Top 5 Gas Utility Companies To Buy Right Now

BALTIMORE (Stockpickr) -- Want protection from downside risk in 2014? Bet on peoples' vices.

>>5 Hated Earnings Stocks You Should Love

Stocks are pressing up against new highs this morning, with the S&P 500 index up more than 5.6% since the calendar flipped over to February. That's on top of the 32% total returns that the big index gave investors last year -- and the 91% cumulative returns since 2009. Put simply, this market has been an equity investor's dream for the last five years.

That's exactly why it makes sense to play a little defense in 2014.

To do that, we're turning to a new set of "sin stocks" that could crash-proof your portfolio this year. Don't let the name fool you; sin stock companies aren't in the business of burning down old folks' homes. Instead, alcohol, tobacco, gambling and weapons firms are all classical examples of businesses that qualify as sin stocks.

The important benefit to sin stocks is that they don't just protect downside. Many of them offer upside growth when markets are frothy and consumer takes move up the value chain. That's why recession-resistant revenues and sticky customer bases are the norm. The devil's in the details with sin stocks; because these firms generally sport wide economic moats and deeper margins than traditional consumer plays, sin stocks benefit from an extra qualitative boost that you can't find in any other group right now.

Top 5 Healthcare Equipment Stocks To Watch For 2015: SP Bancorp Inc.(SPBC)

SP Bancorp, Inc. operates as the holding company for SharePlus Federal Bank that provides community banking products and services to individuals, families, and businesses in the United States. The company offers various deposit products, including noninterest-bearing and interest-bearing demand accounts, savings accounts, money market accounts, and certificates of deposit. Its loan portfolio includes residential mortgage loans secured by residential real estate; commercial real estate and home equity loans, including lines of credit and home improvement loans; consumer loans consisting primarily of automobile loans; and commercial business loans. The company also provides brokerage services for the purchase and sale of non-deposit investment and insurance products through a third-party brokerage arrangement. It provides its services through seven branches, four of which are located near the Bank's headquarters in Plano, Texas; two branches are located in Louisville, Kentuc ky; and one branch is located in Irvine, California. The company was founded in 2010 and is headquartered in Plano, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lisa Levin]

  SP Bancorp (NASDAQ: SPBC) shares touched a new 52-week high of $28.90 after the company agreed to be acquired by Green Bancorp for $46.2 million in cash.

Top 5 Gas Utility Companies To Buy Right Now: Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc. (CCE)

Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc. produces, distributes, and markets non-alcoholic beverages in Europe. It provides a range of beverage categories, including energy drinks, still and sparkling waters, juices, sports drinks, fruit drinks, coffee-based beverages, and teas. The company primarily offers its products under Coca-Cola, Diet Coke/Coke light, Fanta, Coca-Cola Zero, Capri Sun, Schweppes, Sprite, Chaudfontaine, MinuteMaid, and Dr. Pepper brands. It provides its products to customers and consumers through licensed territory agreements in Belgium, continental France, Great Britain, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden. Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc. was founded in 1986 and is based in Atlanta, Georgia.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ben Rooney]

  There have been rumors that SodaStream could partner with a larger beverage company after Coca-Cola (CCE) took a significant stake in Keurig Green Mountain (GMCR), which is working on its own at-home soda machine.

Top 5 Gas Utility Companies To Buy Right Now: Songbird Estates PLC (SBEPF.PK)

Songbird Estates plc is engaged in management of its investment in its main subsidiary, Canary Wharf Group plc (Canary Wharf Group), which is the holding company. Canary Wharf Group is engaged in integrated property development, investment and management focusing primarily on the Estate. In London, Canary Wharf Group is engaged through joint ventures in the redevelopment of 20 Fenchurch Street and the Shell Centre. Canary Wharf Group�� investment property portfolio consists of 16 completed properties (out of the approximately 35constructed on the Estate) totaling approximately seven meter square feet of net internal area (NIA). In July 2013, Songbird Estates plc's Canary Wharf Group plc completed the acquisition from Gort Limited (in administration) and Hibernia (2005) Limited (in administration), of 15 Westferry Circus at Canary Wharf. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Mike Arnold]

  Brookfield's public assets include a 21% stake (and potentially more given certain warrants held by Brookfield) in General Growth Properties (GGP), a 51% stake in Brookfield Office Properties (BPO), a 36% stake (again, more if certain warrants are exercised) in Rouse Properties (RSE) and 21% stake in Canary Wharf Group Plc, which is majority owned by Songbird Estates Plc (SBEPF.PK).

Top 5 Gas Utility Companies To Buy Right Now: TCW Strategic Income Fund Inc (TSI)

TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc. (the Fund), formerly TCW Convertible Securities Fund, Inc., incorporated on January 13, 1987, is a diversified closed-end investment management company. The Fund's investment objective is to seek a total return consisting of current income and capital appreciation by investing in convertible securities, marketable equity securities, investment-grade debt securities, high-yield debt securities, options, and securities issued or guaranteed by the United States Government, its agencies and instrumentalities (U.S. Government Securities). The Fund also invests in repurchase agreements, mortgage-related securities, asset-backed securities, money market securities and other securities.

The Fund may invest in repurchase agreements secured by U.S. Government Securities. The Fund invests in sectors, such as financial services, aerospace and defense, airlines, automobiles, banking, commercial services, electric utilities, insurance, media, utilities, biotechnology and chemicals. The Fund�� investment advisor is TCW Investment Management Company.

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