Archive for October, 2009
(MAR) Marriott International Upgraded to Neutral
Marriott International (MAR) is a leading worldwide hospitality company primarily focused on property management and franchising. Marriott generates substantial interest from full-service lodging property owners, who manage their properties and benefit from the Marriott branding....
6Oct2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(WPO) Washington Post Company Forms Partnership With Bloomberg
The Washington Post Company (WPO), a diversified education and media company, has recently entered into a strategic partnership with Bloomberg, the leading financial data, news, and analytics provider. The partnership aims to launch a global news service, “The Washington...
6Oct2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(T) AT&T Buys VeriSign’s Consulting Biz
AT&T Inc. (T) recently announced that it would acquire VeriSign Inc.’s (VRSN) global security consulting business. Headquartered in Mountain View, California, VeriSign provides essential Internet infrastructure services to companies, service providers and website owners....
6Oct2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(WL) Wilmington Trust – Bear of the Day
Wilmington Trust’s (WL) second-quarter earnings came in ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate, aided by strong growth in client services business and improvement in net interest margin. However, credit quality deteriorated drastically during the reported quarter. In 2009,...
6Oct2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(IPCS) IPCS, Inc. – Powerful Growth Rate of Over 600%
IPCS Inc. (IPCS) should post massive growth figures this year as analysts continue to revise estimates. Company Description IPCS has the Sprint PCS Affiliate with exclusive rights to sell wireless devices through Sprint Nextel. The company’s network is located in primarily...
6Oct2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(HSY) Hershey Co. – Exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 26.5%
Hershey Co. (HSY) is seeing higher Zacks Consensus Estimates ahead of reporting later this month. The full-year earnings forecast of $2.07 per share was increased from $1.99 over the past 90 days. Company Description Hershey Co. is the largest producer of quality chocolate in...
6Oct2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(EBF) Ennis Inc. – Surprised by 42.31% in the Last Quarter
Ennis Inc. (EBF) has surprised on the Zacks Consensus Estimate the last 3 quarters in a row even while economic conditions remain tough. The company has recently seen a quarter over quarter increase in sales. Ennis is trading with a forward P/E of 13.5. Company Description Ennis...
6Oct2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(DEPO) Depomed, Incorporated – Bull of the Day
We are reiterating our positive rating on Depomed (DEPO). We are very excited about the recent positive phase III data for DM-1796 in PHN and believe the market has yet to factor in the potential that this drug has in terms of delivering milestones and royalties to the company...
6Oct2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(PBG) Pepsi Bottling Company Reports Below Estimates
Pepsi Bottling Company (PBG) reported earnings of $1.06 per share in the third quarter of 2009. This was 2 cents below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.08 and was even year-over-year. Net revenues for the quarter declined 4.7% year-over-year to $3.6 billion, primarily due to...
6Oct2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(BAC) Bank of America to Re-Launch Merrill Brand
Bank of America Corporation (BAC) said on Monday that it will spend $20 million in the fourth quarter of 2009 to re-launch the Merrill Lynch Wealth Management brand. Following the re-launch, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management will be one of two primary units in Bank of America’s...
6Oct2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(MAR) ISM Services Expands
The ISM service index came in at 50.9 for September — a 2.5 point increase from the 48.4 it registered in August, and better than the 50.0 consensus expectations. This is the first time the Services index has been above 50 — the dividing line between expansion and...
6Oct2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(FIS) Fidelity National Information Services Closes Metavante Deal
Fidelity National Information Services (FIS) has finally acquired Metavante Technologies, pursuant to an agreement that was announced in April this year. The deal brings two of the largest core and transaction processing service providers together. The combined entity will carry...
6Oct2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(JCI) Johnson Controls Bags Record-Breaking Contract
Johnson Controls (JCI) has won a record-breaking $87 million project at Princess Noura bin Abdulraham University, the world’s biggest women-only university in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Under the contract, Al Salem Johnson Controls, the company’s joint venture...
6Oct2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(PRE) PartnerRe Closes ParisRe Deal
PartnerRe Ltd. (PRE) has successfully closed its previously announced block purchase of the common shares of ParisRe Holdings Limited (PRI), the French-listed, Swiss-based diversified Re-insurer. As on Oct 2, 2009, PartnerRe had acquired approximately 71% of the outstanding ParisRe...
6Oct2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(MRO) Marathon Oil Corporation Sells Offshore Fields
Marathon Oil Corporation (MRO) on Friday announced the sale of its wholly owned subsidiary, Marathon Oil Gabon Ltd. (having a 56.25% interest in three offshore production fields) to London-based independent Perenco. The oilfields are Tchatamba Marin, Tchatamba South and Tchatamba...
6Oct2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(RS) Reliance Steel & Aluminum Company Updates Outlook
Recently, Reliance Steel & Aluminum Company (RS), one of the leading metal service center companies in the US , updated its outlook for the third quarter ended Sep 30, 2009. Reliance expects earnings for the quarter to range from 40 cents to 45 cents per diluted share (no...
6Oct2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(BLUD) Immucor Beats Estimates – Reaffirmed Fiscal 2010 Revenue and Earnings Guidance
Recently, Immucor (BLUD) announced its first quarter (ending August 2009) 2010 earnings of 30 cents, which was better than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 25 cents and the year ago quarter’s earnings of 28 cents. Net income in the quarter was $21.3 million, compared with $20.0...
6Oct2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(GOL) Gol Linhas Aereas – Bull of the Day
Gol Linhas Aereas (GOL) remains better positioned to capitalize on the growth of discount air travel in Brazil and the rest of Latin America given its strong market share position and efficient operations. Favorable trends in fuel prices and exchange rates are also benefiting...
6Oct2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(CDNS) Cadence Design Systems – Bear of the Day
Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) reported weak results for the second quarter, and blamed the shortfall on softness in EDA spending. We expect that a turnaround is going to take time due to mounting financial problems leading to a lackluster growth. 3Q and 2009 guidance was not...
6Oct2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(RINO) RINO International Corporation – Estimates Up
RINO International Corp. (RINO) recently hit a new 52-week high on rising estimates and strong second-quarter results, reported on Aug 10. Second-Quarter Results Sales were up 17% from last year to $40.7 million. Earnings also came in strong at 40 cents, 2 cents ahead of the...
6Oct2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(MS) Harry Dent: Bold Predictions of the Great Depression Ahead
by Alexander Green, Chief Investment Strategist As they said in the movie “Poltergeist”: “They’re baaa-aaack.” Who’s back? Harry Dent, the self-styled “economic futurist,” who presumes to tell us about the great economic booms and busts that lie ahead. How can...
6Oct2009 | InvestmentU | 0 comments | Continued(IPG) Interpublic Group of Companies Announces Exchange Offer
Last week, the Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. (IPG) announced the commencement of an exchange offer to holders of any and all of its $600 million 10.0% senior notes due in 2017, which are subject to transfer restrictions under the Federal securities laws, for an equal amount...
6Oct2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(DOW) Dow Chemical Sells Morton Salt and Pays Down Debt
Dow Chemical Company (DOW) has recently paid off its entire outstanding balance of $1 billion for a bridge loan raised to fund its Rohm & Haas acquisition this year. The company used a large portion of the proceeds from its sale of Morton Salt — the salt business of...
6Oct2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(BLL) Ball Corporation Expands Beverage Can Business
Last Week, Ball Corporation (BLL) completed its previously announced acquisition of three beverages can manufacturing plants and one beverage can end manufacturing plant from Anheuser-Busch InBev (BUD). Ball paid $577 million for the four plants Incorporatedluding associated...
6Oct2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(KMP) Kinder Morgan Energy Partners Completes Crosstex Energy Buy
Late last week, Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP (KMP) closed the previously announced acquisition of natural gas treating business from Dallas-based Crosstex Energy LP (XTEX) and its general partner Crosstex Energy Inc. (XTXI) for approximately $266 million. As part of the transaction,...
6Oct2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(URBN) Urban Outfitters – All 23 analysts Raised Full-Year Estimates
Urban Outfitters Inc. (URBN) estimates continue to climb following the latest earnings surprise Company Description Urban Outfitters is a specialty retailer whose stores include Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, Free People, and Terrain. Stores offer men’s and women’s...
6Oct2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(CVAT) Two Companies Profiting From the “Fuel of the Future”
by Louise Harris, Investment U Research You don’t have to look far to find one of today’s big economic and market buzz phrases: Green investing. From green clothing websites, to CNN headlines heralding biofuel, companies are trying their best to capitalize on growing...
6Oct2009 | InvestmentU | 0 comments | Continued(WDC) Solid Technology Bets for the Long-Term – Investment Ideas
Nearly 2 months ago, I wrote about technology stocks making a comeback, highlighting 3 companies that were poised to benefit from a surge in tech names over the long-term. The article was titled Are Techs Making a Comeback? Since that article was written, and during the third...
6Oct2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(LUV) Southwest Airlines Announces Discounted Winter Fares
Southwest Airlines (LUV) yesterday announced discounted fares for winter travel. The discounts were offered in order to increase travel to make up for the lost revenue due to the recession. Southwest has been hit hard by slowing demand due to the recession and volatile fuel prices....
6Oct2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(ARW) Arrow Electronics Buys Back Debt
Arrow Electronics (ARW) recently agreed to sell its $300 million aggregate principal 6% notes due Apr 1, 2020. The company expects to close the transaction on Sep 30, 2009. Management plans to use the proceeds for general corporate purposes and for the repurchase of its existing...
6Oct2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued