Continue reading NextEra Energy (NEE): A 'Bargain' in Utilities

NextEra Energy (NEE): A 'Bargain' in Utilities originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 21 Jul 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Utility NextEra Energy (NEE) (formerly FPL Group), first discussed here at a price of $43.30 on March 3, 2009, appears to have put in a bottom at $45.

The company changed its name in May to better reflect the company's clean energy provider status.

Further, wind power investments and tax credits should provide a boost to earnings in 2010, as a slow recovery in Florida's housing sector and economy weighs on residential electric power revenue.

Continue reading NextEra Energy: Power for Florida and More

NextEra Energy: Power for Florida and More originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 28 Jun 2010 13:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Serious Money: Powerful Dividends Powering the Nation

Serious Money: Powerful Dividends Powering the Nation originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 27 May 2010 15:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Growth and Income Experts Power Up FPL (FPL)

Growth and Income Experts Power Up FPL (FPL) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 28 Apr 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading FPL Group: An Undervalued Utility

FPL Group: An Undervalued Utility originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading World's Dumbest Market -- Low Risk, High Reward

World's Dumbest Market -- Low Risk, High Reward originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• RBC Capital upgraded FMC Technologies (FMC) to outperform from sector perform. The firm upgraded shares based on expectations that subsea order flow and backlog will be significantly higher than previous forecasts. The firm has a $70 target on shares.
• Citigroup upgraded ONEOK Partners LP (OKS) to buy from hold due to valuation and maintains a $65 price target on the stock.
• Needham upgraded Autodesk (ADSK) to buy from hold following the Q4 report and guidance. The firm has a $31 target on the stock.
• Morgan Stanley upgraded Under Armour (UA) to equal weight from underweight, citing valuation. The firm raised its target to $27 from $23.
• EOG Resources (EOG) was upgraded to buy from neutral at Goldman.
• FPL Group (FPL) was upgraded to outperform from neutral at Credit Suisse.
• Novo Nordisk (NVO) was upgraded to buy from hold at Jefferies.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: ADSK, UA, NVO, VIA, CRM, APA, STD ...

Analyst Calls: ADSK, UA, NVO, VIA, CRM, APA, STD ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 24 Feb 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

It goes without saying that a preferred sector here is the electric power generation/utilities sector, and that's doubly true in an uncertain economic landscape. Hence, I'm reiterating my buy rating for FPL Group (FPL), first recommended on March 3, 2009, at a price of $43.30. If you bought FPL in March, you're up about 20%.

FPL Group's safety-plus-growth story is obvious enough. FPL provides electricity to about 4.5 million customers in Florida, covering nearly all of Florida's eastern seaboard, including the Gold Coast.

Continue reading FPL Group: In Uncertain Economic Times, Utilities Rule

FPL Group: In Uncertain Economic Times, Utilities Rule originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 07 Jan 2010 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This post is part of a special report, Top Picks for 2010, the 27th annual survey in which TheStockAdvisors.com asks the nation's leading advisors for their single favorite stock for the new year. See all 80 stocks listed here.

Vita Nelson is well-known as a leading expert on dividend reinvestment plans. With the caveat that she always recommends portfolio diversification, the editor of The MoneyPaper looks to utility stock FPL (FPL) as a top selection for 2010.

Nelson explains, "We make a point of recommending that people don't pin their hopes on just one stock (which might underachieve in the short run).

Continue reading Top Picks for 2010: FPL Group (FPL)

Top Picks for 2010: FPL Group (FPL) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 05 Jan 2010 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst upgrades:

• Citigroup upgraded FPL Group (FPL) to buy from hold on valuation and recommends buying the stock into the staff recommendation. The firm raised its target on shares to $58 from $55.
• Deutsche Bank upgraded Smithfield Foods (SFD) to buy from hold as it believes the company's fundamentals and export demand outlook are improving. The firm raised its target on shares to $20 from $12.
• Credit Suisse upgraded T. Rowe Price (TROW) to outperform from neutral and raised its target to $60 from $55 based on strong net inflows and potential operating leverage.
• Microchip (MCHP) was upgraded to neutral from sell at Goldman.
• Toll Brothers (TOL) was upgraded to outperform from market perform at Wells Fargo.
• Ascent Solar (ASTI) was upgraded to hold from underperform at Jefferies.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: ADBE, H, HAL, TOL, TROW, TSN ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: ADBE, H, HAL, TOL, TROW, TSN ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Time to scoop up more shares of FPL Group

Time to scoop up more shares of FPL Group originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Citigroup upgraded Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG) to Buy from Hold after meeting with management as it believes a more aggressive strategy will lead to the company regaining market share. Citi raised its target on shares to $66 from $54.
  
• Piper Jaffray upgraded Allscripts (NASDAQ:MDRX) to Overweight from Neutral after learning the company signed a large contract with North Shore Long Island Jewish Hospital. Piper now sees upside to estimates and raised its target on shares to $22.50 from $14.
  
• UBS upgraded Amedisys (NASDAQ:AMED) to Buy from Neutral following a review of the Senate Finance Committee's healthcare proposal, which they view as "benign." The firm raised its target to $57 from $46.
• Daimler (NYSE:DAI) was upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at Bernstein.
  
• Boston Private (NASDAQ:BPFH) was upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at Keefe Bruyette.
  
• E-Trade (NASDAQ:ETFC) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Goldman.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 18 Sep 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading FPL Group: Almost as strong as Florida's sunshine

FPL Group: Almost as strong as Florida's sunshine originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 16 Jul 2009 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst upgrades:

• JPMorgan upgraded Franklin Resources (NYSE: BEN) to Overweight from Underweight to reflect performance and sales improvements, as well as benefits from the weakening U.S. dollar. The firm has a $94 target on the stock.
• Oppenheimer upgraded FormFactor (NASDAQ: FORM) to Outperform from Perform after channel checks indicated orders are recovering. The firm raised its target on shares to $30 from $22.
• KeyBanc upgraded Oshkosh (NYSE: OSK) to Buy from Hold citing the company's MRAP-ATV contract win, which they view as a "game changer." The firm has a $30 target on the stock.
• Novellus (NASDAQ: NVLS) was upgraded to Neutral from Underperform at Credit Suisse.
• Ternium (NYSE: TX) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Goldman.
• Cathay General (NASDAQ: CATY) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at B. Riley.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: LLY, NVLS, OSK, QCOM, RDS.A, RTP ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: LLY, NVLS, OSK, QCOM, RDS.A, RTP ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 06 Jul 2009 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

What are the best buys among dividend-paying issues? In his Dividend Detective newsletter, Harry Domash focuses on for income-generating ideas for long-term investors.

Here, the advisor reviews some of his latest buys among master limited partnerships, preferreds and yield-oriented closed-end funds.

"Among energy partnerships, we're adding two new picks to the portfolio with a buy rating. First, NuStar Energy (NYSE: NS), currently yielding 8.4%, operates crude oil and refined product pipelines and associated facilities.

"NuStar recently acquired asphalt refining and terminal facilities, a business that's expected to boom once the government supported highway construction projects kick in.

Continue reading Dividend Detective's income favorites

Dividend Detective's income favorites originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 04 Jun 2009 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Consider FPL Group, because the Gold Coast is still there, recession and all

Consider FPL Group, because the Gold Coast is still there, recession and all originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 03 Mar 2009 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Friedman Billings upgraded LSI Corp (NYSE: LSI) to Outperform from Market Perform as it believes the risk/reward is attractive at current levels as the company's near-term business trends are stabilizing. The firm maintains a $4 target on the stock.
  
• Merriman upgraded shares of Medarex (NASDAQ: MEDX) to Neutral from Sell on valuation following the stock's 40% decline year-to-date.
  
• Morgan Stanley upgraded ITT Educational (NYSE: ESI) to Overweight from Equal Weight. The firm believes valuation appropriately discounts risks from its internal lending program.
• Noble (NYSE: NE) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Goldman and added to the Conviction Buy List.
  
• Energizer (NYSE: ENR) was raised to Neutral from Sell at UBS.
  
• Arch Chemicals (NYSE: ARJ) was upgraded at KeyBanc to Hold from Underweight.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: LSI, ESI, UBS, CS JBHT ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: LSI, ESI, UBS, CS JBHT ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 03 Mar 2009 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Standard Pacific(NYSE:SPF) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at UBS on valuation. The firm lowered its target to $3 from $3.25.

• UBS downgraded FPL Group (NYSE:FPL) to Neutral from Buy on valuation and raised its target to $50 from $48.
  
• Citigroup downgraded Charter Comm (NASDAQ:CHTR) to Sell from Buy to reflect Charter's increasing probability of financial distress. The firm lowered its target to 5c from $1.
  
• B. Riley downgraded UCBH Holdings (NASDAQ:UCBH) to Neutral from Buy on valuation.
• Dow Chemical NYSE:DOW) was cut to Equal Weight from Overweight at Barclays.
  
• Honeywell (NYSE:HON) was lowered to Hold from Buy at Argus.
  
• Brean Murray downgraded California Water Service (NYSE:CWT) to Hold from Buy.

• Standpoint Research believes Jacobs Engineering's (NYSE:JEC) relationship-based business model differentiates it from peers. The firm initiated shares with a Buy rating and has a 3-5 year price target of $70-$80.
• Pali thinks American Eagle's (NYSE:AEO) spring product line is improved and that shares already price in weak 2009 results. Shares were assumed with a Buy rating and $13 target.
  
• B. Riley started Watsco (NYSE:WSO) with a Neutral rating and $40 target and believes shares are close to fair valuation.

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: SPF, HON, DOW, AEO originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 29 Dec 2008 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"We've followed Warren Buffett's advice to 'buy American'," says Mark Skousen; his Hedge Fund Trader eyes Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) and FPL Group (NYSE: FPL).

"Johnson & Johnson as well as FPL Group are two strong positions in companies that have suffered a few 'hiccups' during this historic panic selling, but are likely to survive and prosper in the next year.

"First, Johnson & Johnson, the health care and pharmaceutical giant, beat expectations in its most recent earnings report. The company's earnings jumped 30% to $3.3 billion on revenues of $15.9 billion. It currently is selling for only 15 times forward earnings -- a bargain price.

"Second,, FPL Group -- known as Florida Power & Light -- is a large Florida utility company that is holding up well. It, too, is a solid company that now is on sale because of the financial crisis.

"Revenues are down slightly to $15 billion, and earnings dropped 40% during the past year. But Florida Power is still profitable, and at 10 times next year's earnings, it should continue to recover.

"We think it is wise at this time to limit our exposure to the markets, and to keep our powder dry by focusing strictly on a few well-financed utilities and consumer product firms.

"Overall, we consider both Johnson & Johnson and FPL Group to be solid companies selling at a substantial discount to their real value."

Steven Halpern's TheStockAdvisors.com offers a daily look at the latest market commentary and favorite stock picks and investment ideas from the nation's leading financial newsletter advisors.

J&J and FP&L: 'Solid American values' originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 03 Nov 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Stock picks and pans for troubled times: Buy Johnson & Johnson, Monsanto, JPMorgan and closed-end funds

Stock picks and pans for troubled times: Buy Johnson & Johnson, Monsanto, JPMorgan and closed-end funds originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 26 Sep 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.