Options Update: Texas Instruments Volatility Flat into National Semi Purchase originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Texas Instruments Acquires National Semiconductor

Texas Instruments Acquires National Semiconductor originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Parker-Hannifin (PH) to buy from hold at Deutsche Bank.
• JDSU (JDSU) to buy from hold at Citigroup.
• Noble Corp. (NE) to overweight from neutral at JPMorgan.
• Cerner (CERN) to buy from hold at Auriga.
• Cintas (CTAS) to outperform from neutral at RW Baird.
• American States Water (AWR) to buy from hold at Brean Murray.
• National Semiconductor (NSM) and Texas Instruments (TXN) to positive from neutral at Susquehanna.
• Lululemon (LULU) to buy from hold at ThinkEquity.
• DuPont Fabros (DFT) to top pick from outperform at RBC Capital.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: CERN, DFT, LVS, NE, NSM, OPEN, PH, QCOM, SHAW, TXN ...

Analyst Calls: CERN, DFT, LVS, NE, NSM, OPEN, PH, QCOM, SHAW, TXN ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 14 Mar 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

So, the unemployment rate sank below 9% in February, but investors didn't seem to be impressed by that. The Dow, Nasdaq and S&P 500 all fell on Friday over concerns about how the ongoing unrest in the Middle East might affect energy prices, and thus the economic recovery.

Will this coming week's economic calendar offer anything likely to bring excitement to the markets? Here's what's on tap:

• Monday: Consumer credit numbers for January
• Tuesday: Weekly chain store sales, TIPP Economic Optimism Index

Continue reading Week in Preview: Retail Sales, Consumer Credit and Earnings

Week in Preview: Retail Sales, Consumer Credit and Earnings originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 06 Mar 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Boeing (BA) to overweight from neutral at JPMorgan.
• Alcoa (AA) to buy from hold at Deutsche Bank.
• BP (BP) to outperform from market perform at Raymond James.
• Office Depot (ODP) and Staples (SPLS) to buy from neutral at Janney Capital.
• ON Semiconductor (ONNN) to buy from hold at Citigroup.
• Kennametal (KMT) and Polyone (POL) to buy from hold at KeyBanc.
• Airgas (ARG) to outperform from market perform at William Blair.
• EchoStar (SATS) to neutral from underperform at Macquarie.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AA, BA, BP, BSX, COH, GM, INTC, NSM, STJ, TIF, TSN, UA ...

Analyst Calls: AA, BA, BP, BSX, COH, GM, INTC, NSM, STJ, TIF, TSN, UA ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 03 Jan 2011 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading National Semiconductor Sells Off After Q2 Release

National Semiconductor Sells Off After Q2 Release originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 10 Dec 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Federal Reserve's next Beige Book report is scheduled to be released this week. This report is a compilation of anecdotal information on current economic conditions from each of the 12 Federal Reserve Bank districts, and it is released eight times a year. The data comes from interviews with business contacts, economists, market experts, and other sources. While the June report showed modest growth across the districts, the July report showed that the economic recovery had slowed, even stalled in some districts.

Other economic data due out this holiday-shortened week include:

Continue reading The Week in Preview: Beige Book, Smithfield Foods, Talbots, Men's Wearhouse

The Week in Preview: Beige Book, Smithfield Foods, Talbots, Men's Wearhouse originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 05 Sep 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading National Semiconductor Reports Profit in Fourth Quarter

National Semiconductor Reports Profit in Fourth Quarter originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 11 Jun 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

• Aeropostale Inc. (ARO) reported better-than-expected Q4 earnings and revenue and offered rosy guidance.
• American Eagle Outfitters Inc. (AEO) higher Q4 earnings matched analysts' estimates, but shares rose afterward.
• AnnTaylor Stores Corp. (ANN) swung to a profit in Q4 even though same-store sales dropped; shares fell.
• Cbeyond Inc. (CBEY) received an analyst's upgrade following its Q4 results and guidance for the full year.
• Children's Place Retail Stores Inc. (PLCE) posted strong Q4 earnings even though same-store sales were flat.

Continue reading Earnings Highlights: Aeropostale, H&R Block, IMAX, J. Crew, Kroger ...

Earnings Highlights: Aeropostale, H&R Block, IMAX, J. Crew, Kroger ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 13 Mar 2010 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

That was certainly a large gain in profit. Now, let's check out what the analysts were thinking. According to Reuters, Wall Street was projecting only 18 cents per share. Management scores again.

Continue reading National Semiconductor's Q3 Above Estimates, but Stock Is Indifferent

National Semiconductor's Q3 Above Estimates, but Stock Is Indifferent originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Most of the S&P 500 have reported earnings results this quarter, but on tap this week are Brown-Forman Corp. (BF.B), National Semiconductor Corp. (NSM) and Pall Corp. (PLL), which are expected to post earnings growth, as well as H&R Block Inc. (HRB) and Kroger Co. (KR), which are not.

Most of the high expectations from analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters are still with retailers this week, though. Here's a look at a few of them.

Continue reading The Week in Preview: Earnings Season Winds Down

The Week in Preview: Earnings Season Winds Down originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 07 Mar 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The earnings season, like the calendar year, is winding down. The sprinkling of quarterly results scheduled for this coming week include S&P 500 components AutoZone (AZO), Ciena (CIEN), H&R Block (HRB) and National Semiconductor (NSM), as well as Dollar General (DG), Imperial Sugar (IPSU), Krispy Kreme Doughnuts (KKD), Men's Wearhouse (MW), Talbots (TLB) and others.

Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters expect to see strong year-over-year and sequential EPS growth from luxury watchmaker Movado Group Inc. (MOV). During its third quarter of fiscal 2010, this Paramus, N.J.-based company was recognized for its innovative use of technology and it reported a big profit decline for the second quarter.

Continue reading The week in preview: Profit expectations for Costco, Kroger, Movado and others

The week in preview: Profit expectations for Costco, Kroger, Movado and others originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 06 Dec 2009 12:30:00 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.

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

• Best Buy Inc. (NYSE: BBY) was downgraded by one analyst ahead of next week's Q2 earnings report.
• Campbell Soup Co. (NYSE: CPB) better-than-expected Q4 and full-year profit failed to impact the share price.
• FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) boosted its Q1 earnings guidance ahead of next week's quarterly report.
• JoS. A. Bank Clothiers Inc. (NASDAQ: JOSB) saw its Q2 earnings jump higher than expected.
• Korn/Ferry International (NYSE: KFY) swung to a Q1 net loss as revenue plunged despite cost cuts.
• lululemon athletica inc. (NASDAQ: LULU) strong Q2 numbers topped estimates and drove shares higher.

Continue reading Earnings highlights: Best Buy, FedEx, Campbell, National Semiconductor, Talbots ...

Earnings highlights: Best Buy, FedEx, Campbell, National Semiconductor, Talbots ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 12 Sep 2009 14:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

National Semiconductor (NYSE: NSM) reported first-quarter earnings on Thursday after the bell. Net sales came in at $314 million, and net income was 13 cents per diluted share. According to our earnings preview, that 13-cent profit beat analyst expectations by a whopping six pennies. I'll tell you, I always enjoy when a company can beat by a little more than the boring penny. The top line also went beyond projections. The call was for roughly $300 million in sales.

Although these numbers represented steep drops when compared to year-ago data, it should be noted that, on a sequential basis, National Semiconductor showed significant improvement. Gross margin went up sequentially on better product mix and a benefit from a plant closing in China.

Continue reading National Semiconductor tops analyst projections in Q1

National Semiconductor tops analyst projections in Q1 originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 11 Sep 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

National Semiconductor Corp. (NYSE: NSM), which will hold its annual shareholder meeting later this month, is scheduled to discuss its fiscal first-quarter 2010 results Thursday in a conference call at 4:30 PM ET, featuring CEO Brian Halla, President Don Macleod, and CFO Lewis Chew. See the company's website to find out how to dial in to the call or to catch the live webcast of it.

For the three months that ended in August, analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters expect the Santa Clara, California-based company to report that its earnings fell 78.8% from a year ago to 7 cents per share, but swung from a smaller-than expected net loss in the previous quarter. Revenue for the first quarter is expected to have fallen 35.5% from a year ago to $300.5 million.

Continue reading National Semiconductor to post a profit for Q1?

National Semiconductor to post a profit for Q1? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Investors and analysts may be wondering whether the market rally is really over, and whether this signals more trouble ahead for the economy. Well, the Federal Reserve is scheduled to release its next Beige Book report of economic conditions on Wednesday, offering a glimpse of where things stand. The Beige Book report in July suggested that, in some of the 12 Fed districts, the economy appeared to be stabilizing, suggesting that the recession may have reached its bottom, but offering little sign of a recovery. Retail activity remained weak and employment numbers were not good. Yet the minutes of the FOMC August meeting seemed a bit more optimistic about the economy.

In addition to the Beige Book report, the TIPP Economic Optimism Index is scheduled to be released Tuesday, and the University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index comes out Friday. So by the end of the week, we could have a good gauge of the mood about the U.S. economy.

Continue reading The week in preview: It's Beige Book time again

The week in preview: It's Beige Book time again originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 06 Sep 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

• Barnes Group Inc. (NYSE: B) withdrew its 2009 earnings guidance due to uncertainty in transportation.
• Brown-Forman Corp. (NYSE: BF.B) Q4 profit beat estimates and it offered guidance for next year.
• Del Monte Foods Co. (NYSE: DLM) posted strong Q4 results on price increases and a better tax situation.
• FuelCell Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: FCEL) posted lower Q2 sales but announced a big order from South Korea.
• Men's Wearhouse Inc. (NYSE: MW) lower Q1 profit topped estimates but the outlook was in line.
• National Semiconductor Corp. (NYSE: NSM) Q4 net loss and fiscal-year profit both beat estimates.

Continue reading Earnings highlights: Del Monte, Men's Wearhouse, National Semiconductor, Talbots ...

Earnings highlights: Del Monte, Men's Wearhouse, National Semiconductor, Talbots ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 13 Jun 2009 15:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

As expected, chip maker National Semiconductor (NYSE: NSM), whose colleagues include Advanced Micro Devices (NYSE: AMD), Intel (NASDAQ: INTC), and Texas Instruments (NYSE: TXN), lost money during its fourth quarter.

However, the loss wasn't as bad as feared. According to Trey Thoelcke's earnings preview, National Semiconductor could have lost up to 42 cents per share. Thankfully, according to the company's press release posted on Thursday after the bell, the business only lost 28 cents per share.

How thankful should we be? I must point out that the company earned 34 cents per share in last year's Q4 period. Also, sales dropped 39% during the past three months. Not only that, but cash from operations from the full fiscal year was down, as was the gross margin on a year-over-year basis (the gross margin increased, however, on a sequential basis compared to the third quarter, so that was a bright spot).

Continue reading National Semiconductor loses money in Q4, but what are the positives?

National Semiconductor loses money in Q4, but what are the positives? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 12 Jun 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

National Semiconductor Corp. (NYSE: NSM), which just turned 50 years old, is scheduled to discuss its fiscal fourth-quarter 2009 results today in a conference call featuring CEO Brian Halla, CFO Lewis Chew, and COO Don Macleod at 4:30 PM ET. You can catch the live webcast of the call on the company's website.

For the quarter in which the Santa Clara, Calif.-based chip maker announced a workforce reduction but also acquired Act Solar, analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expect the dividend-paying company to report a loss of $0.42 per share, compared to a profit of $0.34 per share in the same period of the previous year. Revenue for the quarter is expected to have fallen 41.0% to $272.7 million.

Continue reading Earnings preview: National Semiconductor expected to post a Q4 loss

Earnings preview: National Semiconductor expected to post a Q4 loss originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 11 Jun 2009 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.