Top Consumer Service Companies To Own For 2014

The National Day holiday, coupled with an extensive amount of growth in China's travel and tourism, helped this company's stock jump up last week, writes MoneyShow's Jim Jubak, also of Jubak's Picks.

The New York traded ADRs of China's Home Inns and Hotels Management (HMIN) have climbed 15.5% from September 24 to the close on October 11.

Part of the reason is a October 10 recommendation from Goldman Sachs that added the ADRs to its top pick list. And part of the reason is a huge surge in domestic travel during China's recently concluded National Day holiday week. (Home Inns and Hotels Management is a member of my Jubak's Picks portfolio.)

Goldman's call is based on a belief that China's economy is picking up speed again. As the economy recovers, tourism and business travel pick-up and budget chains, of which Home Inns and Hotels is the largest in China, see occupancy rates climb. That, in turn, pushes up the all-important RevPAR (revenue per available room) numbers.

10 Best Energy Stocks To Own For 2015: Sonova Holding AG (SOON)

Sonova Holding AG is a Switzerland-based company operating in the healthcare sector. The Company, along with its subsidiaries, specializes in the design, development, manufacture, worldwide distribution and service of technologically advanced hearing systems for adults and children with hearing impairment. The Company is active in two operating segments: the Hearing instruments segment includes the companies that are active in the design, development, manufacture, distribution and service of hearing instruments and related products, and the Cochlear implants segment includes the companies that are active in the design, development, manufacture, distribution and service of hearing implants and related products. The Company operates worldwide and distributes its products in over 90 countries through its own distribution network and through independent distributors. Sonova Holding AG is the holding company of the Sonova Group. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Corinne Gretler]

  Sonova (SOON) advanced 6.9 percent to 126.50 Swiss francs after predicting that annual earnings before interest, taxes and amortization would grow as much as 14 percent, compared with a previous forecast of 9 percent to 13 percent. Sales will increase 8 percent to 10 percent, up from an earlier projection of 6 percent to 8 percent.

• [By Sofia Horta e Costa]

  ThyssenKrupp AG slid to a 10-week low after raising 882.3 million euros ($1.2 billion) through a share sale. Antofagasta Plc led a measure of mining companies to a seven-week low. Sonova Holding AG (SOON) declined 1.5 percent as Morgan Stanley cut its rating on the Swiss hearing-aid maker. Orange SA slipped 3.4 percent amid concern a price war in the French mobile market will extend to fourth-generation data services.

Top Consumer Service Companies To Own For 2014: Echo Therapeutics Inc (ECTE)

Echo Therapeutics, Inc. (Echo), incorporated on September 10, 2007, is a transdermal medical device company. The Company is developing Prelude SkinPrep System (Prelude) as a technology to allow for painless and skin permeation that enable both analyte extraction and needle-free drug delivery. The Company is developing its Symphony CGM System (Symphony) as a non-invasive, wireless continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) system for use in hospital critical care units and for people with diabetes. The Prelude SkinPrep System (Prelude), a component of its Symphony CGM System, allows for skin permeation that enables extraction of analytes such as glucose. Prelude�� platform skin preparation technology also allows for needle-free, transdermal drug delivery.

Symphony CGM System

The Symphony CGM System incorporates a Prelude skin preparation device, transdermal sensor, wireless transmitter and data display monitor. When the electro-chemical glucose sensor is placed on the prepared site, it uses glucose oxidase to generate a continuous current that is proportional to the concentration of blood glucose in the vessels beneath the epidermis. The signals are then wirelessly transmitted to a remote monitor. The monitor, calibrated periodically with a reference blood glucose measurement, converts the data to a glucose measurement based on the reference value. The monitor displays glucose readings and also contains customizable early-warning alarms for hypo- or hyperglycemia.

Prelude SkinPrep System

The Company is developing Prelude as a transdermal skin preparation device for Symphony to improve the access to the interstitial fluids and the flow of molecules across the protective membrane of the stratum corneum, the outmost protective layer of the skin. Prelude incorporates the Company's skin abrasion control technology into a hand-held device used to prepare a small area of the skin. The non-invasive sensor is applied to this prepared area in order to measure the in! terstitial glucose levels.

Specialty Pharmaceuticals

The Company�� specialty pharmaceuticals pipeline is based on itsAzone transdermal drug reformulation technology. AzoneTS is a nontoxic, nonirritating skin penetration that is intended to enable topical application of food and drug administration (FDA) -approved drugs, including pharmaceutical products that previously could only be administered systemically. Its advanced drug candidate is Durhalieve, an AzoneTS formulation of triamcinolone acetonide, medium potency corticosteroid approved by the FDA for treatment of corticosteroid-responsive dermatoses. AzoneTS increases lipid membrane fluidity in the stratum corneum layer of the skin, thereby decreasing resistance to topically applied therapeutics.

The Company competes with Roche, Johnson & Johnson, Bayer, Abbott Laboratories , DexCom, Inc., Medtronic, Inc., Edwards Lifesciences Corporation, Optiscan Biomedical Corp., Medtronic, Glysure, Glumetrics Inc., Maquet and A. Menarini Diagnostics S.r.l.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Bryan Murphy]

  Truth be told, Echo Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:ECTE) doesn't look like a particularly impressive stock right now. At $2.92 per share, ECTE is just trading right around where it was a few days ago, not to mention a few weeks ago. And, without any real "news" from the company in months, it's tough to think the market's going to be getting excited about the stock anytime soon. When you take a closer look at Echo Therapeutics though, a few subtle-but-compelling clues start to appear.

• [By Roberto Pedone]

  Another under-$10 health care player that's quickly moving within range of triggering a major breakout trade is Echo Therapeutics (ECTE), which is a transdermal medical device company with skin permeation technology. This stock has been destroyed by the bears so far in 2013, with shares off huge by 70%.

  If you take a look at the chart for Echo Therapeutics, you'll notice that this stock has been uptrending strong for the last month, with shares moving higher from its low of $2.14 to its intraday high of $3.06 a share. During that uptrend, shares of ECTE have been consistently making higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. That move has pushed shares of ECTE back above its 50-day moving average at $2.65 a share, and it's just starting to push ECTE into breakout territory, since the stock has cleared some key near-term overhead resistance levels at $2.98 to $2.99 a share. That move is quickly pushing shares of ECTE within range of triggering an even bigger breakout trade.

  Market players should now look for long-biased trades in ECTE if it manages to break out above some major near-term overhead resistance at $3.30 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above that level with volume that registers near or above its three-month average volume of 211,103 shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then ECTE will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $4 to $4.50 a share, or possibly even $5 to $6 a share.

  Traders can look to buy ECTE off any weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below its 50-day at $2.65 a share, or right below more near-term support at $2.50 a share. One can also buy ECTE off strength once it clears $3.30 a share with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.

Top Consumer Service Companies To Own For 2014: dELIA*s Inc.(DLIA)

dELiA*s, Inc. operates as a direct marketing and retail company in the United States. It offers a collection of apparel, dresses, swimwear, roomwear, footwear, outerwear, and key accessories primarily for teenage girls. The company sells its products through direct mail catalogs, Websites, and mall-based specialty retail stores under the dELiA*s brand name. As of January 29, 2011, it operated 114 dELiA*s retail stores. The company also markets and sells branded junior apparel, dresses, accessories, swimwear, footwear and outerwear primarily to young women through catalogs and Internet under the Alloy brand name. dELiA*s, Inc. was founded in 1997 and based in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sean Williams]

  Don't fight history
  Sometimes we just have to remember as investors that there isn't room enough for every company to succeed. Thus enters dELiA*s (NASDAQ: DLIA  ) , an online and mail catalog retailer that markets apparel to teenage girls and young women.

• [By Eric Volkman]

  dELIA*s (NASDAQ: DLIA  ) is now a lighter company following the divestment of one of its brand lines. The company announced that it has sold its Alloy subsidiary to HRSH Acquisitions, which is conducting business under the name Alloy Apparel and Accessories. dELIA*s was paid $3.7 million in cash for the unit, and the buyer will assume roughly $3.1 million in liabilities.

Top Consumer Service Companies To Own For 2014: Polypore International Inc(PPO)

Polypore International, Inc., a technology filtration company, develops, manufactures, and markets specialized microporous membranes used in separation and filtration processes. It operates in two segments, Energy Storage and Separations Media. The Energy Storage segment offers membranes that provide the function of separating the cathode and anode in applications, including lithium-ion batteries that are used in portable electronic devices, energy storage systems, cordless power tools, and electric drive vehicles; and lead-acid batteries used in automobiles, other motor vehicles, forklifts, and uninterruptible power supply systems. The Separations Media segment provides membranes that are used as high technology filtration element in various medical and industrial applications. This segment?s membranes and membrane modules are used in applications, such as hemodialysis, blood oxygenation, plasmapheresis and various high-performance microfiltration, ultrafiltration, and g asification/degasification applications. Polypore International, Inc. sells its products to manufacturers and converters who incorporate its products into their finished goods. The company sells its products and services in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia through its direct sales force, and distributors and agents. The company is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Garrett Cook]

  Shares of Polypore International (NYSE: PPO) got a boost, shooting up 21.98 percent to $52.38 after the company reported upbeat Q3 earnings. Polypore and Panasonic signed a letter of intent for Lithium-Ion battery separator development.

• [By John Udovich]

  When most people think of electric vehicle stocks, they probably think of troubled Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ: TSLA) or one of the several Chinese stocks active in the space, but North America based large cap Magna International Inc (NYSE: MGA) and small caps Polypore International, Inc (NYSE: PPO), UQM Technologies Inc (NYSEMKT: UQM) and Green Automotive Company (OTCMKTS: GACR) are all players, one way or the other, in the electric vehicle space that most investors have probably overlooked or just aren�� aware of. Of course, we can argue�about whether or not purely electric vehicles or some sort of hybrid vehicles are the way of the future, but what cannot be argued about is the fact that the following electric vehicle stocks are at the forefront of EV or�hybrid technology and design:

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Shares of Polypore International (NYSE: PPO) got a boost, shooting up 14.54 percent to $39.77 after the company reported Q1 results. DA Davidson upgraded Polypore from Neutral to Buy and lifted the price target from $36.00 to $42.00.

Top Consumer Service Companies To Own For 2014: Intergrative Stem Cell Holdings Inc (YFRM)

Intergrative Stem Cell Holdings Inc., formerly YaFarm Technologies, Inc., incorporated on June 16, 2006, is a Web development and Web hosting company. The Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary, YaFarm Group, LLC, offers a range of business-class Website development and Web hosting products and services for small and medium-sized businesses. The Company offers Web solutions for small- and medium- sized companies, including Web development, Web hosting, Web maintenance and business image consulting services.

The Company offers Web solution packages to small and medium-sized businesses, which includes Bronze Small Business Package, Silver Medium-Sized Business Package and Gold E-Commerce Package. The Company did not generate any revenues.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Peter Graham]

  What�� the Catch With Caribbean International Holdings? According to various disclosures, transactions of $1.5k, $2k, $3k, $3.5k, $4k, $7k, $15k and $16k have or will occur to mention Caribbean International Holdings in various investment newsletters. At the beginning of last week, Caribbean International Holdings announced that it was in the final stages of construction of a new Winghouse and Entertainment Center facility on the strip in Sosua, Dominican Republic, that feature its signature wings complemented by a variety of sauce and spice choices plus a mechanical bull. Caribbean International Holdings also recently announced it will offer Winghouse restaurant franchises (for 25,000 dollars plus a percentage of gross revenues) throughout the Caribbean as well as Central and South America. Winghouse restaurants offer 18 flavor choices with four varieties of spicy heat in a country setting with mechanical bulls as the centerpiece. Finally and last May, Caribbean International Holdings announced that ��fter three months of silence,��the merger documents between YaFarm Technologies, Inc (OTCMKTS: YFRM) and the Integrated Stem Cell Institute in Cancun, Mexico, have been signed and that CIHN now has a 12.5% stake in a company that�� been a favorite of stock promoters. However, the most updated financials that I see for Caribbean International Holdings date from June of last year on Yahoo! Finance ��and A LOT can happen within a year��

Top Consumer Service Companies To Own For 2014: iShares Cohen & Steers REIT ETF (ICF)

iShares Cohen & Steers Realty Majors Index Fund (the Fund) seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Cohen & Steers Realty Majors Index (the Index). The Index consists of selected real estate investment trusts (REITs). The objective of the Index is to represent relatively large and liquid REITs that may benefit from future consolidation and securitization of the United States real estate industry. The Index is modified capitalization-weighted with constituent companies having a maximum index weight of 8%.

The Fund invests in a representative sample of securities included in the Index that collectively has an investment profile similar to the Index. Barclays Global Fund Advisors is the investment advisor of the Fund.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Matthew McCall]

  The SPDR Utilities ETF (NYSE: XLU) is up 1.5 percent today and is breaking to a one-month high. The iShares Cohen & Steers Realty ETF (NYSE: ICF), which owns a basket of REITs, is up 1.1 percent, also looking for a one-month high.