Welcome to John Ransom’s Stocks in the News where the headlines meet the trendlines.
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Stock number one: CSX Corp
CSX railroad expects modest 2014 profit growth—AP
CSX railroad expects to deliver modest profit growth this year, but the impact of the severe winter will linger into the second quarter. Officials with the railroad said on a conference call Wednesday that the improving economy and stronger domestic utility demand for coal will boost CSX's earnings in the second half of this year and in 2015.
The Jacksonville, Fla.-based railroad had said Tuesday that the harsh winter disrupted shipments and contributed to a 14 percent drop in its first-quarter profit even as it hauled 3 percent more freight.
Symbol: CSX
Trailing PE: 15; Forward PE: 13
PEG: 1.59
Dividend: 2.10%
Estimate Trend: Up
Ransom Note Trendline: Hold CSX
Stock number two: Twitter, Inc.
Twitter Is Flying High After Hiring Google Maps Exec—Wall Street Cheat Sheet
Twitter stock on Tuesday rose the most since the social media company’s debut on the New York Stock Exchange in November after it was confirmed that the company had hired former Google Maps director Daniel Graf. The stock closed trading on Tuesday up more than 11 percent, at $45.52. Graf fittingly confirmed his hire in a tweet, saying, “Followed Maps to find that the flock was just around the corner – excited to take wing with the @twitter product team.” Graf is now the new vice president of consumer product for the microblogging site.
Symbol: TWTR
Trailing PE: NA; Forward PE: 203
PEG: -408.62
Dividend: NA
Estimate Trend: Flat
Ransom Note Trendline: Avoid Twitter
Stock number three: Weatherford International Ltd.
Weatherford International (WFT) Stock Hits One-Year High on Heavy Volume—The Street.com
Weatherford International rose to a one-year high of $17.89 on Wednesday on higher-than-average volume. More than 10.7 million shares had changed hands as of 12:05 p.m., which exceeded the average volume of 8,938,130. Weatherford was also one of the biggest Wednesday gainers in the energy sector, which rose in morning trading.
Symbol: WFT
Trailing PE: NA; Forward PE: 12
PEG: 0.34
Dividend: NA
Estimate Trend: Down
Ransom Note Trendline: Avoid JC Penny
