Brent Archer
Virginia, US - http://www.investorsobserver.com
Brent Archer is an options analyst and writer at Investors Observer.
Lion's Gate Buoyed By Hostile Icahn Bid
Lions Gate Entertainment (LGF - option chain) shares are rising this morning after activist investor Carl Icahn announced a hostile takeover bid for the company. LGF had rejected his offer to take a larger stake in the company earlier in the week. He had made a tender offer of $6 per share, which he declined to raise this morning. A bid like this will usually create a floor for a stock's price, which can make an options trade with a bullish stance safer. If you think that the stock won't fall by too much in the coming months, then now could be a good time to look at a bullish hedged trade on LGF.LGF opened this morning at $6.24. So far today the stock has hit a low of $5.86 and a high of $6.32. As of 12:15, LGF is trading at $60.01 up 0.04 (0.7%). The chart for LGF looks bullish.
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FedEx Q2 Earnings Beat Estimates
FedEx (FDX - option chain) shares are rising slightly today after the company reported Q3 2010 earnings this morning before the market open. EPS of 0.76 beat analyst estimates of 0.72, plus the company provided an improved outlook, lifting its full-year earnings forecast. If you think that the stock won't fall by too much in the coming months, then now could be a good time to look at a bullish hedged trade on FDX.FDX opened this morning at $87.85. So far today the stock has hit a low of $87.00 and a high of $90.39. As of 11:55, FDX is trading at $90.36 up 0.49 (0.6%). The chart for FDX looks bullish and S&P gives AGN its highest 5 STARS (out of 5) strong buy ranking.
Continue reading FedEx Q2 Earnings Beat Estimates
TD Ameritrade Gives More-of-the-Same Q2 Outlook
TD Ameritrade (AMTD - option chain) stock is trading lower today after the company said its second-quarter earnings "are shaping up much like" earnings in the first quarter. AMTD also presented trading data that was very much a mixed bag, as trading volumes were down in February compared to January, but total assets were larger. If you think that the stock won't fall by too much in the coming months, then now could be a good time to look at a bullish hedged play on AMTD.This morning, AMTD opened at $18.50. So far today the stock has hit a high of $19.03 and a low of $18.35. As of 11:45, AMTD is trading at $18.93, up $0.13 (0.7%). The chart for AMTD looks bullish and S&P gives AMTD a positive 4 STARS (out of 5) buy ranking.
Continue reading TD Ameritrade Gives More-of-the-Same Q2 Outlook
Interoil Drops on Well Re-drilling Issue
Interoil (IOC - option chain) stock is trading lower today after the company said it will have to redrill part of its Antelope-2 well in Papua New Guinea due to mechanical issues. The company now expects the horizontal extension at Antelope-2 to be completed in late April. Despite crude futres being up more than 2.5% today, IOC is down a good deal on this less-than-stellar news. If you think this stock won't be rising too far in the coming months, then it could be a good time to look at a bearish hedged play on IOC.This morning, IOC opened at $66.43. So far today the stock has hit a high of $67.80 and a low of $65.00. As of 11:50, IOC is trading at $66.53, down $2.05 (-3.0%). The chart for IOC looks bearish.
Continue reading Interoil Drops on Well Re-drilling Issue
Baidu to Gain from Google's China Search Exit
Baidu.com (BIDU - option chain) shares are rising today on reports that Google (GOOG) advertisers in China have been advised to switch to its rivals, including Baidu and Sohu.com (SOHU). This is on the heels of this weekend's report that Google will shut down its Chinese search engine rather than bow to the countries strict censorship rules. If you think that the stock won't fall by too much in the coming months, then now could be a good time to look at a bullish hedged trade on Baidu.
BIDU opened this morning at $570.48. So far today the stock has hit a low of $563.20 and a high of $628.50. As of 12:35, BIDU is trading at $581.05 up $30.81 (5.6%). The chart for BIDU looks neutral and S&P gives BIDU a neutral 3 STARS (out of 5) hold ranking.
Continue reading Baidu to Gain from Google's China Search Exit
LG Display Rises On Expectation Of Price Hike
LG Display (LPL - option chain) shares are rising on reports that the company may raise prices on some of its LCD panels due to strong demand and tighter supply after the recent earthquake in Taiwan. If you think that the stock won't fall by too much in the coming months, then now could be a good time to look at a bullish hedged trade on LPL.LPL opened this morning at $15.86. So far today the stock has hit a low of $15.75 and a high of $15.94. As of 11:50, LPL is trading at $15.92 up 39 cents (2.5%). The chart for LPL looks neutral and S&P gives LPL a neutral 3 STARS (out of 5) hold ranking.
Continue reading LG Display Rises On Expectation Of Price Hike
CSX Rises on Encouraging Rail Traffic Data
CSX (CSX - option chain) shares are rising today along with most other railroad stocks after RailAmerica (RA) reported that freight carloads on its North American railroads rose 1.4 percent in February compared to February of 2009. If you think that the stock won't fall by too much in the coming months, then now could be a good time to look at a bullish hedged trade on CSX.CSX opened this morning at $49.63. So far today the stock has hit a low of $49.63 and a high of $50.98. As of 12:05, CSX is trading at $50.48 up 59 cents (1.2%). The chart for CSX looks bullish and S&P gives CSX a positive 4 STARS (out of 5) buy ranking.
Continue reading CSX Rises on Encouraging Rail Traffic Data
Allergan Rises On FDA Botox Approval
Allergan (AGN - option chain) shares are rising today after the FDA approved Allergan's drug Botox for treatment of increased muscle stiffness in the elbow, wrist and fingers in adults with upper limb spasticity. If you think that the stock won't fall by too much in the coming months, then now could be a good time to look at a bullish hedged trade on AGN.AGN opened this morning at $62.60. So far today the stock has hit a low of $61.90 and a high of $62.78. As of 12:00, AGN is trading at $62.42 up $1.07 (1.7%). The chart for AGN looks neutral and S&P gives AGN a neutral 3 STARS (out of 5) hold ranking.
Continue reading Allergan Rises On FDA Botox Approval
Continental Rises As Crude Futures Drop
Continental Airlines (CAL - option chain) shares are rising today along with most other airline stocks as crude oil futures are showing bearish indicators for the first time in two weeks. The front-month crude oil contract is down about 1% today and has fallen below its recent trading range. If you think that the stock won't fall by too much in the coming months, then now could be a good time to look at a bullish hedged trade on CAL.CAL opened this morning at $20.42. So far today the stock has hit a low of $20.37 and a high of $21.47. As of 11:45, CAL is trading at $21.21 up $1.00 (5.0%). The chart for CAL looks bullish and S&P gives CAL a its highest 5 STARS (out of 5) strong buy ranking.
Continue reading Continental Rises As Crude Futures Drop
Applied Materials Authorizes $2B Buyback and 16.7% Dividend Increase
Applied Materials (AMAT - option chain) shares are rising today after the company announced today that it has increased the size of its quarterly dividend by 16.7% and also authorized a stock repurchase program for up to $2B over the coming three years. A buyback plan like this should help to put a floor under AMAT's stock price such that even if there is some bad news for the company, the stock might not fall by too much. If you agree that the stock won't fall by too much in the coming months, then now could be a good time to look at a bullish hedged trade on AMAT.AMAT opened this morning at $12.52. So far today the stock has hit a low of $12.31 and a high of $12.53. As of 12:45, AMAT is trading at $12.39 up 0.10 (0.8%). The chart for AMAT looks bearish while S&P gives AMAT a very positive 5 STARS (out of 5) strong buy ranking.
Continue reading Applied Materials Authorizes $2B Buyback and 16.7% Dividend Increase
Apple Sets Date for iPad Sales
Apple (AAPL - option chain) shares are rising today after the company announced this morning that its iPad tablet computer will be available for sale in the US on April 3, starting at a retail price of $499. Consumers can preorder the device beginning on March 12. If you think that the stock won't fall by too much in the coming months, then now could be a good time to look at a bullish hedged trade on AAPL.AAPL opened this morning at $214.94. So far today the stock has hit a low of $214.63 and a high of $218.30. As of 11:40, AAPL is trading at $218.22 up 7.51 (3.6%). The chart for AAPL looks bullish and S&P gives AAPL a positive 4 STARS (out of 5) buy ranking.
Continue reading Apple Sets Date for iPad Sales
Urban Outfitters Rises on Strong Q4 Earnings
Urban Outfitters (URBN - option chain) shares are rising today after the company reported earnings this morning, posting a fourth-quarter profit of $77.68 million, or 45 cents per share, on revenue of $588 million. Analysts had forecast a profit of 40 cents per share on revenue of $586 million. If you think that the stock won't fall by too much in the coming months, then now could be a good time to look at a bullish hedged trade on URBN.URBN opened this morning at $34.44. So far today the stock has hit a low of $33.95 and a high of $34.75. As of 11:45, URBN is trading at $34.24 up 84 cents (2.5%). The chart for URBN looks bullish and S&P gives URBN a positive 4 STARS (out of 5) buy ranking.
Continue reading Urban Outfitters Rises on Strong Q4 Earnings
Safeway Drops on Weak 2010 Forecast
Safeway (SWY - option chain) stock is trading lower today after the company forecast 2010 EPS in a range between $1.65 and $1.85. Analysts previously expected EPS of $1.88 for the grocer. If you think this stock won't be rising too far in the coming months, then it could be a good time to look at a bearish hedged play on SWY.This morning, SWY opened at $23.84. So far today the stock has hit a low of $23.84, but as of 11:50, SWY is trading near its daily high at $24.85, down $0.03 (-0.1%). The chart for SWY looks neutral and S&P gives SWY a neutral 3 STARS (out of 5) hold ranking.
Continue reading Safeway Drops on Weak 2010 Forecast
Dendreon Fluctuates on FDA Rumors
Dendreon (DNDN - option chain) shares are rising today after company officials said there is no indication that an FDA review will take place of the company's prostate cancer drug. DNDN shares were down 5% in early trading on reports that the FDA review would take place, but since have risen more than 6%. If you think that the stock won't fall by too much in the coming months, then now could be a good time to look at a bullish hedged trade on DNDN.DNDN opened this morning at $30.97. So far today the stock has hit a low of $30.81 and a high of $35.27. As of 12:50, DNDN is trading at $34.52 up $2.01 (6.2%). The chart for DNDN looks bullish.
Continue reading Dendreon Fluctuates on FDA Rumors
Wynn Resorts Drops on Q4 Loss
Wynn Resorts (WYNN - option chain) stock is trading slightly lower today after the company reported a fourth-quarter loss of $5.2 million, or 4 cents per share. Excluding one-time items, WYNN earned 8 cents per share on revenue of $809 million. Analysts had forecast a profit of 13 cents per share on revenue of $784 million. Though the company was pleased with results from its Macau properties, company CEO Steve Wynn told a conference call that the company has a bearish outlook for its Las Vegas properties. If you think this stock won't be rising too far in the coming months, then it could be a good time to look at a bearish hedged play on WYNN.This morning, WYNN opened at $62.49. So far today the stock has hit a high of $63.11 and a low of $61.18. As of 11:55, WYNN is trading at $62.39, down 41 cents (-0.6%). The chart for WYNN looks neutral and S&P gives WYNN a neutral 3 STARS (out of 5) hold ranking.
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