Year: 2014

On Dec 17, 2014, we issued an updated research report on Synovus Financial Corporation ( SNV ). Shares of this commercial banking services provider have recorded a year-to-date return of 9.5%. Consistent improvement in credit quality and effective cost control remained strengths while a pressurized top line continued to be the undermining aspect […]

On Dec 19, 2014, we issued an updated research report on Wal-Mart Stores Inc . ( WMT ). The retail giant reported third-quarter fiscal 2015 results on Nov 13. […]

On Dec 24, 2014, we issued an updated research report on Discovery Communications Inc. ( DISCA ). […]

NYSE-listed ADRs of Petroleo Brasileiro S.A., or Petrobras ( PBR ) gained around 3.5% following the announcement that it has achieved historical production levels. The Brazilian state-run energy giant said that on Dec 21 its oil and natural gas liquid (NGL) production reached 2.29 million barrels per day, breaking the previous record of 2.26 million. The company further added that it has attained a daily operated production record of 2.47 barrels per day. […]

Leading Bakken oil producer, Continental Resources, Inc. ( CLR ) announced a revised green field capital expenditure budget of $2.7 billion for 2015. Per company estimates, capital expansion would lead to 16% to 20% production growth in 2015 year over year […]

Shares of medical technology developer Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corporation ( IART ) attained a new 52-week high of $53.86 in mid-day trading on Dec 23. The bullish run reflects an expanding product portfolio, innovative product pipeline and impressive third-quarter 2014 results. The company’s shares eventually closed at $53.36 on the day, translating into a decent one-year return of around 13% and a year-to-date return of roughly 12%. […]

Manulife Financial Corporation ’s ( MFC ) U.S. unit John Hancock has announced that it will acquire New York Life’s Retirement Plan Services (RPS) business. […]

On Dec 23, we issued an updated research report on American International Group Inc. ( AIG ). While noticeable debt reduction has improved leverage and capital position; the company’s core operations (property-casualty and life-retirement) face the brunt of interest rate and economic volatility, stiff competition and regulatory challenges […]

Oil major BP plc ( BP ) has inked a new production sharing agreement (PSA) with the State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) relating to joint exploration of shallow water Absheron Peninsula. PSA was signed by Rovnag Abdullayev, president of SOCAR, on behalf of government of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and Gordon Birrell, BP's regional president for Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey. BP and SOCAR intend to explore and develop potential prospects in the shallow water area around the Absheron Peninsula […]

Utah-based molecular diagnostics provider Myriad Genetics, Inc. ( MYGN ) has received the FDA approval for its well acclaimed molecular companion diagnostic test – BracAnalysis CDx. Myriad Genetics' (MYGN) BracAnalysis CDx has become the first and only FDA-approved test to be permitted for use with AstraZeneca's ( AZN ) latest FDA-cleared ovarian cancer drug – LynParza – for the treatment of women with advanced ovarian cancer. […]

Raytheon Company ( RTN ) has received a Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) contract modification worth $350 million to carry on with the upgrade of 135 air traffic control centers to the Standard Terminal Automation System (“STARS”). The modernization is part of FAA’s Terminal Automation Modernization and Replacement program, to continue through Sep 2017. With the deployment of STARS at these airports, the largest U.S. […]

DIRECTV ( DTV ), the largest satellite TV service provider in the U.S., and media mogul, The Walt Disney Company ( DIS ), have reached a multi-year distribution agreement covering a wide range of live, on-demand and streaming contents. The renewed agreement will provide DIRECTV subscribers with access to Disney’s strong array of top-quality sports, news, kids and entertainment content across various platforms including TVs, computers, smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles and additional connected devices. DIRECTV customers will henceforth be able to access online-video service and live feeds from all ESPN and Disney cable networks and ABC-owned and operated TV stations, both in and out of the home, on authenticated WATCH services like Watch Disney and Watch ABC. […]

UOP LLC, a subsidiary of Honeywell International Inc ( HON ), recently announced that China has commissioned the first of 14 planned propylene production units using its proprietary technology to help meet the global demand for key petrochemical. The UOP C3 Oleflex process technology is a propane dehydrogenation (PDH) process that converts propane to propylene. Propylene is widely used in the production of packaging and other similar types of material like nylon […]

Private mortgage insurer Radian Group Inc. ( RDN ) has entered into a deal to shed its financial guaranty insurance subsidiary, Radian Asset Assurance Inc., to Assured Guaranty Corp., a subsidiary of Assured Guaranty Ltd. ( AGO ) […]

Recently, Spanish telecom behemoth Telefonica S.A. ( TEF ) received a green signal from Brazil’s regulatory authority, ANATEL, for its proposed takeover of Vivendi’s broadband assets – GVT. In Sep 2014, Telefonica had entered into an agreement with Vivendi to acquire GVT for a total consideration of €7.24 billion (approximately $9.3 billion) […]

Even though gold started 2014 on a high note, the end is not going to be as kind for the yellow metal. A stronger greenback — which is currently hovering at its highest level in nearly nine years against a basket of major currencies — a slump in oil prices and a climb in U.S. […]

RPX Corporation ’s ( RPXC ) subsidiary, RPX Clearinghouse LLC inked a deal with Rockstar Consortium LLC to purchase the patent assets controlled by Rockstar Consortium. Established in 2011, Rockstar Consortium was formed by Apple, Blackberry, Ericsson, Microsoft and Sony in order to purchase 6,000 patent assets from the Nortel bankruptcy estate. However, 2,000 of these patent assets were earlier given away to Rockstar owners and are not a part of the deal. […]

Oracle Corporation ( ORCL ) recently announced that it has entered into an agreement to buy marketing data analytics company, Datalogix. The acquisition will primarily boost Oracle's digital marketing cloud business by bringing into its folds enormous amounts of data on consumer spending patterns. The financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed, however, going by news reports, the deal is likely worth $500 million to $1 billion […]

On Dec 23, 2014, shares of Arch Capital Group Ltd. ( ACGL ) scaled a 52-week high of $59.95 on the back of rating affirmation by Moody’s as well as a solid third quarter performance. With about 0.3 million shares exchanging hands in the last trading session, the scrip closed at $59.75 per share, gaining 1.43% for the day. […]