Top Regional Bank Companies To Buy For 2014

Lakeland Bancorp (LBAI) is a very cost efficient, well-capitalized small-cap bank that operates 46 offices throughout northern New Jersey. With $2.9 billion in assets, $2.388 billion in deposits and $2.17 billion in loans, Lakeland has established itself as the third largest commercial bank headquartered in the state. Recently, Lakeland closed its acquisition of Somerset Hills Bancorp which added $368.9 million in assets in a deal worth $65.7 million (1.52X Somerset's tangible book value).

Since loan growth has been extremely hard for some regional banks, I think this deal is great for shareholders because it comes during a time when Lakeland has already been growing loans organically, and at a price lower than LBAI's own P/TBV. Since this new addition has yet to hit the reported books, below I have provided a review of Lakeland to help assess the banks pre-acquisition financial position and current valuation.

Top 5 Industrial Conglomerate Stocks To Invest In 2015: Verizon Communications Inc.(VZ)

Verizon Communications Inc. provides communication services. The company operates through two segments, Domestic Wireless and Wireline. The Domestic Wireless segment offers wireless voice and data services; and sells equipment in the United States. The Wireline segment provides voice, Internet access, broadband video and data, Internet protocol network, network access, long distance, and other services in the United States and internationally. The company serves consumer, business, and government customers, as well as carriers. As of December 31, 2010, its network covered a population of approximately 292 million and provided service to a customer base of approximately 94.1 million. The company was formerly known as Bell Atlantic Corporation and changed its name to Verizon Communications Inc. in June 2000. Verizon Communications Inc. was founded in 1983 and is based in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Smith]

  The U.S. Department of Defense awarded 13 new contracts Wednesday, worth more than $730 million in aggregate. The largest of these awards, a $230 million contract to upgrade the U.S. Air Force's Digital Video Laboratory III, went to privately owned SRI International of Menlo Park, Calif. But publicly traded companies weren't entirely left out in the cold.

  Johnson Controls' (NYSE: JCI  ) Federal Systems unit, along with six private companies, all claimed the right to participate in a firm-fixed-price, option-filled, multiple-award, task-order contract worth up to $95 million. Under this contract, the seven winners will compete to complete task orders for providing "construction and equipment installation services" worldwide for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Verizon (NYSE: VZ  ) Business Network Services won an $11.9 million modification of a contract to supply "managed network services" to the U.S. Army. And Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC  ) won a $10.4 million contract modification to support unspecified "critical components" for U.S. and Coalition Partners in Afghanistan. The Pentagon noted in its announcement that the cumulative value of this latter contract is now approaching $198 million.

  Editor's note: A previous version of this article incorrectly mentioned Smith & Wesson Holding Corp.�(NASDAQ: SWHC) as securing a contract. That is not the case. The Fool regrets the error.

• [By John Divine]

  Alas, the 2.7% spike in Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ  ) shares today didn't stem from falling unemployment claims. The surge instead followed new details in Verizon's attempt to buy the remaining 45% of its Verizon Wireless stake from U.K.-based Vodafone. Apparently, Verizon's bid is getting closer to being final by the day; one feasible scenario has Verizon buying Vodafone's 45% stake for a $100 billion, 50-50 mix of cash and stock.�

• [By Jim Jubak]

  Verizon (VZ) beat analyst estimates by four cents a share, but reported revenue $29 million below expectations.

  Of course, this earnings season is also reporting the usual share of just plain bad results, such as the five cents a share earnings and the $66 million revenue miss at Coach (COH).

Top Regional Bank Companies To Buy For 2014: ZBB Energy Corp (ZBB)

ZBB Energy Corporation (ZBB), incorporated in 1988, is engaged in designing, developing, and manufacturing energy storage and power electronic systems to solve a range of electrical system challenges in global markets for utility, governmental, commercial, industrial and residential customers. The Company operates in two segments: ZBB Energy Storage and Power Electronic Systems and Tier Electronics Power Conversion Systems. The ZBB Energy Storage and Power Electronics Systems business segment designs and manufactures electrical power management platforms. The Company offers a portfolio of intelligent power management platforms for grid independent, grid interactive and grid conversion environments in a variety of applications around the world. In January 21, 2011, the Company acquired Tier Electronics LLC.

The Company�� intelligent power management platforms integrate multiple renewable and conventional onsite generation sources with rechargeable zinc bromide flow batteries and other storage technologies to ensure optimal energy availability for on grid and off grid applications, while maximizing the use of renewable energy sources. The Company�� energy storage product incudes ZESS Zinc Bromide flow batteries, which is modular and scalable, self-contained and front accessible. Its power electronic systems product Power and Energy Control Center (ZESS POWR PECC) is a hybrid power conversion system that can support the integration of combinations of onsite generating sources. When supplied with the Company�� ZESS flow batteries or other energy storage devices, the platform creates an expandable system that independently optimizes the supply of each generating source. This integrated energy management platform is configurable, modular, and scalable for on grid, off grid and grid back-up applications. The ZESS POWR PECC can be used with a variety of storage technologies.

The Company�� energy storage and power control technologies are used in grid interactive, grid indepen! dent and grid conversion configurations for a variety of applications and markets. Its All-in-One (AIO) power converters are the core of its power modules for standard and custom-configured products. These converters are designed specifically for power applications. Grid-tie inverters for wind and solar sources provide energy back to the grid and medical line regulators. Energy recovery converters are designed for alternator and generator testing, as well as recouping power from waste heat output.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By James E. Brumley]

  OK, my last bullish call on ZBB Energy Corporation (NYSEMKT:ZBB) didn't work out so well. It looks like it was just too soon to expect a bounce from ZBB back on April 2nd when it was still in the shadow of a huge runup and a subsequent pullback. The dust has fully settled now, however, and most of the clues are now pointing in a bullish direction.

• [By James E. Brumley]

  For those of you that were lucky enough to read, and act on, my bullish call on ZBB Energy Corporation (NYSEMKT:ZBB) penned one week ago (almost to the hour), then congratulations - you're up 270%, give or take. Now get out. Seriously. I have a funny feeling that ZBB along with FuelCell Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:FCEL), Ballard Power Systems Inc. (NASDAQ:BLDP), and all the other names in the alternative electricity-production group are seeing their last hurrah today. The smart money is already thinking about getting out now, selling into the strength all the late-comers are creating for FCEL, BLDP, and its peers.

• [By James E. Brumley]

  Back on March 11th, yours truly opined that the wild bullishness that had carried names like ZBB Energy Corporation (NYSEMKT:ZBB), Plug Power Inc. (NASDAQ:PLUG), FuelCell Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:FCEL), and Ballard Power Systems Inc. (NASDAQ:BLDP) to triple digit gains (in just a few days) was coming to a close, and taking profits on any and all of these stocks would be a good idea. It was an idea that went over like a lead balloon, judging from the responses I got. How ridiculous of me to turn bearish on those names! FCEL, PLUG, ZBB, and BLDP were all flying high, and obviously since they soared over the course of the two weeks leading up to that date, they could only keep going higher forever.

Top Regional Bank Companies To Buy For 2014: Northstar Realty Finance Corp. (NRF)

NorthStar Realty Finance Corp. operates as a real estate investment trust in the United States. It invests in real estate debt business, which acquires, originates, and structures debt investments secured primarily by income-producing real estate properties; real estate securities business that invests in commercial real estate debt securities, including commercial mortgage backed securities, REIT unsecured debt, and credit tenant loans; and net lease properties business, which acquires properties that are primarily net leased to corporate tenants. The company has elected to be taxed as a REIT and it would not be subject to federal income tax, provided it distributes at least 90% of its taxable income to its shareholders. NorthStar Realty Finance was founded in 1997 and is based in New York City.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lauren Pollock]

  NorthStar Realty Finance Corp.(NRF) disclosed a plan to spin off its asset-management business into a separate publicly traded company, a move investors praised. NorthStar’s shares rose 17% to $11.60 premarket.

• [By Louis Navellier]

  Northstar Realty Finance (NRF) is a REIT that acquires, originates, and structures debt investments secured primarily by income-producing real estate properties. Northstar also invests in commercial real estate debt securities, including commercial mortgage backed securities, REIT unsecured debt, and credit tenant loans and has a portfolio of properties that are net leased to commercial tenants.

Top Regional Bank Companies To Buy For 2014: Massive Dynamics Inc (MSSD)

Massive Dynamics, Inc., incorporated on March 15, 2011, is a development-stage company. The Company is providing services to communication tower operators. On August 20, 2012, Kylemore Corp. (Kylemore) approximately 90% of the Company. On April 16, 2013, the Company entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement with Real-View 3D (RV3D). With the Company's acquisition of the assets of RV3D, the Company is providing engineering and compliance to communications tower operators to three dimension (3D) imaging. RV3D is an image capture product company that has developed and is committed to design, patent, manufacture and market 3D imaging Z-axis capture products for the consumer computer peripherals market.

The Company has developed technology around an imaging technology known as structured light, which allows for the rapid capture and processing of the digital signal capture 3D images of objects or real time 3D video of a desired target. A structured light image is a calibrated grid of lines that is projected on the subject. These projected lines deviate as they fall over the subject. An image of these lines is captured. Real View 3D software can extract Z-axis data from these line deviations and a topographical map is created. To image a complete subject, the subject is rotated 360 degrees for the image and then another 360 degree rotation for capturing the structured light for the Z axis map information. The resulting Z axis map and the image are then fused into a 360 degree renderable image. This image can then be exported into many other formats for viewing. The Company's primary business will be to develop and market 3D scanning, capture, rendering, and printing products to four markets: consumer, commercial, industrial, and medical.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Smith]

  The problem with that, of course, is that competition is beginning to emerge in machine selling, as small companies with names such as ExOne (NASDAQ: XONE  ) and Massive Dynamics (NASDAQOTH: MSSD  ) begin to horn in on the printer biz. Competition will probably arise even faster in the selling of printing composites, as Hewlett-Packard discovered to its detriment, when printer ink cartridge "refillers" began stealing away its lucrative ink business.

Top Regional Bank Companies To Buy For 2014: Twenty-First Century Fox Inc (FOX)

Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc., formerly News Corporation, incorporated on October 23, 2003, has a portfolio of cable, broadcast, film, pay television and satellite assets spanning six continents across the globe. The Company is home to a global portfolio of cable and broadcasting networks and properties, including FOX, FX, FXX, FS1, Fox News Channel, Fox Business Network, Fox Sports, Fox Sports Network, National Geographic Channels, Fox Pan American Sports, MundoFox, STAR and 28 local television stations; film studio Twentieth Century Fox Film; and television production studios Twentieth Century Fox Television and Shine Group. The Company also provides content to millions of subscribers through its pay-television services in Europe and Asia, including Sky Deutschland, Sky Italia and its equity interests in BSkyB and Tata Sky.

Cable Network Programming

The Company's Cable Network Programming business includes Fox Networks, Big Ten Network, Big Ten Network, Fox Business Network, Fox Deportes, Fox News Channel, Fox International Channels, Fox Sports 1, Fox Sports Networks, FX Networks and Productions, MundoFox, National Geographic Channels, STAR India and YES Network. Fox Networks is a unit of Fox Networks Group (FNG) and includes 43 domestic programming services in which FNG holds interests. FOX Business Network (FBN) is a financial news channel delivering real-time information. FOX Deportes is a Spanish-language sports media. FOX Deportes features soccer programming with coverage of Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Champions League, Barclays Premier League, Copa Bridgestone Libertadores, Copa Bridgestone Sudamericana; coverage of the Major League Baseball regular season, All-Star Game, American League Championship Series and World Series; Golden Boy Promotions Boxing, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR).

FOX News Channel (FNC) is a 24-hour all-encompassing news service dedicated to deli! vering breaking news, as well as political and business news. A joint venture between the Big Ten Conference and Fox Networks, BTN is the distributed network. FOX International Channels (FIC) is the Company�� international multi-media business. It develops, produces and distributes 300 wholly owned and majority owned entertainment, factual, sports, movie and lifestyle channels across Latin America, Europe, Asia and Africa, in 44 languages. FOX Sports 1 is a national 24-hour multi-sport channel. Fox Sports Networks (FSN) is the provider of local sports.

FX Networks and Productions is the flagship general entertainment basic cable network from Fox. MundoFox is a joint venture between Fox International Channels (FIC),the Company�� international multi-media business, and RCN, the Latin American television network and production company belonging to OrganizaciUn Ardila Llle (OAL). Based at the National Geographic Society headquarters in Washington, D.C., the National Geographic channels the United States are a joint venture between National Geographic and Fox Cable Networks. Star India is a media and entertainment company operating nearly 40 channels in seven languages, including its flagship Star Plus. The YES Network is a regional sports network.

Filmed Entertainment

Filmed Entertainment business includes Twentieth Century Fox, Twentieth Century Fox Television, Fox 2000, Fox 21, Fox Animation/Blue Sky Studios, Fox Home Entertainment, Fox International Productions, Fox Searchlight Pictures, Fox Television Studios and Shine Group. Twentieth Century Fox is a producers and distributors of motion picture. Twentieth Century Fox Television is a supplier of primetime television programming and entertainment content. Fox 2000 is a division of Twentieth Century Fox and the home of films such as LIFE OF PI, DIARY OF A WIMPY KID, THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA, among others.

Fox 21 is a production company housed within Twentieth Century Fox Television. Fox Animation and! Blue Sky! Studios are Twentieth Century Fox's animation arm. TCFHE is the worldwide marketing, sales and distribution company for all Fox film and television programming, acquisitions and original productions, as well as all third party distribution partners. Fox International Productions is a division of Twentieth Century Fox that focuses on regional film productions in dozens of local marketplaces around the world. Fox Searchlight Pictures is a specialty film company that both finances and acquires motion pictures. Fox Television Studios produces scripted and unscripted programming for the United States broadcast and cable networks, and international broadcasters.

Television

The Company�� Television business includes Fox Broadcasting Network, Fox Sports, Fox Television Stations Group and MyNetworkTV. Fox Broadcasting Network is producers and distributors of motion pictures. FOX Sports is the flagship network of the FOX Sports Media Group. FOX Television Stations is a network broadcast group, consist of 28 stations in 18 markets. MyNetworkTV is a broadcast programming service.

Direct Broadcast and Satellite TV

Direct Broadcast and Satellite TV business consists of BSkyB, Sky Deutschland and Sky Italia. Sky operates the television service in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Sky Deutschland AG is a pay television company in Germany and Austria with over 3.4 million subscribers. Sky offers more than 70 channels with live sports, current films, television series, kids programs, and documentaries. Sky Italia is a pay- television platform in Italy, reaching almost five million subscribers.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  For its part, the S&P 500 is also relatively stable with its constituency. Rather than making changes on a regular schedule, the S&P tends to move as needed. For instance, in its most recent substitution, the S&P will add News Corp. (NASDAQ: FOX  ) after it splits from its 21st Century Fox unit, with News Corp. getting the company's newspaper and book publishing business while Fox keeps its other media properties. Falling out of the index will be Apollo Group (NASDAQ: APOL  ) , whose for-profit educational focus has fallen out of favor among investors in light of regulatory scrutiny.

Top Regional Bank Companies To Buy For 2014: Avago Technologies Limited(AVGO)

Avago Technologies Limited engages in the design, development, and supply of analog semiconductor devices with a focus on III-V based products. Its product portfolio comprises RF amplifiers, RF filters, RF front-end modules, ambient light sensors, light emitting diodes, low noise amplifiers, mm-wave mixers, optical finger navigation products, diodes, fiber optic transceivers, serializer/deserializer ASICs, motion control encoders and subsystems, optocouplers, and optical mouse sensors. The company?s products are used in cellular phones, consumer appliances, data networking and telecommunications equipment, enterprise storage and servers, renewable energy and smart power grid, factory automation, displays, optical mice, printers, voice and data communications, keypad and display backlighting, backlighting control, base stations, storage area networking, in-car infotainment, lighting, motor controls, power supplies, and optical disk drives applications. It markets its produ cts through a network of distributors and its direct sales force worldwide. The company sells approximately 6,500 products to original equipment manufacturers of wireless communications, wired infrastructure, industrial and automotive electronics, and consumer and computing peripherals markets. Avago Technologies Limited was founded in 2005 and is based in Singapore.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By FinanceGuru]

  Compelling product and customer base Finisar appears to have one of the broadest product portfolios in the industry. While the firm does have a number of potent competitors, notably JDS Uniphase (JDSU) in the telecom space and Avago (AVGO) in the datacom space, it appears that no other company matches the breadth of Finisar's product offerings across both of these segments.

• [By Riddhi Kharkia]

  Avago Technologies (AVGO) is on a roll in 2014, having gained around 32% on the stock exchange so far. The chip maker's business is being accelerated by smartphone giants including Apple (AAPL) and Samsung (SSNLF), to whom it supplies radio frequency chips. In fact, according to UBS Investment Research, Apple and Samsung are expected to account for 60%-65% of Avago's revenue in the current fiscal.

• [By ovenerio]

  The company has a current ROE of 14.21% which is higher than the ones exhibited by Micron Technology (MU) and�Broadcom Corp (BRCM). In general, analysts consider ROE ratios in the 15-20% range as representing attractive levels for investment. So for investors looking those levels or more, Texas Instruments and Avago Technologies Ltd (AVGO) could be the options. It is very important to understand this metric before investing, and it is important to look at the trend in ROE over time.

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

  Avago Technologies Ltd.(AVGO) plans to cut a “substantial number” of jobs across the company following its recently completed acquisition of LSI Corp., according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Tuesday.