5 Best Quality Stocks To Invest In 2014

Business and consumer banking concern�Webster Financial� (NYSE: WBS  ) �announced yesterday that its board of directors has approved increasing its quarterly dividend by 50%, from�$0.10 per share to�$0.15 per share.�The new, higher payment�will be made on May 20 to stockholders of record as of May 6.

Webster also declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $21.25 per share on its Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, payable on June 17 to shareholders of record on June 1.�On its Series E preferred stock, Webster declared a quarterly cash dividend of $400.00 per share, or $0.40 per each depositary share, 1,000 of which represent one share of Series E preferred stock. It will also be payable on June 17 to shareholders of record on June 1.

Webster Financial CEO James C. Smith cited "growth and quality of earnings and Webster's strong capital base."

5 Best Quality Stocks To Invest In 2014: Telik Inc (TELK.PH)

Telik, Inc. (Telik), incorporated in 1988, is a clinical-stage drug development company focused on discovering and developing small molecule drugs to treat cancer. The Company discovers its product candidates using the Company�� drug discovery technology, Target-Related Affinity Profiling (TRAP). TELINTRA, its principal drug product candidate in clinical development, is a small molecule glutathione analog inhibitor of the enzyme glutathione S-transferase P1-1 (GST P1-1). TELCYTA, its other product candidate, is a small molecule cancer drug product candidate designed to be activated in cancer cells.

Clinical Product Development

TELINTRA is the Company�� lead small molecule product candidate in clinical development for the treatment of blood disorders, including cancer. It has a mechanism of action and acts by inhibiting GST P1-1, an enzyme that is involved in the control of cellular growth and differentiation. Inhibition of GST P1-1 results in the activation of the signaling molecule Jun kinase, a regulator of the function of blood precursor cells. Preclinical tests show that TELINTRA is capable of causing the death or apoptosis of leukemic or malignant blood cells, while stimulating the growth and development of normal blood precursor cells. TELINTRA has been studied in Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) using two formulations. A liposomal formulation was developed for intravenous administration of TELINTRA and was used in Phase I and Phase II studies in MDS patients. The results from the Phase II intravenous liposomal TELINTRA clinical trials demonstrated that TELINTRA treatment was associated with improvement in all three types of blood cell levels in patients with all types of MDS, including those in intermediate and high-risk groups. An oral dosage formulation (tablet) was subsequently developed and results from a Phase I study with TELINTRA tablets showed clinical activity and the formulation to be well tole rated. In June 2011, the Company initiated a Phase II clini! c! al trial to evaluate TELINTRA tablets. In October 2011, the Company initiated an additional Phase IIb clinical trial to evaluate TELINTRA tablets. '

The activity and safety profile of tablet formulation allowed the Company to complete a Phase II trial of TELINTRA tablets in MDS. The primary objective of the Phase II TELINTRA tablet study was to determine the efficacy of TELINTRA. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify MDS disease prognostic factors associated with erythroid improvement response rates, including prior MDS treatment, age, gender, the international prognostic scoring system (IPSS), risk, Eastern Cooperative Group performance status, years from MDS diagnosis, MDS World Health Organization subtypes, anemia only versus anemia plus other cytopenias, dose schedule and starting dose. Results from this study show that TELINTRA is the first GSTP1-1 enzyme inhibitor shown to cause clinically reductions in red blood cell transf usions, including transfusion independence in low to intermediate-1 risk MDS patients, as well as improvement in platelet count and white blood cell levels in certain patients. TELINTRA, administered orally twice daily, appeared to be convenient and flexible for chronic treatment administration.

TELCYTA is a small molecule drug product candidate that the Company is developed for the treatment of cancer. TELCYTA binds to GST. TELCYTA has been evaluated in multiple Phase II and Phase III clinical trials, including trials using TELCYTA as monotherapy and in combination regimens in ovarian, non-small cell lung, breast and colorectal cancer. Results from these clinical trials indicate that TELCYTA monotherapy was generally well-tolerated, with mostly mild to moderate side effects, particularly when compared to the side effects and toxicities of standard chemotherapeutic drugs. When TELCYTA was evaluated in combination with standard chemotherapeutic drugs, the tolera bility of the combinations was similar to that expected! of e! ac! h drug ! alone.

Clinical activity including objective tumor responses and/or disease stabilization was reported in the TELCYTA Phase II trials; however, TELCYTA did not meet its primary endpoints in the Phase III studies. Positive results from a Phase I-IIa multicenter, dose-ranging study of TELCYTA in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel as first-line therapy for patients with non-small cell lung cancer, or NSCLC, were published in a peer reviewed publication. Clinical data demonstrated positive results of TELCYTA in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel in the treatment of first-line lung cancer followed by TELCYTA maintenance therapy. As of December 31, 2011, the Company had an on-going investigator-led study at a single site of TELCYTA in patients with refractory or relapsed mantle cell lymphoma, diffuse B cell lymphoma, and multiple myeloma.

Preclinical Drug Product Development

The Company has a small molecule compound, TLK60 404, in preclinical development that inhibits both Aurora kinase and VEGFR kinase. Aurora kinase is a signaling enzyme whose function is required for cancer cell division, while VEGF plays a key role in tumor blood vessel formation, ensuring an adequate supply of nutrients to support tumor growth. These lead compounds prevented tumor growth in preclinical models of human colon cancer and human leukemia by inhibiting both Aurora kinase and VEGFR kinase. A development drug product candidate, TLK60404, has been selected.

The Company, using its TRAP technology has discovered TLK60357, a novel, potent small molecule inhibitor of cell division. TLK60357 inhibits the formation of microtubules that are necessary for cancer cell growth leading to persistent G2/M cancer cell cycle block and subsequent cell death. This compound demonstrates potent broad-spectrum anticancer activity against a number of human cancer cells. This compound also displays oral efficacy in multipl e, standard preclinical models of cancer. TLK6059! 6, a pote! nt! VGFR kin! ase inhibitor, blocks the formation of new blood vessels in tumors. Oral administration of TLK60596 to animal models of human colon cancer reduced tumor growth.

5 Best Quality Stocks To Invest In 2014: Molycorp Inc (MCP)

Molycorp, Inc. (Molycorp) is a rare earth oxide (REO) producer in the Western hemisphere. The Company owns developed rare earth projects outside of China. The Company also owns rare earth oxide and rare metal producer in Europe. The Company is the producer of rare earth alloys in the United States. It has three operating segments: Molycorp Mountain Pass, Molycorp Tolleson and Molycorp Sillamae. On April 1, 2011, the Company acquired 90% interest in AS Silmet located in Sillamae, Estonia. On April 15, 2011, it acquired Santoku America, Inc. On October 24, 2011, it acquired the remaining 9.9% interest in Molycorp Sillamae. On August 22, 2011, Molycorp opened an office in Tokyo, Japan to provide customer support, as well as consulting and technical services to its customers in Japan. In June 2012, the Company acquired Neo Material Technologies Inc.

The Company sells and transports a portion of the REOs it produces at its Molycorp Mountain Pass and Molycorp Sillamae facilities to customers for use in their particular applications. The remainder of the REOs are processed into rare earth metals and rare earth alloys. The Company produces rare earth metals outside of the United States through third-party tolling arrangements and through tolling at its Molycorp Sillamae facility. A portion of these metals is sold to end-users, and it processes the rest into rare earth alloys at its Molycorp Tolleson facility in Arizona. These rare earth alloys can be used in a variety of applications, including but not limited to electrodes for nickel metal hydride battery production; samarium cobalt (SmCo), magnet production, and neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) magnet production.

Molycorp Sillamae sells products to customers in Europe, North and South America, Asia, Russia, and other former Soviet Union countries. At the Molycorp Mountain Pass facility, the Company owns an open-pit mine containing rare earth deposits outside of China. In addition to the mine, its Molycorp Mountain Pass facility includ! es associated crushing, milling, flotation and separation facilities. Its Molycorp Mountain Pass facility is located approximately 60 miles southwest of Las Vegas, Nevada near Mountain Pass, San Bernardino County, California.

The Company�� Molycorp Sillamae facility consists of various manufacturing, research and administration buildings located on 67 acres of land at 2 Kesk Street, Sillamae, Estonia, 200 kilometers from Tallinn, the Estonian capital. The Company�� Molycorp Tolleson facility includes various manufacturing, research, and administration buildings situated on seven acres of land at 8220 West Harrison Street, Tolleson, Arizona, which is just south of Interstate 10 about 15 miles west of Phoenix, Arizona's Sky Harbor Airport. As of December 31, 2011, its Molycorp Tolleson facility had the installed capacity to produce approximately 1,350 tons of ingot cast alloys and 750 tons of strip cast alloys per year.

Hot Financial Stocks To Watch Right Now: Argo Group International Holdings Ltd.(AGII)

Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd. underwrites specialty insurance and reinsurance products in the property and casualty market worldwide. The company?s Excess and Surplus Lines segment underwrites casualty, property, transportation, and binding authority for commercial enterprises, including restaurants, contractors, day care centers, apartment complexes, condominium associations, manufacturers, and distributors; and offers policies for medical facilities within the social services, miscellaneous healthcare, and long term care markets, as well as for lawyers, miscellaneous professions, employment practices, and real estate related accounts. This segment also provides package policies for environmental consultants and contractors, storage tanks, dry cleaners pollution liability, as well as other environmental related liability exposures; and coverage for architects and engineers, accountants, and insurance agents. Its Commercial Specialty segment offers property casu alty and surety coverages; and underwrites business coverage for small commercial businesses comprising office, retail operations, light manufacturing, services, and restaurants. This segment also provides general and automobile liability, automobile physical damage, property, inland marine, crime, public official?s and educator?s legal liability, employment practices, law enforcement liability, environmental and lawyers professional liability, student accident, police and firefighters accident, workers compensation, inmate medical, and tax interruption coverages. In addition, the company?s International Specialty segment covers claims arising from catastrophic events, such as hurricanes, windstorms, hailstorms, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, fires, industrial explosions, freezes, riots, floods, and other man-made or natural disasters. Further, its Syndicate 1200 segment underwrites property and non-U.S. liability insurance. The company was founded in 1986 and is based in Pembroke, Bermuda.

5 Best Quality Stocks To Invest In 2014: Vanguard Natural Resources LLC(VNR)

Vanguard Natural Resources, LLC, through its subsidiaries, engages in the acquisition and development of oil and natural gas properties in the United States. Its properties are located in the southern portion of the Appalachian Basin, primarily in southeast Kentucky and northeast Tennessee; the Permian Basin, primarily in west Texas and southeastern New Mexico; and south Texas. As of December 31, 2010, the company had estimated proved reserves of 69.3 million barrels of oil equivalent, as well as working interests in 2,270 net productive wells. Vanguard Natural Resources, LLC was founded in 2006 and is based in Houston, Texas.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Energy Stock Channel]

  Vanguard Natural Resource is engaged in the acquisition and development of oil and natural gas properties. Co. owns properties and oil and natural gas reserves in: the Permian Basin in West Texas and New Mexico; the Big Horn Basin in Wyoming and Montana; the southern portion of the Appalachian Basin, primarily in southeast Kentucky and northeast Tennessee; South Texas; the Williston Basin in North Dakota and Montana; Mississippi; and the Arkoma Basin in Arkansas and Oklahoma. At Dec 31 2011, Co.'s estimated proved developed and undeveloped reserves for crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids were 44.8 million barrels, 163.00 billion cubic feet, and 7.4 million barrels, respectively.

5 Best Quality Stocks To Invest In 2014: Rigel Pharmaceuticals Inc.(RIGL)

Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a clinical-stage drug development company, engages in the discovery and development of small-molecule drugs for the treatment of inflammatory/autoimmune diseases, as well as for certain cancers and metabolic diseases. Its product development programs include R788, which completed a phase 2 clinical trial for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis; and is in phase 2 clinical trials for B-cell lymphoma, T-cell lymphoma, immune thrombocytopenia purpura, and certain solid tumors. The company?s product development programs also comprise R343, which is in phase 1b clinical trial for the treatment of asthma. In addition, its preclinical programs include oral JAK3 inhibitor program for research in the area of immunology/inflammation; adiponectin mimetics for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus and other potential indications; and muscle atrophy program for muscle homeostasis. Further, the company is evaluating R763/AS703569 compound in its aurora kinase inhibition program targeting cancer cell proliferation. Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has collaboration agreements with AstraZeneca AB; Pfizer, Inc.; and Daiichi Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. The company was founded in 1996 and is based in South San Francisco, California.