5 Best Tech Stocks To Invest In 2014

Visual effects have become virtually indistinguishable from the real thing in recent years. But now technology is conspiring to (small f) fool even the most discerning of experts.

At last week's annual conference of the National Association of Broadcasters, data storage specialist Fusion-io (NYSE: FIO  ) introduced a 1.6 terabyte version of its ioFX solid-state drive, which integrates with Hewlett-Packard's (NYSE: HPQ  ) Z class workstations for fast design and editing of visual effects.

Why should investors care? �Like Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL  ) before it, Fusion-io is occupying niches such as creative design where its specialized technology can have a huge impact. It's a short leap from there to mass market adoption, especially with data volumes growing as fast as they have been, says Tim Beyers of Motley Fool Rule Breakers and Motley Fool Supernova in the following video.

5 Best Tech Stocks To Invest In 2014: Meru Networks Inc.(MERU)

Meru Networks, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides wireless local area network (LAN) solutions in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. It offers a virtualized wireless LAN solution based on its System Director Operating System, which runs on its controllers and access points to enable enterprises to deliver business-critical applications over wireless networks. The company?s System Director Operating System provides centralized coordination and control of various access points on the network; controllers synchronize access points to optimize the user experience and manage traffic on the network; and Wi-Fi certified access points to provide network connectivity for wireless devices. It also offers Meru Networks E(z)RF application suite comprising E(z)RF Network Manager, E(z)RF Service Assurance Manager, E(z)RF Location Manager, E(z)RF OnTheGo, Spectrum Manager, and wired and wireless management solutions, which enable enterprises to configure, monitor, troubleshoot, secure, and operate virtualized wireless LAN solution. In addition, the company provides Identity Manager that simplifies enterprise network access and identity management; Wireless Intrusion Prevention System to recognize and mitigate threats; Compliance Manager to reduce the risk of security breach by protecting customer and employee personal information by extending security to the wireless network; AirFirewall to intercept and block unwanted communications as they transmit over the air, stopping them before they reach the network; and Security Gateway SG1000 to meet the demands of the Federal Information Processing Standard, 140-2 Level 3 security required by federal government agencies and other security-conscious organizations. It serves the education, healthcare, hospitality, manufacturing, retail, technology, finance, government, telecom, transportation, and utility markets. The company was founded in 2002 and is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California.

5 Best Tech Stocks To Invest In 2014: Lam Research Corporation(LRCX)

Lam Research Corporation designs, manufactures, markets, refurbishes, and services semiconductor processing equipments used in the fabrication of integrated circuits. The company offers etch products that remove portions of various films from the wafer in the creation of semiconductor devices. Its etch products include dielectric etch, conductor etch, three-dimensional integrated circuit etch, MEMS devices, CMOS image sensors, and power devices for etching process. Lam Research Corporation also provides wafer cleaning steps that comprise post-etch and post-strip cleans, and pre-diffusion and pre-deposition cleans; and single-wafer wet clean and plasma-based bevel clean systems. The company offers its products to semiconductor manufacturers. It operates in the United States, Europe, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, and the Asia Pacific. Lam Research Corporation was founded in 1980 and is headquartered in Fremont, California.

Top 5 Value Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Raven Industries Inc.(RAVN)

Raven Industries, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, manufactures various products for industrial, agricultural, energy, construction, and military/aerospace markets primarily in North America. It operates in four segments: Applied Technology, Engineered Films, Aerostar, and Electronic Systems. The Applied Technology segment designs, manufactures, sells, and services precision agriculture products and information management tools enabling growers to enhance farm yields. Its products include field computers, application controls, GPS-guidance and assisted-steering systems, automatic boom controls, and yield monitoring planter controls, as well as an integrated real time kinematic and information platform called Slingshot. This segment sells its products to original equipment manufacturers, as well as through after market distributors. The Engineered Films segment produces rugged reinforced plastic sheeting for industrial, construction, geomembrane, and agricultural appli cations. It sells plastic sheeting to independent third-party distributors through its sales force. The Aerostar segment sells high-altitude research balloons and tethered aerostats for government and commercial research. It produces military parachutes, uniforms, and protective wear for the U.S. government agencies as a subcontractor; and other sewn and sealed products on a contract basis. The Electronic Systems segment provides electronics manufacturing services for commercial customers. It manufactures assemblies, including avionics, communication, environmental controls, and other products. The company was founded in 1956 and is headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

5 Best Tech Stocks To Invest In 2014: Neratelecommunications Ltd (N01.SI)

Nera Telecommunications Ltd designs, engineers, sells, distributes, installs, services, and maintains telecommunication systems and products in transmission networks, and satellite communications and information technology networks. Its Telecommunications segment offers wireless infrastructure network solutions, including in-building, outdoor coverage enhancement, RF access network optimization, benchmarking, 3G/LTE base stations, and point-to-point and point-to-multi-point microwave solutions; and undertakes various projects that comprise planning, designing, installation, commissioning, testing, and post sales support and services for various market sectors, such as ISPs, broadcasters, enterprises, government organizations, offshore, and utilities. This segment also provides satellite communications products comprising land and marine terminals, land earth stations/gateways, broadband satellite networks for B2B applications, satellite airtime, on-board marine service, an d after sales services to satellite service providers, ISPs, government/aid/rescue organizations, enterprises, media, and marine/offshore/oil and gas industries. Its Infocomm segment offers IP network infrastructure products, such as routers, switches, security and application performance products, and access controlling products; digital TV broadcast network infrastructure products, networks, and services to the broadcasters and service providers; and optical network platform solutions to service providers, mobile carriers, business enterprises, multi-service operators, government, transport, and utilities. This segment also provides point-of-sale payment terminals; terminal/application software; and wireless, contact-less, and IP products to network devices. It serves customers in Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and other Asian countries. The company is based in Singapore.

5 Best Tech Stocks To Invest In 2014: Rdm Corporation Com Npv (RC.TO)

RDM Corporation develops and provides specialized software and hardware products for the electronic commerce and payment processing markets primarily in Canada and the United States. It offers remote check deposit systems and Web-based image management, and transaction processing services for retailers, banks, financial institutions, payment processors, and government agencies, as well as print quality control and image quality systems. The company provides remote deposit capture (RDC) software products, including the image and transactions management system (ITMS) WebClient for medium to large check volume customers; ITMS Branch Capture to enable the conversion of checks from paper to a digital format; Simply Deposit for small check volume customers; Simply Deposit Mobile for mobile deposit applications; Synergy Deposit for all‐in‐one RDC and card‐based payments in retail applications; and Image Cash Letter deposit services, as well as check scanners and payment terminals. It also offers document archive and retrieval solutions; and magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) test services to organization involved in the printing or processing of checks and/or MICR documents. In addition, the company provides RDC, MICR quality control, and image quality control training services; and professional services, including the implementation and deployment of RDC solutions and ITMS platforms. It serves various vertical markets, such as accounting firms, banking and financial services, check cashing, community banks, credit unions, daycare centers, education, healthcare, insurance, legal, membership clubs, mobile banking, motor freight, property management, retail, and utilities. It distributes its solutions through direct sales force, financial institutions, or value-added resellers. The company was formerly known as Mindflight Corporation and changed its name to RDM Corporation in June 1998. RDM Corporation was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in Waterloo, Canada.