Year: 2014

Leading microcontroller and touch technology solutions provider Atmel Corporation ( ATML ) recently announced its decision to introduce a number of new solutions powering smart, secure and connected applications for the Internet of Things (IoT) at the International CES 2015. The show will be held in Las Vegas, Nevada from Jan 6–9, 2015. […]

Hercules Technology Growth Capital, Inc. ( HTGC ) released its portfolio update for fourth-quarter 2014, which reflected sturdy loan origination performance. The company achieved $900 million of annual new origination commitments for 2014, beating its yearly growth target of $700–$850 million […]

On Dec 19, 2014, we issued an updated research report on GOL Linhas Aereas SA ( GOL ). Low fuel price, coupled with increasing demand for air travel over the holiday season, have considerably boosted growth for the company and are believed to act as catalysts going ahead as well. GOL delivered negative earnings surprises over the last four quarters, with an average miss of 351.85% […]

Zacks Investment Research upgraded OFS Capital Corporation ( OFS ) to a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) on Dec 23, 2014. Why the Upgrade? […]

The Nasdaq Composite Index (^IXIC) has gained 14.1% so far in 2014. Though short of the 38.3% gain in 2013, the Nasdaq has outperformed the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) and the Standard & Poor 500’s (INX) year-to-date returns of 8.7% and 12.7%, respectively. […]

It was a very busy year as far as mergers and acquisitions are concerned and the number of deals was way too many to mention separately. But some notable splits were also announced that will totally change companies as we knew them. […]

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) market is back in the limelight with AbbVie ( ABBV ) gaining approval for its HCV cocktail treatment and being signed on by pharmacy benefit manager Express Scripts. Achillion ( ACHN ), which is focused on the development of HCV treatments, also came out with data on a couple of HCV candidates. […]

Shares of industrial goods manufacturer Ingersoll-Rand Plc ( IR ) scaled a new 52-week high of $64.94 on Dec 23, before closing the trading session a notch lower at $64.47. Despite its strong price appreciation, this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock still has enough fundamental strength to drive it upward. […]

Shares of Darden Restaurants, Inc. ( DRI ) hit a 52-week high of $58.99 in the first half of the trading session on Tuesday. Share price of this restaurateur has risen by 2.5% since it announced impressive second quarter fiscal 2015 results, on Dec 17. […]

Major American banks continue to be embroiled in legal hassles related to the sale of risky residential mortgage backed securities (“RMBS”). The U.S. […]

On Dec 23, 2014, shares of American Equity Investment Life Holding Co . ( AEL ) scaled a 52-week high of $28.95 buoyed by a host of positive factors. About 0.7 million shares exchanged hands in the last trading session and the stock gained 0.5% to close at $28.61 […]

On Dec 23, 2014, shares of Fidelity National Financial, Inc. ( FNF ) scaled a new 52-week high of $34.85 following a series of positive tidings at the company. Fidelity National, the title insurance provider, announced a three-year share repurchase program on Nov 6, 2014, effective immediately. […]

Sigma-Aldrich Corporation ( SIAL ) and Merck KGaA ( MKGAY ) announced that the latter has obtained antitrust clearance from the US FTC for its previously announced acquisition of Sigma-Aldrich. Merck KGaA entered into an agreement to acquire Sigma-Aldrich for $17 billion in Sep 2014. Subsequently, on Dec 5, the acquisition was approved by Sigma-Aldrich shareholders at a special meeting at St […]

Texas Instruments ( TXN ) recently sold a 15-acre private park in Sunnyvale to the maker of the da Vinci robotic surgery system, Intuitive Surgical. The price wasn’t disclosed. The park was marketed on Loopnet as a development site […]