Saturday, March 15, 2008

Trading Alerts: Monday, March 17, 2008


Cardium Therapeutics Inc (CXM-$2.20), a medical technology company developing devices for cardiovascular and ischemic disease, reported a narrower loss for the fourth quarter, helped by higher revenues of INNERCOOL therapies.

Analysts polled by Thomson Financial expect Century Casino Inc (CNTY-$3.81) to bring in chips totaling 4 cents a share on revenue of $23.3 million, on average, when the gaming concern reports its fourth-quarter results on Monday. In a research note,
Sterne Agee argues a new smoking ban in Colorado and new competition will adversely affect gaming revenues in fiscal 2008. The analysts reduced EPS estimate for 2008 by 11 cents to $0.22 a share.

Cephalon Inc.’s (CEPH-$59.63) Treanda (bendamustine) will initially see
limited uptake in the first-line setting for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), if approved, say clinical researchers.

CV Therapeutics Inc. (CVTX-$6.30) said that it expects
FDA action on the NDA for its heart- imaging agent, regadenoson, within the next few weeks.

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said Friday it cut the
corporate credit rating of Darden Restaurants Inc (DRI-$29.28), saying the casual dining operator's business has deteriorated.

Specialty finance company Deerfield Capital Corp. (DFR-$1.16) said it finalized a
number of transactions primarily aimed at increasing the company's liquidity, reducing risks related to residential mortgage backed securities and to focus on its asset management business.

Shares of drug maker Dendreon Corp (DNDN-$4.73) fell 6.7 percent, or 34 cents, in trading on Friday as analysts say
they doubt the company's prostate-cancer vaccine will be a success.

Despite a downdraft in electronic sales, Jerry W. Throgmartin, Chairman & CEO of electronic retailer hhgregg Inc (HGG-$10.04), expressed confidence in his company,
buying $1.4 million in stock over the last week (between $9.66 and $10.19 a share).

Fitch Ratings on Friday
upgraded its rating on homebuilder Hovnanian Enterprises Inc.'s (HOV-$9.17) revolving credit facility, saying the recovery prospects are "outstanding."

4Kids Entertainment, Inc. (KDE-$11.08), a global provider of children's entertainment and merchandise licensing, will announce fourth quarter results for fiscal 2007 on Monday before the start of market trading. Investors should expect a net loss of about 12 cents a share for the fourth quarter, due to declining worldwide interest in two properties, "Yu-Gi-Oh!" and "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," which represented 37% of consolidated net revenues in FY ’06.

Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc (LEH-$39.26) is expected to report first-quarter earnings of $0.81 a share on Tuesday morning, according to analysts surveyed by Zacks Equity Research. Given the investment bank’s extensive
mortgage exposure— $37.3 billion of residential mortgage assets on its balance sheet as of November 30, and another $38.9 billion of commercial mortgage assets—Wall Street will be sniffing for any whiff of impairments.

Eli Lilly and Co (LLY-$47.81) on Friday
denied a report in The New York Times that said John Lechleiter, set to become chief executive in April, had encouraged the promotion of its schizophrenia drug, Zyprexa, for a use not approved by federal regulators.

Mannatech Inc. (MTEX-$8.37), a provider of nutritional supplements and healthcare products, reported
a 13 cent loss compared to a profit of 30 cents a share in the fourth-quarter last year, due to higher expenses and a fall in revenue (hurt by softness in North America sales and a reduction in new recruits impacted by ongoing litigation).

Nature Vision Inc. (NRVN-$1.80), a manufacturer and marketer of recreation products, announced a
wider loss for fiscal 2007, mainly due to a decrease in gross margin.

Mortgage insurer The PMI Group (PMI-$5.69) previously warned it would
report a loss of more than $250 million for the fourth quarter ended December 31 due to higher claims. The Company will release results on Monday morning. Investors will be watching to see the actual dollar value write-down of its 42% investment in bond insurer FGIC.

Analysts polled by Thomson Financial expect casino equipment maker Shuffle Maker Inc (SHFL-$7.37) to report share-net of $0.08 on revenue of 44.97 for the second-quarter ended January 31, 2008. Catalyst for any material move in the stock price will be management’s forward guidance on how much the softening economy will adversely affect demand for the Company’s shufflers and specialty table games.

UBS AG (UBS-$27.76) and its brokerage unit
were sued Friday for allegedly deceptive and manipulative marketing of so-called auction-rate securities.

Senior executives from Microsoft Corp (MSFT-$27.96) and Yahoo! Inc (YHOO-$26.71) met on Monday
to discuss the software maker's unsolicited takeover bid, according to people familiar with the matter.

Editor David J. Phillips does not hold a financial interest in any stocks mentioned in this article. The 10Q Detective has a Full Disclosure Policy.

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