Along with most of the rest of the market, United States Steel Corp. (NYSE: X) shares are taking a hit today on this morning's unemployment report from the Labor Department. According to the report, the unemployment rate in December rose to 5 percent, above analysts' estimates of 4.8 percent, and the highest level in two years. The Labor Department also said employers created just 18,000 jobs last month, far less than the 70,000 analysts expected. This heightened fears of a recession, which is bad news for stocks that need economic growth, like X. If you think this stock won't be rising too far in the coming months, then it could be a good time to look at a bearish hedged play on U.S. Steel.

After hitting a one-year low of $68.83 last January, the stock hit a one-year high of $127.26 in June. Today, X opened at $110.51. So far today the stock has hit a low of $105.06 and a high of $110.59. As of 3:20 p.m., X is trading at 106.15, down 6.27 (-5.7%). The chart for X looks neutral and improving, while S&P gives the stock a neutral 3 Stars (out of 5) Hold rating.

For a bearish hedged play on this stock, I would consider a February bear-call credit spread above the $135 range. A bear-call credit spread is an options position that combines the purchase and sale of call options to hedge risk in case the stock doesn't do what you think, but still leverage nice returns. For this particular trade, we will make a 4.2% return in nine weeks as long as X is below $135 at February expiration. U.S. Steel would have to rise by more than 21% before we would start to lose money. Learn more about this type of trade here.

X has never been above $135 and has shown resistance recently around $120. This trade could be risky if the economy comes back to life and demand for steel keeps rising, but even if that happens, this position could be protected by resistance the stock could find between $120 and $130, where X has topped out twice in the past year.

Brent Archer is an options analyst and writer at Investors Observer.

DISCLOSURE: Mr. Archer owns and/or controls diversified portfolios of long and short stock and option positions that may include holdings in companies he writes about. At publication time, Brent neither owns nor controls positions in X.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: The restaurant sector, American Semiconductor and First Solar were today's noteworthy initiations:

• Friedman Billings resumed coverage of Cheesecake Factory (NASDAQ: CAKE) and Yum! Brands (NYSE: YUM) with Outperform ratings and a $30 target and a $46 target and Applebee's (NASDAQ: APPB) with a Market Perform rating and $25.50 target.
  
• American Superconductor (NASDAQ: AMSC) was initiated with a Buy rating and $33 target at Jefferies, as they believe repeat orders for wind turbine electrical systems could drive rapid revenue growth from 2008-2010.
  
• CIBC resumed coverage of First Solar (NASDAQ: FSLR) with a Sector Performer rating, as they believe shares are already pricing in the company's 2009 EPS potential.

OTHER INITIATIONS:

• Morgan Stanley resumed coverage of Cablevision (NYSE: CVC) with an Underweight rating.
  
• US Steel (NYSE: X) was initiated with a Sector Performer rating and $117 target at CIBC.
  
• JP Morgan started SunPower (NASDAQ: SPWR) with an Overweight rating and Evergreen Solar (ESLR) with a Neutral rating.

Shares of US Steel (NYSE: X) are down 6% today. No one on Wall Street seemed to think much of the company's earnings.

Is it any wonder? The company reported third-quarter 2007 net income of $269 million, or $2.27 per diluted share, compared to second-quarter 2007 net income of $302 million, or $2.54 per diluted share, and third-quarter 2006 net income of $417 million, or $3.42 per diluted share. Total revenue rose slightly from $4.1 billion in the third quarter last year to $4.35 billion this year.

US Steel also said it expected poor results in the current quarter. Part of the issue driving down net income was the cost of an acquisition. The latest results included a charge of 23 cents a share for inventory acquired as part of the company's purchase in June of Lone Star Technologies Inc.

US Steel blamed imports from China for keeping its prices to customers low. Higher commodities prices also hurt the firm.

The problem for US Steel now is that China pressures and higher commodities prices are not likely to abate. That puts the company in a bind. Its shares trade in the middle of its 52-week range, changing hands today at a bit above $105. But if price and margin pressures stay as they are as 2008 begins, the stock could move back toward its recent lows around $80 reached just last August.

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

Visit AOL Money & Finance for more earnings coverage

US Steel(NYSE:X) is recently down $6.93 to $105.56. X reported Q3 EPS of $2.50 verses consensus estimates of $2.63. Goldman SCO say's "4Q guidance weak." X call option volume of 4,419 contracts compares to put volume of 3,214 contracts. X November option implied volatility of 45 is above its 26-week average of 40 according to Track Data, suggesting larger risk.

WellCare Health(NYSE:WCG) volatility at 179 as WCG near three-year low on investigation. WCG is recently down $2.32 to $26.31. On 10/24 The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on 10/24/07 that law enforcement personnel with the FBI, the U.S. Office of Inspector General and Florida Attorney Generals Medicaid fraud control unit participated in the execution of a federal search warrant of WCG's Florida headquarters. WCG will report EPS on 11/5. WCG November option implied volatility of 179 is above its 26-week average of 46 according to Track Data, suggesting larger risk.

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

Monday October 29

• VNUS Medical Technologies (NASDAQ: VNUS) patent infringement lawsuit against Angiodynamics (NASDAQ: ANGO), Diomed Holdings (AMEX: DIO), Vascular Solutions (NASDAQ: VASC) begins.
• Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) to report Q3 earnings; conference call at 8:30am.

Tuesday October 30

• Sirius Satellite Radio (NASDAQ: SIRI) to report Q3 earnings; conference call at 8am.
• MGM Mirage (NYSE: MGM) to report Q3 earnings; conference call at 11am.
• U.S. Steel Corporation (NYSE: X) to report Q3 earnings; conference call at 2pm.

Wednesday October 31

• Kraft Foods (NYSE: KFT) to report Q3 earnings; conference call at 8am.
• Smith Micro Software (NASDAQ: SMSI) to report Q3 earnings; conference call at 2pm.

Thursday November 1

• PDUFA date for Forest Laboratories (NYSE: FRX) and Mylan Laboratories' (NYSE: MYL) Nebivolol for hypertension.
• Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) to report October sales at 1pm.
• General Motors Corporation (NYSE: GM) to report October sales at 2pm.

Friday November 2

• PDUFA Date for Sciele Pharma's (NASDAQ: SCRX) Sular formulation
• PDUFA Date for GlaxoSmithKline's (NYSE: GSK) Variza for major depression disorder

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Lincare Holdings, Gentiva Health, Five Star Quality Care, Arris and U.S. Steel Group were today's noteworthy upgrades:

• Jefferies upgraded shares of Lincare Holdings (NASDAQ: LNCR) to Buy from Hold on valuation as they now believe the likelihood that Congress could severely cut Medicare oxygen reimbursement this year is priced into shares.
  
• Jefferies also upgraded Gentiva Health (NASDAQ: GTIV) to Buy from Hold on valuation, as they believe the recent sell-off is overdone.
  
• RBC Capital raised Five Star Quality Care (AMEX: FVE) to Outperform from Sector Perform, as they believe the company's Q3 report could be better than expected and that census and outlook are improving.
  
• CIBC upgraded shares of Arris Group (NASDAQ: ARRS) to Sector Outperformer from Sector Performer on valuation as they believe the weakness in the stock is overdone.
  
• Deutsche Bank upgraded shares of U.S. Steel (NYSE: X) to Buy from Hold, as they expect the company to be a major beneficiary of rising raw material costs. Further, Deutsche thinks Lone Star and Stelco will be catalysts for earnings growth in 2008.

OTHER UPGRADES:

• VeraSun Energy Corporation (NYSE: VSE) was upgraded to Overweight from Equal Weight at Morgan Stanley.
  
• UST Inc (NYSE: UST) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Goldman.
  
• JP Morgan upgraded BASF AG (OTC: BASFY) to Overweight from Neutral.
  
• Avondale Partners upgraded Polaris Industries (NYSE: PII) to Market Outperform from Market Perform.

United States Steel Corp. (NYSE: X) stock is lower this morning after Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on X today with an underweight rating, causing the stock to slump in early trading. If you think this stock won't be rising too far in the coming months, then it could be a good time to look at a bearish hedged play on X.

After hitting a one-year high of $127.26 in June, the stock dipped in late summer, but has been climbing over the past two months. This morning, X opened at $105.18. So far today the stock has hit a low of $104.15 and a high of $106.11. As of 10:45, X is trading at $105.10, down $2.26 (-2.1%). The chart for X looks bullish and steady, while S&P gives the stock a positive 4 STARS (out of 5) buy rating.

For a bearish hedged play on this stock, I would consider a November bear-call credit spread above the $120 range. A bear-call credit spread is an options position that combines the purchase and sale of call options to hedge risk in case the stock doesn't do what you think but still leverage nice returns. This particular trade will make a 14.9% return in 7 weeks as long as X is below $120 at November expiration. US Steel would have to rise by more than 13% before we would start to lose money.

X has not been above $120 since June, and has shown some resistance around $108.50 recently. This trade could be risky if economic data turns more positive in the wake of the Fed's rate cuts, but even if that happens, this position could be protected by the resistance the stock formed around $115 where it has topped out in July.

Brent Archer is an options analyst and writer at Investors Observer.
DISCLOSURE: At publication time, Brent neither owns nor controls positions in X.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Patterson-UTI Energy, Nabors Industries, US Steel Group, Cooper Companies and Continental AG were today's noteworthy upgrades:

• Bernstein upgraded Patterson-UTI Energy Inc (NASDAQ: PTEN) and Nabors Industries Limited (NYSE: NBR) to Outperform from Market Perform citing valuations and secular growth trends.
• Citigroup upgraded US Steel Corporation (NYSE: X) to Buy from Hold and raised their target to $118 to reflect operating catalysts and their expectations for domestic steel markets to improve in Q4 and 2008.
• Cooper Companies Inc (NYSE: COO) was also upgraded to Buy from Hold at Citigroup despite the lowered guidance as they believe the company's products are improving and earnings upside is possible.
• WestLB upgraded Continental AG (OTC: CTTAY) to Buy from Hold after the tire marker announced plans to reorganize its company structure into six divisions following the purchase of Siemens AG's (NYSE: SI) VDO automotive unit.

OTHER UPGRADES:

• Tempur Pedic International (NYSE: TPX) was upped to Sector Outperformer from Sector Performer at CIBC World Markets.
• Friedman Billings upgraded shares of Stone Energy Corporation (NYSE: SGY) to Outperform from Market Perform.
• Deutsche Bank upgraded shares of Occidental Petroleum Corporation (NYSE: OXY) to Buy from Hold.
• Fifth Third Bancorp (NASDAQ: FITB) was raised to Market Perform from Underperform at Bernstein.

US Steel (NYSE: X) volatility Up on unconfirmed chatter that Atticus is building stake. X is recently down $3.18 to $89.49. Unconfirmed chatter is circulating that Atticus Capital has acquired a 10% stake in X. X September option implied volatility of 45 is above its 26-week average of 38 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price fluctuations.

TiVo (NASDAQ: TIVO) calls active as TIVO trades near 10-month high. TIVO, a digital video recorder provider, is recently up 64 cents to $7.01. TIVO has a market cap of $682 million. TIVO September 7.5 calls have traded 25 times on transaction volume of 1,300 contracts above its open interest of 435 contracts. TIVO September option implied volatility of 57 is near its 26-week average according to Track Data, suggesting non-directional risk.

Brinker (NYSE: EAT) volatility up; EAT talking to investors about selling Macaroni Grill. EAT operates restaurant concepts including; Chili's, Macaroni Grill, Maggiono's & On the Border. Goldman Sachs says "EAT reported 4Q operating EPS of $0.57, ahead of our $0.47 estimate. The overage came largely from a lower tax rate, share count, and modest expense variance." Dow Jones reported EAT "is talking with a 'number of investors' about the possible sale of its Romano's Macaroni Grill chain." EAT September option implied volatility of 33 is above its 26-week average of 29 according to Track Data, suggesting larger risk.

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

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Halozyme Therapeutics (HALO), Rosetta Genomics (ROSG), U.S. Steel (X) and BioFuel Energy (BIOF) were today's noteworthy initiations:

• Halozyme (NASDAQ: HALO) was initiated with a Buy rating and $14 target at Oppenheimer. The firm is positive on Halozyme's prospects for signing additional multi-product Enhanze deals in the next 12 months and the company's expanding internal pipeline.

• Oppenheimer also initiated shares of Rosetta Genomics (NASDAQ: ROSG) with a Buy rating and $11 target, as the firm is positive on Rosetta's intellectual property position in the emerging microRNA field related to the development and commercialization of research, diagnostic and therapeutic products, and other applications.

• Goldman Sachs resumed coverage of U.S. Steel Group (NYSE: X) with a Neutral rating.

• BioFuel Energy (NASDAQ: BIOF) was initiated with a Neutral rating at Cowen, as the firm sees a lack of catalysts until the company's plants under construction come on line in Q108...

OTHER INITIATIONS:

• Brightpoint (NASDAQ: CELL) was initiated with an Outperform rating and $18 target at Credit Suisse.

• MasterCard (NYSE: MA) was initiated with a Market Perform rating at Wachovia on valuation.

• Citigroup initiated shares of Signature Bank (NASDAQ: SBNY) with a Buy rating and $39 target and shares of Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) with a Sell rating and $24 target.

• Pacific Growth Equities started shares of Altair Nanotechnologies (NASDAQ: ALTI) with a Neutral rating.

Analyst summaries provided by TheFlyOnTheWall.com (subscription required).

United States Steel Corp. (NYSE: X) opened at $115.33. So far today the stock has hit a low of $113.35 and a high of $115.33. As of 11:00, X is trading at $114.11, down $2.01 (-1.7%).

After hitting a one-year high of $127.26 last week, the stock has retreated to earlier support levels just below $115. Jim Cramer is astonished at analysts' negative attitudes in this sector. He thinks those who are downgrading X are just plain wrong right now, as he believes the company is poised for an acquisition. Recent technical indicators for X have been bullish but deteriorating slightly, while S&P gives the stock a 3 STARS (out of 5) neutral rating.

For a bullish hedged play on this stock, I would consider an October bull-put credit spread below the $80 range. X has not been below $80 since January and has shown support around $110 recently. This trade could be risky if worldwide demand for steel falls at a steep rate, but even if that happens, X would have to rise by more than 29% and breakthrough the strong levels of support at $100 and $85 before this position would be in trouble.

Brent Archer is an options analyst and writer at Investors Observer. DISCLOSURE: Mr. Archer owns and/or controls diversified portfolios of long and short stock and option positions that may include holdings in companies he writes about. At publication time, Brent neither owns nor controls positions in X.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: The more noteworthy downgrades today included eFunds Corp (EFD), Halliburton Co (HAL), Coventry Health Care, Inc (CVH), Fording Canadian Coal Trust (FDG) and US Steel Corp (X):

• Citigroup downgraded shares of eFunds Corp (NYSE: EFD) to Sell from Hold to reflect an unfavorable risk/reward as they see little upside if the company sells itself and significant downside due to recent operational issues if the company is not sold.

• Goldman cut Halliburton Co (NYSE: HAL) to Neutral from Buy based on valuation.

• Bear Stearns cut Coventry Health (NYSE: CVH) to Peer Perform from Outperform based on valuation.

• BMO Capital downgraded Fording Canadian Coal Trust (NYSE: CFG) to Underperform from Market Perform on valuation...

• UBS cut US Steel Group (NYSE: X) to Reduce from Neutral based on valuation.
  

OTHER DOWNGRADES:

• Goldman downgraded the coal sector, citing the potential for fundamentals to disappoint. The firm downgraded Arch Coal (NYSE: ACI) to Sell from Buy, Foundation Coal Holdings (NYSE: FCL) to Sell from Neutral, and Alpha Natural Resources (NYSE: ANR) to Neutral from Buy.

• Matrix cut CBRL Group (NASDAQ: CBRL) to Sell from Hold.

• CE Unterberg downgraded Atheros Communications (NASDAQ: ATHR) to Market Perform from Buy.

Analyst summaries provided by TheFlyOnTheWall.com (subscription required).

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Starbucks Corp (SBUX), Target Corp (TGT), Apple (AAPL), United States Steel Corp (X) and Commerce Bancorp, Inc (CBH) were today's more notable downgrades:

• Both Starbucks Corp (NASDAQ: SBUX) and Target Corp (NYSE: TGT) were removed from Goldman Sachs' Americas Conviction Buy List.

• Apple Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL) was cut to Accumulate from Buy at ThinkEquity, citing valuation.

• Bear Stearns downgraded U.S. Steel Corp (NYSE: X) to Peer Perform from Outperform on valuation.

• Oppenheimer cut Commerce Bancorp (NYSE: CBH) to Neutral from Buy citing the company's announcement to scale back branch expansion plans for 2007.

OTHER DOWNGRADES:

• Del Monte Foods (NYSE: DLM) was cut to Equal-Weight from Overweight at Stephens.

• ChoicePoint Inc (NYSE: CPS) was downgraded to Market Perform from Outperform at Barrington.

• Matrix USA cut Bowater Inc (NYSE: BOW) to Strong Sell from Hold.

• Lehman downgraded China Telecom Corp Ltd (NYSE: CHA) to Underweight from Equal Weight.

Analyst summaries provided by TheFlyOnTheWall.com (subscription required).

Netflix Inc (NASDAQ: NFLX)

Amazing. Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ: AMZN), that big online retailer, sees the flix for the net. The shares keep rising for the online DVD rental company-up about 15%, highest since January-- even if their discs do come a little scratched. More than that though is while new subscribers are coming on; it's not exactly going gangbusters. Still, 6.8M is a whole lot of subscribers. Will Amazon, or someone else, overpay?

Rackable Systems Inc (NASDAQ: RACK)

Which came first: The ongoing takeover rumors or the higher stock price? Or was it that Dell Inc (NASDAQ: DELL) is said to be after Rackable, a provider of servers and storage products for high density data center deployments. Rack it up.

Feldman Mall Properties Inc (NYSE: FMP)

Word is that this real estate investment trust will look for a sale, combo or merger. They said the venerable firm of Friedman, Billings, Ramsey & Co. will help them "explore strategic alternatives." Then the stock went up.

STILL FLYING AROUND

Trump Entertainment Resorts Inc (NASDAQ: TRMP)

Dennis Gomes, whose name surfaced in March, is a one time gaming exec and regulator. He's signed a confidentiality agreement to have a look see at the firm's Atlantic City casinos. Separately, Las Vegas' Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE: BYD) has also been mentioned as a possible contender.

YRC Worldwide Inc (NASDAQ: YRCW)

The CEO of this Kansas-based transportation service provider has been quoted as saying that a takeover is possible. An LBO is likely. This week the shares have actively been trading up.

Dollar Tree Stores Inc (NASDAQ: DLTR)

Imagine a dollar tree where the stock keeps going up, up, up. Well, here it is, once again, a subject of takeover talk.

BUZZ

United States Steel Corporation (NYSE: X): Russia's Severstal may be prowling around...Plains Exploration & Production Company (NYSE: PXP): Takeover candidate's stock is sharply higher... Micron Technology Inc (NYSE: MU): Blackstone has interest...Ameristar Casinos Inc (NASDAQ: ASCA): A hot stock and takeover rumors abound...Nvidia Corporation (NASDAQ: NVDA): Remains an LBO candidate...The First Marblehead Corporation (NYSE: FMD): The student loan business is booming and earnings growth is strong, but who would buy it?...Marriott International Inc (NYSE: MAR): A target? But where's the movement?...Oakley Inc (NYSE: OO) as a target has been around and around, and now some say it will be bought by Luxottica Group (NYSE: LUX).

MAJOR PAPERS:

• The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) reported that Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT) has launched a new, free Web-based email, called Windows Live Hotmail, available in 36 different languages.
• The Wall Street Journal reported that House lawmakers will challenge a deal made by House Financial Services Chairman Barney Frank and the U.S. Treasury to overhaul the supervision of Fannie Mae (NYSE: FNM) and Freddie Mac (NYSE: FRE).
• The Wall Street Journal's "Heard on the Street" column wrote that investors are betting that dealmaking is not done in commodities, with United States Steel Corporation (NYSE: X) and Alcoa Inc (NYSE: AA) among those that could receive takeover offers.
• The Financial Times (subscription required) "Alphaville" section reported that Arcelor-Mittal (NYSE: MT) is looking at AK Steel Holding Corporation (NYSE: AKS), with a offer of as mush as $40 a share.

OTHER PAPERS:

• The New York Times reported, citing investigators, that Chevron Corporation (NYSE: CVX) is preparing to acknowledge that it should have known kickbacks were being paid to Saddam Hussein on oil the company bought in Iraq.

WEBSITES:

• DigiTimes.com reported that Aruba Networks Inc (NASDAQ: ARUN) CEO Dominic Orr said that the company is expecting to nearly double its share in the global enterprise mobility solution market in 2008 from 10%-12% to around 20%.