Top 5 Consumer Companies To Buy For 2014

Hot on the heels of a $15 million Consumer Financial Protection Bureau settlement with mortgage insurers Genworth Financial (NYSE: GNW  ) , MGIC Investment (NYSE: MTG  ) , Radian Group (NYSE: RDN  ) , and United Guaranty, a subsidiary of AIG (NYSE: AIG  ) , over kickbacks�paid to banks for mortgage insurance, comes some bad news in the same vein -- this time, for Bank of America (NYSE: BAC  ) .

Insurance and reinsurance
Even as the above insurers are forking over settlement checks to the CFPB, the bureau is investigating further the whole sordid mess that prompted the settlement in the first place. Now, it is turning its gaze to the recipients of those bribes: mortgage lenders like B of A.

But, that is a future concern. Right now, Bank of America will be forced to deal with homeowners who filed suit against the bank last year, claiming just the type of kickback scheme for which the insurers ponied up. B of A tried to get the claims dismissed, but a judge decided a little over a week ago that the bank will have to face those charges.�

Top 5 Consumer Companies To Buy For 2014: Oxford Instruments(OXIG.L)

Oxford Instruments plc researches, develops, manufactures, and sells high technology tools and systems. It operates in three segments: Nanotechnology Tools, Industrial Products, and Service. The Nanotechnology Tools segment produces analysis tools for precise chemical and structural data using electron microscopes; equipment for experimental research in the areas of very low temperature and very high magnetic fields; and nanotechnology fabrication tools, which are used to manipulate materials at the atomic scale. The Industrial Products segment produces analytical equipment for industrial quality control and environmental monitoring; superconducting wire for MRI scanners markets; and equipment to analyze industrial and food products, primarily oils and fats, as well as magnetic resonance analytical tools for the petrochemical industry, which offers data used to enhance the efficiency of oil extraction. The Service segment provides magnet service, parts, and accessories to service and support the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) industry; and supplies, services, and refurbishes vacuum pumps, helium compressors, and cold heads for the semiconductor, medical, and research sectors. The company offers its products to energy, environment, health, industry, nanotechnology, security, food and agriculture, information technology, research, rock core analysis, semiconductor electronics, and space markets. It operates in the United States, Europe, Asia, the United Kingdom, Japan, China, Germany, and internationally. Oxford Instruments plc was founded in 1959 and is headquartered in Abingdon, the United Kingdom.

Top 5 Consumer Companies To Buy For 2014: Fischer Tech Ltd (F22.SI)

Fischer Tech Ltd, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells precision engineering plastic components for electronic products. It offers plastic components used in products for the automotives, smart phones, computer peripherals, healthcare, and consumer product industries, as well as is involved in laser marking and decorative finishing for engineering components. The company also designs and manufactures precision plastic injection moulds used in the manufacture of plastic injection components; and engages in the high precision injection molding. In addition, it manufactures in-mould labeling (IML) plastic key pads and IML plastic components. The company sells its products in north Asia and southeast Asia. Fischer Tech Ltd was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in Singapore.

Top Construction Material Stocks To Watch Right Now: Zhongpin Inc.(HOGS)

Zhongpin Inc. engages in the processing and distribution of meat and food products primarily in the People?s Republic of China. The company provides pork and pork products, such as chilled pork, frozen pork, hog by-products and variety meats, and prepared meats; and vegetable and fruit products, including asparagus, sweet corn, broccoli, mushrooms, lima beans, strawberries, and capsicums. It sells its products fast food companies, processing factories, school cafeterias, factory canteens, hotels, army bases, and government departments, as well as directly to retail outlets, including supermarkets. The company also exports its products to Europe, Hong Kong, and other countries in Asia. As of December 31, 2010, it operated 157 showcase stores, 1,072 branded stores, and 2,097 supermarket counter locations. The company is headquartered in Changge City, the People?s Republic of China.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Portfolio Grader]

  Zhongpin (NASDAQ:HOGS) improves from a C to a B rating this week. Zhongpin engages in the processing and distribution of meat and food products primarily in the People’s Republic of China.

Top 5 Consumer Companies To Buy For 2014: Sony Corp Ord(SNE)

Sony Corporation designs, develops, manufactures, and sells electronic equipment, instruments, and devices for consumer, professional, and industrial markets worldwide. The company offers consumer products and devices, including televisions, video cameras, compact digital cameras and interchangeable single-lens cameras, Blu-ray Disc players/recorders, DVD-video players/recorders, home theaters and audio systems, and portable audio and car audio products. It also provides charged coupled devices, complementary metal-oxide semiconductor image sensors, system LSIs, small- and medium-sized LCD panels, and other semiconductors; and components, such as batteries, optical disk drives, chemical products, audio/video/data recording media, storage media, and optical pickups. In addition, the company develops, produces, markets, and distributes games, such as PlayStation3, PlayStation Portable, and PlayStation 2 hardware and related software; and PCs and flash memory digital audio pl ayers, as well as manufactures broadcast- and professional-use products, Blu-ray discs, DVDs, and CD discs. Further, it produces and distributes motion pictures and television programs, and home entertainment; creates and distributes digital content; operates television networks and studio facilities; and develops entertainment products, services, and technologies. Additionally, the company engages in the music publishing business, as well as provision of various financial services, including insurance, savings products, loans, and credit financing services; and a network service business and an advertising agency business. It also involves in research, development, design, production, marketing, sales, distribution, and servicing mobile phones, accessories, services, and applications. The company was formerly known as Tokyo Tsushin Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha and changed its name to Sony Corporation in 1958. Sony Corporation was founded in 1946 and is based in Tokyo, Japan.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Carlson]

  Sony Corporation (SNE) has been downgraded by TheStreet Ratings from hold to sell. The company's weaknesses can be seen in multiple areas, such as its disappointing return on equity, poor profit margins, weak operating cash flow, generally disappointing historical performance in the stock itself and feeble growth in its earnings per share.

  Sony Corporation designs, develops, manufactures, and sells electronic equipment, instruments, and devices for consumer, professional, and industrial markets worldwide. The company has a P/E ratio of 5.9, below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Sony has a market cap of $20.8 billion and is part of the consumer goods sector and consumer durables industry. Shares are down 44.4% year to date as of the close of trading on Wednesday.

Top 5 Consumer Companies To Buy For 2014: Winnebago Industries Inc.(WGO)

Winnebago Industries, Inc. manufactures and sells recreation vehicles primarily for leisure travel and outdoor recreation activities. The company offers motor homes, which are self-propelled mobile dwellings that provide living accommodations for approximately seven persons and include kitchen, dining, sleeping, and bath areas, as well as a lounge; and optional equipment accessories, such as generators, home theater systems, king-size beds, upholstery, and interior equipment. It manufactures motor homes constructed directly on medium- and heavy-duty truck chassis, which include engine and drivetrain components; and on van-type chassis onto which the motor home manufacturer constructs a living area with access to the driver's compartment under the Winnebago and Itasca brand names, as well as panel-type vans with sleeping, kitchen, and/or toilet facilities under the Era brand name. The company also produces original equipment manufacturing parts, including extruded aluminum and other component products for other manufacturers and commercial vehicles. Winnebago Industries markets its motor homes through independent dealers primarily in the United States and Canada. The company was founded in 1958 and is headquartered in Forest City, Iowa.