Best Quality Stocks To Watch For 2015

The Department of Labor on Thursday announced new guidance interpreting the Supreme Court’s decision in United States v. Windsor, which overturned the Defense of Marriage Act, and its impact on the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

In a technical release, the department’s Employee Benefits Security Administration provides guidance to plans, plan sponsors, fiduciaries, participants and beneficiaries on the decision’s impact on ERISA.

The release states that, in general, the terms “spouse” and “marriage” in Title I of ERISA and in related department regulations should be read to include same-sex couples legally married in any state or foreign jurisdiction that recognizes such marriages, regardless of where they currently live.

On June 26, the Windsor decision struck down the provisions of the Defense of Marriage Act that denied federal benefits to legally married, same-sex couples.

Labor Secretary Thomas Perez said in a statement that “This decision represents a historic step toward equality for all American families, and I have directed the department’s agency heads to ensure that they are implementing the decision in a way that provides maximum protection for workers and their families.”

Best Quality Stocks To Watch For 2015: Fjordland Exploration Inc (FEX.V)

Fjordland Exploration Inc., an exploration stage company, engages in the acquisition and exploration of mineral properties in Canada. It focuses on the discovery of gold, copper, and molybdenum deposits in British Columbia. It has interests in 25 properties. The company has a 100% interest in Tak project comprising 5 properties covering an area of 43,486 hectares in the Cariboo region of central British Columbia; and a 100% interest in the St. Mary�s property covering 13,600 hectares in the Iron Range in southeastern British Columbia. The company also has options to acquire a 100% interest in the adjoining Dillard and Dill copper and gold properties located north of Princeton. In addition, Fjordland Exploration Inc., in partnership with Serengeti Resources Inc., has interests in the Milligan West property covering an area of 15,736 hectares adjoining Thompson Creek�s Mt. Milligan copper-gold deposits; and engages in exploring 10 precious and base metals properties coveri ng an area of 49,753 hectares in the Quesnel Terrane between Imperial Metals� Mount Polley mine and Thompson Creek Metals� Mt. Milligan deposit. The company was incorporated in 1996 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

Best Quality Stocks To Watch For 2015: Johnston Press(JPR.L)

Johnston Press plc publishes local and regional weekly, and evening and morning newspapers, both paid-for and free primarily in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. It also publishes a range of other publications, such as lifestyle magazines and classified directories, as well as Sunday titles. In addition, the company provides specialist publications in print, online, or via mobile technologies. It publishes local and regional newspapers, including 18 daily, 156 paid-weekly, and 89 free-weekly, as well as maintains 273 Websites. Further, the company offers contract printing services to third-party publishers. Johnston Press plc was founded in 1767 and is headquartered in Edinburgh, the United Kingdom.

5 Best Blue Chip Stocks For 2014: AXT Inc(AXTI)

AXT, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, designs, develops, manufactures, and distributes compound and single element semiconductor substrates for use in wireless communications, lighting display applications, fiber optic communications, and solar cell. It offers semi-insulating substrates made from gallium arsenide, which are used in power amplifiers and radio frequency integrated circuits of wireless handsets, direct broadcast televisions, high-performance transistors, and satellite communications applications. The company also provides semi-conducting substrates made from gallium arsenide that are used for applications in light emitting diodes, lasers, and optical couplers; substrates made from indium phosphide used in broadband and fiber optic communications; and substrates made from germanium used in satellite and terrestrial solar cells, and for optical applications. It manufactures its semiconductor substrates using its proprietary vertical gradient freeze technol ogy. In addition, the company, through its joint venture agreements, manufactures and sells gallium, arsenic, germanium, germanium dioxide, paralytic boron nitride crucibles, and boron oxide. AXT, Inc. sells its products through direct sales force in the United States, as well as through independent sales representatives in France, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom. The company was formerly known as American Xtal Technology, Inc. and changed its name to AXT, Inc. in July 2000. AXT, Inc. was founded in 1986 and is headquartered in Fremont, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Eric Volkman]

  SciClone (NASDAQ: SCLN  ) has a new man leading its finance team. The company announced that it hired Wilson Cheung to be its new CFO. Cheung is a longtime executive who most recently served as chief compliance officer, Asia Pacific, at digital marketing agency Velti, following a stint as that company's CFO. Before that, he was CFO and corporate secretary at AXT (NASDAQ: AXTI  ) and served in various managerial positions in firms such as KPMG and Yahoo!

Best Quality Stocks To Watch For 2015: BT Group plc (BT)

BT Group plc provides communications solutions and services worldwide. It engages in the provision of networked IT services; and local, national, and international telecommunications services for use at home, at work, and on the move. The company also offers broadband and Internet products in the United Kingdom (U.K.), as well as TV and converged fixed/mobile services. It operates in four segments: BT Global Services, BT Retail, BT Wholesale, and Openreach. The BT Global Services segment provides managed networked IT services to multinational corporations, domestic businesses, and national and local government organizations. The BT Retail segment offers broadband, telephony, and TV services, as well IT and telephony for small to medium sized businesses in the United Kingdom. It also provides video and telephone conferencing, CCTV, and alarm systems. This segment serves corporate, small and medium enterprises, consumer, and wholesale markets in the U.K., the Republic of Ire land, and Northern Ireland. The BT Wholesale segment provides voice, broadband, and data communications services, including managed services for fixed and mobile network operators, Internet service providers, and telecoms resellers in the U.K. The Openreach segment connects communications providers? customers to their local telephone exchange, giving them access to the U.K. network. The company was formerly known as Newgate Telecommunications Limited and changed its name to BT Group plc in September 2001. BT Group plc was founded in 1981 and is based in London, the United Kingdom.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sam Robson]

  LONDON --�BT� (LSE: BT-A  ) (NYSE: BT  ) �made a surprise announcement today that it will make its new sport channels available at no extra cost to customers of BT broadband, seen as a direct threat to�BSkyB's (LSE: BSY  ) �expensive subscription services to its sports channels.

• [By G. A. Chester]

  LONDON -- BT Group� (LSE: BT-A  ) (NYSE: BT  ) is due to announce its annual results on Friday, May 10.

  Shares in Britain's leading fixed-line telecoms company have out-performed the FTSE 100 over the past 12 months, having risen 31% compared with a 12% rise for the index.

• [By Tony Reading]

  LONDON -- Things are getting personal between�BT� (LSE: BT-A  ) (NYSE: BT  ) and�Sky� (LSE: BSY  ) . The telecoms company is muscling in on Sky's lucrative sports channel business, and the 39% News Corp.-owned pay-TV broadcaster doesn't like it.

• [By Tony Reading]

  In this series I'm subjecting companies to scrutiny under five headings: prospects, performance, management, safety, and valuation. How does�BT� (LSE: BT-A  ) (NYSE: BT  ) measure up?

Best Quality Stocks To Watch For 2015: Hingham Institution for Savings(HIFS)

Hingham Institution for Savings provides various financial services to individuals and small businesses in Massachusetts. The company offers various deposit products, which include checking, savings, term certificates, NOW, money market, demand deposit, and individual retirement accounts. Its loan portfolio comprises residential and commercial real estate, construction, equity lines of credit, personal installment, and revolving credit loans, as well as home equity, overdraft protection, and personal and automobile loans. In addition, the company provides debit cards, direct deposits, safe deposit box, automated teller machines, and telephone and Internet-based banking services. As of December 31, 2010, it operated nine offices in Boston and southeastern Massachusetts. The company was founded in 1834 and is headquartered in Hingham, Massachusetts.

Best Quality Stocks To Watch For 2015: Wild Acre Metals Limited(WAC.AX)

Wild Acre Metals Limited engages in the exploration of mineral properties in Australia. The company primarily explores for gold, nickel, porphyry copper, and iron oxide deposits. It holds interests in the Sambalay, Chaparra, and Yauca projects, which cover approximately 16 concessions totaling 13,900 hectares located in southern Peru. The company also has interests in the Quinns, Mt Ida South, and Yerilla projects located in the eastern Goldfields of Western Australia. Wild Acre Metals Limited was incorporated in 2007 and is based in West Perth, Australia.

Best Quality Stocks To Watch For 2015: Brookfield Mortgage Opportunity Income Fund Inc (BOI)

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Best Quality Stocks To Watch For 2015: Ship Finance International Limited(SFL)

Ship Finance International Limited, through its subsidiaries, engages in the ownership and operation of vessels and offshore related assets in Bermuda, Cyprus, Malta, Liberia, Norway, the United States, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the Marshall Islands. The company also involves in the charter, purchase, and sale of assets. As of March 22, 2011, it owned 29 oil tankers, 8 oil/bulk/ore carriers, 3 dry bulk carriers, 9 container vessels, 2 jack-up drilling rigs, 3 ultra-deepwater drilling units, 6 offshore supply vessels, and 2 chemical tankers. The company offers its services to various sectors of shipping and offshore industry, including oil transportation, drybulk shipments, chemical transportation, container transportation, drilling rigs, and offshore supply vessels. Ship Finance International Limited was founded in 2003 and is based in Hamilton, Bermuda.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Buckingham, Chief Investment Officer, Al Frank Asset Management, Inc. (AFAM)]

  Ship Finance International (SFL) primarily engages in the transportation of crude oil and oil products, dry bulk, and containerized cargos, and in offshore drilling and related activities.

Best Quality Stocks To Watch For 2015: MusclePharm Corp (MSLP)

MusclePharm Corporation (MusclePharm), incorporated on August 4, 2006, is engaged in the business of providing personal fitness training using isometric techniques (Tone in Twenty). Muscle Pharm offers 12 products: Assault, Battle Fuel, Bullet Proof, Combat Powder, MuscleGel, Shred Matrix, Re-con, Armor-V, BCAA 3:1:2, ZMA Max, Glutamine and Creatine. MusclePharm is an expanding healthy life-style company that develops and distributes a full line of National Sanitation Foundation International and scientifically approved, nutritional supplements that are 100% free of any banned substances. MusclePharm products are sold in over 120 countries and available in over 5,000 United States retail outlets, including GNC, Vitamin Shoppe and Vitamin World. The Company also sells its products in over 100 online stores, including bodybuilding.com, amazon.com and vitacost.com.

Assault

Assault helps fight fatigue, boost performance, build muscle, increase intensity, hydrate muscles and feed muscles valuable, clinically-proven nutrients, such as ConCrete, Beta Alanine, BCAAs and Cinnulin. Assault is a safe pre-workout formula that increases strength, aerobic and anaerobic performance, reduces stomach fat and meets NFS and informed choice product standards for being free of banned substances.

Battle Fuel

Battle Fuel helps to increase lean mass and strength, improve endurance and energy levels, naturally detoxify and enhance aggressive mental focus. The herbal formula enhances and supports all things masculine to drive strength, power and lean muscle mass development. Battle Fuel also assists with recovery through an intense combination of cleansing agents and natural elements that reduce fatigue and improve cellular immunity.

Bullet Proof

Bullet Proof helps increase recovery effectiveness and hormonal up-regulation. It also improves lean muscle tissue growth and helps relieve some forms of pain.

Combat Powder

Combat! helps the body receive 25 grams of high quality protein, fuel fat loss, support healthy body composition, nourish lean muscle and speed up recovery. Combat is designed to help fill the gap in nutrition that athletes and super-active people may experience, to ensure their bodies are growing and recovering.

MuscleGel

MuscleGel helps in receiving more of the nutrients that body needs every day. Packed full of different proteins like building block amino acids, MuscleGel�� patented Pro-Fusion Technology gel format yields a fast-absorbing, highly bio-available source of next generation fitness food. For protein, carbohydrates and vitamins, MuscleGel delivers. It works on-the-go, fills athletes up and streams right to those parts of an athletes��body where nutrients are needed most.

SHRED Matrix

SHRED Matrix is superior for burning fat naturally, counteracting mood swings and helping athletes stay focused on weight loss and quick results. This 8-Stage Weight Loss System was specifically made for athletes and people who exercise regularly. As a total body diet, it sheds pounds, burns fat cells and attacks fat loss from every angle. While natural fat burners are at work, proven ingredients like Sugar Stop and the enzyme aid matrix keep athletes��appetites in check. Additionally, the formula is tuned so users won�� experience jitters or a crash.

Re-con

Re-con helps athletes recover quicker and more effectively, repair muscle cells, feed the body nutrients and grow stronger with ingredients, such as BCAAs, EAAs, cellular detoxifiers, muscle-loading carbohydrates and stress hormone regulators. This maximizes an athlete�� anabolic window, the post-workout phase where the body repairs and rebuilds tissue. Re-con promotes growth from every angle, delivering proteins and nutritious elements in their ideal forms.

Armor-V

Armor-V helps athletes receive a full dose of important vitamins and minerals, keeps v! ital orga! ns, such as the liver clean of toxins, recover faster and keep the body�� hormones balanced. This system was designed to meet the standards of high-performance athletes, who need a dedicated source of vitamins and minerals. Loaded with anti-oxidants and system optimizers derived from fruits and vegetables, Armor-V brings together organic, herbal and natural ingredients into a multi-nutrient complex that benefits active bodies.

BCAA 3:1:2

BCAA helps athletes receive ideal amounts of the Branched Chain Amino Acids (BCAA) Leucine, Isoleucine and Valine, from this patented ratio of 3:1:2, promote muscle development and maintenance, increase lean body mass and spur weight loss. BCAAs are part of the group of essential amino acids a body needs. Its patented 3:1:2 ratio is designed to release the ideal amounts of each amino acid both before and after a workout. This prevents muscle breakdown and leads to gains in body mass without losing weight.

ZMA Max

MusclePharm ZMA Max supports muscle growth and recovery, promotes deeper and more efficient sleep to maximize healing, tissue repair, anabolic hormone production and testosterone levels. It delivers the benefits of precise dosages and ZMA ingredient ratios and adds the synergistic effects of clinically-proven Fenugreek to support the balance of cholesterol levels, as well as increase of healthy libido function in women and men.

MP Glutamine

MusclePharm Core Series MP Glutamine supplement increases whole body glutamine status by enhancing an athlete�� uptake, bioavailability and digestion. Feeding the body a dedicated source of glutamine ultimately provides optimal muscle-tissue saturation through an range of three pure yet diverse nutritional glutamine complexes that delivers a substantial range of benefits.

Creatine

MusclePharm MP Core Series Creatine increases creatine status by enhancing uptake and bioavailability while fueling stamina, strength and le! an muscle! growth. Many athletes who engage in high-intensity/short duration exercises like weightlifting use creatine. The clinically-proven ingredient Cinnulin heightens absorption, which assists its five pure and diverse creatine complexes, delivering a range of benefits will launch directly into muscles. MP Creatine increases explosive energy, ATP energy and overall power.

The Company competes with Optimum Nutrition, Inc. (Optimum), Iovate Health Sciences, Inc. (IHS), Bio-Engineered Supplements and Nutrition, Inc. (BSN).

Best Quality Stocks To Watch For 2015: rue21 inc.(RUE)

rue21, inc. operates as a specialty apparel retailer in the United States. It provides fashion apparel and accessories for girls and guys, including graphic T-shirts, denim, dresses, shirts, hoodies, belts, jewelry, handbags, footwear, intimate apparel, and other accessories. The company sells its apparel and accessories under the brand names of rue21, rue21 etc!, tarea by rue21, Carbon and CJ Black, and Carbon Elements; and fragrances under the rue by rue21, revert eco rue21, CJ Black, sparkle rue21, Pink Ice by rue21, MetroBlack rue21, tarea by rue21, twentyone black, runway21 by rue21, Carbon Elements, Intense by rue21, and rue21 etc! brand names. As of January 28, 2012, it operated 755 stores in 713 cities in 46 states. rue21, inc. was founded in 1976 and is headquartered in Warrendale, Pennsylvania.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Brian Pacampara]

  What: Shares of rue21 (NASDAQ: RUE) surged 23% today after private equity firm Apax Partners agreed to acquire the specialty apparel retailer for $1.1 billion.

Best Quality Stocks To Watch For 2015: L (MCG.V)

Melco China Resorts (Holding) Limited develops and operates ski resorts in China. Its portfolio includes Sun Mountain Yabuli, Sky Mountain Beidahu, The Lotus Mountain Club, Adventure Mountain Changchun, and Star Mountain Beijing resort properties in Beijing, Heilongjiang Province, and Jilin Province. The company offers a range of accommodations, including full-service hotels, condominium-hotels, and luxury resort homes. Melco China Resorts (Holding) Limited is based in Beijing, China.

Best Quality Stocks To Watch For 2015: Advocat Inc.(AVCA)

Advocat Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides long-term care services to nursing home patients. It offers health care, nursing, personal care, and social services to their patients and residents. The company also provides rehabilitation and nutritional support services. As of June 30, 2011, it operated 9 company-owned and 37 leased nursing centers with 5,364 licensed nursing beds in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia. The company was founded in 1994 and is based in Brentwood, Tennessee.

Best Quality Stocks To Watch For 2015: Gildan Activewear Com Npv (GIL.TO)

Gildan Activewear Inc. engages in the manufacture and sale of apparel products primarily in the United States, Canada, and Europe. It sells T-shirts, fleece, and sport shirts to wholesale distributors under the Gildan brand name. The company also provides its activewear products for work and school uniforms and athletic team wear, and other purposes to convey individual, group, and team identity. In addition, it offers apparel, which includes socks, underwear, and activewear products primarily to U.S. retailers; and athletic, casual, and dress socks for U.S. retailers. Further, the company holds contractual licensing relationships for the Under Armour and New Balance brands for socks; and manufactures and distributes activewear products for consumer brands, including T-shirts and sport shirts under the Anvil brand. It markets its sock products under the various brands, including Gold Toe, PowerSox, SilverToe, Auro, All Pro, GT, and Gildan brands. The company was formerly k nown as Textiles Gildan Inc. and changed its name to Gildan Activewear Inc. in March 1995. Gildan Activewear Inc. was founded in 1984 and is headquartered in Montreal, Canada.

Best Quality Stocks To Watch For 2015: Central Federal Corporation(CFBK)

Central Federal Corporation operates as the holding company for CFBank that provides various financial services. It accepts various deposit products that include savings accounts, retail and business checking accounts, money market accounts, and certificates of deposit. The company?s loan portfolio comprises commercial, commercial real estate, and multi-family mortgage loans; single-family real estate loans; construction, land, and land development loans; and consumer loans, including home equity lines of credit, automobile loans, home improvement loans, and loans secured by deposits. It also provides online Internet banking, mobile banking, remote deposit, corporate cash management, and telephone banking services. Central Federal Corporation operates through four branch offices located in Summit, Columbiana, and Franklin Counties, Ohio. The company was formerly known as Grand Central Financial Corp. The company was founded in 1892 and is headquartered in Fairlawn, Ohio.< /p>

Best Quality Stocks To Watch For 2015: State Bank of Travancore (SBT)

State Bank of Travancore (the Bank) is an associate of the State Bank of India. The Bank operates in four segments: corporate / wholesale banking, retail banking, treasury and other banking operations. During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2012 (fiscal 2012), the Bank has added 87 branches to its network. As of March 31, 2011, the Bank had 879 branches with 13 extensions counters in 13 states and three union territories. As of March 31, 2011, the Bank had a network of 929 automated teller machines (ATMs), including 273 offsite ATMs. The Bank�� products include SBT Gold Savings Scheme, SBT Home Loan PAL (Pre Approved Limit), SBT Green, SBT Suraksha, SBT Swarna Saphallyam, Overdraft (OD) in Savings Bank Account, SBT Defence Salary Account, SBT Construction and Equipment Loan, RTO Loans, SBT Solar Special and Weavers Credit Cards. The Bank products also include life, non-life insurance products, as well as other non-banking investment products, such as mutual fund.

Best Quality Stocks To Watch For 2015: Starbucks Corporation(SBUX)

Starbucks Corporation purchases and roasts whole bean coffees. It operates approximately 16,858 stores, including 8,833 company-operated stores and 8,025 licensed stores. The company offers approximately 30 blends and single-origin premium arabica coffees. It also provides handcrafted beverages, such as fresh-brewed coffee, hot and iced espresso beverages, coffee and non-coffee blended beverages, Vivanno smoothies, and Tazo teas; and merchandise products, including home espresso machines, coffee brewers and grinders, coffee mugs and accessories, packaged goods, music, books, and gift items. In addition, it offers fresh food items, which comprise baked pastries, sandwiches, salads, oatmeal, yogurt parfaits, and fruit cups. Further, it also provides VIA ready brew coffee, bottled frappuccino beverages, discoveries chilled cup coffee, doubleshot espresso drinks, iced coffee, whole bean coffee, and ice creams. The company?s brand portfolio includes Tazo tea, Ethos water, Seatt le?s Best Coffee, and Torrefazione Italia Coffee. Starbucks Corporation sells its products in approximately 50 countries worldwide. Starbucks Corporation was founded in 1971 and is based in Seattle, Washington.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Kevin Chen]

  Starbucks� (NASDAQ: SBUX  ) dropped as low as 3% in after-market trading upon missing revenue estimates.

  For the second fiscal quarter, which ended March 31, Starbucks seemed to do great. It beat Wall Street's earnings-per-share (EPS) estimates of $0.48 per share with $0.51 per share. However, the Street ultimately punished the stock because it missed revenue expectations. Instead of bringing in $3.59 billion, it raked in $3.56 billion.

• [By Brian Stoffel]

  It would be easy to say, after two decades of breakneck growth in both the United States and abroad, that Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX  ) has reached its saturation point. At this point, buying in while shares trade for 32 times earnings seems ridiculous.

• [By Steve Heller]

  The ritual of coffee drinking can vary greatly among cultures, especially in Asia. For Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX  ) , the challenge is to match differing Asian cultures and tastes into a concept that the corresponding local population can relate to. In this video, Fool contributor Steve Heller examines how Starbucks will be adapting its brand to local Asian cultures as a way to drive new market share.