Top 10 Building Product Stocks To Buy For 2014

Dublin, Ireland-based heavy industrial manufacturer Ingersoll-Rand (NYSE: IR  ) is laying the groundwork for spinning off its Indiana-based, Ireland-registered Allegion subsidiary.

On Tuesday, Ingersoll named Quanex Building Products (NYSE: NX  ) CEO David�D. Petratis as the new chairman, president, and CEO of its soon-to-spin-off Allegion subsidiary. Petratis has served as chairman, president, and CEO of Houston-based Quanex since July 2008.

In announcing Petratis' appointment, Ingersoll-Rand CEO Michael W. Lamach called him "an accomplished leader in the manufacturing and marketing of code-compliant, high-value products that are specified by architects and engineers, and used by commercial and residential builders." Lamach also expressed hope that his "vision and leadership [will] help realize Allegion's full potential."

Based in Carmel, Ind., global security products and solutions company Allegion aims to list its shares on the New York Stock Exchange, using the ticker symbol ALLE. Post-spinoff, the company will boast $2 billion in annual sales of such products as steel doors and locks. This transaction is expected to take place by year's end.

Hot Integrated Utility Stocks To Buy For 2015: ThyssenKrupp AG (TKA)

ThyssenKrupp AG is a Germany-based technology holding company operating in seven business areas. The Steel Europe division produces carbon steel flat products. The Steel Americas division is engaged in production, processing and marketing of high-grade carbon steels. The Materials Services division is engaged in global distribution of materials and the provision of complex technical services for the production and manufacturing sectors. The Elevator Technology division is engaged in the area of passenger transportation systems. The Plant Technology division focuses on specialty and large-scale plant construction. The Components Technology division is engaged in manufacturing components for the automotive, construction and engineering sectors as well as for wind turbines. The Marine Systems division focuses on naval and civil shipbuilding. Apart from its business areas, it provides business services, which are diversified into Business Services and Information Technology (IT) Services. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Corinne Gretler]

  ThyssenKrupp AG (TKA) slumped 9.3 percent after Germany�� largest steelmaker raised 882.3 million euros ($1.21 billion) through a share sale. Standard Chartered Plc lost 8.1 percent. Sage Group (SGE) Plc, the U.K.�� biggest software maker, rose 6.8 percent after reporting revenue growth that exceeded analysts��estimates. AZ Electronic Materials SA surged 43 percent after Merck KGaA (MRK) agreed to buy it for about 1.6 billion pounds ($2.6 billion).

• [By Sofia Horta e Costa]

  ThyssenKrupp AG (TKA), Germany�� largest steelmaker, rose to a five-week high. YOC AG (YOC) surged the most in more than three months after the mobile-phone advertising company said it sold 1.3 million euros ($1.7 million) of shares to increase capital. Lanxess AG (LXS), the chemical maker that joined the DAX in September, retreated 3.4 percent.

• [By Corinne Gretler]

  Telekom Austria (TKA) slid 1.6 percent to 5.63 euros. Second-quarter earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization fell to 330.3 million euros ($439 million) from 364.8 million euros a year earlier. That compared with the average 332.7 million-euro analyst estimate.

Top 10 Building Product Stocks To Buy For 2014: Centerra Gold Inc (CAGDF.PK)

Centerra Gold Inc. (Centerra) is a gold mining company. The Company is engaged in the production of gold and related activities, including exploration, development, mining and processing in the Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Turkey, China and the Russian Federation. The Company�� producing gold mines properties include Kumtor, in the Kyrgyz Republic (100%) and Boroo, in Mongolia (100%). Centerra�� development project includes Gatsuurt, in Mongolia. Its exploration projects include ATO, in Mongolia (100%); Oksut, in Turkey (100%); Kara Beldyr, in Russia (70%); Dvoinoy, in Russia (40%), and Ulaan Bulag, in Mongolia (100%). Kumtor gold mine is located in the Kyrgyz Republic, about 350 kilometers southeast of the capital Bishkek and about 60 kilometers north of the border with the People�� Republic of China. The Boroo gold mine is located in Mongolia some 110 kilometers to the northwest of the capital city of Ulaanbaatar. The Kara Beldyr project is a joint venture with Auriant Mining Company. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Itinerant]

  Goldcorp, Newmont (NEM) or Agnico-Eagle use similar definitions. The important element here is the so-called 'sustaining capital expenditure', which is the capital required to sustain existing production levels. The table below is taken from the Agnico-Eagle presentation referenced above and provides a comparison of company-wide AISC for some of the major gold miners, including Goldcorp, Barrick Gold, Newmont Mining, Yamana Gold (AUY), Randgold (GOLD), Kinross (KGC), Agnico-Eagle Mines, Eldorado Gold (EGO), Goldfields and Centerra (CAGDF.PK). The difference between cash costs and AISC is significant. It is also important to note that these AISC are still noticeably below the present spot price for gold.

Top 10 Building Product Stocks To Buy For 2014: American Lorain Corp (ALN)

American Lorain Corporation (ALN), incorporated on February 4, 1986, is an integrated food manufacturing company. The Company develops, manufactures and sells food products, which includes chestnut products, convenience foods, including ready-to-cook (RTC) foods, ready-to-eat (RTE) foods and meals ready-to-eat (MRE)), and frozen food products. The Company conducts its production activities in China. Its products are sold in 26 provinces and administrative regions in China and 42 foreign countries. The Company derives its revenues from sales in China, Japan and South Korea. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company produced 254 products, including 16 new products in its chestnut and convenience foods segment. During 2011, it discontinued three products in the convenience segment. In February 2014, American Lorain Corp acquired a 51% interest in Athena Group.

The Company manufactures its products in six facilities in China, three of which are located in Junan County, Shandong Province, one in Luotian County, Hubei Province, one in Miyun County, Beijing City and one leased facility in Dongguan, Guandong Province. As of December 31, 2011, the Company manufactured its products using 26 production lines. Each production line is used to produce between 10 and 50 products. The Company operates three product lines: deep-freezing lines, canning lines and convenience food lines. The Company sells its products in all first-tier cities in China, including Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin and Guangzhou. Its export sales destinations include Asia pacific, primarily Japan, South Korea and Malaysia, but also Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia and Australia; Europe, primarily Belgium and the United Kingdom, but also France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Poland, and Denmark the Middle East, primarily Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Israel; North America, including the United States and Canada.

ALN owns 100% of International Lorain Holding, Inc. (ILH). ILH wholly owns two Chinese operating subsi! diaries, Luotian Green Foodstuff Co., Ltd. (Luotian Lorain) and Junan Hongrun Foodstuff Co., Ltd. (Junan Hongrun), directly. Junan Hongrun, in turn, wholly owns Dongguan Green Foodstuff Co., Ltd. (Dongguan Lorain). In addition, together with Junan Hongrun, ILH wholly owns Beijing Green Foodstuff Co., Ltd. (Beijing Lorain), Shandong Greenpia Foodstuff Co., Ltd. (Shandong Greenpia), and owns approximately 80% of Shandong Green Foodstuff Co., Ltd. (Shandong Lorain) (Shandong Economic Development Investment Co. Ltd. owns approximately 20%).

Chestnut Products

During 2011, the Company produced 57 processed chestnut products. During 2011, this segment contributed 51.7% of its total revenues. The Company's products include its aerated open-bottom chestnuts, which are chestnuts packaged with nitrogen; sweetheart chestnuts, which are sweet preserved chestnuts; chestnuts in syrup, and golden chestnut kernels.

Convenience Foods

The Company's convenience food products include RTC food products, RTE food products and MRE food products. During 2011, the Company's RTCs included beef and lamb products, and its RTEs included bean products and pickle products. The Company's self heating MREs are primarily for military use since no cooking device or other ingredients are needed other than water. The Company also introduced microwavable MREs for civilian uses, such as camping, traveling and other situations. The Company produces various MREs based on Chinese cuisine, which include its pork with garlic sauce over rice and kungpao chicken with rice. The Company produced 138 convenience food products, during 2011, including 14 new products, such as filled buns and fried sweet potato.

Frozen Food Products

The Company produces a variety of frozen foods, including frozen vegetables, frozen fruits, frozen fish, and frozen meats. The Company produced 63 frozen food products in 2011. The Company's frozen foods included, during 2011, were frozen asparagus a! nd frozen! corn.

The Company competes with Hebei Liyuan, Foodwell Corporation, Weifang Langdong Food Co. Ltd., Yuyao Hongji Food Co. Ltd. and Yantai Pengshun Food Co. Ltd.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By James E. Brumley]

  Truth be told, were it just today's 11% pop from American Lorain Corporation (NYSEMKT:ALN), it might not even be worth mentioning. It's not just today's 11% rally from ALN, though, that's made this stock so interesting. It's everything that's happened up until this point that may mean American Lorain deserves a spot at the top of your watchlist, if not in your portfolio.

Top 10 Building Product Stocks To Buy For 2014: MEDNAX Inc (MD)

MEDNAX, Inc. (MEDNAX), incorporated in 2007, is a provider of physician services, including newborn, maternal-fetal, pediatric subspecialties and anesthesia care. As of December 31, 2011, the Company�� national network consisted of 1,839 affiliated physicians, including 996 physicians who provided neonatal clinical care, in 34 states and Puerto Rico, primarily within hospital-based neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), to babies born prematurely or with medical complications. The Company has 190 affiliated physicians who provide maternal-fetal care to expectant mothers experiencing complicated pregnancies and obstetrical hospitalist services in many areas where its affiliated neonatal physicians practice. In March 2014, the Company acquired Piedmont Neonatology, P.C.Piedmont Neonatology, P.C, is a private neonatal physician group practice based in Greensboro, North Carolina.

MEDNAX�� network includes other pediatric subspecialists, including 108 physicians providing pediatric cardiology care, 85 physicians providing pediatric intensive care, 43 physicians providing hospital-based pediatric care and six physicians providing pediatric surgical care. In addition, it has 411 physicians who provide anesthesia care to patients in connection with surgical and other procedures, as well as pain management. The Company provides clinical care to babies born prematurely or with complications within specific units at hospitals, primarily NICUs, through a team of neonatal physician subspecialists (neonatologists), neonatal nurse practitioners and other pediatric clinicians. Neonatal nurse practitioners are nurses who have training and education in managing the healthcare needs of newborns, infants and their families.

MEDNAX provides outpatient and inpatient clinical care to expectant mothers and their unborn babies through its affiliated maternal-fetal medicine subspecialists, obstetricians and other clinicians, such as maternal-fetal nurse practitioners, nurse mid-wives, ultrasonogra! phers and genetic counselors. It provides inpatient and outpatient pediatric cardiology care of the fetus, infant, child, and adolescent patient with congenital heart defects and acquired heart disease, as well as adults with congenital heart defects through its affiliated pediatric cardiologist subspecialists and other clinicians, such as pediatric nurse practitioners, echocardiographers and other diagnostic technicians, and exercise physiologists.

The Company�� network includes pediatric intensivists, who are hospital-based pediatricians with education and training in caring for critically ill or injured children and adolescents, pediatric hospitalists, who are hospital-based pediatricians specializing in inpatient care and management of acutely ill children and pediatric surgeons, who provide specialized care for patients ranging from newborns to adolescents, for all problems or conditions affecting children that require surgical intervention. Its affiliated physicians also provide clinical services in other areas of hospitals, particularly in the labor and delivery area and nursery and pediatric department.

The Company provides anesthesia care through a team of physician anesthesiologists, certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) and anesthesia assistants (AAs). The Company also provides acute and chronic pain management services. Postoperative acute pain management is often initiated in the hospital recovery room and may continue for the remainder of the hospital stay. Chronic pain services are offered through outpatient medical offices or hospital clinics.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Seth Jayson]

  MEDNAX (NYSE: MD  ) is expected to report Q2 earnings around July 30. Here's what Wall Street wants to see:

  The 10-second takeaway
  Comparing the upcoming quarter to the prior-year quarter, average analyst estimates predict MEDNAX's revenues will increase 18.4% and EPS will grow 11.5%.

• [By Bryan Murphy]

  Looking for some fresh trading ideas in a market environment that isn't offering many? Take a look at MEDNAX Inc. (NYSE:MD) and Westport Innovations Inc. (NASDAQ:WPRT). Though they're pointed in different directions, both MD and WPRT appear to be on the verge of trade-worthy moves. The fact that the two are nearly mirror images of one another is strictly coincidental.

Top 10 Building Product Stocks To Buy For 2014: Uroplasty Inc (UPI)

Uroplasty, Inc., incorporated in January 1992, is a medical device company that develops, manufactures and markets products for the treatment of voiding dysfunctions. The Company�� primary focus is on two products: the Urgent PC Neuromodulation system and Macroplastique Implants. The Urgent PC system is a United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved minimally invasive, office-based neuromodulation therapy for the treatment of overactive bladder (OAB) and associated symptoms of urinary urgency, urinary frequency, and urge incontinence; and Macroplastique Implants a urethral bulking agent for the treatment of adult female stress urinary incontinence primarily due to intrinsic sphincter deficiency (ISD). Outside of the United States, the Company�� Urgent PC is also approved for treatment of fecal incontinence, and Macroplastique is also approved for treatment of male stress incontinence and vesicoureteral reflux.

Urgent PC Neuromodulation System

Using a small-gauge needle electrode inserted above the ankle, the Urgent PC System delivers electrical impulses to the tibial nerve that travel to the sacral nerve plexus, a control center for pelvic floor and bladder function. Components of the Urgent PC system include a hair-width needle electrode, a lead set, and an external, handheld, battery-powered stimulator. For each 30-minute, office-based therapy session, the physician or other qualified healthcare provider inserts the needle electrode in the patient�� lower leg and connects the electrode to the stimulator. Typically, a patient undergoes 12 consecutive weekly treatment sessions, with follow-up maintenance treatments as required to sustain the therapeutic effect. The Company has received regulatory clearances for sale of the Urgent PC system in the United States, Canada and Europe. It also has launched its second generation Urgent PC system.

Macroplastique

Macroplastique is designed to restore the patient�� urinary contine! nce immediately following treatment. Macroplastique is a soft-textured, permanent implant injected, under endoscopic visualization, around the urethra distal to the bladder neck. It is a composition of heat vulcanized, solid, soft, irregularly shaped polydimethylsiloxane (solid silicone elastomer) implants suspended in a biocompatible excretable carrier gel. Macroplastique does not degrade, is not absorbed into surrounding tissues and does not migrate from the implant site. The Company has sold Macroplastique for several urological indications in over 40 countries outside the United States.

Other Uroplasty Products

The Company markets outside of the United States minimally invasive products to address fecal incontinence. Its PTQ Implants offer minimally invasive, soft-textured permanent implant for treatment of fecal incontinence. The PTQ Implants are implanted circumferentially into the submucosa of the anal canal, creating a bulking and supportive effect similar to that of Macroplastique injection for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence. The PTQ is Conformite Europeenne (CE) marked and is sold outside the United States in various international markets. The Urgent PC is also CE marked and sold outside of the United States for the treatment of fecal incontinence. In addition to urological applications, the Company markets its tissue bulking material outside the United States for otolaryngology vocal cord rehabilitation applications under the trade name VOX Implants. In the Netherlands and the United Kingdom only, the Company distributes certain wound care products in accordance with a distributor agreement.

The Company competes with Pfizer Inc., Johnson and Johnson, Novartis, Allergan, GlaxoSmithKline, Carbon Medical Technologies, BioForm, Inc., Q-Med AB and Contura.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lisa Levin]

  Uroplasty (NASDAQ: UPI) shares reached a new 52-week high of $5.22 after the company reported strong Q3 results.

  Juniper Networks (NYSE: JNPR) shares gained 8.23% to touch a new 52-week high of $28.15 after the company reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter results. Barclays upgraded the stock from Equalweight to Overweight and lifted the price target from $29.00 to $34.00.

Top 10 Building Product Stocks To Buy For 2014: Comtech Telecommunications Corp.(CMTL)

Comtech Telecommunications Corp. engages in the design, development, production, and marketing of products, systems, and services for advanced communications solutions in the United States and internationally. It operates in three segments: Telecommunications Transmission, Mobile Data Communications, and RF Microwave Amplifiers. The Telecommunications Transmission segment provides satellite earth station equipment and systems, over-the-horizon microwave systems, and forward error correction technology, which are used in various commercial and government applications, including backhaul of wireless and cellular traffic, broadcasting (including HDTV), IP-based communications traffic, long distance telephony, and secure defense applications. The Mobile Data Communications segment provides mobile satellite transceivers, and computers and satellite earth station network gateways and associated installation, training, and maintenance services; supplies and operates satellite pac ket data networks, including arranging and providing satellite capacity; and offers microsatellites and related components. The RF Microwave Amplifiers segment designs, develops, manufactures, and markets satellite earth station traveling wave tube amplifiers (TWTA) and broadband amplifiers. Its amplifiers are used in broadcast and broadband satellite communication; defense applications, such as telecommunications systems and electronic warfare systems; and commercial applications comprising oncology treatment systems, as well as to amplify signals carrying voice, video, or data for air-to-satellite-to-ground communications. The company serves satellite systems integrators, wireless and other communication service providers, broadcasters, defense contractors, military, governments, and oil companies. Comtech markets its products through independent representatives and value-added resellers. The company was founded in 1967 and is headquartered in Melville, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Marc Bastow]

  Advanced communications systems provider Comtech Telecomm (CMTL) raised its quarterly dividend 9.1% to 30 cents per share, payable on Feb. 19 to shareholders of record as of Jan. 17.
  CMTL Dividend Yield: 3.75%

• [By Monica Gerson]

  Comtech Telecommunications (NASDAQ: CMTL) reported upbeat fiscal fourth quarter results and issued a strong full-year outlook. Comtech shares jumped 11.12% to $26.77 in the after-hours trading session.

• [By Rich Smith]

  Maybe there's something to this whole "sequestration" phenomenon after all -- because for all intents and purposes -- and certainly in comparison with recent trends -- Department of Defense spending has come to a screeching halt in recent days. On Wednesday, for example, DoD issued a grand total of three new contracts, totaling a mere Pentagon pittance of just $44.4 million.

Top 10 Building Product Stocks To Buy For 2014: Unifi Inc (UFI)

Unifi, Inc., sells fibers made from polyester and nylon filament to other yarn manufacturers, knitters and weavers that produce fabric for the apparel, hosiery, sock, home furnishing, automotive upholstery, industrial and other markets. The Company's polyester yarn products include polyester polymer beads (Chip), partially oriented yarn (POY), textured, solution and package dyed, twisted and beamed yarns. The Company's nylon products include textured, solution dyed and covered spandex products. The Company operates in three segments: Polyester segment, Nylon segment and International segment. In December 2013, Unifi Inc acquired American Drawtech Co Inc.

The Polyester segment manufactures Chip, POY, textured, dyed, twisted and beamed yarns, virgin and recycled, with sales primarily to other yarn manufacturers, knitters and weavers that produce yarn and/or fabric for the apparel, hosiery, automotive upholstery, home furnishing, industrial and other end-use markets. The Polyester segment consists of manufacturing operations in the United States and El Salvador. The Nylon segment manufactures textured nylon and covered spandex yarns with sales to knitters and weavers that produce fabric for the apparel, hosiery, sock and other end-use markets. The Nylon segment consists of manufacturing operations in the United States and Colombia. The International segment's products primarily include textured polyester and range of resale yarns. The International segment sells its yarns to knitters and weavers that produce fabric for the apparel, automotive upholstery, home furnishing, industrial and other end-use markets primarily in the South American and Asian regions.

The Company manufactures polyester related products in the United States, El Salvador and Brazil and nylon yarns in the United States and Colombia for a range of end-uses. The Company processes and sells POY, as well as high-volume commodity, specialty, and PVA yarns, domestically and internationally, with PVA yarns making up! approximately 18% consolidated sales for the fiscal year ended June 24, 2012.

The Company competes with O'Mara, Inc., NanYa Plastics Corp., AKRA, S.A. de C.V., C S Central America S.A. de C.V., Avanti Industria Comercio Importacao e Exportacao Ltda., Polyenka Ltda., Sapona Manufacturing Company, Inc., McMichael Mills, Inc. and Worldtex, Inc.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Javier Hasse, Insider Monkey]

  Once again, MedAssets trades below its industry average valuation of 62.1 x P/E, at 49.3x. Its valuation becomes even more attractive when one looks at the company麓s P/B ratio (2.8x vs. an industry average of 15.6x) and P/S ratio (2.0x vs. 4.7x). However, below average margins, returns and growth projections are three major sources of concern.

  Unifi (UFI)

  Finally, there’s Unifi (UFI), a $421 million market cap diversified producer and processor of multi-filament polyester and nylon yarns.