Top Retail Companies To Watch For 2014

Second-screen technology was one of the big topics at the recent Cable Show in Washington, D.C. Motley Fool analyst Rex Moore was at the event and chatted with Akamai's (NASDAQ: AKAM  ) Kris Alexander about how so-called "couch commerce" is opening up new revenue streams for retailers, advertisers, and programmers.

In this segment, Kris talks about the explosion of connected devices such as Apple's (NASDAQ: AAPL  ) iPads and Google's (NASDAQ: GOOG  ) Android tablets, and what it means for second-screen commerce.

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Top 10 Oil Service Companies To Own In Right Now: Matahari Department Store Tbk PT (LPPF)

PT Matahari Department Store Tbk operates as a multi-format retailer. The Company, based in Indonesia, operates as the Department Store division of Matahari Putra Prima. The Matahari Group is Indonesia's multi-format retailer with core retail businesses in fashion and household groceries businesses targeted for middle - upper middle consumers throughout the country. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Emma O��rien]

  PT Matahari Department Store (LPPF), Indonesia�� largest retailer, climbed 7.7 percent to 14,000 rupiah after the stock was added to the MSCI Emerging Markets Index.

Top Retail Companies To Watch For 2014: Express Scripts Holding Co (ESRX)

Express Scripts Holding Company, incorporated in 2011, provides healthcare management and administration services on behalf of its clients, which include health maintenance organizations (HMOs), health insurers, third-party administrators, employers, union-sponsored benefit plans, workers compensation plans, and government health programs. The Company operates in two segments: Pharmacy Benefit Management (PBM) and Emerging Markets (EM). PBM services include network claims processing, home delivery services, patient care and direct specialty and fertility home delivery to patients, benefit plan design consultation, drug utilization review, formulary management, drug data analysis services, distribution of injectable drugs to patients homes and physicians offices, bio-pharma services, and fulfillment of prescriptions to low-income patients through manufacturer-sponsored patient assistance programs. EM segment provides distribution of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies to providers and clinics, healthcare account administration and implementation of consumer-directed healthcare solutions. In September 2013, it announced the acquisition of the SmartD Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (PDP).

On July 20, 2011, Express Scripts, Inc. (ESI) entered into a merger agreement (the Merger Agreement) with Medco Health Solutions, Inc. (Medco). During the year ended December 31, 2011, it reorganized its FreedomFP line of business from its EM segment into its PBM segment. On April 2, 2012, the Company completed the Merger Agreement, and after which ESI and Medco became the wholly owned subsidiaries of the Company. The Company�� customers include HMOs, health insurers, third-party administrators, employers, union-sponsored benefit plans, government health programs, office-based oncologists, renal dialysis clinics, ambulatory surgery centers, primary care physicians, retina specialists and others.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Laura Brodbeck]

  Tuesday

  Earnings Expected: Express Scripts Holding Company (NASDAQ: ESRX), United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE: UPS), Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE), Aetna Inc. (NYSE: AET), Merck & Company, Inc. (NYSE: MRK), Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ: AMGN) Economic Releases Expected: Spanish retail sales, British consumer credit, the U.S. Redbook, Japanese industrial production

  Wednesday

• [By Mani]

  Express Scripts Holding Company (NASDAQ:ESRX) could deliver relative outperformance in 2014 as the upcoming generic wave should offer a two-fold opportunity for pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs).

Top Retail Companies To Watch For 2014: CDC Point SpA (CDC)

CDC Point SpA is an Italy-based company engaged in the information technology (IT) sector. The Company structures its business into two main sectors: Production and Distribution of IT, and Business Value-Added. Through the Production and Distribution of IT sector, it is active in the manufacture of consumer desktop personal computers, as well as in the distribution and retail of computer hardware; peripheral equipment and accessories, such as keyboards, monitors, webcams, card readers, audio systems, voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) accessories and routers, and software products. Through the Business Value-Added sector, it provides value added services and solutions, including voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) services; video surveillance and home automation technologies; software management and e-commerce solutions, and Web services, such as domain registering, hosting, server, email, positioning on search engines and Web marketing services. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By abirk]

  The people of America are becoming more and more health conscious as obesity is growing at a great pace. As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than one third of US adults (35.7%) is obese. This point out the finger towards the fast-food industry as they are using trans fats (responsible for clogging arteries) in their products to make it more mouth watering.

Top Retail Companies To Watch For 2014: Lowe's Companies Inc.(LOW)

Lowe's Companies, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a home improvement retailer in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The company offers a range of products for maintenance, repair, remodeling, home decorating, and property maintenance. It provides home improvement products in the categories of appliances, lumber, paint, millwork, building materials, lawn and landscape products, flooring, rough plumbing, seasonal living, tools, hardware, fashion plumbing, lighting, nursery, outdoor power equipment, cabinets and countertops, home organization, rough electrical, and home fashion, as well as boards, panel products, irrigation pipes, vinyl sidings, and ladders. The company also offers installation services through independent contractors in various product categories. Lowe's Companies serves homeowners and renters primarily consisting of do-it-yourself customers and do-it-for-me customers; and commercial business customers, who work in the construction, rep air/remodel, commercial and residential property management, or business maintenance professions. As of August 15, 2011, it operated approximately 1,725 home improvement stores in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The company also offers its products through electronic product catalogs and Lowes.com. Lowe's Companies, Inc. was founded in 1952 and is based in Mooresville, North Carolina.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Charles Sizemore]

  Given the amount of damage done to homes and gardens by the winter weather, I suggested that Home Depot (HD) and Lowe�� (LOW) would be good stock picks. While neither are particularly cheap at current prices, LOW and HD stock are good long-term plays on the recovery of the U.S. housing market and the family formation of Generation Y.

• [By WALLSTCHEATSHEET]

  Lowe�� enables consumers and companies to engage in the massively popular home improvement space through its products and services. The stock has been on a strong surge higher that has taken it to all-time high prices. Over the last four quarters, earnings and revenue figures have been up and down which have produced mixed feelings among investors in the company. Relative to its peers and sector, Lowe’s has been an average performer year-to-date. As the home improvement trend continues, look for Lowe’s to OUTPERFORM.

• [By Bob Ciura]

  The United States is finally starting to thaw from the brutal winter, and this couldn't come soon enough for retailers. In addition, the housing market continues to strengthen, evidenced by rising home prices across the country. These tailwinds are combining to provide a great deal of support to Home Depot (NYSE: HD  ) , the biggest home-improvement chain in the U.S, as well as close rival Lowe's (NYSE: LOW  ) .

• [By Matt Thalman]

  Shares of Home Depot (NYSE: HD  ) also declined by 1.89% today. Since the home-improvement store no longer has locations in China, we can't blame that country's poor GDP growth on the stock's decline. But what we can blame is the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market index, which fell to 42, while analysts expected a reading of 45 after March's 44. Anything over 50 indicates positive sentiment from homebuilders. Home Depot's largest competitor Lowe's (NYSE: LOW  ) saw its shares fall 2.6% on the news, while shares of the publicly traded homesbuilders fell even further than that. �

Top Retail Companies To Watch For 2014: Nordstrom Inc.(JWN)

Nordstrom, Inc., a fashion specialty retailer, offers apparel, shoes, cosmetics, and accessories for women, men, and children in the United States. It offers a selection of brand name and private label merchandise. The company sells its products through various channels, including Nordstrom full-line stores, off-price Nordstrom Rack stores, Jeffrey? boutiques, treasure & bond, and Last Chance clearance stores; and its online store, nordstrom.com, as well as through catalog. Nordstrom also provides a private label card, two Nordstrom VISA credit cards, and a debit card for Nordstrom purchases. The company?s credit and debit cards feature a shopping-based loyalty program. As of September 30, 2011, it operated 222 stores, including 117 full-line stores, 101 Nordstrom Racks, 2 Jeffrey boutiques, 1 treasure & bond store, and 1 clearance store in 30 states. The company was founded in 1901 and is based in Seattle, Washington.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Caroline Bennett]

  Brad Smith, president and CEO of Intuit, is joining the board of directors for fashion specialty retailer Nordstrom (NYSE: JWN  ) .

  Smith brings the total number of Nordstrom directors up to 12, and has served in previous leadership positions for a number of technology-based companies. He will serve for one year, and will be subject to an annual election following his first term.

• [By Steve Symington]

  What's more, competitors like Macy's (NYSE: M  ) and Nordstrom (NYSE: JWN  ) �seemed to be firing on all cylinders last quarter�by�increasing�same-store sales, boosting dividends, and instituting huge share repurchase programs.