Thursday, February 28, 2013

Red Hat (RHT) is Near Its 52-Week Low

Red Hat (RHT) has been off my radar. Yesterday (02013.02.27), TheStreet.com had a posting with the headline: "Red Hat Rises On Unusually High Volume (RHT)".

RHT closed yesterday (02013.02.27) at $50.55. 52-week range: $46.34 - $62.75. Hmm... RHT, which trades on the NYSE, is close to making a new 52-week low. The DJIA average ended yesterday at 14,075.37, which is close to its all-time high.

[Update::02013.02.28] Barclays Capital gave RHT an 'Overweight' rating. Barclays' target price is $60, but mine is $67.48.

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Geeknet (GKNT) Reports 4Q'12 Results

Geeknet (GKNT) reported 4Q'12 results prior to the market opening today (02013.02.27) and I thought they were good. In a nutshell, Geeknet is ThinkGeek, which makes it an e-commerce company. GKNT closed yesterday at $15.27 and today it opened down 1.4%. Owning stock in Geeknet has become beyond frustrating. From the company's 4Q'12 press release: "Total cash and investments at the end of the fourth quarter 2012 was $57.3 million." There are ~6,556,000 GKNT shares; therefore, the company's cash position is ~$8.74 per share. Current ratio: 4.9. Price-Sales-Ratio (PSR) is ~0.83.

Monday, February 25, 2013

iRobot (IRBT) $25M Share Repurchase Program

iRobot (IRBT) closed today (02013.02.25) at $20.46. 52-week range: $16.25 - $28.91. After the market closed iRobot reported its board had approved at $25 million share buyback. From iRobot's press release.
"The Board’s authorization of a share repurchase program reflects our confidence in the health and long-term outlook of the company," said Colin Angle, chairman and chief executive officer of iRobot. "With a strong balance sheet and cash flows, we believe we can take advantage of current market conditions to buy back our shares while maintaining the flexibility to make strategic investments in our future."

On 11 February 02013, iRobot had approximately 27,872,850 shares of common stock outstanding. At IRBT's current price the company could buy approximately 1.2 million shares, which is about 4.4% of the shares outstanding.

Sunday, February 24, 2013

Stewart Enterprises (STEI) Approaching 3 $Pi

Stewart Enterprises (STEI) last 52-week high was 5 October 02012 at $8.65. 52-week range: $4.92 - $8.65. STEI closed last week at $8.43. The short-interest-ratio continues to be high. I might place an order to sell some STEI at 3 $Pi ($9.42).

Friday, February 22, 2013

NeuroMetrix (NURO) Pops; Nanosphere (NSPH) Bottoms?

NeuroMetrix (NURO) had a good day yesterday (02013.02.21) even though the last two days have been bad days for the GDT::Portfolio. NURO closed yesterday (02013.02.21) at $3.00, up ~29% for the day (intra-day high was $3.10). Volume was heavy. NURO was split 1:6 a couple days ago on 02013.02.19. Post-split price: $2.88.

Nanosphere (NSPH) closed yesterday (02013.02.21) at $1.90. A week ago, on 02013.02.14, NSPH fell from $2.64 to $1.79 (intra-day low was $1.72). Yesterday NSPH had an intra-day high of $2.07 before closing at $1.90. $1.72 increased to $2.07 is an ~20% increase. An insider buy was recorded on 02013.02.18 at $1.97. This morning (02013.02.22) Nanophere issued a pres release having the headline: "Nanosphere to Present at the Cowen and Company 33rd Annual Health Care Conference". If the company's CEO does a good job, then that might increase demand for NSPH shares.

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Geeknet (GKNT) Reschedules 4Q'12 Results

Geeknet (GKNT) closed yesterday (02013.02.20) at $15.95. 52-week range: $12.07 - $21.62. The company was suppose to report 4Q'12 results before the market opened, but they delayed the financial reporting for a week due to an "uncompleted audit." Yuck! Change in upper-level management might have caused this to happen, but the company didn't provide any specifics for the delay.

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Sold Some Hanger (HGR) at 10 $Pi ($31.42)

Hanger (HGR) hit a new 52-week yesterday (02013.02.19) of $31.95. I sold some of HGR shares at 10 $Pi (i.e. $31.42). Despite the sale HGR remains #9 in the GDT::Portfolio, which is a negative reflection upon the overall health of the portfolio.

NeuroMetrix (NURO) Executes 1:6 Stock Split

NeuroMetrix (NURO) executed a 1:6 stock split before the market opened yesterday. NURO's previous close was $0.48, which adjusted to $2.88. NURO opened at $2.33, down 19.1%. Ouch! NURO recovered to hit an intra-day high of $2.95, but closed at $2.51. NURO's 52-week high is currently $5.28.

NeuroMetrix (NURO) also reported 4Q'12 results. From the press release.

"We enter 2013 with two novel and proprietary diabetes products, a focused commercial plan, and a lower cost operating structure that we can leverage with growth," said Shai N. Gozani, M.D., Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of NeuroMetrix. "We met our financial, product development and commercial goals during 2012. Fiscal 2013 is an important year for the Company. We are optimistic about the market potential for our products and the diabetic neuropathy space in general."

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Bruker (BRKR) Reports 4Q'12 Results and Pops

Bruker (BRKR) reported 4Q'12 results prior to the market opening today (02013.02.19) and investors liked what the company had to say about the future. BRKR closed at $18.48, up ~10.6% for the day. Volume was 3.2 million vs. t3m-avg. of 0.7 million. The intra-day high of $18.65 was also a new 52-week high. From Bruker's 4Q'12 press release: For the full year 2013, the Company expects year-over-year reported revenue growth of 4 to 5 percent and non-GAAP EPS growth of 6 to 10 percent.

Google (GOOG) Hits $800 For the First Time

Google (GOOG) hit $800 for the first time today (02013.02.19).

[update::02013.02.19] GOOG closed at $806.84. Intra-day/all-time high was $807.00.

Sunday, February 17, 2013

Spire (SPIR) Nearing $1.00

Previous 02013 Spire (SPIR) postings.
Spire (SPIR) Needs To Spire Upward in 02013 (posted 02013.01.01)
Spire (SPIR) Jumps Almost 50% in One Day (posted 02013.02.06)

SPIR closed Friday (02013.02.15) at $0.90. SPIR closed at $0.80 on Thursday and $0.70 on Wednesday. I'm content with SPIR going up a dime a day. One more dime up day and SPIR is at a buck.

[update::02013.02.19] SPIR closed unchanged at $0.90, but it did open up $0.09 (i.e. a penny shy of a dime) at $0.99.

Friday, February 15, 2013

Cray (CRAY) Continues To Grow

Cray (CRAY) spiked to a new 52-week of $19.64 this morning (02013.02.15). Cray reported 4Q'12 results and here is a quote from the press.
With our new cluster solutions and XC30 supercomputer, we've expanded our offerings in the supercomputing market, while our storage and Big Data products continue to gain momentum with new customers. I'm excited about our prospects for 2013 and what we're building for the future." -- Peter Ungaro, president and CEO of Cray.

I've been selling chunks of CRAY in increments of $Pi and the next target price is $21.99 (7 $Pi).

Nanosphere (NSPH) giga-Crashes

Nanosphere (NSPH) lost 32% of its market value yesterday (02013.02.14) after reporting 4Q'12 results and major management restructuring. Volume was 6.75 million vs. t3m-avg. of 0.43 million. Today my NSPH investment is underwater.

Tidbit from the press release.

Lurie Investments together with its affiliates has executed a twelve-month voluntary lock-up agreement with Nanosphere, indicating its intent to hold its position and realize the value it believes exists within the Company. Lurie Investments and its affiliates hold approximately 14.7 million shares of common stock, representing approximately 26% ownership of the Company.

Nanosphere ended 02012 with $33.1 million in "cash."

Nanosphere's 4Q'12 press release ended with the following guidance.

Nanosphere had previously provided guidance in the range of 80 to 100 placements for the first quarter of 2013. Slower than anticipated growth in international markets and the timing of projected regulatory approvals of the Company's gram negative blood stream infection and its enteric pathogens panels make 45-55 placements more likely in the first quarter.

NSPH closed yesterday (02013.02.14) at $1.79. 52-week range: $1.51 - $3.89.

Thursday, February 14, 2013

US Airways (LCC) Merges With American Airlines

US Airways (LCC) is merging with American Airlines making American Airlines the world's largest airline. I have no idea what this means for our LCC shares.

LCC closed yesterday at $14.66. 52-week range: $6.78 - $15.64.

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Level 3 Communications (LVLT) Takes a Hit

Level 3 Communications (LVLT) reported 4Q'12 results and the company lost ~13.6% of its market value. LVLT closed yesterday (02013.02.12) at $21.31. Volume was ~10.2 million vs. t3m-avg. of ~1.5 million.

Two months ago, on 02012.12.12, LVLT closed at $21.03. Two days ago, on Monday (yesterday's yesterday), LVLT had an intra-day of $25.26. In other words, gains that took two months were erased in one day.

LVLT closed on 02013.02.12 at $21.31. 52-week range: $16.36 - $27.99.

StemCells (STEM) Reports Good Spinal Cord News

StemCells (STEM) had a big day yesterday (Tuesday, 02013.02.12). STEM's previous close on Monday was $1.61; yesterday it opened at $2.08, hit an intra-day high of $2.13, and closed at $1.99. Volume was ~10.2 million vs. t3m-avg. of ~0.5 million. Headline from a StemCells Inc. press release issued on 02013.02.12: StemCells, Inc. Announces First Patient Cohort Completes Spinal Cord Injury Trial - Gains in Sensory Function Persist 12 Months After Stem Cell Transplant.

STEM closed yesterday (02013.02.12) at $1.99. 52-week range: $0.59 - $2.67.

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Trimble Navigation 2:1 Split; Yahoo! New 52-Week High

Trimble Navigation (TRMB) announced a 2:1 stock split after the market closed yesterday (02013.02.11). TRMB closed yesterday at $59.58. 52-week range: $40.02 - $64.06.

Yahoo! (YHOO) hit a new 52-week high yesterday (02013.02.11) of $20.98 before closing at $20.90.

Friday, February 8, 2013

Geeknet Appoints a New CEO and President

Geeknet (GKNT) continues to be a GDT::Portfolio laggard. Today (02013.02.08), Geeknet promoted 44-year-old Kathryn McCarthy from CFO to Chief Executive Officer and President. She was also named to the Board of Directors. Ken Langone (age 77), Geeknet's current CEO, President and Chairman, remains as Chairman of the Board.

Today (02013.02.08) ThinkGeek issued a press release that started with the following.

ThinkGeek has sent an Away Team to NYC for Toy Fair, Feb 10-13, where they will talk with wholesalers, meet with press, and more importantly, bring even more awesome to the world with three brand new products from the company's GeekLabs department.

GKNT closed today (02013.02.08) at $15.32. 52-week range: $12.07 - $21.62.

Google (GOOG) Approaching $800

Google (GOOG) is at $785.41 on 02013.02.08 at 11:06AM EST. One buy recommendation by a widely followed analyst could cause GOOG to spike to $800. Earlier today GOOG hit a new 52-week high of $786.67. Each new 52-week high is a new all-time high.

Thursday, February 7, 2013

iRobot (IRBT) Takes a Dump

iRobot (IRBT) closed at $23.82, up 3.25% yesterday (02013.02.06). Volume was twice the trailing-3-month average. iRobot reported 4Q'12 results after the market closed. My guess is some traders were speculating the iRobot's results would be better than expected.

From iRobot's 4Q'12 press release.

"Our Home Robot business had a phenomenal year with revenue increasing 28 percent over 2011, but as expected, the decline in Defense & Security revenue resulted in lower total company revenue and profit for the year," said Colin Angle, chairman and chief executive officer of iRobot.

Today (02013.02.07), IRBT opened at $21.44, down 10%, and immediately fell to $20.60. Right now (3 minutes into trading) IRBT is at $22.03.

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Trimble Navigation (TRMB) Up and Down

Trimble Navigation (TRMB) hit a new 52-week high of $64.06 before closing at $63.50 yesterday (02013.02.05). After the market closed yesterday the company reported 4Q'12 results. Right now (9:46am MST on 02013.02.06) TRMB is at $60.40, down almost 5%. It appears as though analysts are not over joyed with Trimble's short-term outlook. From the company's 4Q'12 press release:
"Our outlook for 2013 remains that of healthy growth, although it is conditioned upon the state of volatility in the U.S. and Europe." -- Trimble CEO Steven Berglund

Trimble's quote seems a bit generic. The well being of most companies is "conditioned upon the state of volatility" here in the U.S. and the world.

Spire (SPIR) Jumps Almost 50% in One Day

On 1 January 02013 I had a posting titled "Spire (SPIR) Needs To Spire Upward in 02013". SPIR ended 02012 at $0.50. Yesterday, 02013.02.05, SPIR closed at $0.75, up almost 50% for the day. Although I'm a appreciative of the up day, I'm not popping open a beer to celebrate. Yesterday's gain was made on average volume, so it's possible SPIR could drop back to $0.50 today.

The following was written last year (02012) on July 2nd.

SPIR closed on 02012.06.29 at $0.60 (well below a buck) giving Spire Corp. a market value of ~$5.09 million (well below $15 million).

SPIR has a grocery store-like PSR (Price Sales Ratio) of 0.1.

There are ~8.56 million shares outstanding with ~26.31% closely held giving SPIR a thin float of ~6.23 million.

SPIR closed on 02013.02.05 at $0.75. 52-week range: $0.33 - $1.70.

Saturday, February 2, 2013

Google (GOOG) Hits All-Time High

Google (GOOG) hit a new all-time high on Friday, 02013.02.01, of $776.60 (closed at $775.60). It would be fun to sell a share of GOOG at $777.77, but the stock is worth more than that and I'm holding onto the small number of GOOG shares we do own.