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Thursday, January 10, 2008

Illumina Inc. (ILMN) Stock Surges on Settlement

Shares of genetic research tools company Illumina Inc. jumped to a record high Thursday after the company settled a patent lawsuit with Affymetrix Inc.
Shares of San Diego-based Illumina jumped to a record high of $75.20 early in the session, after rival Affymetrix agreed to dismiss its lawsuit against the company. By midday, the stock was up $11.95, or 19.8 percent, to $72.40.
Affymetrix will receive $90 million as part of the settlement. However, Santa Clara, Calif.-based Affymetrix will be unable to sue Illumina over current products on the market or for those based on future technology developments over the next four years, according to the settlement.

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Monday, November 19, 2007

Hot Stock Options to Watch Monday

Here are 7 options to watch for today.
Most Under-Priced Calls: These are the most under priced calls of all stocks in our database. This stock comes from today's list and is among the most under-priced individual calls.
salesforce.com Dec 65 Calls (NYSE:CRM - News). CRM's PowerRating (for Traders) is 5.
Most Under-Priced Puts: These are the most under priced puts of all stocks in our database. This stock comes from today's list and is among the most under-priced individual puts.
Illumina Dec 50 Puts (NasdaqGM:ILMN - News). ILMN's PowerRating (for Traders) is 6.
Most Overpriced Calls: These are the most overpriced calls of all stocks in our database. This stock comes from today's list and is among the most overpriced individual calls.
Alliance Data Systems Dec 175 Calls (NYSE:ADS - News). ADS's PowerRating (for Traders) is 6.
Most Overpriced Puts: These are the most overpriced puts of all stocks in our database. This stock comes from today's list and is among the most overpriced individual puts.
Goldman Sachs Dec 190 Puts (NYSE:GS - News). GS's PowerRating (for Traders) is 6.
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.
Sealed Air (NYSE:SEE - News). SEE's PowerRating (for Traders) is 5.
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.
Nucor (NYSE:NUE - News). NUE's PowerRating (for Traders) is 5.
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.
Moody's (NYSE:MCO - News). MCO's PowerRating (for Traders) is 6.

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Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Hot Stocks to Watch Today

Here are 7 trading ideas for today. This list comes directly from the TradingMarkets Stock Indicators page and is 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.
Taser International (NasdaqGS:TASR - News). TASR's PowerRating (for Traders) is 9.
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.
Inverness Medical Technology (NYSE:IMA - News). IMA's PowerRating (for Traders) 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.
Amazon.com (NasdaqGS:AMZN - News) & Illumina (NasdaqGM:ILMN - News). AMZN's PowerRating (for Traders) is 6, and ILMN's PowerRating (for Traders) 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.
Autozone (NYSE:AZO - News). AZO's PowerRating (for Traders) 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.
JM Smucker (NYSE:SJM - News). SJM's PowerRating (for Traders) is 4.
Stocks Up 10% or More: These are stocks that have gained 10% or more over the past five days and are trading below their 200-day moving average. Our research shows that stocks trading below their 200-day moving average that have gained 10% or more over the past five days have shown negative returns, on average, 1-week later. Historically, these stocks have provided traders with a significant edge.
Beazer Homes (NYSE:BZH - News). BZH's PowerRating (for Traders) is 3.
Published By TradingMarkets.com

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Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Hot Stocks to Watch Wednesday

Here are 7 stocks for traders for Wednesday from TradingMarkets.com:
Illumina (NasdaqGM:ILMN - News) beat earnings on Tuesday afternoon, with $0.22 EPS over a consensus of $0.09 EPS. ILMN's PowerRating is 3.

Amazon.com (NasdaqGS:AMZN - News) beat earnings on Tuesday after the close, announcing $0.26 EPS over an expected $0.15 EPS. AMZN's PowerRating is 6.
Allegheny Tech (NYSE:ATI - News) reports quarterly earnings on Wednesday before the bell; look for $1.83 EPS. ATI's PowerRating is 4.
Baker Hughes (NYSE:BHI - News) should announce $1.10 EPS before the market opens on Wednesday. BHI's PowerRating is 5.
When Boeing (NYSE:BA - News) reports Wednesday morning, analysts will be looking for $1.01 EPS. BA's PowerRating is 5.
Analysts are watching for ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP - News) to report $1.90 EPS early Wednesday. COP's PowerRating is 6.
Watch for UPS (NYSE:UPS - News) to report $0.96 EPS on Wednesday before the market opens. UPS's PowerRating is 4.
PowerRatings are courtesy of PowerRatings.net

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Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Tuesday's Biggest Stock Gainers

NDN, MMM, AA, RTP, APPB, BHP, CEPH, CEN, CCE, CVS, CMX, CYNO, FADV, FWRD, GM, GWR, HIMX, ICLR, ILMN, KBH
99 Cents Only Stores (NYSE:NDN - News) announced preliminary third-quarter results and the delay of the release of its third quarter Form 10-Q and the continued delay of its 2006 Form 10-K and Form 10-Qs for the first and second quarters of fiscal 2007. For the fiscal third quarter, net sales increased 8.3% to $302.1 million. Sales at stores open longer than a year rose 1.9%. The company said it expects to report net income of about 12 cents a share, compared to 10 cents a share in the year-ago period.

3M (NYSE:MMM - News) said it plans to buy back up to $7 billion of its own stock over the next two years, its biggest buyback program ever. Also, Soleil Securities upgraded the company to buy.
Alcoa (NYSE:AA - News) was in focus following a report in The Times of London that the Dow component may be a takeover target. The article mentioned BHP Billiton (NYSE:BHP - News) and Rio Tinto (NYSE:RTP - News) as the likely suitors.
Applebee's International Inc. (NasdaqGS:APPB - News) said its board formed an independent committee of directors to explore strategic options for the company, including a possible recapitalization or sale. Overland Park, Kan.-based Applebee's said there is no assurance that the process will result in any specific transaction. However, it said that certain strategic alternatives could affect its previously-issued guidance. As a result, the company withdrew its fiscal year 2007 forecast. The committee has hired Citigroup Global Markets and Banc of America Securities as financial advisors. Legal advisors are Cravath, Swaine & Moore of New York, and Blackwell Sanders Peper Martin of Kansas City.
Cephalon Inc. (NasdaqGS:CEPH - News) said it swung to a fourth-quarter net loss of $4.91 million, or 8 cents a share. In the same period last year, the biopharmaceutical company posted net earnings of $18.1 million, or 30 cents a share.
Ceridian Corp. (NYSE:CEN - News) said its fourth-quarter earnings rose 6.2% to $49.6 million, or 35 cents a share, from $46.7 million, or 32 cents, a year earlier, helped by its Comdata business, higher margins at Human Resources Solutions and a lower effective tax rate. The Minneapolis-based information-services company said revenue rose 6.5% to $404 million from $379.5 million in the year-ago period. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial expected, on average, fourth-quarter earnings of 33 cents a share on revenue of $409.5 million. The company expects 2007 earnings of $1.25 to $1.35 a share, excluding costs related to the election of directors, on revenue of $1.65 billion and $1.7 billion. The company also said it's retained Greenhill & Co. as its financial advisor as it explores strategic options.
Coca-Cola Enterprises (NYSE:CCE - News) said its fourth-quarter loss widened, due to a $2.92 billion impairment charge to reduce the book value of its North American franchise license intangibles, a $14 million restructuring charge and a $14 million legal settlement. The Atlanta drink marketer and distributor had a fourth-quarter loss of $1.71 billion, or $3.59 a share, compared with a loss of $57 million, or 12 cents a share, a year earlier. Excluding the impairment and restructuring charges and the legal settlement, the company earned 20 cents a share, compared with 14 cents a share a year earlier. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial expected, on average, earnings of 16 cents a share on revenue of $4.65 billion. Analyst earnings forecasts typically exclude unusual items. Coca-Cola Enterprises said it plans to cut 5% of its workforce, or about 3,500 jobs, as part of a restructuring of its North American and European operations. The restructuring will result in a $300 million charge, with the majority of the expense recognized in 2007 and 2008. In addition, the company said it expects 2007 earnings to be down 5% to 10% from 2006 results, due to higher prices for aluminum cans and high fructose corn syrup.
CVS Corp. (NYSE:CVS - News) increased the value of its offer for Caremark Rx Inc. (NYSE:CMX - News), saying Caremark shareholders will now receive a special cash dividend of $6 a share, up from the previously planned dividend of $2 a share. The dividend will be paid upon or shortly after completion. The other terms of the agreed deal remain unchanged. Under the terms Caremark shareholders will receive 1.67 shares of the merged company for each Caremark share they own. The increased dividend comes as Express Scripts is also attempting to acquire Caremark and after proxy firm Glass Lewis & Co. recommended Caremark shareholders reject the CVS deal.
Cynosure (NasdaqGM:CYNO - News) shares jumped after the Westford, Mass.-based maker of aesthetic treatment systems reported a fourth-quarter net profit of $1.53 million, or 13 cents a share, down from $2.53 million, or 29 cents a share, last year. Excluding certain items, Cynosure posted earnings of $2.51 million, or 21 cents a share, compared with $1.09 million, or 12 cents a share, last year. Revenue rose to $24.6 million from $16.1 million. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial were expecting a per-share profit of 16 cents on revenue of $20.9 million.
First Advantage Corp. (NasdaqGS:FADV - News) shares gained after the St. Petersburg, Fla.-based provider of risk mitigation services late Monday reported fourth-quarter net earnings of $18.2 million, or 31 cents a share, up from $16.2 million, or 29 cents a share, last year. Revenue rose to $206.1 million from $170.1 million. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial were expecting a per-share profit of 22 cents on revenue of $194.7 million
Forward Air Corp. (NasdaqGS:FWRD - News) said its fourth-quarter net earnings slipped to $12.17 million, or 40 cents a share, from $12.2 million, or 38 cents a share, in the same period last year, amid a "challenging freight environment."
General Motors (NYSE:GM - News) was upgraded to buy from sell at Merrill Lynch. The firm cited its increased belief that the automaker will use its liquidity and legacy assets, specifically in its pension, "to affect positive change." Analyst John Murphy is also establishing a $50 stock price target. The stock, a component of the Dow industrials, was last up 1.2% at $36.15 in pre-open trading. Murphy noted that GM's pension fund is over-funded by $17 billion, that pressure is mounting for change in the company's healthcare plan, and that the company's legacy assets are likely to be leveraged further. "The resulting sentiment is increasingly more optimistic and is trumping our previous expectation of pressure early in 2007," Murphy said in a research note. "Valuation is near bottom and illustrates the leverage."
Genesee & Wyoming (NYSE:GWR - News) posted a 32.5% rise in fourth quarter net income to $14.3 million, or 34 cents a share, from $10.8 million, or 26 cents a share, a year ago. Analysts were expecting the company to post earnings of 30 cents a share, according to data compiled by Thomson Financial. GWI said that its board has authorized the repurchase of up to 2 million shares of common stock. It's planning to continue an active acquisition program and is currently pursuing a number of international and domestic opportunities. Revenue rose 20% to $124 million in the quarter, primarily due to acquisitions.
Himax Technologies (NasdaqGS:HIMX - News) said its fourth-quarter earnings rose to $29.4 million, or 15 cents per American depository share, from $17 million, or 9 cents per ADS. The Tainan, Taiwan, maker of semiconductors said revenue rose 26% to $220.9 million from $177.3 million. The company expects first-quarter earnings of 8 cents to 9 cents a share and revenue to decline about 16% to 18%.
Icon (NasdaqGS:ICLR - News) said that its fourth-quarter net income rose to $11.4 million, or 39 cents a share, from $7 million, or 24 cents a share, a year ago. Analysts were expecting the company to post earnings per share of 36 cents, according to data compiled by Thomson Financial. Sales at the provider of services to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device markets rose 46% to $129 million, following strong growth at the company's clinical operations. The company said that, with a record backlog of $872 million, it's looking forward with confidence.
Illumina (NasdaqGM:ILMN - News) priced $350 million in convertible senior notes, to pay interest semiannually at a 0.625% annual rate, with can be exchanged for 22.9029 shares for each $1,000 principal amount held. That's equal to a conversion price of approximately $43.66 a share. It will buy back $202 million of shares in privately negotiated deals. In addition, approximately $41 million of the proceeds from the transactions will be used to fund the net cost of the convertible note hedge transactions and warrant transactions.
KB Home (NYSE:KBH - News) swung to a loss of $49.6 million, or 64 cents a share in the fourth quarter driven by previously announced land charges of $343.3 million. In a statement, Chief Executive Jeffrey Mezger said during the second half of 2006, "an oversupply of unsold new and resale homes, reduced affordability, and greater caution among potential homebuyers heightened competition among homebuilders and sellers of existing homes, prompting the aggressive use of price concessions and sales incentives." The result was pressure on profit margins, while results "were further affected by declining land values and the resulting charges we recorded in the fourth quarter to reflect lower land values," the CEO added.

Published By MarketWatch

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Tuesday, February 06, 2007

Hot Stocks to Watch Today

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.
National Finance Partners (NYSE:NFP - News). NFP'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.
State Street Corporation (NYSE:STT - News). STT's PowerRating is 6.
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.
Andrew Corporation (NasdaqGS:ANDW - News). ANDW'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.
TJX Companies (NYSE:TJX - News). TJX'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.
Greater China Fund (NYSE:GCH - News). GCH's PowerRating is 8.
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.
Illumina (NasdaqGM:ILMN - News). ILMN's PowerRating is 7.
Bearish
Laps Up 5% or More: These are stocks that lap up by 5% or more and are trading below their 200-day moving average. Our research shows that stocks trading below their 200-day moving average that lap up by more than 5% have shown negative returns, on average, 1-day, 2-days and 1-week later. Historically, these stocks have provided traders with a significant edge.
Sify Limited (NasdaqGM:SIFY - News). SIFY's PowerRating is 3.
PowerRatings are courtesy of PowerRatings.net

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Sunday, February 04, 2007

Jim Cramer's Mad Money Lightning Round Feb. 2

Bullish calls:
Nymex Holdings (NYSE: NMX - News): 'This stock does nothing but go up. ... Stick with it.'Grainger (NYSE: GWW - News)Wesco (NYSE: WCC - News): 'Did you see the explosion in that stock this week off the quarter? ... Still very, very cheap. I am recommending it heartily.'Chevron (NYSE: CVX - News): 'Holy cow! ... I look for the dividend to go up. I look for another buyback. I think you should back up the truck. That's my favorite integrated oil.'Devon Energy (NYSE: DVN - News)Amgen (NasdaqGS: AMGN)Genentech (NYSE: DNA - News)Celgene (NasdaqGS: CELG)Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ - News): ' ... is not just a PC assembler ... this is a technology company, run by Mark Hurd, who I think is the best. ... I need you to load up the boat, Hewlett-Pacakrd, that's best in show.'Valero Energy (NYSE: VLO - News): 'Not bad. ... it's a cheap stock ... 'Archer Daniels Midland (NYSE: ADM - News): 'If I want to refine these days, I'm gonna refine soybean or corn. I'm buying Archer Daniels Midland.'Amor Holdings (NYSE: AH - News)General Dynamics (NYSE: GD - News)L-3 Communications (NYSE: LLL - News)
Bearish calls:
1-800-Flowers.com (NasdaqGS: FLWS): 'It doesn't deserve to be owned. We're ixnaying.'Sirius Satellite Radio (NasdaqGS: SIRI): 'You know that stock ain't going anywhere. ... I want you to sell it nine ways to Super Bowl Sunday. 'Medarex (NasdaqGM: MEDX): 'This is precisely what I'm railing against at this juncture.'Illumina (NasdaqGM: ILMN): 'Not a good quarter. Expenses are going to rise. ... I need you out of that stock, and I want you to sell it right now.'Force Protection (NasdaqCM: FRPT): 'I think you need to go with the majors here.'

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Friday, February 02, 2007

Biggest Decliners Friday

Active Power (NasdaqGM:ACPW - News), in a preliminary report due to an ongoing stock option grant review, said fourth-quarter revenue rose 60% to $8.3 million. Prior to any impact from the review of the Company's historical option-granting procedures, the gross margin percentage was below the guidance provided at the commencement of the quarter and was approximately break-even for the quarter, it said. First-quarter revenue is seen between $6 million and $7 million, and it expects to lose 8 cents to 10 cents a share, excluding any stock option impact. The power supply company intends to issue full results for the quarter and year and to file its Annual Report on Form 10-K as soon as practicable after completion of the option review.
Amazon.com (NasdaqGS:AMZN - News) reported its profit dropped by half, even while sales rose 34%, as the company lost the benefit of a large tax gain it had a year ago and saw its operating margin narrow.
Amtech Systems Inc. (NasdaqGM:ASYS - News) agreed to sell 2.6 million shares in a public offering at $7.05 a share. The firm, which manufactures equipment for the semiconductor industry, said it expects to generate net proceeds of around $16.5 million, or $19.3 million if over-allotment options are exercised. Amtech added it intends to use the proceeds for working capital or possible acquisitions connected to the planned expansion of its solar and semiconductor business. The offer is expected to close Feb. 6.
Anadarko Petroleum Corp. (NYSE:APC - News) agreed to sell its interests in certain natural gas properties in Oklahoma and Texas to Exco Resources Inc. (NYSE:XCO - News) for $860 million. The company said the sale is effective Jan. 1, 2007, and that it anticipates the deal will close during the second quarter. Anadarko said about 155 fields were included in the sale, producing about 103 million cubic feet equivalent of natural gas per day from more than 1,300 wells as of the end of the year.
Angiotech Pharmaceuticals (NasdaqGS:ANPI - News) narrowed its fourth-quarter loss to $11.7 million, or 6 cents a share, from $51.3 million, or 50 cents a share. Excluding one-time items such as restructuring costs, the company earned 14 cents a share, compared with 16 cents a share from a year ago. Analysts, on average, forecast earnings of 15 cents a share, according to a survey taken by Thomson Financial. Revenue rose to $93.3 million from $43.8 million a year ago. The company expects first-quarter adjusted earnings of 4 to 5 cents a share and 2007 earnings of 40 to 50 cents a share. Analysts expect earnings of 14 cents a share in the quarter and 68 cents a share for the year.
Apache Corp. (NYSE:APA - News) was downgraded to hold from buy at Citigroup.
Arch Coal (NYSE:ACI - News) swung to a fourth-quarter profit, boosted by a larger percentage of metallurgical coal sales and the roll-off of lower priced sales contracts. The St. Louis coal mining and transportation company had fourth-quarter net income available to common shareholders of $79.5 million, or 55 cents a share, compared with a loss of $1.04 million, or 1 cents a share, a year earlier. Arch said revenue for the quarter ended Dec. 31, fell 0.2% to $618.4 million from $619.8 million a year earlier. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial expected, on average, earnings of 39 cents a share on revenue of $649 million. In addition, Arch said it expects 2007 earnings of $1.25 to $2 a share, and adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of $530 million to $650 million.
Avid Technologies (NasdaqGS:AVID - News) was downgraded to underweight at J.P. Morgan.
Baldor Electric Co. (NYSE:BEZ - News) reported fourth-quarter net earnings of $12.2 million, or 37 cents a share, compared with $13.1 million, or 39 cents a share, in the same period last year, as expenses rose.
Bookham Inc. (NasdaqGM:BKHM - News) reported a fiscal second-quarter net loss of $21.3 million, or 31 cents a share, compared with a net loss of $11.9 million, or 28 cents a share, in the year-ago period. Revenue fell to $56.3 million from $60.7 million. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial were expecting a per-share loss of 16 cents on revenue of $57.8 million. The company expects fiscal third-quarter revenue of $44 million to $48 million.
Chevron Corp. (NYSE:CVX - News) reported fourth-quarter earnings of $3.77 billion, or $1.74 a share, down from a year-ago profit of $4.14 billion, or $1.86 a share. The San Ramon, Calif., oil and gas giant said a sharp decline in U.S. natural gas prices in the latest quarter compared to last year offset improved operating performance from its oil and gas fields and refineries, especially in the U.S. Total revenue and other income fell to $47.75 billion in the latest three months from $53.79 billion in the same period a year earlier. The average estimate of analysts polled by Thomson First Call was for a profit of $1.73 a share in the December period. The company attributed most of the sales decline in the latest quarter to the impact of an accounting rule change that requires certain purchase and sale contracts with the same counterparty to be netted for reporting.
Digene Corp. (NasdaqGS:DIGE - News) said second-quarter net income rose, as revenue gained, to $6.1 million, or 25 cents a share, from $3 million, or 14 cents a share, during the same period in the prior year. Before items, quarterly per-share income rose to 27 cents from 23 cents.
Ericsson (NasdaqGS:ERIC - News), the world's largest maker of wireless networks, on Friday said fourth-quarter net profit rose 14% to 9.73 billion Swedish kronor ($1.4 billion), or 0.61 krona a share, from 8.54 billion kronor, or 0.54 krona a share, a year earlier. Sales climbed 18% to 53.7 billion kronor. Consensus analyst forecasts were for earnings of 0.55 krona a share on sales of 53.8 billion kronor, according to a survey by SME Direkt. Operating margin for the quarter was flat from the year-ago period at 22.7%. Ericsson's board proposed a dividend of 0.50 krona a share for 2006.
Gap Inc. (NYSE:GPS - News) named Marka Hansen, a 20-year veteran of the company who heads its Banana Republic unit, to lead the largest and most important division, the Gap stores.
GMX Resources Inc. (NasdaqGM:GMXR - News), the Oklahoma City natural-gas producer, is offering 2 million shares at $34.82. GMX shares closed on Thursday at $36.83. The company said in a statement that it would use what it expects to be about $65.5 million of net proceeds from the deal to fund its drilling program and for general purposes. Subject to conditions, the deal is set to close around Feb. 7, GMX said.
Illumina Inc. (NasdaqGM:ILMN - News) reported fourth-quarter net earnings of $17.1 million, or 34 cents a share, compared with $326,000, or a penny a share, in the same period last year, as product revenue almost tripled. Excluding non-cash stock-based compensation, the San Diego-based maker of tools for genetic analysis posted per-share earnings of 42 cents. Total revenue rose to $60.4 million from $23 million. The company sees 2007 per-share earnings of about 86 cents, excluding items, on revenue of $295 million to $315 million. For the first quarter, Illumina expects per-share earnings of about 16 cents, excluding items, on revenue between $64 million and $68 million.
IMS Health Inc. (NYSE:RX - News) reported fourth-quarter net earnings of $65.5 million, or 32 cents a share, down 27% from $89.4 million, or 38 cents a share, in the same quarter a year earlier. Revenue totaled $543.5 million in the latest quarter compared with $477.7 million last year.
InfoSpace Inc. (NasdaqGS:INSP - News) reported fourth-quarter net earnings of $30 million, or 91 cents a share, compared with $37.9 million, or $1.13 a share, in the same period last year, as expenses rose.
Published By MarketWatch

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Tuesday, November 14, 2006

Solexa Inc. (SLXA) Shares Soar On Buyout From Illumina (ILMN)

Solexa Inc. shares leaped 30% Monday after the maker of genetics-analysis tools agreed to be acquired by Illumina Inc. in a stock swap valued at $14 a share, or $600 million.
Shares of Hayward, Calif.-based Solexa closed at $12.56, up $2.86. Earlier they traded as high as $13.27, a level not seen since the stock's third day of trading, in March 2005.
Shares of fellow genetic-analysis specialist Illumina , however, slumped on the deal, falling $5.14, or 11.7%, to end the session at $38.91.
Both companies develop technologies that genetics researchers use in the sequencing, the decoding process that reveals the genetic code in a strand of DNA.

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