Beginning investors often assume that when the overall stock market is hovering near the flatline, there's nothing important going on in the business world. For instance, looking at this afternoon's levels for major market benchmarks, it looks as though many traders have given up and gone home for the weekend, with the Dow Jones Industrials (DJINDICES: ^DJI ) up just nine points as of 1:20 p.m. EDT. With none of the Dow's components making particularly abrupt moves, news concerning those blue chips isn't having much impact on share prices today.
But if you expand your view of the market, you'll find plenty of big movers and more interesting goings-on. OmniVision Technologies (NASDAQ: OVTI ) is the big winner this afternoon, soaring more than 19% in the wake of last night's positive earnings report. OmniVision said its cost-reduction strategy had started to bear fruit, revealing a combination of favorable results for its most recent quarter and expectation-beating guidance for the current quarter. In the long run, OmniVision has to demonstrate its ability to keep its image-sensor chips in the most popular smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices. So far, though, investors are content with the growth they've seen.
Hot Prefered Companies To Watch For 2016: Apple Inc.(AAPL)
Apple Inc., together with subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, and markets personal computers, mobile communication and media devices, and portable digital music players, as well as sells related software, services, peripherals, networking solutions, and third-party digital content and applications worldwide. The company sells its products worldwide through its online stores, retail stores, direct sales force, third-party wholesalers, resellers, and value-added resellers. In addition, it sells third-party Mac, iPhone, iPad, and iPod compatible products, including application software, printers, storage devices, speakers, headphones, and other accessories and peripherals through its online and retail stores; and digital content and applications through the iTunes Store. The company sells its products to consumer, small and mid-sized business, education, enterprise, government, and creative markets. As of September 25, 2010, it had 317 retail stores, including 233 stores in the United States and 84 stores internationally. The company, formerly known as Apple Computer, Inc., was founded in 1976 and is headquartered in Cupertino, California.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By InTheMoneyStocks.com]
Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) has been lower all day, even with stocks like Google Inc (NASDAQ: GOOG) and Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) solidly higher. This shows relative weakness. Last week, Amazon appeared to put in a major hyped-top when Jeff Bezos talked about drones delivering packages. On significant volume, the stock opened higher and sold off fast. Since then, the stock is having trouble catching any sort of bid, even when the market is higher. The daily chart is beginning to form a classic bear flag and should signal continued weakness.
- [By Tim Beyers]
Advertisers hate the idea. At least two industry trade groups -- the Interactive Advertising Bureau and the Association of National Advertisers -- strongly oppose the new setting, arguing that users of the browser will see more (and more irrelevant) ads as a result, Computerworld reports. Perhaps that's why�Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL ) ,�Google (NASDAQ: GOOG ) �, and�Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT ) haven't taken similar steps with their own browsers?
- [By Tim Melvin]
Carl Icahn had the other side of the Herbalife trade and has also made big-time moves in Dell (DELL), Apple (AAPL) and Netflix (NFLX) over the past few months. And�Daniel Loeb of Third Point Partners just revealed a large stake in Nokia (NOK) this week.
- [By Andrew Tonner]
The heated debate about Apple's (NASDAQ: AAPL ) �innovation is increasingly looking more one-sided; Apple executives have dropped numerous hints signaling as much. So why hasn't the market shown Apple a little more respect? This is, after all, the same company that launched both the smartphone and tablet markets. Is Apple's innovation engine stalled, or is the market simply mistaken? In the video below, analyst Brendan Byrnes asks Fool contributor Andrew Tonner about the future of Apple.
Top Blue Chip Stocks To Watch For 2015: McDonald's Corporation(MCD)
McDonald?s Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a worldwide foodservice retailer. It franchises and operates McDonald?s restaurants that offer various food items, soft drinks, coffee, and other beverages. As of December 31, 2009, the company operated 32,478 restaurants in 117 countries, of which 26,216 were operated by franchisees; and 6,262 were operated by the company. McDonald?s Corporation was founded in 1948 and is based in Oak Brook, Illinois.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Dan Caplinger]
McDonald's (NYSE: MCD )
The fast-food giant missed expectations both for revenue and for earnings, producing less than 1% greater sales and a 2.4% gain in net income. Comparable-store sales fell in the U.S., Europe, and the Asia-Pacific/Middle East/Africa region, and McDonald's said it expected weakness to persist in April as well. - [By Dan Caplinger]
Yet even if the economy is poised for a slowdown, certain stocks will likely benefit. McDonald's (NYSE: MCD ) is up more than 1% this morning, climbing above the $100 mark and approaching all-time highs. Even as the company faces a strike in New York City by workers who want better pay, McDonald's attracts defensively minded investors because of its record of holding up well in past downturns. The fast-food giant was one of the few stocks that actually rose during 2008's bear market, and with stocks teetering at current high levels, investors want that kind of protection again.
- [By John Reeves and David Meier]
Look at the amazing results of McDonald's (NYSE: MCD ) over the past several decades, for example. The company has been able to deliver outstanding total returns by paying out higher and higher dividends each year over an extremely long time horizon. Ultimately, investors are willing to pay higher and higher prices for shares that offer a growing stream of dividends.
Top Blue Chip Stocks To Watch For 2015: Chevron Corporation(CVX)
Chevron Corporation, through its subsidiaries, engages in petroleum, chemicals, mining, power generation, and energy operations worldwide. It operates in two segments, Upstream and Downstream. The Upstream segment involves in the exploration, development, and production of crude oil and natural gas; processing, liquefaction, transportation, and regasification associated with liquefied natural gas; transportation of crude oil through pipelines; and transportation, storage, and marketing of natural gas, as well as holds interest in a gas-to-liquids project. The Downstream segment engages in the refining of crude oil into petroleum products; marketing of crude oil and refined products primarily under the Chevron, Texaco, and Caltex brand names; transportation of crude oil and refined products by pipeline, marine vessel, motor equipment, and rail car; and manufacture and marketing of commodity petrochemicals, plastics for industrial uses, and fuel and lubricant additives. It a lso produces and markets coal and molybdenum; and holds interests in 13 power assets with a total operating capacity of approximately 3,100 megawatts, as well as involves in cash management and debt financing activities, insurance operations, real estate activities, energy services, and alternative fuels and technology business. Chevron Corporation has a joint venture agreement with China National Petroleum Corporation. The company was formerly known as ChevronTexaco Corp. and changed its name to Chevron Corporation in May 2005. Chevron Corporation was founded in 1879 and is based in San Ramon, California.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Ali Berri]
In a report released Friday, Barclay analyst Paul Cheng released coverage on major oil companies such as Petroleo Brasileiro Petrobras SA (NYSE: PBR), Exxon Mobil (NYSE: XOM), ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP), Chevron (NYSE: CVX) and Suncor Energy (NYSE: SU).
- [By David Smith]
And yesterday I described to Fools why I believe that Chevron (NYSE: CVX ) constitutes the more compelling of the two remaining U.S.-based major oil and gas companies. My sentiments remain unchanged.
- [By Alex Planes]
Tale of the tape
Chevron (NYSE: CVX ) has only been a current Dow component since 2008, but it first joined way back in 1930, when it was still Standard Oil of California. Chevron's dubious 1999 removal hindered the index's growth for years, but investors who held on enjoyed gains of nearly 150% before the oil supermajor was reinstated. Chevron has ranked as America's third largest company on the Fortune 500 for several years running, a position befitting one of the largest integrated oil and gas companies in the world. - [By Marc Bastow]
It’s hard to go wrong with an oil and gas play, despite the ups and downs found in the energy sector, and Chevron (CVX) is one of the proven winners in the field.
Top Blue Chip Stocks To Watch For 2015: Philip Morris International Inc(PM)
Philip Morris International Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the manufacture and sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products in markets outside of the United States. Its international product brand line comprises Marlboro, Merit, Parliament, Virginia Slims, L&M, Chesterfield, Bond Street, Lark, Muratti, Next, Philip Morris, and Red & White. The company also offers its products under the A Mild, Dji Sam Soe, and A Hijau in Indonesia; Diana in Italy; Optima and Apollo-Soyuz in the Russian Federation; Morven Gold in Pakistan; Boston in Colombia; Belmont, Canadian Classics, and Number 7 in Canada; Best and Classic in Serbia; f6 in Germany; Delicados in Mexico; Assos in Greece; and Petra in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. It operates primarily in the European Union, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Canada, and Latin America. The company is based in New York, New York.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Editor , Dividend Growth Investor]
Philip Morris� (PM), through its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells cigarettes and other tobacco products. This dividend machine has rewarded shareholders with a dividend increase since being spun-offs from Altria Group (MO) in 2008.
- [By Sean Williams]
Russia's move could pose a threat to global cigarette producers such as Philip Morris International (NYSE: PM ) and British American Tobacco. Although both tobacco producers operate around the globe, a dramatic shift in curbing smoking from the world's third-largest tobacco consumer is bound to sting. In Philip Morris' case, according to Trefis, Russia accounted for approximately 6% of its total revenue last year, and the Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa region accounted for roughly one-quarter of sales.�
Top Blue Chip Stocks To Watch For 2015: International Business Machines Corporation(IBM)
International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) provides information technology (IT) products and services worldwide. Its Global Technology Services segment provides IT infrastructure and business process services, including strategic outsourcing, process, integrated technology, and maintenance services, as well as technology-based support services. The company?s Global Business Services segment offers consulting and systems integration, and application management services. Its Software segment offers middleware and operating systems software, such as WebSphere software to integrate and manage business processes; information management software for database and enterprise content management, information integration, data warehousing, business analytics and intelligence, performance management, and predictive analytics; Tivoli software for identity management, data security, storage management, and datacenter automation; Lotus software for collaboration, messaging, and so cial networking; rational software to support software development for IT and embedded systems; business intelligence software, which provides querying and forecasting tools; SPSS predictive analytics software to predict outcomes and act on that insight; and operating systems software. Its Systems and Technology segment provides computing and storage solutions, including servers, disk and tape storage systems and software, point-of-sale retail systems, and microelectronics. The company?s Global Financing segment provides lease and loan financing to end users and internal clients; commercial financing to dealers and remarketers of IT products; and remanufacturing and remarketing services. It serves financial services, public, industrial, distribution, communications, and general business sectors. The company was formerly known as Computing-Tabulating-Recording Co. and changed its name to International Business Machines Corporation in 1924. IBM was founded in 1910 and is based in Armonk, New York.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Dan Carroll]
Fellow tech stock IBM (NYSE: IBM ) isn't having such a good day: Big Blue's shares have fallen 1.5% to rank among the top Dow laggards. The company is looking to cut costs by cutting employees, particularly after a worse-than-expected first quarter sunk the firm's stock by nearly 8% in one day back in April. The firm is planning to spend up to $1 billion on the cuts, which began today and could encompass up to 8,000 workers around the globe.
- [By GuruFocus]
These are the top 5 holdings of Warren Buffett (Trades, Portfolio)
Wells Fargo & Co (WFC) - 463,458,123 shares, 21.8% of the total portfolio. Coca-Cola Co (KO) - 400,000,000 shares, 14.6% of the total portfolio. American Express Co (AXP) - 151,610,700 shares, 12.9% of the total portfolio. International Business Machines Corp (IBM) - 68,355,084 shares, 12.4% of the total portfolio. Shares added by 0.34% Wal-Mart Stores Inc (WMT) - 58,052,412 shares, 4.2% of the total portfolio. Shares added by 17.32% New Purchase: Verizon Communications Inc (VZ)Warren Buffett (Trades, Portfolio) initiated holdings in Verizon Communications Inc. His purchase prices were between $45.98 and $49.3, with an estimated average price of $47.35. The impact to his portfolio due to this purchase was 0.5%. His holdings were 11,022,743 shares as of 03/31/2014.
- [By Jake Keator]
International Business Machines (NYSE: IBM )
IBM beat second-quarter earnings estimates yesterday but missed on revenue and has lagged the Dow considerably this year. The Dow is a price-weighted index, which means that IBM, at nearly $200 per share, accounts for almost 10% of the index's movements, acting as an anchor when it lags. Buffett began buying shares in 2011, citing strong financial management and impressive future benchmarks. IBM sold its PC business to Lenovo in 2005, exiting the PC and hard disk drive businesses ahead of the recent PC sales slowdown, and has since focused on areas such as business analytics and cloud computing. This about-face in the company's business model lends credence to its reputation as an innovator.
Top Blue Chip Stocks To Watch For 2015: Colgate-Palmolive Company(CL)
Colgate-Palmolive Company, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and markets consumer products worldwide. It offers oral care products, including toothpaste, toothbrushes, and mouth rinses, as well as dental floss and pharmaceutical products for dentists and other oral health professionals; personal care products, such as liquid hand soap, shower gels, bar soaps, deodorants, antiperspirants, shampoos, and conditioners; and home care products comprising laundry and dishwashing detergents, fabric conditioners, household cleaners, bleaches, dishwashing liquids, and oil soaps. The company offers its oral, personal, and home care products under the Colgate Total, Colgate Max Fresh, Colgate 360 Advisors' Opinion:
- [By Demitrios Kalogeropoulos]
Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE: CL )
Colgate's shares are trading well below the $62 high they hit just last month. The consumer goods company is heavily levered to international sales, with more than 80% of its business coming from outside the U.S. and more than half coming from emerging markets. - [By Motley Fool Staff]
Andres Cardenal:�Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE: CL ) , generates most of its sales and cash flows from its leadership position in the oral care industry. Management estimates that the company owns a global market share of 44.4% in toothpastes, 33.2% in toothbrushes, and 38.9% in mouthwashes.
- [By Laura Brodbeck]
Friday
Earnings Expected From: Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE: BMY), Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE: CL), Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation (NYSE: COG), Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F), Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC), Moody’s Corporation (NYSE: MCO), Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE: PG), Shire plc (NASDAQ: SHPG) Economic Releases Expected: German consumer confidence, Italian retail sales, British GDP, U.S. new home salesPosted-In: Earnings News Previews Top Stories Economics Pre-Market Outlook Markets Trading Ideas Best of Benzinga
Top Blue Chip Stocks To Watch For 2015: Visa Inc.(V)
Visa Inc., a payments technology company, engages in the operation of retail electronic payments network worldwide. It facilitates commerce through the transfer of value and information among financial institutions, merchants, consumers, businesses, and government entities. The company owns and operates VisaNet, a global processing platform that provides transaction processing services. It also offers a range of payments platforms, which enable credit, charge, deferred debit, debit, and prepaid payments, as well as cash access for consumers, businesses, and government entities. The company provides its payment platforms under the Visa, Visa Electron, PLUS, and Interlink brand names. In addition, it offers value-added services, including risk management, issuer processing, loyalty, dispute management, value-added information, and CyberSource-branded services. The company is headquartered in San Francisco, California.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Philip Springer]
Just last week, the major US stock averages hit all-time highs, led by large-cap stocks, including some that had been lagging for many years. But it’s been a different story in March-April for stocks that had the biggest gains of 2013 and early this year.
This week brought more bad news for the stock market’s two most overvalued sectors, biotechnology and information technology. Worse, when the paddy wagon came, as usual it took the good stocks with the bad, to rephrase an old Wall St. aphorism in politically correct terms.
Yesterday, the technology-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index tumbled 3.1 percent, its �biggest one-day drop in nearly 2陆 years. This dragged the broader market sharply lower, as investors resumed selling biotechnology stocks in general and many technology stocks. As of April 10, the Nasdaq Composite was 7 percent off its 14-year high, which was reached last month. Yet the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average remain not far from their all-time record peaks, down 3 percent and 2.5 percent respectively.
There are many reasons for the decline of both the junk and the good growth stocks. First, the broad market has been long overdue for a 10 percent correction, which still hasn’t occurred.
Second, the high fliers were much more overdue for a reality check. These particularly include extremely overvalued companies in social media, the “cloud,” 3d printing, biotechnology and more.
Third, the new-issues market, which naturally has consisted primarily of info tech and biotech issues, created too much new supply that inevitably dampened investor demand for the more established companies in those sectors.
The increased importance of trading exchange-traded funds, as both a way to invest and to hedge against market declines, inevitably adds to the downward pressure in this situation.� Reason: Shares of all of their components are sold, regardless of each stock’s relative me - [By Jim Woods]
Last week, traders weren�� very kind to the equity markets. They were particularly hard on financial stocks, as the Financial Select Sector SPDR (XLF) was down more than 4% in the week ended 4/11. Things were even worse for many individual financial-related stocks, including credit card payment processors MasterCard (MA) and Visa (V).
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