Top 5 Regional Bank Companies To Invest In 2014

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) has removed one of the key overhangs ahead of its quarterly earnings by settling its alleged business dealings with Bernard Madoff for $1.7 billion.

JPMorgan, the biggest bank in the U.S. by assets, settled for claims that it facilitated Madoff's Ponzi scheme, the largest in U.S. history, thereby resolving another legal hiccup facing the embattled bank.

As part of the deal, JPMorgan has agreed to a deferred-prosecution agreement, by which the bank can avoid criminal charges as long as it adheres to specific legal requirements for two years. The deal requires the bank to acknowledge failures in its protections against money laundering. However, none of the bank employees were accused of wrongdoing in the deal.

[Related -Banks Outperform The Market, With Regional Banks Pulling Ahead]

Top Defensive Stocks To Watch Right Now: Arc Wireless Solutions Inc.(ARCW)

ARC Wireless Solutions, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides wireless network components and solutions in the United States. It is involved in the design, development, manufacture, marketing, and sale of antennas and related wireless communication systems, including cellular base stations, mobiles, cellulars, and flat panel antennas. The company?s products also include global positioning systems; and conformal, portable, and other antennas, as well as antenna accessories. ARC Wireless Solutions, Inc. markets its commercial line of antennas directly to distributors, installers, and retailers of antenna accessories, as well as to commercial, government, and retail markets. It offers its products under the Freedom Antenna Exsite, Omnibase, Parity, Arc Vlpa, Airbase, and And Freedom Blade brand names. The company was formerly known as Antennas America, Inc. and changed its name to ARC Wireless Solutions, Inc. in October 2000. ARC Wireless Solutions, Inc. was founded in 1987 and is based in Denver, Colorado.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Meanwhile, top decliners in the sector included ARC Group Worldwide (NASDAQ: ARCW), down 6.8 percent, and 8x8 (NASDAQ: EGHT), off 5.7 percent.

  Top Headline
  Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) is in talks to acquire headphone maker Beats Electronics, according to a Financial Times report from Thursday afternoon. The deal is rumored to be around $3.2 billion, which would make it Apple's largest acquisition to date.

Top 5 Regional Bank Companies To Invest In 2014: Network Engines Inc(NEI)

Network Engines, Inc. designs and manufactures application platforms and appliance solutions on which software applications are applied for enterprise and telephony information technology networks. The company?s application platforms are pre-configured server-based network infrastructure devices designed to deliver specific software application functionality, and enhance the integration, manageability, and security of that software application in an end user?s network. It also offers platform management software tools and support services related to solution design, systems integration, application management, global logistics, and support and maintenance programs. The company markets its application platform solutions and services to original equipment manufacturers and independent software vendors in the United States and internationally. Network Engines, Inc. was founded in 1989 and is headquartered in Canton, Massachusetts.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By CRWE]

  NEI (Nasdaq:NEI), a leading provider of server-based application platforms, deployment solutions and lifecycle support services for software technology developers and OEMs worldwide, announced today that it has signed a definitive merger agreement with UNICOM Systems, Inc. (“UNICOM”) and a new UNICOM subsidiary under which UNICOM, a global information technology company and part of the UNICOM group of companies, will acquire NEI for $1.45 per common share in cash.

Top 5 Regional Bank Companies To Invest In 2014: Pegasystems Inc.(PEGA)

Pegasystems Inc. develops, markets, licenses, and supports software to automate business processes primarily in the United States, the United Kingdom, and rest of Europe. The company offers PegaRULES Process Commander, which provides a platform to build, deploy, and change enterprise applications; purpose or industry-specific solution frameworks that enable organizations to implement new customer-facing practices and processes, and provide customized or specialized processing to meet the needs of different customers, departments, geographies, or regulatory requirements; and Pega customer relationship management software to automate customer service inquiries and marketing, and apply analytics to predict and adapt customer service processes. It also offers Pega decision management products, which include Pega Decision Strategy Manager and Next-Best-Action Advisor that support decision-making for offer management, risk, and other marketing and customer management solutions; and Pega Cloud, which enables customers to create and/or run Pega applications using an Internet-based infrastructure. In addition, the company provides implementation, consulting, training, and technical support services to its customers. The company markets its software and services primarily through its direct sales force to financial services organizations, healthcare organizations, insurance companies, communications and media organizations, and government agencies. Pegasystems Inc. was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Patricio Kehoe]

  The firm is currently Zacks Rank # 3 - Hold, and it also has a longer-term recommendation of ��utperfom�� For investors looking for a Zacks Rank # 1 ��Strong Buy, Dealertrack Technologies Inc (TRAK), Open Text Corporation (OTEX), Pegasystems Inc. (PEGA) Solera Holdings (SLH) or Ultimate Software Group Inc. (ULTI) could be the options.

Top 5 Regional Bank Companies To Invest In 2014: VisionChina Media Inc.(VISN)

VisionChina Media Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides advertising services in the People?s Republic of China. The company operates out-of-home advertising network using real-time mobile digital television broadcasts to deliver content and advertising on mass transportation systems. Its mobile digital television advertising network delivers real-time content provided by the local television stations. The company?s network also displays real-time news and stock quotes, weather and traffic updates, sports highlights, and other programs, as well as disseminates public-interest messages and programs that promote the general welfare of society and other urgent messages during emergency situations, such as typhoons, earthquakes, and other events that concern public safety. Its advertising network consists of digital television displays primarily located on buses, and in subway trains and subway platforms that receive mobile digital television broadcasts of real-time conten t and advertising. The company also operates various closed-circuit advertising digital displays in subway platforms and subway trains in Beijing, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Nanjing, Shenzhen, and Tianjin, as well as in subway trains in Hong Kong. As of December 31, 2010, its network and supplemental subway advertising platform covered 23 cities in China and consisted of approximately 137,395 digital displays. The company sells its advertising time through direct sales force and third party advertising agencies. VisionChina Media Inc. was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in Shenzhen, the People?s Republic of China.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Leading and Lagging Sectors
  In trading on Wednesday, cyclical consumer goods & services shares were relative leaders, up on the day by about 0.41 percent. Meanwhile, top gainers in energy sector included Autobytel (NASDAQ: ABTL), with shares up 20.6 percent, and VisionChina Media (NASDAQ: VISN), with shares up 15.5 percent.

• [By Monica Gerson]

  VisionChina Media (NASDAQ: VISN) soared 5.13% to $32.80 in the pre-market trading. VisionChina's trailing-twelve-month revenue is $98.39 million.

  The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW) surged 0.90% to $45.00 in the pre-market session. Dow Chemical's trailing-twelve-month revenue is $56.61 billion.