Best Stocks To Watch In 2015

With 2015 just around the corner, it’s time to take look at our favorite sector heading into the new year.

 

While there’s still plenty of uncertainty in the markets, particularly with Europe’s ongoing debt crisis, there’s also significant opportunity.  Remember, volatile markets can often lead to enormous upside potential.

 

Take the tech sector for example…

 

Some investors consider technology stocks risky because they often trade at higher multiples and don’t typically pay dividends.  And at times, the sector has had the tendency to underperform during sluggish economic periods.

 

Here’s the thing…

 

There are plenty of solid, growing tech companies out there if you know where to look.  And you can make a fortune on them even in a down market.

 

So why tech in 2015?

 

There are several reasons…

 

First off, we’re seeing a resurgence of the internet company.  Social media companies are redefining how people spend time and money online.  Of course, Facebook is leading the charge with over 800 million users.  And, the Facebook IPO is probably the most anticipated market event of 2015.

 

Speaking of IPOs, several new tech and internet IPOs hit the market in 2015.  Many of these IPOs saw huge gains right off the bat.  Clearly, many investors still get excited about the prospects of a tech IPO.

 

What’s more, the mainstream adoption of the smartphone and the tablet PC are leading to a wide range of tech opportunities.

 

You see, smartphones and tablets are selling like hot cakes.  And they’re driving growth in several related industries.  Think about it… processors, games, data storage, wireless technology… they all benefit directly from surging demand for these red hot mobile devices.

Best Stocks To Watch In 2015:Harvard Bioscience Inc. (HBIO)

 Harvard Bioscience, Inc. develops, manufactures, and markets apparatus and scientific instruments used in life science research in pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, universities, and government laboratories in the United States and internationally. The company?s products target ADMET testing, and molecular biology and liquid handling application areas. Its ADMET testing products comprise absorption diffusion chambers that measure the absorption of a drug into the bloodstream; well equilibrium dialysis plates for serum protein binding assays; organ testing systems; infusion pumps for infusing liquids; behavioral products used in neuroscience, cardiology, psychological, and respiratory studies to evaluate the effects of situational stimuli, drugs, and nutritional infusions on motor and sensory, activity, and learning and test behavior; cell injection systems; ventilators; and electroporation products. The company also distributes various devices, instruments, and consumable items used in experiments involving cells, tissues, organs, and animals in the fields of proteomics, physiology, pharmacology, neuroscience, cell biology, molecular biology, and toxicology. It sells its ADMET testing products under the Harvard Apparatus, BTX, KD Scientific, Hugo Sachs Elektronik, Panlab, and Warner Instruments brands names. Its molecular biology and liquid handling products include molecular biology spectrophotometers, DNA/RNA/protein calculators, multi-well plate readers, amino acid analysis systems, liquid dispensers, gel electrophoresis systems, and consumables primarily consisting of pipettes, pipette tips, autoradiography films, gloves, thermal cycler accessories, and reagents. The company sells its products to researchers through catalogs, its Website, and distributors, as well as directly in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain, and Canada. Harvard Bioscience, Inc. was founded in 1901 and is headquartered in Holliston, Massachusetts.

Best Stocks To Watch In 2015:O2Micro International Limited (OIIM)

 O2Micro International Limited designs, develops, and markets semiconductor components for power management and security applications, as well as systems security solutions. It offers power management and cardbus controller products, which include ICs to provide power for LCD and LED lighting, control and monitor battery charging and discharging, DC/DC conversion, provide connections between notebook computers and external plug-in cards, and provide select and switch functionality between power sources. The company also provides system security solutions, such as VPNs and firewalls, which provide security functions for communications between computer systems and networks, including the transmission of data across the Internet. It offers integrated circuits for consumer electronics, computer, and industrial and communications products, including LCD computer monitors, LCD televisions, notebook computers, Internet security devices, GPS, mobile phones, and portable DVD players. The company sells its products through its direct sales force, independent sales representatives, and distributors to OEMs, ODMs, and module makers in China, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, and the United States. The company was founded in 1995 and is based in George Town, the Cayman Islands.

Best Stocks To Watch In 2015:Mohawk Industries Inc. (MHK)

 Mohawk Industries, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the production and sale of floor covering products for residential and commercial applications primarily in the United States and Europe. The company operates through three segments: Mohawk, Dal-Tile, and Unilin. The Mohawk segment designs, manufactures, sources, distributes, and markets floor covering product lines, which include carpets, ceramic tiles, laminates, rugs, carpet pads, hardwood, and resilient. This segment offers its products under the brand names of Mohawk, Aladdin, Mohawk ColorCenters, Mohawk Floorscapes, Portico, Mohawk Home, Bigelow, Durkan, Horizon, Karastan, Lees, and Merit. In addition, this segment markets and distributes its soft and hard surface products through independent floor covering retailers, home centers, mass merchandisers, department stores, commercial dealers, and commercial end users, as well as through private labeling programs. The Dal-Tile segment designs, manufactures, sources, distributes, and markets a line of ceramic tile, porcelain tile, and natural stone products. This segment offers its products primarily under the Dal-Tile and American Olean brand names through company-owned service centers, independent distributors, home center retailers, tile and flooring retailers, and contractors. The Unilin segment offers laminate and hardwood flooring under the brand names of Quick-Step, Columbia Flooring, Century Flooring, and Universal Flooring through retailers, independent distributors, and home centers. This segment also produces roofing systems, insulation panels, and other wood products. Mohawk Industries, Inc. was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in Calhoun, Georgia.

Best Stocks To Watch In 2015:Brunswick Corporation (BC)

 Brunswick Corporation provides recreation products worldwide. Its Marine Engine segment offers sterndrive propulsion systems, and inboard and outboard engines under the Mercury, Mercury MerCruiser, Mariner, Mercury Racing, Mercury SportJet, Mercury Jet Drive, MotorGuide, Axius, and Zeus brand names, as well as marine parts and accessories under the Quicksilver, Mercury Precision Parts, Mercury Propellers, Attwood, Land ?N? Sea, Kellogg Marine, Diversified Marine Products, Sea Choice, and MotorGuide brand names. The company?s Boat segment manufactures and markets fiberglass pleasure and fishing boats, luxury sportfishing convertibles and motoryachts, offshore and aluminum fishing boats, pontoon and deck boats, yachts, sport yachts and cruisers, runabouts, and motoryachts. Brunswick?s Fitness segment provides cardiovascular fitness equipment, such as treadmills, total body cross-trainers, stair climbers, and stationary exercise bicycles; and strength-training equipment under the Life Fitness and Hammer Strength brands. Its Bowling and Billiards segment produces bowling products, consumer billiard tables, air hockey table games, foosball tables, and other gaming tables and related accessories; and billiards, video games, redemption and other games of skill, laser tag, pro shops, meeting and party rooms, snack bars, restaurants, and cocktail lounges. As of December 31, 2010, it had 100 bowling centers. Brunswick Corporation serves primarily the state/local/foreign governments, independent boat builders, health clubs, fitness facilities operated by professional sports teams, the military, governmental agencies, corporations, hotels, schools, and universities. The company was founded in 1845 and is based in Lake Forest, Illinois.

Best Stocks To Watch In 2015:Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD)

 Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. operates as a semiconductor company in the United States, Japan, China, and Europe. Its microprocessors for server platforms include multi-core AMD Opteron processors; notebook PC platforms consist of the AMD Dual-Core Accelerated Processor E-350, AMD Dual-Core Accelerated Processor C-50, AMD Phenom II Dual-Core Mobile Processor, AMD Phenom II Quad-Core Mobile Processor, AMD Turion X2 Mobile Processor, AMD Turion II Mobile Processor, AMD Turion II Ultra Mobile Processor, AMD Turion Neo X2 Mobile Processor, AMD Athlon II processor, AMD Athlon Neo processor, AMD Athlon Neo X2 Dual-Core processor, and the Mobile AMD Sempron processor products; and desktop PC platforms comprise AMD Phenom II, AMD Phenom, AMD Athlon II, AMD Athlon X2, AMD Athlon, and AMD Sempron processors. It also provides embedded processor products for vendors in industrial controls, digital signage, point of sale/self-service kiosks, medical imaging, set-top box, and casino gaming machines, as well as enterprise class telecommunications, networking, security, storage systems and thin-clients, or computers. In addition, the company offers chipset products, including integrated graphics processor chipsets and discrete chipsets for desktop and notebook PCs, professional workstations, and servers. Further, it provides graphic products consisting of 3D graphics, and video and multimedia products for use in desktop and notebook computers, such as home media PCs, professional workstations, and servers, as well as technology for game consoles. The company's graphics products comprise discrete desktop graphics, discrete notebook graphics, professional graphics, FireStream processors, and game consoles. It serves original equipment manufacturers, original design manufacturers, system builders, and independent distributors through direct sales force, independent distributors, and sales representatives. The company was founded in 1969 and is based in Sunnyvale, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• By Dav id Sterman At 2011-12-6

  This chip maker showed real promise in the middle of the last decade. Its Opteron micro-processors were very popular with PC and server vendors, but its momentum faded as mighty Intel (Nasdaq: INTC)fought back.

  I ran through AMD’s business model in late July, (which you can read about here) and little has changed since then. Part of the company’s turnaround plans are based on a successor to Opteron, known as “Bulldozer.” Those chips just started shipping to customers this week, and we won’t need to wait too long to get a sense of how much demand the chip will see. AMD is likely to discuss the chip’s progress when quarterly results are released in October. This will also provide investors with the first communication from new CEO Rory Read, who was hired in late August from PC giant Lenovo. In my view, he’s inheriting a business that is far healthier than many suspect, and I still see more than 50% upside in this stock.

• By Eric Fox At 2011-10-24

  Advanced Micro Devices (NYSE: AMD) had a spectacular month and rose 56% in November. The company benefited from a $1.25 billion legal settlement with competitor Intel (Nasdaq: INTC). The parties agreed to end all litigation involving antitrust and patent issues between them. AMD promptly used the funds to delever its balance sheet, which has always been a concern to investors. Th! e compan y is buying back part of a convertible bond issue and redeeming another note issue in full. 

• By Larry Gellar At 2011-8-31

  Best known for its work as a food processor, Archer Daniels Midland has been on a steady decline after nearly reaching $38 per share earlier in the year. Part of this has been due to some unfortunate events in the commodity markets, but prospects for ADM look rosy. As future estimates for world population continue to rise, this stock will benefit. In fact, some demographers have the world population going to 8 billion by 2023. Archer Daniels Midland also has an ethanol division that many investors are hoping the company will spin off. We agree with this sentiment and believe such a move would add value to the company. Additionally, ADM will benefit as the price of oil rises regardless of what happens with its ethanol business. (Note that future increases in the price of oil are almost inevitable). This is because the company has other divisions besides ethanol that represent alternative energy sources. As the price of oil goes up, these segments will surely see greater demand. Shareholders have also noted that company insiders do not buy the stock very often, but this may simply be due to the executives’ desire to diversify. Also, note that P/E and PEG for ADM are quite low at 9.28 and 0.94 respectively. This beats out rivals Bunge (BG) and Corn Products International (CPO).

• By Vita At 2011-8-26

   

  The brokerage said the chip maker outlined more competitive PC/server platforms for 2011, new Fusion-integrated central processing unit/graphics processing unit (CPU/GPU) platforms for PCs with over 100 design wins, and the transition to a fables flexible operating model.

  The brokerage added AMD's product mix and gross margins will likely continue to improve, driven by an improved product mix such as Fusion PC platforms, more competitive Opteron 4000/6000 server platforms, continued strength in discrete PC graphics, and better operational execution.

Best Stocks To Watch In 2015:Teleflex Incorporated (TFX)

 Teleflex Incorporated designs, manufactures, and distributes specialty medical devices for a range of procedures in critical care and surgery worldwide. It offers disposable medical products for critical care that includes medical devices used in critical care procedures for vascular access, respiratory care, anesthesia and airway management, treatment of urologic conditions, and other specialty procedures; and devices used in the treatment of patients with severe cardiac conditions, including intra aortic balloon pump systems and intra aortic balloon catheters and accessories. The company also provides surgical devices and instruments used in general and specialty surgical procedures, such as ligation and closure products, including appliers, clips, and sutures; access ports used in minimally invasive surgical procedures comprising robotic surgery; fluid management products for chest drainage; and hand-held instruments for general and specialty surgical procedures under the Deknatel, Pleur-evac, Pilling, Taut, and Weck brand names. In addition, it offers cardiac care products, including diagnostic catheters and capital equipment; instruments and devices for other medical device manufacturers; and customized medical instruments, implants, and components to original equipment manufacturers. The company sells its medical products through its sales forces, and independent representatives and distributor networks. Teleflex Incorporated was founded in 1938 and is based in Limerick, Pennsylvania.

Best Stocks To Watch In 2015:Imperial Oil Limited (IMO)

 Imperial Oil Limited engages in the exploration, production, and sale of crude oil and natural gas in Canada. The company operates through three segments: Upstream, Downstream, and Chemical. The Upstream segment engages in the exploration and production of conventional crude oil, natural gas, synthetic oil, and bitumen primarily in the Western Provinces, the Canada Lands, and the Atlantic Offshore. Its primary conventional oil producing asset includes the Norman Wells oil field in the Northwest Territories. The Downstream segment engages in the transportation and refining of crude oil, as well as blending, distribution, and marketing of refined products. It owns and operates crude oil, and natural gas liquids and products pipelines in Alberta, Manitoba, and Ontario. The Chemical segment engages in the manufacture and marketing of various petrochemicals, including ethylene, benzene, aromatic and aliphatic solvents, plasticizer intermediates, and polyethylene resin. As of December 31, 2010, Imperial Oil Limited had 1,204 million oil-equivalent barrels of proved undeveloped reserves; maintained a nation-wide distribution system, including 24 primary terminals, to handle bulk and packaged petroleum products moving from refineries to market by pipeline, tanker, rail, and road transport; and sold petroleum products through 1,850 Esso retail service stations, of which approximately 510 were company owned or leased. The company was founded in 1880 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada. Imperial Oil Limited operates as a subsidiary of Exxon Mobil Corporation.

Best Stocks To Watch In 2015:Chesapeake Energy Corporation (CHK)

 Chesapeake Energy Corporation engages in the acquisition, development, exploration, and production of natural gas and oil properties in the United States. It also provides marketing and other midstream services. The company?s properties are located in Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming. As of December 31, 2010, it had interests in approximately 45,800 gross productive wells. The company?s proved reserves include 17.096 trillion cubic feet of natural gas equivalent. Chesapeake Energy Corporation was founded in 1989 and is based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Advisors' Opinion:

• By Sam Collins At 2011-9-11

  Chesapeake Energy (NYSE: CHK) is one of the largest independent exploration and production companies in the United States. It focuses on U.S. onshore natural gas production east of the Rocky Mountains.?

  On Jan. 30, the company said that Cnooc Ltd. (NYSE: CEO) would pay $1.3 billion for access to acreage held by Chesapeake Energy. CHK has also developed a dominant natural gas shale position, and S&P “expects its expertise in unconventional drilling to carry over to liquids development.”?

  Technically, the close above $28 represents a major breakout from a three-year consolidation. The target for CHK is $39.