Archive for July, 2011
(KCI) Kinetic Concepts Aquired by Apax Partners and Two Canadian Pension Funds
Private equity firm Apax Partners and two Canadian pension funds are set to acquire leading medical technology company Kinetic Concepts (KCI). The deal, including Kinetic’s outstanding debt, is valued at approximately $6.3 billion. As an independent global partnership,...
14Jul2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(JPM) JPMorgan Chase Solidly Beats The Street
JPMorgan Chase & Company’s (JPM) second quarter earnings per share came in at $1.34, substantially ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.21. The result also soared from earnings of $1.09 in the prior-year quarter. Earnings for the reported quarter leave out certain...
14Jul2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(MYL) Mylan Gets HIV Rights from Gilead
Mylan, Inc. (MYL) recently announced that its Indian subsidiary Matrix Laboratories has been granted future rights to produce and sell generic versions of three investigational HIV therapies of Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD), if and when approved. The agreement aims to expand access...
14Jul2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(UAL) United Continental Holdings – Bull of the Day
We are upgrading our recommendation on United Continental Holdings (UAL) to Outperform. Though we remain concerned about escalating fuel prices, United Continental is able to pass on higher costs to its customers in the form of fare hikes. The company’s first quarter earnings...
13Jul2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(AXP) Stock Market News for July 13, 2011 – Market News
Indices washed out early gains made after Fed minutes suggested the possibility of a third economic stimulus package, as euro-zone debt woes led to markets closing in the red for the third consecutive day. Meanwhile, reports of US trade deficit surging more than expected also...
13Jul2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(CDTI) Company News for July 13, 2011 – Corporate Summary
• Shares of bond insurer MBIA Inc. (NYSE:MBI) gained 6.86% after the company said it will withdraw its lawsuit against Bank of America Corp. (NYSE:BAC) and Merrill Lynch • According to a report, NCR Corporation. (NYSE:NCR) will buy software maker Radiant Systems,...
13Jul2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(MRH) Montpelier Re Holdings – Bear of the Day
We are downgrading our recommendation on Montpelier Re Holdings (MRH) to Underperform given its exposure to catastrophe losses coupled with the current pricing environment in the primary insurance market and a sluggish economy that is expected to restrict top-line growth. Montpelier...
13Jul2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(TRV) Travelers Companies Downgraded
Given restricted premium growth and pressure on underwriting margins, we are downgrading our recommendation to Underperform on The Travelers Companies Inc. (TRV). Also, potential reserve additions for asbestos liabilities present another risk. Premium growth remains reduced as...
12Jul2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(FII) Federated Investors Incorporated – Bear of the Day
We are downgrading our recommendation on Federated Investors, Inc. (FII) to Underperform from Neutral based on expected downward pressure on assets under management (AUM), flows and margins. Regulatory backdrop, waning equity markets and sluggish global economic growth are expected...
12Jul2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(SU) Suncor Energy – Bull of the Day
In our opinion, Suncor Energy (SU) is one of the best positioned companies to benefit from the oil price recovery over the next several years. The company’s asset base includes substantial conventional reserves and production at offshore Eastern Canada and in the North...
12Jul2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(RGS) Regis’ Revenues Up – Comps Drop
Regis Corporation (RGS) reported a year-over-year decline of 1.7% in same-store sales. However, the rate of decline in comps improved from the year-ago quarterly drop of 2.7% and the third quarter plunge of 2.3%, attributable to higher customer footfalls. The several initiatives...
12Jul2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(WFR) MEMC Electronic Materials and Jusung Engineering in Solar Deal
A leading provider of semiconductor and solar chips, MEMC Electronic Materials Inc.’s (WFR) Singapore affiliate recently formed a strategic alliance with Korea-based Jusung Engineering Co. Ltd. Under the agreement, MEMC Singapore and Jusung will combine forces to develop and...
12Jul2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(RPM) U.S. June Air Traffic Analysis
Despite the lingering uncertainty in U.S. recovery as well as debt concerns in Europe, the demand for air travel has rebounded to some extent after the March 2011 Japan catastrophe. For the past several months, air carriers have been struggling with rising fuel prices. In order...
12Jul2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(PTR) PetroChina in Talks With Vietnam National Petroleum Corporation
State-controlled Chinese energy giant PetroChina (PTR) is in talks with Vietnam National Petroleum Corporation, or Petrolimex, for a $212 million project that will strengthen business ties between the two companies. Under the venture, the companies plan to build a pipeline having...
12Jul2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(NVS) Novartis Presents Afinitor Data
Recently, Novartis (NVS) presented data from a late-stage study (EXIST-1) of its cancer drug Afinitor (everolimus). The randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, multicenter study evaluated the safety and effectiveness of the drug compared to placebo for treating patients...
12Jul2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(ETR) Entergy Unit to Sell Bonds
Integrated energy company Entergy Corporation (ETR) announced that its unit Entergy Louisiana, LLC will sell $206 million bonds through an underwritten public offering. The company intends to utilize the proceeds to reimburse its previously incurred investment recovery costs. Entergy...
12Jul2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(CFN) CareFusion Buying Rowa for $150 Million
Medical technology company CareFusion Corporation (CFN) recently made a deal to buy German medication storage systems maker Rowa GmbH for roughly $150 million. Rowa, which has customers in 30 countries, specializes in high-speed robotic medication storage and retrieval systems...
12Jul2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(JCOM) j2 Global Communications Gets Neutral Rating
We downgrade our recommendation on j2 Global Communications Inc. (JCOM) to Neutral based on its current valuation. The stock price soared more than 36% last year. We continue to believet he company’s strong financial position and diversified product pipeline, coupled with the...
12Jul2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(AAPL) Apple Takes HTC to Court
In a latest development, Apple Inc. (AAPL) has sued HTC Corp. accusing the Taiwanese smartphone maker of infringing five of its patents. The patents relate to software architecture and user interfaces in portable electronic devices, hardware for touchscreens and movement sensors....
12Jul2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(RE) Everest Re Upgraded to Neutral
We are upgrading our recommendation on the shares of Everest Re Group Ltd. (RE) to Neutral from Underperform as we believe the company would benefit from the gradually improving reinsurance rates after heavy catastrophe losses (cat losses) that strained capital across the industry...
12Jul2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(AA) Company News for July 12, 2011 – Corporate Summary
• Alcoa (NYSE:AA) posted Q2 EPS of $0.32, lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimates of $0.34 per share. Revenues for the quarter rose 27% year-over-year to $6.59 billion • Swiss chemicals company Lonza Group (CH:LONN) will buy biocide firm Arch Chemicals, Inc....
12Jul2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(XLF) Stock Market News for July 12, 2011 – Market News
On the opening day of the week, markets slipped to their lowest level in almost a month, as euro-zone debt worries dampened investor sentiment. Additionally, an impasse over budget talks dragged the mood lower while investors looked for direction from the earnings season, which...
12Jul2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(MON) Monsanto and Sinochem to Seal Ties
Global agribusiness Monsanto Company (MON) hopes to strengthen its tie with Sinochem, the Chinese chemicals conglomerate. At present, the two companies are in talks regarding the economic and politically sensitive issues, which were a topic for debate for months. The agreement...
12Jul2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(YRCW) YRC Worldwide Adopts New Facilityg
The leading transportation service provider in the world, YRC Worldwide (YRCW) received a commitment for a three-year asset-based loan (ABL) scheme worth $400 million. The introduction of this new facility will bring in fresh capital into the company and also replace the existing...
12Jul2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(PCLN) Priceline.com Up Significantly – ValuEngine.com Pick $PCLN
We have been highlighting some of our recent successful picks from our Market Neutral Portfolio in our Daily Bulletins. Today we take a look at an alternate selection from the Retail/Wholesale Sector which is up more than 15% for the current rebalance period, Priceline.com (PCLN). Currently,...
12Jul2011 | valuengine | 0 comments | Continued(DVN) Natural Gas Stockpiles Up 95 Bcf – U.S. Energy Department
The U.S. Energy Department’s weekly inventory release showed a larger-than-expected build-up in natural gas supplies on the back of above-average growth in each of the three storage regions. This was partially offset by a strong uptick in demand in the power sector, mainly...
12Jul2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(WPPGY) WPP plc Subsidiary JWT to Acquire Mindset Advertising
Advertising titan, WPP plc’s (WPPGY) wholly-owned subsidiary, JWT has consented to acquire a majority stake in India’s advertising agency, Mindset Advertising Private Limited. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Mindset is one of the highly recognized advertising...
11Jul2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(PEET) Peet’s Coffee & Tea Introduces Light Freddo
The coffee roaster and retailer Peet’s Coffee & Tea Inc. (PEET) has launched a new blended iced coffee beverage called – Light Freddo. As the name says, the new Light Freddos of Peet’s will have 50% lower calories than the regular Freddos. Despite that, Peet’s...
11Jul2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(IT) CA to Support StratITsphere Cloud
Information technology (IT) and management software developer, CA Inc. (CA) recently revealed that its cloud computing, energy management and service assurance solutions will support StratITsphere’s new package of cloud-based services (Nimbus) and other offerings. Nimbus was...
11Jul2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(AFFX) Affymetrix’s Second Quarter Preliminary Sales Miss
Genetic products maker Affymetrix Inc (AFFX) has announced disappointing preliminary sales for second-quarter fiscal 2011. The California-based company expects to post revenues in the band of $64-65 million for the quarter, which is below the current Street view of roughly $74...
11Jul2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued