One of our old favorite stocks SPNG, Spongetech ® seems to have a “drama” surrounding it that never wants to end. The long awaited 10k release seems to be holding everyone on the planet in suspense.

We no longer own SPNG but we have been a HUGE fan of this company ever since we tried their products, which by the way are great. This is one of first rules of investing. “Would you buy what they are selling?”

Those that hold this stock are praying for its release, but we think it might reveal a bitter pill. We have done quite a bit of research on this company, the recent stories and yes, read all the news.  While we don’t have any new “facts” to add, it is OUR opinion / best guess that the upcoming 10k will show numbers that do not reflect the previously stated sales volumes.

Now, many are saying that this is just a minor “glitch” that the company will overcome and will again be a “shining star” in the trading world. We do beg to differ.

While the release of an “off numbered” 10k will cause a short spike of the stock, we think millions and millions of shares will be dumped on the market quickly deflating the price. Also, one has to keep in mind that “off numbers” will now open the flood gates to not only share holder law suits, but also possibly regulatory action of some sort.

Our opinion on SPNG?

If the 10k comes out showing numbers that have been “fudged”, and you currently own, take REASONABLE profits early. Be prepared for an onslaught of PR and news stories hammering the stock, its execs and past actions.  If you are considering buying the stock, risk only what you are TRULY willing to lose. While they “could” pull through such a problem, they do risk running into massive legal costs and judgments.

Our Forward Looking Statement:

Never believe ANYTHING we report without verifying the information yourself. Making decisions on “news” is risky and leads to many people losing large amounts of money. Never and we repeat NEVER make investment decisions based on what we other people tell you. Do your own research and be skeptical of everyone.

Also…

This news may contain “forward-looking statements” as that term is defined in Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Statements in this article which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this article, and we assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the beliefs, plans, expectations and intentions contained in this article are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions will prove to be accurate. Investors should consult all of the information set forth herein and should also refer to the risk factors disclosure outlined in annual reports on Form 10-K for the most recent fiscal year, our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and other periodic reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Stocks fell slightly at Tuesday’s opening bell as the bulls take a breather from Monday’s big day and Wall Street braces for a report on the U.S. service sector and testimony from Fed chief Ben Bernanke.

Today’s Markets

As of 9:32 a.m. EDT, the Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 21.27 points, or 0.25%, to 8406.87, the S&P 500 fell 3.10 points, or 0.34%, to 904.14 and the Nasdaq Composite lost 8.73 points, or 0.50%, to 1754.83. The consumer-friendly FOX 50 sank 1.08 points, or 0.16%, to 664.17.

Aside from the imminent economic headlines, the markets were moved by a report that 10 major banks need to raise cash and better-than-expected earnings from Kraft (KFT).

The early slide on Wall Street comes after the Dow soared more than 200 points and the S&P 500 turned positive year-to-date on Monday. The broad S&P 500 has surged 34% since hitting a 12-year low in early March amid glimmers of hope for the struggling U.S. economy.

Traders will be looking for yet more signs of hope on Monday. The Institute for Supply Management’s service sector index, due out at 10 a.m. EDT, is expected to improve to a reading of 42.2, up from 40.8.

Also, Bernanke, the chairman of the Federal Reserve, could strike an optimistic tone when he testifies on Capitol Hill about the state of the economy.

Meanwhile, the markets continue to take the latest news about the government’s stress tests in stride. The U.S. is expected to tell 10 of the 19 banks undergoing the tests to boost their capital in an effort to ease solvency fears, The Wall Street Journal reported. The number of banks needing to raise cash remains in flux but it’s expected to include Bank of America (BAC), Wells Fargo (WFC) and Citigroup (C), the paper reported.

While the final results are set to be released to the individual banks on Tuesday, the public won’t be privy to the information until Thursday afternoon. None of the banks will be allowed to “fail” the tests, which are designed to see how much cash banks need to withstand a weakening of the economy and shore up confidence in the most troubled sector of the economy.

Tuesday’s earnings news was headlined by Kraft (KFT), the food giant and most recent addition to the Dow, which beat the Street with a first-quarter profit of 45 cents per share. While the company’s revenue fell by a worse-than-expected 6.5%, it reaffirmed its 2009 forecasts.

In the commodity markets, crude oil joined the S&P 500 and Nasdaq by briefly turning positive year-to-date before losing steam. Crude was recently down 18 cents per barrel, or 0.33%, to $54.29

Corporate Movers

Yahoo! (YHOO) and Microsoft (MSFT) are coming closer to a search-and-advertising partnership deal, All Things Digital, the Journal’s tech blog, reported. The deal being talked about, which could be struck within weeks, would include Yahoo taking over both search and display ad sales and Microsoft running the tech for both, the blog reported

Citigroup (C) is considering putting more workers on commission or offering larger base salaries as the bank tries to keep key employees without breaking new government bonus restrictions, Reuters reported. Other possibilities include offering stock-based bonuses or a percentage of their group’s sales, the wire service reported.

New York Times Co. (NYT) and the Boston Globe union are nearing a deal that would prevent having to close New England’s largest daily paper, the Journal reported. Also, the union of the company’s flagship paper signed off on a 5% pay reduction in an effort to save 80 jobs.

General Motors’ (GM) Saturn brand has drawn interest from Roger Penske, owner of the second-largest U.S. auto retailer, the Journal reported. GM has said it has received interest from “a number” of suitors for the brand, which it is trying to unload to avoid a Chapter 11 filing.

GMAC LLC’s first-quarter loss rose by 15% to $675 million as auto financing slid 13% and its mortgage unit posted its 10th-straight losing quarter.

Eli Lilly (LLY) and Amylin Pharmaceuticals (AMLN) said they are seeking FDA approval for a new form of their Byetta diabetes treatment that is taken once a week, down from the current drug’s twice daily frequency.

Marvel Entertainment (MVL) widely exceeded estimates with a quarterly profit of 57 cents per share. The comic book publisher also upped the lower end of its 2009 earnings guidance.

Legg Mason (LM) disclosed its fifth-straight quarterly loss and slashed its dividend to 3 cents per share. However, the investment advisory firm’s loss of $2.29 per share topped the Street’s view and its revenue slid by a better-than-expected 42%.

CVS (CVS) beat the Street by reporting a first-quarter profit of 51 cents per share. The drugstore company’s revenue jumped 9.7%.

Global Markets

European markets were mixed following Monday’s rally as London’s FTSE 100 jumped 2.71% to 4358.33 but France’s CAC 40 fell 0.05% to 3236.28 and Germany’s DAX slipped 0.31% to 4887.22.

In Asia, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng rallied 0.3% to to 16430.08 while China’ Shanghai Composite gained 0.29% to 2467.34. Japanese markets were closed for a holiday.

The S&P 500 roared into positive territory for 2009 on Monday as the bulls pointed to a pair of better-than-expected housing reports as the latest signs an economic recovery is coming sooner rather than later.

Today’s Markets

The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 214.33 points, or 2.61%, to 8426.74, the S&P 500 rose 29.72 points, or 3.39%, to 907.24 and the Nasdaq Composite picked up 44.36 points, or 2.58%, to 1763.56. The consumer-friendly FOX 50 added 19.05 points, or 2.95%, to 665.25.

“You’re seeing an embracing of the fact that the economy is no longer falling off a cliff. We are starting to see a little bit of strength here and there,” said Paul Nolte, director of investments at Hinsdale Associates.

In addition to a surprise jump in pending home sales and the first increase in construction spending in six months, the markets responded favorably to signs banks may be able to tap private capital to raise cash, a global stock market rally and mixed earnings reports from companies like Sprint Nextel (S: 5, 0.34, 7.3%).

Underscoring a huge rally in the financial sector, the Dow was led higher by banking giants Citigroup (C: 3.23, 0.2401, 8.03%) and Bank of America (BAC: 10.43, 1.75, 20.16%). Non-financials like aluminum maker Alcoa (AA: 10.39, 0.71, 7.33%) and DuPont (DD: 29.38, 1.54, 5.53%) also rose sharply. Other blue-chip stocks like Microsoft (MSFT: 20.19, -0.05, -0.25%) and Chevron (CVX: 66.63, -0.24, -0.36%) lagged behind.

“We are continuing to see signals that this market has stabilized and is rebounding,” NSYE trader Jonathan Corpina of Meridian Equity Partners told FOX Business.

That rebound hit another milestone on Monday as the S&P 500 joined the Nasdaq Composite by turning green year-to-date and the Dow settled at its best closing level since January 13. The rally is the latest example of Wall Street’s mood shift as last week the markets shrugged off swine-flu worries and Chrysler’s bankruptcy to send the Nasdaq to its longest win streak since 1999.

“Investors are looking ahead and saying if this trend continues, we will be out the recession some time this year or the beginning of next year, which means the markets should be trading higher in anticipation of that,” said Nolte.

But some traders continue to wonder whether a pullback from the two-month long rally is in the offing.

“I still think it is a bear market rally, although that question is more academic than reality. There is still probably some pretty rough days ahead of us. There is still a lot of headline risk in the market,” Steve Sachs, director of trading at Rydex Investments, told FOX Business.

The markets could be in store for turbulence later this week as the government is set to release its stress test results on Thursday and issue another gloomy jobs report on Friday.

Banks, Housing Hopes Lift Stocks

The markets took off Monday after a pair of economic reports offered traders hope that the depressed housing market may be bottoming out.

Home building stocks like KB Home (KBH: 19.49, 2.01, 11.5%) and Hovnanian (HOV: 3, 0.31, 11.52%) soared as an industry group said pending home sales unexpectedly jumped in March by 3.2% from the month before and increased from a year ago. The National Association of Realtors also said existing home prices increased in March to $174,900.

“We want to see home sales pick up. We want to see people come out and start buying. That will be huge,” said Nolte.

Also, the Commerce Department said U.S. construction spending unexpectedly rose by 0.3% in March — the first such increase in six months.

Financial stocks surged almost 11% on Monday — easily the best-performing sector — as the markets responded favorably to the latest details seeping out about the government’s bank stress tests. The Financial Times

Bank of America (BAC: 10.43, 1.75, 20.16%) denied a Financial Times report that it plans to raise $10 billion in common equity as it said it has not yet been given a final figure from the Fed. The paper also reported Citigroup (C: 3.23, 0.2401, 8.03%), Wells Fargo (WFC: 24.18, 4.6, 23.49%) and PNC Financial (PNC: 43.25, 5.44, 14.39%) also need to raise cash.

In a positive development, Citi is succeeding in talks with private investors to convert $12.5 billion of preferred holdings into common equity, bank sources tell FOX Business’s Liz MacDonald. While the move will dilute current common holders, it could allow Citi to avoid having the U.S. convert its entire $52 billion stake.

Wall Street shrugged off the latest reminder of the obstacles facing the banking industry as three more banks were closed over the weekend, bringing the total to 32 for this year, 7 more than all of 2008. The shut down of Silverton Bank in Georgia could have a big impact as it had ties to 20% of U.S. banks.

In the commodity markets, crude oil closed in the green for the fourth-straight day. Crude jumped $1.27 per barrel, or 2.39%, to settle at $54.47 per barrel — its best level since November.

Corporate Movers

Sprint Nextel (S: 5, 0.34, 7.3%) beat the Street with an adjusted-profit of 3 cents per share thanks to cost cuts. However, the telecom giant lost a worse-than-expected 1.25 million postpaid customers. Separately, Sprint is in final talks with Ericsson to outsource the management of its cell network and transfer 5,000 to 7,000 U.S. employees, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Chrysler LLC plans to launch a new ad campaign this week backed with a new slew of incentives in an effort to reassure customers while it attempts to quickly emerge from bankruptcy, the Journal reported.

General Motors (GM: 1.81, 0.009, 0.5%) is gearing up for talks with the United Auto Workers union this week as the auto maker seeks to avoid a bankruptcy filing, the Journal reported. GM said Monday it is proceeding with its efforts to sell Saturn as the brand has received interest from “a number of potential buyers.”

Fiat SpA CEO Sergio Marchionne visited Berlin on Monday as the Italian auto maker steps up its efforts to buy Opel, GM’s German unit. Fiat is aiming to spin off its core car business into a new company that includes both Chrysler and Opel and would reap synergies of 1 billion euros per year.

Pepsi Bottling Group (PBG: 31.48, 0.13, 0.41%) rejected an offer from PepsiCo (PEP: 49.12, -0.61, -1.23%) to buy the remaining two-thirds stake in the bottler for $4.2 billion, saying the bid “is grossly inadequate” and “substantially” understates potential synergies.

New York Times Co. (NYT: 5.99, 0.59, 10.93%) threatened to shut down the Boston Globe if the newspaper is unable to get millions of dollars in concessions from its unions. Talks between Boston’s only daily paper and its union stopped early Monday morning after a midnight deadline passed.

American International Group (AIG: 1.5, 0.1, 7.14%) is close to selling its Japanese headquarters for $1 billion as the bailed-out insurer continues its efforts to repay the U.S., the Journal reported. The likely buyer of the 15-story Tokyo building is a Japanese insurer.

Tyson Foods (TSY: undefined, undefined, undefined%) reported an adjusted-loss of 5 cents a share, one cent better than what analysts expected. The company struggled during the quarter with low poultry prices and high input costs like grain and energy. It said “it is too soon” to predict the impact of the swine-flu outbreak.

DirecTV (DTV: 23.93, -0.64, -2.6%) unveiled plans to merge with Liberty Media’s (LMDIA: 25.21, 0.88, 3.62%) entertainment unit. The combination would give Liberty Media’s entertainment unit a 54% stake in the satellite TV provider.

Global Markets

Asian and European markets soared overnight, though two of the largest global markets — London and Japan — were closed for a holiday.

European markets extended their win streak to three days as France’s CAC 40 rose 2.47% to 3237.97 and Germany’s DAX gained 2.79% to 4902.45.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng jumped 5.54% to 16381.05 and China’s Shanghai Composite advanced 3.32% to 2559.91.

We like this stock and everything going on with it.
The recent talk of vaccines will help it plus their merger with VGX makes it a player.
We are hoping to see it go over $3.

Here is the recent news:

Biomedical Corporation (NYSE Amex: INO), a leader in enabling the development of DNA vaccines using electroporation-based DNA delivery, announced today that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has declared effective Inovio’s registration statement on Form S-4 related to Inovio’s pending merger transaction with VGX Pharmaceuticals Inc., a Blue Bell, Pennsylvania-based company focused on the discovery and development of DNA vaccines. Inovio and VGX are mailing the joint proxy statement/prospectus included in the registration statement to their respective shareholders, including a notice of each company’s respective special meeting of stockholders to be held on May 29, 2009

Investors and the public are encouraged to read the relevant registration and proxy solicitation-related documents filed with the SEC with respect to the pending transaction between Inovio and VGX Pharmaceuticals because they contain important information about the companies, the transaction, the securities to be issued and the expectations for the combined company. The registration statement/proxy statement filed on Form S-4 and other merger-related documents are available, without charge, from the SEC’s web site (www.sec.gov) or Inovio’s website, or can be obtained, free of charge, by requesting such documents, including any items incorporated by reference, from Inovio.

Inovio Biomedical is focused on developing DNA vaccines for cancers and infectious diseases using its novel method for DNA delivery – electroporation – which uses brief, controlled electrical pulses to increase cellular uptake of useful biopharmaceuticals. Initial human data has shown that Inovio’s electroporation-based DNA delivery technology can significantly increase gene expression and immune responses from DNA vaccines. Immunotherapy partners include Merck, Wyeth, Tripep, Vical, University of Southampton, Moffitt Cancer Center, the U.S. Army, National Cancer Institute, and International Aids Vaccine Initiative. Inovio’s technology is protected by an extensive patent portfolio covering in vivo electroporation. More information is available at www.inovio.com

If you are basing this on the recent news of the swine flu, the answer is no.
Novavax is just one of over a DOZEN companies that will be “handed” the vaccine by the CDC.
We anticipate that the price of the vaccine will be regulated by the Obama administration and the profits will not be as large as most people expect.
Also, the vaccine is months away from being produced and then it must go through heavy testing phase to make sure it doesn’t make people sick or even kill them.
The recent press about NVAX was a “bump” and some made great money for 48 hours.
Now it is back to common sense. Can they make a profit?
With only a 5000 sq foot facility to produce the vaccine, we don’t see them as a big player.

We do prefer INO, Inovio Biomedical Corp as a better choice.

They may play a more “interim” role with the problem and they just merged with VGX Pharmaceuticals Inc.
This one looks to be a player and we hope it will go over $3 within the next 12 months.

Most U.S. stocks rose as a bigger- than-expected increase in consumer confidence and a slower drop in home prices offset concern that banks need more capital and the swine-flu outbreak will thwart an economic recovery.

AT&T Inc. and Kraft Foods Inc. helped lead gains in the Dow Jones Industrial Average after the Conference Board’s sentiment index climbed the most since November 2005. Bank of America Corp. and Citigroup Inc. slumped at least 5.9 percent on a Wall Street Journal report that government stress tests show they may need more capital.

Prepare For The Swine Flu – See Banner Below

About six stocks climbed for every five that fell on the New York Stock Exchange. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index slipped less than 0.1 percent to 857.08 at 3:33 p.m. in New York, erasing most of a slide of as much as 1.2 percent following the consumer-confidence report. The Dow average added 1.91 points, or less than 0.1 percent, to 8,026.91.

“As goes the consumer, so goes the economy,” said Malcolm Polley, chief investment officer at Stewart Capital Advisors in Indiana, Pennsylvania, which manages $900 million. “If the consumer is feeling better about things, then the likelihood they’re going to spend increases. And if they’re spending more that’s a net positive to GDP.”

The S&P 500 has climbed 27 percent since March 9 as companies from American Express Co. to Ford Motor Co. posted better-than-estimated earnings and investors speculated U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner’s plan to finance the purchase of as much as $1 trillion in illiquid assets from banks will help to pull the global economy out of a recession.

Earnings Watch

While 68 percent of the S&P 500 companies that reported first-quarter results have beaten estimates, analysts predict profits will decline through September, dropping 34 percent in the first quarter and 33 percent in the second.

A gauge of retailers, restaurant chains, hotel companies and other so-called consumer discretionary stocks advanced 0.7 percent.

The Conference Board’s confidence index climbed to 39.2, the highest level since November, from 26.9 in March, the New York-based research group said today.

The decline in home prices in 20 major U.S. cities slowed in February for the first time since 2007, indicating that the market may be stabilizing. The S&P/Case-Shiller index’s 18.6 percent drop compares with a record 19 percent decline the month before. The gauge has fallen every month since January 2007.

IBM Dividend, Buyback

International Business Machines Corp. added 2.2 percent to $102.17. The world’s biggest computer-services provider said it increased its dividend by 10 percent and boosted its stock buyback plan by $3 billion.

Office Depot Inc. climbed 16 percent to $2.93. The world’s second-largest office-supplies retailer reported first-quarter earnings excluding some items of 10 cents a share, beating the average analyst estimate for a loss of 10 cents a share.

Southwestern Energy Co., the only energy company in the S&P 500 to rise last year, climbed as much as 12 percent after reporting higher-than-estimated first-quarter profit. The stock led the S&P 500 Energy Index to a 0.9 percent advance, the biggest contributor to the market’s gain among 10 groups.

Bank of America slid 8.6 percent to $8.15, while Citigroup fell 5.9 percent to $2.89. The two banks plan to mount rebuttals to the Federal Reserve’s preliminary report following the tests conducted on 19 financial companies, the Journal said. Richard Tesvich, a spokesman for Citigroup in Hong Kong, declined to comment, as did Bank of America spokeswoman Elizabeth Wood in London.

Bank of America’s shortfall comes to billions of dollars, the Journal said. The Charlotte, North Carolina-based lender and New York-based Citigroup already have received a combined $90 billion in U.S. bailout funds.

Swine Flu

Coventry Health Care Inc. added 7.2 percent to $15.23. The provider of medical benefit plans posted first-quarter earnings excluding some items of 30 cents a share, beating the average analyst estimate by 21 percent.

FPL Group Inc. gained 5.8 percent to $54.26. The largest U.S. producer of wind power said first-quarter profit rose 46 percent, beating analysts’ estimates, on increased capacity in North Dakota, Iowa and Texas and lower costs at the utility unit.

General Motors Corp. tumbled 10 percent to $1.83 for the steepest drop in the Dow. Bondholders said they find the automaker’s offer to exchange their $27 billion in debt for equity unreasonable and said they should be treated more equitably with labor unions.

Global stocks retreated earlier today on concern the swine flu outbreak will reduce demand for travel, energy and raw- materials.

The World Health Organization raised its global pandemic alert to the highest since the system was adopted in 2005 and said swine flu was no longer containable with as many as 152 people dying in Mexico.

Among the few notable exceptions to the Dow’s generally down day on Monday was Foster City’s Gilead Sciences Inc., which climbed nearly 4 percent to close at $47.53. Could have something to do with the royalties they’re collecting on Tamiflu, the influenza drug the biotech company invented and sold to Swiss pharma Roche Holding AG in 1996.

Prepare For The Swine Flu – See Banner Below

Tamiflu is the chief go-to drug, along with GlaxoSmithKline’s Relenza, being used to combat the swine flu outbreak. The bird flu scare of 2003 prompted governments around the world to stockpile millions of doses of Tamiflu. The World Health Organization’s “rapid response stockpile” is available to treat 5 million people.

Meanwhile, Novavax Inc., of Rockville, Md., which is developing a vaccine to combat a deadly strain of bird flu, saw its stock price jump 79 percent. Shares of Birmingham, Ala.-based BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, another biotech company working on a flu antiviral, rose 75 percent. The Bay Area connection: As part of its Pandemic and Bio Defense Fund, Menlo Park’s Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers invested $20 million in Novavax and $30 million in BioCryst.

What’s in a name: Say goodbye to San Francisco’s Norcal Waste Systems Inc. As of today, the 89-year-old garbage pickup and recycling company becomes Recology. It’s also moving its HQ to a new gold-level LEED-designed office at 50 California St.

As its new name implies, the company, which has been something of a pioneer in trash recycling, is modeling itself even further in the green direction. “Our industry is no longer about waste management, it is about waste zero,” says CEO Mike Sangiacomo. “Our new name will help move us away from the mentality of disposal to a mandate to use less of what we have and get more from what we use.” Sangiacomo also said the company will be launching new services and products, and seek to extend its reach beyond California.

An ambitious project, for which the company’s old name clearly doesn’t do justice.

Nummi’s new blues: The future of Northern California’s one and only auto manufacturing plant is even less secure now that General Motors is eliminating its storied Pontiac brand by the end of next year. The Pontiac Vibe has been manufactured at New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. (Nummi) in Fremont.

The joint GM-Toyota Motor plant has suffered repeated setbacks in recent months. Facing what it called a “dire situation” in December, the company and the UAW implemented a work-share deal aimed at avoiding layoffs among the 4,800-person workforce. That’s on top of weekslong shutdowns, consolidation of production lines and salary cuts for senior management.

As to the future, all the company would say Monday is that “GM continues to express strong commitment to Nummi. … We are in the process of discussing alternative options with GM regarding the elimination of the Pontiac brand.”

Keeping score: Of the 100 “world’s best companies” – at least those best off financially – five are in the Bay Area, according to Forbes’ latest list. Ranked by sales, profits, assets and market value, San Ramon’s Chevron Corp., with sales of $25o billion and $24 billion in profits in 2008, tops the local entrants at No. 9.

General Electric heads the list, followed by Royal Dutch Shell, Toyota Motor and Chevron’s archrival, Exxon Mobil. Palo Alto’s Hewlett-Packard Co. comes in at No. 36, followed by San Francisco’s Wells Fargo & Co. (No. 51), San Jose’s Cisco Systems Inc. (No. 69) and Santa Clara’s Intel Corp. at No. 95. Google Corp., Apple Inc. and Oracle Inc. figure in the top 50 in terms of market value. San Jose’s eBay Inc. and Pleasanton’s Safeway Co. are considered to be good bets when it comes to price-to-earnings multiples. Peruse to your heart’s content at links.sfgate.com/ZGXE.

Innovation is a different story. In BusinessWeek’s 25 “most innovative companies,” compiled in conjunction with the Boston Consulting Group, Apple and Google grab the No. 1 and No. 2 spots, respectively. That’s five years in a row at the top for the Cupertino company (yawn). HP ranks seventh. More at links.sfgate.com/ZGXF.