Top 5 Financial Companies To Buy For 2014

Biotech investors are never safe from the quiet robber of wealth -- dilution. Although too many managers in the sector see raising cash at the expense of shareholders as relatively�victim-less, oftentimes debt markets just�aren't�an avenue available to these companies. But even investors who do their homework and feel good about a company's financial position can be caught off guard.

In this video, health-care analyst David Williamson takes a closer look at one such case, Isis Pharmaceuticals. Shares plunged 10% after a surprise announcement to raise $170 million. Watch and find out the reasoning behind Isis' surprise�announcement� and what investors should make of it.

Obamacare will undoubtedly have far-reaching effects. The Motley Fool's new free report, "Everything You Need to Know About Obamacare," lets you know how your health insurance, your taxes, and your portfolio will be affected. Click here to read more.�

Top 5 Financial Companies To Buy For 2014: Omega Healthcare Investors Inc.(OHI)

Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc. operates as a real estate investment trust (REIT) in the United States. The company invests in healthcare facilities, principally long-term healthcare facilities in the United States. It provides lease or mortgage financing to qualified operators of skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), as well as to assisted living facilities (ALFs), independent living facilities (ILFs), and rehabilitation and acute care facilities. As of March 31, 2011, the company?s portfolio of real estate investments consisted of 400 healthcare facilities, including 370 SNFs, 10 ALFs, 5 specialty facilities, fixed rate mortgages on 13 SNFs, and 2 SNFs that are held-for-sale located in 35 states. Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc. has been qualified as a REIT for federal income tax purposes. As a REIT, it would not be subject to federal corporate income taxes if it distributes at least 90% of its taxable income to its shareholders. The company was founded in 1992 and is bas ed in Hunt Valley, Maryland.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Cameron Swinehart]

  I recently took profits in a few positions including Microsoft (MSFT), The Sherwin-Williams Company (SHW), Omega Healthcare Investors (OHI) and Wells Fargo (WFC). From my perspective, the economic outlook doesn't support continued investment in those companies. A softening U.S economy and high debt levels will push investors into safe havens and real assets.

• [By Marc Bastow]

  Healthcare facilities REIT Omega Healthcare Investors (OHI) raised its quarterly dividend 2% to 48 cents per share, payable Nov. 15 to shareholders of record as of Oct. 31.
  OHI Dividend Yield: 5.81%

Top 5 Financial Companies To Buy For 2014: Britton & Koontz Capital Corporation(BKBK)

Britton & Koontz Capital Corporation operates as the holding company for Britton & Koontz Bank, National Association that provides commercial and consumer banking services in Adams and Warren Counties, Mississippi, and East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, as well as in the adjoining counties and parishes in Mississippi and Louisiana. The company offers various deposit products, including personal and commercial checking accounts, money market deposit accounts, savings accounts, non-interest bearing deposits, negotiable order of withdrawal accounts, and certificates of deposit. Its loan portfolio comprises commercial, financial, and agricultural loans; real estate construction, residential, and other loans; installment loans; consumer loans; and overdrafts. In addition, the company provides automated clearinghouse services; safe deposit box facilities; brokerage services; automated teller machines; cash management services, including remote deposit, money transfer, direct de posit payroll, and sweep accounts; VISA credit cards; and letters of credit. As of May 17, 2011, it operated three full service offices in Natchez, two in Vicksburg, Mississippi; three in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and a loan production office in Central, Louisiana. The company was founded in 1866 and is headquartered in Natchez, Mississippi.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Tim Melvin]

  HBCP recently announced a deal to buy Britton & Koontz Capital Corporation (BKBK) in a deal that will add eight branches and more than $300 million of assets to the bank. It also gains access to the Mississippi marketplace and increases Home Bancorp’s deposit base in Baton Rouge.

Best Medical Stocks To Watch For 2014: Gyrodyne Company of America Inc.(GYRO)

Gyrodyne Company of America, Inc., a real estate investment trust (REIT), engages in the investment, acquisition, ownership, and management of a portfolio of medical office and industrial properties in the northeast region of the United States. The company also involves in the development of industrial and residential properties. It focuses on acquiring, developing, owning, leasing, and managing medical, commercial, and industrial real estate. The company has elected to be taxed as REIT under the Internal Revenue Code. As a REIT, it would not be subject to federal income tax purposes, provided that it distributes at least 90% of its taxable income to its shareholders. The company was founded in 1946 and is headquartered in St. James, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sally Jones]

  Highlight: Gyrodyne Company of America (GYRO)

  The GYRO share price is currently $73.85 or 35.7% off the 52-week high of $114.80. The company does not pay a dividend.

• [By Geoff Gannon] >Syms (SYMSQ) where at some point the company�� entire value really depended on its balance sheet.

  Obviously when looking at things like real estate you don�� go by what it says on the balance sheet. You try to find a note on depreciation that breaks out land, buildings, etc. And gives information about how the company depreciates its property.

  And ��of course ��you look at the ��roperties��item in the 10-K. In the U.S., you then use the information you��e gathered to check county land records and things like that for more information about the property.

  Generally, you want to:

  路 Find out when the company bought the property

Top 5 Financial Companies To Buy For 2014: Banco Santander S.A.(STD)

Banco Santander, S.A. provides a range of banking and financial products. It accepts customer demand, time, and notice deposits, and international and domestic interbank deposits, as well as offers auto financing, personal loans, and credit cards; and automated cash dispensers, savings books updaters, telephone banking services, and electronic and Internet banking services. The company also engages corporate banking, treasury, and investment banking activities. It provides transaction banking services in cash management, trade finance, and basic financing; and corporate finance services for mergers and acquisitions, and asset and capital structuring, as well as involves in the origination activities and risk management, and distribution of structured products and debt in the credit markets; structuring and trading activities in financial markets of interest rate and exchange rate instruments; and activities relating to the equity markets. In addition, it engages in the des ign and management of mutual and pension funds, and life and general insurance products. The company operates primarily in Spain, the United Kingdom, other European countries, Brazil and other Latin American countries, and the United States. As of December 31, 2010, it had 6,063 branch offices in continental Europe; 1,416 branches in the United Kingdom; 5,882 branches in Latin America; and 721 branches in the United States. The company was formerly known as Banco Santander Central Hispano S.A. and changed its name to Banco Santander, S.A. in June 2007. Banco Santander, S.A. was founded in 1857 and is based in Madrid, Spain.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Chandan Dubey]

  This article will describe what a bank does. Then we will move on to reading the balance sheet of a bank. As an example, I take the balance sheet of one of my holdings, Banco Santander (STD).

Top 5 Financial Companies To Buy For 2014: Monarch Community Bancorp Inc.(MCBF)

Monarch Community Bancorp, Inc. operates as a bank holding company for Monarch Community Bank that provides various banking services in Branch, Calhoun, and Hillsdale counties of Michigan. The company offers various deposit products, including passbook and statement savings accounts, money market deposit accounts, NOW and demand accounts, interest bearing and non-interest bearing checking accounts, and certificates of deposit to consumers and businesses. It also provides a range of loan products comprising one-to-four family residential real estate loans; multi-family and commercial real estate loans; construction and land development loans; secured consumer loans, such as home equity loans and lines of credit, auto loans, manufactured housing loans, and loans secured by savings deposits; unsecured loans that include home improvement loans; and commercial business loans. In addition, the company, through its subsidiary, First Insurance Agency, offers insurance services. As of December 31, 2010, it operated five full service offices. The company was founded in 1934 and is headquartered in Coldwater, Michigan.