Investment "Logic"

Notes: Stock Ratings: 1 = buy at current stock prices, 2 = buy on a 5-10% dip in stock price, 3 = sell on a 5-10% increase in stock price, 4 = sell at current stock prices to raise cash.  Ratings are based upon 12-18 month outlook on stock direction and not necessarily related to moves I make due to financial positioning. Yesterday, Home Depot reported their 2016 second quarter earnings results, repeating yet another quarter of stellar performance.  Earnings came in at $1.97 on $26.5B in sales, mostly in line with respective estimates of $26.48B.  While it might not seem so impressive that the numbers were in line with expectations, there are a few important things to note.  First, same store sales came in at 4.7%, 5.4% in the US, which is still exceptionally impressive growth in a retail area that's been struggling.  Second, the company also increased their earnings guidance for 2016 from $6.27 to $6.31 to represent 15% earnings growth year over year (with help from $5B w

Notes: Stock Ratings: 1 = buy at current stock prices, 2 = buy on a 5-10% dip in stock price, 3 = sell on a 5-10% increase in stock price, 4 = sell at current stock prices to raise cash.  Ratings are based upon 12-18 month outlook on stock direction and not necessarily related to moves I make due to financial positioning. Last Tuesday, Ionis Pharma reported a operating loss of $0.47 per share on revenues of $38.47M for their second quarter results of 2016.  These results were slightly mixed from consensus, with analysts expecting a loss of 52 cents for earnings, on slightly higher revenues of $38.52M.  In addition, cash was at levels over $660M, without including over $85M recently received in this quarter.  Finally, guidance stated everything was well on target with their plans for the year, with expectations that they will see larger amounts of milestone payments in the back half of this year.   Truthfully, that was the highlight of the conference call.  Everything else wa

Notes: Stock Ratings: 1 = buy at current stock prices, 2 = buy on a 5-10% dip in stock price, 3 = sell on a 5-10% increase in stock price, 4 = sell at current stock prices to raise cash.  Ratings are based upon 12-18 month outlook on stock direction and not necessarily related to moves I make due to financial positioning. Last week, On Semiconductor reported second quarter results for 2016.  Non-GAAP earnings and revenues came in at $0.21 and $877.8M.  Both top and bottom lines beat their respective estimates of $0.19 and $854.55M.  In addition, they provided strong third quarter guidance of revenues in the $885M - $925M range.  This is an increased from the second quarter, though some of it is seasonal in nature.   While the quarter wasn't perfect, it was really good.  As such, I do want to note a couple concerns I saw.  First, is the Fairchild Semiconductor acquisition, which is behind schedule.  It's been said that they expect the deal to close at the end of the m

Notes: Stock Ratings: 1 = buy at current stock prices, 2 = buy on a 5-10% dip in stock price, 3 = sell on a 5-10% increase in stock price, 4 = sell at current stock prices to raise cash.  Ratings are based upon 12-18 month outlook on stock direction and not necessarily related to moves I make due to financial positioning. Last Wednesday, Cedar Fair announced second quarter 2016 results and discussed them on their conference call.  They reported earnings of $1.03 and revenues of $388M, both of which were misses compared to analyst estimates of $1.07 and $390M respectively.  Despite the miss, the stock has actually climbed slightly since the announcement. The good news is that the company saw increased traffic and increased per capita spend inside and outside the parks.  This helps reinforce the concept that the consumer is willing to spend and that they enjoy experiences.  Cedar Fair has also been making a point to invest in that experience, which appears to be paying off.  I

Notes: Stock Ratings: 1 = buy at current stock prices, 2 = buy on a 5-10% dip in stock price, 3 = sell on a 5-10% increase in stock price, 4 = sell at current stock prices to raise cash.  Ratings are based upon 12-18 month outlook on stock direction and not necessarily related to moves I make due to financial positioning. Today it was announced that Biogen is going to exercise its option to commercialize Nusinersen globally and is paying Ionis $75 million for the rights, with potential for $150M more in future milestones with a mid-teens royalty fee for future sales.  This is all a result of the drug reaching a primary endpoint in its ENDEAR, phase 3, study with an acceptable safety profile.  This points to significantly positive results that are so valuable, they intend on switching control patients over to the drug as soon as possible to get them on the therapy.   This is big news for Ionis, who has been plagued by a beleaguered biotech sector and alarming news with Glaxo-