Best Companies To Buy For 2014

The exchange-traded fund (ETF) industry has exploded over the past two decades. But when sifting through the seemingly countless number of fund choices, investors can find it pretty confusing. Let's break down two investment strategies for adding ETF exposure to your portfolio.

Tale of two ETF strategies
In their most basic form, traditional ETFs are investments that attempt to mirror the return of a particular index, like the S&P 500. The fund manager's buy and sell decisions are based only on the contents of the underlying index, not on research. These managers make no active decisions, resulting in less trading, increased tax efficiency, and reduced fund expenses. Again, we don't buy these funds because we think they're creating value. We simply want exposure to the overall market, or a certain slice of it that we lack in our existing portfolios.

On the other hand, value-creating ETFs attempt to outperform traditional benchmark indexes. We buy these funds because we think they house additional value. As a result, we're willing to pay more for them. That means their inherent cost ��or expense ratio ��will typically be higher than those of traditional ETFs.

Top 10 Promising Companies To Watch For 2015: Cheniere Energy Inc.(LNG)

Cheniere Energy, Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the ownership and operation of liquefied natural gas (LNG) receiving terminals and natural gas pipelines in the Gulf Coast of the United States. The company develops LNG receiving terminal projects on Sabine Pass LNG in western Cameron Parish, Louisiana on the Sabine Pass Channel; Corpus Christi LNG near Corpus Christi, Texas; and Creole Trail LNG at the mouth of the Calcasieu Channel in central Cameron Parish, Louisiana. It also involves in the oil and natural gas exploration and development activities; and LNG and natural gas marketing business. The company was founded in 1983 and is based in Houston, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Aimee Duffy]

  Cheniere Energy (NYSEMKT: LNG  ) reported earnings last week, and as investors know by now it wasn't pretty. The company reported a first-quarter loss of $117.1 million compared to a loss of $56.4 million a year ago. The loss of $0.54 per share was nowhere near the loss of $0.20 analysts were expecting. There is always more to the story than analyst expectations, so let's take a closer look.

• [By Rich Duprey]

  It has been the development of the hydraulic fracturing process that has created the natural gas boom we're in the midst of. The U.S. is awash in natural gas and will soon become a major exporter through Cheneire Energy's (NYSEMKT: LNG  ) Sabine Pass facility in Louisiana.

• [By Louie Grint]

  Well positioned
  Given this scenario, an interesting American company to pay attention to is Cheniere Energy (NYSEMKT: LNG  ) , which holds a first-mover advantage in the U.S. LNG export business. The booming shale oil and gas production pushed midstream operation firms like Cheniere, and the company has been enjoying good organic growth opportunities since then. Now Cheniere holds enough infrastructure capacity to profit from new exports to the E.U. As a matter of fact, the company is now a step closer to getting another LNG terminal approved located in Corpus Christi, Texas, as a draft review issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission concluded that the project will not lead to widespread harm to the environment.

• [By Joel South]

  In the following video, Motley Fool energy analyst Joel South takes a question from a Motley Fool reader, who asks, "With more LNG export licenses expected to be announced, what is the future of Cheniere Energy (NYSEMKT: LNG  ) and Chesapeake Energy (NYSE: CHK  ) ?"

Best Companies To Buy For 2014: Federal Resources Investment Group Inc (FED)

Federal Resources Investment Group Inc.( FED) is a Philippines-based holding company engaged. The Company�� primary activities were to invest in, purchase, or otherwise dispose of real and personal property of every kind and description, including shares of stock, bonds, debentures, notes, evidences of indebtedness, and other securities or obligations of any corporation or corporations, association and associations, domestic or foreign. Prior to its change in primary purpose, the Company was previously engaged in the manufacture, marketing and distribution of various adhesives and sealants, contact cement, wood glues, epoxies, coating, and other specialty products, and other chemicals for hardware, construction, do-it-yourself and other applications. The Company�� operating segments include PVC Resins and Sealants, Coatings and adhesives. The Company is still in the process of winding up its manufacturing and trading operations and selling its remaining inventories. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Canadian Value]

  In the US, we believe the key is whether the economic recovery will be self-sustaining in the absence of the excessively easy monetary policy that the US Federal Reserve (Fed) has been providing via its longstanding Treasury asset purchase program known as Quantitative Easing (QE). Can the Fed orchestrate a steady, manageable rise in interest rates? Will employment and wage growth gather strength and create a virtuous growth cycle without Fed support? And will corporate earnings continue to come through as anticipated by the steady expansion we have seen in valuation multiples? These are all unknowns, but will likely be important parts of the equation for the US market.

• [By Canadian Value]

  Nearly all emerging markets took a hit this summer amid speculation the US Federal Reserve Bank (Fed) would soon begin ��apering��its prolonged asset purchase plan, which had pumped large amounts of liquidity into the markets globally. When you hear about this ��apering��of the Fed�� $85 billion monthly bond purchases, it�� important to understand the facts. Tapering isn�� the same as tightening. The Fed-fueled liquidity already pumped in is still working through the system. Additionally, Japan and other global central banks are printing money, adding to the pot.

• [By Canadian Value]

  I think too many investors have failed to put those events and developments in the proper context. Rather, they have come to the conclusion that emerging markets are finished, particularly, they say, as the US Federal Reserve (Fed) is expected to turn off the money tap, depriving emerging markets of needed liquidity to protect their weakening currencies and pay their debts. For the time being, the Fed has decided to keep the tap flowing, removing one immediate investor fear. But I think there are also other reasons why investors who doubt the emerging markets��story need better context.

Best Companies To Buy For 2014: HomeAway Inc (AWAY)

HomeAway, Inc. (HomeAway), incorporated on April 6, 2004, is an online marketplace for the vacation rental industry. As of December 31, 2012, the Company operated its online marketplace through 44 websites in 13 languages. During the year December 31, 2012, the Company had over 600 million Website visits. As of December 31, 2012, its global marketplace included more than 710,000 paid listings of vacation rentals. HomeAway portfolio includes the vacation rental Websites: HomeAway.com, VRBO.com and VacationRentals.com in the United States; HomeAway.co.uk and OwnersDirect.co.uk in the United Kingdom; HomeAway.de in Germany; Abritel.fr and Homelidays.com in France; HomeAway.es in Spain; AlugueTemporada.com.br in Brazil, and HomeAway.com.au in Australia. In April 2012, the Company acquired 100% of the outstanding stock of Top Rural S.L. In November 2013, the Company announced that it has secured a 55% interest of Bookabach Limited, the operator of a vacation rental site in New Zealand.

HomeAway operates BedandBreakfast.com, a global site for finding bed and breakfast properties, providing travelers with another source for lodging alternatives to hotels, and HomeAway Software for Professionals at software.HomeAway.com, to offer software solutions to property managers and innkeepers. Its online marketplace serves two major constituents: property owners and managers on one side and travelers on the other. Property owners and managers pay listing fees, which are annual subscriptions, to provide detailed listings of their properties on its Websites and reach an audience of travelers seeking vacation rentals. Travelers visit its marketplace at no charge and are able to search and compare its large and detailed inventory of paid listings to find vacation rentals meeting their requirements.

Products and Services for Property Owners and Managers

Paid listings are purchased in advance by property owners or managers as a form of advertising to promote their vacation rentals to ! prospective travelers on one or more of its Websites, typically for one year. Paid listings appear in search results on its websites when travelers search for vacation rentals based on traveler search criteria. During the year ended December 31, 2012, paid listings accounted for 84.9% of the Company�� revenue. ReservationManager includes tools and services to help property owners and managers run their vacation rental businesses more efficiently. ReservationManager enables property owners and managers to respond to and manage inquiries, prepare and send rental quotes and payment invoices, allow travelers to book online, including being able to enter into rental agreements with travelers online, and process online payments via Visa, MasterCard, Discover or eCheck. Additionally, through ReservationManager, property owners and managers can provide value-added products to travelers for purchase such as property damage protection.

Property owners and managers may purchase additional enhancements to their listings to increase the marketing exposure of their properties on certain of our websites, such as: Cross-Sell Listings or Bundles and Featured Listings, Special Offers and Deals. Performance-Based Listings property managers can use its enterprise and Web-based software solutions to manage their businesses, customers and properties. The Company provide software solutions to property managers under the brand names HomeAway Software for Professionals, Escapia, PropertyPlus, V12, Entech and First Resort and offer software tailored to professional bed and breakfast innkeepers under the brand names Webervations and Rezovations. Third-Party Services offer property owners and managers several ancillary products and services on selected websites. These products and services include credit card merchant accounts, trip insurance and property damage protection, and tax return services. BedandBreakfast.com Redistribution through its professional software for bed and breakfasts and professional property m! anagers, ! it make selected, online e-bookable properties available to online travel agencies, including Expedia, Travelocity and Priceline, as well as channel partners such as FlipKey.com and PackLate.com. Property Owner and Manager Community provide resources for property owners and managers to seek advice and obtain answers to optimize their business. These resources include a community site, email newsletters, online forums and online seminars.

Products and Services for Travelers

The products and services are offered to travelers at no cost, which include Search and Compare, Traveler Login, Trust and Security, Listing Reviews and Ratings, Traveler Community and Mobile Websites and Applications. Search and compare is an online marketplace provides travelers with tools to search for vacation rentals based on various criteria, such as location, type of property, number of bedrooms, amenities, availability or keywords. Travelers are able to create accounts that enable them to log in to certain of our websites. Travelers can then send inquiries to property owners and managers without having to fill in their information for each inquiry. Trust and security reviews new listings selectively for content, appropriateness, and quality of description. Travelers are invited to submit online reviews of the vacation rentals they have rented through its Websites. These reviews are intended to convey the accuracy of the listing information found on its Websites.

Traveler community who have made at least one inquiry on one of the Company�� Websites are maintained in a database and receive regular communications, including notices about places of interest, special offers, new listings, and an e-mail newsletter. Mobile Websites and applications provides versions of its Websites formatted for Web browsers on smartphones and tablets so that travelers can access its Websites and find and inquire about vacation rentals when they are away from a computer. It also provides applications for tra! velers to! find and inquire about vacation rentals using their smartphones and tablets.

Value-Added Services

The Company�� Value-Added Services includes Carefree Rental Guarantee, Insurance Products and Tax Filing Services. Carefree Rental Guarantee, which is offered at no cost to travelers, it offer a Carefree Rental Guarantee in the United States for a fee, which provides additional financial protection against fraud if the property found on its Website is illegitimate, not as advertised, or not available to the traveler upon check-in, and, as a result, the traveler incurs a financial loss. Insurance Products have contracted with third party insurance providers to offer travelers insurance products for purchase to protect against unexpected events relating to their trips, such as property damage protection, trip cancellation protection, personal liability, medical fees and legal expenses. Tax Filing Services to assist its property owners and managers in complying with applicable tax regulations, it contract with a third party in the United States to provide tax preparation and filing services for its property owners and managers.

Advertising

The Company�� advertising includes Display Advertising and Sponsorships and Site Integrations. Display Advertising sells Internet display advertising on the majority of the Company�� Websites. Advertisers, including those offering complementary products of interest to the visitors to its Websites, are able to purchase advertising positions for a fee based upon the number of impressions and the placement of the advertisement on the page. Sponsorships and site integrations sell sponsorships and site integrations to selected advertisers on its online marketplace. Sponsors purchase a certain number of impressions for a fee, or in the case of site integrations, pay the Company on a cost-per-action basis.

The Company competes with TripAdvisor.com, FlipKey.com, HolidayLettings.co.uk, Wyndam Worldwide Corp., I! nterHome,! AG, Hyatt Vacation Clubs, Four Seasons Resorts, VacationRoost; Expedia, Inc., Hotels.com LP, Kayak Software Corporation, Orbitz, Inc., priceline.com Incorporated, Travelocity.com Inc., Interval International, Inc. and RCI, LLC, Airbnb, Inc., craigslist, Inc., eBay Inc., Google Inc. and Bing.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Michael Cintolo]

  HomeAway (AWAY) makes money by helping renters to list, advertise, and manage bookings online, and its innovative pricing strategies allow property owners to pay more for enhanced listings and search options.

• [By Michael Cintolo]

  Through the end of September of 2013, the online firm HomeAway (AWAY) has 773,000 total paid listings among its various sites (including the popular VRBO.com site).

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Equities Trading UP
  HomeAway (NASDAQ: AWAY) shot up 18.62 percent to $34.51 after the company reported a 63 percent rise in its Q3 profit. Raymond James upgraded the stock from Outperform to Strong Buy.

• [By Rich Smith]

  HomeAway has termites
  Things were looking pretty good for HomeAway (NASDAQ: AWAY  ) investors as last week drew to a close. Analysts at investment bank Piper Jaffray had just upgraded the stock to overweight on expectations of improved pricing growth in 2014. But the enthusiasm was short-lived, as Monday dawns with a new rating for HomeAway: Sell.

Best Companies To Buy For 2014: Armco Metals Holdings Inc (AMCO)

Armco Metals Holdings, Inc., formerly China Armco Metals, Inc., incorporated on April 25, 2007, is engaged in metal ore trading and distribution and scrap metal recycling. The Company�� s operations are conducted primarily in the People's Republic of China (PRC). In the Company's metal ore trading and distribution business, the Company imports, sells and distributes to the metal refinery industry in the PRC a range of metal ore which includes iron, chrome, nickel, copper and manganese ore, as well as non-ferrous metals, and coal. The Company obtains these raw materials from global suppliers primarily in Brazil, India, Indonesia, Ukraine and the United States and distributes them in the PRC. In addition, it provides sourcing and pricing services for various metals to its network of customers.

The Company�� scrap metal recycling business, it recycles scrap metal at its recycling facility and sell the recycled product to steel mills in China for use in the production of recycled steel. The Company sells processed and non-ferrous ore to end-users, such as specialty steelmakers, foundries, aluminum sheets and ingot manufacturers, copper refineries and smelters, brass and bronze ingot manufacturers, wire and cable producers, utilities and telephone networks. The Company recycles scrap metals at the Facility using both heavy equipment and manual labors. Recycling scrap metal consists of a variety of steps, including collecting, inspecting, sorting, stripping, shearing, cutting, shredding and bailing.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By James E. Brumley]

  It's still too soon to put it in your portfolio, but Armco Metals Holdings Inc. (NYSE:AMCO) most definitely deserves a place on your watchlist. This Chinese metal stock is poised for a breakout move. It just needs the right nudge, and a little help on a certain front to let AMCO take flight.

Best Companies To Buy For 2014: Euromedis Groupe SA (EMG)

Euromedis Groupe SA is a France-based company that specializes in the design, manufacture, distribution, rental and export of medical and surgical equipment and products, and services for medical home care for hospitals, clinics, retirement homes, physicians, pharmacies, and individuals. The Company's product portfolio include products, such as syringes and needles; surgical equipment, such as catheters, instrumentation and compresses; gloves; hygiene products, comprising disposable clothing, masks and paper towel products, and pharmaceutical equipment, offering cotton wool and thermometers. Euromedis Groupe SA exports its products to Europe and Africa. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sofia Horta e Costa]

  Commodity producers increased as base metals rallied, with BHP Billiton Ltd. (BHP), the largest mining company, climbing 3.7 percent. Man Group (EMG) Plc soared 13 percent on a plan to redeem debt. Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc dropped by the most in two months after Britain�� biggest state-owned lender reported operating profit that fell short of analysts��estimates.

Best Companies To Buy For 2014: Marvell Technology Group Ltd.(MRVL)

Marvell Technology Group Ltd. designs, develops, and markets analog, mixed-signal, digital signal processing, and embedded and standalone ARM-based microprocessor integrated circuits. It offers mobile and wireless products, including communications processors, applications processors, and standalone wireless products, as well as combination devices, which incorporate wireless, Bluetooth, and FM radio capability. The company also provides storage products comprising tape drive controllers, read channel, hard disk controllers, solid-state drive controllers, hybrid drive controllers, and storage-system products for hard disk drives, tape drive electronics, optical disk drives, solid-state flash drives, hybrid drives, and storage subsystems technology. In addition, it offers networking, such as switching products that enable voice, video, and data traffic to be carried through the network for the enterprise networking, carrier access, and small office/home office/residential n etworking markets; communications controller and embedded processor products; and enterprise transceiver and Ethernet connectivity products. Further, the company provides printing ASIC products; digital video processing products; and power management and green technology products, such as DSP switcher integrated regulators, analog switching regulators, and mixed-signal light-emitting diode drivers. It operates in the United States, Canada, China, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Netherlands, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom. The company was founded in 1995 and is based in Hamilton, Bermuda.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Steven Russolillo]

  WATCH FOR:�Weekly Jobless Claims (8:30 a.m. Eastern Time): seen 310K; previously 297K. May Markit “Flash” PMI (9:45). April Existing Home Sales (10:00): seen +2.0% at 2.68M; previously -0.2% at 4.59M. April Leading Index (10:00): seen +0.5%; previously +0.8%. May Kansas City Fed Manufacturing Survey (11:00): seen 8; previously 7. Aeropostale, Best Buy(BBY), Borcade, Buckle, Dollar Tree(DLTR), GameStop(GME), Gap(GPS), Hewlett-Packard(HPQ), Marvell Tech(MRVL), Mentor Graphics(MENT), Ross Stores(ROST) and TiVo are among companies scheduled to report quarterly results.

• [By Paul Ausick]

  Marvell Technology Group Ltd. (NASDAQ: MRVL) posted a 22.4% increase in short interest to 9.9 million shares, or about 3.1% of Marvell’s float. Over the past 12 months, the stock is up more than 57%. Shorts expect that something has to give pretty soon, especially given the company’s dependence on the disk drive business.

• [By Paul McWilliams]

  Marvell (MRVL) is clearly carrying a big zit on its forehead from the ongoing legal battle with Carnigie Mellon University (CMU). A jury awarded CMU damages slightly in excess of $1B, and the judge could triple that.