Archive for March, 2010
(GSK) GlaxoSmithKline Drug Gets European Commission Approval
GlaxoSmithKline Plc. (GSK) recently received good news in the form of European approval for its oral thrombopoetin agonist, Revolade (eltrombopag). The European Commission (EC) granted marketing approval to the product for the oral treatment of thrombocytopenia or reduced platelet...
16Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(GOOG) Fuel Cell Technology: This “Power Plant In a Box” Could Transform the Energy Sector
Today, we’re going on the hunt for the Holy Grail. But Monty Python’s bumbling crew are nowhere to be seen. I’m talking about scientists’ and engineers’ constant search for the “Holy Grail” of the energy world: A resource that’s clean, has no emissions and...
16Mar2010 | InvestmentU | 0 comments | Continued(VZ) Verizon Communications’ Long Term Evolution Technology
The technical term is IEEE mobile Worldwide Interoperability of Microwave Access 802.16e-2005. The term we found during our research was WiMAX. We knew it wasn’t going to be this simple, and we were right. We also found LTE, which we learned stands for Long Term Evolution. LTE...
16Mar2010 | Wax | 0 comments | Continued(CHK) Chesapeake Energy Corporation – Natty or Nasty?
A couple of days ago, Chesapeake Energy Corporation (NYSE: CHK) came up during a discussion with some friends of ours. Our thoughts were directed around the company as a long-term investment and were based on various articles we had read on the web, while their comments were...
16Mar2010 | Wax | 0 comments | Continued(GME) GameStop – Tadpoles in the Stew?
We noticed that shares of GameStop Corporation (NYSE: GME) were hammered on Tuesday, down almost 4.5% from the previous day, on volume that was almost 2.5 times the norm. While we don’t have a position in GameStop, we think it is a fairly well managed company with reasonable...
16Mar2010 | Wax | 0 comments | Continued(GYMB) Gymboree Corporation – Full Year Zacks Earnings Estimates Climb
Gymboree Corporation (GYMB) saw sales rise 4% in the fiscal fourth quarter and expects mid single digit sales growth in the first quarter. Gymboree is a specialty children’s retailer operating 629 Gymboree stores, 140 Gymboree Outlet stores, 119 Janie and Jack shops and...
16Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(CEPH) Cephalon Earnings Estimates Up on Company Guidance
Earnings estimates for Cephalon, Inc. (CEPH) have gone up significantly following the issuance of a better-than-expected guidance by the company. Cephalon exited 2009 on a strong note with both fourth-quarter and full-year earnings exceeding expectations. Cephalon reported fourth-quarter...
16Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(TCBI) Texas Capital Bancshares Warrents Sold by U.S. Treasury for $6.6 Million
The Treasury announced on Friday that it has received net proceeds of $6.6 million from the sale of warrants it had obtained as part of its investment in Texas Capital Bancshares Inc. (TCBI) through the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) during the height of the financial crisis....
16Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(FSLR) First Solar Sells Project to Southern Company
First Solar Inc. (FSLR) has sold a 30 megawatt (AC) photovoltaic solar power project to Southern Company (SO) and Turner Renewable Energy. The Cimarron I photovoltaic solar power project is adjacent to the Vermejo Park Ranch in northern New Mexico . First Solar is developing...
16Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(JPM) U.S. Bank Failures Climb to 30 in 2010
Although the economy is showing signs of a gradual recovery, tumbling home prices, soaring loan defaults and rising unemployment continue to take their toll on small banks. As a result, U.S. regulators on Friday shuttered three more banks in New York, Florida, and Louisiana....
16Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(CSCO) Federal Communications Commission Announces US Broadband Plan
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has outlined its goals for the “National Broadband Plan” (NBP), which the agency will deliver to the Congress on March 16, 2010. The regulator has drafted ambitious proposals that will revolutionize the US broadband industry...
16Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued($C) U.S. Treasury Reports That New Loans Fall at TARP Banks
The U.S. Treasury said on Monday that new loans at nine major banks, which received significant government aid through the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) during the height of the financial crisis and have not repaid yet, tumbled in Jan 2010. In its monthly survey of lending...
16Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued($BAC) Bank of America Eyes Expansion in China
According to a Wall Street Journal report, Bank of America Corporation (BAC) is looking to expand its operations in China. Currently, the bank has some investment banking and lending operations in the country. BofA also owns a minority stake in China Construction Bank. According...
16Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(EMC) EMC Appoints New Chief Marketing Officer
EMC Corp. (EMC), a leading provider of storage hardware and software has appointed Jeremy Burton as its new Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). Mr. Burton will report to Joe Tucci, EMC’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Mr. Burton will...
16Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(AMLN) Amylin Pharmaceuticals’ Drug Approval Delayed
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently issued a complete response letter delaying the approval of Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (AMLN), Eli Lilly and Co. (LLY) and Alkermes, Inc.’s (ALKS) once weekly formulation of Byetta (exenatide). The companies are seeking to...
16Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(BSX) Boston Scientific Gets FDA Approval
Boston Scientific Corp. (BSX) recently received the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for its Express LD Iliac Premounted Stent System for use in iliac arteries. Boston expects to launch the product immediately in the U.S. The Express LD Iliac Premounted Stent...
16Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(AIG) American International Group Raises $452 Million from Transatlantic Holdings Sale
Yesterday, American International Group Inc. (AIG) announced that it has raised $452 million from its stake sale in the reinsurance company Transatlantic Holdings Inc. (TRH). AIG closed the secondary public offering of 8,466,693 shares of Transatlantic common stock owned by American...
16Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(SKX) Skechers U.S.A. Analyst Upgrades Stock to Outperform
We recently upgraded the recommendation on Skechers U.S.A., Inc. (SKX) the designer, marketer and distributor of footwear, to Outperform from Neutral. We believe, Skechers’ sustained focus on new lines of products, opening of new retail stores and distribution channels, and...
12Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(HBAN) Huntington Bancshares Reaffirms 2010 Earnings Guidance
In a regulatory filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission yesterday, Huntington Bancshares Inc. (HBAN) reaffirmed its 2010 guidance. As announced concurrent with the fourth-quarter earnings release on Jan 22, 2010, Huntington expects to return to a profitable quarterly...
12Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(DVA) DaVita Shows Positive Earnings Surprises and Earnings Revisions
Last month, DaVita Inc. (DVA), a leading provider of dialysis services in the United States to patients suffering from chronic kidney failure (also known as end stage renal disease (ESRD), announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended Dec 31, 2009....
12Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(HSNI) HSN Incorporated – Blasted Away Earnings Expectations
HSN, Inc. (HSNI) shares are surging on the latest earnings report. However, rising estimates are keeping valuations in check. Company Description HSN, Inc. is a retailer that operates several television stations to sell directly to customers. Products can also be purchased online,...
12Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(TIF) Tiffany & Company – Earnings Estimates Trending Higher
Tiffany & Co. (TIF) has beaten the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the last five quarters by an average of 22.7%. Company Description Tiffany & Co. is a jeweler and specialty retailer that designs, manufactures, and sells an extensive selection of jewelry as well as timepieces,...
12Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(AIPC) American Italian Pasta Company – Earnings Surprised by 23.38% in the Fiscal First Quarter
American Italian Pasta Company (AIPC) has seen earnings jump as more consumers stay home to eat during the recession. AIPC has surprised on the Zacks Consensus Estimate 4 quarters in a row by an average of 21.05%. Company Description American Italian Pasta produces dry pasta...
12Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(AGN) Allergan Wins FDA Approval For Label Expansion on Botox
Allergan, Inc. (AGN) recently received good news with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granting approval to Botox for the treatment of increased muscle stiffness in the elbow, wrist and fingers in adults with upper limb spasticity. The FDA approval comes after the company...
12Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(WEN) Wendy’s/Arby’s Looks to Aquire CKE Restaurants?
According to a recent report in the New York Post, Nelson Peltz’s Trian Fund Management, the owner of Wendy’s/Arby’s Group Inc. (WEN) is looking to acquire CKE Restaurants Inc. (CKR). Atlanta-based, Wendy’s/Arby’s Group is considering a bid of $1 billion for CKE Restaurants,...
12Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(FDO) Family Dollar Stores’ Analyst Upgrades to Outperform
We recently upgraded our recommendation on Family Dollar Stores, Inc. (FDO), the operator of self-service retail discount stores in the United States, to Outperform from Neutral with a target price of $40.00. Despite a sluggish macro economic environment, Family Dollar’s strategic...
12Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(OPTR) Optimer Pharmaceuticals’ Loss Narrows
Optimer Pharma’s (OPTR) fourth quarter loss per share came in at 28 cents, narrower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 34 cents and the year-ago loss of 31 cents. For 2009, the company reported a loss per share of $1.30 compared to a loss of $1.24 in 2008. Optimer...
12Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(PFE) Pfizer Suffers Twin Study Setbacks
In a major setback for the company, Pfizer (PFE) has had to discontinue a final stage study. It was evaluating the effectiveness of a combination of an investigational compound figitumumab with erlotinib for the second/third-line treatment in previously treated patients for non-small...
12Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(NABI) Nabi Biopharmaceuticals’ Earnings Reports Bests Estimates
Nabi Biopharmaceuticals (NABI) reported fourth quarter fiscal 2009 (ended Dec 26, 2009) earnings of 2 cents per share (from continuing operations). This was well above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 11 cents. The company suffered a loss of 10 cents (from continuing...
12Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(SKX) Skechers U.S.A. – Bull of the Day
Skechers U.S.A. (SKX) is well positioned to benefit through a sustained focus on new products, opening of new retail stores and distribution channels, and a multi-brand strategy. A healthy balance sheet and in-demand inventory position it to capitalize on future growth opportunities....
12Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued