Top 10 Long Term Stocks To Watch Right Now

In the future, Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN  ) could find itself in a bit of a pickle. The company has been increasing costs faster than it can grow revenues, which, over the long term, is an unsustainable trend. A lot of the blame has been placed on Amazon Prime, despite being attributed with driving increased spending with members.

Last quarter, fulfillment costs rose more than 38% year over year, and technology and content costs rose 46%; yet total sales only grew by 22%. In other words, the short-term costs associated with running Amazon Prime appear to be far greater than the short-term benefit. Investors continue to justify this unsustainable trend because the company has made it clear that growth is currently a higher priority than profitability.

Quite frankly, investors are correct for making the assumption that profitability will come at a later time.

Plans B,C, and D
Between the third-party sellers, new fulfillment centers, and the prospect of creating an advertising network that could rival Google, the company has just a few margin-enhancing opportunities in the pipe. Naturally, some of these opportunities cost more than others to implement in the short-term.

Best Defensive Companies To Invest In Right Now: China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation(SNP)

China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation engages in the exploration, development, production, and marketing of crude oil and natural gas properties primarily in China. It operates 16 oil and gas production fields in China. As of December 31, 2010, the company?s estimated proved reserves of crude oil and natural gas consisted of 3,963 million barrels-of-oil equivalent comprising 2,888 million barrels of crude oil and 6,447 billion cubic feet of natural gas. It also engages in the refining of crude oil; marketing and distribution of refined petroleum products; and production and sale of petrochemical products that consist of intermediate petrochemicals, synthetic resins, synthetic fiber monomers and polymers, synthetic fibers, synthetic rubber, and chemical fertilizers, as well as owns and operates oil depots and service stations. The company was founded in 2000 and is based in Beijing, the People?s Republic of China. China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation is a subsidiary of China Petrochemical Corporation.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Benjamin Shepherd]

  So far, 2014 has been a year of heightened geopolitical risk. Russia has annexed the Crimea region of Ukraine, Syria remains embroiled in a civil war, political protests continue in Egypt and Turkey, and North Korea has once again fired missiles into the sea to protest joint US-South Korea military exercises.
  
  Earlier this month, the managing director of the International Monetary Fund, Christine Lagarde, pointed to these simmering geopolitical tensions as an impediment to global economic growth.
  
  Geopolitical risk can affect a variety of asset classes, ranging from energy and gold to bonds and equities. In the energy space, Brent crude, essentially the equivalent of West Texas Intermediate (WTI), traded above $109 a barrel thanks to worries that Russia might make a play for more Ukrainian territory. While WTI also spiked, it finished the week essentially flat following a stronger than expected inventory report from the Energy Information Administration (EIA).
  
  Even as oil prices are on the rise, so is production. In the US, the EIA reports that crude production average 7.5 million barrels per day (BPD) last year, 1 million BPD over 2012 and the highest annual rate since 1989. The agency estimates that production should run about 8.5 million BPD this year and hit 9.6 million BPD next year, the highest level of production since 1970.
  
  The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), which produces about 40 percent of the world�� oil, is forecasting similar supply growth. This past January production rose by 28,000 BPD to 29.71 million BPD, largely thanks to increased production from Libya. Including America�� production increase, non-OPEC countries are expected to boost their supply by 1.29 million BPD to 55.43 million BPD.
  
  With consumption forecast to grow by about 1.3 million BPD in 2014, that leaves supply and demand in almost perfect balance, supporting strong oil prices even when and if the crisis in Ukraine abates.

• [By Dan Carroll]

  China's nascent energy sector's also hurting between manufacturing's fall and weak exports. Chinese diesel exports declined�to their weakest in seven months in May, and China's Xinhua News Agency sees Chinese domestic diesel demand falling further in the current quarter to match falling�prices. That's not good news for Sinopec (NYSE: SNP  ) , one of the world's largest companies and China's leading oil giant. While Sinopec's about as safe a stock as you can imagine in China -- it's the fifth-largest�oil company in the world and has engaged in multiple deals with foreign oil giants in exploration and other activities -- the firm's shares could take a hit if domestic demand and prices continue to slump.

• [By Aaron Levitt]

  First, TOT has entered the potentially prolific play in Chinese shale. Total recently partnered with Sinopec (SNP) to begin fracking China�� vast shale rock formations. Estimates peg China�� shale reserves as the world�� largest. The 1,500 square-mile region that Total and SNP are prospecting will yield around 10 billion cubic meters of natural gas by 2017.

• [By Rich Duprey]

  Just a few years ago, China was in a mad dash to buy up the world's resources, particularly those in Africa.�China Petroleum & Chemical (NYSE: SNP  ) , also known as Sinopec, was not only in Argentina taking over Occidental Petroleum's oil and gas fields, but it was also was negotiating for deepwater assets off Angola.

Top 10 Long Term Stocks To Watch Right Now: Bridge Capital Holdings(BBNK)

Bridge Capital Holdings operates as the bank holding company for Bridge Bank, National Association that provides commercial and retail banking services to small and medium size commercial businesses, business professionals, and retail customers primarily in California. Its depository and corporate banking services comprise cash and treasury management solutions, interest-bearing term deposit accounts, checking accounts, ACH payment and wire solutions, fraud protection, remote deposit capture through Smart Deposit Express, courier services, and online banking. The company?s lending solutions include working capital lines of credit; structured finance (asset-based lending and factoring); small business administration loans; commercial real estate loans; energy project financing; growth capital loans; equipment financing; letters of credit; and corporate credit cards. In addition, it serves clients operating internationally through services, such as foreign exchange (FX paym ents and hedging); letters of credit; and export/import financing. The company operates two branch offices in the Silicon Valley region, as well as five loan production offices in San Francisco, Pleasanton, and Orange County, California; Dallas, Texas; and Reston, Virginia. Bridge Capital Holdings was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in San Jose, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Louis Navellier]

  While the tech companies get all the attention in Silicon Valley the banks who serve the region are seeing amazing growth as well. Bridge Capital Holdings (BBNK) is a bank with two branch offices in the Silicon Valley region, as well as five loan production offices in San Francisco and Pleasanton, California, Dallas, Texas, Reston, Virginia, and Boston, Massachusetts.

Top 10 Long Term Stocks To Watch Right Now: AMC Networks Inc (AMCX)

AMC Networks Inc. (AMC Networks), incorporated on March 9, 2011, is a holding company and conducts substantially all of its operations through its subsidiaries. AMC Networks owns and operates several of cable television's brands delivering content to audiences. AMC Networks operates in two segments: National Networks, which includes AMC, WE tv, IFC and Sundance Channel, and International and Other, which includes AMC/Sundance Channel Global, its international programming business; IFC Films, its independent film distribution business, and AMC Networks Broadcasting & Technology, its network technical services business. The Company's National Networks are distributed throughout the United States through cable and other multichannel video programming distribution platforms, including direct broadcast satellite (DBS) and platforms operated by telecommunications providers. In addition to the Company's the United States distribution, AMC, IFC and Sundance Channel are available in Canada and Sundance Channel and WE tv are available in other countries throughout Europe and Asia.

National Networks

AMC Networks owns four nationally distributed entertainment programming networks: AMC, WE tv, IFC and Sundance Channel, which are available to its distributors in high-definition (HD) and/or standard-definition formats. The Company's programming networks principally generate their revenues from the distribution of programming and the sale of advertising. Affiliation fees paid by multichannel video programming distributors represent the largest component of distribution revenue, which also includes the licensing of original programming for digital, foreign and home video distribution. As of December 31, 2012, AMC, WE tv and IFC had 98.9 million, 81.5 million and 69.6 million Nielsen subscribers, respectively, and Sundance Channel had 50.2 million viewing subscribers.

AMC is a television network dedicated to the storytelling, whether commemorating favorite films or creating origi! nal programming. In addition to presenting feature films from its movie library, AMC features original programming that includes dramatic series, such as Mad Men, Breaking Bad, The Killing, Hell on Wheels and The Walking Dead. In addition, the network has introduced unscripted programming, including Talking Dead, Comic Book Men, The Pitch and Small Town Security. AMC's film library consists of films that are licensed from studios, such as Twentieth Century Fox, Warner Bros., Sony, MGM, NBC Universal, Paramount and Buena Vista under long-term contracts. AMC generally structures its contracts for the cable television rights to air the films during identified window periods. As of December 31, 2012, AMC had affiliation agreements with the United States multichannel video programming distributors and reached approximately 99 million Nielsen subscribers.

WE tv is a women's network that features original stories for and about modern women who are taking charge of their life, their family and their household. WE tv's original series include Braxton Family Values, Tamar & Vince, Mary, Joan and Melissa: Joan Knows Best? and My Fair Wedding with David Tutera, among others. In addition, WE tv's programming includes series, such as Charmed, Ghost Whisperer and Roseanne, as well as feature films, with license rights to certain films from studios, such as Paramount, Sony and Warner Bros. As of December 31, 2012, WE tv had affiliation agreements with the United States multichannel video distributors and reached approximately 82 million Nielsen subscribers. IFC creates original comedies that are in keeping with the network's Always On. Slightly Off brand and which air alongside a collection of films and comedic cult television shows.

The network's original content includes the comedy series Portlandia, created by and starring Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein, and executive produced by Saturday Night Live's Lorne Michaels. Other IFC originals include Comedy Bang! Bang!, R. Kelly's Trapped in ! the Close! t and Out There, an animated series created by the long time animation director of South Park. IFC's programming also includes series, such as Arrested Development, Freaks and Geeks and Malcolm in the Middle, along with films from independent film distributors including Fox, Miramax, Sony, IFC Films, Lionsgate, Universal, Paramount and Warner Bros. As of December 31, 2012, IFC had affiliation agreements with the United States multichannel video distributors and reached approximately 70 million Nielsen subscribers.

Sundance Channel also has a slate of original unscripted series. Sundance Channel original unscripted programming includes the docu -series Push Girls, and celebrity vehicles The Mortified Sessions and Iconoclasts. In addition, the network benefits from its relationship with Sundance Institute and the Sundance Film Festival, where each year the network gives festival attendees and viewers access to the festival on-site and through dedicated programming on-air and online. As of December 31, 2012, Sundance Channel had affiliation agreements with the United States multichannel video programming distributors and reached approximately 50 million viewing subscribers. As of December 31, 2012, Sundance Channel generated advertising revenue from sponsorship arrangements and promotional breaks, rather than traditional advertising spots.

International and Other

In addition to the Company's National Networks, AMC Networks also operates AMC/Sundance Channel Global, which is its international programming business; IFC Films, its independent film distribution business; and AMC Networks Broadcasting & Technology, its network technical services business. The Company's International and Other segment also includes VOOM HD Holdings LLC (VOOM HD). AMC/Sundance Channel Global's business principally consists of seven channels in 13 languages spread across 24 countries, focusing primarily on AMC in Canada and globally on versions of the Sundance Channel and WE tv brands. Princ! ipally ge! nerating revenues from affiliation fees, AMC/Sundance Channel Global reached approximately 15.9 million viewing subscribers in Canada, Europe and Asia as of December 31, 2012.

Sundance Channel provides independent film and also features certain content from AMC, IFC, Sundance Channel and IFC Films, as well as serves as a pipeline of international content, in an effort to provide distinctive programming to an upscale audience. AMC Networks provides programming to the Canadian market through its AMC and Sundance Channel brands. Providing programming in the Korean and Mandarin languages, WE tv Asia provides a selection of the domestic programming from the WE tv the United States network with programs like Bridezillas and My Fair Wedding with David Tutera, and some of the programming from networks in the United States, such as Tabatha's Salon Takeover and Tori & Dean. With the same broad satellite footprint as Sundance Channel-International, WE tv Asia is available in South Korea, Malaysia, Taiwan, Singapore and Hong Kong. IFC Films, the Company's independent film distribution business, makes independent films available to a worldwide audience. IFC Films operates three distribution labels: Sundance Selects, IFC Films and IFC Midnight. IFC Films has a film library consists of more than 500 titles.

IFC Films also operates IFC Center, DOC NYC and SundanceNow. IFC Center is a independent movie theater located in the heart of New York City's Greenwich Village. DOC NYC is an annual festival also located in New York City celebrating documentary storytelling in film, photography, prose and other media. AMC Networks Broadcasting & Technology is a full-service network programming feed origination and distribution company, which primarily services the programming networks of AMC Networks. AMC Networks Broadcasting & Technology's operations are located in Bethpage, New York, where AMC Networks Broadcasting & Technology consolidates origination and satellite communications functions in a 60,00! 0 square-! foot facility designed to keep AMC Networks at the forefront of network origination and distribution technology.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Will Ashworth]

  The cable network with the highest number of total viewers in 2013 was USA Network with 2.7 billion. It�� owned by NBCUniversal which in turn is owned by Comcast. In fact, the top nine cable networks are all owned by big players such as Time Warner (TWX), Twenty-First Century Fox (FOXA), Disney, Hearst and Comcast. In the 10th spot is AMC Networks (AMCX), with 1.8 billion total viewers. It�� an attractive network with shows like Mad Men and The Walking Dead keeping viewers glued to their TVs.

• [By Eric Bleeker, CFA, Austin Smith, and Chris Hill]

  In this video from The Motley Fool's Weekly Tech Review, host Chris Hill talks with analysts Eric Bleeker and Austin Smith about the changing face of television, and which hits are bringing home the biggest returns. Our analysts discuss the massive successes of Game of Thrones for HBO and The Walking Dead for AMC (NASDAQ: AMCX  ) and note how Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX  ) has really begun to change the game for where consumers go for original content.

• [By Sam Mattera]

  The same is largely true for AMC's (NASDAQ: AMCX  ) Breaking Bad. The first episode of the second half of the fifth season brought in twice as many viewers as any episode prior to that, and in general, Breaking Bad has steadily expanded its base of viewers over time. But Breaking Bad's creator, Vince Gilligan, remarked that the show might've been cancelled in its second or third season.

• [By Tim Beyers]

  If history holds, The Walking Dead will once again set record ratings for AMC Networks (NASDAQ: AMCX  ) when Season 4 makes its debut this October.

Top 10 Long Term Stocks To Watch Right Now: Danone SA (BN)

Danone SA is a France-based food company that primarily produces fresh milk products, baby foods, biscuits, cereal products and medical nutrition products. It also co-produces bottled water. The Company's portfolio of brands and products include Danone, a brand of fresh dairy products; Evian, a brand of bottled still water; Volvic, its international brand of bottled still water, and Aqua, a brand of packaged water in Indonesia. It has presence in the infant food market in France through its subsidiary, Bledina. It has also developed two probiotic dairy product lines known under the names Actimel, and Activia, as well as a line of low-fat products under the names Taillefine, Vitalinea and Ser. The Company operates through numerous subsidiaries in Europe, Asia and Americas. In February 2013 it acquired majority stake in Centrale Laitiere SA. In May 2013, it acquired an equity interest of over 90% in Happy Family, a baby food producer. In August 2013, it acquired YoCrunch. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Namitha Jagadeesh]

  Danone SA (BN) declined 1.6 percent to 56.34 euros after saying baby-nutrition sales will fall in Asia in the third quarter. The company said it had to recall infant-formula products after milk-powder supplier Fonterra Cooperative Group Ltd. warned of a contaminated ingredient.

Top 10 Long Term Stocks To Watch Right Now: 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.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Kell]

  Shutterfly Inc.'s(SFLY) fourth-quarter earnings fell 18% as the e-commerce company recorded higher expenses. Shutterfly also said it expects to post a loss for the current year. Shares dropped 7.6% to $45.90 premarket.

• [By John Udovich]

  Bloomberg has reported that small cap digital photo services and solutions stock�Shutterfly, Inc (NASDAQ: SFLY) is in talks with investment bank Qatalyst Partners to find buyers for the company���meaning its worth taking a closer look at the stock which has no close publicly traded peers left albeit the stock does compete with Hewlett-Packard Company�� (NYSE: HPQ) Snapfish and services offered by retailers�like CVS Caremark Corporation (NYSE: CVS).

• [By WWW.DAILYFINANCE.COM]

  From a struggling department store chain delivering better than expected financial results to a popular photo-printing services provider botched a mass mailing, here's a rundown of the week's smartest moves and biggest blunders in the business world. Keurig Green Mountain (GMCR) -- Winner Coca-Cola (KO) is apparently a coffee addict. The world's leading beverage company turned heads earlier this year when it paid $1.25 billion for a 10 percent stake in Keurig Green Mountain. This week it announced that it's bumping its stake to 16 percent, paying a much higher price for the new shares. Keurig Green Mountain is the company behind the country's most popular single-serve coffee maker. In a few months it plans to enter the carbonated beverage market with Keurig Cold. Coca-Cola is on board to provide soft drink flavors for the machine, and now the company has a greater stake in seeing that Keurig Cold is successful. Shutterfly (SFLY) -- Loser "There's nothing more amazing than bringing a new life into the world," begins a promotion that Shutterfly mailed out this week. "As a new parent you're going to find more to love, more to give and more to share -- we're here to help you every step of the way." Shutterfly intended for the mailing to go out to customers who had recently ordered birth announcements, reminding them that matching thank you cards are now in order for the family and friends who provided gifts for the new baby. The problem here is that the marketing email went out to a far wider base of Shutterfly registered users. Twitter and Facebook were alive with folks joking or complaining about the mishap. It was an amusing blunder for most recipients, but it's easy to see how this kind of missive could hit hard to others. Netflix (NFLX) -- Winner We're apparently a nation of Netflix addicts. Online trend watcher Sandvine (SVC) reports that the streaming video service accounted for 34.2 percent of the North America's peak downstream Internet traffic durin

• [By Jeremy Bowman]

  Finally, shares of�Shutterfly� (NASDAQ: SFLY  ) were soaring today, finishing up 15% after reports emerged that the company was looking to selling itself. According to�Bloomberg, the digital photo-specialist, which makes albums and household products with personal digital images, is in the early stages of seeking a buyer, considering private-equity firms, e-commerce companies and web storage businesses. Shutterfly has hired Qatalyst Partners, a boutique investment firm, to help with its search. After many years of profits, the company has seen its bottom line turn into the red recently despite revenue growth in the teens. That struggle and the number of acquisitions among Internet companies recently may explain its search for a buyer. There were no details on a potential buyer, but further reports could push shares higher as we learn more about a possible sale.

Top 10 Long Term Stocks To Watch Right Now: CDI Corporation(CDI)

CDI Corp. provides engineering and information technology project outsourcing solutions and professional staffing services primarily in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada. It operates in four segments: ES, MRI, Anders, and ITS. The ES segment provides engineering, design, project management, staffing, and outsourcing solutions to oil, gas, refining, alternative energy, power generation and energy transmission, chemicals, and heavy manufacturing industries; engineering, design, logistics, and staffing services to the defense industry, primarily in marine design, systems development, and military aviation support; engineering, design, project management, staffing, and facility start-up services to pharmaceutical, bio-pharmaceutical, and regulated medical services industries; and architecture, civil and environmental engineering, communication technology, and consulting services to governmental, educational, and private industry customers. The MRI segment opera tes as a global franchisor that does business as MRINetwork and provides the use of its trademarks, business systems, and training and support services to its franchisees who engage in the search and recruitment of executive, technical, professional, and managerial personnel for employment by their customers. It also provides training, implementation services, and back-office services to enable franchisees to pursue staffing opportunities. The Anders segment provides contract and permanent placement candidates to customers in the areas of architecture, building services, rail, commercial and industrial construction, consulting engineering, facilities management, interior design, surveying, and town planning. The ITS segment offers various information technology related services, which include staffing augmentation, permanent placement, outsourcing, and consulting. The company was founded in 1950 and is based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Smith]

  Philadelphia-based CDI Corp. (NYSE: CDI  ) has won a $36 million contract to provide watercraft engineering and marine services to the U.S. Navy.

• [By Seth Jayson]

  Calling all cash flows
  When you are trying to buy the market's best stocks, it's worth checking up on your companies' free cash flow once a quarter or so, to see whether it bears any relationship to the net income in the headlines. That's what we do with this series. Today, we're checking in on CDI (NYSE: CDI  ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below.

Top 10 Long Term Stocks To Watch Right Now: Oxford Resource Partners LP(OXF)

Oxford Resource Partners, LP, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the production of steam coal and surface mined coal in the United States. It holds interests in approximately 21 active surface mines that are managed as 8 mining complexes located in Northern Appalachia and the Illinois Basin to serve its primary market area of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. The company sells its coal primarily to utilities with coal-fired, base-load scrubbed power plants under long-term coal sales contracts, as well as to municipalities, cooperatives, and industrial customers. Oxford Resource Partners, LP was founded in 1985 and is based in Columbus, Ohio.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Robert Rapier]

  There are a few US coal MLPs, many of which have seen their market caps decimated in the past 2 ½ years. Most MLP investors should avoid this sector, as more restrictive EPA regulations and competition from natural gas and renewables will continue to put pressure on coal producers. For bargain hunters who are prepared for the possibility of further downside, there are one or two that have strong balance sheets. But don’t go bargain hunting just on the basis of price. Remember that the worst-performing of all MLPs in 2013 was coal producer Oxford Resource Partners (NYSE: OXF) — down 73 percent for the year and illustrative of the coal industry’s struggles.

• [By Robert Rapier]

  The worst performer in the first half was�Oxford Resource Partners�(NYSE: OXF), a coal producer that suspended its distribution more than a year ago and has seen its unit price continue to decline. It is down 31.5 percent in 2014.�Boardwalk Pipeline Partners�(NYSE: BWP) saw the second worst decline in the first half of 2014 after announcing a distribution cut of more than 80 percent. BWP saw its unit price plunge by 46 percent in a single trading session. It has since recovered somewhat, but is down 28.8 percent year-to-date.

• [By Robert Rapier]

  The National Association of Publicly Traded Partnerships (NAPTP) lists five MLPs in the category ��atural Resources – Coal,��although two of the five are Alliance Holdings (NYSE: AHGP) and its operating affiliate, Alliance Resource Partners (NYSE: ARLP). The other three are Natural Resource Partners (NYSE: NRP), Rhino Resource Partners (NYSE: RNO), and Oxford Resource Partners (NYSE: OXF).

• [By Robert Rapier]

  1. Oxford Resource Partners

  The coal industry in the US has been badly battered over the past few years. Oxford Resource Partners (NYSE: OXF) was a casualty, as the unit price fell 73 percent in 2013. The biggest problem for this producer of coal in the northern Appalachia and the Illinois Basin was that it had to suspend cash distributions in January in response to continued weakness in the coal markets.
  

  2. Rentech Nitrogen Partners