Posts for Ticker ‘SCOR’

Another Win For Apple (AAPL): The Touchscreen

appleIt is getting harder and harder to find any flaws in Apple’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) businesses. The company’s shares trade at $190, very near their all-time high. Analysts expect record results from the company for the calendar fourth quarter as holiday shoppers drive better-than-usual sales of iPods, Macs, and iPhones.

comScore (NASDAQ:SCOR) released data that shows touchscreen smartphone sales up 159% from August 2008 to August 2009 when units sold hit 23.8 million. The growth was much greater than that for the total smartphone category which was up 63% in the US for the same period to 33.8 million units. Read More »

Posted on: November 3, 2009 – 2:43 pm in PC Companies, Wireless, , , , ,

As Market Plunges, Major Stocks Fall Under $10 (Part 2) (LTD, OMTR, RSH, RGS, SCOR, LUV, SBUX, WFMI)

Burningmoney_2It has been almost impossible for most stocks to avoid the carnageand mayhem of late.  It is interesting just how many widely held stocks have broken under the $10.00 share price level today.  This can screw up optionstrading and begins to genuinely worry investors who were alreadyworried.  Shares never dip under $10.00 because things are great.

Limited Brands (NYSE: LTD) broke $10.00 Monday, and it keeps looking farther and farther away at $8.80.  Candles, body products, and undies… not recession-proof.

Omniture (NASDAQ: OMTR) re-broke the $10.00 barrier this week. Business optimization must not be good when the recession is there whether you optimize or not.

Read More »

Posted on: November 12, 2008 – 2:53 pm in HI/LOW, Trading Alert, , , , , , , ,

Google (GOOG) Beats Yahoo! (YHOO) Like A Rented Mule

comScore (SCOR) and other analysts made the mistake of saying that Google’s click-through rates on the text advertising that runs next to its search results we not doing very well in Q1. Earnings from the search company showed otherwise. The stock soared and that was that.

Now, comScore has come out with it April figures and Google’s click rates are rising with its share price. The Wall Street Journal writes "according to comScore, Google saw better-than-expected 20% growth in U.S. paid clicks in April compared with the same period a year earlier."

The numbers for Yahoo! (YHOO) dropped 4.4% from the same month a year ago. Microsoft’s (MSFT) performance was off 9%.

Does it matter if Microsoft buys Yahoo!? Based on the fact that both are losing search share, a marriage may do little. Now it appears that the advertising systems at the No.2 and No.3 search operations are losing momentum while Google moves forward like a clipper ship under full sail.

The competition for search may be ending, so the portals like MSN and Yahoo! may have to find a new way to make money. Both are getting deeply into the targeted display ad business which could increase efficiency for that kind of marketing on the web.

It better work.

Douglas A. McIntyre

Posted on: May 30, 2008 – 4:51 am in Internet, , , ,

Top 10 Pre-Market Analyst Calls (AGN, SCOR, BOOM, EQ, GPS, HRC, JWN, MORN, PCLN, RSH)

These are ten of the analyst calls we see impacting shares this Friday morning:

  • Allergan (NYSE: AGN) cut to Hold at Jefferies.
  • ComScore (NASDAQ: SCOR) raised to Outperform at Oppenheimer.
  • Dynamic Materials (NASDAQ: BOOM) cut to Neutral at JP Morgan.
  • Embarq (NYSE: EQ) raised to buy at Deutsche Bank.
  • Gap Inc. (NYSE: GPS) cut to Neutral at Banc of America.
  • Hill-rom (NYSE: HRC) started as Outperform at Oppenheimer.
  • Nordstrom (NYSE: JWN) raised to Outperform at Credit Suisse.
  • Morningstar (NASDAQ: MORN) raised to Outperform at Keefe Bruyette
  • Priceline.com (NASDAQ: PCLN) cut to Hold at Citigroup.
  • RadioShack (NYSE: RSH) raised to Buy at Banc of America.

Jon C. Ogg
May 2, 2008

Posted on: May 2, 2008 – 6:55 am in Analyst Calls, , , , , , , , , ,

Top 10 Pre-Market Analyst Calls (AAPL, AMAT, BMC, COLM, SCOR, KLAC, NVLS, TJX, SONC, TIN)

These are the top analyst calls that 247WallSt.com is focusing on this Monday morning:

  • Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) Raised to Overweight from Market Weight at Thomas Weisel.
  • Applied Materials (NASDAQ: AMAT) Cut To Neutral from Outperform at Credit Suisse.
  • BMC Software (NYSE: BMC) Cut to Neutral from Buy at Goldman Sachs.
  • Columbia Sportswear (NASDAQ: COLM) Cut to Sell From Hold at Citigroup.
  • ComScore(NASDAQ: SCOR) Raised to Buy from Hold at Jefferies.
  • KLA Tencor (NASDAQ: KLAC) Raised to Buy from Hold at Citigroup.
  • Novellus Systems (NASDAQ: NVLS) Raised to Equal-weight from Underweight By Lehman.
  • TJX (NYSE: TJX) Cut to Hold from Buy at Citigroup.
  • Sonic (NASDAQ: SONC) Started as Overweight at Lehman Brothers.
  • Temple-Inland (NYSE: TIN) Raised to Buy from Hold at Citigroup.

Jon C. Ogg
April 7, 2008

Posted on: April 7, 2008 – 6:56 am in Analyst Calls, , , , , , , , , ,

Data Differentiates Newspaper Vs. Online News Reader Characteristics (SCOR, JRC, MNI, NYT, JRN, GCI)

If you have read any of our commentary or probably most other commentary online, you know that newspapers are not exactly the next growth engine in the economy.  In fact, they are probably losing the same percentage of their client base at the same rate as Southern California loses smokers.  Tonight we saw a report out of comScore (NASDAQ: SCOR) that outlines some of the differences between online news readers and newspaper readers.  You can read that full report from comScore here.

We actually run a newsletter called the "Old Media/New Media Newsletter" here that our own Doug McIntyre produces each week.  We make the case for or against certain media properties such as newspapers, radio, cable, television, and the internet.  Believe it or not, we actually just covered some newspapers that we identified as survivors.  Sure some we covered as likely funeral candidates as well.  This went out Sunday night to our readers and we’ve just taken it off embargo if you would like to read a copy. 

Companies mentioned in the report are Journal Register (NYSE: JRC), McClatchy (NYSE: MNI), Journal News (NYSE: JRN), Gannett (NYSE: GCI), The Washington Post (NYSE: WPO), and the New York Times (NYSE: NYT).  Not all of those are buys, but some will actually survive the secular trend working against the sector.  Take a Test ride.

Jon C. Ogg
March 13, 2008

Posted on: March 13, 2008 – 5:20 pm in Media, , , , , ,

comScore Clarifies Its Google Click Comments (GOOG)

Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) is seeing a stock recovery after comScore (NASDAQ: SCOR) put out a clarification on its blog today.  We received an email from comScore a short while ago confirming that link.

Here is what you will want to key on first:  "While we do not claim that these concerns are unwarranted, we believe a careful analysis of our search data does not lend them direct support. More specifically, the evidence suggests that the softness in Google’s paid click metrics is primarily a result of Google’s own quality initiatives that result in a reduction in the number of paid listings and, therefore, the opportunity for paid clicks to occur."

Google shares were down as much as $10 today and on last look shares were almost positive for the day.

At $473.00, it is still at the lower-end of the $437.00 to $747.24 trading range over the last 52-weeks.  Shares were north of $500.00 before the data killed the stock on Monday.

Jon C. Ogg
February 29, 2008

Posted on: February 29, 2008 – 1:12 pm in Analyst Calls, Internet, ,

comScore’s Own Guidance Measured Short By Traders (SCOR)

It appears that Internet audience measurement service comScore Inc. (NASDAQ: SCOR) is being treated roughly on its guidance after earnings this evening.

The company just posted revenues of $25.3 million, compared to its $25.0 to $25.3 million prior range and compared to First Call estimates of $25.18 million.  Its GAAP EPS was $0.42 at $12.7 million, but this included an income tax benefit of $8.1 million and included a $392,000 charge from its IPO.  Its non-GAAP earnings were were $0.21 based upon $6.4 million.  It had previously guided $6.2 to $6.5 million in non-GAAP earnings and First Call had estimates at $0.19 non-GAAP EPS.

comScore also noted that deferred revenue was $33.0 million and it added 58 new customers to total 895 customers.

ComScore is putting next quarter guidance at $0.10 to $0.11 non-GAAP EPS on $25.9 to $26.2 million in revenues, while First Call has estimates at $0.16 EPS on $25.3+ million in revenues.  comScore is also putting guidance for 2008 at $0.55 to $0.58 non-GAAP EPS on $112.2 to $113.2 million in annual revenues, while First Call has estimates at $0.79 non-GAAP EPS on $112.6 million in revenues.  We would note that this guidance for 2008 may be impacted by a deferred tax item.  We’d also note that the company noted it has a seasonally high burden in the first quarter due to payroll taxes and vacation accruals, and it even noted a ramp up in sales and technology groups.

Shares closed up over 6% today at $27.45.  But as the market is in a show-me mode, shares  are trading down 11% from its closing price at $24.40 in after-hours trading.  The 52-week trading range is $19.70 to $42.00.

Jon C. Ogg
February 7, 2008

Posted on: February 7, 2008 – 5:17 pm in Earnings, Internet, ,

Key Tech Upgrades & Downgrades (AMCC, CTXS, SCOR, EBAY, FFIV, GRMN, LSI, MFE, MCHP, OMTR, SONS, SYMC, THQI, WDC)

Below are some of the key upgrades and downgrades from Wall Street analysts seen in the technology sectors this morning:

  • Applied Micro (AMCC) raised estimates at Goldman Sachs.
  • Citrix Systems (CTXS) raised estimates at Goldman Sachs.
  • comScore (SCOR) started as Outperform at Oppenheimer.
  • eBay (EBAY) downgraded to Hold from Buy at Citigroup (thanks for that timely call Citi, they might get the most useless call of the week); maintained buy but target lowered to $38 at Goldman Sachs.
  • F5 Networks (FFIV) raised to Outperform at Baird.
  • Garmin (GRMN) raised to Outperform at Oppenheimer.
  • LSI (LSI) raised estimates at Goldman Sachs.
  • McAfee (MFE) raised to Buy at Citigroup; raised to Outperform at Bear Stearns.
  • Microchip Tech (MCHP) raised to Outperform at Morgan Keegan.
  • Omniture (OMTR) started as Outperform at Oppenheimer.
  • Sonus Networks (SONS) raised to Buy at Cantor Fitzgerald.
  • Symantec (SYMC) raised estimates at Goldman Sachs.
  • THQ Inc. (THQI) downgraded to Sell at Broadpoint.
  • Western Digital (WDC) raised to Buy at Deutsche Bank; estimates raised at Goldman Sachs.

Jon C. Ogg
January 24, 2008

Posted on: January 24, 2008 – 8:02 am in Analyst Calls, Technology Companies, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

comScore Already Tapping Capital Markets… Too Soon (SCOR)

comScore, Inc. (NASDAQ:SCOR) has only been public since June of this year, and it is and insiders are already tapping the public markets for cash.  In a filing this morning comScore filed to sell 6,052,453 shares in a secondary offering.  Of the shares being sold, only 1,344,809 shares of common stock are coming from the company itself and selling stockholders are selling 4,707,644 shares.  That number is too skewed to be that well received by the market. 

This should take this one off anyone’s radar that was hoping for a buyout in the near future, and this will take care of the status on our own 24/7 Wall St. Small Cap Internet Watch List as any sort of potential buyout target any time in the near future.  The underwriting group is huge: Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, Jefferies, William Blair, Friedman Billings Ramsey, Needham, ThinkEquity, and Signal Hill.

We have screened this and reviewed it for our own Special Situation Investing Newsletter and for our "Old Media/New Media" letter, but this one won’t be under review for a while now.

comScore’s ratings and rankings have become quite popular on WallStreet and on Silicon Valley’s Main Street.  But this is accessing thecapital markets too soon.  comScore closed at $28.74 yesterday, and the52-week trading range is $19.70 to $42.00.  Shares are down over 1.5%at the open in reaction.

Jon C. Ogg
November 21, 2007

Posted on: November 21, 2007 – 9:36 am in Internet, Secondary Offering,

Pre-Market Stock News (June 27, 2007)

(ANDW) Andrew Corp being acquired for $15.00 per share.
(APOG) Apogee Enterprises $0.34 EPS vs $0.23e; unsure if comparable.
(AUTH) AuthenTec priced its 7.5M share IPO at the top of the $9.00 to $11.00 range for 7.5 million shares.
(BAY) Bayer AG and Onyx submit supplemental new drug application for Nexavar to treat liver cancer.
(CTV) Commscope raised guidance.
(GTRC) Guitar Center being acquired by Bain Capital for $63.00 per share.
(ISTA) ISTA Pharmaceuticals will raise $36.75 million in private placement.
(JSDA) Jones Soda announced exclusive formula use pact in Japan.
(KVHI) KVH Industries announced that Monaco Coach will add the KVH TracVision R-series of mobile satellite TV systems to their new 2008 vehicles.
(NKE) Nike $0.86 EPS vs $0.86e.
(NUVO) Nuvelo lost Bayer as R&D partner in stroke trials.
(ORCL) Oracle $0.37 EPS vs $0.35e.
(PAYX) Paychex reports earnings after close: $0.36 EPS and $496.3M revenue expected.
(RYAAY) Ryanair blocked by EU in bid to buy Aer Lingus.
(SCOR) comScore priced its 5.3 million share IPO at $16.50 per share.
(SMSC) $0.29 EPS vs $0.25e.
(SQNM) Sequenom announced it will develop HPVtest and other diagnostics with SensiGEn LLC.
(TASR) Taser announced a suit in St. Louis against the company was voluntarily dismissed.
(TOPP) Topps Co. said Upper Deck has initiated a $10.75 per share tender.
(YMI) YM BioSciences received FDA Clearance for an IND for its fentanyl-based pain product.
(YUM) Yum! Brands trades ex-split to reflect a 2-1 stock split.

Jon C. Ogg
June 27, 2007

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

Posted on: June 27, 2007 – 7:06 am in Pre-Market Activity, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

comScore Prices IPO: 5.3 Million Shares at $16.50 (SCOR)

comScore, Inc. (SCOR-NASDAQ) priced its 5.3 million share IPO at $16.50 per share, with 5.0 million shares coming from the company itself and 300,000 shares coming from selling shareholders. Credit Suisse and Deutsche Bank are listed as lead underwriters and co-managers are listed as William Blair, Friedman Billings Ramsey, and Jefferies & Co.

In 2006, the company posted revenues of $66.3 million and listed cash flow at $10.9 million.  Subscription revenues to its premium data are roughly 75% of revenues.   More can be found here from the filing in April.

Jon C. Ogg
June 26, 2007

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

Posted on: June 27, 2007 – 6:30 am in IPOs, Internet,