Jim Cramer Blog

Here are 7 stocks for traders for Thursday from TradingMarkets.com:
Christopher & Banks (NYSE:CBK - News) reports earnings after the bell on Thursday, with traders looking for $0.28 EPS. CBK's PowerRating (for Traders) is 6.
Verifone (NYSE:PAY - News) is expecting to report $0.38 EPS on Thursday afternoon after the bell. PAY's PowerRating (for Traders) is 1.
Target (NYSE:TGT - News) fell over 2% today after announcing that December sales may decline following a weak post-Thanksgiving period. TGT's PowerRating (for Traders) is 4.
Macy's (NYSE:M - News) fell nearly 6% on the retail sales warning from Target. M does not have a PowerRating (for Traders) due to its short trading history.
Big Lots (NYSE:BIG - News) dropped nearly 6%, in line with an industry-wide decline. BIG's PowerRating (for Traders) is 5.
Evergreen Solar (NasdaqGM:ESLR - News) rallied over 9% today after China announced plans to pursue and develop alternative energy sources. ESLR's PowerRating (for Traders) is 3.
Amazon.com (NasdaqGS:AMZN - News) rallied over 2% today after announcing that the company has managed its best holiday season to date this year. AMZN's PowerRating (for Traders) is 4.

Labels: AMZN, BIG, CBK, ESLR, Hot Stocks, M, PAY, TGT

Here are 7 options to watch for Today.
Most Underpriced 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.
CME Group Oct 610 Calls (NYSE:CME - News). CME's PowerRating (for Traders) is 5.
Most Underpriced 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.
Johnson & Johnson Oct 65 Puts (NYSE:JNJ - News). JNJ's PowerRating (for Traders) 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.
Yahoo! Oct 25 Calls (NasdaqGS:YHOO - News). YHOO's PowerRating (for Traders) is 4.
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.
Google Oct 490 Puts (NasdaqGS:GOOG - News). GOOG's PowerRating (for Traders) 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.
Macy's (NYSE:M - News).
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.
None Today
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.
Freddie Mac (NYSE:FRE - News). FRE's PowerRating (for Traders) is 5.

Labels: CME, FRE, GOOG, JNJ, M, stock options, YHOO

Equity prices rebounded from yesterday's losses as upbeat retail sales left investors bidding up stock prices. At the close all major indexes finished with modest gains. The price of Gold finally closed out a session above the key psychological $700 level, rising $13.90 on the day. Over in the energy pits, crude finished higher but off its highs, finishing the day up 57 cents to $76.30.
In economic news, the Institute of Supply Managers (ISM) said its non-manufacturing businesses index held steady at 55.8, as retailers, restaurants, and healthcare companies expanded. The Labor Department also announced that productivity, a measure of employee efficiency, rose at an annual rate of 2.6%, the most in almost two years. On the housing front, the overall picture continues to show troubling signs as the Mortgage Bankers Association reported that foreclosures in the second quarter set a record at 0.65% of all loans.
Several retailers reported same-store sales today, among them the nation's second largest discount retailer Target (NYSE: TGT - News). For the month, it reported same-store growth of 6.1%, higher than its own forecast of 4-6% growth, and handily beating analyst's estimates of 4.9%. Target shares rose 2.4%. Chief rival Wal-Mart Stores (NYSE: WMT - News) also reported a better-than-expected comparable store number of 3.1%. Wall Street analysts had expected the company to report 1.6% growth for the month. The company has cut prices by as much as 50% in order to entice back-to-school shoppers. Subscribers can read our analysis of Target in today's issue.
Clothing retailers also reported monthly figures, including J.C. Penney (NYSE: JCP - News) which said that same-store sales declined -4% in the month, but noted that July and August figures were distorted due to the first week of August being counted in the July reporting period. The decline less severe than analysts had predicted. The company expects September same-store sales growth will be in the low single digits. Macy's (NYSE: M - News), meanwhile, said sales for the month rose 2.4%, significantly higher than analysts expected. The company had earlier predicted growth of -1% to 2%.
In other corporate news, biotech firm Biogen Idec (Nasdaq: BIIB - News) shares surged to a new 52-week high after the company reaffirmed its full-year 2007 outlook. It expects profits to reach $1.84-1.94 a share, or $2.60-2.70 a share excluding charges. It sees sales of $3.12-3.16 billion and told investors that revenue and earnings growth over the next three years will be 15% and 20% respectively.
The king of beers, Anheuser-Busch (NYSE: BUD - News) rose 2.3% on the session after the brewer said it expects to see accelerated sales and earnings growth in the second half of the year and said EPS growth for the full year will exceed its long-term objective of 7-10%. The company said that many of its brands continue to show growth.
By The BullMarket.com Staff

Labels: BIIB, BUD, JCP, M, TGT, WMT

Bullish Calls:
Woodward Governor (NasdaqGS: WGOV - News): 'That's in the bull market of aerospace. It's in the bull market of infrastructure.'Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT - News)Sears Holdings (NasdaqGS: SHLD - News): 'Everybody's decided ... it's too hard ... am not giving up on Eddie Lampert. Let everyone else give up. I am not. I'm with him.'Toyota Motor (NYSE: TM - News): 'Long term, Toyota's the winner. ... In 2010, this company's going to own the world. Now, if you can't take the pain between now and 2010, by all means, go buy a mutual fund.'Macy's (NYSE: M - News): 'They've all given up on Macy's. ... Me? I don't know. Terry Lundgren's pretty good. .... I'd rather pull the trigger. I'd rather run toward what looks like a house of pleasure.'
Bearish calls:
Manitowoc (NYSE: MTW - News): 'This stock has just been hammered unfairly. ... We've got to wait till it settles, and it's not going to settle, because it's still in freefall.'Alcoa (NYSE: AA - News): 'It did not get the bid in the end ... it's trading only on fundamentals. On fundamentals, it's worth $35. ... I got too greedy on Alcoa.'
Published By SeekingAlpha

Labels: AA, CAT, Jim Cramer, Lightning Round, M, Mad Money, MTW, SHLD, TM, WGOV

The major market averages all slipped on the session as rising fears about subprime loans hit the street. However, stocks were able to pare much of their losses late in the day. Oil continued to strengthen climbing above $75 a barrel, finishing the day up $1.03.
The consumer price index, which excludes food and energy, rose 0.2% this month, the Labor Department said. The rise was in line with what Wall St. had expected. Also in economic news, the Commerce Department reported that building permits dropped to an annual pace of 1.406 million last month, the lowest level in a decade.
The earnings parade was in full force today, with a number of big-cap players reporting results. Banking behemoth JP Morgan Chase (NYSE: JPM - News) reported Q2 earnings of $4.23 billion, or $1.20 a share, up from $3.54 billion, or 99 cents a share, a year earlier. On the top line, JP Morgan reported revenue of $18.91 billion, representing year-over-year growth of 25%, and coming in well ahead of analyst estimates for revenue of $17.62 billion. JP Morgan's EPS for the quarter easily surpassed the consensus estimate of $1.09. Despite the strong quarter the shares fell -2.4% due to a -10% profit slide in its Financial Services unit, which was dragged down by troubles in home equity loans.
Altria Group (NYSE: MO - News) posted earnings of $2.22 billion, or $1.05 a share, as revenues rose 9.7% to $18.8 billion fueled by strong results at its international tobacco business. The stock fell -1.0%, however, after it lowered fiscal 2007 earnings estimates. It now expects to post EPS, including charges, of $4.05-4.10 compared to the $4.20-4.25 previously thought. Subscribers can read our analysis of Altria Group in today's issue.
Another Dow component, United Technologies (NYSE: UTX - News), reported robust earnings of $1.15 billion, or $1.16 a share. Sales rose to $13.9 billion from $12.26 billion a year earlier on strength in its commercial aerospace business. Chip and technology giant Intel (Nasdaq: INTC - News), meanwhile, reported a mixed quarter when it said net income in the second quarter rose 44% from year-ago levels to $1.28 billion, or 22 cents a share. Revenue came in at $8.68 billion, a rise of 8%. However, a decline in gross margins to 46.9% sent shares down -4.8%.
Pharmaceutical powerhouse Pfizer (NYSE: PFE - News) said net income plunged -48% due to a -13% fall in sales of cholesterol drug Lipitor. Net income was $1.27 billion, or 18 cents a share, below a profit of 33 cents a year earlier. Revenue dropped -5.6% to $11.1 billion, lower than a forecast of $11.5 billion. Excluding restructuring and acquisition costs, EPS would have been 42 cents a share, below analyst estimates of a profit of 50 cents a share. Shares slipped -3.2%. Subscribers can read our analysis of Pfizer in today's issue.
Internet giant Yahoo (Nasdaq: YHOO - News) said profit came in at $160.6 million, or 11 cents a share, which matched analyst estimates, but was down -2% from year-ago levels. Total revenue for the second quarter modestly rose to $1.7 billion from $1.58 billion in the year-ago period. Subscribers can read our analysis of Yahoo in today's issue. Shares of Macy's (NYSE: M - News) surged 7.6% on an otherwise sour session on a report that Kohlberg Kravis & Roberts was mulling a bid for the retailer valued at around $24 billion.
By Bullmarket.com Staff

Labels: INTC, JPM, M, MO, pfe, UTX, YHOO

Bullish Calls:

Macy's (NYSE: M - News): 'I am still banking with Terry Lundgren. I am not running away. I think the company, at $40 bucks, represents good value. 'Nike (NYSE: NKE - News): ' ... that looks like it's going to break through $60 next week.'Under Armour (NYSE: UA - News): 'I prefer Under Armour (to Crocs) here.'Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO - News): 'If I'm going to buy a soda company, I'm going to buy Coca-Cola.'Intel (NasdaqGS: INTC - News): 'The quarter's fine. You can't get excited about it. The stock will percolate higher.'Centex (NYSE: CTX - News): 'The only one that seemed to have stopped building homes before it got really crucial and horrible was Centex. If you insist on bottom-fishing in the group, I want you in CTX.'AT&T (NYSE: T - News): 'You do not sell T.'Verizon (NYSE: VZ - News)Foster Wheeler (NasdaqGS: FWLT - News): 'Buy FWLT on the way down. That's how I would play it.'Gildan Activewear (NYSE: GIL - News): ' ... has tremendous momentum. It remains one of my favorite stocks. I want to own it. I want to hold it. I say that, down to $32, is a real buy.'Nastech Pharmaceuticals (NasdaqGM: NSTK - News): ' ... had two patents today. One on obesity. This is our favorite spec of the year now in biotech. $12.96. If you pay more than $13, you're wrong. I think it's the most exciting stock out there.'
Bearish calls:
Jamba (NasdaqGM: JMBA - News): 'I know it's got great buzz. That's not enough for me anymore. Not after the Jones Soda come down... I'm not playing!'Crocs (NasdaqGS: CROX - News): 'I think the near-term move has been made and I prefer Under Armour here.'DR Horton (NYSE: DHI - News)Toll Brothers (NYSE: TOL - News)Lennar (NYSE: LEN - News)Alcan (NYSE: AL - News)

Published By SeekingAlpha

Labels: AL, CROX, CTX, FWLT, GIL, INTC, Jim Cramer, JMBA, KO, LEN, Lightning Round, M, Mad Money, NKE, NSTK, TOL, UA, VZ

The stock market rallied across the board today, with the Dow Jones surging almost 284 points, the Nasdaq gaining nearly 50, and the S&P 500 up about 29 points. The Dow and S&P hit all-time closing highs. Stocks were buoyed by retail sales numbers as well as strong deal flow. Upbeat economic data also sparked a rally for the bulls.

In economic news, economists raised U.S. growth estimates following a report that showed exports rose to a record in May. Economists predict that the export data will add at least 1% to second quarter GDP. U.S. foreclosures, meanwhile, jumped to a record amid rising rates and falling home prices. RealtyTrac reported that foreclosures reached 926,000 in the first half of the year.
Shares of the nation's second-largest discount retailer Target (NYSE: TGT - News) notched an all-time high after it reported a 3.3% rise in June same-store sales. Also helping the shares gain steam was the news that activist shareholder William Ackman of Pershing Square Capital has accumulated a 5% stake in the retailer. Target finished the day higher by 6.8%.
In other retailing news, Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT - News) said June sales rose 2.4%, which easily beat consensus estimates of 0.9%. The world's largest retailer noted that the environment remained "challenging." Macy's (NYSE: M - News), meanwhile, sank -2.9% after the company said June same-store sales declined -2.7%, more than analysts had expected. The company previously forecasted a range of flat to negative -2% for same-store sales. Macy's also cut its earnings for the upcoming quarter to 20-30 cents a share from a previous forecast of 35-45 cents a share.
In merger news, Rio Tinto agreed to purchase rival Alcan (NYSE: AL - News) for $38.1 billion, smashing a hostile bid by Alcoa (NYSE: AA - News). The offer is 33% higher than Alcoa's recent bid. Rio Tinto's output in aluminum will expand fourfold once the merger is completed. In earnings news, Marriott International (NYSE: MAR - News) said earnings rose 11% to $207 million. Excluding certain items, EPS was 57 cents a share. The company said it benefited from its strong timeshare business. However, shares fell on reports that its REVPAR (revenue per average room) outlook will fall for the upcoming quarter. The company expects REVPAR growth of 5.6% in the Americas, below estimates of 6.4%. Shares fell -2.8%.

By the BullMarket.com Staff

Labels: AA, AL, M, MAR, TGT, WMT

Stocks surged Thursday, carrying the Dow Jones industrials into record territory as investors gleaned some positive consumer spending trends from retailers' generally sluggish June sales reports.
A new bid for aluminum maker Alcan Inc. added to the upbeat mood on Wall Street, which drove the Dow up more than 100 points to a new intraday high. Helping stocks was a move by Wal-Mart, one of the 30 companies that make up the Dow Jones industrial average. The company's report helped ease some investors' worries about the health of the consumer ahead of the Commerce Department's Friday report on U.S. retail sales. The stock market got an additional boost after mining company Rio Tinto offered to buy Canadian aluminum producer Alcan for $38.1 billion. The offer topped a bid from Alcoa Inc. that Alcan's board rejected in May, and Alcoa is considering whether to make another bid. In late morning trading, the Dow Jones industrial average rose 143.55, or 1.06 percent, to 13,721.42, after climbing to 13,724.11, an intraday record. The Dow's record close is 13,676.32, set June 4.
Broader stock indicators also surged higher.
The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 12.35, or 0.81 percent, to 1,531.11, nearing its record close of 1,539.18, which also came on June 4.
The Nasdaq composite index rose 18.81, or 0.71 percent, to 2,670.60. Light, sweet crude rose 72 cents to $73.28 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
Alcan and Alcoa shares jumped Thursday following Rio Tinto's move to top Alcoa's hostile bid for Alcan.
Source: Madlen Read, AP Business Writer

Labels: AA, AL, HD, JCP, M, MOT, RTP, SHLD, WMT