Amphenol Corporation (APH) yesterday reported sales of $716.6 million in the third quarter of 2009, down 17% from a year ago but up 5% sequentially, which surpassed management’s guidance range of $670 million – $685 million. The sequential growth in revenues was attributed to solid demand in the information technology and data communications equipment, mobile devices and automotive market. However, the unfavorable movement in exchange rates negatively impacted the top-line by 1% or $9.9 million in the reported quarter. Operating margin improved to 17.3% from 16.9% in the previous quarter and 19.8% in the year-ago quarter. The sequential improvement was due to cost reduction actions undertaken by the management. Management is taking steps to improve operating performance amidst challenging economic conditions. The company has reduced its headcount by about 6000 or approximately 17% of its workforce. On the cost front, while productivity improvements and ...

Main Street Capital Announces Monthly Dividends for October, November and December 2009 of $0.125 Per Share

Main Street Capital Corporation (Nasdaq: MAIN) (”Main Street”) announced today that its Board of Directors declared monthly dividends of $0.125 per share for October, November and December 2009. These monthly dividends, which will be payable pursuant to the table below, equate to a total of $0.375 per share for the fourth quarter of 2009. The dividends per share for the fourth quarter of 2009 also equate to an approximate annualized yield of 11.4% based on Main Street’s current share price. Including the dividends declared for the fourth quarter of 2009, Main Street will have paid $3.26 in cumulative dividends since its October 2007 initial public offering.

ABOUT MAIN STREET CAPITAL CORPORATION

Main Street is a principal investment firm that provides long-term debt and equity capital to lower middle market companies. Main Street’s investments are made to

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Amphenol Corporation (APH), which manufactures connectors that are primarily used for a wide range of sophisticated electronic applications, yesterday reported sales of $685.2 million in the second quarter of 2009. Sales were down 19% from a year ago but up 3.8% sequentially and surpassed management’s guidance of revenues between $660 million and $675 million and consensus estimate of $673 million. Currency translation effect decreased sales by approximately 3% or by $23.0 million in the second quarter of 2009. From an organic standpoint (excluding acquisitions and foreign exchange impact), sales were down 21% year over year and down 1% sequentially. Gross margin dipped to 31.2% from 32.7% reported in the year ago quarter but flat sequentially. Operating margin declined to 16.9% from 19.8% in the comparable quarter of last year but was essentially flat on a sequential basis. GAAP EPS of $0.43 beat the consensus estimate by ...

Applied Nanotech Holdings, Inc. announced this morning the signing of an exclusive worldwide license agreement with a leading industrial chemical products company in Japan for manufacturing and commercializing nano-copper inks and pastes. The company will receive an upfront payment of $1.5 million, of which $500,000 is payable immediately, and $1.0 million is payable in June 2010. Applied Nanotech will also receive a royalty of 4% of sales of the copper inks and pastes by its partner. Discussions for a new research and development contract have also begun.

“This is a giant step toward implementing our Technical Inks Printing Solution (’TIPS’) strategy based on five important modules: nanoparticles manufacturing, inks development and manufacturing, technical printing applications development, processing development, and adequate hardware. Securing a trusted, high quality technology partner with a broad base of products used in electronic applications plays a vital role in our approach,” stated Dr. ZviYaniv, Chief Executive

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For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL - April 3, 2009 - Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: The Dow Chemical Co. (DOW), Hana Bioscience (HNAB), Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD), Intel Corp. (INTC) and Amphenol Corp. (APH).

Get the most recent insight from Zacks Equity Research with the free Profit from the Pros newsletter: http://at.zacks.com/?id=4579.

Here are highlights from Thursday's Analyst Blog:

DOW Reels In Rohm & Haas Deal

The Dow Chemical Co. (DOW) announced that it completed the acquisition of Rohm and Haas.

Synergies are targeted to be $1.3 billion. Dow has decided to exercise its option to have the

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Amphenol Corp. (APH, Buy) designs and manufactures connectors and interconnecting systems that are used primarily to conduct electrical and optical signals for a wide range of sophisticated electronic applications.We had recently increased our target price on the stock from $29 to $30, based on comparative valuation (P/E of 15.8x our FY2009 estimates, compared to the historical average of around 17X). Buoyed by the market in general, the stock has shot over our revised target price and is trading up over 9% today.Clearly the stock has discounted all the negatives associated with the anticipated weakness in the just-concluded March quarter, and is reflecting potential revenue upside in the current June quarter. Although FY2009 estimates have been revised downwards mostly, our current June quarter revenue projections assume a 3.5% revenue upside sequentially, after a projected decline of nearly 13% in the March quarter compared to the ...

Highlights include Amphenol Corp. (APH), Molex Inc. (MOLX) and Tyco Electronics Ltd. (TEL).Amphenol Corp. Surviving a Depressed EMS EnvironmentCompanies in the electronics supply chain have probably seen one of the worst 4th quarters in a long time, and it appears Q1 is not expected to fare so well. Overall, current expectations for 2009 revenues declines for companies in the Electronic Manufacturing Services (EMS) Sector is averaging in the 18%-20% range, compared to earlier projected declines of 12%-14%.Amphenol Corp. (APH, Buy), a manufacturer of connectors and interconnecting systems that are used primarily to conduct electrical and optical signals for a wide range of sophisticated electronic applications, is not an exception. However, we think that the company has fared better than its peers in 2008, mainly due to the company's strong military/aerospace exposure, market share gains, strong acquisition capabilities and cost ...

As gold receives headlines, let’s look at it relative to the three key global currencies – Dollar, Yen and Euro.

Gold is sometimes viewed more as a commodity for jewelry and electronic applications, and at other times more as a quasi-currency.  It has an ancient history for both roles.  As of late, gold has been taking on more of the alternative currency role.

Paper currencies pay interest, but physical gold does not.  As the interest rate on paper currency approaches zero, the short-term opportunity cost of holding gold versus paper currencies becomes minimal (noting, however, that there are storage and security or management costs with gold).

Reasonable proxies for gold and currencies are: gold (GLD), Dollar (UUP), Yen (FXY) and Euro (FXE).

The 3-year weekly chart below uses “price channels” to identify the highest highs and the lowest lows for the twenty prior periods.  It also presents a Fibonacci study that essentially marks the

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You know when your sales for 2007 are $2.2 billion that you’re doing something right. That’s the case for Cleveland, Ohio based Ferro Corporation who garnered those kinds of numbers last year. Trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), Ferro is a worldwide supplier of technology-based performance materials for manufacturers. They are part of the Specialty Chemical industry and manufacture and sell their products in over 100 countries through the efforts of approximately 6,300 employees.

Ferro’s materials enhance the performance of products in diverse end-market applications. These are electronics, solar energy, telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, building and renovation, appliances, automotive, household furnishings, and industrial products, among others. The company operates a variety of businesses.

Their Electronic Material Systems segment develops, manufactures, and markets high-purity powders, pastes, and tapes for many electronic applications. Their Color & Glass Performance Materials business supplies glass colors and coatings for automotive, flat, and container glass in the global

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