1. Sector Analysis 1/31

4.  Provided preliminary results for calendar year 2011, stating that it expects its net profits to decrease by more than 50% compared with 2010, due to a Q4 operating loss.  The company said that Europe’s debt crisis and the global economic environment led the price of aluminum to drop sharply in Q4, while rising electricity prices increased the company’s production costs.

5.  Announced a plan for the sale of U. S. Steel Serbia.  U.S. Steel expects to record a total non-cash charge of between $400M-$450M in Q1 of 2012.  The shares closed at $28.73.

6.  Gold prices were moving higher Tuesday along with the euro as investors cheered a tighter fiscal pact from the European Union.  Gold for February delivery was up $15 at $1,746.  Gold was also tracking the euro higher as 25 of the 27 nations in the European Union signed onto a tighter fiscal union.

8.  GE, United Technologies Corp., Caterpillar, and Honeywell International Inc. all reported quarterly earnings results that beat forecasts  However GE and Honeywell have lower revenues than forecasted

9.  One article listed 10 best Dow stocks to own, with 4 from the Industrial Goods sector  Caterpillar, GE, 3M, and Boeing

10.  Jim Cramer said this stock is a buy  Expects $3 billion more in revenue  Forecast 25% increase in earnings per share

11. 1/31/2012

12.  Up ~$1.50 since the last time we met  Motley Fool article “DUK selling at a discount”, 4.7% dividend yield  http://money.cnn.co m/video/news/2012/ 01/30/n_davos_duke_ energy.cnnmoney/ http://money.cnn.co m/video/news/2012/ 01/30/n_davos_duke_ energy.cnnmoney/  More coal, nuclear ahead

13.  TECO Q4 earnings released 2/2, analysts estimate profit of $0.28, up 21.7% from Q4 2010  WEC Q4 earnings released 2/2, analysts estimate profit of $0.47 down from $0.49  Many analysts have placed WEC at a “hold” rating  American Water receives 2 environmental rewards

14. NEW YORK (AP) -- Shares of some top utilities companies were mixed at the close of trading:  American Electric Power Co. fell $.49 or 1.2 percent, to $39.46.  Consolidated Edison Inc. Holding Co. fell $.25 or.4 percent, to $58.64.  Duke Energy Corp. fell $.05 or.2 percent, to $21.13.  Pepco Holdings fell $.21 or 1.1 percent, to $19.60.  Southern Co. rose $.02 or percent, to $45.04.

16.  About a week ago hit all time high of $454.45 before settling in the high $440s  Also beat analysts estimates of $11 EPS at $13.87  This all came from its Q1 Earnings report which had a quarterly profit of $13.06b and revenues in the $46b  Quarterly sales of iPads and iPhones doubled  Management stated a generation of momentum, which should continue with interest in the iPad 3

17.  Released that Coca-Cola was the 2 nd most profitable stock among Dow 30 (DJIA)  Had a profit margin of 27.71% in the past 12 months  Noodles & Company making plans to include Coca-Cola Freestyle Beverage Machines as a system-wide implementation  Showing momentum as they start off a large Polar Bear campaign for upcoming SuperBowl w/ emphasis on social media  Some of Coca-Cola’s Orange Juice Shipments from Brazil were found to have fungicide  Unclear on results/implications

18.  Stock prices up 80% in 2012  Not as crazy as it sounds given that it was trading as high as $298.73 in July (prior to price hikes)  Then fell to low of $63.85 with announcement of Qwickster, then cancellation  Given this, news at the end of last year surrounding a takeover or CEO stepping down  Closed at $120.20 and Q4 earnings shows profit of $0.73 per share  They have grown internationally and there is a possibility of a rebound in near future  Long term future depends on negotiating exclusive content costs  >$200m in 2010 compared with estimates of some $2b for 2012