Brent Archer
Virginia, US - http://www.investorsobserver.com
Brent Archer is an options analyst and writer at Investors Observer.
Cambell Soup Drops on Weak Q4 Revenue
Campbell Soup Co (CPB - option chain) stock is trading lower today after the company reported Q4 2010 earnings this morning, posting a profit of $113 million, or 33 cents per share, on revenue of $1.52 billion. While this beat the estimated EPS of 30 cents per share, the stock is down a chunk this morningbecause the expected revenue was $1.60 billion. If you think this stock won't be rising too far in the coming months, then it could be a good time to look at a bearish hedged play on CPB.
This morning, CPB opened at $36.03. So far today the stock has hit a high of $36.66 and a low of $35.82. As of 11:55, CPB is trading at $36.02, down $1.30 (-3.5%). The chart for CPB looks bearish and S&P gives CPB a negative 2 STARS (out of 5) sell ranking.
Continue reading Cambell Soup Drops on Weak Q4 Revenue
Nordstrom August Sales Beat Estimates
Nordstrom (JWN - option chain) shares are rising today after the company said its August same-store sales rose 6.3%, topping analysts' forecasts of 5.9% growth. If you think that the stock won't fall by too much in the coming months, then now could be a good time to look at a bullish hedged trade on JWN.JWN opened this morning at $31.79. So far today the stock has hit a low of $31.38 and a high of $32.92. As of 12:30, JWN is trading at $32.29 up $1.97 (6.5%). The chart for JWN looks neutral and S&P gives JWN a neutral 3 STARS (out of 5) hold ranking.
Continue reading Nordstrom August Sales Beat Estimates
Dean Foods Takeover Speculation Resumes
Dean Foods (DF - option chain) shares are up a significant amount for the second consecutive day after rumors resurfaced that Groupe Danone SA could be investigating an acquisition of the company. This rumor first came to light back in March, but since then DF has seen its share price cut by a third, which could make the company even more attractive now. If you think that the stock won't fall by too much in the coming months, then now could be a good time to look at a bullish hedged trade on DF.DF opened this morning at $10.55 So far today the stock has hit a low of $10.50 and a high of $10.75. As of 12:15, DF is trading at $10.63 up 0.41 (4.0%). The chart for DF looks neutral and S&P gives DF a neutral 3 STARS (out of 5) hold ranking.
Continue reading Dean Foods Takeover Speculation Resumes
Bristol-Myers Squbb Boosted by Blood Thinner Study
Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY - option chain) shares are rising today after the release of a study which shows that an experimental blood-thinning drug co-produced by BMY and Pfizer (PFE) cut the rate of strokes among people with abnormal heartbeats by more than 50% versus aspirin. If you think that the stock won't fall by too much in the coming months, then now could be a good time to look at a bullish hedged trade on BMY.BMY opened this morning at $26.11. So far today the stock has hit a low of $26.00 and a high of $26.34. As of 12:25, BMY is trading at $26.20 up 0.35 (1.3%). The chart for BMY looks bullish and S&P gives BMY a positive 4 STARS (out of 5) buy ranking.
Continue reading Bristol-Myers Squbb Boosted by Blood Thinner Study
Continental Lifted by Merger's Regulatory Approval
Continental Airlines (CAL - option chain) shares are rising today after the US Justice Department said over the weekend that it has no more antitrust concerns about CAL's proposed merger with UAL Corp. (UAUA). Now the merger only needs to gain approval from UAUA and CAL shareholders as well as the Transportation Department. The deal is expected to close by October 1. If you think that the stock won't fall by too much in the coming months, then now could be a good time to look at a bullish hedged trade on CAL.CAL opened this morning at $22.23. So far today the stock has hit a low of $22.02 and a high of $25.99. As of 12:20, CAL is trading at $22.09 up 0.29 (1.3%). The chart for CAL looks bullish and S&P gives CAL a positive 5 STARS (out of 5) strong buy ranking.
Continue reading Continental Lifted by Merger's Regulatory Approval
Investors Have High Hopes for Honda
Honda Motors (HMC - option chain) shares are rising today after the company announced this morning that its July worldwide auto production rose 21.6% year-over-year to 314,911 units, lifting hopes that the company's sales will be on the rise. If you think that the stock won't fall by too much in the coming months, then now could be a good time to look at a bullish hedged trade on HMC.
HMC opened this morning at $33.08. So far today the stock has hit a low of $32.80 and a high of $33.24. As of 12:10, HMC is trading at $33.16 up 0.72 (2.2%). The chart for HMC looks neutral and S&P gives HMC a neutral 3 STARS (out of 5) hold ranking.
Continue reading Investors Have High Hopes for Honda
Netflix Launches Free iPhone and iPad Apps
Netflix (NFLX - option chain) shares are rising today after the company launched a free iPhone and iPod application this morning which allows users to stream movies and TV shows on Apple (AAPL) handheld devices. If you think that the stock won't fall by too much in the coming months, then now could be a good time to look at a bullish hedged trade on NFLX.NFLX opened this morning at $125.89. So far today the stock has hit a low of $124.38 and a high of $127.00. As of 12:25, NFLX is trading at $126.53 up $2.28 (1.8%). The chart for NFLX looks bullish.
Continue reading Netflix Launches Free iPhone and iPad Apps
J. Crew Q2 Earnings Preview
J. Crew (JCG - option chain) shares are rising today ahead of the company's earnings announcement, which is scheduled for after the market close tomorrow. Analysts expect to see $0.46 per share, versus $0.29 during the same period last year, but the recent trend for the stock has been in a downward direction. Because of the recent movement, I expect that if the company disappoints, the stock will no drop as much as it might rise if the news is good.If you think that the stock won't fall by too much in the coming months, then now could be a good time to look at a bullish hedged trade on JCG.JCG opened this morning at $32.46. So far today the stock has hit a low of $32.32 and a high of $33.63. As of 12:15, JCG is trading at $33.52 up 0.76 (2.2%). The chart for JCG looks bullish and S&P gives JCG a positive 4 STARS (out of 5) buy ranking.
Continue reading J. Crew Q2 Earnings Preview
Medtronic Misses Earnings, Drops Forecast
Medtronic (MDT - option chain) stock is trading lower today after the company reported first-quarter earnings this morning, posting a profit of $830 million, or 76 cents per share. Excluding one-time items, MDT earned 80 cents per share on revenue of $3.77 billion. Analysts had forecast a profit of 81 cents per share on revenue of $3.95 billion. The company also lowered its fiscal-2011 EPS forecast by 5 cents to a range of $3.40 to $3.48. If you think this stock won't be rising too far in the coming months, then it could be a good time to look at a bearish hedged play on MDT.This morning, MDT opened at $31.97. So far today the stock has hit a high of $32.41 and a low of $30.85. As of 12:10, MDT is trading at $31.77, down $3.22 (-9.2%). The chart for MDT looks bullish and S&P gives MDT a positive 5 STARS (out of 5) strong buy ranking.
Continue reading Medtronic Misses Earnings, Drops Forecast
Warner Chilcott Completes Debt Offering
Warner Chilcott (WCRX - option chain) shares are rising today after the company said Friday evening that it has completed a loan and debt offering needed to pay a special $8.50 per share dividend it announced last month. If you think that the stock won't fall by too much in the coming months, then now could be a good time to look at a bullish hedged trade on WCRX.WCRX opened this morning at $29.00. So far today the stock has hit a low of $28.72 and a high of $29.81. As of 12:15, WCRX is trading at $29.53 up $1.41 (5.0%). The chart for WCRX looks neutral and S&P gives WCRX a neutral 3 STARS (out of 5) hold ranking.
Continue reading Warner Chilcott Completes Debt Offering
Tyco International to Be Added to S&P 500
Tyco International (TYC - option chain) shares are rising today on news that Standard & Poor's will add TYC to its S&P 500 index after the close of trading on August 26. The stock will replace Smith International (SII), which will be acquired by Schlumberger (SLB). If you think that the stock won't fall by too much in the coming months, then now could be a good time to look at a bullish hedged trade on TYC.TYC opened this morning at $38.61. So far today the stock has hit a low of $38.16 and a high of $38.88. As of 11:55, TYC is trading at $38.35 up $1.61 (4.4%). The chart for TYC looks neutral and S&P gives TYC a neutral 3 STARS (out of 5) hold ranking.
Continue reading Tyco International to Be Added to S&P 500
Sears Q2 Loss Bigger than Expected
Sears Holdings (SHLD - option chain) stock is trading lower today after the company posting a second-quarter loss of $39 million, or 35 cents per share this morning. Excluding one-time items, SHLD lost 19 cents per share on revenue of $10.46 billion. Analysts had forecast a loss of 18 cents per share on revenue of $10.62 billion. If you think this stock won't be rising too far in the coming months, then it could be a good time to look at a bearish hedged play on SHLD.This morning, SHLD opened at $66.80. So far today the stock has hit a high of $66.80 and a low of $61.89. As of 12:10, SHLD is trading at $62.25, down $5.00 (-7.4%). The chart for SHLD looks bearish and S&P gives SHLD a negative 2 STARS (out of 5) sell ranking.
Continue reading Sears Q2 Loss Bigger than Expected
Suntech Power Q2 Revenue Beats Estimates
Suntech Power (STP - option chain) shares are rising today after the company reported earnings this morning, posting a second-quarter loss of $174.9 million, or 97 cents per share. Excluding one-time items, STP earned 3 cents per share on revenue of $625.1 million. Analysts had forecast a profit of 3 cents per share on revenue of $618.3 million. If you think that the stock won't fall by too much in the coming months, then now could be a good time to look at a bullish hedged trade on STP.STP opened this morning at $9.05. So far today the stock has hit a low of $9.05 and a high of $9.38. As of 11:55, STP is trading at $9.17 up 0.18 (2.0%). The chart for STP looks neutral and S&P gives STP a neutral 3 STARS (out of 5) hold ranking.
Continue reading Suntech Power Q2 Revenue Beats Estimates
Eli Lilly Stops Alzheimer's Drug Development
Eli Lilly (LLY - option chain) stock is trading lower today after the company announced it has halted development of an experimental drug for Alzheimer's disease, citing studies showing the drug worsened patients' conditions and was associated with an increased risk of skin cancer. If you think this stock won't be rising too far in the coming months, then it could be a good time to look at a bearish hedged play on LLY.This morning, LLY opened at $35.08. So far today the stock has hit a high of $35.15 and a low of $34.45. As of 12:10, LLY is trading at $34.69, down $0.88 (-2.4%). The chart for LLY looks neutral and S&P gives LLY a neutral 3 STARS (out of 5) hold ranking.
Continue reading Eli Lilly Stops Alzheimer's Drug Development
Apollo Group Not Weighed Down by Loan Repayment Study
Apollo Group (APOL- option chain) shares are rising today even though the U.S. Department of Education released an ugly study of federal loan repayment rates by former students of for-profit schools. The data shows that students at for-profit schools pay back federal loans at a 36% rate compared to 54% at public institutions. APOL, which runs the University of Phoenix, is higher today after comments from Deutsche Bank that indicate the school will expand its bachelor;s degree program. In contrast, both ITT Educational Services (ESI) and Devry (DV) are both down more than 9% so far today. If you think that the stock won't fall by too much in the coming months, then now could be a good time to look at a bullish hedged trade on APOL.APOL opened this morning at $39.37. So far today the stock has hit a low of $39.34 and a high of $44.54. As of 12:20, APOL is trading at $41.49 up @2.53 (6.5%). The chart for APOL looks neutral and S&P gives APOL a neutral 3 STARS (out of 5) hold ranking.
Continue reading Apollo Group Not Weighed Down by Loan Repayment Study
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