Wednesday's ETF Movers: PJP, XOP

In trading on Wednesday, the PowerShares Dynamic Pharmaceuticals Portfolio ETF (PJP) is outperforming other ETFs, up about 0.8% on the day. Components of that ETF showing particular strength include shares of Heron Therapeutics (HRTX), up about 19.6% and shares of Depomed (DEPO), up about 1.4% on the day.

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Wednesday Sector Laggards: Oil & Gas Exploration & Production, Metals & Mining Stocks

In trading on Wednesday, oil & gas exploration & production shares were relative laggards, down on the day by about 3.1%. Helping drag down the group were shares of Sandridge Energy (SD), down about 13.4% and shares of Halcon Resources (HK) down about 12.5% on the day.

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Nike Earnings Preview: US, China Key To Growth

Nike has guided for a low single-digit growth in revenues for the first quarter of fiscal 2016, with a 50 basis point expansion in the gross margin, on account of a shift to higher margin products in the sales mix and improved performance of its higher margin businesses. The company expects its overhead expenses to rise owing to investments undertaken by the company in its DTC business and e-commerce channel. We expect the company’s earnings to be in line with its guidance, given the company’s commentary.

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Star Wars Presence In Disney Infinity 3.0 May Aid Video Game Sales, But Significant Growth Unlikely

Disney last month released Infinity 3.0 priced at $64.99 for a starter pack. The Infinity game series has seen tremendous success since it was first launched in August 2013. It helped revive Disney's loss making Interactive Media division. Now with the Star Wars presence in its 3rd generation, there is a lot of buzz around the video game. What is important for Disney is the video game sales. In the June quarter Disney witnessed a decline in unit sales, which weighed on the segment's top line as well as operating income. However, Infinity's overall positive trend and Star Wars brand image may just be enough for Disney to revive the sales.

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Wednesday Sector Leaders: Hospital & Medical Practitioners, General Contractors & Builders

In trading on Wednesday, hospital & medical practitioners shares were relative leaders, up on the day by about 1%. Leading the group were shares of Civitas Solutions (CIVI), up about 3.1% and shares of Tenet Healthcare (THC) up about 3% on the day.

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BlackBerry Earnings Preview: Will Core Software Sales Pick Up?

BlackBerry is betting its financial turnaround on the software unit, which primarily sells enterprise mobility management and secure communications software, as it looks to offset the impact of plummeting service access fee revenues and slow uptake of its flagship smartphones. The company has set an ambitious software revenue target of $600 million for FY'16, but it appears to be off to a slow start, as a bulk of its Q1 sales ($137 million) came from one-time patent licensing revenues, while its core software assets remained under-monetized.

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Ex-Div Reminder for Royal Bank of Scotland Non-cumulative Guaranteed Trust Preferred Securities

On 9/25/15, Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc's 6.25% Non-cumulative Guaranteed Trust Preferred Securities (NYSE: RBS.PRI) will trade ex-dividend, for its quarterly dividend of $0.3906, payable on 9/30/15. As a percentage of RBS.PRI's recent share price of $25.27, this dividend works out to approximately 1.55%, so look for shares of RBS.PRI to trade 1.55% lower — all else being equal — when RBS.PRI shares open for trading on 9/25/15. On an annualized basis, the current yield is approximately 6.18%, which compares to an average yield of 4.78% in the "Banking & Savings" preferred stock category, according to Preferred Stock Channel. Click here to learn which S.A.F.E. dividend stocks also have preferred shares that should be on your radar screen »

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Bank of America Trust Originated Preferred Securities About To Put More Money In Your Pocket

On 9/25/15, Bank of America Corp.'s 7.12% Trust Originated Preferred Securities (NYSE: MER.PRE) will trade ex-dividend, for its quarterly dividend of $0.445, payable on 9/30/15. As a percentage of MER.PRE's recent share price of $25.82, this dividend works out to approximately 1.72%, so look for shares of MER.PRE to trade 1.72% lower — all else being equal — when MER.PRE shares open for trading on 9/25/15. On an annualized basis, the current yield is approximately 6.90%, which compares to an average yield of 5.74% in the "Financial" preferred stock category, according to Preferred Stock Channel. Click here to learn which S.A.F.E. dividend stocks also have preferred shares that should be on your radar screen »

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Dow Analyst Moves: HD

The latest tally of analyst opinions from the major brokerage houses shows that among the 30 stocks making up the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Home Depot (HD) is the #11 analyst pick. Home Depot Inc also comes in above the median of analyst picks among the broader S&P 500 index components, claiming the #218 spot out of 500.

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First Week of May 2016 Options Trading For UBS Group

Investors in UBS Group AG (NYSE: UBS) saw new options begin trading this week, for the May 2016 expiration. One of the key inputs that goes into the price an option buyer is willing to pay, is the time value, so with 240 days until expiration the newly trading contracts represent a potential opportunity for sellers of puts or calls to achieve a higher premium than would be available for the contracts with a closer expiration. At Stock Options Channel, our YieldBoost formula has looked up and down the UBS options chain for the new May 2016 contracts and identified one put and one call contract of particular interest.

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Commit To Buy Becton, Dickinson and Co. At $120, Earn 3.4% Annualized Using Options

Investors eyeing a purchase of Becton, Dickinson and Co. (NYSE: BDX) stock, but tentative about paying the going market price of $139.06/share, might benefit from considering selling puts among the alternative strategies at their disposal. One interesting put contract in particular, is the March 2016 put at the $120 strike, which has a bid at the time of this writing of $2.00. Collecting that bid as the premium represents a 1.7% return against the $120 commitment, or a 3.4% annualized rate of return (at Stock Options Channel we call this the YieldBoost).

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See How Alcoa Ranks Among Analysts' Top Metals Picks

A study of analyst recommendations at the major brokerages shows that Alcoa, Inc. (NYSE: AA) is the #27 broker analyst pick, on average, out of the 50 stocks making up the Metals Channel Global Mining Titans Index, according to Metals Channel. The Metals Channel Global Mining Titans Index is comprised of the top fifty global leaders from the metals and mining sector. The companies listed in the Metals Channel Global Mining Titans Index are not fixed, but instead variable — updating on a continuous basis to reflect the changing market environment with respect to commodity prices, government policy and market volatility.

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Broker Darlings of the Dow: Home Depot Ranks As a Top 15 Analyst Pick

A study of analyst recommendations at the major brokerages shows that Home Depot Inc (NYSE: HD) is the #11 broker pick, on average, out of the 30 stocks making up the Dow Jones Industrial Average, according to ETF Channel. Home Depot Inc also comes in above the median of analyst picks among the broader S&P 500 index components, claiming the #218 spot out of 500.

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First Week of May 2016 Options Trading For Dollar General

Investors in Dollar General Corp (NYSE: DG) saw new options begin trading this week, for the May 2016 expiration. One of the key inputs that goes into the price an option buyer is willing to pay, is the time value, so with 240 days until expiration the newly trading contracts represent a potential opportunity for sellers of puts or calls to achieve a higher premium than would be available for the contracts with a closer expiration. At Stock Options Channel, our YieldBoost formula has looked up and down the DG options chain for the new May 2016 contracts and identified one put and one call contract of particular interest.

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First Week of May 2016 Options Trading For Mead Johnson Nutrition

Investors in Mead Johnson Nutrition Co (NYSE: MJN) saw new options become available this week, for the May 2016 expiration. One of the key data points that goes into the price an option buyer is willing to pay, is the time value, so with 240 days until expiration the newly available contracts represent a possible opportunity for sellers of puts or calls to achieve a higher premium than would be available for the contracts with a closer expiration. At Stock Options Channel, our YieldBoost formula has looked up and down the MJN options chain for the new May 2016 contracts and identified one put and one call contract of particular interest.

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3 REITs to Weather Any Fed Action

Last Thursday, Janet Yellen told investors the same thing she always says. They, in turn, took the news as they usually do. They panicked and sold everything.

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IMF-Backed Reforms Could Grant Ghana A Debt Reprieve

With a World Bank guarantee and an IMF programme, Ghana’s government may finally have a little breathing room to fix the country’s sputtering economy, as officials go on the road to market a new $1.5 billion eurobond.

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NUGT, FUTS: Big ETF Outflows

Looking at units outstanding versus one week prior within the universe of ETFs covered at ETF Channel, the biggest outflow was seen in the Daily Gold Miners Index Bull 3x Shares (NUGT), where 14,800,000 units were destroyed, or a 6.7% decrease week over week. Among the largest underlying components of NUGT, in morning trading today Market Vectors Gold Miners ETF (GDX) is up about 0.9%.

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ITB, GDJJ: Big ETF Inflows

Comparing units outstanding versus one week ago at the coverage universe of ETFs at ETF Channel, the biggest inflow was seen in the iShares U.S. Home Construction ETF (ITB), which added 3,700,000 units, or a 4.6% increase week over week. Among the largest underlying components of ITB, in morning trading today D R Horton (DHI) is up about 1.6%, and Lennar Corporation (LEN) is higher by about 1.4%.

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12 'Greenest' 2015 Cars

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