Asset Management
(LM) Legg Mason’s December Assets Under Management Perks Up
Baltimore-based Legg Mason Inc. (LM) experienced a rise in its assets under management (AUM) in December on a sequential basis. This was preceded by a decline in November and a rise in October AUM. Preliminary month-end AUM came in at $627.0 billion, up 1.0% from $620.6 billion...
13Jan2012 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(PFG) Principal Financial Group Guides – Approves Buyback
Principal Financial Group Inc. (PFG) guides its 2012 operating earnings in a band of $3.05–$3.25 per share. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2012 is $3.17, toward the high end of the company’s guidance. The company also expects an average S&P 500 Index of 1,275 in...
8Dec2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(FII) Federated Investors Incorporated – Bear of the Day
Federated Investors’ (FII) second-quarter 2011 earnings were in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Results reflected decreased top-line growth, increase in voluntary fee waivers, and increased operating expenses. These negatives were further offset by a rise in fixed...
5Oct2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(AVAV) Investing in AeroVironment
Clean Energy and Spy Bots The biggest problem with most clean energy companies is the speculation involved. Most aren’t profitable, at least not yet, especially in the electronic vehicle (EV) market. It’s a guessing game trying to figure out what products or brands will take...
20Sep2011 | InvestmentU | 0 comments | Continued(LM) Legg Mason’s August AUM Plunges Assets Under Management
Baltimore-based Legg Mason Inc. (LM) experienced a decline in its assets under management (AUM) in August on a sequential basis. This was preceded by a drop in both July and June. Preliminary month-end AUM came in at $643.4 billion, down 1.8% from $655.4 billion at the end of...
19Sep2011 | 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(PFG) Principal Financial Group to Take Over Origin
Yesterday, Principal Global Investors, LLC, a unit of Principal Financial Group (PFG), announced that it would purchase a 74% stake in London-based Origin Asset Management, LLP. The acquisition of Origin would strengthen Principal’s global equity capability, broaden its product...
11Jul2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(BEN) Franklin Resources Analyst Downgrades Shares to Neutral
We have downgraded our recommendation on Franklin Resources Inc. (BEN) to Neutral from Outperform apprehending costly regulatory issues in a volatile economic environment. However, Franklin’s second-quarter 2011 earnings of $2.25 per share outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate...
7Jul2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(LM) Legg Mason Analyst Reiterates Shares at Neutral
We maintain our Neutral recommendation on Legg Mason Inc. (LM) based on strong fourth-quarter results. However, Legg Mason experienced a decline in its assets under management (AUM) in May on a sequential basis. This was preceded by a slight decline in April, but a modest increase...
3Jul2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(BX) Blackstone Group to Buy Royal Bank of Scotland Group’s Risky Loans
On Thursday, the Financial Times reported that Blackstone Group (BX) has agreed to purchase risky commercial-property loans worth 1.4 billion pounds ($2.3 billion) from U.K.-based Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc (RBS). Blackstone would buy a 25% stake in the loan portfolio and...
1Jul2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(AMP) Ameriprise Financial Authorizes Share Buyback
Ameriprise Financial Inc. (AMP) announced that its board of directors has authorized a new share repurchase program, under which the company will be able to buyback its common shares worth $2 billion through June 28, 2013. Ameriprise stated that this new share repurchase authorization...
20Jun2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(PFG) Principal Financial Group Analyst Maintains Neutral on Shares
Principal Financial Group Inc. (PFG) continues to post solid growth in assets under management. Also, the company continues to effectively deploy $700 million of capital. Moreover, Principal Financial scores strongly with the credit rating agency. However, volatility in the...
19Jun2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(BEN) Franklin Resources Incorporated – Bull of the Day
Franklin Resources Inc.’s (BEN) second quarter 2011 earnings of $2.25 per share outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.00 per share. Results reflected robust growth in revenue and higher assets under management (AUM), partially offset by increased operating expenses. Moreover,...
23May2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(BEN) Franklin Resources Inc – Bull of the Day
Franklin Resources Inc.’s (BEN) second quarter 2011 earnings of $2.25 per share outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.00 per share. Results reflected robust growth in revenue and higher assets under management (AUM), partially offset by increased operating expenses....
18May2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(BX) Blackstone Group May Purchase Valad
According to Bloomberg, New York-based The Blackstone Group (BX) may buy-out Australian real estate firm Valad Property Group, valued at approximately $240 million (A$220 million). Valad is heavily burdened with debt after the company struggled to pay off debt as the value of...
3May2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(PFG) Principal Financial Beats Top Line Estimates
Principal Financial’s (PFG) first quarter operating earnings of 71 cents per share modestly surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by a penny. Results were ahead of 69 cents earned in the prior-year quarter. Operating earnings were $231.8 million, up by 5% from $203.9 million...
3May2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(AMP) Ameriprise Financial Earnings Beat on Higher Revenue
Ameriprise Financial Inc.’s (AMP) first quarter 2011 operating earnings of $1.35 per share beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.33. This also fared well against the prior-year quarter’s earnings of 85 cents per share. Operating results exclude after-tax market impact on...
3May2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(LM) Legg Mason Assets Under Management Rises Marginally
Baltimore-based Legg Mason Inc. (LM) experienced a slight increase in its assets under management (AUM) in March on a sequential basis. This was preceded by a modest rise in February and stable AUM in Janaury. Preliminary month-end AUM came in at $677.6 billion, up 0.7% from...
13Apr2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(PFG) Principal Financial Group Expands in Mexico
Principal Financial Group, S.A. de C.V., has agreed to acquire HSBC AFORE, S.A. de C.V. (HAFO) from Grupo Financiero HSBC, S.A. de C.V., as announced by The Principal Financial Group Inc. (PFG). HSBC Afore, SA de C.V., is the pension funds management business of Grupo Financiero...
12Apr2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(BX) Money Management Stocks Gaining Momentum – Investment Ideas
The big stock market rally of the last two years has been driven by massive capital inflows into equities. But a good portion of that volume has come on the back of large institutional players like hedge fund and pension managers that control big blocks of cash. But now, with...
1Apr2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(AMP) Stock Market News for March 10, 2011 – Market News
The second anniversary of the market’s Bull Run ended on a weak note as markets pared gains of the earlier trading day and closed marginally lower. The S&P 500 has gained 95.4% since it slid to 676.53 on March 9, 2009. However, continuing unrest in the Persian Gulf and...
10Mar2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(TROW) T. Rowe Price Group Announces Increased Dividend
T. Rowe Price Group, Inc.’s (TROW) board of directors approved a 15.0% hike in the company’s quarterly common stock dividend on Thursday. The revised quarterly dividend now stands at 31 cents per share compared with the previous amount of 27 cents. The revised dividend will...
19Feb2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(AMP) Company News for November 29, 2010 – Corporate Summary
• General Motors (NYSE:GM) announced that its underwriters exercised their greenshoe option to purchase an additional 71.7 million shares, helping the formerly bankrupt auto company notch up a record $23 billion • Quantas resumed flights of its Airbus A380 aircraft, the...
29Nov2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(BX) Stock Market News for October 28, 2010 – Market News
After swinging back and forth for much of the session, stocks closed mostly in the red Wednesday amid concerns that the Fed’s planned purchase of Treasury bonds would not be as heavy and swift as earlier anticipated. Traders are eagerly awaiting a Federal Reserve move to inject...
28Oct2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(BLK) Company News for October 11, 2010 – Corporate Summary
• Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) will unveil its Windows Phone 7 at a NY press event, initially thought to be offered on AT&T’s (NYSE:T) network • Reports say Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) is testing its driverless car • China’s CNOOC (NYSE:CEO) is undertaking its first...
12Oct2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(TROW) Congressional Budget Office Reports on Deficits, Budget
The Congressional Budget Office projects that the budget deficit will total $1.342 trillion in fiscal 2010 (which is a pretty firm projection since the year ends on September 30th). That is $71 billion less than fiscal 2009, and $27 billion lower than what it projected last...
22Aug2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(JNS) Janus Capital Group Analyst Reiterates At Neutral
We have reiterated our recommendation on Janus Capital Group Inc. (JNS) at Neutral following the company’s earnings release. Our decision is based on the company’s fundamentals and the current economic scenario. Second Quarter Performance Janus Capital’s earnings per share...
22Aug2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(BX) Blackstone Group to Acquire Dynegy
On Friday, Blackstone Group (BX) announced that it will acquire Houston-based energy company Dynegy Inc. (DYN) for $4.7 billion (including debt). Under the deal, Blackstone will pay $4.50 per share (a 62% premium on the closing price of $2.78 on August 12) in cash for about 120.6...
16Aug2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(LM) Legg Mason’s July Assets Under Management Higher
Legg Mason Inc. (LM) reported preliminary month-end assets under management (AUM) of $659.3 billion for the month of July, up 2.0% from $645.4 billion at the end of the prior month having declined marginally in June from May. The company has recorded a rise in AUM after two consecutive...
13Aug2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(JNS) Janus Capital Group’s Second Quarter 2010 Earnings Beat Estimates
Janus Capital Group Inc.’s (JNS) second quarter earnings per share came in at 17 cents, outpacing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 15 cents primarily due to higher average assets under management (AUM). This also came in significantly higher than the 10 cents reported in the...
24Jul2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued