NASDAQ OMX (NDAQ), Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) offered $42.50 per share to acquire NYSE Euronext (NYX). April and June call option implied volatility is at 22; below its 26-week average of 32 according to Track Data, suggesting decreasing price movement.

Pier 1 Imports (PIR) April put option implied volatility is at 58, June is at 54; near its 26-week average of 56 according to Track Data, suggesting non-directional price movement into the expected release of Q4 results on April 7.

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

Options Update: NYSE Euronext Volatility Decreases on NASDAQ OMX and ICE Proposal originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading IntercontinentalExchange: Right Business Model at the Right Time

IntercontinentalExchange: Right Business Model at the Right Time originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 09 Mar 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Expedia (EXPE) to buy from hold at Citigroup.
• Weatherford (WFT) to outperform from market perform at Wells Fargo.
• Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF) to buy from neutral at BofA/Merrill.
• MDC Holdings (MDC) to outperform from neutral at Credit Suisse.
• AutoNavi (AMAP) to buy from neutral at Goldman.
• Ciena (CIEN) and Nvidia (NVDA) to neutral from underweight at JPMorgan.
• Canadian Pacific (CP) to outperform from market perform at Raymond James.
• First Midwest (FMBI) and Quiksilver (ZQK) to buy from hold at Jefferies.
• Sonic (SONC) to neutral from negative at Susquehanna.
• MIPS Technologies (MIPS) to buy from hold at Benchmark Co.
• Arrow Electronics (ARW) and Avnet (AVT) to buy from hold at Stifel Nicolaus.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: ANF, BBBY, CIEN, CP, EXPE, ICE, NVDA, QCOM, SONC ...

Analyst Calls: ANF, BBBY, CIEN, CP, EXPE, ICE, NVDA, QCOM, SONC ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading IntercontinentalExchange Is in an Uptrend

IntercontinentalExchange Is in an Uptrend originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 29 Dec 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Verisk (VRSK) was upgraded to outperform from market perform at Wells Fargo.
• Marriott (MAR) was upgraded to outperform from market perform at Bernstein.
• Jefferies upgraded Teekay (TK) and Tsakos Energy (TNP) to Buy from Hold.
• Cadence Design (CDNS) was upgraded to sector perform from underperform at RBC Capital.
• BofA/Merrill upgraded NV Energy (NVE) to buy from underperform and Education Realty Trust (EDR) to neutral from underperform.
• Men's Wearhouse (MW) was upgraded to buy from hold at Stifel.
• William Blair upgraded Atheros (ATHR) to outperform from market perform.
• Freeport McMoran (FCX) was upgraded to buy from hold at Argus.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: CTV, CVX, EAT, FCX, ICE, MAR, MW, TRV, WLP ...

Analyst Calls: CTV, CVX, EAT, FCX, ICE, MAR, MW, TRV, WLP ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 26 Oct 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The shares of electronic marketplace IntercontinentalExchange Inc. (ICE), first discussed on June 2, 2009, at a price of $115.15, fell this summer and came dangerously close to the sell/stop loss at $88. Even so, the shares appeared to have bottomed at $90 -- creating an attractive price for investors who can tolerate moderate risk.

Look for ICE to post revenue gains of 7% to 9% in 2010, followed by a solid, double-digit increase in 2011.

Continue reading Is IntercontinentalExchange's Summer Plunge Over?

Is IntercontinentalExchange's Summer Plunge Over? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 27 Sep 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Don't look now, but the shirt in your back could be worth more today. Why? Cotton prices are surging due to supply shortages.

Rumors often drive commodity prices. Pakistan is experiencing the worst flooding in history. Pakistan is the world's fourth largest grower of cotton. Another rumor of frost in China added to the rally. China is the world's largest cotton producer. India is placing high export duties on cotton, thus fueling the rally, according to data reported by the Financial Times.

Continue reading Cotton Prices Surge on Supply Fears

Cotton Prices Surge on Supply Fears originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 20 Sep 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• UBS said Martin Marietta's (MLM) Q2 showed evidence of leverage to a recovery and the firm views risk/reward in shares as attractive. Shares were upgraded to buy from neutral, but its price target was lowered to $96 from $101.
• Soleil upgraded Regis (RGS) to buy from hold after the company said it is exploring strategic options. The firm raised its target for shares to $26 from $14.
• Wunderlich upgraded Sirius XM Radio (SIRI) to buy from hold with a $1.50 price target following the company's Q2 results. The firm believes Sirius' product continues to resonate with healthier higher-end consumers and notes that CEO Mel Karmazin said a resolution could be reached with Howard Stern by the Q3 conference call.
• Magellan Midstream (MMP) was upgraded to outperform from sector perform at RBC Capital.
• Savient (SVNT) was upgraded to neutral from underperform at BofA/Merrill.
• EMS Tech (ELMG) was upgraded to buy from hold at Needham.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: CTRN, ICE, JACK, MLM, NNN, OPTR, PCG, RGS, RYN, SIRI ...

Analyst Calls: CTRN, ICE, JACK, MLM, NNN, OPTR, PCG, RGS, RYN, SIRI ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 05 Aug 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Coffee Prices Surge to a 12-Year High

Coffee Prices Surge to a 12-Year High originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 02 Aug 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• BMO Capital upgraded Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) to Outperform from Market Perform based on valuation and the company's growth outlook. The firm has a price target of $125 on the stock.
• Morgan Keegan upgraded WESCO (WCC) to Outperform from Market Perform ahead of Thursday's earnings report based on valuation and expectations for stronger than expected sales.
• Keefe Bruyette upgraded Bank of Marin (BMRC) to Outperform from Market Perform with a $40 price target following the company's Q2 results.
• BHP Billiton (BHP) was upgraded to Overweight from Equal Weight at Barclays.
• PPG Industries (PPG) was upgraded to Overweight from Equal Weight at Morgan Stanley.
• Schnitzer Steel (SCHN) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at UBS.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: ICE, BHP, PETS, GLW, TEL, SFLY

Analyst Calls: ICE, BHP, PETS, GLW, TEL, SFLY originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 20 Jul 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

I first discussed Intercontinental Exchange Inc. (ICE) here on June 2, 2009, at a price of $115.15, and shares of electronic marketplace have not advanced as much as expected since the February review, but I still like the shares. Here's why:

There are legitimate concerns that a new, more-rigorous regulatory environment will increase position limits and place other restrictions on proprietary trading, hurting trading volumes.

Continue reading IntercontinentalExchange: Modest Uptrend Continues

IntercontinentalExchange: Modest Uptrend Continues originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 21 May 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Jefferies upgraded St. Jude (STJ) to buy from hold and raised its target to $49 from $39. The firm cites valuation and the positive impact from the Boston Scientific (BSX) ICD recall for the upgrade. Shares were also upgraded to neutral from sell at Goldman, as the firm sees upside for shares into Q1 results.
• RBC Capital upgraded EMC Corp. (EMC) to outperform from sector perform and raised its target to $22 from $21. The firm upgraded shares based on valuation and believes the company can meet or modestly beat March quarter expectations.
• Auriga upgraded MetroPCS (PCS) to buy from hold as it believes customer migration away from postpaid to prepaid may be accelerating. The firm raised its target for shares to $9 from $7.
• Caterpillar (CAT) was raised to outperform from neutral at Baird.
• Best Buy (BBY) was upgraded to market perform from underperform at FBR Capital.
• Expedia (EXPE) was upgraded to overweight from neutral at Piper Jaffray.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: BBY, CAT, EMC, EXPE, FCX, ICE, NTAP, PCE, STJ, VRTX ...

Analyst Calls: BBY, CAT, EMC, EXPE, FCX, ICE, NTAP, PCE, STJ, VRTX ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 12 Apr 2010 11:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• JPMorgan upgraded Lamar Advertising (LAMR) to overweight from neutral following the company's Q4 results. The firm has a $36 price target on shares.
• Canaccord upgraded St. Mary Land & Exploration (SM) to buy from speculative buy based on the company's business model transformation. The firm has a $45 target on shares.
• Jefferies upgraded Rosetta Stone (RST) to buy from hold following the Q4 report and guidance. The firm has a $29 target on shares.
• GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and AstraZeneca (AZN) were upgraded to neutral from sell at Goldman.
• China Unicom (CHU) was upgraded to buy from sell at Deutsche Bank.
• Repsol (REP) was upgraded to overweight from equal weight at Barclays.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AZN, FLR, ICE, KFT, LAMR, PALM, RST, SJM ...

Analyst Calls: AZN, FLR, ICE, KFT, LAMR, PALM, RST, SJM ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 26 Feb 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading IntercontinentalExchange: A Global Financial System Play

IntercontinentalExchange: A Global Financial System Play originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 24 Feb 2010 15:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Deutsche Bank upgraded Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) to buy from hold on valuation following the recent pullback in shares. The firm raised its target price on shares to $113 from $108.
• UBS upgraded General Dynamics (GD) to buy from neutral based on improved defense risk profile and stabilization in the business jet market. The firm raised its target to $80 from $70.
• FBR Capital upgraded SunTrust (STI) to outperform from market perform on expectations that regional banks will outperform the large money center banks in this environment. The firm raised its price target on shares to $28 from $22.
• SAP AG (SAP) was upgraded to buy from neutral at BofA/Merrill.
• Thomson Reuters (TRI) was raised to buy from hold at Citigroup.
• Rosetta Resources (ROSE) was upgraded at Wells Fargo to outperform from market perform.

Continue reading Analyst Upgrades, Downgrades and Initiations: GD, ICE, IGT, SAP, STI, TMH, TSS ...

Analyst Upgrades, Downgrades and Initiations: GD, ICE, IGT, SAP, STI, TMH, TSS ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 25 Jan 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst upgrades:

• Keefe Bruyette upgraded Intercontinental Exchange (NYSE: ICE) to Outperform from Market Perform on expectations that derivatives trading will increase in the coming quarters.
• NutriSystem (NASDAQ: NTRI) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral by Janney Montgomery, which believes that the company's earnings have hit bottom, while the company could report better-than-expected Q1 results.
• Harley-Davidson (NYSE: HOG) was upgraded to Outperform from Sector Perform at RBC Capital. The firm thinks the company is an early-cycle story that has significant upside potential.
• UBS upgraded Walgreen (NYSE: WAG) to Buy from Neutral citing cost cutting efforts and slowing store growth.
• Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) was upgraded to Buy from Hold at Benchmark Co.
• Safeway (NYSE: SWY) was upgraded to Buy from Hold by BB&T.
• Needham upgraded Targacept (NASDAQ: TRGT) to Buy from Hold.
• Sierra Wireless (NASDAQ: SWIR) was raised to Buy from Hold at Jesup & Lamont.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: GOOG, HOG, NOK, SWY, WAG, WSM ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: GOOG, HOG, NOK, SWY, WAG, WSM ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Intercontinental Exchange: Recent pull-back is buy opportunity

Intercontinental Exchange: Recent pull-back is buy opportunity originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst upgrades:

• Keefe Bruyette upgraded Intercontinental Exchange (NYSE: ICE) to Market Perform from Underperform following the company's in-line quarter and extended buyback. The firm raised its target price on shares to $103 from $98.
• Merriman upgraded Cree (NASDAQ: CREE) to Buy from Neutral after transitioning coverage of the stock as it believes HB-LED chips are gaining momentum and that the company can top its recently raised guidance.
• Deutsche Bank upgraded Glatfelter (NYSE: GLT) to Buy from Hold following the company's Q2 results due to falling net debt levels and valuation. The firm raised its target on shares to $14 from $8.
• Corporate Executive Board (NASDAQ: EXBD) was upgraded to Neutral from Underperform at Baird.
• Cognizant (NASDAQ: CTSH) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Goldman.
• Unit Corp. (NYSE: UNT) was upgraded to Buy from Sell at Jesup & Lamont.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: ADM, ANN, GENZ, ICE, MON, RIMM ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: ADM, ANN, GENZ, ICE, MON, RIMM ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 05 Aug 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Intercontinental Exchange: Buy on a pull-back

Intercontinental Exchange: Buy on a pull-back originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 02 Jun 2009 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Here are some highlights from this past week's earnings coverage from BloggingStocks:

• Activision Blizzard Inc. (NASDAQ: ATVI) Q1 results beat expectations and raised its guidance.
• Alpha Natural Resources Inc. (NYSE: ANR) shares surged after the it reported strong Q1 earnings.
• Archer Daniels Midland Co. (NYSE: ADM) just missed swinging to a loss due to to hefty investment losses.
• CBS Corp. (NYSE: CBS) surprised with a net loss in Q1 as revenue and cash flow declined.
• Chesapeake Energy Corp. (NYSE: CHK) shares fell after it reported disappointing results for the quarter.

Continue reading Earnings highlights: GM, Toyota, CBS, Sprint, ADM, MGM, Nintendo, UBS and more

Earnings highlights: GM, Toyota, CBS, Sprint, ADM, MGM, Nintendo, UBS and more originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 09 May 2009 09:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.