Intel (INTC) has switched some of its focus from its primary business as a chip maker to the smartphone industry, a move that could be highly beneficial or that could just as easily fall flat.

Intel has finally set its sights on the telecom industry. This is a smart move considering smartphones are what consumers want these days. Not to mention that it could use the diversity in its portfolio. However, I feel that Intel may have entered the market too late. In fact it is safe to say that Intel came literally out of nowhere when it announced its intention a little while ago to become a strong presence in the mobile phone industry. The change from chipmaker to mobile phone manufacturer seems to be a very sudden one for most investors to cope with. The company remains optimistic saying that its technology can help device manufacturers to improve their products. For the sake of the company, and in the hope that it will be able to make big enough of a splash to benefit investors, I hope that it is right.

Intel recently launched its first ever smartphone. The phone, which is known as the Xolo X900, was developed in partnership with Lava. Lava is an Indian based mobile phone manufacturer. India seems like a less than ideal place for a company such as Intel to launch its first ever phone, but you need to remember that the population of India is enormous and ever expanding, providing a big market for new products such as this one.To continue reading, click here.

One of the leading independent energy companies leading the way in the exploration and development of natural gas liquids (NGL) is Devon (DVN). While other energy companies are searching out alternative resources because of the downward pricing of natural gas, Devon is going for the liquid.

This is a smart move especially when analysts are expecting this company’s growth, due to NGL, to be close to 13% this year. Of course NGL is not Devon’s only energy resource to bring to market. The company is expecting growth of up to 24% from its oil plays. In the most recent quarter, the company reported record production of 694,000 barrels of oil equivalent (BOE) per day in the most recent quarter, up 10% from the first quarter of 2011. Devon is a company that I believe investors should not just keep a keen eye on, but own the company while watching its phenomenal growth.

Two of Devon’s competitors, Apache (APA) and Anadarko (APC) are in for a surprise when Devon’s plans finally begin to take hold. Lesser competitors such as Cabot Oil & Gas (COG), Comstock Resources (CRK), and Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ) will also need to be on their toes as Devon begins taking action on its lofty goals. The company has set a goal to spend $1 billion more than originally planned for oil exploration, or close to $6.5 billion, with expectations of increasing its oil and gas production by 6% to 8% on an annual basis over the next five years.To continue reading, click here.

EMC (EMC) and Verizon (VZ) have just announceda new cloud computing partnership that will involve EMC, the giant data storage company and Verizon’s managed IT infrastructure subsidiary, Terremark. Terremark will provide standard offerings in its private cloud business on EMC infrastructure for public and hybrid cloud deployments by its customers. In addition, the two companies are expected to work together on the development of new cloud-based services and products that use EMC storage, backup and replication. Verizon paid $1.4 billion last year for Terremark as an entry into the potentially lucrative infrastructure and cloud services business. The companies have been working together for almost 10 years now.

Earlier, EMC reported strong results for the first quarter and this is the ninth consecutive quarter in which the company has achieved growth in double digits for revenue, EPS and net income. Revenue for the first quarter was $5.1 billion, an increase of 11% on a year on year basis and net income rose by 23% to $587 million. First-quarter EPS was $.37 a share an increase of 29% over the figure of $.27 a share in the same quarter of the previous year. Operating cash flow was $1.7 billion and free cash flow amounted to $1.4 billion. The company ended the quarter with $10.7 billion in cash and equivalents. The revenues were divided roughly equally between the United States and the rest of the world. The company reported strong customer demand for its leading mid-tier storage products portfolio3 while the Isilon scale-out NAS business nearly doubled its revenue .To continue reading, click here.

Patent expiriations aside, acquisitions and new drug launches are boosting earnings. In this article, I’ll show how Big Pharma is back, and explain that the proverbial patent cliffs instead are plateaus for specific drugs facing generic competition.

Merck (MRK) beat consensus earnings estimates in the most recent quarter by one cent and continues to enjoy a modest but steady rise in share value, even though its apex breadwinner, Singulair, is winding its way to a U.S. patent expiration on August 3rd of this year. Currently trading at around $39 per share with a market capitalization trending toward $118 billion, Merck CEO Kenneth Frazier seems nonplussed by the looming loss of more than $1 billion in gross revenues generated by Singulair sales. Merck, of course, is not the only big pharma player to face patent expirations on its blockbuster drugs.

Eli Lilly (LLY) faced similar challenges to revenue growth when its U.S. patent on Zyprexa expired October 23rd, 2011. Clearly, a durable competitive advantage for major drug manufacturers must necessarily rely on research and the continuous development of new therapies for life threatening and life changing illnesses. That said, we will examine Merck, Eli Lilly and a couple of other major drug manufacturers that will face expiring patents on best selling drugs. I want to convince myself that Merck CEO Kenneth Frazier is justified in his optimism, so I will take a look at Eli Lilly in the wake of its Zyprexa expiry.To continue reading, click here.

Microsoft (MSFT) is solid undervalued long-term investment on the market that could increase significantly in stock price within the next few years. Microsoft has innovative technologies on the horizon to regain its leadership in the tech sector once again.

Microsoft is also forming powerful partnerships with industry leaders in order to compete with Apple (AAPL) and Google (GOOG) as the tech industry evolves. Its expansive influence in multiple industries along with its proven success for decades from increased capital and revenues makes Microsoft one of the most favorable investments on the market. The stock price has been relatively flat for some time, but Microsoft is making plans that could certainly double, if not triple, its stock price within the next four years. Microsoft is clearly undervalued at its current stock price of approximately $30 per share; this is an opportune time to invest in Microsoft now before the price increases to reflect its true value.

Its stock price has ranged from around $23 to under $33 for the past year. Microsoft has increased revenue to over $55 billion, which is a 6% increase from last year. It is essentially free of long-term debt and has a significant amount of capital as well. Microsoft has increased earnings by over 9% from 2008 into 2011. A net income margin of 30% from 2008 to 2012 also shows promise and sustainability, despite the flat stock price. Microsoft has a market cap of over $250 billion and dividend yield over 2%, even without the innovations and advantageous partnerships on the horizon; this is a promising long-term investment as the current stock price.To continue reading, click here.

Societe Generale began analyst coverage of Cabot Oil & Gas (COG) on April 24, and inaugurated coverage by awarding Cabot with a buy rating. Societe Generale’s rating matches the buy ratings previously announced by Canaccord Genuity and Ladenburg Thalmann. However, the mean analyst recommendation is at hold, which I agree with given Cabot’s slight overpricing, as discussed below.

Cabot will release first quarter 2012 results on April 26. Cabot’s results are unlikely to be materially impacted by its one-week production halt on the Marcellus shale, which was caused by a flash fire at the Lathrop Compressor Station. According to Cabot, it was moving 365 mmcf per day through Lathrop at the time of the incident. As of the end of 2011, Cabot operated fifteen of the top twenty dry gas wells on Marcellus. However, the shut down only impacted the last two days of the quarter.

Recent News

Cabot is indicating that it is relying heavily on Marcellus as a future profit driver, as it plans to allocate up to 65% of its annual investment dollars to projects on this play “for the foreseeable future.” Cabot is also hedging falling dry gas prices with a renewed focus on liquids in the Eagle Ford shale and Marmaton. According to Cabot, these two plays doubled its liquids proved reserves in 2011, and it plans to add to its prospect inventory for oil.

Like competitor Chesapeake Energy (CHK), Cabot is converting its fleet to run on compressed natural gas (CNG), though Cabot is not jumping as wholeheartedly into the venture. To continue reading, click here.

Phoenixes do rise from the ashes, as evident by the fabled revival of Apple (AAPL). Technology investors generally focus on growth and avoid these potential phoenix opportunities as too risky to justify the time and energy. Yahoo’s (YHOO) missteps are well-documented and whether the company represents a value investment that may award investors like Apple or simply keep falling like Newton’s Apple, is one of the most debated ideas in technology. So, let’s add my opinion to the debate.

Background

Yahoo was founded in 1994 by co-founders Jerry Yang and David Filo, whose combined stake in the company’s common equity is still slightly above 7%. The company grew rapidly during the 1990s and its stock price soared to an all-time record of $118.75 on January 3, 2000, during the dot com boom. Yahoo became the most successful of the web portal companies to emerge during the 1990s, and it successfully defended itself from the occasional attempts by Microsoft (MSFT) to break into the portal space. As Yahoo grew, it made a series of acquisitions in the belief that web users would prefer a one-stop website for their news, gossip and search activities.

Current Situation

A simple look at Yahoo’s 2011 revenue ($4.9 billion versus $6.3 billion in 2010) shows a fairly dramatic decline in revenue, but this is primarily due to the search agreement that Yahoo signed with Microsoft. Excluding this agreement, revenue appears roughly unchanged from 2010. It should be noted that Microsoft offered to buy all of Yahoo in February 2008 for $31 a share, or approximately 100% over Yahoo’s recent share price of $14.75. To continue reading, click here.

Valeant Pharmaceuticals (VRX) is a high-priced stock with plenty of value, and I believe it is only going to climb higher in the coming months and years. The price is right around $52 and I believe it is worth every penny. The company owns both prescription and over-the-counter products, and there are several opportunities in its pipeline. With a focus on dermatology, it does not run the risk that many other biotech companies face. However, it is conducting research in the neurology market, so those uncomfortable with a focus on only dermatology have no reason to worry.

The company’s OTC product line includes skin and hair care, pain relief, vitamins, topical care, and other items. It includes brands such as CeraVe, Hissyfit, Dermaglow, Ultra, Dermaveen, Nyal, Dr. Renaud, Kinerase, and Dr. LeWinn’s. In addition to the company’s profitable OTC line, there are also a number of pharmaceutical grade products in the pipeline, including products in Phase II and Phase III trials. These include treatments for psoriasis, acne, and fungal infections.

There are several reasons I believe Valeant is a heavy hitter, and the first is its recent announcement that it will be moving its headquarters from Toronto to Quebec. The goal is to establish a state-of-the-art center for dermatology in the new location. A lofty goal such as this proves the company considers itself stable enough to focus on growth and is looking toward the future. Combined with its overall diversity and not-as-tumultuous focus, Valeant is a great investment. To continue reading, click here.

Alcoa (AA) is the third largest aluminum producer in the world and the biggest based in the United States. Recently, it reported a surprise net income for the first quarter of $0.09 per share versus an expected loss by its stock followers. Alcoa shares rose 6% on the news but I believe that the stock should go up even more in the next couple of years. The main reason is that Alcoa is reducing its capacity and is also undergoing a cost restructuring program which should reduce its aluminum producing costs by 10% through 2015 and the company also has a number of segments which are more profitable than its main aluminum segment. Second, the shares are trading below their price to earnings range and earnings should improve substantially in the next couple of years which should drive the share price up after a 44% decline in 2011 and a riseof around 7% year-to-date.

Alcoa is the largest domestic aluminum producer with a market capitalization of $10.5 billion, enterprise value of $18 billion, a price to earnings ratio of 18 and an annualized dividend yield of 1.2%. The company is trading near its 52-week low of $8.45 and has a 5 year trading range between $5 and $48 per share. Historically, Alcoa stock has been trading at an average of between 16 and 23 and its current price to earnings ratio is at the lower end of this range at around 18. I believe that due to efficiencies, increased demand due to higher economic activities, and a rising price of aluminum, Alcoa will earn $0.60 this year and $0.95 per share next year. Assuming the aluminum price increases by 25% from the current price of about $2,000 per tone, to $2,500 per tone, which is roughly the average price for the past five years, Alcoa should be able to earn $1 per share in 2013 and its current price implies a price to earnings ratio for 2013 of 10 or two times lower than the average price to earnings ratio of 20 which the company has been able to maintain in the past decade. To continue reading, click here.

Questcor Pharmaceuticals (QCOR) is definitely one biotech company to be on the lookout for. Over the past few months, Questcor has been riding a single drug all the way to the bank, and even with signs of a slowdown, Questcor is still a major contender in the minor leagues of biotech companies.

Questcor’s drug Acthar is used in the treatment of a few different disorders, including multiple sclerosis, infantile spasms and nephrotic syndrome. Although Questcor did not see a rise equivalent, in dollar terms, to bigger name companies producing world changing drugs, it definitely saw a rise that would make any investor excited for gains.

After a quick fall that occurs after such an instantaneous jump, the stock rose again and eventually began to even out around $38. While growth may be slowing at this point, expect Questcor to hang around its current price as the market for Acthar gel is quite the niche. While this may seem like a downside, there are not many other options for the type of treatment that Acthar provides, so sales will hit an amount that will stay constant, allowing a regular source of income into Questcor that will assist in developing a lower leverage for future investments.

While all this is, of course, great for someone who already has Questcor, I would suggest avoiding purchasing stock in the company at the moment because its price is still high from the release of the drug. Wait until the stock is more stable to make a purchase, assuming the next drug that is in the future for the company has a good outlook. To continue reading, click here.