5 Best Internet Stocks To Own For 2015

The Internet is invading our living rooms. Research firm NPD forecasts that, whether through consoles, streaming boxes, or the TVs themselves, the number of wired devices bringing broadband into homes should jump by 50% in two years -- to 120 million.

Plenty of big tech companies are vying for a piece of that surging market. Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL  ) , for example, has sold millions of its Apple TV streaming devices. And CEO Tim Cook said in May that the company has a "grand vision" around TV but hasn't clued investors in to its plans yet. Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT  ) , meanwhile, has made it clear that it wants its new Xbox console to be an all-in-one entertainment hub instead of just a gaming platform. And even Intel (NASDAQ: INTC  ) � will be joining the fight with its own set-top box delivering a paid Internet video service this year.

In the following video, Fool contributor Demitrios Kalogeropoulos argues that Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX  ) may actually be the best positioned to benefit from these battles. As an application, the company's software can be layered onto any popular device, just as it is today with consoles and streaming boxes. And Netflix's membership growth was the strongest over the holiday quarter last year, when consumers were snapping up tablets and smart TVs by the handful. If this holiday season turns into a tech war over Internet-connected living rooms, he argues, then Netflix could end 2013 with a similar bang.

Top 5 Penny Stocks To Watch Right Now: eBay Inc.(EBAY)

eBay Inc. provides online platforms, services, and tools to help individuals and merchants in online and mobile commerce and payments in the United States and internationally. Its Marketplaces segment operates ecommerce platform eBay.com; vertical shopping sites, such as StubHub, Fashion, Motors, and Half.com; and classifieds Websites, including Den Bl�Avis, BilBasen, Gumtree, Kijiji, LoQUo, Marktplaats.nl, mobile.de, Alamaula, Rent.com, eBay Anuncios, eBay Kleinanzeigen, and eBay Annunci, as well as provides advertising services. The company?s Payments segment offers payment and settlement services for consumers and merchants on and off eBay Websites and other merchant Websites. This segment operates PayPal, which enables individuals and businesses to send and receive payments online and through mobile devices; Bill Me Later that enables the United States merchants to offer, the United States consumers to obtain, credit at the point of sale for ecommerce and mobile tra nsactions; Zong, which allows users with mobile phones to purchase digital goods and have the transactions charged to their phone bill; and BillSAFE that enables customers pay for purchases upon receipt of an invoice. Its GSI segment offers an ecommerce services suite for enterprise clients that operate in general merchandise categories, including apparel, sporting goods, toys and baby, health and beauty, and home; and marketing services comprising full-service digital agency, enterprise email marketing, mobile advertising, affiliate marketing, advertisement retargeting, and in-depth analytics services. The company also offers X.commerce platform that provides software developers access to the company?s applications programming interfaces to develop functionality for various merchants; and Magento Connect, which allows developers to market and sell add-on functionality and solutions to merchants that use a Magento storefront. eBay Inc. was founded in 1995 and is headquarter ed in San Jose, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Steve Heller]

  By know you've probably heard that eBay (NASDAQ: EBAY  ) has begun taking its online payments service offline. Thanks to a strategic partnership with Discover Financial, PayPal will be accepted in over 2 million retail locations across the U.S. by year's end. At first, PayPal will cater this service to its over 55 million domestic active account holders in an effort to raise awareness. Ultimately, the goal for PayPal is to change consumer behavior to reach for their PayPal card instead of their credit card.

• [By Rex Crum]

  IBM (IBM) �rose $1.39 a share to $186.16 and eBay (EBAY) �shares rose almost 2% to $54.37. Both companies are scheduled to report quarterly results next week.

5 Best Internet Stocks To Own For 2015: IAC/InterActiveCorp (IACI)

IAC/InterActiveCorp engages in the Internet business in the United States and internationally. The company�s Search segment develops, markets, and distributes various downloadable toolbars; provides search, reference, and content services through its destination search and other Websites, including Ask.com and Dictionary.com; and aggregates and integrates local advertising and content for distribution to publishers on Web and mobile platforms, as well as markets and distributes mobile applications through which it provides search and additional services. Its Match segment offers subscription-based and advertiser-supported online personals services through its Websites comprising Match.com, Chemistry.com, OurTime.com, BlackPeopleMeet.com, and OkCupid.com, as well as through mobile applications and Meetic-branded Websites. The company�s ServiceMagic segment offers Market Match service that matches consumers with service professionals; Exact Match service, which enables con sumers to review service professional profiles and select the service professional that meets their specific needs; and 1800Contractor.com, an online directory of service professionals. This segment also offers Website design and hosting services. Its Media and Other segment operates CollegeHumor.com, an online entertainment Website that targets young males; Vimeo, a Website on which users can upload, share, and view video; and Pronto.com, a comparison search engine. This segment also engages in the creation of video content for various distribution platforms; and operates as an Internet retailer of footwear and related apparel and accessories, as well as focuses on multimedia business. The company was formerly known as InterActiveCorp and changed its name to IAC/InterActiveCorp in July 2004. IAC/InterActiveCorp was founded in 1986 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By WALLSTCHEATSHEET]

  IAC isn�� the most loved company on the street, which is evidenced by that 8.80 percent short position. However, IAC continues to deliver on the top and bottom lines. As long as that remains to be the case, IAC is an OUTPERFORM.

5 Best Internet Stocks To Own For 2015: Symantec Corporation(SYMC)

Symantec Corporation provides security, storage, and systems management solutions internationally. The company?s Consumer segment delivers Internet security, PC tune-up, and online backup solutions and services to individual users and home offices. Its Security and Compliance segment provides solutions for endpoint security and management, compliance, messaging management, data loss prevention, encryption, and authentication services to large, medium, and small-sized businesses, as well as offers solutions through its software-as-a-service (SaaS) security offerings. This segment?s products enable customers to secure, provision, and remotely manage their laptops, PCs, mobile devices, and servers. The company?s Storage and Server Management segment provides storage and server management, backup, archiving, and data protection solutions across heterogeneous storage and server platforms, as well as solutions delivered through its SaaS offerings to large, medium, and small-s ized businesses. Symantec?s Services segment offers implementation services and solutions, including consulting, business critical services, education, and managed security services. The company also provides various enterprise support offerings, such as annual maintenance support contracts, including content, upgrades, and technical support. It sells its products through its eCommerce platform, as well as through distributors, direct marketers, Internet-based resellers, system builders, ISPs, and retail locations worldwide. Symantec markets and sells its products through distributors, retailers, direct marketers, Internet-based resellers, original equipment manufacturers, system builders, and Internet service providers; and its e-commerce channels, as well as direct sales force, value-added and large account resellers, and system integrators. The company was founded in 1982 and is headquartered in Mountain View, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Traders Reserve]

  For some reason, certain companies can attract buyers no matter the circumstance. I would put Symantec (SYMC) in that category. Shares have gained nearly 20% this year even as Symantec�� prospects deteriorated.

• [By MONEYMORNING]

  A big player here is Symantec Corp. (Nasdaq: SYMC), a global provider of security, storage, and systems management solutions with an extensive focus on managing consumer data and information.

• [By Tim Melvin]

  The first "insider" stock to buy is Symantec Corp. (Nasdaq: SYMC), one of the leading internet security providers in the world.

  Symantec makes a wide range of products that help individuals and businesses keep their computers and mobile devices safe from viruses and malware. The stock recently dropped sharply after the company fell short of analysts' quarterly earnings expectations, but CEO Stephen Bennett clearly disagrees with the market's opinion of the company's prospects. He got out his checkbook and added 1,000,000 shares of stock for a total cost of more than $2.2 million. He now owns 488,000 shares of Symantec stock and clearly has high expectations for the future of Symantec's stock price.

5 Best Internet Stocks To Own For 2015: Yahoo! Inc.(YHOO)

Yahoo! Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a digital media company that delivers personalized digital content and experiences through various devices worldwide. It offers online properties and services to users; and a range of marketing services to businesses. The company?s communications and communities offerings include Yahoo! Mail, Yahoo! Messenger, Yahoo! Groups, Yahoo! Answers, Flickr, and Connected TV, which provide a range of communication and social services to users and small businesses enabling users to organize into groups and share knowledge, common interests, and photos. Its search products comprise Yahoo! Search and Yahoo! Local, available free to users to navigate the Internet and discover content. The company?s marketplaces offerings and services include Yahoo! Shopping, Yahoo! Travel, Yahoo! Real Estate, Yahoo! Autos, and Yahoo! Small Business, which allow users to research specific topics, products, services, or areas of interest by review ing and exchanging information, obtaining contact details, or considering offers from providers of goods, services, or parties with similar interests. Its media offerings comprise Yahoo! Homepage, Yahoo! News, Yahoo! Sports, Yahoo! Finance, My Yahoo!, Yahoo! Toolbar, Yahoo! Entertainment & Lifestyles, Yahoo! Contributor Network, and Yahoo! Pulse, which are designed to engage users with online content and services on the Web. The company also offers marketing services, such as display and search advertising, listing-based services, and commerce-based transactions to advertisers. In addition, it provides software and platform offerings for third-party developers, advertisers, and publishers, such as Yahoo! Developer Network, Yahoo! Open Strategy, Yahoo! Application Platform, Yahoo! Updates, Yahoo! Query Language, and Yahoo! Search BOSS. The company has strategic alliances with Nokia and ABC News, Inc. Yahoo! Inc. was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in Sunnyvale, Californi a.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Vincent Ho]

  It is worth mentioning that Baidu has lost its dominating 80% market share that many people in previous SA articles refer to. Baidu had a 63% market share in August of 2013. There is also the possibility that Google Hong Kong (GOOG) and Yahoo (YHOO) can gain more market share at Baidu's expense. Qihoo is certainly growing in popularity. Warren Buffett has mentioned that it is hard to predict the future winners and losers with certainty in the technology sector. The recent rise of Qihoo, in a relatively short period of time, is a great example of the unpredictability of technology. It is essential that Baidu maintains its market share if they expect future earnings growth.

• [By WALLSTCHEATSHEET]

  Yahoo is an Internet bellwether that provides a multitude of services to consumers and companies worldwide. The company�has increased its stock buyback plan by $5 billion and will sell $1 billion in convertible debt that will mature in 2018. The stock has been moving higher in recent quarters and is now trading near highs for the year. Over the last four quarters, earnings and revenues have been mixed, which have produced conflicting feelings among investors about earnings announcements. Relative to its peers and sector, Yahoo has been a year-to-date performance leader. Look for Yahoo to OUTPERFORM.

• [By Evan Niu, CFA]

  A recent Wall Street Journal�article suggests that�Apple� (NASDAQ: AAPL  ) and�Yahoo!� (NASDAQ: YHOO  ) are in talks to integrate Yahoo! content and services to a greater degree. Right now, the search company provides data on stocks and weather, along with answering some requests from Siri. New CEO Marissa Mayer has made progress focusing on Yahoo!'s mobile strategy, and scoring a deeper partnership with Apple would be a big win. Meanwhile, Apple continues to reduce�Google's (NASDAQ: GOOG  ) integrated presence in iOS, most notably with Maps, although Google's services are still available as third-party apps.