Top 5 Information Technology Stocks To Watch For 2014

Our latest featured turnaround idea is a company that provides electronic health record systems and other information technology products to doctors, hospitals, and other healthcare providers, observes George Putnam, editor of The Turnaround Letter.

After a large acquisition, made in 2010, didn't work out as planned, Allscripts Healthcare Solutions (MDRX) put itself up for sale in early 2012. This created concern among its clients, and potential clients, and eventually led to the replacement of its long-time CEO in December 2012.

New CEO Paul Black spent 12 years helping build competitor Cerner into a powerhouse in the healthcare technology field, and before that, he was at IBM.

He immediately took the ��or Sale��sign off of Allscripts and has spent the last year focused on rebuilding the company's business.

The new CEO's efforts appear to be paying off. In the latest quarter, both new bookings and backlog were up significantly. In addition, the business is shifting to a more sustainable model.

Best European Stocks To Watch Right Now: Infinity Pharmaceuticals Inc.(INFI)

Infinity Pharmaceuticals, Inc. engages in the discovery and development of medicines for difficult-to-treat diseases. The company?s lead product candidates include saridegib (IPI-926), an oral molecule with the potential to treat a range of cancers by disrupting malignant activation of the Hedgehog pathway; and Retaspimycin HCl (IPI-504), a heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) inhibitor. Its Saridegib is in a Phase II clinical trial for the treatment of metastatic or inoperable chondrosarcoma and a Phase II exploratory trial in patients with myelofibrosis. The company?s Retaspimycin HCl is in a Phase II trial in combination with docetaxel to treat patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC); and in a Phase Ib/II trial in combination with everolimus, known as Afinitor, in approximately 45 NSCLC patients with a KRAS mutation. Its pipeline also includes IPI-145, an inhibitor of the delta and gamma isoforms of phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K) in Phase I development to treat in flammation and hematologic malignancies. Infinity Pharmaceuticals has a strategic alliance with Purdue Pharmaceutical Products L.P. and Mundipharma International Corporation Limited to develop and commercialize pharmaceutical products; and a development and license agreement with Millennium to discover, develop, and commercialize pharmaceutical products targeting the delta and/or gamma isoforms of PI3K, including IPI-145. Purdue Pharmaceutical Products is planning to conduct Phase II studies of IPI-940 in pain. The company is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Keith Speights]

  No win for the spin
  Another biotech, Infinity Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: INFI  ) , also announced clinical results this week. The company's press release trumpeted "encouraging" findings for its experimental leukemia drug. Mr. Market didn't appear to buy the spin. Infinity shares tanked nearly 33% for the week.

• [By Bryan Murphy]

  When investors think of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma stocks, big names like Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) and Celgene Corporation (NASDAQ:CELG) come to mind. Both GILD and CELG are making prolific progress in the war on NHL, and both are fine, well-positioned companies. It's little Infinity Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:INFI) that may end up making the proverbial quantum leap in the non-Hodgkin's lymphoma stocks arena, however, and better still, it's INFI shares that may well end up doling out a much bigger reward than Gilead or Celgene could to newcomers.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Somaiya and team named Gilead and�Neurocrine Biosciences (NBIX) their top picks, hile putting Buy ratings on Celgene, Biogen Idec, Alexion (ALXN), Incyte (INCY), Pharmacyclics (PCYC) and Synageva (GEVA). BioMarin (BMRN), Infinity Pharmaceuticals (INFI) and Amgen (AMGN) earned Neutral ratings.

Top 5 Information Technology Stocks To Watch For 2014: Charm Communications Inc.(CHRM)

Charm Communications Inc. operates as an advertising agency in China. The company offers a range of advertising agency services from planning and managing the advertising campaigns to creating and placing the advertisements. It places advertisements for its clients on a range of television channels, including CCTV, and satellite and regional television channels, and on other media platforms, including Internet and out-of-home media. The company also engages in media investment management through identifying, securing, and selling of advertising resources. In addition, it provides branding and identity services, including design, development, and production of advertisements; and marketing consulting services. The company is headquartered in Beijing, the People?s Republic of China.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Monica Gerson]

  Breaking news

  Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWC) reported a drop in its third-quarter profit. Time Warner Cable's quarterly profit fell to $532 million, or $1.84 per share, from $808 million, or $2.60 per share, in the year-ago period. To read the full news, click here. Synergy Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: SGYP) today announced the start of a phase 2 clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of SP-333, its second-generation GC-C agonist and once-daily oral treatment, in adult patients with opioid-induced constipation (OIC). To read the full news, click here. Cigna (NYSE: CI) reported a 19% rise in its third-quarter earnings and lifted its full-year earnings outlook. To read the full news, click here. Charm Communications (NASDAQ: CHRM) announced today that the special committee of the Company's board of directors, consisting of independent directors Mr. Zhan Wang, Mr. Andrew J. Rickards and Mr. Gang Chen, has retained China Renaissance Securities (Hong Kong) Limited as its financial advisor and Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian, LLP as its legal advisor. To read the full news, click here.

  Posted-In: Bank of America US Stock FuturesNews Eurozone Futures Global Pre-Market Outlook Markets

Top 5 Information Technology Stocks To Watch For 2014: EveryWare Global Inc (EVRY)

EveryWare Global, Inc., formerly ROI Acquisition Corp., incorporated on September 19, 2011, is the designer and seller of tabletop and food preparation products for the consumer and foodservice markets. The Company�� global platform allows the Company to market and distribute internationally its total portfolio of products, including flatware, dinnerware, crystal stemware, glassware, serveware, cutlery, buffetware, candle glass, floral glass, spirit bottles, kitchen tools and gadgets and kitchen accessories. On June 18, 2013, the Company acquired the George Wilkinson and Samuel Groves business units of Metalrax Housewares, a maker and provider of metal bakeware, cooking utensils and catering supplies.

The Company also licenses the trademarks and distributes the Stolzle, Schonwald, Strata and BuffetEuro branded products in its Consumer, Foodservice and International segments. The Company operates in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Latin America, Europe and Asia.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Udovich]

  On Wednesday, small cap kitchen stock Everyware Global Inc (NASDAQ: EVRY) surged 52.94% after announcing an amendment to extend its forbearance agreement with lenders until July 15 that could give the company�time to find a long-term financing solution���meanings its worth taking as closer look at the stock along with potential peers Libbey Inc (NYSEMKT: LBY) and Lifetime Brands Inc (NASDAQ: LCUT).

Top 5 Information Technology Stocks To Watch For 2014: Fortegra Financial Corporation (FRF)

Fortegra Financial Corporation, an insurance services company, provides distribution and administration services primarily in the United States. The company�s Payment Protection segment delivers credit insurance, debt protection, warranty and service contracts, and motor club solutions under the Life of the South, Continental Car Club, United Motor Club, and Auto Knight Motor Club brand names to consumer finance companies, regional banks, community banks, retailers, small loan companies, warranty administrators, automobile dealers, vacation ownership developers, and credit unions. This segment specializes in providing products that protect consumer lenders and their borrowers from death, disability, or other events that could impair their borrowers' ability to repay a debt. Fortegra Financial Corporation�s Business Process Outsourcing segment offers various administrative services under the Consecta and Pacific Benefits Group Northwest, LLC brand names to insurance and o ther financial services companies. This segment�s services include sales and marketing, electronic underwriting, premium billing and collections, policy administration, claims adjudication, and call center management services. The company�s Brokerage segment sells specialty property and casualty, and surplus lines insurance to retail insurance brokers and agents, and insurance companies under the Bliss & Glennon, eReinsure.com, Inc., and South Bay Acceptance Corporation brand names. This segment also provides its clients the ability to obtain various types of commercial insurance coverage outside of their core areas of focus. In addition, it offers insurance underwriting services as a managing general agent for specialized insurance carriers. The company was formerly known as Life of the South Corporation and changed its name to Fortegra Financial Corporation in 2008. The company was incorporated in 1981 and is based in Jacksonville, Florida.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Hilary Kramer]

  I am a big fan of financials, which is why I named Fortegra Financial (FRF) as the best stock of 2014. Fortegra isn�� your traditional bank or financial company, but it has great potential.