Jim Cramer Blog

Here are 7 stocks for traders for Wednesday from TradingMarkets.com:
Worthington (NYSE:WOR - News) beat earnings on Tuesday with $0.27 EPS over an expected $0.22 EPS. WOR's PowerRating (for Traders) is 5.
Red Hat (NYSE:RHT - News) matched earnings on Wednesday with $0.17 EPS. RHT's PowerRating (for Traders) is 5.
Investors are watching for Actuant (NYSE:ATU - News) to report $0.95 EPS on Wednesday morning before the bell. ATU's PowerRating (for Traders) is 6.
Bed Bath & Beyond (NasdaqGS:BBBY - News) reports earnings on Wednesday after the close, with analysts looking for $0.52 EPS. BBBY's PowerRating (for Traders) is 5.
InterVoice (NasdaqGS:INTV - News) and Paychex (NasdaqGS:PAYX - News) both report earnings after the close tomorrow, so look for heightened price action and volatility ahead of the close. INTV'sPowerRating (for Traders) is 5, and PAYX's PowerRating (for Traders) is 6.
Lennar (NYSE:LEN - News) fell over 4% on Tuesday after reporting its worst quarterly loss in the company's history before the bell. LEN's PowerRating (for Traders) is 5.

Labels: ATU, BBBY, Hot Stocks, INTV, LEN, PAYX, RHT, WOR

Here are 7 stocks for traders for Tuesday from TradingMarkets.com:
Synnex (NYSE:SNX - News) matched earnings on Tuesday afternoon with $0.46 EPS. SNX's PowerRating (for Traders) is 6.
Microsoft (NasdaqGS:MSFT - News) gained over 2% on Monday on tomorrow's release of its flagship Xbox 360 game, Halo 3. MSFT's PowerRating (for Traders) is 5.
BHP Billiton (NYSE:BHP - News) rose over 5% on Monday, on expectations that the company will announce the discovery of the world's largest gold source in Australia. BHP's PowerRating (for Traders) is 3.
Lennar (NYSE:LEN - News) reports earnings on Tuesday morning before the market opens; watch for -$0.55 EPS. LEN's PowerRating (for Traders) is 5.
H.B. Fuller (NYSE:FUL - News) should announce $0.45 EPS on Tuesday morning before the bell. FUL's PowerRating (for Traders) is 5.
Red Hat (NYSE:RHT - News) is set to announce $0.17 EPS on Tuesday afternoon. RHT's PowerRating (for Traders) is 4.
When Worthington (NYSE:WOR - News) reports earnings on Tuesday afternoon, look for $0.22 EPS. WOR's PowerRating (for Traders) is 5.

Labels: BHP, FUL, Hot Stocks, LEN, MSFT, RHT, WOR

Here are 7 stocks for traders for Thursday from TradingMarktets.com:
Resources Connect (NasdaqGS:RECN - News) missed earnings on Wednesday; analysts were looking for $0.27 EPS, but RECN announced $0.26. RECN's PowerRating is 5.

Paychex (NasdaqGS:PAYX - News) matched earnings estimates Wednesday afternoon, announcing $0.35 EPS. PAYX's PowerRating is 6.
A.G. Edwards (NYSE:AGE - News) reports quarterly earnings on Thursday before the bell; analysts are watching for $1.06 EPS. AGE's PowerRating is 6.
CarMax (NYSE:KMX - News) is looking to announce $0.22 EPS before the bell on Thursday. KMX's PowerRating is 5.
When Family Dollar Stores (NYSE:FDO - News) reports earnings Thursday morning, watch for $0.58 EPS. FDO's PowerRating is 6.
Steelcase (NYSE:SCS - News) should announce $0.18 EPS on Thursday morning before the market opens. SCS's PowerRating is 6.
Analysts are expecting Worthington Industries (NYSE:WOR - News) to report $0.06 EPS tomorrow morning. WOR's PowerRating is 6.
PowerRatings are courtesy of PowerRatings.net

Labels: AGE, FDO, Hot Stocks, KMX, PAYX, SCS, WOR

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.
Bear Sterns Apr 165 Calls (NYSE:BSC - News). BSC's PowerRating is 7.
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.
Frontline Ltd. Mar 35 Puts (NYSE:FRO - News). FRO's PowerRating 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.
EchoStar Communications Corp. Mar 40 Calls (NasdaqGS:DISH - News). DISH's PowerRating is 7.
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.
Weyerhaeuser Co. Mar 85 (NYSE:WY - News). WY'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.
Worthington Industries (NYSE:WOR - News). WOR's 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.
USANA Health Sciences (NasdaqGS:USNA - News). USNA'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.
Lowe's Companies (NYSE:LOW - News). LOW's PowerRating is 6.
PowerRatings are courtesy of TradingMarkets.com

Labels: BSC, DISH, FRO, LOW, stock options, USNA, WOR, WY

3Com Corp. (NASDAQ:COMS - News) said the second-quarter net loss narrowed to a penny a share from 3 cents in the year-earlier period.
ASV Inc. (NASDAQ:ASVI - News) estimated 2006 earnings at 80 cents to 84 cents a share on sales of $240 million to $250 million. A survey of analysts by Thomson First Call produced consensus estimates of 82 cents of profit on $245 million of revenue. The company also said that for 2007, earnings would range 68 cents to 87 cents a share, on revenue of $230 million to $260 million. Thomson First Call's estimates: 90 cents and $249 million.
Bed Bath & Beyond (NASDAQ:BBBY - News) posted a third-quarter profit rise of about 6%, bolstered by both same-store-sales growth and new-store openings.
Commercial Metals Co. (NYSE:CMC - News) said its first-quarter net income rose 23% to $85.4 million, or 71 cents a share, from $69.6 million, or 57 cents a share in the year-earlier period. Sales at the Irving, Texas, metal company climbed 21% in the three months ended Nov. 30 to $1.99 billion from $1.65 billion. International steel prices appear to be at or near the bottom and are likely to increase early in calendar 2007, according to the company's outlook.
First Data Corp. (NYSE:FDC - News) said it expects fourth quarter earnings to be 33 cents to 35 cents a share, excluding 5 cents of special items, or 28 cents to 30 cents a share from continuing operations on a GAAP basis. For the full year 2006, the company expects to earn $1.08 to $1.10 a share excluding items 2 cents, or $1.06 to $1.08 per share from continuing operations on a GAAP basis. According to analysts polled by Thomson First Call, the average estimate for the company's fourth quarter adjusted earnings is 34 cents a share.
Heico Corp. (NYSE:HEI - News) fourth-quarter net income rose to 35 cents a share from 25 cents in the year-earlier period. Analysts had expected 31 cents
Jabil Circuit Inc. (NYSE:JBL - News) posted fiscal first-quarter revenue of $3.2 billion, up 33% from the year-earlier period. The provider of electronic manufacturing services said it expects second-quarter revenue of $2.75 billion to $2.85 billion, and fiscal 2007 revenue growth of about 20%.
Joy Global Inc. (NASDAQ:JOYG - News) named Michael Sutherlin president and chief executive. Sutherlin has served as president of Joy Mining Machinery since 2003.
Kyphon Inc. (NASDAQ:KYPH - News) said it would acquire the spine-related product assets and associated intellectual property rights of Disc-O-Tech Medical Technologies Ltd. of Israel for as much as $240 million. In a statement, Kyphon said it expects to report a pre-tax charge of $30 million to $40 million for in-process research and development in 2007. Excluding the charge, Kyphon expects the deal to cut 12 cents to 17 cents a share from adjusted 2007 earnings. The transaction should "slightly" dilute 2008 reported earnings and add to earnings beginning in 2009. Richard Mott, president and chief executive of Kyphon, said in the statement that Disc-O-Tech's systems will boost Kyphon's ability to serve a fast-growing industry segment, minimally invasive treatment of degenerative disc disease.
Manatron Inc. (NASDAQ:MANA - News) said it's rejecting at bid of $9 a share from Constellation Software. The Kalamazoo, Mich. Web application software firm said its board unanimously concluded that "pursuing the proposal would not be in the best interests of the company, its shareholders or other stakeholders."
Pier 1 Imports, (NYSE:PIR - News) said E. Mitchell Weatherly, executive vice president for stores, is retiring as of Dec. 30. In a Securities and Exchange Commission Form 8-K, Pier 1 said that while the company searches for a successor, David A. Walker, EVP for logistics and allocations, will add the responsibilities of head of store operations.
PMC-Sierra Inc. (NASDAQ:PMCS - News) cut its quarterly sales target due to slower demand for its chips used in high-speed Internet-networking gear and data-storage equipment. PMC-Sierra forecast fourth-quarter revenue in the range of $100 million to $105 million, down from its prior outlook of $105 million to $112 million.
Shiloh Industries Inc. (NASDAQ:SHLO - News) said it lost $6 million, or 38 cents a share in its fourth quarter. During the fourth quarter, the firm recorded special items that reduced net income by $7.1 million, or 44 cents a share. Net income, excluding special items was $1.1 million, or 6 cents a share for the fourth quarter, compared to net income of $8.1 million, or 49 cents a share a year ago. Sales for the fourth quarter ended October 31, 2006 were $157.9 million compared to $176.9 million reported in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2005, a decrease of $19 million or 10.7%. The company also said its board declared a special dividend of $2.50 a share.
Sonic Foundry Inc. (NASDAQ:SOFO - News) said it's priced an offering of 3 million shares at $3.75 each. It will use the proceeds for research and development and capital expenditures.
Stepan Co. (NYSE:SCL - News) said it expects a fourth-quarter loss of $5 million to $6 million, compared with a loss of $400,000 million a year earlier. The Northfield, Ill., chemicals company said it expects the loss for 2006 at $6 million to $7 million. Stepan said surfactant earnings will be lower due to employee severance costs in Europe and an unfavorable comparison with a year ago. The company also said polymer earnings will be lower due to declining profit margins for phthalic anhydride and polyurethane polyol.
Ultratech Inc. (NASDAQ:UTEK - News) revised its fourth-quarter outlook to a loss of 25 cents to 30 cents a share from its prior view of a loss of 10 cents to 15 cents a share.
Wet Seal Inc. (NASDAQ:WTSLA - News) said it now expects its December same-store sales to rise from 1% to 3%, compared with a previously estimated increase in the low- to mid-single digit range.
Worthington Industries Inc. (NYSE:WOR - News) said its second-quarter earnings for the three months ended Nov. 30 fell 31% to $26.9 million, or 31 cents a share, from $39 million, or 48 cents a share in the year-ago period. Revenue rose 4% to $729 million from $700 million. Analysts surveyed by Thomson First Call forecast earnings of 39 cents a share and revenue of $782.5 million, on average. The company said its steel processing and metal framing segments had lower volume as a result of weaker demand. Looking ahead, the company said its third quarter will be the weakest of the year.
-MarketWatch

Labels: ASVI, BBBY, COMS, FDC, HEI, JBL, JOYG, KYPH, MANA, PIR, PMCS, SCL, SHLO, SOFO, UTEK, WOR, WTSLA

The trading week started with the major indexes rising, but the news wasn't positive for Nuvelo Inc.
Shares of the San Carlos, Calif., biotech drug maker plunged Monday after two trials of a blood thinner drug it was developing with Bayer HealthCare failed, and the companies suspended a second study.
Nuvelo shares plummeted as much as 82 percent after the news broke, bottoming out at a 52-week low of $3.35, after closing on the Nasdaq the previous Friday at $19.55. Shares recovered a bit, to close the session at $4.05, still down more than 79 percent on the session. Volume of more than 90 million shares was more than 176 times normal daily trading in the shares.
Shares continued to trade heavily through the rest of the week, with more than 33 million shares changing hands Tuesday and about half that Wednesday. The stock did not recover from Monday's blow, however, edging up just slightly to close the week at $4.16.
Tuesday, microcap Internet search engine Mamma.com caught investors' eyes, when it introduced a new video search function that offers features not found even on Google.com.
Shares of the Montreal-based company soared 80.6 percent to close at $4.28 on the Nasdaq, while volume surged to nearly 30 million shares, about 25 times normal trading. Shares closed Monday at $2.37.
The rally continued Wednesday as share gained as much as 10 percent before settling back down, as volume remained extraordinary. After edging back Thursday, the exuberance for Mamma.com shares returned to end the week with shares hitting a new 52-week high of $5.28, a 30 percent gain, before giving up some of the surge to end up 9.6 percent at $4.44. Volume again topped 26 million.
For the week, Mamma.com shares gained 87 percent.
Wednesday, news and rumors of industry consolidation sent airline shares flying high, with Midwest Air Group Inc. getting the biggest lift, after the Oak Creek, Wis. regional carrier received a hostile takeover bid from AirTran Holdings Inc.
Midwest rejected the $290 buyout offer, but AirTran said it won't give up its quest.
That was enough for investors to keep the shares aloft. After spiking up almost 28 percent, shares edged backed a bit to close Wednesday up $1.30, or 22.2 percent, at $11.10, from their prior day close at 9.08. Trading topped 2 million shares, more than 7 times normal daily volume.
Shares continued to trade heavily and gained 8.6 percent Thursday, but gave up some of the gain even as trading volume ebbed in Friday's session. Nevertheless, shares were up 29 percent since AirTran made its bid, closing the week at $11.72.
Thursday it was more takeover talk, as shares of Worthington Industries Inc. shot up on speculation the metal processing company may be a buyout target. There was no bid for the Columbus, Ohio, company, but at least one analyst said it would be an attractive buy in a consolidating industry.
The stock leaped as high as $21.36 before retreating a bit, to end the session up $2.02, or 11 percent, at $20.32 from their close Wednesday at $18.30. Volume was nearly seven times normal daily trading.
Trading remained about twice as heavy as normal Friday, a share gained 10 cents more to close the week at $20.42.
And Friday, Weyerhaeuser Co., gained nearly 4 percent from their prior day close of $69.49, in trading more than nine times normal, after the lumber and paper producer was upgraded to "Buy," by Deutsche Bank following an announcement it would close one sawmill in Washington and build a newer, more efficient plant.
The move was seen as part of a needed effort to revamp the Federal Way, Wash., company's operations.
Shares gained $2.44, or 3.5 percent, to close at $71.93 on the New York Stock Exchange, after matching their 52-week high of $75.50 earlier in the session, on volume of 14.5 million shares.

Labels: AAI, DB, MAMA, MEH, NUVO, WOR, WY