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Bobbie Johnson

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  • Update: Watson Pharmaceuticals Confirms Buyout

    By Bobbie Johnson - April 27, 2012 | Tickers: ACT, NVS, TEVA

    Watson Pharmaceutical (NYSE: ACT) share sky rocketed April 26 after the company confirmed the rumors regarding the buyout of Swiss drug maker Actavis. The company announced that it would be paying roughly $5.9 billion for the acquisition which places Watson third in global markets behind Teva Pharmaceuticals (NYSE: TEVA) and the Sandoz division of Novartis (NYSE: NVS).

    Teva is based in Israel and is the world’s largest generic more »

  • Buyout Rumors Highlight Watson Pharmaceuticals

    By Bobbie Johnson - April 26, 2012 | Tickers: ACT, NVS, RHHBY, TEVA, VPHM

    Earlier this year whispers of a Watson Pharmaceuticals (NYSE: ACT) deal began surfacing and they don’t seem to be letting up.  Watson is close to making the biggest buyout the company has ever seen.

    The generic drug maker is close to announcing, according to reports, the $6 billion acquisition of Actavis, a Swiss drug maker, by the end of the month. Should the deal go through, the combination will more »

  • The Kindle Advantage

    By Bobbie Johnson - April 23, 2012 | Tickers: AMZN, AAPL, GOOG

    Last year the market was flooded by numerous and almost indistinguishable Android type tablets. Among those released was Amazon’s (NASDAQ: AMZN) Kindle Fire.

    Many have perceived the Kindle Fire as an “iPad killer.” The Kindle Fire hasn’t exactly killed off Apple’s iPad, although it has made a dent in the market. The Kindle Fire is a seven inch tablet with about a $200 price tag that is more »

  • Companies, Patents, and Lawsuits; Oh My!

    By Bobbie Johnson - April 13, 2012 | Tickers: AOL, AAPL, GOOG, MSFT, YHOO

    The headlines have been rife regarding companies, their patents, and their lawsuits lately. So much so, that even an uninterested reader knows what is going on should the topic come up in conversation.

    Just last month Yahoo announced its lawsuit against Facebook for patent infringement for which the defendant was “puzzled” by. Not too long ago, Facebook returned the favor.

    Is it finally to a point where the tech company more »

  • Outsourcing is Relocating

    By Bobbie Johnson - April 12, 2012 | Tickers: AZN, HPQ, IBM, MSFT

    My first article for Motley Fool was about how some companies have gotten smarter in their hiring processes and began to bring formerly outsourced jobs back to the United States in the form of homesourcing while still keeping costs low. Despite the benefits of homesourcing, other companies are still battling against labor costs by shipping jobs overseas.

    For the longest time, companies that sought to decrease labor costs outsourced an more »

  • Bottled Water Battles

    By Bobbie Johnson - April 12, 2012 | Tickers: COKE, DANOY.PK, PEP

    Visits to Mexico City are often centered around places to see, things to do, soaking up some of the local colors, and in general , having a good time. The one rule given by family and friends when visiting Mexico is “don’t drink the water.”  The people living in Mexico City will advise you the same. Restaurants do not place glasses of water on the tables. You will rarely see more »

  • How Are the Banks?

    By Bobbie Johnson - April 11, 2012 | Tickers: BAC, GS, SBNY, TCBI, WFC

    Fidelity Bank closed its doors for the final time on March 30, 2012. Fidelity was a small bank compared to many with only eight branches to its name and a hometown location in Dearborn, Michigan. The bank failed; it held a portfolio of $818 million in assets and garnered the number one spot on the FDIC’s list of failed banks for 2012 for having the most assets.

    The remains more »

  • DPI Technology Sought by Wireless Firms

    By Bobbie Johnson - April 11, 2012 | Tickers: ALLT, PKT, VZ, VOD

    Deep packet inspection (DPI) software is used by telecom providers to analyze traffic across their networks.  DPI may be finding a new niche with wireless providers making stocks like Procera Networks (NASDAQ: PKT) and Allot Communications (NASDAQ: ALLT) more attractive for investors.

    Internet service providers (ISP) in the United States have stepped away from using DPI in fixed line networks because of potential net neutrality and privacy issues. Congress agreed more »

  • Big Data: The New Pursuit (Part Two)

    By Bobbie Johnson - April 5, 2012 | Tickers: EMC, IBM, STX, VMW, WDC

    There has always been a need to archive and back-up files ranging from human resource information to sales to client files to other company needs. Over the last century data storage has evolved from handwritten notes on paper stuffed in boxes to information entered into digital devices stored in compressed fashions. Now companies are investing in data centers for “private cloud’ computing, where everything is accessed online. Entertainment and media more »

  • Big Data: The New Pursuit (Part One)

    By Bobbie Johnson - April 5, 2012 | Tickers: EMC, FIO, NTAP, STX, WDC

    Data storage is a market with high demands. Companies want to be able to store massive amounts of information but have it available without hesitation. In an ever evolving world of advanced technology and the constant flux data needs, newer storage systems are in demand and on the rise.

    In February 2012 EMC (NYSE: EMC) stepped into the data storage systems industry introducing its Symmetrix system, a solid state storage more »

  • Gun Stocks on the Rise

    By Bobbie Johnson - March 28, 2012 | Tickers: SWHC, RGR

    The sales of handguns and ammunition has been on the slow rise over the last few years but the last few months have shown much higher sales. Retailers say it’s due to the upcoming presidential election while others speculate that it is simply the massive uncertainty rippling across our country and others.

    The industry saw an uptick in sales in the months prior to President Obama’s election in more »

  • McDonald's Teaching Agriculture

    By Bobbie Johnson - March 27, 2012 | Tickers: MCD, NSRGY

    McDonald’s (NYSE: MCD) has long received criticism regarding the nutritional value of their menu and its unhealthy side effects. However, most people do not realize the great lengths that McDonald’s has gone to in order to help children, the environment, and more recently agriculture.

    McDonald’s has been a long proponent of green technology implementing that technology into its packaging and waste disposal. Last year McDonald’s sponsored more »

  • Security Firms Fill Data Protection Need

    By Bobbie Johnson - March 27, 2012 | Tickers: CHKP, CSCO, FTNT, FIRE

    The development of advanced products in network security has advanced the fortunes of three security vendors; Sourcefire (NASDAQ: FIRE), Check Point Software (NASDAQ: CHKP), and Fortinet (NASDAQ: FTNT). These data security firms have challenged and gained market share against broader based networking giants like Cisco Systems and Juniper Networks.

    Sourcefire has seen a stock jump of 47% year to date while Check Point saw its second highest closing last week more »

  • “The Hunger Games” Create Investor Craving

    By Bobbie Johnson - March 22, 2012 | Tickers: LGF, SCHL

    Most of us have heard about The Hunger Games. Some of have read the vast reviews on the upcoming movie while other have read the books. Some of us have been subject to the constant discussion of the series via our teenagers who have been actively seeking new franchises since the ending of the Harry Potter series and the mixed opinions of the Twilight series.

    For those who have paid more »

  • JP Morgan Smiles and Spends

    By Bobbie Johnson - March 22, 2012 | Tickers: JPM

    JP Morgan Chase Co (NYSE: JPM)has agreed to purchase a 19.9% stake in Bridge Trust Company, a Chinese held company that is majority owned by the state controlled China Power Investment Financial Company. JP Morgan is seeking to help Bridge Trust originate, structure, and distribute product geared to the firm’s wealthy clientele base.

    The deal does require approval from the China Banking Regulatory Commission which is expected more »

  • Shareholder Pressure Forces Hartford Break

    By Bobbie Johnson - March 22, 2012 | Tickers: HIG

    For weeks the Hartford Financial Services Group (NYSE: HIG)has been bombarded with demands from shareholder John Paulson of Paulson & Co, owner of 8.4% of Hartford. Paulson has been pressuring the group to separate its life insurance business from its property-casualty insurance division.

    The Hartford stated early Wednesday that it has scheduled a halt in individual annuity sales in April; the intended date is April 27. Instead the group more »

  • Starbucks Advancing

    By Bobbie Johnson - March 22, 2012 | Tickers: GMCR, SBUX

    Earlier this week Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX) introduced one of its latest expansions, Revolution Fresh. Revolution Fresh is the company’s first step into the fresh juice industry. This introduction seems to be the beginning of a very busy week for Starbucks.

    Starbucks and Green Mountain Coffe Roasters, Inc (NASDAQ: GMCR) agreed to expand their partnership. The arrangement includes an allowance for the production, marketing and distribution of Starbucks’ Vue coffee more »

  • Sprint Feels Stock Bite

    By Bobbie Johnson - March 20, 2012 | Tickers: AAPL, S

    Sprint Nextel (NYSE: S) experienced the bite of speculation after analysts reported an increased possible risk of the telecommunications company falling into bankruptcy.  Shares dropped by more than 4% after the report was released. Currently Sprint ranks number three for mobile service providers.

    Sprint is heavily laden with debt due to deals with Apple, Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) regarding the iPhone. Craig Moffett, an analyst for Bernstein downgraded Sprint stock to more »

  • Starbucks Adds Squeezing to the Grind

    By Bobbie Johnson - March 20, 2012 | Tickers: JMBA, MCD, SBUX

    Starbucks Corp. (NASDAQ: SBUX) has been making moves towards expansion on several levels recently. Early this year the company announced its intent to challenge Nestle in European markets and now Starbucks is entering the natural juice industry.

    The introduction of Evolution Juice in Bellevue, Washington launches the coffee powerhouse into a new direction as they seek to capture a portion of the $50 billion health food industry. This will be more »

  • J.C Penny to Adopt Apple Style

    By Bobbie Johnson - March 15, 2012 | Tickers: AAPL, JCP

    Last year J.C.Penny (NYSE: JCP) added former Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) retail specialist Ron Johnson to their team as their new chief executive. In some ways it’s still too early to tell if the addition was a smart move on Penney’s behalf.

    Penney’s has known for a while that it needed to overhaul its stores and operations in order to fit in better with modern times more »

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