BloggingStocks http://www.bloggingstocks.com BloggingStocks http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/media/feedlogo.gif BloggingStocks http://www.bloggingstocks.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Analyst Calls: AON, CVX, HBI, MUR, NBL, NFLX, NVDA, SO, XOM ...]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2011/03/15/analyst-upgrades-downgrades/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2011/03/15/analyst-upgrades-downgrades/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2011/03/15/analyst-upgrades-downgrades/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Analyst Upgrades

  • Exxon Mobil (XOM), Netflix (NFLX), Noble Corp. (NE), Pioneer Natural (PXD) and Noble Energy (NBL) to buy from neutral at Goldman.
  • Cenovus Energy (CVE) to conviction buy from neutral and Atwood Oceanics (ATW) to neutral from sell at Goldman as well.
  • Southern Company (SO) to buy from hold at Citigroup.
  • Chevron (CVX) to buy from neutral at BofA/Merrill.
  • Ryder (R), Entergy (ETR) and Seaspan (SSW) to buy from hold at Jefferies.
  • Gerdau (GGB), Crown Castle (CCI) and American Tower (AMT) to buy from neutral at UBS.
  • Aon (AON) and Willis Group (WSH) to buy from neutral at Janney Capital.
  • Ryland Group (RYL) to buy from neutral at Ticonderoga.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AON, CVX, HBI, MUR, NBL, NFLX, NVDA, SO, XOM ...

Analyst Calls: AON, CVX, HBI, MUR, NBL, NFLX, NVDA, SO, XOM ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 15 Mar 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AJGAMTanalyst upgradesAONATWAtwood OceanicsBankUnitedBKUCartersCCICenovusChevronCRICuritss-WrightCVECVXCWdowngradesEntergyETRExxon MobilExxonMobilFSINGGBGILGildan ActivewearHanesbrandsHBIinitiationsinthenewsMaidenformMFBMURMurphy OilNBLNENeoPhotonicsNetflixNFLXNobleNPTNNvidiaPXDRRyderRYLRylandSeaspanSSWTornierTravelzooTRNXTZOOWSHXCOXOMTue, 15 Mar 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Options Update: JA Solar Lolatility Low as Shares Trend Higher into Solar Power Convention]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/10/13/options-update-ja-solar-volatility-low-as-shares-trend-higher-i/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/10/13/options-update-ja-solar-volatility-low-as-shares-trend-higher-i/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/10/13/options-update-ja-solar-volatility-low-as-shares-trend-higher-i/#commentsFiled under: ,

JA Solar (JASO) is participating at Solar Power International, the largest B2B solar event in North America, which began Tuesday. JASO overall option implied volatility of 63 is below its 26-week average of 68 according to Track Data, suggesting decreasing price movement.

Noble Corp. (NE) rallied 3% today as stock prices for deepwater offshore drillers are rallying from the announcement from President Obama's Administration that the drilling moratorium is being lifted. Overall option implied volatility of 39 is near its 26-week average, according to Track Data, suggesting non-directional price movement.

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

Options Update: JA Solar Lolatility Low as Shares Trend Higher into Solar Power Convention originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 13 Oct 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>deepwater drilling moratoriumdrilling moratoriuminthenewsJA Solarjasomoratorium reversedNENobleoptionsWed, 13 Oct 2010 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Noble to Acquire Frontier Drilling]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/06/28/noble-to-acquire-frontier-drilling/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/06/28/noble-to-acquire-frontier-drilling/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/06/28/noble-to-acquire-frontier-drilling/#commentsFiled under:

Noble Corporation (NE) announced Monday morning that it has entered a definitive merger agreement with FDR Holdings, also known as Frontier. The deal values the joint venture at $2.16 billion. NE expects the deal to close by the end of July, and noted that it will be accretive to cash flow immediately and to earnings in 2011. NE will acquire a fleet of roughly 23 rig years of contracts that generate roughly $3.2 billion in gross contract backlog.

NE CEO David W. Williams sated that, "Frontier is an excellent strategic addition to NE's existing asset, customer and employee base ... This acquisition is a highly complementary extension of our mid- and deepwater presence and positions us for additional growth in new market segments that can provide further opportunities for Noble and our customers."

Continue reading Noble to Acquire Frontier Drilling

Noble to Acquire Frontier Drilling originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 28 Jun 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acquisitionFDR HoldingsfeaturedFrontierGulf of MexicointhenewsmergerNENobleMon, 28 Jun 2010 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Top Picks for 2010: Noble (NE)]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/12/25/top-picks-for-2010-noble-ne/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/12/25/top-picks-for-2010-noble-ne/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/12/25/top-picks-for-2010-noble-ne/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

This post is part of a special report, Top Picks for 2010, the 27th annual survey in which TheStockAdvisors.com asks the nation's leading advisors for their single favorite stock for the new year. See all 80 stocks listed here.

Value investor Charles Mizrahi looks to Noble Corp. (NE) as his top investment idea for the coming year.

In his Hidden Values Alert, the advisor offers his bullish assessment for the company, a Cayman Islands-based company involved in offshore drilling contracting for the oil and gas industry.

Continue reading Top Picks for 2010: Noble (NE)

Top Picks for 2010: Noble (NE) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 25 Dec 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>charles mizahihidden values alertnenobleoffshore drilling stocksoil drilling stocksoil services stockssteven halpernthestockadvisors.comvalue investingFri, 25 Dec 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Three 'noble' stocks: Kroger (KR), Noble (NE), and Hawaiian Electric (HE)]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/12/02/three-noble-stocks-kroger-kr-noble-ne-and-hawaiian-elec/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/12/02/three-noble-stocks-kroger-kr-noble-ne-and-hawaiian-elec/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/12/02/three-noble-stocks-kroger-kr-noble-ne-and-hawaiian-elec/#commentsFiled under: ,

On the Periodic Table of Elements, the symbols Kr, Ne, He stand for krypton, neon, and helium, three of the so-called noble gases. Noble gases are chemically stable, and can be easily overlooked because they are colorless and odorless. They have boiling and melting points that are close together, meaning that they have a very narrow range of temperatures at which they are liquid. And noble gases have industrial applications in lighting, welding, and lasers.

On the New York Stock Exchange, KR, NE, and HE stand for Kroger, Noble, and Hawaiian Electric Industries. Do these companies exhibit similar characteristics of stability, a tendency to be overlooked, and scarce liquidity? Well, no analogy is perfect, especially one as arbitrary as this. But here's a look at these stocks nonetheless.

Cincinnati-based Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) is the largest traditional grocery chain in the U.S. (though Wal-Mart is the largest seller of groceries). Kroger has more than 2,400 supermarkets under several different names, as well as more than 750 convenience stores.

Continue reading Three 'noble' stocks: Kroger (KR), Noble (NE), and Hawaiian Electric (HE)

Three 'noble' stocks: Kroger (KR), Noble (NE), and Hawaiian Electric (HE) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 02 Dec 2007 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>American Savings Bankdividendselectric utilitiesgift cardsgrocery chainsHawaiian ElectricHEKRKrogermergersNASCARNENoblenoble gasesoil and gas drillingWal-MartWMTSun, 02 Dec 2007 12:40:00 EST<![CDATA[This week's rumor round-up: New Century to go bankrupt?]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/03/09/this-weeks-rumor-round-up-new-century-to-go-bankrupt/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/03/09/this-weeks-rumor-round-up-new-century-to-go-bankrupt/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/03/09/this-weeks-rumor-round-up-new-century-to-go-bankrupt/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

What is up is the theme of this week's merger talk, because there is lots of chatter, but no bold moves. Yet.


NEW CENTURY FINANCIAL CORPORATION (NYSE: NEW)

Down the tubes, and then what? With bankruptcy imminent, what next happens to the nation's second largest sub prime mortgage banker? Shares continue to fall today, recently at $3.18, a 69 cent fall, equal to almost 18%. Just two months ago the share price was over $30. The real estate investment trust isn't getting any help from lenders. Maybe reorganization is just what they need.

PALM INC (NASDAQ: PALM), DELL INC (NASDAQ: DELL)

Or should it be Dell, Palm? Either way, Palm is looking to sell, and Dell is looking to buy. Palm knows Apple Inc's (NASDAQ: AAPL) iPhone can really hit them with a number of body blows, hence, get out while the getting's good, or at least okay, seems to be the Palm plan. For Dell, they're looking at smart phones as a part of their consumer products future. And lord knows they have the cash to buy a Palm. It's a brand with international contacts and a retail distribution network. Let the bidding begin, say at $2B?

NOBLE DRILLING CORP (NYSE: NE)

A noble "no" to an LBO was sent out from high atop the corporate structure several weeks ago, but rumors keep a coming. Yes, they said they'd use their extra dough to buy their own stock, just like they did before, in 2006. And that's what they've been doing. Who knows, maybe there's nothing to it.


CLAIRE'S STORES INC (NYSE: CLE)

Private equity firm Apax seems to be in the lead to take the 3,000 stores-strong Claire's. Get this: Apax is said to be so anxious to get going that it's said they have new management "in waiting." Wow. Claire's has said it's exploring "strategic alternatives", including a sale. Goldman Sachs is helping. Must be serious stuff. By the way, same store sales were up but down recently. Up 1%, but 2.3% was expected. What do you think Apax feeds that management team in waiting, anyway?

ALLTEL CORPORATION (NYSE: AT)

Buy me, please. That's what the nation's fifth largest wireless operator (subscribers) has been saying. AT&T is kicking the tires, but because of antitrust and other issues, it may only be doing just that. Verizon Communications Inc (NYSE: VZ) may have a look-see, as well as private equity firms. Tepid seems to have been the response so far, but that can change quickly. Management says the rumors are nothing new. Is that a bad thing?

This week's rumor round-up: New Century to go bankrupt? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 09 Mar 2007 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alltelatbankruptcybuyoutchatterclaire'sclairescledellmergernenewnew centuryNewCenturynoblepalmrumorspeculationFri, 09 Mar 2007 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Barron's: Barnes & Noble is buyout bait]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2006/10/22/barrons-barnes-and-noble-is-buyout-bait/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2006/10/22/barrons-barnes-and-noble-is-buyout-bait/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2006/10/22/barrons-barnes-and-noble-is-buyout-bait/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

bnLong-time writer for Barron's, Jonathan Laing, takes an deep-dive on the shares of Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE:BKS).

Books are dead, right? It's all about the Internet?

Maybe. But Laing thinks BN is an ideal candidate for a buyout.

Despite a nice rally in stocks, Barnes & Noble has been a laggard. Other problems: analysts are lukewarm on the stock; Amazon.com is a threat; there is slowing consumer spending; and there is also stock option backdating concerns.

However, smart money is moving into the stock, such as from the hedge fund Pershing Square. It holds about 8% of the Barnes & Noble.

Pershing's superstar investor, Bill Ackman, likes Barnes & Noble because: the aging population bodes well for books; BN has a massive superstore footprint, which provides a Starbucks-like social experience; there is little inventory risk (because books can be returned to the publisher); and the brand is very powerful.

Also, Barnes & Noble has taken steps to restructure the cost structure and boost cash flows, offering more high-margin products (such as wrapping paper), and providing self-publishing services.

And, with no debt -- as well as the strong cash flows -- Barnes & Noble would certainly make for an attractive leverage buyout from a private equity group.

Actually, there may not be any need for private equity financing. Given the company's balance sheet and the founding family's equity stake, the deal could be done completely with debt financing.

Tom Taulli is the author of various books, including the Complete M&A Handbook and operates InvestorOffering.com.

Barron's: Barnes & Noble is buyout bait originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 22 Oct 2006 11:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>barnesbarnes and nobleBarnesAndNoblebarron'sbarronsbksbnbn.combooksbookstorenobleSun, 22 Oct 2006 11:33:00 EST