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.
Finance

Market Movers: American Axle & Manufacturing (NYSE:AXL), DryShips (NASDAQ:DRYS), Meredith (NYSE:MDP), Intercontinental Hotels Group plc (NYSE:IHG), United Security Bancshares (NASDAQ:USBI)

American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc. (NYSE:AXL) shares are down -7.5% to $17.01 after reporting second quarter earnings of 67 cents per share, 4 cents worse than consensus estimates of 71 cents. American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc. (NYSE:AXL) belongs to Consumer Goods sector. Its net profit margin is 3.60% and weekly performance is -8.56%. On last trading day company shares ended up $17.52. American … Continue reading Market Movers: American Axle & Manufacturing (NYSE:AXL), DryShips (NASDAQ:DRYS), Meredith (NYSE:MDP), Intercontinental Hotels Group plc (NYSE:IHG), United Security Bancshares (NASDAQ:USBI)

Mark DeFrance
Finance

Morning Buzz : The Boeing (NYSE:BA), Baidu (NASDAQ:BIDU), Progressive Waste Solutions (NYSE:BIN), Extra Space Storage (NYSE:EXR), Sypris Solutions (NASDAQ:SYPR)

The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA) is planning to build its longest version of the much-hyped 787 Dreamliner exclusively in North Charleston, SC. Scheduled for delivery in 2018, the 787-10 will be the first Boeing jetliner to be built exclusively in South Carolina. The two earlier versions of the 787 family – the 787-8 and 787-9 – will continue to be assembled in both Everett and North … Continue reading Morning Buzz : The Boeing (NYSE:BA), Baidu (NASDAQ:BIDU), Progressive Waste Solutions (NYSE:BIN), Extra Space Storage (NYSE:EXR), Sypris Solutions (NASDAQ:SYPR)

Mark DeFrance
Finance

Hot Watch List : Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ), AK Steel Holding (NYSE:AKS), Eldorado Gold Corp. (NYSE:EGO), Lumos Networks Corp. (NASDAQ:LMOS), JGWPT Holdings Inc. (NYSE:JGW)

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) and thePlatform, the leading white-label video publishing company and an independent subsidiary of Comcast, today announced a new strategic alliance to accelerate major media and pay-TV operators’ plans for multiscreen video delivery. Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ)’s stock on 30 July traded at beginning with a price of $51.94and when day-trade ended the stock finally fell -0.40% to end at $51.76. Verizon … Continue reading Hot Watch List : Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ), AK Steel Holding (NYSE:AKS), Eldorado Gold Corp. (NYSE:EGO), Lumos Networks Corp. (NASDAQ:LMOS), JGWPT Holdings Inc. (NYSE:JGW)

Mark DeFrance
Finance

Tech Gainers: Baidu Inc (NASDAQ:BIDU), NQ Mobile (NYSE:NQ), Verisign (NASDAQ:VRSN), YY Inc (NASDAQ:YY), Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN)

Baidu Inc (ADR) (NASDAQ:BIDU) was upgraded by analysts at Morgan Stanley from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating. They now have a $239.30 price target on the stock, up previously from $196.30. Baidu Inc (ADR) (NASDAQ:BIDU) stock performance was 10.88% in last session and finished the day at $226.50. Traded volume was 12.60million shares in the last session and the average volume of … Continue reading Tech Gainers: Baidu Inc (NASDAQ:BIDU), NQ Mobile (NYSE:NQ), Verisign (NASDAQ:VRSN), YY Inc (NASDAQ:YY), Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN)

Mark DeFrance
Finance

Stock Highlights – LDK Solar (OTCMKTS:LDKSY) , TrueCar (NASDAQ:TRUE) , NB&T Financial (NASDAQ:NBTF) , McCormick & Company, Incorporated (NYSE:MKC) , iPass (NASDAQ:IPAS)

On July 15, 2014, LDK Solar Co., Ltd (ADR) (OTCMKTS:LDKSY) and its Joint Provisional Liquidators, Tammy Fu and Eleanor Fisher, both of Zolfo Cooper (Cayman) Limited, today announced that the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) Committee for Review has rescheduled LDK Solar’s review hearing to Monday, September 8, 2014. The hearing was originally scheduled on June 26, 2014. LDK Solar Co., Ltd (ADR) (OTCMKTS:LDKSY) … Continue reading Stock Highlights – LDK Solar (OTCMKTS:LDKSY) , TrueCar (NASDAQ:TRUE) , NB&T Financial (NASDAQ:NBTF) , McCormick & Company, Incorporated (NYSE:MKC) , iPass (NASDAQ:IPAS)

Mark DeFrance
Finance

Investors Alert – Yahoo! (NASDAQ:YHOO) , Reynolds American (NYSE:RAI) , CNO Financial (NYSE:CNO) , Endo International PLC (NASDAQ:ENDP) , Ennis (NYSE:EBF)

Yahoo Inc. (NASDAQ:YHOO) said Monday it would buy mobile analytics startup Flurry Inc. for a reported $300 million, with teams from Weil Gotshal & Manges LLP and Goodwin Proctor LLP advising on either side of the deal. Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ:YHOO) stock performance was 0.96% in last session and finished the day at $33.60. Traded volume was 18.16million shares in the last session and the average … Continue reading Investors Alert – Yahoo! (NASDAQ:YHOO) , Reynolds American (NYSE:RAI) , CNO Financial (NYSE:CNO) , Endo International PLC (NASDAQ:ENDP) , Ennis (NYSE:EBF)

Mark DeFrance