tech stocks

U.S. Stocks Rise as Tech, Industrial Earnings Roll In

Strong earnings reports from big U.S. companies helped push the Dow Jones industrial average to its eighth gain in nine sessions Tuesday. DuPont, Verizon and Travelers Cos., three of the 30 stocks that make up the Dow, closed higher after reporting their financial results for the final quarter of 2012.

Wall Street Watch this Week: A Bummer Earnings Season Begins

Earnings season is here, and that's not necessarily a good thing. The profitability of all S&P 500 companies is expected to post its first year-over-year decline in nearly three years. Even information technology, a perceived bright spot, is struggling (excepting Apple).

Can't Get a Piece of the Facebook IPO? Lucky You!

Don't feel bad that you aren't one of those lucky, well-connected investors who gets to buy into Facebook's IPO this week. Those buyers may look lucky when the likely initial price pop happens. But odds are, the pop will be followed by a drop.

Yelp IPO's Profit Enigma: Is the Site Making Money?

After reading the breathless media coverage about the rumored $2 billion Yelp IPO, I have one question: Does the online-review site make money? None of the articles made any mention, but profitability is the issue that should be first on investors' minds.

5 Tech Stocks to Watch This Week

Digital media, wireless pay terminals, and fuel cell technology -- sounds like the ingredients for a plot to take over the world, or, at the very least, the stuff that will dominate high-tech headlines in the coming days. The five companies behind these technologies will loom large in the news this week. Here's what to watch.

Why Microsoft Will Never Be Great Again

As box makers struggled with the low-margin business of selling hardware at cutthroat prices, Microsoft was there to cash in on the high-margin software end. Eleven years ago, the company's stock closed at $27.43; it's trading just shy of that mark right now, making Microsoft the poster child for what some investors are calling "the lost decade."

Look Out for Dot-Bomb 2.0

The red-hot success of recent IPOs by internet companies has investors feeling lucky. But like every bubble, Dot-Bomb version 2.0 will leave investors bruised and banker laughing. Here's how you can avoid getting burned, and cash in on the trends driving these stocks without taking on all the risk.

Say Goodbye to IBM's American Success Story

In its first 100 years, IBM soldiered forward by dominating in America. But Big Blue's second quarter results -- particularly its strong growth in expanding markets -- show that the next 100 years will be all about global dominance.

How to Distinguish a Value Stock From a Value Trap

A high-growth, rapid innovator like Apple is hardly the sort of stock you'd expect to find in a value investor's portfolio. Nevertheless, value investing guru Bill Nygren runs a mutual fund that owns some Apple shares. Find out why some tech stocks are appealing to value investors now.

Google Co-Founder Larry Page to Take the Helm Again

Google co-founder Larry Page is set to take over as the search giant's new CEO on Monday. But some worry he may not have the management skills to steer the Internet's most powerful company. After all, early investors made him step down as Google's first CEO in 2001. Will he fare better the second time around?

Market Snapshot: What's Thriving in Battered Economy

The economy has had more than its share of trouble lately: Japan's earthquake comes on top of rising oil and food prices, political turmoil in the Middle East and a crop of government austerity measures. But investing opportunities lie hidden behind the bad news.

Why You Should Have Intel Inside Your Portfolio

No wonder President Obama is visiting an Intel plant as he stumps for U.S. innovation and high-tech jobs. After all, Intel is a clear industry leader. Indeed, some analysts argue that for investors seeking entry in the global growth of technology, Intel is the one-stop answer.

Recession Lingers On in Silicon Valley

Much has been made recently of the huge valuations of Internet players like Facebook, Twitter and Zynga, but while Web 2.0 is doing well, the Silicon Valley region itself is not. A new report shows compensation and unemployment in the region haven't improved since the downturn.

At $618, Could Google Be Sharply Undervalued?

Though it's currently trading near it 52-week high, some investment pros view the stock as intrinsically inexpensive based on more than a couple of metrics. One measure in particular looks at Google's price-to-revenues ratio and sees plenty of room for the stock to rise.

Dow Rallies on Tech Stocks. Next Stop 12,000?

Stocks closed sharply higher Monday with the Dow Jones posting a triple-digit gain as technology stocks rallied after Intel raised its dividend and expanded its share buybacks by $10 billion. The index last saw 12,000 in June 2008 -- on the way down.

Technology Companies Lead Stock Market Higher


Tech stocks rose after Intel hiked its dividend and said it would buy back more of its stock. And materials companies jumped after a report showed economists are more positive about growth and the job market than at any time since the Great Recession started.

Six Stocks to Buy for Real Revenue Growth in 2011

The path to profits for most of Corporate America lately has been cutting costs rather than raising revenue. But a careful look reveals a few companies that are poised to deliver real revenue growth. We've found six with a plus: Their stocks look like bargains.

Tech Takeovers: Nine Good Bets for 2011 Stock Gains

Even after a round of acquisitions in 2010, some big tech companies are still rolling in cash -- and 2011 looks like another promising year for tech mergers. Here's columnist Peter Cohan's list of top tech acquisition targets for 2011.

What Facebook's Goldman Deal Says About Tech IPOs

Facebook and many other tech startups have realized that the hassles and headaches of an IPO in the U.S. aren't always worthwhile. Thanks to willing venture capitalists and private investors, it's easier than ever for tech companies to avoid the lure of going public.

Cloud Computing Is Growing Up, and VCs Are Feeding It

On-demand-software giant Salesforce.com just acquired a cloud software startup called Heroku for $212 million in cash. That's par for the course these days as cloud computing goes from buzzword to reality. And venture capitalists are flocking to put money into the next Heroku.

A Love Story That Could Break Investors' Hearts

Youku, the highly promising Chinese online-video site, had the strongest first-day rally of anyone on a U.S. exchange since China's Baidu in 2005. But the flip side to promise is risk -- and the risks of pinning big hopes on Youku are also big.

Nine Surprising Total-Return Plays in Technology

Something unusual is happening in the ever-exciting world of technology: The glamorous high techs that elicited immense awe as global growth leaders are now in the new proletariat class of attractive dividend plays. Here are nine dividend-paying high techs.

IBM Eyes Fortinet in Another Big Tech Buys Little Tech Deal

Big Blue is in advanced talks to acquire the small network security firm. That's shouldn't be a big surprise to DailyFinance readers. In September, I wrote that Fortinet would be a likely takoever target. I also discussed, Check Point Software, which could be next.

IBM Authorizes $10 Billion Share Repurchase

It was a busy morning at IBM. The computer giant's board of directors authorized an additional $10 billion for the company's stock repurchase program and declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of 65 cents.