Stockwinners Market Radar for May 07, 2017 - Earnings, Upgrades downgrades, option trades, Best Stock Advisory Service

19:57 EDT Amazon cuts 'Echo' price to $149.99 - Amazon has cut the price of its "Echo" device to $149.99 from $179.99 as part of a "limited-time offer." The move follows an April 27 CNET report claiming that the company could unveil a new Echo device featuring a built-in screen this month. Reference Link

19:47 EDT Verizon says no longer expects to upgrade credit rating by 2018-2019 timeframe - Verizon stated in a regulatory filing Friday: "In our 1Q17 earnings release issued on April 20, Verizon Communications indicated that we were on track for a return to our pre-Vodafone credit rating profile by the 2018-2019 timeframe. That expectation was based on the then existing view that rating agencies used to assess our industry. As a result of a recent change in that view, we no longer expect to be able to achieve an upgrade to our pre-Vodafone credit rating in that timeframe. Verizon remains committed to a capital allocation policy consisting of a strong balance sheet with improving credit metrics while continuing to invest in our businesses and returning value to our shareholders."

19:22 EDT Trump targets Rexnord's Mexico move in Sunday tweet - President Donald Trump tweeted: "Rexnord of Indiana made a deal during the Obama Administration to move to Mexico. Fired their employees. Tax product big that's sold in U.S." Reference Link

17:51 EDT Nike two-hour marathon event falls short of goal - "Breaking2," an attempt by Nike and its runners to break the two-hour marathon barrier, has fallen just short of its goal, with lead runner Eliud Kipchoge finishing the event in two hours and 25 seconds. Reference Link

14:58 EDT DHT rejects Frontline bid, says must turn attention to 'productive endeavors' - DHT Holdings (DHT) announced that its board unanimously rejected Frontline's (FRO) April 25 proposal to acquire DHT at a ratio of 0.8 Frontline shares for each DHT share. The board stated in a letter to Frontline: "We refer to your letter of April 25 proposing a business combination... This is, of course, the exact same proposal you made at the end of February. We unanimously rejected that proposal, determining it significantly undervalued the contribution that DHT's business would make to a combined company. But charter rates, asset values and other conditions are changing constantly in our industry, and DHT's fleet has evolved significantly since your February proposal. As a board, we will always remain open to exploring alternatives... We thoroughly and carefully reviewed your proposal with an open mind and fresh outlook. Following that review, we have unanimously concluded that your proposal continues to be wholly inadequate for DHT and its shareholders. We reject your proposal for a wide array of reasons -- some perhaps even more compelling to us now than they were this past February... Our hope is that with a better understanding of the total inadequacy of your offer, we can all turn our focus to areas more productive for our respective businesses... The bottom line is that Frontline's proposed takeover of DHT is so woefully inadequate that we do not believe further engagement will result in a fair offer." The company continued, "We believe that value creation comes from additional growth at this stage in the industry cycle... We did not build this company simply to hand it over to you on the cheap. We estimate that our fleet would contribute nearly 50% of the aggregate net asset value of a combined company. We also estimate that the DHT fleet would provide in excess of 45% of the combined company's 2018 EBITDA. You are offering our shareholders only 40% of the combined company's equity... In March, our management team met with you several times to discuss the value of the DHT fleet based on fundamental contribution. We understand that those conversations did not prove fruitful. You have refused to engage in a discussion that starts with the proposition that both fleets should be valued on a common basis... You have claimed, multiple times, that your proposal is final. We have taken you at your word on this point. We believe that it is time for both Frontline and DHT to turn our attentions to more productive endeavors."

14:44 EDT Synergy Pharmaceuticals reports presentation of Phase 3 Trulance data - Synergy Pharmaceuticals announced that the company will present new data from an analysis of patients with moderate to very severe bloating at baseline who participated in two Phase 3 studies evaluating TRULANCE for the treatment of adults with chronic idiopathic constipation. These data will be presented at Digestive Disease Week, May 6-9. Over 12 weeks, patients with CIC and moderate, severe or very severe bloating symptoms at baseline and were treated with TRULANCE 3 mg or 6 mg doses achieved a significantly greater efficacy responder rate, the primary endpoint defined by the FDA for regulatory approval in CIC, in this analysis compared to placebo -- 18.8% for 3 mg and 16.3% for 6 mg compared to 9.5% for placebo. Efficacy responders were defined as patients who had at least three complete spontaneous bowel movements in a given week and an increase of at least one CSBM over baseline in the same week for at least nine weeks out of the 12-week treatment period, including at least three of the last four weeks. The symptom of bloating among these patients also showed statistically significant improvements for TRULANCE 3 mg and 6 mg compared to placebo. Improvements in abdominal bloating scores were statistically significant after one week and continued throughout the 12-week treatment period. Discontinuation rates were low across both groups -- 3.6% at 3 mg and 4.5% at 6 mg compared to 2.4% for placebo -- and discontinuations due to diarrhea were infrequent -- 1.0% at 3 mg and 1.6% at 6 mg compared to 0.2% for placebo.

14:22 EDT Teck Resources unit says Mamit Lake Dam damaged - Teck Highland Valley Copper provided an update Saturday on the Mamit Lake Dam: "As a result of unusually high water levels the spillway at the Mamit Lake Dam south of Logan Lake, B.C., has been damaged. The dam is unrelated to mining and used to manage agricultural water flows and sustain fish habitat. The extent of the damage is not known as the structure is still experiencing high flows. All emergency authorities have been notified and residents and communities are being notified. In the event of a failure, there would likely be an increase in already existing flood conditions in the area downstream. The Lower Nicola Indian Band and Lower Nicola are the primary communities affected both of which are already dealing with flood conditions. The facility is owned and operated by the Lower Nicola Indian Band, and monitored and maintained under an agreement by Teck Highland Valley Copper."

14:00 EDT Acceleron, Celgene report preliminary Phase 2 luspatercept data - Acceleron (XLRN) and Celgene (CELG) announced Saturday preliminary Phase 2 results from the ongoing three-month base and long-term extension studies with investigational drug luspatercept in patients with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes at the International Symposium on MDS. Luspatercept is being developed as part of the global collaboration between Acceleron and Celgene. In lower-risk, erythropoiesis-stimulating agent-naive MDS patients, 48% of patients treated with luspatercept achieved red blood cell transfusion independence and 51% of patients achieved a clinically meaningful erythroid hematological improvement response per the International Working Group's criteria. The response rates were positive in patients treated with luspatercept in both ESA-naive and prior ESA-treated patients. In patients with baseline erythropoietin levels less than or equal to 500 international units per liter, RBC-TI and IWG HI-E response rates were positive in both ring sideroblast-positive and -negative patients. Grade 3 non-serious AEs possibly or probably related to study drug were ascites, blast cell count increase, blood bilirubin increase, hypertension, platelet count increase, and pleural effusion. Grade 3 serious AEs possibly or probably related to study drug were general physical health deterioration and myalgia. "We are now planning a Phase 3 clinical trial to expand the development of luspatercept into this lower-risk MDS patient population," commented Celgene. "We continue to be motivated to find additional opportunities for luspatercept to treat anemia due to rare blood disorders and remain on track to initiate Phase 2 trials in myelofibrosis and non-transfusion dependent beta-thalassemia by year-end," said Acceleron.

13:53 EDT Cherokee receives Nasdaq listing warning, plans to file 10-K on May 11 - Cherokee announced Friday that on May 3 it received a notice from NASDAQ stating that the company is not in compliance with listing rules because the company did not timely file its annual report on Form 10-K for its year ended January 28, 2017. The notice has no immediate effect on the listing or trading of Cherokee's common stock. "As previously disclosed, the delay relates to the financial results of the Hi-Tec family of footwear brands Cherokee acquired in December 2016, which are required to be included in the company's consolidated financial statements to be contained in the annual report. The complexity of the integration and consolidation of the acquired assets has necessitated substantial additional review procedures and staff work, which has required more time for the company to complete its consolidated financial statements for the period... Cherokee expects to file its Form 10-K as soon as reasonably practicable and intends to do so on May 11, which would result in regained compliance," the company noted.

13:44 EDT Murray Energy sues New York Times over 'false and defamatory' article - Murray Energy announced Friday it filed a lawsuit seeking to hold The New York Times Company accountable for the "false and defamatory statements that newspaper made in an article it published on April 24 and 25." The company alleged that "in its article, 'Money Talked Loudest at Trump's Inaugural,' The New York Times falsely accuses Robert E. Murray of lying about the cause of a 2007 mine collapse that tragically killed nine people. In addition, it also falsely implies that the Murray Energy organization was found guilty of a significant number of violations outside the norms of industry regulatory compliance."

13:34 EDT Janssen reports real-word data on INVOKANA - Johnson & Johnson's Janssen announced Friday real-world evidence showing people with type 2 diabetes initiated on oral INVOKANA 300mg were as likely as matched patients initiated on injectable GLP-1 receptor agonists to achieve the recognized HEDIS standard of blood glucose control of A1C less than 8.0 percent. Patients on INVOKANA were also less likely to discontinue their medication or be prescribed a new antihyperglycemic agent. These findings were presented at the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists' Annual Scientific & Clinical Congress. Specifically, the analysis showed: Patients with A1C levels of 8.0 percent or greater before starting either therapy had similar A1C levels at each 3-month interval post-index. Time to reach A1C below 8.0 percent was comparable with INVOKANA and GLP-1 RAs (12.4 months vs. 13.1 months). INVOKANA patients were 30 percent less likely to discontinue initial therapy compared to those initiating GLP-1 RAs, with a median time to discontinuation of 12.4 vs. 8.6 months, respectively. INVOKANA patients were 28 percent less likely to be prescribed a new AHA.