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Helen Hagan

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  • Don't Underestimate Lockheed Martin

    By Helen Hagan - May 31, 2012 | Tickers: LMT, NOC, RTN, BA

    The American Defense Industry is massive, catering to a market spread across five continents. American-based Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) is a leading business of this industry and provides aerospace, technology, security and defense solutions to a global clientele. In terms of employed capital and overall market share, Lockheed ranks among the largest US-based international defense contractors in the world and earns nearly three quarters of its revenues through sale of more »

  • What's Not To Love About Chipotle?

    By Helen Hagan - May 30, 2012 | Tickers: BNHN, CMG, DNKN, PFCB, WEN

    Is Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE: CMG) a bit too authentic?

    Our government thinks so! A spokesperson for Chipotle said,  “The US attorney's office is conducting an investigation into possible criminal securities law violations relating to our employee work authorization verification compliance and related disclosures and statements.” Apparently, Attorney General Eric Holder was served the wrong hot sauce on his burrito. All kidding aside, this is a negative catalyst more »

  • Sprint's New Phones May Not Be Enough

    By Helen Hagan - May 30, 2012 | Tickers: T, GOOG, S, VZ

    Sprint Nextel (NYSE: S) is somewhat behind when it comes to the speed of cell phone technology, and it's about time, as far as I'm concerned, that it caught up with its competitors.

    Sprint's rivals are releasing their own "4G service ... using Long Term Evolution, or LTE, technology". This means that Sprint will need to catch up to keep in the race for the loyalty of its more »

  • Exxon: Buy for Steady Dividends Only

    By Helen Hagan - May 24, 2012 | Tickers: CHK, XOM

    Exxon Mobil (NYSE: XOM) is a long-term defensive stock that pays adequate dividends. It does not compete with the recent earnings or dividend payouts of Chevron, but it is more stable and comes at somewhat of a discount in comparison to its competition in the industry. Like its competitors including Shell, BP and ConocoPhillips, Exxon Mobil has experienced some financial loss due to the 10 year low in natural gas more »

  • Are Kindle Ads A New Direction For Amazon?

    By Helen Hagan - May 24, 2012 | Tickers: AMZN, BKS, CSCO, EBAY, MSFT

    The next time you buy a Kindle from Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) you may have to put up with ads on the welcome screen.

    The Kindle Fire is the most popular product that Amazon currently has on offer. As a result, the company’s advertising department is taking the idea of using the welcome screen on the Kindle Fire as an advertising space very seriously. Basically, ad agencies will only more »

  • Big Reasons to be Bullish on Yahoo!

    By Helen Hagan - May 23, 2012 | Tickers: AOL, FB, GOOG, MSFT, ZNGA

    Enter Yahoo! (NYSE: YHOO), the heretofore ne’er do well of Internet information providers. It would appear that Yahoo! has parlayed a $1 billion dollar 2005 investment in Alibaba Group Holding into a $7.1 billion windfall by selling just one-half of its 40% stake. This should produce a tangible and positive impact in the way Yahoo! is perceived in the investment community. The sale is strong evidence of a more »

  • Wells Fargo: Don't Listen to the Haters

    By Helen Hagan - May 23, 2012 | Tickers: BAC, C, JPM, USB, WFC

    A quick look at Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) and you will see that it has been declining slowly lately. For the most part, the downward trend is a reflection of the current position the financial services and banking industry is in.

     

    The largest impact on industry stock prices right now is the $2 billion trading loss that J.P. Morgan Chase (NYSE: JPM) reported last Thursday night after the more »

  • Alcoa Showing Strong Value Now

    By Helen Hagan - May 23, 2012 | Tickers: AA, F, GM, BA

    Alcoa (NYSE: AA) stock has been trading near its 52-week low recently. While there are plenty of reasons to be concerned about this major aluminum producer, I believe that the stock is undervalued and investors should consider buying it. A major catalyst for the company's growth is its Saudi Arabia joint venture with Ma'aden (a Saudi Arabian mining company owned 50% by the Saudi Arabian government) which is more »

  • Chipotle: Still The Best Buy In Fast Food?

    By Helen Hagan - May 15, 2012 | Tickers: CMG, MCD, YUM

    Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE: CMG) has reported record earnings for the first quarter ended March 31, 2012. On a year on year basis, revenues increased by over 25 % to $640.6 million while comparable restaurant sales increased by over 12 %. Operating margin at the restaurant level showed an increase of 2.2% to 27.4% and net income rose by 35 % to $62.7 million.  Diluted earnings per share increased more »

  • Pepsi Weighed Down by Latest Earnings Report

    By Helen Hagan - May 11, 2012 | Tickers: KO, PEP, WMT

    When I hear the name PepsiCo (NYSE: PEP) I think about its most famous product Pepsi Cola. However, PepsiCo's businesses are about a lot more than just Pepsi Cola. PepsiCo is an international company that markets snacks foods, grocery foods, and non-alcoholic beverages. PepsiCo’s owns well known brands such as Frito Lays, Doritos, Quaker Oats, Gatorade and Tropicana. PepsiCo, which has its headquarters in Purchase, NY is a more »

  • Chipotle Ready to Swing Higher on New Stores by 2013

    By Helen Hagan - May 11, 2012 | Tickers: CMG, MCD, YUM

    Chipotle (NYSE: CMG) stock has grown over 850% since its public offering in January of 2006 at about $42 per share to over $400 today. I believe the stock is still a good investment because of three reasons I will discuss. First, Chipotle offers three major meats in its menu (beef, chicken, and pork) and it purchases the meat only from farms that raise these animals under strict guidelines. I more »

  • Terra Nitrogen is Ready to Rise

    By Helen Hagan - May 11, 2012 | Tickers: AGU, CF, POT, TNH, MOS

    Over the course of the past several years that were marked by the rise of commodities as the leading asset class, few industries offered the returns available from agriculture companies like Agrium (NYSE: AGU), CF Industries Holdings (NYSE: CF), Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan (NYSE: POT) and the Mosaic Company (NYSE: MOS). While the industry remains strong, the returns available from the largest players may be muted by comparison to some more »

  • Amazon Prospers Most from the Social Media Craze

    By Helen Hagan - May 11, 2012 | Tickers: AMZN, BBY, NKE

    Social media is all the rage today. Look on the homepage of most news sites, and you are likely to see some reference to—or advertisement for—social media. Social media connects people, places, and things together like never before.

    Social media includes sites that connect people and invite them to share things with each other. Examples include Facebook, which IPOs May 18, LinkedIn (LNKD), Twitter, Youtube, owned by Google more »

  • High Growth Potential for Spirit Aero Systems

    By Helen Hagan - May 11, 2012 | Tickers: SPR, BA

    It seems appropriate to take a look at Spirit Aero Systems Holdings (NYSE: SPR) in the wake of the first anniversary of SEAL Team Six eliminating the worst terrorist ever. While these highly skilled operators were able to breach Pakistani air space, execute their mission and return without detection, one of the stealth helicopter used on the mission was left behind. It is believed that the aircraft clipped a fence more »

  • Yahoo! Tries to Clean Up

    By Helen Hagan - May 8, 2012 | Tickers: AOL, BBRY, GOOG, YHOO

    After firing 2,000 employees, 14% of its workforce last month, Yahoo! (NASDAQ: YHOO) is engaging in a serious company restructuring. The move comes less than two years after Yahoo! cut 700 jobs, about 5% of its workforce at the time, and less than a year after it shed 600 jobs, 4% of its workforce then. The ailing company has been facing decreased market share and brand recognition in the more »

  • General Motors' Possible Isuzu Stake Could Generate Strong Upside

    By Helen Hagan - May 8, 2012 | Tickers: F, GM, TM

    General Motors (NYSE: GM) seems to be missing out on a part of the great improvement in the motor vehicle market recently.  It is not as if it is not benefiting from the increased productivity of the market, but it certainly is not among those companies that are seeing the greatest boon.  Recent reports show that, amid very significant increases in car sales in the United States, GM’s share more »

  • Impacts of the Fed's "Big Is Bad" Mentality on BAC

    By Helen Hagan - May 7, 2012 | Tickers: BAC, BCS, C, CS, HBC

    Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) appears to be able to keep its head above water in these financially stressful times.

    Recent reports show that Bank of America shares have outperformed the broader market so far this year. The general belief was that Bank of America would not survive under pressure “even though the company did not include any plans for increases to its dividend or for share buybacks in its more »

  • New Reasons Investors are Buying Baidu Now

    By Helen Hagan - May 4, 2012 | Tickers: BIDU, GOOG, SINA

    If you are an adventurous investor, and a student of world culture, you might consider investing in Baidu (NASDAQ: BIDU). Baidu certainly does not have the western household recognition of a Google (NASDAQ: GOOG), but it is the largest search engine in China, with a 60% share of the desktop search engine market in that country.

    In late April, Baidu Chairman and CEO, Robin Li, announced the company's financial more »

  • Chipotle's Expansion Strategy Great for Stock

    By Helen Hagan - May 2, 2012 | Tickers: CMG, JACK, MCD, PNRA, YUM

    Evolution of the “fast food restaurant” is well upon us, with new companies excelling and original ones improving to keep up. Originally, fast food joints became popular because of cheap prices for seemingly delicious food, and easy and fast accessibility, but current trends and preference for healthier diets has given an upper hand to health conscious companies.


    Dominating the news recently is Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE: CMG) The fresh, healthy more »

  • Pepsi: A Value King in the Beverage Industry

    By Helen Hagan - May 2, 2012 | Tickers: KO, GMCR, PEP

    Although Pepsico (NYSE: PEP) is known mostly for its cola drink, the company’s products include several internationally recognized brands of beverages and food. The company generates global net revenue of $65 billion selling items under its namesake label as well as Fritos, Lays, Doritos, Tostitos, Cheetos, Quaker, Rice-A-Roni, Gatorade, Tropicana, Mountain Due, and 7UP.

    The future of Pepsi is impacted by how the company responds to declining beverage sales more »

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