Archive for December, 2011
(FISV) Fiserv Maintains Analyst Neutral Rating
We continue to maintain a sideline stance on Fiserv Inc. (FISV),and thereby keep our Neutral recommendation on the company. Fiserv is a world leader in providing financial services to technology solutions which include E-commerce systems and other services such as transaction...
31Dec2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(MS) Morgan Stanley to Delete Jobs in New York
According to a state filing, Morgan Stanley (MS) intends to lay off 580 workers in New York State due to economic reasons. The company started trimming its workforce since the middle of December on a rolling basis, abide by the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN). The...
31Dec2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(HBC) HSBC Holdings Plc – ADS – Bear of the Day
We retain our Underperform recommendation on HSBC Holdings plc – ADS (HBC) with an Underperform recommendation. Our primary concern is the harsh impact from the deepening Eurozone crisis. Moreover, the company is suffering from weak revenue growth in its mature markets...
30Dec2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(AGCO) AGCO Corporation – Bull of the Day
Driven by strong global demand for agricultural equipment, AGCO Corporation (AGCO) reported third quarter EPS of $0.87 versus $0.66 in the year-earlier quarter, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.75. For fiscal 2011, AGCO expects EPS of $4.30. Global industry sales...
30Dec2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(CVS) CVS Caremark Corporation to Attend Healthcare Conference
The leading provider of prescriptions and related health care services in the US, CVS Caremark Corporation (CVS) has decided to participate in the annual JP Morgan Healthcare Conference scheduled on January 10, 2012. The company will be represented by its president and CEO, Mr....
30Dec2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(VZ) U.S. Wireless Telecom Providers Deliver Consistant Growth Story
Despite the sluggish economy and stiff competition, U.S. telecom service providers are delivering consistent growth. These companies are innovating products and services as well as enhancing the existing ones to grow market share. Telecom operators provide Voice Telephony, Data,...
30Dec2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(BONT) Stock Market News for December 28, 2011 – Market News
Markets opted to take a pause after a recent rally, as mixed economic data and a session featuring light volumes meant benchmarks ended Tuesday’s session on a flat note. Given the Christmas overhang, consolidated volumes remained substantively low, and final minutes’ movement...
29Dec2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(COP) Company News for December 28, 2011 – Corporate Summary
• Share prices of oil and gas company Endeavour International Corp (NYSE:END) increased 24.06% after the company agreed to purchase a stake in three oil fields from ConocoPhillips’ (NYSE:COP) for $330 million • Retailer Sears Holdings Corp.’s (NASDAQ:SHLD)...
29Dec2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(JNJ) Pharma & Biotech Stock Review & Outlook – Industry Outlook
With 2011 coming to an end, the pharmaceutical industry continues to face challenges like sluggish prescription trends, EU pricing pressure, intensifying generic competition, pipeline failures and limited late-stage catalysts. The next five years are expected to reflect a significant...
29Dec2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(CINF) Cincinnati Financial Ratings Updated by A.M Best
As a part of its annual rating review, rating agency A.M. Best declared its rating action on Cincinnati Financial Corp. (CINF) and its operating subsidiaries. The agency has downgraded the issuer credit rating (“ICR”) as well as the debt rating of Cincinnati Financial by...
29Dec2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(RNOW) Oracle’s RightNow Technologies Buy Approved
At a recent special meeting conducted at RightNow Technologies, Inc. (RNOW), its shareholders finally gave their whole-hearted consent for the company’s merger with Oracle Corporation (ORCL). Almost 99.8% of the shares voted in favor of the acquisition agreement represented...
29Dec2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(IBKR) Interactive Brokers Group – Bull of the Day
Interactive Brokers Group (IBKR) third-quarter earnings were double the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Improved top line and substantially higher net income attributable to non-controlling interests were among the positives. These were partly offset by higher interest and non-interest...
29Dec2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(BP) Three European Oil Firms Strike Angola Deal
With the aim of expanding individual footing in the energy sector of South Africa, three European oil biggies entered into three different deals with Sonangol, the National Fuel Company of Angola, to explore the undeveloped pre-salt offshore acreage. London, England-based BP...
28Dec2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(LUV) Southwest Airlines Strikes New Labor Deal
One of the leading discounted carriers in the US, Southwest Airlines (LUV) reported that the company’s union of flight attendants has entered into a tentative Seniority Integration Agreement with the union of flight attendants of AirTran Airways. The agreement has already been...
28Dec2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(M) Hot Christmas Deals Can Eat Margins
It’s raining discounts at stores as retailers take their final lap before Christmas. Shoppers are offered discounts of 40%, 50% or even 60%. Further, buy one get one free comes as extra toppings. Apart from money offs, flexibility in shopping through smartphones and tablets,...
28Dec2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(TEVA) Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Provides In-Line 2012 Outlook
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (TEVA) recently provided guidance for 2012. The company expects to earn $5.48 and $5.68 per share on total net sales of about $22 billion. Guidance was generally in line with expectations. While the Zacks Consensus Earnings Estimate, prior...
27Dec2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(BHI) U.S. Oil Drilling Rig Count Stumbles
In its weekly release, Houston-based oilfield services company Baker Hughes Inc. (BHI) reported a dip in the U.S. rig count (number of rigs searching for oil and gas in the country). This can be primarily attributed to a decrease in the tally of natural gas-directed rigs, partially...
27Dec2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(YHOO) Yahoo Revisits Sale of Asian Assets
Yahoo Inc. (YHOO) is revisiting a proposed deal to reduce its 40% stake in Chinese e-commerce company Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. and sell its 35% ownership position in Yahoo Japan. The proposal values Yahoo’s 40% stake in Alibaba at about $12 billion and its 35% stake in Yahoo...
27Dec2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(JCOM) j2 Global Downgraded to Neutral by Analyst
We downgrade our recommendation on j2 Global Inc. (JCOM) to Neutral based on its third quarter of 2011 financial results, which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimates. Nevertheless, the Subscriber Usage revenue continues to beat market expectations. This is an important parameter...
27Dec2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(EL) Estee Lauder Companies – Bull of the Day
Estee Lauder Companies’ (EL) first-quarter 2012 earnings of $1.41 per share surpassed both the Zacks Consensus Estimate as well as the year-ago result by 19.5% and 45.0%, respectively. The buoyant purchasing power of the affluent class who shop for products from cosmetics...
27Dec2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(RSH) RadioShack Corporation – Bear of the Day
RadioShack Corp. (RSH) difficulties persist as the company continues its disappointing performance. Precipitous decline of the signature and consumer electronics retail businesses, adverse product-mix toward low-margin devices, and a volatile macro-economic scenario in the U.S....
27Dec2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(KFT) Kraft Foods Sees Lobbying Charges Shrink
Kraft Foods Inc. (KFT) reported that it spent $640,000 during the third quarter 2011 on issues related to transportation, agriculture, trade and other matters. The lobbying charges shrunk 1.5% from $650,000 spent during the third quarter of 2010 and 12.3% from $730,000 spent...
27Dec2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(AKAM) Akamai Technologies Buys Competitor Cotendo
Confirming earlier rumors, Akamai Technologies Inc. (AKAM) recently announced that it is buying competitor Cotendo for $268.0 million in cash. The deal is expected to close in the first half of 2012. Shares jumped 18.6% to close at $31.63 following the news. Cotendo specializes...
26Dec2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(ADTN) ADTRAN Eyes Broadband Business
Alabama-based networking solution provider, ADTRAN Inc. (ADTN) recently announced plans to acquire Nokia Siemens Networks’ fixed-line Broadband Access business. The deal is expected to close by April next year, upon regulatory approval from concerned authorities. According...
26Dec2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(CHU) China Unicom Adds 3G Users
China’s second largest mobile operator China Unicom (CHU) added 3.60 million subscribers in November, up 1.9% from the prior month. This takes the company’s total customer base to 196 million. The company’s GSM subscriber base rose to 159.44 million with the net addition...
26Dec2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(PMI) European Central Bank Tries Quenching Thirsty Banks
The European Central Bank (ECB) has been overwhelmed by the rush for cheap three-year loans. The demand for these loans has far exceeded expectations — a fact that underscores the difficult times the banking system is going through. A system whose raw material is money...
24Dec2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(YHOO) Dec 22: Jobless Claims Fall to Record Low – Economic Highlights
Today’s heavy economic schedule will likely keep the markets focused on domestic matters. The good start provided by the positive initial Jobless Claims report should help give stocks positive momentum today. The GDP revision was on the weak side, but given the stale nature...
24Dec2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(VZ) Verizon Communications and Cox Communications in Spectrum Deal
The largest U.S. mobile services provider Verizon Communications (VZ) plans to buy radio-spectrum licenses from the privately held cable operator Cox Communications Inc. The deal is awaiting approval from the Federal Communications Commission. Verizon is progressing fast to acquire...
24Dec2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(BAC) Fitch Ratings Downgrades Giant Wall Street Banks
Adding to the ongoing economic concerns, Fitch Ratings lowered its viability ratings on eight major global banks on Thursday. Moreover, long-term issuer-default ratings were also downgraded on six major U.S. and European banks. The banks experiencing fall in their viability ratings...
24Dec2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(T) AT&T Raises Dividend – Risks Remain
Investing in telecom stocks seems risky as the global market faces the threat of yet another recession. While we await a political resolution to the Euro-zone sovereign debt crisis, the contagion is spreading globally, weighing on economic growth. The problems in Europe are swelling...
24Dec2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued