On Thursday, the shares of Crocs, Inc. (CROX) shuffled to a new 52-week high for the second time in as many sessions. The equity topped out at $8.47 on an intraday basis, marking its best price since July 2008. But with the stock hovering near a 20-month peak, can the shares continue to climb -- or are they due for a pullback?

If today's drop of more than 2% is any indication, it seems that CROX's positive momentum is cooling. The stock's Relative Strength Index (RSI) stands at 63, not far from overbought territory, so this modest retreat isn't terribly surprising.

Continue reading Can Crocs Continue Its Quest for New Highs?

Can Crocs Continue Its Quest for New Highs? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Regional banking issue Comerica (CMA) is in focus today, after announcing last night that it will sell $800 million in common stock in order to repay its debt to the U.S. government. Under the terms of the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). Comerica owes Uncle Sam about $2.25 billion. At this point, the Dallas-based bank is among the few remaining financial institutions yet to repay its TARP debt.

This morning, Comerica priced its common stock offering at $35 per share, representing a discount to Monday's close at $36.29. The shares have quickly backpedaled as a result, slipping below recent support at their 10-day and 20-day moving averages.

Continue reading Comerica Selling Stock to Repay TARP Debt

Comerica Selling Stock to Repay TARP Debt originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Bright and early this morning, Campbell Soup Co. (CPB) lowered its forecast for fiscal 2010 sales. The company now expects sales to grow 2.5% to 3.5% during the current fiscal year, down from its previous projection for sales growth of 4% to 5%. However, earnings for 2010 are still expected to rise 9% to 11% on an annualized basis from $2.21 per share in fiscal 2009.

Campbell also announced this morning that it's launching "a comprehensive plan to boost the performance of its condensed soup portfolio" in the U.S. More than 60% of the company's condensed line will be spruced up with product improvements, sodium reductions, updated packaging, and a fresh marketing approach.

Continue reading Campbell Soup Slips After Slashing Guidance

Campbell Soup Slips After Slashing Guidance originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 17 Feb 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The financial world was rocked, more or less, when Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) recently announced a plan to split its B shares -- billionaire investor Warren Buffett, the company's chairman and CEO, famously refused to split the stock for years. (In fact, the A shares are still trading in six-digit territory, upwards of $100,000 apiece.)

On Monday, option players didn't hesitate to express their reservations about the stock split. During the course of the session, speculators on the International Securities Exchange (ISE) bought to open 4,736 puts on BRK.B, compared to just 2,559 calls. The single-day put/call volume ratio arrived at 1.85, with bearish bets nearly doubling their bullish counterparts.

Continue reading Berkshire Hathaway's B Shares Bombarded by Bears

Berkshire Hathaway's B Shares Bombarded by Bears originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 26 Jan 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

During the past five days, option traders on the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) have bought to open 177,441 calls on the VIX, compared to just 74,637 puts. In other words, about 2.38 times more calls than puts have been purchased on the so-called "fear index" during the past week.

Continue reading Traders Bet on a VIX Bounce with Call Options

Traders Bet on a VIX Bounce with Call Options originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 20 Jan 2010 15:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

First Solar (FSLR) is attracting some mixed attention from analysts this morning, after the company offered a solid 2010 outlook last night. The alternative energy issue said it expects sales of $2.7 billion to $2.9 billion for the upcoming fiscal year, outpacing analysts' expectations for $2.4 billion.

"2010 is going to be stronger, we think, than 2009," said CEO Robert Gillette. Global demand is expected to reach 7.5 gigawatts, with overall demand projected to rise 35% per year through 2012. However, he added, "We think supply will still exceed demand in 2010."

However, the company's earnings forecast was more modest. FSLR expects 2010 earnings of $6.05 to $6.85 per share, with the low end of this range falling well short of Wall Street's consensus estimate for $6.55 per share.

Continue reading First Solar Predicts Strong Solar Demand in 2010

First Solar Predicts Strong Solar Demand in 2010 originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Shorts hedge their bets ahead of FuelCell Energy's 4Q report

Shorts hedge their bets ahead of FuelCell Energy's 4Q report originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 09 Dec 2009 13:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Snacks-and-soda stalwart PepsiCo, Inc. (NYSE: PEP) is scheduled to unveil its third-quarter results before the market opens this Thursday, Oct. 8. Heading into the report, analysts are expecting PEP to bank a profit of $1.02 per share, according to Thomson Reuters, fractionally lower than its year-ago earnings of $1.06 per share.

PepsiCo has a healthy history in the earnings spotlight, having exceeded Wall Street's consensus expectations in each of the previous three quarters. Judging by recent option activity, traders are speculating on another upside surprise from the Frito-Lay firm.

Continue reading Earnings preview: Shorts seem nervous ahead of PepsiCo's 3Q

Earnings preview: Shorts seem nervous ahead of PepsiCo's 3Q originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Cypress Semiconductor Corporation (NYSE: CY) joined the parade of companies reporting their latest quarterly results today. The firm swallowed a second-quarter loss of $45.3 million, or 32 cents per share. Excluding items, CY recorded a net loss of just 3 cents per share, besting analysts' consensus expectations for a loss of 9 cents per share. Revenue also came in better than expected, arriving at $155.8 million, compared to Wall Street's forecast of $152.0 million.

In the wake of this upside surprise, CY surged to a new multi-decade high of $9.83 early in today's session. It seems that bearish bettors were caught off-guard by the stronger-than-expected results; during the 10 days leading up to the report, option traders on the International Securities Exchange (ISE) bought to open 6.75 times more puts than calls on CY. Speculative investors on the ISE have purchased the stock's puts over calls at faster pace just 3% of the time.

Continue reading Cypress Semiconductor hits multi-year high after earnings

Cypress Semiconductor hits multi-year high after earnings originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 16 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK) is scheduled to release its first-quarter earnings results after the closing bell today. Analysts, on average, are expecting the company to report a profit of 8 cents per share, down sharply from ADSK's profit of 50 cents per share in the year-ago period. Sales for the period are expected to arrive at $419 million.

Thomson First Call reports that the software concern has exceeded Wall Street's consensus earnings estimates in each of the previous four reporting periods, but pessimism is nevertheless running high ahead of tonight's announcement. On Wednesday, traders on the International Securities Exchange (ISE) bought to open 3,607 puts on ADSK, compared to just 84 calls. In other words, bearish bets were nearly 43 times more popular than their bullish counterparts.

The day's skeptically skewed option volume was simply the extension of a recent trend; ADSK boasts a hefty 10-day ISE put/call volume ratio of 9.56, indicating that traders have consistently preferred puts over calls during the two weeks preceding the earnings release. This ratio ranks in the 99th percentile, revealing that pessimistic options on the equity have rarely been in greater demand.

Continue reading Earnings preview: Low expectations for Autodesk's first quarter

Earnings preview: Low expectations for Autodesk's first quarter originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 21 May 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Dow component DuPont (NYSE: DD) said today that it will eliminate another 2,000 jobs as part of its ongoing plan to cut costs. Previously, the blue chip slashed 2,500 employees and 4,000 contractor positions from its payroll back in December.

The company will take a second-quarter pre-tax restructuring charge of $340 million to $390 million as a result of the job cuts, though DuPont said it will save $225 million by the end of 2010.

The news pressured DD to a loss of 3% within the first hour of today's trading. The stock's pullback could potentially find a floor near its 20-day moving average; in collaboration with its 10-day counterpart, this trendline has guided the shares higher since early March.

Continue reading DuPont to swallow 2Q charge after cutting 2,000 additional jobs

DuPont to swallow 2Q charge after cutting 2,000 additional jobs originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 07 May 2009 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Agricultural issue Archer Daniels Midland Company (NYSE: ADM) is sharply lower in today's trading after falling short of Wall Street's earnings expectations. The company confessed to a 98% slide in third-quarter net income, thanks to hefty investment losses and a weak pricing environment.

ADM reported a profit of $8 million, or 1 penny per share, compared to its year-ago results of $517 million, or 80 cents per share. Investment losses for the period totaled 36 cents per share. Revenue for the quarter tumbled 21% to $14.8 billion, impacted by strength in the U.S. dollar and softer commodity prices. As a result, gross margin contracted from 6.2% to 4.4%.

Continue reading Quarterly profit plummets 98% at Archer Daniels Midland

Quarterly profit plummets 98% at Archer Daniels Midland originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 05 May 2009 11:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analysts, on average, are expecting BWLD to report a profit of 46 cents per share, up from 36 cents per share in the first quarter of 2008. The company has a mixed history in the earnings confessional: in its previous four reports, the chain has exceeded analysts' estimates twice, met them once, and fallen short on one other occasion.

Continue reading Earnings preview: Buffalo Wild Wings could spark a short-squeeze rally

Earnings preview: Buffalo Wild Wings could spark a short-squeeze rally originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 28 Apr 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

San Jose-based SunPower Corporation (NASDAQ: SPWRA) is scheduled to report its first-quarter earnings after the market closes this Thursday, April 23. Thomson First Call notes that analysts, on average, are expecting the solar issue to report a profit of 25 cents per share, down from 39 cents per share in the same quarter of 2008.

SPWRA has has an impressive history in the earnings spotlight, having exceeded the Street's profit expectations in each of the previous four reporting periods. Judging by option activity in recent weeks, some investors are betting on the stock to exceed earnings estimates yet again.

Continue reading Shorts hedge their bets on SunPower Corp. ahead of earnings

Shorts hedge their bets on SunPower Corp. ahead of earnings originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 20 Apr 2009 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

A Yahoo spokesman declined to comment, but reports indicate that the payroll cuts could be announced next Tuesday, April 21, when the Internet portal is scheduled to release its first-quarter earnings results. Since she first joined the company in January, Ms. Bartz has made it clear that serious restructuring efforts would be necessary to repair Yahoo's struggling business.

Continue reading Will Yahoo! report fresh job cuts along with first-quarter earnings?

Will Yahoo! report fresh job cuts along with first-quarter earnings? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 15 Apr 2009 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Bermuda-based shipping company Excel Maritime Carriers Ltd. (NYSE: EXM) is scheduled to release its fourth-quarter earnings Thursday morning. Ahead of the report, Thomson First Call notes that analysts are expecting a profit of $1.04 per share, down from $1.71 per share in the year-ago quarter. Sales are expected to arrive at $124 million.

Judging by recent option activity, many investors are speculating on an earnings miss for EXM. On the International Securities Exchange (ISE), the stock carries a 10-day put/call volume ratio of 0.66, which ranks higher than 72% of other such readings taken during the past year. In other words, option traders have bought to open the stock's puts at a faster pace only 28% of the time.

Continue reading Skepticism rises on Excel Maritime Carriers ahead of earnings

Skepticism rises on Excel Maritime Carriers ahead of earnings originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 08 Apr 2009 14:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Picture this: You're General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), and you've fallen on tough times. You've been forced to seek alms from the U.S. government simply to make ends meet. Recently, the Obama administration gave a resounding thumbs-down to your viability plan, and a bankruptcy filing seems increasingly likely. So, how do you try to prove you're still a thriving, relevant corporation? Partner with Segway!

That's right -- in a move that's sure to leave even Steve Wozniak scratching his head, General Motors is teaming up with Segway, Inc., purveyors of the commercially unsuccessful two-wheeled scooter, to create the PUMA (shorthand for Personal Urban Mobility and Accessibility). A prototype of the battery-powered vehicle will hit the streets of Manhattan today, though the PUMA likely won't make its way to the consumer market until 2012.

Continue reading General Motors announces new joint venture with ... Segway?

General Motors announces new joint venture with ... Segway? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 07 Apr 2009 12:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Tech stock VMware, Inc. (NYSE: VMW) is broadly higher today on the heels of an upbeat note from Goldman Sachs. VMW was added to the brokerage firm's Conviction Buy list, with Goldman noting an expected boost in sales. The firm also thinks that VMW is better-positioned than many of its competitors to ride out the economic recession.

In addition to the Conviction Buy nod, Goldman also hiked its price target on VMW to $29, representing a premium of 22.8% to the equity's Tuesday closing price. The stock could attract additional price-target increases during the short term, as Thomson Reuters pegs its average 12-month target from analysts as $23.31 -- a modest discount to yesterday's close.

Continue reading VMware rallies on Goldman Sachs' bullish endorsement

VMware rallies on Goldman Sachs' bullish endorsement originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 01 Apr 2009 11:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The shares of Tiffany & Co. (NYSE: TIF) are taking a beating today, down nearly 3% at last check. Traders are reacting to news that Trian Fund Management L.P., under the helm of billionaire investor Nelson Peltz, reduced its stake in TIF from 8.5% to 6.9%.

According to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Trian sold 2.25 million shares on Wednesday and Thursday at prices ranging from $22.58 to $22.61 per share. Now, the fund beneficially owns 8.49 million shares of TIF.

Continue reading Tiffany & Co. slips on Peltz's slashed stake

Tiffany & Co. slips on Peltz's slashed stake originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 27 Mar 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Athens-based shipping issue DryShips Inc. (NASDAQ: DRYS) announced Monday that it will release its fourth-quarter and fiscal 2008 earnings results after the close of trading in New York today, March 24. Ahead of the report, buy-to-open call volume has been consistently heavy on the beaten-down stock.

During the past five days, traders on the International Securities Exchange (ISE) have bought to open 30,875 calls on DRYS, compared to jut 9,697 puts. In other words, bullish bets have been three times more popular than their bearish counterparts.

Continue reading Call volume is heavy on DryShips Inc. ahead of 4Q earnings

Call volume is heavy on DryShips Inc. ahead of 4Q earnings originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 24 Mar 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.