As a result, The PC industry is bleeding badly. Look at these numbers:

• February revenue from PC makers in Taiwan is down 20%. The number is significant because Taiwan manufacturers 90% of all PCs.
• Hon Hai (HNHAF), which makes Apple products and PCs for Dell (DELL), saw shipments down 18% in February, as reported in Financial Times.
• Gartner, a research consultancy, lowered PC shipments by 5% to 387.8 million units this month.

Continue reading Acer Losing Market Share to Smartphones and Tablets

Acer Losing Market Share to Smartphones and Tablets originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The market tried to hit a new two-plus-year high again today. Anything cautious for the markets is being discounted and valuation concerns are out the door. It seems the bulls are in charge -- regardless of what comes down the pipe in the Middle East, Japan, the PIIGS and elsewhere. Even a goal of only aiming to cut foreign energy dependence by one-third did not rattle markets. The TARP even made money. Maybe we can just convince Bernanke to go ahead and raise rates to get the pain over with, once and for all.

Here were today's unofficial closing bell levels:

Dow Jones: 12,350.61 +71.60 (0.58%)

S&P500: 1,328.26 +8.82 (0.67%)

Nasdaq: 2,776,78 +19.90 (0.72%)

Top Analyst Calls

Continue reading Closing Bell: When No Bears Can Be Found (AAPL, CCJ, CAT, CEPH, CVX, CLNE, DELL, UTA)

Closing Bell: When No Bears Can Be Found (AAPL, CCJ, CAT, CEPH, CVX, CLNE, DELL, UTA) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Philip Morris (PM) to conviction buy from buy at Goldman.
• Peet's Coffee (PEET) to neutral from sell at Janney Capital.
• Cephalon (CEPH) to equal weight from underweight at Morgan Stanley.
• StoneMor Partners (STON) to outperform from neutral at RW Baird.
• Tibco (TIBX) to buy from underperform at BofA/Merrill.
• Apollo Group (APOL) to outperform from market perform at BMO Capital.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: APOL, CEPH, DELL, GCI, GOLD, KSS, LEN, PEET, PM ...

Analyst Calls: APOL, CEPH, DELL, GCI, GOLD, KSS, LEN, PEET, PM ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Stock Futures Higher Ahead of ADP Employment Data

Stock Futures Higher Ahead of ADP Employment Data originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

A few weeks back, we noted that while Apple's (AAPL) products continue to see huge demand, a key concern for the company is management of supply-related constraints. The recent Japanese earthquake has now added to these concerns. According to market research firm iSuppli, the earthquake may cause logistical disruptions and supply shortages for the newly launched iPad 2. Although Apple remains king of the tablet market, it is expected to face a growing set of challengers in 2011 from Research In Motion (RIMM), Motorola Mobility (MMI), Dell (DELL), Samsung and LG.

We maintain a $420 price estimate for Apple stock, roughly 25% above market price.

Continue reading Japanese Earthquake Could Cause iPad Shortage

Japanese Earthquake Could Cause iPad Shortage originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 24 Mar 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

IBM (IBM) sells middleware software and technology services such as outsourcing and integration to large and medium sized businesses worldwide, and competes with firms like Oracle (ORCL) and Red Hat (RHT). IBM is also among the global leaders in business systems and competes with hardware vendors like Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) and Dell (DELL) in the server market as well as firms like EMC (EMC) and NetApp (NTAP) in the storage market.

In a recent development, IBM announced the launch of a new software and consulting service targeted at helping companies swiftly adapt to rising customer demands in today's digitally transformed marketplace. The firm chooses to call this new emerging category "Smarter Commerce," keeping in line with its Smarter Planet initiative. We have earlier discussed IBM's focus on its Smarter Planet initiative and how the firm stands to benefit from it. (See IBM's Smarter Planet Initiatives Lay Groundwork for Growth.)

Continue reading IBM Smells Opportunity in CRM with Launch of Smarter Commerce Initiatives

IBM Smells Opportunity in CRM with Launch of Smarter Commerce Initiatives originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 22 Mar 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Cree (CREE) and Rubicon Technology (RBCN) to buy from neutral at Merriman.
• Children's Place (PLCE) to outperform from market perform at BMO Capital.
• Lockheed Martin (LMT) to neutral from underperform at BofA/Merrill.
• Copano Energy (CPNO) to outperform from market perform at Morgan Keegan.
• Motorola Mobility (MMI) to neutral from reduce at Nomura.
• Parker-Hannifin (PH) to buy from hold at KeyBanc.
• Akamai (AKAM), ShoreTel (SHOR), AMB Property (AMB) and ProLogis (PLD) to buy from hold at Stifel Nicolaus.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AAPL, AEO, CREE, DELL, HPQ, IBM, LMT, MMI, MYGN, PH ...

Analyst Calls: AAPL, AEO, CREE, DELL, HPQ, IBM, LMT, MMI, MYGN, PH ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 17 Mar 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Dell (DELL) competes with personal computer manufacturers like HP (HPQ), Apple (AAPL), Acer (ACEIF) and Toshiba (TOSBF), and increasingly against IBM (IBM) and others for IT services. We have a $22.39 Trefis price estimate for Dell's stock, and we estimate that Dell's hardware business which includes notebooks & netbooks, tablets, desktops, printers and displays makes up nearly 33% of Dell's stock. Our price estimate is around 40% ahead of the current market price.

Below we discuss four key trends for Dell's hardware business and their potential impact on Dell's stock price.

Continue reading Four Trends in Dell's Hardware Business Highlight Importance of Tablets

Four Trends in Dell's Hardware Business Highlight Importance of Tablets originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 16 Mar 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Intel (INTC) competes with Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) and Nvidia (NVDA) in the PC microprocessor and graphics businesses. We estimate that notebook microprocessors are the most important product segment for Intel, generating roughly 39% of its equity value.

Continue reading As Sales of Tablet Computers Soar, Intel's Stock Value Could Fall

As Sales of Tablet Computers Soar, Intel's Stock Value Could Fall originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 11 Mar 2011 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Over the past couple years, the storage market has been the target of big acquisitions from companies like HP (HPQ) and Dell (DELL). With cloud computing -- as well as the emergence of data-hungry applications -- the growth in the market has been strong.

To capitalize on this, some of the top companies are looking at IPOs. For example, Fusion-io made its filing this week. The lead underwriters include Goldman Sachs (GS) and Morgan Stanley (MS).

Continue reading Hot Storage Company Fusion-io Goes for an IPO

Hot Storage Company Fusion-io Goes for an IPO originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 09 Mar 2011 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

IBM (IBM) sells middleware software and technology services such as outsourcing and integration to large and medium-sized businesses worldwide, and competes with firms like Oracle (ORCL) and Red Hat (RHT). IBM is also among the global leaders in business systems and competes with hardware vendors like HP (HPQ) and Dell (DELL) in the server market, as well as storage firms like EMC (EMC) and NetApp (NTAP) in the storage market.

Continue reading The Impact of Increased Tech Spending on IBM

The Impact of Increased Tech Spending on IBM originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 02 Mar 2011 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

When it comes to picking trends, JPMorgan Chase (JPM) has nailed the latest market to experience explosive growth. It is the fast-growing tablet market, as reported in Reuters.

Morgan's analyst, Mark Moskowitz, has upped his forecasts for tablet sales in 2011 and 2012. For 2011 he raised his numbers from $24.9 to $26.1 billion. For 2012 his numbers are increased from $34.1 billion to $35.2 billion. Unit sales were upped by over 1 million to 48.1 in 2011 and 79.6 in 2012.

Continue reading JPMorgan Chase Ups Forecasts for Tablet Sales

JPMorgan Chase Ups Forecasts for Tablet Sales originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Closing Bell: A Double From Lows (CAGC, CMCSA, DELL, DSCO, FDO, GENZ, SNY)

Closing Bell: A Double From Lows (CAGC, CMCSA, DELL, DSCO, FDO, GENZ, SNY) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 16 Feb 2011 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Dell (DELL) experienced a good reaction to its latest earnings report on Tuesday, but I don't find myself interested in the stock. The company just doesn't call out to me as a solid buy. Back in September of last year, I noted that there were probably better investment options out there. I tend to feel the same way today.

The 52-week low for the shares is $11.34, while the 52-week high is $17.52. At the time of this writing, the stock was up over 5% to $14.64 during the post-bell period following the release of Dell's Q4 data.

Continue reading Dell Earnings: Stock Trades Higher, But Should You Buy?

Dell Earnings: Stock Trades Higher, But Should You Buy? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 16 Feb 2011 08:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Closing Bell: Lack of Catalysts (WMT, GENZ, SNY, LLNW, DELL, GLD, NYX)

Closing Bell: Lack of Catalysts (WMT, GENZ, SNY, LLNW, DELL, GLD, NYX) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 15 Feb 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

We're well into the quarter now and the earnings reports continue to roll out.

This week, Dell (DELL) highlights a handful of results from tech companies. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters are looking for fourth-quarter earnings of 37 cents per share from the one of the world's top PC purveyors. That's up from 28 cents per share during the same period a year ago. Dell also is expected to report its revenue grew 5.5% year over year to $15.7 billion, for the three months that ended in January.

Continue reading Week in Preview: Mid-Quarter Earnings (DELL, SJM, MAR, JWN)

Week in Preview: Mid-Quarter Earnings (DELL, SJM, MAR, JWN) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 13 Feb 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Dell Picks Up SecureWorks

Dell Picks Up SecureWorks originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 04 Jan 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

One of the big themes in technology for 2010 has been the scramble to buy up data storage companies. Perhaps the most interesting transaction was the bidding war for 3Par. HP (HPQ) paid a premium price to beat out Dell (DELL).

As margins on PCs and laptops continue to fall, the large computer makers are trying to find ways to boost margins. And data storage products are a key way to do this.

Continue reading Dell Strikes a Deal for Compellent

Dell Strikes a Deal for Compellent originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 13 Dec 2010 13:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

U.S. stock futures are lower Friday morning, as China raised the reserve requirement ratio for banks by 50 basis points. Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average are down approximately 40 points, while S&P 500 index futures are down around four points. Nasdaq 100 futures have dropped 6.50 points.

Stocks closed higher Thursday, with the Dow index gaining 1.57%.

U.S. Federal Reserve board Chairman Ben Bernanke defended the quantitative-easing program at a conference organized by the European Central Bank in Frankfurt.

Continue reading U.S. Stock Futures Down as China Hikes Reserve Requirement Ratio

U.S. Stock Futures Down as China Hikes Reserve Requirement Ratio originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 19 Nov 2010 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Maybe you already are. Good for you. Most investors aren't. They're still waiting for the big pay off. The problem is that most of them don't understand that there are several ways to be rich. Here are three ways to get yours.

For most people it takes a long time to gather enough wealth to feel comfortable, a great way to define rich. It takes years of saving, investing, and sacrificing for future rewards. It's not easily done, but if done correctly, it will pay off.

Continue reading Comfort Zone Investing: Why Aren't You Rich?

Comfort Zone Investing: Why Aren't You Rich? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 09 Oct 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.