Stronger Opening
Stocks appeared set to open higher
Wednesday.
United Healthcare
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UNH |
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affirm earnings consensus of $2.76 for 2001 in the company’s analysts’ meeting
today. UNH also is forecasting 2002 earnings to grow between 17-19%.
IDX Systems
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guidance for Q4 and 2002. The company sees Q4 earnings to come in at zero cents
and earnings for 2002 at 40 cents. Estimates were for a loss of 3 cents for Q4
and 32 cents for 2002.
JP Morgan upgraded Pinnacle Systems
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PCLE |
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from Long Term Buy to Buy and put a price target of $10 a share.
Credit Suisse First Boston raised its
price target on Cisco Systems
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CSCO |
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estimates from 21 cents to 24 cents a share.
Ford Motor
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F |
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for Q4. The car maker now expects a loss of 50 cents a share vs. consensus of
a loss of 14 cents.
Drexler Technology Corp
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received its U.S. patent on its LaserCard Identification ID cards which can be
used to increase the reliability of online and offline security.
Oracle Corp
(
ORCL |
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Ellison stated that business has stabilized and that growth should resume next
year. He also said that once growth has resumed “you will see us at 50%
operating margins.”
UBS Warburg has upgraded Coca Cola
Enterprises
(
CCE |
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to $24 a share.
Lehman Brothers is cautious on
National Semiconductor
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NSM |
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PowerRating). Lehman believes that the company has not built
a large enough backlog for Q3 revenue growth and expects the company to lower
guidance.