TD Ameritrade Consolidates and Upgrades Mobile Trading Applications; AMTD, ETFC, SCHW

30 July 2010

AMTD iPhoneTD Ameritrade (AMTD) announced that it has re-vamped its line of mobile trading applications. The move is meant to tap into the already successful mobile trading applications developed by subsidiary thinkorswim and the few developed for TD Ameritrade and consolidate them under the brand "TD Ameritrade Mobile." The applications offer advanced charting, technical analysis, and trading for stocks, ETFs, futures, forex and complex options trades.

According to the company, "TD Ameritrade is the only online brokerage with five homemade mobile platforms, including a simple Web browser and four proprietary operating system platforms." The platforms refer to the operating platforms of Android, Blackberry, iPhone and Windows Mobile. But the statement is a bit premature, we think, given their website claims the iPad and Android apps are "coming soon." The firm also offers a web-based trading platform that serves up mobile-friendly screens to any phone capable of accessing the internet. 

Tags: Mobile Tools Charting TD Ameritrade
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Analyzing Q2 Results from OptionsXpress; OXPS, ETFC, SCHW

29 July 2010

OptionsXpress (OXPS) hit some headwinds this quarter. You wouldn't know it reading the headlines, all of which gush about the fact that the firm beat Wall Street analyst expectations. While it's commendable that the firm performed better financially than most had expected, we thought we'd take a look at how they're doing operationally, by focusing on the core metrics in their brokerage business.

Financially, let us recall, the firm saw a 20% dip in net income in the first quarter, compared to the fourth. CEO David Fisher suggested at the time that they were making investments in the business that have "strengthened the core franchise." All in all we were impressed with the growth in assets, but starting to worry about increased account acquisition expenses.

Tags: optionsXpress Financials
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Analyzing E*TRADE's Second Quarter Results, Surprises Aplenty; ETFC, SCHW, AMTD

23 July 2010

Surprise BabyThe results are in... and color us shocked! E*TRADE Financial (ETFC) posts a profit! You heard me right. The company that had previously reported eleven consecutive quarters of losses -- the same company that was forced to raise capital at the behest of the Office of Thrift Supervision -- the one that actually lost core brokerage accounts in five out of the last 12 months -- the firm that lost their CEO and had trouble finding a replacement -- the firm that lost $1.3 billion (with a "b") in 2009 and another $48 million in the first quarter of this year -- yes, THAT E*TRADE, recorded a profit in Q2. Breathless is what we are. Breathless.

So how did they do it? What sort of magic wands is the firm waving to get these results? Is it weird that we're this excited to find out? Perhaps you'll get excited, too, when we tell you that their results may surprise you. In fact, here's just a taste: E*TRADE actually lost brokerage accounts last month. So what's going on? Are these results sustainable? Let's dig in.

Tags: E*TRADE Financials
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