Archive for March, 2010
(JEC) Jacobs Engineering Group Penetrates Middle East
Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. (JEC) has won a contract from Saudi Aramco, the state-owned oil company of Saudi Arabia , to develop a basic engineering package for four sulfur recovery units, each with an expected production capacity of 1,200 tons per day. This new, four-train...
3Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(USM) Analysts Cut U.S. Cellular to Underperform
We downgrade our recommendation for U.S. Cellular (USM), the wireless subsidiary of Telephone and Data Systems (TDS), to Underperform following the lower-than-expected fourth quarter 2009 results. The carrier reported disappointing results in the quarter with earnings coming...
3Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(POZN) Pozen Remains a Top Pick
Pozen (POZN) remains one of our top picks in the small-to-mid cap biotechnology industry. We view the company as financially sound, exiting 2009 with over $46 million in cash on hand and another potential $20 million coming in April 2010 from AstraZeneca (AZN) for the U.S....
3Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued($MO) The Best Kind of Healthcare Reform You Can Get
by Marc Lichtenfeld, Healthcare Expert Wednesday, March 3, 2010: Issue #1208 Last weekend, I was in Costco when I noticed what represented two Americas: America #1: As I was in line at the checkout, I thought I recognized someone from a television commercial. One of those...
3Mar2010 | InvestmentU | 0 comments | Continued(PAY) VeriFone Holdings Tops Earnings Estimates
VeriFone Holdings Inc. (PAY) reported revenues of $223.4 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2010, up 2.6% sequentially and up 4.4% year over year. Systems Solutions generated revenues of $188.0 million, up 1.2% year over year. Services revenue increased 11% sequentially and...
3Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(TMO) Thermo Fisher Scientific Acquires Ahura
Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. (TMO) recently completed the acquisition of Ahura Scientific for $145 million in cash plus the potential for an earn-out payment based on the achievement of certain 2010 financial targets. Thermo Fisher has now decided to integrate Ahura into its...
1Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(RDC) Rowan Companies Beats Consensus Estimates
Rowan Companies Inc. (RDC) reported better-than-expected fourth quarter 2009 results. Quarterly earnings were 52 cents per share versus the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 50 cents and year-earlier earnings of $1.28. Revenue for the quarter was $399.8 million, down approximately...
1Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(SLXP) Salix Pharmaceuticals Gets Good News From FDA
Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. (SLXP) received good news recently when the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Gastrointestinal Drugs Advisory Committee recommended the approval of Xifaxan (500 mg) for the maintenance of remission of hepatic encephalopathy (HE). Xifaxan is...
1Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(CNP) CenterPoint Energy Lags Consensus
Energy delivery company CenterPoint Energy Inc. (CNP) posted earnings of 27 cents per share for the fourth quarter of 2009, three cents lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 30 cents but higher than the year-ago quarterly earnings of 25 cents. However fiscal 2009 EPS came...
1Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(TAP) Molson Coors Brewing Company Analysts Downgrade to Underperform
We are currently downgrading shares of Molson Coors Brewing Company (TAP) to Underperform. The company’s susceptibility to the global economic downturn and predominant operations in mature, low-growth markets is adversely affecting its top-line potential. Moreover, intense...
1Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | ContinuedBuilding Wealth: The First Step Toward Gaining Your Financial Independence
by Alexander Green, Chief Investment Strategist Monday, March 1, 2010: Issue #1206 My staff often forwards me letters from readers with the same general complaint about building wealth: “You give me all these great investment ideas, but where do I get the money to invest...
1Mar2010 | InvestmentU | 0 comments | Continued(GLNG) Golar LNG Limited Swings to Profit
Golar LNG Ltd. (GLNG) reported its fourth quarter results on Friday. The company swung to a net income of $17.4 million, from a net loss of $1 million in the previous quarter. Excluding certain special items, earnings per share came in at 19 cents during the quarter, which easily...
1Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(DAN) Dana Holding Corporation’s Loss Narrows
Dana Holding Corp. (DAN) has reported a narrower loss of $83 million or $0.92 per share (before special items) in the fourth quarter of 2009, compared to a loss of $249 million or $2.57 per share in the year-ago quarter. However, the loss was wider than the Zacks Consensus Estimate...
1Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(GILD) Gilead Sciences Earns FDA Approval for Cayston Drug
In a positive development, Gilead Sciences (GILD) received long-awaited US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for Cayston (aztreonam for inhalation solution). The drug is indicated for the treatment of lung infection caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa)...
1Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(LSI) LSI Corporation Upgrades Processor
LSI Corporation (LSI) recently announced its next-generation link communication processor (LCP) designed to allow migration of network traffic to IP-based networks. An asymmetrical multicore system on a chip (SoC), the new LCP is based on the highly-successful LSI link layer...
1Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(MT) ArcelorMittal’s Fourth Quarter Surpasses Estimates
Recently, ArcelorMittal (MT) reported results for the fourth quarter and full year 2009. During the quarter, ArcelorMittal recorded net income of $1.1 billion, or 71 cents, as compared to a net loss of $2.6 billion, or $1.93 per share, for the fourth quarter of 2008. Reported...
1Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(M) Savings Rate Falls as Personal Consumption Expense Jumps
In January, Personal Income rose by 0.1%, a slowdown from the 0.3% increase in December (which was revised down from a 0.4% increase) and 0.4% in November. The Personal Income number was well below expectations for a 0.4% increase. Disposable personal income, or after-tax income,...
1Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(CX) CEMEX, S.A.B. de C.V. Reduces Debt
Ready Mix USA LLC, a joint venture in which CEMEX, S.A.B. de C.V. (CX) has a 49.9% stake, completed the sale of 12 active quarries and certain other assets to SPO Partners & Co. for $420 million. The active quarries – which consist of 2 granite quarries in Georgia,...
1Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(PLD) ProLogis Increases Stake in ProLogis European Properties
ProLogis (PLD), a leading global provider of distribution facilities, recently increased its stake in ProLogis European Properties (PEPR), the largest owner of modern distribution facilities in Europe. Operating as a real estate closed-ended investment fund, PEPR is externally...
1Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(REP) Repsol YPF S.A.’s Earnings Report Misses Badly
Repsol YPF S.A. (REP) reported fourth-quarter earnings of 17 euro-cents per share (25 cents per ADR), compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 32 cents and year-earlier loss of 15 euro-cents (21 cents per ADR). Despite a 5.8% increase in production volumes, quarterly earnings...
1Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(DHI) Total U.S. Construction Spending Declines
In January, total construction spending declined by 0.6% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 884.1 billion. That is 9.3% below the 974.3 billion rate of a year ago. However, residential construction spending actually rose by 1.1% on the month to an annual rate of $269.2 billion,...
1Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(WAG) Walgreen Expands New York Presence
Recently, Walgreen (WAG) decided to acquire New York-based drugstore chain Duane Reade Holdings for a total enterprise value of $1.075 billion Incorporatedluding debt. The transaction, expected to close in the current fiscal year (ending Aug 31), is yet to receive regulatory...
1Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(CBE) Cooper Industries’ Fourth Quarter Report Tops Estimates
Cooper Industries Plc (CBE) reported earnings from continuing operations of 76 cents for the fourth quarter of 2009, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 67 cents. Fourth quarter 2009 revenues decreased 17.5% to $1.26 billion, compared with $1.52 billion for the same period...
1Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(DT) EU to OK Deutsche Telekom and France Telecom Joint Venture
The proposed merger of the UK units of European telecom giants Deutsche Telekom (DT) and France Telecom (FTE) in a 50-50 joint venture is set to gain clearance from the European Commission, the executive body of the European Union (EU). The commission has reportedly agreed to...
1Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued($F) Ford Motor to Cut Shifts at Michigan Plant
Ford Motor Co. (F) plans to eliminate second production shifts at its Flat Rock, Michigan plant in July this year, downsizing 900 workers. The plant, called Auto Alliance, is jointly operated with Japan’s Mazda Motor Corp. It manufactures Ford Mustang and the Mazda 6 sedans....
1Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(MTE) India Reschedules 3G Spectrum Auction
Good news for 3G hopefuls in India as the country’s much-delayed 3G spectrum (radio airwaves) auction is finally set to be held in April 2010 after 4 postponements. The 3G WCDMA spectrum auction was recently deferred to August-September 2010 due to lack of available spectrum. India’s...
1Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(ALKS) Alkermes Drug Application Gets New Target Date
Recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that inclement weather has forced the agency to delay the review of the new drug application (NDA) of the type II diabetes candidate, exenatide once-weekly. Exenatide once-weekly is co-developed by Alkermes Inc....
1Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(USM) U.S. Cellular’s Fourth Quarter Report Misses Expectations
U.S. Cellular (USM), the wireless subsidiary of Telephone and Data Systems (TDS), reported fourth quarter 2009 results with earnings per share (EPS) of 14 cents missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 21 cents. Earnings were hurt by impairment charges of $14 million. The Chicago-based...
1Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(FTE) France Telecom’s Earnings Report Misses Expectations
French telecom giant France Telecom (FTE) has reported results for full year 2009 with earnings per ADS of $1.58 missing the Zack Consensus Estimate of $2.65. Net income fell 26% year-over-year to €3 billion (US$4.18 billion), largely due to a €964 million (US$1.3 billion)...
1Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued($MSFT) Institute for Supply Management’s Survey Shows Manufacturing Dips but Still Strong
The Institute for Supply Management’s (ISM) manufacturing survey slipped to a reading of 56.5 from 58.4 in January, a drop of 1.9 points and below the 58.0 reading that was expected. However, anything over 50 indicates that the manufacturing economy is expanding, so this is...
1Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued