Top 5 Financial Companies For 2014

Morgan Stanley (MS) is in the market today with a new preferred stock issue.

Morgan Stanley, a bank holding company, provides diversified financial services on a worldwide basis. The Company operates a global securities business which serves individual and institutional investors and investment banking clients. Morgan Stanley also operates a global asset management business.

The details are (from the prospectus):

IssuerMorgan Stanley Size$250,000,000 Series/TickerSeries E - MSPrE (expected) RatingBa3/BB+/BB/BBB (Moody's/S&P/Fitch/DBRS)- expected Rate TypeFixed to float Rate7% plus (closer to 7.25%). Floats after 10/15/2023 at 3mo LIBOR + MaturityPerpetual Optional Redemption10/15/2023 CumulativeNO Tax TreatmentDRD/QDI

In order to discern if there is value (and pricing) a look at their existing preferreds is in order:

Top 5 Financial Companies For 2014: Peoples Federal Bancshares Inc.(PEOP)

Peoples Federal Bancshares, Inc. operates as a holding company for Peoples Federal Savings Bank that provides financial services to individuals and small businesses. The company?s deposit accounts include passbook and statement savings, certificates of deposit, money market, commercial and regular checking, NOW, and individual retirement accounts. It offers one- to four-family residential mortgage, home equity and lines of credit, multi-family real estate, commercial real estate, construction, consumer, and commercial loans. It operates six banking offices located in Brighton, Allston, West Roxbury, Jamaica Plain, Brookline and Norwood. The company was founded in 1888 and is based in Brighton, Massachusetts.

Top 5 Financial Companies For 2014: Singapore Reinsurance Cor Ltd (S49.SI)

Singapore Reinsurance Corporation Limited operates as a general reinsurance company. It underwrites property, liability, miscellaneous accident, and marine classes on a facultative and treaty basis. The company, through its subsidiaries, also provides various services, including managing the GIA Records Management Centre (GIARMC); providing and supporting the Web-based e-filing system for non-injury motor accident reporting at GIARMC; the Agents' Registration and Continuous Professional Development Management System, a Web- based agents' information system, which is accessible by the General Insurance Association of Singapore, training providers, insurers, and insurance agents; and information technology (IT) systems for insurers, reinsurers, and insurance intermediaries. It also offers IT software development and consultancy services, such as turnkey and systems integration services to businesses; and software solutions to the insurance industry, which include Broker 2000 and Millennium Broker Assistant for the professional insurance intermediaries, and Integrated Reinsurance InfoSystem for the professional reinsurers. In addition, the company provides advertising and consultancy services, such as design, copy-writing, media planning, and the production and printing of promotional media, as well as investment, business, management, international trade, property, human and education, and insurance and marine consultancy services. Further, the company publishes magazines, books, and other publications, as well as organizes conferences and insurance training courses to meet the information needs of insurance and reinsurance practitioners in Asia. Singapore Reinsurance Corporation operates in Singapore, Malaysia, and the other Asian countries. The company was founded in 1973 and is headquartered in Singapore, Singapore.

Top High Tech Stocks To Buy For 2014: Bank of America Corporation(BAC)

Bank of America Corporation, a financial holding company, provides banking and nonbanking financial services and products to individuals, small- and middle-market businesses, large corporations, and governments in the United States and internationally. The company?s Deposits segment generates savings accounts, money market savings accounts, certificate of deposits, and checking accounts; and Global Card Services segment provides the U.S. consumer and business card, consumer lending, international card and debit card services. Its Home Loans & Insurance segment offers consumer real estate products and services, including mortgage loans, reverse mortgages, home equity lines of credit, and home equity loans. It also provides property, disability, and credit insurance. The company?s Global Commercial Banking segment offers lending products, including commercial loans and commitment facilities, real estate lending, leasing, trade finance, short-term credit, asset-based lending, and indirect consumer loans; and capital management and treasury solutions, such as treasury management, foreign exchange, and short-term investing options. Its Global Banking & Markets segment provides financial products, advisory services, settlement, and custody services; debt and equity underwriting and distribution, merger-related advisory services, and risk management products; and integrated working capital management and treasury solutions. The company?s Global Wealth & Investment Management segment offers investment and brokerage services, estate management, financial planning services, fiduciary management, credit and banking expertise, and asset management products. Bank of America Corporation serves customers through a network of approximately 5,900 banking centers and 18,000 automated teller machines. It was formerly known as NationsBank Corporation and changed its name on October 1, 1998. Bank of America Corporation was founded in 1874 and is based in Charlott e, North Carolina.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Maxfield]

  So why does this matter? At least in the banking space, regional economic figures like these can make a big difference for the success or failure of lenders. It goes a long way, for instance, in explaining the problems at SunTrust Banks (NYSE: STI  ) , which is based in Georgia, Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC  ) , which assumed Wachovia's heavy Florida presence, and Bank of America (NYSE: BAC  ) , which has a significant footprint in California that was added to via its purchase of Countrywide Financial.

Top 5 Financial Companies For 2014: Suffolk Bancorp(SUBK)

Suffolk Bancorp operates as the holding company for Suffolk County National Bank, a national-chartered commercial bank that provides domestic, retail, and commercial banking services, as well as trust services in Suffolk County, New York. The company offers various deposit products consisting of checking accounts, savings accounts, time and savings certificates, money market accounts, negotiable-order-of-withdrawal accounts, holiday club accounts, and individual retirement accounts. It also provides various secured and unsecured loans, including commercial loans to individuals, partnerships, and corporations; agricultural loans to farmers; installment loans to finance small businesses; automobile loans; and home equity and real estate mortgage loans. In addition, the company offers safe deposit boxes, and trust and estate services; sells mutual funds and annuities; and maintains a master pension plan for self-employed individuals? participation. As of December 31, 2010, i t operated 30 full-service offices in Suffolk County, New York. Suffolk Bancorp was founded in 1890 and is headquartered in Riverhead, New York.

Top 5 Financial Companies For 2014: Renasant Corporation(RNST)

Renasant Corporation operates as the bank holding company for the Renasant Bank that provides various financial and insurance services to retail and commercial customers. The company offers checking accounts, money market accounts, savings accounts, certificates of deposit, time deposits, individual retirement accounts, and health savings accounts. It also provides commercial, financial, and agricultural loans; construction loans, including loans for the construction of single family residential properties, multi-family properties, and commercial projects; residential mortgage loans; home equity loans or lines of credit; consumer loans; and equipment leasing, as well as safe deposit and night depository facilities. In addition, the company offers various fiduciary services; and administers qualified retirement plans, profit sharing and other employee benefit plans, personal trusts, and estates. Further, the company provides annuities, mutual funds, and other investment ser vices through a third party broker-dealer. Additionally, the company offers commercial and personal insurance products through carriers. As of October 21, 2011, it operated approximately 75 banking, mortgage, financial services, and insurance offices in Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia. The company was founded in 1904 and is based in Tupelo, Mississippi.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Duprey]

  Financial services specialist�Renasant� (NASDAQ: RNST  ) �announced yesterday�its second-quarter dividend of $0.17 per share, the same rate it's paid since 2007.