Schaeffer's "Behind the Headlines" Highlights the Following Stocks: Microsoft, Target, and H.J. Heinz.

CINCINNATI -- Today's "Behind the Headlines" from Schaeffer's Investment Research focuses on Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), Target (NYSE:TGT), and H.J. Heinz (NYSE:HNZ). "Behind the Headlines" is a report that analyzes newsworthy stocks that are generating a lot of attention on Wall Street. "Behind the Headlines" is published on www.SchaeffersResearch.com - the home of Bernie Schaeffer and Schaeffer's Investment Research.

Take advantage of the timely Schaeffer commentaries by signing up for their free e-newsletters -- Opening View, Market Recap, and Monday Morning Outlook. Click here to have the Schaeffer's commentaries delivered to you free via email every day and get entered to win an iPod Nano. http://www.schaeffersresearch.com/redirect.aspx?CODE=PROAW13M&PAGE=1.

Behind the Headlines:

Microsoft: For shares of the leading software company in the world, the view didn't improve at all on the open when Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) officially released Vista, its new upgraded Windows operating system, to business customers this morning. The Vista upgrade for consumers won't be available until early next year.

Technically, the shares have enjoyed a nice rally along the support of their 10-day and 20-day trendlines since mid-June. However, the 30 level, a region that MSFT has not closed a month above since March 2002, recently slapped the shares lower, ending this rally and sandwiching the security between its 10-day and 20-day trendlines.

Sentiment doesn't indicate the likelihood of a breakout to the upside anytime soon. While analysts are heavily bullish on the shares (14 of the 20 covering brokerage firms rate MSFT a "buy" or better), today's release is either being ignored or being written off as a "non-event." With the company's launch of the newest entry in its largest product line receiving such indifference, shares of MSFT should continue their decline on the session.

Click the following link to see a Monthly chart of MSFT since February 2002: http://www.schaeffersresearch.com/wire?ID=17800.

Target: Several big names in the retailing realm stepped up today to release their monthly sales figures. Leading competitor for king-of-the-heap Target (NYSE:TGT) reported that November same-store sales rose 5.9 percent to edge out expectations for a rise of 5.7 percent. Total sales for the month 11.7 percent to $5.12 billion. However, investors were apparently expecting more, as TGT has slipped nearly 1.5 percent on the session.

Support for TGT lies in the 56-57 region, an area that appears to be holding for the stock in today's session. However, the security recently broke staunch support at its 10-week moving average - a trendline that had supported TGT since August.

There isn't much support in the form of sideline money for TGT, as short interest accounts for a mere 2.5 percent of the equity's total float. Furthermore, shares could be in danger of downgrades, if analysts are as disappointed at investors. Currently, 10 of the 16 brokerage firm's offering up opinions rate TGT a "buy" or better, with nary a "sell" to be found.

Click the following link to see a Weekly chart of TGT since August 2006 with 10-week moving average: http://www.schaeffersresearch.com/wire?ID=17800.

H.J. Heinz: Famous for its 57 sauce and ketchup, H.J. Heinz (NYSE:HNZ) stepped up to the plate this morning to herald the unofficial end of earnings season. For the second quarter, HNZ said it earned $191.6 million, or 57 cents per share. On a continuing basis, earnings arrived at 59 cents per share, missing expectations by a penny.

The shares have rallied about half-a-percent so far this morning, which isn't that bad considering the wave of selling that has washed over the Street. However, HNZ seems to be capped by long-term resistance in the 44.50-45 region in today's session. The shares last closed a month above this area since June 1999.

Sideline money is pretty sparse for HNZ, as options players maintain a bullish bias with the stock's Schaeffer's put/call open interest ratio (SOIR) of 0.42 ranking below 65 percent of all those taken during the past year. Meanwhile, short sellers are practically non-existent, with a short-interest ratio of slightly more than three days to cover. There is room for upgrades on Wall Street, as nine of the 11 analysts following HNZ rate it a "hold" or worse, but it will certainly take more than a penny miss on earnings to move this stoic bunch.

Click the following link to see a Monthly chart of HNZ since May 1999: http://www.schaeffersresearch.com/wire?ID=17800.

The best way to take advantage of the timely Schaeffer commentaries is to sign up to receive their free e-newsletters -- Opening View, Market Recap and Monday Morning Outlook. Click here to have the Schaeffer's commentaries delivered to you free via email every day and get entered to win an iPod Nano. http://www.schaeffersresearch.com/redirect.aspx?CODE=PROAW13M&PAGE=1.

About Schaeffer's Investment Research (www.SchaeffersResearch.com)

Schaeffer's Investment Research, founded by Bernie Schaeffer in 1981, is a financial information and trading resources company. It publishes Bernie Schaeffer's Option Advisor, the nation's leading options subscription newsletter. The firm's contrarian approach focuses on stocks with technical and fundamental trends that run counter to investor expectations. The firm's website, http://www.SchaeffersResearch.com, is recognized as one of the leading information sources for stock and options traders and was cited as the top options website by both Forbes and Barron's. Click here for more details about Schaeffer's trading methodology: http://www.SchaeffersResearch.com/method.