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.

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.

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.

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.

Option update 10-16-07: AK Steel, Intuitive Surgical priced for near-term movement originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 16 Oct 2007 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

AK Steel Holding Corp. (NYSE: AKS), a flat-rolled carbon, stainless and electrical steel producer, is recently up $1.39 to $50.63. The DealReporter said several steel companies are interested in AKS according to sources. AKS is expected to report EPS on October 23. AKS call option volume of 15,243 contracts compares to put volume of 2,502 contracts. AKS October 50 straddle is priced at $3.75. AKS November option implied volatility of 60 is above its 26-week average of 51 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price risks.

Mechel Steel (NYSE: MTL), a Russian mining and metals company, is recently up $6.26 to $72.23 after reporting its operational results for nine months. MTL November option implied volatility of 55 is above its 26-week average of 43 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price risk.

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

Option update: Global steel rally drives up prices originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 11 Oct 2007 14:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Thomas Wiesel initiated coverage of the Medical Devices Industry:
• Boston Scientific (NYSE: BSX) was initiated with an Underweight rating, expecting shares to Underperform peers due to reductions in estimates, risks to the stent business and valuation.
  
• Medtronic (NYSE: MDT) was initiated with an Overweight rating, saying attractively valued as they believe the growth in underlying markets may be more robust than the current sentiment suggests.
  
• St. Jude Medical (NYSE: SJT) was initiated with an Overweight rating, saying shares offer exposure to attractive drivers, a management team with the best track record in the segment, and a potential acquisition candidate.
  

• Stephens believes the recent weakness in Bankrate (NASDAQ: RATE) due to "turmoil" in the market has created an attractive entry point, starting shares with an Overweight rating.

• Morgan Stanley assumed coverage of AXA (NYSE: AXA) with an Overweight rating, citing an attractive risk/reward and strong free cash flow...

• S1 Corp (NASDAQ: SONE) was initiated with a Market Perform rating at Avondale.

• Needham started Blue Coat Systems (NASDAQ: BCSI) with a Buy rating.

• Credit Suisse initiated AK Steel (NYSE: AKS) with a Neutral rating.

• Jefferies started Molex (NASDAQ: MOLX) with a Hold rating.

Analyst initiations: AXA, BSCI, BSX, and MDT originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 24 Aug 2007 11:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MAJOR PAPERS:

• The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) reported that Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT) has launched a new, free Web-based email, called Windows Live Hotmail, available in 36 different languages.
• The Wall Street Journal reported that House lawmakers will challenge a deal made by House Financial Services Chairman Barney Frank and the U.S. Treasury to overhaul the supervision of Fannie Mae (NYSE: FNM) and Freddie Mac (NYSE: FRE).
• The Wall Street Journal's "Heard on the Street" column wrote that investors are betting that dealmaking is not done in commodities, with United States Steel Corporation (NYSE: X) and Alcoa Inc (NYSE: AA) among those that could receive takeover offers.
• The Financial Times (subscription required) "Alphaville" section reported that Arcelor-Mittal (NYSE: MT) is looking at AK Steel Holding Corporation (NYSE: AKS), with a offer of as mush as $40 a share.

• The New York Times reported, citing investigators, that Chevron Corporation (NYSE: CVX) is preparing to acknowledge that it should have known kickbacks were being paid to Saddam Hussein on oil the company bought in Iraq.

• DigiTimes.com reported that Aruba Networks Inc (NASDAQ: ARUN) CEO Dominic Orr said that the company is expecting to nearly double its share in the global enterprise mobility solution market in 2008 from 10%-12% to around 20%.

Newspaper wrap-up 5-8-07: Arcelor-Mittal eyeing AK Steel originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 08 May 2007 09:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• William Blair started THQ Inc (NASDAQ: THQI) with an Outperform rating, as they are positive on shares based on earnings upside potential from the new video game cycle.

• RBC initiated shares of LaSalle Hotel Properties (NYSE: LHO) with an Outperform rating and $52 target, as the firm expects growth to be driven by portfolio repositioning efforts and renovations.

• OfficeMax Inc (NYSE: OMX) was initiated at Bear Stearns with a Peer Perform rating citing a balanced risk/reward.

• Lehman Brothers initiated both AK Steel Holding Corp (NYSE: AKS) and Steel Dynamics Inc (NASDAQ: STLD) with Equal Weight ratings.

• Wachovia started Beazer Homes USA Inc (NYSE: BZH) with a Market Perform rating, saying the company has few discernible competitive advantages over other public homebuilders and lacks catalysts.

• Cowen initiated Rackable Systems Inc (NASDAQ: RACK) with a Neutral rating.

• Bear Stearns re-initiated Tiffany & Co (NYSE: TIF) with a Peer Perform rating.

• Leerink Swann started Align Technology (NASDAQ: ALGN) with an Outperform rating, with a range of $21-$23, believing the company's Invisalign technology is well positioned for renewed growth.

• Bernstein initiated Murphy Oil Corp (NYSE: MUR) with an Outperform rating.

• Cascade Financial Corp (NASDAQ: CASB) was initiated with a Hold rating and $19 target at Sandler.

Analyst initiations 2-27-07: Rest your head at LaSalle Hotel Properties originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 27 Feb 2007 11:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• HSBC Holdings Plc (NYSE: HBC) was downgraded to Underweight from Neutral at JP Morgan, as the firm believes the loan loss from the U.S. mortgage business may be 20% worse than expected. They recommend investors to short HBC shares and use any rally to add short positions.
• Suncor Energy Inc (NYSE: SU) was downgraded to Underperform from Market Perform at Freidman Billings, citing fair valuation, higher capital costs and downside potential from crude oil prices.
• Apple Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL) was removed from Goldman Sachs' Conviction Buy List.

• Roche Holdings (OTC: RHHBY) was downgraded to Neutral from Buy at UBS.
• Pacer Int'l Inc (NASDAQ: PACR) was downgraded to Neutral from Outperform with a $33 target at Baird after the company's disappointing fourth-quarter report.
• Baird downgraded Host Hotels & Resorts (NYSE: HST) to Neutral from Outperform on valuation.
• Sina Corp (NASDAQ: SINA) was downgraded to Market Perform from Outperform at Piper Jaffray due to valuation after the company's solid quarter.
• JP Morgan downgraded AK Steel Holding Corp (NYSE: AKS) to Neutral from Overweight as they believe an acquisition of the company is not likely imminent given recent insider selling.
• Raymond James downgraded Time Warner Telecom Inc (NASDAQ: TWTC) to Outperform from Strong Buy.
• Oppenheimer downgraded FMC Corp (NYSE: FMC) to Neutral from Buy.
• AG Edwards downgraded Simon Property Group Inc (NYSE: SPG) to Hold from Buy on valuation.

Analyst downgrades 2-08-07: Problems at HSBC Holdings originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 08 Feb 2007 11:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• First Albany upgraded shares of Sun Microsystems (NASDAQ: SUNW) to Buy from Neutral with a $7 target and has increased confidence that Sun can deliver on its 10%-plus operating margin following KKR's appointment to the Board.

• Morgan Stanley upgraded the Telecom Services sector to In Line from Cautious, citing a positive view on AT&T Inc (NYSE: T) and industry trends.

• Goldman Sachs added Occidental Petroleum Corp (NYSE: OXY) to its America's Conviction Buy List and upgraded shares to Buy from Neutral, citing valuation.

• Bear Stearns upgraded EMC Corp (NYSE: EMC) to Outperform from Peer Perform following its fourth-quarter report citing improved execution and a favorable demand environment.

• Longbow upgraded AK Steel Holding Corp (NYSE: AKS) to Neutral from Sell.

• Raymond James upgraded Brinker International Inc (NYSE: EAT) to Outperform from Neutral.

Analyst upgrades 1-24-07: First Albany warms up to Sun Microsystems originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 24 Jan 2007 11:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.