In 2010, Six Flags (SIX: Analysis) emerged from bankruptcy after reducing its debt by over a billion dollars. Since those dark days, Six Flags’ outlook has brightened considerably. The Grand Prairie, Texas-based company, the largest regional theme p…
Market Commentary
Six Flags (SIX) Tops Off a Record Year
February 26th, 2013VeriFone (PAY) Loses One Third of its Market Cap
February 25th, 2013Credit card terminal manufacturer VeriFone Systems (PAY: Analysis) plunged nearly 40% last week after the company announced preliminary first quarter earnings that widely missed analyst estimates. For its first quarter, VeriFone expects to earn non-…
Wall Street, Led by Hewlett-Packard, Finishes the Week on a High Note (HPQ, AIG, AAPL)
February 22nd, 2013Markets closed the week on a positive note Friday as Dow component Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) jumped over 10% on strong results. Insurer American International Group Inc (AIG) also posted surprisingly positive Q4 results, driving shares up over 2.5% f…
Sina (SINA) Rallies After the Company Stumbles Over Lowered Expectations
February 22nd, 2013Shares of Chinese online media company Sina Corporation (SINA: Charts, News) surged yesterday, after the company topped analyst estimates on both the top and bottom lines. Sina is a digital portal website, similar to Yahoo (YHOO: Charts, News) with …
S&P Sees First Weekly Loss of the Year, Merger Activity Heats Up (AIG, HPQ, WMT)
February 21st, 2013 Weekly Wrap Up
Most major US markets closed the week lower, with the DOW bucking the trend by once again closing over 14,000. The Euro hit a 6-week low vs the USD on ECB loan repayment news. On Thursday, jobless claims rose for the first time in …
Fear Index Jumps and US Indices Fall for Second Day (AIG, WMT)
February 21st, 2013Weak economic growth data weighed on both global and US markets on Thursday. In the US, investor concerns have grown as the CBOE Volatility Index, or the VIX, jumped 6.7%. Jobless claims increased for the first time in three weeks and business conditions were described as the lowest in eight months, casting doubt on the economy’s current rate of growth. The euro fell to a six-week low against the dollar and oil prices also fell on poor euro zone business data. Wal-Mart (WMT) reported earnings that beat expectations but warned of slow sales in February. Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) slumped for the second day in a row and VeriFone Systems (PAY) also fell after being downgraded to a neutral rating. After the close Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) released Q1 results and saw shares rise 5%. The March 1 deadline approaches for federal budget cuts, keeping investors on their toes and wondering what action the Federal Reserve will take in the near future.
Word on the Street
- Weekly jobless claims show steady improvement and gain more than expected.
- The national median home sales price rises 12.3% in January to its highest since 2005.
- AIG (AIG) surpasses Apple (AAPL) and becomes the new hedge fund favorite.
- Stocks tumble on global economic growth concerns and the future of the Fed’s stimulus program.
- Wal-Mart (WMT) reports higher profit but warns of stagnat sales during this quarter.
- Mortgage rates rise but remain near historic lows after three weeks.
Interesting Tidbits
- How cost-effective and time-saving is your recruiting process?
- Tax tips on how to figure out your stock’s cost basis and calculate your gains.
Office Depot Merges With Office Max
February 21st, 2013Yesterday, office supply retailers Office Depot (Is ODP buy, sell, or hold?) and Office Max (Is OMX buy, sell, or hold?) announced an all-stock merger, worth approximately $1.2 billion, that would merge the second and third largest office supply cha…
US Indices Fall Hard on Wednesday After the Fed Releases Minutes (TSLA, NYT)
February 20th, 2013On Wednesday the Federal Reserve released the minutes from their most recent meeting, showing that multiple members are worried about QE plans for the $85 billion per month bond purchases but do not agree on what to do next. After the news release gold fell over 2% to its lowest level in one year while
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Herbalife (HLF) Up on Higher Earnings, Guidance
February 20th, 2013Shares of Herbalife Ltd (HLF: Charts, News) closed up +1.00 or +2.58 percent to $39.74 per share on Tuesday before the company announced fourth quarter earnings results which beat Wall Street analyst expectations. Herbalife also raised its outlook f…
US and European Markets Rise on Tuesday; Merger Activity Heats Up (ODP, DELL)
February 19th, 2013On Tuesday the markets in Europe finally made gains and reached three-week highs after better-than-expected economic data was released in Germany. The German economic sentiment index hit a three year high and caused investors to turn to the auto a…
Wal-Mart (WMT) Slides After Frantic Executive E-Mails and Meeting Minutes Released
February 19th, 2013Shares of superstore Wal-Mart (WMT: Charts, News) slid last week, after leaked internal e-mails revealed the worst sales start to a month in seven years, attributed to the January payroll tax that reduced discretionary spending. Wal-Mart’s vice president of finance and logistics Jerry Murray was blunt, stating in an e-mail obtained by Bloomberg, “In case
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G-20 Members Agree to Avoid Currency War, Yen Continues to Fall
February 18th, 2013On Monday the US markets were closed to to the President’s Day holiday. Investors continued to discuss the recent meeting of G20 policy makers that occurred on Friday. At the meeting the ministers pledged to not devalue their currencies to gain tr…
Burger King (BKW) Tops Fourth Quarter Expectations
February 18th, 2013Burger King Worldwide (BKW: Charts, News), the world’s second largest hamburger chain, recently surprised analysts with stronger than expected fourth quarter results, that beat estimates on both top and bottom lines. Burger King reported adjusted ea…
S&P Positive For Seventh Week; Major Mergers Create Headlines (BRK.A, CMCSA)
February 15th, 2013Weekly Wrap Up This was the seventh consecutive week that the S&P 500 ticker higher while the rest of the major indices finished mixed. Several large mergers were announced this week, including a deal between Comcast (CMCSA: Charts, News) and NBC Universal for $16.7 billion, the merger between AMR Corp (AAMRQ: Charts, News) and US
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As Consumer Sentiment Improves on Jobs, Wal-Mart’s Stock Plummet Weighs on Dow (WMT)
February 15th, 2013On Friday preliminary reports showed that consumer sentiment in the US had risen in February and spurred optimism for future employment. Another report was released from the manufacturing sector, showing that the year started off a little weak with drops in vehicle output but is looking to recover with increased factory activity in New York
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Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) and 3G Capital Buy Heinz for $28 Billion
February 15th, 2013One major deal dominated Wall Street headlines this week – Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A: Charts, News) and 3G Capital acquiring ketchup giant Heinz (HNZ: Charts, News) for $28 billion. Heinz shareholders will receive $72.50 per share, a 20% acquisition premium. The Heinz acquisition is the largest takeover in the food industry’s history. Buffett had
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US Jobless Claims Plunge; Buffett Makes Record Offer for Heinz (BRK, HNZ)
February 14th, 2013Despite negative economic data that came from the euro zone on Thursday, hopeful jobless data in the US and major news about the Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) and H.J. Heinz (HNZ) buyout helped markets on Wall Street trim losses. The euro fell to a three-week low against the dollar after a disappointing GDP and economic output
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Buffalo Wild Wings (BWLD) Loses its Heat Despite Record Fourth Quarter Earnings
February 14th, 2013Shares of Buffalo Wild Wings (BWLD: Charts, News) slid this week despite the company’s record fourth quarter earnings. The Minneapolis, Minnesota-based company, best known for its wings and beer, posted earnings of 89 cents per share, or $16.7 million, a 22% increase from the prior year quarter. Revenue rose 38% to $303.8 million. Its earnings
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Street Ends Mixed as Comcast Clinches NBCUniversal Deal (CMCSA, NTAP)
February 13th, 2013Despite today’s drop for the Dow, the major indices continue to push toward record levels in 2013. A big deal came from Comcast (CMCSA) and General Electric (GE) for the sale of NBCUniversal to Comcast for $16.7 billion, sending both companies’ shares higher. Also down for the day were McDonald’s (MCD) as well as Dean
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February 25th, 2013Although they started the day strong, all major indexes ended Monday down more than 1% as investors worried that the outcome of the Italian election could put a damper on Europe making it through its financial crisis. The Euro continued to lose g…
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