Norwegian Cruise Investors to Sell $600 Million of Shares

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NCLH)'s three largest investors filed to sell about $600 million of their stakes after a run-up in the share price since January's initial public offering.

Affiliates of Genting Hong Kong Ltd. (GENHK), Apollo Global Management LLC (APO) and TPG Capital will sell 20 million shares, according to a regulatory filing yesterday. The three will own 77 percent of Miami-based Norwegian Cruise Line after the sale.

Norwegian Cruise Line, the third-largest U.S. cruise operator after Carnival Corp. and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL), has advanced 57 percent since the sale of 27.1 million shares at $19 each in the IPO, giving it a market value of $6.07 billion, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The stock fell 1.7 percent to $29.76 at the close in New York yesterday.

New York-based Apollo and Fort Worth, Texas-based TPG together paid $1 billion for half of Norwegian's equity in January 2008, data compiled by Bloomberg show. Genting owned the line before the investment by the private-equity firms.

Norwegian Cruise Line won't receive any of the proceeds. Underwriters including UBS Investment Bank and Barclays have an option to purchase as many as 3 million additional shares from the sellers, according to the filing.

Top 10 Performing Companies To Buy Right Now

Canadian stocks rose, following the third weekly drop for the benchmark index, as a nine-month high in the price of crude boosted oil and gas producers and existing home sales rose in May.

Calfrac Well Services Ltd. and Bankers Petroleum Ltd. (BNK) added at least 4.4 percent to pace gains among energy shares. Talisman Energy (TLM) Inc. increased 1.7 percent after Lundin Petroleum AB began drilling in a field co-owned by the two companies in the North Sea. B2Gold Corp. jumped the most in six weeks, ahead of its inclusion in an index of gold mining stocks. Rogers Communications Inc. rallied 1.3 percent after an analyst with Canaccord Genuity Inc. raised his rating for the stock.

The Standard & Poor��/TSX Composite Index (SPTSX) rose 101.54 points, or 0.8 percent, to 12,288.90 at 4 p.m. in Toronto. The gauge slipped 1.5 percent last week and has lost 1.2 percent this year, making it the third-worst performing index among developed markets in the world, ahead of Austria and Hong Kong.

Top 10 Performing Companies To Buy Right Now: Mid Penn Bancorp(MPB)

Mid Penn Bancorp, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Mid Penn Bank that provides a range of commercial banking and trust services to small and middle market businesses, high net worth individuals, and retail consumers in Pennsylvania. The company?s deposit products include various time and demand deposits, such as checking accounts, savings accounts, clubs, money market deposit accounts, certificates of deposit, and individual retirement accounts. Its loan portfolio comprises installment loans, personal loans, mortgage and home equity loans, secured and unsecured commercial and consumer loans, lines of credit, construction financing, farm loans, community development and local government loans, and loans to non-profit entities. The company also provides trust services; and other services, such as Internet banking, telephone banking, cash management, and automated teller services, as well as safe deposit boxes. It operates 14 full service banking facilities loca ted in Dauphin, southern Northumberland, western Schuylkill, and eastern Cumberland Counties, Pennsylvania. The company was founded in 1868 and is headquartered in Millersburg, Pennsylvania.

Top 10 Performing Companies To Buy Right Now: American Pacific Corporation(APFC)

American Pacific Corporation primarily manufactures fine chemicals, specialty chemicals, and propulsion products in the United States and Europe. It operates in four segments: Fine Chemicals, Specialty Chemicals, Aerospace Equipment, and Other Businesses. The Fine Chemicals segment manufactures active pharmaceutical ingredients and registered intermediates. Its pharmaceutical ingredients are used in drugs with indications in three primary areas: anti-viral, oncology, and central nervous system. The Specialty Chemicals segment principally produces ammonium perchlorate, an oxidizing agent for propellant rockets, booster motors, and missiles used in space exploration, commercial satellite transportation, and national defense programs. It also produces and sells sodium azide, a chemical used in pharmaceutical manufacturing; and Halotron, a series of clean fire extinguishing agents used in fire extinguishing products ranging from portable fire extinguishers to total flooding sy stems. The Aerospace Equipment segment manufactures monopropellant and bipropellant liquid propulsion systems and thrusters for satellites, launch vehicles, and interceptors used in various satellite and launch vehicle programs. It also designs, develops, and manufactures liquid propulsion thrusters, high performance valves, pressure regulators, cold-gas propulsion systems, and precision structures for space applications. The Other Businesses segment designs, manufactures, and markets electrochemical onsite hypochlorite generation systems for the disinfection of drinking water, control of noxious odors, and the treatment of seawater to municipal, industrial, and offshore customers. It is also involved in real estate activities. The company was founded in 1955 and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Hot Blue Chip Stocks For 2014: Franklin Electric Co. Inc.(FELE)

Franklin Electric Co., Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the design, manufacture, and distribution of groundwater and fuel pumping systems. It operates in two segments, Water Systems and Fueling Systems. The Water Systems segment provides motors, pumps, electronic controls, and related parts and equipment primarily for use in groundwater, wastewater, and fuel transfer applications. Its motors and pumps are used principally for pumping fresh water and wastewater in various residential, agricultural, and industrial applications. This segment also offers electronic drives and controls for the motors, which control functionality and provide protection from various hazards, such as electric surges, over-heating, or dry wells and tanks. The Fueling Systems segment provides pumps, pipe, sumps, fittings, vapor recovery components, electronic controls, monitoring devices, and related parts and equipment primarily for use in submersible fueling system applications. It also integrates and sells motors and electronic controls produced by the Water Systems segment. The company sells its products and related equipment to specialty distributors, original equipment manufacturers, industrial and petroleum equipment distributors, and oil and utility companies through its sales force and independent manufacturing representatives primarily in the United States, Europe, South Africa, Brazil, Mexico, and China. Franklin Electric Co., Inc. was founded in 1944 and is headquartered in Bluffton, Indiana.

Top 10 Performing Companies To Buy Right Now: LSI Industries Inc.(LYTS)

LSI Industries Inc. provides corporate visual image solutions primarily in the United States, Canada, Australia, and Latin America. It operates in three segments: Lighting, Graphics, and Technology. The Lighting segment manufactures and markets outdoor and indoor lighting, canopy lighting, landscape lighting, light emitting diodes (LED) lighting, light poles, and photometric layouts products, as well as lighting analysis services. The Graphics segment manufactures and sells exterior and interior visual image elements for use in visual image programs. It offers signage and canopy graphics; pump dispenser graphics; building fascia graphics; decals; interior signage and marketing graphics; aisle markers; wall mural graphics; fleet graphics; prototype program graphics; and solid state LED video screens for the sports and advertising markets, as well as installation services for graphics products. The Technology segment designs, produces, and supports light engines and large fo rmat video screens using LED technology; and specialty LED lighting. Additionally, the company offers menu board systems. It serves commercial, industrial, and multi-site retail markets; petroleum/convenience stores; sports and advertising; and entertainment markets. The company sells its products through regional sales managers, independent sales representatives, and distributors. LSI Industries was founded in 1976 and is headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Top 10 Performing Companies To Buy Right Now: Ditech Networks Inc.(DITC)

Ditech Networks, Inc. designs, develops, and markets telecommunications equipment for use in wireline, wireless, satellite, and Internet protocol telecommunications networks worldwide. It offers voice quality enhancement solutions that enable service providers to deliver end-to-end communications to their subscribers, as well as voice applications solutions. The company?s mobile voice quality products include Broadband Voice Processor-Flex, a broadband voice processor system for interface support; Quad II T1 and Quad II E1, which are single modules for echo cancellation and built-in voice enhancement; and Quad Voice Processor-T1 and Quad Voice Processor-E1 that are narrowband voice processors for supporting echo cancellation and the suite of voice quality assurance and experience intelligence software. It also provides voice-to-text transcription services; and voice-based interface with Web and Web-based based applications, including social networking and calendar applicat ions. Ditech Networks, Inc. markets its products through direct sales force, distributors, value-added resellers, system integrators, and agents. The company was formerly known as Ditech Communications Corporation and changed its name to Ditech Networks, Inc. in May 2006. Ditech Networks, Inc. was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in Mountain View, California.

Top 10 Performing Companies To Buy Right Now: Forward Industries Inc.(FORD)

Forward Industries, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, designs, markets, and distributes carry and protective solutions. The company offers soft-sided carrying cases, bags, clips, hand straps, protective plates, and skins, as well as other accessories for hand held electronic devices, including medical monitoring and diagnostic kits, bar code scanners, GPS and location devices, and cellular telephones. It also designs, markets, and distributes carry and protective solutions for other consumer products, such as laptop computers, MP3 players, firearms, sporting, recreational, and aeronautical products. The company provides its products for used by consumers in protecting, and carrying or transporting portable electronic and other products. Forward Industries, Inc. sells its products to original equipment manufacturers and contract manufacturers in the Asia Pacific, the Americas, and Europe. Forward Industries was founded in 1954 and is based in Santa Monica, California.

Top 10 Performing Companies To Buy Right Now: Target Corporation(TGT)

Target Corporation operates general merchandise stores in the United States. The company offers household essentials, including pharmacy, beauty, personal care, baby care, cleaning, and paper products; hardlines comprising music, movies, books, computer software, sporting goods, and toys, as well as electronics that comprise video game hardware and software; apparel and accessories consisting of apparel for women, men, boys, girls, toddlers, infants, and newborns; and intimate apparel, jewelry, accessories, and shoes. It also provides food and pet supplies, including dry grocery, dairy, frozen food, beverages, candy, snacks, deli, bakery, meat, produce, and pet supplies; and home furnishings and d�or, such as furniture, lighting, kitchenware, small appliances, home d�or, bed and bath, home improvement, and automotive products, as well as seasonal merchandise, which include patio furniture and holiday d�or. The company sells its merchandise products under private-labe l and exclusive licensed brands. In addition, it provides in-store amenities. As of January 28, 2012, Target Corporation operated 1,763 stores in 49 states and the District of Columbia under Target and SuperTarget names. Further, it offers general merchandise through its Website, Target.com. The company distributes its merchandise through a network of distribution centers, as well as third parties and direct shipping from vendors. Additionally, it offers credit to guests through its branded proprietary credit cards, the Target Visa Credit Card and the Target Credit Card, as well as through its branded proprietary Target Debit Card. Target Corporation was founded in 1902 and is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Steven Goldberg]

  Big-box retailer Target (TGT, 70.52, 2.0%) ranks behind only Wal-Mart Stores (WMT) among discounters in size. But Target positions itself as selling higher-quality merchandise than its rival. The company has followed Wal-Mart into the low-profit grocery business in the hopes of boosting sales of other merchandise. The stock trades at 12 times predicted earnings for the next 12 months, and analysts project that earnings will rise 12.1% annually in the coming three to five years.

Top 10 Performing Companies To Buy Right Now: Prime Minerals Ltd(PIM.AX)

Prime Minerals Limited engages in the exploration and evaluation of mineral resources. It primarily explores for uranium. The company owns 100% interest in the Lake Mason project consisting of four exploration licenses and the Bolitho Bore uranium prospect. The company operates in Australia, Greenland, Africa, Canada, Bulgaria, and the United States. Prime Minerals Limited is based in West Perth, Australia.

Top 10 Performing Companies To Buy Right Now: Hancock Holding Company(HBHC)

Hancock Holding Company, a financial holding company, provides various banking and financial services in south Mississippi, Louisiana, South Alabama, and Florida. The company accepts various deposit products that include non-interest bearing demand deposits, NOW account deposits, money market deposits, savings deposits, and time deposits. Its loan portfolio comprises provision of commercial, consumer, commercial leasing, and real estate loans to consumers and small and middle market businesses. Hancock also offers various trust services that include operating as an executor, administrator, or guardian in administering estates; provision of investment custodial services for individuals, businesses, and charitable and religious organizations, as well as investment management services on an agency basis; and trustee services for pension plans, profit sharing plans, corporate and municipal bond issues, living trusts, life insurance trusts, and various other types of trusts cre ated for individuals, businesses, and charitable and religious organizations. In addition, it provides consumer financing services; owns, manages, and maintains real property; offers general insurance agency services; holds investment securities; markets credit life insurance; and engages in discount investment brokerage services, as well as owns approximately 3,700 acres of timber land in Hancock County, Mississippi. The company operates 182 banking and financial services offices and 161 automated teller machines. Hancock Holding Company was founded in 1899 and is headquartered in Gulfport, Mississippi.

Top 10 Performing Companies To Buy Right Now: Sunesis Pharmaceuticals Inc.(SNSS)

Sunesis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, focuses on the development and commercialization of oncology therapeutics for the treatment of solid and hematologic cancers. The company?s principal product includes Vosaroxin, an anti-cancer quinolone derivative for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). It is conducting various clinical trials of Vosaroxin, including Phase II clinical trial, known as VALOR trial in combination with cytarabine for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory AML; and a Phase II clinical trial, known as REVEAL-1 in previously untreated patients of age 60 years or older, as well as completed a Phase II single-agent trial of Vosaroxin in patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. In addition, the company is conducting a Phase II/III trial, known as the Less Intensive 1 in patients older than 60 years with AML or high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome. It has a license agreement with Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma Co. , Ltd. for the development and commercialization of Vosaroxin; a collaboration agreement with Millennium for the development of pan-Raf kinase inhibitor and one additional undisclosed kinase inhibitor program in oncology; and a collaboration agreement with Biogen Idec, Inc. to discover, develop, and commercialize small molecule inhibitors of a preclinical kinase inhibitor program in immunology. The company formerly known as, Mosaic Pharmaceuticals, Inc., was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in South San Francisco, California.

11 Great Books I've Read Lately

Mark Twain says, "The man who doesn't read good books has no advantage over the man who can't read them." In that spirit, here are 11 great books I've read lately that you should read, too.

This Will Make You Smarter: 150 New Scientific Concepts to Improve Your Thinking, Various

Edge.org asked 150 of the world's smartest scientists to write a short (one or two page) article on a concept that will help average people think better. The authors are physicists, astronomers, and mathematicians, but each article is digestible to someone with no experience in these subjects. Every one is good. I could hardly put it down.

Bull!, Maggie Mahar

Warren Buffett recommended this book in Berkshire Hathaway's 2003 letter to shareholders. I now realize why he gave it a plug: It is one of the best investing books I've ever come across. Mahar is a journalist, so there's no opinion or advice in this book -- and that's what makes it great. It's a detailed history of the modern American stock market, chronicling how retail investors consistently fall for bubble highs and get crushed by bear market lows.

30 Lessons For Living: Tried and True Advice from the Wisest Americans, Karl Pillemer

Gerontologist Karl Pillemer spent years interviewing more than 1,000 elderly Americans with a simple goal: Ask those with the most life experience for advice on how to live a good life. Here's one key takeaway:

No one -- not a single person out of a thousand -- said that to be happy you should try to work as hard as you can to make money to buy the things you want.

No one -- not a single person -- said it's important to be at least as wealthy as the people around you, and if you have more than they do it's real success.

No one -- not a single person -- said you should choose your work based on your desired future earning power.

Conversations With Wall Street, Peter Ressler, Monika Mitchel

Peter Ressler and Monika Mitchell interviewed Wall Street traders, often anonymously, to figure out what was going through their heads leading up to, during, and after the financial crisis of 2008. My big takeaway is that most of Wall Street's "dirtiest" players are actually good people who believe in morality -- but good people do crazy things when you dangle a $10 million carrot in front of them.

The Information Diet, Clay Johnson

Someone in the middle of nowhere with a $50 cell phone has access to more information than Ivy League scholars did just a few decades ago. But we are any smarter because of it? Are we making better decisions? Probably not. And it's our fault.

Clay Johnson starts his book with a great quote by Steve Jobs:

When you're young, you look at television and think, There's a conspiracy. The networks have conspired to dumb us down. But when you get a little older, you realize that's not true. The networks are in business to give people exactly what they want. That's a far more depressing thought. Conspiracy is optimistic! You can shoot the bastards! We can have a revolution! But the networks are really in business to give people what they want. It's the truth.

Pretty well sums it up.

Mistakes Were Made (But not By Me), Carol Tavris, Elliot Aronson  

Everyone makes bad decisions and terrible forecasts. Few, however, live up to their faults. Tavris and Aronson show that this behavior goes beyond saving face. We systematically delude ourselves into believing our decisions were smart even when they obviously weren't. The authors write:

Most people, when directly confronted by evidence that they are wrong, do not change their point of view or course of action but justify it even more tenaciously. Even irrefutable evidence is rarely enough to pierce the mental armor of self-justification.

Highly relevant to investors who attempt to justify their bad returns. Which is to say, most investors.

Ignorance: How It drives Science, Stuart Firestein

"Knowledge is a big subject," Firestein writes. "Ignorance is bigger. And it is more interesting."

No analyst or financial advisor wants to be caught saying, "I don't know." But in science, ignorance is the heart of success. Questions are more important than answers. "As a scientist, you don't do something with what you know to defend someone, treat someone, or make someone a pile of money. You use those facts to frame a new question," Firestein writes. Highly relevant to investing.

What to Expect When No One's Expecting, Jonathan Last

Two things lead to economic growth: Population growth and productivity growth. Jonathan Last shows how we're slowly losing the first half of that equation: "In 1979, the world's fertility rate was 6.0; today it's 2.52." This leads to everything from entitlement shortfalls to labor shortages to changes in medicine. If the forecasts are right the drop in birth rates will be one of the most important stories of the next half-century. An incredibly well-researched and thought-provoking book. 

It's Getting Better All the Time, Stephen Moore, Julian Simon

Moore and Simon write: 

Most Americans do not fully appreciate how truly fortunate they are to live in the midst of this most amazing time ... life expectancy has increased so rapidly that San Francisco Chronicle columnist Jon Carrol recently quipped that 'Americans have come to view death as optional' ... Today, the average U.S. household spends about 10 times as much on recreation as it did in 1900 and 3 times more on leisure time over the course of their lifetimes than their great-grandparents did.

This book was published in 2000, at the end of the longest economic boom in modern history. Bad timing? Yes. But the authors' main points -- people like progress, and things generally get better over time -- is still relevant. As author Matt Ridley once wrote:

Today, of Americans officially designated as 'poor,' 99 per cent have electricity, running water, flush toilets, and a refrigerator; 95 per cent have a television, 88 per cent a telephone, 71 per cent a car and 70 percent air conditioning. Cornelius Vanderbilt had none of these.

Life Without Lawyers, Philip Howard

The label on my jar of peanuts warns, "PRODUCT MAY CONTAIN NUTS." Doctors order unnecessary tests to protect against lawsuits. Elementary school kids have been suspended for bringing scissors to school. A 14-year-old girl had a stroke in her classroom, but no one called an ambulance for 90 minutes because the school has a rule preventing teachers from calling 911 without the principal's permission.

Howard persuasively argues that Americans' obsession with suing everyone in sight has suffocated people's ability to do what is right. The lawyers now make the decisions. He then offers a set of solutions, with laws that both protect society yet are flexible enough to let people make reasonable decisions.

The Success Equation, Michael Mauboussin

Only a small handful of money managers will outperform an index fund over time. And some of those who do will win thanks to luck alone. Which ones? We really don't know. 

Most of life is like this. Intuitively, we know luck can play a big role in outcomes, but it's difficult to separate luck from skill when assessing success -- particularly our own.

Well written and analytical, this book completely changed how I think about success. This line I found particularly meaningful: "There's a quick and easy way to test whether an activity involves skill: ask whether you can lose on purpose."

Have any recommendations of your own? Share them below!

Top 10 Gold Stocks To Buy For 2014

The end of last week saw a trifecta of bad news for gold miners, even as the SPDR Gold Trust (NYSEMKT: GLD  ) showed a measure of strength. Randgold (NASDAQ: GOLD  ) saw earnings weakness, Gold Fields (NYSE: GFI  ) was downgraded, and Goldcorp (NYSE: GG  ) missed earnings estimates significantly. The interplay between the gold commodity and the gold miners has been particularly interesting of late, making this a good time to consider gold mining stocks and their prospects moving forward.

In the video below, Fool.com contributor Doug Ehrman discusses the overall structure of the gold market, the three events described above, and the way forward.

Goldcorp is one of the leading players in the gold mining market. For the last several years, investors have been the beneficiaries of several successful acquisitions and strong organic growth. Goldcorp's low-cost production of one of the most sought-after metals in the world continues to make this stock an attractive choice for long-term investors. To learn everything you need to know about this mining specialist, you're invited to check out The Motley Fool's premium research report on the company, which comes with a full year of ongoing updates and analysis to keep you informed as key news breaks. Click here now to claim your copy today.

Top 10 Gold Stocks To Buy For 2014: Thompson Creek Metals Company Inc.(TC)

Thompson Creek Metals Company Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in mining, milling, processing, and marketing molybdenum products in the United States and Canada. The company?s principal properties include the Thompson Creek Mine and mill in Idaho; a metallurgical roasting facility in Langeloth, Pennsylvania; and a joint venture interest in the Endako Mine, mill, and roasting facility in British Columbia. It also holds interests in development projects comprising the Davidson molybdenum property and the Berg copper-molybdenum-silver property located in northern British Columbia; the Howard?s Pass property, a lead and zinc project situated in the Yukon territory-northwest territories border; and the Maze Lake property, a gold project located in the Kivalliq district of Nunavut. The company produces molybdenum products, primarily molybdic oxide and ferromolybdenum, as well as soluble technical oxide, pure molybdenum tri-oxide, and high purity molybdenum disulfide. As o f December 31, 2010, its consolidated recoverable proven and probable ore reserves totaled 462.2 million pounds of contained molybdenum in the Thompson Creek Mine and the Endako Mine. The company was formerly known as Blue Pearl Mining Ltd. and changed its name to Thompson Creek Metals Company Inc. in May 2007. Thompson Creek Metals Company Inc. is based in Denver, Colorado.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Christopher Barker]

  My recent survey of bargain-basement stock valuations among gold miners identified Thompson Creek Metals as a glaring opportunity for value investors. The miner sports two world-class molybdenum mines with 534 million pounds of reserves between them, along with an array of attractive development projects in the pipeline. Foremost among those is the Mt. Milligan copper and gold project, where Thompson Creek expects to launch itself into the ranks of intermediate gold producers with production commencing in late 2013.

  With 6 million ounces of gold reserves, accompanied by 2.1 billion pounds of copper, Mt. Milligan will deliver about 262,100 ounces of gold per year for the first six years of a 22-year mine life, averaging 194,500 ounces annually over that entire span. Although 25% of that gold production is already spoken for through a gold stream agreement with Royal Gold (Nasdaq: RGLD  ) , Thompson Creek Metals is sure to enjoy a powerful cash-flow explosion.

Top 10 Gold Stocks To Buy For 2014: Agnico-Eagle Mines Limited(AEM)

Agnico-Eagle Mines Limited, through its subsidiaries, engages in the exploration, development, and production of mineral properties in Canada, Finland, and Mexico. The company primarily explores for gold, as well as silver, copper, zinc, and lead. Its flagship property includes the LaRonde mine located in the southern portion of the Abitibi volcanic belt, Canada. The company was founded in 1953 and is based in Toronto, Canada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Vatalyst]

  With headquarters in Canada, Agnico-Eagle is a gold producer that has been around for a while with operations in Canada, Finland and Mexico and the United States that has paid a cash dividend for 29 consecutive years. AEM gained 25% over the year and reported 83.5% growth in quarterly earnings. It has a market capitalization of $11.4 billion and a trailing P/E ratio of 34x with expectations of earning $0.55 per share. AEM, like other operators like it, are likely a better bet than ETF trust options like SPDR Gold Shares (GLD).

Top 5 Safest Stocks To Watch For 2014: Golden Star Resources Ltd(GSS)

Golden Star Resources Ltd., a gold mining and exploration company, through its subsidiaries, engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of gold properties. It owns and operates the Bogoso/Prestea gold mining and processing operation that covers approximately 40 kilometers of strike along the southwest-trending Ashanti gold district in western Ghana; and the Wassa open-pit gold mine located to the east of Bogoso/Prestea in southwest Ghana. The company also has an 81% interest in the Prestea underground gold mine located in Ghana. In addition, it holds interests in various gold exploration projects in Ghana, Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Cote d?Ivoire, as well as holds and manages exploration properties in Brazil in South America. The company was founded in 1984 and is based in Littleton, Colorado.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Curtis]

  Golden Star Resources, Ltd Com (AMEX:GSS): This equity had 10,766,183 shares sold short as of Aug 31st, as compared to 9,400,663 on Aug 15th, which represents a change of 1,365,520 shares, or 14.5%. Days to cover for this company is 3 and average daily trading volume is 3,419,976. About the equity: Golden Star Resources Ltd. is a mid-tier gold mining company. The Company’s operating mines are situated along the Ashanti Gold Belt in Ghana, West Africa.

Top 10 Gold Stocks To Buy For 2014: Goldcorp Incorporated(GG)

Goldcorp Inc. engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and operation of precious metal properties in Canada, the United States, Mexico, and Central and South America. It produces and sells gold, silver, copper, lead, and zinc. The company was founded in 1954 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rahemtulla]

  Headquartered in the Olympic venue of Vancouver, GoldCorp (GG)
  is one of the largest precious-metal mining companies in the world. GG operates mainly in Canada and South America, and produces more than 2.3 million ounces of gold annually, and has about 45 million ounces in proved and probable reserves. But don’t be fooled by the name — GoldCorp also owns 1.2 billion ounces of proved and probable silver reserves and 1.4 billion pounds of copper reserves.

  Every investor is aware of gold’s record run recently, but that’s just one reason I’m bullish on GG. Silver and copper prices
  have been on a tear lately, and the diverse mining operations of GoldCorp make it a great investment right now no matter what happens with gold.

• [By Christopher Barker]

  Every ship needs an anchor, and for gold investors looking to navigate the admittedly rough seas of the gold mining industry, I can think of no greater anchor than Goldcorp. With the important caveat that some of the company's substantial challenges faced during 2012 could present further selling pressure in early 2013 as forward production guidance takes a bit of a haircut, I agree with Credit Suisse analyst Anita Soni that any such weakness may present a meaningful buying opportunity. I won't go into great detail here, since investors can access my premium research report on Goldcorp for further discussion of the substantial long-term investment opportunity in the shares of this quality producer.

• [By Mel Daris]

  Goldcorp (GG), from Vancouver, has mines from Canada down to Argentina. Its stock trades for $40 and its dividend yields 1.30%. Its P/E is a pricey 18.33. Goldcorp had net income $1.6 billion and negative cash flow of $300 million. Its net tangible assets have grown from -$2.4 billion in 2009 to nearly $20 billion last year. The miner produced 2.51 million ounces of gold last year and expects to produce more than 2.60 million ounces this year at a target of $1,600 per ounce. Cost will range from $250 to $600 per ounce. Goldcorp is targeting 70% growth by 2016.

• [By Smith]

  Although its name does little to denote this, Goldcorp is a well-positioned silver play for 2011, according to the analysts we surveyed.

  “The name is one that people tend to think of it as gold, but it's in the top 20 of silver producers globally with about 13 million ounces a year ,” says Peter Sorrentino of Huntington Funds.

  Morningstar analyst Min Tang-Varner recently raised her fair value estimate for Goldcorp by $12 a share to $48 after the company reported a 28 per cent rise in revenue for the third quarter ended Sept. 30 compared with the year before.

  This, despite 4 per cent decline gold production, as revenue received a boost from $1,239/oz realized gold prices and $19.15/oz silver prices.

  Tang-Varner tells investors that the reduction of Goldcorp's cash cost by $100/oz from the prior quarter to $260/oz due to higher silver, copper and zinc production and the run-up in their prices, was “rather extraordinary.”

  Sorrentino says Goldcorp is a stock that investors would be “wise to consider” if they were looking for a name that would be discovered suddenly as a major silver play, without feeling that they were overpaying for it.

  Goldcorp also prices everything that it does in Canadian dollars, which should reduce currency risks for investors in Canada.

Top 10 Gold Stocks To Buy For 2014: Northgate Minerals Corporation(NXG)

Northgate Minerals Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in exploring, developing, processing, and mining gold and copper deposits in Canada and Australia. Its principal producing assets include 100% interests in the Fosterville and Stawell Gold mines in Victoria, Australia; and the Kemess South mine located in north-central British Columbia, Canada. The company was formerly known as Northgate Exploration Limited and changed its name to Northgate Minerals Corporation in May 2004. Northgate Minerals Corporation was founded in 1919 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Christopher Barker]

  I've been reminding Fools to consider positioning for Northgate Minerals' golden explosion for months, and patient gold investors continue to await the day when Northgate's powerful prospects are more fully reflected in the shares. Construction of the critical Young-Davidson mine continues right on schedule, and first production now stands about two quarters away. That means Northgate is reasonably likely to achieve its 2012 production target of 300,000 ounces, followed by 350,000 ounces in 2013. Meanwhile, Northgate recently drilled "one of the best holes ever intersected on the property" -- featuring 4.31 grams of gold per ton over a very wide 79.6-meter segment -- from a new discovery zone outside of the existing 2.8 million-ounce reserve.

  If Young-Davidson were Northgate's sole asset, these shares would still be undervalued here at about $2.60 per share. With a preliminary assessment looming for the reworked Kemess Underground project, a new drill program at the Awakening Gold project in Nevada, and two operating gold mines in Australia, Northgate figures among the clearest bargains in the gold patch.

• [By Barker]

  I'm not the only Fool who perceives compelling value in the shares of this 90-year-old gold company. My colleague Andrew Sullivan made Northgate his inaugural selection within the Fool's Rising Star Portfolio Series. With anticipated production from Young-Davidson beginning in early 2012, and consistent exploration success at multiple properties, I consider this recently stagnant stock among the clearest rising stars in the gold patch.

• [By Cutler]

  Northgate Minerals Ltd Common (AMEX:NXG): This equity had 11,186,665 shares sold short as of Aug 31st, as compared to 12,721,260 on Aug 15th, which represents a change of -1,534,595 shares, or -12.1%. Days to cover for this company is 2 and average daily trading volume is 6,342,426. About the equity: Northgate Minerals Corporation is a gold and copper mining company. The Company has mines in areas of Canada and Australia.

Top 10 Gold Stocks To Buy For 2014: NEW GOLD INC.(NGD)

New Gold Inc. engages in the acquisition, exploration, extraction, processing, and reclamation of mineral properties. The company primarily explore for gold, silver, and copper deposits. Its operating properties include the Mesquite gold mine in the United States; the Cerro San Pedro gold-silver mine in Mexico; and the Peak gold-copper mine in Australia. The company also has development projects, including the New Afton gold, silver, and copper project in Canada; and a 30% interest in the El Morro copper-gold project in Chile. The company was formerly known as DRC Resources Corporation and changed its name to New Gold Inc. in June 2005. New Gold Inc. was founded in 1980 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Christopher Barker]

  This stock has set the gold standard for share price appreciation among gold miners, advancing more than 140% since I introduced Fools to the new face of New Gold back in January 2010. Looking out over the long-term horizon, New Gold has constructed a gorgeous development pipeline to complement its trio of producing gold mines, featuring: a low-risk 30% stake in Goldcorp's El Morro project in Chile, the New Afton copper and gold project in British Columbia (with production scheduled to begin mid-2012), and the recently acquired Blackwater project north of New Afton.

  Although I expect the Blackwater deposit to expand considerably with further exploration, the project's initial indicated gold resource of 1.8 million ounces already leaves New Gold in command of 14.7 million ounces of measured and indicated gold resource. Tossing in copious supplies of by-product metals -- most notably 83.5 million ounces of silver and 3.5 billion pounds of copper -- New Gold is positioned to enjoy consistently low production costs throughout its sustained growth trajectory.

• [By Vatalyst]

  New Gold Inc. is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, and the NYSE under the symbol NGD. New Gold has a portfolio of global assets in the United States, Mexico, Australia, Canada and Chile as an intermediary gold producer. NGD gained 159% this year. With market capitalization at $4.5 billion, NGD shows a trailing P/E ratio of 25.3x. New Gold has a 30% interest in El Morro copper-gold Project in Chile and is expected to earn $0.21 per share next year.

Top 10 Gold Stocks To Buy For 2014: First Majestic Silver Corp.(AG)

First Majestic Silver Corp. engages in the production, development, exploration, and acquisition of mineral properties with a focus on silver in Mexico. The company owns interests in La Encantada Silver Mine comprising 4,076 hectares of mining rights and 1,343 hectares of surface land located in Coahuila; La Parrilla Silver Mine consisting of mining concessions covering an area of 69,867 hectares; and San Martin Silver Mine comprising approximately 7,841 hectares of mineral rights and approximately 1,300 hectares of surface land rights located in Jalisco. It also holds interests in Del Toro Silver Mine consisting of 393 contiguous hectares of mining claims and an additional 129 hectares of surface rights located in Zacatecas; Real de Catorce Silver Project comprising 22 mining concessions covering 6,327 hectares located in San Luis Potosi state; and Jalisco Group of Properties consisting of mining claims totalling 5,240 hectares located in Jalisco. The company was founded in 1979 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sy_Harding]

  First Majestic Silver is one of the purest silver plays on the market. The company owns and operates three primary silver mines in Mexico: La Parrilla, San Martin, and La Encantada.

  Shares of AG have risen more than 60% for the year.

  First Majestic generates 85% of its revenue through the production and sale of silver. The rest of the company's revenue is generated through gold, lead, and zinc.

  First Majestic expects to increase total silver output from its operations to 7.5 million ounces of silver in 2011, and up to 16.0 million ounces by 2014.

• [By Goodwin]

  The shares closed at $88.19, down $1.1, or 1.23%, on the day. Its market capitalization is $77.08 billion. About the company: Siemens AG manufactures a wide range of industrial and consumer products. The Company builds locomotives, traffic control systems, automotive electronics, and engineers electrical power plants. Siemens also provides public and private communications networks, computers, building control systems, medical equipment, and electrical components. The Company operates worldwide.

Top 10 Gold Stocks To Buy For 2014: Iamgold Corporation(IAG)

IAMGOLD Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the exploration, development, and production of mineral resource properties worldwide. It primarily explores for gold, silver, zinc, copper, niobium, diamonds, and other metals. The company holds interests in eight operating gold mines, a niobium producer, a diamond royalty, and exploration and development projects located in Africa and the Americas. Its advanced exploration and development projects include the Westwood project in Canada; and the Quimsacocha project, which consists of 3 mining concessions covering an aggregate area of approximately 8,030 hectares in Ecuador. The company was formerly known as IAMGOLD International African Mining Gold Corporation and changed its name to IAMGOLD Corporation in June 1997. IAMGOLD Corporation was founded in 1990 and is based in Toronto, Canada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Christopher Barker]

  Although I have not shed my long-standing contention that Yamana Gold offers one of the more deeply discounted vehicles for long-term gold exposure, lately my outlook for IAMGOLD has turned particularly bullish. With a looming spin-off of a 10% to 20% stake in the company's reliably profitable Niobec niobium mine, and the recent sale of its interest in a pair of high-cost gold operations in Ghana for $667 million, IAMGOLD finds itself in terrific financial shape to execute an aggressive $1.2 billion expansion imitative at existing operations.

  Considering the $1.6 billion net asset value (after tax) that IAMGOLD recently assessed for the Niobec mine alone, and a presumed hoard of more than $1.2 billion (in cash, cash equivalents, and gold bullion held for investment), at a market capitalization of $6.9 billion I find extreme comfort in the market's resulting valuation for IAMGOLD's 15.2 million ounces of attributable gold reserves.

Top 10 Gold Stocks To Buy For 2014: Claude Resources Inc.(CGR)

Claude Resources Inc. engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of precious metal properties, as well as production and marketing of minerals in Canada. It primarily explores for gold in northern Saskatchewan and northwestern Ontario. The company holds interests in the Seabee gold mine located at Laonil Lake, northern Saskatchewan; and the Madsen property that consists of 6 contiguous claim blocks totaling approximately 10,000 acres, located in the Red Lake Mining District of northwestern Ontario. It also holds interest in the Amisk Gold project, which covers an area of 13,800 hectares in the province of Saskatchewan. The company was founded in 1980 and is based in Saskatoon, Canada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Christopher Barker]

  Hardly a johnny-come-lately, Claude Resources initiated small-scale gold production from its flagship Seabee mine in Saskatchewan in 1991. Just last year, Claude added the Santoy 8 mine to that operation to offer a touch of timely growth. Meanwhile, the operation hosts a number of compelling exploration targets like the recently discovered Neptune zone. After 10 of 15 recent drill holes from Neptune featured visible gold, including a nice high-grade intercept of 84.66 g/t over 3.2 meters, prospects are building for Claude to add some additional years to this time-tested operation.

  While I welcome the existing cash flow from Seabee, my investment thesis for Claude Resources centers around a pair of exciting exploration properties: the Amisk joint venture project southeast of Seabee and the Madsen property at Red Lake, Ontario. At Madsen, historical gold production between 1938 and 1976 yielded 2.4 million ounces at an average grade of 9 g/t. To date, Claude has identified an indicated resource of 928,000 ounces at a comparable grade. At Amisk, drill intercepts of eye-catching thickness suggest strong potential for a profitable open pit operation, including an intercept of 2.16 g/t over 241 meters! The deposit's 921,000 indicated gold-equivalent ounces represent only an early stage hint of the deposit's full potential. The stock is a top-10 holding for Sprott Asset Management, and a core holding for this Fool as well.

Top 10 Gold Stocks To Buy For 2014: Newmont Mining Corporation(Holding Company)

Newmont Mining Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and production of gold and copper properties. The company?s assets or operations are located in the United States, Australia, Peru, Indonesia, Ghana, Canada, New Zealand, and Mexico. As of December 31, 2009, it had proven and probable gold reserves of approximately 93.5 million equity ounces and an aggregate land position of approximately 27,500 square miles. The company was founded in 1916 and is headquartered in Greenwood Village, Colorado.

Top Penny Stocks To Buy For 2015

Top Penny Stocks To Buy For 2015