Hot Performing Companies To Invest In 2014

Wall Street notched another win today as optimism for a strong earnings season continued to grow. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI  ) moved up 76 points, or 0.5%, to close at 15,300, its highest closing mark in three weeks. Alcoa (NYSE: AA  ) got things started off on the right foot, beating adjusted earnings and revenue expectations in its report last night, though shares finished down 0.1% today after gaining 1.4% in the run-up yesterday. A large restructuring charge caused the manufacturer to report a $119 million loss. As the first Dow component to report and the worst-performing this year, Alcoa's beat seems to have reassured the market. Analysts have also lowered the bar significantly for earnings this quarter, as the consensus for S&P 500 companies' earnings growth is at just 2.9%, down from 6.1% in April. In the first quarter, those stocks grew profits by 5.4%.

Oddly enough, Alcoa's strong report did nothing for itself but sent shares of fellow traveler Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT  ) up 2.6%. The two are the worst-performing Dow stocks this year, as they are subject to many of the same market forces, including the vagaries of the business cycle, construction demand, and growth in China. Consequently, Alcoa's earnings beat is a good reason to bet Caterpillar could also top expectations. Analysts are projecting earnings per share of $1.72 and revenue of $15.04 billion, both sharply down from a year ago, when the heavy equipment manufacturer reports on July 24.

Hot Performing Companies To Invest In 2014: Tootsie Roll Industries Inc.(TR)

Tootsie Roll Industries, Inc. engages in the manufacture and sale of confectionery products primarily in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The company sells its products under the TOOTSIE ROLL, TOOTSIE ROLL POPS, CHILD?S PLAY, CARAMEL APPLE POPS, CHARMS, BLOW-POP, BLUE RAZZ, ZIP-A-DEE POPS, CELLA?S, MASON DOTS, MASON CROWS, JUNIOR MINT, CHARLESTON CHEW, SUGAR DADDY, SUGAR BABIES, ANDES, FLUFFY STUFF, DUBBLE BUBBLE, RAZZLES, CRY BABY, and NIK-L-NIP. It distributes its products through candy and grocery brokers to the wholesale distributors of candy and groceries, supermarkets, variety stores, dollar stores, chain grocers, drug chains, discount chains, cooperative grocery associations, warehouse and membership club stores, vending machine operators, and the U. S. military and fund-raising charitable organizations. The company was founded in 1896 and is based in Chicago, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Smith]

  At the same time, tiny Tootsie Roll (NYSE: TR  ) may see its sales grow as little as 13% through 2016. Could it be that in the candy industry, bigger is better? Does Hershey lack the scale to compete effectively against mammoth Mondelez?

• [By Sean Williams]

  Leave the wrapper on
  The returns on confectioner Tootsie Roll Industries (NYSE: TR  ) have certainly been sweet for investors over the past year. You have to go back to the summer of 2010 to find sugar prices that were as low as they are now,�which has played a good part in helping Tootsie Roll keep that aspect of its costs down. But taking a bigger view of what's going on with Tootsie Roll and comparing that to its current valuation creates a sour taste in my mouth.

Hot Performing Companies To Invest In 2014: Snai Ord Spa(SNA.MI)

Snai S.p.A. provides hardware and software systems for accepting bets, pools, and bingo games. It is also involved in the installation and management of slots machines; management of digital system for online data transmission through cable and satellite; and organization and sales services related to bet acceptance activities and the game of bingo. In addition, the company designs gaming terminals and sets up acceptance points; defines and manages communication initiatives; owns and manages gallop and trot race tracks; and manages satellite TV channels for horse races, and broadcasts in-depth programs on subjects related to gaming and betting, as well as sells and installs information technology (IT) systems and equipment. Further, it operates a Web site, snai.it, which enables users to place bets, and play pools and skill games, such as poker and Texas hold?em, and black jack; and engages in publishing and real estate ownership activities, as well as owns the image righ ts for Varenne, a trotter in history. Additionally, the company provides help desk, customer care, telemarketing, and telesales services through its contact center. The company was founded in 1990 and is based in Porcari, Italy. As of March 29, 2011, Snai S.p.A. operates as a subsidiary of Global Games Srl.

Hot Penny Companies To Watch For 2014: Peoples Bancorp Inc.(PEBO)

Peoples Bancorp Inc. operates as a holding company for Peoples Bank, National Association that provides financial products and services. It offers commercial and retail banking, insurance, brokerage, and trust services. The company accepts various deposit products, including demand deposit accounts, savings accounts, money market accounts, and certificates of deposit; and provides commercial, consumer, and real estate mortgage loans, as well as lines of credit. It also offers debit and automated teller machine (ATM) cards; corporate and personal trust services; safe deposit rental facilities; travelers checks, money orders, and cashier?s checks; and telephone and Internet-based banking services. In addition, the company provides a range of life, health, and property and casualty insurance products; and fiduciary and wealth management services. Further, it offers brokerage services through an unaffiliated registered broker-dealer; and credit cards to consumers and business es, as well as provides merchant credit card processing services through joint marketing arrangements with third parties. The company offers its financial products and services through 47 financial service locations and 40 ATMs in southeastern Ohio, northwestern West Virginia, and northeastern Kentucky. Peoples Bancorp Inc. was founded in 1902 and is based in Marietta, Ohio.

Hot Performing Companies To Invest In 2014: Toll Brothers Inc.(TOL)

Toll Brothers, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, designs, builds, markets, and arranges finance for single-family detached and attached homes in luxury residential communities. It is also involved in building or converting existing rental apartment buildings into high-, mid-, and low-rise luxury homes. In addition, the company develops, owns, and operates golf courses and country clubs associated with various planned communities, as well as individual communities. It serves move-up, empty-nester, active-adult, age-qualified, and second-home buyers in 19 states in the United States. Toll Brothers, Inc. was founded in 1967 and is headquartered in Horsham, Pennsylvania.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Maxfield]

  Given the centrality of the housing market to the national economy, the significance of these results can't be overstated. It's worth noting, moreover, that they provide further confirmation of the growing profitability of homebuilders. Yesterday, for example, the nation's largest luxury homebuilder, Toll Brothers (NYSE: TOL  ) , released earnings for its fiscal second quarter. Among other things, it notched a 36% improvement in net signed contracts on a year-over-year basis. On the heels of today's news, shares of the company are up 2%.

• [By Dimitra DeFotis]

  In the homebuidling category:

  Weyerhaeuser (WY), the producer of lumber, was up nearly 3%. On Thursday, Citigroup Analyst Anthony Pettinari wrote that Weyerhaeuser could sell its homebuilder unit for between $2.5 billion and $3.5 billion, and interested buyers in the unit, WRECO, could include Lennar�(LEN), Toll Brothers (TOL) and Brookfield Residential Properties (BRP). About 67% of the Weyerhaeuser unit’s roughly 27,000 lots are in California. Citi has a Buy rating on Weyerhauser and a $35 price target. Lennar, the home builder, was�up 2.6%. Masco (MAS), the building materials maker, was�up 2%.� PulteGroup (PHM), the home builder, was�up 2%. DR Horton�(DHI), the home builder, was�up 1.9%.

  Among real estate trusts:

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  Toll Brothers (NYSE: TOL  ) will release its quarterly report on Tuesday, and on the whole, investors have seen the homebuilder's stock hold up reasonably well compared to some of its rivals. PulteGroup (NYSE: PHM  ) and Hovnanian (NYSE: HOV  ) have pulled back much more severely so far in 2013, with their shareholders worried about whether the big rebound in home prices will survive higher interest rates or whether another leg down for the housing market could hurt profits one more time.

Hot Performing Companies To Invest In 2014: Smith & Wesson Holding Corp (SWHC.O)

Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (Smith & Wesson), incorporated on June 17, 1991, is a manufacturer of firearms. The Company manufactures a range of handguns, modern sporting rifles, hunting rifles, black powder firearms, handcuffs, and firearm-related products and accessories for sale to a range of customers, including gun enthusiasts, collectors, hunters, sportsmen, competitive shooters, individuals desiring home and personal protection, law enforcement and security agencies and officers, and military agencies in the United States and globally. It sell its products under the Smith & Wesson brand, the M&P brand, the Thompson/Center brand, and the Walther brand. The Company manufactures its firearm products at its facilities in Springfield, Massachusetts and Houlton, Maine. On July 26, 2012, it sold all of the assets of Smith & Wesson Security Solutions, Inc.

Firearms

During the fiscal year ended April 30, 2012 (fiscal 2012), the Company intr oduced multiple new handgun and modern sporting rifle models, and one new bolt action rifle platform. The Company's rifle introductions included the addition of the M&P15 300 Whisper to the Company's line of modern sporting rifles. As of April 30, 2012, the Company participated in three categories of the long-gun market and both core categories of the handgun market.

Handguns

The Company manufactures an variety of handgun models that include revolvers and pistols. A revolver is a handgun with a cylinder that holds the ammunition in a series of rotating chambers that are successively aligned with the barrel of the firearm during each firing cycle. There are two general types of revolvers: single-action and double-action. The Company's small-frame revolvers have been carried by law enforcement personnel and personal defense-minded citizens. The Company's revolvers are available in a variety of models and calibers, with applications in virtually all pr ofessional and personal markets.

The Company� �! s M&P15 Series of modern sporting rifles are designed to satisfy the functionality and reliability needs of global military, law enforcement, and security personnel. These rifles are also popular as sporting target rifles and are sold to consumers through the Company's sporting good distributors, retailers, and dealers. The Company has a range of product portfolio of modern sporting rifles, which includes a lower price-point, sport model, a .22 caliber model, and a fully automatic model designed for the exclusive use of military and law enforcement agencies throughout the world.

Hunting Firearms

The Company manufactures three lines of bolt-action rifles under its Thompson/Center brand consisting of several models in each line. The Company's hunting rifles are offered in 16 different calibers. Bolt-action rifles operate by the cycling of a bolt handle that allows for both the loading and unloading of rounds through a magazine fed system.

< p>During fiscal 2012, the Company introduced the Dimension bolt action rifle platform. Under the Company's Thompson/Center brand, the Company also offers seven models of American-made single shot black powder, or muzzle loader, firearms. The Company offers eight models of interchangeable, single shot firearm systems that deliver numerous gun, barrel, caliber configurations, and finishes. These systems can be configured as a center-fire rifle, rim-fire rifle, shotgun, black powder firearm, or single-shot handgun for use across the entire range of big- and small-game hunting.

Handcuffs

The Company manufactures handcuffs and restraints in the United States. The Company fabricates these products from the carbon or stainless steel.

Smith & Wesson Academy

Through the Smith & Wesson Academy, the Company offers instruction designed to meet the training needs of law enforcement and security customers worldwide. Classes are conduct ed at the Company's facility in Springfield, Massachus! etts o! r! on loca! tion around the world.

Specialty Services

The Company's services include forging, heat treating, finishing, and plating. It provides services to third-party customers.

The Company competes with Ruger,Taurus, Beretta, Glock, Heckler & Koch, Sig Sauer, Springfield Armory, Bushmaster, Rock River, Stag Arms, DPMS, Browning, Marlin, Remington, Ruger, Savage, Weatherby, CVA, Traditions, and Winchester.