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Home Depot Announces $1 Billion Stock Buyback

HD logoHome Depot (HD - option chain) shares are rising today after the company announced a $1 billion stock buyback program last night. HD also reiterated its fiscal-2011 sales growth forecast of 2.5% ($69.70 billion) and projected profit of $2.20 per share. Analysts are expecting a profit of $2.30 per share and revenue of $69.78 billion. If you think that the stock won't fall by too much in the coming months, then now could be a good time to look at a bullish hedged trade on HD.

HD opened this morning at $37.37. So far today the stock has hit a low of $37.15 and a high of $37.81. As of 12:00, HD is trading at $37.52 up 0.87 (2.4%). The chart for HD looks bearish and S&P gives HD a negative 2 STARS (out of 5) sell ranking.

Continue reading Home Depot Announces $1 Billion Stock Buyback

Ashland Announces Dividend Hike and Stock Buyback

ASH logoAshland (ASH - option chain) shares are rising today after the company announced plans to lift its annual dividend to 70 cents per share from 60 cents per share. The company also said its board authorized $400 million in stock buybacks. If you think that the stock won't fall by too much in the coming months, then now could be a good time to look at a bullish hedged trade on ASH.

ASH opened this morning at $57.61. So far today the stock has hit a low of $57.25 and a high of $59.07. As of 12:20, ASH is trading at $57.52 up $1.52 (2.7%). The chart for ASH looks bullish and S&P gives ASH a positive 4 STARS (out of 5) buy ranking.

Continue reading Ashland Announces Dividend Hike and Stock Buyback

Time Warner Cable: A Cautionary Tale

Time Warner Cable (TWC)A bright and shiny conference call has today boosted shares of Time Warner Cable (TWC). The stock has risen in the range of 5%, with shares trading at a healthy $62.34 as of this writing. The company reported a 5.7 percent increase in third-quarter adjusted operating income before depreciation and amortization, via its 8:30 am conference call today. However, investors might wish to think carefully before loading up on too many shares of this stock.

Continue reading Time Warner Cable: A Cautionary Tale

eBay Q3 Earnings Impress

eBay logoeBay (EBAY - option chain) shares are rising today after the company reported Q3 earnings last night, posting a profit of $432 million, or $0.33 per share. Excluding one-time items, EBAY earned $0.40 per share on revenue of $2.25 billion. Analysts had forecast a profit of $0.37 per share on revenue of $2.18 billion. EBAY also forecast Q4 earnings of $0.45 to $0.48 per share on revenue of $2.39 to $2.49 billion. Analysts have forecast Q4 earnings of $0.44 per share on revenue of $2.41 billion. EBAY also authorized a $2.0B stock buyback plan. If you think that the stock won't fall by too much in the coming months, then now could be a good time to look at a bullish hedged trade on EBAY.

Continue reading eBay Q3 Earnings Impress

Bunge Approves $700M Buyback Plan

BG logoBunge (BG - option chain) shares are rising today after the company announced its board has approved a stock buyback plan under which BG will repurchase up to $700 million worth of common shares through December 31, 2011. If you think that the stock won't fall by too much in the coming months, then now could be a good time to look at a bullish hedged trade on BG.

BG opened this morning at $49.28. So far today the stock has hit a low of $49.28 and a high of $51.90. As of 11:55, BG is trading at $51.09 up $3.33 (7.0%). The chart for BG looks neutral and S&P gives BG a neutral 3 STARS (out of 5) hold ranking.

Continue reading Bunge Approves $700M Buyback Plan

PetSmart (PETM) more than triples its dividend, plans buyback

PETM logoPetSmart (NASDAQ: PETM - option chain) shares are rising today after the company boosted its quarterly dividend to 10 cents per share from 3 cents per share. PetSmart also announced it is planning a $350 million stock buyback. If you think that the stock won't fall by too much in the coming months, then now could be a good time to look at a bullish hedged trade on PETM.

PETM opened this morning at $21.11. So far today the stock has hit a low of $20.41 and a high of $21.19. As of 11:20, PETM is trading at $20.72 up 0.74 (3.7%). The chart for PETM looks bullish and S&P gives PETM a positive 4 STARS (out of 5) buy ranking.

Continue reading PetSmart (PETM) more than triples its dividend, plans buyback

Option update: Sun Micro (SUNW) volatility up before symbol changes to JAVA

Sun Microsystems (NASDAQ: SUNW) volatility elevated into 9/5 financial analyst meeting.

SUNW is flat at $4.86. SUNW, which will change its symbol to JAVA on 8/27, will have an analyst meeting in New York on 9/5/07. The company has announced a $3 billion stock buyback on 5/16/07. SUNW recent market cap is $17.3 billion. SUNW over all option implied volatility of 45 is above its 26-week average of 38 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price risk.

Rackable Systems (NASDAQ: RACK) volatility flat on renewed buyout chatter.

RACK, a provider of servers and storage products, is recently up $0.65 to $12.62 on unconfirmed and renewed deal speculation. SUNW & DELL have been frequently chattered as interested in RACK. RACK call option volume of 2,690 contracts compares to put volume of 250 contracts. RACK September option implied volatility is at 47, October is at 51 and December is at 56, above its 26-week average of 55 according to Track Data, suggesting non-directional and less price risk.

Daily options Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com.

NVR announces buyback -- stock soars

Moments ago, homebuilder NVR (AMEX: NVR) announced a $300 million share buyback plan. According to a news report, the buyback will be performed on the public market as well as through privately negotiated transactions. NVR, like every other homebuilder, has been getting killed in recent months due to the grim housing market.

I love seeing this, especially for a stock like NVR. Although I don't think homebuilders have bottomed for the short term, over the long term I believe most of them are tremendous values. Despite the housing slowdown, NVR still trades for just 15x next year's earnings and 6-7x earnings in a positive housing cycle. I think this buyback shows that management is committed to NVR and strongly believes in the company's long term potential.

Not only is this a logical move financially, but this move has appeased traders who have sent the stock quickly up about 40 points since the announcement. Traders love buybacks because they put a "floor" in a stock's price.

Wendy's bites into shares outstanding to raise 2007 EPS

Hamburger chain Wendy's International (NYSE: WEN) recently announced that it has accelerated its stock buyback program, purchasing 9 million shares at an average price per share of $31.33, for a total of $300 million. Due to the decrease in the number of weighted average shares outstanding, Wendy's management has revised 2007 full-year EPS upwards. Previous guidance forecast EPS of $1.17 to $1.23. Now guidance projects 2007 EPS to be in the range of $1.26 to $1.32. This works out to a first quarter 2007 EPS of $0.11 to $0.14, compared to a net loss of $0.05 in first quarter 2006.

The good news regarding a forecast increase in EPS was tempered, however, by several factors that will negatively affect the company. Wendy's will close approximately 75 locations this year, 35 company-owned and 40 franchises. The company will incur closing and lease termination costs of approximately $4 million. Wendy's will spend $1.5 million in franchisee remodeling incentives and be subject to an effective tax rate of approximately 35% in first quarter 2007. Despite these factors, full-year earnings remain on target in the $330 to $340 million range.

Wendy's stock closed Friday, 30 March, at $31.30, up $0.17.

Credit Suisse giving back its riches

Even for a company the size of Credit Suisse (NYSE: CS) -- which has a market cap of $74 billion -- a $6.4 billion stock buyback is a big deal. But for investors, it was a non-event, as the stock price increased a mere 4 cents to $68.99.

Then again, the buyback is over a period of three years. Besides, buybacks do not necessarily happen.

Currently, Credit Suisse is flush with cash because of its recent sale of Winterthur Group (the deal amounted to about $9.8 billion). Part of this windfall will go to some acquisitions. However, do not expect mega acquisitions.

The focus? It looks like Credit Suisse wants to bolster wealth management , private banking and leverage finance (such as for private equity deals). Actually, the focus may be in overseas markets, such as Asia and even the Middle East.

While other competitors -- such as Goldman Sachs (NYSE: CS) -- have had standout stock performances, Credit Suisse has been a big of a laggard. It looks like the company still does not have much of a strategy to thrill shareholders.

Tom Taulli is the author of various books, including the Complete M&A Handbook and the EDGAR-Online Guide to Decoding Financial Statements.

Home Depot -- slowly being taken private

The Home Depot Co. (NYSE: HD) is quickly putting to work the $5 billion of cash it raised through a debt offering. Its board has authorized the immediate repurchase of $3 billion of stock through an accelerated share repurchase agreement.

Home Depot has repurchased $6.7 billion of stock, or 173 million shares, this year. Since 2002, it has purchased more than 450 million, or roughly 19%, of outstanding shares.

Taking into account the $5 billion the company recently raised, it will have about $12 billion of debt on its balance sheet. Home Depot is expected to generate about $11 billion in EBITDA, so annual EBITDA covers total balance sheet debt roughly about 1x -- a tremendously conservative capital structure.

Investors need to hear evidence that the worst is over in same-stores sales decline. The most recent figures were simply awful. When better sales figures are announced, Home Depot stock should soar.

Symbol Lookup
IndexesChangePrice
DJIA-89.2312,801.23
NASDAQ-23.352,903.88
S&P 500-9.311,342.64

Last updated: February 11, 2012: 07:02 PM

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