Investment

» codfish - LRCX

Saw that LRCX is up today $2 on analyst upgrade, so I looked at analyst recs for the stock over the past year. There were 7 consecutive downgrades of the stock by different analysts when the stock was trading in the high 20's and low 30's.
Shows what those morons know!!! Hopefully the morons at UBS guessed right today and the stock will take off to all-time highs. I've got my "ATM card" out, and ready to make some cash withdrawals.........

-- posted by codfish

» codfish - LRCX

In response to LRCX posted by Beartoes:

Thanks for the charts and analysis. This is one of Kirk's favorites (has paid for all the Vettes he'll ever need to drive), and I have to admit it has kept my favorite sportscar in new tires the past 3 years.

-- posted by codfish

» Beartoes - LRCX

In response to LRCX posted by Kirk:

When I was in the semi business, I used to work o the Lam etchers. They were pretty good machines. They ran well and were easy to care for...
beartoes

-- posted by Beartoes

» Beartoes - LRCX 4Q Income Nearly Doubles

In response to LRCX 4Q Income Nearly Doubles posted by Kirk:

So earning kick butt and the stock is down $4+. What is up with that. Must watch the break at 40, could be real bad if that goes down.

LRCX default chart

Doesn't look good for the home team...

Beartoes

-- posted by Beartoes

» Beartoes - LRCX 4Q Income Nearly Doubles

In response to LRCX 4Q Income Nearly Doubles posted by Beartoes:
Looks like a good time to try some risk $$$ and play a 6 month PUT 40. It is cheap and will see how it plays out. RS says it should under perform, so we will give it a try. Plus the NASD also stinks. What the hell...

Beartoes

-- posted by Beartoes

» Beartoes - LRCX vol. double normal already

In response to LRCX 4Q Income Nearly Doubles posted by Beartoes:
The Vol. for LRCX is already double its 30 day average. All to the downside. I think that is not to good, but I could be wrong...

Beartoes

-- posted by Beartoes

» Beartoes - INTC reverses to O's

Well with those awesome earnings and forcast INTC is getting hit. No big surprise though. RS has been saying get out of this for a long time. Next stop, possibly 13-15. We will see.

INTC default chart

Would go short, but not enough room to fall.

Beartoes

-- posted by Beartoes

» Beartoes - AmTech upgrades LRCX to Hold from Sell.

In response to AmTech upgrades LRCX to Hold from Sell. posted by Kirk:

Yesterday in the semi cap equip discussion, I had mentioned that a break at 40 could be a costly mistake and should carry the stock lower.

Well it looks like that is happening. Lrcx is heading lower today early in the trading session.

I cold see this heading down to the 32 area, but first stop could be at the bottom of the trading band at 36.

Will just have to wait and see.

Here is the chart...

LRCX default chart

I did get in on the put option at 40 which has a nice profit already...i will let someone else hold LRCX while I short it for a win...

Beartoes

-- posted by Beartoes

» Normxxx - Stanford Maintains Sell on AMAT and LRCX

In response to Stanford Maintains Sell on AMAT and LRCX posted by Kirk:

To buy the stocks now because they appear "cheap" on the hopes of an industry recovery in 2007 seems to us like trying to catch the proverbial falling knife.

AMEN!

Normxxx
______________
The contents of any third-party letters/reports above do not necessarily reflect the opinions or viewpoint of normxxx. They are provided for informational/educational purposes only.

The content of any message or post by normxxx anywhere on this site is not to be construed as constituting market or investment advice. Such is intended for educational purposes only. Individuals should always consult with their own advisors for specific investment advice.

-- posted by Normxxx

» SteveT - Applied Materials profit jumps 39 pct, margins up

http://today.reuters.com/news/articleinv...

(Adds analyst comment, byline)

By Scott Hillis

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug 15 (Reuters) - Applied Materials Inc. (AMAT.O: Quote, Profile, Research), the biggest supplier of equipment used to make microchips, posted a 39-percent rise in quarterly profit on Tuesday as it saw broad-based demand and improved its profit margins.

The better-than-expected results sent shares in Applied Materials up about 2 percent to $16.00 in extended trading on the Inet electronic brokerage.

However, Bill Ong, an analyst with American Technology Research, said he was concerned that bookings, an indicator of future business, were only up 7 percent sequentially, at the midpoint of the company's guidance of growth of 5 percent to 10 percent.

"That's probably a little bit disappointing as you saw a lot of the semiconductor equipment companies actually exceeded their bookings guidance," Ong said, who owns Applied Materials shares and has a "hold" rating on the stock.

"So they are seeing bookings falling below their peers. I'm expecting the outlook to be relatively cautious," said Ong, ahead of the company's meeting with analysts later on Tuesday, when it is expected to give forecasts.

Applied Materials said net profit in its third fiscal quarter was $512 million, or 33 cents per share, compared to $369.6 million, or 23 cents per share, in the same period a year earlier.

Revenue rose 56 percent from a year earlier to $2.54 billion.

Excluding special items, profit was $539.3 million, or 35 cents per share, compared with $237.8 million, or 14 cents per share a year earlier.

Analysts had expected the company to earn 30 cents per share, excluding items, on revenue of $2.44 billion, according to average forecasts from Reuters Estimates.

"Broad-based demand for Applied Materials' nanomanufacturing technology solutions and improved market position in key product areas increased revenues," Chief Executive Mike Splinter said in a statement.

"Improved profitability was driven by higher utilization of our factory, lower cycle times and other margin improvement programs," Splinter said.

New orders in the quarter amounted to $2.67 billion, up 7 percent from the previous quarter and up 82 percent from a year earlier. The backlog at the end of the quarter was $3.32 billion, up 13 percent from the previous quarter.

Business at Applied Materials and rivals such as Japan's Tokyo Electron Ltd. (8035.T: Quote, NEWS, Research) and KLA-Tencor Corp. (KLAC.O: Quote, Profile, Research) has boomed as chipmakers step up spending to meet robust demand for semiconductors used in mobile phones and consumer electronics.

But ongoing concerns that chip demand is peaking have hit share prices in the sector. Applied Materials' stock has fallen more than 10 percent over the past three months, slightly less than the 12-percent slide in the Philadelphia Stock Exchange's semiconductor index over the same period.

Shares of Applied Materials had risen 34 cents, or 2.2 percent, to close at $15.69 on Nasdaq on Tuesday.

-- posted by SteveT