Top Warren Buffett Companies To Watch For 2014

One of the benefits of attending the Berkshire Hathaway shareholders' meeting is learning from the great value investors and Buffettologists who also make the yearly trek to Omaha. In this multipart series, Fool analyst Rex Moore speaks with Lawrence Cunningham, author of The Essays of Warren Buffett: Lessons for Corporate America. The book offers a unique approach by arranging all of Buffett's shareholder letters thematically, rather than chronologically.

Today, Professor Cunningham says one reaction to the recent financial crisis should never have happened.

Meanwhile, solid companies selling at depressed prices have consistently helped generations of the world's most successful�investors�preserve capital, minimize risk, and achieve long-term, market-trampling returns. For one such company, read our free report: "The One REMARKABLE Stock to Own Now." Just click here to get started.

Top 10 Building Product Stocks For 2015: Yandex N.V.(YNDX)

Yandex N.V., an Internet and technology company, operates an Internet search engine in Russia and internationally. It offers access to a range of information available online; localized homepages for specific geographic markets; and personalized and email services. The company also provides specialized search services comprising news aggregation and information services; and price comparison services, such as product information, price comparisons, and consumer-generated reviews of products and online retailers, as well as other specialized search services, including search services for images, videos, music, theatres, televisions, weather, jobs, transportation, cars, and real estate. In addition, it offers desktop applications consisting of specialized toolbar for Web browsers, Russian-to-English and English-to-Russian keyboard layout switcher, and customized browser versions; and server applications for indexing and searching files in various formats. Further, the compan y provides text-based advertising and display advertising services for advertisers on its Websites and Yandex ad network member Websites; and Yandex.Market, a price comparison service, which offers a platform for retailers to reach consumers in a targeted manner. Additionally, it provides services and tools for businesses comprising Yandex.Webmaster that allows Webmasters to control how their Website is seen by its search engine; Yandex.Metrica, a Web statistics analysis tool; Yandex Site Search, a search tool for Webmasters and Website owners; Yandex.Mail for Domain Owners that allows users to create email accounts with their own domain names; Yandex APIs and Widgets that enable developers to use its technologies in their own businesses; and Yandex.Money, an online payment system. Yandex N.V. was incorporated in 2004 and is based in The Hague, the Netherlands.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Bryan Murphy]

  This is where many savvy investors would expect to hear the name Baidu Inc. (NASDAQ:BIDU)... China's web-search giant, which owns about 63% of that nation's search market in addition to a good-sized piece of its growing mobile search market. BIDU isn't the stock you're going to hear touted as the next Google today, however. No, the next Google - or as close to it - as you're going to get anyway - worth some speculative investment dollars is a company called Yandex NV (NASDAQ:YNDX).

• [By James Brumley]

  With that as the backdrop, are U.S. investors right to be eyeing the Google of Russia — search engine Yandex�(YNDX) — as the next big search opportunity? Let’s take a look.

Top Warren Buffett Companies To Watch For 2014: Micrel Incorporated(MCRL)

Micrel Incorporated, doing business as Micrel Semiconductor, designs, develops, manufactures, and markets high-performance analog power, mixed-signal, and digital integrated circuits (ICs) primarily in North America, Europe, and Asia. It offers power management products, including cloud, single-board, and enterprise servers; network switches and routers; storage area networks; and wireless base stations for the networking and communications infrastructure markets. The company also provides power management standard products for industrial, consumer, defense, and automotive electronics markets. In addition, it manufactures custom analog and mixed-signal circuits; and provides wafer foundry services for the customers who produce electronic systems for communications, consumer, and military applications. Further, the company offers general linear parts; power analog circuits; high speed physical media devices and interface ICs; and Ethernet products, which comprise physical l ayer transceivers, media access controllers, switches, and system-on-chip devices. Additionally, it provides radio frequency (RF) data communications products, including QwikRadio family of RF receivers and transmitters, which include garage door openers, lighting and fan controls, automotive keyless entry, and remote controls; and RadioWire transceivers for applications, such as remote metering, security systems, and factory automation. The company?s products address a range of end markets, including cellular handsets, portable computing, enterprise and home networking, wide area and metropolitan area networks, digital televisions, and industrial equipment. Micrel Incorporated sells its products through a network of independent sales representatives, independent distributors, and stocking representative firms, as well as through a direct sales staff. The company was founded in 1978 and is based in San Jose, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Evan Niu, CFA]

  What: Shares of Micrel (NASDAQ: MCRL  ) jumped temporarily this morning, up by as much as 10% before giving back nearly all of those gains, following first-quarter earnings.

• [By gurujx]

  Micrel (MCRL): CFO/VP Finance/HR Ray Wallin Sold 59,701 Shares

  CFO/VP Finance/HR of Micrel, Inc. (MCRL) Ray Wallin sold 59,701 shares during the past week at an average price of $9.56.

Top Warren Buffett Companies To Watch For 2014: IDT Corp (IDT)

IDT Corporation (IDT), incorporated on March 15, 1996, is a multinational holding company with operations primarily in the telecommunications industry. The Company operates in two segments: Telecom Platform Services and Consumer phones Services, which comprise its IDT Telecom division. Telecom Platform Services provides telecommunications services, including prepaid and rechargeable calling products and international long distance traffic termination, as well as various payment services. Consumer Phone Services provides consumer local and long distance services in the United States. All other segments include Zedge Holdings, Inc. (Zedge), which owns and operates an on-line platform, including Android app, that allows users to share and obtain content to personalize mobile phones and tablets; Fabrix T.V., Ltd. (Fabrix), a software development company specializing in cloud-based video processing, storage and delivery; IDT Spectrum, which holds, leases and sells fixed wireless spectrum; Innovative Communications Technologies, Inc. (ICTI), which holds intellectual property primarily related to voice over Internet protocol (VoIP), technology and the licensing and other businesses related to this intellectual property; the Company's real estate holdings, and other smaller businesses. On October 28, 2011, the Company completed the Genie Energy spin-off. In July 2013, Straight Path Communications Inc announced its spin-off from IDT Corporation.

Telecom Platform Services

IDT markets and distributes multiple communications and payment services across four business categories, including retail communications, wholesale termination services, payment services and hosted platform solutions. Retail Communications provides international long-distance calling products primarily to immigrant communities worldwide, with markets in the United States and Europe. These products include the Company's Boss Revolution Pinless product (an international calling service sold through the Boss Revolution ! payment platform), as well as many of its disposable calling card brands, including Boss, La Leyenda and Feliz, and mobile apps, including PennyTalk. Wholesale Termination Services is a global telecom carrier, terminating international long distance calls around the world for Tier 1 fixed line and mobile network operators, as well as other aggregators through the Company's network of 800-plus carrier interconnects. Payment Services provides payment offerings, such as international mobile top-up, or IMTU, as well as gift cards in both the United States and Europe. IMTU enables customers to purchase minutes for a prepaid mobile telephone in another country. IMTU is available in both traditional cards, as well as on the Company's Boss Revolution payment platform. Payment Services also includes reloadable prepaid debit cards and bank identification number (BIN) sponsorship services offered in Europe by IDT Financial Services through the Company's Gibraltar-based bank. Hosted Platform Solutions provides customized communications services that leverage the Company's networks, platforms and/or technology to cable companies and other operators.

The Company�� Boss Revolution payment platform is an online portal that can be accessed via a regular Web browser and utilized to sell a range of the Company's products and services. During the fiscal year ended July 31, 2012, the Company added domestic mobile top-up (DMTU) offerings. The Company sells its traditional calling cards under the La Leyenda, Boss, Playball, GOOOL, RED, Feliz, PT-1 and PennyTalk brand names, among others, providing telephone access to more than 230 countries and territories. As of July 31, 2012, IDT sold more than 1,000 different calling cards in the United States and more than 800 different cards abroad, with specific cards featuring favorable rates to specific international destinations. The Company's calling cards are marketed primarily to the ethnic and immigrant communities in the United States, Europe, Asia, Latin America! and Afri! ca.

Consumer Phone Services

The Company provides its bundled local/long distance phone service in 11 states, marketed under the brand name IDT America. The Company's bundled local/long distance service, offered predominantly to residential customers, includes unlimited local, regional toll and domestic long distance calling and popular calling features. A second plan is available, providing unlimited local service with the Company's long distance included for as low as 3.9 cents per minute. IDT also offers stand-alone long distance service throughout the United States. As of July 31, 2012, the Company had approximately 10,500 active customers for its bundled local/long distance plans and approximately 45,200 customers for its long distance-only plans.

The Company competes with AT&T,Verizon, InComm, Blackhawk Network and Coinstar.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Monica Gerson]

  IDT (NYSE: IDT) is projected to report its Q4 earnings at $0.28 per share on revenue of $397.40 million.

  Xyratex (NASDAQ: XRTX) is expected to post its Q3 earnings at $0.05 per share on revenue of $209.31 million.

Top Warren Buffett Companies To Watch For 2014: Golden Minerals Co. (AUMN)

Golden Minerals Company engages in the mining, exploration, and development of mineral properties in Mexico and South America. It explores for silver and gold dor茅 bars, precipitates, lead, zinc, and pyrite concentrates. The company holds 100% interests in the Velarde帽a and Chicago precious metals mining operations that cover approximately 600 hectares located in the State of Durango, Mexico; and the Zacatecas silver and base metals project that consists of 195 concessions covering approximately 8,600 hectares in Mexico. It also owns interests in the El Quevar project that comprises 32 exploitation concessions covering approximately 55,000 hectares in the province of Salta, Argentina; and controls approximately 40 exploration properties that cover approximately 320,000 hectares located in the regions of Mexico and South America. The company was formerly known as Apex Silver Mines Limited and changed its name to Golden Minerals Company in March 2009 as a result of reorgan ization. Golden Minerals Company was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Golden, Colorado.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Zacks Investment Research]

  Headquartered in Golden, Colorado, Golden Minerals Company (AUMN) owns mining operations and precious metals exploration properties in Mexico and South America.

Top Warren Buffett Companies To Watch For 2014: NYSE Euronext Inc.(NYX)

NYSE Euronext, through its subsidiaries, operates securities exchanges. It operates various stock exchanges, including the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), NYSE Arca, Inc., and NYSE Amex LLC in the United States; and five European-based exchanges that comprise Euronext N.V. ? the Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels, and Lisbon stock exchanges, as well as the NYSE Liffe derivatives markets in London, Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels, and Lisbon. The company?s Derivatives segment provides access to trade execution in derivatives products, options, and futures; offers clearing services for derivative products; and sells and distributes market data and related information. NYSE Euronext?s Cash Trading and Listings segment engages in offering access to trade execution in cash trading and settlement of transactions in European markets; obtaining new listings and servicing existing listings; selling and distributing market data and related information; and providing regulatory services. Its Info rmation Services and Technology Solutions segment operates sell side and buy side connectivity networks for its markets and for other market centers, and market participants in the United States, Europe, and Asia; provides trading and information technology software and solutions; sells and distributes market data and related information to data subscribers for proprietary data products; and offers asset management services, and consultancy services to exchanges and liquidity centers. The company is headquartered in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Steve Sears]

  Shares of Nasdaq OMX Group have gained 0.4% to $30.58 today, while CME Group (CME) has fallen 1.1% to $71.89, IntercontinentalExchange (ICE) has dropped 0.2% to $185.16, and NYSE Euronext (NYX) has ticked down 0.1% to $42.66.

• [By Lauren Pollock]

  Michael Kors Holdings Ltd.(KORS) will replace NYSE Euronext Inc.(NYX) in the S&P 500 after trading closes Friday as IntercontinentalExchange Inc.'s(ICE) deal to acquire NYSE is expected to close soon. Shares rose 3.3% to $78.90.

Top Warren Buffett Companies To Watch For 2014: AXT Inc(AXTI)

AXT, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, designs, develops, manufactures, and distributes compound and single element semiconductor substrates for use in wireless communications, lighting display applications, fiber optic communications, and solar cell. It offers semi-insulating substrates made from gallium arsenide, which are used in power amplifiers and radio frequency integrated circuits of wireless handsets, direct broadcast televisions, high-performance transistors, and satellite communications applications. The company also provides semi-conducting substrates made from gallium arsenide that are used for applications in light emitting diodes, lasers, and optical couplers; substrates made from indium phosphide used in broadband and fiber optic communications; and substrates made from germanium used in satellite and terrestrial solar cells, and for optical applications. It manufactures its semiconductor substrates using its proprietary vertical gradient freeze technol ogy. In addition, the company, through its joint venture agreements, manufactures and sells gallium, arsenic, germanium, germanium dioxide, paralytic boron nitride crucibles, and boron oxide. AXT, Inc. sells its products through direct sales force in the United States, as well as through independent sales representatives in France, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom. The company was formerly known as American Xtal Technology, Inc. and changed its name to AXT, Inc. in July 2000. AXT, Inc. was founded in 1986 and is headquartered in Fremont, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Eric Volkman]

  SciClone (NASDAQ: SCLN  ) has a new man leading its finance team. The company announced that it hired Wilson Cheung to be its new CFO. Cheung is a longtime executive who most recently served as chief compliance officer, Asia Pacific, at digital marketing agency Velti, following a stint as that company's CFO. Before that, he was CFO and corporate secretary at AXT (NASDAQ: AXTI  ) and served in various managerial positions in firms such as KPMG and Yahoo!