: iStockAnalyst.com Symbols Feed

Insider Buys and Sells: Weekly Wrap-up

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:20:54 GMT

For all the analysts and pundits in the financial media, there is still no better judge of a company's health and future prospects than the owners and executives of those companies themselves, along with major institutional shareholders.[More...]

Avoid Gassy Names!

Sat, 23 May 2009 16:49:56 GMT

Highlights include Nabors Industries Ltd. (NBR), Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. (PTEN), BJ Services Co. (BJS), EnCana Corp. (ECA), EOG Resources, Inc. (EOG) and Chesapeake Enery Corp. (CHK). Growing optimism about the economic outlook has pushed the equity markets significantly higher from the March 2009 lows. Crude oil and most of the other commodities have been active participants in the rally. As this first chart shows, natural gas has largely been[More...]

Oil Rally May Have Legs

Fri, 08 May 2009 15:15:00 GMT

Highlights include Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM), Schlumberger, Ltd. (SLB), Transocean Ltd. (RIG), Nabors Industries Ltd. (NBR), Patterson-UTI Energy Inc. (PTEN), BJ Services Co. (BJS), XTO Energy Inc. (XTO) and Chesapeake Energy Corp. (CHK). Oil prices have moved up impressively in the recent past, up almost 18% in the last four[More...]

Oil & Gas Industry - Industry Outlook

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 20:29:00 GMT

While downside risks remain, the overall outlook for the oil sector has improved in recent days, owing largely to the tentative signs of a supply response to anemic global demand. With demand falling sharply due to worldwide economic problems, inventories started building at a faster rate since last fall. In response, OPEC (which accounts for roughly 40% of all oil supplies) announced a number of production cuts. While there was ample skepticism early on regarding OPEC's ability to enforce the announced cuts, recent evidence suggests a significant level of compliance within the cartel. As such, while oil prices over the coming weeks will track the outlook for the global economy, the commodity's improved supply situation is expected to help prices consolidate around current levels. Natural gas, on the other hand, is a North American story and developments here over the coming months will determine its[More...]

Market Commentary (02-02-09)

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 13:28:00 GMT

Bloomberg had this article out about how the U.S. housing market lost $3.3 trillion in 2008 AND that 1 in 6 people with mortgages are underwater, or 17%. It's not getting any better. We have pending home sales coming out today at 10:00AM - consensus 82.3 (range: 78.2 to 84, previous actual: 82.3). I'll be really surprised if pending sales remained "unchanged". Motor vehicle sales are also coming out (total consensus: 7.7M (range:7.3M to 8.1M, previous actual: 7.7M). This is another consensus estimate where it is also "unchanged". Whatever. You see, [More...]

Oil & Gas Industry

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 16:41:00 GMT

While continued weakness in crude oil and natural gas prices are expected to weigh on the energy sector's performance over the next 6-9 months, investors with longer time-horizons will find many attractive opportunities in this battered group. In terms of commodity prices, we believe that crude oil will take its cue from the direction of the broader global economy. Natural gas, on the other hand, is a North American story and developments here over the coming months will determine its outlook. With the heating season halfway through and visibility on the economy's front still elusive, we expect continued downward pressure on oil and natural gas prices over the coming weeks. However, with OPEC's supply cuts helping remove the current inventory overhang -- expected to start showing up in early spring -- and sentiment on the economy improving following the stimulus, crude oil prices may start consolidating in the second half of the year. If the economic[More...]

Patterson-UTI Lowered to Sell

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 15:06:00 GMT

Our downgrade of Patterson-UTI (PTEN) shares reflects our bearish view of the North American land drilling scene. The expected drop off in drilling activities, in response to a combination of commodity-price weakness and credit market tightness, will weigh on the fortunes of all oilfield service players in general and land drillers (such as Patterson-UTI) in particular. Patterson-UTI remains particularly vulnerable to this negative outlook given its lack of contract coverage and heavy spot market exposure. We expect dayrate and margin pressures to continue into 2010 even as normal drilling demand resumes later this year due to the heavy capacity overhang. Our new $8 price objective reflects 2009 P/E and EV/EBITDA multiples of 10.8x and 4.5x, respectively, both well within historical trading[More...]

Take Stock In Education

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 05:33:00 GMT

As the old maxim goes,"Those who can't do, teach." In public schools, perhaps. But the private Educational Services sector has quietly become a good place to invest vs. almost all of the rest of the lousy market sectors worldwide. After about two years of sharp business pullback, the operating performance of many for-profit educational institutions have started to recover. The slowing growth in the mid-30s age demographic, greater competition and closer regulatory scrutiny had caused a cleansing of less worthy institutions the past few years. Now, with higher unemployment translating into more time to re-tool and retrain, mature students (many with families and/or underemployed with set hours) enrolling in for-profit schools are beginning to translate into higher and more stable online clients gravitating towards student-friendly higher learning ports. Many for-profit institutions are placing greater emphasis on specific trades and other occupations,[More...]

Worst Performers Over Last Quarter

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 06:14:00 GMT

And here is the list of worst perfomers... keep in mind this is over a 90 day period. I show 136 stocks that lost at least 45% in the previous quarter. Very bad. The list is obvious - anything global growth, commodity related or the "dead" financial types.CriteriaMarket capitalization $1.25B+Average trading volume 100K+Stock price $0+Return this month -45%+Green names we own, blue names we have owned in the past or discussed in the blog. In orange I listed names we owned at some point during the quarter.[More...]

Analyst Comments: Grey Wolf, Public Storage, ATA, PetSmart, Dow Chemical, Patterson-UTI Energy, Torchmark, Reynolds, Cyberonics, DELL

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 18:29:00 GMT

Grey Wolf, Inc. (GW) has agreed to be acquired by Precision Drilling Trust (PDS) in a cash and stock valued at approximately $2 billion. Grey Wolf shareholders will own approximately 25% of the combined entity, to be called Precision Drilling. In particular, the GWPDS merger creates a North American land drilling powerhouse with 371 drilling rigs. In addition to getting the significant cash payout, GW shareholders benefit from Precision?s high-tech systems and technology. While we expect GW shares to essentially track PDS from here onwards, we are keeping our Buy recommendation and price objective unchanged. The company remains well positioned to capitalize on the improving operating environment given its large idle capacity, which[More...]

EDITORIAL: Oil Field Deaths

Sat, 20 Sep 2008 00:47:00 GMT

Sep. 19--Deaths among workers in America's oil and gas fields have risen at an alarming rate, The Associated Press reports.
And in the long run, this is one more reason why our country needs to end its addiction to oil.
The fatality rate for oil and gas-field workers in this country between 2002 and 2007 was more than 29 deaths per 100,000 workers, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

[More...]

Universal Technical Institute Renews Training Agreement With Mercedes-Benz USA and Announces a Technician Training Program

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 20:00:00 GMT

Universal Technical Institute, Inc. , the leading provider of technical education training, announced today that the Company has renewed its training agreement with Mercedes-Benz USA . As part of the agreement, UTI will continue to provide automotive and collision repair training for Mercedes-Benz dealer personnel at the Mercedes-Benz Learning & Performance Center and Collision Center in Houston, Texas, which are both operated by UTI on behalf of MBUSA.[More...]

Universal Technical Institute Announces New Time for Fiscal 2009 Third Quarter Conference Call

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 17:11:00 GMT

Universal Technical Institute, Inc. , a leading provider of technical education training, announced today that the time for its previously announced conference call on Tuesday, August 4, 2009 has changed. The company will host a conference call at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time on Tuesday, August 4, 2009 to discuss its fiscal 2009 third quarter financial results and operating performance. The conference call will feature President and Chief Executive Officer Kimberly McWaters and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Eugene Putnam.To participate in the live call, investors are invited to dial 858-4600 or 860-2442. A live webcast of the call will be available via the Investor Relations section of the Universal Technical Institute website at www.uti.edu. Please go to the website at least 15 minutes early to register, download and install any necessary audio software. The conference call will also be archived for 60 days at www.uti.edu.About Universal Technical InstituteUniversal Technical Institute is the leading provider of technical education training for students seeking careers as professional automotive, diesel, collision repair, motorcycle and marine technicians as measured by total average undergraduate enrollment. The company offers undergraduate degree, diploma and certificate programs at 10 campuses across the United States, and manufacturer-sponsored advanced programs at 19 dedicated training centers. Through its campus-based school system, Universal Technical Institute offers specialized technical education programs under the banner of several well-known brands, including Universal Technical Institute , Motorcycle Mechanics Institute and Marine Mechanics Institute and NASCAR Technical Institute . We routinely post important information about us on our website at www.uti.edu under the 'About Us - Investors - Information' captions.Safe Harbor StatementAll statements other than statements of historical fact could be deemed 'forward-looking' statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are based upon management's current expectations and are subject to a number of uncertainties that could cause actual performance and results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could affect the company's actual results include, among other things, changes to federal and state educational funding, possible failure or inability to obtain regulatory consents and certifications for new or expanding campuses, potential increased competition, changes in demand for the programs offered by the company, increased investment in management and capital resources, the effectiveness of the company's recruiting, advertising and promotional efforts, changes to interest rates, low unemployment, general economic conditions and other risks that are described from time to time in the public filings of the company. Further information on these and other potential factors that could affect the company's financial results or condition may be found in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. The company expressly disclaims any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in expectations, any changes in events, conditions or circumstances, or otherwise.[More...]

Universal Technical Institute Schedules Fiscal 2009 Third Quarter Earnings Release and Conference Call

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 20:01:00 GMT

Universal Technical Institute, Inc. , a leading provider of technical education training, announced today that it will report its financial results for the 2009 third quarter ended June 30, 2009, on Tuesday, August 4, 2009, prior to market open. The company will host a conference call at 4:00 p.m. Eastern time on the same day to discuss its fiscal 2009 third quarter financial results and operating performance. The conference call will feature President and Chief Executive Officer Kimberly McWaters and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Eugene Putnam.To participate in the live call, investors are invited to dial 858-4600 or 860-2442. A live webcast of the call will be available via the Investor Relations section of the Universal Technical Institute website at www.uti.edu. Please go to the website at least 15 minutes early to register, download and install any necessary audio software. The conference call will also be archived for 60 days at www.uti.edu.About Universal Technical InstituteUniversal Technical Institute is the leading provider of technical education training for students seeking careers as professional automotive, diesel, collision repair, motorcycle and marine technicians as measured by total average undergraduate enrollment. The company offers undergraduate degree, diploma and certificate programs at 10 campuses across the United States, and manufacturer-sponsored advanced programs at 19 dedicated training centers. Through its campus-based school system, Universal Technical Institute offers specialized technical education programs under the banner of several well-known brands, including Universal Technical Institute , Motorcycle Mechanics Institute and Marine Mechanics Institute and NASCAR Technical Institute . We routinely post important information about us on our website at www.uti.edu under the 'About Us - Investors - Information' captions.Safe Harbor StatementAll statements other than statements of historical fact could be deemed 'forward-looking' statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are based upon management's current expectations and are subject to a number of uncertainties that could cause actual performance and results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could affect the company's actual results include, among other things, changes to federal and state educational funding, possible failure or inability to obtain regulatory consents and certifications for new or expanding campuses, potential increased competition, changes in demand for the programs offered by the company, increased investment in management and capital resources, the effectiveness of the company's recruiting, advertising and promotional efforts, changes to interest rates, low unemployment, general economic conditions and other risks that are described from time to time in the public filings of the company. Further information on these and other potential factors that could affect the company's financial results or condition may be found in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. The company expressly disclaims any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in expectations, any changes in events, conditions or circumstances, or otherwise.[More...]

Universal Technical Institute Announces Departure of Chief Operating Officer

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 20:25:00 GMT

Universal Technical Institute, Inc. , a leading provider of technical education training, today announced that Sherrell Smith, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer will be leaving the company, effective immediately. Mr. Smith, a 23 year employee, joined UTI in 1986 and served in numerous roles, including Student Services Director, Campus President, Vice President of Regional Operations, Senior Vice President of Operations and most recently, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.[More...]

UTI Foundation and JHE Production Group Award Scholarship During NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge Presented by Craftsman

Fri, 15 May 2009 11:51:00 GMT

The Universal Technical Institute (UTI) Foundation and JHE Production Group selected Paul Amico of Mooresville, N.C., to receive the first JHE Production Group Scholarship. The $1,000 tuition scholarship was established to help a current UTI NASCAR Technical Institute (NTI) student continue their education path to pursue a motorsports career.[More...]

Universal Technical Institute Announces Share Repurchase Program

Tue, 05 May 2009 19:56:00 GMT

Universal Technical Institute, Inc. , a leading provider of technical education training, today announced a share repurchase plan.[More...]

Universal Technical Institute Schedules Fiscal 2009 Second Quarter Earnings Release and Conference Call

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 11:59:00 GMT

Universal Technical Institute, Inc. , a leading provider of technical education training, announced today that it will hold a conference call on Tuesday, May 5, 2009, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern time to discuss its fiscal 2009 second quarter financial results and operating performance. The company will release its financial results for the 2009 second quarter ended March 31, 2009, after the close of the market on the same day. The conference call will feature President and Chief Executive Officer Kimberly McWaters and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Eugene Putnam.[More...]

Formula DRIFT Forges New Alliance With Universal Technical Institute

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 20:24:00 GMT

Formula DRIFT has named Universal Technical Institute (NYSE: UTI) the "Official Technical School of Formula DRIFT." UTI is a leading provider of technical education training for students seeking careers as professional automotive, diesel, collision repair, motorcycle and marine technicians. To kick off this alliance, UTI will host an open house and annual Formula DRIFT Pre-season Tech and Preview Day at its Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. campus, located at 9494 Haven Avenue, on April 4, 2009 from 10am to 4pm.[More...]

Roger Penske Contributes $100,000 to Universal Technical Institute Foundation to Recognize Outstanding UTI Students

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 12:50:00 GMT

The Universal Technical Institute (UTI) Foundation today announced Kenneth Mazurczak, who attends UTI Sacramento, was selected as the first Roger Penske “Outstanding Student” recipient. Kenneth will receive a $12,000 cash award to repay education debt or buy tools. Roger Penske donated $100,000 to create the outstanding student awards for individuals approaching graduation who have demonstrated excellent academic achievement and are recognized as consummate team-players by fellow students and instructors at Universal Technical Institute, Inc. (NYSE: UTI).[More...]

Universal Technical Institute to Present at the Credit Suisse 11th Annual Global Services Conference

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 15:59:00 GMT

Universal Technical Institute, Inc. will be presenting at the Credit Suisse 11th Annual Global Services Conference at the Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa in Phoenix, Arizona on Monday, Feb. 23, 2009, at 1:00 p.m. Mountain time. Kim McWaters, President and Chief Executive Officer and Eugene Putnam, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer will be presenting. A webcast of the presentation will be posted on the investor relations section of the UTI website at www.uti.edu. An audio recording of the presentation will be archived and available following the event.[More...]