Category Archives: stocks

Instant Analysis: Microsoft Corporation Brings the HoloLens to Lowe's Stores

Microsoft recently partnered with home improvement retailer Lowe’s Companies to showcase its AR headset in a retail setting. In select stores, customers will be able to use the HoloLens to “visualize” the changes they want

Is Apple Supplier NXP Semi Looking To Home In On Auto Market?

Apple ( AAPL ) chip supplier NXP Semiconductors ( NXPI ) could be looking to further focus on the automotive market, as it considers a $2 billion sale of its standard products unit, according to reports. NXP Semi shares jumped as much as 3.8% Friday morning in quick turnover to retake their 200-day moving average. But the stock pared its gains to closed with a 1.8% rise and fell back below the 200-day line. The standard products unit — which consists of transistors, diodes and other standard-chip products — accounted for 20% of NXP Semi’s 2015 sales, but the segment’s revenue fell 3% year-over-year, with an 18% drop in Q4. Chinese firms, including Beijing-based investment firm JAC Capital, are interested in a deal with NXP for the unit, sources told Bloomberg. The move could signal an effort by NXP to further focus on the automotive market, and even products it supplies to smartphone makers, including Apple. NXP became the largest chip supplier to the automotive industry with the completion of its $12 billion merger with smaller peer Freescale Semiconductor in December. At that time, the company said it had plans to lead the auto industry in terms of infotainment, vehicle networking, body, safety and secure access. NXP’s automotive segment revenue jumped 17% last year, boosted by the acquisition, to $1.34 billion. That represents 22% of NXP’s total sales for 2015. NXP, which has an IBD Composite Rating of 81 out of 99, is set to report Q1 earnings on April 25. Analysts expect the bottom line to drop 19% to $1.09 a share, while the top line jumps 51% to $2.21 billion. As NXP stock is trading 27% below its 52-week high, top-rated peer Nvidia ( NVDA ) is sitting just 2% below its recent high. The Tesla Motors ( TSLA ) supplier broke out of a cup-with-handle base several weeks ago and is now extended from buy range. Monolithic Power Systems ( MPWR ) is trading 8% below its high as it works on a base, while Silicon Motion Tech ( SIMO ) is nearing profit-taking zone after a breakout last month. Nvidia closed up 0.65%, Monolithic Power added 0.3%, and Silicon Motion climbed 2.4% Friday. Apple added 0.1%, and Tesla fell 2.8%.

Is Amazon-Backed Web China Grocery Vendor Yummy77 ‘Out Of Cash’?

Amazon.com ( AMZN )-backed Chinese online grocery sales website Yummy77 might have run out of cash, making it the first major casualty of China’s super-competitive online grocery market, according to Young’s China Business blog. The report comes after two major new funding announcements illustrated the potential for online grocers in China. Amazon’s name still appears at the top of Yummy77’s webpage, with the notation that it is a “strategic cooperative partner,” and clicking on the name takes you to a Yummy77 food section on Amazon’s own China website. “But Amazon’s China page also contains its own Amazon-branded food section with extensive offerings. That would seem to indicate that Yummy77 was still operating independently and was only getting marketing assistance from Amazon as a strategic partner,” the report said . China’s Yummy77 is not related to the Los Angeles-based online grocery company Yummy.com, a spokesperson for the U.S. company confirmed to IBD. Yummy77’s troubles highlight the big potential — and the big risks — for online grocers in China, where the market is teeming with new companies rushing to cash in on the trend. The Yummy77 report comes after two other online fresh food sellers raised big bucks in March. Yiguo — backed by China e-commerce giant Alibaba Group ( BABA ) — raised $260 million, the report said. Another China e-commerce leader, JD.com ( JD ), backs Fruitday, a fresh produce electronic retailer which raised $100 million in new funding , said the report. “Entrepreneurs are realizing that Chinese consumers are very willing to buy almost anything over the Internet that used to be sold in traditional brick-and-mortar stores. Even highly perishable items like fruit and meat are following the trend, thanks to recent logistical improvements that are making same-day deliveries common, sometimes just an hour or two after an order is placed,” Young’s China Business said in a prior report in March . Chinese Internet companies are in a sweet spot as the country quickly moves to broadband mobile platforms, fueled by a burgeoning middle class with more disposable income. In May, JD.com launched a grocery delivery service in partnership with stores in select urban areas. It also invested $70 million in Fruitday. JD.com stock was up 1.5% in afternoon trading in the stock market today , while Amazon stock was up a fraction and Alibaba stock down a fraction.