Buyside articles from April 2003

Buyside archives from April 2003

Orthofix[R]. (Corporate Sponsored Profile).(Company Profile)
April 1, 2003... Orthofix International N.V. (Nasdaq: OFIX) is a leading provider of high-value, minimally invasive medical devices for the orthopedic and trauma markets. The company currently sells its diverse product line in more than 80 countries via sales...

Verizon Communications Inc. NYSE: VZ. (verizon).(strategy and stock analysis)
April 1, 2003... Verizon is one of the world's leading communications companies, with significant scale and scope as well as industry-leading cost savings and merger synergies. Our core businesses--wireline, wireless and print and on-line directories--serve...

Small stands tall! (Publisher's Letter).
April 1, 2003... Not small stocks but small shops. You'd have to be blind not to see the shadow looming over the Street. Money managers are getting slammed because, except in rare instances, their portfolios are underperforming the S&P. The sell side's big...

Citibank depositary receipt issuers.(Illustration)
April 1, 2003... AEGON N.V. Country: Netherlands Exchange: NYSE Ticker: AEG CUSIP: 007924103 Ratio (Ords to NYRSs *): 1:1 AGEON is a leading international financial services group with assets of over $247...

Questar: Questar's value proposition is simple: natural gas demand in the U.S. is set to grow by 30% over the next decade, and we are prepared to exploit this growth. Our integrated, Rockies-focused assets place us at the "hub of western energy development.".
April 1, 2003... ROCKY MOUNTAIN ENERGY GROWTH MAJOR NEW GAS-DRILLING PROJECTS AT THE HUB OF WESTERN ENERGY DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIC "HUB-AND-SPOKE" PIPELINE SYSTEM * Our nonregulated exploration and production subsidiary is one of the largest...

Goizueta Directors Institute hosts conference on corporate governance. (Cultural Reality Check).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... As corporate America continues to sort through new rules and regulations to keep public companies on the straight and narrow, re-establishing trust with shareholders continues to be a challenge. In an effort to provide a strategic perspective...

Thomson's new product helps investor relations professionals comply with Sarbanes-Oxley Act. (Clear Vision).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Thomson Financial, a leading provider of information and technology solutions for the worldwide financial community, recently introduced IR Vision, a product designed to help investor relations professionals (IROs), comply with the...

Waddell & Reed Financial. (Buyside on the Buy Side).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Waddell & Reed Financial announced it intends to merge several Ivy Funds into its W&R Funds family, creating a single new fund family that would operate under the Ivy Funds brand. Under the plan, six Ivy Funds would be merged into existing W&R...

Scotia Securities. (Buyside on the Buy Side).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Scotia Securities announced the appointment of new portfolio advisors to three of its mutual funds. Bank of Ireland Asset Management (U.S.) will be the portfolio advisor to Scotia European Growth Fund. TCW Investment Management Co. will be the...

CI Mutual Funds. (Buyside on the Buy Side).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... CI Mutual Funds announced the launch of Business Development Bank of Canada CI EQUIPP Notes, which allow investors to participate in the returns of two CI equity mutual funds while fully protecting their principal. CI EQUIPP Notes (the name...

Franklin Templeton Investments. (Buyside on the Buy Side).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Franklin Templeton Investments introduced some new investment options for Canadians interested in global equity or income opportunities for their portfolios. The three new funds, Mutual Discovery Fund, Franklin AGE High Income Fund and Franklin...

RBC Funds changed the management team of the Royal Precious Metals Fund. (Buyside on the Buy Side).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... RBC Funds changed the management team of the Royal Precious Metals Fund. Gordon Zive, vice president and portfolio manager, will oversee the management of the Royal Precious Metals Fund, effective immediately. Zive is currently portfolio...

New report forecasts public companies filing chapter 11 to reach $240 billion in 2003. (Going Bust).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... According to PricewaterhouseCoopers, the world's largest professional services organization, the rate of public company bankruptcy filings will drop only slightly in 2003, to 180 from 189 in 2002, with total assets of $240 billion. 2003 will...

Designed for success: medical device sector expected to soar.
April 1, 2003... The first quarter of 2003 marked a significant turning point for the medical devices industry. Key product approvals from the FDA through the first three months of the year are expected to spark dramatic shifts in the delivery and efficacy of...

From deflation to re-inflation: how to protect your portfolio. (Guest Column).
April 1, 2003... The U.S. economy has been through a long cycle of declining inflation leading to the deflation of the last few years. This cycle has brought interest rates on the long-end down to four percent for the ten-year treasury and under five...

Data delivery: Ford Equity Research team relies on the fundamentals. (Sell-Side Focus).
April 1, 2003... FOR SOME FIRMS, THE EVER-POPULAR TERM "independent research" isn't just a trend; it's a chosen methodology. Founded in 1970, Ford Equity Research's goal has been to focus on developing solid, fundamental research to produce superior...

Profitable curiosity. (Money Manager).
April 1, 2003... Terry Burke CEO and Portfolio Manager Beacon Street Capital Most people cringe at even the mention of a bear market, but for Terry Burke it presented the perfect opportunity to prove that his distinctive approach to money management...

Something special: special situations investors look for stories that move stock prices.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... For most investors in today's lackluster investing environment, waiting for the economy to rebound or for the next bull market to begin simply isn't good enough. With few industry sectors outperforming the broader indices, some investors...

iDine Rewards Network; company rating: buy. (Fulcrum Global Partners).
April 1, 2003... Ticker: IRN:AMEX Analyst: Alan Weichselbaum 212-803-9078 aweichselbaum@fulcrumgp.com Associate Analyst: Tim Petrycki 212-803-9064 IRN: Anticipated Hotel Platform Announced on the Heels of Another Strong Quarter--Buy Company...

OMI Corporation; company Rating: buy (Fulcrum Global Partners).
April 1, 2003... Ticker: (OMM:NYSE) Analyst: Alan Weichselbaum 212-803-9078 aweichselbaum(@fulcrumgp.com Associate Analyst: Tim Petrycki 212-803-9064 Company Description: OMI Corporation provides seaborne transportation services for crude...

Rita Medical Systems Inc.: (RITA: NasdaqNM)--$4.65. (Equity Research).(financial analysis)
April 1, 2003... Rating: Buy Date: January 21 and January 30, 2003 Investment Recommendation: We are reiterating our Buy rating on RITA Medical Systems Inc. (RITA). RITA is a medical device company developing innovative products that utilize radio...

Taking stock: increasing the accuracy of new drug revenue forecasts.
April 1, 2003... There are few shortcuts in gathering and interpreting all the relevant information necessary for an objective forecast of a new biotechnology or pharmaceutical product's revenue. Exhaustive analysis and interpretation of scientific, clinical,...

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: corporate fact sheet: April 2003.(Company Profile)
April 1, 2003... THE COMPANY BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: BCRX) designs, optimizes and develops novel small-molecule drugs that block key enzymes essential for cancer, cardiovascular diseases and viral infections. BioCryst uses structure-based...

Good growers: Stocks that bloomed in 2002.
April 1, 2003... In a time when the market continues to see-saw, unearthing safe havens is critical for today's investors. Buyside takes a look at MSN Money's 2002 list of best stock ideas and provides snapshots of those companies that are experiencing solid...

Minefinders Corporation Ltd.(financial analysis)
April 1, 2003... 2288-1177 W Hastings St. Vancouver, BC Canada V6E 2K3 TSX: MFL Amex: MFN www.minefinders.com phone (604) 687-6263 fax (604) 687-6267 Dolores Project Operations Overview: Minefinders 100% controlled Dolores...

Coming clean: filtration companies outperform broader industrial sectors.
April 1, 2003... When financial markets sink into uncertainty, savvy investors look for safe havens in industries that are the least likely to suffer with the rest. Industry analysts say that companies involved in the highly-fragmented filtration and...

Pall Corporation (NYSE: PLL): Pall's profit push ahead.
April 1, 2003... Pall Corporation US Specialty & Major Chemicals: Jeffrey J. Zekauskas (212) 622-6644 jeffrey.zekauskas@jpmorgan.com Pall Corporation Rating: Overweight Company Description: Pall is the largest and most diverse...

Global view. (Analyst Profile).
April 1, 2003... Fauzia Rashid The Bank of New York With geopolitical situations reaching pinnacles of uncertainty, the investment community is watching how political interests will play out in the energy sector. In such an environment, it helps to...

An uncertain brew: threat of war adds a new and worrying element to volatile energy markets.
April 1, 2003... The oil and gas markets are tricky enough in the best of times. Raw materials may be in remote or politically unstable areas. Equity values are influenced by such factors as the tax and environmental policies of individual governments, the...

BP.(strategies)
April 1, 2003... "Our strategy is set within a very clear framework, not only of financial discipline but also a disciplined framework of care for all the relationships we have to maintain in order to continue to generate value." Since 1999, BP has been...

Getting in on the ground floor. (Special report: service sector stocks).
April 1, 2003... It seems the bulls and the bears disagree about the oilfield service and supply industry's prospects for 2003 and beyond. Whenever that happens, we say this must be a buying opportunity. Jitters about the Middle East, the economy and the stock...

Service buys: the oilfield-service sector offers some hidden investment opportunities. (Special report: service sector stocks).(Industry Overview)
April 1, 2003... Signs of an impending increase in demand for oilfield services--from the drilling of wells to supplying specialized services and equipment to stimulate and maintain production--have been in place for several months. Overseas supply...

Weatherford[R]: [NYSE Symbol: WFT]: product & service leadership global market reach step change technologies.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Weatherford is a leading company in the worldwide oilfield services industry, with market leadership in core products and services and a manufacturing and distribution system that provides global leverage. Weatherford also has established...

Conference calendar.(Calendar)
April 1, 2003... APRIL SunTrust Robinson Humphrey 32nd ANNUAL INSITITUTIONAL INVESTOR CONFERENCE ** More than 170 management teams meet fact to face with our clients for both formal presentations and one-on-one sessions. Ritz-Carlton Buckhead...

Portland's trailblazers: D.A. Davidson utilizes its regional knowledge to go beyond the street. (Research Profile).
April 1, 2003... D.A. Davidson & Co. John Rogers Director of Institutional Research The Pacific Northwest is looking greener these days, and it isn't just the region's trademark forests that's changing the view--it's the color of money. Being...

Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc.: SCHN *--OTC--$26.55. (Institutional Equity Research).
April 1, 2003... April 3, 2003 Rated: BUY INDUSTRY: IRON & STEEL Company Description Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc., based in Portland, Oregon, is among the largest scrap steel processors in the U.S. The company collects, shreds and sells...

Black Hills Corporation: BKH--NYSE--$23.70. (Institutional Equity Research).
April 1, 2003... February 26, 2003 Rated: BUY INDUSTRY: ELECTRIC UTILITY Company Description Black Hills Corporation is a diversified energy and communications company with three broad business groups. Black Hills Power is an electric utility...

StarMine's sector champions. (Guiding Lights).
April 1, 2003... About StarMine Analyst Ratings StarMine collects data on every estimate, revision and recommendation recorded by Thomson Financial First Call and generates its star ratings based on the accuracy of analyst earnings estimates. Scores are...

Strong momentum: while other firms flounder, Jefferies builds a powerful research team. (Research Profile).
April 1, 2003... Jefferies & Co. Steve Black Equity Research Director Research Director Steve Black must be doing something right. While nearly every other firm seems to be indiscriminately cutting back, Jefferies & Co. is expanding. The...

Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc.: NASDAQ: ENDP--$10.07: rating: buy. (Jefferies).
April 1, 2003... Specialty Pharmaceuticals Initiating Coverage--February 28, 2003 Company Description: Endo Pharmaceuticals, based in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, is a specialty pharmaceutical company engaged in the research, development, sale, and...

Scientific Games Corporation: NASDAQ: SGMS--$4.85: rating: buy. (Jefferies).
April 1, 2003... Gaming & Leisure Update--March 6, 2003 Buy Rated Scientific Games: Strong Growth Potential to be Realized Company Description: Scientific Games Corporation is the leading integrated supplier of instant tickets, systems and...

How Swede it is. (Analyst Showcase).
April 1, 2003... MAGNUS FYHR JEFFERIES & CO. Magnus Fyhr ran out of Sweden as fast as he could. He did it on a track scholarship to Houston Baptist University, where he earned an MBA and became a Viking in Texas, working out of Jefferies & Co.'s...

Frontline Ltd.: NYSE: FRO--$11.45: rating: buy. (Jefferies).
April 1, 2003... Maritime Group Update--March 13, 2003 Company Description: Frontline Ltd. is a major, Bermuda based, tanker company. The fleet, which is the largest and the most modern in the world, consists of 32 Suezmax tankers (of which eight...

Maverick Tube Corporation: NYSE: MVK--$17.40: rating: buy. (Jefferies).
April 1, 2003... Oil Service Group Update--March 21, 2003 Company Description: Maverick Tube Corporation is one of the largest U.S. manufacturers of API Oil Country Tubular Goods, API Line Pipe, ASTM Structural Tubing, ASTM Pipe Piling, and ASTM...

Teekay Shipping Corporation: NYSE: TK--$36.45: rating: buy. (Jefferies).
April 1, 2003... Maritime Group Update--February 23, 2003 Teekay Reports Strong Fourth Quarter Earnings Of $0.82 Company Description: An oceangoing transporter of crude oil and petroleum products, Teekay Shipping operates a fleet of about 100...

Regulation wins. (Analyst Showcase).
April 1, 2003... PAUL FREMONT JEFFERIES & CO. A DIE-HARD CAPITALIST WOULD SAY THAT regulation is a terrible thing. But others, like utilities investors, would call it a trusted comrade. Paul Fremont of Jefferies & Co. has a fascination with the...

Dominion Resources, Inc.: NYSE: D--$54.05 rating: buy. (Jefferies).
April 1, 2003... Electric Utilities Update--February 7, 2003 Company Description: Dominion Resources operates in three main segments: Dominion Energy, Dominion Exploration and Production (E&P), and Dominion Delivery. Dominion Energy houses the...

Southern Company: NYSE: SO: rating: buy. (Jefferies).
April 1, 2003... Electric Utilities Update--January 28, 2003 Company Description: With four million customers and nearly 37,000 megawatts of generating capacity, Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is the premier super-regional energy...

Healthy research: Leerink Swann prospers by focusing on medical niche. (Research Profile).
April 1, 2003... Leerink Swann & Co. A research generalist must possess, the ability to get up-to-speed and stay informed on any number of companies and industries. However, such a person can often become a "jack of all trades, master of none"--knowing...

Atrix Laboratories (Nasdaq: ATRX) Q4 in line; four-month Eligard launched. (Leerink Swann & Company).(financial analysis and rating)
April 1, 2003... March 7, 2003 Outperform COMPANY DESCRIPTION: Atrix is a multiple opportunities drug delivery and drug development company. With five patented technologies, the company specializes in non-oral drug delivery providing parenteral,...

Beyond the silo: MJSK team discovers flourishing companies within small-cap arena. (Research Profile).
April 1, 2003... Miller Johnson Steichen Kinnard Sometimes good stock ideas can be found in the most unlikely places--just ask the analysts at Miller Johnson Steichen Kinnard (MJSK). This Midwest firm's research team has the freedom to discover companies...

Regis Corporation (RGIS $27.04) buy. (Research Update).
April 1, 2003... January 21, 2003 ESTIMATE CHANGES: FY 2003: EPS-$1.91 increased from $1.89 COMPANY DESCRIPTION: Regis Corporation. a Fortune 1000 company, is the largest owner operator: franchisor and acquirer of hair and retail product...