This week, 10 semiconductor stocks are improving their overall rating on Portfolio Grader. Each of these rates an “A” (“strong buy”) or “B” overall (“buy”).
This week, Mattson Technology, Inc. () is showing significant improvement as the company’s rating hops from a C (“hold”) to a B (“buy”). Mattson Technology designs, manufactures, and markets advanced fabrication equipment. In Portfolio Grader’s specific subcategories of Earnings Revisions and Sales Growth, MTSN also gets A’s. Shares of the stock have been changing hands at an unusually rapid pace, three times the rate of the week prior. .
Top 5 High Tech Stocks To Watch For 2015: Axcelis Technologies Inc.(ACLS)
Axcelis Technologies, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, and services ion implantation, dry strip, and other processing equipment used in the fabrication of semiconductor chips in the United States, Europe, and the Asia Pacific. It offers a line of high energy, high current, and medium current ion implanters for various applications, such as line of single wafer implanters, known as the Optima platform, comprising the Optima XE, the Optima HD, and the Optima MD. The company also offers dry strip tools, including the Integra RS, which comprises paired-chamber process modules. In addition, it provides aftermarket services and support, such as spare parts, equipment upgrades, maintenance services, and customer training. The company sells its equipment and services through direct sales force, distributors, and manufacturing representatives. Axcelis Technologies was founded in 1995 and is headquartered in Beverly, Massachusetts.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Stephen Simpson, CFA]
The major dry strip product today is Suprema - Mattson's most advanced tool, and one that uses inductively coupled plasma (ICP) technology and vacuum transfer. Two of the company's primary competitors use one but not the other, while the third uses both but charges about 20% more for its tools. According to Gartner, Mattson holds about 22% market share in this roughly $180 million/year market, with Lam Research (which acquired Novellus and dry strip IP from Axcelis (ACLS)) and PSK as the primary competitors.
- [By Ben Axler]
An old spin-out of Eaton Corp. (ETN), Axcelis Technologies (ACLS) designs, manufactures and services ion implantation, dry strip and other processing equipment used in the fabrication of semiconductor chips. The semiconductor capital equipment industry is very cyclical, and as a smaller player in the industry, ACLS has not been immune, and gone through protracted periods of losses. In the past few years, the company has taken numerous steps to reposition itself for the next cyclical upswing by listening to its customers and investing heavily in R&D to revamp its product line to expand its addressable market opportunity, right-sizing its cost structure to substantially lower its breakeven level, establishing new collaborative partnerships, and optimizing its balance sheet to unlock value. Now with signs of a cyclical upswing occurring, and being led by memory - Micron (MU) and SanDisk (SNDK), ACLS is poised for accelerating earnings potential beginning in Q4'2013 that could drive its stock price substantially higher. However, with a few nearer-term catalysts on the horizon, investors may not want to wait too long before purchasing shares. As an early indicator, investors should consider that insiders recently purchased the stock in the open market in August at current levels. These stock purchases coincide with the one year anniversary of ACLS's new Purion M product line entering an evaluation period with a major customer. Sell-side analysts are starting to take notice and listening in to the company's recent conference call, which at least opens the door to new broker initiations in the future. The downside risk appears mitigated by ACLS's strengthened balance sheet, and dramatically improved operating financial model that has stemmed further cash burn. As the company hits an inflection point with new customer contracts and proves its earnings cycle is under way, we expect ACLS's valuation discount to peers to narrow and the stock to appreciate substantially
Top 10 Tech Stocks To Watch For 2014: EchoStar Corporation(SATS)
EchoStar Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the design, development, and distribution of digital set-top boxes and related products. The company?s EchoStar Technologies segment designs, develops, and distributes digital set-top boxes and related products and technology, including Slingbox placeshifting technology primarily for satellite television (TV) service providers, and telecommunication and cable companies that allow consumers to watch and control their home digital video and audio content through a broadband Internet connection; and Slingboxes for consumers through retail outlets. This segment also provides digital broadcast operations comprising satellite uplinking/downlinking, transmission services, signal processing, conditional access management, and other services primarily to DISH Network. Its EchoStar Satellite Services segment offers capacity leasing on a full-time and occasional-use basis primarily to DISH Network, as well as to Dish M exico, the U.S. government service providers, state agencies, Internet service providers, broadcast news organizations, programmers, and private enterprise customers through its 10 owned and leased in-orbit satellites and related Federal Communications Commission licenses. The company?s Hughes segment provides satellite broadband Internet access to consumers in North America; broadband network services and systems to the domestic and international enterprise markets; managed services and equipment to enterprises; turnkey satellite ground segment systems to mobile system operators; and microwave radio network systems for cellular backhaul and broadband wireless access. It has operations in North America, Asia, Africa, Australia, Europe, South America, and the Middle East. EchoStar Corporation was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Englewood, Colorado.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By James Miller Phd]
The company has a current ratio of 13.05% which is higher than the one registered by Charter Communications Inc. (CHTR), Digital Globe Inc. (DGI), EchoStar Corp (SATS), Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. (GILT) and Intelsat SA (I).
- [By Lauren Pollock]
Dish swung to a third-quarter profit, helped by an increase in revenue and subscriber rolls, while former unit EchoStar Corp.(SATS) posted a weaker profit. Dish results beat expectations, sending shares up 3.2% to $49 premarket.
Top 10 Tech Stocks To Watch For 2014: NVIDIA Corporation(NVDA)
NVIDIA Corporation provides visual computing, high performance computing, and mobile computing solutions that generate interactive graphics on various devices ranging from tablets and smart phones to notebooks and workstations. It operates in three segments: Graphic Processing Unit (GPU), Professional Solutions Business (PSB), and Consumer Products Business (CPB). The GPU segment offers GeForce discrete and chipset products, which support desktop and notebook personal computers plus memory products. The PSB segment provides its Quadro professional workstation products and other professional graphics products, including its NVIDIA Tesla high-performance computing products used in the manufacturing, entertainment, medical, science, and aerospace industries. The CPB segment offers Tegra mobile products, which support tablets, smartphones, personal media players, Internet television, automotive navigation, and other similar devices. This segment also licenses video game consol es and other digital consumer electronics devices. The company sells its products to original equipment manufacturers, original design manufacturers, add-in-card manufacturers, consumer electronics companies, and system builders worldwide that utilize its processors as a core component of their entertainment, business, and professional solutions. NVIDIA Corporation was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Santa Clara, California.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Sean Williams]
Graphics chip and mobile processor producer NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA ) went the other way with its third-quarter results, missing sales expectations, and guiding revenue lower than the Street anticipated in the fourth quarter. It still managed, however, to vault higher by 7% on the day after raising its dividend by 13%, and topping EPS expectations in the third quarter. For the quarter, NVIDIA delivered adjusted EPS of $0.26, which topped expectations by $0.07, even with the aforementioned revenue miss. NVIDIA also announced a plan to return $1 billion in share buybacks and dividends to shareholders in 2015, and approved an additional $1 billion in share repurchases. Although revenue is expected to be flat quarter over quarter, I'm quite optimistic that the company's Tegra chips will be a big success in mobile, and would suggest NVIDIA remain a company you keep high on your watchlist
Top 10 Tech Stocks To Watch For 2014: Spansion Inc(CODE)
Codere, S.A. engages in the management of gaming machines, bingo halls, horse racing tracks, casinos, and off-track betting facilities in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Panama, and Uruguay. As of December 31, 2008, the company managed 54,818 slot machines and electronic bingo terminals, 137 bingo halls with 30,803 seats, 106 off-track betting facilities, 3 horse racing tracks, and 6 casinos. It also operated 15,963 AWP machines in approximately 10,886 bars and restaurants in Spain. Codere, S.A. was founded in 1980 and is headquartered in Alcobendas, Spain.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Jon C. Ogg]
Micron Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: MU) was up over 4% at $14.59 and hit a new multiyear high of $15.27 earlier on Wednesday. SanDisk Corp. (NASDAQ: SNDK) is up right at 3% at $56.95 against a 52-week range of $38.47 to $63.97. Jefferies also reiterated its Buy rating and $21 price target for Micron. We are seeing similar gains in Spansion Inc. (NYSE: CODE), up 2.3% at $10.69, but we would warn that its 52-week range is $9.96 to $14.54. Wells Fargo initiated coverage with an Outperform rating and a $12 to $14 valuation.
- [By GuruFocus]
George Soros (Trades, Portfolio) just reported his first quarter portfolio. He buys Citrix Systems Inc, Baker Hughes Inc, Comcast Corp, Spansion Inc, etc during the 3-months ended 03/31/2014, according to the most recent filings of his investment company, Soros Fund Management LLC. As of 03/31/2014, Soros Fund Management LLC owns 305 stocks with a total value of $10.1 billion. These are the details of the buys and sells.New Purchases: BHI, CODE, CTRP, CLI, AVB, COMM, CNQ, AGO, AUY, ATML, ASH, BXMT, CSTM, AEM, CMA, ARE, CHKP, AUQ, BEAV, CX, ADSK, AALCP, BLK, AIG, BIIB, ADEP, AMRI, ARWR, ATHX, BALT, BCRX, BEAT, CFX, CLFD, CUR, CODE,Added Positions: CTXS, CMCSA, CNP, ALTR, BRCD, CBS, CRM, CHTR, CCJ, CIEN, BIDU, ALLE, ABT, CDNS, ACT,Reduced Positions: AAPL, CCI, AMT, ABBV, AAL, BITA, AL, ANGI, ARIA, CBST, BA, BIRT, EXAR,Sold Out: C, BAC, CRI, AMZN, AGN, CF, BRCM, COTY, BMY, AMCX, CAR, A, ADBE, AFL,For the details of George Soros (Trades, Portfolio)'s stock buys and sells, go to http://www.gurufocus.com/StockBuy.php?GuruName=George+SorosThis is the sector weightings of his portfolio:Technology18.9%Energy14%Healthcare8.3%Consumer Defensive8.2%Communication Services8.1%Consumer Cyclical5.4%Industrials5.1%Basic Materials4.9%Financial Services2.5%Real Estate1.9%Utilities0.5%These are the top 5 holdings of George Soros (Trades, Portfolio)1. Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd (TEVA) - 10,310,041 shares, 5.4% of the total portfolio. Shares added by 10.67%2. Herbalife Ltd (HLF) - 4,901,337 shares, 2.8% of the total portfolio. Shares added by 52.9%3. EQT Corp (EQT) - 2,573,814 shares, 2.5% of the total portfolio. Shares added by 3.27%4. Adecoagro SA (AGRO) - 25,915,076 shares, 2.1% of the total portfolio.5. Halliburton Co (HAL) - 3,596,353 shares, 2.1% of the total portfolio. Shares reduced by 20.73%New Purchase: Baker Hughes Inc (BHI)George Soros (Trades, Portfolio) initiated holdings in Baker Hughes Inc. His purchase prices were between $51.82 and $65.27, with an estimated
- [By Seth Jayson]
Spansion (NYSE: CODE ) reported earnings on April 30. Here are the numbers you need to know.
The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended March 31 (Q1), Spansion missed estimates on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.
Top 10 Tech Stocks To Watch For 2014: Worlds Inc (WDDD.OB)
Worlds Inc., (Worlds.com), incorporated on April 26, 1994, was a three-dimensional (3D) entertainment portal, which leveraged its technology, which the Company retained through its portfolio, to offer visitors a network of virtual, multi-user environments which the Company calls worlds. On May 16, 2011, the Company transferred, through a spin-off to its wholly owned subsidiary, Worlds Online Inc., the majority of its operations and related operational assets. The Company designs and develops software, content and related technology for the creation of interactive, three-dimensional (3D) Internet Web sites. The Company used its technology to produce three-dimensional portals and Web sites. The Company's core technology includes WorldsShaper, WorldsServer, WorldsBrowser, WorldsPlayer and Worlds Gamma Libraries.
WorldsShaper is the visual authoring component of the Company's platform. It allows for quick assembly of pieces to create multi-user, shared state, virtual worlds. The WorldsShaper is an advanced compositing 3D building tool that integrates pre-existing or custom content, such as 3D models, textures or images created in Adobe's Photoshop, or midi or wave sound files, with architectural geometry and interactive behaviors and actions written in Java. WorldsServer is the scalable software that the Company uses to control and operates its on-line virtual communities. WorldsServer manages the registration and authentication of users, the locations of users within the 3D environment, the physical structure of the 3D environment, all information regarding objects that are shared by the participants and any of the interactions between the users such as text chat. This platform also integrates an HTTP server for the delivery of other content such as audio and video streaming and secure e-commerce applications.
WorldsBrowser is used to access the 3D environments. The browser is optimized for speed, delivering relatively fast frame rates per second in textured virtual 3D worlds. T! he WorldsPlayer allows users to view and experience the Company's multi-user, interactive technology. Any world created with the WorldsShaper will be viewable and navigable with the WorldsPlayer. The Worlds Gamma Libraries are consists of sample worlds, textures, models, avatars, actions, sensors, sounds, motion sequences, and other behaviors.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Markman Advisors]
Public companies leveraging their patent portfolios, (aka "patent plays"), are getting the market's attention. Companies such as Vringo (VRNG), ParkerVision (PRKR), MGT Capital (MGT), Worlds Inc. (WDDD.OB) and others have presented trading opportunities due to their volatility while retaining the chance for a big payoff to those investors who stay the course. Yet there exist viable patent plays that are still undiscovered. Some of these so called "plays," which are not getting enough attention, are actually real companies making and selling real products or services in contrast to pure patent monetization companies. Some known examples are Single Touch Interactive (SITO.OB) and Blue Calypso (BCYP.OB). This article is focused on another one of these patent plays, On Track Innovations Ltd. (OTIV).
Top 10 Tech Stocks To Watch For 2014: Marin Software Inc (MRIN)
Marin Software Incorporated, incorporated on March 16, 2006, provides cloud-based digital advertising management platform to advertisers and agencies. The Company�� Revenue Acquisition Management platform is a software-as-a-service (SaaS), analytics, workflow, and optimization solution for marketing professionals, enabling them to manage their digital advertising spend across search, display, social and mobile advertising channels. Its platform integrates with publishers, such as Baidu, Bing, Facebook, Google, Yahoo! and Yahoo! Japan, as well as Web analytics and ad-serving solutions, and key enterprise applications to enable marketers to measure the return on investment of their marketing programs.
The Company�� software platform serves as a system-of-record for advertising performance, revenue and conversion data and allows advertisers to correlate advertising spend to subsequent revenue outcomes or business events. It enables its customers to simultaneously run large-scale digital advertising campaigns across multiple publishers and channels, making it easy for marketers to create, publish, modify and optimize campaigns in real time.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Evan Niu, CFA]
What: Shares of Marin Software (NYSE: MRIN ) got clobbered today, down by as much as 21% after the company reported earnings.
So what: Revenue in the first quarter totaled $17.2 million, which resulted in a non-GAAP net loss of $9.4 million, or $0.39 per share. The freshly public software maker saw gross margin decline to 57%, and its losses grew from a year ago. Investors obviously wanted more.
Top 10 Tech Stocks To Watch For 2014: Cray Inc(CRAY)
Cray Inc. engages in the design, development, manufacture, marketing, and service of high-performance computing (HPC) systems, known as supercomputers. Its product line includes Cray XE6 system, a massively parallel processing system; Cray XE6m supercomputer that incorporates its Cray Gemini network; Cray XMT supercomputer, a scalable massively multithreaded platform with a shared memory architecture that is suited for tasks, such as pattern matching, complex searches, scenario development, behavioral prediction, anomaly identification, and graph analysis; and Cray CX1 and CX1000 systems that are purpose-built for laboratories and university departments. The company?s products under development comprise Cray XE6 System enhancements; and next generation Cray XMT System. It also offers engineering services related to HPC systems and solutions, such as maintenance support services and technology-led professional services. Cray Inc. provides its products and services to gover nment agencies, academic institutions, and commercial entities in the United States, Canada, Europe, Japan, and the Asia-Pacific. The company was formerly known as Tera Computer Company and changed its name to Cray Inc. in 2000. Cray Inc. was founded in 1987 and is headquartered Seattle, Washington.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By John Udovich]
With those recent contract wins in mind, it should be noted that while Cray Inc has reported consistently rising revenues of $525.75M (2013), $421.06M (2012), $236.05M (2011) and $319.39M but more mixed net income of $32.22M (2013), $161.24M (2012), $14.33M (2011) and $15.06M (2010). Moreover and the last time Cray Inc reported earnings, shares fell 11.47% despite better-than-expected results that came with a more cautious 2014 guidance (see Is Big Data and Supercomputer Stock Cray Inc (CRAY) Still a Super Stock? SGI, IBM & HPQ for a lengthy look at what was specifically reported) while�back in February,�shares surged 39% after solid fourth-quarter results�along with�encouraging forward guidance were reported. In other words, the supercomputing business can be volatile and dependent on a few big sales.
- [By Michael A. Robinson]
The charting approach we use to find low-priced, fast-moving tech shares, my Real Demand Tracking System, is set up to find stocks like:
Santarus Inc. (Nasdaq: SNTS): Shares of this small-cap biotech firm have gained 835% over the past five years. Cray Inc. (Nasdaq: CRAY): This small-cap leader in high-performance computing gave shareholders a five-year return of 855%. Align Technology Inc. (Nasdaq: ALGN): Over the past five years, share of this mid-cap medical device firm are up some 720%.As impressive as these gains are, the opportunity I'm closely watching today could be among the greatest we'll see in our lifetimes.
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