The Coming Week's Must-See Stock Events (AAPL, T, VZ, BRK-A, BIG, BGP, CSCO, DVN, DISH, HRL, FLWS, UNTD, JDSU, JPM, EGPT, NYX, HAWK, SIRI)

We have many big events to watch for in the coming week at American Water Works Company, Inc. (NYSE: AWK), Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL), AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T), Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ), Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE: BRK-A), Big Lots Inc. (NYSE: BIG), Borders Group, Inc. (NYSE: BGP), Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO), Devon Energy Corporation (NYSE: DVN), Dish Network Corporation (NASDAQ: DISH), Hormel Foods Corp. (NYSE: HRL), 1-800-Flowers.com Inc. (NASDAQ: FLWS), United Online, Inc. (NASDAQ: UNTD), JDS Uniphase Corporation (NASDAQ: JDSU), J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM), Market Vectors Egypt Index ETF (NYSE: EGPT), NYSE Euronext, Inc. (NYSE: NYX), Seahawk Drilling, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAWK) and SIRIUS XM Radio Inc. (NASDAQ: SIRI).

American Water Works Company, Inc. (NYSE: AWK) has so far not really pulled back at all since we named it as one of ten stocks to own for the next decade.  Investors want to own the shares but it hasn’t given an opportunity as the $26.62 price is against the 52-week range of $19.41 to $26.88. The company meets investors this coming Tuesday.

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) was a part of the Barron’s cover story as #1 for “The Most Respected Companies.”  The companies behind it, Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) and Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE: BRK-A).  Speaking of Amazon, Alan Abelson gave the bearish side of the stock of the ecommerce giant.

AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) is losing customers to Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ) probably worse than expected due to the new iPhone launch this last Thursday.   Workers at two different stores locally this weekend during my attempt to upgrade said that over half of the iPhone buys were actually AT&T customer defections who were moving to Verizon.  If that continues, the risks for AT&T may remain higher than some have considered.

Speaking of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE: BRK-A), it has its latest holdings due this week.  The latest portfolio had many big changes from the prior quarter and this will set what Buffett holds for 2011.

Big Lots Inc. (NYSE: BIG) was up almost 2% on Friday on expectations that a buyer would emerge as early as this coming week.  Shares went from $34 to $39 on the news that it was up for grabs, and closed out the week at $41.57 with a new 52-week range of $27.82 to $41.59.

Borders Group Inc. (NYSE: BGP) was down 32% Friday and the reports are leaning toward a bankruptcy filing as soon as this coming week.  A bankruptcy will almost certainly hand the company over to creditors and debtholders with common shareholders getting the shaft.

Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO) hit a new 52-week low of $18.61 on Friday after its second earnings dud in a row.  Investors want more from the company and John Chambers is becoming inept in explaining his dividend plans.  With gross margins so high and with the countless billions spend on share buybacks having yielded ZERO for shareholders, investors need to show up with pitchforks and hatchets to demand that the dividend launch kicks off.  Chambers just doesn’t get it now, even if he is still a great CEO who knows how to buy and integrate businesses while micromanaging every salesperson’s results.  Stocks which hit 52-week lows tend to keep hitting 52-week lows.

Devon Energy Corporation (NYSE: DVN) was featured in Barron’s this weekend in a article “A Champ Among Drillers” with great upside based upon low oil costs for its vast reserves, share buybacks, and more.  The Barron’s outlook is for $100 or higher in Devon shares over the next year, but the average analyst target from Thomson Reuters is $90.61 versus a $86.44 close on Friday.

Dish Network Corporation (NASDAQ: DISH) rallied sharply on a research call from Credit Suisse calling for AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) to buy the company.  Be advised, these ‘rumors’ are not the first time around at all.

Hormel Foods Corp. (NYSE: HRL) has its upcoming 2-for-1 stock split after the close on Monday.  At $51.30, its 52-week range is $38.76 to $52.27.

1-800-Flowers.com Inc. (NASDAQ: FLWS) has hardly budged ahead of Valentine’s Day. At $2.83 on Friday, its close a week before was $ 2.76 and its 52-week trading range is $1.52 to $3.66.  United Online, Inc. (NASDAQ: UNTD) also owns the more widely used FTD for flowers and gifts and its shares did not budge at all this week.  If Valentine’s Day doesn’t help, what will?

JDS Uniphase Corporation (NASDAQ: JDSU) hosts its Analyst Day 2011 on Thursday after the close.  After an 11.5% gain on Friday to $28.16, this was under $23.00 as recently as just last Tuesday and was under $18 back just on February 3.  How the tide changes.

J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) has its investor day this coming Tuesday.  The big question… Is the bank going to finally be able to reinstate its dividend?  This is one of the biggest dividend stories of 2011.

Market Vectors Egypt Index ETF (NYSE: EGPT) is going to have a wild move now that Egypt’s stock exchange is reopening (maybe Wednesday rather than Sunday).  This ETF has been trading like a closed-end fund whose underlying index it tracks has been without any trading for over two weeks.  Beware the thin volume, wide spreads, and the lack of new creation baskets.  Shares closed at $16.22 on Friday Jan. 28 and shares closed this last Friday at $18.60 on the highest volume since the crisis started.

NYSE Euronext, Inc. (NYSE: NYX) is about to get a lot of heat this coming week for its proposed Deutsche Bourse merger.  It seems that many Americans do not want the leading stock exchange in the world under a German flag.  The exchange members are going to be for it because the transaction drives the value of their shares higher.  Regulators are expected to offer much scrutiny here.

Seahawk Drilling, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAWK) lost roughly half of its value on Friday after saying it will file for bankruptcy protection and sell its rigs to Hercules.  The company had a mere $4 million market cap at the close, but shares were effectively cut in half in Friday’s after-hours session.  Shares were down 49% at $4.00 on over 68,000 after-hours session. Seahawk is now Seachicken.

SIRIUS XM Radio Inc. (NASDAQ: SIRI) hit a year high of $1.85 on Friday and will be one to watch this coming week and beyond.  w that shares have run up so much.  Its closest competing interest outside of terrestrial radio is Pandora Radio, and Pandora just filed to come public via an IPO.

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JON C. OGG