Best Mid Cap Companies To Watch For 2014

[ April 17, 2013 | Author: Admin | Weather: | Mood: normal]

LONDON The FTSE 100 (FTSEINDICES: ^FTSE ) has been off its highs for a few weeks now after reaching a five-year top of 6,534 on March 12. The index of top U.K. stocks has been shaken of late by the Cyprus crisis and some weakness in the mining sector, but hovering around 6,400 points today, its not far off its peak.

But plenty of the indexs constituents have been flying in recent months and breaking their own new ground. Here are three setting new records.

GlaxoSmithKline (LSE: GSK ) (NYSE: GSK )

Were in unusual times when some of the biggest companies in the FTSE 100 are galloping like small-cap growth shares. But thats whats been happening with GlaxoSmithKline, the fifth-largest company in the U.K.s top index: GSKs shares have powered up 17% in just three months to hit a new 52-week record of 1,557 pence yesterday.

Best Mid Cap Companies To Watch For 2014: OPNET Technologies Inc.(OPNT )

OPNET Technologies, Inc. provides application and network performance management solutions in the United States and internationally. It offers AppCapacity Xpert to provide capacity planning for servers; AppInternals Xpert to extract performance and forensic data; AppMapper Xpert to produce run-time application maps; AppResponse Xpert to monitor and analyze end-user experience for various users and transactions; AppSQL Xpert to track database usage; AppTelemetry Xpert to capture performance information; and AppTransaction Xpert to analyze individual transactions. The company also provides IT Guru Network Planner and SP Guru Network Planner for network capacity planning and design optimization, and validation of network configuration changes; IT Sentinel that offers network configuration integrity and security auditing, and proactive change validation; nCompass for enterprises and service providers for visibility of network topology, traffic, and status; and Virtual Network Environment Server to maintain real-time data model of the production IT network. In addition, it offers SP Guru Transport Planner for designing optical networks; SP Sentinel to offer network configuration integrity and security auditing, and proactive change validation; and AppResponse Xpert to ensure application performance; OPNET Modeler, a network modeling and simulation product; Modeler Wireless Suite for wireless network R&D organizations; and Modeler Wireless Suite for defense. Further, the company develops and sells various software modules; and offers consulting services, product updates, technical support and services, and training services. OPNET Technologies, Inc. sells its products through direct sales force, as well as through distributors and value-added resellers. Its customers include corporate enterprises, government and defense agencies, network service providers, and network equipment manufacturers. The company was founded in 1986 and is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland.

Advisors Opinion:

• [By Martin]

The brokerage expects the company to continue competing successfully against larger application monitoring vendors, helped by the breadth of product portfolio and deep experience in network design and lifecycle technologies.

The analysts see OPNET is capable of a sustained organic revenue growth rate approaching the mid-teens, which should enable the company to achieve scale advantages and increase gross margin profitability.

Best Mid Cap Companies To Watch For 2014: Lorillard Inc(LO )

Lorillard, Inc. through its subsidiaries, engages in the manufacture and sale of cigarettes in the United States. The company offers 43 different product offerings under the Newport, Kent, True, Maverick, and Old Gold brand names. Lorillard, Inc. sells its products primarily to wholesale distributors, who in turn service retail outlets, chain store organizations, and government agencies, including the United States? Armed Forces. The company was founded in 1760 and is headquartered in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Advisors Opinion:

• [By Glenn]

Lorillard (LO), through its subsidiaries, engages in the manufacture and sale of cigarettes in the United States. The company has paid a rising dividend since becoming a separately traded company in 2008. It yields 5.40% and has a high dividend payout ratio as well.

5 Best Blue Chip Stocks To Invest In 2014. Bank of Marin Bancorp(BMRC )

Bank of Marin Bancorp operates as the bank holding company for Bank of Marin that offers a range of commercial and retail banking products and services in California. It offers personal and business checking and savings accounts; time deposit alternatives comprising time certificates of deposit, individual retirement accounts, health savings accounts, and certificate of deposit account registry services; remote deposit capture, direct deposit of payroll, social security and pension checks, fraud prevention services, and image lockbox services; and valet deposit pick-up service. The company provides its deposit products and services primarily to individuals, merchants, small to medium sized businesses, not-for-profit organizations, and professionals. Its loan portfolio comprises commercial and retail lending programs that include commercial loans and lines of credit, construction financing, consumer loans, and home equity lines of credit. In addition, the company provides m erchant card services, credit cards, and business Visa programs; cash management services to business clients through a third party vendor; wealth management and trust services, such as customized investment portfolio management, financial planning, trust administration, estate settlement and custody services, and advice on charitable giving; and 401(k) plan services to small and medium businesses through a third party vendor. Further, it provides private banking services, including deposit services and loans; international banking services; and automated teller machine, Internet banking, and telephone banking services. As of April 25, 2011, Bank of Marin Bancorp operated 17 branch offices in Marin, San Francisco, Napa, and Sonoma counties. The company was founded in 1989 and is headquartered in Novato, California.

Best Mid Cap Companies To Watch For 2014: Pizza Inn Inc.(PZZI )

Pizza Inn, Inc. together with its subsidiaries, operates and franchises pizza buffet, delivery/carry-out, and express restaurants in the United States and internationally. Its buffet restaurants offer dine-in, carryout, and catering services, as well as delivery services. The company?s delivery/carryout restaurants provide delivery and carryout services and are located in shopping centers or other in-line retail developments. Its express restaurants serve its customers through various non-traditional points of sale and are located in convenience stores, food courts, college campuses, airport terminals, athletic facilities, or other commercial facilities. The company operates restaurants under Pizza Inn trademark. As of July 1, 2011, it owned and operated 5 restaurants; and franchised approximately 300 restaurants. Pizza Inn, Inc. was founded in 1958 and is based in The Colony, Texas.

Best Mid Cap Companies To Watch For 2014: CenterState Banks Inc.(CSFL )

CenterState Banks, Inc. a multi bank holding company, provides consumer and commercial banking services to individuals, businesses, and industries in central Florida. Its deposit products include demand interest-bearing and noninterest-bearing accounts, money market deposit accounts, time deposits, direct deposits, savings accounts, negotiable order of withdrawal accounts, and certificates of deposit. The company also offers real estate loans to individuals and businesses for the purchase, improvement of, or investment in real estate; for the construction of single-family residential and commercial units; and for the development of single-family residential building lots. In addition, it provides commercial loans to individuals and small-to-medium sized businesses for working capital, equipment purchases, and various other business purposes; and consumer loans that comprise loans to individuals for various consumer purposes, and business purpose loans payable on an instal lment basis. Further, the company offers safe deposit services, cash management, notary services, money orders, night depository, travelers? checks, cashier?s checks, domestic collections, savings bonds, bank drafts, automated teller services, drive-in tellers, banking by mail and Internet, and automated teller machine cards. Additionally, it provides mutual funds, annuities, and other products. The company also sells fixed income securities; and provides correspondent bank deposits and checking accounts, as well as safe-keeping services, bond accounting services for correspondents, and asset/liability consulting services for small to medium size financial institutions. As of July 18, 2011, it had 52 full service branch banking locations in 14 counties throughout central Florida. CenterState Banks, Inc. was founded in 1989 and is headquartered in Davenport, Florida.

Best Mid Cap Companies To Watch For 2014: ICU Medical Inc.(ICUI )

ICU Medical, Inc. engages in the development, manufacture, and sale of medical technologies used in infusion therapy, oncology, and critical care applications. The company?s product line includes custom infusion systems, closed delivery systems for hazardous drugs, needleless infusion connectors, catheters, and cardiac monitoring systems. Its products enhance patient outcomes by preventing bloodstream infections, protecting healthcare workers and patients from exposure to infectious diseases or hazardous drugs, and monitoring the cardiac output of critical care patients. The company offers intravenous (I.V.) therapy lines consisting of a tube running from a bottle or plastic bag containing an I.V. solution to a catheter inserted in a patient?s vein for use in hospitals and ambulatory clinics; CLAVE product, a needleless I.V. connection device, which would be used with conventional peripheral or central vascular access systems for venous and arterial applications; custom in fusion sets. It also provides critical care products that monitor vital signs and specific physiological functions of key organ systems, including disposable pressure-sensing devices, blood sampling systems, angiography kits, sensory catheters, pulmonary artery thermodilution catheters, and multi-lumen central venous catheters. In addition, the company provides TEGO for use in dialysis; a line of oncology products, including Spiros male luer connector device; the Genie vial access device; and custom I.V sets and ancillary products for chemotherapy. ICU Medical, Inc. sells its products to medical product manufacturers and independent medical supply distributors, as well as directly to the end customers worldwide. The company was founded in 1984 and is headquartered in San Clemente, California.

Advisors Opinion:

• [By Hilary Kramer]

ICU Medical (NASDAQ:ICUI), which makes intravenous devices, has a consistent growth record, thanks to its many innovative products developed over the years. Most notable is CLAVE, a one-piece NeedleFree device that was invented in 1993 and still accounts for over 35% of revenues. Recently, earnings growth has been somewhat limited by increased competition for critical care products Even with that in mind, ICUI remains a good value at 15 times 2012 earnings estimates, and I think there is room for the stock to move on valuation. In addition, new products are scheduled to be introduced next year not to mention the company is an attractive takeover candidate.