If you are looking for clues telling you which stocks have a good chance of increasing in value, you might want consider watching what insiders are doing. After all, talk is cheap, but when insiders put their own money on the line, you should sit up and take note.

Citigroup (C) topped the insider-buying charts for the week ending July 9th as insiders snapped up 542,198 shares of company stock at a market value of $2,330,386. During the past six months, insiders have increased their overall holdings in the company by 26.58% and now own 0.08% of C stock.

General Motors (GM) was not far behind, with insiders buying 43,150 shares at a market value of $1,455,536.

Continue reading Insiders Jumping into Citigroup, General Motors and More

Insiders Jumping into Citigroup, General Motors and More originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 29 Nov 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Options Update: H&R Block Put Volume and Volatility Spike as Shares Sell Off originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 15 Oct 2010 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The conventional wisdom is that consumer spending is what drives the U.S. economy. And consumer spending arises out of consumer confidence. Unfortunately, the signals along the road to economic recovery are mixed, what with the rising GDP growth and the dismal unemployment numbers. Its enough to leave investors scratching their heads. What barometers of consumer confidence will the coming week bring?

The TIPP Economic Optimism Index for November is scheduled for Tuesday, and the University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index for November is due out Friday.

Continue reading The week in preview: Earnings from Walmart, Macy's, and other retailers

The week in preview: Earnings from Walmart, Macy's, and other retailers originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 08 Nov 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

• Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (NYSE: ANF) reported dismal Q1 numbers as same-store sales plunged.
• Applied Materials Inc. (NASDAQ: AMAT) dismal Q2 results were in line with analysts' expectations.
• Bankrate Inc. (NASDAQ: RATE) reported lower earnings and revenue for Q1 and offered no guidance.
• Blockbuster Inc. (NYSE: BBI) earnings, revenue, and same-store sales all fell in the first quarter.
• Dr Pepper Snapple Group (NYSE: DPS) Q1 earnings declined but still topped analysts' expectations.

Continue reading Earnings highlights: Walmart, JCPenney, Freddie Mac, Playboy, Whole Foods and more

Earnings highlights: Walmart, JCPenney, Freddie Mac, Playboy, Whole Foods and more originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 16 May 2009 09:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

In yesterday's online edition of The Wall Street Journal, it was reported that MBIA (NYSE: MBI) is facing lawsuits from a group of 18 different financial institutions. The lawsuit was filed in New York State court and includes the likes of J.P. Morgan Chase (NYSE: JPM), Bank of America (NYSE: BAC), Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS), and UBS (NYSE: UBS).

These banks are claiming that the way MBIA split its municipal bond insurance business earlier this year was "an unlawful attempt to escape" its contractual obligations to cover losses from mortgage securities. In addition to the split earlier this year, MBIA shifted $5 billion to a municipal bond insurance company.

Continue reading MBIA sued by other banks for splitting units

MBIA sued by other banks for splitting units originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 14 May 2009 08:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Flash: MBIA on fire -- huge earnings news!

Flash: MBIA on fire -- huge earnings news! originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 11 May 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

As earnings season begins to wind down, some apparel retailers are scheduled to report quarterly results this week. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters anticipate that Walmart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT), the 800-pound gorilla in the space, will report that it earned $0.77 per share in the first quarter, about the same as in the first quarter of last year. But JCPenney Co. (NYSE: JCP), Kohl's Corp. (NYSE: KSS), Nordstrom Inc. (NYSE: JWN), and Urban Outfitters Inc. (NASDAQ: URBN) are expected to report lower profits for the first quarter as consumers continued to hold off on spending. Macy's Inc. (NYSE: M) and Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (NYSE: ANF) are expected to have swung to a loss year over year.

Whole Foods Market Inc. (NASDAQ: WFMI) and Winn Dixie Stores Inc. (NASDAQ: WINN) are likewise expected to report declining earnings, while the Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. (NYSE: GAP), parent of the A&P supermarket chain, is expected to have narrowed its net loss 68.9% to $0.28 per share.

Continue reading The week in preview: A peek at apparel retail earnings

The week in preview: A peek at apparel retail earnings originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 10 May 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Serious Money: Still running naked on Wall Street

Serious Money: Still running naked on Wall Street originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 07 Apr 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Serious Money: Don't overlook these regional banks!

Serious Money: Don't overlook these regional banks! originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 20 Mar 2009 17:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

• American International Group Inc. (NYS: AIG) posted a record loss even as it asks for more taxpayer funds.
• AnnTaylor Stores Corp. (NYSE: ANN) shares sank after it missed Q4 expectations by a wide margin.
• AutoZone Inc. (NYSE: AZO) reported strong Q2 results, sending shares upward toward its 52-week high.
• Big Lots Inc. (NYSE: BIG) shares soared after it reported better-than-expected numbers for Q4.
• Chico's FAS Inc. (NYSE: CHS) Q4 loss widened on impairment charges and severance costs.

Continue reading Earnings highlights: AIG, HP, AutoZone, Big Lots, MBIA, TiVo and more

Earnings highlights: AIG, HP, AutoZone, Big Lots, MBIA, TiVo and more originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 07 Mar 2009 15:10:00 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) beat Q3 profit expectations and announced share buybacks.
• Ambac Financial Group Inc. (NYSE: ABK) Q3 net loss widened for various reasons, sending its shares lower.
• Best Buy Inc. (NYSE: BBY) earnings prospects could benefit from difficulties at Circuit City (NYSE: CC).
• Blockbuster Inc. (NYSE: BBI) reported a smaller-than-expected Q3 loss and same-store sales up a bit.
• Cisco Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO) earnings were essentially flat and revenue rose marginally.
• Fluor Corp. (NYSE: FLR) better-than-expected Q3 earnings sent its shares soaring.
• General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM) delayed its Q3 report and briefly halted trading of its stock.
• Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. (NYSE: GT) Q3 earnings easilly topped analysts' expectations.
• Marvel Entertainment Inc. (NYSE: MVL) Q3 results soared due to Iron Man and Incredible Hulk.
• MBIA Inc. (NYSE: MBI) greater-than-expected Q3 loss was due in part to residential mortgage exposure.
• News Corp. (NYSE: NWS) fell short of Q1 estimates and warned of the coming slowdown.
• Qualcomm Inc. (NASDAQ: QCOM) beat analysts' Q4 expectations but lowered its guidance.
• Revlon Inc. (NYSE: REV) reported unimpressive Q3 results, though the cash-flow statement was decent.
• Time Warner Inc. (NYSE: TWX) reported strong Q3 results but lowered its full-year outlook (see transcript).
• Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA) Q3 profits slipped but it beat Wall Street expectations by a penny.
• Whole Foods Market Inc. (NYSE: WFMI) lowered full-year forecast garnered interest from private equity.

Also, our Obama Picks include companies whose earnings could benefit from the outcome of the presidential election.

For more earnings highlights from this week, see Ford, Toyota, Goldman Sachs, Disney, Sprint, ADM and others.

Upcoming quarterly reports include AIG (NYSE: AIG), Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX), Tyson (NYSE: TSN), Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), Applied Materials (NASDAQ: AMAT), Macy's (NYSE: M), Dr Pepper (NYSE: DPS), Kohl's (NYSE: KSS), Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT), JCPenney (NYSE: JCP).

Visit AOL Money & Finance for more earnings coverage.

Earnings highlights: GM, Time Warner, Cisco, News Corp., Viacom, Revlon and others originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 08 Nov 2008 09:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Around the world, governments are flooding the market with new currency in order to stem the tide of bank collapses and slippery stock market slopes. They are taking over financial institutions, absorbing debt, lowering interest rates, nationalizing some private companies, investing in others, and rebating taxes through stimulus packages to increase liquidity and spending.

So far all we can say is that the world is still open for business, but it is a different world. Even gold and oil are down significantly.

In concert with world markets, the stocks in my daring (maybe fool hardy) story I posted a few months ago Serious Money: Tempting fate with 10 financials -- buying into a pool of financial stocks at a time when the "hate 'em" factor was at a peak, or so I thought -- are down even more. I think I am turning into the web's leading glutton for punishment by posting such stories. However, while my stock ideas have taken a beating now and then, I hope my integrity has remained intact.

I took some major lumps during the collapse of Washington Mutual (NYSE: WM) as I candidly posted, Chasing Value: Not -- WaMu one week later - ouch!, and I lost some money also.

Nine of the ten financial stocks I wrote about are down or out at this point. When I last reported, the portfolio was losing 4.8%, and now it is losing 47% to date, not counting dividends. Only MBIA Inc. (NYSE: MBI) is up and there are question marks about this company too.

Continue reading Chasing Value: Money flood & bank mud

Chasing Value: Money flood & bank mud originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 27 Oct 2008 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

• Albany Molecular Research Inc. (NASDAQ: AMRI) topped estimates and raised its full-year guidance.
• Applied Materials Inc. (NASDAQ: AMAT) Q3 earnings and revenues tumbled but beat low expectations.
• Deere & Co. (NYSE: DE) fell short of Q3 earnings expectations due to rising materials costs.
• Estee Lauder Cos. Inc. (NYSE: EL) posted strong Q4 results that led shares to a new 52-week high.
• Fossil Inc. (NASDAQ: FOSL) posted better-than-expected Q2 earnings and lifted its full-year forecast.
• JCPenney Co. Inc. (NYSE: JCP) Q2 profit slipped but still topped analysts' expectations.
• LDK Solar Ltd. (NYSE: LDK) Q2 net income soared, easily beating analysts' estimates.
• Liz Claiborne Inc. (NYSE: LIZ) rebounded from its tumble after its disappointing Q2 report.
• MBIA Inc. (NYSE: MBI) posted strong Q2 results despite downgrades of its financial ratings.
• Newcastle Investments Corp. (NYSE: NCT) despite negative earnings, it announced a quarterly dividend.
• Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ: NVDA) posted dismal Q2 results and announced a share buyback program.
• Sysco Corp. (NYSE: SYY) Q4 earnings topped expectaitons on demand for bulk food products.
• TJX Cos. (NYSE: TJX) strong Q2 results fell short of expectations, as did the Q3 earnings forecast.
• Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT) topped Q2 estimates due to bargain seekers and international sales.

Also, Jim Cramer warns against bearishness on the financials and also suggests that the collapse of commodities will buoy earings.

For more highlights from this week, see: Abercrombie, Macy's, Kohl's, Sirius, UBS, Wachovia and others

Upcoming quarterly reports include Lowe's (NYSE: LOW), Home Depot (NYSE: HD), Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ), Target (NYSE: TGT), La-Z-Boy (NYSE: LZB), Saks (NYSE: SKS), BJ's Wholesale (NYSE: BJ), Limited Brands (NYSE: LTD), Barnes & Noble (NYSE: BKS), Burger King (NYSE: BKC), Gap (NYSE: GPS), Heinz (NYSE: HNZ), and Intuit (NASDAQ: INTU).

Visit AOL Money & Finance for more earnings coverage.

Earnings highlights: Wal-Mart, JCPenney, MBIA, Deere, Applied Materials and others originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 16 Aug 2008 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

With a turn of the calendar page, we drift into the middle portion of the current quarter, but the earnings season rolls on. Among the many companies scheduled to report quarterly results this coming week are Time Warner Inc. (NYSE: TWX), Cisco Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO), News Corp. (NYSE: NWS), and Whole Foods Market International (NASDAQ: WFMI). Let's take a look at which companies Wall Street analysts are expecting to be among the top earnings gainers and decliners this week.

Analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial expect the following to report strong earnings growth when compared to the same period of the previous year.

• DRS Technologies Inc. (NYSE: DRS): $0.85 EPS (+95.3%) on revenue of $823.8 million (+12.0%)
• Integrys Energy Group Inc. (NYSE: TEG): $0.40 EPS (+70.0%) on revenue of $2.6 billion (+9.7%)
• Cimarex Energy Co. (NYSE: XEC): $2.53 EPS (+64.4%) on revenue of $599.9 million (+75.4%)
• Forest Oil Corp. (NYSE: FST): $1.51 EPS (+55.6%) on revenue of $456.1 million (+79.1%)
• Devon Energy Corp. (NYSE: DVN): $3.28 EPS (+48.5%) on revenue of $4.1 billion (+38.5%)
• CMS Energy Corp. (NYSE: CMS): $0.13 EPS (+46.2%) on revenue of $1.4 billion (+6.7%)
• Transocean Inc. (NYSE: RIG): $3.23 EPS (+43.0%) on revenue of $3.1 billion (+112.9%)
• Sara Lee Corp. (NYSE: SLE): $0.26 EPS (+38.5%) on revenue of $3.5 billion (+8.9%)
• Williams Companies Inc. (NYSE: WMB): $0.69 EPS (+37.7%) on revenue of $3.4 billion (+20.0%)
• Harris Corp. (NYSE: HRS): $0.99 EPS (+28.3%) on revenue of $1.4 billion (+18.0%)

Continue reading The week in preview: Expectations remain high for energy and oil

The week in preview: Expectations remain high for energy and oil originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 03 Aug 2008 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Sheldon Liber is the CEO of a small private investment company and the principal for design and research at an architecture & planning firm. He writes the columns Chasing Value and Serious Money. Disclosure: I own shares of MBI.

Chasing Value: MBIA up over 20% -- no joke! originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 01 Aug 2008 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

After the market closed last night, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average rebounding from Monday's notable drop and ending the trading day at 11,397.56, up 266.48 (+2.39%), I posted Serious Money: 10 finance stocks as the market bounces. This is the follow-up post listing the full pool of speculative stocks that as a group I believe will beat the overall market in the next 12 months.

The prediction business is thankless and the speculative business is even worse; it is often painful. I usually refrain from this activity but today I play the contrarian in a Sir John Templeton (RIP) sort of way, jumping into the stock market's worst performing sector with both feet. I believe the market is at or near a bottom and this summer is the time to buy.

Looking for a break in the clouds, yesterday I started choosing ten stocks knowing that three or four may go to zero, a few more will survive with modest gains, and three or four will rise, not returning to their old glory soon but more than covering the ones that fail. The first four picks have been bleeding all over Wall Street for a year now and the blood-letting is not done yet.

Initially I was looking for stocks that had fallen at least 70%. After reviewing my figures, I have compromised and changed that to 63% so that I could include some of the major companies like Citigroup Inc. (NYSE: C) that are broadly held and have strong reader interest. Prices are as of July 29, 2008.

Continue reading Serious Money: Tempting fate with 10 financials

Serious Money: Tempting fate with 10 financials originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 30 Jul 2008 13:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Cramer on BloggingStocks: The mortgage insurers created this mess

Cramer on BloggingStocks: The mortgage insurers created this mess originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 11 Jul 2008 08:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• DJIA 11,338.78 (-7.73)
• S&P500 1,279.21 (+0.83)
• NASDAQ 2,292.98 (-22.65)
• 10YR T-Note 3.979% (-0.011%)
• TOP 10 ANALYST CALLS

Continue reading Closing Bell: Bulls win small victory; Bears win 3 quarters in a row

Closing Bell: Bulls win small victory; Bears win 3 quarters in a row originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 30 Jun 2008 16:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MBIA's downgrade will cost it $7+ billion originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 26 Jun 2008 11:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Ackman extends dire predictions to FSA originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 19 Jun 2008 16:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.