Posts for Ticker ‘FMCN’

Ideation Cleared for China Advertising Activities (IDI, FMCN, VISN, AMCN)

Money ImageIdeation Acquisition Corp. (AMEX: IDI) has been freed up to become SearchMedia, as expected.  The special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC, issued a release noting that its shareholders approved all of the company’s proposals related to the acquisition of SearchMedia International Ltd.  As we have noted, investors and traders were using Ideation as a cheap backdoor play into the aspect of advertising in China, very similar to Focus Media Holding Ltd. (NASDAQ: FMCN), the larger pure-play Chinese advertising stock, and to the smaller players there called VisionChina Media Inc. (NASDAQ: VISN) and AirMedia Group Inc. (NASDAQ: AMCN).
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Posted on: October 27, 2009 – 9:51 am in Business Services, China, Media, , , ,

The Back-Door Play on Advertising in China (IDI, FMCN, VISN, AMCN, LAMR, CCO)

china mapIdeation Acquisition Corp. (AMEX: IDI) gave us a volume spike alert over at VSInvestor.com, and it is very unusual to see a special purpose acquisition company suddenly have exponential trading volume. The company has a pending merger vote and it gave an investor presentation just last week at the ROTH China Conference.  Today’s interest is after Ladenburg Thalmann picked up new analyst coverage with a “BUY” rating ahead of a pending merger vote with SearchMedia, an outdoor billboard and in-elevator advertiser in China.

Investors are starting to treat this SPAC as a pre-merger entrance into the Chinese advertising market.  This in a sense gives small-cap investors a chance to buy into what they will hope can become the next Focus Media Holding Ltd. (NASDAQ: FMCN), the larger pure-play Chinese advertising stock with a $1.88 billion market cap… Or even the other player called VisionChina Media Inc. (NASDAQ: VISN) with a $716 million value today after a 3% gain, or the AirMedia Group Inc. (NASDAQ: AMCN) with a $554 million market cap after an 8% gain today.  It will be a stretch to compare this smaller player to Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings Inc. (NYSE: CCO) or to Lamar Advertising Co. (NASDAQ: LAMR), but those are the clear leaders in America for U.S. investors.
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Posted on: October 19, 2009 – 1:23 pm in Activist Investor, Business Services, China, Entertainment, Media, Private Equity, , , , , ,

The 52-Week Low Club (LDK)(ABT)(EXC)(FMCN)

bear5LDK Solar (LDK) Write-down and poor forecast. Drops to $4.01 from 52-week high of $52.40.

Abbott Laboratories (ABT) No special news. Just drifting down. Falls to $44.51 from 52-week high of $59.95.

Exelon Corp (EXC) Analyst downgrade. Sells off to $38.41 from 52-week high of $92.13.

Focus Media  (FMCN) China-based advertising firm being hit like US counterparts. Drops to $4.84 from 52-week high of $46.92.

Douglas A. McIntyre

Posted on: March 11, 2009 – 2:56 pm in HI/LOW, , , ,

SINA & Focus Media Ad Combination Swap (SINA, FMCN)

SINA Corporation (NASDAQ: SINA) has agreed to buy Focus Media Holding Limited’s (NASDAQ: FMCN) digital out-of-home advertising networks.  This will include a LCD display network, a poster frame network and its in-store network.  Focus Media will retain its Internet advertising division, the movie theater advertising network portion of its commercial location network, and certain traditional billboards.   

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Posted on: December 22, 2008 – 9:11 am in China, Entertainment, Media, ,

Top 10 Early Bird Analyst Upgrades & Downgrades (BBBY, BTI, PAG, VRTX, MT, STD, CRXL, FMCN, MR, OWW)

These are the ten early bird analyst upgrades and downgrades we have seen early this morning with two and a half hours until the market opens:

  • Bed Bath & Beyond Raised (BBBY) Raised to Neutral from Sell at Goldman Sachs.
  • British American Tobacco (BTI) Raised to Buy at Goldman Sachs.
  • Penske Automotive (PAG) Raised to Buy at Goldman Sachs.
  • Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) Started as Buy at piper Jaffray.
  • Arcelor Mittal (MT) Cut to Sell from Buy at5 Citigroup.
  • Banco Santander (STD) Cut to Underweight at JPMorgan.
  • Crucell (CRXL) Cut to Hold at ING.
  • Focus Media (FMCN) Downgraded at Citigroup and Goldman Sachs (likely others as well).
  • Mindray Medical International (MR) Downgraded at Citigroup and Goldman Sachs.
  • Orbitz Worldwide (OWW) Cut to Sell at Goldman Sachs.

Jon C. Ogg
November 12, 2008

Posted on: November 12, 2008 – 7:06 am in Analyst Calls, , , , , , , , , ,

The 52-Week Low Club (DRYS)(FMCN)(GM)(S)(C)(TSN)(GNW)(GGP)

Sad_clownGeneral Growth Properties (GGP) Concerns about bankruptcy. Falls to $.33 from 52-week high of $51.24.

Genworth (GNW) Moody’s downgrade causes shares to plunge to $1.19 from 52-week high of $28.21.

Tyson Foods (TSN) JP Morgan downgrades stock after its posts earnings. Falls to $4.82 from 52-week high of $19.50.

Sprint Nextel (S) Still falling after poor earnings. Dips to $2.37 from 52-week high of $16.37.

Citigroup (C) More concerns about banking write-offs. Drops to $10.34 from 52-week high of $37.50.

GM (GM) Bankruptcy still in the picture. Down to $2.75 from 52-week high of $32.19.

Focus Media (FMCN) Turns in extremely disappointing numbers. Sells off to $7.54 from 52-week high of $60.73.

Dryships (DRYS) Food and energy shipments drop. Down to $9.93 from 52-week high of $116.43.

Douglas A. McIntyre

Posted on: November 11, 2008 – 3:55 pm in HI/LOW, , , , , , , ,

24/7 Wall St. Day Trading Alert (FMCN)(SGMO)(OPTR)(GS)(LVS)(WYNN)(MPEL)

Cammonopoly_wideweb__430x3250Focus Media (FMCN) is getting crushed this morning after posted bad numbers. Details..

Sangamo Biosciences (SGMO) ran into drug trial troubles and will trade way down.

Optimer Pharmaceuticals (OPTR) is ready for a big move up after good results from its new antibotic product.

Goldman Sachs (GS) is ready to sell off on concerns about earnings and the potential need to raise more cash.

The Las Vegas Sands (LVS) could lose it casino in Macau. The is causing moves in Wynn (WYNN) and Melco Crown  (MPEL).

Douglas A. McIntyre

Posted on: November 11, 2008 – 9:11 am in Research, , , , , ,

Stocks Which Doubled Market Performance (ATI, CMCSA, COH, FMCN, HPC, IPG, MICC, NEM, SNI, TIE, VMED)

Money_stack_picAs you will see today’s gains of 10% and more on both the DJIA and the S&P 500 Index, we wanted to explore which stocks greatly outperformed the markets today.  We’d note that it is rather odd to see that technology stocks measured by the NASDAQ were actually lagging the overall market today.

DJIA              9,065.12 (+889.35; +10.88%)
S&P500        940.51 (+91.59; +10.79%)
NASDAQ       1,649.47 (+143.57; +9.53%)

Below is a list of the stocks which outperformed by roughly double over the major index gains of the DJIA, S&P 500, and NASDAQ 100.  These stocks posted gains of 20% or more on the day, and we’d note that this list would actually be much larger if we included the financial stocks and REIT Stocks which we backed out for obvious reasons:

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Posted on: October 28, 2008 – 4:22 pm in HI/LOW, Index, , , , , , , , , , ,

Does Focus Media Fully Reflect Allyes IPO Value? (FMCN)

Focus_mediaThere have been interesting developments in Focus Media Holding Limited (NASDAQ: FMCN) that might have otherwise garnered more media attention for growth investors had the financial markets not been in such turmoil.  Interestingly enough, this stock recovered before the news with the markets last week and has since traded up even more.  Its stock was as low as roughly $22.00 last Wednesday.  On Friday, the Chinese outdoor advertising giant said its subsidiary Allyes Online Media Holding Ltd. has submitted data to the SEC to go public via an initial public offering.

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Posted on: September 23, 2008 – 1:51 pm in ADR, China, Entertainment, IPOs, , ,

Early-Bird Analyst Upgrades & Downgrades (DKS, IDXX, MA, WIT, ACS, ADP, CHT, FMCN, NT, PTI, TSS)

These are some of the upgrades and downgrades we are seeing from Wall Street this Tuesday morning:

  • Dick’s Sporting Goods (DKS) Raised to Outperform at Baird.
  • IDEXX Laboratories (IDXX) Started as Buy at Piper Jaffray.
  • Mastercard (MA) Raised to Buy at Goldman Sachs.

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Posted on: August 19, 2008 – 6:32 am in Analyst Calls, , , , , , , , , , ,

No Benefit of Doubt for Focus Media (FMCN)

Focus Media Holding Ltd. (NASDAQ: FMCN) has just posted earnings.  Despite beating estimates, Wall Street isn’t trusting its guidance issues "from the earthquake."

Total GAAP revenues grew 214.7% year-over-year to $161.6 million.  GAAP net loss for the first quarter was $53.8 million or -$0.42 EPS (ADS) after a non-recurring loss of $79.3 million resulting from the restructuring.  On a non-GAAP basis outside of restructuring and other items it recorded $44.8 million in net income with $0.34 non-GAAP EPS.  First Call had estimates at $162 million in revenues and $0.33 EPS.

This is probably not a huge shock when you consider its business, but the company noted that the earthquake in Sichuan province is going to bring down some adjusted ad numbers:

  • It put next quarter revenues at $190 to $195 million and EPS at $0.40 to $0.41 on 133 million total average ADS.  First Call has estimates of $0.46 EPS on $201.9 million.
  • It revised revenues to $820 million to $850 million, down from previous guidance of between $860 million to $890 million.  Full year 2008 non-GAAP net income is now expected to be between $240 million and $260 million, or $1.76 to $1.91 per fully diluted ADS based on 136 million annual average total ADS outstanding, as down from the previous guidance of between US$260 million and US$280 million.  First Call has estimates at $1.95 EPS on $882 million in revenues.

Because this ad company has a premium to it and because of the China syndrome, Wall Street isn’t giving the company any break at all over the earthquake being tied to the revenues.  Shares were up 2.6% today at $36.79 in regular trading, but shares are down almost 7% at $34.31 in after-hours trading.

Jon C. Ogg
June 5, 2008

Posted on: June 5, 2008 – 3:35 pm in China, Earnings, Earnings Warning, Entertainment,

Backward & Forward, Cramer In 2007 To 2008

2007 was one volatile year and for now it appears that will be the norm for at least the start of 2008.  Everyone’s favorite market pundit or least liked pundit is obviously Jim Cramer.  If you love Cramer or can’t stand him it really doesn’t matter.  He signed a new multi-year deal with CNBC recently.  Here are some of his major calls this year that will still be referred to in 2008:

Here were Cramer’s TOP 9 STOCKS FOR 2007, with a call broken down for each one.  Borat would say HI FIVE on some and NOT SO NICE on others, as would be expected.  Cramer’s 14,582 year-end DJIA target…..Friday’s close was 13,365.87……although we did hit 14,279.96 on OCT11, 2007.  Cramer also gave a batch of price targets on most of theDJIA components:

Cramer’s Stock Picks FOR 5-YEARS OUT:

SOME LISTS: His list of recession proof stocks compared to ours.  We are updating our
Defensive Stocks For The First Half Of 2008" currently.  Cramer gave a huge list of companies he expects to benefit from the alternative energy traders (SGR, FWLT, BWA, OMG, FSLR, FTEK, WFR, TTEK, ZOLT, BP, SPWR, CY, CPST, ITRI)… Jim Cramer pondered which US companies China would want to acquire, about 3 months before sovereign funds started buying into US companies.  Cramer’s mortgage winners and losers…… Here were his MAJOR BULL MARKET STOCK PICKS(MHS, CVS, AGN, CELG, GENZ, CEPH, RIG, HAL, EMR, CAT, CMI, UTX, KO,PEP, CL, GS, SKS, VFC, UNP, CSX, BA), some of which are DJIAcomponents.  Cramer produced a "MUST OWN" list of stocks, many of whichare up significantly and some are down (WHR, BDK, ATI, BGC, HON, ASD, JCI, MDR, FWLT, CAT, TEX, DE, QCOM)

Cramer spent lots of time on International stocks that most US investors might not cover on their own.  He made a big call on Mercadolibre (MELI) (also BIDU, GOOG) with some emphasis on buying immediately, right before it made a huge run up.  Cramer’s Hidden Video Game Investment Perfect World (PWRD, ATVI, ERTS, VIA) was one he said could run more than 50% for 2008.  Cramer made 5 TOP CHINESE PICKS (CEO, CHL, SSW, FMCN, BIDU, GMR).  We’ll see in 2008 if any of his Canadian OIL TRUSTS get acquired in 2008 (BTE, CNE, PGH, PVX, PWE, AAV, GDI).  Cramer also went over his top picks from Europe for American investors (TOT, SI, ABB, PHG, BF)

ON TECHNOLOGY:  Cramer’s NEW HORSEMEN OF TECH…. will the list change in 2008???  Did Cramer Say $1,000.00 on Google, Or Is It $600.00? That was in May 2007.  Cramer Gave Monster Price targets to Baidu.com (BIDU, GOOG).. will these targets change in 2008? Cramer was very positive on all the GPS stocks,although we’d expect that Cramer will change his tune in 2008 now thatthe holiday madness is behind us (GRMN, UA, CROX, NVT, TRMB, SIRF).

Would it be fair not to include the Barron’s attack on Cramer from summer for those of you that criticize his every word?

ON WARREN BUFFETT…. Cramer noted that BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT in Canada may be the next Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRK/A) NYSE: BAM). Cramer reviewed 10 Warren Buffett stocks for analysis and then reviewed 10 More Warren Buffett stocks:

Will his buyout of ALCOA (AA) prediction come true in 2008??? Cramer gave a list of stocks that had bought back so much stock that they might be taking themselves private.

Join our free email distribution list for other Cramer calls or for updates we send out regarding IPO’s, spin-offs, restructuring, reorganization, activist investors and more.

Happy New Years from the 247WallSt.com team!

Jon C. Ogg
December 31, 2007

Posted on: December 31, 2007 – 8:01 am in Cramer, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Not Enough Good News At Focus Media (FMCN)

Wall St. expected good things from Chinese company Focus Media (FMCN) First Call had a limited range of projections from only a few analysts, but the recent quarter was expected to show $0.44 EPS on $129.4 million in revenues.  Next quarter is expected to show 0.49 EPS on revenues of $142.6 million.

Total revenues grew 149.6% year-over-year and 33.6% quarter-over-quarter to $151.4 million. Net income for the third quarter was $46.6 million, up 72.6% year-over-year and 23.6% quarter-over-quarter.  Fully diluted net income per ADS for the third quarter of 2007 was $0.37.

Focus said that it estimates its total revenues for the forth quarter of 2007 will range from $160 million to $170 million. Fourth quarter 2007 net income excluding share-based compensation expense and intangible assets amortization expense resulting from acquisitions (non-GAAP) is expected to be between $62 million and $64 million or $0.48 to $0.50 per fully diluted ADS

The market seems a little upset about the reported EPS figure. Shares in Focus Media, which where down 3.5% in the regular session traded off another 4% after hours.

So much for dreams of a new 52-week high.

Douglas A. McIntyre

Take this opportunity to read the 24/7 Wall St. New Media newsletter and follow our opinions on media companies in the US and abroad.

Posted on: November 19, 2007 – 5:12 pm in Earnings,

Focus Media Earnings, The Envy of Lamar (FMCN, LAMR)

Chinese advertising giant Focus Media Holding Ltd.(NASDAQ:FMCN), is set to report earnings after the close.  First Call has a limited range of from only a few analysts, but this quarter is expected to show $0.44 EPS on $129.4 million in revenues.  Next quarter is expected to show 0.49 EPS on revenues of $142.6 million.  If the company offers any long-term projections, it is expected to show $1.93 EPS and revenues of $635 million for fiscal Dec-2008.

For whatever it’s worth, Focus Media just sold 13.72 million ADR’s in a secondary offering, of which 5 million came from the company and 8.72 million were from existing shareholders.  Shares are down over 1% at $58.55 today ahead of earnings, and the 52-week trading range is $29.32 to $66.30.

Lamar Advertising (NASDAQ:LAMR) is the U.S. counterpart, although Lamar has been a serial underperformer over the last year.  Also, Focus is thought of more as audiovisual television displays in China, while Lamar offers billboards, posters, bulletins, buses, digital boards, and more.  If you want to compare Focus to Lamar, here is how it compares on simple forward valuations based on estimates:

Stock    MKTCAP  08P/E    09REV$
FMCN    $7.5B    30.31    $635M
LAMR    $4.75B    89.9    $1.29B

We used to have Focus Media as a more strategic acquisition candidate for a hypothetical Special Situation Investing Newsletter play, but three things were and are in the way:

  • it grew too fast,
  • Chinese companies are for all practical purposes not really able to be acquired in the same manner as a traditional company, and…
  • valuations. 

But if this trend continues with Focus Media outperforming and the woes at Lamar continuing, it would not be a stretch to think of Focus making the cross-Pacific jump and making a play for Lamar.  Stranger things have happened, and even a highly skeptical regulatory environment would have a hard time saying that a deal of that sort was a risk to national security.

Jon C. Ogg
November 19, 2007

Jon Ogg produces the 24/7 Wall St. Special Situation Investing Newsletter; he does not own securities in the companies he covers. 

Posted on: November 19, 2007 – 2:50 pm in ADR, China, Earnings, Entertainment,

Focus Media’s New Highs on Filing & Audit Committee Findings (FMCN)

Shares of Focus Media Holding Limited (NASDAQ:FMCN) are trading up 10% in pre-market trading.  The company announced that it had filed its previously delayed annual report on Form 20-F together with the audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2006.  It has also announced that its audit committee has completed its previously disclosed investigation into allegations made by U.S. Counsel to an investor described as holding a short position in Focus Media stock and concluded that nothing has come to its attention, apart from the initial allegations that gave rise to the investigation, that would cause the audit committee to believe that Focus Media made undisclosed rebate payments to a third party advertising agency through another advertising agency, namely, Everease.

The Company has informed investigators that it has concluded that Everease is a related party based upon information developed during the investigation and the audit committee concurs with the company’s conclusion that Everease should be deemed a related party.

As a reminder, this is the one that is the electronic billboard and advertising play in China, and the 2008 Olympics are believed to be a large boost for the company.  As of March 31, 2007, Focus Media had approximately 90,000 display units in its commercial location network, 40,700 display units in its in-store network, 124,500 advertising poster frames installed throughout China and 200 outdoor LED displays in Shanghai.

Shares closed yesterday at $48.50, but shares are up over 10% at $53.60 so far this morning.  If this holds it will be a new high, with the 52-week trading range being $26.05 to $53.29.

Jon C. Ogg
September 25, 2007

Posted on: September 25, 2007 – 7:59 am in China, Media, , ,

Jim Cramer Ponders Which US Companies China Will Acquire

On today’s STOP TRADING segment on CNBC, Jim Cramer was discussing China’s desire to grow and acquire.  He noted that with so many companies being some of the largest in the world that some large acquisitions "could" be desired.  We want to emphasize that "can" is different than "will" before trusting this without any thought.

Pertochina (NYSE:PTR) is one of the largest companies with a $260+ Billion market cap and it might want a Gulf of Mexico oil play or another oil play.  Cramer noted that it could go after Halliburton (NYSE:HAL), Anadarko (NYSE:APC), or Apache (NYSE:APA).  Cramer also noted that China Mobile (NYSE:CHL) might want to own a Motorola (NYSE:MOT).

Cramer noted a couple of plays that will benefit from growth in China: Focus Media (NASDAQ:FMCN) is a way to play advertising for China’s Olympics, but Wynn (NASDAQ:WYNN) may be the best way to play the emerging China wealth emerging that will gamble in Macau.

Keep in mind, that China’s CNOOC (NYSE:COO) was blocked from acquiring Unocal by regulators in recent years.  So a deal of the sizes proposed here may be more for conversation’s sake rather than for speculating on a buyout.

Jon C. Ogg
September 4, 2007

Jon Ogg can be reached at jonogg@247wallst.com; he produces the Special Situation Investing Newsletter and he does not own securities in the companies he covers.

Posted on: September 4, 2007 – 1:57 pm in China, Cramer, Mergers and Buy Outs, , , , , , , , ,

This Week’s Top Ongoing News (June 15, 2007)

Stock Tickers: YHOO, EBAY, AMZN, S, F, MOT, BIDU, SSW, FMCN, BA, NVO, CLWR, SIRI, XMSR, INTC, ADBE, INTC, BX

The real big news this week was the stock market itself.  A tame PPI and an even tamer CPI took away the wall of worries that was being dealt to the market because of higher and higher long-term bond yields.  But there was some key stock and sector news that is not just a one-time event.  These are some of the big stories that may stay in the news:

PRIVATE EQUITY, MAY NEED TO STAY PRIVATE
If Blackstone can’t keep itself out of the media, they are going to have a tough time coming public.

INTEL…AT 16 MONTH HIGHS….WHO’DA THUNK IT?
Intel (INTC), the old dead chip/processor giant….it’s back, and it’s the top DJIA performer this week.

ADOBE, TIME FOR A BREATHER?
It looks like Adobe Systems (ADBE) high valuations are starting to catch up to it.…might be time for a breather.
Shares closed down close to 3% Friday and the 52-week highs appear elusive.

XM & SIRIUS FIND A WINNING MERGER STRATEGY
Sirius (SIRI) and XM (XMSR) managed to get the former chief economist from the FCC to write a document that was submitted to the FCC showing how a combined ‘XSMearious’ would actually foster more competition in radio.
SIRI closed up a tad on Thursday, but ramped on Friday.

Q2 EARNINGS SLAUGHTERHOUSE STOCKS TO WATCH
With two-weeks to go before the end of the quarter, we listed some companies which were at-risk of having a tough quarter when they report next month.  Amazon.com (AMZN) AND Yahoo! (YHOO) were among them, as was Ford (F). Motorola (MOT) and Sprint (S) made the list as well.

DID CLEARWIRE FIND SALVATION?
Clearwire (CLWR) figured out the perfect model….get the satellite TV duopoly of DirecTV (DTV) AND EchoStar
(DISH) to sell it near-WiMAX.

CRAMER FINDS PICKS IN UNATTRACTIVE GROUPS
Jim Cramer doesn’t trust investing in China, and doesn’t trust them, and doesn’t want to invest his own money
there.  But because he keeps getting inquiries, he picked 5 stocks that you can actually own in China.  He also can’t stand Big Pharma drug stocks, but he’s got a few safe names you can look at.

HOW CAN WE HATE PLANES?
Boeing has identified a $2.8 TRILLION market opportunity out of commercial aircraft over the next 20 years.  It gets harder and harder to argue with aerospace bulls when forecasts like this start coming out of the company.  This is even after reports that they were having some plane construction issues.

INTERNET SHAREHOLDER WOES:  eBay (EBAY) is still in the middle of its "Buy It Now" patent fight with MercExchange LLC.  Terry Semel is somehow managing to survive so far.  Yahoo! (YHOO) hasn’t fired him yet, and he survived the annual shareholder meeting.

Posted on: June 15, 2007 – 3:31 pm in HI/LOW, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Pre-Market Stock News (June 14, 2007)

(APPAD) AP Pharmaceuticals announces the pricing of its underwritten public offering of 21.2 million shares of its common stock at a public offering price of $1.65 per share.
(BBND) Bigband Networks announced order for its routers by Korean cable operator.
(BIDU) Baidu.com noted as positive speculative play in China by Cramer on Mad Money.
(BIOF) BioFuel priced its IPO at$10.50 per share.
(BOT) CBOT may get a sweetened bid from CME according to WSJ.
(CEO) CNOOC noted as one of the solid and stable companies in China by Cramer on Mad Money.
(CHL) China Mobile noted as one of the solid and stable companies in China by Cramer on Mad Money.
(FMCN) Focus Media noted as positive speculative play in China by Cramer on Mad Money.
(GIVN) Given Imaging receives FDA marketing clearance for PillCam ESO 2.
(HOKU) Hoku Scientific traded up over 60% after a $678 million order from Suntech power.
(IRBT) iRobot received Lockheed Martin order to be the provider of the Centralized Controller Device for the U.S. Army’s Future Combat Systems program.
(IVZ) INVESCO announced a $500 million share buyback plan.
(K) Kellogg is trying to create healthier recipes for sugary cereals.
(SNY) Sanofi-Aventis traded down 3% after an FDA review panel voted 14-0 against its diet drug over lack of safety concerns.
(SRZ) Sunrise Assisted Living received activist shareholder complaints for management change by Millennium Partners.
(SSW) Seaspan noted as one of the solid and stable companies in China by Cramer on Mad Money.
(SYT) Sygenta announced that its CEO will retire at the end of 2007.
(TASR) Taser announced an extended range electronic projectile.
(TGEN) Targeted Genetics reported Phase I/II swelling reduction in inflammatory arthritis clinical data.
(WMT) Wal-Mart reportedly has theft rising at stores.
(ZILA) Zila’s CEO has resigned effective immediately to pursue other interests.

Jon C. Ogg
June 14, 2007

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

Posted on: June 14, 2007 – 6:56 am in Pre-Market Activity, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Cramer’s Top 5 China Stock Picks (CEO, CHL, SSW, FMCN, BIDU, GMR)

Stock Tickers Mentioned: CEO, CHL, SSW, FMCN, BIDU, GMR

On tonight’s MAD MONEY on CNBC, Cramer dedicated the night to China.  He’s not gung ho on Chinese stocks, but he’s willing to review some of them.  As a reminder, Cramer said he doesn’t like investing in China, he doesn’t trust China, and he thinks it is overvalued.  He thinks an imminent 8% to 10% pullback any time because it’s overheated.  After you get that pullback then you can buy the stocks, but he advises not to do so now.

As a reminder Cramer said he wouldn’t cross the river with his charitable trust to incvest there even if they pullback 20% in the market.  But Cramer does have some picks; he has 3 solid steady plays and has 2 speculative stock picks.

THE SOLID & STEADY PLAYS:

CNOOC (CEO)…China’s nationalized oil play, the number 1 offshore, a large player in Indonesia; 67% government owned. Under the production sharing, they get the mandatory rights.  As long as oil stays high this one is a winner he thinks.  ADR’s have a $45 Billion market cap; 3% dividend yield.

China Mobile (CHL)….winner in Chinese wireless market, 68% of the mobile users in China, government owns the majority.  It has been on hold because China Telecom rumors are that they might enter wireless; has 1.9% dividend; $191 Billion market cap.

Seaspan (SSW)…Shipping Vessel operator for overseas freight shipments; 6% dividend; $1.45 Billion market cap.  He likes this better than General Maritime (GMR) now. 

THE SPECULATIVE PLAYS:

Focus Media (FMCN) runs display ads all over China and now going online, which is his first pick. It advertises in cities over 1 million people.

Baidu.com (BIDU) is called the "Google of China" by many, but it is actually beating Google at its own game in China.

As a last reminder, Cramer said this is because YOU the audience keeps asking for China picks and he isn’t a big fan.  He thinks a big pullback is imminent and he wouldn’t buy until after.  He wouldn’t buy these speculative names at all right now, and would only buy these on serious pullbacks.  Consider yourself warned and informed.

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.

Posted on: June 13, 2007 – 5:30 pm in China, Cramer, , , , , ,