Specialized Consumer Services

Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. (NYSE: PPD) announced today that it is evaluating strategic alternatives, including a possible sale of the Company and alternatives that do not involve a sale, to enhance shareholder value. The Board of Directors has established a special committee comprised of...

Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. (NYSE: PPD) announced results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2010. Net income for the third quarter of 2010 increased 46% to $15.9 million from $10.8 million for the prior year's third quarter primarily due to a $7.6 million decrease in commissions, an $811,...

Oppenheimer has published a research report on H&R Block (NYSE: HRB) following meetings with management and positive feelings about executive staff. In the report, Oppenehimer writes "We recently met with HRB's new (past few months) management team. We're encouraged by the CEO's openness,...

Below are the top metal fabrication stocks on the NYSE and the NASDAQ in terms of return on equity. The trailing-twelve-month return on equity at Precision Castparts Corporation (NYSE: PCP) is 16.16%. PCP's operating margin for the same period is 25.23%. The trailing-twelve-month return on equity...

About three years ago to the day, I wrote an article about the penny stocks that trade on the New York Stock Exchange. At that time, there were only four. Now there are eight stocks trading for less than a dollar a share on the NYSE. The stocks are as follows, along with the current price. W...

Weight Watchers International, Inc. (NYSE: WTW) today announced that its Board of Directors authorized the Company to repurchase up to an additional $250.0 million of its common stock under its ongoing stock repurchase program.

Coinstar, Inc. (Nasdaq: CSTR) today announced that it has appointed Mary A. Leonard to chief performance officer and member of the Coinstar executive management team. Leonard previously served as senior vice president of operations for redbox, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Coinstar.

Coinstar, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSTR) is gaining more than 4%, on a rebound in the broader equity markets, as well a surge in the tech sector. At last check, shares of CSTR were up $2.09 to $48.34, a gain of 4.56%.

Tax services provider H&R Block Inc. (HRB) inked a deal to acquire 2SS Holdings Inc, developer of TaxACT digital tax preparation solutions, in a $287.5 million all cash transaction. The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2010.   H&R Block intends to deploy excess available...

Piper Jaffray sees positive trends for Coinstar, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSTR) after a survey for movie rentals. It has a $65 price target, and is reiterating its Overweight rating on shares. In a note to clients, Piper Jaffray writes, "Following a recent survey, we are incrementally more positive and...

Cusick's Corner The market bounced back into the close, well off its worst levels. But as I mentioned in the midday, the Bond market, TLT, is starting to show nervousness about future inflation and the continued flooding of capital on the fed long-term. What that means for equities is that money...

Cusick's Corner The data out this morning was definitely at levels not expected and short-term and longer-term bonds have started to decouple, leaving investors scratching their heads about how much easing the Fed will do. Watch the Retailers come under some potential pressure. Gold may also have...

Shares of H & R Block (NYSE: HRB) are falling today by 9.72%, currently trading at $12.36. The company announced yesterday that they are going to acquire 2SS Holdings Inc., the developer of TaxACT digital tax preparation solutions, for $287.5 million in cash. Options traders are echoing the...

This week, H&R Block, Inc. (NYSE: HRB) announced an agreement to acquire TaxACT for $287.5 million in cash. This deal, which we'd expect to close by calendar year-end, would combine the #2 and #3 players in the digital DIY tax prep category (HRB is second largest in DIY digital pre-acq when...

The Board of Directors of Matthews International Corporation (Nasdaq: MATW) today declared a quarterly dividend of $0.08 per share on the Company's common stock. The quarterly dividend has been increased one cent per share, or 14%, from $0.07 to $0.08. The dividend is payable November 8, 2010 to...