Category: Stock Option Advisory

Saint Louis based Monsanto (MON), a leading seed company, announced a strong second quarter profit. In fact, the earnings release showed profit more than doubled from the previous year’s second quarter. The news was inspiring to stock trading and many investors added the company to their trading portfolio. Some analysts noted the company’s 2008 earnings forecast in their lists of stock warning signs. Monsanto earned $1.13 billion during the quarter which ended February 29, or $2.02 per share. This was up from $543 million or 98 cents per share from the previous year’s second quarter. A strong 45% surge in revenue, from $2.6 billion to $3.8 billion was a big contributor to the company’s growth. Corn seed, one of the company’s leading products, saw $1.7 billion in quarter revenue, up from $1.2 billion the year before.

Gartner Incorporated (IT), a Connecticut based information technology research company, said its first quarter profit more than doubled. The company communicated that its impressive earnings growth was due largely to greater contract revenue. This is likely to motivate stock trading as the growth is attributed directly to the company’s business operations. The company said its net income reached $21.5 million, or 21 cents per share, for its quarter, which ended on March 31. During last year’s first quarter, the company netted $8.2 million, or 8 cents per share. This means that the company increased its profit more the double, which definitely emboldens investors maintain Gartner in the trading portfolio as part of a long-term stock trading strategy.

Verizon Communications (VZ) announced a first quarter profit rise of 9.8 percent during its first quarter of 2008, compared to the same quarter last year. This amounted to earnings of $1.64 billion for the period that ended March 31. The company credited a gain of 1.5 million new wireless subscribers with much of the impact on profit. The strong earnings gave the company’s stock help. The company’s earnings amounted to 57 cents per share. Last year’s first quarter saw earnings of $1.5 billion, or 51 cents per share. After excluding items, earnings per share were 61 cents, which equaled analyst expectations. Some long-term stock trading strategies rely on meeting or exceeding analysts estimates in order for the trader to feel secure with the stock in their trading portfolio.

Acuity Brands (AYI) is a leading lighting equipment maker based out of New York. The company recently announced a sharp rise in its second quarter profits. Net income for the quarter was $34.1 million, or 82 cents per share. This strong performance led to an immediate stock trading surge as stock investing picked up after the report. What really gave the stock help was that it bested analyst expectations by 14 cents per share. This is an incredibly strong topping of expectations, which always heightens interest in trading portfolio additions. Revenue for the quarter was $482.6 million, significantly more than the $470.2 million analysts predicted.

Research in Motion (RIMM), a Blackberry maker, announced a hugely successful fiscal fourth quarter. The company’s quarter ended on March 1. Earning for the quarter were $412.5 million, which equals 72 cents per share. The profit more than doubled from $187.4 million and 33 cents per share during last year’s fourth quarter. Stock trading intensified after hours for the stock, following the announcement. Revenue also jumped incredibly, from $930 million to $1.88 billion. The company indicated it had no concerns of a slowdown that has affected some other technology companies. The 72 cents per share earnings topped analyst estimates by 2 cents. This is always exciting to the stock investing community. Many traders immediately beginning added the stock to their personal stock portfolio.

Los Angeles based Darden Restaurants, Incorporated (DRI) gave stock trading investors a reason to be exited by announcing a strong profit for its fiscal third quarter. The parent company of well known restaurants Olive Garden and Red Lobster, recently acquired LongHorn Steakhouse and Capital Grille chains, which it said boosted revenue and profit. Lead by sales growth at Olive Garden, the company was able to overcome a bad weather quarter to produce an 18% increase in net income, for a total of $126 million in earnings. This amounts to an 88 cent per share income, compared with last year’s fiscal third quarter earnings of $106.4 million, or 72 cents per share.

New York based children’s clothing retailer, Gymboree Corporation (GYMB), announced a very strong fiscal fourth quarter earnings season that ignited after hours stock trading. The company said its profit was 10% higher for its further quarter this year compared to its fourth quarter from last year. Revenue that outpaced analyst estimates was cited as the leading contributor to the strong performance. The company’s fiscal quarter ended on February 2nd. Earnings were $26.8 million, or 93 cents per share. During last year’s fourth quarter, the company earned $24.4 million, or 75 cents per share.

Ensco International (ESV), an offshore drilling company gave its stock help by reporting a strong 13% increase in profits for its fiscal fourth quarter. Lead by higher day rates for its rigs, the company best Wall Street analysts significantly to help inspire stock trading. Fourth quarter net income of $238.6 million translates into a remarkable $1.66 earnings per share. This was a sharp increase over last year’s fourth quarter earnings of $210.4 million, or $1.39 per share. Analysts had expected $1.55 per share for the company. The 11 cent out performance was credited largely to about a $24,000 per day increase in rig rates.

Counter to recent developments in the retail environment, Framingham, Massachusetts based off-price retailer TJX (TJX) saw a huge spike in its fourth quarter profits. The company, which operates such retail brands as TJ Maxx and Marshalls, says improvements in inventory management, cost controls, and marketing helped lead to the strong showing. The surprisingly strong report gave the company’s stock help and inspired stock trading that moved the shares forward nearly 5% following the announcement. The company’s earnings results barely beat estimates on Wall Street, but given the uncertain economic landscape, and several weak retail earnings reports already announced, the market responded strongly to the positive results.

It was a mixed bag for EMC Corporation (EMC) during its fourth quarter earnings announcement. The company boasted a 35% jump in fourth quarter profit from the previous year, thanks to widespread revenue growth. The company did warn that 2008 earnings would likely be below current analyst targets. EMC is a leading data storage vendor. Net income for the company was $525.7 million during the quarter, which is 24 cents per share. Their fourth quarter 2006 earnings were $388.8 million, or 18 cents per share.