Railroads

• FundFinder Networks, owner of Penthouse, said an offer for Playboy (NYSE:PLA) is imminent. Yesterday, Playboy shares surged 41% on news that Hugh Hefner is planning to offer $5.50 per share for stock he does not already own • Walmart (NYSE:WMT) shares were up 1.4% on Monday, following Barron's...

US stock futures moved up today as investor sentiments improved after Alcoa (NYSE: AA) announced positive results for the second quarter. While futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 53 points to 10234, those on the S&P 500 moved up 7.1 points to 1083.7. Meanwhile, Nasdaq 100...

Here is the ETF Professor's ETF Watch List for Tuesday July 13, 2010. Play earnings from Alcoa (NYSE: AA) and CSX (NYSE: CSX) with the Industrial Select Sector SPDR (NYSE: XLI) and the iShares Dow Jones Transportation Average (NYSE: IYT). With some glum news out of China overnight, the UltraShort...

Did second quarter earnings reports from Alcoa (NYSE: AA) and CSX Corporation (NYSE: CSX) after the bell today kill the "Double Dip" argument? Both companies are seen as economic bellweathers: Alcoa's aluminum is used in packaging, autos and aerospace while CSX hauls everything from metals to...

CSX Corp. (NYSE: CSX) has released its Q2 earnings, exceeding Wall Street top and bottom line estimates. The company announced earnings from continuing operations of $414 million, or $1.07 per share, compared to $282 million, or $0.71 per share, in last year's second quarter. Analysts had...

Buy, sell, hold? The days of reckoning are upon us!  So earnings season officially kicks off today with Alcoa’s (NYSE:AA) report.  CSX Corporation (NYSE:CSX) and Novellus Systems (NASDAQ:NVLS) are on today’s schedule as well.  As I write this at 6:00 a.m. Monday morning, futures in the S&...

J.P. Morgan has a positive outlook about Norfolk Southern (NYSE: NSC). In a recent report, J.P. Morgan (JPM) has stated that the company’s relative stronger leverage to coal and intermodal is attractive. It also said that the outlook for coal is improving. Coal stockpiles have fallen 5.2% from...

• Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) added Visa (NYSE:V) to its Conviction Buy List, with a $93 price target • Air Products (NYSE:APD) said it raised its bid for Airgas (NYSE:ARG) to $63.50 from $60 • China renewed Google's (NASDAQ:GOOG) search license • Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) took Expedia (NASDAQ:EXPE) off...

Portugal Telecom SGPS (NYSE: PT) was downgraded by Bernstein from “market perform” to “underperform.” PT’s shares closed at $10.92 yesterday. Portugal Telecom’s quarterly earnings dropped 38.23% y/y. Jefferies downgraded Best Buy Co Inc (NYSE: BBY) from “buy” to “hold.” BBY’s shares closed at $34....

KLA-Tencor Corporation (NASDAQ: KLAC) was upgraded by Credit Suisse from “neutral” to “outperform.” KLAC’s shares closed at $28.70 yesterday. KLA-Tencor’s quarterly earnings soared 167.48% y/y. UBS upgraded Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ: COST) from “neutral” to “buy.” COST’s shares closed at...

Shares of CSX Corp. (NYSE: CSX) are higher on the session by 1.76%, currently trading at $50.18. The stock has been trading largely lower over the past three months and is now testing the 200-day moving average. Options traders are favoring the calls side today with the July $49.00 call traded 7,...

Citing "volume growth and cost controls" Deutsche Bank reaffirmed its Buy rating on four railroad stocks this morning. Expecting positive operating leverage, Deutsche Bank sees strong upside to Q2 EPS estimates. Deutsche Bank maintains a Buy rating on Union Pacific (NYSE: UNP), CSX Corp. (NYSE:...

Mike Khouw said on CNBC's Fast Money that investors should consider a bullish trade on CSX Corporation (NYSE: CSX), ahead of earnings. CSX Corporation (CSX) will post earnings on July 12th, and the option prices are suggesting a 6.5% move on the earnings day. Mike Khouw wants to make a bullish...

Shares of Norfolk Southern Corp. (NYSE: NSC) are higher on the session by 2.32%, currently trading at $51.67. The stock has been trading largely lower over the past three months and is currently trading in a downward trend. Options traders are buying calls, however, betting that the stock could...

Cusick’s Corner The market stayed in a tight range this afternoon after a nice bounce from the morning lows, but this is not a market in which you want to be catching falling knives. For you traders, there is a big employment number tomorrow, so I would suggest that you stay disciplined and may...