On Dec 4, 2014, we issued an updated research report on Comstock Resources Inc. (CRK – Analyst Report). The energy explorer finds maintaining profitability a challenge amid declining production levels and weak commodity pricing. Operational issues also add to the problems. These are reflected in Comstock Resources’ current Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), implying that the stock is expected…
Pssst! Want the inside scoop? Follow the money. Insider money, I mean. Bank directors started their Christmas shopping last week—some in stocking stuffer bits and pieces, some in wholesale lots—with outright purchases of their companies’ shares. Five community banks and holding companies—Sussex Bancorp (Nasdaq: SBBX), Brookline Bancorp (Nasdaq: BRKL), First Merchants Corp. (Nasdaq: FRME), Access National…
The S&P 500 Energy sector stocks are down over 12% year-to-date, tumbling over 3% today to fresh 20-month lows. The spread (or risk) of high-yield energy credits surged again today, breaking above 850bps for the first time… The overall high-yield credit market is being dragged wider by this contagion as hedgers try to contain the collapse that…
The great divide between health care and energy in US equities rolls on. Health care shares continue to dominate the recent rally in the US stock market while energy firms remain conspicuous laggards, based on one-year returns. In fact, energy is the only sector currently posting a loss for the trailing 252-trading-day period, according to a representative…
The quarterly report by the Bank for International Settlements does not say it in so many words, but its warning of possible currency and funding mismatches illustrates why the much ballyhooed Chinese swap lines are misunderstood. Recall that during worst of the Great Financial Crisis in 2008-2009, there was not G7 currency intervention. …
Today the 10, 5 & 2 is dropping again as yields on the long end decline and the short end rises. 10, 5 & 2 year yields from Bloomberg Below is the state of the 10 vs. 2 year at Friday’s close (weekly chart). It is bearish for gold but it is also bearish for…
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The Conference Board’s Employment Trends Index – which forecasts employment for the next 6 months – again strengthened. The index has improved now for 11 months. However, the rate of growth slowed. The Conference Board believes future employment growth will likely be solid in the coming months – but Econintersect‘s own employment index is saying…
In May, I wrote an article about Best Buy (BBY). The stock price was still clearly beaten after taking a hit in the beginning of the year. At the time, I wrote that the perception of the investors about this stock was still being affected by non-recurrent items. However, the company was taking measures to…
What do McDonald’s (MCD), Philip Morris (PM), Caterpillar(CAT), Kimberly-Clark (KMB), and Target (TGT) have in common? Yes, they’re all large-cap stocks that pay solid dividends. In fact, three are even Dividend Aristocrats, having increased their dividends for at least 25 consecutive years. But the common characteristic I’m referring to isn’t related to their dividends… or even their common stocks. Instead, I’m looking higher up…
