BloggingStocks http://www.bloggingstocks.com BloggingStocks http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/media/feedlogo.gif BloggingStocks http://www.bloggingstocks.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Analyst upgrades: Macrovision, SAIC, Dassault Systemes]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/01/10/analyst-upgrades-mvsn-sai-and-dasty/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/01/10/analyst-upgrades-mvsn-sai-and-dasty/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/01/10/analyst-upgrades-mvsn-sai-and-dasty/#commentsFiled under: ,

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Macrovision, SAIC, Inc and Dassault Systemes were today's noteworthy upgrades:
  • Jefferies upgraded shares of Macrovision (NASDAQ: MVSN) to Buy from Hold on valuation, as they think the stock looks "very cheap" if the Gemstar (NASDAQ: GMST) deal does not get done; if the deal does get done, they think investors will get paid, but admits it may take longer.
  • JP Morgan upgraded SAIC Inc. (NYSE: SAI) to Overweight from Neutral as they expect the company to beat consensus estimates as margins surprise to the upside given cost reductions and cargo detection sales.
  • Dassault Systemes (NASDAQ: DASTY) was upgraded to Overweight from Equal Weight at Morgan Stanley as they find the company's recurring business and lack of exposure to troubled markets attractive in the current market.
OTHER UPGRADES:
  • GSI Commerce (NASDAQ: GSIC) was upgraded to Outperform from Underperform at Bear Stearns.
  • Lehman upgraded Cigna (NYSE: CI) to Equal Weight from Underweight.
  • Citigroup upgraded Alpha Bank (OTC: ALBKY) to Buy from Hold.

Analyst upgrades: Macrovision, SAIC, Dassault Systemes originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 10 Jan 2008 11:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ALBKYCIDASTYGMSTGSICMVSNSAIThu, 10 Jan 2008 11:51:00 EST<![CDATA[For sale: Gemstar-TV Guide International]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/07/10/for-sale-gemstar-tv-guide-international/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/07/10/for-sale-gemstar-tv-guide-international/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/07/10/for-sale-gemstar-tv-guide-international/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Gemstar-TV Guide International Inc (NASDAQ: GMST) is on the block. The company, whose holdings include the TV Guide magazine and cable channel, and which has patents on electronic television program guides, announced that its board of directors authorized the company to explore strategic alternatives, a move that could lead to the breakup of the company. Gemstar added that it has hired UBS as its financial advisor.

Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation (NYSE: NWS), which has a 41% stake in Gemstar, said yesterday that it supported the company's decision. Why wouldn't it? As the Wall Street Journal aptly put it, a sale of Gemstar could allow News Corp a way to sell its interest in the company. News Corp invested in Gemstar indirectly in 2002, having acquired it from a series of deals that began with its sale of TV Guide magazine to an affiliate of Tele-Communications Inc. TCI later merged with Gemstar. Of course, the deal has not been a pretty one, as Gemstar's management and accounting practices were later probed by the SEC. Former CEO Henry Yuen pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice in 2005, and was ordered to pay $22.3M for inflating revenue between 2000 and 2002. News Corp. may also be looking to get out of Gemstar because of Gemstar's desire to put more focus on its video patents, an area which News Corp is not "seeking to increase its presence."

The company has, however, done a pretty good job at reversing its luck. With new management, the company increased its revenue by about 9% in Q1 and increased its net income by nearly 30% last year. Earlier this year, the company acquired Aptiv Digital to move further into the interactive program-guide market, after seeing its print magazine floundering. Although GARP Research analyst George Sakellaris didn't name specific suitors, he believes that they are "plentiful." Aside from its patents and other revenue streams that include advertising on its interactive programming guides, the company has long-term contracts with major cable and satellite providers in the U.S. and elsewhere. Additionally, the company has seen improved earnings, a benefit of increasing demand for its electronic television guide, and has little debt. Its vast collection of assets could easily be picked up by another company, and sources in the market are speculating that a private-equity buyer, traditional media company or cable operator may be interested in its patents, TV Guide magazine or cable channels.

So far, so good. Gemstar shares shot up nearly 15% yesterday in after-hours trading.

For sale: Gemstar-TV Guide International originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 10 Jul 2007 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Dow JonesDowJonesGemstarGemstar-TV GuideGemstar-tvGuideGMSTNews CorpNewsCorpRupert MurdochRupertMurdochTV GuideTvGuideTue, 10 Jul 2007 12:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Analyst upgrades 7-10-07: F, FNM, GILD, GM and TTWO]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/07/10/analyst-upgrades-7-10-07-f-fnm-gild-gm-and-ttwo/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/07/10/analyst-upgrades-7-10-07-f-fnm-gild-gm-and-ttwo/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/07/10/analyst-upgrades-7-10-07-f-fnm-gild-gm-and-ttwo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Take-Two Interactive Software (TTWO), Greenbrier Cos (GBX), DirecTV Group (DTV), General Motors (GM) and Ford (F) were today's noteworthy upgrades:
  • Soleil upgraded shares of Take-Two Interactive Software (NASDAQ: TTWO) to Buy from Hold as they believe the new management team has quickly taken multiple steps to address key issues and is refocusing on profitable growth.
  • Morgan Keegan raised Greenbrier Cos (NYSE: GBX) to Market Perform from Underperform following the company's Q3 report.
  • Citigroup upgraded shares of DirecTV Group Inc (NYSE: DTV) to Buy from Hold as they see a 75% chance that Liberty Media (LCAPA) tenders for DTV within the next 12 months and could offer $30 a share for the company.
  • JP Morgan upgraded General Motors Corp (NYSE: GM) to Overweight from Neutral with a $50 target and Ford Motor Co (NYSE: F) to Overweight from Underweight as they see signs that unions will engage in radical changes, which could bring EPS upside. General Motors was also added to JP Morgan's Focus List...
OTHER UPGRADES:
  • Friedman Billings added Fannie Mae (NYSE: FNM) to its Top Pick list.
Analyst summaries provided by TheFlyOnTheWall.com (subscription required).

Analyst upgrades 7-10-07: F, FNM, GILD, GM and TTWO originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 10 Jul 2007 10:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aeoamerican eagleAmericanEagleanalystdirectvdtvffannie maeFannieMaefnmfordgbxgemstargeneral motorGeneralMotorgildgileadgmgmstgreenbriermicronmuratingtake-twotheflyonthewall.comttwoupgradeTue, 10 Jul 2007 10:10:00 EST