5 Best Up And Coming Stocks To Watch For 2014

The world's oldest annual marathon gets under way this weekend. It's a big event for the runners, but it's also a huge one for the city of Boston and numerous companies. How much does the marathon really cost and, more important, how can investors get a piece of the action?

Physically (and fiscally) fit
A half-million spectators will witness more than 20,000 Boston Marathon runners strut their stuff on the famed course through Beantown on Monday.

Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Most Boston Marathoners gain eligibility to run the race by having completed a qualifying marathon in a certain amount of time. For example, a female runner between the ages of 45 and 49 would need a sub-four-hour qualifying time to run at Boston. But runners who don't qualify under the time limit can still participate through a charity, by raising about $3,000 for their cause. That just gets your tired feet in the door.

5 Best Up And Coming Stocks To Watch For 2014: Shutterfly Inc.(SFLY)

Shutterfly, Inc. provides an Internet-based social expression and personal publishing service that enables consumers to share, print, and preserve their digital photos through the medium of photography in the United States. It offers a range of personalized photo-based products and services for consumers to upload, edit, enhance, organize, find, share, create, print, and preserve their memories. The company produces and sells photo books, greeting and stationery cards, personalized calendars, and other photo-based merchandise, including calendars, mugs, canvas prints, mouse pads, magnets, and puzzles. It also offers photo prints consist of wallet and photocards. In addition, the company provides commercial print services. Shutterfly, Inc. was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in Redwood City, California.

5 Best Up And Coming Stocks To Watch For 2014: Witwatersrand Consol Gold (WGR.TO)

Witwatersrand Consolidated Gold Resources Limited engages in the exploration of gold and uranium properties in South Africa. It is involved in acquiring, preserving, evaluating, developing, and trading prospecting rights for exploration and investment purposes. The company holds 14 prospecting rights covering an area of approximately 1,195 square kilometers in the southern Free State, Potchefstroom, and Klerksdorp goldfields of the Witwatersrand basin, South Africa. The company was incorporated in 2002 and is headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Hot Long Term Stocks To Buy For 2014: Tsakos Energy Navigation Ltd(TNP)

Tsakos Energy Navigation Limited, together with its subsidiaries, provides seaborne crude oil and petroleum product transportation services worldwide. The company offers marine transportation services for national and independent oil companies and refiners under long, medium, and short-term charters. As of August 16, 2011, its fleet consisted of 50 vessels comprising 59 tankers, including 2 dynamic positioning 2 (DP2) shuttle tankers under construction, and 1 liquefied natural gas carrier. The company was formerly known as MIF Limited and changed its name to Tsakos Energy Navigation Limited in July 2001. Tsakos Energy Navigation Limited was founded in 1993 and is based in Athens, Greece.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lowell]

  Tsakos Energy Navigation Limited is a provider of international seaborne crude oil and petroleum product transportation services. Its EPS forecast for the current year is 0.54 and next year is 0.99. According to consensus estimates, its topline is expected to grow 4.48% current year and 12.48% next year. It is trading at a forward P/E of 10.95. Out of eight analysts covering the company, two are positive and have buy recommendations, one has a sell recommendation and five have hold ratings.

5 Best Up And Coming Stocks To Watch For 2014: Saratoga Investment Corp(SAR)

Saratoga Investment Corp. is a business development company specializing in buyout, acquisition, growth, recapitalization, and note financing transactions of private middle market companies. It structures its investments as debt and equity by investing through first and second lien loans, mezzanine debt, select high yield bonds, senior secured bonds, unsecured bonds, and preferred and common equity. It seeks to invest in the United States. The firm primarily invests in companies having EBITDA between $5 million and $50 million. It invests through direct lending as well as participation in loan syndicates. The firm was formerly known as GSC Investment Corp. Saratoga Investment Corp. is based in New York, New York with an additional office in Florham Park, New Jersey.

5 Best Up And Coming Stocks To Watch For 2014: Solar Capital Ltd.(SLRC)

Solar Capital Ltd. is a business development company specializing in investments in leveraged companies, including middle market companies. The firm invests in aerospace and defense; automotive; beverage, food and tobacco; broadcasting and entertainment; business services; cable television; cargo transport; chemicals, plastics and rubber; consumer finance; consumer services; containers, packaging and glass; direct marketing; distribution; diversified/conglomerate manufacturing; diversified/conglomerate services; education; electronics; energy, utilities; equipment rental; farming and agriculture; finance; healthcare, education and childcare; home and office furnishing, consumer products; hotels, motels, inns and gaming; industrial; infrastructure; insurance; leisure, motion pictures and entertainment; logistics; machinery; media; mining, steel and non precious metals; oil and gas; personal, food and miscellaneous services; printing, publishing and broadcasting; real estate ; retail stores; specialty finance; technology; telecommunications; and utilities. It invests in the form of senior secured loans, mezzanine loans, and equity securities. It also invests in equity securities, such as preferred stock, common stock, warrants and other equity interests received in connection with its debt investments or through direct investments. The firm also invests in United States government securities, high-quality debt investments that mature in one year or less, high-yield bonds, distressed debt, non-United States investments, or securities of public companies that are not thinly traded. Solar Capital Ltd. was founded in November 2007 and is based in New York, New York.