Archive for August, 2009
Markets Set Up For Blow-Off Top?
by The Investment U Research Team With fear subsiding that the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression has been averted, the global markets resumed their uptrend from last week, stocks jumped this morning. And while that’s a good thing for many looking to recover...
24Aug2009 | InvestmentU | 0 comments | Continued(BHP) Chinese Metals Boosted by Stimulus
Tony Daltorio, The Investment U Research Team At least one government stimulus package seems to be working right now. But, it’s not the United States. If only our stimulus program was as successful as the “cash for clunkers.” Unfortunately, we’re closer to clunker ...
24Aug2009 | InvestmentU | 0 comments | Continued(NBR) Nabors Hurt by North American Drilling Business
Our Underperform recommendation for Nabors Industries (NBR) reflects our bearish view of the North American land-drilling scene, which accounts for more than two-thirds of the company’s total contract drilling earnings. The drop-off in drilling activities in response to the...
24Aug2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(SOLF) Solarfun Q2 Beat Consensus by 100 Percent
Solarfun Power Holdings Co. Ltd. (SOLF) recently reported second-quarter EPADS of 8 cents that easily beat the paltry Zacks Consensus loss per ADS estimate of 4 cents. However on a GAAP basis, the company sank to a net loss of 87 cents per ADS due to large one-time charges....
24Aug2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(BVF) Biovail Agreed to Develop Parkinson’s Drug
Biovail Corp. (BVF) today agreed to buy US and Canadian rights to develop and market JP-1730/fipamezole for the treatment of Dyskinesia in Parkinson’s Disease (DPD) from Santhera Pharmaceuticals. According to the deal, Biovail will make an upfront payment of $8 million...
24Aug2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(JNJ) J&J Disappointed by FDA Delay
We are disappointed with the delay in the US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) approval for Johnson and Johnson’s (JNJ) drug carisbamate. The new drug application (NDA) filed in October last year was seeking approval for carisbamate for the treatment (along with other...
24Aug2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(HST) Host Hotels Could Sell 40 Million Shares
Host Hotels & Resorts (HST), a premier luxury and upscale property owner, recently announced plans to sell up to $400 million worth of common shares to increase its liquidity and repay debt. Based on the current share price, the company could sell nearly 40 million shares....
24Aug2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(NWL) Newell is Closing its Janesville Plant
Newell Rubbermaid Inc. (NWL), a global marketer of consumer and commercial products, recently announced plans to close its office products manufacturing plant in Janesville, Wisconsin, to address key structural issues and improve profitability. The company would relocate its...
24Aug2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(AMCC) Profitability Improves at Applied Micro Circuits
Applied Micro Circuits Corp. (AMCC) recently reported revenues of $45.1 million in its fiscal first quarter, up 10% sequentially but down 26% year over year. Gross margin came in at 50.8% compared to 46.7% in the previous quarter and 53.5% in the year-ago quarter. Operating expenses...
24Aug2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(SAP) SAP Improves Community Network
SAP AG (SAP) recently launched new community network offerings such as additional Business Process Expert (BPX) communities dedicated to understanding International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), implementing SAP Business Suite 7 software and supporting the newly announced...
24Aug2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(PCS) MetroPCS Expanding Coverage
MetroPCS (PCS), a leading provider of unlimited pre-paid wireless service in the US, has reportedly expanded its New York City area service to include additional markets in the Tri-State region. The company has extended its unlimited service footprint to include Long Island,...
24Aug2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(AAPL) Nokia Moves to Counter Apple’s iPhone
Apple Inc.’s (AAPL) iPhone is a major success for the company. The iPhones sales were the major growth driver for the company during the third quarter of 2009. iPhone unit sales were 5.2 million during the third quarter, representing 626.0% unit growth over the year-ago quarter....
24Aug2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(TAM) TAM set a record 88.3% market share in the international market
Recently, TAM S.A. (TAM) posted second-quarter results which were hurt by a 22.6% depreciation of the Brazilian real against the US dollar towards. Domestic revenue fell 15.9% year over year in local currency, international sales declined 3.1% year over year and Cargo revenue...
24Aug2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued($SNE) Sony Cuts Price of Playstation 3
Nintendo‘s Wii (NTDOY) and Microsoft‘s (MSFT) Xbox 360 have always imposed tough challenges for Sony’s (SNE) Playstation 3. These three are the most well-known products in the gaming space. But recently Sony came up with an enhanced version of the Playstation 3,...
24Aug2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(NCR) NCR Wins New Business
In order to help small businesses take advantage of the convenience and cost savings of remote deposit capture, NCR Corp. (NCR) entered into an Original Equipment Manufacturing (OEM) agreement with Document Capture Technologies, Inc. (DCMT). Under the agreement, NCR will offer...
24Aug2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(PVH) Van Heusen Blows Past Q2 Estimates
Amidst a challenging global retail environment, Phillips-Van Heusen Corp. (PVH) was able to deliver better-than-expected second quarter results, surpassing both the top and bottom line expectations. Earnings per share (excluding one-time items), which came in at 60 cents, well...
24Aug2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(TNE) Tele Norte Leste Participações S.A. Deep in Debt
Last week, Tele Norte Leste Participações S.A. (TNE) posted disappointing results for the second quarter of 2009. Its net debt increased 12.7% sequentially and about 278% year over year to R$21,638 million (US$10,353 million). This was due to higher capex expenses Incorporatedluding...
24Aug2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(IBM) IT Giants Spending Heavy on Lobbying
Both International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) and Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) have disclosed their U.S. federal and state lobbying expenses (Lobbying is the practice of influencing government decisions) and political expenditures from trade association in recent filings. California-based...
24Aug2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(MPR) Met-Pro missed the consensus estimates by 38.5%
Met-Pro Corp.’s (MPR) second-quarter earnings plunged 56.2% year over year to $1.2 million on sluggish demand in its large project and industrial markets. Earnings per share came in at 8 cents, compared to 18 cents in the year-ago quarter and missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate...
24Aug2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(AXL) Fitch Ratings Upgrades Auto Parts Suppliers
Fitch Ratings revised the rating outlook from negative to Stable for auto-parts suppliers American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc. (AXL), Tenneco Inc. (TEN) and TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. (TRW). However, it retained a negative rating watch on ArvinMeritor Inc. (ARM)....
24Aug2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(KNSY) Kensey Beats Consensus Estimate
Kensey Nash Corp. (KNSY) recently reported strong results for the fourth quarter and full year 2009. Quarterly profit came in at 41 cents per share, compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 38 cents and the year-ago loss of 9 cents per share. Quarterly Results Sales Net sales...
24Aug2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(NCI) S&P Downgrades NCI Building Systems
Correcting and replacing. The previous post had incorrectly listed the ticker for Navigant Consulting (NCI). The downgrade specifically is for NCI Building Systems Inc. (NCS), not Navigant Consulting. A correct version follows. Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services (S&P)...
24Aug2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | ContinuedExit strategy of central banks vs stock market strategy
“The end game for this bullish phase [on stock markets] needs to be considered well before the event. While the timing is largely guesswork at this stage, the usual causes are not. Bull markets are usually assassinated by tighter monetary policy,” said David Fuller (Fullermoney)...
22Aug2009 | prieur | 0 comments | ContinuedThe misunderstanding of “debt-fueled consumption”
This post is a guest contribution by Rebecca Wilder*, author of the of the News N Economics blog. Today I plan to rant just a bit about consumption because I was reading Yves Smith’s article today, and she referred to “debt-fueled consumption” – the now pejorative...
22Aug2009 | prieur | 0 comments | Continued(AMGN) Anemia Drugs Under Review for use in patients with chronic kidney diseases
In a latest development, the U.S. Medicare agency will seek an advisory panel’s recommendation regarding the use of anemia drugs developed by Amgen (AMGN) as well as Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), in patients with chronic kidney diseases. The advisory committee is likely to review...
21Aug2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(GOL) Brazil’s GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes Flying High
Last week, GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes S.A. (GOL), announced its preliminary traffic figures for July 2009, representing an increase in demand in its route network for the fourth consecutive month. The company reported a 7.4% increase in passenger traffic over July 2008 and...
21Aug2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(CP) ZymoGenetics Files Against King Pharma
ZymoGenetics, Inc. (ZGEN) has filed a Citizen Petition (CP) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requesting the agency to remove King Pharmaceuticals’ (KG) Thrombin-JMI from the market in the interest of patient safety. ZymoGenetics filed the CP based on reports...
21Aug2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(INTU) Conservative guidance from Intuit
Intuit Inc. (INTU) offers small business accounting, personal finance, and tax preparation software to accountants, small businesses, and consumers. Yesterday, the company reported fourth-quarter revenue of $475.7 million, essentially flat with year-ago period. Intuit saw a...
21Aug2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(AAPL) Why You Need to Buy Apple and Sell Palm Short
by David Fessler, Advisory Panelist Regular readers, my colleagues and just about everyone else I come in contact with know I’m a big fan of Apple, Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL). I’ve written about it here on several occasions, my family and I own a number of its computers, and we’re...
21Aug2009 | InvestmentU | 0 comments | Continued(YGE) Yingli in the Green – Earned 14 cents against 4 cents estimate
Yingli Green Energy Holding Co. Ltd. (YGE) reported better-than-expected second-quarter results, aided by reduced costs for manufacturing silicon-based solar modules. Quarterly earnings per ADS, excluding one-time charges, came in at RMB 0.91 (14 cents), significantly above...
21Aug2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued