Chicago Booth Claims MBA Stock Picker Victory

CHAPEL Hill, N.C. (TheStreet) -- The University of Chicago's Booth School of Business defeated 14 of the nation's top MBA programs Friday in a stockpicker competition in Chapel Hill, N.C.

Students Kyle Akin, Aaron Bianco and Mac Elatab cruised to a unanimous No. 1 performance in the final round of the Alpha Challenge as judges from various asset management firms favored the Booth team's mock pitch to take a long position on DigitalGlobe (DGI) and a short position on GenCorp (GY).

The event, hosted by the University of North Carolina, showcased top student talent, many of whom said they hoped to eventually work in investment management.

It was a "great" contest with a high level of competition and challenging questions from the judges, Elatab said. When asked if his Booth team would celebrate the victory, Elatab chuckled and said, "I think there's a Tar Heels game in town." Each business school represented consisted of three MBA students, who received a universe of 90 publicly traded companies on Nov. 3 and submitted by Nov. 11 a power point presentation pitching one company to "short" and one company to hold "long." Friday morning featured a preliminary round of 15 teams, including Yale University, University of Virginia's Darden School of Business -- who finished second and third, respectively -- UNC's Kenan-Flagler Business School and Columbia University, among others. The 15 teams were split into four different groups, in which they presented a 15-minute verbal pitch and answered judges' questions for an additional 20. The top team from each group advanced to the final round. Judges throughout the tournament represented buy-side firms, including Fidelity Investments, T. Rowe Price, Carlson Capital, William Blair, and others. Shares of DigitalGlobe, a provider of government and commercial earth imagery products, gained 3.6% to close Friday at $36.81. Aerospace and defense manufacturer GenCorp tacked on 0.4% to 17.69. -- Written by Joe Deaux in Chapel Hill, N.C. >Contact by Email. Follow @JoeDeaux

Omnivision Technologies, Inc. (OVTI) Q2 Earnings Preview: Picturing A Solid Quarter

OmniVision Technologies, Inc. (OVTI) plans to release its financial results for the second quarter of fiscal year 2014 on Tuesday, December 03, 2013, shortly after the market closes.  The Company plans to host a conference call to review the results and management's outlook for future periods at 5 p.m. (ET) that day.

Wall Street anticipates that the tech company will earn $0.43 per share for the quarter. iStock expects OVTI to beat Wall Street's consensus number. The iEstimate is $0.47; although, more could be possible.

OmniVision engages in designing, developing, and marketing semiconductor image-sensor devices worldwide. It offers CameraChip image sensors, which are single-chip solutions that integrate various functions, such as image capture, image processing, color processing, signal conversion, and output of a processed image or video stream for use in various consumer and commercial mass-market applications; and CameraCube imaging devices that are image sensors with integrated wafer-level optics.

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In addition, it designs and develops software drivers for Linux, Mac OSX, and Microsoft Windows, as well as for embedded operating systems, such as Android, Blackberry OS, Symbian, Windows CE, Windows Embedded, and Windows Mobile.

The specialized semiconductor company has a strong record of outperforming Wall Street's expectations. Management has put more on the bottom line than analysts projected 13 of the last 16 quarter. The range of bullish surprises was $0.01 to $0.25.

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Meanwhile, Omni missed the consensus mark twice, both by $0.04. And, for those keeping track, that leaves one result that hit the street's bull's-eye.

While EPS surprises are heavily tilted to the positive side, OVTI's earnings-driven price-performance has split the last 16 quarters with eight green and eight red reactions. The sto! ck averaged a gain of 9.2% in the three-days surrounding the "good" profit announcements and lost -9.07% for the "bad" announcements.

Fortunately, the November checkup has a little better track-record in the last four-years with the OVTI gaining 0.70%, 4.50%, and 6.6% with one loss of 9.10%.

iStock believes OmniVision is well positioned to make the most of the quarter bases on our review of the company's financial statements according to the most recent 10-Q.

Inventory fell, both as a percentage of sales and in real terms while costs of goods (COGS) sold plus total operating costs fell as a percentage of revenue; however, COGS did increase at 47.73% versus revenue growth of 44.80%. It's not an alarming difference, but means the company has to cut back on investments like selling & marketing and research & development to keep costs in-line.

Overall: The iEstimate and OmniVision Technologies, Inc.'s (OVTI) second quarter history suggests OVTI is a reasonable earnings trade candidate. 

Israeli start-up Silentium puts ‘silence in a …

TEL AVIV — Silence may be golden. But Silentium, maker of computer chip-based solutions to reduce noise, thinks it's better in silicon.

"Silentium is silence in Latin," says Yossi Barath, CEO of the producer of the S-Chip solution. "We put silence in a chip."

The fast-growing company has developed a chip and controller that can be integrated with any number of products. It is looking for a major jump in revenue in the next three years and expects to turn profitable late next year. The tech is already substantially reducing the whirring and roaring generated by computer servers, oven-range hoods and air conditioners.

And for those familiar with the 1960s iconic TV series Get Smart, Silentium is working on a modern version of the "Cone of Silence" — minus the cone. The idea is to enable anyone to sit back in a lounger or airline seat or lie on a pillow in bed, relax and hear next to nothing.

Noise "is one of the major pollutants in our world," Barath says. "People get sick and even die because of noise." Day to day, noise disturbs sleep and concentration and damages hearing.

PUTTING UP BARRIERS

How do we reduce noise right now? One way is barriers, like concert-hall doors or walls that separate roadways from residential areas. Another is absorbent building materials, like ceiling tiles and carpets.

But doors and walls are heavy. And physics says that the lower the frequency, the longer the wavelength and the greater the mass required to reduce noise. "If your neighbor is playing bass guitar or the drums … you can have triple-glazed windows and you'll still hear it," Barath says.

There are also noise-canceling headphones. But most people aren't going to walk around wearing them.

The theoretical offset to noise is called destructive interference. Barath explains that when noise occurs, "if you manage to deliver to that space the same [loudness,] the same frequency of [audio] signal, but with a reversed phase" — effectively a mirror image of the or! iginal sound waves — "they interfere with each other and are supposed mathematically to cancel each other."

But complete removal of a noise is not possible. "You are never able to match exactly the original wave with the wave that you are producing," Barath says. Because of the small mismatch, there will be some residual noise left.

If you could generate a solution instantaneously there would be no problem, he says. The challenge lies in predicting how something will sound when the mirror image is sent.

That's where the Silentium S-Chip comes in. The company developed algorithms and related electronics that enable it to predict and kill the noise in real time.

"We go to product makers," Barath says. "We give them our chip or our controller. We give them a tool that enables them to put our (solution) as close as possible to the noise source in their product. … And the product becomes quieter anywhere, in any direction (at) any distance."

Silentium employs 22 people and is headquartered in Rehovot, Israel, 45 minutes south of Tel Aviv. Founded 16 years ago, it has twice started operations and twice rebooted. The current team has largely been in place since 2005 and 2006, says Barath.

Barath, 63, worked with Elbit Computers, an Israeli technology firm. And he founded a spinoff, Elbit Vision Systems, which produces quality-control systems for textiles.

FROM RANGE HOODS TO COMPUTER SERVERS

So where has Silentium integrated its tech?

Faber, the Italian maker of range hoods under its brand and under private labels for other companies, integrates the technology. "Range hoods stop being the most annoying appliance in the room," Barath says.

Another application: Users of computer servers can slide the boxes into Silentium's AcoustiRack and suppress much of the noise they generate. "You can put (a) rack in a corner, put all your servers in it, and we'll be able to have this conversation without being disturbed," Barath notes. The racks are produce! d by a So! uth Korean firm under a Silentium license.

Silentium is looking for partners to integrate the tech into consumer products.

For the quiet zone — Silentium calls it a Quiet Bubble or QB — the aim is "putting our module into the headrest of a seat … and creating a silent zone around your head," Barath says. Seats in planes, buses, trains and cars are all candidates.

The company is collaborating with aircraft-seat makers to integrate the tech into headrests, possibly combined with the planes' infotainment systems.

Another potential application: "People want to be able to sleep without suffering from environmental ambient noise (and) snoring," Barath notes. "So makers of pillows and headboards might be interested."

And Barath says he's mulling potential patient-comfort applications for hospitals and health care.

On the financial side, Silentium in the next three months hopes to close on a $6 million fund-raising round, with the money largely to be used for business development and marketing. The company's largest shareholder is the Toronto investment firm SMI/Naor; other holders include Terra Venture Partners of Israel, Blue Coast Private Equity of the UK and Heliant Ventures of Australia.

Barath is also hiring: He's looking for a business-development executive to be based at headquarters. And he's seeking technical product managers in the U.S., Europe and Asia to talk with equipment-manufacturers and show them how Silentium can help their products run quieter.

Robert Daniel is an Israel-based financial writer and editor.

Facebook playing with fire by policing beheading videos

Rather than set a bright-line policy on violent images, Facebook must now decide what is the right context for clips of people being decapitated.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) Facebook has enacted a murky, case-by-case policy on violent content, setting the company on a precarious path.

Facebook (FB, Fortune 500)temporarily banned graphic, violent content from its site back in May, when clips including a particular video of a woman being beheaded were spreading across the site. That video resurfaced recently after Facebook quietly lifted the ban on graphic videos, and it once again caused a stir.

Facebook defended its decision on Monday after a BBC article publicized the lifting of the ban, but just 24 hours later, Facebook once again decided to take the video down.

But rather than set a bright-line policy on violent images, Facebook instead backed itself into a gray area. The site removed the specific beheading video that caused the flap -- but going forward, the site said it will make a determination about each post individually.

Facebook said it will allow the videos to stay up as long as posters "condemn" the violence and warn viewers of the graphic nature of the content. But the content will be removed if it is deemed to be shared for "sadistic pleasure or to celebrate violence."

Related story: Facebook kills search privacy setting

In doing so, Facebook has created yet another murky policy -- and thrust itself into making difficult decisions around controversial content on a case-by-case basis.

Instead of determining whether or not this content is allowed on Facebook, the site will now play the jury for each violent post that makes the rounds. If context is truly the key, why did Facebook remove this specific beheading post from the site entirely? Surely some of the users posting it were condemning the horrific act.

In explaining the new policy, Facebook said its philosophy is that people use the site to raise awareness of important issues -- and that sometimes involves violent images.

That may be true, but by getting into the context game, Facebook is making itself an easy target for the ongoing debate over what is censored on the site. Facebook has already gotten flak over controversial policy decisions involving issues like images of breastfeeding mothers -- which are sometimes banned and sometimes not.

With over 1.1 billion Facebook users, it's only a matter of time before another shocking bit of violence goes viral on the site. And now Facebook has put itself in the position of moral compass for all of those s! candals going forward.

At Work: Holiday hiring expected to increase th…

This news should snap you out of your government-shutdown blues and frustration with Washington:

Nearly 40% of retailers say they will beef up hiring for the holidays. That's up from 36% last year at this time and 29% in 2011, according to CareerBuilder's annual survey conducted by Harris Interactive.

STORY: Amazon to deliver 70K holiday jobs
STORY: Another firm predicts less holiday help

This includes high-end retailers like Macy's, which is expected to hire 83,000 for its stores, call centers, distribution centers and online fulfillment centers, and Wal-Mart, which says it will hire 55,000 seasonal workers.

Don't despair if retail is not your thing but short-term work is.

Other types of corporate settings have opportunities as companies wrap up the year and need extra hands to help them handle everything from customer service, sales and marketing to shipping and delivery, inventory management, clerical work, and accounting and finance.

Where are these employers? They're in information technology, leisure and hospitality, and financial services. And just as hiring goes the other nine months of the year, they like to hire people they know.

So the majority will re-hire some folks they've hired before.

But they also like to recruit: 45% tend to target college students. More than 50% will seek out retirees and experienced workers who are not retired.

Now is the time to apply since most companies won't be accepting applications after October.

Across the country nearly 40,000 welding jobs have been added since fall 2010, according to a CareerBuilder survey.(Photo: Digital Vision, Getty Images)

Also, think about who else needs help as we enter the holiday season and what kinds of jobs that could! mean. Some include jobs for recruiters who would look for people to fill seasonal jobs, people with the skills to help companies design window displays and decorations, people to put up and take down decorations, and operational and customer service representatives at companies that fulfill seasonal requests.

Another ray of sunshine comes from a different CareerBuilder survey that found that "middle-skill" or "middle-wage" jobs in the United States are thriving — at least in some fields and geographic areas.

This is particularly heartening news since Federal Reserve research shows that the share of these jobs had dropped from 25% in 1985 to just above 15% today. Factors such as automation and companies moving positions out of the country are to blame.

For the purpose of this study, which was done with Economic Modeling Specialists, middle-wage jobs are defined as those paying $13.84 to $21.13 an hour.

Even though more high-wage and low-wage jobs are available overall, some areas of manufacturing, health care and energy have middle-wage jobs that are stable and growing.

These positions include the following:

• Customer service representatives, up 6%.

• Tractor-trailer truck drivers, up 7%.

• Bookkeeping, accounting and auditing clerks, up 4%.

• Machinists, up 14%.

• Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers and weighers — they review raw materials and assembled parts and products — up 8%.

• Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers — workers who join metal parts — up 11%.

• Computer-controlled machine-tool operators, up 17%.

• Oil, gas and mining service unit operators, up 38%.

Wyoming has had the highest percentage of these jobs added since the recession; 45% of new jobs created in the state since 2010 have been middle-wage.

Most of this work requires experience or certificates and degrees that are offered at community colleges. Some employers give on-the-job training.

Looking further at! the brig! ht side, remember that you can start out part time or doing work you hadn't planned. But your position always can turn into more if you prove to be invaluable.

Who knows, maybe you'll start out doing one kind of work and discover you like the company enough to see where else things might go.

Career consultant Andrea Kay is the author of This Is How To Get Your Next Job: An Inside Look at What Employers Really Want. Reach her at andrea@andreakay.com. Twitter: @AndreaKayCareer.

BlackRock's Fink expects poor 4Q on debt talks

Laurence D. Fink Bloomberg News

Laurence D. Fink, whose BlackRock Inc. is the largest shareholder in companies from Apple Inc. to General Electric Co., said the United States will have a “very poor” fourth quarter even if lawmakers reach a compromise and extend the nation's borrowing authority.

“It will hurt retail sales and American CEOs in terms of how they deal with their quarter,” Mr. Fink, who is BlackRock's chief executive officer, said Friday at the 2013 Institute of International Finance annual membership meeting in Washington. The political uncertainty, coupled with the focus of many CEOs on short-term results, means companies won't invest in research, development and technology, said Fink, whose firm is the world's largest money manager with $3.86 trillion in assets.

Consumer sentiment in the U.S. fell in October to a nine- month low, and jobless claims rose to the highest level in six months, reports this week showed, as the government's partial shutdown and the debt-ceiling debate weighed on the world's largest economy. House Speaker John Boehner yesterday proposed a short-term debt limit increase to postpone a potential U.S. default.

Failure by the world's largest borrower to pay its debt -- unprecedented in modern history -- would devastate global markets, money managers including Mohamed El-Erian, chief executive officer of Pacific Investment Management Co., have said.

'Unacceptable Conversation'

“I think this is why it should be understood in this country by the men and women we put in our office that this is just an unacceptable conversation,” Mr. Fink said Friday.

The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan preliminary consumer sentiment index decreased to 75.2 this month from 77.5 in September, a report today showed. Economists in a Bloomberg survey projected a drop to 75.3, according to the median estimate. Applications for unemployment benefits jumped by 66,000 in the week ended Oct. 5 to 374,000, the Labor Department said yesterday.

President Barack Obama and House Republican leaders are discussing a potential agreement even as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said he doesn't like the idea of extending the deadline for a potential default. Reid said today he is open to hearing Republican proposals.

Job Creation

The most important thing countries need to focus on is job creation for the middle class as technology replaces workers who earn lower wages, said Mr. Fink.

“Everywhere in the world we are beginning to see a hollowing out of job creation,” he said. “I do believe it's structural.”

BlackRock, co-f

3 Health Care Stocks Under $10 to Watch

DELAFIELD, Wis. (Stockpickr) -- At Stockpickr, we track daily portfolios of stocks that are the biggest percentage gainers and the biggest percentage losers.

>>5 Stocks Under $10 Set to Soar

Stocks that are making large moves like these are favorites among short-term traders because they can jump into these names and try to capture some of that massive volatility. Stocks that are making big-percentage moves either up or down are usually in play because their sector is becoming attractive or they have a major fundamental catalyst such as a recent earnings release. Sometimes stocks making big moves have been hit with an analyst upgrade or an analyst downgrade.

Regardless of the reason behind it, when a stock makes a large-percentage move, it is often just the start of a new major trend -- a trend that can lead to huge profits. If you time your trade correctly, combining technical indicators with fundamental trends, discipline and sound money management, you will be well on your way to investment success.

>>5 Stocks Insiders Love Right Now

With that in mind, let's take a closer look at a several stocks under $10 that are making large moves to the upside today.

Medical Action Industries

Medical Action Industries (MDCI) develops, manufactures, markets and supplies a variety of disposable medical products. This stock closed up 5.2% to $7.49 a share in Thursday's trading session.

Thursday's Range: $7.09-$7.50

52-Week Range: $2.53-$10.07

Thursday's Volume: 111,000

Three-Month Average Volume: 77,869

From a technical perspective, MDCI ripped higher here and broke out above some near-term overhead resistance at $7.23 with above-average volume. This stock has been uptrending strong for the last two months and change, with shares soaring higher from its low of $5.04 to its intraday high of $7.50. During that move, shares of MDCI have been making mostly higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. Market players should now look for a continuation move higher in the short-term if MDCI can manage to take out Thursday's high of $7.50 with strong volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in MDCI as long as it's trending above its 200-day at $6.84 and then once it sustains a move or close above $7.50 with volume that hits near or above 77,869 shares. If we get that move soon, then MDCI will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $9 to $9.50.

BioScrip

BioScrip (BIOS) is a provider of pharmacy and home health services that partners with patients, physicians, hospitals, healthcare payors and pharmaceutical manufacturers. This stock closed up 3% to $6.03 in Thursday's trading session.

Thursday's Range: $5.85-$6.14

52-Week Range: $5.61-$17.62

Thursday's Volume: 1.11 million

Three-Month Average Volume: 1.62 million

From a technical perspective, BIOS spiked notably higher here with decent upside volume. This move is quickly pushing shares of BIOS within range of triggering big breakout trade. That trade will hit if BIOS manages to take out Thursday's high of $6.14 to more near-term resistance at $6.30 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in BIOS as long as it's trending above Thursday's low of $5.85 or above more support at $5.61 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 1.62 million shares. If that breakout hits soon, then BIOS will set up to re-fill some of its previous gap down zone from this month that started at $7.27.

Skilled Healthcare Group

Skilled Healthcare Group (SKH) is a provider of integrated long-term health care services through its skilled nursing companies and rehabilitation therapy business. This stock closed up 3.5% to $4.96 in Thursday's trading session.

Thursday's Range: $4.70-$4.99

52-Week Range: $4.10-$7.51

Thursday's Volume: 78,000

Three-Month Average Volume: 150,666

From a technical perspective, SKH spiked higher here right above its 50-day moving average of $4.46 with lighter-than-average volume. This move is quickly pushing shares of SKH within range of triggering a big breakout trade. That trade will hit if SKH manages to take out Thursday's high of $4.99 to some more near-term overhead resistance at $5.10 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in SKH as long as it's trending above Thursday's low of $4.70 or above its 50-day at $4.46 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 150,666 shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then SKH will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at its 200-day moving average of $5.76 to $6.25.

To see more stocks that are making notable moves higher today, check out the Stocks Under $10 Moving Higher portfolio on Stockpickr.

-- Written by Roberto Pedone in Delafield, Wis.

RELATED LINKS:

>>Profit From 5 Trades Warren Buffett Made

>>4 Stocks Spiking on Unusual Volume

>>5 Earnings Short-Squeeze Plays

Follow Stockpickr on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.

At the time of publication, author had no positions in stocks mentioned.

Roberto Pedone, based out of Delafield, Wis., is an independent trader who focuses on technical analysis for small- and large-cap stocks, options, futures, commodities and currencies. Roberto studied international business at the Milwaukee School of Engineering, and he spent a year overseas studying business in Lubeck, Germany. His work has appeared on financial outlets including

CNBC.com and Forbes.com. You can follow Pedone on Twitter at www.twitter.com/zerosum24 or @zerosum24.

JPM, Wells Fargo Keep Growing While BofA, Citi Shrink

At the top of the list sits JPMorgan Chase JPMorgan Chase with a whopping $2.46 trillion in assets followed by Bank of America Bank of America with $2.12 trillion. The two banks are the only ones with assets exceeding $2 trillion.

Citigroup Citigroup, the third largest bank by assets, isn't too far behind with $1.89 trillion and San Francisco-based Wells Fargo Wells Fargo is fourth with $1.48 trillion.

From there the 5th largest bank's assets, Bank of New York Mellon Bank of New York Mellon, drop off dramatically to $371 billion.

The ranking comes from SNL Financial which compiles the data each quarter.

There's hasn't been much change at the top of the ranking since 2011 when JPM claimed the #1 spot from BofA.

Ever since, JPM has held a steady lead over the rest of the nation's banks–a lead that keeps getting bigger. Just a year ago in the third quarter 2012, JPM's assets stood at $2.32 trillion; they've since increased 6%.

It will be interesting to see how JPM's assets evolve over the next 12 months. 2013 wasn't JPM's best. CEO Jamie Dimon reported the bank's first quarterly loss under his watch, it paid $13 billion to settle a big case with the Department of Justice and paid out billions in other suits as well. It was also the first time the bank made a big announcement recently about shutting down a line of business; in September JPM announced it would no longer accept applications for student loans.

Wells Fargo, though #4, has also been steadily growing its asset base at a rate even higher than JPM. Over the last 12 months, Wells, lead by CEO John Stumpf, has seen its total assets jump 8% from $1.37 trillion in the third quarter of 2012. That's the biggest increase among the big four banks.

Much of Wells' growth is due to some key loan purchases the bank has been making overseas. The bank has picked up several loan portfolios on the cheap from banks in Europe as the market there has been struggling and institutions there look to off-load assets.

Wells CFO Tim Sloan spoke about the bank's overall loan growth at a conference last week and noted the foreign loans. "Foreign loans grew $6.9 billion or 17%, which included $4 billion from the UK CRE acquisition we completed in the third quarter, as well as growth in our trade finance business," he said.

Meanwhile both Citi and Bank of America have seen their assets drop over the last few years. Just over the last 12 months both banks shed assets by about 2%.

Both bank have been actively selling non-core assets since the peak of the crisis in order to meet both regulator and shareholder demands.

Back in early 2009, BofA's assets were $2.32 trillion, or 8.4% more than where they stand today.

SNL notes that Citi's assets will decline even further by approximately $3.91 billion from the planned sale of its Brazilian credit card and consumer finance business.

There was only one new bank on the most recent list from SNL. Santa Clara, Calif.-based SVB Financial Group was the lone new entry coming in at #50 with $23.7 billion in assets.

SNL's rankings include banks and thrifts operating in the U.S. with a deposits-to-assets ratio of at least 25%. That means big firms like Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley don't make the cut since they don't hold significant deposits.

America's 10 Biggest Banks

Jury awards Apple $290 million in patent disput…

SAN FRANCISCO -- A federal jury on Thursday returned its damages verdict against Samsung, saying the electronics giant should pay Apple $290 million in the patent dispute involving technology used in iPhones and iPads.

The juror decision came after several days of deliberations that began on Tuesday after U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh gave juror instructions following closing arguments from both sides in the San Jose courtroom.

Apple and Samsung are embroiled in worldwide patent litigation disputes spanning multiple courts. Legal experts say Apple's suits against Samsung serve as a proxy war against Google's Android operating system.

Apple was seeking $380 million while Samsung had said it should only pay $52 million for the use of such features as the iPhone maker's "pinch to zoom" in 13 older products.

Last year, a jury awarded Apple more than $1 billion, finding Samsung had infringed its patents in 26 products. However, Judge Koh later ruled the jury had miscalculated damages for 13 products.

In March, a jury trial is set to hear Apple claims that current Samsung models are infringing on patents protecting its iPhone and iPad.

Apple attempts to ban Samsung from selling some of the devices in question landed a legal victory on Monday. The U.S. Federal Ciricuit of Appeals in Washington, D.C., ordered Koh to reconsider Apple's demands that some of the products a jury found infringed Apple's patents be barred for sale in the United States.

Koh in December turned down Apple, ruling that the company didn't prove that consumers bought Samsung devices instead of Apple devices because of the infringement.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Can Google Continue to Explode to the Upside?

With shares of Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) trading around $1031, is GOOG an OUTPERFORM, WAIT AND SEE, or STAY AWAY? Let's analyze the stock with the relevant sections of our CHEAT SHEET investing framework:

T = Trends for a Stock’s Movement

Google is a global technology company focused on improving the ways people engage with information. The business is based on the following areas: search, advertising, operating systems and platforms, and enterprise. The company generates revenue primarily by delivering online advertising. Google is a search giant with most of the market share, largely because of its execution and delivery. An increasing number of consumers and companies worldwide are coming online, which will surely increase the amount of eyes on the company's ads and, in turn, advertising revenue. At this rate, look for Google to remain on top of the Internet world.

Google is getting in the holiday spirit — and the entrepreneurial spirit as well — with its new "Winter Wonderlabs," little Google snow globe stores that not only allow users to enjoy virtual snow, but also give potential customers a chance to test out and purchase the newest merchandise. According to Mashable, Google says the Wonderlab asks customers to "step into the giant Snow Globe to create amazing slow-motion videos that are yours to keep and share," a new and unprecedented effort from Google towards pulling customers into retail.

T = Technicals on the Stock Chart Are Strong

Google stock has been exploding to the upside in the past several years. The stock  is currently trading near all-time highs and looks poised to continue. Analyzing the price trend and its strength can be done using key simple moving averages. What are the key moving averages? The 50-day (pink), 100-day (blue), and 200-day (yellow) simple moving averages. As seen in the daily price chart below, Google is trading above its rising key averages, which signal neutral to bullish price action in the near-term.

(Source: Thinkorswim)

Taking a look at the implied volatility (red) and implied volatility skew levels of Google options may help determine if investors are bullish, neutral, or bearish.

	Implied Volatility (IV)	30-Day IV Percentile	90-Day IV Percentile
Google Options	17.46%	26%	24%

What does this mean? This means that investors or traders are buying a minimal amount of call and put options contracts as compared to the last 30 and 90 trading days.

	Put IV Skew	Call IV Skew
December Options	Flat	Average
January Options	Flat	Average

As of today, there is an average demand from call buyers or sellers and low demand by put buyers or high demand by put sellers, all neutral to bullish over the next two months. To summarize, investors are buying a minimal amount of call and put option contracts and are leaning neutral to bullish over the next two months.

On the next page, let’s take a look at the earnings and revenue growth rates and the conclusion.

E = Earnings Are Increasing Quarter-Over-Quarter

Rising stock prices are often strongly correlated with rising earnings and revenue growth rates. Also, the last four quarterly earnings announcement reactions help gauge investor sentiment on Google’s stock. What do the last four quarterly earnings and revenue growth (Y-O-Y) figures for Google look like and more importantly, how did the markets like these numbers?

	2013 Q3	2013 Q2	2013 Q1	2012 Q4
Earnings Growth (Y-O-Y)	21.08%	-5.53%	13.60%	17.06%
Revenue Growth (Y-O-Y)	11.94%	15.52%	31.23%	24.87%
Earnings Reaction	13.79%	-1.55%	4.43%	5.49%

Google has seen increasing earnings and revenue figures over the last four quarters. From these numbers, the markets have been pleased with Google’s recent earnings announcements.

P = Excellent Relative Performance Versus Peers and Sector

How has Google stock done relative to its peers, Yahoo (NASDAQ:YHOO), Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), Baidu (NASDAQ:BIDU), and sector?

	Google	Yahoo!	Microsoft	Baidu	Sector
Year-to-Date Return	47.87%	78.44%	40.06%	13.06%	45.85%

Google has been a relative performance leader, year-to-date.

Conclusion

Google is an Internet giant that provides valuable search and advertising services to a growing user base worldwide. The company is getting in the holiday spirit  and the entrepreneurial spirit as well with its new Winter Wonderlabs. The stock has been exploding higher in recent years and is currently trading near all time high prices. Over the last four quarters, earnings and revenues have been rising, which has investors excited about recent earnings announcements. Relative to its strong peers and sector, Google has been a year-to-date performance leader. Look for Google to OUTPERFORM.

Delamaide: Yellen put on notice on bank rules

WASHINGTON — In her Senate confirmation hearing last week to succeed Ben Bernanke as chairman of the Federal Reserve, Janet Yellen pledged to make it a top priority of hers to solve the problem of banks that are "too big to fail."

Hopefully, it's not a promise too big to keep.

"I would agree that addressing too big to fail has to be among the most important goals of the post-crisis period," Yellen, who is currently vice chair at the Fed, said in response to a question from Ohio Democrat Sherrod Brown. "Too big to fail is damaging, it creates moral hazard, it corrodes market discipline, it creates a threat to financial stability, and it does — unfairly in my view — advantage large banking firms over small ones."

Addressing the problem, however, is easier said than done.

The Government Accountability Office issued a report last week suggesting that the Fed was dragging its feet on rules mandated by the Dodd-Frank financial reform to remedy too big to fail — notably by limiting the aid it can provide to banks in an emergency.

Dodd-Frank, GAO said in its report, "contains provisions that aim to modify the scope of federal safety nets, restrict future government support and strengthen regulatory oversight for the banking sector, but implementation is incomplete and the effectiveness of some provisions remains uncertain."

Specifically, the watchdog agency noted, "The Federal Reserve Board is required by the act to establish policies and procedures implementing changes to its emergency authority … but it has not completed its process for drafting the required procedures or set time frames for doing so."

The GAO recommended that the Fed set an internal time frame for completing the new rule on emergency lending and said it will report back when the central bank has followed up on that recommendation.

In general, implementation of Dodd-Frank has been slow as regulatory agencies, including the Fed, breeze past deadlines without any indication of progress i! n formulating and approving the rules.

Yellen didn't offer much comfort on that score, getting particularly vague whenever the subject of time frames came up.

Specifically on the question of emergency lending authority from Louisiana Republican David Vitter, Yellen came as close to stuttering over the answer as at any time in the hearing. She couldn't give a time frame, and Vitter asked her to come back with a written answer on that point.

Other Dodd-Frank regulations have yet to be implemented. The Volcker rule, for instance, which calls for separating speculative trading activities from banks benefiting from government-guaranteed deposit insurance, is languishing among the various agencies.

"The devil here is in the details," Yellen explained at her hearing. The agencies are having trouble with wording that would exclude speculative activity but permit what the banks claim is legitimate market making and hedging.

When Massachusetts Democrat Elizabeth Warren suggested the Fed's Board of Governors hold regular meetings on bank supervision as it does on monetary policy, Yellen pointed out that the Government in the Sunshine Act requires board members to discuss bank regulation with each other only in the context of a public meeting.

In short, Yellen, while professing concern for regulatory matters — nominees invariably share senators' concerns — gave little ground on how she might do anything different than what the Fed has always done.

It was Fed lapses in supervision on mortgages and other consumer finance matters that prompted Warren to propose a whole new regulatory agency, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which became part of Dodd-Frank.

Congressional hearings, and particularly confirmation hearings, are as much about legislators laying down markers as anything else. It is part of the oversight exercise, which, next to legislation itself, is the most powerful tool lawmakers have.

Yellen, like most nominees, will get the benefit of th! e doubt t! his round, though Vitter said afterward he would oppose her confirmation primarily because of his concerns about too big to fail.

Nonetheless, she will almost certainly be approved by the committee and confirmed by the full Senate.

As vague as she succeeded in being in her comments on regulation, however, she is officially on notice that lawmakers are as concerned about reining in the banks as they are about monetary policy.

Darrell Delamaide has reported on business and economics from New York, Paris, Berlin and Washington for Dow Jones news service, Barron's, Institutional Investor and Bloomberg News service, among others. He is the author of four books, including the financial thriller Gold.

Keep on Trucking at TravelCenters

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- When I travel back and forth between Tampa Bay and the New York City area, I keep an eye on the number of trucks on the highways and like to stop along the way where the truckers do, TravelCenters of America (TA). During my last trip in mid-August, I wrote Buy TravelCenters as the Economy Improves.

TravelCenters ($8) had a strong buy rating when I thought the stock had some upside for a buy-and-trade strategy as a proxy for the transportation sector, where 72.4% of the 181 stocks are rated sell or strong sell.

TravelCenters stock closed at $7.57 on Aug. 13 and continued to move sideways to down to $7.35 on Aug. 27. The stock is in the retail-wholesale sector and is now rated buy according to ValuEngine. The 12-month forward price-to-earnings ratio remains at 7.8, and the stock trades at 71% of its book value.

The stock tested its 200-day simple moving average at $8.57 on Tuesday, up about 16% off the recent low. ValuEngine one-year price target is $8.60. My semiannual value level is $7.18 with a quarterly pivot, now a magnet at $8.04 and my semiannual risky level at $9.32. Today I am profiling 14 stocks in the trucking industry. One is rated a strong buy, one is rated hold and 12 are rated sell. Only two are undervalued and eight are overvalued by more than 20%. Nine have gained more than 40% over the last 12 months with three of these up between 124.2% and 228.1%. Twelve-month trailing P/E ratios are elevated between 16 and 26.8. Thirteen are above their 200-day simple moving averages reflecting the risk of reversion to the mean.

Reading the Table

OV / UN Valued - The stocks with a red number are undervalued by this percentage. Those with a black number are overvalued by that percentage according to ValuEngine.

VE Rating - A "1-Engine" rating is a Strong Sell, a "2-Engine" rating is a Sell, a "3-Engine" rating is a Hold, a "4-Engine" rating is a Buy and a "5-Engine" rating is a Strong Buy. Last 12-Month Return (%) - Stocks with a Red number declined by that percentage over the last twelve months. Stocks with a Black number increased by that percentage. Forecast 1-Year Return - Stocks with a Red number are projected to decline by that percentage over the next twelve months. Stocks with a Black number in the Table are projected to move higher by that percentage over the next twelve months. Value Level: is the price at which to enter a GTC Limit Order to buy on weakness. The letters mean; W-Weekly, M-Monthly, Q-Quarterly, S-Semiannual and A- Annual. Pivot: A level between a value level and risky level that should be a magnet during the time frame noted. Risky Level: is the price at which to enter a GTC Limit Order to sell on strength. Arkansas Best (ABFS) ($27.79) set a new multiyear high at $27.81 on Sept. 11. My monthly value level is $25.51 with an annual pivot at $26.86 and no risky levels. Celadon Group (CGI) ($18.82) tested its 200-day SMA at $19.06 but closed below it. My quarterly value level is $18.07 with a monthly pivot at $20.05 and annual risky level at $25.25. Con-Way Inc (CNW) ($44.37) set a multiyear high at $46.52 on Aug. 2 and traded down to $41.49 on Sept. 3 holding its 50-day SMA. My semiannual value level is $41.77 was tested at the low. My monthly risky level is $47.11. Heartland Express (HTLD) ($14.35) set a multiyear high at $15.09 on Aug. 1 and traded down to $13.87 on Aug. 30. My annual value level is $12.54 with a semiannual pivot at $14.57 and annual risky level at $18.14. JB Hunt Transport (JBHT) ($74.50) set its multiyear high at $78.39 on Aug. 1 and traded down to $71.26 on Sept. 3. My semiannual value level at $72.05 held at the low with a monthly risky level at $84.14. Knight Transportation (KNX) ($16.87) set a multiyear high at $17.73 on May 22, and then fell to $16.10 on Sept. 4, holding its 200-day SMA. My quarterly value level is $14.40 with an annual pivot at $17.32 and semiannual risky level at $17.99.

Landstar System (LSTR) ($57.20) set a 2013 low at $50.39 on June 26 and then traded as high as $57.94 on Sept. 11. My quarterly value level is $55.02 with a semiannual pivot at $57.42, which was tested on Wednesday and annual risky level at $64.85.

Marten Transport (MRTN) ($17.44) set a multiyear high at $18.62 on Aug. 22 and traded down to $17.05 on Sept. 6 holding its 50-day SMA. My quarterly value level is $15.29 with a semiannual pivot at $17.17, which was tested at the low and annual risky level at $21.26.

Old Dominion (ODFL) ($46.43) set a multiyear high at $46.48 on Sept. 11. My semiannual value level is $40.38 with a monthly risky level at $46.87.

Roadrunner (RRTS) ($27.63) set a multiyear high at $30.98 on Aug. 1 and traded down to $26.38 on Aug. 14. My quarterly value level is $23.83 with a monthly risky level at $32.62. Saia Inc (SAIA) ($32.81) set a multiyear high at $34.97 on July 11 and traded down to $27.95 on Aug. 15. My quarterly value level is $27.78 with a monthly risky level at $44.19. Swift Transport (SWFT) ($20.15) set a multiyear high at $20.30 on Sept. 11. My annual value level is $15.85 with a monthly risky level at $22.55. Universal Truckload (UACL) ($28.19) set a multiyear high at $29.99 on July 30 and then traded down to $23.45 on Aug. 16. My semiannual value level is $20.98 with a monthly risky level at $28.95. Werner Enterprises (WERN) ($24.35) set a multiyear high at $25.44 on May 22 and traded down to $22.89 on Sept. 3. My annual value level is $21.04 with a monthly pivot at $25.68 and semiannual risky level at $27.96. At the time of publication the author held no positions in any of the stocks mentioned. Follow @Suttmeier This article is commentary by an independent contributor, separate from TheStreet's regular news coverage.

Richard Suttmeier has an engineering degree from Georgia Tech and a master of science from Brooklyn Poly. He began his career in the financial services industry in 1972 trading U.S. Treasury securities in the primary dealer community. In 1981 he formed the Government Bond Department at LF Rothschild and helped establish that firm as a primary dealer in 1986. Richard began writing market research in 1984 and held positions as market strategist at firms such as Smith Barney, William R Hough, Joseph Stevens, and Rightside Advisors. He joined www.ValuEngine.com in 2008 producing newsletters covering the U.S. capital markets, and a universe of more than 7,000 stocks. Richard employs a "buy and trade" investment strategy and can be reached at RSuttmeier@Gmail.com.

Stock Futures Cautious on Mixed Housing Data, Fed Watch as Adobe Jumps

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Stock futures were little changed Wednesday as investors digested mixed U.S. housing market data and wait for the Federal Reserve to announce whether it will begin cutting back on the central bank's bond-buying stimulus program.

Futures for the S&P 500 were up 0.5 points, or 1.59 points above fair value, to 1,698.75. Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average were down 3 points, or 21.27 points above fair value, to 15,462. Futures for the Nasdaq were ahead by 6.25 points, or 7.87 points above fair value, to 3,190.25.

In company news, Adobe Systems (ADBE), the maker of creative-suite products like Photoshop and InDesign, said fiscal third-quarter earnings on an adjusted basis fell to 32 cents a share from 58 cents a share a year earlier. Revenue fell 8% in the quarter to $995.1 million. Wall Street expected Adobe to report earnings of 34 cents a share on revenue of $1.01 billion.

Still, shares were gaining more than 6% to $51.06 in premarket trading as investors noted that Adobe has been shifting its business to a subscription-based model. The company said subscription revenue rose 73% to $299.4 million and its Creative Cloud service gained 331,000 paying subscribers during the quarter, surpassing 1 million. Apple (AAPL) shares were gaining 1.25% to $461.05. A report by the 9to5Mac blog said Apple's iPhone 5s could be in short supply. Customers in China and Hong Kong could reserve the iPhone 5s starting Tuesday. But just minutes after the phone became available, most models and colors sold out across the country, the blog reported. FedEx (FDX) shares were popping 3.23% to $114.25 after the overnight package shipper beat Wall Street estimates as net income rose 7%, driven by growth in each of the company's transportation segments. BlackBerry (BBRY) shares were rising 0.99% to $10.66 as the company introduced its new Z30 touchscreen smartphone in Malaysia. The Z30, which features a five-inch display and 1.7 gigahertz processor, has been launched amid the company's efforts to reclaim market share from Samsung and Apple. The FOMC meeting announcement is expected take place at 2 p.m. EDT, followed by a press conference with Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke at 2:30 p.m. It's widely expected that the Fed will reduce the pace of its monthly bond purchases by $10 billion while emphasizing that the Fed funds rate will be kept at a low level. "Tension and excitement build up as we eagerly anticipate the announcement of the policy decision," Joyce Liu, a Singapore-based investment analyst at Phillip Futures, commented in a note. The Census Bureau reported Wednesday a smaller than expected increase in U.S. housing starts to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 891,000 in August versus the average economist expectation of 917,000 driven by the volatile multi-family sector. Similarly, building permits also rose less than expected to 918,000 compared with expectations of an annual rate of 950,000 due to a slide in the multi-family sector as well. However, gains of 3% in single family permits continued to provide reassurances on the housing market recovery. The FTSE 100 was up 0.16% and the DAX in Germany was rising 0.47%. The Hong Kong Hang Seng finished down 0.27% while the Nikkei 225 in Japan closed up 1.35%. The benchmark 10-year Treasury was falling 1/32, lifting the yield to 2.857%. The dollar was falling 0.06% to $81.09 according to the U.S. dollar index. December gold futures were falling $7.60 to $1,301.80 an ounce while October crude oil futures were up 76 cents to $106.18 a barrel. Follow @atwtse -- Written by Andrea Tse in New York >To contact the writer of this article, click here: Andrea Tse.>

Can Investors Trust The P/E Ratio?

Initially popularized by the legendary value investor Benjamin Graham (one of Warren Buffett's mentors), few stock market metrics have cycled in and out of favor as often as the P/E ratio. Price/earnings ratios are used to assess the relative attractiveness of a potential investment. Trailing P/E uses the current share price and divides by the total earnings per share (EPS) over the past 12 months. Forward P/E uses the current share price and divides by expected EPS in the future period. The resulting number can provide some insight into the value of an investment, though just how clear a view is still up for debate.

What's a Good P/E Ratio?
In his book "Security Analysis," which was first published in 1934, Graham suggests that a P/E ratio of 16 "is as high a price as can be paid in an investment purchase in common stock."

Does that mean all 16s have the same value? No.

"This does not mean that all common stocks with the same average earnings should have the same value," Graham explained. "The common-stock investor will properly accord a more liberal valuation to those which have current earnings above the average, or which may reasonably be considered to possess better than average prospects."

To Graham, P/E ratios were not an absolute measure of value, but rather a means of establishing a "moderate upper limit" that he felt was crucial in order to "stay within the bounds of conservative valuation." He was also aware that different industries trade at different multiples based on their real or perceived growth potential.

How a "Good" P/E Ratio Changed Over Time
Of course, this moderate upper limit was all but abandoned some 20 years after Graham's death, when investors flocked to buy any issue ending in ".com". Some of these companies sported P/E ratios best expressed in scientific notation. Even before the dotcom madness, however, there were those who felt comparing a stock's price to its earnings was shortsighted at best, and pointless at worst.

Is the P/E Ratio Accurate?
Not every time, as William J. O'Neill, the founder of Investor's Business Daily, asserts in his 1988 book "How to Make Money in Stocks." He concluded that "contrary to most investors' beliefs, P/E ratios were not a relevant factor in price movement."

To demonstrate his point, O'Neill pointed to research conducted from 1953 to 1988 that showed the average P/E ratio for the best-performing stocks just prior to their equity explosion was 20, while the Dow's P/E ratio for the same period averaged 15. In other words, by Graham's standards, these soon-to-be-superstar stocks were overvalued.

Does P/E Revert to Industry Norms?
In theory, stocks trading at high multiples will eventually revert back to the industry norm - and vice-versa for those issues sporting lower earnings-based valuations. Yet, at various points in history, there have been major discrepancies between theory and practice where high P/E stocks continued to soar as their cheaper counterparts stayed grounded, just as O'Neill observed. On the other hand, the reverse has held true during other time periods, which then supports Ben Graham's investment process.

Further, over the last 20 years, there has been a gradual increase in P/E ratios as a whole, despite the fact the stock market has been no more volatile than in years past. Using data presented by Yale University Professor Robert Shiller in his 2000 book "Irrational Exuberance," one finds that the price-earnings ratio for the S&P 500 Index reached historic highs toward the end of 2008 through the third quarter of 2009. The index posted a remarkable 38% gain during the same period, despite abnormally high investment ratios.

Years	Median P/E Ratio
1900-1910	13.4
1911-1920	10.0
1921-1930	12.8
1931-1940	16.2
1941-1950	9.5
1951-1960	12.6
1961-1970	17.7
1971-1980	10.4
1981-1990	12.4
1991-2000	22.6
2001-2010	22.4
Table: S&P 500 Index Median P/E Ratios
Source: Schiller, Robert. "Irrational Exuberance" [Princeton University Press 2000, Broadway Books 2001, 2nd ed., 2005]

Can the P/E Ratio Be Adjusted?
Was O'Neill right to assume P/E ratios have no predictive value? Or that, in today's technology-driven economy, the ratios have become passe? Not necessarily. The key to effectively using P/E ratios, many experts claim, is to exam them over longer periods of time while integrating forward-looking data like earnings estimates and the overall economic climate.

PEG ratios present a simple way to accomplish this. Made fashionable by famed money manager Peter Lynch, PEG ratios are similar to P/E ratios, but are divided by annual EPS growth to standardize the metric. For example, if a company has a P/E of 10 and growth rate of 5%, its PEG ratio would be 10/5=2. The rationale behind PEG ratios is that higher growth prospects justify a higher P/E ratio. Therefore, if the P/E ratio is the same for two companies, the one with higher growth rate i.e. lower PEG ratio is better since it costs less for per unit of growth. "One Up on Wall Street," (first published in 1989) Lynch wrote, "the P/E ratio of any company that's fairly priced will equal its growth rate."


Fundamental Analysts Still Like P/E
People who follow a rigorous fundamental analysis approach to investing still think P/E is quite useful, citing the tech bubble pop as a prime example of the sticky mess investors can find themselves in when they don't take heed of earnings and price.

Key Points to Consider About P/E

1. It is best to compare P/E ratios within a specific industry. This helps ensure the price-earnings performance is not simply a product of the stock's environment.

2. Be wary of stocks sporting high P/E ratios during an economic boom. The old saying that a "rising tide lifts all boats" definitely applies to stocks - even many bad ones - so it's wise to be suspicious of any upward price movement that isn't supported by some logical, underlying reason outside of the general economic climate.

3. Be equally dubious of stocks with low P/E ratios that appear to be waning in prestige or relevance. In recent years, investors have seen a number of formerly solid companies hit the skids. In these instances, it's foolish to think the price will magically increase to match the earnings and boost the stock's P/E ratio to a level consistent with the industry norm. It is far more likely that any P/E increase will be the direct result of eroding earnings, which isn't the P/E "bounce" bullish investors are looking for. The Bottom Line
While investors are probably wise to be wary of P/E ratios, it is equally prudent to keep that apprehension in context. While P/E ratios are not the magical prognostic tool some once thought they were, they can still be valuable when used in the proper manner. Remember to compare P/E ratios within a single industry, and while a particularly high or low ratio may not spell disaster, it is a sign worth considering.

Koch Industries to Acquire Molex for $7.2B; Shares Surge (MOLX)

Shares of electronic connector maker Molex Incorporated (MOLX) skyrocketed on Monday morning after reports that the company will be acquired by Koch Industries.

Koch Industries has agreed to acquire Molex for a total of $7.2 billion. This deal will include all outstanding shares of the company’s Common Stock, Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock for $38.50 per share.

The deal has been approved by the board of directors of both companies. Molex will continue to maintain its current management team and its current headquarters in Lisle, IL.

Molex shares were up $9.15, or 31.17%, during Monday morning trading. The stock is up 41% YTD.

Breathalyzer App Checks Your Blood Alcohol, Calls You Cab If Needed

Two new apps for iPhones (AAPL) and Android (GOOG) smartphones are doing what you’d rather have done yourself than by a police officer: They quickly tests a user’s blood alcohol level — and even call the person a cab if needed.

The apps — Breathometer, for iPhones and Android smartphones, and BACtrack, for iPhones – read a person’s alcohol levels via a smartphone-connected breathalyzer.

From Reuters:

The Breathometer plugs into a smartphone’s headphone jack, and the user blows on the device. The BACtrack connects to the iPhone via Bluetooth. Both use sensors that meet U.S. Food and Drug Administration standards and can detect blood alcohol levels with accuracy within 0.01 percent, according to the companies.

Breathometer’s breathalyzer is the size of a car key and fits into a pocket or on a key chain. The app can detect a user’s GPS location, order a cab if the user can’t drive home, and estimate how long it will take for the user to become sober.

The Breathometer app (and device) will cost $49 and debut online in October.

Both apps claim they will help cut down on the number of arrests each year for drunk driving.

Some 1.2 million people in the U.S. were arrested  in 2011 for driving under the influence, according to data compiled by the FBI.

Breathalyzers have been used by law enforcement since the 1950s.

5 things to watch for at Janet Yellen’s hearing

Janet Yellen will step into the unforgiving glare of one of the world's most important jobs Thursday at the Senate's confirmation hearing on her nomination to succeed Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke.

She's expected to later win confirmation from the Democratic-controlled Senate, making her the first woman to lead a major central bank. Her performance could set the tone for a new era at the Fed that places an even greater premium on effective communication.

EASY MONEY: Yellen to defend Fed policies

Yellen, 67, has been the Fed's vice chair since 2010. Between her first stint on the Fed in the 1990s and her current one, Yellen was president of the San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank and chaired the White House Council of Economic Advisers.

Thursday's hearing before the Senate banking committee starts at 10 a.m. Here are five things to watch for:

• Can she handle a national stage? A Fed chairman's words move markets around the world. Yellen has been a leading advocate for the Federal Reserve's recent efforts to communicate more clearly to the public. She's known as a meticulous preparer, crafting written remarks for meetings where colleagues speak off the cuff. How will Yellen perform under fire?

"She doesn't do an awful lot of this stuff," says economist Paul Ashworth of Capital Economics. "You want somebody at the Fed who can think on their feet … and not get flustered."

Barclays Capital economist Michael Gapen, a former high-level Fed staffer, predicts Yellen will be ready. "I would be really surprised if they can come up with a question that she won't have an answer for," he says.

• Will she sound like Greenspan or Bernanke? In congressional testimony, legendary Fed chief Alan Greenspan was "deliberately cryptic," while Bernanke, the former Princeton professor, "wanted to explain things to people in ways they can understand," Ashworth says. Yellen, a Berkeley economics professor emeritus, is likely to resemble Bernanke, he says.

• How will Yellen ! reconcile the Fed's dual mandate to boost employment while keeping inflation low with her own economic philosophy? Yellen is considered the Fed's most "dovish" policymaker, meaning she has voiced more concerns about unemployment, now 7.3%, than the hazards of eventual high inflation. But inflation risks down the road have increased with the Fed's ongoing bond-buying program to hold down long-term interest rates and spur job growth.

Critics, though, say the effects on growth have diminished. Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., says he will ask Yellen to "explain how to wean us off of our reliance on this Fed stimulus without cratering financial markets."

In her prepared opening statement, Yellen defends the stimulus, noting unemployment "is still too high" while inflation is below the Fed's 2% annual goal. "I believe that supporting the recovery today is the surest path to returning to a more normal" monetary policy.

Vincent Reinhart, chief U.S. economist of Morgan Stanley and former head of monetary affairs at the Fed, says Yellen may put slightly more emphasis on her vigilance toward inflation to mollify Republicans. After all, Yellen has supported each Fed interest rate hike during her two Fed tenures. "This would be an opportunity to emphasize her pursuit of achieving long-run price stability," he says.

• Will she drop clues on tapering? Financial markets will scrutinize Yellen's remarks for the slightest hint of when the Fed will start to taper its $85 billion a month in bond purchases. Markets expected it to start in September, but Fed policymakers said no change was warranted amid mixed economic data and the looming budget battle in Congress.

Job growth improved last month, but economists say Yellen will studiously dance around such questions, in part because she is not chairman and can't speak for the Fed's policymaking committee. "Her goal is not to make any news about the setting of monetary policy," Reinhart says. Instead, she'll likely reiterate that Fed decisions will d! epend on ! how the economy performs, Gapen says.

• How will she handle questions about "too big to fail" banks? Senators such as David Vitter, R-La., and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., say the Dodd-Frank financial reform act doesn't go far enough in preventing government bailouts of large teetering banks. Each has introduced legislation to address the concern.

In her prepared statement, Yellen says she supports strengthening oversight of "too big to fail" financial institutions but doesn't want to burden small and community banks.

Best Undervalued Stocks For 2014

Norway's Yara International (Nasdaq:YARIY) is no run-of-the-mill commodity company. Not only is the largest supplier of mineral fertilizers in the world, holding 9% share of the global nitrogen fertilizers market, but Yara has a rare record of consistent double-digit returns on capital and assets.

While the quality of the company's assets, the benefits of nitrogen fertilizers, and the discipline of management speak well to the company's future, a surge in Chinese exports and energy costs is squeezing the company's profitability. Making matters worse, it's likely to get uglier from here, as the company could be looking at EBITDA bottoming out in the 2014/2015 timeframe. Although Yara is a little undervalued today and is likely to continuing paying a healthy dividend through the lows of the cycle, holding commodity stocks through the bottom of the cycle can be painful for shareholders.

SEE: CF Inustries Reopening Alberta Plant

More Chinese Urea, And More Expensive Gas

Best Undervalued Stocks For 2014: Schlumberger N.V.(SLB)

Schlumberger Limited, together with its subsidiaries, supplies technology, integrated project management, and information solutions to the oil and gas exploration and production industries worldwide. The company?s Oilfield Services segment provides exploration and production services; wireline technology that offers open-hole and cased-hole services; supplies engineering support, directional-drilling, measurement-while-drilling, and logging-while-drilling services; and testing services. This segment also offers well services; supplies well completion services and equipment; artificial lift; data and consulting services; geo services; and information solutions, such as consulting, software, information management system, and IT infrastructure services that support oil and gas industry. Its WesternGeco segment provides reservoir imaging, monitoring, and development services; and operates data processing centers and multiclient seismic library. This segment also offers variou s services include 3D and time-lapse (4D) seismic surveys to multi-component surveys for delineating prospects and reservoir management. The company?s M-I SWACO segment supplies drilling fluid systems to improve drilling performance; fluid systems and specialty tools to optimize wellbore productivity; production technology solutions to maximize production rates; and environmental solutions that manages waste volumes generated in drilling and production operations. Its Smith Oilfield segment designs, manufactures, and markets drill bits and borehole enlargement tools; and supplies drilling tools and services, tubular, completion services, and other related downhole solutions. The company?s Distribution segment markets pipes, valves, and fittings, as well as mill, safety, and other maintenance products. This segment also provides warehouse management, vendor integration, and inventory management services. Schlumberger Limited was founded in 1927 and is based in Houston, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Aaron Levitt]

  With fracking and advanced drilling techniques becoming the norm — both onshore and off — the firms that do all of that heavy lifting are set to win big over the longer term. And there are none bigger than Halliburton (HAL) and Schlumberger (SLB). Both remain the undisputed kingpins of fracking and oil services.

• [By Richard Moroney, Editor, Dow Theory Forecasts]

  Founded in 1926, Schlumberger (SLB), operates in all major facets of oilfield services, essentially covering the lifespan of reservoirs that house natural gas and oil.

Best Undervalued Stocks For 2014: Caterpillar Inc.(CAT)

Caterpillar Inc. manufactures and sells construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines, and diesel-electric locomotives worldwide. It operates through three lines of businesses: Machinery, Engines, and Financial Products. The Machinery business offers construction, mining, and forestry machinery, including track and wheel tractors, track and wheel loaders, pipelayers, motor graders, wheel tractor-scrapers, track and wheel excavators, backhoe loaders, log skidders, log loaders, off-highway trucks, articulated trucks, paving products, skid steer loaders, underground mining equipment, tunnel boring equipment, and related parts. It also manufactures diesel-electric locomotives; and manufactures and services rail-related products and logistics services for other companies. The Engines business provides diesel, heavy fuel, and natural gas reciprocating engines for Caterpillar machinery, electric power generation systems, marine, petrol eum, construction, industrial, agricultural, and other applications. It offers industrial turbines and turbine-related services for oil and gas, and power generation applications. This business also remanufactures Caterpillar engines, machines, and engine components; and offers remanufacturing services for other companies. The Financial Products business provides retail and wholesale financing alternatives for Caterpillar machinery and engines, solar gas turbines, and other equipment and marine vessels, as well as offers loans and various forms of insurance to customers and dealers. It also offers financing for vehicles, power generation facilities, and marine vessels. The company markets its products directly, as well as through its distribution centers, dealers, and distributors. It was formerly known as Caterpillar Tractor Co. and changed its name to Caterpillar Inc. in 1986. Caterpillar Inc. was founded in 1925 and is headquartered in Peoria, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By StreetAuthority]

  Gabriel Bouys, AFP/Getty ImagesBill Gates, Microsoft co-founder and co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. $650 million is a lot of money -- even for Bill Gates. That's how much his investment firm has invested in what might be considered the best way to play China. It's not a software firm or even a computer hardware firm. It's mining giant Caterpillar (CAT). Gates started building a position in Caterpillar before the financial crisis, but he became a very aggressive buyer once the crisis hit and shares had fallen by half. Yet remarkably, Gates has kept on buying, even as shares steadily rebounded to previous peaks. But now that Caterpillar has come under pressure on concerns that China is slowing, is Gates locking in profits? No, he's been buying more, picking up another 500,000 shares in this year's second quarter. At current prices, his firm's stake of 10.76 million shares is worth a cool $650 million. The key question: Why does Gates continue to buy shares even after China's slowdown has signaled the potential end of a global commodities boom? After all, much of Caterpillar's growth in recent years has come from a strong surge in mining activity that uses the company's massive excavators. The simple answer is that Gates and his team of investment managers always focus on long-term winners and never buy or sell shares based on short-term economic shifts. We've seen him do it many times before. For example, even as Wall Street analysts focused on the near-term prospects for auto retailer AutoNation (AN), Gates saw an epic rebound coming, as I noted in this article. Shares of AutoNation have now risen 400 percent since early 2009. Caterpillar: The Long View

• [By Dan Carroll]

  Komatsu has seen its sales fall in China, where the company leads the manufacturing industry. However, despite China's recent slowdown, Komatsu leadership still sees demand picking up between 5% and 10% in the world's second-largest economy as the Chinese government contemplates its own stimulus plans. The weak yen will mean that Komatsu's sales matter all the more, particularly as top competitor Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT  ) , which has been hammered by the mining industry's decline, ramps up its own China operations. Caterpillar lags Komatsu in China, but it increased its Chinese sales year over year in the first quarter.

Top 10 High Tech Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Tupperware Corporation(TUP)

Tupperware Brands Corporation operates as a direct seller of various products across a range of brands and categories through an independent sales force. The company engages in the manufacture and sale of kitchen and home products, and beauty and personal care products. It offers preparation, storage, and serving solutions for the kitchen and home, as well as kitchen cookware and tools, children?s educational toys, microwave products, and gifts under the Tupperware brand name primarily in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, the Asia Pacific, and North America. The company provides beauty and personal care products, which include skin care products, cosmetics, bath and body care, toiletries, fragrances, nutritional products, apparel, and related products principally in Mexico, South Africa, the Philippines, Australia, and Uruguay. It offers beauty and personal care products under the Armand Dupree, Avroy Shlain, BeautiControl, Fuller, NaturCare, Nutrimetics, Nuvo, and Swissgar de brand names. The company sells its Tupperware products directly to distributors, directors, managers, and dealers; and beauty products primarily through consultants and directors. As of December 26, 2009, the Tupperware distribution system had approximately 1,800 distributors, 61,300 managers, and 1.3 million dealers; and the sales force representing the Beauty businesses approximately 1.1 million. The company was formerly known as Tupperware Corporation and changed its name to Tupperware Brands Corporation in December 2005. The company was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Orlando, Florida.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Oliver Pursche]

  European large-cap pharmaceuticals like Novartis (NVS) �and Bristol Meyers Squibb (BMY) �count amongst some of our favorite stocks right now, as do U.S. multinationals that are growing revenue and margins in Asia ��Tupperware (TUP) �is a shining example. Stay away from utilities and energy stocks, as they are likely to be the laggards over the next year.

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  Where growth will come from
  One area that Newell Rubbermaid still has to tap fully is emerging markets. The company has done a good job of expanding overseas, with 17% annual growth in Latin America. But with barely a quarter of its sales coming from outside the U.S. and Canada, the company has a lot further to go. Storage rival Tupperware (NYSE: TUP  ) gets fully 60% of its total revenue from emerging markets, and it too has seen impressive gains in South America as well as the Asia-Pacific region.

• [By Eric Volkman]

  Tupperware Brands (NYSE: TUP  ) is reaching into its corporate bowl for a fresh payout to shareholders. The company has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.62 per share. This will be paid on July 8 to stockholders of record as of June 19. That amount matches the firm's previous distribution, which was paid in early April. Prior to that, Tupperware Brands was rather less generous, handing out $0.36 per share.

Best Undervalued Stocks For 2014: Dollar Tree Inc.(DLTR)

Dollar Tree, Inc. operates discount variety stores in the United States and Canada. Its stores offer merchandise primarily at the fixed price of $1.00. The company operates its stores under the names of Dollar Tree, Deal$, Dollar Tree Deal$, Dollar Giant, and Dollar Bills. Its stores offer consumable merchandise, including candy and food, and health and beauty care, as well as household consumables, such as paper, plastics, household chemicals, in select stores, and frozen and refrigerated food; variety merchandise, which includes toys, durable housewares, gifts, party goods, greeting cards, softlines, and other items; and seasonal goods, such as Easter, Halloween, and Christmas merchandise. As of April 30, 2011, it operated 4,089 stores in 48 states and the District of Columbia, as well as 88 stores in Canada. The company was founded in 1986 and is based in Chesapeake, Virginia.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Mani]

  Dollar Tree, Inc. (NASDAQ:DLTR) is one of the companies that are set to exploit the ongoing trend of consumers' increasing focus on value with significant opportunity to grow its store base, and expand margins.

5 Best Casino Stocks To Own Right Now

Small cap stocks Caribbean International Holdings (OTCMKTS: CIHN), Blue Water Global Group Inc (OTCBB: BLUU) and Metrospaces Inc (OTCMKTS: MSPC) have been getting some attention lately in various investment newsletters and all three have focused their activities in the Caribbean or South America. However, all three have been the subject of paid promotions which have helped to get them mentions in various investment newsletters. With that in mind, will bets on the Caribbean or South America pay off big for these three small cap stocks and their investors? Here is a quick reality check:

Caribbean International Holdings (OTCMKTS: CIHN) is All About Wings, Mechanical Bulls and Stem Cells

Formerly known as Caribbean Casino & Gaming Corp, small cap Caribbean International Holdings operates as a holding company. On Friday, Caribbean International Holdings rose 8.39% to $0.0369 for a market cap of $315,400 plus CIHN is up 985.3% over the past year and up 7,280% over the past five years according to Google Finance.

5 Best Casino Stocks To Own Right Now: Wynn Resorts Limited(WYNN)

Wynn Resorts, Limited, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the development, ownership, and operation of destination casino resorts. The company owns and operates Wynn Las Vegas casino resort in Las Vegas, which includes approximately 22 food and beverage outlets comprising 5 dining restaurants; 2 nightclubs; 1 spa and salon; 1 Ferrari and Maserati automobile dealership; wedding chapels; an 18-hole golf course; meeting space; and foot retail promenade featuring boutiques. Wynn Las Vegas casino resort also features approximately 147 table games, 1 baccarat salon, private VIP gaming rooms, 1 poker room, 1,842 slot machines, and 1 race and sports book. It also owns and operates an Encore at Wynn Las Vegas resort, a destination casino resort located adjacent to Wynn Las Vegas that features a 2,034 all-suite hotel, as well as a casino with 95 table games, 1 sky casino, 1 baccarat salon, private VIP gaming rooms, and 778 slot machines. In addition, the company operates Wyn n Macau casino resort located in the Macau Special Administrative Region of the People?s Republic of China. Wynn Macau casino resort features approximately 595 hotel rooms and suites, 410 table games, 935 slot machines, 1 poker room, 1 sky casino, 6 restaurants, 1 spa and salon, lounges, meeting facilities, and retail space featuring boutiques. Further, it operates Encore at Wynn Macau resort located adjacent to Wynn Macau. Encore at Wynn Macau resort features approximately 410 luxury suites and 4 villas, as well as casino gaming space, including a sky casino consisting of 60 table games and 80 slot machines, 2 restaurants, 1 luxury spa, and retail space. The company was founded in 2002 and is based in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Chris Hill]

  Hertz (NYSE: HTZ  ) dips on good-not-great earnings. Candian retailer Hudson's Bay buys Saks (NYSE: SKS  ) for $2.4 billion. Wynn Resorts' (NASDAQ: WYNN  ) second-quarter profit gets hit with one-time charges. Omnicom Group (NYSE: OMC  ) merges with Publicis Group to form the world's largest advertising and marketing firm. In this segment from Investor Beat, Motley Fool analysts Bill Barker and Andy Cross discuss four stocks making moves on Tuesday.

• [By Roberto Pedone]

  One gambling player that's starting to move within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade is Wynn Resorts (WYNN), a developer, owner and operator of destination casino resorts. This stock has been trending hot so far in 2013, with shares up 24%.

  If you look at the chart for Wynn Resorts, you'll notice that this stock has been uptrending strong for the last two months, with shares moving higher from its low of $120.96 to its intraday high of $140.82 a share. During that uptrend, shares of WYNN have been consistently making higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. Shares of WYNN have been consolidating for the last few weeks, moving between just below $137 to just above $140 a share. A high-volume move above the upper-end of its recent sideways trading chart pattern could trigger a big breakout trade for shares of WYNN.

  Traders should now look for long-biased trades in WYNN if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance at $140.82 to its 52-week high at $144.99 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above those levels with volume that hits near or above its three-month average action of 1.30 million shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then WYNN will set up to enter new 52-week-high territory, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that breakout are $160 to $165 a share, or even $170 a share.

  Traders can look to buy WYNN off any weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below its 50-day moving average of $132.51 a share. One can also buy WYNN off strength once it takes out those breakout levels with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.

• [By Jon C. Ogg]

  Wynn Resorts Ltd. (NASDAQ: WYNN) was downgraded to Neutral from Outperform, but the price target was raised to $160 from $149, at Credit Suisse.

  Zoetis Inc. (NYSE: ZTS) was raised to Overweight from Equal Weight at Morgan Stanley.

• [By Steve Symington]

  After all, even if additional states continue to pass legislation legalizing online gambling, you can bet Zynga will face intense competition from other well-funded competitors. Michael also noted there's a chance recent rumors of a Zynga partnership with Wynn Resorts (NASDAQ: WYNN  ) could turn out to be true.

5 Best Casino Stocks To Own Right Now: Umax Group Corp (UMAX)

Umax Group Corp., incorporated on March 21, 2011, is a development-stage company. The Company focuses to develop and distribute its product to the arcade and entertainment industry. The Company�� products include Rocket Launch, is Strength testing game which allows players to test their pushing/ throwing strength; Space Hockey, is a two player hockey game - each player must score as many as possible goals and Boxer, is a Simple punch testing game: insert coin/token/bill, press start button, hit the punch bag, wait for result, and try to beat opponent�� score or high score.

As of April 30, 2013, the Company had no revenues. The Company has developed its business plan, and executed exclusive distribution contract GEO a private enterprise, where it engages GEO as an independent contractor for the specific purpose of developing, manufacturing and supplying games for the Company.

Best Value Companies To Invest In 2014: Boyd Gaming Corporation(BYD)

Boyd Gaming Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a multi-jurisdictional gaming company in the United States. As of December 31, 2011, the company owned and operated 1,042,787 square feet of casino space, containing approximately 25,973 slot machines, 655 table games, and 11,418 hotel rooms. It also owned and operated 16 gaming entertainment properties located in Nevada, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, Indiana, and New Jersey. In addition, the company owns and operates a pari-mutuel jai-alai facility located in Dania Beach, Florida, as well as a travel agency in Hawaii. Further, it holds a 50% controlling interest in the limited liability company that operates Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Boyd Gaming Corporation was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Seth Jayson]

  Boyd Gaming (NYSE: BYD  ) reported earnings on April 24. Here are the numbers you need to know.

  The 10-second takeaway
  For the quarter ended March 31 (Q1), Boyd Gaming met expectations on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

5 Best Casino Stocks To Own Right Now: (XTRN)

Las Vegas Railway Express Inc. focuses to re-establish a conventional passenger train service between the Las Vegas and Los Angeles metropolitan areas. It plans to establish a ?Vegas-style? passenger train service. The company is based in Las Vegas, Nevada.

5 Best Casino Stocks To Own Right Now: Pinnacle Entertainment Inc.(PNK)

Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. owns, develops, and operates casinos, and related hospitality and entertainment facilities in the United States. It operates casinos, such as L'Auberge du Lac in Lake Charles, Louisiana; River City Casino and Lumiere Place in St. Louis, Missouri; Boomtown New Orleans in New Orleans, Louisiana; Belterra Casino Resort in Vevay, Indiana; Boomtown Bossier City in Bossier City, Louisiana; and Boomtown Reno in Reno, Nevada. The company also operates River Downs racetrack in southeast Cincinnati, Ohio. As of May 26, 2011, it operated seven casinos and one racetrack. The company was formerly known as Hollywood Park, Inc. and changed its name to Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. in February 2000. Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. was founded in 1935 and is based in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dan Radovsky]

  Pinnacle Entertainment (NYSE: PNK  ) has reached an agreement in principle with the Bureau of Competition of the Federal Trade Commission that would allow the company to complete its proposed acquisition of Ameristar Casinos (NASDAQ: ASCA  ) , Pinnacle announced today.

5 Best Clean Energy Stocks To Own For 2014

Droughts made headlines throughout 2012�due to their harmful affects on our nation's food supply, but privation wasn't the only drag on our fresh water sources. A recent study shows that oil and natural gas fracking has placed great stress on available fresh water�in areas around the country by taking up measurable amounts of the resource. In some instances in Texas, fracking staked its claim to 20% of total water usage in the regions surrounding production areas.�

Reading that astonishing fact clears up any doubt as to why Texas now mandates the recycling of water used in the fracking process. If we plan on becoming more energy independent through increased production of domestic oil and natural gas, then something will most likely be done at the federal level as well. Which companies stand to benefit? Check out Motley Fool analyst Taylor Muckerman's video below.

Despite this, natural gas still has a great chance at revolutionizing the clean energy movement. This trend toward alternative energy is gaining momentum. One potential opportunity in this field is Clean Energy Fuels, which focuses its natural gas efforts primarily on trucking and fleets. It's poised to make a big impact on an essential industry. Learn everything you need to know about Clean Energy Fuels in The Motley Fool's premium research report on the company. Just click here now to claim your copy today.

5 Best Clean Energy Stocks To Own For 2014: Hoku Corporation(HOKU)

Hoku Corporation operates as a solar energy products and services company primarily in the United States. It focuses on manufacturing polysilicon, a primary material used in the manufacture of photovoltaic (PV) modules; and designing, engineering, and installing turnkey PV systems and related services in Hawaii using solar modules purchased from third-party suppliers. The company was formerly known as Hoku Scientific, Inc. and changed its name to Hoku Corporation in March 2010. Hoku Corporation was incorporated in 2001 and is headquartered in Honolulu, Hawaii.

5 Best Clean Energy Stocks To Own For 2014: Avanir Pharmaceuticals Inc(AVNR)

Avanir Pharmaceuticals, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in acquiring, developing, and commercializing novel therapeutic products for the treatment of central nervous system disorders primarily in the United States. The company primarily offers NUEDEXTA, a unique proprietary combination of dextromethorphan and low-dose quinidine for the treatment of pseudobulbar affect. Its product line also comprises AVP-923 in Phase II clinical trial for the treatment of central neuropathic pain in patients with multiple sclerosis; and in Phase III trial for the treatment of patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain. In addition, the company provides Docosanol 10% cream, an over-the-counter product for cold sores treatment. Avanir Pharmaceuticals, Inc. was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in Aliso Viejo, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Keith Speights]

  On a roll
  Avanir Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: AVNR  ) is on a roll. After solid gains during the first week of June, the stock jumped another 19% this week.

Best Penny Companies To Watch For 2014: First Uranium Corp Com Npv (FIU.TO)

First Uranium Corporation engages in the development and operation of uranium and gold projects in South Africa. The company was incorporated in 2005 and is based in Toronto, Canada.

5 Best Clean Energy Stocks To Own For 2014: eBay Inc.(EBAY)

eBay Inc. provides online platforms, services, and tools to help individuals and merchants in online and mobile commerce and payments in the United States and internationally. Its Marketplaces segment operates ecommerce platform eBay.com; vertical shopping sites, such as StubHub, Fashion, Motors, and Half.com; and classifieds Websites, including Den Bl�Avis, BilBasen, Gumtree, Kijiji, LoQUo, Marktplaats.nl, mobile.de, Alamaula, Rent.com, eBay Anuncios, eBay Kleinanzeigen, and eBay Annunci, as well as provides advertising services. The company?s Payments segment offers payment and settlement services for consumers and merchants on and off eBay Websites and other merchant Websites. This segment operates PayPal, which enables individuals and businesses to send and receive payments online and through mobile devices; Bill Me Later that enables the United States merchants to offer, the United States consumers to obtain, credit at the point of sale for ecommerce and mobile tra nsactions; Zong, which allows users with mobile phones to purchase digital goods and have the transactions charged to their phone bill; and BillSAFE that enables customers pay for purchases upon receipt of an invoice. Its GSI segment offers an ecommerce services suite for enterprise clients that operate in general merchandise categories, including apparel, sporting goods, toys and baby, health and beauty, and home; and marketing services comprising full-service digital agency, enterprise email marketing, mobile advertising, affiliate marketing, advertisement retargeting, and in-depth analytics services. The company also offers X.commerce platform that provides software developers access to the company?s applications programming interfaces to develop functionality for various merchants; and Magento Connect, which allows developers to market and sell add-on functionality and solutions to merchants that use a Magento storefront. eBay Inc. was founded in 1995 and is headquarter ed in San Jose, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Tim Beyers]

  For example, in the last quarter alone, eBay (NASDAQ: EBAY  ) handled about $18 billion worth of transactions. The company also serves 128 million e-payment consumers via PayPal, making it one Tim's top choices as a Bitcoin alternative.

• [By Jonas Elmerraji]

  Online auction site eBay (EBAY) is no slouch in the cash category – the firm's net cash stands at more than $2.3 billion. Add investments into that number, and eBay's wherewithal jumps to $8.4 billion. That's a substantial cash cushion, even for a $65 billion firm like eBay. It's enough to cancel out 13% of the firm's outstanding shares, for example, or enough to bring the firm's lofty price-to-earnings ratio down to a more manageable 21.

  eBay is one of the largest marketplaces in the world. The trading platform moved more than $75 billion in merchandise last year, with eBay collecting a fee for every item along the way. eBay's popularity has helped to create a true payment processing standard in PayPal, which itself moved more than 20% of global online payments last year. That's a jaw-dropping stat for eBay investors. Right now, PayPal boasts more active users than some of the second-tier payment card names, giving it a huge pool of users to sell merchants on. As the network makes its way into brick-and-mortar stores, it's very conceivable that eBay's auction site could eventually become a side-business for the firm, not the other way around. That said, some of PayPal's policies are very unfriendly to customers, a stark contrast to conventional payment processors. The firm will need to work on its bedside manner if it wants to continue to grow its userbase.

  Meanwhile, auctions still make up the biggest part of the business. By being on both sides of auction transactions (eBay caters to both buyers and sellers), the firm has found a lucrative business catering to small business, with everything from shopping cart software to invoicing platforms. Investors should appreciate the fact that eBay tends to focus on entering new markets that are instantly monetized -- unlike some of its conspicuous tech sector peers.

5 Best Clean Energy Stocks To Own For 2014: Dorchester Minerals L.P.(DMLP)

Dorchester Minerals, L.P. engages in the acquisition, ownership, and administration of producing and non-producing natural gas and crude oil royalty, net profits, and leasehold interests in the United States. Its net profits interests represent net profits overriding royalty interests in various properties owned by the operating partnership; and royalty properties consist of producing and nonproducing mineral, royalty, overriding royalty, net profits, and leasehold interests located in 574 counties and parishes in 25 states. Dorchester Minerals Management LP serves as the general partner of Dorchester Minerals, L.P. The company was founded in 1982 and is based in Dallas, Texas.