Top 10 Electric Utility Companies To Own For 2014

On this day in economic and business history ...

Thomas Edison is more closely linked to the development and spread of electricity through the world than any other person -- with the possible exception of Nikola Tesla. However, neither Edison nor Tesla had a hand in the first utility-scale distribution of electric power. That honor goes to George Roe, a forgotten pioneer who created the world's first electric utility in northern California. Archie Green, writing for the Fund for Labor Culture and History, offers this enlightening background on the company's origins:

On June 30, 1879, George Roe, a Canadian broker living in San Francisco, incorporated the California Electric Light Company. In September, the visionary firm produced and transmitted electricity for commercial sale to 21 privately owned arc lamps from the first central power station in the world. The primitive plant -- actually a shed of four-by-four timber uprights and walls of sheet iron -- enclosed a steam engine and boiler, a huge coal pile, and two small dynamos (patented April 24, 1877 by engineer Charles Brush for Cleveland's Telegraph Supply Company). ...

Top 10 Electric Utility Companies To Own For 2014: Imris Inc He Company] (IM.TO)

IMRIS Inc. provides integrated image guided therapy solutions that deliver information to clinicians during surgical or interventional procedures in Canada, the United States, Europe, the Asia Pacific, and the Middle East. The company designs, manufactures, and markets VISIUS Surgical Theatre, a multifunctional surgical environment that incorporates magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, CT imaging, fluoroscopy, computed tomography, and x-ray angiography into multi-purpose surgical suites to provide intra-operative imaging for medical applications. It also provides ancillary products and services. The company�s solutions serve the neurosurgical, cerebrovascular, and cardiovascular markets worldwide. IMRIS Inc. is based in Winnipeg, Canada.

Top 10 Electric Utility Companies To Own For 2014: American Public Education Inc.(APEI)

American Public Education, Inc., together with its subsidiary, American Public University System, Inc., provides online postsecondary education focusing on the needs of the military and public service communities. The company operates through two universities, American Military University (AMU) and American Public University (APU) serving approximately 110,000 students in the United States and internationally. The universities share a common faculty and curriculum, which includes 87 degree programs and 69 certificate programs in disciplines related to national security, military studies, intelligence, homeland security, criminal justice, technology, business administration, education, nursing, and liberal arts. The company was founded in 1991 and is headquartered in Charles Town, West Virginia.

Best Penny Companies To Watch In Right Now: Caza Oil & Gas Inc (CAZ.TO)

Caza Oil & Gas, Inc., through its subsidiary, Caza Petroleum, Inc., engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of petroleum and natural gas reserves. The company focuses on the exploration and production of hydrocarbons in the Texas Gulf Coast, south Louisiana, southeast New Mexico, and the Permian Basin of West Texas regions of the United States. As of December 31, 2011, its total net proved, probable, and possible oil and natural gas reserves were approximately 12,259.8 thousand barrels of light and medium crude oil; 59.57 billion cubic feet of natural gas; and 70.1 thousand barrels of natural gas liquids. Caza Oil & Gas Inc. was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in The Woodlands, Texas.

Top 10 Electric Utility Companies To Own For 2014: Tekmira Pharmaceut Com Npv (TKM.TO)

Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation, a biopharmaceutical company, focuses on developing ribonucleic acid interference (RNAi) therapeutic product candidates and providing its lipid nanoparticle delivery technology to pharmaceutical partners in the Canada. The company�s internal product development candidates include TKM-PLK1, an oncology product candidate that is in Phase I clinical trials to kill cancer cells; and TKM-Ebola, an antiviral product, which is in Phase I of clinical trials for the treatment of the Zaire species of Ebola virus infection. It also develops TKM-ApoB that has completed Phase I clinical trials to reduce the production of apolipoprotein B 100 in patients with high levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. In addition, the company has licenses from Alnylam targeting two validated oncology targets, WEE1 and CSN5; and to develop TKM-ALDH2, a systemically delivered RNAi therapeutic that utilizes lipid nanoparticle technology for the treatment of alc ohol dependence. Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation was founded in 1992 and is headquartered in Burnaby, Canada.

Top 10 Electric Utility Companies To Own For 2014: Sultan Minerals Inc. (SUL.V)

Sultan Minerals Inc. engages in the exploration and development of mineral properties in Canada. The company primarily focuses on the exploration of gold, silver, zinc, lead, molybdenum, tungsten, and other base metals. It holds 100% interests in the Kena gold property, a gold-copper-silver prospect covering approximately 8,173 hectare located near the town of Nelson in southeastern British Columbia; and the Jersey-Emerald property located southeast of the mining community of Salmo property located near Salmo, British Columbia. The company was incorporated in 1989 and is based in Vancouver, Canada.

Top 10 Electric Utility Companies To Own For 2014: Rush Enterprises Inc.(RUSHB)

Rush Enterprises, Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates as an integrated retailer of commercial vehicles and related services in the United States. The company owns and operates a network of commercial vehicle dealerships under the Rush Truck Centers name. Its Rush Truck Centers primarily sell commercial vehicles manufactured by Peterbilt, International, Hino, UD, Ford, Isuzu, Mitsubishi Fuso, IC Bus, or Blue Bird; and provide new and used commercial vehicles, aftermarket parts, service and repair, financing, leasing, and rental services, as well as property and casualty insurance to its commercial vehicle customers and other truck owners. The company serves owner operators, regional and national truck fleets, corporations, and local governments. It operates a network of 70 centers located in Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah. The company was founded in 1965 and is he adquartered in New Braunfels, Texas.

Top 10 Electric Utility Companies To Own For 2014: Celtic Exploration Com Npv (CLT.TO)

Celtic Exploration Ltd. is engages in the exploration, development, and production of oil and natural gas properties in Canada. It primarily focuses on the Greater Kaybob area, the Greater Resthaven area, and the Grande Cache area in the west central Alberta. The company also operates in the Princess, Bantry, Michichi, Richdale, and Drumheller areas in southern Alberta; Ashmont and Figure Lake areas in east central Alberta; Utikuma Lake area in northern Alberta; and in the Inga area of north east British Columbia. As of December 31, 2011, its proved plus probable reserves were 139.0 million barrel of oil equivalent. The company was formerly known as Desco Exploration Ltd. and changed its name to Celtic Exploration Ltd. in September 2002. Celtic Exploration Ltd. was founded in 2002 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.

Top 10 Electric Utility Companies To Own For 2014: BlackRock Energy and Resources Trust (BGR)

BlackRock Energy and Resources Trust is a close ended equity mutual fund launched by BlackRock Inc. The fund is managed by BlackRock Advisors, LLC. It invests in the public equity markets across the globe while focusing on the United States. The fund invests stocks of companies operating in the energy and natural resources sectors. It primarily invests in stocks of companies operating across all market capitalizations. The fund was formerly known as BlackRock Global Energy and Resources Trust. BlackRock Energy and Resources Trust was formed on December 29, 2004 and is domiciled in the United States.

Top 10 Electric Utility Companies To Own For 2014: Principal Financial Group Inc(PFG)

Principal Financial Group, Inc. provides retirement savings, investment, and insurance products and services worldwide. The company?s Retirement and Investor Services segment provides retirement savings and related investment products and services, including a portfolio of asset accumulation products and services primarily to small and medium-sized businesses and individuals in the United States. This segment offers products and services to businesses for defined contribution pension plans, including 401(k) and 403(b) plans, defined benefit pension plans, nonqualified executive benefit plans, and employee stock ownership plan consulting services; and annuities, mutual funds, and bank products and services to the employees of its business customers and other individuals. Principal Financial Group?s Principal Global Investors segment offers a range of equity, fixed income, and real estate investments, as well as specialized overlay and advisory services to institutional inve stors. The company?s Principal International segment offers retirement products and services, annuities, mutual funds, institutional asset management, and life insurance accumulation products in Brazil, Chile, China, Hong Kong SAR, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Singapore, and Thailand. Principal Financial Group?s U.S. Insurance Solutions segment offers individual life insurance, as well as specialty benefits in the United States. Its individual life insurance products include universal and variable universal life insurance and traditional life insurance; and specialty benefit products comprise group dental and vision insurance, individual and group disability insurance, and group life insurance, as well as fee-for-service claims administration and wellness services. The company was founded in 1879 and is based in Des Moines, Iowa.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Goldman]

  Principal Financial(PFG) is an insurance and investment management company.

  Principal is due to release fourth-quarter results today. It has an average earnings surprise average of 4.8% and moves 4%, both up and down, in reaction to earnings announcements. Principal's stock has soared 50% in the past 12 months, easily outpacing indices, and 13% in the past three months. Consequently, it has passed many of analysts' price targets. Goldman is still bullish, but predicts just 7% of remaining upside in the next 12 months.

  Principal receives "buy" ratings from just 26% of researchers evaluating its stock. But, it is still notably undervalued relative to its peer group. The stock trades at a forward earnings multiple of less than 12, a book value multiple of 1.2 and a cash flow multiple of 4.5, 21%, 70% and 71% industry discounts. The stock pays an annual dividend, which fluctuates depending upon operating results. This year's 55 cent annual payout translated to a 2% yield on payment.

Top 10 Electric Utility Companies To Own For 2014: Outdoor Channel Holdings Inc.(OUTD)

Outdoor Channel Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates as an entertainment and media company in the United States. The company operates in three segments: The Outdoor Channel, Production Services, and Aerial Cameras. The Outdoor Channel segment operates Outdoor Channel, a national television network that provides traditional outdoor related lifestyle programming, and outdoorchannel.com. It focuses on various traditional outdoor activities, such as hunting, fishing, and shooting sports, as well as off-road motor sports and other outdoor related lifestyle programming. This segment primarily serves sportsmen and outdoor enthusiasts. The Production Services segment engages in the production, development, and marketing of sports programming. This segment produces various programs for the company?s network or for third parties, including horseracing, rodeo, softball, soccer, college sports, hunting, and fishing. This segment also markets and sells media advertising and sponsorship opportunities; and offers Website development, management, marketing, and maintenance to a range of clients comprising sports leagues and corporate customers. The Aerial Cameras segment primarily provides suspended aerial camera services to media networks for inclusion in those networks? production of sporting events. The company was founded in 1984 and is headquartered in Temecula, California.