Apple (AAPL) has had the best selling smartphone for years with the iPhone, but Google (GOOG) still claims the top spot in terms of phones that operate on its Android operating system. It is easy to understand why Google has been able to stay on top since so many manufacturers are able to use Android on their phones, but since the new iPhone 4S has hit the market Apple has been ...

With consumer sentiment still weak, and concerns over the global economy weighing on everyone's mind, a lot of people have been worried that retailers are going to report weak sales numbers this holiday season. We will not know for sure just willing people have been to spend this holiday season, but the fact that FedEx (FDX) recently saw its busiest shipping day ever is a positive sign. The company reported that ...

In her first major announcement since taking over the role as CEO for Hewlett-Packard, Meg Whitman announced that Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) has indeed decided to continue its PC business, following months of speculation that it would decide to spin-off the business. The idea to spinoff the PC division was first proposed in August by former CEO Leo Apotheker as part of a sweeping overhaul he was trying to do to the company. This ...

Shares of the world's largest internet search engine Google (GOOG) reported better than expected third quarter earnings this afternoon and revenues just shy of $10 billion, sending the stock up as much as 7% in after hours trading. Going into this afternoon's earnings report, analysts had been expecting to see Google report third quarter earnings of $8.74 per share, but actual earnings came in well above estimates at $9.72 a share. Revenues ...

The intense media hype leading up this past weekend's Hurricane Irene spread panic up the east coast, but luckily the damage was much less than had been anticipated, which was win-win situation for insurance companies. Insurance companies win on one hand because they will have to pay out less in damages than they had anticipated, but they also win because the media hype was enough to give them an opportunity to ...

Apple Inc. (AAPL) reported its fiscal second quarter earnings numbers this afternoon, and shattering analyst estimates on amazing iPhone sales. As we noted in our Apple earnings preview, Apple was expected to post quarterly earnings of $5.36 for its fiscal second quarter this afternoon. Actual earnings came in well above estimates at $6.40 per share. Revenues were also better than expected at $24.7 billion, while analysts were expecting $23.4 billion. The quarter earnings ...

Shares of financial giant State Street (STT) are trading sharply higher this morning after the company posted better than expected results for its first quarter this morning. Going into this morning's first quarter earnings report, analysts had been expecting to see State Street report earnings of $0.85 per share, but actual earnings came in above estimates at $0.88 per share. During the same period last year the company had earnings of $0.75. Revenues ...

Broker upgrades for April 8: Pier 1 (PIR) : Credit Suisse raised its price target on the stock to $13, while BB&T upgraded the stock to Buy from Hold. The stock is trading down 1.1%. Southwest Airlines (LUV) : EVA Dimensions, LLC upgraded the stock to Buy from Overweight. Stock is trading down 0.5%. Bristol Myers Squib (BMY) : EVA Dimensions, LLC upgraded the stock to Buy from Overweight. Stock is trading up ...

Toyota Motor (TM) said today that production at all 18 of its Japanese plants would resume on April 18. The company was forced to halt production following last month's earthquake and tsunami that rocked Japan, resulting in a production loss of around 260,000 vehicles since March 14. The 18 Toyota plants will resume at half capacity between the 18th and 27th, and then will halt again from the 28th through May 9 ...

For the first time in a year, Ford Motor (F) sold more vehicles in March than its American competitor General Motors (GM). Ford benefited from sales in new and refreshed models of its vehicles, in addition to greater discounts than General Motors offered to its customers. During the month, Ford sold 212,295 vehicles, versus 206,621 for General Motors. The good news for General Motors is that its sales figures marked a 9.6% rise ...