Hot Specialty Retail Companies To Watch For 2014

A number of sources, from Fitch Ratings to UBS,�have decided that it's time for investors to get out of department stores. The argument is that customers are trending more toward specialty retailers, and that the benefit well for department store stocks is all but dried up. Other observers aren't sold on the idea, though, and the National Retail Federation ranks among the skeptics. Daniel Butler, a VP of retail operations with the Federation, said that department stores are actually outperforming the retail sector overall.

For investors, it may simply be a matter of being more selective. The range of department stores and performances is broad, so here are three of the bigger players, and how they stack up against one another.

J.C. Penney
At the bottom of the pile is J.C. Penney (NYSE: JCP  ) . I vacillate between thinking that J.C. Penney is about to go out of business and take everyone down with it and thinking that it's about to go out of business but liquidate its real estate to generate some value for investors. Either way, things at the retailer are not working out. Last quarter, both net sales and comparable sales were down more than 16%. The company's loss per share doubled from the quarter last year.

Hot Specialty Retail Companies To Watch For 2014: Csm Systems Corp (CKX.V)

CSM Systems Corp., through its subsidiary, Visionstate Inc., develops, installs, and customizes interactive touch screen customer service technology suitable for various types of public spaces. Its core software platform is known as ViCCi, an acronym for virtual customer care interface. The company offers building digital display networks and digital sales assistants to customers, including shopping centers, recreation centers, office buildings, and other places that require wayfinding. It also provides mobile iphone applications; and sells its kiosks to home development project for displaying information about the project. In addition, the company offers consulting, graphic, and Web design and related services and support. CSM Systems Corp. is based in Edmonton, Canada.

Hot Specialty Retail Companies To Watch For 2014: International Bethlehem Mining (IBC.V)

International Bethlehem Mining Corp. engages in the identification, exploration, and development of mineral resources primarily in British Columbia and Ontario, Canada. It primarily explores for rare earth metals. International Bethlehem Mining Corp. was incorporated in 1995 and based in West Vancouver, Canada.

Top 10 Insurance Stocks To Own For 2014: Changfeng Energy Inc (CFY.V)

Changfeng Energy Inc. operates as a natural gas utility in the People's Republic of China. It designs, constructs, owns, and operates natural gas pipeline network for residential, commercial, and industrial customers in Sanya City, Hainan province, as well as in Xiangdong District, Pingxiang City, Jiangxi Province. The company has 30 years concession rights and 50 years operation rights to operate the natural gas distribution business. Its distribution network consists of 38 kilometers (km) of high-pressure gas pipelines; 26.6 km of high-to-medium pressure pipeline; approximately 122 km of medium to low pressure gas pipelines; and approximately 600 km of branch/customer pipelines, as well as includes 1 primary station, 2 gate processing stations, and 3 gas pressure regulating stations. The company also operates a compressed natural gas refueling retail station in Changsha City, Hunan Province. Changfeng Energy Inc. was founded in 1995 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canad a.

Hot Specialty Retail Companies To Watch For 2014: Seven Group Holdings Limited(SVW.AX)

Seven Group Holdings Limited, through its subsidiaries, engages in the media and broadcasting, newspaper and magazine publishing, heavy equipment sales and service, equipment hire, and online businesses in Australia and China. The company operates as a Caterpillar dealer, which provides heavy equipment sales and support services to customers in Western Australia, New South Wales, and the Australian Capital Territory. It is also involved in the manufacture, assembly, sale, and support of lighting, power generation, and dewatering equipment; and rental of equipment, as well as distribution of Perkins engines. In addition, it engages in the operations of broadband, telephony, and other listed investments and properties. The company was formerly known as Seven Network Limited and changed its name to Seven Group Holdings Limited in April 2010, as a result of merger with WesTrac Holdings Pty Limited. Seven Group Holdings Limited is headquartered in Pyrmont, Australia.