Specialty Chemicals

Pre-open movers US stock futures are higher this morning, as investors are awaiting factory-orders data. Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 22 points to 12,536.00 and futures on the S&P 500 stock index rose 0.30 point to 1,335.10. Nasdaq 100 futures gained 8.00 points to 2,363....

Wedbush Securities has raised the price target on Nalco Holding (NYSE: NLC) from $34 to $35 and maintains its Outperform rating.

OM Group Inc (NYSE: OMG) announced its plans to acquire German magnetic materials maker Vacuumschmelze GmbH & Co KG for 700 million euros ($1 billion) from One Equity Partners. OM group projects the deal to close by the end of the third quarter. One Equity Partners had purchased Vacuumschmelze...

Stocks trading at or near 52-week highs and lows provide excellent trading opportunities, as volatility tends to increase at such levels. The following stocks hit new 52-week highs in Thursday's trading session: 1) Walter Investment Company (NYSE: WAC): Shares of Walter Investment hit a 52-week...

Below are the top cleaning products stocks on the NYSE and the NASDAQ in terms of profit margin. The trailing-twelve-month profit margin at Church & Dwight Company Inc (NYSE: CHD) is 10.56%. CHD's ROE for the same period is 15.12%. The trailing-twelve-month profit margin at Ecolab Inc (NYSE:...

A. Schulman, Inc. (Nasdaq: SHLM) announced today that it has entered into an agreement to become a 51% equity holder, through a $1.1 million investment, in Surplast S.A. The other owner of the venture is Alta Plastica S.A., one of the largest distributors of resins in Argentina. Gustavo Perez,...

Deutsche Bank is out with its report today on OMNOVA Solutions (NYSE: OMN), lowering its PT from $9 to $8. In a note to clients, Deutsche Bank writes, "With productivity and operating initiatives gaining traction, albeit at a more moderate pace than we expected, we are lowering our '12 EPS...

Jefferies is out with its report today on OMNOVA (NYSE: OMN), lowering its PT from $11 to $10. In a note to clients, Jefferies writes, "After showing positive momentum in Q1, Q2 was $0.04 below consensus. As key raw materials (especially butadiene) should continue to rise in Q3, we are lowering...

Deutsche Bank has lowered the price target on OMNOVA Solutions (NYSE: OMN) from $9 to $8 and maintains its Buy rating.

Jefferies has changed the price targets on the following companies: Monsanto (NYSE: MON) Hold, From $73.00 to $74.00 OMNOVA (NYSE: OMN) Buy, From $11.00 to $10.00 Parametric Technology (NASDAQ: PMTC) Buy, From $28.00 to $27.00 Qlik Technologies (NASDAQ: QLIK) Buy, From $34.00 to $39.00

Below are the top mid-cap specialty chemicals stocks on the NYSE and the NASDAQ in terms of earnings estimate for the next year. The earnings estimate for NewMarket Corp (NYSE: NEU) for the next year ending December, 2012 is $15.62 per share. NEU's PEG ratio is 0.90. Lubrizol Corporation (The) (...

Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ: SBUX) shares rose 0.89% to create a new 52-week high of $39.60. SBUX's trailing-twelve-month revenue is $11.19 million. Select Comfort Corporation (NASDAQ: SCSS) shares gained 2.22% to create a new 52-week high of $17.92. SCSS' trailing-twelve-month ROE is 76.21%....

Shares of International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (NYSE: IFF) are higher on the session by 0.58%, trading at $62.60. Overall call volume is now running at 5.28x the daily average, with 4% of all calls traded being purchases on the offer. 2,110 contracts have traded on the session so far....

OM Group, Inc. (NYSE: OMG) today announced that Kenneth Haber, the company's chief financial officer, has informed the company of his decision to retire in order to pursue personal interests. Haber, 60, has served as chief financial officer on a permanent basis since 2006 after joining the company...

Jefferies & Company has lowered the price target on Cytec (NYSE: CYT) from $65 to $64 and maintains its Buy rating.