Hot Consumer Companies To Invest In 2014

At the Consumer Electronics Show back in January, graphics-chip specialist NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA  ) showed off a new portable gaming device that it called Project Shield. As my colleagues Eric Bleeker and Austin Smith discussed at the time, creating Shield was an odd move for NVIDIA.

After all, NVIDIA's core competency is building graphics chips: particularly for hardcore gamers. More recently, it has moved to become a major player in the mobile processor market. While it's understandable that NVIDIA wants to encourage a "marriage" of gaming and mobile computing, building its own portable gaming system could make investors wonder whether the company is losing focus.

On Wednesday afternoon, investors got another reason to worry. With Shield scheduled to go on sale the following day, NVIDIA announced that shipments will be delayed until July because of a third-party mechanical component that did not meet NVIDIA's standards. Is NVIDIA in trouble, or is this a minor incident that will have no lasting impact on the company?

Top 5 Cheap Stocks To Watch For 2015: Career Education Corp (CECO)

Career Education Corporation, incorporated on January 5, 1994, through its colleges, schools and universities offers education to a student population of more than 75,000 students across the world in a variety of career-oriented disciplines through online, on-ground and hybrid learning program offerings. The Company operates four business units: University Schools, Career Schools, International and Transitional Schools. The Company�� institutions include, among others, American InterContinental University (AIU); Brooks Institute; Colorado Technical University (CTU); Harrington College of Design; INSEEC Group (INSEEC) Schools; International University of Monaco (IUM); International Academy of Design & Technology (IADT); Le Cordon Bleu North America (LCB), and Sanford-Brown Institutes and Colleges. In December 2013, Career Education Corp announced sale and transfer of control of its European education properties to private equity firm Apax Partners.

University Schools

The Company�� Colorado Technical University (CTU) schools collectively offer academic programs in the career-oriented disciplines of business studies, information systems and technologies, criminal justice, computer science and engineering, and health sciences in an online, classroom or laboratory setting. American InterContinental University (AIU) schools collectively offer academic programs in the career-oriented disciplines of business studies, information technologies, criminal justice and design technologies in an online, classroom or laboratory setting.

Career Schools

The Company�� Health Education includes its Sanford-Brown schools, along with Brown College, Briarcliffe College and Missouri College. These schools collectively offer academic programs in the career-oriented disciplines of health education, complemented by certain programs in business studies and information technology in a classroom, laboratory or online setting. Culinary Arts includes its Le Cordon Bleu schoo! ls in North America that collectively offer hands-on programs in the career-oriented disciplines of culinary arts and patisserie and baking in the commercial kitchens of Le Cordon Bleu, and advanced degree programs in culinary arts and hotel and restaurant management online. Design and Technology includes IADT, Harrington College of Design and Brooks Institute schools. These schools collectively offer academic programs primarily in the career-oriented disciplines of fashion design, game design, graphic design, interior design, film and video production, photography and visual communications in a classroom, laboratory or online setting, as well as jobs training in the field of energy conservation.

International

The Company�� International includes its INSEEC schools and IUM school which are located in France, the United Kingdom and Monaco. These schools collectively offer academic programs in the career-oriented disciplines of business studies, health education, advertising, communications and technologies and luxury goods and services in a classroom or laboratory setting.

Transitional Schools

The Company�� Transitional Schools includes its campuses that are being taught out. Schools that operate within this segment include Collins College, Phoenix, AZ, Colorado Technical University (CTU), CTU Pueblo, Pueblo, CO, and CTU Sioux Falls, Sioux Falls, SD.

The Company competes with Apollo Group, Bridgepoint Education, Inc., Capella Education Company, Corinthian Colleges, Inc., DeVry Inc., Education Management Corporation, Grand Canyon Education, Inc., ITT Educational Services, Kaplan and Strayer Education.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Bryan Murphy]

  While the given problems that are plaguing Corinthian Colleges Inc. (NASDAQ:COCO) are unique to that particular for-profit school today, the underpinnings for today's 62% implosion from COCO shares are just as big of a threat to the likes of Apollo Education Group Inc. (NASDAQ:APOL), Career Education Corp. (NASDAQ:CECO), and most other for-profit education names. In fact, those woes have been well documented for a while, and showing up each company's books for almost as long. Pictures tell the grim tale for CECO, APOL, and all the rest as effectively as any words could, so let's let the images of what's going on here do most of the talking, beginning with... Career Education Corp.

Hot Consumer Companies To Invest In 2014: Sensata Technologies Holding N.V.(ST)

Sensata Technologies Holding N.V., through its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures, and sells sensors and controls primarily in the Americas, the Asia Pacific, and Europe. It operates in two segments, Sensors and Controls. The Sensors segment offers pressure sensors, force sensors, temperature sensors, speed sensors, position sensors, motor protectors, and thermal and magnetic-hydraulic circuit breakers and switches. Its sensors are used in various applications, such as automotive air-conditioning, braking, transmission, air bag, heavy vehicle off-road, industrial, aerospace, defense, and data/telecom applications, as well as heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) applications. The Controls segment provides bimetal electromechanical controls, thermal and magnetic-hydraulic circuit breakers, power inverters, and interconnection products. This segment also offers application-specific products, including motor and compressor protectors, circuit breakers, semicondu ctor burn-in test sockets, electrical HVAC controls, power inverters, precision switches, and thermostats. Its products are used in heating and air-conditioning systems, refrigerators, aircraft, automobiles, and light industrial system applications in industrial, aerospace, military, commercial, and residential markets. The company offers its products primarily under the Sensata, Klixon, Airpax, and Dimensions brand names. It serves original equipment manufacturers and suppliers in the automotive, industrial, and commercial end-markets; and industrial and commercial manufacturers and suppliers in the climate control, appliance, semiconductor, datacomm, telecommunications, and aerospace industries, as well as motor and compressor suppliers. The company was founded in 1916 and is based in Almelo, the Netherlands. Sensata Technologies Holding N.V. is a subsidiary of Sensata Investment Company S.C.A.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Holly LaFon]

  ��Sensata Technologies (ST) develops, manufactures and sells sensors and controls. We are attracted to the company�� large growth opportunity, which is driven by increased sensor penetration in industries such as automobiles and general industrial opportunities. We find Sensata�� business model to be attractive given the stability of its revenues, strong operating leverage and excellent management team. During the period, the company benefited from a rebound in European automobile sales and deployed capital in several small accretive acquisitions. We have been trimming the position modestly as the stock approaches our price target.

Hot Consumer Companies To Invest In 2014: Hellenic Sugar Industry SA (HSI)

Hellenic Sugar Industry SA is a Greece-based company engaged in the production and trade of white crystal sugar and its by-products, such as molasses and sugar beet seed. Its principal activities include the manufacture of all types of sweetener products and general kneading products; the production and processing of sugar beet and other plants; the production of raw materials for sugar production; the establishment, equipping and exploitation of sugar producing factories; conducting scientific research in all fields of activity of the Company; the trade and standardization of sugar products, by-products, raw materials, multiple materials, agricultural products and machinery, and carrying out agro-industrial activities in Greece and abroad. The Company has five sugar factories and one seed processing factory in Greece. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Yoshiaki Nohara]

  Hong Kong�� Hang Seng Index (HSI) gained 0.4 percent. Singapore�� Straits Times Index rose 0.1 percent and Taiwan�� Taiex index lost 0.2 percent. The Shanghai Composite Index was little changed as markets in mainland China reopened today after a week-long holiday.

• [By Ian Sayson]

  The MSCI Asia Pacific Index dropped 4.1 percent to 127.66 as of 7:33 p.m. in Tokyo, heading for its biggest loss since Sept. 11, 2011. Almost nine shares fell for each that rose. Hong Kong�� Hang Seng Index (HSI) erased all gains since Sept. 13, when the Fed pledged to keep buying assets until it saw ��ngoing, sustained improvement��in the U.S. labor market.

• [By Adam Haigh]

  Hong Kong�� Hang Seng Index (HSI) climbed 2.1 percent, closing at its highest level since June 4. The Hang Seng retreated 3.8 percent this year through last week, the only decline among developed markets tracked by Bloomberg, amid concern China�� economic growth is slowing and speculation the Federal Reserve will pare U.S. bond purchases.

• [By Kana Nishizawa]

  The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index (HSCEI) of mainland companies traded in the city declined 0.5 percent to 10,785.58 at the close, its biggest drop since April 23. About nine stocks fell for every seven that gained on the Hang Seng Composite Index, the city�� broadest equity measure. Mainland equity markets are closed through May 1 for public holidays. The benchmark Hang Seng Index (HSI) gained 0.2 percent, with trading volume 21 percent less than the 30-day intraday average.

Hot Consumer Companies To Invest In 2014: Sao Martinho SA (SMTO3)

Sao Martinho SA is a Brazil-based holding company primarily engaged in the sale and production of sugar and ethanol. It is engaged in the cultivation of sugar cane and production and sale of sugar, ethanol and other sugar cane products. The Company is also involved in the cogeneration of electricity and cattle breeding, as well as the provision of agricultural products. The Company produces hydrous ethanol, anhydrous ethanol, industrial ethanol, ribonucleic acid, fuel oil, yeast, sugar and sugarcane biogases, used to generate steam and electricity. Through its subsidiary Omtek, the Company produces ribonucleic acid (RNA) sodium salt, which is used in the pharmaceutical and food industries as a raw material and flavor enhancer. The Company operates through a numerous subsidiaries, including Vale do Mogi Empreendimentos Imobiliarios SA, SMA Industria Quimica SA, Usina Santa Luiza SA, Sao Martinho Energia SA and Santa Cruz SA, among others. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ney Hayashi]

  Sugar and ethanol producer Sao Martinho SA (SMTO3) fell 1.8 percent to 25.53 reais after posting a quarterly profit that missed analysts��estimates.

Hot Consumer Companies To Invest In 2014: Joe's Jeans Inc.(JOEZ)

Joe?s Jeans Inc. designs, produces, and sells apparel and apparel-related products worldwide. Its product line comprises women?s and men?s denim jeans, pants, shirts, sweaters, jackets, and other apparel products under the Joe?s brand. The company also offers women?s handbags and clutches, shoes, belts, and leather goods under various license agreements. In addition, it provides children?s products consisting of denim bottoms, tops, T-shirts, and jackets for infants, toddlers, girls, and boys. The company sells its products to various retailers, including department stores, specialty stores, and distributors, as well as through its retail stores; and through the Internet site, joesjeans.com/shop. As of November 30, 2011, it operated 17 outlet stores and 5 full price retail stores. The company was formerly known as Innovo Group Inc. and changed its name to Joe?s Jeans Inc. in October 2007. Joe?s Jeans Inc. was founded in 1987 and is based in Commerce, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Monica Gerson]

  Joe's Jeans (NASDAQ: JOEZ) is estimated to post its Q3 earnings at $0.02 per share on revenue of $33.37 million.

  Linear Technology (NASDAQ: LLTC) is projected to post its Q1 earnings at $0.46 per share on revenue of $339.26 million.

• [By Peter Graham]

  Somewhat upscale jeans�designer and marketer�Joe's Jeans Inc (NASDAQ: JOEZ), a potential peer of�VF Corp (NYSE: VFC) and Michael Kors Holdings Ltd (NYSE: KORS), is scheduled to report Q2 2014 earnings after the market closes on Thursday.�Aside from the Joe's Jeans Inc earnings report, it should be said that VF Corp reported Q1 2014 on April 25th (earnings beat on higher�revenues plus VFC�raised its�outlook as quarterly profit rose) and is scheduled to report Q2 2014 earnings on July 18th while Michael Kors Holdings Ltd reported Q4 2014 earnings on May 28th (shares stumbled as gross margins frayed) and will report Q1 2015 earnings on August 4th.

• [By James E. Brumley]

  What do Joe's Jeans Inc. (NASDAQ:JOEZ) and NQ Mobile Inc. (NYSE:NQ) have in common? Well, nothing ... at least on the surface. JOEZ is, as the name would imply, a denim company, while NQ, as the name would vaguely suggest, a mobile internet service provider. There is one common element between the two companies right now, however, at least in my eyes ... both are likely to be at the beginning of major (read "trade-worthy") bounces.

Hot Consumer Companies To Invest In 2014: PACCAR Inc.(PCAR)

PACCAR Inc, together with its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, and distributes light-, medium-, and heavy-duty trucks and related aftermarket parts worldwide. The company offers its trucks for use in the over-the-road and off-highway hauling of freight, petroleum, wood products, construction, and other materials to independent dealers under the Kenworth, Peterbilt, and DAF nameplates. It also provides finance and leasing products and services, such as inventory financing for independent dealers; and retail loan and lease financing for new and used trucks, as well as other transportation equipment; and full service leasing under the PacLease trade name. In addition, it manufactures and sells industrial winches under the Braden, Carco, and Gearmatic nameplates. PACCAR Inc was founded in 1905 and is headquartered in Bellevue, Washington.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sue Chang and Saumya Vaishampayan]

  Paccar Inc. (PCAR) �climbed 2.9%. The heavy-duty truck maker, which owns the Peterbilt and Kenworth brands, said last week its fourth-quarter earnings rose to 94 cents a share from 72 cents a share.

• [By Daniel Ferry]

  Another important development last week was the announcement that Trillium CNG, a division of Integrys Energy Group (NYSE: TEG  ) , would build 101 new compressed natural gas (CNG) refueling stations across the country by 2016. This would expand the existing infrastructure of publicly available CNG refueling stations by nearly 20%. This is good news for Westport because many of Westport's products run on CNG, including its bi-fuel WiNG system for light-duty Ford pickup trucks, as well as the medium-duty ISL G and heavy-duty ISX12 G engines it produces through Cummins Westport Incorporated, its manufacturing joint-venture with independent engine maker Cummins (NYSE: CMI  ) . Users of the ISL G and ISX12 G engines include long-haul truck manufacturers like PACCAR (NASDAQ: PCAR  ) , Volvo, and Daimler. Freight trucking is a critical growth industry for natural gas engines, because the long miles and heavy loads that freight trucks endure relative to passenger vehicles make them especially sensitive to fuel costs.

Hot Consumer Companies To Invest In 2014: Toyota Motor Corp Ltd Ord(TM)

Toyota Motor Corporation engages in the design, manufacture, assembly, and sale of passenger cars, minivans, and commercial vehicles. It offers conventional engine vehicles, including subcompact and compact cars under the Corolla, Yaris, micropremium iQ, Passo, Ractis, Vitz, and Etios brand names; mini-vehicles, passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, and auto parts under Toyota brand name; mid-size cars under the Camry, REIZ, Avensis, and Mark X brand names; luxury cars under the Lexus and Crown brands; Century limousine; sports cars under the Scion tC and Lexus brands; sport-utility vehicles under the Sequoia, 4Runner, RAV4, Highlander, FJ Cruiser, and Land Cruiser brands; pickup trucks under the Tacoma and Tundra brands; minivans under the Alphard, Vellfire, Corolla Verso, Wish, Hiace, Regius Ace, Estima, Noah, Voxy, Sienta, Isis, Passo Sette, and the Sienna brands; cabwagons; large, medium, and small trucks; and large, small, and micro-buses. The company also provides hybrid cars under Prius and Crown brands. In addition, it offers a range of financial services comprising retail financing, retail leasing, wholesale financing, and insurance; and credit cards and housing loans. Further, the company designs and manufactures prefabricated housing, as well as involves in the information technology related businesses, such as an e-commerce marketplace known as GAZOO.com; and sales promotions for KDDI communication related products, primarily the au brand. It sells its vehicles in approximately 170 countries and regions, including Japan, North America, Europe, and Asia. The company was founded in 1933 and is headquartered in Toyota City, Japan.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Rosevear]

  That's a theme we've heard before from other companies ��including the company often seen as the global paragon of new-car quality, Toyota (NYSE: TM  ) .

• [By WWW.DAILYFINANCE.COM]

  Koichi Kamoshida/Bloomberg via Getty Images DETROIT -- Faulty air bags -- which have already led to the recall of millions of cars worldwide -- are blamed for a new round of recalls in the U.S. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the government's auto safety agency, said Monday that BMW, Chrysler, Ford (F), Honda (HMC), Mazda, Nissan and Toyota (TM) will recall cars sold in places where hot, humid weather can potentially affect the air bags. The older-model cars have air bag inflators that can rupture. If that happens, the air bags might not work properly in a crash, and shards from the broken system could fly out and cause injury. The automakers all have air bag systems made by Takata Corp., a Tokyo-based supplier of seat belts, air bags, steering wheels and other auto parts. NHTSA opened an investigation this month after getting six reports of air bags rupturing in Florida and Puerto Rico. Three people were injured in those cases. It had estimated 1.1 million vehicles automakers in the U.S. could be affected, but the total is likely to climb. Honda, for example, said it will include 10 states and territories in its recall, including Texas, Georgia and South Carolina. Honda says Takata recommended recalling cars in four places: Florida, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The government says it wanted to act quickly in warm states while it continues to investigate the issue. "Based on the limited data available at this time, NHTSA supports efforts by automakers to address the immediate risk in areas that have consistently hot, humid conditions over extended periods of time," the agency said in a statement. Honda says too much pressure may be building up in the system, causing the air bags to deploy with too much force. In one complaint last August, a Honda driver's lawyer told NHTSA that the car was in a crash, and both driver and passenger air bags inflated. The driver's air bag inflator ruptured "and propelled a one-in

• [By WWW.DAILYFINANCE.COM]

  Haruyoshi Yamaguchi/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesCarlos Ghosn, chairman and chief executive officer of Nissan Motor Co. YOKOHAMA, Japan -- Nissan expects profit to grow at a slower rate than analysts forecast this year and an operating margin that would be the lowest of its compatriots, weighed down by the costs of aggressive expansion. Japan's second-largest automaker expects a 4.1 percent rise in net profit for the year to next March, boosted by sales of low-priced Datsun cars in emerging markets and growth in China, the world's largest auto market. Nissan Motor (NSANY) also forecast an operating profit margin of 5 percent for this financial year, up 0.2 percentage point from last year but still well below Toyota Motor's (TM) forecast 8.9 percent and Honda Motor's (HMC) projected 6 percent. "We were expecting Nissan's guidance to fall short of analyst expectations and it seems it has turned out to be true. We think Nissan will be having a hard time, unlike some of its competitors," said a trader at a European asset management advisory firm. Nissan forecast 405 billion yen ($3.98 billion) in net profit for the year ending March 2015, compared with the 425.4 billion yen mean estimate of 21 analysts polled by Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. Like its Japanese rivals, Nissan said that foreign exchange moves will become a negative factor for its earnings this year after providing a major boost last year, when the weakening yen substantially increased the value of its overseas earnings. Currency moves are expected to cut Nissan's operating profit by 55 billion yen for 2014/15, after providing a 247.6 billion yen boost the year before. Nissan forecast a rise in its global market share this fiscal year to 6.7 percent from last year's 6.2 percent, although the automaker has promised to emphasize profitability over market share after heated expansion increased its costs and depressed profit margins. Nissan is currently increasing manufacturing capacity in Thailand, C

• [By Sean Williams]

  By comparison, GM saw a more modest increase of 15% in terms of units sold in China (boosted primarily by its partnership with SAIC Motors), while Japanese carmakers Toyota Motor (NYSE: TM  ) and Honda Motors (NYSE: HMC  ) reported declines of 6.5% and 2.4%, respectively. For Toyota, it marked the ninth decline in the past 10 months, and it reinforces some of the prevailing negative sentiment that exists between China and Japan that could give U.S. automakers like Ford an edge and cause sales for Toyota and Honda to slowly sink.