Top 10 Consumer Stocks 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.

Top 10 Consumer Stocks To Watch For 2014: Domtar Canada Pape Exchangeable (UFX.TO)

Domtar Corporation engages in the design, manufacture, marketing, and distribution of fiber-based products in North America. The company operates in three segments: Pulp and Paper, Distribution, and Personal Care. The Pulp and Paper segment offers business papers, including copy and electronic imaging papers, which are used with ink jet and laser printers, photocopiers, and plain-paper fax machines, as well as computer papers, preprinted forms, and digital papers. It also provides commercial printing and publishing papers consisting of uncoated freesheet papers, such as offset papers and opaques used in sheet and roll fed offset presses and digital printing; publishing papers comprising tradebook and lightweight uncoated papers used primarily in book publishing applications, such as textbooks, dictionaries, catalogs, magazines, hard cover novels, and financial documents; design papers for use in brochures and annual reports; and base papers for the manufacture of envelopes , tablets, business forms, and data processing/computer forms. In addition, this segment offers paper products for the packaging of food and medicines; and specialty papers for use in industrial applications, including sandpapers, medical gowns, drapes, transfer paper for printing processes, and products for security applications. It sells papers to merchants, converters, end-users, stationers, printers, and retailers. The Distribution segment is involved in purchasing, warehousing, selling, and distributing business papers, printing and publishing papers, and industrial products to commercial printers, publishers, quick copy firms, catalog and retail companies, and institutional entities. The Personal Care segment manufactures and sells incontinence products, such as branded and private label briefs, protective underwear, underpads, pads, and washcloths, as well as distributes disposable washcloths. Domtar Corporation is headquartered in Montreal, Canada.

Top 10 Consumer Stocks To Watch For 2014: Sappi Limited(SPP)

Sappi Limited manufactures and sells various pulp, paper, chemical cellulose, and wood products worldwide. It offers coated woodfree paper used for marketing promotions and brochures, catalogues, corporate communications materials, direct mail, textbooks, and magazines; uncoated woodfree paper used for business forms, business stationery, tissue, photocopy paper, books, brochures, and magazines, as well as cut-size, preprint, and office paper; specialty woodfree paper used in bags, labels, and packaging; and release paper for use in textile, automotive, furniture, and engineering film markets. The company also provides packaging paper products, including containerboards, sack kraft, and grocery bags used for primary and secondary packaging of fast moving consumer goods, and agricultural and industrial products. In addition, it offers mechanical newsprint paper used in advertising inserts and newspapers; uncoated mechanical fiber based printing paper used for the printing o f books and advertising inserts; and coated mechanical fiber-based paper used for magazines, catalogues, and advertising material. Further, the company provides pulp products, including paper pulp used in the production of printing, writing, and packaging paper; and chemical cellulose used in the manufacture of various cellulose textile and non-woven fiber products, as well as used in various other cellulose-based applications in the food, film, cigarette, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries. Additionally, Sappi Limited offers sawn timber for construction and furniture manufacturing purposes. Its customers include printers, publishers, corporate end-users, suppliers, and converters. The company was formerly known as South African Pulp and Paper Industries Limited and changed its name to Sappi Limited in 1973. Sappi Limited was founded in 1936 and is headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Top Canadian Stocks To Own For 2014: Canada Bread Ltd Com Npv (CBY.TO)

Canada Bread Company, Limited engages in the manufacture and distribution of fresh and frozen bakery products, specialty breads, and fresh pasta and sauces primarily in Canada and the United States. The company reports in two segments, Fresh Bakery and Frozen Bakery. The Fresh Bakery segment produces fresh bakery products, sweet goods, and specialty fresh pasta and sauces. Its products include pantry breads, rolls, flatbreads, artisan breads, and snack cakes. This segment sells its products under Dempster�s, Villaggio, POM, Bon Matin, Sunmaid, and Ben�s brand names; and pasta and sauce products under Olivieri brand. The Frozen Bakery segment provides frozen unbaked, par-baked, and fully-baked bread products, as well as bagels, croissants, and specialty breads. It offers products under Wholesome Harvest brand; and ready-to-bake pastry products under Tenderflake brand. This segment also distributes its products under New York Bakery Co. in the United Kingdom. Canada Bread Company, Limited offers its products through retail, foodservice, and convenience channels. The company is based in Etobicoke, Canada. As of December 31, 2010, Canada Bread Company, Limited operates as a subsidiary of Maple Leaf Foods Inc.

Top 10 Consumer Stocks To Watch For 2014: Parlux Fragrances Inc.(PARL)

Parlux Fragrances, Inc. engages in the creation, design, manufacture, distribution, and sale of fragrances and beauty related products. The company offers body lotions, creams, shower gels, deodorants, soaps, and dusting powders. It also manufactures and distributes watches, handbags, purses, small leather goods, cosmetics, and sunglasses. It offers products under Paris Hilton, Jessica Simpson, Rihanna, Queen Latifah, Marc Ecko, Josie Natori, Nicole Miller, Kanye West, and Vince Camuto names on a licensee basis. The company markets its products primarily through specialty stores, national department stores, and perfumeries primarily in the United States, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Australia, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Russia. Parlux Fragrances, Inc. was founded in 1984 and is headquartered in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

Top 10 Consumer Stocks To Watch For 2014: Weyco Group Inc.(WEYS)

Weyco Group, Inc. engages in the distribution of men?s foot wear primarily in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, Asia, and South Africa. It offers casual, dress, and fashion shoes. The company offers its products under the brand names of Florsheim, Nunn Bush, Stacy Adams, Umi, Brass Boot, and Nunn Bush NXXT. Weyco Group sells its products to shoe specialty stores, department stores, and clothing retailers. As of December 31, 2010, it owned 35 retail stores in the United States and an Internet business. The company was formerly known as Weyenberg Shoe Manufacturing Company and changed its name to Weyco Group, Inc. in April 1990. Weyco Group, Inc. was founded in 1896 and is based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Top 10 Consumer Stocks To Watch For 2014: Liuyang Fireworks Limited (FWK.V)

Liuyang Fireworks Limited engages in the development, manufacture, and distribution of fireworks and related products in the People's Republic of China and internationally. The company is based in Liuyang City, the People's Republic of China.

Top 10 Consumer Stocks To Watch For 2014: China Kangda Food Company Ltd (P74.SI)

China Kangda Food Company Limited, through its subsidiaries, engages in the production, processing, sale, and distribution of food products in China. The company is involved in the production and trading of food products; breeding and sale of livestock and poultry; development and sale of rabbits; planting and sale of vegetables; testing and checking of livestock; feed processing; sale of feed products; and provision of guarantee services. It provides chilled and frozen rabbit meat; chilled and frozen chicken meat; processed foods, including instant soup, curry food, chicken based cooked products, roasted rabbit food, meatballs, de-oxygenated consumer packed chestnuts, and seafood; and other products, such as pet food, dehydrated vegetables, poultry, rabbit organs, fruits, dried chili, pig liver, and seasoning products. The company distributes its products in 26 provinces and 30 cities in the People�s Republic of China and exports to approximately 20 countries and cities, including Japan, the United Arab Emirates, and various countries in the European Union. China Kangda Food Company Limited was founded in 1992 and is headquartered in Qingdao, the People�s Republic of China.

Top 10 Consumer Stocks To Watch For 2014: S&W Seed Company(SANW)

S&W Seed Company engages in contracting the production of alfalfa seed varieties, processing the seeds, and marketing the certified seed to agribusiness firms and farmers worldwide. It also involves in the production of stevia leaf. The company primarily offers high fall dormancy (FD) alfalfa seed varieties, as well as markets and sells other varieties, including FD 7, 6, and 4 varieties. It sells the seed primarily to dealers and distributors who, in turn, sell primarily to hay and dairy farmers who grow hay for dairy cattle and other livestock; and through brokers. The company was founded in 1980 and is headquartered in Five Points, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Peter Leeds]

  A growing population, seven billion, and an increasingly sophisticated diet among China and other developing nations have created rapidly increasing global food demand.  According to Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) data, China’s per capita intake of calories, protein, and fat were well below the world average in 1975, but are now well above the world average.  Expect this trend to accelerate in China, as well as India, Pakistan, Indonesia, and other developing nations. 

  The problem is that there's not even close to enough food, while challenging growing environments routinely wipe out crops.

  That's where S&W Seed (SANW) comes in.  They breed and develop proprietary alfalfa seed varieties that grow in harsh climates.  Global demand for SANW's products just keeps soaring higher.  We're expecting their financial strength and solid operational position to translate into further gains in its share price this year.   The Peter Leeds price outlook:  $8.75.

Top 10 Consumer Stocks To Watch For 2014: Universal Electronics Inc.(UEIC)

Universal Electronics Inc. develops and manufactures pre-programmed wireless remote control products, audio-video accessories, and software products. The company offers infrared and radio frequency remote controls; audio-video accessories; integrated circuits; and software, firmware, and technology solutions, which enable devices, such as televisions, set-top boxes, stereos, automotive audio systems, cell phones, and other consumer electronic devices to wirelessly connect and interact with home networks and interactive services to deliver digital entertainment and information. It is also involved in intellectual property licensing activities. The company sells its products directly, as well as through distributors in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, the Middle East, Mexico, Asia, and Latin America under the One For All and Nevo brands. It primarily serves cable and satellite television service providers, original equipment manufacturers, retailers, custom inst allers, software development companies, private label companies, and personal computing companies. Universal Electronics Inc. was founded in 1986 and is headquartered in Cypress, California.

Top 10 Consumer Stocks To Watch For 2014: China Sports Intl Limited (FQ8.SI)

China Sports International Limited, an investment holding company, engages in the design, manufacture, and sale of sports fashion footwear, and sports fashion apparel and accessories under the YELI brand. It also produces shoes for original equipment manufacturer customers under the Kappa brand name. The company sells its products through distributors in approximately 20 provinces in the People�s Republic of China, as well as exports its products to Europe, the Middle East, South America, Asia, and South Africa. China Sports International Limited was founded in 1998 and is based in Jinjiang, the People�s Republic of China.