If you are looking for clues to tell you which stocks have a good chance of increasing in value, you might want to 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.

U.S. Gold (UXG) topped the insider-buying charts for the week ending March 4 as insiders snapped up 3,067,000 shares of company stock at a market value of $19,935,500. During the past six months, insiders have increased their overall holdings in the company by 30.97% and now own 21.13% of UXG stock.

Continue reading Insiders Snapping Up U.S. Gold, Central Pacific Financial and More

Insiders Snapping Up U.S. Gold, Central Pacific Financial and More originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 07 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Intel (INTC) was upgraded to overweight from equal weight and Autodesk (ADSK) to equal weight from underweight at Morgan Stanley.
• Citigroup upgraded Blackrock (BLK) to buy from hold.
• 99c Only Stores (NDN) was upgraded to buy from hold at Deutsche Bank.
• PetSmart (PETM) was upgraded to overweight from equal weight at Barclays.
• Piper Jaffray upgraded Ruth's Hospitality (RUTH) and Morton's Restaurant (MRT) to overweight from neutral.
• BioMed Realty (BMR) was upgraded to market perform from underperform at FBR Capital.
• Wells Fargo upgraded Piedmont (PDM) to market perform from underperform.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AA, AOL, BLK, CSCO, GOOG, INTC, JBL, JBLU, YHOO ...

Analyst Calls: AA, AOL, BLK, CSCO, GOOG, INTC, JBL, JBLU, YHOO ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 11 Nov 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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.

American Eagle Outfitters Inc. (AEO) topped the insider-buying charts for the week ending July 9th as insiders snapped up 500,000 shares of company stock at a market value of $6,790,000. During the past six months, insiders have increased their overall holdings in the company by 3.91% and now own 8.30% of AEO stock.

Continue reading Insiders Snapping Up American Eagle and Six Flags

Insiders Snapping Up American Eagle and Six Flags originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 13 Sep 2010 02:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

From TheStreet.com Network

• Who Really Wins, Loses in GE-Comcast Deal?
• From Ammunition to Diapers: Under the Radar

Continue reading Cramer on BloggingStocks: People have finally seen the light on Disney

Cramer on BloggingStocks: People have finally seen the light on Disney originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 09 Dec 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The future investment stars are already with us. The NYSE Financial Future Challenge, operated by the NYSE Foundation, By Kids for Kids, K12 Inc. and the United Investors Association, is in full swing, with five finalists just identified. To reach this level, the participants had to develop a new product, idea or process that would "excite, educate and motivate their peers" to become interested in the financial marketplace. The eventual winner lurks within this subset and will receive a $2,500 prize -- a great way to get that portfolio started. And, he or she will be feted at a closing bell ceremony at the NYSE (NYX) on January 11, 2010.

The finalists presented a variety of ideas which are sure to generate some buzz. Kelsey Foss, a 12-year-old from Mountainville, NY, proposed a new television show, "Stock Market Tycoon Idol," which would harness the popularity of reality TV while amping up the content. The program would involve the journeys of 10 kids as they seek to make money or lose it, with the possibility of becoming virtual millionaires along the way. The show would be set at a mock NYSE studio on Wall Street, and exports would be brought out to mentor the contestants. The reality TV reach would help engage a younger audience.

Continue reading Tomorrow's gurus shine in NYSE Financial Future Challenge

Tomorrow's gurus shine in NYSE Financial Future Challenge originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Over the weekend, Six Flags Inc. (OTC: SIXF) announced it was filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy (cue sad-trombone noise here). The company was saddled with $2.4 billion in debt and is taking this opportunity for a fresh start. None of the company's 20 parks -- located throughout North America -- will be closed. All Six Flags employees still have jobs, as well, so potential patrons should not feel as though corners are being cut.

Six Flags spokeswoman Sandra Daniels told the press that "This restructuring will have no impact on families who come out to our parks."

Continue reading Six Flags bankrupt, but the rides will go on

Six Flags bankrupt, but the rides will go on originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 15 Jun 2009 12:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Earlier this month on DailyFinance, Bruce Watson wrote about Six Flags as a company on the brink: "Even if the company must declare bankruptcy, CEO Mark Shapiro says its daily operations will not be affected and characterizes a possible reorganization as a 'back-of-the-house issue.' Still, the company is keeping its seat belt fastened for more thrills and chills."

Today the company did file for bankruptcy with a so-called prepackaged filing. The reorganization plan has the unanimous support of the major lenders and the company hopes to re-emerge quickly. There don't appear to be any plans to close parks as a result of the filing.

Continue reading Six Flags files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection

Six Flags files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 13 Jun 2009 16:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Six Flags raises the 'going concern' flag

Six Flags raises the 'going concern' flag originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 12 Mar 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This post is part of our Ads Gone Bad series. Share your thoughts and memories of this ad in the comments, and be sure to check out our other posts on marketing gone wrong.

Thanks to our unfortunate history with slavery and the subsequent economic slavery imposed on minority Americans, we as a nation are very sensitive to charges of racism. So sensitive, in fact, that advertisers are often accused of such transgressions for the slightest intimation. Six Flags (NYSE: SIX), the amusement park chain, found this out recently.

The park created what I thought was a clever series of ads contrasting the humdrum routine of ordinary life with the thrills to be found at a Six Flags park. For example, one ad showed a lumpy teen attempting to dance, another a chortling woman teasing her cat with a laser pointer, both compared to gleeful coaster riders at Six Flags.

Continue reading Ads Gone Bad: Six Flags not so much fun

Ads Gone Bad: Six Flags not so much fun originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 10 Sep 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Investors/readers have probably already heard all of the bad jokes regarding Six Flags.

• "Things are so bad at Six Flags, it's now called Three Flags."
• "The only thing rising at Six Flags is the rollercoaster."
• "A contest offered a vacation prize. First Prize: a day at Six Flags. Second Prize: two days at Six Flags."

O.K., that last one was borrowed from arguably the greatest comedian of all time, Groucho Marx, but you get the point: times are tough for Six Flags (NYSE: SIX).

Six Flags has more than $2.4 billion in debt, hasn't posted a profit in years, and has a big hurdle next summer: a $288 million payment to preferred shareholders, The Wall Street Journal reported (subscription required). Six Flags' stock closed Friday down 10 cents to $1.02.

Attendance, down 3% in Q2, is expected to "decline by at least that percentage, or come in even lower" for the year stock analyst C. Leonard Bauer told BloggingStocks, adding that it's not an elaborate mystery concerning why Six Flags is becoming less of a destination of significance.

Continue reading Red flag at Six Flags

Red flag at Six Flags originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 10 Aug 2008 09:10:00 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.

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

• Analogic Corp. (NASDAQ: ALOG) beat estimates and announced an acquisition.
• AnnTaylor Stores Corp. (NYSE: ANN) swung to a loss in the fourth quarter on restructuring costs.
• Big Lots Inc. (NYSE: BIG) beat fourth-quarter earinings estimates and offered revised guidance.
• Bon-Ton Stores Inc. (NASDAQ: BONT) posted disappointing fourth-quarter and full-year results.
• Carrols Restaurant Group (NASDAQ: TAST) posted solid results on same-store sales for certain chains.
• Ferrellgas Partners (NYSE: FGP) saw profit fall in what should have been its strongest quarter.
• Foot Locker Inc. (NYSE: FL) fourth-quarter profit fell on weaker same-store sales.
• Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) cut its first-quarter and full-year forecasts on higher expenses.
• Imax Corp. (NASDAQ: IMAX) widened its losses for the fourth quarter and the full year.
• Jones Soda Co. (NASDAQ: JSDA) swung to a loss due to costs related to distributing in product in cans.
• K-Tron International Inc. (NASDAQ: KTII) said fourth-quarter and full-year earnings soared.
• Liz Claiborne Inc. (NYSE: LIZ) posted disappointing fourth-quarter and full-year results.
• Six Flags Inc. (NYSE: SIX) narrowed its fourth-quarter and full-year losses.
• Texas Instruments Inc. (NYSE: TXN) lowered its forecast on fewer orders from a key client.
• United Parcel Service (NYSE: UPS) warned it may miss first quarter estimates due to the slowing economy.
• Vail Resorts Inc. (NYSE: MTN) second-quarter profit slipped due to lack of snow early in the season.

Continue reading Earnings highlights: Humana, Texas Instruments, UPS, Liz Clairborne, and others

Earnings highlights: Humana, Texas Instruments, UPS, Liz Clairborne, and others originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 15 Mar 2008 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The previous quarter was tough for amusement park operator Six Flags Inc. (NYSE: SIX), which reported a narrowed fourth-quarter loss, as well as for Vail Resorts Inc. (NYSE: MTN), the nation's largest ski resort operator, which said that its fiscal second-quarter profits were affected by a lack of snowfall early in the season.

Six Flags reported a fourth-quarter loss of $132.4 million, or $1.39 per share, compared with a loss of $195.2 million, or $2.07 per share, a year earlier, and a loss of 59 cents expected by analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial. However, the results for the prior-year period included an $89.2 million, or 95 cents per share, loss from discontinued operations.

Revenue for the period that ended December 31 rose 8% to $112.1 million, as park attendance edged up 4% to 2.8 million.

Six Flags reported a full-year loss of $275.1 million, or $2.90 per share, compared with a loss of $327.6 million, or $3.48 per share, in the previous year, and a loss of $2.92 expected by analysts. Annual revenue increased 3% to $972.8 million.

Shares of Six Flags dropped 20 cents, or about 12%, to $1.62 in morning trading.

Continue reading Six Flags narrows loss; Vail Resorts profit slips -- shares of both slide

Six Flags narrows loss; Vail Resorts profit slips -- shares of both slide originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 10 Mar 2008 14:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The roller coasters at Six Flags (NASDAQ: SIX) are fun for the theme parks' patrons, but shareholders of Six Flags have experienced a ride more like The Tower of Terror, a simulated freefall thrill ride. The company reported its second quarter results on Friday, losing $41.8 million from continuing operations, compared with a loss of $39.1 million in the second quarter of 2006, as revenue increased 6%. The loss per share of $.50 was nearly double the consensus estimates.

Mark Shapiro, Six Flags President and CEO, commented: "Although our peak business period occurs in the third quarter, we witnessed encouraging results for the first six months, especially when you consider 4% fewer operating days and unprecedented rain in the state of Texas. The fact that in-park spending and guest satisfaction scores are at an all-time high indicates both the return of families to Six Flags and their approval of the makeover. We are in position for the long-term turnaround we envisioned for our shareholders."

But those shareholders apparently aren't buying it, as the shares shed another 16% on Friday to close at $3.90, after trading over $6 as recently as June. In 1999, the stock was above $30.

So is Six Flags a good deal, with its market cap of under $375 million? In many ways, the company is a lot like Trump Entertainment Resorts (NASDAQ: TRMP), whose shares have tanked after the company failed to find a buyer. Saddled with enormous debt loads (1.4 billion for Trump and 2.65 billion for Six Flags), you have to worry that these companies will be unlikely to make the capital investments necessary to stay relevant in competitive industries. The huge debt service requirements make it difficult for these companies to generate cash and while Six Flags does have a $275 million revolving credit facility, that's not that much considering that the company has lost $200 million in the past 6 months.

I would stay away from these stocks for now. The huge debt loads make them too speculative.

Six Flags earnings not amusing to shareholders originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 30 Jul 2007 07:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MAJOR PAPERS:

• Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. is planning an initial public offering, following in the footsteps of arch rival Blackstone Group (NYSE: BX), reported the Wall Street Journal (subscription required).
  
• Archer-Daniel-Midland Company (NYSE: ADM) is expected to enter the sugar cane ethanol business in Brazil, including the possible purchase of Cosan, Brazil's largest ethanol producer, reported the Wall Street Journal.

• British energy company BP plc (NYSE: BP) will agree to the demands of the Russian government to give up its stake in the $20B Kovykta gas project, reported the U.K. Times.
• From BusinessWeek's "Inside Wall Street" column:
• Bulls and bears argue over where it is time to own Deere and Company (NYSE: DE) stock, some see the stock hitting $150, some believe the party is over.
• Document Security Systems Inc (NYSE: DMC) has nine patented technologies to help protect documents and printed products from brand and security fakers, leading Brookhaven Capital Management to believe it will reach $50-a-share over the next two years.
• WBB Securities believes Cleveland BioLabs Inc (NASDAQ: CBLI) is likely by summer's end to get a U.S. Department of Defense contract for its radiation protection compound called Protectan or CBLB502.

• CNN.com reported that a 16-year-old girl had both of her feet severed in an accident on the free-fall ride "Superman Tower of Power" at Six Flags Inc's (NYSE: SIX) Kentucky Kingdom amusement park yesterday.

Newspaper wrap-up 6-22-07: KKR to follow Blackstone public originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 22 Jun 2007 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Six Flags plays the oldies originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 19 Jun 2007 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Stock futures are lower

Before the bell 3-16-07: Futures lower ahead of CPI, consumer confidence originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 16 Mar 2007 07:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Texas Instruments Incorporated (NYSE:TXN) mid-quarter update conference call at 5pm. Note that Stifel just upgraded Texas Instruments to Buy from Hold as they believe the mid-quarter update will show improving trends.

• Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (NYSE:GS) to report Q4 earnings; conference call at 4:30pm.
• Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ:QCOM) to hold annual shareholder meeting at 11:30am.
• PDUFA Date for GlaxoSmithKline plc ADR's (NYSE:GSK) Tykerb, a breast cancer drug.

• Retailers Hot Topic Inc. (NASDAQ:HOTT) and Zumiez Inc (NASDAQ:ZUMZ) to report earnings. Hot Topic's Q4 conference call is at 4:30pm, Zumiez's Q4 conference call is at 5pm.
• PDUFA Date for Novartis AG ADS's (NYSE:NVS) Tekturna, a treatment for high blood pressure.

• Bayer AG ADS (NYSE:BAY) to report Q4 earnings; conference call at 6am.
• Six Flags Inc (NYSE:SIX) to report Q4 earnings; conference call at 4pm. Note that earlier this week, Cramer specified Six Flags as a stock he was bullish on during the "Lightning Round" of his Mad Money television show.

• IMAX Corp (NASDAQ:IMAX) to report Q4 earnings; conference call at 8:30am.
• AnnTaylor Stores Corporation (NYSE:ANN) to report Q4 earnings; conference call at 8:30am.

Market highlights for next week: Texas Instruments mid-quarter update originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 09 Mar 2007 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Each year Steven Halpern, editor of TheStockAdvisors.com, surveys the leading financial newsletter advisors asking for their favorite stocks for the coming year. This article is part of his 24th annual Top Picks Report.

Six Flags (NYSE: SIX) is the top conservative investment idea for 2007 from Chris Mayer, editor of Capital & Crisis. The advisor notes, "Six Flags is a great brand name, and about 34 million people visited its amusement and water parks last year. And they all come and spend money.

"Dan Snyder, the whiz-bang executive who made billions with Snyder Communications, took control of the company last November. He's also the guy who bought the Washington Redskins. In the time he's owned the Redskins, profits have tripled, and it's now the most valuable property in the NFL.

"One of the first things he did was hire Mark Shapiro to run the show at Six Flags. Shapiro was the No. 2 guy at ESPN. So he knows a few things about marketing and building up a media asset. Since he's joined Six Flags, he's brought on a bunch of executives and operators from ESPN and Disney.

Continue reading Top Picks 2007: Chris Mayer waves the flag for Six Flags

Top Picks 2007: Chris Mayer waves the flag for Six Flags originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 23 Dec 2006 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Hartford Financial (NYSE: HIG) to hold a 10am conference call regarding 2007 earnings guidance
• FCC to hold a hearing on Media Ownership at 1pm
• Texas Instruments (NYSE: TXN) to hold Q4 mid-quarter update at 5pm

• Six Flags (NYSE: SIX) to hold mid-quarter update at 8:30am
• Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS) to hold Q4 earnings conference call at 11am
• General Electric (NYSE: GE) to hold financial update conference call at 3pm

• Dynegy (NYSE: DYN) to hold 2007 earnings and cash flow estimates webcast at 8am
• Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board to hold public hearing at 9am

Thursday December 14

• Bear Stearns (NYSE: BSC) to hold Q4 earnings conference call at 10am
• PDUFA Date for Novartis' (NYSE: NVS) Rasilez

Friday December 15

• PDUFA Date for Oscient Pharmaceuticals' (NASDAQ: OSCI) Factive

Earnings news due out this week: Highlights originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 11 Dec 2006 09:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.