Analyst Upgrades

• Expedia (EXPE) to buy from hold at Citigroup.
• Weatherford (WFT) to outperform from market perform at Wells Fargo.
• Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF) to buy from neutral at BofA/Merrill.
• MDC Holdings (MDC) to outperform from neutral at Credit Suisse.
• AutoNavi (AMAP) to buy from neutral at Goldman.
• Ciena (CIEN) and Nvidia (NVDA) to neutral from underweight at JPMorgan.
• Canadian Pacific (CP) to outperform from market perform at Raymond James.
• First Midwest (FMBI) and Quiksilver (ZQK) to buy from hold at Jefferies.
• Sonic (SONC) to neutral from negative at Susquehanna.
• MIPS Technologies (MIPS) to buy from hold at Benchmark Co.
• Arrow Electronics (ARW) and Avnet (AVT) to buy from hold at Stifel Nicolaus.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: ANF, BBBY, CIEN, CP, EXPE, ICE, NVDA, QCOM, SONC ...

Analyst Calls: ANF, BBBY, CIEN, CP, EXPE, ICE, NVDA, QCOM, SONC ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Sometimes, a big market washout like we had on Friday, when the S&P 500 fell 10 points and the Dow was down 170 points at its worst level, can reveal an awful lot about individual stocks. It's days like these when the winners stick out like sore thumbs and reveal just how much demand there is for their shares. On Friday, there was a collection of such stocks.

All the following names have had astounding gains in the past year, and it sure looks like they are prepared to continue on that same trajectory. These stocks stuck out like a sore thumb on Friday because of significant buying interest in a terrible broad market tape. None of the moves in these names was driven by news

Continue reading Netflix, Chipotle and Other Stocks Poised for Additional Gains

Netflix, Chipotle and Other Stocks Poised for Additional Gains originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 06 Mar 2011 17:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• SINA (SINA) to overweight from neutral at Piper Jaffray.
• Texas Instruments (TXN), ON Semiconductor (ONNN), Xilinx (XLNX) and Valassis (VCI) to overweight from neutral at JPMorgan.
• Salesforce.com (CRM) to buy from hold at Canaccord.
• Peet's Coffee (PEET) to buy from neutral at Janney Capital.
• Invesco Mortgage (IVR) to overweight from equal weight at Barclays.
• BTU International (BTUI) to buy from hold at Wunderlich.
• Coca-Cola Femsa (KOF) to overweight from neutral at HSBC.
• Chipotle (CMG) to market perform from underperform at Morgan Keegan.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AKAM, CIEN, CMG, CRM, FDO, GOOG, JNPR, MCC, TXN, YHOO ...

Analyst Calls: AKAM, CIEN, CMG, CRM, FDO, GOOG, JNPR, MCC, TXN, YHOO ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 02 Mar 2011 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• U.S. Steel (X) to buy from neutral and Barnes & Noble (BKS) to neutral from sell at Goldman.
• Salesforce.com (CRM) to buy from hold at Jefferies.
• Dollar Tree (DLTR) to overweight from equal weight at Barclays.
• Edison International (EIX) to hold from sell at Citigroup.
• Analog Devices (ADI) to overweight from neutral at JPMorgan.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: ADI, BKS, CMG, CRM, DANG, DLTR, FDO, LLTC, NFLX, X ...

Analyst Calls: ADI, BKS, CMG, CRM, DANG, DLTR, FDO, LLTC, NFLX, X ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 15 Feb 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Interpublic Group (IPG) to buy from hold at Deutsche Bank.
• Radware (RDWR) to outperform from perform at Oppenheimer.
• Fluor (FLR) and Waddell & Reed (WDR) to buy from hold, as well as AllianceBernstein (AB) to hold from sell, at Citigroup.
• MetroCorp (MCBI) and American Capital (AGNC) to outperform from market perform at Keefe Bruyette.
• International Flavors (IFF) to overweight from equal weight at Barclays.
• BioCryst (BCRX) and Southern Company (SO) to buy from neutral at BofA/Merrill.
• Bunge (BG) to overweight from neutral at HSBC.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AB, BG, CMG, CSCO, DF, EXPE, JLL, MU, NLSN, S, SO ...

Analyst Calls: AB, BG, CMG, CSCO, DF, EXPE, JLL, MU, NLSN, S, SO ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 11 Feb 2011 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Things look to be pretty quiet on the economic calendar this week. Here are the highlights:

• Tuesday: Weekly chain-store sales
• Wednesday: Federal budget balance for January
• Thursday: Wholesale trade data in December
• Friday: Trade balance in December and the weekly inflation survey

However, three iconic companies -- Walt Disney (DIS), Coca-Cola (KO) and Hasbro (HAS) -- highlight this week's quarterly results. Here's a look at what analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters are anticipating from these and others.

Continue reading Week in Preview: Coca-Cola, Disney and Hasbro Earnings

Week in Preview: Coca-Cola, Disney and Hasbro Earnings originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 06 Feb 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Yingli Green (YGE) to outperform from market perform at Wells Fargo.
• National Semiconductor (NSM) to outperform from market perform at FBR Capital.
• DuPont (DD) to buy from hold at Citigroup.
• Blackboard (BBBB) to overweight from neutral at JPMorgan.
• Kindred Healthcare (KND) to buy from hold at Jefferies.
• Peabody Energy (BTU) to outperform from market perform at BMO Capital.
• Savvis (SVVS) to buy from neutral and InterActiveCorp (IACI) to neutral from underperform at BofA/Merrill.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: BRCM, BTU, DD, EBAY, KR, MRVL, NSM, PCX, SVVS, TWX ...

Analyst Calls: BRCM, BTU, DD, EBAY, KR, MRVL, NSM, PCX, SVVS, TWX ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 03 Dec 2010 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Restaurant chain Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG), has vectored from $90 to $200.65 in 2010, on both new restaurant openings, and a likely low/mid-single-digit increase in same-store sales.

The key phrase in the above being a possible 'mid-single-digit' SSS increase: a decent traffic and sales increase is not consistent with the U.S.'s current 'frugal consumer' trend, but Chipotle appears to be bucking the trend.

Chipotle operates restaurants in the fast casual dining segment, using fresh ingredients and traditional cooking methods to cook tacos, burritos, salads, and burrito bowls. As of the start of 2010, CMG had 956 restaurants in 35 states, with more than half in California, Ohio, Texas, Colorado and Illinois.

Continue reading Is Chipotle Mexican Grill Overvalued?

Is Chipotle Mexican Grill Overvalued? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 22 Oct 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Options Update: McDonald's Volatility Low at 19; Shares Near Record High into EPS originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 21 Oct 2010 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst upgrades:

• Citigroup upgraded Lubrizol (LZ) to Hold from Sell following the company's analyst day citing its continued pricing power in lubricants. Citi upped its target price for shares to $115 from $82.
• Janney Montgomery upgraded Viacom (VIA) to Buy from Neutral citing the company's ratings improvement, 2011 film slate, and video game pipeline. The firm has a $45 price target for shares.
• BMO Capital resumed coverage on Gammon Gold (GRS) with an Outperform from a Market Perform following the its equity issue. The firm has a $12.50 price target on the stock.
• Comerica (CMA) and First Horizon (FHN) were upgraded to Buy from Hold at Deutsche Bank.
• Prudential (PRU) was upgraded to Equal Weight from Underweight at Barclays.
• Itron (ITRI) was upgraded to Hold from Sell at Stifel Nicolaus.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: VIA, CMA, PRU, CMG, PBR, TXN, DHR, HUM

Analyst Calls: VIA, CMA, PRU, CMG, PBR, TXN, DHR, HUM originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 06 Oct 2010 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Chipotle Mexican Grill: Buy or Sell?

Chipotle Mexican Grill: Buy or Sell? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 20 Sep 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Investors that have a time horizon longer than a couple of days are likely finding this market to be extremely difficult. The indices have been stuck in a range for months between around 1,040 and 1,130 on the S&P 500. The economic reports have been mixed and have offered very little visibility into what the future may hold. Volume has been extremely anemic in the stock market, which has contributed to the overall impression that no one has much conviction in the direction of equity prices.

While risky, it is times like these that investors may just be better off finding some high beta names that are exhibiting sustained relative strength in an effort to end the year in positive territory.

Continue reading Join the Beta Chase (APKT, AKAM, GMCR, FFIV, CMG)

Join the Beta Chase (APKT, AKAM, GMCR, FFIV, CMG) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 17 Sep 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Baird upgraded Oshkosh (OSK) to outperform from neutral, citing valuation as it believes post-Iraq U.S. military spending concerns are overdone. The firm keeps a $42 price target for shares.
• Goldman transferred coverage on CenturyTel (CTL) with a buy from a neutral and has a $42 price target on the stock. The firm believes CenturyTel could increase buybacks and or increase its dividend given free cash generation and low payout ratio.
• Lazard Capital upgraded Hatteras Financial (HTS) to buy from hold to reflect increased dividend projections. The firm has a $30 price target for shares.
• EOG Resources (EOG) was upgraded to neutral from underperform at Credit Suisse.
• Donaldson (DCI) was upgraded to neutral from underperform at BofA/Merrill.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: CTL, HTS, ISRG, MCD, MLM, OSK, RUTH, WMS, YUM ...

Analyst Calls: CTL, HTS, ISRG, MCD, MLM, OSK, RUTH, WMS, YUM ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 17 Sep 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Back in 2002, Burger King (BKC) went private in a $1.5 billion deal (at the time, the food chain was owned by Diageo PLC). Then in 2006, the company came back to the public markets, providing a nice return for the private equity sponsors, which included TPG Capital, Goldman Sachs Capital Partners and Bain Capital.

OK, so how about going private again? Actually, this is the latest rumor making the rounds. Although, it sounds like the negotiations are in the early stages.

Continue reading Burger King Looking for a Buyout?

Burger King Looking for a Buyout? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Auriga upgraded Leap Wireless (LEAP) to buy from hold following the company's Q2 results and analyst day, citing valuation, longer-term potential for consolidation and prospects for business improvements. Despite upgrading, the firm lowered its target for shares to $16 from $19.
• Goldman upgraded Barnes & Noble (BKS) to neutral from sell following the company's announcement to explore strategic alternatives. The firm raised its price target to $15 from $12.
• RBC Capital upgraded ESCO Technologies (ESE) to sector perform from underperform following the better-than-expected Q3 report. The firm raised its price target to $30 from $28.
• MetLife (MET) was upgraded to buy from neutral at BofA/Merrill.
• Priceline.com (PCLN) was upgraded to buy from hold at Stifel Nicolaus.
• HSBC (HBC) was upgraded to outperform from underperform at CLSA.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AMD, BKC, BKS, BP, DOW, HBC, LEAP, LLY, MET, PCLN, ...

Analyst Calls: AMD, BKC, BKS, BP, DOW, HBC, LEAP, LLY, MET, PCLN, ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 04 Aug 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Early Financial Fireworks Hit the Markets; Will the U.S. Emerge the Leader in the Second Half of Year?

Early Financial Fireworks Hit the Markets; Will the U.S. Emerge the Leader in the Second Half of Year? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 02 Jul 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Citigroup upgraded Blackrock (BLK) to hold from sell and removed the stock from its Top Picks Live list as a sell. The firm upped its target for shares to $198 from $190.
• Jesup & Lamont upgraded Starbucks (SBUX) to buy from hold following the company's Q2 results. The firm raised its target for shares to $32 from $25.
• CLSA upgraded Nabors Industries (NBR) to outperform from underperform. The firm said the Q1 report was in-line with their estimate and they expect U.S. land drilling to continue to improve. The firm has a $24 price target on the stock.
• Alcoa (AA) was upgraded to neutral from underweight at HSBC.
• Boeing (BA) was upgraded to outperform from neutral at Credit Suisse.
• Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG) was upgraded to buy from hold at Jefferies.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AA, BA, BLK, DCTH, EBAY, NBR, SBUX, STI, TWX ...

Analyst Calls: AA, BA, BLK, DCTH, EBAY, NBR, SBUX, STI, TWX ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 22 Apr 2010 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG) a 'fast-casual' restaurant chain, was started by Steve Ells in Denver, Colorado, in 1993, and it quickly became a big success, expanding rapidly in the Denver area," says growth stock specialist Timothy Lutts.

The editor of Cabot Stock of the Month explains, "McDonald's began investing in the company in 1997 and became the controlling shareholder in 1999. Using its cash and expertise, McDonald's grew the company from 14 restaurants in 1998 to 480 at the end of 2005. Then in January 2006, McDonald's sold Chipotle to the public."

Continue reading Chipotle Mexican (CMG): Grilled Gains in 'Fast-Casual'

Chipotle Mexican (CMG): Grilled Gains in 'Fast-Casual' originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 09 Apr 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

• Activision Blizzard Inc. (ATVI) reported better-than-expected Q4 earnings and declared an annual dividend.
• Allstate Corp. (ALL) swung to better-than-expected Q4 earnings and also swung to a full-year profit.
• Buffalo Wild Wings Inc. (BWLD) shares tumbled after it posted disappointing earnings tied to costs.
• The Cheesecake Factory Inc. (CAKE) posted better-than-expected Q4 earnings but sales were flat.
• Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. (CMG) earnings numbers for Q4 resulted in upgrades from two analysts.
• CVS Caremark Corp. (CVS) higher Q4 earnings matched the expectations of analysts, and shares rose.

Continue reading Earnings Highlights: Allstate, Marriott, PepsiCo, 3M, UBS, Viacom, WWE ...

Earnings Highlights: Allstate, Marriott, PepsiCo, 3M, UBS, Viacom, WWE ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 13 Feb 2010 12:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Deutsche Bank upgraded PNC Financial (PNC) to buy from hold on valuation as it believes the recent pullback in shares provides a buying opportunity. The firm raised its target on shares to $57 from $45.
• Kaufman Bros. upgraded Expedia (EXPE) to buy from hold on valuation as it finds the risk/reward on shares attractive following the company's Q4 results and believes revenue margin concerns are overblown. The firm has a $27 price target on the stock.
• Jesup & Lamont upgraded Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG) to hold from sell following the company's Q4 results to reflect its improving traffic trends. The firm raised its target on shares to $96 from $81. Shares were also upgraded at BofA/Merrill to buy from neutral.
• Rio Tinto (RTP) was upgraded to outperform from neutral at Credit Suisse.
• FirstEnergy (FE) was upgraded to hold from underperform at Jefferies.
• Marriott (MAR) was upgraded to perform from underperform at Oppenheimer.

Continue reading Analyst Upgrades, Downgrades and Initiations: CMG, EXPE, NFLX, OSK, PNC, SJM, VCLK ...

Analyst Upgrades, Downgrades and Initiations: CMG, EXPE, NFLX, OSK, PNC, SJM, VCLK ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 12 Feb 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.