Alamy You can never know in advance all the news that will move the market in a given week, but some things you can see coming. From a new tablet from Amazon to Microsoft giving Windows an overdue makeover, here are some of the items that will help shape the week that lies ahead on Wall Street. Monday -- Bank on It: We're just getting started with earnings season, but Monday will be relatively quiet on that front. One of the few companies kicking off the week with fresh financials will be Wintrust (WTFC), a financial holding company with $18 billion in assets. It operates 15 different community bank subsidiaries with 100 different locations. It may not be the same kind of snapshot of the financial industry that we got this past Friday when bigger banks reported, but we can't ignore the importance of community banks in gauging the state of the economic turnaround. Tuesday -- Pop Stars: Coca-Cola (KO) reports on Tuesday, and if that isn't enough we will have PepsiCo (PEP) checking in on Wednesday. Coke and Pepsi have been battling one another for years, but in some ways, they're united against common adversaries these days. Between the growing popularity of making sodas at home, and critics taking them on over the health implications of consuming too many sugary (or artificially sweetened) drinks, it's a whole different kind of cola war these days. Investors looking for growth may want to look elsewhere. Analysts see Pepsi's revenue inching just 2 percent higher when it reports. It's worse for Coca-Cola, with Wall Street targeting a 2 percent decline in sales. Wednesday -- Paypal Day: eBay (EBAY) reports its third quarter results on Wednesday. There was a time when eBay was strictly an online flea market, but these days we're seeing PayPal become a bigger part of the model. Yes, eBay also owns PayPal, the most popular way to settle online transactions outside of plastic. PayPal has started to expand its reach into traditional retailers, making it possible for someone to check out at a physical storefront using PayPal. Analysts see revenue and earnings growing by 15 percent for the quarter, and it's a fair bet that PayPal will be the one carrying the company again this period. Thursday -- Microsoft Gets a Do Over: It's been a year since Microsoft (MSFT) rolled out Windows 8. The operating system -- built from the ground up with tablets and other touch-screen experiences in mind -- was supposed to breathe new life into the struggling PC industry. It fell short. PC sales have fallen every quarter since the Windows 8 roll out, and while the software giant has sold a ton of licenses, users have had mixed feelings about the platform. Windows 8.1 will be available online on Thursday as an upgrade, tackling many of the customization flaws in the original version. A hard copy of the software will be available at retailers a day later. It may not be enough to rescue the PC industry, but at least it will give computer users something different to kick around. Friday -- Another Kindle is Born: There will be Surfaces, iPads, and other tablets hitting the market later this month, but on Friday we get to see Amazon.com's (AMZN) latest toy when the 7-inch Kindle Fire HDX hits the market. Amazon is pricing the new device aggressively, as it did for its previous models. Despite a rich spec sheet, the Kindle Fire HDX starts at just $229. Amazon isn't out to turn a profit on the hardware. It knows that the real money waits in the digital downloads that can be purchased through its ecosystem. A neat feature here is Mayday, through which visual tech support will be available for free. Techies won't be able to see you through the tablet's camera, but they will be able to see what you're doing and tackle what ails your Kindle Fire. Let's hope that the early adopters don't abuse the perk.
10 Best Tech Stocks To Own Right Now: Absolute Software Corp (ABT.TO)
Absolute Software Corporation develops, markets, and supports computer security and endpoint management services and products worldwide. It offers endpoint security products, such as Computrace, a software-as-a-service based security solution for endpoint data protection, tracking, investigative, and device recovery services, which enables customers to secure and track their IT assets in a single Web-based interface; and Absolute Secure Drive to manage self-encrypting hard drives. The company also provides endpoint management products, including Absolute Manage, a lifecycle management and mobile device solution that enables IT administrators to manage PC, Mac, iOS, Android, and Windows phone devices from a single console; mobile device management, mobile application management, and mobile document distribution solutions to alternative mobile devices, such as tablets and smart phones; power management ROI calculator to calculate annual power management savings and the payba ck period on Absolute Manage investments; and InstallEase that allows to create customized installer software packages for Windows and Mac OS X. In addition, it offers Computrace LoJack for Laptops to find and recover stolen laptops. Further, the company provides data protection, investigation, and recovery services comprising data delete, device freeze, persistent device messaging, remote file retrieval, location identification, end of life data delete, remote forensics, and theft recovery services; and professional and training services. It serves corporations, educational institutions, healthcare and government organizations, and individual consumers. The company markets its products through computer original equipment manufacturers, value added resellers, system integrators, distributors, and online and traditional retailers, as well as directly to customers. Absolute Software Corporation was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.
10 Best Tech Stocks To Own Right Now: Sylogist Ltd.(SYZ.V)
Sylogist Ltd. provides financial enterprise information management systems, system connectivity solutions, and portal applications to municipal, education, and private sector customers in Canada and the United States. The company?s Enterprise Systems division offers a suite of software applications, including Web-based solutions, collaborative meeting management products, and employee and citizen self-service applications that allow municipalities, utilities, and school districts to manage their financial, human resources, and operational requirements; and implementation services. It delivers its solutions as customer installed solutions, or supplies in a software-as-a-service format. The company?s Connectivity division provides Sylobridge to connect transactional sub-systems to various enterprise resource planning systems; and Syloway mobile software, which is used in inventory and manufacturing control, logistics, work order management, and automated data capture appli cations. Sylogist Ltd. is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.
10 Best Energy Stocks To Buy For 2014: Violin Memory Inc (VMEM)
Violin Memory, Inc., incorporated on March 9, 2005, is pioneering a new class of flash-based storage systems that are designed to bring storage performance in-line with high-speed applications, servers and networks. The Company�� Flash Memory Arrays are specifically designed at each level of the system architecture starting with memory and optimized through the array to leverage the inherent capabilities of flash memory and meet the sustained requirements of business-critical applications, virtualized environments and Big Data solutions in enterprise data centers. The Company�� Velocity Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe), Flash Memory Cards leverage its persistent memory-based architecture in servers and are optimized for applications that require continuous access to quantities of low latency persistent memory located directly in servers.
The Company�� storage systems are based on a four-layer hardware architecture, which is integrated with its Violin Memory Operating System (vMOS), software stack to optimize the management of flash memory at each level of its system architecture. The Company�� Velocity PCIe Flash Memory Cards leverage its expertise in persistent memory-based storage and controller design, as well as its vMOS software stack, to offer a differentiated architecture in a deployable PCIe form factor.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Paul Ausick]
Stocks on the Move: J.C. Penney Co. Inc. (NYSE: JCP) is down 13.9% at $8.97 after a secondary stock offering�that might have been designed to drive out short sellers. Violin Memory Inc. (NASDAQ: VMEM) is down 21% at $7.11 on a lousy IPO�day. RingCentral Inc. (NYSE: RNG) is up 39.5% at $18.14 on a good IPO day.
10 Best Tech Stocks To Own Right Now: Zynga Inc (ZNGA.O)
Zynga Inc. (Zynga), is a provider of social game services with 240 million average monthly active users over 175 countries. The Company develops, markets and operates online social games as live services played over the Internet and on social networking sites and mobile platforms. The Company�� games are accessible on Facebook, other social networks and mobile platforms to players globally, wherever and whenever they want. It operates its games as live services. All of its games are free to play, and it generates revenue through the in-game sale of virtual goods and advertising. In March 2012, the Company acquired New York-based social game developer OMGPOP, makers of the cultural hit mobile game, Draw Something, and over 35 additional social games. In 2012, the Company launched several new games, including Hidden Chronicles, Zynga Bingo, Scramble With Friends, Slingo and Dream Heights.
Social Games
The Company designs its social games to pro vide players with shared experiences. Its social games leverage the global connectivity and distribution on Facebook, other social networks and mobile platforms, such as Apple iOS and Google Android. Its games are free to play, span a number of genres. It operates its games as live services and updates them with content and features. Its games include CityVille, Zynga Poker, FarmVille, CastleVille, FrontierVille, Mafia Wars and Word with Friends.
Virtual Goods
The Company�� primary revenue source is the sale of virtual currency, which players use to buy in-game virtual goods. Some forms of virtual currency are earned through game play, while other forms can only be acquired for cash or, in some cases, by accepting promotional offers from its advertising partners.
Advertising
The Company�� advertising services offer ways for marketers and advertisers to reach and engage with its players. Its advertising offerings includ e branded virtual goods and sponsorships, engagement ads, ! mo! bile ads and display Ads. It offers branded virtual goods and sponsorships integrate advertising within game play; Engagement Ads and Offers, in which players can answer certain questions or sign up for third party services to receive virtual currency; Mobile Ads through ad-supported free versions of its mobile games such as Words with Friends and Display Ads in its online web games include banner advertisements.
The Company competes with Crowdstar, Inc., DeNA, Electronic Arts Inc., King.com, The Walt Disney Company, Vostu, Ltd. wooga GmbH, Amazon.com, Inc., Facebook, Inc., Google Inc., Microsoft Corporation , Tencent Holdings Limited, Apple, Electronic Arts, GREE, DeNA Co. Ltd., Gameloft, Glu Mobile, Rovio Mobile Ltd , Storm8, Inc., Activision Blizzard, Inc., Big Fish Games, Inc., Electronic Arts, SEGA of America, Inc., and THQ Inc..
10 Best Tech Stocks To Own Right Now: Progress Software Corporation(PRGS)
Progress Software Corporation operates as an enterprise software company worldwide. Its products include Progress OpenEdge platform, which offers development tools, application servers, application management tools, and an embedded database; Progress Orbix to address enterprise integration problems with standards-based solutions; and Progress ObjectStore, an object data management system to store data faster than relational database management system or file-based storage system. The company?s products also comprise Progress Responsiveness Process Management suite for business users; Progress Control Tower, an interactive business control panel; Progress Sonic, which comprises an enterprise messaging system and the enterprise service buses; Progress Actional that provides operational and business visibility, root cause analysis, and policy-based security and control of services; Progress Apama, which offers tools for creating, testing, and deploying strategies for applicat ions, including algorithmic trading, market aggregation, smart order routing, market surveillance and monitoring, and risk management; Progress Savvion BusinessManager, a business process management software; and Fuse products that provide customers with access to professional open source integration and messaging software. In addition, it offers Progress DataDirect Connect products, which provide data connectivity components; Progress DataDirect Shadow to provide foundation architecture for standards-based mainframe integration; and Progress Data Services product set that offers data integration for distributed applications. Further, the company provides maintenance, consulting, training, and customer support services. Progress Software Corporation sells its products to independent software vendors, original equipment manufacturers, and system integrators through direct sales force and independent distributors. The company was founded in 1981 and is based in Bedford, Massac husetts.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Rich Duprey]
Believing it should have a single, cohesive platform for the development of�cloud and mobile application development technologies, Progress Software (NASDAQ: PRGS ) announced this morning it was selling its�Apama�complex event processing solution to Software AG for an undisclosed sum.
- [By Rick Munarriz]
Progress Software (NASDAQ: PRGS ) moved higher after posting better-than-expected quarterly results this week. The provider of developer tools software saw revenue rise by a better-than-expected 10%, and its adjusted net income of $0.27 a share blew past the $0.22 a share that the market was forecasting.�
10 Best Tech Stocks To Own Right Now: Nektar Therapeutics(NKTR)
Nektar Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, engages in developing a pipeline of drug candidates that utilize its PEGylation and polymer conjugate technology platforms. The company?s product pipeline consists of drug candidates across various therapeutic areas, including oncology, pain, anti-infectives, anti-viral, and immunology. Its research and development activities involve small molecule drugs, peptides, and other potential biologic drug candidates. The company?s proprietary drug candidates in clinical development comprise NKTR-118, a peripheral opioid antagonist, which has completed Phase II clinical trail for the treatment of opioid-induced constipation; BAY41-6551 that has completed Phase II clinical trail to treat gram-negative pneumonias; NKTR-102, a topoisomerase I inhibitor-polymer conjugate, which is in Phase II clinical trail for multiple cancer indications, including breast, ovarian, and colorectal; and NKTR-105 that is in Phase I clinica l trail to treat solid tumors. Its preclinical products consists of NKTR-119 (Opioid/NKTR-118 combinations) for the treatment of pain; NKTR-181 (abuse deterrent, tamper-resistant opioid) to treat pain; NKTR-194 (non-scheduled opioid) for the treatment of mild to moderate pain; NKTR-171 (tricyclic antidepressant) to treat neuropathic pain; and NKTR-140 (protease inhibitor candidate) to treat HIV. The company has collaboration with Bayer Healthcare LLC to develop BAY41-6551 (NKTR-061, Amikacin Inhale), which is an inhaled solution of amikacin, an aminoglycoside antibiotic; and a license agreement with AstraZeneca AB for the development and commercialization of Oral NKTR-118 and NKTR-119. In addition, Nektar Therapeutics has various license, manufacturing, and supply agreements for its technology with biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, such as Affymax, Amgen, Baxter, Roche, Merck, Pfizer, and UCB Pharma. The company was founded in 1990 and is headquartered in San Franc isco, California.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Keith Speights]
How sweet it is
Nektar Therapeutics (NASDAQ: NKTR ) shareholders saw sweet gains this week. The stock climbed 18% on positive clinical study results.
10 Best Tech Stocks To Own Right Now: DealerTrack Holdings Inc.(TRAK)
DealerTrack Holdings, Inc. provides software solutions to the automotive retail industry in the United States and Canada. The company offers DealerTrack DMS, an open platform to integrate and manage functions of store operations. It also provides sales and finance solutions, including DealerTrack Credit Application Network to transmit a consumer?s credit application information to lenders; BookOut to look up used automobile values; DealerTrack Compliance to sign, store, and protect customer and financing activity; DealerTrack eContracting to obtain electronic signatures, and transmit contracts and contract information electronically to lenders; DealTransfer to transfer transaction information; CreditOnline to submit credit application data online; SalesMaker, a desking system; DealerTrack eMenu to present insurance and other aftermarket product options in a menu format; and DealerTrack Aftermarket Network that offers real-time aftermarket contract rating and quote generat ion. In addition, the company provides inventory solutions, such as DealerTrack eCarList, an inventory management and distribution platform; and DealerTrack AAX, an inventory optimization and analytics system. Further, it offers processing solutions, such as DealerTrack OLRS that provides do-it-yourself version of department of motor vehicle processing; DealerTrack RegUSA for cross-border vehicle transactions; DealerTrack Electronic Lien & Title (ELT) to manage ELT; DealerTrack?s Title and Collateral Administration, a title management solution; and DealerTrack eDocs to digitize contracts and submit them electronically. Additionally, it provides data services; and on-demand credit application and contract processing services to indirect automotive finance industry in Canada. The company serves dealers, lenders, original equipment manufacturers, third party retailers, agents, and aftermarket providers. DealerTrack Holdings, Inc. was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in Lak e Success, New York.
10 Best Tech Stocks To Own Right Now: Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation(SMI)
Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation, an investment holding company, engages in the computer-aided design, manufacture, packaging, testing, and trade of integrated circuits. It offers a range of technologies from 0.35μm to 65nm with capabilities that include logic, mixed signal/RF CMOS, high voltage, embedded, flash, EEPROM, and CIS technology. The company also provides portfolio of semiconductor intellectual property (IP) blocks from 0.35um to 65nm to support the design needs of customers; ASIC design services; reference flows; mixed-signal/RF PDKs; and multi-project wafer services. In addition, it involves in the design and manufacture of semiconductor masks; and provides assembly and testing, wafer bumping, and wafer probing/testing services. Further, the company offers marketing related activities; operates convenience stores; and manufactures and trades in solar cell related semiconductor products. Its products are used primarily in mobile, network ing, and wireless local area network applications, as well as in consumer and communications products, including digital television, set-top box, mobile, portable media player, and personal digital assistant applications. The company serves integrated device manufacturers, fables semiconductor companies, and system companies principally in the United States, Europe, and the Asia Pacific. Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Shanghai, the People?s Republic of China.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Inyoung Hwang]
National benchmark indexes advanced in 13 of the 18 western European markets this week. France�� CAC 40 Index climbed 1.2 percent and Germany�� DAX Index increased 0.6 percent. The U.K.�� FTSE 100 Index sank 1.3 percent, while the Swiss Market Index (SMI) retreated 0.2 percent.
- [By Corinne Gretler]
Nestle decreased 2.6 percent to 63 francs, contributing the most to the SMI (SMI)�� drop. Revenue in the first half increased 4.1 percent, excluding acquisitions, divestments and currency shifts. That missed the median estimate of 4.5 percent growth.
10 Best Tech Stocks To Own Right Now: Kingtone Wirelessinfo Solution Holding Ltd(KONE)
Kingtone Wirelessinfo Solution Holding Ltd operates as a software and solutions developer focusing on wirelessly enabling businesses and government agencies. The company develops and provides mobile enterprise solutions, which allow company personnel whose work function requires mobility to be connected with enterprise information technology systems, including enterprise asset management, enterprise resource planning, supply chain management, and customer relationship management. It develops and implements mobile enterprise solutions for customers in various sectors and industries to enhance efficiencies by enabling information management in wireless environments. The company?s software enables such systems to get extended to personnel in the field using wireless devices, such as smart phones, PDAs, cameras, barcode scanners, portable printers, GPS devices, and tablet computers. Its mobile enterprise solutions are built on its proprietary core middleware platform consisti ng of standardized modules. The company was formerly known as ReiZii Capital Management Ltd. and changed its name to Kingtone Wirelessinfo Solution Holding Ltd in December 2009. Kingtone Wirelessinfo Solution Holding was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in Xi?an, China.
10 Best Tech Stocks To Own Right Now: Harmonic Inc.(HLIT)
Harmonic Inc. designs, manufactures, and sells video infrastructure products and system solutions to create, prepare, and deliver a range of video services for television and media platforms in the united States and internationally. Its products include video production platforms and playout solutions, such as video servers used by broadcasters, content owners, and multi-channel network operators to create and play-to-air television channels; video-optimized storage, which provides storage capacity and access bandwidth to support media production applications comprising video editing, content transformation, and media library management; and media applications that provide media integrated management and workflow control over content stored on its systems. The company offers video processing products, including broadcast encoders; contribution and distribution encoders; stream processing and statistical multiplexing solutions; content preparation and delivery for multi-scr een applications; decoders and descramblers; and management and control software. It also provides edge products that integrate routing, multiplexing, scrambling, and modulation into a single package; optical transmitters and amplifiers, which operates at various optical wavelengths and serves long-haul and local transport applications in the cable distribution network; optical nodes to supports network architectures for bandwidth delivered to a service area; and return path transmitters that support two-way transmission capabilities for analog or digital transport. In addition, the company offers technical support and professional services, such as maintenance and support; and consulting, implementation, and integration services. Harmonic Inc. sells its products through direct sales force, independent distributors, and integrators to cable, satellite and telco, and broadcast and media companies. The company was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in San Jose, California. Advisors' Opinion:
- [By Evan Niu]
What: Shares of Harmonic (NASDAQ: HLIT ) have jumped today by as much as 16% after the company reported earnings.
So what: Revenue in the second quarter totaled $117.1 million, and bookings were $126.3 million. Non-GAAP net income was $5.6 million, or $0.05 per share. That bottom-line result is a welcome improvement compared to the adjusted net loss of $0.02 per share a year ago.
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