Best Healthcare Equipment Stocks To Invest In 2014

The Department of Defense started off the week slow Monday, awarding only a bare half-dozen contracts, and most of them for relatively small dollar values (in Pentagon terms). Among traditional "defense" contractors, the winners were:

Boeing (NYSE: BA  ) , which was awarded $21.4 million as a modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract to upgrade the Training System Support Center to prepare it for Low Rate Initial Production Lot III of the new Boeing P-8A Poseidon subhunting aircraft. Work on this contract should be complete by August 2016.� United Technologies' (NYSE: UTX  ) Pratt & Whitney division, which won a firm-fixed-price contract worth $8.8 million to supply the U.S. Air Force with spare parts. (Spare parts for what was not specified.)�This contract should be complete by Nov. 30, 2016. The U.S. Marine Corps, which placed an $8 million fixed-price delivery order with Oshkosh's (NYSE: OSK  ) Defense division. These funds will pay for 32 Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement variants, camouflage paint, and also ... federal vehicle retail excise taxes.�Oshkosh is expected to deliver the vehicles by Sept. 30, 2014.

Best Prefered Stocks To Own For 2015: BG Medicine Inc.(BGMD)

BG Medicine, Inc., a life sciences company, engages in the discovery, development, and commercialization of diagnostic tests based on biomarkers in the United States. Its product pipeline includes BGM Galectin-3, a diagnostic test for heart failure that measures galectin-3 levels in blood plasma or serum; AMIPredict, a multivariate biomarker blood-based test for atherothrombotic cardiovascular disease; and LipidDx, a blood-based protein assay for the management of patients with lipid disorders. The company also offers TNF alpha blockers comprising Enbrel, Remicade and Humira, which are treatments indicated for autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and Crohn?s disease. It has strategic collaborations and initiatives with pharmaceutical companies and other healthcare organizations, including Abbott Laboratories; ACS Biomarker B.V.; Humana Inc.; Merck & Co., Inc.; and Laboratory Corporation of America. The company was formerly known as Beyond Genomics, Inc. and changed its name to BG Medicine, Inc. in October 2004. BG Medicine, Inc. was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Roberto Pedone]

  Another stock that's starting to move within range of triggering a big breakout trade is BG Medicine (BGMD), which develops and commercializes novel cardiovascular diagnostic tests to address unmet medical needs in the U.S. This stock has been pushed lower by the sellers over the last three months, with shares down sharply by 20%.

  If you take a glance at the chart for BG Medicine, you'll notice that this stock has been uptrending a bit for the last month, with shares moving higher from its low of 90 cents per share to its recent high of $1.12 a share. During that uptrend, shares of BGMD have been making mostly higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. That move has now pushed shares of BGMD within range of triggering a big breakout trade above some key near-term overhead resistance levels.

  Traders should now look for long-biased trades in BGMD if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at $1.08 to $1.12 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 1.56 million shares. If that breakout gets started soon, then BGMD will set up to re-fill some of its previous gap-down-day zone from May that started near $1.30 a share. Any high-volume move above $1.30 will then give BGMD a chance to tag its next major overhead resistance levels at $1.50 to around $1.70 a share.

  Traders can look to buy BGMD off weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below some key near-term support levels at 96 cents to 90 cents per share. One can also buy BGMD off strength once it starts to clear those breakout levels with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.

Best Healthcare Equipment Stocks To Invest In 2014: Harsco Corp (HSC)

Harsco Corporation, incorporated on February 28, 1956, is a diversified, multinational provider of industrial services and engineered products serving global industries. The Company operates in four segments: Harsco Metals & Minerals, Harsco Infrastructure, Harsco Rail and Harsco Industrial. The Company's principal lines of business include outsourced, on-site services to steel mills and other metals producers; resource recovery technologies for the re-use of industrial waste stream by-products; industrial abrasives and roofing granules; engineered scaffolding, concrete forming and shoring, and other access-related services, rentals and sales; railway track maintenance services and equipment; industrial grating products; air-cooled heat exchangers, and heat transfer products. In January 2014, the Company acquired Hammco Corp.

Harsco Metals & Minerals Segment

The Harsco Metals & Minerals Segment is a provider of on-site, outsourced services to the global metals industries. The Metals business provides its services and solutions on a long-term contract basis, supporting each stage of the metal-making process from initial raw material handling to post-production slag processing and metal recovery. The Minerals business extracts metallic content from stainless steel by-products and also specializes in the development of minerals technologies for commercial applications, including agriculture fertilizers. The Minerals business also produces industrial abrasives and roofing granules from power-plant utility coal slag at a number of locations throughout the United States. Harsco Minerals' BLACK BEAUTY abrasives are used for industrial surface preparation, such as rust removal and cleaning of bridges, ship hulls and various structures. Roofing granules are sold to residential roofing shingle manufacturers, primarily for the replacement roofing market. As of December 31, 2012, the Harsco Metals & Minerals Segment operated in approximately 35 countries. During the year ended December 3! 1, 2012, the Harsco Metals & Minerals Segment generated 46% of the Company�� total revenue.

Harsco Infrastructure Segment

The Harsco Infrastructure Segment is global organization for the rental and sale of engineered scaffolding, shoring, concrete forming and other access-related solutions for construction projects as well as industrial plant maintenance programs. The Segment operates from a network of branches throughout the world, including North America, Latin America, Europe, the Gulf Region of the Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific. The services include the provision of concrete shoring and forming systems; scaffolding for non-residential and infrastructure construction projects and industrial maintenance requirements, and a variety of other infrastructure services including project engineering and design, equipment erection and dismantling services, industrial insulation and painting services and equipment sales. During 2012, the Harsco Infrastructure Segment generated 31% of the Company�� total revenue.

Harsco Rail Segment

The Harsco Rail Segment is a global provider of equipment and services for the maintenance, repair and construction of railway track. The Segment's equipment and services support private and government-owned railroads and urban transit systems worldwide. The Segment's rail products are produced in three countries and products and services are provided worldwide. During 2012, the Harsco Rail Segment generated 11% of the Company�� total revenue.

Harsco Industrial Segment

Harsco Industrial Segment includes the Harsco Industrial IKG, Harsco Industrial Air-X-Changers and Harsco Industrial Patterson-Kelley businesses. Approximately 90% of this Segment's revenues originate in North America. Harsco Industrial IKG manufactures a line of industrial grating products at several plants in the United States and international plants located in Mexico and China. These products include a range of bar grating c! onfigurat! ions, which are used mainly in industrial flooring, as well as safety and security applications in the energy, paper, chemical, refining and processing industries.

Harsco Industrial Air-X-Changers is a supplier of custom-designed and manufactured air-cooled heat exchangers for the natural gas industry from plants in the United States and Australia. Harsco Industrial Air-X-Changers' heat exchangers are the primary apparatus used to condition natural gas during recovery, compression and transportation from underground reserves through the pipeline distribution channels. Harsco Industrial Patterson-Kelley is a manufacturer of heat transfer products, such as boilers and water heaters for commercial and institutional applications. During 2012, the Harsco Rail Segment generated 12% of the Company�� total revenue.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Shares of Harsco (HSC) have gained today after BB&T Capital Markets upgraded its shares to Buy from Hold.

  Analysts Robert Norfleet III and Basil Jones III explain the decision to raise their rating:

  �We believe that the strategic transformation of HSC’s portfolio, as evidenced by the recently announced sale of its Infrastructure segment, as well as additional best practices and productivity enhancements (LEAN, etc.) should result in improved financial metrics, valuation, and, ultimately, a less complex business structure. While our non-consensus call is not primarily based on an expedited improvement in financial performance, it is a reflection of our confidence in the new management team and its ability to deliver value to shareholders through asset repositioning, improved ROICs and free cash flow generation. HSC remains a “turnaround story,” but we believe the market is underestimating out-year earnings growth, which will be driven by the Brand Energy JV, lower corporate expenses, improved margins in Metals & Minerals and the likelihood of an accretive acquisition.

  Shares of Harsco have gained 4.7% to $26.43 today at 1:16 p.m., outpacing other construction & engineering companies. Dycom (DY) has advanced 0.5% to $30, KBR Inc. (KBR) has ticked up 0.1% to $33.03, Worthington Industries�(WOR) has risen 2.8% to $38.85�and Tutor Perini (TPC) has rallied 3.6% to $22.46.

• [By Rich Smith]

  Barry Malamud's long tour of duty as interim chief financial officer at Harsco (NYSE: HSC  ) has come to an end.

  On Monday, the Camp Hill, Pa.-based metals company announced that it is hiring F. Nicholas Grasberger as its new CFO, effective April 22. On that date, Malamud will resume his prior position as vice president and corporate controller for the company.

Best Healthcare Equipment Stocks To Invest In 2014: Ishares Nasdaq Biotechnology (IBB)

iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology Index Fund (the Fund) seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index (the Index). The Index consists of securities of NASDAQ-listed companies that are classified according to the Industry Classification Benchmark as either biotechnology or pharmaceuticals, and which also meet other eligibility criteria. The Index is one of the eight sub-indices of the NASDAQ Composite, which measures all common stocks listed on The NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc.

The Fund invests in a representative sample of securities included in the Index that collectively has an investment profile similar to the Index. The Fund�� investment advisor is Barclays Global Fund Advisors.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Udovich]

  On Wednesday,�small cap biotech Arca Biopharma Inc (NASDAQ: ABIO) surged 25.01% on good news about an Investigational New Drug (IND) application only to fall 8.33% on Thursday, meaning investors and traders alike need to�take a closer look at�both the stock and the history of the drug�plus take a look at the performance of biotech benchmarks the�iShares NASDAQ Biotechnology Index ETF (NASDAQ: IBB) and SPDR S&P Biotech ETF (NYSEARCA: XBI).

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Are we witnessing the end of the biotech-stock boom? After coming within a hair of hitting a 52-week high on Friday, the iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology Index ETF (IBB) looks set to drop for a third consecutive day, one that would shave some 9% off the ETF this week alone.

Best Healthcare Equipment Stocks To Invest In 2014: AIA Group Ltd (AAIGF.PK)

AIA Group Limited is an investment holding company. The Company and its subsidiaries are engaged in provision of products and services to individuals and businesses for their insurance, protection, savings, investment and retirement needs. The Company operates life insurance business, providing life, pensions, and accident and health products to customers in its local market, and distributes related investment and other financial services products. The Company serves more than 100,000 corporate clients with more than 13 million group insurance scheme members. It has operations in Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, China, Korea, the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, India, Australia, Taiwan, New Zealand, Macau and Brunei. As of November 30, 2012, its subsidiaries included American International Assurance Company, Limited (AIA Co.), American International Assurance Company (Bermuda) Limited (AIA-B), AIA Australia Limited and PT AIA Financial, among others. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Holly LaFon]

  Berkowitz�� top holdings continue to be: American International Group Inc. (AIG), AIA Group Ltd. (AAIGF.PK), Sears Holdings Corp. (SHLD), Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK.B) and Brookfield Asset Management Inc. (BAM).

Best Healthcare Equipment Stocks To Invest In 2014: Commercial Bancshares Inc (CMOH)

Commercial Bancshares, Inc. is a financial holding company. The Company�� banking subsidiary, The Commercial Savings Bank (the Bank), is engaged in the business of commercial and retail banking, with operations conducted through its main office and branches located in Upper Sandusky, Ohio and neighboring communities in Wyandot, Marion and Hancock counties. The Bank provides customary retail and commercial banking services to its customers, including acceptance of deposits for demand, savings and time accounts, individual retirement accounts (IRAs) and servicing of such accounts; commercial, consumer and real estate lending, including installment loans, and safe deposit and night depository facilities. Commercial Financial and Insurance Agency, LTD is its wholly owned subsidiary. The Bank also owns a 49.9% interest in Beck Title Agency, Ltd.

Lending Activities

The Bank grants residential, installment and commercial loans to customers located primarily in the Ohio counties of Wyandot, Marion and Hancock and the surrounding area. Commercial loans are primarily variable rate and include operating lines of credit and term loans made to small businesses primarily based on the ability to repay the loan from the cash flow of the business. Commercial real estate loans are primarily secured by borrower-occupied business real estate, and are dependent on the ability of the related business to generate adequate cash flow to service the debt. Residential real estate loans are made with primarily variable rates and are secured by the borrower�� residence. As of December 31, 2011, approximately 75.5% of the Company�� loan and lease portfolio consisted of commercial, construction and commercial real estate loans.

Investment Activities

Securities are classified as available for sale. Securities available for sale are carried at fair value. The securities available for sale include obligations of the United Sates Government and federal agencies, obligations of ! state and political subdivisions, and mortgage-backed securities. As of December 31, 2011, total securities available for sale were approximately $24.5 million, which included approximately $4.06 million of obligations of the United Sates Government and federal agencies, approximately $14.3 million of obligations of state and political subdivisions, and approximately $6.4 million of mortgage-backed securities.

Sources of Funds

As of December 31, 2011, the Company had approximately $259.1 million of deposits, which included approximately $ 38.1 million of noninterest-bearing demand, approximately $103.7 million of interest-bearing demand, approximately $ 86.9 million of savings and approximately $ 30.2 million of time deposits $100,000 and greater. As of December 31, 2011 the Company had no borrowings with Federal Home Loan Banks (FHLB).

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Doug Hughes]

  Commercial Bancshares (CMOH) operates as the holding company for The Commercial Savings Bank, with just over $300,000 in assets and $259,000 million in loans. This small, but very strong bank had 5% loan growth last year and net charge-offs of just 0.23%.

Best Healthcare Equipment Stocks To Invest In 2014: B2Gold Corp (BTG)

B2Gold Corp. (B2Gold) is a gold producer with mining operations in Nicaragua and a portfolio of development and exploration assets in Colombia, Nicaragua and Uruguay. It operates the Libertad Mine and the Limon Mine in Nicaragua. It owns or has an interest in the Gramalote and Mocoa properties in Colombia, and the Bellavista property in Costa Rica. La Libertad Mine is located 110 kilometers east of Managua. The Limon Mine is located approximately 100 kilometers northwest of Managua and 20 kilometers from the Pan- American Highway. The Otjikoto gold project is located approximately 300 kilometers north of Namibia�� capital city, Windhoek. The Gramalote property is located approximately 230 kilometers northwest of the Colombian capital of Bogota and approximately 80 kilometers northeast of Medellin. The Gramalote property area is covered by 31 contiguous claim blocks totaling 42,790.09 hectares. In Jnauary 2013, the Company acquired CGA Mining Ltd. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Johanna Bennett]

  Analyst John Bridges and his team like Goldcorp (GG), B2Gold (BTG) and Eldorado (EGO), and feel Buenaventura (BVN) is a serious laggard with likely improved results in the second half of 2014. They write:

Best Healthcare Equipment Stocks To Invest In 2014: LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SA (LVMH)

LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SA, (LVMH), is a France-based luxury goods company. It owns a portfolio of luxury brands and its business activities are divided into five segments: Wines and Spirits, Fashion and Leather Goods, Perfumes and Cosmetics, Watches and Jewelry, and Selective Retailing. The activities of the wines and spirits sector include the Champagne and Wines branch, and the Cognac and Spirits branch. The Fashion and Leather Goods group includes Louis Vuitton, Kenzo and Rossimoda among others. LVMH is present in the perfume and cosmetics sector through the French Houses Christian Dior and other brands. Watches and Jewelry sells such products as TAG Heuer, Zenith, Dior Watches, Chaumet and Fred, among others. Selective Retailing businesses operate in two segments: travel retail and the seleLVMH ctive retail concepts represented by Sephora and Le Bon Marche. In September 2013, the Company acquired majority stake in Nicholas Kirkwood, a British shoe designer company. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Holly LaFon]

  Louis Vuitton (LVMH) is one of the world's leading manufacturers and retailers of luxury apparel. Nearly two years ago, we began to analyze the company. We liked the business model, particularly the growth potential as consumers in emerging markets grow more eager to demonstrate their af铿�ence. We concluded that the company was well-run by a trustworthy management team, but its valuation did not seem very compelling. Louis Vuitton did not appear to be trading at what we felt was enough of a discount to its intrinsic value. Despite this, we did not abandon the idea. For the next 18 months we kept Louis Vuitton on what we call our inventory list. It was an investment we were comfortable making if the right price presented itself. In April, Louis Vuitton shares declined sharply after shareholders were disappointed by their latest earnings announcement, bringing the stock down to a valuation that we felt was attractive. We acted quickly to purchase shares.