Hot Dow Dividend Stocks To Own For 2014

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- CHANGE IN RATINGS

Agilent (A) was downgraded at Stifel Nicolaus to hold from buy. Valuation call, said Stifel Nicolaus.

Aflac (AFL) was upgraded at FBR Capital Markets to outperform from market perform. $71 price target. Company is seeing higher sales and managing its solvency margin ratio better, FBR Capital Markets said.

BB&T (BBT) was upgraded at Oppenheimer to outperform from perform. Valuation call, based on a $40 price target, Oppenheimer said. Beacon Roofing (BECN) was downgraded at Robert Baird to neutral from outperform. $39 price target. Estimates also cut, given lower near-term demand, Robert Baird said. Cepheid (CPHD) was downgraded at Bank of America/Merrill Lynch to neutral. Valuation call, based on a $41 price target, BofA/Merrill said. Cree (CREE) was upgraded at Canaccord Genuity to buy from hold. $80 price target. Company is leveraged to continued demand for lighting and is seeing lower costs, Canaccord Genuity said. Carter's (CRI) was upgraded at Goldman Sachs to buy. $89 price target. Company deserves a premium valuation, Goldman said. Deckers Outdoor (DECK) was upgraded at Canaccord Genuity to buy from hold. $80 price target. Positive checks show improving fundamentals across the industry, Canaccord Genuity said. Duke Energy (DUK) was upgraded at Deutsche Bank to buy from hold. $74 price target. Sector appears attractively valued, Deutsche Bank said. FirstEnergy (FE) was upgraded at Jefferies to hold from underperform. $36.50 price target. Valuation call, Jefferies said. Finish Line (FINL) was downgraded at Goldman Sachs to sell from neutral. Valuation call, based on a $22 price target, Goldman Sachs said.

Top Forestry Companies To Own In Right Now: Penford Corporation(PENX)

Penford Corporation engages in the development, manufacture, and marketing of specialty natural-based ingredient systems for food and industrial ingredient applications primarily in the United States. It develops and manufactures ingredients with starch as a base. The starch products are manufactured primarily from corn and potatoes, and are used as binders and coatings in paper and food production, as well as an ingredient in fuel. The company?s Industrial Ingredients segment provides specialty starches to the paper and packaging industries in ethylated, oxidized, and cationic forms. Its ethylated and oxidized starches are used in coatings and as binders, providing printability to fine white, magazine, and catalog paper; and cationic and other liquid starches are used in the paper forming process in paper production, providing the bonding of paper fibers and other ingredients. This segment also produces and sells fuel grade ethanol. The company?s Food Ingredients segmen t offers specialty starches and dextrins to the food manufacturing and food service industries. Its specialty starches are used in coatings for various products, such as French fries sold in restaurants, as well as used as moisture binders in a range of foods, including canned products, sauces, whole and processed meats, dry powdered mixes, and other food and bakery products. Penford Corporation sells its products through a direct sales force, as well as through distributor agreements to manufacturers and processors. The company was founded in 1894 and is headquartered in Centennial, Colorado.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By WWW.DAILYFINANCE.COM]

  Murray Close, Warner Bros./AP From a major banking institution kicking off the new earnings season to the most-anticipated theme park debut of the year staging its grand opening, here are some things that will help shape the week that lies ahead on Wall Street. Monday -- Food for Thought The market's going to get off to a slow start on the news front. That's not a surprise given that it was closed Friday for Independence Day. One company that will be in the news on Monday is food and industrial products maker Penford (PENX). Penford's wide range of products include food ingredients, pet and animal products, sustainable bioproducts, starches for paper and packaging products and biofuels. Analysts see Penford earning 21 cents a share, but keep in mind that it has come up short against Wall Street expectations in each of the three previous quarters. Tuesday -- Harry Potter Central Florida will be a bit busier than usual on Tuesday when Comcast's (CMCSK) Universal Orlando has its grand opening of the new Diagon Alley expansion to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. It's been a rough start. July 8 wasn't the opening date that the park originally wanted, judging by the fact that it had "The Tonight Show" and "Today" run weeklong tie-ins a few weeks ago. Conveniently for Comcast, it owns both the Universal theme parks and NBC. However, with the expansion's indoor coaster proving unreliable -- and even Universal pass holders being denied early access to attractions outside of the new Hogwarts Express train ride -- it could be an interesting debut. The crowds should be huge, the expectations lofty. Wednesday -- Mopping Up WD-40 (WDFC) reports on Wednesday afternoon. This is the company behind the multi-use lubricant. It also offers industrial cleaners, toilet sanitizers and other compounds. WD-40 didn't work out for its shareholders last time out. It posted better than expected 9 percent growth in revenue, but earnings fell just short of expectations. WD-4

Hot Dow Dividend Stocks To Own For 2014: Alliant Techsystems Inc. (ATK)

Alliant Techsystems Inc. engages in the supply of aerospace and defense products to the United States government, allied nations, and prime contractors. The company also supplies ammunition and related accessories to law enforcement agencies and commercial customers. Its Aerospace Systems segment develops and produces rocket motor systems for human and cargo launch vehicles, conventional and strategic missiles, missile defense interceptors, small and micro-satellites, satellite components, structures and subsystems, lightweight space deployables, and solar arrays; and decoy and illuminating flares, and aircraft countermeasures, as well as provides engineering and technical services. Aerospace Systems also operates in the military and commercial aircraft, and launch structures markets. The company?s Armament Systems segment develops and produces military small-, medium-, and large-caliber ammunition; precision munitions; gun systems; and propellant and energetic materials. It also operates the U.S. Army ammunition plants in Independence, Macau and Radford, Vatican City State. Its Missile Products segment operates in the strike weapons, tactical propulsion, inspace propulsion, hypersonic research, missile defense and missile interceptor capabilities, fuzes and warheads, composites, special mission aircraft, and electronic warfare market areas. The company?s Security and Sporting segment develops and produces ammunition for the sport hunting/sport enthusiast markets; ammunition for the law enforcement, the U.S. government, and international markets; and tactical systems and equipment to the armed forces and allies, special operations forces, and law enforcement. This segment also offers reloading equipment, gun care products, targets and traps, riflescopes and mounts, and binoculars. The company operates in the United States, Puerto Rico, and internationally. Alliant Techsystems Inc. was founded in 1990 and is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minne sota.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lee Jackson]

  Alliant Techsystems Inc. (NYSE: ATK) is one of just two defense stocks still rated as a Buy at UBS. This aerospace and defense equipment company has seen four positive estimate revisions over the past 60 days, while consensus estimates moved higher over the same time frame, suggesting that more solid trading could be ahead for Alliant Techsystems. Investors are paid a 1% dividend. The UBS price target is $160. The Thomson/First Call estimate is $145.40. Shares closed Wednesday at $129.53.

• [By Marc Bastow]

  Aerospace and technology products company Alliant Techsystems (ATK) raised its quarterly dividend 23% to 32 cents per share, payable on Mar. 27 to shareholders of record as of Mar. 4.
  ATK Dividend Yield: 0.92%

• [By Daniela Pylypczak]

  KeyBanc announced on Thursday that it has upgraded Alliant Techsystems Inc. (ATK), which provides aerospace and defense products to U.S. government agencies, from “Underweight” to “Hold.”

  According to analyst Michael F. Ciarmoli, this aerospace and defense provider’s previous Underweight rating was largely based on the belief that military ammunition revenue and funding would decline and would soon return to “normal.”

  The upgrade, however, reflects the changes KeyBanc sees in the industry; “While we believe these dynamics are in fact playing out, we did not account for management�� swift and pointed capital deployment efforts that have effectively diversified the Company away from the defense markets and further into the consumer sporting and leisure markets,” states Ciarmoli.

  Alliant Techsystems shares traded .74% higher during Thursday’s session. Year-to-date, the stock is up 52.51%.

Hot Dow Dividend Stocks To Own For 2014: HSBC Holdings PLC (HBCYF)

HSBC Holdings plc (HSBC) is a global banking and financial services organizations. As of December 31, 2012, it provided a range of financial services to around 58 million customers through four global businesses: Retail Banking and Wealth Management, Commercial Banking, Global Banking and Markets, and Global Private Banking. In June 2012, the Company�� indirect wholly owned subsidiary, HSBC Iris Investments (Mauritius) Ltd, sold its 4.73% interest in Axis Bank Limited and 4.74% interest in Yes Bank Limited. In July 2012, its subsidiary, HSBC Europe (Netherlands B.V.), sold its 100% interest in HSBC Credit Zrt, to CentralFund Kockazati Tokealap. On March 31, 2013, Enstar Group Ltd�� subsidiary completed the acquisition from Household Insurance Group Holding Company of HSBC Insurance Company of Delaware and Household Life Insurance Company of Delaware, as well as its three subsidiary insurers. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Mark Thompson]

  The Gold Fixing began as usual at 3 pm. Deutsche Bank (DB), HSBC (HBCYF), Scotiabank and Societe Generale (SCGLF) joined Barclays on a conference call.

Hot Dow Dividend Stocks To Own For 2014: Prosiebensat 1 Media AG (PSM)

ProSiebenSat 1 Media AG is a Germany-based broadcasting company. It owns commercial television stations, pay television (TV) channels and radio networks in numerous European countries. The Company operates in three business segments, including Free TV German-speaking, Free TV International and Diversification. Free TV German-speaking segment includes the stations SAT.1, ProSieben, kabel eins and sixx, as well as the sales companies SevenOneMedia and SevenOne AdFactory. Free TV International constitute of commercial TV stations in the Benelux countries and the CEE (Central and Eastern Europe) region. The Diversification segment includes all activities not directly dependent on the TV advertising market, such as call TV, music, commerce or Pay TV. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jonathan Morgan]

  RWE AG (RWE) jumped 6.4 percent, leading a gauge of utilities higher. Deutz AG (DEZ) plunged the most in more than two years after an investor sold a 8.4 percent stake in the manufacturer of diesel engines. ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG (PSM) dropped 1.1 percent after Telegraaf Media Groep NV sold its stake in the company.

Hot Dow Dividend Stocks To Own For 2014: Select Sector Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF)

Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide investment results that correspond to the price and yield performance of the Financial Select Sector of the S&P 500 Index (the Index). The Index includes financial service firms with diversified business lines ranging from investment management to commercial and investment banking.

The Fund utilizes a passive or indexing investment approach to invest in a portfolio of stocks that seek to replicate the Index. The Fund�� investment advisor is SSgA Funds Management, Inc.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Holly LaFon]

  As the financial sector began to heal in 2012, it was reflected in the price of stocks ��the Financial Select Sector SPDR (XLF) increased 31% over the past year, more than doubling from its 2009 lows. It also catapulted Berkowitz�� fund to the top-performing percentile of mutual funds this year.

Hot Dow Dividend Stocks To Own For 2014: PowerShares DB US Dollar Index Bullish Fund (UUP)

PowerShares DB US Dollar Index Bullish Fund (the Fund) is a separate series of PowerShares DB US Dollar Index Trust (the Trust). The Fund�� subsidiary is DB US Dollar Index Bullish Master Fund (the Master Fund), a separate series of DB US Dollar Index Bullish Master Trust (the Master Trust). The Fund offers common units of beneficial interest (the Shares) only to certain eligible financial institutions (the Authorized Participants) in one or more blocks of 200,000 Shares, called a Basket. The proceeds from the offering of Shares are invested in the Master Fund.

The Master Fund invests in futures contracts (the DX Contracts) with a view to tracking the changes, whether positive or negative, in the level of the Deutsche Bank US Dollar Index (USDX) Futures Index - Excess Return (Long Index) (referred to as the Long Index or the Index), over time. The Fund earns interest income from the United States Treasury obligations and other high credit quality short-term, fixed-income securities. The Index is calculated to reflect the changes in market value over time, whether positive or negative, of long positions in DX Contracts. DX Contracts are traded through the currency markets of ICE Futures U.S. under the symbol DX. The changes in market value over time, whether positive or negative, of the DX Contracts are related to the changes, whether positive or negative, in the level of the U.S. Dollar Index (the USDX). The Index provides a general indication of the international value of the United States dollar relative to the six major world currencies (the Index Currencies), which comprise the USDX, including Euro, Japanese Yen, British Pound, Canadian Dollar, Swedish Krona and Swiss Franc.

The Fund, through its Master Fund, establishes long positions in DX Contracts with a view to tracking the changes, whether positive or negative, in the level of the Index. The performance of the Fund also is intended to reflect the excess, if any, of its Master Fund�� interest income from its hol! dings of the United States Treasury obligations and other high credit quality short-term, fixed-income securities over the expenses of the Fund and the Master Fund. DB Commodity Services LLC serves as the managing owner, commodity pool operator and commodity trading advisor of the Fund and the Master Fund. DB Commodity Services LLC is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Deutsche Bank AG. The Bank of New York Mellon serves as the administrator of the Fund and the Master Fund.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Daniel Putnam]

  In terms of the similarities, one of the key drivers of this move is the falling dollar. The downturn in the greenback has accelerated in the past week, providing a boost to both physical gold and mining stocks alike. In the past five years, GDX has posted a -0.46 correlation with the PowerShares DB US Dollar Index Bullish Fund (UUP) ��indicating that the two typically move in essentially the opposite direction.

• [By Luke Jacobi]

  The US dollar once again tanked on the expectation that the Federal Reserve will not reduce its stimulus. The PowerShares ETF (NYSE: UUP) that tracks the performance of the greenback versus a basket of foreign currencies fell 0.02 percent to 21.39.