Having repurchased 23 million shares, or $1 billion worth of company stock, in the second quarter, oil services giant Halliburton (NYSE: HAL ) announced today it had approved an increase to $5 billion in its buyback program.
The board of directors said that with just�$0.7 billion of repurchasing capacity remaining on the existing authorization that was initiated in 2006, it would increase by another $4.3 billion its ability to buy back shares. It also declared its third-quarter dividend of $0.125 per share, the same rate it's paid for the last two quarters after having increased the payout 39% from $0.09 per share.
Noting the first-quarter dividend hike reflected management's increased confidence in the strength of the company's outlook, Halliburton Chairman, President, and CEO�Dave Lesar said, "We believe that our relentless focus on generating best-in-class returns and our commitment to shareholder distributions will deliver increased value to our shareholders going forward."
Top European Companies To Own In Right Now: Photronics Inc.(PLAB)
Photronics, Inc. engages in the manufacture and sale of photomasks primarily in the United States, Europe, and Asia. Photomasks are high precision photographic quartz plates containing microscopic images of electronic circuits, which are used in the manufacture of semiconductors and flat panel displays; and used as masters to transfer circuit patterns onto semiconductor wafers and flat panel substrates during the fabrication of integrated circuits, various flat panel displays, and other types of electrical and optical components. The company sells its photomasks to semiconductor designers, manufacturers, foundries, and other high performance electronics manufacturers through its sales personnel and customer service representatives. Photronics, Inc. was founded in 1969 and is headquartered in Brookfield, Connecticut.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By James Brumley]
RDN also is on pace to swing back into the black during the coming year, which could be a huge catalyst.
Photronics (PLAB)12/2 Price: $8.65
- [By Ben Axler]
In the table below, we've listed a sample of small-cap semiconductor capital equipment stocks such as Entegris (ENTG), Advanced Energy Industries (AEIS), ATMI Inc. (ATMI), MKS Instruments (MKSI), Photronics Inc. (PLAB), Rudolph Technologies (RTEC),FormFactor (FORM) and Mattson Technology (MTSN). The peers trade at approximately 1.0x and 15.5x 2014E revenues and EPS, respectively. Furthermore, the average peer trades at 2.1x tangible book value. However, these multiples are based on average 2014E industry revenue and earnings growth of 18% and 119%, respectively. Axcelis is poised to grow at a rate substantially above the industry average.
- [By Evan Niu, CFA]
What: Shares of Photronics (NASDAQ: PLAB ) have gotten crushed today, down by as much as 11% after the company reported earnings.
So what: Revenue in the fiscal second quarter totaled $106.7 million, down 9% from a year ago and below the $108.5 million consensus estimate. That also led to a bottom-line miss, with Photronics posting earnings per share of $0.08, near the lower end of guidance and also shy of the $0.09-per-share profit that investors were expecting.
- [By Roberto Pedone]
My first earnings short-squeeze trade idea is photomasks maker Photronics (PLAB), which is set to release numbers on Tuesday after the market close. Wall Street analysts, on average, expect Photronics to report revenue of $106.05 million on earnings of 8 cents per share.
About a month ago, Needham downgraded shares of Photronics to hold from buy following the company's negative preannouncement. Needham anticipates that Photronics will face some near-term challenges and may not generate EPS over 80 cents per share until fiscal year 2015.
The current short interest as a percentage of the float Photronics is pretty high at 11.9%. That means that out of the 59.69 million shares in the tradable float, 7.38 million shares are sold short by the bears. This is a high short interest on a stock with a relatively low float. Any bullish earnings news could easily spark a large short-squeeze for shares of PLAB post-earnings.
From a technical perspective, PLAB is currently trending above both its 50-day and 200-day moving averages, which is bullish. This stock has been uptrending over the last three months and change, with shares moving higher from its low of $7.03 to its recent high of $8.89 a share. During that uptrend, shares of PLAB have been making mostly higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. That move has now pushed shares of PLAB within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade post-earnings.
If you're bullish on PLAB, then I would wait until after its report and look for long-biased trades if this stock manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at $8.74 to its 52-week high at $8.89 a share with high volume. Look for volume on that move that hits near or above its three-month average action of 212,683 shares. If that breakout hits, then PLAB will set up to enter new 52-week-high territory, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that move a
Top 10 Oil Service Companies To Watch For 2014: ParkerVision Inc.(PRKR)
Parkervision, Inc. engages in the design, development, and sale of proprietary radio frequency (RF) technologies and products for use in semiconductor circuits for wireless communication products in the United States. The company provides its wireless technologies for processing RF waveforms in wireless applications. Its technology applies to transmit and receive functions of a radio transceiver. Its transmit portion of the technology, Direct2Power, enables the transformation of a baseband data signal to an RF carrier waveform at the desired power output level in a single unified operation. The company?s receiver portion of the technology, Direct2Data, enables the direct conversion of an RF carrier to a baseband data signal. It also provides engineering consulting and design services to its customers to assist them in developing prototypes and/or products incorporating its technologies. The company licenses its intellectual property and sells integrated circuits for incor poration into wireless devices designed by its customers. It primarily focuses on incorporating its technologies into mobile handsets, as well as to other wireless products that are related to networks serving mobile handsets, such as data cards, femtocells, and machine-to-machine and embedded applications. The company?s technology is also used in non-cellular radio applications comprising military radios. In addition, Parkervision, Inc. develops wireless radio modules for mobile handset and data card applications through a joint development and marketing agreement with LG Innotek Co., Ltd. It serves mobile handset manufacturers and their chipset suppliers in the mobile handset industry. The company was founded in 1989 and is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Paul Ausick]
Stocks on the Move: ParkerVision Inc. (NASDAQ: PRKR) is down 59.2% at $2.89 following a smaller-than-hoped-for award in its patent suit against Qualcomm Inc. (NASDAQ: QCOM). NQ Mobile Inc. (NYSE: NQ) is down 50.7% at $11.28 following a blistering from analysts at Muddy Waters.
- [By Paul Ausick]
Stocks on the Move: Voxeljet AG (NYSE: VJET) is up 121.8% at $28.83 after a blazing hot IPO. Ariad Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: ARIA) is down 40.7% at $2.67 on a failed drug trial. ParkerVision Inc. (NASDAQ: PRKR) is up 17.9% at $6.40 after gaining more than 60% yesterday on a Florida jury�� ruling in the company�� favor in a patent suit against Qualcomm Inc. (NASDAQ: QCOM). J.C. Penney Co. Inc. (NYSE: JCP) is down 4.8% at $7.00, after posting a 33-year low of $6.97 a share earlier today.
- [By Markman Advisors]
Public companies leveraging their patent portfolios, (aka "patent plays"), are getting the market's attention. Companies such as Vringo (VRNG), ParkerVision (PRKR), MGT Capital (MGT), Worlds Inc. (WDDD.OB) and others have presented trading opportunities due to their volatility while retaining the chance for a big payoff to those investors who stay the course. Yet there exist viable patent plays that are still undiscovered. Some of these so called "plays," which are not getting enough attention, are actually real companies making and selling real products or services in contrast to pure patent monetization companies. Some known examples are Single Touch Interactive (SITO.OB) and Blue Calypso (BCYP.OB). This article is focused on another one of these patent plays, On Track Innovations Ltd. (OTIV).
Top 10 Oil Service Companies To Watch For 2014: Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd.(GILT)
Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. provides Internet Protocol (IP) based digital satellite communication and networking products and services worldwide. The company engages in the design, production, and marketing of very small aperture terminals (VSATs) and related VSAT network equipment, such as power amplifiers and low-profile antennas. Its VSAT products include SkyEdge and SkyEdge II products that deliver broadband connectivity, such as Internet, voice, data, and video services. The company also provides Spacenet managed network communications services through satellite networks and hybrid satellite terrestrial networks; and Wavestream solid state power amplifiers to system integrators that serve various defense and homeland security agencies. It also offers SkyAbis solution that provides cellular backhaul for rural communications; Connexstar networks that are standardized commercial grade satellite services; and StarBand satellite Internet services, which are geared for sm all office and residential users. In addition, the company provides various solutions, including project management, network design, deployment logistics, implementation and integration, operational services, and maintenance and support. It sells its products primarily to communication service providers and operators that use VSATs to serve enterprise, government, and residential users, as well as directly to end-users. Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in Petah Tikva, Israel.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By James Miller Phd]
The company has a current ratio of 13.05% which is higher than the one registered by Charter Communications Inc. (CHTR), Digital Globe Inc. (DGI), EchoStar Corp (SATS), Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. (GILT) and Intelsat SA (I).
Top 10 Oil Service Companies To Watch For 2014: Balchem Corp (BCPC)
Balchem Corporation incorporated on Jan 30, 1967, is engaged in the development, manufacture and marketing of specialty performance ingredients and products for the food, nutritional, feed, pharmaceutical and medical sterilization industries. The Company operates in three segments: Specialty Products, Food, Pharma & Nutrition and Animal Nutrition & Health. The Company sells its products through its own sales force, independent distributors and sales agents. The Company operates five wholly owned domestic subsidiaries, such as BCP Ingredients, Inc., Aberco, Inc., Balchem BV, Balchem Trading BV and Balchem Italia Srl.
Food, Pharma & Nutrition
The Food, Pharma & Nutrition (FPN) segment provides microencapsulation solutions to a variety of applications in food, pharmaceutical and nutritional ingredients to enhance performance of nutritional fortification, processing, mixing, and packaging applications and shelf-life. Major product applications are baked goods, refrigerated and frozen dough systems, processed meats, seasoning blends, confections, and nutritional supplements. The Company also markets human grade choline nutrient products through this segment for wellness applications.
Specialty Products
The Company's Specialty Products segment operates in industry as ARC Specialty Products. Ethylene oxide, at the 100% level, is sold as a sterilant gas, primarily for use in the health care industry. It is used to sterilize a wide range of medical devices because of its versatility and effectiveness in treating hard or soft surfaces, composites, metals, tubing and different types of plastics. The Company's 100% ethylene oxide product is distributed in uniquely designed, recyclable, double-walled, stainless steel drums. Contract sterilizers, medical device manufacturers, and medical gas distributors are the Company's principal customers for this product. In addition, the Company also sells single use canisters with 100% ethylene oxide for uses in medical dev! ice sterilization.
The Company markets and sells propylene oxide as a fumigant to aids in the control of insects and microbiological spoilage and to reduce bacterial and mold contamination in shell and processed nut meats (except peanuts), processed spices, cacao beans, cocoa powder, raisins, figs and prunes. The Company distributes its propylene oxide product primarily in recyclable, single-walled, carbon steel cylinders The Company also sells propylene oxide to customers seeking smaller quantities and whose requirements include utilization in various chemical synthesis applications, to make paints more durable and for manufacturing specialty starches and textile coatings.
Animal Nutrition & Health
The Company's Animal Nutrition & Health (ANH) segment provides the animal nutrition and health markets with products derived from the Company's microencapsulation, chelation, and basic choline chloride technologies. Commercial sales of REASHURE Choline, a microencapsulated choline, NITROSHURETM, a microencapsulated urea, and NIASHURETM, the Company's microencapsulated niacin for dairy cows, boosts health and milk production in transition and lactating dairy cows, delivering nutrient supplements that survive the rumen and are biologically available, providing required nutritional levels. The Company's AMINOSHURE-L product, a rumen-protected lysine for use in dairy rations, gives nutritionists and dairy producers a precise and consistent source of rumen-protected lysine. The Company also markets chelated mineral supplements for uses in animal feed throughout the world. ANH also manufactures and supplies basic choline chloride, an essential nutrient for animal health, predominantly to the poultry and swine industries. The ANH segment also includes choline and certain derivatives manufactured and sold into various industrial applications, predominately as a component for hydraulic fracturing of shale natural gas wells, and methylamines which are a primary building block fo! r the man! ufacture of choline products and are also used in a wide range of industrial applications.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By John Udovich]
Small cap ingredients stock Balchem Corporation (NASDAQ: BCPC) jumped 22.76% yesterday on news about an acquisition, meaning its worth taking a closer look at the stock along with potential peers like small cap MGP Ingredients Inc (NASDAQ: MGPI) and the PowerShares Dynamic Food & Beverage ETF (NYSEARCA: PBJ).
- [By Jake L'Ecuyer]
Equities Trading UP
Balchem (NASDAQ: BCPC) shares shot up 15.27 percent to $60.08 after the company announced its plans to acquire SensoryEffects for $567 million.
Top 10 Oil Service Companies To Watch For 2014: Bowl America Inc (BWL.A)
Bowl America Incorporated, incorporated in July 22, 1958, is engaged in the entertainment business. The Company operates in one segment. Its principal source of revenue consists of fees charged for the use of bowling lanes and other facilities and from the sale of food and beverages for consumption on the premises. Merchandise sales, including food and beverages, were approximately 30% of operating revenues. The balance of operating revenues (approximately 70%) represents fees for bowling and related services. During the fiscal year ended July, 1 2012 (fiscal 2012), the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries operated 19 bowling centers. These 19 bowling centers contain a total of 756 lanes. As of September 1, 2012 the Company and its subsidiaries operated 10 bowling centers in the greater metropolitan area of Washington, D.C., one bowling center in the metropolitan area of Baltimore, Maryland, one bowling center in Orlando, Florida, three bowling centers in the metropolitan area of Jacksonville, Florida, and four bowling centers in the metropolitan area of Richmond, Virginia.
These establishments are air-conditioned with facilities for service of food and beverages, game rooms, rental lockers, and meeting room facilities. All centers provide shoes for rental, and bowling balls are provided free. In addition, each center retails bowling accessories. Most locations are equipped for glow-in-the-dark bowling, popular for parties and non-league bowling. The bowling equipment essential for the Company's operation is readily available. Two of the Company's bowling centers are located in leased premises, and the remaining seventeen centers are owned by the Company.
The Company competes with Brunswick Corporation and AMF Bowling Worldwide, Inc.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Fredrik Arnold]
The balance of the top ten included one technology firm, AT&T Inc. (T) in fourth place; one consumer goods, Altria Group Inc. (MO), placed fifth; Bowl America Class A (BWL.A) in seventh place was the lone service dog. Two utilities, Northwest Natural Gas (NWN), and Consolidated Edison (ED), in ninth and tenth places completed the representation of market sectors in the champions index.
Top 10 Oil Service Companies To Watch For 2014: Nobility Homes Inc. (NOBH)
Nobility Homes, Inc., through its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, and sells a line of manufactured homes in Florida. It offers homes under the trade names of Kingswood, Springwood, Springwood Special, Tropic Isle Special, Regency Manor Special, and Special Edition. The company sells its manufactured homes through a network of its own retail sales centers; and to independent manufactured home retail dealers and manufactured home communities on a wholesale basis. It also provides retail insurance services, which involves placing various types of insurance, including property and casualty, automobile, and extended home warranty coverage, with insurance underwriters on behalf of its customers in connection with their purchase and financing of manufactured homes. As of October 31, 2009, the company operated 15 retail sales centers in north and central Florida. Nobility Homes, Inc. was founded in 1967 and is headquartered in Ocala, Florida.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Vanina Egea]
Nobility Homes Inc. (NOBH)
Finally, Gabelli reported owning 234.950 shares of Nobility Homes, sized at 5.97% of the company�� shares outstanding and 0.01% of Gabelli�� portfolio. The company has a market cap of $44.63 million, with a P/E of 59.6 and P/S of 2.41.
Top 10 Oil Service Companies To Watch For 2014: OncoMed Pharmaceuticals Inc (OMED)
OncoMed Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (OncoMed) incorporated on July 19, 2004, is a clinical development-stage biopharmaceutical company. The Company focuses on discovering and developing monoclonal antibody therapeutics targeting cancer stem cells (CSCs). It utilizes its technologies to identify, isolate and evaluate CSCs; identify and/or validate multiple potential targets and pathways critical to CSC self-renewal and differentiation; and develop targeted antibody and other protein-based therapeutics that are designed to modulate these CSC targets and inhibit the growth of CSCs. The Company's anti-cancer therapeutics include anti-DLL4 (demcizumab, OMP-21M18), Anti-DLL4/Anti-VEGF Bispecific, and Anti-Notch2/3 (OMP-59R5), Anti-Notch1 (OMP-52M51, Anti-Fzd7, Fzd8-Fc, RSPO-LGR.
Anti-DLL4 (demcizumab, OMP-21M18) is a humanized monoclonal antibody that inhibits Delta Like Ligand 4 (DLL4) in the Notch signaling pathway. The Company has completed a single-agent Phase Ia trial in advanced solid tumor patients. The Company focuses on conducting two Phase Ib combination trials of demcizumab. Anti-DLL4/anti-VEGF bispecific is a monoclonal antibody that targets and inhibits both DLL4 and vascular endothelial growth factor ( VEGF). VEGF is the target of Avastin. Anti-Notch2/3 (OMP-59R5) is a human monoclonal antibody that targets the Notch2 and Notch3 receptors.
Anti-Notch1 OMP-52M51 is a humanized monoclonal antibody targeted to the Notch1 receptor. Anti-Fzd7 OMP-18R5 is a human monoclonal antibody identified by screening against the Frizzled7 receptor (Fzd7) that binds a conserved epitope on five Frizzled receptors and inhibits Wnt signaling. OMP-18R5 is in a Phase I single-agent trial in advanced solid tumor patients. Fzd8-Fc OMP-54F28 is a fusion protein based on a truncated form of the Frizzled8 receptor ( Fzd8). RSPO-LGR ligands signal through the LGR receptor family.
The Company utilizes several robust technologies for the discovery and optimization of its antibody and protein-bas! ed therapeutics, including multiple proprietary technologies. Its antibody technologies include Mammalian Display Technology, Bispecific Antibody Technology, Hybridoma Technology. Mammalian Display Technology utilizes flow cytometry to isolate mammalian cells expressing antibodies on the cell surface with desired characteristics from large libraries of candidate antibodies. Bispecific Antibody Technology is used to generate its anti-DLL4/anti-VEGF antibody. Hybridoma Technology is used for isolating antibodies from mice, including multiplex single-cell screening techniques.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Lauren Pollock]
Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in Tuesday’s session are OncoMed Pharmaceuticals Inc.(OMED), Lexicon Pharmaceuticals Inc.(LXRX) and Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc.(KKD)
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