Hot Cheap Companies To Watch For 2014

Last week Citigroup (NYSE: C  ) made headlines when it was revealed that a House bill that would weaken some of the derivative rules in the Dodd-Frank bill was largely composed of suggestions from the bank. As one of the largest derivatives traders in the U.S., it's no surprise that Citi wanted to get involved in the regulatory changes. But now we're seeing some other financial companies step up to the plate to take their shot at regulations through a new avenue. With AIG (NYSE: AIG  ) and JPMorgan Chase� (NYSE: JPM  ) leading the pack, is it a good thing for investors if Wall Street goes to Washington?

In the video below, Motley Fool contributor Jessica Alling discusses the way the financials are getting involved, why they want changes, and how it might turn out for investors.

Citigroup's stock looks tantalizingly cheap. Yet the bank's balance sheet is still in need of more repair, and there's a considerable amount of uncertainty after a shocking management shakeup. Should investors be treading carefully, or jumping on an opportunity to buy? To help figure out whether Citigroup deserves a spot on your watchlist, I invite you to read our premium research report on the bank today.�We'll fill you in on both reasons to buy and reasons to sell Citigroup, and what areaCitigroup�investors need to watch going forward.�Click here now�for instant access to our best expert's take on Citigroup.

10 Best Airline Stocks To Watch Right Now: 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 Jon C. Ogg]

  The world around venture capital sometimes creates some very interesting reading when you look at private company valuations versus public company valuations. In this case, it is in the online streaming music service of Spotify. It is hard to know what the valuation should be without having access to the books, but a $4 billion valuation should catch the eyes of Pandora Media Inc. (NYSE: P) and also of Sirius XM Satellite Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: SIRI).

• [By Rick Munarriz]

  Things never get dull for the country's lone satellite-radio provider. Shares of Sirius XM Radio (NASDAQ: SIRI  ) moved sharply higher on the week, climbing 10% to close at $3.72. The media darling's gain was well ahead of the general market.

• [By Blake Bos]

  Over the last five days, shares of Pandora (NYSE: P  ) are up 12% on news that Pandora is now featured in 23 major automotive brands and eight aftermarket suppliers. In this video, Motley Fool consumer goods analyst Blake Bos takes asks two questions: Will this affect Pandora's profits in a meaningful way and could this increased auto presence for the streaming Internet radio provider mean trouble for Sirius XM (NASDAQ: SIRI  ) ? Blake discusses Pandora's plan for increased profits and what to watch to be sure it's on track, and talks about the differences between Pandora and Sirius.

Hot Cheap Companies To Watch For 2014: Rent-A-Center Inc.(RCII)

Rent-A-Center, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, primarily engages in leasing household durable goods to customers on a rent-to-own basis. The company?s stores offer durable products, such as consumer electronics, appliances, computers, and furniture and accessories under flexible rental purchase agreements that allow the customer to obtain ownership of the merchandise at the conclusion of an agreed upon rental period. It also provides merchandise on an installment sales basis in its stores. As of December 31, 2010, the company operated 3,008 company-owned stores in the United States, and in Canada, Puerto Rico, and Mexico, including 42 retail installment sales stores under the names ?Get It Now? and ?Home Choice?; and 18 rent-to-own stores located in Canada under the ?Rent-A-Centre? name. It also operates 209 franchised rent-to-own stores in 32 states under the ColorTyme trade name; and 384 kiosk locations under the ?RAC Acceptance? model. In addition, the company, th rough its ColorTyme?s franchised stores, offers custom rims and tires for sale or rental under the trade names ?RimTyme? or ?ColorTyme Custom Wheels?. Rent-A-Center, Inc. was founded in 1986 and is headquartered in Plano, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Anna Prior]

  Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in Friday’s session are Lorillard Inc.(LO), Wells Fargo (WFC) & Co. and Rent-A-Center Inc.(RCII)

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Equities Trading DOWN
  Shares of Rent-A-Center (NASDAQ: RCII) were down 21.51 percent to $24.51 on Q4 results.

  Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) shares tumbled 7.80 percent to $507.55 after the company issued weak sales forecast for the second quarter and reported downbeat holiday iPhone sales.

Hot Cheap Companies To Watch For 2014: S&P GSCI(GD)

General Dynamics Corporation, an aerospace and defense company, provides business aviation; combat vehicles, weapons systems, and munitions; military and commercial shipbuilding; and communications and information technology products and services worldwide. Its Aerospace group designs, manufactures, and outfits various large and mid-cabin business-jet aircraft; provides maintenance, repair work, fixed-based operations, and aircraft management services; and performs aircraft completions for aircraft. The company?s Combat Systems group offers tracked and wheeled military vehicles, weapons systems, and munitions. Its product lines include wheeled combat and tactical vehicles; battle tanks and infantry vehicles; munitions and propellant; rockets and gun systems; and axle and drivetrain components and aftermarket parts. This group also manufactures and supplies engineered axles, suspensions, and brakes for heavy-load vehicles for military and commercial customers. The company Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Smith]

  The Department of Defense issued $1.3 billion worth of new contract awards Friday. However, a single, $950 million award for engineering services accounted for the bulk of the spending -- and that one went to a series of privately held companies. Publicly traded names fared less well. Among the few winners:

Hot Cheap Companies To Watch 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 Dan Carroll]

  Additionally, T-Vec has more competition hurrying into the market. GlaxoSmithKline's (NYSE: GSK  ) melanoma drugs Mekinist and Tafinlar were recently approved by the FDA, and analysts project that the two drugs could reach a combined $600 million in sales in 2016. Additionally, Merck's (NYSE: MRK  ) lambrolizumab hasn't been approved by regulators yet, but the drug proved to reduce tumors in 38% of patients in early-stage trial results published at the ASCO meeting. Merck likely won't have that drug approved any time soon, but it's one to watch for Amgen investors or those taking note of the melanoma space.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  The Dow got a boost from Walt Disney (DIS), which rode the success of Frozen to an 11% February gain, while E. I. du Pont de Nemours (DD), rose 9.2%, while Merck (MRK) advanced 7.6%, Nike (NKE) gained 7.5% and American Express advanced (AXP) 7.4%, as investors bet on its ability to tap small-businesses.

• [By Johanna Bennett]

  It was actually a pretty busy day for Forest. Though it restructuring plans attracted the most attention, the company also announced the sale of $1 billion of new debt to help fund $400 million in accelerated stock buybacks as part of a larger $1 billion share repurchase plan and a $250 million deal to acquire exclusive rights to the schizophrenia medication Saphris from Merck & Co. (MRK).

• [By Jon C. Ogg]

  Merck & Co. (NYSE: MRK) was reiterated as Buy and the price target was raised to $54 from $52, based in part on the restructuring program taking $2.5 billion out of its cost structure by 2015, according to Argus.