Filed under: Deals, Industry, Motorola (MOT), Nokia Corp. (NOK)

After nearly two years of falling market share in the mobile handset business, Motorola’s (NYSE:MOT) board today said that is would explore selling or otherwise disposing of its largest unit. “We are exploring ways in which our mobile devices business can accelerate its recovery and retain and attract talent while enabling our shareholders to realize the value of this great franchise,” Chief Executive Greg Brown said in the company’s statement.

Motorola’s popular Razr model lifted its global share to about 22%, but that was two years ago. In the latest quarter, the company only shipped 40 million handsets, about 12% of the market. The US company has been handed a beating by Nokia (NYSE:NOK), Samsung, and Sony Ericsson.

Without handsets, Motorola would be a much smaller but more profitable business. Its set-top box, enterprise, and government telecom operations all make money.

It would have been nice to sell-off the cell phone operation when it had some real value. Now, it is too late for that.

Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 247wallst.com.

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Filed under: After the bell, Major movement, Other issues, Indices, Economic data, Federal Reserve, Recession

The stock market finished strongly today. Some of it was attributed to positive news about the municipal bond insurers. However, I believe much of it was due to the belief that the Fed will continue cutting rates as necessary to cushion the slowdown or a potential recession.

Prior to the recent FOMC statement and the inter-meeting rate cut, the Fed was sending out mixed signals regarding rate cuts. It tried to establish its credentials as an inflation hawk; however, it also left uncertainty about its ability to deal with a recession. This reduced the effectiveness of the initial rate cuts. Many believe that the Fed would be caught behind the curve in dealing with a potential recession.

The combined decrease in the Federal Funds Rate of 1.25% in the last two weeks along with the accompanying FOMC statement has established the Bernanke Fed’s credentials for dealing with a potential recession. It has replaced the current market confusion with confidence in the Fed.

Continue reading The aftermath of the Fed rate decision: Confidence instead of confusion!

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Filed under: Earnings reports, Anheuser-Busch Cos (BUD), Mattel, Inc (MAT)

Something for the kids, something for the grown-ups: Mattel Inc. (NYSE: MAT) and Anheuser-Busch Companies (NYSE: BUD) reported fourth-quarter results today.

Mattel announced that its fourth-quarter profit rose 15% despite the negative publicity over recalls of millions of Chinese-made toys. Tax gains and strong international sales of Hot Wheels and other toys helped offset the cost of the recalls.

Net income grew to $328.5 million, or 89 cents per share, in the period ending in December, from $286.4 million, or 75 cents per share, in the same quarter of the previous year. Revenue rose 4%, to $2.19 billion, from the year-ago period. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial had expected earnings per share of 73 cents on revenue of $2.13 billion.

For 2007, Mattel posted a profit of $600 million, or $1.54 per share, compared with a profit of $592.9 million, or $1.53 per share in 2006. Net sales totaled $5.97 billion in 2007, up 6% from $5.65 billion in 2006

On Thursday, Mattel shares rose 10.9% to close at $21.01. That’s up from the 52-week low of $16.42 a couple of weeks ago.

Continue reading Thursday earnings recaps: Mattel and Anheuser-Busch

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Filed under: Personal finance, Technology, Israel

Most people think the Super Bowl will be about just the Patriots and the Giants squaring off against each other. For the Israeli company Radvision Ltd. (NASDAQ: RVSN), the actual game will be an afterthought. The small company that has a cutting edge video-conferencing technology will be playing an important role in the Pre-game show.

It was announced that along with LifeSize Communications, Radvision, will connect NFL stars in Phoenix and U.S. Army soldiers stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington during Super Bowl XLII using high definition video communication systems.

“Even football stars have heroes, and the players have tremendous respect for our nation’s men and women in uniform,” said Coach Charles Hatcher.

Continue reading Radvision technology will connect players and soldiers at Super Bowl

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Filed under: Stocks to Buy

The choppy/consolidating (or perhaps worse) market conditions sometimes give the impression that growth plays do not exist, but that is not the case, and one growth company worth reviewing is Inverness Medical Innovations.

Inverness Medical Innovations, Inc. (NYSE: IMA) is a manufacturer of consumer and professional products including home pregnancy tests and fertility monitors, such as Clearblue Easy, Fact Plus, and Accu-Clear.

The company also makes diagnostic, infectious disease and serum cholesterol level testing products, and vitamins/nutritional products.

Continue reading Inverness’ tests provide answers to very important questions

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Filed under: Small business

“It’s common for business owners to want to manage everything,” said Fabio Rosati, who is the CEO of Elance, which is a web-based system to help businesses find, hire, and manage professionals. “But it’s now getting easier to outsource no-core functions, which is what larger companies are doing.”

Basically, outsourcing can be cheaper and mean higher quality (do you really need to understand payroll?). More importantly, you will have more time to focus on the things you do best, which should help to grow your business.

So what are some of the things you can do?

Time audit: As a result, it’s a good idea to do a “time audit.” That is, where is most of your time being spent? And can some of these activities be offloaded — leaving you more time to make money?

Continue reading Entrepreneur’s Journal: boost your business with virtual workers

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Filed under: Stocks to Buy

When the market displays erratic behavior continually, go with the known. Think established companies. In industrial sectors. Think: Precision Cast Parts.

Precision Castparts Corp. (NYSE: PCP) is a leading manufacturer of investment castings used in aerospace and power generation applications, with products that include jet engine parts, fluid management valves, and deep hole boring tools.

Analysts like PCP’s strong position in the jet engine and power generation markets, cost controls, and margins.

Continue reading Precision Cast has parts that are in demand

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Filed under: Earnings reports, Exxon Mobil (XOM), Chevron Corp (CVX), Oil

While Marathon Oil Corp. (NYSE: MRO) reported a fall off in fourth-quarter earnings today, Chevron Corp. (NYSE: CVX) and Exxon Mobil Corp. (NYSE: XOM) are scheduled to report their fourth-quarter results tomorrow morning. Here’s a quick peek at these two companies.

Chevron missed earnings expectations in the past two quarters. When it reported third-quarter results back in November, its earnings per share of $1.97 missed the consensus estimate of analysts polled by Thomson Financial by ten cents. Earnings were $2.29 per share in the same period of the previous year. For the current quarter, analysts expect earnings of $2.24 per share, or $8.36 per share for the full year. That’s up from $7.93 for 2006.

Chevron’s 29.1% earnings per share growth forecast for the next three to five years is a bit more than the industry average, as well as the S&P 500. The analysts’ consensus recommendation is to hold Chevron. Shares are down from the 52-week high of $95.50 back in September, and closed Thursday at $83.22.

For oil prices and other news that could influence the earnings results, see BloggingStocks’ Chevron coverage.

Continue reading Earnings previews: Chevron and Exxon

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Filed under: Earnings reports, Good news, Bad news, Rants and raves, Google (GOOG), Top Picks 2007, Intuitive Surgical Inc (ISRG), Technology, Best Stocks for 2008

Two super companies reported earnings this afternoon, both with a heavy burden to outperform. One did, one did not. Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ: ISRG) after the market close announced $189.4 Million Fourth Quarter Revenue, Up 68 while reporting earnings of $1.24 per share besting analysts expectations of $1.04 by 19 percent. In after hours trading it is up $36 per share as I peck away on the keyboard, up to $289 after already rising $19.00 during the trading day. My last post on the subject was Chasing Value: Intuitive Surgical drops 12% today

Google, Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) on the other hand, while reporting positive growth, fell short of analysts expectations by 2% and you know what that means: a reversal of fortune and headlines like Google Shares Plunge After Earnings Miss. The Stock closed the day up $16.03 to $564.30 only to take a dive in after hours trading almost $40 per share. Tomorrow will be another day and those wiser than I can dissect the company report further, along with market sentiment. However, Google has been down with the market all month long and there is enough fear in the market to prevent any notable stock recovery this year, unless the perception of internet advertising shifts again.

• Disclosure: I own shares of ISRG

Sheldon Liber is the CEO of a small private investment company and the design and research principal for an architecture & planning firm. To find potential opportunities and verify my track record read Chasing Value or Serious Money.

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Filed under: Earnings reports, Technology

It was a divergent day for on-demand software operators. For example, Concur Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: CNQR) posted stellar results and the stock surged (the company develops travel management systems).

Unfortunately, things were not so nice for RightNow Technologies (Nasdaq: RNOW), which provides solutions for customer relationship management. For its fiscal Q1, the company posted revenues of $30.7 million, up from $28.8 million in the same period a year ago. There was a net loss of $3.3 million or $0.10 per share.

Continue reading For investors: not now for RightNow

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