Posts for Ticker ‘TASR’

Top Analyst Upgrades (ARLP, MDRX, FDO, GFI, LOW, MSSR, MDR, TASR)

These are the top upgrades and positive calls we have seen from analysts on Wall Street this Friday morning:

  • Alliance Resource (ARLP) Raised to Buy at Citigroup.
  • Allscripts-Misys Healthcare (MDRX) Started as Outperform at Morgan Keegan.
  • Family Dollar (FDO) Raised to Neutral at JPMorgan.
  • Gold Fields (GFI) Raised to Overweight at JPMorgan.
  • Lowe’s (LOW) Raised To Outperform at FBR.
  • McCormick & Schmick’s (MSSR) Raised to Outperform at Oppenheimer.
  • McDermott (MDR) Raised to Buy at Jefferies.
  • TASER (TASR) Raised to Buy at Merriman Curhan Ford.

JON C. OGG

Posted on: March 6, 2009 – 7:39 am in Analyst Calls, , , , , , , ,

Top Pre-Market Analyst Downgrades (ANF, AFFY, T, CPHD, DAI, RF, STJ, TASR, NCTY, TIF, WTSLA)

These are some of the top analyst Downgrades and negative calls we are seeing early this Friday morning:

  • Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF) Cut to Neutral at Banc of America.
  • Affymax (AFFY) Cut to Hold at Deutsche Bank.
  • AT&T (T) Cut to Neutral at JPMorgan.
  • Cepheid (CPHD) Cut to Underperform at Jefferies.
  • Daimler (DAI) Cut to Neutral at HSBC.
  • Regions Financial (RF) Cut to Neutral at Banc of America.
  • St. Jude Medical (STJ) Started as Neutral at Piper Jaffray.
  • TASER (TASR) Cut to Neutral at Merriman Curhan Ford.
  • The9 Ltd. (NCTY) Cut to Sell at Goldman Sachs.
  • Tiffany (TIF) Cut to Sell at Banc of America.
  • Wet Seal (WTSLA) Cut to Neutral at Piper Jaffray.

Jon C. Ogg
July 25, 2008

Posted on: July 25, 2008 – 6:30 am in Analyst Calls, , , , , , , , , , ,

The 52-Week Low Club (TASR)(EK)(GHS)(MNI)(WB)(WM)(MBI)(ABK)

Washington Mutual (WM) Concerns about the financial crisis burn like wildfire. Drops sharply to $6.14 from 52-week high of $44.19.

AMBAC (ABK) Sells off to $2.02 after downgrades. The 52-week high was $89.33.

MBIA (MBI) Also hit by downgrades and drops to $4.78 from 52-week high of $68.98.

Wachovia (WB) Flamed. Down to $18.22 from 52-week high of $54.54.

Gatehouse (GHS) Newspapers still hit hard. Falls to $3.50 from 52-week high of $19.64.

McClatchy (MNI) Another newspaper company sells off to $7.77 from 52-week high of $28.73.

Eastman Kodak (EK) Commodities costs are killing margins. Dips to $13.48 from 52-week high of $30.20.

Taser (TASR) Lawsuit set-back. Falls to $6 from 52-week high of $19.26

Posted on: June 9, 2008 – 5:47 pm in HI/LOW, , , , , , , ,

Law Firms Go After TASER Short Sellers (TASR)

A legal consortium of law firms has just filed suit on behalf of certain shareholders of TASER International Inc. (NASDAQ: TASR).  Two Houston-based firms, The O’Quinn Law Firm and Christian Smith & Jewell, and Atlanta-based Bondurant, Mixson & Elmore, LLP filed a Complaint in the State Court of Fulton County, Georgia.  This suit is against some of the top Wall Street bulge-bracket firms.  Listed in the complaint are the following:

  • Bank of America Securities;
  • Bear Stearns;
  • Credit Suisse USA;
  • DeutscheBank Securities;
  • Goldman Sachs;
  • Merrill Lynch;
  • Morgan Stanley;
  • and UBSSecurities.

The complaint does not stop at naked short selling.  This one alleges a flood of counterfeit shares that were put in the market to allow short sales.  To take things even further, this alleges RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization) violations in the State of Georgia.  RICO should turn this into a criminal matter rather than just a civil matter like most class action lawsuits, assuming that stays in the suit.

If you look at Taser’s short interest on NASDAQ for May 15, 2008, it has crept back up to 17,208,352 shares listed as short.  That is 8.6 days to cover, and apparently just over 30% of the float.  But that level is also much less than the 19.2 million shares short in mid-March and less than the 20+ million readings seen in short interest in January and February.

Jon C. Ogg
May 28, 2008

Posted on: May 28, 2008 – 10:26 am in Cult Stock, Law, Short Interest,

The 52-Week Low Club (SOV)(SCSS)(SBUX)(TSFG)

Sovereign Bancorp (SOV) Moody’s cuts rating. Drops to $6.48 from 52-week high of $24.71.

Select Comfort  (SCSS) Quarter short of expectation. Down to $2.45 from 52-week high of $19.03.

Taser (TASR) Misses estimates for quarter. Sells off to $7.30 from 52-week high of $19.36.

Starbucks (SBUX) What a mess. Misses every number imaginable. Drops to $15.39 from 52-week high of $32.30.

South Financial Group (TSFG) Posts a first quarter loss. Off to $6.02 from 52-week high of $24.79.

Douglas A. McIntyre

Posted on: April 24, 2008 – 2:52 pm in HI/LOW, , , ,

Top 10 Pre-Market Analyst Calls (CPLA, CEPH, DYN, HBC, MS, SGP, SLM, TASR, TROW, VISN)

Below are the top analyst calls that 247WallSt.com is looking at this morning:

  • Capella Education (NASDAQ: CPLA) started as Neutral at JPMorgan.
  • Cephalon (NASDAQ: CEPH) raised to Strong Buy at Broadpoint.
  • Dynegy (NYSE: DYN) raised to Buy from Hold at Citigroup.
  • HSBC Holdings (NYSE: HBC) raised to Buy at UBS.
  • Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) downgraded to Market Perform from Outperform at Oppenheimer.
  • Schering Plough (NYSE: SGP) raised to Buy at UBS.
  • SLM (NYSE: SLM) raised to Outperform at FBR.
  • Taser (NASDAQ: TASR) started as Overweight at JPMorgan.
  • T. Rowe Price (NASDAQ: TROW) downgraded to Neutral at Credit Suisse.
  • VisionChina Media (NASDAQ: VISN) started as Outperform at Credit Suisse.

Jon C. Ogg
February 13, 2008

Posted on: February 13, 2008 – 7:34 am in Analyst Calls, , , , , , , , , ,

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, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Pre-Market Stock News (November 14, 2007)

Below is some of the top news pre-market:

  • Applied Materials (AMAT) reports earnings after close; estimates are $0.29 EPS & R$2.38B.
  • BEA Systems (BEAS) said it expects to submit SEC filings tomorrow to regain compliance.
  • Canadian Solar (CSIQ) trading up over 25% after beating earnings and raising guidance.
  • CDC Corp. (CHINA) announced that its CDC Software expects record revenues this quarter.
  • E*Trade (ETFC) trading up another 3% pre-market.
  • GigaMedia (GIGM) $0.17 EPS vs $0.14 est.
  • HSBC Holdings plc (HBC) taking a $3.4 Billion charge on bad loans in U.S.
  • Meridian BioScience (VIVO) $0.16 EPS vs $0.15 est.
  • MetroPCS (PCS) $0.15 EPS vs $0.13 est.
  • Northstar Neuroscience (NSTR) now expects to unblind EVEREST data and announce primary endpoint results in Jan-2008 and submit PMA early in Q2-2008; for stroke motor recovery and its planned PMA submission; after FDA communications.
  • Pepsico (PEP) reaffirmed guidance of $3.39 EPS for 2007 and cash flows of $7 Billion.
  • Qualcomm (QCOM) hosts its analyst day, Dutch court dismissed one of Nokia’s patent claims against Qualcomm; announced acquisition of Firethorn for mobile banking.
  • Rigel Pharms (RIGL) said that Merck-Serono exercised an option to R763/AS703569 and Aurora Kinase inhibitors in Japan.
  • Rockwell Collins (COL) increased its buyback plan by $300 million.
  • Taser (TASR) reported 3 large orders that will ship this quarter.

Jon C. Ogg
November 14, 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 14, 2007 – 8:19 am in Pre-Market Activity, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Early Research Calls 8/20/2007

Merriman upgrades Taser (TASR) from neutral to buy.

Lehman (LEH) upgrades Motorola (MOT) from equal weight to overweight.

Sun Trust starts Penn Virginia with a buy and $54 price target.

Cowen upgrades Lab Corp (LH) from neutral to outperform.

RBC starts VMWare (VMW) at sector perform.

Douglas A. McIntyre

Posted on: August 30, 2007 – 6:29 am in Analyst Calls, , , ,

TASER & iRobot: Creating the Terminator? (TASR, IRBT)

TASER International, Inc. (TASR-NASDAQ) has announced a strategic alliance with iRobot Corp. (IRBT-NASDAQ) to develop a new robotic capability utilizing TASER(r) technologies. This combination of capabilities is intended to allow law enforcement, federal, and military users to employ TASER technology from an iRobot(r) platform at a safe distance to engage, incapacitate, and control dangerous suspects without exposing those personnel, the suspect, or bystanders to unnecessary risks.

The two companies have initially integrated TASER(r) X26 electronic control device technology into the iRobot PackBot(r) Explorer. This proof-of-concept integration is being shown to Law Enforcement and Military customers to explore customer needs and requirements. The companies expect these initial customer interactions will lead to the development of products that may include a full line of TASER kits for iRobot platforms to a family of fully integrated robots.

This sounds sort of like a natural fit, although you have to wonder how effective or how robust this will really be for a long time.  If they can make it look like Arnold Schwarzenegger they may have a real hit on their hands.

Jon C. Ogg
June 28, 2007

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

Posted on: June 28, 2007 – 7:32 am in Defense, ,

Pre-Market Stock News (June 28, 2007)

(AAPL) Apple’s iPhone launches tomorrow.
(ABPI) Accentia Biopharma announced favorable interim blinded data on SinuNase in its fast-tracked pivotal Phase III clinical trial.
(ALVR) Alvarion in pact with Australian government over a WiMAX contract for rural and regional broadband.
(AMSC) American Superconductor won two new Dept of Energy superconductor power grid projects totaling $21.7 million.
(ATML) Atmel $0.06 EPS vs $0.05e.
(BBBY) Bed Bath & Beyond $0.38 EPS vs $0.37e.
(BZH) Beazer Homes fired chief accounting officer.
(CAMD) California Micro lowered guidance.
(CRMT) America’s Car-Mart $0.12 EPS vs $0.10e.
(D) Dominion will initiate a modified Dutch Auction for roughly 55 million shares of its own common stock.
(DRIV) Digital River traded down more than 10% after an earnings warning.
(F) Ford announced zero percent financing incentives for 3-years.
(GIS) General Mills $0.62 EPS vs $0.63e.
(GRB) Gerber Scientific $0.24 EPS vs $0.23e.
(IMA) Inverness Medical announces FDA clearance of the BinaxNOW malaria antigen detection rapid test.
(KBH) KB Homes -$1.93 EPS vs $0.07e; unsure if charges are in numbers.
(NVLS) Novellus guides orders and bookings toward lower-end of prior range.
(PALM) Palm announces earnings after the close.
(PAYX) Paychex $0.36 EPS vs $0.36e.
(PLA) Playboy is opening a Playboy Mansion in Macau in 2009 according to USA Today.
(RAD) Rite-Aid $0.04 EPS vs -$0.01 estimate; unsure if comparable.
(RHT) Red Hat $0.16 EPS & $118.9M revenues (estimates were $0.15/$117.15M).
(RIMM) R-I-M announces earnings after the close.
(STZ) Constellation Brands names Rob Sands CEO effective July 26.
(TASR) Taser formed an alliance with iRobot.
(VOD) Vodafone is in talks to get Apple’s iPhone exclusive in Europe.

Jon C. Ogg
June 28, 2007

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

Posted on: June 28, 2007 – 7:17 am in Pre-Market Activity, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Pre-Market Stock News (June 19, 2007)

(ALTH) Allos Therapeutics trading down 20% after its Phase III study of Efaproxyn failed to meet primary endpoint of improvement in overall survival.
(BAY) Bayer raised guidance on Schering integration.
(BMY) Bristol-Myers: FDA Grants Priority Review for Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Investigational Oncology Treatment Ixabepilone.
(BTU) Peabody Energy was named Cramer’s favorite pick in the coal sector.
(CLRK) Color Kinetics trading up 11% at $33.00+ on $34 buyout from Philips Electronics.
(CPKI) California Pizza Kitchen trades ex-split today to reflect a 3-2 stock Split.
(CUB) Cubic received a $468 million contract to give mission support to Army readiness training center.
(DAL) Delta is considering a 125 Boeing order for Dreamliners.
(DJ) Dow Jones may get a bid from billionaire Ron Burkle.
(EXPE) Expedia buying back $3.5 Billion in stock.
(FDS) FactSet $0.52 EPS vs $0.51 estimate.
(GE) GE buying controlling stake in natural gas pipeline Regency for $603 million.
(INO) Inovio Biomedical’s selective electrochemical tumor ablation therapy demonstrated safety, tolerability, and complete responses in breast cancer study.
(LNET) LodgeNet noted positively by Cramer on Mad Money.
(MRO) Marathon Oil trades ex-split today to reflect a 2-1 stock split.
(PRGS) Progress Software $0.45 EPS vs $0.41e.
(STR) Questar trades ex-split to reflect a 2-1 stock split.
(SGMO) Sangamo BioScience reached milestones in agriculture collaboration with Dow AgroSciences.
(SIRI) SIRIUS signed Volkswagen as standard equipment on all Touareg, New Beetle, New Beetle Convertible, GTI, and GLI sales for the 2008 models.
(TASR) TASER announced foreign order for 1,375 devices.
(TSN) Tyson making product announcementthis morning.
(YHOO) Yahoo! trading up 8% after Semel stepped down as CEO and co-founder Jerry Yang came back as CEO; Semel remaining non-executive Chairman.
(ZGEN) ZymoGenetics entered a global collaboration pact with Bayer for development and commercialization of recombinant human thrombin.

Jon C. Ogg
June 19, 2007

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

Posted on: June 19, 2007 – 7:11 am in Pre-Market Activity, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,