Archive for November, 2010
(HGSI) Human Genome Sciences Earns FDA Panel Backing of Benlysta
Human Genome Sciences Inc. (HGSI) received a huge boost when its potential blockbuster candidate Benlysta received a positive recommendation from an advisory panel of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The Arthritis Advisory Committee voted 13-2 in favor of approving...
17Nov2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(BA) Boeing Announces Aquisition of CDM Technologies
In an effort to extend its footprint in the logistics command and control business The Boeing Company (BA) has signed an agreement to acquire CDM Technologies. The transaction is expected to close by the end of the fourth quarter of 2010. San Luis Obispo, California-based privately...
17Nov2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(CMA) Comerica Doubles Dividend – Declares Buyback
Comerica Inc. (CMA) is boosting investors’ confidence by doubling its dividend and announcing a share repurchase authorization. The dividend, which increased to 10 cents from 5 cents paid in the prior quarter, is payable on January 1, 2011, to common shareholders of record...
17Nov2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(DOX) Amdocs Limited Analyst Downgrades Shares to Underperform
We downgrade our recommendation on Amdocs Limited (DOX) to Underperform on the basis of its disappointing financial outlook for the first quarter of fiscal 2011. Profitability will suffer as a result of higher expenses for productivity improvement, emerging market sales opportunity,...
17Nov2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(RSH) RadioShack Analyst Downgrades Shares to Neutral
We downgrade our recommendation on RadioShack Corp. (RSH) to Neutral. Major near-term concern for RadioShack is the significant decline in its gross margin. In the third quarter of 2010, gross margin was 45.4% compared to 47.6% in the prior-year quarter and 47.5% in the previous...
17Nov2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(DENN) Denny’s Launches Casual Services with new Denny’s Cafe
Denny’s Corporation (DENN), one of America’s largest full-service family restaurant chains, opened its first Denny’s Café on November 12. The new Café marks Denny’s first fast-casual restaurant. Based in Orange, California, the new Café is expected to offer the same...
17Nov2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(URBN) Urban Outfitters Announces Repurchase of Shares
Moving ahead with the share repurchase program, Urban Outfitters Inc. (URBN) announced on Tuesday that it would buy an additional 10 million common shares. Urban Outfitters received authorization from the board of directors for the share repurchase in addition to the previously...
17Nov2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(QSII) Quality Systems Signs Contract for Baptist Health Care
Quality Systems’ (QSII) wholly-owned subsidiary NextGen Healthcare has inked a pact with Baptist Health Care, a non-profit healthcare organization serving communities in Florida and Alabama. Under the collaboration, Baptist Health Care will recommend NextGen products such as...
17Nov2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(RGS) Regis Analyst Upgrades Shares to Neutral
We are upgrading our rating on Regis Corporation (RGS), the largest hair salon chain in the world, from Underperform to Neutral. The rating upgrade is based on first quarter 2011 earnings, which were in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Results reflect the benefits of cost-containment...
17Nov2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(KR) U.S. Consumer Price Index Calm
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by just 0.2% in October, up from 0.1% September, but down from increases of 0.3% in August and July. Year over year, it is up just 1.2%. Almost all of the increase was due to energy prices, which rose 2.6% after increases of 0.7% in September...
17Nov2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(BAC) A New Housing Foreclosure Mess?
Are the major banks looking at housing troubles and billions of dollars of losses yet again? That is what a new report from the Congressional Oversight Panel seems to warn. According to the report, the chaos resulting from foreclosure paperwork flaws could result in massive losses...
16Nov2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(EU) Non-U.S. Banks Stock Update – November 2010 – Industry Outlook
The global banking industry has been recovering at a slow pace from the worst financial crisis that started as a credit issue in the subprime segment of the U.S. mortgage market in mid-2007 and spilled over to Europe and other economies. Though the worst of the financial crisis...
16Nov2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(MOT) Motorola Divides into Two Companies in January 2011
Struggling mobile phone manufacturer Motorola Inc. (MOT) will split itself into two separate entities in January 2011. Previously, Motorola expected the split to be completed in the first quarter of 2011. Motorola’s spin-off has been in progress since early 2008. The company...
16Nov2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | ContinuedStealth Stocks Weekly Update – November 15, 2010 with Dennis Slothower
This is Dennis Slothower with your Stealth Stocks Weekly Update on Monday, November 15, 2010 Summary of Recommendations I am looking to participate on a limited basis following an intermediate correction but risks remains exceptionally high in such extended territory. Bonds...
16Nov2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(TSO) Tesoro Third Quarter 2010 Earnings Scorecard
Earlier this month, independent refiner Tesoro Corporation (TSO) announced its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2010. Now that the analysts have had some time to ponder upon the quarterly performance of Tesoro, they are weighing in their estimate revisions....
15Nov2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(ANF) Stock Market News for November 15, 2010 – Market News
Concerns that China would soon initiate steps to cool economic growth sent stocks sharply lower on Friday. Prices for raw materials and commodities dropped on concerns a slowdown in Chinese growth would impact demand. Eurozone growth concerns also weighed on sentiments. The Dow...
15Nov2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(BHP) Company News for November 15, 2010 – Corporate Summary
• Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT) announced plans to buy Bucyrus (NASDAQ:BUCY) for $8.6 billion, or $92 per share • EMC (NYSE:EMC) said it plans to buy Isilon (NASDAQ:ISLN) for $33.85 per share, or $2.25 billion • ArcelorMittal (NYSE:MT) said it is interested in buying Massey...
15Nov2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(BHI) U.S. Drilling Rig Count Edges Up
In its weekly release, Houston-based oilfield services company Baker Hughes Inc. (BHI) reported a rise in the U.S. rig count (number of rigs searching for oil and gas in the country), primarily reflecting an increase in the inland water rig count. The Baker Hughes rig counts,...
15Nov2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(AMZN) October 2010 Retail Sales Better Than Expected
Retail Sales were better than expected in October, and the numbers for September were revised higher. Total retail sales rose 1.2%, much better than the 0.7% consensus expectation, and are up 7.3% from a year ago. September was revised up from 0.6% growth to 0.7% growth, which...
15Nov2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(BHP) BHP Billiton Withdraws Potash of Saskatchewan Buy-Out Offer
Mining giant BHP Billiton Ltd. (BHP) decided to withdraw its buy-out offer for Canada’s Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan Inc. (POT), the world’s biggest fertilizer manufacturer, after non-clearance by the Investment Canada Act. Capital which was raised to fund the bid...
15Nov2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(SBS) Companhia de Saneamento Basico do Estado de Sao Paulo 3Q Soars – Short of Estimate
Sao Paulo, Brazil-based Companhia de Saneamento Basico do Estado de Sao Paulo, or SABESP’s (SBS) net income for the third quarter 2010 jumped a 129.8% year over year to R$449.8 million (US$255.6 million), or R$1.97 per share (US$2.24 per ADR). Earnings per ADR fell short of...
15Nov2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(A) Agilent Technologies Reports Solid Fourth Quarter – Raises Guidance
Agilent Technologies’ (A) fourth quarter earnings beat the Zacks Consensus by 5 cents, or 8.3%. Revenue growth and margin expansion helped drive results in the last quarter. While the gross margin declined sequentially after 5 quarters of increase, Agilent saw both operating...
15Nov2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(BP) BP Plc on Track to Meet Rumaila Target
BP Plc (BP) and its partner China National Petroleum Corp. (“CNPC”) are on track to meet their preliminary target of a 10% rise in output from the Rumaila oilfield by the end of this month. The growth in production was driven by continued focus on increasing oil production...
15Nov2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(ISIS) Isis Pharmaceuticals Reports Loss Widens
Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc. (ISIS) reported a net loss of 13 cents per share in the third quarter 2010, wider than the year-ago loss of 12 cents. The higher loss was mainly due to higher operating expenses. However, third quarter loss was narrower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate...
15Nov2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(AXS) AXIS Capital Holdings Limited Gets A.M. Best Ratings Affirmed
Rating agency A.M. Best Co. affirmed the issuer credit rating (ICR) of “bbb+” and existing debt ratings of AXIS Capital Holdings Limited (AXS). The rating agency also affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of A (Excellent) and ICR of “a+” of AXIS Specialty and its...
15Nov2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(TWC) Time Warner Cable Third Quarter 2010 Earnings Scorecard
The second largest cable operator in the United States, Time Warner Cable Inc. (TWC) posted excellent third quarter 2010 financial results, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate. The increase was attributable to both the Commercial and Residential Subscription revenues, which...
15Nov2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(XOM) ExxonMobil and Hess Drill Well Off Brazil
ExxonMobil Corp. (XOM) and Hess Corp. (HES) started drilling the third well in an offshore Brazil Block, BM-S-22. Last year, the companies had failed with a dry hole in the same block. The block is situated in Santos Basin. Each of the companies hold a 40% interest, while Petroleo...
15Nov2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(CI) CIGNA Faces Standard & Poor’s Rating Action
Late last week, health insurance company CIGNA Corp. (CI) received a rating revision from Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services. The rating agency revised CIGNA’s financial rating outlook to “stable” from “negative,” taking into account the company’s ability...
15Nov2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(LMNX) Luminex Analyst Downgrades Shares to Underperform
We downgrade our recommendation on Luminex Corporation (LMNX) to Underperform following the company’s lower-than-expected third quarter results and a less favorable outlook. Third-quarter fiscal 2010 adjusted loss per share of 2 cents missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of...
15Nov2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(MAR) Marriott International Expands Business in India
Marriott International Inc. (MAR), the largest U.S. hotel chain, is set to expand its presence in India by opening 100 hotels over the next five years. Marriott currently manages 11 hotels in India, represented by five brands. The company will add two more brands across India...
15Nov2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued