Best Managed Healthcare Companies To Buy For 2014

With shares of McDonald�� (NYSE:MCD) trading around $94, is MCD an OUTPERFORM, WAIT AND SEE, or STAY AWAY? Let�� analyze the stock with the relevant sections of our CHEAT SHEET investing framework.

T = Trends for a Stock’s Movement

McDonald��� franchises and operates McDonald�� restaurants in the United States, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Africa, Canada, and Latin America — so just about every part of the world. Its restaurants offer various food items, soft drinks, coffee, and other beverages as well as breakfast menus. The products provided by McDonald�� fulfill cravings at competitive prices in convenient locations worldwide. The McDonald�� craze shows no signs of slowing, so the company has continued its expansion to just about every nation on the globe. As consumers continue to enjoy McDonald�� products, look for it to see rising profits.

McDonald�� reported earnings on Monday morning that showed the fast food chain has performed better this quarter than many of its peers, according to Reuters. McDonald�� reported a 4 percent rise in profit for the quarter with a net income of $1.52 billion, or $1.52 per share. In the third quarter of last year, McDonald�� posted $1.46 billion, or $1.43 per share. Analysts from Consensus Metrix only expected an increase of 1 percent.

Top 5 Industrial Conglomerate Companies To Own In Right Now: Baxter International Inc. (BAX)

Baxter International Inc., through its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures, and markets products for people with hemophilia, immune disorders, infectious diseases, kidney disease, trauma, and other chronic and acute medical conditions. It operates in three segments: BioScience, Medication Delivery, and Renal. The BioScience segment processes recombinant and plasma-based proteins to treat hemophilia and other bleeding disorders; plasma-based therapies to treat immune deficiencies, alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency, burns and shock, and other chronic and acute blood-related conditions; products for regenerative medicine, such as biosurgery products; and vaccines. The Medication Delivery segment manufactures intravenous solutions and administration sets; premixed drugs and drug-reconstitution systems; pre-filled vials and syringes for injectable drugs; intravenous nutrition products; infusion pumps; and inhalation anesthetics. It also offers products and services related to pha rmacy compounding, drug formulation, and packaging technologies. The Renal segment provides products to treat end-stage renal disease or irreversible kidney failure. It manufactures solutions and other products for peritoneal dialysis, a home-based therapy; and distributes product for hemodialysis, which is conducted in a hospital or clinic. It markets its products to hospitals, kidney dialysis centers, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, doctors? offices, clinical and medical research laboratories, and patients at home under physician supervision. The company was founded in 1931 and is based in Deerfield, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jon C. Ogg]

  Baxter International Inc. (NYSE: BAX) was added to the Conviction Buy list with an $86 price target at Goldman Sachs.

  Finisar Corp. (NASDAQ: FNSR) was raised to Outperform from Market Perform�by Raymond James after raising guidance.

Best Managed Healthcare Companies To Buy For 2014: Lagardere SCA (MMB)

Lagardere SCA is a France-based media group principally engaged in the publishing sector. The Company operates through four business segments. Lagardere Publishing, the Company's book publishing and e-publishing business carried out under the name of Hachette Livre, publishes educational works, general literature, illustrated books, practical guides and works for the youth market. Lagardere Active encompasses the Company's publishing, audiovisual (radio, television, audiovisual production), digital media and advertising sales brokerage businesses. Lagardere Services takes care of the distribution of the newspaper, communication and leisure. Lagardere Unlimited is the division specialized in the sport industry and entertainment businesses and is active via six subsidiaries: Sportfive, IEC in Sports, Upsolut, Prevent, among others. In April 9, 2013, it sold all of its 7.4% stake in EADS. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Namitha Jagadeesh]

  BHP Billiton Ltd. (BHP) and Rio Tinto Group, the world�� largest mining companies, advanced at least 3.5 percent. Repsol SA increased the most in a month after saying it discovered natural gas in Algeria. Lagardere SCA (MMB) lost the most in four months after selling its stake in European, Aeronautic, Defence & Space Co.

Best Managed Healthcare Companies To Buy For 2014: Material Sciences Corporation(MASC)

Material Sciences Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the design, manufacture, and marketing of material-based solutions for acoustical and coated applications in the United States and internationally. It offers acoustical material-based solutions, which include multilayer composites consisting of metals, polymers, and other coated materials used to manage noise and vibration in automotive body panel parts, brake dampers, engine parts, appliances, and computer disk drives, as well as heating, ventilating, and air conditioning products. The company also provides coated material-based solutions that comprise painted, electrogalvanized protective, decorative, and functional coatings applied to coils of metals for automotive fuel tanks, building products, gaskets, appliances, and lighting fixtures. Material Sciences Corporation primarily serves customers in the automotive, appliance, building and construction, lighting, and electronic markets. The company m arkets its products, services, and technologies through sales and marketing organization, as well as through agents and licensees. Material Sciences Corporation was founded in 1971 and is headquartered in Elk Grove Village, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Monica Gerson]

  Material Sciences (NASDAQ: MASC) is projected to report its Q2 earnings at $0.16 per share.

  Blackhawk Network Holdings (NASDAQ: HAWK) is estimated to report its Q3 earnings at $0.05 per share on revenue of $210.94 million.

Best Managed Healthcare Companies To Buy For 2014: OceanFirst Financial Corp.(OCFC)

OceanFirst Financial Corp. operates as the holding company for OceanFirst Bank that provides community banking services to retail, government, and business customers primarily in Ocean, Monmouth, and Middlesex counties in New Jersey. Its deposit products include money market accounts, savings accounts, interest-bearing checking accounts, non-interest bearing accounts, and time deposits. The company?s loan portfolio comprises conventional first mortgage loans secured by one-to-four family residences, residential mortgage loans, commercial real estate loans, multi-family and land loans, and real estate construction loans; consumer loans, such as home equity loans and lines of credit; and commercial loans. In addition, it offers trust and asset management, and merchant check card services; and sells alternative investment products, including mutual funds, annuities, and life insurance. The company operates 22 branches, as well as a loan production office and a trust and weal th management office. OceanFirst Financial Corp. was founded in 1902 and is based in Toms River, New Jersey.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Garrett Cook]

  In trading on Wednesday, financial shares were relative laggards, down on the day by about 0.24 percent. Top losers in the sector included IRSA Investments and Representations (NYSE: IRS), down 3.2 percent, and OceanFirst Financial (NASDAQ: OCFC), off 2.5 percent.