Best Stocks To Invest In 2014

The S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC  ) is the benchmark by which thousands of money managers overseeing trillions of dollars in assets are judged. For passive index investors who believe that active management doesn't add value over the long run, choosing index-tracking exchange-traded funds tied to the S&P 500 helps them meet their goal of matching the market's overall return.

But many different ETFs track the S&P 500. Which one makes the most sense for you? Let's look at some of the more popular S&P 500-tracking ETFs to pinpoint their differences.

A look at three top S&P ETFs
The biggest S&P-tracking ETF is the SPDR S&P 500 (NYSEMKT: SPY  ) , affectionately known as the Spiders. It was the first exchange-traded fund product to gain widespread use, and it's now a giant in the industry, with $140 billion under management. Its expense ratio is 0.09%, and with average volume of about 133 million shares daily, the Spiders trade $22 billion worth of shares each day -- meaning it takes less than seven days for the entire outstanding share-count to turn over.

Best Stocks To Invest In 2014: Vecima Networks In Com Npv (VCM.TO)

Vecima Networks Inc. engages in the design, manufacture, and sale of products that enable broadband access to cable, wireless, and telephony networks in the United States, Canada, Thailand, and internationally. The company�s hardware products incorporate embedded software to meet the requirements of next generation high-speed digital networks. The company offers its products for converged wired solutions and broadband wireless markets. Its products for converged wired solutions market includes a family of upconverters and modulators that process data from routers and convert it to higher frequencies for transmission over cable to subscribers; and gigabit network edge devices, EdgeQAM modulators, and transmodulators, which accepts high bit rate video streams from central servers and transmit them to subscribers. The company�s products for converged wired solutions market also comprise return path demodulators for processing communications between subscribers and the digit al cable infrastructure; and the Terrace family of last-mile gateway products to deliver premium and tailored content, as well as to preserve traditional analog services. Its products for Broadband Wireless market include transmitters and transceivers that process data from routers, switches, and modems for communicating to subscribers over a wireless environment. The company sells its products directly and through distributors to original equipment manufacturers, system integrators, multiple systems operators, cable operators, and other service providers. Vecima Networks Inc. was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in Victoria, Canada.

Best Stocks To Invest In 2014: Robert Walters Plc(RWA.L)

Robert Walters plc provides professional recruitment services on a permanent, contract and interim basis primarily in the United Kingdom, Europe, the Asia Pacific, the Americas, and South Africa. It offers its recruitment services in the areas of accountancy and finance, banking, engineering, operations, legal, information technology, sales and marketing, supply chain, procurement and logistics, human resources, secretarial, and support and administration. The company also provides recruitment process outsourcing services, consultancy, and payroll services. It serves the clients in the financial, commercial, and industrial sectors. The company was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom.

Top 10 Growth Companies To Watch In Right Now: ShoreTel Inc.(SHOR)

Shoretel, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the development and sale of Internet protocol (IP) communications systems for enterprises in the United States and internationally. The company?s systems are based on its distributed software architecture and switch-based hardware platform that enable a single system to serve multi-site enterprises. Its solutions include ShoreTel IP Phones; ShoreTel Voice Switches; ShoreTel Director, which enables IT administrators to view and manage the entire system of the enterprise from any location using a single application; Unified Messaging solution that integrates its voicemail application with Microsoft Outlook; Automated Attendant that enables the enterprise to direct callers to appropriate individuals, workgroups, or messages; and Small Business Edition solution is for smaller enterprises. The company also provides ShoreTel Communicator, a unified communication application for users in an organization; ShoreTel Confere ncing Bridge that enables enterprises to conduct audio conferences; and Microsoft Integration. In addition, it offers post-contractual support, training, system design and installation, and professional services. The company sells its products to small, medium, and large companies, as well as public institutions in various markets, including the professional services, financial services, government, education, healthcare, manufacturing, non-profit organization, and technology through a network of distributors. Shoretel, Inc. was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California.

Best Stocks To Invest In 2014: Silver Wheaton Corp(SLW)

Silver Wheaton Corp., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a silver streaming company worldwide. The company has 14 long-term silver purchase agreements and 2 long-term precious metal purchase agreements whereby it acquires silver and gold production from the counterparties located in Mexico, the United States, Canada, Greece, Sweden, Peru, Chile, Argentina, and Portugal. Silver Wheaton Corp. is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Travis Hoium]

  What: Gold and silver miners are taking it on the chin today. Royal Gold (NASDAQ: RGLD  ) fell as much as 10.4%, Allied Nevada Gold (NYSEMKT: ANV  ) fell up to 11.5%, and Silver Wheaton (NYSE: SLW  ) dropped as much as 11.2%.

• [By The Investment Doctor]

  Another, less likely possibility to raise equity is through selling a part of the precious metals in a streaming deal. I can imagine Sandstorm Gold (SAND) and Silver Wheaton (SLW) would be very interested in a substantial precious metals streaming agreement. At the current gold and silver prices NGEX wouldn't even have to sell its entire precious metals production under a streaming arrangement.

• [By Itinerant]

  Barrick Gold also has obligations to pay Royal Gold (RGLD) a royalty on some of the precious metal output from the mine once operational; and more importantly, the company has given a completion guarantee to Silver Wheaton (SLW) as part of a deal that saw Silver Wheaton contribute $625M towards capex in 2009 in exchange to buy 25% of the produced silver for a discounted price of $3.90. If the mine is not completed by December 31, 2015, then Silver Wheaton has the right to ask for its money back. Silver Wheaton will be thinking of ways to manage its share of the disaster as confirmation has now been given that Pascua-Lama will not be completed by that dead line. For the moment, Silver Wheaton has extended the deadline by one year to December 31, 2016, and has reduced the guidance for 2017.

Best Stocks To Invest In 2014: Genetic Technologies Ltd (GENE)

Genetic Technologies Limited provides genetic testing services. It offers a range of DNA based genetic tests for cancer predisposition, including breast cancer, ovarian cancer, bowel cancer, and uterine cancer; neurogenetic diagnostic assays; and gene testing for gene related disorders. The company also provides forensics tests, such as presumptive and confirmatory testing, individual DNA profiling, species identification, and animal forensic testing; paternity tests, which include antenatal, deceased estate, grandparent, immigration, legal paternity, non-legal paternity, sibling, twins, and Y-Chromosome DNA testing, as well as DNA profiling; and personal DNA testing comprising sports performance and ancestry gene testing. In addition, it offers animals� tests consisting of disease testing, breed identification, coat color, and forensic DNA testing, as well as DNA clinical services; and plant tests, including genomic and Xpress sequencing services. Further, the company is involved in the out-licensing of its intellectual property relating to non-coding DNA; and research and development activities in the areas of genetics and related fields. It operates in Australia, the United States, China, Canada, and Switzerland. The company was formerly known as Duketon Goldfields N.L. and changed it name to Genetic Technologies Limited in August 2000 as a result of the change in business from mining to biotechnology. Genetic Technologies Limited is headquartered in Fitzroy, Australia

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Udovich]

  The National Cancer Institute estimates that about ten million Americans have or have had some form of cancer with the overall costs of the disease topping $126 billion annually ��meaning there is a big market for small cap cancer diagnostic stocks like Rosetta Genomics Ltd. (NASDAQ: ROSG), Genetic Technologies Limited (NASDAQ: GENE) and MetaStat Inc (OTCBB: MTST) just in the US alone without considering global cancer figures. After all, catching and doing something about cancer early on is critical to increase survival rates and bring down the cost of treatment. With that in mind, here are three small cap cancer diagnostic stocks helping to lead the fight to diagnose and stop cancer:

Best Stocks To Invest In 2014: Cardiocomm Solutions Inc. (EKG.V)

CardioComm Solutions, Inc. develops software for the cardiology field worldwide. The company�s technology is used in various products for recording, viewing, analyzing, and storing electrocardiograms (ECGs) for the diagnosis and management of cardiac patients. Its software products include Global ECG Management System (GEMS), a software solution for cardiac event monitoring; GlobalCardio 3 Lead; GlobalCardio 12 Lead, a Web enabled portable ECG device that is electronic medical records (EMR) compatible; and ECG Viewer SDK. In addition, the company offers software modules, such as GEMS Air, a live wireless ECG monitoring solution; AutoAttendant, which allows healthcare providers to focus on providing patient care; GEMS HL7 and EMR Interface that allows patient and follow-up information to be sent in an HL7 message format to other EMR systems that are HL7 compliant; GlobalCardio that integrate with EMR and enables bidirectional movement of data; and GEMS Lite, an electronic ECG receiving system. Further, it provides hardware products comprising HeartCheck, a handheld ECG monitor; HeartCheck pen; QRS 12 Lead; Cardiac Science Atria ECG Recorder; DR200/HE, a holter and event recorder; Burdick Atria 3100 ECG, an electrocardiogram system for private practices; Burdick Atria 6100 ECG, a portable ECG/EKG system for hospitals and cardiology clinics; and GEMSTrak AF, a cardiac event recorder with atrial fibrillation auto-capture. Additionally, the company offers ASP services, including C4 coordinating centre for cardiac event loop monitoring services; and enterprise solutions. It serves hospitals, call centers, and physician�s offices through a combination of the company�s external distribution network and sales team. The company has strategic partnership with Monebo Technologies, Inc. for software development and distribution of interpretive electrocardiogram analysis technology. CardioComm Solutions, Inc. was incorporated in 1989 and is headquartere d in Toronto, Canada.

Best Stocks To Invest In 2014: Omnicom Group Inc.(OMC)

Omnicom Group Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides advertising, marketing, and corporate communications services. It offers services in traditional media advertising, customer relationship management, public relations, and specialty communications groups. The company?s services include advertising, brand consultancy, corporate social responsibility consulting, crisis communications, custom publishing, database management, digital and interactive marketing, direct marketing, directory advertising, entertainment marketing, environmental design, experiential marketing, field marketing, financial/corporate business-to-business advertising, graphic arts, healthcare communications, and instore design. Omnicom Group also offers investor relations, marketing research, media planning and buying, mobile marketing services, multi-cultural marketing, non-profit marketing, organizational communications, package design, product placement, promotional marketing, public affairs, public relations, recruitment communications, reputation consulting, retail marketing, search engine marketing, and sports and event marketing services. It offers its services in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Australia. The company was founded in 1944 and is based in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Chris Hill]

  Hertz (NYSE: HTZ  ) dips on good-not-great earnings. Candian retailer Hudson's Bay buys Saks (NYSE: SKS  ) for $2.4 billion. Wynn Resorts' (NASDAQ: WYNN  ) second-quarter profit gets hit with one-time charges. Omnicom Group (NYSE: OMC  ) merges with Publicis Group to form the world's largest advertising and marketing firm. In this segment from Investor Beat, Motley Fool analysts Bill Barker and Andy Cross discuss four stocks making moves on Tuesday.

Best Stocks To Invest In 2014: Troy Resources Nl (TRY.TO)

Troy Resources Limited engages in the exploration and production of gold and silver properties. It holds 100% interests in the Andorinhas project located in the Para State of north central Brazil; and the Casposo project situated in the San Juan province, Argentina. The company was founded in 1984 and is based in West Perth, Australia.