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.

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.

Continue reading Hewlett-Packard Down Big After Latest Report

Hewlett-Packard Down Big After Latest Report originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 23 Feb 2011 18:00:00 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.

Among the quarterly results scheduled for this holiday-shortened week, investors may be thankful for the earnings results from Tyson Foods (TSN). The Arkansas-based poultry and meat producer reported on its sustainability efforts and also was named McDonalds' (MCD) supplier of the year during its fiscal fourth quarter. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters forecast earnings for that period to have doubled from a year ago to 56 cents per share.

Tyson is also expected to post revenue of $7.8 billion for the three months that ended in September, which is 7.4% more than in the same period of fiscal 2009. And the consensus estimate for the full year calls for earnings of $2.08 per share (+87.0%) and revenue of $28.7 billion (+7.3%). Tyson's earnings have been better than expected in recent quarters, beating consensus estimates by as much as 24 cents per share.

Continue reading Week in Preview: Tyson Foods, Analog Devices, Deere Serve Up Earnings

Week in Preview: Tyson Foods, Analog Devices, Deere Serve Up Earnings originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 21 Nov 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

It was only a month ago I wrote a story comparing Oracle Corp. (ORCL) and Hewlett Packard (HPQ), concluding the latter to be the better opportunity from a value investor's perspective. At the time Oracle was $27.49. Yesterday it closed at a new 52-week high of $29.23 -- a gain of 6.33%.

During this time, Oracle insiders have been selling shares and the trend is negative. In September alone, almost $300 million of the stock was sold off. If you examine Barron's weekly summary of insider activity, as one source, you will find that Oracle has been in the top five companies on the sell side for many weeks. As the stock has been rising, insiders have been selling into strength.

Continue reading Chasing Value: Oracle Insiders Selling as Stock Hits 52-Week High

Chasing Value: Oracle Insiders Selling as Stock Hits 52-Week High originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 19 Oct 2010 10:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Piper Jaffray upgraded Salesforce.com (CRM) to overweight from neutral, citing valuation following the recent sell-off and strong business trends. The firm has a $115 price target for shares.
• Keefe Bruyette upgraded M&T Bank (MTB) to market perform from underperform on valuation after AIB sold its stake in the company. The firm has a $72 price target for shares.
• Jefferies upgraded OGE Energy (OGE) to buy from hold following the announcement that ArcLight will purchase 9.9% of OGE's interest in Enogex for $183M and believes this deal highlights the hidden value associated with Enogex. The firm raised its price target to $51.50 from $43.
• Thomas & Betts (TNB) was upgraded to outperform from perform at Oppenheimer.
• Bayer (BAYRY) was upgraded to buy from neutral at UBS.
• Texas Roadhouse (TXRH) was upgraded to outperform from neutral at Baird.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: A, ARST, BAC, C, COST, CRM, DPS, GS, JPM, MS, MTB, VOD ...

Analyst Calls: A, ARST, BAC, C, COST, CRM, DPS, GS, JPM, MS, MTB, VOD ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 07 Oct 2010 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Crude oil futures closed up 1.99% to $81.56 according to Bloomberg. Amex Energy Select (XLE) closed up 75 cents to $56.51. October put option implied volatility is at 22, January is at 27, versus its 26-week average of 27, according to Track Data, suggesting decreasing near-term price movement.

Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) announced the election of Leo Apotheker as CEO and President and Ray Lane, Managing Partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, as nonexecutive chairman. Hewlett-Packard closed down $1.30 to $40.77. Overall option implied volatility of 29 is below its 26-week average of 31, according to Track Data, suggesting slightly decreasing price movement.

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

Options Update: Amex Energy Select October Volatility Low; Oil Rallies to Four-Month High originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 03 Oct 2010 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Never mind the drama in the front office, soap operas are not getting the ratings they used to. Let's take a closer look at the businesses and the stock metrics of Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) and Oracle Corp. (ORCL) that find themselves competing more and more each day. Mark Hurd, fired from HP and just recently installed as president of Oracle, has done nothing yet.

What do the numbers indicate?

Continue reading Chasing Value: Buy Oracle or Hewlett-Packard?

Chasing Value: Buy Oracle or Hewlett-Packard? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 21 Sep 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

In late August, a report from the Wall Street Journal indicated that security software provider, ArcSight (ARST), was in the process of selling itself. The stock shot up to $38 per share.

And yes, ArcSight found a buyer: Hewlett-Packard (HPQ). The company has agreed to pay $43.50 per share, or roughly $1.5 billion. However, the shares of ArcSight are about 50 cents above the bid, indicating that another suitor may jump in. But for investors, it would be risky to speculate on this one. After all, ArcSight has already undergone an auction.

Continue reading Hewlett-Packard Secures a Pricey Deal for ArcSight

Hewlett-Packard Secures a Pricey Deal for ArcSight originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 13 Sep 2010 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

When Mark Hurd took the CEO spot for Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) in 2005, the board wanted to put an end to the drama. After all, the company's former CEO, Carly Fiorina, was a magnet for controversy. Hurd, on the other hand, was a no-nonsense operator.

Well, over the past month, he appears much different. Of course, the trigger was the resignation over allegations of sexual harassment and false expense reports. Maybe Hurd is the Manchurian CEO?

Continue reading Oracle's Hurd May Get $10 Million Next Year

Oracle's Hurd May Get $10 Million Next Year originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Wall Street Journal reports that the former chief executive of Hewlett-Packard (HPQ), Mark Hurd, is in talks with enterprise software maker Oracle (ORCL) about becoming an executive there. Hurd left HP in early August following allegations of sexual harassment by a former contractor. An investigation failed to find any evidence of sexual misconduct by Hurd.

What position Hurd may take up is unknown; Oracle's founder and CEO, Larry Ellison, will not be stepping down from his position, according to people familiar with the matter. Ellison did criticize HP's board for ousting Hurd, telling the New York Times that the board had failed to act in the best interest of its shareholders, employees and customers.

Continue reading Mark Hurd to Replace Oracle's Larry Ellison?

Mark Hurd to Replace Oracle's Larry Ellison? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 06 Sep 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

M & A. That's mergers and acquisitions. They're all over the financial pages. Intel (INTC) is buying Infineon's wireless division for $1.4 billion so the chip manufacturer can diversify beyond computers. HP (HPQ) or Dell (DELL) will end up with 3PAR, a cloud-computing company, at a cost of $2 billion or more. Carl Icahn, the billionaire financier, is making a hostile tender bid for Lions Gate (LGF), the film and television producer. 3M (MMM) is buying Attenti Holdings, an Israeli maker of remote monitoring technology used to track people, for $230 million. Exelon (EXC) is picking up a division of Deere (DE), a renewable energy unit, for about $900 million so it can enter the wind-power segment. Sanofi-Aventis (SNYNF) is trying to buy Genzyme (GENZ) but the board won't accept the bid of $18.5 billion. The board is open to better numbers. There are many more.

Is all this good for investors? Or is there some bad in there?

Continue reading Comfort Zone Investing: M&A: Good News ... or Bad?

Comfort Zone Investing: M&A: Good News ... or Bad? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 04 Sep 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Five Famous Technology Stocks Short Circuiting Now

Five Famous Technology Stocks Short Circuiting Now originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• JMP Securities upgraded Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) to outperform from market perform based on valuation and checks that indicate strength in enterprise PCs, high growth geographies and light laptops. The firm has a $50 target on the stock.
• RBC Capital upgraded Rio Tinto (RTP) to outperform from sector perform, citing the company's improving growth plans and attractive risk profile.
• Goldman upgraded FormFactor (FORM) to neutral from sell, but lowered its price target to $6 from $10. The firm cites valuation for the upgrade.
• MCG Capital (MCGC) was upgraded to outperform from market perform at FBR Capital.
• CRH (CRH) was upgraded to neutral from underweight at JPMorgan.
• Melco Crown (MPEL) was upgraded to overweight from equal weight at Morgan Stanley.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: BSX, FORM, HPQ, JACK, MCO, NFLX, PPL, RTP, VALE ...

Analyst Calls: BSX, FORM, HPQ, JACK, MCO, NFLX, PPL, RTP, VALE ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Which Tech Buyouts Are Next After 3Par?

Which Tech Buyouts Are Next After 3Par? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 30 Aug 2010 16:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The foolishness that goes on in the adult world sets a poor example for the next generation. The poor decisions, arrogance and even stupidity of the Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) board of directors and the equally unfit to lead NCAA is shameful. Larry Ellison, CEO of Oracle (ORCL) is correct in calling out the board of HP for firing CEO Mark Hurd, understanding the harm and injustice done to the company and its shareholders.

I can think of no more hypocritical organization then the NCAA, which has also shown itself to lack a sense of fair play and justice, while holding itself aloof and making demands of others. Its out-of-touch judgments and penalties for rules infractions make no sense, and USC students with no culpability were on the receiving end of it.

Continue reading Chasing Value™: HP and Hurd, NCAA and USC -- Misguided and Foolish

Chasing Value™: HP and Hurd, NCAA and USC -- Misguided and Foolish originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 23 Aug 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

It appears that computer firm Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) was not going to sit idly by and allow Dell (DELL) to purchase data storage firm 3Par (PAR). Reportedly, HP is bidding $1.5 billion for 3Par, more than Dell's offer of $1.13 billion.

This potential bidding war between California-based HP and Dell demonstrates that both companies are attempting to find larger profits by moving beyond personal computers. HP's offer comes to $24 per share, which is a 33% premium over Dell's $18-per-share bid.

Continue reading Hewlett-Packard Outbids Dell for 3Par

Hewlett-Packard Outbids Dell for 3Par originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 23 Aug 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Goldman upgraded Republic Services (RSG) to buy from neutral and raised its price target to $34 from $32. The firm cites valuation for the upgrade.
• Deutsche Bank upgraded MeadWestvaco (MWV) to buy from hold due to valuation and keeps a $29 price target for shares.
• UBS upgraded Symantec (SYMC) to buy from neutral.
• Lloyds Banking (LYG) upgraded to add from neutral at WestLB.
• Ternium (TX) was upgraded to overweight from equal weight at Barclays.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: GLW, KSU, LYG, MFE, MWV, RIMM, RSG, RY, SRCL, SYMC ...

Analyst Calls: GLW, KSU, LYG, MFE, MWV, RIMM, RSG, RY, SRCL, SYMC ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 20 Aug 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.