Continue reading Futures Up as Investors Await Home Sales, Personal Income Data

Futures Up as Investors Await Home Sales, Personal Income Data originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Coca-Cola (KO) has more than $13 billion in cash.

The top five companies (according to market cap) are:

• Exxon Mobil (XOM): $398.3 billion
• Apple (AAPL): $309.0 billion
• Microsoft (MSFT): $237.5 billion
• General Electric (GE): $215.0 billion
• Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A): $202.5 billion

Continue reading Comfort Zone Investing: Did You Know ... ?

Comfort Zone Investing: Did You Know ... ? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 05 Feb 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) to buy from neutral at UBS.
• Fluor (FLR) to overweight from neutral at JPMorgan.
• Macy's (M) to outperform from neutral at Credit Suisse.
• Canadian Solar (CSIQ), JA Solar (JASO) and HeartWare (HTWR) to buy from hold at Auriga.
• Ashford Hospitality (AHT) to outperform from market perform at FBR Capital.
• RenaissanceRe (RNR) to buy from neutral at Janney Capital.
• DCT Industrial (DCT) to market perform from underperform at Wells Fargo.
• Coeur d'Alene Mines (CDE) and Silver Standard (SSRI) to buy from hold at Deutsche Bank.
• Weatherford (WFT), Hercules (HERO), GulfMark Offshore (GLF), Tidewater (TDW) and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) to buy from hold, and Diamond Offshore (DO) to hold from underperform, at Jefferies.
• Ritchie Bros. (RBA) to buy from neutral at BofA/Merrill.
• AstraZeneca (AZN) to buy from hold at Citigroup.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AA, AMD, AMR, AZN, CIT, GSK, HPQ, M, NVDA, PCX, SPWRA ...

Analyst Calls: AA, AMD, AMR, AZN, CIT, GSK, HPQ, M, NVDA, PCX, SPWRA ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 11 Jan 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Oracle (ORCL) to outperform from perform at Oppenheimer.
• Accenture (ACN) to buy from hold at Jefferies.
• Advanced Energy (AEIS) and Applied Materials (AMAT) to overweight from equal weight at Barclays.
• Spreadtrum (SPRD) to buy from hold at Auriga.
• Healthcare Realty Trust (HR) and Tortoise Energy Capital (TYY) to outperform from neutral at RW Baird.
• Global Payments (GPN) to equal weight from underweight at Morgan Stanley.
• CBS (CBS) to buy from neutral at BofA/Merrill.
• Sonic (SONC) to outperform from neutral at Cowen.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: ACN, AMAT, AZN, BBT, CBS, GPN, IP, ORCL, PKG, SONC, V ...

Analyst Calls: ACN, AMAT, AZN, BBT, CBS, GPN, IP, ORCL, PKG, SONC, V ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 17 Dec 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Early Friday morning, Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) and AstraZeneca (AZN) announced the results of their randomized, double-blind Phase 3 clinical study in adults with type 2 diabetes that is inadequately controlled with metformin therapy. The study showed that dapagliflozin was non-inferior compared to glipizide (sulphonylurea) and improved glycosylated hemoglobin levels (HbA1c).

In addition to these results, the study also showed that dapagliflozin plus metformin brought about "significant reductions in efficacy secondary endpoints: reduction in total body weight from baseline, compared with a weight gain on glipizide plus metformin therapy, and a reduced number of patients reporting one or more hypoglycemic events."

Continue reading Bristol-Myers Squibb and AstraZeneca Report Success in Diabetes Trial

Bristol-Myers Squibb and AstraZeneca Report Success in Diabetes Trial originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 24 Sep 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Tuesday morning, drugmaker Mylan (MYL) announced that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted regulatory approval for a generic version of Arimidex, which is produced by AstraZeneca (AZN).

Reportedly, the FDA approved 1-milligram tablets of anastrozole, which is the active ingredient in AstraZeneca's Arimidex. Anastrozole is used to treat some breast cancer in postmenopausal women. This news follows Tueday's approval of a generic version of Arimidex that is produced by Teva Pharmaceutical (TEVA).

Continue reading FDA Approves Mylan's Generic Breast Cancer Drug

FDA Approves Mylan's Generic Breast Cancer Drug originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

AstraZeneca (AZN) is in a race against time to develop new drugs as patent expiration dates are looming for some of its most profitable medicines over the next few years.

The company had hoped that motavizumab -- a medicine that is supposed to help prevent respiratory disease in infants -- would be one of the drugs to issue in a new era of profits by replacing Synagis -- a patented drug that fights the same virus. Unfortunately for AstraZeneca, that may not happen.

Continue reading AstraZeneca Stumbles over FDA Panel

AstraZeneca Stumbles over FDA Panel originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 03 Jun 2010 10:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading AstraZeneca and Abbott Labs Receive FDA Response

AstraZeneca and Abbott Labs Receive FDA Response originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 30 Mar 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Closing Bell: The Win from Left Field (BRK-B, KFT, MRK, SPG, RIGL)

Closing Bell: The Win from Left Field (BRK-B, KFT, MRK, SPG, RIGL) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 16 Feb 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

• Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (ANF) lower Q3 results still topped expectations and sent shares higher.
• Applied Materials Inc. (AMAT) posted much better-than-expected Q4 earnings, the first profit in a year.
• AstraZeneca (AZN) received an analyst's downgrade due to concerns over its earnings prospects.
• Blackstone Group (BX) received an analyst's upgrade following the company's Q3 results.
• Blockbuster Inc. (BBI) widened its net loss in Q3 and revenue and same-stores sales declined.
• Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (CLNE) shares declined after its Q3 numbers fell short of expectations.
• Consolidated Water Co. Inc. (CWCO) earnings prospects for 2010 earned it an analyst upgrade.

Continue reading Earnings highlights: Abercrombie, Blockbuster, Disney, Macy's, Walmart ...

Earnings highlights: Abercrombie, Blockbuster, Disney, Macy's, Walmart ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 14 Nov 2009 14:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst upgrades:

• Keefe Bruyette upgraded Blackstone Group (BX) to outperform from market perform following the company's Q3 results and maintains an $18.50 price target on shares.
• Baird upgraded Astec (ASTE) to outperform from neutral citing relative valuation and upside from new multi-year U.S. highway funding legislation. The firm raised its target to $33 from $27.
• Goldman upgraded Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF) to conviction buy from neutral citing "significant" long-term growth drivers that include international growth. The firm raised its target to $45 from $36.
• Ariad Pharmaceuticals (ARIA) was upgraded to overweight from neutral at JPMorgan.
• Energizer (ENR) was upgraded to overweight from equal weight at Morgan Stanley.
• AstraZeneca (AZN) was upgraded to buy from hold at RBS.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: ANF, AZN, BX, GPS, PH, RAIL, VRSN ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: ANF, AZN, BX, GPS, PH, RAIL, VRSN ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"Investors considering high-yield stocks should consider financial strength; in our quantitative model, Quadrix, we assess profit margins, interest coverage, and debt levels," says Richard Moroney.

In Dow Theory Forecasts, a newsletter that has been published for over 5 decades -- he looks at two stocks that score high in this area: drug manufacturer, AstraZeneca (NYSE: AZN) and defense industry player, General Dynamics (NYSE: GD). Here, the advisor reviews the two companies.

"AstraZeneca's operating cash flow jumped 24% in the first half of 2009, allowing the company to retire $3 billion in debt since the end of 2008.

Continue reading AstraZeneca & General Dynamics: Financial strength

AstraZeneca & General Dynamics: Financial strength originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Good news for a new AstraZeneca drug

Good news for a new AstraZeneca drug originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Stocks are up this year but not everyone is profiting. One reason is that many investors, stung by the market collapse, have been looking for safety by investing in dividend paying stocks. But Richard Moroney, editor of Dow Theory Forecasts, says that investing for yield is a flawed strategy.

Moroney, a chartered financial analyst, points out that while the S&P 1500 Index is up about 16% so far this year, investors in high-yielding stocks (with yields of 4% or more) have a year-to-date return of just 4%. And he says that stocks that do not pay dividends are up an average of 29%.

We spoke with Richard Moroney to find out why this is the case -- and what income investors should do.

Continue reading Guru Strategy: Don't look to high yield stocks for high returns

Guru Strategy: Don't look to high yield stocks for high returns originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 18 Jun 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

In a review of the pharmaceutical sector, Chuck Carlson selects his favorite International stocks which also offer direct-purchase plans for U.S. investors.

Here's a look at two of these stocks -- United Kingdom-based AstraZeneca (NYSE: AZN) and Denmark-based Novo Nordisk (NYSE: NVO) -- from his The DRIP Investor, a newsletter focused on long-term, high quality investments.

"AstraZeneca is a leading pharmaceutical firm. The company boasts a portfolio that includes 11 products that generate more than $1 billion each in annual sales.

Continue reading Global pharma favorites

Global pharma favorites originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 14 May 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading AstraZeneca (AZN) gets good trial results from heart attack drug

AstraZeneca (AZN) gets good trial results from heart attack drug originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 11 May 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"Long-time healthcare investors can be forgiven their confusion; drug stocks are supposed to be defensive, but many of the largest drugmakers have been pounded," observes Richard Moroney.

Nevertheless, in the blue chip Dow Theory Forecasts, the advisor sees two favorite healthcare and pharmaceutical issues as long-term opportunities: AstraZeneca (NYSE: AZN) and Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ).

Moroney explains, "Healthcare companies' profits are supposed to remain fairly steady regardless of the economic situation. But hospitals' capital spending fell in the December quarter, and many consumers are putting off medical care because they cannot afford it.

Continue reading Healthcare favorites for long-term growth

Healthcare favorites for long-term growth originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 04 Mar 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Teva Pharmaceuticals (TEVA) asthma drug approved

Teva Pharmaceuticals (TEVA) asthma drug approved originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• UBS downgraded Merck & Co Inc (NYSE: MRK) to Neutral from Buy citing slowing Gardasil trends and vaccine supply issues.
• Merriman cut On2 Technologies Inc (AMEX: ONT) to Neutral from Buy to reflect the reduced visibility into financials and management changes.
• Baird downgraded shares of Zions Bancorporation (NASDAQ: ZION) to Neutral from Outperform to reflect deteriorating credit quality and growing capital concerns. The firm lowered their target price to $32 from $43.

• AstraZeneca Plc (NYSE: AZN) was downgraded to Hold from Buy at Deutsche Bank.
• JP Morgan lowered Marshall & Ilsley Corporation (NYSE: MI) to Underweight from Neutral.
• Acme Packet Inc (NASDAQ: APKT) was downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Piper.

Analyst downgrades: MRK, AZN, MI, ONT and ZION originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 07 Jul 2008 11:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MAJOR PAPERS:

• The Wall Street Journal reported that is is not yet certain whether Merrill Lynch & Co Inc (NYSE: MER) will need to raise money. If it does, selling common stock could be expensive due to a 12-month protection the bank offered the investors that bought $12B in common and preferred shares earlier this year and selling assets like its interest in Bloomberg may present a different problem.
• The Wall Street Journal also reported that investigators from the European Union are probing deeper into the pharmaceutical industry in an effort to determine whether drug companies have used unfair tactics to increase prices and block competition. Investigators have reportedly ask for views on direct-to-pharmacy distribution channels, which Pfizer Inc (NYSE: PFE) and AstraZeneca Plc (NYSE: AZN) recently established in Britain.
• After Anheuser-Busch Companies Inc (NYSE: BUD) said it would reject InBev's $46B bid as "financially inadequate," InBev said it would launch a hostile bid. According to court documents, the Financial Times reported that InBev is preparing to launch a proxy battle seeking the removal of Anheuser's entire board.
• The Financial Times also reported that soaring energy prices are forcing U.S. consumer goods company The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE: PG) to rethink how it distributes products. The company may consider shifting manufacturing sites closer to consumers in order to lower its transport bill.

Newspaper wrap-up: InBev says its bid for Anheuser Busch will turn hostile originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 27 Jun 2008 08:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.