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Friday, November 09, 2007

Priceline.com Inc. (PCLN) Stock Soars on Strong Earnings

Shares in online travel company Priceline.com Inc. surged more than 14 percent in after-hours trading Thursday after it said its third-quarter profits jumped on tax benefits and strong European sales.
The company said it earned $104.4 million or $2.27 per share, compared to $47.8 million or $1.05 per share in the same quarter last year.
Excluding stock-based compensation, amortization and other expenses, the company earned $71.5 million or $1.58 per share, compared to $30.2 million or 72 cents per share last year.
Revenue increased 33 percent to $417.3 million.
Analysts on average, were expecting earnings of $1.28 per share on revenue of $387.5 million, according to a poll by Thomson Financial.

Labels: PCLN, Priceline.com Inc.

Thursday, November 08, 2007

Priceline.com Inc. (PCLN) Stock Soars in the Aftermarket

Priceline.com Incorporated (Nasdaq: PCLN - News) today reported its financial results for the 3rd quarter 2007. Gross travel bookings for the 3rd quarter, which refers to the total dollar value, inclusive of all taxes and fees, of all travel services purchased by consumers, rose 54.0% year-over-year to $1.39 billion.
Priceline.com had GAAP revenues in the 3rd quarter of $417.3 million, a 33.1% increase over a year ago. Priceline.com’s GAAP gross profit for the 3rd quarter was $202.3 million, a 63.8% increase from the prior year. Priceline.com had GAAP net income for the 3rd quarter 2007 of $104.4 million or $2.27 per diluted share, which compares to $47.8 million or $1.05 per diluted share in the same period a year ago. GAAP net income for the 3rd quarter 2007 was positively affected by a $47.9 million non-cash tax benefit from reversing a portion of priceline.com’s deferred tax asset valuation allowance in the period. GAAP net income for the 3rd quarter 2006 was positively affected by a similar $28.1 million non-cash tax benefit.
Priceline.com reported pro forma revenues in the 3rd quarter of $416.9 million, a 33.7% increase over a year ago. Pro forma gross profit for the 3rd quarter 2007 was $201.9 million, an increase of 65.1% over the same period in the prior year. Pro forma net income for the quarter was $71.5 million or $1.58 per diluted share, which compares to $30.2 million, or $0.72 per diluted share in the same period a year ago. First Call analyst consensus for the 3rd quarter 2007 was $1.28 per diluted share. The section below entitled “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” provides a definition and information about the use of pro forma financial measures in this press release and the attached financial and statistical supplement reconciles pro forma financial information with priceline.com’s financial results under GAAP.

Labels: PCLN, Priceline.com Inc.

Wednesday, October 03, 2007

Hot Stock Options to Watch Wednesday

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.
Amazon.com Oct 100 Calls (NasdaqGS:AMZN - News). AMZN's PowerRating (for Traders) is 7.
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.
priceline.com Oct 85 Puts (NasdaqGS:PCLN - News). PCLN'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.
Google Oct 640 Calls (NasdaqGS:GOOG - News). GOOG's PowerRating (for Traders) is 4.
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.
Las Vegas Sands Oct 540 Puts (NYSE:LVS - News). LVS's PowerRating (for Traders) is 4.
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.
Dow Jones (NYSE:DJ - News). DJ'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.
Pediatrix Medical Group (NYSE:PDX - News). PDX's PowerRating (for Traders) is 6.
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.
Countrywide Financial (NYSE:CFC - News). CFC's PowerRating (for Traders) is 3.
Published By TradingMarkets.com

Labels: AMZN, CFC, DJ, GOOG, LVS, PCLN, PDX, stock options

Thursday, September 20, 2007

Priceline.com Inc. (PCLN) Stock Downgraded

Shares of online travel service Priceline.com Inc. declined after a Thomas Weisel Partners analyst downgraded the stock to "Market Perform" now that its value has surpassed his price target.
Priceline shares shed $1.76, or 2 percent, to $88.11 in afternoon trading.
In a note to clients late Wednesday, Thomas Weisel analyst Jake Fuller downgraded the shares to "Market Perform" from "Market Outperform" but raised his price target to $92 from $82.
The analyst said Priceline's shares have already passed his prior 12-month target price, and he thinks the company could report results ahead of predictions in its third quarter. However, he noted that expectations for Priceline are quite high.

Labels: PCLN, Priceline.com Inc.

Wednesday, August 08, 2007

Stock Market Wrapup Aug. 8th

Stocks finished the session stronger on the heels of upbeat technology earnings as well as a lessened fear over the current worrisome credit markets. At the close, all three major indexes closed higher. The tech-heavy Nasdaq led the way with a 2% gain. Treasuries fell the most in a month, with the benchmark 10-year note ending the trading day yielding 4.86%.

In earnings news, the shares of luxury homebuilder Toll Brothers (NYSE: TOL - News) rose 6% after the company said third-quarter preliminary results were better than analyst expectations. For Q3, it sees revenues falling -21% to $1.21 billion, higher than estimates of $1.08 billion. The above-forecast revenues for the period masked a quarter in which the company is still feeling the brunt of the housing market slowdown. Net signed contracts, a measure of future activity, fell -31% to $727.1 million. Cancellations rose 23.8%, while backlog fell -34%. Other homebuilder stocks as well as housing-related companies rose sharply on the news.
Number-three mobile phone carrier Sprint Nextel (NYSE: S - News) posted a -94% drop in second-quarter earnings. Earnings from continuing operations were $19 million, or a penny a share, down from $370 million, or 10 cents a share, in the year-ago period. On an adjusted basis, it earned 25 cents a share, down from 32 cents in the same period last year. Revenues rose 2% to $10.16 billion. Analysts were looking for earnings of 22 cents on sales of $10.21 billion. The company reiterated its full-year revenue guidance of $41-42 billion. Shares slipped -2.2% after the carrier said customer cancellations may hurt its current quarter's growth. Subscribers can read our analysis of Sprint Nextel in today's issue.
Online booking agent Priceline.com (Nasdaq: PCLN - News) shares soared 22.2% after the company said its net income more than doubled from year-ago levels. For its second quarter, it posted net income of $34.6 million, or 79 cents a share, up from $12.5 million, or 28 cents per share, a year ago. Sales climbed 16% to $355.9 million. Excluding one-time items, it earned $1.11 a share. Analysts were looking for 89 cents a share. The company also boosted its third-quarter earnings forecast to a range of $1.21-1.31 a share; analysts were looking for the company to earn $1.07 per share.
Ralph Lauren (NYSE: RL - News) shares plunged -11.8% after the retailer and home accessories company missed first-quarter numbers. It reported net income of $88 million, or 82 cents a share, up from $80 million, or 74 cents a share, last year. Sales reached $1.07 billion. Analysts on average were looking for earnings of 85 cents a share. Looking forward, the company cut its earnings forecast, which includes charges, to a range of $3.64-3.74 a share, down from $3.70-3.80 a share. The company cited a higher tax rate of 39% compared to 38%.

By the BullMarket.com Staff

Labels: PCLN, RL, S, TOL

Tuesday, August 07, 2007

Hot Stock Options to Watch Today

Here are 7 options to watch for today. This list comes directly from the TradingMarkets Options Indicators page. The list is created using OptionVue options analysis software.
Most 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.
Bear Stearns Companies Inc. Sep 140.0 Calls (NYSE:BSC - News). BSC's PowerRating 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.
Citigroup Inc. Sep 47.5 Puts (NYSE:C - News). C's PowerRating is 5.
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.
Priceline.com Inc. Aug 65.0 Calls (NasdaqGS:PCLN - News). PCLN's PowerRating is 6.
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.
Countrywide Financial Corp. Oct 20.0 Puts FC. CFC's PowerRating is .
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.
Patterson-UTI Energy Inc. (NasdaqGS:PTEN - News). PTEN's PowerRating 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.
National Semiconductor Corp. (NYSE:NSM - News). NSM's PowerRating is 7.
Abnormal Put/Call $ Volume: These stocks have the highest dollar put volume in relation to their call volume. These high ratios are indicative of extreme bearish sentiment in the underlying stock.
CBS Corp. BS. CBS' PowerRating is 6.
PowerRatings are courtesy of TradingMarkets.com

Labels: BSC, C, NSM, PCLN, PTEN, stock options

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Priceline.com Inc. (PCLN) Stock Spikes

Shares of Priceline.com (PCLN, 45.93) traded sharply higher on Tuesday after the online travel company posted higher fourth quarter earnings, helped by strong European growth, and issued a full-year outlook that is above analysts' estimates. The stock climbed nearly 7% in pre-market activity.
Priceline shares have more than doubled in the past year, and are sitting in new annual high territory. Considering the company's latest results, which exceeded expectations for the third consecutive quarter, Priceline remains well-positioned to benefit from a domestic recovery as well as greater exposure to the faster-growing European markets. At the current price level, we believe the stock is fairly priced and still presents a compelling investment opportunity.
Fourth quarter net income grew to $13.2 million, or $0.32 per share, compared with $3.8 million, or $0.09 per share, in the year ago period. Excluding stock option expense and amortization charges, the company earned $0.58 per share, handily beating analysts' expectations of $0.40 per share, according to Reuters Estimates.
Revenue grew 27.6% year/year to $260.1 million, also beating the consensus estimate of $235.9 million, led by strong growth in its European brand, Booking.com, and high retail travel prices over the holidays. Gross travel bookings in the quarter, which include the total dollar value of all travel services purchased by consumers, increased 38.8% to $742.4 million. Booking.com recorded gross bookings of $319.1 million, representing a year/year increase of 101%, while domestic gross bookings were up a more modest 12%.
Looking to the first quarter, Priceline projected adjusted earnings of $0.22 to $0.30 per share, with overall bookings expected to rise about 25% to 30%. Analysts on average are looking for first quarter earnings of $0.30 per share. For the full year, the company expects earnings in a range of $2.60 to $2.90 per share, above the consensus estimate of $2.54 per share.
--Richard Jahnke, Briefing.com

Labels: PCLN, Priceline.com Inc.

Tuesday's Biggest Stock Gainers

LCAPA, TWX, CBS, MA, PXR, PCLN, SVM, SNDA, TEVA, WYN

Liberty Media (NasdaqGS:LCAPA - News) has agreed to acquire the Atlanta Braves baseball team from Time Warner Inc. (NYSE:TWX - News), according to media reports. The company also agreed to exchange its stake in CBS Corp. (NYSE:CBS - News) for a Green Bay, Wis., television station and $170 million in cash. In the tax-free transaction, Liberty will swap its 7.6 million CBS common shares for a newly created CBS subsidiary that holds the TV station, valued at $64 million, and the cash. The price at which Liberty will exchange its CBS shares will be based upon the average trading price of CBS Class B shares during a specified period prior to the closing.
Mastercard (NYSE:MA - News) was upgraded to overweight from neutral at J.P. Morgan.
Paxar Corp. (NYSE:PXR - News) reported fourth-quarter earnings of $9.5 million, or 23 cents a share, up from a loss of $800,000, or 2 cents a share, in the year-ago period. Excluding certain items, the White Plains, N.Y., maker of retail identification products earned $12.6 million, or 30 cents a share, in the latest quarter. Sales rose in the latest three months to $230.8 million from $206.8 million in the same period a year earlier. The average estimate of analysts polled by Thomson Financial was for a profit of 29 cents a share in the December period. Looking ahead, Paxar said it expects earnings of $1.13 to $1.21 a share in 2007 on sales of between $925 million and $945 million. This view includes restructuring-related charges of between 11 to 15 cents a share. Excluding items, the company sees earnings of $1.24 to $1.36 a share for the year. Wall Street's current consensus estimate is for a profit of $1.33 a share in 2007.
Priceline.com Inc. (NasdaqGS:PCLN - News) reported profit more than doubled on stronger business in Europe. For the quarter ended Dec. 31, the company said profit was $13.2 million, or 33 cents per share, compared to $3.8 million or 9 cents a share a year ago. Sales for the quarter rose 28% to $235.9 million.
ServiceMaster Co. (NYSE:SVM - News) said fourth-quarter earnings rose to $38.9 million, or 13 cents a share, from $27 million, or 9 cents a share, a year earlier. Excluding items, earnings for the quarter ending Dec. 31 would have been 11 cents a share. Revenue increased 7.1% to $770.7 million from last year's $719.6 million. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial had been expecting earnings of 10 cents a share and revenue of $767.1 million, on average. The Downers Grove, Ill. lawn care and pest control company said it expects adjusted 2007 earnings of 67 to 68 cents a share, vs. analyst forecasts of 68 cents a share.
Shanda Interactive Entertainment Ltd. (NasdaqGS:SNDA - News) said it swung to net income for the fourth-quarter of 240.3 million renminbi ($31 million), or RMB3.32 (42 cents) per American Depositary Share. During the same period in the prior year, the net loss was RMB538.9 million, or RMB7.58 per ADS.
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NasdaqGS:TEVA - News) said fourth-quarter net income rose 51% as sales increased 63%, citing sales of new products as well as the addition of sales from Ivax. Profit reached $460 million, or 56 cents a share, from $305 million, or 45 cents, in the year-earlier period. The latest quarter's adjusted earnings, eliminating certain tax-related income and certain charges, were 53 cents. A survey of analysts by Thomson Financial produced a consensus estimate of 58 cents a share. Sales rose to $2.28 billion from $1.4 billion. Thomson's survey estimated $2.26 billion.
Wyndham Worldwide Corp. (NYSE:WYN - News) said fourth-quarter net income rose to $92 million, or 48 cents a share, from $91 million, or 45 cents a share. Net revenue rose to $970 million from $861 million. Analysts, on average, expected it to earn 40 cents a share on revenue of $912 million, according to Thomson Financial. For 2007, the hotel operator raised its profit forecast for the year to a range of $1.84 to $2.02 a share, excluding separation and related costs, as well as legacy matters. The prior forecast was a range of $1.77 to $1.95 a share. Revenue for the year is expected to come in at $4.11 billion to $4.26 billion. For the first quarter, Wyndham expects to earn 37 cents to 40 cents a share, excluding items. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial expect it to earn 38 cents a share in the first quarter and $1.87 a share for the year on revenue of $4.14 billion, on average

Labels: CBS, LCAPA, MA, PCLN, PXR, SNDA, SVM, TEVA, TWX, WYN

Monday, February 12, 2007

Hot Stocks to Watch Tuesday

Here are 7 stocks for traders for Tuesday from TradingMarkets.com:
Priceline.com (NasdaqGS:PCLN - News) beat earnings on Monday after the close, with $0.58 EPS over an expected $0.40 EPS. PCLN's PowerRating is 5.
Anadigics (NasdaqGM:ANAD - News) beat earnings Monday afternoon, announcing $0.06 EPS over an expected $0.00 EPS. ANAD's PowerRating is 5.
Advanced Medical Optics (NYSE:EYE - News) reports quarterly earnings Tuesday morning, with analysts looking for -$0.05 EPS. EYE's PowerRating is 4.
Ceridian (NYSE:CEN - News) is expected to report $0.33 EPS on Tuesday before the bell. CEN's PowerRating is 5.
Expeditors International (NasdaqGS:EXPD - News) announces earnings on Tuesday before the market opens; watch for $0.31 EPS. EXPD's PowerRating is 4.
When KB Home (NYSE:KBH - News) reports quarterly earnings on Tuesday morning, look for $1.86 EPS. KBH's PowerRating is 7.
Analysts are watching for NASDAQ (NasdaqGS:NDAQ - News) to report $0.24 EPS tomorrow morning before the market opens. NDAQ's PowerRating is 5.
PowerRatings are courtesy of PowerRatings.net
Check out http://www.stockhustler.com

Labels: ANAD, CEN, EXPD, EYE, KBH, NDAQ, PCLN