Traders Are Gambling on: Applied Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMAT), Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE:BSX), Heritage Financial Group (NASDAQ:HBOS), Benchmark Electronics (NYSE:BHE), BT Group (NYSE:BT)

Applied Materials (NASDAQ:AMAT) has earned an “AA-” credit rating from Morningstar. The research firm’s “AA-” rating indicates that the company is a very-low default risk. They also gave their stock a two star rating. Applied Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMAT) belongs to Technology sector. Its net profit margin is 12.20% and weekly performance is -3.51%. On last trading day company shares ended up $23.39. Applied Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMAT) distance from 50-day simple moving average (SMA50) is 6.07%.

Boston Scientific (NYSE:BSX) has been given a consensus rating of “Buy” by the twenty analysts that are covering the company, Stock Ratings Network reports. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and eleven have issued a buy recommendation on the company. Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE:BSX) shares decreased -1.54% in last trading session and ended the day at $12.80. BSX Gross Margin is 70.10% and its return on assets is 1.70%. Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE:BSX) quarterly performance is 3.73%.

On Dec. 10, Renasant Corporation (NASDAQ:RNST) and Heritage Financial Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:HBOS) jointly announced today the signing of a definitive merger agreement pursuant to which Renasant Corporation will acquire, in an all-stock merger, Heritage Financial Group, Inc, a bank holding company headquartered in Albany, Georgia, and the parent of HeritageBank of the South , a Georgia savings bank. On 15 December, Heritage Financial Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:HBOS) shares advanced 0.40% and was closed at $25.33. HBOS EPS growth in last 5 year was 120.40%. Heritage Financial Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:HBOS) year to date (YTD) performance is 33.04%.

On Dec. 8, Benchmark Electronics, Inc. (NYSE:BHE), announced that its Board of Directors approved the repurchase of up to $100 million of the Company’s outstanding shares of common stock. This repurchase program is in addition to the current 2012 repurchase program, which also authorized the Company to purchase up to $100 million of its outstanding common shares. Share repurchases under both programs may be made in the open market, in privately negotiated transactions or block transactions, at the discretion of the Company’s management, and subject to market conditions. Benchmark Electronics Inc. (NYSE:BHE) ended the last trading day at $23.94. Company weekly volatility is calculated as 2.67% and price to cash ratio as 3.03. Benchmark Electronics Inc. (NYSE:BHE) showed a weekly performance of -1.16%.

UK-based fixed-line operator BT Group plc (NYSE:BT) said Monday that it has entered into exclusive talks to acquire the UK’s largest mobile operator EE Ltd. for 12.5 billion pounds, or $19.6 billion, in cash and stock. BT Group plc (NYSE:BT) belongs to Technology sector. Its net profit margin is 10.80% and weekly performance is -3.56%. On last trading day company shares ended up $62.82. BT Group plc (NYSE:BT) distance from 50-day simple moving average (SMA50) is 3.65%.