Just one day after hitting new lows, the major averages reversed course for the strongest day in a month.

The rally was touted as a response to Chairman Bernanke's testimony and the anticipation of the president's speech. But technical analysis has been telling us that the markets have been due for a rally.

I pointed out in yesterday's Daily Market Outlook, that the market was so extremely oversold that a rally was overdue, despite new lows in the Dow, which confirmed that the bear market was still with us.

Continue reading Today's technical outlook: Market got its due

Today's technical outlook: Market got its due originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 25 Feb 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

BMC Software (NYSE: BMC) provides software used by large enterprises to manage computer systems and company services. Among the functions addressed are business process scheduling and integration, application and database performance, and recovery and storage management. Customers include Dell (NASDAQ: DELL), Home Depot (NYSE: HD) and Toyota Motor (NYSE: TM).

The company surprised investors last week, when it reported fiscal Q4 EPS of 63 cents and revenues of $466.9 million. Analysts had been looking for 51 cents and $460.3 million. In discussing the successful quarter, the CEO noted client interest in the unified architecture of the firm's suite. Management also guided FY09 EPS to $2.10-$2.20, versus consensus of $2.09. Oppenheimer and Lehman Brothers subsequently reiterated "buy" recommendations on the issue and boosted their price targets to $43.

Continue reading BMC Software (BMC): Shares define bullish 'pennant' consolidation

BMC Software (BMC): Shares define bullish 'pennant' consolidation originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 23 May 2008 15:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

In the summer of last year, BladeLogic (NASDAQ: BLOG) launched its IPO, which skyrocketed nearly 50%. It helped that one of its main rivals, Opsware, get a $1.65 billion buyout offer from Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ).

Well, BladeLogic has now agreed to sell out, although at a lower valuation: $800 million. The buyer is tech veteran, BMC Software (NYSE: BMC).

BladeLogic is focused on helping to deal with the mind-numbing complexities of data centers, helping with things like compliance, downtime, speed and so on. Keep in mind that there's about $140 billion spent on data centers per year.

At the same time, over the past few years, BMC has done a good job restructuring its company. Now it's in a position to ramp growth - and BladeLogic will be a nice boost. In fiscal Q1, the company's revenues spiked 68% to $21.4 million.

Although, Wall Street is skeptical. In today's trading, BMC's stock is down 7% to $31.31.

Tom Taulli is the author of various books, including The Complete M&A Handbook and The Edgar Online Guide to Decoding Financial Statements. He also operates DealProfiles.com.

BMC blazes a deal for BladeLogic originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 17 Mar 2008 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.