Archive for November, 2009
(ACS) Settlement in Xerox-Affiliated Computer Services Merger
Affiliated Computer Services Inc. (ACS) announced that the complaint filed by ACS shareholders regarding its merger with Xerox Corp. (XRX) has been resolved. The plaintiffs have temporarily withdrawn their motion for an injunction to block the deal. The lawsuit was filed in October...
25Nov2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(FNM) Third Quarter GDP Growth Revised to 2.8%
This is a revision to the post I put up when the first cut at the GDP report came out on 10/30. In it the new numbers are in bold and the original estimates are put in parentheses, thus a number in parentheses does not mean that it has a negative value (those will have a minus...
25Nov2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(BAC) Home Prices Continue to Rise
This morning the S&P Case-Schiller index was released. The Composite 20 index (C-20), which covers 20 of the largest metropolitan areas in the country rose by 0.27% on a seasonally adjusted basis (home prices are seasonal, so the adjusted data is what you should be looking...
25Nov2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(OMCL) Omnicell Launches New Product
Omnicell, Inc. (OMCL) recently launched a new product, Omnicell 14.0 with Anywhere RN, a software solution used in conjunction with Omnicell’s automated medication dispensing cabinets to ensure safe, efficient and accessible medication management throughout the hospital....
25Nov2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(NCR) NCR Corporation Rolls Out New Products
NCR Corporation (NCR) has introduced a patented two-sided thermal (2ST) printing technology standard, to be made available on all NCR SelfServ 20- and 30-series ATMs in North America. This is expected to strengthen NCR’s grip on the self-service ATM market in the region. Management...
25Nov2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(EXPE) Expedia Inc Downgraded to Neutral
We are downgrading shares of Expedia Inc. (EXPE) from Outperform to Neutral. The company reported strong results in the last quarter, but continued to benefit from promotional inventories provided by its hotel partners. When results are stripped off the benefits of promotional...
25Nov2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(PBCT) People’s United Financial’s United Eyes Acquisition
People’s United Financial Inc. (PBCT) said on Monday that it is eyeing the acquisition of Financial Federal Corporation (FIF) for about $738 million in stock and cash. People’s United, the holding company for People’s United Bank, expects the acquisition to...
25Nov2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(PCS) MetroPCS Communications Upgraded to Neutral
We upgrade our recommendation for MetroPCS Communications (PCS) to Neutral following the company’s better-than-expected operating results in the last quarter. Reported earnings have outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate fueled by healthy revenue growth across the company’s...
25Nov2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(GG) Why Gold Prices Could Fall From Here – And Two Ways to Play the Move
by Karim Rahemtulla, Options Expert Tuesday, November 24, 2009: Issue #1144 Of all the great investments you could have made in 2009, gold is right up there among the best of them. The price of gold has surged this year, taking gold shares upwards with it. Readers of my Xcelerated...
25Nov2009 | InvestmentU | 0 comments | Continued(ICE) The New Crude Oil Benchmark That Could Change the Oil Market’s Price Dynamics
by Sheena Martin, Contributing Editor Tuesday, November 24, 2009 Earlier this month, the world’s largest oil producer set the table for a move away from traditional light, sweet crude oil. Saudi Aramco, the state-owned company of Saudi Arabia has decided to drop West Texas...
25Nov2009 | InvestmentU | 0 comments | Continued(MSTR) MicroStrategy Inc. – Sales Rise 15%
MicroStrategy Inc. (MSTR) recently jumped higher after the company reported better than expected Q3 earnings. Estimates are also on the rise, with the next-year estimate projecting 13% earnings growth. Company Description Microstrategy Inc. provides business intelligence software...
25Nov2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(CRM) Salesforce Partners with CA & BMC
Salesforce.com (CRM) entered into a number of strategic alliances that are expected to enhance the cloud computing service and solutions offered by it. The first among these strategic alliances is with enterprise IT management company CA Inc. (CA). This partnership is expected...
25Nov2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(MDT) Medtronic Beats Analysts Estimates
Medtronic, Inc. (MDT) reported second-quarter of fiscal 2010 earnings per share of 77 cents, compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 74 cents and the year-ago earnings per share of 67 cents. Sales Total revenues in the reported quarter increased 8% year over year to $3.838...
25Nov2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(HRL) Hormel Foods Corporation Earnings Rise 54%
Yesterday, Hormel Foods Corp. (HRL) reported heartening performance for the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2009. During the fourth quarter of 2009, the company reported EPS of 77 cents, up 54% from 50 cents per share in the same quarter of 2008. It was also above the Zacks Consensus...
25Nov2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(PTI) Patni Computer Systems Ltd Exceeds Estimates
Patni Computer Systems Ltd (PTI) reported earnings per ADS of 38 cents, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 34 cents for the third quarter of 2009. Revenues during the quarter were higher by 3.3% sequentially to $167.2 million from $161.9 million in the preceding quarter....
25Nov2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(HGSI) Human Genome Sciences Begins Trial
Recently, Human Genome Sciences, Inc. (HGSI) and Aegera Therapeutics announced the initiation of dosing in a phase I clinical trial to evaluate the safety and tolerability of its lead inhibitor-of-apoptosis protein (IAP), HGS1029, as monotherapy in patients with advanced lymphoid...
25Nov2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued($NOK) Nokia-Siemens Suffers Setbacks
Nokia Siemens Network, the 50-50 joint venture between Nokia Corp. (NOK) and Siemens AG (SI) continues to suffer setbacks one after one. Severe economic recession has forced the telecom carriers to significantly reduce their capital expenditures and network upgrade plans throughout...
25Nov2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(JEC) Jacobs Engineering Group Grabs Another Contract
Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. (JEC) received a contract from a major oil and gas company for engineering of its thermal facility located near Lac la Biche, Alberta, Canada. However, the contract value is not disclosed. Jacobs will perform EDS and detailed engineering and procurement...
25Nov2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(GPRO) Gen-Probe Earns U.S. Food and Drug Administration Approval
Recently, Gen-Probe Inc. (GPRO) announced that it has received the green light from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market ProParaflu Plus assay. The assay, developed by Prodesse, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gen-Probe, is a molecular test for detecting and differentiating...
25Nov2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(GD) General Dynamics Secures Army Contract
General Dynamics Corp. (GD) received a $2.2 billion contract from the U.S. army to supply 724 light armored vehicles to Canada. The U.S. Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command, in support of the U.S. Army Security Assistance Command (USASAC), has awarded the contract to General...
25Nov2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(BA) Federal Reserve Gives Clear Message
The minutes of the Federal Reserve meeting of November 3rd and 4th were released yesterday. The clear message of the minutes is that short-term rates are going to stay very low for a long time to come. Below is the summary of the participants’ view of the economy, and...
25Nov2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(SHPGY) Shire Plc’s Drug Seeks European Medicines Agency Approval
Shire plc (SHPGY) continues to make progress with its Gaucher disease candidate, velaglucerase alfa. The company recently submitted a marketing authorization application (MAA) to the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) for velaglucerase alfa for the treatment of type I Gaucher disease....
25Nov2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(IMT) Using Put Options: How to Grab Discounts and Instant Money Everyday
by Lee Lowell, Stock and Commodity Option Specialist Wednesday, November 25, 2009: Issue #1145 Forget Black Friday. The stock market has 3,000 items on sale – and ready to give you cash back… instantly. Over the past few weeks, I’ve discussed how you could have sold put...
25Nov2009 | InvestmentU | 0 comments | Continued($RTN) Raytheon Lands Navy Contract
Raytheon Company (RTN) bagged a $241 million U.S. Navy contract to deliver open architecture software capability for the Zumwalt-class destroyer (DDG 1000). Under the contract, software development will support the integration of human-computer- interface components for the ship’s...
25Nov2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(FSLR) First Solar Sells Solar Project
First Solar Inc. (FSLR) announced that it would sell the 21 MW solar energy project that it has developed and constructed in Blythe, California, to NRG Energy Inc. (NRG). First Solar will provide operations and maintenance services at Blythe under a long-term contract with NRG...
25Nov2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(HAO) Spending Up, Savings Rates Down
In October, personal income rose by 0.2%, the fourth month in a row of increases. Disposable personal income, or income after taxes Incorporatedreased by 0.4% — also the fourth consecutive rise. This induced people to open up their wallets and spend. Personal consumption...
25Nov2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(PBR) Petrobras Brasileiro SA – Bull of the Day
Petrobras Brasileiro SA (PBR), the largest integrated energy firm in Brazil, stands to benefit from its country’s economic growth and huge pre-salt oil reserves. The company recently reported a better-than-expected third-quarter, helped by strong downstream results that...
24Nov2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(ECPG) Encore Capital Group Inc. – Earnings Estimates Spike
Encore Capital Group, Inc. (ECPG) just set a new 52-week high following the recent earnings report, which topped expectations. Company Description Encore, through its subsidiaries, buys and manages consumer receivable portfolios. Collections up 29% On Oct 28 the company released...
24Nov2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(AVT) Avnet Incorporated – Surprised By 29.41% in the Fiscal First Quarter
Avnet, Inc. (AVT) recently saw quarter over quarter growth as the global recession eased. The company is trading with a forward P/E of 13.2. Company Description Avnet distributes electronic components and computer products to customers in 70 countries worldwide. It also provides...
24Nov2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(STJ) St. Jude Medical – Bear of the Day
We look for global demographic trends — aging populations in developed nations and the rapid urbanization of developing countries — to fuel long-term growth of St. Jude Medical (STJ). These trends give rise to growing demand for cardiovascular health care. However,...
24Nov2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued