Discount retailer Family Dollar Stores Inc. (FDO) reported its fiscal second quarter results this morning, topping analyst estimates and sending the stock higher in premarket trading.

For the quarter, Family Dollar reported it earned 98 cents per share, topping analyst estimates by a penny. During the same period last year, the company earned 81 cents per share.

Continue reading Family Dollar Earnings Top Estimates, Sending Shares Higher

Family Dollar Earnings Top Estimates, Sending Shares Higher originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The calendar quarter winds down this week and quarterly reports are due from Apollo Group (APOL), CarMax (KMX), Global Payments (GPN), Krispy Kreme (KKD), Lennar (LEN) and McCormick (MKC). But analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters have high hopes for results from fertilizer and animal feed maker Mosaic (MOS), apparel maker Phillips Van Heusen (PVH) and discount retailer Family Dollar (FDO). So here's a look at what they anticipate from these three companies.

Mosaic

During its fiscal second quarter, Cargill agreed to distribute its stake in Mosaic, and Mosaic also said it would redeem senior notes. Analysts anticipate that the Minnesota-based potash producer will report per-share earnings of $1.07, a jump of 53.3% from the same quarter of last year. Mosaic also is expected to post revenue of $2.4 billion for the three months that ended in February. That's a 35.9% rise from a year earlier.

Continue reading Week in Preview: Mosaic, Family Dollar Earnings and March Unemployment Rate

Week in Preview: Mosaic, Family Dollar Earnings and March Unemployment Rate originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 27 Mar 2011 12:30:00 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.

Family Dollar Stores (FDO) confirmed that it has received an unsolicited conditional proposal from Trian Group to acquire the company at a price in the range of $55 to $60 per share in cash. Family Dollar Stores overall option implied volatility of 25 is near its 26-week average of 27, according to Track Data, suggesting non-directional price movement.

Air Products (APD) withdrew its offer to purchase Airgas (ARG). Airgas overall option implied volatility of 33 is above its 12-week average of 28, according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement.

Options Update is by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com.

Options Update: Family Dollar Volatility Flat into Unsolicited Proposal from Trian Group originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 17 Feb 2011 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Research In Motion (RIMM) to buy from sell and Gap (GPS) to hold from sell at Citigroup.
• Archer Daniels (ADM) and Airgas (ARG) to buy from hold at Jefferies.
• NCR Corp. (NCR) to conviction buy from neutral at Goldman.
• Valero Energy (VLO) to top pick from sector perform and Western Refining (WNR) to outperform from underperform at RBC Capital.
• Fred's (FRED) to overweight from neutral at JP Morgan.
• Marsh & McLennan (MMC), Willis Group (WSH) and Brown & Brown (BRO) to equal weight from underweight at Barclays.
• Host Hotels (HST) to outperform from neutral at RW Baird.
• La-Z-Boy (LZB) to strong buy from market perform at Raymond James.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: ADM, BBY, ETN, FDO, HNZ, GPS, MAR, NCR, RIMM, VLO ...

Analyst Calls: ADM, BBY, ETN, FDO, HNZ, GPS, MAR, NCR, RIMM, VLO ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 16 Feb 2011 11:30:00 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.

Although the U.S. economy has added jobs in recent months, the unemployment rate remains uncomfortably high at 9.8%. The rate for December is due out on Friday and is expected to drop to 9.7%. However, no one seems to expect significant improvement until well into the new year.

Other economic data on this week's schedule include:

• Monday: ISM Manufacturing Index, construction spending and auto sales data

Continue reading Week in Preview: Unemployment Rate, Retail and Auto Sales

Week in Preview: Unemployment Rate, Retail and Auto Sales originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 02 Jan 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Goldman upgraded BP (BP) to buy from neutral.
• STEC (STEC) was upgraded to buy from hold at Needham.
• MCG Capital (MCGC) was upgraded to buy from hold at BB&T.
• Corporate Office (OFC) was upgraded to market perform from underperform at FBR Capital.
• Citigroup upgraded K-Sea Transportation (KSP) and Post Properties (PPS) to hold from sell.
• BofA/Merrill upgraded Embraer (ERJ) to buy from underperform.
• Wilmington Trust (WL) was upgraded to neutral from underperform at Macquarie.
• Parkway Properties (PKY) was upgraded to hold from sell at Stifel Nicolaus.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: BP, EOG, FDO, MOT, MRO, NEM, NOK, ODP, RIMM, TGB ...

Analyst Calls: BP, EOG, FDO, MOT, MRO, NEM, NOK, ODP, RIMM, TGB ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 03 Nov 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Family Dollar Stores (FDO) closed up on Wednesday by 1.6% to $44.05. That's not far from the 52-week high of $45.10, which was hit during yesterday's session. There was a large amount of volume backing yesterday's price movement.

Now this is a pretty good chart. Like most of you, I've been looking at a lot of charts lately, and I've been seeing a high quantity of graphs that started out okay and then plunged in a downward direction, falling into a valley of sideways action. The reason is obvious, of course: The economy and market volatility has thrown everyone for a loop.

Continue reading Family Dollar Earnings: A Great Q4

Family Dollar Earnings: A Great Q4 originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 30 Sep 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

One of the most prominent quarterly reports scheduled this week, as the quarter winds down, comes from Walgreen (WAG). Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters are looking for the drugstore chain operator to report Tuesday that its fiscal fourth-quarter earnings were about the same as a year ago, or 45 cents per share. Note, though, that Walgreen fell short of earnings expectations in the previous two quarters.

During the three months that ended in August, Deerefield, Ill.-based Walgreen launched a social responsibility website and boosted its dividend. Revenue for that period is expected to total $16.8 billion, which is a 7.3% increase from the same period of last year. And for the full year, analysts forecast EPS of $2.12 (+4.7%) on revenue of $67.4 billion (+6.4%).

Continue reading Week in Preview: Earnings Expectations for Walgreen, Family Dollar, Jabil Circuit

Week in Preview: Earnings Expectations for Walgreen, Family Dollar, Jabil Circuit originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 26 Sep 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Wells Fargo believes Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) da Vinci procedures remain under penetrated and that consensus estimates are too low. The firm upgraded shares to outperform from market perform and raised its valuation range to $340 to $360.
• Cantor Fitzgerald upgraded Westamerica (WABC) to buy from hold due to the company's FDIC-assisted acquisition of Sonoma Bank and what the firm sees as Westamerica's defensive nature. The firm set a $62 target on the stock.
• Oppenheimer upgraded Corning (GLW) to outperform from perform based on valuation and the belief that downward revisions have peaked. The firm has a $20 target on the stock.
• Quality Systems (QSII) was upgraded to outperform from market perform at JMP Securities.
• OpenTable (OPEN) and Windstream (WIN) were upgraded to buy from neutral at BofA/Merrill.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: FDO, GLW, ISRG, MDT, N, NLY, QLIK, RLD, TSL, WABC ...

Analyst Calls: FDO, GLW, ISRG, MDT, N, NLY, QLIK, RLD, TSL, WABC ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 25 Aug 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Wunderlich upgraded Inergy (NRGY) to buy from hold on valuation after the stock sold off following the proposed merger with Inergy Holdings (NRGP). The firm raised its target for shares to $46 from $40.
• Soleil upgraded Applied Industrial (AIT) to buy from gradually accumulate following the company's better-than-expected Q4 results and raised its target for shares to $42 from $36.
• Citigroup upgraded Starwood Property (STWD) to buy from hold with a $21 price target, citing a pick-up in CRE loan sales.
• Family Dollar (FDO) was upgraded to overweight from equal weight at Barclays.
• Intercontinental Hotels (IHG) was upgraded to buy from sell at Societe Generale.
• Yucheng Technologies (YTEC) was upgraded to buy from hold at Roth Capital.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AIT, BWC, CRK, ECT, FDO, NRGY, STWD, TSCO ...

Analyst Calls: AIT, BWC, CRK, ECT, FDO, NRGY, STWD, TSCO ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 11 Aug 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Closing Bell: Briefly Celebrating DJIA 10,000 (MSG, STT, SIRI, FDO, BA, BGP, EMC)

Closing Bell: Briefly Celebrating DJIA 10,000 (MSG, STT, SIRI, FDO, BA, BGP, EMC) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 07 Jul 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Family Dollar's Earnings Increase 19%, Outlook Soft

Family Dollar's Earnings Increase 19%, Outlook Soft originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 07 Jul 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

It may be good for the jittery markets that things will be rather quiet on the economic calendar this coming week following the U.S. Independence Day holiday.

Markets in the U.S. are closed Monday for the holiday. The Institute of Supply Management (ISM) is scheduled to release the results of its next service sector survey Tuesday morning. This release is expected to show no significant change from the bullish May nonmanufacturing index.

Continue reading The Week in Preview: A Quiet Start to the Second Half of the Year

The Week in Preview: A Quiet Start to the Second Half of the Year originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 04 Jul 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Baird upgraded C.H. Robinson (CHRW) to outperform from neutral and has a $67 target on the stock. The firm upgraded shares citing growth opportunities given the capacity constrained environment.
• UBS upgraded Navistar (NAV) to buy from neutral, citing improved trucker preferences towards the company's engine technology.
• KeyBanc upgraded Crane (CR) to buy from hold based on valuation stabilization and potential upside in aerospace, among other reasons. The firm has a $39 target on the stock.
• United Therapeutics (UTHR) was upgraded to overweight from neutral at JPMorgan.
• Equifax (EFX) was upgraded to overweight from equal weight at Stephens.
• Brown & Brown (BRO) was upgraded to buy from hold at Citigroup.
  

Continue reading Analyst Calls: ANDS, AZO, CHRW, CR, CRM, FDO, GIS, K, NAV, ORCL ...

Analyst Calls: ANDS, AZO, CHRW, CR, CRM, FDO, GIS, K, NAV, ORCL ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 10 Jun 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Family Dollar Q3 Guidance Disappoints

Family Dollar Q3 Guidance Disappoints originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 03 Jun 2010 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

• Alcoa Inc. (AA) received an analyst's downgrade ahead of its earnings report due to pricing pressures in 2011.
• American Eagle Outfitters Inc. (AEO) disappointing earnings guidance offset sales numbers to depress shares.
• Bed Bath & Beyond (BBBY) shares hit a new 52-week high after it reported strong Q4 results and offered guidance.
• Constellation Brands Inc. (STZ) posted a narrower net loss for Q4 and offered lower-than-expected guidance.

Continue reading Earnings Highlights: Target, Pier 1, Monsanto, Family Dollar, Bed Bath & Beyond

Earnings Highlights: Target, Pier 1, Monsanto, Family Dollar, Bed Bath & Beyond originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 10 Apr 2010 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Family Dollar (FDO) did not disappoint Wall Street. For the second quarter, the discount chain said it made 81 cents per share against 60 cents per share in the second quarter of 2009. That was good for a 35% growth rate.

Even better, though, was the fact that management was able to beat the estimates. Analysts were looking for 78 cents per share on the bottom line. The gross margin rose from 33.7% to 35.4%. Same-store sales expanded by 3.6%.

Continue reading Family Dollar Rises After Q2 Numbers

Family Dollar Rises After Q2 Numbers originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 07 Apr 2010 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Family Dollar Stores (FDO), a discount chain whose colleagues include Dollar Tree (DLTR) and Wal-Mart (WMT), is set to report second-quarter earnings on Wednesday. The question is, should a trader open a position before the numbers?

This is a really difficult one. According to Trey Thoelcke's data summary, analysts are expecting very good things from the retailer. Earnings may rise over 20% to 78 cents per share, while sales could increase just under 5%. Another positive element is the dividend payout: it was raised in January by 14.8%. You've got to take that as a sign of confidence on the part of the management team, right?

Continue reading Buy Family Dollar Before Q2 Report?

Buy Family Dollar Before Q2 Report? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 06 Apr 2010 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.