10 Best High Tech Stocks To Own For 2014

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NEW YORK (CNNMoney) Company earnings and the Fed are likely to take center stage Wednesday as markets show signs of steadying after a sharp plunge.

The Federal Reserve will release minutes from its March meeting at 2 p.m. ET Wednesday.

U.S. stock futures were moving higher.

Auto stocks could see some pressure after Toyota (TM) announced a massive global recall. General Motors (GM, Fortune 500), grappling with the continuing fallout of its botched ignition switch recall, fell in premarket dealing.

In corporate news, Bed Bath and Beyond (BBBY, Fortune 500) will report earnings after the closing bell. Comcast (CCV) and Time Warner Cable (TWC, Fortune 500) representatives will appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee to plead their case for merging the companies.

Top 10 India Stocks To Watch For 2015: Nordic American Tanker Ltd (NAT)

Nordic American Tankers Limited is an international tanker company. As of December 31, 2011, the Company owned 20 Suezmax tankers. The Company�� vessels include Nordic Harrier, Nordic Hawk, Nordic Hunter, Nordic Voyager, Nordic Freedom, Nordic Fighter, Nordic Discovery, Nordic Saturn, Nordic Jupiter, Nordic Apollo and Nordic Moon. Its vessels also include Nordic Cosmos, Nordic Sprite, Nordic Grace, Nordic Mistral, Nordic Passat, Nordic Vega, Nordic Breeze, Nordic Aurora and Nordic Zenith. In September 2011, the Company acquired the vessel, Nordic Aurora. It chartered all of its vessels in the spot market pursuant to a cooperative arrangement with Gemini Tankers LLC until November 24, 2011. In November 2011, the Orion Tankers pool was established with Orion Tankers Ltd. as pool manager and its vessels were transferred from the Gemini Tankers LLC arrangement to the Orion Tankers pool. On December 17, 2012, the Company acquired 100% interest in Scandic American Shipping Ltd. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Duprey]

  Shipping magnate�Nordic American Tankers (NYSE: NAT  ) announced today its second-quarter dividend of $0.16 per share, the same rate it's paid for the past two quarters after slashing the payout 47% from $0.30 per share. Even so, it marks the 64th consecutive quarterly dividend payment the tanker operator has made.

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Equities Trading DOWN
  Shares of Nordic American Tankers (NYSE: NAT) were down 10.08 percent to $7.98 after the company announced the pricing of follow-on offering.

10 Best High Tech Stocks To Own For 2014: CTC Media Inc.(CTCM)

CTC Media, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as an independent media company. It operates the CTC, Domashny, and Peretz television networks in Russia. The company also operates Channel 31, a television network in Kazakhstan, as well as a television channel in Moldova offering entertainment programming. In addition, it is involved in in-house production operations that focus on series, sitcoms, and shows. CTC Media, Inc. was founded in 1989 and is headquartered in Moscow, the Russian Federation.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Halia Pavliva]

  The Bloomberg Russia-US gauge slipped 0.4 percent to 104.16, paring its advance this month to 7.7 percent. CTC Media Inc. (CTCM), the Nasdaq-listed Russian television company, rallied 2.6 percent to $12.86, the highest level since April 25. The stock has climbed 22 percent this month, making it the best performer on the Bloomberg-Russia gauge. VimpelCom is the second-biggest gainer on the index this month, followed by OAO Rostelecom (ROSYY), which has increased 17 percent after two months of declines.

• [By Dan Burrows]

  This small-cap media company operates three popular television networks in Russia, but that’s not all CTC Media (CTCM) has going for it. Billionaire owner Yury Kovalchuk is a longtime pal of President Vladimir Putin. That’s important in a country as, er, mercurial as Russia.

• [By James Brumley]

  If they want in, it might be a lead worth following.

  CTC Media (CTCM)

  CTCM Dividend Yield: 8.2%

  When tensions between Russia and Ukraine first began to develop in early March, most Russian stocks tanked. Russian broadcast television company CTC Media (CTCM) was no exception, with its stock losing 19% of its value in March alone, on top of the 24% dip that had whacked CTCM stock from the beginning of the year through the end of March.

10 Best High Tech Stocks To Own For 2014: ATP Oil And Gas Corp (AOB)

ATP Oil & Gas Corporation, incorporated in 1991, is engaged in the acquisition, development and production of oil and natural gas properties. As of December 31, 2011, the Company had estimated net proved reserves of 118.9 Million barrels of crude oil equivalent (MMBoe), of which approximately 75.9 MMboe (64%) were in the Gulf of Mexico and 42.9 MMBoe (36%) were in the North Sea. The reserves consisted of 78.6 Million barrels (MMBbls) of oil (66%) and 241.5 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of natural gas (34%). Its proved reserves in the deepwater area of the Gulf of Mexico account for 62% of the Company�� total proved reserves and its proved reserves on the Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf account for 2% of its total proved reserves. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company acquired three licenses in the Mediterranean Sea covering potential natural gas resources in the deepwater off the coast of Israel (East Mediterranean). On August 17, 2012, ATP Oil And Gas Corp filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

The Company�� natural gas reserves are split between the Gulf of Mexico (57%) and the North Sea (43%). Of its total proved reserves, 8.3 MMBoe (7%) were producing, 19.0 MMBoe (16%) were developed and not producing and 91.6 MMBoe (77%) were undeveloped. The Company�� average working interest in its properties at December 31, 2011, was approximately 81%. The Company operates 92% of its platforms. At December 31, 2011, in the Gulf of Mexico, it owned leasehold and other interests in 38 offshore blocks and 49 wells, including 23 subsea wells. The Company operates 43 (88%) of these wells, including 100% of the subsea wells. In the North Sea, it also had interests in 13 blocks and two Company-operated subsea wells. As of March 15, 2011, the Company owned an interest in 13 platforms, including two floating production facilities in the Gulf of Mexico, the ATP Titan at its Telemark Hub and the ATP Innovator at its Gomez Hub. It operates the ATP Innovator and the ATP Titan.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Emerson]

  Most of the Chinese companies that I purchased now reside on the Pink Sheets or have disappeared altogether, but at one time they all traded on major US exchanges. One of them (AOB), even received the honor of ringing the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange in 2007, and people say that crime does not pay.

10 Best High Tech Stocks To Own For 2014: Interactive Intelligence Inc.(ININ)

Interactive Intelligence, Inc. provides software application suites for voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) business communications to enterprises in the United States and internationally. The company offers software products and services for contact center, enterprise IP telephony, multichannel contact management, and business process automation. Its solutions include Interactive Intelligence Customer Interaction Center that provides contact centers and enterprises a single platform and a pre-integrated all-in-one application solution for IP telephony, including phone calls, faxes, e-mails, and Web interactions; Interactive Intelligence Customer Interaction Center for the Enterprise, an IP PBX phone and communications system for SIP-supported VoIP for mid-sized and larger enterprises, as well as offers real-time presence management and remote access with unified messaging, IVR and interaction client integrations for Microsoft applications; Interaction Process Automation t hat allows an organization to capture, prioritize, route, escalate, and track each step in a work process; and Interaction Content Management solution. The company also provides professional, managed, education, and support services. Its solutions are used by businesses and organizations that employ remote and mobile workers in teleservices, financial services, insurance, higher education, utilities, healthcare, retail, technology, government, and business services industries. The company distributes its products through partners and direct arrangements with end-user customers. Interactive Intelligence, Inc. was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Garrett Cook]

  Shares of Interactive Intelligence Group (NASDAQ: ININ) were down 15.29 percent to $42.34 as the company warned that Q2 results will be below expectations.

• [By James Oberweis]

  Indianapolis-based Interactive Intelligence Group (ININ) develops software for contact center infrastructure and unified communications software.

  Across verticals like banking, insurance, government, utilities, and retail, Interactive Intelligence's software helps companies manage their call centers and associated client interactions, irrespective of whether by phone, email, web, or fax. The firm is benefitting from three drivers.

• [By Garrett Cook]

  Shares of Interactive Intelligence Group (NASDAQ: ININ) were down 15.85 percent to $42.06 as the company warned that Q2 results will be below expectations.

10 Best High Tech Stocks To Own For 2014: Cognex Corporation(CGNX)

Cognex Corporation provides machine vision products that capture and analyze visual information to automate tasks primarily in manufacturing processes. It operates in two divisions, Modular Vision Systems and Surface Inspection Systems. The Modular Vision Systems division develops, manufactures, and markets modular vision systems that are used to automate the manufacture of discrete items, such as cellular phones, aspirin bottles, and automobile wheels by locating, identifying, inspecting, and measuring them during the manufacturing process. The Surface Inspection Systems division develops, manufactures, and markets surface inspection vision systems that are used to inspect the surfaces of materials processed in a continuous fashion, including metals, papers, nonwoven, plastics, and glass. The company serves customers in factory automation, semiconductor and electronics capital equipment, and surface inspection markets. Cognex Corporation sells its products through direct sales force, as well as through a network of integration and distribution partners worldwide. The company was founded in 1981 and is headquartered in Natick, Massachusetts.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Garrett Cook]

  Shares of Cognex (NASDAQ: CGNX) got a boost, shooting up 14.94 percent to $43.45 after the company reported better-than-expected quarterly results and issued a strong Q3 revenue outlook.

10 Best High Tech Stocks To Own For 2014: First Horizon National Corp (FHN)

First Horizon National Corporation (FHN), incorporated in 1968, is a bank holding company. The Company provides financial services through its subsidiary, First Tennessee Bank National Association (the Bank), and its subsidiaries. The Company�� two brands First Tennessee and FTN Financial provide customers with a range of products and services. First Tennessee provides retail and commercial banking services throughout Tennessee. FTN Financial (FTNF) is engaged in fixed income sales, trading, and strategies for institutional clients in the United States and abroad. FHN has four operating business segments: regional banking, capital markets, corporate, and non-strategic. As of December 31, 2011, the Bank had $16.4 billion in total deposits and $16 billion in total net loans. As of December 31, 2011, the Company�� subsidiaries had over 200 business locations in 17 the United States states, Hong Kong, and Tokyo, excluding off-premises automated teller machines (ATMs). As of December 31, 2011, the Bank had 183 branch locations in four states, which include 172 branches in metropolitan areas of Tennessee; two branches in northwestern Georgia; seven branches in northwestern Mississippi, and two branches in North Carolina. As of December 31, 2011, FTN Financial products and services were offered through 18 offices in total, including 16 offices in 14 states plus an office in each of Hong Kong and Tokyo.

The regional banking segment offers financial products and services, including traditional lending and deposit taking, to retail and commercial customers in Tennessee and surrounding markets. Regional banking provides investments, financial planning, trust services and asset management, credit card, cash management, and first lien mortgage originations within the Tennessee footprint. In addition, the regional banking segment includes correspondent banking, which provides credit, depository, and other banking related services to other financial institutions.

The capital markets se! gment consists of fixed income sales, trading, and strategies for institutional clients in the United States and abroad, as well as loan sales, portfolio advisory, and derivative sales. The corporate segment consists of gains on the extinguishment of debt, unallocated corporate expenses, expense on subordinated debt issuances and preferred stock, bank-owned life insurance, unallocated interest income associated with excess equity, net impact of raising incremental capital, revenue and expense associated with deferred compensation plans, funds management, low income housing investment activities, and charges related to restructuring, repositioning, and efficiency. The non-strategic segment consists of the wind-down national consumer lending activities, legacy mortgage banking elements, including servicing fees, and the associated ancillary revenues and expenses related to these businesses. Non-strategic also includes the wind-down trust preferred loan portfolio and exited businesses along with the associated restructuring, repositioning, and efficiency charges.

As of December 31, 2011, the Company provided services through its subsidiaries, which include general banking services for consumers, businesses, financial institutions, and governments; through FTN Financial fixed income sales and trading, underwriting of bank, loan sales, advisory services and derivative sales; discount brokerage and full-service brokerage; correspondent banking; transaction processing, such as nationwide check clearing services and remittance processing; trust, fiduciary, and agency services; credit card products; equipment finance; investment and financial advisory services; mutual fund sales as agent; retail insurance sales as agent, and mortgage banking services.

As of December 31, 2011, the commercial, financial, and industrial (C&I) portfolio was eight billion dollars, and is consisted of loans used for general business purposes, and consisted of relationship customers in Tennessee and certain n! eighborin! g states, which are managed within the regional bank. Products include working capital lines of credit, term loan financing of owner-occupied real estate and fixed assets, and trade credit enhancement through letters of credit. As of December 31, 2011, the unpaid principal balance (UPB) of trust preferred loans totaled $447.2 million with the UPB of other bank-related loans totaling approximately $161.8 million. The commercial real estate portfolio includes both financings for commercial construction and non-construction loans. This portfolio is segregated between income commercial real estate (CRE) loans which contain loans, lines, and letters of credit to commercial real estate developers for the construction and mini- permanent financing of income-producing real estate, and residential CRE loans. The residential CRE portfolio includes loans to residential builders and developers for the purpose of constructing single-family detached homes, condominiums, and town homes. As of December 31, 2011, the residential CRE portfolio was $.1 billion. As of December 31, 2011, the consumer real estate portfolio was $5.3 billion, and is composed of home equity lines and installment loans. As of December 31, 2011, the credit card and other portfolios were $.3 billion, and primarily include credit card receivables, automobile loans, and over-the-counter (OTC) construction loans and other consumer related credits.

FHN�� investment portfolio consists of debt securities, including government agency issued mortgage-backed securities (MBS) and government agency issued collateralized mortgage obligations (CMO). During the year ended December 31, 2011, Government agency issued MBS and CMO, and other agencies averaged $2.9 billion. During 2011, the United States treasury securities and municipal bonds averaged $79.5 million. During 2011, investments in equity securities averaged $222.3 million.

During 2011, short-term funds (certificates of deposit greater than $100,000, federal funds purchased (! FFP), sec! urities sold under agreements to repurchase, trading liabilities, and other short-term borrowings) averaged $3.6 billion. During 2011, other borrowings increased to $.3 billion. Term borrowings include senior and subordinated borrowings and advances with original maturities greater than one year. During 2011, average term borrowings averaged $2.6 billion.

The Company competes with Regions Bank, SunTrust Bank, Wells Fargo Bank N.A., Bank of America N.A., and Pinnacle National Bank.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Maxfield]

  Given that you clicked on this article, it seems safe to assume you either own stock in First Horizon National (NYSE: FHN  ) or are considering buying shares in the near future. If so, then you've come to the right place. The table below reveals the nine most critical numbers that investors need to know about First Horizon stock before deciding whether to buy, sell, or hold it.

• [By Sean Williams]

  Finally, regional bank First Horizon National (NYSE: FHN  ) , which has banking branches throughout Tennessee, added 4.2% just a day after paying shareholders a $0.05 quarterly dividend. Like Genuine Parts, there is no company specific news driving First Horizon higher, but the prospect for a higher net interest margin because of higher interest rates is certainly adding a boost to banks like First Horizon that rely on traditional loan and deposit growth. But as my Foolish colleague John Maxfield recently pointed out, you may want to keep your expectations for First Horizon tempered in the interim.

• [By Eric Volkman]

  After the close of trading Friday, the S&P 500 will include Pfizer spinoff Zoetis (NYSE: ZTS  ) . The stock replaces First Horizon National (NYSE: FHN  ) , which is to find a new home on the S&P MidCap 400.

• [By Monica Gerson]

  First Horizon National (NYSE: FHN) is expected to report its Q2 earnings at $0.17 per share on revenue of $286.98 million.

  Synacor (NASDAQ: SYNC) is estimated to post a Q1 loss at $0.05 per share on revenue of $24.53 million.

10 Best High Tech Stocks To Own For 2014: CBS Corp (CBS.A)

CBS Corporation is a mass media company. The Company has operations in segments, which include Entertainment, Cable Networks, Publishing, Local Broadcasting and Outdoor. During the year ended December 31, 2011, contributions to the Company's consolidated revenues from its segments were Entertainment 52%, Cable Networks 11%, Publishing 6%, Local Broadcasting 19% and Outdoor 13%. During 2011, it generated approximately 15% of its total revenues from international regions. During 2011, approximately 59% and 17% of total international revenues were generated in Europe and Canada, respectively. Effective March 26, 2013, the Company acquired 50% interest in The TV Guide Network from Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. In June 2013, the Company acquired TV Guide Digital, which includes the popular TVGuide.com and TV Guide Mobile properties. In October 2013, Platinum Equity and CBS Corporation announced that an affiliate of Platinum Equity acquired the assets of CBS Outdoor International (CBSO International).

Entertainment

The Entertainment segment consists of the CBS Television Network; CBS Television Studios, CBS Studios International and CBS Television Distribution, the Company's television production and syndication operations; CBS Films, the Company's producer and distributor of theatrical motion pictures, and CBS Interactive, the Company's online content networks for information and entertainment. The CBS Television Network through CBS Entertainment, CBS News and CBS Sports distributes a schedule of news and public affairs broadcasts, sports and entertainment programming to more than 200 domestic affiliates reaching throughout the United States, including 16 of the Company's owned and operated television stations, and to affiliated stations in certain United States territories. The CBS Television Network primarily derives revenues from the sales of advertising time for its network broadcasts. CBS Entertainment is responsible for acquiring or developing and scheduling the entertainme! nt programming presented on the CBS Television Network, which includes primetime comedy and drama series, reality-based programming, specials, children's programs, daytime dramas, game shows and late-night programs. CBS News operates a worldwide news organization, providing the CBS Television Network and the CBS Radio Network with scheduled news and public affairs broadcasts, including 60 Minutes, 48 Hours Mystery, CBS Evening News with Scott Pelley, CBS This Morning, CBS Sunday Morning and Face the Nation, as well as special reports.

CBS News off-network production units produce programming for domestic and international outlets, including the CBS Television Network, cable television, home video, audio-book and in-flight markets, as well as schools and libraries. CBS News also provides CBS Newspath, a television news syndication service that offers daily news coverage, sports highlights and news features to the CBS Television Network affiliates and other subscribers worldwide. CBS Sports broadcasts include The NFL Today, certain games from the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament (including the NCAA Men's Final Four), the PGA Golf Tour, Masters Tournament and PGA Championship, the United States Open Tennis Championships, regular-season college football and basketball games on network television, in addition to the NFL's American Football Conference (AFC) regular-season, post-season divisional playoff and championship games. The Company, through CBS Television Studios, CBS Studios International and CBS Television Distribution, produces, acquires and/or distributes programming worldwide, including series, specials, news and public affairs. Such programming is produced primarily for broadcast on network television, exhibition on basic cable and premium subscription services or distribution via first-run syndication. First-run syndication is programming exhibited on television stations without prior exhibition on a network or cable service. The Company also distributes off-network synd! icated pr! ogramming, which is programming exhibited on television stations, cable networks or video-on-demand services following its exhibition on a network, basic cable network or premium subscription service.

Programming that was produced or co-produced by the Company's production group and is broadcast on network television includes, among others, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (CBS), NCIS (CBS), The Good Wife (CBS) and 90210 (The CW). In off-network syndication, the Company distributes series such as CSI:, CSI: Miami, CSI: NY, Criminal Minds, NCIS and NCIS: Los Angeles, as well as a library of older television programs. The Company also produces and/or distributes first-run syndicated series such as Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy!, Entertainment Tonight, Inside Edition, The Insider, Dr. Phil, Rachael Ray and Judge Judy. The Company also distributes syndicated and other programming internationally. The Company has entered into agreements for digital streaming of its programming in the United States. and certain other countries. The Company entered into non-exclusive licensing agreements with Netflix, Inc., for streaming various programming from the Company's library on Netflix's subscription video-on-demand services in July 2011 for Canada and Latin America and, in October 2011, for the United Kingdom. In September 2011, the Company entered into a non-exclusive licensing agreement with Hulu Japan LLC for streaming various programs from the Company's library on Hulu's subscription video-on-demand service in Japan. In February 2011 and July 2011, the Company entered into non-exclusive licensing agreements with each of Netflix, Inc. and Amazon Digital Services, Inc., respectively, to stream various programs from the Company's library on each of Netflix's and Amazon's subscription video-on-demand services in the United States.

The Company owns a 50% interest in a joint venture with Reliance Broadcast Network Limited, which operates three English language and one Punjabi language general ent! ertainmen! t television channels for the Indian market and surrounding territory. Also, the Company owns an approximately 33% interest in a joint venture with a subsidiary of Ten Network Holdings Limited to provide content to ELEVEN, a digital multichannel service, which launched in Australia in January 2011. In addition, the Company owns a 50% interest in a joint venture with Chellozone (UK) Limited, a subsidiary of Liberty Global, Inc., which owns and operates six television channels in the United Kingdom and Ireland, including CBS Action, CBS Drama and CBS Reality, and an approximately 33% interest in a joint venture, which owns two pay television channels in Australia called TV1 and Sci Fi. CBS Films produces, acquires and distributes theatrical motion pictures across all genres. CBS Films' theatrical releases during the year ended December 31, 2011, were The Mechanic and Beastly. In general, motion pictures produced or acquired by CBS Films are exhibited theatrically in the United States and internationally. CBS Interactive operates one of the global publishers of content on the Internet.

CBS Interactive's brands include CNET, CBS.com, CBSSports.com, GameSpot, TV.com, CBSNews.com, ZDNet, Last.fm, and MetroLyrics.com, among others, serve targeted audiences with text, video, audio, and mobile content spanning technology, entertainment, sports, news, business, gaming and music categories. In addition to its United States-based business, CBS Interactive operates in Asia and Europe. CBS Interactive generates revenue principally from the sale of advertising and sponsorships, in addition to fees derived from search and commerce partners, licensing fees, subscriptions, e-commerce activities, and other paid services. CNET.com is the Website for technology and consumer electronics information and features news, reviews, downloads and instructional and entertaining video and audio shows about technology. GameSpot is a gaming information Website providing video game reviews and previews, news, Webcasts, vid! eos, and ! game downloads. CBSSports.com provides sports content, fantasy sports, community and e-commerce features. CBSSports.com owns and operates CBSCollegeSports.com College Network and MaxPreps.com. TV.com is a destination for entertainment and community around television where visitors can watch videos and discuss and obtain information about television shows across all networks. CBS Interactive also operates CBS.com, the online destination for CBS Television Network programming. Through the CBS Audience Network, the Company delivers content from its Websites and television, radio and affiliated stations.

The Company competes with ABC, FOX, NBC, The CW, MyNetworkTV, Disney, NBCUniversal, Sony, Paramount Pictures Corporation, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., Lions Gate Entertainment, The Weinstein Company, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., Lakeshore Entertainment Group LLC, AOL, MSN, Yahoo!, Google, eBay, Shopping.com and Amazon.com.

Cable Networks

The Cable Networks segment consists of Showtime Networks, the Company's subscription program services; CBS Sports Network, the Company's cable network for college athletics, and Smithsonian Networks, a venture with Smithsonian Institution, which operates Smithsonian Channel. Showtime Networks owns and operates three subscription program services in the United States: Showtime, offering recently released theatrical feature films, original series, documentaries, boxing, mixed martial arts and other sports-related programming, and special events; The Movie Channel, offering recently released theatrical feature films and related programming; and Flix, offering theatrical feature films primarily from the last several decades, as well as selected other titles. At December 31, 2011, Showtime, The Movie Channel and Flix, in the aggregate, had approximately 73 million subscriptions in the United States, certain United States territories and Bermuda. Showtime Networks also owns and operates multiple! xed chann! els of Showtime and The Movie Channel in the United States, which offer additional and varied programming choices. In addition, Showtime Networks transmits high definition feeds of Showtime, The Movie Channel and a number of of their multiplexed channels, and also makes versions of Showtime, The Movie Channel and Flix available on demand, enabling subscribers to watch selected individual programs (in both standard and high definition in the case of Showtime and The Movie Channel, and standard definition in the case of Flix). Showtime Networks also makes available Showtime Anytime, a streaming on-demand authenticated version of Showtime, which can be accessed on computers via showtimeanytime.com or through an iPad application free of charge to Showtime subscribers as part of their Showtime subscription through participating Showtime Networks' distributors.

Showtime Networks operates the Website SHO.com and various mobile applications, which promote Showtime, The Movie Channel and Flix programming, and provide information and entertainment and other services. Showtime Networks derives revenue principally from the license of its program services to cable, direct broadcast satellite (DBS), telephone company, and other distributors. Showtime Networks also owns and manages Smithsonian Networks, a venture with Smithsonian Institution, which operates Smithsonian Channel, a cable service in the United States, featuring programs of a cultural, historical, scientific and educational nature. CBS Sports Network is a 24-hour cable program service that provides sports and related content, with a focus on college sports. The network features events from approximately 20 men's and women's sports and provides coverage of over 300 live events each year in addition to live studio shows and original programming. CBS Sports Network had approximately 44 million subscribers as of December 31, 2011. The network derives its revenues from subscription fees and the sale of advertising on its cable program service. CB! S Sports ! Network and Comcast Corporation each owns a 50% interest in the mtn: MountainWest Sports Network, which exhibits Mountain West Conference athletics and is available to United States cable and satellite providers.

The Company competes with Home Box Office, Inc., Starz Entertainment, LLC and Netflix, Inc.

Publishing

The Publishing segment consists of Simon & Schuster, which publishes and distributes consumer books in the United States and internationally. Simon & Schuster publishes and distributes adult and children's consumer books in printed, digital and audio formats in the United States and internationally. Digital formats include audio downloads for the Apple iPod and other companies' MP3 players, electronic books for devices, such as Amazon's Kindle, the Apple iPad and Barnes & Noble's NOOK, stand-alone applications for the Apple iPod and iPhone, and new hybrid text and video combinations. Simon & Schuster's major adult imprints include Simon & Schuster, Pocket Books, Scribner, Atria Books, Gallery Books, Touchstone and Free Press. Simon & Schuster's children's imprints include Simon Pulse, Aladdin and Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers. Simon & Schuster also develops special imprints and publishes titles based on the products of certain CBS businesses, as well as that of third parties and distributes products for other publishers.

Simon & Schuster distributes its products directly and through third parties. Simon & Schuster also delivers content and promotes its products on general Internet sites, as well as those linked to individual titles; its created assets include online videos showcasing Simon & Schuster authors and new releases on YouTube, Facebook, MSN.com, SimonandSchuster.com and other sites. International publishing includes the international distribution of English-language titles through Simon & Schuster UK, Simon & Schuster Canada, Simon & Schuster Australia, Simon & Schuster India and other distributors, as well as the publi! cation of! local titles by Simon & Schuster UK and Simon & Schuster Australia.

The Company competes with Random House, Penguin Group, Hachette and Harper Collins.

Local Broadcasting

The Company�� Local Broadcasting segment consists of CBS Television Stations, the Company's 29-owned broadcast television stations, and CBS Radio, through which the Company owns and operates 130 radio stations in 28 United States markets and related online properties. The Company operates local Websites in United States markets, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco and Dallas, which combine the Company's television and radio local media brands online to provide the news, traffic, weather, and sports information, as well as local discounts, directories and reviews. The Company owns 29 broadcast television stations through its CBS Television Stations group. It owns multiple television stations within the same designated market area (DMA) in nine markets, which include Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Dallas-Fort Worth, San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, Boston, Detroit, Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, Sacramento-Stockton-Modesto and Pittsburgh. The stations produce news and broadcast public affairs, sports and other programming to serve their local markets and offer CBS, The CW or MyNetworkTV programming and syndicated programming. The CBS Television Stations group principally derives its revenues from the sale of advertising time on its television stations. Substantially all of the Company's television stations operate Websites, which promote the stations' programming, and provide news, information and entertainment, as well as other services. These Websites principally derive revenues from the sale of advertising. The Company's radio broadcasting business operates through CBS Radio. The majority of CBS Radio's revenues are generated from the sale of local and national advertising.

The Company competes with Clear Channel Communications, Inc., Cumulus Media Inc., Emmis Communication! s Corpora! tion, Entercom Communications Corp., Radio One, Inc., Pandora, Spotify, Rhapsody and XM Radio Inc.

Outdoor

The Company sells, through its outdoor businesses, advertising space on various media, including billboards, transit shelters and other street furniture, buses, rail systems (in-car, station platform and terminal), mall kiosks and stadium signage and in retail stores. It has outdoor advertising operations in more than 100 markets in North America, including all 50 in the United States, 19 in Canada and all 45 in Mexico. The Company has a variety of outdoor advertising displays in the Netherlands, France, Italy, Puerto Rico, the Republic of Ireland, Spain, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Chile and China. The Company operates its outdoor businesses through CBS Outdoor in the United States, Canada, South America and Europe, CBS Outernet in the United States, and Vendor in Mexico. Outdoor operates in the billboard, transit, street furniture and retail store advertising markets. Outdoor primarily operates two types of billboard advertising displays, commonly referred to as bulletins and posters. Billboard space is sold for periods ranging from 4 weeks to 12 months. Transit advertising includes advertising on or in transit systems, including the interiors and exteriors of buses, trains and trams and at rail stations. Street furniture displays bus shelters, which reach both vehicular and pedestrian audiences. Bus shelters are constructed, installed and maintained by Outdoor. CBS Outernet, a distributor of video programming and advertising content to retail stores, enables customized messaging by region and retail environment.

The Company competes with Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc., JCDecaux S.A., Cemusa Inc., Titan Outdoor Holdings, Inc. and Lamar Advertising Company.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By WWW.MARKETWATCH.COM]

  SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- CBS Corp. (CBS.A) reported late Thursday a first-quarter net profit of $468 million, or 78 cents a diluted share, compared with $463 million, or 73 cents a diluted share, for the same prior-year period. Analysts polled by FactSet had expected first-quarter earnings of 75 cents a share on net income of $446 million. Revenues were $3.86 billion, compared with $4.04 billion in the first quarter of 2013 and expectations of $3.92 billion. Content licensing and distribution revenues grew 6%, thanks to higher international licensing of television programming, the company said. Affiliate and subscription fee revenues rose 9%, led by higher cable affiliate fees, retransmission revenues, and fees from CBS Television Network-affiliated television stations, it added. Shares of CBS were down 2.6% to $56.51 in after-hours trading.