IBM (IBM) sells middleware software and technology services such as outsourcing and integration to large and medium sized businesses worldwide, and competes with firms like Oracle (ORCL) and Red Hat (RHT). IBM is also among the global leaders in business systems and competes with hardware vendors like Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) and Dell (DELL) in the server market as well as firms like EMC (EMC) and NetApp (NTAP) in the storage market.

In a recent development, IBM announced the launch of a new software and consulting service targeted at helping companies swiftly adapt to rising customer demands in today's digitally transformed marketplace. The firm chooses to call this new emerging category "Smarter Commerce," keeping in line with its Smarter Planet initiative. We have earlier discussed IBM's focus on its Smarter Planet initiative and how the firm stands to benefit from it. (See IBM's Smarter Planet Initiatives Lay Groundwork for Growth.)

Continue reading IBM Smells Opportunity in CRM with Launch of Smarter Commerce Initiatives

IBM Smells Opportunity in CRM with Launch of Smarter Commerce Initiatives originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 22 Mar 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Cree (CREE) and Rubicon Technology (RBCN) to buy from neutral at Merriman.
• Children's Place (PLCE) to outperform from market perform at BMO Capital.
• Lockheed Martin (LMT) to neutral from underperform at BofA/Merrill.
• Copano Energy (CPNO) to outperform from market perform at Morgan Keegan.
• Motorola Mobility (MMI) to neutral from reduce at Nomura.
• Parker-Hannifin (PH) to buy from hold at KeyBanc.
• Akamai (AKAM), ShoreTel (SHOR), AMB Property (AMB) and ProLogis (PLD) to buy from hold at Stifel Nicolaus.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AAPL, AEO, CREE, DELL, HPQ, IBM, LMT, MMI, MYGN, PH ...

Analyst Calls: AAPL, AEO, CREE, DELL, HPQ, IBM, LMT, MMI, MYGN, PH ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 17 Mar 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

IBM (IBM) sells middleware software and technology services such as outsourcing and integration to large and medium-sized businesses worldwide, and competes with firms like Oracle (ORCL) and Red Hat (RHT). IBM is also among the global leaders in business systems and competes with hardware vendors like HP (HPQ) and Dell (DELL) in the server market, as well as storage firms like EMC (EMC) and NetApp (NTAP) in the storage market.

Continue reading The Impact of Increased Tech Spending on IBM

The Impact of Increased Tech Spending on IBM originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 02 Mar 2011 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

As some of you may know, I own Microsoft Corporation (MSFT). I've discussed my position before. It's been a tough ride with this one. And I'm sure I'm not alone in terms of such opinion.

Microsoft has a reputation for being a frustrating stock. It looks like a value; it seems as if it should be trading higher. But as soon as you purchase the shares, they oftentimes disappoint. At least, that's been my experience.

Continue reading Is Microsoft's Price Action Encouraging?

Is Microsoft's Price Action Encouraging? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 24 Feb 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Hewlett-Packard Down Big After Latest Report

Hewlett-Packard Down Big After Latest Report originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 23 Feb 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

As outlined in November 2010, Hewlett-Packard Company (HPQ), first discussed on April 24, 2009, at a price of $35.80, has made it through its autumn rough-patch, and the stock has since moved further norther this winter to trade at/near $48.

And needless to add, Hewlett is still preferred here, and with a P/E of 10.5, HPQ is still on sale.

Continue reading Is Hewlett-Packard Undervalued?

Is Hewlett-Packard Undervalued? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 15 Feb 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Closing Bell: Tech Giveth, Tech Taketh Away (DDS, FFIV, FDO, HPQ, MS, PLXS, WEN)

Closing Bell: Tech Giveth, Tech Taketh Away (DDS, FFIV, FDO, HPQ, MS, PLXS, WEN) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 20 Jan 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Economies go in cycles. They push to their breaking points, then move in the opposite direction. We saw it clearly in the '90s when there was no end to up (except there was and we abruptly hit it in 2000). In 2008, it felt like there was no end to down. But we now know there is. Things are picking up, and there are numbers to prove it.

Don't be the last to figure out we're in an economic recovery. Sitting on the sidelines, waiting for one more chance to buy a stock at the bargain price you saw in March of 2009 isn't going to happen. Times have changed. The U.S. economy is on the mend.

Continue reading Comfort Zone Investing: Can You Feel the Pendulum Swinging?

Comfort Zone Investing: Can You Feel the Pendulum Swinging? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 15 Jan 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) to buy from neutral at UBS.
• Fluor (FLR) to overweight from neutral at JPMorgan.
• Macy's (M) to outperform from neutral at Credit Suisse.
• Canadian Solar (CSIQ), JA Solar (JASO) and HeartWare (HTWR) to buy from hold at Auriga.
• Ashford Hospitality (AHT) to outperform from market perform at FBR Capital.
• RenaissanceRe (RNR) to buy from neutral at Janney Capital.
• DCT Industrial (DCT) to market perform from underperform at Wells Fargo.
• Coeur d'Alene Mines (CDE) and Silver Standard (SSRI) to buy from hold at Deutsche Bank.
• Weatherford (WFT), Hercules (HERO), GulfMark Offshore (GLF), Tidewater (TDW) and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) to buy from hold, and Diamond Offshore (DO) to hold from underperform, at Jefferies.
• Ritchie Bros. (RBA) to buy from neutral at BofA/Merrill.
• AstraZeneca (AZN) to buy from hold at Citigroup.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AA, AMD, AMR, AZN, CIT, GSK, HPQ, M, NVDA, PCX, SPWRA ...

Analyst Calls: AA, AMD, AMR, AZN, CIT, GSK, HPQ, M, NVDA, PCX, SPWRA ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 11 Jan 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Closing Bell: Thinning the Holiday Trading Herd (ENZN, NKE, JPM, AIB, HPQ, AAPL, SIRI)

Closing Bell: Thinning the Holiday Trading Herd (ENZN, NKE, JPM, AIB, HPQ, AAPL, SIRI) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 22 Dec 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

One of the big themes in technology for 2010 has been the scramble to buy up data storage companies. Perhaps the most interesting transaction was the bidding war for 3Par. HP (HPQ) paid a premium price to beat out Dell (DELL).

As margins on PCs and laptops continue to fall, the large computer makers are trying to find ways to boost margins. And data storage products are a key way to do this.

Continue reading Dell Strikes a Deal for Compellent

Dell Strikes a Deal for Compellent originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 13 Dec 2010 13:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Riverbed Technology (RVBD - option chain) shares are rising today on reports that the company is in negotiations to buy Radware (RDWR) for $47 per share. Rival Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) reportedly has offered $45 per share for RDWR. 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 RVBD.

RVBD opened this morning at $35.50. So far today the stock has hit a low of $34.58 and a high of $36.91. As of 12:20, RVBD is trading at $34.99 up 0.17 (0.5%). The chart for RVBD looks neutral and S&P gives RVBD a neutral 3 STARS (out of 5) hold ranking.

Continue reading Riverbed Enters Bidding War Against Hewlett-Packard

Riverbed Enters Bidding War Against Hewlett-Packard originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 06 Dec 2010 13:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Closing Bell: A Bounce Off of Support? (AMRN, IRE, BP, HPQ)

Closing Bell: A Bounce Off of Support? (AMRN, IRE, BP, HPQ) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 29 Nov 2010 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Hewlett-Packard Shareholders Sue Over CEO Exit

Hewlett-Packard Shareholders Sue Over CEO Exit originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 29 Nov 2010 13:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Hewlett-Packard Company (HPQ) was up 2% to $44.19 at the close of today's bell. Unfortunately, that wasn't too close to the 52-week high of $54.75. Then again, it was comfortably above the 52-week low of $37.32. And, volume was super-strong.

Alas, the chart doesn't look too appealing, does it? The equity seems to be in a downtrend, and while traders might be able to make some money, long-term believers had no choice but to consistently add on the dips to improve the cost basis.

Continue reading Hewlett-Packard in the Green After Earnings Report

Hewlett-Packard in the Green After Earnings Report originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 23 Nov 2010 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Among the quarterly results scheduled for this holiday-shortened week, investors may be thankful for the earnings results from Tyson Foods (TSN). The Arkansas-based poultry and meat producer reported on its sustainability efforts and also was named McDonalds' (MCD) supplier of the year during its fiscal fourth quarter. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters forecast earnings for that period to have doubled from a year ago to 56 cents per share.

Tyson is also expected to post revenue of $7.8 billion for the three months that ended in September, which is 7.4% more than in the same period of fiscal 2009. And the consensus estimate for the full year calls for earnings of $2.08 per share (+87.0%) and revenue of $28.7 billion (+7.3%). Tyson's earnings have been better than expected in recent quarters, beating consensus estimates by as much as 24 cents per share.

Continue reading Week in Preview: Tyson Foods, Analog Devices, Deere Serve Up Earnings

Week in Preview: Tyson Foods, Analog Devices, Deere Serve Up Earnings originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 21 Nov 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Technology giant Hewlett Packard Company (HPQ) will be reporting its fiscal fourth quarter results following the market close Monday, with analysts expecting to see earnings of $1.27 per share.

During the same period last year, the company had earnings of $1.14 per share.

There will definitely be a lot of attention paid to the company's quarterly report, but that does not have so much to do with the company's figures as it does with the company's new CEO, Leo Apotheker.

Continue reading Hewlett-Packard Q4 Earnings Preview

Hewlett-Packard Q4 Earnings Preview originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 19 Nov 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

It was only a month ago I wrote a story comparing Oracle Corp. (ORCL) and Hewlett Packard (HPQ), concluding the latter to be the better opportunity from a value investor's perspective. At the time Oracle was $27.49. Yesterday it closed at a new 52-week high of $29.23 -- a gain of 6.33%.

During this time, Oracle insiders have been selling shares and the trend is negative. In September alone, almost $300 million of the stock was sold off. If you examine Barron's weekly summary of insider activity, as one source, you will find that Oracle has been in the top five companies on the sell side for many weeks. As the stock has been rising, insiders have been selling into strength.

Continue reading Chasing Value: Oracle Insiders Selling as Stock Hits 52-Week High

Chasing Value: Oracle Insiders Selling as Stock Hits 52-Week High originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 19 Oct 2010 10:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Piper Jaffray upgraded Salesforce.com (CRM) to overweight from neutral, citing valuation following the recent sell-off and strong business trends. The firm has a $115 price target for shares.
• Keefe Bruyette upgraded M&T Bank (MTB) to market perform from underperform on valuation after AIB sold its stake in the company. The firm has a $72 price target for shares.
• Jefferies upgraded OGE Energy (OGE) to buy from hold following the announcement that ArcLight will purchase 9.9% of OGE's interest in Enogex for $183M and believes this deal highlights the hidden value associated with Enogex. The firm raised its price target to $51.50 from $43.
• Thomas & Betts (TNB) was upgraded to outperform from perform at Oppenheimer.
• Bayer (BAYRY) was upgraded to buy from neutral at UBS.
• Texas Roadhouse (TXRH) was upgraded to outperform from neutral at Baird.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: A, ARST, BAC, C, COST, CRM, DPS, GS, JPM, MS, MTB, VOD ...

Analyst Calls: A, ARST, BAC, C, COST, CRM, DPS, GS, JPM, MS, MTB, VOD ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 07 Oct 2010 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Crude oil futures closed up 1.99% to $81.56 according to Bloomberg. Amex Energy Select (XLE) closed up 75 cents to $56.51. October put option implied volatility is at 22, January is at 27, versus its 26-week average of 27, according to Track Data, suggesting decreasing near-term price movement.

Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) announced the election of Leo Apotheker as CEO and President and Ray Lane, Managing Partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, as nonexecutive chairman. Hewlett-Packard closed down $1.30 to $40.77. Overall option implied volatility of 29 is below its 26-week average of 31, according to Track Data, suggesting slightly decreasing price movement.

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

Options Update: Amex Energy Select October Volatility Low; Oil Rallies to Four-Month High originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 03 Oct 2010 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.