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

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
Finance

Investors Watch List: Tetraphase Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTPH), Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), PCTEL, Inc. (NASDAQ:PCTI), National Bankshares Inc. (NASDAQ:NKSH), NXP Semiconductors NV (NASDAQ:NXPI)

Tetraphase Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:TTPH), a maker of antibiotics to treat serious infections, is exploring a sale after attracting interest from potential buyers, people familiar with the matter said. Tetraphase Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTPH) belongs to Healthcare sector. Its weekly performance is -2.30%. On last trading day company shares ended up $22.09. Tetraphase Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTPH) distance from 50-day simple moving average (SMA50) is 0.04%. Big-tech behemoth … Continue reading Investors Watch List: Tetraphase Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTPH), Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), PCTEL, Inc. (NASDAQ:PCTI), National Bankshares Inc. (NASDAQ:NKSH), NXP Semiconductors NV (NASDAQ:NXPI)

Mark DeFrance
Finance

Today’s Watch List: Spirit Realty Capital, Inc. (NYSE:SRC), Gilead Sciences Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD), VSE Corp. (NASDAQ:VSEC), Mizuho Financial (NYSE:MFG), SunCoke Energy Partners, (NYSE:SXCP)

Spirit Realty Capital, Inc (New) (NYSE:SRC) was downgraded by Zacks from an “outperform” rating to a “neutral” rating in a report issued on Thursday, 13 November 2014. Spirit Realty Capital, Inc. (NYSE:SRC) belongs to Financial sector. Its net profit margin is -4.10% and weekly performance is -0.78%. On last trading day company shares ended up $11.48. Spirit Realty Capital, Inc. (NYSE:SRC) distance from 50-day simple … Continue reading Today’s Watch List: Spirit Realty Capital, Inc. (NYSE:SRC), Gilead Sciences Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD), VSE Corp. (NASDAQ:VSEC), Mizuho Financial (NYSE:MFG), SunCoke Energy Partners, (NYSE:SXCP)

Mark DeFrance
Finance

Eye Catching Stocks: Petroleo Brasileiro Petrobras (NYSE:PBR), TripAdvisor Inc. (NASDAQ:TRIP), The Empire District Electric Company (NYSE:EDE), Comcast (NASDAQ:CMCSA), General Mills (NYSE:GIS)

Petroleo Brasileiro Petrobras SA (ADR) (NYSE:PBR) earnings delay clouds bond issuance in early 2015.Petrobras earnings delay clouds bond issuance in early 2015 Brazilian state-run oil company Petrobras is likely to put off new debt sales until closer to mid-2015, as it grapples with a money-laundering and corruption investigation. Petroleo Brasileiro Petrobras SA (ADR) (NYSE:PBR) belongs to Basic Materials sector. Its net profit margin is 6.20% … Continue reading Eye Catching Stocks: Petroleo Brasileiro Petrobras (NYSE:PBR), TripAdvisor Inc. (NASDAQ:TRIP), The Empire District Electric Company (NYSE:EDE), Comcast (NASDAQ:CMCSA), General Mills (NYSE:GIS)

Mark DeFrance
Finance

Morning Watch List: Baker Hughes Incorporated (NYSE:BHI), Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCSA), Sirius XM Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:SIRI), Aastrom Biosciences (NASDAQ:ASTM), Yingli Green Energy (NYSE:YGE)

Baker Hughes Incorporated (NYSE:BHI) rejected a takeover approach from Halliburton because the offer wasn’t high enough (paywall). Emails showed a counter-proposal made on “a very reasonable basis on which to reach agreement,” which it says Halliburton didn’t engage with before it went hostile on Friday, seeking to replace Baker Hughes’ entire board (paywall). Baker Hughes Incorporated (NYSE:BHI) belongs to Basic Materials sector. Its net profit … Continue reading Morning Watch List: Baker Hughes Incorporated (NYSE:BHI), Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCSA), Sirius XM Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:SIRI), Aastrom Biosciences (NASDAQ:ASTM), Yingli Green Energy (NYSE:YGE)

Mark DeFrance