Hot Clean Energy Companies To Watch For 2014

Exchange-traded funds offer a convenient way to invest in sectors or niches that interest you. If you'd like to add some clean-energy-related stocks to your portfolio, the PowerShares WilderHill Clean Energy Portfolio ETF (NYSEMKT: PBW  ) could save you a lot of trouble. Instead of trying to figure out which companies will perform best, you can use this ETF to invest in lots of them simultaneously.

The basics
ETFs often sport lower expense ratios than their mutual fund cousins. The PowerShares ETF's expense ratio -- its annual fee -- is 0.70%. The fund is fairly small, too, so if you're thinking of buying, beware of possibly large spreads between its bid and ask prices. Consider using a limit order if you want to buy in.

This ETF has performed�terribly, significantly underperforming the world market over the past three and five years. But the future counts more than the past, and it's been a rough few years for the entire solar energy industry, among others. And, as with most investments, of course, we can't expect outstanding performances in every quarter or year. Investors with conviction need to wait for their holdings to deliver. Indeed, stocks that have fallen sharply are sometimes great bargains.

Hot Clean Energy Companies To Watch For 2014: Formation Capital Com Npv(FCO.TO)

Formation Metals Inc. engages in the exploration, development, and refining of mineral properties in Canada, the United States, and Mexico. The company owns 100% interest in the Idaho Cobalt project, which consists of 241 claims covering an area of approximately 4,080 acres located in Lemhi County, Idaho; and the Big Creek Hydrometallurgical refining complex located in Shoshone County, near the town of Kellogg, Idaho. It also explores for silver, gold, copper, uranium, lead, zinc, and rare earth elements, as well as base and precious metals. The company was formerly known as Formation Capital Corporation and changed its name to Formation Metals Inc. in November 2009. Formation Metals Inc. was incorporated in 1988 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

Hot Clean Energy Companies To Watch For 2014: Petroamerica Oil Corp (PTA.V)

Petroamerica Oil Corp., a junior oil and gas exploration company, through its subsidiaries, engages in the acquisition and exploration of oil and gas properties in Colombia. The company has interests in LLA-10, CPO-1, Balay, Arauca, El Porton, El Eden, and Los Ocarros blocks located in the Llanos Basin; and Block 5 in the Lower Magdalena Basin. Its properties cover approximately 450 thousand net acres of land. The company is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.

Top Stocks For 2014: Norwood Financial Corp.(NWFL)

Norwood Financial Corp. operates as the holding company for the Wayne Bank, which provides various commercial banking products and services to individuals, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and municipalities in Pennsylvania. The company?s various deposit products include interest-bearing and noninterest bearing transaction accounts, statement savings and money market accounts, and certificate of deposits. Its loan products comprise mortgage loans to finance principal residences, as well as second home dwellings; commercial loans, including lines of credit, revolving credit, term loans, mortgages, secured lending, and letter of credit facilities; construction loans for commercial construction and single-family residences; and indirect dealer financing of new and used automobiles, boats, and recreational vehicles. The company also offers various other services, such as cash management, direct deposit, remote deposit capture, automated clearing house activity, credit ser vices, trust, investment products, real estate settlement services, and Internet banking. It operates five offices in Wayne County, three offices in Pike County, and three offices in Monroe County, and also serves Lackawanna and Susquehanna counties. The company operates eleven automated teller machines in its branch locations. Norwood Financial Corp. was founded in 1870 and is headquartered in Honesdale, Pennsylvania.