Wall Street Addict

Here are 7 stocks for traders for Wednesday from TradingMarkets.com:
Robert Half (NYSE:RHI - News) beat earnings expectations on Tuesday afternoon, reporting $0.50 EPS versus a consensus of $0.47 EPS. RHI's PowerRating (for Traders) is 4.

Altria (NYSE:MO - News) reports earnings on Wednesday before the market opens, with traders looking for $0.97 EPS. MO's PowerRating (for Traders) is 5.
Analysts will be watching for Baker Hughes (NYSE:BHI - News) to report $1.28 EPS on Wednesday morning before the bell. BHI's PowerRating (for Traders) is 3.
Boeing (NYSE:BA - News) looks set to report $1.32 EPS on early Wednesday. BA's PowerRating (for Traders) is 4.
When Dominion (NYSE:D - News) reports quarterly results on Wednesday before the bell, look for $0.56 EPS. D's PowerRating (for Traders) is 5.
Merck (NYSE:MRK - News) is aiming to announce $0.74 EPS on Wednesday morning before the stock markets open. MRK's PowerRating (for Traders) is 6.
Kellogg (NYSE:K - News) should report $0.44 EPS tomorrow morning. K's PowerRating (for Traders) is 4.

Labels: BA, BHI, D, K, MO, MRK, RHI, Stocks to Watch

Verizon Communications Inc., the nation's second largest telecommunications company, on Monday reported a 3.9 percent rise in fourth-quarter earnings on steady but moderate growth in its core operations.
Verizon also reported reaching a milestone as a TV provider, saying it had 943,000 subscribers to FiOS TV at the end of the year and more than 1 million now.
The service, delivered over fiber-optic lines in parts of 13 states, is Verizon's way of countering the threat from cable providers who are siphoning off phone customers. Verizon lost 10.6 percent, or nearly 3 million, of its residential phone lines last year.
Verizon earned $1.07 billion, or 37 cents per share, in the October-December period, compared to $1.03 billion, or 35 cents per share, a year earlier.

Labels: Verizon Communications Inc., VZ

Here are 7 stocks for traders for Monday from TradingMarkets.com:
Alberto-Culver (NYSE:ACV - News) reports earnings on Monday before the market opens, with traders looking for $0.26 EPS. ACV's PowerRating (for Traders) is 5.
Black & Decker (NYSE:BDK - News) announces quarterly results on Monday morning; watch for $1.03 EPS. BDK's PowerRating (for Traders) is 4.
Halliburton (NYSE:HAL - News) is poised to report $0.69 EPS on Monday morning before the bell. HAL's PowerRating (for Traders) is 4.
When McDonald's (NYSE:MCD - News) announces results on Monday morning, traders will be watching for $0.71 EPS. MCD's PowerRating (for Traders) is 4.
Tyson Foods (NYSE:TSN - News) expects to report $0.04 EPS on Monday morning. TSN's PowerRating (for Traders) is 5.
Analysts will be watching for Verizon (NYSE:VZ - News) to report for $0.62 EPS on Monday morning. VZ's PowerRating (for Traders) is 5.
On Monday afternoon, watch for SanDisk (NasdaqGS:SNDK - News) to report $0.64 EPS. SNDK's PowerRating (for Traders) is 5.

Labels: ACV, BDK, HAL, MCD, SNDK, Stocks to Watch, TSN, VZ

Shares of Google Inc. rose Thursday, after six days of steady declines, as investors shrugged off the first downgrade of the stock in nearly two years.
The stock added $14.64, or 2.7 percent, to $563.34 in morning trading. The last time the stock closed up for the day was Jan. 14, when it hit $653.82.
Stanford Group analyst Clayton Moran downgraded the online search engine to "Hold" from "Buy," citing slowing e-commerce and search volume growth as well as a slowdown in the global economy.
"Google faces economic risks associated with the overall macro environment and its effects on consumer spending," Moran said in a client note. He also cut his price target to $615 per share from $735 per share.
And while advertisers may still be using Google's services - advertising comprises a large chunk of the Mountain View, Calif., company's revenue - a pullback in consumer spending and a drop in global search volumes growth may limit the number of clicks on each ad, Moran said.

Labels: GOOG, Google Inc.

Here are 7 trading ideas for today. This list comes directly from the TradingMarkets Stock Indicators page and is based upon our latest quantitative research.
Bullish
5+ Consecutive Down Days: These are stocks that have closed down for five or more consecutive days and are trading above their 200-day moving average. Our research shows that stocks trading above their 200-day moving average that close down for five or more days have shown positive returns, on average, 1-day, 2-days and 1-week later. Historically, these stocks have provided traders with a significant edge.
Covance (NYSE:CVD - News) & Ultra Petroleum (NYSE:UPL - News). CVD's PowerRating (for Traders) is 7, and UPL's PowerRating (for Traders) is 8.
5+ Consecutive Lower Lows: These are stocks that have made a lower low for five or more consecutive days and are trading above their 200-day moving average. Our research shows that stocks trading above their 200-day moving average that make lower lows for five or more days have shown positive returns, on average, 1-day, 2-days and 1-week later. Historically, these stocks have provided traders with a significant edge.
Ecolab (NYSE:ECL - News). ECL's PowerRating (for Traders) is 6.
2-Period RSI Below 2: These are stocks that have a 2-period RSI reading below 2 and are trading above their 200-day moving average. Our research shows that stocks trading above their 200-day moving with a 2-period RSI reading below 2 have shown positive returns, on average, 1-day, 2-days and 1-week later. Historically, these stocks have provided traders with a significant edge.
Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ - News). JNJ's PowerRating (for Traders) is 6.
Stocks Down 10% or More: These are stocks that have lost 10% or more over the past five days and are trading above their 200-day moving average. Our research shows that stocks trading above their 200-day moving average that have lost 10% or more over the past five days have shown positive returns, on average, 1-day, 2-days and 1-week later. Historically, these stocks have provided traders with a significant edge.
W&T Offshore (NYSE:WTI - News). WTI's PowerRating (for Traders) is 8.
Bearish
5+ Consecutive Up Days: These are stocks that have closed up for five or more consecutive days and are trading below their 200-day moving average. Our research shows that stocks trading below their 200-day moving average that close up for five or more days have shown negative returns, on average, 1-week later. Historically, these stocks have provided traders with a significant edge.
Bed Bath & Beyond (NasdaqGS:BBBY - News). BBBY's PowerRatings (for Traders) is 3.
Stocks Up 10% or More: These are stocks that have gained 10% or more over the past five days and are trading below their 200-day moving average. Our research shows that stocks trading below their 200-day moving average that have gained 10% or more over the past five days have shown negative returns, on average, 1-week later. Historically, these stocks have provided traders with a significant edge.
Black & Decker (NYSE:BDK - News). BDK's PowerRating (for Traders) is 3.
Published By TradingMarkets.com

Labels: BBBY, BDK, CVD, ECL, JNJ, Stocks to Watch, UPL, WTI

Pfizer Inc., the world's largest drugmaker, said Wednesday its fourth-quarter profit fell 70 percent from year-ago results that included hefty gains on the sale of the company's consumer health business.
Its adjusted profit and sales both topped Wall Street expectations, and the maker of the top-selling drug Lipitor raised its fiscal 2008 revenue outlook.
For the three months ended Dec. 31, net income fell to $2.88 billion, or 42 cents per share, from $9.45 billion, or $1.32 per share, a year ago, which included divestiture gains of $1.11 per share. Excluding items, net income in the latest period totaled $3.6 billion, or 52 cents per share.
Revenue climbed 4 percent to $13.07 billion from $12.60 billion in the 2006 period, as international sales -- buoyed by the weaker dollar -- helped offset the loss of patent protection on blood pressure drug Norvasc and antidepressant Zoloft.
The results beat expectations of analysts polled by Thomson Financial, who forecast fourth-quarter profit of 47 cents per share on $12.19 billion in revenue.

Labels: PFE, Pfizer Inc.

Cell phone maker Motorola Inc. on Wednesday said net profits fell sharply in the fourth quarter, and it warned that the recovery in its struggling handset unit will take longer than expected.
Motorola reported a net profit of $100 million, or 4 cents per share, compared to a year-earlier profit of $623 million, or 25 cents per share. Sales fell to $9.65 billion from $11.79 billion a year earlier.
On a continuing operations basis, Motorola reported a profit of 5 cents per share. That figure includes charges of 9 cents per share for asset write-downs, layoffs and a legal settlement.
Analysts polled by Thomson Financial, on average, expected earnings per share of 13 cents on revenue of $9.6 billion for the quarter.

Labels: MOT, Motorola Inc.

Apple Inc. blew past Wall Street's bullish expectations in the first quarter with a 57 percent jump in profit, but a dramatically lower forecast sent shares plunging on fears about slowing consumer spending on electronics.
The Cupertino-based company's report, released after the market closed Tuesday, reinforced investors' worries that even a hot company like Apple isn't immune from sluggishness in the U.S. economy or fears of a recession.
The company forecast profit of 94 cents per share, far short of the $1.09 per share that analysts were expecting. Revenue is also expected to be lower, coming in around $6.8 billion, compared with the $6.99 billion forecast by analysts.

Labels: AAPL, Apple Inc.

Hurt by the deepening credit crisis, Bank of America Corp. said Tuesday its fourth-quarter earnings fell 95 percent, and Wachovia Corp. reported its earnings tumbled 98 percent.
Net income at Bank of America, the nation's largest consumer bank, dropped to $268 million, or 5 cents per share, in the three months ended Dec. 31 from $5.26 billion, or $1.16 per share, a year ago.
The bank's revenue fell 31 percent to $12.67 billion from $18.49 billion last year.
The quarter included results from LaSalle Bank, which Bank of America purchased on Oct. 1.
Analysts expected earnings of 18 cents per share on revenue of $13.24 billion, according to a poll by Thomson Financial. The earnings estimates typically exclude one-time items.

Labels: Bank of America Corp., BOA

The Federal Reserve, confronted with a global stock sell-off fanned by increased fears of a recession, slashed a key interest rate by three-quarters of a percentage point on Tuesday and indicated further rate cuts were likely.
The surprise reduction in the federal funds rate from 4.25 down to 3.5 percent marked the biggest one-day rate move by the central bank since it cuts its discount rate by a full percentage point in December 1991, a period when the country was struggling to get out of a recession.
Analysts said the Fed will likely delay cutting rates further at its Jan. 29-30 meeting but will probably keep moving rates down aggressively as the economy continues to weaken.

Labels: Federal Reserve, Interest Rates

Here are 7 stocks for traders for Tuesday from TradingMarkets.com:
Bank of America (NYSE:BAC - News) reports earnings on Tuesday morning, with traders looking for $0.18 EPS. BAC's PowerRating (for Traders) is 5.
DuPont (NYSE:DD - News) is looking to report $0.49 EPS on Tuesday before the market opens. DD's PowerRating (for Traders) is 5.
Analyst will be watching for Fastenal (NasdaqGS:FAST - News) to announce $0.36 EPS on Tuesday before the bell. FAST's PowerRating (for Traders) is 6.
When Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ - News) announces quarterly results on Tuesday morning, watch for $0.86 EPS. JNJ's PowerRating (for Traders) is 6.
Suncor Energy (NYSE:SU - News) is poised to announce $1.51 EPS early Tuesday morning. SU's PowerRating (for Traders) is 6.
UnitedHealth (NYSE:UNH - News) should report $0.92 EPS on Tuesday morning. UNH's PowerRating (for Traders) is 6.
Wachovia (NYSE:WB - News) is expected to report $0.33 EPS early Tuesday. WB's PowerRating (for Traders) is 6.

Labels: BAC, DD, FAST, JNJ, Stocks to Watch, SU, UNH, WB

Global stock markets extended their shakeout into a second day Tuesday, plunging amid worries that a possible U.S. recession will cause a worldwide economic slowdown. The dramatic declines were expected to spread to Wall Street, where stock index futures were already down sharply hours before the trading day began.
Japan's Nikkei 225 index, the benchmark for Asia's biggest bourse, skidded 4.4 percent in morning trading to 12,738.31 points, after dropping 3.9 percent Monday. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index was down 5.2 percent after plunging 5.5 percent the day before.

Labels: Asian Markets, Dow Futures, Global Markets, Hang Seng, Nikkei 225

JPMorgan Chase & Co. said Wednesday its fourth-quarter profit fell 34 percent after its exposure to subprime mortgages - though much smaller than at banking peers like Citigroup Inc. - devalued its portfolio by $1.3 billion.
CEO Jamie Dimon also attributed the profit decline at the nation's third-largest bank by market capitalization to worse-than-expected results in home equity loans.
Banks in the United States and around the world have been struggling with rising defaults on mortgages -- and now other loans, too, such as credit cards and auto loans. As banks have gotten more stringent in their lending practices, the economy has slowed, lifting the unemployment rate.

Labels: JPM, JPMorgan Chase and Co.

Here are 7 trading ideas for today. This list comes directly from the TradingMarkets Stock Indicators page and is based upon our latest quantitative research.
Bullish
5+ Consecutive Down Days: These are stocks that have closed down for five or more consecutive days and are trading above their 200-day moving average. Our research shows that stocks trading above their 200-day moving average that close down for five or more days have shown positive returns, on average, 1-day, 2-days and 1-week later. Historically, these stocks have provided traders with a significant edge.
Ametek (NYSE:AME - News) & Anheuser-Busch (NYSE:BUD - News). AME's PowerRating (for Traders) is 8, and BUD's PowerRating (for Traders) is 6.
5+ Consecutive Lower Lows: These are stocks that have made a lower low for five or more consecutive days and are trading above their 200-day moving average. Our research shows that stocks trading above their 200-day moving average that make lower lows for five or more days have shown positive returns, on average, 1-day, 2-days and 1-week later. Historically, these stocks have provided traders with a significant edge.
Iron Mountain (NYSE:IRM - News). IRM's PowerRating (for Traders) is 8.
2-Period RSI Below 2: These are stocks that have a 2-period RSI reading below 2 and are trading above their 200-day moving average. Our research shows that stocks trading above their 200-day moving with a 2-period RSI reading below 2 have shown positive returns, on average, 1-day, 2-days and 1-week later. Historically, these stocks have provided traders with a significant edge.
Netscout Systems (NasdaqGS:NTCT - News). NTCT's PowerRating (for Traders) is 8.
Stocks Down 10% or More: These are stocks that have lost 10% or more over the past five days and are trading above their 200-day moving average. Our research shows that stocks trading above their 200-day moving average that have lost 10% or more over the past five days have shown positive returns, on average, 1-day, 2-days and 1-week later. Historically, these stocks have provided traders with a significant edge.
Intuitive Surgical (NasdaqGS:ISRG - News). ISRG's PowerRating (for Traders) is 7.
Bearish
5+ Consecutive Up Days: These are stocks that have closed up for five or more consecutive days and are trading below their 200-day moving average. Our research shows that stocks trading below their 200-day moving average that close up for five or more days have shown negative returns, on average, 1-week later. Historically, these stocks have provided traders with a significant edge.
H.B. Fuller (NYSE:FUL - News). FUL's PowerRatings (for Traders) is 2.
Stocks Up 10% or More: These are stocks that have gained 10% or more over the past five days and are trading below their 200-day moving average. Our research shows that stocks trading below their 200-day moving average that have gained 10% or more over the past five days have shown negative returns, on average, 1-week later. Historically, these stocks have provided traders with a significant edge.
Merill Lynch (NYSE:MER - News). MER's PowerRating (for Traders) is 3.

Labels: AME, BUD, FUL, IRM, ISRG, MER, NTCT, Stocks to Watch

Shares of Google Inc. fell Tuesday morning after a Soleil Securities analyst lowered estimates on the online search engine, citing slow December growth in site visits, among other factors.
The stock shed $6.33 to $647.49 after the opening bell.
Page views and viewer traffic were lower than forecast in the last month of 2007, and expenses grew, analyst Laura Martin said in a client note.
She lowered her earnings estimate for the fourth-quarter 2007 to $4.40 per share from $4.72 per share, and for all of 2007 to $15.54 per share from $15.87 per share.

Labels: GOOG, Google Inc.

Citigroup Inc. lost almost $10 billion in last year's final three months, the largest quarterly deficit in the bank's 196-year history, and slashed its dividend as it recorded a mammoth write-down for bad bets on the mortgage industry.
The nation's largest bank wrote down the value of its portfolio by $18.1 billion. It also boosted loan-loss reserves by $4.1 billion, signaling further problems in its consumer businesses as deflated home prices, high energy and food costs, and rising unemployment weigh on people's ability to make their loan payments.
To cut expenses, it slashed 4,200 jobs in the fourth quarter in addition to the 17,000 layoffs announced in the spring, and chief financial officer Gary Crittenden said during a conference call that more job cuts would be on the way.

Labels: C, Citigroup Inc.

Genentech Inc. barely scraped past Wall Street's expectations Monday as the biotech giant renowned for its phenomenal growth posted a 6 percent rise in fourth-quarter profits.
Genentech's stock dropped in after-hours trading as sales of a key product also fell below expectations.

Shares of Genentech fell $1.03 to $69.61 in after-hours trading after closing Monday at $70.64.
Last year, Genentech posted a 75 percent surge in fourth-quarter profits, and investors have become accustomed to growth in the high double digits quarter after quarter.
The company earned $632 million, or 59 cents per share, compared with profit of $594 million, or 55 cents per share, during the same period a year earlier. Revenue rose to $2.97 billion from $2.71 billion.

Labels: DNA, Genentech Inc.

Here are 7 trading ideas for today. This list comes directly from the TradingMarkets Stock Indicators page and is based upon our latest quantitative research.
Bullish
5+ Consecutive Down Days: These are stocks that have closed down for five or more consecutive days and are trading above their 200-day moving average. Our research shows that stocks trading above their 200-day moving average that close down for five or more days have shown positive returns, on average, 1-day, 2-days and 1-week later. Historically, these stocks have provided traders with a significant edge.
Mastercard (NYSE:MA - News) & Solarfun Power Holdings (NasdaqGM:SOLF - News). MA's PowerRating (for Traders) is 8, and SOLF's PowerRating (for Traders) is 9.
5+ Consecutive Lower Lows: These are stocks that have made a lower low for five or more consecutive days and are trading above their 200-day moving average. Our research shows that stocks trading above their 200-day moving average that make lower lows for five or more days have shown positive returns, on average, 1-day, 2-days and 1-week later. Historically, these stocks have provided traders with a significant edge.
Proshares Ultra Oil and Gas (NYSE:DIG - News). DIG's PowerRating (for Traders) is 7.
2-Period RSI Below 2: These are stocks that have a 2-period RSI reading below 2 and are trading above their 200-day moving average. Our research shows that stocks trading above their 200-day moving with a 2-period RSI reading below 2 have shown positive returns, on average, 1-day, 2-days and 1-week later. Historically, these stocks have provided traders with a significant edge.
Gamestop (NYSE:GME - News). GME's PowerRating (for Traders) is 8.
Stocks Down 10% or More: These are stocks that have lost 10% or more over the past five days and are trading above their 200-day moving average. Our research shows that stocks trading above their 200-day moving average that have lost 10% or more over the past five days have shown positive returns, on average, 1-day, 2-days and 1-week later. Historically, these stocks have provided traders with a significant edge.
First Solar (NasdaqGS:FSLR - News). FSLR's PowerRating (for Traders) is 8.
Bearish
5+ Consecutive Up Days: These are stocks that have closed up for five or more consecutive days and are trading below their 200-day moving average. Our research shows that stocks trading below their 200-day moving average that close up for five or more days have shown negative returns, on average, 1-week later. Historically, these stocks have provided traders with a significant edge.
Acadia Pharmaceuticals (NasdaqGM:ACAD - News). ACAD's PowerRatings (for Traders) is 3.
Stocks Up 10% or More: These are stocks that have gained 10% or more over the past five days and are trading below their 200-day moving average. Our research shows that stocks trading below their 200-day moving average that have gained 10% or more over the past five days have shown negative returns, on average, 1-week later. Historically, these stocks have provided traders with a significant edge.
Gymboree (NasdaqGS:GYMB - News). GYMB's PowerRating (for Traders) is 3.

Labels: ACAD, DIG, FSLR, GME, GYMB, MA, SOLF, Trading Ideas

Computer server and software maker IBM said Monday its fourth-quarter earnings from continuing operations rose 24 percent from a year ago, beating Wall Street expectations by a wide margin.
The preliminary report, released in advance of its planned earnings report set for Thursday, sent its shares up 8 percent on premarket trading.
IBM said the weaker dollar helped to push revenue up 10 percent.
The company reported quarterly profit from continuing operations of $2.80 per share on revenue of $28.9 billion, easily beating Wall Street's consensus estimates of $2.60 per share on sales of $27.82 billion, according to a Thomson Financial poll.

Labels: IBM, IBM Inc.

Shares of Sears Holdings Corp. tumbled in premarket trading Monday after the retailer warned falling sales would force it to post fourth-quarter and full-year earnings well below analyst estimates.
The retailer, led by hedge fund manager Edward Lampert, said it anticipates earning between $350 million and $470 million, or $2.59 to $3.48 per share for the quarter ending Feb. 2. For the year, the company forecast earnings of $744 million to $864 million, or $5.13 per share to $5.96 per share.
Analysts polled by Thomson Financial had hoped for fourth-quarter earnings of $4.43 per share and a full-year profit of $6.64 per share

Labels: Sears Holdings Corporation, SHLD