Update
Huron Consulting Group Inc (HURN) reported a 44 percent rise in quarterly profit, but forecast first-quarter revenue below market expectations, citing weak performance of its legal financial consulting business.
The Chicago-based financial services consulting company, however, sees profits growing between 20 to 25 percent in 2008, as it seeks to gain from a worsening credit and housing market.
The Chicago-based financial services consulting company, however, sees profits growing between 20 to 25 percent in 2008, as it seeks to gain from a worsening credit and housing market.
Huron's fourth-quarter results were helped by strong performance at its health and education consulting, and corporate consulting segments.Revenue from health and education consulting, which is the biggest contributor to the total revenue, more than doubled to about $50 million.
The company posted earnings of $11.5 million, or 63 cents a share, for the quarter, compared with $8 million, or 46 cents a share, a year earlier. Revenue rose 63 percent to $136 million. Analysts on average were expecting revenue of $136.4 million, according to Reuters Estimates.
STRONG 2008 OUTLOOK
In 2008, Huron will be working to expand more into the academic medical center space and provide a full range of services to increase efficiency to all hospitals whether troubled or healthy, Chief Executive Gary Holdren said in a conference call.
"There are no macro economic pressure that can slow our growth in the health and education segment in the next several years," Holdren said
Huron forecast first-quarter earnings of 66 cents to 70 cents a share on revenue of $142 million to $147 million.
Analysts on average were expecting earnings of 70 cents a share on revenue of $154.9 million.
For 2008, Huron sees earnings of $3.10 to $3.28 a share, on revenue of $640 million to $670 million. Analysts expect earnings of $3.11 on revenue of $644.2 million.
Huron said it expects its recently started Tokyo office to have a positive impact on the company's 2008 results.
GAINS FROM CREDIT CRISIS
The benefit from the subprime crisis is a bit delayed for Huron, but they will gain from the turmoil in days to come, Wong Kevane of JMP Securities said by phone, adding it is more a question of when than if. It is not that the business arising out of the credit market crisis is going to someone else and Huron is losing out on it, it is just that the investigations and litigations have not yet started, Holdren said.
Once it does, it will be a business driver for Huron, Holdren added.

Shares of Huron, have lost a third of their value year-to-date, and losing some 22% in my portfolio since inception( days held 210), too. I'll be holding this stock expecting gains from credit crisis and strong 2008 outlook. It seems Huron business is poised to wrestle present market environment!
Would like to hear any bearish opinions, on this stock.

Comments: View Comments |  Monday February 25, 2008

Here's a trading activity on DRYS in my Astra portfolio:

all tickets for DRYS
Buy Jul 30, 2007 740 $55.65
Buy Aug 24, 2007 500 $62.7115
Buy Aug 27, 2007 230 $65.8237
Buy Oct 16, 2007 200 $122.548
Buy Oct 17, 2007 210 $118.8524
Buy Jan 2, 2008 250 $78.281
Buy Jan 9, 2008 460 $62.76
Buy Jan 15, 2008 1,300 $55.1435
Sell Feb 7, 2008 500 $70.953

active tickets for DRYS
Sell Feb 8, 2008 $99.99 400 limit
Portion of fund: 15.10%

Earnings Release: Thursday, February 14, 2008 After 4:00 P.M. EST; Conference Call and Webcast: Friday, February 15, 2008, at 10:00 A.M. EST
So let see if DRYS has been anything worth holding it. I think: yes, or maybe: am I very overconfident?

Comments: View Comments |  Wednesday February 13, 2008

I really believe that time frame in the stock market investing should last well beyond any imaginable short round play and won't abandon the core principals of diversification. So, I've selected FPL Group Inc.(FPL), Utilities sector, to take part in my Astra portfolio for its income and growth potentials while broadening diversification too. Order to buy 30000 $ worth of this stock has been entered.

FPL Group, Inc. ( FPL ) with annual revenues of over $15 billion, is nationally known as a high quality, efficient, and customer-driven organization focused on energy-related products and services. With a growing presence in 27 states, it is widely recognized as one of the country's premier power companies. Its principal subsidiary, Florida Power & Light Company, serves 4.5 million customer accounts in Florida. FPL Energy, LLC, an FPL Group competitive energy subsidiary, is a leader in producing electricity from clean and renewable fuels.

The company recently announced fourth-quarter and full-year results, citing record net income for full year 2007, and that its subsidiary, FPL Energy, recorded its best year ever.

"FPL Group performed exceptionally well in 2007, driven again by the outstanding performance at FPL Energy," said Lew Hay, chairman and chief executive officer of FPL Group. "Despite some weakness in revenues at Florida Power & Light, particularly late in the year, full-year results for FPL Group exceeded the expectations we set out in the Fall of 2006."
Yield: 2.56%

Comments: View Comments |  Friday February 8, 2008  |  Stocks: FPL,

Imperial Oil recently announced net income for 2007 of $3,188 million (or $3.41 per share). This was the highest net income in the company's history, surpassing the previous record of $3,044 million (or $3.11 a share) in 2006. Fourth quarter earnings were $886 million, (or $0.96 a share) in 2007, compared with $794 million (or $0.83 a share) in the fourth quarter of 2006.
"Overall, improving operations, a strong price environment and record production at both Cold Lake and Syncrude contributed to record earnings and shareholder returns that well exceeded the energy equity index" said Tim Hearn, the company's chairman and chief executive officer. "Furthermore, progress was made on a number of fronts during the year: the balance sheet was strengthened, and long-term investment opportunities were advanced, including regulatory approval for the proposed Kearl Oil Sands project and the addition of major acreage positions" Hearn added.
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Imperial Oil is one of Canada's largest corporations and a leading member of the country's petroleum industry. It is one of Canada's largest producers of crude oil and natural gas, is the country's largest petroleum refiner, and has a leading market share in petroleum products sold through a coast-to-coast supply network that includes close to 2,000 service stations.
Profit Margin (ttm): 13.71%
Operating Margin (ttm): 16.88%
Management Effectiveness
Return on Assets (ttm): 14.37%
Return on Equity (ttm): 41.35%
Total Debt (mrq): 1.45B
Total Debt/Equity (mrq): 0.186
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Portfolio Astra: IMO Activity:
Days held: 191
Inception return: + 6.84 %

Sentiment: Buy

Comments: View Comments |  Wednesday February 6, 2008  |  Stocks: IMO,

Is it really the Next Big Thing?
Microsoft bid aims to slow Google!
Both Microsoft and Yahoo struggling to keep up with Google, the Internet search king, but they'll get first, most probably tired of trying, second, the king won't leave its throne so easy, particularly together with tens of millions of computer users who go on line to do everything and watch anything and third is question whether this deal is really next big thing. Maybe it's not! That , because Silicon Valley favors bottom-up innovation instead of growth by acquisition. The region's brain powers are tuned to start-up that can anticipate the next big thing, rather than chase the last one.
Interesting piece comes from NYT analyzing the reasons behind Microsoft's bid and proposing that the bid is a tacit, and difficult admission that Microsoft didn't get its on line business right and that on line losses continue to mount while Google makes billions in profit.
I would leave to my imagination about what's should be the next big thing, if any!
Perhaps, synergy between Google and Apple which equals "Gooplle" !

Comments: View Comments |  Monday February 4, 2008  |  Stocks: GOOG, MSFT, YHOO,