Mela Sciences (MELA) gapped higher right out of the gate Monday, with the shares surging roughly 12% on Monday morning. Over the weekend, Barron's noted that the stock is "worth a close look ahead of a regulatory vote on Nov. 18," and traders are apparently taking the suggestion to heart.

The financial publication described its opinion on the shares as "cautiously optimistic," explaining that analysts believe MELA could double if its MelaFind device receives the OK from a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) panel this Thursday. However, warned Barron's, a regulatory thumbs-down "could cut the shares in half."

Continue reading Mela Sciences Surges Ahead of FDA Panel

Mela Sciences Surges Ahead of FDA Panel originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 15 Nov 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Jefferies upgraded Computer Sciences (CSC) to buy from hold and raised its target to $53 from $47. The analyst said Computer Sciences' valuation has created one of the best LBO opportunities in several years and could provide a five year IRR of 25+%.
• Keefe Bruyette upgraded Comerica (CMA) to outperform from market perform, citing strength of the company's capital. The firm raised its target for shares to $44 from $43.
• RBC Capital upgraded Nokia (NOK) to outperform from sector perform and raised its price target to $14 from $12. The firm upgraded shares based on valuation, reduced execution risk on software development, and potential catalysts from new devices based on Symbian^3. RBS upgraded Nokia to buy from hold after the company named Stephen Elop as CEO.
• Allstate (ALL) was upgraded to buy from hold at Citigroup.
• Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE) was upgraded to buy from neutral at BofA/Merrill.
• Moody's (MCO) was upgraded to overweight from neutral at Piper Jaffray.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: BCR, BUD, CLX, CMA, CSC, CSCO, DELL, LEN, MCO, NOK, TRV ...

Analyst Calls: BCR, BUD, CLX, CMA, CSC, CSCO, DELL, LEN, MCO, NOK, TRV ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 10 Sep 2010 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst upgrades:

• Keefe Bruyette upgraded American Express (NYSE: AXP) to Outperform from Market Perform to reflect improving credit trends following the July monthly data. The firm raised its target price on shares to $37.
• Oppenheimer upgraded Corning (NYSE: GLW) to Outperform from Perform as it believes 2010 estimates are achievable and concerns over falling LCD demand are overdone. The firm set a $19 price target on the stock.
• JPMorgan upgraded International Game Technology (NYSE: IGT) to Overweight from Neutral on valuation and expectations domestic replacement orders will pick up. The firm has a $23 price target on shares.
• Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS) was raised to Buy from Neutral at Pali Capital.
• Portland General Electric (NYSE: POR) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Goldman.
• Mechel Steel (NYSE: MTL) was upgraded to Neutral from Reduce at Nomura.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: AXP, CHL, FLOW, GLW, GS ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: AXP, CHL, FLOW, GLW, GS ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 18 Aug 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Thomas Weisel said Infinera (NASDAQ: INFN) has unique technology that will result in a sustained competitive differentiation, increases customer diversification and improving margins. The firm started shares with an Overweight rating and $13 target.
  
• Dawson Geophysical (NASDAQ: DWSN) was initiated with a Hold rating and $72 target at Jefferies, as they believe the stock is fairly-valued at current levels.
  
• Jesup & Lamont initiated Electro-Optical Sciences (NASDAQ: MELA) with a Buy rating and $8 target. The believes MELA's Melafind is a breakthrough technology for the diagnosis of melanoma.

• Piper resumed coverage of PMI Group (NYSE: PMI) with a Neutral rating and $6 target.
  
• Susquehanna initiated Immunocor (NASDAQ: BLUD) and Given Imaging (NASDAQ: GIVN) with Positive ratings.
  
• Merrill started Liberty Entertainment (NASDAQ: LMDIA) with a Neutral rating.

Analyst initiations: Infinera, Dawson Geophysical, Electro-Optical Sciences originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 19 Mar 2008 12:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

I had the pleasure of writing a series this spring on the Top 25 Stocks for the NEXT 25 years. I researched over 300 companies to come up with the list of what I thought were the best 25 stocks to own for the next 25 years. But something was missing that I now want to address in a new series.

The very nature of picking 25 stocks which hopefully would perform magnificently for 25 years excluded many great companies that were already executing well but could not be included because of their high current market capitalization. Some examples were "game changing" companies like Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL). Back in May, Apple had a market capitalization of about $90 billion. But I couldn't include it in my top 25 unless I expected Apple's market cap to reach several trillion dollars. I love Apple, but that's probably not in the cards. By the way, Apple today is worth $130 billion.

Another example of a game-changing company is McDonald's (NYSE: MCD). This once staid, stuck-in-the-mayonnaise company has re-invigorated itself in the past couple of years and has seen its market value more than double to $66 billion. I'd also throw in that camp Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT), which since January 2004 has seen its own market capitalization double to $51 billion. Caterpillar changed and fortified its business model starting back in late 2003. By the way, Apple,Caterpillar and McDonald's are still game changers---meaning the shares are a buy.

Continue reading Meet the Game Changers: Companies like Apple (AAPL) and Caterpillar (CAT) that redefine themselves and the field

Meet the Game Changers: Companies like Apple (AAPL) and Caterpillar (CAT) that redefine themselves and the field originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 05 Oct 2007 13:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Electro Optical Sciences (NASDAQ: MELA) makes a hand-held medical device to assist in the early diagnosis of melanoma (skin cancer). The device emits multiple wavelengths of light when scanning areas of skin and then records differences in skin pigmentation. Such records will assist dermatologists in determining whether a skin lesion is pre-cancerous and/or should be investigated further rather than waiting for the suspicious skin patch to actually manifest skin cancer symptoms. Electro Optical Sciences began clinical trials of the device in January 2007 at 20 different sites. The FDA has agreed to give expedited approval for the device should clinical trial results merit approval. FDA approval could be granted as early as mid 2008.

Electro Optical Sciences currently has neither a commercial product nor revenues. What it does have is a successful record of developing medical imaging devices and then licensing them to suitable companies that have the necessary resources to bring the devices to market. Electro Optical Sciences followed this procedure in bringing to market its DIFOTI device for detecting tooth decay. To date, Electro Optical Sciences has been reluctant to take on debt to finance continued R&D and clinical trials. The company has been financing its research through National Institutes of Health SBA grants as well as by private placement stock sales. The company recently placed another $12 million in stock to continue clinical trials and data interpretation.

This is a stock to keep in the back of one's mind while awaiting the clinical trial results. If those results are positive, look for Electro Optical Sciences to seek a partner, perhaps ASKION, to commercialize the product. Currently, the stock is difficult for individual investors to purchase and is a pure speculative play. The stock currently trades at $5.37. Expect this price to rise or fall dramatically as a result of the clinical trials. Such information on the company as is publicly available can be found at the website: www.eo-sciences.com. The company rarely issues press releases but does file 10-K and 10-Q forms with the SEC.

Electro Optical Sciences (MELA) worth a look originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 15 Aug 2007 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This begins the actual stock selections of the (hopefully) top 25 stocks for the next 25 years. These companies will play in nascent markets with a huge addressable audience and with great management and vision. They will become the leaders and game changers for the next generation of stocks.

The 25 companies are in no particular order, just random order. Keep in mind that because I am attempting to identify home runs for the more distant future, these names will be smaller capitalization names in general, or the math will not work out for investors.

The top 25 for the NEXT 25 years begins with Electro-Optical Sciences (NASDAQ: MELA).

MELA is $60 million market capitalization (total shares times by the current price) company. MELA trades at $4.50 per share and the average daily volume is about 35,000 shares per day -- not what you would call the most liquid name. But the potential and the market it will serve is massive and worldwide.

MELA is in phase III clinical trials on a device that will assist general practitioner physicians and dermatologists in the detection of melanoma, skin cancer. Typically when a physician suspects that a skin lesion or an abnormality is present, the first course of action is a biopsy. The biopsy is a bit painful and certainly expensive. There are over three million biopsies performed in the United States alone, double that amount worldwide.

Continue reading 25 stocks for next 25 years: Electro-Optical Sciences

25 stocks for next 25 years: Electro-Optical Sciences originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 02 May 2007 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.