Analyst Upgrades

• BB&T (BBT) and Aflac (AFL) to buy from hold at Deutsche Bank.
• Kodiak Oil & Gas (KOG) to outperform from neutral at RW Baird.
• Zhongpin (HOGS) to neutral from reduce at Global Hunter.
• Marathon Oil (MRO), Noble Energy (NBL) and Manulife Financial (MFC) to buy from neutral at UBS.
• Carrizo Oil & Gas (CRZO) to buy from hold at Canaccord.
• Comerica (CMA) to buy from neutral at Rochdale.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AAPL, AFL, BBT, CMA, ENER, HERO, IBM, LVS, MRO, NE ...

Analyst Calls: AAPL, AFL, BBT, CMA, ENER, HERO, IBM, LVS, MRO, NE ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 16 Mar 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Institutional investors (IIs) have made up for lost time with Marathon Oil Corp. (MRO), first discussed here on April 20, 2009, at a price of $28.55. The shares have surged higher this winter, rising from about $35 to about $49.

Hence, it goes without saying that now would be a good time to consider taking some profits off the table with MRO, if you're in at/near $28.55.

However, those investors who can tolerate the risk can maintain their full position with MRO and go for an even bigger gain.

Continue reading Marathon Oil Vaults Higher

Marathon Oil Vaults Higher originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 14 Feb 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Friday's fourth-quarter GDP numbers offered more evidence that the economy is picking up steam, but one of the biggest obstacles to the recovery remains the stubbornly high unemployment rate. We'll find out whether there's been any movement on that front when employment data for January comes out this week. The Challenger Job-Cut report and ADP employment data are due Wednesday, and the government's unemployment rate on Friday. Another mild increase in jobs is expected, in line with the three-month average, but not enough to significantly reduce the unemployment rate.

Also look for the ISM manufacturing and nonmanufacturing indexes this week, as well as the Chicago PMI and the New York NAPM index. And Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke will speak to the National Press Club on Thursday.

Continue reading Week in Preview: January Employment Data, UPS Earnings and More

Week in Preview: January Employment Data, UPS Earnings and More originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 30 Jan 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst upgrades:

• Verizon (VZ) to conviction buy from buy at Goldman.
• CSX (CSX) to outperform from market perform at Wells Fargo.
• AK Steel (AKS) to overweight from neutral, as well as Lorillard (LO) and Fifth Third Bancorp (FITB) to neutral from underweight, at JPMorgan.
• Marathon Oil (MRO) to overweight from equal weight at Morgan Stanley.
• Corning (GLW) to buy from outperform at CLSA.
• Quest Diagnostics (DGX) to buy from hold at Jefferies and to outperform from sector perform at RBC Capital.
• Salesforce.com (CRM) to buy from neutral at Roth Capital.
• Baker Hughes (BHI) to buy from hold at Weeden and to outperform from neutral at Macquarie.
• Western Digital (WDC) and Seagate (STX) to buy from underperform at BofA/Merrill.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AKS, CIEN, CRM, CSX, DGX, GLW, LO, MRO, OXY, STX, VZ ...

Analyst Calls: AKS, CIEN, CRM, CSX, DGX, GLW, LO, MRO, OXY, STX, VZ ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 26 Jan 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Marathon Oil (MRO) announced the spin out of Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC). Marathon intends to distribute one share of MPC for every two shares of Marathon. Overall option implied volatility of 26 is near its 26-week average of 28, according to Track Data, suggesting nondirectional price movement.

Cypress Semi (CY) closed up 4% as traders focused on February 22 and 23 calls, with total call volume of 15K contracts, compared to 7K puts. January and March option implied volatility of 38 is below its 26-week of 41, according to Track Data. Active call volume suggests traders positioning for price movement.

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

Options Update: Marathon Oil Volatility Flat into Spin Out originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 14 Jan 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Closing Bell: Investors Lighten Up Before Earnings (AA, BBVA, MRO, MRK, MU, WAVX, WFMI)

Closing Bell: Investors Lighten Up Before Earnings (AA, BBVA, MRO, MRK, MU, WAVX, WFMI) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 13 Jan 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

To continue to grow, many companies have little choice but to spend large amounts on acquisitions. But at a certain point, the operations get too complicated and bloated. The solution? Yes, it's to unwind the deals. Often, Wall Street will be enthusiastic. Just look at Wednesday's announcement from conglomerate ITT (ITT). On news of its plan to split into three publicly traded companies, the shares spiked 16%.

In fact, this may actually be the start of a key trend for 2011. After all, early Thursday Marathon Oil (MRO) announced that it will spin-off its refining and sales operations as a public company (the deal should be closed on June 30). In early trading, the company's shares were up about 10%.

Continue reading Marathon Oil to Spin Off Refining Operations

Marathon Oil to Spin Off Refining Operations originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 13 Jan 2011 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Oil rose above $90 per barrel on Wednesday, and the average U.S. price for unleaded regular topped $3 per gallon. Moreover, with the U.S. economic recovery likely to strengthen in 2011, and will strong emerging market GDP growth gobbling up more barrels of oil, both oil and gasoline prices are likely to rise further next year.

That's good news for investors in most oil stocks, but bad news for U.S. consumers, particularly motorists. However, the view from here argues that one should not dabble in the futures market to try to hedge against rising oil prices. The price of oil is influenced by more than 10 variables, and unless you're prepared to lose up to $500 per day, you're probably going to be at a trading disadvantage.

Continue reading To Hedge Against Rising Oil/Gasoline Prices, Consider Oil Company Shares

To Hedge Against Rising Oil/Gasoline Prices, Consider Oil Company Shares originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 22 Dec 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

If you're looking for a smooth ride or a vector north, you'll want to avoid the shares of Marathon Oil Corp (MRO), first discussed here on April 20, 2009, at a price of $28.55.

Marathon shares remain on the mend, but talk about fits and starts: $5 jumps higher are followed by $4 retracements south. Further, Marathon cleared clutter near $35 this fall, only to fall back.

Even so, a mild Marathon uptrend remains intact, hence the evaluation to stick with the trade.

Continue reading Marathon Oil: It Hasn't Been a Smooth Ride Up

Marathon Oil: It Hasn't Been a Smooth Ride Up originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 23 Nov 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Goldman upgraded BP (BP) to buy from neutral.
• STEC (STEC) was upgraded to buy from hold at Needham.
• MCG Capital (MCGC) was upgraded to buy from hold at BB&T.
• Corporate Office (OFC) was upgraded to market perform from underperform at FBR Capital.
• Citigroup upgraded K-Sea Transportation (KSP) and Post Properties (PPS) to hold from sell.
• BofA/Merrill upgraded Embraer (ERJ) to buy from underperform.
• Wilmington Trust (WL) was upgraded to neutral from underperform at Macquarie.
• Parkway Properties (PKY) was upgraded to hold from sell at Stifel Nicolaus.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: BP, EOG, FDO, MOT, MRO, NEM, NOK, ODP, RIMM, TGB ...

Analyst Calls: BP, EOG, FDO, MOT, MRO, NEM, NOK, ODP, RIMM, TGB ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 03 Nov 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

It will be a busy week. Republicans are poised to gain control of the House of Representatives and gain governorships in Tuesday's mid-term elections. Also, the Federal Reserve is expected to announce another round of quantitative easing Wednesday, following the FOMC meeting. Major retailers are scheduled to report October same-store sales Thursday, while the October unemployment rate, announced on Friday, is expected to remain at 9.6%.

Toyota's (TM) fiscal second-quarter results will be one of the highlights on the earnings front this week. After three periods of way underestimating Toyota's earnings, have the analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters got it right this time? The stock sure could use a boost. Teva Pharmaceuticals (TEVA) is in a similar situation; i.e., high expectations for this week's quarterly results but a stock in need of a boost. Marathon (MRO) and Starbucks (SBUX) are also expected to post strong earnings growth this week, but both stocks are riding high.

Continue reading Week in Preview: Election, QE2, Unemployment and More Earnings

Week in Preview: Election, QE2, Unemployment and More Earnings originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 31 Oct 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Wells Fargo upgraded PG&E (PCG) to outperform from market perform and raised its range for shares to $50 to $52 from $44 to $46, citing the proposed settlement in the company's 2011 General Rate Case.
• Jefferies upgraded Huntsman (HUN) to buy from hold and raised its price target for shares to $17 from $12, citing valuation and the likelihood for favorable earnings revisions.
• RBC Capital upgraded Jack in the Box (JACK) to outperform from sector perform with a $28 target, citing checks showing improved fast food sales in recent months and easy comps.
• Sonic (SONC) was upgraded to outperform from sector perform at RBC Capital and $12 price target.
• Synaptics (SYNA) was upgraded to overweight from neutral at JPMorgan and $40 price target.
• Excel Maritime (EXM) was upgraded to buy from hold at Cantor and raised its price target to $7 from $5.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: ALTR, ANR, BJRI, COP, HUN, JACK, OSG, PCG, PEP, PM, SONC ...

Analyst Calls: ALTR, ANR, BJRI, COP, HUN, JACK, OSG, PCG, PEP, PM, SONC ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 18 Oct 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"We discriminate among investments primarily by their relative valuation metrics; we buy only those stocks we find undervalued relative to their own trading history, their peers or that of the market in general," says value investor John Buckingham.

The editor of The Prudent Speculator explains, "Two such buys are Marathon Oil (MRO) and Tsakos Energy Navigation (TNP).

"Both stocks could be chosen as part of the foundation of a portfolio for new investors or for those seeking to diversify their holdings.

Continue reading Marathon and Tsakos: Prudent Plays in Oil Sector

Marathon and Tsakos: Prudent Plays in Oil Sector originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 16 Oct 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading The Shares of Marathon Oil Remain on the Mend

The Shares of Marathon Oil Remain on the Mend originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 04 Aug 2010 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Building a Bullish Credit Spread on Marathon Oil

Building a Bullish Credit Spread on Marathon Oil originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 23 Jul 2010 11:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"We think there is too much risk to owning pure refiners in this environment," says John Buckingham.

The editor of The Prudent Speculator explains, "However, there is one company with a valuation now hurt by its refining exposure, but that is shifting upstream in a way that makes the eventual mix worth owning now: Marathon Oil (MRO).

"Since the turn of the century, Marathon Oil has generated an average of 85% of its revenue from refining. And profit coming from the upstream division was weighted by taxes and royalties. As a result, the company has traditionally been valued much more like a refiner than a true integrated oil company.

Continue reading Marathon Oil (MRO): A 'Prudent' Speculation

Marathon Oil (MRO): A 'Prudent' Speculation originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 01 Jul 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Serious Money: The Cost of Pushing Chinese Yuan Higher

Serious Money: The Cost of Pushing Chinese Yuan Higher originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 22 Apr 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Marathon Oil Is Trying Investors' Patience

Marathon Oil Is Trying Investors' Patience originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 21 Apr 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Marathon Oil Continues to Meander

Marathon Oil Continues to Meander originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 26 Jan 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Marathon Oil: Snail's pace progress

Marathon Oil: Snail's pace progress originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.