Top 5 Financial Stocks To Invest In 2014

Our Weiss Ratings Model has been warming up to the retailing industry; I want to pass along some names in the space that I think are worth further consideration for your portfolios, suggests Don Lucek in Money and Markets.

Gap Inc. (GPS) is rated A- by our Weiss Ratings Model. The company has, so far, proven that it can remain ahead of the curve in terms of financial progress, even if its merchandising is constantly threatened by fickle fashion trends.

It's a well-run affair that beat the S&P 500 (SPX) and the S&P Retail (XRT) over the recent past. While I'd be careful about entry, I think GPS will remain a stock market winner into the longer term (at least one to three years).

TJX Corp. TJX, rated A-, has experienced some rough seas in the past, and should be able to manage through them with its core strategy of a low-overhead, high-margin business model well into the future.

Consumers can be fickle, but they remain committed to thematic shopping experiences, such as that represented by TJX.

Best Freight Stocks To Own Right Now: Market Vectors Short Municipal Index ETF (SMB)

Market Vectors Short Municipal Index ETF (the Fund) seeks to replicate as closely as possible the price and yield performance of the Barclays Capital AMT-Free Short Continuous Municipal Index (the Index). The Index provides broad exposure to investment-grade municipal bonds with a nominal maturity of 1 to 6 years. To be included in the Index, bonds must be rated investment-grade (Baa3/BBB- or higher) by at least two ratings agencies: Moody��, S&P, Fitch. If only two of the three agencies rate the security, the lower rating is used to determine index eligibility. If only one of the three agencies rates a security, the rating must be investment grade. They must have an outstanding par value of at least $7 million and be issued as part of a transaction of at least $75 million. The bonds must be fixed rate, have a dated-date within the last five years, and must be at least 1 year but less than 6 years from their maturity date. Its investment advisor is Van Eck Associates Corporation. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Todd Rosenbluth]

  Two others are iShares Short-Term National AMT-Free Municipal Bond ETF (SUB) and Market Vectors Short Municipal Index ETF (SMB).

  The Market Vectors fund, not surprisingly, has more A bond exposure and less AA exposure than the iShares fund. However, both have lower average durations than iShares National AMT-Free Muni Bond and thus might appeal to investors concerned about the impact of higher rates.

Top 5 Financial Stocks To Invest In 2014: Government Properties Income Trust (GOV)

Government Properties Income Trust (GOV) is a real estate investment trust (REIT). As of December 31, 2011, GOV owned 71 properties located in 29 states and the District of Columbia containing approximately 9.0 million rentable square feet, of which 68.2% was leased to the United States Government, 17.5% was leased to eight state governments, and 2.1% was leased to the United Nations, an international intergovernmental organization. As of December 31, 2011, the United States Government, eight state governments and the United Nations combined were responsible for 91.9% of the Company�� annualized rental income. As of December 31, 2011, 95.0% of its rentable square feet were leased. During the year ended December 31, 2011, it acquired 16 office properties located in 11 states. The Company�� manager is Reit Management & Research LLC (RMR).

In December 2011, GOV acquired an office property located in Salem, Oregon with 233,358 rentable square feet. This property is 84% leased to five tenants, of which 70% is leased to the State of Oregon and occupied by the Oregon Department of Human Services, the Oregon Department of Justice and the Oregon Employment Department. In October 2011, the Company acquired three office properties located in Indianapolis, Indiana with 433,927 rentable square feet. These properties are 94% leased to 15 tenants, of which 56% is leased to the United States Government and occupied by the United States Customs and Border Protection Agency. In September 2011, the Company acquired an office property located in Sacramento, California with 87,863 rentable square feet. This property is 100% leased to the State of California and occupied by the California State Employment Development Department and it also acquired an office property located in Atlanta, Georgia with 375,805 rentable square feet. This property is 97% leased to 19 tenants, of which 78% is leased to the State of Georgia and occupied by the Georgia Department of Transportation.

In August 2011, GO! V acquired an office property located in Holtsville, New York with 264,482 rentable square feet. This property is 82% leased to three tenants, of which 72% is leased to the United States Government and occupied by the Internal Revenue Service and United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. In June 2011, the Company acquired an office property located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with 29,297 rentable square feet. This property is 100% leased to the United States Government and occupied by the Military Entrance Processing Station and it also acquired two office properties located in Stafford, Virginia with 64,488 rentable square feet. These properties are 100% leased to the United States Government and occupied by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. In June 2011, it acquired an office property located in Montgomery, Alabama with 57,815 rentable square feet. This property is 100% leased to the United States Government and serves as the office of the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama.

In May 2011, GOV acquired an office property located in Plantation, Florida with 135,819 rentable square feet. This property is 100% leased to the United States Government and occupied by the Internal Revenue Service and it also acquired an office property located in New York with 187,060 rentable square feet. This property is 100% leased to the United Nations. In February 2011, the Company acquired an office property located in Quincy, Massachusetts with 92,549 rentable square feet. This property is 100% leased to four tenants, of which 90% is leased to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and occupied by the Registry of Motor Vehicles as its headquarters. In February 2011, it acquired two office properties located in Woodlawn, Maryland with 182,561 rentable square feet. These properties are 100% leased to two tenants, of which 94% is leased to the United States Government and occupied by the Social Security Administration.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By 4Percent]

  Government Properties Income Trust (GOV) is a real estate investment trust which owns properties primarily leased to the government. GOV owns 68 properties, 49 of which are leased to the U.S. government, 16 to state governments and one to the United Nations.

Top 5 Financial Stocks To Invest In 2014: Grillit Inc (GRLT)

Grillit Inc, formerly Holdings Energy Inc., incorporated on May 21, 2002, is a public corporation that discovers, invests and or acquires development-stage with solutions, clean technologies and eco-friendly products that serve the global alternative energy sector. The Company was formed to develop and engage in operations and management of digital wireless data communications services of 220 megahertz digital wireless data communications. In April 2013, the Company acquired Healthy & Tasty Ventures LLC. Effective December 19, 2013, GRILLiT Inc acquired a 10% interest in Natura Foods LLC.

Effective March 30, 2011, the Company had entered into a formal letter of intent with Remington Energy of Houston, Texas for the purchase of two oil and gas properties. On March 29, 2011, the Company disposed of its previous assets that represented the remaining business segment known as CX2 Technologies, Inc.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Peter Graham]

  Last Friday, small cap stocks Cambridge Heart, Inc (OTCMKTS: CAMH), Abby Inc (OTCMKTS: ABBY) and Grillit Inc (OTCMKTS: GRLT) surged 176.92%, 71.2% and 24.07%, respectively. Of course, that was last week and today is a new trading week. So what should investors and traders alike be prepared for this week with these three small caps? Here is a closer look to help you decide on an investing or trading strategy:

Top 5 Financial Stocks To Invest In 2014: Berkshire Bancorp Inc.(BERK)

Berkshire Bancorp Inc. operates as the bank holding company for The Berkshire Bank that provides community banking services to businesses, professionals, and retail customers primarily in New York City metropolitan area and the Villages of Goshen and Harriman. The company offers various deposit products, including statement savings accounts, NOW accounts, money market deposits accounts, checking accounts, time deposits, and certificates of deposit. Its loan portfolio comprises commercial mortgage loans secured by office buildings, retail establishments, multi-family residential real estate, and other types of commercial property; commercial loans to businesses for inventory financing, working capital, machinery and equipment purchases, expansion, and other business purposes; and residential mortgage loans secured by first liens on one-to-four family owner-occupied or rental residential real estate, as well as residential single family construction, home equity, and short-t erm fixed-rate consumer loans. Berkshire Bancorp Inc. also offers title insurance agency services. The company operates seven deposit-taking offices in New York City; four deposit-taking offices in Orange and Sullivan Counties, New York; one deposit taking office in Ridgefield, New Jersey; and one deposit taking office in Teaneck, New Jersey. The company was founded in 1979 and is based in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Tim Melvin]

  One interesting bank that is seeing insider buying activity is Berkshire Bancorp (BERK). The company has recently switched from the Nasdaq to OTC markets, but that has not stopped director Moses Marx from consistently buying BERK stock. Berkshire does business in the already overbanked New York and New Jersey markets, and the stock is very cheap at just 82% of book value. Insiders won more than 60% of the bank, so investors are on the same side of the table as management.