During regular trading hours, there were many stocks that continued to break up to the upside or down side. These stocks are usually going up or down with news.If you are looking to day trade today, you might want to check out the following stocks. I usually throw these on my watch list and monitor with resistance & support levels. Below are a list of stocks that I am watching for December 13, 2011. Also check out my Top 2011 Stock Gainers, Stocks to Buy 2012.You can also check previous stocks to buy reports- Right Here.Hot stocks Today Right Here.
Below these are the Top Gainers & Losers Stocks December 12, 2011.
Below these are the Top Gainers & Losers Stocks December 12, 2011.
U.S. stocks traded higher Tuesday as the Dow Jones Industrial Average recently rose 79 points to 12100, the Standard & Poor's 500-stock index added 6 points to 1242, and the Nasdaq Composite gained 3.4 points to 2616. Among the companies whose shares are actively trading in the session are Urban Outfitters Inc. (URBN), Best Buy Co. (BBY) and MBIA Inc. (MBI).
Urban Outfitters ($27.87, +$1.41, +5.33%) said the fourth-quarter same-store sales in its retail segment are tracking up in the mid single-digit percent, higher than analysts were projecting. The Philadelphia-based retailer provided the fourth-quarter update in a regulatory filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Best Buy's ($24.83, -$3.24, -11.54%) fiscal third-quarter earnings slumped 29% as a decline in demand for televisions and other consumer electronics masked stronger sales of mobile phones and other computing products. Earnings came in well short of analyst expectations.
Bond insurer MBIA ($11.70, +$0.30, +2.63%) will pay Morgan Stanley (MS, $15.70, +$0.32, +2.08%) $1.1 billion to settle a two-year-old legal clash over guarantees tied to commercial and residential real estate, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing a person familiar with the matter.
Cabot Microelectronics Corp.'s (CCMP, $46.91, +$6.70, +16.66%) board agreed to provide a $15-a-share special dividend funded by cash on hand and new debt and boosted its share repurchase program, in an effort to buoy shareholder value.
U.S. retail sales grew less than expected in November, as Americans spent on electronics and apparel during the start of the holiday shopping season but pulled back at restaurants, grocery stores and at the gasoline pump. The disappointing results weighed on retailers such as Sears Holdings Corp. (SHLD, $55.12, -$1.49, -2.63%), Tiffany & Co. (TIF, $65.96, -$1.71, -2.53%) and Macy's Inc. (M, $31.45, -$0.88, -2.71%).
Other Stocks in Focus:
China-based AirMedia Group Inc. (AMCN, $3.79, +$0.18, +4.99%) lifted its fourth-quarter revenue forecast, citing stronger-than-expected advertising demand and a lighter-than-anticipated impact from flooding in Thailand.
Alexza Pharmaceuticals Inc. (ALXA, $0.83, +$0.21, +32.80%) said a U.S. Food and Drug Administration panel has recommended that its schizophrenic and bipolar disorder treatment be approved for use.
A contracting chicken industry and corn's dominance in the U.S. will weigh on Bunge Ltd.'s (BG, $59.61, -$1.37, -2.25%) earnings, Goldman Sachs says in initiating a sell rating. The firm notes a variety of factors that are hurting soybean crush margins, a key part of Bunge's business. Soymeal demand has been weak and soybeans have been tougher to come by as U.S. farmers continue to favor corn planting, the firm says. Goldman adds that soymeal will face ever-growing competition from distillers dried grain, an ethanol byproduct. The good news for Bunge, meanwhile, is "back end-loaded," including a good South America growing season, and earnings growth from its sugar business.
Cosi Inc. (COSI, $0.69, +$0.04, +5.38%) named Brinker International Inc. (EAT, $24.31, +$0.63, +2.66%) executive Carin L. Stutz as the casual dining chain's new chief executive and president, effective Jan. 1, concluding the company's search for a permanent CEO. Stutz, who has worked at a number of restaurant companies, also will join the board of directors, the company said.
Electro Scientific Industries Inc. (ESIO, $13.02, +$0.52, +4.13%), which supplies laser-based manufacturing solutions for the microtechnology industry, said its board has authorized a quarterly cash dividend of 8 cents per share and the repurchase of up to $20 million of the company's outstanding shares of common stock.
Endocyte Inc. (ECYT, $3.81, -$6.48, -62.97%) hit its lowest level ever Tuesday after the drug developer said overall survival results were inconclusive from a Phase II trial that tested combination of Endocyte's experimental compound EC145 with Johnson & Johnson's (JNJ, $63.60, +$0.09, +0.14%) Doxil in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. Baird says while supplemental analysis provides "solid validation of EC145's mechanism," it thinks the loss of statistical significance in progression-free survival and the lower median survival rates for the treatment arm makes early conditional approval in the EU much less certain. Combining this news with Doxil shortage, which has suspended Endocyte's Phase III Proceed trial enrollment, the firm says stepping to the sidelines on Endocyte makes most sense.
Enzo Biochem Inc. (ENZ, $2.14, -$0.23, -9.70%) net loss for its fiscal first quarter widened year over year. Operating expenses were up 11%, primarily due to higher sales and marketing expenses.
FactSet Research Systems Inc.'s (FDS, $88.08, -$6.67, -7.04%) fiscal first-quarter earnings rose 9.4%, helped by higher revenue and client growth, though recent volatility in financial markets interrupted buying patterns from some clients. The financial software company projected per-share earnings above analysts' consensus view for the current quarter, but revenue outlook fell slightly below Street estimates.
Needham reinstated its coverage of Financial Engines Inc. (FNGN, $21.84, +$0.99, +4.75%) with a buy rating, citing a large and underserved market for independent retirement plan advisors with favorable demographic trends, legislative and regulatory tailwinds, and an increased demand for advice.
Forest Oil Corp. (FST, $14.40, -$1.69, -10.50%) provided guidance for 2012, saying its budget will focus heavily on oil and other liquids-based drilling opportunities. Tudor Pickering said Forest Oil's disciplined spending is positive, but its projected liquids growth was well below its estimate. Furthermore, the firm anticipated Forest Oil would add rigs in Eagle Ford, but the company is cutting there instead.
Ladenburg Thalmann raised its stock-investment rating on Idacorp Inc. (IDA, $41.33, +$0.90, +2.23%) to buy from neutral, citing a "stable earnings stream with an attractive earnings floor" offered following a recent ruling by the Idaho Public Utilities Commission.
Rio Tinto PLC (RIO, $49.34, +$0.23, +0.47%) said it reserves the right to increase its stake in Canadian mining concern Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. (IVN, $17.28, -$3.42, -16.52%), but doesn't have any plans to make a full takeover offer after winning an arbitration process involving Ivanhoe. The Anglo-Australian miner has been successful in its challenge to protect its rights against a poison pill defense adopted by Ivanhoe; Rio will be able to maintain its 49% stake if any bid for Ivanhoe triggers the smaller company's shareholder rights plan adopted last year, Ivanhoe said in a statement.
Jive Software Inc. (JIVE, $15.17, +$3.17, +26.42%) kicked off a busy week in the U.S. IPO market with a strong opening gain after increasing both the share size and price of the deal. The company's stock opened at $15.12 a share on the Nasdaq, up from its initial public offering price of $12. A total of 13.4 million shares were sold, more than the 11.7 million shares that were originally planned, and the stock priced above its expected price range of $8 to $10.
A New York Times report primarily focused on K12 Inc. (LRN, $24.98, -$3.81, -13.23%), a provider of online education services to students in kindergarten through 12th grade, has raised some red flags about whether online courses benefit children and taxpayers.
While 2012 could see more modest job growth and slowly improving consumer confidence, demand for new homes will remain muted. J.P. Morgan estimates modest starts improvement of 5%-10%, or 625,000 to 650,000 compared with an average seasonally adjusted annual rate of 590,000 so far this year. The investment bank downgraded Toll Brothers Inc. (TOL, $20.06, -$0.51, -2.48%) to neutral from buy, citing valuation after the shares climbed 20% in the last five weeks, well above the home-builder index's 8% rise.
Shares of oil exploration and production companies climbed as crude-oil futures leapt more than 3% Tuesday morning on rumors that Iran closed a key Middle East oil-shipping channel. The rumor later proved unfounded. Separately, Deutsche Bank raised its stock-investment ratings on oil-leveraged Marathon Oil Corp. (MRO, $28.23, +$0.91, +3.33%), Hess Corp. (HES, $57.79, +$1.44, +2.56%) and Murphy Oil Corp. (MUR, $54.72, +$1.70, +3.21%) to buy from hold as the firm takes a bullish view on oil over the next year and beyond. Oil markets are tight, despite ostensibly strong supply and weak demand, the firm notes. In the long-term five-year picture, Deutsche Bank said it sees more demand growth than supply growth for oil.
Neoprobe Corp. (NEOP, $2.50, +$0.06, +2.46%) said it has gained exclusive worldwide licensing rights for a radioimaging material from AstraZeneca PLC (AZN, $46.07, +$0.50, +1.10%) (AZN.LN) that might help better diagnose Alzheimer's disease.
Two auditing firms that handled Olympus Corp.'s (OCPNY, $17.60, +$1.20, +7.32%) past financial statements are expected to approve revisions that the medical imaging equipment maker is set to submit Wednesday, The Nikkei reported early Wednesday. Olympus will release results for the April-September half, as well as revised past financial statements, to the Kanto Local Financial Bureau. By meeting Wednesday's deadline for reporting first-half earnings, Olympus will avoid running afoul of one of the rules to avoid delisting from the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
Shares of online music provider Pandora Media Inc. (P, $10.53, +$0.60, +6.04%) climbed on news that the company's service saw listenership increases of 13% to 25% in the 10 largest U.S. radio markets. Pandora posted a gain of 25% in the New York metro area for November.
Pantry Inc.'s (PTRY, $10.59, -$1.28, -10.78%) fiscal fourth-quarter earnings sank 61% as the Southeastern convenience-store and gasoline-station operator saw lower same-store gasoline and merchandise sales.
Jefferies initiated coverage on Peet's Coffee & Tea Inc. (PEET, $60.76, +$1.38, +2.32%) with a buy rating, noting that the company's high-margin packaged goods business now accounts for 60% of profits and is growing, while market share gains have not been fully recognized by the Street.
Oil-and-gas exploration and production company Penn Virginia Corp. (PVA, $5.57, -$0.34, -5.75%) lowered its production guidance for its fourth quarter, citing the timing of its Eagle Ford Shale projects and a revised method for estimating production from Eagle Ford wells.
Primerica Inc. (PRI, $21.91, -$1.31, -5.64%) said former parent Citigroup Inc. (C, $27.61, +$0.39, +1.43%) is selling its remaining eight million shares in the life-insurance business. Further terms weren't disclosed. At Monday's close, the stake is valued at about $186 million.
Seaspan Corp. (SSW, $12.45, +$2.00, +19.14%) said it launched a tender offer of buy up to 10 million Class A shares for $15 each, as the company looked to boost shareholder value. The ship company's offer, which will expire at midnight on Jan. 11, 2012, represents a 44% premium from Monday's closing price.
Sensata Technologies Holding N.V. (ST, $27.96, -$2.28, -7.54%) cut its fourth-quarter adjusted earnings and revenue predictions, primarily due to the impact of the flooding in Thailand on the company's sensors business, lower production levels and a reduction in inventories throughout the automotive supply chain. The company noted the floods haven't had a material impact on its supply chain, but it has negatively affected production schedules for certain automotive original equipment manufacturers.
Baxter International Inc. (BAX, $49.95, +$0.19, +0.38%) agreed to acquire Synovis Life Technologies Inc. (SYNO, $27.77, +$9.33, +50.60%) in a deal valued at roughly $325 million, which is expected to expand the medical-products maker's presence in regenerative medicine and biosurgery.
Investors appear to be anticipating a higher Vulcan Materials Co. (VMC, $39.55, +$0.85, +2.20%) takeover offer from Martin Marietta Materials Inc. (MLM, $75.68, +$1.07, +1.43%) or another bidder to come along, Stephens notes. "While we think this combination ultimately makes sense, especially if MLM's ($200m-$250m) synergy estimates are correct, we are unsure if this current offer will be enough to get the deal done," the firm says. There's some geographic overlap between the construction suppliers, but ultimately Martin Marietta's $1.60-per-share annual dividend could sway Vulcan shareholders, Stephens says.
