: iStockAnalyst.com Symbols Feed

Bad News Laid Bare

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 21:43:00 GMT

Although I don't necessarily agree with all of the predictions and recommendations offered at the site or espoused by its publisher, Eric Janszen, iTulip.com is a great resource for news and commentary. One great example includes a recent post in its discussion forum, "Report from the Front: Conditions of Employers," which reveals some eye-opening "first and second person accounts of business conditions," as follows: Two weeks ago in Unemployment by industry: Recession or depression? we published our bottom-up, data driven analysis of future unemployment that estimated 10 million job losses in 2009, and identified the industries likely to the affected most and least. Last week[More...]

Atmel Offer Keeps It Strong

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 20:49:00 GMT

Atmel Corporation (ATML) is expected to release its Q3:FY08 results on Oct. 29. Earlier, the company reported Q2:FY08 revenues of $420.9 million, up 4.1% y/y and up 2.4% q/q. Microcontrollers posted record revenues of $143 million and the ASIC segment posted revenues of $121 million.Recently, Microchip, Inc. (MCHP) and ON Semiconductor (ONNN) announced an unsolicited offer to acquire ATML for $5/share in cash. The offer represents a 52.4% premium to Oct. 2 closing price, and values ATML at $2.3 billion. The deal is led by MCHP, with ONNN acquiring[More...]

Analyst Comments: OmniVision, Penske Auto, Animal Health, Sycamore, American Electric, Amgen, Comstock, CF Industries

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 20:45:00 GMT

OmniVision (OVTI) is a fabless OEM (an original equipment manufacturer who outsources chip fabrication) of image sensors and support circuitry used within handsets and applications in other mass markets. The Sunnyvale, CA firm is currently rated a Hold with a $15 target price. Shares have fallen from $24+ peak just about one year ago, now trading just over $12 per share. The shares have traded down over the last two months, but we are reiterating our Hold rating in view of uncertainties in consumer spending and possible market share losses in China. OmniVision has a strong position in the fast growing CMOS image sensor market and is particularly dominant in the camera phone market. All the top handset manufacturers have expressed interest in the BSI technology and the product will be incorporated into cell phones shipping in[More...]

Analyst Comments: Terex, Interstate Hotels, Scientific Games, LTX Corporation, Weatherford

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 14:55:00 GMT

The U.S. mining equipment manufacturer Terex Corporation (TEX) reported first quarter EPS of $1.59, above our estimate of $1.35 and up 35.9% y-o-y, amid strong demand, higher margins and share repurchases. Going forward, volumes are expected to remain str[More...]

Weekly Mergers and Acquisitions Report - Jul 2 2008 9:38AM

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:33:15 GMT

Huntsman Corporation (HUN) - Hexion Specialty Chemicals, FTD Group, Inc. (FTD) - United Online, Inc. (UNTD), William Wrigley Jr. Co. (WWY) - Mars, Inc.[More...]

OVTI: Zooming in on Omnivision

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 18:26:58 GMT

My latest RealMoney column is up, on Omnivision (OVTI). You can get the full story at their site, but in summary:[More...]

NASDAQ Technical Picture - Lowest Close Since Oct. 2006 - Mar 7 2008 10:05AM

Fri, 07 Mar 2008 14:00:27 GMT

NASDAQ Technical Picture - Lowest Close Since Oct. 2006 - Mar 2 2008 11:12PM

Mon, 03 Mar 2008 03:06:42 GMT

Friday's close was the lowest since October 2006. The NASDAQ has been carving a symmetrical triangle for 5 weeks. Symmetrical triangles are generally continuation patterns, so Friday's action was no surprise, and probably a welcome relief after all the narrow range trade as price moved closer to the apex. Prices gapped some 20 points lower and continued lower on higher volume in afternoon to end the session off by 60 pts. or 2.6%. All major sectors participated in the drubbing.The Feb. low is less than 20 pts. away, followed by a retest of the J[More...]

Another Turnaround Tuesday?

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 14:32:22 GMT

Once again, the premarket futures are trying to stimulate some buying interest at the open. Comments from Fed Plosser, a rebound in commodities (oil & gold) and strength in overseas markets are being cited as positive catalysts. We also have some news of some leadership changes at Starbucks (SBUX) and Bear Stearns (BSC). At 10:AM we have the pending home sales index and 50 minutes later Boston Fed President Eric Rosengren will speak. After testing the November lows yesterday, some probably think that it is time to put some cash to work with tight stops at under...[More...]

NASDAQ Technical Picture - Trendline Breach - Bullish Bias Intact

Sun, 26 Aug 2007 06:13:35 GMT

It won't take 50 years.

Image sensors are the light-sensitive computer chips inside digital cameras.

[More...]

Micron Selling 65% of Aptina: The Company Says It's Cutting Its Stake in the Imaging Business to Focus on Core Products.

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 13:57:00 GMT

Jun. 3--Micron Technology has agreed to sell a majority interest in its imaging business to two private equity firms.
Micron will retain a 35 percent stake in Aptina Imaging, while Riverwood Capital and TPG Capital will control the rest.
The sale is expected to be completed in the next 60 days, after which Micron will continue to provide manufacturing and services for Aptina, according to a news release.

[More...]

Micron Sells Majority Stake in Imaging Business to Two Private-Equity Firms

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 17:53:00 GMT

Jun. 2--Micron Technology has agreed to sell a majority interest in its imaging business to two private equity firms.
Micron will retain a 35 percent stake in the independent, privately held company, named Aptina Imaging, while Riverwood Capital and TPG Capital will control the rest.
The sale is expected to be completed in the next 60 days, after which Micron will continue to provide manufacturing and services for Aptina, according to a news release.

[More...]

LTX and Credence Complete Merger to Form LTX-Credence

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 15:55:00 GMT

LTX Corporation and Credence Systems Corporation today announced the completion of their merger, resulting in the formation of LTX-Credence Corporation, a global provider of focused, cost-optimized ATE solutions. The companies combined earlier today in a tax free, all-stock merger of equals following the approval of both companies' stockholders yesterday. Beginning Tuesday, September 2, 2008, LTX-Credence, headquartered in Milpitas, California, will trade on the NASDAQ Global Market under the new symbol 'LTXC.'[More...]

Credence Selects MVTS to Deliver Ongoing Support for Legacy Product Lines

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 22:56:00 GMT

MILPITAS, CA -- -- 08/18/08 -- Credence Systems Corporation , a provider of test solutions for the worldwide consumer semiconductor industry, announced today that it has entered into an exclusive agreement with MVTS Technologies, LLC, a global provider of support for legacy automated test equipment , to offer support for seven Credence legacy products including Vista, Duo, Quartet, Octet, SC, Kalos, and EXA.[More...]

Credence Unveils New High Density V/I Instrument for the Diamond Test Platform

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 11:56:00 GMT

MILPITAS, CA -- -- 08/12/08 -- Credence Systems Corporation , a provider of automated test equipment solutions for the worldwide semiconductor industry, unveiled the latest addition to its family of value-driven instruments for the Diamond test platform. The 72-channel HDVI instrument is targeted at significantly reducing the cost of test by enabling large numbers of sites to be tested in parallel. The HDVI instrument's high-precision source and measurement capability is ideal for testing microcontrollers, audio, video, wireless cellular, digital camera, baseband and power management devices used in a broad range of cost-sensitive applications.[More...]

Aptasic Chooses Credence Diamond 10 for Mixed-Signal IC Testing

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 19:55:00 GMT

Credence Systems Corporation , a provider of test solutions for the worldwide consumer semiconductor industry, announced today that Aptasic S.A. in Boudry, Switzerland, has selected the Diamond 10 platform from Credence to test mixed-signal ICs and expand their analog and digital test capabilities. Aptasic SA specializes in the supply chain management and the testing of analog or mixed-signal ASICs, in small, medium or large quantities.[More...]

Credence Diamond MultiWave Wins Best New Product Award From Advanced Packaging

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:55:00 GMT

Credence Systems Corporation , a provider of test solutions for the worldwide consumer semiconductor industry, announced today that its innovative MultiWave instrument for the Diamond test platform has received the Advanced Packaging Best New Product Award in the Test and Services category. MultiWave integrates the functionality of multiple instruments into one multi-channel arbitrary waveform generator and digitizer unit to provide the industry's most cost-effective mixed-signal solution for multisite testing of highly integrated system-in-package and system-on-chip devices.[More...]

Silicon Turnkey Solutions and Credence Partner to Deliver Wireless Test Solutions With Diamond 40RF

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 20:04:00 GMT

Credence Systems Corporation , a provider of test solutions for the worldwide consumer semiconductor industry, announced today that Silicon Turnkey Solutions Inc., a leading-edge provider of Specialty Assembly, Reliability, Qualification and Electrical Test services, will expand its ATE capabilities with the addition of the Diamond 40RF platform from Credence.[More...]

Credence and LTX Sign Merger Agreement

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 01:55:00 GMT

Credence Systems Corporation and LTX Corporation , both providers of automated test equipment for the worldwide consumer semiconductor industry, today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement to combine the two companies in a tax-free, all-stock merger of equals.[More...]

Credence Enters Agreement to Sell Its Amerang Operations to Advantest

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 23:25:00 GMT

Credence Systems Corporation , a provider of test solutions for the worldwide consumer semiconductor industry, announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its operations in Amerang, Germany, Credence Systems GmbH, to Advantest Corporation.[More...]

Ralink Chooses Diamond 40RF ATE Platform From Credence for New WLAN Chipset Solution

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 20:10:00 GMT

Credence Systems Corporation , a provider of test solutions for the worldwide consumer semiconductor industry, announced today that Ralink , one of the world's leading manufacturers of WLAN chipsets used for Wi-Fi, mobile and embedded applications, has selected the Diamond 40RF platform from Credence to test its 802.11n single-chip solutions for Wi-Fi communications.[More...]

Credence Reports Results for Second Quarter Fiscal Year 2008

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 20:25:00 GMT

Credence Systems Corporation , a provider of test solutions for the worldwide consumer semiconductor industry, today reported financial results for the second quarter of fiscal 2008, ended May 3, 2008.[More...]