Stockwinners Market Radar for December 28, 2017 - Earnings, Upgrades downgrades, option trades, Best Stock Advisory Service

17:33 EDT Scientific Games to replace Huntington Ingalls in the S&P 400 at open on 1/3

17:22 EDT IBM and Priceline settle patent lawsuits - IBM (IBM) has reached agreement to resolve the patent lawsuit with Priceline (PCLN) pending in the United States District Court for Delaware. As part of the confidential settlement, the parties will obtain patent cross-licenses to each company's worldwide patent portfolio.

17:18 EDT Apple offers reduced price iPhone battery replacements in apology - In a statement on Apple's website, it has apologized for the way it handled performance for iPhones with older batteries and how the company has communicated that process, and is reducing the price of an out-of-warranty iPhone battery replacement by $50 - from $79 to $29 - for anyone with an iPhone 6 or later whose battery needs to be replaced, starting in late January and available worldwide through December 2018. Reference Link

17:13 EDT Boeing awarded $148.5M U.S. Navy contract modification - The Boeing Co is being awarded $148,548,978 for modification P00027 to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to exercise an option for depot level maintenance support and sustainment for the F/A-18 A/B/C/D aircraft. This includes the performance of high flight hour inspections, HFH recurring inspections, additional inspections, modifications and liaison engineering, and F/A-18E/F/G modifications and inspections required to correct deficiencies to achieve current design life limits. Work will be performed in Jacksonville, Florida, and is expected to be completed in December 2018.

17:12 EDT Northrop Grumman awarded $255M U.S. Navy contract modification - Northrop Grumman Systems is being awarded $255,309,325 for fixed-price-incentive modification P00003 to a previously awarded advanced acquisition contract for the Lot 3 low-rate initial production of three MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft, trade studies and tooling in support of the Persistent Maritime Unmanned Aircraft Systems Program Office.

17:10 EDT Raytheon Missile Co awarded $634M U.S. Air Force contract - Raytheon Missile Co., Tucson, Arizona, has been awarded a $634,204,347 fixed-price-incentive-firm-target contract for Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile production Lot 31. The contract is for the production of the AMRAAM missile and other AMRAAM system items. The AMRAAM system includes the missile, spares and telemetry kits. Work will be performed at Tucson, Arizona, with an expected completion date of Jan. 31, 2020. This contract involves foreign military sales to Japan, Korea, Morocco, Poland, Indonesia, Romania, Spain, Turkey, Bahrain and Qatar.

17:02 EDT Eaton estimates $90M-$110M Q4 expense related to U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act - On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was signed into law, significantly changing U.S. corporate tax law. This release outlines the expected impact of the TCJA on Eaton Corporation plc. For the fourth quarter of 2017, Eaton expects the TCJA to result in a one-time tax expense of between $90 and $110 million. About half of this expense is related to remeasurement of U.S. deferred tax balances and the other half is related to taxation of unremitted earnings of non-U.S. subsidiaries owned directly or indirectly by U.S. subsidiaries of Eaton. The taxation of unremitted earnings will be paid over 8 years, as required by the TCJA. The above estimate is preliminary, as the exact expense in the fourth quarter can only be determined once fourth quarter activities have been concluded. For 2018, Eaton anticipates that its effective tax rate, factoring in the impact of the TCJA, will be between 14% - 16%, which represents an increase of 3 percentage points over its prior estimate of 11% - 13% before the impact of the TCJA.

16:47 EDT Brookfield Renewable completes acquisition of TerraForm Global - Brookfield Renewable Partners announced that, together with its institutional partners, it has closed the previously-announced acquisition of 100% of TerraForm Global for a total net investment of $750M. Brookfield Renewable's total net investment of $230M was funded from available liquidity giving it a 31% interest. The investment is expected to contribute approximately $35M of annual FFO to Brookfield Renewable on a run-rate basis.

16:44 EDT PNM Service requests that New Mexico reconsiders rejection of rate review deal - Public Service Co. of New Mexico, a wholly owned subsidiary of PNM Resources, has requested that the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission reconsider their rejection of its general rate review settlement agreement dated May 23, 2017. There is no opposition to this request from the signatories. In addition, several parties have also filed requests seeking reconsideration and approval of the settlement agreement. If the Commission does not approve the settlement agreement, the rate review is expected to move forward to litigation. The Commission had previously issued an order on Dec. 20, 2017 that accepted the Oct. 31, 2017 Hearing Examiners' Recommended Decision with certain modifications. The Commission has 20 days to consider the request. The Commission has authority to extend the suspension period in the rate review until Mar. 6, 2018. It is presumed that if the rate review moves to litigation, the suspension period would be extended to accommodate the Commissioners' review of the litigated proceeding. Under the Commission rules, parties have until Jan. 2, 2018 to respond to the motion. The Commission's next scheduled Open Meeting is on Jan. 3, 2018.

16:31 EDT Continental Resources extends throughput agreement with Tallgrass Energy - Tallgrass Energy Partners (TEP) announced that Continental Resources (CLR) exercised its contractual right to extend its Throughput and Deficiency Agreements to ship crude oil with Belle Fourche Pipeline company and with TEP's subsidiary, Tallgrass Pony Express Pipeline, LLC, through Oct. 31, 2024. The TDAs were previously scheduled to expire on Oct. 31, 2019. Starting Jan. 1, 2018, new uncommitted rates on the joint tariff of BFPL, Pony Express and Bridger Pipeline, LLC will be established, resulting in certain committed rates on the joint tariff being adjusted on the same date. These joint tariff committed rates will initially be $3.75 per barrel for Williston basin origin points and $2.86 per barrel for Guernsey, Wyo. origin points on Pony Express.

16:25 EDT Northwest Pipe sells remianing Energy Tubular Products assets for $37.2M - Northwest Pipe has sold its remaining Energy Tubular Products assets in Atchison, Kansas, including real estate, to Almacenadora Afirme, S.A. de C.V., Organizacion Auxiliar del Credito, Afirme Grupo Financiero, a Mexican corporation of variable capital, for a purchase price of $37.2M in cash. Over the past four years, in order to reposition the company around its core Water Transmission business, Northwest Pipe has completed these strategic efforts: sale of OCTG Energy Tubular business in March 2014, closure of Atchison line pipe Energy Tubular business in January 2016, and sale of Atchison facility in December 2017.

16:21 EDT Mid-Con Energy sells southern Oklahoma assets - Mid-Con Energy Partners announced the sale of oil and natural gas assets within its Southern Oklahoma core area to Exponent Energy III, a Tulsa-based company. The sale closed on December 22 at a purchase price of $22.0M with an effective date of December 22.

16:18 EDT Bank of the Ozarks announces cash-based incentive for hourly employees - Bank of the Ozarks announced that the Personnel and Compensation Committee of its board has approved the creation of an annual cash-based incentive bonus plan for hourly employees and certain other employees not currently covered by existing bonus plans. Executive officers and other members of senior management are excluded from this new bonus plan. Under the terms of the plan, employees will be eligible to receive a cash award of up to $1,200 annually based on company and individual employee performance. Approximately 2,300 of the company's current employees will be eligible to receive awards under the plan. The first payments under the plan will be made in early 2019 based on 2018 company and individual employee performance. Current estimates indicate the annual pre-tax cost of the plan for 2018, including payroll taxes and other benefits, will be between $2.4 and $2.7 million. Going forward, annual bonus payments under this plan will be determined and paid in the first quarter of each year.

16:13 EDT Daxor reaffirms annual dividend, revises record date, pay date - Daxor Corporation revises the record date and payment date of its 2017 dividend. The board has reaffirmed the annual dividend payment of 3c per share. This dividend will be paid on Friday, January 12, 2018 to Daxor shareholders of record on Monday January 8, 2018. The change in dates is procedural to comply with regulatory reporting requirements.

15:52 EDT Xerox to acquire certain Thinfilm Memory intellectual property - Thin Film Electronics ASA announced that Xerox will acquire certain Thinfilm Memory intellectual property. In return, Thinfilm will receive an up-front payment plus an earn-out based on the existing agreed-to royalty schedule.

15:37 EDT Airbus, Indigo Partners finalize orders for 430 A320neo aircraft - Airbus announced that it had finalized agreements with Indigo Partners and its four portfolio airlines for the purchase of 430 additional A320neo Family aircraft for ultra-low-cost airlines Frontier Airlines, JetSMART, Volaris and Wizz Air. The signed purchase agreement follows a Memorandum of Understanding among the parties announced at the Dubai Air Show last month. The 430-aircraft order is made up of 274 A320neos and 156 A321neos worth $49.5B at list prices. Airlines in the Indigo Partners family had previous placed orders for a total of 427 A320 Family aircraft.

14:49 EDT Turning Point announces employee bonuses 'as a direct result' of tax reform - Turning Point Brands has announced it will deliver bonuses to 107 employees, with CEO Larry Wexler stating, "We are giving $1,000 bonuses as a direct result of tax reform becoming law. These employees would not normally get a bonus like this. Our dedicated employees are responsible for our success, and we are very pleased to announce this bonus for them during the holiday season. We are extremely happy with tax reform and wanted our valued employees to feel the benefits."

14:05 EDT Sanuwave Health granted FDA permission to market Dermapace System - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that it has permitted the marketing of the Dermapace System, the first shock wave device intended to treat diabetic foot ulcers. The Dermapace System was reviewed through the de novo premarket review pathway, a regulatory pathway for some low- to moderate-risk devices of a new type for which there is no legally marketed predicate device to which the device can claim substantial equivalence. The FDA permitted marketing of the Dermapace System to Sanuwave.

13:57 EDT Xplore Technologies reports share purchases by acting CEO, other executives - Xplore Technologies provided an update on recent open market share purchases by multiple members of the executive team. The company reports that multiple executives have made Form 4 filings representing purchases of 42,800 shares at an average price of $3.10 per share, or more than $132,000 in personal purchases from November 14 to December 8, 2017. Filing executives include Tom Wilkinson, Acting CEO, John Graff, VP of Marketing, and Randy Denny, VP of Sales for Enterprise and the Americas, the company announced.

12:18 EDT Glenview Capital reports 5.7% passive stake in First Data - In a regulatory filing last night, Glenview reported a 5.72% passive stake in First Data.

11:35 EDT vTv Therapeutics rises after Ron Perelman increases stake - Ronald Perelman, a shareholder of a larger than 10% stake in vTv Therapeutics, bought 50,000 shares of the company's common stock at an average price of $4.03 on December 26, according to a regulatory filing last night. In late morning trading, shares of in vTv Therapeutics are up 95c, or 23%, to $5.00.

10:27 EDT Before the Move: Ten biotech names to watch in January - In a research note to investors, Jefferies analyst Michael Yee identified what he sees as ten potential disclosures or announcements that could come in the next two weeks to start 2018. Among the names that may see stock-moving events as the new year begins are Celgene (CELG), Biogen (BIIB) and Vertex (VRTX). TURNING THE PAGE TO 2018: Jefferies' Yee told investors that "turning the page to 2018 and into a January conference," he is modestly optimistic that large-cap biotech picks up a bit given the recent pullback, tax reform and low investor expectations. He reiterated that the big biotech names are working toward a much bigger 2018 product cycle and late-stage data read out period. Thinking outside of the box, the analyst pointed out that the key upside "wild-card" is whether "big consolidation" actually occurs in the large caps based on pharmaceutical companies buying pharma or "big biotech" companies. STOCK-MOVING ANNOUNCEMENTS: Other than surprise M&A deals that could swing sentiment in biotech, Jefferies' Yee sees the potential for at least ten stock-moving announcements within his coverage going into a major industry conference in two weeks. The analyst told investors that Celgene is likely to pre-announce results for its fourth quarter and provide new 2018 guidance, though investors should assume that outlook could be conservative. Biogen could also disclose color around Spinraza patient numbers and update on aducanumab Alzheimer's enrollment, he contended. Yee argued that Vertex could pre-announce on its fourth quarter but may not provide 2018 Cystic Fibrosis guidance until its '661 combo is approved in February. The company could also disclose Phase 3 triple plans and update on Phase 2 data. Regarding Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY), the analyst highlighted the company may discuss the path forward for ALN-TTRsc02, update on the ALN-GO1 phase 1 program, or announce a new program in the near-term. AveXis (AVXS) may provide FDA meeting updates and next steps post recent regulatory discussions; Intercept Pharmaceuticals (ICPT) may pre-announce fourth quarter Ocaliva sales or announced the initiation of a Phase 3 cirrhosis study, or give color on upcoming FDA label change; and Assembly Biosciences (ASMB) could announce Phase 1b HBV data on viral knockdown, he contended. Lastly, Yee pointed out that Axovant Sciences (AXON) may report Phase 2B data for intepiridine in dementia with Lewy bodies and nelotansersin in visual hallucinations, while Acorda Therapeutics (ACOR) is likely to pre-announce 2017 Ampyra net sales and provide 2018 financial guidance, and FibroGen (FGEN) could disclose HRCT imaging IPF data or Phase 2 pancreatic cancer data for pamrevlumab. "Before the Move" is The Fly's recurring series of exclusive stories that identify potentially market moving events, along with analyst predictions, ahead of the news.

09:35 EDT Nevada reports November Las Vegas Strip gaming win down 6.04% to $485.75M - Nevada reports November statewide gaming win down 2.3% to $909.01M. Publicly traded companies in the casino gaming space include Boyd Gaming (BYD), Caesars (CZR), Las Vegas Sands (LVS), MGM Resorts (MGM), Penn National (PENN) and Wynn Resorts (WYNN).

09:16 EDT SunLink Health Systems announces final results of tender offer - SunLink Health Systemsy announced the final results of its tender offer which expired at midnight, New York City Time, on December 21. In the Offer, SunLink offered to purchase up to $2,500,000 of its common shares at a price of $1.60 per share. Based on the tabulation by American Stock Transfer & Trust Company. the depositary for the Offer, 3,725,656 common shares of SunLink were properly tendered and not withdrawn. In accordance with the terms and conditions of the Offer and based on a final count by the Depositary, the company accepted for payment a total of 1,745,751 SunLink common shares at a price of $1.60 per share, for a total cost of approximately $2,793,202, excluding fees and expenses relating to the Offer. These shares represent approximately 19% of the company's total outstanding common shares as of December 21. The common shares of SunLink purchased include the approximately 1,562,500 shares the company initially offered to purchase and approximately 183,251 additional common shares that the company elected to purchase pursuant to its right to purchase up to an additional 2% of its outstanding common shares. Because the Offer was oversubscribed, the Company purchased only a prorated portion of the shares properly tendered by each tendering stockholder at the $1.60 per share purchase price. Based on the tabulation by AST, and accounting for the effect of odd lot priority on the proration factor, the Depositary has informed the company that the proration factor for the Offer was approximately 46.75% of the common shares validly tendered and not validly withdrawn based on the total number of shares reported to be tendered and not withdrawn prior to the expiration of the Offer and accounting for "odd lot" priority. Payment for the shares accepted for purchase pursuant to the Offer, and the return of all other shares tendered and not purchased, will occur promptly.

09:07 EDT AEGON to divest additional block of U.S. run-off businesses - Aegon announced it has agreed to divest a block of life reinsurance business to SCOR and to dissolve a related captive insurance company. Under the terms of the agreement, Aegon's Transamerica life subsidiaries will reinsure approximately $750M of liabilities to SCOR. The transaction covers approximately half of the life reinsurance business that Transamerica retained after it divested the vast majority of its life reinsurance business to SCOR in 2011. It is expected that the transaction has a one-time benefit of approximately $75M on Transamerica's capital position and a slightly positive effect on recurring capital generation. The transaction is consistent with Aegon's stated strategic objective to reduce the amount of capital allocated to its run-off businesses. Future underlying earnings are not affected by this transaction as earnings of this block of reinsurance business are part of run-off businesses, which are not included in underlying earnings before tax. The transaction is expected to result in a pre-tax IFRS loss of approximately $125M and will be reported in Other charges in the fourth quarter 2017 results, the company noted.

09:06 EDT SoftBank, Vayyar Imaging partner for IoT innovation - SoftBank and Vayyar Imaging jointly announced that they have agreed to collaborate in the IoT field. The companies also agreed that SoftBank will be the channel priority partner for Vayyar's products in the Japan market. Vayyar Imaging is partnering with SoftBank to develop technological solutions for the Japanese market. Together they are developing applications which combine SoftBank's AI with Vayyar's sensor technology for use in public transport, construction, and elderly care.

09:02 EDT Odonate Therapeutics initiates CONTESSA study of Tesetaxel - Odonate Therapeutics announced that it has initiated CONTESSA, a multinational, multicenter, randomized, Phase 3 study of tesetaxel in patients with locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer. Tesetaxel is an investigational, orally administered chemotherapy agent that belongs to a class of drugs known as taxanes, which are widely used in the treatment of cancer. Currently available taxanes must be delivered intravenously, typically at an infusion center. Tesetaxel has several potential therapeutic advantages over currently available taxanes, including oral administration with a low pill burden and a patient-friendly dosing regimen and a formulation that does not contain solubilizing agents that are known to cause hypersensitivity reactions. More than 500 patients have been treated with tesetaxel across 22 clinical studies. In patients with MBC, tesetaxel was shown to have robust single-agent antitumor activity in two, multicenter, Phase 2 studies. CONTESSA will compare tesetaxel dosed orally at 27 mg/m2 on the first day of a 21-day cycle plus a reduced dose of capecitabine to the approved dose of capecitabine alone in approximately 600 patients randomized 1:1 with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative, hormone receptor positive MBC previously treated with a taxane in the neoadjuvant or adjuvant setting. Capecitabine is an oral chemotherapy agent that is considered a standard-of-care treatment in MBC. Where indicated, patients must have received an anthracycline and/or endocrine therapy with or without a cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitor. The primary endpoint is progression-free survival assessed by an Independent Radiologic Review Committee. CONTESSA's secondary efficacy endpoints are overall survival, objective response rate assessed by IRC, disease control rate assessed by IRC and patient-reported outcomes.

08:43 EDT Intercept pushes out expected announcement of Phase 3 REVERSE trial report - In a regulatory filing earlier, Intercept Pharmaceuticals disclosed that the company is shifting guidance for an announcement of the Phase 3 REVERSE trial in NASH patients with compensated cirrhosis from year end 2017 to the first quarter of 2018.

08:32 EDT Eros Now available on Amazon channels - Eros International (EROS) announced that Eros Now, is now available to Amazon (AMZN) Prime members on Amazon Channels across the US and UK with subscription fee of $7.99 and GBP5.99 per month. Access to Eros Now's entertainment services through the program will include a 7-day free trial. Amazon Prime members can sign up for Eros Now through Amazon Channels to get access to Eros Now's unparalleled movie library of thousands of films offering a wide range of Bollywood and regional language films, music videos and originals.

08:04 EDT Qorvo selected for Qualcomm's Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything design - Qorvo is providing the front-end power amplifier for the Qualcomm Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything Reference Design from Qualcomm (QCOM) subsidiary Qualcomm Technologies. C-V2X is designed to support active safety and help enhance situational awareness by detecting and exchanging information using low latency direct transmission in the 5.9 GHz ITS band for Vehicle-to-Vehicle, Vehicle-to-Infrastructure and Vehicle-to-Pedestrian situations with no need for cellular subscription or any network assistance.

07:58 EDT Ekso Bionics files to increase authorized number of common shares - In a regulatory filing last night, Ekso Bionics disclosed that the company filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada on December 22 a certificate of amendment of its certificate of incorporation to increase the authorized number of shares of the company's common stock from 71,428,571 shares to 141,428,571 shares. The charter amendment was approved by the company's stockholders at a special meeting held on December 21, the company noted.

07:26 EDT Bitcoin-related stocks slide as cryptocurrency falls - Bitcoin-related names Overstock (OSTK), Digital Power (DPW), Long Blockchain (LTEA), Seven Stars Cloud Group (SSC), Riot Blockchain (RIOT), Longfin (LFIN), Social Reality (SRAX) and Parateum (TEUM) are all trading lower in the pre-market and heading for a second straight big down day as Bitcoin extends its slide overnight below $14,000. Speculation over South Korea regulators considering options that could include a shutdown of some cryptocurrency exchanges is fueling today's decline. The cryptocurrency is now down over 25% from last week's record high.

07:10 EDT Cancer Genetics receives $1.1M in net cash proceeds from tax credit transfer - Cancer Genetics announced that the company has received $1.1M in net cash proceeds from the transfer of tax credits approved by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority's New Jersey Technology Business Tax Certificate Transfer program. The payment, received in December 2017, is net of administrative and sales expenses and fees associated with the program.

07:07 EDT AerCap exercises option to purchase 50 Airbus A320neo Family aircraft - AerCap Holdings (AER) announced that it has exercised options to purchase 50 A320neo Family aircraft from Airbus (EADSY), with deliveries starting from 2022. This transaction brings AerCap's firm orders for the A320neo Family aircraft to a total of 270, owned and on order.

07:03 EDT Canadian Solar signs agreement with Axium Infinity Solar for plant operations - Canadian Solar has recently signed an Operation & Maintenance agreement with Axium Infinity Solar LP for eight solar PV plants totaling 105.5 MWp. The eight PV plants are located in Ontario, Canada. Canadian Solar will be responsible for plant monitoring, performance management, preventative maintenance, and corrective maintenance at all eight facilities.

07:00 EDT Becton Dickinson granted clearance in China for acquisition of C.R. Bard - BD (BDX) received clearance by the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China for BD to acquire C. R. Bard (BCR), contingent on BD divesting its soft tissue core needle biopsy product line. MOFCOM clearance was the final regulatory approval needed to complete the Bard acquisition, which remains subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. BD and Bard currently expect the proposed acquisition to close on Dec. 29. Separately, BD's proposed divestiture of its soft tissue core needle biopsy product line to Merit Medical is conditioned on MOFCOM approval of Merit as the purchaser.

06:05 EDT CAE to purchase up to 600,000 common shares through private agreement - CAE intends to purchase for cancellation, on or before February 22, 2018, up to 600,000 of its common shares pursuant to a private agreement between CAE and an arm's-length third-party seller. The price that CAE will pay for any common shares purchased by it under the private agreement will be negotiated by CAE and the seller and will be at a discount to the prevailing market price of CAE's common shares on the TSX. This purchase will form part of CAE's 5,366,756 normal course issuer bid program which allows for purchases outside the facilities of the TSX pursuant to exemption orders issued by a securities regulatory authority. Assuming the purchase of 600,000 common shares, CAE will have purchased 38.7% of the total number of common shares which may be purchased under its share repurchase program.

05:23 EDT China Xiniya Fashion announces listing approval by NYSE American - China Xiniya Fashion announced that it has received approval from NYSE American to list its American Depositary Share on the NYSE American. The approval for the listing application was received on December 27. The company expects that its ADS will begin trading on the NYSE American on December 29 under its current symbol "XNY".

05:16 EDT Welltower announces strategic JV partner for Sunrise E. 56th Street - Welltower, in partnership with Hines, has closed with a major institutional investor on a Limited Partnership interest for the development site at 56th Street and Lexington Avenue in Manhattan. This represents the first time a major investor of this type has invested in the development of an urban senior living building along with a world class real estate developer and a health care REIT. This further indicates that health care real estate is becoming the next core, institutional asset class.