Agrochemical company Syngenta AG's (SYT) stock has soared to new heights early this winter, but don't expect smooth sailing from here: the volatile stock is decidedly not for the squeamish.

Note: Don't consider Syngenta, first discussed here on June 16, 2009, at a price of $47.28, if you can't handle $2 or $3 stock drops in day.

A year ago, Syngenta's share price swooned with the pull-back in commodity prices, and came dangerously close to the $37 sell/stop loss.

Continue reading Syngenta Heads to Higher Ground

Syngenta Heads to Higher Ground originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 13 Jan 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Monsanto Getting Lost in the Weeds

Monsanto Getting Lost in the Weeds originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Syngenta Is in an Uptrend

Syngenta Is in an Uptrend originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 18 Dec 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Look for Syngenta to ride the next crop protection wave

Look for Syngenta to ride the next crop protection wave originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"The soaring cost of food isn't just hitting families in the US; it's hitting everyone around the world," says Neil George. Here, in Personal Finance, he looks at some agriculture, chemical and seed plays.

"During the past five years, consumer food costs have soared by more than 117%. And that momentum is increasing; in the trailing 12 months alone, prices surged more than 52%.

"The mega-investors aren't waiting around; they're buying into other parts of the ag business-from grain elevators to ag processors and distributors-as a workaround for such potential regulation.

"You shouldn't be sitting on your hands, either. This food trend is going to be here for a while, so you better stake your claim while buyers still outnumber sellers.

"One way to invest in this trend is to step into companies that are serving the ag producers. This means the companies developing and selling engineered seeds, as well as chemicals and fertilizer products needed to not just grow crops but more bountiful and, therefore, more profitable crops.

Continue reading Growth in seeds: Chemical ag plays

Growth in seeds: Chemical ag plays originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 09 Jul 2008 10:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"One of the simplest and most genuine global long-term investment stories is the food sector," notes Yiannis Mostrous in Silk Road Investor. Here's a look at two ways to play this trend.

"Long-term, this should reward patient investors handsomely. As the world's population increases, demand will also grow, allowing companies in the food industry to handsomely profitWe continue to favor the theme and recommend you allocate some of your funds to it.

"There are myriad ways to play the burgeoning demand for vital resources used in food production. Our favorite is portfolio holding PowerShares DB Agriculture Fund (AMEX: DBA). It's an exchange traded fund that is based on the Deutsche Bank Liquid Commodity Index.

Continue reading Global expert invests in food

Global expert invests in food originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 13 Feb 2008 13:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Merriman believes OptionXpress Holdings (NASDAQ: OXPS) has lost market share, and remains vulnerable on many fronts. They expect the competitive landscape will continue to intensify, pressuring margins and growth rates. The firm initiated shares with a Sell rating.
• Morgan Keegan started Supertex (NASDAQ: SUPX) with a Market Perform rating, citing lack of near-term catalysts.
• Syngenta (NYSE: SYT) was initiated with an Outperform rating at Bear, as they are positive on the company's defensive growth profile and valuation.

• HSBC initiated FedEx (NYSE: FDX) with a Neutral rating and $102 target and United Parcel Service (NYSE: UPS) with an Overweight rating and $86 target.
• Credit Suisse started Liberty Media (NASDAQ: LCAPA) with an Outperform rating and $140 target.

Analyst initiations: OXPS, SUPX and SYT originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 05 Feb 2008 10:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) was downgraded to Reduce from Buy at WestLB and to Neutral from Outperform at Credit Suisse following the company's Q3 profit warning.
  
• WestLB downgraded shares of Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE: ALU) to Reduce from Hold following Ericsson's profit warning, as they believe Alcatel-Lucent's mobile business will face top-line and margin issues.
  
• Bear Stearns downgraded shares of General Motors Corporation (NYSE: GM) to Underperform from Peer Perform after learning that benefits from the new union contract will be lower than expected in 2008 and 2009. The broker recommends swapping into Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F).
  
• HSBC downgraded shares of Anglo American (NASDAQ: AAUK) to Neutral from Overweight on valuation. Morgan Stanley downgraded shares of Anglo to Equal Weight from Overweight also on valuation, as they see better value elsewhere in the sector.
  

• Merrill Lynch downgraded Westpac Banking Corporation (NYSE: WBK) to Neutral from Buy.
  
• Biogen Idec (NASDAQ: BIIB) was downgraded to Underperform from Market Perform at Piper Jaffray.
  
• Citigroup downgraded SRA International (NYSE: SRX) to Hold from Buy.
  
• UBS downgraded THQ Inc (NASDAQ: THQI) to Neutral from Buy.
  
• Lehman Brothers downgraded Syngenta (NYSE: SYT) to Equal Weight from Overweight.

Analyst downgrades: ERIC, ALU, GM and AAUK originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 16 Oct 2007 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MAJOR PAPERS:

• On Friday, the Wall Street Journal reported that a number of firms have been eyeing Kroger Co (NYSE: KR) on the expectation that the company will soon begin exploring a leveraged buyout with the help of investment bank Goldman Sachs Group Inc (NYSE: GS).

• The New York Post reported that Warner Music Group Corp (NYSE: WMG) may look to merge with EMI Group plc ADR (OTC: EMIPY) by appealing directly to the music labels shareholders.
• According to the Sunday Express, Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW) is set to receive a bid of $52-$58 per share, valuing the company at $50B, from a consortium of Middle Eastern investors and American buyout firms.
• The U.K. Telegraph reported that the Royal Bank of Scotland is preparing to delay any rival offer for ABN Amro Holdings (NYSE: ABN) until after Barclays plc ADS (NYSE: BCS) reveals its bid for the company.
• From BusinessWeek's "Inside Wall Street" section:
• Oppenheimer oil guru Fadel Gheit says rumors have resurfaced that Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE: XOM) may go after oil and gas company Devon Energy Corporation (NYSE: DVN).
• Napco Security Systems Inc (NASDAQ: NSSC) is hoping GatewayX, a new product introduced in January, will spark a rebound.
• Seed and crop-protection company Syngenta AG ADS (NYSE: SYT) looks to have upside ahead, due to brisk demand for corn to make ethanol is boosting farmers' need for Syngenta's products to fight field pests.

Newspaper wrap-up 4-9-07: Kroger in play? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 09 Apr 2007 09:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.