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

Social Stocks on the move: Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB), Twitter Inc (NYSE:TWTR), Zynga Inc (NASDAQ:ZNGA), Yelp Inc (NYSE:YELP), LinkedIn Corp (NYSE:LNKD)

Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) is taking another stab at ephemeral mobile messaging with an app called Slingshot. The app is designed to appeal to fans of Snapchat and other messaging apps that let people send self-destructing messages to friends. Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) stock performance was 1.86% in last session and finished the day at $65.60. Traded volume was 35.57million shares in the last session and the … Continue reading Social Stocks on the move: Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB), Twitter Inc (NYSE:TWTR), Zynga Inc (NASDAQ:ZNGA), Yelp Inc (NYSE:YELP), LinkedIn Corp (NYSE:LNKD)

Mark DeFrance
Finance

Healthcare Stocks In News: Ultragenyx (NASDAQ:RARE), Flexion (NASDAQ:FLXN), Receptos Inc (NASDAQ:RCPT), Acorda Therapeutics (NASDAQ:ACOR), Aratana Therapeutics (NASDAQ:PETX)

Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc (NASDAQ:RARE) is up over 16% today on news of the company’s initiation of phase-II trials for its lead drug candidate KRN23, which is a monoclonal antibody for X-linked Hypophosphatemia (XLH). Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc (NASDAQ:RARE) stock performance was 14.30% in last session and finished the day at $48.67. Traded volume was 435,645.00million shares in the last session and the average volume of the … Continue reading Healthcare Stocks In News: Ultragenyx (NASDAQ:RARE), Flexion (NASDAQ:FLXN), Receptos Inc (NASDAQ:RCPT), Acorda Therapeutics (NASDAQ:ACOR), Aratana Therapeutics (NASDAQ:PETX)

Mark DeFrance
Finance

Stocks With New Highs: The Valspar Corporation (NYSE:VAL), Energen Corporation (NYSE:EGN), Enerplus (NYSE:ERF), Tronox Ltd (NYSE:TROX), Comstock Resources Inc (NYSE:CRK)

The Valspar Corporation (NYSE:VAL) has received a consensus recommendation of “Hold” from the twelve analysts that are presently covering the stock, AnalystRatings.Net reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. The Valspar Corporation (NYSE:VAL) stock performance was 1.05% in last session and finished the day … Continue reading Stocks With New Highs: The Valspar Corporation (NYSE:VAL), Energen Corporation (NYSE:EGN), Enerplus (NYSE:ERF), Tronox Ltd (NYSE:TROX), Comstock Resources Inc (NYSE:CRK)

Mark DeFrance
Finance

Hot Watch List: VIVUS (NASDAQ:VVUS), Arena Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:ARNA), Ariad Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:ARIA), Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd (ADR) (NYSE:TEVA), Biogen Idec Inc (NASDAQ:BIIB)

Drugmaker Vivus Inc. (NASDAQ:VVUS) said Thursday it has filed a lawsuit against Actavis PLC and its affiliates in a New Jersey federal court over its bid with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to sell a generic version of company’ prescription weight-loss drug Qsymia. VIVUS, Inc. (NASDAQ:VVUS) stock performance was -0.19% in last session and finished the day at $5.17. Traded volume was 1.03million shares … Continue reading Hot Watch List: VIVUS (NASDAQ:VVUS), Arena Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:ARNA), Ariad Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:ARIA), Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd (ADR) (NYSE:TEVA), Biogen Idec Inc (NASDAQ:BIIB)

Mark DeFrance
Finance

Solar Stocks In News: Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ:CSIQ), Trina Solar Limited (ADR) (NYSE:TSL), SolarCity Corp (NASDAQ:SCTY), Hanwha Solarone Co Ltd (NASDAQ:HSOL), LDK Solar Co., Ltd (ADR) (OTCMKTS:LDKSY)

Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ:CSIQ) will build a plant for photovoltaic cells in China in partnership with GCL-Poly Energy Holdings Ltd. (3800), the country’s largest polysilicon and wafer producer. Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ:CSIQ) stock performance was 3.42% in last session and finished the day at $25.97. Traded volume was 3.33million shares in the last session and the average volume of the stock remained 3.62million shares. The … Continue reading Solar Stocks In News: Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ:CSIQ), Trina Solar Limited (ADR) (NYSE:TSL), SolarCity Corp (NASDAQ:SCTY), Hanwha Solarone Co Ltd (NASDAQ:HSOL), LDK Solar Co., Ltd (ADR) (OTCMKTS:LDKSY)

Mark DeFrance
Finance

Biotech Insider Selling: Achillion Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:ACHN), Questcor Pharmaceuticals(NASDAQ:QCOR), Seattle Genetics (NASDAQ:SGEN), Repligen Corporation (NASDAQ:RGEN), bluebird bio (NASDAQ:BLUE)

Achillion Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ:ACHN) major shareholder Qvt Associates Gp Llc sold 128,649 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, June 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $7.66, for a total transaction of $985,451.34. Achillion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:ACHN) stock performance was -6.32% in last session and finished the day at $6.38. Traded volume was 21.04million shares in the last … Continue reading Biotech Insider Selling: Achillion Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:ACHN), Questcor Pharmaceuticals(NASDAQ:QCOR), Seattle Genetics (NASDAQ:SGEN), Repligen Corporation (NASDAQ:RGEN), bluebird bio (NASDAQ:BLUE)

Mark DeFrance