Analyst Upgrades

• Citigroup (C) to outperform from market perform at Bernstein.
• Cubist Pharma (CBST) to outperform from neutral at RW Baird.
• Pentair (PNR) to buy from hold at Citigroup.
• Heritage Financial (HFWA) to outperform from market perform at Keefe Bruyette.
• SL Green Realty (SLG) and Digital Realty (DLR) to market perform from underperform at FBR Capital.
• MGM Resorts (MGM) to neutral from Sell at Janney Capital.
• Ciena (CIEN) to buy from neutral and Olin (OLN) to buy from underperform at BofA/Merrill.
• Mellanox (MLNX) to overweight from equal weight at Barclays.
• ConocoPhillips (COP) and Canadian Natural (CNQ) to overweight from neutral at JPMorgan.
• IDEX (IEX) to outperform from perform at Oppenheimer.
• Taiwan Semiconductor (TSM) to buy from hold at Deutsche Bank.
• Ctrip.com (CTRP) to positive from neutral at Susquehanna.
• Linear Technology (LLTC) and Analog Devices (ADI) to hold from sell at Auriga.
• Quicksilver (KWK) to outperform from market perform at BMO Capital.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: ADI, BRCM, C, CIEN, COP, INTC, MGM, OXY, QCOM, TXN ...

Analyst Calls: ADI, BRCM, C, CIEN, COP, INTC, MGM, OXY, QCOM, TXN ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 05 Apr 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.

Analyst Upgrades

• Micron (MU) to buy from neutral at UBS.
• Baker Hughes (BHI) to outperform from market perform at BMO Capital.
• PDL BioPharma (PDLI) to outperform from sector perform at RBC Capital.
• Fluor (FLR) and Rush Enterprises (RUSHA) to buy from neutral at BofA/Merrill.
• Camden Property (CPT) to outperform from neutral at Macquarie.
• Pinnacle Financial (PNFP) to buy from hold at Wunderlich.
• Linear Technology (LLTC) to neutral from reduce at Nomura.
• Hologic (HOLX) and Illumina (ILMN) to buy from hold at Citigroup.
• F5 Networks (FFIV) to buy from neutral at Gleacher.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: ALTR, BHI, CL, CLX, FFIV, GS, HCBK, LLTC, PG, STT, TYC ...

Analyst Calls: ALTR, BHI, CL, CLX, FFIV, GS, HCBK, LLTC, PG, STT, TYC ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 20 Jan 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The earnings season ramps up this week. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters foresee strong reports from such big names as Apple (AAPL), eBay (EBAY), IBM (IBM), General Electric (GE), Google (GOOG), Schlumberger (SLB) and Southwest Airlines (LUV). And fast on the heels of last week's big earnings beat from JPMorgan Chase (JPM), there will be plenty more results from the financial sector to peruse this week.

Among the financials expected to post double-digit earnings growth this week are Capital One Financial (COF), Morgan Stanley (MS), SLM Corp. (SLM) and U.S. Bancorp (USB), but the week's biggest earnings winner may be Wells Fargo (WFC).

Continue reading Week in Preview: Banks in the Earnings Spotlight

Week in Preview: Banks in the Earnings Spotlight originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 16 Jan 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Closing Bell: Rallying Around Earnings (AAPL, GLD, ALKS, INTC, JPM, LLTC, CSX)

Closing Bell: Rallying Around Earnings (AAPL, GLD, ALKS, INTC, JPM, LLTC, CSX) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 13 Oct 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Janney Montgomery upgraded MasterCard (MA) to buy from neutral. The firm has a $250 price target on the stock.
• Lazard upgraded Frontline (FRO) to hold from sell following the better than expected Q1 report.
• Knight Capital (NITE) was upgraded at BMO Capital to outperform from market perform. The firm cites valuation and improved fundamentals for the downgrade. The firm has an $18 price target on the stock.
• Royal Dutch Shell (RDS.A) was upgraded to overweight from equal weight at Barclays.
• Carnival (CCL) was upgraded to neutral from sell at Goldman.
• Computer Sciences (CSC) was upgraded to buy from hold at Stifel Nicolaus.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: MA, FRO, NITE, RDS.A, CCL, DWA, VLCM, WEN, C, PG, ENOC ...

Analyst Calls: MA, FRO, NITE, RDS.A, CCL, DWA, VLCM, WEN, C, PG, ENOC ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 21 May 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

In his Next Inning newsletter, he explains, "Of course, this was similar to how the pundits first reacted to the iPod when it was released. As the pundits trashed the iPad following its release, I reminded readers about the iPod story and predicted we would see the pundits about face and the stock price run up ahead of the product release."

Continue reading Inside the iPad: A Look at Apple's Suppliers

Inside the iPad: A Look at Apple's Suppliers originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 06 Apr 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Auriga upgraded Intel (INTC) to buy from hold to reflect the stock's relative valuation after channel checks indicated PC shipment plans continue to be solid. The firm raised its target price on shares to $24 from $20.
• Deutsche Bank upgraded RenaissanceRE (RNR) to buy from hold on valuation and believes stock buybacks and reserve releases will drive the company's growth. The firm raised its target price on shares to $65 from $59.
• UBS upgraded Philip Morris (PM) to buy from neutral based on increased confidence in its earnings outlook and relative valuation. The firm raised its target to $54 from $49.
• Chevron (CVX) was raised to outperform from market perform at Bernstein.
• Barnes & Noble (BKS) was upgraded to sell from conviction sell at Goldman Sachs.
• Deutsche Bank (DB) was upgraded to outperform from neutral at Credit Suisse.

Continue reading Analyst Upgrades, Downgrades and Initiations: ADI, CI, COP, CVX, DB, INTC, JCP, PM ...

Analyst Upgrades, Downgrades and Initiations: ADI, CI, COP, CVX, DB, INTC, JCP, PM ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 16 Feb 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

• Aetna Inc. (AET) shares declined after the insurer issued a surprise earnings warning for 2010.
• Alcoa Inc. (AA) swung to a smaller-than-expected Q4 profit even as revenue declined, sending shares lower.
• Carter's Inc. (CRI) posted strong Q3 earnings that topped estimates and same-store sales growth.
• Chevron Corp. (CVX) shares declined slightly after the company issued a surprise earnings warning.
• Con-Way Inc. (CNW) was downgraded due in part to concerns about near-term earnings.

Continue reading Earnings Highlights: Aetna, Alcoa, Chevron, Intel, JPMorgan, KB Home, Sealy ...

Earnings Highlights: Aetna, Alcoa, Chevron, Intel, JPMorgan, KB Home, Sealy ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 16 Jan 2010 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

From TheStreet.com Network

• Google Shares Rise on Strong Sales
• AMD Posts Narrower Quarterly Loss

Continue reading Cramer on BloggingStocks: The chips aren't down

Cramer on BloggingStocks: The chips aren't down originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 09:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

In addition to Intel Corp.'s (NASDAQ: INTC) third quarter earnings release, chip makers Altera Corp. (NASDAQ: ALTR) and Linear Technology Corp. (NASDAQ: LLTC) are expected to post results Tuesday after the market closes as well. (Also see our Intel earnings preview.)

For the three months that ended in September, analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters expect Altera to report that its net income fell 38.7% from a year ago to $0.19 per share. Revenue for the period is expected to be 20.6% lower to $283.3 million, which is in line with recently raised guidance. Altera has met or topped earnings estimates in the past five quarters, beating by as much as a nickel per share. The long-term EPS growth forecast is 14.4%, which is better than that of competitors Intel and Texas Instruments Corp. (NYSE: TXN).

Continue reading Altera, Linear Technologies expected to post lower Q3 profits, revenue

Altera, Linear Technologies expected to post lower Q3 profits, revenue originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 12:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst upgrades:

• Jefferies upgraded SAP (NYSE: SAP) to Buy from Hold on expectations license declines will trough in Q2 and margins will expand going forward due to cost control and price increases. The firm has a $46 price target on shares.
• BofA/Merrill upgraded STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM) to Buy from Underperform on expectations the company will benefit from improving industry fundamentals in 2010.
• Citigroup upgraded Freeport McMoRan (NYSE: FCX) to Buy from Hold to reflect the firm's positive copper outlook, as well as valuation following the recent pullback in shares. The firm has a $58 price target on the stock.
• Phototronics (NASDAQ: PLAB) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at UBS.
• Anglo American (NASDAQ: AAUK) was raised to Hold from Sell at RBS.
• Peabody Energy (NASDAQ: BTU) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Goldman.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: ACI, HOT, LUV, QCOM, RTP, SAP ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: ACI, HOT, LUV, QCOM, RTP, SAP ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 08 Jul 2009 10:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Alcoa Inc. (NYSE: AA) started off the new earnings season with disappointing results that helped to stifle the recent rally. Was that enough of a sign of what's to come? No, probably not. But the earnings reports start to fly in earnest this week, which should provide a more detailed picture of the state of things.

Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters anticipate that some of the biggest names will prove to be holding their own. Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) is expected to post a profit of $4.91 per share, marginally higher than a year ago, and Johnson & Johnson's (NYSE: JNJ) expected $1.22 per share profit is slightly lower year over year. Even Mattel Inc.'s (NYSE: MAT) estimated loss of $0.13 per share is the same as in the year-ago period.

Continue reading The week in preview: The new earnings season ramps up

The week in preview: The new earnings season ramps up originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 12 Apr 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• JMP Securities upgraded CB Richard Ellis (NYSE: CBG) to Outperform from Market Perform. The analyst believes the new Public-Private Investment Program will create liquidity, which will result in some degree of activity. Shares were also upgraded at JP Morgan to Overweight from Neutral.
  
• Thomas Weisel upgraded Linear Tech (NASDAQ: LLTC) to Overweight from Market Weight due to stabilizing business and favorable end market exposure.
  
• UBS upgraded PepsiCo (NYSE: PEP) to Buy from Neutral and raised its target to $60 from $57 due to moderating input costs, earnings and investment flexibility, improving U.S. beverage business, and leverage from its market share in food.
• Tibco (NASDAQ: TIBX) was raised to Buy from Neutral at Goldman.
  
• Philips Electronics (NYSE: PHG) was upgraded at ING Group to Buy from Hold.
  
• Hospira (NYSE: HSP) was upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at Leerink.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: PEP, AXP, RTP, WSM, RIMM, HPQ ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: PEP, AXP, RTP, WSM, RIMM, HPQ ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 25 Mar 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The new earnings season ramps up this week as Alcoa Inc. (NYSE: AA) reports fourth-quarter results. Last week, the Pittsburgh-based producer of aluminum and alumina announced layoffs and production cuts as a reaction to the economic downturn. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters expect that Alcoa will have swung to its first quarterly loss in years: $0.10 per share. That compares to a profit of $0.36 per share in the same period of the previous year. Revenues for the quarter are expected to have fallen 28.8% from a year ago to $5.3 billion. For 2008, analysts are looking for earnings of $1.40 per share on revenue of $27.6 billion, down from $2.60 per share and $30.8 billion in the previous year. Alcoa missed earnings estimates in three of the past five quarters, by 25.4% in the third quarter. The consensus recommendation of analysts shifted from buy to hold AA during the past quarter. The share price has been climbing in recent weeks, but it is 65.6% lower than a year ago.

Intel Corp. (NASDAQ: INTC) is also scheduled to report fourth-quarter results this week, one of a handful of tech stocks to do so. The number one semiconductor maker is expected to post earnings down 86.8% to $0.05 per share, and sales of $8.2 billion, down 23.3% from a year ago. Last week, Intel forecast sales for the quarter of $8.2 billion. The full-year numbers are expected to be marginally lower than a year ago, or $0.94 per share on $37.7 billion. Intel only missed earnings estimates in one of the past five quarters. Shares are about $2.00 higher than the 52-week low, but 37.2% lower than a year ago.

Continue reading The week in preview: Alcoa, Intel kick off new earnings season

The week in preview: Alcoa, Intel kick off new earnings season originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 11 Jan 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst upgrades:

• Jefferies upgraded Buffalo Wild Wings (NASDAQ: BWLD) to Buy from Hold on valuation with the stock down 65% in two months as they believe the company has a "best-in-class fundamental story." The firm lowered its target to $25 from $30.
• Morgan Stanley upgraded Sanofi-Aventis (NYSE: SNY) to Overweight from Equal Weight on valuation and believes near-term cost reductions could provide a positive catalyst.
• Citigroup upgraded New York Times (NYSE: NYT) to Hold from Sell and lowered its target to $5.50 from $7 on valuation and believes the dividend cut will boost the company's liquidity.
• Pantry (NASDAQL PTRY) was upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at Friedman Billings.
• LECG Corp (NASDAQ: XPRT) was raised to Buy from Neutral at UBS.
• Thomson Reuters (NYSE: TRI) was upgraded at RBC Capital to Outperform from Sector Perform.

• Jefferies downgraded Suntech (NYSE: STP) to Hold from Buy and lowered its target to $6 from $25 as they believe concerns about a convert refinancing in February 2010 will continue to weigh on the stock.
• Credit Suisse cut Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) to Underperform from Outperform due to expectations for a decline in wireless infrastructure spending.
• ING downgraded shares of Rio Tinto (NYSE: RTP) to Hold from Buy as they believe it will be challenging for the company to execute asset sales planned at reducing debt in the current environment.

Continue reading Analyst calls: BWLD, SNY, NYT, STP, ERIC, RTP, KTOS, ZGEN

Analyst calls: BWLD, SNY, NYT, STP, ERIC, RTP, KTOS, ZGEN originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 24 Nov 2008 10:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The earnings crunch begins in earnest this coming week, with companies from Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) and PepsiCo Inc. (NYSE: PEP) to Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) and Harley-Davidson Inc. (NYSE: HOG) scheduled to report results for the quarter just ended. But with the ongoing turmoil in the markets, much attention is on the tech and financial sectors. This week will provide plenty to mull over on both counts.

Wall Street expectations for tech stocks are fairly optimistic. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial are looking for chip maker Altera Corp. (NASDAQ: ALTR) and software/service company iGate Corp. (NASDAQ: IGTE) to be the sector's biggest earnings gainers of the week. Altera is expected to report earnings of 30 cents per share (up 33.3% from a year ago) on revenue of $355.1 million. Altera had previously forecast flat sales for the quarter, and shares fell to a 52-week low last week. iGate is expected to report earnings of 14 cents per share (up 42.9%) on revenue of $55.6 million. India-based iGate recently spun off its Mastech consulting services. Shares are down 45.0% in the past three months, and also reached a new 52-week low last week.

San Jose-based Novellus Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: NVLS), on the other hand, is expected to report that net income tumbled 90.4% from a year ago to 4 cents per share, on revenue of $245.6 million. Novellus fell to a 52-week low early last week, and shares are down 44.5% year to date.

Continue reading The week in preview: Mulling over techs, financials

The week in preview: Mulling over techs, financials originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 12 Oct 2008 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Baird upgraded Blackboard (NASDAQ:BBBB) to Outperform from Neutral based on two new state-wide deals with New Mexico and North Carolina, K-12 growth, and up-selling and cross-selling opportunities. The firm raised Blackboard's target to $45 from $38.
  
• Wachovia raised Starwood Hotels (NYSE:HOT) to Outperform from Market Perform citing valuation, high international exposure, and secure capital structure and dividend.
  
• Citigroup upgraded shares of ACE Ltd (NYSE:ACE) to Buy from Neutral on valuation, as they believe additional selling from the company's redomestication to Switzerland will be offset by short covering. They view the recent weakness as an attractive buying opportunity and raised their target to $63 from $58.

• UBS upgraded Microchip (NASDAQ:MCHP) and Linear Tech (NASDAQ:LLTC) to Buy from Neutral.
  
• Marshall & Ilsley (NYSE:MI) was raised to Market Perform from Underperform at Keefe Bruyette.
  
• Comcast (NASDAQ:CMCSA) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Goldman.

Analyst upgrades: BBBB, HOT and ACE originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 17 Jul 2008 11:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Friedman Billings downgraded Abercrombie & Fitch (NYSE: ANF) to Market Perform from Outperform citing soft comps which could impact EPS expectations in 2H08 and SG&A investing.
  
• China Unicom (NYSE: CHU) was downgraded to Neutral from Outperform at Credit Suisse and to Equal Weight from Overweight at Morgan Stanley as the company's phone asset sales garnered a lower-than-expected price.
  
• RBC Capital downgraded Toronto Dominion (NYSE: TD) to Sector Perform from Outperform citing expense initiatives in domestic retail banking which are hurting operating leverage, loan losses in U.S. banking, and muted capital markets revenues.

• William Blair cut Littelfuse (NASDAQ: LFUS) to Market Perform from Outperform.
  
• Linear Tech (NASDAQ: LLTC) was downgraded at UBS to Neutral from Buy.
  
• Abiomed (NASDAQ: ABMD) was lowered to Neutral from Positive at Susquehanna.

Analyst downgrades: ANF, CHU, TD, LFUS, LLTC, ABMD originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 03 Jun 2008 11:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Morgan Stanley initiated Analog Semiconductors with an In Line rating. The firm assumed National Semiconductor Corp (NYSE: NSM) with an Overweight rating and $26 target and is the firm's top pick; Analog Devices (NYSE: ADI) and Linear Tech (NASDAQ: LLTC) were initiated with Equal Weight ratings and a $32 target and $34 target, respectively.
  
• Barrington believes OrthoVita (NASDAQ: VITA) is the market share and technological leader of the biomaterials market. The firm assumed shares with an Outperform rating and $4 target.
  
• Canaccord Adams believes First Solar's (NASDAQ: FSLR) management and business model are among the best of any PV company and that execution has led to strong profitability plus a successful aggressive capacity ramp. Shares were started with a Buy rating and $325 target.

• Morgan Stanley initiated Yum! Brands (NYSE: YUM) and Domino's Pizza (NYSE: DPZ) with Equal Weight ratings and targets of $40 and $15, and also initiated McDonald's (NYSE: MCD) and Burger King (NYSE: BKC) with Overweight ratings and targets of $65 and $34.
  
• Lehman initiated Alcoa (NYSE: AA) with an Overweight rating and $44 target.

Analyst initiations: Analog semiconductors, VITA and FSLR originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 28 Mar 2008 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.