Jim Cramer Blog

The Dow closed down 218 points and the Nasdaq fell 43 points on Monday. Finerman sees storm clouds are everywhere and the Goldman downgrade of Citigroup (C) really hurt the markets. Najarian had a fun day trading. He also thinks the financial sector is in big trouble and he is extremely worried about General Motors (GM) which fell below $27.
Louise Yamada, a highly ranked technician on Wall Street, joined the show to discuss her analysis on the technicals of the market. She is currently worried that the S&P 500 could break 1406, which would signal to her an end of the longer-term uptrend. Yamada is still bullish on Cisco Systems (CSCO) and she would look to buy pullbacks on the name. She looked at the chart on Broadcom (BRCM) calling it a sell because it hasn't followed through after a false break-out. The chart on Coca-Cola (KO) is initiating an uptrend according to Yamada, so she would be a buyer of KO. Bed Bath and Beyond (BBBY) should be sold.
Retail
Nordstrom (JWN) reported a 22% rise in third-quarter profits helped by an extra week of sales.
Sears Holdings (SHLD) disclosed it has taken a 13.7% stake in Restoration Hardware (RSTO) and the possibility of proposing an acquisition.
Target (TGT) is set to report earnings Tuesday before the opening bell.
Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) clocked a 28% jump in profits off of strong notebook sales.
Medtronic (MDT) reported a 2% decline in profits, but the stock trades 3% higher after hours.
Lowe's (LOW) dropped 7% after reporting a 10% decline in profits due to the weak housing market.
Celgene (CELG) bought Pharmion (PHRM) for $2.9 billion. Adami thinks that Phizer must make a similar acquisition.
EchoStar (DISH) shares exploded higher Monday after Citigroup said there was a 65% chance that AT&T (T) will buy DISH.
Ultimate Fighting is now the fasting growing spectator sport in the United States. Macke says look for growth in cable companies and satellite companies like Viacom (VIA) and EchoStar. He also thinks makers of energy drinks like Coca-Cola will benefit. He said avoid the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) because the UFC is taking share. Lastly, Macke speculated that Anheuser-Busch (BUD) could be near a beverage deal with the UFC.
Pops & Drops
Pops - Xerox (XRX) traded up 2%.
Intercontinental Exchange traded up 3%
VeriSign (VRSN) traded up 2%.
Drops - E*TRADE (ETFC) fell 13% even with speculation of a takeover by Ameritrade (AMTD)
Wynn Resorts (WYNN) fell 7%
Genesco (GCO) plunged 24%.
Disney (DIS) fell 4%
General Motors (GM) fell 8% after the automaker announced plans for year-end discounts to clear out inventory.
Dillard's (DDS) fell 5%.
Tween Brands (TWB) fell 13%
Final Trade
Macke would purchase Dicks Sporting Goods (DKS) and Target on any selloff Tuesday
Najarian advises buying EchoStar (DISH) on a pullback under $44.
Finerman is long Goldman Sachs Group (GS) and short Lehman Brothers Holdings (LEH).
Adami recommends Vodafone Group (VOD) for a play on China.

Labels: BBBY, BRCM, CELG, Citigroup Inc., CNBC, CNBC's Fast Money, CSCO, DISH, Dow Jones, Fast Money Recap, GM, HPQ, JWN, KO, LOW, MDT, Nasdaq, PHRM, SHLD, TGT

Here are 7 stocks for traders for Monday from TradingMarkets.com:
Leap Wireless (NasdaqGS:LEAP - News) lost 35% on Friday, after announcing plans to correct accounting revenue mistakes from 3 years ago. LEAP's PowerRating (for Traders) is 7.
Merck (NYSE:MRK - News) rallied over 4% on Friday, on news that the company will pay nearly $5 billion to settle the majority of the company's Vioxx-related lawsuits. MRK's PowerRating (for Traders) is 6.
Blackstone (NYSE:BX - News) reports earnings on Monday before the bell, with traders looking for $0.33 EPS. BX does not have a PowerRating (for Traders) due to its short trading histroy.
Analysts are watching for EchoStar (NasdaqGS:DISH - News) to announce $0.44 EPS on Monday before the market opens. DISH's PowerRating (for Traders) is 5.
Tyson Foods (NYSE:TSN - News) is looking to report $0.10 EPS on Monday morning. TSN's PowerRating (for Traders) is 5.
Globecomm Systems (NasdaqGM:GCOM - News) and Bob Evans (NasdaqGS:BOBE - News) both report earnings after the close on Monday, so watch for heightened price action and volatility ahead of the bell. GCOM's PowerRating (for Traders) is 7, and BOBE's PowerRating (for Traders) is 5.

Labels: BOBE, BX, DISH, GCOM, Hot Stocks, LEAP, MRK, TSN

Chip stocks traded lower after Morgan Stanley downgraded Intel (INTC), Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) and NVIDIA (NVDA) to underweight. CSX Corporation (CSX) traded lower after it was also downgraded by Morgan Stanley. Mattel (MAT) and Hasbro (HAS) traded lower after BMO Capital Markets downgraded the toy sector. Macke: the downgrade is about taking gains and he is still long Hasbro and Disney (DIS).
Carl Icahn: raised his stake in Temple-Inland (TIN) to 8.9% and BEA Systems (BEAS) to 11%.
Word on the Street
Wheat traded lower for the second day in a row on bearish planting forecasts. Najarian: the pullbacks in commodity names like BHP Billiton (BHP) and Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) are buying opportunities. He also sees continued buying in October call options on EchoStar (DISH). Macke agrees.
iShares FTSE/Xinhua China 25 Index ETF: falls 5% after a huge 2-day run.
TXU (TXU): Dylan Ratigan reported that financing for a TXU (TXU) buyout could be set to go next week. If this deal closes it will be the largest private equity deal ever. Finerman says that Guitar Center (GTRC) is also close to getting a deal done. Finerman's play on this very recent trend is Lehman Brothers (LEH) and Goldman Sachs (GS).
Blackberry
The Blackberry has been a gigantic hit for Research In Motion (RIMM) and investors have seen the stock for RIMM go up 126% on the year. Global Crown Capital increased the RIMM target price to $180 a share.
Face2Face
First writer asked about China Finance Online (JRJC), China BAK Battery (CBAK) and even Baidu.com (BIDU). Macke says neither bubble nor exuberance come to mind. He tells writer that these are momentum plays and you should treat them as such.
Another writer asked for some insight into what Garmin's (GRMN) recent volume is telegraphing? It was 7 times the average volume to the downside when the NAVTEQ (NVT) deal was announced Monday. Finerman: this is disruptive for two reasons. First, it makes the valuation of Garmin rich, and second it's a problem for Garmin to have someone buy the software it needs to make its product. Finerman owns NAVTEQ for a play on Garmin taking it over.
Pops & Drops
Pops- Panera Bread (PNRA) traded up 8%. Adami thinks Panera will rally into earnings and then it will be time to sell it.
Harley Davidson (HOG) traded up 6% off. Najarian says its still way off the highs.
Kaiser Aluminum (KALU) popped 7%. Finerman agrees that the stock is still undervalued.
Circuit City (CC) traded up 5%. Macke: Get out of Circuit City while you can.
KB Home (KBH) traded up 5%. Adami says take the profits and run.
NYSE Euronext (NYX) traded up 2%. Adami says $85 will be big resistance for NYX.
Drops- Wynn (WYNN) fell 10% and Las Vegas Sands (LVS) fell 12% off of disappointing growth numbers for Macau. Najarian says the numbers out of Macau were not as big as people thought they would be, hence the disappointment.
Midway Games (MWY) fell 5%. Macke: MWY is married to Sony whose Playstation has tough competition against the Nintendo Wii.
Final Trade
Macke: sell homebuilders and book the short-term gains.
Finerman: going with Icahn and BEA Systems (BEAS).
Najarian likes Apple (AAPL).

Labels: AMD, BEAS, BHP, CNBC, CSX, DIS, DISH, Fast Money, Fast Money Recap, FCX, HAS, INTC, MAT, TIN

Volatility has been the name of the game the past two weeks, and today, the final trading day of the week, was no different. Global stock markets fell hard overnight on still more credit market fears. At the onset of trading, all three major market averages here in the states fell significantly. However, bulls fought back in late trading to end the session slightly to the downside. The S&P managed to eek out a gain of half a point.
Continuing on the credit market fallout, central banks around the globe moved in unison to pump in liquidity to their respective banking systems. In total, over $135.7 billion was infused into systems in the past 24 hours from central banks in the U.S., Europe, Japan, and Australia. On the domestic front, the Federal Reserve orchestrated three separate infusions in the system, which by the end of the day stood at $38 billion.
Overnight, Germany's largest bank Deutsche Bank AG (NYSE: DB - News) said an investment fund that has exposure to the subprime credit area has lost -30% of its value since July. The DWS fund said assets fell from 3 billion euros to 2.3 billion euros. Elsewhere, Renaissance Institutional Equities Fund, a $29 billion quantitative hedge fund run by James Simmons, told investors that its fund has fallen -8.7% so far this month.
The nation's largest mortgage lender, Countrywide Financial (NYSE: CFC - News), said last night in a regulatory filing that "unprecedented disruptions in debt markets could continue to worsen" and that it could potentially make it harder for the company to sell loans and obtain credit. Management said in a statement that "Since the company is highly dependent on the availability of credit to finance its operations, disruptions in the debt markets or a reduction in [its] credit ratings could have an adverse impact on [its] earnings and financial condition, particularly in the short term." Shares plunged in early-morning trading, but recouped the majority of its losses. The stock finished lower by -2.8%.
On the economic data front, the Labor Department said import prices came in hotter than expected in July. Prices of goods imported to the U.S. climbed 1.5% in the prior month, led by petroleum.
On the earnings side of the market, EchoStar Communications (Nasdaq: DISH - News) said second-quarter earnings rose 33% to $224.2 million, or 50 cents per share, up from $168.8 million, or 38 cents per share, last year. Revenues rose 12% to $2.76 billion. During the quarter, the satellite operator added 170,000 net new subscribers, down from 195,000 in the second quarter last year. The company did say that the SEC invalidated all hardware claims made by Tivo (Nasdaq: TIVO - News). Its shares rose 1.2% on the session. Elsewhere, Wyeth (NYSE: WYE - News) shares fell the most in a year after the drug company said U.S. regulators rejected its new schizophrenia drug because it wasn't shown to be effective. The FDA is now requesting more information.
By the BullMarket.com Staff

Labels: CFC, DB, DISH, Tivo, WYE

Here are 7 stocks for traders for Friday from TradingMarkets.com:
Lions Gate Films (NYSE:LGF - News) missed earnings by a long-shot, announcing -$0.45 EPS versus expectations of -$0.23 EPS on Thursday afternoon. LGF's PowerRating is 6.
First Marblehead (NYSE:FMD - News) beat earnings on Thursday, announcing $0.83 EPS over an expected $0.81 EPS. FMD's PowerRating is 5.
Aircastle (NYSE:AYR - News) reports earnings before the open on Friday morning; look for $0.45 EPS. AYR's PowerRating is 4.
CryptoLogic (NasdaqGS:CRYP - News) should announce -$0.11 EPS when the company reports earnings on Friday morning before the bell. CRYP's PowerRating is 4.
When EchoStar (NasdaqGS:DISH - News) announces quarterly earnings tomorrow morning, watch for $0.50 EPS. DISH's PowerRating is 5.
Analysts are watching for United Industrial (NYSE:UIC - News) to announce $0.78 EPS on Friday before the market opens. UIC's PowerRating is 7.
Warner Chilcott (NasdaqGS:WCRX - News) should report $0.21 EPS before the bell Friday. WCRX's PowerRating is 6.
PowerRatings (for Traders) are courtesy of TradingMarkets.com

Labels: AYR, CRYP, DISH, FMD, Hot Stocks, LGF, UIC, WCRX

Here are 7 trading ideas for today. These lists come directly from the TradingMarkets Stock Indicators page and are based upon our latest quantitative research.
Bullish
5+ Consecutive Down Days: These are stocks that have closed down for five or more consecutive days and are trading above their 200-day moving average. Our research shows that stocks trading above their 200-day moving average that close down for five or more days have shown positive returns, on average, 1-day, 2-days and 1-week later. Historically, these stocks have provided traders with a significant edge. Historically, these stocks have provided traders with a significant edge.

Carmike Cinemas (NasdaqGM:CKEC) & Rite Aid (NYSE:RAD). CKEC's PowerRating is 7, and RAD's PowerRating is 7.
5+ Consecutive Lower Lows: These are stocks that have made a lower low for five or more consecutive days and are trading above their 200-day moving average. Our research shows that stocks trading above their 200-day moving average that make lower lows for five or more days have shown positive returns, on average, 1-day, 2-days and 1-week later. Historically, these stocks have provided traders with a significant edge.
Republic Airways (NasdaqGS:RJET) & Cardinal Health (NYSE:CAH). RJET's PowerRating is 7, and CAH's PowerRating is 6.
2-Period RSI Below 2: These are stocks that have a 2-period RSI reading below 2 and are trading above their 200-day moving average. Our research shows that stocks trading above their 200-day moving with a 2-period RSI reading below 2 have shown positive returns, on average, 1-day, 2-days and 1-week later. Historically, these stocks have provided traders with a significant edge.
EchoStar Communications (NasdaqGS:DISH). DISH's PowerRating is 7.
Bearish
5+ Consecutive Up Days: These are stocks that have made a higher high for five or more consecutive days and are trading below their 200-day moving average. Our research shows that stocks trading below their 200-day moving average that make higher highs for five or more days have shown negative returns, on average, 1-day, 2-days and 1-week later. Historically, these stocks have provided traders with a significant edge.
Amgen Corporation (NasdaqGS:AMGN). AMGN's PowerRating is 4.
5+ Consecutive Higher Highs: These are stocks that have made a higher high for five or more consecutive days and are trading below their 200-day moving average. Our research shows that stocks trading below their 200-day moving average that make higher highs for five or more days have shown negative returns, on average, 1-day, 2-days and 1-week later. Historically, these stocks have provided traders with a significant edge.
KeyCorp (NYSE:KEY). KEY's PowerRating is 4.
PowerRatings (for Traders) are courtesy of TradingMarkets.com

Labels: AMGN, CAH, CKEC, DISH, Hot Stocks, KEY, RAD, RJET

Here are 7 trading ideas for today. These lists come directly from the TradingMarkets Stock Indicators page and are based upon our latest quantitative research.
Bullish
5+ Consecutive Down Days: These are stocks that have closed down for five or more consecutive days and are trading above their 200-day moving average. Our research shows that stocks trading above their 200-day moving average that close down for five or more days have shown positive returns, on average, 1-day, 2-days and 1-week later. Historically, these stocks have provided traders with a significant edge.
Merck (NYSE:MRK) & Acorda Therapeutics (NasdaqGM:ACOR). MRK's PowerRating is 7, and ACOR's PowerRating is 8.
5+ Consecutive Lower Lows: These are stocks that have made a lower low for five or more consecutive days and are trading above their 200-day moving average. Our research shows that stocks trading above their 200-day moving average that make lower lows for five or more days have shown positive returns, on average, 1-day, 2-days and 1-week later. Historically, these stocks have provided traders with a significant edge.
EchoStar Communications (NasdaqGS:DISH). DISH's PowerRating is 6.
2-Period RSI Below 2: These are stocks that have a 2-period RSI reading below 2 and are trading above their 200-day moving average. Our research shows that stocks trading above their 200-day moving with a 2-period RSI reading below 2 have shown positive returns, on average, 1-day, 2-days and 1-week later. Historically, these stocks have provided traders with a significant edge.
Becton, Dickinson & Company (NYSE:BDX). BDX's PowerRating is 6.
Bearish
5+ Consecutive Up Days: These are stocks that have closed up for five or more consecutive days and are trading below their 200-day moving average. Our research shows that stocks trading below their 200-day moving average that close up for five or more days have shown negative returns, on average, 1-week later. Historically, these stocks have provided traders with a significant edge. Historically, these stocks have provided traders with a significant edge.
Medifast (NYSE:MED) & W&T Offshore (NYSE:WTI). MED's PowerRating is 2, and WTI's PowerRating is 3.
5+ Consecutive Higher Highs: These are stocks that have made a higher high for five or more consecutive days and are trading below their 200-day moving average. Our research shows that stocks trading below their 200-day moving average that make higher highs for five or more days have shown negative returns, on average, 1-day, 2-days and 1-week later. Historically, these stocks have provided traders with a significant edge.
United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS). UPS's PowerRating is 4.
PowerRatings are courtesy of PowerRatings.net

Labels: ACOR, BDX, DISH, Hot Stocks, MED, MRK, UPS, WTI

Signs that tensions were easing between Iran and Britain over captured British sailors sparked a sharp drop in crude oil prices today and helped spur a rally on Wall Street. Investors were also encouraged by a report that indicated home sales might be picking up. Trading was light, however, on a day that marks the start of Passover. The 10-year Treasury note closed lower.
The National Association of Realtors reported that pending sales of existing homes increased at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 0.7% in February compared with January. The industry group tracks signed contracts for used homes. Its index is still -8.5% below year-ago levels. In the oil markets, comments from a senior Iranian diplomat that the dispute over 15 British sailors and marines Iran says it captured trespassing in its waters would be resolved soon helped to cool a recent rise in futures prices.
Health insurers spiked today on a surprise announcement from the federal government that it would increase payments to firms operating private Medicare benefits plans by a greater amount than was expected. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said preliminary payments to companies that run Medicare Advantage programs will increase 3.5% in 2008. The market was looking for increases of between 2% and 3%. Among the shares rising today was Aetna (NYSE: AET - News). Also gaining today was Humana (NYSE: HUM - News), up 3.6%; Wellcare Healthplans (NYSE: WCG - News), which added 2.2%; and Coventry Health Care (NYSE: CVH - News), which closed 1.9% higher.
American automakers continued to fall short of efforts to post market share gains. Ford Motor (NYSE: F - News) reported a -9% drop in March vehicle sales; General Motors (NYSE: GM - News) said its sales declined -7.7%; and the Chrysler unit of DaimlerChrysler (NYSE: DCX - News) reported a -4% decline. Japan's Toyota Motor (NYSE: TM - News), meanwhile, continued its assault on Detroit, posting a 12% gain in U.S. sales during the same period. Despite the advance, Toyota has not yet overtaken Ford as the No. 2 U.S. automaker.
Shares of Google (Nasdaq: GOOG - News) rose 3.1% after it announced a deal with EchoStar Communications (Nasdaq: DISH - News) to create a system for auctioning advertising time over EchoStar's satellite TV network. Under the deal, Google will develop an online auction system, with advertisers bidding on the amount of money they are willing to pay per thousand households watching each commercial. Google has undertaken similar efforts in the radio and newspaper ad markets.
The planned merger of the two Chicago exchanges is on hold. Chicago Mercantile Exchange Holdings (NYSE: CME - News) announced it was postponing an April 4th shareholder meeting to vote on its proposed acquisition of CBOT Holding (NYSE: BOT - News). CBOT previously postponed a shareholder vote on the CME bid so its board could consider a competing offer from Intercontinental Exchange (NYSE: ICE - News). ICE is reported to have submitted a bid that is as much as $1 billion more than the $8 billion CME offered for its Chicago rival.
By the BullMarket.com Staff

Labels: AET, BOT, CME, CVH, DISH, F, GM, GOOG, HUM, ICE, TM, WCG

Internet giant Google is spreading its wings beyond its traditional base of internet ad sales with an announcement that it will partner with US cable network EchoStar in an endeavour to sell television advertising. The service will not only reportedly change the way advertising is sold, with potential advertisers bidding for time on the air, but Google will also provide advertisers with detailed information regarding the viewership of each ad just 24 hours after the commercial airs. The company reports that the entire process will be automated - from planning the campaign to uploading and serving the ad to reporting on its effectiveness. "Like our AdWords advertising program, Google TV ads are bought using an auction model and through a single online interface that is already familiar to agencies and advertisers," the company says.

Labels: DISH, GOOG

GlobalSantaFe (NYSE: GSF - News), Charter Communications (NasdaqGM: CHTR), EchoStar Communications (NasdaqGS: DISH),Viacom (NYSE: VIA - News)
Cramer commented that, in the drama and trauma that was last week's market,"There was tons of information that was totally overlooked" on conference calls, and he urges investors to do their homework and to review the conference calls of GSF, CHTR, DISH and VIA. All of these companies said important things that were ignored. He disapproves of a "scalping" approach to trading which investors use to fade the open or benefit from sudden market moves, such as a fall in U.S. markets due to an overseas event. Cramer calls this a strategy for underperformance. What is needed is homework, says Cramer, and he adds that every investor needs to ask;"Which stocks do I like on the S & P down 1%?' and circle the wagons around those stocks."
Published By SeekingAlpha

Labels: CHTR, DISH, GSF, VIA

Apple Inc. (NasdaqGS:AAPL - News) was upgraded to overweight from equal weight at Lehman Bros., due primarily to valuation. The stock closed Wednesday up 0.8% at $84.61, after falling 6.2% over the previous three sessions. At Wednesday's close, the stock had lost 13% since reaching an all-time high of $97.80 on Jan. 10. Analyst Harry Blount said the stock's recent pullback "provides an attractive entry point and a favorable reward vs. risk ratio in front of an anticipated product cycle in 2007." Blount also sees lowered component pricing leading to additional potential operating margin expansion and the likelihood of PC market share gains.
Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. (NYSE:CTB - News) said its fourth-quarter loss widened to $27.6 million, or 45 cents a share, from $6.85 million, or 11 cents a share, a year earlier, hurt by restructuring charges and the write-off of goodwill and intangible assets. The Findlay, Ohio, tire-maker said sales rose 29% to $739.1 million from $572.4 million in the year-ago period, helped in part by the addition of operations of Cooper Chengshan Passenger Tire Co. and Cooper Chengshan Tire Co. in China. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial expected, on average, breakeven earnings for the quarter.
DealerTrack Holdings (NasdaqGM:TRAK - News) reported fourth-quarter earnings of $5.7 million, or 14 cents a share, as revenue grew 37% to $45.7 million.
Del Monte Foods Co.'s (NYSE:DLM - News) third-quarter earnings fell 10%, due to lower sales volumes for consumer products, higher costs, and higher marketing and interest expense. The San Francisco canned food company had third-quarter earnings of $46.5 million, or 23 cents a share, compared with $51.9 million, or 26 cents a share, a year earlier. Del Monte said revenue for the quarter ended Jan. 28 rose 15% to $907.2 million from $789.6 million a year ago. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial expected, on average, earnings of 22 cents a share on revenue of $943 million.
EchoStar Communications (NasdaqGS:DISH - News) said fourth-quarter net income rose to $153 million, or 35 cents a basic share, from $133 million, or 30 cents a basic share, with revenue up 17% to $2.58 billion. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial expected earnings of 32 cents a share on revenue of $2.54 billion. The operator of the DISH Network added 350,000 net new subscribers during the quarter, giving it a total of 13.1 million subscribers.
Greif Inc. (NYSE:GEF - News) reported fiscal first-quarter net earnings of $34 million, or $1.15 per Class A share, up slightly from $33.4 million, or $1.13 per Class A share, in the year-ago period. Revenue at the Delaware, Ohio-based industrial packaging company rose 29% to $750.8 million from $582.3 million.
Hana Biosciences (NasdaqGM:HNAB - News) was upgraded to buy from hold at Cantor Fitzgerald.
Leading Brands (NasdaqCM:LBIX - News) said its TrueBlue Blueberry Juice brand is now listed with The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR - News).
Longs Drug Stores' (NYSE:LDG - News) fiscal fourth-quarter net income fell 24% to $26.9 million, or 71 cents a share, from $35.4 million, or 93 cents a share, a year ago. Revenue for the quarter ended Jan. 25 increased 8% to $1.34 billion from $1.24 billion a year ago.
ManTech International Corp. (NasdaqGS:MANT - News) reported fourth-quarter net earnings of $13.9 million, or 41 cents a share, up 33% from $10.4 million, or 31 cents a share, during the year-ago period. The company posted revenue of $290.7 million vs. $261 million.
Martha Stewart Omnimedia (NYSE:MSO - News) was upgraded to equal-weight from underweight at Morgan Stanley.
Motorola Inc. (NYSE:MOT - News) said it has been notified that certain Carl Icahn entities have filed to acquire additional shares of Motorola stock. The Schaumburg, Ill.-based telecommunications company said the notice stated that Icahn and Icahn Partners LP are each filing to acquire between $119.7 million and $500 million worth of Motorola stock, while Icahn Partners Master Fund LP and Icahn Partners Master Fund II LP are each filing to acquire more than $500 million, but less than 25% of Motorola's outstanding stock.
New Century Financial Corp. (NYSE:NEW - News) was upgraded to peer perform from underperform at Bear Stearns.
Oracle Corp. (NasdaqGS:ORCL - News) confirmed that it was buying business performance management software maker Hyperion Solutions Corp. (NasdaqGS:HYSL - News) in a deal valued at $3.3 billion, or $52 a share. The per-share bid represents a 21% premium to Hyperion's closing price of $42.84 on Wednesday. Oracle said the acquisition, which is expected to close in April, should to add 1 cent a share to fiscal 2008 earnings on an adjusted basis, and 4 cents a share to fiscal 2009 results.
Parallel Petroleum (NasdaqGM:PLLL - News) reported fourth-quarter earnings of $11.1 million, or 29 cents a share. In the same period a year earlier, the company earned $8.4 million, or 24 cents a share. The latest results include a $9 million pre-tax gain on an asset sale, and a $2.8 million gain related to the fair market value of derivative instruments and ineffective portion of hedges.
PharmaNet Development (NasdaqGS:PDGI - News) posted adjusted earnings of $6.8 million, or 36 cents a share, for the fourth quarter, and forecast an adjusted profit of $1.06 to $1.21 a share for fiscal 2007.
PRG-Schultz International (NasdaqGM:PRGX - News) reported a fourth-quarter loss of $2.9 million, or 43 cents a share, narrower than a year-ago loss of $175.8 million, or $28.32 a share.
Smith Micro Software Inc.'s (NasdaqGM:SMSI - News) fourth-quarter net income rose 63% to $3.61 million, or 14 cents a share, from $2.21 million, or 9 cents a share, a year earlier. The Aliso Viejo, Calif., developer and marketer of software products and services said revenue more than doubled to $17.2 million from $8 million a year ago.
Stats Chippac Ltd. (NasdaqGS:STTS - News) shares surged after Temasek Holdings Ltd. said it would launch a cash offer, through its subsidiary Singapore Technologies Semiconductors Ltd., for the remaining shares in Stats Chippac that it does not already own. Temasek currently holds a 35.6% stake in the semiconductor test company. Temasek, Singapore's state-owned investment company, is offering S$1.75 per share and S$17.50 per American Depositary share in cash. If the offer results in Temasek owning more than 90% of Stats Chippac, Temasek will raise the offer price to S$1.88 per share and S$18.80 per ADS.
Sun-Times Media Group (NYSE:SVN - News) said it received a favorable review on its international tax liability from representatives of a foreign taxing authority.
Todco (NYSE:THE - News) said its fourth-quarter net income roughly tripled to $64.1 million, or $1.11 a share, from $21.2 million, or 34 cents a share, a year earlier. Revenue for the quarter rose 73% to $260.1 million. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial were expecting earnings of $1.01 a share on revenue of $255 million. Todco said the improved performance was largely due to improved utilization and higher day-rates.
Published By MarketWatch

Labels: AAPL, CTB, DISH, DLM, GEF, HNAB, HYSL, KR, LBIX, LDG, MANT, MOT, MSO, NEW, ORCL, PDGI, PLLL, PRGX, STTS, TRAK

Here are 7 options to watch for today. This list comes directly from the TradingMarkets Options Indicators page. The list is created using OptionVue options analysis software.
Most Under Priced Calls: These are the most under priced calls of all stocks in our database. While the Equities Explosion List finds groups of calls for individual equities that are under priced, this list finds the most under priced individual calls. Thus, the options listed here will tend to be more severely under priced.
Bear Sterns Apr 165 Calls (NYSE:BSC - News). BSC's PowerRating is 7.
Most Under Priced Puts: These are the most under priced puts of all stocks in our database. While the Equities Explosion List finds groups of puts for individual equities that are under priced, this list finds the most under priced individual puts. Thus, the options listed here will tend to be more severely under priced.
Frontline Ltd. Mar 35 Puts (NYSE:FRO - News). FRO's PowerRating is 4.
Most Overpriced Calls: These are the most overpriced calls of all stocks in our database. While the Equities Implosion List finds groups of calls for individual equities that are overpriced, this list finds the most overpriced individual calls. Thus, the options listed here will tend to be more severely overpriced.
EchoStar Communications Corp. Mar 40 Calls (NasdaqGS:DISH - News). DISH's PowerRating is 7.
Most Overpriced Puts: These are the most overpriced puts of all stocks in our database. While the Equities Implosion List finds groups of puts for individual equities that are overpriced, this list finds the most overpriced individual puts. Thus, the options listed here will tend to be more severely overpriced.
Weyerhaeuser Co. Mar 85 (NYSE:WY - News). WY's PowerRating is 5.
Stocks with Abnormal Call Volume: These are stocks which showed unusual call option volume not easily explained by arbitrage operations. The appearance of a stock on the Call Volume Alerts list suggests a possible takeover, extraordinarily good earnings report, or other news which may favorably affect the stock.
Worthington Industries (NYSE:WOR - News). WOR's PowerRating is 6.
Stocks with Abnormal Put Volume: These are stocks which showed unusual put option volume not easily explained by arbitrage operations. The appearance of a stock on the Put Volume Alerts list suggests an extraordinarily negative earnings report, or other news which may negatively affect the stock.
USANA Health Sciences (NasdaqGS:USNA - News). USNA's PowerRating is 7.
Abnormal Put/Call $ Volume: These stocks have the highest dollar put volume in relation to their call volume. These high ratios are indicative of extreme bearish sentiment in the underlying stock.
Lowe's Companies (NYSE:LOW - News). LOW's PowerRating is 6.
PowerRatings are courtesy of TradingMarkets.com

Labels: BSC, DISH, FRO, LOW, stock options, USNA, WOR, WY

AdvancersAvanir Pharmaceuticals (NasdaqGM:AVNR - News) received an approvable letter and acceptable labeling from the FDA for a new formulation of its antipsychotic drug FazaClo.
Boeing Co. (NYSE:BA - News) net income more than doubled in the fourth quarter, capping a year in which it set a record for airplane orders and setting the stage for higher growth in 2007, the company said.
Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY - News) shares rose following a report in The Financial Times that the company has hired Lehman Bros., Morgan Stanley and Citigroup to help it field possible takeover bids. Earlier in the week, a report surfaced that the company had drawn acquisition interest from French conglomerate Sanofi-Aventis (NYSE:SNY - News).
Catalyst Pharmaceutical Partners (NasdaqGM:CPRX - News) was initiated with a buy rating at Stifel Nicolaus with a $9 price target.
C.H. Robinson Worldwide Inc. (NasdaqGS:CHRW - News) reported fourth-quarter net income of $71.8 million, or 41 cents a share, up from $58.1 million, or 33 cents, a year ago. Quarterly revenue for the trucking company rose to $1.64 billion from $1.58 billion.
CheckFree Corp. (NasdaqGS:CKFR - News) reported a slight profit gain on advances in its core business. For its fiscal second-quarter, CheckFree said net income rose 4% to $35.3 million or 39 cents a share, compared to $33.8 million or 36 cents a share a year ago.
Corus Group Plc (NYSE:CGA - News) shares leapt after India's Tata Steel won a bidding war to acquire the Anglo-Dutch steelmaker for $12.1 billion.
EchoStar Communications (NasdaqGS:DISH - News) was upgraded to overweight from equal-weight at Morgan Stanley. The firm lifted its price target on the shares to $44 from $40.
Estee Lauder (NYSE:EL - News) shot up after the cosmetics giant said its second-quarter profit more than doubled amid robust sales of major lines coupled with cost cutting and a favorably currency exchange.
Frontier Oil (NYSE:FTO - News) was upgraded to neutral from underperform at Credit Suisse.
Harris Corp. (NYSE:HRS - News) said second-quarter net income rose, as revenue gained, to $94 million, or 67 cents a share, from $30 million, or 22 cents a share, during the same period in the prior year. Before items, quarterly per-share income rose to 68 cents from 52 cents in the prior year.
Harris Stratex Networks (NasdaqGM:HSTX - News) was initiated with a buy rating at Merriman Curhan Ford & Co.
Hologic Inc. (NasdaqGS:HOLX - News) reported fiscal first-quarter earnings of $16.1 million, or 30 cents a share, up from a year-ago profit of $5.7 million, or 12 cents a share. Revenue jumped 86% in the latest three months to $163.2 million from $88 million in the same period a year earlier. The Bedford, Mass.-based company attributed the higher earnings to an increase in product sales of its Selenia full-field digital mammography systems.
Ingersoll-Rand (NYSE:IR - News) fourth-quarter earnings fell 24% as sales of its small earthmover Bobcat vehicle slumped due to weaker demand in the North American market, the company's financial results showed Wednesday.
Jones Lang LaSalle Inc. (NYSE:JLL - News) said fourth-quarter net income rose, as revenue gained, to $80.9 million, or $2.37 a share, from $66.9 million, or $1.99 a share, during the same period in the prior year. Analysts were looking for per-share income of $2.26.
Kinetic Concepts (NYSE:KCI - News) was upgraded to buy from hold at Deutsche Bank.
Levitt Corp. (NYSE:LEV - News) agreed to be acquired by BFC Financial Corp. (NYSEArca:BFF - News) for $286 million in stock. In addition, Levitt said preliminary figures show its home building division generated fourth-quarter revenue of $143.6 million, with 426 homes delivered in the quarter at a margin of 19.6%. Backlog at Dec. 31 was 1,248 units with a sales value of $438.2 million. New home orders totaled 204, but were partly offset by 122 cancellations. The company said it has entered into sales contracts to dispose of certain properties and is expected to realize a pre-tax loss of $9.0 million upon disposition, and will write-off $1.4 million in pre-acquisition costs for properties which will not be acquired.
Lone Star Technologies (NYSE:LSS - News) said its fourth-quarter earnings fell to $18.1 million, or 58 cents a share, from $70.9 million, or $2.28 a share, a year earlier, hurt by an income-tax expense. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial expected, on average, quarterly earnings of 58 cents a share, before items. The Dallas oilfield pipe and tubing company's revenue for the quarter decreased to $334.8 million from $337.5 million a year ago. Wall Street expected quarterly revenue of $334 million.
New York Times Co. (NYSE:NYT - News) swung to a fourth-quarter loss after an $814 million charge for write-downs, staff-reduction costs and accelerated depreciation.
Omnicell (NasdaqGM:OMCL - News) shares jumped after the company posted fourth-quarter earnings of $3.8 million, or 13 cents a share, up from a year-ago profit of $2.2 million, or 8 cents a share. Revenue rose 26.4% in the latest three months to $42.3 million. The Mountain View, Calif., provider of patient safety technology products said its product backlog ended the quarter at $114.3 million, up 64.2% from the same period a year ago.
O'Reilly Automotive (NasdaqGS:ORLY - News) was upgraded to outperform from neutral at Credit Suisse. The firm lifted its price target on the stock to $38 from $36.
Quicksilver Resources (NYSE:KWK - News) was upgraded to outperform from neutral at Credit Suisse. The firm also boosted its price target on the stock to $47 from $43.
Panera Bread Co. (NasdaqGS:PNRA - News) said same bakery-cafe sales rose 0.8% in January from the same month a year ago. The St. Louis bakery-cafe chain said company-owned same-store sales rose 0.7% while franchise-operated sales were up 0.9%.
ProQuest (NYSE:PQE - News) said Alan Aldworth is leaving its chairman, president and CEO positions, effective immediately. The company named Richard Surratt president and CEO. Surratt had served as the CFO of the Ann Arbor, Mich., publishing company.
RedEnvelope Inc. (NasdaqGM:REDE - News) said third-quarter net income rose, as revenue gained, to $5.31 million, or 56 cents a share, from $4.1 million, or 43 cents a share, during the same period in the prior year. The branded online retailer said quarterly revenue rose to $57 million from $53 million in the prior year.
Red Robin Gourmet Burgers Inc. (NasdaqGS:RRGB - News) said it has signed a non-binding letter of intent to acquire the assets of 17 its franchised restaurants in California for $47.5 million, minus any assumed debt.
Sierra Health Services Inc. (NYSE:SIE - News) reported fourth-quarter net earnings of $39.3 million, or 65 cents a share, compared with $28.3 million, or 44 cents a share, in the same period last year, boosted by higher medical premiums revenue.
Sirf Technology Holdings Inc. (NasdaqGS:SIRF - News) reported fourth-quarter net earnings of $9.1 million, down from $10.23 million in the same period the prior year, mainly due to higher stock-based compensation and acquisition-related contingent payments.
U.S. Concrete (NasdaqGM:RMIX - News) said it sees fourth-quarter revenue of $211 million, compared with its prior view of $195 million to $205 million. The company cited stronger-than-anticipated sales volumes of ready-mixed concrete, partially attributable to relatively mild winter conditions. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial are looking for quarterly revenue of $204 million. U.S. Concrete said it sees a fourth-quarter net loss of 62 cents to 63 cents per share, a view that includes a 70-cent-per-share after-tax goodwill impairment charge associated with its Michigan assets. Excluding the charge, the company expects income for the fourth quarter of 7 to 8 cents per share, compared with its November outlook of 3 to 7 cents. Analysts are looking for per-share income of 5 cents.
Published by Michael Baron at MarketWatch

Labels: AVNR, BA, BMY, CGA, CHRW, CKFR, CPRX, DISH, EL, FTO, HOLX, HRS, HSTX, IR, JLL, KCI, SNY

Avanir Pharmaceuticals (NasdaqGM:AVNR - News) received an approvable letter and acceptable labeling from the FDA for a new formulation of its antipsychotic drug FazaClo.
Boeing Co. (NYSE:BA - News) reported fourth-quarter earnings of $989 million, or $1.29 a share, up from a year-ago profit of $460 million, or 58 cents a share. On a continuing operations basis, the Dow component earned $980 million, or $1.28 a share, in the latest quarter. On an adjusted basis, excluding tax benefits as well as discontinued operations, the Chicago-based aerospace giant earned $1.16 a share, in the latest quarter, compared to 74 cents a share last year. Revenue rose in the three months ended Dec. 31 to $17.54 billion from $13.9 billion in the same period a year earlier. The average estimate of analysts polled by Thomson First Call was for a profit of 98 cents a share in the December period on revenue of $16.48 billion. The company also lifted its outlook for fiscal 2007 to earnings of $4.55 to $4.75 a share. The current average estimate of analysts polled by Thomson Financial is for a profit of $4.75 a share for the year. It forecast earnings of $5.55 to $5.75 a share for fiscal 2008, saying this view reflects expectations for strong revenue growth and expanding margins across all of its businesses.
Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY - News) shares rose following a report in The Financial Times that the company has hired Lehman Bros., Morgan Stanley and Citigroup to help it field possible takeover bids. Earlier in the week, a report surfaced that the company had drawn acquisition interest from French conglomerate Sanofi-Aventis (NYSE:SNY - News).
Catalyst Pharmaceutical Partners (NasdaqGM:CPRX - News) was initiated with a buy rating at Stifel Nicolaus with a $9 price target.
C.H. Robinson Worldwide Inc. (NasdaqGS:CHRW - News) reported fourth-quarter net income of $71.8 million, or 41 cents a share, up from $58.1 million, or 33 cents, a year ago. Quarterly revenue for the trucking company rose to $1.64 billion from $1.58 billion.
CheckFree Corp. (NasdaqGS:CKFR - News) reported a slight profit gain on advances in its core business. For its fiscal second-quarter, CheckFree said net income rose 4% to $35.3 million or 39 cents a share, compared to $33.8 million or 36 cents a share a year ago.
Corus Group Plc (NYSE:CGA - News) shares leapt after India's Tata Steel won a bidding war to acquire the Anglo-Dutch steelmaker for $12.1 billion.
EchoStar Communications (NasdaqGS:DISH - News) was upgraded to overweight from equal-weight at Morgan Stanley. The firm lifted its price target on the shares to $44 from $40.
Estee Lauder (NYSE:EL - News) said its fiscal second-quarter net income more than doubled to $208.4 million, or 99 cents a share, from $81.7 million, or 38 cents a share, a year earlier. The New York cosmetics company said second-quarter income from continuing operations increased 39% to $208.5 million, or 99 cents a share, from $150.4 million, or 70 cents a share, and net sales advanced 12% to $1.99 billion from $1.78 billion. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial, on average, had been expecting Estee Lauder to earn 76 cents a share on net sales of $1.91 billion for the second quarter ended Dec. 31. The maker of Aveda and Clinique products expects third-quarter earnings from continuing operations to be about flat from a year earlier as sales rise 4% to 6%.
Frontier Oil (NYSE:FTO - News) was upgraded to neutral from underperform at Credit Suisse.
Harris Corp. (NYSE:HRS - News) said second-quarter net income rose, as revenue gained, to $94 million, or 67 cents a share, from $30 million, or 22 cents a share, during the same period in the prior year. Before items, quarterly per-share income rose to 68 cents from 52 cents in the prior year.
Harris Stratex Networks (NasdaqGM:HSTX - News) was initiated with a buy rating at Merriman Curhan Ford & Co.
Hologic Inc. (NasdaqGS:HOLX - News) reported fiscal first-quarter earnings of $16.1 million, or 30 cents a share, up from a year-ago profit of $5.7 million, or 12 cents a share. Revenue jumped 86% in the latest three months to $163.2 million from $88 million in the same period a year earlier. The Bedford, Mass.-based company attributed the higher earnings to an increase in product sales of its Selenia full-field digital mammography systems.
Ingersoll-Rand (NYSE:IR - News) said fourth-quarter net income for the three months ended Dec. 31 fell to $222 million, or 72 cents a share, from $291.6 million, or 87 cents a share in the year-ago period. Earnings from continuing operations in the latest quarter were 74 cents a share. Revenue increased by 7% to $2.89 billion. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial forecast earnings of 73 cents a share, on average. Full-year 2007 earnings from continuing operations are forecasted at $3.61 to $3.71 a share, compared to the Thomson Financial estimate of $3.55 a share.
Jones Lang LaSalle Inc. (NYSE:JLL - News) said fourth-quarter net income rose, as revenue gained, to $80.9 million, or $2.37 a share, from $66.9 million, or $1.99 a share, during the same period in the prior year. Analysts were looking for per-share income of $2.26.
Kinetic Concepts (NYSE:KCI - News) was upgraded to buy from hold at Deutsche Bank.
Levitt Corp. (NYSE:LEV - News) agreed to be acquired by BFC Financial Corp. (NYSEArca:BFF - News) for $286 million in stock. In addition, Levitt said preliminary figures show its home building division generated fourth-quarter revenue of $143.6 million, with 426 homes delivered in the quarter at a margin of 19.6%. Backlog at Dec. 31 was 1,248 units with a sales value of $438.2 million. New home orders totaled 204, but were partly offset by 122 cancellations. The company said it has entered into sales contracts to dispose of certain properties and is expected to realize a pre-tax loss of $9.0 million upon disposition, and will write-off $1.4 million in pre-acquisition costs for properties which will not be acquired.
Lone Star Technologies (NYSE:LSS - News) said its fourth-quarter earnings fell to $18.1 million, or 58 cents a share, from $70.9 million, or $2.28 a share, a year earlier, hurt by an income-tax expense. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial expected, on average, quarterly earnings of 58 cents a share, before items. The Dallas oilfield pipe and tubing company's revenue for the quarter decreased to $334.8 million from $337.5 million a year ago. Wall Street expected quarterly revenue of $334 million.
New York Times Co. (NYSE:NYT - News) swung to a fourth-quarter loss on an $814 million charge for the write-down of intangible assets at the New England Media Group, staff-reduction costs and accelerated depreciation of its Edison, N.J., printing plant. The New York media company reported a fourth-quarter loss of $648 million, or $4.50 a share, compared with earnings of $63.2 million, or 43 cents, a year earlier. Excluding the charges, the company earned $87.9 million, or 61 cents a share, in the latest quarter. The company said revenue for the three months ended Dec. 31 rose 4.3% to $931.5 million from $893.1 million a year ago. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial expected, on average, earnings of 46 cents a share on revenue of $904 million. Analyst earnings forecasts typically exclude unusual items. In addition, New York Times Co. said it expects to complete the sale of its Broadcast Media group for $575 million in the first half of 2007.
Published By MarketWatch

Labels: AVNR, BA, BFF, BMY, CGA, CHRW, CKFR, CPRX, DISH, EL, FTO, HOLX, HRS, HSTX, JLL, KCI, LEV, LSS, NYT, SNY

Bullish calls:
Yamana Gold (NYSE: AUY - News): ' I have walked away from KRY and endorsed AUY.'Hydril (NasdaqGS: HYDL): 'As long as oil is north of $40, you are going to be safe there, because it just doesn't make any sense not to use hydro products. I am buying that stock.'DirecTV (NYSE: DTV -