Jim Cramer Blog

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.
MasterCard Oct 160 Calls (NYSE:MA - News). MA's PowerRating (for Traders) is 6.
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.
Electronic Arts Oct 55 Puts (NasdaqGS:ERTS - News). ERTS's PowerRating (for Traders) is 5.
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.
Amazon.com Nov 110 Calls (NasdaqGS:AMZN - News). AMZN's PowerRating (for Traders) is 1.
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 Nov 110 Puts (NYSE:LVS - News). LVS's PowerRating (for Traders) is 3.
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.
Rediff.com (NasdaqGM:REDF - News). REDF's PowerRating (for Traders) is 2.
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.
KB Home (NYSE:KBH - News). KBH'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.
Pacific Ethanol (NYSE:PEIX - News). PEIX's PowerRating (for Traders) is 6.
Published By TradingMarkets.com

Labels: AMZN, ERTS, KBH, LVS, MA, Mastercard Inc., Pacific Ethanol, PEIX, REDF, stock options

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
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.
Beckman Coulter (NYSE:BEC - News). BEC's PowerRating is 6.
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.
CECO Environmental (NasdaqGM:CECE - News). CECE's PowerRating is 7.
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. Historically, these stocks have provided traders with a significant edge.
Protective Life (NYSE:PL - News). PL's PowerRating 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.
Pacific Ethanol (NasdaqGM:PEIX - News). PEIX's PowerRating is 3.
2-Period RSI Above 98: These are stocks that have a 2-day RSI reading above 98 and are trading below their 200-day moving average. Our research shows that stocks trading below their 200-day moving average 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.
Symantec (NasdaqGS:SYMC - News) & E.W. Scripps (NYSE:SSP - News). SYMC's PowerRating is 3, and SSP's PowerRating is 3.
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.
Rackable Systems (NasdaqGS:RACK - News). RACK's PowerRating is 2.
PowerRatings are courtesy of PowerRatings.net

Labels: BEC, CECE, Hot Stocks, PEIX, PL, RACK, SSP, SYMC

NATCO Group (NYSE:NTG - News) shares fell after the company said it now sees earnings of $2.30 to $2.50 a share in fiscal 2007 on revenue of between $560 million and $580 million. Wall Street's consensus view is for a profit of $2.55 a share for the year.
NCI Building Systems (NYSE:NCI - News) shares fell after the Houston-based maker of metal products for the nonresidential building industry reported fiscal first-quarter net earnings of $10.5 million, or 49 cents a share, down from $12.9 million, 62 cents a share, in the year-ago period. Revenue rose to $359.3 million from $293.3 million. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial were expecting a per-share profit of 53 cents on revenue of $347.6 million. The company forecast fiscal second-quarter net earnings of 50 cents to 55 cents a share, and 2007 earnings of $4.55 to $4.80 a share. Analysts are looking for a second-quarter per-share profit of 89 cents and a 2007 per-share profit of $4.56.
Northwest Airlines Corp.'s (Other OTC:NWACQ.PK - News)loss for December 2006 was $30 million, on revenue of $967 million in the month, the airline operator said in a monthly statement with the bankruptcy court. For January, Northwest's loss grew to $349 million, mostly from a $307 payment for a claim to Pinnacle Airlines (NasdaqGM:PNCL - News). In January, the Eagan, Minn.-based Northwest said revenue fell to $892 million. Northwest, which filed for Chapter 11 reorganization in September 2005, is awaiting a March 26 hearing for court approval of its bankruptcy-exit plan.
Nortel Networks (NYSE:NT - News) said it would delay the filing of its 2006 annual report, and that it will need to restate results for 2004, 2005 and the first nine months of 2006. The Toronto telecommunications equipment company said it had found errors through discussions with its pension actuaries, and through its efforts to correct internal control deficiencies. The company expects the restatement to increase earnings for the first nine months of 2006 by $15 million and revenue by $24 million. Net losses should increase by $87 million for 2005 and by $42 million for 2004.
Pacific Ethanol Inc. (NasdaqGM:PEIX - News) reported a fourth-quarter loss of $3.1 million, or 11 cents a share, narrower than the prior year's loss of $5.1 million, or 18 cents a share. The Sacramento, Calif.-based marketer and producer of ethanol generated quarterly revenue of nearly $80.6 million, up from $36.1 million in the final three months of 2005. The company paid preferred stock dividends of nearly $1.1 million in the latest quarter; no such dividends were paid in the year-ago period. There were some 37% more weighted average shares outstanding in the 2006 fourth quarter than a year earlier. Pacific Ethanol said gross profit jumped to about $11.7 million in the latest quarter, up from $1.3 million a year earlier, as gross margin widened to 14.6% from 3.7%. The company also said its Boardman, Ore., plant is on schedule for completion by the end of the second quarter.
PetSmart Inc. (NasdaqGS:PETM - News) said that fourth-quarter net earnings climbed to $76.9 million, or 56 cents a share, compared with $70.9 million, or 50 cents a share, for the same period a year ago. Sales were $1.17 billion vs. last year's $1.05 billion, the company said in a press release after the close.
PICO Holdings (NasdaqGM:PICO - News) said it's agreed to sell about 2.823 million new common shares for $37 each. The La Jolla, Calif., company anticipates net proceeds of about $100.2 million from the offering.
Plug Power (NasdaqGM:PLUG - News) posted a fourth-quarter loss of $13.3 million, or 15 cents a share, narrower than a year-ago loss of $16.5 million, or 19 cents a share.
Pride International (NYSE:PDE - News) reported fourth-quarter earnings of $68.9 million, or 40 cents a share, up from a year-ago profit of $40.6 million, or 24 cents a share. The latest results include expenses of 8 cents a share related to the early termination of certain relationships with rigs in Brazil, a charge of 2 cents a share from an ongoing investigation by the company's audit committee, and a charge of a penny per share related to the impairment of certain rigs. Revenue rose 21% in the three months ended Dec. 31 to $669.2 million from $551 million in the same period a year earlier. The average estimate of analysts polled by Thomson Financial was for a profit of 48 cents a share in the December period. Looking ahead, the Houston-based drilling contractor said it expects earnings of 57 to 60 cents a share in the first quarter. Wall Street's current consensus estimate is for a profit of 64 cents a share in the March period. Pride said the outlook reflects current softness in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico market.
Restore Medical (NasdaqGM:REST - News) shares dropped after the company posted sales of $1.1 million for the fourth quarter, down from $1.6 million in the same period a year earlier. RBC Capital Markets lowered its rating on the stock to sector perform from outperform, citing the sales decline. The firm also cut its price target on shares of the St. Paul, Minn., maker of a sleep apnea treatment to $5 from $7.
Sears Holding Corp. (NasdaqGS:SHLD - News) reported a jump in fourth quarter profit Thursday as higher margins helped offset sagging same-store sales and flat overall revenue. Sears earned $820 million, or $5.33 a share, on the period - up from $648 million, or $4.03 a share in the fourth quarter of the previous year. Revenue came in at $16.3 billion, up from $16.1 billion, with the help of an extra week in the most recent quarter. Domestic same-store sales -- those at stores open more than a year -- declined 3.1% with Sears down 4.9% and Kmart off 0.9%. The average estimate of analysts polled by Thomson Financial had been for the company to earn $5.18 a share on revenue of $15.95 billion.
Smithfield Foods (NYSE:SFD - News) said fiscal third-quarter net income slipped to $60.4 million, or 54 cents a share, from $71 million, or 63 cents a share. The pork and beef producer attributed 4 cents a share of this year's third quarter net income to a lower estimate of its annualized income tax rate. Last year's results include an after-tax loss from discontinued operations of 4 cents a share. Sales rose to $3.28 billion from $2.93 billion. Analysts, on average, expected it to earn 51 cents a share on revenue of $3.15 billion, according to Thomson Financial. The Smithfield, Va.-based company said the rise in corn and other grain prices will have a "significant" impact on the business.
Sonus Networks Inc. (NasdaqGS:SONS - News) said fourth-quarter revenue was $79 million. The Chelmsford, Mass., maker of voice and data communications hardware and software didn't report earnings because it hasn't completed its restatement of certain financial reports. Sonus said the audit committee completed its investigation of the company's stock option practices and accounting, and found no improper conduct or violation of company policies by any member of management.
Southwestern Energy Co. (NYSE:SWN - News) reported fourth-quarter net earnings of $33.8 million, or 20 cents a share, down from $48.9 million, or 29 cents a share, a year ago. Revenue for the three months ended Dec. 31 slipped to $214 million from $220 million a year ago.
Staples Inc. (NasdaqGS:SPLS - News) reported net income of $336.5 million, or 46 cents a share, for the fourth quarter ended Feb. 3, up from $276.7 million, or 37 cents, earned in the same period a year earlier. Quarterly sales reached $5.29 billion from $4.46 billion for the office-products retailer, which said it generated $370 million in sales during an extra week in the latest quarter. Analysts, on average, had been looking for Staples to earn 45 cents a share on revenue of $5.19 billion for the latest quarter, according to estimates compiled by Thomson Financial. As for the current year, Staples is forecasting profit growth of 15% to 20% on an adjusted basis, equating to a range of $1.43 to $1.49 a share; analysts' average view stands at $1.49 a share.
Steven Madden Ltd.'s (NasdaqGS:SHOO - News) fourth-quarter net income rose to $10 million, or 45 cents a share, from $7.44 million, or 34 cents a share, a year ago. A Thomson Financial survey of analysts, on average, predicted earnings of 44 cents a share for the quarter. Analysts' estimates usually exclude items. The Long Island City, N.Y., fashion footwear maker's net sales rose 25% to $114.1 million from $91.4 million a year ago. Steven Madden expects first-quarter earnings of 40 cents to 43 cents a share on sales that are flat with the same period last year, due in part to weaker-than-anticipated performance in boots in both wholesale and retail and sports fusion product in Steve Madden Men's, and Betsey Johnson handbags in Daniel M.
St. Mary Land & Exploration Co. (NYSE:SM - News) said President Tony Best was named to additional position of chief executive, effective Feb. 23.
Take-Two Interactive Software (NasdaqGS:TTWO - News) reported a net loss for the 2006 fiscal year on Wednesday afternoon. For the year ended Oct. 31, the video game publisher said net loss came in at $184.9 million, or $2.60 per share, compared with earnings of $35.3 million, or 50 cents a share, for the previous year. Revenue for the year was $1.04 billion compared to $1.2 billion the previous year.
Universal Health Services Inc.'s (NYSE:UHS - News) fourth-quarter net income more than doubled to $34.2 million, or 63 cents a share, from $12.3 million, or 23 cents a share, a year earlier. The King of Prussia, Pa., hospital operator's revenue grew to $1.07 billion from $967.2 million.
Viacom Inc.'s (NYSE:VIA - News) fourth-quarter earnings more than tripled to $480.8 million, or 69 cents a share, from $129.5 million, or 17 cents a share, a year earlier, as filmed entertainment revenue doubled to $1.57 billion. The company had adjusted earnings from continuing operations of 65 cents a share, compared with 37 cents a share a year earlier. The New York media company said Thursday that total revenue rose 32% to $3.59 billion from $2.72 billion a year earlier. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial, on average, expected earnings of 58 cents a share on revenue of $3.15 billion.
Published By MarketWatch

Labels: NCI, NT, NTG, PDE, PEIX, PETM, PICO, PLUG, PNCL, REST, SFD, SHLD, SHOO, SM, SONS, SPLS, SWN

Ethanol producers and health care service providers are among the potential corporate beneficiaries of policies proposed by President Bush, while domestic automakers and oil companies could get slightly stung.
The winners and losers will be more apparent in the months ahead, as the Democrat-controlled Congress responds to the president's State of the Union speech, though economists said they expect few drastic changes in Washington between now and the 2008 election. In this scenario, the status quo prevails -- a trend Wall Street tends to prefer.
"The business community is quite skeptical that much, if anything, will be produced out of the Congress in the run-up to the 2008 presidential election year," said Allen Sinai, chief global economist at Decision Economics Inc.
Sinai added that Bush's proposals on energy and health care, including a call for a tax deduction of $7,500 for individuals and $15,000 for families regardless of whether they buy their own health insurance or receive medical coverage at work, were not overly ambitious.
But Archer-Daniels-Midland Co., along with US BioEnergy Corp., VeraSun Energy Corp. and other ethanol producers nevertheless stand to benefit from Bush's call to raise consumption targets for ethanol and other alternative fuels to 35 billion gallons by 2017. More than 5 billion gallons were produced in the U.S. in 2006. The long-term technological challenge, experts say, will be finding inexpensive ways to use feedstocks other than corn to meet the higher targets.
Some ethanol stocks were down in pre-market activity Wednesday. Archer-Daniels-Midland dipped 53 cents to $32.10, after adding 81 cents to close at $32.63 on Tuesday, and Pacific Ethanol slid 49 cents, or 2.8 percent, to $17.36 after adding $1.03 to close at $17.85 Tuesday.
Traditional energy companies will have their "antennae up" to monitor the progress of Bush's alternative energy proposals, Sinai said.
Automakers said they were open to the president's goals of increasing fuel economy standards.
The proposal could benefit Japanese automakers such as Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co., which have higher fleetwide fuel economy levels than domestic manufacturers. The proposal also includes a system of trading or "banking" credits to meet new standards, which could lead to Detroit's automakers buying fuel credits from Toyota and Honda.
But GM and Ford Motor Co. have pledged to build two million flexible-fuel vehicles by 2010, so they too could benefit by an influx of ethanol and other renewable fuels. GM said it wanted to ensure, however, "that any fuel economy increases are technically achievable and do not compromise safety, performance, or limit consumer choice."
Energy analysts said the call for a sharp escalation in the use of ethanol will have little immediate impact on major oil companies, such as Irving, Texas-based Exxon Mobil Corp. and San Ramon, Calif.-based Chevron Corp., primarily because it'll be used as a partial substitute and not a replacement for gasoline.
In a research note before the speech, Citigroup analyst Doug Leggate called Bush's plan to cut gasoline consumption by 20 percent by 2017 "a huge target, and one where a reality check may be necessary to determine if this is really achievable."
The health care taxation plan is the most appealing to the private sector, analysts said. Specifically, the second part of the provision that would curb health care spending by taxing any expenses over the $7,500 and $15,000 marks, and could drive many Americans to the individual-oriented plans offered by UnitedHealth Group Inc., Wellpoint Inc. and Aetna Inc.
WellPoint and Aetna slid in pre-market trading. WellPoint dipped 88 cents to $76.15 after adding 22 cents to end at $77.03 on Tuesday and Aetna dipped 18 cents to $42 the morning after it closed up 39 cents at $42.18.
The health proposal also would encourage middle- to lower-income individuals to opt for hospital care instead of avoiding visits that formerly would have required out-of-pocket expenses, said Tom Ochsenschlager, vice president of taxation for the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
Employers, including automakers, would welcome the plan since benefit costs, not wages, continue to hinder their bottom lines, said Brian Bethune, U.S. economist at Global Insight in Lexington, Mass.
That's good news for hospital operators like Triad Hospitals Inc. and Health Management Associates Inc., and General Motors Corp., the nation's largest private provider of health care.
And the potential health care benefits should outweigh the hit domestic automakers would take if Bush is successful in raising fuel economy standards for passenger cars, economists said.
The president devoted roughly 20 minutes of his speech to the global war on terror, with seven of those minutes spent on Iraq.
The defense industry outlook is dictated primarily by policies in Iraq and Bush's recent call to increase U.S. troops there by 21,500 elicited fierce opposition on Capitol Hill, Nomura's Resler said.
But since Bush's troop announcement on Jan. 10, the stock prices of defense contractors like Hartford, Conn.-based United Technologies, Los Angeles-based Northrop Grumman Corp. and Bethesda, Md.-based Lockheed Martin Corp., are up.
The Defense Department is expected to submit its fiscal year 2008 budget request to Congress for approval next month with initial estimates suggesting it could reach more than $600 billion, which could further bolster defense companies' shares.
AP Business Writers John Porretto in Houston, and Donna Borak, Matthew Perrone and Ken Thomas in Washington, contributed to this report.

Labels: ADM, AET, CVX, HMA, HMC, LMT, PEIX, TM, TRI, UNH, USBE, UTX, VSE, WLP, XGM, XOM

Most Under Priced 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.
Diamond Offshore Drilling Mar 85 Calls (NYSE:DO - News). DO's PowerRating is 4.
Most Under Priced 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.
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Mar 40 Puts (NASDAQ:VRTX - News). VRTX's PowerRating is 7.
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.
Intuitive Surgical Feb 100 Calls (NASDAQ:ISRG - News). ISRG's PowerRating 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.
eBay Inc. Feb 30 Calls (NASDAQ:EBAY - News). EBAY's PowerRating 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.
Pacific Ethanol (NASDAQ:PEIX - News). PEIX's PowerRating is 3.
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.
Beckman Coulter (NYSE:BEC - News). BEC's PowerRating 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.
The Gap (NYSE:GPS - News). GPS' PowerRating is 6.
PowerRatings are courtesy of PowerRatings.net

Labels: BEC, DO, Ebay, GPS, ISRG, PEIX, VRTX

According to data released today by the Department of Energy, supplies of crude, gasoline and heating oil are dwindling. In response, light sweet crude for January delivery rose $1.47 to settle at $62.46 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, which in turn boosted shares of corn and ethanol producers.
Shares of Andersons Inc. added $2.01, or 5.1 percent, to close at $41.40 on the Nasdaq, while Pacific Ethanol Inc. added 95 cents, or 5.4 percent, to finish at $18.70.
MGP Ingredients Inc. gained 42 cents, or 2 percent, to close at $22.15 on the Nasdaq, while Aventine Renewable Energy Holdings Inc. added $1.48, or 6.1 percent, to end at $25.58 on the Big Board. Archer-Daniels-Midland Co. rose $1.77, or 5.4 percent, to finish at $34.47, while Verasun Energy Corp. climbed $1.22, or 5 percent, to close at $25.88, also on the NYSE.

Labels: ADM, ANDE, AVR, ethanol, MGPI, Pacific Ethanol, PEIX, VSE

Pacific Ethanol Inc. (PEIX.O: Quote)said on Wednesday it will delay filing its third-quarter results as the management needs more time to complete financial disclosures.
The corn-based fuel maker expects to report profitability for the first time in the quarter, the company said in a statement.

Labels: corn, ethanol, Pacific Ethanol, PEIX