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Stocks Attracting Trading Interest in Today’s Market Feb 14th

February 14 2011 Tweet Email This

With the Dow Jones (NYSE:DIA) hanging at 12,260, the S&P 500 (NYSE:SPY) at 1330 and the Nasdaq (NASDAQ:QQQQ) higher at 2,815 on the 30th trading day of 2011, here is a group of stocks making moves on our radar and the reasons why:

1) Verifone Systems (NYSE:PAY): Verifone is a global provider of technology that enables electronic payment transactions and value-added services at the point of sale. Shares are up 7.5% to $48.47 per share today. The stock hit a new 52-week high of $48.47 per share. The high growth area of mobile payments is Verifone’s bread-and-butter revenue generator. The company just released a new PAYware Mobile to the global markets. Investors are confident about a bright future for the company today.

2) Hercules Offshore (NASDAQ:HERO): Hercules offers offshore contract drilling, liftboat and inland barge services. Shares of HERO are up almost 20% today to $4.70 per share. The company recently said it would buy assets owned by Seahawk Drilling (NASDAQ:HAWK) for $105 million. Jefferies & Company Inc. (NYSE:JEF) analyst Judson Bailey said Hercules will acquire Seahawk’s 20 jack-up rigs for 55 cents on the dollar.

3) Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX): NFLX is an online movie rental service. The Company ships DVDs with no due dates or late fees, directly to the subscriber’s address. Shares of the DVD company are up 6.5% to $246.15 per share. The stock hit a new 52-week high today. Since Whitney Tilson covered his short on the stock, more value is being generated to shareholders. A catalyst for today’s jump was the intergration of Netflix streaming with the Android operating system and the tablet market.

4) Ctrip.com International (NASDAQ:CTRP): Ctrip.com is a consolidator of hotel accommodations and airline tickets in China. Shares are down almost 6% to $40.42 per share. Over 11 million shares have traded hands today on news of an earnings release projected less growth this year. HOWEVER, Q4 revenue rose 39% to $119 million, beating the average $115 million estimate. EPS of $.30 cents was six cents better than expected. Some analysts are saying a buying opportunity is here. Wait-and-see approach or discount opportunity?

5) Emergency Medical Services (NYSE:EMS): EMS operates ambulances and offers outsourced emergency department staffing. Shares are down 11% to $62.90 per share today. The company agreed to sell itself to private equity firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice at a discounted price of $64 per share, or about $3.2 billion. Arbitrage opportunity?

6) United Rentals (NYSE:URI): United Rentals is an equipment rental company operating a network of locations in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The Company serves the construction industry, industrial and commercial concerns, homeowners, and other individuals. The stock is up 6.15% today to $33.17 per share following a strong earnings report. The company narrowed its quarterly loss to $21 million, or $.35 cents per share, in the period ended Dec. 31. That compares with a year-earlier loss of $26 million, or $.43 cents per share. Revenue rose to $597 million from $557 million, beating the $574.7 million analysts expected.

7) MGM Resorts (NYSE:MGM): MGM operates gaming, hospitality and entertainment resorts. The Company owns properties in Nevada, Mississippi and Michigan in the United States; and owns interests in properties in Nevada and Illinois in the United States, and Macau. Over 36 million shares have traded hands today as this company’s stock is down over 4% to $14.90 per share. MGM reported a loss of $139 million, or $.29 cents a share, for the quarter, compared with a loss of $433.9 million, or $.98 cents a share, a year earlier. Its revenue was $1.47 billion, up from $1.45 billion. It’s rough going for MGM shareholders today.

8) Juniper Networks (NYSE:JNPR): JNPR provides Internet infrastructure solutions for Internet service providers and other telecommunications service providers. The stock hit a 52-week high today on news of Openwave planning to integrate its Media Optimizer into Juniper’s Media Flow. The deal improves the economics of delivering video over mobile networks for the company.

9) Marriott (NYSE:MAR): Marriott is a worldwide operator and franchisor of hotels. The Company franchises lodging facilities and vacation timesharing resorts under various brand names. Shares are down 1% to $40.79 per share today. Marriott is set to release earnings after-the-bell. Analysts are expecting $.36 per share.

10) Agilent Technologies (NYSE:A): Agilent provides core bio-analytical and electronic measurement solutions to the communications, electronics, life sciences and chemical analysis industries. The stock hit a 52-week high today of $45.42 per share ahead of this afternoon’s earnings report expectation of $.57 per share. Stay tuned…