Archive for May, 2011
(DFG) Delphi Financial Group Announces Hike in Dividend
Yesterday, employee benefits provider Delphi Financial Group Inc. (DFG) announced a quarterly dividend of 12 cents, marking a single cent increase from the previous quarter. The new dividend, representing a 9% hike from the previous quarterly dividend, is payable on June 8, 2011...
16May2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(JCOM) j2 Global Communications – Bull of the Day
We upgrade our recommendation on j2 Global Communications (JCOM) to Outperform. We believe j2 Global’s strong financial position and diversified product pipeline, coupled with the future growth prospects of outsourced value-added messaging services, will drive its valuation...
16May2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(PETS) PetMed Express – Bear of the Day
PetMed Express (PETS) reported a disappointing quarter with EPS of $0.19 missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.22 and the year-ago quarter’s $0.27. Both gross and operating margins declined due to higher product and advertising costs — a big blow for the company...
16May2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(XOM) Crude Stock Pile-up Trend Continues
The U.S. Energy Department’s weekly inventory release showed a continued build-up in crude stockpile, which are now at their highest level in two years. The agency’s report further revealed that gasoline stocks rose after eleven consecutive weeks of decline, while distillate...
13May2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(EMC) EMC’s New User Interface for Apple
At the EMCWorld 2011, EMC Corp.’s (EMC) Information Intelligence Group (IIG) launched its first mobile user interface for Apple’s (AAPL) iPad devices. In future, the mobile interface will also be available for other tablet variants and smartphones. This new mobile interface...
13May2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(VIVO) FDA OKs Meridian C. Difficile Test
Diagnostic test kit maker Meridian Bioscience (VIVO) has clinched the approval of U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) for its new C. difficile (Clostridium difficile) test dubbed Premier C. difficile GDH. The approval of this next-generation test broadens the Cincinnati-based...
13May2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(EU) Chemical Industry Outlook – May 2011 – Industry Outlook
Chemicals are generally used to make a wide variety of consumer goods and are also used in agriculture, manufacturing, construction, and service industries. The chemical industry itself consumes 26% of its own output. Major industrial customers include rubber and plastic products,...
13May2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(BBY) Stock Market News for May 13, 2011 – Market News
With the lack of any major events and the fading out of the earnings season, volatility in commodities has swung the markets over the past few days. On Thursday, a rebound in commodities lifted the benchmarks higher. Moreover, investors chose to negate mixed economic data as...
13May2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(ACAT) Company News for May 13, 2011 – Corporate Summary
• NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA) posted a Q1 EPS of $0.27, higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate 0f $0.19 per share • Nordstrom, Inc’s. (NYSE:JWN) Q1 EPS came in at $0.65, lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.67 per share • Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) has...
13May2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(AIG) Company News for May 12, 2011 – Corporate Summary
• Shares of Ener1, Inc. (NASDAQ:HEV) plunged by 27.35%, after the company reported a large first-quarter net loss this week. Ener1 Inc. was also downgraded by Wunderlich Securities from “Hold” to “Sell” and its price target was reduced from $3.50...
12May2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(EIA) Stock Market News for May 12, 2011 – Market News
A sharp drop in energy and commodity prices pulled the benchmarks down as markets ended their three-day winning streak on Wednesday. Additionally, the trade deficit widened while inflation cooled only partially in China to prompt speculation of a possible hike in interest rates. The...
12May2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(NVDA) NVIDIA Announces Acquisition of Icera
Leading visual computing technologies and graphic chip manufacturing company, NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) recently declared its intention of acquiring U.K-based data-modem chip manufacturer Icera Inc. for $367 million in cash. This acquisition is expected to enhance the company’s...
11May2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(ATVI) Activision Blizzard Beats Expectations – Raises 2011 Outlook
Activision Blizzard Inc. (ATVI) reported robust fiscal first quarter 2011 results that beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate on both the top and bottom lines. Activision earned 12 cents per share (including stock-based compensation but excluding one-time items), way ahead of the...
11May2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(WMGI) Wright Medical Group Beats Expectations – Swings to Black
Orthopedic devices maker, Wright Medical Group (WMGI) reported first-quarter fiscal 2011 (excluding one-time items other than stock-based compensation expense) earnings per share of 19 cents, narrowly beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 18 cents while exceeding the year-ago...
11May2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(LMNX) Luminex Tops Earnings Estimates
Luminex Corporation (LMNX), a developer of biological testing technologies, posted first-quarter fiscal 2011 earnings per share of 11 cents, comfortably beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 6 cents and exceeding the year-ago earnings of 5 cents. Profit more than doubled year...
11May2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(SCHW) Charles Schwab Expects Costs to Rise
Last week, Charles Schwab Corp. (SCHW) announced its expectation for capital spending on client-related initiatives to increase approximately 40% in 2011 over 2010. The company increased its earlier projection of 35% increment mentioned in 2010 annual report filed at the end...
11May2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(DENN) Denny’s Misses on Lower Revenue
America’s largest full-service family restaurant chain, Denny’s Corporation (DENN) recently reported first quarter 2011 adjusted earnings of 6 cents per share, which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by a penny. Lower-than-expected results were due to a slump in revenue. On...
11May2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(NEM) Newmont Sells Stake to Government
Newmont Mining Corp. (NEM) sold its 7% stake in PT Newmont Nusa Tenggara (NNT), partly owned by Newmont and Japan’s Sumitomo Corporation to the government. NNT plans to raise about $500 million in a public offering by selling a 10% stake within 12 months. The divestiture...
11May2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(USB) U.S. Trade Deficit Up on Foreign Oil Addiction
The Trade Deficit rose in March to $48.18 billion from $45.44 billion in January (revised down from $45.76 billion. The rise in the trade deficit is bad news for the economy, and the level is very dangerous. For the month it was up 6.0%, and it was worse than the $47.7 billion...
11May2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(BOBE) Company News for May 11, 2011 – Corporate Summary
• Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:MSFT) will purchase internet communications leader Skype from the investor consortium led by Silver Lake. The deal which is worth $8.5 billion in cash has been approved by the boards of directors of both companies • Dean Foods (NYSE:DF)...
11May2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(AEP) Stock Market News for May 11, 2011 – Market News
International and domestic affairs combined to add strength to the markets at the fag-end of the earnings season. Benchmarks enjoyed their stay in the green for the third consecutive trading day, driven by strong gains in utilities, Microsoft’s plans to buy Skype, domestic...
11May2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(USM) United States Cellular Posts Mixed Results
United States Cellular Corp. (USM), a subsidiary of Telephone and Data Systems Inc. (TDS), reported first quarter 2011 earnings per share of 40 cents a penny short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Earnings plunged 26% year over year on subscriber loss due to competitive pricing. Net...
10May2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(OPTR) Optimer Pharma Beats on One-Time Gain
Optimer Pharma’s (OPTR) first quarter 2011 earnings of $1.14 per share tellingly reversed the year-ago loss of 39 cents per share and exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 30 cents. The earnings beat was due to a huge increase in the top-line in the reported quarter. In...
10May2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(LUV) Southwest Airlines Shares Maintained at Neutral
We are maintaining our long-term Neutral recommendation on the largest U.S. low-cost carrier Southwest Airlines (LUV) following its first quarter 2011 results. The stock retains the Zacks # 3 Rank (Hold). Southwest Airlines delivered strong results in terms of revenue and traffic...
10May2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(HPQ) Hewlett-Packard Company to Serve Australian Taxation
Hewlett-Packard Company (HPQ) recently clinched a five-year services deal with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). The deal has been valued at $500.0 million. The ATO administers the Australian taxation system and is the principal revenue collection agency for the Government. As...
10May2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(CLF) Cliffs Natural Resources Restarts Mining at Oak Grove
Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. (CLF) announced that it has resumed underground mining at its Oak Grove coal mine in Alabama but was not able to ship coal from the site because of damage to the above-ground facilities. On April 27, 2011, severe weather and a tornado had snapped...
10May2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(F) Ford Motor’s F-150 Safety Probe Expands
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) revealedthat it has recently included 1.3 million into its investigation of Ford Motor Co.’s (F) best selling pickup, F-150, related to a problem with the traps holding fuel tanks that can rust and break. This...
10May2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(BSX) Boston Scientific Strengthens CRM Portfolio
Recently, Boston Scientific (BSX) launched its Energen and Punctua cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators (CRT-Ds) and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) in Europe and other international markets. The company had received CE Mark approval for these devices...
10May2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(DRQ) Dril-Quip Earnings Report Beats Consensus
Dril-Quip Inc.’s (DRQ) adjusted first-quarter 2011 earnings of 58 cents per share beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by a penny. However, quarterly earnings dropped 18% from the year-ago adjusted profit level of 71 cents a share. The year-over-year disappointment is primarily...
10May2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(BAC) Bank of America to Reduce Problem Loans – Analyst Blog
On Monday, Financial Times reported that Bank of America Corporation (BAC) plans to slash its current $850 billion troubled home loan portfolio by about 50% over the next three years. This was stated by Terry Laughlin, who is heading the company’s mortgage modifications and...
10May2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued