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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• Novellus (NASDAQ:NVLS) CEO Rick Hill provided optimistic outlooks for the current quarter and next. He narrowed the gain in bookings to an expected 40-55% rise from 20-50%, the range of shipments to $150 -$170 million from $140-$170 million, with earnings expected to range between a nine cent loss and breakeven, up from a 15 cent loss and breakeven

• Citigroup (NYSE:C) analysts lowered their rating on Abercrombie and Fitch (NYSE:ANF) to "sell" from "hold" and cut the price target to $24 from $33

• Costco (NASDAQ:COST) received an upgrade from JP Morgan (NYSE:JPM)

• H&R Block (NYSE:HRB) reported fiscal first quarter loss from continuing operations of 39 cents a share, a bit worse than the Zacks expectations of a 37 cent loss, as revenues grew 1.3% to $275.5 million, off estimates of $281 million. The firm, however, maintained full year projections of $1.60-$1.80

• Cooper Companies (NYSE:COO) reported third quarter earnings of 54

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Cardinal Health, Inc. (NYSE:CAH): Stock of the Day

by David Fessler, Advisory Panelist, Investment U

When we think of industrial suppliers, W.W. Grainger (NYSE:GWW) is one of the largest in the business. From nuts and bolts to janitorial supplies, it’s a good bet

Grainger’s can supply it. The company consolidates parts, equipment and supplies from thousands of manufacturers and provides customers with one-stop shopping, both on its website and from its huge four inch thick catalog.

Grainger’s has been bucking the trend and doing reasonably well during this business contraction. However it did acknowledge that business conditions in 2009 will be challenging, and its first quarter sales will be significantly lower than last quarter.

As dismal as that sounds Grainger should be one of the first to benefit from the upswing when it comes. Motors, fans, bearings and a host of other parts used in industrial and manufacturing environments

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digg_url = 'http://zignalsblog.blogspot.com/2008/12/stocks-for-2009.html'; Like the Christmas Sales, the Stocks for 2009 are making an early appearance. So let's see who has gone for what: Jubak at MSN: Exxon Mobil (XOM); target of $91 JP Morgan (JPM); Preferred share target of $42 Energy Transder Partners (ETP); target of $42 ONEOK Partners (OKS); target of $52 by December 2009 and $58 by June 2009. Petroleo Brasileriro (PBR); target of $41 Transocean ltd (RIG); target of $117.60 Gorman-Rupp (GRC); target of $35 Middleby Corp (MIDD); target of $75 Chesapeake Energy (CHK); target of $39 US Bancorp (USB); target of $44 Kinross Gold Corp (KGC); target of $19.75 by June 2009 Enbridge Inc (ENB); target of $48 by February 2009 Fortescue Metals Group (FSUMF); target of $5 Plum Creek Timber Co. (PCL); target of $53 Rayonier Inc (RYN); target of $55 Ultra Pertoleum (UPL); target of $107 Thompson Creek Metals (TC); target of $9.90 Yara International (YARIY); target of ...