dividends paid
GOOGLE INC. $792 (Nasdaq symbol GOOG; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 329.7 million; Market cap: $261.1 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 5.3; No dividends paid; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.google- .com) is thinking about opening its own chain of retail stores in the U.S. These outlets would sell mobile phones and tablet computers powered by the company’s Android operating system, as well as lesser-known products like Chromebook laptop computers, which run on Google’s Chrome operating system.
The company could also use these stores to promote unusual new products it is developing, such as eyeglasses with embedded computer displays.
Google is a buy.
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The company could also use these stores to promote unusual new products it is developing, such as eyeglasses with embedded computer displays.
Google is a buy.
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SYMANTEC CORP. $23 (Nasdaq symbol SYMC; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 689.2 million; Market cap: $15.9 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 2.3; No dividends paid; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.symantec.com) reported that its sales rose 4.4% in its fiscal 2013 third quarter, which ended December 28, 2012, to a record $1.8 billion from $1.7 billion a year earlier. That’s mainly because businesses are buying more data-security and storage services.
However, rising labour and other costs caused the company’s earnings to fall 0.3%, to $313 million from $314 million. Symantec spent $200 million on share repurchases in the latest quarter. Due to fewer shares outstanding, earnings per share rose 7.1%, to $0.45 from $0.42. The company spends around 14% of its revenue on research.
Symantec now aims to improve its profitability by streamlining its product lines and marketing. As a result, it will cut 5% of its workforce. The company expects to pay $275 million in severance and other costs in fiscal 2014. Symantec did not say how much these moves would save it, but they should help it reach its profit margin (operating income divided by revenue) target of at least 30.0%. The company’s profit margin was 25.6% in the latest quarter.
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However, rising labour and other costs caused the company’s earnings to fall 0.3%, to $313 million from $314 million. Symantec spent $200 million on share repurchases in the latest quarter. Due to fewer shares outstanding, earnings per share rose 7.1%, to $0.45 from $0.42. The company spends around 14% of its revenue on research.
Symantec now aims to improve its profitability by streamlining its product lines and marketing. As a result, it will cut 5% of its workforce. The company expects to pay $275 million in severance and other costs in fiscal 2014. Symantec did not say how much these moves would save it, but they should help it reach its profit margin (operating income divided by revenue) target of at least 30.0%. The company’s profit margin was 25.6% in the latest quarter.
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ADOBE SYSTEMS INC. $39 (Nasdaq symbol ADBE; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 498.8 million; Market cap: $19.5 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 4.4; No dividends paid since June 2005; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.adobe.com) earned $307.9 million in the fourth quarter of its 2012 fiscal year, which ended November 30, 2012. That’s down 7.4% from $332.6 million a year earlier. Earnings per share fell 9.0%, to $0.61 from $0.67, on more shares outstanding. Revenue was flat at $1.15 billion. Adobe continues to spend a high 17% of its revenue on research.
Adobe is doing a good job of selling its Creative Cloud package of photo-editing and desktop-publishing programs as a subscription service instead of a one-time purchase. It sold 10,000 Creative Cloud subscriptions a week in the fourth quarter, up from 8,000 in the third quarter. As a result, subscription revenue jumped 51.5% from a year earlier and now accounts for 17% of Adobe’s total revenue. The company still gets 74% of its revenue from direct sales of software. Services and support supply the remaining 9%.
Moving to a subscription model will slow Adobe’s short-term revenue and earnings growth, but it should give the company steadier revenue streams.
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Adobe is doing a good job of selling its Creative Cloud package of photo-editing and desktop-publishing programs as a subscription service instead of a one-time purchase. It sold 10,000 Creative Cloud subscriptions a week in the fourth quarter, up from 8,000 in the third quarter. As a result, subscription revenue jumped 51.5% from a year earlier and now accounts for 17% of Adobe’s total revenue. The company still gets 74% of its revenue from direct sales of software. Services and support supply the remaining 9%.
Moving to a subscription model will slow Adobe’s short-term revenue and earnings growth, but it should give the company steadier revenue streams.
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ACI WORLDWIDE $48.38 (Nasdaq symbol ACIW; TSINetwork Rating: Speculative) (402- 334-5101; www.tsainc.com; Shares outstanding: 39.4 million; Market cap: $1.9 billion; No dividends paid) is buying Online Resources for $126.6 million. The move will help ACI further expand into online banking and bill payments.
Online Resources processes more than 245 million bill payments a year....
Online Resources processes more than 245 million bill payments a year....
BIRCHCLIFF ENERGY $7.52 (Toronto symbol BIR; TSINetwork Rating: Speculative) (403-261-6401; www.birchcliffenergy.com; Units outstanding: 141.6 million; Market cap: $1.1 billion; No dividends paid) develops, produces and explores for oil and natural gas, mainly in the Peace River Arch area near the Alberta/B.C....
SYMANTEC CORP. $22.62 (Nasdaq symbol SYMC; TSINetwork Rating: Average) (1-408- 517-8000; www.symantec.com; Shares outstanding: 689.2 million; Market cap: $15.6 billion; No dividends paid) has reported better-than-expected quarterly earnings. The company has also launched a restructuring plan that should make it more profitable.
In its fiscal 2013 third quarter, which ended December 28, 2012, Symantec’s earnings per share rose 7.1%, to $0.45 from $0.42....
In its fiscal 2013 third quarter, which ended December 28, 2012, Symantec’s earnings per share rose 7.1%, to $0.45 from $0.42....
WYNDHAM WORLDWIDE $59.05 (New York symbol WYN; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk) (973- 753-6000; www.wyndhamworldwide.com; Shares outstanding: 140.3 million; Market cap: $8.3 billion; Dividend yield: 1.6%) is one of the world’s largest hospitality companies, with 7,340 franchised hotels worldwide.
In addition to hotels, Wyndham manages vacation resorts, rental properties, luxury clubs and time-shares....
In addition to hotels, Wyndham manages vacation resorts, rental properties, luxury clubs and time-shares....
NEW GOLD $9.93 (Toronto symbol NGD; TSINetwork Rating: Speculative) (888-315- 9715; www.newgold.com; Shares outstanding: 476.0 million; Market cap: $4.7 billion; No dividends paid) produced 411,892 ounces of gold in 2012, up 6.4% from 387,155 ounces in 2011.
New Gold now has four operating mines....
New Gold now has four operating mines....
INTUITIVE SURGICAL $574 (Nasdaq symbol ISRG; TSINetwork Rating: Average) (515-507-5000; www.intuitivesurgical.com; Shares outstanding: 39.8 million; Market cap: $22.8 billion; No dividends paid) makes the da Vinci, a computerized surgical system.
Guided by a miniature camera connected to a 3-D monitor, surgeons use the da Vinci to operate by remotely manipulating tiny robotic arms....
Guided by a miniature camera connected to a 3-D monitor, surgeons use the da Vinci to operate by remotely manipulating tiny robotic arms....
CGI GROUP INC. $27 (Toronto symbol GIB.A; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 308.0 million; Market cap: $8.3 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.3; No dividends paid; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk; www. cgi.com) continues to benefit from its $2.7-billion purchase of Logica plc in August 2012....