Jim Cramer Blog

Bristol West Holdings (NYSE:BRW - News) shares jumped 36% Friday after the company agreed to be acquired by Zurich Financial for $712 million in cash, or $22.50 a share. That's a 39% premium to Bristol's close on Thursday. BRW is a leading provider of liability and physical damage insurance focusing exclusively on private passenger automobiles across the U.S., specializing in the non-standard market. Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, which holds 42% of BRW, has agreed to vote in favor of the deal, but BRW has until March 31 to actively solicit other possible bidders.
Shares of Dendrite International (NasdaqGS:DRTE - News) jumped 21% after Cegedim S.A. agreed to acquire the company for $16 a share in cash. The deal values Bedminster, N.J.-based Dendrite, a provider of sales and marketing products and services to the pharmaceutical industry, at roughly $751 million. The offer represents a 40% premium to Dendrite's average share closing price over a 20-day period from Feb. to March 1, the companies said. Cegedim is based in Paris.
Immersion Corp. (NasdaqGM:IMMR - News) shares jumped 17% after the company said it and Sony Corp.'s (NYSE:SNE - News) Sony Computer Entertainment ended their patent litigation in a U.S. Court of Appeals and signed an agreement to explore the inclusion of Immersion technology in PlayStation products. Immersion, a San Jose touch-feedback technology company, also reported its fourth-quarter loss narrowed to $2 million, or 8 cents a share, from $3 million, or 12 cents a share. Revenue rose to $8.6 million from $6.9 million. The agreement is intended to enable "advanced vibration capability" for the PlayStation and provides Sony Computer Entertainment with certain new rights to Immersion's patent portfolio. In ending the litigation, Immersion will receive the amount of the judgment entered by the district court, which includes damages, prejudgment interest, costs, and interest, in addition to retaining compulsory license fees ordered by the district court which were already paid.
Kohl's Corp. (NYSE:KSS - News) shares gained 5.5% after the company said fourth-quarter profit rose nearly 30%, helped by new store openings and strength in its private-label brands.
Methode Electronics (NasdaqGS:METH - News) shares rose 12% after the company said third-quarter sales rose to $105.4 million from $95.1 million a year earlier. Quarterly net income for the global maker of electronic components and subsystem devices was $4.7 million, or 13 cents a share, compared with $2.8 million, or 8 cents, a year earlier. The company said the sales increase was mainly due to improved sales of power distribution products, fiber-optic installations and automotive products in Europe and Asia.
Pall Corp. (NYSE:PLL - News) shares gained 5.4% after the company reported fiscal second-quarter net earnings of $55.8 million, or 45 cents a share, up 72% from $32.4 million, or 26 cents a share, in the year-ago period. On a pro forma basis, the East Hills, N.Y.-based maker of filtration, purification, and separation products reported earnings of 43 cents a share compared with 28 cents a share last year.
Shares of Palm Inc. (NasdaqGS:PALM - News) jumped 11% amid a fresh media reports that the maker of handheld wireless devices might be acquired by Nokia Corp. (NYSE:NOK - News)
Scottish Re Group Ltd. (NYSE:SCT - News) shares rose 11% after the company said the company's shareholders approved proposals relating to an investment of $300 million each by MassMutual Capital Partners LLC and an affiliate of Cerberus Capital Management L.P. Following the closing of the transaction, which was announced in November, MassMutual Capital and Cerberus will have a controlling voting equity interest in the company. MassMutual Capital and Cerberus will purchase one million newly issued preferred shares, which can be converted into 150 million ordinary shares of Scottish Re at any time. The deal is expected to close early in the second quarter.
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Labels: BRW, DRTE, IMMR, KSS, METH, NOK, PALM, Pll, SCT, SNE

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 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.

Goldman Sachs Apr 250 Calls (NYSE:GS - News). GS' PowerRating is 5.
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.
OfficeMax Mar 55 Puts (NYSE:OMX - News). OMX'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.
Google Inc. Mar 470 Puts (NasdaqGS:GOOG - News). GOOG's PowerRating is 5.
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.
Research In Motion Apr 120 Puts (NasdaqGS:RIMM - News). RIMM'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.
American Capital Strategies Ltd. (NasdaqGS:ACAS - News). ACAS' PowerRating is 6.
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.
Scottish Re Group (NYSE:SCT - News). SCT's PowerRating 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.
iMCSI Emerging Markets Index Fund (AMEX:EEM - News). EEM's PowerRating is 5.
PowerRatings are courtesy of TradingMarkets.com

Labels: ACAS, EEM, GOOG, GS, OMX, RIMM, SCT, stock options