Top 10 Stocks To Buy For 2014

Robo-signing is in the news again, and in a big way. For one thing, the New York Attorney General's office is suing�Bank of America (NYSE: BAC  ) and Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC  ) for allegedly failing to follow the conditions of the $26 billion settlement over shabby foreclosure practices, which featured the mindless signing of foreclosure documents.

The second thing is just as odious: Banks have apparently been using the same robo-signing techniques in the collection of credit card debt -- and further investigation may find other credit card issuers are involved, too.

Robo-signing, "sewer service"
The Attorney General's office announced late last week that it is bringing charges against JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: JPM  ) for using a slew of illegal maneuvers to wring non-existent debt from at least 100,000 credit card users in California. Among the dastardly procedures used by JPMorgan, the AG's office alleges, are the famous robo-signing of fraudulent documents, while neglecting to notify targeted consumers of the fact that they were being sued -- a tactic known as "sewer service."

Top 10 Stocks To Buy For 2014: The Ultimate Software Group Inc.(ULTI)

The Ultimate Software Group, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, designs, develops, and markets unified human capital management software-as-a-service solutions to businesses in the United States and Canada. Its UltiPro software solution offers businesses with cloud-based functionality to manage the employment life cycle from recruitment to retirement. The UltiPro solution includes feature sets for talent acquisition and onboarding, human resource management and compliance, benefits management and online enrollment, payroll, performance management, salary planning and budgeting for compensation management, succession management, reporting and analytical decision-making tools, and time and attendance, as well as role-based access for executives, managers, administrators, and employees. The company offers its products and services for various industries, including manufacturing, food services, sports, technology, finance, insurance, retail, real estate, transportation, com munications, healthcare, and other services. It also provides implementation, training, maintenance, and technical support services. The Ultimate Software Group, Inc. markets its products under the UltiPro Enterprise and UltiPro Workplace brand names through its direct sales teams. The company was founded in 1990 and is headquartered in Weston, Florida.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jeremy Bowman]

  What: Shares of Ultimate Software (NASDAQ: ULTI  ) were screaming "Ultimate!" today, gaining as much as 17% after topping estimates in its quarterly report.

• [By Seth Jayson]

  Calling all cash flows
  When you are trying to buy the market's best stocks, it's worth checking up on your companies' free cash flow once a quarter or so, to see whether it bears any relationship to the net income in the headlines. That's what we do with this series. Today, we're checking in on Ultimate Software Group (Nasdaq: ULTI  ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.

Top 10 Stocks To Buy For 2014: Bone Medical Ltd(BNE.AX)

Bone Medical Limited, a biopharmaceutical development company, develops therapeutics to prevent and/or treat bone and joint diseases and conditions in Australia. The company?s development products consist of Capsitonin, an oral calcitonin that is in Phase III clinical trial for the treatment of osteoporosis; and CaPTHymone, an oral parathyroid hormone, which is in Phase IIb clinical trial for the treatment of osteoporosis. Its development products also include BN006, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) regulators in pre-clinical stage for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis; and BN005 and BN008 bone cell regulators for the treatment of osteoporosis and arthritis. The company is based in West Perth, Australia.

Hot Dividend Companies To Own In Right Now: Huntsworth(HNT.L)

Huntsworth plc engages in the provision of public relations and healthcare communications consultancy services in the United Kingdom and internationally. It offers public relations services in the healthcare, financial, technology, public affairs, consumer, and corporate sectors. The company operates under various brands, including Citigate, Grayling, Huntsworth Health, and Red. Huntsworth plc is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom.

Top 10 Stocks To Buy For 2014: Oremex Resources Inc. (ORM.V)

Oremex Silver Inc., a development stage company, engages in the exploration and development of mineral properties in Mexico. The company primarily holds interest in the Tejamen Silver property consisting of 22 exploration concessions covering approximately 1,672 hectares located northwest of the city of Durango, Mexico. It also holds interest in the San Lucas silver-lead-zinc property consisting of 18 mineral concessions covering approximately 925 hectares located north of the city of Durango, Mexico. The company was formerly known as Oremex Resources Inc. and changed its name to Oremex Silver Inc. in September 2011. Oremex Silver Inc. was founded in 1995 and is based in Toronto, Canada.

Top 10 Stocks To Buy For 2014: Sterling Bancorp(STL)

Sterling Bancorp operates as a bank holding company for Sterling National Bank that provides a range of banking and financial products and services in the Untied States primarily in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. It accepts various deposit products, including checking accounts, money market accounts, negotiable order of withdrawal accounts, savings accounts, rent security accounts, retirement accounts, and certificates of deposits; and deposit services comprising account management and information, disbursement, reconciliation, collection and concentration, ACH, and others. The company also provides business and consumer lending, asset-based financing, factoring/accounts receivable management services, equipment leasing, commercial and residential mortgage lending and brokerage, and trade financing services for commercial, industrial and financial companies, and government and non-profit entities. In addition, it offers financing and human resource business process outsourcing support services for the temporary staffing industry, which comprise full back-office, computer, tax, and accounting services, as well as financing to independently-owned staffing companies. The company operates 12 offices, including 9 offices in New York City, two branches in Nassau County, and 1 branch in Yonkers, New York. Sterling Bancorp was founded in 1929 and is based in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Corinne Gretler]

  Statoil ASA (STL) rose 4.2 percent to 137.60 kroner. Norway�� biggest energy company made its third oil discovery off the coast of Canada in the Flemish Pass basin. Bank of America Corp. raised the stock to buy from neutral.

• [By Jon C. Ogg]

  The M&T Bank Corp. (NYSE: MTB) and Hudson City Bancorp Inc. (NASDAQ: HCBK) transaction is the only pending deal of 2012 vintage due to various regulatory concerns. MTB currently has 9% short interest outstanding and PACW 15%. Another merger covered is the deal between Provident New York Bancorp (NASDAQ: PBNY) and Sterling Bancorp (NYSE: STL), and the balance are simply too small for us to warrant effort.

Top 10 Stocks To Buy For 2014: Pacific Gold Corp (PCFGD)

Pacific Gold Corp. (Pacific Gold), incorporated on December 31, 1996, is engaged in the identification, acquisition, and development of mining prospects that contain gold and/or tungsten mineral deposits. Pacific Gold owns 100% of four operating subsidiaries: Nevada Rae Gold, Inc. (NRG), Fernley Gold, Inc. (Fernley Gold), Pilot Mountain Resources Inc. (Pilot Mountain), and Pacific Metals Corp. through which it holds various prospects in Nevada and Colorado. NRG has staked 67 placer claims and 13 lode claims covering approximately 1,340 acres in Lander County, Nevada. The Company also owns 13.67 acres of land in Lander County, Nevada. Fernley Gold leased 640 acres, including 35 placer claims, with the right to mine for placer, lode and other minerals and metals, located 34 miles east of Reno, Nevada. The lease includes two water wells and water rights. Pilot Mountain owns 45 lode claims, within the project area covering approximately 900 acres. Through its other subsidiaries, the Company also has other federal mining claims. In October 2013, Pacific Gold Corp. merged its wholly owned subsidiary Pilot Mountain Resources Inc. into Pacific Gold Corp.

Nevada Rae Gold, Inc.

The prospects held by NRG are located among the Crescent Valley placer deposits, in the bullion mining district of Lander County, Nevada. They are about two miles from the town of Crescent Valley, and 50 miles west of Elko, Nevada. The area is about 175 miles northeast of Reno, Nevada. The property consists of federal mining claims and leased private land. The federal mining claims are managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

NRG has staked prospects covering approximately 1,340 acres of the alluvial deposits among the Crescent Valley projects. In addition, it leased approximately 440 acres of land adjacent to its staked prospects from Bullion Monarch Mining. The lease covers acreage in Section nine, Township 29 North, Range 47 East, Mount Diablo Meridian, Bullion Mining District, and Lander ! County, Nevada. NRG has the right to the gold, silver, platinum, palladium and other precious and base metals within the placers and gravels of the leased premises, with right to prospect and explore for, mine by open pit methods, mill, prepare for market, store, sell and dispose of the same. The lease term is 10 years, renewable for an additional 10 years.

Fernley Gold, Inc.

Fernley Gold, Inc.�� area known is for placer gold mineral deposits and commonly referred to as the Olinghouse Placers. The lease includes two water wells and water rights. The lease includes two water wells and water rights. The Butcher Boy placer mine is hosted by a conglomerate sequence of pliopleistocene age.

Pilot Mountain Resources Inc.

Pilot Mountain has acquired Project W, which is primarily a tungsten project located in Mineral County, Nevada. The property is located approximately 21 miles east of the town of Mina. The claims are located at an average elevation of 6,500 feet. The Company has claims within the project area covering approximately 900 acres. Project W encompasses three occurrences of tungsten mineral deposits, such as Desert Scheelite, Gunmetal and Garnet.

Top 10 Stocks To Buy For 2014: First Horizon National Corp (FHN)

First Horizon National Corporation (FHN), incorporated in 1968, is a bank holding company. The Company provides financial services through its subsidiary, First Tennessee Bank National Association (the Bank), and its subsidiaries. The Company�� two brands First Tennessee and FTN Financial provide customers with a range of products and services. First Tennessee provides retail and commercial banking services throughout Tennessee. FTN Financial (FTNF) is engaged in fixed income sales, trading, and strategies for institutional clients in the United States and abroad. FHN has four operating business segments: regional banking, capital markets, corporate, and non-strategic. As of December 31, 2011, the Bank had $16.4 billion in total deposits and $16 billion in total net loans. As of December 31, 2011, the Company�� subsidiaries had over 200 business locations in 17 the United States states, Hong Kong, and Tokyo, excluding off-premises automated teller machines (ATMs). As of December 31, 2011, the Bank had 183 branch locations in four states, which include 172 branches in metropolitan areas of Tennessee; two branches in northwestern Georgia; seven branches in northwestern Mississippi, and two branches in North Carolina. As of December 31, 2011, FTN Financial products and services were offered through 18 offices in total, including 16 offices in 14 states plus an office in each of Hong Kong and Tokyo.

The regional banking segment offers financial products and services, including traditional lending and deposit taking, to retail and commercial customers in Tennessee and surrounding markets. Regional banking provides investments, financial planning, trust services and asset management, credit card, cash management, and first lien mortgage originations within the Tennessee footprint. In addition, the regional banking segment includes correspondent banking, which provides credit, depository, and other banking related services to other financial institutions.

The capital markets se! gment consists of fixed income sales, trading, and strategies for institutional clients in the United States and abroad, as well as loan sales, portfolio advisory, and derivative sales. The corporate segment consists of gains on the extinguishment of debt, unallocated corporate expenses, expense on subordinated debt issuances and preferred stock, bank-owned life insurance, unallocated interest income associated with excess equity, net impact of raising incremental capital, revenue and expense associated with deferred compensation plans, funds management, low income housing investment activities, and charges related to restructuring, repositioning, and efficiency. The non-strategic segment consists of the wind-down national consumer lending activities, legacy mortgage banking elements, including servicing fees, and the associated ancillary revenues and expenses related to these businesses. Non-strategic also includes the wind-down trust preferred loan portfolio and exited businesses along with the associated restructuring, repositioning, and efficiency charges.

As of December 31, 2011, the Company provided services through its subsidiaries, which include general banking services for consumers, businesses, financial institutions, and governments; through FTN Financial fixed income sales and trading, underwriting of bank, loan sales, advisory services and derivative sales; discount brokerage and full-service brokerage; correspondent banking; transaction processing, such as nationwide check clearing services and remittance processing; trust, fiduciary, and agency services; credit card products; equipment finance; investment and financial advisory services; mutual fund sales as agent; retail insurance sales as agent, and mortgage banking services.

As of December 31, 2011, the commercial, financial, and industrial (C&I) portfolio was eight billion dollars, and is consisted of loans used for general business purposes, and consisted of relationship customers in Tennessee and certain n! eighborin! g states, which are managed within the regional bank. Products include working capital lines of credit, term loan financing of owner-occupied real estate and fixed assets, and trade credit enhancement through letters of credit. As of December 31, 2011, the unpaid principal balance (UPB) of trust preferred loans totaled $447.2 million with the UPB of other bank-related loans totaling approximately $161.8 million. The commercial real estate portfolio includes both financings for commercial construction and non-construction loans. This portfolio is segregated between income commercial real estate (CRE) loans which contain loans, lines, and letters of credit to commercial real estate developers for the construction and mini- permanent financing of income-producing real estate, and residential CRE loans. The residential CRE portfolio includes loans to residential builders and developers for the purpose of constructing single-family detached homes, condominiums, and town homes. As of December 31, 2011, the residential CRE portfolio was $.1 billion. As of December 31, 2011, the consumer real estate portfolio was $5.3 billion, and is composed of home equity lines and installment loans. As of December 31, 2011, the credit card and other portfolios were $.3 billion, and primarily include credit card receivables, automobile loans, and over-the-counter (OTC) construction loans and other consumer related credits.

FHN�� investment portfolio consists of debt securities, including government agency issued mortgage-backed securities (MBS) and government agency issued collateralized mortgage obligations (CMO). During the year ended December 31, 2011, Government agency issued MBS and CMO, and other agencies averaged $2.9 billion. During 2011, the United States treasury securities and municipal bonds averaged $79.5 million. During 2011, investments in equity securities averaged $222.3 million.

During 2011, short-term funds (certificates of deposit greater than $100,000, federal funds purchased (! FFP), sec! urities sold under agreements to repurchase, trading liabilities, and other short-term borrowings) averaged $3.6 billion. During 2011, other borrowings increased to $.3 billion. Term borrowings include senior and subordinated borrowings and advances with original maturities greater than one year. During 2011, average term borrowings averaged $2.6 billion.

The Company competes with Regions Bank, SunTrust Bank, Wells Fargo Bank N.A., Bank of America N.A., and Pinnacle National Bank.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sean Williams]

  Finally, regional bank First Horizon National (NYSE: FHN  ) , which has banking branches throughout Tennessee, added 4.2% just a day after paying shareholders a $0.05 quarterly dividend. Like Genuine Parts, there is no company specific news driving First Horizon higher, but the prospect for a higher net interest margin because of higher interest rates is certainly adding a boost to banks like First Horizon that rely on traditional loan and deposit growth. But as my Foolish colleague John Maxfield recently pointed out, you may want to keep your expectations for First Horizon tempered in the interim.

Top 10 Stocks To Buy For 2014: Pulse Electronics Corporation(PULS)

Pulse Electronics Corporation produces precision-engineered electronic components and modules that are used to manage, transmit, and regulate electronic signals and power in various types of electronic products. The company operates in three segments: Network, Power, and Wireless. The Network segment produces various passive components, including connectors, filters, filtered connectors, transformers, inductors, splitters and diplexers, micro-filters, baluns, and chokes that manage and regulate electronic signals for use in various devices used in local area and wide area networks. The Power segment primarily manufactures products that adjust and ensure current and voltage, limit distortion of voltage, sense and report current and voltage, and cause mechanical movement or actuation. This segment?s products include power and signal transformers, chokes, current and voltage sensors, ignition coils, automotive ignition coils, military and aerospace products, and other power m agnetic products. The Wireless segment produces antennas, antenna modules, and antenna mounting components and cables that capture and transmit communication signals in handsets, other terminal and portable devices, automobiles, and wireless-to-wireline access points. The company sells its products and services to original equipment manufacturers, original design manufacturers, and contract equipment manufacturers who design, build, and market end-user products. Pulse Electronics Corporation markets its products primarily through direct sales forces worldwide. The company was formerly known as Technitrol, Inc. and changed its name to Pulse Electronics Corporation in November 2010. Pulse Electronics Corporation was founded in 1947 and is headquartered in San Diego, California.

Top 10 Stocks To Buy For 2014: Asia Power Corp Ltd (A03.SI)

Asia Power Corporation Limited, an investment holding company, engages in the ownership, management, and operation of hydro-power plants in the People�s Republic of China. It is involved in the provision of power related business consultancy and management services; and power automation system and instruments. The company also engages in the development and investment in electrical energy industry; development and sale of electrical equipment; and investment in information and services relating to the electrical energy industry. In addition, it is involved power related information system development; trade of power equipment; and development of wind power. The company was incorporated in 1997 and is headquartered in Singapore.

Top 10 Stocks To Buy For 2014: AmTrust Financial Services Inc (AFSI.O)

Amtrust Financial Services, Inc., incorporated on November 7, 1990, is a holding company. The Company is a multinational specialty property and casualty insurer focused on generating consistent underwriting profits. The Company operates in four business segments: small commercial business, specialty program and personal lines reinsurance. The Company transacts business through 11 insurance company subsidiaries: Technology Insurance Company, Inc. (TIC), Rochdale Insurance Company (RIC), Wesco Insurance Company (WIC), Associated Industries Insurance Company, Inc. (AIIC), Milwaukee Casualty Insurance Company (MCIC), Security National Insurance Company (SNIC), AmTrust Insurance Company of Kansas, Inc. (AICK) and AmTrust Lloyd�� Insurance Company of Texas (ALIC). In January 2013, the Company acquired First Nonprofit Companies, Inc. In February 2013, the Company's subsidiary acquired Car Care Plan (Holdings) Limited (CCPH) from Ally Insurance Holdings, Inc.

Sma ll Commercial Business

Small Commercial Business segment provides workers��compensation to small businesses that operate in low and medium hazard classes, such as restaurants, retail stores, physicians and other professional offices, and commercial package and other property and casualty insurance products to small businesses. The Company is authorized to write its Small Commercial Business products in all 50 states. The Company distributes its policies through a network of over 8,100 select retail and wholesale agents who are paid commissions based on the annual policy premiums written. Commercial package products provide a range of insurance to small businesses, including commercial property, general liability, inland marine, automobile, workers��compensation, and umbrella coverage.

The Company maintains Small Commercial Business property and casualty claims operations in several of its domestic offices and the commercial package claims opera tion is separated into four processing units: casualty, pr! op! erty, cost-containment/recovery and a fast-track physical damage unit. As of December 31, 2012, its Small Commercial Business property and casualty claims were approximately 61% automobile and 13% property and inland marine with the remaining 26% involving general liability and umbrella losses.

Specialty Risk and Extended Warranty

The Company��Specialty Risk and Extended Warranty segment provides coverage for consumer and commercial goods and custom designed coverages, such as accidental damage plans and payment protection plans offered in connection with the sale of consumer and commercial goods in the United States and Europe, and certain niche property, casualty and specialty liability risks in the United States and Europe, including general liability, employers��liability and professional and medical liability. specialty risk business primarily covers, such as legal expenses in the event of unsuccessful litigation; property damage for resid ential properties; home emergency repairs caused by incidents affecting systems, such as plumbing, wiring or central heating; latent defects that materialize on real property after building or completion; payment protection to insureds if they become unable to meet financial obligations under finance contracts; guaranteed asset protection (GAP) to cover the difference between an insurer�� settlement and the asset value in the event of a total loss, and general liability, employers��liability, public liability, negligence of advisors and liability of health care providers and medical facilities.

The Company's extended warranty business covers selected consumer and commercial goods and other risks, including personal computers; consumer electronics, such as televisions and home theater components; consumer appliances, such as refrigerators and washing machines; automobiles (excluding liability coverage); furniture, and heavy equipment. The Company also serve a s a third party administrator to provide claims handli! ng and! c! all cen! ter services to the consumer products and automotive industries in the United States and Canada. It underwrites the specialty risk coverage on a coverage plan-level basis, which involves substantial data collection and actuarial analysis, as well as analysis of applicable laws governing policy coverage language and exclusions.

Specialty Program

The Company�� Specialty Program segment provides workers��compensation, package products, general liability, commercial auto liability, excess and surplus lines programs and other specialty commercial property and casualty insurance to a narrowly defined, homogeneous group of small and middle market companies. The type of risk covered by this segment is similar to the type of risk in Small Commercial Business but also covers, to a small extent, certain higher risk businesses. The coverage is offered through accounts with various agents to multiple insureds. Policyholders in this segment primarily include industries, such as retail, wholesale, service operations, artisan contracting, trucking, light and medium manufacturing, habitational and professional employer organizations. As of December 31, 2012, the Company underwrote 77 programs through 44 independent wholesale and managing general agents. Workers��compensation insurance consists approximately 33% of this business during the year ended December 31, 2012.

Personal Lines Reinsurance

The Company�� Personal Lines Reinsurance Segment has a 20% participation in the Personal Lines Quota Share, by which it receive 10% of the net premiums of the personal lines business. The Personal Lines Quota Share provides that the reinsurers, severally, in accordance with their participation percentages, will receive 50% of the net premium of the GMACI Insurers and assume 50% of the related net losses.