Best Healthcare Equipment Stocks For 2014

All eyes were on the Federal Open Market Committee on September 18 as investors awaited an update on the direction of QE3.

The verdict: no taper.

This came as a surprise to many, and the stock market immediately jumped higher while bond yields fell. One group of stocks that rallied the most right after the announcement was real estate investment trusts (REITs).

Considering how beaten down REITs have been since the Fed first hinted at tapering back on May 22, this rally isn’t surprising. And with tapering off the table at least until the Fed’s next meeting on October 29-30, REITs may just see a strong resurgence over the next several weeks.

Guilt by Association

A common misperception is that over the last couple of years, yield-starved investors bid up all dividend stocks to untenable valuations and that the recent selloff amid the taper talk was just a normal correction for these overbought securities.

That may have been the case for some dividend stocks – REITs included – but not all. Nonetheless, many stocks sold off heavily this summer despite solid fundamentals as investors indiscriminately sold high-yielding stocks.

Top 10 New Stocks To Watch For 2015: Express Inc. (EXPR)

Express, Inc. operates specialty retail stores in the United States. The company?s stores offer apparel and accessories for women and men between 20 and 30 years old across various aspects of the lifestyles comprising work, casual, jeanswear, and going-out occasions. It also sells gift cards. As of January 29, 2011, the company operated 591 stores, including 547 dual-gender stores, 25 women?s stores, and 19 men?s stores located primarily in high-traffic shopping malls, lifestyle centers, and street locations in 47 states throughout the United States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. In addition, it operates seven Express stores in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates through its Development Agreement with Alshaya Trading Co.; and sells its products through e-commerce Website, express.com. The company was formerly known as Express Parent LLC and changed its name to Express, Inc. in May 2010. Express, Inc. was founded in 1980 and is headquartered in C olumbus, Ohio.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By ANUP SINGH]

  Bucking the trend
  The apparel & accessories retail sector, despite macroeconomic headwinds, includes retailers that are successfully bucking the trend. Express (NYSE: EXPR  ) has beaten analyst expectations in 12 of the last 13 quarters. It is poised to grow going forward with the back-to-school shopping season finishing and the holiday season fast approaching.

Best Healthcare Equipment Stocks For 2014: Limelight Networks Inc.(LLNW)

Limelight Networks, Inc. provides content delivery network services in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. It offers content delivery services to deliver media files, such as video, music, games, and software, or live streaming of corporate or entertainment events; video content management services, which enable organizations to publish, manage, syndicate, analyze, and monetize video content through a cloud-based service; Web content management services that enable content publishers to create, manage, and publish Web content through a cloud-based service; and mobility and monetization services that help publishers to deliver content to media-enabled mobile handsets or tablets. The company also provides Web acceleration services, which enhance Web experiences for content, online commerce transactions, and Web applications; cloud storage services that comprise customer services for the storage of media and enterprise content; and global con sulting and technical services that enable customers optimize their publishing, e-commerce, mobility, or content distribution workflows, as well as to provide support for network architecture design, storage infrastructure, Web application development, creative design, live event execution, and design, deployment, and management of infrastructure. In addition, it offers reporting and analytics services that help customers to manage and configure content delivery and presentation. The company offers its services to traditional and emerging media companies or content providers, including businesses operating in the television, music, radio, newspaper, magazine, movie, videogame, software, and social media industries; and enterprises, technology companies, and government entities doing business online. The company was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in Tempe, Arizona.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Bryan Murphy]

  For Google, the shift in the way the justice system looks at and handles patent infringement claims meant its subsidiary, Motorola Mobility, unsuccessfully bid to convince U.S. courts that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) was illegally using Google's/Motorola's approach for sending data to a mobile device. For Akamai Technologies, it means that the technology company will need to re-explain - and ultimately re-prove - to an appellate court that Limelight Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:LLNW) infringed on an Akamai patent even though a lower court had already ruled in favor of AKAM. And for Soverain Software, the legal system's new attitude meant it wouldn't even bother hearing its appeal for a case it lost against Newegg last year... a case it's tried against several companies, losing every time.

• [By sandyinvestment]

  After Akamai Technologies (AKAM) released solid results, it was the turn of individual cloud services supplier Limelight Networks (LLNW) to join the spotlight. Be that as it may, Limelight's results were no place close to Akamai's as the substance conveyance service supplier's revenue fell year over year.

• [By jaggom]

  Akamai (AKAM) and Limelight (LLNW) are two completely different prospects that investors can consider in the content delivery services space. Both have been performing differently. Let's take a look at which one suits investors' portfolios the best.

Best Healthcare Equipment Stocks For 2014: Cohen & Steers Inc (CNS)

Cohen & Steers, Inc. (CNS) is a global investment management firm focused on global real estate securities, global listed infrastructure, real assets, large cap value stocks, and preferred securities. The Company also manages alternative investment strategies such as hedged real estate securities portfolios and private real estate multimanager strategies for qualified investors. It serves individual and institutional investors through a range of investment vehicles. CNS manages three types of accounts: institutional accounts, open-end mutual funds and closed-end mutual funds. Its revenue is derived primarily from investment advisory, administration, distribution and service fees received from open-end and closed-end mutual funds and investment advisory fees received from institutional accounts.

Institutional Accounts

The 113 institutional accounts for which the Company is an investment adviser represent portfolios of securities it manage for institutional clients. It manages the assets in each institutional account in a manner tailored to the investment preferences of that individual client as defined within each client's individual investment advisory agreement. Sub-advisory assets, which may be sold to retail investors, are included in its institutional account assets. Sub-advisory assets represent accounts for which it has been named as a sub-adviser by the investment adviser to that account.

Open-End Mutual Funds

The 14 open-end mutual funds for which the Company is an investment adviser offer and issue new shares continuously as funds are invested and redeem shares when funds are withdrawn. Investment advisory fees for the open-end mutual funds vary based on each fund's investment objective and strategy, fees charged by other comparable mutual funds and the nature of the investors to whom the mutual fund is offered. In addition, it receives a separate fee for providing administrative services to each open-end mutual fund at a rate that is design! ed to reimburse the Company for the cost of providing these services. Each of the open-end mutual funds pays the Company a monthly administration fee based on a percentage of the fund's average assets under management.

Closed-End Mutual Funds

The eight closed-end mutual funds for which the Company is an investment adviser are registered investment companies that have issued a fixed number of shares through public offerings. It receives a separate fee for providing administrative services to seven of the eight closed-end mutual funds at a rate that is designed to reimburse the Company for the cost of providing these services.

Portfolio Consulting and Other Services

The Company maintains two indices, Cohen & Steers Realty Majors Index (RMP) and Cohen & Steers Global Realty Majors Index (GRM). RMP is the basis for the iShares Cohen & Steers Realty Majors Index Fund (ICF) sponsored by BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A. GRM is the basis for Cohen & Steers Global Realty Majors Fund (GRI) sponsored by ALPS Fund Services, Inc. and Claymore Global Real Estate ETF (CGR) sponsored by Claymore Investments, Inc. It provides services in connection with model-based strategies (MBS) accounts. As portfolio consultant for a number of MBS accounts, it constructs portfolios of securities that fulfill the investment objective of the mandate and supply models on a regular basis. As portfolio consultant, it provides several services in connection with investment products, such as unit investment trusts (UITs). As portfolio consultant to a number of UITs, it constructs a portfolio of securities.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jonathan Yates]

  Another one to consider is Cohen & Steers Inc (NYSE: CNS), an asset manager based in New York City.

  While the dividend yield for a member of the Standard & Poor's 500 Index averages around 1.9 percent, for Cohen & Steers it is just over 5 percent, much higher than that for BP or Caterpillar. Cohen & Steer's has a beta of 1.56, which means the share price moves up and down nearly 60 percent more than the stock market as a whole, which has a beta of 1.

• [By Victor Selva]

  Forest Laboratories Inc. (FRX) is one of the largest U.S.-based pharmaceutical companies in the area of developing, producing and selling central nervous system (CNS)-related prescription drugs. The company also focuses on the development and introduction of new products, including products developed in collaboration with licensing partners.

• [By Anna Prior]

  Cohen & Steers Inc.(CNS) said Monday that it will separate the chairman and chief executive roles in January, as the investment management firm divides up the positions among its two namesakes.

Best Healthcare Equipment Stocks For 2014: Health Management Associates Inc.(HMA)

Health Management Associates, Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the operation of general acute care hospitals and other health care facilities in non-urban communities in the United States. Its hospitals provide services, including general surgery, internal medicine, obstetrics, emergency room care, radiology, oncology, diagnostic care, coronary care, and pediatric services. The company also offers outpatient services, such as one-day surgery, laboratory, x-ray, respiratory therapy, cardiology, and physical therapy. In addition, its hospitals provide specialty services in cardiology, neuro-surgery, oncology, radiation therapy, computer-assisted tomography scanning, magnetic resonance imaging, lithotripsy, and full-service obstetrics. As of December 31, 2011, the company operated 66 hospitals with a total of 10,330 licensed beds in non-urban communities in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and West Virginia. Health Management Associates was founded in 1977 and is based in Naples, Florida.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Smith]

  HMA is looking for a new CEO. On Tuesday, hospital operator Health Management Associates (NYSE: HMA  ) announced that President and Chief Executive Officer Gary D. Newsome intends to retire from the company on July 31, in order to do missionary work for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as president of the church's Uruguay-Montevideo Mission in South America.

• [By Keith Speights]

  Overall, publicly traded hospitals have fared well under Obamacare so far. Shares of large hospital chain Community Health Systems�have nearly doubled in the past year. The same holds true for Tenet Healthcare. Health Management Associates� (NYSE: HMA  ) stock is up nearly 50% during the period.�HCA Holdings�hasn't performed as well as the others, but the stock is still up around 40% in the last 12 months.

Best Healthcare Equipment Stocks For 2014: Realogy Holdings Corp (RLGY)

Realogy Holdings Corp., incorporated on December 14, 2006, is an integrated provider of residential real estate services in the United States. The Company is the franchisor of residential real estate brokerages with some of the recognized brands in the real estate industry, the owner of United States residential real estate brokerage offices, the global provider of outsourced employee relocation services and a provider of title and settlement services. The Company's operating platform is supported by the Company's portfolio of industry franchise brokerage brands, including Century 21 , Coldwell Banker , Coldwell Banker Commercial , ERA , Sotheby's International Realty and Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate and the Company also owns and operates the Corcoran Group and CitiHabitats brands. In October 2013, Realogy Holdings Corp's Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate LLC announced that it has acquired the assets of Coldwell Banker Cocoa Beach Realty's two offices in Cocoa Beach, Fla. In October 2013, Realogy Holdings Corp's NRT LLC announced the acquisition of Frank Howard Allen Realtors Company-owned operations in Northern California.

The Company operates in four segments: Real Estate Franchise Services (RFG), Company Owned Real Estate Brokerage Services (NRT), Relocation Services (Cartus) and Title and Settlement Services (TRG).As of December 31, 2012 , the Company's franchise systems had approximately 13,600 franchised and company owned offices and 238,900 independent sales associates operating under its franchise and brands in the United States and 101 other countries and territories around the world, which includes approximately 710 of its company owned and operated brokerage offices.

Real Estate Franchise Services

The Company is the franchisor of residential real estate brokerages in the world through its portfolio of well known brokerage brands, including Century 21 , Coldwell Banker , Coldwell Banker Commercial , ERA , Sotheby's International Realty an! d Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate. The Company derives substantially all of its real estate franchising revenues from royalty fees received under long-term (typically ten year) franchise agreements with its franchiseesThe Company's franchisees pay the Company fees for the right to operate under one of the Company's trademarks and to enjoy the benefits of the systems and business enhancing tools provided by its real estate franchise operations.

As of December 31, 2012 , the Company's real estate franchise systems had approximately 13,600 offices worldwide in 102 countries and territories, including approximately 6,100 brokerage offices in the United States and approximately 238,900 independent sales associates worldwide (which included approximately 41,300 independent sales agents working with its company owned brokerage offices) including approximately 166,000 sales associates operating under its franchise and brands in the United States, with an average tenure among United States franchisees of approximately 19 years as of December 31, 2012 .

Company Owned Real Estate Brokerage Services

The Company owns and operates the residential real estate brokerage business in the United States under the Coldwell Banker , Sotheby's International Realty , ERA , Corcoran Group and CitiHabitats brand names. The Company offers full-service residential brokerage services through approximately 710 company owned brokerage offices in more than 35 metropolitan areas of the United States. In addition, the Company participates in the mortgage process through its 49.9% ownership of PHH Home Loans LLC (PHH Home Loans), its home mortgage venture with PHH. The Company's home mortgage joint venture with PHH is the recommended provider of mortgages for the Company's real estate brokerage and relocation service customers (unless exclusivity is waived by PHH). The Company also assists landlords and tenants through property management services. In addition, as a full-service real estate br! okerage c! ompany, the Company promotes the complementary services of its relocation and title and settlement services businesses, in addition to PHH Home Loans.

Relocation Services

The Company is a global provider of outsourced employee relocation services. The Company is the provider of such services in the United States and also operates in key international relocation destinations. The Company offers a range of employee relocation services designed to manage all aspects of an employee's move to facilitate a smooth transition in what otherwise may be a complex and difficult process for the employee and employer. The Company's relocation services business serves corporations, including over 64% of the Fortune 50 companies, as well as affinity organizations such as insurance companies and credit unions that provide the Company's services to their members. During the year ended December 31, 2012, the Company assisted in over 158,000 relocations in more than 150 countries for approximately 1,500 active clients and as of December 31, 2012, its top 25 relocation clients had an average tenure of 17 years with the Company.

The Company primarily offers corporate clients employee relocation services, such as homesale assistance, including the evaluation, inspection, purchasing and selling of a transferee's home; the issuance of home equity advances to transferees permitting them to purchase a new home before selling their current home (these advances are generally guaranteed by the client); certain home management services; assistance in locating a new home; and closing on the sale of the old home, generally at the instruction of the client; expense processing, relocation policy counseling, relocation-related accounting, including international assignment compensation services, and other consulting services; arranging household goods moving services, with approximately 72,000 domestic and international shipments in 2012 , and providing support for all aspects of moving a transferee'! s househo! ld goods, including the handling of insurance and claim assistance, invoice auditing and quality control; coordinating visa and immigration support, intercultural and language training, and expatriation/repatriation counseling and destination services, and group move management services providing coordination for moves involving a number of transferees to or from a specific regional area over a short period of time.

Title and Settlement Services

The Company assists with the closing of real estate transactions by providing full-service title and settlement, which is closing and escrow services to customers, real estate companies, including its Company-owned real estate brokerage and relocation services businesses, as well as a targeted channel of financial institution clients, including PHH. In 2012, TRG was involved in the closing of approximately 194,000 transactions of which approximately 54,000 related to NRT. In addition to the Company's own title and settlement services, the Company also coordinates a nationwide network of attorneys, title agents and notaries to service financial institution clients on a national basis. The Company also serves as an underwriter of title insurance policies in connection with residential and commercial real estate transactions. As of December 31, 2012 , the Company had approximately 340 offices, approximately 200 of which are co-located within one of its company owned brokerage offices.

The Company competes with HSF Affiliates LLC, Brookfield Residential Property Services, HomeServices of America, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices; RE/MAX International, Inc.; and Keller Williams Realty, Inc.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Paul Ausick]

  Big Earnings Movers: Kellogg Co. (NYSE: K) is up 0.7% at $62.72 after announcing a restructuring program. CME Group Inc. (NASDAQ: CME) is down 1.2% at $73.77 after reporting earnings this morning. Realogy Holdings Corp. (NYSE: RLGY) is up 7.7% at $43.79.