GXDX posts

Feed

Options Update: Genoptix Volatility Elevated into Novartis's Acquisition

Novartis (NVS) has entered into a definitive agreement for the acquisition of Genoptix (GXDX) for $25 per share in cash. Genoptix overall option implied volatility of 62 is above its 26-week average of 47, according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement.

RockTenn (RKT) and Smurfit-Stone Container (SSCC) announced that the boards of directors of both companies have approved a definitive agreement under which Smurfit-Stone will become a wholly owned subsidiary of RockTenn. The aggregate consideration, consisting of 50% cash and 50% RockTenn stock, is valued at $35 per share of Smurfit-Stone common stock. Smurfit-Stone Container overall option implied volatility of 44 was near its 26-week average, according to Track Data.

Options Update is by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com.

Closing Bell: FOMC Meets Equity Unease (AMGN, BBY, BP, GXDX, OXPS, VECO)

Markets were mixed into the closing bell today and down to the wire as indexes fluctuated between positive and negative. The FOMC kept rates at zero and committed to ongoing quantitative easing measures, which includes reinvesting monies coming in from its existing securities portfolio. Retail and electronics were weak based on an earnings disappointment.

Here were today's unofficial closing bell levels:

Dow Jones 11,476.62 +48.06 (0.42%)
S&P 500 1,241.58 +1.12 (0.09%)
Nasdaq 2,627.72 +2.81 (0.11%)

Top Analyst Upgrades & Downgrades

Continue reading Closing Bell: FOMC Meets Equity Unease (AMGN, BBY, BP, GXDX, OXPS, VECO)

Is Genoptix Buyout Bait?

Over the past week, the medical diagnostic instrument market has heated up. On Friday, there was a report that Beckman Coulter (BEC) was seeking a buyer. On the news, the shares spiked 27%

Now there may be another deal. Genoptix (GXDX), which develops cancer testing equipment, appears to also be on the selling block. It looks like the process is in its early stages.

Continue reading Is Genoptix Buyout Bait?

Analyst Calls: ABT, AON, APA, BX, CSIQ, FSLR, GRMN, GXDX, PCLN, RIG, XOM ...

Analyst Upgrades

  • FBR Capital upgraded Transocean (RIG) to outperform from market perform as it believes congressional hearings and reports indicate the company's blowout preventer at the Deepwater Horizon likely worked properly. The firm has an $87 price target for shares.
  • Auriga upgraded First Solar (FSLR) to buy from hold as it believes the recent sell-off in shares as created an attractive entry point. Despite upgrading, the firm lowered its target for shares to $138 from $147.
  • Soleil upgraded Priceline.com (PCLN) to buy from hold, citing a favorable risk-reward profile. Despite the upgrade, the firm lowered its target for shares to $230 from $250.
  • Blackrock (BLK) was upgraded to conviction buy from buy at Goldman.
  • Abbott (ABT) was upgraded to hold from sell at Citigroup.
  • Exxon Mobil (XOM) was upgraded to outperform from sector perform at RBC Capital.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: ABT, AON, APA, BX, CSIQ, FSLR, GRMN, GXDX, PCLN, RIG, XOM ...

Medical Diagnostics: Five Health Care Reform Beneficiaries

"There are also people who avoid the doctor's office, not because they're afraid of needles, but because they can't afford it," says growth stock specialist Marc Lichtenfeld.

The contributing editor to Investment U explains, "However, times are changing. The new health care bill will enable millions more people to get their various conditions checked out. As a result, the diagnostics industry should boom.

Continue reading Medical Diagnostics: Five Health Care Reform Beneficiaries

Analyst Upgrades, Downgrades and Initiations: AMLN, CI, CTXS, HSY, KRA, TSCO, TXN ...

Analyst Upgrades

  • Jefferies upgraded Citrix Systems (CTXS) to buy from hold and raised its target to $48 from $43, citing VMware's (VMW) strong Q4 report and survey results that indicate continued strength for Citrix.
  • Citigroup upgraded Amylin Pharmaceuticals (AMLN) to buy from hold on confidence the company's LAR drug will be approved following the approval of Novo Nordisk's (NVO) Victoza. Citi raised its target price for Amylin shares to $27 from $4.
  • Baird upgraded Texas Instruments (TXN) to outperform from neutral and raised its target to $30 from $28. The firm believes it is too early to take profits in Texas Instruments and notes that checks continue to indicate a continued recovery in end-demand.
  • Lexmark (LXK) was upgraded to overweight from equal weight at Barclays.
  • Salix (SLXP) was upgraded to outperform from perform at Oppenheimer.
  • Plexus (PLXS) was lifted to outperform from neutral at Credit Suisse.

Continue reading Analyst Upgrades, Downgrades and Initiations: AMLN, CI, CTXS, HSY, KRA, TSCO, TXN ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: AA, GLW, HAL, NKE, SLM ...

Analyst Upgrades

  • Oppenheimer upgraded Genoptix (NASDAQ: GXDX) to Outperform from Perform and raised its target to $44 from $33 based on analysis of oncology testing reimbursement that indicates average revenue per case is within industry norms.
  • Deutsche Bank upgraded Legg Mason (NYSE: LM) to Hold from Sell citing reports that an activist investor, Nelson Peltz, has increased its stake in the company. The firm said fundamentals remain weak but the news will likely push shares higher.
  • Suntrust upgraded VCA Antech (NASDAQ: WOOF) to Buy from Neutral citing reduced headwinds and favorable risk/reward. The firm has a $30 target on shares.
  • SLM Corp. (NYSE: SLM) was upgraded to Overweight from Neutral at JPMorgan.
  • Diamond Offshore (NYSE: DO) and FMC Technologies (NYSE: FMC) were upgraded to Neutral from Sell at Goldman.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: AA, GLW, HAL, NKE, SLM ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: QCOM, AAPL, IBM, BP, MS, VMW, TVA ...

Analyst upgrades:
  • Jefferies upgraded Brocade (NASDAQ: BRCD) to Buy from Hold on expectations expanding OEM partnerships, new products and entry into new markets will drive long-term growth. The firm's channel checks indicate the first phase of an IBM (NYSE: IBM) deal for ethernet products will be announced next week. Jefferies raised its target price on the stock to $6 from $3.50.
  • JMP Securities upgraded Broadcom (NASDAQ: BRCM) to Market Perform from Underperform citing the potential settlement with Qualcomm (NASDAQ: QCOM). The firm said Broadcom has far more to gain than Qualcomm has to lose.
  • Citigroup upgraded Air Products (NYSE: APD) and Praxair (NYSE: PX) to Buy from Hold on expectations that an improvement in customer operating rates will benefit gas companies. The firm raised its target price on Air Products to $70 from $55 and on Praxair to $79 from $63.
  • Royal Bank of Scotland upgraded BP Plc (NYSE: BP) to Buy from Hold to reflect its dividend yield at current levels.
  • Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) was raised to Outperform from Underperform at RBC Capital.
  • T. Rowe Price (NYSE: TROW) was upgraded at Sandler O'Neill to Hold from Sell.
  • Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) was lifted to Neutral from Underperform at Banc of America/Merrill.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: QCOM, AAPL, IBM, BP, MS, VMW, TVA ...

Analyst initiations: SMLC, LIFC and GXDX

MOST NOTEWORTHY: 012Smile.com, Lifecell and Genoptix were today's noteworthy initiations:
  • 012Smile.com (NASDAQ: SMLC) was initiated with an Outperform rating and a $16 target at CIBC World Markets and RBC Capital and with an Overweight rating and $14.75 target at Thomas Weisel. CIBC believes the company is one of the least expensive smart-build competitive carriers in the world. The firm believes the company is poised to gain market share in newly opened local and wireless markets, and sees room for the company to expand its customer base in Israel. Cowen, which started shares with an Outperform rating, believes SMLC backing by Eurocom provides the company with significant clout and financial backing. The firm sees upside from new voice over broadband and wireless services.
  • Banc of America resumed coverage of Lifecell (NASDAQ: LIFC) with a Neutral rating and $48 target and prefers to wait for a better entry point or evidence of better than expected Strattice uptake.
  • The firm also started Genoptix (NASDAQ: GXDX) with a Buy rating and $36 target, as they believe the funds raised in the company's IPO will help drive annual EPS growth of 35% on a long-term basis, leading to higher valuation levels.
OTHER INITIATIONS:

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

Last updated: February 11, 2012: 12:54 AM

Hot Stocks

General Electric

18.875-0.255(-1.33)

Alcoa

10.29-0.35(-3.29)

Apple Inc

493.42+0.25(+0.05)

Google Inc 'A'

605.91-5.55(-0.91)

Bank of America

8.07-0.11(-1.34)

Wal-Mart Stores

61.90-0.06(-0.10)

Exxon Mobil Corp

83.80-1.08(-1.27)

Ford

12.44-0.25(-1.97)

Citigroup

32.925-0.735(-2.18)

IBM

192.42-0.71(-0.37)

Yahoo

16.14+0.14(+0.88)

Starbucks

48.82-0.38(-0.77)

Microsoft

30.495-0.275(-0.89)

Home Depot

45.33+0.06(+0.13)

DailyFinance Headlines

AOL Business News

BioHealth Investor Headlines

Sponsored Links

My Portfolios

Track your stocks here!

Find out why more people track their portfolios on AOL Money & Finance then anywhere else.

BloggingStocks Partners

More from AOL Money & Finance

Page Loaded in 1328939651484 ms.