Category: Diversified Tech

Analysis, BioTech, Commodities, Diversified Tech, Finance, Global Equity, Mergers & Acquisitions, Semiconductors, Services Sector, Software, software, Tech IPO

Investments in Mobile Weighed on First-Quarter Margins for Baidu; Shares Undervalued

Chinese search engine Baidu BIDU posted a 40% increase in first-quarter revenue that met our expectations, although margins came under pressure due to aggressive investments in mobile Internet. We believe these strategic investments behind product innovation, engineering talents, network infrastructure, and marketing campaigns are critical to fortifying Baidu’s competitiveness in the fastgrowing mobile Internet space over the longer term. We applaud management’s decision to accelerate … Continue reading Investments in Mobile Weighed on First-Quarter Margins for Baidu; Shares Undervalued

John MeadyLeave a comment
FB Nasdaq FB Facebook
Analysis, BioTech, Commodities, Diversified Tech, Finance, Global Equity, Mergers & Acquisitions, Semiconductors, Services Sector, Software, software, Tech IPO

Avon Takes Steps to Enhance its Corporate Governance; Shares Far From a Beauty

Avon Products AVP announced on Friday that independent chairman Fred Hassan would be stepping down immediately in light of ” his other professional commitments” (which presently include working as a managing director and partner at private-equity firm Warburg Pincus, as well as a director at Time Warner TWX and chairman of Bausch and Lomb) . Former Campbell Soup CPB CEO Doug Conant (a director since … Continue reading Avon Takes Steps to Enhance its Corporate Governance; Shares Far From a Beauty

John MeadyLeave a comment
Gilead Sciences GILD NASDAQ:GILD
Analysis, BioTech, Commodities, Diversified Tech, Finance, Global Equity, Mergers & Acquisitions, Semiconductors, Services Sector, Software, software, Tech IPO

Avnet Reports Soft Sales to Western Markets, Growth in Asia

We’re maintaining our fair value estimate and moat rating for Avnet AVT after it reported third-quarter results that indicate trepidation from enterprise businesses in Western markets, but continued growth in emerging markets. Avnet generated $6.3 billion of total sales, in line with seasonality and our own expectations. Pro-forma sales to higher-margin Western markets (EMEA and Americas) declined year-overyear in both of Avnet’s segments—electronics marketing (EM) … Continue reading Avnet Reports Soft Sales to Western Markets, Growth in Asia

John MeadyLeave a comment
Analysis, BioTech, Commodities, Diversified Tech, Finance, Global Equity, Mergers & Acquisitions, Semiconductors, Services Sector, Software, software, Tech IPO

Ametek Delivers Earnings Growth in First Quarter

Ametek AME delivered first-quarter earnings of $0.51 per diluted share, an 11% increase versus the first quarter of 2012. While operating margin performance was ahead of pace to meet our full-year expectation, revenue growth, including acquisitions, of 7% was a bit weaker than we anticipated. Management increased the bottom end of its full-year EPS guidance from $2.07 to $2.08, resulting in a new midpoint of … Continue reading Ametek Delivers Earnings Growth in First Quarter

John MeadyLeave a comment
Analysis, BioTech, Commodities, Diversified Tech, Finance, Global Equity, Mergers & Acquisitions, Semiconductors, Services Sector, Software, software, Tech IPO

American Electric Power Posts Flat First-Quarter Earnings

American Electric Power AEP reported $0.80 ongoing EPS for the first quarter of 2013, flat from the year-ago quarter. Management reaffirmed ongoing 2013 EPS guidance of $3.05 to $3.25. The company recently announced a $0.49 quarterly dividend, a 4.3% increase and in line with the previously announced increased targeted dividend payout ratio of 60% to 70%. We are reaffirming our 2013 EPS forecast, our $48 … Continue reading American Electric Power Posts Flat First-Quarter Earnings

John MeadyLeave a comment
Analysis, Diversified Tech, Finance, Internet

Facebook Sued Over Privacy Issues (NASDAQ FB)

Facebook Inc (NASDAQ FB) is facing a class-action lawsuit in Europe that could bring Facebook’s lack of privacy protection into focus. The suit says that after Facebook’s privacy policy became apparently deliberately confusing, violations occurred. Austrian law student and privacy activist Max Schrems said Friday he will challenge the social network in court. Schrems says Facebook violated Europe’s generally clear privacy laws and disregarded its … Continue reading Facebook Sued Over Privacy Issues (NASDAQ FB)

Richard Atkins