Wall Street Addict

Shares of homebuilders mostly fell in Wednesday morning trading after a report released by Standard & Poor's indicated October home prices fell by a record 6.7 percent from the same month a year ago.
Earlier in the day, S&P released its monthly Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller home price index. It was the 10th consecutive month the index has declined, indicating the housing market is not showing any signs of breaking out of its current malaise.
"No matter how you look at these data, it is obvious that the current state of the single-family housing market remains grim," said Robert Shiller, who helped create the index, in a statement Wednesday.

Labels: DHI, GS, HOV, KBH, LEN, PHM, TOL

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.

Housing stocks rose along with the broader market Tuesday after the U.S. central bank sharply cut its target interest rate for the first time in four years.
The Federal Reserve cut the federal funds rate by half a percentage point to 4.75 percent, exceeding expectations on Wall Street for a quarter-point cut. The bank said it made the move to prevent the housing market turmoil from causing more widespread economic problems.
The housing sector is in the third year of its worst contraction in 16 years. Earlier Tuesday, a reading of business sentiment among homebuilders matched its lowest level ever in September, primarily because builders are seeing record-low numbers of potential buyers.
The Fed's move makes it less expensive for mortgage lenders to borrow money to finance loans to home buyers, which should lower consumer borrowing rates. Investors expect that to boost demand among potential home buyers who had become priced out of the market for a home loan.
Here's a look at how shares of some major homebuilders fared in afternoon trading Tuesday .
D.R. Horton Inc. rose 63 cents, or 4.3 percent, to $15.15.
Pulte Homes Inc. rose 60 cent, or 3.7 percent, to $16.69
Hovnanian Enterprises Inc. jumped $1.68, or 14.9 percent, to $13.02
Lennar Corp. rose 29 cents to $26
Centex Corp. rose 59 cents, or 2 percent, to $28.43
Toll Brothers Inc. rose 62 cents, or 2.2 percent, to $28.46
Published by AP

Labels: CTX, DHI, Federal Reserve, Hot Stocks, Housing Stocks, HOV, LEN, PHM, TOL

Here are 7 options to watch for Today.
Most Underpriced Calls: These are the most under priced calls of all stocks in our database. While the Equities Explosion List finds groups of calls for individual equities that are under priced, this list finds the most under priced individual calls. Thus, the options listed here will tend to be more severely under priced.
CME Group Oct 610 Calls (NYSE:CME - News). CME's PowerRating (for Traders) is 6.
Most Underpriced Puts: These are the most under priced puts of all stocks in our database. While the Equities Explosion List finds groups of puts for individual equities that are under priced, this list finds the most under priced individual puts. Thus, the options listed here will tend to be more severely under priced.
Google Sep 520 Puts (NasdaqGS:GOOG - News). GOOG's PowerRating (for Traders) is 6.
Most Overpriced Calls: These are the most overpriced calls of all stocks in our database. While the Equities Implosion List finds groups of calls for individual equities that are overpriced, this list finds the most overpriced individual calls. Thus, the options listed here will tend to be more severely overpriced.
Accredited Home Lenders Oct 10 Calls (NasdaqGS:LEND - News). LEND's PowerRating (for Traders) is 3.
Most Overpriced Puts: These are the most overpriced puts of all stocks in our database. While the Equities Implosion List finds groups of puts for individual equities that are overpriced, this list finds the most overpriced individual puts. Thus, the options listed here will tend to be more severely overpriced.
Intuitive Surgical Oct 185 Puts (NasdaqGS:ISRG - News). ISRG's PowerRating (for Traders) is 7.
Stocks with Abnormal Call Volume: These are stocks which showed unusual call option volume not easily explained by arbitrage operations. The appearance of a stock on the Call Volume Alerts list suggests a possible takeover, extraordinarily good earnings report, or other news which may favorably affect the stock.
ImClone Systems (NasdaqGS:IMCL - News). IMCL's PowerRating (for Traders) is 2.
Stocks with Abnormal Put Volume: These are stocks which showed unusual put option volume not easily explained by arbitrage operations. The appearance of a stock on the Put Volume Alerts list suggests an extraordinarily negative earnings report, or other news which may negatively affect the stock.
KeyCorp (NYSE:KEY - News). KEY's PowerRating (for Traders) is 4.
Abnormal Put/Call $ Volume: These stocks have the highest dollar put volume in relation to their call volume. These high ratios are indicative of extreme bearish sentiment in the underlying stock.
Toll Brothers (NYSE:TOL - News). TOL's PowerRating (for Traders) is 6.
Published by TradingMarkets.com

Labels: CME, GOOG, Hot Stock Options, IMCL, ISRG, KEY, LEND, TOL

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
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.
Seabridge Gold (NYSE:SA - News). SA'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.
Toll Brothers (NYSE:TOL - News). TOL's PowerRating (for Traders) is 5.
5+ Consecutive Up Days: 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.
Applebee's International (NasdaqGS:APPB - News) & Disney (NYSE:DIS - News). APPB's PowerRating (for Traders) is 4, and DIS's PowerRating (for Traders) is 4.
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.
Big Lots (NYSE:BIG - News) & Jos A Bank Clothiers (NasdaqGS:JOSB - News). BIG's PowerRating (for Traders) is 2, and JOSB's PowerRating (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.
Take-Two Interactive Software (NasdaqGS:TTWO - News). TTWO's PowerRating (for Traders) is 3.
PowerRatings (for Traders) are courtesy of TradingMarkets.com

Labels: APPB, BIG, DIS, Hot Stocks, JOSB, SA, TOL, TTWO