According to this article at CNBC, industrial manufacturer Honeywell (NYSE: HON) doesn't see the current recession (or slowdown, if you believe recession is too harsh a term) hurting its plans all that much. Shareholders of the company should certainly rejoice at management's assertion that the company will still be able to deliver somewhere between $3.70 and $3.80 in earnings per share for 2008.
Reaffirmation is always a good thing in a market as tempestuous as this one has been. The question is, when you see a news item such as this, what actionable inference can you take from it? In other words, should you be looking at Honeywell? Investors should indeed perform some due diligence on the company, because based on the current price of the stock, Honeywell isn't overly pricey. Plus, the stock is really close to a 52-week high. I'm not the biggest fan of buying at 52-week highs, but for those who believe in trading via chart science, a stock near the top end of a range is oftentimes attractive since, in theory, a majority of the weak holders will be out of it by that point.
But being patient for a pullback is usually a virtue with any strong stock. And here's something else to consider. Competitor United Technologies (NYSE: UTX), which has a similar dividend yield to Honeywell, is further away from its 52-week high, but well off its 52-week low. Does that make UTX more attractive? Possibly. And Goodrich Corp. (NYSE: GR), while not having as high a dividend yield, is also not at a 52-week high. So while the reaffirmation bodes well for Honeywell, definitely kick the company's financial tires a bit before making any decision, and look around to similar companies that you might think are better values.
Disclosure: I don't own shares in any company mentioned here; positions can change at any time.
Readers of this space know that the investment bias is toward large-cap companies who have a competitive advantage in established markets, preferably with a favorable global trend as a support. With this in mind, Goodrich Corp. is worth a review.
Goodrich Corp. (NYSE: GR), formerly a tire maker (the company without the blimp), is now an aerospace services company, providing both parts and service for engines, airframes, electronic systems, and other aircraft systems.
Analysts see double-digit revenue growth for GR in 2008 and 2009, aided by favorable sector trends, including strong international, cyclical demand for jets and increased jet use, and an aging jet fleet in the U.S.
Further, GR is also using strong cash flow to expand maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities.
MOST NOTEWORTHY: Motorola, IBM and Deutsche Bank were today's noteworthy downgrades:
RBC Capital downgraded Motorola (NYSE: MOT) to Sector Perform from Outperform citing the slow pace of recovery and limited catalysts.
UBS lowered IBM (NYSE: IBM) to Neutral from Buy, as they believe IBM's hardware and services sales could be impacted from its high exposure to the financial services sector.
Credit Suisse downgraded shares of Deutsche Bank (NYSE: DB) to Underperform from Outperform as they remain cautious on European banks in 2008. Credit Suisse favors UBS (NYSE: UBS) to DB.
Goodrich (NYSE: GR), a supplier of components, systems and services to the commercial and general aviation airplane markets, is recently up $1.14 to $68.20 on unconfirmed takeover chatter. GR has market of $8.4 billion with long term debt of $1.7 billion. GR October 70 calls have traded 41 times on transaction volume of 884 contracts above its open interest of 449 contracts. GR October option implied volatility of 29 is above its 26-week average of 25 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price risk.
YRC Worldwide (NASDAQ: YRCW), a transportation holding company with brands including Yellow Transportation, Roadway, Reimer Express, Meridian IQ, New Penn, USF Holland and USF Reddaway, is recently up $0.45 to $28.25 on unconfirmed chatter Deutsche Post has made a $41 bid for YRCW. YRCW has a market cap of $1.5 billion with $903 million in long-term debt. YRCW call option volume of 5,697 contracts compares to put volume of 319 contracts. YRCW October option implied volatility of 45 is above its 26-week average of 34 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price risks.
Daily options Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com.
WuXi Pharmatech (NYSE: WX) was started with a Hold rating and $29 target at Jefferies on valuation. JP Morgan started shares with a Neutral rating and Credit Suisse initiated shares with an Outperform rating.
Myriad Genetics Inc (NASDAQ: MYGN) was started with a Hold rating and $50 target at Citigroup, as the firm is cautious on the Phase III Flurizan results and does not recommend putting new money here at these levels.
Citigroup also initiated shares of Cypress Biosciences Inc (NASDAQ: CYPB) with a Buy rating and $22 target as the firm believes Milnacipran has sufficient database for approval and is capable of gaining meaningful market share as firstline therapy.
Knology Inc (NASDAQ: KNOL) was initiated with a Buy rating and $25 target at BWS Financial, as the firm believes the company's growth potential is greater than other cable companies through a business plan that allows it to have operations in all regions of the U.S.
"There are several ways to play the airline industry without buying the airlines themselves." explains Benjamin Shepard, a research editor for Personal Finance. Here, he looks seven stocks that are poised to profit as the sector "gets its wings again."
Hexcel Corp. (NYSE: HXL), he notes, is the largest producer of woven carbon-fiber sheets, which are extremely important for both Boeing's new 787 Dreamliner, as well as for the new Airbus A380. He rates thes tock a buy up to 25.
Aircastle (NYSE: AYR) and Genesis Lease (NYSE: GLS) are both aircraft leasing companies and publicly traded partnerships, and both are holdings in the Personal Finance model portfolio. He notes, "As airlines continue their recovery and passenger volume rises, older planes must be replaced and new planes added to the fleets."
Both partnerships, he notes, are based in Ireland and lease to both passenger airlines and cargo companies around the world. He says, ""Aircastle and Genesis are excellent bets on the continued growth of air travel and pay dividends of around 6% and 8%, respectively."
MOST NOTEWORTHY: Delta Air Lines, Inc (DAL), Goodrich Corp (GR), Opnext, Inc (OPXT), Terex Corp (TEX) and Aruba Networks (ARUN) topped today's most noteworthy initiations list:
UBS started shares of Delta Air Lines Inc (NYSE: DAL) with a Reduce rating and $17 target on valuation and management's overly optimistic outlook.
Deutsche Bank prefers to wait of a better entry point for Goodrich Corp (NYSE: GR) and initiated shares with a Hold rating.
Opnext Inc (NASDAQ: OPXT) was initiated at JP Morgan with a Neutral rating citing concerns regarding new transceiver margins.
Prudential believes Terex Corp (NYSE: TEX) is well positioned to take advantage of strong sustainable growth in the global infrastructure and mining markets over at least the rest of the decade, starting shares with an Overweight rating.
RBC Capital started Aruba Networks (NASDAQ: ARUN) with a Sector Perform rating while Lehman Bros initiated Aruba with an Overweight rating.
Goodrich profits increased on a jump in sales of aircraft equipment to Boeing and Airbus. The company said margin expansion associated with sales growth and improved operating efficiencies are primary reasons for a continued positive outlook.
International Paper Company (NYSE: IP) 47c vs. 35c
The company's profits rose on a gain from the sale of its U.S. forestlands and a strong operating profit from its industrial packaging unit. IP is transforming operations to focus on its global uncoated papers and packaging business.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide (NYSE: HOT) 92c vs. 73c
Higher room rates helped to contribute to a strong quarter for the parent of hotel chains including St. Regis, Westin and Sheraton. The company has been enjoying strong travel demand and limited growth in supply. It has also been selling hotels and retaining management contracts to free up cash.
The video game publisher had a 38% drop in quarterly profit but beat Wall Street targets, overcoming investor anxiety that holiday shortages of new video game consoles would hurt sales. Shares rose 6% on the news. Company CFO Warren Jenson said EA was entering a growth period.
Starbucks Corp (NASDAQ: SBUX), today's most notable upgrade, was raised to Overweight from Neutral by JP Morgan citing valuation.
OTHER UPGRADES:
Deutsche Bank upgraded shares of Goodrich Corp (NYSE: GR) to Hold from Sell, also citing valuation, with a $48 target.
Sun Trust Robinson Humphrey upgraded Universal Tech Institute Inc (NYSE: UTI) to Neutral from Reduce; the firm believes any further deterioration in business conditions is limited.
Con-way Inc (NYSE: CNW) was upgraded to Outperform by Morgan Keegan and Raymond James and to Neutral from Sell at Merrill Lynch, following the company's fourth-quarter report.
Morgan Stanley upgraded Alcoa Inc (NYSE: AA) to Overweight from Equal Weight with a $40 target.
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Goodrich
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