Top 10 Financial Companies To Invest In Right Now

Make no mistake about it: Things are much better today than they were one year ago. And they were much better last year than the year before.

We were reminded of this in a recent report on the state of the foreclosure market published by data analytics firm CoreLogic (NYSE: CLGX  ) . At the same time, however, we were also reminded of how much further we still have to go before the crisis is fully and finally behind us. What follows, in turn, are the five most revealing numbers that CoreLogic uncovered in its report.

1. 4.4 million
There have been 4.4 million completed foreclosures since the financial crisis began in September 2008.

2. 103,807
This is the number of completed foreclosures in Florida over the past 12 months. By means of comparison, there have been 108 completed foreclosures in the District of Columbia over the same time period. Adjusting for the population difference, in Florida, the number of foreclosures per household was 1.45%, while in DC, it was only�0.04%.

Top 10 Financial Companies To Invest In Right Now: BlackRock Municipal Income Investment Trust (BBF)

BlackRock Municipal Income Investment Trust is a closed ended fixed income mutual fund launched by BlackRock, Inc. The fund is managed by BlackRock Advisors, LLC. It invests in the fixed income markets of United States. The fund primarily invests in the municipal bonds in hospital, water and sewer, education, tax, housing, lease, power, tobacco, transportation, and industrial and pollution control sectors. It was formerly known as BlackRock Florida Municipal Income Trust. BlackRock Municipal Income Investment Trust was formed in 2001 and is domiciled in United States.

Top 10 Financial Companies To Invest In Right Now: E-House(China)

E-House (China) Holdings Limited, through its subsidiaries, operates as a real estate services company in China. It provides primary real estate agency services, secondary real estate brokerage services, real estate information and consulting services, real estate advertising services, real estate online services, and real estate investment fund management services. The company offers primary real estate agency services to real estate developers of residential properties. Its secondary real estate brokerage services include offering advisory services on choices of properties; accompanying potential buyers on house viewing trips; drafting purchase contracts; negotiating price and other terms; and providing preliminary proof of title, as well as coordinating with the notary, the bank, and the title transfer agency. The company also provides market information to buyers and sellers based on its research, as well as listing and brokerage services comprising sales and rentals. Its real estate consulting services include land acquisition consulting and land development consulting. The company?s real estate information services comprise the sale of online subscriptions to its proprietary CRIC system to support its primary and secondary real estate agency services. Its real estate advertising services comprise advertising design and sales in print and other media. The company?s real estate online services include real estate news, information, property data, and access to online communities to real estate consumers and participants through local Web sites. Its real estate investment fund management activities consist of investments in China?s real estate sector. E-House (China) Holdings Limited was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Shanghai, the People?s Republic of China.

Top Canadian Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Mid-Wisconsin Finl Svcs Inc(MWFS.OB)

Mid-Wisconsin Financial Services, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Mid-Wisconsin Bank, a state-chartered bank that provides general commercial and retail banking services to individuals, businesses, and governmental units in Wisconsin. The company offers various deposit products, including interest bearing and non-interest bearing demand deposits, savings accounts, money market accounts, time deposits, individual retirement accounts, and certificates of deposit. It also provides a portfolio of commercial and consumer loans, including lines of credit, term loans, commercial real estate loans, agricultural financing, installment and other personal loans, and residential mortgage loans. In addition, the company offers ATM, merchant capture, cash management, express phone, and online banking services. Further, it provides wealth management services, such as fiduciary, administrative, and investment management services for personal trusts, estates, individuals, bus inesses, non-profits, and foundations for an asset-based fee. Additionally the company offers a range of retail investment and insurance products, including equities, bonds, fixed and variable annuities, mutual funds, life insurance, long-term care insurance, and brokered certificates of deposits. It operates 14 retail banking locations in Clark, Eau Claire, Lincoln, Marathon, Oneida, Price, Taylor, and Vilas counties in north central Wisconsin. The company is headquartered in Medford, Wisconsin.

Top 10 Financial Companies To Invest In Right Now: W.R. Berkley Corporation(WRB)

W. R. Berkley Corporation, an insurance holding company, operates as commercial lines writers in the property casualty insurance business primarily in the United States. The company operates in five segments: Specialty, Regional, Alternative Markets, Reinsurance, and International. The Specialty segment underwrites third-party liability risks, primarily excess, and surplus lines, including premises operations, professional liability, commercial automobile, products liability, and property lines. The Regional segments provide commercial insurance products to small-to-mid-sized businesses, and state and local governmental entities primarily in the 45 states of the United States. The Alternative Markets segment develops, insures, reinsures, and administers self-insurance programs and other alternative risk transfer mechanisms. This segment offers its services to employers, employer groups, insurers, and alternative market funds, as well as provides a range of fee-based servic es, including consulting and administrative services. The Reinsurance segment engages in the underwriting property casualty reinsurance on a treaty and a facultative basis, including individual certificates and program facultative business; and specialty and standard reinsurance lines, and property and casualty reinsurance. The International segment offers personal and commercial property casualty insurance in South America; commercial property casualty insurance in the United Kingdom and continental Europe; and reinsurance in Australia, Southeast Asia, and Canada. The company was founded in 1967 and is based in Greenwich, Connecticut.

Top 10 Financial Companies To Invest In Right Now: Sun Communities Inc (SUI)

Sun Communities, Inc. is a self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust (REIT). The Company leases individual parcels of land (sites) with utility access for placement of manufactured homes and recreational vehicles (RV) to its customers. It operates in two segments: Real Property Operations, and Home Sales and Rentals. The Real Property Operations segment owns, operates, and develops manufactured housing communities concentrated in the Midwestern, southern, and south-eastern United States and is in the business of acquiring, operating, and expanding manufactured housing communities. The Home Sales and Rentals segment offers manufactured home sales and leasing services to tenants and prospective tenants of its communities. In May 2011, it acquired Orange City RV Resort, a Florida RV community comprised of 525 developed sites. In February 2012, it acquired three additional Florida RV communities, Three Lakes RV resort, Blueberry Hill RV resort and Grand Lake Estates.

As of December 31, 2011, it owned and operated a portfolio of 159 properties located in 18 states, including 141 manufactured housing communities, eight RV communities, and 10 properties containing both manufactured housing and RV sites. As of December 31, 2011, the Properties contained an aggregate of 54,811 developed sites consisted of 47,935 developed manufactured home sites, 3,867 permanent RV sites, 3,009 seasonal RV sites, and approximately 6,400 additional manufactured home sites suitable for development. Most of the Properties include amenities oriented toward family and retirement living. Of the 159 Properties, 73 have more than 300 developed manufactured home sites, with the having 1,003 developed manufactured home sites. As of December 31, 2011, the Properties had an occupancy rate of 85.3 % excluding seasonal RV sites.

The Company�� properties contain improvements similar to garden-style residential developments, including centralized entrances, paved streets, curbs and gutters, an! d parkways. In addition, these communities also often provide a number of amenities, such as a clubhouse, a swimming pool, shuffleboard courts, tennis courts and laundry facilities. The owner of each home on its Properties leases the site, on which the home is located. The Company owns the underlying land, utility connections, streets, lighting, driveways, common area amenities and other capital improvements. Some of the properties provide water and sewer service through public or private utilities, while others provide these services to residents from onsite facilities. Each owner within its properties is responsible for the maintenance of the home and leased site.

Top 10 Financial Companies To Invest In Right Now: Financial Engines Inc.(FNGN)

Financial Engines, Inc. and its subsidiaries provide independent, technology-enabled portfolio management services, investment advice, and retirement income services to participants in employer-sponsored defined contribution plans. The company helps investors plan for retirement by offering personalized plans for saving and investing, as well as by providing assessments of retirement income needs and readiness. Its services include Professional Management, a discretionary managed account service designed for plan participants who want personalized and professional portfolio management services, investment advice, and retirement income services from an independent investment advisor; Online Advice, an Internet-based non-discretionary service that offers personalized advice to plan participants who manage their portfolios directly; and Retirement Evaluation, a retirement readiness assessment provided to plan participants upon plan rollout. The company delivers its services t o plan sponsors and plan participants primarily through connections to eight retirement plan providers in the United States. Financial Engines, Inc. was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Palo Alto, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By WWW.GURUFOCUS.COM]

  Our biggest contributor this quarter was Financial Engines, Inc. (FNGN), which provides personalized independent investment management and advice to employees for their retirement plans. The stock rose 26.0%. Revenues grew an impressive 29% in the first quarter, driven by additional corporate clients, more employee participation and stock market appreciation. The company recently introduced "Income Plus" an alternative to "target date" fund offerings, which is being well received and opens up potential new growth opportunities.

Top 10 Financial Companies To Invest In Right Now: Egi Financial Hold Com Npv (EFH.TO)

EGI Financial Holdings Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the property and casualty insurance business in Canada, the United States, and Denmark. The company underwrites non-standard automobile insurance, as well as insurance for motorcycles, antique and classic vehicles, trailers, motor homes, and recreational vehicles. It also designs and underwrites specialized insurance programs, such as property, primary and excess liability, legal expense, and accident and health insurance for various businesses and consumers; extended warranty coverage for homes, consumer products, and heavy equipment; and specialized coverage products, such as business interruption and independent truckers insurance. The company sells its products primarily through brokers and agents, benefit consultants, managing general agents, third party administrators, and warranty product distributors. EGI Financial Holdings Inc. was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in Mississauga, Canada.

Top 10 Financial Companies To Invest In Right Now: Cr Artigiano(CRA.MI)

Credito Artigiano S.p.A. engages in the provision of banking and investment services in Italy. It offers loans, savings accounts, insurance, investments, pension funds, and credit card services. The company operates three product lines, including investment and bank insurance that provides savings products, and life and casualty insurance; transfer products; and financing products, such as mortgage, consumer, and business loans, as well as factoring services. It also offers online banking services. The company serves families, professionals, and small businesses. It operates a network of approximately 144 branches in the areas of London, Monza and Brianza, Pavia, Florence, Lawn, Piacenza, Pisa, Pistoia, Lucca, Rome, Lodi, and Cremona. The company, formerly known as Piccolo Credito Artigiano, was founded in 1946 and is headquartered in Milan, Italy. Credito Artigiano S.p.A. is a subsidiary of Credito Valtellinese Soc Coop.

Top 10 Financial Companies To Invest In Right Now: St.modwen Props(SMP.L)

St. Modwen Properties PLC, through its subsidiaries, engages in the investment and development of real estate properties in the United Kingdom. It develops communities, mixed use and town centre schemes, district centres, business and employment developments, office accommodation, warehousing, and industrial projects. The company?s property portfolio comprises approximately 5,700 developable acres and 18 town centre schemes. St. Modwen Properties PLC is headquartered in Birmingham, the United Kingdom.

Top 10 Financial Companies To Invest In Right Now: Charles Stanley Grp(CAY.L)

Charles Stanley Group Plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides investment and financial services in the United Kingdom. The company operates in three segments: Private Clients, Financial Services, and Charles Stanley Securities. The Private Clients segment offers investment management services to individuals, trusts, and charities. The Financial Services segment provides corporate finance and wealth management services; pension administration services; and markets unit trusts, open ended investment company units, and packaged financial products to private clients. The Charles Stanley Securities segment offers stock broking, financial planning and benefit consultancy, and small and mid-cap advisory and institutional broking services. The company also provides life and health assurance, and tax advisory services. Charles Stanley Group Plc was founded in 1792 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom.