Friday New Highs for i2 Technologies, Cheesecake Factory, and MasterCard (ITWO, CAKE, MA)

New 52-week highs for shares of i2 Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:ITWO) The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated (NASDAQ:CAKE) and MasterCard Incorporated (NYSE:MA).

i2 Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:ITWO) hit $18.96 a share today and in the last 3 months the stock has gone on a 17% run.  i2 Technologies, Inc. announced yesterday that it has established a record date for the special meeting of i2's stockholders to vote on the previously announced proposed merger agreement under which JDA Software Group, Inc. ("JDA" ) (NASDAQ:JDAS) will acquire i2.

i2's stockholders of record at the close of business on Dec. 21, 2009 (the "Record Date" ) will be entitled to vote at the special meeting. The i2 board set the date for the special meeting of i2's stockholders to be January 28, 2010 at 8:00 a.m.

MasterCard (NYSE:MA) hit $251.79 a share today and in 2009 its shares are up 75%.  The entire year MasterCard has managed to pay out a 15 Cent quarterly dividend and the company now commands a $32.6 billion market cap.  Lazard Capital Markets has a 'Buy' rating on MasterCard (MA) and they believe that the payment processors are well positioned as we head into 2010 and should report improved revenue growth in C4Q09 as a number of headwinds abate.
 

The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated (NASDAQ:CAKE) shares hit a new 52-week high of $21.55 today.  Benzinga.com pointed out this week that Barclays Capital continues to maintain its Equal Weight rating on The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated but increased its price target from $18 to $20 after meeting the senior management of CAKE. Barclays feels that CAKE is a leader in the high-end segment of the casual dining industry.

Moreover, there has been continuous improvement in comp trends. CAKE is taking cost control measures and other actions to generate additional shareholder value, with excess cash used for continued debt pay down and a return to share repurchase in 2010.

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