Top Consumer Service Stocks To Own For 2014

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI  ) jumped again today, riding a wave that carried the S&P 500 up 1.2% and lifted the Nasdaq 1.8%. The blue chips finished the day with a gain of 129 points, or 0.9%, topping 14,800 at the closing bell.

The Dow got some help from the Federal Reserve, which released the minutes from its Open Market Committee earlier than expected. After learning that 154 people had gotten the release, including employees at some major banks, the central bank was forced to release the notes at 9 a.m. instead of the usual 2 p.m. There was little new information from the Fed, but the news seemed to confirm investors' belief that the central bankers would keep present market stimulus measures in practice until the economy improves and the unemployment rate comes down. Some at the central bank said they wanted to reduce the Fed's bond buying, but overall the market interpreted the report favorably. Hopes for a better-than-expected earnings season also appeared to drive stocks higher.

Top Consumer Service Stocks To Own For 2014: Courier Corporation(CRRC)

Courier Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in printing, publishing, and selling books. It operates in two segments, Book Manufacturing and Specialty Book Publishing. The Book Manufacturing segment produces hard and softcover books, as well as offers related services involved in managing the process of creating and distributing these products for publishers, religious organizations, and other information providers. The Specialty Book Publishing segment publishes books in approximately 30 specialty categories, including fine and commercial arts, children?s books, crafts, music scores, graphic design, mathematics, physics and other areas of science, puzzles, games, social science, stationery items, and classics of literature for juvenile and adult markets in the United States. This segment also publishes approximately 900 test preparation and study guide titles for teachers and other consumers; and 130 titles comprising books on home decoration, design, and improvement, as well as gardening and landscaping for the home and garden retail book market. This segment sells its products through its specialty catalogs and through the Internet at doverpublications.com, REA.com, and creativehomeowner.com; and maintains DoverDirect.com, which is a business-to-business site for its retailers and distributors. This segment also sells its products through bookstore chains, independent booksellers, mass merchandisers, children?s stores, craft stores, gift shops, college bookstores, teachers? supply stores, and home and garden centers, as well as through a range of distributors in the United States and internationally. The company was founded in 1824 and is headquartered in North Chelmsford, Massachusetts.

Top Consumer Service Stocks To Own For 2014: MEMC Electronic Materials Inc.(WFR)

MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc. engages in the development, manufacture, and sale of silicon wafers for the semiconductor industry worldwide. The company operates in two segments, Semiconductor Materials and Solar Energy. The Semiconductor Materials segment offers prime polished wafers, such as OPTIA and annealed products; epitaxial wafers, including AEGIS that consists of a thin silicon layer grown on the polished surface of the wafer; test/monitor wafers for testing semiconductor fabrication lines and processes; and silicon-on-insulator wafers used in the chip making process. Its wafers are used as the starting material for the manufacture of various types of semiconductor devices, including microprocessor, memory, logic, and power devices. The Solar Energy segment provides solar energy services that integrate the design, installation, financing, monitoring, operation, and maintenance portions of the downstream solar market. This segment also manufactures polysilicon, si licon wafers, and solar modules. As of December 31, 2011, it interconnected approximately 580 solar power systems representing 600.4 megawatts of solar energy. In addition, the company develops and sells photovoltaic energy solutions. Its customers comprise semiconductor device manufacturers, including the memory, microprocessor, and ASIC manufacturers; and foundries, as well as national retail chains and real estate property management firms; federal, state, and municipal governments; and utilities. The company markets its solar energy generation, monitoring, and maintenance services through a direct sales force, as well as through local or regional solar channel partners. MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc. was founded in 1984 and is headquartered in St. Peters, Missouri.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Hawkinvest]

  MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc. (WFR) has a joint-venture agreement with China-based JA Solar (JASO) and it manufactures silicon wafers for use in computers, solar, and other goods in the United States. This company has seen a sharp decline in profits due to the weakness in semiconductors and the solar industry. It recently announced a significant impairment and restructuring charge which resulted in a loss of $6.44 per share.

  Without these charges, the loss would have been a more reasonable figure at about 36 cents per share for the fourth quarter. This stock was once a high-flyer, trading for over $90 per share in December 2007, when the market viewed the business more favorably. The vast difference in the stock price, highlights the cyclical nature of both the semiconductor and solar industry. With a restructuring plan in place and about $586 million in cash on the balance sheet, this stock has substantial rebound potential for long-term investors.

Top Logistics Companies To Buy For 2014: Holly Energy Partners L.P. (HEP)

Holly Energy Partners, L.P. operates a system of petroleum product and crude oil pipelines, storage tanks, distribution terminals, and loading rack facilities. As of December 31, 2009, its pipeline assets included approximately 820 miles of refined product pipelines that transport gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel in the metropolitan and rural areas of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Utah and northern Mexico; approximately 510 miles of refined product pipelines that transport refined products in Texas and Oklahoma; 3 parallel 65 mile pipelines that transport intermediate feedstocks and crude oil to petroleum refinery facilities; approximately 960 miles of crude oil trunk, gathering, and connection pipelines located in west Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma that deliver crude oil to refineries; approximately 10 miles of crude oil and refined product pipelines in Salt Lake City, Utah; and gasoline and diesel connecting pipelines located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The company?s ref ined product terminals and refinery tankage assets comprised four refined product terminals with an aggregate capacity of approximately 1,000,000 barrels in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona; three refined product terminals with an aggregate capacity of approximately 500,000 barrels in Idaho and Washington; one refined product terminal with a capacity of 120,000 barrels in Idaho; two refined product terminals with aggregate capacity of 480,000 barrels in Texas; a refined product truck loading rack facility; a jet fuel terminal; on-site crude oil tankage having an aggregate storage capacity of approximately 600,000 barrels; and on-site refined product tankage having an aggregate storage capacity of approximately 1,400,000 barrels. HEP Logistics Holdings, L.P. serves as general partner of the company. Holly Energy Partners was founded in 2004 and is based in Dallas, Texas.

Top Consumer Service Stocks To Own For 2014: Honeywell Intl Inc(HON.L)

Honeywell International Inc. operates as a diversified technology and manufacturing company worldwide. Its Aerospace segment provides turbine propulsion engines, auxiliary power units, environmental control and electric power systems, engine systems and accessories, avionic systems, aircraft lighting, inertial sensors, control products, space products and subsystems, and landing products for aircraft manufacturers, airlines, business and general aviation, military, space, and airport operations, as well as offers management and technical, logistics, aircraft wheels and brakes and repair, and overhaul services. The company?s Automation and Control Solutions segment provides environmental and combustion controls, and sensing controls; security and life safety products and services; scanning and mobility products; process automation products and solutions; and building solutions and services for homes, buildings, and industrial facilities. Its Performance Materials and Techn ologies segment provides resins and chemicals; hydrofluoric acid; fluorocarbons; nuclear services; research and fine chemicals; performance chemicals; chemical processing sealants; fibers and composites; specialty films and additives; imaging and electronic chemicals; semiconductor materials and services; catalysts, adsorbents, and specialties; and renewable fuels and chemicals. It offers products for applications in the refining, petrochemical, automotive, healthcare, agricultural, packaging, refrigeration, appliance, housing, semiconductor, wax, and adhesives segments. This segment also provides process technology and equipment for the petroleum refining, and petrochemical and gas processing industries. The company?s Transportation Systems segment provides charge-air systems; thermal systems; and brake hard parts and other friction materials for passenger cars and commercial vehicles. Honeywell International Inc. was founded in 1920 and is headquartered in Morris Township , New Jersey.

Top Consumer Service Stocks To Own For 2014: Estrella Gold Corporation (EST.V)

Estrella Gold Corporation engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral resources properties in Latin America. The company primarily explores for gold, silver, copper, and molybdenum deposits. It holds interest in approximately 32 exploration properties in Peru. The company principally owns a 100% interest in the Colpayoc gold project, which covers an area of approximately 5,115 hectares in the southwest of the Yanacocha mine complex, Peru. It has a strategic exploration alliance with Cliffs Natural Resources Exploration Inc. The company was formerly known as Canadian Shield Resources Ltd. and changed its name to Estrella Gold Corporation in August 2010. Estrella Gold Corporation was incorporated in 1996 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.