Analyst Upgrades

• Cree (CREE) and Rubicon Technology (RBCN) to buy from neutral at Merriman.
• Children's Place (PLCE) to outperform from market perform at BMO Capital.
• Lockheed Martin (LMT) to neutral from underperform at BofA/Merrill.
• Copano Energy (CPNO) to outperform from market perform at Morgan Keegan.
• Motorola Mobility (MMI) to neutral from reduce at Nomura.
• Parker-Hannifin (PH) to buy from hold at KeyBanc.
• Akamai (AKAM), ShoreTel (SHOR), AMB Property (AMB) and ProLogis (PLD) to buy from hold at Stifel Nicolaus.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AAPL, AEO, CREE, DELL, HPQ, IBM, LMT, MMI, MYGN, PH ...

Analyst Calls: AAPL, AEO, CREE, DELL, HPQ, IBM, LMT, MMI, MYGN, PH ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 17 Mar 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Last year in June, Lexmark International (LXK) acquired Perceptive Software, a leading provider of Enterprise Content Management software and solutions. This added to its portfolio a complementary, fast growing software business aligned with its existing industry-focused value proposition. Lexmark manufactures and sells laser printers and cartridges primarily to business customers in North America and Europe. It competes with HP (HPQ), Xerox (XRX), Canon, and Kyocera (KYO) in the printer business. The acquisition has allowed Lexmark to participate in the adjacent ECM software solutions market providing additional growth and a new revenue stream in software maintenance and professional services.

Continue reading Perceptive Software Worth 10% of Lexmark's Value, See 30% Upside

Perceptive Software Worth 10% of Lexmark's Value, See 30% Upside originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 07 Mar 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

While the laser printer segment is mature -- and even boring -- it's still a solid business. Just look at the fourth-quarter results from Lexmark International (LXK). Net income spiked 46% to $87.6 million, or $1.10 per share. Excluding certain items, the earnings were $1.29 per share. The Street estimate was for only $1.12.

However, revenues were humdrum, up 2.9% to $1.1 billion in the quarter. But Lexmark is really an earnings story. And it looks like the momentum will continue. For the next quarter, the company expects to earn between $1.18 and $1.28 per share. Keep in mind that the consensus was for $1.15 per share.

Continue reading Lexmark Higher on Better-Than-Expected Q4 Earnings

Lexmark Higher on Better-Than-Expected Q4 Earnings originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 01 Feb 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Credit Suisse upgraded AT&T (T) to outperform from neutral and has a $35 target on the stock. Credit Suisse believes the impact from AT&T's loss of iPhone exclusivity will be less than expected and that the stock should benefit from its earnings growth and dividend yield.
• Goldman upgraded Freeport McMoRan (FCX) to buy from neutral and raised its price target to $94 from $79 based on improving copper fundamentals.
• Benchmark Co. upgraded Valueclick (VCLK) to vuy from hold on expectations Google Instant (GOOG) could drive marketing traffic. The firm raised its target price for Valueclick shares to $15 from $11.
• Best Buy (BBY) was upgraded to outperform from perform at Oppenheimer.
• Research In Motion (RIMM) was upgraded to buy from sell at Societe Generale.
• CarMax (KMX) was upgraded to outperform from market perform at Wells Fargo.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: BBY, FCX, KMX, NUE, PRGS, RIMM, T, USG, VCLK, X ...

Analyst Calls: BBY, FCX, KMX, NUE, PRGS, RIMM, T, USG, VCLK, X ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 20 Sep 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Do Hewlett Packard (HPQ) printers tell the truth or lie? Do they print out what is actually there or what we actually want to be there?

In fact, HP printers do not print out what they are given; they make the image deeper, darker and richer than it really is. I was a little surprised when I read that. When asked, HP admitted they improve the photos and they are giving the customers what they want.

Continue reading Do Hewlett-Packard Photo Printers Lie?

Do Hewlett-Packard Photo Printers Lie? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 21 May 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Closing Bell: Market Dips After Long Winning Streak (NEXM, LXK, PT, TLAB, MMM)

Closing Bell: Market Dips After Long Winning Streak (NEXM, LXK, PT, TLAB, MMM) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 27 Apr 2010 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Closing Bell: Technical Relief On Groundhog Day (GE, JPM, F, AMTD, RPRX, LXK)

Closing Bell: Technical Relief On Groundhog Day (GE, JPM, F, AMTD, RPRX, LXK) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

• Alcoa Inc. (NYSE: AA) kicked off the new season with a larger-than-expected loss due to the economic slump.
• Allscripts-Misys Healthcare Solutions (NASDAQ: MDRX) reported better-than-expected Q2 earnings.
• Apollo Group Inc. (NASDAQ: APOL) share price soared after its strong Q1 earnings and guidance.
• Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) earnings prospects without CEO Steve Jobs led to an analyst's downgrade.
• Autodesk Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK) lowered its guidance as business slows at an unprcedented rate.
• Bank of America Corp. (NYSE: BAC) reported terrible Q4 results and receivbed additional TARP money.
• Bunge Ltd. (NYSE: BG) lowered its 2008 earnings estimate due to soft soybean commodity markets.
• Citigroup Inc. (NYSE: C) posted a much bigger-than-expected loss and said it would split in two.
• Coventry Health Care Inc. (NYSE: CVH) offered full-year guidance that was less than analysts expectations.
• CSX Corp. (NYSE: CSX) forecast Q4 earnings would come in below analysts' expectations.
• CVS Caremark Corp. (NYSE: CVS) increased its quarterly dividend despite the recent lowered guidance.
• Deutsche Bank (NYSE: DB) reported a net loss for Q4 and the full year, dragging down the sector.
• Genentech Inc. (NASDAQ: DNA) revenue and earnings surged but were lower than analysts estimated.
• Intel Corp. (NASDAQ: INTC) Q4 results were in line with low expectations as the gross margin declined.
• JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) reported a huge drop in Q4 earnings but it stayed in the black.
• Lexmark International Inc. (NYSE: LXK) slashed its Q4 outlook and announced job cuts.
• Pentair Inc. (NYSE: PNR) efforts to limit an earnings decline led to a buy recommendation.
• Precision Cast Corp. (NYSE: PCP) earnings prospects following the recent rally led to an analyst's downgrade.

Continue reading Earnings highlights: Citigroup, Intel, JPMorgan, Alcoa, Apple and others

Earnings highlights: Citigroup, Intel, JPMorgan, Alcoa, Apple and others originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 17 Jan 2009 09:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This post is part of our Battle of the Brands feature. Let us know which brand you prefer, and check out other Battle of the Brands posts.

Rochester, New York-based Eastman Kodak Co. (NYSE: EK) was founded in 1892, and is well known for its wide range of photographic film products; it remains to this day the largest supplier of photographic films in the world. The company played a vital role in the invention and development of the motion picture industry, setting the standard of 35 mm film.

But times change. In 1999, Kodak entered into the consumer inkjet photo printers market in a joint venture with manufacturer Lexmark (NYSE: LXK). In 2004, Kodak announced it would stop producing traditional film cameras, beginning a multiyear struggle to refocus on digital photography and printing. Some of the results of that effort include the Kodak Smart Picture Frame, into which digital files are downloadable via a network connection. The Kodak Gallery is a website where users can upload photos into albums, print them out, and create mouse pads, calendars, and the like. And in 2006 Kodak announced that Flextronics (NASDAQ: FLEX) would manufacture and help design its digital cameras. Kodak also has long-term plans to sell ink jet printers and flat-panel displays.

Continue reading Battle of the Brands: Canon vs. Kodak

Battle of the Brands: Canon vs. Kodak originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 29 Apr 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Lexmark (NYSE: LXK) is trading up 13% on good earnings.

VMWare (NYSE: VMW) is down 25% on a weak forecast.

Zoran (NASDAQ:Z RAN) is off almost 20% on a poor outlook for Q1.

EMC (NYSE: EMC) is down 8% on VWWare results. EMC owns a large piece of VMW.

Trading in the pre-market may be different than trading in the regular session.

Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 247wallst.com.

Pre-market movers: VMW, EMC ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 29 Jan 2008 08:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The earnings crunch continues to roll along, and here are a some highlights of this past week's earnings coverage from BloggingStocks:

• Aetna Inc. (NYSE: AET) beat expectations and raised its full-year guidance.
• Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) beat estimates by a penny and offered a poor outlook.
• American Express Co. (NYSE: AXP) delivered a positive surprise, with profits up 10%.
• Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ: AMGN) beat estimates, but revenue was flat.
• Anheuser-Busch Cos. (NYSE: BUD) beat expectations on strength of international sales and partner brands.
• Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) blew past expectations. See our conference call live blog.
• Avery Dennison Corp.'s (NYSE: AVY) net sales up, EPS down, both due to the Paxar acquisition.
• Baidu.com Inc. (NASDAQ: BIDU) beat expectations, but wariness about its growth potential lingers.
• Boeing Co. (NYSE: BA) beat expectations but lowered its guidance.
• Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) beat expectations on the strength of Plavix sales.
• CNH Global's (NYSE: CNH) profit nearly doubled, beating estimates by 15%.
• Coach Inc. (NYSE: COH) beat estimates by a penny, but offered a conservative outlook for the holidays.
• Comcast Corp. (NASDAQ: CMCSA) met EPS expectations but cut its cash flow forecast.
• Countrywide Financial Corp. (NYSE: CFC) reported a $1.2 billion loss, but predicts a profit in the next quarter.

Continue reading Earnings highlights: Apple (AAPL), Merrill Lynch (MER), UAL (UAUA), and many others

Earnings highlights: Apple (AAPL), Merrill Lynch (MER), UAL (UAUA), and many others originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 27 Oct 2007 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Michael Fowlkes has worked as a stock trader for seven years and spent the last two years working as an analyst for the online investment advisory service Investor's Observer

Visit AOL Money & Finance for more earnings coverage

Poor earnings push Lexmark (LXK) shares down originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 23 Oct 2007 13:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

But Mulcahy certainly is not acquisition-averse; she has overseen Xerox's purchase of four companies in the past 15 months. She noted that Xerox hasn't ruled out deals with smaller companies that would help bulk up her company's software offerings.

Continue reading Xerox not lusting for Lexmark after all

Xerox not lusting for Lexmark after all originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 22 Oct 2007 13:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ) has introduced another technology that demonstrates why the company often out-flanks rivals. The new product, which is free, allows mobile PC users to print documents on almost any printer. According to The New York Times, the system is called "Cloudprint".

The feature uses server-based software run on hardware owned and operated by HP. The Times writes that :"The service requires users to first "print" their documents to H.P. servers connected to the Internet. The system then assigns them a document code, and transmits that code to a cellphone, making it possible to retrieve and print the documents from any location." HP hopes the service will drive printer and ink sales.

HP's printing and imaging group is critical to the company's success. According to the HP 10-Q, the division represents 27% of the company's annual revenue and will do almost $30 billion this year. The operation competes with Lexmark (NYSE: LXK), Canon (NYSE: CAJ), and Kodak (NYSE: EK) for market share in the huge global printer market.

The HP initiative is an example of how the company's innovation prowess is keeping it ahead of its competition, but it is also a sign that server-based applications are growing in importance. Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) is offering several server-based products including its document and spreadsheet products. The move is seen as a challenge to Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) which creates software the works primarily on individual PCs.

HPQ shares are up 80% over the last two years. but the company is not waiting for the competition to catch its breath.

Douglas A. McIntyre is a partner at 24/7 Wall St.

Printers: Another reason HP (HPQ) stays ahead originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 20 Aug 2007 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• JP Morgan upgraded shares of Websence (NASDAQ: WBSN) to Overweight from Underweight ahead of the renewal period starting in the December quarter and expects this momentum to drive shares higher.

• RF Micro Devices (NASDAQ: RFMD) was raised to Buy from Hold at Citigroup, who said the Sirenza Microdevices (SMDI) deal gives the company its first real prospect for gross margin expansion in years.

• Matrix USA upgraded Fiserv (NASDAQ: FISV) to Buy from Sell, and expects the company to benefit from the Checkfree (CKFR) acquisition.

• Lehman upgraded shares of Qwest (NYSE: Q) to Overweight from Equal Weight, citing the hiring of industry veteran Ed Mueller as CEO. The firm believes the new CEO removes an overhang and could lead to a change in strategic direction and significantly increase capital spending.

• JP Morgan upgraded OSI Pharma (NASDAQ: OSIP) to Overweight from Underweight based on valuation and upcoming catalysts for Tarceva that should be seen in the next year...

• UBS upgraded Allstate (NYSE: ALL) to Neutral from Sell.

• ThinkEquity raised Hansen Medical (NASDAQ: HNSN) to Buy from Accumulate.

• Stanford upgraded Leap Wireless (NASDAQ: LEAP) to Buy from Hold.

• FTN Midwest upgraded shares of Lexmark (NYSE: LXK) to Neutral from Sell.

• Hambrecht upgraded NetGear (NASDAQ: NTGR) to Buy from Hold.

Analyst upgrades: ALL, LXK, RFMD, Q and WBSN originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 14 Aug 2007 11:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The compelling question, following Lexmark's (NYSE: LXK) Monday lowered Q2 EPS guidance to 62 cents - 67 cents versus the Reuters consensus estimate of 86 cents and previous guidance of 82 cents - 92 cents, is whether the company's announcement represents a harbinger or an aberration for the printer segment, and, by extension, for the personal computer sector.

Lexmark, which Monday closed down $3.15 to $46.25, cited weak sales of inkjet cartridges, lower per-unit hardware revenue, aggressive pricing / promotions, and higher-than-expected product costs as the reasons for its lowered guidance. Lexmark also said those factors would also affect Q3 EPS, which it now sees at break-even to 10 cents versus the Reuters consensus estimate of 81 cents.

Fly Analysis: The inkjet printer segment is not the most accurate indicator of printer conditions, as inkjets have historically experienced large waves, while the broader printer segment encountered merely a ripple.

Lexmark's lowered guidance: harbinger or aberration? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 10 Jul 2007 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Cramer bullish on Hewlett-Packard originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 10 Jul 2007 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Is Lexmark in play? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 15 Jun 2007 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• JP Morgan downgraded L-1 Identity Solutions (NYSE: ID) to Underweight from Neutral based on valuation.

• THQ Inc (NASDAQ: THQI) was cut to Neutral from Buy at Banc of America, as the firm believes further upside to estimates is limited.

• JetBlue Airways (NASDAQ: JBLU) was cut to Neutral from Add at Calyon and to Peer Perform from Outperform at Bear Stearns following reduced guidance and higher fuel costs.

• JP Morgan downgraded Brinker International (NYSE: EAT) to Neutral from Overweight citing challenging fundamentals after the restructuring announcement. Stephens cut Brinker International to Equal Weight from Overweight.

• Elsewhere, Citigroup cut Lexmark Int'l (NYSE: LXK) to Hold from Buy with a $58 target based on valuation...

• Hutichinson Technology Inc (NASDAQ: HTCH) was cut to Underweight from Overweight at JP Morgan.
  

• Punk, Ziegel & Co downgraded KeyCorp (NYSE: KEY) to Sell from Market Perform.

• WR Hambrecht downgraded shares of Silicon Storage Technology, Inc (NASDAQ: SSTI) to Sell from Hold to reflect negative fundamentals in the NOR Flash memory market.

• CIBC downgraded Ipsco Inc (NYSE: IPS) to Sector Underperformer from Sector Performer on valuation.

Analyst downgrades 4-25-07: EAT, JBLU, LXK and THQI downgraded today originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 25 Apr 2007 11:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Hewlett-Packard Co. (NYSE:HPQ) is a global monster in the personal computer market and is the leader in printing equipment and peripherals. No question, HPQ has taken market share in the PC and server battle against Dell Inc. (NASDAQ:DELL). Dell has its own set of issues to face.

Hewlett-Packard has already reported its January 31 quarter, slightly better than Wall Street estimates; $25 billion in revenues and earnings per share of $.65 for the three months. The shares have been tepid at best due to both the general market and the fact that HPQ guided the April quarter to be slower than normal. It is the seasonally slowest quarter to begin with, and HPQ felt the season would be even weaker.

HPQ will have to do battle on several fronts. The competition with Dell will continue to put pressure on prices and therefore margins. The printing franchise that HPQ dominates will face tougher competition from Lexmark, as it has indicated its intention to capture market share. On the server and storage front, IBM Corp. (NYSE:IBM) is the major competitor with new and more robust products.

HPQ has guided to revenues for fiscal year 2007, ending October 31, to $98 to $99 billion and earnings per share of $2.60. Both key numbers are up only 5% from fiscal year 2006.

With growth indicated at low single digits for 2007, the shares will be stuck in the molasses for the foreseeable future.

Georges Yared is the author of Stop Losing Money Today and Baby Boomer Investing.

Hewlett-Packard stuck in molasses originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 18 Mar 2007 15:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.