Over the past few years, cloud computing has become a hot topic. A variety of companies -- like NetSuite (N) -- have built applications that are based on Internet technologies. The result is improved productivity and lower costs.

Yet, in order to continue to propel the cloud-computing revolution, there needs to be a strong technology foundation, such as with servers, operating systems and application development tools. And one of the top players in the market is Red Hat (RHT).

Continue reading Red Hat Is Red Hot

Red Hat Is Red Hot originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Red Hat (RHT) to outperform from neutral at RW Baird.
• Cogdell Spencer (CSA) to buy from hold at Citigroup.
• Micron (MU) to neutral from reduce at Nomura.
• El Paso Electric (EE) to buy from hold at Jefferies.
• MICROS Systems (MCRS) and Harmony Gold (HMY) to outperform from sector perform at RBC Capital.
• Meridian Bioscience (VIVO) to buy from hold at Canaccord.
• Verso Paper (VRS) to outperform from neutral at Credit Suisse.
• Sony (SNE) to buy from hold at Deutsche Bank.
• Noble Corp. (NE) and Baker Hughes (BHI) to buy from neutral at UBS.
• Tyson Foods (TSN) and Smithfield Foods (SFD) to buy from hold at BB&T.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: BAC, BHI, KKR, MU, NE, RHT, SNE, TSN, WMT ...

Analyst Calls: BAC, BHI, KKR, MU, NE, RHT, SNE, TSN, WMT ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 24 Mar 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading U.S. Stock Futures Up as Investors Await Jobless Claims

U.S. Stock Futures Up as Investors Await Jobless Claims originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 24 Mar 2011 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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.

CurrencyShares Japanese Yen Trust (FXY) closed up 1.2% in pre-open trading. Overall option implied volatility of 15 is above its 26-week average of 11, according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement.

Red Hat Inc. (RHT) April 44 calls were active on 26K contracts. April and June call 40 call option implied volatility is at 43. This is compared to its 26-week average of 39 according to Track Data, suggesting traders taking positions for larger movement into Q4 results expected to be released on March 23.

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

Options Update: CurrencyShares Japanese Yen Trust Overall Volatility Elevated as Yen Rallies originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 17 Mar 2011 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Chesapeake (CHK) to buy from hold at Canaccord.
• Biogen (BIIB) and Regeneron (REGN) to outperform from sector perform at RBC Capital.
• Caribou Coffee (CBOU) to outperform from neutral and Encore Energy (ENP) to neutral from underperform at RW Baird.
• Fluor (FLR) to market perform from underperform at BMO Capital.
• Hornbeck Offshore (HOS) to conviction buy from neutral at Goldman.
• Saks (SKS) and Zale (ZLC) to neutral from underperform at BofA/Merrill.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: BIIIB, CBOU, CELG, CHK, CIEN, HOS, LULU, RHT, SKS, ZLC ...

Analyst Calls: BIIIB, CBOU, CELG, CHK, CIEN, HOS, LULU, RHT, SKS, ZLC ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 24 Feb 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF) to positive from neutral at Susquehanna.
• tw telecom (TWTC) to outperform from neutral at Cowen.
• Agree Realty (ADC) to buy from neutral at Janney Capital.
• Millicom (MICC) to buy from neutral at Nomura.
• BioMed Realty (BMR) to outperform from market perform at FBR Capital.
• Realty Income (O) to buy from neutral at BofA/Merrill.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: ANF, CA, HBAN, MSFT, NTAP, NVDA, OWW, ORCL, RHT ...

Analyst Calls: ANF, CA, HBAN, MSFT, NTAP, NVDA, OWW, ORCL, RHT ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 17 Feb 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Red Hat (RHT), an open-source software business whose colleagues include Microsoft (MSFT) and Oracle (ORCL), experienced some selling pressure in yesterday's extended-hours session. The stock was off by 2.7% to $46.60. Still, the company is closer to its 52-week high of $49 than its 52-week low of $26.51.

And if you look at the chart, you'll see that the shares have been in an uptrend following a period of sideways movement. Should an investor buy this uptrend? Is yesterday's selling action a temporary phenomenon?

Continue reading Red Hat Issues Q3 Results

Red Hat Issues Q3 Results originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 22 Dec 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Red Hat (RHT) and American Public (APEI) to outperform from sector perform at RBC Capital.
• KBR (KBR) and Foster Wheeler (FWLT) to buy from neutral at Goldman.
• Bio-Rad (BIO) to outperform from market perform at Leerink.
• Oceaneering (OII) to outperform from neutral at Credit Suisse.
• ASM International (ASMI) and Avid Technology (AVID) to overweight from neutral at JPMorgan.
• Dominion Resources (D) to equal weight from underweight at Morgan Stanley.
• Nationwide Health Properties (NHP) to buy from hold at Jefferies.
• Vivus (VVUS) to buy from underperform at BofA/Merrill.
• Intersil (ISIL) to buy from hold at Canaccord.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: ALTR, CBOE, D, ETR, JCI, KBR, MMM, NFLX, OII, RHT, WY ...

Analyst Calls: ALTR, CBOE, D, ETR, JCI, KBR, MMM, NFLX, OII, RHT, WY ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 08 Dec 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Tyco Electronics (TEL) and Weight Watchers (WTW) to buy from neutral, and Smithfield Foods (SFD) to buy from underperform, at BofA/Merrill.
• Red Hat (RHT) to overweight from equal weight at Morgan Stanley.
• Gold Fields (GFI) to overweight from neutral at HSBC.
• Novartis (NVS) to outperform from neutral and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) to neutral from underperform at Credit Suisse.
• Dollar General (DG) to buy from hold at ThinkEquity.
• Eagle Rock Energy (EROC) to outperform from sector perform at RBC Capital.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AZN, DG, GSK, NBS, NRGY, NVS, RHT, SFD, STX, TYC ...

Analyst Calls: AZN, DG, GSK, NBS, NRGY, NVS, RHT, SFD, STX, TYC ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 07 Dec 2010 11:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Piper Jaffray upgraded Red Hat (RHT) to overweight from neutral.
• Honeywell (HON) was upgraded to outperform from neutral at Cowen.
• Regal-Beloit (RBC) and Actuant (ATU) were upgraded to buy from hold at Jefferies.
• RW Baird upgraded MedAssets (MDAS) to outperform from neutral.
• Savvis (SVVS) was upgraded to outperform from market perform at William Blair.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: COST, HON, NFLX, NOC, PCP, RHT, TGT, TXT, WMT ...

Analyst Calls: COST, HON, NFLX, NOC, PCP, RHT, TGT, TXT, WMT ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 23 Nov 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Red Hat (RHT) is doing extremely well today. At the time of this writing, shares of the software entity were up nearly 12% to $41.15. Volume was great. The catalyst for all this action is the earnings report that was released yesterday after the bell.

Earlier today, the stock hit a new 52-week high of $41.48. The 52-week low for the shares is $24.78. This is a very impressive move. Looking at the one-year chart, we see that the company has broken out of a period of sideways action. Technically, the short-term players have got to pay attention to the thesis.

Continue reading Red Hat Hits New 52-Week High After Q2 Report

Red Hat Hits New 52-Week High After Q2 Report originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 23 Sep 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Here are some highlights from this past week's earnings coverage on BloggingStocks:

• Adobe Systems Inc. (ADBE) reported that Q1 revenue was up but earnings declined sharply, and it offered guidance.
• Best Buy Inc. (BBY) shares rallied after it topped Q4 earnings expectations and offered encouraging guidance.
• Brinker International Inc. (EAT) raised its outlook for fiscal 2010 and also increased its quarterly dividend.
• China Automotive Systems Inc. (CAAS) reported that its revenue had doubled and it beat earnings expectations.
• ConAgra Foods Inc. (CAG) Q3 earnings matched estimates and revenue was flat, and it reaffirmed its outlook.
• Finish Line Inc. (FINL) shares rallied after it reported that Q4 earnings came in better than analysts' expected.

Continue reading Earnings Highlights: Adobe, Best Buy, General Mills, Oracle, Tiffany, Walgreen ...

Earnings Highlights: Adobe, Best Buy, General Mills, Oracle, Tiffany, Walgreen ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 27 Mar 2010 12:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

All in all, business software maker Red Hat (RHT) has held-up well during the recession. Then again, the company has an offering of products that focus on hot markets like servers, virtualization and data centers.

Yet, investor expectations got a bit overenthusiastic for the fiscal fourth-quarter results. In morning trading, shares of Red Hat were off 6% to $28.66.

Continue reading Red Hat's Outlook Leaves Some Investors Seeing Red

Red Hat's Outlook Leaves Some Investors Seeing Red originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 25 Mar 2010 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Here are a few highlights from this past week's earnings coverage on BloggingStocks:

• Cintas Corp. (CTAS) received an analyst's downgrade following its Q2 earnings report.
• ConAgra Foods Inc. (CAG) shares spiked after it posted better-than-expected Q2 earnings.
• Finish Line Inc. (FINL) posted surprise Q3 earnings, ending a streak of quarterly losses.
• Giga Media Ltd. (GIGM) was downgraded due to its disappointing Q2 report and lack of visibility.

Continue reading Earnings highlights: ConAgra, Finish Line, Jabil Circuit, Red Hat, Walgreen ...

Earnings highlights: ConAgra, Finish Line, Jabil Circuit, Red Hat, Walgreen ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 26 Dec 2009 09:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Linux provider Red Hat (RHT) released third-quarter earnings late Tuesday, announcing that net income fell 32% as a result of higher expenses. One of those expenses was an $8.8 million charge that settled a lawsuit, cutting three cents per share from earnings in the process.

Taking these charges out of the equation, RHT would have earned $33.5 million, or 17 cents per share. While these results were a penny short of RHT's third-quarter earnings last year, they managed to top the consensus estimate by a penny. Revenue also beat analyst projections, coming in at $194.3 million when $165.3 million was expected.

Continue reading Red Hat's Earnings Fall on Higher Expenses

Red Hat's Earnings Fall on Higher Expenses originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 23 Dec 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Even in a holiday shortened week so close to the end of the calendar year, there are still some earnings reports dribbling in. Question is, will any of the companies reporting quarterly results this week offer up a gift for investors?

Apropos of the season, analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters have high expectations for American Greetings Corp.'s (AM) fiscal third quarter 2010 earnings. The nation's second largest provider of greeting cards announced record second quarter results and declared a quarterly dividend during the three months that ended in November. American Greetings is expected to report that earnings rose 43.9% from a year ago to $0.66 per share. Revenue for the quarter is expected to total $445.4 million, or 1.9% lower than a year ago. So far, the full-year forecast is for its profit to more than double to $2.00 per share while revenue falls 5.6% from a year ago to $1.6 billion. This Cleveland-based company creamed earnings estimates in the past two quarters.

Continue reading The Week in Preview: Pre-holiday Earnings from Walgreen, American Greetings ...

The Week in Preview: Pre-holiday Earnings from Walgreen, American Greetings ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 20 Dec 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Here are some highlights from last week's earnings coverage from BloggingStocks:

• Activision Blizzard Inc. (NASDAQ: ATVI) shares rose after it reaffirmed its full-year earnings and sales outlook.
• Automatic Data Processing Inc. (NASDAQ: ADP) will have low double-digit EPS growth, predicts one analyst.
• AutoZone Inc. (NYSE: AZO) posted a decline in earnings but a small rise in sales, sending shares lower.
• Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. (NASDAQ: BBBY) posted better-than-expected Q2 earnings and higher revenue.
• CarMax Inc. (NYSE: KMX) rallied to a new 52-week high after topping analysts' Q2 earnings expectations.
• Carnival Corp. (NYSE: CCL) reported better-than-expected Q3 results and raised its full-year guidance.

Continue reading Earnings highlights: AutoZone, Carnival, CarMax, ConAgra, General Mills, RIM ...

Earnings highlights: AutoZone, Carnival, CarMax, ConAgra, General Mills, RIM ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 26 Sep 2009 13:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Red Hat (NYSE: RHT), a software business whose colleagues include Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) and Oracle (NASDAQ: ORCL), reported Q2 numbers yesterday after the bell. Today, shares are up quite spectacularly. What's driving all the buying interest?

Well, the results were worthy of praise. Net sales increased 12%. Subscriptions were higher by 15%. Adjusted income, including the elimination of a tax benefit from the total, was 16 cents per share. According to Earnings.com, the market was looking for 15 cents per share. So, we've got the typical beat-by-a-proverbial-penny situation on our hands. I'd rather it be more than a penny, but I'll take it.

Continue reading Red Hat up big on Q2 numbers -- should you take profits?

Red Hat up big on Q2 numbers -- should you take profits? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 24 Sep 2009 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Here are some highlights from this past week's earnings coverage from BloggingStocks:

• Accenture Ltd. (NYSE: ACN) beat earnings expectations but revenue was hurt by currency effects.
• Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. (NASDAQ: BBBY) strong Q1 results beat estimates but same-store sales fell.
• CKE Restaurants Inc. (NYSE: CKR) lower Q1 earnings and strong sales both topped expectations.
• ConAgra Foods Inc. (NYSE: CAG) higher Q4 earnings were in line with expectations, and shares slipped.
• Darden Restaurants Inc. (NYSE: DRI) Q4 results were higher, but it warned of continuing challenges.
• Hennes & Mauritz (OTC: HMRZF) reported strong Q2 numbers, though same-stores sales slipped.

Continue reading Earnings highlights: Nike, Oracle, Kroger, Walgreen, Monsanto, KB Home ...

Earnings highlights: Nike, Oracle, Kroger, Walgreen, Monsanto, KB Home ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 27 Jun 2009 09:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.