Continue reading Heat Wave Sparks Jump in Con Edison

Heat Wave Sparks Jump in Con Edison originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 09 Jul 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Anadarko Petroleum Tops Bullish Volatility Skews; Millipore Tops Bearish

Anadarko Petroleum Tops Bullish Volatility Skews; Millipore Tops Bearish originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 01 Jul 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Stifel views shares of DreamWorks (DWA) as oversold and believes investors are too pessimistic on recent films. The firm upgraded shares to buy from hold and has a $35 target on the stock.
• JPMorgan upgraded Consolidated Edison (ED) to neutral from underweight based on EPS visibility. The firm raised its price target to $45 from $37.
• Soleil upgraded PPL Corp. (PPL) to buy from hold following the 90M share secondary last night that was priced at $24. The firm sees improving earnings visibility and a removal of the equity overhang for the upgrade. The firm has a $29 price target on the stock.
• Unilever (UL) was upgraded to neutral from underperform at Credit Suisse.
• Holly (HOC) was upgraded to buy from neutral at BofA/Merrill.
• Bebe Stores (BEBE) was upgraded to neutral from underperform at Cowen.
• Oppenheimer upgraded Monster Worldwide (MWW) to outperform from perform.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: CVC, DWA, ED, EW, LULU, MWW, NRGY, PPL, TYN, UL ...

Analyst Calls: CVC, DWA, ED, EW, LULU, MWW, NRGY, PPL, TYN, UL ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 23 Jun 2010 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• JPMorgan upgraded TiVo (TIVO) to overweight from neutral as it believes Thursday's appeal win against DISH Network could lead to revenue upside. The firm raised its target price for shares to $23 from $15.
• Collins Stewart upgraded DISH Network (DISH) to buy from hold on valuation, as it believes much of the impact from the negative appeals ruling is priced into the stock. The firm has a $30 target for shares.
• Cowen upgraded Ciena (CIEN) to outperform from neutral. The firm believes Ciena's acquisition of MEN is transformative and will accelerate top line growth.
• Progress Software (PRGS) was upgraded to buy from hold at Needham.
• Allergan (AGN) was upgraded to buy from hold at Lazard Capital.
• Public Service (PEG) was upgraded to buy from hold at Jefferies.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: CIEN, COF, DISH, ED, GME, MOS, POT, TIVO, WEN ...

Analyst Calls: CIEN, COF, DISH, ED, GME, MOS, POT, TIVO, WEN ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 05 Mar 2010 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading A Dividend Stock or Two, for Those Who Doubt the Bull

A Dividend Stock or Two, for Those Who Doubt the Bull originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 17 Feb 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Kaufman Bros. upgraded Amazon.com (AMZN) to buy from hold as it finds the risk/reward on shares attractive following the recent pullback and expects the company to report strong Q4 results. Kaufman maintains a $155 price target on the stock.
• Baird upgraded DeVry (DV) to outperform from neutral and raised its target to $76 from $62. The firm said they have increased confidence in DeVry's ability to navigate through the ERP implementation.
• Benchmark Co. upgraded McGraw-Hill (MHP) to buy from hold on expectations the company's momentum should continue throughout 2010 due to improving debt markets, increased IPO issuance and steady education funding. The firm raised its target price on shares to $42 from $32.
• Best Buy (BBY) was upgraded to buy from neutral at Rochdale.
• AK Steel (AKS) was upgraded to buy from neutral at Goldman.
• Cooper Industries (CBE) was raised to buy from neutral at UBS.

Continue reading Analyst Upgrades, Downgrades and Initiations: AMZN, BBY, DV, POT, TWX, VZ, X ...

Analyst Upgrades, Downgrades and Initiations: AMZN, BBY, DV, POT, TWX, VZ, X ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 27 Jan 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• ThinkEquity upgraded Intel (INTC) to buy from hold and has a $25 target on the stock. The firm believes guidance will prove conservative and strong execution, new product cycle, Win7 cycle and corporate PC-Server refresh will drive shares higher.
• Wells Fargo upgraded Holly Energy (HEP) to outperform from market perform after increasing its valuation ranges for small cap pipeline MLPs. The firm raised its valuation range for Holly to $43 to $45.
• SunTrust upgraded Watsco (WSO) to buy from neutral as it believes the carrier joint venture will serve as a long-term catalyst. The firm has a $67 price target on the stock. William Blair upgraded Watsco to outperform from market perform ahead of the company's Q4 results to reflect valuation and improving economic conditions.
• Staples (SPLS) and Office Max (OMX) were upgraded to overweight from neutral at JPMorgan.
• Kellogg (K) was raised to buy from neutral at BofA/Merrill.
• Advanced Micro (AMD) was upgraded to outperform from market perform at FBR Capital.

Continue reading Analyst Upgrades, Downgrades and Initiations: AMD, HEP, INTC, IRE, K, SPLS, TOL, WSO ...

Analyst Upgrades, Downgrades and Initiations: AMD, HEP, INTC, IRE, K, SPLS, TOL, WSO ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 15 Jan 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"One of the most common questions I receive from investors is, where should money be invested to generate income," notes Jim Powell.

In his Global Changes & Opportunities Report, he suggests, "I think the most attractive way to invest for current income is with selected high-yielding utilities -- like Con Ed (ED) -- and limited partnerships -- such as Kinder Morgan Energy Partners (KMP)."

"Most money market funds pay less than it costs to mail the monthly statements. CDs offer more, but their yields are still pathetic. Even long term Treasuries are only in the 3.4% range. For many retired people, those are poverty level returns.

Continue reading Kinder Morgan (KMP) and Con Ed (ED): Energized income

Kinder Morgan (KMP) and Con Ed (ED): Energized income originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

One of my wonderful friends, Ms. P, asked me for some guidance on how she might allocate $50,000 currently earning peanuts in a money market account. Though she is decades from becoming a grandmother, after a brief discussion about her financial parameters, it became clear to me that she was looking for a "granny fund."

In reality, my recommendations would be suitable, and perhaps desirable, for many passive investors as well.

The $50,000 is a portion of money Ms. P has set aside to purchase a home, which might happen in six months, but could also be pushed out further, depending on the economy and her situation. Basically, she wants to cover all her bases because she might need the money at any time and does not want to be caught short, while at the same time she would like to generate some revenue without taking any big risks.

Continue reading Where should granny put $50,000?

Where should granny put $50,000? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst upgrades:

• Jefferies upgraded Consolidated Edison (NYSE: ED) to Buy from Hold on expectations the company will be able to reach a settlement with the New York PSC Staff that will provide benefits to both ratepayers and shareholders. The firm raised its target on shares to $46 from $40.50.
• Keefe Bruyette upgraded Public Storage (NYSE: PSA) to Market Perform from Underperform to reflect the company's balance sheet, industry leading position, and potential for accretive acquisitions. The firm raised its target on shares to $75 from $57.
• JPMorgan upgraded Big Lots (NYSE: BIG) to Overweight from Neutral to reflect valuation and industry data points that suggest a pick-up in discretionary spending. The firm has a $30 target on the stock.
• Alcoa (NYSE: AA) was upgraded to Buy from Hold at Deutsche Bank.
• East West Bancorp (NASDAQ: EWBC) was upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at Keefe Bruyette.
• Bronco Drilling (NYSE: BDC) was upgraded to Neutral from Sell at UBS.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: AA, BIG, ED, FDX, MGM, MSFT, SKS ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: AA, BIG, ED, FDX, MGM, MSFT, SKS ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Deutsche Bank upgraded Spartech (NYSE: SEH) to Buy from Hold as it sees further upside following the company's "strong" Q2 results. The firm raised its target on shares to $10 from $2.50.
• Oppenheimer upgraded Clorox (NYSE: CLX) to Outperform from Underperform. The firm believes the company's FY10 outlook is conservative, providing room for upside, and that the valuation is compelling at current levels. Opco set a $70 price target on the stock.
• Goldman upgraded Steel Dynamics (NASDAQ: STLD) to Buy from Neutral and raised its target to $20 from $16, citing reduced balance sheet concerns following the capital raise. Note that AK Steel (NYSE: AKS) was downgraded to Neutral from Buy.
• PG&E (NYSE: PCG) was upgraded to Buy from Hold at Citigroup.
• Pool Corp. (NASDAQ: POOL) was upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at William Blair.
• Liberty Property Trust (NYSE: LRY) was upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at Wachovia.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: CLX, ED, JBHT, HMC, PCG ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: CLX, ED, JBHT, HMC, PCG ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 12 Jun 2009 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Barclays believes Disney (NYSE: DIS) is the best positioned company for "media's digital evolution." The firm upgraded shares to Overweight from Underweight and has a $32 target on shares.
  
• Oppenheimer upgraded Semtech (NASDAQ: SMTC) to Outperform from Perform after channel checks indicated improved inventory levels, better product mix, and market share gains. The firm set a $20 target on the stock.
  
• RBC Capital expects Rigel's (NASDAQ: RIGL) R788 in RA to achieve its primary endpoint in the Phase II trials. Shares were upgraded to Sector Perform from Underperform and the price target was raised to $8 from $6.
• WebMD (NASDAQ: WBMD) was upgraded to Accumulate from Sell at ThinkEquity.
  
• International Game Tech (NYSE: IGT) was raised to Conviction Buy from Neutral at Goldman.
  
• Infineon (NYSE: IFX) was lifted at Banc of America/Merrill to Buy from Neutral.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: DIS, ED, RBS, X ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: DIS, ED, RBS, X ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 06 May 2009 11:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Argus upgraded CBRL Group (NASDAQ: CBRL) to Buy from Hold as it believes increased efficiency at Cracker Barrel will help to boost restaurant traffic and same-store sales. The firm has a $33 target on shares.
  
• Citigroup upgraded shares of Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) to Buy from Hold on expectations the company's blood-thinning drug Effient is on track for a Q2 U.S. launch. The firm raised its price target on shares to $41 from $36.
  
• Needham upgraded Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) to Buy from Hold after recent channel checks suggested Intel's PC OEM orders are tracking better than expected. The firm expects Intel to keep prices and product mix stable, enabling margins to recover in Q2. Needham has an $18 target on INTC shares.
• SEI Investments (NASDAQ: SEIC) was upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at Keefe Bruyette.
  
• Consolidated Edison (NYSE: ED) was raised at Jefferies to Buy from Hold.
  
• Taleo (NASDAQ: TLEO) was lifted to Outperform from Perform at Oppenheimer.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: CBRL, INTC, LLY, RDS.A, NTDOY ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: CBRL, INTC, LLY, RDS.A, NTDOY ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 18 Mar 2009 10:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Public Service Enter (NYSE: PEG), a regulated gas & electric utility serving three-quarters of New Jersey's population, closed at $25.96. PEG April option implied volatility of 49 is near its 26-week average of 45, according to Track Data, suggesting slightly larger price movement.

PG & E (NYSE: PCG) serves 4.9M electricity distribution customers, and approximately 4.1M natural gas customers in California, closed at $37.52. PCG option implied volatility of 39 is near its 26-week average according to Track Data, suggesting non-directional price movement.

Consolidated Edison (NYSE: ED) closed at $39.15. ED April option implied volatility of 32 is near its 26-week average according to Track Data, suggesting non-directional price movement.

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

Options Update: Utilities volatility flat as shares trade lower originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 05 Mar 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

From TheStreet.com Network

• Cramer's 'Mad Money' Recap: Obama Coming to Cramerica
• Cramer's Take on Top-Searched Stocks

TheStreet.com's Jim Cramer says that Dominion Resources saw a lot of the green movement coming and moved aggressively.

What do you do with a company that raises its dividend twice in two years by 11%, that has superior growth characteristics in its sector, enlightened management and a plan for executives to buy stock regularly?

Well, in this market, that's an easy question to answer: You sell it. That's what's been going on with Dominion Resources (NYSE: D) (Cramer's Take), the Richmond, Va.-based utility that yields more than 6%, but is bumping along its 52-week low like every other stock I follow.

Continue reading Cramer on BloggingStocks: Dominion's an Obama-resistant play

Cramer on BloggingStocks: Dominion's an Obama-resistant play originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 05 Mar 2009 10:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Baird upgraded MSM Industrial (NYSE: MSM) to Outperform from Neutral based on valuation and a positive view for Industrial Distributors.
  
• William Blair upgraded Allscripts (NASDAQ: MDRX) to Outperform from Market Perform on valuation following the recent pullback and believes Allscripts is well positioned to benefit from public policy that drives adoption of electronic medical records.
  
• Citigroup upgraded Consolidated Edison (NYSE: ED) to Buy from Hold as they believe the ALJ recommendation in the company's pending electric rate case indicates potential for an improving outlook.
• Raytheon (NYSE: RTN) was raised to Buy from Neutral at Goldman.
  
• Smith & Nephew (NYSE: SNN) was upgraded at JP Morgan to Neutral from Underweight.
  
• Becton Dickinson (NYSE: BDX) was upgraded to Overweight from Equal Weight at Morgan Stanley.

• Oppenheimer downgraded Bio-Reference Labs (NASDAQ: BRLI) to Perform from Outperform as they believe weaker volumes could pressure top-line growth in the near-term. The firm lowered their target to $25 from $30.
  
• Morgan Stanley downgraded shares of Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE: ALU) to Equal Weight from Overweight to reflect market deterioration as they find the risk/reward as balanced at current levels.
  
• JP Morgan cut Nestle (OTC: NSRGY) to Underweight from Neutral on concerns the company's 2009 revenue will miss consensus estimates due to market share losses.
• Rio Tinto (NYSE: RTP) and Anglo American (NASDAQ: AAUK) were lowered to Hold from Buy at Deutsche Bank.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: ED, RTN, ALU, NSRGY, RTP, HPQ ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: ED, RTN, ALU, NSRGY, RTP, HPQ ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 09 Jan 2009 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Stock picks and pans for troubled times: RIMM, ED, ISRG, GLW, LEA, SLB, GOOG ...

Stock picks and pans for troubled times: RIMM, ED, ISRG, GLW, LEA, SLB, GOOG ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 21 Nov 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"For more than 180 years, Consolidated Edison (NYSE: ED) has served the world's most dynamic and demanding marketplace: metropolitan New York," notes Dennis Slothower in his Stealth Stocks newsletter. Here, he explains why ConEd is his "stock of the month."

"Con Edison, our latest 'stockj of the month' provides electric service to about 3.2 million customers and gas service to approximately 1.1 million customers in New York City and Westchester County.

"It also provides electric service to 300,000 customers in southeastern New York and adjacent areas of northern New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania.

"Con Edison's competitive energy businesses participate in segments of the electricity industry that are less comprehensively regulated than our regulated businesses.

"These segments include the operation of electric generation facilities, trading of electricity and fuel, sales of electricity to wholesale and retail customers, and sales of certain energy-related goods and services.

"I can't tell you how tough it is to find and recommend a company based on my strict selection criteria. I have never seen so many stocks in my universe in steep down trends. While there are some good companies paying high dividends, their stocks are in a free fall.

"Con Edison is a strong utility company that I feel confident will continue to pay a nice fat dividend. The 10-year U.S. Treasury bond is yielding about 4%, while Con Ed's dividend is yielding 5.3%. We get a good combination in Con Ed: a high yield and possible increase in the stock price."

Steven Halpern's TheStockAdvisors.com offers a daily look at the latest market commentary and favorite stock picks and investment ideas from the nation's leading financial newsletter advisors.

'Fat dividend' fires up Con Ed (ED) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 17 Nov 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

General Motors (NYSE: GM) has finally come up with something to save its bacon. It will team with a number of utilities including Con Edison (NYSE: ED) and Duke Power (NYSE: DUK) to create a broad market for electric cars.

According to The Wall Street Journal, "Auto makers need the cooperation of utilities since they control the new technology's primary fuel -- electricity -- and must make sure that the vehicles' recharging processes mesh with the electricity grid and don't inadvertently undermine grid reliability." In other words, no one wants the cars to cause brown outs. GM also plans to negotiate special rates to make its electric cars cheaper to recharge.

The announcement is one of GM's first intelligent moves in a long time. It has allowed its reliance on pickup trucks and SUVs to drive down its sales and cut its market share in the US. Foreign rivals that kept lines of smaller cars now have products with broad appeal to consumers. This is particularly true of their hybrids.

GM's concern remains whether being late to the market will make it too late. Its potential customers want fuel-efficient cars now, when the price of gas is high. GM will lose billions of dollars while it tries to catch up.

The competition will not be sitting still.

Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 247wallst.com.

GM hooks up with utilities to push electric car originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 22 Jul 2008 10:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MAJOR PAPERS:

• The books of Fannie Mae -- Federal National Mortgage Association (NYSE: FNM) -- and Freddie Mac -- Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (NYSE: FRE) -- are being examined by the Federal Reserve and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to review their financial condition, according to the Wall Street Journal.
• The Wall Street Journal also reported that the Chevy Volt, an electric car from General Motors Corporation (NYSE: GM), is slated to roll out in two years and it received a major boost from 36 utilities that operate in 40 states who agreed to work together to make the plug-in vehicle possible. Among the utilities are American Electric Power Company Inc (NYSE: AEP), Consolidated Edison Inc (NYSE: ED), Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE: DUK), and Edison International (NYSE: EIX).
• Struggling mortgage lender Paragon is reportedly in talks with The Blackstone Group LP (NYSE: BX) about a potential takeover by Blackstone, the Financial Times reported.

• The New York Times reported that TiVo Inc (NASDAQ: TIVO) will today introduce a "product purchase" feature in partnership with Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ: AMZN). Under TiVo's plan, the television remote control will be turned into a tool for buying products that are advertised and promoted on talk shows and commercials.

Newspaper wrap-up: Fed, Office of the Comptroller scrutinize Fannie, Freddie books originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 22 Jul 2008 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.