easier to watch Web-based video. To Xfinity and Beyond It's not easy being Comcast. Until the fourth quarter's welcome uptick in video customers, it had been relying solely on cable price increases and the bundling of cable TV with broadband and Internet phone service to keep growing. The steady growth of cable bills doesn't necessarily mean Comcast is being greedy. Cable networks and broadcasters continue to demand more money for the rights to carry their channels. Comcast and its smaller rivals simply pass those expenses on to their customers. And from a financial perspective, it's doing the right things. On Tuesday morning, Comcast announced that it was increasing its dividend by 15 percent. It's also beefing up its share buyback efforts. However, the root of the matter is that it's hard to grow a business when the customer is unhappy. "Comcast is always at or near the bottom of most customer service and satisfaction surveys," Consumerist recently pointed out. If subscribers aren't happy and they're tiring of increases, isn't it more likely for what's happened in 26 of the past 27 quarters -- sequential declines in video customers -- to be the norm? A quarter with more installations than cancellations is a refreshing development, but it won't be a surprise if Comcast reveals it has resumed its losing ways in its next report.

5 Best Information Technology Stocks To Watch Right Now

With shares of International Business Machines�(NYSE:IBM)�trading around $206, is IBM an OUTPERFORM, WAIT AND SEE or STAY AWAY? Let�� analyze the stock with the relevant sections of our CHEAT SHEET investing framework:

T = Trends for a Stock’s Movement

IBM is an information technology company. The company operates in five segments: Global Technology Services, Global Business Services, Software, Systems and Technology, and Global Financing. Technology products and services are in high demand worldwide as consumers want to be up-to-speed, and companies always need the latest and greatest to stay ahead of the competition. Cloud computing has been hot in recent times, which has not been too good for IBM. Should the company want to hold on to its market share, it needs to make moves quickly, and provide the technology products and services that worldwide consumers and companies demand.

T = Technicals on the Stock Chart are Strong

IBM stock has been on a monster surge higher over the last few years. The stock has been in a consolidation for about a year now and may be setting up to move higher. Analyzing the price trend and its strength can be done using key simple moving averages. What are the key moving averages? The 50-day (pink), 100-day (blue), and 200-day (yellow) simple moving averages. As seen in the daily price chart below, IBM is trading slightly above its rising key averages which signal neutral to bullish price action in the near-term.

5 Best Information Technology Stocks To Watch Right Now: Continental Coal Limited(CCC.AX)

Continental Coal Limited engages in the production and sale of thermal coal in South Africa. It primarily holds interests in the Vlakvarkfontein mine; and the Ferreira project. It also holds interests in various development projects in South Africa, as well as exploration projects in Botswana. The company was formerly known as Continental Capital Limited and changed its name to Continental Coal Limited in July 2009. Continental Coal Limited is based in West Perth, Australia.

5 Best Information Technology Stocks To Watch Right Now: DNA Brands Inc (DNAX)

DNA Brands, Inc. (DNA), incorporated on May 23, 2007, produces, markets and sells a line of four carbonated blends of DNA Energy Drinks, as well as a line of meat snacks made up of two beef jerky flavors and four flavors of beef sticks. These drinks are sold in 16 ounce cans. The beef jerky is packaged in a three ounce sealable pouch and the beef stick is one ounce stick form. Its product flavors include DNA Energy Drink, DNA Beef Jerky and DNA Shred Stix.DNA Energy Drink provides citrus, green, citrus sugar free and cranberry raspberry sugar free flavors DNA Beef Jerk provides original and teriyaki flavors. DNA Shred Stix flavors includes original, pizza, jalapeno and taco.

In Florida, distribution is handled by Grass Roots Beverage Company, Inc. (Grass Roots), its wholly owned subsidiary and select Anheuser Bush distributors. In Southern California distribution is covered by Energized Distribution, Inc. CJW Distributing, a Miller Brewing operation, is responsible for the Wisconsin (Midwest) area.

The Company competes with Jack Link��.

Hot Value Stocks To Buy For 2015: Virginia Commerce Bancorp(VCBI)

Virginia Commerce Bancorp, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Virginia Commerce Bank that provides business and consumer banking services. The company accepts various deposit products comprising demand deposits, savings and money market accounts, and time deposits. It also originates commercial loans, commercial real estate loans, lines of credit, equipment financing, construction loans, letters of credit, residential mortgages, personal loans, auto loans, and home equity loans and lines of credit. In addition, the company offers merchant bankcard, electronic funds transfer, lock-box, remote deposit capture, online banking, investment, safe deposit boxes, and other customary banking services. It serves small-to-medium sized businesses, including firms that have contracts with the U.S. government, associations, retailers, industrial businesses, professionals and their firms, business executives, investors, and consumers. The company serves the Northern Virginia s uburbs of Washington, D.C. consisting of Arlington, Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun, Prince William, Spotsylvania, and Stafford Counties; the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Fredericksburg, Manassas, and Manassas Park; and the Washington, D.C., as well as the nearby Maryland counties of Montgomery and Prince Georges. It operates through 28 branch offices, 1 residential mortgage office, and 1 investment services office. The company was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.

5 Best Information Technology Stocks To Watch Right Now: Willis Group Holdings Limited(WSH)

Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company provides a range of insurance brokerage, reinsurance, and risk management consulting services to its clients worldwide. The company offers various insurance brokerage services, including property damage, offshore construction, liability, and control of well and pollution insurance to the energy industry; and marine insurance and reinsurance brokerage services consisting of hull, cargo, and general marine liabilities. It also provides its services to aerospace clients, including aircraft manufacturers, air cargo handlers and shippers, airport managers, and other general aviation companies; and advisory services comprising claims recovery, contract and leasing risk management, market information, and safety services. In addition, the company offers risk management advice and brokerage services to the construction industry; brokerage for directors' and officers' insurance, as well as professional indemnity insurance for corporation s and professional firms; and specialist risk management and insurance services to fine art, diamond, and jewelry businesses, and operators of armored cars. Further, it provides special contingencies packages; services for horse racing and breeding industry, and agriculture/crop sector; and advice to companies involved in the insurance and reinsurance industry on capital markets products. Additionally, the company offers health, welfare, and human resources consulting and brokerage services to small, medium, and large corporations, as well as the employee benefits practice. It serves clients located in approximately 190 countries, including multinational and middle-market companies operating in various industries, as well as public institutions and individual clients. The company was formerly known as Willis Group Holdings Limited and changed its name to Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company in January 2010. The company was founded in 1828 and is headquartered in Lond on, the United Kingdom.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jonas Elmerraji]

  $11 billion UK insurer Willis Group Holdings (WSH) is another uptrending channel. The big difference with Willis is that this name is actually at its trendline support level this week. Better still, shares are bouncing higher -- and it makes sense to buy the bounce here.

  Buying off a support bounce makes sense for two big reasons: It's the spot where shares have the furthest to move up before they hit resistance, and it's the spot where the risk is the least (because shares have the least room to move lower before you know you're wrong). Remember, all trend lines do eventually break, but by actually waiting for the bounce to happen first, you're ensuring WSH can actually still catch a bid along that line.

  The 50-day moving average has been a good proxy for support on the way up, so it's a solid place to put a protective stop if you decide to be a buyer at this point.

5 Best Information Technology Stocks To Watch Right Now: Calix Inc(CALX)

Calix, Inc. provides broadband communications access systems and software for fiber and copper-based network architectures that enable communications service providers (CSPs) to connect to their residential and business subscribers. The company?s Unified Access portfolio comprises hardware and software products, which include C-Series platform, and E-Series platforms and nodes. The C-Series platform is a C7 multiservice and multiprotocol access platform that supports various basic voice and data services, as well as advanced, high-speed, and packet-based services, including gigabit Ethernet, GPON and DSL, and advanced applications, such as IPTV offered by CSPs. The E-Series platforms and nodes consist of chassis-based platforms, and fixed form factor nodes that support various advanced IP-based services, and enable CSPs to implement advanced Ethernet transport and aggregation; and voice, data, and video services over fiber and copper-based network architectures. The compan y?s Unified Access portfolio also includes P-Series Optical Network Terminals, which auto-detect the bandwidth of the network and enable CSPs to change line rates and features without truck rolls or hardware replacements; and Calix Management System, a server-based network management software, which enables CSPs to remotely manage their access networks and scale bandwidth capacity to support advanced broadband services and video. Calix, Inc. markets its access systems and software to CSPs in North America, the Caribbean, and Latin America directly. The company was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in Petaluma, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Steve Symington]

  What:�Shares of Calix (NYSE: CALX  ) dropped more than 30% during intraday trading Wednesday after the communications equipment supplier reported mixed third-quarter results and weak forward guidance.

5 Best Information Technology Stocks To Watch Right Now: Canada Fluorspar Inc (CFI.V)

Canada Fluorspar Inc., a specialty mineral resource company, engages in the development and production of fluorspar deposits in Canada. It holds a 100% interest in the St. Lawrence Fluorspar project, which consists of six mineral licenses located in St. Lawrence, Newfoundland and Labrador. The company is headquartered in St. John�s, Canada.

5 Best Information Technology Stocks To Watch Right Now: Nuvista Energy Com Npv (NVA.TO)

NuVista Energy Ltd., an independent oil and natural gas company, engages in the exploration for and the development and production of oil and natural gas reserves in Canada. The company's properties are located in the three regions of the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin, including Alberta Deep Basin, eastern Alberta and Saskatchewan, and northwest Alberta and British Columbia. As of December 31, 2011, it had proved reserves of 69.8 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMBoe) and proved plus probable reserves of 110.1 MMBoe. The company was incorporated in 2003 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.

5 Best Information Technology Stocks To Watch Right Now: Royce Micro-Cap Trust Inc.(RMT)

Royce Micro-Cap Trust, Inc. is a closed-ended equity mutual fund launched and managed Royce & Associates, LLC. It invests in the public equity markets of the United States. The fund seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors. It primarily invests in value stocks of companies with market capitalization of less than $500 million. The fund benchmarks the performance of its portfolios against Russell 2000 Index. Royce Micro-Cap Trust, Inc was formed on December 14, 1993 and is domiciled in the United States.

5 Best Information Technology Stocks To Watch Right Now: Cadence Design Systems Inc (CDNS.O)

Cadence Design Systems, Inc. (Cadence) develops electronic design automation (EDA), software, hardware, and silicon intellectual property (IP). Cadence licenses software and IP, sells or leases hardware technology and provides engineering and education services worldwide to help manage and accelerate electronics product development processes. The Company�� customers use its products and services to design and develop complex integrated circuits (ICs) and electronics systems. The Company combines its products and technologies into platforms for four design activities: Functional Verification; Digital IC Design and Implementation; Custom IC Design and Verification, and System Interconnect Design. It sells software using three license types: subscription, term and perpetual. It also offers a number of fee-based services, including engineering and education services. In June 2010, Cadence acquired Denali Software, Inc. (Denali). In May 2011, it acquired Altos Design Autom ation, Inc. On July 11, 2011, the Company acquired Azuro, Inc. In July 2012, the Company acquired Sigrity, Inc.

The four Cadence design platforms are branded as Incisive functional verification, Encounter digital IC design, Virtuoso custom design and Allegro system interconnect design. In addition, the Company augments these platform product offerings with a set of design for manufacturing (DFM), products that service both the digital and custom IC design flows. These solutions and their constituent elements are marketed to users who specialize in areas, such as system design and verification, functional verification, logic design, digital implementation, custom IC design and printed circuit board (PCB), and IC package / SiP design.

Functional Verification

Cadence�� functional verification offerings consist of two categories: Logic Verification and System Design and Verification. Logic Verification offering consists of planning, pro perty checking, testbench simulation, verification IP, and! e! nvironment capabilities within the Incisive functional verification platform. This offering enables the Company�� customers to employ enterprise-level verification process automation, including metric-driven verification planning, process tracking and management. System Design and Verification offerings consist of hardware-assisted verification with emulation and acceleration, including the verification computing platform Palladium XP, Palladium and Xtreme platforms, system-level design capabilities, verification IP, estimation of system-on-chip (SoC), consulting services, and methodologies. The QuickCycles program allows customers access to its simulation acceleration and emulation products, either on their secure Internet site or remotely over a secure network connection. The products obtained through the acquisition of Denali include verification IP, memory models, and design IP.

Digital IC Design and Implementation

Cadence�� Digital IC offe rings are used by its customers to create logical representations of a digital circuit or IC. The Company�� Digital IC offerings include two categories: Logic Design and Physical Implementation. Logic Design offering consists of formal verification, equivalency checking, synthesis and test capabilities within the Encounter digital IC design platform and property checking, simulation, and environment capabilities within the Incisive functional verification platform. This offering provides chip planning, design, verification and test technologies and services to customers across all digital design end markets. Physical Implementation offering consists of a range of the Encounter digital IC design platform capabilities. The Physical Implementation offering includes timing analysis, signal integrity, power analysis, extraction, physical verification, and place and route capabilities within the Encounter digital IC design platform. It enables the customers to create a physical representation of logic models, analyze electrical and ! physi! ca! l chara! cteristics of a design and prepare a design for manufacturing.

Custom IC Design and Verification

Cadence�� Custom IC Design and Verification offerings are used by its customers to create schematic representations of circuits down to the transistor level for analog, mixed-signal, custom digital, memory and radio frequency (RF) designs. These logical representations are verified using simulation tools optimized for each type of design. The offering includes the environment, IC layout and simulation capabilities within the Virtuoso custom design platform. Other tools in the Custom IC portfolio are used to prepare the designs for manufacturing.

System Interconnect Design

Cadence�� System Interconnect Design offerings are used by its customers to develop printed circuit board (PCBs), and IC packages. The offerings include the capabilities within the Allegro system interconnect design platform: PCB, IC package, SiP, des ign management and collaboration. The Company�� offerings also include the simulation capability within the Virtuoso custom design platform. These offerings enable engineers who are responsible for the capture, layout and analysis of advanced PCB and IC packages to design electronic products across the domains of IC, IC package and PCB. For PCB customers, the Company provides the OrCAD family of offerings that is marketed worldwide through a network of resellers.

The Company competes with Synopsys, Inc., Mentor Graphics Corporation and Magma Design Automation, Inc.

5 Best Information Technology Stocks To Watch Right Now: CEL-SCI Corp (CVM)

CEL-SCI Corporation (CEL-SCI), incorporated on March 22, 1983, is engaged in the business of Multikine cancer therapy; New cold fill manufacturing service to the pharmaceutical industry, and ligand epitope antigen presentation System (LEAPS) technology, with two products, hemagglutinin type 1 and neuraminidase type 1 (H1N1) swine flu treatment for H1N1 hospitalized patients and CEL-2000, a rheumatoid arthritis treatment vaccine.

Multikine

CEL-SCI's Multikine, is being developed for the treatment of cancer. It is a cancer immunotherapy drugs called Combination Immunotherapy because it combines active and passive immunity in one product. It is the only cancer immunotherapy that both kills cancer cells and activates the general immune system to destroy the cancer. Multikine target the tumor micro-metastases for treatment failure. Multikine is also applicable in many other solid tumors.

New Manufacturing Facility

CEL-SCI's facility manufactures Multikine for CEL-SCI's Phase III clinical trial. CEL-SCI offers the use of the facility as a service to pharmaceutical companies and others, particularly those that need to fill and finish their drugs in a cold environment. Fill and finish is the process of filling injectable drugs in a sterile manner.

LEAPS

CEL-SCI's patented T-cell Modulation Process uses heteroconjugates to direct the body to choose a specific immune response. The heteroconjugate technology, referred to as LEAPS, is intended to stimulate the human immune system to fight bacterial, viral and parasitic infections, as well as autoimmune, allergies, transplantation rejection and cancer. Administered like vaccines, LEAPS combines T-cell binding ligands with small, disease associated and peptide antigens.

Using the LEAPS technology, CEL-SCI has created a peptide treatment for H1N1 (swine flu) hospitalized patients. This LEAPS flu treatment is designed to focus on the conserved, non-changing epitopes of the di! fferent strains of Type A Influenza viruses, including swine, avian or bird, and Spanish Influenza. CEL-SCI's LEAPS flu treatment contains epitopes.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Bryan Murphy]

  Names like Amgen, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMGN) and CEL-SCI Corporation (NYSEMKT:CVM) may have pioneered and even mainstreamed the idea of cancer immunology, but the nature of the branch of biotechnology means any company could send CEL-SCI or Amgen back-pedaling. See, it's not about size or deep pockets in the world of biotech anymore. It's about know-how and an idea, which can just as easily be discovered and developed by a small company as they can be a large company. That's why AMGN and CVM at least need to keep a close eye on budding immunology competitor TNI Biotech Inc. (OTCMKTS:TNIB).

• [By Bryan Murphy]

  To say that 2014 has been a good year so far for CEL-SCI Corporation (NYSEMKT:CVM) would be an understatement. It's been a great year for the company, and more specifically, its shareholders. CVM is up 96% year-to-date, cutting into a big chunk of the loss that was suffered in 2013. And, though a near-doubling in less than a month would normally be an invitation to a painful wave of profit-taking, in the case of CEL-SCI, the situation says this is one of those rallies that could get hotter the hotter it gets.

• [By James E. Brumley]

  When biotech-savvy investors think of immunology stocks, they tend to gravitate towards a name like Dendreon Corporation (NASDAQ:DNDN), which for all intents and purposes introduced the world's first cancer vaccine, Provenge, as a treatment for prostate cancer. Traders with a better-than-average knowledge of the immunology field may turn their attention to a company like CEL-SCI Corporation (NYSEMKT:CVM). CEL-SCI doesn't have a product on the market yet, but its head and neck cancer drug - which also uses immunology - is in Phase 3 testing right now, and looks very promising. There are other, and smaller, stocks within the world of immunology, however, that deserve a closer look from the market, and one of the most exciting ones further down the size scale is TNI Biotech Inc. (OTCMKTS:TNIB).

5 Best Information Technology Stocks To Watch Right Now: Broadwind Energy Inc.(BWEN)

Broadwind Energy, Inc. provides products and services to the energy, mining, and infrastructure sector customers, primarily in the United States. The company?s Towers and Weldments segment manufactures towers designed for two megawatt and larger wind turbines. This segment also manufactures specialty fabrications and weldments for mining and other industrial customers. Its Gearing segment engineers, builds, and remanufactures precision gears and gearing systems for wind, oil and gas, mining, and other industrial applications. The company?s Services segment offers a range of services, including non-routine blade and gearbox maintenance services for both kilowatt and megawatt turbines primarily to wind farm developers and operators. It also provides field services to the wind industry; dedicated drivetrain services; and industrial gearboxes precision repair and testing services. The company provides its products and services to various wind energy customers that include wi nd turbine manufacturers, wind farm developers, and wind farm operators, as well as oil and gas, mining, and other industries. It sells its products through its sales force and manufacturers' representatives. The company was formerly known as Tower Tech Holdings Inc. and changed its name to Broadwind Energy, Inc. in 2008. Broadwind Energy, Inc. is headquartered in Naperville, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Udovich]

  Small cap wind stock Broadwind Energy Inc (NASDAQ: BWEN) is up 203.7% since the start of the year, but investors might want to contain their excitement when they look closer at the�stock and�consider its�long term performance along with the performance of other wind investments like First Trust Global Wind Energy ETF (NYSEARCA: FAN) and wind energy stocks Vestas Wind Systems (OTCMKTS: VWDRY) and China Ming Yang Wind Power Group Ltd (NYSE: MY) to see whether BWEN is just blowing more hot air.

5 Best Information Technology Stocks To Watch Right Now: Orocobre Limited (ORL.TO)

Orocobre Limited engages in the exploration and development of mineral properties in Argentina. The company focuses on exploring for lithium, potash, and salar minerals. Its flagship project is the Salar de Olaroz project consisting of 63,000 hectares of tenements located in the north-western province of Jujuy. The company is based in Brisbane, Australia.

5 Best Information Technology Stocks To Watch Right Now: Liang Huat Aluminium Ltd (C4P.SI)

Liang Huat Aluminium Limited designs, fabricates, manufactures, and sells of aluminum and other metal parts and components. The company provides building fa莽ade and interior wall systems, such as curtain walling systems, cladding systems, aluminum grilles, doors and windows, and other aluminium engineering and industrial products. It also offers design and consultancy services. In addition, the company designs, manufactures, and markets vehicle traction equipment. It offers its products and services in Hong Kong, China, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, and India. The company was founded in 1978 and is based in Singapore.

5 Best Information Technology Stocks To Watch Right Now: Wilshire Bancorp Inc.(WIBC)

Wilshire Bancorp, Inc. operates as the holding company for Wilshire State Bank that offers a range of financial products and services. It accepts various deposit products that include certificates of deposit, regular savings accounts, money market accounts, checking and negotiable order of withdrawal accounts, installment savings accounts, and individual retirement accounts. The company?s loan portfolio comprises commercial real estate and home mortgage loans, commercial business lending and trade finance, and small business administration lending, as well as consumer loans, including personal loans, auto loans, and other loans. It also provides trade finance services that include issuance and negotiation of letters of credit, handling of documentary collections, advising and negotiation of commercial letters of credit, transfer and issuance of back-to-back letters of credit, and trade finance lines of credit. In addition, the company offers Internet banking services, auto matic teller machines, and armored carrier services. It has 24 full-service branch offices in Southern California, Texas, New Jersey, and the greater New York City metropolitan area; and 6 loan production offices in Colorado, Georgia, Texas, New Jersey, and Virginia. The company was founded in 1980 and is headquartered in Los Angeles, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Smith]

  Los Angeles-based Wilshire Bancorp (NASDAQ: WIBC  ) is acquiring some Korean banking customers... in New Jersey.

  On Monday, Wilshire announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire�New Jersey's BankAsiana, a commercial bank�with three branches serving the Korean-American community in the New York/New Jersey market, boasting total assets of $207.3 million, total net loans of $161.2 million, and total deposits of $164.6 million.

Is Facebook an Attractive Investment?

With shares of Facebook (NASDAQ:FB) trading around $53, is FB an OUTPERFORM, WAIT AND SEE, or STAY AWAY? Let's analyze the stock with the relevant sections of our CHEAT SHEET investing framework:

T = Trends for a Stock’s Movement

Facebook is engaged in building social products in order to create utility for users, developers, and advertisers. People use Facebook to stay connected with their friends and family, to discover what is going on in the world around them, and to share and express what matters to them with the people they care about. Developers can use the Facebook platform to build applications and websites that integrate with Facebook to reach its global network of users, building personalized and social products. Advertisers can engage with more than 900 million monthly active users on Facebook — or subsets of its users — based on information they have chosen to share.

Last week, Princeton released a widely-cited but pretty flawed study saying that Facebook will lose 80 percent of its users between 2015 and 2017. On Thursday, Facebook responded by using Princeton's methodology to prove that Princeton will lose all of its students by 2021, and the Earth will in fact run out of air by 2060. In a Facebook post titled "Debunking Princeton," Facebook used Princeton's "correlation equals causation" idea on the university itself to show that just because Princeton says it, doesn't mean it's true. The Princeton study is flawed for several reasons. It uses a strange epidemiology metaphor likening Facebook to a virus that Facebook users will eventually "recover" from. Just because Facebook can be addicting and takes up more of our time than many people are proud of, it doesn't mean the social media site actually operates like a sickness.

T = Technicals on the Stock Chart Are Mixed

Facebook stock has been exploding to the upside in recent years. However, the stock is currently pulling back and may need time to consolidate before heading higher. Analyzing the price trend and its strength can be done using key simple moving averages. What are the key moving averages? The 50-day (pink), 100-day (blue), and 200-day (yellow) simple moving averages. As seen in the daily price chart below, Facebook is trading above its rising key averages which signal neutral to bullish price action in the near-term.

(Source: Thinkorswim)

Taking a look at the implied volatility (red) and implied volatility skew levels of Facebook options may help determine if investors are bullish, neutral, or bearish.

	Implied Volatility (IV)	30-Day IV Percentile	90-Day IV Percentile
Facebook options	60.84%	93%	90%

What does this mean? This means that investors or traders are buying a very significant amount of call and put options contracts, as compared to the last 30 and 90 trading days.

	Put IV Skew	Call IV Skew
February Options	Flat	Average
March Options	Flat	Average

As of today, there is an average demand from call buyers or sellers and low demand by put buyers or high demand by put sellers, all neutral to bullish over the next two months. To summarize, investors are buying a very significant amount of call and put option contracts and are leaning neutral to bullish over the next two months.

On the next page, let’s take a look at the earnings and revenue growth rates and the conclusion.

E = Earnings Are Increasing Quarter-Over-Quarter

Rising stock prices are often strongly correlated with rising earnings and revenue growth rates. Also, the last four quarterly earnings announcement reactions help gauge investor sentiment on Facebook’s stock. What do the last four quarterly earnings and revenue growth (Y-O-Y) figures for Facebook look like and more importantly, how did the markets like these numbers?

	2013 Q3	2013 Q2	2013 Q1	2012 Q4
Earnings Growth (Y-O-Y)	108.33%	58.33%	0.00%	-89.46%
Revenue Growth (Y-O-Y)	59.75%	53.13%	37.81%	40.14%
Earnings Reaction	2.44%	29.61%	5.61%	-0.83%

Facebook has seen increasing earnings and revenue figures over the last four quarters. From these numbers, the markets have been pleased with Facebook’s recent earnings announcements.

P = Average Relative Performance Versus Peers and Sector

How has Facebook stock done relative to its peers, Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), Google (NASDAQ:GOOG), LinkedIn (NASDAQ:LNKD), and sector?

	Facebook	Microsoft	Google	LinkedIn	Sector
Year-to-Date Return	-3.62%	-3.37%	-2.15%	-4.10%	-2.31%

Facebook has been an average relative performer, year-to-date.

Conclusion

Facebook looks to provide a valuable social networking experience to its users, developers, and advertisers. Last week, Princeton released a widely-cited but pretty flawed study saying that Facebook will lose 80 percent of its users between 2015 and 2017. The stock has been exploding to the upside, but is now pulling back. Over the last four quarters, earnings and revenues have been increasing, which has left investors pleased about recent earnings announcements. Relative to its peers and sector, Facebook has been an average year-to-date performer. Look for Facebook to continue to OUTPERFORM.

Earnings Scheduled For October 21, 2013

AO Smith (NYSE: AOS) is expected to report its Q3 earnings at $0.44 per share on revenue of $509.77 million.

McDonald's (NYSE: MCD) is projected to report its Q3 earnings at $1.51 per share on revenue of $7.34 billion.

Halliburton Company (NYSE: HAL) is estimated to report its Q3 earnings at $0.82 per share on revenue of $7.50 billion.

Check Point Software Technologies (NASDAQ: CHKP) is projected to report its Q3 earnings at $0.84 per share on revenue of $343.62 million.

Hasbro (NASDAQ: HAS) is estimated to report its Q3 earnings at $1.29 per share on revenue of $1.34 billion.

Gannett Co (NYSE: GCI) is expected to report its Q3 earnings at $0.41 per share on revenue of $1.27 billion.

VMware (NYSE: VMW) is projected to report its Q3 earnings at $0.82 per share on revenue of $1.29 billion.

SAP AG (NYSE: SAP) is estimated to report its Q3 earnings at $0.82 per share on revenue of $4.20 billion.

Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) is expected to report its Q3 earnings at $1.21 per share on revenue of $2.07 billion.

Illumina (NASDQ: ILMN) is estimated to report its Q3 earnings at $0.40 per share on revenue of $343.56 million.

Texas Instruments (NASDAQ: TXN) is expected to report its Q3 earnings at $0.53 per share on revenue of $3.23 billion.

W.R. Berkley (NYSE: WRB)is estimated to report its Q3 earnings at $0.74 per share on revenue of $1.57 billion.

V.F. Corp (NYSE: VFC) is projected to report its Q3 earnings at $3.78 per share on revenue of $3.34 billion.

Illumina (NASDAQ: ILMN) is estimated to report its Q3 earnings at $0.40 per share on revenue of $342.48 billion.

Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX) is expected to post its Q3 earnings at $0.49 per share on revenue of $1.10 billion.

Stepan Company (NYSE: SCL) is expected to report its Q3 earnings at $0.93 per share on revenue of $467.40 million.

Lennox International (NYSE: LII) is projected to report its Q3 earnings at $1.28 per share on revenue of $877.87 million.

ManpowerGroup (NYSE: MAN) is expected to report its Q3 earnings at $1.08 per share on revenue of $5.08 billion.

Celanese (NYSE: CE) is estimated to report its Q3 earnings at $1.04 per share on revenue of $1.59 billion.

Posted-In: Earnings scheduleEarnings News Pre-Market Outlook Markets

(c) 2013 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

  Around the Web, We're Loving... Learn to Use Trading Platforms Like Hedge Fund Traders do Rumsfeld: Denial of Benefits to Fallen Soldiers' Families 'Inexcusable' Come See How the Pro's Trade in this Exclusive Webinar Facebook, Baidu Lead Big Caps Beating Shutdown What Should You Know About AMZN? Most Popular SLIDESHOW: iWatch Supplier, iPad Event And More From The Third Week Of October Earnings Expectations For The Week Of October 21: The Crunch Is On Netflix Earnings Preview: Eyes On Subscriber Growth McDonald's Earnings Preview: Was The Menu Tinkering Worth It? (MCD) New Startup GroupFlix Is Netflix A La Carte Barron's Recap: Return Of The Bulls Related Articles (AOS + CE) Earnings Scheduled For October 21, 2013 Celanese Announces Asia Expansion of Polyacetal Manufacturing Footprint Top 4 Mid-Cap Stocks In The Industrial Electrical Equipment Industry With The Highest Operating Margin Celanese Raising Acetate Tow Price by 8% Celanese Announces Increase in Price of Acrylic Emulsions Sold in Americas Celanese Raises Acetyl Intermediates Prices View the discussion thread. Partner Network #marketfy-ae-block { display: none; border: 2px solid #0a3f75; overflow: hidden; width: 300px; height: 125px; text-align: center; background-color: #45719E; position: relative; z-index: 1; } #marketfy-ae-block a { display: block; width: 300px; height: 125px; position: relative; z-index: 2; color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; } #marketfy-ae-block-countdown-text { color: #f9fc99; padding: 0px 0 0 0; font-size: 19px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19px; } #marketfy-ae-block-countdown-text-start { font-size: 12px; } #marketfy-ae-block-countdown { padding: 5px 0 5px 0; font-size: 26px; } #marketfy-ae-block-signup { padding: 5px 47px; } #marketfy-ae-block-signup:hover { background-color: #457a1a; } #marketfy-ae-block #marketfy-ae-block-logo { display: block; padding: 3px 0 0 0; margin: 0; } #marketfy-ae-block-logo { text-indent: -9999px; } #marketfy-ae-block-free { display: block; position: absolute; top: 7px; right: -23px; width: 80px; height: 16px; line-height: 16px; text-align: center; opacity: 1; -webkit-transform: rotate(45deg); -moz-transform: rotate(45deg); -ms-transform: rotate(45deg); transform: rotate(45deg); font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; color: #333333; background-color: yellow; z-index: 500; text-shadow: 1px 1px #999999; } #marketfy-ae-block-arrow { position: relative; width: 60px; height: 60px; z-index: 10; margin: -80px 0 13px

Why Bottomline Technologies Shares Popped

Although we don't believe in timing the market or panicking over market movements, we do like to keep an eye on big changes -- just in case they're material to our investing thesis.

What: Shares of Bottomline Technologies (NASDAQ: EPAY  ) jumped more than 10% Friday after the cloud-based financial transaction specialist reported solid fiscal first quarter 2013 results. 

So what: Quarterly revenue rose 9% year-over-year to $67.2 million, which translated to adjusted net income of $0.28 per share. Both numbers handily beat analysts' estimates, which called for adjusted earnings of $0.16 per share on sales of $66.06 million.

As a result, Bottomline also raised its annual guidance, increasing its full-year revenue outlook to $298 million, and earnings per share in the range of $1.05 to $1.19. For reference, those figures both come out well ahead of current estimates for full-year sales of $296.24 million and earnings of $1.05 per share.

Now what: CEO Rob Eberle weighed in to note the results were well ahead of even their own expectations, while also elaborating, "The first quarter was highlighted by record subscription and transaction revenue. In addition, we were delighted to welcome over 350 customers to Bottomline through the acquisitions of Sterci and Simplex, positioning Bottomline as a global leader in financial messaging."

Of course, shares don't look particularly cheap trading around 23 times next year's estimated earnings. However, that may be a well-deserved premium given today's solid results and optimistic outlook, I think the stock could very well turn out to be a bargain for patient shareholders down the road.

Got iPad?
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10 Best Financial Stocks For 2015

The fall semester is just around the corner, and parents and students alike are gearing up for the big move back to campus. Going to college is an expensive venture. From tuition and textbooks to stocking up a dorm room with all the essentials your child will need, most college students could use all the financial assistance that the government could possibly offer. Whether you are sending your child to college for the first time, or you are a seasoned veteran, you are bound to face some changes when it comes to financial aid in the year ahead. Beginning in the 2013-2014 calendar year, there were a considerable number of changes to the FAFSA Federal Student Aid program. Here is a look at some of the major changes to FAFSA in 2013 and how they will affect students' financial aid.

Pell Grants Increased Amount
Pell grants are a federally funded grant that are rewarded to students who are at-need, and meet financial requirements. Pell grants are intended to help lower the out-of-pocket costs of college tuition for financially struggling families in the United States. In the 2013-2014 school year, the maximum Pell Grant amount is $5,645, which is a $95 increase over last year's reward amount. Please note that you may not receive the total reward amount; this is simply the maximum allowed for the 2013-2014 calendar year.

10 Best Financial Stocks For 2015: Alleghany Corporation(Y)

Alleghany Corporation, through its subsidiaries, engages in the property and casualty, and surety insurance business in the United States. It underwrites specialty insurance coverages in the property, umbrella/excess, general liability, directors and officers liability, professional liability lines of business, and homeowners insurance. The company also writes surety products, such as commercial surety bonds and contract surety bonds. In addition, Alleghany Corporation owns and manages improved and unimproved commercial land, and residential lots in the Sacramento, California. As of December 31, 2010, the company owned approximately 320 acres of property in various land use categories. Further, it engages in the oil and gas exploration and production business. The company was founded in 1929 and is based in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Matthew Argersinger]

  Matching a stable of strong insurance businesses with intelligent investing is one of the key formulas Warren Buffett used to turn Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK-A  ) (NYSE: BRK-B  ) into one of the greatest investments of the past half-century. Fortunately for investors who weren't able to ride Buffett's market-crushing train, there are several smaller companies that have embraced Berkshire's formula with great success. One of those is Alleghany (NYSE: Y  ) , a multi-line insurance company whose objective�is "to create value through owning and managing operating subsidiaries and investments, anchored by a core position in property and casualty reinsurance and insurance." Sound familiar?

10 Best Financial Stocks For 2015: Encore Bancshares Inc.(EBTX)

Encore Bancshares, Inc. operates as a holding company for the Encore Bank, which provides banking, investment management, financial planning, and insurance services to privately owned businesses, professional firms, investors, and individuals. The company?s deposit products and services include checking, savings, money market, and individual retirement accounts, as well as time deposits. Its loan product line for businesses include commercial loans, commercial real estate loans, real estate construction loans, revolving lines of credit, working capital loans, equipment financing, and letters of credit; and for individuals comprise residential mortgage loans, mortgage loans on investment and vacation properties, unsecured and secured personal lines of credit, home equity lines of credit, and overdraft protection. The company also offers personal financial planning services, such as asset preservation/protection, employee benefits, estate planning, investments and asset all ocation, retirement planning, risk management, and insurance and tax planning, as well as other financial planning for specific situations. In addition, it provides financial services for businesses through financial counseling for employees, financial planning for executives, and financial workshops for employees. Further, the company offers investment consulting services to individuals, companies, and qualified retirement plans. Additionally, it sells personal and commercial property, and casualty insurance products, as well as provides personal trust services to individuals. The company operates 11 private client offices in Houston, 6 private client offices in southwest Florida, 5 wealth management offices, and 3 insurance offices in Texas. Encore Bancshares, Inc. was founded in 1928 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.

Top 5 Companies To Buy Right Now: PowerShares Dynamic Financial Sector Portfolio (PFI)

PowerShares Dynamic Financial Sector Portfolio (Fund) seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield of an equity index called the Dynamic Financial Sector Intellidex Index (the Index). The Index consists of stocks of 60 United States financial services companies. These companies are principally engaged in the business of providing services and products, including banking, investment services, insurance and real estate finance services. Stocks are selected principally on the basis of their capital appreciation potential as identified by the AMEX (the Intellidex Provider) pursuant to an Intellidex methodology.

The Fund will normally invest at least 80% of its total assets in common stocks of financial services companies. It will invest at least 90% of its total assets in common stocks that comprise the Index. The Fund, using an indexing investment approach, attempts to replicate the performance of the Index. The Fund generally will invest in all of the stocks comprising the Index in proportion to their weightings in the Index.

10 Best Financial Stocks For 2015: Great Portland Est(GPOR.L)

Great Portland Estates plc, through its subsidiaries, operates as a real estate investment trust (REIT). It develops freehold and leasehold, residential, retail, and office properties in London. The company has elected to be treated as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code and would not be subject to federal income tax, provided it distributes approximately 90% of its taxable income to its shareholders. Great Portland Estates plc is based in London, the United Kingdom.

10 Best Financial Stocks For 2015: Prudential Financial Inc (PRH)

Prudential Financial, Inc. (Prudential Financial) is a financial services company. Prudential Financial has operations in the United States, Asia, Europe and Latin America. Through its subsidiaries and affiliates, the Company offers an array of financial products and services, including life insurance, annuities, retirement-related services, mutual funds and investment management. It offers these products and services to individual and institutional customers through proprietary and third party distribution networks. Prudential Financial has two businesses: the Financial Services Businesses and the Closed Block Business. The Financial Services Businesses consists of its United States Retirement Solutions and Investment Management division, United States Individual Life and Group Insurance division, and International Insurance division, as well as its Corporate and Other operations. The Closed Block Business consists of the assets and related liabilities of the Closed Block described below and certain related assets and liabilities. On January 1, 2012, it merged with Gibraltar Life Insurance Company, Ltd (Gibraltar Life).

On February 1, 2011, Prudential Financial completed the acquisition from American International Group, Inc. (AIG), of AIG Star Life Insurance Co., Ltd. (Star), AIG Edison Life Insurance Company (Edison), and certain other AIG subsidiaries. In July 2011, it sold its global commodities business to Jefferies Group, Inc. In November 2011, it acquired an office building located in downtown Chicago's Central Loop. On December 06, 2011, the Company announced the sale of Prudential Real Estate and Relocation Services (PRERS), the Company's real estate brokerage and relocation services unit, to Brookfield Residential Property Services.

Financial Services Businesses

The Financial Services Businesses consist of three operating divisions, which together encompass six segments, and its Corporate and Other operations. The United States Retirement Solutions an! d Investment Management division consists of its Individual Annuities, Retirement and Asset Management segments. The United States Individual Life and Group Insurance division consists of its Individual Life and Group Insurance segments. The International Insurance division consists of its International Insurance segment. Its Corporate and Other operations include corporate items and initiatives that are not allocated to business segments, as well as businesses that have been or will be divested.

The Individual Annuities segment manufactures and distributes individual variable and fixed annuity products, primarily to the United States market. The Company�� annuity products are distributed through a diverse group of independent financial planners, wirehouses, banks, and insurance agents, including Prudential Agents and the agency distribution force of The Allstate Corporation (Allstate). It offers variable annuities that provide its customers with tax-deferred asset accumulation together with a base death benefit and a suite of optional guaranteed death and living benefits. Its variable annuity investment options provide the customers with the opportunity to invest in proprietary and non-proprietary mutual funds, frequently under asset allocation programs, and fixed-rate accounts. The Company�� prudential agents distribute variable annuities with proprietary and non-proprietary investment options, as well as fixed annuities. Its individual annuity products are also offered through a range of third party channels, including independent brokers, wirehouses, banks, and Allstate�� proprietary distribution force.

The Company�� retirement segment, which is referred as Prudential Retirement, provides retirement investment and income products and services to retirement plan sponsors in the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors. Its full service business provides recordkeeping, plan administration, actuarial advisory services, tailored participant education and communicati! on servic! es, trustee services and institutional and retail investments. It services defined contribution, defined benefit and non-qualified plans. For participants leaving the clients��plans, it provides a range of rollover products through its broker-dealer, Prudential Investment Management Services LLC, its bank, Prudential Bank & Trust, FSB (PB&T), and certain of its insurance companies. Its institutional investment products business offers guaranteed investment contracts (GICs), funding agreements, institutional and retail notes, structured settlement annuities, and group annuities, for defined contribution plans, defined benefit plans, non-qualified plans, and individuals.

The Company�� full service business offers plan sponsors and their participants a range of products and services to assist in the delivery and administration of defined contribution, defined benefit, and non-qualified plans, including recordkeeping and administrative services, comprehensive investment offerings and consulting services to assist plan sponsors in managing fiduciary obligations. As part of its investment products, it offers a range of general and separate account stable value products and other fee-based separate accounts, as well as retail mutual funds and institutional funds advised by affiliated and non-affiliated investment managers.

It also offers fee-based separate account products, through which customer funds are held in a separate account, retail mutual funds, institutional funds, or a client-owned trust. These products generally pass all of the investment results to the customer. In addition, it offers guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefits associated with certain defined contribution accounts, and hedge certain of the related risks utilizing externally purchased hedging instruments. It also offers a range of rollover solutions, including individual retirement accounts, mutual funds, and guaranteed income products. Its rollover products and services are marketed to participants who ter! minate or! retire from organizations that are clients of its retirement plan recordkeeping services.

The Asset Management segment provides an array of investment management and advisory services by means of institutional portfolio management, mutual funds, asset securitization activity and other structured products, and strategic investments. These products and services are provided to the public and private marketplace, as well as its United States Individual Life and Group Insurance division, International Insurance division and Individual Annuities and Retirement segments, as well as the Closed Block Business. Its products and services include Public Fixed Income Asset Management, Public Equity Asset Management, Private Fixed Income Asset Management, Commercial Mortgage Origination and Servicing, Real Estate Asset Management, Strategic Investments, and Mutual Funds and Other Retail Services.

The public fixed income organization manages fixed income portfolios for United States and international, institutional and retail clients, as well as for its general account. Its products include traditional broad market fixed income strategies and single-sector strategies. It manages traditional asset-liability strategies, as well as customized asset-liability strategies. It also manages hedge strategies, as well as collateralized loan obligations. It also serves as a non-custodial securities lending agent. The public equity organization provides discretionary and non-discretionary asset management services to a range of clients. It manages an array of publicly-traded equity asset classes using various investment styles. The public equity organization is consisted of two wholly owned registered investment advisors, Jennison Associates LLC and Quantitative Management Associates LLC.

The private fixed income organization provides asset management services by investing in private placement investment grade debt, private placement below investment grade debt, and mezzanine debt securi! ties. The! se investment capabilities are utilized by its general account and institutional clients through direct advisory accounts, insurance company separate accounts, and private fund structures. The commercial mortgage operations provide mortgage origination, asset management and servicing for its general account, institutional clients, and government-sponsored entities, such as Fannie Mae, the Federal Housing Administration, and Freddie Mac. It also originated shorter-term interim loans for spread lending that are collateralized by assets generally under renovation or lease up

The global real estate organization provides asset management services for single-client and commingled private and public real estate portfolios and manufactures and manages a range of real estate investment vehicles investing in private and public real estate, primarily for institutional clients through 22 offices worldwide. Its domestic and international real estate investment vehicles range from fully diversified open-end funds to specialized closed-end funds that invest in specific types of properties or specific geographic regions or follow other specific investment strategies. The Company makes strategic investments to support the creation and management of funds offered to third-party investors in private and public real estate, fixed income and public equities asset classes. Other strategic investments are made with the intention to sell or syndicate to investors, including its general account, or for placement in funds and structured products that it offers and manages. It also makes loans to, and guarantees obligations of, the Company�� managed funds that are secured by equity commitments from investors or assets of the funds.

The Company manufactures, distributes and services investment management products primarily utilizing asset management expertise in the United States retail market. Its products are designed to be sold primarily by financial professionals, including both Prudential Agents an! d third p! arty advisors. It offers a family of retail investment products consisting of 41 mutual funds as of December 31, 2011. These products cover an array of investment styles and objectives designed to retain assets of individuals with varying objectives and to accommodate investors��changing financial needs. In addition, it offers banks and other financial services organizations a wealth management platform, which permits, such banks and organizations to provide their retail clients with services, including asset allocation, investment manager research and access, clearing, trading services, and performance reporting. The U.S. Individual Life and Group Insurance division conducts its business through the Individual Life and Group Insurance segments. Its Individual Life segment manufactures and distributes individual variable life, term life and universal life insurance products primarily to the U.S. mass middle, mass affluent and affluent markets. During 2011, its primary insurance products are variable life, term life and universal life and represent 41%, 49% and 9%, respectively, of its face amount of individual life insurance in force, net of reinsurance.

The Group Insurance segment manufactures and distributes a range of group life, long-term and short-term group disability, long-term care, and group corporate-, bank- and trust-owned life insurance in the United States primarily to institutional clients for use in connection with employee and membership benefits plans. Group Insurance also sells accidental death and dismemberment, preferred provider and indemnity dental and other ancillary coverages, and provides plan administrative services in connection with its insurance coverages. It offers group life insurance products, including employer-pay (basic) and employee-pay (voluntary) coverages. This portfolio of products includes basic and supplemental term life insurance for employees, optional term life insurance for dependents of employees and group universal life insurance. It also of! fers grou! p variable universal life insurance, basic and voluntary accidental death and dismemberment insurance and business travel accident insurance. It also offers a living benefits option that allows insureds that are diagnosed with a terminal illness to receive a portion of their life insurance benefit upon diagnosis, in advance of death, to use as needed.

The Company�� International Insurance segment manufactures and distributes individual life insurance, retirement and related products, including certain health products with fixed benefits. It provides these products to the broad middle income market across Japan through multiple distribution channels, including Life Advisors, who are associated with its Gibraltar Life operations. It also provides similar products to the mass affluent and affluent markets in Japan, Korea and other countries outside the United States through its Life Planner operations. It also offers variable life products in Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Poland and interest-sensitive life products in all countries with the exception of Brazil and Mexico. In most of its operations, it also offers certain health products with fixed benefits, some of which include a high savings element. In addition, similar products are offered to the middle income market across Japan through Life Advisors, the distribution channel of the Company�� Gibraltar Life Insurance Company, Ltd. (Gibraltar Life) operation.

The Company�� international insurance operations offer various traditional whole life, term life, endowment policies, which provide for payment on the earlier of death or maturity and retirement income life insurance products that combine an insurance protection element similar to that of term life policies with a retirement income feature. It also offers variable life products in Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Poland and interest-sensitive life products in all countries. It also offers certain health products with fixed benefits, as well as annuity products, which are primari! ly repres! ented by United States and Australian dollar-denominated fixed annuities in its Gibraltar Life operations.

Closed Block Business

The Closed Block Business includes liabilities for its individual in participating products, together with assets that are used for the payment of benefits and policyholder dividends, expenses and taxes with respect to these products. The Closed Block is 90% reinsured, including 7% by a wholly owned subsidiary of Prudential Financial. During 2011, the Company also reinsured 90% of the short-term risks associated with the Closed Block policies to a wholly owned subsidiary of Prudential Financial.

10 Best Financial Stocks For 2015: First South Bancorp Inc(FSBK)

First South Bancorp, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for First South Bank that provides commercial banking services in North Carolina. Its deposit products include checking accounts, money market accounts, statement savings accounts, individual retirement accounts, and certificates of deposit. The company?s loan products portfolio comprises residential mortgage loans, including single-family residential, multi-family residential, and construction loans; commercial loans and leases for commercial real estate, commercial construction, and commercial business; consumer loans comprising automobile loans, savings account loans, certificate of deposit loans, home equity loans, and miscellaneous other consumer loans; and loans secured by first mortgages on owner-occupied single-family residences. In addition, First South Bancorp provides securities brokerage services. The company was founded in 1959 and is headquartered in Washington, North Carolina.

10 Best Financial Stocks For 2015: Cole Real Estate Investments Inc (COLE)

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Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lauren Pollock]

  American Realty Capital Properties Inc.(ARCP) agreed to buy Cole Real Estate Investments Inc.(COLE) for about $7 billion, joining together two real-estate investment trusts. The expanded company will include a combined portfolio of more than 3,700 properties with over 100 million square feet in 49 states and Puerto Rico. Cole shares surged 16% to $14.91 premarket, while American Realty climbed 5.8% to $14.12.

10 Best Financial Stocks For 2015: ProShares Ultra 7-10 Year Treasury (UST)

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Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Donald van Deventer]

  Long-duration Treasury Exchange-Traded Funds: (TLH), , (IEF), (DTYL), (DLBL), (ILTB), (TENZ), (ITE), (TLO), (EDV), (VGIT), (VGLT), (TMF), (TYD), (LBND), (UBT), (UST), (TMV), (TYO), (DSTJ), (DSXJ), (SBND), (PST), (DTYS), (DLBS), (TBF), (TTT), (TYNS), (TYBS), (TBX).

10 Best Financial Stocks For 2015: National Penn Bancshares Inc.(NPBC)

National Penn Bancshares, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for National Penn Bank that provides commercial banking products and services to residents and businesses primarily in eastern and central Pennsylvania. It offers various deposit products, including demand, NOW, money market, and other checking and savings accounts, as well as certificates of deposit. The company also provides consumer loan products, such as installment loans, home equity loans, residential mortgage loans, multi-family loans, educational loans, and credit cards; commercial loans, including short-term loans for seasonal and working capital purposes, term loans secured by real estate and other assets, loans for construction and expansion needs, and revolving credit facilities; and commercial real estate lending services, including loans to developers of residential and commercial projects. In addition, it offers automated teller services; safe deposit and night depository facilities; Interne t banking services, including online bill paying services; remote deposit capture, disbursement, and collection; and private banking services. Further, the company provides investment management and fiduciary services to individuals, corporations, government entities, and non-profit institutions; investment and consulting solutions to the retirement plan market; securities brokerage services; property and casualty insurance services to individuals and businesses; employee benefits consulting services; and equipment leasing services. At March 31, 2011, it operated through 123 offices, including 122 community banking offices in Pennsylvania; and 1 office in Maryland. The company was founded in 1874 and is headquartered in Boyertown, Pennsylvania.

10 Best Financial Stocks For 2015: BBVA Banco Frances S.A. (BFR)

BBVA Banco Franc茅s S.A., together with its subsidiaries, provides various financial services to corporations, medium and small companies, and individual customers in the Republic of Argentina. The company offers checking and savings accounts, time deposits, and investment accounts. It also provides short and long-term loans to companies, overdraft lines of credit, discounted instruments, loans to financial institutions and the governmental sector, collateral loans, and real estate mortgage, as well as consumer loans comprising credit card loans and other consumer loans. In addition, the company offers home and personal accident insurance; payroll services; asset management services; and insurance advisory services to customers in the areas of coverage of risks related to life, personal accidents and home insurance, and automated teller machine (ATM) robbery insurance. Further, it provides foreign trade services, including letters of credit, collections, bank drafts, fund transfers, and foreign currency transactions; and electronic banking, ATM, self-service terminals, Internet and mobile banking, call center, and trust services. Additionally, the company engages in capital market and securities activities, principally underwriting and placement of corporate bonds, commercial paper, and equity securities; corporate advisory; and securities brokerage. As of December 31, 2011, it operated 268 branches comprising 240 retail branches, 28 branches specialized in small and medium enterprises segment, 13 in-company branches, 7 corporate banking units, and 3 points of sale, as well as 654 ATM�s and 695 quick deposit boxes. The company was formerly known as Banco Frances del Rio de la Plata S.A. and changed its name to BBVA Banco Franc茅s S.A. in October 2000. The company was founded in 1886 and is based in Buenos Aires, the Republic of Argentina. BBVA Banco Franc茅s SA operates as a subsidiary of Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Federico Zaldua]

  Banco Frances (BFR), 75% controlled by Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria, is among the biggest banks in Argentina. The bank has the smallest exposure to Argentina's public debt out of the three banks analyzed in the article and presents the lowest pace of growth. That said, its one of the healthiest banks in the country given that it has the lowest NPL ratio and the highest reserve ratio to absorb potential losses. The bank also trades cheaply at 3.5 times P/E and 85% its book value. Being more expensive (although still very cheap relative to the sector's average) and with the lowest liquidity among this group of three, I would exclude Banco Frances from my Argentinean bank portfolio.

10 Best Financial Stocks For 2015: Banco Santander S.A.(STD)

Banco Santander, S.A. provides a range of banking and financial products. It accepts customer demand, time, and notice deposits, and international and domestic interbank deposits, as well as offers auto financing, personal loans, and credit cards; and automated cash dispensers, savings books updaters, telephone banking services, and electronic and Internet banking services. The company also engages corporate banking, treasury, and investment banking activities. It provides transaction banking services in cash management, trade finance, and basic financing; and corporate finance services for mergers and acquisitions, and asset and capital structuring, as well as involves in the origination activities and risk management, and distribution of structured products and debt in the credit markets; structuring and trading activities in financial markets of interest rate and exchange rate instruments; and activities relating to the equity markets. In addition, it engages in the des ign and management of mutual and pension funds, and life and general insurance products. The company operates primarily in Spain, the United Kingdom, other European countries, Brazil and other Latin American countries, and the United States. As of December 31, 2010, it had 6,063 branch offices in continental Europe; 1,416 branches in the United Kingdom; 5,882 branches in Latin America; and 721 branches in the United States. The company was formerly known as Banco Santander Central Hispano S.A. and changed its name to Banco Santander, S.A. in June 2007. Banco Santander, S.A. was founded in 1857 and is based in Madrid, Spain.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Chandan Dubey]

  This article will describe what a bank does. Then we will move on to reading the balance sheet of a bank. As an example, I take the balance sheet of one of my holdings, Banco Santander (STD).

• [By Holly LaFon]

  Charlie: Yes, I have a question. Do you think the opportunity is more in stocks or in debt, or both? If you look at Spain, the biggest companies in Spain, one is a bank, Bank Santander (STD). The other is Telefonica (TEF), a phone company. What other opportunities do you see there?

10 Best Financial Stocks For 2015: United Dominion Realty Trust Inc. (UDR)

UDR, Inc. is an independent real estate investment trust. The firm invests in the real estate markets of the United States. It owns, operates, acquires, renovates, develops, redevelops, and manages multifamily apartment communities. The firm was previously known as United Dominion Realty Trust, Inc. UDR, Inc. was founded in 1972 and is headquartered in Denver, Colorado with additional offices in Dallas, Texas; Houston, Texas; Newport Beach, California; Orlando, Florida; Phoenix, Arizona; Santa Clara, California; Tampa, Florida; and Washington DC, Virginia.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sean Williams]

  Take UDR (NYSE: UDR  ) or Equity Residential (NYSE: EQR  ) as perfect examples. Both have successfully been adding new communities and making FFO-accretive acquisitions in order to expand their rental portfolios. But, UDR and Equity Residential now boast debt-to-equity ratios in excess of 110%, with UDR carrying $3.5 billion in net debt and Equity Residential lugging around close to $11.6 billion in net debt. Although this debt has been refinanced or taken out in many cases as historically low lending levels, higher rates could stall community expansion for this sector and hurt bottom-line profits because of interest payments.

10 Best Financial Stocks For 2015: FXCM Inc. (FXCM)

FXCM Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides online foreign exchange (FX) trading and related services to retail and institutional customers worldwide. It operates in two segments, Retail Trading and Institutional Trading. The company acts as an agent between retail customers and a collection of global banks and financial institutions by making foreign currency markets for customers trading in foreign exchange spot markets. It offers spot FX trading in approximately 58 currency pairs; enables non-U.S. customers to trade contract for differences that include contracts for metals, fixed income, energy and stock indices; and provides spread betting trading to the United Kingdom customers. The company also offers equity and equity option trading for customers outside of the United States to trade equity and options on the United Kingdom, continental Europe, and the United States markets. FXCM Inc. offers its customers access to over-the-counter FX markets through its propriet ary technology platform. The company was incorporated in 2010 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Udovich]

  Small cap stocks FXCM Inc (NYSE: FXCM), Gain Capital Holdings Inc (NYSE: GCAP) and up and coming�Indo Global Exchanges PteLtd (OTCMKTS: IGEX) all offer online trading platforms to retail or institutional traders and investors. Certainly if you have found yourself trading more lately or if markets become more volatile, trading platforms are going to be the big winners.�With that in mind, here is a close look at these three small cap trading platform stocks:�

10 Best Financial Stocks For 2015: Direxion Daily Small Cap Bear 3X Shares (TZA)

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10 Best Financial Stocks For 2015: Republic Bancorp Inc.(RBCAA)

Republic Bancorp, Inc. operates as the holding company for Republic Bank & Trust Company and Republic Bank, which provides banking, tax refund solutions, and mortgage banking services to individuals and businesses in the United States. The company offers a range of deposit products, including demand deposits, money market accounts, brokered and Internet money market accounts, savings deposits, individual retirement accounts, time deposits, and certificates of deposit. It also provides single family residential real estate loans; commercial loans; residential construction real estate loans; and consumer loans, which consists of home improvement and home equity loans, as well as secured and unsecured personal loans. In addition, the company offers private banking services; treasury management services, such as lockbox processing, remote deposit capture, business online banking, account reconciliation, and automated clearing house processing services; Internet banking service s and products through its Website, republicbank.com; and trust, title insurance, and other financial institution related products and services. Further, it provides tax refund solutions that include the payment of federal and state tax refunds through third party tax preparers. The company facilitates the payment of these tax refunds through refund anticipation loans, electronic refund checks, and electronic refund deposits. Its mortgage banking activities comprise origination and sale of loans in the secondary market, and the servicing of loans for others. As of December 31, 2009, the company had 44 banking centers, including 35 located in Kentucky; 5 located in metropolitan Tampa, Florida; 3 located in southern Indiana; and 1 located in metropolitan Cincinnati, Ohio. Republic Bancorp, Inc. was founded in 1974 and is headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Holly LaFon]

  In the fourth quarter, he bought 32 new stocks. The largest new buys are: Air Lease (AL), Colfax (CFX) and Republic Bancorp Inc. (RBCAA).

  Air Lease (AL)