Stocks To Keep Your Eye On - 07/30/2007

- (ACV)/.24
- (APC)/.77
- (ADM)/.58
- (CBG)/.42
- (CNA)/1.09
- (FPL)/.80
- (HUM)/1.28
- (JAH)/.57
- (LTR)/.98
- (PBI)/.70
- (PPS)/.04
- (RSH)/.25
- (TSN)/.24
- (VZ)/.59
- (VMC)/1.46

Brown Shoe Co. (BWS) climbed 29 cents, or 1.4 percent, to $21.71 in trading after the official close of U.S. exchanges. The owner of the Famous Footwear retail chain agreed to make an investment in Edelman Shoe Inc. and said it acquired an option to buy the remaining stake. Terms weren't disclosed.

DuPont Co. (DD), the third-largest U.S. chemicals maker is a solid investment even after its second-quarter earnings missed estimates, Barron's said, citing no one. DuPont shares fell 93 cents to $46.82.

Home Depot Inc. (HD) Shares of the world's largest home-improvement retailer could double in the next three years, Barron's said, citing no one. Home Depot stock fell 55 cents to $36.75.

TXU Corp. (TXU) Shareholder lawsuits that might have blocked the $32 billion sale of TXU to Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. and TPG Inc. will be dismissed if a court approves a pending settlement, according to a regulatory filing. TXU stock fell 19 cents to $65.79.

Lockheed Martin Corp. (LMT) The world's largest defense company won a $2.44 billion award from the U.S. Air Force for materials, parts and components needed to produce F-35 jet fighters, the Defense Department said in a statement. The stock fell $1.30 to $99.28 in regular trading.

Barron's 7-30-07 : "Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) (recently merged with CBOT) handled double its average futures volume on Thursday. Rich Repetto of Sandler O'Neill notes that after a similar volume spike in February and on June 27, CME shares jumped 10% or so in the next two weeks. Huge July open interest suggests strong volumes for the rest of the quarter. Repetto has a price target above 600."

Jefferies Group (JCI) - The CEO recently purchased 326,609 shares or $9,821,000 worth of stock and a director recently purchased 20,000 shares or $2,400,000 worth of stock.

Gatehouse Media (GHS) - The CEO, CFO and 2 Directors recently purchased 358,800 shares or $6,605,000 worth of stock.

Thornburg Mtg. (TMA) - The CEO recently purchased 224,400 shares or $5,997,000 worth of stock.

Watch CLB, LFC, and ACH for long breakouts.
Watch BSC, LNC, PJC, KSS, and C for short breakdowns.

-MM