24/7 Wall St. » CIEN

24/7 Wall St. Closing Bell (CSCO, DO, LVS, LULU, PM, SLB, CIEN, COST, SFD, LAYN, KFY, DMAN, AFFY, DANG, IVC, PNCL, TSLA)

Paul Ausick — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 21:08:15 +0000

Stocks opened lower this morning and trailed mostly lower throughout the day. Today’s wholesale inventory reported showed a gain of 1.6% and the initial jobless claims were substantially lower than expectations of 395,000, at 381,000. The two reports probably cancelled each other out as word hit the street that Europe is forecasting weaker growth and that today’s expected interest rate reduction was agreed with less than a unanimous vote by the ECB. The stress test results for European banks were released today, causing shares in some European banks to fall. WTI crude has fallen by more than $2 to $98.33/barrel and Brent crude is also down by about $1.65 at $107.86. Gold is down nearly -2%, at $1,710.40.

The unofficial closing bells put the DJIA down more than 198 points to 11,997.93 (-1.63%), the NASDAQ fell nearly 53 points (-1.99%) to 2,596.38, and the S&P 500 fell -2.11% or nearly 27 points to 1,234.35.

There were several analyst upgrades and downgrades today, including Cisco Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO) reiterated as ‘buy’ with a price target of $24 at Argus. Other ratings actions today include Diamond Offshore Drilling Inc. (NYSE: DO) started as ‘sell’ with a target price of $70 at Goldman Sachs; Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE: LVS) cut to ‘neutral’ at Janney; Lululemon Athletica Inc. (NASDAQ: LULU) restarted as ‘buy’ at Sterne Agee; Philip Morris International, Inc. (NYSE: PM) cut from ‘buy’ to ‘neutral’ at Nomura; and Schlumberger Ltd. (NYSE: SLB) started as ‘neutral’ at Goldman Sachs.

Here are today’s post-earnings news reactions with prices during the last half-hour of trading: Ciena Corp. (NASDAQ: CIEN) is up 2.7% at $12.23; Costco Wholesale Corp. (NASDAQ: COST) is down -1.3% at $86.33; Smithfield Foods, Inc. (NYSE: SFD) is down -2.6% at $24.29; Layne Christensen Co. (NASDAQ: LAYN) is down -4.1% at $23.61; and Korn/Ferry International (NYSE: KFY) is down -8% at $15.77.

Other standouts from today include the following shares:

DemandTec, Inc. (NASDAQ: DMAN) is up nearly 56% at $13.15. The cloud-software company has accepted a takeover bid from IBM Corp. (NYSE: IBM) of $13.50/share, a 57% premium over yesterday’s closing price.

Affymax, Inc. (NASDAQ: AFFY) is up more than 38% at $8.10. The US FDA has approved the company’s anemia drug for dialysis patients suffering from chronic kidney failure.

E-Commerce China Dangdang Inc. (NYSE: DANG) is up nearly 24% at $5.76. The Chinese e-commerce company has announced that it will issue an e-reader later this month and split content revenue with producers, keeping 40% for itself.

Invacare Corp. (NYSE: IVC) is down more than -25% at $15.39, after posting a new 52-week low earlier today. The medical supplies maker is in danger of having the US FDA close down some of its operations because Invacare has failed to comply with quality standards.

Pinnacle Airlines Corp. (NASDAQ: PNCL) is down about -23% at $1.47, after posting a new 52-week low of $1.40 earlier today. The regional airlines has initiated a program to cut costs and raise liquidity.

Tesla Motors Inc. (NASDAQ: TSLA) is down nearly -3.5% at $30.75. The electric car maker’s stock was downgraded by Morgan Stanley from ‘overweight’ to ‘underweight’ and the target price was slashed from $70 to $44.

Stay tuned for Friday. Here are some noteworthy events on the schedule (all times Eastern):

8:30 a.m. – International trade report for October
9:55 a.m. – Reuters/University of Michigan consumer sentiment report

Paul Ausick

Filed under: HI/LOW, Market Close Tagged: AFFY, CIEN, COST, CSCO, DANG, DMAN, DO, IVC, KFY, LAYN, LULU, LVS, PM, PNCL, SFD, SLB, TSLA

Earnings Season Arrives, Top Earnings Previews For The Week Ahead (NVLS, AA, ADTN, HST, PEP, GOOG, JBHT, JPM, SWY, MAT)

Administrator — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 17:15:40 +0000

They’re Here! Next week will launch the corporate earnings season for the third quarter. The media is going to tell you that this is the most important earnings season in quite some time. The media always says that, but this time it is true because investors want to know whether to still model in growth or whether they need to dig in for a recessionary climate.

24/7 Wall St. has compiled detailed earnings previews for the following companies: Novellus Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: NVLS); Alcoa Inc. (NYSE: AA); ADTRAN Inc. (NASDAQ: ADTN); Host Hotels and Resorts Inc. (NYSE: HST); Pepsico Inc. (NYSE: PEP); Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG); J. B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. (NASDAQ: JBHT); J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM); Safeway Inc. (NYSE: SWY); and Mattel Inc. (NASDAQ: MAT).

Some of these companies will not really seem on the surface to be sector-movers or market-moving companies, but these have been selected because they are the first ones of their peer groups to be reporting earnings.

We have created a detailed earnings preview for each with consensus estimates from Thomson Reuters and added color in on each for investors to see what exactly is worth consideration this earnings season. We have also added in recent price history and named where to look for additonal action (or fallout).

Monday, October 10

Novellus Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: NVLS) is the first chip equipment player to report for this earnings season. it has been a few weeks since we have had earnings reports or guidance in the sector so we will be paying close attention since so many companies that are chip equipment customers have talked down their numbers in recent weeks. Our belief is that expectations are very low for the quarter ahead. Estimates are $0.68 EPS and $311.9 million in revenue; next quarter estimates are $0.50 EPS and $278.5 million in revenue. With shares hovering around $30.00 on Friday, the 52-week range is $25.26 to $41.82 and shares were above $36 in early July. After Novellus reports, we would be watching the following: Applied Materials Inc. (NASDAQ: AMAT), KLA-Tencor Corporation (NASDAQ: KLAC), and Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ: LRCX).

Tuesday, October 11

Alcoa Inc. (NYSE: AA) has already talked down aluminum prices and we have already seen slowing demand out of China talked about by many sectors. Alcoa keeps maintaining that it can double its business by 2020 and we do not expect that to be changed by management even if it guides lower expectations ahead. Estimates are $0.23 EPS and $6.24 billion in revenue; next quarter estimates are $0.23 EPS and $6.11 billion in revenue. At $9.80 on Friday, the 52-week range is $8.45 to $19.47 and this one was above $16 at the start of July. There are many metals stocks to watch, some in aluminum and some in other metals: Century Aluminum Co. (NASDAQ: CENX), Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. (NYSE: RS); Kaiser Aluminum Corporation (NASDAQ: KALU); Titanium Metals Corporation (NYSE: TIE); and Nucor Corporation (NYSE: NUE).

Filed under: Calendar, Corporate Governance, Earnings, Earnings Warning, Economy, Editor's Picks Tagged: AA, ADTN, AMAT, BAC, C, CENX, CHH, CIEN, GOOG, HAS, HST, JBHT, JPM, KALU, KLAC, KO, KR, LRCX, LSTR, MAR, MAT, NUE, NVLS, PEP, RS, SWY, TIE, TLAB, WFC

Top Earnings Previews For This Week (BKS, JRJC, DG, DRYS, TFM, ZLC, CIEN, FNSR, HRB, JOSB, CPB, TEA)

Administrator — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 20:27:00 +0000

We have many earnings still dribbling out this week. While none may move the whole market, some may move their underlying sectors. We have tracked earnings estimates, added in price data, and also added in some color on each if applicable. A few of the key earnings below include Barnes and Noble Inc. (NYSE: BKS), Dollar General Corp. (NYSE: DG), Ciena Corporation (NASDAQ: CIEN), Finisar Corporation (NASDAQ: FNSR), H & R Block Inc. (NYSE: HRB), and Campbell Soup Co. (NYSE: CPB).

Be advised that many earnings estimates have not been updated in days and some of these estimates may have already changed.

Tuesday, August 30

Barnes and Noble Inc. (NYSE: BKS) has very few estimates but the company is now under a shadow since it lost Liberty as a bidder even if it got an investment from it. Shares are trading around $ 11.40; the 52-week trading range is $8.45 to $21.06.

China Finance Online Co Ltd. (NASDAQ: JRJC) has too few estimates to count but we are going to watch because the financial information provider is under the China cloud. Shares are trading around $2.84; the 52-week trading range is $2.35 to $8.59.

Dollar General Corp. (NYSE: DG) has estimates of $0.47 EPS and $3.54 billion in revenues. Shares are trading around $33.50 and the 52-week trading range is $26.64 to $35.09. We love this one long-term, but always keep in mind that private equity sellers are an overhang any time the price rises too much.

DryShips Inc. (NASDAQ: DRYS) has estimates of $0.22 EPS; shares are around $3.08 and the year’s range is $2.19 to $6.44. Shares were up double-digits on Monday as it announced the exchange offer of shares by Ocean Rig UDW.

Wednesday, August 31

Fresh Market Inc. (NASDAQ: TFM) has estimates of $0.20 EPS and $273.9 million in revenues. Shares are trading around $34.95, the 52-week trading range is $30.86 to $46.85.

Zale Corp. (NYSE: ZLC) has to be looked at after Tiffany beat so well last week. It has estimates of -$1.53 EPS and $336.65 million in revenues. Shares are trading around $4.75, the 52-week trading range is $1.50 to $6.90.

Thursday, September 1

Ciena Corporation (NASDAQ: CIEN) has been a poor performer in the tech selling and it should be assumed that its outlook will be weak if its peers are any indication. The communications equipment maker has estimates of -$0.21 EPS and $443.3 million in revenues. Shares are trading around $12.10 and the 52-week trading range is $10.33 to $29.24.

Finisar Corporation (NASDAQ: FNSR) has also been battered with tech stocks. It has estimates of $0.21 EPS and $228.3 million. Shares are trading around $18.08, and the 52-week trading range is $12.26 to $46.09.

H & R Block Inc. (NYSE: HRB) has estimates of -$0.39 EPS and $275.1 million in revenues. Shares are trading around $14.95 and the 52-week trading range is $10.13 to $18.00.

Jos A Bank Clothiers Inc. (NASDAQ: JOSB) is very thinly covered but it almost always has a large short interest. The clothier has estimates of $0.67 EPS and $209.7 million in revenues. Shares are trading around $45.99 and the 52-week trading range is $36.41 to $57.14.

Friday, September 2

Campbell Soup Co. (NYSE: CPB) has estimates of $0.37 EPS EPS and $1.57 billion in revenues. Shares are trading around $31.70, the 52-week trading range is $29.69 to $37.59.

Teavana Holdings Inc. (NYSE: TEA) is one that we do not have the research quiet period wrapped up yet but the company will give its first earnings report. At $23.90, the recent post-IPO range is $20.28 to $29.35.

JON C. OGG

Filed under: Calendar, Earnings, The Week Tagged: BKS, CIEN, CPB, DG, DRYS, FNSR, HRB, JOSB, JRJC, TEA, TFM, ZLC

Major After-Hours Stocks On The Move (AMZN, AVL, ILMN, HHH, JNPR, CSCO, CIEN, KEYN, LVS, LLTC, QCOR, TPX)

Administrator — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 21:25:20 +0000

Most of the after-hours movers are on earnings reports this Tuesday evening. We have been tracking moves and added color on the after-market trading in shares of the following: Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), Avalon Rare Metals Inc. (AMEX: AVL), Illumina, Inc. (NASDAQ: ILMN), Internet HOLDRs (NYSE: HHH), Juniper Networks, Inc. (NYSE: JNPR), Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO), CIENA Corporation (NASDAQ: CIEN), Keynote Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: KEYN), Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE: LVS), Linear Technology Corporation (NASDAQ: LLTC), Questcor Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: QCOR), and Tempur Pedic International Inc. (NYSE: TPX).

Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) managed to blow past earnings and guide revenues higher. All this while margins continue to be overlooked. Shares were up and are up even more now at all-time highs… The gain is up 6.7% at $228.65 on nearly 3 million shares since the 4PM bell.

Avalon Rare Metals Inc. (AMEX: AVL) is getting squashed after a filing for the sale of 7 million shares of common stock “to complete a bankable feasibility study on the Thor Lake Project and for working capital and general corporate purposes.” Shares rose 6.9^ today to $6.81 and shares are almost giving it all back with a 6% drop to $6.81 in the after-hours.

Illumina, Inc. (NASDAQ: ILMN) fell 3.6% today to $69.65 ahead of earnings. It beat estimates but gave light guidance for 2011 after having seen such a big run before. Shares are down over 9% at $63.25 right before the closing bell.

Internet HOLDRs (NYSE: HHH) has traded an unusual 13,000 shares and is up 3.3% at $81.98 in the after-hours session. The reason is simple: the weighting is over 48.5% Amazon.com.

Networking equipment makers be damned! Juniper Networks, Inc. (NYSE: JNPR) is down over 13% at $27.04 on more than 3.4 million after-hours shares. The “little-Cisco” turned in light earnings for the second quarter and guidance for the third quarter looked light as well after blaming deployment timing delays of service provider.

Speaking of Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO), if things are soft at Juniper the idea is that there is no way things are great before the company has even implemented a turnaround and restructuring yet. Cisco is down 1.7% at $16.01 on nearly 1 million shares since the 4PM bell. Elsewhere, CIENA Corporation (NASDAQ: CIEN) is down 5% at $16.70 after the closing bell.

Keynote Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: KEYN) beat earnings and raised its guidance for sales and earnings in Q3… Shares are up 10% at $24.00, above the 52-week range of $9.00 to $23.75.

Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE: LVS) beat estimates, in part from Asian operations, and shares are up 5.4% at $48.75 on more than 1.8 million shares in the after-hours session.

Linear Technology Corporation (NASDAQ: LLTC) may have grown revenues 27% but the focus and emphasis is on light guidance for the next quarter. Shares are down right at 5% at $29.65 in the after-hours session this evening.

Questcor Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: QCOR) managed to turn in above-estimate earnings sales after the close, sending shares up 8.8% at $28.30. Keep in mind that the 52-week range before this was $9.01 to $28.20.

Tempur Pedic International Inc. (NYSE: TPX) was halted, a fear, but the fear was unwarranted… The company beat earnings, raised guidance, and started a share buyback plan. Shares closed down 1% today but the after-hours session has shares up 6.4% at $66.02.

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

Filed under: After-Hours Activity, Earnings, Trading Alert Tagged: AMZN, AVL, CIEN, CSCO, HHH, ILMN, JNPR, KEYN, LLTC, LVS, QCOR, TPX

Top Analyst Upgrades & Downgrades (ALTR, BWP, COF, CLS, CIEN, JRJC, DSX, DRYS, MDMD, MPEL, MWW, ORCL, POT, RIMM, SHLD)

Administrator — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 12:34:10 +0000

These are some of the top analyst upgrades, downgrades, and initiations seen from Wall Street research calls this Friday morning.

Altera Corporation (NASDAQ: ALTR) Raised to Outperform as Bull of the Day at Zacks.
Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, LP (NYSE: BWP) Started as Outperform at Credit Suisse.
Capital One Financial Corp. (NYSE: COF) Raised to Buy at SunTrust.
Celestica Inc. (NYSE: CLS) Cut to Sell at Citigroup.
Central Garden & Pet Company (NASDAQ: CENT) added as Value at Zacks.
CIENA Corporation (NASDAQ: CIEN) Raised to Neutral at UBS.
China Finance Online Co. Ltd. (NASDAQ: JRJC) Cut to Market Perform at Rodman & Renshaw.
Diana Shipping Inc. (NYSE: DSX) Cut to Underperform at CRedit Suisse.
DryShips, Inc. (NASDAQ: DRYS) Raised to Buy at Stern Agee.
MediaMind Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: MDMD) Cut to Hold at ThinkEquity.
Melco Crown Entertainment Ltd. (NASDAQ: MPEL) Reiterated Outperform and raised target to $16 at Credit Suisse.
Monster Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: MWW) Raised to Buy at UBS.
Oracle Corporation (NASDAQ: ORCL) Added to U.S. Focus List at Credit Suisse.
Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan (NYSE: POT) Raised to Buy at TD.
Research in Motion Ltd. (NASDAQ: RIMM) Cut to Sell at Citigroup.
Sears Holding Corp. (NASDAQ: SHLD) maintained Underperform as Bear of the Day at Zacks.

JON C. OGG

Filed under: Analyst Calls Tagged: ALTR, BWP, CIEN, CLS, COF, DRYS, DSX, JRJC, MDMD, MPEL, MWW, ORCL, POT, RIMM, SHLD

Top Analyst Upgrades & Downgrades (AIG, BJ, BWA, CIEN, ELN, ERJ, FGP, MMM, M, MCD, MDCO, NDAQ, RIMM, SEE, TXN, UNH, UTX, AAPL)

Administrator — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 12:20:36 +0000

These are some of the top analyst upgrades, downgrades, and initiations seen from Wall Street research calls this Thursday morning.

American International Group, Inc. (NYSE: AIG) Started as Buy at Deutsche Bank; Started as Equal-Weight at Barclays.
BJ’s Wholesale Club Inc. (NYSE: BJ) Cut to Equal-Weight at Barclays.
BorgWarner Inc. (NYSE: BWA) Reiterated Outperform at Wells Fargo.
CIENA Corporation (NASDAQ: CIEN) Maintained Outperform but cut target to $37 at Credit Suisse; Reiterated Buy with $30 target at Argus.
Elan Corp. plc (NYSE: ELN) Raised to Buy at UBS.
Embraer S.A. (NYSE: ERJ) Reiterated Strong Buy as Value and as Bull of the Day at Zacks.
Ferrellgas Partners (NYSE: FGP) maintained Underperform as Bear of the Day at Zacks.
3M Co. (NYSE: MMM) Started as Outperform at William Blair.
Macy’s, Inc. (NYSE: M) Raised to Overweight at Barclays.
McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE: MCD) Reiterated Outperform and raised estimates at Credit Suisse.
The Medicines Co. (NASDAQ: MDCO) Raised to Buy with $25 target at Argus.
Nasdaq OMX Group Inc. (NASDAQ: NDAQ) Raised to Buy at Stifel Nicolaus.
Research in Motion Ltd. (NASDAQ: RIMM) Cut to Hold at Citi.
Sealed Air Corporation (NYSE: SEE) Raised to Buy at Jefferies.
Texas Instruments Inc. (NYSE: TXN) Reiterated Buy but cut target to $41 at Gleacher & Co.
UnitedHealth Group, Inc. (NYSE: UNH) Reiterated Outperform and raised target to $69 at Credit Suisse.
United Technologies Corporation (NYSE: UTX) Started as Outperform at William Blair.

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) has reportedly been downgraded this morning by a boutique firm called First Global to a rating of “Market Perform.”

JON C. OGG

Filed under: Analyst Calls Tagged: AAPL, AIG, BJ, BWA, CIEN, ELN, ERJ, FGP, M, MCD, MDCO, MMM, NDAQ, RIMM, SEE, TXN, UNH, UTX

Top Active Trader Alert Stocks (CIEN, ERIC, JDSU)

247wallst — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 12:54:05 +0000

Active traders and day traders have many stocks to choose from this Wednesday morning. We are tracking news and moves in shares of Ciena Corporation (NASDAQ: CIEN), LM Ericsson Telephone Company (NASDAQ: ERIC), and JDS Uniphase Corporation (NASDAQ: JDSU).

Ciena Corporation (NASDAQ: CIEN) is down more than 12% premarket to $21.24, relative to a 52-week range of $11.86-$29.24. The company reported disappointing 2Q losses.

LM Ericsson Telephone Company (NASDAQ: ERIC) is down 2.3% premarket on moderate volume to $14.30, relative to a 52-week range of $9.62-$15.44.

JDS Uniphase Corporation (NASDAQ: JDSU) is down 3% premarket to $17.85, relative to a 52-week range of $9.04-$29.12.

Filed under: General Tagged: CIEN, ERIC, JDSU

Key Earnings to Watch This Coming Week (FCEL, PBY, THO, HOV, CIEN, LULU, NSM, TXN, FNSR)

Administrator — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 18:31:37 +0000

Earnings season has all but ended as far as the great market-movers. That does not mean that there are not some interesting companies reporting earnings that need to be watched. The corporate earnings reports that we will be watching are Fuelcell Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: FCEL), The Pep Boys – Manny, Moe & Jack (NYSE: PBY), Thor Industries Inc. (NYSE: THO), Hovnanian Enterprises Inc. (NYSE: HOV), Ciena Corporation (NASDAQ: CIEN), Lululemon Athletica Inc. (NASDAQ: LULU), National Semiconductor Corporation (NYSE: NSM), and Finisar Corporation (NASDAQ: FNSR).

We have added in Thomson Reuters estimates, added in price action, and added in color if appropriate on each. As a reminder, some of the days and estimates could have changed, and many may change before the actual reports.

Fuelcell Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: FCEL) is due on Monday and this one has been a disaster in alternative energy. We do not even care about the losses nor do we interpret anything that the company says as being a sector-moving event. All that matters is whether or not the company can reach profits by 2013 or so.

The Pep Boys – Manny, Moe & Jack (NYSE: PBY) is just one more auto parts company with earnings, but it is one which some investors are hoping is a buyout. Thomson Reuters has estimates of $0.30 EPS and $537.03 million in revenue; next quarter estimates are $0.25 EPS and $534.44 million in revenues. With shares around $13.60, the 52-week range is $7.86 to $15.96.

Thor Industries Inc. (NYSE: THO) is not about the movie, but it is about RVs. Thomson Reuters has estimates of $0.67 EPS and $848.92 million in revenue; next quarter estimates are $0.83 EPS and $869.73 million in revenues. With shares around $31.00, the 52-week range is $20.74 to $39.12.

Hovnanian Enterprises Inc. (NYSE: HOV) is due on Tuesday and we are not expecting anything of any merit other than from “other operations” as housing data just stinks now. Thomson Reuters has estimates of -$0.51 EPS and $263 million in revenue; next quarter estimates are -$0.38 EPS and $341.35 million in revenues. With shares around $2.46, the 52-week range is $2.31 to $6.19.

Ciena Corporation (NASDAQ: CIEN) is due Wednesday and the equipment maker could have some very volatile shares as traders will have very little else to focus on. Thomson Reuters has estimates of -$0.10 EPS and $428.1 million in revenue; next quarter estimates are $0.06 EPS and $456.42 million in revenues. With shares around $25.30, the 52-week range is $11.86 to $29.24.

Lululemon Athletica Inc. (NASDAQ: LULU) is due next Thursday and it has been impossible to not notice that the chart is becoming strained after a monster run up in the yoga and athletic-wear retailer. Thomson Reuters has estimates of $0.38 EPS and $180.91 million in revenue; next quarter estimates are $0.40 EPS and $196.95 million in revenues. With shares around $87.25, the 52-week range is $31.08 to $102.83. We do not expect that investors will be happy with a “meet and reaffirm guidance” quarter. As a reminder, we saw this as one of the top analyst calls of last week based upon its chart and valuation.

National Semiconductor Corporation (NYSE: NSM) is due next Thursday and we want to remind that this is only being evaluated for the Texas Instruments Inc. (NYSE: TXN) angle. Thomson Reuters has estimates of $0.27 EPS and $365.15 million in revenue; next quarter estimates are $0.29 EPS and $374.9 million in revenues.

Finisar Corporation (NASDAQ: FNSR) is due with earnings next Friday morning. Thomson Reuters has estimates of $0.33 EPS and $242.89 million in revenue; next quarter estimates are $0.38 EPS and $253.9 million in revenues. With shares around $21.57, the 52-week range is $11.98 to $46.09. Keep in mind that this one got killed last quarter as shares fell from $40 to $25 and its shares have traded in a range of $21 to $25 almost ever since.

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

Filed under: Calendar, Earnings, The Week Tagged: CIEN, FCEL, FNSR, HOV, LULU, NSM, PBY, THO, TXN

Ten Big Tech Stocks That Have Outperformed Apple This Year

247wallst — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 16:57:52 +0000

There are ten major technology stocks that have outperformed Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) this year. Apple’s earnings will be announced shortly, and although some analysts are still raising earnings estimates and stock price targets, the market is not giving them support.

The stocks that have done better than Apple in 2011 have a common feature. They provide the software and hardware that make the internet and tech infrastructure run. None of them owns content, and none of them make consumer electronics devices or smartphones.

Apple’s shares are up 7% in 2011.

1. IBM (NYSE: IBM) is 10%. higher. Investors have faith that the world’s largest tech company measured by sales has an advantage beyond the current economic rebound. IBM has a broader portfolio of enterprise hardware, software, and services than any other US based company.

2. Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE: ALU) is up 91%. This company suffered through five years of merger woes, but it is now a successful provider of enterprise products to the world’s large telecom companies.

3. Oracle (NASDAQ: ORCL) is up 9%. Larry Ellison has merged his way to make Oracle the largest enterprise technology company in the world. At its core, the corporation is a database management operation, but it has branched into fast growing services like virtualization.

4. Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) is up 19%. The firm makes graphics chips for PC and portable electronics devices. Wall St. likes the company because of its move toward supplying processors for smartphones like the iPhone.

5. SAP (NYSE: SAP) is up 22%. Oracle’s major competitor has struggled with management and product release problems, but the growth tech spending by large enterprises has pulled it out of a slump.

6. Level 3 (NASDAQ: LVLT) is up 50%. The largest provider of dumb internet pipes has been helped recently by the need to send more data and video over IP.

7. Micron Technologies (NYSE: MU) is higher by 40%. Micron designs chips for data processing and storage and flash memory products.

8. Ciena (NASDAQ: CIEN) is up by 42%. Ciena makes enterprise networking products and infrastructure switches

9. JD Uniphase (NASDAQ: JDSU) is higher by 32%. The firm makes optical products for telecom companies, measurement testing products, and data and cable products.

10. Sprint-Nextel (NYSE: S) is higher by 9% and it does not even sell the iPhone. Be the network and not the device on the network.

Douglas A. McIntyre

douglasamcintyre@247wallst.com

Filed under: Hardware, Semiconductor, Semiconductors, Software, Technology, Technology Companies Tagged: AAPL, ALU, CIEN, IBM, JDSU, LVLT, NVDA, ORCL, S, SAP

ClearWire: Huge Opportunity, Huge Hurdles (CLWR, S, DTEGY, DRWI, CIEN, ALU)

Administrator — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 14:36:36 +0000

Shares of Clearwire Corp. (NASDAQ: CLWR) have fallen more than 30% in the past year, and there are plenty of signs that things are not going to get better any time soon. This is a situation where there is a huge opportunity but also a set of huge hurdles ahead. The company’s recent management shake-up calls attention to heightened competition in wireless broadband service, Clearwire’s huge debt, and its disagreement with majority owner Sprint Nextel Corp. (NYSE: S) over distribution fees.

That’s most of the bad news. The good news is that Clearwire owns more spectrum for delivering wireless broadband than any other company. In order for the company to survive and thrive, it needs to parlay its spectrum into cash flow. And a lot could depend on whether the rumored merger between Sprint and Deutsche Telekom AG’s (OTC: DTEGY) T-Mobile USA occurs.

Clearwire’s most pressing problem is, as usual, cash. Clearwire burns through cash at a ferocious rate as it continues to build out its new fourth-generation (4G) wireless network. The company claims enough cash to last through the first half of 2011. Negotiations with Sprint over distribution pricing must be completed before Clearwire can reasonably expect to round up more cash.

Clearwire’s lack of cash is also hurting some of its suppliers. Large companies like Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE: ALU) and Ciena Corp. (NASDAQ: CIEN) have enough other customers to pick up the slack, but smaller outfits like DragonWave Inc. (NASDAQ: DRWI) have seen share prices fall right along with Clearwire.

Clearwire has tried to rein in costs by halting expansion of its retail outlets and killing a plan to sell its own branded smartphone. The company is also considering selling some of its spectrum. The company’s former CEO was shopping about a third of Clearwire’s spectrum for up to $5 billion. Unfortunately, he recently left the company and teh company is now under an interim-CEO. Even if Clearwire eventually sells spectrum for just half that amount, the company’s main asset is worth $7.5 billion, more than double its current market cap.

There is plenty of value in Clearwire, so why can’t the company unlock it? Sprint, which owns 54% of Clearwire, has nearly $5.5 billion in cash and short-term investments, but won’t put more cash into Clearwire until the pricing issue is settled. Even then, Sprint is likely to want changes to Clearwire’s build-out plans, something the companies have disagreed about before.

A merger between Sprint and T-Mobile would enhance the probability that Clearwire would get fresh infusion of cash. The company’s spectrum would be a big help in bringing some rationality to the different network services that Sprint and T-Mobile support. Making relatively inexpensive changes like installing more antennas and base station cards would allow Sprint/T-Mobile to support the 4G LTE networks that Sprint is building, the WiMax network of T-Mobile, the iDEN push-to-talk network of Sprint, and both 3G wireless networks, GSM and CDMA. It could be a network nightmare in the short haul, but such an integration could give Sprint/T-Mobile an unequaled US network.

Clearwire owns such a significant asset that about the only thing that will force the company off a cliff is a sudden collapse in demand for wireless broadband spectrum. Such a collapse simply won’t happen. Whether or not Clearwire can do what needs to be done to prosper is not such a sure bet.

Paul Ausick

Filed under: Internet, Management Change, Telecom, WiMAX, Wireless Tagged: ALU, CIEN, CLWR, DRWI, DTEGY, S