Author: Mark DeFrance

Mark DeFrance is a senior research analyst at Tech Insider, focusing on the enterprise software sector. Prior to joining TI, Mark covered enterprise software for First Albany, and prior to that he worked in equity research at B.T. Alex Brown and Bankers Trust. Mark has written software applications in various programming languages including BASIC, Pascal, and COBOL. He has also been recognized in The Wall Street Journal's "Best on the Street" survey and was recognized by Forbes Magazine as the No. 1 sell-side stock picker in the software industry for a five-year period, with returns of 115% versus 26% for the software industry.
Alibaba
Analysis, Finance, Internet

Hot Stocks: Baidu Inc (ADR) (NASDAQ:BIDU), Weibo Corp (ADR) (NASDAQ:WB), SINA Corp (NASDAQ:SINA), Qihoo 360 Technology (NYSE:QIHU)

Alibaba operates online platforms such as Taobao Marketplace and Tmall.com that connect retail brands with consumers. The Chinese company makes most of its sales from commissions and advertising and competes with Tencent Holdings Ltd and Baidu Inc. (ADR) (NASDAQ:BIDU) for the more than 600 million Internet users in China. Baidu Inc (ADR) (NASDAQ:BIDU) stock performance was -1.19% in last session and finished the day at … Continue reading Hot Stocks: Baidu Inc (ADR) (NASDAQ:BIDU), Weibo Corp (ADR) (NASDAQ:WB), SINA Corp (NASDAQ:SINA), Qihoo 360 Technology (NYSE:QIHU)

Mark DeFrance
Finance

Biotech Watch List: GTx (NASDAQ:GTXI), Anacor Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ:ANAC), 22nd Century Group Inc (NYSEMKT:XXII), Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:VNDA)

GTX Inc. (NASDAQ:GTXI) was a big mover last session, as its shares rose over 14% on the day. The move came on solid volume too with far more shares changing hands than in a normal session. This breaks the trend for the company since Apr 7, as the stock is now trading above the volatile price range of $1.32 to $1.50. GTx, Inc. (NASDAQ:GTXI) stock … Continue reading Biotech Watch List: GTx (NASDAQ:GTXI), Anacor Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ:ANAC), 22nd Century Group Inc (NYSEMKT:XXII), Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:VNDA)

Mark DeFrance
Finance

Trader’s Watch List: Alcatel Lucent (NYSE:ALU), Twitter Inc (NYSE:TWTR), Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ:YHOO), Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ)

Carrier spending in markets such as the U.S. and Japan is cooling after a wave of investments in speedier, fourth-generation networks, leaving Nokia, Ericsson, Alcatel Lucent SA (ADR) (NYSE:ALU) and China’s Huawei Technologies Co. to compete for fewer deals. Last year, Nokia considered buying the wireless-equipment unit of France’s Alcatel Lucent SA (ADR) (NYSE:ALU), people familiar with the matter have said. Nokia can compete in … Continue reading Trader’s Watch List: Alcatel Lucent (NYSE:ALU), Twitter Inc (NYSE:TWTR), Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ:YHOO), Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ)

Mark DeFrance
Finance

Drug Manufacturers Most Volatile: TherapeuticsMD Inc (NYSEMKT:TXMD), Pacira Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:PCRX), Heron Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:HRTX), Flexion Therapeutics (NASDAQ:FLXN)

TherapeuticsMD, Inc. (NYSEMKT:TXMD), a women’s healthcare company, will host a conference call and live audio webcast to disclose its financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2014. The call and webcast will be held on Monday, May 5, 2014 at 4:30pm EDT and will be hosted by Robert Finizio, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, and Dan Cartwright, Chief Financial Officer. TherapeuticsMD Inc (NYSEMKT:TXMD) stock … Continue reading Drug Manufacturers Most Volatile: TherapeuticsMD Inc (NYSEMKT:TXMD), Pacira Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:PCRX), Heron Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:HRTX), Flexion Therapeutics (NASDAQ:FLXN)

Mark DeFrance
Finance

Utilities New Highs: Pepco Holdings (NYSE:POM), The Southern Company (NYSE:SO), PPL Corporation (NYSE:PPL), American Electric Power Company (NYSE:AEP)

Pepco Holdings Inc. (NYSE:POM) jumped 5.7 percent amid reports that the company has hired advisers for a strategic review. Pepco Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:POM) stock performance was 5.72% in last session and finished the day at $23.10. Traded volume was 10.27million shares in the last session and the average volume of the stock remained 2.31million shares. The beta of the stock remained 0.31. Pepco Holdings, Inc. … Continue reading Utilities New Highs: Pepco Holdings (NYSE:POM), The Southern Company (NYSE:SO), PPL Corporation (NYSE:PPL), American Electric Power Company (NYSE:AEP)

Mark DeFrance
Finance

Basic Material Most Active: Vale (NYSE:VALE), Petroleo Brasileiro Petrobras (NYSE:PBR), Barrick Gold (NYSE:ABX), Cabot Oil & Gas (NYSE:COG)

Brazil’s Superior Justice Tribunal, the country’s second highest court, on Thursday ruled in favour of iron ore giant Vale SA (ADR) (NYSE:VALE) in a dispute over taxation of foreign subsidiaries. Reuters reports the court ruled 3 to 1 that Brazilian treaties with Belgium, Luxembourg and Denmark prevented Brazil from taxing the profits of Vale SA (ADR) (NYSE:VALE) units in those countries, although it also said … Continue reading Basic Material Most Active: Vale (NYSE:VALE), Petroleo Brasileiro Petrobras (NYSE:PBR), Barrick Gold (NYSE:ABX), Cabot Oil & Gas (NYSE:COG)

Mark DeFrance