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• Stanley Works to Buy Black & Decker
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Continue reading Cramer on BloggingStocks: Going it alone isn't always wise

Cramer on BloggingStocks: Going it alone isn't always wise originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Denbury strikes a $3.25 billion deal for Encore

Denbury strikes a $3.25 billion deal for Encore originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Continue reading Cramer on BloggingStocks: Assigning blame after Friday's market plunge

Cramer on BloggingStocks: Assigning blame after Friday's market plunge originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst upgrades:

• Citigroup upgraded Abbott Lab (NYSE: ABT) to Hold from Sell on valuation following the stock's recent underperformance. The firm maintains a $48 price target.
  
• Deutsche Bank upgraded shares of Pepsi Bottling (NYSE: PBG) and Dr. Pepper Snapple (NYSE: DPS) to Buy from Hold as they believe carbonated soft drinks market is showing signs of stabilization. The firm raised its price target on Pepsi Bottling to $28 from $25 and on Dr. Pepper Snapple to $22 from $20.
  
• Baird upgraded CommScope (NYSE: CTV) to Outperform from Neutral and raised their target to $19 from $10 as they expect fundamentals to bottom in Q1 and ramp strongly in Q2 as wireless capex outlook improves.
• Sinopec Shanghai (NYSE: SHI) was raised to Buy from Sell at Goldman.
  
• TRW Automotive (NYSE: TRW) was upgraded at JP Morgan to Neutral from Underweight.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: ABT, DPS, BDK, AMZN, GS ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: ABT, DPS, BDK, AMZN, GS ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 02 Apr 2009 11:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

By Michael Vodicka, Zack's Investment Research.

In spite of the recent selloff in the energy sector, most of these stocks are still trading with big gains on the year. This stands in sharp contrast to stocks from the financial sector, which have suffered steep losses as big banks have been forced to liquidate assets and raise capital to support their balance sheets.

Because these two groups of stocks have functioned as polar opposites during this stretch, it has provoked many conversations about which is currently the more attractive investment destination; high-flying energy stocks or beaten down financial stocks.

Its All About Earnings

When you take a look at the earnings picture, this argument becomes very one-sided.

Crude prices have recently dipped lower, but they are still very high when compared to historical norms, and this will translate into big earnings for energy companies. We can see this dynamic expressed through analyst estimates.

Encore Acquisition Co. (NYSE: EAC) shares are still trading up sharply on the year in spite of the stocks recent sell off, but estimates have risen in tandem with the stock price, with the current-year estimate advancing to $5.07 per share per share from $3.63 per share 90 days ago. This kind of earnings power provides plenty of fundamental strength for more share appreciation.

Continue reading Energy stocks vs. financial stocks

Energy stocks vs. financial stocks originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 19 Aug 2008 16:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Obagi Medical Products (NASDAQ: OMPI) was initiated with a Positive rating at Susquehanna, as they like Obagi's growth opportunity in the aesthetics-dermatology market and views the company as an interesting take-out target for a larger specialty pharmaceutical company.
  
• Montgomery believes Microsemi Corporation's (NASDAQ: MSCC) core business is on track and gaining momentum based on leverage in both high-reliability and high-performance analog. The firm started shares with a Buy rating and $34 target.
  
• Goldman initiated Marathon Oil Corporation (NYSE: MRO) with a Buy rating and $72 target, as they view Marathon as most favorably leveraged refining company and would use seasonal weakness in refining margins as a buying opportunity.
  
• RBC Capital sees a large opportunity for Encore Energy Parners (NYSE: ENP) to grow its reserves from internal negotiated transactions from its parent, Encore Acquisition Companies (NYSE: EAC), starting shares off with an Outperform rating and $26 target.

• BMO Capital initiated DCT Industrial Trust (NYSE: DCT) with a Market Perform rating.
  
• Lehman started shares of Darden Restaurants (NYSE: DRI) with an Overweight rating and $52 target.
  
• The firm also reinstated Radian Group (NYSE: RDN) and MGIC Investment Corporation (NYSE: MTG) with Underweight ratings.

Analyst initiations: OMPI, MSCC, MRO and ENP originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 22 Oct 2007 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Major Papers:

• According to the Wall Street Journal, General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM) is considering acquiring DaimlerChrysler's (NYSE: DCX) Chrysler Group, but the company would face massive challenges if it were to take over its longtime rival. People familiar with the matter say GM has not ruled out the idea, however.
• Google Inc (NASDAQ: GOOG) launched a new bundle of services targeted at corporations, but CEO Eric Schmidt said the company is not looking to go "head to head" with Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ: MSFT), the Wall Street Journal reported.
• Barron's Online's "Inside Scoop" column wrote that Encore Acquisition Co. (NYSE: EAC) chairman Jon Brumley bought 40,000 shares of the company for $988,000. "Obviously," Brumley said, "we think the stock is going to move higher."
• The Financial Times reported that Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) has bought out its local partner in India, JM, for $445M to up its presence in Asia.
• The Financial Times also reported that EMI Group (OTC: EMIPY) is also exploring alternatives to Warner Music Group Corp.'s (NYSE: WMG) $6B takeover bid for the company. According to people familiar with the matter, no offers appear imminent.

• Investor's Business Daily's "New America" column focused on online business Bankrate Inc. (NASDAQ: RATE). The company is established, credible, its brand name is known, it has no debt and it has over $100M on its balance sheet.

Newspaper wrap-up 2-22-07: GM considering acquisition of Chrysler Group originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 22 Feb 2007 09:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.