10 Best Defensive Stocks To Own For 2014

The term "grandma stock" is used to describe defensive stocks that most commonly consist of companies that produce reliable consumer staples. These companies generally fare well regardless of general economic and market conditions because their goods are always in demand. As with all companies, some fare better than others and some occasionally break the mold of tempered gains relative to the overall market. This year was a great year for both the market as a whole and for grandma stocks. Hershey Company (NYSE: HSY  ) outshined the rest as my pick for the top grandma stock of the year, followed closely by Clorox (NYSE: CLX  ) .

Total return
Hershey outperformed and Clorox matched the performance of the S&P 500 this year. Through Dec. 30, Hershey yielded a total return of over 33% and Clorox yielded a total return of 29%, matching the S&P 500's total return for the year. Though both companies have low betas (Hershey has a beta of only 0.20!), they were both able to perform at levels even with and above the market.

Top 10 Supermarket Stocks To Own Right Now: Aastrom Biosciences Inc.(ASTM)

Aastrom Biosciences, Inc., a regenerative medicine company, engages in developing autologous cell therapies for the treatment of severe and chronic cardiovascular diseases. The company?s autologous expanded cellular therapy technology uses single-pass perfusion to produce human cell products for clinical use. Its clinical development programs include CLI program, which is in phase IIb clinical development for the treatment of serious and advanced stage of peripheral arterial diseases; and DCM development program, which is in Phase II for the treatment of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). The company also has two ongoing U.S. Phase II trials investigating surgical and catheter-based delivery for its product in the treatment of DCM. Aastrom Biosciences, Inc. was founded in 1989 and is headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Roberto Pedone]

   

   

  Another under-$10 biopharmaceutical player that's starting to move within range of triggering a big breakout trade is Aastrom Biosciences (ASTM), which is a regenerative medicine company focused on the development of cell therapies to repair or regenerate damaged or diseased tissues. This stock has trended modestly lower over the last three months, with shares off by 4.9%.

  If you take a look at the chart for Aastrom Biosciences, you'll notice that this stock just recently formed a double bottom chart pattern at $3.16 to $3.14 a share over the last month and change. Following that bottom, shares of ASTM have started to spike higher and move back above its 50-day moving average of $3.58 a share. That move is quickly pushing shares of ASTM within range of triggering a big breakout trade.

  Market players should now look for long-biased trades in ASTM if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance at $4.50 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above that level with volume that hits near or above its three-month average action of 140,540 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then ASTM will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $6.25 to $6.80 a share. Any high-volume move above those levels will then give ASTM a chance to re-fill some of its previous gap-down-zone from last August that started at $12 a share.

  Traders can look to buy ASTM off any weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below its 50-day moving average of $3.58 a share. One can also buy ASTM off strength once it starts to clear $4.50 a share with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.

• [By James E. Brumley]

  With just a quick glance, Aastrom Biosciences Inc. (NASDAQ:ASTM) doesn't look like any less of a disaster today than it did a week ago, a month ago, or even a year ago. But, the longer you look at ASTM, the more it seems it may have already hit its ultimate bottom, and is now biding its time to start the rebound.

• [By John Udovich]

  At the end of this week,�congressional scrutiny was weighting down large cap biotech Gilead Sciences, Inc (NASDAQ: GILD) and dragging down much of the biotech sector, but there was still good news surrounding small cap biotech stocks like Endocyte, Inc (NASDAQ: ECYT), Aastrom Biosciences Inc (NASDAQ: ASTM)�and TNI BioTech (OTCMKTS: TNIB) plus there were more biotech IPOs which debuted:

10 Best Defensive Stocks To Own For 2014: Nuveen Insured California Premium Income Municipal Fund II In (NCL)

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., through its subsidiaries, operates as a cruise line operator, offering cruise experiences for travelers with various itineraries in North America, the Mediterranean, the Baltic, Central America, Bermuda, and the Caribbean. The company offers cruises ranging in length from 1 day to 3 weeks. As of December 31, 2012, it operated 11 ships offering cruises in Alaska, the Bahamas, Bermuda, the Caribbean, Europe, Hawaii, Mexico, New England, Central and South America, North Africa, and Scandinavia. The company was formerly known as NCL Corporation Ltd. and changed its name on January 24, 2013. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. was founded in 1966 and is headquartered in Miami, Florida.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rick Munarriz]

  Carnival stock is trading closer to its 52-week low than its high, and the same can't be said of rivals Royal Caribbean (NYSE: RCL  ) and NCL (NYSE: NCL  ) .�

• [By Rick Munarriz]

  Royal Caribbean,�NCL (NYSE: NCL  ) , and ship spa services provider Steiner Leisure (NASDAQ: STNR  ) all hit new 52-week highs earlier this month. Unlike Carnival (NYSE: CCL  ) -- which has been sluggish in light of several mishaps at sea since last year -- everyone seemed to view the negative instances as Carnival-specific events. Now Royal Caribbean's fire may lead folks to question booking on any cruise line in the near future.

10 Best Defensive Stocks To Own For 2014: Li & Fung Ltd (LFUGY)

Li & Fung Limited is an investment holding company. The Company, along with its subsidiaries, is principally engaged in managing the supply chain for retailers and brands worldwide from over 300 offices and distribution centers in more than 40 economies. It operates in three segments: Trading Network, Logistics Network and Distribution Network. Trading Network segment is engaged in the global sourcing business. Logistics Network segment operates both the Company�� international and domestic logistics services networks globally. Distribution Network segment operates the onshore distribution businesses in the US, Pan-European and Asian regions. In September 2011, the Company acquired Midway Enterprises (Guangzhou) Ltd, Wonderful World (HK) Ltd and Wonderful Overseas Limited, as well as True Innovations, LLC. As of December 31, 2011, its subsidiaries included Integrated Distribution Services Group Limited, LF Centennial Limited and others. Advisors' Opinion:

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

  Li & Fung(LFUGY) will distribute some of Coty Inc.'s(COTY) key brands in China, including Adidas, Rimmel and Playboy, as part of an agreement between the two companies. The move is part of Coty’s efforts to reorganize its business in China and focus on growing its business in the world’s second largest economy, the company said in a statement Tuesday.

10 Best Defensive Stocks To Own For 2014: Resource Capital Corp.(RSO)

Resource Capital Corp. operates as a specialty finance company that focuses primarily on commercial real estate and commercial finance in the United States. The company?s commercial real estate-related investments include first mortgage loans, first priority interests in first mortgage real estate loans, subordinate interests in first mortgage real estate loans, mezzanine loans, and commercial mortgage-backed securities. It also invests in commercial finance assets, including senior secured corporate loans, other asset-backed securities, equipment leases and notes, trust preferred securities, and debt tranches of collateralized debt and loan obligations. The company qualifies as a real estate investment trust (REIT) for federal income tax purposes. As a REIT, it is not subject to federal corporate income tax to the extent that it distributes 90% of its REIT taxable income. The company was founded in 2005 and is based in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Eric Volkman]

  Resource Capital (NYSE: RSO  ) is dipping into its coffers for another shareholder payout. The company has declared a dividend for its current quarter of $0.20 per share, which is to be paid on July 26 to shareholders of record as of June 28. That amount matches each of the company's previous five distributions, the most recent of which was paid in late April. Before that, Resource Capital was more generous, dispensing $0.25 per share.

• [By Wallace Witkowski]

  Shares of Resource Capital Corp. (RSO) �declined 3.8% to $5.82 in moderate volume after the real-estate investment trust said it would launch a $100 million offering in notes due 2018.

10 Best Defensive Stocks To Own For 2014: Susser Holdings Corporation(SUSS)

Susser Holdings Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates convenience stores in Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. The company operates in two segments, Retail and Wholesale. The Retail segment operates convenience stores that offer merchandise, food service, and motor fuel, as well as provides other services, including car washes, lottery, ATM, money orders, prepaid phone cards and wireless services, and movie rentals. As of January 1, 2012, it operated 541 convenience stores under the Stripes brand name. The Wholesale segment distributes motor fuel to its retail convenience stores, contracted independent operators of convenience stores, unbranded convenience stores, unattended fueling facilities, and other end users in Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Louisiana. The company also offers environmental, maintenance, and construction management services to the petroleum industry; and sells and installs motor fuel dispensers and tanks, as well as provides a range of environmental consulting services, such as hydrocarbon remediation, and Phase I and II site assessments for its stores and outside customers. Susser Holdings Corporation is based in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Equities Trading UP
  Susser Holdings (NYSE: SUSS) shares shot up 35.74 percent to $77.41 after Energy Transfer Partners LP (NYSE: ETP) announced its plans to acquire Susser Holdings in a deal valued at around $1.8 billion.

10 Best Defensive Stocks To Own For 2014: Cape Bancorp Inc.(CBNJ)

Cape Bancorp, Inc. operates as the holding company for the Cape Bank that provides a line of business and personal banking products to retail customers and small and mid-sized businesses primarily in Cape May and Atlantic Counties, New Jersey. Its deposit products include non-interest-bearing demand deposits, such as checking accounts; interest-bearing demand accounts, including NOW and money market accounts; savings accounts; and certificates of deposit. The company?s loan products portfolio comprises commercial mortgage loans, one-to-four family residential mortgage loans, commercial business loans, construction loans, home equity loans and lines of credit, and other consumer loans. It operates through its 16 full service branch offices located in Atlantic and Cape May counties in southern New Jersey; and a loan production office in Burlington County. The company was founded in 1923 and is based in Cape May Court House, New Jersey.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Tim Melvin]

  Right now I know that silver miners like Pan American Silver (PAAS) and Coeur Mining (CDE) are very cheap on an asset basis. I know that oil and gas producers like Swift Energy (SFY) and WPX Energy (WPX) are priced as if no one will ever use the stuff again. I know that small banks like Cape Bancorp (CBNJ) and Essa Bancorp (ESSA) are crazy-cheap — and if the world does not end, those stocks will be a lot higher in a few years.

10 Best Defensive Stocks To Own For 2014: Yappn Corp (YPPN)

Yappn Corp., formerly Plesk Corp., incorporated on November 3, 2010, is focusing on social media Website that will host multi-language conversations based on different topics, such as interests, brands and activities. Its platform will enable users to meet people from all over the world without any language barriers and to interact with them through online chatting and forums by providing access to topical discussion boards in almost 70 languages. This will permit real-time multiple language conversations to co-exist without the fracturing that comes as a result of many people posting in multiple languages to a single chat area or splintering the audience by segregating posts by language. Yappn is a topic or interest focused site bringing people together to discuss current events, celebrities, technology, sports, entertainment and other popular areas of conversation. On March 28, 2013, it purchased social media platform and related group of assets known as Yappn.

The Company will have gamification system that will reward users for their engagement through virtual trophies, badges, and medals for participation in selected events. The Company, with the power of Ortsbo offers a set of communication tools where users can create opportunities to meet, chat, engage and consume in their own virtual location creating global social engagement for private events and closed networks. Users can also connect to social networks and engage friends and followers on Facebook, Yahoo, Twitter and more. It will be available on all devices through mobile, portable and desktop online access. With Yappn, user generated content be closed captioned in multiple languages in minutes, using Ortsbo�� pending business processes and tools for a translation experience. Commercial enterprises can use its Website to communicate their content, their e-commerce offerings and other messaging on a global scale.

The Company competes with Facebook, LinkedIn, Craigslist, Google and Apple.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Peter Graham]

  Small cap stocks Digital Caddies Inc (OTCMKTS: CADY), MEDL Mobile Holdings Inc (OTCMKTS: MEDL) and Yappn Corp (OTCMKTS: YPPN) offer different ways to potentially profit from Internet or mobile technology. However, all three small cap stocks have also been the subject of paid promotions or investor relations types of activities. So will investors actually profit from the efforts of these small caps to profit from the Internet or mobile technology? Here is a quick reality check: