Analyst Upgrades

• Goodrich (GR) to overweight from neutral at JPMorgan.
• Ford (F) to neutral from underperform and CenterPoint Energy (CNP) to outperform from neutral at Credit Suisse.
• Dollar Financial (DLLR) and Edwards Lifesciences (EW) to buy from hold at Jefferies.
• Alterra Capital (ALTE) to buy from hold at Deutsche Bank.
• Cheesecake Factory (CAKE) and P.F. Chang's (PFCB) to buy from neutral, as well as SunTrust (STI) to neutral from sell, at Janney Capital.
• Arch Capital (ACGL), Axis Capital (AXS), PartnerRe (PRE), Everest Re (RE) and Transatlantic (TRH) to buy from hold, as well as W. R. Berkley (WRB) to hold from sell, at Citigroup.
• Optimer Pharm (OPTR) to buy from neutral at BofA/Merrill.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: CAKE, CNP, EW, F, GR, NDAQ, NYX, RGLD, STI, SWN ...

Analyst Calls: CAKE, CNP, EW, F, GR, NDAQ, NYX, RGLD, STI, SWN ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Cheesecake Factory (CAKE), first discussed here on June 25, 2009, at a price of $16.30, has survived the restaurant sector's major consolidation period, and I obviously still like the business model at this stage.

Cheesecake's shares have recently dipped to $29, after accelerating to $34 in December, but investors who can tolerate the risk should view the pullback as an opportunity.

Continue reading Cheesecake Factory: Consider Buying the Pullback

Cheesecake Factory: Consider Buying the Pullback originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 21 Mar 2011 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Union Pacific (UNP) and Polycom (PLCM) were upgraded to outperform from market perform at Wells Fargo.
• Time Warner Cable (TWC) was upgraded to outperform from sector perform at RBC Capital.
• Cheesecake Factory (CAKE) was upgraded to neutral from underweight at JPMorgan.
• LaSalle Hotel (LHO) was upgraded to outperform from neutral at RW Baird.
• Graco (GGG) was upgraded to buy from hold at BB&T.
• Valley National (VLY) was upgraded to market perform from underperform at Keefe Bruyette.
• Credit Suisse (CS) was upgraded to hold from sell at RBS.
• U.S. Bancorp (USB) was upgraded to outperform from perform at Oppenheimer.
• Penn National (PENN) and Riverbed (RVBD) were upgraded to buy from hold at Jefferies.
• Goodrich (GR) was upgraded to outperform from neutral at Cowen.
• Amazon.com (AMZN) upgraded to buy from average at Caris.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AMZN, CAKE, CS, EMC, FCX, GR, HOT, K, MAR, TWC, UNP, USB ...

Analyst Calls: AMZN, CAKE, CS, EMC, FCX, GR, HOT, K, MAR, TWC, UNP, USB ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 22 Oct 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Cheesecake Factory's Summer Swoon Appears to Be Over

Cheesecake Factory's Summer Swoon Appears to Be Over originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 20 Oct 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Cheesecake Factory: The No-Compromise Menu Is Succeeding

Cheesecake Factory: The No-Compromise Menu Is Succeeding originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 16 Jun 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Cheesecake Factory Is Navigating the Restaurant Sector's Rough Currents

Cheesecake Factory Is Navigating the Restaurant Sector's Rough Currents originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 15 Mar 2010 10:20:00 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.

I'm going to take a brief look at two quarterly reports from the past week. We've got a popular restaurant chain on the menu, as well as a DVD-rental business that is causing Hollywood a lot of headaches.

The Cheesecake Factory (CAKE) reported flat sales revenue in the fourth quarter. And when I say flat, I mean it: $400.6 million versus $400.4 million. On an adjusted basis, net income was 28 cents per share, representing an increase of 87%. This was four pennies ahead of estimates.

Continue reading Two Quarterly Releases: The Cheesecake Factory and Coinstar

Two Quarterly Releases: The Cheesecake Factory and Coinstar originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 13 Feb 2010 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Cheesecake Factory's (CAKE) stock has broken out of a trading range, and that's one major reason I'm reiterating my buy rating for the company's shares, first recommended on June 25, 2009, at a price of $16.30.

The U.S.'s frugal consumer era has hit the restaurant sector hard, and there will be many chain restaurant casualties, but Cheesecake won't be one. Don't expect anything spectacular from CAKE in FY2010 -- flattish to slightly higher same-store sales, and only a slight increase in revenue, with most likely a net zero increase in restaurants operated.

Continue reading Cheesecake Factory Is in an Uptrend

Cheesecake Factory Is in an Uptrend originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 27 Dec 2009 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst upgrades:

• Citigroup upgraded Advanced Micro (NYSE: AMD) to Buy from Hold and raised its target to $5.50 from $4.25 citing valuation and expectations for the company's competitive position and gross margins to improve.
• Barclays upgraded American Express (NYSE: AXP) to Overweight from Equal Weight citing long-term earnings growth as the company benefits from declining charge-offs and credit costs. The firm has a $38 target on the stock.
• JPMorgan upgraded Arch Coal (NYSE: ACI) to Overweight from Neutral and raised its target to $22 from $19 citing the FTC approval for the acquisition of Jacobs Ranch mine and valuation.
• Bebe Stores (NASDAQ: BEBE) was upgraded to Overweight from Equal Weight at Stephens.
• Cheesecake Factory (NASDAQ: CAKE) was upgraded to Neutral from Underweight at Piper Jaffray.
• Ashland (NYSE: ASH) was upgraded to Buy from Hold at KeyBanc.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: AMD, AXP, ACI, NOK, NRP, SYK, WPCS

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: AMD, AXP, ACI, NOK, NRP, SYK, WPCS originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 24 Aug 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading The Cheesecake Factory: A decent menu in a lamentable sector

The Cheesecake Factory: A decent menu in a lamentable sector originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 26 Jun 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Can you believe Cheesecake Factory (NASDAQ: CAKE) traded below $5 last November?

I can. Its model of big meals and big cheesecake appeared vulnerable to the deep recession. Would consumers cut out the fat in their dining budget?

Apparently not, as the stock is up more than 3 times since hitting the bottom.

Continue reading An extra restaurant stock: Cheesecake Factory (CAKE)

An extra restaurant stock: Cheesecake Factory (CAKE) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 20 Jun 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

It's about that time again: Pepsi vs. Coke. No, not another taste test or another Battle of the Brands. It's time for the next quarterly results from these two soft drink titans.

Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters anticipate that PepsiCo Inc. (NYSE: PEP), global beverage and snack food giant, will report fourth-quarter earnings this week that are 9.1% higher that a year ago, or $0.88 per share. Revenue is expected to total $12.8 billion, which is 3.9% higher than last year. For the full year, the profit is expected to be $3.67 per share on revenue of $43.4 billion, up from $3.38 per share on $39.5 billion in 2007. PepsiCo's earnings met or beat estimates in four of the past five quarters, but missed by only two cents per share in the third quarter. The consensus recommendation of analysts remains to buy PEP. The share price fell to a 52-week low in January and is now 24.4% lower than it was a year ago. During the fourth quarter, PepsiCo declared a $0.42 per share quarterly dividend, agreed to acquire a Spitz International, and announced investments in China and Mexico.

Continue reading The week in preview: Coke versus Pepsi

The week in preview: Coke versus Pepsi originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 08 Feb 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Here, courtesy of The Bull & Bear Financial Report, 9 leading Wall Street experts -- Elaine Garzarelli, Richard Crippps, Sheldon Jacobs, Don Phillips, Richard Yamarone, High Johnson, Mark Johannessen, Curt Weil, and Paul Nolte -- offer their answers to the $10,000 question.

"Amid relentless volatility in 2007, every participant last December produced an increase over the past 12 months. Our pundits for a second consecutive year are spreading their bets because there are so many economic and political wild cards in the coming presidential election year.

Continue reading Where would you invest $10,000 for 2008?

Where would you invest $10,000 for 2008? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Peltz acquires 14% stake in Cheesecake Factory

Peltz acquires 14% stake in Cheesecake Factory originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 20 Dec 2007 09:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Coupons underscore tough times for restaurants originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 12 Nov 2007 17:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Landlord wins $74 million in lawsuit with competitor over Cheesecake. originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 10 Nov 2007 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Cheesecake Factory gets upgrade from SunTrust

Cheesecake Factory gets upgrade from SunTrust originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 05 Nov 2007 12:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Friedman Billings resumed coverage of Cheesecake Factory (NASDAQ: CAKE) and Yum! Brands (NYSE: YUM) with Outperform ratings and a $30 target and a $46 target and Applebee's (NASDAQ: APPB) with a Market Perform rating and $25.50 target.
  
• American Superconductor (NASDAQ: AMSC) was initiated with a Buy rating and $33 target at Jefferies, as they believe repeat orders for wind turbine electrical systems could drive rapid revenue growth from 2008-2010.
  
• CIBC resumed coverage of First Solar (NASDAQ: FSLR) with a Sector Performer rating, as they believe shares are already pricing in the company's 2009 EPS potential.

• Morgan Stanley resumed coverage of Cablevision (NYSE: CVC) with an Underweight rating.
  
• US Steel (NYSE: X) was initiated with a Sector Performer rating and $117 target at CIBC.
  
• JP Morgan started SunPower (NASDAQ: SPWR) with an Overweight rating and Evergreen Solar (ESLR) with a Neutral rating.

Analyst initiations: Restaurant sector, AMSC and FSLR originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 05 Nov 2007 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

How can a company emerge from bankruptcy and then, just about immediately, start looking for acquisition candidates? Isn't that like heading to The Cheesecake Factory, Incorporated (NASDAQ: CAKE) after the gastric bypass?

And yet Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE: DAL) CEO Richard Anderson says the company is on the prowl. According (subscription required) to The Wall Street Journal, "Activist shareholders have been stirring the pot, too. Pardus Capital management, a big holder of UAL and Delta, is agitating for consolidation behind the scenes, a person familiar with the matter says. Meantime, an Icelandic investment fund has started pressing for change at AMR, which prompted the U.S.'s biggest carrier this week to say it is exploring options, including the splitting off of its frequent-flier business."

In most scenarios, it's a lot better to be the shareholder being bought out than a shareholder in the company doing the buying. This would appear to be no exception. With more labor-friendly forces likely to be taking control in Washington, and no end in sight to soaring gasoline prices, the airline industry is likely to face major challenges going forward.

Mergers and acquisition have a way of making problems worse, not better.

Airline industry ready for consolidation? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 19 Oct 2007 19:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.