As a major validation of the importance of smartphones, HP (HPQ) agreed to shell out $1.2 billion for Palm (PALM) this week. The truth is that consumers and businesses are increasingly using mobile devices. In fact, the market for smartphones is $100 billion and growing at more than 20% per year.

OK, so how can you use a smartphone to help your business? Actually, one idea is to turn it into a point-of-sale system, which is actually fairly straightforward and affordable.

Continue reading Entrepreneur's Journal: Time to Take Payments from Your Smartphone?

Entrepreneur's Journal: Time to Take Payments from Your Smartphone? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 02 May 2010 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Kaufman Bros. upgraded Palm (PALM) to hold from sell after the company was acquired by Hewlett-Packard (HPQ).
• Citigroup upgraded Akamai (AKAM) to buy from hold following the company's better-than-expected Q1 results. The firm raised its target for shares to $44 from $32.
• Deutsche Bank upgraded Rockwell Automation (ROK) to hold from sell following the company's Q2 results and guidance. The firm raised its target for shares to $60 from $49.
• First Solar (FSLR) was upgraded to buy from hold at Deutsche Bank and to hold from sell at Soleil.
• Beckman Coulter (BEC) was upgraded to overweight from neutral at Piper Jaffray.
• Barrick Gold (ABX) was upgraded to buy from hold at Jefferies.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AKAM, AKS, BIN, BTN, DTG, EFX, FSLR, PALM, PLCE, ROK ...

Analyst Calls: AKAM, AKS, BIN, BTN, DTG, EFX, FSLR, PALM, PLCE, ROK ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 29 Apr 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Closing Bell: Maybe Just a One-Day Scandal? (C, PALM, S, CADX, GS)

Closing Bell: Maybe Just a One-Day Scandal? (C, PALM, S, CADX, GS) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 19 Apr 2010 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• JPMorgan upgraded T. Rowe Price (TROW) to overweight from neutral while downgrading Janus Capital (JNS) to underweight from neutral to reflect valuations and fundamentals. The firm has a $67 price target for T. Rowe Price shares.
• Piper Jaffray upgraded Lincoln Electric (LECO) to overweight from neutral as it believes the rebound in global manufacturing is accelerating. The firm has a $70 price target on the stock.
• Wells Fargo upgraded Highwoods Properties (HIW) to market perform from underperform, citing valuation and a strong balance sheet.
• Corning (GLW) was upgraded to outperform from sector perform at RBC Capital.
• Allergan (AGN) was upgraded to conviction buy from neutral at Goldman.
• Mohawk (MHK) was upgraded to buy from neutral at SunTrust.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: ARG, BX, CL, GLW, LECO, PALM, TEVA, TROW ...

Analyst Calls: ARG, BX, CL, GLW, LECO, PALM, TEVA, TROW ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 19 Apr 2010 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

There's been a lot of chatter lately about a potential buyout for Palm Inc. (PALM), with various reports pointing to HTC and Lenovo as possible suitors for the parent of the Pre and Pixi smartphones. However, one long-term option trader on Monday placed a confident bet against a white-knight bid for PALM by opening a sizable, out-of-the-money put position on the equity.

Around midday Monday, a block of 6,500 contracts slipped across the tape on PALM's January 2011 2.50 put, which is currently out of the money by about three points. These puts changed hands at the ask price of $0.25, suggesting they were purchased.

Continue reading Options Bear Places Massive Bet Against Palm

Options Bear Places Massive Bet Against Palm originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 13 Apr 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Palm Looking for Buyer

Palm Looking for Buyer originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 12 Apr 2010 09:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Google (GOOG) and its Android operating system is giving Apple (AAPL) and its iconic iPhone a serious run for the money right now. Nearly twice as many consumers are using Android-based phones now compared with three months ago, according to a recent survey by ChangeWave Research.

That's no fun for Apple, of course, but survey results show that the tech giant is still holding its own with high customer satisfaction and a larger share of the market. AAPL isn't going down anytime soon -- but the real threat lies to BlackBerry maker Research in Motion (RIMM) that saw market of its smart phones share dip sharply in the survey and is seeing waning demand for its devices.

Continue reading Research In Motion Is the Next PALM

Research In Motion Is the Next PALM originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Apollo Group (APOL) was upgraded to sector perform from underperform at RBC Capital. The firm has a $75 target on the stock.
• JPMorgan raised Westlake Chemical (WLK) to overweight from neutral.
• Morgans Hotel (MHGC) was upgraded to outperform from market perform at JMP Securities.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: APOL, BR.B, CALM, LGF, PALM, PRK, SYNA ...

Analyst Calls: APOL, BR.B, CALM, LGF, PALM, PRK, SYNA ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 30 Mar 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Leerink upgraded Genzyme (GENZ) to outperform from market perform due to valuation as it believes the sell-off on news of the consent decree is overdone.
• FBR Capital upgraded Progressive (PGR) to outperform from market perform to reflect an improving outlook. The firm raised its target price for shares to $23 from $18.
• Janney Montgomery upgraded Cheesecake Factory (CAKE) two notches to buy from sell, citing improving casual-dining sales trends. The firm has a $30 price target for shares.
• Research in Motion (RIMM) was raised to overweight from neutral at JPMorgan.
• Tata Motors (TTM) was upgraded to buy from hold at Deutsche Bank.
• Palm (PALM) was upgraded to market perform from underperform at BMO Capital.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: BBY, CAKE, GENZ, PALM, PGR, QCOM, RIMM, STX, TTM ...

Analyst Calls: BBY, CAKE, GENZ, PALM, PGR, QCOM, RIMM, STX, TTM ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 26 Mar 2010 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

After reading this breakdown of Palm's (PALM) lethal combination of mistakes in the last year, one would wonder where the company is headed (except into the ground). Without following some sound advice from non-CEOs, the company -- which at one point was the premier smartphone company -- may be headed to shutterville faster than 2012. If the company is even worth anything by then, nobody will want to acquire it and investors in it will lose everything. That is, unless a product launch on AT&T (T) can save the company.

Continue reading Palm's Last Stand: Its Products Come to AT&T

Palm's Last Stand: Its Products Come to AT&T originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 22 Mar 2010 12:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Would anyone care if Palm (PALM) went away -- other than its employees and shareholders?

This company is seeing sales decline, and its new best hope, the Pre, is competing against the iPhone, BlackBerry and Droid.

That means a company with little cash and a market cap under a billion dollars is fighting, with an inferior and overpriced product, against the combined strength of Apple (AAPL), Research In Motion (RIMM) and Google (GOOG). End of discussion.

At the time of this writing, the author did not own shares of PALM.

Next: Deadbeat Stock #3: Brunswick (BC)

Deadbeat Stock #2: Palm (PALM) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 20 Mar 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

• Alcatel-Lucent (ALU) received an analyst's downgrade following its disappointing earnings report and guidance.
• Chicago Bridge & Iron Co. (CBI) improved earnings prospects prompted one analyst to upgrade the stock.
• Cintas Corp. (CTAS) lower Q3 earnings topped analysts' expectations, and it reiterated its Q4 earnings guidance.
• CRA International Inc. (CRAI) received an analyst's downgrade following its earnings results for Q1.
• Discover Financial Services (DFS) reported a net loss for Q1 due to a needed boost to its loan loss reserves.

Continue reading Earnings Highlights: Discover, FedEx, GameStop, Guess, Nike, Palm ...

Earnings Highlights: Discover, FedEx, GameStop, Guess, Nike, Palm ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 20 Mar 2010 12:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Spring is finally here, which means it's time to break out the broom and dustpan for some spring cleaning.

But your home isn't the only thing that requires constant maintenance -- your portfolio does too.

And what better time than spring to get a fresh start by cleaning out the stocks that are sitting around collecting dust rather than making you money?

Continue reading Six Deadbeat Stocks to Clean Out of Your Portfolio

Six Deadbeat Stocks to Clean Out of Your Portfolio originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 20 Mar 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Auriga upgraded Computer Programs & Systems (CPSI) to hold from sell after channel checks indicated Q1 could be the bottom for stagnation of new system sales. The firm raised its target for shares to $38 from $32.
• Janney Montgomery upgraded Tetra Tech (TTEK) to buy from neutral due to valuation. The firm has a $26 price target on the stock.
• Deutsche Bank upgraded Energy Transfer Equity (ETE) to buy from hold and raised its target for shares to $40 from $27.
• Best Buy (BBY) was upgraded to buy from neutral at Goldman.
• Mariott (MAR) was raised to buy from sell at Societe Generale.
• Telus (TU) was upgraded at TD Newcrest to action list buy from buy.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: BBY, CPSI, CRAI, MAR, PALM, RIMM, SLB, SYNA, TTEK, WFT ...

Analyst Calls: BBY, CPSI, CRAI, MAR, PALM, RIMM, SLB, SYNA, TTEK, WFT ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Palm (PALM) got hit in yesterday's after-hours session after announcing its third-quarter earnings report to Wall Street. According to BusinessWeek, an adjusted loss of 61 cents per diluted share was recorded on the bottom line. Analysts thought the loss wouldn't be so severe; they projected red ink of 42 cents per share.

Shares of Palm were down over 15% in extended trading. That's enough to scare any shareholder into rethinking the investment thesis with this business.

Continue reading Palm: Not for Me After Q3 Report

Palm: Not for Me After Q3 Report originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• JMP Securities views Yahoo!'s (YHOO) risk-reward as compelling, especially as cyclical and secular growth of online advertising improves. The firm upgraded shares to outperform from market perform and has a $21 target.
• FBR Capital upgraded PNC Financial (PNC) to outperform from market perform, citing an attractive valuation and better risk profile following the company's capital raise. The firm raised its target price on shares to $65 fro $55.
• Janney Montgomery upgraded SEI Investments (SEIC) to buy from neutral on expectations the company's revenues will accelerate in 2011. The firm has a $28 price target on shares.
• Research in Motion (RIMM) was upgraded to outperform from market perform at BMO Capital.
• Cisco (CSCO) was upgraded to overweight from neutral at JPMorgan.
• Macy's (M) was upgraded to buy from hold at Soleil.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AMTD, CSCO, M, PALM, PNC, RIMM, YHOO ...

Analyst Calls: AMTD, CSCO, M, PALM, PNC, RIMM, YHOO ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 08 Mar 2010 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

• American International Group Inc. (AIG) posted a big loss and warned it may require additional assistance.
• Athenahealth (ATHN) shares sank after it delayed earnings and its annual report, and warned of restatements.
• Barnes & Noble Inc. (BKS) Q3 sales jumped on popularity of the Nook reader but same-store sales declined.
• Brocade Communications Systems Inc. (BRCD) disappointing report and guidance caused a sell-off in shares.
• Dell Inc. (DELL) acquisitions and better-than-expected earnings may not be enough to stop shrinking market share.
• Gap Inc. (GPS) rose after it beat earnings estimates, raised its dividend and announced stock buybacks.

Continue reading Earnings Highlights: AIG, Dell, Gap, Heinz, Macy's, RadioShack, Sears ...

Earnings Highlights: AIG, Dell, Gap, Heinz, Macy's, RadioShack, Sears ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 27 Feb 2010 09:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Palm (PALM) was the talk of the town back about a year ago when its vaunted Palm Pre smartphone won all kinds of awards and was hailed as the savior of the once-powerful technology company. After the Palm Pre was released last June and was followed up by the Palm Pixi wireless handset, the turnaround started but never really revolutionized the company as many thought would happen.

Continue reading Palm Changes Outlook for Fiscal Year, Cites Slow Sales

Palm Changes Outlook for Fiscal Year, Cites Slow Sales originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 26 Feb 2010 14:40:00 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 Closing Bell: As Bulls Meet Skeptics (PALM, SIRI, CRM, CCE, KO, LAMR)

Closing Bell: As Bulls Meet Skeptics (PALM, SIRI, CRM, CCE, KO, LAMR) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 25 Feb 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.