Stocks Opinions

We upgrade our recommendation for Brightpoint Inc. (CELL) to Outperform based on our view that galloping demand for high-end smartphones and tablets throughout the world will drive the company's valuation level higher in the near future. We believe the negative consequences of the proposed merger between AT&T and T-Mobile USA are already reflected in the current valuation as it has plummeted nearly 39% in the last four months after this news surfaced. In the previous two quarters, Brightpoint managed record-high mobile devices. Most importantly, the majority of these wireless handsets were managed through the company's high-margin Logistic Services. Management reaffirmed a rosy picture for the rest of 2011. We believe the business fundamentals of Brightpoint remain intriguing. Newly won distribution agreements coupled with effective cost control strategies will pave the way for the company's future earnings growth. Our price target of $9.75, is based on 11.9x our fiscal 2011 earnings estimate, approaching the S&P 500 average.

We have upgraded our recommendation on Huntington Bancshares Inc. (HBAN) to Outperform following a detailed analysis of the company fundamentals in light of the current economic environment. The company is exhibiting growth in its loan portfolio, which surpasses its peers. The company reported better-than-expected first quarter 2011 results on the back of credit quality improvement and a modest growth in loans and deposits. Strategic initiatives are right on track, and the company is poised to benefit from an economic rebound. By making active efforts to reduce its problem assets, the company has lowered the level of its criticized commercial loans. Though issues related to a sluggish economic recovery along its footprints and regulatory concerns remain, its solid capital position and tactical efforts are expected to reduce those impacts. Our six-month target price of $7.50 equates to 12.5x our earnings estimate for 2011.

Some of the stocks that may grab investor focus today are: Wall Street expects International Business Machines Corp (NYSE: IBM) to report its Q2 EPS at $3.03 on revenue of $25.35 billion. IBM shares gained 0.49% to $176.40 in after-hours trading. Analysts are expecting Charles Schwab Corporation (The) (NYSE: SCHW) to have earned $0.20 per share on revenue of $1.20 billion in the second quarter. SCHW shares rose 0.40% to $15.07 in the after-hours trading session. Activist investor Carl Icahn offered to buy Clorox Co (NYSE: CLX) for $76.50 per share in cash, representing a 12% premium to Thursday's closing price. CLX shares dropped 0.24% to $74.37 in after-hours trading. Analysts expect Halliburton Company (NYSE: HAL) to report its Q2 EPS at $0.73 on revenue of $5.69 billion. HAL shares climbed 0.79% to $53.50 in the after-hours trading session. Gannett Co Inc (NYSE: GCI) is projected to report its Q2 EPS at $0.57 on revenue of $1.33 billion.   

CNBC Fast Money's Brian Stutland thinks that it would be wise to buy iShares Silver Trust (ETF) (NYSE: SLV) tomorrow. iShares Silver Trust (ETF) (SLV) gained 5.77%, and closed at $37.23. Guy Adami is also bullish on silver, and Stephen Weiss wants to buy SPDR KBW Regional Banking (ETF) (NYSE: KRE) on Thursday. SPDR KBW Regional Banking (ETF) (KRE) gained 0.87% today, and it closed at $25.61. Karen Finerman thinks that JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) is a buy. JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) gained 0.58% today, and closed at $39.62. Joe Terranova said that he will be adding to his long position in Toyota Motor Corporation (ADR) (NYSE: TM) tomorrow.   

On CNBC's Mad Money, Jim Cramer said during the Lightning Round that Atlas Energy (NYSE: ATLS) is a “terrific stock that's undervalued. That company is very attractive." Cramer likes Magna International (NYSE: MGA) and the auto parts business. He added, “I also like Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI) but Magna fits into that thesis." For Crocs (NASDAQ: CROX), Jim said, "I'll be honest; I missed the move. I'd say take profits. I should have pulled the trigger but I missed it." He said that he “likes Southwestern Energy (NYSE: SWN) but they have too much natural gas and oil is where the money is." For Chimera Investment (NYSE: CIM), Cramer said, "No, that's not what we want to own.   

Cardtronics (CATM) may have missed on its last EPS number, but analyst and investors are still buying in. Estimates are showing double-digit growth and shares are currently a Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy). Company Description Cardtronics is the biggest non-bank owner of ATMs. The company has over 33,000 machines in the North America and the U.K. Popular locations include 7-Eleven, Chevron, Costco and others. Additionally, they offer services to small banks and other card issuers at over 12,000 locations. Miss, but a Good Quarter Even though the company fell short of bottom-line expectations, analysts and investors still liked the results enough to keep buying shares. Revenue for the first quarter were up 8%, to $138 according to the Apr 28 press release. Margins also improved as well as transaction counts. Earnings per share came in 2 cents below expectations though, at $0.22. That miss snapped a 4-quarter streak of beating expectations. But they could get back on track when they report again, which should be...

Altra Holdings, Inc. (AIMC) recently rebounded from a key long-term trend line to move back within striking distance of the all-time high at $27.48. With an average earnings surprise of 19% over the last four quarters and a bullish growth projection, this Zacks #1 rank stock has plenty of momentum. Company Description Altra Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiary Altra Holding Motion, Inc, is an industrial good company that designs and produces a line of mechanical power transmission and motion control products worldwide. The company was founded in 2004 and has a market cap of $662 million. Industrial goods companies have been posting big gains over the last year, jumping higher with the market on a stronger global economy. That trend was on display when Altra reported strong Q1 results from last April that came in well ahead of expectations. First-Quarter Results Revenue for the period was up 25% from last year to $160 million. Earnings also looked great, coming in at 40 cents, 21% ahead...

The department store is very much alive. Macy's, Inc. (M) just raised second quarter and full year sales guidance following a much stronger than expected June. This Zacks #1 Rank (strong buy) is still a value stock even as shares trade at new 52-week highs. Macy's operates 850 department stores under the brands Macy's and Bloomingdale's in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico. It also is an online retailer using the websites macys.com and bloomingdales.com. Sales Jumped 7.5% in June On July 7, Macy's released its June sales figures and saw same-store sales jump 6.7% which was much higher than the consensus of retail analysts of 5.1%. Total sales rose 7.5% to $2.2 billion. The growth was spread across the company in both stores and in both online sites. Online sales were especially hot, climbing 45% in June. They're up 39.6% for the year. However, the online sales are included in the overall sales numbers and not otherwise broken out so it's hard...

Stocks trading at or near 52-week highs and lows provide excellent trading opportunities, as volatility tends to increase at such levels. The following stocks hit new 52-week highs in Friday's trading session (listed from highest total volume to lowest): 1) Melco Crown Entertainment (NASDAQ: MPEL): Shares of Melco Crown hit a 52-week high of $14.19 in Friday's trading session. The stock closed at $13.98. The year-to-date performance of Melco Crown has been a gain of 119.8%. 2) Western Refining (NYSE: WNR): Shares of Western Refining hit a 52-week high of $20.67 in Friday's trading session. The stock closed at $20.61. The year-to-date performance of Western Refining has been a gain of 94.8%. 3) BioSante Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: BPAX): Shares of BioSante Pharmaceuticals hit a 52-week high of $3.62 in Friday's trading session. The stock closed at $3.60. The year-to-date performance of BioSante has been a gain of 199.5%. 4) Hansen Medical (NASDAQ: HNSN): Shares of Hansen Medical hit a 52-week high of $4.70 in Friday's trading...

Novellus Systems (NASDAQ: NVLS) is scheduled to report its second-quarter 2011 results Monday after the closing bell, offering an early peek at what to expect from coming earnings from semiconductor companies. Analysts expect to see Novellus's per-share earnings up nearly 12% from a year ago but down about 27% from the previous quarter. While Novellus does not make the following list, here are six semiconductor stocks that are trading in the neighborhood of their 52-week highs. Avago Technologies (NASDAQ: AVGO): After recent meetings with Avago management, Citigroup raised its price target on the stock and Kaufman Brothers forecast a stronger second half 2011 for the company. The dividend yield is 0.8% and the long-term EPS growth forecast is 12.1%. The share price is more than 33% higher than at the beginning of the year. The stock has outperformed competitor Analog Devices (NYSE: ADI) and the industry average in that time. Cypress Semiconductor (NASDAQ: CY): Cypress was recently named a top pick by Collins...