Posts for Ticker ‘JEF’

Chinese Solar Stocks Take Off (YGE, JASO, CSIQ, STP, TSL)

Chinese Solar stocks, as measured by Tickerspy’s Chinese Solar Stocks Index (*CHSOL), are up over 4.5% today.  The solar sector has performed poorly in recent weeks as a policy shift in Germany, the world’s largest solar market, will be reducing the country’s feed-in-tariff that promote the use of solar power.  Today, the Christian Social Union, a major German political party, announced that will push for a delay in reducing incentives to use solar power, a move has driven up shares in nearly every publicly traded solar company.

Chinese solar stock, in particular, have performed well.  Chinese companies are better equipped to withstand a more competitive market for solar power in Germany due to their low cost of production.  Today Jefferies & Co. analysts Paul Clegg upgraded the entire Chinese solar industry.  Yingli Green Energy Hold. Co. (NYSE: YGE) rose the most out of the group, gaining over 6.7% today.

Garrett W. McIntyre

Posted on: January 26, 2010 – 2:23 pm in Analyst Calls, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Haiti Donations, Company-by-Company (MS, JPM, BAC, GS, JEF, WFC, WMT, TGT, RAD, MCD, YUM, KO, PEP, K, GIS, GOOG, DIS, CA, T, VZ, WU, MGI, UTX, UPS, ABT, AMGN, HUM)

We have compiled from press releases and from company announcements a company-by-company donation and effort pledge to help in the relief efforts after the disastrous earthquake in Haiti.  These are partial explanations of the efforts, and some lack how the funds are being donated and may lack the exact sources inside.  There are many other companies which have probably made announcements that were not seen, but here is a partial list we have compiled in groups of related companies:
Read More »

Posted on: January 14, 2010 – 6:23 pm in Corporate Governance, Economy, Emerging Markets, Entertainment, Politics, Shareholder Issues, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Top Analyst Upgrades & Downgrades (AMZN, AMCS, AAPL, CZZ, GS, JEF, MS, UNH)

These are this Tuesday’s top analyst upgrades, downgrades, and initiations seen in a thin week of coverage and Wall Street research calls:

Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) Reiterated Outperform but target raised to $172 at Piper Jaffray.
AMICAS, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMCS) Cut to Market Perform at William Blair.
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) Reiterated Outperform at Barclays; this follows raised targets from Broadpoint AmTech and Thomas Weisel yesterday.
Cosan Ltd. (NYSE: CZZ) Raised to Overweight at JPMorgan.
Goldman Sachs Group (NYSE: GS) Cut estimates $5.74 EPS vs. prior $6.57) at BofA/Merrill Lynch.
Jefferies Group Inc. (NYSE: JEF) Raised to Outperform at KBW.
Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) Cut estimates (0.40 EPS vs. $0.47 prior) at BofA/Merrill Lynch.
UnitedHealth (NYSE: UNH) Cut to Hold at Standpoint.

You can sign up and join our free email list for daily emails about analyst upgrades and downgrades, top day trading stock alerts, IPOs, secondary offerings, M&A, new ETF strategies, Warren Buffett news, and other key developments.

JON C. OGG

Posted on: December 29, 2009 – 8:27 am in Analyst Calls, , , , , , , ,

Top 10 Anlayst Upgrades, Downgrades, Initiations (AXP, COF, DE, DHI, JEF, NITE, NDAQ, SLB, SBUX, WLP)

These are this Monday’s top analyst upgrades, downgrades, and initiations seen from Wall Street research calls:

American Express (NYSE: AXP) Started as Overweight at Morgan Stanley.
Capital One (NYSE: COF) Started as Equal Weight at Morgan Stanley.
Deere (NYSE: DE) Raised to Overweight at Morgan Stanley.
D.R. Horton (NYSE: DHI) Raised to Hold at Citigroup.
Jefferies (NYSE: JEF) Cut to Sell at Goldman Sachs.
Knight Capital (NASDAQ: NITE) Cut to Neutral at Goldman Sachs.
NASDAQ OMX (NASDAQ: NDAQ) Raised to Buy at Goldman Sachs.
Schlumberger (NYSE: SLB) Raised to Outperform at Credit Suisse.
Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX) Raised to Buy at Jefferies.
Wellpoint (NYSE: WLP) Raised to Overweight at JPMorgan.

You can join our open email distribution list to hear more news on key analyst calls, top day trader alerts, mergers and acquisitions, Buffett and other investment gurus, IPOs, secondary offerings, private equity, and more.

JON C. OGG

Posted on: November 23, 2009 – 7:32 am in Analyst Calls, , , , , , , , , ,

52-Week High Club

Banco Bradesco Sa (NYSE: BBD) hit a early high of $20.79 today, carried by the hype surrounding South American banks over the past few weeks.  The company is also undoubtably benefiting from the “Olympics effect”.

Jefferies Group (NYSE: JEF) hit a yearly high of $28.03 following news that the company had launched its first ETF.

Och-Ziff Capital Management (NYSE: OZH) hit a yearly high of $12.74 following Friday’s announcement that the company’s flagship fund was up for the ninth month in a row.  

Venoco, Inc. (NYSE: VQ) hit a yearly high of $12.12, surging over 13% after the company announced that it had successfully sold $150 in senior notes in order to repay debt.

Garrett W. McIntyre

Posted on: October 5, 2009 – 4:04 pm in Banking, Emerging Markets, Financial Stocks, Oil & Gas, Telecom, , , ,

Jefferies, Proving To Be Rainmakers’ Alternative (JEF, BAC, GS)

money-stack-image44Jefferies Group Inc. (NYSE: JEF) has started to be viewed as one of Wall Street’s beneficiaries of all the financial turmoil.  It isn’t that the company is immune to the woes of the market. Our discussions with employees and customers of brokerage firms to the likes of Bank of America Corporation (NYSE: BAC), Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (NYSE: GS), and others have indicated that rainmakers are far less resistant to going to firms that are not under the TARP and are not under the waves of controversies.
Read More »

Posted on: April 21, 2009 – 10:46 am in Banking, Brokerage Firms, Compensation, Earnings, , ,

Top Pre-Market Analyst Upgrades (AMAG, ANDE, BAC, BMC, CDNS, CTXS, IPAR, JEF, MDR, MYGN, NUVA, SYMC)

These are some of the top pre-market analyst upgrades we are seeing this Wednesday morning:

  • AMAG Pharmaceuticals (AMAG) Started as Overweight at JPMorgan
  • Andersons (ANDE) Started as Outperform at Oppenheimer
  • Bank of America (BAC) Raised to Market Perform at KBW
  • BMC Software (BMC) Raised to Neutral at JPMorgan
  • Cadence Design Systems (CDNS) Raised to Overweight at JPMorgan
  • Citrix Systems (CTXS) Raised to Overweight at JPMorgan
  • Inter Parfums (IPAR) Raised to Buy at Piper Jaffray
  • Jefferies (JEF) Raised to Market Perform at KBW
  • McDermott International (MDR) Started as Buy at American Tech Research
  • Myriad Genetics (MYGN) Started as Outperform at Oppenheimer
  • NuVasive (NUVA) Started as Overweight as JPMorgan
  • Symantec (SYMC) Raised to Overweight at JPMorgan

Jon C. Ogg
October 8, 2008

Posted on: October 8, 2008 – 6:43 am in Analyst Calls, , , , , , , , , , , ,

Top Pre-Market Analyst Upgrades (FCX, INCY, JEF, LPX, TU, WBS)

Below are some of the top early bird analyst upgrades we have seen early this morning with more than two hours to the open:

  • Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) Raised to Outperform at FBR.
  • Incyte (INCY) Started as Buy at Stanford Group.
  • Jefferies (JEF) Raised to Market Perform at Wachovia.
  • Louisiana-Pacific (LPX) Raised to Sector Perform at RBC.
  • TELUS Corp. (TU) Raised to Buy at UBS.
  • Webster Financial (WBS) Raised to Buy at Sander O’Neill.

Jon C. Ogg
October 7, 2008

Posted on: October 7, 2008 – 6:40 am in Analyst Calls, , , , , ,

Top Analyst Upgrades & Downgrades (BIIB, COWN, MYL, PRX, SMBL, TEVA, CBY, CCL, DLB, JCP, JEF, PRSP)

Below are some of the top analyst calls we are seeing from Wall Street firms this Thursday morning:

  • Biogen Idec (BIIB) Raised to Buy at Lazard.
  • Cowen (COWN) Raised to Outperform at KBW.
  • Mylan Labs (MYL) Started as Strong Buy at Needham.
  • Par Pharmaceuticals (PRX) Started as Strong Buy at Needham.
  • Smart Balance (SMBL) Started as Buy at Lazrd.
  • Teva Pharma (TEVA) Started as Strong Buy at Needham.
  • Cadbury Schwepps (CBY) Cut to Sell at Citigroup.
  • Carnival (CCL) Cut to Sell at Deutsche Bank.
  • Dolby Labs (DLB) Cut to Hold at Deutsche Bank.
  • JCPenney (JCP) Cut to Underperform at Merrill Lynch.
  • Jefferies (JEF) Cut to Underperform at KBW.
  • Prosperity Bancshares (PRSP) Cut to Market Perform at KBW.

Jon C. Ogg
September 25, 2008

Posted on: September 25, 2008 – 6:49 am in Analyst Calls, , , , , , , , , , , ,

Brokerage Firms Again Downgrading Each Other (C, GD, GS, JEF, KBW, LEH, MS, NCC, SGR)

These are some of the top analyst downgrades or negative calls we are seeing this morning, and you’ll notice that brokerage firm stocks are again the targets of many downgrades:

  • Citigroup (C) Cut To Underperform From Neutral at Merrill Lynch.
  • General Dynamics (GD) Cut to Neutral at JPMorgan.
  • Goldman Sachs (GS) Cut to Underperform from Buy at Merrill Lynch.
  • Jefferies (JEF) Cut to Sell at B of A.
  • Keefe Bruyette & Woods (KBW) Cut to Sell at B of A.
  • Lehman (LEH) Cut to Underperform from Hold at Merrill Lynch.
  • LSI Industries (LYTS) Cut to Underperform at Baird.
  • McDermott (MDR) Cut to Hold at Citigroup.
  • Morgan Stanley (MS) Cut to Neutral from Buy at Merrill Lynch.
  • National City (NCC) Cut to Neutral from Buy at Ladenburg Thalmann.
  • Shaw Group (SGR) Cut to Sell at Citigroup.

Obviously there are a few calls thrown in here that aren’t brokerage firms or investment banking firms, but the brokers are back to killing each other again for the third day this week.

Jon C. Ogg
August 14, 2008

Posted on: August 14, 2008 – 6:31 am in Analyst Calls, Brokerage Firms, , , , , , , , ,

Top 10 Pre-Market Analyst Calls (BBY, CLMS, FDRY, GHL, HUGH, JEF, LM, MCK, MXB, PNRA)

These are ten of the analyst calls we are focusing on this Friday morning:

  • Best Buy (NYSE: BBY) Cut to Hold from Buy at Deutsche Bank.
  • Calamos Asset Management (NASDAQ: CLMS) Cut to Underperform at Credit Suisse.
  • Foundry Networks (NASDAQ: FDRY) Cut to Neutral from Buy at Bank Of America.
  • Greenhill (NYSE: GHL) Cut To Market Perform from Outperform at Wachovia.
  • Hughes Communications (NASDAQ: HUGH) Started as Overweight at Lehman Brothers.
  • Jefferies Group (NYSE: JEF) cut to Market Perform at KBW.
  • Legg Mason (NYSE: LM) Raised to Neutral at Credit Suisse.
  • McKesson (NYSE: MCK) started as Market Outperform at JMP Securities.
  • MSCI Inc. (NYSE: MXB) started as Buy at UBS.
  • Panera Bread (NASDAQ: PNRA) Raised to Buy from Neutral at Piper Jaffray.

Jon C. Ogg
June 6, 2008

Posted on: June 6, 2008 – 6:29 am in Analyst Calls, , , , , , , , , ,

Top 10 Pre-Market Analyst Calls (SAM, CLWR, BAGL, JEF, MVSN, NSR, OWW, TS, WB, YRCW)

These are ten of the analyst calls we are focusing on this Thursday morning in pre-market trading:

  • Boston Beer Co. (NYSE: SAM) cut to Neutral at HSBC Securities.
  • Clearwire (NASDAQ: CLWR) cut to Sell at Citigroup.
  • Einstein Noah (NASDAQ: BAGL) raised to Buy at Piper Jaffray.
  • Jefferies Group (NYSE: JEF) cut to Neutral at Wachovia.
  • Macrovision (NASDAQ: MVSN) cut to Hold at Deutsche Bank.
  • Neustar (NYSE: NSR) cut to Neutral at Credit Suisse.
  • Orbitz (NYSE: OWW) cut to Neutral at Piper Jaffray.
  • Tenaris (NYSE: TS) cut to Hold at Citigroup.
  • Wachovia (NYSE: WB) raised to Neutral at Credit Suisse.
  • YRC Worldwide (NASDAQ: YRCW) cut to Sell at Stifel Nicolaus.

Jon C. Ogg
May 8, 2008

Posted on: May 8, 2008 – 7:36 am in Analyst Calls, , , , , , , , , ,

Top 10 Pre-Market Analyst Calls (ADS, GRMN, HST, JEF, MHS, NCC, RHT, CRM, BRLC, VLTR)

These are some of the top analyst calls that we are focusing on this Tuesday morning in pre-market trading hours:

  • Alliance Data (NYSE: ADS) raised to Overweight at JPMorgan.
  • Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN) started as Neutral at JPMorgan.
  • Host Hotels & Resorts (NYSE: HST) Cut To Hold From Buy By Deutsche Bank.
  • Jefferies Group (NYSE: JEF) Cut to Neutral at Banc of America.
  • Medco Health Solutions (NYSE: MHS) raised to Buy at Jefferies.
  • National City (NYSE: NCC) raised to Buy at Deutsche Bank; Downgraded to Underperform at Bear Stearns.
  • Red Hat (NYSE: RHT) started as Buy at Piper Jaffray.
  • Salesforce.com (NYSE: CRM) started as Buy at Piper Jaffray.
  • Syntax-Brillian (NASDAQ: BRLC) raised to Outperform at Robert W. Baird.
  • Volterra Semi (NASDAQ: VLTR) raised to Buy at Piper Jaffray.

Jon C. Ogg
April 22, 2008

Jon Ogg is a producer of and editor for both the Special Situations newsletter and the "10 Stocks Under $10" weekly newsletter for 247WallSt.com; he can be reached at jonogg@247wallst.com and he does not own securities in the companies he covers.

Posted on: April 22, 2008 – 7:01 am in Analyst Calls, , , , , , , , , ,

Jefferies Saves Miserable Quarter With Financing Package (JEF, LUK)

Jefferies Group, Inc. (NYSE: JEF) has posted some ugly earnings this morning and it has announced a financing package. 

Jefferies posted a net loss of $60.5 million, or -$0.43 EPS on a 52% drop in revenues to $201.2 million.  First Call had estimates of $0.12 EPS on $313.6 million.  We thought maybe that there was a charge or something in the number, but the quote from Jefferies CEO, Richard Handler says it all: "Despite this quarter’s brutal market conditions and disappointing results…."

The company has also announced that Leucadia National Corporation (NYSE: LUK) has entered into a financing pact with the brokerage and investment banking firm.  Under the agreement, Leucadia will purchase 26,585,310 shares of Jefferies’ common stock.  On a fully diluted basis, this translates to a 13.7% stake in Jefferies.

Unless the board of directors approves any sale differently, Leucadia has agreed to hold these shares for two years.  Leucadia will also agree not to take a stake larger than 30% of the broker and investment banker.

On a Pro forma basis for this share sale, Jefferies’ shareholders equity at March 31, 2008
would have been $433.6 million higher with a new reading of approximately $2.16 billion.

Here is where the deal gets interesting.  Jefferies will purchase 10 million shares of common stock in Leucadia in exchange for the 26,585,310 Jefferies shares and $100,021,353 in cash. But Leucadia will register these shares promptly for discretionary resale by Jefferies from time to time.  In the release Jefferies noted that its balance sheet and liquidity are solid, but they wanted to strengthen their balance sheet in light of recent industry events and to take advantage of the many opportunities currently in the market.

You can join our open email distribution list to hear about other key financings, secondary offerings, IPO’s, and other special situation previews.

Jefferies stock had already been cut in more than half, but that revenue shortfall is one of the wider ones we have seen from a broker or financial company this earnings season.  If the firm hadn’t announced this financing package, let’s just say this would have been far uglier of a pre-market reaction.

Shares are down over 4% at $14.30 in pre-market trading, and the 52-week trading range is $13.68 to $33.80.

Jon C. Ogg
April 21, 2008

Posted on: April 21, 2008 – 7:12 am in Banking, Brokerage Firms, Earnings, Secondary Offering, ,

The 52-Week Low Club (CFC)(ETFC)

Countrywide Financial (CFC) Mortgage mess driving shares back down. Hits $7.51 down from 52-week high of $45.26.

Jefferies Group (JEF) Investment bank says it will have loss. Trades down to $17.10 from 52-week high of $33.80.

JC Penney (JCP) Big retail shares keep falling. Down to $35.43 from 52-week high of $87.18.

ShoreTel (SHOR) Internet switch maker will miss forecasts. Drops to $5.73 from 52-week high of $19.96.

E*Trade (ETFC) Brokerage firm downgrade. Moves down to $2.81 from 52-week high of $26.08.

Douglas A. McIntyre

Posted on: January 7, 2008 – 4:07 pm in HI/LOW, , , , ,

Top Pre-Market Stock News (January 7, 2008)

Below is a snapshot of some of the key impact news affecting stocks in pre-market trading this Monday, January 7, 2008:

  • AllianceBernstein (AB) noted as a hidden gem in Barron’s cover story.
  • Answers Corp. (ANSW) announced a collaboration with Nokia for Series 40 and S60 mobile devices.
  • Avocet (AVCT) lowered guidance
  • Biogen-Idec (BIIB) and Elan (ELN) say that the safety data continues to support a favorable benefit-risk profile for TYSABRI.
  • Celgene Corp. (CELG) trading up 5% after guidance is in-line for 2007 and issued new guidance for 2008.
  • CNET (CNET) had a Jana Partners-led investor group take a 21% stake and try to oust the board of directors.
  • Diana Shipping (DSX) trading up almost 2% on positive Barron’s article over weekend.
  • 8X8 Inc. (EGHT) introduced a free international mobile calling plan with its new Packet8 MobileTalk trial.
  • hhgregg (HGG) reaffirmed 2008 EPS guidance of $0.95 to $1.03 vs. $1.00 est.; s-s-s up 3%.
  • JA Solar (JASO) announced a 3 for 1 stock split.
  • Jefferies (JEF) issued earnings warning.
  • Krispy Kreme (KKD) announced it has elected a new CEO.
  • Microsoft (MSFT) said at "CES" it had 100 million licenses sold of Windows Vista; 17.7 million Xbox 360’s, 10 million Xbox live users; will have new content downloads.
  • Napster (NAPS) will sell music with less copyright protection as MP3 files.
  • Nice Systems (NICE) received multi-million dollar orders from 2 of the top-3 US banks for fraud alert.
  • Rogers Communications (RCI) raised annual dividend from $0.50 to $1.00 and put 2008 revenues $11.2 to $11.5 Billion versus $11.25 Billion estimates; announced share buyback.
  • Schnitzer Steel (SCHN) missed earnings and revenue targets; stock trading down 1% so far.
  • Sony (SNE) introduces new tri-recording video Camcorder at "CES".
  • TASER (TASR) unveils its new leopard print TASER C2 personal protection device at the 2008 International Consumer Electronic tradeshow in Las Vegas today.
  • Zumiez (ZUMZ) said December s-s-s was +3.9%, but guided lower; shares down over 1%.

Jon C. Ogg
January 7, 2007

Posted on: January 7, 2008 – 8:32 am in Pre-Market Activity, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Business Day In Global Warming (FPL, TSSP, LDK, JEF, AA, SOPW, WWAT)

Lazard Capital Markets gives a preview for earnings out of key solar companies this week.  First Solar was started with coverage by Pacific Growth Equities with a Neutral rating, and after a 400%+ stock run it is hard to blame the lackluster rating.

FPL Group, Inc. (NYSE:FPL) asked the Public Service Commission to agree on the need for 2 new Nuclear (or Nukular) generating plants.

TrendSetter Solar Products, Inc. (Pink Sheets:TSSP), an alternative energy manufacturing company of state-of-the-art solar hot water systems, solar hot water heating and storage systems, announced today that on Friday, October 12, 2007, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a package of legislation furthering his commitment to energy efficiency, conservation and pollution reduction….. That is just a noise press release.

LDK Solar (NYSE:LDK) rose 3% at one point after being awarded a saolar supply pact from Saifun Solar (NASDAQ:SFUN).

Jefferies & Co. (NYSE:JEF) announced it is hoting its 4th Global Clean Technology Conference in London on 18 October.  Companies in attendance will include BP p.l.c., ersol Solar Energy AG, Renewable Energy Corporation ASA, and THEOLIA. The conference keynote speech will be given by Jim Lyons, Chief Engineer of General Electric Company and founder of GE’s wind energy division.

OCTOBER 15, 2007

Yesterday, Alcoa (NYSE:AA) announced that products from two of its Building and Construction Systems businesses – Kawneer Company and Alcoa Architectural Products – are used extensively by a team from Georgia Institute of Technology in the 2007 Solar Decathlon now taking place in Washington, D.C.

Solar Power, Inc. (“SPI”) (OTCBB:SOPW) has completed work on one of the region’s largest photovoltaic (“PV”) solar electric systems. The 400 kilowatt (“kW”) system will provide a majority of the electricity required to power the 43,195 sq. ft. Placer County juvenile detention facility which can accommodate 27,375 bed-nights annually.

WorldWater & Solar Technologies Corp. (OTC BB: WWAT), developer and marketer of proprietary high-power solar systems, and ENTECH, Inc. of Keller, Texas, a high tech supplier of solar technology to NASA for space operations, announced that they have signed an extension of their Letter of Intent (LOI) to merge from October 15, 2007 to November 30, 2007 pending final signatures of the Merger Agreement.

If you wish to set an RSS feed to our daily "The Business Day in Global Warming" and other news we cover from time to time in alternativeenergy, you can set it the following URL:
http://www.247wallst.com/alternative_energy/index.html

As a reminder, whether you prefer the term "Global Warming" or "ClimateChange" is not the issue as far as 24/7 Wall St. covers it. Greenbusiness has become big business, and this affects many publiccompanies today. 

Jon C. Ogg
October 16, 2007

Posted on: October 16, 2007 – 5:08 pm in Alternative Energy, , , , , , , , , , ,

Shorting the Brokerage Stocks (MS, GS, BSC, AGE, JEF, RJF, MER, LEH, IAI)

Stock Tickers: MS, GS, BSC, AGE, JEF, RJF, MER, LEH, IAI

The short interest for MAY 2007 looks a bit mixed in the brokerage firm stocks from April to May, although on a net basis you can see that there was all in all a fairly large rise the short interest of the brokerage firm stocks.  The iShares US BrokerDealers (IAI) saw a short interest rise of 18% from 1.539 million in April to 1.821 million shares in May.  Merrill Lynch and Lehman Bros were the only two major brokerage firms that saw a drop in their short interest from April to May.  Here is the rest of the May short interest versus April:

STOCK (Ticker)                MAY07    APR07    Change
Morgan Stanley (MS)       10.21M    8.86M    29.9%
Goldman Sachs (GS)      8.53M    7.09M     20.7%
Bear Stearns (BSC)         6.28M    5.97M     5.2%
A.G.Edwards (AGE)         2.93M    2.84M      1.9%
Jefferies (JEF)                  6.78M    6.44M      5.2%
Raymond James (RJF)  2.95M    2.55M    15.6%

lower short interest…..

Merrill Lynch (MER)         14.41M    14.97M    -3.75%
Lehman (LEH)                 10.67M    11.08M    -3.73%

Jon C. Ogg
May 22, 2007

Jon Ogg can be reached at jonogg@247wallst.com; he does not own securities in the companies he covers.

Posted on: May 22, 2007 – 10:53 am in Brokerage Firms, Financial Stocks, Short Interest, , , , , , , , ,