American International Group Inc. (NYSE: AIG) was mostly known, but Prudential plc (NYSE” PUK) has confirmed that it is walking away from the $35.5 billion offer for AIG’s AIA; now AIG will have to consider a resale process with open bids or it will have to conduct an IPO of the unit to monetize its sale. AIG shares are up 0.8% at $34.50.

Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ: AMGN) may have a new blockbuster on its hands.  The world’s largest biotech is trading up after it received FDA clearance for Prolia, its injectable bone strengthening drug.   Shares are up 5.3% at $53.45 versus a 52-week range of $49.21 to $64.76.

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) is back to the speculators playing games.  We ran down the volume yesterday, but it looks like over half of its implied trading volume equivalent is being used in speculative options for exposure rather than traders paying $260 per share.

Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ARNA) is trading higher after it announced a notification of a tentative September 16th FDA Advisory Committee Meeting to review its lorcaserin for weight management.  Shares are up 5.5% at $3.22 versus a 52-week range of $2.70 to $5.93.

Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: CSIQ) is seeing its shares hit hard this morning. The stock is down some 18% at $9.70, which is close enough to its 52-week low of $9.21.  The shares are down because of an accounting investigation, which is not what any investors ever want to see.

DivX, Inc. (NASDAQ: DIVX) is being acquired in a stock and cash deal by Sonic Solutions (NASDAQ: SNIC).  DivX holders would receive $3.75 in cash and 0.514 shares of Sonic common stock for each share of DivX they hold.  DivX is up 29% at $9.01 versus a 52-week range of $4.76 to $8.90.  Sonic Solutions (SNIC) is indicated lower but has yet to trade.

Monsanto Co. (NYSE: MON) is trading higher after the stock was raised to the Conviction Buy List at Goldman Sachs.  The research report said that the flow of bad news is out and it has already been one of the worst S&P stocks so far this year.  Shares are trading up 3.5% at $50.50 in active pre-market trading.  Just to show how bad it has been, the 52-week range is $48.16 to $87.40.

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

JON C. OGG

Cult stocks are often fad stocks, but they tend to see explosive volume on news and often have high short interest.  Many of these stocks have been covered in our weekly "10 Stocks Under $10" newsletter we send out too.  Here is a breakdown of these individually:

Today after market close we’ll get to see the earnings out of DivX,Inc. (NASDAQ: DIVX). The estimates for the digital media company fromFirst Call are $0.14 EPS on $25.04 million in revenues.  Next quarterestimates are $0.07 EPS on $21.49 million in revenues. Estimates forfiscal Dec-2008 are $0.47 EPS on $98.24 million in revenues. The52-week range is $6.12 to $19.35. Shares are trading at $7.56 inmid-day Monday trading.

• DIVX just made our newsletter watch list this weekend as one we’ll update fortomorrow because of a large short interest, huge sell-off, and more.

Tuesday after market close we’ll get to see the earnings out ofValueClick Inc. (NASDAQ: VCLK). The estimates for the onlineadvertising company from First Call are $0.16 EPS on $169.62 million inrevenues.  Next quarter estimates are $0.17 EPS on $174.90 million inrevenues. Estimates for fiscal Dec-2008 are $0.79 EPS on $739.00million in revenues.  The 52-week range is $16.11 to $36.70.  Sharesare trading at $20.73 in mid-day Monday trading.

• If there is one advertising name that is of interest to the public now that MSFT-YHOO is off, it’s ValueClick.

Wednesday after market close we’ll get to see the earnings out of CROCSInc. (NASDAQ: CROX). The estimates for the footwear and apparel companyfrom First Call are $0.10 EPS on $196.67 million in revenues.  Nextquarter estimates are $0.43 EPS on $252.19 million in revenues.Estimates for fiscal Dec-2008 are $1.60 EPS on $1.00 billion inrevenues. The coverage is very thin and that they are greatly variedfrom estimate to estimate.  The 52-week range is $9.53 to $75.21.Shares are trading at $10.16 in mid-day Monday trading. 

• CROX we recently covered in our "Under $10" letter as one that is adone fad stock.  But, money is money.  Traders will get all sorts oftrading opportunities to buy on weakness and sell into strength.

Wednesday after market close we’ll get to see the earnings out ofHansen Natural Corporation (NASDAQ: HANS). The estimates for thebeverage distributor from First Call are $0.35 EPS on $220.73 millionin revenues.  Next quarter estimates are $0.61 EPS on $337.18 millionin revenues. Estimates for fiscal June-2008 are $2.14 EPS on $1.22billion in revenues. Estimates for fiscal June-2009 are $2.62 EPS on$1.48 billion in revenues. The coverage is thin and that they aregreatly varied from estimate to estimate.  The 52-week range is $30.77to $68.40. Shares are trading at $35.17 in mid-day Monday trading. 

• Isthere a bigger cult stock in the beverage and specialty drink space?

Thursday after market close we’ll get to see the earnings out ofLocal.com Corp. (NASDAQ: LOCM). The estimates for the localized onlinesearch engine from First Call are -$0.20 EPS on $8.20 million inrevenues.  Next quarter estimates are -$0.17 EPS on $9.49 million inrevenues. Estimates for fiscal Dec-2008 are -$0.55 EPS on $41.04million in revenues. The coverage is very thin and that they aregreatly varied from estimate to estimate.  The 52-week range is $2.77to $13.74. Shares are trading at $5.00 in mid-day Monday trading.

• Local.com has been covered successfully on two occasions in the "Under$10" weekly letter for trading opportunities ahead of events.  Staytuned here.

Thursday after market close we’ll get to see the earnings out ofRealNetworks Inc. (NASDAQ: RNWK). The estimates for thenetwork-delivered digital media product provider from First Call are-$0.03 EPS on $141.57 million in revenues.  Next quarter estimates are-$0.02 EPS on $150.27 million in revenues. Estimates for fiscalDec-2008 are -$0.06 EPS on $623.08 million in revenues.  The 52-weekrange is $5.07 to $8.76. Shares are trading at $6.52 in mid-day Mondaytrading. 

• As this one received a huge cash infusion from Microsoft and as it hasmillions of players on desktops, this one is very-cultish.

Thursday after market close we’ll get to see the earnings out of Rick’sCabaret International Inc. (NASDAQ: RICK). The estimates for thepremier operator of adult nightclubs from First Call are $0.28 EPS on$14.82 million in revenues.  Next quarter estimates are $0.30 EPS on$15.68 million in revenues. Estimates for fiscal Sept-2008 are $1.17EPS on $58.05 million in revenues.  The 52-week range is $7.51 to$29.79.  Shares are trading at $19.04 in mid-day Monday trading.   

• Can you believe we covered this one as the market cap grew past $100million?  At one point it was up huge, but shares have come back offlately.  Are topless bars recession-proof?

Thursday after market close we’ll get to see the earnings out of TrueReligion Apparel Inc. (NASDAQ: TRLG). The estimates for the apparelcompany from First Call are $0.26 EPS on $45.16 million in revenues.The coverage is thin and that they are greatly varied from estimate toestimate.  The 52-week range is $13.89 to $23.74.  Shares are tradingat $19.45 in mid-day Monday trading.   

• Huge short interest in a company that makes $150 jeans look cheap, andone that at one point tried to sell itself.  Also has the cool jeansimage and wide celebrity use base.  Citi recently downgraded it. Does it get more cultish?

Thursday morning we’ll get to see the earnings out of Vonage HoldingsCorporation (NYSE: VG). The estimates for the broadband telephoneservices company from First Call are -$0.07 EPS on $222.30 million inrevenues. Next quarter estimates are -$0.02 on $227.64 million inrevenues. Estimates for fiscal Dec-2008 are -$0.16 EPS on $923.50million in revenues. The coverage is thin and that they are greatlyvaried from estimate to estimate.  The 52-week range is $0.89 to$3.77.  Shares are trading at $1.85 in mid-day Monday trading.   

• Vonage has also recently appeared in the "10 Under $10" weekly letter as one to watch asit is testing the water for a financier to see if it can clean up itsbooks.

As a reminder, all earnings dates are subject to change and may have already changed from the last available data.  Many cult stocks have very thin analyst coverage, and many cult stocks get no real analyst coverage at all.

Jon C. Ogg
May 5, 2008

Divx Inc (DIVX) Bad 2008 forecast. Shares sell off to $6.12 from 52-week high of $23.76.

Immucor (BLUD) Buy-out of smaller company kills share price. Down to $17.30 from 52-week high of $39.96.

KLA-Tencor (KLAC) Shares downgraded. Slips to $37.75 from 52-week high of $62.67.

Humana (HUM) Cuts forecasts. Dives to $33.45 from 52-week of $88.10.

AMR Corporation (AMR) Airline stocks downgraded as oil price goes up. Plunges to $9.13 from 52-week high of $34.25.

Douglas A. McIntyre

DivX is being punished in after-hours trading.  The media player company posted a 47% revenue gain to $24.5 million, while earnings were $0.11 GAAP EPS and $0.16 non-GAAP.  First Call had estimates pegged at $0.15 non-GAAP EPS on $22.54 million in revenues.  These would have been fine, except for their guidance below.

Is expects revenue for technology licensing of about 75% for the first quarter and 75% to 85% for the balance of 2008; expected revenue for media and other distribution and services of about 25% for Q1 and 15% to 25% for the balance of 2008.  Here was its formal growth forecast, and here lies the problem:

• It is also forecasting $24.5 to $25.5 million in Q1 revenues and $95 to $100 million for 2008, and it sees its core non-GAAP EPS for Q1 at $0.13 to $0.15 EPS and sees 2008 at $0.44 to $0.52 EPS.  First Call has Q1 estimates at $0.19 non-GAAP EPS on $26.29 million revenues, and estimates for 2008 are $0.67 non-GAAP EPS and $104.24 million in revenues.

That old break-up looks farther and farther away.

If you read through the quotes, it is all positive in the start.  DivX noted that the 2008 focus will be its highly profitable core licensing business and other key growth strategies balanced with managing investments for growth and delivering shareholder value.  Unfortunately, it also notes that it has less visibility for the second half of 2008 and it is taking a "measured approach."  It sees non-GAAP projected EBITDA up 25% to 30% for full fiscal 2008.

It also sees Stage6 operating costs and related accruals ofapproximately $4.0 million ($2.4 million, or $0.07 per diluted share,net of related taxes) for the first quarter and for 2008; impairmentand other milestone write-offs related to Veatros of approximately $1.0million.

The market is supposed to be able to act as a discounting mechanism,but it still punishes small cap growth stocks that lower downexpectations.  Positive comments won’t smooth that over.

DivX closed up almost 8% at $10.19 today ahead of earnings.  But sharesare down almost 25% at $7.65 in after-hours trading, and shares havetraded between $8,78 to $23.76 over the last 52-weeks.

DivX lovers who play golf would consider this report a divot.

Jon C. Ogg
March 11, 2008

Qwest Communications (Q) Big telecom company turns in ugly forecast. Shares fall to $6.94 from 52-week high of $10.45.

Rite Aid Corporation (RAD) Still dogged by high costs and low margins on generic drugs. Falls to $3.80 from 52-week high of $6.74.

American Medical Systems (AMMD) Lowers outlook for the year and is hit with downgrade. Drops to $11.89 from 52-week high of $33.18.

Openwave Systems (OPWV) Still slipping after last week’s earnings. Drops to $3.86 from 52-week high of $10.58.

Divx Inc (DIVX) Deal the company has with Google (GOOG) gets unpleasant amendment. Share move down to $12.24 from 52-week high of $31.89.

Douglas A. McIntyre

This Tuesday the company made a strange ‘maximizing value’ announcement for one that has only been public for about 10 months.  The company said that co-founder and chairman Jordan Greenhall would step down from his role as CEO to lead the process of a spin-out of Stage6.  Kevin Hell, the Company’s President, has been named Acting Chief Executive Officer.  Did Kevin say "Hell Yes!" on this?  It seems like this move for two growth engines might only create two smaller fish in a growing pond, and perhaps a pond with an undertow.

We would have covered this earlier, but in the midst of two major sell-offs a company-specific story like this is hardly worth the effort.  In June, almost 10 million unique visitors visited the Stage6 website, compared to 4 million in April. As a result, Stage6 recently became one of the Top 200 most-visited websites, according to Alexa.com.  If you visit Alexa that super high site ranking for Stage6 is different, although a comparison on the actual DivX.com website review on Alexa does show a much higher ranking consistent with the company’s loose description of the split.

Unfortunately, it also says that Stage6 will require ‘substantial additional financial investment to continue its dramatic traffic growth and realize its full potential.’ This will supposedly allow DivX to narrow its focus and drive its core strategy forward.  We will get a separate financial report from the two companies with earnings on August 9. 

The company couldn’t have picked a more unlucky week to make the announcement with the market slide.  That certainly isn’t the company’s fault, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t its problem.  Shares briefly hit a new all-time low at $12.20 this morning when the market gapped down after the open.  Its trading range since its IPO is now $12.20 to $31.89 and if the company hits the consensus estimates for the year it trades close to 25-times fiscal 2007 earnings and a tad more than 5-times revenue.  It is also worth about 3-times tangible book value, but that is based on the prior quarter and may be different after the new earnings.  The stock might not be expensive on the surface, but such difficult issues out of a recent IPO that is deemed "hot" by traders usually sinks interest in a stock for some time.

Maybe the worst is behind it with shares so low.  We won’t know until it releases results, and shares have already bounced this morning.  Either way, this is much more than unusual for such a young company and with the tightening credit demands of late you have to at least keep it in your mind that ‘funding’ could come at a significantly higher price than just a few weeks ago.

Jon C. Ogg
July 27, 2007

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

Shares of DivX are indicated up 2% pre-market on very thin volume, although this may be more on the headline than it will be off the actual news.  The company is so far down since its IPO that any ‘non-bad’ or ‘less-bad’ headline may be a boost.  But in the end, you have to wonder if this will really translate into very much in revenues for DivX.

Jon C. Ogg
June 13, 2007

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