Archive for April, 2010
(COMS) 3Com Third-Quarter Revenue Grows
3Com (COMS) reported third-quarter earnings per share of $0.15, which exceeded the Zacks consensus estimate of $0.08. Revenue Revenue of $345.9 million decreased 6.5% from $324.7 million in the year-ago quarter, and increased 7.4% sequentially from $322.2 million. This was partially...
6Apr2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(AIG) AIG Raises Salaries For Top Executives
American International Group (AIG) has raised the salaries for its Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and a senior insurance executive. In a regulatory filing last Friday, the company announced the 2010 pay packages of CFO David Herzog and Kristian Moor, who leads AIG’s global...
6Apr2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(AIG) AIG Ratings Affirmed by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services
Last Thursday, the ratings of American International Group Inc. (AIG) and its insurance subsidiaries were affirmed by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services (S&P). S&P has affirmed the ‘A-/A-1′ counterparty credit ratings on AIG and its ‘A+’...
6Apr2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(MCD) McDonald’s Plans To Increase To 2,000 Locatiions In China By 2013
McDonald’s Corporation (MCD), the world’s largest hamburger chain, plans to increase its restaurant count in China to more than 2,000 by 2013. China is one of the company’s fastest growing markets. McDonald’s also plans to open 150 to 175 restaurants in China in fiscal...
6Apr2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(HES) Hess Corporation Sheds Non-Core UK Assets
Hess Corporation (HES) is stepping forward to sell a few of its natural gas properties for $423 million in cash. The company has entered into an agreement with Scottish & Southern Energy to sell its interest in a bunch of natural gas production and transportation assets in...
6Apr2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(TM) Toyota Motor’s Prius Tops Japan Sales
Toyota Motor’s (TM) Prius hybrid has retained its position as Japan’s top-selling car in March despite the automaker’s global recall woes that involved braking problems with the popular hybrid. According to Japan Automobile Dealers Association, more than 35,546...
6Apr2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(SO) Southern Company Analyst Maintains Neutral And $35 Price Target
We continue to rate shares of The Southern Company (SO) a Neutral, and are maintaining our target price of $35. The Southern Company is the premier energy company serving the Southeast U.S. It remains a leader in power plant productivity, cost control (operating and construction),...
6Apr2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(MRGE) Merge Healthcare Secures Funds From Investors
Merge Healthcare Incorporated (MRGE) recently received $41.75 million from 14 institutional and other accredited investors when it completed a private placement of preferred and common stock with them. The fund will be used for the proposed acquisition of AMICAS Inc. (AMCS). Merge...
6Apr2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(SPLS) Staples Analyst Maintains Neutral Rating
We are maintaining a Neutral rating on Staples Inc. (SPLS), the world’s leading retailer of office products and services, with a target price of $24.00. Staples, which anticipates a moderate recovery in the economy in fiscal 2010, is making prudent investments in the highly...
6Apr2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(AMAG) AMAG Pharmaceuticals Signs Deal With Japan-Based Takeda Pharmaceutical Company
Recently, AMAG Pharmaceuticals Inc. (AMAG) and Japan-based Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. entered into a license, development and commercialization deal related to AMAG’s Feraheme (ferumoxytol) injection for intravenous (IV) use across all potential indications for the drug. Feraheme...
6Apr2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(VPHM) ViroPharma Begins Study Of Durg For Treating Angioedema in Children
Recently, ViroPharma Inc. (VPHM) announced the initiation of a mid-stage study to evaluate Cinryze (C1 Esterase Inhibitor (Human)) for treating acute angioedema attacks in children (n=12) suffering from hereditary angioedema (HAE). A child has an even probability of being affected...
6Apr2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(TXT) Textron Signs Defense Industry Spare Parts Supply Agreement
Textron Marine & Land Systems, an operating unit of Textron Systems, a Textron Inc. (TXT) company, signed an agreement with the Federal Defense Industries Inc. Per the agreement Textron will provide Cadillac Gage vehicle spare parts. Textron Marine & Land Systems specializes...
6Apr2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(TTM) Why the Indian Stock Market Is Booming – And How You Can Take Advantage
The Indian stock market is booming. Having fallen along with other world markets during last year’s crash, it actually bucked the global trend and was nowhere near testing its multi-year lows. And on Monday, Indian shares hit a 25-month high. India’s stock market returns...
6Apr2010 | InvestmentU | 0 comments | Continued(FRX) Forest Labs’ Daxas to Get FDA Panel Review
The US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Pulmonary-Allergy Drugs Advisory Committee will be meeting on Apr 7 to review the efficacy and safety of Forest Labs‘ (FRX) Daxas (roflumilast), which is currently under review for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary...
6Apr2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(SNTS) Santarus Heartburn Drug Over-The-Counter Version Launched
Santarus Inc. (SNTS) recently announced the launch of the over-the-counter (OTC) version of its flagship product, Zegerid. OTC Zegerid is being promoted in North America by Merck’s (MRK) consumer health care subsidiary, Schering-Plough HealthCare Products Inc. The product gained...
6Apr2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(IP) Federal Reserve Board Meeting Minutes Excerpts
Below are some key sections of the minutes of the Federal Reserve Board’s March 16th meeting. I have interspersed my commentary and interpretation where needed. “The information reviewed at the March 16 meeting suggested that economic activity expanded at a moderate pace...
6Apr2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(TDSC) 3D Systems Corporation – Beat Earnings Estimates by 77%
3D Systems Corp. (TDSC) easily beat Wall Street expectations and earnings are expected to grow exponentially this year. Company Description 3D Systems provides 3-D printing, prototyping and manufacturing services and parts. Crushed Estimates 3D Systems reported quarterly results...
6Apr2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(AVT) Avnet Incorporated – Expanding Into Smart Energy and Green Technology
Avnet, Inc. (AVT) recently announced it was merging in an all cash deal with Bell Microproducts as global growth returns to the technology sector. AVT trades at just 12.6x forward earnings. Company Description Avnet distributes electronic components and computer products to customers...
6Apr2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(HAS) Hasbro – Analysts Increasing Earnings Estimates
Hasbro Inc. (HAS) has a Zacks #1 Rank and trades at 15.5x 2010 consensus EPS estimates. Hasbro’s growth and income attributes are an expected long-term EPS growth rate of 10% and a dividend yield of 2.1%. Company Description Hasbro designs, manufactures, and markets games...
6Apr2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(BIG) Big Lots Incorporated – Bull of the Day
Big Lots (BIG) is the largest broad-line closeout retailer with an annual turnover of more than $4 billion. The closeout format gives it an edge over traditional discount retailers as customers are offered merchandise assortments at very low prices. The company’s business...
6Apr2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(DF) Dean Foods Company – Bear of the Day
We downgrade our recommendation for Dean Foods (DF) to Underperform, indicating the stock will perform below the broader market. Sales over the past three-four quarters have been suffering due to passing on of lower dairy commodity costs and reduced sales volume in the WhiteWave-Morningstar...
6Apr2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(NDN) 99 Cents Only Stores – Strong Balance Sheet
99 Cents Only Stores (NDN) continues to trade near its 52-week as the results from its 2008 “Profit Improvement Plan” reverse a multi-year decline in income. The company’s Q4 results from early February included a 40% earnings surprise. Company Description 99c...
6Apr2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(CBS) CBS Corporation Analyst Downgrades Stock
We recently downgraded our recommendation on CBS Corporation (CBS) to Neutral from Outperform with a target price of $15.00. Due to its exposure to publishing, radio and television broadcasting, and outdoor billboard businesses CBS Corporation remains highly susceptible to the...
6Apr2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(C) U.S. Treasury Earns 8.5% Annualized Return From TARP
According to an SNL Financial report, the U.S. Treasury Department has earned an 8.5% annualized return from 49 banks that have repaid the bailout money they received as part of their participation in the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) at the height of the credit crisis. The...
6Apr2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(VZ) Verizon Wireless Announces They Will Carry Microsoft Phones
US wireless kingpin Verizon (VZ) has reportedly emerged as the preferred carrier for Microsoft’s (MSFT) forthcoming smartphones. The new devices, which represent part of Microsoft’s development project called “Pink,” are likely to hit the shelves in April 2010 and...
6Apr2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(CFL) Brink’s Home Security Holdings in Strong Position
Recently, Brink’s Home Security Holdings, Inc. (CFL) reported results for the fourth quarter and full year 2009, which ended on 31 Dec, 2009. Earnings During the quarter, the company reported a net income of $21.7 million, up from $16.3 million in the year-ago quarter....
5Apr2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(GPN) Global Payments Third Quarter Tops Expectations
Global Payments Inc. (GPN) posted fiscal 2010 third-quarter earnings after the closing bell on Wednesday. The company swung to a net income of $48.5 million, compared to a net loss of $106.8 million in the year-ago period. Excluding certain special items, earnings per share came...
5Apr2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(AEG) Aegon NV’s Ongoing Restructuring Continues on Track
Keeping pace with its ongoing restructuring program that began in 2009, Aegon NV (AEG) announced the sale of its funeral insurance business in Netherlands. Although the sale took place on Feb 1, 2010, it was announced on Friday. The company’s insurance unit has been disposed...
5Apr2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(NRG) NRG Energy Unit Gets $20 Million Grant
NRG Energy Inc’s (NRG) retail electricity business, Reliant Energy, has received a $20 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to develop and deliver innovative energy solutions for Texas electricity customers. As a part of the contract, Reliant Energy plans...
5Apr2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(TWGP) Tower Group Has Ratings Affirmed by A.M. Best
Last week, rating agency A.M. Best affirmed the ratings of Tower Group Inc. (TWGP) and its subsidiaries. The ratings action includes the affirmation of issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “bbb-” on Tower Group Inc. A.M.Best views favorably the acquisitions made by Tower Group...
5Apr2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued