"Our Buyback Premium Portfolio is beating the S&P 500 by more than 65% since its inception in 2000; the portfolio is up 54.48% vs. a decline of 10.56% in the S&P 500 over the same time frame," notes buyback specialist David Fried.

The editor of The Buyback Letter explains, "Here's a look at three new additions to this portfolio: Forest Labs (FRX), Dollar Tree (DLTR) and Ryder System (R).

"Forest Labs is an international pharmaceutical manufacturer and marketer perhaps best known for its top selling product, anti-depression drug Lexapro, which sold $587 million in its most recent quarter.

Continue reading A Trio of Buyback Bets: Forest Labs, Dollar Tree, Ryder

A Trio of Buyback Bets: Forest Labs, Dollar Tree, Ryder originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Applied Materials (AMAT) to overweight from neutral at Piper Jaffray.
• Air Products (APD) to buy from hold at Citigroup.
• Youku.com (YOKU) and Pinnacle West (PNW) to buy from neutral at Goldman.
• Stryker (SYK) and Zimmer (ZMH) to buy from neutral at UBS.
• Zions Bancorp (ZION) to outperform from neutral at Macquarie.
• Alnylam (ALNY) to buy from hold at Needham.
• AK Steel (AKS) to buy from hold at KeyBanc.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AEP, AKS, AMAT, EZCH, FRX, LOPE, MYGN, PNW, ZION ...

Analyst Calls: AEP, AKS, AMAT, EZCH, FRX, LOPE, MYGN, PNW, ZION ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 23 Feb 2011 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Our recommendations center on a collection of five stocks that we believe, as a group, will outperform the market this month. The Buyback Premium Portfolio is beating the S&P 500 by more than 65% since its inception (August 2, 2000)! This portfolio is up 54.48% since inception (August 2, 2000) vs. a decline of 10.56% in the S&P 500 over the same time frame. We hope that you are participating in these profits. For the month of January 2011, The Buyback Premium Portfolio gained 1.18% vs. a gain of 2.27% in the S&P 500.

Continue reading David Fried's Buyback Premium Portfolio: Mid-Month Update

David Fried's Buyback Premium Portfolio: Mid-Month Update originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 18 Feb 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Forest Laboratories (FRX - option chain) shares are rising today after the company reported third-quarter earnings this morning, posting a profit of $320.7 million, or $1.11 per share. Excluding one-time items, FRX earned $1.34 per share on revenue of $1.13 billion. Analysts had forecast a profit of $0.99 per share on revenue of $1.10 billion. 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 FRX.

FRX opened this morning at $32.80. So far today the stock has hit a low of $31.94 and a high of $32.80. As of 12:20, FRX is trading at $32.40 up 0.96 (3.0%). The chart for FRX looks bullish and S&P gives FRX a positive 4 STARS (out of 5) buy ranking.

Continue reading Forest Labs (FRX) Boosted by Q3 Earnings

Forest Labs (FRX) Boosted by Q3 Earnings originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 18 Jan 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Piper Jaffray upgraded Edwards Lifesciences (EW) to overweight from neutral and raised its target price for shares to $77 from $53 after The New England Journal of Medicine reported the company's PARTNER Trial met primary endpoints.
• UBS upgraded Endo Pharmaceuticals (ENDP) to buy from neutral and raised its price target to $36 from $25. UBS is positive on Endo's creative strategic deals and believes the switch to Opana TRF from Opana ER will be easy. Additionally, the analyst believes pipeline expectations are very low.
• BMO Capital upgraded Nvidia (NVDA) to outperform from market perform based on expectations that share loss in the core GPU business will stop, Tegra momentum and valuation. The firm raised its price target to $16 from $9.
• FirstEnergy (FE) and Allegheny Energy (AYE) were upgraded to outperform from neutral at Credit Suisse.
• Mylan (MYL) was upgraded to conviction buy from buy at Goldman. Warner
• Chilcott (WCRX) was upgraded to overweight from equal weight at Morgan Stanley.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: CALM, CWT, DD, DYN, ENDP, EW, MO, MOS, NVDA, OXPS, PPL ...

Analyst Calls: CALM, CWT, DD, DYN, ENDP, EW, MO, MOS, NVDA, OXPS, PPL ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 23 Sep 2010 11:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Soleil upgraded Thor Industries (THO) to buy from hold after the company said its accounting review will not lead to changes to previously taken accounting positions. The firm raised its target for shares to $45 from $28.
• Citigroup upgraded Family Dollar (FDO) to buy from hold, citing valuation and its positive view on the dollar store industry. The firm upped its target for shares to $47 from $44.
• Wells Fargo upgraded Albany Molecular (AMRI) to outperform from market perform, citing valuation and a stabilizing core business.
• Goldman Sachs (GS) upgraded to overweight from neutral at JPMorgan.
• Patterson-UTI Energy (PTEN) was upgraded to equal weight from underweight at Barclays.
• BP (BP) was raised to buy from hold at RBS.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AMAT, AMRI, BP, BUCY, DB, FDO, GS, ISIL, THO ...

Analyst Calls: AMAT, AMRI, BP, BUCY, DB, FDO, GS, ISIL, THO ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 06 Jul 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Short Sellers Piling on Forest Laboratories

Short Sellers Piling on Forest Laboratories originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 01 Jul 2010 17:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• UBS upgraded UPS (UPS) and FedEx (FDX) to buy from hold based on recent weakness and leverage to a recovery. The firm raised its price target on UPS to $74 from $72 and on FedEx to $100 from $97.
• Bernstein upgraded Medicis (MRX) to outperform from market perform based on valuation and said the company has been executing well over the past few months. The firm has a $28 price target on the stock.
• Citigroup upgraded Weingarten Realty (WRI) to buy from hold, citing valuation and the company's improved balance sheet. The firm maintains a $24 price target for shares.
• Home Depot (HD) and Lowe's (LOW) were upgraded to market perform from underperform at BMO Capital.
• NextEra Energy (NEE) was upgraded to outperform from neutral at Baird.
• Nokia (NOK) was upgraded to neutral from reduce at WestLB.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AMED, FDX, H, HD, HOT, LGF, LOW, MAR, MTB, MRX, NOK, UPS ...

Analyst Calls: AMED, FDX, H, HD, HOT, LGF, LOW, MAR, MTB, MRX, NOK, UPS ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 01 Jul 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Bernstein upgraded Corning (GLW) to outperform from market perform based on Gorilla glass prospects and valuation. The firm raised its price target to $22 from $21.
• RBC Capital upgraded Beckman Coulter (BEC) two rating levels to outperform from underperform, citing valuation and customer checks that indicate high retention rates. The firm upped its target for shares to $65 from $55.
• Credit Suisse upgraded Canadian Pacific (CP) to outperform from underperform. The firm expects Canadian Pacific to have stronger-than-average Q2 volume growth, improved productivity and notes leverage to growth in Asia, among other reasons for the upgrade. The firm raised its target to $75 from $59.
• Freeport McMoRan (FRX) was upgraded to overweight from neutral at HSBC.
• Solera (SLH) was upgraded to strong buy from buy at Needham.
• Jefferies upgraded IPC The Hospitalist Co. (IPCM) to buy from hold.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: BEC, BRCM, CP, CVS, DO, GLW, INTC, LMT, NE, NVDA, RIG, RTN ...

Analyst Calls: BEC, BRCM, CP, CVS, DO, GLW, INTC, LMT, NE, NVDA, RIG, RTN ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 08 Jun 2010 12:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Scotia Capital upgraded Apple (AAPL) to outperform from sector perform, citing valuation, potential increased iPhone distribution and iPad upside. The firm's two-year price target is $325.
• UBS upgraded Parker-Hannifin (PH) to neutral from sell following the company's better-than-expected Q3 report.
• Piper Jaffray upgraded Arkansas Best (ABFS) to neutral from underweight after the Teamsters union announced a tentative agreement with the company. The firm has a $33 price target for shares.
• Harley-Davidson (HOG) was upgraded to market perform from underperform at Raymond James.
• Allegheny Tech (ATI) was upgraded to buy from hold at KeyBanc.
• Manhattan Associates (MANH) was upgraded to buy from hold at Benchmark.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AAPL, ABFS, BIIB, EXC, HOG, PH, RIG, UTH, VITC ...

Analyst Calls: AAPL, ABFS, BIIB, EXC, HOG, PH, RIG, UTH, VITC ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 21 Apr 2010 11:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• BMO Capital upgraded EOG Resources (EOG) to market perform from underperform. The firm has a $100 target on the stock.
• Morgan Joseph upgraded Glimcher Realty (GRT) to buy from neutral with a $6.50 target. The firm believes the company has solved most of its liquidity problems while its dividend yield is very attractive.
• Citigroup upgraded AmerisourceBergen (ABC) to buy from hold.
• Lincoln Electric (LECO) was upgraded to gradually accumulate from hold at Soleil.
• BMC Software (BMC) was upgraded to outperform from neutral at Credit Suisse.
• Mercer (MERC) was upgraded to outperform from market perform at Raymond James.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: BUD, EBAY, EOG, FRX, GRT, MON, MSFT, SINA ...

Analyst Calls: BUD, EBAY, EOG, FRX, GRT, MON, MSFT, SINA ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 08 Apr 2010 11:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Before the Bell: Futures Lower Despite Strong March Retail Sales

Before the Bell: Futures Lower Despite Strong March Retail Sales originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 08 Apr 2010 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• JPMorgan upgraded Mohawk (MHK) to overweight from neutral. The firm finds shares attractive following their recent underperformance and has a positive outlook for the building products space in 2010. JPMorgan has a $53.50 price target on the stock.
• Stephens upgraded Alexander & Baldwin (ALEX) to overweight from equal weight to reflect improving volume trends and the upcoming move of the company's Transport division from Japan to Guam, which it believes will serve as a positive catalyst. Stephens raised its target price on shares to $41 from $26.
• Deutsche Bank upgraded Unum Group (UNM) to buy from hold as it believes an acceleration of growth and potential buybacks could serve as positive catalysts. The firm raised its target on shares to $26 from $25.
• News Corp. (NWS) was raised to neutral from sell at Pali Capital.
• CA Inc. (CA) was upgraded to buy from hold at Jefferies.
• Pactiv (PTV) was upgraded to buy from hold at KeyBanc.

Continue reading Analyst Upgrades, Downgrades and Initiations: ADP, BAC, HOG, MHK, NWS, T, UNM ...

Analyst Upgrades, Downgrades and Initiations: ADP, BAC, HOG, MHK, NWS, T, UNM ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst upgrades:

• UBS upgraded Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) to Buy from Neutral and raised its target to $265 from $170, citing higher iPhone expectations, new partnerships, and likely upward revisions to Street estimates driven by gross margins.
• Wells Fargo upgraded Comcast (NASDAQ: CMCSA) to Outperform from Market Perform. The firm views a possible deal between end General Electric's (NYSE: GE) NBC Universal positively, as it thinks NBC will provide higher-margin growth for Comcast.
• Janney Montgomery upgraded Michael Baker (AMEX: BKR) to Buy from Neutral after the company completed the sale of its Energy business. The firm raised its target on shares to $46 from $40.
• Jefferies assumed coverage of Endo Pharma (NASDAQ: ENDP) and upgraded the stock to Buy from Hold. The firm cites valuation, a strong base business, and solid cash flow for the upgrade, and has a $30 target price on shares.
• Marten Transport (NASDAQ: MRTN) was upgraded to Overweight from Equal Weight at Stephens.
• U.S. Bancorp (NYSE: USB) was upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at Keefe Bruyette.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: AAPL, BAC, C, CMCSA, NOK, USB ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: AAPL, BAC, C, CMCSA, NOK, USB ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 10:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Merriman upgraded Taser (NASDAQ: TASR) to Buy from Neutral as it believes current valuation levels do not reflect the company's market opportunities and that the law enforcement funding in President Obama's stimulus plan will boost sales in Q4 and FY10.
  
• Goldman upgraded Macy's (NYSE: M) to Buy from Neutral and added shares to its Conviction Buy List based on reduced balance sheet concerns and improved risk/reward. The firm also raised their target to $8.25 from $8.
  
• JP Morgan upgraded Family Dollar (NYSE: FDO) to Neutral from Underweight and raised its target to $29 from $19 following the better-than-expected Q2 report. The analyst continues to prefer Dollar Tree (NASDAQ: DLTR) and Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT).
• Goldman removed Universal Am (NYSE: UAM) from the Conviction Sell List.
  
• McDermott (NYSE: MDR) was upgraded to Buy from Hold at Jefferies.
  
• Canadian Natural (NYSE: CNQ) was upgraded to Sector Outperformer from Sector Performer at CIBC.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: TASR, M, FDO, NVDA, DGX ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: TASR, M, FDO, NVDA, DGX ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 06 Mar 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

From TheStreet.com Network

• Cramer: Obama Hits the Right Notes, but Trouble Remains
• Banks Plagued by Capital Woes

Continue reading Cramer on BloggingStocks: Banks are vital to the market's psyche

Cramer on BloggingStocks: Banks are vital to the market's psyche originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 21 Jan 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst upgrades:

• Oppenheimer upgraded shares of Shanda Interactive (NASDAQ: SNDA) to Outperform from Perform following the company's better-than-expected quarter to reflect its growth acceleration in the casual games platform and margin improvements.
  
• SAIC (NYSE: SAI) was upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform following the solid Q2 report and guidance.
  
• Susquehanna upgraded Zumiez (NASDAQ: ZUMZ) to Positive from Neutral citing positive August comps, revised merchandising, easier comps, and solid financial position.
• Goldman Sachs upgraded Pharm Product Development (NASDAQ: PPDI) and Steel Dynamics (NASDAQ: STLD) to Buy from Neutral.
  
• Novellus (NASDAQ: NVLS) was raised to Overweight from Equal Weight at Morgan Stanley.

• Morgan Stanley downgraded the Semiconductor Capital Equipment sector to In-Line from Attractive citing optimistic expectations for Q4 orders following the recent bounce in stocks. The firm downgraded Lam Research (NASDAQ: LRCX) to Underweight from Overweight and KLA-Tencor (NASDAQ: KLAC) KLAC to Equal Weight from Overweight.

Continue reading Analyst calls: SAI, KLAC, QCOM, MRVL, UL, CMG, HPQ, AAPL, DELL ...

Analyst calls: SAI, KLAC, QCOM, MRVL, UL, CMG, HPQ, AAPL, DELL ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 04 Sep 2008 11:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Forest Laboratories (NYSE: FRX) develops branded and generic drug products, as well as non-prescription pharmaceuticals. Offerings include Lexapro, for the treatment of depression, Namenda for Alzheimer's disease, Benicar for hypertension, and Campral for the maintenance of alcohol abstinence. Other products include treatments for diaper rash, colic, cystic fibrosis, hypertension, eczema and psoriasis. The company is working in collaboration with other firms to develop treatments for asthma, schizophrenia, chronic pain and anxiety. Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) and Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) are major competitors.

Forest Labs pleased investors last week when it reported Q3 EPS of 96 cents and revenues of $998.2 million. Analysts had been looking for 75 cents and $946.6 million. Management also guided FY08 EPS to $3.35-$3.45, above prior guidance of $3.10-$3.20 and Street consensus of $3.06. The CEO noted that the company expects to report clinical trial results for several late-stage products during the remainder of the calendar year. Lehman Brothers, Roth Capital and AmTech Research subsequently reiterated "buy" ratings on the stock. Raymond James initiated the shares with a "strong buy." The shares popped into a bullish "flag" consolidation pattern on the news. Prices frequently exit flags moving in the same direction they were traveling on entry. In this case, that would be to the upside.

Altogether, brokers now recommend the issue with eleven "strong buys," ten "buys," twelve "holds" and one "sell." The stock's Price Book ratio (3.90), EPS Growth rate (23.35%), Operating Margin (22.46%) and Net Profit Margin (14.94%) compare favorably with industry, sector and S&P 500 averages. Institutional investors hold about 95% of the outstanding shares. The stock is one of those used to calculate the S&P 500 Index. Over the past 52 weeks, it has traded between $34.89 and $57.97. A stop-loss of $33.95 looks good here.

Larry Schutts is a contributing editor for Theflyonthewall.com and the Vice-President of Stockwinners.com. He does not hold positions in any of the stocks mentioned above.

Forest Laboratories: Share price displays bullish 'flag' formation originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 23 Jan 2008 13:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Och Ziff Capital Management Group (NYSE: OZM) was initiated with an Overweight by JP Morgan, which believes the company should be able to better sustain and build its earnings power than traditional asset managers in the challenging market conditions.
  
• JP Morgan started FactSet Research Systems (NYSE: FDS) with a Neutral, as the firm is looking for a better entry point given the probability of an upcoming financial data and analytics spending slowdown.
  
• Forest Labs Inc. (NYSE: FRX) was initiated with a Buy by Roth Capital, which cited Lexapro and the company's near-term EPS as reasons for the rating.
  
• Thomas Weisel initiated optical component maker and provider companies Avanex Corp. (NASDAQ: AVNX), Bookham Inc. (NASDAQ: BKHM), Finisar (NASDAQ: FNSR), Optium Corp. (NASDAQ: OPTM), Opnext Inc. (NASDAQ: OPXT), and Oplink Communications Inc. (NASDAQ: OPLK) with Market Weight ratings, as the firm expects the unfavorable industry structure to create margin volatility.

• JP Morgan assumed coverage of American Express Co. (NYSE: AXP) with an Overweight rating.
• Morgan Stanley initiated Eagle Bulk Shipping (NASDAQ: EGLE) with an Equal Weight.

Analyst initiations: Och-Ziff Capital, FactSet, Forest Labs, optical component makers originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 24 Dec 2007 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Mylan Lab (NYSE: MYL), a leading pharmaceutical company, closed at $13.53. Goldman Sachs says, "Upgrading to Buy with $19 price target, we see a bottom in shares." MYL overall option implied volatility of 46 is above its 26-week average of 39 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement.

Forest Labs (NYSE: FRX), a U.S.-based pharmaceutical company, closed at $36.71. Cowen says "current pipeline is more valuable than generally perceived, and we believe FRX shares can outperform the market by 15-20% as pipeline viability improves." FRX overall option implied volatility of 44 is above its 26-week average of 37 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement.

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

Option update 11-27-07: MYL, FRX volatility up as shares dip originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 27 Nov 2007 10:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.