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Closing Bell: Almost an Eight-Day Run (NYX, RL, CSC, KO, WWWW)

Today the market tried to make it eight days in a row for a positive close, but didn't quite pull it off. The markets had been soft much of the day but the flatline was something hard to predict until literally until right at the closing bell. Many overseas markets were lower on the day.

Here were today's closing bell levels:

Dow Jones 12,239.89 +6.74 (0.06%)
S&P 500 1,320.88 -3.69 (-0.28%)
Nasdaq 2,789.07 -7.98 (-0.29%)

Continue reading Closing Bell: Almost an Eight-Day Run (NYX, RL, CSC, KO, WWWW)

Top Picks 2011: Computer Sciences (CSC)

Computer Sciences (CSC) logoThis post is one in a series in which more than 60 newsletter advisors share their Top Stock Picks for 2011. This special report is courtesy of TheStockAdvisors.com.

"Computer Sciences (CSC) -- our top pick for 2011 -- is a global leader in providing information technology and related services to commercial accounts and government agencies," says Sy Harding.

The editor of Street Smart Report explains, "In our view, the wind is likely to be at the company's back as the economic recovery continues to strengthen over the next two years.

Continue reading Top Picks 2011: Computer Sciences (CSC)

Computer Sciences Corp. Boosts Dividend and Starts Buyback

Computer Sciences Corp. (CSC - option chain) shares are rising today after the company announced that its board has approved an increase of its quarterly dividend to 20 cents per share from 15 cents. The board also approved a $1 billion stock buyback program. If you think that the stock won't fall by too much in the coming months, then now could be a good time to look at a bullish hedged trade on CSC.

CSC opened this morning at $47.40. So far today the stock has hit a low of $47.40 and a high of $48.99. As of 12:10, CSC is trading at $48.76 up $1.85 (3.9%). The chart for CSC looks bullish and S&P gives CSC a positive 4 STARS (out of 5) buy ranking.

Continue reading Computer Sciences Corp. Boosts Dividend and Starts Buyback

Comfort Zone Investing: Do You Have a Plan?

a lonely road - comfort zone investing - have a planPlans. They're something other people make, right? And what's the use of a plan when the stock market is so volatile? You can watch a stock take years to rise well above where you bought it, only to see all that gain lost in a matter of hours. Plans. Who needs them? You do. Especially you.

Investors need plans and discipline more than ever. It's been a tough few years. No one knows how long this recession will last, but having a plan that is almost (nothing is absolute in investing) bulletproof will help you get through the roughest days, weeks, months, even years of turmoil. Here's where you start:

Continue reading Comfort Zone Investing: Do You Have a Plan?

Analyst Calls: BCR, BUD, CLX, CMA, CSC, CSCO, DELL, LEN, MCO, NOK, TRV ...

Analyst Upgrades

  • Jefferies upgraded Computer Sciences (CSC) to buy from hold and raised its target to $53 from $47. The analyst said Computer Sciences' valuation has created one of the best LBO opportunities in several years and could provide a five year IRR of 25+%.
  • Keefe Bruyette upgraded Comerica (CMA) to outperform from market perform, citing strength of the company's capital. The firm raised its target for shares to $44 from $43.
  • RBC Capital upgraded Nokia (NOK) to outperform from sector perform and raised its price target to $14 from $12. The firm upgraded shares based on valuation, reduced execution risk on software development, and potential catalysts from new devices based on Symbian^3. RBS upgraded Nokia to buy from hold after the company named Stephen Elop as CEO.
  • Allstate (ALL) was upgraded to buy from hold at Citigroup.
  • Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE) was upgraded to buy from neutral at BofA/Merrill.
  • Moody's (MCO) was upgraded to overweight from neutral at Piper Jaffray.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: BCR, BUD, CLX, CMA, CSC, CSCO, DELL, LEN, MCO, NOK, TRV ...

Analyst Calls: MA, FRO, NITE, RDS.A, CCL, DWA, VLCM, WEN, C, PG, ENOC ...

Analyst Upgrades

  • Janney Montgomery upgraded MasterCard (MA) to buy from neutral. The firm has a $250 price target on the stock.
  • Lazard upgraded Frontline (FRO) to hold from sell following the better than expected Q1 report.
  • Knight Capital (NITE) was upgraded at BMO Capital to outperform from market perform. The firm cites valuation and improved fundamentals for the downgrade. The firm has an $18 price target on the stock.
  • Royal Dutch Shell (RDS.A) was upgraded to overweight from equal weight at Barclays.
  • Carnival (CCL) was upgraded to neutral from sell at Goldman.
  • Computer Sciences (CSC) was upgraded to buy from hold at Stifel Nicolaus.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: MA, FRO, NITE, RDS.A, CCL, DWA, VLCM, WEN, C, PG, ENOC ...

Analyst Calls: AA, AMP, BLUD, CREE, CSC, JNPR, LHGC, MWW, TDG ...

Analyst Upgrades
  • UBS raised its Global LED demand estimates and upgraded Cree (CREE) to buy from neutral, citing lower margin risk and increased LED lighting growth. The firm raised its target to $92 from $60.
  • Wells Fargo upgraded Juniper (JNPR) to outperform from market perform. The firm believes the company is beginning to generate multifaceted growth as a result of increased carrier traffic and impressive products.
  • RBC Capital upgraded LHC Group (LHCG) to outperform from sector perform. RBC expects the company to increase 2010 guidance due to the passage of health care reform and raised its target for shares to $39 from $35.
  • TransDigm (TDG) was upgraded to outperform from neutral at Credit Suisse.
  • WebMD (WBMD) was upgraded to neutral from sell at Goldman.
  • Houston Wire & Cable (HWCC) was upgraded to outperform from neutral at Baird.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AA, AMP, BLUD, CREE, CSC, JNPR, LHGC, MWW, TDG ...

Attack on Google Highlights Cyber Security Issue

There may be one positive thing that came out of the recent cyberattack on Google (GOOG). That good thing would be a very timely spotlight on the issue of computer network security. When we consider the almost instantaneous carnage that one talented hacker or code writer could inflict upon almost any data system, the prudent investor might do well to investigate the opportunities presented by such a scenario.

Continue reading Attack on Google Highlights Cyber Security Issue

Analyst Upgrades, Downgrades and Initiations: AMTD, AOL, CHTT, CSC, IMAX, SAIA, WRC ...

Analyst Upgrades

  • Keefe Bruyette upgraded TD AmeriTrade (AMTD) to outperform from market perform on valuation following the recent sell-off in shares. The firm has a $22.50 price target on the stock.
  • Stifel upgraded Saia (SAIA) to buy from hold based on valuation, operating leverage and increased possibility of a large industry consolidation event in the next few months. The firm has an $18 target on the stock.
  • Citigroup upgraded Atlas Pipeline Holdings (AHD) to hold from sell to reflect valuation and an improved outlook for commodity prices. The firm raised its target on shares to $6 from 50 cents.
  • Manpower (MAN) was upgraded to buy from neutral at BofA/Merrill.
  • IAMGOLD (IAG) was upgraded to buy from neutral at UBS.

Continue reading Analyst Upgrades, Downgrades and Initiations: AMTD, AOL, CHTT, CSC, IMAX, SAIA, WRC ...

Sunday Funnies: Barron's predicting profits?

In this week's (November 9) Preview Section of Barron's (subscription required) I was surprised to find that on Wednesday (11/9) it is noted that Computer Sciences (CSC), Applied Materials (AMAT), and Macy's (M) reported "profits." How do they know this?

On other days they refer to the "earnings" of various companies reporting. Perhaps I am splitting hairs, perhaps it is editorial haste (like you might find on our site), or perhaps there is no difference in some people's minds? From my perspective there is a difference between earnings and profits. Every quarter, public companies report their earnings. They do not always report a profit.

Continue reading Sunday Funnies: Barron's predicting profits?

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: AA, ETFC, FIATY, MOT, MSFT, POT ...

Analyst upgrades:

  • Kaufman Bros. upgraded Computer Sciences (NYSE: CSC) and Cognizant (NASDAQ: CTSH) to Buy from Hold on better demand trends as it believes overall enterprise IT spending is turning more positive. The firm raised its target on Computer Sciences to $62 from $54 and on Cognizant to $45 from $42.
  • Citigroup upgraded E-Trade (NASDAQ: ETFC) to Buy from Hold as it believes loan less trends have improved and the company could potentially be acquired. Citi raised its target on shares to $2.30 from $1.50.
  • Auriga upgraded Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) to Buy from Hold as it believes consensus expectations for 2010 are too low, but admits the company's Q1 results could be fairly weak. Auriga believes Microsoft is coming up to its "most powerful product cycle in many years" and raised its price target on shares to $30 from $24.
  • Motorola (NYSE: MOT) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at UBS.
  • Fidelity Southern (NASDAQ: LION) was upgraded to Neutral from Reduce at SunTrust.
  • Sonoco Products (NYSE: SON) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at BofA/Merrill.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: AA, ETFC, FIATY, MOT, MSFT, POT ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: DAI, GT, DB, FIATY, TXN ...

Analyst upgrades:
  • Goldman upgraded shares of Daimler (NYSE: DAI) to Buy from Neutral as it believes the company's restructuring and greater visibility on its outlook could be positive for the stock.
  • JP Morgan upgraded shares of Goodyear Tire (NYSE: GT) and Cooper Tire (NYSE: CTB) to Overweight from Neutral on expectations that industry volumes will improve in the coming quarters.
  • Friedman Billings upgraded Websense (NASDAQ: WBSN) following the company's better than expected preliminary Q1 results. The firm maintains a $17 target on shares.
  • Ruby Tuesday (NYSE: RT) was upgraded to Buy from Hold at KeyBanc.
  • Portfolio Recovery (NASDAQ: PRAA) was raised to Buy from Neutral at SunTrust.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: DAI, GT, DB, FIATY, TXN ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: AA, NOK, EXPE, MTB, CSC ...

Analyst upgrades:
  • JP Morgan upgraded Alcoa (NYSE: AA) to Overweight from Neutral and added shares to its Focus List. The analyst said the equity offering and dividend cut provide enough "liquidity insurance" to make it through 2009 and now views risk/reward as attractive.
  • Deutsche Bank upgraded Asbury Automotive (NYSE: ABG) to Buy from Hold as it finds the current valuation attractive and thinks the company's cost savings will drive upside in a recovery. The firm raised its target price to $7 from $5.50.
  • Barclays upgraded Beckman Coulter (NYSE: BEC) to Overweight from Equal Weight. Following their healthcare conference and management meetings, the firm sees increased visibility into revenues.
  • Waddell & Reed (NYSE: WDR) was raised to Buy from Neutral at Goldman.
  • Nokia (NYSE: NOK) was upgraded to Outperform from Neutral at Credit Suisse.
  • Brocade (NASDAQ: BRCD) was lifted to Outperform from Sector Perform at RBC Capital.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: AA, NOK, EXPE, MTB, CSC ...

Stocks in the news: BBY, AXP, GM, PRU, M, AMAT, BBBY, LVS, MSFT

Best Buy Inc. (NYSE: BBY) shares are down after the company said it sees softer consumer spending and lowered fiscal 2009 EPS guidance.

American Express Co. (NYSE: AXP) -- The Wall Street Journal reported that according to its sources, AmEx is seeking about $3.5 billion from the U.S. government to help boost its balance sheet. This follows Monday's Federal approval for AmEx to become a bank holding company.

General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM) -- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi thinks GM is too big to fail and wants Congress to support a financial assistance for the troubled U.S. auto industry. This follows Obama urging Bush to support aid for struggling automakers and Democrats in Congress passing legislation that would give GM, Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F) and Chrysler access to $25 billion in government-backed loans. But automakers need more. GM shares are trading higher.

Prudential Financial Inc. (NYSE: PRU) said late Tuesday it will pay a dividend of 58 cents per share on Dec. 19 to shareholders of record at the close of business on Nov. 24. This 2008 annual dividend is roughly half of the $1.15 per share it paid out to shareholders last year.

Continue reading Stocks in the news: BBY, AXP, GM, PRU, M, AMAT, BBBY, LVS, MSFT

Options update 1-25-08: Office Depot volatility elevated

Office Depot (NYSE: ODP) closed at $13.81 Thursday, near a six-year low.

ODP has a market cap of $3.7 billion. ODP has long term debt of $581 million. ODP reported total September 2007 revenue of $3.9 billion. ODP has been frequently mentioned buyout candidate over the last two years.

ODP overall option implied volatility of 59 is above its 26-week average of 49 according to Track Data, suggesting larger risk.

Computer Sciences (NYSE: CSC) closed at$39.20 Thursday.

CSC is scheduled to report EPS on February 4. CSC

February option implied volatility of 44 is above its 26-week average of 33 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price fluctuations.

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

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Symbol Lookup
IndexesChangePrice
DJIA-89.2312,801.23
NASDAQ-23.352,903.88
S&P 500-9.311,342.64

Last updated: February 10, 2012: 08:01 PM

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