Hot US Companies To Watch For 2014

The Louisiana Purchase Expositions, also known as the St. Louis World's Fair, first opened to the public on April 30, 1904. It was one of the two most important expositions in American history, next to the Columbian Exposition held in Chicago in 1893, and like the earlier event, the St. Louis Fair introduced the American public to a wide range of new technologies, foodstuffs, experiences, and cultures. In fact, the St. Louis Fair was an introduction to consumer culture for millions of Americans living through the early days of a transformation from agrarian society to industrial titan of the world. Nearly 20 million individuals experienced the dawn of a modern America across the 1,200-acre site, with exhibitions featuring the likes of:

An ice-skating rink with daily "snowstorms" (this was in late spring). A motion picture theater. Massive displays of electric lighting (only 3% of American homes had electricity). A modern air-conditioned building (one of the first in the world). A self-contained mechanical refrigerator. The third modern Olympic Games (held entirely within the Fair). A sort of "shopping mall," with hundreds of booths in a central location. More than 100 automobiles (there were only about 8,000 registered autos in the U.S. in 1900). Waffle-style ice cream cones, hamburgers, hot dogs, peanut butter, iced tea, and cotton candy -- all of which were not yet widespread in the U.S. Dr Pepper, making its first major promotional push.

The fair was hailed by newspapers across the nation as "the greatest achievement of ancient, medieval, or modern times ... the greatest of all expositions ... the last great exposition within the lives of the present generation." While it cannot be given sole credit for spreading the mantra of consumerism across the far-flung nation, the St. Louis Fair undoubtedly helped speed the dissemination of these many new technologies, products, and attitudes.

Hot US Companies To Watch For 2014: UnitedHealth Group Incorporated(UNH)

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated provides healthcare services in the United States. Its Health Benefits segment offers consumer-oriented health benefit plans and services to national employers, public sector employers, mid-sized employers, small businesses, and individuals; and non-employer based insurance options for purchase by individuals. It also provides health and well-being services for individuals aged 50 and older; and for services dealing with chronic disease and other specialized issues for older individuals, as well as health plans for the beneficiaries of acute and long-term care Medicaid plans. This segment offers its services through a network of 730,000 physicians and other health care professionals, and 5,300 hospitals. Its OptumHealth segment provides health, financial, and ancillary services and products that assist consumers through personalized health management solutions; benefit administration, and clinical and network management; health-based financi al services; behavioral solutions; and specialty benefits, such as dental, vision, life, critical illness, short-term disability, and stop-loss product offerings. The company?s Ingenix segment offers database and data management services, software products, publications, consulting and actuarial services, business process outsourcing services, and pharmaceutical data consulting and research services. Its Prescription Solutions segment provides integrated pharmacy benefit management services comprising retail network pharmacy contracting and management, claims processing, mail order pharmacy services, specialty pharmacy, benefit design consultation, rebate contracting and management, drug utilization review, formulary management programs, disease therapy management, and adherence programs to employer groups, union trusts, managed care organizations, Medicare-contracted plans, Medicaid plans, and third party administrators. The company was founded in 1974 and is based in Minne tonka, Minnesota.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Vatalyst]

  United Health Group (UNH) provides health care benefits to over 32 million people in the US. In 2010, UNH was ranked second in enrollments.

  The first two quarters for 2011 was strong with second quarter earnings beating analyst estimates. This was mainly due to increased enrollment and premium hikes.

  From a valuation perspective, the common stock currently trades at a price to earnings ratio of 10, below is historical average of 13.5. Price to book value is 1.75, and price to cash flow is 8.

• [By Ken Sweet]

  Shareholders of UnitedHealth (UNH) reaped the rewards this year from the managed care company's strong profits and upbeat guidance.

  UnitedHealth raised its full-year guidance in late April to $3.95 to $4.05 a share, well ahead of analysts' forecasts. The company also increased its quarterly dividend last month to 16.25 cents a share, from 12.5 cents a share.

  UnitedHealth's performance is also tied to what has been broad investor interest in healthcare stocks this year as a defensive play against what has been a recently downward-trending market.

Hot US Companies To Watch For 2014: (ARM)

ARM Holdings plc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the design of microprocessors, physical IP, and related technology and software; and sale of development tools to enhance the performance of high-volume embedded applications. Its products include microprocessors cores, such as specific functions comprising video and graphics IP, fabric IP, embedded software, and configurable digital signal processing IP; physical IP components for the design and manufacture of integrated circuits, which comprise embedded memory, standard cell, and input/output components; software development tools that help software design engineers in the design and deployment of code, from applications running on open operating systems to low-level firmware. The company also offers support, maintenance, and training services, as well as design consulting services. ARM Holdings plc licenses and sells its technology and products to electronics companies, which in turn manufacture, market, and s ell microprocessors, application-specific integrated circuits, and application-specific standard processors to systems companies for incorporation into various end products, as well as licenses and sells development tools directly to systems companies and provides support services to licensees, systems companies, and other systems designers. It operates in Europe, the United States, and the Asia Pacific. The company was formerly known as Advanced RISC Machines Holdings Limited and changed its name to ARM Holdings plc in March 1998. ARM Holdings plc was founded in 1990 and is based in Cambridge, the United Kingdom.

5 Best Canadian Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Visa Inc.(V)

Visa Inc., a payments technology company, engages in the operation of retail electronic payments network worldwide. It facilitates commerce through the transfer of value and information among financial institutions, merchants, consumers, businesses, and government entities. The company owns and operates VisaNet, a global processing platform that provides transaction processing services. It also offers a range of payments platforms, which enable credit, charge, deferred debit, debit, and prepaid payments, as well as cash access for consumers, businesses, and government entities. The company provides its payment platforms under the Visa, Visa Electron, PLUS, and Interlink brand names. In addition, it offers value-added services, including risk management, issuer processing, loyalty, dispute management, value-added information, and CyberSource-branded services. The company is headquartered in San Francisco, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ed Carson]

  The holiday season was hit or miss for many retailers, but indicators are that consumers were using plastic. Visa shares have risen steadily for the past seven months, with a strong 6% gain so far in 2013. Even in America, consumers continue to shift more from cash and checks to credit and debit cards. Overseas, consumers are adopting plastic, while some are bypassing cards and going straight to mobile payments. Visa wants to make sure it's part of that mobile solution.

  Visa earnings growth has decelerated for the past two quarters from 30% to 24% to 21%. Revenue growth in the latest quarter picked up to 15%, matching the best gains of the past two years.

• [By Rebecca Lipman]

   Operates retail electronic payments network worldwide. Market cap of $82.48B. EPS growth (5-year CAGR) at 15%. According to Morgan Stanley: "Global penetration of electronic payments remains low with 85% of the world's transactions still cash-based, leaving ample runway to support healthy growth prospects through (at least) 2015."

• [By Jeff Reeves]

  Despite a very rough 2011 so far, payment processor Visa (NYSE:V) is right there beside Apple with gains of nearly 30% since the first of the year. Visa stock continues to set 52-week highs and is within striking distance of new all-time highs above $97.

  Visa doesn’t have quite the track record of many blue chips, having only gone public in 2008. However, there are some big reasons to expect that the recent growth is not just a flash in the pan.

  For starters, the demographic trends are hard to ignore. The percentage of cashless transactions continues to rise. Despite rapid growth from fees for payment processing, 40% of all transactions in the U.S. still are done with cash or paper checks. That’s to say nothing of rapid growth of debit and credit card business in emerging markets. Visa’s logo is everywhere and will only be accepted in more places as the months go by.

  And don’t forget, Visa is not a financial stock. Service fees account for more than one-third of revenue — meaning the stock is little more than a toll-taker on the road between a merchant and a customer’s checking account. It is not exposed to bad debt the way financial stocks like Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) and others are.

  Visa has seen year-over-year earnings growth every single quarter since going public, and it should keep up that growth. Additionally, revenue was up 17% from fiscal 2009 to fiscal 2010 and is forecast to jump another 12% in fiscal 2011.

  There is big growth to be had at Visa. It might not be Apple, but its strong growth potential and dominant brand make it a go-to stock for large-cap investors.

Hot US Companies To Watch For 2014: TASER International Inc.(TASR)

TASER International, Inc. develops, manufactures, and sells electronic control devices (ECD) for use in the law enforcement, military, corrections, private security, and personal defense markets. ECDs transmit electrical pulses along the wires and into the body affecting the sensory and motor functions of the peripheral nervous system. Its products for the law enforcement, military, corrections, and professional security market include the TASER X26 product line, which consists of TASER X26, various cartridges, a digital power magazine, data download software and equipment, extended warranties, and a range of holstering options and accessories; TASER X3, a multi-shot ECD that would engage three separate targets; and ADVANCED TASER M26 product line comprising the ADVANCED TASER M26, various cartridges, rechargeable batteries, a battery charging system, data download software and equipment, extended warranties, and various holstering options and accessories. The company also provides TASER XREP, a self-contained, wireless ECD that deploys from a 12-gauge pump-action shotgun; and TASER Shockwave security system for safety and stand-off capability during hostile situations. In addition, it manufactures TASER C2, TASER X26C, and ADVANCED TASER M26C devices for the personal defense market, as well as provides various cartridges and other accessories. The company sells its products worldwide through its direct sales force, distribution partners, online store, and third-party resellers. TASER International, Inc. was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Hot US Companies To Watch For 2014: Hong Leong Asia Ltd. (H22.SI)

Hong Leong Asia Ltd. manufactures and distributes consumer products, diesel engines and related products, industrial packaging and biodegradable products, and building materials primarily in China, Singapore, and Malaysia. The company manufactures, assembles, and sells diesel engines for light-duty, medium-sized, and heavy-duty trucks, buses, vans, cars, and construction equipment; and automobile spare parts. It also offers fridges, freezers, wine chillers, air conditioners, and washing machines; plastic packaging related products, container components, pallets, and biodegradable products for personal care, household, food and beverage, lubricant, and chemicals markets, as well as for various industries and applications; and cement and other building materials, ready mixed concrete, granite and quarry products, and precast concrete elements for public housing construction. In addition, the company is involved in hospitality operations, property development, and investment holding activities. Further, it distributes a portfolio of branded consumer electronics products, such as digital video cameras, digital still cameras, audio products, plasma televisions, desktop and notebook computers, personal digital assistants electronic accessories, and mobile phones. These brands include the Panasonic, Nokia, Orion, Casio, Apple, Asus, Fuji, Kodak, Lenovo, Olympus, Pentax, Samsung, Sony, and Canon. Additionally, the company creates and markets MP3 players and accessories, iPod, liquid crystal display televisions, portable DVD players, digital photo framesm, and memory cards under its own YES brand. It also exports its products internationally. The company was founded in 1941 and is headquartered in Singapore. Hong Leong Asia Ltd. is a subsidiary of Hong Leong Corporation Holdings Pte Ltd.

Hot US Companies To Watch For 2014: GRAFTON GROUP UTS(1 ORD 1`C`ORD & 3`A`ORD SHS)

Grafton Group plc engages in the builders and plumbers merchanting, DIY retailing, and mortar manufacturing activities in the United Kingdom and Ireland. It operates in three segments: Merchanting, Retailing, and Manufacturing. The Merchanting segment distributes building and plumbing materials to professional trades people involved in residential repair, maintenance, and improvement projects, as well as in residential and other new build construction. It also operates in plumbers merchanting businesses This segment operates 520 builders and plumbers merchanting branches under the Buildbase, Plumbase, Jackson, and Selco brands in the South East, Midlands, and North of England; and under the Chadwicks, Heiton Buckley, and Macnaughton Blair brands in Ireland. The Retailing segment engages in DIY retailing and home improvement business. This segment operates 41 DIY retail stores under the Woodie?s DIY and Atlantic Homecare brands, as well as 8 kitchen stores under the In-Ho use and Panelling Centre brands. The Manufacturing segment manufactures dry mortar, plastics, and windows for use in a range of residential and commercial construction projects. Grafton Group plc was founded in 1902 and is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland.