Best Trucking Companies To Buy For 2014

With the glut of natural gas in the U.S., domestic companies are exploring different avenues of putting the cleaner-burning fuel to good use. Some, like Cheniere Energy (NYSEMKT: LNG  ) , whose Sabine Pass terminal was the first LNG export venture to receive federal approval, are looking to export the stuff.

Others are using it right here in the U.S. to power trucks and other vehicles. Waste Management (NYSE: WM  ) , for instance, has amassed a sizable fleet consisting of 2,000 trucks powered by compressed natural gas, or CNG. It even recently opened a new CNG fueling station in Bristol, Pa., to help fuel its growing fleet, as well as to provide fueling options for the public. �

Along with LNG exporters and companies with large trucking fleets, other companies are also finding innovative ways of tapping the plentiful supply of U.S. natural gas. Let's take a closer look at three of them.

Halliburton
First up is oilfield services company Halliburton (NYSE: HAL  ) , which recently revealed how it's using natural gas to fuel some of its vehicles. In a YouTube video, the company announced the addition of nearly 100 new light-duty trucks that can run on compressed natural gas.

Top 5 Life Sciences Companies For 2015: Tranzyme Inc.(TZYM)

Tranzyme, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, engages in the discovery, development, and commercialization of small molecule therapeutics for the treatment of acute and chronic gastrointestinal (GI) motility disorders in the United States and internationally. The company?s clinical product candidates include ulimorelin, an intraveneous ghrelin agonist, which is in the Phase III clinical development stage for the treatment of acute upper GI motility disorders; and TZP-102, an orally-administered ghrelin agonist that has commenced Phase IIb clinical development stage for the treatment of diabetic gastroparesis. Its preclinical product candidates comprise TZP-201, a motilin antagonist for the treatment of various forms of moderate-to-severe diarrhea; and TZP-301, an oral ghrelin antagonist for the treatment of metabolic diseases. The company has strategic collaboration with Bristol-Myers Squibb Company to discover, develop, and commercialize additional novel co mpounds; and a license agreement with Norgine B.V to develop and commercialize ulimorelin in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, the Middle East, and north and South Africa. Tranzyme, Inc. was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Durham, North Carolina.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By CRWE]

  Tranzyme Pharma (Nasdaq:TZYM) reported that it has closed the previously announced underwritten registered direct offering of approximately 3.0 million shares of its common stock at a price of $3.85 per share for gross proceeds, including the over-allotment option, of approximately $11.5 million.

Best Trucking Companies To Buy For 2014: Pioneer Exploration Inc (PIEX)

Pioneer Exploration Inc. (Pioneer) is an exploration-stage company. The Company is primarily engaged in the acquisition and exploration of mining properties.

As of August 31, 2012, the Company has not generated any revenue. As of August 31, 2012, the Company does not have any manufacturing facilities, operations, suppliers, products, or customers.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Peter Graham]

  Small cap stocks Metrospaces Inc (OTCMKTS: MSPC), LEEP INC (OTCMKTS: LPPI) and Pioneer Exploration Inc (OTCMKTS: PIEX) have been getting some attention lately due to either promotions or share trading activity. Unfortunately, there are still unanswered questions about these three ��ark horse��stocks which make it more difficult for investors and traders alike to evaluate. With that in mind, let�� try to shine the light on what we know about all three small caps:

Best Trucking Companies To Buy For 2014: Allegheny Technologies Incorporated (ATI)

Allegheny Technologies Incorporated engages in the production and sale of specialty metals worldwide. It operates in three segments: High Performance Metals, Flat-Rolled Products, and Engineered Products. The High Performance Metals segment provides various high performance alloys, including nickel- and cobalt-based alloys and super alloys; titanium and titanium-based alloys; zirconium and related alloys, such as hafnium and niobium; other specialty alloys primarily in long product forms of ingots, billets, bars, shapes and rectangles, rods, wires, and seamless tubes; and precision forgings and castings, and machined parts. The Flat-Rolled Products segment provides stainless steel, nickel-based alloys, super alloys, titanium and titanium-based alloys, and specialty alloys in various product forms comprising plates, sheets, engineered strips, and precision rolled strip products, as well as grain-oriented electrical steel sheets. The Engineered Products segment produces carb on alloy steel impression die forgings, and grey and ductile iron castings, as well as provides precision metal processing services, such as grinding, polishing, blasting, cutting, flattening, and ultrasonic testing. The company serves various markets, including aerospace and defense, oil and gas, chemical process, electrical energy, medical, automotive, construction and mining, food equipment and appliances, transportation, electronics, communication equipment, computers, and machine and cutting tools markets; and other markets requiring tools with hardness. Allegheny Technologies Incorporated sells its products through direct sales and independent representatives. The company was founded in 1960 and is based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sue Chang and Saumya Vaishampayan]

  Allegheny Technologies Inc. (ATI) �shares rose 4%. The company, which makes products for the aerospace and petrochemical industries, last week declared a quarterly dividend of 18 cents a share. The dividend will be paid on March 26 to shareholders of record at the close of the business day on March 12.

• [By Lee Jackson]

  Allegheny Technologies Inc. (NYSE: ATI) is the top steel and alloy play from Merrill Lynch. The company is one of the world’s largest producers of specialty metals. Its diverse product mix includes titanium, nickel alloys, precision strip and exotic alloys. Although Allegany produces some commodity items such as stainless steel products, its focus and a significant portion of its profits are generated from innovative, specialty alloys that only a few companies in the world are able to produce. Merrill Lynch has a $20 price target. The Thomson/First Call target is $30. Investors are paid a 2.6% dividend

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Investors, however, are showing no signs of letting up on the risk taking. Want evidence? Just look at the top-performing stocks this week. Four of the top-five come from the materials sector, which could benefit from a stronger economy.�Cliffs Natural Resources (CLF), which rose 9.6% this week, Allegheny Technologies (ATI), which gained 7.7%, U.S. Steel (X), which advanced 7.7%, and Dow-exile Alcoa (AA), which finished the week up 7.6% They were joined by PulteGroup (PHM), which rose 7.8% after a delay of a Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac mortgage-fee hike was mooted.

Best Trucking Companies To Buy For 2014: (CG)

The Carlyle Group is an investment firm specializing in direct and fund of fund investments. Within direct investments, it specializes in management-led buyouts, divestitures, strategic minority equity investments, equity private placements, consolidations and buildups, leveraged finance, and venture and growth capital financings. The firm typically invests in agriculture, aerospace, defense, automotive, consumer, retail, industrial, infrastructure, energy, power, healthcare, software, technology, real estate, financial services, transportation, business services, telecommunications, and media sectors. Within the industrial sector, the firm invests in manufacturing, building products, packaging, chemicals, metals and mining, forestry and paper products, and industrial consumables and services. In consumer and retail sectors, it invests in food and beverage, retail, restaurants, consumer products, consumer services, personal care products, direct marketing, and education. W ithin aerospace, defense, business services, and government services sectors, it seeks to invest in defense electronics, manufacturing and services, government contracting and services, information technology, distribution companies. In telecommunication and media sectors, it invests in cable TV, directories, publishing, entertainment and content delivery services, wireless infrastructure/services, fixed line networks, satellite services, broadband and Internet, and infrastructure. The firm seeks to hold its investments for four to six years. In the healthcare sector, it invests in healthcare services, outsourcing services, companies running clinical trials for pharmaceutical companies , managed care, pharmaceuticals, pharmaceutical related services, healthcare IT, medical, products, and devices. It seeks to invest in companies based in Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, Middle East, North America, and South America. The firm seeks to invest in food, financial, and healthcare industries in Western China. In the real estate! sector, the firm seeks to invest in Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States with a target on Florida and Atlanta. It typically invests between $5 million and $50 million for venture investments and between $50 million and $1 billion for buyouts. It typically holds its investments for three to five years. Within automotive and transportation sectors, the firm seeks to hold its investments in for four to six years. The firm originates, structures, and acts as lead equity investor in the transactions. The Carlyle Group was founded in 1987 and is based in Washington, District of Columbia with additional offices across North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Europe.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dan Moskowitz]

  Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX  ) has changed the at-home movie-viewing landscape by offering subscriptions for streaming movies and television shows. Netflix's success should continue, as it has established the most recognizable brand in an industry that it formed. Lovefilm is the U.K. version of Netflix, and it has also been successful. Several of Lovefilm's founders were determined to use this successful business model in another area, which is how Graze.com came to fruition. The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG  ) is a majority owner of Graze, and it has been pleased with the results seen thus far.�

Best Trucking Companies To Buy For 2014: Abercrombie & Fitch Company(ANF)

Abercrombie & Fitch Co., through its subsidiaries, operates as a specialty retailer of casual apparel for men, women, and kids. The company sells casual sportswear apparel, including knit and woven shirts, graphic t-shirts, fleece, jeans and woven pants, shorts, sweaters, and outerwear; personal care products; and accessories under the Abercrombie & Fitch, abercrombie kids, and Hollister brands. It also offers bras, underwear, sleepwear, and at-home products for girls under the Gilly Hicks brand. The company sells products through its stores; direct-to-consumer operations; and Websites, which comprise abercrombie.com, abercrombiekids.com, hollisterco.com, and gillyhicks.com. As of October 29, 2011, it operated a total of 1,092 stores, including 316 Abercrombie & Fitch stores, 179 abercrombie kids stores, 501 Hollister Co. stores, and 18 Gilly Hicks stores in the United States; and 10 Abercrombie & Fitch stores, 4 abercrombie kids stores, 63 Hollister Co. stores, and 1 Gill y Hicks store internationally. The company was founded in 1892 and is headquartered in New Albany, Ohio.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Nikhil Raheja]

  The PE ratio of the company is relatively low at 17.34. The earnings of the company are down 34% from the peak in 2008, while the revenue is up 15% since then. This is due to the rise in the raw material costs. Other industry participants such as Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF) and Aeropostale have had lower profit margins for the same reason. The company has a dividend yield of 2.2%, but also paid a special dividend of $1.61 last year. American Eagle currently trades at 19.9. Investors should not expect many more special dividends since the current ratio of the company has edging down.

• [By Katie Spence]

  Is this an isolated incident?
  Victoria's Secret isn't the only company to face consumers' wrath over marketing. In 2011, Abercrombie & Fitch (NYSE: ANF  ) released a "push-up" bikini, originally intended for 7-year-olds and up. Parents were outraged, and the blowback forced Abercrombie to rename the bikini and announce that it was for 12-year-olds and up. In 2006, U.K. company�Tesco� (LSE: TSCO  ) came under fire for selling a stripper pole with the words "Unleash the sex kitten inside," in its toys and games section. CNN Money named the company's move one of the "101 Dumbest Moments in Business."��

• [By Jon C. Ogg]

  This “Size” dilemma is nothing new. Abercrombie & Fitch (NYSE: ANF) has been under fire previously for its stance against big clothing sizes. The company’s stance was that its clothes are not made for larger people. A&F’s shares have been in the gutter, but this sure seems like a series of product missteps and weaker sales which likely had nothing to do with turning larger-size buyers away.

• [By Douglas A. McIntyre]

  The Old Navy decision is not a direct threat to full service retailers, but for niche clothiers, particularly targeting young people, the sweepstakes could trigger problems. Shares of Abercrombie & Fitch (NYSE: ANF) have already been bludgeoned due to a forecast of�falling sales and a plan to close stores. Its shares trade at $33, near the 52-week low and well off the 52-week high of just above $55.� And, smaller rival American Eagle Outfitters�(NYSE:AEO) recently revised its earnings forecasts higher for the current quarter due to�better margins. Its shares, however, remain near one year lows.

Best Trucking Companies To Buy For 2014: Alpha and Omega Semiconductor Limited(AOSL)

Alpha and Omega Semiconductor Limited engages in the design, development, and supply of a range of power semiconductors worldwide. The company offers power discrete product line comprising trench MOSFETs, electrostatic discharge, protected MOSFETs, and SRFETs; and power ICs. Its products are used in notebooks, netbooks, flat panel displays, mobile phone battery packs, set-top boxes, portable media players, and power supplies. The company sells its products to distributors. Alpha and Omega Semiconductor Limited is based in Hamilton, Bermuda.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Tim Melvin]

  This split among industry segments has created some value opportunities as those companies with high exposure to PCs are very cheap. And while the move towards smart phones and tablets may continue, the PC is not dead — demand will pick up along with the economy.

  Alpha and Omega Semiconductor (AOSL)

  Alpha and Omega Semiconductor (AOSL) is a designer, developer and global supplier of a broad portfolio of power semiconductors. The portfolio of power semiconductors includes more than 1,400 products, and has grown rapidly with 195 new products introduced last year alone. Its semiconductors are used in a wide range of products, including things like personal computers, flat panel TVs, LED lighting, smart phones, and telecommunications equipment.