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.
Services Sector

Services Sector Active Stocks: Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT), Best Buy Co (NYSE:BBY), Rite Aid (NYSE:RAD), eBay Inc. (NASDAQ:EBAY)

Despite posting vastly lower sales than it expected in Canada, Target Corporation (TGT) expects its sales in this country to double this year over last – but it has a long way to go before hitting its longer-term forecast of $6-billion. Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) stock performance was 3.10% in last session and finished the day at $62.54. Traded volume was 0.00 shares in the last … Continue reading Services Sector Active Stocks: Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT), Best Buy Co (NYSE:BBY), Rite Aid (NYSE:RAD), eBay Inc. (NASDAQ:EBAY)

Mark DeFrance
Diversified Tech

CarPlay: Another Innovation By Apple, Tesla Motors (NASDAQ:TSLA) & Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) Are Worth Compatible For Partnership

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s next innovation is coming this year in the form of CarPlay for car infotainment systems. Simply, it is an iOS in the Car iPhone incorporation system. The system works with iOS 7 and because of their Lightning connectivity, only iPhone 5 and above models of phone is compatible up to now. Just like Siri, CarPlay gives users voice commands through speaking text … Continue reading CarPlay: Another Innovation By Apple, Tesla Motors (NASDAQ:TSLA) & Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) Are Worth Compatible For Partnership

Mark DeFrance
BioTech

Pharmaceutical Stocks to Watch: Auxilium Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:AUXL), Isis Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:ISIS)

Auxilium Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:AUXL) is due to issue its quarterly earnings report in the upcoming extended-hours session. Given its history, traders can expect light trading in the issue immediately following its quarterly earnings announcement. Historical earnings event related premarket and after-hours trading activity in AUXL indicates that the price change in the extended hours is likely to be of limited value in forecasting additional price … Continue reading Pharmaceutical Stocks to Watch: Auxilium Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:AUXL), Isis Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:ISIS)

Mark DeFrance
BioTech, business, Earnings, Energy, Finance

Afternoon Investor Alert: IRM, POM, IG

Records management services provider Iron Mountain Incorporated (NYSE:IRM) reports Q4 2013 adjusted EPS of $0.15 on revenues of $769 million. Analysts had expected adjusted EPS of $0.22 and revenues of $775 million, according to Capital IQ. Year-ago adjusted EPS was $0.20 on revenues of $758 million. For 2014, the company reiterated its adjusted EPS and revenue targets. It said adjusted EPS should be in the … Continue reading Afternoon Investor Alert: IRM, POM, IG

Mark DeFrance
Earnings, misc

Earnings Roundup: ANSYS (NASDAQ:ANSS), (NASDAQ:ACIW), (NYSE:BBY)

ANSYS (NASDAQ:ANSS) reported Q4 revenue of $236.7 million, about in line with the analyst consensus of $237 million on Capital IQ. EPS was $0.96, a dime better than the Street view. For Q1, the company guided for revenue of $212 to $220 million and EPS of $0.73 to $0.76, vs. Street estimates of $217 million in revenue and earnings of $0.76 per share. For FY … Continue reading Earnings Roundup: ANSYS (NASDAQ:ANSS), (NASDAQ:ACIW), (NYSE:BBY)

Mark DeFrance
Analysis, Financial, news

Stocks on Watch: Pall Corp (NYSE:PLL), Medivation, Inc. (NASDAQ:MDVN)

Pall Corp. (NYSE: PLL) is due to issue its quarterly earnings report in the upcoming extended-hours session. Given its history, traders can expect light trading in the issue immediately following its quarterly earnings announcement. Historical earnings event related premarket and after-hours trading activity in PLL indicates that the price change in the extended hours is likely to be of limited value in forecasting additional price … Continue reading Stocks on Watch: Pall Corp (NYSE:PLL), Medivation, Inc. (NASDAQ:MDVN)

Mark DeFrance