Best Stocks to Buy Now: How to Play 2014's Most Profitable Trends Today

By Tara Clarke, Associate Editor, Money Morning • @TaraKateClarke • March 10, 2014

Best stocks to buy for the week ending March 7, 2014: Geopolitical concerns in Ukraine sparked a shift to gold, crude, and grains early last week, while stock futures suffered. But as the week unfolded, investors came back to the stock markets with cautious optimism...

All eyes were on the Standard & Poor's 500 Index - it closed at 1,878.04 on Friday, marking its fifth record closing high in the past seven sessions. It increased 1% over the course of the week.

Meanwhile, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ended the week up 0.8% to close at 16,452.72. And the Nasdaq dropped 0.37% by Friday to close at 4,336.223.

Despite market volatility, investors still have plenty of opportunities for profit. Money Morning keeps readers current on the best stocks to buy now and the best investing moves to make for any market conditions. Here's what we covered last week:

• On Tuesday, Money Morning Defense & Tech Specialist Michael A. Robinson showed investors how to identify "double-your-money" tech stocks with these five clear-cut rules. And he didn't leave readers hanging - Robinson delivered a hot biotech stock that has double-your-money potential right now...

• Money Morning Executive Editor William Patalon III wrote about a rallying stock known as the "eBay of Latin America." On Friday, shares surged 10.56% after the company reported earnings and sales that smashed expectations. The key to the report is company growth moving forward - and Patalon liked what he saw...

• • Money Morning Global Energy Strategist Dr. Kent Moors wrote of heightened demands for gas last week, from the additional rise in power generation, to feeder stock for petrochemicals, vehicle fuel, added industrial use, and the advent of a significant rise in global liquefied natural gas (LNG) trade. The threat of an interruption in Ukraine's gas supply had immediate, worldwide economic consequences, illustrating just how weighty this market has become. That means a unique opportunity for U.S. LNG stocks and exports...

• The Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms proved profitable for this stock, which shot up nearly 20% last week on strong earnings and amid ongoing fears of increased industry regulation. Revenue rose 7% to $145.9 million, and earnings per share was up 43% from the same quarter a year ago - and sales show little signs of abating in 2014...

• Speaking of strong earnings, this alternative energy stock also fared well last week and looks to be well positioned as an industry leader moving forward. It's up nearly 50% in 2014 and 367% in the last 12 months. By comparison, its two closest competitors are up 19% and 6% in 2014, respectively. Zacks Investment Research currently holds a "#2 Buy" position, the firm's second highest rating, on the stock.

• Here's a stock that shot up more than 330% in 2014 as of last week, and more's in store. It's an alternative energy stock that Money Morning has featured several times since the start of the year. In January, we included the microcap company in a look at our 5 stocks to watch under $5. Two recent deals - one in January and one in February - promise continued returns for investors in 2014...

• The EU Commission is pursuing the feasibility of introducing an EU savings account, open to individuals whose funds could be pooled and invested in small companies. Meanwhile, U.S. President Barack Obama plans to limit how much Americans are allowed to save in a tax-deferred IRA as part of his MyRA proposal. The moves have Money Morning Resource Specialist Peter Krauth concerned that no lessons were learned in 2007, when the securitization market's breakdown triggered a worldwide stock market collapse. But fear not - Krauth revealed how to insulate your retirement portfolio from the plan to raid your savings account...

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