Cognex Corporation Earnings Preview

It's been a strong year for machine vision company Cognex Corporation (NASDAQ:CGNX), with the stock up around 24% in 2015. Investors eagerly await the forthcoming first-quarter results, due at the start of May, for confirmation of the company's positive sales trajectory. Let's review the key metrics to look for and explain what they mean in the context of the company's long-term development, a key part of which will be the replication of the kind of large deal it has with Apple Inc.


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MSC Industrial Direct Earnings Anaylsis and Research

Industrial supply company MSC Industrial Direct (NYSE:MSM) delivered disappointing second-quarter results on Wednesday, and you only have to look at the price chart below to see the company remains in a difficult trading environment. In my article on the previous quarter's report, I noted that management spoke of "a more optimistic outlook from customers," but that prediction was not borne out in the latest results. Let's take a more detailed look at what went wrong.

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6 Takeover Target Stocks For 2015

In a previous article I looked at the recent history of mergers and acquisitions in the industrials sector and concluded that future deals were likely to involve companies making horizontal and/or vertical acquisitions within their core business areas. With that said, everybody loves a bit of takeover speculation, so let's look at some potential acquisition targets in the industrials sector in 2015.


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General Electric Company Industrial Services: Why They Matter

When investors think about buying stock in General Electric Company (NYSE: GE) they usually think about the company's high-profile industrial products, and then its finance arm, GE Capital. However, revenue generated from industrial services represents the biggest growth opportunity for the company. Essentially, industrial services revenue is generated when the company services the base of installed products sold to customers.



The company is better known for its industrial products, but it is servicing them that really counts in terms of the bottom line. Let's look in more detail at how important services revenue is, and at its future growth prospects


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Mergers and Acquisitions Activity in the Industrials Sector

There are fewer finer feelings in investing than waking up one morning to find one of your stocks is subject to a takeover bid. Not only does that usually come with a juicy premium, but it vindicates your view that the stock was a good value. With that said, what does the merger and acquisition landscape look like in 2015? Let's study this question in the context of a historic appraisal of the biggest deals in the industrial sector.


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Caterpillar (CAT) or Deere & Company (DE) for 2015?

Ask any investor or hedge-fund manager what his favorite stock pairs are and Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT) and Deere & Company (NYSE:DE) are likely to feature near the top of the list. The two are oft discussed in the same breath as their investment propositions are believed to have had much in common during the last decade. However, on closer inspection the two stocks actually have notably different drivers. Let's take a look at them and, in doing so, assess what will guide their stock performance in 2015.

CAT data by YCharts

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FedEx's Management Updates Investors, and What it Means for UPS

Logistics and delivery stalwarts United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) and FedEx Corporation (NYSE:FDX) have a lot of things in common, but earnings dates aren't one of them. UPS delivered fourth-quarter results on Feb. 3, while FedEx released its third-quarter earnings a month and a half later. Given that both companies are facing similar challenges and opportunities in 2015, it's useful -- for both sets of investors -- to assess the latest industry commentary from FedEx's management. What does it mean for FedEx and UPS in 2015?


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Is FedEx Corporation (FDX) a Good Value?

n years past, FedEx Corporation (NYSE:FDX) hasn't done well converting revenue and operating income into free cash flow, or FCF, especially compared to competitor United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS). FedEx is the most expensive stock in the transportation sector, but its FCF generation is likely to improve in the years to come, making it a stock worth buying despite its current price tag.



Let's take a closer look


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General Electric Company (GE) Return on Equity Analysis

General Electric Company's (NYSE:GE) 3.5% dividend yield is attracting a lot of income seekers, but will the company be able to grow the dividend in the future? In a recent article, I highlighted the importance of the company's need to grow earnings and improve productivity to do so. The question now is whether General Electric really can improve productivity. Or is it stuck in an era of productivity decline because of its size and scale?


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Should You Follow Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway and Buy Precision Castparts Corp Stock?

According to SEC filings, Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway increased its stake in Precision Castparts Corp. (NYSE:PCP) in the fourth quarter of 2014. In October, Precision Castparts reported second-quarter earnings that came in below estimates, followed by a January pre-announcement that earnings would be below expectations in its third quarter as well. Consequently, the stock is down 13% year to date.



But Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway is known to ignore market sentiment in favor of investing where its management sees value, so let's take a closer look at the growth prospects for Precision Castparts Corp.


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Why is UPS on a Higher Valuation Than FedEx?

It's always interesting for investors to compare two similar companies in an industry, and United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE: UPS  ) and FedEx Corporation (NYSE: FDX  ) make up one of the most instantly recognizable pairs in the investment world. With that said, the market has traditionally given UPS a valuation premium on FedEx. Let's take a look at why this is so, what it says about the companies, and whether the premium could and should change in future.

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Buy General Electric Company Stock or a U.S.Government Bond?

Asking yourself whether you prefer to buy a U.S. 10 Year Treasury note yielding 2.1%, or General Electric Company (NYSE:GE) stock with a current dividend yield of 3.5% might appear to be a superfluous task. Obviously buying the stock makes more sense, right? Unfortunately, investing is rarely that simple, so before you spend your money, let's take a quick look at the key factors that will help you make this choice.


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Jiayuan Earnings Analysis

Fourth-quarter results from China's Jiayuan.com International Ltd. (NASDAQ:DATE) revealed a fascinating development in the world of dating platforms. Simply put, its personalized matchmaking services are growing much faster than its online offerings. What does this say about the company's future of the company? Or even online dating?


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Why Warren Buffett Bought More Stock in Deere & Company (DE)

Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc. increased its stake in Deere & Company (NYSE:DE)in the fourth-quarter of 2014, and he subsequently affirmed that he, and another manager, had been buying the stock for the investment firm. The buying has all the hallmarks of the kind of move on which he has built his career. The maker of tractors and other machines is an American icon, operating with a strong competitive moat, in a industry that -- as long as Homo sapiens require food -- isn't going to disappear. Case closed? Should you just follow the sage of Omaha into the stock and reap the benefits for years to come?


Before you rush in, let's look at why Buffett might have bought the stock, and what will move shares going forward.



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Honeywell International (HON) Stock is Cheaper Than You Think

Honeywell International (NYSE:HON) has a reputation for being one of the best run companies in the industrial sector, and quality rarely comes cheap. However, a deeper look at its guidance reveals a key metric that makes Honeywell look like one of the most attractive companies in its sector. Let's take a closer look.


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5 Reasons to Buy Danaher Corporation (DHR)

t's been a curious sort of year for Danaher (NYSE:DHR) investors as they watched the stock underperform the S&P 500 for much of 2014, only to come roaring back toward the end of the year. In fact, in the last six months, the stock rose 13.2% versus the S&P 500's gain of just 6.3%. What's behind the rise, and why would you want to buy Danaher stock right now?



To help answer these questions, let's take a look at the company's recent presentations and underlying trends.


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United Technologies (UTX) Strategy Update

United Technologies Corp (NYSE:UTX) investors can expect some changes in 2015, not least because the company appears to be shaping up for a major acquisition. In addition, recently appointed CEO Gregory Hayes is actively reviewing the company's portfolio of businesses.


Hayes discussed such matters at the recent Barclays Industrial Select Conference. Let's take a closer look at what he said. Can we draw any conclusions about what can investors expect in 2015?


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