Buying Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) always has seemed like a leap of faith–you either believed in Warren Buffett’s omnipotence or you didn’t–that having an analyst cover the company always seemed beside the point. But analysts do cover Berkshire Hathaway, and one of them even had something to say about the company today.
AFP
That would Barclays’ Jay Gelb, who released a big report on Berkshire Hathaway today. And wouldn’t you know it, not only does he like Warren Buffett’s baby, he thinks now would be a good time to buy. Gelb explains why:
Berkshire�� insurance businesses generates substantial no-cost float ($77bn at YE13) available for investing and will benefit from the Heinz acquisition. Importantly, Berkshire has significant cash available for additional acquisitions (we estimate ~$25bn) to supplement organic growth…
Zogenix, Inc. (Zogenix), incorporated on May 11, 2006, is a pharmaceutical company commercializing and developing products for the treatment of central nervous system disorders and pain. The Company�� product Sumavel DosePro offers needle-free subcutaneous administration of sumatriptan for the treatment of migraine and cluster headache in a pre-filled, single-use delivery system. Its lead product candidate, Zohydro (hydrocodone bitartrate, formerly ZX002) is a 12-hour extended-release formulation of hydrocodone without acetaminophen for the treatment of chronic pain requiring opioid therapy. It completed Phase 3 development of Zohydro in 2011. Its second DosePro investigational product candidate, Relday, is a injectable formulation of risperidone for the treatment of schizophrenia. Sumavel DosePro and Zohydro are used for the treatment options available to patients and physicians in the United States. Sumavel DosePro may serve as a treatment alternative to oral and nasal triptans and offers administration when compared to traditional, needle-based sumatriptan injection. In May, 2012, it submitted a New Drug Application to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The Company�� collaboration with Astellas has been terminated on March 31, 2012. Sumavel DosePro is a pre-filled, single-use disposable, needle-free drug delivery system that subcutaneously delivers 6 mg of sumatriptan in 0.5 mL of sterile liquid. Sumavel DosePro is designed to be portable, intuitive and easy-to-use. To use, the patient simply snaps off a plastic tip, flips back a lever and presses the end of the delivery system to the skin of the abdomen or thigh. Under the force of a small amount of compressed nitrogen gas, the liquid form of sumatriptan is expelled out of the device as a thin jet of medication, which pierces the skin and selectively deposits into the subcutaneous tissue.
Zogenix competes with GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca PLC, Endo Pharmaceuticals Holdings Inc., Johnson & Johnson, Merck & Co., ! Inc., Pfizer Inc., Alexza Pharmaceuticals, Inc., MAP Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Abbott Laboratories, Alpharma Inc., Endo Pharmaceuticals Holdings Inc., King Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Mallinckrodt Inc., Purdue Pharma L.P., Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited, Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Becton, Dickinson and Company, Owen Mumford Ltd., Ypsomed, Sandoz Inc., Bioject Inc. and Antares Pharma Inc.
Advisors' Opinion: - [By Sean Williams]
What: Shares of Zogenix (NASDAQ: ZGNX ) , a biopharmaceutical company developing therapies to treat central nervous system disorders and pain, jumped as much as 15% after updating the status of its severe pain medication Zohydro ER in Massachusetts.
- [By Monica Gerson]
Zogenix (NASDAQ: ZGNX) shares gained 9.21% to $3.32 in the pre-market session after the company won the FDA approval for Zohydro ER capsules.
Ariad Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: ARIA) soared 5.06% to $3.74 in the pre-market trading. ARIAD Pharmaceuticals is expected to report its Q3 financial results on November 6, 2013.
- [By Lauren Pollock]
The Food and Drug Administration approved an extended-release version of the narcotic painkiller hydrocodone despite a recommendation by its advisory committee that the drug should be rejected because of its potential for abuse. The federal agency approved Zohydro ER from Zogenix Inc.(ZGNX), the first hydrocodone product not mixed with milder painkillers such as acetaminophen and also the first extended-release hydrocodone product. Shares rose 15% to $3.49 premarket.
Top 10 Gas Utility Stocks To Buy For 2014: Samson Oil and Gas Ltd (SSN)
Samson Oil & Gas Limited (Samson), incorporated on April 6, 1979, is engaged in exploration and development of oil and natural gas properties in the United States. Samson owns a working interest in each of its three material producing properties, through which it has entered into operating agreements with third parties under which the oil and gas are produced and sold. The Company also has 100% working interest in one exploration property and 50% to 100% in a second property. As of June 30, 2012, the Company�� properties included North Stockyard Project; State GC Oil and Gas Field, New Mexico; Davis Bintliff (Sabretooth Prospect), Brazoria County, Texas; Hawk Springs Project, Goshen County, Wyoming, and Roosevelt Project, Roosevelt County, Montana. As of June 30, 2012, the Company along with its subsidiaries produced approximately 87,956 barrels of oil and 214,463 thousand cubic feet of gas.
North Stockyard Project -Williston Basin, North Dakota
Samson has 34.5% working interest in 3,303 acres adjacent to the North Stockyard Oil Field, which is located in the Williston Basin in North Dakota and is operated by Zavanna LLC. Together with the Company�� working interest owners, it has drilled seven wells in this field, six in the Bakken formation and one in the Mission Canyon formation. During July 2012, the Harstad #1-15H well averaged 15 barrels of oil per day (BOPD). The Leonard-23H (10% working interest, 37.5% after non-consent penalty) is a Mississippian Middle Bakken Formation. In July 2011, this well averaged 46 barrels of oil per day. The Company drilled its third Bakken well in the North Stockyard Field, the Gary-24H (37% working interest). During July 2012, this well averaged 75 BOPD. It drilled its fourth Bakken well in the North Stockyard Field, the Rodney-14H (27% working interest). In July 2011, this well averaged 92 BOPD. It drilled its fifth Bakken well in the North Stockyard Field in Williams County, North Dakota, the Earl 1-13H (32% working interest). In Jul! y 2011, the well averaged 193 BOPD. In June 2011, it drilled its sixth Mississippian Bakken well in the North Stockyard field in Williams County, North Dakota, the Everett 1-15H (26% working interest). As of June 30, 2012, the North Stockyard project had net proved reserves of 598,500 barrels of oil and 757,800 thousand cubic feet (of natural gas).
State GC Oil and Gas Field, New Mexico
The State GC oil and gas field is located in Lea County, New Mexico, and covers approximately 600 acres. As of June 30, 2012, the field had two wells, the State GC#1 and State GC#2. Average daily production during the year ended June 30, 2012 from the State GC oil and gas field was approximately 43 BOPD and 37 million standard cubic feet per day. As of June 30, 2012, the State GC oil and gas field had net proved reserves of 65,500 barrels of oil and 87,300 thousand cubic feet (of natural gas).
Davis Bintliff #1 Well (Sabretooth Prospect), Brazoria County, Texas
The Davis Bintliff #1 well is operated by Davis Holdings. During the year ended June 30, 2012, this well averaged 29 BOPD and 2.61million cubic feet per day. As of June 30, 2012, the Davis Bintliff well had net proved reserves of 700 barrels of oil and 66,400 Thousand cubic feet (of natural gas).
Hawk Springs Project, Goshen County, Wyoming
The Company has 37.5%-100% working interest in Hawk Springs Project. The Spirit of America 1 replacement well, Spirit of America 2, was successfully drilled to a total depth of 10,634 feet during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012 (fiscal 2012).
Roosevelt Project, Roosevelt County, Montana
The well was drilled to a total measured depth of 14,972 feet with the horizontal lateral remaining within the target zone for the entire lateral length. approximately 3,425 barrels of oil have been produced.
Advisors' Opinion: - [By James E. Brumley]
Had Samson Oil & Gas Limited (NYSEMKT:SSN) made the late-July surge and subsequent early-August pullback and then gotten stuck in the mud again, I might not even bother taking a look at it. That's not how it happened though. Since the pullback, SSN has perked up again, perhaps not as hot as it was with the initial rally at the end of last month, but more than hot enough to get my attention. I suspect another surge - perhaps a longer-lasting surge - is in the cards.
Top 10 Gas Utility Stocks To Buy For 2014: Questcor Pharmaceuticals Inc.(QCOR)
Questcor Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, provides prescription drugs for the treatment of auto-immune diseases. The company?s primary product is H.P. Acthar Gel (repository corticotropin injection), an injectable drug for the treatment of acute exacerbations of multiple sclerosis; infantile spasms in infants and children under two years of age; nephrotic syndrome; and Lupus. Questcor Pharmaceuticals, Inc. was founded in 1990 and is headquartered in Anaheim, California.
Advisors' Opinion: - [By Sean Williams]
What: Shares of Questcor Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: QCOR ) , a specialty biopharmaceutical company, skyrocketed as much as 37% after the company announced a deal to purchase Synacthen and Synacthen Depot in the U.S. from Novartis (NYSE: NVS ) .
- [By Seth Jayson]
Questcor Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: QCOR ) reported earnings on April 30. Here are the numbers you need to know.
The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended March 31 (Q1), Questcor Pharmaceuticals whiffed on revenues and whiffed on earnings per share.
Top 10 Gas Utility Stocks To Buy For 2014: HD Supply Holdings Inc (HDS)
HD Supply Holdings, Inc., incorporated on June 18, 2007, is an industrial distributor in North America. It operates in four segments: Facilities Maintenance, Waterworks, Power Solutions and White Cap. Facilities Maintenance distributes maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) products, provides value-add services and fabricates custom products to multifamily, hospitality, healthcare and institutional facilities. Waterworks distributes complete lines of water and wastewater transmission products, serving contractors and municipalities in the water and wastewater industries for non-residential and residential uses. Power Solutions distributes electrical transmission and distribution products, power plant MRO supplies and smart-grid products, and arranges materials management and procurement outsourcing for the power generation and distribution industries. White Cap distributes specialized hardware, tools, engineered materials and safety products to non-residential and residential contractors.
Maintenance, Repair & Operations
In the Maintenance, Repair & Operations market sector, the Company�� Facilities Maintenance, Crown Bolt and Repair & Remodel business units serve customers across multiple industries by primarily delivering supplies and services needed to maintain and upgrade multifamily, hospitality, healthcare and institutional facilities. Facilities Maintenance and Crown Bolt are distribution center based models, while Repair & Remodel operates through retail outlets primarily serving cash and carry customers.
Infrastructure & Power and Specialty Construction
In the Infrastructure & Power market sector, Waterworks and Power Solutions support both established infrastructure and new projects by meeting demand for critical supplies and services used to build and maintain water systems and electrical power generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure. In the Specialty Construction market sector, White Cap and Creative Touch Interiors (! CTI) serve professional contractors and trades by meeting their distinct and customized supply needs in non-residential, residential and industrial applications. White Cap is its primary business unit serving this sector through the broad national presence of its regionally organized branch distribution network.
Advisors' Opinion: Top 10 Gas Utility Stocks To Buy For 2014: Royal Dutch Shell PLC (RDS.B)
Royal Dutch Shell plc (Shell), incorporated on February 5, 2002, is an independent oil and gas company. The Company owns, directly or indirectly, investments in the numerous companies constituting Shell. Shell is engaged worldwide in the principal aspects of the oil and gas industry and also has interests in chemicals and other energy-related businesses. The Company operates in three segments: Upstream, Downstream and Corporate. Upstream combines the operating segments Upstream International and Upstream Americas, which are engaged in searching for and recovering crude oil and natural gas; the liquefaction and transportation of gas; the extraction of bitumen from oil sands that is converted into synthetic crude oil, and wind energy. Downstream is engaged in manufacturing; distribution and marketing activities for oil products and chemicals, in alternative energy (excluding wind), and carbon dioxide (CO2) management. Corporate represents the key support functions, comprising holdings and treasury, headquarters, central functions and Shell�� self-insurance activities. In October 2011, the Company bought a marine terminal on Canada's Pacific Coast as a possible site for a liquefied natural gas export terminal. In January 2012, the Company's 50% owned, Australia Arrow Energy Holdings Pty Ltd acquired all of the shares in Bow Energy Ltd. In January 2014, Royal Dutch Shell plc completed the acquisition of Repsol S.A.'s liquefied natural gas (LNG) portfolio outside North America.
Upstream International manages the Upstream businesses outside the Americas. It searches for and recovers crude oil and natural gas, liquefies and transports gas, and operates the upstream and midstream infrastructure necessary to deliver oil and gas to market. Upstream International also manages Shell�� entire liquefied petroleum gas (LNG) business, gas to liquids (GTL) and the wind business in Europe. Its activities are organized primarily within geographical units, although there are some activities that are mana! ged across the businesses or provided through support units.
Upstream Americas manages the Upstream businesses in North and South America. It searches for and recovers crude oil and natural gas, transports gas and operates the upstream and midstream infrastructure necessary to deliver oil and gas to market. Upstream Americas also extracts bitumen from oil sands that is converted into synthetic crude oil. Additionally, it manages the United States-based wind business. It comprises operations organized into business-wide managed activities and supporting activities.
Downstream manages Shell�� manufacturing, distribution and marketing activities for oil products and chemicals. These activities are organized into globally managed classes of business, although some are managed regionally or provided through support units. Manufacturing and supply includes refining, supply and shipping of crude oil. Marketing sells a range of products including fuels, lubricants, bitumen and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for home, transport and industrial use. Chemicals produces and markets petrochemicals for industrial customers, including the raw materials for plastics, coatings and detergents. Downstream also trades Shell�� flow of hydrocarbons and other energy-related products, supplies the Downstream businesses, markets gas and power and provides shipping services. Downstream additionally oversees Shell�� interests in alternative energy (including biofuels, and excluding wind) and CO2 management.
Projects and Technology manages the delivery of Shell�� major projects and drives the research and innovation to create technology solutions. It provides technical services and technology capability covering both Upstream and Downstream activities. It is also responsible for providing functional leadership across Shell in the areas of health, safety and environment, and contracting and procurement.
Advisors' Opinion: Top 10 Gas Utility Stocks To Buy For 2014: Akbank TAS (AKBNK)
Akbank TAS (Akbank) is a Turkey-based commercial bank. The Bank operates in five segments: the Retail banking segment offers a range of retail services, such as deposit accounts, consumer loans, commercial installment loans, credit cards, insurance products and asset management services; the Corporate and Small and Medium Size Enterprises (SME) banking segment provides financial solutions and banking services to large, medium and small size corporate and commercial customers; the Treasury Activities segment conducts regional and foreign currency spot and forward transactions, treasury bonds, government bonds, Eurobond and private sector bond transactions, as well as derivative trading activities; the Private banking segment offers banking and investment transactions for upper-income groups, and the International banking segment provides services for foreign trade financing, foreign currency and Turkish Lira (TL) clearances, and money transfers through agent financial institutions.
Advisors' Opinion: - [By Harry Suhartono]
The Borsa Istanbul National 100 Index jumped 3.7 percent, the most among major emerging-market gauges, as Akbank TAS (AKBNK) and Turkiye Halk Bankasi AS (HALKB) rallied. Benchmark measures in Poland and the Czech Republic added at least 0.5 percent, while Hungarian shares retreated for a fourth day.
- [By Julia Leite]
Turkey�� equity benchmark rallied as Turkiye Garanti Bankasi AS and Akbank TAS (AKBNK) advanced at least 5.4 percent. The lira gained for the fourth day.
- [By Anuchit Nguyen]
The Borsa Istanbul National 100 Index capped the longest slide since July 26 as Akbank TAS (AKBNK) and Turkiye Garanti Bankasi AS dropped at least 2.9 percent.
Top 10 Gas Utility Stocks To Buy For 2014: Onconova Therapeutics Inc (ONTX)
Onconova Therapeutics, Inc. (Onconova), incorporated on December 22, 1998, is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing small molecule drug candidates to treat cancer. The Company has created a targeted anti-cancer agents designed to work against specific cellular pathways, which promote cancer. It has three clinical-stage product candidates and six preclinical programs. Its preclinical pipeline includes six programs, which target kinases, cellular metabolism or division.
Rigosertib
Rigosertib, the Company�� product candidate, is being tested in a range of ongoing Phase-II and Phase-III clinical trials. The Company is conducting a pivotal phase-III trial of rigosertib under a Special Protocol Assessment (SPA), from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), for higher risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). The Company is also evaluating rigosertib in a Phase-III trial for metastatic pancreatic cancer, in two Phase-II trials for transfusion-dependent lower risk MDS, and in a Phase-II trial for head and neck cancers. Rigosertib has been granted orphan drug status for MDS in both the United States and Europe, as well as orphan drug status for pancreatic cancer in the United States. Baxter Healthcare SA (Baxter), a subsidiary of Baxter International Inc., has commercialization rights for rigosertib in Europe and SymBio Pharmaceuticals Limited (SymBio), has commercialization rights in Japan and Korea. Rigosertib is an inhibitor of two cellular signaling pathways: phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), and polo-like kinase (PLK), both of which are frequently over-active in cancer cells. By inhibiting the PI3K pathway in cancer cells, rigosertib promotes tumor cell apoptosis, or programmed cell death. It is testing both intravenous and oral formulations of rigosertib, referred to as rigosertib IV and rigosertib Oral, in clinical trials.
ON 013105
The Company�� clinical-stage product candidate, ON 013105, is i! n a Phase I trial in patients with relapsed or refractory lymphoma, including an aggressive form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma identified as mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), and acute lymphoid leukemia (ALL). ON 013105 suppresses the accumulation of cyclin D1 in cancer cells.
Recilisib
The Company�� clinical-stage product candidate, recilisib, is being developed in collaboration with the United States Department of Defense (DoD), for acute radiation syndromes (ARS). The Company has completed four Phase-I trials to evaluate the safety and pharmacokinetics of recilisib in healthy human adult subjects using both subcutaneous and oral formulations, referred to as recilisib SC and recilisib Oral.
Preclinical Programs
The Company�� ON 1231320 is a specific inhibitor of Polo-like Kinase 2 (PLK2), and in preclinical studies, it induced mitotic arrest and reduced tumor burden in mice injected subcutaneously with colon tumor and triple-negative breast cancer cells. The Company�� ON 123300 inhibits the activity of two kinases, cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4), and AMP-activated protein kinase 5 (ARK5). Its ON 108600 is a dual inhibitor of two growth-regulatory kinases. Cyclin-dependent kinase 9 is over expressed in several cancers, including leukemias and lymphomas. Casein kinase 2 is overexpressed in a range of tumor types. ON 044580 inhibits mutant forms of the two target kinases, including Janus Kinase 2 (JAK2) and imatinib-resistant Bcr-Abl Kinase (Bcr-Abl). Its ON 24 compounds cause tubulin to depolymerize, inducing mitotic arrest in cultured tumor cell lines. Its ON 146040 inhibits the growth of a range of blood cancer cell lines, including Burkitt's lymphoma, MCL, multiple myeloma and chronic myeloid leukemia.
The Company competes with Eisai Inc., Celgene Corporation, Genentech, Inc., Cell Therapeutics, Inc., Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Telik, Inc., Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Astex, Array BioPharma Inc., Astellas Pharma, Inc., Threshold! Pharmace! uticals, Inc., Pharmacyclics Inc., Soligenix, Inc., Cellerant Therapeutics, Inc. and Cleveland BioLabs, Inc.
Advisors' Opinion: - [By Roberto Pedone]
Onconova Therapeutics (ONTX), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, focuses on discovering and developing small molecule drug candidates to treat cancer. This stock closed up 2.5% to $5.15 in Thursday's trading session.
Thursday's Range: $4.97-$5.19
52-Week Range: $4.10-$31.13
Thursday's Volume: 132,000
Three-Month Average Volume: 216,102
From a technical perspective, ONTX trended modestly higher here with lighter-than-average volume. This stock has been uptrending over the last few weeks, with shares moving higher from its low of $4.10 to its recent high of $5.52. During that uptrend, shares of ONTX have been making mostly higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. That move has now pushed shares of ONTX within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade. That trade will hit if ONTX manages to take out Thursday's intraday high of $5.19 to some more key overhead resistance at $5.52 with high volume.
Traders should now look for long-biased trades in ONTX as long as it's trending above some near-term support levels at $4.80 or at $4.50 and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 216,102 shares. If that breakout gets underway soon, then ONTX will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $5.83 to $6.27. Any high-volume move above those levels will then give ONTX a chance to tag $7.