Archive for September, 2009
(AMR) What Investors Can Learn From the Recent Celebrity Outburst
by Marc Lichtenfeld, Advisory Panelist There seems to be a breakdown in decorum lately. A few very public examples: Congressman Joe Wilson (R-SC) yells out, “You lie!” at President Barack Obama while he’s addressing Congress about his healthcare reform plan. Tennis star...
18Sep2009 | InvestmentU | 0 comments | Continued(KFT) Behold, The Power Of Cheese And Chocolate
Tony Daltorio, Investment U Research The typically sleepy world of food makers woke up this week to the loud sounds of Kraft’s (KFT) bold takeover offer for Cadbury. Cadbury, the confectionery company that makes Britain’s best known chocolate, has sold cocoa and chocolate...
18Sep2009 | InvestmentU | 0 comments | Continued(EK) Eastman Kodak to Raise $700 mln
Yesterday, Eastman Kodak Co. (EK) said that it expects to raise $300 million through convertible senior notes. This includes Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P.’s (KFN) commitment of buy another $400 million senior secured notes due 2017. Kodak also agreed to issue to KKR...
18Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(ACL) Alcon Aquires Swiss Company and Expands Pipeline
Earlier this week, Alcon Inc. (ACL) signed a definitive agreement for the acquisition of Swiss biotech company ESBATech AG. Alcon will pay $150 million in cash at closing. Besides this, Alcon may pay up to $439 million on the achievement of future research and development milestones. With...
18Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(PRU) Nippon Life Insurance Invests in Prudential
The Prudential Insurance Company of America [PICA], an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Prudential Financial, Incorporated (PRU) entered into a purchase agreement with Nippon Life Insurance Company on Sept. 16. According to the agreement, Prudential Insurance will issue and...
18Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(SVNT) Savient Pharmaceuticals Gout Drug Trials Suspended
Savient Pharmaceuticals Inc. (SVNT), after meeting officials from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Monday, announced that the agency does not expect further clinical trials to be conducted for its gout drug Krystexxa, as the company has now reverted to its original...
18Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(MRO) Marathon Oil Corporation Taps First Oil From Norway’s Volund
Yesterday, Marathon Oil Corp. (MRO) announced the start-up of Norway’s Volund offshore oil project, marking the completion of its second major field development project in that country. This follows the Alvheim ramp-up in June 2008. Marathon, through its wholly owned subsidiary...
18Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(PEG) Public Service Enterprise Group Lowers Gas Bills
Public Service Enterprise Group Inc. (PEG) yesterday lowered residential natural gas bills by approximately 7% with immediate effect. The revision, which was in advance of the winter heating season, was already approved by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities. As a result...
18Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(PTR) PetroChina Focused on Doubling Gas Supplies
On increasing demand, PetroChina (PTR) plans to increase the quantum of gas supply to Beijing. The company wants to double the gas supply in the pipeline to 12 billion cubic meters (Bcm) from the estimated current years’ figure of 6 Bcm. Beijing is China’s third largest province...
18Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(HON) Honeywell International Bags Air China Contract
Honeywell International Inc. (HON) recently said it would provide its 131-9A Auxiliary Power Units (APUs) for Air China’s new A320 aircraft deliveries and effect an exclusive supply agreement with 141 Airbus and Boeing (BA) aircraft, for a total contract value of $64 million. Honeywell’s...
18Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(CCE) Coca-Cola Enterprises Remains Largest Bottler
Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc. (CCE) operates in the soft drink beverage industry and is the world’s largest bottler of Coca-Cola beverages. The company serves more than 400 million customers across North America and Europe. The two key factors that drive growth at Coca-Cola...
18Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(MRK) Merck’s Isentress Wins Approval from the Food and Drug Administration
The European Union (EU) recently expanded the approval of Merck’s (MRK) Isentress (raltegravir) for the first line treatment of HIV patients. Earlier, it was approved for patients who had not responded to other treatment options. In the US, following a recent Food and Drug...
18Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(ACAS) American Capital Sells Axygen BioScience
American Capital (ACAS) received proceeds of $400 million with the sale of its portfolio company Axygen BioScience Inc. ? including its subsidiaries Axygen Inc. and Sorenson BioScience Inc. ? to Corning Incorporated on Sep 15. American Capital invested in the One Stop Buyout™...
18Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(CTIC) Cell Therapeutics Releases Encouraging Data for Pixantrone
Yesterday, Cell Therapeutics (CTIC) released encouraging data from the 18-month follow-up clinical trial of pixantrone for the treatment of patients with advanced, relapsed or refractory, aggressive non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). The original trial compared pixantrone with...
18Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(F) Ford Motor Saddled with Volvo
Ford Motor (F) is trying hard to offload its unprofitable Volvo car unit by the end of the year. Finance Chief Lewis Booth recently said that the company had no plans of retaining the unit. Ford only wants to concentrate and strengthen its own in-house brand. In 1999, Ford acquired...
17Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(KR) Kroger Slides After Cutting Forecast
Yesterday, shares of Kroger Co. (KR) slid 7.5% to close at $20.46 after the company reported lower-than-expected second-quarter results amid a crumbling economy, plagued by rising unemployment and waning consumer discretionary spending. Kroger’s quarterly earnings of 39 cents...
17Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(MA) Volume Declines Ease at MasterCard
MasterCard Inc. (MA) recently said that processed volume in the U.S. declined less in July and August than in the second quarter of 2009. This reflects a rebound from the gloomy days of the financial crisis and reinforces sentiment that the payment industry is stabilizing. U.S....
17Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(EPD) Enterprise Products Partners Inks New Contract
Yesterday, Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (EPD) signed a long-term agreement with one of the largest and most active producers in the developing Eagle Ford Shale play in South Texas to provide natural gas transportation and processing services. The agreement covers more than...
17Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(GD) General Dynamics Wins Air Force Contract
General Dynamics Corporation (GD) bagged a $50 million contract from the U.S. Air Force to perform specialized research and use advanced state-of-the-art material technologies or applications in several programs within the survivability portfolio of the Pentagon. The company...
17Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(AGCO) AGCO Corporation Lowers Guidance
AGCO Corp. (AGCO) recently updated its outlook for 2009. The company now expects net sales to decline by 23% to 25% on a year-over-year basis. During its second quarter conference call, AGCO had provided a guidance of $6.5–$6.8 billion, which represented a drop of 20% to 23%...
17Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(CVX) Liquified Natural Gas Makes It A Really G’Day, Mate
by Tony Daltorio, Investment U Research They don’t call Australia the lucky country for nothing. It must be luck to have such abundant amounts of energy, metals, minerals and agricultural commodities, not to mention residing so close to China and India, two countries with...
17Sep2009 | InvestmentU | 0 comments | ContinuedTop Short Equity Funds – Mutual Fund Commentary
Today we are featuring top-performing “Short” equity mutual funds, which can buy or sell securities of companies when they like in search of maximum value. Investors can find such funds by checking out the entire list of the Zacks #1 Rank Short Equity Funds. 2 Solid Options PIMCO...
17Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(GS) Goldman Sachs Group Inc. – Consensus Estimates Spiking
Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS) is hitting new 52-week highs but its stock remains cheap as earnings estimates rise. The company is trading at just 10.9x estimates. As trading revenues have soared, analysts expect year over year earnings growth of 261.78%. Company Description Goldman...
17Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(DLM) Del Monte Foods – Bull of the Day
Del Monte’s (DLM) long-term objectives are to achieve earnings growth in the range of 7% to 9% and topline growth in the range of 3% to 5%. However, the guidance for both earnings and revenues growth for fiscal 2010, exceed the long-term range, and are now expected to increase...
17Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(LZ) Lubrizol Corporation – Earnings in Line
Lubrizol Corp. (LZ) is posting huge gains on the heels of higher estimates, but still trades in value territory to compliment its respectable 1.9% dividend. Company Description Lubrizol Corp. produces specialty chemicals and additives to various industries and consumers worldwide....
17Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(CIB) Bancolumbia SA – Estimates Climb on Corporate Lending
Bancolumbia SA (CIB) has taken precautionary measures to protect its balance sheet against loan losses by boosting its reserve ratios. Company Description Bancolumbia SA offers a range of banking products and services to a range of different sized businesses and individual customers...
17Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(SNDA) 4 Chinese Growth Stocks – Investment Ideas
It’s no secret that Chinese stocks have been pumping out massive gains over the last few years, barring last fall’s global economic meltdown. And now that the country is on the cusp of eclipsing Japan as the world’s #2 economy, the song is much the same. While...
17Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(HAIN) Hain Celestial- Bear of the Day
The natural and organic food industry including Hain Celestial (HAIN) is facing the brunt of the economic slowdown and escalating costs. The ongoing turmoil and the battered financial market are exerting pressure on consumer disposable incomes triggering a shift in focus from...
17Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(MWE) MarkWest Energy Partners’ Unit Signs Gas Deals
MarkWest Liberty Midstream & Resources – a majority-owned joint venture of MarkWest Energy Partners L.P. (MWE) – yesterday announced the signing of definitive agreements with subsidiaries of Chesapeake Energy Corp. (CHK) and Statoil Hydro ASA (STO) to process gas at its...
17Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(CFSG) China Fire & Security Group – Earnings Are on Fire
China Fire & Security Group (CFSG) continues to push higher, aided by its government’s stimulus plan and new legislation. Company Description China Fire & Security Group makes and maintains fire safety systems and products for industrial use in China. Earnings…on...
17Sep2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued