Earnings of Note Monday-Tuesday

Some names I am looking at early this week

Monday

Fund holdings - Baidu.com (BIDU) and First National Financial (FNF). The former broke through the 200 day moving average Thursday but I cut it down to 1 share on super froth. The latter has been stagnat the past 8 days, with each day an intraday low hitting the 50 day moving average. Very strange. I cut back a bit to a 2.5% stake since I have double jeopardy in these guys with FNF and FAF. I expect good things but the stock action has been weak"ish" and this is the more expensive of the two - not that it matters because nowadays all sectors move together.

Masco (MAS) - if the Mohawk (MHK) gameplan is on, all they have to say is business has stabilized at multi decade lows and a nice 30% gain should be had. The company is expected to lose money in 2009 and make a whopping 18 cents in 2010, so at $10 it's already at 50x 2010 earnings but analysts don't see the roaring housing market of spring 2009 forward that the stock market does. Whirpool (WHR) is in the exact same spot... also reports Monday - even better Whirlpool has debt issues and pension issues - which means it should go up 50%.

Qualcomm (QCOM) - moved its earnings to this week from last I believe due to finalizing a patent dispute with Broadcom (BRCM). I believe this dispute has been going on since horse carriages were all the rage... or at least it seems like it (ok really it's been since 2005). QCOM is a stealth play on Chinese upgrading cell networks as their technology appears to be the favored son.

Short holding SL Green (SLG) - about $4 BILLION worth of stock has been issued by REITs the past month, and there seems unquenchable thirst by investors to be diluted to no end. SLG has not done one yet - wouldn't it be timely to announce one on earnings? If the swine flu can knock this market down for longer than 30 seconds I will cover some portion ahead of earnings - I still contend the office market in NYC is in serious trouble but no one else seems to be worried judging by the stock.

Smith International (SII) - oil services has begun a breakout; it looks like hot money is desperate to find new themes so it is turning under every rock. Southwestern Energy (SWN) - natural gas and crude - it feels so 2007 all the sudden; breaking out.

Tuesday

Agco (AG) - Brazilian agricultural equipment maker; mini Deere (DE) if you will - like everything else beginning to break out. I will actually be interested in what this company has to say since I am a big fan of agriculture.

America Movil (AMX) - big fish in Latin American cell phones; like everything else nowadays - breaking out on the chart as of last week.

Buffalo Wild Wings (BWLD) - their results last quarter set off 90 days of victory; frankly at this point the casual dining group is so overheated we should start seeing "sell the news reactions" - imperative word being "should". Plus who wants to go eat out when swine flu is all the rage? Panera Bread (PNRA) - same.

Celanse (CE) - classic early cycle chemical company - these have been flying.

Cerner (CERN) - electronic medical records; we don't own this one but own a peer so we'll see what they have to say about any Obama money in the quarters to come.

Jacobs Engineering Group (JEC) - one of my favorite global infrastructure names; relatively quiet but beginning to break out late last week. (broken record). Chicago Bridge & Iron (CBI) has been a very poor man's JEC, but in this market you buy the poor man since those are the heavily shorted.

China Eastern Air (CEA) & China Southern Air (ZNH) - these might be down heavy Monday on swine flu.

Group 1 Automotive (GPI) - believe it or not automotive dealerships have been among the hottest sectors of late under the radar. I was toying with multiple plays in this group about a month ago but never pulled the trigger. With so many dealerships closing and the Federal Reserve backstopping anything under the sun, and providing the return of the house ATM, this sector is roaring.

ICON (ICLR) - the contract research organization group has been destroyed since Kendle came out last week with a warning and some peers came out later in the week with similar news. But 1 thing solves that; swine flu! Watch the lemmings run right back into anything "health" related since its all about the speculation of the day in the casino. ICLR has been the best operator of the group over the years so I'll be curious how badly they are getting hit with what is happening in the sector.

Lazard (LAZ) - a competitor to our Greenhill (GHL) in boutique banking

Massey Energy (MEE) - trying to break out... I am noticing a trend here; big money is trying to push into commodities as of middle latter last week - coal, nat gas, oil services. Student body left is buying them all.

Northwest Pipe (NWPX) - this is one of the Obama infrastructure plays in relation to water pipe rebuild I was considering a few months back. It only trades 110K shares a day so its too low volume for me to move in and out of easily.

Office Depot (ODP) - flier of the week; its in retail, its under $3 - that's all you need to know. As business picks up in the US, of course office supplies will be needed, even as unemployment rises and companies shut down. Just think like George Constanza - with this market it should be $5 post earnings.

Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile (SQM) - if electronic cars are really going to take off, the lithium angle is embedded inside SQM. I've never owned it but it has always been an interesting stock, especially with the fertilizer / lithium combo.

Under Armour (UA) - it makes clothes. Clothes are hot in the return of the consumer. Plus bulls contend Under Armour apparel protects against swine flu. (ok, not really). Surprise, surprise as with anything related to the consumer it is breaking out. I really look forward to the day I can short all these "the consumer is back, even at 10%+ unemployment rates" retail stocks back to where they belong.

United States Steel (X) - sort of range bound past two weeks; takes a massive leap of faith to jump in these steel names right now. But only if you care about fundamentals.