Hot Tech Stocks To Invest In 2014

Banks and credit unions are increasingly adopting cloud technology and IT outsourcing in order to remain competitive, according to a new survey.

Many financial institutions are using IT outsourcing as a strategy to prioritize and execute technology projects, the survey found.

Others consider outsourcing the only viable solution for obtaining expertise needed to maintain their technical environments.

Computer Services Inc. and Cbanc Network surveyed 161 financial institutions across the U.S. to identify trends in cloud technology and IT outsourcing and identify areas in which they need more education and support.

The survey found that 23% of respondents planned to outsource more of their IT services in the coming year, compared with 14% in 2012. Ninety-four percent of institutions planned to outsource at the same level or more than they currently do.

Half of respondents reported that some percentage of their IT assets was already being delivered in the cloud, up from 38% in 2012. Those reporting no IT assets in the cloud dropped to 39% from 51% last year.

Hot European Stocks To Watch For 2015: In-Touch Survey Systems Ltd (INX)

In-Touch Survey Systems Ltd. is engaged in designing, developing and implementing of data capture technologies and services for business to consumer (B2C) companies. The Company does business as Service Intelligence, In-Touch Insight Systems and IMS division. In-Touch Insight Systems (EDC) develops managed mobile software technology and services for business to consumer (B2C), business to business (B2B), governments and regulators. In-Touch has developed a software platform, In- Touch Apps that provides for the development of data collection programs, mobile forms creations and real-time online reporting for its customers. Service Intelligence (MDC) provides onsite audit and Mystery Shopping services to B2C companies in Canada and the United States. The IMS division, which provides enterprise software engineering services to the Canadian Federal Government. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Henry Lee]

  After hitting a fresh high of nearly 1900 on April 4, the S&P 500 (INX) closed last Friday at 1816 ��a 4.3% drop in just one week. We��e seen a bit of a rebound, but the worst week in two years rattled investors. Nasdaq (IXIC) got close to a 10% drop from its March high, which would make it an official ��orrection����a nice word that masks the pain many investors are feeling.

Hot Tech Stocks To Invest In 2014: Unwired Planet Inc (UPIP)

Unwired Planet, Inc. (Unwired Planet), formerly Openwave Systems Inc., incorporated on December 16, 1994, is an intellectual property and technology licensing company. As of June 30, 2012, the Company had patent portfolio of approximately 200 issued United States and foreign patents and approximately 75 pending applications, many of which is considered foundational to mobile communications. In May 2012, the Company officially changed name to Unwired Planet, Inc.

On February 1, 2012, the Company sold its location business to Persistent Telecom Solutions Inc. On April 30, 2012, the Company completed the sale of its mediation and messaging product businesses to Openwave Mobility, Inc. The Company generates revenue by licensing its patented innovations and technologies to companies that develop mobile communications software infrastructure or hardware and/or develop mobile communications products.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Wallace Witkowski]

  Shares of Unwired Planet Inc. (UPIP) �jumped 75% to $2.27 on heavy volume after Lenovo Group (HK:0992) �said it would buy about 21 patent families from Unwired for $100 million.

Hot Tech Stocks To Invest In 2014: LRAD Corporation(LRAD)

LRAD Corporation engages in the design, development, and commercialization of directed sound technologies and products in North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. The company develops and delivers directed acoustic products that beam, focus, and control sound over short and long distances. It offers Long Range Acoustic Device, which creates directed acoustic beam to communicate at operational ranges in high ambient noise environments, primarily for military applications. The company also provides SoundSaber thin film magnetic speaker technology that provides high clarity throughout the audio range for emergency and mass notification, public address, and other sound applications. Its SoundSaber hardened panels are used in acoustic environments, such as hangar bays, industrial buildings, airports, and other facilities. LRAD Corporation sells its products directly to government, military, large end-users, and defense-related companies. The company was formerly known as American Technology Corporation and changed its name to LRAD Corporation in March 2010. LRAD Corporation was founded in 1980 and is based in San Diego, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By gurujx]

  LRAD (LRAD): CFO/Secretary Katherine McDermott Sold 38,204 Shares

  CFO/Secretary Katherine McDermott sold 38,204 shares of LRAD stock on Aug. 28 at the average price of $1.57. Katherine H McDermott owns at least 17,800 shares after this. The price of the stock has decreased by 10.19% since.

Hot Tech Stocks To Invest In 2014: Nuance Communications Inc.(NUAN)

Nuance Communications, Inc. provides voice and language solutions for businesses and consumers worldwide. It offers dictation and transcription solutions and services, which automate the input and management of medical information; and speech recognition solutions for radiology, cardiology, pathology, and related specialties that help healthcare providers dictate, edit, and sign reports without manual transcription. The company also offers mobile and consumer solutions and services comprising an integrated suite of voice control and text-to-speech solutions, desktop and portable computer dictation applications, predictive text technologies, mobile messaging services, and emerging services, such as dictation, Web search, and voicemail-to-text for manufacturers and suppliers of mobile phones, automotive products, personal navigation devices, computers, and other consumer electronics. In addition, it provides customer service business intelligence and authentication solutions for enterprises in the telecommunications, financial services, travel, entertainment, and government sectors to support, understand, and communicate with their customers. Further, the company offers document imaging, print management, and PDF solutions to multifunction printer manufacturers, home offices, small businesses, and enterprise customers; software development toolkits for independent software vendors; and licenses its software to multifunction printer manufacturers. Nuance Communications, Inc. markets and sells its products through direct sales force; its e-commerce Web site; and a network of resellers, including system integrators, independent software vendors, value-added resellers, hardware vendors, telecommunications carriers, and distributors. The company was formerly known as ScanSoft, Inc. and changed its name to Nuance Communications, Inc. in November 2005. Nuance Communications, Inc. was founded in 1992 and is headquartered in Burlington, Massachusetts. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By jaggom]

  Development stocks are always favored by investors. One such stock is Nuance (NUAN), which has been consistently impressive on the stock business. Nuance has performed truly well this year with 15% development in revenue. Yet it may confront weakness because of high official compensation, an aggressive acquisition strategy, and steep obligation. So let us see why investors should purchase Nuance and what works against it from an investment perspective.

Hot Tech Stocks To Invest In 2014: Bellicum Pharmaceuticals Inc (BLCM)

Bellicum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company. The Company is focused on discovering and developing cellular immunotherapies for various forms of cancer, including hematological cancers and solid tumors, as well as orphan inherited blood disorders. The Company�� product pipeline includes clinical product candidates, such as BPX-501, which is an adjunct T-cell therapy administered after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation; BPX-201, which is a dendritic cell cancer vaccine; and Preclinical product candidates, including BPX-701, which is a T cell receptor (TCR) product candidate for solid tumors; BPX-401, which is a CAR-T product candidate for hematological cancers that express the CD19 antigen, and BPX-601, which is a TCR product candidate for solid tumors expressing the preferentially-expressed antigen in melanoma (PRAME). The Company�� Chemical Induction of Dimerization (CID) technology platform engineers and controls components of the immune system in real time.

CaspaCIDe

CaspaCIDe is the Company�� Chemical Induction of Dimerization (CID) safety switch technology. The CaspaCIDe eliminates cells in the event of toxicity. The CaspaCIDe switch consists of the CID-binding domain coupled to the signaling domain of caspase-9 (iCasp9), an enzyme that is part of the apoptotic pathway. The infusion of rimiducid triggers activation of this domain of caspase-9, which in turn leads to selective apoptosis of the CaspaCIDe-containing cells. The CaspaCIDe technology is applied to its lead clinical product candidate, BPX-501 and to its TCR product candidate, BPX-701.

The CaspaCIDe technology has demonstrated clinical efficacy in human patients beginning as soon as 30 minutes after administration of the activating drug, rimiducid. In the preclinical studies, rimiducid reduced or eliminated CaspaCIDe-containing cells in a dosage dependent manner. The National Cancer Institute is conducting a Phase I/II clinical trial for sarcoma! and other solid tumors with a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) construct targeting a solid tumor antigen combined with CaspaCIDe.

CIDeCAR

CIDeCAR Technology consists of a CAR T cell that incorporates its co-stimulatory domain, MC, for improved T-cell activation and proliferation, and the CaspaCIDe safety switch. CAR interaction with cancer cell antigens leads to MC signaling, which then leads to activation of T cells. In the event of serious toxicity, rimiducid activation of caspase-9 eliminates the CIDeCAR T cells.

The Company has conducted proof-of-principle preclinical studies for CIDeCAR technology, CIDeCAR candidate BPX-401 and CIDeCAR solid tumor CAR targeting Her2, in which, both were evaluated in vitro. These preclinical studies demonstrated that CIDeCAR technology results in enhanced activation, proliferation and tumor cell killing; and the elimination of these CIDeCAR T cells after exposure to rimiducid.

GoCAR-T

The Company�� GoCAR-T technology incorporates a switch that activates CAR T cells when triggered by both rimiducid and the targeted antigen expressed on the surface of the cancer cells. The GoCAR-T technology separates the CIDeCAR dual co-stimulatory domain, MC, from the antigen recognition domain and moves it onto a separate molecular switch that can be controlled by rimiducid. GoCAR-T cells can only be fully activated when exposed to both the cancer cells and rimiducid. This separation controls the degree of activation of the CAR T cells through adjustments to the amount of rimiducid administered, but still in a tumor-dependent manner.

The Company conducted a proof-of-principle in vitro study for GoCAR-T technology, in which it demonstrated that the GoCAR-T cells targeting the PSCA antigen can only be fully activated, as evidenced by production of IL-2 (left panel) and T-cell proliferation (right panel) when the GoCAR-T cells are exposed to both their target PSCA-expressing human pancreatic cancer cells ! and rimid! ucid. In further in vivo studies of GoCAR-T technology, target antigen PSCA-expressing Capan-1 human pancreatic tumors were established in immune-deficient, or NSG, mice. After seven days, five mice received control T cells modified only with firefly luciferase, an imaging protein, and 10 mice received T cells modified with MC in the form of a molecular switch or iMC, plus a PSCA. CAR (together, BPX-601) and firefly luciferase. Five mice in this second group also received 5 mg/kg rimiducid weekly. T-cell imaging clearly demonstrated that GoCAR-T cells can be stimulated to proliferate in vivo when exposed to target antigen-expressing cancer cells by rimiducid administration.

DeCIDe

The DeCIDe technology is used to control the activation of dendritic cells. The DeCIDe technology couples the signaling domains of CD40 and MyD88 to its CID binding domain, to create inducible MC switch, which is then insert into dendritic cells along with the PSMA antigen to take control of the activation of the dendritic cells and the resulting immune response to cancer. Upon exposure to rimiducid, DeCIDe-containing dendritic cells become highly activated. The DeCIDe technology activates dendritic cells with rimiducid after the patient has been vaccinated and the dendritic cells have migrated to the draining lymph nodes.

The cultured BPX-201 cells transduced with DeCIDe switch technology produce supra-normal levels of IL-12 in response to rimiducid. These data demonstrates that, in addition to the temporal control of dendritic cell activation that DeCIDe technology affords, once exposed to rimiducid, DeCIDe-containing dendritic cells become highly activated, which may lead to more potent anti-cancer activity in patients.

BPX-501

The Company�� CaspaCIDe product candidate BPX-501, is under development for the treatment of hematological diseases. BPX-501 is an adjunct T-cell therapy administered after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), us! ing donor! stem cells. The BPX-501 eliminates donor T cells through the triggering of the CaspaCIDe safety switch upon emergence of Graft-versus-host disease (GvHD). The BPX-501 improves stem cell engraftment and accelerates immune system recovery, while providing for resolution of GvHD. The BPX-501 has a range of applications: an add-back of donor T cells administered to accelerate immune system recovery after allogeneic haplo-HSCT in which the T cells in the transplanted stem cells were depleted, and a donor T-cell infusion administered to prevent or treat relapse of underlying disease after allogeneic HSCT independent of donor match.

The product has undergone a 10-patient Phase I clinical trial with CaspaCIDe modified T cells. Four patients developed GvHD after donor T-cell infusion. A single dosage of rimiducid eliminated around 90% of the modified T cells and resolved GvHD in all four patients without recurrence of GvHD. In the second clinical trial of CaspaCIDe-modified T cells, these demonstrations have been replicated in preliminary data from three patients. BPX-501 is being evaluated in multiple Phase I/II clinical trials in the United States, which includes BP-001, a clinical trial in adults and and BP-003, a clinical trial in children. During the BP-001 clinical trial, BPX-501 is administered after initial allogeneic HSCT for hematological cancers. The BP-003 clinical trial in children with orphan inherited blood disorders includes the administration of BPX-501 after initial allogeneic HSCT. The Company also initiated an additional Phase I/II clinical trial, BPX-004 in children with hematological cancers or orphan inherited blood disorders.

BPX-201

The Company�� product candidate under development, BPX-201 is a dendritic cell cancer vaccine intended to treat metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). BPX-201 is an autologous therapy, in which the patient�� own white blood cells are extracted and modified ex vivo. The cells are matured and then gen! etically ! engineered to express the DeCIDe switch domains and the prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) antigen. The modified cells are then washed, apportioned into individual dosages, and frozen for later administration to the patient. The incorporation of the DeCIDe switch in the presence of rimiducid activates the therapy.

The Company is evaluating BPX-201 in an 18-patient Phase I clinical trial for mCRPC. It is evaluating opportunities for BPX-201 in combination with other cancer immunotherapies, such as checkpoint inhibitors.

BPX-701

The Company�� CaspaCIDe T cell receptor (TCR) Product Candidate, BPX-701 is under development for the treatment of Solid Tumors. BPX-701 is a TCR-based therapy for the treatment of PRAME-expressing melanoma, sarcomas and neuroblastomas. BPX-701 is designed to target preferentially-expressed antigen in melanoma (PRAMEa gene) that is predominantly expressed in human melanomas but not in normal tissues.

The BPX-701 has demonstrated complete elimination in response to rimiducid. The Clinical Cancer Research 2011 has demonstrated that PRAME-specific clones showed high reactivity against a panel of PRAME positive tumor cell lines, metastatic melanoma, sarcomas and neuroblastoma tissues, and no reactivity against normal cell types, with the exception of low reactivity against kidney epithelial cells and intermediate reactivity against mature dendritic cells. The vitro studies demonstrated BPX-701�� affinity to panels of cancer cells presenting PRAME peptides and low affinity to non-tumor cells. In other in vitro studies, rimiducid administration has proved the ability to eliminate BPX-701 cells.

BPX-401

The Company�� CIDeCAR Product Candidate under development, BPX-401, is developed for the treatment of Hematological Cancers, such as acute lymphotcytic leukemia (ALL), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), and certain types of non-Hodgkin�� lymphoma. The CIDeCAR consists of CAR T cells modified to! include ! its CaspaCIDe safety switch and in which the CAR incorporates the signaling domains of two proteins, MyD88 and CD40. These proteins form the Company�� dual co-stimulatory domain, MC, which is designed to activate T cells in the presence of cancer cells. The Company has generated preclinical proof-of-principle data in vitro signifying that BPX-401 has CAR T cell activation and proliferation potential, and may be effective in killing cancer cells.

BPX-601

The Company�� GoCAR-T Product Candidate, BPX-601, is proposed for the treatment of Solid Tumors. The BPX-601 is undergoing preclinical studies for the treatment of solid tumors overexpressing the prostate stem cell antigen (PSCA), such as some prostate, pancreatic, bladder, esophageal and gastric cancers. The Company�� GoCAR-T technology consists of CAR and T cells. GoCAR-T controls activation and proliferation of the CAR T cells through the scheduled administration of a course of rimiducid infusions.

BPX-601 is undergoing preclinical studies for the treatment of solid tumors overexpressing the PSCA antigen. The Company has demonstrated positive proof-of-principle data in an animal pancreatic tumor model.

The Company competes with Adaptimmune Limited, bluebird bio, Inc., Celgene Corporation, Cellectis SA, GlaxoSmithKline plc, Intrexon Corporation, Juno Therapeutics, Inc., Kite Pharma, Inc., Novartis AG and Pfizer Inc.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Udovich]

  Small cap cancer drug stock Kite Pharma Inc (NASDAQ: KITE) has surged after announcing a�strategic research collaboration and license agreement with Amgen, Inc (NASDAQ: AMGN)�involving Chimeric Antigen Receptors (CAR) ��meaning its worth taking a closer look at the stock, which had an IPO last June,�along with potential peers�Bellicum Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ: BLCM) and Juno Therapeutics (NASDAQ: JUNO) which are players in the CAR therapies space and had more recent IPOs.

Hot Tech Stocks To Invest In 2014: United States Cellular Corporation(USM)

United States Cellular Corporation operates as a wireless telecommunications service provider in the United States. The company offers wireless voice and data services to retail consumer and business customers. It provides wireless services in postpaid service plans with voice, messaging, and data services; and prepaid service plans with minutes, messaging, and data services for a monthly fee. The company also offers various additional features, including caller ID blocking, call forwarding, voicemail, call waiting, and three-way calling; and data usage features consisting of Web browsing, email services, instant messaging, text messaging, and picture and video messaging. As of December 31, 2010, it provided wireless voice and data services to 6.1 million customers in 26 states. In addition, the company operates retail stores that sell a range of wireless devices, including handsets, modems, and tablets, as well as accessories, such as carrying cases, hands-free devices, b atteries, battery chargers, memory cards, and other items to consumers and small businesses. Further, it sells wireless devices to agents and other third-party distributors for resale; operates service facilities that provide servicing and repair for wireless devices; and enables customers to activate service and purchase wireless devices online. The company?s business customers include small-to-mid-size businesses in various industries, including construction, retail, professional services, and real estate. It offers its products and services through retail sales and service centers, direct sales, and independent agents. The company was founded in 1983 and is based in Chicago, Illinois. United States Cellular Corporation is a subsidiary of Telephone and Data Systems, Inc.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Reuters]

  Michael Sohn/APSprint CEO Dan Hesse Sprint has been ranked last among U.S. cellphone service operators in a customer satisfaction survey by the influential Consumer Reports organization, scoring dismal marks for measures ranging from voice to 4G reliability. No-frills carrier Consumer Cellular received the highest overall score of 88 out of 100, followed by U.S. Cellular (USM) with 75. Sprint received the lowest score of 59, faring the worst in terms of value, voice, text and 4G services. The annual ratings were based on a September survey of 58,399 cellphone service subscribers by the Consumer Reports National Research Center, which publishes widely followed surveys and reviews of everything from cars to refrigerators. In last year's survey, Sprint (S) trailed only Verizon Wireless among the four major carriers. Verizon Wireless (VZ) (VOD) ranked highest again this year with a score of 71. T-Mobile US (TMUS) rated 65 and AT&T (T) 64, according to survey results released Thursday. The rankings are based on ratings for voice, text and 4G, taking into account the occurrence of problems and adjusted for frequency of use. Sprint has been revamping its network after years of customer losses. The company, which is 80 percent owned by SoftBank, warned in October that customer defections would remain high in coming quarters. The company reported a decline in third-quarter revenue as it lost more subscribers than expected following the shutdown of its older network. "Our latest cell service satisfaction survey revealed a somewhat precipitous decline by Sprint that shuffled the rankings of the major standard service providers," Glenn Derene, Electronics Content Development Team Leader for Consumer Reports, said in a statement.

  Mint made the Mac App Store's Best of 2012 list for a reason. This simple, clean app shows how much you are spending in each category of your budget by monitoring all of your transactions. We love signing in and getting a quick,

• [By Evan Niu, CFA]

  Wireless carrier U.S. Cellular (NYSE: USM  ) will get Apple's (NASDAQ: AAPL  ) iPhone "later this year," the company has announced.

Hot Tech Stocks To Invest In 2014: Web.com Group Inc(WWWW)

Web.com Group, Inc. provides Internet services for small- to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in North America, South America, and the United Kingdom. It provides .com, .net, .co, .org, and .info domains, as well as domain services, including domain name registration, domain name transfers, domain name renewal, domain expiration protection, and domain privacy services; develops and supports a subscription Web service package that includes the tools and functionality necessary for a business to create and maintain online presence, as well as provide tutorials and tools for customers to edit and manage their sites. The company?s primary Do It For Me subscription offering comprise eWorks! XL, which provides domain name registration, initial site design, technical support, Webmail, online Web tools, and Internet scorecard; custom Website design services comprising map and directions pages, external links pages, Website statistics, database applications, password security, and e mail services; and social media and call center services. It also provides various Do-It-Yourself Website building and marketing solutions for SMBs, such as hosting services, Website design tools, email marketing tools, and LogoYes design and brand building tools. In addition, the company offers online marketing services, including search engine optimization, local and national search engine marketing, subscription-based services, budget-based search engine marketing, and click search engine marketing services; lead generation services consisting of Leads by Web.com to contractors, homebuilders, and remodeling professionals; and eCommerce merchant services. Web.com Group, Inc. markets its products and services through outbound and inbound telesales, online channel, affiliate network and private label partners, distribution partners, resellers, and direct sales. The company was incorporated in 1999 and is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sean Williams]

  Worldwide bargain?
  Lower and lower it goes; where Web.com Group's (NASDAQ: WWWW  ) bottom is, nobody knows.

  Shares of Web.com Group, a supplier of Internet-based solutions such as hosting, website design and management, and search engine optimization for small businesses, have gone cliff diving following the company's last two earnings reports and are off about 50% from their all-time high set in March.

• [By CRWE]

  Web.com Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:WWWW), a leading provider of internet services and online marketing solutions for small- and medium-sized businesses, will report its third quarter results for the fiscal period ended September 30, 2012 after the U.S. financial markets close on October 25, 2012.

• [By Garrett Cook]

  Web.com Group (NASDAQ: WWWW) shares tumbled 21.63 percent to $15.87 after the company reported Q3 earnings of $0.63 per share on revenue of $143.80 million and announced a $100 million stock repurchase authorization. JP Morgan downgraded Web.com Group from Overweight to Neutral and lowered the price target from $35.00 to $20.00.