Archive for March, 2011
(BHI) U.S. Drilling Rig Count Drops Below 1,700
In its weekly release, Houston-based oilfield services company Baker Hughes Inc. (BHI) reported a fall in the U.S. rig count (number of rigs searching for oil and gas in the country), primarily reflecting a decrease in the number of land rigs. The Baker Hughes rig count, issued...
3Mar2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(MCO) Are Housing Prices Nearing Bottom – Is 2011 The Right Time to Buy a House?
Is 2011 a good year to buy a house if the pocket permits? Declining home prices and a low interest rate environment suggest that the time is just perfect. Also, many of economists expect housing prices to bottom in 2011. So, if buyers have a secure job and the confidence to meet...
3Mar2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(BP) Companies Thriving Without Offshore Oil Drilling
by Matthew Carr, Investment U Research Wednesday, March 2, 2011 The U.S. government can say whatever it wants. But the reality is this: The moratorium on deepwater drilling in the Gulf of Mexico is still in effect… in practice at least. Since the BP plc (NYSE: BP) rig disaster...
3Mar2011 | InvestmentU | 0 comments | Continued(BAC) Stock Market News for March 2, 2011 – Market News
Markets closed lower on Tuesday over rising crude prices, relinquishing the gains made on Monday on the back of stable oil prices and positive economic signals. The Fifth Third Bancorp (NASDAQ:FITB) led financials lower as reports came in that the company was being investigated....
3Mar2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(AZO) Company News for March 02, 2011 – Corporate Summary
• AutoZone (NYSE:AZO) reported Q2 EPS of $3.34, ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.06 per share. Revenues for the quarter rose 10.3% year-over-year to $1.66 billion, above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.631 billion • TiVO (NASDAQ:TIVO) reported a Q4 loss of...
3Mar2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(AAPL) Stock Market News for March 3, 2011 – Market News
Surging oil prices could not stop indices from edging higher on Thursday, as investors drew strength from the positives in a report from the Federal Reserve. However, unrest in Libya intensified with fresh attacks being launched in the key oil terminal city of Brega. Oil service...
3Mar2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(AAPL) Company News for March 03, 2011 – Corporate Summary
• According to Bloomberg, Weatherford (NYSE:WFT) filed to delay its 10-K because of weak internal controls over reporting for income taxes. The company reported errors in its tax accounting and will need to adjust previously reported results • BJ’s Wholesale Club (NYSE:BJ)...
3Mar2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(XOM) EIA Data Shows Record Crude Inventory at Cushing Oklahoma – Also Unexpected Drop
The U.S. Energy Department’s weekly inventory release showed an unexpected drop in crude stockpiles though supplies at the key delivery hub of Cushing hit a record high. The agency’s report further added that fuel inventories were off from the previous week levels, while...
3Mar2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(WMT) U.S. Jobless Claims Fall to 368,000
Initial Claims for Unemployment Insurance dropped by 20,000 last week to 368,000 (last week was revised down by 3,000, so one could see it as a 23,000 decline). This was much better than the expected level of 400,000. The weekly numbers, after an erratic few months, seem to have...
3Mar2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(BMC) BMC Software Expands IT Distribution With Ingram Micro
BMC Software Inc. (BMC) has chosen the leading information technology (IT) distributor, Ingram Micro Inc. (IM) to expand its reach into new markets. Ingram Micro will be the first ever authorized distributor to market and sell BMC Software’s IT solutions in the U.S. market....
3Mar2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(AAPL) Apple’s iPad 2 Reviewed – Pop for Apple Stock?
After launching the much-hyped tablet computer, iPad, on April 3, 2010 in the U.S., Apple Inc. (AAPL) introduced iPad 2, its second generation tablet computer with additional features. Despite the buzz about the new iPad, the company’s shares rose a modest 0.8% or $2.81 per...
3Mar2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(JPM) U.S. 2011 FDIC Bank Failures Reach 23
U.S.regulators on Friday shuttered St. Charles, Illinois-based Valley Community Bank, pushing up the number of failed U.S. banks to 23 so far in 2011. This was preceded by 157 bank failures in 2010, 140 in 2009 and 25 in 2008. While the lifesaving programs launched by the government...
3Mar2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(JWN) Nordstrom Fourth Quarter 2010 Earnings Scorecard
Nordstrom Inc. (JWN) recently posted earnings growth of 35.0% to reach $1.04 per share in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010 from 77 cents per share earned in the year-ago period. Earnings per share beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.00 per share. For fiscal 2010, earnings...
3Mar2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(LMT) Lockheed Martin Decides to Sell Pacific Architects and Engineers Incorporated
Defense contractor Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT) decided to dispose of its Pacific Architects and Engineers Incorporated (“PAE”) business to Lindsay Goldberg, LLC. Lockheed Martin acquired PAE in 2006, which provided services that supported military readiness, peacekeeping...
3Mar2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(JASO) JA Solar Holdings Reports Strong Quarterly Showing
JA Solar Holdings Co. Ltd. (JASO) announced adjusted earnings per American Depositary Share (EPADS) of 54 cents in its fourth quarter, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 47 cents. Results also comfortably beat the year-ago adjusted earnings per ADS of 14 cents. Quarterly...
3Mar2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(FLS) Flowserve Fourth Quarter 2010 Report Beats Estimates
Flowserve Corporation (FLS) reported fourth-quarter 2010 earnings per share from continuing operations of $2.09, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.98. For 2010, earnings per share from continuing operations was $7.03, outpacing the Zacks consensus Estimate of $6.91. During...
3Mar2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(DISH) Dish Network Beats Quarterly Report Estimates – Loses Subscribers
DISH Network Inc. (DISH) declared fourth quarter of 2010 financial results today that outperformed the Zacks Consensus Estimates. Quarterly GAAP net income was $252 million or 56 cents per share compared with a net income of $179 million or 40 cents per share in the prior-year...
3Mar2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(DLTR) Dollar Tree Earnings Inch Past Estimates
Dollar Tree Inc. (DLTR) reported fourth quarter earnings of $1.29 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.27 per share and the prior-year figure of $1.01 per share. The quarter was aided by robust sales from increased traffic. For fiscal 2010, the company reported...
3Mar2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(RIG) Transocean Earnings Report Lags Estimates
Global offshore drilling contractor Transocean Inc. (RIG) reported weak fourth quarter and full-year 2010 results, affected by reduced utilization rates and lower average daily revenue along with higher operating costs. Earnings per share, excluding one-time expenses, came in...
3Mar2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(SHLD) Sears Holdings Quarterly Report Beats Estimate
Sears Holdings Corporation (SHLD) reported fourth-quarter 2010 adjusted earnings of $3.67 a share, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.50 a share. However, it falls short by 2 cents from the earnings of $3.69 in the prior year quarter. Including special items, earnings...
3Mar2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(MET) MetLife Trys Again to Exit Taiwan
On Monday, Thomson Reuters reported that MetLife Inc. (MET) may dispose of its insurance business in Taiwan by the end of April this year. Chinatrust Financial, Yuanta Financial and Mercuries Life Insurance were reported to have submitted bids to acquire the MetLife unit. However,...
3Mar2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(PSA) Public Storage Quarterly Report Beats Estimates
Public Storage (PSA), a top real estate investment trust (REIT) operating self-storage facilities, reported fourth quarter 2010 FFO (funds from operations) of $1.33 per share, compared with $1.27 in the year-earlier quarter. Fund from operations, a widely used metric to gauge...
3Mar2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(ICO) Coffee Prices Hit a 34-Year High
by Tony D’Altorio, Investment U Research Monday, February 28, 2011 Coffee companies like J. M. Smucker (NYSE: SJM), Kraft Foods (NYSE: KFT) and Nestle ADR (PINK: NSRGY) used to talk prices with retailers once a year. But not anymore. As coffee joins other commodities with...
3Mar2011 | InvestmentU | 0 comments | Continued(RL) Cotton Prices Hit Record Levels
by Tony D’Altorio, Investment U Research Friday, February 25, 2011 Cotton prices have surged beyond $2 a pound, the highest level they’ve ever hit. The fiber didn’t even go that high during the Civil War’s cotton embargo. It is now up 170% since a year ago and more...
3Mar2011 | InvestmentU | 0 comments | Continued(F) Ford Motor Company Announces Recall of Best Selling Pickup
Ford Motor Co. (F) announced that it will recall 144,000 units of its best selling pickup truck, F-150, in the U.S. and Canada. The announcement follows a request made by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to fix a glitch with the front air bags that may...
3Mar2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(PRA) ProAssurance Corporation – Bear of the Day
We are downgrading our recommendation on ProAssurance Corp. (PRA) from Neutral to Underperform, owing to the decline in net premiums and increased total expenses, which also resulted in the deterioration of the top line and the combined ratio. In addition, third quarter earnings...
3Mar2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(TSCO) Tractor Supply Company – Bull of the Day
On the back of strong same-store sales, improved merchandise mix, prudent inventory management and effective cost control, Tractor Supply Co. (TSCO) posted better-than-expected fourth-quarter 2010 results. The quarterly earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.62. Furthermore,...
3Mar2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(JOE) The St. Joe Company Warning Report Lowers Loss Significantly
The St. Joe Company (JOE), a publicly held real estate company, reported a net loss of $2.7 million or $0.03 per share in the fourth quarter of 2010 compared with a net loss of $58.7 million or $0.64 per share in the year-earlier quarter. Excluding non-recurring items, net gain...
3Mar2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(ALL) Allstate Announces 5% Dividend Hike
On Tuesday, home and auto insurer, The Allstate Corp. (ALL) announced a dividend increment of 5% from the prior 20 cents, marking the first hike since 2008. The quarterly cash dividend of 21 cents will be paid on April 1, 2011 to the shareholders of record as on March 11, 2011. The...
3Mar2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(STRA) Strayer Education – Bear of the Day
Although Strayer Education (STRA) posted better-than-expected fourth-quarter 2010 results, enrollments continue to fall. We observe that the growth in enrollments has decelerated sequentially. After increasing 11% in the third quarter of 2010, the rate of growth in campus-based...
3Mar2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued