Top 5 Tech Companies To Own For 2014

The Department of Defense closed out last week with a massive $7.4 billion in new contract awards Friday. Nineteen separate companies shared in the Pentagon largesse, but one single set of companies took home the bulk of the winnings -- more than 93%.

On Friday, the Pentagon awarded a series of eight companies a massive $6.9 billion-maximum value, firm-fixed-price, multiple-award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (ID/IQ) contract�for the supply of information technology products and services. The award fell under the umbrella Network Centric Solutions, or NETCENTS-2, program, and was issued to the following companies:

Publicly traded General Dynamics' (NYSE: GD  ) Information Systems and Technology division. Iron Bow Technologies LLC, a subsidiary of engineering company URS (NYSE: URS  ) .

These privately held names also took part in the spoils:

Top 5 Tech Companies To Own For 2014: Urban Communications Inc. (UBN.V)

Urban Communications Inc., a telecommunications company, develops and operates telecommunications networks for the delivery of video, telephone, and Internet services to commercial and residential customers in Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia. The company engages in the construction and maintenance of fiber, cable, and wireless residential and commercial telecommunications networks to national and regional service providers. It also provides Ethernet services; and broadband services, including entertainment content and gaming portals. The company was formerly known as Boulevard Capital Ltd. and changed its name to Urban Communications Inc. in June 2001. Urban Communications Inc. was incorporated in 1988 and is headquartered in Burnaby, Canada.

Top 5 Tech Companies To Own For 2014: CyberOptics Corporation (CYBE)

CyberOptics Corporation supplies optical process control sensors and inspection systems to control the manufacturing process and ensure the quality of electronic circuit boards worldwide. The company also manufactures and sells sensors that assist with yield enhancement during semiconductor fabrication. Its products include surface mount technology (SMT) electronic assembly alignment sensors, including LaserAlign sensor that is incorporated into component placement machines used in the SMT production lines; BoardAlign camera, which identifies fiducial markings on a circuit board and aligns the board in the component placement machine prior to component placement; and InPrinter inspection camera that identifies fiducial markings on a circuit board to ensure accurate board registration prior to placement of solder paste. The company also offers photovoltaic and fuel cell alignment sensors, such as solar wafer alignment cameras for alignment measurements; and embedded process verification inspection technology products and solder paste inspection sensors. In addition, it provides SMT stand-alone inspection system products, which include solder paste inspection and automated optical inspection products; and WaferSense sensors that provide measurements of critical factors in the semiconductor fabrication process, as well as wafer mapping and alignment sensors, frame grabber products, and machine vision subsystems. The company sells its products to the manufacturers of electronic circuit board assembly equipment, manufacturers of semiconductor DRAM memory, and semiconductor capital equipment manufacturers, as well as end-user electronic assembly manufacturers, including original design manufacturers and electronic manufacturing service providers. CyberOptics Corporation markets its products through independent representatives and distributors. The company was founded in 1984 and is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Hot Canadian Stocks To Buy Right Now: Telephone and Data Systems Inc.(TDS)

Telephone and Data Systems, Inc., a diversified telecommunications service company, provides wireless and wireline telecommunications services in the United States. The company?s wireless services comprise postpaid and prepaid service plans, which consist of voice minutes, messaging, and data services; national consumer plans; business rate plans; smartphone messaging, data, and Internet services to access the Web, e-mail, social network sites, text, picture and video messages, and turn-by-turn GPS navigation, as well as to browse and download various applications; and data services, including news, weather, sports information, games, ring tones, and other services. It provides wireless devices, such as handsets, modems, and tablets; and a range of accessories comprising carrying cases, hands-free devices, batteries, battery chargers, and memory cards, as well as wireless device repair services. The company also offers voice services, including local and long-distance tel ephone service, voice over Internet protocol, voice mail, caller ID, and call forwarding services; broadband services comprising digital subscriber lines and other high-speed Internet data services; network access services; hosted and managed services consisting of co-location, hosting, hosted application management, and cloud computing services; and satellite and terrestrial video services to commercial and residential customers and carriers. In addition, it provides printing and distribution services. As of December 31, 2011, the company served approximately 5.9 million wireless customers and 1.1 million wireline equivalent access lines. It sells its products through retail sales and service centers, direct sales, and independent agents, as well as through Website and telesales. Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. was founded in 1968 and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.

Top 5 Tech Companies To Own For 2014: Travelzoo Inc(TZOO)

Travelzoo Inc., an Internet media company, together with its subsidiaries, publishes travel and entertainment deals from travel and entertainment companies, and local businesses in North America and Europe. Its publications and products include the Travelzoo Websites, such as travelzoo.com, travelzoo.ca, travelzoo.co.uk, travelzoo.de, www.travelzoo.es, and travelzoo.fr; the Travelzoo Top 20 e-mail newsletter; and the Newsflash e-mail alert service. The company also operates SuperSearch, a pay-per-click travel search tool; Travelzoo Network, a network of third-party Websites that list deals published by Travelzoo; and Fly.com, a travel search engine that allows users to find the best prices on flights from various airlines and online travel agencies. In addition, it provides Local Deals and Getaways services that allow its subscribers to purchase vouchers for deals from local businesses, such as spas, hotels, and restaurants through the Travelzoo Website. As of December 31, 2011, the company?s advertiser base included approximately 2,000 travel companies, entertainment companies, and local businesses, including airlines, hotels, cruise lines, vacations packagers, tour operators, destinations, car rental companies, travel agents, theater and performing arts groups, restaurants, spas, and activity companies. Travelzoo Inc. was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

Top 5 Tech Companies To Own For 2014: PTEK Holdings Inc.(PGI)

Premiere Global Services, Inc. provides virtual meeting solutions in North America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific. The company provides its virtual meeting solutions in the cloud, with a software as a service model used for various forms of meetings, such as investor relations presentations, training sessions, sales planning meetings, and project management and ad hoc meetings by allowing users to collaborate through video, Web, or audio conferencing technologies. It offers iMeet solution, which gives users their own personal meeting room online that combines video conferencing, social networking, and media and file sharing; and GlobalMeet, which brings Web and audio conferencing together into one solution for meetings with desktop audio controls and screen sharing delivered through the browser, with no software downloads. The company also provides ReadyConference, an enterprise class audio conferencing suite that includes automated conferencing with approximately 140 local access points and operator-assisted event conferencing. In addition, it offers a suite of mobile applications that integrate its solutions on a user?s mobile device. The company markets its solutions directly through its sales professionals and e-commerce Websites; indirectly through agents and resellers; and through strategic technology partners. Its customers include software and technology companies, commercial and investment banks, retailers, travel and hospitality firms, and healthcare companies. The company was founded in 1991 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.