Top Stock Investments For 2014

There's a rumor! There's a rumor! Apparently, the latest rumor is that Apple's (NASDAQ: AAPL  ) acquisition prowl is leading it to consider spending a whopping $3.2 billion on Beats Audio. For those of you unfamiliar with Beats Audio, it's a 300-person outfit that develops audio equipment (think headphones and speakers), as well as software.

A "pill" speaker from Beats Audio. Source: Beats Audio.�

Beats was most recently worth about $1 billion
Right off the bat, it's important to note that handset vendor HTC picked up a 50.1% majority stake in Beats for $309 million back in August 2011. About a year later, HTC sold back half of its stake for $150 million (which would imply that the company took about a $4 million loss on that purchase. Then, a little more than a year later, HTC agreed to sell back the remaining portion of the company for $265 million ��this time, actually turning a profit on that initial investment.

Top 5 Airline Companies To Buy For 2015: CirTran Corp (CIRC)

CirTran Corporation, incorporated on March 23, 1987, manufactures, markets, and distributes internationally an energy drink under a license with Playboy Enterprises, Inc. (Playboy) through its subsidiary, CirTran Beverage Corporation. It operates in Beverage Distribution and Contract Manufacturing segments. In the United States, it provides a mix of high- and medium-volume turnkey manufacturing services and products using various high-tech applications for electronics original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in the communications, networking, peripherals, gaming, law enforcement, consumer products, telecommunications, automotive, medical, and semiconductor industries. The Company�� services include pre-manufacturing, manufacturing, and post-manufacturing services.

Beverage Distribution

CirTran Beverage Corporation (CirTran Beverage) manufactures, markets, and distributes Playboy-licensed energy drinks, flavored water beverages, and related merchandise through various distribution channels. As of December 31, 2012, the Company had 65 countries throughout Europe, Africa, Australia, the Pacific, and the Middle East.

Contract Marketing

CirTran Products Corp. pursues contract-manufacturing relationships in the domestic consumer products markets, including products in areas, such as home/garden, kitchen, health/beauty, toys, licensed merchandise, and apparel for film, television, sports, and other entertainment properties. The Company concentrates its product development efforts into three areas: home and kitchen appliances, beauty products, and licensed merchandise. Through CirTran - Asia, Inc., the Company designs, manufactures, and supplies products in the international electronics, consumer products, and general merchandise industries for various marketers, distributors, and retailers selling overseas. This subsidiary provides manufacturing services to the direct-response and retail consumer markets.

The Company competes with Hansen�! � Energy, Diet Red, Monster Energy, Lost Energy, Joker Mad Energy, Ace Energy, Unbound Energy, Rumba energy juice, Red Bull, Rockstar, Full Throttle, No Fear, Amp, Adrenaline Rush, 180, Extreme Energy Shot, Red Devil, Rip It, NOS, Boo Koo, and Vitaminenergy.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By CRWE]

  Last Friday, CIRC remained (0.00%) +0.000 at $.0005 at the close (ref. google finance August 30, 2013 ��Close).

  CirTran Corporation has recently filed its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2013, showing continued growth in sales and a dramatic improvement in profits. CirTran�� sales were again driven by its Playboy Energy Drink line, which has grown to represent nearly 98% of revenues.

  For the quarter, CirTran previously reported sales of $1,096,691, a 247% increase over the $315,755 reported for the same period a year ago. For the six months ended June 30, 2013, CirTran reported sales of 1,964,843, a 110% improvement over the $934,455 reported for the first half of 2012.

Top Stock Investments For 2014: Reservoir Minerals Inc (RMC)

Reservoir Minerals Inc. (Minerals) is an international mineral exploration and development company with a portfolio of precious and base metal exploration properties in Serbia. On October 14, 2011 the Company completed the terms of the arrangement, which was regarding the re-organization of Minerals�� business components into two separately listed public corporations by the spin-out of certain Serbian mineral exploration permits (the Mining Assets), which received shareholder approval, on October 11, 2011. The Spin-out Transaction was effected by the transfer to Minerals of three indirectly held subsidiaries of Reservoir that hold such permits. Reservoir Exploration (BVI) Ltd. owns Deli Jovan Exploration and Mining D.o.o., which owns the Deli Jovan exploration permit, Reservoir Consulting (BVI) Inc. owns Balkan Exploration and Mining D.o.o., which owns the Lece, Plavkovo, Stara Planina, Parlozi and Bobija exploration permits. Its subsidiary also includes Rakita (BVI) Ltd. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Holly LaFon]

  Whitney George is Director of Investments, Managing Director, and a Portfolio Manager of Royce & Associates, LLC, investment advisor to The Royce Funds. He serves as portfolio manager for Royce Premier Fund (RPR), Royce Low-Priced Stock Fund (RLP), Royce Global Value Fund (RGV), Royce SMid-Cap Value Fund (RSV), and Royce Focus Trust (FUND). He also serves as assistant portfolio manager for Royce Micro-Cap Fund (RMC), Royce Value Fund (RVV), Royce Value Plus Fund (RVP), Royce Focus Value Fund (RFV), and Royce Capital Fund ��Micro-Cap Portfolio (RCM). Mr. George's thoughts in this interview concerning the stock market are solely his own and, of course, there can be no assurance with regard to future market movements.

Top Stock Investments For 2014: Tortoise Pipeline & Energy Fund Inc (TTP)

Tortoise Pipeline & Energy Fund, Inc. (the Fund) is a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company. The Fund�� investment objective is to provide a high level of total return. It focuses to provide stockholders a vehicle to invest in a portfolio consisting of equity securities of pipeline and other energy infrastructure companies. It focuses on pipeline companies, which are engaged in the business of transporting natural gas, natural gas liquids (NGLs), crude oil and refined petroleum products, and on other energy infrastructure companies. It focus invest at least 80% of its total assets in equity securities of pipeline and other energy infrastructure companies. It may invest up to 30% of its total assets in unregistered or otherwise restricted securities, primarily through direct investments in securities of listed companies. Tortoise Capital Advisors, L.L.C. serves as the Fund�� investment adviser. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Robert Rapier]

  As I write this, Tortoise Pipeline and Energy (NYSE: TTP) trades at a discount of 15.1 percent to its underlying assets, while at the other end of the spectrum Cushing MLP Total Return Fund (NYSE: SRV) trades at a 17.4 percent premium. The average MLP closed-end fund listed trades at a 4.9 percent discount, which is perhaps reasonable given the loss of certain tax advantages and the fact that management fees will eat into returns.

Top Stock Investments For 2014: Qihoo 360 Technology Co. Ltd.(QIHU)

Qihoo 360 Technology Co. Ltd. provides Internet and mobile security products in the People's Republic of China. Its principal products include 360 Safe Guard, an Internet security product for Internet security and system optimization; 360 Anti-Virus, an anti-virus application to protect users? computers against trojan horses, viruses, worms, adware, and other forms of malware; and 360 Mobile Safe, a security program for the Google Android, Apple iOS, and Nokia Symbian smartphone operating systems. The company?s platform products comprise 360 Safe Browser, a Web browser; 360 Personal Start-up Page, a default homepage of 360 Safe Browser and a key access point to popular and preferred information and applications; 360 Application Store, a key access point to securely obtain and manage software and applications; and 360 Safebox, a solution that protects users against thefts of personal account information. It also provides online advertising services, including online marketi ng services and search referral services; and Internet value-added services comprising the operation of Web games developed by third-parties, remote technical support, and cloud-based services. The company was formerly known as Qihoo Technology Company Limited and changed its name to Qihoo 360 Technology Co. Ltd. in December 2010. Qihoo 360 Technology Co. was founded in 2005 and is based in Beijing, the People?s Republic of China.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lee Jackson]

  Qihoo 360 Technology Co. Ltd. (NYSE: QIHU) provides Internet and mobile security products in the People’s Republic of China. Its core Internet security products include 360 Safeguard, a solution for Internet security and system optimization; 360 Antivirus, an antivirus application that uses multiple scan engines to protect users’ computers against various kinds of malware; as well as 360 Mobile Safe, a security program for the Google Android, Apple iOS and Nokia Symbian smartphone operating systems. The Jefferies price target rises from $105 to $125, and the consensus target is $94.60. Those consensus numbers may go higher as the stock closed Friday at $99.25.

• [By Paul Ausick]

  Qihoo 360 Technology Co. Ltd. (NYSE: QIHU) on Monday morning reported adjusted earnings per American Depositary Share (ADS) of $0.40 on revenues of $151. 67 million for its second fiscal quarter ended on June 30. The numbers are well above consensus estimates.

• [By Rick Munarriz]

  Qihoo 360 (NYSE: QIHU  ) changed the search landscape when it moved to offer an in-house solution last summer. A T.H. Capital report shows Qihoo 360 commanding nearly 15% of the market. Baidu is still the undisputed top dog with 70% of the market, but it feels vulnerable for the first time since Google (NASDAQ: GOOG  ) decided to stage a partial retreat out of the world's most populous nation a couple of years ago.

Top Stock Investments For 2014: NYSE Euronext Inc.(NYX)

NYSE Euronext, through its subsidiaries, operates securities exchanges. It operates various stock exchanges, including the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), NYSE Arca, Inc., and NYSE Amex LLC in the United States; and five European-based exchanges that comprise Euronext N.V. ? the Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels, and Lisbon stock exchanges, as well as the NYSE Liffe derivatives markets in London, Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels, and Lisbon. The company?s Derivatives segment provides access to trade execution in derivatives products, options, and futures; offers clearing services for derivative products; and sells and distributes market data and related information. NYSE Euronext?s Cash Trading and Listings segment engages in offering access to trade execution in cash trading and settlement of transactions in European markets; obtaining new listings and servicing existing listings; selling and distributing market data and related information; and providing regulatory services. Its Info rmation Services and Technology Solutions segment operates sell side and buy side connectivity networks for its markets and for other market centers, and market participants in the United States, Europe, and Asia; provides trading and information technology software and solutions; sells and distributes market data and related information to data subscribers for proprietary data products; and offers asset management services, and consultancy services to exchanges and liquidity centers. The company is headquartered in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Alex Planes]

  The act had a notable impact on market results, particularly for stocks traded on smaller exchanges. A study done by Carol J. Simon of the University of California's economics department found that IPOs on the smaller exchanges were frequently and significantly overpriced before the act's implementation of mandatory disclosure rules. After implementation, this persistent overpricing was virtually eliminated. And even if investors stuck to the liquid and well-known issues of the New York Stock Exchange -- now part of NYSE Euronext (NYSE: NYX  ) -- they would often encounter abnormal returns based on incorrect forecasting because of inadequate information before 1933. These abnormal results were significantly reduced across the entire securities industry following the act's implementation.

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  As the company behind the prestigious New York Stock Exchange, NYSE Euronext (NYSE: NYX  ) makes money when people trade any stock. Yet for its own part, NYSE Euronext stock has soared in anticipation of its pending $8.2 billion acquisition by rival IntercontinentalExchange (NYSE: ICE  ) . With European regulators having approved the deal earlier this week, the transaction appears to be on track to close during the second half of the year, although the SEC and other regulators have yet to weigh in. Let's take a closer look at the exchange industry and what shareholders in NYSE Euronext can expect going forward.

Top Stock Investments For 2014: Bellway PLC (BWY)

Bellway p.l.c. is a United Kingdom-based holding company, owning subsidiary undertakings, which is engaged principally in housebuilding in the United Kingdom. The Company�� subsidiaries include Bellway Homes Limited, Bellway Properties Limited, Bellway (Services) Limited, Litrose Investments Limited, Bellway Financial Services Limited, Bellway Housing Trust Limited and The Victoria Dock Company Limited. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sofia Horta e Costa]

  Bellway Plc (BWY) added 1.4 percent after the homebuilder said reservations in the past four months rose 31 percent as buyers had greater access to mortgages. Elan (ELN) Corp. jumped to a 10-month high in Dublin after Royalty Pharma increased its offer for the Irish drugmaker to as much as $6.7 billion. BT Group increased 3.7 percent as Barclays Plc recommended investors buy shares of the U.K.�� largest fixed-line company.

• [By Sofia Horta e Costa]

  Persimmon dropped 4.3 percent to 1,061 pence, while Bellway Plc (BWY) declined 3.1 percent to 1,262 pence. Bovis Homes Group Plc slipped 2.7 percent to 712 pence. Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne and the Bank of England will reassess the Help-to-Buy program, which allows the purchase of homes with a deposit as small as 5 percent, every September from 2014, the Treasury said.