Microsoft Paying Companies to Make Windows Phones

Microsoft Paying Companies to Make Windows Phones. Unconfirmed reports say that Microsoft (MSFT) will reportedly make $2.6B in "support" payments to Smartphone manufactures persuade them to make one Windows Phone each. Some may call it a bribe and others say it’s a sign that Microsoft has lost the mobile device wars. Samsung (SSNLF) will receive $1.2B, Sony (SNE) $500M, Huawei $600M and others will receive $300M. Pre-market: 36.69 -0.07 (-0.19%)

Upgrades:

AOL (AOL): CRT Capital raised their rating from Fair Value to Buy and placed a target price of $57.00 on the company. Pre-market: 48.25 +1.00 (2.11%)

Big Lots (BIG): Raymond James raised their rating from Underperform to Market Perform.

CSX Corp (CSX): Argus raised their rating from Hold to Buy and placed a target price of $35.00 on the company. Pre-market: 27.69 -1.54 (-5.27%)

Micron Tech (MU): JMP Securities raised their rating from Market Perform to Outperform and placed a target price of $31.00 on the company. Pre-market: 23.45 +0.12 (0.51%)

Downgrades:

CSX Corp (CSX): Stifel lowered their rating from Buy to Hold. Pre-market: 27.69 -1.54 (-5.27%)

Diageo PLC (DEO): JPMorgan lowered their rating from Overweight to Neutral. Pre-market: 129.23 -1.45 (-1.11%)

Dollar General (DG): ResearchTeam lowered their rating from Hold to Reduce.

EMC Corp (EMC): Monness Crespi lowered their rating from Buy to Neutral. Pre-market: 26.18 -0.11 (-0.42%)

Family Dollar (FDO): Raymond James lowered their rating from Market Perform to Underperform.

Kroger (KR): Credit Suisse lowered their rating from Outperform to Neutral and lowered their target price from $48.00 to $39.00.

Norfolk Southern (NSC): Stifel lowered their rating from Buy to Hold. Pre-market: 89.35 -1.81 (-1.99%)

Coverage Initiated:

Buffalo Wild Wings (BWLD): CLSA initiated coverage with an Outperform rating.

Twitter (TWTR): Telsey Advisory initiated coverage with a Not Rated rating and a target price of $70.00. Pre-market: 61.20 -0.37 (-0.60%)

Earning Reports:

BB&T Corp (BBT): Reported EPS of $0.75 beating estimates by +$0.03.

BlackRock (BLK): Reported EPS of $4.92 beating estimates by +$0.59. Pre-market: 324.26 +11.51 (3.68%)

Citigroup (C): Reported EPS of $0.82 missing estimates by -$0.16. Pre-market: 53.25 -1.74 (-3.16%)

Goldman Sachs (GS): Reported EPS of $4.60 beating estimates by +$0.42. Pre-market: 179.00 +0.25 (0.14%)

Huntington Banc (HBAN): Reported EPS of $0.18 beating estimates by +$0.01. Pre-market: 9.74 -0.16 (-1.62%)

PNC (PNC): Reported EPS of $1.85 beating estimates by +$0.22. Pre-market: 80.69 +1.85 (2.35%)

PPG Industries (PPG): Reported EPS of $1.81 beating estimates by +$0.08. Pre-market: 192.00 +1.30 (0.68%)

UnitedHealth (UNH): Reported EPS of $1.41 beating estimates by +$0.01. Pre-market: 73.00 -1.84 (-2.46%)

Markets: 
Futures at 8:00: Dow -0.10%. S&P -0.18%. Nasdaq -0.03%. Crude +0.28% to $94.42. Gold -0.09% to $1234.40. U.S. 10 Year +7/32 to 2.871%.

Europe: London +0.06%. Paris -0.19%. Frankfurt -0.22%. 

Asia: Japan -0.39% to 15747.2. Hong Kong +0.37% to 22986. China +0.02% at 2024. India -0.11% to 21265. 

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