Williams Companies (WMB) will separate into two stand-alone, publicly traded corporations. The plan calls for Williams to separate its exploration and production business via an initial public offering in 3Q 2011 of up to 20% of its interest and, in 2012, a tax-free spinoff to Williams shareholders of its remaining interest. Overall option implied volatility of 41 is above its 26-week average of 37, according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement.

MSCI Brazil Index (EWZ) overall option implied volatility of 26 is near its 26-week average of 27, according to Track Data, suggesting nondirectional price movement.

Options Update is by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com.

Options Update: Williams Volatility Up; Separates into Exploration and Production Businesses originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 18 Feb 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"Despite coming close to bankruptcy in 2002, Williams Co. (NYSE: WMB) has some of the premier assets in each of its business segments: exploration & production, mid-stream and pipelines," says turnaround expert George Putnam.

In his The Turnaround Letter, he explains, "The company now has the financial strength not only to survive the current downturn but to grow and prosper."

"Begun in 1908 as a pipeline construction company, Williams is now a major, integrated natural gas company; it produces, gathers, processes and transports natural gas throughout the United States.

Continue reading Turnaround for Williams (WMB): Pipeline profits

Turnaround for Williams (WMB): Pipeline profits originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 07 Jul 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

It is pretty obvious to investors that the Internet has accelerated the decline in print newspaper readership. It is also clear that the Internet is contributing to business model changes (and in many cases outright news/editorial budget reductions) at print magazines.

However, that the Internet would also compel changes in broadcast network news -- and in particular, the nightly network newscast -- might be viewed as less obvious. But that, in fact, appears to be the case.

Already dealing with a cable/satellite channel explosion that's decreased their viewership due to audience fragmentation (basically people have more channel choices), network news now must increasingly cope with the reality that adults tuning in have already seen and/or read about on the web the day's top news stories by the time the nightly newscast airs.

Continue reading Network newscasts, not just newspapers, feeling Web's impact, too

Network newscasts, not just newspapers, feeling Web's impact, too originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 06 Feb 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading A Twitter business plan: On the near horizon?

A Twitter business plan: On the near horizon? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 03 Dec 2008 20:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

From TheStreet.com Network

• One Way to Tame Speculation in Oil Futures
• What Else Is Jim Trading?

Continue reading Cramer on BloggingStocks: This market's winners

Cramer on BloggingStocks: This market's winners originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 27 Jun 2008 18:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• RBC upgraded shares of Williams (NYSE: WMB) to Outperform from Sector Perform to reflect their expectation for three years of double-digit production growth in the company's E&P business.
  
• Kilroy Realty (NYSE: KRC) was upgraded to Outperform from Neutral as they believe the current valuation does not reflect the company's pure asset value.
  
• Oppenheimer upgraded shares of Dynavax Tech (NASDAQ: DVAX) to Outperform from Perform as they expect positive phase III results for Heplisav around mid-2008, driving shares higher.

• UBS raised Linear Tech (NASDAQ: LLTC) and Nalco Holding (NYSE: NLC) to Buy from Neutral.
  
• JP Morgan raised its rating on Verenium (NASDAQ: VRNM) to Neutral from Underweight.
  
• Discover (NYSE: DFS) was upgraded to Overweight from Underweight at Morgan Stanley.

Analyst upgrades: WMB, KRC and DVAX originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 22 Feb 2008 11:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX) was cut to Hold from Buy at Needham to reflect the lowered subscriber guidance and their belief that things can get worse before getting better. Shares were also downgraded at Cowen, to Neutral from Outperform, and Lehman, to Equal Weight from Overweight.

• NiSource (NYSE: NI) was cut to Underweight from Equal Weight at Lehman based on the expected increases in interest expense and taxes.

• TiVo (NASDAQ: TIVO) was downgraded to Short from Sell at SMH Capital and believes the current valuation now reflects 20% penetration of the Comcast Corp (CMCSK)-owned digital sub base for the joint venture product bundle, which the firm considers aggressive. In addition, the firm believes TiVo's new pricing structure doesn't add much value.

• Matrix cut Williams-Sonoma (NYSE: WSM) to Sell from Hold on valuation and deteriorating operating results.

• Citigroup downgraded shares of KLA-Tencor (NASDAQ: KLAC) to Hold from Buy on valuation as they see risk to 2H07 estimates due to slower near-term cost savings and higher integration costs...

• Friedman Billings downgraded American Express (NYSE: AXP) to Market Perform from Outperform.

• Piper Jaffray cut Atheros Communications (NASDAQ: ATHR) to Market Perform from Outperform.

• Jefferies downgraded United Rentals (NYSE: URI) and GlobalSantaFe (NYSE: GSF) to Hold from Buy.

• Merrill downgraded Wyeth (NYSE: WYE) to Neutral from Buy.

Analyst downgrades 7-24-07: AXP, GSF, NFLX, TIVO and WSM originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 24 Jul 2007 11:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Lehman upgraded shares of Intel Corp (NASDAQ: INTC) to Overweight from Equal-Weight as they believe Q2 sales will meet the high-end of guidance with Dell (DELL) and Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) restocking in preparation for an improved PC market.

• Friedman Billings upgraded Capital One Financial (NYSE: COF) to Outperform from Market Perform based on expected cost savings on restructuring initiatives.

• Deutsche Bank upgraded shares of Nestle (OTC: NSRGY) to Buy from Hold on valuation as they believe the stock has become the cheapest among the major European food companies.

• Credit Suisse upgraded Liz Claiborne (NYSE: LIZ) to Outperform from Neutral expecting management at its July 11th investor meeting to have a significant announcement regarding strategic alternatives for a large number of its brands.

• Merrill Lynch upgraded Cisco Systems (NASDAQ: CSCO) to Buy from Neutral as they believe Q4 expectations could be exceeded due to strong business demand. The broker finds shares inexpensive and also added CSCO to its U.S. 1 List.

• Bear Stearns upgraded Trump Entertainment (NASDAQ: TRMP) to Peer Perform from Underperform on valuation...

• Chittenden Corp (NYSE: CHZ) was upgraded to Sector Perform from Underperform at RBC Capital.

• Micron Technology (NYSE: MU) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at American Technology.

• Matrix USA raised Williams-Sonoma (NYSE: WSM) to Hold from Sell.

• Goldman raised Alcon (NYSE: ACL) to Buy from Neutral.

Analyst upgrades 6-28-07: COF, CSCO, INTC, LIZ and TRMP originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 28 Jun 2007 10:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine just published its ranking of the "best values" in private colleges. The rankings featured two lists: one for the top liberal arts colleges, which offer mostly undergraduate programs, and the other for universities, which also offer graduate degrees.

As a sophomore of Amherst College, I was not surprised to see Swarthmore, Williams, and Amherst round out the top three colleges. Cal Tech, Yale, and Harvard topped the list for the top three universities.

Like many private institutions across the nation, Swarthmore uses its own calculation, in addition to the federal government's formula, to determine who qualifies for need-based aid. "We really want to know your situation and give a fair assessment," says James Bock, the financial aid director at Swarthmore college. The result can be surprising. "People can qualify for aid with incomes of $140,000 and above."

Not only does Swarthmore and these highly competitive liberal arts colleges offer a great education and financial aid packages, but they seem also to come with a degree of social conscience, e.g., the capacity to "change the world energy." Scott Storm, chose Swarthmore because he "wanted a place that was going to be very aware of social and civic responsibilities. One example that was noted was that Swarthmore sent "Swatties" to New Orleans to gut houses and to China to work in Aids clinics.

Continue reading Best value in private colleges

Best value in private colleges originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 16 Mar 2007 17:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.