COP

ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) reported $1.16 per share, compared with $1.28 per share for the same period in 2008. analysts average $1.12. COP beats by $0.04.

Fourth-quarter 2009 adjusted earnings were $1.7 billion compared with adjusted earnings of $1.9 billion last year. The decreased was primarily due to lower refining and marketing margins, volumes, and natural gas prices.

Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) announced diluted earnings per share for the quarter were $0.40 compared with $0.48 last year. analysts average 0.32. MSFT beats by $0.08.

Revenue of $12.92 billion for the first quarter ended Sept. 30, 2009, a 14% decline from the same period of the prior year.

Microsoft Corporation provides software and hardware products and solutions worldwide.

Much has been written in the media about the “record numbers” of companies cutting or failing to raise their dividends. Even with a large number of companies not increasing their dividends this year, there is still an abundance of companies that have.

Valuation and commentary on the stock value of Warren Buffett's stocks held in Berkshire Hathaway.

As previously stated on my blog, this rally could continue through August; but what if it doesn't? What is the market sells off?

Thursday was another great day for the bulls on Wall Street, and another great opportunity to get short for me, as I believe this market is well overbought on the short term. The market sold off a bit going into the close, my guess is because some were taking profits before the GDP numbers.

Thursday was another great day for the bulls on Wall Street, and another great opportunity to get short for me, as I believe this market is well overbought on the short term. The market sold off a bit going into the close, my guess is because some were taking profits before the GDP numbers.

As oil sold off over 6% Tuesday, I was searching for some companies to buy on the dip. I decided to look at opening the position with the buy/write option strategy, as this would give me a return if oil rallies, as well as protect my position to the downside if oil continued to slide. As recently stated on OptionMaestro.com, I believed oil would peak in early to mid July.

I am going to do an analysis on the top 15 Financial stocks in the S&P 500. I will be analyzing these stocks by selling below the current share price put options to see which of them give the lowest adjusted share price. Below is a list of the S&P 500 stocks ranked in order from greatest to least market cap and their sectors.

The calendar spread option strategy is a strategy I don't usually write about on OptionMaestro.com, the reason being is because they're hard to grasp at first for most people. However I want to inform you, that once understood, they come second nature. Therefore to understand this post you'll need an understanding of stock options.

As promised in Alternate Short Strategy: Purchasing Put Protection for Less, I will be continuing my list of alternate ways to hedge your portfolio without shorting the stock. In this post (part 2) I will be covering the stocks from 21 to 35 on the list of 50 (ranked by market cap).

As recently posted on my blog I believe the market is due for a pull back, so it may be a good time to purchase protection on some of your long positions. I decided to write about the 50 largest stocks (by market cap) in the S&P 500 and give a put protection strategy for each of them.

According to a report by CNN Money, lending is still down at the nation’s largest banks. There has already been a significant decrease in residential borrowing as banks have tightened credit standards and loan demand has decreased. Residential borrowers are overextended and have found it near impossible to get financing without a very good credit score and significant capital reserves.

20 of the best rated buy write option strategies from S&P. A must read for any conservative investor.