Archive for September, 2011
(DO) Diamond Offshore Drilling Analyst Maintains Shares at Neutral
We have maintained our Neutral recommendation for Diamond Offshore Drilling Inc. (DO) given its solid fundamentals and financial disciplines, partially mitigated by stringent regulations as well as the lingering effects of the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) drill ban and related U.S. policies. Texas-based...
21Sep2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(ORCL) Oracle Earnings Again Post Modest Forecast Beat
After the bell Tuesday, Oracle Corporation (ORCL) reported earnings for its fiscal 1st quarter of 2012, and as per usual the giant tech firm beat estimates, albeit on somewhat modest expectations. Reported EPS of 45 cents per share (Zacks is not taking the entire amortization...
21Sep2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(TSN) Tyson Foods Settles Wage Dispute with Workers
Tyson Foods Inc. (TSN), the world’s leading producer, distributor, and marketer of chicken, beef, pork, and prepared food products, has decided to give up $32 million in order to settle a wage dispute with workers who claimed that they were being paid less than they actually...
21Sep2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(CTRN) Citi Trends Incorporated Analyst Lowers Shares to Underperform
We are currently downgrading our long-term recommendation on Citi Trends Inc. (CTRN) to Underperform from Neutral based on the company’s disappointing second-quarter 2011 results. Citi Trends’ falling comparable store sales, coupled with rising input costs and operating...
21Sep2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(SEE) Sealed Air Issues Notes to Fund Diversey Holdings Purchase
Packaging food products maker Sealed Air Corporation (SEE) issued $1.5 billion notes with an intention to utilize the proceeds to fund a portion of the $4.3 billion acquisition of Diversey Holdings announced in June 2011. The $1.5 billion notes issue is made in two tranches of...
21Sep2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(JNPR) Juniper Networks Announces Twin Networking Deals
Juniper Networks Inc. (JNPR) announced that online video game provider, OnLive has selected its network infrastructure for an undisclosed amount. OnLive intends to upgrade its data center infrastructure with Juniper’s routing, switching and security solutions. OnLive pioneered...
21Sep2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(BSX) Boston Scientific Launches Coyote Balloon Catheter
Boston Scientific Corporation (BSX) strengthened its Peripheral Interventions portfolio with the launch of Coyote Balloon catheter (0.014 inch) to treat patients undergoing peripheral angioplasty procedures below the knee. The company is marketing the product in the US, Europe...
21Sep2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(MRK) Merck Drug Candidate Presents New Data
Merck (MRK) recently presented new clinical and pre-clinical data on its phase III pipeline candidate, odanacatib. Odanacatib is an investigational cathepsin K (cat-K) inhibitor which is being developed for the treatment of osteoporosis in post-menopausal women. Results were...
21Sep2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(CI) CIGNA Gets Customer-centric
In a bid to provide specialized customer service, health insurer CIGNA Corp. (CI) has announced a national brand campaign, with the theme “GO YOU”. The campaign chiefly focuses on providing user-friendly programs along with delivering unique customer service. The advertisement...
21Sep2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(NOC) Northrop Grumman Corporation Assists BAE Systems in Key Deal
Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) and BAE Systems Inc. have entered into an exclusive strategic partnership to replace the aging T-38 trainer for the U.S. Air Force’s “T-X” program. The T-38 trainer is planned to be replaced by BAE Systems’ Hawk Advanced Jet Training...
21Sep2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(WMGI) Wright Medical Group Gets a New CEO
International orthopedic devices company Wright Medical Group (WMGI) recently reported that its Board of Directors chose Mr. Robert J. Palmisano as President and CEO, starting from September 17, 2011. Mr. David D. Stevens, who was interim President and CEO, will remain Chairman...
21Sep2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(BRCM) Who’s Next in Semiconductor M&A?
by Justin Dove, Investment U Research Tuesday, September 20, 2011 If you can’t beat ‘em, just buy ‘em… Broadcom’s (Nasdaq: BRCM) acquisition last week of NetLogic (Nasdaq: NETL) is likely to set off a chain reaction as larger, older semiconductor companies try not to...
21Sep2011 | InvestmentU | 0 comments | Continued(ABX) Why Gold Mining Stocks Are About to Skyrocket
by Dr. Mark Skousen, Investment U Contributing Editor Wednesday, September 21, 2011: Issue #1605 Are you frustrated by the failure of gold mining stocks to keep up with gold? I am. While gold and silver are up 30 percent this year, the mining stocks continue to lag. Barrick Gold...
21Sep2011 | InvestmentU | 0 comments | Continued(DRR) How to Play Uncertainties in the Eurozone
by Jason Jenkins, Investment U Research Tuesday, September 20, 2011 There seemed to be a little hope mingling in the markets at the end of last week. Global equities rose for a fourth straight day on Friday. The Nasdaq had just finished posting its biggest weekly advance since...
21Sep2011 | InvestmentU | 0 comments | Continued(SSL) Natural Gas-to-Liquids Coming to U.S.
Attentive investors may have noted an announcement last week by the large South Africa-based energy and chemicals company Sasol (SSL). The firm said it was commencing an eighteen-month feasibility study to determine the commercial viability of one of two options: either a two...
21Sep2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(T) AT&T Goes Live with 4G Long-Term Evolution Services
AT&T Inc. (T) has launched it long-awaited 4G Long-Term Evolution (LTE) wireless networks in the U.S. The LTE offers mobile broadband speeds up to 10 times faster than 3G. The company has initially launched its services in five cities namely Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston...
21Sep2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(KMX) CarMax Second Quarter Earnings Preview
CarMax Inc. (KMX) announced that it would release its results for the second quarter of fiscal 2012 that ended on August 31, 2011 before the market opens on September 22, 2011. Richmond, VA-based CarMax earned a profit of 55 cents in the first quarter of fiscal 2012, beating...
21Sep2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(DHI) U.S. Housing Starts Down – Permits Up
Housing Starts fell in August to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 571,000 from 601,000 in July, a decrease of 5.0%. However, the July numbers were revised lower from 604,000, so it is possible to see the decrease as 34,000, or 5.5%. The number was also slightly below the...
21Sep2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(PNC) PNC Financial Services Group Sells Senior Notes
Last week, PNC Funding Corporation, a unit of PNC Financial Services Group Inc. (PNC), announced the sale of 5-year senior notes with a maturity value of $1.25 billion. PNC Financial sold the notes at a coupon rate of 2.7% and an issue price of $99.879. The notes will mature...
21Sep2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(AZN) AstraZeneca Coverage Initiated at Neutral
We are initiating coverage on AstraZeneca (AZN) with a Neutral recommendation and a target price of $47.00. AstraZeneca, headquartered in London, UK, is one of the largest biopharmaceutical companies in the world. AstraZeneca’s business can be broken down into separate lines...
21Sep2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(AEM) Agnico-Eagle Mines Agrees to Acquire Grayd Resource Corporation
Agnico-Eagle Mines Ltd. (AEM) agreed to acquire Grayd Resource Corporation (Grayd) in a deal valued at approximately US$275 million, giving the Canadian gold producer an early stage project in Mexico. Agnico-Eagle will offer Grayd shareholders a combination of cash and shares...
21Sep2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(HPQ) Hewlett-Packard Wins Aussie Hospital Contract
The Australian government recently awarded the Australian arm of Hewlett-Packard Company (HPQ) a technology service agreement for its next-generation digital hospital in Adelaide, Australia. According to the agreement, Hewlett-Packard will design, build and maintain a portion...
21Sep2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(PLCM) Polycom Analyst Remains Neutral on Shares
We reaffirm our long-term Neutral recommendation on Polycom Inc. (PLCM). The company reported mixed financial results for the second-quarter 2011. Despite facing competitive pressure from Cisco Systems Inc. (CSCO), Polycom’s high-margin Network Infrastructure Systems businesses...
21Sep2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(ETP) Energy Transfer Partners – A New Favorite in Natural Gas Supply
by David Fessler, Investment U Senior Analyst Tuesday, September 20, 2011: Issue #1604 By now, everyone should know about America’s abundance of natural gas. Most of the new supplies are coming primarily from the development of major shale plays. The Marcellus, the Haynesville,...
21Sep2011 | InvestmentU | 0 comments | Continued(UNP) U.S. Railroad Stock Outlook – September 2011 – Industry Outlook
The U.S. Freight Railroads have been able to keep up the momentum despite facing unusual weather conditions and an extremely volatile U.S. economy. Solid commodities volumes, healthy demand for coal and improved efficiencies are helping the railroads to continue their strong...
21Sep2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(HUM) Humana Incorporated – Bull of the Day
Humana, Inc.’s (HUM) second-quarter earnings modestly beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate, owing to improved consolidated premiums and ASO fees that also drove the benefit ratio along with improvement in medical and specialty memberships. Humana benefits from the new rule...
21Sep2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(BHI) U.S. Drilling Rig Count at 34-Month High
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) to its highest level since November 7, 2008. This can be primarily attributed to an increase...
21Sep2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(IT) IBM Opens New Office in Angola
Information Technology (IT) giant IBM Corp. (IBM) recently opened a new branch office at Luanda, Angola. This follows the branch openings at Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and Dakar, Senegal, in the first half of 2011. The Luanda office is a part of IBM’s central Africa operations...
21Sep2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(AFL) Dividend Stocks: How to Beat the QE Blues
by Marc Lichtenfeld, Investment U Senior Analyst Wednesday, September 14, 2011: Issue #1600 You hear that beeping sound? That’s the sound of my truck backing up to load it with dividend stocks. This may well be a historic time for some investors. One in which they’ll look...
20Sep2011 | InvestmentU | 0 comments | Continued(DTSI) DTS Incorporated Announces Partnership With Interra
DTS Inc. (DTSI) recently announced that it has entered into a partnership with Interra Systems. Under the terms of the partnership, DTS will integrate its high-definition audio codec support into Interra’s digital media quality control and media analysis solutions. Interra...
20Sep2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued