Archive for September, 2009
(PGR) Progressive Insurance Impresses in August
Progressive Corp.’s (PGR) earnings for August were impressive as the company benefited from an increase in premiums written and steered clear of investment losses. However, Commercial Auto still remained a drag. The company, which reports earnings on a monthly basis, posted...
14Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(PBR) Oil & Gas Industry – Favorable View on Stabilizing Economy
The emerging positive narrative of a favorable outlook for the U.S. economy has done wonders for the markets, particularly equities and commodities. The broad equity markets as well as most commodity groups are up smartly from their early-March lows. Crude oil’s gains have...
14Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(PALM) PALM Inc Earnings Preview
Palm Inc. (PALM) is set to announce its first-quarter of fiscal 2010 results on September 17, 2009. Palm had not provided any specific guidance for the first quarter, but expected gross margin on an adjusted basis to be above 30% for the long term. The company also expects operating...
14Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(PZZA) Papa John’s International Lays off 35
Papa John’s International Inc. (PZZA) recently announced job cuts at its headquarters in Louisville. The company pared off 35 of its 600 employees, exposing its vulnerability to the crumbling economy. However, Papa John’s and other fast-food restaurant chains such as McDonald’s...
14Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(RHB) Rehab Group, Inc. – Surprises Fourht Time in Four Quarters
Rehab Group, Inc. (RHB) reported strong second-quarter results on August 6 that were better than expected, the fourth time in the last four quarters the company has surprised and beat estimates. Second-Quarter Results For the quarter, sales were up 13% from last year to $205.2...
14Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(CPB) Campbell Soup Beats Estimates
Campbell Soup Co. (CPB) reported fourth-quarter earnings of 30 cents per share, which was above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 26 cents. Earnings were also up 15.4% compared to the prior-year quarter. For the full year, profit was $2.22, up 10.4% versus fiscal 2008, primarily...
14Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(TYC) Tyco International- Bull of the Day
We are initiating coverage on Tyco International (TYC) shares with an Outperform rating and $36 target price. The company’s third-quarter results benefited from the improvement in key metrics like account growth, average revenue per user and the disconnect rate, which helped...
14Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(VLO) Valero Energy- Bear of the Day
We reiterate our Underperform rating for Valero (VLO) shares as a combination of weak demand, excess production capacity and narrowing crude quality spreads are expected to weigh on near-term margins. In addition to the near-term margin issues, commissioning of new refineries...
14Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(SKF) Big Moves For Bank Stocks
by Ryan Cole, Investment U Research Team I’m sure by now, you’ve heard that September is the worst month for stocks. October gets the press, with its biggest, single-day calamities, but September still stands as the clear Biggest Loser. And mark my words: That matters. Simply...
14Sep2009 | InvestmentU | 0 comments | Continued(BIG) Big Lots, Inc. – 10 of 12 Analysts Raise Estimates
Big Lots, Inc. (BIG) recently surprised on estimates for the third consecutive quarter even as it saw a slight decline in sales. Big Lots is a closeout retailer which sells a broad range of products including seasonal items, furniture, housewares, toys, electronics, home decor...
14Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(AEG) Investing in ADRs: The Most Powerful Way to Reduce Market Risk
by Dr. Scott Brown, Advisory Panelist It’s official: You can reduce your investment risk simply by chucking darts at a list of stocks, then buying them. That’s if you believe a Nobel economist, of course. His crude “experiment” was the start of “modern portfolio theory”...
14Sep2009 | InvestmentU | 0 comments | Continued(SCL) Stepan Company’s Full-Year Estimates Rise Significantly
Stepan Company (SCL) continues to outperform, seeing a higher share price than that of about 3 weeks ago when it was last featured as a Growth and Income pick. The stock outpaced the market by approximately 15% during those 3 weeks. The company also boasts strong fundamentals...
14Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(FSYS) Fuel Systems Solutions’ Estimates Jump
Fuel Systems Solutions Inc. (FSYS) estimates continue to rise after a great quarterly report. Great Quarter On Aug 6 the company released a great earnings report. Revenue was down slightly to $92.3 million, but would have been a gain without forex impact. Profit was $28.6 million,...
14Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(DT) Deutsche Telekom Buying Sprint Nextel?
Incumbent German telecom carrier Deutsche Telekom (DT) is evaluating the acquisition of Sprint Nextel (S), the third largest US carrier. The company has reportedly initiated discussions and may submit a bid in the coming weeks. Deutsche Telekom operates in the US through its...
14Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(MBFI) Corus Bankshares Fails – 92 Total This Year
Regulators shut down 3 more banks including Corus; total failed banks in ’09 reach 92 Three more banks including Corus Bank NA, a subsidiary of Corus Bankshares (CORS), were shuttered by the U.S. regulators on Friday as the recession continues to take its toll on banks....
14Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(BA) Deficit Not As Bad As Feared
Late Friday, the Treasury Department released the budget deficit for August. It came in at $111.4 billion, which was far better than the $140 billion monthly shortfall that had been expected. It was also slightly less than the budget shortfall in August 2008. And it was a huge...
14Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(FRX) Forest Laboratories Presents Encouraging Data
We are pleased to hear that Forest Laboratories (FRX) presented encouraging data from its phase III trial of ceftaroline for the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia [CAP] in hospitalized patients. The company presented new data from two multicenter studies – FOCUS 1 and...
14Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(MRK) Good News for Dynavax Technologies
Yesterday, Dynavax Technologies Corp. (DVAX) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has removed the clinical hold on its late-stage hepatitis B vaccine (HBV) Heplisav which is being developed for patients suffering from chronic kidney disease. As a reminder,...
11Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(STLD) Steel Dynamics Guides Earnings Higher
Steel Dynamics Inc. (STLD), the sixth-largest steel maker in the U.S., recently boosted its third-quarter earnings forecast to a range of 20 cents to 25 cents per share, up slightly from its July view of 10 cents to 20 cents. The Zacks Consensus Estimate is pegged at 15 cents....
11Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(ECA) EnCana Corporation to Split Oil & Gas Concerns
EnCana Corporation (ECA) proceeds with its plan to split into two independent energy companies – one focused on natural gas and the other on integrated oil businesses. The natural gas-focused company and the integrated oil company will be named EnCana (GasCo) and Cenovus Energy...
11Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(MRGE) Merge Healthcare Incorporated Expands Agreement
Merge Healthcare Incorporated (MRGE) has expanded its agreement with Rosslyn Medical, a large medical imaging solution provider serving the Russian market. The agreement calls for expanding the portfolio of Merge OEM products available to Rosslyn. The new agreement widens Merge’s...
11Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(MHP) Bloomberg to Buy BusinessWeek?
Few days before the final bids were due for BusinessWeek, leading financial information provider Bloomberg made a surprise entry into the auction. The deadline for final bids is Sept. 15. Bloomberg had reportedly been approached to acquire BusinessWeek earlier, even before the...
11Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(PRA) ProAssurance Corporation to Buy Back More Stock and Debt
ProAssurance Corporation (PRA) said Thursday that its Board has authorized an additional $100 million to repurchase its stock or retire outstanding debt. The current repurchase program is the addition to the company’s $31.3 million remaining repurchase authorizations. Since...
11Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(AMLN) Amylin Amylin Pharmaceuticals Collaborates with Biocon
Yesterday, Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (AMLN) entered into an exclusive agreement with Indian biotech company Biocon Limited for the development, commercialization and manufacture of a novel peptide therapeutic for the potential treatment of diabetes. This agreement should ensure...
11Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(RTP) Rio Suspends Chinese Talks
Last week, Rio Tinto Plc (RTP) suspended talks with Chinese steelmakers over price cuts on iron ore. Rio, BHP Billiton (BHP) and Brazil’s Vale S.A. (VALE) were participating in the negotiation. Tensions between China and Rio grew when the world’s second-largest miner spiked...
11Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(ANDS) Anadys Begins Mid-Stage Trial
Yesterday, Anadys Pharmaceuticals Inc. (ANDS) started a 12-week phase II trial of its ANA598 for hepatitis C patients. ANA 598 will be evaluated in combination with interferon-alpha and ribavirin (current standard of care) in the mid-stage study. Data from the trial is expected...
11Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(DOW) Dow Chemicals Dropping Basic Chemicals
Dow Chemical Co. (DOW) recently agreed to sell its hollow sphere plastic pigment product line to Fairlawn, Ohio-based specialty chemicals maker Omnova Solutions Inc. Hollow plastic pigments are used by the paper and paperboard industry. Dow also plans to close two production...
11Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(ATHR) Atheros Communications Ups Guidance, Buys Intellon Corporation
Atheros Communications Inc. (ATHR) recently updated its guidance for the third quarter. The company now expects revenues between $145 million and $150 million, up 29%–30% sequentially and up from the earlier projection of revenues between $129.0 million and $134.6 million. EPS...
11Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(DIS) Disney’s Spidey Sense is Tingling
by Louise Harris, Investment U Research Team The entertainment world is changing, and companies in the business know that all too well… hence the reason why The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) just announced its acquisition of Marvel Entertainment Inc. (NYSE: MVL) Comic...
11Sep2009 | InvestmentU | 0 comments | ContinuedWhy We Need Less Of Michael Moore
by Alexander Wissel, Editor in Chief, Investment U Knock my favorite football team… make fun of my sports jacket… tease me about my hairline… destroy my finance books… have at it. I’ll even give you a pass for making fun of my mother. But when it comes to capitalism,...
11Sep2009 | InvestmentU | 0 comments | Continued