BP plc (NYSE: BP) has literally been all over the place.  Its earnings came out with a huge loss after the spill charges.  Hayward is gone as CEO and Dudley is replacing him.  Shares were up $0.03 at $38.63 on over 1 million ADRs with more than 30 minutes to open.

Rambus Inc. (NASDAQ: RMBS) was already active in options yesterday ahead of the NVIDIA Corp. (NASDAQ: NVDA) ruling, where the ITC ruled FOR Rambus and AGAINST NVIDIA.  Rambus is up almost 10% at $21.50 on over 100,000 shares; NVIDIA is actually up 0.1% at $10.56 on over 200,000 shares. The logic here is that NVIDIA will just pay a royalty.

Regions Financial Corp. (NYSE: RF) is up almost 5% at $7.43 on more than 1.2 million shares in the pre-market after its loss from operations was lower than expected.  Te 52-week trading range here is $3.69 to $9.33.

Sanmina-SCI Corporation (NASDAQ: SANM) closed up 4.6% at $15.86 but shares are down almosy 7% around $14.75 this morning on thin volume.  The EMS outfit posted a profit on a mixed fanfare in the quarter and its guidance is mostly in-line. Keep in mind that the 52-week range is $0.73 to $20.30.

Valero Energy Corp. (NYSE: VLO) reported a $583 million profit, which appears to be the first real profit in more than a year.  Shares are up 4.25% at $18.31 on over 150,000 shares having traded in the pre-market.

Veeco Instruments Inc. (NASDAQ: VECO) was up over 4% yesterday and is up 4.9% at $44.89 on about 30,000 shares.  The company beat earnings estimates and raised guidance, but keep in mind that the 52-week range is $14.06 to $54.50.

Volterra Semiconductor Corporation (NASDAQ: VLTR) reported a gain in Q2 profit and sales but said its Q3 projections are in-line.  Shares are down 6.55% at $25.84 on almost 20,000 shares.

Zoran Corporation (NASDAQ: ZRAN) Q2 was mixed, but Q3 guidance was short of expectations and it is becoming a serial-disappointment.  Shares are down 11.5% at $8.65 on more than 20,000 shares.

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JON C. OGG

• AuthenTec (AUTH) Started At Buy at Stanford Group.
• CBRL Group (CBRL) Raised to Outperform at Raymond James.
• Cheesecake Factory (CAKE) Raised to Outperform at Raymond James.
• Darden Restaurants (DRI) Raised to Outperform at Raymond James.
• Kroger (KR) Raised to Buy at Jefferies.
• Lions Gate (LGF) Raised to Buy at Jefferies.
• Panera Bread (PNRA) Raised to Outperform at Raymond James.
• PharMerica (PMC) Started as Outperform at Oppenheimer.
• Volterra Semiconductor (VLTR) Raised to Buy at Piper Jaffray.

Jon C. Ogg
October 21, 2008

• Alliance Data (NYSE: ADS) raised to Overweight at JPMorgan.
• Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN) started as Neutral at JPMorgan.
• Host Hotels & Resorts (NYSE: HST) Cut To Hold From Buy By Deutsche Bank.
• Jefferies Group (NYSE: JEF) Cut to Neutral at Banc of America.
• Medco Health Solutions (NYSE: MHS) raised to Buy at Jefferies.
• National City (NYSE: NCC) raised to Buy at Deutsche Bank; Downgraded to Underperform at Bear Stearns.
• Red Hat (NYSE: RHT) started as Buy at Piper Jaffray.
• Salesforce.com (NYSE: CRM) started as Buy at Piper Jaffray.
• Syntax-Brillian (NASDAQ: BRLC) raised to Outperform at Robert W. Baird.
• Volterra Semi (NASDAQ: VLTR) raised to Buy at Piper Jaffray.

Jon C. Ogg
April 22, 2008

Jon Ogg is a producer of and editor for both the Special Situations newsletter and the "10 Stocks Under $10" weekly newsletter for 247WallSt.com; he can be reached at jonogg@247wallst.com and he does not own securities in the companies he covers.

Jon C. Ogg
June 6, 2007