Would anyone care if Palm (PALM) went away -- other than its employees and shareholders?

This company is seeing sales decline, and its new best hope, the Pre, is competing against the iPhone, BlackBerry and Droid.

That means a company with little cash and a market cap under a billion dollars is fighting, with an inferior and overpriced product, against the combined strength of Apple (AAPL), Research In Motion (RIMM) and Google (GOOG). End of discussion.

At the time of this writing, the author did not own shares of PALM.

Next: Deadbeat Stock #3: Brunswick (BC)

Deadbeat Stock #2: Palm (PALM) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 20 Mar 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Spring is finally here, which means it's time to break out the broom and dustpan for some spring cleaning.

But your home isn't the only thing that requires constant maintenance -- your portfolio does too.

And what better time than spring to get a fresh start by cleaning out the stocks that are sitting around collecting dust rather than making you money?

Continue reading Six Deadbeat Stocks to Clean Out of Your Portfolio

Six Deadbeat Stocks to Clean Out of Your Portfolio originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 20 Mar 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Closing Bell: The Bears Get a Win (APPA, NLST, AET, PALM, IDT)

Closing Bell: The Bears Get a Win (APPA, NLST, AET, PALM, IDT) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Auriga upgraded Computer Programs & Systems (CPSI) to hold from sell after channel checks indicated Q1 could be the bottom for stagnation of new system sales. The firm raised its target for shares to $38 from $32.
• Janney Montgomery upgraded Tetra Tech (TTEK) to buy from neutral due to valuation. The firm has a $26 price target on the stock.
• Deutsche Bank upgraded Energy Transfer Equity (ETE) to buy from hold and raised its target for shares to $40 from $27.
• Best Buy (BBY) was upgraded to buy from neutral at Goldman.
• Mariott (MAR) was raised to buy from sell at Societe Generale.
• Telus (TU) was upgraded at TD Newcrest to action list buy from buy.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: BBY, CPSI, CRAI, MAR, PALM, RIMM, SLB, SYNA, TTEK, WFT ...

Analyst Calls: BBY, CPSI, CRAI, MAR, PALM, RIMM, SLB, SYNA, TTEK, WFT ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Palm (PALM) got hit in yesterday's after-hours session after announcing its third-quarter earnings report to Wall Street. According to BusinessWeek, an adjusted loss of 61 cents per diluted share was recorded on the bottom line. Analysts thought the loss wouldn't be so severe; they projected red ink of 42 cents per share.

Shares of Palm were down over 15% in extended trading. That's enough to scare any shareholder into rethinking the investment thesis with this business.

Continue reading Palm: Not for Me After Q3 Report

Palm: Not for Me After Q3 Report originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Closing Bell: Does The Market Ever Drop? (TSL, PALM, FDX, NKE, TEVA)

Closing Bell: Does The Market Ever Drop? (TSL, PALM, FDX, NKE, TEVA) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Sony (SNE) closed at $36.75. SNE April put option implied volatility is at 29, July is at 30, and October is at 31; below its 26-week average of 34, according to Track Data, suggesting decreasing price movement.

Goldman Sachs (GS) closed at $169.84. March put option implied volatility is at 31, April is at 32, versus its six-month average of 33, according to Track Data, suggesting non-directional price movement.

Three stocks with IV rise on March 5; Ciena (CIEN) +11%, Palm (PALM) +9%, Best Buy (BBY) +2%, according to IVolatility.

Options Update is by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com.

Options Update: Sony Volatility Low; Shares Near 18-Month High originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Here are some highlights from this past week's earnings coverage on BloggingStocks:

• American International Group Inc. (AIG) posted a big loss and warned it may require additional assistance.
• Athenahealth (ATHN) shares sank after it delayed earnings and its annual report, and warned of restatements.
• Barnes & Noble Inc. (BKS) Q3 sales jumped on popularity of the Nook reader but same-store sales declined.
• Brocade Communications Systems Inc. (BRCD) disappointing report and guidance caused a sell-off in shares.
• Dell Inc. (DELL) acquisitions and better-than-expected earnings may not be enough to stop shrinking market share.
• Gap Inc. (GPS) rose after it beat earnings estimates, raised its dividend and announced stock buybacks.

Continue reading Earnings Highlights: AIG, Dell, Gap, Heinz, Macy's, RadioShack, Sears ...

Earnings Highlights: AIG, Dell, Gap, Heinz, Macy's, RadioShack, Sears ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 27 Feb 2010 09:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Closing Bell: Wishy Washy with a Smile (AIG, ATHN, CKR, CROX, DECK, GPS, PALM)

Closing Bell: Wishy Washy with a Smile (AIG, ATHN, CKR, CROX, DECK, GPS, PALM) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 26 Feb 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Palm (PALM) was the talk of the town back about a year ago when its vaunted Palm Pre smartphone won all kinds of awards and was hailed as the savior of the once-powerful technology company. After the Palm Pre was released last June and was followed up by the Palm Pixi wireless handset, the turnaround started but never really revolutionized the company as many thought would happen.

Continue reading Palm Changes Outlook for Fiscal Year, Cites Slow Sales

Palm Changes Outlook for Fiscal Year, Cites Slow Sales originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 26 Feb 2010 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• JPMorgan upgraded Lamar Advertising (LAMR) to overweight from neutral following the company's Q4 results. The firm has a $36 price target on shares.
• Canaccord upgraded St. Mary Land & Exploration (SM) to buy from speculative buy based on the company's business model transformation. The firm has a $45 target on shares.
• Jefferies upgraded Rosetta Stone (RST) to buy from hold following the Q4 report and guidance. The firm has a $29 target on shares.
• GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and AstraZeneca (AZN) were upgraded to neutral from sell at Goldman.
• China Unicom (CHU) was upgraded to buy from sell at Deutsche Bank.
• Repsol (REP) was upgraded to overweight from equal weight at Barclays.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AZN, FLR, ICE, KFT, LAMR, PALM, RST, SJM ...

Analyst Calls: AZN, FLR, ICE, KFT, LAMR, PALM, RST, SJM ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 26 Feb 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Google (GOOG) closed at $526.42. Three GOOG executives were convicted of violating Italian privacy laws on February 24, the first case to hold the company's executives criminally responsible for the content posted on its system. March and June option implied volatility of 22 is below its 26-week average of 27, according to Track Data, suggesting decreasing price movement.

Palm (PALM) closed at $6.53 after announcing its sees FY2010 revenue well below prior $1.6B-$1.8B view. March call option implied volatility is at 86, puts at 89, versus its 26-week average of 72 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement.

Options Update is by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com.

Options Update: Google Volatility Low at 22 originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 26 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Deutsche Bank upgraded CME Group (CME) to buy from hold to reflect valuation and the company's improving trends. The firm raised its target price for shares to $325 from $320.
• JPMorgan upgraded Big Lots (BIG) to overweight from neutral. The firm believes the company's stabilizing comps and accelerating square foot growth should drive multiple expansion and raised its target price for shares to $38.
• Soleil upgraded PacWest Bancorp (PACW) to buy from hold as it views the company's bulk loan sale positively. The firm has a $24.50 target on the stock.
• Clean Harbors (CLH) was upgraded to buy from neutral at BofA/Merrill.
• Skilled Healthcare (SKH) was upgraded to outperform from market perform at Leerink.
• FARO Tech (FARO) was upgraded to buy from hold at Needham.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: BIG, CME, GME, GOOG, INTC, PALM, YHOO ...

Analyst Calls: BIG, CME, GME, GOOG, INTC, PALM, YHOO ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 25 Feb 2010 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Palm (PALM) closed at $8.20. Palm is expected to report Q3 EPS on March 19. March call option implied volatility is at 86, puts at 94, May calls are at 73, puts are at 85, versus its 26-week average of 70, according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement. Puts are more expensive than calls because PALM is difficult to borrow.

TiVo (TIVO) closed at $9.64. TIVO is expected to report Q4 EPS on March 2. Call option volume of 14,764 contracts compares to put volume of 1,427 contracts. March put option implied volatility is at 118, May is at is at 101, August is at 89, versus its six-month average of 84, according to Track Data, suggesting larger near-term price movement.

Update is by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com.

Options Update: Palm Volatility Elevated, Shares Trend to 11-Month Low originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 24 Feb 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Sterne Agee upgraded American Public Education (APEI) to buy from neutral following the Q4 report and guidance. The firm has a $50 target on the stock.
• Jefferies upgraded Lamar Advertising (LAMR) to hold from underperform citing valuation and the improved ad market. The firm raised its target $30 from $22.
• Janney Montgomery upgraded Wilmington Trust (WL) to neutral from sell following the company's $250M stock offering and raised its target price on shares to $13 from $10.
• AeroVironment (AVAV) was upgraded to buy from neutral at SunTrust.
• Scripps Networks (SNI) was upgraded to overweight from equal weight at Barclays.
• TheKnot (KNOT) was raised to buy from hold at ThinkEquity.

Continue reading Analyst Upgrades, Downgrades and Initiations: APEI, CPB, FSLR, GLW, KFT, PALM ...

Analyst Upgrades, Downgrades and Initiations: APEI, CPB, FSLR, GLW, KFT, PALM ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 23 Feb 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Closing Bell: Jobs Giveth and Taketh Away (CYCC, QCOM, GS, LUV, PALM, GENZ)

Closing Bell: Jobs Giveth and Taketh Away (CYCC, QCOM, GS, LUV, PALM, GENZ) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 08 Jan 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Closing Bell: When the Market Can't Decide... (NFLX, PALM, T, LVLT, NICE, MOS)

Closing Bell: When the Market Can't Decide... (NFLX, PALM, T, LVLT, NICE, MOS) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This little gem was perpetuated by tech guru and investor Roger McNamee. Of course, he is a member of the Palm (PALM) board of directors, and his firm is an investor in the company.

Did I mention that PALM shot up after his comment, before the mediocre and overpriced Pre hit the market? The company then issued shares a few days later? You and I would go to jail for doing this.

Continue reading Lie #11: The Palm Pre Is the Ultimate iPhone Killer

Lie #11: The Palm Pre Is the Ultimate iPhone Killer originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 27 Dec 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The market staged an impressive rally this year, but it was predicated on some very big lies, as opposed to solid fundamentals or the beginnings of a real recovery in the U.S. economy.

The biggest lie investors were fed? That, statistically, the recession "officially" ended in Q3 when we saw 3.5% GDP growth. Sure the Bureau of Economic Analysis revised their number substantially in November, saying we only saw 2.8% growth, but this was growth nonetheless ... according to the statistics.

Continue reading 2009's Biggest Wall Street Lies

2009's Biggest Wall Street Lies originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 26 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Palm Inc. (PALM) seemed like a company with a solid comeback plan last summer. After more than a year of downward spiraling, the company was on the verge of releasing its hottest product probably ever, the Palm Pre. This was supposed to be the wireless handset that would finally challenge the Apple (AAPL) iPhone with it's slick user interface and svelte design.

Sales of the Pre in recent quarters were indeed decent, although Palm's decision to choose Sprint Nextel (S) as its exclusive launch partner may have dampened things a bit. Although Sprint's network, at this time, fares way better than AT&T's (T) network that is constantly being made fun of, the Pre still didn't slow down iPhone purchases.

Continue reading Where Is Palm Headed After the Hype from Last Summer?

Where Is Palm Headed After the Hype from Last Summer? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 22 Dec 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.