Continue reading ArcelorMittal Downgraded to Hold from Buy

ArcelorMittal Downgraded to Hold from Buy originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

• Applied Materials Inc. (NASDAQ: AMAT) posted better-than-expected Q3 results, sending shares higher.
• AutoDesk Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK) reported better-than-expected Q2 earnings, sending shares higher.
• Blockbuster Inc. (NYSE: BBI) had another disappointing quarter as same-store sales declined.
• CIT Group Inc. (NYSE: CIT) delayed its Q3 report due to ongoing debt restructuring and a possible bankruptcy.
• Dr Pepper Snapple Group Inc. (NYSE: DPS) Q2 earnings came in well ahead of Wall Street expectations.

Continue reading Earnings highlights: Blockbuster, Walmart, Applied Materials, ING, Priceline ...

Earnings highlights: Blockbuster, Walmart, Applied Materials, ING, Priceline ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 15 Aug 2009 12:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading ING reports a quarterly loss; discusses repaying the Dutch government

ING reports a quarterly loss; discusses repaying the Dutch government originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 12 Aug 2009 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Who said big oil was a dying business? Fortune has released its Global 500, their "annual ranking of the world's largest corporations," and topping the charts is Royal Dutch Shell (NYSE: RDS.A), which, much like a Mariah Carey song, bumped up into the coveted number-one slot after some time at number three. The Netherlands-based oil company trumped its U.S. rival, Exxon Mobil (NYSE: XOM) by $15 billion in sales and saw its revenue spike nearly 29% from 2007.

Speaking of Exxon, the company once again had a tiger in its tank, ranking number two in the world as oil futures bounced around in a nearly $100-dollar range, hitting $146 per barrel at its heights.

Continue reading Royal Dutch Shell crowned world's largest corporation

Royal Dutch Shell crowned world's largest corporation originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 08 Jul 2009 13:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

American International Group (NYSE: AIG), once the world's largest insurer, is selling assets outside the U.S. to repay a government bailout. The Carlyle Group, KKR, JC Flowers, and other U.S. private equity firms and Asian financial groups are reported to be interested in AIG's Taiwanese unit Nan Shan Life Insurance Co.

"Everyone hopes this is going to be a fire sale as AIG is in a difficult situation," said a local partner of Standard & Poor's.

Continue reading AIG's Taiwan unit draws interest of private equity firms

AIG's Taiwan unit draws interest of private equity firms originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

DailyFinance today: bleak economy drives women to stripping, bull market rally in emerging markets, Geithner plan gains traction, ING wants bonuses back originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 23 Mar 2009 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Stocks in the news: PFE, WYE, BCS, CAT, MCD, PHG, WAG, SBUX, S ...

Stocks in the news: PFE, WYE, BCS, CAT, MCD, PHG, WAG, SBUX, S ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 26 Jan 2009 08:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

After the stock market meltdown of 2008, Wall Street brokerages aren't anyone's favorites in 2009.

But some customers said they're still happy with their online broker.

A December ChangeWave survey of 3,051 consumers found that despite the extremely difficult financial market, two online brokerages still capture high customer satisfaction ratings -- Charles Schwab (NASDAQ: SCHW) and archrival, Scottrade.

Continue reading Somebody actually likes their broker!?!

Somebody actually likes their broker!?! originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Cramer on BloggingStocks: Playing the bounce

Cramer on BloggingStocks: Playing the bounce originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 21 Oct 2008 09:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst upgrades:

• Keefe Bruyette upgraded shares of ING Group (NYSE: ING) to Outperform from Market Perform after upgrading the European insurance sector to Overweight from Neutral due to improved risk management.
  
• Keefe Bruyette also upgraded Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC) to Market Perform from Underperform to reflect the company's national footprint if the Wachovia (NYSE: WB) deal goes through.
  
• JP Morgan upgraded Dollar Tree (NASDAQ: DLTR) to Overweight from Neutral citing top line performance, growth profile and valuation, among other reasons.
• Jabil Circuit (NYSE: JBL) was upgraded to Outperform from Neutral at Credit Suisse.
  
• Amylin Pharma (NASDAQ: AMLN) was raised to Hold from Sell at Citigroup.
  
• Louisiana Pacific (NYSE: LPX) was upgraded at RBC Capital to Sector Perform from Underperform.

• Jefferies downgraded shares of Ecolab (NYSE: ECL) to Hold from Buy and lowered its target to $50 from $55 to reflect risks to the company's earnings outlook from the weakening economy.
  
• Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) was cut to Hold from Buy at Deutsche Bank as they believe the economic slowdown will bring slower volumes. Coca-Cola's target was lowered to $56 from $64.

Continue reading Analyst calls: ING, WFC, DLTR, JBL, AMLN, ECL, KO, IACI, FFIV ...

Analyst calls: ING, WFC, DLTR, JBL, AMLN, ECL, KO, IACI, FFIV ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 06 Oct 2008 11:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst upgrades:

• Merrill believes Assurant (NYSE: AIZ) is well-positioned to weather the turmoil in the capital markets environment and cites the company's defensive characteristics for the upgrade. The firm upgraded shares to Buy from Neutral.
  
• Deutsche Bank upgraded R.H. Donnelly (NYSE: RHD) to Hold from Sell to reflect the company's cost cuts and its ability to buy back bonds at discounted prices.
  
• Citigroup raised Consol Energy (NYSE: CNX) to Buy from Hold on valuation as they are seeing no fundamental deterioration in coal.
• Research in Motion (NASDAQ: RIMM) was upgraded to Neutral from Underperform at Credit Suisse.
  Raymond James raised shares to Outperform from Market Perform.
  
• Penske Automotive (NYSE: PAG) was upgraded to Add from Neutral at Calyon.
  
• ICF International (NASDAQ: ICFI) was lifted to Overweight from Equal Weight at Stephens.

• Deutsche Bank downgraded Research in Motion (NASDAQ: RIMM) to Sell from Hold after the company reported Q2 results to reflect a deceleration in growth and margin pressures. RIMM's target was lowered to $70 from $120. RBC Capital downgraded Research in Motion to Sector Perform from Outperform citing reduced margin visibility and the slowing macroeconomic environment.
  
• Stephens downgraded Vitran (NASDAQ: VTNC) and Saia (NASDAQ: SAIA) to Equal Weight from Overweight to reflect the companies' deteriorating demand and pricing environment. Vitran's target was cut to $15 from $22 and Saia's was lowered to $16 from $24.
  
• Mentor (NYSE: MNT) was downgraded to hold from Buy at Jefferies to reflect continued weakness in the breast implant market and the potential for lowered guidance. Mentor's target was lowered to $31 from $36.
  
• Merrill cut ING Group (NYSE: ING) to Underperform from Neutral.
  
• CF Industries (NYSE: CF) was downgraded at Citigroup to Hold from Buy.
  
• Liberty Interactive (NASDAQ: LINTA) was lowered to Sell from Hold at Natixis.

• Suntrust initiated Idexx Laboratories (NASDAQ: IDXX) with a Neutral rating, citing slowing organic revenue growth, valuation and a slowing lab business.
  
• Jefferies initiated Urban Outfitters (NASDAQ: URBN) with a Hold rating and $33 target. The firm prefers to stay on sidelines due to valuation and macro risks.
  
• Hersha Hospitality (NYSE: HT) was assumed with a Market Perform rating and $7.50 target at Keefe Bruyette. The firm believes near-term demand trends in New York City could slow.
  
• Ecolab (NYSE: ECL) was initiated at Baird with a Neutral rating and $54 target.
  
• KeyBanc assumed ENGlobal (NASDAQ: ENG) with a Hold rating.
  
• Piper initiated Pentair (NYSE: PNR) with a Neutral rating and $39 target.

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: AIZ, RIMM, ING, URBN ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 26 Sep 2008 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This post is part of a series on some of the most memorable companies that have disappeared.

I credit Nick Leeson for creating jobs for lots of my friends. Back in 1995, when he single-handedly brought down Barings Bank with currency trading run amok, I had never heard the term "risk management." But I soon started hearing right and left of friends getting highly paid jobs at financial firms in the "risk management" department.

Apparently, after Mr. Leeson lost $1.4 billion dollars in unauthorized trading rendering Barings insolvent, financial institutions around the world decided to put in more rigorous systems of checks and balances that would keep such things from happening. Hence, newly expanded risk management departments.

Founded in 1762, Barings Bank was the oldest merchant bank in London, financed the Napoleonic Wars, and was the Queen of England's own bank.

Continue reading Companies that vanished: Barings brought down by rogue trader

Companies that vanished: Barings brought down by rogue trader originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 10 Jun 2008 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Bear Stearns downgraded the European insurance industry to Market Weight from Overweight on concerns the companies are exposed to risky assets following the U.S. subprime mortgage collapse. In conjunction with the sector downgrade, Bear Stearns downgraded ING (NYSE: ING) to Underperform from Peer Perform and Prudential plc (NYSE: PUK) to Peer Perform from Outperform.
  
• JP Morgan downgraded shares of Deutsche Telekom (NYSE: DT) to Underweight from Neutral on concerns over increased competition and U.S. market risks.
  
• Jefferies downgraded shares of Aruba Networks (NASDAQ: ARUN) to Hold from Buy and lowered their target to $13 from $21, as they believe recent delays of 802.11n could impact FY09 sales and potential market share gains and that the valuation is rich at current levels.

• Lehman downgraded Vodafone (NYSE: VOD) to Equal Weight from Overweight.
  
• B. Riley downgraded Quiksilver (NYSE: ZQK) to Neutral from Buy.
  
• Marshall & Ilsley (NYSE: MI) was downgraded to Sell from Neutral at Merrill Lynch.

Analyst downgrades: Deutsche Telekom, Aruba Networks, European insurance industry originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 16 Jan 2008 12:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Before the bell: Futures higher following bank news, ahead of housing data

Before the bell: Futures higher following bank news, ahead of housing data originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 28 Dec 2007 07:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Goldman downgraded Comcast Corp. (NASDAQ: CMCSA) to Neutral from Buy following the company's reduced 2007 guidance.
  
• Merrill downgraded shares of ING Group (NYSE: ING) and Allianz AG (NYSE: AZ) to Neutral from Buy to reflect their more cautious view on the sector due to subprime mortgages spreads.
  
• Piper lowered its rating on Fannie Mae (NYSE: FNM) to Neutral from Buy due to the lack of visibility regarding when credit losses will peak. Credit Suisse downgraded shares to Underperform from Neutral.

• Goldman removed Emerson Electric (NYSE: EMR) from its Conviction Buy List.
  
• Ruth's Chris Steak House (NASDAQ: RUTH) and Famous Dave's (NASDAQ: DAVE) were both downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Piper.
  
• Credit Suisse downgraded Freddie Mac (NYSE: FRE) to Underperform from Neutral.

Analyst downgrades: CMCSA, ING, AZ and FNM originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 05 Dec 2007 12:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Bear Stearns downgraded shares of ING Group (NYSE: ING) to Peer Perform from Underperform after the company's Q3 results, given continued concerns regarding the US mortgage market.
  
• Jefferies lowered its rating on Innerworkings (NASDAQ: INWK) to Hold from Buy on valuation, as they see limited upside after the in-line Q3 results.
  
• Kenexa (NASDAQ: KNXA) was downgraded to Market Underperform from Market Perform at JMP Securities. The firm downgraded shares following the disappointing Q3 report and guidance as pressure on its business is likely to continue.
  
• UBS downgraded AirTran Holdings (NYSE: AAI) to Neutral from Buy and AMR Corporation (NYSE: AMR) to Sell from Neutral. The firm cited weakening corporate demand for the downgrades.

• NICE Systems (NASDAQ: NICE) was downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Banc of America.
  
• Deutsche Bank downgraded Gol Linhas Aereas (NYSE: GOL) to Hold from Buy.
  
• Wachovia downgraded the Broker Sector to Market Weight from Overweight, also downgrading Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS) to Market Perform from Outperform.
  
• Goldman removed Maxim (NASDAQ: MXIM) from its Conviction Buy List.

Analyst downgrades: ING, INWK, KNXA, AAI and AMR originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 08 Nov 2007 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• FDIC insurance covers $100,000 of your money with each bank. To avoid the potential for stress (being a creditor in receivership is not a lot of fun), avoid putting more than $100,000 with any one bank. With high-yield savings accounts from banks including EmigrantDirect, E*Trade (NASDAQ: ETFC), Capital One (NYSE: COF), and ING (NYSE: ING), you should be able to find enough banks to spread out your savings, unless your last name happens to be Rockefeller.
• Already, a well-meaning friend who works at a bank told me about the NetBank meltdown, and explained that "These high-yield savings accounts are very risky. It's much better to go with a brick and mortar bank, even if the interest rate is 1% instead of 5%." Many retail banks will start trying to use that logic to trick customers into saving with them. It's a bunch of crap! Never trust your bank!

FDIC shuts down NetBank originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 30 Sep 2007 09:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"The silver lining in all the recent gloom is that credit market shakeout is basically a healthy development," says global expert John Christy in his Forbes International Investment Report.

Here, the advisor looks at the state of the market, the credit market problems and the re-pricing of risk as well as several leading European banks that he believes offer strong fundamental value for long-term investors. He notes, "While there's no question that European financial firms will feel a certain degree of pain, a lot of the bad news appears to be priced in at this point."

One favorite is ING ((NYSE: ING). He states, "The bank saw earnings rise 27% in the second quarter, and the Dutch bank-insurer's exposure to the sub-prime mess is negligible. ING looks extremely cheap at 8 times earnings. It also pays a 4.4% dividend yield."

Meanwhile, he notes that Deutsche Bank (NYSE: DB) is now trading at 7 times earnings and paying a 5% dividend yield. Allied Irish Banks (NYSE: AIB) is also sporting single-digit price-to-earnings multiples, he states. But, he says, "The long-term fundamentals for DB, ING and AIB haven't changed all that much - if at all - and this looks like a good buying opportunity for all three."

Christy is also bullish on UBS (NYSE: UBS) is the biggest bank in Switzerland and the world's largest money manager with $2.6 trillion of invested assets. He notes that while the firm can trace its roots as far back as the 18th century, its "real transformation" came in 2000 when UBS bought PaineWebber. He explains, "The merger gave UBS a major presence in the U.S. and helped lay the framework for a truly global institution."

Each day, Steven Halpern's TheStockAdvisors.com features the latest investment ideas and market commentary from the financial newsletter community.

Forbes expert sees opportunity in European banks originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 30 Aug 2007 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.