Hot Stocks To Watch For 2014

I'll be honest... I would have thought by now that the Vringo, Inc. (NASDAQ:VRNG) saga - the patent lawsuit brought against Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) and some of its partners - would have fallen off the radar by now as the market lost interest. On the other hand, I also would have thought by now that the trial would have been completed in its entirety by now. We're close to an end (less the appeal, if Vringo decides it needs to go through with it, or if Google decides to make an appeal of its own); we learned in mid-August the court intends to accept responsive/rebuttal briefs through November 10th, and may after that schedule any evidentiary hearings. But, those hearings will only be held if needed. Soon after that, we'll hear what most have been waiting for nearly two years now ... the actual size of the check that Google will need to write to Vringo Inc.

Best Penny Stocks To Invest In Right Now: SAP AG(SAP)

SAP AG provides business software primarily in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Americas, and the Asia Pacific Japan region. The company?s products includes SAP Business Suite software, which supports large organizations in their core business operations, such as supplier relationship, production, warehouse management, sales, administration, and customer relationship; SAP Business All-in-One, a business management software that assists midsize companies in managing various business functions, including financials, human resources, procurement, inventory, manufacturing, logistics, product development, sales, and marketing; SAP Business One, a business management application for small businesses; and SAP Business ByDesign, an on-demand solution for integrated business management applications. Its products also comprises SAP BusinessObjects Edge business intelligence and enterprise performance management solutions; Xcelsius, a data visualization software; Crystal Reports, which helps users design interactive reports; Sybase IQ, an optimized analytics server designed to deliver results for business intelligence, analytics, data warehousing, and reporting solutions; SAP solutions for sustainability; and SAP NetWeaver technology platform, which integrates information and business processes across various technologies and organizational structures. In addition, the company offers industry and solution-focused, business transformation, information technology transformation, custom development, and support services; and program, project management, quality assurance, and education and certification services. It sells its products through its subsidiaries and resellers. SAP AG has a strategic relationship with Cap Gemini S.A. to develop and deploy enterprise mobility solutions. The company was formerly known as SAP Aktiengesellschaft Systeme, Anwendungen, Produkte in der Datenverarbeitung. SAP AG was founded in 1972 and is headquartered in Walldorf , Germany.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sue Chang and Saumya Vaishampayan]

  BlackBerry (BBRY) �shares advanced 3.6%. The stock was boosted after a late Friday report from Reuters that said BlackBerry had reached out to potential strategic buyers, including Cisco Systems Inc. (CSCO) , Google Inc. (GOOG) �and SAP AG (SAP) , as part of its sales process. Last month, the smartphone maker reached a preliminary deal to go private for $4.7 billion by Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd.

• [By Rob DeFrancesco]

  Rob DeFrancesco: Yeah, it did come up. It was a strong Q4 earnings season and a lot of these names, particularly the momentum names in software, did well. Workday, which provides cloud-based human resources and financials software competes with legacy vendors like Oracle (ORCL) and SAP (SAP).

Hot Stocks To Watch For 2014: Response Genetics Inc.(RGDX)

Response Genetics, Inc., a life sciences company, engages in the research, development, marketing, and sale of clinical diagnostic tests and pharmacogenomic tests for use in the treatment of cancer primarily in the United States, Asia, and Europe. The company develops genetic tests that measure predictive factors for tumor response in tumor tissue samples. It offers tests for non-small cell lung cancer under the ResponseDX: Lung trade name; colorectal cancer under the ResponseDX: Colon trade name; and gastric and gastroesophageal cancer under the ResponseDX: Gastric trade name. The company also develops tests for other types of cancer that identify genetic profiles of tumors that recur after surgery. Response Genetics, Inc. offers its products through its sales force to community based oncologists, hospitals, and physician offices. In addition, it provides pharmacogenomic testing services to pharmaceutical companies. The company was formerly known as Bio Type, Inc. and cha nged its name to Response Genetics, Inc. in August 2000. Response Genetics, Inc. was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in Los Angeles, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Monica Gerson]

  Response Genetics (NASDAQ: RGDX) slipped 9.47% to $1.34 after the company reported Q4 results. The company posted a quarterly net loss of $3.2 million, or $0.09 per share, versus a year-ago net loss of $0.5 million, or $0.01 per share.

Hot Stocks To Watch For 2014: The Advisory Board Company(ABCO)

The Advisory Board Company, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the provision of best practices research and analysis, business intelligence and software tools, and management and advisory services primarily in the United States. The company offers various programs and services, including best practices research services that focus on identifying best-demonstrated management practices, critiquing widely-followed but ineffective practices, and analyzing emerging trends in the health care and education industries; business intelligence and software tools, which allow members to pair their own operational data with the best practices insights; and management and advisory services programs for assisting member institutions to adopt and implement best practices to enhance performance. As of June 30, 2011, it provided 51 distinct membership programs to hospitals, health systems, colleges, universities, pharmaceutical and biotech companies, health care insurers, medical de vice and supply companies, and other educational institutions. The company was founded in 1979 and is headquartered in Washington, District of Columbia.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Seth Jayson]

  Advisory Board (Nasdaq: ABCO  ) is expected to report Q4 earnings on May 9. 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 Advisory Board's revenues will grow 17.4% and EPS will grow 21.7%.

• [By Jeremy Bowman]

  What: Shares of The Advisory Board Company (NASDAQ: ABCO  ) were up as much as 12% today, after the consulting firm beat top and bottom-line estimates in its quarterly report.

Hot Stocks To Watch For 2014: Alston Energy Inc (ALO)

Alston Energy Inc. (Alston) is a Canada-based petroleum and natural gas company. The Company is engaged in the exploration and production of oil and natural gas reserves in Western Canada�� sedimentary basins. The Company�� projects include Alexander, Pembina and Chauvin. Alexander assets include a 14.0% average working interest in 10 proved producing gas/oil wells, three proved development locations, related production facilities and pipelines and 6,560 gross acres of mineral leases. Pembina assets include a 3.5% interest in 19 producing oil wells, one coal bed methane gas well, four standing or suspended wells, two oil batteries, related production facilities and pipelines and 5,690 gross acres of land in the Pembina/Cardium Pool. Alston has oil assets in the emerging Chauvin area resource play. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sarah Jones]

  HSBC, Europe�� biggest bank, Societe Generale SA (GLE), France�� second-largest lender, and Germany�� Commerzbank AG each climbed at least 2.6 percent after posting results. Allianz gained 3.6 percent after Europe�� largest insurer reported a jump in profit. Alstom SA (ALO) sank 12 percent after the power-equipment maker cut its profit forecast.