Archive for March, 2010
(TMO) Thermo Fisher Scientific Acquires Finnzymes
Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. (TMO) recently completed the acquisition of Finnzymes. Financial terms of the agreement have not been disclosed. The acquisition is not expected to have any material impact on the company’s financial results in fiscal 2010. Finnzymes is a Finland-based...
9Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(FTI) FMC Technologies Wins Oil Drilling Subsea Deal
Oil drilling equipment maker FMC Technologies Inc. (FTI) announced a $62 million contract from Norway-based oil and gas company StatoilHydro ASA (STO). The deal calls for FMC Technologies to manufacture and provide subsea production systems to the Marulk field, located in the...
9Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(CNQ) Canadian Natural Resources Hurt by Lower Gas Prices/Volumes
Independent oil explorer Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. (CNQ) reported weaker-than-expected fourth-quarter results, hurt by lower natural gas prices and volumes. Earnings per share, excluding one-time and non-cash items, came in at C$1.23 ($1.19), below the Zacks Consensus Estimate...
9Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(CX) CEMEX, S.A.B. de C.V. Suffers From Weak Infrastructure Sector
Recently, CEMEX, S.A.B. de C.V. (CX) reported fourth quarter and fiscal year 2009 results. During the quarter, Cemex reported an EPS of 28 cents compared to a loss of 96 cents in the year ago quarter. Reported EPS was much above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of loss per share...
9Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(MTL) Mechel OAO’s $1 Billion Credit Line Extended
Russian steel and coking coal producer Mechel OAO (MTL) recently announced that its $1 billion credit facility with Gazprombank has been doubled to six years with a reduced interest rate. Mechel will begin repayment of the facility, which was used to finance operations and pay...
9Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(PLD) ProLogis to Buy Back $540 Million in Notes
ProLogis (PLD), a leading global provider of distribution facilities, recently launched a cash tender offer to buy back notes with outstanding principal totaling over $540 million. The offer includes 5.5% notes due Apr 2012 and 5.5% notes due Mar 2013, with approximately $281...
9Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(MCHP) Microchip Technology Incorporated Ups Offer for Silicon Storage Technology
Microchip Technology Incorporated (MCHP) announced that it has amended its agreement to acquire Silicon Storage Technology Inc. (SSTI). Silicon Storage is a global leader in embedded flash technology and in the licensing of these technologies. It has several other businesses...
9Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(GOL) GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes S.A. Well Positioned in Latin America
GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes S.A. (GOL), the largest low-cost airline in Latin America, has announced its preliminary traffic figures for February 2010. During the month, total passenger traffic grew 46.9% over the same period last year, fueled by 47.9% growth in the domestic...
9Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(BMC) BMC Software Wins New Customers
BMC Software Inc. (BMC) is winning new customers at regular intervals. The company’s superior product quality, innovative service offerings and aggressive marketing strategy are helping to win these major deals. The ongoing revival in IT spending across the globe is also...
9Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(XLNX) Xilinx Earnings Estimates on the Rise
Earnings estimates for chipmaker Xilinx Inc (XLNX) have been increasing following the release of solid results for the third quarter of fiscal 2010. California-based Xilinx designs and manufactures a broad range of high-performance, high-density programmable logic devices (PLDs)...
9Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(MON) Monsanto Announces Expansion
Recently, Monsanto Company (MON) completed its $200 million expansion just outside of New Orleans. The expansion was started in April 2008 to increase production of the agricultural herbicide – Roundup. Roundup is one of the world’s leading crop protection products....
9Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(F) General Motors to Reinstate 661 Dealers
General Motors (GM) has decided to reinstate 661 of its U.S. dealers who had once been targeted for termination of franchise agreements. The restoration is intended to defend GM’s market share at a time when auto sales are regrouping from the recent economic downturn. Last...
9Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(MMM) 3M Company in Acquisition Mode
3M Company (MMM) announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire MTI PolyFab Inc., a Canada-based manufacturer of thermal and acoustic insulating material for the airlines industry. MTI PolyFab designs and manufactures a lightweight thermal and acoustic insulation...
9Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(KR) The Kroger Company Beats Consensus Estimate
The Kroger Company (KR) recently posted better-than-expected fourth-quarter 2009 results. The quarterly earnings of 39 cents a share surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 34 cents but fell 26.4% from 53 cents reported in the prior-year quarter. The quarterly earnings topped...
9Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(APA) Apache Starts Pyrenees Oil Production
Apache Corporation (APA), through its subsidiary Apache PVG Pty Ltd, commenced oil production from the Pyrenees development. The Pyrenees development is located in production license WA-42-L in the Exmouth Basin offshore Western Australia. Apache owns a 28.57% interest in the...
9Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(TM) Toyota Motor May Suspend New Car Launches
Toyota Motor (TM) has revealed that it may halt new car launches this year if it is unable to be fully satisfied with correcting the accelerator problem that forced a mass recall of its vehicles. The cars that might be shelved include RAV4 2010, Auris 2010 and the Auris Hybrid. However,...
9Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(HON) Honeywell Wins Royal Dutch Shell Contract
Honeywell International Inc. (HON) announced that it has bagged a global five-year agreement to be a Main Automation Contractor (MAC) for Royal Dutch Shell (RDSA). The Global Framework Agreement is part of Shell’s long-term MAC strategy to maximize production while lowering...
9Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(MCD) McDonald’s Report Shows Sales on the Rise
McDonald’s Corporation’s (MCD) comparable sales are on the rise. After climbing 2.6% in January 2010, comparable sales rose 4.8% in February, led by sales growth in Europe and Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa (APMEA) segments. However, sales in the U.S. remain weak amid...
9Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(ARRS) Arris Group Analyst Downgrades Stock to Neutral
We are downgrading our recommendation for Arris Group Inc. (ARRS) to Neutral, which means the stock will perform mostly in line with the broader market. The stock price moved up nearly 86% in the last year and is currently trading at the high-end of its 52-week price range. We...
9Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(KG) King Pharmaceuticals and Acura Pharmaceuticals Report Positive Data on Acurox Study
King Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (KG) and Acura Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (ACUR) recently presented positive top-line data on opioid candidate Acurox from a study that was conducted to assess the relative abuse potential of the drug. Results from Study AP-ADF-114 (A Randomized, Double-Blind,...
9Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(BIG) Labor Department Report Shows Lack of Hires – Not Too Many Fires
The Labor Department released its Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) today for January. This survey does not get the same sort of attention that the employment report gets, mostly because it comes out well after the employment data does (we just had the February data...
9Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(DOW) Dow Chemical Company Divests Styron Business
Dow Chemical Company (DOW) has recently announced the divestiture of the Styron business to a private equity firm, Bain Capital, for a total of $1.63 billion. As a part of the sale agreement, Dow Chemical has an option to purchase 15% of the equity of Styron. The transaction,...
9Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(NOK) Nokia Selects Deutsch Telekom AG’s T-Mobile for 5230
Nokia Corp. (NOK), the largest mobile phone manufacturer of the world, selected T-Mobile, a division of Deutsch Telekom AG (DT) as the carrier-partner for its 5230 Nuron series of 3G smartphone. 5230 Nuron devices will target mass market customers with touch-screen facility. The...
9Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(GES) Guess Incorporated – Return On Equity Doubles Industry Average
Guess Inc. (GES) is expected to generate long-term EPS growth of 17.5%, while offering a dividend yield of 1.2%. Company Description Guess Inc. designs, markets, distributes and licenses contemporary apparel, denim, handbags, watches, footwear and other related consumer products. The...
9Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(SNDK) SanDisk Corporation – 16 Upward Earnings Revisions In The Past Month
SanDisk Corp (SNDK) recently raised its outlook, shares and estimates have responded favorable. Company Description SanDisk Corp. makes memory-based semiconductors for a variety of consumer electronics. The flash storage devices are used in removable cards, USB drives and are...
9Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(SON) Sonoco Products Company – Earnings Surprised by 13.7% in the Fourth Quarter
Sonoco Products Company (SON) saw improvement in the fourth quarter over the year ago period and recently raised 2010 guidance. It has surprised on earnings by an average of 8.3% over the last 4 quarters. Company Description Sonoco manufactures industrial and consumer packaging...
9Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(MAR) Marriott International to Double European Properties
According to the Wall Street Journal, Marriott International Inc. (MAR) is planning to more than double its number of properties in Europe in the next few years. The company is expected to announce its new target at the Hotel Investment Forum, a conference in Berlin today. If...
9Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(MMC) Marsh & McLennan Puts Its Kroll Division Up For Sale
According to the Financial Times on Monday, Marsh & McLennan Companies Inc. (MMC) has put up Kroll, its corporate investigations wing, for sale for approximately $1.3 billion (£864 million). The announcement has attracted many interested bidders such as Carlyle Group, Apax...
9Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(IRM) Iron Mountain Analyst Restates Neutral Rating
We are positive about Iron Mountain Incorporated (IRM) due to its continuous momentum through 2008 and 2009, driven by strength in the storage segment, which has grown at a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 22%. Shares of Iron Mountain are currently trading at a...
9Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(HRB) H&R Block’s Earnings Report One Cent Ahead of Expectations – Revenues Fall
H&R Block Inc. (HRB) reported fiscal third quarter 2010 (ended Jan 31, 2010) net income of $50.6 million or 15 cents, up from $47.4 million or 14 cents in the year-ago period. However Incorporatedome from continuing operations was 16 cents, down 4 cents from the prior-year...
9Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued