10 Best Regional Bank Stocks To Own For 2014

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In this segment of The Motley Fool's everything-financials show,�Where the Money Is, banking analysts Matt Koppenheffer and David Hanson tells investors what they should be watching as more banks report second-quarter earnings over the next several weeks.

Matt and David discuss why some regional banks may experience some major balance sheet damage.

Watching for buying opportunities
Many investors are terrified about investing in big banking stocks after the crash, but the sector has one notable standout. In a sea of mismanaged and dangerous peers, it rises above as "The Only Big Bank Built to Last." You can uncover the top pick that one of the world's greatest investor loves in The Motley Fool's�new report. It's free, so�click here to access it now.

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Top 10 Railroad Stocks To Own Right Now: Oppenheimer Holdings Inc.(OPY)

Oppenheimer Holdings Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates as a middle-market investment bank and full service broker-dealer. It offers full-service brokerage services covering various investment alternatives, such as exchange-traded and over-the-counter corporate equity and debt securities, money market instruments, exchange-traded options and futures contracts, municipal bonds, mutual funds, and unit investment trusts. The company also provides financial and wealth planning services; margin lending; securities lending; and online equity investing and discount brokerage services. In addition, it offers asset management services for equity, fixed income, large-cap balanced, and alternative investments offered through vehicles, such as privately managed accounts, and retail and institutional separate accounts. Further, the company provides strategic advisory services and capital markets products; institutional equity sales and trading; equity research; equity options and derivatives; convertible bonds; and event driven sales and trading services. Additionally, it trades in non-investment grade public and private debt securities, mortgage-backed securities, sovereign and corporate debt, and distressed securities; provides fixed income research, public finance, and municipal trading services; and is involved in proprietary trading and investment activities. The company also participates in loan syndications and operates as underwriting agent in financing transactions; trades syndicated corporate loans in the secondary market; offers various trust services; and provides mortgage services to developers of commercial properties. It serves high-net-worth individuals and families, corporate executives, small and mid-sized businesses, endowments and foundations, and institutions in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and South America. The company was founded in 1977 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Hilary Kramer]

  With this news, some Wall Street firms finally ��albeit a bit late ��jumped on the ICPT bandwagon.� Citigroup (C) raised its target to $400, stating that its market cap (at the time $5.4 billion) didn�� reach the opportunity for these liver disease treatments.� They estimated that the OCA could exceed a $5 billion sales level.� Oppenheimer (OPY) also raised its target to $360 while Bank of America/Merrill’s (BAC) target is set at $872, the only one not yet exceeded with the most recent move.

10 Best Regional Bank Stocks To Own For 2014: Principal Financial Group Inc(PFG)

Principal Financial Group, Inc. provides retirement savings, investment, and insurance products and services worldwide. The company?s Retirement and Investor Services segment provides retirement savings and related investment products and services, including a portfolio of asset accumulation products and services primarily to small and medium-sized businesses and individuals in the United States. This segment offers products and services to businesses for defined contribution pension plans, including 401(k) and 403(b) plans, defined benefit pension plans, nonqualified executive benefit plans, and employee stock ownership plan consulting services; and annuities, mutual funds, and bank products and services to the employees of its business customers and other individuals. Principal Financial Group?s Principal Global Investors segment offers a range of equity, fixed income, and real estate investments, as well as specialized overlay and advisory services to institutional inve stors. The company?s Principal International segment offers retirement products and services, annuities, mutual funds, institutional asset management, and life insurance accumulation products in Brazil, Chile, China, Hong Kong SAR, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Singapore, and Thailand. Principal Financial Group?s U.S. Insurance Solutions segment offers individual life insurance, as well as specialty benefits in the United States. Its individual life insurance products include universal and variable universal life insurance and traditional life insurance; and specialty benefit products comprise group dental and vision insurance, individual and group disability insurance, and group life insurance, as well as fee-for-service claims administration and wellness services. The company was founded in 1879 and is based in Des Moines, Iowa.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Patricio Kehoe] ts newest deal with private benefits company Liazon Corp., through which the firm will offer employer-sponsored group benefit plans to small and medium businesses. While the company already sells ancillary benefit plans, this deal will now also include dental, life insurance, disability insurance and critical illness coverage in an attempt to stay on top of the insurance industry. As an industry leader, Principal has over $466 billion in assets under management and 19 million customers, fragmented among small and medium-size businesses. Furthermore, its solid fourth quarter results have encouraged investment gurus like Paul Tudor Jones (Trades, Portfolio) and Steven Cohen (Trades, Portfolio) to recently acquire large amounts of the company�� shares. So, let�� see what this insurer has in store for the future.

  Broadening Horizons

  Although Principal�� core business is in life insurance, the company has been pursuing a more diverse growth strategy lately, and is now focused on expanding its position in the retirement service and asset management segment. With almost 30,700 pension plans covering over 3.4 million customers, this business��growth rate has not only boosted overall profitability, marked by a 31% annual increase in operating earnings for fiscal 2013, but also helped offset the headwinds of low interest rates and volatility in the emerging markets. In fact, the fourth quarter showed a 65% boost in premium and fee income for the segmenta , consequence of the rollout of total retirement suite products.

  Moreover, Principal�� emphasis on retirement products and its use of capital salesforce for distribution has added on to the natural switching cost advantage in the insurance industry. Since plan sponsors provided with pension assets rarely switch providers, the company will likely benefit in the long term from its persistency, as seen in the quarterly 9% bump in recurring deposits.

  On another note, Principal�� fee-based b

• [By Michael Calia]

  Principal Financial Group Inc.(PFG) said its fourth-quarter earnings rose 8.6%, touting its strong results for the period amid continued economic concern.

10 Best Regional Bank Stocks To Own For 2014: Washington Banking Company(WBCO)

Washington Banking Company operates as the bank holding company for Whidbey Island Bank that provides community commercial banking services in northwestern Washington. Its deposit products include interest-bearing demand and money market accounts, saving deposits, time deposits, NOW accounts, and noninterest-bearing demand deposits. The company?s portfolio of loans comprises secured and unsecured commercial loans for working capital and expansion; real estate mortgage loans, including one-to-four family residential and commercial real estate loans; and real estate construction loans, such as commercial real estate, one-to-four family residential construction, and speculative construction loans. Its consumer loan portfolio include automobile loans, boat and recreational vehicle financing, home equity and home improvement loans, and other secured and unsecured personal loans, as well as SBA guaranteed loans for small and medium sized businesses. In addition, the company pro vides non-deposit managed investment products and services, and sweep investment options. As of December 31, 2010, it operated 30 branches in 6 counties located in northwestern Washington. The company was founded in 1996 and is based in Oak Harbor, Washington.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Eric Volkman]

  Washington Banking (NASDAQ: WBCO  ) is diverting some of its capital to repurchase its own stock. The company announced that its board has authorized a buyback program for up to 775,000 shares. The program is expected to continue through the end of 2014, although the firm stressed that it "is under no obligation to repurchase a specific number or dollar amount of shares and the repurchase program may be discontinued at any time."

10 Best Regional Bank Stocks To Own For 2014: Precision Castparts Corporation(PCP)

Precision Castparts Corp. (PCC) manufactures and sells metal components and products worldwide. Its Investment Cast Products segment offers aerospace structural and airfoil castings; industrial gas turbine (IGT) castings; artificial hips and knees; parts for satellite launch vehicles; landing gear struts and engine inlets for unmanned aerial vehicles; impellers for pumps and compressors; components for armament systems; and alloys for other manufacturers of investment castings. The company?s Forged Products segment provides forged components for jet engines, including fan discs, compressor discs, turbine discs, seals, spacers, shafts, hubs, and cases; airframe structural components, such as landing gear beams, bulkheads, wing structures, engine mounts, struts, tail flaps, and housings; discs, spacers, and valve components for steam turbine and IGT engines; shafts, cases, and compressor and turbine discs for marine gas engines; mechanical and structural tubular forged produ cts for energy markets; and forged components for propulsion systems on nuclear submarines and aircraft carriers, as well as forgings for pumps, valves, and structural applications. PCC?s Fastener Products segment offers aerospace fasteners comprising bolts, nuts, nut plates, latches, expandable diameter fasteners, quick release pins, hydraulic fittings, bushings, inserts, collars, and other precision components. It also provides refiner plates and screen cylinders for the pulp and paper industry; metal-injection-molded and ThixoFormed components; grinder pumps and components for sewer systems; gas monitoring systems for the power generation industry; and thread-rolling and trimming dies, pins and steel, and carbide forging tools for fastener production. PCC sells its fastener products and services through a network of distributors and independent sales representatives, as well as through a direct sales and marketing staff. The company was founded in 1949 and is based in Por tland, Oregon.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  Precision Castparts (NYSE: PCP  ) will release its quarterly report on Thursday, and judging from the movement of its stock, investors are expecting good results. With activity in the aerospace industry helping the aircraft components maker's business, Precision Castparts earnings look poised to produce strong growth both this quarter and well into the future.

• [By Chris Hill]

  Boeing's (NYSE: BA  ) 787 Dreamliner was back in the news (and not for good reasons), which is one reason we prefer Precision Castparts (NYSE: PCP  ) . Ulta Salon (NASDAQ: ULTA  ) names a new CEO. Tenet Healthcare (NYSE: THC  ) makes a big buy. And Facebook (NASDAQ: FB  ) is reportedly working on a news service for mobile devices. In this installment of Investor Beat, Andy and Jason discuss four stocks making big moves.

• [By GURUFOCUS]

  Precision Castparts Corp. (1.6%) (PCP - $227.24 - NYSE)(PCP) is a manufacturer of investment castings and forgings, primarily for the aerospace and industrial gas turbine markets. The company also makes fasteners and industrial products for the automotive, aerospace, and general industrial markets. PCP is a strong cash flow generator, and we continue to believe the company will use its cash for acquisitions, such as the recently completed Titanium Metals Corporation. PCP's acquisition strategy centers on buying businesses within the company's core competencies, which include manufacturing component products for complex end users. The strategy also includes finding companies that have procurement or technologies similar to PCP's and similar customer profiles. These characteristics should provide opportunities for PCP to improve the acquired company's profitability, thereby enhancing PCP's earnings.

10 Best Regional Bank Stocks To Own For 2014: Spirit Realty Capital Inc (SRC)

Spirit Realty Capital, Inc., incorporated on August 14, 2003, is a self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust (REIT). The Company�� operations are carried out through Spirit Realty, L.P. (the Operating Partnership). The Company invests in single-tenant, operationally essential real estate throughout the United States that is leased on a long-term, triple-net basis primarily to tenants engaged in retail, service and distribution industries. Single-tenant, operationally essential real estate consists of properties that are generally free-standing, commercial real estate facilities where its tenants conduct retail, service or distribution activities. as of December 31, 2012, the Company�� portfolio of 1,122 owned properties were leased to approximately 165 tenants. In July 2013, the Company merged with Cole Credit Property Trust II.

The Company�� tenants operate in 18 different industries, which include medical/other office properties; recreational properties; educational properties; automotive dealers, parts and services facilities; industrial properties; building material suppliers; movie theatres; restaurants-casual dining; specialty retail properties; restaurants-quick service, and general and discount retail properties. The Company�� properties are geographically diversified across 47 states, with only 4 states contributing more than 5.0% of its annual rent. As of December 31, 2012, approximately 98.0% of its lease and loan revenues were attributable to long-term leases. As of December 31, 2012, the Company leases 181 properties to Shopko/Pamida, 179 of which are leased pursuant to three master leases.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Duprey]

  Commercial real estate investor�Spirit Realty Capital (NYSE: SRC  ) announced today its second-quarter dividend of $0.3125�per share, the same rate it paid last quarter. After going public in September, it began making payouts to investors in January.

• [By Brad Thomas]

  Finally, here's the report card. Agree has racked up a year-over-year total return of 43.19%. That's not bad, especially when you consider the noise generated by the big boys: Realty Income (O) 32.66%; National Retail Properties (NNN) 47.44%; W.P. Carey (WPC) 57.84%; Spirit Realty (SRC) 35.44%; and American Realty Capital Properties 52.18%.

• [By Brad Thomas]

  Today, the public REIT markets are flowing strong as evidenced by a number of new mergers, rollups, listings, and IPOs. As I wrote in a previous article, Spirit Realty Capital (SRC) has announced its plan to acquire Cole Credit Property Trust II, Inc. (CCPT2) - a non-traded REIT with over 40,000 investors. With around 822 properties, CCPT2 will soon combine with Spirit (with a $1.82 billion market cap) to create a $7 billion enterprise with over 2,000 properties.

10 Best Regional Bank Stocks To Own For 2014: Stanley Black & Decker Inc (SWJ)

Stanley Black & Decker Inc., June 4, 1901, is a diversified global provider of power and hand tools, mechanical access solutions (automatic doors, commercial and residential locking systems), electronic security and monitoring systems and products and services for various industrial applications. The Company�� operations are classified into three business segments: Construction & Do-It-Yourself (CDIY), Security, and Industrial. In September 2011, Stanley Black & Decker acquired Niscayah Group AB. In September 2011, the Company acquired Microtec Enterprises, Inc. In January 2011, the Company acquired InfoLogix, Inc. In December 2012, Spectrum Brands Holdings Inc acquired Hardware & Home Improvement Group (HHI) of the Company. In February 2013, the Company completed its acquisition of Infastech.

CDIY

The CDIY segment consists of the professional power tool and accessories business, the consumer power tool business, which includes outdoor products, plumbing (Pfister) and the hand tools, fasteners and storage business. The segment sells its products to professional end users, distributors and retail consumers. The majority of sales are distributed through retailers, including home centers, mass merchants, hardware stores, and retail lumber yards. During the year ended December 31, 2011, annual revenues in the CDIY segment represented 50% of the Company�� total revenues. The professional power tool and accessories business sells professional grade corded and cordless electric power tools and equipment, including drills, impact wrenches and drivers, grinders, saws, routers and sanders. The business also sells power tool accessories, which include drill bits, router bits, abrasives and saw blades.

The consumer power tool business sells corded and cordless power tools sold under the Black & Decker brand, lawn and garden products and home products. Lawn and garden products include hedge trimmers, string trimmers, lawn mowers, edgers and related accessories. Home pro! ducts include hand held vacuums, paint tools and cleaning appliances. The hand tools, fasteners and storage business sells measuring and leveling tools, planes, hammers, demolition tools, knives, saws and chisels. Fastening products include pneumatic tools and fasteners including nail guns, nails, staplers and staples. Storage products include tool boxes, sawhorses and storage units.

Security

The Security segment consists of the electronic security solutions and the mechanical access solutions businesses. Annual revenues in the Security segment represented 26% of the Company�� total revenues in 2011. The electronic security solutions business designs, supplies and installs electronic security systems and provides electronic security services, including alarm monitoring, video surveillance, fire alarm monitoring, systems integration and system maintenance. Purchasers of these systems typically contract for ongoing security systems monitoring and maintenance at the time of initial equipment installation. The electronic security business also sells healthcare solutions, which includes medical carts and cabinets, asset tracking solutions, infant protection, pediatric protection, patient protection, wander management, fall management, and emergency call products.

The electronic security solutions business sells to consumers, retailers, educational, financial and healthcare institutions, as well as commercial, governmental and industrial customers. Products are sold predominantly on a direct sales basis. The mechanical access solutions business sells and installs automatic doors, residential and commercial hardware, locking mechanisms, electronic keyless entry systems, keying systems, tubular and mortise door locksets. The mechanical access solutions business sells to both residential and commercial customers, with distribution through direct sales, through retailers (including home centers) and, through third party distributors.

Industrial

!

The In! dustrial segment consists of the industrial and automotive repair tools, engineered fastening and infrastructure businesses. Annual revenues in the Industrial segment represented 24% of the Company�� total revenues. The industrial and automotive repair business sells hand tools, power tools, and engineered storage solution products. The business sells to industrial customers in a variety of industries and geographies. The products are distributed through third party distributors, as well as a direct sales force. The engineered fastening business primarily sells engineered fasteners designed for specific applications. The product lines include stud welding systems, blind rivets and tools, blind inserts and tools, drawn arc weld studs, engineered plastic fasteners, self-piercing riveting systems and precision nut running systems.

The business sells to customers in the automotive, manufacturing, and aerospace industries, amongst others, and the Company's products are distributed through direct sales forces. The infrastructure business consists of the CRC-Evans business, and the Company�� hydraulics business. The business�� product lines include custom pipe handling machinery, joint welding and coating machinery, weld inspection services and hydraulic tools and accessories. The business sells to the oil and natural gas pipeline industry and other industrial customers. The products and services are primarily distributed through a direct sales force.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ben Rooney]

  Stanley Black & Decker (SWJ) tumbled roughly 10% after the power tools maker lowered its full-year earnings outlook. The company said it expected "uncertainty created by the U.S. government's sequestration and shutdown" to hurt business and consumer spending.

10 Best Regional Bank Stocks To Own For 2014: Knoll Inc (KNL)

Knoll, Inc., incorporated on December 15, 1995, is a designer and manufacturer of workplace furnishings, textiles and fine leathers. The Company operates in three segments: Office, Studio and Coverings. The Office segment includes systems, seating, storage, tables, desks and KnollExtra ergonomic accessories, as well as the international sales of the Company's North American Office products. The Studio segment includes the Company's KnollStudio division, the Company's European subsidiaries, which primarily sell KnollStudio products, and Richard Schultz Design. The KnollStudio portfolio includes a range of lounge seating, side, cafe and dining chairs, barstools, and conference, dining and occasional tables. Richard Schultz Design provides outdoor furniture. The Coverings segment includes KnollTextiles, Spinneybeck (including Filzfelt), and Edelman Leather. In February 2014, Knoll Inc completed the acquisition of Holly Hunt Enterprises, Inc.

Office Segment

The Company�� systems furniture consists principally of functionally integrated panels or table desks, work surfaces, pedestal and other storage units, power and data systems and lighting. The Company's systems furniture product lines include panel and desk-based planning models, which consists of Antenna Workspaces, Reff Profiles, AutoStrada, Dividends Horizon, Morrison, Equity and Currents. The Company�� principal seating product lines include generation by Knoll, ReGeneration by Knoll, LIFE, RPM and Chadwick. Essentials Work Chairs' Pro, Tech, and Sport models offer a range of four task and two side chairs suitable to any office style from the traditional to the progressive. The Company�� files and storage products, featuring the Template, Calibre and Series 2 product lines, are designed with features to maximize storage capabilities throughout the workplace.

The Company�� core files and storage products consist of lateral files, mobile pedestals and other storage units, bookcases and overhead storage ! cabinets.. The Company offers collections of adjustable tables, as well as meeting, conference, training, dining, and cafe tables for large scale projects and standalone desks and table desks. The Company's Interaction and Upstart product lines include adjustable, work, meeting, conference and training tables. These product lines range from independent tables to tables suitable for workstations that support individual preferences for computer and writing heights to plannable desks that can be linked together to build and reshape larger work areas. KnollExtra offers accessories that complement Knoll office furniture products, including technology support accessories, desktop organizational tools, lighting and storage.

Studio Segment

The KnollStudio portfolio includes a range of lounge seating; side, cafe and dining chairs, barstools, and conference, dining and occasional tables. The Company�� studio segment includes the Knoll Europe businesses. Knoll Europe provides products and services primarily to its European clients, whose aesthetics and styles can be different from its North America clients. A majority of Knoll Europe's business is Knoll Studio products, but Knoll Europe also offers a product profile that enables its customers to purchase a complete office environment. In addition, it offers certain products designed specifically for the European market. In Europe, the core product categories include KnollStudio, desk systems, including the Wa desking system, the KnollScope, and the PL1 system, seating, including a range of chairs, and storage units, which are designed to complement Knoll desk products. During 2012, it acquired Richard Schultz Design, Inc., a designer and manufacturer of outdoor furniture for the residential, hospitality, and contract office furniture markets.

Coverings Segment

The Company's Coverings segment consists of KnollTextiles, Spinneybeck Leather (including Filzfelt products), and Edelman Leather. KnollTextiles offers u! pholstery,! panel fabrics, wallcoverings and drapery that harmonize color, pattern and texture and offers products for corporate, hospitality, healthcare and residential interiors. KnollTextiles products are used in the manufacture of Knoll furniture and are sold to clients for use in other manufacturers' products. Spinneybeck Enterprises, Inc., (Spinneybeck), the Company's wholly owned subsidiary, offers leathers and related products, including leather rugs and wall panels. Spinneybeck supplies upholstery leather for use on Knoll furniture and for sale directly to clients, including other office furniture manufacturers, upholsterers, aviation, custom coach and boating manufacturers. Edelman Leather LLC, (Edelman) its wholly owned subsidiary, supplies fine leathers to residential, hospitality, aviation and contract office furniture markets. Edelman, offers a residential showroom network where designers and retail consumers can sample its products.

The Company competes with Herman Miller, Inc., Steelcase, Inc., Haworth, Inc., HNI Corporation and Teknion Corporation.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Seth Jayson]

  Calling all cash flows
  When you are trying to buy the market's best stocks, it's worth checking up on your companies' free cash flow once a quarter or so, to see whether it bears any relationship to the net income in the headlines. That's what we do with this series. Today, we're checking in on Knoll (NYSE: KNL  ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Shares of HNI Corp. have gained 4.9% to $35.17 at 1:45 p.m., while Steelcase (SCS) has risen 0.8% to $16.93, Knoll (KNL) has advanced 2.5% to $18.74 and Herman Miller (MLHR) has ticked up 0.3% to $30.57.