A few weeks back, we noted that while Apple's (AAPL) products continue to see huge demand, a key concern for the company is management of supply-related constraints. The recent Japanese earthquake has now added to these concerns. According to market research firm iSuppli, the earthquake may cause logistical disruptions and supply shortages for the newly launched iPad 2. Although Apple remains king of the tablet market, it is expected to face a growing set of challengers in 2011 from Research In Motion (RIMM), Motorola Mobility (MMI), Dell (DELL), Samsung and LG.

We maintain a $420 price estimate for Apple stock, roughly 25% above market price.

Continue reading Japanese Earthquake Could Cause iPad Shortage

Japanese Earthquake Could Cause iPad Shortage originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 24 Mar 2011 12:30:00 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.

When it comes to picking trends, JPMorgan Chase (JPM) has nailed the latest market to experience explosive growth. It is the fast-growing tablet market, as reported in Reuters.

Morgan's analyst, Mark Moskowitz, has upped his forecasts for tablet sales in 2011 and 2012. For 2011 he raised his numbers from $24.9 to $26.1 billion. For 2012 his numbers are increased from $34.1 billion to $35.2 billion. Unit sales were upped by over 1 million to 48.1 in 2011 and 79.6 in 2012.

Continue reading JPMorgan Chase Ups Forecasts for Tablet Sales

JPMorgan Chase Ups Forecasts for Tablet Sales originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Motorola Mobility Holdings (MMI), devoted to cell phones and set-top television boxes, has an overall option implied volatility of 41 according to Track Data.

Motorola Solutions (MSI), focused on two-way radios and computing devices used in public safety, has an overall option implied volatility of 30 according to Track Data.

Continue reading Options Update: Motorola Mobility Volatility at 41

Options Update: Motorola Mobility Volatility at 41 originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 10 Jan 2011 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• inContact (SAAS) to buy from neutral at Roth Capital.

Analyst Downgrades

• Ericsson (ERIC) to neutral from buy at Goldman.
• Hovnanian (HOV) to underperform from buy at BofA/Merrill.
• PrivateBancorp (PVTB) to market perform from outperform at BMO Capital.
• Logitech (LOGI) to neutral from outperform at Exane BNP Paribas.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AGN, ERIC, HOV, LOGI, MMI, SAAS, SOL, TSLA ...

Analyst Calls: AGN, ERIC, HOV, LOGI, MMI, SAAS, SOL, TSLA ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 23 Dec 2010 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Motorola (MOT) will separate Motorola Mobility Holdings through a tax-free dividend involving the distribution prior to the market open on Jan. 4, 2011. Motorola stockholders of record will receive one share of Motorola Mobility common stock for every eight shares of Motorola common stock they hold. Following the distribution, Motorola will effect a 1-for-7 reverse stock split of Motorola. Overall option implied volatility of 37 is near its 26-week average, according to Track Data, suggesting nondirectional price movement.

Wisdom Tree Dreyfus Chinese Yuan Fund (CYB) seeks to earn current income reflective of money market rates in China available to foreign investors, and to provide exposure to movements in Chinese yuan relative to the United States dollar. Over all option implied volatility of 8 is near its 26-week average, according to Track Data, suggesting nondirectional price movement.

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

Options Update: Motorola Flat, Motorola Mobility to be Separated on Jan. 4 originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 02 Dec 2010 09:00:00 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.

Analyst Upgrades

• BB&T (BBT) was upgraded to buy from neutral at Janney Montgomery.
• Amylin (AMLN) was upgraded to outperform from market perform at Leerink.
• Wells Fargo upgraded Morton's Restaurant (MRT) to outperform from market perform.
• Check Point (CHKP) was upgraded to overweight from neutral at HSBC.
• Deutsche Bank upgraded Excel Maritime (EXM) to buy from hold.
• JinkoSolar (JKS) was upgraded to buy from hold at Auriga.
• Piper Jaffray upgraded Compellent (CML) to overweight from neutral.
• BofA/Merrill upgraded Crane (CR) to buy from neutral.
• Goldman upgraded Wisconsin Energy (WEC) to conviction buy from buy and American Electric (AEP) to buy from neutral.
• Motorola (MOT) was upgraded due to increasing carrier support by MKM Partners.
• Under Armour (UA) was upgraded to buy from neutral at Sterne Agee.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: ANF, BBT, COH, GPS, JCG, KKR, MOT, OSG, UA, UBS, WEC ...

Analyst Calls: ANF, BBT, COH, GPS, JCG, KKR, MOT, OSG, UA, UBS, WEC ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 27 Oct 2010 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The earnings crunch continues this week, and analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters are anticipating lots of strong quarterly reports.

For example, year-over-year earnings growth from big oil Chevron (CVX), ConocoPhillips (COP), ExxonMobil (XOM) and Royal Dutch Shell (RDS.A) are expected to be in double digits. The same is true of many other energy and mining concerns reporting this week: Allegheny Technologies (ATI), Alliant Energy (LNT), Arch Coal (ACI), Cliffs Natural Resources (CLF), CMS Energy (CMS), CONSOL Energy (CNX), DPL (DPL), Hess Corp. (HES), Minerals Technologies (MTX), Pioneer Natural Resources (PXD), PPL Corp. (PPL), Southwestern Energy (SWN), Total (TOT), Whiting Petroleum (WLL), Williams Companies (WMB) and Wisconsin Energy (WEC).

Continue reading Week in Preview: The Earnings Crunch Rolls On (MSFT, COP, V)

Week in Preview: The Earnings Crunch Rolls On (MSFT, COP, V) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 24 Oct 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Investors always look for good things to happen in stocks they own. Things like better than expected earnings, new contracts or a breakthrough discovery that will convert to better sales and profits. But they should also look for red flags, troubling developments within a company that could spell lower earnings in the future, even if they start with the opposite intent.

I'm reminded of that as I read about Microsoft (MSFT) getting into the mobile phone business. Of course, management thinks it will create more sales and profits, else why would they enter one of the most competitive markets on the planet? The problem (the red flag) is that there are already too many mobile phones with every type of application available and profit margins are much slimmer than in software. What can Microsoft add to this market that doesn't exist?

Continue reading Comfort Zone Investing: A Big Red Flag or a Little One?

Comfort Zone Investing: A Big Red Flag or a Little One? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 16 Oct 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• BMO Capital upgraded Procter & Gamble (PG) to outperform from market perform as it views P&G's valuation as attractive and expects growth to pick up in the March quarter. The firm has a $74 price target for shares.
• Goldman upgraded Tupperware (TUP) to buy from neutral and raised its target for shares to $60 from $48.
• Stifel Nicolaus upgraded Scansource (SCSC) to buy from hold. The firm believes that the company's growth is poised to accelerate, allowing the stock's multiple to expand or even rise slightly. The firm has a $43 target for shares.
• CA Technologies (CA) was upgraded to outperform from sector perform at RBC Capital.
• Brady (BRC) was upgraded to market perform from underperform at BMO Capital.
• Lukoil (LUKOY) was upgraded to overweight from neutral at JPMorgan.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AMZN, BTU, CA, EXPE, MOT, OI, PG, SCSC, TSL, TUP ...

Analyst Calls: AMZN, BTU, CA, EXPE, MOT, OI, PG, SCSC, TSL, TUP ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 08 Oct 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• RBC Capital upgraded Syniverse (SVR) to outperform from sector perform based on strong secular growth in mobile data and roaming. The firm raised its price target to $28 from $23.
• Deutsche Bank upgraded PG&E (PCG) to buy from hold with a $49 price target due to valuation.
• Jefferies assumed coverage on Sierra Wireless (SWIR) with a buy from a hold and raised its price target to $12 from $9. The analyst expects the M2M market to experience 25% growth over the next two years.
• Affiliated Managers (AMG) was upgraded to buy from neutral at Goldman.
• EastGroup Properties (EGP) was upgraded to buy from neutral at UBS.
• Gammon Gold (GRS) was upgraded to neutral from underperform at Credit Suisse.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AAPL, BLK, BTU, CL, MOT, MSFT, PCG, RIMM, SVR, SWIR ...

Analyst Calls: AAPL, BLK, BTU, CL, MOT, MSFT, PCG, RIMM, SVR, SWIR ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 05 Oct 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The dealmaking for mobile location-based services (LBS) companies heated up this week. First, high-end audio maker, Harman (HAR), agreed to buy Aha Mobile. The company essentially turns your smartphone into an in-vehicle infotainment system.

And today, we got another deal: Motorola (MOT) purchased Aloqa, which develops software to stream event and digital coupons to smartphones.

Continue reading Motorola Strikes a Deal for Location-Mobile Provider Aloqa

Motorola Strikes a Deal for Location-Mobile Provider Aloqa originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 16 Sep 2010 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Insiders Snapping Up Motorola, Saratoga Investment and More

Insiders Snapping Up Motorola, Saratoga Investment and More originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"In a number of respects, Motorola (MOT) is the quintessential 'special situations' stock; indeed, I like the various investment angles -- company break up, asset sales, buying by a big insider, a re-energized product line," asserts Chuck Carlson.

The editor of The DRIP Investor explains, "The firm is in the midst of a major restructuring, which includes selling off assets and splitting the company into two separately traded entities.

"The breakup, scheduled for next year, will separate the company's handset phone business from its enterprise mobility business.

Continue reading Motorola (MOT): 'Quintessential Special Situation'

Motorola (MOT): 'Quintessential Special Situation' originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Motorola, Inc. (MOT) story is a complicated one. There are a number of catalysts, however, which could make the shares a bargain at current levels.

In early 2011, the company is expected to be broken up into two distinct entities. Motorola Mobility, which will include the mobile devices business, and Motorola Solutions, which will consist of the networks and enterprise mobility businesses.

Continue reading Motorola Could Be a Bargain at Current Levels

Motorola Could Be a Bargain at Current Levels originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 12 Aug 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Carl Icahn is Buying Motorola -- Should You?

Carl Icahn is Buying Motorola -- Should You? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 04 Aug 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Apple's (AAPL) buzz machine continues to crowd-out rivals like Research in Motion (RIMM) and Nokia (NOK). Yet, Google's (GOOG) Android is still able to stand out -- and get more and more traction in the market.

For example, this mobile operating system is seeing a whopping 160,000 activations every day. In fact, this growth helped supercharge HTC's latest quarter, with a 63% spike in revenues to $1.88 billion. At the same time, Motorola (MOT) and Verizon (VZ) are getting ready to launch the Droid X. And yes, this device is getting strong reviews.

Continue reading So You Want to Be an Android Developer?

So You Want to Be an Android Developer? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 12 Jul 2010 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Nokia Corp. (NOK) used to be the dominant player in the cell phone industry. But thanks to smartphone manufacturers like Apple (AAPL), HTC and others, Nokia is losing market share, and its stock price is plunging.

Now, just in case you are thinking that Nokia looks like a good value play, take a look at what analysts are saying.

Continue reading Nokia Sinks as Market Share Dwindles

Nokia Sinks as Market Share Dwindles originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 24 Jun 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

By now, nearly every person in this country has heard or read about a second oil rig accident which has happened near Morgan City, Louisiana. Although it appears that only a small amount of environmental damage was done, how will the reaction to this news play out in the markets through the coming week?

I'm very thankful that this most recent oil rig accident happened late on a Friday. I certainly believe that if this accident had happened a few hours earlier in the day, I probably wouldn't have liked to witness the way the markets reacted. Now, we have two days to absorb the news of what has happened before full-scale trading resumes. Really, I'm very happy about that.

Continue reading Second Oil Rig Accident Signals a Fundamental Economic Shift?

Second Oil Rig Accident Signals a Fundamental Economic Shift? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 01 May 2010 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.