KB Home (KBH - option chain) stock is trading lower today after the company announced second-quarter earnings this morning, posting a $30.7 million loss (40 cents per share) on revenue of $374 million. Analysts had forecast a loss of 30 cents per share on revenue of $373 million. 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 KBH.

This morning, KBH opened at $11.90. So far today the stock has hit a high of $11.90 and a low of $11.19. As of 12:30, KBH is trading at $11.30, down $0.90 (-7.5%). The chart for KBH looks neutral and S&P gives KBH a neutral 3 STARS (out of 5) hold ranking.

Research in Motion (RIMM) shareholders may be in for a bumpy Friday after the company fell short of sales estimates in its Thursday evening earnings report. But first, the good news. Fiscal first-quarter profit rose almost 20% to $769 million, or $1.38 per share, up from $643 million ($1.12) in the year-ago period. Analysts were targeting per-share earnings of $1.34.

Quarterly revenue, however, rose 24% to $4.24 billion, falling short of the $4.35 billion expected by analysts. While the BlackBerry smart phone remains a top choice, especially among business men and women, competition is closing in from Apple's(AAPL) iPhone, in all of its incarnations, as well as Motorola's (MOT) Droid. And the new BlackBerry models just don't seem to be coming to market as quickly as its rivals. While increased competition is no fun, the number of smart phone users globally is actually increasing -- and its a market that is still largely untapped (hard to believe if you live in America).

Bed Bath & Beyond (BBBY - option chain) stock is trading lower today after the company reported Q1 earnings after the close yesterday. While EPS came in at 0.52, which was well above estimates of 0.48, the company's forecast for earnings in the coming quarter fell below current estimates. 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 BBBY.

This morning, BBBY opened at $39.19. So far today the stock has hit a high of $40.12 and a low of $39.10. As of 11:30, BBBY is trading at $39.86, down $1.60 (-3.9%). The chart for BBBY looks bearish and S&P gives BBBY a neutral 3 STARS (out of 5) hold ranking.

The housing market is on the ropes. The Commerce Department reported that new home sales plunged 33% in May, which is the lowest reading on record. Industry analysts hold that new home sales are a better barometer of the market than existing home sales. Some of the drop can be attributed to the expiration of the home buyer tax credit.

Toll Brothers (TOL - option chain) stock is traded lower Thursday after the company said in an update that it expects total net signed contracts in the third quarter of this year to be less than those signed in the previous quarter due to seasonal trends. 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 TOL.

Thursday, TOL opened at $18.49. In early trading, the stock hit a high of $18.70 and a low of $17.78. As of 12:20, TOL was trading at $17.99, down $0.79 (-4.2%). The chart for TOL looks bullish and S&P gives TOL a positive 4 STARS (out of 5) buy ranking.

"Nobody doesn't like Sara Lee (SLE)?" Think again. Swiss company Nestle has filed a lawsuit against the Illinois-based food giant, claiming patent infringement of the Nespresso coffee system. While the Swiss are known for staying neutral, Nestle felt compelled to seek legal action in an effort to protect its highest-selling product.

Nespresso is the business model that keeps on giving ... once customers buy one of the high-end machines, they also need to buy capsules of blended coffee (available in 16 varieties of varying flavors and intensity). The machines run from $199 to $599 and the capsules are about 55 cents apiece (which provides one cup). That 12-cup-a-day habit can add up quickly.

Biogen Idec (BIIB - option chain) stock is trading lower today on news that an FDA advisory committee recommended approval of Novartis' (NVS) FTY720 treatment for patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis. NVS said the drug worked better in trials than BIIB's drug Avonex. 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 BIIB.

This morning, BIIB opened at $47.39. So far today the stock has hit a high of $47.62 and a low of $46.52. As of 12:30, BIIB is trading at $46.64, down $1.50 (-3.1%). The chart for BIIB looks neutral and S&P gives BIIB a neutral 3 STARS (out of 5) hold ranking.

Pep Boys (PBY - option chain) stock is trading lower today after the company announced its Q1 2010 earnings this morning before the market opened. Pep Boys posted first quarter earnings per share of 0.23, which matched analysts estimates, but the company's revenues rose 2.7% and came in at $510M, which was well below expectations of $518M. 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 PBY.

This morning, PBY opened at $10.21. So far today the stock has hit a high of $10.50 and a low of $8.97. As of 12:15, PBY is trading at $9.51, down $1.23 (-11.5%). The chart for PBY looks are neutral and S&P gives PBY a neutral 3 STARS (out of 5) hold ranking.

Yesterday, SEC officials charged a Miami man for his operation of a $40 million Ponzi scheme. It is alleged that Luis Felipe Perez had fraudulently convinced investors to invest with him to fund his jewelry business and to finance pawn shops in New York. The jewelry businesses of the accused, Lucky Star Diamonds Inc. and Luis Felipe Jewelry Design Corp., have turned out to be no more than sham facades, and both companies were completely void of employees. Both companies have subsequently ceased their -paper only- operations. Likewise, Mr. Perez's pawn shop connections have turned out to be non-existent.

Family Dollar (FDO - option chain) stock is trading lower today after the company announced this morning that it expects third-quarter earnings near the upper end of its original forecast of 71 to 76 cents per share, which would still be below analysts' forecasts of 77 cents per share. 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 FDO.

This morning, FDO opened at $38.19. So far today the stock has hit a high of $42.07 and a low of $38.00. As of 1:10, FDO is trading at $38.49, down $1.60 (-4.0%). The chart for FDO looks neutral and S&P gives FDO a neutral 3 STARS (out of 5) hold ranking.

Just as the U.S. gets a grip on inflation, developments in Europe may tip the needle toward deflation, the New York Times reported.

Here's the scenario: Austerity measures imposed on Europe's debt-plagued government combine with a pull-back in consumer spending in Europe to take a substantial amount of demand out of the economy, putting downward pressure on prices.

The endless oil rising from the floor of the Gulf of Mexico has sunk BP (BP) stock; investors fly away, while the vultures are circling above.

It is sad to learn of BP's poor adherence to basic safety precautions and the conflicts between managers on the drilling rig. It appears from the news reports that have trickled out that this mess was created by more than damaged equipment and poor decisions. The actual decision-making process on the leased Transocean (RIG) platform was faulty from the beginning. Sadly BP is not alone in this regard -- just the most recently exposed.

Alcoa (AA - option chain) stock is trading lower today after the company looks like it has missed a deadline for a new labor deal. for the second time today. AA announced earlier today that it had extended the deadline to negotiate a new labor deal with the United Steelworkers Union, its largest union covering 5,400 employees at 10 plants. The union's contract was to expire at 1 AM this morning, but was extended 11 hours until noon and just before noon, the company announced a tentative agreement. No terms have been released and the union still needs to ratify it as well. 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 AA.

This morning, AA opened at $11.43. So far today the stock has hit a high of $11.68 and a low of $11.35. As of 12:15, AA is trading at $11.45, down $0.19 (-1.6%). The chart for AA looks bullish and S&P gives AA a positive 4 STARS (out of 5) buy ranking.

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK - option chain) stock is trading lower Wednesday after competitor Mylan (MYL) received approval to start selling a generic form of GSK's herpes drug Valtrex. 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 GSK.

Wednesday morning, GSK opened at $32.62. So far today the stock has hit a high of $32.91 and a low of $32.52. As of 11:30, GSK is trading at $32.58, down $0.34 (-1.0%). The chart for GSK looks neutral and S&P gives GSK a neutral 3 STARS (out of 5) hold ranking.

IMAX (IMAX - option chain) stock is trading lower today after the company announced the weekend results from Dreamworks' (DWA) newest "Shrek" movie. Thus far, traders have not been too impressed with the Shrek results in general, pushing DWA much lower yesterday, and it looks like the IMAX receipts are no different. 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 IMAX.

This morning, IMAX opened at $15.99. So far today the stock has hit a high of $16.20 and a low of $15.31. As of 11:55, IMAX is trading at $16.05, down $0.85 (-5.0%). The chart for IMAX looks bearish.