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The Week In Review: International Initiatives

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 17:19:11 GMT

Boehringer Ingelheim will invest $149 million in China for new facilities including an R&D center; Simcere Pharma[More...]

Major Averages Advance Over 2% To Kick Off Earnings Week

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 17:55:00 GMT

Major stock averages close at the day's highs. Stocks advanced from early weakness as investors bought heavily into financials after an upgrade of financial powerhouse Goldman Sachs (GS) ahead of financial sector earnings.[More...]

Pharmaceuticals & Biotech - Industry Outlook

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 12:05:35 GMT

The pharmaceutical industry is entering a period of substantial change in 2009. Most of the names in the industry are facing significant patent challenges in the years to come. U.S.-based firms are facing foreign exchange headwinds, as well. Revenue growth is non-existent, and earnings growth is being driven primarily by mergers, cost-cutting and share buybacks. Knowing that investors rarely pay-up for this type of manufactured earnings growth, we struggle to see a broad-based out-performance for the large-cap pharmaceutical sector in 2009. Valuations, however, are attractive, with several of the largest players trading at PEs below 10x, including: Pfizer (PFE, 7.5x), Eli Lilly (LLY,[More...]

Pharmaceuticals

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 18:38:00 GMT

Large pharmaceutical companies all seem to be in a similar boat heading into 2009. Most of the names in the industry are facing significant patent challenges in the years to come. U.S.-based firms are facing foreign exchange headwinds as well. Revenue growth is non-existent, and earnings growth is being driven primarily by cost-cutting and share buybacks. Knowing that investors rarely pay-up for this type of manufactured earnings growth, we struggle to see a broad-based out-performance for the large-cap pharmaceutical sector in 2009. Valuations, however, are attractive, with several of the largest players trading at PEs below 10x, including Pfizer (PFE, 7x), Eli Lilly (LLY, 9x), Merck ([More...]

Pharmaceuticals Industry

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 20:17:00 GMT

Names that were previously viewed as safe and stable investments, large-cap pharmaceuticals, are now trading at levels not seen since 2002.? And, for some such as Pfizer, Inc. (PFE) and Eli Lilly & Co. (LLY), these are prices not seen since the past decade. This is clearly a sell-first, ask questions later market. After all, believing that patients are going to stop taking Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (BMY) blood-thinner Plavix or Pfizer's anti-cholesterol agent Lipitor because of the credit crunch is the epitome of irrational anxiety. [More...]

Analyst Comments: AGIX, Scientific Games, Sohu.com, Barclays, COSI, Cleveland-Cliffs,Potash Corp, Freddie Mac, OSI Pharma

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 12:39:00 GMT

For those of you still holding onto AtheroGenics (AGIX), the research-based pharmaceutical company with two clinical-stage drug development programs (according to Zacks senior drug industry analyst Jason Napodano, CFA, who published a report on AGIX last week), the company has just announced today it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The question now seems to be who, if anyone, will pick up the pieces of the late-phase candidates AGIX had been developing.? But for anyone shocked by today's announcement, they shouldn't be.? From the same AGIX report: "The company recently released phase III data on lead compound AGI-1067 that did not meet the primary end point." And this: "In September 2008 AtheroGenics announced it will not repay the its 4.5% Convertible Notes due September 2, 2008, nor will it make its scheduled[More...]

Analyst Comments: NetEase.com, Neurocrine Bio, L-3 Communications, Brasil Telecom, Quality Systems, H&R Block

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 18:31:00 GMT

NetEase.com, Inc. (NTES) is one of the leading providers of online gaming, advertising, web-based communication services, and a variety of interactive content in China. NetEase is currently trading at 16.8x estimated 2008 EPADR of $1.56, a discount to the industry. Rolling our valuation to fiscal 2009 EPADR estimate of $1.74, the company is trading at 15.1x, which is far below the industry average. NetEase faces intense competition in the gaming and advertising market. Delayed product launches and growing operating expenses have hurt profitability. NetEase appears to have turned the corner, posting better-than-expected revenue and earnings results in the first half of 2008. The company?s solid execution in its online games and advertising business has helped NTES grow its top and bottom line. We believe that China's online gaming and[More...]

Institutional Money Flocking in Biotech

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 17:18:00 GMT

One area you can see I've been transitioning into is healthcare. I still don't buy the "technology is a safe haven" thesis but I have to respect that's where money flow is going. Healthcare I can feel a bit more comfortable with because it's a traditional[More...]

Periodicals Wrap-Up for Thursday, July 31st

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 13:56:00 GMT

Submitted By Optiondragon[More...]

Bennigan's, Stake & Ale Close - File For Bankruptcy Protection

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 13:28:00 GMT

I really need to start a new category for the blog: bankruptcies. It really is a shame these companies are closing their doors in the midst of the long awaited 2nd half 2008 recovery. I mean... it really is a shame these companies are closing their doors as we are looking forward to the 1st half 2009 recovery. However, I don't know what we even have to recovery from since the economy is fine, not in a recession or even close, and its just a few stumbles in an otherwise sound system (source: GWB)So we'll add these 2 names to our growing list - and trust me a lot of mom and pop type places in strip mall complexes i.e. non chains - are going to be drowning and they[More...]

St. Petersburg Times, Fla., Robert Trigaux Column: Blackstone Group Has Stake in Wide Range of Well-Known Businesses

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 17:08:00 GMT

Oct. 8--Quick quiz: What do these businesses have in common?
The answer: Blackstone Group, which on Wednesday said it will buy Tampa's Busch Gardens and nine other related theme parks, now or in the past has owned or had a stake in every one of them.
The list, which could go on, reflects the range and clout of the Blackstone wallet.

[More...]

Macaroni Grill Menu Leaner, Cheaper

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 06:08:00 GMT

Sep. 18--Pinched by a marketplace crowded with casual Italian food and an economy that is squeezing customer wallets, Romano's Macaroni Grill CEO Brad Blum is remaking the restaurant chain image as a more affordable and healthier dining option.
The launch includes 20 dishes, seven of which are new and 13 that have been retooled for dramatically lower fat and calorie counts.
They're dishes that bring in more than 30 percent of Macaroni Grill's business.

[More...]

Neiman Marcus Joins Retailers Cutting Hours to Save Money

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:15:00 GMT

Jun. 16--Add Neiman Marcus to the list of prominent retailers cutting hours to save money.
Dallas-based Neiman, which is waiting out the recession by cutting operating hours at half of its 40 stores, joins many malls and chains like Best Buy that are taking similar steps.
In fact, average CEO compensation dropped 26 percent, compared with a 7 percent decline among all CEOs at S&P 500 companies, says an analysis compiled by Equilar Inc. for industry journal Stores.

[More...]

State Indicators Show Improvement

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 18:51:00 GMT

Jun. 2--DES MOINES -- The three primary statistics Iowa's major employers use to gauge their economic activity for the next six months moved up in the second fiscal quarter, the Iowa Business Council reported Monday.
It was an improvement, but reading the numbers demands some context, said Elliott Smith, the council's executive director.
"It's positive in that the numbers have moved higher, and we're off the lows we've seen the last few quarters," Smith said.

[More...]

Former Outback Executive Tries New Pizza Venture

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 16:50:00 GMT

Dec. 9--TAMPA -- When Ben Novello first stepped into Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza, he got the same rush he felt upon entering his first Outback Steakhouse years earlier.
"I call it the type of experience that wakes you up as a diner," said Novello, a former president of the Outback Steakhouse brand.
Novello, who once guest-appeared on Donald Trump's "The Apprentice," has been off the public radar since leaving Tampa-based OSI Restaurant Partners in 2006.

[More...]

Digital Interface Design Firm The Skins Factory Takes Off

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 20:53:00 GMT

Nov. 17--If you're a Star Trek fan, you wouldn't pay to download a desktop background image -- also called wallpaper -- from the upcoming movie.
But Jeff Schader is boldly betting that fans will pay $14.95 to transform their computers into immersive Star Trek experiences, trekifying everything from icons to the look of window frames.
Now he's chief executive of The Skins Factory, a successful digital interface design company.

[More...]

Digital Interface Design Firm Skins Factory Takes Off

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 18:55:00 GMT

Nov. 17--If you're a Star Trek fan, you wouldn't pay to download a desktop background image -- also called wallpaper -- from the upcoming movie.
But Jeff Schader is boldly betting that fans will pay $14.95 to transform their computers into immersive Star Trek experiences, trekifying everything from icons to the look of window frames.
Now he's chief executive of The Skins Factory, a successful digital interface design company.

[More...]

OSI Geospatial Signs Contract to Provide DC4S to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 09:55:00 GMT

OTTAWA, Aug. 25 /CNW Telbec/ - OSI Geospatial Inc. (TSX: OSI) ("OSI") announced today that its U.S. Operations has signed a contract with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Under the terms of this contract, the company will deliver its DC4S-Responder, a version of DC4S-Assaulter(TM) and DC4S-Base(TM) technology to provide navigation and tracking capabilities which allows DHS agents to operate in GPS denied environments while being tracked and controlled from a remote command post. The systems will be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2009.[More...]

OSI Restaurant Partners, Inc. Announces Appointment of Jeff Smith as President of Outback Steakhouse

Thu, 12 Apr 2007 21:59:00 GMT

Paul Avery, chief operating officer of OSI Restaurant Partners, Inc. , has announced the appointment of Jeff Smith as president of the Outback Steakhouse brand. He also announced that Steve Erickson has been promoted to senior vice president of national operations for the brand.[More...]

OSI Restaurant Partners, Inc. Announces Filing of Definitive Proxy Statement for Special Meeting of Stockholders to Approve Merger Agreement With Bain Capital and Catterton Partners

Tue, 03 Apr 2007 13:23:00 GMT

OSI Restaurant Partners, Inc. announced today that it has filed a definitive proxy statement for a special meeting of stockholders to be held at 11:00 a.m., Eastern Daylight Time, on Tuesday, May 8, 2007 at the A La Carte Event Pavilion, 4050-B Dana Shores Drive, Tampa, Florida 33634, for the purpose of voting on a proposal to approve its previously announced merger agreement with affiliates of Bain Capital Partners, LLC and Catterton Partners. Stockholders of record as of the close of business on March 28, 2007 will be entitled to vote at the special meeting of stockholders. The Company expects to commence the mailing of the notice of meeting and definitive proxy statement to stockholders on or about April 3, 2007.[More...]

OSI Restaurant Partners, Inc. Announces Resignation of Curt Glowacki

Fri, 30 Mar 2007 20:56:00 GMT

OSI Restaurant Partners, Inc. announced today that Curt Glowacki has resigned from his position as President of the Outback Steakhouse brand for personal reasons. Paul Avery, Chief Operating Officer of OSI and former President of the Outback Steakhouse brand, will assume the additional role of President of the Outback Steakhouse brand on an interim basis.[More...]

OSI Restaurant Partners, Inc. Reports Comparable Store Sales

Thu, 01 Mar 2007 20:55:00 GMT

OSI Restaurant Partners, Inc. today reported that comparable store sales and average unit volumes for the Company's restaurant brands for the four-week period ended February 24, 2007 compared with the same four-week period in 2006 changed by approximately:[More...]