Analyst Upgrades

• Applied Materials (AMAT) to overweight from neutral at Piper Jaffray.
• Air Products (APD) to buy from hold at Citigroup.
• Youku.com (YOKU) and Pinnacle West (PNW) to buy from neutral at Goldman.
• Stryker (SYK) and Zimmer (ZMH) to buy from neutral at UBS.
• Zions Bancorp (ZION) to outperform from neutral at Macquarie.
• Alnylam (ALNY) to buy from hold at Needham.
• AK Steel (AKS) to buy from hold at KeyBanc.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AEP, AKS, AMAT, EZCH, FRX, LOPE, MYGN, PNW, ZION ...

Analyst Calls: AEP, AKS, AMAT, EZCH, FRX, LOPE, MYGN, PNW, ZION ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 23 Feb 2011 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst upgrades:

• Verizon (VZ) to conviction buy from buy at Goldman.
• CSX (CSX) to outperform from market perform at Wells Fargo.
• AK Steel (AKS) to overweight from neutral, as well as Lorillard (LO) and Fifth Third Bancorp (FITB) to neutral from underweight, at JPMorgan.
• Marathon Oil (MRO) to overweight from equal weight at Morgan Stanley.
• Corning (GLW) to buy from outperform at CLSA.
• Quest Diagnostics (DGX) to buy from hold at Jefferies and to outperform from sector perform at RBC Capital.
• Salesforce.com (CRM) to buy from neutral at Roth Capital.
• Baker Hughes (BHI) to buy from hold at Weeden and to outperform from neutral at Macquarie.
• Western Digital (WDC) and Seagate (STX) to buy from underperform at BofA/Merrill.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AKS, CIEN, CRM, CSX, DGX, GLW, LO, MRO, OXY, STX, VZ ...

Analyst Calls: AKS, CIEN, CRM, CSX, DGX, GLW, LO, MRO, OXY, STX, VZ ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 26 Jan 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Verizon (VZ), FEMSA (FMX), Vornado (VNO), Duke Realty (DRE) and AvalonBay (AVB) to buy from neutral, as well as Carnival (CCL) to conviction buy from buy, at Goldman.
• Symantec (SYMC) to buy from hold at Citigroup.
• Copano Energy (CPNO), DCP Midstream (DPM) and Inergy (NRGY) to overweight from equal weight at Morgan Stanley.
• SYNNEX (SNX) to strong buy from buy at Needham.
• Eli Lilly (LLY) to hold from sell at Hapoalim.
• World Wrestling (WWE) to buy from neutral at Roth Capital.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AKS, CCL, EOG, GE, GS, LLY, SNDK, T, TLB, TUP, VZ, WWE ...

Analyst Calls: AKS, CCL, EOG, GE, GS, LLY, SNDK, T, TLB, TUP, VZ, WWE ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 12 Jan 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Goldman upgraded Reliance Steel (RS) to buy from neutral and The Buckle (BKE) to neutral from sell.
• RAM Energy (RAME) was upgraded to outperform from market perform at Rodman & Renshaw.
• RBC Capital upgraded H&E Equipment (HEES) and Cameco (CCJ) to outperform from sector perform, and Denison Mines (DNN) to sector perform from underperform.
• Alexandria Real Estate (ARE) was upgraded to overweight from neutral at JPMorgan.
• Investment Technology (ITG) was upgraded to outperform from neutral at Wedbush.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AKS, BXP, CCJ, CXW, GBX, PETM, RIMM, RS, SIRI SOHU ...

Analyst Calls: AKS, BXP, CCJ, CXW, GBX, PETM, RIMM, RS, SIRI SOHU ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 09 Nov 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading AK Steel Cuts Q3 Forecast Blaming Outage

AK Steel Cuts Q3 Forecast Blaming Outage originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 15 Sep 2010 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Deutsche Bank upgraded Barrick Gold (ABX) to buy from hold and reiterates a buy rating on Newmont Mining (NEM) after upping its 2011 gold forecast to $1,450 per ounce and 2012 forecast to $1,600 per ounce. The firm upped its target for Barrick shares to $53 from $45, for Newmont shares to $74 from $72, and on hold-rated Goldcorp (GG) and Kinross Gold (KGC) to $40 and $20, respectively.
• Citigroup upgraded General Dynamics (GD) to hold from sell following the recent pullback in shares. The firm keeps a $67 price target for the stock.
• UBS upgraded Public Service (PEG) to buy from neutral and has a $34 price target on the stock. The firm cites the company's solid balance sheet, earnings profile, and valuation for the upgrade.
• News Corp. (NWS) was upgraded to buy from hold at Soleil.
• AK Steel (AKS) was upgraded to neutral from underperform.
• Progress Energy (PGN) was upgraded to buy from neutral at BofA/Merrill.
• PNC Financial (PNC) was upgraded to outperform from market perform at Keefe Bruyette.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: ABX, AKS, BK, GBDC, GD, NEM, NWS, ODSY, PNC, UQM ...

Analyst Calls: ABX, AKS, BK, GBDC, GD, NEM, NWS, ODSY, PNC, UQM ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 25 May 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

United States Steel Corp. (X), whose colleagues include AK Steel (AKS) and Nucor Corp. (NUE), was sold off by investors on Tuesday after the company released its first-quarter results. The stock dropped $3.44, or 5.7%, to $56.63. Volume was strong.

The company is definitely far away from the 52-week low, but it unfortunately is also significantly under the 52-week high of $70.95. The one-year chart shows an up-and-down pattern that isn't necessarily for every investor. Indeed, the most recent price action has been decidedly in the downward direction. Of course, that might mean the business is worth a look, especially when you take into account the ultimate bias towards an upward trend. Let's check out the Q1 numbers.

Continue reading U.S. Steel: A Buy After Q1 Earnings?

U.S. Steel: A Buy After Q1 Earnings? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 28 Apr 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

A new method of setting the price on iron ore for export is upsetting Chinese and European steel makers and auto manufacturers, but that same pricing scheme is most likely going to benefit U.S. steelmakers such as AK Steel (AKS), Nucor (NUE) and U.S. Steel (X).

In the past, iron ore pricing was largely set on an annual basis, with the first negotiated ore contracts of the season setting the price for the duration of that season. However, this year, the three largest iron ore miners, BHP Billiton (BHP), Rio Tinto (RTP) and Vale SA (VALE), have decided that they will seek quarterly renegotiation of ore contract pricing. This will allow those companies to take better advantage of increases in iron ore demand and spikes in spot prices.

Continue reading New Iron Ore Pricing Scheme Should Be Good for American Steel

New Iron Ore Pricing Scheme Should Be Good for American Steel originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 04 Apr 2010 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Worthington Industries (WOR), a metals manufacturing entity based in Columbus, Ohio which counts AK Steel (AKS) as a colleague, issued third-quarter results on Thursday morning. By the end of yesterday's session, the market had spoken: it didn't like the data at all. The stock ended in the red by well over 6%, on strong volume.

According to the press release, net income became a net loss this time around, coming in at 22 cents per share. That compared to a positive profit of 2 cents per share in the similar quarter in 2009. Cash flow for the nine-month period fell 40%. Cash was used for operations in Q3 itself.

Continue reading Worthington's Q3 Report: Market Sells News, Should You Buy?

Worthington's Q3 Report: Market Sells News, Should You Buy? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 02 Apr 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Here are some highlights from last week's earnings coverage from BloggingStocks:

• AK Steel Holding Corp. (NYSE: AKS) reported better-than-expected Q3 results but shares fell anyway.
• Baidu Inc. (NASDAQ: BIDU) posted strong Q3 results but shares sold off on a disappointing guidance.
• Burger King Holdings Inc. (NYSE: BKC) said lower Q1 earnings fell short of analysts expectations.
• Dreamworks Animation SKG Inc. (NYSE: DWA) topped Q3 profit and revenue estimates, lifting shares.
• Geron Corp. (NASDAQ: GERN) posted a narrower-than-expected Q3 loss, sending shares sharply higher.
• Honda Motor Co. Ltd. (NYSE: HMC) reported lower Q2 earnings and sales on weak demand for cars.

Continue reading Earnings highlights: Baidu, Dreamworks, Honda, Microsoft, Target, Verizon ...

Earnings highlights: Baidu, Dreamworks, Honda, Microsoft, Target, Verizon ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 31 Oct 2009 12:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

It was good news bad news for the steel industry Tuesday. AK Steel Holding Corp. (NYSE: AKS) and United States Steel Corp. (NYSE: X) both reported better-than-expected third-quarter results. But for U.S. Steel, it was the third straight quarterly loss as the economic downturn continued to drag down demand.

For the three months that ended in September, U.S. Steel said it lost $303 million, or $2.11 per share. That compares with a profit of $919 million, or $7.79 per share, in the same period of last year. Revenue for the quarter fell 61% to $2.82 billion. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters had expected a loss of $2.87 per share on revenue of $2.72 billion.

Continue reading AK Steel, U.S. Steel report better-than-expected Q3 results

AK Steel, U.S. Steel report better-than-expected Q3 results originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Here are some highlights from last week's earnings coverage from BloggingStocks:

• AK Steel Holding Corp. (NYSE: AKS) posted a smaller-than-expected Q2 net loss as steel prices rise.
• Boston Scientific Corp. (NYSE: BSX) posted a better-than-expected Q2 profit on strong overseas sales.
• Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT) shares jumped after it beat earnings, missed revenues, and offered guidance.
• DuPont (NYSE: DD) shares declined after it posted a higher-than-expected profit but lower revenue.
• Eaton Corp. (NYSE: ETN) disappointing results were a sign that the bulls are in charge, said Jim Cramer.
• General Electric Co. (NYSE: GE) Q2 earnings and sales declined, dragged down by finance and NBC units.

Continue reading Earnings highlights: Caterpillar, DuPont, GE, Halliburton, Texas Instruments ...

Earnings highlights: Caterpillar, DuPont, GE, Halliburton, Texas Instruments ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 25 Jul 2009 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

As we saw in yesterday's earnings preview, AK Steel Holding Corp. (NYSE: AKS) was expected to post a loss for its second quarter, but the good news is that the loss was less than analysts had been expecting to see.

Going into this morning's earnings announcement, analysts had been expecting the company to post a loss of 51 cents per share, but the company was able to show a better than expected loss of just 43 cents per share. While it is good to see the company beat estimates, we still have to keep in mind that during the same period last year the company was able to show earnings of $1.29 per share.

Continue reading AK Steel posts better-than-expected earnings

AK Steel posts better-than-expected earnings originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

AK Steel Holding Corporation

Continue reading AK Steel earnings preview

AK Steel earnings preview originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 20 Jul 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Thus far, investors are avoiding those risks preferring the safety of Treasury securities.

Despite the Federal Reserve doing everything in its power to support the economy and to encourage risk-taking, investors are not taking the bait.

What are they waiting for?

Granted, my own analysis of the market suggests that another round of selling may be right around the corner, creating a real buying opportunity in March or April.

That said, in many instances there is no point in waiting or trying to exactly time the market. Many stocks have absolutely caved to the point that there is little downside remaining.

One such stock is AK Steel (NYSE: AKS).

Continue reading AK Steel (AKS): An easy double

AK Steel (AKS): An easy double originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 31 Dec 2008 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Nucor (NYSE: NUE), an operator steel mills and marketer of steel products, closed at $32.27 Tuesday. NUE December option implied volatility of 91 is above its 26-week average of 73 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement.

AK Steel (NYSE: AKS), a producer of steel products, closed at $6.86 Tuesday. AKS December 7.5 straddle is priced at $2.40, January 7.5 straddle is priced at $3.50. AKS January option implied volatility of 158 is above its 26-week average of 102 according to Track Data, indicating larger price movement.

Mechel Steel (NYSE: MTL) closed at $4.59 Tuesday. MTL is a Russian mining, steel and power company. MTL December 5 straddle closed at $2.25, January 5 straddle closed at $3.15. MTL April option implied volatility of 185 is above its 26-week average of 117 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price fluctuations.

Option Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com

Options Update: Steel producers volatility stays elevated; NUE, AKS, MTL originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 26 Nov 2008 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

AK Steel (AKS) added to the S&P 500 originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Cramer on BloggingStocks: Coach and US Steel reflect supply and demand

Cramer on BloggingStocks: Coach and US Steel reflect supply and demand originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 23 Apr 2008 09:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

AK Steel looks forward to better days for the U.S. auto sector originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 28 Mar 2008 14:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Cramer on BloggingStocks: The X factor

Cramer on BloggingStocks: The X factor originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 27 Mar 2008 08:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.