Google’s 4th Quarterly Earnings Report more than Analyst expectation

Google 4th Quarterly Report comes out as a bright spot in the midst of gloomy economy. The Google’s quarterly results encouraged investors and analysts who had been lowering their expectations about Google's performance, as economy's troubles are deepening considerably.

Google's quarterly result specifies that search advertising, though not impervious to the economy, continues to look more attractive to marketers than other kinds of ads.

Google made $382 million, or $1.21 per share, in the three months ending in December 2008. That was a 68% drop from the same period December 2007. Google's profit had climbed by at least 17% in its previous 17 quarters as a public company.

Google's sales rose 21 percent at $4.22 billion, about $100 million, which is quite above analyst expectations, after subtracting commissions paid to its ad partners. It revenue rose by about 18% to $5.7 billion. It's the first time since Google went public in 2004 that its quarterly revenue growth has been less than 30 percent, but it was still a double-digit increase in a deteriorating economy. Excluding special items, Google said earnings for the period were $5.10 a share.

At present stage, even with gloomy economic condition, I can certainly bet on Google looking at the future growth in internet search engine advertising, as well as Google is trying to bring their free services to paid services like Google Apps, which is suite of online applications like gmail, Google calendar, Google Docs, etc.

Is Stock Market Profitable Business?

With the recent turmoil in the stock market, long term stock investors as well as short term day traders are vigorously asking the question that is there any profit left in this business? Well this can be a million dollar question for many out there who had lost their hard earn money within the span of last one year! But there are still many investors as well as day traders who find the stock market a luxurious business. Now for a newbie who had lost their hard earned money will definitely disagree with this, and yes he should.

Before we go in deep for finding out the real answer, we have to make clear some points within ourselves. Say you are engineer and you tried to enter in the profession of doctor, what will happen? Ok with little doctorate experience you will be able to check some of the patient and can cure them but still there are many such diseases which you will not be able to cure due to lack of that quality of knowledge and experience that helps to cure such diseases, these diseases can only be cured by expert doctor who are in this field of industry from last many years and has deep understanding and perfect analysis point of view.

Same is the case with stock market. With little experience you can enter in this field of business and can make money when the stock market is in healthy condition, but when the stock market starts to suffer, many inexperienced and/or unknowledgeable stock investors as well stock traders goes on to lose money, and at such point of time, a highly profession and experience stock market guru can be able to detect the correct point and will be able to cure the stock market for himself and can make handsome money.

So the peoples who are highly experienced and good knowledgably and can make perfect stock analysis are still making good money in this highly volatile and unpredictable stock market.

Wall Street End In Green Even After Banks Report Big Losses

Wall Street was managed to somehow catch the positive territory even after the major banks report big losses. Stock Market has really seen an erratic session up yesterday after the news of Bank of America receives government support, while Citi Bank splits operations.

Dow Jones industrial average was up by 68.73, or 0.84%, to close at 8,281.22. In the afternoon session, the Dow was down nearly down by 103 points but was able to slowly recover and ended up in positive territory. Even though the stock market saw green, investors were quite concerned about the ongoing problems in the banking industry in reaction to billion dollar losses at Bank of America Corp and Citigroup Inc. Even after this bad show by the major banks, investors were also cheered by plans for both banks to re-establish themselves to profitability, and maximum of the stock investors were also willing to place bets on a range of consumer and industrial stocks.

The pain that has started way back last year in stock market can also be clearly seen in investors’ as well as trader’s mind and going forward there is no sign to easing it so easily.

For this week ended, the Dow Jones industrial average fell by 317.96 point or 3.70% to close at 8,281.22 points. The Standard & Poor's 500 index lost almost about 40.23, or 4.50%, to close at 850.12. The Nasdaq composite index slid by 42.26, or 2.70 percent, to 1,529.33.

Stock Pick: Embarq

Embarq showed strong Q1 result

The company announced its quarterly result for the first quarter of 2008, including record earnings and cash flow. The company reported total revenues of $1.57 billion, operating income of $434 million, diluted earnings per share of $1.38 and cash flow before dividends of $286 million.

The company paid a dividend of $0.6875 per share in the first quarter, and repurchased approximately 3.35 million common shares at a cost of $135 million. Through April 25, 2008, the company purchased an additional 2.62 million shares at a cost of $104 million.

The company ended the quarter with net debt of $5.6 billion, a sequential reduction of $187 million.

The company reported a decline of 120,000 access lines in the first quarter, ending with 6.19 million access lines. During the quarter, the company added 63,000 high-speed Internet subscribers, bringing the total to 1.34 million. Video net additions totaled 17,000 during the quarter, resulting in the company ending the quarter with 217,000 of its customers subscribing to video services.

About Embarq Corporation

Embarq Corporation (NYSE: EQ), headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas, offers a complete suite of common sense communications services. The company has approximately 19,000 employees and operates in 18 states. EMBARQ is included in the S&P 500.

For consumers, EMBARQ offers an innovative portfolio of services that includes reliable local and long distance home phone service, high-speed Internet, wireless, and satellite TV from DISH Network® - all on one monthly bill.

For businesses, EMBARQ has a comprehensive range of flexible and integrated services designed to help businesses of all sizes be more productive and communicate with their customers. This service portfolio includes local voice and data services, long distance, Business Class High-Speed Internet, wireless, enhanced data network services, voice and data communication equipment and managed network services. EMBARQ believes that by focusing on the communities the company serves and by employing common sense and practical ingenuity, it is able to provide customers with a committed partner, dedicated customer service and innovative products for work and home.

Technical Analysis

Technically, the stock shows strong support at $39, but at the same time has strong resistant at $42. Once the stock crosses $42 successfully with high volume, the stock can easily touch $48 with long term target of $65+.

Short Term Target: $48
Medium Term Target: $58
Long Term Target: $65+

Disclaimer: The views, investment and stock trading tips expressed on this online stock trading blog are solely from the blog owner. The blog owner advises users to check with certified experts before taking any stock trading or stock investing decision.

Stock Pick – Tiffany And Co

TIFFANY AND CO

On Monday Tiffany & Co posted higher than expected quarterly result. The company has reported increased sales overseas and at the same the newly opened stores has helped to counterbalance the effects of a slowing US economy as that has put a strain on consumer spending.

The company reported that its net sales increased 15% in the fiscal year ended January 31, 2008 and rose 10% in the fourth quarter. Net earnings per diluted share from continuing operations excluding non-recurring items increased 22% to $2.33 in the year and increased 19% to $1.27 in the fourth quarter.

The company’s net sales in the fiscal year increased 15% to $2,938,771,000. On a constant-exchange-rate basis, which excludes the effect of translating foreign-currency-denominated sales into U.S. dollars, net sales increased 13% and worldwide comparable store sales increased 7%.

The company’s sales rose 10% to $1.05 billion. The company is expecting, for the current year, the net earnings per share to rise by 11% to 15% to a range of $2.75 to $2.85.

The Company repurchased and retired 9,299,491 shares of its Common Stock in the fourth quarter at a total cost of $418,374,000, or an average cost of $44.99 per share. In the year, the Company spent $574,608,000 to repurchase 12,374,000 shares of its Common Stock at an average cost of $46.44 per share. In January 2008, the Board of Directors increased by $500 million the amount authorized for future repurchases through January 2011. At January 31, 2008, the Company had $621 million available for future repurchases.

About Tiffany And Co

Tiffany & Co. is a holding company that operates through its subsidiary companies. The Company's principal subsidiary, Tiffany and Company, is a jeweler and specialty retailer, whose merchandise offerings include an extensive selection of jewelry (83% of net sales in fiscal 2006), as well as timepieces, sterling silverware, china, crystal, stationery, fragrances and accessories.

Through Tiffany and Company and other subsidiaries, the Company is engaged in product design, manufacturing and retailing activities.

Company’s performance on stock market

After touching the January’s low, this stock had performed quite well on Wall Street. At current situation, after the quarterly result, it is expected the stock will resume its upward movement.

Technically the stock seems to have resistant at $45. Once the stock takes out $45 resistant successfully with huge volume, the immediate target seems at $50 and from mid to long term, the stock has potential to touch $60.

From long term investor’s point of view, I think systemic small-small accumulation of Tiffany stock will be a very good strategy at current market scenario. Even though the Wall Street has gained quite considerably after the two month’s turmoil, it certainly cannot be granted that Wall Street is now completely out of woods. There is lot of uncertainties out there, and any slight negative news from economy front can drag the market southward.

If the Dow Jones and NASDAQ tends to move southward then this stock will also follow their same direction, but at lower level of $35, this stock will be a very good buy with huge upward potential and very low downside risk.

Mid Term Target: $50
Long Term Target: $60

Disclaimer: The views, investment and stock trading tips expressed on this online stock trading blog are solely from the blog owner. The blog owner advises users to check with certified experts before taking any stock trading or stock investing decision.

Current stock market behavior – best opportunity to learn

Since last couple of months, the Wall Street has been behaving more weirdly. But on the other hand, it has given a very good opportunity for newbie stock traders and stock investors to learn more about how the stock market works.

The stock market has shown
• How wildly it can behave
• How the negative sentiment can affect the investor’s pocket
• How the traders can easily burn their hands if they do not put perfect stock market management strategy in place.
• How the maximum of the bull market strategies does not work in bear market
• How losing of money is more easy then making it
• How drastically the positive things can turn into negative
• How non-fundamental stock tends to fall heavily

The stock market is showing its ugly face. This is a tough market and making money in this tough market is even tougher. But one who is able to live with this and can implement proper and perfect strategy can still make money.

You have to assume that stock market will never work according to what you think and it will never allow you to make money. But it is your skill and knowledge that you need to use to pull out the money from the stock market.

The stock trader should know how the significant dip in stock market is an opportunity to enter and how any significant rise is an opportunity to exit.

The investors should need to examine the highly defensive stock and to remain invested in such a stock that has very good fundamentals and has very good growth prospectus ahead.

Hard decision, high risk taking ability, patience and cool mind are supportive tools that help to implement this in more perfect way to make money in stock market.

Omnicell Ind - Fundamentally Looks Good

Omnicell, Inc. is a leading provider of various medication control and patient safety solutions for acute care health facilities.

The company's healthcare automation solutions enable healthcare facilities to acquire, manage, dispense, and administer medications and medical-surgical supplies. It offers medication-use product line for use in acute care nursing departments, central pharmacy automation, physician order management, and nursing workflow automation at the bedside.

The company had very recently announced on Feb 25th, repurchase of an aggregate of up to $40 million of its common stock over the next 12 months. The Company’s Board of Directors decided to pursue this course of action after a review of the Company’s financial position and investment alternatives. The Company expects the stock repurchase program to be accretive to earnings.

This move had leaded the Omnicell stock to remain isolated with ongoing carnage and turmoil in stock market. The stock show strong buy signal and downside risk also looks quite less.

Omnicell also announced that it expects 2008 earnings from operating income will be higher than previously estimated and expects the estimated return on cash investments to be reduced to an average of 3% as a result of recent Federal Reserve rate reductions, which will offset the increases in operating income. After these adjusted estimates, Omnicell reaffirms its previous 2008 earnings forecast of $0.85 to $0.88 per share, excluding stock compensation charges.

Technically the stock looks quite good. The stock is certainly giving buy signal and has very good potential to touch $30 on mid term basis.

Disclaimer: The views, investment and stock trading tips expressed on this online stock trading blog are solely from the blog owner. The blog owner advises users to check with certified experts before taking any stock trading or stock investing decision.

One more painful day on Wall Street

The stock market is certainly witnessing lot of pain. Investors are worried and maximum of stock traders are avoiding to take any buy call on painful and helpless stock market. The credit market is crunching, housing market is plummeting and entering of recession in US economy is almost dreading the investor.

The Dow Jones is almost at it strong support level of 12,000. Though the market is witnessing heavy pressure; I strongly feel the Dow will not fall below 12,000 levels, but still if it falls below 12,000 levels, then I don’t see any hope remaining. At such situation, maximum of the investor will try to pull out their money, and then worries will deepen to such extend that no support level will help the market. The market will not follow any technical or fundamental story and turmoil in stock market will continue for no definite period. It will take long time for one to see the market gets stabilize at some level.

Couple of years back where the market was looking as a paradise is now looking as a torment for me.

Economics worries make the Dow Jones to fall 300+

Wall Street saw one more bloodbath day on Friday. The bloodbath day was more with the concern of economic worries. It seems like the Wall Street has granted that the recession is almost entered or at the door of the US economy.

If for time being we grant that the recession has almost entered and it is affecting the US economy then we should also conclude that this market will lack investor. If investors face out from this market then certainly there will be more falls or the market will stick in range with slowing and sliding waiving upward movement and will start moving downward.

If such is the situation then small retail investor should remain away from the stock market. However retail online stock trader those who are mainly doing online stock trading from their home can enter the market near to the strong support level of 12,000 with strict stop loss of same.

Though the fear of recession is eating out the Wall Street, I strongly feel the Dow Jones should hold 12,000 levels. I estimate that for at least next 3-4 months the Dow Jones should remain in zone of 12,000 to 12,700 levels. But still it is too early to estimate because market reacts with situation. Any positive step from Fed and US government can fuel the market upward.

Stock pick - Universal Health Services Inc

Universal Health Services Inc (UHS) posted a descent quarterly result on Thursday 28 Feb, 2008. The USH Inc Posted 17% increase in 4th quarter profit on back of higher revenue from its acute care and behavioral health facilities.

Universal health earned $40 million, or 75% per share, compared with $34.2 million, or 63 cents per share, for the same quarter in 2006.

Revenue for the quarter rose 12% to $1.19 billion as expected with Wall Street estimates of $1.20 billion.

Universal forecast 2008 earnings from continuing operations of $3.37 to $3.42 per share on revenue of $5.13 billion. Wall Street analysts' are estimating earnings of $3.37 per share.

The main revenue source from acute care hospitals rose 7.6 %, while revenue at behavioral health facilities rose 9.5 %.

With ongoing bloodbath on Wall Street, it becomes evident to stay in more profitable and defensive stock which will help you to keep your stock investment safe. According to me USH stock comes in that defensive stock category. This stock has unique presence in healthcare sector. The healthcare sector is said to be more defensive and less impacted with any financial crisis.

Looking at technical chart of this stock, it looks like the stock has strong resistant at $54. According to me the stock should cross $54 irrespective of what is happening in overall stock market. Still I would remain cautions and will avoid doing any stock trading in this stock until the stock crosses $54 with high volume. Once the $54 is taken out successfully with high volume and stock remains above $54 for couple of days then I would like to take long position with price target of $62 and then $67.

Median target: $62
High target: $67

Disclaimer: The views, investment and stock trading tips expressed on this online stock trading blog are solely from the blog owner. The blog owner advises users to check with certified experts before taking any stock trading or stock investing decisions.

Make Investment through Fisher Investment Company

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The company primary goal is to deliver superior service to individual investors. The company’s personalized approach allows clients to benefit not only from their portfolio management capabilities but also from their substantial research and educational resources.

The company holds regular client seminars throughout the country to keep clients abreast of their thinking on the markets and to give client a chance to interact with senior decision makers. In addition to regular interaction with their c, clients also receive periodic written research reports, quarterly statements, and other timely updates.

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Stock Pick - Zebra Technologies Corp

Zebra Technologies Corp (ZBRA) posted a higher than street expected fourth-quarter profit on Monday.

The company’s net profit rose to $30.8 million or 45 cents a share from $21.4 million, or 30 cents a share, a year earlier. Company’s revenue increased 11.3% to $233.6 million from $209.9 million. Wall Street analysts had expected earnings of 43 cents a share on revenue of $226 million.

The company said it expected first-quarter earnings of 36 cents to 44 cents a share on sales of $238 million to $255 million. The forecast includes special items that will reduce profit by about 9 cents a share.

The company, with international headquarters in Vernon Hills, Illinois, USA, has an installed base of nearly five million printers worldwide. Zebra Technologies delivers innovative and reliable on-demand printing solutions for business improvement and security applications in 100 countries around the world. More than 90 percent of Fortune 500 companies use Zebra-brand printers. A broad range of applications benefit from Zebra-brand bar code, "smart" label, receipt, and card printers, resulting in enhanced security, increased productivity, improved quality, lower costs, and better customer service. The company has sold nearly five million printers, including RFID printer/encoders and wireless mobile solutions, and also offers software, connectivity solutions, and printing supplies.

The fundamental story of the stock looks bright, but technically the stock movement is not that encouraging. The stock has strong resistance at level of $34, but if stock crosses $34 resistance level successfully with huge volume then the stock can easily head to $42 and then $49. The stock seems to have strong support level at $27.50. The stock can be bought from median to long term perspective with price target of $42. From stock trading perspective once the stock takes out $34 resistance successfully the traders can go long with strict stoploss at $27.50. Any sharp fall in this stock should be taken as good opportunity to enter in this stock.

Median target: $42
High target: $49
Stoploss: $27.50

Disclaimer: The views, investment and stock trading tips expressed on this online stock trading blog are solely from the blog owner. The blog owner advises users to check with certified experts before taking any stock trading or stock investing decisions.

Stock Pick - Williams Companies Inc.

Williams Companies Inc. (WMB)

Williams Companies Inc through its subsidiaries engages in the production, gathering, processing, and transportation of natural gas.

The ongoing rise in energy prices has significantly boosted the company’s revenue. The company announced its quarterly result on Thursday. The company reported healthy 53% jump in its fourth-quarter profit.

Many of the research firm has upgraded this stock to outperform. Fundamentally as well as technically, the stock is positioned well. At present situation the overall Wall Street is going through significant volatile session, William Companies is showing strong uptrend. From stock trading perspective the stock is giving buy signal with a stoploss around $33.50. The median target for this stock can be around $42 to $45.

For fourth-quarter 2007, recurring income from continuing operations after mark-to-market adjustments was $358 million, or 59 cents per share, compared with $173 million, or 28 cents per share, for the same period in 2006.

Recurring income from continuing operations after mark-to-market adjustments was $1.05 billion, or $1.73 per share, for 2007, compared with $648 million, or $1.07 per share, for 2006.

For 2007, Williams' businesses reported consolidated segment profit of $2.16 billion, compared with $1.49 billion for 2006. In fourth-quarter 2007, the company reported consolidated segment profit of $539 million, compared with $375 million in the fourth quarter of 2006.

The profit was mainly driven by higher natural-gas liquid margins remaining at historically high levels, strong growth in domestic natural gas production volumes, and the positive effect of new rates on two pipeline systems. Moreover the company is expecting this trend to remain through the year.

Current price: $35.57
Target price: $42 to $45
Stoploss: $33.50

Disclaimer: The views, investment and stock trading tips expressed on this online stock trading blog are from the blog owner. The blog owner advises users to check with certified experts before taking any stock trading or stock investing decisions.