Actavis to Buy Forest Labs

Actavis to Buy Forest Labs. Generic drug maker Actavis PLC (ACT) will buy Forest Labs (FRX) for approximately $25 billion in cash and stock. Actavis will pay $89.48 per share, representing a premium of 25% to Forest's closing price on Friday. The offer comprises $26.04 in cash and 0.3306 Actavis share for every Forest share. Actavis said the deal should increase its profits by double-digit percentages in 2015 and 2016, including about $1 billion in tax and operating savings.

Upgrades:

Abbott (ABT): ResearchTeam raised their rating from Reduce to Hold.

Allstate (ALL): ResearchTeam raised their rating from Reduce to Hold.

Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B): First Call raised their rating from Buy to Strong Buy.

Blackberry (BBRY): FBR Capital raised their rating from Underperform to Market Perform and raised their target price from $6.75 to $10.00. Pre-market: 9.38 +0.40 (4.45%)

Express Scripts (ESRX): Monness Crespi raised their rating from Neutral to Buy. Pre-market: 76.99 +0.24 (0.31%)

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK): ResearchTeam raised their rating from Reduce to Hold.

Intuitive Surgical (ISRG): First Call raised their rating from Hold to Buy.

J.M. Smucker Co. (SJM): Stephens raised their rating from Equal Weight to Overweight and raised their target price from $110.00 to $115.00. Pre-market: 92.07 +0.26 (0.28%)

Kraft (KRFT): ResearchTeam raised their rating from Reduce to Hold.

Mosaic (MOS): ResearchTeam raised their rating from Reduce to Hold.

Praxair (PX): ResearchTeam raised their rating from Reduce to Hold.

Total SA (TOT): ResearchTeam raised their rating from Reduce to Hold.

Waste Management (WM): ResearchTeam raised their rating from Reduce to Hold. Pre-market: 42.40 -1.27 (-2.91%)

Downgrades:

Hormel (HRL): ResearchTeam lowered their rating from Hold to Reduce.

Intel (INTC): ResearchTeam lowered their rating from Hold to Reduce.

Microsoft (MSFT): ResearchTeam lowered their rating from Hold to Reduce. Pre-market: 37.58 -0.04 (-0.11%)

Coverage Initiated:

Allscripts Healthcare (MDRX): Citigroup initiated coverage with a Neutral rating and target price of $18.00.

Credit Suisse (CS): Jefferies initiated coverage with a Buy rating. Pre-market: 32.07 +0.62 (1.97%)

Deutsche Bank (DB): Jefferies initiated coverage with a Buy rating. Pre-market: 49.27 +0.35 (0.72%)

UBS (UBS): Jefferies initiated coverage with a Hold rating. Pre-market: 20.97 +0.13 (0.62%)

Earning Reports:

Coca-Cola (KO): Reported EPS of $0.46 in-line with estimates. Pre-market: 38.10 -0.83 (-2.13%)

Diana Shipping (DSX): Reported EPS of -$0.12 missing estimates by -$0.06. Pre-market: 11.90 -0.79 (-6.23%)

Duke Energy (DUK): Reported EPS of $1.00 beating estimates by +$0.05. Pre-market: 71.45 0.00 (0.00%)

Genuine Parts (GPC): Reported EPS of $0.97 beating estimates by +$0.04.

Medtronic (MDT): Reported EPS of $0.91 in-line with estimates. Pre-market: 57.00 +0.12 (0.21%)

Waste Management (WM): Reported EPS of $0.56 missing estimates by -$0.04. Pre-market: 42.40 -1.27 (-2.91%)

Markets: 
Futures at 8:34: Dow +0.09%. S&P +0.03%. Nasdaq +0.09%. Crude +0.90% to $101.20. Gold -0.02% to $1318.50. U.S. 10 Year +5/32 to 2.732%.

Europe: London +0.33%. Paris -0.25%. Frankfurt -0.06%. 

Asia: Japan +3.13% to 14843. Hong Kong +0.23% to 22588. China -0.77% to 2119. India +0.83% to 20634. 

#TopWealthManager #RLPaler #WallStreet #PreMarket #WealthManagement #FinancialPlanning #AnalystsRatings #EarningReports

Intel Reports Mixed Results

Intel Reports Mixed Results. Intel (INTC) reported that their Q4 net profit rose +6.4% to $2.63B and that the company’s revenue increased +2.6% to $13.83B topping forecast. But the company also report EPS of only $0.51 missing Wall Street estimates by a penny. Intel also said that it "saw the (PC) market stabilize in the back half" of 2013. Sales at the PC CPU division were flat and operating profit rose 20%. PC sales have been in a decline for some time as consumers switch to mobile devices like smartphones and tablets. Pre-market: 25.29 -1.25 (-4.71%)

Upgrades:

American Express (AXP): Buckingham raised their rating from Neutral to Buy and raised their target price from $90.00 to $104.00. Pre-market: 89.15 +1.37 (1.56%)

American Express (AXP): Susquehanna raised their rating from Neutral to Positive and raised their target price from $90.00 to $107.00. Pre-market: 89.15 +1.37 (1.56%)

IBM (IBM): CLSA raised their rating from Outperform to Buy and raised their target price from $215.00 to $225.00. Pre-market: 189.00 +0.24 (0.13%)

Downgrades:

Best Buy (BBY): UBS lowered their rating from Buy to Neutral and lowered their target price from $48.00 to $29.00. Pre-market: 27.10 +0.27 (1.01%)

Best Buy (BBY): Goldman Sachs lowered their rating from Buy to Neutral and lowered their target price from $45.00 to $28.00. Pre-market: 27.10 +0.27 (1.01%)

Coverage Initiated:

Activision Blizzard (ATVI): CRT Capital initiated coverage with a Buy rating and target price of $23.00. Pre-market: 17.41 +0.08 (0.46%)

Electronic Arts (EA): CRT Capital initiated coverage with a Buy rating and target price of $26.00. Pre-market: 22.80 +1.26 (5.85%)

LinkedIn (LNKD): Topeka initiated coverage with a Hold rating. Pre-market: 229.50 -1.06 (-0.46%)

Nike (NKE): Macquarie initiated coverage with a Neutral rating and target price of $80.00. Pre-market: 74.82 +0.03 (0.04%)

Take-Two Interactive (TTWO): CRT Capital initiated coverage with a Fair Value rating and target price of $19.00. Pre-market: 16.68 0.00 (0.00%)

Earning Reports:

American Express (AXP): Reported EPS of 1.21 missing estimates by -$0.04. Pre-market: 89.15 +1.37 (1.56%)

BNY Mellon (BK): Reported EPS of $0.54 in-line with estimates. Pre-market: 33.46 -0.46 (-1.36%)

Comerica (CMA): Reported EPS of $0.77 beating estimates by +$0.03. Pre-market: 47.67 +0.24 (0.51%)

General Electric (GE): Reported EPS of $0.53 in-line with estimates. Pre-market: 26.55 -0.65 (-2.39%)

Intel (INTC): Reported EPS of 0.51 missing estimates by -$0.01. Pre-market: 25.29 -1.25 (-4.71%)

Morgan Stanley (MS): Reported EPS of $0.50 beating estimates by +$0.08. Pre-market: 32.45 +0.45 (1.41%)

Sallie Mae (SLM): Reported EPS of 0.61 missing estimates by -$0.12.

Schlumberger (SLB): Reported EPS of $1.35 beating estimates by +$0.02. Pre-market: 89.80 +1.19 (1.34%)

SunTrust Bank (STI): Reported EPS of $0.77 beating estimates by +$0.08. Pre-market: 38.55 +0.54 (1.42%)

Markets: 
Futures at 8:32: Dow +0.08%. S&P +0.05%. Nasdaq -0.05%. Crude +0.79% to $94.70. Gold +0.30% to $1243.90. U.S. 10 Year +3/32 to 2.837%.

Europe: London -0.01%. Paris -0.04%. Frankfurt +0.08%. 

Asia: Japan -0.08% to 15734. Hong Kong +0.64% to 23133. China -0.93% to 2005. India -0.95% to 21063. 

#RLPaler #WallStreet #PreMarket #WealthManagement #EarningReports #AnalystsRatings #Nike

World Economic Growth Accelerating

World Economic Growth Accelerating. The World Bank announced that they expect global economic growth to accelerate to 3.2% in 2014 from 2.4% in 2013. The banks Global Economic Prospects report forecast that the U.S. economy will expand by 2.8% from 1.8% and goes on to say that the worlds advanced economies seem "to be finally turning the corner" following the financial crisis.

Upgrades:

Dick’s Sporting Goods (DKS): Credit Suisse raised their rating from Neutral to Outperform and raised their target price from $56.00 to $65.00.

Intel (INTC): BMO Capital raised their rating from Market Perform to Outperform and raised their target price from $21.00 to $31.00. Pre-market: 26.75 +0.24 (0.91%)

Western Digital (WDC): Pacific Crest raised their rating from Sector Perform to Outperform and placed a target price of $105.00 on the company. Pre-market: 88.70 +0.81 (0.92%)

Downgrades:

Airgas (ARG): Goldman Sachs lowered their rating from Neutral to Sell and placed a target price of $101.00 on the company.

Cirrus Logic (CRUS): Pacific Crest lowered their rating from Sector Perform to Underperform and placed a target price of $14.00 on the company. Pre-market: 19.30 -0.80 (-3.98%)

Dollar General (DG): S&P lowered their rating from 4 Stars to 2 Stars.

PETsMART (PETM): UBS lowered their rating from Buy to Neutral and lowered their target price from $82.00 to $72.00. Pre-market: 65.88 -1.22 (-1.82%)

Unilever (UN/UL): JPMorgan lowered their rating from Neutral to Underweight. Pre-market: 38.32 -0.73 (-1.87%) / Pre-market: 39.30 -0.66 (-1.65%)

Coverage Initiated:

FedEx (FDX): Susquehanna initiated coverage with a Neutral rating and target price of $150.00.

Morgan Stanley (MS): Keefe Bruyette initiated coverage with a Market Perform rating and target price of $34.00. Pre-market: 31.48 +0.38 (1.22%)

United Parcel Service (UPS): Susquehanna initiated coverage with a Neutral rating and target price of $107.00.

Earning Reports:

Bank of America (BAC): Reported EPS of $0.29 beating estimates by +$0.03. Pre-market: 17.16 +0.39 (2.33%)

Fastenal (FAST): Reported EPS of $0.33 missing estimates by -$0.01. After Hours: 48.49 +0.28 (0.58%)

Markets: 
Futures at 7:16: Dow +0.23%. S&P +0.20%. Nasdaq +0.34%. Crude +0.55% to $92.10. Gold -0.61% to $1237.80. U.S. 10 Year +1/32 to 2.868%.

Europe: London +0.40%. Paris +0.92%. Frankfurt +1.22%. 

Asia: Japan +2.50% to 15809. Hong Kong +0.49% to 22902. China -0.17% to 2023. India +1.22% to 21289. 

#RLPaler #WallStreet #PreMarket #WealthManagement #EarningReports #AnalystsRatings

New Year, New “Dogs of the Dow.”

New Year, New “Dogs of the Dow.” With the New Year comes a list of the new “Dogs of the Dow.” This year’s list of the 10 “Dogs of the Dow” looks a lot like the list from 2013. The list consists of the 10 highest yielding stocks in the Dow Jones Index. This year the top honor goes to AT&T (T) with a yield of 5.3%, followed by Verizon (VZ) with a dividend yield of 4.4%. Other companies making the Dog list this year include Merck (MRK), Intel (INTC), Pfizer (PFE), McDonald’s (MCD), Chevron (CVX), General Electric (GE), Cisco (CSCO) and Microsoft (MSFT). Collectively, this year’s “Dogs of the Dow” have a dividend yield of near 4%. Last year the “Dogs” outperform the market with a return of 33%.

Upgrades:

Cadence Design Systems (CDNS): Needham raised their rating from Hold to Buy and placed a target price of $16.00 on the company. Pre-market: 14.51 +0.50 (3.57%)

Infosys Ltd (INFY): HSBC raised their rating from Neutral to Overweight.

Metlife (MET): Janney Capital raised their rating from Neutral to Buy. Pre-market: 53.19 0.00 (0.00%)

Downgrades:

Chubb (CB): Janney Capital lowered their rating from Buy to Neutral.

General Electric (GE): Oppenheimer lowered their rating from Outperform to Perform.

Joy Global (JOY): Goldman Sachs lowered their rating from Neutral to Sell and placed a target price of $52.00 on the company. Pre-market: 55.00 -1.36 (-2.41%)

Micron Tech (MU): RBC Capital lowered their rating from Outperform to Sector Perform and maintained their target price of $19.00. Pre-market: 21.19 -0.47 (-2.17%)

Prudential Financial (PRU): Janney Capital lowered their rating from Buy to Neutral. Pre-market: 90.76 0.00 (0.00%)

Sprint (S): Stifel lowered their rating from Hold to Sell. Pre-market: 10.08 -0.32 (-3.08%)

Coverage Initiated:

Bank of Montreal (BMO): RBC Capital initiated coverage with an Outperform rating.

Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS): RBC Capital initiated coverage with an Outperform rating.

Canadian Imperial Bank (CM): RBC Capital initiated coverage with a Sector Perform rating.

Toronto Dominion Bank (TD): RBC Capital initiated coverage with an Outperform rating.

Markets: 

Futures at 8:38: Dow +0.20%. S&P +0.20%. Nasdaq +0.06%. Crude -0.31% to $95.13. Gold +0.24% to $1228.20. U.S. 10 Year -3/32 to 3.004%.

Europe: London +0.28%. Paris +0.66%. Frankfurt +0.41%. 

Asia: Japan +0.69% to 16291. Hong Kong -2.25% to 22817. China -0.31% to 2083. India -0.18% to 20851. 

#RLPaler #WallStreet #PreMarket #WealthManagement #EarningReports #AnalystsRatings #DogsoftheDow