Jim Cramer Blog

New Rule #1 : There's a market for everything; pay attention to how it works, Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), Andersons (ANDE) and VeraSun (VSE)
Cramer reiterated his recommendation that investors read his first book: Jim Cramer's Real Money: Sane Investing in an Insane World, in addition to his newest publication, Jim Cramer's Mad Money: Watch TV Get Rich, which contains 20 brand new investment rules, 5 of which he described on Tuesday's show. His first new rule requires that investors be aware of how stocks trade and that there are many sub-markets within the market. When faced with a trendy stock, it is more important to pay attention to supply and demand than media hype. For instance, late in 2005 when demand for ethanol stocks was high and supply was low, it was possible to make truckloads of money with ADM and ANDE. However, when VeraSun went public in June 2006, Cramer declared that the ethanol story was over, since the supply of ethanol exceeded demand. If you'd just been paying attention to the fundamentals, or to the hype about ethanol in the media, you would've been caught totally off-guard by the downturn in ethanol, Cramer said.
New Rule #2: Make sure your stocks actually fit the bill, Microsoft (MSFT) and Cisco (CSCO)
In addition to doing homework, Cramer warned, Don't be bamboozled by what sector your stock belongs to. Instead, know precisely what you own and why you own it. Cramer cautions viewers not to confuse a rally in an entire sector with a rally within the sector. Broad sector rallies are not too difficult to spot or predict. For instance, when the Fed cuts interest rates, rallies are prevalent among cyclicals, and when the economy is perceived as being weak, consumer staples rally. However, most rallies don't work that way, Cramer said. For instance, when there were stories about a tech rally in June 2005, Cramer chose MSFT and CSCO as names that represented tech, when the upsurge was actually a gadget rally, and did not affect these stocks. Cramer suggests looking at industries within sectors.
New Rule #3: Latin America is Always a Trade, BanColombia (CIB)
Cramer envisions that one day this rule may be revoked, but not in the near future, because every time there is an amazing, long-term growth story in Latin America, it will wind up being a trade. This has nothing to do with the fundamentals of the companies, but is the result of huge market-moving investment firms which have the conviction that Latin America is always a trade, and the stocks get hammered as soon as they move on. Cramer admitted that he made this mistake by thinking that CIB was an investment when it was actually a trade.
New Rule #4: Be a Lemming.
Although he confessed that, at first, this rule may sound stupid and terrible, it actually makes sense to go with the big institutions and the movement of the market if the investor has done sufficient homework. This doesn't mean to ride momentum blindly, but it is true that stocks which hit a 52-week high often keep increasing. This isn't about being a unique and individual snowflake. It's about trying to make money, Cramer said.
New Rule #5: Don't be afraid to say something is too hard.
Some things are just too difficult to game, even after doing lot of homework. Cramer confesses that his rough spot is predicting restaurant same-store sales growth; There are too many better, easier ways to make money in the market, he said. Restaurant CEOs have a hard time predicting their own same-store sales, and the weirdest, most unexpected factors can cause worse-than-expected results. Since there is always a bull market somewhere, Cramer doesn't see the point in knocking one's head against the wall with something that is too hard.
Published By SeekingAlpha

Labels: ADM, ANDE, CIB, CSCO, Jim Cramer, Mad Money, MSFT, VSE

Here are 7 stocks for traders for Friday from TradingMarkets.com:
McAfee (NYSE:MFE - News) beat earnings on Thursday after the market closed, announcing $0.36 EPS over an expected $0.34 EPS. MFE's PowerRating is 6.
Andersons (NasdaqGS:ANDE - News) beat earnings on Thursday after the close, with $0.76 EPS over a consensus of $0.64 EPS. ANDE's PowerRating is 4.
AGCO Corporation (NYSE:AG - News) announces earnings on Friday before the market opens, with analysts expecting $0.32 EPS. AG's PowerRating is 3.
Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE:ALU - News) reports quarterly earnings Friday morning; watch for $0.22 EPS. ALU's PowerRating is 4.
Coventry Health Care (NYSE:CVH - News) is looking to announce $0.97 EPS on Friday before the market opens. CVH's PowerRating is 4.
When MasterCard (NYSE:MA - News) announces earnings Friday morning, look for $0.12 EPS. MA does not have a PowerRating because the stock has not traded for 200 days yet.
Analysts are watching for Weyerhauser (NYSE:WY - News) to report $0.75 EPS on Friday before the market opens. WY's PowerRating is 4.
PowerRatings are courtesy of PowerRatings.net

Labels: AG, ALU, ANDE, CVH, Hot Stocks, MA, MFE, WY

Acco Brands (NYSE:ABD - News) reported a fourth-quarter loss of $800,000, or a penny per share, down from a year-ago profit of $26.2 million, or 48 cents a share. The latest results include restructuring and non-recurring after-tax costs of about $20.9 million, or 39 cents a share. On an adjusted basis, excluding items, the company earned $27.3 million, or 50 cents a share, in the latest quarter. Sales edged 1% higher in the latest three months to $520.6 million from $513 million a year earlier. The average estimate of analysts polled by Thomson First Call was for a profit of 46 cents a share in the December period. Looking ahead, the Lincolnshire, Ill., office products seller said it expects to generate EBITDA of between $230 million and $240 million for 2007.
The Andersons Inc. (NasdaqGS:ANDE - News) said it expects to "slightly exceed" its previous 2006 earnings forecast of $1.90 to $2.10 a share. The Andersons is based in Maumee, Ohio.
Apollo Group (NasdaqGS:APOL - News) said that its first-quarter net income dropped to $115.6 million, or 66 cents a share, from $130.8 million, or 73 cents a share, a year ago following higher costs. Analysts had been expecting the education program provider to post earnings of 62 cents a share, according to data compiled by Thomson Financial. Revenue rose by 6.3% to $668.2 million. The company said that it's expecting accounting changes to have a material adverse impact on previously reported results. Apollo said that it's preparing to restate its financial statements and said that this situation could also affect the latest set of financial statements and information.
Aspen Technology (NasdaqGM:AZPN - News) shares gained after the Cambridge, Mass.-based software provider late Tuesday reported fiscal second-quarter revenue of $96.4 million, up 26% from last year. Aspen said income from operations came in at $25.8 million in the quarter. The company also said it expects to restate its previously issued financial statements for fiscal 2004 through 2006 and the first quarter of fiscal 2007, relating primarily to non-cash adjustments in its reported non-operating income.
Brightpoint Inc. (NasdaqGS:CELL - News) said fourth-quarter net income rose, as wireless devices handled gained, to $9.74 million, or 19 cents a share, from $8.85 million, or 18 cents a share, during the same period in the prior year.
British Airways (NYSE:BAB - News) was upgraded to buy from neutral at Merrill Lynch.
Brooks Automation (NasdaqGM:BRKS - News) swung to a fiscal first-quarter profit of $22.1 million, or 30 cents a share, from a year-earlier loss of $11.7 million, or 18 cents a share, on higher revenue from core hardware business along with acquisitions. The company had expected GAAP earnings of 24 cents to 28 cents a share in the first quarter. Excluding certain items, non-GAAP earnings in the most recent quarter were 35 cents a share. The Chelmsford, Mass., automation products provider's revenue for the first quarter ended Dec. 31 rose 76% to $191.4 million from $108.5 million a year ago. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial expected, on average, quarterly revenue of $187 million. Meanwhile, the company had forecast first-quarter revenue of $185 million to $190 million. Brooks expects second-quarter GAAP earnings of 25 cents to 30 cents a share, including 5 cents a share of charges, and revenue of $185 million to $190 million.
Cisco (NasdaqGS:CSCO - News) reported that quarterly profit surged 40%, boosted by its acquisition of Scientific-Atlanta and surging demand for Internet equipment among telecom companies and small businesses.
Consolidated Graphics (NYSE:CGX - News) said fiscal third-quarter net income rose to $16.4 million, or $1.17 a share, from $9.9 million, or 71 cents a share. Sales rose to $269.6 million from $226.2 million. Analysts, on average, expected it to earn $1.02 a share on revenue of $243 million, according to Thomson Financial. For the March quarter, the commercial printing company expects quarterly revenue to increase 15% from the prior year to $255 million, with earnings per share increasing 39% to $1.03. Analysts polled by Thomson expect it to earn 95 cents a share on revenue of $229 million, on average.
Digital River (NasdaqGS:DRIV - News) was initiated with a buy rating at American Technology Research.
DirecTV Group Inc. (NYSE:DTV - News) said fourth-quarter net income rose to $356 million, or 29 cents a share, from $121.2 million, or 9 cents a share. El Segundo, Calif.-based DirecTV said revenue rose to $4.18 billion from about $3.6 billion. Analysts, on average, expected it to earn 30 cents a share on revenue of about $4.1 billion, according to Thomson Financial.
Domino's Pizza (NYSE:DPZ - News) said it offered to buy back up to 13.9 million shares of its common stock, as part of plan to recapitalize the company. The Ann Arbor, Mich. pizza delivery service said it would pay no less than $27.50 a share and no more than $30 a share for each stock it buys back. The company also said it was offering to repurchase the outstanding 8 1/4% debt, due 2011, and will repay all of its outstanding borrowings under the existing credit facility. The company said it was negotiating an asset-backed securitized facility of up to $1.85 billion.
Edge Petroleum (NasdaqGS:EPEX - News) was upgraded to strong buy at Raymond James.
FEI Co. (NasdaqGM:FEIC - News) said it swung to net income in the fourth-quarter, as bookings remained solid and operating expenses declined, of $14.7 million, or 36 cents a share. During the same period in the prior year, the net loss was $30.7 million, or 92 cents a share.
Fidelity National Information Services Inc. said fourth-quarter net income rose, as revenue gained, to $75.1 million, or 39 cents a share, from $45.5 million, or 35 cents a share, during the same period in the prior year.
Horace Mann Educators Corp. (NYSE:HMN - News) reported fourth-quarter earnings of $28.6 million, or 64 cents a share, up from a year-ago profit of $16.1 million, or 35 cents a share. Looking ahead, the Springfield, Ill., insurance provider forecast net income before realized investment gains and losses of $1.80 to $1.95 per share in 2007.
Infineon Technologies (NYSE:IFX - News) said it will provide an integrated system-on-chip for Nokia's (NYSE:NOK - News) entry-level phones. Nokia said it's aiming to further improve the power performance in entry level phones and reduce their size.
Intevac (NasdaqGM:IVAC - News) said its fourth-quarter net income more than doubled to $21.3 million, or 97 cents a share, from year-earlier earnings of $9.93 million, or 46 cents a share, helped by higher sales and a larger margin. Results included a $1.1 million reversal of tax costs. The Santa Clara, Calif., maker of flat-panel display manufacturing equipment saw revenue rise 82% to $95.9 million from $52.7 million a year earlier. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial expected, on average, earnings of 70 cents a share on revenue of $86.5 million. Gross margin improved to 40.8% from 34.9% a year earlier. The stock was upgraded to buy from hold at Needham & Co.
Keane (NYSE:KEA - News) agreed to be acquired by Caritor Inc., a private San Ramon, Calif., information technology services provider, for about $854 million. The deal values Keane shares at $14.30 each in cash, a 19% premium to Tuesday's closing price of $12. The parties, which expect the transaction to close in the calendar second quarter, said the resulting private company would have anticipated annual revenue of more than $1 billion. Keane, based in Boston, posted revenue of $232 million in the third quarter ended Sept. 30.
Lazard Ltd. (NYSE:LAZ - News) said fourth-quarter earnings rose to $36.6 million, or 78 cents a share, from $21.7 million, or 57 cents a share, a year earlier. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial had been expecting earnings of 63 cents a share, on average. Revenue rose to $498.3 million from last year's $391.9 million, as strong merger and acquisition performance helped boost revenue in its financial advisory business.
Multi-Fineline Electronix (NasdaqGS:MFLX - News) said its fiscal first-quarter earnings fell 79% to $3.65 million, or 14 cents a share, from $17.3 million, or 69 cents a share, a year earlier, hurt by price reductions and reduced sales. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial expected, on average, earnings of 20 cents a share and sales of $130.7 million. The Anaheim, Calif., provider of flexible printed-circuit and component-assembly services said sales for the period ended Dec. 31 fell 11% to $123.9 million from $139.7 million from the year-ago period.
Published By Michael Baron

Labels: ABD, ANDE, APOL, AZPN, BAB, BRKS, CGX, CSCO, DPZ, DRIV, DTV, EPEX, FEIC, HMN, IFX, IVAC, KEA, LAZ, MFLX, NOK

Labels: ADM, ANDE, CIB, CSCO, MSFT, VSE

New Rule #1 : "There's a market for everything; pay attention to how it works," Archer Daniels Midland (NYSE: ADM - News), Andersons (NASDAQ: ANDE - News) and VeraSun (NYSE: VSE - News)
Cramer reiterated his recommendation that investors read his first book: Jim Cramer's Real Money: Sane Investing in an Insane World, in addition to his newest publication, Jim Cramer's Mad Money: Watch TV Get Rich, which contains 20 brand new investment rules, 5 of which he described on Tuesday's show. His first new rule requires that investors be aware of how stocks trade and that there are many sub-markets within the market. When faced with a trendy stock, it is more important to pay attention to supply and demand than media hype. For instance, late in 2005 when demand for ethanol stocks was high and supply was low, it was possible to make "truckloads of money" with ADM and ANDE. However, when VeraSun went public in June 2006, Cramer declared that the ethanol story was over, since the supply of ethanol exceeded demand. "If you'd just been paying attention to the fundamentals, or to the hype about ethanol in the media, you would've been caught totally off-guard by the downturn in ethanol," Cramer said.
New Rule #2: "Make sure your stocks actually fit the bill," Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT - News) and Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO - News)
In addition to doing homework, Cramer warned, "Don't be bamboozled by what sector your stock belongs to. Instead, know precisely what you own and why you own it." Cramer cautions viewers not to confuse a rally in an entire sector with a rally within the sector. Broad sector rallies are not too difficult to spot or predict. For instance, when the Fed cuts interest rates, rallies are prevalent among cyclicals, and when the economy is perceived as being weak, consumer staples rally. However, "most rallies don't work that way," Cramer said. For instance, when there were stories about a tech rally in June 2005, Cramer chose MSFT and CSCO as names that "represented" tech, when the upsurge was actually a gadget rally, and did not affect these stocks. Cramer suggests looking at industries within sectors.
New Rule #3: "Latin America is Always a Trade," BanColombia (NYSE: CIB - News)
Cramer envisions that one day this rule may be revoked, but not in the near future, because every time there is an "amazing, long-term growth story" in Latin America, it will wind up being a trade. This has nothing to do with the fundamentals of the companies, but is the result of huge market-moving investment firms which have the conviction that Latin America is always a trade, and the stocks get hammered as soon as they move on. Cramer admitted that he made this mistake by thinking that CIB was an investment when it was actually a trade.
New Rule #4: "Be a Lemming."
Although he confessed that, at first, this rule may sound "stupid" and "terrible," it actually makes sense to go with the big institutions and the movement of the market if the investor has done sufficient homework. This doesn't mean to ride momentum blindly, but it is true that stocks which hit a 52-week high often keep increasing. "This isn't about being a unique and individual snowflake. It's about trying to make money," Cramer said.
New Rule #5: "Don't be afraid to say something is too hard."
Some things are just too difficult to game, even after doing lot of homework. Cramer confesses that his rough spot is predicting restaurant same-store sales growth; "There are too many better, easier ways to make money in the market," he said. "Restaurant CEOs have a hard time predicting their own same-store sales, and the weirdest, most unexpected factors can cause worse-than-expected results." Since there is always a bull market somewhere, Cramer doesn't see the point in knocking one's head against the wall with something that is too hard.

Labels: ADM, ANDE, CIB, CSCO, Jim Cramer, Mad Money, MSFT, VSE

Among the companies whose shares are expected to see active trade in Monday's session are Harrah's Entertainment Inc., FuelCell Energy Inc., Dell Inc. and Andersons Inc.
Applied Signal Technology (APSG) is expected to report earnings per share for the fourth quarter of 22 cents, according to analysts polled by Thomson First Call.
FuelCell (FCEL) is expected to post a per-share loss of 35 cents for the fourth quarter.
Harrah's Entertainment (HET) is on the verge of being sold to two private- equity firms, Apollo Management and Texas Pacific Group, for at least $90 a share, the online edition of The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday.
Joy Global Inc. (JOYG) is expected to report per-share income for the fourth quarter of 66 cents.
Oracle Corp. (ORCL) is expected to post second-quarter per-share income of 22 cents.
Piedmont Natural Gas Co. (PNY) is expected to report first-quarter per-share income of 97 cents.
Steelcase Inc. (SCS) is expected to report earnings of 19 cents per share for the third quarter.
After Friday's closing bell, Dell (DELL) said it received a Nasdaq letter on Dec. 15 indicating that the company is not in compliance with continued listing requirements. The computer giant said the letter relates to the company's delayed third-quarter filing.
Also, three top executives at Time Warner Inc.'s (TWX) AOL unit plan to quit as part of a reorganization expected to be made public this week, according to several media reports. The execs include: Jim Bankoff, AOL's executive vice president of programming, Joe Redling, chief marketing officer, and John Buckley, a chief public-relations officer.
Watch list
Andersons (ANDE) said it has raised the quarterly cash dividend 5.6% to 4.75 cents per share. The dividend is payable Jan. 22 to shareholders as of Jan. 2.
Boston Scientific Corp. (BSX) said it is voluntarily recalling certain lots of the Mach 1 guide catheter in the United States. The medical devices maker said some units of the catheter may contain excess resin that could obstruct a blood vessel if detached during a procedure.
Comverse Technology Inc. (CMVT) Chairman Ron Hiram has resigned from the board. Hiram's resignation was tendered in view of the recent appointment of an additional five new independent directors. Also, the company has received an additional Nasdaq delisting notice over the company's delayed Form 10-Q filing for the quarter ended Oct. 31.
Guitar Center Inc. (GTRC) said its Nov. 22 agreement to buy the assets of Dennis Bamber Inc. has been terminated upon bankruptcy court approval of an alternative bidder for the business.
Imax Corp. (IMAX) said it has determined that a sale or merger of the company will not enhance shareholder value. The Toronto-based entertainment company said it will instead focus on the growth of its network and on strategic business initiatives.
King Pharmaceuticals Inc. (KG) said an arbitration panel has decided in favor of Elan Corp. (ELN) in a dispute related to King's Sonata insomnia drug. The panel ordered King to pay Elan about $49.8 million, plus interest, in milestone payments and other research and development expenses.
Nasdaq Stock Market Inc. (NDAQ) said it has approved a new employment contract for President and Chief Executive Robert Greifeld, extending his deal through Dec. 31, 2010.
PetSmart Inc. (PETM) said it has amended its bylaws to adopt a majority voting standard for the election of directors in uncontested elections. The Phoenix- based retailer of pet products and services said that under the new standard a director in an uncontested election must receive more than 50% of the votes cast.
Power Integrations Inc. (POWI) said it has informed the Nasdaq that it will not meet the Listing and Hearing Review Council's Dec. 18 deadline to become current in its filings. The company expects its shares to be delisted from the Nasdaq Global Market as of the start of trading on Dec. 19.
Refco Inc. (RFX) , the derivatives broker that collapsed in scandal last year, said its Chapter 11 plan was confirmed by a New York bankruptcy court, clearing the way for its businesses to be finally shut down and creditors repaid a portion of what they were owed.
Private-equity firms Clayton Dubilier & Rice Inc. and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. are in talks to acquire Royal Ahold NVU.S. foodservice unit in a leveraged buyout, according to a media report.
Standard & Poor's said it's changing the makeup of the S&P 500 and SmallCap 600 indexes after the close of trading Tuesday. Terex Corp. (TEX) will replace Navistar International Corp. (NAV) in the S&P 500. Mannatech Inc. (MTEX) will replace American Italian Pasta Co. (PLB) in the S&P SmallCap 600.
By Dow Jones

Labels: ANDE, APSG, BSX, CMVT, DELL, FCEL, GTRC, HET, IMAX, JOYG, KG, MTEX, NDAQ, ORCL, PETM, POWI, RFX, SCS, TEX, TWX

Ambac (NYSE:ABK - News) was upgraded to overweight from equal-weight at Morgan Stanley
Andersons Inc. (NASDAQ:ANDE - News) was upgraded to buy from neutral at Banc of America Securities. The firm also lifted its price target on the stock to $52 from $44.
Bear Stearns (NYSE:BSC - News) said its fourth quarter net income rose 38% to a record $562.8 million, or $4 a share on total revenue of $4.47 billion. A year ago, the company earned $407 million, or $2.90 a share, on $3.18 billion total revenue. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial, on average, expected the company to earn $3.36 a share on revenue of $2.20 billion.
Cadence Design Systems (NASDAQ:CDNS - News) priced offerings of senior convertible notes worth a total of $500 million. The company said the initial conversion rate for both the 2011 notes and the 2013 notes is 47.2813 common shares per $1,000 in principal amount of notes for a conversion price of about $21.15.
Carrizo Oil & Co. (NASDAQ:CRZO - News) was initiated with an outperform rating at RBC Capital Markets.
Ciena Corp. (NASDAQ:CIEN - News) reported fiscal fourth-quarter earnings of $13.1 million, or 14 cents a share, up from a year-ago loss of $252.9 million, or $3.06 a share. Last year's results included a total charge of $222.3 million related to impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets. On an adjusted basis, excluding items, the Linthicum, Md., maker of optical networking products earned $14.6 million, or 16 cents a share, in the latest quarter. Revenue rose 35.3% in the three months ended Oct. 31 to $160 million from $118.2 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 October period on revenue of $160 million. Looking ahead, Ciena said it expects low single-digit revenue growth in the first quarter on a sequential basis.
Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST - News), the Issaquah, Wash., warehouse retailer, reported fiscal first-quarter net income rose 9.8% on 9.4% higher revenue. For the 12 weeks ended Nov. 26, Costco profit rose to $236.9 million, or 51 cents a share, from $215.8 million, or 45 cents, in the year-earlier period. Revenue reached $14.15 billion from $12.93 billion. Net sales rose 9% to $13.85 billion. Same-store sales -- revenue from stores open at least a year, eliminating the effects of acquisitions and divestitures -- rose 4%. A survey of analysts by Thomson First Call produced consensus estimates of 50 cents of profit on $14.06 billion of sales for Costco. The retailer also said it would take a second-quarter charge of $45 million as it increased the exercise price on certain stock options for more than 1,000 employees who are U.S. taxpayers. It said that it's making the changes in line with its internal stock-option inquiry and with a Nov. 30 ruling by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. The company also said it would make payment to the employees to reduce the adverse tax effects of the move.
Cousins Properties Inc. (NYSE:CUZ - News) was upgraded to overweight from equal-weight at Lehman Bros. The firm also lifted its price target on the stock to $38 from $35.
Empire Resources (AMEX:ERS - News) said its board has declared a special dividend of 16 cents a share for the fourth quarter, in addition to its regular quarterly payout of 5 cents a share. The dividends are to be paid on Jan. 17 to shareholders of record on Dec. 29. The Fort Lee, N.J., distributor of semi-finished aluminum products also said its board plans to review its internal dividend policy on a quarterly basis.
First Potomac (NYSE:FPO - News) was upgraded to buy from neutral at Merrill Lynch.
Ford Motor (NYSE:F - News) was upgraded to neutral from sell at Merrill Lynch, which said the automaker's efforts to raise liquidity have been more successful than previously expected. Analyst John Murphy believes the next move by Ford's chief executive Alan Mulally will be to unveil a new operating plan at the Detroit auto show in mid-January. "It is tough to believe that a turnaround can be affected in short order, but clarity on Mulally's plan could be viewed positively by the market," Murphy said in a research note. "Furthermore, Ford's new liquidity position may allow it to be tougher or more creative in the course of negotiating a contract with the United Auto Workers in 2007."
GenVec (NASDAQ:GNVC - News) shares leapt after the Gaithersburg, Md.-based biopharmaceutical company said an independent data safety monitoring board has completed its interim analysis of safety data from the ongoing Phase II/III clinical trial with TNFerade in locally advanced pancreatic cancer. The DSMB recommended that the trial continue, GenVec said, and also supported the use of endoscopic ultrasonography as an alternative to percutaneous tumor administration. GenVec said it has provided its interim safety data to the Food and Drug Administration and is waiting for final clearance to move forward with EUS administration.
Great Wolf Resorts (NASDAQ:WOLF - News) was upgraded to buy from hold at A.G. Edwards.
Honeywell International (NYSE:HON - News) said it expects earnings of $2.85 to $2.95 a share for fiscal 2007, a performance that would represent growth of between 13% and 17%. It sees sales growing about 5% to $32.6 billion for 2007. The Morris Township, N.J., diversified technology and manufacturing products company sees 2007 cash flow from operations of between $3.2 billion and $3.4 billion for the year with free cash flow projected between $2.4 billion and $2.6 billion. The current average estimate of analysts polled by Thomson First Call is for earnings of $2.93 a share in fiscal 2007 on revenue of $32.75 billion. The Dow component also confirmed an outlook for earnings of $2.51 to $2.53 a share in fiscal 2006 on sales of roughly $31.2 billion. Wall Street's current consensus estimate for 2006 is for earnings of $2.52 a share on revenue of $31.15 billion.
Icos (NASDAQ:ICOS - News) issued a 2006 and 2007 financial forecast early Thursday, ahead of a planned December 19 special shareholders meeting where stockholders will vote on whether to accept partner Eli Lilly's takeover offer of $32 a share in cash. For the fourth quarter 2006, Icos sees earnings of 17 to 22 cents a share, with full-year earnings of 33 to 38 cents a share. Including taxes, Icos expects fourth quarter results of 26 to 34 cents a share, and 49 to 57 cents for the full year 2006. For 2007, Icos is expecting earnings per share of 78 to 94 cents a share. Including taxes, the 2007 range is earnings per share of $1.17 to $1.41. Icos and Lilly co-market the erectile dysfunction drug Cialis.
Insmed (NASDAQ:INSM - News) shares surged after the biopharmaceutical company said recent study results confirm that Iplex, a treatment for growth failure, allows more flexibility in handling and administration for patients and caregivers.
Input/Output Inc. (NYSE:IO - News) said it's received a contract to provide 14 of its land seismic imaging systems to Oil and Natural Gas Corp. Ltd., India's national oil company. The company said the deal is worth more than $50 million.
Journal Register Co. (NYSE:JRC - News) agreed to sign on to Google's Print Ad program, which allows current Google advertisers to buy ads in print newspapers. Journal Register said its flagship newspaper, the New Haven (Conn.) Register, will participate in the partnership. Financial terms were not disclosed. More than 50 major newspapers are currently a part of the Google program, including the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Washington Post and the Seattle Times. Newspapers are seeking ways to increase print ad revenue, which has been on the decline for several years as more readers turn to the Internet for news and information, and several traditional newspaper advertisers have fallen on hard times.
Liberty Media Holding Corp. (NASDAQ:LCAPA - News) was upgraded to buy from hold at Deutsche Bank Securities.
LodgeNet Entertainment Corp. (NASDAQ:LNET - News) agreed with Liberty Media to purchase Ascent Entertainment Group Inc., which owns On Command Corp., for $380 million. The purchase will be paid at closing by issuing 2.05 million LodgeNet shares, and $332 million in cash.
Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:MSFT - News) and Hewlett-Packard (NYSE:HPQ - News) said they have entered a 3-year agreement to sell technology products and services. The companies said they would invest at least $300 million to cover their collaborative efforts.
Nuance Communications (NASDAQ:NUAN - News) was initiated with a buy rating at Citigroup Investment Research.
Pacer International (NASDAQ:PACR - News) was initiated with a buy rating at Key Banc Capital Markets.
PGT Inc. (NASDAQ:PGTI - News) was upgraded to buy from neutral at SunTrust Robinson Humphrey. The firm cited valuation.
Stanley Works (NYSE:SWK - News) agreed to acquire HSM Electronic Protection Services, a provider of security alarm monitoring services based in Lisle, Ill., for $545 million. Stanley expects the deal to close in early 2007. It anticipates the transaction will be neutral to earnings in 2007 before adding 20 to 25 cents a share to earnings by 2009, the third year, and 35 to 35 cents a share to earnings by 2011, the fifth year.
Suntech Power Holdings (NYSE:STP - News) was initiated with a buy rating at Jefferies & Co.
Supervalu (NYSE:SVU - News) said it now expects fiscal 2007 per-share earnings of $2.32 to $2.43, up from its previous range of $2.18 to $2.41. The Minneapolis-based supermarket operator also narrowed its 2007 pro forma view, saying it sees per-share earnings of $2.66 to $2.74. The previous pro forma earnings view was $2.62 to $2.80 a share for the year.
Thermo Fisher Scientific (NYSE:TMO - News) estimated fourth-quarter adjusted earnings at 52 cents to 54 cents a share and increased its estimates of adjusted earnings for 2006 and 2007. A survey of analysts by Thomson First Call produced a consensus estimate of 53 cents for the quarter. For 2006, Thermo Fisher expects to earn an adjusted $1.83 to $1.86 a share on revenue of $8.8 billion. Thermo Electron and Fisher Scientific merged early in November; the revenue estimate is pro forma, as if the two companies had been combined for the full year. First Call projects earnings of $1.81 for 2006. In 2007, the company expects to earn $2.35 to $2.45 a share, compared with its previous estimate of $2.27 to $2.37.
Topps Co. (NASDAQ:TOPP - News) was initiated with a buy rating at Morgan Joseph & Co. The firm set a price target on the stock of $11.
Shares in Worthington Industries (NYSE:WOR - News) jumped after Prudential Equity Group released a note late Wednesday speculating that the Columbus, Ohio-based steel processor would be a likely target for No. 1 steel maker Mittal Steel (NYSE:MT - News), the main subsidiary of Arcelor Mittal . Prudential analyst John Tumazos noted Mittal has made public statements indicating an interest in owning steel distribution assets in the U.S. Worthington "would effectively satisfy MT's requirements," said Tumazos, adding he had no inside information about any deal.
-MarketWatch

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According to data released today by the Department of Energy, supplies of crude, gasoline and heating oil are dwindling. In response, light sweet crude for January delivery rose $1.47 to settle at $62.46 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, which in turn boosted shares of corn and ethanol producers.
Shares of Andersons Inc. added $2.01, or 5.1 percent, to close at $41.40 on the Nasdaq, while Pacific Ethanol Inc. added 95 cents, or 5.4 percent, to finish at $18.70.
MGP Ingredients Inc. gained 42 cents, or 2 percent, to close at $22.15 on the Nasdaq, while Aventine Renewable Energy Holdings Inc. added $1.48, or 6.1 percent, to end at $25.58 on the Big Board. Archer-Daniels-Midland Co. rose $1.77, or 5.4 percent, to finish at $34.47, while Verasun Energy Corp. climbed $1.22, or 5 percent, to close at $25.88, also on the NYSE.

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