Analyst Upgrades

• Applied Materials (AMAT) to overweight from neutral at Piper Jaffray.
• Air Products (APD) to buy from hold at Citigroup.
• Youku.com (YOKU) and Pinnacle West (PNW) to buy from neutral at Goldman.
• Stryker (SYK) and Zimmer (ZMH) to buy from neutral at UBS.
• Zions Bancorp (ZION) to outperform from neutral at Macquarie.
• Alnylam (ALNY) to buy from hold at Needham.
• AK Steel (AKS) to buy from hold at KeyBanc.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AEP, AKS, AMAT, EZCH, FRX, LOPE, MYGN, PNW, ZION ...

Analyst Calls: AEP, AKS, AMAT, EZCH, FRX, LOPE, MYGN, PNW, ZION ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 23 Feb 2011 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Dynegy (DYN) was upgraded to buy from neutral at Pritchard.
• Itron (ITRI) was upgraded to neutral from underperform at Macquarie.
• Goldman upgraded Ameren (AEE) to sell from conviction sell.
• Signet Jewelers (SIG) was upgraded to buy from hold at Societe Generale.
• JPMorgan upgraded Synopsys (SNPS) to overweight from neutral.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AGU, BODY, CPB, DYN, HRL, ITRI, POT, ROVI, SNDA, SWS ...

Analyst Calls: AGU, BODY, CPB, DYN, HRL, ITRI, POT, ROVI, SNDA, SWS ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 24 Nov 2010 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Goldman upgraded Intercontinental Exchange (NYSE: ICE) to Conviction Buy from Neutral and raised their target to $90 from $60. Goldman cites ICE's positioning and potential for upward EPS revisions for the upgrade.
  
• Jefferies upgraded FMC Technologies (NYSE: FTI) to Buy from Hold as they believe solid deepwater activity levels will lead to solid EPS results in 2009 and 2010. The firm raised their price target to $45 from $27.
  
• Friedman Billings upgraded Devon Energy (NYSE: DVN) to Outperform from Market Perform on valuation and expects significant improvement in basis differentials for the company's Barnett production starting the second half of Q2. The firm raised their price target to $60 from $50.
• Elan Corp (NYSE: ELN) was raised to Neutral from Sell at Piper Jaffray.
  
• Banco Santander (NYSE: STD) was upgraded at Keefe Bruyette to Outperform from Market Perform.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: ICE, AKAM, WFMI, GD, INTU ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: ICE, AKAM, WFMI, GD, INTU ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 03 Apr 2009 12:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

• Adobe Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: ADBE) reported better-than-expected Q1 results due to cost cutting.
• Best Buy Inc. (NYSE: BBY) received several upgrades ahead of its Q4 report on the demise of Circuit City.
• Blockbuster Inc. (NYSE: BBI) crushed analyst's expectations for Q4 as same-store sales rose.
• China Direct Industries Inc. (NASDAQ: CDII) Q4 earnings prospects resulted in an analyst's dowgrade.
• Darden Restaurants Inc. (NYSE: DRI) posted better-than-expected Q3 earnings and lifted its 2009 guidance.
• Energy Conversion Devices Inc. (NASDAQ: ENER) was downgraded after it lowered its guidance.
• FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) fell short of Q3 earnings and revenue expectations due to economic conditions.

Continue reading Earnings highlights: FedEx, Nike, Oracle, General Mills, Palm, Adobe and more

Earnings highlights: FedEx, Nike, Oracle, General Mills, Palm, Adobe and more originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 21 Mar 2009 15:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Defense firm Force Protection, Inc. (NASDAQ: FRPT; option chain) has tumbled more than 4% to slip below the $5 level today, despite reporting a stronger-than-expected quarterly profit last night. The company raked in a fourth-quarter profit of $11.7 million, or 17 cents per share, even as revenue tumbled 46% to $239.1 million. Ahead of the report, analysts surveyed by Reuters were expecting a profit of 11 cents per share on $211.7 million in revenue.

"The decline in revenues was primarily the result of lower revenues recognized on shipments of vehicles due to the substantial completion of production under the [Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected] program," said FRPT in a statement. "However, revenues related to the company's service and support business increased to $97.7 million," more than triple the year-ago figure of $27.5 million.

Continue reading Force Protection sinks, despite better-than-expected 4Q profit

Force Protection sinks, despite better-than-expected 4Q profit originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 17 Mar 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst upgrades:

• Barclays upgraded the Integrated Oil sector to Positive from Neutral citing valuations. Note that Exxon Mobil (NYSE: XOM) was upgraded to Overweight from Equal Weight based on valuation.
  
• After Force Protection (NASDAQ: FRPT) reported that its 1H08 sales increased more than 200%, Stanford thinks that Force Protection could be poised for several new opportunities in 2009 and they believe the company's risk is already priced into the stock; the firm raised Force Protection to Hold from Sell.
  
• Cowen expects eHealth (NASDAQ: EHTH) to benefit from the steady decline in employer-sponsored health insurance offered by small businesses and reduced regulatory risk, among other reasons. The firm upgraded shares to Outperform from Neutral.
• Allied Capital (NYSE: ALD) was upgraded to Market Perform from Underperform at BMO Capital.
  
• Caris upgraded Carmike Cinemas (NASDAQ: CKEC) to Above Average from Average.
  
• International Flavors & Fragrances (NYSE: IFF) was upgraded to Neutral from Underweight at JP Morgan.

Continue reading Analyst calls: XOM, PHG, THC, BSX, CCI, ALD . . .

Analyst calls: XOM, PHG, THC, BSX, CCI, ALD . . . originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 01 Oct 2008 11:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Force Protection: Another naked short selling 'victim' faces delisting originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 17 Aug 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Markets closed for Memorial Day holiday.

• Vodafone Group Plc (ADR) (NYSE: VOD) to report preliminary earnings results for the year ending 3/13/08, conference call at 5:00am.
• Modine Manufacturing Co. (NYSE: MOD) to report Q4 earnings; conference call at 11:00am.

• Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation (NYSE: RL) to report Q4 earnings; conference call at 9:00am.
• TiVo Inc. (NASDAQ: TIVO) to report Q1 earnings; conference call at 5:00pm.

Continue reading Market highlights for next week: Dell and TiVo reporting earnings

Market highlights for next week: Dell and TiVo reporting earnings originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 23 May 2008 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Nortel (NYSE:NT) is up over 8% on strong earnings.

Force Protection (NASDAQ:FRPT) is trading higher 14% on a new contract from the UK.

Investools (NASDAQ:SWIM) is off almost 26% on news that the SEC is conduting an informal inquiry.

NetSuite (NYSE:N) is down over 15% after posting weak quarterly numbers.

Stocks may trade differently in the pre-market than they do in the regular session.

Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 247wallst.com.

Pre-market movers (NT) (FRPT) (SWIM) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 02 May 2008 08:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Force Protection (NASDAQ:FRPT) gets sales for trucks in UK. Up almost 13% on the news.

LookSmart (NASDAQ: LOOK) is up 10% on comments on a positive Q1.

Millennium Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:MLNM) is up over 50% on a buy-out bid from Takeda Pharmaceutical.

Virgin Media (NASDAQ:VMED) is off over 12% on news it is raising $1 billion.

Stocks may trade differently in the pre-market than they do in the regular session.

Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 247wallst.com.

Pre-market movers (VMED) (LOOK) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 10 Apr 2008 08:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MAJOR PAPERS:

• To help stop Microsoft Corporation's (NASDAQ: MSFT) $44.6 billion takeover offer, Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ: YHOO) is in talks with Time Warner Inc. (NYSE: TWX) about combining internet operations. Meanwhile, Microsoft is talking with News Corporation (NYSE: NWS) about a joint bid for Yahoo! And Yahoo! is is considering a possible advertising agreement with Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG), the Wall Street Journal reported.
• The Wall Street Journal also reported that IAC/InterActiveCorp (NASDAQ: IACI) is planning to launch a number of new web sites, and hopes to capture a variety of audiences including African-Americans, children and news followers.

WEB SITES:

• Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. (NYSE: LEH) said it liquidated three investment funds, with assets valued at $1 billion as of February 29, because of "market disruptions," Bloomberg reported.
• Reuters reported that the U.S. Department of Defense approved the sale of 157 armored trucks to Britain. The trucks are built by Force Protection Inc. (NASDAQ: FRPT), and the deal is valued at $125 million if all options are exercised.

Newspaper wrap-up: Yahoo talks with Time Warner, Google; Microsoft talks with News Corp. originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 10 Apr 2008 08:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Yahoo! (NASDAQ: YHOO) is up over 3% on a brokerage upgrade.

Hoku (NASDAQ: HOKU) is up 10% on a new contract to install its solar-power systems.

MGIC (NYSE: MTG) is off over 10% on a downgrade from Moody's.

Force Protection (NASDAQ: FRPT) is off 9% on a delisting notice from Nasdaq.

Shares may trade differently in the pre-market than they do in the regular session.

Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 247wallst.com.

Pre-market movers: YHOO, MTG ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 25 Mar 2008 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

In a recent interview with The Register, Overstock.com (NASDAQ: OSTK) CEO Patrick Byrne told (his side of) the story of Force Protection (NASDAQ: FRPT), a maker of armored vehicles for the military. To hear Byrne tell it, this is company that is keeping our troops safe but that, because of naked short selling, has been unable to raise the capital necessary to fill orders.

Force Protection was down more than 20% yesterday after the company again delayed the filing of its 10-K, citing the "scope of the work to be performed to complete its analysis and to identify the material weaknesses in the Company's internal control over financial reporting, including the need to restate its financial statements." Darn those naked short sellers! Why did they mess up the company's internal controls? Oh wait. They didn't. And in the middle of this mess, the CEO resigned earlier this year.

Meanwhile, Overstock.com, the crown princess of the naked short selling victims, announced that it actually lost four cents more in 2007 than previously reported as a result of changes in its revenue recognition based on "accounting comments from the staff of the SEC."

Continue reading Force Protection (FRPT): Sometimes the short sellers are right

Force Protection (FRPT): Sometimes the short sellers are right originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 18 Mar 2008 13:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Diebold (NYSE: DBD) is up 64% on a takeover offer from United Technologies (NYSE: UTX).

Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC) is up 6% on news that it won a major military contract for jet tankers.

Boeing (NYSE: BA) is downover 4% on the loss of the jet tanker contract.

Force Protection (NASDAQ: FRPT) is off 20% on news that it will have to restate part of its 2007 earnings.

Deerfield Capital (NYSE: DFR) is off 14% on poor earnings.

Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 247wallst.com.

Pre-market movers: BA, NOC, UTX ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 03 Mar 2008 08:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Five smallcaps I'm watching right now

Five smallcaps I'm watching right now originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 07 Feb 2008 15:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Goldman downgraded shares of Barclays PLC (NYSE: BCS) to Sell from Neutral and added the stock to their Conviction Sell List citing credit concerns. They believe negative headlines on writedowns will continue to weigh on shares.
  
• Banc of America downgraded shares of Grant Prideco (NYSE: GRP) due to its acquisition by National Oilwell Varco (NYSE: NOV).
• Collins Stewart downgraded shares of Force Protection (NASDAQ: FRPT) to Underperform from Buy after the company did not receive MRAP vehicles ordered last night. They believe shares are likely to trade at book value of $3.58 or lower in the short term and set a target price of $2.90.

• Keefe Bruyette removed Navigators Group (NASDAQ: NAVG) from its Best Ideas List.
  
• Morgan Stanley downgraded Petro-Canada (NYSE: PCZ) to Underweight from Equal Weight.
  
• Jefferies downgraded Exelon (NYSE: EXC) to Hold from Buy.

Analyst downgrades: BCS, GRP and FRPT originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 19 Dec 2007 11:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Wachovia believes Ulta Salon's (NASDAQ: ULTA) assortment of products and unique shopping experience will drive growth, starting shares with an Outperform rating. Shares were also initiated with an Overweight rating at JP Morgan, as they are positive on favorable industry dynamics, and ULTA's consistent growth and comps.
  
• Stanford initiated Force Protection (NASDAQ: FRPT) with a Sell rating and $5 target and expects the company will struggle to grow after 2008 due to its highly concentrated exposure to the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles program. They believe total MRAP demand is likely smaller than expected and that MRAP demand will peak in FY08.
  
• Kaufman Bros. believes shares of First Bancorp (NYSE: FBP) offer an attractive risk/reward despite economic softness in its Puerto Rico and southern Florida regional markets. They think most of the charge-offs have already occurred and find the sell-off overdone, and started shares with a Buy rating and $11 target.

• Broadpoint initiated Cytori Therapeutics (NASDAQ: CYTX) and PhotoMedex (NASDAQ: PHMD) with Buy ratings.
  
• Morgan Stanley resumed coverage of Pinnacle Entertainment (NYSE: PNK) with an Overweight rating and $32 target.

Analyst initiations: ULTA, FRPT and FBP originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 12 Dec 2007 11:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MAJOR PAPERS:

• American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP) has agreed to pay penalties totaling $15M to end a Clean Air Act lawsuit brought by the Justice Department for the EPA, reported the Wall Street Journal (subscription required).
• In 1992 Ecuador left OPEC, but this month is expected to rejoin the organization, according to the Wall Street Journal.
• Barron's Online's (subscription required) "Inside Scoop" section reported that Warren Buffett exercised call options to purchase 7.847M shares of Burlington Northern Santa Fe (NYSE: BNI).

• The UK is going to purchase 140 armored vehicles from Force Protection (NASDAQ: FRPT) for use in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to the Associated Press.
• India's Reliance Retail has won the exclusive marketing and distribution rights for Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) stores in India. The first Apple-owned store in India is scheduled to open at the end of this month, reported the Economic Times.
• Independent movie studio Lions Gate Entertainment Corp (NYSE: LGF) has signed a partnership agreement with Mexican media conglomerate Grupo Televisa (NYSE: TV) to make movies and TV shows, and distribute Grupo's film library, reported the Los Angeles Times.

Newspaper wrap-up: Buffett increases stake in BNI originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 09 Oct 2007 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• UBS is positive on Genentech Inc's (NYSE: DNA) leading industry franchises and potential upside from development projects and started shares with a Buy rating and $101 target.
  
• HSBC Holdings (NYSE: HBC) was assumed with a Reduce rating at WestLB, as the firm believes subprime concerns may hold back shares in the near-term.
  
• Jefferies initiated shares of SunTech Power Holdings (NYSE: STP) with a Buy rating and $45 target. The firm believes the company is positioned to beat 2007 and 2008 expectations by ramping manufacturing capacity and production faster than expected.
  
• Jefferies also resumed coverage of SunPower Corporation (NASDAQ: SPWR) with a Hold rating and $90 target, citing valuation, but believes the stock's higher multiple is justified given the company's superior growth potential.
  
• Force Protection Inc (NASDAQ: FRPT) was initiated with a Market Perform rating and Friedman Billings, as they believe near-term production expectations are too high given emerging DOD funding issues.

• Lehman started shares of Arcelor Mittal (NYSE: MT) with an Overweight rating.
  
• UBS started shares of RF Micro Devices (NASDAQ: RFMD) with a Neutral rating.
  
• Cowen resumed coverage of Savient Pharmaeuticals Inc (NASDAQ: SVNT) with an Outperform rating.
  
• Morgan Keegan started shares of Heartland Payment Systems Inc (NYSE: HPY) with a Market Perform rating.

Analyst initiations: DNA, HBC, STP, SPWR and FRPT originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 21 Sep 2007 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Put simply, modern warfare and security operations require high quality blast- and mine-protected vehicles. One of the best known producers of such vehicles is headquartered in Ladson, South Carolina.

Force Protection (NASDAQ: FRPT) is engaged in the manufacture of ballistic and blast protected vehicles. The company's products are used to protect personnel during transport, removal of unexploded ordnance, route clearance, humanitarian de-mining, and other missions that require protection from landmines and hostile fire. Customers include the U.S. Department of Defense, the Iraqi Army and the British military.

Investors were pleased last week, when the stock gained ground on takeover rumors and on word it would be added to the Russell 3000 Index (June 22). There was also speculation that the firm was preparing to ramp up work activities, when vehicle production sub-contractor General Dynamics (GD) committed to spending $2.6 million on two Alabama facilities connected to its contract. The stock popped through 50-day and 30-day moving average resistance on the news and subsequently began defining a bullish "flag" consolidation pattern. Prices frequently exit flags moving in the same direction they were traveling when they entered them. In this case, that would be to the upside.

Brokers recommend the issue with three "strong buys" and one "buy." Analysts expect a 128% growth rate through the next year. The FRPT Sales Growth rate (187.79%), EPS Growth rate (209.10%), Return on Assets (12.66%), Return on Investment (19.13%) and Return on Equity (20.46%) compare favorably with industry, sector and S&P 500 averages.

Institutional investors hold about 52% of the outstanding shares. Over the past 52 weeks, the stock has traded between $4.50 and $31.16. A stop-loss of $23.25 looks good here. Note that the firm will conduct its 2007 Annual Shareholders' Meeting on June 21st (10 am ET).

Larry Schutts is a contributing editor for Theflyonthewall.com and the Vice-President of Stockwinners.com.

Force Protection: Mission configurable armored vehicles originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 18 Jun 2007 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.