Here are a few highlights of this past week's earnings coverage from BloggingStocks:

• Analogic Corp. (NASDAQ: ALOG) easily beat expectations, sending shares higher.
• Ciena Corp. (NASDAQ: CIEN) posted a loss and forecast sales for 2008 below estimates.
• Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc.'s (NYSE: CCE) earnings outlook led shares to a 52-week high.
• Cooper Cos. (NYSE: COO) swung to a loss on acquistion costs and litigation.
• Copart Inc. (NASDAQ: CPRT) beat expectations, sending shares to a new high.
• Costco Wholesale Corp. (NASDAQ: COST) posted a solid quarter, in line with expectations.
• Cost Plus Inc. (NASDAQ: CPWM) posted a smaller-than-expected net loss.
• Fleetwood Enterprises Inc. (NYSE: FLE) narrowed its loss through improved efficiency.
• General Electric Co. (NYSE: GE) reaffirmed its 4Q forecast, but the forward outlook disappointed investors.
• H&R Block Inc. (NYSE: HRB) warned of a deep loss due to the mortgage meltdown.
• Korn/Ferry International (NYSE: KFY) beat estimates and revised its guidance.
• Leap Wireless International Inc. (NASDAQ: LEAP) posted a loss, but share prices rose anyway.
• Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. (NYSE: LEH) earnings fell for the third quarter in a row.
• Methode Electronics Inc. (NYSE: MEI) beat estimates, spurred by international sales.
• Novell Inc. (NASDAQ: NOVL) swung to a loss, surprising Wall Street.
• Synopsys Inc. (NASDAQ: SNPS) beat expectations and offered guidance.
• Texas Instruments Inc. (NYSE: TXN) raised its guidance for the fourth quarter.

Continue reading Earnings highlights: Costco, GE, H&R Block, Lehman Bros, and others

Earnings highlights: Costco, GE, H&R Block, Lehman Bros, and others originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 16 Dec 2007 09:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Fleetwood Enterprises (FLE) cuts its losses originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 13 Dec 2007 17:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

In what truly is an example of the law of unintended consequences, the subprime mortgage mess may actually benefit RV and manufactured home maker Fleetwood Enterprises Inc. (NYSE: FLE), CEO Elden Smith suggested. The reasoning is that as mortgages for those with more modest creditworthiness become more difficult to obtain, consumers will take a look at manufactured housing which can often be financed through the manufacturer. Manufactured housing costs less and carries a lower monthly payment.

Fleetwood could use some good news. The company released 1QFY 2008 numbers last week that were not encouraging. Revenues were down 4%, not surprising since gas prices were up by a whole lot more and most of Fleetwood's business centers around its RV Group. The company generated $6 million in income for the quarter, which would be good news if $5.3 million of this money had not come from selling an unused production facility. In actual fact, losses at the company widened during the quarter from $400,000 net loss in 1Q 2007 to a net loss of $2.3 million in 1Q 2008. For the past several quarters, Fleetwood has been selling off company assets to help offset operating losses.

Fleetwood Enterprises is trying to manufacture smaller, more fuel-efficient RV models, which have generated some interest among RV dealers. But the dealers are reluctant to stock up any inventory while demand for RVs is still so soft. Folding trailer sales were down 10% by volume. This news is in keeping with survey results that show fewer Americans are taking camping trips to national parks and other federally managed outdoor locations. Also, there are fewer trailer parks in the prime retirement states of Arizona, Florida and California, as municipalities turn the land over to developers to generate more tax revenue. Fleetwood CEO Elden Smith did not offer any guidance for FY 2008 figures, but don't look for Fleetwood's problems to be solved anytime in the immediate future. The stock closed at $8.91, down $0.49 on Friday.

Fleetwood Enterprises (FLE) may benefit from mortgage mess originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 10 Sep 2007 15:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

There was a time in 2002 and 2003, when I vocally advocated on TV business shows (and was right) that the RV industry might see a big upswing due to all the Baby Boomers retiring. What better way was there to spend one's new-found free time than to travel around the country in relative luxury, stopping wherever you please, whenever you please? But I was ahead of the curve then, and for the past year, I've been bearish on this once ripe for upside sector. The reason why? High gas prices and less money in retirees' pockets.

On May 4, 2006, I blogged that "The Road Trip was Over" for Thor Industries,Inc. (NYSE: THO), an RV manufacturer. I got many adamant responses telling me that I had it all wrong. Many of you said that nothing would tear you from your RV travel, so I started thinking maybe these Boomers were more dedicated to their RVs than I thought, and willing to pay for them, no matter the price. But gas prices continue to go up without any sign of improvement, and sales performance of RV makers continue to fall. Even the Boomers with expendable income are finding it just doesn't pay to travel with a vehicle that typically only gets between 7 and 12 miles-per-gallon. With gas prices solidly in the $3-plus a gallon price range, we're looking at one expensive cross-country road trip! You might as well fly.

Which is why I'm bearish on Fleetwood Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE: FLE), a leading producer of recreational vehicles and manufactured homes. FLE recently reported a fourth quarter sales decrease of 16% over last year, and within that, the RV group took a particular hit, declining by 12% for the quarter. Inventories seem to be piling up, as they didn't anticipate sales falling so much. I simply don't see how this can turn around any time soon.

Type of stock: A leading producer of mobile homes and RVs that has been hit by high gas prices.

Price Target: At its current price of $8.86, I don't think this is a smart buy. We're going to see Fleetwood sink more as gas prices rise. Ultimately, there could be consolidation which could provide a lift to the price, but it isn't worthwhile to chase the stock today in anticipation of an event which may be a few months or years off.

Hilary Kramer is a financial editor and money coach for AOL and an authority on investing. Visit her at www.hilarykramer.com.

Fleetwood Enterprises, Inc.: High gas prices mean slow RV sales originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 11 Jun 2007 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.