When in doubt, go with those business models that have clout, and Franklin Resources (BEN), first discussed on July 20, 2009, at a price of $73.88, is one.

Ben's shares have have pulled back to about $123 this spring, after hitting $131. And needless to add, if you're in near $74, now may be a good time to consider taking some profits.

However, those investors who can tolerate the risk can maintain their full position and go for a larger gain, but keep in mind the journey to $150 probably won't be completed in 2011.

Continue reading Franklin Resources Remains in an Uptrend

Franklin Resources Remains in an Uptrend originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The shares of Franklin Resources (BEN) have pulled back, after retesting highs near $126. I first discussed Franklin on July 20, 2009, at a price of $73.88, and if you're in near that price, now may be a good time to consider taking some profits.

However, those investors who can tolerate the risk can maintain their full position and go for a larger gain, but keep in mind the journey to $150 probably won't be completed in 2011.

Continue reading Franklin Resources: Time to Take Some Profits?

Franklin Resources: Time to Take Some Profits? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 01 Feb 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Franklin Resources Vaults Higher

Franklin Resources Vaults Higher originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 05 Nov 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Option traders appear to be setting up for a bullish move on Market Vectors Agribusiness ETF (MOO). Traders plowed into 2,601 new call option contracts -- 20.81 times the average volume -- on the stock on Wednesday. And we know that traders were eager to get into this trade because 89% of the trades came in on the ask price.

The ETF closed Wednesday at $45.60, up 4.35% during the past month.

Continue reading Option Traders Betting on Agriculture and the British Pound

Option Traders Betting on Agriculture and the British Pound originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 09 Sep 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Is the Selling Over with Franklin Resources?

Is the Selling Over with Franklin Resources? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 13 Jul 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Franklin Resources: Well-Positioned for the Recovery

Franklin Resources: Well-Positioned for the Recovery originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 25 Mar 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Franklin Resources: An asset management survivor

Franklin Resources: An asset management survivor originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Franklin Resources: Considerable upside remains

Franklin Resources: Considerable upside remains originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 20 Jul 2009 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst upgrades:

• PepsiCo (NYSE: PEP) was upgraded to Buy from Hold at Deutsche Bank.
• Fortress (NYSE: FIG) was upgraded at Citigroup to Hold from Sell.
• Prudential (NYSE: PUK) was lifted to Overweight from Neutral at JP Morgan.
• Keefe Bruyette upgraded Franklin Resources (NYSE: BEN) to Outperform from Market Perform and added shares to their Best Ideas List on valuation as they see an attractive risk/reward at current levels.
• UBS upgraded ASML Holding (NASDAQ: ASML) to Buy from Neutral on valuation as they believe the company remains a market leader.
• Oppenheimer raised Seattle Genetics (NASDAQ: SGEN) to Outperform from Perform on valuation following the recent weakness as they expect positive clinical news flow beginning in December.

• UBS downgraded U.S. Steel (NYSE: X) to Sell from Buy and lowered its target to $30 from $60 citing deteriorating U.S. conditions and concerns about the company's high fixed costs in a falling steel price environment.
• Royal Dutch Shell (NYSE: RDS.A) was downgraded to Underperform from Neutral at Credit Suisse.
  
• China Unicom (NYSE: CHU) was lowered to Underweight from Neutral at JP Morgan.

Continue reading Analyst calls: PEP, FIG, PUK, BEN, ASML, X, RDS.A, CHU, SVR ...

Analyst calls: PEP, FIG, PUK, BEN, ASML, X, RDS.A, CHU, SVR ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 27 Oct 2008 10:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst upgrades:

• Jefferies upgraded shares of Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE: APD) to Buy from Hold and raised its target to $79 from $63 on valuation as they believe the stock is oversold at current levels and that the company is well positioned to outperform in a slowing demand environment.
  
• Goldman upgraded the U.S. Insurance Brokers sector to Attractive from Cautious and upgraded AON Corporation (NYSE: AOC) and Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE: MMC) to Buy from Neutral.
  
• Covanta Holding Corporation (NYSE: CVA) was upgraded to Outperform from Perform at Oppenheimer. The firm recommends buying shares because they believe that its business model is defensive and its long-term contracts provide stability.
• First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR) was raised to Market Perform from Underperform at Friedman Billings.
  
• Baird upgraded IMS Health, Inc. (NYSE: RX) to Outperform from Neutral.
  
• The Progressive Corporation (NYSE: PGR) was lifted to Neutral from Sell at UBS.

Continue reading Analyst calls: GOOG, AOC, MMC, CVA, FSLR, PHG . . .

Analyst calls: GOOG, AOC, MMC, CVA, FSLR, PHG . . . originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 14 Oct 2008 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Goldman upgraded the Brokers and Asset Management sector to Attractive from Neutral as they believe an inflection point has been reached for stocks with minimal credit exposure, or where exposure is marked to market. Goldman expects the problem to shift to regional banks and specialty finance from brokers. As such, Goldman upgraded American Express (NYSE: AXP), Metlife (NYSE: MET), Bank of New York Mellon (NYSE: BK), Franklin Resources (NYSE: BEN), Janus Capital (NYSE: JNS) and NYSE Euronext (NYSE: NYX) to Buy from Neutral.
  
• Wachovia upgraded Pacific Sunwear (NASDAQ: PSUN) to Outperform from Market Perform based on valuation, merchandising improvements, operating efficiencies, favorable product mix, and reductions in underperforming categories.
  
• Rodman & Renshaw raised Metabasis (NASDAQ: MBRX) to Outperform from Market Perform on valuation given the potential for MB07803.

• HSBC raised Novartis (NYSE: NVS) to Neutral from Underweight.
  
• UBS (NYSE: UBS) was upgraded at Morgan Stanley to Equal Weight from Underweight.

Analyst upgrades: AXP, MET, BK, NYX, PSUN and NVS originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 08 Apr 2008 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The earnings crunch is in full swing, and here are a few of the highlights of this past week's earnings coverage from BloggingStocks:

• Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT) swung to a profit on the strength of drug sales.
• AK Steel Holding Corp. (NYSE: AKS) swung to a fourth-quarter profit and easily beat estimates.
• Aladdin Knowledge Systems Ltd. (NASDAQ: ALDN) posted solid results and raised its forecast.
• Amdocs Ltd. (NYSE: DOX) reported a record quarter and reaffirmed its guidance.
• Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ: AMGN) beat exectations, but concerns remain about FDA scrutiny.
• Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) easily beat expectations and offered revised guidance (see live blog, transcript).
• Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT) posted a solid quarter on strong international growth.
• Coach Inc. (NYSE: COH) beat estimates on strong direct-to-customer and same-store sales.
• ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) posted a strong fourth quarter due to rising oil prices.
• CSX Corp. (NYSE: CSX) beat expectations as increased productivity offset increased fuel costs.
• Eaton Corp. (NYSE: ETN) posted solid fourth quarter results due to growth overseas.
• Equity LifeStyle Properties Inc. (NYSE: ELS) beat expectations in the fourth quarter and offered guidance.
• Franklin Resources Inc. (NYSE: BEN) reported solid results and increased its quarterly dividend.
• Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) posted a solid fourth quarter and affirmed its 2008 guidance.
• Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) posted strong results due in part to demand for Vista.
• Nintendo Co. (OTC: NTDOY) profit soared on demand for the Wii, and the company raised is sales outlook.
• Nokia Corp. (NYSE: NOK) reported a strong fourth quarter and increased market share in handset sales.

Continue reading Earnings highlights: Apple, Microsoft, Texas Instruments, Southwest, Caterpillar, and others

Earnings highlights: Apple, Microsoft, Texas Instruments, Southwest, Caterpillar, and others originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 26 Jan 2008 08:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Franklin Resources (NYSE: BEN), an asset management company that works under the name Franklin Templeton Investments, came out yesterday with strong numbers. They reported income of $518.3 million, or $2.12 per share diluted, on revenues of $1,685.6 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2007. In the quarter ended September 30, 2007, net income was $436.9 million, or $1.76 per share diluted, on revenues of $1,629.1 million. For the quarter ended December 31, 2006, net income was $426.8 million, or $1.67 per share diluted, on revenues of $1,427.8 million.

Operating income for the quarter ended December 31, 2007 was $635.7 million, as compared to $541.4 million for the prior quarter and $508.1 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2006.

In what many considered a very challenging environment for the asset management industry, they continue to grow their business. The stock has gotten pounded along with the rest of the market, and is over 30% off its' high.

This seems like a great long-term play. Their are many catalysts that should help drive earnings in the coming quarters.

1) A 33.3% increase in its quarterly dividend over the dividend paid the prior quarter and the same quarter last year. The company has increased its annual dividend rate every year since 1981.

2)10 million shares stock buyback

3)The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, China's largest commercial bank, selected Franklin Templeton Investments to manage its newest Qualified Domestic Institutional Investor fund for domestic Chinese retail and institutional investors.

This may be the biggest driver going forward, as they will get a big chunk of Chinese retail and institutional money.

Aaron Katsman is the lead Portfolio Manager and Managing Director of America Israel Investment Associates, LC. and Senior Editor of IsraelNewsletter.com. DISCLOSURE: Writer has a position and is long BEN. He has no positions in any stock mentioned as of 1/25/08

Franklin Resources numbers are electric originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 25 Jan 2008 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Jefferies downgraded shares of Trident Microsystems Inc (NASDAQ: TRID) to Hold from Buy and lowered their target to $9 from $20 following the company's mixed quarter as they expect TRID to lose share in the TV market and face increasing price pressure. Shares were also downgraded to Hold from Buy at Deutsche Bank. Oppenheimer lowered Trident to Neutral from Buy, citing disappointing December guidance, delay in TV ramp, and expectations that 2008 will be a peak year for TV chip ramp revenues.
• CIBC downgraded shares of Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ: CMCSA) to Sector Performer from Outperformer following the weak Q3 results to reflect increasing competition in telco video, slower broadband growth and the weakening economy.
• JP Morgan downgraded Level 3 Communications Inc (NASDAQ: LVLT) to Neutral from Outperform following disappointing Q3 results and guidance.
• Friedman Billings downgraded shares of Ambac Financial Group Inc (NYSE: ABK) and MBIA Inc (NYSE: MBI) to Market Perform from Outperform citing lack of near-term catalysts and uncertainty surrounding the credit markets.

• Banc of America lowered its rating on Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) to Neutral from Buy.
• WestLB downgraded GlaxoSmithKline PLC (NYSE: GSK) to Sell from Add.
• Societe Generale downgraded France Telecom (NYSE: FTE) to Hold from Buy.
• Franklin Resources Inc (NYSE: BEN) was downgraded to Market Perform from Outperform at Friedman Billings and at Keefe Bruyette.

Analyst downgrades: TRID, CMCSA, LVLT, ABK and MBI originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 26 Oct 2007 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

I recently took a broad, comprehensive look at companies with market caps over $1 billion. My review included analyzing future cash flow, price-to-sales ratios, earnings forecasts and stock appreciation over the last five years.

Based on these measures, I've identified fifteen large cap companies that I think are the most overvalued in terms of their current stock prices. Below is the list, including links for more detailed analysis:

JC Penney (NYSE:JCP). The stock of this iconic American discounter has nearly doubled in the past two years. But sales remain mediocre and lately the stock has started to waffle.

Schlumberger Limited (NYSE:SLB). Its stock is up 200% over the past five years while customer ExxonMobil Corporation (NYSE: XOM) is up only 100%. It has done very well, but it is in a cyclical industry that is pegged to oil prices and it' run may not last forever.

Merck & Co (NYSE:MRK). This once down-trodden name now trades near its 52-week high. But the drugs that represent 50% of its revenues go "off patent" soon. And Merck still faces major Vioxx liabilities.

AT&T (NYSE:T). This stock is at a four-year high at the same time that the competitive threat from cable only grows more fierce. Consumers are getting used to the idea of buying phone service from their cable companies and suddenly VoIP isn't so scary anymore. That spells trouble for AT&T.

Continue reading The 15 most overvalued companies in America

The 15 most overvalued companies in America originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 07 Dec 2006 11:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.