Business Services
(V) Visa’s Earnings Shine – Raises Outlook
Visa Inc.’s (V) fiscal second-quarter (ended Mar 31, 2013) operating earnings of $1.92 per Class A common share were modestly ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.81. Additionally, the result substantially exceeded the prior-year...2May2013 | vitalstocks | Comments Off | Continued
(ICE) IntercontinentalExchange Boosts Energy Portfolio
On Friday, the operator of regulated future exchanges – IntercontinentalExchange Inc. (ICE) announced its plan to launch 35 fresh cleared derivative energy products. With the announcement of these contracts, the company will now...21Apr2013 | vitalstocks | Comments Off | Continued
(ICE) Intercontinental Exchange Shares Hits 52-Week High
On Mar 25, 2013, shares of Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (ICE) hit a 52-week high of $163.81. Previously, the company had reported fourth-quarter results with an earnings surprise of 5.1%. This securities exchange witnessed positive...18Apr2013 | vitalstocks | Comments Off | Continued
(ATHN) Athenahealth Achieves High Attestation
Leading vendor of cloud-based services for physician practices – Athenahealth (ATHN) recently revealed that 96% of its concerned providers were successful in meeting the attestation requirements of 2012 Medicare Meaningful Use...4Apr2013 | vitalstocks | Comments Off | Continued
(ATHN) Athenahealth Hits 52-Week High
Shares of Athenahealth, Inc. (ATHN) hit a new 52-week high of $99.79, before closing on Friday, Mar 18 at $97.82. The share price of this leading provider of Electronic Health Care (EHR) solutions for ambulatory care and hospital...18Mar2013 | vitalstocks | Comments Off | Continued
(V) Visa Stays at Neutral
On Mar 5, we reiterated our Neutral recommendation on Visa Inc. (V) based on its improving product portfolio and operating leverage that partly mitigate the regulatory challenges. However, higher expenses and competition raise caution. Why...13Mar2013 | vitalstocks | Comments Off | Continued
(MA) MasterCard Announces Multiple Deals
Recently, MasterCard Inc. (MA) announced a number of partnerships and product launches. The transactions are aimed at expanding the operations of the company and enhance client base. First, MasterCard announced a strategic alliance...4Mar2013 | Shawn | Comments Off | Continued
(MA) MasterCard Outperforms in 2012
MasterCard Inc.’s (MA) fourth-quarter 2012 operating earnings per share of $4.86 modestly beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.79 and the year-ago quarter’s earnings of $4.03, primarily based on low share count. Net income...11Feb2013 | Shawn | Comments Off | Continued
(UNF) UniFirst Corporation – Momentum
UniFirst Corporation (UNF) reported robust fiscal first-quarter results on January 3, which included an enhanced guidance for fiscal 2013 that led all earnings estimates higher. Furthermore, shares of this uniforms supplier reached a 52-week...23Jan2013 | Shawn | Comments Off | Continued
(HCSG) Healthcare Services Group – Growth & Income
Healthcare Services Group Inc. (HCSG) has paid a cash dividend for 38 consecutive quarters, including an uninterrupted dividend increase over the last 37 quarters. Currently, this business service provider for the healthcare industry has a...16Jan2013 | Shawn | Comments Off | Continued
(UNF) UniFirst Corporation – Momentum
UniFirst Corporation (UNF) reported robust fiscal first-quarter results on January 3, which included an enhanced guidance for fiscal 2013 that led all earnings estimates higher. Furthermore, shares of this uniforms supplier reached a 52-week...16Jan2013 | Shawn | Comments Off | Continued
(MGI) MoneyGram Partners with WordPay
Recently, MoneyGram Inc. (MGI) announced a strategic alliance with WordPay to expand its direct-to-account money transfer service internationally. According to the agreement, MoneyGram’s payout interfaces will be managed by WordPay,...15Jan2013 | Shawn | Comments Off | Continued
(EEFT) Euronet Worldwide Division epay Allies with WorldPay
In an effort to benefit retailers, epay, a Division of Euronet Worldwide, Inc. (EEFT) has entered into a partnership with Europe’s WorldPay. Operating in over 40 countries, WorldPay a provider of merchant accounts offers payment...15Jan2013 | Shawn | Comments Off | Continued
(CTAS) Cintas Extends Europe Footprint
Cintas Corporation (CTAS) recently extended its operations in Europe by forging a new commercial partnership with The CALVELEX GROUP, a Portugal-based clothes manufacturing company. With this strategic tie-up, Cintas will likely expand...15Jan2013 | Shawn | Comments Off | Continued
(IRM) Iron Mountain – Bear of the Day
Iron Mountain (IRM) reported a dismal third quarter negatively impacted by lower-than-expected organic growth in the core services coupled with contraction in activity-based service revenue and decline in recycled paper prices. The company provided...2Jan2013 | Shawn | Comments Off | Continued
(ICE) IntercontinentalExchange Quotes $8.2B for NYSE Buyout
Yesterday, IntercontinentalExchange Inc. (ICE) announced its intention to buy the largest stock exchange based on listings – NYSE Euronext Inc. (NYX) for $8.2 billion....24Dec2012 | Shawn | Comments Off | Continued
(CHMP) Isis Pharmaceuticals’ Kynamro Earns Negative Report From European Medicines Agency
The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) recently did not recommend the approval of Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc. (ISIS) and partner Genzyme’s, a Sanofi (SNY)...19Dec2012 | Shawn | Comments Off | Continued
(V) Visa Hikes Dividend by 50%
Earlier this week, Visa Inc. (V) announced a 50% hike in its quarterly dividend to the holders of its class A, B and C equity shares. Consequently, the company will pay a quarterly dividend of 33 cents per share, up from 22 cents paid...11Nov2012 | vitalstocks | Comments Off | Continued
(APEI) American Public Education Upgraded to Outperform
We recently upgraded our recommendation on American Public Education, Inc. (APEI) following solid top and bottom-line results in the second quarter that surpassed both management as well as the Zacks Consensus Estimates. American...3Nov2012 | vitalstocks | Comments Off | Continued
(MA) MasterCard Partners NTT DOCOMO
MasterCard Incorporated (MA) announced a partnership with NTT DOCOMO, Inc. (DCM) to expand their contactless payment services to new markets. Per the deal, users of...23Oct2012 | vitalstocks | Comments Off | Continued
(ATHN) Athenahealth Reports Mixed Third Quarter – Profit Up
Leading vendor of cloud-based services for physician practices Athenahealth (ATHN) reported third quarter 2012 adjusted (excluding one-time items other than stock-based compensation expense) earnings per share of 18 cents. It beat...20Oct2012 | vitalstocks | Comments Off | Continued
(MA) MasterCard Strengthens mCommerce
In an attempt to ramp up mobile commerce (mCommerce), MasterCard Inc. (MA) unveiled the Mobile MasterCard PayPass User Interface Software Development Kits (SDKs). This new SDK provides a complete next generation digital range of authorization...9Oct2012 | vitalstocks | Comments Off | Continued
(EEFT) Euronet Worldwide Expands to Spain and Italy
Yesterday, Euronet Worldwide Inc. (EEFT) announced the expansion of its portfolio of Independent ATM Deployed (IAD) networks to Spain and Italy. This has further cemented the company’s position as the fastest-growing Independent...9Oct2012 | vitalstocks | Comments Off | Continued
(LPS) Lender Processing Services Prices Senior Notes
Recently, Lender Processing Services, Inc. (LPS) declared the price of its senior notes offering with a principal amount of $600 million. Due in 2023, the senior notes carry an interest rate of 5.75% and will be paid semi-annually. The...8Oct2012 | vitalstocks | Comments Off | Continued
(TSS) Total System Service Brings NFC Solution to North America
As a part of its “connected mobility” project announced earlier this year, Total System Service Inc. (TSS) declared that it will launch its near-field communication (NFC) technology in North America. Canadian Imperial Bank...5Oct2012 | vitalstocks | Comments Off | Continued
(TSS) Total System Services Remains Neutral
We are reiterating our Neutral recommendation on Total System Services Inc. (TSS) based on the current sustainability factor. Although the company has been witnessing improvement in gaining significant contracts over the past few quarters,...5Oct2012 | vitalstocks | Comments Off | Continued
(ATHN) Athenahealth to Take Over Healthcare Data
Leading vendor of cloud-based services for physician practices and inpatient facilities Athenahealth (ATHN) recently reported it had inked a definitive agreement to take over Healthcare Data Services (HDS). The deal is expected to...23Sep2012 | vitalstocks | Comments Off | Continued
(PRAA) Portfolio Recovery Incorporated – Bull of the Day
We are upgrading our recommendation on Portfolio Recovery, Inc. (PRAA) to Outperform from Neutral based on its strong cash collections and strategic acquisitions. The company’s second quarter earnings surpassed the Zacks Consensus...31Aug2012 | vitalstocks | Comments Off | Continued
(MA) MasterCard Inks 5-Year Deal in UK
Yesterday, MasterCard Inc. (MA) announced a five-year strategic alliance with the UK’s most dominant communications company, Everything Everywhere. The card processing giant took this step in order to expand its digital payment platform...30Aug2012 | vitalstocks | Comments Off | Continued
(V) Visa Ensures Higher Data Security
Recently, card processing giant Visa Inc. (V) unveiled an upgraded data security service – Visa Merchant Data Secure. This security service will be knotted with point-to-point encryption (P2PE) technology. Visa Merchant Data...27Aug2012 | vitalstocks | Comments Off | Continued