Top Managed Healthcare Stocks To Watch For 2014

BALTIMORE (Stockpickr) --�Put down the 10-K filings and the stock screeners. It's time to take a break from the traditional methods of generating investment ideas. Instead, let the crowd do it for you.

>>5 Stocks Ready for Breakouts

From hedge funds to individual investors, scores of market participants are turning to social media to figure out which stocks are worth watching. It's a concept that's known as "crowdsourcing," and it uses the masses to identify emerging trends in the market.

Crowdsourcing has long been a popular tool for the advertising industry, but it also makes a lot of sense as an investment tool. After all, the market is completely driven by the supply and demand, so it can be valuable to see what names are trending among the crowd.

While some fund managers are already trying to leverage social media resources like Twitter to find algorithmic trading opportunities, for most investors, crowdsourcing works best as a starting point for investors who want a starting point in their analysis. Today, we'll leverage the power of the crowd to take a look at some of the most active stocks on the market today.

10 Best Canadian Stocks To Watch For 2015: Restoration Hardware Holdings Inc (RH)

Restoration Hardware Holdings, Inc. (Restoration Hardware Holdings), incorporated on August 18, 2011, is a holding company. The Company is merchants of home furnishings. Restoration Hardware Holdings offers merchandise assortments across a number of categories, including furniture, lighting, textiles, bath ware, decor, outdoor, garden, and baby and child products. The Company�� business is integrated across its multiple channels of distribution, consists of its stores, catalogs and Websites. As of July 28, 2012, the Company�� operated a total of 73 retail stores, consisted of 71 Galleries and two full line Design Galleries, and 10 outlet stores throughout the United States and Canada. RH is a brand in the home furnishings. During the fiscal year ended January 28, 2012 (fiscal 2011), the Company opened five stores and closed 22 stores. In fiscal 2011, the Company distributed approximately 26.1 million catalogs, and its Websites logged over 14.3 million visits.

Restoration Hardware Holdings operates a Website for its Baby & Child brand at www.rhbabyandchild.com. The Company opened its two full line Design Galleries in Los Angeles in, June 2011 and Houston in November 2011. In May 2011, the Company launched catalog applications for Apple�� iPad and iPhone that enable customers to view and purchase its product assortment. Restoration Hardware Holdings operates three store types: the Company's full line Design Gallery format, approximately between 22,000 and 28,000 gross square feet; its Gallery format of approximately 7,000-15,000 gross square feet, and its Baby & Child Gallery format of approximately 2,000-3,000 gross square feet.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rick Munarriz]

  Briefly in the news
  And now let's take a quick look at some of the other stories that shaped our week.

  Google (NASDAQ: GOOG  ) is walking away with Waze. After other tech titans were rumored suitors, Google announced that it closed on the acquisition of the popular real-time traffic app that uses crowdsourcing to get users around jams and police traps. Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX  ) revealed that it will introduce individual profiles for family accounts this summer. The move will help the leading video website serve up better recommendations. In other words, having your kid watch Dumbo won't stop Reservoir Dogs from coming up for you. You won't find too many retailers doing as well as Restoration Hardware (NYSE: RH  ) these days. The seller of upscale home furnishings reported a 41% increase in same-store sales in its latest quarter. That's not too shabby for a retailer that went public in November at $24 a share. It's safe to say that the IPO wasn't an exit strategy, since it's doing so well several months later.

• [By Rich Smith]

  Corte Madera, Calif.-based Restoration Hardware Holdings (NYSE: RH  ) insiders announced a plan to capitalize on its strong share price Friday.

• [By Andrew Marder]

  Business in the home improvement and decoration game are also seeing strong growth as the housing market recovers. In particular, Restoration Hardware (NYSE: RH  ) , Sherwin-Williams (NYSE: SHW  ) , and Home Depot (NYSE: HD  ) are making out like bandits -- if bandits broke into your house and fixed things for a small fee.

• [By Brian Nichols]

  Restoration Hardware (RH) was Barron's latest weekend victim. To me, Barron's bearish take is reminiscent of its Facebook (FB) call, which was also an article I questioned. The similarities and situations surrounding the two calls include both stocks being post-IPO and both articles implying that stock performance indicates value and future trends. Here is why Barron's is wrong, again!

Top Managed Healthcare Stocks To Watch For 2014: ExamWorks Group Inc. (EXAM)

ExamWorks Group, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides independent medical examinations (IME), peer and bill reviews, and related services in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Its IME services are used by clients to confirm the veracity of claims by sick or injured individuals for workers� compensation, automotive, personal injury liability, and disability insurance coverage. The company also offers peer review services, including medical record reviews, nurse file reviews, and utilization reviews by members of its medical panel to provide medical opinion of a claimant�s condition and treatment; bill review services, such as physician and hospital bill reviews, and surgical cost estimates; and other IME related services comprising litigation support, medical record retrieval, administrative support services, and managed technology services. ExamWorks Group, Inc. provides its services through its medical panel of independently contract ed physicians and other medical providers. It serves property and casualty insurance carriers, law firms, third-party claim administrators, government agencies, and state funds. The company was incorporated in 2007 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Roberto Pedone]

  Examworks Group (EXAM) is a provider of independent medical examinations, peer and bill reviews and related services. This stock closed up 9.4% at $24.28 in Wednesday's trading session.

  Wednesday's Volume: 1.62 million
  
  Three-Month Average Volume: 209,788
  
  Volume % Change: 583%

  From a technical perspective, EXAM exploded higher here right off some near-term support at $21.91 with heavy upside volume. This stock has been uptrending strong for the last six months, with shares soaring higher from its low of $13.79 to its intraday high of $24.40. During that uptrend, shares of EXAM have been consistently making higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. This move also pushed shares of EXAM into breakout territory, since the stock took out its former 52-week high at $23.56.

   

  Traders should now look for long-biased trades in EXAM as long as it's trending above $23 or $22.50 and then once it sustains a move or close above Wednesday's high of $24.40 with volume that hits near or above 209,788 shares. If we get that move soon, then EXAM will set up to enter new 52-week-high territory, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that move are $28 to $30.

Top Managed Healthcare Stocks To Watch For 2014: Dole Food Company Inc(DOLE)

Dole Food Company, Inc. engages in sourcing, growing, processing, marketing, and distributing fresh fruits and vegetables, and food products to wholesale, retail, and institutional customers worldwide. It operates in three segments: Fresh Fruit, Fresh Vegetables, and Packaged Foods. The Fresh Fruit segment involves in growing and selling bananas under the DOLE brand name primarily in North America, Europe, and Asia; ripening and distributing DOLE and non-DOLE branded fresh produce in Europe; growing, sourcing, and selling fresh pineapples under the DOLE TROPICAL GOLD label; and exporting Chilean fruits, including grapes, apples, pears, stone fruits, and kiwifruits primarily to North America, Latin America, and Europe. The Fresh Vegetables segment engages in sourcing, harvesting, cooling, distributing, and marketing various fresh and fresh-cut vegetables, including iceberg lettuce, red and green leaf lettuce, romaine lettuce, butter lettuce, celery, cauliflower, broccoli, c arrots, Brussels sprouts, green onions, asparagus, snow peas, artichokes, and radishes, as well as fresh strawberries and raspberries. This segment also processes and markets value-added vegetable products, such as packaged salads and packaged fresh-cut vegetables. The Packaged Foods segment produces and markets canned pineapples, canned pineapple juice, fruit juice concentrate, fruit parfaits, snack foods, and frozen fruits, as well as fruits in plastic cups, jars, and pouches. Its principal customers include mass merchandisers and supermarkets. Dole Food Company, Inc. was founded in 1851 and is based in Westlake Village, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Eric Volkman]

  It didn't take long for Dole Foods (NYSE: DOLE  ) to reverse its policy on stock repurchases. Less than three weeks after initiating a buyback program, the company has suspended it. Instead, it will plow capital into upgrading its fleet of ships, a project it anticipates will cost roughly $165 million.

• [By Jeremy Bowman]

  What: Shares of Dole Food� (NYSE: DOLE  ) were looking sweeter today, gaining as much as 22% after CEO David Murdock offered to pay $12 a share for the remaining 60% of the company that he doesn't already own.

Top Managed Healthcare Stocks To Watch For 2014: First Trust Global Wind Energy (FAN)

First Trust ISE Global Wind Energy Index Fund is an exchange-traded fund. The investment objective of the Fund is to seek investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield, of an equity index called the ISE Global Wind Energy Index. The Fund will normally invest at least 90% of its net assets (plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in common stocks that comprise the Index or in depositary receipts that may include American depositary receipts (ADRs), global depositary receipts (GDRs), European depositary receipts (EDRs) or other depositary receipts (collectively, Depositary Receipts) representing securities in the Index. The Fund invests in sectors, which include Consumer Discretionary, Energy, Industrials, Materials and Utilities. First Trust Advisors L.P. (First Trust) is the Investment Advisor of the Fund. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Udovich]

  Small cap wind stock Broadwind Energy Inc (NASDAQ: BWEN) is up 203.7% since the start of the year, but investors might want to contain their excitement when they look closer at the�stock and�consider its�long term performance along with the performance of other wind investments like First Trust Global Wind Energy ETF (NYSEARCA: FAN) and wind energy stocks Vestas Wind Systems (OTCMKTS: VWDRY) and China Ming Yang Wind Power Group Ltd (NYSE: MY) to see whether BWEN is just blowing more hot air.

Top Managed Healthcare Stocks To Watch For 2014: State Street Corporation(STT)

State Street Corporation, a financial holding company, provides various financial products and services to institutional investors worldwide. The company?s Investment Servicing business line provides products and services, including custody, product- and participant-level accounting; daily pricing and administration; master trust and master custody; record-keeping; foreign exchange, brokerage, and other trading services; securities finance; deposit and short-term investment facilities; loan and lease financing; investment manager and alternative investment manager operations outsourcing; and performance, risk, and compliance analytics. This segment also offers shareholder services, which comprise mutual fund and collective investment fund shareholder accounting. Its Investment Management business line provides a range of investment management, investment research, and other related services, such as securities finance; and strategies for managing passive and active financ ial assets, such as enhanced indexing and hedge fund strategies for U.S. and global equities and fixed-income securities. The company serves mutual funds, collective investment funds and other investment pools, corporate and public retirement plans, insurance companies, foundations, endowments, and investment managers. State Street Corporation was founded in 1832 and is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Holly LaFon]

  In the fourth quarter, Yacktman�� biggest additions to his holdings were Research In Motion (RIMM) and Avon Products (AVP). He also surprised followers by venturing into financials, with new positions in Goldman Sachs (GS), Bank of America (BAC), State Street Corp. (STT) and Northern Trust Corp. (NTRS).

Top Managed Healthcare Stocks To Watch For 2014: Exterran Holdings Inc. (EXH)

Exterran Holdings, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides operations, maintenance, service, and equipment for oil and natural gas production, processing, and transportation applications. The company�s Contract Operations segment offers natural gas compression and production, and processing services, as well as engages in the engineering, procurement, and on site construction of natural gas compression stations and/or crude oil or natural gas production and processing facilities. As of December 31, 2011, this segment provided contract operations services primarily using a fleet of 8,485 natural gas compression units with an aggregate capacity of approximately 3,632,000 horsepower in North America; and a fleet of 1,063 units with an aggregate capacity of approximately 1,260,000 horsepower internationally. Its Aftermarket Services segment sells parts and components; and provides operation, maintenance, overhaul, and reconfiguration services for compression, productio n, treating, and oilfield power generation equipment. The company�s Fabrication segment engages in the design, engineering, installation, fabrication, and sale of natural gas compression units, and accessories and equipment used in the production, treatment, and processing of crude oil and natural gas; provision of engineering, procurement, and fabrication services primarily related to the manufacturing of critical process equipment for refinery and petrochemical facilities; and fabrication of tank farms, and evaporators and brine heaters for desalination plants. Its products include line heaters, oil and natural gas separators, glycol dehydration units, condensate stabilizers, dewpoint control plants, water treatment, mechanical refrigeration and cryogenic plants, and skid-mounted production packages designed for onshore and offshore production facilities. The company was founded in 1990 and is based in Houston, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ryan Lowery]

  All natural
  An obvious place to start is coal's biggest competitor, natural gas. For a while now, I've been a fan of the natural gas compression company, Exterran Holdings (NYSE: EXH  ) , which provides operations, maintenance, service, and equipment for both oil and natural gas production. Exterran's stock has had a steady climb the last couple of years -- it's up over 40% this year alone. The majority of analysts are calling Exterran a hold, but several rate it a buy or even a strong buy. Currently, Exterran is trading in the upper $20 range, and with a price target of $33, it still seems to have some upside. And for those interested in investing in master limited partnerships, Exterran operates an MLP as well, Exterran Partners (NASDAQ: EXLP  ) , which has seen a 33% gain in its price this year.

Top Airline Stocks To Buy For 2014

What if you can hop on board a flight after scanning your own boarding pass? How about tagging and checking your own bag? Or finding the nearest spot for an airport manicure by tapping a screen?

It may sound like a flying experience far, far in the future. But it's happening right now.

Airlines and airports are innovating on the ground and in the air, rolling out new gadgets, kiosks and systems designed to put more power in the hands of business and leisure fliers, and enhance the overall flying experience.

"Number one is to put control and convenience in the hands of our customers,'' says Jeff Foland, United's executive vice president of marketing, technology and strategy, adding that the new tools also enable employees to spend more time with customers who need help tackling problems.

Top 10 Trucking Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion SAB de CV (VLRS)

Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion SAB de CV (Volaris Aviation Holding Company) is a Mexico-based company principally engaged in the airline passenger transportation industry. The Company is a law-cost carrier airline. Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion SAB de CV offers direct, point-to-point flights. The Company serves through secondary, lower cost airports and provides a single class of service. The Company utilizes such aircraft as the Airbus A319 and A320 families, among others. The Company has such subsidiaries as Comercializadora Volaris SA de CV, Servicios Corporativos Volaris SA de CV, Concesionaria Vuela Compania de Aviacion SAPI de CV, Deutsche Bank Mexico SA Trust 1484, among others. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Udovich]

  When most American investors think of discount airline stocks, they probably think of relatively large capped Southwest Airlines Co (NYSE: LUV)�or sort of small cap�JetBlue Airways Corporation (NASDAQ: JBLU) rather than�small cap Controladora Vuela Co Avcn SA CV (NYSE: VLRS) which owns Volaris���a discount airline serving the�Mexican market. However, any investor who has read Benjamin Graham�� Intelligent Investor might want to remember his sage advice about avoiding airline stocks���mainly because airlines were such a new and unproven sector that had yet to make money. But could Controladora Vuela Co Avcn SA CV actually be an airline stock worth owning?

Top Airline Stocks To Buy For 2014: Allegiant Travel Co (ALGT)

Allegiant Travel Company, incorporated on April 4, 2006, is a leisure travel company focused on providing travel services and products to residents of small, underserved cities in the United States. The Company operates a passenger airline marketed primarily to leisure travelers in small cities, allowing it to sell air transportation both on a stand-alone basis and bundled with the sale of air-related and third party services and products. In addition, it provides air transportation under fixed fee flying arrangements. The Company provides scheduled air transportation on limited frequency nonstop flights between small city markets and leisure destinations. As of February 1, 2013, its operating fleet consisted of 58 MD-80 aircraft and six Boeing 757-200 aircraft providing service on 191 routes to 85 cities including 13 leisure destinations and 72 small cities and including cities served seasonally. In January 2012, the Company took ownership of two MD-80 aircraft. In October 2012, the Company announced the formation of Allegiant Systems, a joint venture with AvIntel and Lixar IT.

The Company provides unbundled air-related services and products in conjunction with air transportation for an additional cost to customers. These optional air-related services and products include use of its Website for purchases, use of its call center for purchases, advance seat assignment, baggage fees, priority boarding, its own travel protection product, change fees, food and beverage purchases on board and other air-related services. The Company offers third party travel products, such as hotel rooms, ground transportation (rental cars and hotel shuttle products) and attractions (show tickets) bundled with the purchase of its air transportation.

The Company provides air transportation through fixed fee agreements and charter service on a seasonal and ad-hoc basis for other customers. As of February 1, 2013, its operating aircraft consisted of 58 MD-80 aircraft and six Boeing 757-200 aircraft. D! uring the year ended December 31, 2012, the Company has entered into purchase agreements to acquire seven Airbus A320 aircraft and operating lease agreements for an additional nine Airbus A319 aircraft.

The Company competes with AirTran, Frontier, Spirit, Southwest, US Airways, Alaska Airlines, Horizon Air, Delta, Xtra, United and American.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sean Williams]

  Keep in mind that some companies�deserve�their current valuations. Allegiant Travel (NASDAQ: ALGT  ) , for example, is creating cash flow hand over fist by luring in passengers with low ticket fees and then utilizing hefty optional fees such as on checked baggage, carry-on baggage, and food, which are almost pure margin plays, to add to its bottom line. The beauty of Allegiant's model is that many of these ancillary fees are purchased online or at electronic points of sale, meaning few employee costs.

• [By Adam Levine-Weinberg]

  However, there are still good stocks to buy in the airline sector, if you look a little further afield. Allegiant Travel (NASDAQ: ALGT  ) and Spirit Airlines (NASDAQ: SAVE  ) are the two pioneers of the "ultra-low-cost carrier" concept. By keeping costs and base fares low, but charging fees for things like checked bags, carry-on bags, seat assignments, and onboard snacks and drinks, these companies have consistently achieved industry-leading margins. This positions Allegiant and Spirit for long-term earnings growth.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  He recommends favoring Spirit and Allegiant Travel (ALGT) over Southwest and JetBlue.

  Spirit has gained 15% to $39.15 at 3:12 p.m., while JetBlue has risen 2.5% to $6.96, Southwest has ticked up 0.5% to $15.20 and Allegiant is up 0.7% at $98.83. The day’s biggest loser: AMR Corp. (AAMRQ), which has fallen 2.4% to $4.98 as it continues to be weak following yesterday’s decision by a judge to reject a request for information on past mergers form the DoJ.

• [By Brian Stoffel]

  First there was Spirit Air (NASDAQ: SAVE  ) , charging for everything from printing a boarding pass to getting a cup of water. Then there was Allegiant Airlines (NASDAQ: ALGT  ) , forcing customers to pay for carry-on bags, pillows, and blankets.

Top Airline Stocks To Buy For 2014: AMR Corp (AAMRQ)

AMR Corporation (AMR), incorporated in October 1982, operates in the airline industry. The Company�� principal subsidiary is American Airlines, Inc. (American). As of December 31, 2011, American provided scheduled jet service to approximately 160 destinations throughout North America, the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe and Asia. AMR Eagle Holding Corporation (AMR Eagle), a wholly owned subsidiary of AMR, owns two regional airlines, which do business as American Eagle - American Eagle Airlines, Inc. and Executive Airlines, Inc. (collectively, the American Eagle carriers). American also contracts with an independently owned regional airline, which does business as AmericanConnection (the AmericanConnection carrier). As of December 31, 2011, AMR Eagle operated approximately 1,500 daily departures, offering scheduled passenger service to over 175 destinations in North America, Mexico and the Caribbean.

American, AMR Eagle and the AmericanConnection airline served more than 250 cities in approximately 50 countries with, on average, 3,400 daily flights and the combined network fleet numbered approximately 900 aircraft as of December 31, 2011. American Airlines is also a founding member of the oneworld alliance, which includes British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, LAN Airlines, Iberia, Qantas, JAL, Malev Hungarian, Mexicana, Royal Jordanian and S7 Airlines. Together, oneworld members serve 750 destinations in approximately 150 countries, with about 8,500 daily departures. American is also one of the scheduled air freight carriers in the world, providing a range of freight and mail services to shippers throughout its system onboard American�� passenger fleet.

To improve access to each other�� markets, American has established marketing relationships with other airlines and rail companies. As of December 31, 2011, American had marketing relationships with Air Berlin, Air Pacific, Air Tahiti Nui, Alaska Airlines, British Airways, Cape Air, Cathay Pacific, China Eastern Airl! ines, Dragonair, Deutsche Bahn German Rail, EL AL, Etihad Airways, EVA Air, Finnair, GOL, Gulf Air, Hawaiian Airlines, Iberia, Japan Airlines (JAL), Jet Airways, JetStar Airways, LAN (includes LAN Airlines, LAN Argentina, LAN Ecuador and LAN Peru), Niki Airlines, Qantas Airways, Royal Jordanian, S7 Airlines, and Vietnam Airlines.

American has established the AAdvantage frequent flyer program (AAdvantage). AAdvantage members earn mileage credits by flying on American, American Eagle and the AmericanConnection carrier or by using services of other participants in the AAdvantage program. Mileage credits can be redeemed for free, discounted or upgraded travel on American, American Eagle or other participating airlines, or for other awards. American sells mileage credits and related services to other participants in the AAdvantage program. There are over 1,000 program participants, including a credit card issuer, hotels, car rental companies, and other products and services companies in the AAdvantage program. As of December 31, 2011, AAdvantage had approximately 69 million total members.

The Company competes with Alaska Airlines (Alaska), Delta Air Lines (Delta), Frontier Airlines, JetBlue Airways (JetBlue), Hawaiian Airlines, Southwest Airlines (Southwest) and AirTran Airways (Air Tran), Spirit Airlines, United Airlines (United) and Continental Airlines (Continental), US Airways and Virgin America Airlines.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  AMR (AAMRQ) bounced back a bit this week. Its shares gained 15% after losing more than half its value last week. After the close today, the judge who will preside over the trial said he will hold a scheduling hearing next week. AMR wants it to start in November; the Justice Department in February 2014�September.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Airlines have performed better this week, but how could they not following last week’s devastation after the Justice Department said it would try to block the merger between AMR Corp. (AAMRQ) and US Airways (LCC).

Top Airline Stocks To Buy For 2014: Alaska Air Group Inc. (ALK)

Alaska Air Group, Inc., through its subsidiaries, Alaska Airlines, Inc. and Horizon Air Industries, Inc., operates as an airline company serving destinations in the western United States, Canada, and Mexico. The company provides passenger air services; and freight and mail services primarily to and within the state of Alaska and on the West Coast. As of December 31, 2009, it operated a fleet of 110 jet aircraft; and Horizon Air Industries operated a fleet of 18 jets and 40 turboprop aircraft. The company was founded in 1932 and is based in Seattle, Washington.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Alexander MacLennan]

  A similar buyback program was a core part of the capital return plan for Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK  ) , which continued a share buyback program from long before it initiated a dividend in 2013. Quite likely, Alaska enjoyed the flexibility of a buyback program, especially as a growing airline looking for opportunities.

• [By Adam Levine-Weinberg]

  Southwest: still America's favorite
  Southwest Airlines once again had the lowest complaint rate in the airline industry last year, at 0.25 complaints per 100,000 passengers. Southwest's complaint rate was more than 80% below the industry average, and 50% below second-place finisher Alaska Airlines (NYSE: ALK  ) . The high level of customer satisfaction highlights the value of Southwest's generally cheerful staff, because Southwest's performance on the more objective criteria in the AQR survey was not particularly impressive.

• [By Dimitra DeFotis]

  “… taken off over the past year as the industry’s ‘rationalization’ has meant higher fares, reduced capacity, and fewer amenities for passengers. Some measure of competition still comes from discounters such as Southwest (LUV), JetBlue (JBLU), and Spirit (SAVE). What’s left of antitrust enforcement ought to prevent these cut-rate carriers being scooped up by the big three of the skies, although Jack Hough noted … that Alaska Air (ALK) could draw takeover interest over the long haul (“Merger Mania May Soon Be on the Way,” Nov. 21) (subscription required).

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Dividends are in with airlines, as Alaska Air (ALK), Delta Air Lines (DAL) and Southwest Airlines (LUV) have all increased theirs so far this year. Cowen’s Helane Becker and Conor Cunningham ponder whether American Airlines (AAL) or United Continental (UAL) will return capital to shareholders first:

  AFP/Getty Images

  Over the last two weeks three airlines (Alaska Air Group, Delta Air Lines, and Southwest Airlines) announced significant share repurchase authorizations and in two cases (Delta and Southwest) announced an increase to their dividend. Alaska raised their dividend earlier this year. These companies have led the industry in returning capital to shareholders as all three have sound balance sheets, manageable CAPEX plans and increasing profits. The next airlines to return capital to shareholders will likely be United and American. United continues to have PRASM issues which has led to a lagging stock price and potentially pushing out of returning capital to shareholders. United’s management continues to point to the end of 2014 as an announcement date. American is also likely to announce its plans for returning capital to shareholders year-end 2014…It will be interesting to see who announces their plans first: United or American. United has more invested in the announcement as they are several years ahead of American in the merger process but probably several years behind in execution.

  Shares of United Continental have gained 2.2% to $41.40 at 11:28 a.m. today, while American Airlines has risen 1.1% to $38.94, Delta Air Lines has advanced 1.7% to $38.50, Southwest Airlines has jumped 2.1% to $25.12 and Alaska Air Group is up 1.7% at $97.23.

Top Airline Stocks To Buy For 2014: JetBlue Airways Corporation(JBLU)

JetBlue Airways Corporation provides passenger air transportation services in the United States. As of December 31, 2011, it operated approximately 700 daily flights to 70 destinations in 22 states, Puerto Rico, and Mexico; and 12 countries in the Caribbean and Latin America through a fleet of 120 Airbus A320 aircraft and 49 EMBRAER 190 aircraft. The company, through its subsidiary, LiveTV, LLC, provides in-flight entertainment, voice communication, and data connectivity systems and services for commercial and general aviation aircraft, including live in-seat satellite television, digital satellite radio, wireless aircraft data link service, and cabin surveillance systems. JetBlue Airways Corporation was founded in 1998 and is based in Forest Hills, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Even though Old Guards[ Southwest Airlines (LUV)] and [JetBlue Airways (JBLU)] have shown momentum in recent RASM trends, SAVE’s RASM strength underscores that there are few scenarios where the New Guard will not perform at least as well as the Old Guard ��and many scenarios where they will outperform, consistent with our view. In fact, the New Guard continue to benefit from the following vis-�-vis other low-cost carriers: (A) Structural cost advantages, (B) Innovative ancillary revenue strategies, (B) Profitable ASM growth in excess of peers due to their small size and ability to stimulate demand through price, and (C) Relatively attractive valuation considering the companies��growth profiles.

• [By Louis Navellier]

  My first recommendation, JetBlue Airways (JBLU) has been cleared for takeoff. Based in Forest Hills, New York, this passenger airliner operates some 700 flights daily with a fleet of 175 aircrafts. JetBlue transports passengers to 71 destinations in 22 states, Puerto Rico and Mexico, as well as to 12 countries in the Caribbean and Latin America.

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  Still, Southwest should get some lucrative new opportunities due to the American merger. American and US Airways will have to give up 44 round-trip flights in and out of Washington's Reagan National Airport, and Southwest is likely to have the chance to outbid JetBlue (NASDAQ: JBLU  ) to get a significant share of those open slots. Similar concessions in New York's LaGuardia Airport could lead to further gains for Southwest.

Top Airline Stocks To Buy For 2014: US Airways Group Inc (LCC)

US Airways Group, Inc. (US Airways Group) is a holding company whose primary business activity is the operation of a network air carrier through its wholly owned subsidiaries, US Airways, Piedmont Airlines, Inc. (Piedmont), PSA Airlines, Inc. (PSA), Material Services Company, Inc. (MSC) and Airways Assurance Limited (AAL). MSC and AAL operate in support of the Company�� airline subsidiaries in areas, such as the procurement of aviation fuel and insurance. It has hubs in Charlotte, Philadelphia and Phoenix and a focus city in Washington, D.C. at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (Washington National). During the year ended December 31, 2011, it offered scheduled passenger service on more than 3,100 flights daily to more than 200 communities in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, the Middle East, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. It also has an East Coast route network, including the US Airways Shuttle service.

The Company had approximately 53 million passengers boarding its mainline flights in 2011. During 2011, the Company�� mainline operation provided scheduled service or seasonal service at 133 airports, while the US Airways Express network served 156 airports in the United States, Canada and Mexico, including 78 airports also served by its mainline operation. US Airways Express air carriers had approximately 28 million passengers boarding their planes in 2011. As of December 31, 2011, the Company operated 340 mainline jets and was supported by its regional airline subsidiaries and affiliates operating as US Airways Express under capacity purchase agreements, which operated 233 regional jets and 50 turboprops. The Company�� prorate carriers operated seven turboprops and seven regional jets at December 31, 2011.

In May 2011, US Airways Group and US Airways entered into an Amended and Restated Mutual Asset Purchase and Sale Agreement (the Mutual APA) with Delta Air Lines, Inc. (Delta). Pursuant to the Mutual APA, Delta agreed to acquire 132 slot pa! irs at LaGuardia from US Airways and US Airways agreed to acquire from Delta 42 slot pairs at Washington National and the rights to operate additional daily service to Sao Paulo, Brazil. On December 13, 2011, the transaction contemplated by the Mutual APA closed and ownership of the respective slots was transferred between the airlines. During 2011, the US Airways Express network served 156 airports in the continental United States, Canada and Mexico, including 78 airports also served by its mainline operation. During 2011, approximately 28 million passengers boarded US Airways Express air carriers��planes, approximately 44% of whom connected to or from its mainline flights.

The Company competes with Southwest, JetBlue, Allegiant, Frontier, Virgin America and Spirit.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Adam Levine-Weinberg]

  The proposed merger between AMR (NASDAQOTH: AAMRQ  ) and US Airways (NYSE: LCC  ) is reaching the final stages of the antitrust review process. The Department of Justice has been taking depositions recently, in an effort to gather testimony that will inform its decision of whether or not to approve the merger.

• [By Paul Quintaro]

  Shares of Delta Air (NYSE: DAL) are down 3.6 percent at last check, shares of United Continental (NYSE: UAL) are down 3.8 percent, US Air (NYSE: LCC) shares down 2.8 percent, shares of Southwest (NYSE: LUV) down 2 percent, JetBlue (NASDAQ: JBLU) shares down 2 percent and shares of SkyWest (NASDAQ: SKYW) down nearly 4 percent.

Five Has-Beens Headed for Penny Stock Territory

In December of 1999, RadioShack Corp. (NYSE: RSH) stock was worth more than $76 per share. Today, RSH is worth less than $1.

It has joined a group of once-profitable industry leaders that can now be classified as penny stocks.

Some companies, like General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM), are able to rebound from penny stock levels.

As the U.S. car market continued to falter, GM eventually entered bankruptcy in June 2009. Existing shareholders were given shares of Motors Liquidation Co., which traded for pennies (much to their dismay). Thanks to a government bailout, GM stock reemerged in November 2010, near $34 per share. Today, shares trade near $37 and the stock has gained 17% in the last year.

But not all stocks follow GM's path. Others are never able to build themselves back up and eventually go private or bankrupt...

Eastman Kodak Co. is a prime example. Founded in 1888, Kodak dominated the photographic film market for much of the 20th century. In 1976 the company had a 90% market share, and in 1987 the stock was worth more than $100 per share. But the company could not keep up with the advances to digital photography, which made classic film nearly obsolete. In 1997, Kodak started its slow decline. By 2011, shares were worth just $0.54.

And while RadioShack is the most recent example of a high-flying stock that dropped to penny stock levels, there are plenty of other major companies that are prime candidates to make the same move.

Here are five companies that are in danger of trading for less than $1 if they don't turn their operations around soon...

Companies That Could Reach "Penny Stock" Territory

Penny Stock Territory: J.C. Penney Co. Inc. (NYSE: JCP) is already dangerously close to penny stock territory as it currently trades at $8.72. In fact, JCP actually fell below the $5 threshold in February before regaining some slight momentum.

Even though JCP stock is up 3% in the last three months, its financials are still worrying. In its last earnings report, JCP reported a loss of $0.68 per share. At the time, that was viewed as a major boost for the company since consensus estimates placed JCP earnings at an $0.85 loss. Recently, the fact that JCP hasn't been doing as terribly as thought has boosted the stock.

But that shouldn't bring investor confidence. In 2007, JCP stock was worth more than $85 per share. Today, JCP is teetering on the brink of being a penny stock.

"This is an iconic brand, but I think it's dead on arrival" Money Morning's Chief Investment Strategist Keith Fitz-Gerald said in early 2014. "I don't think this stock is trading in five years."

Penny Stock Territory: BlackBerry Ltd. (Nasdaq: BBRY), formerly known as Research in Motion, is the company behind the once-popular BlackBerry smartphone. During its heyday of 2007, BBRY stock was worth more than $230 per share. Now, BBRY trades just above $10 per share.

BlackBerry has been muscled out of the smartphone market by competitors Apple Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL) and Samsung, whose iPhones and Galaxy S smartphones have become the toast of the smartphone market. The only hope for BBRY stock seems to be the numerous patents the company holds, which could make it a buyout target at some point down the road.

While that sliver of hope remains, BBRY's financials are a disaster. It has reported losses in seven of the last nine quarters. Its profit margin was -122% last quarter, and its operating margin was -73%. Quarterly revenue growth was -68% last quarter.

BBRY is up from a 52-week low of $5.44, but it may be only a matter of time before this once-giant tech company is a penny stock.

But those are just two examples. These other three stocks are in serious danger as well...

Penny Stock Territory: Best Buy Co. Inc. (NYSE: BBY) is another stock that's had some high-profile issues. BBY was trading just below $60 per share in 2006 before falling below $14 per share in 2012. While the company rebounded in 2013 and actually reached $44.66 toward the end of the year, the stock could not maintain momentum. BBY is down 33% since November.

Like RadioShack, BBY is another tech retailer that has failed to keep up with online retailers like Amazon.com Inc. (Nasdaq: AMZN). Best Buy took a major hit during the 2013 holiday season when the company reported that sales fell 2.6% for the nine weeks ending Jan. 4, 2014, while comparable store results were down 0.9%.

"[Best Buy's] initiatives are not driving traffic," Michael Pachter, a Wedbush Securities analyst who has an "Underperform" on shares, told Bloomberg in January. "They are positioning as if competition will go away, and it won't. The Internet never sleeps."

BBY still has a ways to drop before it's a penny stock, and it trades above $28.50 currently. But as consumer electronic prices continue to drop, BBY seems to be having trouble finding additional revenue streams.

Penny Stock Territory: Barnes & Noble Inc. (NYSE: BKS) traded above $46 per share in 2006, but is now worth just over $20 per share.

Like other brick-and-mortar retailers, Barnes & Noble has had trouble keeping up with online retailers. But it's not just online retail that has damaged BKS stock - the e-reader market has also cut into Barnes & Noble's business model. The company did create its own e-reader, the Nook, but that hasn't been enough to keep the stock afloat.

In April, BKS Chairman Leonard Riggio told The Wall Street Journal that he had sold a quarter of his stake in the company.

"This is not a growth company" Riggio said. He also told The Journal that this year's holiday season is "really, really critical in terms of casting a die for the future."

BKS has reported a quarterly earnings loss in three of the last four quarters and posted quarterly earnings growth of -10% last quarter. BKS stock is down 11% in the last 12 months and is a prime candidate to reach penny stock status.

Penny Stock Territory: Weight Watchers International Inc. (NYSE: WTW) rounds out the list, having traded over $85 per share as recently as 2011. Today, WTW stock is worth just over $21 per share.

Weight Watchers provides eight management services through a network of company-owned and franchise operations. In its last earnings report, WTW reported quarterly earnings growth of -56% and quarterly revenue growth of -17% year over year. According to Yahoo! Finance, almost 49% of WTW shares are held short as of May 30.

WTW Chief Executive Officer Jim Chambers' statements in February shed some light on the company's struggles.

"First, our offerings have become less appealing in this changing market largely because our innovation approach and our approach to the consumer in general have not been sufficiently market driven," he said. "In addition, we have a big task at hand to modernize our technology architecture and create a more efficient product development engine."

In the last 12 months, WTW stock has continued its spiral and is down 50%.

What once high-flying stocks do you think could reach penny stock territory? Join the conversation on Twitter @moneymorning using #PennyStocks.

Now: After 117 years, this old institution is finally dying. And that means a new bull market is coming...

Related Articles:

Bloomberg: Best Buy's Sales Decline Raises Doubts About Turnaround The Wall Street Journal: What's Barnes & Noble's Survival Plan? Yahoo! Finance: Weight Watchers Stock Continues to Shed Points

Top Forestry Stocks To Invest In Right Now

Top Forestry Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Broadwind Energy Inc.(BWEN)

Broadwind Energy, Inc. provides products and services to the energy, mining, and infrastructure sector customers, primarily in the United States. The company?s Towers and Weldments segment manufactures towers designed for two megawatt and larger wind turbines. This segment also manufactures specialty fabrications and weldments for mining and other industrial customers. Its Gearing segment engineers, builds, and remanufactures precision gears and gearing systems for wind, oil and gas, mining, and other industrial applications. The company?s Services segment offers a range of services, including non-routine blade and gearbox maintenance services for both kilowatt and megawatt turbines primarily to wind farm developers and operators. It also provides field services to the wind industry; dedicated drivetrain services; and industrial gearboxes precision repair and testing services. The company provides its products and services to various wind energy customers that include wi n d turbine manufacturers, wind farm developers, and wind farm operators, as well as oil and gas, mining, and other industries. It sells its products through its sales force and manufacturers' representatives. The company was formerly known as Tower Tech Holdings Inc. and changed its name to Broadwind Energy, Inc. in 2008. Broadwind Energy, Inc. is headquartered in Naperville, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Udovich]

  Small cap wind stock Broadwind Energy Inc (NASDAQ: BWEN) is up 203.7% since the start of the year, but investors might want to contain their excitement when they look closer at thestock andconsider itslong term performance along with the performance of other wind investments like First Trust Global Wind Energy ETF (NYSEARCA: FAN) and wind energy stocks Vestas Wind Systems (OTCMKTS: VWDRY) and China Ming Yang Wind Power Group Ltd (NYSE: MY) to see whether BWEN is just blowing more hot air.

[By John Udovich]

Small cap Ocean Power Technologies Inc (NASDAQ: OPTT) just sank 34% on news that they have fired their CEO "for cause, meaning its worth taking a closer look at the stock to see if there is anything to salvage (shares were rising more than 6% in after hours) plus take a look at the performance of potential renewable energy related peers like Ormat Technologies, Inc (NYSE: ORA), Broadwind Energy Inc (NASDAQ: BWEN) and China Ming Yang Wind Power Group Ltd (NYSE: MY).

• [By Monica Gerson]

  Broadwind Energy (NASDAQ: BWEN) is projected to post a Q4 loss at $0.19 per share on revenue of $56.54 million.

  Orexigen Therapeutics (NASDAQ: OREX) is estimated to post a Q4 loss at $0.19 per share on revenue of $900.00 thousand.

source from Top Penny Stocks For 2015:http://www.topstocksforum.com/top-forestry-stocks-to-invest-in-right-now.html

Top 5 Quality Stocks To Buy Right Now

The�Berkshire Hathaway� (NYSE: BRK-A  ) (NYSE: BRK-B  ) annual meeting is in full gear and Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger are on the hot seat in front of tens of thousands of shareholders. Here are a few great investing quotes that Buffett has delivered during the meeting.

1.�"Capital ratios for larger banks are being set higher than smaller banks and that obviously impacts return on equity."

Does that sound like a pessimistic take on the banking industry? It's certainly not the most optimistic take. However, Buffett followed that line up by saying:

I feel very good about our investment in Wells Fargo� (NYSE: WFC  ) , I feel very good about our investment in US Bancorp� (NYSE: USB  ) , I feel very good about our investment in M&T Bank� (NYSE: MTB  ) .

Are these contradictory sentiments? Hardly. This is Buffett owning up to the fact that it's going to be tougher on banks in the years to come because of higher capital requirements, but that investors can still do well investing in banks provided they focus on finding the best banks with high-quality management.

Hot US Stocks To Own For 2015: Delta Air Lines Inc (DAL)

Delta Air Lines, Inc. (Delta) provides scheduled air transportation for passengers and cargo throughout the United States and around the world. The Company�� route network gives it a presence in every domestic and international market. Delta�� route network is centered around the hub system it operate at airports in Amsterdam, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, Memphis, Minneapolis-St. Paul, New York-JFK, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Salt Lake City and Tokyo-Narita. Each of these hub operations includes flights that gather and distribute traffic from markets in the geographic region surrounding the hub to domestic and international cities and to other hubs. The Company�� network is supported by a fleet of aircraft that is varied in terms of size and capabilities.

Delta has bilateral and multilateral marketing alliances with foreign airlines to improve its access to international markets. These arrangements can include code-sharing, reciprocal frequent flyer program benefits, shared or reciprocal access to passenger lounges, joint promotions, common use of airport gates and ticket counters, ticket office co-location, and other marketing agreements. Its international code-sharing agreements enable it to market and sell seats to an expanded number of international destinations. The Company has international codeshare arrangements with Aeromexico, Air France, Air Nigeria, Alitalia, Aeroflot, China Airlines, China Eastern, China Southern, CSA Czech Airlines, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Korean Air, Olympic Air, Royal Air Maroc, VRG Linhas Aereas (operating as GOL), Vietnam Airlines, Virgin Australia and WestJet Airlines.

In addition to the Company�� marketing alliance agreements with individual foreign airlines, it is a member of the SkyTeam airline alliance. Delta also has frequent flyer and reciprocal lounge agreements with Hawaiian Airlines, and codesharing agreements with American Eagle Airlines (American Eagle) and Hawaiian Airlines. It has air service agreements with multiple do! mestic regional air carriers that feed traffic to its route system by serving passengers primarily in small-and medium-sized cities.

Through the Company�� regional carrier program, it has contractual arrangements with 10 regional carriers to operate regional jet and, in certain cases, turbo-prop aircraft using its DL designator code. In addition to Delta�� wholly owned subsidiary, Comair, it has contractual arrangements with ExpressJet Airlines, Inc. and SkyWest Airlines, Inc., both subsidiaries of SkyWest, Inc.; Chautauqua Airlines, Inc. and Shuttle America Corporation, both subsidiaries of Republic Airways Holdings, Inc.; Pinnacle Airlines, Inc. and Mesaba Aviation, Inc. (Mesaba), both subsidiaries of Pinnacle Airlines Corp. (Pinnacle); Compass Airlines, Inc. (Compass) and GoJet Airlines, LLC, both subsidiaries of Trans States Holdings, Inc. (Trans States), and American Eagle.

The Company�� SkyMiles program allows program members to earn mileage for travel awards by flying on Delta, Delta�� regional carriers and other participating airlines. Mileage credit may also be earned by using certain services offered by program participants, such as credit card companies, hotels and car rental agencies. In addition, individuals and companies may purchase mileage credits. The Company reserves the right to terminate the program with six months advance notice, and to change the program�� terms and conditions at any time without notice.

SkyMiles program mileage credits can be redeemed for air travel on Delta and participating airlines, for membership in the Company�� Delta Sky Clubs and for other program participant awards. Mileage credits are subject to certain transfer restrictions and travel awards are subject to capacity controlled seating. During the year ended December 31, 2011, program members redeemed more than 275 billion miles in the SkyMiles program for more than 12 million award redemptions. During 2011, 8.2% of revenue miles flown on Delta were from a! ward trav! el.

The Company generates cargo revenues in domestic and international markets through the use of cargo space on regularly scheduled passenger aircraft. Delta is a member of SkyTeam Cargo, an airline cargo alliance. SkyTeam Cargo offers a network spanning six continents and provides customers an international product line.

The Company has several other businesses arising from its airline operations, including aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO); staffing services for third parties; vacation wholesale operations, and its private jet operations. Delta�� MRO operation, known as Delta TechOps, is an airline MRO in North America. In addition to providing maintenance and engineering support for its fleet of approximately 775 aircraft, Delta TechOps serves more than 150 aviation and airline customers. Its staffing services business, Delta Global Services, provides staffing services, professional security, training services and aviation solutions to approximately 150 customers. The Company�� vacation wholesale business, MLT Vacations, is the provider of vacation packages in the United States. Its private jet operations, Delta Private Jets, provides aircraft charters, aircraft management and programs allowing members to purchase flight time by the hour.

The Company competes with SkyTeam, United Air Lines, Continental Airlines, Lufthansa German Airlines, Air Canada, American Airlines, British Airways and Qantas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Becker and Cunningham, however, believe that the selloff in other airlines on the news is “overdone.” They recommend focusing on Delta Air Lines (DAL), which has dropped 9.2% to $19.09, and United Airlines (UAL), which has fallen 6.5% to $31.06.

• [By WWW.DAILYFINANCE.COM]

  Getty Images @Lebeaucarnews Here's something those trying to cash in on frequent flyer miles or points seldom hear: It's now easier to book the flight you want to the destination you want. The annual Switchfly Reward Seat Availability Survey, which gauges the frequent flyer programs at 25 of the world's largest airlines, found seats were available for frequent flyer redemption on 72.4 percent of the flights checked. That's a 1.3 percent increase compared with the prior year. "I was surprised by this year's results," said Jay Sorensen, president of IdeaWorks consulting firm, which surveyed 7,640 flights in March. "Typically, when you see the industry recovering from financial duress, one of the things they cut back on is giving away free seats." Instead, many airlines have actually made frequent flyer seats available on more of their flights. Sorensen credits the boost to the independent credit cards many flyers now use to rack up award miles that they can redeem without restrictions. Those credit cards, like the one offered by Capitol One, have become popular with consumers, and have forced airlines to make it easier for members of their own frequent flyer programs to cash in miles or points in order to compete. "[The airlines] want to compete against the bank-issued credit cards, so this is one way for them to do that," Sorensen said. Another factor is an accounting rule that says airlines can book revenue from the sale of frequent flyer miles only after the passenger has traveled. Low-cost carriers offer the most options As has been the case in past years, low-cost carriers have the most flights offering seats for frequent flyer redemption, according to the study. On average, 95.8 percent of the low-cost airline flights surveyed had seats available. By comparison, traditional airlines had frequent flyer award seats on 65 percent of their flights. That's up 4 percent from last year, but still well below the availability offered by low-cost airlin

• [By abirk]

  In 2013, compared to its peers Delta Air Lines (DAL) and Southwest Airlines (LUV), Spirit�� stock was higher by more than 153%. The company�� adjusted net income for the third quarter 2013 increased 130.3% to $57.9 million ($0.79 per diluted share) compared to $25.2 million ($0.35 per diluted share) for the third quarter 2012. Spirit achieved an adjusted pre-tax margin of 20.3%, the highest quarterly adjusted pre-tax margin in the Company's history. Its return on invested capital (before taxes and excluding special items) for the last twelve months ended September 30, 2013 was 31.3%. Spirit ended the third quarter 2013 with $540 million in unrestricted cash.

Top 5 Quality Stocks To Buy Right Now: Canadian Solar Inc.(CSIQ)

Canadian Solar Inc. engages in the design, development, manufacture, and sale of solar power products in Canada and internationally. The company offers solar cell and solar module products that convert sunlight into electricity for various uses. Its products include a range of standard solar modules for use in a range of residential, commercial, and industrial solar power generation systems. The company also designs and produces specialty solar modules and products consisting of customized modules that its customers incorporate into their products, such as solar-powered bus stop lighting; and specialty products, such as portable solar home systems and solar-powered car battery chargers. In addition, it sells solar system kits, a package consisting of solar modules produced by it and third party supplied components, such as inverters, racking system, and other accessories, as well as implements solar power development projects. The company sells its products under the Canad ian Solar brand name. Canadian Solar Inc. offers its standard solar modules through a direct sales force and sales agents primarily to distributors, system integrators, and original equipment manufacturer customers, as well as to solar projects; and specialty solar modules and products to the automotive, telecommunications, and light-emitting diode lighting sectors. The company was founded in 2001 and is based in Kitchener, Canada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Kell and Lauren Pollock var popups = dojo.query(".socialByline .popC"); ]

  Canadian Solar Inc.(CSIQ) swung to a profit in the fourth quarter, but warned of weather-related impacts on its top line in the current period. Shares of the company fell 8.4% to $40 in recent premarket trading.

• [By Michael Cintolo]

  Canadian Solar (CSIQ) is a Chinese solar company that's headquartered in Ontario. The company makes silicon ingots, wafers, solar cells, and modules, and ranks among the largest solar companies in the world.

• [By Aaron Levitt]

  After years of cheap natural gas eating photovoltaic�� lunch, solar stocks are back with a vengeance. Already, we��e seen better earnings from a host of hot solar stocks like First Solar (FSLR) and Canadian Solar (CSIQ). And now, its smaller solar stock ReneSola�� turn (SOL) … and SOL stock may just surprise investors.

• [By Travis Hoium]

  Just when the Chinese solar industry is starting to gain some traction the scandals that crushed investor confidence in Chinese stocks are back again. An SEC charge of securities violations against accounting firms Deloitte, KPMG, PricewaterhouseCoopers, BDO, and Ernst & Young is now in court and "Client A" in exhibits yesterday turns out to be none other than Canadian Solar (NASDAQ: CSIQ  ) , one of the largest solar manufacturers in the world. �

Top 5 Quality Stocks To Buy Right Now: State Bank of India (SBIN)

State Bank of India (SBI) is an India-based commercial bank. Its primary banks include Treasury, Corporate / Wholesale Banking, Retail Banking and Other Banking business. The Treasury Segment includes the entire investment portfolio and trading in foreign exchange contracts and derivative contracts. The Corporate / Wholesale Banking segment comprises the lending activities of Corporate Accounts Group, Mid Corporate Accounts Group and Stressed Assets Management Group. These include providing loans and transaction services to corporate and institutional clients and further include non-treasury operations of foreign offices. The Retail Banking Segment consists of branches in National Banking Group, which primarily includes Personal Banking activities, including lending activities to corporate customers having banking relations with branches in the National Banking Group. This segment also includes agency business and automated teller machines (ATMs). Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lyubov Pronina]

  India�� S&P BSE Sensex Index dropped 4 percent in Mumbai as State Bank of India (SBIN) tumbled to the lowest level in four years. ICICI Bank Ltd. slumped 5.2 percent. The rupee touched an unprecedented 62.0050 per dollar today before closing 0.3 percent weaker from Aug. 14 at 61.6550 in Mumbai, according to prices from local banks compiled by Bloomberg.

• [By Calev Ben-David]

  Credit-default swaps for the State Bank of India (SBIN), a proxy for the sovereign, have risen by almost two thirds since May 22, while the rupee slid about 10 percent. In Turkey, swaps jumped by about half, and the currency dropped about 6 percent.

Top 5 Quality Stocks To Buy Right Now: CSX Corporation (CSX)

CSX Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides rail-based transportation services. The company offers traditional rail service, and the transport of intermodal containers and trailers. It transports crushed stone, sand and gravel, metal, phosphate, fertilizer, food, consumer, agricultural, automotive, paper, and chemical products; and utility, industrial, and export coal to electricity-generating power plants, steel manufacturers, industrial plants, and deep-water port facilities. The company also provides intermodal transportation services through a network of approximately 50 terminals transporting manufactured consumer goods in containers in the eastern United States, as well as performs drayage services and trucking dispatch operations. In addition, it operates distribution centers and storage locations; connects non-rail served customers to the benefits of rail by transferring products, such as ethanol and minerals, from rail to trucks; engages in the real estate sale, leasing, acquisition, and management and development activities. CSX Corporation operates approximately 21,000 route mile rail network, which serves various population centers in 23 states east of the Mississippi River, the District of Columbia, and the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec, as well as operates approximately 4,000 locomotives. It also serves production and distribution facilities through track connections to approximately 240 short-line and regional railroads. CSX Corporation was founded in 1978 and is based in Jacksonville, Florida.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Marc Bastow]

  Rail transportation services provider CSX (CSX) raised its quarterly dividend 6.67% to 16 cents per share.
  Payout Date: June 13
  Ex-Dividend Date: May 23
  CSX Dividend Yield: 2.27%

• [By Selena Maranjian]

  Other companies didn't do as well last year, but could see their fortunes change in the coming years. Railroad company CSX (NYSE: CSX  ) added 6%. It has been hurt by weakness in coal, but coal is likely to remain in demand internationally, and CSX is geographically well positioned to benefit from coal exports, with its access to Eastern and Gulf Coast ports. Transporting petroleum and other energy products is another revenue booster. The stock recently yielded 2.6%, and appears attractively priced, given industry consolidation and improvements.

• [By Wallace Witkowski]

  Industrials also play a large role in the coming week with Honeywell International Inc. (HON) , Textron Inc. (TXT) , CSX Corp. (CSX) , Union Pacific Corp. (UNP) �and General Electric Co. (GE) �reporting.

Hot Prefered Stocks To Own For 2014

On Wednesday, Five Below (NASDAQ: FIVE  ) will release its latest quarterly results. But with the stock finally giving up some ground after having soared since its IPO last summer, investors really want to see positive results from the company this time around.

Five Below combines the attraction of teen and preteen retail with the customer cost-effectiveness of deep-discount products. For kids on a budget, the retailer has a wide array of accessories for bargain-conscious shoppers. Let's take an early look at what's been happening with Five Below over the past quarter and what we're likely to see in its quarterly report.

Stats on Five Below

Analyst EPS Estimate

$0.04

Year-Ago EPS

($0.03)

Revenue Estimate

Top 5 Paper Stocks To Own For 2015: Arc Wireless Solutions Inc.(ARCW)

ARC Wireless Solutions, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides wireless network components and solutions in the United States. It is involved in the design, development, manufacture, marketing, and sale of antennas and related wireless communication systems, including cellular base stations, mobiles, cellulars, and flat panel antennas. The company?s products also include global positioning systems; and conformal, portable, and other antennas, as well as antenna accessories. ARC Wireless Solutions, Inc. markets its commercial line of antennas directly to distributors, installers, and retailers of antenna accessories, as well as to commercial, government, and retail markets. It offers its products under the Freedom Antenna Exsite, Omnibase, Parity, Arc Vlpa, Airbase, and And Freedom Blade brand names. The company was formerly known as Antennas America, Inc. and changed its name to ARC Wireless Solutions, Inc. in October 2000. ARC Wireless Solutions, Inc. was founded in 1987 and is based in Denver, Colorado.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Meanwhile, top decliners in the sector included ARC Group Worldwide (NASDAQ: ARCW), down 6.8 percent, and 8x8 (NASDAQ: EGHT), off 5.7 percent.

  Top Headline
  Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) is in talks to acquire headphone maker Beats Electronics, according to a Financial Times report from Thursday afternoon. The deal is rumored to be around $3.2 billion, which would make it Apple's largest acquisition to date.

Hot Prefered Stocks To Own For 2014: Gray Fox Petroleum Corp (GFOX)

Gray Fox Petroleum Corp., incorporated on September 22, 2011, is a domestic oil and gas exploration and development company. The Company focuses on the acquisition and exploration of oil and natural gas properties in the Western United States.

The Company has 100% working interest and an 82% net revenue interest in the 32,723 acre West Ranch Prospect. The Company�� West Ranch Prospect is located in the Butte Valley Oil Play Region of north central Nevada in Elko and White Pine Countries, which has produced over 50 million barrels of oil in Nevada from structures and reservoir horizons similar to those under the West Ranch Prospect. The prospect consists of 22 Federal leases in the Butte Valley Oil Play Region.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Peter Graham]

  On Friday, small cap mining stocks Maverick Minerals Corp (OTCMKTS: MVRM) and Liberty Coal Energy Corp (OTCMKTS: LBTG) plus oil stock Gray Fox Petroleum Corp (OTCBB: GFOX) sank 30.9%, 16.67% and 11.2%, respectively. However, only one of these stocks appears to have been the subject of some kind of paid promotion in the form of an investment in some shares. So will these three small cap mining or oil stocks keep coming up empty for investors this week? Here is a closer look:

Hot Prefered Stocks To Own For 2014: First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index Fund (QCLN)

First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge US (ETF) seeks investment results that correspond to the price and yield of an equity index of the NASDAQ Clean Edge U.S. Liquid Series Index. It is a market capitalization weighted index designed to track the performance of clean energy companies that are publicly traded in the United States and includes companies engaged in manufacturing, development, distribution and installation of emerging clean-energy technologies, including solar photovoltaics, biofuels and advanced batteries.

The NASDAQ Clean Edge U.S. Liquid Series Index is a modified market cap weighted index in which larger companies receive a larger index weighting. First Trust Advisors L.P. is the adviser of the fund.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Todd Shriber, ETF Professor]

  The news was predictably good for a pair of ETFs that should be known as "Tesla ETFs." The Market Vectors Global Alternatve Energy ETF (NYSE: GEX) and the First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index Fund (NASDAQ: QCLN) both traded higher on a down day for U.S. stocks, rising to within pennies of their previous 52-week highs.

Hot Prefered Stocks To Own For 2014: Aberdeen Australia Equity Fund Inc (IAF)

Aberdeen Australia Equity Fund, Inc. (the Fund) is a closed-end, non-diversified management investment company. The Fund�� principal investment objective is long-term capital appreciation through investment primarily in equity securities of Australian companies listed on the Australian Stock Exchange Limited. Its secondary objective is current income, which is expected to be derived primarily from dividends and interest on Australian corporate and governmental securities. The Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in equity securities, consisting of common stock, preferred stock and convertible stock, of companies tied economically to Australia (each an Australian Company), and at least 65% of its total assets in equity securities, consisting of common stock, preferred stock and convertible stock, listed on the Australian Stock Exchange Limited (ASX). Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dividends4Life]

  According to a Gabelli Funds report, managed distribution policies offer several advantages, including:1. Lower difference between the fund�� market price and its NAV per share.2. Provides support during periods when the stock market is in a decline.3. Provides a measurable performance target for the investment adviser.Below are several high-yield funds from CEFA that have a managed distribution policy (yields as of December 16):Aberdeen Australia Eqty (IAF)- Distribution Yield: 10.4%- Income Yield: 3.46%Bexil Advisers LLC� (DNI)- Distribution Yield: 11.1%- Income Yield: 3.56%BlackRock En Capital&Inc (CII)- Distribution Yield: 8.78%- Income Yield: 2.34%Cornerstone Strat Value (CLM)- Distribution Yield: 18.77%- Income Yield: 1.83%Cornerstone Total Return (CRF)- Distribution Yield: 19.10%- Income Yield: 0.85%Delaware Inv Div & Inc (DDF)- Distribution Yield: 6.70%- Income Yield: 5.26%Gabelli Equity Trust (GAB)- Distribution Yield: 7.58%- Income Yield: 1.54%Gabelli Utility Trust (GUT)- Distribution Yield: 9.45%- Income Yield: 2.84%MFS Special Value Trust (MFV)- Distribution Yield: 9.60%- Income Yield: 5.73%Nuveen Tx-Adv TR Strat (JTA)- Distribution Yield: 6.70%- Income Yield: 3.12%TCW Strategic Income (TSI)- Distribution Yield: 10.54%- Income Yield: 7.88%Zweig Total Return (ZTR)- Distribution Yield: 7.27%- Income Yield: 1.95%As noted in the Gabelli report, a managed distribution policy may create confusion regarding the true current yield since the reported yield includes the return of capital portion. You can see the disparity above between the income yield and the distribution (reported) yield.If you are looking for a sustainable and growing dividend, you may want to consider some blue-chip dividend stocks such as these with a Free Cash Flow Payout less than 50%, 50+ years of consecutive dividend increases and a 2%+ yield:3M Co. (MMM) is a diversified global company provides enhanced product functionality in electronics, health care, industrial, consumer

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RIAs, Get With It: Here Comes ‘Generation Now’

A pair of Schwab Advisor Services studies released June 19 focus on the opportunities for RIAs among the members of “Generation Now,” affluent people ages 30 to 45 who already control $3.5 trillion in investable assets.

While Bernie Clark, executive vice president and head of SAS at Charles Schwab Corp. (SCHW), says “the research clearly shows that the RIA model is right for these individuals,” advisors who assume they can attract and service these younger prospective clients with the same tactics employed for baby boomer clients will be disappointed.

In an interview at ThinkAdvisor’s offices on June 17, Clark pointed out that those RIA firms who already are having success with ‘Gen Now’ “tend to have a next-gen advisor” on their staff. Gen Now wants “more connectivity” with their advisors, he said, and “on their terms.”

Clark said that “to appeal to Gen Now, you have to look like them,” and since they have “new centers of influence,” often tied to their social media networks, advisors must figure out “how do you get into those places?”

In addition, RIA firms that “embrace technology” see it not as “a distraction,” but rather a business model that improves their firms’ efficiency while also serving as an entrée into Gen Now’s networks. That’s yet another reason for advisors to “hire more younger people with social media” expertise, Clark argued.

The “Generation Now” study was conducted in March and April of this year with 40 participants ages 30 to 45 with investable assets of at least $500,000 or a household income of at least $150,000. Schwab Advisor Services also released the findings of its 15th semiannual Independent Advisor Outlook Study (IAOS), which surveyed 720 independent advisors (not all of whom custody with Schwab) from mid-April to early May. The findings of that study dovetailed with the opportunities presented by Gen Now, a term Schwab coined to reflect its belief that younger investors are a significant opportunity now, not in some ill-defined future, for advisors. 

Generation Now Findings

The Gen Now study found that these younger affluent individuals share many of the same goals-based planning needs as boomers, which is valuable because “fractional points of return haven’t been driving the relationship” between RIAs and their clients, Clark said. However, they also have different characteristics.

For one, they’re more anxious, based on the experiences they’ve had with terrorism, the Great Recession, the dot-com and housing bubbles and pervasive unemployment, especially among younger people. They also tend to distrust financial institutions, reflected in the high levels of cash they hold in their portfolios. They can’t differentiate between different types of advisors, distrust the profession in general and feel that advisors don’t understand them. However, they hope for financial freedom, which they define as not having to worry about the unexpected, and they mostly want to feel sure that their income and investments will cover the costs of health care, education, housing and elder care expenses.

Finally, Clark pointed out that their money goals do not revolve around acquiring ‘things’ and instead “they want experiences and travel.” In the investing realm, Clark suggested that socially responsible investing strategies will be important to the members of this generation.

The IAOS study, the findings of which were also presented at SAS’ Explore conference for advisors in Naples, Fla., on June 19, was tailored specifically to explore advisors’ attitudes about Gen Now. It turns out their attitudes are decidedly mixed over whether that generation represents a business threat or an opportunity.

Of the 720 advisors surveyed — who self-reported that they had $180 billion in aggregate AUM — 37% said they saw risk in the impending wealth transfers from older generations to younger, and said they needed to “develop new client relationships” that will allow them to maintain their current AUM and grow their businesses.

Another 40%, however, saw this big wealth transfer as “an opportunity to develop a model to meet the needs of emerging clients and smaller accounts.” Those findings are particularly telling, Clark said in the interview, since 40% of RIAs’ clients are now retired, with another 30% to retire in the next 10 years, with serious repercussions for the standard RIA business model of charging fees for managing assets, which will decline with so many clients drawing down their portfolios for income in retirement.

So how can RIAs attract that next generation of clients and their assets? Ninety-one percent of respondents said that demonstrating firm expertise and services will be the most important step they can take, followed at 83% by three different, but related, steps. The three are having a strong reputation “based on firm reviews and centers of influence relationships; offering a unique service or value proposition; and clearly communicating the benefits/differences of the RIA model.”

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What about referrals, the lifeblood of new business for most advisors? While 32% of respondents said referrals were a formal and routine part of their firm’s culture, 55% said their referral process was informal. In two other findings, 53% said they believe reaching the next generation will require “engagement with entirely new” centers of influence, but only 32% said that social media were “vital to communicating with the next generation of clients.”

Responding to those findings, Clark said in the interview that as part of Schwab’s ongoing Insights to Action Program, it will launch a new program for advisors to help them “create the discipline” needed around referrals. That program, he said, will stress that in every firm “everybody is responsible for referrals, not just the rainmakers,” and that firms should institute “reward systems” that provide incentives for everyone in the firm — “advisors and support staff” — to get referrals.

The study found that such a system is already partly in place at 55% of respondents’ firms who said they “measure staff performance based on the amount of new assets they bring to the firm.”

Go Long with Your 401k to Avoid Low-Rate Bank Savings

These days, the talk on bond trading desks is higher interest rates. The thinking is that as the Federal Reserve winds down its fiscal stimulus spending, banks and lenders will have to hike rates to attract investors to fill the breach.

That's one theory, and it may or may not play out. But our current situation is saving rates are at historic lows, to the point they're threatening the financial security of Americans heading into retirement.

According to current data, rates remain down across the board on bank savings vehicles. Look at this week's rates of return on these savings vehicles:

One-year CD rates: 0.28%

Interest checking: 0.04%

Money market accounts: 0.10%

Bank savings: 0.07%

Those are measly returns that don't even begin to counter the eroding effects of inflation, and they've pretty much been that way since 2008 at the breakout of the Great Recession.

In a research paper, Prudential, says Americans may see their "retirement prospects eroded by prolonged periods of low interest rates."

The paper, Planning for Retirement: The Impact of Interest Rates, taps into Prudential's National Retirement Risk Index to estimate that 53% of U.S. households face diminished investment returns when they stop earning a paycheck.

Who's most at risk? Prudential points to middle-income Americans (the biggest users of 401k plans in the U.S.), who generally aren't as aggressive with their 401k plans as more are more affluent Americans, who don't seem to mind the risk.

Prudential says:

Research concluded that interest rate levels alone would have only a modest impact on the [National Retirement Risk Index]. A key reason for this is that Social Security and defined-benefit pension income, which are not impacted by interest rate changes, make up the majority of total wealth for most Americans. Further, the NRRI assumes households annuitize th! eir financial and housing wealth at retirement. This measure protects the income generated from those assets against interest rate risk as well as equity market and longevity risks. For those who do not protect their retirement income, however, these risks can have a significant impact on their retirement prospects.

Higher-earning Americans take more concrete steps, such as investing in stocks and annuities for a steady income stream in retirement, or saving more money in 401k plans by using automatic enrollment, automatic escalation of contributions and in-plan guaranteed lifetime income solutions.

Meeting regularly with a financial adviser is another thing wealthier Americans do more than middle-income and lower-income U.S adults, Prudential adds in its report. It helps, as financial professionals can provide clarity on the impact of low interest rates on a retirement portfolio.

Those are the things all future 401k millionaires should be doing as they prepare for retirement in a low-income rate environment.

If you don't, you risk spending some of your Golden years working under the Golden Arches.

Brian O'Connell is an investment analyst at Investing Daily, and the editor of the 401K Millionaire. An ex-Wall Street bond trader, he has appeared as an expert financial commentator on CNN, NPR, Fox News, Bloomberg, CNBC, C-Span, CBS Radio, and many other media broadcast outlets, and is the author of two best-selling books on retirement investing.

 

 

 

 

 

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Top 10 High Dividend Companies To Invest In Right Now: Guggenheim Multi-Asset Income ETF (CVY)

The Guggenheim Multi-Asset Income ETF (the Fund), formerly Claymore/Zacks Multi-Asset Income Index ETF, seeks investment results that correspond generally to the performance of an equity index called the Zacks Multi-Asset Income Index (the Index). The Index consists of approximately 125 to 150 securities selected, based on investment and other criteria, from a universe of domestic and international companies. The universe of securities within the Index includes United States-listed common stocks, American depositary receipts (ADRs) paying dividends, real estate investment trusts, master limited partnerships, closed-end funds and traditional preferred stocks. The companies in the universe are selected using a methodology developed by the index provider, Zacks Investment Research, Inc. The Fund, using a passive or indexing investment approach, seeks to replicate the performance of the Index. The Funds investment advisor is Claymore Advisors, LLC. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Genia Turanova]

  Moreover, investors can do one-stop shopping for most income classes through a single ETF as well. One interesting choice here is Guggenheim Multi-Asset Income (CVY).

source from Top Penny Stocks For 2015:http://www.seekpennystocks.com/top-10-high-dividend-companies-to-invest-in-right-now.html

Even in ruin, Detroit's Packard plant inspires…

DETROIT -- It's a place that has inspired world-class poets, blockbuster filmmakers, pioneering techno musicians, wildly inventive graffiti artists and, yes, chroniclers of ruin porn.

The old Packard Plant isn't just Detroit's largest decaying structure. It's a muse to thinkers around the world, who find anger, grief, astonishment and beauty in its decaying space.

The crumbling Motor City icon is explored in Packard: The Last Shift, which opened the newly launched Freep Film Festival on Thursday night.

Directed, produced, written and filmed by Detroit Free Press videographer Brian Kaufman, the documentary is the latest creative endeavor connected to the 40-acre swath of land that's both a monument to industry and an elegy to the declining fortunes of the city that forged America's middle class.

A southern California native, Kaufman wanted to "find the details" of what happened to the automotive plant that was designed by Albert Kahn in the early 1900s as a reinforced concrete marvel of construction.

"Most people who visit Packard probably have no idea why it looks the way it does today," says Kaufman. "I think there is the assumption that folks just left, but the site was used and viable until the late 1990s when a legal battle over ownership brought demolition and evictions, which resulted in scrapping, fire and weather-related destruction."

Along with exploring the Packard's past and potential future, the movie also looks at the plant's hold on high culture and the popular kind, too. Near the opening, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Philip Levine reads his "The Last Shift," which begins with a glimpse of Packard and is dotted with apocalyptic symbols of death and loss.

At the Packard Plant in Detroit, Mich., two ! blended photographs show the plant as it stood in 1926 and 2012. The Albert Kahn-designed factory was the first industrial use of reinforced concrete in the world and is shown here in 1926 as Packard Six Sedans near the end of the assembly line. Years of emptiness, decay, fire and scrapping have dramatically altered the appearance of the plant, though its structure remains intact. Historic photograph courtesy of the National Automotive History Collection, Detroit Public Library.(Photo: Brian Kaufman, Detroit Free Press)

Levine, a former autoworker, never was employed at the Packard, but he passed it often as a boy on Sunday trips to Belle Isle in the summer. "It looked so magnificent to me and powerful," he recalls.

That mix of grandeur and arrogance felt something like an attempt to put ordinary people in their place, according to Levine, who's renowned for his poetry about urban working people.

"I think I chose that factory for that poem because I was so impressed by its looks. It's not only part of industry, it's part of the way Detroit looks, the definition of the city. ... If I'm going to end the world, and I'm kind of ending everything in that poem, let's do it there. Let it happen in a place that can last forever but won't outlive us," he says.

As the Packard has declined and emptied, it has been repopulated, in a sense, by both artists and curiosity seekers.

The documentary shows how graffiti artists continue to use the structure as their blank canvas. Tourists and professional photographers are still flocking there to take the bleak images of urban dereliction known as ruin porn.

In the 1980s and 1990s, the Packard Plant was home to late-night rave parties that transformed the site into a grassroots magnet for electronic music. As techno artifact collector Logan Siegel says in the film, "It's the stuff of myth and legend. These parties are still talked about as the pinnacle of Detroit's techno legacy."

The movie features the music of Windsor native Rich! ie Hawtin! , a world-renowned electronic music artist known for staging underground dance music parties at Packard in the mid-'90s. There also are snippets of music videos, from Eminem's Beautiful to a video by a Korean boy band called B.A.P.

Browse the web and you'll find Packard is the backdrop for the 2010 video The Drug by Royksopp, a Norwegian electronic music duo. You're also likely to bump into videos of skiers performing jumps and tricks at the plant and more recent footage of a dirt bike ride.

Artists have been exploring the dilapidated complex for decades. Social media have helped fuel the influx of casual visitors. The economic downturn has brought the rise in scrappers seeking metal to sell.

The thread that holds them together is opportunity, according to artist Scott Hocking, whose 2009-11 installation on the Packard rooftop, Garden of the Gods, used concrete columns and wooden television consoles to represent the gods of the classical Greek pantheon.

"Scrappers see it as an opportunity to strip metal and salvage waste. Photographers might see it as an opportunity to capture history and monumental decay. Musicians might see it as a gritty, tough background. 'Urban explorers' see it as the most sprawling and massive complex, where you can roam freely and have a sense of adventure or discovery. It's a gigantic place, and it can be a lot of different things for different people," said Hocking via e-mail.

Fire damage hints at the cause of a roof collapse in building #12 at the Packard Plant in Detroit. In the days of automobile production, this floor was used for paint mixing and storage. Photo taken on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2010.(Photo: Brian Kaufman Detroit Free Press)

The Packard's lure for artists drew globally fam! ous graff! iti artist Banksy and led to the current controversy over the 555 Nonprofit Gallery and Studios' plan to put one of his pieces up for sale. The piece, excavated from the plant four years ago and weighing in at 1,500 pounds, could sell for several hundred thousand dollars.

Visits to the Packard Plant are a jaw-dropping experience for out-of-town journalists trying to grasp its scale and history. Professor Thomas Klug, director of Marygrove College's Institute for Detroit Studies, experienced that reaction when he helped guide a woman from Austrian public radio and her crew to Detroit landmarks.

"The Packard was clearly one of the top items on her list. She was just fascinated and enthralled with it," says Klug.

Art and commerce intersect at the site, in ways small and huge. You can buy a $20 bracelet on Etsy supposedly made with materials recovered from the plant. Or you can watch 2011's "Transformers: Dark of the Moon," the third installment of director Michael Bay's hit action film series, which used the Packard Plant for a derailed train scene.

The Michigan location manager for Transformers: Dark of the Moon, David Rumble, says the plant is a constant draw for Hollywood visitors.

"Even if we're not going to film there, people always want me to take them there," he says. "It's mind-boggling for people from out of state that there's a building this size that's just decaying and in such shape."

While the "Transformers" train scene took just a few days to film, it required two months of preparation for safety and privacy concerns, according to Rumble. Even with the crew's best efforts to seal off access to the spot that would be used for filming, "there were always people popping out of weird nooks and crannies."

What's next for the plant site? Packard: The Last Shift has footage of new owner Fernando Palazuelo touring the place and vowing that he'll live there one day.

The future is uncertain, but for now, artists continue to find life at Packard, a defianc! e to the ! decay that fits with Eminem's lines from Beautiful: "Nobody asked for life to deal us/With these (profanity) hands we're dealt/We gotta take these cards ourselves/And flip 'em, don't expect no help."

Says Hocking, "I think artists and musicians know they'll never find another place or opportunity quite like the Packard complex — for whatever their interests are — good intentions or bad. And it won't last forever. Let's talk again in 2029."

Income inequality hits retirement confidence

  How to save for retirement in 2014 NEW YORK (CNNMoney) Wealthier retirement savers are regaining confidence that they'll be able to afford to retire comfortably, but lower-income workers remain worried their nest eggs will fall short.

Amid an improving economy and booming stock market, 55% of workers surveyed said they were "very" or "somewhat" confident that their savings would be enough -- up from 51% last year, according to an annual survey released Tuesday by the Employee Benefit Research Institute.

Ultimate Guide to Retirement Getting started401(k)s & company plansInvestingAnnuitiesIRAsSelf-employment plansPensions and benefit plansSocial SecurityInsuranceEstate planningLiving in retirementGetting help

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The hitch: That improved confidence was reported almost exclusively by higher-income households ($75,000 and up) and by those participating in an Individual Retirement Account or employer's pension or 401(k) plan, EBRI noted.

Among workers without any retirement savings plan, nearly half said they were "not at all confident" they would have a big enough nest egg, compared to just 11% of those with a plan.

Saving through employer-sponsored plans can be a big help. Yet millions of Americans don't have access to workplace retirement benefits -- a problem that plays a major factor in the country's savings crisis, advocates say.

Meanwhile, out of all workers surveyed, many reported little or no retirement savings. More than half said they had less than $10,000 set aside, while 36% said they had less than $1,000 saved. In contrast, only 22% said they had $100,000 or more.

While EBRI surveyed workers of all ages, financial planners typically recommend that workers aim to eventually have at least 11 times their annual salary saved. So a worker retiring with a $65,000 income would need a nest egg of around $715,000.

"People recognize the need to save," but they aren't acting on that knowledge, said Greg Burrows, senior vice president of retirement and investor services at Principal Financial Group, one of the survey sponsors.

Again, income was a major factor. More than two-thirds of those with less than $1,000 saved (68%) had household incomes of $35,000 a year or less.

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Workers reported that basic cost-of-living expenses were the greatest burden holding back their savings, while debt was another major obstacle, according to EBRI.

Other retirement worries included possible cuts to Social Security benefits and spi! raling health care bills.

The survey polled 1,000 workers age 25 and older and 501 retirees.