Analyst initiations: MPEL, HELE, LHCG and OFG
Posted Oct 18th 2007 11:20AM by Eric Buscemi
Filed under: Analyst reports, AT and T (T), Sprint Nextel Corp (S), Verizon Communications (VZ), Analyst initiations
MOST NOTEWORTHY: Melco PBL Entertainment, Helen of Troy, LHC Group and Oriental Financial were today's noteworthy initiations:
- Jefferies initiated shares of Melco PBL Entertainment (NASDAQ: MPEL) with a Buy rating and $21 target, as they believe the possibility of A-Max, a VIP junket consolidator, moving up to 10 junkets to the Crown Casino could lead to short-term gains and notes that MPEL is the only Macau pure play in the U.S. stock market.
- Jefferies also started shares of Helen of Troy (NASDAQ: HELE) with a Hold rating and $21 target, as they sees risks to near-term EPS from soft consumer demand and gross margin pressures.
- Credit Suisse expects LHC Group's (NASDAQ: LHCG) rural-focused strategy and joint venture partnerships to drive organic growth and started shares off with an Outperform rating and $26 target.
- Oriental Financial Group (NYSE: OFG) was initiated at B. Riley with a Neutral rating and $12.50 target. The firm does not expect significant multiple expansion from current levels given the slow Puerto Rican economy.
OTHER INITIATIONS:
Tags: analyst, eagle rock, EagleRock, eroc, hele, helen of troy, HelenOfTroy, initiation, kinder morgan, KinderMorgan, kmp, lhc group, lhcg, LhcGroup, markwest energy, MarkwestEnergy, melco, mpel, mwe, ofg, oriental financial, OrientalFinancial, paa, plains all american, PlainsAllAmerican, s, sprint nextel, SprintNextel