5 Best Financial Stocks To Buy For 2014

QUALCOMM Incorporated (QCOM) is on the go this humpday thanks in large part to an upgrade from Goldman Sachs. The masters of the financial universe added the communication equipment maker to their Conviction Buy List, but left the price target unchanged at $80.

More conviction, but same target price��things that make you go hmmm?

Analyst Simona Jankowski thinks QCOM's price performance could play catch up with the likes of Cisco Systems (CSCO), Motorola Solutions (MSI), and Texas Instruments (TXN).

Jankowski notes the underperformance of QCOM as a reason for her change of heart. She says, "QCOM has lagged the market, +11% ytd vs. the S&P +24%, as upward estimate revisions have been offset by multiple compression. QCOM's NTM P/E multiple has compressed from 14.2X to 13.2X over the last 12 months as sales growth is expected to decelerate with smartphone penetration leveling off (CY10-13E sales CAGR of 30% vs. our CY13E-CY16E sales CAGR of 9%). We believe the multiple compression is largely behind us, as more aggressive capital allocation and expanding chipset margins should drive accelerating earnings growth from here."

5 Best Financial Stocks To Buy For 2014: Plumas Bancorp(PLBC)

Plumas Bancorp operates as the holding company for Plumas Bank that provides retail and commercial banking services primarily in California. It offers various deposit products, including checking, interest-bearing checking, business sweep, public funds sweep, savings, time deposits, and retirement accounts. The company?s loan portfolio comprises consumer and home equity loans; commercial loans, such as term real estate, land development, and construction loans; and commercial and industrial term, government guaranteed, and agricultural loans, as well as credit lines. It also provides cashier?s checks, traveler?s checks, bank-by-mail, ATMs, night depository, safe deposit boxes, direct deposit, electronic funds transfers, on-line banking, remote deposit, telephone and mobile banking, and other customary banking services. The company has a strategic alliance with Financial Network Investment Corporation to provide non-deposit investment options. The company, through its 11 branches, provides services in Plumas, Nevada, Sierra, Placer, Lassen, Modoc, and Shasta counties. The company was founded in 1980 and is headquartered in Quincy, California.

5 Best Financial Stocks To Buy For 2014: Och-Ziff Capital Management Group LLC(OZM)

Och-Ziff Capital Management Group LLC is a publicly owned investment manager. The firm provides investment advisory services for its clients. It invests in equity markets across the world. The firm makes its investments in alternative markets across the world. It employs quantitative and qualitative analysis to make its investments. The firm also manages a buyout fund, Och-Ziff Energy Fund. Och-Ziff Capital Management Group LLC was founded in 1994 and is based New York, New York with additional offices in London, United Kingdom; Hong Kong; Tokyo, Japan; Bangalore, India; and Beijing, China.

Top 10 Value Stocks For 2014: Nuveen Tax-Advantaged Total Return Strategy Fund (JTA)

Nuveen Tax-Advantaged Total Return Strategy Fund operates as a diversified and closed-end management investment company. The fund primarily invests in dividend-paying common stocks. It also invests in senior loans, U.S corporate bonds, notes and debentures, convertible debt securities, as well as high yield debt securities. Its portfolio primarily includes investments in oil and gas, diversified telecommunication, services, diversified financial services, tobacco, insurance, aerospace and defense, metals and mining, commercial banks, electric utilities, thrifts and mortagage finance, and paper and forest product sectors. Nuveen Tax-Advantaged Total Return Strategy Fund was organized in 2003 and is based in Chicago, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dividends4Life]

  According to a Gabelli Funds report, managed distribution policies offer several advantages, including:1. Lower difference between the fund�� market price and its NAV per share.2. Provides support during periods when the stock market is in a decline.3. Provides a measurable performance target for the investment adviser.Below are several high-yield funds from CEFA that have a managed distribution policy (yields as of December 16):Aberdeen Australia Eqty (IAF)- Distribution Yield: 10.4%- Income Yield: 3.46%Bexil Advisers LLC� (DNI)- Distribution Yield: 11.1%- Income Yield: 3.56%BlackRock En Capital&Inc (CII)- Distribution Yield: 8.78%- Income Yield: 2.34%Cornerstone Strat Value (CLM)- Distribution Yield: 18.77%- Income Yield: 1.83%Cornerstone Total Return (CRF)- Distribution Yield: 19.10%- Income Yield: 0.85%Delaware Inv Div & Inc (DDF)- Distribution Yield: 6.70%- Income Yield: 5.26%Gabelli Equity Trust (GAB)- Distribution Yield: 7.58%- Income Yield: 1.54%Gabelli Utility Trust (GUT)- Distribution Yield: 9.45%- Income Yield: 2.84%MFS Special Value Trust (MFV)- Distribution Yield: 9.60%- Income Yield: 5.73%Nuveen Tx-Adv TR Strat (JTA)- Distribution Yield: 6.70%- Income Yield: 3.12%TCW Strategic Income (TSI)- Distribution Yield: 10.54%- Income Yield: 7.88%Zweig Total Return (ZTR)- Distribution Yield: 7.27%- Income Yield: 1.95%As noted in the Gabelli report, a managed distribution policy may create confusion regarding the true current yield since the reported yield includes the return of capital portion. You can see the disparity above between the income yield and the distribution (reported) yield.If you are looking for a sustainable and growing dividend, you may want to consider some blue-chip dividend stocks such as these with a Free Cash Flow Payout less than 50%, 50+ years of consecutive dividend increases and a 2%+ yield:3M Co. (MMM) is a diversified global company provides enhanced product functionality in electronics, health care, industrial, consumer

5 Best Financial Stocks To Buy For 2014: OneBeacon Insurance Group Ltd.(OB)

OneBeacon Insurance Group, Ltd., through its subsidiaries, operates as a specialty property and casualty insurance company in the United States. Its businesses include International Marine Underwriters, which offers ocean marine insurance products; OneBeacon Technology Insurance that provides professional and products liability, data privacy, property, and business income policies for the technology sector; Specialty Accident and Health, which offers accident and health insurance products; OneBeacon Government Risks that provides property, casualty, and professional liability products for municipalities and counties, and special districts; and OneBeacon Energy Group, which offers property, inland marine, and casualty products for the energy industry. The company?s businesses also comprise OneBeacon Professional Insurance that provides professional, employment practices, and management liability policies, as well as healthcare provider excess insurance and HMO reinsurance; OneBeacon Property and Inland Marine, which offers monoline property and inland marine products; OneBeacon Specialty Property that provides excess property and inland marine coverage; and OneBeacon Excess and Surplus, which offers insurance products in the excess and surplus market. In addition, its businesses include Collector Cars and Boats that provide insurance for collectible vehicles and wooden boats, automotive museums, and restoration shops; A.W.G. Dewar, which offers tuition reimbursement insurance; OneBeacon Entertainment that provides commercial insurance for entertainment, sports, and leisure industries; and AutoOne, which offers automobile insurance products in the assigned risk market. It markets its products through independent agencies, regional and national brokers, wholesalers, and managing general agencies. The company was founded in 1831 and is headquartered in Minnetonka, Minnesota. OneBeacon Insurance Group, Ltd. is a subsidiary of White Mountains Insu rance Group, Ltd.

5 Best Financial Stocks To Buy For 2014: ARMOUR Residential REIT Inc (ARR)

ARMOUR Residential REIT, Inc.( ARMOUR), incorporated on February 5, 2008, is an externally-managed Maryland corporation managed by ARMOUR Residential REIT, Inc. The Company invests primarily in hybrid adjustable rate, adjustable rate and fixed rate residential mortgage backed securities (RMBS). These securities are issued or guaranteed by a United States Government-sponsored entity (GSE), such as the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) or the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac), or are guaranteed by the Government National Mortgage Administration (Ginnie Mae) collectively, Agency Securities. From time to time, a portion of its portfolio may be invested in unsecured notes and bonds issued by United States Government-chartered entities, collectively, Agency Debt. As of December 31, 2012, Agency Securities account for 100% of its portfolio.

The Company seeks long-term investment returns by investing its equity capital and borrowed funds in its targeted asset class of Agency Securities. The Company�� assets have been invested in Agency Securities or money market instruments, primarily deposits at federally chartered banks. The Company borrows against its Agency Securities using repurchase agreements. Its borrowings generally have maturities that may range from one month or less, up to one year, although occasionally it may enter into longer dated borrowing agreements to more closely match the rate adjustment period of its Agency Securities.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Amanda Alix]

  A great year for mortgage REITs
  American Capital Agency went public in 2008, a year that saw other mREITs such as Hatteras Financial� (NYSE: HTS  ) , and Armour Residential� (NYSE: ARR  ) enter the territory as well. Groundbreaker Annaly had shown that the carry trade could be lucrative, and the ultra-low short-term interest rate environment created a perfect climate for new companies to enter the playing field.

• [By Amanda Alix]

  It was just about one year ago that QE3 made its debut, and mortgage REITs, particularly agency-only players like Annaly Capital (NYSE: NLY  ) , Armour Residential (NYSE: ARR  ) , and American Capital Agency (NASDAQ: AGNC  ) began moaning about the increased competition for mortgage-backed securities guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

• [By David Hanson and Matt Koppenheffer]

  One of the biggest movers today is Armour Residential REIT (NYSE: ARR  ) , falling over 6% at one point. Two mREITs run by Gary Kain, American Capital Agency (NASDAQ: AGNC  ) and American Capital Mortgage (NASDAQ: MTGE  ) , were also trading lower.

• [By Amanda Alix]

  After getting beaten to a pulp again last Friday, mortgage REITs ticked upward on Monday, even as a mass downgrading of the sector�took place by Wunderlich Securities. Though agency players Annaly Capital (NYSE: NLY  ) and American Capital Agency (NASDAQ: AGNC  ) were able to gain back only a portion of their Friday stock price losses -- as was particularly hard-hit Armour Residential (NYSE: ARR  ) �-- the upswing was a welcome, though surprising, outcome.