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TJX: Back up the truck

If you haven't already and you can tolerate moderate risk, now's the time to purchase shares of The TJX Companies (TJX) and I'm reiterating my buy rating, first recommended on June 22, 2009 at a price of $21.48. If you bought TJX in June, you're up about an impressive 80%.

Off-price family apparel and home fashion retailer TJX (operator of the T.J. Maxx, Marshalls and HomeGoods chains) is in the discount retail sweet spot: it's poised to gain market share in the era of the 'frugal consumer.'

Continue reading TJX: Back up the truck

Entergy: Pull-back is buy opportunity

Unlike France, the United States did not build nearly enough nuclear power plants in the last two decades of the 20th century to accommodate its power needs, and it will spend the next two decades playing catch-up, which is why I'm reiterating my buy rating for Entergy Corp. (ETR), first recommended on May 12, 2009, at a price of $74.31.

Entergy, the second largest nuclear power generator in the U.S. (30,000 megawatts) will be a part of that mix, with its regulated utilities likely to register average earnings per share growth of 5% to 7% over the next three years. Meanwhile, the planned spin-off of its non-utility-regulated nuclear business, called Enexus, holds the promise of even stronger revenue and earnings growth. The First Call FY2009/FY2010 EPS estimates for ETR are $6.37 to $6.70.

Continue reading Entergy: Pull-back is buy opportunity

Nike is in an uptrend

After meandering for most of the summer, Nike Inc.'s (NKE) stock has accelerated above its 50-day moving average, and that's one reason I'm Reiterating my Buy rating for the company's shares, first recommended on May 12, 2009 at a price of $50.98. If you bought NKE in May, you're up about 27%.

Look for Nike to record a roughly 7-9% earnings gain in 2010, aided by emerging market sales gains. What's more, the major source of institutional investors's (IIs') concern this summer – U.S. sales – appears to be fading: 2010 U.S. sales will likely drop 2-3%, due to the continued 'frugal consumer' trend – a down year but certainly not a disaster, for NKE, which does about 60% of its business outside the U.S. The First Call FY2010/FY2011 EPS estimates for NKE are $3.65 to $4.01.

Continue reading Nike is in an uptrend

Chasing Value: Ten stocks for 2010 -- Part 5

The march toward year end continues as three more stocks are reviewed in a search for the eventual 2010 stock picks. This year there will be nine stocks with a new wrinkle, I will add one naked put.

These options have contributed to a mind-boggling return on my 2009 portfolio, exceeding 200% to date. This has been a very unusual year, and I bet against the rampant fear in the market. I will not pretend for a moment that this is repeatable. What I will do is share my opinions and investing adventure, hoping to stimulate investor interest and dialog.

Continue reading Chasing Value: Ten stocks for 2010 -- Part 5

Cramer on BloggingStocks: Sanofi has lots of upside catalysts

TheStreet.com's Jim Cramer says it looks like the patent worries aren't so dire after all.

Now that we see that health care reform is not going to bring price caps or socialization of medicine, we are beginning to see some real expansion in the drug stocks, including Merck (MRK) (Cramer's Take), Bristol-Myers (BMY) (Cramer's Take) and Lilly (LLY) (Cramer's Take). But there is one drug stock that is continually met with skepticism -- Sanofi Aventis (SNY) (Cramer's Take), the French vaccine and pharmaceutical maker run by Christian Viehbacher. The resistance is obvious, as his biggest two drugs are coming off patent very soon, and his hope is that by 2013 the company might again reach 2008 levels.

Sounds like there's no reason to buy this one. Sounds like its 4% dividend isn't safe.

Continue reading Cramer on BloggingStocks: Sanofi has lots of upside catalysts

Dominion Resources: Back up the truck

Rare is the day you should sell an electric power generation play, which is why I'm reiterating my buy rating for Dominion Resources (D), first recommended on May 8, 2009, at a price of $31.87. If you bought Dominion in May, you're up about 16%.

Dominion, a fully integrated natural gas and electric holding company, is on-track to register 2% to 4% revenue growth on higher utility revenue in F2009, but also aided by the completion of the Cove Point liquid natural gas facility. Debt reduction, as well as planned expansion of wind generation and other power projects, adds to the positive story. Dominion's annual dividend is $1.75.

Continue reading Dominion Resources: Back up the truck

TransCanada: Pull-back is buy opportunity

TransCanada Corp.'s (TRP) shares, first recommended on May 11, 2009, at a price of $26.56, have pulled back, and the dip represents a buy opportunity, which is why I'm reiterating my buy rating for the stock.

TransCanada is natural gas play with promise: it's a natural gas transmission and storage company that also owns oil assets and electric power generation assets (including 19 wholly-owned power plants). A solid $1.45 annual dividend adds to the positive story.

Continue reading TransCanada: Pull-back is buy opportunity

Look for ADP to rise with payrolls

If, in fact, jobless claims have peaked, that's good news for payroll services specialist Automatic Data Processing (ADP), and that's one reason I'm reiterating my buy rating for the company's shares, first recommended on June 22, 2009 at a price of $36.84. If you bought ADP in June, you're up about 20%.

Despite the worst recession in more than 25 years – one that has devastated payrolls – ADP has held its own, with its stock price this year recovering about one-half its loss following the drop from its peak in 2007.

Continue reading Look for ADP to rise with payrolls

Tyson Foods: Meandering into the new year

Tyson Foods' (TSN) stock has meandered since first recommended on May 11, 2009 at a price of $12.35, but I'm sticking with the stock. Here's why:

First, Tyson has the product diversity to adjust to increasingly demanding, educated U.S. consumers, who may, for example, favor chicken over pork one month, then do an end-run and return to red meat when steak prices drop.

Continue reading Tyson Foods: Meandering into the new year

NRG Energy (NRG): 'Wholesale' power play

"The uncertain market has changed our risk appetite and shifted our focus to stocks deemed safe enough for even the most conservative investors," says Jonas Elmerraji.

The editor of The Rhino Stock Report suggests, "Among them are regulated utilities, including our latest recommendation -- NRG Energy (NRG), which is involved in wholesale power generation.

"Investors have long favored utilities for a few very good reasons: predictable, recession-resistant revenues; steady streams of dividends; and government-sanctioned monopolies. They're a safe haven for stressed investors in the midst of a recession.

Continue reading NRG Energy (NRG): 'Wholesale' power play

Research in Motion (RIMM): A 'love-hate' relationship

"Suddenly, no one likes Research in Motion (RIMM) any more, at least that's the impression you get from the media," observes Gordon Pape. In his Internet Wealth Builder, he offers a contrary -- and bullish -- view of the smartphone maker.

"To hear some analysts tell it, the BlackBerry maker is going the way of Nortel. It's just a matter of time. For example, analyst Jim Suva of Citigroup Global Markets recently issued a sell signal on the shares, saying that RIM's long-time dominance of the smart phones market is over.

"For the record, many analysts disagree with Suva's assessment. Credit Suisse has reiterated its 'outperform' rating with a target price of $95. Bank of America/Merrill Lynch has a $100 target, Scotia Capital has a $103 target and CLSA Asia-Pacific Markets has a target of $100.

Continue reading Research in Motion (RIMM): A 'love-hate' relationship

Consider Schlumberger, because oil isn't going out of style

One can look at likely rising oil and gasoline prices one of two ways. You can get frustrated, or you can profit from it by buying Schlumberger Ltd. (SLB), which is why I'm reiterating my buy rating for the company, first recommended on May 6, 2009 at a price of $56.09. If you bought SLB in May, you're up about 18%.

Some in the oil sector remain concerned about the recovery in demand for oilfield services. Based on the growth track for emerging markets, that concern is not warranted: the natural gas segment may encounter some head-winds, near-term, because in that energy commodity, the glut of supply has actually been matched by a low price. But oil? Forget about it. Business is booming: the supply glut of oil has done little to lower its price, which shows one the many roles oil plays (alternative asset, inflation hedge, weak dollar hedge) in the modern economy, to Schlumberger's benefit. The First Call FY2009/FY2010 EPS estimates for SLB are $2.71 to $2.81.

Continue reading Consider Schlumberger, because oil isn't going out of style

Chasing Value: Ten stocks for 2010 -- Part 4

Fourteen stocks have been reviewed so far with eight of them potential contenders for 2010. These include some picks from 2009, some old dependables and a few more on the speculative side.

During the year I have written on occasion about selling put options (naked puts) because the premiums offered were very generous and from my perspective assumed market collapse. This was reflected in my July post Serious Money: The world's dumbest market

Today I am considering four naked puts and two more stocks. The options are all based on stocks now in review.

Continue reading Chasing Value: Ten stocks for 2010 -- Part 4

Avon is still calling

Avon Products (AVP) has broken through key resistance at $33, hence I'm removing my hold on the company's shares, first recommended on May 6, 2009 at a price of $23.12. If you bought in May, you're up about 50%.

Still, it should be noted that this is probably the last opportunity to buy Avon shares and earn an outsized gain during the current economic expansion, as a $50-55 top for AVP is seen.

Continue reading Avon is still calling

Northeast Utilities: A safe port amid uncertain seas

It goes without saying that I favor the electric power generation sector, and among them, fewer are steadier than Connecticut-based Northeast Utilities (NU), hence I'm reiterating my buy rating for the company, first recommended on May 6, 2009 at a price of $21.48.

Don't look for mega revenue growth or gargantuan customer gains with NU, just predictable, steady earnings growth, evenly split between the company's generating/distribution business and its transmission business; look for the company's transmission sector to play an increasing role in revenue growth, moving forward. NU serves about 1.9 million customers, primarily in Connecticut, but also in New Hampshire and Massachusetts.

Continue reading Northeast Utilities: A safe port amid uncertain seas

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Last updated: November 23, 2009: 10:07 PM

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