Word of the Day

Exchange-Traded Fund

In the wide and varied family of the thousands and thousands of funds out there, the exchange-traded fund is one of the more consumer-friendly ones.

Unlike mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, or ETFs, behave more like stocks. You can buy into an ETF at any time, and sell it whenever you feel like it. And like a stock, an ETF's value can rise and fall--depending on what the ETF is invested in.What do ETFs invest in? Well, they're typically linked to an index like the Dow Jones Industrial Average or the S&P 500. So, if you had an ETF that trades the same companies that make up the Dow or the S&P, it will rise and fall in value pretty much the same amount as the Dow or S&P.

You can also buy ETFs that invest in other types of products, like bonds, currencies, gold or other commodities. The ETF market has grown considerably in the past few years, so there is no shortage of ETFs to invest in.

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Monday, August 04, 2008

Stocks In Focus For Tuesday

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MarketWatch

SAN FRANCISCO -- Among the companies whose shares are expected to see active trading in Tuesday's session are Cisco, Procter & Gamble, Whole Foods, and News Corp.

Cisco Systems (CSCO) is projected to post fourth-quarter earnings of 36 cents a share, according to analysts surveyed by FactSet Research.

Procter & Gamble Co. (PG) is forecast to report fourth-quarter earnings of 78 cents a share, according to analysts surveyed by FactSet Research.

Whole Foods Market (WFMI) is likely to report third-quarter earnings of 31 cents a share, according to analysts surveyed by FactSet Research.

News Corp. (NWS) , the publisher of this Web site and The Wall Street Journal, is expected to report fourth-quarter earnings of 35 cents a share, according to analysts surveyed by FactSet Research.

Analysts surveyed by FactSet Research are predicting Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) to report fourth-quarter earnings of 70 cents a share.

Weyerhaeuser Co. (WY) is forecast to post a loss of 22 cents a share in the second quarter, according to analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters.

Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters are estimating Riskmetrics Group (RMG) to post second-quarter earnings of 6 cents a share.

Fidelity National Information (FIS) is projected to report second-quarter earnings of 33 cents a share, according to analysts surveyed by FactSet Research.

Molson Coors Brewing Co. (TAP) is likely to post earnings of $1.16 a share in the second quarter, according to analysts surveyed by FactSet Research.

Jack in the Box (JBX) is expected to post earnings of 51 cents a share in the third quarter, according to analysts surveyed by FactSet Research.

Analysts are predicting Wendy's International (WEN) to report earnings of 36 cents a share in the second quarter, according to a survey by FactSet Research.

Leap Wireless International (LEAP) is forecast to post second-quarter earnings of 4 cents a share, according to analysts surveyed by FactSet Research.

NetSuite Inc. (N) is likely to report a loss of 2 cents a share in the second quarter, according to analysts surveyed by FactSet Research.

Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters are estimating Sotheby's (BID) to post earnings of $1.41 a share in the second quarter.

MGM Mirage (MGM) is projected to report second-quarter earnings of 43 cents a share, according to a survey of analysts by FactSet Research.

Priceline.com (PCLN) is likely to post earnings of $1.41 a share in the second quarter, according to analysts polled by Thomson Reuters.

Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group (DTG) is expected to post a loss of 41 cents a share in the second quarter, according to analysts surveyed by FactSet Research.

Marvel Entertainment Inc. (MVL) is forecast to report earnings of 43 cents a share in the second quarter, according to a survey by FactSet Research.

Overseas, several notable foreign firms, including Air France-KLM (AFLYY) and adidas (ADDYY) , are slated to report earnings while Cathay Pacific (293) and Societe Generale (SCGLY) will provide updates on midquarter performances.

After Monday's closing bell, AMR Corp. (AMR) said traffic at its American Airlines and American Eagle carriers fell for the month of July. American Airlines traffic fell 3.5% to 12.46 billion revenue passenger miles and American Eagle traffic fell 9.1% to 761.7 million revenue passenger miles from the year-ago period. Capacity at both airlines also fell, with American Airlines down 1.2% to 14.52 billion available seat miles from last year, and American Eagle falling 0.9% to 1.04 billion available seat miles. Load factor, or the percentage of available seats filled with passengers, fell in July by 2 percentage points to 85.8% at American Airlines, and dropped by 6.5 percentage points to 73.1% at American Eagle.

Hovnanian Enterprises Inc.'s (HOV) board adopted a shareholder rights plan to preserve the value of certain tax assets primarily associated with net operating loss carryforwards (NOL) and built-in losses under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code. The homebuilder's ability to use its NOLs and built in losses would be limited, if there were an ownership change under Section 382.

A federal judge rejected a mistrial motion in a copyright infringement case involving Mattel Inc. (MAT) and its smaller rival MGA Entertainment, maker of Bratz, according to media reports. The decision paves the way for the damage phase of the trial. Last month, a jury had ruled that Carter Bryant had come up with the concept of Bratz dolls while working for Mattel. A lawyer for MGA Entertainment had asked for a mistrial after a juror was dismissed due to racial remarks made during deliberations.

Midway Games Inc. (MWY) reported a second-quarter net loss of $34.8 million, or 38 cents a share, compared to a net loss of $14.3 million, or 16 cents a share, in the same period last year. Excluding the cost of stock options and other items, the company said net losses would have totaled $26.4 million, or 29 cents per share. Revenue fell 26% to $23.4 million. Analysts were expecting a loss of 38 cents a share on revenue of $18.4 million for the quarter, according to consensus forecasts from Thomson Reuters.

Pitney Bowes Inc. (PBI) reported a second-quarter net income of $128 million, or 61 cents a share, down from $152 million, or 68 cents, in the year-ago quarter. Excluding one-time items, Pitney Bowes said it earned 69 cents a share for this year's quarter. Revenue rose to $1.58 billion from $1.54 billion a year ago. Analysts polled by FactSet Research had predicted the postage equipment maker would earn 68 cents a share on $1.62 billion in sales.

Post Properties Inc. (PPS) reported second-quarter funds from operations swung to a loss of $12.6 million, or 29 cents a share, from the positive territory of $22.1 million, or 49 cents a share, a year ago. The latest quarter results include charges of 71 cents a share for the halting of development on four land parcels and severance expenses. Post also recorded a loss of $27 million, or 61 cents a share, for the quarter from net income of $62 million, or $1.40 a share, last year. Revenue grew to $66.6 million from $64.7 million a year ago. Analysts surveyed by FactSet Research had expected funds from operations of 42 cents a share on revenue of $70.2 million.

Principal Financial (PFG) reported its second-quarter net income came in at $176.6 million, down from $312.1 million a year earlier. Net income available to common shareholders was 64 cents compared with $1.12. Operating earnings, which exclude net realized investment gains and losses, were $253.7 million, or 97 cents a share. Principal was expected to make 95 cents a share, according to the average estimate of 13 analysts in a FactSet Research survey.

United Airlines (UAUA) reported July traffic fell 4% to 10.49 billion revenue passenger miles from 10.92 billion in July 2007. The airline said capacity slid 1.4% to 12.33 billion available seat miles last month from 12.5 billion a year ago. Its load factor, or percentage of seats filled, declined to 85% from 87.3%.