Archive for December, 2009
(AMAT) Applied Materials Closes Semitool Acquisition
Applied Materials’ (AMAT) all-cash acquisition of Semitool Inc. has closed. Around 94% of Semitool shares have been offered for purchase and accepted. Applied Materials intends to buy up any additional shares as may be offered at the same price of $11 per share. With the FTC...
22Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(IART) Integra LifeSciences Holdings Earns New Contract
Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corporation (IART) recently announced that it has signed a new three-year contract with Premier Purchasing Partners, LP, whereby the private firm has selected Integra as a contracted supplier of Jarit surgical and laparoscopic instruments. Premier...
22Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(CAG) ConAgra Foods Beats Expectations – Raises Guidance
ConAgra Foods Inc. (CAG) reported encouraging results for the second quarter of 2010, with earnings of 52 cents per share. Earnings were well above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 47 cents and were up 44.7% year over year. Total revenue for ConAgra declined 2.4% to $3.1 billion...
22Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(ANDE) The Andersons – Bear of the Day
The Andersons (ANDE) reported third-quarter earnings of 7 cents per share, well below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 39 cents and the prior-year EPS of 70 cents per share. Apart from the Grain & Ethanol Group, all other segments at ANDE posted an operating loss for the quarter. Revenue...
22Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(AA) Alcoa Signs Agreement With Saudi Arabian Mining Co
According to published reports, U.S. aluminum giant Alcoa (AA) has signed an agreement with the state-run Saudi Arabian Mining Co. (Maaden) to build a $10.8 billion aluminum complex. Under the agreement, the two firms will build a 1.8 million ton per year aluminum refinery and...
22Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(LZ) Lubrizol Corporation – Consensus Estimates Rise Along With Stock Price
Lubrizol Corporation (LZ) continues to have attractive valuations even though the stock has been on a tear in 2009. LZ is trading at just 9.84x forward earnings. Company Description Lubrizol manufactures specialty chemicals including lubricant additives for engine oils and fuel...
22Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(SID) Companhia Siderurgica Nacional Bids for Portuguese Company
Brazilian steel maker Companhia Siderurgica Nacional (SID) launched a 3.86 billion euro ($5.6 billion) bid for Cimentos de Portugal (Cimpor). SID offered 5.75 euros per share of Cimpor. The company asserted that the deal would result in the formation of one of the world’s largest...
22Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(CELG) Celgene Corporation Scores with Revlimid
Celgene Corporation (CELG) announced recently that initial results from a late-stage study in multiple myeloma (MM) patients revealed that those treated with Revlimid underwent a 58% reduction in disease progression compared to placebo. The positive results caused shares of Celgene...
22Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(COH) Coach, Inc. – Higher Earnings Estimates and Strong Momentum
Coach, Inc. (COH) continues to see bullish earnings forecasts on strong fundamentals and solid momentum. The full-year Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.07 per share is up 6% over the last 60 days. During the past year, shares more than doubled the market’s return, currently...
22Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(IBM) IBM Gets Essex County Service Contract
International Business Machines (IBM) said that it has signed an agreement with Essex County Council to help the council lower taxes, deliver enhanced services and provide incremental savings to Essex’s clients. The contract, which was signed in Dec 2009 spans over a period...
22Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(ARW) Arrow Electronics Upgrades Guidance
Earlier in the day, Arrow Electronics, Inc., (ARW) upgraded its outlook for the fourth quarter of 2009. The company now expects revenues to come between $3.8 billion and $4.2 billion in the December quarter, up from the previous guidance of $3.65 billion to $4.25 billion. Management...
22Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(THS) TreeHouse Foods Inc Acquires Sturm Foods
TreeHouse Foods Inc. (THS) on Monday raised its 2009 earnings guidance and announced the acquisition of cereal maker Sturm Foods for $660 million. The company stated that it now expects full-year adjusted earnings to range between $2.10 and $2.12 per share, compared to the earlier...
22Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(EIX) Edison International’s Southern California Edison Gets Regulatory Approval
Edison International’s (EIX) subsidiary Southern California Edison’s (SCE) Tehachapi renewable transmission project got regulatory approval. The regulatory body was the California Public Utilities Commission. The Tehachapi Renewable Transmission Project (TRTP) will be...
22Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(AIG) U.S. Pay Czar Modifies Rule for AIG Staff
U.S. pay czar Kenneth Feinberg said on Monday that he has revised his decision on pay limitations for a top executive of the American International Group (AIG), as the executive has decided to remain with the company. Approving the request of AIG, the pay czar will allow paying...
22Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(HES) Hess Corporation Swaps Assets with Royal Dutch Shell
Hess Corporation (HES) yesterday joined hands with Royal Dutch Shell (RDSA) for a strategic asset swap deal. The deal will double Hess’ interest in two offshore fields in Norway – Valhall and Hod ? to 56.18% and 50%, respectively. No cash consideration is involved in the...
22Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued($C) Why It’s Time to Buy – or Flip – Your Dream Home
by Alexander Green, Chief Investment Strategist Tuesday, December 22, 2009: Issue #1163 If you’re financially strapped right now, feel free to skip today’s column. But if your finances are solid and you’re liquid (i.e. you don’t need to rely on bank borrowing) you...
22Dec2009 | InvestmentU | 0 comments | Continued(RDSA) Royal Dutch Shell Switches Focus from Nigeria
In response to growing militant activities and a souring of relations with the government, Royal Dutch Shell (RDSA) is planning to divest oil fields in Nigeria worth up to $5 billion. The Nigerian Government prepares to impose harsher terms on foreign operators and hand a greater...
22Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(TEX) Terex Corporation to Sell Mining Business to Bucyrus International
Construction and mining equipment manufacturer Terex Corporation (TEX) has agreed to sell its mining business to Bucyrus International Inc. (BUCY) for $1.3 billion in cash. As a part of this transaction, Terex will divest hydraulic mining excavators, electric drive mining trucks,...
22Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(LECO) Lincoln Electric – Bull of the Day
Lincoln Electric (LECO) is pursuing a multi-year strategy to become more cost competitive by building manufacturing facilities in Eastern Europe, India, China and SE Asia. The company is using acquisitions to expand its manufacturing capabilities, broaden distribution networks...
22Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(T) AT&T Announced a 2.4% Increase in Dividend
AT&T (T) has announced 2.4% increase in the quarterly dividend to 42 cents per share (from 41 cents per share). Annualized, this increases the dividend to $1.68 per share (equating to roughly 6% yield) from the current dividend of $1.64 per share. However, the rate of increase...
22Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(NYT) The New York Times Company Stalls Sale
The New York Times Co. (NYT) recently decided not to sell Massachusetts newspaper, Worcester Telegram & Gazette. The New York Times notified that 2 potential bidders, Harry T. Whitin, a former Telegram & Gazette editor, and Ralph D. Crowley Jr., an executive of a bottling...
22Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued($YUM) Yum! Brands Outlines Plan for India
Sluggish sales in the U.S. and China have prompted Yum! Brands Inc. (YUM), the operator of KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell fast-food chains, to focus more on emerging markets such as India, which is still completely untapped. With the saturation of the U.S. market and the recession...
22Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(PC) SANYO Electric Co Now Panasonic Subsidiary
Upon completion of the acquisition of SANYO Electric Co Ltd. , a manufacturer and seller of electronic equipment and rechargeable batteries, Panasonic (PC), a leading manufacturer of electronic and electrical products, systems and components, today announced changes to its subsidiaries...
22Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(FE) FirstEnergy Corporation Joins PJM Interconnection LLC, Sells Michigan Plant
FirstEnergy Corporation (FE), through its subsidiary American Transmission Systems, Inc., entered into an agreement to join PJM Interconnection LLC (PJM). The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved the integration last week. Currently, the company’s transmission...
22Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(RIG) Transocean Ltd. Earns Three Year Deal
The world’s largest offshore driller, Transocean Ltd. (RIG), announced the award of a three-year contract for its GSF Celtic Sea moored deepwater semisubmersible rig from an undisclosed customer. The vessel, which can operate in water depths up to 5,750 feet and drill wells...
22Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(MMC) Marsh & McLennan Unit Mercer Hit by $2.8 Billion Lawsuit
On Dec 17, 2009, Mercer (US) Inc., a unit of Marsh & McLennan Companies Inc. (MMC) was sued by the Alaska Retirement Management Board (state agency) for making significant errors while estimating its liabilities for pension plans. Mercer is a human resource consulting firm,...
22Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(NWSA) Time Warner Cable May Drop Popular Fox Shows
With ongoing negotiations unable to find a mutually agreeable solution, News Corp. (NWSA) has warned its viewers that Time Warner Cable Inc. (TWC) could discontinue to broadcast hit programs from the Fox Broadcast Network such as “American Idol” and NFL Football. The...
22Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(RCI) Rogers Communications – Downgraded to Neutral by Analysts
We downgrade our recommendation for Rogers Communications Inc. (RCI) to Neutral as a result of increased competition in the Canadian wireless market. Canadian wireless rates are among the highest in the world. In a bid to improve service and prices through competition, the Canadian...
22Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(NVTL) Novatel Wireless Inc Downgraded to Neutral
We downgrade our recommendation for Novatel Wireless Inc. (NVTL) to Neutral, which means the stock will perform in line with the broader market. The company is facing intensifying competition for its core embedded solutions for wireless access. In addition to its traditional...
22Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(HD) Home Depot Supply Supply to Lay Off Employees
Home Depot Supply, a leading diversified wholesale distributor in the U.S. and Canada, has recently decided to lay off 350 employees and consolidate 25 branches in order to reduce its operating expenses amid deteriorating fundamentals in the real estate construction industry....
22Dec2009 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued