Archive for December, 2009
(AAPL) Apple Acquires Lala Music Service
In an effort to expand its iTunes music for web streaming and increase its music sell through streamed via the internet, Apple Inc. (AAPL) acquired the online music streaming company Lala.com. However, details and pricing of the deal were not disclosed. Lala’s web site has...
7Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(DD) EI DuPont de Nemours & Company Delays Product Launch
EI DuPont de Nemours & Company (DD) has delayed the release of its corn hybrids and soybean varieties products at its Pioneer Hi-Bred seed business. The world’s second largest chemical company (in terms of market capitalization and fourth in terms of revenues) stated...
7Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(PCLN) Standard & Poor’s Upgrades Priceline’s Credit Rating
Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has upgraded Priceline.com’s (PCLN) rating from BB- to BB. S&P analyst Andy Liu stated that the revision was based on the company’s strong results and market share gains versus the other major online travel companies, Expedia...
7Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(LAYN) Layne Christensen Company’s Profit Plunges
Layne Christensen Co. (LAYN) reported fiscal third-quarter results before the opening bell on Monday. The company’s earnings plunged 45.8% to $6.6 million, or 34 cents per share, from $12.2 million, or 63 cents per share recorded in the year-ago quarter. However, the result...
7Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(CEPH) Cephalon’s Pipeline Candidate Cinquil Disappoints
Cephalon, Inc. (CEPH) recently reported disappointing results on a pipeline candidate, Cinquil that was being developed for the treatment of pediatric eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). Results from the phase IIb/III study showed that Cinquil achieved a statistically significant...
7Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(OMCL) Omnicell Enters New Contract With Carolinas HealthCare System
Omnicell, Inc. (OMCL) recently entered into a new contract with Carolinas HealthCare System (CHS) whereby the latter has selected Omnicell’s OmniRx automated medication dispensing cabinets (ADCs) to streamline management of medications in its hospitals. Carolinas HealthCare...
7Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(BAC) Fitch Upgrades Bank of America’s Ratings
Following the Bank of America‘s (BAC) announcement late Wednesday that it will repay the entire $45 billion of bailout money it has received from the government for its participation in the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP); Fitch Ratings upgraded the individual, preferred...
7Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(ETP) Energy Transfer Partners – Bear of the Day
Our Underperform recommendation on Energy Transfer Partners (ETP) units takes into account the bearish outlook for pipeline operators. While the partnership’s liquidity position is sound, we continue to believe that the near- to medium-term outlook for its natural gas gathering...
7Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(CSCO) Analysts Downgrade Cisco Systems
We are downgrading Cisco Systems (CSCO) shares from Outperform to Neutral, as the shares have had a great run since the beginning of the year and we believe further upside will likely be limited. The company is a leading provider of IP-based networking products and has very large...
7Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(TIF) Tiffany & Company – Bull of the Day
Tiffany & Company (TIF) is well positioned to deliver robust sales and earnings growth by leveraging capital investments made in the past several years. The company holds a significant position in the world jewelry market and is poised to benefit from its increased geographic...
7Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(TIF) Brazil’s Profit Potential: Forget China – It’s Time to Bank on the Brazilian Consumer
by Louis Basenese, Small Cap and Special Situations Expert Monday, December 7, 2009: Issue #1152 Hundreds of millions of Chinese citizens are on a crash course with the middle class. A study from The McKinsey Quarterly supports this well-documented phenomenon, which estimates...
7Dec2009 | InvestmentU | 0 comments | Continued(AVP) Earn Solid Income in a Low Rate Environment – Investment Ideas
Everyday readers of Zacks.com are offered four new stocks that fit each of the four main styles of investing: Aggressive Growth, Growth & Income, Momentum and Value. The Education section of Zacks.com offers a plethora of detailed articles and helpful information on each...
7Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(PVH) Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation – Recently Hiked Full-Year Earnings Guidance
Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation (PVH) announced third-quarter results in mid-November. Earnings per share of $1.08 came in 21% ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Revenue of $697.4 million was relatively flat year-over-year. Management stated that the improvement in business...
7Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(CAB) Cabela’s Inc. – Earnings Guidance Raised
Cabela’s, Inc. (CAB) continues to be on a hot streak as it recently surprised on estimates for the second quarter in a row by a large margin and raised full year guidance. On Oct 27, the hunting, fishing, camping and outdoor merchandise retailer, reported third quarter...
7Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(HLF) Herbalife Ltd. – Analysts Polled Remain Bullish on Earnings
Herbalife Ltd. (HLF) continues to trade higher, closing in on a 52-week high and outpacing the market since the stock was last featured as a Momentum pick. During the past year, shares soared about 130% past the S&P 500. Analysts polled by Zacks remain bullish on earnings,...
7Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(CMCSA) Comcast Initiated By Analysts as Neutral
We initiate coverage for Comcast Corp. (CMCSA) with a Neutral recommendation. Comcast, the largest cable MSO in the U.S. is all set to become a media powerhouse armed with a unique control over both content and distribution. The company will purchase 51% stake of NBC Universal...
7Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(RCI) Rogers Communications – PEG Ratio is 1.1 – Industry Averages 4.5
Rogers Communications Inc. (RCI) shares are still rising after it was originally featured as a Zacks Rank Buy. Company Description Rogers is a Canadian communications and media company that provides wireless and data services. The company is one of the major Canadian cable television...
7Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued($JPM) U.S. Bank Failures Continue Higher
Regulators shut down 6 more banks including Cleveland, Ohio-based AmTrust Bank, the 4th largest this year; pushing up U.S. bank failures to 130 so far this year. Bank failures continue unabated as U.S. regulators on Friday shuttered six more banks Incorporatedluding AmTrust Bank...
7Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(S) Sprint Nextel Completes iPCS Acquisition
Sprint Nextel (S) has reportedly completed the acquisition of its wireless affiliate iPCS Inc. (IPCS), thereby ending the long legal battle with the affiliate. This follows the recent approval of the transaction by the US telecom regulator Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”)...
7Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(CHU) China Unicom Investing in Tibet
China Unicom (CHU) has secured the opportunity to build telecommunication infrastructure in Tibet. The third-largest Chinese wireless carrier has reportedly entered into a five-year pact with the government of Tibet autonomous region under which China Unicom will spend as much...
7Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(BRKA) Berkshire Hathaway’s Buffett Sets Date to Split Shares
On December 4, Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRKA), (BRKB) announced that it will consider its share splitting decision by shareholders vote in its special meeting on Jan 20, 2010. Warren Buffett, who had previously not considered splitting its Class A or Class B shares is now considering...
7Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(ITT) Iridium Communications Inc Wins U.S. Navy Deal
Iridium Communications Inc. (IRDM) and ITT Corp. (ITT) announced that ITT has won a contract from the U.S. Naval Surface Warfare Center -Dahlgren Division to supply 1,450 Iridium-based handheld tactical satellite communication devices for use by U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. Under...
7Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(BMY) Bristol-Myers Squibb Seeks European Approval for Apixaban
Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (BMY) and Pfizer (PFE) recently announced that they intend to seek European approval for apixaban, a drug aimed at preventing and treating clots in blood vessels. The companies will submit the application for the purpose in the first half of 2010. The...
7Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued($BHI) U.S. Oil and Natural Gas Rig Growth Continues
According to data from Baker Hughes Inc. (BHI), the number of rigs searching for oil and gas in the U.S. rose for the week ended Dec. 4, reflecting ramped-up drilling activity by the producers amid recent optimism about an economic recovery and higher prices relative to last...
7Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued($AIG) Insurance Industry – Industry Outlook
The turmoil in the financial markets has created a highly challenging environment for the U.S. insurance industry, forcing many companies to take immense write-downs. This trend is expected to continue at least through the first half of 2010, though there are some early signs...
7Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(PALM) Palm Sued by Artifex Software
Palm Inc. (PALM) was recently sued by Artifex Software Inc. for infringing its registered technologies – muPDF, which is used in the Palm Pre phone. Headquartered in San Rafael California, Artifex is the developer and copyright owner of muPDF, a high-performance PDF rendering...
7Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(MEND) Micrus Endovascular Corp. – Strong Sequential Growth
Micrus Endovascular Corp (MEND) is setting new 52-week highs after a huge earnings surprise. Company Description Micrus develops, manufactures, and markets implantable and disposable devices for that treat cerebral vascular diseases. The company’s footprint extends across...
4Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(ATML) Atmel’s Earnings Loss Narrows
Atmel Corp.’s (ATML) fiscal third-quarter revenues stood at $317.7 million, up 12% sequentially but down 21% year over year. The sequential growth was broad based. In particular, sales of microcontrollers grew 18% sequentially. Gross margin declined to 31.1% from 32.3% in the...
4Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(WWW) Wolverine World Wide Inc. – Bullish Forecasts and Solid Momentum
Wolverine World Wide Inc. (WWW), which has outperformed the market over the past year, continues to see a higher Zacks Consensus Estimate. Analysts lifted current full-year earnings forecasts by 4% in the past 60 days. Company Description Wolverine World Wide markets branded...
4Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(UBS) Canadians Disclose UBS Accounts
Canada’s Revenue Minister Jean-Pierre Blackburn said on Wednesday that around 88 Canadian clients of UBS AG (UBS) have voluntarily disclosed their UBS accounts to Canada’s revenue agency. The government has reached settlement with around 41 of these clients who have reported...
4Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued