Jim Cramer Blog

Barr Pharmaceuticals (NYSE:BRL - News) said it lost $390.9 million, or $3.67 a share, vs. a profit of $94.9 million, or 88 cents a share a year earlier. Excluding items, earnings for the quarter ending Dec. 31 would have been 83 cents a share. Revenue rose 79% to $584 million from last year's $325.5 million, with product sales growing 85% to $536.6 million. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial had been expecting earnings of 73 cents a share and revenue of $521.3 million, on average. Looking ahead, the Woodcliff Lake, N.J. pharmaceutical company expects 2007 adjusted earnings of $3.00 to $3.30 a share, surrounding analyst forecasts of a $3.23 a share.
Bitstream (NasdaqCM:BITS - News) shares fell after the Cambridge, Mass.-based software development company reported fourth-quarter net earnings of $630,000, or 6 cents a share, down from $788,000, or 8 cents a share, in the year-ago period. Revenue rose to $5.55 million from $4.62 million.
BlackRock Inc. (NYSE:BLK - News) said it is raising its quarterly cash dividend 60% to 67 cents a share from 42 cents. The dividend is payable March 23 to shareholders of record as of March 7, the New York-based investment management firm said.
Blount International (NYSE:BLT - News) shares slumped after the Portland, Ore.-based outdoor products and power equipment company reported fourth-quarter earnings of $9.04 million, or 19 cents a share, down from $56.2 million, or $1.17 a share, in the year-ago period. The company said the results in the year-ago quarter were favorably impacted by a significant income tax benefit. Revenue fell to $158.1 million from $176.9 million. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial were expecting a per-share profit of 20 cents on revenue of $156.2 million. Blount expects 2007 sales in a range of flat to down 3%, and operating income of $85 million to $90 million.
Emcore Corp. (NasdaqGM:EMKR - News) filed to expand the scope of its patent infringement lawsuits against Optium Corp. (NasdaqGM:OPTM - News) to include one additional patent and an additional product line.
E.W. Scripps & Co. (NYSE:SSP - News) cut its first-quarter earnings forecast, citing greater-than-expected weakness at its newspapers. The Cincinnati-based media company said it now expects a profit from continuing operations of 33 to 37 cents a share in the March quarter, down from its previous estimate of 39 cents to 43 cents a share. A year earlier, Scripps earned 49 cents per share. The company pointed to lower-than-expected newspaper advertising sales, costs related to a leadership change at the retail search engine Shopzilla, and weaker-than-expected results for its Internet search business.
Fremont General Corp. (NYSE:FMT - News) shares slid after the mortgage lender said late Tuesday it will postpone the release of its fourth quarter and full-year 2006 results, which was scheduled for Wednesday. Santa Monica-based Fremont also said it will not file its 2006 Form 10-K by March 1.
Idera Pharmaceuticals (AMEX:IDP - News) was initiated with a buy rating at Canaccord Adams.
Integra LifeSciences (NasdaqGS:IART - News) said fourth-quarter net income slipped to $10.1 million, or 34 cents a share, from $10.6 million, or 33 cents a share, while revenue climbed 72% to $125 million on sales of acquired products, surgical instruments and ultrasonic surgical systems. Adjusted for equity-based compensation charges, acquisition-related charges, and other items, it would've earned 50 cents a share compared to 37 cents a share last year. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial expected earnings of 42 cents a share on revenue of $121 million. For 2007, earnings are seen between $1.70 and $1.80 a share on revenue between $508 million and $520 million, growing to $2.05 to $2.25 a share in earnings in 2008 on revenue between $570 million and $590 million.
Interpublic Group (NYSE:IPG - News) swung to a fourth-quarter profit, boosted by lower severance expenses, professional fees and production costs. The New York advertising and marketing services company had fourth-quarter earnings of $69.1 million, or 11 cents a share, compared with a loss of $22.9 million, or 8 cents, a year earlier. Interpublic said revenue fell 1%, to $1.88 billion from $1.9 billion a year ago. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial expected, on average, earnings of 21 cents a share on revenue of $1.88 billion. In addition, Interpublic said it has re-mediated a significant number of its existing material weaknesses, and it remains on track to be compliant with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act by the time it files its 2007 annual report.
Joy Global (NasdaqGS:JOYG - News) shares dropped after the company posted a first-quarter profit of $60 million, or 51 cents a share, on sales of about $560 million. The average estimate of analysts polled by Thomson Financial was for earnings of 60 cents a share in the January period on revenue of $629.4 million.
LECG Corp.'s (NasdaqGS:XPRT - News) fourth-quarter net income fell 39% to $3.52 million, or 14 cents a share, from $5.81 million, or 23 cents a share, a year earlier. The Emeryville, Calif., economic consulting company's revenue grew 22% to $88.9 million form $73 million in the year-ago period.
Magellan Health Services Inc. (NasdaqGS:MGLN - News) reported fourth-quarter net income of $22.5 million, or 58 cents a share, down from $52.2 million, or $1.38 a share, earned in the same period during 2005. Quarterly revenue generated by the Avon, Conn.-based health-care management services provider reached $461.3 million from the prior year's $436.4 million. Earnings in the latest quarter benefited from one-time favorable contractual settlements of $5.1 million as well as out-of-period favorable care development of $1.7 million, Magellan Health said. The year-earlier period reflected in part the sale of certain assets to Aetna. Analysts were looking for earnings of 48 cents a share on revenue of $464 million, according to estimates compiled by Thomson Financial.
Ormat Technologies (NYSE:ORA - News) swung to a fourth-quarter profit from a year-earlier loss on 13% higher revenue. Earnings were $4.2 million, or 12 cents a share, compared with a loss of $5.1 million, or 16 cents, in the year-earlier period. Revenue reached $66.7 million from $58.8 million. In the latest period, the earnings reflect 1 cent a share from compensation expense. The year-ago loss reflects a $10.3 million charge to refinance debt.
PRA International (NasdaqGS:PRAI - News) shares slumped after the Reston, Va.-based provider of clinical development services reported fourth-quarter net income of $5.72 million, or 23 cents a share, compared with $7.5 million, or 31 cents a share, in the year-ago period. Revenue rose to $92.5 million from $76.5 million. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial were expecting a per-share profit of 29 cents on revenue of $81.7 million. PRA forecast 2007 earnings of 48 cents to 58 cents a share and adjusted earnings 95 cents to $1.05 a share. The company expects 2007 service revenue, excluding reimbursed out-of-pocket costs associated with client projects and programs, to be in the range of $330 million to $350 million. Analysts are looking for earnings of $1.28 a share.
Salary.com Inc. (NasdaqGM:SLRY - News) said underwriters of its initial public offering have exercised in full their over-allotment option to buy an additional 855,000 shares of common stock. The shares were purchased at the IPO price of $10.50 a share.
Salix Pharmaceuticals (NasdaqGM:SLXP - News) forecast earnings of 85 cents a share on total product revenue of about $260 million for fiscal 2007. The current average estimate of analysts polled by Thomson Financial is for a profit of 87 cents a share for the year.
Sierra Health Services Inc. (NYSE:SIE - News) expects to incur a loss in fiscal 2007, due primarily to an enhanced version of its Medicare Part D prescription drug program. In January, Sierra began offering an enhanced version of its PDP, which provided prescription-drug benefits through the coverage gap.
Syniverse Holdings Inc.'s (NYSE:SVR - News) fourth-quarter net income surged to $59.1 million, or 88 cents a share, from $15.3 million, or 23 cents a share, a year ago. Cash net income was 20 cents a share, the company said. The Tampa, Fla., provider of technology services said revenue increased 2.7% to $85.8 million from $83.6 million a year ago.
URS Corp. (NYSE:URS - News) reported fourth-quarter net earnings of $26.3 million, or 51 cents a share, up from $25.9 million, or 51 cents a share, in the year-ago period. Revenue at the San Francisco-based engineering and construction management company rose to $1.09 billion from $1.07 billion.
Published By MarketWatch

Labels: BITS, BLK, BLT, BRL, EMKR, FMT, IART, IDP, IPG, JOYG, MGLN, ORA, PRAI, SIE, SLRY, SLXP, SSP, SVR, URS, XPRT

Here are 7 stocks for traders for Wednesday from TradingMarkets.com:
Novatel Wireless (NasdaqGM:NVTL - News) barely beat earnings on Tuesday after the bell, announcing $0.14 EPS over an estimated $0.13 EPS. NVTL's PowerRating is 5.
Wynn Resorts (NasdaqGS:WYNN - News) also beat on Tuesday afternoon, with $0.53 EPS over a consensus of $0.47. WYNN's PowerRating is 7.
CarMax (NYSE:KMX - News) announces earnings on Wednesday before the open, with analysts looking for $0.43 EPS. KMX's PowerRating is 6.
Joy Global (NasdaqGS:JOYG - News) is expected to report $0.60 EPS on Wednesday before the bell. JOYG's PowerRating is 5.
Liz Claiborne (NYSE:LIZ - News) reports quarterly earnings Wednesday before the market opens; look for $0.97 EPS. LIZ's PowerRating is 6.
When Interpublic Group (NYSE:IPG - News) announces quarterly earnings on Wednesday before the open, watch for $0.22 EPS. IPG's PowerRating is 5.
Sprint Nextel (NYSE:S - News) is looking to announce $0.29 EPS tomorrow morning. S's PowerRating is 4.
PowerRatings are courtesy of PowerRatings.net

Labels: Hot Stocks, IPG, JOYG, KMX, LIZ, NVTL, S, WYNN

Lear (NYSE: LEA - News), Time Warner (NYSE: TWX - News), WCI Communications (NYSE: WCI - News), Lennar (NYSE: LEN - News)
Cramer says that it is a good idea to piggyback off of financial wizards such as Carl Icahn who made good calls with Lear and TWX and is currently buying WCI. However, he stressed that it is important to understand why Icahn likes this upscale homebuilder which owns 86% of its properties. Cramer notes that WCI is sitting on a pile of real estate, is selling at below book value, and predicts that the stock will eventually be more valuable than the properties. While some are worried about Florida real estate, Cramer observes that Lennar recently made a successful Florida investment. An important rule in piggybacking, says Cramer, is to wait for the hype to pass before investing; Icahn bought WCI when it was four points lower, andit is now nearly $22.

Genentech (NYSE: DNA - News)
After enjoying a successful year, DNA is lower than it has been in the last 14 months, and Cramer attributes this to the market's subjectivity, especially since the company was expected to see 30% growth and it actually reported 70% growth. Cramer explained that the factors affecting the movement of a stock are its earnings and its multiple. Since DNA reported strong earnings, its multiple, or what people are willing to pay for the earnings, must have been a factor in its decline. A multiple is affected by three kinds of risk: political, earnings and inflation. Cramer eliminated earnings risks from the equation, said that inflationary risks affect future earnings and have peaked, and that worries about the Democrats hurting DNA have abated. Cramer concluded that DNA is heading back up to where it was 14 months ago, called it a best-of-breed biotech stock with a great pipeline. His conservative estimate is that DNA will go to $104 from $87.53 and his bullish figure is $140.

Sell Block:Guess? (NYSE: GES - News), XM Satellite Radio (NASDAQ: XMSR - News), Interpublic Group of Companies (NYSE: IPG - News), Deere (NYSE: DE - News)
Cramer would sell Guess after it rose 38.7% since his initial recommendation. He would get rid of XMSR because it has "run out of steam." Although IPG may have some upside, Cramer would take profits and sell it. He has liked DE for a long time, but Cramer says that it is time to say goodbye. Although it might go up an other 8 points, Cramer says that this $100 stock has given its investors substantial profits.Mad Mail: Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL - News)
Cramer disagrees with an Investors' Business Daily bullish call on tech; "I like IBD very much but think they are wrong here," he said. When asked who is selling Apple, Cramer says that the shorts are putting pressure on the stock, adding that it should not have risen 8 points on the release of iPhone and its negative guidance may be bringing it down. However, he would build a position on the stock as it declines.

Pubished By SeekingAlpha

Labels: AAPL, DE, DNA, GES, IPG, Jim Cramer, LEA, LEN, Mad Money, TWX, WCI, XMSR

Treehouse Foods (NYSE: THS - News)-Cramer comments that although some public leveraged-buyout firms, such as KKR and AP Alternative Assets are down, Treehouse Foods is on the way up. THS is "an acquisition vehicle and a growth story" which has a "virtuous cycle," according to Cramer because it makes more acquisitions as it goes higher, and these deals put the company in a good position. Cramer would buy the stock now at its 52-week high because its "high share price is the currency it uses to buy other companies."
Oregon Steel (NYSE: OS - News) Reliance Steel (NYSE: RS - News), Nucor (NYSE: NUE - News)-Hype over an article in the Wall Street Journal about a glut in the steel market caused many investors to miss out on "sweet" stocks like Oregon Steel. The article neglected to mention that these stocks were trading at five to six times earnings, and the glut was already priced in. However, it is not too late to pick up Reliance Steel, says Cramer, which may be taken over since there is a lot of consolidation going on the the steel industry, excluding Nucor, which Cramer thinks is doing too well to be bought. Reliance reported a great quarter, notes Cramer, and has strong fundamentals.
Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG - News)-Cramer likes this company because it is coming back after having been a "horrid disappointment" with its accounting problems, although this turnaround has not yet been reflected in the stock. Recently IPG "snagged a massive contract with GlaxoSmithKline" and is working with Wal-Mart, notes Cramer who adds that the company had a great quarter, is cutting expenses and is increasing revenue. Since none of its contracts are under review, IPG will not lose customers: "The bottom has been put into this stock, and opportunity is knocking. It is a triple buy," says Cramer.
CEO Interview: Sylvester "Chip" Johnson of Carrizo Oil & Gas (NASDAQ: CRZO - News)-
When Cramer asked Chip Johnson why investors should buy shares of his company which has natural gas exposure, he replied "Even in the near-term, gas storage is full, but is only about 4% higher than the highest level it reached a couple of years ago." He recommended taking a long-term view and said that his company had "one of the biggest anchorage positions" in Texas gas field BarnettShale. Johnson admitted that he wasn't sure why natural gas has hit bottom. "We had most of our gas hedged, so we weren't worried about it in the near-term, but the fact that it has bounced back now seems a little premature to us." Cramer suggested that while those who are bullish on natural gas should buy CRZO, he is not bullish.

Labels: CRZO, IPG, Jim Cramer, Mad Money, NUE, OS, RS, THS