10 Best High Tech Stocks To Own For 2014

SunEdison Inc. (NYSE: SUNE), the company formerly known as MEMC Electronics, announced Thursday morning that it would spin off its semiconductor unit in an initial public offering (IPO) tentatively scheduled for early next year. The company plans to file documents with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in the current quarter. The IPO is, of course, subject to market conditions.

SunEdison currently operates in two divisions: semiconductor materials and solar energy. By shedding the semiconductor business, the company expects to generate more shareholder value:

This new structure will allow each independent company to pursue its shareholder value generating strategies, focus on key markets and customers, optimize capital structures, and enhance access to growth capital for each company in the years ahead. Given the significant accomplishments of the businesses to date, it is the right time for this transaction which we believe maximizes value to our investors while benefiting our customers and employees.

10 Best High Tech Stocks To Own For 2014: Chesapeake Energy Corporation(CHK)

Chesapeake Energy Corporation engages in the acquisition, development, exploration, and production of natural gas and oil properties in the United States. It also provides marketing and other midstream services. The company?s properties are located in Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming. As of December 31, 2010, it had interests in approximately 45,800 gross productive wells. The company?s proved reserves include 17.096 trillion cubic feet of natural gas equivalent. Chesapeake Energy Corporation was founded in 1989 and is based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Tony Daltorio]

  They constitute some of the best investments in energy now. Notice how they dominate a list of the leading producers in the three most prolific oil basins over the last year:

  Bakken: Continental Resources Inc. (NYSE: CLR), Whiting Petroleum Corp. (NYSE: WLL), and Hess Corp. (NYSE: HES). Permian Basin: Occidental Petroleum Corp. (NYSE: OXY), Pioneer Natural Resources (NYSE: PXD), and Apache Corp. (NYSE: APA). Eagle Ford: EOG Resources Inc. (NYSE: EOG), ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP), Cabot Oil & Gas Corp. (NYSE: COG), and Chesapeake Energy Corp. (NYSE: CHK).

  Two stocks from this list that investors should focus on are EOG Resources and Cabot Oil & Gas.

• [By Jon C. Ogg]

  Chesapeake Energy Corp. (NYSE: CHK) was downgraded to Neutral from Positive now that shares are over $25 by Susquehanna.

  Harmony Gold Mining Co. Ltd. (NYSE: HMY) was downgraded to Sell from an already cautious Neutral rating at UBS.

• [By Matthew DiLallo]

  EOG is of course not alone in its quest. The nation's No. 2 natural gas producer, Chesapeake Energy (NYSE: CHK  ) , has shifted its focus to developing the oil-rich Eagle Ford. This past quarter the company produced an average of 85,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, which is up a breathtaking 135% over last year. While we shouldn't expect the rate of growth to continue, however, overall oil production will continue to grow as both companies expect to continue drilling at least for the next decade. That will go a long way in continuing to secure our nation's energy future.

10 Best High Tech Stocks To Own For 2014: Helios Strategic Income Fd Inc (HSA)

Helios Strategic Income Fund, Inc. is a closed ended fixed income mutual fund launched and managed by Brookfield Investment Management Inc. It operates as a diversified and closed-end management investment company. The fund primarily invests in debt securities and equity securities. Its portfolio of investments includes investments in corporate bonds, home equity loans, commercial loans, franchise loans, equipment leases, manufactured housing, common stock, collateralized debt obligations, certificate-backed obligations, collateralized mortgage obligations, and government agency securities. It was formerly known as RMK Strategic Income Fund, Inc. Helios Strategic Income Fund, Inc. was founded in 2004 and is based in Memphis, Tennessee.

Top 10 High Tech Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Merck & Company Inc.(MRK)

Merck & Co., Inc. provides various health solutions through its prescription medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies, animal health, and consumer care products. The company?s Pharmaceutical segment provides human health pharmaceutical products, such as therapeutic and preventive agents for the treatment of human disorders in the areas of bone, respiratory, immunology, dermatology, cardiovascular, diabetes and obesity, infectious diseases, neurosciences and ophthalmology, oncology, vaccines, and women's health and endocrine. This segment also offers human health vaccines, such as preventive pediatric, adolescent, and adult vaccines. Its Animal Health segment discovers, develops, manufactures, and markets animal health products. This segment offers antibiotics, anti-inflammatory products, vaccines, products for the treatment of fertility disorders, and parasiticides for cattle, swine, horses, poultry, dogs, cats, salmons, and fish. The Consumer Care segment develops, manufac tures, and markets over-the-counter, foot care, and sun care products. Its over-the-counter product line includes non-drowsy antihistamines; treatment for occasional constipation; decongestant-free cold/flu medicine for people with high blood pressure; nasal decongestant spray; and treatment for frequent heartburn. This segment?s foot care products comprise topical antifungal, and foot and sneaker odor/wetness products; and sun care products include sun care lotions, sprays and dry oils; and sunburn relief products. The company serves drug wholesalers and retailers, hospitals, government agencies, physicians, physician distributors, veterinarians, animal producers, and managed health care providers, as well as food chain and mass merchandiser outlets in the United States and Canada. Merck & Co., Inc. was founded in 1891 and is headquartered in Whitehouse Station, New Jersey.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Rising Treasury yields haven’t hit stocks with big dividends as hard as the overall market today. While the Dow Jones Industrials have fallen� 1.2%, Verizon (VZ), which has a dividend yield of 4.2%, has dropped 0.3% to $48.75 today, while Pfizer (PFE), which has dividend yield of 3,2%, has fallen 0.1% to $29.01. Merck (MRK), which has a 3.5% dividend yield, is off� 0.8% at $48.20.

10 Best High Tech Stocks To Own For 2014: Diana Containerships Inc.(DCIX)

Diana Containerships Inc. owns and operates containerships in Greece. The company engages in the seaborne transportation of semi-finished and finished consumer and industrial products. As of February 23, 2012, its fleet consisted of 8 containerships with a carrying capacity of approximately 32,693 twenty-foot equivalent units. Diana Containerships Inc. was founded in 2010 and is based in Athens, Greece.

10 Best High Tech Stocks To Own For 2014: Sierra Bancorp(BSRR)

Sierra Bancorp operates as the bank holding company for Bank of the Sierra that offers retail and commercial banking services in the central and southern sections of the San Joaquin Valley in California. Its deposit products include checking, interest-bearing transaction, savings, money market demand, time deposit, retirement, and sweep accounts, as well as remote deposit capture facilities. The company?s loan portfolio comprises real estate, commercial, and agricultural loans, as well as land acquisition and development loans, construction loans for residential and commercial development, and multifamily credit facilities; small business administration (SBA) loans; equipment leasing, such as direct finance and operating leases; and retail lending services, which include home equity lines and consumer loans. In addition, it offers secondary market services, installment note collection services, cashier?s checks, traveler?s checks, gift cards, bank-by-mail services, nigh t depository services, safe deposit boxes, direct deposit and automated payroll services, electronic funds transfers, online banking services, ATMs, and other customary banking services. As of January 25, 2010, the company operated 24 branch offices, an agricultural credit center, an SBA center, and an online virtual branch. Sierra Bancorp has a strategic alliance with Investment Centers of America, Inc. to provide non-deposit investment options. The company was founded in 1977 and is headquartered in Porterville, California.

10 Best High Tech Stocks To Own For 2014: Singapore Shipping Corp Ltd (S19.SI)

Singapore Shipping Corporation Limited, an investment holding company, engages in the ownership and management of ships in Sweden, Japan, and Singapore. It owns a fleet of four car carriers for charter. The company offers ships management services in various areas comprising technical management, dry docking, procurement, crew procurement and management, and certification and audits, as well as ship inspection and new construction consultancy services. The company is based in Singapore.

10 Best High Tech Stocks To Own For 2014: Copytele Inc (COPY)

CopyTele, Inc. (CopyTele), incorporated on November 5, 1982, is engaged in development, acquisition, licensing, and enforcement of patented technologies. CTI�� new business model is Patent Monetization and Patent Assertion. As of October 31, 2012, the Company owns 53 U.S. patents and 11 U.S. patent applications, which are mainly grouped into four patent portfolios: Key Based Encryption (KB Encryption); ePaper Electrophoretic Display (ePaper Display); Nano Field Emission Display (nFED Display); and Micro Electro Mechanical Systems Display (MEMS Display). The Company is continuing to develop its patent portfolios through the filing and prosecution of patent applications and initiate lawsuits, if necessary, to prevent the unauthorized use of its patented technologies. In April 2013, its wholly owned subsidiary, CTI Patent Acquisition Corporation, acquired the rights to a patent portfolio relating to loyalty awards programs commonly provided by airlines, credit card companies, hotels, retailers, casinos, and others.

Key Based Encryption

The Company�� portfolio covering the generation and management of encryption keys used for securing e-mail, text messages, data, voice and facsimile. This type of encryption technology is commonly used for cloud based storage and email archiving, to comply with HIPAA and other regulations regarding the safeguarding of personal information. KB Encryption can also be used for protecting sensitive cellular, satellite, and local area network communications. On January 21, 2013, the Company owns 19.5% interest in ZQX.

ePaper Electrophoretic Display

The Company�� fundamental portfolio covering the underlying chemistry, manufacturing, assembly, and internal operations of core electrophoretic technology used in the world�� famous eReader devices. Coverage includes both the particles, and the suspension, which are the primary elements used to create reflective grey scale images to simulate reading on paper.

! Nano Field Emission Display

The Company�� Portfolio covering a new type of flat panel display consisting of low voltage color phosphors, specially coated carbon nanotubes, nano materials to generate secondary electrons, and ionized noble gas, resulting in a bright, sharp, high contrast color image. This is an emerging technology that would result in a flat panel display utilizing less power, with better picture and lower manufacturing costs.

Micro Electro Mechanical Systems Display

The Company�� portfolio covering vanadium dioxide coated pixels that electrically modulate light at extremely high speeds to form an image. Additional coverage on use of electrostatic force to move pixel sized membranes that create a color image. These are emerging, low voltage, display technologies with numerous potential commercial applications.

The Company competes with Acacia Research Corporation, Allied Security Trust, Altitude Capital Partners, Coller IP, Intellectual Ventures, Millennium Partners, Open Innovation Network, RPX Corporation and Rembrandt IP Management

10 Best High Tech Stocks To Own For 2014: KeyCorp (KEY)

KeyCorp is a bank holding company for KeyBank National Association (KeyBank). Through KeyBank and certain other subsidiaries, the Company provides a range of retail and commercial banking, commercial leasing, investment management, consumer finance and investment banking products and services to individual, corporate and institutional clients through two business segments: Key Community Bank and Key Corporate Bank. As of December 31, 2011, these services were provided through KeyBank�� 1,058 full-service retail banking branches in 14 states, additional offices, a telephone banking call center services group and a network of 1,579 automated teller machines (ATMs) in 15 states. On January 17, 2012, the Company opened another national bank subsidiary.

In addition to the banking services of accepting deposits and making loans, the Bank and trust company subsidiaries offer personal and corporate trust services, personal financial services, access to mutual funds, cash management services, investment banking and capital markets products, and international banking services. Through its bank, trust company and investment adviser subsidiaries, the Company provides investment management services to clients that include corporate and public retirement plans, foundations and endowments, individuals and trust funds. The Company provides other financial services - both within and outside of its primary banking markets - through various nonbank subsidiaries. These services include community development financing, securities underwriting and brokerage. It is also an equity participant in a joint venture that provides merchant services to businesses.

Lending Activities

As of December 31, 2011, the Company�� Commercial, Financial and Agricultural loans, also referred to as Commercial and Industrial, represented 39% of its total loan portfolio. As of December 31, 2011, commercial real estate loans represented approximately 19% of its total loan portfolio. These loans include bo! th owner and nonowner-occupied properties and constitute approximately 27% of its commercial loan portfolio. Its commercial real estate lending business is conducted through two primary sources: its 14-state banking franchise, and Real Estate Capital and Corporate Banking Services. The Company conducts financing arrangements through its equipment finance line of business. Commercial lease financing receivables represented 17% of commercial loans at December 31, 2011. The home equity portfolio is the largest segment of its consumer loan portfolio.

Investment Activities

The Company�� securities portfolio totaled $18 billion at December 31, 2011. Available-for-sale securities were $16 billion at December 31, 2011. Held-to-maturity securities were $2.1 billion at December 31, 2011. At December 31, 2011, it had $2.1 billion in collateralized mortgage obligations (CMOs) in its held-to-maturity securities portfolio. At December 31, 2011, the Company had $15.9 billion invested in CMOs and other mortgage-backed securities in the available-for-sale portfolio. Federal Agency CMOs constitute most of its held-to-maturity securities along with foreign bonds and preferred equity securities. The investments in equity and mezzanine instruments made by its principal investing unit represented 61% of other investments at December 31, 2011. They include direct investments (investments made in a particular company), as well as indirect investments (investments made through funds that include other investors).

Sources of Funds

Domestic deposits are the Company�� primary source of funding. During the year ended December 31, 2011, these deposits averaged $58.5 billion and represented 80% of the funds it used to support loans and other earning assets. Wholesale funds, consisting of deposits in its foreign office and short-term borrowings, averaged $3.4 billion during 2011. At December 31, 2011, the Company had $4.7 billion in time deposits of $100,000 or more.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jon C. Ogg]

  KeyCorp (NYSE: KEY) was raised to Outperform from Neutral at Credit Suisse.

  Oasis Petroleum Inc. (NYSE: OAS) was raised to Buy from Hold with a $55 price target at Deutsche Bank and was raised to Buy from Neutral with a $53 price target at SunTrust.

10 Best High Tech Stocks To Own For 2014: Aetrium Incorporated(ATRM)

Aetrium Incorporated designs, manufactures, and markets electromechanical equipment for the semiconductor industry to handle and test integrated circuits (ICs). The company provides test handler products, which incorporates thermal conditioning, contacting, and automated handling technologies to provide automated handling of ICs during production of test cycles; change kits to adapt test handlers to various IC package configurations or to upgrade installed equipment; and gravity feed test handlers. It also offers reliability test equipment, which provides structural performance data to aid in the evaluation and improvement of IC designs and manufacturing processes. The company sells its products to semiconductor manufacturers, and their assembly and test subcontractors through direct salespeople, independent sales representatives, and distributors in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, China, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, a nd the Philippines. Aetrium Incorporated was founded in 1982 and is based in North St. Paul, Minnesota.

10 Best High Tech Stocks To Own For 2014: The Advisory Board Company(ABCO)

The Advisory Board Company, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the provision of best practices research and analysis, business intelligence and software tools, and management and advisory services primarily in the United States. The company offers various programs and services, including best practices research services that focus on identifying best-demonstrated management practices, critiquing widely-followed but ineffective practices, and analyzing emerging trends in the health care and education industries; business intelligence and software tools, which allow members to pair their own operational data with the best practices insights; and management and advisory services programs for assisting member institutions to adopt and implement best practices to enhance performance. As of June 30, 2011, it provided 51 distinct membership programs to hospitals, health systems, colleges, universities, pharmaceutical and biotech companies, health care insurers, medical de vice and supply companies, and other educational institutions. The company was founded in 1979 and is headquartered in Washington, District of Columbia.