Archive for January, 2009
(GLD) Picture du Jour: Gold or platinum?
“Au” and “Pt” may be dull chemical elements, but gold and platinum have certainly played their respective parts during the unfolding of the financial crisis. Revisiting the metals’ movements, it is clear from the table below that gold’s decline...
10Jan2009 | prieur | 0 comments | Continued(CRA) Celera Corporation – consensus estimates are relatively through the roof
Celera Corp. (CRA) is showing phenomenal growth over the next few years as shares continue to set higher highs. Company Description Celera Corp. is a healthcare business delivering personalized disease management through a combination of products and services incorporating proprietary...
7Jan2009 | Shawn | 0 comments | Continued(HRS) Harris Corporation – ROE of 21% tops the industry averages of 2.7% and 5%, respectively
Harris Corp. (HRS) compares favorably to its industry. The company’s net profit margin of 8.5% and return on equity (ROE) of 21% tops the industry averages of 2.7% and 5%, respectively. HRS also offers a dividend yield 2%, while most of its industry peers pay no income. Company...
7Jan2009 | Shawn | 0 comments | Continued(LPHI) Life Partners Holdings – Earnings projected at 61 cents, 6 cents ahead of the consensus
Life Partners Holdings, Inc. (LPHI) has been on a roll since late November, with its share price posting some impressive short-term gains. Analysts are bullish on the company, with the next-year estimate projecting 21% earnings growth. Company Description Life Partners Holdings...
7Jan2009 | Shawn | 0 comments | Continued(CRR) CARBO Ceramics – Proppant Sales Hit New Quarterly Record in the Third Quarter
CARBO Ceramics, Inc. (CRR) saw record proppant sales in the third quarter as oil drilling remained strong in the U.S. CARBO has surprised on estimates 4 consecutive quarters. CRR has a forward P/E of 12. Company Description CARBO Ceramics manufactures ceramic proppant and ceramic...
7Jan2009 | Shawn | 0 comments | ContinuedSetting the bull trap
This post is a guest contribution by Bennet Sedacca*, President of Atlantic Advisors Asset Management. Long time students of the market will tell you that “the crowd is usually wrong at the extremes”. Judging by what I see, hear and read in the media, the current consensus...
6Jan2009 | prieur | 0 comments | ContinuedWords from the (investment) wise for the week that was (Dec 29, 2008 – Jan 4, 2009)
Changing the digits on the calendar from ’08 to ’09 may not have transformed the dire outlook for the global economy, but during the holiday-shortened New Year week investors appeared adamant to put the rout of 2008 behind them. Although mercifully the door has been closed...
6Jan2009 | prieur | 0 comments | ContinuedStock market performance round-up: torrid 2008 ends with guarded hope
A great deal has been said in the media about the performance of stock markets during 2008, and also specifically about the reversal of fortune since the lows of November 20. I therefore only briefly summarize the year-end performance of various global stock markets in this post. After...
6Jan2009 | prieur | 0 comments | ContinuedVideo-o-rama: Ring out the old, ring in the new
Although this is a holiday-shortened trading week, there has certainly not been a lack of video clips hitting the airwaves. A number of these review the historically brutal year that has just drawn to a close. Others attempt to cast light on the outlook for 2009, debating whether...
6Jan2009 | prieur | 0 comments | ContinuedWill Darwinism return to the markets?
This post is a guest contribution by Bennet Sedacca*, President of Atlantic Advisors Asset Management. As regular readers know, I have had a cautious, even bearish view, towards equities and credit over the past couple of years. The handwriting was on the wall and both equities...
6Jan2009 | prieur | 0 comments | ContinuedStock market internals – further headway in 2009?
As investors ring out the old year, trading volume should remain light until battle-weary traders return from the holidays next week. Not much weight should therefore be placed on market movements during this “thin” period, and the S&P 500 Index will probably not deviate...
6Jan2009 | prieur | 0 comments | ContinuedHistory repeats itself in different hues – Japan vs US
This post is a guest contribution by Asha Bangalore*, vice president and economist at The Northern Trust Company. Several questions pertaining to the Japanese economic crisis and quantitative easing have been trickling in as unprecedented economic and financial events unfold...
6Jan2009 | prieur | 0 comments | ContinuedA Far-East Fiasco?
This post is a guest contribution by Vitaliy N. Katsenelson*, author of Active Value Investing: Making Money in Range-Bound Markets and director of research at Investment Management Associates. I often start my mornings with egg, cheese and turkey sandwich at Panera Bread. This...
6Jan2009 | prieur | 0 comments | Continued(AAPL) A Question of Leadership at Apple
A Question of Leadership at Apple (NYSE: AAPL) Based off the last news reports, without Steve Jobs, the multi-billion-dollar enterprise that is Apple (NYSE: AAPL) would simply cease to exist. Every new report of his health is followed in the market, and Apple’s stock price...
6Jan2009 | InvestmentU | 0 comments | Continued(MCD) 2008 Feeds McDonald’s a Gain
2008 Feeds McDonald’s (NYSE: MCD) a Gain Restaurateurs were hit with a double whammy of increased costs and dropping sales in 2008. But looking back at the carnage, there are a few bright spots. Although the restaurant sector dropped by 20%, it still beat the S&P’s 38%...
6Jan2009 | InvestmentU | 0 comments | Continued(AUY) Yamana’s (NYSE: AUY) Golden Place to Be
Yamana’s (NYSE: AUY) Golden Place to Be Trillions and trillions of new paper is flooding Wall Street. While it’s working to stabilize world markets in the short term, it will result in longer-term debasement of paper currencies. And it’s making gold the place to be right...
6Jan2009 | InvestmentU | 0 comments | Continued(RMD) Your Individual Retirement Account (IRA): Resolutions for Wealth & Happiness in 2009
Your Individual Retirement Account (IRA): Resolutions for Wealth & Happiness in 2009 by David Fessler, Advisory Panelist, Investment U Wednesday, December 31, 2008: Issue #908 Tonight, we look to the New Year and, hopefully, our resolutions for wealth and happiness in 2009....
6Jan2009 | InvestmentU | 0 comments | Continued(EL) NFLX: The Netflix Index
NFLX: The Netflix Index Nuevo-indices, like Estee Lauder’s (NYSE: EL) “lipstick index,” the bartender index or the video game index, all have their day in the sun during market downturns. Often they’re dismissed as distractions, or excuses for poor performance. But their...
6Jan2009 | InvestmentU | 0 comments | Continued(PFF) Bond Market’s Glimpse Into 2009
Bond Market’s Glimpse Into 2009 On Friday, Treasuries posted their first weekly loss since October – even as Middle East tensions pushed yields up again. As the year draws to a close, Treasuries have come out as the clear asset-class winner in 2008. But they may have...
6Jan2009 | InvestmentU | 0 comments | ContinuedThe 4 Biggest Investment Myths of 2008
The 4 Biggest Investment Myths of 2008 by Alexander Green, Chairman, Investment U Investment Director, The Oxford Club Monday, December 29, 2008: Issue #907 Pessimism about the U.S. economy and financial market is so thick right now you could cut it with a knife. I’ll be the...
6Jan2009 | InvestmentU | 0 comments | ContinuedFinancial Fraud: 3 Easy Steps to Avoid “Bad” Investments
Financial Fraud: 3 Easy Steps to Avoid “Bad” Investments by Dr. Mark Skousen, Advisory Panelist, Investment U Friday, January 2, 2009: Issue #909 Three weeks ago, in Investment U Issue #898, I promised you a 30% return on my “Keynesian investment strategy” of buying a...
6Jan2009 | InvestmentU | 0 comments | ContinuedThe Best Stock Market Buy Signal In 51 Years
The Best Stock Market Buy Signal In 51 Years by Alexander Green, Chairman, Investment U Investment Director, The Oxford Club Monday, January 5, 2009: Issue #910 Media pundits keep reminding us how tough 2009 will be economically. Nevertheless, I predict this will be a good year...
6Jan2009 | InvestmentU | 0 comments | Continued(ESRX) Express Scripts – Estimates Rising Following Earnings Surprise
Express Scripts, Inc. (ESRX) reported great quarterly results and have demonstrated benefits from the economic downturn over the past few months and into the future. Estimates are climbing as the company approaches its next earnings announcement. Company Description Express Scripts,...
6Jan2009 | Shawn | 0 comments | Continued(URS) URS Corporation – four for four beating analyst estimates
URS Corp.’s (URS) share price has been on a big rally over the last few months as speculation builds that the company will benefit from brewing infrastructure plans. A Strong Third Quarter Much of the recent price strength has been built on the company’s impressive...
6Jan2009 | Shawn | 0 comments | Continued(DV) DeVry, Incorporated – company recently announced higher enrollment figures
DeVry, Inc. (DV) continues to see higher earnings estimates. Analysts are calling for earnings of $2.23 per share for the year ending June 2009. Wall Street Has Consistently Issued Bullish Forecasts on DV The current projection of $2.23 per share was increased by 1 cent in just...
6Jan2009 | Shawn | 0 comments | Continued(LLL) L-3 Communications Holdings – nearly perfect record of positive surprises on analysts’ earnings forecasts
L-3 Communications Holdings, Inc. (LLL), which recently received a $90 million contract from the U.S. Air Force, has a terrific track record of delivering positive surprises on earnings estimates. Company Description L-3 Communications is a prime contractor in aircraft modernization...
6Jan2009 | Shawn | 0 comments | Continued(NCIT) NCI, Incorporated – Analyst estimates have been holding in higher ground
NCI, Inc.’s (NCIT) share price has recently surged higher, above a key level of resistance at $30. This Zacks #1 rank stock has been a steady player in a tough market. The company has been able to produce consistent results, having beat estimates in each of the last four...
6Jan2009 | Shawn | 0 comments | Continued(HURN) Huron Consulting – Sales were up 26% from last year
Huron Consulting, Inc. (HURN) has been on a nice rally since reporting storing third-quarter results in late October. Analysts are bullish on the company, with the next-year estimate projecting 45% earnings growth. Company Description Huron Consulting Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries...
6Jan2009 | Shawn | 0 comments | Continued(MED) Medifast – expecting 51.35% year-over-year earnings growth in 2009
Medifast, Inc. (MED) announced on Dec 16 that it would exceed previously announced revenue guidance for 2008 as weight loss products remained hot. The company, which sells portion-controlled weight loss products and programs through the Internet, physicians and Medifast Weight...
6Jan2009 | Shawn | 0 comments | Continued(SYT) Syngenta AG – shares repurchased equaled 9.08% of outstanding shares
Syngenta AG (SYT) sees strong growth in the agriculture business with 2009 earnings expected to grow in the high teens. SYT has a PEG of only 0.70. Company Description Syngenta is a worldwide agribusiness company with two main products: seeds and crop protection. The Switzerland-based...
6Jan2009 | Shawn | 0 comments | Continued