Top 10 Stocks To Watch For 2014

People with hepatitis-C and those who carry the virus without even realizing it -- you have a reason to celebrate this weekend.

Hepatitis-C is a contagious virus that attacks the liver and can be found in acute or chronic forms. In nearly all instances, acute cases of hepatitis-C lead to a chronic form of the condition, which can cause cirrhosis of the liver and possibly even liver cancer. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 3.2 million people in the U.S. (about 1% of the population) are estimated to have a chronic version of the hepatitis-C virus, which is known as one of the silent killers because many of its symptoms go undetected. To put things mildly, it's a serious disease currently commanding a lot of attention from researchers.

That attention manifested itself into the approval by the Food and Drug Administration of Abbott Laboratories' (NYSE: ABT  ) first-ever hepatitis-C genotyping test on Thursday. Known as the Realtime HCV Genotype II, this fully automated test is capable of examining patients' blood to determine which specific genotype of the HCV virus is present out of the 11 known subtypes. Since different medications work better on certain genotypes, Abbott's Realtime HCV Genotype II test is going to revolutionize the speed of, and personalization, of hepatitis-C care.

Top 5 Oil Companies To Watch For 2015: PrivateBancorp Inc.(PVTB)

PrivateBancorp, Inc. operates as the holding company for The PrivateBank and Trust Company that provides business and personal financial services to middle-market companies and business owners, executives, entrepreneurs, and families in the United States. The company?s deposit products include checking, savings, and money market accounts; interest and non-interest bearing demand deposits; and certificates of deposit. Its loan portfolio comprises commercial loans, including lines of credit to businesses for working capital needs, term loans, and letters of credit; commercial real estate loans; loans for the construction of single-family residential properties, multi-family properties, and commercial projects; mortgage loans; and residential, home equity, and personal loans. The company also provides private banking, investment management, trust, and investment agency services to high and ultra-high net-worth clients; custody, escrow, and tax-deferred exchange services; and investment management services to individuals, families, and foundations. In addition, it invests primarily in residential mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations. As of December 31, 2011, the company operated 18 branch locations in the Chicago market; and 10 branch locations in the Atlanta, Detroit, Kansas City, Milwaukee, and St. Louis metropolitan areas, as well as 29 automated teller machines located at its banking facilities. PrivateBancorp, Inc. was founded in 1989 and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Zacks]

  Some better-ranked Midwest banks include First Interstate Bancsystem Inc. (NASDAQ: FIBK), Wintrust Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: WTFC) and PrivateBancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: PVTB). All these stocks carry a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).

Top 10 Stocks To Watch For 2014: Spirit Aerosystems Holdings Inc.(SPR)

Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiaries, designs and manufactures commercial aerostructures worldwide. It operates in three segments: Fuselage Systems, Propulsion Systems, and Wing Systems. The Fuselage Systems segment develops, produces, and markets forward, mid, and rear fuselage sections and systems primarily to aircraft original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), as well as offers related spares, and maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services. This segment also offers rotorcraft comprising forward cockpit and cabin for military aircrafts. The Propulsion Systems segment engages in the development, production, and marketing of struts/pylons; nacelles, including thrust reversers; and related engine structural components primarily to aircraft or engine OEMs, as well as provides related spares and MRO services. The Wing Systems segment develops, produces, and markets wings and wing components comprising flight control surfaces and other miscellaneous structural parts primarily to aircraft OEMs, as well as offers related spares and MRO services. This segment is also involved in designing, engineering, and manufacturing structural components for military aircrafts, including low observables that are radar absorbent and translucent materials; and radome new builds and refurbishment. It also provides other military services, such as fabrication, bonding, assembly, testing, tooling, processing, engineering analysis, and training. Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. serves large commercial airplanes, business and regional jets, and military/helicopter sectors of the aerostructures industry. The company was formerly known as Mid-Western Aircraft Systems Holdings, Inc. Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. is headquartered in Wichita, Kansas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Inyoung Hwang]

  Axel Springer AG (SPR) declined 1.5 percent to 43.43 euros. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. cut its rating on Europe�� biggest newspaper publisher to sell from neutral, saying its valuation is the highest of the publishers it covers. Shares trade at 18.6 times earnings compared with 16.3 times for the DAX.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Shares of Textron have gained 1.2% to $36.63 at 1:09 p.m., while Embraer (ERJ) has risen 0.5% to $32.30, Triumph Group (TGI) has advanced 0.2% to $75.73 and Spirit AeroSystems (SPR) is off 0.8% at $33.90.

• [By Michael Cintolo]

  Spirit AeroSystems (SPR) is a dominant supplier of aerostructures (fuselages, wing systems, etc.) to both Boeing and Airbus��n fact, it makes 70% of the airframe content for the Boeing 737, and is the largest aerostructure provider to Boeing's newer 787.

Top 10 Stocks To Watch For 2014: Kite Pharma Inc (KITE)

Kite Pharma, Inc., incorporated on June 1, 2009, is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of cancer immunotherapy products designed to harness the power of a patient�� own immune system to eradicate cancer cells. The Company does this using its engineered autologous cell therapy (eACT). eACT involves the genetic engineering of T cells to express either chimeric antigen receptors (CARs, or T cell receptors, or TCRs). These modified T cells are designed to recognize and destroy cancer cells. The Company funds multiple Phase I-2a clinical trials with CAR- and TCR-based therapies that are being conducted by its collaborator, the Surgery Branch of the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The Company plans to conduct a Phase I-2 clinical trial for its lead product candidate KTE-C19, a CAR-based therapy, in patients with relapsed/refractory diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL).

eACT involves harvesting T cells from the patient�� blood; genetically engineering T cells to express cancer-specific receptors; increasing the number of engineered T cells and infusing the functional cancer-specific T cells back into the patient. Using eACT technology, T cells can be genetically modified to express one of two classes of cancer-specific receptors: CARs or TCRs. CARs can recognize native cancer antigens that are part of an intact protein presented on the cancer cell surface. TCRs broaden the therapeutic approach by recognizing fragments on the cancer cell surface derived from intracellular proteins. By combining both CAR and TCR approaches, it has the potential to generate a portfolio of products that can target both solid and hematological tumors. It has a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA), through which it is funding the research and development of eACT-based product candidates utilizing CARs and TCRs for the treatment of advanced solid and hematological malignancies.

The Company�� lead product candidate, KTE-C19, ! is an anti-CD19 CAR T cell therapy. CD19 is a protein expressed on the cell surface of B cell lymphomas and leukemias. The Company is an ongoing NCI Phase I-2a clinical trial utilizing anti-CD19 CAR T cell therapy that is designed to establish a dose level and appropriate conditioning regimen, as well as to assess overall safety, in patients with B cell lymphomas and leukemias that had been heavily pretreated and were relapsed/refractory (unresponsive) to chemotherapy. KTE-C19 will use the identical anti-CD19 CAR construct and viral vector that is being used in the NCI trial. The Company a license with the NIH for intellectual property relating to a TCR-based T cell therapy targeting the antigen SSX2 for the treatment of head and neck cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, melanoma, prostate cancer and sarcoma, and a co-exclusive license to this intellectual property for the treatment of certain additional cancer types.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Udovich]

  Small cap cancer drug stock Kite Pharma Inc (NASDAQ: KITE) has surged after announcing a�strategic research collaboration and license agreement with Amgen, Inc (NASDAQ: AMGN)�involving Chimeric Antigen Receptors (CAR) ��meaning its worth taking a closer look at the stock, which had an IPO last June,�along with potential peers�Bellicum Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ: BLCM) and Juno Therapeutics (NASDAQ: JUNO) which are players in the CAR therapies space and had more recent IPOs.

• [By Matt Egan]

  While the health-care sector only raised $1.8 billion during the second quarter, it led the way with 24 IPOs, up from 17 the year before. Hot drug IPOs include Zs Pharma (ZSPH), Kite Pharma (KITE) and GlobeImmune (GBIM), all of which debuted in June and are trading more than 40% above their IPO price.

• [By John Udovich]

  Biotech news this week was dominated by a number of healthcare and biotech related IPOs, including Parnell Pharmaceuticals Holdings Ltd (NASDAQ: PARN), Signal Genetics Inc (NASDAQ: SGNL), ZS Pharma Inc (NASDAQ: ZSPH), Ardelyx Inc (NASDAQ: ARDX)�and Zafgen Inc (NASDAQ: ZFGN) with Kite Pharma Inc (NASDAQ: KITE), Microlin Bio Inc (NASDAQ: MCLB) and�Syndax Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ: SNDX) presumably set to debut today (Note:�See�This Week�� Biotech IPOs: Two Losers and One Winner So Far (PARN, SGNL & ZSPH)):

Top 10 Stocks To Watch For 2014: Builders FirstSource Inc.(BLDR)

Builders FirstSource, Inc. engages in the manufacture and supply of structural and related building products for residential new construction primarily in the southern and eastern United States. The company offers prefabricated components, including floor trusses, roof trusses, wall panels, stairs, and engineered wood; and window and door products, such as aluminum and vinyl windows, and pre-hung interior and exterior doors, as well as assembles and distributes interior and exterior door units. It also provides lumber and lumber sheet products comprising dimensional lumber, plywood, and oriented strand board products; millwork products, including interior trim, exterior trim, columns, and posts, as well as custom exterior featured products; and other building products, such as cabinets, gypsum, hardware, composite materials, roofing, and insulation. In addition, the company offers turn-key framing, shell construction, design assistance, and professional installation servic es for products spanning its product categories, as well as provides a range of construction services. It serves customers ranging from production homebuilders to small custom homebuilders. The company was formerly known as BSL Holdings, Inc. and changed its name to Builders FirstSource, Inc. in October 1999. Builders FirstSource, Inc. was founded in 1998 and is based in Dallas, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rex Moore]

  The annual Value Investor Conference is one of the premier events surrounding Berkshire Hathaway's annual meeting in Omaha. The Motley Fool's Michael Olsen and Rex Moore were in attendance and talked to several value investors.�In today's video, Michael asks Bob Robotti, founder of Robotti & Co., about his investment in Builders FirstSource (NASDAQ: BLDR  ) .

Top 10 Stocks To Watch For 2014: AVX Corp (AVX)

AVX Corporation (AVX), incorporated on September 19, 1989, is a manufacturer and supplier of a broad line of passive electronic components and related products. All types of electronic devices use AVX�� passive component products to store, filter or regulate electric energy. The Company�� passive electronic component products include ceramic and tantalum capacitors, film capacitors, varistors, filters and other components manufactured in its facilities throughout the world and passive components manufactured by Kyocera Corporation of Japan (Kyocera). It also manufactures and sells electronic connectors and inter-connect systems and distribute and sell certain electronic connectors manufactured by Kyocera. It is organized by product line with five main product groups. AVX operates in three segments: Passive Components, Kyocera Electronic Devices (KED Resale) and Interconnect. On February 6, 2013, it acquired tantalum solid electrolytic capacitor related businesses from NICHICON CORP.

through manufacturing representatives and independent electronic component distributors. The Passive Components segment consists primarily of surface mount and leaded ceramic capacitors, radio frequency (RF) thick and thin film components, tantalum capacitors, film capacitors, ceramic and film power capacitors, super capacitors, electromagnetic interference (EMI) filters, thick and thin film packages, varistors, thermistors, inductors and resistive products. The KED Resale segment consists primarily of ceramic capacitors, frequency control devices, surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices, sensor products, RF modules, actuators, acoustic devices and connectors produced by Kyocera, and resold by AVX. The Interconnect segment consists primarily of AVX Interconnect (formerly Elco) automotive, telecom and memory connectors manufactured by AVX.

Passive Components

AVX manufactures a range of multi-layered ceramic and solid tantalum capacitors in many different sizes and configurations. The C! ompany also offers a line of advanced passive component products to fill the special needs of the customers. Its family of passive components also includes film capacitors, high energy/voltage power capacitors, and varistors. Its advanced products engineers work with some customers' in-house technical staffs to design, produce, and manufacture customized products to meet the specifications of particular applications. Sales of advanced products accounted for approximately 41% of passive component net sales during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013 (fiscal 2013).

KED Resale

AVX has a non-exclusive license to distribute and sell certain Kyocera manufactured electronic component and connector products to certain customers and in certain territories outside of Japan. The Company�� distribution and sale of certain Kyocera products broadens its range of products and further facilitates its ability to offer one-stop shopping for the customers' electronic components needs. The Kyocera KDP and KKC electronic components it sells include ceramic capacitors, RF modules, frequency control devices, SAW devices, sensor products, actuators, and acoustic devices. Resale product sales also include connectors manufactured by Kyocera. Sales of these products accounted for approximately 31% of net sales in fiscal 2013.

Interconnect

AVX manufactures and sells electronic connectors and interconnect systems for use in the telecommunications, information technology hardware, automotive electronics, medical device, defense and aerospace industries. The Company�� product lines include a range of industry-standard connectors, as well as products designed specifically for the customers' applications. It produces fine pitch connectors used in portable devices, such as smart phones, other cell phones, notebook computers, global positioning system (GPS), and other hand held devices. In addition, it offers specialty connectors designed to address customer specific applications! across a! range of products and end markets. Approximately 33% of combined Interconnect and KEC Resale Connector net sales in fiscal 2013 consisted of connectors manufactured by Kyocera.

The Company competes with Murata Manufacturing Company Ltd, TDK Corporation, KEMET Corporation, NEC Corporation, Yageo Corporation, Taiyo Yuden Co. Ltd., Samsung Electro-Mechanics, Vishay Intertechnology, Inc., Tyco Electronics, Amphenol, Molex Incorporated, FCI and Erni Electronics.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Competitor AVX Corp. (AVX) has gained 1.1% to $12.96, while Molex (MOLX) has dropped 0.2% to $29.28 and Amphenol (APH) has ticked up 0.3% to $76.32.

Top 10 Stocks To Watch For 2014: King Digital Entertainment PLC (KING)

King Digital Entertainment plc, incorporated on July 3, 2013, is an interactive entertainment company. The Company�� games include Candy Crush Saga, Pet Rescue Saga, Farm Heroes Saga, Papa Pear Saga and Bubble Witch Saga. As of December 31, 2013, an average of 128 million DAUs played its games more than 1.2 billion times per day. The Company makes casual games, which appeal to a wide and growing audience. Users access its games for free anywhere and anytime they wish to, either on their mobile devices, through social networks or via its Website, king.com. The combination of wide game appeal, accessibility, and its multi-platform capabilities enables to attract a broad user base, foster viral growth, and create a compelling, fun and social experience.

The Company operates in developing and monetizing casual online and mobile games. As of December 31, 2013, the Company had a massive network of 324 million monthly users and a track record of long-term retention driven by game longevity and ability to cross-promote new games to its audience. The Company launches new game IPs on its royalgames.com Website, where it receives feedback from its core user base of VIP customers. The Company then identifies the games based on deep performance analytics and its historical experience, and enhance them with additional features and capabilities in its Saga format before releasing them on other distribution channels, such as the Apple App Store, the Google Play Store, the Amazon Appstore and Facebook.

The Company develops and publishes casual games on royalgames.com, its tournament portal, and on mobile and social platforms. Casual games typically include a puzzle element, are easy to learn but hard to master, and can be played with or against others. It builds games across a variety of sub-genres, including switcher (moving pieces to create matches), bubble shooter (building clusters of pieces), clicker (clearing clusters of pieces), card games and several others.

Cand! y Crush Saga

The Company�� popular game, Candy Crush Saga, had 93 million average DAUs and 1,085 million average daily games played across all platforms as of December 31, 2013 . Candy Crush Saga is a switcher game in which players match candies in combinations of three or more to win points and defeat obstacles. Players progress through a colorful candy world with over 500 levels, each offering a different puzzle challenge. Players progress through a colorful candy world with over 500 levels, each offering a different puzzle challenge. The levels get progressively more difficult, with obstacles such as chocolate machines adding further layers of complexity to the game. If players enjoy a specific level, they can return to play it again to see if they can achieve the three star rating. Candy Crush Saga is synchronized across platforms, allowing players to switch seamlessly between devices and platforms and continue their game wherever they left off.

Pet Rescue Saga

Pet Rescue Saga is a clicker game in which players click on groups of similarly colored blocks in order to clear them from the screen. The game offers over 440 levels of play in an animal themed adventure where players have to rescue a range of cute pets from the evil Pet Snatchers. Pet Rescue Saga had 15 million average DAUs and 129 million average daily games played across all platforms in as of December 31, 2013. The aim is to clear enough blocks to guide pets to safety at the bottom of the screen while also achieving the minimum score required. Players also need to think through the consequences of removing any one set of block as this will cause other blocks to move sideways or fall into play. Pet Rescue Saga offers additional challenges in the form of caged pets, stony floors that require a key to unlock and diamonds that can only be removed by landing them on a stony floor. As with the other Saga format games, players can continue through the game without losing lives as long as they complete e! ach level! . Players can also return to specific levels in order to achieve the three star rating. Pet Rescue Saga is synchronized across platforms, allowing players to switch seamlessly between devices and platforms and continue their game wherever they left off.

Farm Heroes Saga

Like Candy Crush Saga, Farm Heroes Saga uses a switcher format, but unlike Candy Crush Saga, it focuses on a collection mechanic. The game is set in a fantasy farmland world with over 380 levels. The game requires players to collect different farm elements, such as carrots, apples, onions and water by matching at least three in a row. To progress, players need to collect sufficient quantities of each element within a limited number of moves. The game requires players to collect different farm elements such as carrots, apples, onions and water by matching at least three in a row. To progress, players need to collect sufficient quantities of each element within a limited number of moves. Once a player has collected enough of each element, the game goes into Hero Mode enabling the player to boost the score through careful use of the remaining moves.

Papa Pear Saga

Papa Pear Saga is a physics-based game with a tropical theme and contains over 290 levels. Papa Pear Saga had five million average DAUs and 37 million average daily games played across all platforms as of December 31, 2013 . The game format features elements of pinball and pachinko. Players have to shoot Papa Pear from a cannon at the top of the screen in order to have him fall into buckets at the bottom of the screen. If players select the right trajectory and power, Papa Pear will hit different elements such as acorns, berries and carrots. This will help clear the screen, making it easier to hit the buckets, and improve the score for the level. If a player uses too much power in the shot or gets the trajectory wrong, Papa Pear will bounce wildly. Different levels also have additional objectives, such as eliminating the right! number o! f acorns or carrots within the allocated number of shots. Once Papa Pear has met the objective, the level ends in a Papa Fiesta, as all remaining Papa Pears dive into play.

Bubble Witch Saga

Bubble Witch Saga is a bubble shooter game in which players need to pick their shots carefully in order to get through a field of bubbles and then clear at least nine spaces at the top of the screen. Over 520 levels of play are offered in this witch-themed game featuring cats, spiders and spirits. Bubble Witch Saga had three million average DAUs and 23 million average daily games played across all platforms as of December 31, 2013, . To make it challenging, each level limits the number of bubbles players can shoot and also sets a minimum score requirement. Points are earned as bubbles fall into cauldrons at the bottom of the screen, bouncing off spiders to increase their value. Through successive accurate shots, players can increase the number of spiders on screen and their score potential. In order to succeed, players not only need to aim accurately but also to plan their shots in advance. As typical in the Saga format, the levels become more difficult as the game progresses. Puzzle challenges include bubbles locked in crystal, bubbles that infect their neighbors with a virus and bubbles of doom that explode upon contact. As with its other games, players can return to specific levels again in order to achieve the three star rating. Bubble Witch Saga is synchronized across platforms, allowing players to switch seamlessly between devices and platforms and continue their game wherever they left off.

The Company competes with Activision Blizzard, Inc.; DeNA Co., Ltd.; Electronic Arts Inc.; Gree International, Inc.; GungHo Online Entertainment America, Inc.; Microsoft Corporation; Nexon Co. Ltd.; NHN Entertainment Corp.; Supercell Oy; Tencent Holdings Limited; Zynga Inc.; Amazon.com, Inc., Apple, Inc., Facebook, Inc., Google Inc., The Walt Disney Company and Yahoo! Inc. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jim Jubak]

  Yesterday�� rout in the initial public offering (IPO) of King Digital Entertainment (KING), the maker of the Internet game hit Candy Crush Saga, has savaged Internet game stocks across Asia today.

• [By Jason Cunningham]

  King Digital Entertainment (NYSE: KING) CEO Riccardo Zacconi isn't crushed about anything. Maybe it's because he's sweet on mobile and social media.

Top 10 Stocks To Watch For 2014: Walter Bau AG (WTB)

Walter Bau AG is an international construction group based in Augsburg, southern Germany. The Company's core construction-related services are planning, financing, project development and facilities management. It is active in the fields of turnkey construction, civil engineering, international construction and transportation infrastructure. Its subsidiary, DYWIDAG-Systems International markets the Company's products and systems worldwide, particularly in the field of post-tensioning and geotechnics, as well as special civil engineering processes. Walter Bau also provides operation and financing solutions, as well as developing commercial and residential real estate projects. Facilities Management is offered by DYWIDAG Service GmbH. Its Logistics Competence Center in Augsburg bundles the Company's Germany-wide activities as a general contractor in the planning, construction and support of distribution centers. The Company commenced insolvency proceedings in April 2005. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sofia Horta e Costa]

  Whitbread Plc (WTB) added 4.1 percent to 3,114 pence, its largest advance since September 2012. Oriel Securities Ltd. raised its rating on the shares to buy from hold, citing improvement in the U.K. hotel market.

• [By Namitha Jagadeesh]

  BHP Billiton Ltd. (BHP) and Rio Tinto Group, the world�� biggest mining companies, fell at least 3 percent. Whitbread Plc (WTB) dropped 2.8 percent after UBS AG downgraded the owner of the Costa Coffee chain. British Land Co., the U.K.�� second-largest real estate investment trust, advanced 1.2 percent after saying it bought commercial property in London for 470 million pounds ($707 million).