Most investors would like a "do over."

They look back on certain investments and wish they'd never heard of, much less put money in them. Sure things like your good friend's invention that would make beer in one day from water and weeds. Or your brother's idea of selling real estate on Saturn. Everyone has their own stories. Mine are usually related to private investments in the medical device field or biotech, though I did have one out of Florida that made a "pig" that ran through oil pipelines to check on their safety. After meeting the founder who looked more like a used car salesman that caught a great sale on polyester suits, I should have known better right then. But I didn't.

Continue reading Comfort Zone Investing: If I Could Start All Over Again ...

Comfort Zone Investing: If I Could Start All Over Again ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 02 Apr 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Is IBM Headed to $200 and Beyond?

Is IBM Headed to $200 and Beyond? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Time and again SAP (SAP) has announced that its in-memory is a disruptive technology, which speeds up data storage and retrieval to unprecedented speeds. Traditionally SAP competes with Oracle (ORCL), Microsoft (MSFT), Salesforce.com (CRM) and IBM (IBM) in the applications software market.

We maintain a $64.85 price estimate for SAP stock, which is about 15% higher than market price.

Continue reading SAP's In-Memory Technology to Shake Up Database Market

SAP's In-Memory Technology to Shake Up Database Market originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 23 Mar 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This post is part of Japan: A Special Report for Investors.

"Japan's tsunami has struck worldwide," says Richard Moroney, the editor of Dow Theory Forecasts, which has maintained a model portfolio of blue chip stocks for over 50 years.

Here, he reviews a number of the top buy recommendations in the newsletter's portfolios to determine the potential risk posed by the recent tragic developments in Japan.

Stocks cited as "Focus List Buys" are are those issues that the service expect to significantly outperform the market over the next 12 months.

Continue reading Japan: Dow Theory's Blue Chip Portfolio Review

Japan: Dow Theory's Blue Chip Portfolio Review originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 23 Mar 2011 12:40:00 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 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.

Continue reading Closing Bell: From Nuclear Woes to Media Exhaustion (AAPL, CCJ, IBM, EWJ, MRT, PSUN, PANL, WBSN)

Closing Bell: From Nuclear Woes to Media Exhaustion (AAPL, CCJ, IBM, EWJ, MRT, PSUN, PANL, WBSN) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 16 Mar 2011 16:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• BB&T (BBT) and Aflac (AFL) to buy from hold at Deutsche Bank.
• Kodiak Oil & Gas (KOG) to outperform from neutral at RW Baird.
• Zhongpin (HOGS) to neutral from reduce at Global Hunter.
• Marathon Oil (MRO), Noble Energy (NBL) and Manulife Financial (MFC) to buy from neutral at UBS.
• Carrizo Oil & Gas (CRZO) to buy from hold at Canaccord.
• Comerica (CMA) to buy from neutral at Rochdale.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AAPL, AFL, BBT, CMA, ENER, HERO, IBM, LVS, MRO, NE ...

Analyst Calls: AAPL, AFL, BBT, CMA, ENER, HERO, IBM, LVS, MRO, NE ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 16 Mar 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Over the past couple years, the storage market has been the target of big acquisitions from companies like HP (HPQ) and Dell (DELL). With cloud computing -- as well as the emergence of data-hungry applications -- the growth in the market has been strong.

To capitalize on this, some of the top companies are looking at IPOs. For example, Fusion-io made its filing this week. The lead underwriters include Goldman Sachs (GS) and Morgan Stanley (MS).

Continue reading Hot Storage Company Fusion-io Goes for an IPO

Hot Storage Company Fusion-io Goes for an IPO originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 09 Mar 2011 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) is down 1.2% to $159.86 as I write this during the afternoon session. Volume is below average, however. More perspective: the 52-week low is $116 and the 52-week high is $166.25. Here's the one-year chart.

A few days ago, IBM received a positive initiation from CLSA, according to our Analyst Calls piece. The stock was given an outperform rating. Indeed, this company has been impressive as of late. I enjoyed the fourth-quarter results myself.

Continue reading IBM: How Is the Stock Doing

IBM: How Is the Stock Doing originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 07 Mar 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Intel (INTC), ON Semiconductor (ONNN), Lattice Semiconductor (LSCC), Fairchild Semiconductor (FSC), STMicroelectronics (STM) and Altera (ALTR) to outperform from neutral at RW Baird.
• Capital One (COF) to overweight from equal weight at Morgan Stanley.
• Dollar Tree (DLTR) to buy from neutral at Goldman.
• Foot Locker (FL) to buy from neutral at Sterne Agee.
• Progressive (PGR) to buy from neutral at BofA/Merrill.
• Flow International (FLOW) to buy from neutral at Roth Capital.
• Signature Bank (SBNY) to buy from hold at Jefferies.
• HiSoft Technology (HSFT) to buy from neutral at UBS.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AMTD, C, COF, DLTR, FL, GS, IBM, INTC, NYT, PGR, SCHW ...

Analyst Calls: AMTD, C, COF, DLTR, FL, GS, IBM, INTC, NYT, PGR, SCHW ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Apple, Inc. (AAPL) closed up 0.8% on the unveiling of the iPad 2. AAPL March put option implied volatility is at 26, May is at 33, compared to its 26-week average of 33 according to Track Data. That suggests larger price movement in May.

International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) overall option implied volatility of 20 is near its 26-week average of 21 according to Track Data, suggesting non-directional movement into a March 8 investor briefing.

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

Options Update: Apple March Put Volatility Low originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 02 Mar 2011 18:00:00 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.

"Buoyed by strong operating momentum, the technology sector earns high marks in our Quadrix(R) stock- rating system," says Richard Moroney.

The editor of Dow Theory Forecasts explains, "Our favorite picks in the tech sector -Altera (ALTR), Apple (AAPL), IBM (IBM) and Texas Instruments (TXN) - share some favorable qualities.

➤ December-quarter results: All four topped consensus estimates, producing double-digit growth in per- share profits. Revenue also exceeded expectations.

Continue reading Top Techs: Dow Theory's 4 Favorites

Top Techs: Dow Theory's 4 Favorites originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 02 Mar 2011 10:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

IBM(IBM)competes with Oracle(ORCL) and Red Hat(RHT) in the middleware software market.

IBM's advanced computing device Watson, "designed to quickly answer complex questions with pinpoint precision", recently defeated human competitors on the popular TV show Jeopardy. Watson, developed by IBM's scientists over the last three years and named after IBM's founder Thomas J. Watson, Sr., has taken data analysis capabilities to a new level.

Continue reading IBM's Watson: From Jeopardy to Middleware Software Upside

IBM's Watson: From Jeopardy to Middleware Software Upside originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 22 Feb 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Athenahealth (ATHN), Ensco (ESV), Pride International (PDE) and Sinclair Broadcast (SBGI) to outperform from market perform at Wells Fargo.
• CIRCOR (CIR) to buy from hold at BB&T.
• Urban Outfitters (URBN) to hold from sell at Citigroup.
• Shaw Group (SHAW) to buy from neutral at UBS.
• MGM Resorts (MGM) and Boyd Gaming (BYD) to buy from neutral, as well as Intrepid Potash (IPI) to neutral from underperform, at BofA/Merrill.
• Carlisle (CSL) to buy from neutral at SunTrust.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AFL, AMZN, EBAY, ESV, FSLR, IBM, MGM, SHAW, TGT, WMT ...

Analyst Calls: AFL, AMZN, EBAY, ESV, FSLR, IBM, MGM, SHAW, TGT, WMT ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 08 Feb 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

I first wrote about International Business Machines (IBM) in February 2009 at a price of $91.51, and the stock continues to power higher -- clearing psychological resistance at $150. Now may be a good time to consider taking some profits.

However, those investors who can tolerate the risk can maintain their full position to go for a bigger gain. IBM's shares will likely trade above $180 by the end of 2011. If Big Blue approaches $195 in 2011, that would be another good to time to consider taking some profits.

Continue reading IBM: Time to Take Some Profits with Big Blue?

IBM: Time to Take Some Profits with Big Blue? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 30 Jan 2011 14:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

If you think the economic recovery is just beginning, then these three stocks will benefit. They've just released their earnings so you can see how they've fared even in these tough times. They all share positive attributes: plenty of cash, growing sales and earnings, and a dividend.

General Electric (GE): This stock has been a frustration for years. It cut the dividend. The price went from $38 a share to $8 from 2008 to 2009. Now it's coming back. The latest quarterly and annual reports for 2010 confirm the company's finally seeing better demand for most of its products and services.

GE mirrors the economy because it's in so many different parts of it. Here are only some of its offerings: jet engines, light bulbs, credit, mortgage finance, appliances, power plants, locomotives, electric distribution and control equipment, generators and turbines, real estate, commercial finance, aircraft leasing, NBC Universal, health care and several more. When the economy does well, so does GE.

Continue reading Comfort Zone Investing: Ride the Recovery with These Three Stocks

Comfort Zone Investing: Ride the Recovery with These Three Stocks originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 29 Jan 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Closing Bell: Shaking Off Mixed Earnings (AXP, BA, GS, IBM, MOS, WFC)

Closing Bell: Shaking Off Mixed Earnings (AXP, BA, GS, IBM, MOS, WFC) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 19 Jan 2011 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) issued its Q4 report after the bell today. At the time of this writing, shares were up 2.4% to $154.25 on the news in the extended-hours session. So, is IBM a buy at this point? After all, that quote means that the stock has now gone beyond the new 52-week high of $151.47 that was set earlier in the intraday session.

You know, buying high can be scary and ill-advised. Still, I like IBM's prospects. According to the Associated Press, earnings of $4.24 per share went beyond the overall prediction by sixteen pennies. Net sales also impressed.

Continue reading IBM's Q4: Thesis Remains Viable

IBM's Q4: Thesis Remains Viable originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 18 Jan 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.