We would normally group these alphabetically, but not today.  We grouped these in order of size and then we used an alphabetic order when it came to the same size of a buyback announcement.  The first group is the billions of dollars.

We then grouped the stocks by size again from the under $1 billion down to $500 million, and then we grouped the buybacks of under $500 million down to $200 million.  Usually we would cut the list off at buybacks of the $100 million and higher but the list was already too big so we cut the Buyback Kings off at $200 million for August.  Lastly, we have a chart at the very end tallying it all up…. Some $28.7 billion for just the $200 million and higher in new or expanded buyback announcements.  There were literally dozens of other buybacks that were closer to the $100 million mark and many more that were less than that.

The $1 billion and higher alone which were announced in August were as follows: Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW); CVS Caremark Corporation (NYSE: CVS); Celgene Corporation (NASDAQ: CELG); Covidien plc (NYSE: COV); Intuit Inc. (NASDAQ: INTU); Discovery Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: DISCA); Harris Corporation (NYSE: HRS); and Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE: LMT).

We wanted to give our readers an updated list of those with Libya exposure.  These companies should now be the beneficiary of the outcome rather than be the losers due to the conflict and interruptions.  At the time of the outbreak of fighting, Libya produced around 1.5 million barrels per day and that was mostly exported to Europe.

AECOM Technology Corporation (NYSE: ACM) originally had what was roughly a $500 million contract over five years building Libyan infrastructure projects.  Much of the work had been done, but now that infrastructure has been damaged it would seem that they would be a shoe-in for more infrastructure building unless the old regime ties are just deemed too strong by the new leadership.  Shares were around $28 after the first drop from the Libyan exposure, and along with the rest of the global austerity the stock closed Friday at $18.64.

Eni SpA (NYSE: E), the big Italian energy company, withdrew its foreign personnel with 10% of its natural gas supplies in Libya and much more throughout North Africa.  It was close to $47.55 at the time of the withdrawal and shares closed at $35.48 on Friday.

As Italy has larger exposure than many nations to Libya, the iShares MSCI Italy Index ETF (NYSE: EWI) is down at $12.56 per Friday’s close, about 30% lower than the $18.13 price.  This ETF had a whopping 18% exposure to ENI earlier this year before Libya blew up.

Occidental Petroleum Corporation (NYSE: OXY) has (or had) operations there and shares were around $106 after the Libya situation first blew up.  Occidental closed Friday at $80.91.

Global oil players have exposure in Libya, although they are very diversified.  Royal Dutch Shell (NYSE: RDS-A) operated under permits in Libya as well and shares were around $70.85 per ADR after the situation erupted; shares closed Friday at $61.72.  BP plc (NYSE: BP) had deeper ties in Libya and its shares were around $48 after the blow-up began; shares closed Friday at $38.46.

Petroleo Brasileiro (NYSE: PBR) originally said that there were no indications at the start of the onslaught that its operations in Libya were affected over its exploratory offshore block in the North African country.  The ADR was at $38.89 back then, and shares closed at $27.17 on Friday.

Market Vectors Africa Index ETF (NYSE: AFK) had 20% at the time of its allocations in Egypt but nothing seen about Libya.  Shares closed at $28.37 on Friday and the 52-week range is $26.77 to $36.45.

JON C. OGG

Some of the larger and more impacting buyback announcements have been made by the following companies: Principal Financial Group Inc. (NYSE: PFG); Progressive Waste Solutions Ltd. (NYSE: BIN); Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. (NYSE: CLF); Life Time Fitness Inc. (NYSE: LTM); AECOM Technology Corp. (NYSE: ACM); Forest Laboratories Inc. (NYSE: FRX); Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. (NYSE: IPG);  Myriad Genetics Inc. (NASDAQ: MYGN); Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE: RSG); Lorillard, Inc. (NYSE: LO); Newell Rubbermaid Inc. (NYSE: NWL); and TiVo Inc. (NASDAQ: TIVO).

By now you already know that the attitude of 24/7 Wall St. is that dividends offer better long-term value than buybacks.  We have shown what the dividend yield is for each here, or we have shown that there is no dividend.

Principal Financial Group Inc. (NYSE: PFG) announced that its board of directors has authorized a share buyback plan for up to $200 million in common stock.  This represents about 8.5 million shares at current prices when average daily volume is 2.7 million shares.  Its market cap is about $7.4 billion.  The dividend yield is roughly 2.3% as of today.

Progressive Waste Solutions Ltd. (NYSE: BIN), also referred to as BFI Canada, announced a buyback of up to 4 million shares of common stock.  That is about $80 million at today’s price.  The market cap is $2.5 billion and the average daily volume is about 428,000 shares.  The dividend yield is listed as being about 2.5%.

Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. (NYSE: CLF) has announced the authorization to buy back up to 4 million shares, close to $300 million in total per today’s dollars.  The market cap is nearly $11 billion and the average volume is 3.7 million shares.  The company’s dividend yield is only 1.5%.

We have highlighted the calls individually with the rating and target, along with an implied impact.  Color has also been added if applicable.

American International Group, Inc. (NYSE: AIG) could use all the friends it can get.  One of the most hated companies in America was Raised to Market Perform at KBW on Tuesday and the call actually helped it close higher on the week from when it was made.  Shares went from $22.58 to close out the week at $23.13, even if this was down from $25.10 the prior Friday.

AECOM Technology Corp. (NYSE: ACM) will not sound like much because it was just Reiterated as a Buy rating at Argus on Tuesday.  It was the $33 price target objective that implies some 60% upside or so.  It turns out that the consensus target is still above $32.00 and the trick here is understanding the upside when so much core infrastructure business is at risk in the age of austerity.

ARM Holdings plc (NASDAQ: ARMH) rallied on Friday even though the ADR was cut from Buy down all the way to Underperform at BofA/Merrill Lynch.  This company has grown massively with the smartphone and mobile web explosion and BofA sees the competition coming on strong now.  What is so interesting is that Goldman Sachs added the mobile chip and processor outfit to the prized Conviction Buy List at the same time.  At $25.65, the 52-week range is $14.16 to $32.18.

Bed Bath & Beyond, Inc. (NASDAQ: BBBY) is one that you rarely get big pullback buying opportunities because its customer base buys the housing needs there whether times are good or bad.  On Friday this retailer was raised to Outperform from Perform by Oppenheimer and the price target was raised from $59 to $63 in the call.  Shares had briefly dipped under $53 during the peak selling this week and the 52-week range is $26.50 to $57.90.  The call seems late, but the highlight is that you rarely get big opportunities here in Bed Bath & Beyond.

Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE: BRK-A) does not have much of an analyst following for its size due to so many moving parts and due to a lock-down of information to the outside.  So when you see two big research calls you have to wonder.  Mr. Buffett and friends saw Berkshire Raised to Outperform at Keefe Bruyette & Woods and also was Raised to Overweight by Barclays.  Very rare to see two in a week.

Boston Scientific (NYSE: BSX) needs all the research help it can get.  The turnaround medical devices company was Raised to Outperform on Tuesday by Zacks, but more important was the additional “Bull of the Day” assignment along with it.  Shares were at $6.00 before the call and the stock closed out the week at $6.41 for nearly a 7% gain.

A123 Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: AONE) Raised to Buy at BofA/ML.
AECOM Technology Corporation (NYSE: ACM) Raised to Buy at Argus.
Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ALXN) Kept at Buy but Removed from Conviction Buy List at Goldman Sachs.
American Electric Power Co., Inc. (NYSE: AEP) Raised to Buy at BofA/ML.
China Life Insurance Co. Ltd. (NYSE: LFC) Raised to Neutral at Credit Suisse.
Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (NASDAQ: CLNE) Cut to Underperform at BofA/ML.
ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) Reiterated Buy and $95 target at Argus.
Covanta Holding Corporation (NYSE: CVA) Raised to Buy at BofA/ML.
Cree Inc. (NASDAQ: CREE) Cut to Underperform at BofA/ML.
EnerNOC, Inc. (NASDAQ: ENOC) Cut to Underperform at BofA/ML.
FXCM Inc. (NYSE: FXCM) Cut to Sell at Citigroup.
Iron Mountain Inc. (NYSE: IRM) Started as Buy at Stifel Nicolaus.
MetLife Inc. (NYSE: MET) Reiterated Buy with $54 target at Argus.
NYSE Euronext Inc. (NYSE: NYX) Cut to Hold at Argus.
Priceline.com Inc. (NASDAQ: PCLN) Maintained Outperform as Bull of the Day at Zacks.
SandRidge Energy, Inc. (NYSE: SD) Started as Neutral at Baird; Started as Outperform at Morgan Keegan.
SemiLEDS Corporation (NASDAQ: LEDS) Cut to Underperform at BofA/ML.
Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE: VLO) Maintained Strong Buy as Value at Zacks.

Washington Federal Inc. (NASDAQ: WFSL) Cut to Underperform as Bear of the Day at Zacks.

You are invited to join our free daily email distribution list to hear more about analyst upgrades and downgrades, top day trader and active trader alerts, dividend trends, news on Buffett and other investment gurus, IPOs, secondary offerings, private equity, and more.

JON C. OGG

AECOM Technology Corporation (NYSE: ACM) had what was roughly a $500 million contract over five years building Libyan infrastructure projects, much of which has apparently already been received.  Shares are down 5.6% at $28.19, so this is more heavily impacting than some might have considered.

Eni SpA (NYSE: E), the Italian energy company, is removing its foreign personnel with 10% of its natural gas supplies in Libya and much more throughout North Africa.  ADRs are down 5.4% at $47.55.  As Italy has larger exposure than many to Libya, the iShares MSCI Italy Index ETF (NYSE: EWI) is down 4.2% at $18.13 due to its 18% exposure to ENI.

Occidental Petroleum Corporation (NYSE: OXY) is lower as a result of its operations there and shares are down 1% at $106.35.  Royal Dutch Shell (NYSE: RDS-A) operates under permits and shares have recovered to being down only 0.2% at $70.85.  BP plc (NYSE: BP) has deeper ties in Libya, although it is much more diversified, and its shares are back up to flat at $47.93 after opening down almost 1%.

Petroleo Brasileiro (NYSE: PBR), or Petrobras, has reportedly said that there were no indications yet that its operations in Libya have been affected.  It operates an exploratory offshore block in the North African country and its operations are generally considered to be elsewhere.  Petrobras shares (ADRs) are up 2.3% at $38.89.

There are also several ETFs and funds on the move, whether deserved or not.  Market Vectors Africa Index ETF (NYSE: AFK) is getting hit this morning as it has 20% or so of its allocations in Egypt but nothing seen about Libya in the most recent fact sheet.  Market Vectors Egypt Index ETF (NYSE: EGPT) appears to still be trading like a closed-end fund rather than an ETF and shares are actually up 1.4% at $18.99. Go figure.  Elsewhere, iShares MSCI Turkey Invest Mkt Index (NYSE: TUR) is down 2.9% at $62.10.  iShares MSCI Israel Cap Invest Market Index (NYSE: EIS) is down 2% at $57.75.

JON C. OGG

24/7 Wall Street has decided to take a look at the biggest companies which will lead in the rebuilding of America’s ailing infrastructure.  A recent report from Infrastructurereportcard.org gave the United States a grade of a “D” and said that the 5-year investment need was $2.2 trillion. What the real tally is may not matter, but America has to rebuild.

In October, Amtrak rolled out a $100+ billion plan to rebuild its network.  President Obama is expected to call for a transportation infrastructure plan in the coming weeks. Finding all of the nation’s infrastructure winners is too long and too daunting of a task. General Electric and many of the nation’s largest diversified companies are all beneficiaries, and some of the key winners are likely to be foreign entities which employ thousands of workers in America.

The companies featured are the ones behind the design, testing, manufacturing, consulting, engineering, and construction of major projects.  We wanted players that will rebuild the water systems, roads, highways, bridges, airports, rail, levees, waterways, utilities, and buildings around the major infrastructure projects ahead.

These are the companies that 24/7 all Street is most focused on for the American infrastructure revival.

1. AECOM Technology Corporation (NYSE: ACM) offers architecture and engineering design services.   Target markets are transportation, environmental, energy, and it serves projects in key infrastructure areas like highways, airports, bridges, wastewater facilities and power transmission and distribution.  AECOM has a market value of about $3.5 billion and it is expected to have 2011 revenues of close to $8.4 billion. It as 50,000 employees.

2. Chicago Bridge & Iron (NYSE: CBI) is technically Dutch now but is a key infrastructure player with 16,000 employees worldwide that executes more than 600 projects a year with a focus in oil & gas infrastructure, steel plate structures in storage and containment and plant manufacturing.  The company has a market value of more than $3.3 billion and it recently forecast that 2011 revenues are expected to reach $4.3 billion to $4.7 billion.  If America is going to get serious on its energy infrastructure ahead, CB&I stands to greatly win.

3. Emerson Electric Co. (NYSE: EMR) might sound like an electric utility but it is in engineering and project management services for many industries and many government agencies.  It manufactures major equipment for utilities and industry, power and telecom, heating and air-conditioning, network power, climate technologies, and more.  It also has well over 100,000 employees.  The company has a market value of roughly $44 billion and it just recently gave a forecast of 14% to 17% growth to $24 to $24.5 billion in 2011 revenues.

• AECOM (ACM) Started as Outperform at Baird.
• Axsys Technologies (AXYS) Raised to Outperform at Morgan Keegan.
• Cintas (CTAS) Started as Overweight at JPMorgan.
• Covance (CVD) Started as Buy at Piper Jaffray.
• Gilead (GILD) Started as Buy at Stanford Group.
• PPD Inc. (PPDI) STarted as Buy at Piper Jaffray.
• VisionChina Media (VISN) Strated as Buy at Piper Jaffray.
• Environmental Power Corp. (EPG) Cut to Neutral at Merriman Curhan Ford.
• inVentiv Health (VTIV) Cut to Hold at Jefferies.

Jon C. Ogg
December 23, 2008

Puget Sound Energy, a subsidiary of Puget Energy (NYSE:PSD), is deepening its mark in renewable energy, with the utility and its customers now boasting more than 1,200 kilowatts (kW) of combined solar-power generating capacity or enough to serve the total power needs of 125 homes.  As Puget Energy serves 1 million electric customers and 721,000 natural gas customers, there is still quite ways to go.

ENSR is providing environmental permitting and licensing support for four major solar energy projects in southern California. ENSR, part of AECOM (NYSE: ACM), is a leading global environmental services firm.

ICP Solar Technologies Inc. (OTCBB: ICPR), a developer, manufacturerand marketer of solar cells and products, today announced that it hasre-acquired Cabela’s (NYSE:CAB) as a distribution partner for itssuperior range of Coleman® branded solar chargers at Calela’s outdoorsporting stores.

The law firm of Coughlin Stoia Geller Rudman & Robbins LLPannounced that a class action has been commenced in the United StatesDistrict Court for the Southern District of New York on behalf of aclass consisting of all persons who purchased the common stock of ChinaSunergy Co. Ltd. (NASDAQ:CSUN) traceable to the initial public offeringon or about May 17, 2007, seeking to pursue remedies under theSecurities Act of 1933.

Fuel Tech, Inc. (Nasdaq: FTEK) has announced receipt of a FUEL CHEM®demonstration order from a new industrial customer in the Upper Midwestto be conducted on a small, Powder River Basin coal-fired boiler usedto generate steam and electricity for a sugar beet processing plant.Chemical feed for the program is scheduled to commence later thisquarter.

Energy Focus, Inc. (Nasdaq: EFOI), in energy-efficient lightingtechnologies, today announced that W Hotels has signed contracts toinstall Energy Focus, Inc.’s energy efficient EFO(R) lighting systemsat properties in Chicago and New York City.  W is a Starwood (NYSE:HOT)brand.

Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) and the U.S. Department of Energy’sNational Renewable Energy Laboratory announced today that they haveentered into a collaborative research and development agreement tostudy and advance technology to produce liquid transportation fuelsusing algae.

Over 100 organizations (too many public names to note) and companiesrepresenting every aspect of renewable energy signed a letter senttoday to the President, the Speaker of the House, House MinorityLeader, Senate Majority Leader, and Senate Minority Leader urging fastaction on the extension of federal tax incentives.

Thursday may be a big day for many of these companies in alternativeenetrgy and good old-fashioned brown dirty energy as ExxonMobil is set to post earnings,and the BILLION & BILLION OF DOLLARS in revenues will be a focusregardless of how the stock does.  As many consider Exxon one of theworst environmental companies out there, you can imagine this will be acatalyst for environmentalists.  Goldman Sachs just noted yesterdayabout taking some profits in oil, despite that its Super-Spike band lays out the possibilities of $135/barrel oil and $4.50/gallon gas under extreme circumstances.

Jon C. Ogg
October 31, 2007

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.

Fluor (NYSE:FLR) posted $1.05 EPS on $4.22 Billion in revenues, and estimates were $0.95 EPS and $3.8 Billion in revenues.  The power division and oil and gas projects were mostly credited.  Its shares were up about 3% yesterday in after-hours trading and that is in-line with pre-market indications on no volume so far.

McDermott International Inc. (NYSE:MDR) posted a profit thattripled, and it even split its stock 2 for 1.  The company posted $1.31 EPS and estimates were under $1.00, and revenues were $1.42 Billion versus $1.39 Billion expected.  Shares were up almost 3% in after-hours trading yesterday and are actually indicated up over 4% for the open.

AECOM Technology (NYSE:ACM), the company that is considered the bridge design and engineering contract winner, also is trading higher pre-market.  The company posted $0.26 EPS on $1.1 Billion in revenues, and estimates were $0.25 EPS and $1.07 Billion revenues.  Aecom shares are up more than 5% pre-market.

Foster Wheeler Ltd. (NASDAQ:FWLT) is actually indicated a bit lower this morning after its earnings report.  The company posted $1.41 EPS, above the $1.33 EPS estimate (actual net results were $0.99 on items).  But revenues were $1.19 Billion, compared to estimates of $1.2 Billion. That EPS number is before a increased reserve charge for a legacy power project. The global power group unit has its highest backlog in years and it expects high bookings in engineering and construction in the second half. Foster Wheeler shares are trading down 2% pre-market.

The market cap of these companies combined is more than $30 Billion.

Jon C. Ogg
August 8, 2007

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