Continue reading Before the bell: Stocks futures steady ahead of GDP, housing data

Before the bell: Stocks futures steady ahead of GDP, housing data originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 07:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Google's plan for netbook PCs moves higher into the clouds

Google's plan for netbook PCs moves higher into the clouds originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading TJX: Back up the truck

TJX: Back up the truck originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Dell being left behind as PC market re-energizes itself?

Dell being left behind as PC market re-energizes itself? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

H.J. Heinz Co. (HNZ), one of the world's largest food companies, is scheduled to discuss its fiscal second-quarter 2010 financial results in a conference call Tuesday, November 24, at 8:30 AM ET, hosted by CEO William R. Johnson. You can see the accompanying slides on the company's website.

During the three months that ended in October, Heinz partnered with the World Food Program and also declared a quarterly dividend. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters expect the Pittsburgh-based company to report that earnings for the period fell 19.5% from a year ago to $0.70 per share. But revenue for the quarter is expected to total $2.6 billion, about the same as last year.

Continue reading Heinz earnings preview: Lower Q2 profit expected

Heinz earnings preview: Lower Q2 profit expected originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Is dollar destined to dive in 2010?

Is dollar destined to dive in 2010? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Closing Bell: Stock bulls and dollar death (DDRX,GMCR, PEET, SBUX, EBAY, CI, TECD)

Closing Bell: Stock bulls and dollar death (DDRX,GMCR, PEET, SBUX, EBAY, CI, TECD) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Unlike France, the United States did not build nearly enough nuclear power plants in the last two decades of the 20th century to accommodate its power needs, and it will spend the next two decades playing catch-up, which is why I'm reiterating my buy rating for Entergy Corp. (ETR), first recommended on May 12, 2009, at a price of $74.31.

Entergy, the second largest nuclear power generator in the U.S. (30,000 megawatts) will be a part of that mix, with its regulated utilities likely to register average earnings per share growth of 5% to 7% over the next three years. Meanwhile, the planned spin-off of its non-utility-regulated nuclear business, called Enexus, holds the promise of even stronger revenue and earnings growth. The First Call FY2009/FY2010 EPS estimates for ETR are $6.37 to $6.70.

Continue reading Entergy: Pull-back is buy opportunity

Entergy: Pull-back is buy opportunity originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading So long peak oil, here comes peak uranium

So long peak oil, here comes peak uranium originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Medtronic Inc. (MDT), a leading maker of implantable biomedical devices, is scheduled to release its fiscal second-quarter financial results Tuesday, November 24, before the market open, and then to discuss those results in a webcast at 8:00 AM ET. You can catch the live webcast at the company's website.

During the three months that ended in October, Medtronic was once again named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, settled a patent lawsuit, and announced management changes. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters expect this Minneapolis-based company to report that earnings for the period rose 9.5% from a year ago to $0.74 per share. And revenue for the quarter is expected to be 5.0% higher to $3.8 billion.

Continue reading Medtronic earnings preview: Strong Q2 predicted

Medtronic earnings preview: Strong Q2 predicted originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

So remember when a bunch of banks got into trouble because they were overly-reliant on short-term debt and when they couldn't refinance it quickly, they had to either file for bankruptcy protection or get bailed out?

The Wall Street Journal reports (subscription required) that "Moody's Investors Service research shows that the average maturity of U.S. banks' wholesale debt has fallen to 3.8 years, from 5.8 years in 2006 and 7.8 years in 2002. These banks face $2 trillion of wholesale debt maturities through 2015, but about three-quarters of this amount comes due by the end of 2012."

Continue reading Banks load up on short-term debt -- what?

Banks load up on short-term debt -- what? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Ciena scoops up Nortel's Ethernet biz

Ciena scoops up Nortel's Ethernet biz originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Nike is in an uptrend

Nike is in an uptrend originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Valeant Pharma (VRX) falls on bearish Barron's coverage

Valeant Pharma (VRX) falls on bearish Barron's coverage originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The march toward year end continues as three more stocks are reviewed in a search for the eventual 2010 stock picks. This year there will be nine stocks with a new wrinkle, I will add one naked put.

These options have contributed to a mind-boggling return on my 2009 portfolio, exceeding 200% to date. This has been a very unusual year, and I bet against the rampant fear in the market. I will not pretend for a moment that this is repeatable. What I will do is share my opinions and investing adventure, hoping to stimulate investor interest and dialog.

Continue reading Chasing Value: Ten stocks for 2010 -- Part 5

Chasing Value: Ten stocks for 2010 -- Part 5 originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Just about a year ago, the shares of Diedrich Coffee (DDRX) were trading around 30 cents. Since then, it's been an incredible ride as the shares have reached $33.

Over the past month, Diedrich Coffee has actually been the target of a heated buyout battle from Peet's Coffee & Tea (PEET) and Green Mountain Coffee Roaster (GMCR). In fact, Monday Peet's upped its bid to $32 or $265 million. Investors think the bidding is not over, though.

Continue reading Buyout battle for Diedrich Coffee heats up

Buyout battle for Diedrich Coffee heats up originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Retailers expect a strong turnout on Black Friday this year, but they are careful to explain that it doesn't guarantee a winning holiday shopping season.

Consumers are being lured by good deals and special promotions, and Black Friday specials have been leaked earlier than usual this year in the hopes of generating some buzz. The retail sector needs it. Last year's holiday season was the worst in decades, thanks to the financial crisis. This year, the survivors will benefit from fewer competitors chasing the same consumer dollars.

Continue reading Black Friday expected to be strong, no promises for Christmas

Black Friday expected to be strong, no promises for Christmas originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst upgrades:

• Jefferies upgraded Starbucks (SBUX) to buy from hold, citing EPS and revenue momentum heading into 2010. The firm raised its target to $25 from $22.
• Soleil upgraded Zions Bancorp (ZION) to buy from hold on valuation as it believes the recent pullback provides an attractive entry point. The firm has a $17.50 price target on shares.
• RBC Capital expects Rigel Pharmaceuticals (RIGL) to sign a partnership for R788 in the next four months to run its global Phase III program. Shares were upgraded to outperform from sector perform and its target was raised to $11 from $9.
• Deere (DE) was upgraded to overweight from equal weight at Morgan Stanley.
• Shire (SHPGY) was raised to outperform from market perform at Bernstein.
• Ann Taylor (ANN) was upgraded to overweight from market weight at Thomas Weisel.
• J.M. Smucker (SJM) was upgraded to overweight from neutral at JPMorgan.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: ANN, AXP, CIEN, DE, RA, SBUX, ZION ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: ANN, AXP, CIEN, DE, RA, SBUX, ZION ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Declining soup sales couldn't stem the tide of Campbell Soup's (CPB) earnings. The world's largest soup maker saw first-quarter earnings increase 17%, although soup sales dropped 3%.

The sultan of soup reported first-quarter earnings of 87 cents per share, six cents better than the consensus estimate. The strong results were attributed to lower costs and expenses. Unfortunately for Campbell, revenue did not meet expectations, totaling $2.2 billion when the Street expected $2.28 billion.

Continue reading Campbell Soup stirs up solid first-quarter earnings

Campbell Soup stirs up solid first-quarter earnings originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

A report in The New York Post suggests that Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase (JPM), could be the logical replacement for current U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner. The paper's sources indicate that "a number of policy makers have begun mentioning Dimon as a successor to Geithner, whose standing in Washington has suffered because of the country's high unemployment rate, the weakness of the dollar, the slow pace of the recovery and the government's mounting deficit."

Meanwhile, reports the Post, Dimon has emerged as one of the heroes of the financial crisis, "having navigated JPMorgan through the recession and being a go-to guy when Uncle Sam last year needed Wall Street's help during the collapses of Bear Stearns and Washington Mutual."

Continue reading Will JPMorgan chief Jamie Dimon be our next Treasury Secretary?

Will JPMorgan chief Jamie Dimon be our next Treasury Secretary? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.