Stocks meandered at the start as uncertainty over the quarterly results this week kept investors from building positions.  Jittery investors, wanting to see more sings of an economic revival, sold off financial stocks after influential analyst Meredith Whitney downgraded shares of Goldman Sachs.  Whitney also lowered her earnings outlook for Bank of America and Citigroup.  Although late morning saw some strength, stocks struggled to stay afloat and ended the day mixed.   

Gains in commodity prices helped some mid-session buying in energy and material shares but the overall weakness in financial and healthcare stocks kept sentiment in check.  Shares of UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE:UNH) and Aetna Inc. (NYSE:AET) fell more than 3% as the Senate Finance Committee approved an $829 billion plan to overhaul the U.S. health system.  Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) fell 2.4% after the company reported revenue that was below the Street expectations.  However, the company reported higher

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Medidata Solutions: The One Healthcare Stock That’s Not Sucking Up to Washington

by Louis Basenese, Advisory Panelist

When it comes to the healthcare debate, let’s keep one obvious fact in mind: Expenses are out of control and must be reined in. That’s true with or without a massive reform bill.

And that plays right into the hands of Medidata Solutions Inc. (Nasdaq: MDSO).

The company is a leading provider of electronic data capture (EDC) and clinical data management systems (CDMS). In laymen’s terms, it helps drug companies go from the Dark Age into the Digital Age.

And it’s a transformation that we desperately need. Here’s why…

Anyone For a Tedious, Time-Consuming Paper Trail?

Roughly 75% of all clinical trials – the most critical function of drug companies, yet also the biggest drain on resources ($45 billion, annually) – are done

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On Wednesday, US stocks opened the third quarter with a sharp rally but the averages finished well off session highs as caution prevailed ahead of Thursday's jobs report.  The markets opened strongly with the Dow Jones industrial average shooting up 133 points before paring some gains to close up 57 points, or 0.7%, to 8,504.06.  The Nasdaq added 11 points, or 0.6%, to 1,845.72 and the broader S&P 500 index edged up 4 points, or 0.4%, to 923.33.  A better-than-expected report on Chinese manufacturing and General Mills' (NYSE:GIS) solid quarterly earnings also helped sentiments on the Street as investors shrugged off a report from ADP which showed companies in the US cut 473,000 jobs in June.  

US stocks had declined Tuesday after an unexpected decline in consumer confidence sparked a sell off, but the S&P 500 index managed to end the quarter with a 15.2% gain, its best

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US stocks rose Thursday, helped by an advance in banking and healthcare stocks and a report on jobless claims and regional manufacturing revived hopes that the worst of the economic crisis is over.  Breaking a three-day losing run, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 58.42 points to 8555.60 and the S&P 500 index advanced 7.66 points to 918.37.  Tech-heavy NASDAQ ended the day little changed.  The S&P is now up 35.5% above its 12-year low hit on March 9.

Although financials have been a drag this week, Thursday saw the sector recording gains after a three-day losing streak and leading the list of gainers among the 10 S&P 500 industry groups with an advance of 2.5%.  Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS) rose 4% after reporting a less-than-anticipated growth in bad loans.  Lincoln National (NYSE:LNC) jumped almost 7% after it was upgraded by Credit Suisse (NYSE:CS).  Bank of America (NYSE:BAC)

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U.S. stocks declined for the third consecutive day after Standard & Poor's cut its credit ratings and outlooks for 22 banks and bellwether FedEx Corp's weak profit forecast reignited worries of a prolonged recession.  Nevertheless, consumer and technology stocks helped Nasdaq end the day higher with a 0.7% gain.

Pre-market futures suggest a flat opening as traders look for concrete signs of an economic recovery, amid fears of increased government interventions and a crushed economic rebound.

Commodities and financial shares led the decliners yesterday, but healthcare stocks rose after Democratic leaders began working on a healthcare overhaul that would make it mandatory for all Americans to have health insurance coverage.  Shares traded in a narrow range, swinging between gains and losses.  Among S&P industry groups, financials led the declining issues with a 2.2% fall.  Oil and basic materials both recorded a 1.6% fall.  Stocks of consumer services companies

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This weekend, I’ll be speaking at the Mt. Vernon Research/Investor’s Daily Edge “Boom & Doom” conference in South Florida. During my presentations, I’ll offer the attendees my top five stocks that I believe will fare well, no matter whether we’re in a depression or expansion. Now, it wouldn’t be fair to the paying customers if I give you those top five stocks here. But what I can do is provide you with the stockpicking method to my (some say considerable) madness…

A Fat Pipeline… And An Even Fatter Dividend

Several of the stocks are in the healthcare sector - my specialized area of expertise.

Not only do I cover that sector for Mt. Vernon Research, I also believe that owning the right healthcare stocks is crucial for having a well-balanced portfolio.

While President Obama’s goal to make healthcare affordable for every American is noble, it’s difficult to execute

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Invest like the Rockefellers. Football season is still months away. But it’s a sure bet that the best players are already working out, getting in shape and mentally preparing for the upcoming season.

The same holds true for investing. Many investors who got beat up in the last “game” are still sitting on the sidelines, nursing their wounds – afraid to play.

But it’s clear – as evidenced in the markets recent 30% run-up that the best players are already back in the game. So what are they investing in?

Larger-cap healthcare stocks are often overlooked in any rally, as improving economic conditions – or the perception of them – often favor smaller cap stocks.

How do you pick a good healthcare company to invest in?

There’s no one better at investing in the healthcare sector than Venrock Associates, originally established as the venture investment firm of the Rockefeller

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RehabCare Group, Inc. (NYSE: RHB): Stock of the Day

by David Fessler, Advisory Panelist

Invest like the Rockefellers

Football season is still months away. But it’s a sure bet that the best players are already working out, getting in shape and mentally preparing for the upcoming season.

The same holds true for investing. Many investors who got beat up in the last “game” are still sitting on the sidelines, nursing their wounds – afraid to play.

But it’s clear – as evidenced in the markets recent 30% run-up that the best players are already back in the game. So what are they investing in?

Larger-cap healthcare stocks are often overlooked in any rally, as improving economic conditions – or the perception of them – often favor smaller cap stocks.

How do you pick a good healthcare company

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Healthcare Stocks…Are They Truly Recession-Proof?

This past weekend, I was up at my hunting and fishing club in northeast Pennsylvania enjoying some ice fishing. At our club at least, it’s a pleasant social activity with great food, wine and stories shared among the members and spouses.This year, it happened to fall on the coldest day of the winter, with the temperature dipping to 18 below.

As you might expect this close to the inauguration, many folks are wondering what effect President Obama’s policies will have on the markets and investing. One of our members who’s a doctor, said: “Invest in healthcare stocks. It doesn’t matter who’s in the Whitehouse, and they’re recession-proof.” Are they?

The answer depends on what area of healthcare you’re talking about. According to Health Affairs, an industry journal, national healthcare spending hit $2.2 trillion in 2007, or just under $7,500 for every man, woman and child

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Sohu.com (SOHU) shares are trading down from the 52-week and all-time high, but appear to be finding a bottom and rebounding. In spite of the lower share price, estimates are up for this stock, with the next-year estimate up to $4.36 per share, a 23% earnings growth projection. Take a look at the short-term rebound on the chart.

Almost Family Inc. (AFAM) shares continue to consolidate into a pennant formation after hitting a new 52-week and all-time high in late August. This stock has been holding up really well in the tough environment, something that we have seen from numerous healthcare stocks. The MACD signal is crossing over as well, an indication of short-term strength or a breakout. Take a look at the chart.

"SOHU" Free Stock Analysis: Buy? Sell? Hold?Zacks Investment Research