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Cramer on BloggingStocks: Fluor shows the power of execution

TheStreet.com's Jim Cramer says this report highlighted where the success lies in this market: energy and petroleum.

Fluor's (NYSE: FLR) (Cramer's Take) a monster. It shows you that what has hurt the other companies, particularly Chicago Bridge & Iron (NYSE: CBI) (Cramer's Take), is pure execution.

This gigantic beat also serves to remind us of the big dichotomy. You are either in the energy and petroleum products game or you are in a lot of games that don't work.

It's not easy for these companies, some of which have lived off the duress of state and local governments, including Shaw (NYSE: SGR) (Cramer's Take) and to a certain extent Aecom (NYSE: ACM) (Cramer's Take) and URS (NYSE: URS) (Cramer's Take), to become oil-and-gas plays.

The only ones that have transcended it beside Fluor are Foster Wheeler (NASDAQ: FWLT) (Cramer's Take) and Jacobs Engineering (NYSE: JEC) (Cramer's Take), and the only reason you would really know that is longevity. I remember in the early 1980s when FLR and then FWC would compete directly for all of the huge projects after the second oil shock.

Continue reading Cramer on BloggingStocks: Fluor shows the power of execution

With Foster Wheeler (FWLT), the goal is more power for more people

Readers of this space know that the preferred sectors include oil services and infrastructure stocks, and when one can combine the two, it's like a double header at Yankee Stadium (or two chamber concerts at Lincoln Center). Foster Wheeler fits the aforementioned bill.

Foster Wheeler (NASDAQ: FWLT) provides design, engineering, procurement, construction, and project management services for oil/natural gas processing facilities. The company also designs and builds steam generating and auxiliary equipment for electric power generating stations and industrial markets around the world.

Analysts expect 2007 revenue to increase a remarkable 35%-40%, with a 20%-25% gain seen for 2008 on continued, strong Asia-Pacific and Middle East capital spending. Further, increasing demand for FWLT's preferred power generation system adds to the mix. The Reuters F2007/F2008 EPS consensus estimates FWLT for are $5.92/$7.00.

The risks: A slowdown in Europe (more than 50% of revenue) or emerging market demand with hurt FWLT's results. Analysts also have their eye on the appearance of possible supply/labor shortages down the road.

The First Call mean rating for FLWT is: Buy. [5 firms.] Mean 2008 target: $176.00. [high: $190, low: $150.]

Stock Analysis: Foster Wheeler is a moderate-risk stock not suitable for low-risk investors. Investors with an investment horizon longer than two years should be rewarded from FWLT's shares. Sell / Stop Loss if you to purchase shares in this company: $95.

DISCLOSURE: Joseph Lazzaro has no positions in stocks. In addition to private real estate holdings, he owns corporate and municipal bonds, and cash certificates of deposit.

Analyst downgrades: COGN, MSM, FAST, KPN and KOP

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Cognos, MSC Industrial Direct, Fastenal Company, Royal Kpn and Koppers Holdings were today's noteworthy downgrades:
  • Cognos (NASDAQ: COGN) was downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Goldman and at Broadpoint following the acquisition by IBM (NYSE: IBM).
  • Baird downgraded MSC Industrial Direct (NYSE: MSM) and Fastenal Company (NASDAQ: FAST) to Neutral from Outperform, as they expect the difficult U.S. manufacturing environment to constrain shares.
  • Credit Suisse lowered its rating on Royal Kpn (NYSE: KPN) to Neutral from Outperform based on Getronics integration risk and slowing mobile earnings momentum.
  • Koppers Holdings (NYSE: KOP) was downgraded to Buy from Aggressive Buy at KeyBanc based on valuation and concerns on 1H08 comps.
OTHER DOWNGRADES:

Stocks that outperformed Google (GOOG)

Three years ago yesterday, Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) became public. Since then, those investors who could get past the seemingly high valuation of $85 per share have been generously rewarded with a hefty return of 478%. Google has been a perfect example of the need to look forward when analyzing growth companies. At the time of its IPO, value investors (rightfully so) appeared on CNBC to tell investors that Google was overvalued. However, because Google was able to grow its earnings per share at such an unbelievable rate, the stock's IPO price represents just 8x last year's earnings and 5.5x this year's. Given the choice to buy Google at $85 per share now I'd bet every value, growth, stupid and smart investor would jump on the opportunity to pick up the stock.

But Google hasn't been the only incredible performer during the last three years. In fact, Business Week has an interesting article listing the companies and stocks that outperformed Google during the last three years. You'll find that many of these stocks rose due to some huge underlying trend that these companies were able to ride out for powerful growth.

For example, high oil prices have been a huge trend for profits. Frontier Oil (NYSE: FTO) was able to return 611% to investors over the last three years as the company rode the increased oil prices to make huge refining profits. Foster Wheeler (NYSE: FWLT), with its focus on energy, pharmaceuticaul and environmental infrastructure products, was able to return 557%.

Continue reading Stocks that outperformed Google (GOOG)

Analyst upgrades 5-30-07: Coca-Cola upgraded to Buy

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Coca-Cola (KO), Fiserv, Inc (FISV) and several real estate companies were today's noteworthy upgrades:
OTHER UPGRADES:
  • RBC Capital upgraded Texas Roadhouse (NASDAQ: TXRH) to Outperform from Sector Perform, citing valuation and improved EPS outlook.
  • Kenexa Corp (NASDAQ: KNXA) was upgraded to Outperform from Neutral at Credit Suisse, citing valuation and reduced risk from the BrassRing acquisition.
  • Goldman Sachs added Foster Wheeler (NASDAQ: FWLT) added to its Conviction Buy List, citing valuation and leverage to energy infrastructure build and power.
  • Goldman also added ProLogis (NYSE: PLD) to its Conviction Buy list, citing upside to FFO guidance, favorable domestic and international demand and above-average development margins.
Analyst summaries provided by TheFlyOnTheWall.com (subscription required).

Symbol Lookup
IndexesChangePrice
DJIA+203.5210,226.94
NASDAQ+41.622,154.06
S&P 500+23.781,093.08

Last updated: November 10, 2009: 06:23 AM

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