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Analyst downgrades 8-01-07: AMGN, CEPH, LYO and TDK

MOST NOTEWORTHY: TDK Corp. (TDK), Maquire Properties (MPG), BankAtlantic Bancorp (BBX), ON Semiconductor (ONNN) and Amgen (AMGN) were today's noteworthy downgrades:
  • UBS downgraded TDK Corp. (NYSE: TDK) to Reduce from Neutral after the company's operating profit missed estimates.
  • Deutsche Bank cut Maguire Properties (NYSE: MPG) to Sell from Hold following the company's disappointing Q2 report.
  • Valuation and debt levels pushed Unterberg to downgrade ON Semiconductor (NASDAQ: ONNN) to Market Perform from Buy.
  • William Blair downgraded shares of Amgen (NASDAQ: AMGN) to Market Perform from Outperform as they believe the CMS decision on ESA reimbursement guidelines is extremely restrictive regarding Aranesp use in oncology...
OTHER DOWNGRADES:
  • Stanford downgraded MoSys (NASDAQ: MOSY) to Hold from Buy.
  • Buckingham cut Cephalon (NASDAQ: CEPH) to Accumulate from Strong Buy.
Analyst summaries provided by TheFlyOnTheWall.com (subscription required).

Cramer's chemical weapons

On tonight's MAD MONEY on CNBC, BASF (NYSE: BF) in Germany is the next stock that Cramer wants to visit as an EU play, and he also thinks this company will be making some acquisitions. He does not see this as the traditional takeover stock. This one did the $80 to $120 move already, and this is over $60 Billion in market cap and he wouldn't be shocked if it goes to $150.00. He noted it is also cheaper on P/E than Dow Chemical (NYSE: DOW) and it only gets 22% of its net from North America. BASF's earnings are also becoming more and more consistent, and that can command a P/E premium from Wall Street.

Interestingly enough, Cramer also gave us a chemical stock that could be an acquisition target. We already say Lyondell Chemical (NYSE: LYO) fall to Basell, and Cramer thinks that Nova Chemicals (NYSE: NCX) is the other chemical stock that could easily be acquired. The analyst at BB&T has picked the last two buyouts in the sector and he thinks Nova Chemical could be the next target. This one has a $3.3 Billion market cap and is atthe top of its 52-week trading range. It is far under the $50.00+ highs of early 2005.

BASF is definitely a company to watch, although Cramer is probably right that it won't be acquired. We are back to a good solid manufacturing economy and emerging markets are helping all these guys out. The company has managed to be a growth engine, and if it is true that their earnings are becoming more predictable then maybe he's right. Nova is a tough one to call, particularly since I haven't looked at it closely in some time.

Jon Ogg is a partner at 24/7 Wall St.; he does not own securities in the companies he covers.

Analyst downgrades 5-24-07: AGN, FITB, SLB and VCLK

MOST NOTEWORTHY: The more noteworthy downgrades today came from Calyon, which cut five companies in the oil services and equipment sector:
OTHER DOWNGRADES:
Analyst summaries provided by TheFlyOnTheWall.com (subscription required).

Analyst initiations 2-16-07: Cadbury Schweppes started with an Outperform

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Cadbury Schweppes ADS (CSG) and Buckeye Partners (BPL) were today's most notable rating changes.
  • Wachovia started Cadbury Schweppes ADS (NYSE: CSG) with an Outperform rating. They said Cadbury's long-term global confectionery opportunities are among the best in the industry and the recent buyout of its U.S. Dr. Pepper/Seven-Up bottling unit provides high-leverage cash flow.
  • Buckeye Partners Ltd (NYSE: BPL) was initiated with an Underperform rating and a $48 target at RBC based on valuation.
OTHER INITIATIONS:
  • Stanford initiated AudioCodes Ltd (NASDAQ: AUDC) with a Buy rating and $15 target. The firm believes AudioCodes is an inexpensive play on the migration to packet networks.
  • Stifel initiated William Partners LP (NYSE: WPZ) with a Buy rating and $46.50 target.
  • AG Edwards started BioMarin Pharmaceutical inc (NASDAQ: BMRN) with a Buy rating and $25 target.
  • Pacer International Inc (NASDAQ: PACR) was initiated with a Hold rating at Stifel.
  • Morgan Stanley started Lyondell Chemical Company (NYSE: LYO) with an Overweight rating and $38 target.
  • Buckingham initiated Chattem Inc (NASDAQ: CHTT) with an Accumulate rating and $64 target, citing high margins, cash flow and reduced debt.
Analyst summaries provided by TheFlyOnTheWall.com (subscription required).

Lyondell's got it all: earnings, cash flow and a huge refinery

Lyondell Chemical (NYSE: LYO) was mentioned twice as a stock to buy in this past weekend's Barron's Roundtable (subscription required), recommended by both Archie MacAllaster and John Neff. At $25, the stock is selling for 6.25x earnings, versus the S&P 500 which is selling for 15x to 16x earnings.

What is particularly attractive about Lyondell is that it bought out its Venezuelan partner's 41% stake in the Citgo refinery and now fully owns this sizable refinery. This asset should generate a lot of cash flow for Lyondell's shareholders for years to come.

Lyondell put a good chunk of debt on its balance sheet to purchase the Citgo refinery stake, but has already reduced debt by $2 to $3 billion, according to MacAllaster, who put a $40 price target on the stock.

Symbol Lookup
IndexesChangePrice
DJIA+73.0010,270.47
NASDAQ+18.862,167.88
S&P 500+6.241,093.48

Last updated: November 14, 2009: 09:30 PM

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