Analyst upgrades:

• Netflix (NFLX) upgraded to Buy from Underperform at BofA/Merrill.
• Rockwell (ROK) upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at Wells Fargo.
• Chico's (CHS) upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at FBR Capital.
• Ann Taylor (ANN) upgraded to Buy from Hold at Citigroup.
• Meredith (MDP) upgraded to Buy from Hold at Citigroup.
• CarMax (KMX) upgraded to Outperform from Sector Perform at RBC Capital.
• Family Dollar (FDO) upgraded to Outperform from Sector Perform at RBC Capital.
• Siliconware Precision (SPIL) upgraded to Outperform from Neutral at Macquarie.
• Amedisys (AMED) upgraded to Buy from Hold at Jefferies.
• TRW Automotive(TRW) upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Goldman.
• Magna (MGA) upgraded to Neutral from Sell at Goldman.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: NFLX, CHS,TRW, CWTR, VTAL, ESRX...

Analyst Calls: NFLX, CHS,TRW, CWTR, VTAL, ESRX... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 27 Jan 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Wynn Resorts (WYNN) to overweight from neutral at JPMorgan.
• Oracle (ORCL) and Alliance Data Systems (ADS) to outperform from neutral at Macquarie.
• Saint Joe (JOE) to outperform from market perform at Keefe Bruyette.
• Starwood Hotels (HOT) to neutral from underperform at RW Baird.
• Middlesex Water (MSEX) to buy from neutral at Janney Capital.
• Consol Energy (CNX) to buy from hold at BB&T.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: BAC, CMA, DO, HOT, ORCL, RIG, RTN, SBUX, TLB, WYNN ...

Analyst Calls: BAC, CMA, DO, HOT, ORCL, RIG, RTN, SBUX, TLB, WYNN ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 16 Dec 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• JPMorgan upgraded Smith Micro (SMSI) to overweight from neutral and raised its price target to $15 from $9, citing the release of a WiFi iPad with MiFi from Verizon and Apple.
• Jefferies upgraded Whole Foods (WFMI) to buy from hold and raised its price target to $45 from $36, citing checks that indicate sales are accelerating and the company has been focused on expense control.
• Wells Fargo upgraded Ensco (ESV) and raised its price target to $54 to $56 from $46 to $47, citing valuation, the lifted deepwater drilling ban and higher oil prices.
• Gran Tierra Energy (GTE) was upgraded to buy from hold at Wunderlich, citing the company's Moqueta oil discovery as well as other near-term exploration opportunities, and raised its price target to $12.50 from $7.00.
• Chico's FAS (CHS) was upgraded to buy from hold at KeyBanc and set a $13 price target.
• UR-Energy (URE) was upgraded to buy from hold at KeyBanc.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AMSC, CBOE, ERTS, ESV, JCP, PDE, SMSI, TTWO, UAL, WFMI ...

Analyst Calls: AMSC, CBOE, ERTS, ESV, JCP, PDE, SMSI, TTWO, UAL, WFMI ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 15 Oct 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Auriga upgraded Cisco (CSCO) to buy from hold, citing the company's improving strategic position in data centers.
• Blue Nile (NILE) was raised to buy from hold by Citigroup due to the recent pullback in shares.
• DuPont Fabros (DFT) was upgraded to buy from neutral at UBS, which said that said fundamentals in the data center space have been improving.
• Baird upgraded Sterling Bancshares (SBIB) to neutral from underperform based on valuation.
• Goldman Sachs upgraded Bristol-Myers (BMY) to buy from neutral.
• Amazon.com (AMZN) was raised to conviction buy from buy by Goldman.
• Jefferies upgraded Celgene (CELG) to buy from hold.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AAPL, ABT, AMZN, BMY, CSCO, DNB, EAT, INTU, NILE ...

Analyst Calls: AAPL, ABT, AMZN, BMY, CSCO, DNB, EAT, INTU, NILE ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 07 Jun 2010 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• FBR Capital upgraded MicroStrategy (MSTR) to outperform from market perform after channel checks indicated MicroStrategy 9 product cycle's continued to gain momentum in Q4. The firm raised its target price on shares to $120 from $87.
• Following a management meeting, Baird upgraded Woodward Governor (WGOV) to outperform from neutral based on long-term energy control growth opportunities and low Street expectations. The firm raised its target to $33 from $24.
• Citigroup upgraded Under Armour (UA) to hold from sell as it believes the company's initiatives in footwear will accelerate growth and share downside is limited at current levels. The firm raised its target on shares to $31 from $24.
• Procter & Gamble (PG) was upgraded to buy from neutral at BofA/Merrill.
• Aflac (AFL) was upgraded to equal weight from underweight at Barclays.
• MGM Mirage (MGM) was raised to buy from neutral at Goldman.

Continue reading Analyst Upgrades, Downgrades and Initiations: AFL, GPS, LEAP, MGM, NTAP, PG, UA ...

Analyst Upgrades, Downgrades and Initiations: AFL, GPS, LEAP, MGM, NTAP, PG, UA ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 12 Jan 2010 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

From TheStreet.com Network

• Housing Recovery: A Way to Play It
• We Called It: The Housing Bottom

Continue reading Cramer on BloggingStocks: Bulls in charge

Cramer on BloggingStocks: Bulls in charge originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 24 Aug 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Deutsche Bank upgraded HealthSouth (NYSE: HLS) and Rehabcare (NYSE: RHB) to Buy from Hold after raising its Post Acute Care sector view to Positive from Neutral. The firm believes volumes and margin leverage can drive better than expected Q2 results and 2009 guidance. The firm raised its target on HealthSouth shares to $16 from $12 and on Rehabcare to $28 from $19.
  
• Jefferies upgraded Moody's (NYSE: MCO) to Hold from Underperform to reflect stabilizing credit markets and its belief regulatory concerns are overstated. The firm raised its target on shares to $30 from $19.
  
• Keefe Bruyette upgraded Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS) to Outperform from Market Perform as it finds the stock inexpensive following the better than expected results. The firm has a $195 target on shares.
• Vale (NASDAQ: VALE) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at BofA/Merrill.
  
• CNOOC (NYSE: CEO) was upgraded to Overweight from Equal Weight at Morgan Stanley.
  
• International Game Tech (NYSE: IGT) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Janney Montgomery.
  

Continue reading Analyst calls: MCO, VALE, GS, CSCO, PALM, LLY, JBHT, PTR

Analyst calls: MCO, VALE, GS, CSCO, PALM, LLY, JBHT, PTR originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Unlike Talbots, Chico's (NYSE: CHS) is already chic. This retail stock doesn't need a boost from Mrs. Obama, but an endorsement wouldn't hurt either.

Its White House/Black Market stores have seen explosive growth over the past decade and seem to have the type of products that would look good in the real White House.

In the immediate aftermath of the credit crisis, shares of CHS collapsed.

Continue reading Obama stock #2: Chico's (CHS)

Obama stock #2: Chico's (CHS) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 13 Jun 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

We all know the impact that celebrities have on businesses. One of the most obvious instances of this phenomenon comes from the Oprah Winfrey Show. For example, when a title makes it into her book club, millions of loyal followers immediately take action, and sales follow.

These days, Michelle Obama is giving Oprah a run for her money. The First Lady is being closely watched by millions, and she too has a loyal following. She also appears to have a fashion sense that resonates with consumers around the globe. We all saw the number of stories and speculation about her gown during the inauguration.

Continue reading Move over Oprah -- Michelle Obama's got the touch

Move over Oprah -- Michelle Obama's got the touch originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 13 Jun 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Here are some highlights from this past week's earnings coverage from BloggingStocks:

• American International Group Inc. (NYS: AIG) posted a record loss even as it asks for more taxpayer funds.
• AnnTaylor Stores Corp. (NYSE: ANN) shares sank after it missed Q4 expectations by a wide margin.
• AutoZone Inc. (NYSE: AZO) reported strong Q2 results, sending shares upward toward its 52-week high.
• Big Lots Inc. (NYSE: BIG) shares soared after it reported better-than-expected numbers for Q4.
• Chico's FAS Inc. (NYSE: CHS) Q4 loss widened on impairment charges and severance costs.

Continue reading Earnings highlights: AIG, HP, AutoZone, Big Lots, MBIA, TiVo and more

Earnings highlights: AIG, HP, AutoZone, Big Lots, MBIA, TiVo and more originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 07 Mar 2009 15:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Shares of women's specialty retailer Chico's FAS (NYSE: CHS) rose slightly yesterday despite the company posting another quarterly loss.

The operator of 1,074 Chico's, White House/Black Market and Soma Intimates stores said its fourth-quarter loss widened on store impairment charges and severance costs, but absent those charges results exceeded Wall Street's expectations.

The loss for the quarter was $40.5 million, or 23 cents per share including the charges, and 14 cents per share without. Last year's fourth-quarter loss was $20.5 million, or 12 cents per share. Sales fell 9% from a year ago to $373.4 million, while same-store sales were off 13% overall (17% at Chico's and 5% at White House/Black Market).

Continue reading Chico and the woman

Chico and the woman originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 05 Mar 2009 08:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Jefferies upgraded Ansys (NASDAQ: ANSS) shares to Buy from Hold following the company's reduced guidance as it now believes estimates are much more achievable. Despite the upgrade, the firm lowered its target price to $25 from $29.
  
• Deutsche Bank upgraded shares of Signet Jewelers (NYSE: SIG) to Buy from Hold on expectations the company will benefit from a capacity reduction in U.S. jewelry retailing.
  
• Thomas Weisel upgraded Omnicare (NYSE: OCR) to Overweight from Market Weight citing improving fundamentals and misunderstandings regarding Obama's healthcare proposal.
• Verizon (VZ) was lifted to Outperform from Sector Perform at RBC Capital.
  
• The Inventure Group (NYSE: SNAK) was raised to Buy from Hold at Roth Capital.
  
• Chico's FAS (NYSE: CHS) was upgraded at Friedman Billings to Outperform from Market Perform.

• Stephens downgraded Wilbros Group (NYSE: WG) to Equal Weight from Overweight to reflect a lack of visibility into earnings and deterioration in the company's end markets. The firm lowered its target price to $9.
• Jefferies downgraded Limelight Networks (NASDAQ: LLNW) to Hold from Buy as it believes the company can not sustain profits or cash flow this year given its capex requirements. The firm lowered its target price to $3 from $4.
  
• Barclays cut SLM Corp (NYSE: SLM) to Equal Weight from Overweight following President Obama's proposal to eliminate Federal Family Education Loan Program.
• Synta Pharma (NASDAQ: SNTA) was lowered to Hold from Buy at Roth Capital and to Sector Perform from Outperform at RBC Capital.
  
• U.S. Cellular (NYSE: USM) was downgraded at Baird to Underperform from Neutral.
  
• Paychex (NASDAQ: PAYX) was downgraded to Sell from Neutral at Goldman.

• ThinkEquity expects Emulex (NYSE: ELX) to generate positive FCF in 2010 and views valuation as attractive. Shares were initiated with a Buy rating and $7 target.
  
• Lazard Capital initiated Constant Contact (NASDAQ: CTCT) with a Buy rating and $19 target. The firm believes the company is well positioned in the Software as a Service category of E-mail Marketing.
• Morgan Stanley assumed Dollar Tree (NASDAQ: DLTR) with an Overweight rating and $45 target and Family Dollar (NYSE: FDO) with an Equal Weight rating.
  
• Regal Entertainment (NYSE: RGC) was started at Barclays with an Overweight rating and $14 target.

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: VZ, CHS, DLTR, RGC ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 27 Feb 2009 11:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

There's no doubt that retailers are struggling to stay in business. This is creating a "tug of war" between retailers who are leasing space in shopping centers and mall owners who are also struggling to keep stores from closing and creating added vacancies.

Some mall owners are having to refinance debt coming due to stay open. Just to point out how dire circumstances are, General Growth Properties, the country's second largest mall owner warned that it may be forced to file for bankruptcy if it cannot reschedule its huge debt. On Wall Street, the prices of REIT's (real estate investment trusts) have fallen by 44% during the past year (added: as a Dow Jones index tracking 22 REITS indicates).

Now, on the other side, retailers are trying to renegotiate their leases to lower their overhead. These include such names as Office Depot (NYSE: ODP), Chico's Fas Inc. (NYSE: CHS), Pier 1 Imports Inc. (NYSE: PIR), and The Gap (NYSE: GPS). Some mall owners are helping retailers by lowering "square feet" prices in their leases, while others are saying "no."

Vacancy rates are rising and some analysts are predicting that a growing number of mall owners will default on their mortgages and thereby put additional pressure on our banking system.

Do you own a business in a shopping mall? What are your present circumstances?

Retailers vs. mall owners: Who is winning? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 08 Jan 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst upgrades:

• Cowen upgraded Aaron Rents (NYSE: RNT) to Outperform from Neutral and believes the company's business model is gaining momentum despite the difficult environment. The firm views valuation as attractive.
  
• Citigroup upgraded shares of MedCath (NASDAQ: MDTH) to Hold from Sell on valuation following the recent sell-off. The company's target was lowered to $9 from $19.
  
• Stanford upgraded AeroVironment (NASDAQ: AVAV) to Buy from Hold based on valuation and because they believe its visibility over the next year has improved.
• Chiquita Brands (NYSE: CQB) was lifted to Buy from Hold at BB&T.
  
• Chico's FAS (NYSE: CHS) was upgraded to Neutral from Sell at UBS.
  
• FCStone (NASDAQ: FCSX) was raised to Strong Buy from Outperform at Raymond James.

• RBC Capital downgraded Clearwire (NASDAQ: CLWR) to Sector Perform from Outperform based on reduced valuation parameters and lack of catalysts. The company's target was lowered to $9 from $15.
• Kellogg (NYSE: K) and Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) were cut to Neutral from Buy at UBS.
  
• Evergreen Solar (NASDAQ: ESLR) was downgraded at JP Morgan to Underweight from Neutral.
• Deutsche Telekom (NYSE: DT) was downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Goldman and to Hold from Buy at Deutsche Bank.

Continue reading Analyst calls: CHS, CQB, CLWR, KO, K, ESLR, DT, FSLR, NBR

Analyst calls: CHS, CQB, CLWR, KO, K, ESLR, DT, FSLR, NBR originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 18 Nov 2008 11:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Results for the tech stocks in last week's preview were a mixed bag, some beats, some misses, some in line. By and large, expectations for tech companies reporting results this week remain high, though. Here's what analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial are anticipating in the way of earnings, as compared to the same period of the previous year.

• Solarfun Power Holdings Co. Ltd. (NASDAQ: SOLF): $1.48 EPS (+73.0%) on sales of $1.3 billion (+171.0%)
• Marvell Technology Group Ltd. (NASDAQ: MRVL): $0.21 EPS (+71.4%) on sales of $836.7 million (+27.4%)
• Solera Holdings Inc. (NYSE: SLH): $0.29 EPS (+51.7%) on sales of $137.0 million (+11.8%)
• Applied Signal Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: APSG): $0.14 EPS (+42.9%) on sales of $46.4 million (+17.4%)
• China Finance Online Co. Ltd. (NASDAQ: JRJC): $0.14 EPS (+42.6%) on sales of $13.3 million (+131.5%)
• OSI Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: OSIS): $0.38 EPS (+36.8%) on sales of $162.0 million (+6.0%)
• LaBarge Inc. (AMEX: LB): $0.27 EPS (+33.3%) on sales of $71.6 million (+10.4%)
• Esterline Technologies Corp. (NYSE: ESL): $0.69 EPS (+11.6%) on sales of $374.6 million (+14.8%)
• Dell Inc. (NASDAQ: DELL): $0.36 EPS (+11.1%) on sales of $15.9 billion (+7.8%)
• HEICO Corp. (NYSE: HEI): $0.46 EPS (+13.0%) on sales of $147.1 million (+10.5%)
• Daktronics Inc. (NASDAQ: DAKT): $0.17 EPS (flat) on sales of $141.5 million (+17.0%)
• Novell Inc. (NASDAQ: NOVL): $0.05 EPS (flat) on sales of $241.4 million (-0.7%)
• Omnivision Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: OVTI): $0.29 EPS (-17.1%) on sales of $172.5 million (-0.4%)
• Sigma Designs Inc. (NASDAQ: SIGM): $0.39 EPS (-18.8%) on sales of $58.7 million (+37.9%)

Continue reading The week in preview: Earnings expectations for techs, Canadian banks

The week in preview: Earnings expectations for techs, Canadian banks originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 24 Aug 2008 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Cramer on BloggingStocks: The breadth of the danger is staggering

Cramer on BloggingStocks: The breadth of the danger is staggering originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 15 Jul 2008 08:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

For a bearish hedged play on this stock, I would consider a September bear-call credit spread above the $50 range. A bear-call credit spread is an options position that combines the purchase and sale of call options to hedge risk in case the stock doesn't do what you think but still leverage nice returns. For this particular trade, we will make an 8.7% return in four and a half months as long as CHS is below $7.50 at November expiration. CHS would have to rise by more than 40% before we would start to lose money. Learn more about this type of trade here.

Continue reading Chico's FAS (CHS) drops on slowing sales

Chico's FAS (CHS) drops on slowing sales originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 09 Jul 2008 13:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MAJOR PAPERS:

• Investors are taking their money out of hedge funds more now that at any time over the past 10 years, according to the Wall Street Journal. Firms are bracing for the end of June when the next big wave will hit.
• First it was a demand for management changes, and now shareholders, including one time director Eli Broad and fund managers Shelby Davis of Davis Selected Advisors and Bill Miller of Legg Mason Inc (NYSE: LM), are again upset with American International Group Inc (NYSE: AIG) and want changes in the boardroom as well, the Wall Street Journal reported.
• The Wall Street Journal reported that Citigroup Incorporated (NYSE: C) will close Old Lane Partners, a hedge fund co-founded by CEO Vikram Pandit.

• Spotlight Capital is increasing pressure on Chico's FAS Inc (NYSE: CHS) and said it has been in touch with 25 major shareholders in order to oust CEO Scott Edmonds and unseat board member John Burden, who are accused of having a conflict of interest, the New York Post reported.

• Advanced Micro Devices Inc (NYSE: AMD) denied reports certain of its new dual-core chip, code-named Kuma, have been canceled, according to CNet. A spokesman for the company said that the launch of Kuma, scheduled for the second half of 2008, remains on track.

Newspaper wrap-up: Citigroup to shut Old Lane Partners hedge fund originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 12 Jun 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Oppenheimer assumed Micron (NYSE: MU) with an Outperform rating and $9.50 target, as they believe price declines in the DRAM market moderated in 2H of the December quarter and that concerns of oversupply are already priced into shares.
  
• Stanford believes shares of Chico's FAS (NYSE: CHS) will remain under pressure over the next three to six months given the adverse economic conditions and the company's "less-than-exciting" fashion assortment. The firm started shares with a Hold rating and $10 target.
  
• Lifetime Brands (NASDAQ: LCUT) was initiated with a Neutral rating at SunTrust. The firm prefers to wait for greater visibility on the U.S. consumer spending environment before becoming more constructive on the name.

• Soleil initiated Worthington (NYSE: WOR) with a Hold rating.
  
• Jefferies started Esterline Technologies (NYSE: ESL) with a Buy rating and $58 target.
  
• Oppenheimer assumed Spansion (NASDAQ: SPSN) with a Perform rating.

Analyst initiations: MU, CHS and LCUT originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 15 Feb 2008 11:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Cramer on BloggingStocks: The gloomy consensus bet's still right

Cramer on BloggingStocks: The gloomy consensus bet's still right originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 09 Jan 2008 10:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.