Top Prefered Companies To Buy For 2014

If you want to stay relevant as an adviser in the future, then it's time to start ramping up your offerings to better serve tech-savvy Millennial clients.

Such was the theme at a panel discussion Thursday at the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association's Private Client Conference in New York. The panel covered the latest factors that advisers need to take into consideration when weighing their service offerings in the future.

Millennials and Generation Xers were on the minds of the brokerage executives on the panel, as the younger crowd will be on the receiving end of major wealth transfers over the next few decades.

Hot Consumer Service Companies To Watch For 2015: Canon Inc (CAJ)

Canon Inc. (Canon), incorporated on August 10, 1937, is a manufacturer of network digital multifunction devices (MFDs), plain paper copying machines, laser printers, inkjet printers, cameras and steppers. Canon sells its products principally under the Canon brand name and through sales subsidiaries. Canon has manufacturing subsidiaries in variety of countries, including the United States, Germany, France, Taiwan, China, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. Canon operates its business in three segments: the Office Business Unit, the Consumer Business Unit, and the Industry and Others Business Unit. On February 19, 2010, Canon acquired shares of OPTOPOL Technology S.A. On March 9, 2010, Canon acquired shares of Oce N.V. In May 2011, the Company incorporated Canon Information and Imaging Solutions, Inc.

Office Business Unit

Canon manufactures, markets and services a range of monochrome network digital MFDs, color network digital MFDs, office copying machines and personal-use copying machines. Canon�� lineup of digital MFDs include the imageRUNNER (iR) series, which performs a range of functions, such as copying, printing, scanning, faxing and data-sharing functions on the Internet and customer intranets. Canon offers color network digital MFDs for users ranging from professional graphic designers to business offices. Canon�� MFDs and color digital MFDs are available in the print-on-demand market.

Developed and fostered by Canon, laser beam printers are standard output peripherals for offices. Canon has adopted a user-replaceable toner cartridge system containing optical components. Most of Canon�� laser beam printer sales are on an original equipment manufacturing (OEM) basis. The Office Business Unit also includes the related sales of paper and chemicals, service and replacement parts.

The Company competes with Xerox Corporation/Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd., Ricoh Company, Ltd., Konica Minolta Holdings, Inc., Hewlett-Packard Company and Lexmark Internationa! l Inc.

Consumer Business Unit

Canon manufactures and markets digital cameras and digital video cameras as well as lenses and various other camera accessories. Canon released the EOS-1D Mark IV for professionals in December 2009. This model includes a newly developed approximately 16-megapixel APS-H size CMOS sensor and dual DIGIC 4 and features an expanded range of ISO settings for normal use between 100 and 12800, achieving beautiful images with low noise levels throughout the entire ISO range. Canon markets a variety of scanners for a spectrum of user needs, including image scanners in the CanoScan LiDE series using Contact Image Sensor (CIS) and scanners with Charge-Coupled Devices (CCD) for high resolution. CIS is a close-contact method that allows for a significant reduction in scanner weight and size.

The Company competes with Nikon Corporation, Sigma Corporation, Sony Corporation, Panasonic Corporation, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co.; Ltd., Victor Company of Japan, Ltd., Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Hewlett-Packard Company and Seiko Epson Corporation.

Industry and Others Business Unit

Medical imaging equipment sold by Canon includes X-ray image sensors, retinal cameras, autorefractometers and image-processing equipment for computerized systems. Canon�� pioneering digital radiography system takes X-ray photography and medical imaging into the digital age. Other Canon products such as electronic components are sold primarily to equipment manufacturers. These components include magnetic heads for audio and video tape recorders and micro-motors for printers and other components. Canon also offers business information products, which primarily consist of personal computers, servers, document scanners, calculators and micrographic equipment. Personal computers and servers sold by Canon are manufactured by third parties under the manufacturers��own brand names.

The Company competes with Ni! kon Corpo! ration and ASML Holding N.V.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Michael Lewis]

  Though in a high-growth space, the company will face fierce competition from the gorillas in the industry. Competitors like Canon (NYSE: CAJ  ) were quick to embrace digital technologies and by now are seasoned veterans. Canon has many divisions it can lean on if one -- say, commercial printing -- becomes sluggish. Kodak, to a degree, will not have these luxuries. As for investors, Canon is a mega cap with a chunky 4.7% dividend that is likely the more risk-averse pick. The stock may be down more than 18% over the last 12 months, but there are signs of improvement on the horizon.

• [By MARKETWATCH]

  LOS ANGELES (MarketWatch) -- With the yen holding on to its gains and investors cautious as earnings season kicks off, Japanese stocks slid lower Friday after closing the previous day with some late-session gains. The Nikkei Stock Average (JP:NIK) fell 0.9% to 14,358.28, with the Topix down 0.8%, as the dollar bought 97.36 yen, little changed from 24 hours earlier. The relatively strong yen weighed on some names with high global exposure, as Sharp Corp. (JP:6753) (SHCAF) lost 1%, Pioneer Corp. (JP:6773) (PNCOF) dropped 1.6%, and Bridgestone Corp. (JP:5108) (BRDCF) fell 1.2%. An outlook cut from Canon Inc. (JP:7751) (CAJ) helped send its shares down 1%, while rival Nikon Corp. (JP:7731) (NINOF) lost 1.8%, though Olympus Corp. (JP:7733) (OCPNF) gained 1%. Telecoms were weak, with Softbank Corp. (JP:9984) (SFTBF) falling 2.5%, KDDI Corp. (JP:9433) (KDDIF) down 1.7%, and NTT DoCoMo Inc. (JP:9437) (NTDMF)

• [By MARKETWATCH]

  LOS ANGELES (MarketWatch) -- Stocks in Japan climbed at the start of trade Tuesday, as U.S. dollar strength against the yen aided the export-oriented market. The Nikkei Stock Average (JP:NIK) advanced 1% to 14,431.03, and the broader Topix rose 1.5% to 1,201.63, with the greenback moving back above the 楼102 level versus Japan's currency. Among exporters, stock in Canon Inc. (JP:7751) (CAJ) rose 1.6%, Mazda Motor Corp. (JP:7261) (MZDAF) tacked on 1.5%, and Sony Corp. (JP:6758) (SNE) gained 1.4%. Banking stocks were higher ahead of the conclusion of the Bank of Japan's meeting later Tuesday, and officials are not expected to announce any changes in monetary policy. Shares of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc. (JP:8306) (MTU) and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc. (JP:8316) (SMFG) were each up by 1.7%.

• [By Daniel Inman]

  In Japan, Canon (JP:7751) � (CAJ) �fell 1% after it lowered its full-year net profit forecast to 楼240 billion from a previous estimate of 楼260 billion set in July. Mitsubishi Motors Corp. (JP:7211) � (MMTOF) �added 1.9% after the car company increased its profit outlook.

Top Prefered Companies To Buy For 2014: Destiny Media Technologies Inc (DSNY)

Destiny Media Technologies, Inc. (Destiny), incorporated on August 24, 1998, develops and markets services that enable the secure distribution of digital media content over the Internet. Destiny services are based around security, watermarking and playerless streaming media technologies. The Company carries out its business operations through its wholly owned subsidiary, Destiny Software Productions Inc., MPE Distribution, Inc. and Sonox Digital Inc. The Company�� products include Clipstream Legacy, Clipstream Next Generation, Clipstream Cloud and Play MPE. MPE enables content to be owned the way a recipient might own a digital versatile disc (DVD) or compact disc (CD's). Clipstream enables content to be securely streamed for temporary viewing or listening, similar to television or radio. Clipstream recipients don�� need a player and sites don�� need a streaming server.

Clipstream Legacy

Clipstream powered videos are integrated into video questionnaires for use in market research surveys.

Videos can be secured to play only from authorized uniform resource locator�� and they actively block screenscraping programs that might try to download the video locally. In addition, videos are watermarked, so the source of unauthorized content can be identified.

Clipstream Next Generation

The introduction of new browsers supporting hypertext markup language 5 has created an opportunity where video can be decompressed and rendered directly by the browser. Streaming video encoded in this format can be hosted from any brand of Web server and it plays directly across desktops, laptops, smart phones, tablets, e-book readers, Internet enabled television�� and other devices, including future devices still under development.

Clipstream Cloud

The cloud is managed by servers at one or more Destiny controlled facilities. The actual location where the content is stored and hosted is open ended. The Company is partnered with Amazon's! cloud services to provide hosting services, but some or all of the content can be moved in the future to other providers, including Destiny's own facilities. The business model is usage based. Users purchase a monthly package through an automated credit card sale, which limits the amount of transfer they are allowed in a month.

Play MPE

Play MPE is a digital delivery service for securely moving broadcast quality audio, video, images, promotional information and other digital content securely through the Internet. The system is used by the recording industry for transferring pre-release broadcast quality music, radio shows, and music videos to trusted recipients such as radio stations, media reviewers, very important person (VIP's),, disc jockey��(DJ's), film and telivision personnel, sports stadiums and retailers. The system replaces the physical distribution (mail, courier or hand delivery) of Compact discs.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Tom Bemis]

  Few major companies are reporting after Monday�� bell. Results are expected from Destiny Media Technologies (DSNY) �, Stanley Furniture Co. (STLY) � and Peregrine Pharmaceuticals. (PPHM) �.

Top Prefered Companies To Buy For 2014: Petrobank Energy and Resources Ltd (PBEGF.PK)

Petrobank Energy and Resources Ltd. (Petrobank) is engaged in the exploration and development of oil and natural gas in western Canada. The Company operates in two segments: the Heavy Oil Business Unit (HBU) and PetroBakken Energy Ltd. (PetroBakken). Its operations are conducted through its HBU, as well as its technology subsidiary, Archon Technologies Ltd. The HBU operates its heavy oil projects using Petrobank�� THAI heavy oil recovery process in the field. In addition, Petrobank owns 59% of its subsidiary, PetroBakken. Whitesands Insitu Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, owns heavy oil leases in Alberta and oil sands and heavy oil licenses and leases in Saskatchewan, and operates the Kerrobert Project. During the year ended December 31, 2011, Petrobank completed the Kerrobert Project, with all 10 expansion well pairs drilled. On February 28, 2012, Petrobank completed the sale of May River Property. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Stephan Dube]

  Peace River's most notable producers:

  PennWest Exploration (PWE), see article here.Royal Dutch Shell (RDS.A), see article here.Baytex (BTE), see article here.Strata Oil and Gas (SOIGF.PK), see article here.Petrobank Energy & Resources (PBEGF.PK), see article here.

  Cold Lake's most notable producers:

Top Prefered Companies To Buy For 2014: ICON plc(ICLR)

ICON Public Limited Company, a contract research organization, provides outsourced development services to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device industries in Ireland, the United States, and rest of Europe. It specializes in strategic development, management, and analysis of programs that support various stages of clinical development process from compound selection to Phase I to IV clinical studies. The company?s clinical research services include investigator recruitment, study monitoring and data collection, case report form preparation, patient safety monitoring, clinical data management, interactive voice response, electronic patient reported outcomes, medical reporting, patient registries, outcomes research, and health economics. Its clinical research services also comprise marker access and commercialization services, strategic analysis and data operation, clinical pharmacology, bioanalysis, immunoassay development, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynam ic analysis, study protocol preparation, regulatory consulting, product development planning, strategic consulting, medical imaging, contract staffing, and electronic endpoint adjudication. In addition, the company offers various laboratory services, such as sample analyses, safety testing, microbiology, custom flow cytometry, electronic transmission of test results, and biomarker development. ICON Public Limited Company was founded in 1990 and is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Louis Navellier]

  European Stocks to Buy: ICON Public Limited (ICLR)

  ICON Public Limited Company (ICLR) is a contract research organization, provides outsourced development services to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device industries in Ireland, the United States, and Europe. They provide management, and analysis of programs that support various stages of clinical development process from compound selection to Phase I to IV clinical studies as well as lab services for companies conducting trials. The company has posted triple digit earnings gains and posted four consecutive positive earnings surprises in the past year. Analysts have been raising their estimates for the Irish company and Portfolio Grader raised the stock to an A last month. The stock is a strong buy at today�� price.

Top Prefered Companies To Buy For 2014: Websense Inc. (WBSN)

Websense, Inc. provides unified Web, data, and email content security solutions to protect data and users from cyber-threats, information leaks, legal liability, and productivity loss. The company?s Web security solutions include Web Filter that enables employers to proactively analyze, report, and manage employee access to Web sites; Web Security, which enables organizations to manage, as well as block access to sites associated with spyware, phishing, keylogging, and other threats; Web Security Gateway, a network-based Web security solution; and Web Security Gateway Anywhere, and data loss prevention technology and hybrid deployment options to protect against data leaks via the Web, and allow IT administrators to create unified policies throughout the organization, as well as offers V-Series Appliances as standard server hardware platforms optimized for its software products. Its Data Security solutions include Data Security Suite, Data Discover, Data Monitor, Data Prote ct, and Data Endpoint to protect against the loss of confidential information and data due to internal threats, such as inadequate business process controls, employee error and malfeasance, and theft, including undetected malicious code embedded in the networks. The company?s email security technologies include Hosted Email Security and Email Security to provide protection from spam and email-borne viruses, as well as basic inbound and outbound content filtering. In addition, it offers TRITON Enterprise solutions that provide Web, data, and email security across the enterprise; and technical support and professional services. The company offers its products and services to public sector entities, enterprise customers, small and medium sized businesses, and Internet service providers through a network of value-added resellers and original equipment manufacturers worldwide. Websense, Inc. was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in San Diego, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Duprey]

  Websense (NASDAQ: WBSN  ) shareholders have until June 25 to decide on a $24.75-a-share acquisition offer by Vista Equity Partners.

  The board of cyber attack security specialist Websense has agreed to be acquired by Vista Equity Partners in the $903 million deal announced earlier this month. This morning, the companies announced that the�tender offer for all of the outstanding shares of Websense common stock has begun.

Top Prefered Companies To Buy For 2014: Progress Software Corporation(PRGS)

Progress Software Corporation operates as an enterprise software company worldwide. Its products include Progress OpenEdge platform, which offers development tools, application servers, application management tools, and an embedded database; Progress Orbix to address enterprise integration problems with standards-based solutions; and Progress ObjectStore, an object data management system to store data faster than relational database management system or file-based storage system. The company?s products also comprise Progress Responsiveness Process Management suite for business users; Progress Control Tower, an interactive business control panel; Progress Sonic, which comprises an enterprise messaging system and the enterprise service buses; Progress Actional that provides operational and business visibility, root cause analysis, and policy-based security and control of services; Progress Apama, which offers tools for creating, testing, and deploying strategies for applicat ions, including algorithmic trading, market aggregation, smart order routing, market surveillance and monitoring, and risk management; Progress Savvion BusinessManager, a business process management software; and Fuse products that provide customers with access to professional open source integration and messaging software. In addition, it offers Progress DataDirect Connect products, which provide data connectivity components; Progress DataDirect Shadow to provide foundation architecture for standards-based mainframe integration; and Progress Data Services product set that offers data integration for distributed applications. Further, the company provides maintenance, consulting, training, and customer support services. Progress Software Corporation sells its products to independent software vendors, original equipment manufacturers, and system integrators through direct sales force and independent distributors. The company was founded in 1981 and is based in Bedford, Massac husetts.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Garrett Cook]

  In trading on Friday, technology shares were relative leaders, up on the day by about 0.31 percent. Top gainers in the sector included Aware (NASDAQ: AWRE), up 15.4 percent, and Progress Software (NASDAQ: PRGS), up 7.7 percent.

• [By Garrett Cook]

  In trading on Friday, technology shares were relative leaders, up on the day by about 0.15 percent. Top gainers in the sector included Aware (NASDAQ: AWRE), up 15.9 percent, and Progress Software (NASDAQ: PRGS), up 10.5 percent.