Intel Corp. (INTC) raised its dividend. Again. The 14th time since 1992 when it began paying quarterly sums to investors. The annual payout is now 63 cents or 15.75 cents every three months. That's 12.5% higher than the previous dividend.

The stock is trading around $20 a share. With a 63 cent dividend, that's a yield of 3%. Not a bad return when coupled with the 50% rise the stock's seen in the past year.

Continue reading Comfort Zone Investing: Intel is saying something ... can you hear it?

Comfort Zone Investing: Intel is saying something ... can you hear it? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Closing Bell: Earnings working against stocks (BCRX, DELL, DHI, INTC, LEAP, PCS)

Closing Bell: Earnings working against stocks (BCRX, DELL, DHI, INTC, LEAP, PCS) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst upgrades:

• Pali Capital upgraded Lazard (LAZ) to buy from neutral, citing a healthy restructuring environment, improving M&A and strength in the asset management segment. The firm has a $46 target on shares.
• Baird upgraded Scansource (SCSC) to outperform from neutral, citing strength in the channel business and growth drivers from improved telephony and security. The firm has a $30 target on shares.
• Citigroup upgraded Liberty Interactive (LINTA) to buy from hold, citing the company's QVC unit's return to growth. The firm raised its target on shares to $13.25 from $12.
• Hess Corp (HES) was upgraded to overweight from equal weight at Morgan Stanley.
• Vulcan Materials (VMC) was upgraded to buy from neutral at UBS.
• Dillard's (DDS) was upgraded to buy from hold at Deutsche Bank.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: BRCM, D, FRED, INTC, LAZ, SCSC ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: BRCM, D, FRED, INTC, LAZ, SCSC ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Closing Bell: The grinch comes early (INTC, HOTT, MVIS, ETFC, SHLD)

Closing Bell: The grinch comes early (INTC, HOTT, MVIS, ETFC, SHLD) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst upgrades:

• Oppenheimer upgraded Momenta Pharmaceuticals (MNTA) to outperform from perform as it finds the stock attractive ahead of FDA's decision on M-enoxaparin. The firm has a $15 price target on the stock.
• Wells Fargo upgraded Symmetry Medical (SMA) to market perform from underperform. The firm cited several factors for the upgrade, including valuation and its belief that Symmetry's customers have begun to deplete their inventories.
• Piper Jaffray upgraded Myriad Pharmaceuticals (MYRX) to neutral from underweight after the company announced Phase 2a date for Azixa. The firm has a $5 price target on shares.
• AvalonBay (AVB) and Mid-America Apartment (MAA) were upgraded to outperform from sector perform at RBC Capital.
• GSI Commerce (GSIC) was upgraded to overweight from equal weight at Morgan Stanley.
• FICO (FICO) was upgraded to equal weight from Underweight at Stephens.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: CVS, FICO, HOTT, INTC, MNTA, TXN ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: CVS, FICO, HOTT, INTC, MNTA, TXN ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

From TheStreet.com Network

• JPMorgan, U.S. Bancorp Grow as Banks Fail
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Continue reading Cramer on BloggingStocks: Dismiss the latest tech downgrades

Cramer on BloggingStocks: Dismiss the latest tech downgrades originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Closing Bell: Can't go up every day (BAC, HE, HPW, COMS, BRCD, WMT, AMD)

Closing Bell: Can't go up every day (BAC, HE, HPW, COMS, BRCD, WMT, AMD) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) soared to a new annual high Thursday morning after the chipmaker settled its antitrust case against rival Intel (INTC). Under the terms of the agreement, Intel will shell out $1.25 billion to AMD, and will abide by a new set of rules for conducting business. The pact also includes a renewed cross-license agreement between the two chip titans.

In prepared comments, AMD CEO Dirk Meyer called the settlement a game-changer. "We are optimistic that it will usher a new era for our industry," he said. "We recognize that it will take time for people to understand how the operating conditions in the processor business have changed. But make no mistake -- they have changed."

Continue reading Advanced Micro Devices rallies after settling Intel tiff

Advanced Micro Devices rallies after settling Intel tiff originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

From TheStreet.com Network

• JPMorgan Plans to Lift Salary Freeze
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Continue reading Cramer on BloggingStocks: Investors are rethinking their snap judgments

Cramer on BloggingStocks: Investors are rethinking their snap judgments originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The latest litigation has Intel Inside.

The State of New York is going after Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) over antitrust allegations. State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo is accusing the largest chip manufacturer in the world that it is trying to secure a global monopoly for microprocessors.

For several years, Cuomo said that Intel has pushed the likes of Dell (NYSE: DELL) and Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ) to agree to the exclusive use of Intel's gear in exchange for billions of dollars in payments. The hefty cash outlays have given what Cuomo called a "stranglehold" on the market.

Continue reading Cuomo guns for Intel on antitrust

Cuomo guns for Intel on antitrust originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst upgrades:

• Target (NYSE: TGT) was upgraded two ratings to Buy from Sell at Citigroup, and it raised its price estimate on shares to $61 from $44. The firm sees significant earnings upside as the company's same-store sales improve and finds the valuation attractive at current levels.
• Motorola (NYSE: MOT) was upgraded to Outperform from Sector Perform at RBC Capital citing valuation, new product launches, and expectations that the Mobile Devices division will be profitable. The price target is $11.
• AK Steel (NYSE: AKS) was upgraded to Buy from Hold at Citigroup as it believes the company's Q3 results were solid and the China steel market is stabilizing. The firm raised its target to $21 from $17.
• Ceradyne (NASDAQ: CRDN) was upgraded at Wells Fargo to Market Perform from Underperform. The firm thinks that earnings expectations for the company have now reached more reasonable levels, limiting risk.
• FormFactor (NASDAQ: FORM) was upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at FBR Capital ahead of the company's Q3 results due to valuation as it views the risk/reward on shares compelling. The firm raised its price target to $25 from $19.
• Texas Instruments (NYSE: TXN) was upgraded at Goldman to Buy from Neutral, citing 2H10 margin expansion and analog share gains. Target was raised to $29 from $27.
• Barrett Business Services (NASDAQ: BBSI) was upgraded to Buy from Hold at Roth Capital as the firm thinks the company will benefit from a labor market recovery next year. Roth notes that the stock's valuation has lagged behind most of its peers in recent months and it set an $18 target.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: ADM, CIEN, INTC, MOT, TGT, TXN ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: ADM, CIEN, INTC, MOT, TGT, TXN ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Windows 7, the latest operating system from Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), is expected to help jumpstart some IT spending. Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) also sees this happening. A new operating system often means a chance to upgrade from dated equipment that isn't worth upgrading, especially with favorable pricing for technology right now. Everything's coming together for a strong 2010 for the high-tech sector, so it's also worth watching Hewlett Packard (NYSE: HPQ), Dell (NASDAQ: DELL) and EMC (NYSE: EMC).

Continue reading Stars aligned for increase in IT spending

Stars aligned for increase in IT spending originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst upgrades:

• Verizon (NYSE: VZ) was upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at Wells Fargo, which believes Verizon wireline margins troughed in Q3 and that Street estimates have been reset to more achievable levels.
• Texas Instruments (NYSE: TXN) was upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at FBR Capital, which believes the company is gaining analog market share and shares are attractively valued at current levels. The firm maintains a $31 price target.
• Cablevision (NYSE: CVC) was upgraded at Wells Fargo to Outperform from Market Perform. The firm believes this year's run-up in the stock was primarily due to the company's spin-off of MSG, but the firm believes the stock can rise further based on fundamentals.
• Cabot Oil & Gas (NYSE: COG) was upgraded to Overweight from Neutral at JPMorgan following the company's Q3 results due to valuation and its above-average growth. The firm raised its target to $51.50 from $47.
• RadioShack (NYSE: RSH) was upgraded to Hold from Underweight at KeyBanc, which said that its recovering sales trends were encouraging.
• Travelzoo (NASDAQ: TZOO) was upgraded to Outperform from Neutral at Wedbush as it believes the divestiture of its Asian business coupled with growth in its Fly.com unit will drive 2010 growth. The firm raised its target to $17 from $13.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: DRI, INTC, PALM, RSH, TXN, VZ ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: DRI, INTC, PALM, RSH, TXN, VZ ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Intel: Back up the truck

Intel: Back up the truck originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

From TheStreet.com Network

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Continue reading Cramer on BloggingStocks: A mockery of the game

Cramer on BloggingStocks: A mockery of the game originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Here are some highlights from last week's earnings coverage from BloggingStocks:

• Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT) higher Q3 earnings topped expectations but revenue was in line.
• Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (NYSE: AMD) posted better-than-expected Q3 results, but shares sold off.
• Allegheny Technologies Inc. (NYSE: ATI) was downgraded on concerns about its Q4 guidance.
• Bank of America Corp. (NYSE: BAC) shares fell after it posted a deeper-than-expected quarterly loss.
• Citigroup Inc. (NYSE: C) fell victim to profit taking despite reporting better-than-expected earnings.
• CSX Corp. (NYSE: CSX) better-than-expected Q3 earnings sent shares higher, despite a decline in revenue.

Continue reading Earnings highlights: C, GE, GOOG, HOG, INTC, IBM, JNJ, JPM, MAT, NOK ...

Earnings highlights: C, GE, GOOG, HOG, INTC, IBM, JNJ, JPM, MAT, NOK ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 17 Oct 2009 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Raj Rajaratnam's life has just changed profoundly. The 52-year-old founder, fund manager, and partner at the Galleon Group has been accused of insider trading, conspiring with others (now named as defendants with him) to trade shares of Google (NASDAQ: GOOG), Hilton (OTC: HLNQ), and Sun Microsystems (NASDAQ: JAVA), among others. Rajaratnam generated $25 million in profits on these trades, but that's moot now.

Rajaratnam, who is #559 on the list of the world's richest people, with a net worth of $1.3 billion, now faces fines of up to $250,000 and from 5 to 20 years in prison. I doubt he'll be in the same slot on next year's list of billionaires.

Continue reading Billionaire hedge fund manager arrested on insider trading charges

Billionaire hedge fund manager arrested on insider trading charges originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 17 Oct 2009 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

You've heard of the Monday blues, right? Monday is a depressing day, while Friday is supposed to be the best day of the week. Unfortunately, that's not the case with chip maker Advanced Micro Devices (NYSE: AMD). The stock closed down over 7% on extremely high volume.

According to Reuters coverage, AMD, which issued results yesterday after the bell, beat estimates on both the top and bottom lines. In fact, the bottom line was particularly impressive. AMD lost 18 cents per share. The belief was that the company would lose as much as 42 cents per share.

Continue reading Advanced Micro Devices sells off big today on Q3 data

Advanced Micro Devices sells off big today on Q3 data originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

From TheStreet.com Network

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Continue reading Cramer on BloggingStocks: The chips aren't down

Cramer on BloggingStocks: The chips aren't down originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 09:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Serious Money: Dow 10,000 is meaningless

Serious Money: Dow 10,000 is meaningless originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 09:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.