Top 10 Integrated Utility Stocks To Watch For 2014

Before Friday’s opening bell, a number of big name dividend stocks were the subject of analyst moves. Below, we highlight the important analyst commentary for investors.

Exelon Upgraded at Credit Suisse

Exelon Corporation (EXC) has been upgraded from “Neutral” to “Outperform” at Credit Suisse as expectations and fundamentals have bottomed. The firm has a $35 price target on EXC, suggesting an 11% upside from the stock’s current price of $31.37. EXC has a dividend yield of 3.95%.

BMO Capital Lifts PT on EMC Corp

BMO Capital has raised its price target on EMC Corporation (EMC) to $30 due to a valuation call. This new price target suggests an 8% increase from the stock’s current price of $27.71. EMC has a dividend yield of 1.44%.

Top 10 International Companies To Own In Right Now: Jazz Pharmaceuticals Inc.(JAZZ)

Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company, engages in the identification, development, and commercialization of pharmaceutical products to meet unmet medical needs. The company markets Xyrem, a sodium oxybate oral solution for the treatment of both cataplexy and excessive daytime sleepiness in patients with narcolepsy; and Luvox CR extended-release capsules for the treatment of obsessive compulsive disorder. Its product candidates under clinical development include JZP-6, a Phase III pivotal clinical trials completed product for the treatment of fibromyalgia; and JZP-8, an intranasal formulation of clonazepam, which has completed Phase II clinical trial for the treatment of acute repetitive seizures in epilepsy and solid oral dosage forms of sodium oxybate. The company sells its products through specialty sales force targeting sleep specialists, psychiatrists, neurologists, and pulmonologists. Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inc. was founded in 2003 and is headq uartered in Palo Alto, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jon C. Ogg]

  Jazz Pharmaceuticals PLC (NASDAQ: JAZZ) was shown to have a good balance sheet and in the middle of trying to close the Gentium acquisition for close to $1 billion. Merrill Lynch thinks that it will remain active after closing the deal and will focus on differentiated products that are on market or close to market. Those would likely need to have high margins and a targeted audience that can be handled with a relatively small sales force. Jazz has an $8 billion market cap and has made 4 acquisitions in the last decade.

Top 10 Integrated Utility Stocks To Watch For 2014: Uralkaliy OAO (URALL.PK)

Uralkaliy OAO (Uralkali OJSC) is a Russia-based company, which is engaged in the chemical industry. The Company specializes in the production of potash fertilizers. Its product portfolio comprises pink muriate of potash (PMOP), white muriate of potash (WMOP) and granular (GMOP). The Company is active through representative offices, located in Moscow and Beijing, as well as numerous subsidiaries, located countrywide and in Panama, Belarus, Singapore, Brazil and others. Uralkaliy OAO operates on the potassium and magnesium deposits located in Berezniki, Perm and Saint Petersburg. Its production assets include seven plants and five mines. Uralkaliy OAO sells its products domestically, as well as abroad in over 40 countries, including the United States, China, Brazil, India and South-East Asia, among others. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Chris Damas]

  This morning Russian potash giant OJSC Uralkali (URALL.PK) presented first half 2013 financial and operating results and more importantly, much anticipated comments on the strategy of the company and the state of the international potash industry, the latter blind-sided by the leading potash company's split with marketing partner JSC Belaruskali of Belarus.

• [By Tim Gallagher]

  The potash spat continues to get uglier, as Belarus investigators reportedly intend to seize property and assets of Russia's Uralkali (URALL.PK) following the collapse of the joint Russian-Belarussian potash venture.

Top 10 Integrated Utility Stocks To Watch For 2014: Pengrowth Energy Corp (PGH)

Pengrowth Energy Corporation (Pengrowth) is engaged in the development, production and acquisition of, and the exploration for, oil and natural gas reserves in the provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Ontario and Nova Scotia. The Company�� producing properties include Lindbergh, Swan Hills Area, Greater Olds/Garrington Area and Southeast Saskatchewan. In February 2012, the Company commenced the injection of steam at its Lindbergh pilot project. On May 31, 2012, the Company acquired NAL Energy Corporation. In November 2012, the Company acquired additional Lochend Cardium assets with production capability of approximately 650 barrels of oil equivalent, weighted 95% to light oil. In March 2013, the Company completed the divestiture of its non-core Weyburn asset. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Eric Volkman]

  Canada's Pengrowth Energy (NYSE: PGH  ) continues to shower dividends from north of the border. The company has set the date for its next monthly common stock distribution of C$0.04 ($0.04) per share, which will be August 15 for shareholders of record as of July 22. That amount matches each of the firm's previous distributions stretching back to December of last year. Prior to that, Pengrowth Energy paid $0.07 per share.

• [By GURUFOCUS]

  Canadian Trusts- Baytex Energy Trust (BTE) | Yield: 6.1%
  - Enerplus Resources Fund (ERF) | Yield: 5.6%
  - Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGH) | Yield: 7.1%

• [By Alex Planes]

  Investors love stocks that consistently beat the Street without getting ahead of their fundamentals and risking a meltdown. The best stocks offer sustainable market-beating gains, with robust and improving financial metrics that support strong price growth. Does Pengrowth Energy (NYSE: PGH  ) fit the bill? Let's take a look at what its recent results tell us about its potential for future gains.

Top 10 Integrated Utility Stocks To Watch For 2014: Powershares Buyback Achiever Portfolio (PKW)

PowerShares Buyback Achievers Portfolio (Fund) seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield of an equity index called the Share BuyBack Achievers Index (the Index). The Index is designed to track the performance of companies that meet the requirements to be classified as BuyBack Achievers. To become eligible for inclusion in the Index, a company must be incorporated in the United States, trade on the NYSE, the AMEX or the NASDAQ, and must have repurchased at least 5% or more of its outstanding shares for the trailing 12 months. The Index consists of stocks of companies selected by Mergent, Inc. (the Index Provider) pursuant to its own selection methodology. The Fund�� investment advisor is PowerShares Capital Management LLC.

The Index is rebalanced on the last trading date of April, July and October based on the constituents��modified market capitalizations as of the last trading day in March, June and September, respectively. The Fund generally will invest in the stocks comprising the Index in proportion to their weightings in the Index. The Fund will normally invest at least 90% of its total assets in common stocks that comprise the Index. The Fund, using an indexing investment approach, attempts to replicate the performance of the Index.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Waggoner]

  The past five years, the PowerShares Buyback Achievers fund (ticker: PKW), has beaten the SPDR S&P 500 ETF trust by 3.91 percentage points a year, according to Morningstar, the Chicago investment trackers. So far this year, however, the fund has lagged behind the index by 2.28 percentage points ��a sign that Wall Street may be getting less impressed by buybacks.

• [By Elliott Gue]

  Just check out the PowerShares Buyback Achievers ETF (NYSE: PKW), which invests in companies that have bought back at least 5% of their shares outstanding during the prior 12 months. This ETF has more than doubled the returns of the S&P 500 over the past five years.

• [By Roadmap2Retire] href="http://roadmap2retire.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/buybacks.jpg">

  Stock Buybacks

  One company that has resorted to financial engineering for quarter after quarter is International Business Machines Corp (IBM) ���nd it's only a matter of time before patience runs out. The company has seen declining revenues and cash holdings, while debt has continued to pile up. The company has been squeaking out quarters resorting to layoffs to keep the shareholders happy - and for the sake of the IBM shareholders, I hope management changes this path that they are heading down on.

  On the other hand, General Electric (GE), with all the cash available, has been investing heavily in growing its business. GE is cutting losing business segments that are not lucrative anymore such as the appliance business, which it sold to Electrolux for $3.3B recently, and spun-off Synchrony Financial (SYF) ��its retail finance arm. Instead, GE is now returning to its industrial roots and expanding into new horizons such as oil & gas exploration and pipeline infrastructure tech, green energy investments such as wind, solar and fuel cells etc. These are lucrative businesses and I fully support the management in their decision as a shareholder. Note that GE, like others, has a share repurchase plan ��especially in 2013, GE has bought a lot of its own shares after selling its stake in NBC.

  A plethora of companies have a history of buying at highs and selling at lows. This goes against any logic when it comes to good financial sense. When times are good and companies are flush with cash, like the current environment, the management authorizes buying its own shares and during lean times - after market crashes and/or recessions, the companies cut back on share repurchases. So, the question for the retail investors is: Instead of investing or paying down debt, if the company is buying its own shares and the insiders are selling, should you be buying? It comes as no

• [By Marvin Appel, CEO and Founder, Appel Asset Management Corporation]

  Buyback Achievers ETF (PKW)

  The stocks in this ETF are those that have repurchased at least 5% of their shares in the 12 months preceding the reconstitution of the index every January. 200 stocks currently qualify. (They are weighted by market capitalization.)

Top 10 Integrated Utility Stocks To Watch For 2014: Insulet Corporation(PODD)

Insulet Corporation, a medical device company, engages in the development, manufacture, and marketing of insulin infusion systems for people with insulin-dependent diabetes in the United States. The company offers OmniPod Insulin Management System (OmniPod System), which consists of the OmniPod disposable insulin infusion device and the handheld wireless personal diabetes manager to provide diabetes management solution for people with insulin-dependent diabetes. It is also involved in the distribution of durable medical equipment, including blood glucose testing supplies, insulin pumps, pump supplies, pharmaceuticals, and other products for the management and treatment of diabetes. The company sells its OmniPod System directly to patients through referrals from healthcare professionals and through patient leads, as well as through third-party distributors; and delivers durable medical equipment to endocrinologists, insurers, and clients. Insulet Corporation was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Bedford, Massachusetts.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Smith]

  This series, brought to you by Yahoo! Finance, looks at which upgrades and downgrades make sense, and which ones investors should act on. Today, our headlines feature a pair of downgrades for document storage company Iron Mountain (NYSE: IRM  ) and insulin treatments-equipment maker Insulet (NASDAQ: PODD  ) . But the headlines aren't all bad, so before we break the bad news to you, let's start off on a bright note about...

• [By James Brumley]

  And just for the record, theme-based buyout speculation doesn’t improve your chances of picking an acquisition target. Back in 2012 after Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) bought Amylin for control of its diabetes pipeline following the purchase of Neighborhood Diabetes by Insulet (PODD), pundits were sure it would spark a wave of other diabetes-driven acquisitions. Those other M&A candidates began getting bid up, but as it turns out, no more meaningful buyouts materialized in the diabetes space.

Top 10 Integrated Utility Stocks To Watch For 2014: Sally Beauty Holdings Inc.(SBH)

Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the distribution and retail of professional beauty supplies primarily in North America, South America, and Europe. The company operates in two segments, Sally Beauty Supply and Beauty Systems Group. The Sally Beauty Supply segment operates a chain of cash and carry retail stores that provide various third-party branded and exclusive-label professional beauty supplies, including hair color products, hair care products, hair dryers and hair styling appliances, skin and nail care products, and other beauty items to retail consumers and salon professionals. This segment sells various third-party brands, such as Clairol, Revlon, and Conair, as well as a selection of exclusive-label merchandise. The Beauty Systems Group segment distributes professional brands of beauty products directly to salons and salon professionals through its sales force and professional-only stores. This segment operates stores under the Co smoProf service mark. It sells a range of third-party brands, such as Paul Mitchell, Wella, Sebastian, Goldwell, Joico, and TIGI. As of September 30, 2011, the company operated a multi-channel platform of 4,128 company-owned stores, 181 franchised stores, and 1,116 professional distributor sales consultants in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, Chile, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Belgium, France, Germany, and Spain. Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc. was founded in 1964 and is headquartered in Denton, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Grace L. Williams]

  Investors got ugly on beauty supplier Sally Beauty Holdings (SBH) and shares tumbled 14.4% in trading after it reported a disappointing fiscal third quarter.

  For the period ended June 30, Sally Beauty reported earnings of $72.5 million, or of 42 cents a shares, up from $69.5 million, or 37 cents, a year prior. Sally Beauty also reported revenue of $912.1 million.

  Analysts polled by Factset forecasted earnings of $930.5 million.

  In a press release on the company�� website, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Gary Winterhalter noted some of the headwinds from the quarter and said, ��tore traffic from the non-Beauty Club Card customer in the Sally U.S. business was soft. We��e launched several initiatives specifically to address this customer and remain optimistic that traffic will recover over the next few months.��/p>

  Shares are up 16% in the past year.

• [By John Kell and Tess Stynes var popups = dojo.query(".socialByline .popC"); p]

  Sally Beauty Holdings Inc.(SBH) on Monday said credit-card data from fewer than 25,000 customer records were illegally accessed and may have been stolen. The beauty-supplies company said it is working with the U.S. Secret Service on the agency’s preliminary investigation of the situation. The company also said it continues to work with Verizon Communications Inc.(VZ), which has helped with Sally Beauty’s internal probe since the breach was identified.

• [By Rich Bieglmeier]

  Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:SBH) is ready for a makeover according to Wells Fargo. Analyst, Chris Ferrara believes the worst could be over for SBH. The analyst says, "While near-term visibility is generally limited for SBH's business model, shares are -7% YTD (vs S&P 500 -3%), presenting attractive risk/reward. We believe comps likely bottomed at Sally Beauty Supply in the December quarter, and that the recent string of downward earnings revisions is likely over."

• [By Brad Thomas]

  Also, Chambers Street has proven that the company can create value by way of expansions. In my home town of Spartanburg, SC, Chambers Street recently expanded a 100,606 square foot facility leased to Sally Beauty Holdings (SBH). By increasing the overall space by 90,000 square feet, Chambers Street was able to extend the primary lease term (now expiring May 31, 2013) and generate an accretive 12% return on the $3.4 million expansion.

Top 10 Integrated Utility Stocks To Watch For 2014: World Energy Solutions Inc(DE)

World Energy Solutions, Inc. provides a range of energy management solutions to commercial and industrial businesses, institutions, utilities, and governments. It offers technology-enabled solutions, such as online audits of facilities to identify retrofit options and project management services for retrofit implementation, as well as cross-selling opportunities for commodity auctions. The company primarily focuses on retail and wholesale energy procurement clients via its online auction platforms, including the World Energy Exchange, the World Green Exchange, and the World DR Exchange. The World Energy Exchange enables energy consumers in North America to negotiate for the purchase or sale of electricity, natural gas, and other energy resources from energy suppliers who have agreed to participate on auction platform. The World Green Exchange enables buyers and sellers to negotiate for the purchase or sale of environmental commodities, such as renewable energy certificates , verified emissions reductions, and certified emissions reductions. The World DR Exchange enables curtailment service providers and energy consumers to negotiate in structured auction events designed to yield price transparency. The company was formerly known as World Energy Exchange, Inc. World Energy Solutions, Inc. was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By vaninaegea]

  In august, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) published the mid-year review for the agricultural sector. Their findings point to a slowdown for the industry, highlighting a 9.5% decline on exports through the first half of 2013. Also, late soybean planting in the USA is expected to compound the industry�� slowdown. So, what are the prospects for AGCO (AGCO), CNH Global (CNH), and Deere & Co. (DE) under such conditions?

• [By Ali Berri]

  Deere & Company (NYSE: DE) was down, falling 1.59 percent to $84.84 after the company announced its plans to lay off around 460 Waterloo, Iowa employees. Macquarie downgraded Deere & Company from Neutral to Underperform and lowered the price target from $85.00 to $75.00.