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What Is Warren Buffett Telling You?

Warren BuffetAs always, there is a volume of speculation after the much anticipated release of the quarterly changes in holdings report from Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A). While leaving all the deep analytical number crunching for greater minds than my own, I'd like to take a look at what Warren Buffett could be telling us through his company's latest form 13F.

Why has Warren Buffett swallowed Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNI) while letting go of Norfolk Southern (NSC) and Union Pacific (UNP)? Being the master of due diligence, Mr. Buffett has most likely determined that BNI is the most attractive of the three. The future of rail transport is all but guaranteed to shine, and I believe that Mr. Buffett has exited the other two rail companies simply to avoid conflict of interest issues.

Continue reading What Is Warren Buffett Telling You?

Serious Money: Cheapest Stocks List Shrinks from 26 to 21

While most investors are fretting the markets recent contraction, you can be quite confident that "my pal Warren" has a smile on his face, as does Peter Lynch, Ken Heebner, Bill Miller, Bruce Berkowitz, and any number of fellow value investors that know now may be a time of opportunity. That is because they have the experience and understanding to pounce when they have a chance to buy things cheap.

This is the fourth installment of my series to discover just that: cheap stocks. If you would like to get on board from the beginning then review the initial post which screened for stocks with lower than market average P/E ratios, see Serious Money: Market Looks Cheap to Me -- 35 Stocks. In the second installment, I looked at yield and PEG ratios: Serious Money: Still Cheap Market -- 35 Stocks + Yields & Growth. Then I moved on to the the P/S and P/CF metrics in Serious Money: Cheapest Stocks Yet -- From 35 to 26, cutting nine stocks.

Continue reading Serious Money: Cheapest Stocks List Shrinks from 26 to 21

Before the Bell: Futures Lower After Jobs Report

U.S. stock market futures changed earlier direction and edged higher following several better-than-expected earning reports. Still, the market awaits a slew of economic reports, as well as results from Goldman Sachs. With concerns about China, futures move upward was muted.

Update 8:45 a.m.: After a disappointing jobs report that showed the number of newly-laid off workers seeking jobless benefits unexpectedly rose last week, stock futures fell, even as Goldman Sachs (GS) reported strong results.

On Wednesday, Wall Street markets sold off due to mounting concerns about China's efforts to tighten bank lending. As a global market driver and a major consumer of commodities, these moves could have international effects. Major indexes skidded over 1%.

Continue reading Before the Bell: Futures Lower After Jobs Report

Analyst Upgrades, Downgrades and Initiations: BA, BMY, EAT, INTC, MS, UNH, WYNN ...

Analyst Upgrades

  • Baird upgraded Intel (INTC) to outperform from neutral and has a $26 target on the stock. The firm's checks indicate tier-one PC OEMs have raised their 1H10 procurement forecasts, which could lead to Intel outperformance.
  • Citigroup upgraded UnitedHealth (UNH) to buy from hold on expectations the company will benefit from a sector rotation into Managed Care in 2010. The firm raised its price target on shares to $39 from $30.
  • UBS upgraded Morgan Stanley (MS) to buy from neutral based on strong capital and liquidity positions, building investment banking pipelines, and expectations for a turn in EPS/ROE, among other reasons.
  • Deutsche Bank upgraded the U.S. Refining group as it believes demand is improving and margins could expand in 2010. The firm raised its rating on Sunoco (SUN) to hold from sell and its target on shares to $25 from $18, and upgraded Tesoro (TSO) and Frontier Oil (FTO) to buy from hold.
  • Boeing (BA) was raised to overweight from equal weight at Barclays.
  • Wynn Resorts (WYNN) was upgraded at UBS to buy from neutral.
  • Investors Bancorp (ISBC) was upgraded to buy from neutral at Janney Montgomery.

Continue reading Analyst Upgrades, Downgrades and Initiations: BA, BMY, EAT, INTC, MS, UNH, WYNN ...

Analyst Upgrades, Downgrades and Initiations: CSTR, CTCM, CZZ, JEF, ONB, UNH ...

Analyst Upgrades

  • Keefe Bruyette upgraded Jefferies (JEF) to outperform from market perform based on valuation and improved M&A advisory and underwriting prospects. The firm has a $30 target on the shares.
  • JPMorgan upgraded Cosan (CZZ) to overweight from neutral based on valuation.The firm has a $10 target on shares.
  • Deutsche Bank upgraded CTC Media (CTCM) to buy from hold, citing better-than-expected operational performance and the impact of recent ad law changes. The firm has a $17 target on shares.

Continue reading Analyst Upgrades, Downgrades and Initiations: CSTR, CTCM, CZZ, JEF, ONB, UNH ...

Health Insurers Get Brief Relief on Proposed Tax

Insurance companies just bought themselves a year. Claiming that a proposed tax on health insurance would force them to charge higher premiums, carriers were able to convince senators to defer this particular measure for a year.

This comes as a benefit to UnitedHealth Group (UNH), WellPoint (WLP) and smaller companies writing health insurance policies. Manufacturers of medical devices have won some relief, as well, though the drug business didn't. An earlier plan to tax cosmetic medical procedures was also scrapped.

Continue reading Health Insurers Get Brief Relief on Proposed Tax

Options Update: UnitedHealth volatility at 16-month lows

UnitedHealth (UNH) closed at $29.08 Friday, near one-year high. UnitedHealth is hosting an investor meeting on December 2. December option implied volatility is at 40; January is at 42; below its 26-week average of 48 according to Track Data, suggesting decreasing price movement.

Semiconductor Holders Trust - SMH overall volatility at 29; 26-week average is 33.

Russell 2000 - IWM overall implied volatility at 27; 26-week average is 33.

Financial Select Sector - XLF overall volatility at 34; 26-week average is 40.

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

Closing Bell: The Yo-Yo market (ENER, ITT, F, GS, UNH, RA, FIG)

Today was another trading day bare of major economic data. Shares were all over the place today with the indexes not giving any clear direction at any point of the day. It was not until right before the close that you had a real feel for whether we would close up or down today.

Here are the unofficial closing bell levels:

Dow 9,874.31 -11.49 (-0.12%)
S&P 500 1,073.56 -2.63 (-0.24%)
Nasdaq 2,140.22 +1.08 (0.05%)

Top Analyst Upgrades
Top Analyst Downgrades
Top Stock Rumors
Day Trader Alerts

Continue reading Closing Bell: The Yo-Yo market (ENER, ITT, F, GS, UNH, RA, FIG)

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations

Analyst upgrades:
  • Citigroup upgraded Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG) to Buy from Hold after meeting with management as it believes a more aggressive strategy will lead to the company regaining market share. Citi raised its target on shares to $66 from $54.
  • Piper Jaffray upgraded Allscripts (NASDAQ:MDRX) to Overweight from Neutral after learning the company signed a large contract with North Shore Long Island Jewish Hospital. Piper now sees upside to estimates and raised its target on shares to $22.50 from $14.
  • UBS upgraded Amedisys (NASDAQ:AMED) to Buy from Neutral following a review of the Senate Finance Committee's healthcare proposal, which they view as "benign." The firm raised its target to $57 from $46.
  • Daimler (NYSE:DAI) was upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at Bernstein.
  • Boston Private (NASDAQ:BPFH) was upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at Keefe Bruyette.
  • E-Trade (NASDAQ:ETFC) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Goldman.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations

Sanofi-Aventis (SNY) gains on UNH swine flu assurances

SNY logoSanofi-Aventis (NYSE: SNY - option chain) shares are rising today after health insurer Unitedhealth Group (NYSE: UNH) announced that it would fully cover swine flu vaccinations, even for members that do not have immunizations typically covered. As one of the drugmakers that is producing a swine flu vaccine, SNY stands to benefit. 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 SNY.

SNY opened this morning at $33.69. So far today the stock has hit a low of $33.63 and a high of $34.17. As of 11:45, SNY is trading at $33.89 up $1.02 (3.1%). The chart for SNY looks neutral and S&P gives SNY a neutral 3 STARS (out of 5) hold ranking.

Continue reading Sanofi-Aventis (SNY) gains on UNH swine flu assurances

Reconciliation is a nasty word for healthcare stocks (UNH, WLP and HUM)

Unless you've been spending your summer vacation on a tropical beach with no television or internet access, you have seen that the public reception to Congress' proposals for heathcare reform have not exactly been well accepted. I mean, nut jobs showing up to town hall meetings with guns strapped to their legs isn't really the norm.

So you would think that the Republicans who are against a public insurance plan are in control, right? Not so fast.

Congressional Democrats are now talking about splitting the healthcare bills into two parts so they can take advantage of a loophole called reconciliation.

Continue reading Reconciliation is a nasty word for healthcare stocks (UNH, WLP and HUM)

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: BA, EXEL, FINL, NTAP, UNH, WU ...

Analyst upgrades:

  • B. Riley upgraded Finish Line (NASDAQ: FINL) to Buy from Neutral to reflect the potential for improving trends in second half of 2009. The firm raised its target on shares to $10.50 from $9.
  • Merriman upgraded OptionXpress (NASDAQ: OXPS) to Neutral from Sell following the company's better than expected Q2 results. The firm notes higher commissions per trade more than offset weak DARTs and the decline in customer additions in the quarter.
  • RBC Capital upgraded Gardner Denver (NYSE: GDI) to Outperform from Sector Perform and raised its target to $34 from $28 citing the additional scale of restructuring, better tone to end-markets, and few downside catalysts. Baird upgraded Gardner Denver to Outperform from Neutral and raised its target to $35 from $32 based on a bottom in fundamentals and compelling valuation.
  • BE Aerospace (NASDAQ: BEAV) was upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at FBR Capital.
  • Shire (NASDAQ: SHPGY) was upgraded to Perform from Underperform at Oppenheimer.
  • UnitedHealth (NYSE: UNH) was upgraded to Outperform from Neutral at Credit Suisse.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: BA, EXEL, FINL, NTAP, UNH, WU ...

Earnings highlights: Amazon, Coca-Cola, Ford, McDonald's, Merck, Starbucks ...

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

Continue reading Earnings highlights: Amazon, Coca-Cola, Ford, McDonald's, Merck, Starbucks ...

Closing Bell: DJIA earnings mix it up (CAT, KO, DD, IBM, MRK, UNH, UTX)

Today's news boiled down to two issues. First was that five DJIA components reporting earnings this morning, with details on three components. The second issue was Ben Bernanke testifying that inflation was not a huge concern because the economy is likely to stay frail for some time. The markets were mixed to down most of the day until a late day rally saved shares.

Here were today's unofficial closing bell levels:

Dow 8,911.71 +63.56 (0.72%)
S&P 500 954.10 +2.97 (0.31%)
Nasdaq 1,914.13 +4.84 (0.25%)

Top 10 Analyst Upgrades/Downgrades

Continue reading Closing Bell: DJIA earnings mix it up (CAT, KO, DD, IBM, MRK, UNH, UTX)

Next Page >

Symbol Lookup
IndexesChangePrice
DJIA+11.8610,564.38
NASDAQ+8.472,340.68
S&P 500+1.941,140.44

Last updated: March 09, 2010: 04:18 PM

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