Stock Analysts

International Paper Divests North America Consumer Packaging

International Paper Company IP recently completed the divesture of its consumer packaging business in North America. The assets were sold to Graphic Packaging Holding Company GPK , a leading provider of paper-based packaging solutions for food, beverage and other consumer product companies. The divested asset portfolio included two manufacturing plants and four converting facilities with employee strength of roughly 3,900. […]

Economic Data

Fed Minutes, ISM, Auto Sales: Big Day for Data

Wednesday, January 3, 2018 Market futures are perking into the green again this morning, following triple-digit gains in the first trading session of 2018 yesterday in both the Dow and Nasdaq. Clearly, markets were determined to bid back up toward the record highs we’d seen in late 2017 before seasonal sell-offs drained a bit of the profits off the top. Part of how markets perform today will be data-reliant. […]

Economic Data

ISM Manufacturing And Fed Minutes In Focus

Market futures are perking into the green again this morning, following triple-digit gains in the first trading session of 2018 yesterday in both the Dow and Nasdaq. Clearly, markets were determined to bid back up toward the record highs we’d seen in late 2017 before seasonal sell-offs drained a bit of the profits off the top. […]

Mergers & Acquisitions

Dominion Energy, SCANA Announce All-Stock Merger With $1,000 Immediate Cash Payment To Average South Carolina Electric & Gas Residential Electric Customer After Closing

Dominion Energy, SCANA Announce All-Stock Merger With $1,000 Immediate Cash Payment To Average South Carolina Electric & Gas Residential Electric Customer After Closing — Dominion Energy to fund $1.3 billion of cash payments to all SCE&G electric customers within 90 days after closing — Estimated additional 5 percent rate reduction from current levels for SCE&G electric customers — More than $1.7 billion of nuclear capital and regulatory assets never to be collected from customers — SCANA shareholders to receive 0.6690 shares of Dominion Energy common stock for each SCANA share — Transaction immediately earnings accretive, enhances EPS growth — Transaction contingent upon South Carolina approval of proposed nuclear solution — Combined company to serve 6.5 million electric and natural gas distribution customers in eight states PR Newswire RICHMOND, Va. and CAYCE, S.C., Jan. […]

Mergers & Acquisitions

Knowledge First Financial to Acquire Heritage Education Funds to Create the Largest Canadian RESP Provider

Knowledge First Financial to Acquire Heritage Education Funds to Create the Largest Canadian RESP Provider Canada NewsWire MISSISSAUGA, ON, Jan. 3, 2018 MISSISSAUGA, ON , Jan. 3, 2018 /CNW/ – Knowledge First Financial and Heritage Education Funds today announced that Knowledge First has entered into a binding agreement to acquire Heritage Education Funds […]

Technicals

Time to Focus on Raymond James (RJF) for Strong Earnings Growth Potential

Growth stocks can be some of the most exciting picks in the market, as these high-flyers can captivate investors’ attention, and produce big gains as well. However, they can also lead on the downside when the growth story is over, so it is important to find companies which are still seeing strong growth prospects in their businesses. One such company that might be well-positioned for future earnings growth is Raymond James Financial, Inc […]

Stock Analysts

Can Merck Regain its Mojo in 2018 After an Unimpressive ’17?

Shares of Merck MRK declined 4.4% in 2017 against the large cap pharma industry’s surge of 16.3%. The industry’s rally was backed by strong quarterly results, new product sales ramp up with rising demand, successful innovation and product line expansion, strong clinical study results, more frequent FDA approvals and continued strong performance of legacy products. All these played a pivotal role in bringing the large-cap drug sector back on track last year […]

Stock Analysts

Should Value Investors Pick Ashford Hospitality Prime Stock?

Value investing is easily one of the most popular ways to find great stocks in any market environment. After all, who wouldn’t want to find stocks that are either flying under the radar and are compelling buys, or offer up tantalizing discounts when compared to fair value? One way to find these companies is by looking at several key metrics and financial ratios, many of which are crucial in the value stock selection process […]