Top Regional Bank Stocks For 2014

The year 2013 has been a pivotal economic period marked with bullishness, with investors gaining confidence in stocks and the market as a whole. A critical pillar in this historic rally has been the recovery of the financial sector, more specifically through the rise of regional banks. Despite this sector's popularity and outperformance, there are still opportunities for buyers to find value and continue to make money in this industry. One such opportunity lies in a regional bank by the name of SunTrust (STI). SunTrust Bank has performed exceptionally well since the depths of the financial crisis, and is better prepared to tackle the interest rate environment going forward. Wall Street, however, hasn't been rewarding SunTrust with the popularity, and price, that it deserves. Investors shouldn't wait to take advantage of this opportunity to own a high quality bank at a substantial discount to its intrinsic value.

Overview

SunTrust Banks, Inc. is a regional financial service company with over $171 billion in assets and operations primarily in the southeast. The company provides deposit, credit and investment services to a wide portfolio of clients in both the retail and institutional market. With a market cap of close to $18 billion, SunTrust is a relatively large player in the regional financial sector. This allows the company to expand services and offer higher quality products as the economy improves and business confidence recovers.

Best Shipping Stocks To Watch Right Now: SOHM Inc (SHMN)

SOHM, Inc. is a global generic pharmaceutical manufacturer, developer and marketer having a range of products, covering the therapeutic segments. The Company has its presence in healthcare segments, such as nutraceuticals, dermatology and all other therapeutic segments.

The Company�� generic pharmaceuticals are exported globally with a focus on distribution in Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia. The Company�� products has presence in analgesic, anti-flammatory, drops, suspensions, vitamins and tonics, antibiotics, beta-lactum antibiotics, injections, syrups, anti-cold, capsules, nutraceutical and tablets.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Peter Graham]

  Small cap stocks VizStar Inc (OTCMKTS: VIZS), SOHM Inc (OTCMKTS: SHMN) and American Soil Technologies, Inc (OTCMKTS: SOYL) have been getting some attention in various investment newsletters with two out of three of these stocks being the subject of paid promotions. However, there is nothing wrong with some paid for attention so long as everything is properly disclosed, but its going to be up to investors and traders alike to ultimately decide whether any of these stocks have what it takes to be the next hot stock. With that in mind, here is a quick reality check about all three small cap stocks:

Top Regional Bank Stocks For 2014: TomTom NV (OEM)

TomTom NV is a Netherlands-based supplier of location and navigation products and services. The Company�� structure consists of four customer facing business units, namely Consumer, Automotive, Business Solutions and Licensing. The first three business units provide targeted solutions for the Company�� customers, including private consumers, car manufacturers and fleet owners. Licensing sells its content and services to multiple customer groups including portable navigation devices (PNDs) and wireless companies, governments and enterprises. The Company�� business units embed 11 product units, such as digital maps, traffic intelligence, navigation software, PNDs, automotive systems, fleet management services (FMS), smart phone applications, sports watches, points of interest, location based services (LBS) and speedcam intelligence. As of December 31, 2011, the Company was active in 35 countries. In July 2013, it acquired Coordina (Gestion Electronica Logistica, S.L.). Advisors' Opinion:

• [By ICRAOnline]

  In the previous three-month period (fourth quarter), revenue fell 4% year over year to $1.65 billion mainly on account of 33.7% drop in original equipment manufacturer (OEM) revenues and 0.8% decline in branded revenues. Product revenues dropped 8.4%, which was partially compensated by 8% improvement in service revenues.

• [By victorselva]

  In a macro view, revenues in the electronic equipment and instrument sub-industry will remain strong due to the rise in equipment and instrument manufacturers. Distributors, electronic manufacturing service (EMS) companies and original equipment manufacturers (OEM) are going to increase orders as the economy improves in the future. With this promising outlook, let's take a look at Gabelli麓s last trade and try to explain to investors the reasons of this appealing investment opportunity.

Top Regional Bank Stocks For 2014: Realty Income Corp (O&P)

Realty Income Corporation (Realty Income) is an equity real estate investment trust (REIT). The Company is engaged in acquiring and owning freestanding retail and other properties that generate rental revenue under long-term lease agreements (primarily 10 to 20 years). The Company has in-house acquisition, leasing, legal, credit research, real estate research, portfolio management and capital markets. At December 31, 2011, it owned a diversified portfolio of 2,634 properties with an occupancy rate of 96.7%, or 2,547 properties leased and only 87 properties available for lease. It leased properties to 136 different retail and other commercial enterprises doing business in 38 separate industries. It properties are located in 49 states, with over 27.3 million square feet of leasable space, and with an average leasable space per property of approximately 10,400 square feet. Crest Net Lease, Inc., (Crest) is its wholly owned taxable REIT subsidiary. In January 2013, it acquired American Realty Capital Trust.

During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company invested in 164 new properties, and properties under development, with an initial weighted average contractual lease rate of 7.8%. These 164 new properties, and properties under development, are located in 26 states, contain over 6.2 million leasable square feet, and are 100% leased with an average lease term of 13.4 years. During 2011, 89 properties with expiring leases were leased to either existing or new tenants. Of the 2,634 properties in the portfolio, 2,619, or 99.4%, are single-tenant properties, and the remaining 15 are multi-tenant properties. At December 31, 2011, of the 2,619 single-tenant properties, 2,533 were leased with a weighted average remaining lease term (excluding rights to extend a lease at the option of the tenant) of approximately 11.3 years. The Company typically acquire properties under long-term leases with regional and national retailers and other commercial enterprises. Its net-lease agreements are for initi! al terms of 10 to 20 years.

In January 2012, Friendly Ice Cream Corporation (Friendly��), one of its tenants, announced that it was emerging from voluntary reorganization under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code (which they had filed for in October 2011). Pursuant to the bankruptcy proceedings, Friendly�� accepted 102 of their 121 leases with the Company. Friendly�� rejected 19 leases with the Company. Additionally, in January 2012, Buffets Holding, Inc., or Buffets, another one of its tenants, filed for voluntary reorganization under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. As of December 31, 2011, Buffets leased 86 properties from the Company. Buffets rejected the leases on seven of its 86 properties.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By apolloportfolio]

  Hanger, Inc. provides orthotic and prosthetic (O&P) patient care services, distributes O&P devices and components, manages O&P networks and offers therapeutic solutions in the United States. It operates in two segments:�Patient Care (83% of sales) and Products & Services (17% of sales). HGR has a history dating back to 150 years ago. A history timeline from the company website can give more details about how HGR evolves over time.

Top Regional Bank Stocks For 2014: Reservoir Minerals Inc (RMC)

Reservoir Minerals Inc. (Minerals) is an international mineral exploration and development company with a portfolio of precious and base metal exploration properties in Serbia. On October 14, 2011 the Company completed the terms of the arrangement, which was regarding the re-organization of Minerals�� business components into two separately listed public corporations by the spin-out of certain Serbian mineral exploration permits (the Mining Assets), which received shareholder approval, on October 11, 2011. The Spin-out Transaction was effected by the transfer to Minerals of three indirectly held subsidiaries of Reservoir that hold such permits. Reservoir Exploration (BVI) Ltd. owns Deli Jovan Exploration and Mining D.o.o., which owns the Deli Jovan exploration permit, Reservoir Consulting (BVI) Inc. owns Balkan Exploration and Mining D.o.o., which owns the Lece, Plavkovo, Stara Planina, Parlozi and Bobija exploration permits. Its subsidiary also includes Rakita (BVI) Ltd. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Holly LaFon]

  Whitney George is Director of Investments, Managing Director, and a Portfolio Manager of Royce & Associates, LLC, investment advisor to The Royce Funds. He serves as portfolio manager for Royce Premier Fund (RPR), Royce Low-Priced Stock Fund (RLP), Royce Global Value Fund (RGV), Royce SMid-Cap Value Fund (RSV), and Royce Focus Trust (FUND). He also serves as assistant portfolio manager for Royce Micro-Cap Fund (RMC), Royce Value Fund (RVV), Royce Value Plus Fund (RVP), Royce Focus Value Fund (RFV), and Royce Capital Fund ��Micro-Cap Portfolio (RCM). Mr. George's thoughts in this interview concerning the stock market are solely his own and, of course, there can be no assurance with regard to future market movements.