Top 10 Performing Stocks To Buy For 2014

"Prophesy is a good line of business, but it is full of risks." - Mark Twain

Hope over a deal in Washington, combined with expectations of a dovish Fed led by Janet Yellen, have put a bid back into stocks which had been hovering around some key technical levels in the US. Emerging markets continue to power higher, and the meme remains that "every dip is bought." This is of course true until it isn't and mentality breaks. Reflation remains the underlying hope for all bulls, even though it simply has not existed in 2013 based on how intermarket trends have behaved. That does not mean that inflation expectations can't rise from here, but rather that there is still much skepticism given that this is the first time QE has failed to juice fear over rising prices in the economy and a true pickup of economic growth.

Despite big swings up and down, money may finally be starting to pay attention. There has been notable improvement in defensive sectors which seem to be on the verge of reversing their divestment relative behavior. Take a look below at the price ratio of the SPDR S&P Dividend Index ETF (SDY) relative to the S&P 500 (SPY). As a reminder, a rising price ratio means the numerator/SDY is outperforming (up more/down less) the denominator/SPY.

Top 10 Performing Stocks To Buy For 2014: Marenica Energy Ltd(MEY.AX)

Marenica Energy Limited engages in the exploration and development of uranium deposits in Namibia and Australia. The company also explores for lead, zinc, silver, gold, and copper. Its principal project includes the Marenica Uranium project that covers an area of 527 square kilometers located in the Damara Province, Namibia. The company was formerly known as West Australian Metals Ltd and changed its name to Marenica Energy Limited in November 2009. Marenica Energy Limited was incorporated in 1978 and is based in West Perth, Australia.

Top 10 Performing Stocks To Buy For 2014: West Mountain Cap Corp (WMT.V)

West Mountain Capital Corp., through its subsidiary, Phase Separation Solutions, Inc., provides soil remediation services in North America. It uses Thermal Phase Separation Technology for the treatment of contaminated soil, sludge, and solid wastes impacted with chlorinated hydrocarbons, such as PCB�s, dioxins, furans, and pesticides. The company is based in St. John�s, Canada.

Top Financial Stocks To Own For 2014: Epicore Bionetworks Inc. (EBN.V)

Epicore BioNetworks Inc. designs, develops, and manufactures biotechnology products and specialty animal feeds worldwide. The company offers a family of EPICIN branded biological aquaculture systems that create a cleaner and healthier growing environment in aquaculture hatcheries and grow-out ponds, as well as eliminates toxic ammonia and nitrates and improves animal health and disease resistance for the aquaculture industry. It also provides agriculture products, including EPIZYM-AW and EPIZYM-PIGS, which are animal manure bacterial inoculants to liquefy and deodorize animal waste; PHYTOZYM 2-2-2 liquid foliar spray and seed treatment, a stabilized biochemical concentrate; EPITHATCH biological thatch digester, a dry biological formulation that decomposes dead grass; and EPITHERM microbial ecosystem for composting organic waste. In addition, the company offers municipal products comprising LINEBAC, a microbial ecosystem to biodegrade contaminants in industrial and municipa l wastewater collection systems; LIPOSOLVE municipal emulsifier; DEOBAC Biological deodorizer and odor neutralizer, a liquid microbial ecosystem to biodegrade organic matter; and GREASE-X aqueous cleaner and degreaser that penetrates and softens various forms of grease, fats, and oil. Further, it provides wastewater treatment products, including EPIZYM-100 microbial ecosystem for the biodegradation of industrial and municipal wastewater; and EPIZYM-200 microbial inoculant for the biodegradation of crude oil and petroleum products. Additionally, Epicore BioNetworks Inc. offers biological cleaning products, such as drain and grease trap cleaners, hard surface cleaner, carpet and upholstery shampoo, and aqueous cleaner and degreaser; and bio remediation products. The company was formerly known as Epicore Networks Inc. and changed its name to Epicore BioNetworks Inc. in 2000. Epicore BioNetworks Inc. was incorporated in 1987 and is headquartered in Eastampton, New Jersey.

Top 10 Performing Stocks To Buy For 2014: PulteGroup Inc.(PHM)

PulteGroup, Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in homebuilding and financial services businesses primarily in the United States. The company?s homebuilding business includes the acquisition and development of land primarily for residential purposes within the United States; and the construction of housing on such lands. It offers various home designs, including single-family detached, townhouses, condominiums, and duplexes under the Pulte Homes, Del Webb, and Centex brand names. As of December 31, 2011, its homebuilding operations offered homes for sale in approximately 700 communities. The company?s financial services business consists of mortgage banking and title operations. It arranges financing through the origination of mortgage loans for its homebuyers; sells such loans and related servicing rights; and provides title insurance policies as an agent, and examination and closing services to its home buyers. The company was formerly known as Pulte Homes, Inc. an d changed its name to PulteGroup, Inc. in March 2010. PulteGroup, Inc. was founded in 1956 and is headquartered in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sean Williams]

  Finally, homebuilder PulteGroup (NYSE: PHM  ) rallied 4.7%, in spite of no company-specific news. This appeared to be more of a rebound rally than anything else, as investors have demonstrated their concerns in recent days about whether the rally in homebuilders was too much, too soon. While home prices have been strong, and inventories remain low, the prospect of the Federal Reserve's bond-buying program tapering off sooner than later could stymie loan growth, and bring the housing sector to a grinding halt. I certainly feel the risk far outweighs the reward with PulteGroup at the moment.

• [By Dimitra DeFotis]

  In the homebuidling category:

  Weyerhaeuser (WY), the producer of lumber, was up nearly 3%. On Thursday, Citigroup Analyst Anthony Pettinari wrote that Weyerhaeuser could sell its homebuilder unit for between $2.5 billion and $3.5 billion, and interested buyers in the unit, WRECO, could include Lennar�(LEN), Toll Brothers (TOL) and Brookfield Residential Properties (BRP). About 67% of the Weyerhaeuser unit’s roughly 27,000 lots are in California. Citi has a Buy rating on Weyerhauser and a $35 price target. Lennar, the home builder, was�up 2.6%. Masco (MAS), the building materials maker, was�up 2%.� PulteGroup (PHM), the home builder, was�up 2%. DR Horton�(DHI), the home builder, was�up 1.9%.

  Among real estate trusts:

• [By John Divine]

  Prominent homebuilder PulteGroup (NYSE: PHM  ) also directly suffered from speculation about further Fed involvement. As bonds sold off, rates rose, and rising rates can have ominous effects on the real estate industry. From a buyer's perspective, if it costs more to borrow money in order to purchase a home, it can cause some understandable hesitation, and even make getting a mortgage financially impossible. PulteGroup, along with every other residential construction company in the S&P homebuilders index, fell today; PulteGroup slipped 2.9%.

Top 10 Performing Stocks To Buy For 2014: Txt E-solutions(TXTS.MI)

TXT e-solutions S.p.A. provides various software products and solutions to the industrial sector in Italy and internationally. It offers TXT PERFORM, a suite of demand and supply chain management solutions, which comprises TXT CDMi, a collaborative demand management and intelligence tool; TXTPLAN that provides optimization algorithms, what-if capabilities, and performance management capabilities within an integrated environment for production, inventory, distribution, and replenishment planning; PDMi, a product data management and intelligence tool, which provides product data management and collection design and development capabilities; TXTCHAIN, a Web-based supplier relationship management tool for communication and process management with partners; and TXTMAKE, that supports planning and managing production operations? workflows and reporting. The company also provides TXT NEXT, that offers a portfolio of system integration and information technology services, primari ly for aerospace and defense, and high tech manufacturing, and banking and finance sectors. In addition, TXT e-solutions offers TXT Polymedia Video, that captures, manages, handles, and distributes videos on different media and channels; and Polymedia advertising, which provides interactive advertising solutions to various channels and media. The company has strategic partnerships with Microsoft, IBM, Accenture, and HP. The company was formerly known as TXT Ingegneria Informatica S.p.A and changed its name to TXT e-solutions S.p.A. in March 2000. TXT e-solutions S.p.A. was founded in 1989 and is headquartered in Milan, Italy.

Top 10 Performing Stocks To Buy For 2014: R.G. Barry Corporation(DFZ)

R.G. Barry Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in designing, sourcing, marketing, and distributing consumer products in the retail accessories category primarily in North America. It operates in two segments, Footwear and Accessories. The Footwear segment offers footwear products comprising primarily slippers, sandals, hybrid and fashion footwear, slipper socks, and hosiery under the Dearfoams, Angel Treads, DF by Dearfoams, Utopia by Dearfoams, and Terrasoles names. This segment also markets Levi?s branded slippers and sandals. The Accessories segment provides foot and shoe care products, such as cushioned insoles, handbags, tote bags, and travel products for women under the Foot Petals, Fab Feet, Glamour Toez, Heavenly Heelz, Killer Kushionz, baggallini, and Le Bagg names. The company markets its products through accessory sections of department stores, chain stores, warehouse clubs, specialty stores, independent stores, television shopping networks, e- tailing/Internet based retailers, discount stores, and mass merchandising channels of distribution. R.G. Barry Corporation was founded in 1947 and is headquartered in Pickerington, Ohio.

Top 10 Performing Stocks To Buy For 2014: Pennant Energy Inc.(PEN.V)

Pennant Energy Inc., a junior exploration company, engages in the investment, exploration, and development of oil and gas properties. It holds 100% working interest in the Bronson and Kaybob prospects covering 1,920 acres of land located in the established Kaybob South Field area of west central Alberta; an undivided 25% working interest in 2 producing oil and gas wells and certain P&NG right in 2 sections of land located at Badger, Alberta; 17.17% working interest in the Ferrier property located northwest of Red Deer, Alberta; 25% working interest in the Pearl and Watts fields located northeast of Drumheller, Alberta; and 24% interest in the Pembina property located southwest of Edmonton, Alberta. The company also has non-operated working interests ranging from 15% to 45% in 9 producing oil wells in the Daly Field in Manitoba. The company was formerly known as Penteco Resources Limited and changed its name to Pennant Energy Inc. Pennant Energy Inc. was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

Top 10 Performing Stocks To Buy For 2014: Vicor Corporation(VICR)

Vicor Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, designs, develops, manufactures, and markets modular power components and power systems. The company?s Brick Business Unit segment offers modular power converters and configurable products. Vicor?s VI Chip segment designs, develops, manufactures, and markets the company?s factorized power architecture products. Its Picor segment manufactures and markets power management integrated circuits and related products for use in various power system applications. The company sells its products in North America and South America through a network of independent sales representative organizations; and in other areas through independent distributors. Vicor Corporation was founded in 1981 and is headquartered in Andover, Massachusetts.

Top 10 Performing Stocks To Buy For 2014: Ocean Park Ventures Corp (OCP.V)

Ocean Park Ventures Corp. engages in the exploration and development of base and precious metal properties in the Americas. The company holds an option to acquire a 51% interest in the Adelita copper-gold-silver project located in the southern part of Sonora, Mexico; a 50% interest in the Trapper gold project consisting of 9 contiguous mining claims located in the Atlin Mining Division of northern British Columbia, Canada; and a 100% interest in the Metla gold property located in northern British Columbia, Canada. It also holds option to acquire the Chisna copper/gold property located in the south central state of Alaska. The company was formerly known as eTV Technology Inc. and changed its name to Ocean Park Ventures Corp. in April 2009. Ocean Park Ventures Corp. was incorporated in 1987 and is based in Vancouver, Canada.

Top 10 Performing Stocks To Buy For 2014: Spirent Plc(SPT.L)

Spirent Communications plc operates as a communications technology company in Europe, the Asia Pacific, the Americas, and Africa. It operates in three segments: Performance Analysis, Service Assurance, and Systems. The Performance Analysis segment provides solutions that test current and next-generation communications technologies in the lab. It develops test solutions for the engineers in the communications industry that allow them to evaluate the performance of the latest technologies, infrastructure, and applications to be deployed worldwide. This segment also offers tools for service technicians and field test engineers to enhance network quality and make troubleshooting of live networks. In addition, it allows network equipment and mobile device manufacturers, service providers, enterprises, and government entities to test and benchmark the performance of their networks, network elements, mobile devices, and services; and delivers solutions, which address high speed E thernet, data center, cloud computing, virtualization, IMS, IPTV, location based services, multi-GNSS satellite technologies, 3G and 4G/LTE wireless, and other technologies. The Service Assurance segment provides network monitoring and field test solutions for live networks. This segment allows service providers to diagnose, troubleshoot, and determine how to resolve issues with networks and systems within the live network. The Systems segment supplies electronic control systems for electrically powered vehicles in the medical mobility and industrial markets. These include vehicles, such as powered wheelchairs and mobility scooters, as well as industrial vehicles, including floor cleaning equipment, fork-lift trucks, aerial access platforms, and golf carts. Spirent Communications plc was founded in 1936 and is headquartered in Crawley, the United Kingdom.