Archive for December, 2009
(REP) Repsol YPF Provides 2010 Outlook
Spain’s largest integrated oil and gas company Repsol YPF (REP) revealed yeasterday a 2010 exploration plan for its Argentine counterpart – YPF. With a declining trend in proved reserve base in the past few years, the 2010 plan includes a broad goal of reversing this position...
27Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(HRS) Harris Corporation Wins $228M Deal
Yesterday, Harris Corp. (HRS) was awarded a $228 million contract by the U.S. Marine Corps to provide Falcon II AN/VRC-104 high-frequency radio systems to be used in MRAP-All Terrain Vehicles. The AN/VRC-104 radio system will provide reliable, secure, high-frequency tactical...
27Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(FISV) Fiserv’s Acumen Account Processing Solution Selected
Fiserv, Inc. (FISV) announced that Westoba Credit Union of Brandon, Manitoba has chosen to implement its advanced Acumen account processing solution. Acumen is designed to support the business initiatives of large, market-leading credit unions. The solution has features such...
27Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(DYN) Dynegy to Record Pretax Charge on Sale of Assets
Dynegy Inc. (DYN) announced that it will incur a pretax $310 million charge on its sale of assets to New York-based private equity firm LS Power in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009. Earlier this month, Dynegy sold five peaking and three combined-cycle generation assets, as well...
27Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(LEN) November New Home Sales Fall Down
In November, New Home Sales seriously disappointed by falling 11.3% from October levels to a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 355,000. The rate was also 9.0% below the year-ago sales levels. The consensus expectations were for sales to be running at a 435,000 rate in November....
27Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(AOL) Newly Independent AOL to Trim Headcount
AOL Inc. (AOL) recently declared that its Board of Directors has approved a plan to trim one-third of its headcount as a part of its restructuring program, which also involves shedding some assets. The company will incur a restructuring charge of $200 million Incorporatedluding...
27Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(AM) American Greetings Reports Strong Third Quarter
American Greetings Corp. (AM) reported third-quarter earnings of $1.08 per share, well above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 69 cents. This was significantly higher than earnings of 20 cents in the prior-year quarter. However, consolidated revenues for the quarter were down 3.1%...
27Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(MDR) McDermott International Unit Buys Vessel Stakes
J. Ray McDermott S.A. – a subsidiary of energy-focused engineering and construction firm McDermott International Inc. (MDR) – announced the purchase of interest in two underwater oil and gas construction vessels from Norwegian offshore services company Oceanteam ASA. The...
27Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(KGS) Quicksilver Gas Services LP Sees Volume Growth in 2010
Quicksilver Gas Services LP (KGS) recently announced that it will gather and process greater volumes of natural gas in 2010, compared to 2009 levels, due to its recent acquisition of the Alliance midstream assets from its parent company, Quicksilver Resources Inc. (KWK). Quicksilver...
27Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(SLE) Sara Lee Corporation – Earnings Estimates Advance
Sara Lee Corp. (SLE) gapped open on its strong Q1 results from early November on lower costs and strong North American sales, driving shares to a new 52-weke high above $12. Company Description Sara Lee develops and manufactures a wide range of branded packaged food products...
27Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(PFE) Pfizer Expands Chinese Market Presence
Pfizer (PFE) is looking to increase its presence in one of the most sought-after emerging markets – China. Currently, it is the world’s fifth largest pharmaceutical market and is expected to eventually become the third largest within the next two years. Viewing the huge...
27Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(BMY) Bristol-Myers Squibb Cuts 2009 Outlook
Yesterday, Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) lowered its fiscal 2009 outlook as a result of the split-off of pediatric nutrition company Mead Johnson Nutrition Co (MJN). Bristol-Myers expects earnings per share from continuing operations in the range of $1.75 -$1.80, down from its earlier...
27Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(MSFT) Microsoft Loses Patent Lawsuit to i4i
Microsoft Corporation (MSFT), one of the world’s largest software companies, has lost another battle. The company has been slapped with a $290 million penalty for infringement of Canada-based i4i’s patent number 5787449. The description of the i4i patent is very broad—“A...
27Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(SO) Southern Company Initiated At Neutral by Analysts
We are initiating coverage on The Southern Company (SO) with a Neutral recommendation and a target price of $35. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Southern Company is one of the largest generators of electricity in the nation, serving both regulated and competitive markets across...
27Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(SNP) Chinese Refiners May Face Challenges
With a significant pace of expansion in processing capacity, Asia’s largest refiner, China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation or Sinopec (SNP) believes that the macro environment will be challenging in the next year. With increasing crude oil prices, fuel demand growth lags...
27Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(OKS) ONEOK Partners L.P. Signs Pact with Targa Resources Partners
Recently, ONEOK Partners L.P. (OKS) signed a letter of intent for a 10-year term with Targa Resources Partners L.P. (NGLS) for additional fractionation capacity at Targa’s Cedar Bayou fractionator, a natural gas liquids fractionation facility located at Mont Belvieu, Texas....
27Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(COF) Capital One Financial Upgraded to Outperform
We are upgrading our recommendation on Capital One Financial Corp. (COF) to Outperform. The company’s third quarter earnings were substantially ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate, driven primarily by higher-than-expected revenue and almost stable expenses. However, an increase...
27Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(TUP) Tupperware Brands – Favorable Industry Comparisons and Strong Momentum
Tupperware Brands Corporation (TUP) boasts industry-leading fundamentals as shares soar past the market. The company outperformed the S&P 500 by about 100% over the past year. Company Description Tupperware Brands Corporation is a global direct seller of premium, innovative...
27Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(DLM) Del Monte Foods Company – Posted Another Big Earnings Beat in the Fiscal 2010 Second Quarter
Del Monte Foods Company (DLM) has surprised on estimates 4 quarters in a row by an average of 260.60%. DLM is trading with a forward P/E of 11. Company Description Del Monte Foods distributes food and pet products in the United States and South America. It owns many well-known...
27Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(TTM) Tata Motor’s Shares Hit Year High
Tata Motors’ (TTM) shares reached year-high level on Dec 23 on the back of optimistic views revealed by the company. The shares rose 43 cents to $16.13 on Dec 23 compared to Dec 22. Earlier this week, Tata Motors revealed that it expects to expand its market share in utility-vehicle...
27Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(CGNX) Cognex Corporation Inks Deal with BMW
Cognex Corporation (CGNX) recently announced that it has signed a supply agreement with German automaker BMW AG. Under the terms of the multi-year agreement, Cognex will supply its leading products DataMan handheld and In-Sight fixed-mount ID readers to BMW manufacturing plants...
27Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(PRU) Prudential Financial Sees Credit Rating Action
Earlier during the week, Fitch Rating affirmed the “BBB+” long-term issuer default and the “BBB” senior debt ratings on Prudential Financial Inc. (PRU) and improved its outlook to “stable” from “negative”. The rating action follows the...
27Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(COF) Capital One Financial – Bull of the Day
We are upgrading our recommendation on Capital One (COF) to Outperform. The company’s third quarter earnings were substantially ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate, driven primarily by higher-than-expected revenue and almost stable expenses. However Incorporatedreased...
27Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(DFG) Delphi Financial Group Sees Credit Rating Action
On Tuesday, rating agency A.M. Best affirmed issuer credit rating (ICR) of “bbb” and “a” for Delphi Financial Group (DFG) and its primary life insurance subsidiaries, Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company and First Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company....
27Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(NEM) Newmont Mining Corporation Sells Interest in Mine
Newmont Mining Corporation (NEM)’s subsidiary, Newmont Indonesia Limited together with Nusa Tenggara Mining Corporation (an affiliate of Japan’s Sumitomo Corporation), has completed the sale of 7% of PT Newmont Nusa Tenggara for the 2008 divestiture to PT Multi Daerah Bersaing,...
27Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(HEAT) Cash In On China’s Winning Streak Through SmartHeat’s Success
by Sheena Martin, Contributing Editor Wednesday, December 23, 2009 Clean technology… Energy saving opportunities… A $12 billion, worldwide industry… That’s what SmartHeat (Nasdaq: HEAT) has to offer through its energy efficient, heat exchanger solutions to industrial,...
27Dec2009 | InvestmentU | 0 comments | Continued(IBM) International Business Machines Hires for its Outsourcing Services
In an effort to expand its local call-center outsourcing business, the IT giant, International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) plans to hire 500 customer-service employees and train them at its campus in Boulder over the next several years (probably by 2014). IBM’s Boulder campus...
27Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(KR) Kroger Company – Bear of the Day
Kroger Co. (KR) is not immune to the tough economic environment. The intensifying price war among grocery stores to lure budget-constrained consumers has compelled Kroger to cut prices, hurting its sales and margins. The company reported lower-than-expected third-quarter 2009...
27Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(SIRO) Sirona Dental Systems – PEG Ratio of 1 – Estimates are Rolling in
Sirona Dental Systems Inc (SIRO) beat analysts expectation on higher revenues. Shares continue to trade at a good value as estimates continue to climb. Company Description Sirona makes dental products ranging such as basic instruments, dental chairs, and imaging systems. The...
27Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(KR) Kroger Company Cut to Underperform by Analysts
The crumbling economy, plagued by heavy job losses and waning consumer discretionary spending has weighed heavily upon Kroger Company (KR), one of the largest grocery retailers. This reinforces our conservative view on the stock’s performance in the near future. We now expect...
27Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued