Analyst Upgrades

• Research In Motion (RIMM) to buy from hold at Jefferies.
• Citigroup (C) to buy from hold at ISI Group.
• Integrated Silicon (ISSI) to buy from hold at Auriga.
• Kinross Gold (KGC) to outperform from neutral at Credit Suisse.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: C, CHK, EBAY, KMB, MRK, NSRGY, PFE, RIMM, SNDA, VRA ...

Analyst Calls: C, CHK, EBAY, KMB, MRK, NSRGY, PFE, RIMM, SNDA, VRA ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 30 Nov 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

As I've written in the past, Chesapeake Energy (NYSE: CHK) CEO Aubrey McClendon has come under some well-deserved fire for his high compensation in the face of poor results and a declining stock price. He was paid a one-time $75 million bonus at the end of 2008 -- suspicious timing given that the stock had lost most of its value in recent months and Mr. McClendon had lost his entire stake in the company to margin calls.

The company also made the extremely unusual decision to use $12.1 million of company money to buy some of McClendon's collectible maps to decorate the company's offices.

Continue reading Chesapeake Energy CEO feebly defends himself

Chesapeake Energy CEO feebly defends himself originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 15 Jun 2009 10:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

General Electric (NYSE: GE) is recently trading at $25.61 in pre-open trading, below its close of $26.15. Merrill Lynch lowered its rating on GE to Neutral from Buy. GE October option implied volatility of 61 is above its 26-week average of 30 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement.

Chesapeake Energy (NYSE: CHK) closed at $40.89 Monday. CHK announced plans to temporarily reduce its 2008-10 capital expenditures and reduce its rig count by 17. CHK will host an analyst meeting on October 15. Natural Gas futures are recently up 0.17% to $7.671 according to Bloomberg. CHK October option implied volatility of 66 is above its 26-week average of 52 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement.

Option Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com

Option Update: General Electric volatility elevated as Merrill lowers rating originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 23 Sep 2008 09:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MAJOR PAPERS:

• Merger talks between UAL Corporation's (NASDAQ: UAUA) United Airlines and US Airways Group Inc (NYSE: LCC) have been put off for now, the Wall Street Journal reported. United is reportedly close to an alliance with Continental Airlines Inc (NYSE: CAL).
• Harris Corporation (NYSE: HRS) is for sale and the company has begun to hear from interested parties, the Wall Street Journal also reported. Harris is looking for $75 to $80 per share. Speculation about the bidders includes General Dynamics Corporation (NYSE: GD) and Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC).

• The Charleston Gazette reported that Chesapeake Energy Corporation (NYSE: CHK) has decided not to build its Eastern Division headquarters in Charleston, West Virginia in the wake of a West Virginia Supreme Court ruling on May 22.

• AppleInsider reported that Apple Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL) is expected to announce a back-to-school deal soon that will encourage students to buy new Macs by offering some of the largest incentives in the history of the company.

Newspaper wrap-up: United Airlines puts US Airways on hold, talks to Continental originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 30 May 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

• Archer Daniels Midland Co. (NYSE: ADM) Q3 profits soared, beating analysts' expectations.
• Buffalo Wild Wings Inc. (NASDAQ: BWLD) strong Q1 results met analysts' expectations.
• Burger King Holdings Inc. (NYSE: BKC) reported solid Q3 results that beat Wall Street estimates.
• Chesapeake Energy Corp. (NYSE: CHK) beat expectations for the first quarter, sending shares up.
• Colgate-Palmolive Co. (NYSE: CL) posted better-than-expected Q1 results on the weak dollar.
• Corning Inc. (NYSE: GLW) beat earnings expectations and raised its guidance.
• Corn Products International (NYSE: CPO) posted record sales for the ninth consecutive quarter.
• Duke Energy Corp. (NYSE: DUK) Q1 profits met expectations but revenues beat them.
• ExxonMobil Corp. (NYSE: XOM) missed Q1 expectations due to narrower margins.
• Garmin Ltd. (NYSE: GRMN) reported lower-than-expected earnings due to slowed demand.
• General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM) posted a smaller-than-expected loss for the first quarter.
• Herbalife Ltd. (NASDAQ: HLF) posted Q1 results and announced the resignation of the president and COO.
• Kellogg Co. (NYSE: K) beat Q1 expectations and announced a 10% dividend increase.
• Kraft Foods Inc. (NYSE: KFT) Q1 profits declined but beat analysts' expectations.
• Procter & Gamble Co. (NYSE: PG) reported better-than-expected Q1 results and raised its 2008 outlook.

Continue reading Earnings highlights: Exxon, GM, Time Warner, Starbucks, P&G, ADM and others

Earnings highlights: Exxon, GM, Time Warner, Starbucks, P&G, ADM and others originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 03 May 2008 10:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Cramer on BloggingStocks: Nat gas dip was profit-taking, nothing more

Cramer on BloggingStocks: Nat gas dip was profit-taking, nothing more originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 28 Apr 2008 09:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Merriman downgraded shares of Knot Inc (NASDAQ: KNOT) to Neutral from Buy following the company's mixed outlook to reflect poor visibility.

• Cablevision (NYSE: CVC) was downgraded to Market Perform from Outperform at Wachovia following its disappointing Q2 report and guidance. The firm does not expect a higher Dolan bid.

• Wachovia also downgraded shares of Chesapeake Energy Corp (NYSE: CHK) to Market Perform from Outperform. The firm said management expects an equity offering in the next 6-9 months, which is in contrast to recent comments regarding capital discipline and funding plans.

• Green Mountain Coffee (NASDAQ: GMRC) was downgraded to Market Perform from Outperform at Piper Jaffray on valuation and tough year/year comparisons.

• Bear Stearns downgraded Intermec (NYSE: IN) to Underperform from Peer Perform on valuation.

• Lehman downgraded Novo Nordisk (NYSE: NVO) to Equal Weight from Overweight.

• Davenport downgraded Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co (NYSE: WWY) to Neutral from Buy on valuation.

• Delta Petroleum (NASDAQ: DPTR) was downgraded at Merrill Lynch to Sell from Neutral.

• JMP Securities lowered Kenexa (NASDAQ: KNXA) to Market Perform from Outperform.

Analyst downgrades: CHK, CVC, KNOT and WWY originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 09 Aug 2007 10:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Labopharm Inc. (NASDAQ: DDSS) was downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Merrill Lynch and to Market Perform from Outperform at Leerink Swann after the 2nd approval letter from the FDA said Tramadol did not show efficacy. CIBC World Markets downgraded shares of Labopharm to Sector Performer from Outperformer and at Canaccord Adams to Sell from Hold.
• Dell Inc. (NASDAQ: DELL) was downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Merrill Lynch, which recommended investors take profits following the strong earnings reports. The firm does not believe the drivers behind the earnings upside are sustainable. Dell was also downgraded at Morgan Stanley, to Equal Weight from Overweight, based on valuation.
• The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. (NASDAQ: NDAQ) was downgraded to Equal Weight from Overweight at Lehman, as the firm believes the stock is range-bound for the next several months following the OMX acquisition announcement.

• Robert W Baird downgraded shares of DiamondRock Co. (NYSE: DRH) and Chesapeake Utilities Corp. (NYSE: CPK) to Neutral from Outperform on valuation.
• Bear Stearns downgraded shares of Emmis Communications Corp. (NASDAQ: EMMS) to Underperform from Peer Perform, as the firm does not believe the CEO will make another bid to take the company private.
• Matrix USA downgraded shares of Jabil Circuit Inc. (NYSE: JBL) to Hold from Buy.
• Morgan Stanley downgraded shares of Cintas Corp. (NASDAQ: CTAS) Underweight from Equal Weight, citing growth concerns, and downgraded shares of Virgin Media Inc. (NASDAQ: VMED) to Equal Weight from Overweight, citing higher customer churn and weaker pricing power.
• Goldman Sachs downgraded shares of RadioShack Corp. (NYSE: RSH) to Neutral from Buy.

Analyst downgrades 6-1-07: Dell, Cintas, RadioShack originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 01 Jun 2007 11:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.