Hot Machinery Stocks To Watch For 2014

Wholesale trade began to turn itself around for April, according to a Commerce Department report (link opens a PDF) released today.

Wholesale sales headed up a seasonally adjusted 0.5% to $416.6 billion, a relief after March's unrevised 1.6% sales slump.

Durable goods sales increased 1.6% month-over-month, led by growth in home furnishings (+5.1%) and machinery, equipment, & supplies (+5%). Nondurable goods sales fell 0.5% due primarily to sharp drop-offs in apparel (-6%), petroleum (-2.7%), and alcohol (-1.5%).�

The wholesale trade report is closely watched for any inventories buildups, which could serve as one of the first major signs of a slowing economy. For April, overall inventories expanded 0.2%, matching analysts' expectations. Although automotive inventories increased 1.9%, the industry also experienced a 2.9% sales bump for the same period.

To understand the rate at which goods are being made and sold, economists compute an inventories/sales ratio. Since sales increases outstripped the rise in inventories from March to April, the inventories/sales ratio fell, from a recovery-high 1.22 to 1.21.

5 Best Performing Stocks To Own Right Now: Rexnord Corp (RXN)

Rexnord Corporation (Rexnord), incorporated on July 13, 2006, is a multi-platform industrial company. The Company comprises of two platforms, Process & Motion Control and Water Management. Rexnord�� Process & Motion Control product portfolio includes gears, couplings, industrial bearings, aerospace bearings and seals, FlatTop chain, engineered chain and conveying equipment, and are marketed and sold globally under brands, including Rexnord, Rex, Falk and Link-Belt. Its Water Management platform operates in the commercial construction market for water management products and the municipal water and wastewater treatment markets. Its Water Management product portfolio includes drainage products, flush valves and faucet products, backflow prevention pressure release valves, PEX piping and engineered valves and gates for the water and wastewater treatment markets. These products are marketed and sold through brand names, including Zurn, Wilkins, VAG, GA, Rodney-Hunt and Fontaine. In August 2013, Rexnord Corp announced that it has acquired the assets of Micro Precision Gear Technology Limited. In December 2013, Rexnord acquired Precision Gear Holdings, LLC (PGH). PGH has two operating subsidiaries, Merit Gear LLC and Precision Gear LLC.

Process & Motion Control

The Company�� Process & Motion Control platform designs, manufactures, markets and services mechanical components used within complex systems. The Company sells its Process & Motion Control products into a diverse group of end markets, including mining, general industrial applications, cement and aggregates, agriculture, forest and wood products, petrochemical, energy, food and beverage, aerospace and wind energy. The Company is a manufacturer of gear drives and gear sets for the heavy duty industrial market. Its gear drives, service and gear sets are used in a number of heavy duty industries. These primary industries include the natural resource extraction, steel, pulp and paper, chemical, forest and wood industries. ! Rexnord manufactures a range of heavy duty, medium and light duty gear drives used for bulk material handling, mixing, pumping and general gearing applications. It also operates a gear service and repair business through its Product Service group (Prager and Renew). Its Couplings are primarily used in high-speed, high-torque applications and are the interface between two shafts that permit power to be transmitted from one shaft to the other. Rexnord�� couplings are sold to a range of end markets, including the petrochemical and refining, wood processing, chemical, power generation and natural resources industries. Couplings comprise of the grid, flexible disc, elastomeric and gear product lines and are sold under the Steelflex, Thomas, Omega, Rex, Viva, Wrapflex, Lifelign, True Torque, Addax and Autogard brand names.

The Company primarily produces mounted bearings, which are offered in a range of specialized housings to suit specific industrial applications. Its FlatTop chain provides a continuous conveying surface that is critical to high-speed operations, such as those used to transport cans and bottles in beverage-filling operations, and is primarily sold to the food and beverage, consumer products, warehousing and distribution, and parts processing industries. The Company supplies its aerospace bearings and seals to the commercial aircraft, military aircraft and regional jet end markets for use in door systems, engine accessories, engine controls, engine mounts, flight control systems, gearboxes, landing gear and rotor pitch controls. Rexnord�� aerospace bearings and seals products consist of rolling element airframe bearings sold under the Shafer brand name, slotted-entry and split-ball sliding bearings sold under the PSI brand name and aerospace seals that are sold under the Cartriseal brand name, which are primarily sold for use in both aerospace and industrial applications.

The Company�� special components products consist of three primary product lines: electri! c motor b! rakes, miniature Process & Motion Control components and security devices for utility companies. These products are manufactured by its businesses, such as Stearns, W.M. Berg and Highfield. Stearns��products are used in a range of applications, including steel mills, oil field equipment, pulp processing equipment, large textile machines, rubber mills, metal forming machinery and dock and pier handling equipment. W.M. Berg sells its products to a range of markets, including aerospace, semiconductor, medical equipment, robotics, instrumentation, office equipment and satellite communications. Highfield�� products are sold to a range of markets, including electric, gas, water, telecommunications, utilities and plumbing and heating.

The Company�� conveying equipment and industrial chain products are used in various applications in a number of industries, including food and food processing, beverage and container, mining, construction and agricultural equipment, hydrocarbon processing and cement and aggregates processing. Its primary products include conveying equipment, engineered steel chain, and roller chain. Its conveying equipment product group provides design, assembly, installation and after-the-sale services primarily to the mining, cement and aggregates industries. Its products include engineered elevators, conveyors and components for medium to heavy duty material handling applications. The Company�� engineered steel chain products are sold under the Link-Belt and Rexnord brand names. These products are used in a number of applications, including cement elevators, construction and mining equipment and conveyors, and they are supplied to the cement and aggregates, energy, food and beverage, and forest and wood products industries.

Water Management

The Company�� Water Management platform designs, procures, manufactures and markets products that provide and enhance water quality, safety, flow control and conservation. The Water Management product port! folio inc! ludes professional grade specification drainage products, flush valves and faucet products, engineered valves and gates for the water and wastewater treatment market and PEX piping and are marketed and sold through brand names, including Zurn, Wilkins, VAG, GA, Rodney Hunt and Fontaine. Rexnord�� Water Management platform has a network of approximately 1,100 independent sales representatives across approximately 210 sales agencies in North America, who work with local engineers, contractors, builders and architects to specify its products for use in construction projects. Its water control and safety products are sold under the Wilkins brand name and encompass a variety of valves, including backflow preventers, fire system valves, pressure reducing valves and thermostatic mixing valves. These products are sold into the commercial and industrial construction applications, as well as the fire protection, waterworks and irrigation end markets.

Zurn�� commercial brass products include manual and sensor operated flush valves marketed under the Aquaflush, AquaSense, AquaVantage and HydroVantage brand names and heavy duty commercial faucets marketed under the AquaSpec brand name. Water conserving fixtures are marketed under the EcoVantage and Zurn One brand names. These products are used in office buildings, schools, hospitals, airports, sports facilities, convention centers, shopping malls, restaurants and industrial production buildings. The Zurn One Systems integrate commercial brass and fixtures into plumbing systems. PEX is its product line manufactured out of cross-linked polyethylene into tubing and is suited for high temperature and pressure fluid distribution piping. Its PEX products include lines of pipe, fittings, valves and installation tools for both potable water and radiant heating systems. Its water and wastewater products are sold under the VAG, GA, Rodney Hunt and Fontaine brand names and are used to control the flow of water and wastewater throughout the water cycle from ra! w water t! hrough collection, distribution and wastewater treatment. Products include automatic control valves, check valves, air valves, butterfly valves, water control gates, hydrants, actuation systems, and other specialized products for municipal, industrial, and hydropower applications. Its product lines are primarily sold into the water supply and treatment markets worldwide.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Eric Volkman]

  A sizable bloc of Rexnord (NYSE: RXN  ) will soon be in different hands if a secondary offering goes as planned. The company announced that "certain funds affiliated with" Apollo Global Management (NYSE: APO  ) are floating a 6.5 million-share stake in an underwritten public offering. The price is $16 per share. Additionally, the company's underwriters have been granted a purchase option for up to an additional 975,000 shares.

Hot Machinery Stocks To Watch For 2014: API Technologies Corp (ATNY)

API Technologies Corp. (API), incorporated on February 2, 1999, designs, develops and manufactures systems, subsystems, radio frequency (RF) and secure communications products, as well as provides electronics manufacturing and engineering services. Its product lines include engineered products (including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), aiming systems and synthesizers), secure communications products (including TEMPEST and emanation security, encryption and secure networking products), subsystems and components (including custom hybrids, terminals, transistors and magnetics), RF and microwave products (including custom filters, amplifiers, connectors and antennas), sensors, and power systems. It operates in two segments: Systems & Subsystems, and Secure Systems & Information Assurance. In June 2013, API sold its Data Bus product line to Data Device Corporation.

The Company offers engineering services (including engineering and design for payloads, ground control systems and commercial product design) and electronics manufacturing services (EMS), such as new product introductions (NPI) and prototypes, turnkey manufacturing and printed circuit board (PCB) assembly. It operates in North America, the United Kingdom, Mexico and China.

Systems & Subsystems

The Systems & Subsystems segment includes the products and services of its operating subsidiaries Spectrum, API Defense Inc., API Defense USA Inc., API Systems Inc., SenDEC, National Hybrid Group, API Electronics, Inc., TM Systems, Keytronics, Filtran Limited and Microwave Technology, Inc. (CMT). Its products and services include RF /microwave solutions, Engineered Systems and Products, Subsystems and Hybrids, Electronics Manufacturing Services, Power Solutions, Sensors and Measurement and Engineering Services. It specializes in the development of custom Integrated Microwave Assemblies (IMAs). It develops and markets engineered systems and products, used for force protection, communication, surveillance and reconnai! ssance. Featured solutions include Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and systems, Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) systems, aiming systems and synthesizers.

The Company�� Custom designed and off-the-shelf subsystems from API support mission critical applications, such as communication equipment, aircraft subsystems systems, computer peripherals, process control equipment, and instrumentation. Featured products include custom hybrids, terminals, transistors and magnetics solutions. It deliver Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS), including: New Product Introductions (NPI) and prototypes, turnkey manufacturing, Printed Circuit Board (PCB) assembly, electro-mechanical assembly, systems integration, test engineering, turnkey box build and supply chain services. Its power products offer commercial and defense customer�� superior power and energy efficiency. Products span power systems management, distribution, and panels, and custom-designed power supplies for defense and aerospace applications.

The Company offers a range of precision sensors and control products, including position sensing solutions for precision guided munitions, gyros, accelerometers, and inertial measurement sensors for defense and aerospace applications, and position and temperature sensors for industrial and commercial applications. It offers a range of design and engineering services for both defense and commercial customers. Featured areas of expertise include payloads, ground control systems, RF, microwave and millimeterwave.

Secure Systems & Information Assurance

The Secure Systems & Information Assurance segment includes the products and services of its subsidiaries Cryptek, Emcon Emanation Control Inc., Secure Systems and Technologies and the Ion Networks division. API offers customers various secure network and hardware solutions, including Emanation Security, Tempest and secures network access, ruggedized systems and secure networking products. Its products are marketed u! nder the ! Cryptek, ION, Emcon, SST and Netgard brand names. These product offerings are sold to governments and other international organizations that require the level of security in the areas of identity validation, network access management, TEMPEST network intrusion prevention, and secure and encrypted fax, computers and telephones.

The Company�� products and services include Emanation Security and TEMPEST Products, Secure Networking Products, Encryption and Professional Services. The Company�� emanation security products include computing systems, network and communications systems and office systems. Its security appliances and software intelligently enables secure information sharing and systems management across organizations and technologies. Service providers, IT and communications equipment manufacturers, enterprises and government agencies rely on its secure networking products for secure systems for remote management, database guards for secure information sharing and secure virtual enclaves.

The Company�� encryption products and services enable Federal, State and Local governments, Department of Defense agencies, the Department of Homeland Security and the Armed Services to interoperate securely across organizational boundaries and untrusted systems. Its professional services include information assurance and secure networking architecture and design solutions, emanation security testing and engineering and security certification and validation.

The Company competes with Aeroflex, Incorporated, Anaren Inc., Data Devices Inc., Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc., DRS.Finmeccanica, Ducommun Incorporated, Cobham plc, Comtech EF Data Corp. and M/A-COM Technology Solutions Inc.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Laura Brodbeck]

  Thursday

  Earnings Expected From: Lindsay Corporation (NYSE: LNN), Emmis Communications Corporation (NASDAQ: EMMS), API Technologies Corp. (NASDAQ: ATNY) Economic Releases Expected: Australian unemployment rate, Japanese consumer confidence, French industrial output, Italian industrial output, Bank of England interest rate decision, US initial and continuing jobless claims

  Friday

• [By Anna Prior]

  API Technologies Corp.(ATNY) said it has received a new order to supply high-power amplifier systems as part of a Defense Department maritime requirement. This initial order is part of a multimillion-dollar program with first production delivery set for May 2015, the company said. Shares jumped 6% to $2.81 premarket.

Hot Machinery Stocks To Watch For 2014: Wajax Corp (WJX)

Wajax Corporation (Wajax), is engaged in the sale and after-sales parts and service support of equipment, power systems and industrial components. Wajax�� three business divisions include equipment,power systems and industrial components. Its equipment division is engaged in the distribution, rental, modification and servicing of mobile equipment from manufacturers. It Power Systems is engaged in the distribution, rental and servicing of engines, transmissions and generators for on-highway, off-highway and electric power generation applications. Industrial components is engaged in the distribution, servicing, custom design and assembly of industrial components for in-plant customers and original equipment manufacturers. The Company�� products include excavators, lift trucks, mining trucks and shovels, forest harvesting equipment, utility equipment, loader backhoes, container handlers, cranes, diesel and natural gas engines, transmissions and power generators and bearings. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Heinzl]

  For example, BMO Nesbitt Burns analyst Bert Powell recently raised his price target on Wajax (WJX) to $41.50 from $35.50 because, as he explained in a note, he believes the company is poised for a recovery. The new target reflects his expectation that the stock will trade at 11 times his 2015 earnings per share estimate of $3.77��ts average P/E multiple historically.

Hot Machinery Stocks To Watch For 2014: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (HDD)

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG is a German producer of solutions for the print media industry. The Company divides its activities into the three business segments Heidelberg Equipment, Heidelberg Services as well as Heidelberg Financial Services. Its product portfolio includes the prepress area with the Suprasetter product family; the press area, which comprises Speedmaster product families, that are used for classical offset printing, as well as for special applications, such as ultraviolet (UV) printing; as well as the postpress area, that includes cutters, folders, saddle stitchers, adhesive binders, die-cutting products, folding carton gluing machines and label systems. The Company also offers a range of spare parts and used equipment, as well as training programs and its own printing process automation software, Prinect. As of December 31, 2011, the Company operated three domestic subsidiaries and a number of foreign subsidiaries in Europe, Africa, Asia and Brazil, among others. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Inyoung Hwang]

  Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (HDD) jumped 14 percent to 2.20 euros, its biggest gain since February 2009, as it announced a digital partnership with Fujifilm Corp. Under the terms of the agreement, Heidelberger Druck will gain access to Fujifilm�� inkjet technology and its partner will in return benefit from the German company�� engineering and manufacturing activities, Heidelberger Druck said.

• [By Patricio Kehoe]

  Seagate Technology (STX) has the ability to look for strategic acquisitions that easily synergize with the current operations. As a consequence, Seagate is going to acquire Xyratex, whose shares went up 27.3% on the announcement day and remain at that price level. The deal will help Seagate acquire testing equipment for its hard disk drives (HDD) along with storage systems to analyze and manage network data. It is expected that the deal will close in mid-2014, and add about $500 million or more in revenue in its fiscal year 2015.

Hot Machinery Stocks To Watch For 2014: Stanley Black & Decker Inc (SWJ)

Stanley Black & Decker Inc., June 4, 1901, is a diversified global provider of power and hand tools, mechanical access solutions (automatic doors, commercial and residential locking systems), electronic security and monitoring systems and products and services for various industrial applications. The Company�� operations are classified into three business segments: Construction & Do-It-Yourself (CDIY), Security, and Industrial. In September 2011, Stanley Black & Decker acquired Niscayah Group AB. In September 2011, the Company acquired Microtec Enterprises, Inc. In January 2011, the Company acquired InfoLogix, Inc. In December 2012, Spectrum Brands Holdings Inc acquired Hardware & Home Improvement Group (HHI) of the Company. In February 2013, the Company completed its acquisition of Infastech.

CDIY

The CDIY segment consists of the professional power tool and accessories business, the consumer power tool business, which includes outdoor products, plumbing (Pfister) and the hand tools, fasteners and storage business. The segment sells its products to professional end users, distributors and retail consumers. The majority of sales are distributed through retailers, including home centers, mass merchants, hardware stores, and retail lumber yards. During the year ended December 31, 2011, annual revenues in the CDIY segment represented 50% of the Company�� total revenues. The professional power tool and accessories business sells professional grade corded and cordless electric power tools and equipment, including drills, impact wrenches and drivers, grinders, saws, routers and sanders. The business also sells power tool accessories, which include drill bits, router bits, abrasives and saw blades.

The consumer power tool business sells corded and cordless power tools sold under the Black & Decker brand, lawn and garden products and home products. Lawn and garden products include hedge trimmers, string trimmers, lawn mowers, edgers and related accessories. Home pro! ducts include hand held vacuums, paint tools and cleaning appliances. The hand tools, fasteners and storage business sells measuring and leveling tools, planes, hammers, demolition tools, knives, saws and chisels. Fastening products include pneumatic tools and fasteners including nail guns, nails, staplers and staples. Storage products include tool boxes, sawhorses and storage units.

Security

The Security segment consists of the electronic security solutions and the mechanical access solutions businesses. Annual revenues in the Security segment represented 26% of the Company�� total revenues in 2011. The electronic security solutions business designs, supplies and installs electronic security systems and provides electronic security services, including alarm monitoring, video surveillance, fire alarm monitoring, systems integration and system maintenance. Purchasers of these systems typically contract for ongoing security systems monitoring and maintenance at the time of initial equipment installation. The electronic security business also sells healthcare solutions, which includes medical carts and cabinets, asset tracking solutions, infant protection, pediatric protection, patient protection, wander management, fall management, and emergency call products.

The electronic security solutions business sells to consumers, retailers, educational, financial and healthcare institutions, as well as commercial, governmental and industrial customers. Products are sold predominantly on a direct sales basis. The mechanical access solutions business sells and installs automatic doors, residential and commercial hardware, locking mechanisms, electronic keyless entry systems, keying systems, tubular and mortise door locksets. The mechanical access solutions business sells to both residential and commercial customers, with distribution through direct sales, through retailers (including home centers) and, through third party distributors.

Industrial

!

The In! dustrial segment consists of the industrial and automotive repair tools, engineered fastening and infrastructure businesses. Annual revenues in the Industrial segment represented 24% of the Company�� total revenues. The industrial and automotive repair business sells hand tools, power tools, and engineered storage solution products. The business sells to industrial customers in a variety of industries and geographies. The products are distributed through third party distributors, as well as a direct sales force. The engineered fastening business primarily sells engineered fasteners designed for specific applications. The product lines include stud welding systems, blind rivets and tools, blind inserts and tools, drawn arc weld studs, engineered plastic fasteners, self-piercing riveting systems and precision nut running systems.

The business sells to customers in the automotive, manufacturing, and aerospace industries, amongst others, and the Company's products are distributed through direct sales forces. The infrastructure business consists of the CRC-Evans business, and the Company�� hydraulics business. The business�� product lines include custom pipe handling machinery, joint welding and coating machinery, weld inspection services and hydraulic tools and accessories. The business sells to the oil and natural gas pipeline industry and other industrial customers. The products and services are primarily distributed through a direct sales force.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ben Rooney]

  Stanley Black & Decker (SWJ) tumbled roughly 10% after the power tools maker lowered its full-year earnings outlook. The company said it expected "uncertainty created by the U.S. government's sequestration and shutdown" to hurt business and consumer spending.

Hot Machinery Stocks To Watch For 2014: Mueller Water Products Inc (MWA)

Mueller Water Products, Inc., incorporated on September 22, 2005, is a manufacturer and marketer of products and services used in the transmission, distribution and measurement of water. The Company�� product portfolio includes engineered valves, fire hydrants, pipe fittings, water meters, leak detection and pipe condition assessment which are used by municipalities, as well as the residential and non-residential construction industries. The Company operates in two segments: Mueller Co. and Anvil. Mueller Co. The Company�� valve or fire hydrant products are specified for use in the 100 metropolitan areas in the United States.

Mueller Co.

Mueller Co. manufactures valves for water and gas systems, including iron gate, butterfly, tapping, check, plug and ball valves, as well as dry-barrel and wet-barrel fire hydrants and a of pipe repair products, such as clamps and couplings used to repair leaks. The Company offers residential and commercial metering products and systems and leak detection and pipe condition assessment products and services. Mueller Co. products are sold through waterworks distributors.

The Company�� fire hydrants consist of an upper barrel and nozzle section and a lower barrel and valve section that connects to a water main. In dry-barrel hydrants, the valve connecting the barrel of the hydrant to the water main is located below ground at or below the frost line, which keeps the hydrant upper barrel dry. It sells dry-barrel fire hydrants with the Mueller and U.S. Pipe Valve and Hydrant brand names in the United States and the Mueller and Canada Valve brand names in Canada. The Company also makes wet-barrel hydrants, where the valves are located in the hydrant nozzles and the barrel contains water at all times. It also makes wet-barrel hydrants, where the valves are located in the hydrant nozzles and the barrel contains water at all times.

Mueller Co. manufactures a variety of intelligent water technology products under the Mue! ller Systems and Hersey Meters brand names that are designed to help water providers accurately measure water usage. These products include water meters, advanced metering infrastructure systems and automated meter reading products, have the capability to measure water usage ranging from small residential flows to large commercial and industrial applications.

Mueller Co. offers leak detection and pipe condition assessment products and services under the Echologics brand name. Other products include pipe repair products, such as clamps and couplings used to repair leaks and municipal castings, such as manhole covers and street drain grates. It sells these products under the Mueller and Jones brand names.

The Company competes with McWane, Inc., American Cast Iron Pipe Company, The Ford Meter Box Company, Inc., A.Y. McDonald Mfg, Sensus, Neptune Technology Group, Inc., Badger Meter, Inc., Aclara LLC and Itron, Inc.

Anvil

Anvil manufactures and sources a range of products, includes fittings, couplings, hangers, valves and related products for use in many non-residential constructions for HVAC, fire protection, energy and oil and gas applications. Anvil's products are sold through distributors who then sell the products to a variety of end users. These distributors are serviced primarily through Anvil's distribution centers.

Fittings and Couplings manufactures threaded and grooved pipe fittings and couplings. Pipe fittings and couplings join two pieces of pipe together. The five categories of pipe fittings and couplings are cast iron fittings, malleable iron fittings and unions, grooved fittings, couplings and valves, threaded steel pipe coupling and nipples. Hangers, manufacture an array of pipe hangers and supports. Standard pipe hangers and supports are used in fire protection sprinkler systems and HVAC applications where the objective is to provide rigid support from the building structure.

The Company competes with Ward Man! ufacturin! g L.L.C., malleable iron fittings, Victaulic Company, Tyco International Ltd., ERICO International Corporation, Cooper Industries plc and Carpenter & Paterson, Inc.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Travis Hoium]

  What: Shares of Mueller Water Products (NYSE: MWA  ) jumped as much as 17% today after the company released earnings.

  So what: Fiscal-second-quarter revenue jumped 12.6% to $283.1 million and net income was $6.2 million, or $0.05 per share. Analysts only expected revenue to be $270.8 million and earnings of $0.02 per share so this was well ahead of estimates. �