Here are the hottest stocks of the week from April 4th to April 8th.

Monday

1) Pfizer (NYSE:PFE): Shares are up .54% to $20.49 per share. Over 25 million shares have traded hands. Pfizer announced today is is spinning off Capsugel, its capsule-making business, to private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Robert & Co. (NYSE:KKR) for $2.38 billion in cash. Pfizer Inc. is a research-based, global pharmaceutical company that discovers, develops, manufactures, and markets medicines for humans and animals. The Company’s products include prescription pharmaceuticals, non-prescription self-medications, and animal health products such as anti-infective medicines and vaccines. Current Short Interest of 14 Big Name Stocks>>

2) Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE:LUV): Shares of Southwest Airlines Co. are trading lower almost 2% to $12.42 per share today. Over 8.68 million shares have traded hands. Following this weekend’s mechanical mishap on one of its planes, Southwest is canceling an additional 70 flights to inspect planes and take precautionary measures on any of their future air flights. Southwest Airlines Co. is a domestic airline that provides primarily short-haul, high-frequency, point-to-point service. The Company offers flights throughout the United States.

3) General Dynamics Corporation (NYSE:GD): Shares of General Dynamics are trading lower 4.88% to $73.64 per share today. Over 7.8 million shares have traded hands. The company is dealing with a crash of a flight-test aircraft of its Gulfstream business jet unit that killed four people over the weekend. General Dynamics Corporation is a diversified defense company. The Company offers a broad portfolio of products and services in business aviation; combat vehicles, weapons systems and munitions; shipbuilding design and construction; and information systems, technologies and services.

4) Orexigen Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:OREX): Shares of Orexigen Therapeutics are trading higher 17.71% to $3.39 per share today. Over 9 million shares have traded hands. The FDA has been concerned about heart side effects from the company’s test diet drug Contrave. However, information from a late-stage study showed that patients taking Contrave maintained normal blood pressure patterns during a year of treatment., a positive step for the drug. Orexigen Therapeutics Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company. The Company is focused on the development and commercialization of pharmaceutical products for the treatment of the central nervous system, or CNS, disorders with an initial focus on obesity.

5) McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD): Shares are higher .61% to $76.45 per share. Over 1.6 million shares have traded hands. All the cheers surrounding McDonald’s today are due to its new ‘McJobs Stimulus’ plan to hire 50,000 new works on its national hiring day on April 19th. McDonald’s Corporation operates and franchises fast-food restaurants worldwide. The Company’s franchised and company operated fast food restaurants offer a variety of low price fast foods in locations around the world.

6) VIVUS, Inc. (NASDAQ:VVUS): Shares of VIVUS are trading higher 8.87% to $6.87 today. Over 12 million shares have traded hands. The company announced this morning that patients taking its potential diet pill Qnexa over two years experience lower blood pressure, better lipid levels and more weight loss.VIVUS, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company developing therapies for obesity, sleep apnea, diabetes and sexual health. The company markets a treatment for erectile dysfunction, and has drugs for obesity and erectile dysfunction in late-stage clinical trials.

7) Epicor Software Corporation (NASDAQ:EPIC): Shares of Epicor Software are trading higher 11% to $12.50 per share today. Over 10 million shares have traded hands. Private-equity firm Apax Partners announced a buyout of EPIC shares for $780 million. Apax offered $12.50 per share for Epicor. Epicor Software Corporation designs, develops, markets, and supports enterprise software solutions. The Company’s products integrate back office applications for manufacturing, distribution, and accounting with front office applications for sales, marketing, and customer support.

8) MolyCorp Inc (NYSE:MCP): Shares are higher 10% to $65.72 per share today. Over 8 million shares have traded hands. Molycorp bought a big stake in Estonia-based AS Silmet for about $89 million, expanding its presence into Europe and an effort to double its rare-earth oxide production capacity. Molycorp, Inc. produces rare earth minerals. The Company produces rare earth products, including oxides, metals, alloys and magnets for a variety of applications including clean energy technologies, technology, and defense applications.

9) Chimera Investment Corporation (NYSE:CIM): Shares are lower 1.77% to $3.89 per share. Over 24 million shares have trade hands. The company pays a 13% plus dividend and is seeing a huge uptick in volume today. Chimera Investment Corporation is a specialty finance company. The Company invests in residential mortgage loans, residential mortgage-backed securities, real estate-related securities and various other asset classes.

10) Edwards Lifesciences Corp (NYSE:EW): Shares of Edwards Lifesciences Corp are trading higher .44% to $86.45 per share. Over 2.86 million share have traded hands today. The company paid for a study that illustrated many people with a bad aortic valve can now avoid open-heart surgery and have a new one placed through a tube in an artery. Edwards Lifesciences expects to charge $30,000 for the valve. Edwards Lifesciences Corporation designs, develops, manufactures, and markets products and services to treat late-stage cardiovascular disease. The Company’s products include tissue replacement heart valves, heart valve repair products, hemodynamic monitoring devices, angioscopy equipment, oxygenators, and pharmaceuticals. Edwards supplies its products to customers located worldwide.

Tuesday

1) National Semiconductor Corporation (NYSE:NSM): Shares of National Semiconductor are trading higher 71.50% to $24.13 per share today. Over 136 million shares have traded hands. Texas Instruments (NYSE:TXN) agreed to purchased NSM for $6.5 billion. National Semiconductor Corporation designs, develops, manufactures, and markets a wide variety of analog and mixed-signal integrated circuits. The Company produces systems on a single chip as well as analog, mixed-signal, and other multichip integrated circuits. National provides solutions for the information appliance, personal computing, consumer, and communication markets.

2) Inspire Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISPH): Shares of Inspire Pharmaceuticals are trading higher 24.62% to $4.95 per share today. Merck (NYSE:MRK) announced it will acquire the company for roughly $430 million. As we’ve mentioned prior, there is much speculation rising for Insmed (NASDAQ:INSM) as we’ve seen the stock rise from the $5 range to $8 per share rather quickly. Pharma M&A is heating up. Inspire Pharmaceuticals, Inc. discovers and develops pharmaceutical products to treat diseases that result from deficiencies in the body’s natural mechanisms of mucosal hydration. The Company’s lead products target respiratory and opthtalmic diseases with inadequate current treatments, including a respiratory for chronic bronchitis and an opthtalmic for dry eye disease.

3) Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT): Shares are up 1.5% to $25.95 per share today. Over 50 million shares have traded hands. The Nasdaq announced changes in weighting their index that benefit MSFT. Microsoft Corporation develops, manufactures, licenses, sells, and supports software products. The Company offers operating system software, server application software, business and consumer applications software, software development tools, and Internet and intranet software. Microsoft also develops video game consoles and digital music entertainment devices.

4) KB Home (NYSE:KBH): Shares of KB Home are trading lower 3.6% to $11.74 per share today. Over 11.52 million shares have traded hands. The homebuilder lost $114.5 million, or $1.49 a share, relative to a loss of $54.7 million, or $.71 cents a share, a year earlier. Analysts were expecting $.27 cents a share. Revenues dropped 25% to $196.9 million, missing the Street’s expectation of $223.6 million.KB HOME builds single-family homes in the United States, primarily targeting first-time and first move-up homebuyers. The Company has operating divisions in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Nevada, Wisconsin, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Texas in the United States. KB Home also derives income from mortgage banking, title and insurance services.

5) Intersil Corporation (NASDAQ:ISIL): Shares are up over 9.65% to $13.29 per share today. Over 6.5 million shares have traded hands. The news of a hot tech M&A market is giving a major lift to the other chip stocks today. Intersil Corporation designs and manufactures high performance analog semiconductors. The Company’s products are used in flat panel displays, optical storage, and power management applications.

6) Questcor Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:QCOR): Shares of Questcor Pharmaceuticals are trading higher 22.5% to $18.27 per share today. Over 5 million shares have traded hands. The company upped its guidance and investors are happy. QCOR plans to report first quarter revenue of about $48.6 million, higher than $34.3 million in sales expected by analysts on the Street consensus. Questcor Pharmaceuticals, Inc. develops and commercializes novel central nervous system-focused therapeutics that address significant unmet medical needs. The Company’s primary product is a natural source adrenocorticotropic hormone indicated for the treatment of acute exacerbations of multiple sclerosis, as well as a number of other conditions.

7) Texas Instruments Incorporated (NYSE:TXN): Shares of Texas Instruments Incorporated are trading higher 1.88% to $34.75 per share today. Over 22 million share have traded hands. The tech company is growing its presence in 2011 with the recent acquisition of National Semiconductor (NYSE:NSM). Texas Instruments Incorporated is a global semiconductor company that designs and supplies analog technologies, digital signal processing (DSP) and microcontroller (MCU) semiconductors. The Company also operates materials and controls, and educational and productivity solutions businesses. Texas Instruments has manufacturing or sales operations in countries around the world.

8) Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:CBST): Shares of Cubist Pharmaceuticals are trading higher 15.6% to $29.20 per share today. Over 9.5 million shares have traded hands. The company resolved a patent fight with Teva Pharmaceutical Industries (NASDAQ:TEVA) over its Cubicin antibiotic. Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a drug company that discovers, develops, and commercializes novel drugs to treat infections. The Company’s lead product is a unique agent with bactericidal activity that addresses the critical need for new antibiotics with potent activity against life threatening infections.

9) Aruba Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:ARUN): Shares are down 5.35% to $31.80 per share. Over 5 million shares have traded hands. The company’s competitor (NASDAQ:MERU) announced disappointing guidance, so consequently shares are lower. Aruba Networks Inc. provides enterprise mobility solutions that enables secure access to data, voice and video applications across wireless and wireline enterprise networks.

10) Analog Devices, Inc. (NYSE:ADI): Shares of Analog Devices are trading higher a half percent to $38.68 per share today. Over 3 million shares have traded hands. This is another example of a rising tide lifting all boats today in the chip sector due to the TXN-NSM deal. Analog Devices, Inc. designs, manufactures, and markets integrated circuits used in analog and digital signal processing. The Company’s products are used in communications, computer, industrial, instrumentation, military/aerospace, automotive, and high-performance consumer electronics applications. Analog Devices sells its products worldwide.

Wednesday

1) DISH Network Corp. (NASDAQ:DISH): Shares of DISH Network just moved into negative territory  to $$24.25 per share today. Over 1.9 million shares have traded hands. The company announced it is buying Blockbuster assets for $320 million in a bankruptcy auction. DISH gains 1,700 Blockbuster store locations all over the U.S. from the deal. DISH Network Corp. provides a direct broadcast satellite subscription television service in the United States. The latest acquisition continues to heat up the media space and shed light on DirecTV (NASDAQ:DTV), Comcast (NASDAQ:CMCSA), Hughs Communications (NASDAQ:HUGH), Tivo (NASDAQ:TIVO), Cablevision (NYSE:CVC) and Time Warner Cable (NYSE:TWC) to consider making some deals.  Why is Dish Network Buying Failing Blockbuster?>>

2) American Superconductor Corporation (NASDAQ:AMSC): Shares of American Superconductor are trading lower 41.48% to $$14.51 per share today. Over 28.5 million shares have traded hands. American Superconductor guided fourth quarter revenue under $42 million. Analysts are expecting earnings of $.18 cents per share on revenue of $96.1 million for the quarter. The company also said its full-year earnings will be “well below” its previous forecasts but did not give a number.American Superconductor Corporation is an energy technologies company that offers solutions based upon its programmable power electronic converters and high temperature superconductor wires. The Company serves the utility, industrial and wind power markets. Competitors include American Electric Technology (NASDAQ:AETI), Babcock & Wilcox (NYSE:BWC) and Franklin Electric (NASDAQ:FELE).

3) Skyworks Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:SWKS): Shares are down 9.4% to $28.18 per share. Over 10.73 million shares have traded hands. Charter Equity downgraded the stock today on rationale that the company will see lower revenues from the next generation iPhone (NASDAQ:AAPL). Competitors such as TriQuint (NASDAQ:TQNT) and Avago (NASDAQ:AVGO) are beginning to threaten market share. Skyworks Solutions, Inc., a wireless semiconductor company, designs and manufactures radio frequency and complete semiconductor system solutions for mobile communications applications. The Company provides front-end modules, radio frequency subsystems, and system solutions to wireless handset and infrastructure customers worldwide. The company’s other competitors include RF Micro Devices (NASDAQ:RFMD), Analog Devices (NYSE:ADI) and Maxim Intergrated (NASDAQ:MXIM).

Thursday

1) Express, Inc. (NYSE:EXPR): Shares are up over 3% to $19.91 per share today. Over 5 million shares have traded hands. Limited Brands’ (NYSE:LTD) Victor Secret released a very positive report this morning stating the company’s same-store sales jumped 19%, giving a lift to Express. Also, Express announced a public offering of 19 million shares of stock at $19 per share this morning. Bank of American/Merrill Lynch (NYSE:BAC), Piper Jaffray (NYSE:PJC) and Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) are working the deal. Express, Inc. operates specialty retail apparel stores throughout the United States that target women and men between 20 and 30 years old. The Company offers apparel and accessories to address fashion needs across multiple aspects of their lifestyles including work, casual and going-out occasions. Express operates stores throughout the United States and retails online. Competitors to Express Inc. include

2) General Electric Company (NYSE:GE): Shares are down just under 1% to $20.42 to per share today. Over 5 million shares have traded hands. GE announced it will be building a $6oo million plant to manufacture solar panels, another big step toward more efficient and lower cost future energy. General Electric Company is a diversified technology, media and financial services company. The Company offers products and services ranging from aircraft engines, power generation, and water processing technology to medical imaging, business and consumer financing, media content and industrial products. General Electric conducts operations globally. Competitors to General Electric include Siemens (NYSE:SI), 3M (NYSE:MMM), Honeywell (NYSE:HON), United Technologies (NYSE:UTX) and Danaher (NYSE:DHR). 10 Solar Stocks You Must Add to Your Investing Watch List Now>>

3) Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. (NASDAQ:BBBY): Shares are up over 9% to $53.93 per share. Over 3.5 million shares have traded hands. The company reported net income of $1.12 per share on revenue of $2.5 billion versus analysts’ expected earnings of $.97 cents per share on revenue of $2.39 billion. BBBY projected an earnings jump of 10% to 15%, which would imply a profit of $3.38 to $3.53, higher than originally anticipated. Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. operates a nationwide chain of retail stores. The Company, through its retail stores, sells a wide assortment of merchandise principally including domestics merchandise and home furnishings as well as food, giftware, health and beauty care items and infant and toddler merchandise. Competitors to Bed Bath include Williams-Sonoma (NYSE:WSM) and Pier 1 Imports (NYSE:PIR).

Friday

1) Seagate Technology PLC (NASDAQ:STX): Shares are higher almost 8% to $$15.68 per share. Over 33.5 million have traded hands. Wedbush Morgan analyst Kaushik Roy is very bullish on hard-disk-drive stocks. Seagate expects third-quarter revenue of about $2.7 billion relative to the consensus estimate of $2.62 billion. Investors are cheering the stock today. Seagate Technology PLC designs, manufactures, and markets rigid disc drives for enterprise, personal computer, and consumer electronics applications. Competitors include Western Digital (NYSE:WDC), EMC Corp (NYSE:EMC), SanDisk (NASDAQ:SNDK) and NetApp (NASDAQ:NTAP).

2) United Continental Holdings Inc (NYSE:UAL): Shares lower over 7.7% to $19.38 per share. Over 9 million shares have traded hands. See Why Airline Stocks are Crashing Now. United Continental Holdings Inc. is an airline holding company. The Company owns and operates airlines that transports persons, property and mail throughout the United Statesand abroad. Competitors include Delta, American Airlines, JetBlue Airways (NASDAQ:JBLU) and US Airways Group (NYSE:LCC).

3) Tempur-Pedic International Inc. (NYSE:TPX): Shares are higher over 12.5% to $57.45 per share. Over 7 million shares have traded hands. Tempur-Pedic International Inc. issued an outlook to earn $.67 or $.68 cents per share on revenue of $325 million for the quarter versus the analyst expectation of $.58 cents per share and $290.5 million in sales. Tempur-Pedic International Inc., through its primary subsidiary Tempur World, manufactures and markets foam mattresses, pillows, and miscellaneous products under the Tempur-Pedic and other brand names. Competitors include Sealy Corp (NYSE:ZZ), Select Comfort Corp (NASDAQ:SCSS) and Leggett & Platt, Inc (NYSE:LEG).

Check out: Spring Ahead April 2011 with Our Acclaimed Flagship Newsletter and Winning Stock Ideas>>

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