Top Consumer Service Stocks To Watch For 2014

With shares of Barnes & Noble (NYSE:BKS) trading around $14, is BKS an OUTPERFORM, WAIT AND SEE, or STAY AWAY? Let�� analyze the stock with the relevant sections of our CHEAT SHEET investing framework.

T = Trends for a Stock’s Movement

Barnes & Noble is a content, commerce, and technology book-selling company that provides customers access to books, magazines, newspapers, and other content across its multichannel distribution platform. The company operates 1,338 bookstores in 50 states, 647 bookstores on college campuses, and one e-commerce site. It also develops digital content products and software. Barnes & Noble operates in three segments: B&N Retail, B&N College, and Nook.

Barnes & Noble promoted Michael Huseby, who has served as its chief financial officer and president, to chief executive officer as the chain struggles to retain customers increasingly shifting to digital books.�Huseby also has been elected to the board, the New York-based company said in a statement.�Barnes & Noble has been heavily investing in its Nook digital unit to gain a foothold in electronic books. After some initial success with its Nook e-readers and tablets, the division�� sales slumped during the 2012 holidays and haven�� recovered. Cratering sales led to the July departure of CEO William Lynch, leaving Huseby as the company�� top executive.

Best Defense Companies To Watch In Right Now: Virginia Mines Inc (VGQ)

Virginia Mines Inc. is engaged in the business of acquiring and exploring mining properties. The Company specializes in searching for gold and base metal deposits in mostly unexplored territories of Quebec. The Company�� properties include Coulon property, Anatacau-Wabamisk project, Lac Pau property, Nichicun property, Trieste property, Ashuanipi property, Baie Payne property and Lac Gayot property. The Anatacau-Wabamisk project is located 30 kilometers southwest of the Opinaca Reservoir, about 290 kilometers north of the town of Matagami, province of Quebec. The Lac Pau property is located in the James Bay region, in the northern part of the Caniapiscau Reservoir, 70 kilometers northeast of the Trans-Taiga Road. The Nichicun property is situated in the central part of the province of Quebec, northwest of the Otish Mountains. The Trieste property is located in the central part of the province of Quebec, to the northwest of the Otish Mountains. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Adrian Day]

  Adrian Day: Yeah, you know, my favorite company in the junior sector remains Virginia Mines, (VGQ) in Toronto, this is, at basis, an exploration company that has built its business by what's called a prospect generator model, meaning they go out and generate prospects, which they then try to farm out to other people to spend the money.

Top Consumer Service Stocks To Watch For 2014: United Therapeutics Corporation(UTHR)

United Therapeutics Corporation, a biotechnology company, engages in the development and commercialization of therapeutic products for patients with chronic and life-threatening diseases in the United States and internationally. It offers Remodulin, Tyvaso, and Adcirca for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The company also develops Oral Treprostinil (UT-15C), a new drug application filed with the United States Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of PAH. Its development products under Phase III clinical trials include Oral Treprostinil (UT-15C) Combination Therapy for PAH; Ch14.18 monoclonal antibody (MAb) targeting Neuroblastoma; and Remodulin for the treatment of PAH in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan. The company?s development products under Phase I clinical trials comprise Beraprost-MR for PAH in North America, Europe, Mexico, South America, Egypt, India, South Africa, and Australia; 8H9 MAb targ eting Metastatic brain cancer; and IW001 for the treatment of Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and primary graft dysfunction. Its pre-clinical stage products consist of Glycobiology Antiviral Agents for viral infectious diseases; PLacental eXpanded cells targeting PAH; and pulmonary tissue replacement and remodeling products for the treatment of end-stage lung disease. The company serves pharmaceutical wholesalers through specialty pharmaceutical distributors and other distributors. United Therapeutics Corporation was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Monica Gerson]

  United Therapeutics (NASDAQ: UTHR) shares reached a new 52-week high of $91.13. United Therapeutics' PEG ratio is 1.64.

  DENTSPLY International (NASDAQ: XRAY) shares touched a new 52-week high of $47.65. DENTSPLY's trailing-twelve-month ROE is 15.95%.

• [By Jim Fink]

  United Therapeutics (NASDAQ: UTHR) is a biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of unique products to address the unmet medical needs of patients with chronic and life-threatening conditions.�The stock jumped to a 52-week high after a federal court gave it a partial victory in a patent lawsuit involving one of its drugs.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Look up in the sky! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s Santa Claus! No. It’s United Therapeutics (UTHR).

  Reuters

  Shares of the United Therapeutics have surged 23% to $107.65, on what’s looking to be a pretty decent day for biotech stocks. The iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology Index ETF (IBB) has gained 0.9% to $225.75, as Gilead Sciences (GILD) has risen 0.7% to $75.16 and Celgene (CELG) has ticked up 0.4% to $168.09.

Top Consumer Service Stocks To Watch For 2014: Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation(SMI)

Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation, an investment holding company, engages in the computer-aided design, manufacture, packaging, testing, and trade of integrated circuits. It offers a range of technologies from 0.35μm to 65nm with capabilities that include logic, mixed signal/RF CMOS, high voltage, embedded, flash, EEPROM, and CIS technology. The company also provides portfolio of semiconductor intellectual property (IP) blocks from 0.35um to 65nm to support the design needs of customers; ASIC design services; reference flows; mixed-signal/RF PDKs; and multi-project wafer services. In addition, it involves in the design and manufacture of semiconductor masks; and provides assembly and testing, wafer bumping, and wafer probing/testing services. Further, the company offers marketing related activities; operates convenience stores; and manufactures and trades in solar cell related semiconductor products. Its products are used primarily in mobile, network ing, and wireless local area network applications, as well as in consumer and communications products, including digital television, set-top box, mobile, portable media player, and personal digital assistant applications. The company serves integrated device manufacturers, fables semiconductor companies, and system companies principally in the United States, Europe, and the Asia Pacific. Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Shanghai, the People?s Republic of China.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Namitha Jagadeesh]

  The SMI (SMI) declined 0.1 percent to 8,161.14 at 10:05 a.m. in Zurich. The gauge fell 1.4 percent last week, its first retreat in five weeks. The broader Swiss Performance Index also decreased 0.1 percent today.

• [By Pato Kehoe]

  In an attempt to trim costs and increase its operational efficiencies, Estee Lauder�� business strategy last year focused on centralizing its core operating functions, as well as reducing non-profitable stock keeping units. The cost reduction program, Strategic Modernization Initiative (SMI), proved highly efficient, saving the company $781 million in 2013. Furthermore, while the program will continue throughout 2014, management announced that it would be reinvesting a large amount of the cost savings in marketing for its core brands, along with product innovation. In this regard, decentralizing innovation to better adjust to its global customer preferences, is and will continue to be a key strategy in further propelling the beauty giant�� growth.

Top Consumer Service Stocks To Watch For 2014: PrivateBancorp Inc.(PVTB)

PrivateBancorp, Inc. operates as the holding company for The PrivateBank and Trust Company that provides business and personal financial services to middle-market companies and business owners, executives, entrepreneurs, and families in the United States. The company?s deposit products include checking, savings, and money market accounts; interest and non-interest bearing demand deposits; and certificates of deposit. Its loan portfolio comprises commercial loans, including lines of credit to businesses for working capital needs, term loans, and letters of credit; commercial real estate loans; loans for the construction of single-family residential properties, multi-family properties, and commercial projects; mortgage loans; and residential, home equity, and personal loans. The company also provides private banking, investment management, trust, and investment agency services to high and ultra-high net-worth clients; custody, escrow, and tax-deferred exchange services; and investment management services to individuals, families, and foundations. In addition, it invests primarily in residential mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations. As of December 31, 2011, the company operated 18 branch locations in the Chicago market; and 10 branch locations in the Atlanta, Detroit, Kansas City, Milwaukee, and St. Louis metropolitan areas, as well as 29 automated teller machines located at its banking facilities. PrivateBancorp, Inc. was founded in 1989 and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Holly LaFon]

  In the last several weeks, three hedge and mutual fund managers sold shares of their holdings where they own 5% or more of the company, according to GuruFocus Real Time Picks. Most of the managers made large gains on these sales, with one exception. John Paulson reduced his stake in Delphi (DLPH), Third Avenue reduced its stake in Skyline Corp. (SKY), and NWQ Managers reduced its stake in PrivateBancorp (PVTB) and Bob Evans Farms (BOBE). John Paulson and Delphi Auto Plc (DLPH)

• [By Zacks]

  Some better-ranked Midwest banks include First Interstate Bancsystem Inc. (NASDAQ: FIBK), Wintrust Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: WTFC) and PrivateBancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: PVTB). All these stocks carry a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).