Hot Diversified Bank Stocks To Buy For 2014

Banking is going mobile. The largest U.S. banks have been fairly quick to adopt the new technology and are reaping the benefits as millions of users flock to mobile interfaces.�

JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: JPM  ) sports one of the best-received mobile banking platforms. Despite being a relatively small portion of the bank's overall operation, its ability to innovate new mobile products and efficiently serve more customers is good news for investors.�

In this video, Motley Fool banking analysts Matt Koppenheffer and David Hanson tell investors why this recent trend benefits JPMorgan, as well as tech giant Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL  )

With big finance firms still trading at deep discounts to their historic norms, investors everywhere are wondering if this is the new normal, or if finance stocks are a screaming buy today. The answer depends on the company, so to help figure out whether JPMorgan is a buy today, check out The Motley Fool's premium research report on the company. Click here now for instant access!

Top Integrated Utility Companies To Watch For 2015: Syntel Inc.(SYNT)

Syntel, Inc. provides information technology (IT) and knowledge process outsourcing (KPO) services worldwide. It operates in four segments: Applications Outsourcing, KPO, e-Business, and TeamSourcing. The Applications Outsourcing segment provides software applications development, maintenance, testing, migration, and infrastructure services. The KPO segment offers a host of outsourced solutions for knowledge and business processes. It focuses on middle and back-office business processes of the transaction cycle in the capital markets, banking, healthcare, and insurance industries. The e-Business segment provides technology services in the areas of architecting, implementing, and maintaining Web solutions, data warehousing/business intelligence, enterprise application integration, business process management, and enterprise resource planning solutions. The TeamSourcing segment offers professional IT consulting services directly to customers on a staff augmentation basis. It s services include systems specification, design, development, implementation, and maintenance of complex IT applications involving computer hardware, software, data, and networking technologies and practices. Syntel, Inc. provides services to a range of companies primarily in the financial services, healthcare and life sciences, insurance, manufacturing, automotive, retail, logistics, and telecom industries. The company was founded in 1980 and is headquartered in Troy, Michigan.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Brian Pacampara]

  Based on the aggregated intelligence of 180,000-plus investors participating in Motley Fool CAPS, the Fool's free investing community, IT services specialist Syntel (NASDAQ: SYNT  ) has earned a coveted five-star ranking.

Hot Diversified Bank Stocks To Buy For 2014: WH Smith PLC (SMWH)

WH Smith PLC is a United Kingdom-based retail company. The Company has two businesses divisions: Travel and High Street. The Company's Travel division sells a range of newspapers, magazines, books and impulse products for people on the move and a broader convenience range in hospitals and workplaces. The Company's High Street sells a wide range of stationery, books, newspapers, magazines and impulse products, as well as a small range of entertainment products.The Company�� subsidiaries include WH Smith PLC, WH Smith Retail Holdings Limited, WH Smith High Street Holdings Limited, WH Smith Travel Holdings Limited, WH Smith High Street Limited, WH Smith Travel Limited and WH Smith Hospitals Holdings Limited. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sofia Horta e Costa]

  Hays Plc (HAS) climbed 2.2 percent after the recruitment company said quarterly fees increased in its European markets. WH Smith Plc (SMWH) jumped the most in six months after raising its final dividend and saying it plans to repurchase an additional 50 million pounds ($80 million) of shares. Melrose Industries Plc (MRO) added 1.8 percent after KKR & Co. said it will pay about $1 billion for two of its U.S. industrial-products companies.

Hot Diversified Bank Stocks To Buy For 2014: Veolia Environnement(VE)

Veolia Environnement S.A., together with its subsidiaries, provides environmental management services to individuals, public authorities, and industrial and commercial services customers worldwide. It operates in four segments: Water, Environmental Services, Energy Services, and Transportation. The Water segment offers water and wastewater services, including the management and operation of large-scale and customized drinking water plants, wastewater decontamination and recycling plants, drinking water distribution networks, and wastewater collection networks; and provision of call centers and billing services. The Environmental Services segment provides waste management and logistical services, which include waste collection, waste processing, cleaning of public spaces, maintenance of production equipment, treatment of polluted soil, and management of waste discharge at industrial sites. The Energy Services segment offers a range of energy management services comprising o peration of heating and cooling networks, decentralized energy production, thermal and multi-technical services, industrial utilities, installation and maintenance of production equipment, integrated facilities management, and electrical services on public streets and roads; and provides heating systems maintenance services, plumbing and renewable energy services, and meter-reading services. The Transportation segment operates various bus networks, suburban trains, tramways, metros, and ferries, as well as offers customized transportation-on-demand services. This segment also provides intercity and regional passenger transportation, infrastructure management and airport services, and transportation management services. The company was formerly known as Vivendi Environnement and changed its name to Veolia Environnement S.A. in April 2003. Veolia Environnement S.A. was founded in 1853 and is headquartered in Paris, France.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Benjamin Shepherd]

  The first is to focus on infrastructure companies that lay the groundwork for easier water access, such as France-based Veolia Environment (NYSE: VE).

• [By Sean Williams]

  Another factor that easily puts Waste Management on top in the waste-collection sector is its dividend yield of 3.4%. The only company with a higher yield is global waste solutions company Veolia Environnement (NYSE: VE  ) , with a 6.2% yield. However, Veolia also boats a higher debt-to-equity ratio than Waste Management, has unwanted exposure to European markets, and has lower overall margins relative to Waste Management. By comparison, Republic Services, Progressive Waste, and Waste Connections pay out a yield of 2.7%, 2.4% and 1%, respectively. Even better, Waste Management's payout has grown by an average annualized rate of 7.7% since 2004.

Hot Diversified Bank Stocks To Buy For 2014: Protective Life Corporation(PL)

Protective Life Corporation and its subsidiaries engage in the production, distribution, and administration of insurance and investment products in the United States. Its Life Marketing segment markets universal life, variable universal life, level premium term insurance, and bank-owned life insurance products primarily through a network of independent insurance agents and brokers, stockbrokers, and independent marketing organizations. The company?s Acquisitions segment focuses on acquiring, converting, and servicing life insurance policies and annuity products sold to individuals, which are acquired from other companies. Its Annuities segment markets variable annuity products that offer the policyholder the opportunity to invest in various investment accounts; and fixed annuity products, such as modified guaranteed annuities, single premium deferred annuities, single premium immediate annuities, and equity indexed annuities primarily through broker-dealers, financial ins titutions, and independent agents and brokers. The company?s Stable Value Products segment offers guaranteed funding agreements to special purpose entities; fixed and floating rate funding agreements directly to the trustees of municipal bond proceeds, institutional investors, bank trust departments, and money market funds; and guaranteed investment contracts to qualified retirement savings plans. Its Asset Protection segment primarily markets extended service contracts, and credit life and disability insurance to protect consumers? investments in automobiles, watercraft, and recreational vehicles; and markets a guaranteed asset protection product primarily through a national network of approximately 3,750 automobile, marine, and recreational vehicle dealers. The company was founded in 1907 and is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By David Goodloe]

  The CEO and president of Protective Life Corp (PL), John D. Johns, sold more than 200,000 shares of company stock on August 14 for nearly $14 million. The shares sold for $69.24, and the total transaction amount was $13,944,797.

• [By Maria Armental var popups = dojo.query(".socialByline .popC"); popups.forEach]

  Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in Wednesday’s session are Protective Life Corp.(PL), Tibco Software Inc.(TIBX) and Yingli Green Energy Holding Co.(YGE)

Hot Diversified Bank Stocks To Buy For 2014: MGM Resorts International(MGM)

MGM Resorts International, through its subsidiaries, primarily owns and operates casino resorts in the United States. The company?s resorts offer gaming, hotel, dining, entertainment, retail, and other resort amenities. It also owns and operates golf courses and a golf club. As of December 31, 2010, the company owned and operated 15 properties located in Nevada, Mississippi, and Michigan; and has 50% investments in 4 other casino resorts in Nevada, Illinois, and Macau. In addition, MGM Resorts International has an agreement with the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, which owns and operates a casino resort in Connecticut, to carry the ?MGM Grand? brand name. The company was formerly known as MGM MIRAGE and changed its name to MGM Resorts International in June 2010. MGM Resorts International was founded in 1986 and is based in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Travis Hoium]

  Now what: Online gaming is slowly being legalized across the U.S., with Nevada, New Jersey, and Delaware being the first to allow it. Boyd has a potentially lucrative partnership with bwin.party and MGM Resorts (NYSE: MGM  ) , which could lead to huge profit growth, as I pointed out over a year ago. I wouldn't buy on this analyst upgrade alone, but the potential for online gaming is too big to ignore. I've built some estimates before (which can be seen here) and there's huge upside for both Boyd Gaming and MGM Resorts, but only if its legalized nationally. Until then, the potential for online gaming is minimal for Boyd.
  
  Interested in more info on Boyd Gaming? Add it to your watchlist by clicking here.

• [By M. Joy, Hayes]

  Industry trends
  Other businesses in the industry also have copious related-party transactions. In particular, founder-led businesses Wynn Resorts (NASDAQ: WYNN  ) and Boyd Gaming (NYSE: BYD  ) �reported a large number of such transactions in their 2013 proxies, including employment of relatives, employee use of company services, and employee use of company-owned property. MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM  ) , on the other hand, didn't have to report any related-party transactions in its 2013 proxy.

• [By sandyinvestment]

  Las Vegas Sands is the pioneer concerning past performance as contrasted with rivals such as MGM Resorts International (MGM) and Wynn Resorts. As contrasted with peers, Las Vegas Sands has given the highest returns to investors in the last five years.

• [By Travis Hoium]

  What we can take from this is that, most likely, Las Vegas Sands and Melco Crown (NASDAQ: MPEL  ) will see a large increase in revenue when they report earnings. We can also assume that MGM Resorts (NYSE: MGM  ) will show similar trends in Macau because its location is next to Wynn's. There's far more growth to be had than what Wynn is showing and Las Vegas Sands and Melco Crown likely took significant share during the first quarter.

Hot Diversified Bank Stocks To Buy For 2014: Liberty Media Corporation(LINTA)

Liberty Interactive, Inc. markets and sells a range of consumer products in the United States and internationally, primarily by means of televised shopping programs on the QVC networks and via the Internet through its Websites. It also provides online content, products, and services to consumers, publishers, and advertisers; performance gear products for backpacking, climbing, skiing, snowboarding, trail running, and adventure travel; supplements, clothing, tanning supplies, accessories, and other bodybuilding products, as well as hosts an online site where visitors could network and exchange information related to bodybuilding; nutraceutical and cosmeceutical products; integration and fulfillment solutions for multi-channel ecommerce merchants; online invitation and social event planning service; tools and information needed to research, plan, book, and experience travel for business and leisure travelers; and gift ideas and interactive, personalized shopping services. In addition, the company offers retailer and interactive lifestyle network products through television home shopping programming on HSN television network and HSN.com; membership services to the vacation ownership industry; commerce, content, and community converge services; perishable products; residential and commercial video, high-speed data, and voice services over its broadband cable systems; and filmed entertainment, interactive services, television networks, cable systems, and music and publishing. Further, it operates as a catalog and online retailer of party supplies and costumes; ecommerce and traditional retailer of premium baby gear and products that provide parents an assortment of products for their babies, such as travel gear, feeding, d�or, and toys; and an online lending and real estate business, which matches consumers with lenders and loan brokers. The company is headquartered in Englewood, Colorado.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Victor Selva]

  The company has a current ratio of 13.45% which is higher than the one registered by Liberty Interactive Corp (LINTA). But for investors looking for a higher ROE, Time Warner Cable, DISH Network Corp (DISH), Rogers Communications, Inc. (RCI), Shaw Communications, Inc. (SJR) and Tivo, Inc. (TIVO) could be better options.

• [By Holly LaFon]

  His largest holdings are Cytec Industries Inc. (CYT), Vivus Inc. (VVUS), Marathon Petrol (MPC), Google Inc. Cl A (GOOG) and Liberty Media A (LINTA).

• [By Anders Bylund]

  Robert "Dob" Bennett was CEO of Liberty Interactive (NASDAQ: LINTA  ) from 1997 to 2005. He steered the Internet-leaning company through the dot-com bust and came out stronger. Under Bennett's leadership, Liberty Interactive grew annual sales from $1.2 billion to $7.6 billion. He's been known to stand up to Liberty chairman John Malone on occasion, and he still serves as a board member or executive in several of Liberty's offshoots.

• [By Lawrence Meyers]

  InterActiveCorp (IACI) is Barry Diller�� conglomerate of internet companies, not terribly different from John Malone�� Liberty Interactive (LINTA). The strategy for IACI stock has been to wait for a leader in a given sector to emerge and then buy it up, or at least a portion of it. These businesses either have a history of generating lots of cash flow, or have the potential to do so.

Hot Diversified Bank Stocks To Buy For 2014: Rainmaker Entertainment Inc (RNK)

Rainmaker Entertainment Inc. is an animation studio and is a producer of computer generated (CG) animation. Rainmaker provides services producing CG animation of family entertainment over various entertainment media, including television, digital versatile disc (DVD), gaming and theatrical films. As of December 31, 2011, the Company delivered 42 films based on international brands, such as Barbie, Hot Wheels, Spiderman, Casper, Popeye, Tony Hawk, Stuart Little and Inspector Gadget. In 2011 the Company completed Luna, an animated short film. Rainmaker also produces feature length direct to DVD films for many top international brands including Barbie, Max Steele, Tony Hawk, and more for clients such as Mattel, Sony, and Lions Gate. Rainmaker completed the production of Barbie: Princess Charm School and Barbie in A Mermaid Tale 2 for the series starring Barbie. In December 2011, the Company completed the sale of its remaining interest in Base 10 Group Inc. (Base 10). Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Inyoung Hwang]

  Rank Group Plc (RNK) fell 2.6 percent to 150 pence, falling for a fifth day. The casino operator said it expects full-year operating profit to be marginally below analysts��projection.