BloggingStocks http://www.bloggingstocks.com BloggingStocks http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.bloggingstocks.com/media/feedlogo.gif BloggingStocks http://www.bloggingstocks.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Abercrombie & Fitch: A momentum play after Q3 release?]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/11/13/abercrombie-and-fitch-a-momentum-play-after-q3-release/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/11/13/abercrombie-and-fitch-a-momentum-play-after-q3-release/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/11/13/abercrombie-and-fitch-a-momentum-play-after-q3-release/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Back in August, I discussed my amazement at Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF). The stock just didn't seem to be acting in a manner which reflected the fundamentals of the business it represents. Well, my bout of amazement continues, because shares of the retailer are up 9% as of this writing on the latest earnings report. One that didn't impress me.

For the third quarter, Abercrombie made, on a reported basis, 44 cents per diluted share compared to 72 cents per diluted share in the year-ago period. After adjustments, earnings came in at 30 cents per share. Okay, that profit drop is bad enough, but wait till I get to the really bad stuff. Which would be revenues. Total sales declined 15%, but same-store sales were even worse: they plunged off the proverbial cliff, falling 22%.

Continue reading Abercrombie & Fitch: A momentum play after Q3 release?

Abercrombie & Fitch: A momentum play after Q3 release? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abercrombie and fitchAbercrombieAndFitchAEOamerican eagle outfittersAmericanEagleOutfittersANFfashionGapGPSKohlsKSSretailFri, 13 Nov 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Cramer on BloggingStocks: Pelosi can't kill the health care sector ]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/11/09/cramer-on-bloggingstocks-pelosi-cant-kill-the-health-care-sect/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/11/09/cramer-on-bloggingstocks-pelosi-cant-kill-the-health-care-sect/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/11/09/cramer-on-bloggingstocks-pelosi-cant-kill-the-health-care-sect/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

TheStreet.com's Jim Cramer says the Senate is filled with more-savvy politicians, and the upside for beaten-down names is huge.

Nancy Pelosi has now said her piece. The most unpopular Speaker of the House in the history of Wall Street has gotten her precious health care legislation through the House after ramming through a stimulus package that had far too little infrastructure and far too much pay raise for municipal and state workers, the most powerful interest group in the country.

But this time the Senate sees through it, and the politicians -- despite Pelosi's insistence that Tuesday's election went her way -- know better. There are pages after pages after pages in this bill that look threatening. But here's the rub: This bill's public option, the one that is supposed to be a killer to everything health care, should affect no more than 6 million people over a 10-year period, according to the Congressional Budget Office. In order to get 60 votes in the Senate, even that may prove to be too powerful an option.

Continue reading Cramer on BloggingStocks: Pelosi can't kill the health care sector

Cramer on BloggingStocks: Pelosi can't kill the health care sector originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 10:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abtaetcelgcifeaturedgildhumjim cramerJimCramersykwlpMon, 09 Nov 2009 10:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Earnings highlights: Aetna, Allergan, E*Trade, Goodyear, RadioShack, SAP, Visa ...]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/10/31/earnings-highlights-aetna-allergan-e-trade-goodyear-radiosh/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/10/31/earnings-highlights-aetna-allergan-e-trade-goodyear-radiosh/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/10/31/earnings-highlights-aetna-allergan-e-trade-goodyear-radiosh/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

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

Continue reading Earnings highlights: Aetna, Allergan, E*Trade, Goodyear, RadioShack, SAP, Visa ...

Earnings highlights: Aetna, Allergan, E*Trade, Goodyear, RadioShack, SAP, Visa ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 31 Oct 2009 16:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AETAetnaAGNAllerganAMTDBAREBare EscentualsCabot OilCOGCorningearningsELEstee LauderETFCETradeExxon MobilGoodyearGTITGJim CramerMcAfeeMFEMYLMylanNovatelNVTLRadioShackRSHSAPSNESonySunocoSXLT Rowe PriceTD AmeritradeTROWVVisaXOMSat, 31 Oct 2009 16:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Aetna, Aflac, WellPoint rise following earnings releases]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/10/29/aetna-aflac-wellpoint-rise-following-earnings-releases/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/10/29/aetna-aflac-wellpoint-rise-following-earnings-releases/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/10/29/aetna-aflac-wellpoint-rise-following-earnings-releases/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Even as the battle over health care reform rages on Capitol Hill, we are seeing a flurry of third quarter reports from insurers.

Aetna Inc. (NYSE: AET) reported Thursday that its third-quarter profit rose 18% from a year ago to $308.2 million, or $0.69 per share, topping Wall Street's expectations. Revenue came in at $8.72 billion, versus the consensus of $8.68 billion. Aetna also said share repurchases totaled 3.9 million at a cost of $114 million in the third quarter of 2009.

Continue reading Aetna, Aflac, WellPoint rise following earnings releases

Aetna, Aflac, WellPoint rise following earnings releases originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AETAetnaAFLAflacearningsinthenewsMETMetLifeTMKTorchmarkWellPointWLPThu, 29 Oct 2009 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Can you cut your health care costs 90% and get a free vacation?]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/10/02/can-you-cut-your-health-care-costs-90-and-get-a-free-vacation/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/10/02/can-you-cut-your-health-care-costs-90-and-get-a-free-vacation/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/10/02/can-you-cut-your-health-care-costs-90-and-get-a-free-vacation/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

President Obama started an intense debate in recent months about national health care. People are concerned about how to pay for the high cost of health care in America and feel it is just too expensive. There has to be a better way!

I like oranges and I grew up in Wisconsin, but in January oranges do not grow very well in Wisconsin. I don't know why -- I am not a horticulturalist -- but maybe it's the lack of sunlight, hard frozen tundra, blowing snow or temperatures of 25 below zero. We could spend a long time pointlessly debating the actual reason.

Continue reading Can you cut your health care costs 90% and get a free vacation?

Can you cut your health care costs 90% and get a free vacation? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AETAetnaaffordable health careCICignaHealth Carehealth insuranceMedical vacationPCLNPricelineFri, 02 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dropping the 'public option' could insure some stocks' health]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/08/19/dropping-the-public-option-could-insure-some-stocks/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/08/19/dropping-the-public-option-could-insure-some-stocks/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/08/19/dropping-the-public-option-could-insure-some-stocks/#commentsFiled under: ,

Regardless of how you feel about a public health insurance option offered by the government, interest at the policy level seems to be waning recently. If Democrats drop the idea of a public option as a component of health care reform, health insurance companies could benefit.

The way I see it, if the government starts offering health insurance as a public provider then new supply will have entered the market. According to my college Econ 101 text book, that new supply would have shifted the supply and demand curves towards lower prices and maybe lower profits.

Continue reading Dropping the 'public option' could insure some stocks' health

Dropping the 'public option' could insure some stocks' health originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 19 Aug 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aflhealth insuranceHealthInsuranceinsuranceWed, 19 Aug 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Closing Bell: Bears win decisive victory, sort of (AET, AFL, AEZS, FSLR, LOW)]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/08/17/closing-bell-bears-win-decisive-victory-sort-of-aet-afl-aez/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/08/17/closing-bell-bears-win-decisive-victory-sort-of-aet-afl-aez/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/08/17/closing-bell-bears-win-decisive-victory-sort-of-aet-afl-aez/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Today's weakness was due to two issues. First was a much needed pullback after a monster run-up in the markets. Second was a weak Asian market turnout that spilled over to the west on concerns that maybe the recent gains did not add up to as high as share prices had gone. The stronger NY Fed District manufacturing data was merely a footnote. The bears might claim a decisive victory because there were no major rallies, but keep in mind that this is a summer Monday with light trading desks.

Here were today's unofficial closing bell levels:

Dow 9,135.34 -186.06 (-2.00%)
S&P 500 979.72 -24.37 (-2.43%)
Nasdaq 1,930.84 -54.68 (-2.75%)

Top 10 Analyst Calls

Continue reading Closing Bell: Bears win decisive victory, sort of (AET, AFL, AEZS, FSLR, LOW)

Closing Bell: Bears win decisive victory, sort of (AET, AFL, AEZS, FSLR, LOW) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 17 Aug 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asian marketAsianMarketny fed district manufacturing dataNyFedDistrictManufacturingDataMon, 17 Aug 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Earnings highlights: Viacom, Sprint, Revlon, DreamWorks, Conoco, Avon ...]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/08/01/earnings-highlights-viacom-sprint-revlon-dreamworks-conoco/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/08/01/earnings-highlights-viacom-sprint-revlon-dreamworks-conoco/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/08/01/earnings-highlights-viacom-sprint-revlon-dreamworks-conoco/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

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

Continue reading Earnings highlights: Viacom, Sprint, Revlon, DreamWorks, Conoco, Avon ...

Earnings highlights: Viacom, Sprint, Revlon, DreamWorks, Conoco, Avon ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 01 Aug 2009 08:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AETAetnaAvonAVPConocoPhillipsCOPDreamWorksDWAearningsFirst SolarFSLRJacobs EngineeringJECLas Vegas SandsLVSMOTMotorolaREVRevlonSprint NextelTime WarnerUAUnder ArmourVIAViacomSat, 01 Aug 2009 08:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Closing Bell: A directionless day (AET, C, GLW, ERIC, SLB, VZ)]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/07/27/closing-bell-a-directionless-day-aet-c-glw-eric-slb-vz/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/07/27/closing-bell-a-directionless-day-aet-c-glw-eric-slb-vz/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/07/27/closing-bell-a-directionless-day-aet-c-glw-eric-slb-vz/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Everything was looking up this morning, up until the reaction to companies and their earnings reports. The market felt directionless all day after losing its initial gains despite a new home sales data release that was well above expectations. Ben Bernanke defended his stance on avoiding the next depression. The SEC also issued new short sale abuse guidelines.

Here are today's unofficial closing bell levels:

Dow 9,108.59 +15.35 (0.17%)
S&P 500 982.19 +2.93 (0.30%)
Nasdaq 1,967.89 +1.93 (0.10%)

Top 10 Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Continue reading Closing Bell: A directionless day (AET, C, GLW, ERIC, SLB, VZ)

Closing Bell: A directionless day (AET, C, GLW, ERIC, SLB, VZ) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 27 Jul 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AETalltelCERICGLWnortelSLBVZMon, 27 Jul 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Before the bell: Futures lower as earnings season conitnues]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/07/27/before-the-bell-futures-higher-as-earnings-season-conitnues/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/07/27/before-the-bell-futures-higher-as-earnings-season-conitnues/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/07/27/before-the-bell-futures-higher-as-earnings-season-conitnues/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

U.S. stock futures advanced Monday morning, ahead of yet another week full of corporate reports, with some heavyweights already reporting this morning. Investors will be looking to see if results continue to top projections on average. Meanwhile, investors will digest some of Bernanke's remarks as they await more housing data due out after the market opens.

[Update 9:00 a.m.: Futures turned direction following several disappointing earnings reports this morning.]

Markets have rallied the past two weeks alongside earnings season. This week, over 140 companies of the S&P 500 are due to report. This morning it is Aetna (NYSE: AET), Amgen (NASDAQ: AMGN), Honeywell International (NYSE: HON) and Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ). Analysts are raising U.S. profit estimates for the first time since credit markets froze two years ago, with the S&P 500 earnings estimates now at $74.55 a share next year, up from $72.54 in May, indicating a potential 26 percent increase in the S&P 500.

Continue reading Before the bell: Futures lower as earnings season conitnues

Before the bell: Futures lower as earnings season conitnues originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 27 Jul 2009 07:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Mon, 27 Jul 2009 07:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Earnings highlights: Google, KKR, Krispy Kreme, Williams-Sonoma, Guess? and more ]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/06/06/earnings-highlights-google-kkr-krispy-kreme-williams-sonoma/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/06/06/earnings-highlights-google-kkr-krispy-kreme-williams-sonoma/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/06/06/earnings-highlights-google-kkr-krispy-kreme-williams-sonoma/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

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

Continue reading Earnings highlights: Google, KKR, Krispy Kreme, Williams-Sonoma, Guess? and more

Earnings highlights: Google, KKR, Krispy Kreme, Williams-Sonoma, Guess? and more originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 06 Jun 2009 12:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AETAetnaCIENCienaCollective BrandsearningsGESGOOGGoogleGuessHOVHovnanianKKDKKRKrispy KremeLGFLions GatePSSUCBHValeroVLOWilliams-SonomaWSMSat, 06 Jun 2009 12:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Closing Bell: When complacency becomes concerning (AET, AIG, JBLU, TIVO, VLO)]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/06/03/closing-bell-when-complacency-becomes-concerning-aet-aig-jbl/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/06/03/closing-bell-when-complacency-becomes-concerning-aet-aig-jbl/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/06/03/closing-bell-when-complacency-becomes-concerning-aet-aig-jbl/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Today was one of those days where stocks looked lower early in the morning, traded lower, and stayed there. Despite recovering from triple-digit losses in the DJIA earlier on, we still closed down 65.63 at 8.675.24 on the DJIA.

The S&P took a bigger hit by almost 13.00 at a lower level of 931.76. Bond prices rallied and we saw a 9 basis point drop in the 10-Year Treasury to 3.55%.

Here were today's top analyst upgrades, and there were several key downgrades as well.

Continue reading Closing Bell: When complacency becomes concerning (AET, AIG, JBLU, TIVO, VLO)

Closing Bell: When complacency becomes concerning (AET, AIG, JBLU, TIVO, VLO) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 03 Jun 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>echostarpatent infringementPatentInfringementTIVOus district courtUsDistrictCourtWed, 03 Jun 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: TEL, ABX, AET, WMT, VMW ... ]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/06/03/analyst-upgrades-downgrades-and-initiations-tel-abx-aet-wmt/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/06/03/analyst-upgrades-downgrades-and-initiations-tel-abx-aet-wmt/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/06/03/analyst-upgrades-downgrades-and-initiations-tel-abx-aet-wmt/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Analyst upgrades:
  • Keefe Bruyette upgraded BB&T (NYSE: BBT) to Market Perform from Underperform as it believes downside risk has been reduced following the company's capital raise. The firm raised its target price to $23 from $15.
  • Janney Montgomery upgraded FEI Company (NASDAQ: FEIC) to Buy from Neutral on expectations margins will improve and various country stimulus packages will provide benefits in 2010. The firm has a $31 target on the stock.
  • Citigroup upgraded Tyco Electronics (NYSE: TEL) to Buy from Hold as it believes automotive headwinds are priced in and the company's long-term fundamentals are intact. The firm raised its target price to $25 from $19.
  • Barrick Gold (NYSE: ABX) was upgraded to Outperform from Sector Perform at RBC Capital.
  • J.B. Hunt (NYSE: JBHT) was raised to Overweight from Equal Weight at Stephens.
  • Roper Industries (NYSE: ROP) was upgraded at Oppenheimer to Outperform from Perform.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: TEL, ABX, AET, WMT, VMW ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: TEL, ABX, AET, WMT, VMW ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 03 Jun 2009 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abxaetamscbbtcahfeicgilhbihubgjbhtkgcngpacrropsclnslabtelvmwwmtWed, 03 Jun 2009 10:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: GOOG, AA, FCX, SJM, TWC ... ]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/03/31/analyst-upgrades-downgrades-and-initiations-goog-aa-fcx-sjm/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/03/31/analyst-upgrades-downgrades-and-initiations-goog-aa-fcx-sjm/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/03/31/analyst-upgrades-downgrades-and-initiations-goog-aa-fcx-sjm/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Analyst upgrades:
  • Merriman upgraded shares of Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) to Buy from Neutral after its channel checks indicated a modest increase in ad spend per client in March. The upgrade is based on early indications that search pricing and ad spend are stabilizing, search volume continuing to grow at a double-digit rate, and Merriman's belief that consensus estimates are now at reasonable levels.
  • Deutsche Bank upgraded shares of Alcoa (NYSE: AA) to Hold from Sell and raised its price target to $8 from $7.30 following the company's asset sales in March as it believes the financial overhang on the stock has been removed.
  • Suntrust said Providence Service (NASDAQ: PRSC) has returned to profitability through demand stabilization for social services and cost controls. Shares were upgraded to Buy from Neutral.
  • Telmex (NYSE: TMX) was upgraded to Neutral from Undeperform at Credit Suisse.
  • Deutsche Telekom (NYSE: DT) was raised to Market Perform from Underperform at Bernstein.
  • Autodesk (NASDAQ: ADSK) was lifted to Neutral from Sell at UBS.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: GOOG, AA, FCX, SJM, TWC ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: GOOG, AA, FCX, SJM, TWC ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 31 Mar 2009 11:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AAACNADSKCPTSDTFCXGESGOOGMBRXPRSCSJMSUPGTMXTWCUPLWOSLYTue, 31 Mar 2009 11:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: GLW, A, BHP, MJN, AET ... ]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/03/23/analyst-upgrades-downgrades-and-initiations-glw-a-bhp-mjn/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/03/23/analyst-upgrades-downgrades-and-initiations-glw-a-bhp-mjn/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/03/23/analyst-upgrades-downgrades-and-initiations-glw-a-bhp-mjn/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Analyst upgrades:
  • Citigroup upgraded shares of Corning (NYSE: GLW) to Buy from Hold as it believes LCD glass production and sales have bottomed and will pick-up in Q2. The firm raised its target price to $16 from $11.25.
  • Thomas Weisel upgraded Celera (NASDAQ: CRA) to Overweight from Market Weight based on valuation and its strong business model.
  • ThinkEquity upgraded Varian Semi (NASDAQ: VARI) to Buy from Accumulate and raised its target to $32 from $20 based on valuation and weakness at its sole competitor.
  • Sanofi-Aventis (NYSE: SNY) was upgraded to Hold from Underperform at Jefferies.
  • Agilent (NYSE: A) was raised to Outperform from Neutral at Credit Suisse.
  • Liberty Interactive (NASDAQ: LINTA) was upgraded at JP Morgan to Neutral from Underweight.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: GLW, A, BHP, MJN, AET ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: GLW, A, BHP, MJN, AET ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 23 Mar 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aaetazobhpcerncraexhglwhrskoflintamjnsnystcvariwlpMon, 23 Mar 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Cramer on BloggingStocks: Don't need stocks? Don't own 'em ]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/02/27/cramer-on-bloggingstocks-dont-need-stocks-dont-own-em/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/02/27/cramer-on-bloggingstocks-dont-need-stocks-dont-own-em/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/02/27/cramer-on-bloggingstocks-dont-need-stocks-dont-own-em/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

TheStreet.com's Jim Cramer says if you need money for anything important in the near future, get it out of the stock market.

Fall back. Fall back to basic principles. What do people have to do whether they want to do it or not? What do governments have to pay for whether they want something or not? What must be used whether you like it or not?

That's where we are right now in the helter-skelter pell-mell race to take all stocks to single digits as the notion of a worldwide global depression sinks in.

Continue reading Cramer on BloggingStocks: Don't need stocks? Don't own 'em

Cramer on BloggingStocks: Don't need stocks? Don't own 'em originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 27 Feb 2009 10:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aetamgnffeaturedgenzgmhmcjim cramerJimCramerledmmtwnocpgrahtextgtthstmunhwmtFri, 27 Feb 2009 10:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Cramer on BloggingStocks: This time around, bad is just bad ]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/02/17/cramer-on-bloggingstocks-this-time-around-bad-is-just-bad/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/02/17/cramer-on-bloggingstocks-this-time-around-bad-is-just-bad/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/02/17/cramer-on-bloggingstocks-this-time-around-bad-is-just-bad/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

TheStreet.com's Jim Cramer says picking stocks -- or worse, picking a bottom -- remains a dangerous activity.

Sometimes it is so bad that it is BAD! Don't laugh at that seeming bit of counterintuitive logic. Every investment professional knows that because of the way economic cycles and central banks work, you are often looking for signs of such stress and negativity that it is so bad it is GOOD because of what the banks can do and what a bottom looks like.

This time it hasn't worked out that way. This time, what's bad is bad and getting worse. This weekend, David Carr in The New York Times wrote an excellent piece about the mistake of looking for a silver lining, something that news media does.

Continue reading Cramer on BloggingStocks: This time around, bad is just bad

Cramer on BloggingStocks: This time around, bad is just bad originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 17 Feb 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abtaetbcscephfeaturedgenzgildgsjim cramerJimCramerjnjlygmonpferbsrigstjunhTue, 17 Feb 2009 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Yang, Thompson departures to further diminish pool of minority CEOs]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/11/19/yang-thompson-departure-to-further-diminish-pool-of-minority-ce/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/11/19/yang-thompson-departure-to-further-diminish-pool-of-minority-ce/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/11/19/yang-thompson-departure-to-further-diminish-pool-of-minority-ce/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

We may have broken the ultimate barrier to diversity with the election of the 44th President of the United States Barack Obama, but the ranks of minorities in top positions at Fortune 500 companies remain thin and are steadily declining.

Late Monday, Symantec (NASDAQ: SYMC) CEO John Thompson announced plans to retire from the post in March, but will remain on as chairman. Also planning to move out of the corner office until a replacement is found is the CEO of struggling Web portal Yahoo (NASDAQ: YHOO), Jerry Yang.

Their pending exits continue a string of other high-profile minority CEOs over the past year due to various reasons, ranging from Dick Parsons at Time Warner (NYSE: TWX), to Stan O'Neal at Merrill Lynch (NYSE: MER) to Alwyn Lewis at Sears (NASDAQ: SHLD) and William Perez at Wrigley.

Continue reading Yang, Thompson departures to further diminish pool of minority CEOs

Yang, Thompson departures to further diminish pool of minority CEOs originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 10:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aetaffirmative actionAffirmativeActionaxpCDRIEKfeaturedFMDLHIGJerry YAngJerryYangMERminiority CEOSMiniorityCeosPEPTWXYHOOWed, 19 Nov 2008 10:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Earnings highlights: BP, CBS, Kraft, Sony, Verizon, Colgate, Nintendo and others]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/11/01/earnings-highlights-bp-cbs-kraft-sony-verizon-colgate-nin/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/11/01/earnings-highlights-bp-cbs-kraft-sony-verizon-colgate-nin/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/11/01/earnings-highlights-bp-cbs-kraft-sony-verizon-colgate-nin/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

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

Continue reading Earnings highlights: BP, CBS, Kraft, Sony, Verizon, Colgate, Nintendo and others

Earnings highlights: BP, CBS, Kraft, Sony, Verizon, Colgate, Nintendo and others originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 01 Nov 2008 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Three weeks ago, I highlighted the trouble in the insurance industry. The reason? Insurance companies get premiums and they invest them until it's time to pay a claim. It's a great business if the insurers can pick good investments. Regrettably, many insurers own more mortgage-backed securities (MBSs) and collateralized debt obligations (CDOs) than they have capital. So as they write down this toxic waste, the decline in their capital puts them at risk.

This comes to mind in considering the earnings of three insurers: Met Life (NYSE: MET), Prudential Financial (NYSE: PRU), and Aetna (NYSE: AET). Each of them have or will take a hit from lousy investments, here's how:

  • MetLife expects its third-quarter operating earnings to range between $600 million and $675 million, or 83 cents to 93 cents per share; analysts expect it to make 88 cents when it reports later today. It could take charges between $1 billion and $6 billion on its asset portfolio, which could wipe out the majority of its $7 billion in excess reserves.
  • Prudential expects after-tax adjusted operating income for its financial services businesses to be in the range of $275 million to $375 million or $0.67 to $0.90 per share when it reports today, below the $1.72 a share analysts expected. And it is forecasting pre-tax charges of $115 million or $0.21 per share relating to investment results from fixed income and equity investment funds and $325 million to $375 million in impairment charges on holdings of securities issued by the now bankrupt companies like Lehman Brothers.
  • Aetna missed by a mile. It reported profit of $277.3 million, or 58 cents a share, compared with $496.7 million, or 95 cents last year; analysts expected it to earn $1.12 a share. A big reason for the miss was a capital-markets hit of 48 cents due to bad investments.

Continue reading Insurance earnings to take bloody bath due to bad bets

Insurance earnings to take bloody bath due to bad bets originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 29 Oct 2008 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Wed, 29 Oct 2008 13:40:00 EST