Top 5 Up And Coming Companies For 2014

Look out VIVUS, Inc. (NASDAQ:VVUS) and Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:ARNA). There's a new weight-loss player ready to take aim at your target market, and its name is EnteroMedics Inc. (NASDAQ:ETRM). If the recent action from ETRM is any indication, the market thinks it could be a real threat to your weight-loss ventures.

Of course, anyone more than a little familiar with EnteroMedics knows the current bullish interest in ETRM hasn't always been the case. This is the same stock that cratered from $2.88 to $1.26 in February of this year when the company announced its primary device - the VBLOC obesity-control device - failed to meet its clinical trial's goals. So what, pray tell, has pushed the stock up from the February low of $0.81 to the current price of $1.27? Hope, for starters.

Top 10 Value Stocks To Own For 2015: Big Lots Inc (BIG)

Big Lots, Inc., incorporated in May 2001, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, is a North America's closeout retailer. At January 28, 2012, the Company operated a total of 1,533 stores in two countries: the United States and Canada. The Company operates in two segments: U.S. and Canada. The merchandising categories include Consumables, Furniture, Home, Seasonal, Play n' Wear, and Hardlines & Other. The Consumables category includes the food, health and beauty, plastics, paper, chemical, and pet departments. The Furniture category includes the upholstery, mattresses, ready-to-assemble, and case goods departments. The Home category includes the domestics, stationery, and home decorative departments. The Seasonal category includes the lawn and garden, Christmas, summer, and other holiday departments. The Play n' Wear category includes the electronics, toys, jewelry, infant accessories, and apparel departments. The Hardlines & Other category includes the appliances, tools, paint, and home maintenance departments. On July 18, 2011, the Company acquired Liquidation World Inc. During the fiscal year ended January 28, 2012 (fiscal 2011), the Company opened 92 stores, acquired 89 stores and closed 46 stores.

All of the Company�� stores are located in North America and has an average store size of approximately 29,900 square feet, of which an average of 21,600 square feet is selling square feet. The 54 owned stores are located in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, New Mexico, Ohio and Texas. At January 28, 2012, the Company owned or leased approximately 9.4 million square feet of distribution center and warehouse space. The Company leases and operates two regional distribution centers in Canada located in British Columbia and Ontario. Of its 1,533 stores, 33% operate in four states California, Texas, Ohio, and Florida, and net sales from stores in these states represented 36% of its fiscal 2011 net sales.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Big Lots�(BIG) has gained 1.8% to $35.26 after the company reported a profit of 31 cents a share, better than analyst forecasts for 24 cents.

  General Electric�(GE) has gained 1.6% to $23.47 after the Wall Street Journal reported it is looking to sell its GE Capital retail lending business.

• [By Michael Lewis]

  Discount big-box retailer Big Lots (NYSE: BIG  ) managed to satisfy the Street in its recent earnings announcement, even though the numbers shrunk year over year. Moreover, beleaguered retail investor Eddie Lampert dumped his stake in the company, according to the fund's latest SEC filings. Valuation metrics look cheap compared to those of some peers, but what are you buying for the price? To make the call, let's take a look at the company's recent earnings and what lies ahead.

• [By Louis Navellier]

  If we look at those stocks trading with single-digit P/E ratios right now, it becomes a very simple task to separate the wheat from the chaff. There are many well-known stocks trading at low P/E ratios that get horrible grades from our system and should be avoided:

  Ryland Homes (RYL) is a name you might hear discussed as a bargain, but the stock to a Sell back in November to a ����and is best avoided. Standard Pacific (SPF) is another builder you should probably avoid as In spite of the low P/E ratio ,you probably want to avoid discount retailer Big Lots (BIG), as a Strong Sell this week.

  But fear not — there are some great companies with solid fundamentals that earn a Buy ranking from Portfolio Grader and are better candidates for a low-P/E portfolio.

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Top Headline
  Big Lots (NYSE: BIG) reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings. For the new fiscal year, Big Lots expects earnings from continuing operations of $2.25 to $2.45 per share, versus analysts' estimates of $2.44 per share. Big Lots posted its quarterly profit of $84.4 million, or $1.45 per share, versus a year-ago profit of $120.3 million, or $2.09 per share. Analysts were expecting earnings of $1.40 per share. Its revenue slipped 6.2% to $1.64 billion, versus analysts' expectations for $1.61 billion. Big Lots' gross margin declined to 38.2% from 39.7%.

Top 5 Up And Coming Companies For 2014: Grupo Aeromexico SAB de CV (AEROMEX*)

Grupo Aeromexico SAB de CV is a Mexican holding company primarily engaged in the provision of passenger and cargo air transport services. It offers destinations in Mexico, the United States, Europe, Central and South America, Asia and Canada. It operates a fleet of over 110 aircrafts. The Company is primarily engaged in the passenger transportation segment, comprising regional, domestic and international routes, and package holidays; as well as in cargo transportation segment, handled mainly by its subsidiary Aeromexico Cargo. By its subsidiaries the Company is also engaged in real estate sector and in providing services to the aviation companies, including personnel training, management, and aircraft maintenance and modification. Its subsidiaries include Aerovias de Mexico SA de CV, Premier Loyalty & Marketing SAPI de CV, and Inmobiliaria Avenida Fuerza Aerea Mexicana 416 SA de CV, among others. In addition, it is a member of the SkyTeam airline alliance. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jonathan Levin]

  Volaris became Mexico�� second publicly traded carrier, after larger competitor Grupo Aeromexico SAB (AEROMEX*) sold stock in 2011. Airlines in Mexico have expanded into a void left when Cia. Mexicana de Aviacion, then largest based on passenger traffic, sought protection from creditors and ceased operations in 2010.

Top 5 Up And Coming Companies For 2014: Timbercreek Mortgage Investment Corp (TMC)

Timbercreek Mortgage Investment Corporation (the Fund) provides investors with the opportunity to invest indirectly in a diversified portfolio of high quality conventional mortgage loans secured primarily by income-producing real estate located in large urban markets (offices, commercial real estate, multi-residential, retirement communities). The investment objective of the Fund is, with a primary focus on capital preservation, to acquire and maintain a diversified portfolio of mortgage loan investments that generate income allowing the Fund to pay monthly distributions to shareholders. Timbercreek Asset Management Ltd., is the manager of the Fund (the Fund Manager). Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Vera Yuan]

  As pointed out by Warren Buffett, the percentage of total market cap (TMC) relative to the U.S. GNP is ��robably the best single measure of where valuations stand at any given moment.��

• [By GuruFocus]

  As pointed out by Warren Buffett, the percentage of total market cap (TMC) relative to the U.S. GNP is ��robably the best single measure of where valuations stand at any given moment.��

• [By Lawrence Meyers]

  Cars come to mind, and you could probably get away with owning a common car dealer like Toyota (TMC). The problem with this approach, though, is that auto manufacturers are economically sensitive and can have really bad years. That�� why I go one level deeper to what I call ��nfrastructure��plays, which in this case means auto parts.

Top 5 Up And Coming Companies For 2014: Tandem Diabetes Care Inc (TNDM)

Tandem Diabetes Care, Inc., incorporated on July 1, 2008, is a medical device company with an approach to the design, development and commercialization of products for people with insulin-dependent diabetes. The Company designed and commercialized its flagship product, the t:slim Insulin Delivery System, or t:slim, based on its technology platform and consumer-focused approach. Its technology platform features Micro-Delivery Technology, a miniaturized pumping mechanism, which draws insulin from a flexible bag within the pump�� cartridge rather than relying on a syringe and plunger mechanism. The Company also applies the science of human factors to its design and development process, which seeks to optimize its devices to the intended users, allowing users to successfully operate the devices in their intended environment.

The Company developed t:slim to offer the specific features that people with insulin-dependent diabetes seek in a next-generation insulin pump. The Company designed it to have the look and feel of a modern consumer electronic device, such as a smartphone. It is the insulin pump to feature a high resolution, color touchscreen. It is also the slimmest and smallest durable insulin pump on the market, and can easily and discreetly fit into a pocket, while still carrying a cartridge with 300 units of insulin.

The Company designed its flagship product, t:slim, to have the look and feel of a modern consumer electronic device, such as a smartphone. t:slim is the slimmest and smallest durable insulin pump on the market. With its narrow profile, which is similar to many smartphones, t:slim can easily and discreetly fit into a pocket. Its technology platform allows for the use of a vivid touchscreen and easy-to-navigate software architecture, which provide users simple access to the key functions of t:slim directly from the Home Screen. Insulin pump users can quickly learn how to efficiently navigate t:slim�� software, thereby enabling healthcare providers to spend! less time teaching a person how to use the pump and more time improving management of their diabetes. Its software also features numerous shortcuts, including a simple way to return to the Home Screen and view critical information for therapy management. Its technology is specifically designed to help prevent the unintentional delivery of insulin and reduce fear associated with using a pump.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Paul Ausick]

  Insulin pump maker Tandem Diabetes Care Inc. (NASDAQ: TNDM) sold 8 million shares on Thursday at an IPO price of $15. The stock began trading at around $19 before closing about flat to the opening bid and then shooting up more than 13% on Friday to close at $21.84.