Archive for January, 2010
(TLM) Talisman Energy Sees Higher 2010 Budget
Canadian energy explorer Talisman Energy Inc. (TLM) offered a glimpse of its 2010 production and capital spending plans. Talisman said that it will boost its capital expenditures by about 10% in 2010, as it focuses on promising shale gas programs. However, despite hiking the...
13Jan2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(ERTS) Electronic Arts Slashes 2010 Outlook
A leading publisher of interactive games (video game software and content), Electronic Arts Inc. (ERTS) cut its revenue and earnings outlook for fiscal 2010; the second time since the last earnings call. As a result of its gloomy outlook, shares fell 8.37% after hours following...
13Jan2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(PLD) ProLogis Leases are Strong
ProLogis (PLD), a leading global provider of distribution facilities, signed 56 new leases and leased about 4.0 million square feet of its worldwide development portfolio during the fourth quarter of 2009. The static global development portfolio (development portfolio properties...
13Jan2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(GENZ) Genzyme’s Revenues Decline
Genzyme Corp. (GENZ) recently reported preliminary revenues for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2009. With the company facing manufacturing problems from mid 2009, we were not surprised to see fourth quarter revenues decline 8% to $1.08 billion. Full year...
13Jan2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(CRM) Salesforce.com Issues Convertible Notes
Cloud computing major Salesforce.com (CRM) recently announced that it has completed the pricing process of the principal amount of the $500 million convertible notes, due for redemption in 2015. The company has made a private placement to qualified institutional buyers. January...
13Jan2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(MBI) MBIA Downgraded to Underperform
We are downgrading our recommendation on the shares of MBIA Inc. (MBI) to Underperform as macroeconomic conditions continue to contribute to losses on the group’s structured finance products. MBIA insures mortgage-backed securities backed by subprime mortgages. MBIA also has...
13Jan2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(CELL) Brightpoint Wins Nexus One Deal
Recently, Brightpoint Inc. (CELL) received a shot in the arm as it has struck a deal to globally distribute the latest Android-based smart-phone, the “Nexus One.” Nexus One is Google Inc’s (GOOG) first smart-phone developed by HTC Corp. of Taiwan. Brightpoint is the...
13Jan2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(BIG) Big Lots Raises Fourth Quarter Outlook
Big Lots Inc. (BIG) recently raised its fourth quarter 2009 guidance encouraged by better-than-expected sales results. By categories, electronics, furniture and hardlines experienced an improvement in demand. The Columbus, Ohio based company Big Lots now expects quarterly comparable-store...
13Jan2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(DARA) SurgiVision IPO to Boost DARA BioSciences
DARA to Receive Big Cash Infusion from SurgiVision IPO SurgiVision Files S-1 For IPO… On December 23, 2009, DARA BioSciences (DARA) received notification from privately-held SurgiVision that the company had filed a Registration Statement with the SEC for an Initial Public Offering...
13Jan2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(DDR) Developers Diversified Realty Updates Guidance for 2009
Developers Diversified Realty Corporation (DDR), a leading real estate investment trust (REIT), recently provided an update on its 2009 accomplishments along with an outlook for 2010. The company expects 2010 FFO (funds from operations) to range between $1.05 and $1.15 per share....
13Jan2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(HIG) The Hartford Financial Services Group Doubles Earnings Outlook
The Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. (HIG) has doubled its earnings outlook for the fourth quarter of 2009, primarily based on lighter catastrophes, sturdy performances of its property and casualty operations and favorable reserve development from prior years across several...
13Jan2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(XOM) ExxonMobil and Petrobras Makes Agreement Turkish National Oil Company
ExxonMobil Corporation (XOM) and Petrobras (PBR) through their affiliates entered into an agreement with Turkish National Oil Company, Türkiye Petrolleri Anonim Ortakl??? (hereafter, TPAO) to explore hydrocarbons in the deepwater Black Sea offshore Turkey. As per the agreement,...
13Jan2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(JEC) Jacobs Engineering Group Wins $29 Million Contract
Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. (JEC) won a task order contract from the Information Systems and Infrastructure Product Group at Marine Corps Systems Command in Quantico, VA. The order’s value is estimated at $9.7 million through December 2010, with an option for extension of...
13Jan2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(HPQ) Hewlett-Packard Pays CEO $24Million for 2009
At a time when several other companies have drastically reduced their top executive and CEO compensations, Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) has paid $24.0 million as compensation for fiscal year 2009 to CEO Mark Hurd. As per company records, this is a 30% reduction from the prior year figure. The...
13Jan2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(NKTR) Nektar Therapeutics Announces Preliminary Data
Recently, Nektar Therapeutics (NKTR) announced preliminary results from the first stage of phase II study of its experimental ovarian cancer drug, NKTR-102. It has been observed that the drug, tested in women with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer, achieved an overall response...
13Jan2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(GE) Budget Deficit Rises But Why?
The budget deficit in December was $91.9 billion — up from $51.8 billion a year ago, but down from $120.3 billion in November. These numbers are highly seasonal, so the year-over-year comparison is the more important of the two. In November, the Deficit was actually lower...
13Jan2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(HOT) Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Plans 12,000 New Jobs
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. (HOT) plans to add over 12,000 jobs in 2010. The news comes at a time when many companies are still shedding costs through job cuts. Additionally, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported last Friday that the unemployment rate...
13Jan2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(MET) MetLife to Sell Taiwan Business
Taking a step to shore up its finances post the global financial crisis, MetLife Inc. (MET) has recently decided to vend its insurance business in Taiwan. On Tuesday, Taiwan Life Insurance Co. offered $122 million to buy MetLife’s insurance wing in Taiwan. However, the final...
13Jan2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(MON) Monsanto Company Signs Licensing Deal
Monsanto Company (MON) and Limerick, Ireland-based biotechnology firm Stokes Bio Limited entered into a licensing agreement and R&D collaboration. Under the agreement, Monsanto has exclusive rights to Stokes Bio’s patented technology for use in agriculture. In-plant...
13Jan2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(F) Ford Motor Company’s Rating Upgraded by Fitch Ratings
Fitch Ratings has upgraded Ford Motor Company’s (F) and Ford Motor Credit’s issuer default ratings to speculative grade of “B-“ –- viewed as “may default” –- from “CCC.” The upgrade was based on improved market conditions as well as on Ford’s...
13Jan2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(SIRI) SIRIUS XM Radio Downgraded to Underperform
We downgrade our recommendation for SIRIUS XM Radio Inc. (SIRI) to Underperform following the emergence of alternative technology of commercial-free Internet radio and extremely poor financial condition of the company. According to our view, SIRIUS XM’s business model is going...
13Jan2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(NFX) Newfield Exploration Company to Buy TXCO Resources Assets
Newfield Exploration Company (NFX) and Anadarko Petroleum Corporation (APC) have joined hands for the purchase of properties in the Maverick Basin of Southwest Texas from TXCO Resources Inc. (TXCO). The total consideration for the deal is nearly $310 million. The final amount...
13Jan2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(HMC) Plug Your Portfolio Into The Growing Fuel Cell Market
by Louise Harris, Investment U Research Wednesday, January 13, 2010 With so much focus on saving the earth’s resources these days, scientists have proposed one alternative after another to take the place of polluting gas turbines, power plants, gasoline engines and standard...
13Jan2010 | InvestmentU | 0 comments | Continued(XL) XL Capital Moves Corporation to Ireland
Insurance and reinsurance group XL Capital (XL) yesterday announced its intention of shifting its place of incorporation to Ireland from the Cayman Islands. The company has had significant operations in that country and has grown them in recent years. XL Capital would change...
13Jan2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(DT) Deutsche Telekom and France Telecom Seek Approval to Merge Their UK Units
European telecom giants Deutsche Telekom (DT) and France Telecom (FTE) have reportedly filed their appeals to the European Commission for approval of the proposed merger of their UK units in a 50-50 joint venture. The European Commission will review the merger proposal and is...
13Jan2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(IBM) IBM Keeps Lead in Most U.S. Patents Granted
International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) announced that it has been granted the highest number of U.S. patents than any other company in 2009. IBM received 4,914 U.S. patents in 2009, the highest for the 17th consecutive year, outperforming other innovative companies, according...
13Jan2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(BRC) What Recession? British Retail Sales Surge in December – Is The Recession Ending?
by Martin Denholm, Senior Editor, Investment U Wednesday, January 13, 2010 So much for the British recession. Figures just released from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) show that consumers shook off the country’s economic woes, plus a projected cutback in personal spending,...
13Jan2010 | InvestmentU | 0 comments | Continued($AAPL) Let Hype Take A Bite Out Of Apple Shares Before You Buy
Ryan Cole, Investment U Research Wednesday, January 13, 2010 I hate to disagree with my colleague, Dave Fessler, especially when I agree with several of the points he made in his latest article, but steering clear of Apple Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL) seems like the safe thing to...
13Jan2010 | InvestmentU | 0 comments | Continued(WMT) Federal Reserve Beige Book Looks Better
The Federal Reserve released its collection of largely anecdotal information from the 12 Federal Reserve Districts today. It painted a somewhat more upbeat picture of the economy than it did in the report last month, continuing a pattern of gradual improvement that started last...
13Jan2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(ZOLL) ZOLL Medical Corporation Analysts Downgrade to Neutral
We have downgraded ZOLL Medical Corporation (ZOLL) to Neutral from Outperform with a price target of $29.50. Even though we are pleased with the company’s significant international presence — which coupled with its wide range of products also drive growth – the...
13Jan2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued