Top Healthcare Technology Stocks To Watch Right Now

The medical device industry can be a tricky field for those looking for investment advice. Between companies selling products in every category from drug-eluting stents to neuromodulation, where in the wide field of health care do you start? Fortunately, the ongoing earnings season has told us a few key trends every medical device investor can take advantage of. Here are three need-to-know points from the industry's earnings season that your portfolio can't afford to ignore.

This isn't a biotech-style growth industry
First off, the medical device industry as a whole is facing some tough times. Pricing pressures, maturing markets, and a tough European business climate have all contributed to slowing or declining sales among the top names in the industry.

Take a look around the top device companies reporting this week, and you'll see a picture of lackluster growth. Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ  ) , one of the biggest names in health care, saw double-digit growth from its medical device department, but only because of its $12 billion acquisition of orthopedics powerhouse Synthes last year. Fellow diversified medical firm Abbott Labs' (NYSE: ABT  ) medical device sales fell more than 4% despite its dominant position in the stent industry. St. Jude Medical (NYSE: STJ  ) also saw sales decline 3% at a constant currency, even as the company managed to grow earnings by more than 5% by cutting costs.

Top Healthcare Technology Stocks To Watch Right Now: Highway Holdings Limited(HIHO)

Highway Holdings Limited, through its subsidiaries, manufactures and supplies metal, plastic, electric, and electronic components, as well as subassemblies and finished products for original equipment manufacturers and contract manufacturers. The company?s products are used in the manufacture of various products, including photocopiers, laser printers, compact disc players, laser disc players, cassette players, computer equipment, electrical components, electrical connectors, cameras, automobile accessories, vacuum cleaners, light fixtures, electro motors, air pumps, automobiles, and dishwasher and other washing machine components. It also manufactures consumer products, such as cases for mobile phones; and assists its customers in the design and development of the tooling used in the metal and plastic manufacturing process, as well as provides other manufacturing and engineering services. In addition, Highway Holdings Limited provides manufacturing services, including me tal stamping, screen printing, plastic injection molding, and pad printing services, as well as electronic assembly services comprising chip on board assembly, IC-bonding, and SMT automatic components assembly of printed circuit boards. It offers its products and services primarily in Hong Kong and China, Europe, the United States, and other Asian countries. The company was founded in 1990 and is headquartered in Sheung Shui, Hong Kong.

Top Healthcare Technology Stocks To Watch Right Now: CorVel Corp.(CRVL)

CorVel Corporation provides medical cost containment and managed care services to manage the medical costs of worker?s compensation and auto claims in the United States. It offers network solutions, including bill review, PPO management, professional review, reimbursement, pharmacy, directed care, and clearinghouse services, as well as medicare solutions. The company also provides patient management services comprising claims management, case management, nurse triage, utilization management, vocational rehabilitation, life care planning, disability management, liability claims management, and auto claims management. It provides its services to insurance companies, third-party administrators, employers, and government agencies. The company was founded in 1987 and is based in Irvine, California.

5 Best Low Price Stocks To Own For 2014: The Ultimate Software Group Inc.(ULTI)

The Ultimate Software Group, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, designs, develops, and markets unified human capital management software-as-a-service solutions to businesses in the United States and Canada. Its UltiPro software solution offers businesses with cloud-based functionality to manage the employment life cycle from recruitment to retirement. The UltiPro solution includes feature sets for talent acquisition and onboarding, human resource management and compliance, benefits management and online enrollment, payroll, performance management, salary planning and budgeting for compensation management, succession management, reporting and analytical decision-making tools, and time and attendance, as well as role-based access for executives, managers, administrators, and employees. The company offers its products and services for various industries, including manufacturing, food services, sports, technology, finance, insurance, retail, real estate, transportation, com munications, healthcare, and other services. It also provides implementation, training, maintenance, and technical support services. The Ultimate Software Group, Inc. markets its products under the UltiPro Enterprise and UltiPro Workplace brand names through its direct sales teams. The company was founded in 1990 and is headquartered in Weston, Florida.

Top Healthcare Technology Stocks To Watch Right Now: Total S.a. Ord Eur 10(TTA.L)

TOTAL S.A., together with its subsidiaries, operates as an integrated oil and gas company worldwide. The company operates in three segments: Upstream, Downstream, and Chemicals. The Upstream segment engages in the exploration, development, and production of oil and gas, liquefied natural gas, and electricity; and shipping and trading liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), as well as power generation from renewable energies, and coal production, trading, and marketing. As of December 31, 2011, it had combined proved reserves of 11,423 million barrels of oil equivalent of oil and gas. The Downstream segment is involved in refining, marketing, trading, and shipping crude oil and petroleum products. This segment also produces and markets a range of specialty products, such as lubricants, LPG, jet fuel, special fluids, heavy fuel, bitumen, marine fuels, and petrochemical feedstock. This segment holds interests in 20 refineries located in Europe, the United States, the French West Indie s, Africa, and China, as well as operates a network of 14,819 service stations. The Chemicals segment produces base chemicals, including petrochemicals and fertilizers; and specialty chemicals, such as elastomer processing, adhesives, and electroplating chemistry. This segment serves the automotive, construction, electronics, aerospace, and convenience goods markets. TOTAL S.A. was founded in 1924 and is headquartered in Paris, France.

Top Healthcare Technology Stocks To Watch Right Now: Origin Agritech Limited(SEED)

Origin Agritech Limited, an agricultural biotechnology company, specializes in the research, development, production, sale, and distribution of crop seeds. Its seed products include corn, rice, cotton, and canola. The company is also involved in hybrid seed technology development and agricultural chemical production. Origin Agritech distributes its products to farmers through first level and second level distributors, and retailers in the People's Republic of China, southeast Asia, and the Middle East. The company was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in Beijing, the People?s Republic of China.

Top Healthcare Technology Stocks To Watch Right Now: Volterra Semiconductor Corporation(VLTR)

Volterra Semiconductor Corporation engages in the design, development, and marketing of analog and mixed-signal power management semiconductors for computing, storage, networking, and consumer markets. The company?s products include integrated voltage regulator semiconductors, integrated power protection and distribution semiconductors, and scalable voltage regulator semiconductor chipsets that transform, regulate, deliver, and monitor the power consumed by digital semiconductors. Its analog and mixed signal power management semiconductor products are primarily used in applications that require voltage regulating performance, such as data networking equipment, desktop and notebook computers, digital televisions, digital video recorders, game consoles, enterprise storage equipment, graphics cards, hard disk drives, printers, raid cards, servers, telecommunications equipment, base stations, and workstations. The company sells its products primarily to original equipment man ufacturers, original design manufacturers, contract equipment manufacturers, and merchant power supply manufacturers directly through its internal sales force, as well as indirectly through distributors and outsourced suppliers. It has operations in the United States, China, Singapore, Japan, Taiwan, and Germany. Volterra Semiconductor Corporation was founded in 1996 and is based in Fremont, California.