Top Growth Companies To Invest In 2014

LONDON -- Stock index futures at 7 a.m. EDT indicate that the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI  ) may open 0.36% higher this morning, while the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC  ) may open up by 0.4%. Both indexes closed sharply lower yesterday after weaker-than-expected economic data dented investor sentiment and led to a big drop for the CNN Fear & Greed Index, which closed down 13 points at 58.

This morning's trading is likely to be influenced by the Japanese central bank's surprise decision to accelerate its bond-buying program and double its monetary base in the next two years. The Bank of Japan said it would expand its balance sheet from $1.43 trillion to $2.86 trillion by March 2015 by doubling its asset purchases, the majority of which will be long-term government bonds. The bank is targeting inflation of 2% to kick-start growth after years of deflation.

Top Growth Companies To Invest In 2014: Westell Technologies Inc.(WSTL)

Westell Technologies, Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the design, distribution, marketing, and servicing a range of broadband, digital transmission, remote monitoring, power distribution, and demarcation products used by telephone companies and other telecommunications service providers. It operates in three segments: Customer Networking Systems (CNS) equipment, Outside Plant Systems (OSP) equipment, and ConferencePlus services. The CNS equipment segment provides networking and high-speed transmissions products, such as modems, routers, versatile gateway devices, and wireless broadband home routers that allow service providers to deliver broadband services over existing copper, fiber, coax, or wireless infrastructures. The OSP segment offers next generation outdoor cabinets; enclosures; power distribution; fiber, Ethernet, and coax edge connectors; remote monitoring equipment; and DS1 and DS3 transmission plugs. This segment also markets and sells power distribu tion and remote monitoring solutions. The ConferencePlus services segment provides audio, Web, and video conferencing services to businesses and individuals. This segment sells its services directly to Fortune 1000 companies, and indirectly through its private reseller programs. The company offers its products through field sales organizations and selected distributors in the United States, as well as in Canada and Europe. Westell Technologies, Inc. was founded in 1980 and is headquartered in Aurora, Illinois.

Top Growth Companies To Invest In 2014: Whitehaven Coal Ltd (WHITF)

Whitehaven Coal Limited (Whitehaven) is engaged in the development and operation of coal mines in New South Wales. During the fiscal year ended 30 June 2012 (fiscal 2012), Whitehaven Coal Limited and its controlled entities continued development at the Narrabri underground mine. The Company operates in two segments: Open Cut Operations and Underground Operations. The Company�� Gunnedah operations include the Tarrawonga (70% owned by Whitehaven), Rocglen (100% owned by Whitehaven), and Sunnyside (100% owned by Whitehaven) open cut mines and the Gunnedah coal handling and preparation plant and train load out facility (CHPP��(100% owned by Whitehaven). The Werris Creek mine is 100% owned by Whitehaven. During fiscal 2012, the Company produced 4.28 million tons per annum of saleable coal. On May 1, 2012, the Company acquired Boardwalk Resources Limited. On May 2, 2012, the Company acquired Aston Resources Limited. On June 20, 2012, it acquired Coalworks Limited. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jim Jubak]

  OK, so First Quantum Minerals (FQVLF) is a bit of a gamble. But the company, even without Inmet Mining (IEMMF), is a major miner of copper, gold and nickel, and its shares are up 15.6% in the past 12 months as of Dec. 18. My last three stocks on this list, on the other hand, are hated.

  Which, of course, means that they've got tremendous upside if the market simply moves from "hated" to "despised." My first pick is Australian coal producer Whitehaven Coal (WHITF). The only thing more hated than a coal stock -- on falling coal prices and falling demand from everywhere, but especially China -- is an Australian coal stock, to which you can add rising production costs to the list of woes.

  Whitehaven Coal, which owns seven mines (and important railroad infrastructure) in New South Wales, freaked out the market in October, when it said that if coal prices stayed at current low levels, EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) would come in at just $50 millionAustralian (that's about $52.4 million in U.S. dollars) for 2013. That was a shock, since the analyst consensus for 2013 EBITDA was then at A$185 million. Since then, though, prices of Australian thermal coal have shown signs of climbing off the floor with reports of increased growth from China. Coal still sells for 27% less than it did a year ago, but the Nov. 30 price of $83.01 per metric ton is an improvement from $81.85 on Oct. 31.

  Whitehaven shares posted a 26.6% gain from a Nov. 16 low through Dec. 19, but they are still well below the highest price of the year.

10 Best Stocks To Own For 2014: Arrowhead Research Corporation(ARWR)

Arrowhead Research Corporation, a clinical stage nanomedicine company, through its subsidiaries, develops therapeutic products at the interface of biology and nanoengineering to cure disease and improve human health. It focuses on the design and development of therapeutic agents for the treatment of cancer and obesity, as well as healing wounded or diseased tissue based on nucleic acid delivery, siRNA chemistry, and tissue targeting intellectual properties. The company?s lead products include CALAA-01, an oncology drug candidate based on the gene silencing RNA interference (RNAi) mechanism; and Adipotide, an anti-obesity peptide that targets and kills the blood vessels that feed white adipose tissue. It also plans to develop its internal preclinical and clinical pipeline, including RONDEL-enabled siRNA drug candidates, Dynamic Polyconjugate (DPC)-enabled drug candidate development, and the non-siRNA-based anti-obesity drug candidate, Adipotide. The company, formerly known as InterActive Group, Inc., was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in Pasadena, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Roberto Pedone]

  Arrowhead Research (ARWR) is a development stage nanotechnology holding company that forms, acquires, and operates subsidiaries commercializing innovative nanotechnologies. This is trading up 12.2% to $2.04 in recent trading.

  Today’s Range: $1.80-$2.08
  
  52-Week Range: $1.65-$5.79
  
  Volume: 141,000
  
  Three-Month Average Volume: 121,952

  Shares of ARWR are soaring higher after the company announced the pricing of a private offering with gross proceeds expected to be $36 million. The offering was priced at $1.83 per share.

  From a technical perspective, ARWR is soaring here back above some near-term overhead resistance at $1.95 and back above its 50-day moving average at $2.07 with above-average volume. At last check, ARWR has hit an intraday high of $2.09 and volume is just starting to surpass its three-month average action of 121,952 shares.

  Traders should now look for long-biased trades in ARWR as long as it’s trending above $1.95 and then once it sustains a move or close above its 50-day at $2.07 with volume that hits near or above 121,952 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then ARWR will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $2.25 to its 200-day at $2.41. Any high-volume move above $2.41 will then put $2.55 to $2.70 into range for shares of ARWR.