Archive for July, 2010
(DELL) Dell Steps Into Gaming Service
Having secured a leading position in healthcare services with the U.S. healthcare reform deal, the Round Rock, Texas-based PC maker Dell Inc. (DELL) recently announced its venture into the gaming industry. Dell partnered Palo Alto, Calif.-based OnLive Inc. to develop cloud-based...
6Jul2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(DO) Diamond Offshore Drilling Analyst Upgrades to Neutral
Amid near-term uncertainties associated with the deepwater Gulf of Mexico (GoM) drilling moratorium, we upgrade Diamond Offshore Drilling Inc. (DO) to Neutral from Underperform, reflecting its leverage to the global deepwater markets, attractive yield and solid backlog position. During...
6Jul2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(GOL) GOL Linhas Aereas – ADS – Bear of the Day
We are downgrading our recommendation on GOL Linhas Aereas (GOL) ADS from Neutral to Underperform based on poor results during the first quarter of 2010. Gyrating fuel prices was the primary reason behind this. Moreover, we do not expect a significant recovery in the airline...
6Jul2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(PLD) ProLogis Signs Leasing Deals
ProLogis (PLD), a leading global provider of distribution facilities, has recently signed two new leasing agreements spanning about 723,000 square feet of its development portfolio in Europe. About 530,000 square feet of space were leased to ASOS, the largest independent online...
6Jul2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(MOT) Motorola to Inject Cash into Cell Phone Business Prior to Spinoff
Motorola Inc. (MOT) intends to invest approximately $3.0 billion to 4.0 billion in cash into its loss-making cellphone business, to make it debt free, prior to its spin off into a separate entity in the first quarter of 2011. This step better positions the company to make...
5Jul2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(STRA) Apollo Group Long-Term Hold Report
Last fall, we were asked what we thought of for-profit university and trade school companies as investment vehicles. Our reply at the time was that we had not found one that was not extremely over priced. We cited an article we had written about Stayer Education, Inc. (Nasdaq:...
5Jul2010 | Wax | 0 comments | Continued(CRM) Salesforce.com Announces Pursuit of Microsoft on Patent Infringement
The leading provider of on-demand Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software, Salesforce.com Inc. (CRM) announced that it has accused the tech giant Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) of infringing its patents. The world’s biggest web-based software maker alleged that MSFT has willfully...
5Jul2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(GPRO) Gen-Probe Invests $50 Million in Pacific Biosciences
Diagnostic product maker Gen-Probe Inc (GPRO) has made a $50 million strategic investment in privately-held DNA sequencing firm Pacific Biosciences (PacBio). The companies will collaborate on developing products based on their proprietary technologies. Per the deal, the companies...
5Jul2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(ACAS) American Capital Has Debt Rating Downgraded by Fitch Ratings
Ratings of American Capital Ltd. (ACAS) have been downgraded by Fitch Ratings on Tuesday following its debt restructuring. Fitch has lowered issuer default and senior unsecured debt ratings of American Capital to “RD” – restricted default. The RD rating implies...
5Jul2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(PLXS) Plexus Analyst Remains Neutral on Rating
At the 2010 investor day, Plexus Corp. (PLXS) reaffirmed its outlook for the third quarter of fiscal 2010, given during the second quarter conference call. Management expects earnings per share to be in the range of 54 to 60 cents, excluding restructuring charges but including...
5Jul2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(WMT) Wal-Mart Stores Issues $3 Billion in Notes
To capitalize on the U.S. debt market, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT) plans to issue $3 billion of senior unsecured notes in three-tranche, after issuing $2 billion of bonds in March 2010. These notes represent Wal-Mart’s biggest dollar-denominated bond transaction since April...
4Jul2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(F) Ford to Clear More than $4 Billion in Debt
Ford Motor Co. (F) has revealed that it would pay more than $4 billion in debt to the United Automobile Workers (UAW) retiree health care trust in order to improve its financial position. The company would pay almost the entire amount in cash instead of using stock, as had been...
4Jul2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(UTX) United Technologies’ Sikorsky Acquires LifePort
Sikorsky Aerospace Services has acquired aircraft accessories manufacturer LifePort Inc. The target company is based out of Washington and had revenues of $65 million for 2009. Sikorsky Aerospace Services is a division of Sikorsky Aircraft Corp, a United Technologies Corp....
4Jul2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(BSX) Boston Scientific Adds Sizes to its PolarCath Peripheral Dilatation System
Recently, Boston Scientific (BSX) added 22 new balloon sizes to its PolarCath Peripheral Dilatation System’s portfolio. The new system with 120 mm and 150 mm balloons are now available in different lengths and sizes. The PolarCath system is used to treat patients suffering...
4Jul2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(BTU) Peabody Energy Forms Mongolian Joint Venture
Coal producer Peabody Energy Corp. (BTU) joined forces with Winsway Coking Coal Holdings Ltd. to form a Mongolian joint venture. The collaboration, Peabody-Winsway Resources, was formed after Winsway acquired a 50% interest in the joint venture from Polo Resources. Winsway is...
4Jul2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(SNDK) SanDisk Corporation – Bull of the Day
SanDisk (SNDK) has a strong product portfolio and is a significant player in the U.S. flash memory market. The company posted robust first quarter 2010 numbers, exceeding the Zacks consensus estimate. SanDisk witnessed major gains in the OEM business and higher product revenue,...
4Jul2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(GOOG) Google to Monetize Travel-related Search Traffic?
Google Inc. (GOOG) has offered to buy ITA Software, a technology company owning specialized software that enables the provision of sophisticated flight information services to customers. Google intends to make the purchase for $700 million in cash. The software would help Google...
3Jul2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(MOT) Motorola Renames Divisions in Preparation for Spin-Off
Motorola Inc. (MOT) moved a step ahead regarding its previously announced spin-off of its Mobile Devices and Home businesses by renaming the newly formed separate entities. The Mobile Devices and Home Division will be renamed as Motorola Mobility and the Enterprise Mobility Solutions...
3Jul2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(CKR) CKE Restaurants Shareholders Approve Merger with Columbia Lake Acquisition Holdings
CKE Restaurants Inc. (CKR), the quick-service restaurant operator, announced recently that its shareholders have unanimously voted for its merger with Columbia Lake Acquisition Holdings Inc., an affiliate of Apollo Management VII, L.P. (“Apollo”). Apollo is a leading...
3Jul2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(JPM) JPMorgan Closes RBS-Sempra Deal
On Thursday, JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) announced the completion of its previously announced deal to buy Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc‘s (RBS) non-U.S. commodities joint venture RBS-Sempra Commodities LLP. The final acquisition price was $1.6 billion. The deal, which...
3Jul2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(EIA) Energy Information Administration Reports Smaller Natural Gas Stockpile Rise
The federal government’s Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported a lower-than-expected increase in natural gas supplies, reflecting warmer-than-normal temperatures and storm-related production shut-ins resulting from Hurricane Alex. Stockpiles held in underground storage...
3Jul2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(SRE) Sempra Energy Unloads Joint Venture to JPMorgan Chase
Sempra Energy (SRE) completed the sale of its joint venture with Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC (RBS) – RBS Sempra Commodities to JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM). The deal was first announced in February 2010. Through the transaction, J.P. Morgan acquires RBS Sempra Commodities’...
3Jul2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(UDR) Real Estate Investment Trust Outlook – July 2010 – Industry Outlook
The U.S. Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) industry that witnessed two strong back-to-back performances in first quarter 2010 and fourth quarter 2009 somewhat lost its momentum in its fiscal 2010 second quarter. The FTSE NAREIT Equity REIT Index reported total returns of negative...
2Jul2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(BA) Boeing Acquires Argon ST
In an effort to extend its footprints in cyber and intelligence markets, Boeing Company (BA) has decided to acquire Argon ST Inc. (STST). This will be an all-cash transaction and will cost $775 million or $34.50 per share. The acquisition plan follows the successful partnership...
2Jul2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(MMM) 3M Guides 2010 Second Quarter Above The Street
3M Co. (MMM) announced its second quarter 2010 sales guidance of $6.6 billion to $6.75 billion, reflecting an organic growth of 16% to 18% compared with the second quarter of 2009. The median of the company’s guidance is above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $6.58 billion. For...
1Jul2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(FLR) Fluor Wins $1.3 Billion Mining Contract
Fluor Corp. (FLR) has bagged a $1.3 billion mining contract awarded by Minera Lumina Copper in Chile. Minera Lumina Copper Chile is owned by Pan Pacific Copper Co., Ltd. and Mitsui Co., Ltd. The work involves engineering design, manufacturing and commissioning of a copper mine...
1Jul2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(MED) Medifast Incorporated – 75% Jump in Revenue for the First Quarter
Medifast, Inc. (MED) analysts are raising estimates after a record setting quarter. The stock should see more investor attention after being added to a well known index. Company Description Medifast offers weight-loss programs based on clinically proven, portion-controlled meals....
1Jul2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(RDSA) Royal Dutch Shell’s Joint Venture with Iraq is Approved
In an attempt to boost the oil sector, mutilated by years of neglect and military violence, Iraq government approved a multibillion joint venture with Royal Dutch Shell (RDSA) and Japan’s Mitsubishi Corporation. The proposed deal targets to capture a huge amount of untapped...
1Jul2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(CAT) Caterpillar Continues International Expansion into Brazil
Caterpillar Inc. (CAT), in tune with its strategy of international expansion — particularly in emerging markets — announced plans to expand its manufacturing presence in Brazil. Caterpillar will build a new facility in Brazil to produce backhoe and small-wheel loaders...
1Jul2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(SNY) Sanofi-Aventis Announces Agreement to Acquire TargaGen
Sanofi-Aventis (SNY) continues to work on expanding its oncology portfolio with the company recently entering into an agreement to acquire TargaGen Inc. TargaGen, a privately-held US biopharmaceutical company, is focused on the development of candidates for the treatment of certain...
1Jul2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued