Archive for October, 2010

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Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) – Buzz Stock of the Day

Thursday, October 28th, 2010

Software giant Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) reported strong profit and sales growth in its first fiscal quarter, driven largely by sales of its flagship Windows and Office software and the launch of the latest blockbuster Halo video game.

For its first fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2010, Microsoft reported EPS of 62 cents. Analysts on average were expecting earnings of 55 cents per share, according to Thomson Reuters. Operating income, and  net income a the quarter were $7.12 billion, $5.41 billion, which represented increases of 59 percent and 51 percent  respectively, when compared with the prior year period. Sales increased 25 percent to $16.2 billion, ahead of analysts’ $15.8 billion average estimates.
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“This was an exceptional quarter, combining solid enterprise growth and continued strong consumer demand for Office 2010, Windows 7, and Xbox 360 consoles and games,” said Peter Klein, chief financial officer at Microsoft in a statement. “Our ability to grow revenue while continuing to control costs allowed us to deliver another quarter of year-over-year margin expansion.”

Among the highlights were a 15 percent sales growth in Microsoft’s Office 2010 software, and a 38 percent increase in sales of Microsoft’s Xbox 360 game console.

“We ended up in this great sweet spot in business spending that was re-emerging after the downturn,” Microsoft’s general manager of investor relations, Bill Koefoed, said in an interview. Increased business spending “aligned just perfectly” with Microsoft’s product launches, according to Koefoed.

Revenue from Microsoft’s Windows division increased 66 percent to $4.8 billion. Office and other business software brought in $5.1 billion, a 14 percent jump, over last year. The group that makes server software reported a 12 percent increase in revenue to $4 billion. Microsoft’s online revenue, which comes primarily from search advertising,  was up  8 percent to $527 million.

The company reaffirmed its operating expense guidance of $26.9 billion to $27.3 billion for the full year ending June 30, 2011.

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Top Buzz Stock Gainers (SIMG, NBR, AMLN, CML)

Wednesday, October 27th, 2010

Silicon Image, Inc. (NasdaqGS: SIMG) Stocks of SIMG are currently trading at $6.29 on massive volume, up more than 38 percent from Tuesday’s closing price of $4.55 SIMG is racing to two-year highs on reported third-quarter sales of $60.5 million, 20% stronger than analyst expectations and  more than three times expected earnings.

Nabors Industries, Inc. (NYSE: NBR) Shares of Bermuda-based Nabors were up 5.02 percent at $20.42, after the company reported a 29-cent per share quarterly profit, which beat Street estimates by 6 cents. Nabors’ revenue of $1.08 billion also came in ahead of the forecast of $963 million. The stock is still down 7 percent so far in 2010.

Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(Nasdaq: AMLN) soared 11.3 percent to a high of $13.36, on more than four times average volume. Shares skyrocketed after the maker of the diabetes treatment Byetta was raised to “outperform” from “market perform” at Leerink Swann & Co.

Compellent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: CML) Volume skyrocketed to 6.5 million today as shares touched on a 52-week high of $26.44, representing a 32 percent increase over previous day close of $19.70. Compellent Technologies, which sells data storage to large businesses, surged after beating Wall Street expectations in the third quarter, and amid rumors of an acquisition by computer maker Dell Inc. 

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Mid Day Market Movers (LIFE, UHN, ABT)

Wednesday, October 27th, 2010

Life Technologies Corporation (Nasdaq: LIFE) jumped more than 6 percent  to $50.66 from yesterday’s closing price of 47.79, with more than double average volume. The maker of biotech tools reported quarterly net income of $105.5 million, or 56 cents a share, on revenue of $867.1 million, besting analysts’ predictions of 78 cents a share on revenue of $855.2 million. The company also forecast full-year adjusted earnings of $3.48 to $3.52 a share, compared with a Street consensus of $3.42 a share on Tuesday.

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE: UNH) dropped more than 5 percent Wednesday touching on a low of $35.70 from the previous days’ close of $37.57 on above-average volume. The stock is still trading very near a 52-week high of $37.95. The company recently reported third quarter increase in net income of 23%, to $1.28 billion, or $1.14 per share, from $1.04 billion, or 89 cents per share, from the same period last year.

Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT) dipped nearly 3 percent trading on below-average volume, touching on a low of 51.03 from Tuesday’s close of $52.69. The Company recently reported strong third quarter results, notably; earnings-per-share growth of 14.1 percent, worldwide sales increase of 11.8 percent, and promising expansion in emerging markets.

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Wednesday’s Biggest Losers (JNY, CENX, OC)

Wednesday, October 27th, 2010

Jones New York (JNY)

Jones New York decreased 23.41%, falling to $14.95 after the company reported lower-than-expected third quarter results. The Company reported adjusted earnings per share were $0.54, falling $0.07 cents below analysts’ estimates of $0.61, for the third quarter of 2010, compared to adjusted earnings per share of $0.46 in the same period last year.

Revenue increased 19.4% year over year to $1.2 billion, compared to $856 million for the third quarter of 2009, which was on par with analysts’ estimates.

Century Aluminum Company (NASDAQ: CENX)

Century Aluminum Company (NASDAQ: CENX) slipped 5.50% to $12.88 in the pre-market trading after the company reported third quarter losses of $16.8 million, or 18 cents a share, from a profit of $40.1 million, or 45 cents a share a year ago.

Sales grew to $279.2 million from $228.7 million, a year ago. Analysts had estimated profit of 8 cents a share on revenue of $269.47 million.

Management indicated that higher raw material costs, primarily for carbon anodes, much of which is transitional, led to a quarter over quarter decrease in net earnings of about $4 MM, or approximately $0.04 in EPS.

Owens Corning (NYSE: OC)

Owens Corning (NYSE: OC) is currently trading at 27.10, down nearly 4% from Tuesday’s closing price 28.20. Shares of Owens Corning are on the slide this morning after the company said it earned $58 million, or 46 cents per share, during the third quarter. Excluding one-time items, OC earned 35 cents per share on revenue of $1.19 billion. Analysts had forecast a profit of 37 cents per share on revenue of $1.26 billion.

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MeadWestvaco Corp (MWV) Buzz Stock of the Day

Wednesday, October 27th, 2010

Shares of packaging maker MeadWestvaco Corp (MWV) jumped more than 6 percent in morning trading after the company announced that quarterly profit numbers had exceeded expectations.

MeadWestvaco reports third quarter earnings of $111 million, or 64 cents per share for the period ended Sept. 30, excluding non-recurring items, besting analysts consensus of expected earnings per share of $0.55. Net income from continuing operations fell 9 percent from third quarter earnings in 2009 of $122 million, or 71 cents per share.

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Higher overall sales helped drive revenue increases of 3.2 percent, to $1.56 billion. Although volume fell or only increased slightly in the Company’s consumer products unit, and consumer solutions business, respectively, volume jumped 11 percent in the specialty chemicals unit, increasing segment profit by 83 percent. The Company said its sales in emerging markets have grown by about 12 percent in the quarter, driven by strength in Brazil and China.

“Another quarter of improved performance extends the progress we have made by implementing a value-based strategy agenda,” Chief Executive John Luke said in a statement.

The Richmond, Virginia-based company provides packaging solutions to the healthcare, personal care and beauty, food, beverage, home and garden, tobacco, and commercial print industries with worldwide operations in 30 countries and has customers in more than 100 nations.

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