Top 10 Gas Utility Companies For 2014

Oneok Inc. (OKE) is a natural gas utility company that owns the General Partner of Oneok Partners LP (OKS).

Seven Year EPS Growth Rate: 4.1%Seven Year Dividend Growth Rate: 12.6%Current Dividend Yield: 2.80%Balance Sheet Strength: Investment GradeOverview

I published a stock report last week on Oneok Partners LP, which is a relatively large natural gas and NGL master limited partnership. In the article, I stated that quantitatively and qualitatively, it appears to be a strong investment with a great combination of yield and growth.

Another way to invest in the assets of that partnership is to invest in Oneok Inc., which owns the General Partner, 100% Incentive Distribution Rights, and 41.4% of the Limited Partner units, of Oneok Partners LP. Unlike OKS which trades as an MLP, Oneok Inc. trades as a regular dividend stock. This article finishes the Oneok series by taking a look at this general partner.

Top 10 Gas Utility Companies For 2014: Acadian Timber Corp(ADN.TO)

Acadian Timber Corp. supplies primary forest products in eastern Canada and the northeastern United States. It offers softwood and hardwood sawlogs, pulpwood, and biomass by-products. The company owns and manages approximately 764,000 acres of freehold timberlands in New Brunswick and approximately 310,000 acres of freehold timberlands in Maine; and provides management services relating to approximately 1.3 million acres of Crown licensed timberlands. It also owns and operates a forest nursery in Second Falls, New Brunswick. The company is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

Top 10 Gas Utility Companies For 2014: SK Telecom Corporation Ltd.(SKM)

SK Telecom Co., Ltd. provides wireless telecommunications services using code division multiple access (CDMA) and wide-band CDMA technologies. It offers cellular voice services, such as wireless voice transmission services; and wireless global roaming services. The company also provides wireless data transmission services, such as wireless Internet access services, which allow subscribers to access online digital contents and services, as well as to send and receive text and multimedia messages. In addition, it offers broadband Internet and fixed-line telephone services, such as video-on-demand and IP TV services; and local, domestic, and international long-distance fixed-line telephone services to residential and commercial subscribers. Further, the company provides wireless entertainment-related contents and services, wireless finance-related contents and m-commerce services, and wireless news and search services; and international calling services, such as direct-dial, pre and post paid card calling services, bundled services for corporate customers, voice services using Internet protocol, Web-to-phone services, and data services. Additionally, it offers satellite digital media broadcasting services; telematics services; and fixed-line and online community portal services. The company also operates 11th Street, an online shopping mall; and T Store, an online open marketplace for mobile applications. As of March 31, 2011, SK Telecom Co. had 26 million wireless subscribers. It has strategic alliances with Bridge Alliance; Orange SA; Telecom Italia Mobile S.p.A.; T-Mobile International AG & Co; and Teliasonera Mobile Networks AB. The company was formerly known as Korea Mobile Telecommunications Co., Ltd. and changed its name to SK Telecom Co., Ltd. in March 1997. SK Telecom Co., Ltd. was founded in 1984 and is based in Seoul, South Korea.

Top Low Price Stocks To Invest In 2014: Putnam High Income Bond Fund(PCF)

Putnam High Income Securities Fund is a closed-ended fixed income mutual fund launched and managed by Putnam Investment Management, LLC. The fund is co-managed by Putnam Investments Limited (U.K.). It invests in the fixed income markets of the United States. The fund seeks to invest in high yield convertible securities. For its fixed income portfolio, it looks for convertible, high yield, lower rated securities to make its investments. The fund benchmarks the performance of its portfolio against the Merrill Lynch All-Convert. Speculative Index and JP Morgan Dev. High yield Index. It was formerly known as Putnam High Income Bond Fund. Putnam High Income Securities Fund was formed on July 9, 1987 and is domiciled in the United States.

Top 10 Gas Utility Companies For 2014: North State Bncorp(NSBC.OB)

North State Bancorp operates as the holding company for North State Bank that provides various commercial and retail banking services to professional firms, professionals, property management companies, churches, non-profits, and individuals located primarily in central North Carolina. It accepts various deposit products that include savings, NOW, and money market accounts; time deposits; checkings and investment accounts; and interest-bearing and non interest-bearing deposits. The company?s loan portfolio comprises construction, land development, and other land loans; farmland loans; one to four family residential and multifamily residential loans; non-farm nonresidential loans; commercial and industrial loans; installment and mortgage loans; and consumer and other loans. It also provides safe deposit boxes; savings bonds; wire transfer; wealth management and brokerage services; trust preferred securities; and other associated services. The company operates six full-serv ice banking offices located in Wake County; and one full-service banking office in Wilmington, New Hanover County. The company was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Top 10 Gas Utility Companies For 2014: Discover Financial Services(DFS)

Discover Financial Services, a bank holding company, offers direct banking and payment services in the United States. It operates in two segments, Direct Banking and Payment Services. The Direct Banking segment offers Discover card-branded credit cards to individuals and small businesses that are accepted on the Discover Network. This segment also provides other consumer banking products and services, including personal loans, student loans, and prepaid cards, as well as other consumer lending and deposit products, such as certificates of deposit, money market accounts, online savings accounts, and individual retirement account. The Payment Services segment operates the PULSE network, an automated teller machine, debit, and electronic funds transfer network; the Diners Club International network, a global payments network; and third-party issuing business, which includes credit, debit, and prepaid cards issued on the Discover Network by third parties. The company was found ed in 1986 and is based in Riverwoods, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Louis Navellier]

  Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS) is also best known for its credit card service. Since last March, Discover stock has posted the biggest gain on this list at 45%. DFS stock gets an “A” grade for sales growth, a “B” grade for operating margin growth, an “A” grade for the magnitude in which earnings projections have increased over the past months, an “A” grade for cash flow, and an “A” grade for return on equity.

• [By Matthews]

  Kathryn Mcnamara Corley, who is EVP, General Counsel & Secretary at Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS), sold 36,897 shares on Sep 26 at $25.22 per share for a total value of $930,620. About the company: Discover Financial Services is a credit card issuer and electronic payment services company. The Company issues credit cards and offers student and personal loans, as well as savings products such as certificates of deposit and money market accounts and operates an automated teller machine(ATM)/debit network, which includes ATMs, as well as POS terminals nationwide.

Top 10 Gas Utility Companies For 2014: Express-1 Expedited Solutions Inc.(XPO)

XPO Logistics, Inc. provides third-party logistics services using a network of relationships with ground, sea, and air carriers in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. It operates in three segments: Express-1, Concert Group Logistics, and Bounce Logistics. The Express-1 segment offers ground expedited surface transportation services for freight. It operates a fleet ranging from cargo vans to semi tractor trailer units. The Concert Group Logistics segment provides domestic and international freight forwarding services through a network of independently owned stations. Its domestic freight forwarding services include air charter, expedites, and time sensitive services, as well as cost sensitive services comprising deferred delivery, less than truckload, and full truck load services; and international freight forwarding services consist of on-board courier and air charters, time sensitive services, less-than-container and full-container-loads, and vessel charters. This segm ent also offers documentation on international shipments, customs clearance and banking, trade show shipment management, time definite and customized product distributions, reverse logistics and on site asset recovery projects, installation coordination, freight optimization, and diversity compliance support services. The Bounce Logistics segment provides premium freight brokerage services for truckload shipments. The company serves approximately 4,000 retail, commercial, manufacturing, and industrial customers through 6 U.S. operations centers and 22 agent locations. It offers its services to the automotive manufacturing, automotive components and supplies, commercial printing, durable goods manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, food and consumer products, and high tech sectors. The company was formerly known as Express-1 Expedited Solutions, Inc. and changed its name to XPO Logistics, Inc. in September 2011. XPO Logistics, Inc. was founded in 1989 and is based in Buchanan, Michi gan.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Skousen]

  There is nothing exciting about the shipping business except that the growth in this industry can be exponential in an economy that is barely improving. Business conditions for shippers improve much more dramatically than the overall economy, and that’s exactly why you want to own shipping stocks in an economy emerging from recession — like we are right now — and avoid them in a slowing economy. Of all the shipping and transport companies out there right now, I like -1 Expedited Solutions Inc. (AMEX: XPO) the best because it grows faster from a tiny revenue base.

  In November, XPO announced Q3 results that beat by 150%, coming in at 5 cents per share versus an analyst estimate of 2 cents. Revenue rose by 70% to $44.4 million, up from $26.1 million in the same quarter of last year. The stock soared flowing the report and should continue to gain as shipping and freight companies are the first to rebound in an economic recovery. Buy XPO below $3.

Top 10 Gas Utility Companies For 2014: Spindex Industries Limited (564.SI)

Spindex Industries Limited, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the manufacture, import, export, and distribution of mechanical, electrical, electronic, precision machine parts, and other engineering materials. It provides precision turned parts, such as shafts, mini shafts, sleeves, and other critical components used in a range of applications, including consumer copiers, facsimiles, laser printers, inkjet printers, scanners, multi-function centers, commercial printers, and commercial offset printers. The company also offers various components used in automotive sensor assemblies, throttle mechanisms, and gear shafts that are used in brakes, drive systems, and industrial tools. In addition, it provides mini fasteners, transmission shafts, and bearing shafts for use in bicycles, fishing rods, washers, and irons. Spindex Industries Limited serves MNCs operating in imaging and printing, machinery and automotive systems, domestic appliances, consumer electronics, data storage, telecommunications, and other sectors. It primarily operates in the People�s Republic of China, Singapore, the other ASEAN countries, the United States, and Europe. The company was founded in 1981 and is headquartered in Singapore.

Top 10 Gas Utility Companies For 2014: Fastenal Company(FAST)

The Company Is Engaged As A Wholesaler And Retailer Of Industrial And Construction Supplies. The Industrial And Construction Supplies Were Grouped Into Ten Product Lines: Fasteners, Tools And EquipmeNt, Cutting Tools And Abrasives, Hydraulics, Pneumatics, Plumbing And Hvac, Material Handling, Storage And Packaging, Janitorial Supplies, Chemicals And Paints, Electrical Supplies, Welding Supplies, Safety Supplies And Metals, Alloys And Materials.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Beacon Equity]

  Fastenal Company (NASDAQ: FAST) is down 4.68% to $64.34 on volume of 1.27 million shares, despite posting upbeat earnings. The industrial fastener maker reported a 42% year-over-year increase in its Q1 net income as revenue jumped 23% to $640.6 million, citing rising sales and the strengthening of the Canadian dollar. (NASDAQ:FAST), (FAST)

Top 10 Gas Utility Companies For 2014: Benton Resources Corp. (BTC.V)

Benton Capital Corp., a development stage company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties in Canada. Its property portfolio consists of gold, nickel, copper, uranium, palladium, base metals, and platinum group metal projects located in Ontario, Newfoundland, and Labrador. The company was formerly known as Benton Resources Corp. and changed its name to Benton Capital Corp. in July 2012. Benton Capital Corp. was incorporated in 2003 and is based in Thunder Bay, Canada.

Top 10 Gas Utility Companies For 2014: UNITIL Corporation (UTL)

Unitil Corporation, a public utility holding company, engages in the distribution of electricity and natural gas in the states of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Maine. It also operates 87 miles of interstate underground natural gas transmission pipeline that provides interstate natural gas pipeline access and transportation services in New Hampshire and Maine service territory. In addition, the company provides energy brokering and advisory services to commercial and industrial customers in the northeastern United States. It serves approximately 100,900 electric and 70,800 natural gas customers. The company was incorporated in 1984 and is headquartered in Hampton, New Hampshire.