5 Best Financial Stocks To Own Right Now

Cash is trash, but many investors are afraid of bonds.

Cash is trash these days because yields are too low. You lose purchasing power after inflation and taxes. Even if you shop around you��l find that on a five-year CD you��e going to earn a little over 2%.

You can earn a higher yield with longer maturity bonds, but investors fear rising interest rates. Once the Fed starts to raise short-term rates (and perhaps before), other rates will rise. That will reduce the value of bonds and bond funds. A modest rate increase will reduce the value of the bonds by more than one year�� interest income.

When you want higher yields than cash and fear what rising rates will do to bonds, consider putting the safe or fixed-income portion of your portfolio in certain types of annuities.

Note that I�� recommending you consider only particular types of annuities. I�� not recommending the high-fee variable annuities that are roundly criticized. Unfortunately, many critics of variable annuities shorten their advice to, ��on�� buy annuities.��The annuity world consists of much more than variable annuities, and some of the other types of annuities that can increase financial security and should be considered.

5 Best Healthcare Technology Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Humboldt Capital Corp (HMB)

Humboldt Capital Corporation (Humboldt) is an investment company with its holdings concentrated in the resource sector. The Company�� principal business is to purchase securities for investment income and capital appreciation over the long term. The Company provides early-stage risk capital, business experience and guidance to junior oil and gas enterprises. Humboldt is engaged in making investments in a range of very small to large companies, which are in turn engaged in the exploration, development, production and acquisition of crude oil and natural gas or minerals, or companies, which provides services to such companies. Humboldt also makes investments in other businesses that have potential for growth. Humboldt has investments in western Canadian energy companies, international oil and gas companies and in the mining sector, with particular emphasis on companies exploring or producing commodities. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Tom Stoukas]

  Ladbrokes (LAD) Plc plunged to its lowest price in almost a year after issuing a profit warning for its digital division. Thomas Cook Group Plc slid 6.6 percent after it said winter bookings have slowed. Hennes & Mauritz AB (HMB), Europe�� second-biggest clothing retailer, rose to its highest price after posting third-quarter profit that beat analysts��estimates.

• [By Inyoung Hwang]

  EasyJet Plc and International Consolidated Airlines Group SA climbed as oil prices fell after the U.S. and Russia agreed on a plan to destroy Syrian chemical weapons. Hennes & Mauritz AB (HMB) advanced to a three-year high after sales topped estimates. Remy Cointreau SA (RCO) soared the most in almost four years as Chinese cognac shipments increased.

• [By Namitha Jagadeesh]

  Zurich Insurance Group AG (ZURN) lost 3.6 percent after second-quarter profit missed analysts��estimates. Hennes & Mauritz AB (HMB) declined the most in seven weeks as Europe�� second-biggest clothing retailer reported worse-than-expected sales. BG Group Plc, which derives 20 percent of its oil-and-gas production from Egypt, slipped 2.4 percent as the death toll from nationwide violence in the most populous Arab country climbed above 500.

5 Best Financial Stocks To Own Right Now: KS Bancorp Inc (KSBI)

KS Bancorp, Inc. serves as the holding company for KS Bank, Inc. (the Bank). The Bank is a community financial institution, which is locally owned and operated. The Bank offers a range of traditional deposit and loan products for consumers and businesses. The Bank offers a range of loans that include Personal Loans, Fixed Rate and Adjustable Rate Home Mortgage Loans, Consumer Loans, Reverse Mortgages, Home Construction Loans, Auto Loans, Boat Loans and Education Loans.

The Bank focuses on attracting retail deposits and using such deposits to make mortgage loans, construction loans, business loans, consumer loans and equity line loans. KS Bank conducts its operations through eight full service retail offices located in Johnston, Wake, Wilson, and Wayne counties in North Carolina.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By CRWE]

  Today, KSBI remains (0.00%) +0.000 at $7.50 thus far (ref. google finance 9:49AM EDT July 23, 2013).

  KS Bancorp, Inc. previously reported unaudited net income available to common shareholders of $200,000, or $.15 per diluted share, for the three months ended June 30, 2013, compared to a net income available to common shareholders of $86,000, or $.07 per diluted share, for the three months ended June 30, 2012. For the six months ended June 30, 2013, the Company reported net income available to common shareholders of $325,000, or $.25 per diluted share, compared to $314,000, or $.24 per diluted share, for the six months ended June 30, 2012

• [By CRWE]

  Last Friday, KSBI previously surged (+6.67%) up +0.50 at $8.00 with 235 shares in play at the close (ref. google finance July 26, 2013 ��Close).

  KS Bancorp, Inc. previously reported unaudited net income available to common shareholders of $200,000, or $.15 per diluted share, for the three months ended June 30, 2013, compared to a net income available to common shareholders of $86,000, or $.07 per diluted share, for the three months ended June 30, 2012. For the six months ended June 30, 2013, the Company reported net income available to common shareholders of $325,000, or $.25 per diluted share, compared to $314,000, or $.24 per diluted share, for the six months ended June 30, 2012

5 Best Financial Stocks To Own Right Now: NMI Holdings Inc (NMIHZ)

NMI Holdings, Inc. (NMIH), incorporated on May 19, 2011, is a development-stage company. The Company through its subsidiaries provides private mortgage insurance in the United States. The Company�� wholly owned subsidiaries include National Mortgage Insurance Corporation and National Mortgage Reinsurance Inc One.

On April 24, 2012, NMI Holdings, Inc. (NMI) closed an agreement with MAC Financial Ltd. to acquire MAC Financial Holdings Corporation and its wholly owned subsidiaries. On September 30, 2013, the Company merged MAC Financial Holding Corporation into NMIH, with NMIH surviving the merger, and it merged NMRI Two into NMIC, with NMIC surviving the merger.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Zachary Tracer]

  NMI Holdings Inc. (NMIHZ), a mortgage insurer backed by funds tied to Carlyle Group LP (CG) and Kyle Bass, filed to sell shares in an initial public offering as investors bet on a housing-market rebound.

5 Best Financial Stocks To Own Right Now: Zillow Inc (Z)

Zillow, Inc. (Zillow), incorporated on December 13, 2004, is a real estate and home-related information marketplaces. Zillow provides products and services to help consumers through every stage of homeownership buying, selling, renting, borrowing and remodeling. The Company make home-related decisions, and enabling homeowners, buyers, sellers and renters to find and connect with local professionals. Individuals and businesses that use Zillow have updated information on more than 37 million homes and have added nearly 100 million home photos. These profiles include detailed information about homes such as property facts, listing information, and purchase and sale data. In June 2012, the Company acquired RentJuice Corporation. In October 2012, the Company acquired Buyfolio, an online and mobile collaborative shopping platform. In December 2012, the Company acquired San Francisco-based HotPads, a map-based rental and real estate search site.

Zillow generates revenues from local real estate professionals, primarily on an individual subscription basis, and from mortgage professionals and brand advertisers. The Company�� revenues include marketplace revenues, consisting of subscriptions sold to real estate agents and advertising sold on a cost per click (CPC) basis to mortgage lenders, and display revenues consisting of advertising placements sold primarily on a cost per thousand impressions (CPM) basis. The Company provides current home value estimates, or Zestimates, and current rental price estimates, or Rent Zestimates, on approximately 100 million United States homes.

Marketplace Revenues

Marketplace revenues consist of subscriptions sold to real estate agents under its Premier Agent program and CPC advertising related to the Company�� Zillow Mortgage Marketplace sold to mortgage lenders. The Company�� premier agent program offers a suite of marketing and business technology solutions to help real estate agents grow their businesses and personal brands. The! premier agent program allows agents to select products and services that they can tailor to meet their business and advertising needs. In Zillow Mortgage Marketplace, participating qualified mortgage lenders make a prepayment to gain access to consumers interested in connecting with mortgage professionals. Consumers who request rates for mortgage loans in Zillow Mortgage Marketplace are presented with personalized lender quotes from participating lenders. The Company charges mortgage lenders a fee when users click on their links for more information regarding a mortgage loan quote. Mortgage lenders who exhaust their initial prepayment can then prepay additional funds to continue to participate in the marketplace.

Display Revenues

Display revenues primarily consist of graphical Web and mobile advertising sold on a CPM basis to advertisers primarily in the real estate industry, including real estate brokerages, home builders, mortgage lenders and home services providers. The Company�� advertising customers also include telecommunications, automotive, insurance and consumer products companies.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Caroline Bennett]

  Online real estate marketplace Zillow (NASDAQ: Z  ) has launched a new web and mobile co-shopping platform, Agentfolio, for direct communication among agents and homebuyers, the company announced today.

• [By Evan Niu, CFA]

  What: Shares of Zillow (NASDAQ: Z  ) got crushed today by as much as 11% after the company announced earnings results

  So what: Revenue in the first quarter hit a new record of $39 million. That top line beat expectations of $37.4 million, and earnings per share were better than expected. Zillow lost $0.11 per share, which was better than the� $0.13 per share in red ink that investors were expecting. However, Goldman Sachs downgraded shares from "buy" to "neutral," which likely added pressure to the stock today. � Now what: The increased expenses this past quarter were related in part to acquisitions made at the end of 2012, which required increased investments in marketing and operating costs. Share-based compensation was also up. And on the bright side, Zillow boosted its full-year outlook and now expects revenue in the range of $178 million to $182 million.

  Interested in more info on Zillow? Add it to your watchlist by clicking here.

• [By Rick Aristotle Munarriz]

  Getty Images/Bloomberg/Gianluca Colla Companies can make brilliant moves, but there are also times when things don't work out quite as planned. From a CEO busted for spying on a larger rival to a satellite television provider raising the bar, here's a rundown of the week's smartest moves and biggest blunders in the business world. DISH Network (DISH) -- Winner In a deal with bigger implications than you may initially think, Disney (DIS) is giving DISH Network rights to stream live and on-demand shows from ABC, Disney and ESPN. This is a truly mobile service, opening the door for DISH to begin offering a standalone Web-based service. A lot of bigger companies than DISH have tried to talk major networks and broadcasters into similar arrangements, only to be shot down. DISH succeeded because it had a bargaining chip in its ad-skipping Hopper DVR technology. DISH agreed that users of the streaming service wouldn't be able to zap through the commercials for newer Disney shows. Modell's Sporting Goods -- Loser Dick's Sporting Goods (DKS) is filing a complaint in a New Jersey court after it caught Mitchell Modell -- CEO of rival Modell's -- spying on it. The lawsuit claims that Modell posed as a Dick's executive to gain access to private areas and learn business techniques at Dick's. If the allegations hold up, Modell's behavior was at the very least unethical, not to mention ironic -- a sporting goods chain's helmsman resorting to such unsportsmanlike conduct. Wouldn't it have been easier to just hire a Dick's executive? Zillow (Z) -- Winner Speaking of the right way to pry away information from a competitor, Zillow announced on Wednesday night that it was bringing on a key executive from Realtor.com parent Move (MOVE). A new position of chief industry development officer is being created for Errol Samuelson, who previously served as president of Realtor.com and Move's chief strategy officer. The beautiful thing about prying away a key employee from another