Jim Cramer Blog

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
Gaps Down 5% or More: These are stocks that gap down by 5% or more and are trading above their 200-day moving average. Our research shows that stocks trading above their 200-day moving average that gap down by more than 5% have shown positive returns, on average, 1-day, 2-days and 1-week later. Historically, these stocks have provided traders with a significant edge.
MedImmune (NasdaqGS:MEDI - News). MEDI's PowerRating is 6.
Laps Down 5% or More: These are stocks that lap down by 5% or more and are trading above their 200-day moving average. Our research shows that stocks trading above their 200-day moving average that lap down by more than 5% have shown positive returns, on average, 1-day, 2-days and 1-week later. Historically, these stocks have provided traders with a significant edge.
Maguire Properties (NYSE:MPG - News). MPG's PowerRating is 5.
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.
Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT - News). ABT's PowerRating is 6.
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.
Apache Corporation (NYSE:APA - News)
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.
Cognos (NasdaqGS:COGN - News). COGN's PowerRating is 7.
Stocks Down 10% or More: These are stocks that have lost 10% or more over the past five days and are trading above their 200-day moving average. Our research shows that stocks trading above their 200-day moving average that have lost 10% or more over the past five 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.
Genomic Health (NasdaqGM:GHDX - News). GHDX's PowerRating is 7.
Bearish
2-Period RSI Above 98: These are stocks that have a 2-period RSI reading above 98 and are trading below their 200-day moving average. Our research shows that stocks trading below their 200-day moving with a 2-period RSI reading above 98 have shown negative returns, on average, 1-day and 1-week later. Historically, these stocks have provided traders with a significant edge.
Valassis Communications (NYSE:VCI - News). VCI's PowerRating is 2.
PowerRatings are courtesy of PowerRatings.net

Labels: ABT, APA, COGN, GHDX, Hot Stocks, MEDI, MPG, VCI

Adams Respiratory Therapeutics (NasdaqGS:ARXT - News) said its fiscal second-quarter net profit rose 16.8% to $12.5 million, or 34 cents a share, from $10.7 million, or 29 cents a share. Revenue for the quarter jumped 75% to $110.6 million due to accelerating sales of Mucinex, the acquisition of Delsym and the launch of its children's Mucinex products. The company said it continues to anticipate the gross margin for its guaifenesin product to be around 80% of net sales in fiscal 2007.
American Commercial Lines (NasdaqGS:ACLI - News) said its fourth-quarter net income rose sharply to $35 million, or 56 cents a share, from $8.6 million, or 14 cents a share, a year earlier. Results were boosted by a gain of $4.8 million, or 8 cents a share, on the sale of its Venezuelan operations. The Jeffersonville, Ind., integrated marine transportation and service provider's revenue rose 18% to $265.9 million from $225.6 million a year earlier. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial expected, on average, revenue of $296.9 million. The company said it approved a two-for-one stock split, to be distributed as a stock dividend Feb. 20 to shareholders of record Wednesday. Fourth-quarter results reflect the stock split.
Aquila (NYSE:ILA - News) shares slid after the company agreed to sell certain gas utility operations in Colorado, Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska to Black Hills Corp. (NYSE:BKH - News) for $940 million. Kansas City, Mo.-based Aquila also said it's agreed to be acquired by Great Plains Energy (NYSE:GXP - News) in a cash and stock deal valued at $1.7 billion. The Black Hills' asset purchase will be completely just after the closure of the Aquila/Great Plains deal. The Great Plains' proposal calls for the acquisition of Aquila and its Missouri-based electric utility assets for $1.80 in cash plus 0.0856 of Great Plains' stock for each Aquila share, a value of $4.54 based on Tuesday's close. Great Plains is also set to assume about $1 billion in Aquila debt. Following the closing of the deal, Aquila shareholders will own about 27% of Great Plains' common stock.
Aspect Medical Systems (NasdaqGM:ASPM - News) said it expects non-GAAP earnings of 6 to 8 cents a share on revenue of $22.6 million to $23.6 million for the first quarter. Wall Street's current consensus estimate is for a profit of 16 cents a share in the March period.
Atwood Oceanics Inc. (NYSE:ATW - News) reported first-quarter net earnings of $21.1 million, or 67 cents a share, up from $14.5 million, or 47 cents a share, during the year-ago period. The Houston-based drilling contractor posted revenue of $88.8 million vs. $55.4 million.
CB Richard Ellis Group Inc. (NYSE:CBG - News) said fourth-quarter net income rose, buoyed by "strong" leasing activity, to $125.1 million, or 53 cents a share, from $95.4 million, or 41 cents a share, during the same period in the prior year.
Centene Corp. (NYSE:CNC - News) shares declined after the managed care provider was downgraded to sell from neutral at Merrill Lynch on valuation. The move comes after Centene posted a fourth-quarter profit that was flat compared with the same quarter last year. "Centene is up nearly 90% since sharply disappointing last summer and we think shares have gotten ahead of themselves," analyst Doug Simpson wrote in a research note. Simpson cut his 2007 per-share profit forecast to $1.45 from $1.59 and set a 2008 outlook of $1.63. "[W]e believe the other Medicaid managed care names we cover have better visibility on operating earnings than Centene," he wrote.
Cheesecake Factory (NasdaqGS:CAKE - News) said its fourth-quarter income was off from the prior year's levels, but the casual dining restaurateur's sales climbed 18%, thanks to increased traffic at its Grand Lux outlets.
Corporate Executive Board Co. (NasdaqGS:EXBD - News) said its fourth-quarter net income rose 8.9% to $23.2 million, or 58 cents a share, from $21.3 million, or 52 cents a share, a year earlier. The company, which provides business research and gives executive seminars, said excluding share-based compensation, adjusted income for the quarter was 68 cents a share, up from 52 cents a share a year earlier. Sales rose 26% to $125.5 million from $99.8 million.
Dean Foods (NYSE:DF - News) said its fourth-quarter earnings rose to $73 million, or 53 cents a share, from $66.2 million, or 45 cents a share, a year earlier. Excluding discontinued operations, facility closings and the effect of an accounting change, Dallas-based Dean said it earned 61 cents a share in the quarter. Dean Foods said Wednesday that net sales fell to $2.59 billion from $2.62 billion a year earlier. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial, on average, expected earnings of 61 cents a share on revenue of $2.59 billion. For 2007, Dean Foods forecasts adjusted per-share earnings of $2.33 to $2.38. Wall Street, on average, is looking for full-year earnings $2.38 a share.
EGL Inc. (NasdaqGS:EAGL - News) shares tumbled after the Houston-based logistics company said it has been notified by General Atlantic LLC that it has withdrawn as an equity sponsor from the offer made by James Crane, the company's chief executive and largest shareholder, to acquire EGL for $36 a share in cash. General Atlantic indicated that it is pulling out of the offer because of an expected shortfall in EGL's fourth quarter results, EGL said. The company said its results will be negatively impacted by an 8% decline in revenue per shipment at the company's domestic freight forwarding division compared to last year. The company's results are also expected to be hit by higher-than-expected operating expenses. Crane plans to present a revised acquisition offer with a new equity commitment, EGL said.
Encore Wire (NasdaqGS:WIRE - News) shares dropped after the McKinney, Texas-based maker of copper electrical wire reported fourth-quarter net earnings of $6.18 million, or 26 cents a share, down from $35.4 million, or $1.50 a share, last year. Revenue in the three months ended Dec. 31 was $262.3 million, down from $244.2 million in the year-ago period.
Equity Residential Properties Trust reported fourth-quarter net earnings of $465.1 million vs. $225.9 million during the year-ago period. Net income available to common shareholders was $457.6 million, or $1.54 a share, compared with $215.2 million, or 74 cents a share, a year ago. The company was also downgraded to hold at Citigroup.
FMC Corp. (NYSE:FMC - News) said fourth-quarter net income fell, as restructuring charges rose, to $12.9 million, or 33 cents a share, from $25.3 million, or 64 cents a share, during the same period in the prior year.
Forest Laboratories (NYSE:FRX - News) was downgraded to sell at Citigroup.
Genomic Health (NasdaqGM:GHDX - News) shares fell after the Redwood City, Calif.-based company posted a fourth-quarter net loss of $9 million, or 37 cents a share, compared with $8.22 million, or 34 cents a share, last year. Revenue increased to $8.62 million from $1.93 million. Genomic Health forecast a 2007 net loss of $27 million to $30 million on revenue of $57 million to $63 million.
Gerdau Ameristeel Corp. (NYSE:GNA - News) reported fourth-quarter earnings of $69.4 million, or 23 cents a share, down from a year-ago profit of $80.4 million, or 26 cents a share. Sales rose in the latest three months to $1.04 billion from $934.2 million in the same period a year earlier. The average estimate of analysts polled by Thomson First Call was for a profit of 29 cents a share in the December period. The company also said its board has approved a special dividend of 27 cents per common share, payable on March 9 to shareholders of record on Feb. 22. Gerdau also said it's budgeted $250 million in capital investments for 2007.
MedImmune (NasdaqGS:MEDI - News) shares fell after the company reported a fourth-quarter profit of $120.7 million, or 50 cents a share, from a loss of $22.4 million, or 9 cents, a year earlier on 7.5% sales growth. Excluding share-based compensation and other items, the Gaithersburg, Md., company's adjusted earnings climbed to 64 cents a share from 8 cents a year ago. MedImmune said Wednesday fourth-quarter revenue increased to $528.7 million from $492 million, with sales of respiratory drug Synagis up 6% and sales of the FluMist flu vaccine more than doubling from a year ago. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial, on average, expected the drug maker to earn 54 cents a share and generate revenue of $555.5 million for the latest fourth quarter. For 2007, MedImmune expects to earn 90 to 95 cents a share on revenue of about $1.5 billion.
By Michael Baron

Labels: ACLI, ARXT, ASPM, ATW, BKH, CAKE, CBG, CNC, DF, EAGL, EXBD, FMC, FRX, GHDX, GNA, GXP, ILA, MEDI, WIRE

Alaska Communications (NasdaqGM:ALSK - News) was downgraded to underweight from equal weight at Lehman Bros.
Allied Capital Corp. (NYSE:ALD - News) agreed to sell its portfolio company, Palm Coast Data Holdco Inc., to Kable Media Services Inc., a unit of Amrep Corp. (NYSE:AXR - News). The value of the transaction was $92 million.
Blackbaud Inc. (NasdaqGS:BLKB - News) acquired privately owned sister companies Target Software Inc. and Target Analysis Group Inc. for $60 million, plus up to an additional $2.4 million under a 1-year earn-out arrangement. Blackbaud sees the acquisition cutting earnings per share, before items, in 2007 by 3 to 6 cents.
Cheesecake Factory Inc. (NasdaqGS:CAKE - News) said Peter D'Amelio, president and chief operating officer of the restaurant division, is leaving for personal reasons, effective Feb. 2. The company is searching for a replacement.
Cosi (NasdaqGM:COSI - News) was downgraded to buy from strong buy at Wedbush Morgan.
Fortunet Inc. (NasdaqGM:FNET - News) was initiated with a hold rating at W.R. Hambrecht & Co.
Fulton Financial (NasdaqGS:FULT - News) said fourth-quarter net income rose, as interest income gained, to $46.6 million, or 27 cents a share, from $40.9 million, or 25 cents a share, during the same period in the prior year. The Lancaster, Pa.-based financial holding company said quarterly net interest income rose to $121.7 million from $107.9 million in the prior year.
Genomic Health (NasdaqGM:GHDX - News) was downgraded to equal weight from overweight at Lehman Bros. on valuation concerns.
Health Care Property Investors Inc. (NYSE:HCP - News) priced a public offering of 6.77 million of its shares. The real estate investment focusing on healthcare facilities said it has granted underwriters a 10-day option to purchase an additional 1.02 million shares.
Indymac (NYSE:NDE - News) was downgraded to market perform from market outperform at JMP Securities.
Intel (NasdaqGS:INTC - News) said fourth-quarter profit dropped 39% as the world's largest chipmaker cut prices and boosted investment, attempting to beat back a challenge from smaller rival Advanced Micro Devices.
Isis Pharmaceuticals' (NasdaqGM:ISIS - News) shares slumped after the Carlsbad, Calif.-based company said late Tuesday it plans to raise roughly $125 million through an offering of convertible subordinated notes due 2027 in a private placement. Isis also plans to grant the initial purchasers a 30-day option to buy up to an additional $37.5 million of convertible notes. The company said it will use the proceeds of the offering repurchase, retire or repay its 5.5% convertible subordinated notes due 2009 and for general corporate purposes.
Linear Tech (NasdaqGS:LLTC - News) said second-quarter net earnings rose slightly to $105 million, or 34 cents a share, from $103.2 million, or 33 cents, last year, as sales were virtually flat. Excluding stock-based compensation, the company posted per-share earnings of 39 cents vs. 36 cents last year.
Polycom (NasdaqGS:PLCM - News) was downgraded to hold from buy at Wedbush Morgan.
Rackable Systems Inc. (NasdaqGS:RACK - News) said it expects fourth-quarter results to range from a net loss of $683,000, or 2 cents a share, to net earnings of $194,000, or 1 cent a share. The company said it is "disappointed" it did not meet its per-share earnings and gross margin goals, citing higher-than-expected DDR memory pricing and intense competition as reasons for the missed targets.
Ryanair Holdings (NasdaqGS:RYAAY - News) was downgraded to hold from buy at Citigroup Investment Research.
Southwest Airlines (NYSE:LUV - News) reported fourth-quarter net income fell 19% on 15% higher revenue. Earnings fell to $57 million, or 7 cents a share, from $70 million, or 9 cents, in the year-earlier period. Excluding special items, earnings were 12 cents against 10 cents. Revenue reached $2.28 billion from $1.99 billion. A survey of analysts by Thomson First Call produced a consensus estimate of 12 cents of profit on $2.28 billion of revenue. Southwest said it hopes in 2007 to exceed its target of 15% growth in earnings per share excluding special items. For the first quarter, Southwest said it's 100% hedged for jet-fuel prices at the equivalent of an average of $50 a barrel of crude. That's compared with the year-earlier period's level of 75% hedged at $36 a barrel.
Trustmark Corp. (NasdaqGS:TRMK - News) reported fourth-quarter net earnings of $29.4 million, or 50 cents a share, up 6% from $27.7 million, or 50 cents a share, during the year-ago period. There were 59.1 million shares outstanding during the compared with 56 million a year ago.
UST Inc. (NYSE:UST - News) was downgraded to neutral from buy at UBS. The firm cited valuation.
Weyerhaeuser (NYSE:WY - News) was downgraded to neutral from buy at UBS. The firm cite weaker fundamentals.
World Acceptance Corp. (NasdaqGS:WRLD - News) was downgraded to hold from buy at Jefferies & Co., citing valuation. The firm also cut its price target on the stock to $49 from $53.

Labels: ALD, ALSK, AXR, BLKB, CAKE, COSI, FNET, FULT, GHDX, HCP, INTC, ISIS, LLTC, LUV, NDE, PLCM, RACK, RYAAY, TRMK

Alcoa (NYSE:AA - News) shares rose Wednesday as its fourth-quarter earnings report sparked cheers in the financial markets.
Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL - News) shares rose to another all-time high Wednesday as investors continued to throw their support behind the company, its new high-end iPhone and its push into consumer-products markets.
Audiovox Corp. (NASDAQ:VOXX - News) said it swung to third-quarter net income, as the cost of sales fell, of $3.85 million, or 17 cents a share. During the same period in the prior year, the company reported a net loss of $10.3 million, or 46 cents a share.
Carrington Laboratories Inc. (NASDAQ:CARN - News) said Wednesday its subsidiary, DelSite Biotechnologies Inc., has granted a non-exclusive license to EndoBiologics Inc. for the development of vaccines against bacillary dysentery and other bacterial diseases using DelSite's nasal powder vaccine delivery technology. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Irving, Texas-based Carrington said the goal of the program is to develop needle-free vaccines that can be stored without refrigeration.
Cell Therapeutics (NASDAQ:CTIC - News) filed for a special protocol assessment for the design of its phase III trial of Xyotax for women with advanced lung cancer with the Food and Drug Administration.
Choice Hotels International Inc. (NYSE:CHH - News) was upgraded to peer perform from underperform at Bear Stearns.
CKE Restaurants (NYSE:CKR - News) said December same-store sales rose 7.4%. The owner of Carl's Jr. and Hardee's also said it'll boost its stock repurchasing plan by $50 million.
Cosi (NASDAQ:COSI - News) said it expects earnings before stock compensation expense of between 8 to 12 cents a share for fiscal 2007 on revenue of between $150 million and $155 million for company-owned locations. For 2008, the Deerfield, Ill., restaurant chain sees earnings of 35 to 45 cents a share before stock compensation expense. Cosi sees a loss of 18 cents a share for 2006, excluding stock based compensation with revenue growing 8.3% to $126.9 million.
Delta Air Lines Inc. (Other OTC:DALRQ.PK - News) shares rose after U.S. Airways Group raised its hostile merger bid for Delta.
Digimarc (NASDAQ:DMRC - News) shares jumped after the company said it expects revenue of between $110 million and $117 million for fiscal 2007, a level that would represent growth of 5%-10%. The Beaverton, Ore., developer of secure identity and media management technology products said the revenue could be higher depending upon the timing and impact of continuing market adoption of digital watermarking as well as expanded sales to existing U.S. driver license customers. The company also entered a licensing agreement with USA Video Interactive Corp. (OTC BB:USVO.OB - News). The deal calls for the licensing of Digimarc's digital watermarking patents to USA Video for use in forensic tracking applications of certain video products.
EXFO Electro-Optical Engineering (NASDAQ:EXFO - News) shares jumped after the company reported first-quarter earnings of $3.5 million, or 5 cents a share, up from a year-ago profit of $400,000, or a penny per share, in the same period a year earlier. The latest results included costs of $900,000 related to amortization of intangible assets and $300,000 from stock-based compensation. Sales at the Canadian provider of test and measurement equipment for telecommunications applications surged 31.4% in the first quarter to $35.5 million.
Genomic Health Inc. (NASDAQ:GHDX - News) signed a national payor contract with United HealthCare Insurance Co., an affiliate of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - News) for Oncotype DX, Genomic Health 's test service. The agreement establishes coverage across all of UnitedHealthCare's plans for women with early-stage breast cancer, Genomic Health said. Coverage is scheduled to become effective for claims performed on or after Jan. 3. The Oncotype DX test quantifies the likelihood of breast cancer recurrence and predicts the likelihood of chemotherapy benefit.
Shares of ImClone Systems Inc. (NASDAQ:IMCL - News) soared after the company reported its Erbitux cancer treatment passed a key test in treating metastatic colorectal cancer.
Innkeepers USA Trust (NYSE:KPA - News) was upgraded to buy from hold at Stifel Nicolaus.
Innodata Isogen (NASDAQ:INOD - News) shares rose after the Hackensack, N.J.-based provider of IT and business process outsourcing services said it has secured several new projects in the fourth quarter which the company expects will produce roughly $9 million in revenues in 2007. "We project that revenues for 2007 will include an approximately $40 million head start consisting of the $9 million we are announcing today, $6 million from existing one-time projects, and $26 million of recurring revenue," said Steve Ford, the company's chief executive, in a statement. "This compares with $41 million of revenues that we project for all of 2006."
Insmed (NASDAQ:INSM - News) shares surged after the Richmond, Va.-based biopharmaceutical company said the Italian government has asked Insmed to make its drug Iplex available to physicians in Italy to treat patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's Disease. Through an agreement with Cephalon Inc. (NASDAQ:CEPH - News), which holds European patent rights to IGF-1 related to the treatment of ALS, Insmed said it will be able to distribute Iplex through an expanded access program, with Insmed receiving payment for the drug from the Italian government.
International Aluminum Corp. (NYSE:IAL - News) agreed to be acquired by Genstar Capital, a San Francisco-based private equity firm, for roughly $228 million. Genstar said the deal values International Aluminum at $53 per share, compared to Tuesday's close at $50. International Aluminum, a Monterey Park, Calif., maker of aluminum building materials, generated revenue of more than $280 million for the year ended June 30.
McKesson (NYSE:MCK - News) was upgraded to buy from neutral at Merrill Lynch. The firm cited valuation.
Morgans Hotel Group Co. (NASDAQ:MHGC - News) was upgraded to overweight from equal-weight at Morgan Stanley. The firm lifted its price target on the stock to $20 from $17.
Ocean Bio-Chem Inc. (NASDAQ:OBCI - News) shares rocketed up Wednesday morning after the Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based maker of maintenance products for boats and cars said it has begun increased product distribution to Wal-Mart Stores Inc. . In a company filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Ocean Bio-Chem said Wal-Mart will carry an increased assortment of its products in roughly 2,700 outlets, many of which did not previously carry any of its products.
Perficient (NASDAQ:PRFT - News) lifted its revenue outlook for the fourth quarter to between $48.4 million from $49.6 million. Its previous outlook was for revenue of $42.4 million to $45.1 million in the quarter.
Placer Sierra Bancshares (NASDAQ:PLSB - News) agreed to be acquired by Wells Fargo & Co. (NYSE:WFC - News) for an estimated $645 million. The consideration is dependent upon an exchange ratio based on the volume-weighted average of the daily volume-weighted average price of a share of Wells Fargo common stock for each of the 20 consecutive trading days.
RF Micro Devices (NASDAQ:RFMD - News) said it expects fiscal third-quarter profit to improve over the sequential second quarter, as revenue growth exceeded expense growth and due to increased production and internal assemble. The New York mobile communications technology company said the sale of its Bluetooth assets to Qualcomm will benefit earnings by 4 to 6 cents a share a year.
Sears Holdings (NASDAQ:SHLD - News) said same-store sales for the November to December period fell 5.6% at domestic Sears stores and declined 1.2% at Kmart stores. The decline at Sears was attributable to lower lawn and garden and appliance sales, which was partially offset by growth in women's apparel sales, while lower Kmart sales was due to lower transaction volumes. The Hoffman Estates, Ill. retail chain said it expects fiscal fourth-quarter earnings of $750 million to $830 million, or $4.87 to $5.39 a share, up from $648 million, or $4.03 a share, a year earlier. Analysts surveyed by Thomson First Call had been expecting earnings of $4.86 a share, on average.
Shaw Communications (NYSE:SJR - News) was upgraded to outperform from underperform at RBC Capital Markets. The firm also lifted its price target on the stock to $45 from $34.
Shaw Group (NYSE:SGR - News) plans to delay filing a fiscal first-quarter 2007 report to account for a 20% investment in Westinghouse but said its results would be generally in the range of its previous outlook. The Baton Rouge, La., engineering and construction firm said its revenue would be $1.27 billion in the quarter ended Nov. 30, 2006. Operating income is expected to be $36 million compared to $53.7 million in the year-earlier period. Analysts polled by Thomson First Call forecast earnings, on average, of 19 cents a share and sales of $1.2 billion.
Sunstone Hotel Investors (NYSE:SHO - News) was upgraded to buy from hold at Stifel Nicolaus.
Synchronoss Technologies (NASDAQ:SNCR - News) shares leapt after the company said its ActivationNow platform was selected by Cingular for Apple Inc.'s iPhone product, which was unveiled on Tuesday. Bridgewater, N.J.-based Synchronoss also reaffirmed its 2007 earnings forecast of 44 cents to 48 cents a share, excluding items, on revenue of $99 million to $100 million.
Taitron Components (NASDAQ:TAIT - News) said its board of directors has declared a 10 cents-a-share annual cash dividend to be paid Jan. 31. The announcement follows the decision by Taitron, which distributes electronic components, to declare an annual dividend of up to 10 cents for a period of five years.
USANA Health Sciences (NASDAQ:USNA - News) said it now expects earnings of 58 to 60 cents a share for the fourth quarter, above its prior forecast for a profit of 56 to 58 cents a share. The company also said it sees sales of about $101 million for the quarter, prior to the reclassification of what was previously termed associate incentive expense as a sales discount. After the reclassification, the Salt Lake City provider of nutritional products expects sales of about $99.5 million for the quarter. The current average estimate of analysts polled by Thomson First Call is for a profit of 57 cents a share in the December period.
XM Satellite Radio (NASDAQ:XMSR - News) shares rose after Citigroup lifted its 12-month price target on the stock to $21 from $16. The firm told clients that increasing numbers of customers who buy cars and trucks equipped with XM radios are likely to sign up for the service. It also added that the possibility of a merger with rival Sirius Satellite Radio should provide "downside support" for XM stock.
Published By MarketWatch

Labels: AA, AAPL, CARN, COSI, DMRC, GHDX, IAL, IMCL, INOD, OBCI, PLSB, PRFT, RFMD, SGR, SHLD, SHO, UNH, VOXX, WFC, XMSR