BloggingStocks http://www.bloggingstocks.com BloggingStocks http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/media/feedlogo.gif BloggingStocks http://www.bloggingstocks.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Week in Preview: Final Economic Data of the Year]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/12/26/week-in-preview-final-economic-data-of-the-year/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/12/26/week-in-preview-final-economic-data-of-the-year/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/12/26/week-in-preview-final-economic-data-of-the-year/#commentsFiled under: , ,

earnings expectationsEven as the year winds to a close this week, there are still a handful of economic releases on the schedule. Starting out on Monday, the Chicago Fed releases its Midwest Manufacturing Index for November.

Tuesday brings the final Consumer Confidence Index of the year, as well as the S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Index for October, the Richmond Fed's Business Surveys, and a look at chain store sales for the week leading up to Christmas.

Data on last week's initial jobless claims will be released on Thursday. And then Friday brings the New York NAPM Index and the Chicago Purchasing Managers Index.

Continue reading Week in Preview: Final Economic Data of the Year

Week in Preview: Final Economic Data of the Year originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 26 Dec 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>analyst forecastsCal-Maine dividendCal-Maine earningsCal-Maine FoodsCALMCase-Shiller Home Price Indexconsumer confidenceearnings previewfeaturedmanufacturing indexPMIpurchasing managers indexSun, 26 Dec 2010 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Stocks of Mortgage Insurers Rising]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/07/20/stocks-of-mortgage-insurers-rising/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/07/20/stocks-of-mortgage-insurers-rising/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/07/20/stocks-of-mortgage-insurers-rising/#commentsFiled under: ,

Mortgage insurers such as Radian Group (RDN) and PMI Group (PMI) have been suffering from rising mortgage defaults. But the group could be turning the corner. On Tuesday, the largest U.S. mortgage insurer, MGIC Investment Corp. (MTG), posted a quarterly profit of $24.6 million compared to a loss of nearly $340 million in the year-ago quarter. That good news comes after three years of losses.

MGIC's results should bode well for Radian, which will announce its second quarter results on August 3, and PMI Group, which will release its second quarter results on July 29.

Continue reading Stocks of Mortgage Insurers Rising

Stocks of Mortgage Insurers Rising originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 20 Jul 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hilary kramerHilaryKramerhousing markethovanianmortgage insurerspmiradianTue, 20 Jul 2010 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Timely Ten: Blue Chip Buys from IQ Trends]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/06/02/the-timely-ten-blue-chip-buys/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/06/02/the-timely-ten-blue-chip-buys/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/06/02/the-timely-ten-blue-chip-buys/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Chevron CVX logo"Fear is back and it can be seen in the internals. So what is one to do? What we always do: identify quality, establish value, and take advantage of opportunity when it presents itself," suggests Kelley Wright.

The editor of Investment Quality Trends -- an advisory service that assesses blue chip stocks by analyzing their historic dividend yield levels -- adds, "While all ships go out with the tide, value is eventually rewarded. Remember, we are in this for the long haul.

"Our current Timely Ten -- featured below -- is our reasoned expectation based on our methodology and experience for what we believe will perform best over the next five years. Do we believe that all 10 will go up simultaneously or immediately? Of course not.

Continue reading The Timely Ten: Blue Chip Buys from IQ Trends

The Timely Ten: Blue Chip Buys from IQ Trends originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 02 Jun 2010 13:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adpaflacautomatic data processingblue chip stockschevroncoca-colacvxdividend stocksExxon Mobilfeaturedincome stocksinvestment quality trendsiq trendsjnjJohnson Johnsonkelley wrightkopepsicopgPhilip Morris Internationalpmiprocter and gamblesteven halpernthestockadvisors.comUnited Technologiesutxxomyield stocksWed, 02 Jun 2010 13:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Factory Orders Bolster the Bulls]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/03/31/factory-orders-bolster-the-bulls/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/03/31/factory-orders-bolster-the-bulls/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/03/31/factory-orders-bolster-the-bulls/#commentsFiled under: ,

As my colleague Melly Alazraki mentioned this morning, factory order data recently graced the Street. According to the government, factory orders increased 0.6% in February. This data gave the bulls a bit of encouragement, as the major indices began to climb off of their morning lows. Unfortunately, this news appears to be one of the lone bright spots in the day's data.

The Chicago purchasing managers index (PMI) reflected a drop to 58.8% from 62.6%. While a drop was expected, this decline was larger than expected. Experts called for a slip to 59.9%.

Continue reading Factory Orders Bolster the Bulls

Factory Orders Bolster the Bulls originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 31 Mar 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Chicago purchasing managersfactory ordersISMPMIWed, 31 Mar 2010 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The week in preview: Seeking more signs of economic stability]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/08/02/the-week-in-preview-seeking-more-signs-of-economic-stability/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/08/02/the-week-in-preview-seeking-more-signs-of-economic-stability/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/08/02/the-week-in-preview-seeking-more-signs-of-economic-stability/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Last week's Fed Beige Book report and GDP numbers suggested that the economy may be stabilizing, and this coming week will bring plenty of economic data to confirm or deny that suggestion. On the schedule are consumer credit, construction spending, factory orders, and pending home sales for June, the employment situation, the Import Price Index, and new motor vehicle sales for July, as well as the ISM Manufacturing and Non-manufacturing Indexes for July.

The week will also bring quarterly reports from home builders Beazer Homes USA Inc. (NYSE: BZH), D.R. Horton Inc. (NYSE: DHI), and Pulte Homes Inc. (NYSE: PHM). Yet again, analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters expect all three to have narrowed their losses in the most recent quarter. However, they've all tended to post deeper-than-expected losses in recent quarters as well. Analysts also expect to see their revenue down 45% or more for the past quarter. They forecast long-term EPS growth of 7% or more, but none of these homebuilders has a First Call consensus buy recommendation, not surprisingly. Short interest is falling off for Beazer and D.R. Horton, and D.R. Horton and Pulte have been reporting positive cash flow from operations, but all three of them said they had more long-term debt than cash in hand last time around. Mortgage insurer PMI Group Inc. (NYSE: PMI) is likewise expected to report that it narrowed its second-quarter loss.

Continue reading The week in preview: Seeking more signs of economic stability

The week in preview: Seeking more signs of economic stability originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 02 Aug 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Beazer HomesBZHD.R. HortonDean FoodsDFDHIDLTRDollar TreeearningsfeaturedFed Beige BookGDPhome buildersHUMHumanaPHMPMIPulte HomesVeriSignVRSNSun, 02 Aug 2009 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The week in preview: Expectations remain high for energy and oil]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/11/02/the-week-in-preview-expectations-remain-high-for-energy-and-oil/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/11/02/the-week-in-preview-expectations-remain-high-for-energy-and-oil/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/11/02/the-week-in-preview-expectations-remain-high-for-energy-and-oil/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The focus of last week's preview was on oil and energy companies, and we saw that big oil had a good week, reporting better-than-expected results and record profits driven by high prices in the third quarter. Energy-related companies are well represented again this week and expectations in general remain high.

Early in the week, analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial anticipate that the big earnings gainers will include EOG Resources Inc. (NYSE: EOG), Anadarko Petroleum Corp. (NYSE: APC), and Cimarex Energy Co. (NYSE: XEC), which are expected to post profits of $2.24 per share (up 64.7% from a year ago), $1.48 per share (up 52.7%) and $2.26 per share (up 61.1%) respectively. All three of them have offered positive surprises in recent quarters, and analysts on average recommend buying EOG and Anadarko. Other expected big earnings gainers early in the week include Forest Oil Corp. (NYSE: FST), Pioneer Natural Resources Co. (NYSE: PXD), Comstock Resources Inc. (NYSE: CRK), and MasterCard Inc. (NYSE: MA). The earnings of phosphates producer Innophos Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: IPHS) are expected to have risen 92.3% to $3.37 per share. Innophos beat estimates in the previous quarter by a whopping 210%, and analysts have been impressed with Innophos's lack of debt and pricing gains despite the slowing economy, so, on average, they recommend buying IPHS.

Also early in the week, analysts expect Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. (NYSE: GT), Kaiser Aluminum Corp. (NASDAQ: KALU), and Oshkosh Corp. (NYSE: OSK) to report that their profits fell 52.9% to $0.33 per share, 45.1% to $0.67 per share, and 41.2% to $0.67 per share, respectively. These companies have tended to beat estimates in recent quarters, and the consensus recommendations of analysts are to buy them. However, PMI Group Inc. (NYSE: PMI), one of the largest private mortgage insurance providers in the U.S., is expected to take another hit as the housing slump drags on. The California-based company is expected to have widened its net loss from $1.04 per share a year ago to $2.43 per share in the most recent quarter. Its shares are down 84.5% from a year ago, and have been trading recently near their 52-week low.

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, 02 Nov 2008 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ABKAgriumAGUAmbacAnadarkoAPCArcelorMittalBBGBerkshire HathawayBill BarrettCalpineCCRTCedar FairCEGCharterCHTRCimarexClayton WilliamsCLRCompuCreditComstockCooper TireCPNCRKCTBCVICVRCWEIDevon EnergyDVNearningsEOGfeaturedFLRFluorFordForest OilFrontier OilFSTFTOFUNGoodyearGTHurricane IkeInnophosIntegrysIPHSKaiserKALUKGMAMarkelMasterCardMKLMTNATNordic American TankerOshkoshOSKPCLNPETDPMIPriceline.comPXDPXPRIGSprintSprint NextelSUNSunocoTEGTerniumTransoceanTRMPTrumpTXVMCVulcanWMBWNRXECSun, 02 Nov 2008 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Smokin' gains at Philip Morris Int'l (PM) ]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/10/21/smokin-gains-at-phillip-morris-intl-pm/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/10/21/smokin-gains-at-phillip-morris-intl-pm/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/10/21/smokin-gains-at-phillip-morris-intl-pm/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

"Philip Morris International (NYSE: PMI) remains a buy, despite these difficult markets," says Tom Slee in Gordon Pape's Internet Wealth Builder. Here he reviews the global tobacco firm.

"Spun off from the Altria Group earlier this year, Philip Morris International is off to a flying start.

"The company posted strong second-quarter earnings. After a special charge for its Rothmans acquisition, earnings came in at 81 cents a share, up from 69 cents a share the year before.

"The company had been reporting as a clearly defined division of Altria so it's possible to make comparisons and plot progress.

"Gross revenues rose 17.6% to $15.6 billion with double-digit growth in all business segments, helped to some extent by currency benefits. Sales were particularly strong in Egypt, Russia, and Argentina.

"At the same time, the company is engaged in an extensive cost reduction program. It's a positive picture and PM rewarded investors with a 17% dividend increase from $1.84 to $2.16 a year.

"This is what I had been hoping for. Management is willing to share the wealth with investors and this could become one of the few defensive income stocks with growth potential, as long as you don't mind investing in a cigarette manufacturer.

Continue reading Smokin' gains at Philip Morris Int'l (PM)

Smokin' gains at Philip Morris Int'l (PM) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 21 Oct 2008 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altriaglobal stocksgordon papeinternet wealth builderInternetWealthBuilderphillip morris internationalPhillipMorrisInternationalpmisteven halpernStevenHalpernthestockadvisors.comtobacco stocksTobaccoStockstom sleeTomSleeTue, 21 Oct 2008 10:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Altria may be in talks with UST, smokeless tobacco maker]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/09/05/altria-may-be-in-talks-with-ust-smokeless-tobacco-maker/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/09/05/altria-may-be-in-talks-with-ust-smokeless-tobacco-maker/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/09/05/altria-may-be-in-talks-with-ust-smokeless-tobacco-maker/#commentsFiled under: ,

The New York Times reports that Altria Group (NYSE: MO) "is in advanced talks to buy UST (NYSE: UST), the maker of the popular Skoal and Copenhagen smokeless tobacco brands, for more than $10 billion." Investors are reacting positively to the news, sending Altria shares over 1% higher.

Since spinning off Philip Morris International (NYSE: PMI) in March, Altria expected to experience sales decline. U.S. cigarette industry has been on the decline for years and Phillip Morris USA indeed saw an adjusted 3.6% drop in sales last year. The company has projected the trend will continue and cigarette sales volume to fall between 2.5% to 3% in the U.S. over the next few years. The reasons are knows: concerns about health, smoking bans and price increases. Altria has tried and failed to create its Marlboro brand smokeless tobacco products and has also pulled the plug on Marlboro Ultra Smooth, which despite using better filters didn't see higher consumer acceptance.

Continue reading Altria may be in talks with UST, smokeless tobacco maker

Altria may be in talks with UST, smokeless tobacco maker originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 05 Sep 2008 15:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altiracopenhageninthenewsmophillips morrisPhillipsMorrispmiskoalsmokeless tobaccoSmokelessTobaccosnuffsnusustFri, 05 Sep 2008 15:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Closing Bell: Bulls defy economic concerns as Dow rises]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/08/14/closing-bell-bulls-defy-economic-concerns/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/08/14/closing-bell-bulls-defy-economic-concerns/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/08/14/closing-bell-bulls-defy-economic-concerns/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

If you are involved in the market right now and watch the volatility with swings up and down, it might be easy to forget that trading volume is very thin and that moves can be exaggerated easily. Today's numbers, with a recession in Europe and stagflation rising in the U.S., were discounted by traders looking ahead and interpreting data out on the calendar. The good news in housing is that existing houses are finally moving, but the bad news is that they are selling under replacement cost.

Here are today's unofficial closing bell levels:
DJIA 11615.93 (+82.97)
S&P500 1292.93 (+7.10)
NASDAQ 2453.67 (+25.05)
10 YR T-Note 3.892% (-0.055%)
52-Week Lows

Alcoa Inc. (NYSE: AA) is a bit of a mystery. This had very unusual call option buying seen in the stock, yet shares were down marginally on the day by less than 1% at $31.96 before the closing bell. This stock has been the subject of rumors before, so anything is possible.

Gannett Co. Inc. (NYSE: GCI) was a winner today. Shares were up 10% at $21.20 right before the close on reports that it was cutting 1,000 newspaper jobs or about 3% of its workforce.

Hansen Natural Corp. (NASDAQ: HANS) was a huge winner after Nelson Peltz' Trian Funds disclosed an ownership stake. Shares were up over 10% at $29.79 in the final minutes of the trading day, and this is up almost 40% even after poor earnings recently.

PMI Group Inc. (NYSE: PMI) was a big winner today after the company sold off Australian operations for $920 million in a capital raising effort. Shares were up almost 60% at $4.45 in the final minutes before the close.

Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc. (NYSE: MSO) shares were up almost 8% at $8.80 right before the close after Jim Cramer interviewed Martha Stewart herself and said the stock is cheap at $8.00.

Closing Bell: Bulls defy economic concerns as Dow rises originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 14 Aug 2008 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AAGCIHANSMSOPMIThu, 14 Aug 2008 16:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Cramer on BloggingStocks: The breadth of the danger is staggering]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/15/cramer-on-bloggingstocks-the-breadth-of-the-danger-is-staggerin/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/15/cramer-on-bloggingstocks-the-breadth-of-the-danger-is-staggerin/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/15/cramer-on-bloggingstocks-the-breadth-of-the-danger-is-staggerin/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

TheStreet.com's Jim Cramer says our problems are so widespread, he sees lots more IndyMacs before we're out.

You don't need me to tell you it's awful out there. You don't need me to tell you that there's no quick fix for any of these things. But what might help you understand why it feels so bad this time is that I have never, in my career, seen so many companies go off track at the same time. This is one unbelievable moment, and it is made more horrible by the day as companies' stocks just get pummeled, causing people to then question the very viability of the companies involved.

First, obviously, are Fannie Mae (NYSE: FNM) (Cramer's Take) and Freddie Mac (NYSE: FRE) (Cramer's Take). We don't know what will happen, but we do know that their futures are much darker than their pasts. Their best hope: a Democrat becomes president and shows the usual love to both. But as investments, they are pretty much perma-losers going forward. The losses are that heavy. Yes, it is true that two years from now they will be better, but will the government let them limp through to that? View them as calls on a Democratic win.

We all know that Citigroup (NYSE: C) (Cramer's Take), Wachovia (NYSE: WB) (Cramer's Take), Washington Mutual (NYSE: WM) (Cramer's Take) and National City (NYSE: NCC) (Cramer's Take) are in trouble. Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) (Cramer's Take) says it isn't in trouble, but obviously the market doesn't believe management because the stock failed to rally when it said its dividend was safe. Any short-selling hedge fund could hire 30 actors and have them line up at a Washington Mutual or two and get a bank run going. Then we would have to hear about a "hasty" Treasury department plan to bail out WM. Hasty? How can these guys not see it coming?

Continue reading Cramer on BloggingStocks: The breadth of the danger is staggering

Cramer on BloggingStocks: The breadth of the danger is staggering originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 15 Jul 2008 08:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abkaigamdanbacbbtcchrschscmacnbdhiffeaturedfhnfitbfnmfregmgnwhbanhovimbjim cramerJimCramerkeykrxlehlenmmbimermimtgnccphmpmirfshldsovstiubsvcwbwmxlzionTue, 15 Jul 2008 08:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Cramer on BloggingStocks: The mortgage insurers created this mess]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/11/cramer-on-bloggingstocks-the-mortgage-insurers-created-this-mes/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/11/cramer-on-bloggingstocks-the-mortgage-insurers-created-this-mes/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/11/cramer-on-bloggingstocks-the-mortgage-insurers-created-this-mes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

TheStreet.com's Jim Cramer says Fannie and Freddie aren't the true culprits here.

The blowhards and bluff artists and the Gang of Four -- Ambac (NYSE: ABK) (Cramer's Take), MBIA (NYSE: MBI) (Cramer's Take), MGIC (NYSE: MTG) (Cramer's Take) and PMI (NYSE: PMI) (Cramer's Take) -- truly have blood on their hands for this moment. So do the ratings agencies, the mortgage insurers and the salespeople who packaged undocumented loans and pushed buying homes with no money down.

The whole apparatus stinks and we are now seeing the unwinding, but I think that the false assurances created by the Gang of Four and their insistence to not worry made everyone way too complacent. Their glib promises as well as the incredibly lax work of the ratings agencies, S&P and Moody's, enabled the whole edifice to be propped up.

And once it was clear to them that they needed more capital, they chose to forgo the window and attack the shorts. Had they raised the capital they needed and had the ratings agencies said they can't bless any more of this junk, we might have never been in this spot.

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.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abkambacbacfannie maeFannieMaefeaturedfnmfrefreddie macFreddieMacinthenewsjim cramerJimCramermbimbiamgicmortgage insurancemortgage insurersMortgageInsuranceMortgageInsurersmortgagesmtgpmiwmFri, 11 Jul 2008 08:38:00 EST<![CDATA[Early analyst calls (BAC) (BP)]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/10/early-analyst-calls-bac-bp/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/10/early-analyst-calls-bac-bp/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/10/early-analyst-calls-bac-bp/#commentsFiled under: ,

Citi Investment Research lowered it price target on Citadel Broadcasting (NYSE:CDL), according to the AP. The news service also reports that Moody's Investors Service lowered it rating on PMI Group (NYSE:PMI), cutting from "A3" from "Aa2."

Morgan Stanley downgraded Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) to "underweight" from "equal-weight" according to Briefing.com. The news service also reports that HSBC upgraded BP (NYSE:BP) from "neutral" to "overweight".

Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 247wallst.com.

Early analyst calls (BAC) (BP) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 10 Jul 2008 07:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BACBPCDLPMIThu, 10 Jul 2008 07:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Cramer on BloggingStocks: Beware the financial dirty dozen ]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/03/cramer-on-bloggingstocks-beware-the-financial-dirty-dozen/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/03/cramer-on-bloggingstocks-beware-the-financial-dirty-dozen/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/03/cramer-on-bloggingstocks-beware-the-financial-dirty-dozen/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

TheStreet.com's Jim Cramer says he has no confidence in these hated names, and neither should you.

The financials are flying -- there are finally bids for most of them underneath. Many, including Lehman (NYSE: LEH) (Cramer's Take), are running. What a great time to put the negative cards on the table and put the negatives in perspective. That's right, let's look at the financial Achilles' heels. What could go wrong? In other words, here's the companion piece to Doug Kass' positive conversion. Here's what I am worried about even as Doug thinks everyone's too worried and the bottom is being put in.

To get started, let's look at what's not causing the endless declines in the stocks -- don't worry, we will get to the financial dirty dozen when I finish this preamble.

First, it ain't earnings. Earnings aren't going to be that great. But that's why the S&P is at 14 times. It can go to 12 or 11, or most likely stays at 13-14, but the E goes down (earnings).

Second, it ain't oil. The stocks sensitive to the increase in oil have room to go down, but the price of oil is being factored in slowly but surely.

Third, it isn't inflation or recession. Those two are being baked in each day.

Continue reading Cramer on BloggingStocks: Beware the financial dirty dozen

Cramer on BloggingStocks: Beware the financial dirty dozen originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 03 Jul 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abkaigbacblkccitffeaturedfnmfregmjim cramerJimCramerlehmbimermtgpmiwbwmThu, 03 Jul 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Cramer on BloggingStocks: Deep in the heart of defaults ]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/05/30/cramer-on-bloggingstocks-deep-in-the-heart-of-defaults/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/05/30/cramer-on-bloggingstocks-deep-in-the-heart-of-defaults/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/05/30/cramer-on-bloggingstocks-deep-in-the-heart-of-defaults/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

TheStreet.com's Jim Cramer says the mortgage problem is in the process of cresting, which is why the stocks have largely bottomed.

We are in the heart of default country, and we knew we would be. This is the toughest moment. You need to go back and look at the calendar to realize the astonishing acceleration in defaults. It's simple: This moment two years ago is when the underwriting standards were the lowest, and this is the moment when the defaults will be the highest because the loans are resetting at high levels and most of the lenders, lenders like Countrywide (NYSE: CFC) (Cramer's Take), are more interested in getting as much out of a borrower as possible before kicking him out than working out the loan.

Think about it.

In the second quarter of 2006, the housing industry was going strong. We were in the 7-million-homes-changing-hands mode, and the vast majority of those homes required little money down, with home equity loans being taken out immediately to pay whatever little interest was being charged. These were the moments of the ultimate no-doc-high-fee loans by New Century Financial, Ameriquest, Resmed (Ditech), American Home Mortgage, Novastar, and of course, Countrywide. This was when the homebuilders' mortgage arms lent the most terribly.

Continue reading Cramer on BloggingStocks: Deep in the heart of defaults

Cramer on BloggingStocks: Deep in the heart of defaults originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 30 May 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abkambaccfcdhidr hortonDrHortonfeaturedhousinghovhovanianjim cramerJimCramerkb homeskbhKbHomeslenlennarmbimbiamgicmortgagesmtgphmpmipulte homesPulteHomestoltoll brothersTollBrothersFri, 30 May 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Cramer on BloggingStocks: Pools of capital keep retelling the credit story ]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/04/24/cramer-on-bloggingstocks-pools-of-capital-keep-retelling-the-cr/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/04/24/cramer-on-bloggingstocks-pools-of-capital-keep-retelling-the-cr/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/04/24/cramer-on-bloggingstocks-pools-of-capital-keep-retelling-the-cr/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

TheStreet.com's Jim Cramer says we know how it'll play out. Besides, there's money to be made elsewhere.

Nobody's dissing the credit crisis. We all see it. We know when it is back. We know that the write-offs for the banks and brokers and Fannie (NYSE: FNM) (Cramer's Take) and Freddie (NYSE: FRE) (Cramer's Take) will be gigantic if and when the Gang of Four (Ambac (NYSE: ABK) (Cramer's Take), MGIC (NYSE: MTG) (Cramer's Take), MBIA (NYSE: MBI) (Cramer's Take), PMI (NYSE: PMI) (Cramer's Take)) finally chokes to death. But we also know that Boeing (NYSE: BA) (Cramer's Take) and Honeywell (NYSE: HON) (Cramer's Take) and Schlumberger (NYSE: SLB) (Cramer's Take) and Lockheed (NYSE: LMT) (Cramer's Take) and all of the other stocks that are on the move, not to mention anything oil and gas, just aren't that levered to the crisis. I know that is heresy for many of you. How could the crisis not bring everything to its knees?

Because these companies are basically foreign companies. They are just not that important to the credit crumble.

Continue reading Cramer on BloggingStocks: Pools of capital keep retelling the credit story

Cramer on BloggingStocks: Pools of capital keep retelling the credit story originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 24 Apr 2008 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abkbaccredit crisisCreditCrisisfeaturedfnmfrehonjimjim cramerJimCramerlehlmtmbimermtgpmislbThu, 24 Apr 2008 09:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Analyst initiations: Mortgage insurers, THOR and ELY]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/04/10/analyst-initiations-mortgage-insurers-thor-and-ely/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/04/10/analyst-initiations-mortgage-insurers-thor-and-ely/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/04/10/analyst-initiations-mortgage-insurers-thor-and-ely/#commentsFiled under: , ,

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Mortgage Insurers, Thoratec Laboratories and Callaway Golf were today's noteworthy initiations:
  • Keefe Bruyette resumed coverage of Old Republic (NYSE:ORI), MGIC Investment (NYSE:MTG), PMI Group (NYSE:PMI) and Radian (NYSE:RDN) with Market Perform ratings and a $16 target, $13 target, $7 target and $6.50 target, respectively, as they expect increased capital needs to generate operational headwinds in the near-term.
  • JMP Securities expects FDA approval of Thoratec's (NASDAQ:THOR) next generation HeartMate II VAD any day now and for the company to meet/beat 2008 sales guidance. Shares were started with an Outperform rating and $20 target.
  • Callaway Golf (NYSE:ELY) was assumed at Stephens with an Overweight rating and $19 target. The firm is positive on Callaway's leadership position, strong balance sheet, new products and international opportunity.
OTHER INITIATIONS:

Analyst initiations: Mortgage insurers, THOR and ELY originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 10 Apr 2008 11:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>analystbancshares of floridaBancsharesOfFloridaboflcallawaydcaidialysis corp of americaDialysisCorpOfAmericaelyinitiationintuitive surgicalIntuitiveSurgicalisrgmgicmortgage insurerMortgageInsurermtgold republicOldRepublicoripmiradianrdnthorthoratecThu, 10 Apr 2008 11:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Cramer on BloggingStocks: I'll keep banging the uptick drum]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/04/01/cramer-on-bloggingstocks-ill-keep-banging-the-uptick-drum/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/04/01/cramer-on-bloggingstocks-ill-keep-banging-the-uptick-drum/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/04/01/cramer-on-bloggingstocks-ill-keep-banging-the-uptick-drum/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

TheStreet.com's Jim Cramer says you can call him all the names in the book, but he's right, and the shorts know it.

It was a cause I didn't want to take up. I didn't want to take it up because I knew the short-sellers would paint me as a naïve, clueless defender of the bull, and the long owners wouldn't really understand the idiosyncrasies of the subject. It was a cause I knew the brokers would never defend because their best business that is left is prime brokerage, and they need giant hedge funds to trade with them and can't risk alienating them.

I am talking about the uptick rule, the 70-year-old rule put in by the SEC to stop the process of "raiding" stocks, meaning sending them down by knocking all bids down underneath to where panic could and would ensue.

Today's typical. The Journal breaks its seeming 10-year embargo on mentioning me or my show with a piece that basically says I have no idea what I am talking about and am a fool to bring it up. It quotes James Bianco, from Bianco Research right after me saying, "Anyone who thinks the removal of this rule is somehow causing havoc in the financial markets is hopelessly lost in the bark of one tree and may never be able to see the forest." He then goes on to say, "To suggest that the removal of this rule is causing the markets to go down is to loudly announce, "I don't understand the credit crisis and I am incapable of ever understanding it.'"

Continue reading Cramer on BloggingStocks: I'll keep banging the uptick drum

Cramer on BloggingStocks: I'll keep banging the uptick drum originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 01 Apr 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abkbscfeaturedhcbkjim cramerJimCramerjpmlehmbimermtgpmisbtmawbwmTue, 01 Apr 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Analyst initiations: Infinera, Dawson Geophysical, Electro-Optical Sciences]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/03/19/analyst-initiations-infinera-dawson-geophysical-electro-optic/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/03/19/analyst-initiations-infinera-dawson-geophysical-electro-optic/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/03/19/analyst-initiations-infinera-dawson-geophysical-electro-optic/#commentsFiled under: , ,

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Infinera, Dawson Geophysical and Electro-Optical Sciences were today's noteworthy initiations:
  • 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.
OTHER INITIATIONS:

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.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>analystbluddawsondwsnelectro-opticalgiven imagingGivenImaginggivnimmunocorinfinerainfninitiationlibrty entertainmentLibrtyEntertainmentlmdiamelapmipmi groupPmiGroupWed, 19 Mar 2008 12:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Cramer on BloggingStocks: Letting the market rule is a mistake]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/02/14/cramer-on-bloggingstocks-letting-the-market-rule-is-a-mistake/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/02/14/cramer-on-bloggingstocks-letting-the-market-rule-is-a-mistake/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/02/14/cramer-on-bloggingstocks-letting-the-market-rule-is-a-mistake/#commentsFiled under: , ,

TheStreet.com's Jim Cramer says Bernanke's laissez-faire "policy" is at the heart of the mortgage crisis.

Spitzer's right. Believe me, much of what is happening in the bond market world in the insurance of bonds is about Darwin and laissez-faire and Ayn Rand. It is about letting the marketplace rule, and of letting capitalism run wild and roughshod. That's why I was so glad to hear Eliot Spitzer say as much on CNBC this morning.

Sure, many of the people who took these mortgages shouldn't have. But we have known since time began that you can fool people who aren't clever and who are greedy, so you have to protect them from themselves.

That's not what we did. Instead, we figured that the marketplace will take care of everything, that capitalism produces the best result.

Continue reading Cramer on BloggingStocks: Letting the market rule is a mistake

Cramer on BloggingStocks: Letting the market rule is a mistake originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 14 Feb 2008 09:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abkambacEliot SpitzerEliotSpitzerfeaturedjim cramerJimCramermbimbiamgicmtgpmiThu, 14 Feb 2008 09:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Banks may need as much as $143 billion if bond insurers are downgraded]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/01/25/banks-may-need-as-much-as-143-billion-if-bond-insurers-are-down/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/01/25/banks-may-need-as-much-as-143-billion-if-bond-insurers-are-down/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/01/25/banks-may-need-as-much-as-143-billion-if-bond-insurers-are-down/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Barclays analysts say banks that obtained $72 billion in funding to replenish capital depleted by subprime-related losses may need another $143 billion in capital infusions if credit rating agencies downgrade bond insurers several levels, Bloomberg News reported Friday.

Barclays analyst Paul Fenner-Leitao Banks wrote in a research report published Friday that banks will need at least $22 billion if bonds covered by insurers MBIA (NYSE: MBI) and Ambac (NYSE: ABK) are cut one level from the current AAA and six times that if they are cut four levels, Bloomberg said. The capital amount is based on Barclays' estimates that the banks hold as much as 75% of the $820 billion of the structured securities guaranteed by bond insurers.

Meanwhile, the markets awaited word on New York Insurance Superintendent Eric Dinallo's meeting with banks on a bail-out package for bond insurers. Shares of some key bond insurers fell after Dinallo issued a statement that the negotiations were complicated and would take time, leading some in the market to doubt the New York agency's ability to marshal private resources for the initiative.

MBIA fell 79 cents to $13.61, Ambac gained 15 cents to $11.48, PMI Group (NYSE: PMI) rose 17 cents to $8.97, and MGIC Investment (NYSE: MTG) declined 6 cents to $16.68.

Continue reading Banks may need as much as $143 billion if bond insurers are downgraded

Banks may need as much as $143 billion if bond insurers are downgraded originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 25 Jan 2008 15:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ABKAmbacbond marketcredit marketsDinalloforeclosureshousinginthenewsMBIMBIAMGIC Investmentmortgage backed securitiesMTGNew York State Insurance DepartmentPMIPMI GroupPmiGroupsuprime mortgagesFri, 25 Jan 2008 15:48:00 EST