Basic Materials
(DOW) Three More Industries Thriving From Record-Low Natural Gas Prices
by Mike Kapsch, Investment U Research Tuesday, January 24, 2012 Since hitting a high of $15.37 in December 2005, the price of natural gas has plunged to its lowest level in over a decade to $2.30. That’s an 85% drop. As Reuters recently reported, “The unrelenting surge in...
31Jan2012 | InvestmentU | 0 comments | Continued(EMN) Eastman Chemical to Acquire Solutia
As part of its expansion strategy, Eastman Chemical Company (EMN) announced its plans to acquire Solutia Inc. (SOA), a global leader in performance materials and specialty chemicals, for $3.4 billion in cash and stock. The transaction is expected to close in mid-2012. As per...
31Jan2012 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(AA) Stock Market News for January 26, 2012 – Market News
Markets recouped initial losses of and made a strong comeback after the Federal Reserve provided assurances that it would keep interest rates near zero until late 2014.The Dow hit its highest levels since May last year, while a robust earnings report from Apple propelled Nasdaq...
26Jan2012 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(APA) Company News for January 24, 2012 – Corporate Summary
• Fifth Street Finance Corp’s (NASDAQ:FSC) shares declined 5.11% to close at $10.02 after the company initiated a public sale of 10 million shares • Share of natural-gas producer Chesapeake Energy (NYSE:CHK) gained 6.3% after the company announced it plans...
24Jan2012 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(CVX) Chevron: Still a Good Value
San Ramon, California-based Chevron Corporation (CVX) is one of the six super major oil and gas companies in the world and the second-largest energy firm in the U.S. behind Exxon Mobil (XOM). As a vertically-integrated oil entity, it is engaged in oil and gas exploration and...
22Jan2012 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(CVX) Chevron Hits Australian Gas Again
The Australian subsidiary of global integrated energy company Chevron Corp. (CVX) announced the discovery of natural gas in the Satyr-3 well, offshore Western Australia. This discovery, 113 miles north of Exmouth Plateau area, marks Chevron’s thirteenth in the country since...
21Jan2012 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(FTI) FMC Technologies and Anadarko Sign Service Deal
Oil drilling equipment maker FMC Technologies Inc. (FTI) inked a deal with Anadarko Petroleum Corporation (APC), whereby it will render subsea systems and life-of-field services to the latter. None of the parties disclosed the financial terms of the agreement. The Woodlands-based...
18Jan2012 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(RRC) Range Resources’ Production Reaches New High
In an interim update, independent oil and gas operator, Range Resources Corporation (RRC) announced that it achieved record production in the fourth quarter of 2011. The production increased 16% on both a year-over-year as well as sequential basis to reach an average production...
18Jan2012 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(APC) Anadarko Petroleum Hits Another Gas Find
Independent oil and gas producer Anadarko Petroleum Corporation (APC) made another discovery off the coast of Mozambique. This new find to a large extent substantiated the company’s projection that the Offshore Area 1 of Mozambique’s Rovuma Basin at the Lagosta prospect...
18Jan2012 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(KGC) Kinross Gold Declares 2012 Outlook
Kinross Gold Corporation (KGC) declared preliminary operating results for full-year 2011 while providing guidance for 2012. Kinross expects 2011 production to be approximately 2.6 million gold equivalent ounces and cost of sales to be approximately $600 per gold equivalent ounce,...
17Jan2012 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(WTI) Energy and Commodities For 2012
by David Fessler, Investment U Senior Analyst Wednesday, December 21, 2011: Issue #1669 As my colleagues have done earlier this week, I’m now putting myself in the hot seat with regards to my prognostications from a year ago. Around this time last year, I opined that commodities...
15Jan2012 | InvestmentU | 0 comments | Continued(ETP) Energy Transfer Closes Business Sale
Energy Transfer Partners L.P. (ETP) completed the divesture of its propane business to retail propane distributor AmeriGas Partners L.P. (APU). The announcement of the sale was made in October, 2011. Per the terms of the agreement, Energy Transfer Partners received total proceeds...
14Jan2012 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(MWE) MarkWest Energy Partners – Bull of the Day
We are upgrading MarkWest Energy Partners (MWE) to Outperform from Neutral, reflecting its promising future prospects. The master limited partnership’s (MLP) targeted growth capital investments since 2006 have been driving its strong, long-term volume growth. We continue...
13Jan2012 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(SM) SM Energy Company – Bull of the Day
We believe that SM Energy Company’s (SM) emerging core portfolio is a catalyst for visible organic growth over the next several years. The company’s earnings in the third quarter more than doubled from the prior-year, buoyed by higher operating income, increased production...
13Jan2012 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(XOM) U.S. Crude Oil Supplies Rise Sharply
The U.S. Energy Department’s weekly inventory release showed an unexpected increase in crude inventories on the back of soaring imports and dwindling product demand, while gasoline supplies rose for the second straight week. The agency’s report further revealed that distillate...
13Jan2012 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(AA) Company News for January 9, 2012 – Corporate Summary
• After RF Micro Devices Inc. (NASDAQ:RFMD) suggested that its fiscal third quarter revenues might fail to meet analyst’ estimates, its shares declined 19.5% on Friday • Following Transocean Ltd.’s (NYSE:RIG) announcement that its chief financial officer Ricardo...
9Jan2012 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(LNG) Will Natural Gas Rebound This Year?
Among the most commonly asked questions by energy investors this new year is: will low natural gas prices continue in 2012 or will we see a durable rebound in prices from their multi-year plight? From a peak of about $13.60 per million British thermal units (MMBtu) in 2008 (referring...
8Jan2012 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(EPD) Enterprise Products Partners and Genesis Energy Sign Pipeline Plan
Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (EPD) and Genesis Energy L.P. (GEL) have inked a construction agreement for a crude oil gathering pipeline to serve the Lucius development area in the Gulf of Mexico. Southeast Keathley Canyon Pipeline Company LLC (“SEKCO”) – a 50:50...
8Jan2012 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(XOM) Crude Oil Stocks Rise Unexpectedly
The U.S. Energy Department’s weekly inventory release showed an unexpected increase in crude inventories on the back of higher imports, while gasoline supplies fell for the second straight week. The agency’s report further revealed that distillate stocks posted a surprise...
3Jan2012 | 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(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(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(BHP) BHP Billiton – ADR – Bear of the Day
We downgrade our recommendation on BHP Billiton Ltd. – ADR (BHP) from Neutral to Underperform based on declining industrial demand on the back of sluggish economic growth in Europe and U.S. Other headwinds include competition from peers, upsurge in oil prices and rising...
21Dec2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(CMC) Company News for December 20, 2011 – Corporate Summary
• In a deal worth $560 million, Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. (NASDAQ:WINN) will be sold to supermarket operator Bi-Lo LLC. Following the development, shares of Winn-Dixie soared 70.1% • A company spokeswoman told Reuters that Procter & Gamble Co. (NYSE:PG) has stopped...
20Dec2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(MON) Monsanto Guides High on New Business
Monsanto Company (MON) recently raised its expected earnings per share guidance for the first quarter of fiscal 2012. The first quarter earnings were scheduled to be released on January 5, 2012. The company’s earnings per share guidance for the first-quarter ongoing and as-reported...
15Dec2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(CEO) Marriott International Passing Baton to Sorenson
Even though his surname is not Marriott, Arne Sorenson will succeed J.W. Marriott, Jr. as chief executive officer (CEO) of Marriott International Inc. (MAR) next year. Sorenson will be the third CEO in the company’s history followed by J.W. Bill Marriott (Jr.) who expanded...
15Dec2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(SNP) China Petroleum and Chemical Boosts Aussie LNG Stake
China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation (SNP), aka Sinopec has agreed to increase its stake in the Queensland-based Australia Pacific liquefied natural gas (LNG) project by 10%, taking its share to 25%. The multibillion Australia Pacific LNG project – formed by Origin Energy...
14Dec2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(CE) Celanese Corporation – Bull of the Day
Celanese Corporation (CE) reported adjusted earnings of $1.27 per share for the third quarter of 2011, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.11. Quarterly revenues grew 20% year over year to $1.81 billion, primarily driven by higher pricing across all operating segments...
14Dec2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(SE) Spectra Energy Corporation – Bull of the Day
We maintain our Outperform recommendation for Spectra Energy Corp. (SE) shares following better-than-expected third quarter 2011 results. The out-performance was driven by strong growth from expansion projects, higher commodity prices and a stronger Canadian dollar. With third-quarter...
13Dec2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(XOM) Crude Oil – Fuel Inventories Move Up
The U.S. Energy Department’s weekly inventory release showed an unexpected increase in crude inventories on the back of higher imports, while gasoline supplies rose for the fourth straight week. The agency’s report further revealed that distillate stocks posted a higher-than-expected...
9Dec2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued