4 Dates to Circle in July

Recs

15

Disney Buys Marvel!

David Gardner called it. He’s up 1,334%! See what David’s recommending that you buy NEXT.

Stock Advisor

Set aside the images of fireworks lighting up the sky that you typically associate with the month of July. When it comes to investing, summer is usually more like the laid-back barbecues and lazy slices of apple pie that you may also associate with Independence Day.

Don't sleep through July!

There will be plenty of events taking place this month, and a lot of them should move the market. Sure, earnings season kicks in toward the month's end, but there are also plenty of other dates on the calendar that pose challenges, threats, and -- investors can hope -- opportunities.

Here are a few of the days that I plan to approach with eyes wide open.

July 11
If you're hoping for a cheap -- and legal -- copy of Microsoft's (Nasdaq: MSFT) upcoming operating system, this is your last day to pre-order a copy of Windows 7 Home Premium as an upgrade for Vista and XP users for just $49. Microsoft's promising platform will hit the market with a suggested retail price of $119 in the fall.

A lot is riding on Windows 7. Vista has been the butt of operating-system jokes, especially in Apple's (Nasdaq: AAPL) effective "I'm a Mac" ads. Fans of Vista will argue that the knocks have been unfair, but all sides can agree that Windows 7 is Microsoft's best chance to matter in a future that threatens to make operating systems less important in a future more focused on cloud computing.

It's a good sign for Microsoft that the pre-orders -- at least so far -- have been selling briskly.

July 15
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince becomes Time Warner's (NYSE: TWX) latest installment in the blockbuster series to hit a multiplex near you. It's also the first theatrical release since author J.K. Rowling completed the seven-book series. Will that heighten or diminish interest in the movie series as Time Warner milks the last two books into three cinematic experiences?

Box-office receipts are trending ahead of where they were a year ago, so momentum is on Time Warner's side. However, there's also a busy slate of rival flicks hitting exhibitors this summer. Can Harry Potter's spell over audiences continue?

July 17
Fridays are typically sleepy days on the news front. Few companies want to test shareholders' mettle by delivering quarterly reports heading into the weekend. However, three meaty stocks with plenty to prove -- Bank of America (NYSE: BAC), Citigroup (NYSE: C), and General Electric (NYSE: GE) -- will all be stepping up to the podium on July 17.

All three stocks started out the year as Dow components, until Citigroup was booted last month. They have a few other things in common:

July 29
The last thing that Sirius XM Radio (Nasdaq: SIRI) subscribers expect is a rate increase. The merger between Sirius and XM was based on an agreement that rates would be frozen for a couple of years.

However, that didn't stop Sirius XM from bumping up its rates on discounted secondary receivers in the same family in March. It also began charging for online streaming, which in Sirius XM's defense was accompanied by an upgrade in the quality of its Web-based offering.

Sirius XM is allowed to make these adjustments. It's also entitled to pass along on any music royalty fee increases -- and it will do just that when monthly rates go up by $1.98 on July 29.

That increase is going to become a huge test for the satellite-radio operator. Subscriber growth peaked during last year's fourth quarter, when Sirius XM watched over more than 19 million receivers. It closed out the March quarter with just 18.6 million subscribers.

Will the July increase shake out even more subscribers, or will it be a cash flow dream as fans pony up for long-term commitments to lock in the current rates?

Things can cut either way, so join me in making sure you're wide awake this month.

Some other reads to get you through the month:

Like this article? Get our best articles delivered direct to your inbox at no cost. Sign up for Foolwatch Weekly by entering your email below.

Apple is a Motley Fool Stock Advisor recommendation. Microsoft is a Motley Fool Inside Value pick. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days.

Longtime Fool contributor Rick Munarriz owns a Miranda July CD, but he doesn't own the month of July. He also doesn't own shares in any of the stocks in this story, but he is part of the Rule Breakers newsletter research team, seeking out tomorrow's ultimate growth stocks a day early. The Fool has a disclosure policy.

Comments from our Foolish Readers

Help us keep this a respectfully Foolish area! This is a place for our readers to discuss, debate, and learn more about the Foolish investing topic you read about above. Help us keep it clean and safe. If you believe a comment is abusive or otherwise violates our Fool's Rules, please report it via the Report this Comment Report this Comment icon found on every comment.

  • Report this Comment On July 01, 2009, at 4:02 PM, DiscoFinance wrote:

    New movie is out that tells the whole story of Stock Market Manipulation. Good flick!! Called: Stock Shock (Amazon has it)

  • Report this Comment On July 01, 2009, at 5:55 PM, plange01 wrote:

    looks like july 11 is it for citigroup .they either come up with some real promising numbers or start preparing to break up and close the company...this is it...

  • Report this Comment On July 07, 2009, at 9:01 AM, BullishBroker74 wrote:

    By Brandon Matthews

    Traditional forms of media including television, radio and print are threatened by the success of Sirius XM Radio (SIRI). There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that the organizations behind traditional forms of media have united on a single front to denigrate the Satellite Radio provider at any and all costs. I know this first hand as most of the negative comments left on Satwaves.com can be traced back to everything from terrestrial radio station operators to the National Association of Broadcasters. These traditional media conglomerates control everything most people see and hear. Consider if you will the number 1 hit by the Black Eyed Peas in which the words “Satellite Radio” have been bleeped out by terrestrial radio stations from coast to coast.

    In the years since Howard Stern first joined Sirius, traditional media has made a point of downplaying Howard Stern's relevance. Just last October, the Los Angeles Times published this article which made the claim that Howard Stern was no longer relevant, and that his listeners had dwindled to a fraction of the number that once tuned in. The Los Angeles Times happens to be owned by Tribune; “America’s largest employee-owned media company, operating businesses in publishing, interactive and broadcasting.” The same article was syndicated and republished on an almost daily basis for several weeks that followed, assuring that the story would be told in every major U.S. market and maintain a top ranked listing in google news search results.

    That is why I could not help but laugh hysterically at the newest media attempts to control the American public’s view of Sirius XM Radio through new articles that claim Howard Stern will leave Sirius XM nearly two years from now. These articles now make the claim that Howard Stern is so important and popular, that Sirius XM’s survival hinges on whether or not Howard decides to stay with Sirius XM when his contract comes up for renewal in 2011! Unfortunately, some people seem to be buying into this manipulation and fear-mongering. The reach of these media outlets is unlimited in scope.

    As an example, on the eve of Sirius XM’s announcement that its iPhone application had reached a million downloads, a story was written suggesting that Sirius XM stock would be a good short sale candidate by a known writer who has denigrated Sirius for years. I recall writing that it seemed like a signal was being sent on the Satwaves forums the moment I read it. As trading progressed the following day it looked as if Sirius XM stock would rise precipitously on the iPhone application news. CNBC even picked up the story, but if you follow Sirius XM you knew what was coming next.

    It was then reported that the app, despite having over a million downloads, had a low rating based on the absence of The Howard Stern Show. The very same show that the media has been proclaiming to be irrelevant. The stock ended the day's session flat as a result. Out of nearly 19 million subscribers and out of 1 million iPhone app downloads, the app was given a low rating by a mere 38,000 people. It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out that anyone can bash the application, whether or not they even own an Apple device. I rated the application 5 stars, and I have no iPod nor iPhone. I simply signed up using my AOL account. It can hardly be deemed a reliable source of consumer sentiment compared to the fact that it remains the number 1 downloaded music application.

    As for Howard Stern, terrestrial radio is already on life support. Clear Channel is knocking on bankruptcy’s door. When it comes to radio companies, there is only one that is growing. There is only one that can offer Howard the freedom to do his show and produce new shows without fear of retribution from the FCC. By the year 2011, it is probable that no radio company in existence would be able to afford Howard Stern while offering him a minuscule percentage of his current national audience. Only one radio company can offer The Howard Stern Show a potential global audience in the years to come. That radio company is Sirius XM Radio.

    As for the media manipulation: People should make a stand. If you’d like to be told what to read and hear only that which is selected for you, you might want to consider a move to North Korea. Turn off your am/fm radios. Pick up a Satellite Radio and subscription. Send a message to traditional media that they cannot control what you see and what you hear. I have and in this lies true freedom.

    Position: Long SIRI

Add your comment.

Compare Brokers

TD AMERITRADE
more info
ShareBuilder
more info
Power E*Trade

more info
Scottrade
more info
Fool Disclosure

DocumentId: 932871, ~/Articles/ArticleHandler.aspx, 11/22/2009 6:26:06 AM

Report This Comment

Use this area to report a comment that you believe is in violation of the community guidelines. Our team will review the entry and take any appropriate action.

Sending report...

The Must-Read Story on Fool.com
An Open Letter to the Federal Reserve

Related Tickers

11/20/2009 4:00 PM
BAC $16.09 Up +0.01 +0.06%
Bank of America Co… CAPS Rating: ***
MSFT $29.62 Down -0.16 -0.54%
Microsoft Corp CAPS Rating: ***
GE $15.59 Down -0.17 -1.08%
General Electric C… CAPS Rating: ****
SIRI $0.63 Down +0.00 -0.03%
Sirius XM Radio CAPS Rating: **
AAPL $199.92 Down -0.59 -0.29%
Apple, Inc. CAPS Rating: ***
TWX $31.64 Down -0.66 -2.04%
Time Warner, Inc. CAPS Rating: ***
C $4.20 Down -0.06 -1.41%
Citigroup, Inc. CAPS Rating: ***

Community: Investing Wiki

Term Of The Hour

Bond rating agency: A bond rating agency is a firm that specializes in rating debt instruments. The usual firms include Standard and Poor's, Moody's, and Fitch.

Want to learn more or edit this definition?
Click here to read more!