Top High Tech Stocks For 2014

Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK-A  ) (NYSE: BRK-B  ) subsidiary Brooks Sports is drawing quite a bit of attention from Buffett devotees these days. The running-shoe maker has sprinted to 34% volume growth in both 2011 and 2012, with U.S. sales growth hitting the tape at 43% by the end of last year.

Our roving reporter Rex Moore caught up with Brooks CEO Jim Weber at the recent Berkshire shareholder meeting in Omaha. In this segment of a multipart series, Jim talks about the fierce competitive landscape for running-shoe makers.

Are Berkshire shares for you?
Thanks to the savvy of investing legend Warren Buffett, Berkshire Hathaway's book value per share has grown a mind-blowing 586,817% over the past 48 years. But with Buffett aging and Berkshire rapidly evolving, is this insurance conglomerate still a buy today? In The Motley Fool's premium report on the company, Berkshire expert Joe Magyer provides investors with key reasons to buy as well as important risks to watch out for. Click here now for instant access to Joe's take on Berkshire!

Top High Tech Stocks For 2014: Fresenius Medical Care Corporation (FMS)

Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA, a dialysis company, provides products and services for patients with chronic kidney diseases. As of May 12, 2011, it provided dialysis care services to 216,942 patients through its network of 2,769 dialysis clinics primarily in North America, Europe, Latin America, the Asia-Pacific, and Africa. The company also develops and manufactures various dialysis products, including hemodialysis machines, dialyzers, hemofilters, dialysis fluid filters, tubing systems, fistula needles, dialysis related equipment, acute hemodialysis machines, plasma filters, acute tubing systems and cassettes, catheters, and related disposable products for chronic hemodialysis, acute therapy, home therapy, and therapeutic apheresis, as well as dialysis drugs. In addition, it provides laboratory services. Fresenius Medical sells its products through distributors. The company was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Bad Homburg, Germany.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Charles Carlson, CEO and Portfolio Manager, Horizon Investment Services]

  For investors looking for growth but also income, I especially like three health-care related stocks��resenius Medical (FMS), Novo Nordisk (NVO), and Smith & Nephew (SNN).

Top High Tech Stocks For 2014: American Software Inc (AMSWA)

American Software, Inc. (American Software), incorporated in 1970, develops, markets and supports a portfolio of software and services that delivers enterprise management and collaborative supply chain solutions to the global marketplace. American Software operates three business segments: Supply Chain Management (SCM), Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Information Technology (IT) Consulting. The SCM segment consists of Logility, Inc. (Logility), which provides collaborative supply chain solutions for forecasting, production, distribution and management of products between trading partners. The ERP segment consists of American Software ERP, which provides purchasing and materials management, customer order processing, financial, e-commerce, flow manufacturing and manufacturing solutions, and New Generation Computing (NGC), which provides business software to both retailers and manufacturers in the apparel, sewn products and furniture industries. The IT Consulting segment consists of The Proven Method, Inc., an IT staffing and consulting services firm. The Company also provides support for its software products, such as software enhancements, documentation, updates, customer education, consulting, systems integration services, and maintenance.

Supply Chain Management

The Company�� wholly owned subsidiary Logility provides SCM solutions, an integrated set of supply chain planning, inventory optimization, manufacturing, and transportation and logistics solutions. Logility provides SCM solutions to streamline and optimize the market planning, management, production, and distribution of products for manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, and retailers. As of April 30, 2011, Logility�� customer base is approximately 1,250 companies located in more than 74 countries. Logility markets and sells the Demand Solutions product line to the global small and midsize enterprise (SME) market through the global VAR distribution network of Demand Management, Inc. (DMI). Logility also ! offers the Logility Voyager Solutions suite.

Logility Voyager Solutions is an integrated software suite that provides SCM, including collaborative planning, strategic network design, multi-echelon inventory optimization, optimized supply sourcing, production management, warehouse management, and collaborative logistics capabilities. Logility Voyager Solutions incorporates performance management analytics for decision support for processes, such as demand management, inventory and supply optimization, manufacturing planning and scheduling, transportation planning and management and sales and operations planning (S&OP).

The Logility Voyager Solutions software suite is modular and scalable to meet the management requirements of global organizations involving products with manufacturing or distribution networks. In addition, the Logility Voyager Solutions suite interfaces with a range of existing enterprise applications deployed on a range of technical platforms. Logility Voyager Solutions accelerates S&OP, as well as strategic partner collaboration. Voyager Sales and Operations Planning enables companies to streamline and accelerate the entire S&OP process. Voyager Collaborate enables companies to communicate across their organizations and share supply chain information with external trading partners.

Voyager Fashion Forecasting helps improve profits with capabilities that address the collection launches for fashion-driven businesses. Voyager Demand Planning helps reconcile differences between business planning and detailed product forecasting. Voyager Life Cycle Planning provides control to model each phase in a product�� sunrise-to-sunset lifecycle, including introduction, maturity, replacement, substitution and retirement. Voyager Event Planning integrates marketing strategies with forecasting, distribution and logistics planning to calculate the impact of promotional plans and demand shaping strategies, such as price discounts, coupons, advertising, special pack! aging and! product placement.

Logility Voyager Solutions enables enterprises to set inventory targets at each node of a multi-echelon distribution network to match strategic inventory goals and service levels. Voyager Inventory Optimization optimizes inventory investments across multi-echelon manufacturing and distribution networks to meet business and service level objectives for supply chains with multiple stages of inventory. Logility Voyager Inventory Planning allows enterprises to measure the tradeoff of inventory investment and desired customer service levels.

Logility Voyager Solutions optimizes material, inventory, production and distribution assets by synchronizing supply and demand. Voyager Supply Planning optimizes sourcing and production decisions to balance supply, manufacturing and distribution constraints based on corporate goals. Voyager Replenishment Planning provides visibility of future customer demand, corresponding product and material requirements, and the actions needed to satisfy those demands. Voyager Manufacturing Planning creates optimized constraint-based manufacturing schedules and compares multiple schedule scenarios to determine the optimal trade-off between manufacturing efficiencies, inventory investments and greenhouse gas emissions.

Logility Voyager Solutions provides capabilities for optimizing both warehouse and transportation operations. Voyager WarehousePRO provides shipping and inventory accuracy by optimizing the flow of materials and information through distribution centers. Voyager Transportation Planning and Management provide a multi-modal solution for savings of time, effort and money. It enables automated shipment planning, shipment execution and freight accounting. Demand Solution�� supply chain software provides a transition from spreadsheet management to robust reporting and tracking. Demand Solutions offers two separate product suites: traditional and DSX. The Demand Solutions application suite predict future demand and m! ake infor! med decisions to optimize inventory turns, customer service levels and profitability. Demand Solutions Forecast Management provides a demand planning solution that fits virtually any industry and deploys. Demand Solutions Requirements Planning incorporates collaborative planning capabilities to streamline supply activities from the production line through delivery.

Demand Solutions Collaboration offers a certified collaborative planning, forecasting and replenishment (CPFR) compliant collaborative planning solution that streamlines communications between a company and its customers and suppliers. Demand Solutions Sales & Operations Planning automates and continually analyzes the annual business planning process. Demand Solutions Advanced Planning and Scheduling is a production scheduling solution that supports both the process and discrete enterprise environment and produces accurate schedules taking into account machines, personnel, tooling and inventory constraints. Demand Solutions View (DS View) extends the value of Demand Solutions, empowering users to aggregate, rotate, filter, sort and otherwise manipulate large volumes of data into meaningful information. Demand Solutions Retail Planning enables manufacturers, distributors and retailers to collaboratively produce, ship and replenish product based on point-of-sale (POS) data.

Enterprise Resource Planning

The Company�� enterprise solutions are global solutions that link critical functions throughout an enterprise. The e-Intelliprise solution is a Web-based ERP system that a customer can run over the Internet, Intranet or Extranet utilizing the IBM iSeries servers. This allows functions within the ERP system to be deployed over the Internet using a Webpage capability. The e-Intelliprise solution is a global system, capable of operating in multiple languages and logistical organizations. Its e-applications are solutions for conducting business on the Internet that can Web-enable specific business functions t! hrough in! tegration with existing ERP or legacy systems. The e-applications are available for the applications, which include e-procurement, e-store, e-expenses, e-forms, e-payables, e-receivables, Purchase Order Tracking and Vendor Collaboration, Requisition Tracking, Shipment Tracking, e-process management and e-connect a seamless, XML-enabled data exchange.

The Company�� product line consists of software and services that operate on three strategic computer platforms, which includes IBM System z Mainframe or compatible, IBM System i (AS/400), and Intel-based servers and clients that operate Windows 2000, 2003, XP and Vista. It has written its products in various standard programming languages used for business application software, including ANSI COBOL, Micro Focus COBOL, C, C++, Visual Basic, JAVA, JAVA2 and other programming languages. Many have both on-line and batch capabilities.

IT Consulting

The Proven Method, Inc., the Company�� wholly owned subsidiary, is a technology services firm that specializes in assisting customer base to solve business issues with technology solutions. The solutions the Company provides ranges from Web applications to complex Business Intelligence applications and solutions. Business Intelligence consists of the development and implementation of a reporting process for dealing with data and multiple business entities/components. Its customers are Internet savvy and knowledgeable in wireless solutions, social networking and channeling implementations, server and desktop virtualization, and deployment of interactive applications. The Proven Method has customers, such as Aon, IBM, UPS, Norfolk Southern, Xerox, SunTrust Bank, Coca-Cola Enterprises, Kubota Manufacturing of North America, The Home Depot, AT&T, State of Georgia, CompuCom, Zep Inc, Chick-fil-A, Global Payments, Verizon, Catlin Group Ltd, Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta, Fulton Paper, Aaron Rents, AutoTrader.com, Nalco Chemical, Georgia Tech Research Institute and numerous ot! her custo! mers throughout the United States.

The Company competes with SAP, Oracle, Infor, JDA Software and Red Prairie.

Top High Tech Stocks To Own Right Now: Pharmagap Inc.(GAP.V)

PharmaGap Inc., a biotechnology company, focuses on the development of therapeutic drugs for treatment of cancer and other human disease conditions associated with Protein Kinase C (PKC). Its lead drug compound GAP-107B8, which is in the pre-clinical testing stage for the treatment of cancer. Pharmagap Inc. has a collaboration agreement with Queen's University to develop GAP-107B8 for bladder cancer. The company was founded in 1999 and is based in Ottawa, Canada.

Top High Tech Stocks For 2014: Auric Pacific Group Limited(A23.SI)

Auric Pacific Group Limited, an investment holding company, primarily engages in the distribution of fast moving consumer food and non-food products. It distributes commercial and fine wines, spirits, cosmetics, and health supplements. The company also involves in the manufacturing of food products, including bread and bakery products, butter and cheese, dairy spread and margarine, buns, and cream rolls, as well as frozen food products, such as frozen pizzas, garlic bread, pies, and pastries under the Sunshine, Top-One, SSC, and Buttercup brands. In addition, it involves in the management and operation of a chain of food courts under Food Junction, Food Culture, FJ Square, The Food Place, and Food Garden brand names, as well as operates cafe-bakeries, bakery corners, restaurants, and food courts and outlets. Further, the company engages in the providing catering and central kitchen production services; leasing residential and commercial properties; and investing in funds a nd quoted investment securities. It operates in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Hong Kong, and the People's Republic of China. Auric Pacific Group Limited was incorporated in 1988 and is headquartered in Singapore.

Top High Tech Stocks For 2014: Challenger Financial Services Group(CGF.AX)

Challenger Financial Services Group Limited operates as an investment management firm in Australia. The company operates as an issuer of annuities and a provider of listed and unlisted investment products and services to institutional and retail clients. It also provides various investment choices across a range of asset classes and investment styles, as well as operates as an investment manager. The company was founded in 1985 and is based in Sydney, Australia.

Top High Tech Stocks For 2014: Hera SpA (HRA.MI)

Hera SpA is an Italy-based company engaged in the energy, environmental and water sectors. It operates through five segments: Gas, Electricity, Integrated Water Cycle, Waste Management, and Other Services. The Gas segment includes methane gas and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) distribution and sales services, district heating, as well as heat management. The Electricity segment encompasses electricity production, distribution and sales services. The Integrated Water Cycle segment includes mains water, purification and sewerage services. The Waste Management segment consists of waste collection, treatment and disposal services. The Other Services segment focuses on public lighting, telecommunications and other minor services. On January 1, 2013, the merger by incorporation of Acegas Aps Holding Srl into HERA SpA became effective. In March 2013, it acquired the entire share capital of state-owned Acegas-Aps Holding SpA.

Top High Tech Stocks For 2014: Tower Ltd (TWR.AX)

TOWER Limited provides life and general insurance products primarily in New Zealand. The company�s insurance products include boat, business, car, caravan, contents, corporate-commercial, disability, farm-lifestyle, funeral, house, income protection, jet ski, life, motorcycle, trauma, travel, truck, yacht, and fire insurance. It also offers savings and investment management services, including individually managed account services, retail and institutional fund management services, workplace superannuation schemes, and financial advisory services. In addition, the company provides general insurance services in the Pacific Islands. TOWER Limited was founded in 1869 and is based in Auckland, New Zealand.

Top High Tech Stocks For 2014: Rush Enterprises Inc.(RUSHB)

Rush Enterprises, Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates as an integrated retailer of commercial vehicles and related services in the United States. The company owns and operates a network of commercial vehicle dealerships under the Rush Truck Centers name. Its Rush Truck Centers primarily sell commercial vehicles manufactured by Peterbilt, International, Hino, UD, Ford, Isuzu, Mitsubishi Fuso, IC Bus, or Blue Bird; and provide new and used commercial vehicles, aftermarket parts, service and repair, financing, leasing, and rental services, as well as property and casualty insurance to its commercial vehicle customers and other truck owners. The company serves owner operators, regional and national truck fleets, corporations, and local governments. It operates a network of 70 centers located in Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah. The company was founded in 1965 and is he adquartered in New Braunfels, Texas.