E*Trade was somewhat surprisingly hit hard by the credit crunch last year. In November, its mortgage-backed woes crested [1] to the point that rumors were rife it would be forced into Chapter 11. The company says that was always a bunch of horse manure, but the fear was real. And some customers fled. Many assumed it would be forced into a bailout deal. Now, Fortune notes the firm seems to have turned a corner. The sense of crisis has passed, and accounts are growing again. To boot, its Super Bowl ad was a hit. But you've got to wonder if it is still ripe for a deal. Profitability is still a ways off.

For more:
- here's the Fortune article [2]