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Early analyst calls (HSY) (IM)

Citigroup downgraded Hershey (NYSE:HSY) to Hold from Buy, according to Briefing.com. The news services also reports that Bank of America downgraded Ingram Micro (NYSE:IM) to Neutral from Buy.

Robert Half (NYSE:RHI) was cut to Underweight at Lehman, according to 24/7 Wall St. The financial website also reports that Comverse Tech (NASDAQ:CMVT) was cut to Neutral at JPMorgan.

Telecom firm closes internal investigation but what next?

It's great when companies take a deep, hard look at themselves in the mirror. Frequently, though, this doesn't happen until some large, negative event takes place and the company needs to react.

Comverse Technology, Inc. (OTC: CMVT) is one of these companies facing itself in the mirror. Essentially a holding company which includes one of the leading providers of value-added software and services to the telecom industry (read, voice mail and billing), a large stake in a leading surveillance technology firm, and a couple other stakes in related businesses, Comverse has had an ugly couple of years.

Its founder, Kobi Alexander, sits in Namibia avoiding extradition by US authorities. In an ultimate act of chutzpah, Alexander sued the firm this week about his severance.The stock languishes. There is certainly a lot of value here -- the question is whether the company will be able to extract the value.

Continue reading Telecom firm closes internal investigation but what next?

Hot Stocks for 2008: Verint Systems parses intelligence

Verint Systems (OTC: VRNT) provides analytic software-based solutions for the security and business intelligence markets. Its analytic solutions collect, retain, and analyze voice, fax, video, email, internet, and data transmissions from voice, video and IP networks, for the purpose of generating actionable intelligence for decision makers.

The company has had a tough last couple of years, but much of the drop was unjustified. Because of filing problems at Verint's parent company, Comverse Technology (OTC: CMVT), Verint was delisted from the Nasdaq and has been trading on the pink sheets. Its business is growing strongly. It continues to sign deals, highlighted by the recent announcement that the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey will expand its deployment of Verint's Nextiva Critical Infrastructure (CI) solution and integrated analytics at all security checkpoints within LaGuardia and Newark Liberty International Airports.

Verint's problem is with low volume -- institutions are unable to take a position in the stock due to the low trading volumes. We expect these low volumes to continue until parent company Comverse Technology resolves its filing situation. Once this takes place, and Israeli Verint re-lists on the Nasdaq, the stock should move up strongly, as it is trading at just 9.7 times next year's estimates and is also near a 50% discount to competitor NICE Systems (NASDAQ: NICE). I am looking for large returns from Verint in '08.

DISCLOSURE: Writer is long VRNT, NICE, and CMVT as of 12/28/07.

Aaron Katsman is the lead Portfolio Manager and Managing Director of America Israel Investment Associates, LLC. and Senior Editor of IsraelNewsletter.com.

Citibank's take on Annapolis Peace Conference

Israeli business site, Globes, ran an article today that summarized a recent Citibank research note. What caught my eye is that instead of publishing analysis on a severely undervalued (IMHO) Israel tech firm, Comverse Technology (OTC: CMVT.PK) or an unheard of diamond-in-the-rough (IMH0), Elbit Medical (Nasdaq: EMITF), this piece was on the take-aways of what's going on in Middle Eastern history in Annapolis, Maryland today.

If you haven't heard the harbingers of peace chirping away, you haven't see the fanfare going on in Annapolis. Everyone who is everyone is there (well, almost). Check out my piece over the weekend about two interesting stock picks as a play on the conference.

Beyond the tongue and cheek surrounding the love fest, Citibank wrote the following about the Israeli economy:
"In the past couple of years, strong domestic economic performance has allowed Israeli markets to shrug off several regional geo-political developments, including the victory of Hamas in the 2006 Palestinian Authority (PA) elections and last year's war in the north versus Hezbollah."

Continue reading Citibank's take on Annapolis Peace Conference

Analyst initiations: CMCSA, CMVT, CNET and TWC

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Comcast (CMCSA), Time Warner Cable (TWC), CNet Networks (CNET), Coviden (COV) and I.D. Systems (IDSY) were today's noteworthy initiations:
  • Stanford started CNet (NASDAQ: CNET) with a Buy rating and $10 target, as the company is well positioned to benefit from its developing web properties.
  • Bear Stearns expects shares of Covidien (NYSE: COV) to move up, starting shares with an Outperform rating, as the management transforms the company from a cash flow focused conglomerate division into a faster-growing, nimble competitor.
  • Merriman said I.D. Systems (NASDAQ: IDSY) is uniquely positioned in the wireless asset tracking market given its focus on industrial machinery and material handling equipment, starting shares with a Buy rating...
OTHER INITIATIONS:
  • Comverse (OTC: CMVT) was initiated with a Neutral rating at Merriman.
Analyst summaries provided by TheFlyOnTheWall.com (subscription required).

Analyst upgrades 5-03-07: CMVT, IFF, JBHT, RTN and SYMC

MOST NOTEWORTHY: J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc (JBHT), Nvidia Corp (NVDA), International Flavors & Fragrances Inc (IFF), RealNetworks, Inc (RNWK) and Marchex (MCHX) were today's noteworthy upgrades:
  • Pacific Growth upgraded shares of Nvidia Corp (NASDAQ: NVDA) to Buy from Neutral citing valuation.
  • Susquehanna upgraded Marchex Inc (NASDAQ: MCHX) to Positive from Neutral. Susquehanna has increased confidence that Marchex will be able to increase monetization via Yahoo!'s (YHOO) Panama upgrade, improving 2008 TAC rates and increased value of owned sites following a major upgrade for 2H07.
OTHER UPGRADES:
  • Jefferies raised Symantec Corp (NASDAQ: SYMC) shares to Buy from Hold with a $21 target.
  • Raytheon Co (NYSE: RTN) was upgraded to Overweight from Equal Weight at Lehman Brothers.
  • SPX Corp (NYSE: SPW) was raised to Neutral from Underperform at Needham.
Analyst summaries provided by TheFlyOnTheWall.com (subscription required).

Analyst downgrades 3-23-07: Palm & Take-Two Interactive downgraded today

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Palm, Inc (PALM), Reliant Energy, Inc (RRI) and Take-Two Interactive Software (TTWO) topped today's more notable downgrades:
  • UBS cut Palm, Inc (NASDAQ: PALM) to Reduce from Neutral citing valuation. Bank of America downgraded shares to Neutral from Buy with an $18 target and considers the risk/reward less favorable at these levels.
  • Bank of America also downgraded Reliant Energy (NYSE: RRI) to Sell from Neutral on valuation.
  • Hillard Lyons cut Take-Two Interactive Software (NASDAQ: TTWO) to Neutral from Outperform.
OTHER DOWNGRADES:
  • CIBC downgraded Jabil Circuit, Inc (NYSE: JBL) to Sector Performer from Outperformer following the company's disappointing outlook. Bear Stearns cut Jabil to Peer Perform from Outperform. BMO cut the company to Market Perform from Outperform.
  • Friedman, Billings, Ramsey downgraded shares of FormFactor, Inc (NASDAQ: FORM) to Market Perform from Outperform to reflect increased risks in the logic market and long-term growth concerns.
  • Matrix USA downgraded Knight Transportation (NYSE: KNX) to Hold from Buy.
  • American Technology downgraded shares of Comverse Technology, Inc (NASDAQ: CMVT) to Neutral from Buy as the firm believes a retreat to the $17 range is likely given the company's disappointing margin trends.
  • CL King cut Claire's Stores, Inc (NYSE: CLE) to Neutral from Strong Buy following the buyout offer.
  • Goldman downgraded Atmos Energy Corp (NYSE: ATO) to Sell from Neutral and Liz Claiborne, Inc (NYSE: LIZ) to Neutral from Buy.
Analyst summaries provided by TheFlyOnTheWall.com (subscription required).

Analyst upgrades 2-26-07: Raise your glass to Coca-Cola

MOST NOTEWORTHY: The Coca-Cola Co (KO), Merck & Co (MRK) and National Semiconductor (NSM) were some of today's more notable upgrades:
  • The Coca-Cola Co (NYSE: KO) was upgraded to Buy from Hold with a $57 target at Deutsche Bank based on valuation.
  • Merck & Co (NYSE: MRK) was upgraded to Buy from Hold at Citigroup to reflect the firm's bullish outlook for the company's diabetes drug, Januvia. Citigroup believes the drug will help drive above-consensus earnings following its recent diabetes survey.
  • National Semiconductor (NYSE: NSM) was upgraded to Strong Buy from Market Perform at Raymond James.
OTHER UPGRADES:
  • Robert W. Baird upgraded shares of Comverse Technology (NASDAQ: CMVT) to Outperform from Neutral based on valuation and potential catalysts that include a possible break-up of the company.
  • RBC upgraded Research in Motion (NASDAQ: RIMM) to Outperform from Sector Perform with a $180 target, as checks indicate shipment and sub-momentum from the company's product cycle will be significantly greater than anticipated.
  • Kellogg (NYSE: K) was added to Lehman Brothers' Favorites List.
  • Stanford upgraded Brooks Automation (NASDAQ: BRKS) to Buy from Hold with a $20 target on improved industry conditions, cash generation and valuation.
  • Cowen added Ericsson Telephone Co (NASDAQ: ERIC) and Oracle Corp (NASDAQ: ORCL) to its Focus List.
  • Matrix USA upgraded J.C. Penney Co Inc (NYSE: JCP) to Strong buy from Buy with an intrinsic value of $115.
  • Wedbush upgraded LSI Logic Corp (NYSE: LSI) to Buy from Hold with a $13 target.
Analyst summaries provided by TheFlyOnTheWall.com (subscription required).

A war in wireless software is about to begin

Today, Nokia Corporation (NYSE: NOK) and Vodafone Group (NYSE: VOD) announced their collaboration on the development of S60 software on Symbian OS, with the release of the first Vodafone specific software package to all S60 licensees.

Yesterday, Comverse Technology Inc (OTC: CMVT) announced the expansion of its Converged Messaging portfolio with the launch of Comverse Instant SMS, which combines the worlds of SMS and Mobile Instant Messaging, or MIM.

Additionally, Openwave Systems Inc (NASDAQ: OPWV) is launching a whole line of new products.

2007 and 2008 will be the battle between handsets and smartphones, those with the best software will win out. Wireless service providers have been slow to bring PC functionality to handset devices for fear of losing control of the handset. In the PC business, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT) and Intel Corporation (NASDAQ: INTC) make all the money, with little left over for anyone else.

This means industry consolidation in the wireless software market is about to begin. Look for everyone to start making wireless software acquisitions, either acquiring or partnering, with Openwave, Comverse and Symbian. Also look for the big software companies like Microsoft and Sun Microsystems Inc (NASDAQ: SUNW), with its Java platform, to get into the M&A spirit.

Israeli market is strong: ORCT, NICE, RVSN

The Israeli stock market has been reaching record highs as economic growth has been strong. Despite today's GDP report showing a sharp drop due to the summer war, the Tel-Aviv Stock Exchange rebounded finishing the day on a positive note.

Some Israeli companies listed on the NASDAQ are having quite the day:

Orckit Communications Ltd. (NASDAQ:ORCT) is a manufacturer of telecommunications networking equipment. ORCT shares are up more than 9% today. Rumors in Israeli newspapers mention the company gaining a new important client in Asia. Market cap: $147.7 million. 52-week range: $6.75-$31.22. Afternoon price: $11.36.

NICE Systems Ltd. (NASDAQ:NICE) shares are up more than 5.5%. NICE makes data recording products for financial institutions and other companies to monitor interactions with their customers. Market cap: $1.1 billion. 52-week range: $21.55-$32.80. Afternoon price: $32.45.

Continue reading Israeli market is strong: ORCT, NICE, RVSN

Symbol Lookup
IndexesChangePrice
DJIA-89.2312,801.23
NASDAQ-23.352,903.88
S&P 500-9.311,342.64

Last updated: February 10, 2012: 11:50 PM

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