Top 10 Heal Care Companies For 2014

Plains All American Pipeline (NYSE: PAA  ) reported first-quarter earnings after the market closed on Monday. Analysts were expecting earnings per unit of $0.98 and revenue of $11.27 billion; Plains�recorded $1.27 per unit and $10.62 billion in revenue. These numbers don't tell the whole story, so let's drill down for three important takeaways that go beyond the top and bottom lines.

1. Shattering expectations
Plains CEO Greg Armstrong has been very candid in the past regarding the conservative nature of management's expectations, or as he describes it not conservative but "realistic". Plains will low-ball budget expectations even if management sees favorable tailwinds in the market place, because those tailwinds are not guaranteed. Even so, the first-quarter performance of its business segments ��particularly the supply and logistics unit ��destroyed even the wildest of expectations.

Top 10 Heal Care Companies For 2014: Marsh & McLennan Companies Inc. (MMC)

Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc., a professional services company, provides advice and solutions in the areas of risk, strategy, and human capital. It operates in two segments, Risk and Insurance Services, and Consulting. The Risk and Insurance Services segment provides risk management and insurance broking, reinsurance broking, and insurance program management services for businesses, public entities, insurance companies, associations, professional services organizations, and private clients. The Consulting segment offers advice and services to the managements of organizations in the area of human resource consulting, comprising retirement and investments, health and benefits, outsourcing and talent; and strategy and risk management consulting, such as management, economic, and brand consulting. The company also provides investment consulting services for endowments and foundations in the United States; health and benefit recordkeeping, and employee enrollment technology; human resource knowledge, data, and solutions for professionals in various industries; and Medicaid policy consulting services. It principally serves customers in the United States, the United Kingdom, the Asia Pacific, and Continental Europe. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. was founded in 1871 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

Top 10 Heal Care Companies For 2014: Life Technologies Corporation(LIFE)

Life Technologies Corporation operates as a global life sciences company. The company?s Molecular Biology Systems division offers molecular biology-based technologies, including basic and real-time PCR, RNA interference, DNA synthesis, sample preparation, transfection, cloning and protein expression profiling, protein analysis, and thermo-cycler instrumentation technologies. Its Cell Systems division provides cell culture media and sera, stem cells and related tools, cellular imaging products, antibodies, drug discovery services, and cell therapy related products used in the study of cell function. The company?s Genetic Systems division offers capillary electrophoresis systems and reagents, and next generation sequencing systems and reagents comprising SOLiD and Ion Torrent systems, as well as reagent kits developed specifically for applied markets, such as forensics and food safety, pharmaceutical quality monitoring, and animal health markets. Life Technologies Corporat ion also provides repair and maintenance services; and custom services, such as cell line development, custom media modification, and primers and custom assays development services. Its products offer research tools for genomics studies, proteomics studies, gene splicing, cellular analysis, and other research applications required by laboratories associated with universities, medical research centers, and government and other research institutions, as well as biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and chemical companies; and serves clinical labs, medical institutions, medical researchers, and various industries through sales and service professionals, e-commerce capabilities, and onsite supply center solutions. The company was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in Carlsbad, California.

Hot Beverage Companies To Watch For 2014: Rite Aid Corp (RAD)

Rite Aid Corporation, incorporated in 1968, is a retail drugstore chain in the United States. As of March 3, 2012, the Company operated drugstores in 31 states across the country and in the District of Columbia. As of March 3, 2012, it operated 4,667 stores. In the Company�� stores, it sells prescription drugs and a range of other merchandise, which it calls front end products. During the fiscal year ended March 3, 2012 (fiscal 2012), prescription drug sales accounted for 68.1% of its total sales. The Company carries a range of front end products, which accounted for 31.9% of its total sales in fiscal 2012. Front end products include over-the-counter medications, health and beauty aids, personal care items, cosmetics, household items, beverages, convenience foods, greeting cards, seasonal merchandise and other everyday and convenience products, as well as photo processing. It offers a variety of products under its private brands, which contributed approximately 17% of its front end sales in the categories where private brand products were offered in fiscal 2012. As of March 3, 2012, the Company had opened over 2,100 GNC stores-within-Rite Aid-stores. During fiscal 2012, the Company sold two owned operating stores to independent third parties.

During fiscal 2012, its stores filled approximately 295 million prescriptions and served an average of 2.1 million customers per day. The overall average size of each store in its chain is approximately 12,600 square feet. As of March 3, 2012, 60% of its stores were freestanding; 51% of its stores included a drive-thru pharmacy; 24% included one-hour photo shops, and 46% included a GNC store-within-Rite Aid-store. The Company�� customers may also order prescription refills over the Internet through www.riteaid.com, or over the phone through its telephonic automated refill systems for pick up at a Rite Aid store. It has a strategic alliance with GNC, a retailer of vitamin and mineral supplements.

Top 10 Heal Care Companies For 2014: Stronghold Met (Z.V)

Eagle Mountain Gold Corp., a mining exploration company, focuses on the discovery of gold in Guyana. The company is conducting a 15,000 meter drill program on its flag ship property, the Eagle Mountain Project in Guyana through a joint venture with IAMGOLD Corporation. The company was formerly known as Stronghold Metals Inc. and changed its name to Eagle Mountain Gold Corp. in July 2012. Eagle Mountain Gold Corp. was incorporated in 2003 and is based in Vancouver, Canada.

Top 10 Heal Care Companies For 2014: First Busey Corporation(BUSE)

First Busey Corporation operates as the bank holding company for Busey Bank that provides various retail and commercial banking products and services to individual, corporate, institutional, and governmental customers in the United States. It accepts noninterest-bearing demand, interest-bearing transaction, savings, money market, and time deposits. The company?s loan portfolio includes commercial, agricultural, and real estate loans; individual, consumer, installment, first mortgage, and second mortgage loans; and commercial real estate, residential real estate, and consumer loans. It also provides money transfer, safe deposit, fiduciary, automated banking, and automated fund transfer services. In addition, the company provides asset management, brokerage, and fiduciary services, including financial planning, investment management, retirement planning, brokerage, and trust and estate advisory services to individuals; investment management, business succession planning, an d employee retirement plan services to businesses; and investment management, investment strategy consulting, and fiduciary services to foundations. Further, it offers pay processing solutions, such as walk-in payments processing for payments delivered by customers to retail pay agents; online bill payment solutions for payments made by customers on a billing company?s Website; customer service payments for payments accepted over the telephone; direct debit services; electronic concentration of payments delivered by the automated clearing house network; money management software and credit card networks; and lockbox remittance processing of payments delivered by mail. The company has 33 locations in Illinois, 7 locations in southwest Florida, and 1 location in Indianapolis, Indiana. First Busey Corporation was founded in 1868 and is headquartered in Champaign, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lowell]

  I think small regional banks are set to make a comeback, and in this space I like Illinois-based First Busey Corp. (NASDAQ: BUSE). The bank has had its share of problems, as Illinois was one of the largest hubs of banking problems in the nation during the financial fallout. And BUSE borrowed $100 million TARP funds, which it hasn’t yet paid back in total, but it is making great progress toward that goal.

  The company beat estimates in the last four fiscal quarters, and institutions are ramping up their ownership. Additionally, this cheap stock pays a nice little dividend of almost 3.3%. As the regional baking sector recovers, I think BUSE will be a leader.

Top 10 Heal Care Companies For 2014: Western Asset/Claymore U.S. Treasury Inflation Prot Secs Fd(WIA)

Western Asset/Claymore Inflation-Linked Securities & Income Fund is a closed ended fixed income mutual fund launched and managed by Western Asset Management Company. It invests in fixed income markets. The fund invests primarily in U.S. treasury inflation protected securities. It also invests in corporate bonds or other securities and instruments. The fund?s portfolio of investments includes investments in electrical, energy, environmental services, media, medical care facilities, oil and gas, paper and forest products, photo equipment and supplies, banking and finance, and food, beverage and tobacco sectors. Western Asset/Claymore Inflation-Linked Securities & Income Fund was formed on September 25, 2003 and is domiciled in United States.

Top 10 Heal Care Companies For 2014: Barclays PLC(BCS)

Barclays PLC provides various financial products and services in Europe, the United States, Africa, and Asia. It offers retail and commercial banking, credit cards, investment banking, wealth management, and investment management services. The company?s products include current account and savings products, Woolwich branded mortgages, unsecured loans, protection products, general insurance, credit cards, Sharia-compliant products, installment finance and commercial property finance, commercial loans, and personal loans. It also offers money transmission, international and private banking, investment management, fiduciary, and brokerage services, as well as payment solutions and mobile banking services. In addition, the company provides fixed income, currency and commodities, foreign exchange, emerging markets, money markets, and credit services; equities, which include cash and equity derivatives and prime services; investment banking products and services that comprise fi nancial advisory, and equity and debt underwriting; and advisory services. It serves individual, commercial, corporate, institutional, retail, and mass affluent customers. The company was formerly known as Barclays Bank Limited and changed its name to Barclays PLC in January 1985. Barclays PLC was founded in 1896 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Alexandra Leigh]

  The United Kingdom’s number-two bank, has begun consultations with 9,000 domestic employees as it gets ready to slash jobs at its investment bank. On Tuesday, the firm sent a memorandum to employees, described by a spokesperson as an “exercise being carried out so that we can start to effect some of the strategic changes.” The results will be announced on February 12th. Chief Executive Antony Jenkins is remaking the culture at the bank and concentrating on more profitable businesses in the face of tougher capital requirements and banking scandals.

• [By Louis Navellier]

  Barclays PLC (NYSE:BCS) is a global financial service provider involved with retail banking, credit cards, corporate and investment banking and wealth management. Despite having a $28 billion market cap, BCS stock has slipped 44% since this January.

Top 10 Heal Care Companies For 2014: Dynasty Metals I (DMM.TO)

Dynasty Metals & Mining Inc. engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties in Ecuador. The company primarily explores for gold, silver, and copper ores. Its principal properties include the Zaruma gold project comprising 46 unsurveyed concessions that cover 103 square kilometers located in the El Oro Province of southwestern Ecuador; the Jerusalem gold project consisting of 1 concession that covers 225 hectares located in the Zamora Chinchipe Province of southeastern Ecuador; and the Dynasty copper-gold project that comprises 51 concessions covering a total project area of approximately 979.81 square kilometers located in the Loja Province of southern Ecuador. The company is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

Top 10 Heal Care Companies For 2014: Gran Tierra Energy Inc. (GTE.TO)

Gran Tierra Energy Inc., an independent energy company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of oil and gas properties in Colombia, Argentina, Peru, and Brazil. As of December 31, 2011, the company�s acreage included 3.5 million gross acres covering 21 exploration and production contracts in Colombia; 1.4 million gross acres covering 12 exploration and production contracts in Argentina; 6.4 million gross acres covering 5 exploration licenses in Peru; and 0.8 million gross acres covering 6 exploration blocks in Brazil. It also had estimated proved reserves of 30.9 million barrels of oil and natural gas liquids; and 18.3 billion cubic feet of gas. The company was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.

Top 10 Heal Care Companies For 2014: Tribal Group(TRB.L)

Tribal Group plc, through its subsidiaries, provides technology, service delivery, and advisory solutions primarily to the educational sector in the United Kingdom, Australasia, and internationally. The company provides education services to the public sector, including software, managed services, school inspection services, consultancy, benchmarking, e-learning, publishing, and training services. Its technology solutions comprise student management products, asset management products, learning management products, program-based systems, platform-based systems, and bespoke solutions. The company?s service delivery solutions include training and development, school improvement, delivery of major education programs for the government, inspection of schools in the south of England, and management of the early years? professional status. Its advisory services comprise performance improvement, program and project management, strategy and innovation, curriculum support, subjec t excellence, school improvement, benchmarking and consultancy for further and higher education, and workforce development services. The company serves schools, colleges, universities, government agencies, and employers to manage their resources and deliver education services. Tribal Group plc was founded in 1999 and is based in London, the United Kingdom.