Jim Cramer Blog

Here are 7 stocks for traders for Tuesday from TradingMarkets.com:
SAIC (NYSE:SAI - News) beat earnings on Monday afternoon, announcing $0.26 EPS versus expectations of $0.23 EPS. SAI's PowerRating (for Traders) is 5.

Diamond Foods (NasdaqGS:DMND - News) also beat earnings on Monday, with $0.52 EPS over $0.44 EPS. DMND does not have a PowerRating (for Traders) due to volume constraints.
Bankrate (NasdaqGS:RATE - News) rallied 19% on Monday, after forecasting 2008 revenue ahead of analyst estimates, and an upgrade at Citigroup. RATE's PowerRating (for Traders) is 4.
Kroger (NYSE:KR - News) is looking to announce $0.35 EPS on Tuesday before the market opens. KR's PowerRating (for Traders) is 6.
Analysts are watching for Multimedia Games (NasdaqGS:MGAM - News) to report $0.01 EPS on Tuesday before the bell. MGAM's PowerRating (for Traders) is 3.
When ABM Industries (NYSE:ABM - News) reports quarterly results after the market close on Tuesday, be watching for $0.33 EPS. ABM's PowerRating (for Traders) is 3.
Cooper Cos (NYSE:COO - News) should report $0.68 EPS after the trading close tomorrow afternoon. COO's PowerRating (for Traders) is 5.

Labels: ABM, COO, DMND, Hot Stocks, KR, MGAM, RATE, SAI

Here are 7 stocks for traders for Monday from TradingMarkets.com:
On Friday, Cascade (NYSE:CAE - News) fell 17% after announcing it may revise safety information for its biggest product, anemia drug Aransep. CAE's PowerRating (for Traders) is 4.
Imperial Sugar (NasdaqGM:IPSU - News) should report $0.34 EPS on Monday before the market opens. IPSU's PowerRating (for Traders) is 3.
Traders are watching for Vail Resorts (NYSE:MTN - News) to report -$0.79 EPS before the stock market opens on Monday. MTN's PowerRating (for Traders) is 4.
FuelCell Energy (NasdaqGM:FCEL - News) announces quarterly results on Monday afternoon, with analysts watching for -$0.27 EPS. FCEL's PowerRating (for Traders) is 4.
When H&R Block (NYSE:HRB - News) releases quarterly numbers on Monday after the bell, be looking for -$0.35 EPS. HRB's PowerRating (for Traders) is 4.
NCI Building Systems (NYSE:NCS - News) is looking to report $1.59 EPS on Monday after the market closes. NCS's PowerRating (for Traders) is 3.
Watch for SAIC (NYSE:SAI - News) to report $0.23 EPS on Monday afternoon. SAI's PowerRating (for Traders) is 5.

Labels: CAE, FCEL, Hot Stocks, HRB, IPSU, MTN, NCS, SAI

Here are 7 stocks for traders for Thursday from TradingMarkets.com:
ADC Telecom (NasdaqGS:ADCT) beat earnings on Wednesday afternoon, announcing $0.35 EPS over an expected $0.23 EPS. ADCT's PowerRating is 5.

Science Applications International (NYSE:SAI) missed earnings on Wednesday; analysts were looking for $0.20 EPS, but SAI announced $0.18 EPS. SAI does not have a PowerRating due to its short trading history.
DSW (NYSE:DSW) beat earnings on Wednesday afternoon, with $0.54 EPS over an expected $0.47 EPS. DSW's PowerRating is 5.
CRA International (NasdaqGS:CRAI) reports earnings on Thursday before the market opens; look for $0.53 EPS. CRAI's PowerRating is 5.
When Pathmark Stores (NasdaqGM:PTMK) reports quarterly earnings tomorrow morning, analysts will be watching for -$0.04 EPS. PTMK's PowerRating is 6.
Smithfield Foods (NYSE:SFD) should report $0.34 EPS on Thursday before the market opens. SFD's PowerRating is 6.
Analysts expect UTI Worldwide (NasdaqGS:UTIW) to report $0.18 EPS tomorrow morning. UTIW's PowerRating is 6.
PowerRatings (for Traders) are courtesy of TradingMarkets.com

Labels: ADCT, CRAI, DSW, Hot Stocks, PTMK, SAI, SFD, UTIW

Here are 7 stocks for traders for Wednesday from TradingMarkets.com:
Korn/Ferry International (NYSE:KFY) looks set to announce $0.35 EPS on Wednesday before the market opens. KFY's PowerRating is 5.

Martek Biosciences (NasdaqGS:MATK) reports quarterly earnings after the bell on Wednesday afternoon, with analysts watching for $0.15 EPS. MATK's PowerRating is 3.
When SAIC (NYSE:SAI) reports earnings after the bell on Wednesday, analysts will be watching for $0.20 EPS. SAI's PowerRating is currently unavailable due to the stock meeting certain criteria.
Shuffle Master (NasdaqGS:SHFL) should report $0.13 EPS after the close on Wednesday. SHFL's PowerRating is 4.
It was reported that Amazon.com (NasdaqGS:AMZN) CEO Jeff Bezos said the company will begin to focus more extensively on its fastest growing market in the world, China. AMZN's PowerRating is 5.
Wild Oats Market Inc. (NasdaqGM:OATS) reported that regulators at the Federal Trade Commission will file a lawsuit looking to block its acquisition by Whole Foods Markets Inc. (NasdaqGS:WFMI). OATS' PowerRating is 7 and WFMI's PowerRating is 3.
PowerRatings are courtesy of TradingMarkets.com

Labels: AMZN, Hot Stocks, KFY, MATK, OATS, SAI, SHFL, WFMI

Bullish calls:
Apple (NasdaqGS: AAPL): 'AAPL is the best-acting technology stock in the book ... Don't trust most of techonlogy, until we get to the summer... but not AAPL. I think AAPL is best in show. Pull the trigger on any weakness...'Yamana Gold (NYSE: AUY - News): 'I think gold is a good place to go. I think people should have 1 gold stock out of 10. And the stock they should own is AUY! Which is the only gold company which is completely and utterly replenishing its coffers, even as it is produces gold. You got it right. Do you back up the truck? Let's do that at $12.'Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK - News)General Dynamic (NYSE: GD - News): ' ... you know that GD may be best in show.'Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT - News): 'Take a look at LMT, which got completely crushed today. That shouldn't have been down $3.'Genentech (NYSE: DNA - News): 'This stock acted pretty darn well in the selloff. It has been meandering between $80 and $85. I think that Evastin's problems are way overblown ... it's still in my top 4.'Gilead Sciences (NasdaqGS: GILD)Celgene (NasdaqGS: CELG): 'I don't like DNA as much as I like CELG, which is my #1 name.'Genzyme (NasdaqGS: GENZ): 'I don't like it [DNA] as much as GENZ.'Microsoft (NasdaqGS: MSFT): 'Everybody knows that Vista's not selling well. I think that MSFT, at $26, deserves and merits a buy here... not on voice recognition, but on a crystal, rock-solid clear balance sheet, and a business that isn't going away. The stock is now down five straight points. That's an overaction, and I'm buying. Buy, buy, buy!'GlobalSantaFe (NYSE: GSF - News)Transocean (NYSE: RIG - News): 'Rig is #1.'Garmin (NasdaqGS: GRMN): 'I thought GRMN acted very well today ... What a clean quarter they had. Let that stock come in to $50. And then, I don't care about the insider selling. I need you to pull the trigger multiple times... $50, then $47, and then $45... What a stock! What a company.'
Neutral calls:
Diamond Offshore (NYSE: DO - News): 'When I went through the quarter for DO... Frankly, I was not as impressed as I wanted to be... Here's the deal... The pecking order of drillers is very clear: RIG* is #1... Then GSF... and only then, would you pick up DO.'
Bearish calls:
SAIC (NYSE: SAI - News): 'Remember, I said that SAIC, I had to give up on it... I rode it up to $21 and then I rode it back. My bad.'
Published by SeekingAlpha

Labels: ATG. ATK, AUY, DNA, DO, GD, GSF, Jim Cramer, LMT, Mad Money, RIG, SAI

During 2006, investor demand for initial public offerings (IPOs) was again fairly tepid: by our tally, about 200 companies went public--roughly the same number as the previous two years--but well below the overheated figures seen during the heady times at the end of the 1990s. Morningstar has been tracking the ranks of newly public companies for years, looking for businesses (and stocks) worthy of attention. But, more recently, we've increased the amount of attention paid to the IPO market, and our analysts have taken a hard look at many of the firms that went public last year.
We bring the same research process to a company regardless of its tenure as a public company, looking for firms with strong competitive positions and stocks trading well below our assessment of fair value. Because we have a broad array of industry expertise, we're able to put a new offering in proper industry context (though there are times when we have the opportunity to learn about new businesses--see Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico (NYSE:PAC - News)). Since firms tend to go public when valuations favor the seller (a disadvantage to investors), we spend time thinking about why a company is going public and looking at demand for the shares shortly after the offering. MasterCard (NYSE:MA - News) is a great example of a situation in which insiders were selling stock for reasons other than maximizing their returns. The banks that owned MasterCard were looking to raise funds to cushion against and separate themselves from potential legal liabilities.
While every firm should be judged on its own merits, one way to guard against buying into an IPO at peak valuations is to examine which sectors are "hot." Health-care, energy, and financial services have been the most active recently; of the roughly 80 firms that went public in the fourth quarter of 2006, half fell in or around these three sectors. Getting in on an offering in a hot sector can produce a quick gain, but predicting which stocks will be popular can be risky. For example, within health care, Trubion Pharmaceuticals (NasdaqGM:TRBN - News) is up more than 50% since going public in October, whereas Catalyst Pharmaceuticals Partners (NasdaqGM:CPRX - News), which went public three weeks later, is down 35%.
Also, with energy prices high throughout the year, it's no surprise that a number of firms with ties to oil and gas have sought to raise funds. As energy prices have fallen, though, the sector has performed poorly: About a third of fourth-quarter IPOs are below their initial offer price. We actually think there are some interesting companies in this group, particularly among pipeline operators, to which we often assign our highest wide-moat rating based on their strong competitive positions.
SAICSAIC (NYSE:SAI - News) is a defense contractor that went public in October. The firm distinguishes itself with its broad scientific and technological expertise that runs the gamut from future combat systems and integrated port inspection systems to advanced robotics and even biopharmaceuticals. Owing to a diverse base of engineers and scientists, the firm has successfully identified and capitalized on several emerging technologies. As long as defense intelligence and technological advancement are crucial on the battlefield, we believe SAIC will remain a strategic partner of the government and a good long-term bet.
One of the reasons SAIC chose to go public was to create liquidity for employee stockholders. Employees have long received equity in the firm based on contributions to contracts and cultivation of new business opportunities. This ownership culture has helped the firm build a deep bench of engineers who remain loyal to the company.
StanleyStanley (NYSE:SXE - News), which also went public in October, does extensive information technology (IT) services work exclusively for federal government agencies, including the Defense Department. By focusing its resources strictly on federal agencies, Stanley has developed highly specialized expertise in systems and processes that positions it to benefit from the government's increasing affinity for outsourcing.
On the civilian side, more than half of revenue comes from nonappropriated programs. For example, visa and passport user fees fund Stanley's passport processing contract, and bank fees fund its work for the Federal Reserve. On the military side, Stanley's contracts are not, for the most part, dependent on events, such as military engagements. As an incumbent vendor, the firm has the upper hand when contracts are renewed; consider that since Stanley won the State Department's passport-processing contract in 1992, the re-competes in 1997 and 2002 went uncontested, as rivals determined that its position was unassailable. Also 55% of Stanley employees have secret or top-secret clearances.
Energy Transfer Equity LPEnergy Transfer Equity (NYSE:ETE - News), the general partner for Energy Transfer Partners (NYSE:ETP - News), went public 11 months ago. The partnership units have had a nice run since, but we think they're still worth a look. We love the natural gas pipeline business, and ETE, via ETP, operates one of the best natural-gas distribution networks in the industry, in our view. The Barnett Shale continues to be the hottest natural-gas play in the country, and we believe ETP is in the best position among pipeline operators to benefit from production growth there. The firm's 2006 acquisition of the Transwestern pipeline offers access to markets in the western United States, and building a pipeline with Kinder Morgan (NYSE:KMP - News) to reach the East will give it a system that enables producers to sell into whichever market offers the best price for gas at any given time.
ETE's current yield is low, compared with those of similar partnerships, which typically fall in the 6%-10% range. But ETE holds incentive distribution rights that give unitholders an increasing share of ETP's cash flow as the firm grows. For example, a 10% increase in distributions to ETP's unitholders would result in nearly 20% more cash flow to ETE. So, while ETE investors may not receive a big yield today, we think the shares will appreciate nicely over time.
Published by Michael Hodel, CFA at Morningstar.com

Labels: CPRX, ETE, ETP, KMP, MA, PAC, SAI

Play it Cool: Global Sources (NASDAQ: GSOL - News), J. Crew (NYSE: JCG - News), and the Gap (NYSE: GPS - News)
Cramer urged investors to "check their enthusiasm at the door" when it comes to investing. He recommended GSOL last week, but told investors not to buy it after hours before doing their homework. He also said that people got too excited when J. Crew rose after it reported, and Cramer commented that people should have expected a decline. Now that the stock is at $39.99, Cramer says that it's time to pull the trigger, but to do so gradually. He likes the fact that the company underpromises and overdelivers, and applauds CEO Millard "Micky" Drexler who left Gap in 2002 and brought that company up 368%. Cramer thinks there is time to get into J. Crew because he doesn't envision that the pullback will be over until December 27.
Subtle Seasonal Strategy: Safeway (NYSE: SWY - News), GSI Commerce (NASDAQ: GSIC - News)
Cramer likes to find indirect ways of playing the holidays, such as Safeway, which he discussed earlier this week. Another subtle strategy is to buy GSI Commerce which provides Web-related marketing, design and management for companies such as Dick's Sporting Goods and Burberry. Cramer comments that GSIC has growth like Google but it is trading at a 35% discount to Amazon. In addition, the stock is "criminally undervalued" and has a "truly incredible business" which plays on the secular growth of web retail.
Mad Mail : J.C. Penney (NYSE: JCP - News) and SAIC (NYSE: SAI - News)
Cramer advised not to take the fact that JCP is offering a dividend as a sign that it is stalled, and concerning SAI, he comments that people who sold the stock because they were disappointed with the quarter will regret getting out. On a general note, Cramer said that uranium and nuclear fuel are too speculative.

Labels: GPS, GSIC, GSOL, JCG, JCP, Jim Cramer, Mad Money, SAI, SWY

Alpharma Inc. (NYSE:ALO - News) shares slumped after the specialty pharmaceuticals maker said it expects to report 2007 earnings below the average forecast on Wall Street.
Anadarko Petroleum (NYSE:APC - News) was downgraded to neutral from buy at Goldman Sachs.
Biomira Inc. (NASDAQ:BIOM - News) shares fell after the Edmonton, Alberta-based biotech company said it plans to raise $13 million by offering up to 9.63 million units for $1.35 each. Units will consist of one common share and 0.2 of a warrant. Each warrant will entitle the holder to buy one common share at an exercise price of $1.86. The warrants will have a 48-month term and a no-exercise period of six months. The offering is expected to close in the next few days.
Celgene (NASDAQ:CELG - News) shares declined after the company said Barr Pharmaceuticals (NYSE:BRL - News) has filed an Abbreviated New Drug Application with the Food and Drug Administration to market a generic version of thalidomide. Celgene said Barr is seeking approval for the treatment of moderate to severe erythema nodosum leprosum, an immunologic skin ailment. Celgene markets thalidomide under the brand name Thalomid for treatment multiple myeloma, as well as for erythema nodosum leprosum. Celgene said it plans to file a complaint against Barr, alleging infringement of Celgene patents.
CHC Helicopter Corp. (NYSE:FLI - News) reported second-quarter net earnings of C$8.9 million ($7.2 million), or 20 Canadian cents a share, compared with C$39.2 million, or 85 Canadian cents a share, in the same period last year.
CKE Restaurants Inc. (NYSE:CKR - News) said third-quarter net income fell, as income tax expense rose, to $9.46 million, or 13 cents a share, from $15.8 million, or 23 cents a share, during the same period in the prior year. The company also said its blended same-store sales for November rose 2.9%. The company's Carl's Jr. restaurants posted an increase of 0.5% in comparable sales for the four weeks ended Dec. 4, while its Hardee's restaurants saw a jump of 5.2% in same-store sales for the period. Carpinteria, Calif.-based CKE said total consolidated revenue from company-owned stores for the period reached $95.9 million.
Shares of Cooper Cos. (NYSE:COO - News) slumped after the company reported fiscal fourth-quarter results that came in below its own expectations, which the health-care products maker attributed to order processing and shipping delays, and a lackluster response to its new spherical contact lens products.
Shares of CSX Corp. (NYSE:CSX - News) fell after Bear Stearns downgraded the railroad company to peer perform from outperform, due primarily to concerns over valuation. Analyst Edward Wolfe also said CSX was the most-likely of the large-capitalization companies he covers to miss fourth-quarter earnings expectations due to a drag from fuel hedges, a drop off in volume that was worse than expected and than its peers and management's commitment to stay with its operating plan regardless of near-term cost overrides.
EntreMed Inc. (NASDAQ:ENMD - News) shares fell after the company announced that it plans to sell up to 10.7 million shares of its common stock in a transaction valued at about $17.2 million.
Shares of Monster Worldwide Inc. (NASDAQ:MNST - News) slid after the company said a panel investigating its stock option grant practices found evidence that someone intentionally lowered exercise prices so they would have a higher value. The company said it's restating results to record a total charge of $339.6 million to properly account for options granted between 1997 and March 31, 2003.
The disclosure tamped down the positive effects of a note Wednesday by Piper Jaffray & Co. analyst Brett Manderfeld, who wrote that the operator of the Monster.com jobs board was on track for a fourth-quarter that was in-line with expectations of about 60% sales growth.
Share of OptionsXpress (NASDAQ:OXPS - News) fell after the company reported that while its trading volume improved, its account growth slowed. Also, Raymond James analysts downgraded the shares to outperform from strong buy Wednesday, noting account growth, "was well below expectations."
Peerless Systems Corp. (NASDAQ:PRLS - News) said it swung to a third-quarter net loss, as revenue fell, of $18,000, or breakeven on a per-share basis. During the same period in the prior year, net income was $1.05 million, or 6 cents a share.
Shares of Pozen Inc. (NASDAQ:POZN - News) tumbled on news that regulators want additional data for its proposed migraine medication Trexima before they will consider approving the drug.
Qantas Airways has agreed to an A$11 billion takeover offer from a consortium led by Australia's Macquarie Bank and Texas Pacific Group of the U.S. after the group sweetened its bid by 10 cents a share to overcome the Qantas board's reticence, according to a media report.
SAIC Inc. (NYSE:SAI - News) said third-quarter net income rose, as revenue gained, to $98 million, or 28 cents a share, from $91 million, or 25 cents a share, during the same period in the prior year.
Stanley Furniture Co. (NASDAQ:STLY - News) said it plans to cut 200 of the 450 employees at its Robbinsville, N.C. plant. The cuts include management and hourly employees, according to the wood furniture manufacturer.
Tyson Foods (NYSE:TSN - News) was downgraded to underweight from neutral at J.P. Morgan, citing valuation concerns.
Wet Seal Inc. (NASDAQ:WTSLA - News) said certain shareholders will sell 16 million shares of its Class A common stock in a secondary offering. The shares are being sold by affiliates of Prentice Capital Management LP, S.A.C. Capital Associates LLC and GMM Capital LLC. In addition, the underwriters have been granted an over-allotment option to buy up to 2.4 million additional shares. Foothill Ranch, Calif.-based Wet Seal, an apparel retailer, will not receive any proceeds from the offering, other than those received as a result of the exercise of warrants for shares to be sold in the offering.
-MarketWatch

Labels: ALO, APC, BIOM, BRL, CELG, CKR, COO, CSX, ENMD, FLI, Hot Stocks, MNST, OXPS, POZN, PRLS, SAI, STLY, TSN, WTSLA