Hot Quality Companies To Watch For 2014

Fi360 has acquired IPS AdvisorPro, a technology platform that helps financial advisers develop customized investment policy statements.

“We feel strongly that the implementation and maintenance of a high-quality IPS is critical for effective management of the investment process,” fi360 chief executive Blaine F. Aikin said in a statement. “The IPS AdvisorPro technology is the most effective solution available for developing custom IPS templates and managing them across clients.”

IPS Advisor Pro was developed by Norm Boone and Linda Lubitz Boone, experts on investment policy statements and authors of "Creating An Investment Policy Statement" (FPA Press, 2004). The technology allows users to develop templates for eight unique client types, including individuals, trusts, ERISA plans, foundations and endowments, charitable trusts, and irrevocable life insurance trusts. The templates are fully customizable.

Hot Dow Dividend Companies To Own In Right Now: Acura Pharmaceuticals Inc.(ACUR)

Acura Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company, engages in the research, development, and manufacture of pharmaceutical product candidates utilizing its proprietary Aversion and Impede technologies. Its Aversion Technology is a proprietary platform technology providing abuse deterrent features and benefits to orally administered pharmaceutical drug products containing abusable active ingredients, such as tranquillizers, stimulants, sedatives, and decongestants. The company offers OXECTA Tablets CII, which are oral formulations of oxycodone HCl for the management of acute and chronic moderate to severe pain; and Impede PSE, a pseudoephedrine hydrochloride tablet product candidate. It is also developing opioid analgesic product candidates, which would be used to relieve pain while discouraging common methods of opioid product misuse and abuse, including intravenous injection of dissolved tablets or capsules; nasal snorting of crushed tablets or capsules; and intentional swallowing of excess quantities of tablets or capsules. In addition, the company investigates and develops mechanisms to incorporate abuse deterrent features into abused and misused pharmaceutical products using its Impede Technology. Acura Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has a license, development, and commercialization agreement with King Pharmaceuticals Research and Development, Inc. to develop and commercialize certain opioid analgesic products utilizing the company?s proprietary Aversion Technology in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The company was founded in 1935 and is based in Palatine, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Udovich]

  On Tuesday, small cap specialty pharmaceutical company�Acura Pharmaceuticals, Inc (NASDAQ: ACUR) surged 27.52% to $1.90 on no apparent news beyond a speculative Seeking Alpha article that talked about certain catalysts����meaning its worth taking a closer look at the company to see what�� going on and whether shares could move higher.�

• [By Sean Williams]

  ALKS-7106 for the treatment of pain has big potential as it encompasses a broad audience, but it'll need to overcome the common stigma of pain drugs with regard to easy abuse potential. According to the press release, Alkermes will be introducing newer technology that will make its opioid-based drug more resistant to abuse. It should be curious to see how well this performs as there aren't many successful abuse-resistant drugs, or companies developing those drugs for that matter. Acura Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: ACUR  ) , for instance, successfully brought moderate-to-severe painkiller Oxecta to market in 2011 (which it subsequently licensed to Pfizer) and a bioequivalent version of decongestant pseudoephedrine to market last year, but sales of neither drug has exactly taken off. Like with its MMF prodrug, Alkermes anticipates a mid-2014 clinical trial launch date.

Hot Quality Companies To Watch For 2014: Athlon Energy Inc (ATHL)

Athlon Energy Inc., incorporated on April 1, 2013, is an independent exploration and production company. The Company is a holding company and its sole assets are controlling equity interests in Athlon Holdings LP and its subsidiaries. The Company is focused on the acquisition, development and exploitation of unconventional oil and liquids-rich natural gas reserves in the Permian Basin. The Permian Basin spans portions of Texas and New Mexico and consists of three primary sub-basins: the Delaware Basin, the Central Basin Platform and the Midland Basin. The Company�� properties are located in the Midland Basin. Its drilling activity is focused on the vertical development of stacked pay zones, including the Spraberry, Wolfcamp, Cline, Strawn, Atoka and Mississippian formations, which it refers to collectively as the Wolfberry play. The Company's acreage position was 124,925 gross at May 31, 2013, which it grousp into three primary areas based on geographic location within the Midland Basin: Howard, Midland and Other and Glasscock. As of April 30, 2013, the Company operated up to eight vertical drilling rigs and has drilled 218 gross operated vertical Wolfberry wells. In February 2014, Athlon Energy Inc announced that subsidiary, Athlon Holdings LP completed the acquisition of certain oil and natural gas properties and related assets in the Midland Basin of West Texas.

As of March 15, 2013, there were 478 total rigs operating in the Permian Basin. The Company�� properties are located within the Midland Basin in areas with approximately 3,000 feet to 4,000 feet of stacked pay zones. Its vertical drilling program is targeting the Spraberry, Wolfcamp, Cline, Strawn, Atoka and Mississippian formations.

Howard

The Company operates four rigs in this area. As of May 31, 2013, the Company had 69,661 gross acres and an inventory of 1,577 gross (1,140 net) identified vertical drilling locations on 40-acre spacing and an additional 1,741 gross identified vertical drilling ! locations on 20-acre spacing. As of April 30, 2013, it had identified 506 gross horizontal drilling locations consisting of 147 gross Wolfcamp A locations, 172 gross Wolfcamp B locations, 25 gross Wolfcamp C locations, 111 gross Cline locations and 51 gross Mississippian locations.

Midland and Other

The Company operates two rigs in this area. As of May 31, 2013, the Company had 36,694 gross acres and an inventory of 424 gross (390 net) identified vertical drilling locations on 40-acre spacing and an additional 463 gross (414 net) identified vertical drilling locations on 20-acre spacing. As of April 30, 2013, it has identified 352 gross horizontal drilling locations consisting of 64 gross Wolfcamp A locations, 125 gross Wolfcamp B locations, 97 gross Wolfcamp C locations and 66 gross Cline locations.

Glasscock

The Company operates one rig in this area. As of May 31, 2013, it had 18,570 gross net acres and an inventory of 297 gross (267 net) identified vertical drilling locations on 40-acre spacing and an additional 400 gross identified vertical drilling locations on 20-acre spacing. As of April 30, 2013, it had identified 232 gross horizontal drilling locations consisting of 54 gross Wolfcamp A locations, 58 gross Wolfcamp B locations, 58 gross Wolfcamp C locations and 62 gross Cline locations.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Matt Jarzemsky var popups = dojo.query(".socialByline .popC"); popups.forEach]

  The drillers considered to be Parsley�� closest peers include Diamondback Energy Inc.(FANG), which has seen its shares rally 38% so far this year through Thursday. Athlon Energy Inc.(ATHL), another similar company, is up 43% this year and 116% since its August IPO.

Hot Quality Companies To Watch For 2014: Ambarella Inc (AMBA)

Ambarella, Inc., incorporated on January 15, 2004, is a developer of semiconductor processing solutions for video that enable high-definition (HD), video capture, sharing and display. The Company combine its processor design capabilities with its video and image processing, algorithms and software to provide a technology platform. It sells solutions into the camera and infrastructure markets, with approximately 27 million system-on-a-chips (SoCs) shipped since our inception. In the camera market, its solutions enable the creation of video content for wearable sports cameras, automotive aftermarket cameras, Internet Protocol (IP), security cameras, digital still cameras (DSCs), telepresence cameras, camcorders and pocket video cameras. In the infrastructure market, its solutions manage IP video traffic, broadcast encoding and IP video delivery applications. In 2012, the Company released its Wireless Camera Developers Kit. In 2012, it also launched S2 SoC, which enables Ultra High-Definition IP security cameras.

The Company sells its solutions to original design manufacturers (ODMs), and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), globally. In the camera market, its video processing solutions are designed into products from OEMs, including Robert Bosch GmbH and affiliated entities, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. and Woodman Labs, Inc., doing business as (d/b/a) GoPro, or GoPro, who source its solutions from ODMs, including Ability Enterprise Co., Ltd., Asia Optical Co. Inc., Chicony Electronics Co., Ltd., DXG Technology Corp., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd. and Sky Light Digital Ltd. In the infrastructure market, its solutions are designed into products from OEMs, including Harmonic Inc., Motorola Mobility, Inc. (owned by Google, Inc.) and Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson, who source its solutions from ODMs, such as Plexus Corp.

AmbaClear

The Company�� image signal processing architecture, known as AmbaClear, incorporates advanced algorithms to convert raw senso! r data to high-resolution still and high-definition video images concurrently. Image processing algorithms include sensor, lens and color correction, demosaicing, which is a process used to reconstruct a full color image from incomplete color samples, noise filtering, detail enhancement and image format conversion.

AmbaCast

The Company�� HD video processing architecture, known as AmbaCast, incorporates advanced algorithms for motion estimation, motion-compensated temporal filtering, mode decision and rate control. It supports all three compression profilesbaseline, main and highas specified in the H.264 standard. Its solutions for the broadcast infrastructure market allow OEMs to offer both the H.264 and MPEG-2 encoding formats.

Design Methodology

The Company test and verify its algorithms on its architectural model prior to implementing algorithms in hardware. Its advanced verification methodology validates its approach through simultaneous modeling of architecture, algorithms and the hardware itself.

SoC Solution

The Company�� SoC designs integrate HD video processing, image processing, applications processing and system functions onto a single chip, delivering video and image quality with features, including advanced wireless connectivity. In addition, its SoCs integrate mixed signal (analog/digital) functionality and high speed interfaces required for interfacing to advanced high-speed CMOS sensors and industry standard interfaces, such as USB 2.0 and HDMI 1.4. Its A7L SoC, which it introduced in September 2011, is fabricated in edge 32 nanometer (nm) process technology and integrates AmbaClear and AmbaCast technology.

Software Development Kit for Connectivity

The Company�� video streaming technology enables the camera�� image to be previewed on a smartphone. To enable this functionality, end customers deploy its Wireless Camera Developer�� Kit, or the Kit, which enables the design of ca! meras tha! t combine still photography and Full HD video with wireless video streaming to smartphones. The Kit is available for its A7L SoC product family, providing full 1080p60 HD video with photography and low power consumption.

The Company competes with CSR Plc, Fujitsu Limited, HiSilicon Technologies Co., Ltd., Texas Instruments Incorporated, Canon Inc., Panasonic Corporation, Sony Corporation, Novatek Microelectronics Corp., Sunplus Technology Co. Ltd., Intel Corporation, Magnum Semiconductor, Inc., Texas Instruments Incorporated, Broadcom Corporation, NVIDIA Corporation, Qualcomm Incorporated and Samsung.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By MONEYMORNING]

  Back in August, we said that specialty microchip maker Ambarella Inc. (Nasdaq: AMBA) would be a major beneficiary of the UHDTV surge and predicted the stock could double in just over two years.

• [By JuhiKulkarni]

  Ambarella (AMBA) is in a decent position to profit from development in the selection of wearable gadgets and activity sports Polaroids. In any case, the company's performance in 2014 has been disillusioning as its shares are down 6%. In any case a gander at the company's late comes about shows that Ambarella searches balanced for robust long haul additions, making it a decent purchase on the pullback. How about we investigate its late comes about and see why it could be a decent financing.

• [By Michael A. Robinson]

  Take a look at Ambarella Inc. (Nasdaq: AMBA), a fast-moving, small-cap firm that is focused on the rapidly emerging market for ultra-high-definition televisions (UHDTV).

• [By Rich Smith]

  Ambarella just crashed
  Following a Street.com report detailing insider selling at Ambarella (NASDAQ: AMBA  ) earlier this week, and a downgrade of the stock to hold by Needham & Co. earlier this morning, shares of the high-def "system-on-a-chip" semiconductor maker are plunging, down nearly 8% at last report. Should investors be worried?

Hot Quality Companies To Watch For 2014: Home Federal Bancorp Inc. of Louisiana(HFBL)

Home Federal Bancorp, Inc. of Louisiana operates as the holding company for Home Federal Bank, which provides financial services to individuals, corporate entities, and other organizations in northwest Louisiana. The company?s deposit products include savings accounts, NOW accounts, money market accounts, and certificate accounts, as well as passbook savings, certificates of deposit, and demand deposit accounts. Its loan portfolio comprises real estate loans, such as one to four family residential loans; commercial-real estate loans; multi-family residential loans; commercial business loans; land loans; construction loans; home equity and second mortgage loans; equity lines of credit; and consumer loans, including loans secured by deposit accounts, automobile loans, and other unsecured loans. The company also offers wealth management services. As of December 7, 2010, it operated through its main office, two branch offices, and one agency office in Shreveport, Louisiana. T he company is based in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lauren Pollock]

  Bank-holding company Banner Corp.(BANR) on Tuesday said it had agreed to buy Home Federal Bancorp Inc.(HFBL) (HOME) for $197 million in cash and stock. The deal, expected to close in the first quarter of 2014, will result in a combined company with about $5.2 billion in assets, making it the fourth-largest bank in the Pacific Northwest by assets, the companies said.

Hot Quality Companies To Watch For 2014: Digital Cinema Destinations Corp (DCIN)

Digital Cinema Destinations Corp., incorporated on July 29, 2010, operates eight theatres and 73 screens located in Westfield, New Jersey (Rialto), Cranford, New Jersey (Cranford), Bloomfield, Connecticut (the Bloomfield 8) and five theatres located in central Pennsylvania (Cinema Centers). During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012 (fiscal 2012), the Company operates eight theatres, two in New Jersey, with a total of 11 screens, one in Connecticut, with a total of 8 screens and five in central Pennsylvania, with a total of 54 screens. In March 2014, the Company announced that it has completed the acquisition of a seven screen theater in Churchville, MD from Flagship Cinemas.

The Rialto is a six-screen theatre located in downtown Westfield, New Jersey, which has a population of approximately 30,000 people. The Bloomfield 8 is an eight-screen theatre located at the Wintonbury Mall in the town of Bloomfield, Connecticut, which is a New England town of over 20,000 people that is home to many sites that are on the National Register of Historic Places and is approximately 5.5 miles from downtown Hartford, Connecticut. Cinema Centers consists of a chain of five theatres with 54 screens located throughout central Pennsylvania. All of the Cinema Centers theatres are in free zones. The 11-screen Cinema Center of Bloomsburg theatre is located in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania. Bloomsburg, a college town of approximately 13,000 people, is located midway between Wilkes Barre and Williamsport, Pennsylvania. The 12-screen Cinema Center of Camp Hill theatre is located in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, just outside of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Harrisburg is the state capital of Pennsylvania with a population of approximately 50,000 people.

The 10-screen Cinema Center at Fairgrounds Square Mall is located in Reading, Pennsylvania. The Company�� Cinema Centers, had one digital projector, RealD 3D enabled. The 12-screen Cinema Center at Selinsgrove is located in Selinsgove, Pennsylvania. Selinsgrove is ! a historic town located on the Susquehanna River with a population of approximately 27,000 people located within five miles of the theatre. The nine-screen Cinema Center of Williamsport is located in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

The Company competes with Regal Entertainment Group, AMC Entertainment Inc., Clearview and Cinemark USA, Inc.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Erin McCarthy]

  Carmike Cinemas Inc.(CKEC), the nation’s fourth-largest movie theater chain, said Thursday it is acquiring Digital Cinema Destinations Corp.(DCIN), a smaller rival that does business as Digiplex.