Continue reading Closing Bell: Starting Off Q2 (AIB, F, FFIV, LOGM, NYX, ODP, PAYX)

Closing Bell: Starting Off Q2 (AIB, F, FFIV, LOGM, NYX, ODP, PAYX) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Closing Bell: Thinning the Holiday Trading Herd (ENZN, NKE, JPM, AIB, HPQ, AAPL, SIRI)

Closing Bell: Thinning the Holiday Trading Herd (ENZN, NKE, JPM, AIB, HPQ, AAPL, SIRI) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 22 Dec 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Closing Bell: A Weak End to a Strong September (AIG, CSIQ, RAD, MWW, AIB, JNJ, WHR)

Closing Bell: A Weak End to a Strong September (AIG, CSIQ, RAD, MWW, AIB, JNJ, WHR) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 30 Sep 2010 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Closing Bell: Sloppy Day, But a Win (GS, MOT, SIRI, BP, AIB, BKS, XJT)

Closing Bell: Sloppy Day, But a Win (GS, MOT, SIRI, BP, AIB, BKS, XJT) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 04 Aug 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Wunderlich upgraded Granite Construction (GVA) to buy from hold, citing valuation and expected positive catalysts in 2011. The firm has a $29 price target for shares.
• Jefferies upgraded WuXi PharmaTech (WX) to buy from hold following the Q2 report, citing continued strength in China-based lab services growth. The firm has an $18 target on shares.
• BMO Capital upgraded Newell Rubbermaid (NWL) to outperform from market perform following capital structure actions. The firm has a $20 price target on the stock.
• Energizer (ENR) was upgraded to overweight from equal weight at Morgan Stanley.
• Cephalon (CEPH) was upgraded to buy from neutral at BofA/Merrill.
• Dycom (DY) was upgraded to outperform from market perform at Morgan Keegan.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AMAT, AZO, GVA, HBC, IRE, NWL, OXY, VVUS, WX ...

Analyst Calls: AMAT, AZO, GVA, HBC, IRE, NWL, OXY, VVUS, WX ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 03 Aug 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Global Banks May Need $1.5 Trillion More in Capital

Global Banks May Need $1.5 Trillion More in Capital originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 26 May 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• ThinkEquity upgraded Intel (INTC) to buy from hold and has a $25 target on the stock. The firm believes guidance will prove conservative and strong execution, new product cycle, Win7 cycle and corporate PC-Server refresh will drive shares higher.
• Wells Fargo upgraded Holly Energy (HEP) to outperform from market perform after increasing its valuation ranges for small cap pipeline MLPs. The firm raised its valuation range for Holly to $43 to $45.
• SunTrust upgraded Watsco (WSO) to buy from neutral as it believes the carrier joint venture will serve as a long-term catalyst. The firm has a $67 price target on the stock. William Blair upgraded Watsco to outperform from market perform ahead of the company's Q4 results to reflect valuation and improving economic conditions.
• Staples (SPLS) and Office Max (OMX) were upgraded to overweight from neutral at JPMorgan.
• Kellogg (K) was raised to buy from neutral at BofA/Merrill.
• Advanced Micro (AMD) was upgraded to outperform from market perform at FBR Capital.

Continue reading Analyst Upgrades, Downgrades and Initiations: AMD, HEP, INTC, IRE, K, SPLS, TOL, WSO ...

Analyst Upgrades, Downgrades and Initiations: AMD, HEP, INTC, IRE, K, SPLS, TOL, WSO ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 15 Jan 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst upgrades:

• UBS upgraded Dollar Tree (NASDAQ: DLTR) to Buy from Neutral but lowered its target to $42 from $45 following the solid Q4 report. The firm expects Dollar Tree's cost containment to continue. JP Morgan upgraded shares to Overweight from Neutral on valuation as it believes the recent pullback is overdone and the company set achievable FY09 guidance. The firm has a $43 target on the stock.
  
• JP Morgan also upgraded Smithfield Foods (NYSE: SFD) to Overweight from Neutral on valuation as they find the stock oversold at current levels.
  
• KeyBanc upgraded Nordson (NASDAQ: NDSN) to Hold from Underweight based on valuation, strong balance sheet and cost reductions, and a solid track record of execution.
• Philips Electronics (NYSE: PHG) was upgraded to Neutral from Underweight at HSBC.
  
• Aeropostale (NYSE: ARO) was raised to Equal Weight from Underweight at Barclays.
  
• Carter's (NYSE: CRI) was upgraded at Goldman to Neutral from Sell.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: DLTR, KWK, IRE, AAUK, JNJ ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: DLTR, KWK, IRE, AAUK, JNJ ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 26 Feb 2009 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"The silver lining in all the recent gloom is that credit market shakeout is basically a healthy development," says global expert John Christy in his Forbes International Investment Report.

Here, the advisor looks at the state of the market, the credit market problems and the re-pricing of risk as well as several leading European banks that he believes offer strong fundamental value for long-term investors. He notes, "While there's no question that European financial firms will feel a certain degree of pain, a lot of the bad news appears to be priced in at this point."

One favorite is ING ((NYSE: ING). He states, "The bank saw earnings rise 27% in the second quarter, and the Dutch bank-insurer's exposure to the sub-prime mess is negligible. ING looks extremely cheap at 8 times earnings. It also pays a 4.4% dividend yield."

Meanwhile, he notes that Deutsche Bank (NYSE: DB) is now trading at 7 times earnings and paying a 5% dividend yield. Allied Irish Banks (NYSE: AIB) is also sporting single-digit price-to-earnings multiples, he states. But, he says, "The long-term fundamentals for DB, ING and AIB haven't changed all that much - if at all - and this looks like a good buying opportunity for all three."

Christy is also bullish on UBS (NYSE: UBS) is the biggest bank in Switzerland and the world's largest money manager with $2.6 trillion of invested assets. He notes that while the firm can trace its roots as far back as the 18th century, its "real transformation" came in 2000 when UBS bought PaineWebber. He explains, "The merger gave UBS a major presence in the U.S. and helped lay the framework for a truly global institution."

Each day, Steven Halpern's TheStockAdvisors.com features the latest investment ideas and market commentary from the financial newsletter community.

Forbes expert sees opportunity in European banks originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 30 Aug 2007 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

When BloggingStocks contributor Georges Yared recently took a look at lenders that could rise up out of the recent subprime-related credit mess, he focused on Bank of America (NYSE: BAC), Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC), and US Bancorp (NYSE: USB) as strong contenders.

Well, the European markets have been struggling with many of the same credit concerns as in the U.S. Morningstar (NASDAQ: MORN) has gone looking for investment opportunities in European markets, and found such contenders as Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE: ALU), France Telecom (NYSE: FTE), and Cadbury Schweppes (NYSE: CSG). However, like Mr. Yared, Morningstar analysts found themselves focusing on a pair of wide-moat lenders that had been unfairly punished by reactions to the current problems.

Continue reading Morningstar finds strength in European lenders

Morningstar finds strength in European lenders originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 28 Aug 2007 15:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

John Christy, editor of The Forbes International Investment Report, has long held Barclays (NYSE: BCS) in his model portfolio, and in recent months has been anticipating a merger deal. He now notes, "Rumors of a deal between Barclay's and Dutch bank ABN-Amro (NYSE: ABN) appear to be turning into reality."

This deal, in his view, will be an "interesting strategic combination" - in part because ABN's businesses in Europe, Asia and Latin America, for example, will help Barclays expand its global reach. Further, he notes that Barclays is a "pretty good" value, trading at 10 times earnings and paying nearly 4% dividend.

Despite its positive operating outlook, the advisor is choosing to sell the stock, noting, "Interesting strategic combinations aren't always the best stock picks."

Continue reading Forbes expert: Sell Barclays, buy Irish

Forbes expert: Sell Barclays, buy Irish originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 23 Apr 2007 09:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.