Top 10 Cheap Companies To Buy For 2014

It isn't easy being Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL  ) these days.

Apple stock has fallen 37% since peaking in late September. The S&P 500 has climbed 13% in that time, with tech stocks leading the way higher.

It's easy to see why Apple stock has taken a beating. Margins are contracting. Profit targets are cascading. When customers do choose Apple products, they're often settling for older iPhones and smaller iPads that are cheaper.

It's not just Apple. Many of the smartphone companies that were rallying late last year have proven mortal this year.

Nokia (NYSE: NOK  ) is off 26% since peaking January. Analysts see Nokia returning to profitability later this year, but the company is now not even the leading seller of phones in its home turf of Finland.

BlackBerry (NASDAQ: BBRY  ) has shed 23% of its value since similarly peaking in January. Apple stock peaked the day that the iPhone 5 hit the market, and BlackBerry also appears to have topped off as it was introducing the first wave of devices running its latest mobile operating system.

Top 5 Communications Equipment Stocks To Buy For 2015: Oracle Corporation(ORCL)

Oracle Corporation, an enterprise software company, develops, manufactures, markets, distributes, and services database and middleware software, applications software, and hardware systems worldwide. It licenses of database and middleware software, including database management software, application server software, service-oriented architecture and business process management software, data integration software, business intelligence software, identity and access management software, content management software, portals and user interaction software, development tools, and Java; and applications software comprising enterprise resource planning, customer relationship management, enterprise performance management, supply chain management, business intelligence applications, enterprise portfolio project management, Web commerce, and industry-specific applications software. The company also offers customers with rights to unspecified software product upgrades and maintenance releases; Internet access to technical content; and Internet and telephone access to technical support personnel. In addition, its hardware systems products consist of computer server and hardware-related software, including the Oracle Solaris Operating System; and storage products, such as tape, disk and networking solutions for open systems and mainframe server environments. Its hardware systems support solutions include software updates for the software components. Further, the company offers consulting solutions in business and IT strategy alignment, enterprise architecture planning and design, initial product implementation and integration, and ongoing product enhancements and upgrades; cloud services, including Oracle Cloud Services and Advanced Customer Services; and education solutions comprising instructor-led, media-based, and Internet-based training in the use of its software and hardware products. The company was founded in 1977 and is headquartered in Redwood Ci ty, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By reports.droy]

  German software giant SAP (SAP) is the market leader in the BI arena, with revenues of over $3 billion, indicating a market share of approximately 21.3%. Acquisitions like KXEN Inc. have made it possible for SAP to support its organic analytics tools from the Business-Objects line. Furthermore, the launch of the Business-Objects suite on HANA has further provided strength to its existing analytics portfolio. The second, third and fourth spots in the BI analytics race are held in close contention by Oracle (ORCL), International Business Machines (IBM) and SAS Institute Inc. respectively, with market shares of 13.9%, 12.7% and 11.8%, respectively.

• [By CNBC]

  Paul Sakuma/APOracle President Mark Hurd Mark Hurd, one of the rumored leading contenders to replace Steve Ballmer as chief executive of Microsoft, told CNBC that he is "not planning" to move from his current job as president at technology company Oracle. Hurd is one of several technology executives whose name has been linked with one of the biggest jobs in the industry, since it emerged that Steve Ballmer is stepping down from Microsoft (MSFT). Other high-profile names connected to the job include Alan Mulally, chief executive of Ford Motor (F), and Stephen Elop, the former Nokia (NOK) CEO who has rejoined Microsoft to head up its mobile devices division. Hurd told CNBC he is "very happy" at Oracle (ORCL) -- but did not deny that he had been contacted by Microsoft. Asked how he would fix the challenges facing the computer giant, he said: "Microsoft needs to work on their own business." Hurd was previously chief executive of Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) where he was credited with helping turn around the company's fortunes through an aggressive cost-cutting program. He stepped down in 2010 the wake of sexual harassment allegations but was eventually cleared of all charges. Larry Ellison, the Oracle chief executive, gave Hurd his job at Oracle within a month of his departure from HP. He also publicly compared Hurd's firing to Apple's (AAPL) board firing Steve Jobs in 1985. The board of HP said that Hurd had not violated company policy on sexual harassment, but he had broken its policy on business standards by submitting inaccurate expense claims. Oracle has just announced a deal with U.K. telecom giant BT Group (BT), which will use its human resources "cloud" technology for its near-90,000 employees around the world. Revenues at Oracle, one of the world's biggest software companies, for the first quarter disappointed some analysts when they were announced in September. Sales for the three months to Aug. 31 came in at $8.37 billion, against analysts' average fo

Top 10 Cheap Companies To Buy For 2014: International Business Machines Corporation(IBM)

International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) provides information technology (IT) products and services worldwide. Its Global Technology Services segment provides IT infrastructure and business process services, including strategic outsourcing, process, integrated technology, and maintenance services, as well as technology-based support services. The company?s Global Business Services segment offers consulting and systems integration, and application management services. Its Software segment offers middleware and operating systems software, such as WebSphere software to integrate and manage business processes; information management software for database and enterprise content management, information integration, data warehousing, business analytics and intelligence, performance management, and predictive analytics; Tivoli software for identity management, data security, storage management, and datacenter automation; Lotus software for collaboration, messaging, and so cial networking; rational software to support software development for IT and embedded systems; business intelligence software, which provides querying and forecasting tools; SPSS predictive analytics software to predict outcomes and act on that insight; and operating systems software. Its Systems and Technology segment provides computing and storage solutions, including servers, disk and tape storage systems and software, point-of-sale retail systems, and microelectronics. The company?s Global Financing segment provides lease and loan financing to end users and internal clients; commercial financing to dealers and remarketers of IT products; and remanufacturing and remarketing services. It serves financial services, public, industrial, distribution, communications, and general business sectors. The company was formerly known as Computing-Tabulating-Recording Co. and changed its name to International Business Machines Corporation in 1924. IBM was founded in 1910 and is based in Armonk, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rex Crum]

  IBM (IBM) �fell by $6.39 a share, or more than 3%, to close at $190.01 after the company said late Wednesday that it earned $2.38 billion, or $2.29 a share, for its first quarter ended in March. During the same period a year ago, IBM earned $3.03 billion, or $2.70 a share. Revenue declined by 4% to $22.5 billion.

• [By Trey Thoelcke]

  International Business Machines Corp. (NYSE: IBM) has�said in a statement that it will vigorously fight the lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court in Manhattan by�shareholder Louisiana Sheriffs’ Pension and Relief Fund�over its alleged failure to disclose its involvement in the U.S. National Security Agency’s (NSA) spy program and the subsequent loss of business in China.

Top 10 Cheap Companies To Buy For 2014: Merck & Company Inc.(MRK)

Merck & Co., Inc. provides various health solutions through its prescription medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies, animal health, and consumer care products. The company?s Pharmaceutical segment provides human health pharmaceutical products, such as therapeutic and preventive agents for the treatment of human disorders in the areas of bone, respiratory, immunology, dermatology, cardiovascular, diabetes and obesity, infectious diseases, neurosciences and ophthalmology, oncology, vaccines, and women's health and endocrine. This segment also offers human health vaccines, such as preventive pediatric, adolescent, and adult vaccines. Its Animal Health segment discovers, develops, manufactures, and markets animal health products. This segment offers antibiotics, anti-inflammatory products, vaccines, products for the treatment of fertility disorders, and parasiticides for cattle, swine, horses, poultry, dogs, cats, salmons, and fish. The Consumer Care segment develops, manufac tures, and markets over-the-counter, foot care, and sun care products. Its over-the-counter product line includes non-drowsy antihistamines; treatment for occasional constipation; decongestant-free cold/flu medicine for people with high blood pressure; nasal decongestant spray; and treatment for frequent heartburn. This segment?s foot care products comprise topical antifungal, and foot and sneaker odor/wetness products; and sun care products include sun care lotions, sprays and dry oils; and sunburn relief products. The company serves drug wholesalers and retailers, hospitals, government agencies, physicians, physician distributors, veterinarians, animal producers, and managed health care providers, as well as food chain and mass merchandiser outlets in the United States and Canada. Merck & Co., Inc. was founded in 1891 and is headquartered in Whitehouse Station, New Jersey.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Divine]

  Lastly, shares of Merck (NYSE: MRK  ) slumped 1.9%, as dividend investors fled high-yielding equities in the stock market today. Merck has the fourth-highest annual dividend yield in the Dow, dishing out about 3.6% per year to its shareholders. With Treasury yields climbing as further stimulus from Japan failed to come and markets brace for a slowdown in domestic quantitative easing, yield-oriented investors look more and more to Treasuries over dividend stocks.

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  Merck (NYSE: MRK  ) also declined, with a 0.4% drop, even though the company won a legal battle against potential generic competition. As Fool contributor Dan Carroll noted earlier today, Merck got an injunction to protect its Januvia and Janumet diabetes drugs from an Indian company seeking to make generic versions of the drug. With the drugs having assumed the role of Merck's blockbusters, any threat has potentially large implications for the pharmaceutical company, which has already faced plenty of damage from past patent expirations.

Top 10 Cheap Companies To Buy For 2014: Sirius XM Radio Inc.(SIRI)

Sirius XM Radio Inc. provides satellite radio services in the United States and Canada. It broadcasts a programming lineup of approximately 135 channels of commercial-free music, sports, news and information, talk and entertainment, traffic, and weather on subscription fee basis through two satellite radio systems in the United States; and holds an interest in the satellite radio services offered in Canada. The company also simulcasts music and selected non-music channels over the Internet; and offers applications to allow consumers to access its Internet services on mobile devices. As of December 31, 2010, it had 20,190,964 subscribers. In addition, the company designs, establishes specifications, sources or specifies parts and components, and manages various aspects of the logistics and production of satellite radios; licenses its technology to various electronics manufacturers to develop, manufacture, and distribute radios under various brands; and imports radios distri buted through its Websites. The company?s satellite radios are primarily distributed through automakers, retailers, and its Websites. Further, it provides music services for commercial establishments; a satellite television service to offer music channels as part of certain programming packages on the DISH Network satellite television service; music and comedy channels to mobile phone users through mobile phone carriers; Backseat TV, a service offering television content designed primarily for children in the backseat of vehicles; Travel Link, a suite of data services that include graphical weather, fuel prices, sports schedules and scores, and movie listings; and real-time traffic and weather services. The company was formerly known as Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. and changed its name to Sirius XM Radio Inc. in August 2008. Sirius XM Radio Inc. was founded in 1990 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rick Munarriz]

  1. Sirius XM will close higher on the week
  Sirius XM Radio (NASDAQ: SIRI  ) reports on Tuesday morning, and it's easy to bank on a strong report. Auto sales have been strong in recent months, and that's the lifeblood of new subscribers for the satellite-radio provider. Sirius XM has also been providing conservative guidance in recent quarters, leading to blowout performances that force the media giant to revise its outlook higher.

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Sirius XM Holdings (NASDAQ: SIRI) was also up, gaining 6.02 percent to $3.79 after Liberty Media (NASDAQ: LMCA) offered to acquire Sirius in a stock swap deal valued at $3.68 per share.

• [By Rick Munarriz]

  Sirius XM Radio (NASDAQ: SIRI  ) is teaming up with Time Warner's (NYSE: TWX  ) Entertainment Weekly to launch a new station devoted entirely to entertainment news and chatter.

Top 10 Cheap Companies To Buy For 2014: Uranium Resources Inc.(URRE)

Uranium Resources, Inc. engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and mining of uranium properties, using the in situ recovery or solution mining process. It owns developed and undeveloped uranium properties in South Texas; and undeveloped uranium properties in New Mexico. The company?s primary customers include utilities who utilize nuclear power to generate electricity. Uranium Resources, Inc. was founded in 1977 and is based in Lewisville, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By James E. Brumley]

  You know, were it just Uranium Resources, Inc. (NASDAQ:URRE) or just Ur-Energy Inc. (NYSEMKT:URG) or just Uranerz Energy Corp. (NYSEMKT:URZ) making a decided bullish move, I might be able to dismiss it. Similarly, if URZ had only been moving higher for one or two days (or only URG or only URRE), it might be easy to not be impressed. Neither of those situations has been the actual case, however. All three stocks have been moving upward for several days now, quite a bit, on noticeably higher volume. There's something "going on", as it were, and if prior group-wide movements are any clue, it's the kind of move worth tapping into.

Top 10 Cheap Companies To Buy For 2014: Ur Energy Inc(URG)

Ur-Energy Inc., an exploration stage junior mining company, engages in the identification, acquisition, evaluation, exploration, and development of uranium mineral properties. The company has 13 projects located in Wyoming and Nebraska, the United States; and 3 exploration projects located in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, Canada. Its landholdings cover approximately 90,000 acres in the United States and approximately 140,000 acres in Canada. The company was founded in 2004 and is headquartered in Littleton, Colorado.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By The Energy Report]

  JH: There are several companies that are in production that we follow in the U.S., such as Cameco Corp. (CCJ). Cameco produces at the Smith Ranch-Highland in the Powder River Basin. There's Uranium One, also in the Powder River Basin. There's Uranium Energy Corp. (UEC). A few near-term producers are rapidly coming online. Ur-Energy Inc. (URG) is one company we like in Wyoming.

Top 10 Cheap Companies To Buy For 2014: Global Payments Inc.(GPN)

Global Payments Inc. provides electronic transaction processing services for merchants, independent sales organizations (ISO), financial institutions, government agencies, and multi-national corporations located in the United States, Canada, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region. It offers a comprehensive line of processing solutions for credit and debit cards; business-to-business purchasing cards; gift cards; and electronic check conversion and check guarantee, verification, and recovery, including electronic check services, as well as terminal management. The company also offers proprietary software products to establish revolving check cashing limits for the casinos? customers in the gaming industry. In addition, it sells, installs, and services automated teller machine and point of sale terminals; and provides card issuing services, including card management and card personalization. The company markets its products directly, as well as through ISOs, retail outlets, tra de associations, alliance bank relationships, and financial institutions. Global Payments Inc. has a joint venture with La Caixa Group to provide merchant acquiring services to merchants in Spain. Global Payments Inc. was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Monica Gerson]

  Global Payments (NYSE: GPN) is expected to post its Q1 earnings at $0.95 per share on revenue of $623.79 million.

  Synergetics USA (NASDAQ: SURG) is projected to post its Q4 earnings at $0.06 per share on revenue of $17.01 million.

• [By Laura Brodbeck]

  Thursday

  Earnings Expected From: Global Payents Inc. (NYSE: GPN), Micron Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: MU), Synnex Corporation (NYSE: SNX) Economic Releases Expected: �US services PMI, Canadian imports and exports, US trade balance, eurozone services PMI, ECB interest rate decision, British services PMI

  Friday

• [By Monica Gerson]

  Global Payments (NYSE: GPN) reported upbeat fiscal first-quarter results and raised its annual forecast. Global Payments named Jeffrey S. Sloan as its new chief executive and announced its plans to buy back up to $100 million of its common stock. Global Payments shares surged 6.80% to $54.15 in the after-hours trading session.