Analyst Upgrades

• Alcatel-Lucent (ALU) to buy from neutral at Goldman.
• Nvidia (NVDA) to outperform from market perform at JMP Securities.
• Verizon (VZ), AT&T (T), Leap Wireless (LEAP) and MetroPCS (PCS) to outperform from neutral at RW Baird.
• Illumina (ILMN) to buy from hold at Auriga.
• Sun Bancorp (SNBC) to neutral from sell at Janney Capital.
• American Tower (AMT), SBA Communications (SBAC) and Freeport McMoRan (FCX) to overweight from equal weight at Morgan Stanley.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: ALU, BTU, FCX, LEAP, MAR, NTRS, NVDA, PCS, T, VZ ...

Analyst Calls: ALU, BTU, FCX, LEAP, MAR, NTRS, NVDA, PCS, T, VZ ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Alcatel-Lucent Launches Tiny New Cell Phone Antenna System

Alcatel-Lucent Launches Tiny New Cell Phone Antenna System originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Qualcomm (QCOM) was upgraded to outperform from neutral at Credit Suisse.
• JPMorgan upgraded Allegheny Tech (ATI) to overweight from neutral.
• NetApp (NTAP) was upgraded to buy from hold at Canaccord.
• Estee Lauder (EL) was upgraded to perform from underperform at Oppenheimer.
• Citigroup upgraded Suntech (STP) to hold from sell.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: ABT, ALU, CSCO, EL, F, KKR, QCOM, RIMM, SAP, STP, TIVO ...

Analyst Calls: ABT, ALU, CSCO, EL, F, KKR, QCOM, RIMM, SAP, STP, TIVO ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 18 Nov 2010 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Intel (INTC) was upgraded to buy from neutral at UBS.
• Wells Fargo upgraded MetroPCS (PCS), Coventry Health (CVH) and Scientific Games (SGMS) to outperform from market perform.
• Estee Lauder (EL) was upgraded to overweight from equal weight at Barclays.
• Simon Property (SPG) was upgraded to buy from hold at Jefferies.
• Citigroup upgraded BreitBurn Energy (BBEP) to buy from hold.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: ALU, AVP, BRCD, CVH, DISH, EL, INTC, NSM, PCS, SWY ...

Analyst Calls: ALU, AVP, BRCD, CVH, DISH, EL, INTC, NSM, PCS, SWY ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 08 Nov 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Piper Jaffray upgraded Duoyuan Global Water (DGW) to neutral from underweight, citing the potential for positive fundamental news flow through the end of the year, and upped its price target to $16 from $9.
• Jefferies upgraded Alcatel-Lucent (ALU) to buy from underperform, expecting a benefit from a significant ramp in EVDO software sales as mobile data growth accelerates.
• Myriad Genetics (MYGN) was upgraded at RBC Capital to outperform from sector perform with a $23 price target based on valuation and potential to be acquired.
• Goldman upgraded Mohawk (MHK) to neutral from sell with a $53 price target.
• Smithfield Foods (SFD) was upgraded to outperform from market perform at BMO capital with a $21 target.
• Priceline.com (PCLN) was upgraded to outperform from market perform at Morgan Keegan.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: ALU, BIG, COST, DGW, DOW, FO, GE, HON, MGM, MYGN, MON ...

Analyst Calls: ALU, BIG, COST, DGW, DOW, FO, GE, HON, MGM, MYGN, MON ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 13 Oct 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Options Traders Buying Host Hotels Calls and Leucadia National Puts

Options Traders Buying Host Hotels Calls and Leucadia National Puts originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Over the years, Alcatel-Lucent (ALU) has made a variety of bad acquisitions. Of course, the large ones were particularly harmful for shareholders.

So what to do? Well, interestingly enough, Alcatel-Lucent has been recently buying up tiny companies, especially in the fast-growing mobile space.

And the latest deal came this week: OpenPlug (the price tag was not disclosed). Basically, the company creates mobile software development tools.

Continue reading Alcatel-Lucent Strikes a Deal for OpenPlug

Alcatel-Lucent Strikes a Deal for OpenPlug originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

You win some you lose some. This story is about one of my less successful investments, which I acquired and sold many years ago. Over the past four years, I have written many times about Intuitive Surgical (ISRG), by far my best stock investment, up 4,500%, give or take, over a ten-year period. I bought in at the bottom and held on for the ride, until last year when the market tanked and took Intuitive Surgical with it.

The other company was Superconductor Technologies (SCON), the makers of high-temperature devices that improve communications transmission quality.

Continue reading Chasing Value™: Tale of Two Tech Stocks (ISRG and SCON)

Chasing Value™: Tale of Two Tech Stocks (ISRG and SCON) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 27 Aug 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

• Alcatel-Lucent (ALU) received an analyst's downgrade following its disappointing earnings report and guidance.
• Chicago Bridge & Iron Co. (CBI) improved earnings prospects prompted one analyst to upgrade the stock.
• Cintas Corp. (CTAS) lower Q3 earnings topped analysts' expectations, and it reiterated its Q4 earnings guidance.
• CRA International Inc. (CRAI) received an analyst's downgrade following its earnings results for Q1.
• Discover Financial Services (DFS) reported a net loss for Q1 due to a needed boost to its loan loss reserves.

Continue reading Earnings Highlights: Discover, FedEx, GameStop, Guess, Nike, Palm ...

Earnings Highlights: Discover, FedEx, GameStop, Guess, Nike, Palm ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 20 Mar 2010 12:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Cisco Systems Inc. (CSCO), whose CEO is optimistic about economic recovery, is scheduled to discuss its second-quarter fiscal 2010 financial results in a conference call Wednesday, Feb. 3, at 4:30 PM (ET). A live webcast of the call will be available at the company's website.

During the three months that ended in January, Cisco completed an acquisition, demonstrated new technologies at CES and announced some organizational changes. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters are looking for earnings for that period of 35 cents per share. That compares with 36 cents per share in the previous quarter and 32 cents per share a year ago. Revenue for the second quarter is expected to be 3.5% higher than a year ago to $9.4 billion.

Continue reading Cisco Earnings Preview: Modest Growth Expected for Q2

Cisco Earnings Preview: Modest Growth Expected for Q2 originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 03 Feb 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

It's a boring week if Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) isn't being sued or is in court defending itself. In the ring this time is France's Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE: ALU), which says Microsoft is infringing on its patents in its ultra-popular Outlook e-mail and messaging software. You know, the one that small businesses to megacorporations use for corporate e-mail and calendaring?

After $358 million in damages was awarded Alcatel-Lucent recently, an appeals court judge stated that the lawsuit wasn't supported by evidence. And, he wants the damages amount recalculated. Microsoft said when the original damages were awarded that the amount was way too high, and on appeals it is now being vindicated. The entire amount was based on the global market value for the Outlook product itself, and that Alcatel-Lucent's claims did not contribute to that whole amount.

Continue reading Microsoft sees appeals court toss out $358 million lawsuit

Microsoft sees appeals court toss out $358 million lawsuit originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 14 Sep 2009 12:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

From TheStreet.com Network

• Price Action Suggests Dollar Upside Break
• AIG's Benmosche to Get Paid

TheStreet.com's Jim Cramer says the bizarre rules these days make it worth looking at stocks through a different lens.

How much should we care about low-dollar speculation? How much should we care about the incessant trading in CIT (NYSE: CIT) (Cramer's Take) and Fannie Mae (NYSE: FNM) (Cramer's Take), Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE: ALU) (Cramer's Take), or Vonage (NYSE: VG) (Cramer's Take) and Sprint (NYSE: S) (Cramer's Take)? Or even Citigroup (NYSE: C) (Cramer's Take)?

First, I have to tell you that I worry about it less than I used to. Why? Because when we used to have rules and government officials that were willing to speak the truth about stocks, we wouldn't have these single-digit players out there every day. But without it, how in heck can people not believe that Fannie and Freddie Mac (NYSE: FRE) (Cramer's Take) are the biggest and best bets on a turn in housing?

Continue reading Cramer on BloggingStocks: Reasonable speculation

Cramer on BloggingStocks: Reasonable speculation originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 27 Aug 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

• Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE: ALU) reported a surprise profit but is expected to return to losses next quarter.
• Coach Inc. (NYSE: COH) profit and revenue were in line with expectations, sending shares lower.
• Corning Inc. (NYSE: GLW) posted better-than-expected earnings but other concerns drove down shares.
• eHealth Inc. (NASDAQ: EHTH) reported solid Q2 numbers but Wall Street was not impressed.
• Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. (NYSE: GT) posted a smaller-than-expected Q2 loss, sending shares higher.
• JAKKS Pacific Inc. (NASDAQ: JAKK) reported swinging to a Q2 net loss and revenues were flat.

Continue reading Earnings highlights: Coach, Corning, Goodyear, Visa, Waste Management ...

Earnings highlights: Coach, Corning, Goodyear, Visa, Waste Management ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 01 Aug 2009 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This morning, Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE: ALU) reported its first-ever quarterly net profit, sparking a flurry of activity in the firm's stock. In the latest quarter, ALU earned $2.8 million, or 0.01 euro per share. The Street expected ALU to lose 0.08 euro per share during the quarter.

This news is all well and good, but adjusted earnings showed a loss of 62 million euros compared to expectations for a loss of 36 million euros. Nevertheless, the stock traded higher in post-market trading and also opened higher this morning.

Continue reading Alcatel-Lucent reports a surprise profit

Alcatel-Lucent reports a surprise profit originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 30 Jul 2009 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Ciena (NASDAQ: CIEN), a business that sells various networking and software products for fiber-optic and broadband technologies, and whose colleagues include Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) and Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE: ALU), reported late Thursday a difficult second quarter. Revenues declined by 40%. For the bottom line, Ciena said it lost 25 cents per share on an adjusted basis. Last year at this time, Ciena made an adjusted 40 cents per share. And in terms of expectations, the company was only supposed to lose 9 cents per share. Guess there wasn't a chance of that, huh?

Continue reading Ciena lost money, missed expectations in Q2

Ciena lost money, missed expectations in Q2 originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 05 Jun 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

• Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE: ALU) shares rose even though it reported a wider loss for the quarter.
• American Express Co. (NYSE: AXP) posted better-than-expected Q1 results but warned of challenges.
• Blackstone Group (NYSE: BX) reported a net loss and slumping revenues for the first quarter.
• Center Financial Corp. (NASDAQ: CLFC) was downgraded following its Q1 earnings report.
• Cisco Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO) posted lower Q3 earnings that still topped analysts estimates.

Continue reading Earnings highlights: Disney, Cisco, News Corp., Marvel, Sirius, Blackstone and more

Earnings highlights: Disney, Cisco, News Corp., Marvel, Sirius, Blackstone and more originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 09 May 2009 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) reported Q3 stats after the bell on Wednesday. How did the tech company that runs with the likes of Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ), Juniper Networks (NASDAQ: JNPR), and Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE: ALU) fare? Very well, thank you.

Well, let me clarify that. Cisco saw a lot of declines in its numbers, but we all know what the most important thing to investors is: beating the Wall Street analysts. In this regard, Cisco's management did just fine. As I observed in my earnings preview piece, the call was for Cisco to do somewhere around 25 cents per share. Well, the company bested that figure by an awesome nickel on an adjusted basis.

Continue reading Cisco beats the analysts -- is this tech stock a recovery play?

Cisco beats the analysts -- is this tech stock a recovery play? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 07 May 2009 08:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Tech investors will be looking forward to seeing how Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) made out in the third quarter. The networking entity, whose colleagues include Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ), Juniper Networks (NASDAQ: JNPR), and Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE: ALU), will be reporting Q3 numbers on Wednesday, May 6, after the market closes. According to analysts, Cisco is not expected to grow the bottom line. The call is for 25 cents per share. If that figure is hit, then it will represent a drop of more than 30% on a year-over-year basis.

Here's the bright side, though. Cisco has beat the analysts at their game in recent times. Quite frankly, I think Cisco should be able to come ahead of estimates this week. I don't necessarily see why the trend will break. It's not like the stock has been telling the market that it will. Shares of Cisco have been doing well.

Continue reading Earnings preview: Will Cisco deliver the goods in Q3?

Earnings preview: Will Cisco deliver the goods in Q3? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 05 May 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Ericsson (ERIC) tapped by Verizon (VZ) for new 4G network

Ericsson (ERIC) tapped by Verizon (VZ) for new 4G network originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 18 Feb 2009 15:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

• Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE: ALU) reported a narrower Q3 net loss and reaffirmed its outlook.
• Barclays (NYSE: BCS) earnings and dividend prospects resulted in an analyst's downgrade.
• Burger King Holdings Inc. (NYSE: BKC) posted its 19th straight quarter of positive growth.
• Choice Hotels International Inc. (NYSE: CHH) better-than-expected Q3 report led to an upgrade.
• Comcast Corp. (NASDAQ: CMCSA) reported strong Q3 numbers and maintained its revenue outlook.
• DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. (NYSE: DWA) better-than-expected Q3 results driven by Kung Fu Panda.
• Exxon Mobil Corp. (NYSE: XOM) reported another record profit in Q3 driven by record high fuel prices.
• Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN) reported a better-than-expected Q3 profit and offered guidance.
• Hercules Inc. (NYSE: HPC) posted lower Q3 earnings and anounced [regulatory] approval of its buyout.
• Janus Capital Group Inc. (NYSE: JNS) weaker-than-expected results led to an analyst's downgrade.
• Legg Mason Inc. (NYSE: LM) swung to a smaller-than-expected Q2 net loss and shares soared.
• Motorola Inc. (NYSE: MOT) dismal Q3 results managed to beat low earnings expectations.
• Office Depot (NYSE: ODP) Q3 results included lower revenue and a net loss due to economic conditions.
• Qwest Communications International Inc. (NYSE: Q) unimpressive Q3 numbers fell short of estimates.
• Sun Microsystems (NASDAQ: JAVA) swung to a greater-than-expected net loss due in part to competition.
• Texas Roadhouse Inc. (NASDAQ: TXRH) missed Q3 estimates and warned of flat full-year earnings.
• Valero Energy Corp. (NYSE: VLO) strong Q3 results included a gain from a sale of a refinery.
• Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) beat Q4 earnings expectations after adjustment for litigation-related charges.
• Whirlpool Corp. (NYSE: WHR) fell short of revenue estimates and announced job cuts.

Continue reading Earnings highlights: Exxon, Motorola, Barclays, Burger King, Comcast, Visa, and others

Earnings highlights: Exxon, Motorola, Barclays, Burger King, Comcast, Visa, and others originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 01 Nov 2008 09:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.