Posts for Ticker ‘NAPS’

Top 10 Pre-Market Analyst Calls (AXP, BT, DRI, FMER, GSK, IBCP, LVLT, MSFT, NAPS, SNDK)

These are not the only analyst calls affecting stocks this morning, but these are the top calls that 247WallSt.com is focusing on:

  • American Express (NYSE: AXP) downgraded to Market Perform from Outperform at KBW.
  • BT Group (NYSE: BT) downgraded to Underperform at Credit Suisse.
  • Darden Restaurants (NYSE: DRI) initiated as Outperform at RBC.
  • First Merit (NASDAQ: FMER) downgraded to Underperform at Oppenheimer.
  • GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE: GSK) raised to Buy from Neutral at UBS.
  • Independent Bank (NASDAQ: IBCP) downgraded to Underperform at Oppenheimer.
  • Level 3 Communications (NASDAQ: LVLT) downgraded to Neutral from Outperform at Credit Suisse.
  • Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) downgraded to Sector Perform from Outperform at RBC.
  • Napster (NASDAQ: NAPS) raised to Outperform at Bear Stearns.
  • SanDisk (NASDAQ: SNDK) initiated as Sell at Caris.

Jon C. Ogg
February 11, 2008

Posted on: February 11, 2008 – 7:36 am in Analyst Calls, , , , , , , , , ,

Pre-Market Stock News (January 28, 2008)

Alliance Data Systems (ADS) was informed by Blackstone that conditions likely won’t be satisfied to complete the merger; stock trading down close to 40%.
American Express (AXP) reports earnings today with estimates at $0.71 EPS.
Biogen Idec (BIIB) said that Carl Icahn has given notice that he wants to nominate 3 directors to the board.
Black & Decker (BDK) $1.06 EPS vs. $1.03 estimate; lowered guidance for 2008 to $5.40 to 5.90 vs. $6.10+ estimates.
Bluelinx (BXC) now sees wider losses than expected.
Corning (GLW) $0.40 EPS vs. $0.39 estimate; Revenue $1.58B vs. $1.55B est.
eBay (EBAY) announced that PayPal has agreed to acquire Fraud Sciences Ltd. in Israeli for roughly $169 million.
FPL Group (FPL) $0.71 EPS vs. $0.67 estimates.
Halliburton (HAL) $0.74 EPS vs. $0.69 estimates.
Matria Healthcare (MATR) is being acquired by Inverness Medical (IMA) for $39.00 per share, with a breakdown of $6.50 per share in cash and $32.50 per share in convertible preferred stock.
McDonalds (MCD) set to report earnings, estimate $0.71.
Napster (NAPS) announced the launch of the Napster Mobile music service with Ericsson phones at Telecom Italia through its mobile brand TIM.
Sallie Mae (SLM) received commitments for $31 Billion from a consortium of banks led by Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, Barclays Capital, Deutsche Bank, Credit Suisse, and The Royal Bank of Scotland, and from UBS; new financing will replace the $30 billion interim financing put in place; will drop suit related to past failed merger.
Sears Holdings (SHLD) Aylwin Lewis is stepping down as CEO of Sears.
Stanley Works (SWK) $1.11 EPS vs. $1.10 estimate; reaffirmed 2008 EPS at $4.20 to $4.40 versus $4.37 estimate.
Superior Offshore (DEEP) announced E. Donald Terry will be Interim President/CEO effectively immediately.
Synta (SNTA) and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) announced elesclomol for metastatic melanoma was granted orphan drug designation by FDA; SNTA trading up 17%.
Ultralife Batteries (ULBI) received $4.4 million in military battery orders from the U.S. Defense Department.
Verizon (VZ) $0.62 EPS vs $0.62 estimate; added 2 million total net wireless customers; now has over 1 million FiOS TV customers.

Jon C. Ogg
January 28, 2008

Posted on: January 28, 2008 – 7:54 am in Pre-Market Activity, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Pre-Market Stock News (January 24, 2008)

We are full blown into earnings season now.  These are not all of the stocks in the news, but this is a good portion of the news in individual stocks for traders to review this morning:

  • Annaly Capital Management, Inc. (NLY) priced its secondary of 51,000,000 shares of common stock at $19.25 per share.
  • AT&T (T) $0.71 EPS vs. $0.71 estimate; new share buyback plan of up to 400 million shares.
  • Becton Dickinson (BDX) $1.07 EPS vs $1.04 estimate; raised guidance before charges.
  • Cabot Micro (CCMP) $0.51 EPS vs $0.47 estimate.
  • Cubist Pharmaceuticals (CBST) shares rose another 7% to $21.72 after beating earnings and raising guidance.
  • Danaher (DHR) $1.12 EPS vs. $1.12 estimate.
  • DuPont (DD) noted as strong value without earnings risk according to Cramer on CNBC’s Mad Money.
  • eBay (EBAY) shares fell over 5% after beating earnings but lowering guidance; Meg Whitman retires as CEO but stays on board.
  • F5 Networks (FFIV) shares rose almost 20% after beating earnings.
  • Ford (F) -$0.20 EPS vs. -$0.19 estimates; CEO will be on CNBC at 12:15 PM EST.
  • IBM (IBM) noted as strong value without earnings risk according to Cramer on CNBC’s Mad Money.
  • Lennar (LEN) -$0.42 EPS vs, -$1.61 est.; but losses were before -$7.50 per shares in charges; sees 2008 continuing weakness.
  • Lockheed Martin (LMT) $1.89 EPS vs. $1.69 estimate; sees 2008 EPS $7.05 to $7.25 vs. prior guidance $6.19 to $7.15 and vs. $7.29 estimate.
  • Microsoft (MSFT) reports earnings after the close today with estimates at $0.46 EPS on revenues of $15.94 Billion.
  • Napster (NAPS) msic rental service is now available to NTT DoCoMo subscribers.
  • Netflix (NFLX) earnings were above plan and guidance was too; shares indicated up slightly.
  • Nokia (NOK) announced its market share rose to 40% and posted a 57% gain in earnings overseas.
  • Plexus Corp. (PLXS) raised guidance to $0.46 to $0.51 EPS on revenues of $440 million to $460 million, compared to estimates of $0.42 & almost $430 million;shares rose 8.3% to $21.50 in after-hours trading.
  • Polycom (PLCM) posted $0.42 EPS on revenues of $263.3 million vs. estimates of $0.39 & $252.5 million; shares rose some 7.7% to $24.00.
  • Potash (POT) announced it would repurchase up to 5% of its outstanding shares.
  • Qualcomm (QCOM) posted $0.46 EPS and non-GAAP EPS at $0.52 EPS on $2.44 Billion in revenues.  Estimates were $0.53 EPS on revenues of $2.41 Billion, 6% to $38.90 after-hours.
  • Symantec (SYMC) beat earnings; raised guidance; shares rose 8.5% at $16.55.
  • THQ (THQI) traded down 8% after disclosing net profit drops on charges from discontinued titles.
  • Trimble Navigation (TRMB) shares rose 15% at $27.45 after raising current guidance and reaffirming 2008 revenues.
  • Western Digital (WDC)  $1.35 EPS vs. $1.04 estimate; sees next quarter $0.85 to $0.91 EPS  & $2 Billion revenues vs. estimates of $0.80 & $1.9 Billion; shares rose by almost 7%.
  • World Acceptance (WRLD) $0.54 EPS vs. $0.46 estimates.
  • Xerox (XRX) $0.41 EPS vs $0.41 estimate; sees next quarter $0.25 to $0.28 vs. $0.28 estimate; sees 2008 $1.31 to $1.35 EPS versus $1.31 estimates.

Jon C. Ogg
January 24, 2008

Posted on: January 24, 2008 – 7:50 am in Pre-Market Activity, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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

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

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

Jon C. Ogg
January 7, 2007

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

Top 10 Pre-Market Analyst Calls (DRIV, ISIL, MUR, NAPS, BTU, RNWK, SINA, URI, VVUS, YRCW)

These are not the only impacting analyst calls this morning, but these are most of the initial calls being focused on by 247WallSt.com:

  • Digital River (DRIV) raised to Outperform from Neutral at Credit Suisse.
  • Intersil (ISIL) raised to Buy from Neutral at UBS.
  • Murphy Oil (MUR) downgraded to Peer Perform from Outperform at Bear Stearns.
  • Napster (NAPS) started as an "Underperform" at Bear Stearns.
  • Peabody Energy (BTU) downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Merrill Lynch.
  • Real Networks (RNWK) started as Outperform at Bear Stearns.
  • Sina (SINA) raised to Buy from Neutral at Piper Jaffray.
  • United Rentals (URI)  raised to Buy from Neutral at UBS.
  • Vivus (VVUS) started as Overweight at J.P.Morgan.
  • YRC Worldwide (YRCW) downgraded to Underperform from Market Perform at Wachovia.

Jon C. Ogg
January 3, 2008

Posted on: January 3, 2008 – 7:45 am in Analyst Calls, , , , , , , , , ,

Pre-Market Stock News (August 16, 2007)

(AMGN) Amgen announced 12-14% layoffs and lowered guidance for 2007.
(ANX) ADVENTRX Pharma announces fast track designation granted by the FDA for CoFactor for treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer.
(AUXL) Auxilium Pharma receivef FDA clearance to resume clincal trials for XIAFLEX for the treatment of Dupuytren’s contracture.
(BAX) Baxter awarded pandemic advanced supply contract from Deptartment of Health.
(CFC) Countrywide Financial tapped an $11 Billion line of credit.
(CPHD) Cepheid entered into a 5 year agreement with Northrop Grumman for the purchase of anthrax test cartridges.
(CRM) Salesforce.com trading down 1% today after posting $0.03 EPS vs $0.01 est.
(EL) Estee Lauder $0.45 EPS vs $0.50 est.
(FCTR) First Charter to be acquired by Fifth Third Bancorp for $31.00 per share.
(FLO) Flowers Foods $0.24 EPS vs $0.23 est.
(FLR) Fluor won a contract from Toshiba International for engineering, procurement and construction-related services for two nuclear power plants.
(FTD) FTD Group $0.36 EPS vs $0.28 est.
(GGBM) GigaBeam received an order for four WiFiber links from a new partner that is establishing a metro ethernet network in Los Angeles.
(GRMN) Garmin noted as an immune growth stock in a crummy market.
(JCP) J.C.Penney $0.78 EPS vs $0.78 est.; sees Q3 $1.28 EPS vs $1.43 est.
(KFT) Kraft Foods is considering selling off its cereals unit according to WSJ.
(LMS) Lamson & Sessions enters into $27.00 merger and a $0.30 special dividend as it will become part of TNB-Thomas & Betts.
(MCO) Moody’s may be in trouble with Congress over failures to warn over CDO ratings and risk activities.
(MGPI) MGP Ingredients $0.10 EPS vs $0.14 est.
(NAPS) Napster in marketing pact with Maxfield’s MP3 player in Germany.
(NBF) Nova Biosource Fuels will acquire a biodiesel refinery in Iowa with a 10 million gallon per year capacity.
(QCOM) Qualcomm’s ex-CEO noted that the suits could cost the company over $2 Billion in revenues if all the terms stand.
(SPAR) Spartan Motors chassis unit received a $53 million subcontract order from BAE Systems.
(SUNW) Sun Micro in free download of StarOffice suite at the Google Pack site.
(TTWO) Take-Two Interactive has received a Wells Notice from the SEC.
(WFMI) Whole Foods announced it is extending its offer for Wild Oats.
(WW) Watson Wyatt $0.71 EPS vs $0.67 est.

Jon C. Ogg
August 16, 2007

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

Posted on: August 16, 2007 – 7:35 am in Pre-Market Activity, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Can Napster Become Profitable? (NAPS)

Napster Inc. (NASDAQ:NAPS) is set to report earnings after the close, and First Call pegs estimates for another loss at -$0.15 EPS and just under $32.5 million in revenues.  If the company offers guidance it is expected to post -$0.15 and $33.3 million revenues next quarter.

Now what is interesting here is that Napster has been deemed not quite on life support or in limbo, but the financial situation is a peculiar one.  The company is expected to post wide losses for fiscal March-2008 and for fiscal March-2009.  The revenues for each year respectively are $140.6 million and $165 million.

As of last quarter the company has $66.4 million in cash and equivalents.  The good news is that its entire liabilities were only $37 million but the company has been bleeding out over $7 million  (last quarter) and over $9 million in each of the two prior quarters.  Its total cash flow from operations was over $3 million last quarter. 

Here is the good news, at the current rate the company can sustain itself for several years without hitting the cash trough.  The bad news is that if it loses any key relationships then it has some serious decisions to make.  There has not been a peep from the 2006 hopes of any merger, and the company has not really been able to capitalize on being potentially the top iTunes competitor out there. 

With the contract agreements already in place there has to be some value to the online music database, but the question is more "what is that price?" than a current answer has shown.  The company has a $128 million market cap, and with shares at $2.76 it is closer to the bottom of its $2.55 to $4.92 trading range over the last 52-weeks.

Jon C. Ogg
August 1, 2007

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

Posted on: August 1, 2007 – 12:37 pm in Earnings, Internet, Media, , ,