Wall Street Addict

Stocks stormed higher on the day, brushing aside mixed retail sales reports in anticipation of a Federal Reserve rate cut next week. The Dow added 175 points on the day to end at 13,620. Meanwhile, the Nasdaq was up 1.6% to close at 2,709, and the S&P finished up 1.5% at 1,507. Light, sweet crude prices climbed higher on the day with oil settling at $90.23 a barrel for January delivery. Treasury prices fell, while gold prices gained to close at $807.10 an ounce. The dollar gained against the yen, but declined versus the euro.
In economic news, a report from the Labor Department showed the number of jobless claims dropping last week, as Wall Street prepares for the department's monthly labor report tomorrow. According to the report, the number of claims for unemployment benefits fell last week by 15,000 to a total of 338,000. It was the largest decline in three months.
On the earnings front, shares of Toll Brothers (NYSE: TOL - News) soared 13.0% despite reporting its first quarterly loss in 21 years. For the quarter, the homebuilder posted a net loss of -$81.8 million, or -52 cents per share, versus a profit of $173.8 million, or $1.07 per share, last year. Excluding a $314.9 million write-down, the company would have posted earnings of 72 cents per share. Quarterly revenue fell to $1.17 billion, down -35% from a year ago. On average, analysts were looking for a loss of -77 cents per share on revenue of $1.166 billion.
Elsewhere, imaging equipment maker Analogic (Nasdaq: ALOG - News) swung to a profit in the first quarter on earnings of $6.4 million, or 48 cents per share, versus a net loss of -$5.4 million, or -39 cents per share, in the prior year. Excluding one-time items, the company would have earned 53 cents per share compared with earnings of 12 cents per share last year. Revenue for the quarter jumped to $94.2 million, up 25% from $75.6 million in 2006. Analysts were expecting earnings of 40 cents per share on $87.4 million in revenue. Analogic's stock was up 18.2% at the bell.
In other corporate news, shares of ConAgra (NYSE: CAG - News) traded 6.3% higher on the day after the packaged food company said its second-quarter earnings would be higher than expected. ConAgra had previously said results would be in line with last year's earnings of 43 cents per share. Analysts were looking for a profit of 41 cents per share for the 2008 period.
Discount retailer Target (NYSE: TGT - News) said today that if recent soft sales patterns continue, the company will likely miss its previous estimates for December same-store sales. The company also reported that December sales needed to "meaningfully improve" in order to achieve fourth-quarter EPS growth. Shares of Target were off -7.6% for the session.
By the BullMarket.com Staff

Labels: ALOG, CAG, TGT, TOL, Toll Brothers Inc.

Stocks stormed higher on the day, brushing aside mixed retail sales reports in anticipation of a Federal Reserve rate cut next week. The Dow added 175 points on the day to end at 13,620. Meanwhile, the Nasdaq was up 1.6% to close at 2,709, and the S&P finished up 1.5% at 1,507. Light, sweet crude prices climbed higher on the day with oil settling at $90.23 a barrel for January delivery. Treasury prices fell, while gold prices gained to close at $807.10 an ounce. The dollar gained against the yen, but declined versus the euro.
In economic news, a report from the Labor Department showed the number of jobless claims dropping last week, as Wall Street prepares for the department's monthly labor report tomorrow. According to the report, the number of claims for unemployment benefits fell last week by 15,000 to a total of 338,000. It was the largest decline in three months.
On the earnings front, shares of Toll Brothers (NYSE: TOL - News) soared 13.0% despite reporting its first quarterly loss in 21 years. For the quarter, the homebuilder posted a net loss of -$81.8 million, or -52 cents per share, versus a profit of $173.8 million, or $1.07 per share, last year. Excluding a $314.9 million write-down, the company would have posted earnings of 72 cents per share. Quarterly revenue fell to $1.17 billion, down -35% from a year ago. On average, analysts were looking for a loss of -77 cents per share on revenue of $1.166 billion.
Elsewhere, imaging equipment maker Analogic (Nasdaq: ALOG - News) swung to a profit in the first quarter on earnings of $6.4 million, or 48 cents per share, versus a net loss of -$5.4 million, or -39 cents per share, in the prior year. Excluding one-time items, the company would have earned 53 cents per share compared with earnings of 12 cents per share last year. Revenue for the quarter jumped to $94.2 million, up 25% from $75.6 million in 2006. Analysts were expecting earnings of 40 cents per share on $87.4 million in revenue. Analogic's stock was up 18.2% at the bell.
In other corporate news, shares of ConAgra (NYSE: CAG - News) traded 6.3% higher on the day after the packaged food company said its second-quarter earnings would be higher than expected. ConAgra had previously said results would be in line with last year's earnings of 43 cents per share. Analysts were looking for a profit of 41 cents per share for the 2008 period.
Discount retailer Target (NYSE: TGT - News) said today that if recent soft sales patterns continue, the company will likely miss its previous estimates for December same-store sales. The company also reported that December sales needed to "meaningfully improve" in order to achieve fourth-quarter EPS growth. Shares of Target were off -7.6% for the session.
By the BullMarket.com Staff

Labels: ALOG, CAG, TGT, TOL, Toll Brothers Inc.

Here are 7 stocks for traders for Friday from TradingMarkets.com:
National Semiconductor (NYSE:NSM - News) beat earnings expectations, announcing $0.33 EPS over a consensus of $0.31 EPS. NSM's PowerRating (for Traders) is 4.
Cascade (NYSE:CAE - News) missed earnings on Thursday afternoon, reporting $1.00 EPS versus $1.08 EPS. CAE's PowerRating (for Traders) is 3.
Herley Industries (NasdaqGM:HRLY - News) also missed expectations, announcing $0.14 EPS versus $0.18 EPS. HRLY does not have a PowerRating (for Traders) due to volume constraints.
Kellwood (NYSE:KWD - News) reports earnings on Friday morning before the market opens, with traders looking for $0.14 EPS. KWD's PowerRating (for Traders) is 4.
American International Group (NYSE:AIG - News) rallied over 4% on Thursday, after a Goldman Sachs announcement that potential housing market losses are "manageable." AIG's PowerRating (for Traders) is 4.
Analogic (NasdaqGS:ALOG - News) rallied 15% on Thursday, after announcing earnings of $0.53 EPS versus expectations of only $0.36 EPS. ALOG's PowerRating (for Traders) is 4.
Tribune (NYSE:TRB - News) rallied over 7% on Thursday after announcing the company will need to borrow $500 million less than earlier estimated, to help finance its going-private transaction. TRB's PowerRating (for Traders) is 5.

Labels: AIG, ALOG, CAE, HRLY, KWD, NSM, Stocks to Watch, TRB

Here are 7 trading ideas for today. These lists come directly from the TradingMarkets Stock Indicators page and are 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.
A. O. Smith Corporation (NYSE:AOS - News). AOS'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.
Ciena Corporation (NasdaqGS:CIEN - News). CIEN'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.
Analogic (NasdaqGS:ALOG - News). ALOG's PowerRating (for Traders) is 8.
Bearish
Laps Up 5% or More: These are stocks that lap up by 5% or more and are trading below their 200-day moving average. Our research shows that stocks trading below their 200-day moving average that lap up by more than 5% have shown negative returns, on average, 1-day, 2-days and 1-week later. Historically, these stocks have provided traders with a significant edge.
LJ International (NasdaqGM:JADE - News). JADE's PowerRating (for Traders) is 4.
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.
Advanced Medical Optics (NYSE:EYE - News). EYE's PowerRating (for Traders) is 2.
5+ Consecutive Higher Highs: These are stocks that have made a higher high 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 make higher highs for five or more days have shown negative returns, on average, 1-day, 2-days and 1-week later. Historically, these stocks have provided traders with a significant edge.
Yahoo! (NasdaqGS:YHOO - News). YHOO's PowerRating (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.
Advanced Semiconductor (NYSE:ASX - News). ASX's PowerRating (for Traders) is 2.
Published by TradingMarkets.com

Labels: ALOG, AOS, ASX, CIEN, EYE, Hot Stocks, JADE, YHOO