Top 10 Logistics Companies To Own For 2014

Around the globe and Down Under it, L-3 Communications (NYSE: LLL  ) landed a pair of new contracts this week.

On Thursday, the Australian Defence Force announced that it has signed two contracts with L-3's Oceania subsidiary, ordering up "off-the-shelf" satellite communications terminals.

Under the first contract, L-3 will supply the ADF with 51 portable satellite terminals, 30 deployment kits, spare parts, and test equipment for $32 million. This equipment will be delivered in 2014. Under the second, L-3 will provide integrated logistics support, engineering services, supply support services, maintenance services, and training in the use of the terminals for $7 million, payable over three years.

Commenting on the awards, Australian Minister for Defence Material Dr. Mike Kelly explained that the new equipment will enable "linking of sensors, weapon systems, and commanders to their respective command and control systems" through technology certified for use on the Wideband Global Satellite System.

Hot Retail Companies To Invest In Right Now: 51job Inc.(JOBS)

51job, Inc. provides integrated human resource services primarily in the People?s Republic of China. . The company provides recruitment related advertising services, including print advertising services through 51job Weekly, which is a city-specific recruitment advertising publication that is published once a week and is distributed as an insert in local newspapers and/or on a stand-alone basis; and online recruitment services through its Website, www.51job.com. It also offers other human resource related services, such as business process outsourcing, which consist of social insurance and welfare payment processing, regulatory compliance, and payroll processing; and executive search services, as well as conducts training seminars in the areas of business management, leadership, sales and marketing, human resource, negotiation skills, financial planning and analysis, public administration, manufacturing, secretarial, and other skills for the general public and corporate cl ients. In addition, the company provides campus recruitment services; conducts salary, employee retention, and other human resource related surveys; organize and host annual human resource conferences and events, which include lectures, seminars, workshops, and networking opportunities for human resource professionals; and provides assessment tools to assist human resource departments in evaluating capabilities and dispositions of job candidates and existing employees, aiding employee placement, and allocating employee resources, as well as hiring and support services to employers on select recruitment projects. It provides recruitment and other human resource related services to employers through its sales offices, as well as through its sales and customer service call center. The company was founded in 1998 and is based in Shanghai, the People?s Republic of China.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By WWW.DAILYFINANCE.COM]

  Andy Wong/AP Alibaba (BABA) is the new belle of the dot-com ball in China. The e-commerce juggernaut pulled off a record initial public offering in September when it raised $25 billion on the way to becoming a public company. Analysts love Alibaba. They were able to initiate coverage on Wednesday, following the 40-day quiet period that follows an IPO's debut. Only one of its underwriters -- Goldman Sachs -- failed to tap it as a buy recommendation. It's easy to see the appeal. Alibaba helped 231 million active buyers place 11.3 billion orders totaling $248 billion in transactions last year, and it's just getting started. However, the stock, with its nearly $250 billion market cap, isn't cheap. Let's look at some Chinese dot-coms that have been trading longer and could be more compelling bargains. Baidu (BIDU) China's leading search engine posted another blowout quarter on Wednesday, just as analysts were gushing all over Alibaba. The company behind China's largest search engine saw revenue soar 52 percent over the prior year's third quarter. Earnings climbed just 27 percent, but that was twice as fast as analysts were expecting. Baidu is investing in low-margin online specialties including travel, video and mobile app storefronts, and that weighs on bottom-line growth. Baidu remains one of China's biggest winners. It went public nine years ago at a split-adjusted price of $2.70, and now it trades north of $200. Baidu fulfills roughly two-thirds of all queries, and it is rocking at a time when its profitability is still suppressed. 51job (JOBS) Matching employees to potential hires started out with old-school tech for 51job. It got its start by inserting weekly job listings in more than two dozen leading Chinese newspapers. Then the Internet came along, allowing 51job to convert its thick Rolodex and respected brand into a leading online recruiter. It's working: 51job is growing its revenue in the low double digits. It's trading at a reasonable 22 time

• [By Ben Rooney]

  51job (JOBS), an online job search website similar to Monster.com (MWW), has surged more 60% this year.

  But there is one notable Chinese dot-com stock that's sitting out the big rally. Shares of Renren (RENN), the social network known as China's Facebook (FB, Fortune 500), are down 3% for the year.

• [By John Udovich]

  As US and global economies recover, hiring should increase with overlooked recruitment related stocks like Cornerstone OnDemand, Inc (NASDAQ: CSOD), 51job, Inc (NASDAQ: JOBS) and Staffing 360 Solutions Inc (OTCBB: STAF) being among the first to benefit aside from those who have found employment:

Top 10 Logistics Companies To Own For 2014: Rakuten Inc (RKUNF)

Rakuten Inc. is mainly engaged in the electronic commerce (EC) business and Internet-related businesses. The Internet Service segment operates Internet shopping mall Rakuten Ichiba, EC sites, travel reservation sites, portal sites, digital books, as well as sells advertisements and contents on these sites. The Internet Finance segment provides banking and securities services, credit cards related services, life insurance and electronic money services through Internets. The Others segment provides communication services and operates baseball teams. On March 27, 2013, the Company announced the completion of the acquisition of AIRIO, a life insurance company. On March 28, 2013, the Company acquired additional 61.29% stake of Stylife Corp. On October 15, 2013, the Company announced that it had acquired Spotlight Inc. On January 1, 2014, it transferred its online mall business Rakuten 24 to Kenko.com Inc. On February 3, 2014, it acquired the entire share capital of VI-VI-VI.COM Co., Ltd. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By MARKETWATCH]

  LOS ANGELES (MarketWatch) -- Japanese stocks rose in early Monday trading, with weaker-than-expected trade data pushing the yen lower, which in turn helped some export stocks. The Nikkei Stock Average (JP:NIK) added 1% to 14,704.36, with the broader Topix up 0.8%, also enjoying support from gains Friday in the U.S. After data showing exports grew less than analysts had projected, the dollar (USDJPY) moved back above the 98-yen level, sending some exporters climbing, with a 2.2% rise for Fujitsu Ltd. (JP:6702) (FJTSY) , a 1.2% improvement for Alps Electric Co. (JP:6770) , and a 1% bump for Toyota Motor Corp. (JP:7203) (TM) . Shares of Suzuki Motor Corp. (JP:7269) (SZKMF) added 2.9% after a Nikkei report saying the company would record its highest-ever operating profit for the April-September half. Retailers were also a strong spot Monday, with J. Front Retailing Co. (JP:3086) up 2%, online marketplace Rakuten Inc. (JP:4755) (RKUNF) adding 2.4%, and 7-Eleven operator Seven & I Holdings Co. (JP:3382) (SVNDF) ahead by 1.4%.

Top 10 Logistics Companies To Own For 2014: Eagle Materials Inc (EXP)

Eagle Materials Inc., incorporated on January 27, 1994, manufactures and distributes gypsum wallboard and also manufactures and sells cement. Gypsum wallboard is distributed throughout the United States with particular emphasis in the geographic markets nearest to its production facilities. The Company sells cement in six regional markets, including northern Nevada and California, the greater Chicago area, the Rocky Mountain region, the Central Plains region and Texas. Its gypsum wallboard business is supported by its recycled paperboard business, while its cement business is supported by its concrete and aggregates business. The Company operates in Cement and Concrete and Aggregates, and Gypsum Wallboard and Recycled Paperboard segments. As of March 31, 2013, the Company operated six cement plants (one of which belongs to its joint venture company), five gypsum wallboard plants, one recycled paperboard plant, seventeen concrete batching plants and four aggregates facilities. The Company�� products are used in the construction and renovation of houses, roads, bridges, commercial and industrial buildings and other, newer generation structures like wind farms.

Cement, Concrete and Aggregates Operations

The Company�� cement production facilities are located in or near Buda, Texas; LaSalle, Illinois; Laramie, Wyoming; Sugar Creek, Missouri; Tulsa, Oklahoma and Fernley, Nevada. The Company�� cement subsidiaries are wholly-owned except the Buda, Texas plant, which is owned by Texas Lehigh Cement Company LP, a limited partnership joint venture owned 50% by the Company and 50% by Lehigh Cement Company LLC, a subsidiary of Heidelberg Cement AG. Its LaSalle, Illinois plant operates under the name of Illinois Cement Company; the Laramie, Wyoming plant operates under the name of Mountain Cement Company; the Fernley, Nevada plant operates under the name of Nevada Cement Company and its Sugar Creek, Missouri and Tulsa, Oklahoma plants operate under the name Central Plains Cement Com! pany. The Company produces and distributes ready-mix concrete from Company-owned sites north of Sacramento, California; Austin, Texas and the greater Kansas City area. The Company�� activities in its frac sand business are in the Utica, Illinois area and in south Texas. The Company sells aggregates to building contractors and other customers engaged in a variety of construction activities.

Gypsum Wallboard and Recycled Paperboard Operations

The Company owns five gypsum wallboard manufacturing facilities. As of March 31, 2013, the Company�� gypsum wallboard production totaled 1,950 million square feet. Total gypsum wallboard sales were 1,909 million square feet during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013 (fiscal 2013). The Company also manufactures alternative products, including containerboard grades (such as linerboard and medium) and lightweight packaging grades (such as bag liner). In addition, recycled industrial paperboard grades (tube/core stock and protective angle board stock) are produced to maximize manufacturing efficiencies. The Company�� manufactured recycled paperboard products are sold to gypsum wallboard manufacturers and other industrial users.

The Company competes with USG Corporation, National Gypsum Company and Koch Industries.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  Tomorrow, Eagle Materials (NYSE: EXP  ) will release its latest quarterly results. The key to making smart investment decisions on stocks reporting earnings is to anticipate how they'll do before they announce results, leaving you fully prepared to respond quickly to whatever inevitable surprises arise. That way, you'll be less likely to make an uninformed knee-jerk reaction to news that turns out to be exactly the wrong move.

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Top decliners in the sector included Newmont Mining (NYSE: NEM), off 6.3 percent, and Eagle Materials (NYSE: EXP), down 4.3 percent.

  Top Headline
  Forest Laboratories (NYSE: FRX) announced its plans to buy Furiex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: FURX) for up to $1.46 billion. Forest will pay around $95 per share, or around $1.1 billion in cash. Forest Labs will also pay up to $30 per share, or around $360 million in a contingent value right. The deal is projected to close in the second or third quarter of 2014.

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Top decliners in the sector included Newmont Mining (NYSE: NEM), off 6.3 percent, and Eagle Materials (NYSE: EXP), down 4.3 percent.

  Top Headline
  Forest Laboratories (NYSE: FRX) announced its plans to buy Furiex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: FURX) for up to $1.46 billion. Forest will pay around $95 per share, or around $1.1 billion in cash. Forest Labs will also pay up to $30 per share, or around $360 million in a contingent value right. The deal is projected to close in the second or third quarter of 2014.

• [By Rich Duprey]

  Cement and building materials maker�Eagle Materials� (NYSE: EXP  ) �announced yesterday�its second-quarter dividend of $0.10 per share, the same rate it's paid since 2008.

Top 10 Logistics Companies To Own For 2014: Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners L.P.(PSE)

Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners L.P. engages in the ownership and acquisition of oil and natural gas properties in the United States. As of December 31, 2009, it had non-operated working interests in approximately 1,155 producing wells located in the Spraberry field in the Permian Basin of west Texas. Pioneer Natural Resources GP LLC serves as the general partner of the company. The company was founded in 2007 and is based in Irving, Texas. Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners L.P. is a subsidiary of Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Robert Rapier]

  Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners (NYSE: PSE) closes out the top five MLP performers for the year with a gain of 87 percent. However, units of this Texas-based upstream MLP that owned more than 1,100 wells in the Permian Basin area are no longer available, as the partnership merged with sponsor Pioneer Natural Resources (NYSE: PXD) on Dec. 17.

Top 10 Logistics Companies To Own For 2014: Media General Inc. (MEG)

Media General, Inc. operates as a television broadcasting and digital media company in the United States. The company provides news, information, and entertainment for consumers and advertisers. It owns and operates 31 network-affiliated broadcast television stations and their associated digital media and mobile platforms in 28 markets that reach 16.5 million households. The company was founded in 1850 and is headquartered in Richmond, Virginia.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jeremy Bowman]

  What: Shares of Media General (NYSE: MEG  ) were soaring today, up as much as 29% today after the broadcaster announced a merger with privately held New Young Broadcasting.

• [By Roberto Pedone]

  One newspaper player that's quickly moving within range of triggering a big breakout trade is Media General (MEG), which is a provider of news, information and entertainment across 18 network-affiliated television stations, digital media and mobile platforms, serving consumers and advertisers in strong local markets, primarily in the Southeastern U.S. This stock has been on fire so far in 2013, with shares up a whopping 253%.

  If you take a look at the chart for Media General, you'll notice that this stock is spiking higher right above its 50-day moving average of $13.57 a share. That 50-day for MEG has held as support for the last five months. This spike is quickly pushing shares of MEG within range of entering breakout and new 52-week-high territory.

  Traders should now look for long-biased trades in MEG if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at $15.39 to its 52-week high at $15.67 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 188,023 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then MEG will set up to enter new 52-week-high territory, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that breakout are $20 to $23 a share.

  Traders can look to buy MEG off any weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below its 50-day at $13.57 a share. One can also buy MEG 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 Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Shares of LIN Media LLC (NYSE: LIN) got a boost, shooting up 21.92 percent to $26.20 after Media General (NYSE: MEG) announced its plans to buy Lin Media LLC for $1.6 billion.

Top 10 Logistics Companies To Own For 2014: Autobytel Inc.(ABTL)

Autobytel Inc. operates as an automotive marketing services company in the United States. It assists automotive retail dealers and manufacturers to market and sell new and used vehicles to consumers through its online purchase request referrals, dealer marketing products and services, and online advertising programs and data products. The company provides vehicle purchase request programs, including new vehicle purchase request program, which allows consumers to submit requests for pricing and availability of specific makes and models; used vehicle purchase request program that allows consumers to search for used vehicles according to specific search parameters, such as the price, make, model, mileage, year, and location of the vehicle; and finance purchase request program designed to provide consumers the opportunity to obtain vehicle financing and other services from dealers or finance institutions. Its network of company-owned consumer-facing automotive Websites compris e Autobytel.com, which provide consumers the information and tools to aid them with their automotive purchase decisions and the ability to submit inquiries requesting dealers to contact the consumers for purchasing or leasing vehicles. In addition, the company provides products and services that assist dealers in connecting with in-market consumers and closing vehicle sales. The company, formerly known as Autobytel.com Inc., was founded in 1995 and is headquartered in Irvine, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Louis Navellier]

  Here are some candidates for some “best of the best” stock picks that should do well and help lead you to a profitable 2014.

  ‘Best of the Best’ Stock Picks #1: Autobytel (ABTL)

  Autobytel (ABTL) is an automotive marketing services company that helps dealers find customers through its online referral services. ABTL provides vehicle lead programs, including new vehicle search, which essentially allows you and I to submit requests for things like price and availability of specific makes and models of different automobiles. Autobytel also has a used vehicle lead program that allows people to similarly search for used cars.

• [By Anna Prior]

  Autobytel Inc.(ABTL) raised its first-quarter revenue estimate as it incorporates its recently completed acquisition of AutoUSA. Shares rose 3.9% to $12.50 premarket.

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Leading and Lagging Sectors
  In trading on Wednesday, cyclical consumer goods & services shares were relative leaders, up on the day by about 0.41 percent. Meanwhile, top gainers in energy sector included Autobytel (NASDAQ: ABTL), with shares up 20.6 percent, and VisionChina Media (NASDAQ: VISN), with shares up 15.5 percent.

Top 10 Logistics Companies To Own For 2014: Houston Wire & Cable Co (HWCC)

Houston Wire & Cable Company, incorporated in 1997, provides wire and cable and related services to the United States market. The Company offers its customers with a single-source solution for wire and cable, hardware and related services. The Company offers products in categories of wire and cable, including continuous and interlocked armor cable, control and power cable, electronic wire and cable, flexible and portable cords, instrumentation and thermocouple cable, lead and high temperature cable, medium voltage cable, premise and category wire and cable, wire rope and wire rope slings, as well as nylon slings, chain, shackles and other related hardware. It also offers private branded products, including its brand LifeGuard, a low-smoke, zero-halogen cable. On January 1, 2011, the acquired companies were merged into HWC Wire & Cable Company.

The Company�� products are used in repair and replacement, also known as maintenance, repair and operations (MRO), and related projects, larger-scale projects in the utility, industrial and infrastructure markets and a diverse range of industrial applications, including communications, energy, engineering and construction, general manufacturing, mining, construction, oilfield services, infrastructure, petrochemical, transportation, utility, wastewater treatment, marine construction and marine transportation. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company served approximately 6,000 customers.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Seth Jayson]

  Calling all cash flows
  When you are trying to buy the market's best stocks, it's worth checking up on your companies' free cash flow once a quarter or so, to see whether it bears any relationship to the net income in the headlines. That's what we do with this series. Today, we're checking in on Houston Wire & Cable (Nasdaq: HWCC  ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.