Top 5 Cheapest Companies To Watch For 2014

When Google (NASDAQ: GOOG  ) announced its new Chromecast device yesterday, tech sites exploded with initial reviews. Wired even called it "Google's Miracle Device." I wouldn't go that far just yet, but there are two reasons why the small stick could disrupt its streaming competitors.

Priced to sell
The first and probably the most obvious selling point for the Chromecast is its ridiculously low price: $35. That's significantly lower than Apple TV and even $15 less than Roku's cheapest streaming box. Google chose the perfect price point for launching such a device, considering its Google TV has never taken off and Apple TVs and Rokus already dominate the market.

Source: Google.

If Google had come in the $50 to $100 range, the device would've had to come with much more features, and couldn't be just the basic Wi-Fi device-pairing system that it is. As it stands, Chromecast is a simple way to stream music, movies, and video a from a user's PC, Android, or iOS device.

Top Electric Utility Companies To Buy For 2015: American International Group Inc.(AIG)

American International Group, Inc. is an international insurance organization. The company operates property and casualty insurance networks worldwide and conducts activities in the U.S. life insurance and retirement services industry. It also involves in commercial aircraft leasing and residential mortgage guaranty insurance businesses. The company, through Chartis Inc., provides various property and casualty insurance products under commercial and consumer categories worldwide. These products include surplus lines, executive liability/directors? and officers? liability, employment practices, excess casualty, and travel/assistance lines. American International Group, through SunAmerica Financial Group, offers a suite of life insurance and retirement products and services, including term life, universal life, accident and health, fixed and variable deferred annuities, fixed payout annuities, mutual funds, and financial planning products and services to individuals and grou ps in the United States. The company, through International Lease Finance Corporation, operates as an aircraft lessor that acquires commercial jet aircraft from various manufacturers and other parties, and leases those aircraft to airlines worldwide. It also sells aircraft from its fleet to other leasing companies, financial services companies, and airlines, as well as provides management services to third-party owners of aircraft portfolios. American International Group, through United Guaranty Corporation, issues residential mortgage guaranty insurance that covers mortgage lenders from the first loss for credit defaults on high loan-to-value conventional first-lien mortgages for the purchase or refinance of one- to four-family residences in the U.S. and internationally. The company was founded in 1967 and is based in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jon C. Ogg]

  American International Group (NYSE: AIG) reports on Thursday and estimates are $ EPS and $ billion in sales. While this is no longer a DJIA stock and while it is no longer beholden to the US government, AIG remains very systemically important. The insurance giant is expected to have earnings of $0.94 EPS versus $1.00 EPS a year ago. Revenue is expected to be down 1.4% to $8.63 billion. AIG’s share price of $51.85 is within $1.50 of a pre-meltdown high and the company’s market cap is $76.5 billion.

• [By Wallace Witkowski]

  Shares of American International Group Inc. (AIG) �declined 0.2% to $54.90 on moderate volume after an announcement Peter Hancock would replace Robert Benmosche as chief executive.

• [By Morgan Housel]

  This is true for companies, too. AIG (NYSE: AIG  ) blew up in 2008 after making suicidal derivative bets. Last month I asked Hank Greenberg, AIG's former chairman and CEO (who left three years before the blowup) whether an investor could have possibly known how much risk AIG was taking, even with hindsight. "No, I don't think so," he said. "I'm not sure the [annual reports] that they filed were complete ... I was a major shareholder of AIG, the largest individual shareholder. I lost about 90% of my net worth." Investors thought AIG was a good, old-fashioned insurer suitable to hold in a retirement account. And then they learned otherwise.

• [By Jessica Alling]

  American International Group (NYSE: AIG  ) has slowly been gaining steam among Wall Street analysts and hedge funds, but last week the stock jumped 5.85%. Since the company has yet to announce its first-quarter earnings, there is little that could propel the stock to such heights in a short span of time. The main culprit behind last week's gains? Dividend speculation.

Top 5 Cheapest Companies To Watch For 2014: Whitecap Resources Inc (SPGYF.PK)

Whitecap Resources Inc., formerly Spitfire Energy Ltd., is engaged in the exploration, development and production of crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids in Western Canada. The Company�� activities are concentrated primarily in Northwest Central Alberta and Southwest Saskatchewan. On July 1, 2010, the Company amalgamated with its wholly owned subsidiary Whitecap Resources Inc. During fiscal 2010, the Company produced an average of 355 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boed). On July 12, 2010, the Company entered into an agreement to acquire a private company. The primary assets to be acquired are located in the Pembina region of west central Alberta with production and reserves focused in the Cardium formation. In October 2013, the Company announced that it has completed the acquisition of a Cardium light oil property and a working interest consolidation of its Eagle Lake Viking unit. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Caiman Valores]

  The recent surge in oil prices has renewed investor interest in the small-cap oil and gas E&P sector. One company that stands out for all the right reasons is Canadian domiciled small-cap, Whitecap Resources (SPGYF.PK). Since 2009 the company has unlocked considerable value for investors through a range of acquisitions as well as development and exploration projects. This has seen its share price surge in value to be up by almost 53% over the last year alone. However, it is clear that the market has yet to fully recognize the true value of Whitecap and there is still considerable upside potential of over 30% for investors. This along with Whitecap's dividend growth strategy makes it a particularly appealing deep-value investment in the oil and gas E&P sector.

Top 5 Cheapest Companies To Watch For 2014: Eco-Tek Group Inc (ETEK)

Eco-Tek Group, Inc., incorporated on April 10, 2007, is engaged in manufacturing and marketing of green lubricants and specialized systems with an automotive sector but also applicable to a variety of industrial, farm and virtually all mechanical equipment. The Company�� products include Eco-Tek Super Lubricant, Eco-Tek 3000 Synthetic Motor Oil, Eco-Tek 4-in-1 Fuel Treatments, Eco-Tek HD Synthetic Oil Stabilizer, Eco-Tek Bypass Oil Cleaner, Eco-Tek Engine Flush, Eco-Tek Lube Centres, Eco-Tek Test-Results, Eco-Tek Our Inventor and Eco-Tek Limited Warranty.

The Company�� motor oil and lubricant is zinc free. Eco-Tek Engine Flush which cleans internal engine components extends engine life and restores lost performance due to sludge and buildup. Eco-Tek Premium Orange Hand Cleaner, which contains pumice to clean, aloe and lanolin to moisturize. Eco-Tek Non-Toxic Super Lubricant, reduces friction, fuel consumption, harmful contaminants in oil, reduces smoke, vibration and noise.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Peter Graham]

  Small cap green stocks Eco-Tek Group Inc (OTCMKTS: ETEK) and BluForest Inc (OTCMKTS: BLUF) have been getting some attention lately thanks to some green���as in paid for promotions. Of course, there is nothing wrong with properly disclosed promotions, but one of these stocks happens to be getting a considerable amount of attention as its been the subject of numerous transactions. With that in mind, will investors see some green with these green small cap stocks? Here is a quick reality check:�

Top 5 Cheapest Companies To Watch For 2014: British American Tobacco Industries p.l.c.(BTI)

British American Tobacco p.l.c., through its subsidiaries, engages in the manufacture, distribution, and sale of tobacco products. The company offers cigars, cigarettes, smokeless snus, roll-your-own, and pipe tobacco products under the Dunhill, Kent, Lucky Strike, Pall Mall, Vogue, Viceroy, Kool, Rothmans, Peter Stuyvesant, Benson & Hedges, and State Express 555 brand names. It has operations in the Asia-Pacific, the Americas, eastern and western Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. The company was founded in 1902 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom. British American Tobacco p.l.c. operates independently of Remgro Ltd. as of November 03, 2008.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Royston Wild]

  Today, I am looking at�British American Tobacco� (LSE: BATS  ) (NYSEMKT: BTI  ) to see how it measures up.

  What are�British American Tobacco's earnings expected to do?

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  How bad has performance of Phillip Morris been? Its shares have dropped 1.9% during the past 12 months, while American-focused Altria Group (MO) has gained 15%. British American Tobacco (BTI) has gained 3%, Reynolds American (RAI) has advanced 14%, and Lorillard (LO) has jumped 26%.

• [By Rupert Hargreaves]

  Today I'm looking at British American Tobacco (LSE: BATS  ) (NYSEMKT: BTI  ) to determine whether the shares are still safe to buy at 3,663 pence.

• [By Victor Selva]

  Investors can have another option of investing in the tobacco sector with British American Tobacco PLC (BTI). Also selling tobacco products in 180 countries, the company holds leadership positions in around 50 of them. Brands like Dunhill, Kent, Pall Mall and Lucky Strike are well known and have been gaining share over the past several years.