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7 Stocks To Watch For Monday

Here are 7 stocks for traders for Monday from TradingMarkets.com:
Neopharm Inc's (NASDAQ:NEOL - News) Chairman John Kapoor bought 20,000 shares at $4.86.
(Note: the rest of the stocks on this list all fell substantially this past week, and going long here entails a good deal of risk. Further, any bounce could be short-lived)
Presstek (NASDAQ:PRST - News) fell sharply and may bounce.
Merix (NASDAQ:MERX - News) also fell sharply and may have a reaction bounce. MERX's PowerRating is 6.
Novatel (NASDAQ:NVTL - News) gapped down on Thursday and may possibly bounce. NVTL's PowerRating is 5.
Himax Technologies (NASDAQ:HIMX - News) fell six straight days and could reverse.
Chiquita (NYSE:CQB - News) saw a sharp drop on Monday and may possibly move back up. CQB's PowerRating is 6.
Volcano Corporation (NASDAQ:VOLC - News) fell six straight days and could reverse.
-Brice Wightman

7 Options To Watch For Monday

Here are 7 options for option traders for Monday from TradingMarkets.com:
Human Genome Science (NASDAQ:HGSI - News) October 12 1/2 calls were active. The stock closed at 11.54 and the October 12 1/2 calls (HQI JV) closed at 0.35. HGSI's PowerRating is 5.
Affymetrix (NASDAQ:AFFX - News) October 22 1/2 calls were active. The stock closed at 21.56 and the October 22 1/2 calls (FIW JX) closed at 0.80. AFFX's PowerRating is 4.
Cubist Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:CBST - News) October 20 calls were active. The stock closed at 21.70 and the October 20 calls (UTU JD) closed at 2.00. CBST's PowerRating is 7.
Vishay (NYSE:VSH - News) November 15 puts were active. The stock closed at 14.04 and the November 15 puts (VSH WC) closed at 1.35. VSH's PowerRating is 4.
Monster Worldwide (NASDAQ:MNST - News) had exceptional put/call volume ratio. The stock closed at 36.19 and the October 40 puts (BSQ VHF) closed at 4.10. MNST's PowerRating is 5.
Lexmark (NYSE:LXK - News) also had exceptional put/call volume ratio. The stock closed at 57.66 and the October 60 puts (LXK VL) closed at 2.90. LXK's PowerRating is 6.
Corinthian Colleges (NASDAQ:COCO - News) broke to the downside. The stock closed at 10.81 and the October 10 puts (UCS VB) closed at 0.15. COCO's PowerRating is 4.
Becton Dickinson (NYSE:BDX - News) broke to the upside. The stock closed at 70.67 and the October 70 calls (BDX JN) closed at 10.00. BDX's PowerRating is 5.
-Brice Wightman

Statoil (STO) Cuts Production

Statoil (NYSE:STO - News) cut production estimates for 2006 and 2007, blaming complex technical challenges in projects with demanding reservoirs that have lead to postponements which have a negative effect on production estimates. Output in 2006 is expected to be about 3% lower than the earlier prognosis, at 1.14 million barrels of oil a day. Production in 2007 is seen rising to 1.3 million barrels of oil a day, which also is below 3% earlier forecasts.

Presstek (PRST) Shares Slump

Presstek (NASDAQ:PRST - News) shares slumped after the company lowered its financial outlook for the third quarter, citing softness in its analog business, delays in the timing of certain digital equipment transactions, the stoppage of sales its Vector CTP product due to manufacturing issues, and weak DI plate sales due to major original equipment manufacturing partners lowering their inventories. The Hudson, N.H., maker of high tech digital imaging systems now sees revenue of between $65 million and $66 million for the quarter and a loss of about 2 cents a share. Its previous view was for revenue in the third quarter to be sequentially flat with its second-quarter total of $74.2 million.
Source: Marketwatch

Labopharm Inc. (DDSS) Stock Falls

Labopharm Inc. (NASDAQ:DDSS - News) shares fall after the company said it's received an approvable letter from the Food and Drug Administration related to its once-daily formulation of tramadol that says the application is approvable subject to the resolution of certain undisclosed issues. The Canadian company said it plans to discuss the letter with the FDA as soon as possible, and it believes it can address the issues without the need for additional data.

First Horizon National Corp. (FHN) Makes Changes

First Horizon National Corp. (NYSE:FHN - News) said Chief Financial Officer Marty Mosby plans to transition from the role into a new position at one of the company's three main business segments. The company plans to engage a national recruiting firm to search for a replacement for Mosby, who will continue as CFO until year-end filings have been completed and a successor is in place.

Electro Scientific Industries Inc. (ESIO) Reports Negative Earnings

Electro Scientific Industries Inc. (NASDAQ:ESIO - News) reported first-quarter net profit of $6.8 million, or 23 cents a share, compared with $1.34 million, or 5 cents a share, in the same period last year, boosted by strong sales and a $1.3 million insurance recovery that reduced expenses. The Portland, Ore.-based provider of manufacturing systems to the electronics market said this year's results include $600,000 in stock-based compensation expense. Analysts polled by Thomson First Call had expected per-share earnings of 19 cents. Revenue rose 35% to $60.2 million from $44.5 million. Analysts had forecast revenue of $59 million. The company expects second-quarter shipments of $55 million to $60 million, with revenue of $50 million to $65 million. Electro Scientific sees a gross margin percentage of 45% for the same period.
Source: Marketwatch

Corinthian Colleges Inc. (COCO) Stock Falls

Corinthian Colleges Inc. (NASDAQ:COCO - News) reported fourth-quarter earnings of $9.1 million, or 10 cents a share, up from a year-ago profit of $1.8 million, or 2 cents a share. Excluding a charge of $4.2 million related to asset impairment, facility closing and severance expenses, the Santa Ana, Calif.-based Corinthian earned $11.7 million in the latest quarter. On a per share basis, excluding the charge and stock-based compensation expenses, the company earned 15 cents a share in the fourth quarter. Revenue slipped in the three months ended June 30 to $235.6 million from $239.3 million in the same period a year earlier. The average estimate of analysts polled by Thomson First Call was for a profit of 13 cents a share in the June period on revenue of $242.2 million. Corinthian said its total student population was 64,544 for the quarter, down slightly from 66,114 a year ago. Looking ahead, the company forecast earnings of 3 cents a share for the first quarter, including 3 cents a share in incremental spending on new enrollment process initiatives. For fiscal 2007, it forecast earnings of 50 to 55 cents a share. Wall Street's current consensus estimates are for earnings of 63 cents a share for the year ending in June 2007.
Source: Marketwatch

Corcept Therapeutics Inc (CORT) Discloses Negative Results

Corcept Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:CORT - News) disclosed negative results for the second of three planned phase III studies of Corlux, its proposed treatment for the psychotic features of psychotic major depression. The company said the study, whose primary endpoint was the proportion of patients with at least 50% improvement in the brief psychiatric rating scale positive symptom subscale at both day 7 and day 28, showed no meaningful separation in response between patients receiving Corlux and those receiving the placebo. Corcept said it now has one phase III study in progress that it continues to enroll patients in. It expects the results of the trial early next year. Corcept said its available cash and marketable securities stood at $17.5 million as of June 30, and it expects these funds will enable it to complete and announce the results of the remaining study.
Source: Marketwatch

American Vanguard (AVD) Stock Falls

American Vanguard (NYSE:AVD - News) said it expects 2006 net income to come in 8% to 15% lower than its 2005 profit of $19 million despite a year-over-year increase in sales of 4% to 7%. The Newport Beach, Calif., agricultural products company said increased operating expenses, primarily from energy and transportation costs, more than offset the sale increase.

Ryanair Holdings (RYAAY) Issues Guidance

Ryanair Holdings (NASDAQ:RYAAY - News) lifted its profit guidance for the fiscal year, now seeing growth of 11% from a previous view of growth between 5% to 10%. Though it's still "cautious on the winter," passenger growth should be at 22%, vs. an earlier prediction of 20%. It also expects fares to fall by 5%, at the low end of the down 5% to 10% range it previously forecast. The company also ordered 32 additional 737-800s from Boeing.

Research In Motion (RIMM) Stock Option Probe

Research In Motion (NASDAQ:RIMM - News) said an internal probe of its employee stock-option accounting may cause it to restate financial results, but its stock surged in late trading after the company issued strong quarterly results and a bullish forecast.

Novelis (NVL) Stock Gains Ground

Novelis (NYSE:NVL - News) shares gained after the company said it's on track to file its Form 10-Q for the second quarter by Oct. 20 as it set financial targets for a 2006 pre-tax loss of $240 million to $285 million and 2007 earnings before taxes of $35 million to $100 million. "We believe that we are nearing the end of a difficult transition period," the Atlanta-based aluminum company said.

Global Payments Inc. (GPN) Earnings Rise

Global Payments Inc. (NYSE:GPN - News) said that its first-quarter net income rose to $41.5 million, or 51 cents a share, from $30.7 million, or 38 cents a share, a year ago. Adjusted earnings rose 38% to 54 cents, above a 43 cent analyst estimate compiled by Thomson First Call. Sales rose 16% to $260.3 million. The results were primarily due to strong revenue and operating margin growth in the company's merchant services segment. The company also raised its fiscal 2007 diluted earnings per share view to a range of $1.79 to $1.85 a share.

Biolase Technology (BLTI) Addresses Concerns

Biolase Technology (NASDAQ:BLTI - News) was informed by the Food and Drug Administration that the company adequately addressed the concerns outlined in the FDA's previous warning letter. The Irvine, Calif. maker of lasers used in dentistry and medicine had received a letter from the FDA earlier in the month following an inspection of its Irvine facility, warning that certain aspects of the manufacturing, packing, storage or installation of its devices were not in conformance with the FDA's good manufacturing practice requirements. The company said it now believes the issues are fully resolved.

AZZ Inc. (AZZ) Reports Earnings

AZZ Inc. (NYSE:AZZ - News) reported second-quarter earnings of $5.3 million, or 90 cents a share, up from a year-ago profit of $1.4 million, or 24 cents a share. Revenue at the Fort Worth, Texas-based maker of electrical products leapt 31% to $62.9 million from $47.8 million in the same period a year earlier. The company, which also provides galvanizing services, also increased its outlook for fiscal 2006 to earnings of $2.65 to $2.75 a share on revenue of between $240 million and $250 million.

AVI Biopharma Inc. (AVII) Shares Gain Ground

AVI Biopharma Inc. (NASDAQ:AVII - News) shares gained after the company disclosed positive preclinical data related to the use of its Neugene antisense compounds against influenza A and E. coli infection.

Alpharma Inc. (ALO) Reports Positive Results

Alpharma Inc. (NYSE:ALO - News) reported positive results from its Phase II multi-dose clinical efficacy and pharmacokinetic trial for its abuse-deterrent extended-release opioid. The product allows patients to take pain killers without the possibility of abuse.

Acorda Therapeutics (ACOR) Stock Upgraded

Acorda Therapeutics (NASDAQ:ACOR - News) was upgraded to outperform from market perform at Piper Jaffray. The firm also lifted its price target on the stock to $14 from $6.50, citing physician consultants' consensus opinion that Fampridine-SR offers modest but broad clinical benefit.

Accenture Ltd. (ACN) Reports Profit Jump

Accenture Ltd. (NYSE:ACN - News) reported a 51% jump in fiscal fourth-quarter net income late Thursday as the consulting and outsourcing specialist transferred a large but troubled contract to a rival.

Sony Inc. (SNE) Urges For a Recall

Sony urged a dozen laptop computer makers around the world to recall more of its defective batteries Friday, the latest headache for the electronics company struggling to regain its luster as the world's premier electronics brand.

Delta Air Lines Inc. (DALRQ.PK) Reports Loss

Delta Air Lines Inc., which is operating under bankruptcy protection, reported Friday that it lost $11 million in August. The Atlanta-based company, which is the nation's third-largest airline, said the net loss in the 31-day period was equivalent to 6 cents per share.
It was a $147 million improvement from the net loss of $158 million in August 2005, Delta said.
Source: AP

Research In Motion (RIMM) Gets Upgraded, Stock Soars

Shares of BlackBerry maker Research In Motion Ltd. (RIMM), hit a 52-week high on Friday as analysts upgraded the stock after the company posted strong second-quarter results and forecast more of the same. RIMM reported results on Thursday evening. Not only did its performance beat its own forecasts and analyst expectations, but the company forecast third-quarter results that analysts variously described as "huge," "spectacular" or "phenomenal." Spurred by strong initial sales of its new, consumer-aimed BlackBerry Pearl device, RIMM predicted that during the third quarter it should be able to add another 800,000 subscribers to its current 6.2 million. This stock has gained huge momentum and is financially set to explode. Get into this stock while it is still afordable. This is an incredible money making opportunity.

AT&T Inc. (T) Declares Divdend

The board of directors of AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T - News) today declared a quarterly dividend of $0.3325 a share on the company's common shares. The third-quarter dividend is payable on Nov. 1, 2006, to stockholders of record at the close of business on Oct. 10, 2006.

Amgen Inc. (AMGN) Buys Avidia

Amgen Inc. said Friday it will buy Avidia, a Mountain View drug company with a drug candidate for autoimmune disease in Phase I trials, for $290 million in cash.
Thousand Oaks-based Amgen (NASDAQ: AMGN - News) has facilities in both Fremont and South San Francisco. It has about 370 workers in Fremont and about 600 in South San Francisco.
The boards of both companies have approved the deal, which should close in the fourth quarter of 2006. Avidia will be a wholly owned subsidiary of Amgen.

Published September 29, 2006 by San Francisco Business Times
Source: BizJournals.com

Stocks Edge Lower

U.S. stocks edged lower on Friday after a four-day rally as investors were weary of placing bets as the Dow traded near a record high and Wall Street headed for its best third quarter in nine years.
Top gainers this week, such as Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT - News) and Altria Group (NYSE:MO - News) were among Friday's biggest decliners. That offset gains in shares of technology companies, such as Research In Motion Ltd. (NASDAQ:RIMM - News; TSX:RIM.TO - News) and Hewlett-Packard Co. (NYSE:HPQ - News)
Source: Reuters

Bare Escentuals (BARE) Stock Soars On Debut

Shares of cosmetics maker Bare Escentuals Inc. (BARE.O: Quote, Profile, Research) rose 32 percent in its market debut on Friday, a day after pricing above a forecast range.
The shares opened up 27 percent at $28 before rising as high as $29.10. Shares retreated to $28.00 in late morning trading on the Nasdaq.
The 16 million share offering raised $352 million Thursday, after pricing shares at $22 compared with a $15 to $17 forecast range.
The offering price gave the company an initial market capitalization of $1.9 billion.
Source: Reuters

Salesforce.com (CRM) Stock Downgraded

An analyst on Friday downgraded Salesforce.com, which hosts Web sites that manage customer information for businesses, saying that the company will see stronger competition in the long-term.
Friedman, Billings, Ramsey & Co. analyst David M. Hilal downgraded the shares to "Underperform" from "Market Perform," acknowledging that the San Francisco-based company saw a strong second-quarter, but said strong subscriber growth seen in the quarter is not sustainable.
Source: AP

7 Hot Stocks Today

Here are 7 stocks for traders for Friday from TradingMarkets.com:
Research in Motion (NASDAQ:RIMM - News) beat by $0.03. Both Credit Suisse and Piper Jaffray raised their price targets on the stock. ThinkEquity upgraded the stock to Accumulate from Sell. RIMM's PowerRating is 7.
Corel (NASDAQ:CREL - News) beat by $0.05 and guided higher for fiscal 2006.
Hartmarx (NYSE:HMX - News) missed by $0.13, excluding items and guided lower for Q4.
Tibco (NASDAQ:TIBX - News) beat by a penny; revenues were a little lighter than expected. TIBX's PowerRating is 5.
AZZ Inc. (NYSE:AZZ - News) beat by $0.50.
ElectroScientific (NASDAQ:ESIO - News) reported $0.23; revenue rose 35% year over year. The company guided lower for Q2. ESIOO's PowerRating is 4.
Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT - News) raised its quarterly dividend by $0.05 to $0.35 and increased its stock buyback by 20 million shares. LMT's PowerRating is 5.
-Brice Wightman

Jim Cramer Blog

Saturday, September 30, 2006