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

Big Moves in Focus: RF Micro Devices Inc. (NASDAQ:RFMD), Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS), PartnerRe Ltd. (NYSE:PRE), Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS), Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F)

RF Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:RFMD) and TriQuint Semiconductor, Inc. (Nasdaq:TQNT) today announced that company executives are scheduled to present Barclays 2014 Global Technology Conference in San Francisco, CA, on Wednesday, December 10, 2014, at 12:00 pm ET (9:00 AM PT). RF Micro Devices Inc. (NASDAQ:RFMD) belongs to Technology sector. Its net profit margin is 8.80% and weekly performance is 6.98%. On last trading day company … Continue reading Big Moves in Focus: RF Micro Devices Inc. (NASDAQ:RFMD), Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS), PartnerRe Ltd. (NYSE:PRE), Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS), Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F)

Mark DeFrance
Finance

Trader’s Recap: Hertz Global Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:HTZ), TheStreet, Inc. (NASDAQ:TST), Douglas Dynamics, Inc. (NYSE:PLOW), Balchem Corp. (NASDAQ:BCPC), Oncothyreon Inc (NASDAQ:ONTY)

Hertz Global Holdings (NYSE:HTZ) CEO John P. Tague bought 84,200 shares of the stock on the open market in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 24th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $24.11 per share, with a total value of $2,030,062.00. Hertz Global Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:HTZ) belongs to Services sector. Its net profit margin is 6.50% and weekly performance is -0.08%. … Continue reading Trader’s Recap: Hertz Global Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:HTZ), TheStreet, Inc. (NASDAQ:TST), Douglas Dynamics, Inc. (NYSE:PLOW), Balchem Corp. (NASDAQ:BCPC), Oncothyreon Inc (NASDAQ:ONTY)

Mark DeFrance
Finance

Stocks in the news: Dollar General Corporation (NYSE:DG), Mondelez International (NASDAQ:MDLZ), AngloGold Ashanti (NYSE:AU), The Blackstone Group (NYSE:BX), Extra Space Storage (NYSE:EXR)

On Dec 04, Dollar General Corporation (NYSE:DG) reported financial results for its fiscal 2014 third quarter (13 weeks) ended October 31, 2014. The Company reported net income of $236 million, or $0.78 per diluted share in the 2014 third quarter compared to net income of $237 million, or $0.74 per diluted share in the 2013 third quarter. Dollar General Corporation (NYSE:DG) belongs to Services sector. … Continue reading Stocks in the news: Dollar General Corporation (NYSE:DG), Mondelez International (NASDAQ:MDLZ), AngloGold Ashanti (NYSE:AU), The Blackstone Group (NYSE:BX), Extra Space Storage (NYSE:EXR)

Mark DeFrance
Finance

Morning Alert: KKR & Co. L.P. (NYSE:KKR), Twitter Inc (NYSE:TWTR), Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN), Southside Bancshares Inc. (NASDAQ:SBSI), Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS)

KKR & Co. L.P. (NYSE:KKR) has agreed to acquire a significant minority stake in Arbor Pharmaceuticals LLC, in a deal that values the privately held specialty drugmaker at more than $1 billion, including debt, people familiar with the matter said on Dec 04. KKR & Co. L.P. (NYSE:KKR) belongs to Financial sector. Its net profit margin is 67.40% and weekly performance is 0.63%. On last … Continue reading Morning Alert: KKR & Co. L.P. (NYSE:KKR), Twitter Inc (NYSE:TWTR), Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN), Southside Bancshares Inc. (NASDAQ:SBSI), Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS)

Mark DeFrance
Finance

Hot Stock List: Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE:MDT), Schlumberger Limited (NYSE:SLB), U.S. Concrete, Inc. (NASDAQ:USCR), Viasystems Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:VIAS), Rio Tinto plc (NYSE:RIO)

U. S. authorities on Wednesday approved Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE:MDT) ’s $43 billion merger with fellow medical device maker Covidien PLC after requiring the spinoff of a drug-coated catheter business. Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE:MDT) belongs to Healthcare sector. Its net profit margin is 22.90% and weekly performance is 2.40%. On last trading day company shares ended up $73.48. Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE:MDT) distance from 50-day simple moving average … Continue reading Hot Stock List: Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE:MDT), Schlumberger Limited (NYSE:SLB), U.S. Concrete, Inc. (NASDAQ:USCR), Viasystems Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:VIAS), Rio Tinto plc (NYSE:RIO)

Mark DeFrance
Finance

Moving Stocks: Actavis plc (NYSE:ACT), Arch Coal Inc. (NYSE:ACI), B Communications Ltd (NASDAQ:BCOM), Northrim Bancorp Inc. (NASDAQ:NRIM), Neonode, Inc. (NASDAQ:NEON)

Generic drugmaker Actavis plc (NYSE:ACT), which earlier in November agreed to acquire Botox maker Allergan Inc. for $66 billion, plans to cut its workforce and expand in China, Bloomberg reported Monday, citing Actavis Chief Executive Officer Brent Saunders. Actavis plc (NYSE:ACT) belongs to Healthcare sector. Its net profit margin is -8.10% and weekly performance is 7.64%. On last trading day company shares ended up $266.88. … Continue reading Moving Stocks: Actavis plc (NYSE:ACT), Arch Coal Inc. (NYSE:ACI), B Communications Ltd (NASDAQ:BCOM), Northrim Bancorp Inc. (NASDAQ:NRIM), Neonode, Inc. (NASDAQ:NEON)

Mark DeFrance