Weekly Top Insider Buys: JPM, STT, FULT, WES, MMR

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Jan 31, 2011
Weekly highlight of top insider buys: J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. (JPM, Financial), State Street Corp. (STT, Financial), Fulton Financial Corp. (FULT, Financial), Western Gas Partners (WES, Financial), and McMoRan Exploration Co. (MMR, Financial).


J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. (JPM): Director David C Novak Bought 111,300 Shares


Director of J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., David C Novak, bought 111,300 shares on 1/24/2011 at an average price of $44.54.


J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. is a global financial services firm. J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. has a market cap of $174.12 billion; its shares were traded at around $44.54 with a P/E ratio of 11.3 and P/S ratio of 1.7. The dividend yield of J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. stocks is 0.4%.


On January 14, J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. reported fourth-quarter 2010 net income of $4.8 billion, an increase of 47% compared with $3.3 billion for the fourth quarter of 2009. Earnings per share were $1.12, compared with $0.74 for the fourth quarter of 2009. Full-year 2010 net income was $17.4 billion, an increase of 48% compared with $11.7 billion for the prior year. Earnings per share were $3.96, compared with $2.26 for 2009.


J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., is in the portfolios of Robert Olstein, George Soros, John Rogers, Richard Snow, James Barrow, Hotchkis & Wiley, David Williams, John Griffin, Bill Nygren, Jean-Marie Eveillard, John keeley, Brian Rogers, Mario Gabelli, NWQ Managers, Ruane Cunniff, Arnold Schneider, Richard Pzena, David Dreman, Dodge & Cox, Mark Hillman, Ron Baron, Kenneth Fisher, Steve Mandel, John Paulson, Richard Aster Jr, Chris Davis, and Andreas Halvorsen.


Last week, Buy: Director David C Novak bought 111,300 shares of JPM stock. Sell: Executive Vice President Heidi Miller and Sell: Managing Director Mary E. Erdoes sold sold shares this month.


Sell: Director James S Crown sold 22,800 shares in November.


State Street Corp (STT): Director Peter Coym Bought 2,000 Shares


Director of State Street Corp., Peter Coym, bought 2,000 shares on 1/28/2011 at an average price of $46.41.


State Street Corporation is the world's specialist in providing sophisticated global investors with investment servicing, investment management, investment research and trading services. State Street Corp. has a market cap of $23.3 billion; its shares were traded at around $46.41 with a P/E ratio of 13.6 and P/S ratio of 2.6. The dividend yield of State Street Corp. stocks is 0.1%. State Street Corp. had an annual average earning growth of 3.4% over the past 10 years.


On January 19, State Street Corporation announced full-year and fourth-quarter 2010 earnings per common share of $3.09 and $0.16, compared to $3.46 and $1.00 for the full year and the fourth quarter of 2009, respectively. Revenue in 2010 was $8.953 billion, an increase of 4% from $8.640 billion in 2009 and was $2.043 billion in the fourth quarter of 2010, down 10% from $2.280 billion in the fourth quarter of 2009.


State Street Corp. is in the portfolios of George Soros, Mario Gabelli, James Barrow, Bill nygren John Paulson, Tom Gayner, Richard Pzena, and Dodge & Cox.


This month, Buy: Director Peter Coym bought 2,000 shares of STT stock and Sell: Director Charles R Lamantia, Sell: Director David P Gruber, and Sell: EVP and CAO David C Oleary sold shares.


Fulton Financial Corp. (FULT): Director Joe N Ballard Bought 4,825 Shares


Director of Fulton Financial Corp., Joe N Ballard, bought 4,825 shares on 1/25/2011 at an average price of $10.39.


Fulton Financial Corp. is a bank holding company. It provides retail and commercial banking and investment management and trust services in central and eastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey, northern Maryland and southern Delaware through its wholly-owned subsidiaries: Fulton Bank, Lebanon Valley Farmers Bank, Swineford National Bank, Lafayette Ambassador Bank, FNB Bank, N. Fulton Financial Corp. has a market cap of $2.07 billion; its shares were traded at around $10.39 with a P/E ratio of 17.6 and P/S ratio of 2.3. The dividend yield of Fulton Financial Corp. stocks is 1.1%.


On January 17, Fulton Financial Corporation reported net income available to common shareholders of $31.5 million, or 16 cents per diluted share, for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2010, unchanged from the third quarter of 2010. Total other expenses increased $4.4 million and other income decreased $4.3 million. The unfavorable after-tax impact of these items was offset by a $6.2 million decrease in preferred stock costs. For the year ended December 31, 2010, net income available to common shareholders was $112.0 million, or 59 cents per diluted share, compared to $53.8 million, or 31 cents per diluted share, for 2009.


Fulton Financial Corp. is in the portfolio of David Dreman.


Last week, Buy: Director Joe N Ballard bought 4,825 shares of FULT stock. Buy: Director George W Hodges bought shares in November. Buy: Sr Executive Vice President Craig H Hill and Buy: Director Rufus A Jr Fulton bought shares in August.


Western Gas Partners (WES): Director James R Crane Bought 120,437 Shares


Director of Western Gas Partners, James R Crane, bought 120,437 shares on 1/24/2011 at an average price of $32.53.


Western Gas Partners is a growth-oriented Delaware limited partnership formed by Anadarko Petroleum Corporation to own, operate, acquire and develop midstream energy assets. Western Gas Partners has a market cap of $1.63 billion; its shares were traded at around $32.53 with a P/E ratio of 21.9 and P/S ratio of 6.7. The dividend yield of Western Gas Partners stocks is 4.6%.


On November 3, Western Gas Partners, LP announced third-quarter 2010 financial and operating results. Net income available to limited partners for the third quarter of 2010 totaled $30.6 million, or $0.44 per limited partner unit (diluted). The Partnership's third-quarter Adjusted EBITDA was $52.8 million and distributable cash flow was $45.4 million, resulting in a coverage ratio of 1.72 times for the period.


This month, Buy: Director James R Crane bought 120,437 shares of WES stock. Buy: Director Anthony R Chase, Buy: Senior Vice President and COO Danny J Rea, Buy: CEO, President & Director Donald R. Sinclair and Buy: Senior Vice President & CFO Benjamin Matthew Fink bought shares in November.


McMoRan Exploration Co. (MMR): Advisory Director Gabrielle K Mcdonald Bought 3,000 Shares


Advisory Director of McMoRan Exploration Co., Gabrielle K Mcdonald, bought 3,000 shares on 1/27/2011 at an average price of $15.


McMoRan Exploration Co. is engaged in the exploration, development and production of oil and gas offshore in the Gulf of Mexico and onshore in the Gulf Coast region, and in the mining, purchasing, transporting, terminaling, processing and marketing of sulfur. McMoRan Exploration Co. has a market cap of $1.61 billion; its shares were traded at around $15.14 with and P/S ratio of 3.7.


On January 18, McMoRan Exploration Co. reported a net loss applicable to common stock of $77.0 million, $0.75 per share, for the fourth quarter of 2010 compared with a net loss applicable to common stock of $9.5 million, $0.11 per share, for the fourth quarter of 2009.


Under applicable accounting rules, McMoRan recorded a $51.6 million noncash charge for the difference between the $16 per share conversion price negotiated in September 2010 and the $17.18 per common share price on the December 30, 2010 closing date associated with the convertible perpetual preferred stock offering in the fourth quarter.


McMoRan Exploration Co. is in the portfolio of T Boone Pickens.


Last week, Buy: Advisory Director Gabrielle K Mcdonald bought 3,000 shares of MMR stock.


For the complete list of stocks that bought by their company executives, go to: Insider Buys.