Navivest Stocks and Options Blog

Apple Blows Past Estimates

Jul 21, 2010 Company News, Earnings, Stock to watch

Apple (AAPL) announced bettered than expected second quarter results after the bell yesterday, sending the shares up $9.09 in pre-market trading today.

Apple reported that in the period, it had revenue of $15.7 billion, compared to revenue of $9.73 billion in the year ago second quarter period. Profit came in at $3.25 billion or $3.51 on a per share basis, compared to quarterly profit of $1.83 billion or $2.01 per share in Q2 2009. Analysts had been forecasting revenue of $14.7 billion and earnings per share of $3.11.

For the current quarter, the company is forecasting revenue of $18 billion, against analysts’ forecasts of $17 billion and earnings of $3.44 per share, against analysts’ forecasts of $3.83.

In the period, Apple sold 8.4 million iPhones, up 61 percent from last year, 3.3 million iPads, 1.7 milion of the company’s latest iPhone, which just went on the market towards the end of the quarter and 3.47 million Macs, a 33% increase and 9.41 million iPods, which was an eight percent decline in unit sales.

Apple shares are up $9.37 or 3.72% on the news in pre-market trading this morning.

Tags: apple, Earnings

Intel Reports Best Ever Quarterly Earnings Results

Jul 13, 2010 Company News, Earnings, Stock to watch

Technology bellwether Intel (INTC) today reported 2010 second quarter earnings results that handily beat analysts’ estimates. According to the company, this was its best quarter ever. For the period, the company reported that revenues rose 34% to $10.765 billion, from $8.024 billion in the year ago period.

Operating income rose from a loss of $12 million in Q2 2009, to $3.98 billion, while net income rose to $2.88 billion, from a loss of $398 million Q2 2009. Results from the second quarter of 2009, were affected by a $1.06 billion fine that was levied on the company by the European Union.

The company’s gross margin, which is closely followed by analysts, rose to 67%, from 51% a year ago. Intel had previously announced that it expects to realize margins of 64%, plus or minus 2%.

On a per share basis, the company earned $0.51, compared to the $0.43 analysts had been forecasting, on revenues of $10.25 billion. The company had also provided its own revenue guidance of $10.2 billion, plus or minus $400 million.

Intel’s stock rose as much as $1.72 or 8.1% in after hours trading on the news.

Tags: Earnings, intel

Alcoa Kicks Off 2010 Q2 Earnings Season On A Bright Note

Jul 12, 2010 Earnings, Stock to watch

Alcoa (AA) kicked off the second quarter earnings season by reporting better than expected Q2 earnings that beat by a penny per share. For the period, which ended June 30, the company reported a profit of $136 million, or $0.13 per share, compared to analysts’ expectation of a profit of $0.12 per share. Alcoa credited lower energy costs, improved productivity and stronger sales for its improved earnings picture. In the year ago period, Alcoa reported a loss of $454 million, or $0.47 per share.

Sales for the period rose twenty-two percent to $5.18 billion, compared to sales of $4.24 billion in the second quarter period last year, as a result of a four percent increase in aluminum shipments as well as a one percent rise in third-party prices for alumina.

The company’s improved financial picture is also partly due to a restructuring the company undertook last year, that saw it cut 13,500 jobs.

In after hours on Monday, Alcoa shares rose to $11.30, from a close of $10.87.

Tags: alcoa, earnings season

Stocks To Watch – 06/30/10

Jun 30, 2010 Stock Market, Stock to watch, Stocks

With the major indices trading in a very tight range, there isn’t much movement in individual stocks. A few standouts include electric car company Tesla Motors (TSLA), which went public yesterday and gained 40% in its first day of trading. The stock is up another 33.12% so far today, on a $6.83 to $27.45 in the shares.

Fertilizer producer CF Industries (CF) is up $3.17 or 5.12% to $65.13. Online retailer Amazon (AMZN) is up $3.33 or 3.07% to $111.94.

Among the losers, Celgene (CELG) is off $2.11 or 3.96% to $51.13. The stock is off the lows of the day however. CELG traded as low as $49.54 in earlier going.

Tags: amazon, celgene, cf industries, tesla

Buy Stocks Here On Rebound Expectation

Jun 25, 2010 Stock Market, Stock to watch, Technical Analysis, Trading Idea

With the exception of Wednesday when we had a small move to the upside, the major indices have been down every day this week and today we are also seeing some weakness in stocks. However, we are looking for a rebound and traders can start buying here for some quick profits today.

In early afternoon trading, Wynn Resorts (WYNN) is up $0.87 to $86.90 and we are looking for some more upside in the shares. Yesterday, we sent out a buy trade alert to subscribers of our Navivest Options Capitalist service on the Wynn July 90 calls.

We also like commodity related stocks, which while already up on the day, should see some more upside. In the space, we like Freeport McMoRan (FCX), which is only up $1.26 to $64.70.

Tags: commodity stocks, freeport mcmoran, Stock Market, Stocks, wynn resorts

Google’s Stock Falling As Markets Rally

Jun 21, 2010 Stock to watch

Google (GOOG) is down today and falling, even as the broader stock market is rallying, with all the major stock indices posting very strong gains.

At 10:38, Google is down $5.22 to $494.81. There is no news out on the company. that’s impacting the stock and this might be more of a technical trading issue, with Google shares facing resistance at the $500 area, which the stock has had a time clearing in the prior four sessions.

Tags: google, Technical Analysis

Sybase Shares Rallying On Takeover Rumors

May 12, 2010 Mergers & Acquisition, Stock to watch

Shares of software maker Sybase (SYB) are rallying 39% on rumors the company might be a takeover candidate. The stock is up $16.19 to $57.76 a 38.95% gain at 3:35 PM.

Tags: acquisition, merger, sybase, takeover

Google Shares Underperforming Market Today

May 12, 2010 Stock to watch

On a day when all the major stock market indices are rallying and the tech laden Nasdaq is leading the way, shares of Google (GOOG) are down $4.05 to $5.05. There is no apparent news on the company.

Tags: google

IBM Leading Dow Rally With 4% Gain

May 12, 2010 Company News, Stock to watch

Shares of IBM (IBM) are up $5.09 to $131.98, helping to boost the Dow to a 132.63 points gain in late trading. The company announced this morning that it will be spending $20 billion on acquisitions over the next five years.

Tags: ibm, Technical Analysis

Baidu Shares Split 10 To 1

May 12, 2010 Stock to watch

Shares of Chinese internet company Baidu (BIDU) started trading on a 10:1 split adjusted today. As of 2:50, the stock was up $6.37 to $77.79, which on a split adjusted basis, is an all time high.