Railroads

Disappointing earnings reports in the U.S. and concerns that a tighter lending in China would hurt the global economic recovery led to a broad sell-off on the Street Wednesday.  A stronger dollar hurt commodities, sending energy and material companies lower.  Investors also had their focus on an...

Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP) today reported that it earned $551 milion, or $1.08 per share, for the fourth quarter of 2009. Analysts were looking for earnings of $1.04 per share. Fourth quarter revenues came in lower-than-expected as business volumes, as measured by total revenue carloads...

According to the Wall Street Journal, Warren Buffett is likely to orchestrate one of the biggest changes in years to the financial structure of his company. Berkshire Hathaway Inc.(NYSE: BRK.A) is expected to approve a 50-to-1 share split of its Class B shares on Wednesday, a move tied to its...

Year 3, Week 24 Major Position ChangesTo see historic weekly fund changes click here OR the label at the bottom of this entry entitled 'fund positions'.Cash: 48.3% (v 34.9% last week)26 long bias: 50.4% (v 64.5% last week)  [Includes 1 option position]2 short bias: 1.3% (v 0.6% last week) 28...

Investors typically favor stocks and sectors that they view as somehow glamorous or sexy. This could mean high-flying tech stocks like Apple (AAPL) or Google (GOOG) or high-beta commodities and materials stocks like Freeport-McMoRan (FCX). Such an approach can be rewarding, but if you’re looking...

Shares of major railroads CSX Corporation (NYSE: CSX) and Union Pacific (NYSE: UNP) broke out to 52-week highs on Friday. CSX was trading up 5.46% to $52.69 while Union Pacific was up more than 3% to $68.15. The iShares Dow Jones Transportation Average Index Fund (NYSE: IYT) was also strong,...

Barron’s noted that a pessimistic business forecast by Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation (NYSE: BNI) meant that economic activity would be less than robust in 2010 than many of the analyst estimates. Burlington got a merger proposal from Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE: BRK) in October and...

Argus Research Company retained a Hold rating on railroad operator Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC). Norfolk exceeded consensus expectations in the third quarter but volumes fell 20%. The company has posted two quarters of stronger earnings. However, this has been accomplished through...

Canadian Pacific Railway Limited (USA)(FREE stock trend analysis) (NYSE: CP)(FREE stock trend analysis) was today upgraded by BB&T Capital Markets from Underweight to Hold. Canadian Pacific Railway Limited is now trading at $54.81, 2.60% up. Today, CP made a new 52-week high of $54.81. Teradyne...

Health Net, Inc. (NYSE: HNT)(FREE stock trend analysis) has declined 0.61% to $23.61 in the morning trading hours after Credit Suisse reiterated Health Net to Neutral and price target set to $25 from $20. The 52-week trading range for HNT is $9.87 - $23.79. Sanderson Farms, Inc. (NASDAQ: SAFM)(...

Hospitality Properties Trust (NYSE: HPT) declined 2.83% to $18.23 on 323K shares in the morning trading hours after RBC Capital Markets downgraded HPT to Sector Perform from Outperform. The 52 week trading range for HPT is $8.34 - $21.82. So far in 2009, HPT gained over 20%. SAP AG (ADR) (NYSE:...

• Hewlett Packard (NYSE:HPQ) reported strong results after Monday's close, helped by robust sales in China and improved margins on its service operations.  The firm also increased share repurchases to $12 billion and projected fiscal 2010 earnings of $4.25 to $4.35 a share on revenues of $118...