The market giveth and the market taketh away -- all in the same day. I was looking at how Shaw Group (NYSE: SGR) performed on Thursday. The company, an engineering firm that provides services relating to the energy and environmental industry for both the government and the private sector, was up 5.6% at the close of trading yesterday, powered by superb volume. But, in the after-hours session, it went down nearly 6.4%.

And, yes, the sell-off was on the back of an earnings report. For the third quarter, Shaw Group made 57 cents per share, excluding its acquisition of Westinghouse. The company made 67 cents per share in last year's similar quarter, also adjusted for the acquisition. Net sales were essentially flat.

Continue reading Shaw Group reports flat sales in Q3, misses estimates

Shaw Group reports flat sales in Q3, misses estimates originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 10 Jul 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Jefferies upgraded MDS Inc. (NYSE: MDZ) to Buy from Hold on valuation as it believes shares are pricing in a "worst case" scenario at current levels. The firm keeps a $6.50 target on the stock.
  
• JP Morgan upgraded Continental (NYSE: CAL) to Overweight from Neutral on valuation as it believes the recent sell-off is overdone. The firm keeps a $13 price target on the stock.
• Thomas Weisel is positive on Allergan's (NYSE: AGN) diverse product portfolio, global infrastructure, vertical integration, and deep pipeline. The firm upgraded shares to Overweight from Market Weight and has a $54 target on the stock.
• NetLogic (NASDAQ: NETL) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Piper.
  
• Dover (NYSE: DOV) was raised to Buy from Neutral at Banc of America/Merrill.
  
• Map Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: MAPP) was upgraded at Argus to Hold from Sell.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: CAL, NETL, MAPP, DDUP, LMT ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: CAL, NETL, MAPP, DDUP, LMT ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 02 Jun 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Banc of America/Merrill upgraded Lincoln National (NYSE: LNC) to Buy from Underperform and raised its target to $17 from $10 citing expectations that the company will "qualify for and accept TARP funding."
  
• Credit Suisse upgraded AU Optronics (NYSE: AUO) to Outperform from Neutral as it believes inventory levels are low end demand is better than expected.
  
• JP Morgan upgraded Shaw Group (NYSE: SGR) to Overweight from Neutral. The firm views the recent pullback in shares as a buying opportunity given the company's attractive nuke position and expected ramp in government spending.
• Patterson-UTI Energy (NASDAQ: PTEN) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Goldman.
  
• Barrick Gold (NYSE: ABX) was raised to Overweight from Market Weight at Thomas Weisel.
  
• Stryker (NYSE: SYK) was lifted to Sector Perform from Underperform at RBC Capital.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: LNC, AZN, APOL, PNRA ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: LNC, AZN, APOL, PNRA ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 21 Apr 2009 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

A new earnings reporting season kicks off this coming week with the quarterly report from Alcoa, the first Dow Jones industrial to report. But investors looking for early signs about the first quarter will be disappointed in what they see from the aluminum producer, assuming that analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters are neither too optimistic or too pessimistic about those results.

Continue reading The week in preview: Alcoa kicks off a new earnings season

The week in preview: Alcoa kicks off a new earnings season originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 05 Apr 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This post is part of a special report, A Dozen Ways to Play an Obama Building Boom.

"One theme that already seems likely to dominate the playbook for the Obama team is 'infrastructure plus' -- encompassing alternative energy, the environment, and health care," says Patrick DeSouza.

The contributing editor to Steven Leeb's The Complete Investor explains, "These priorities will translate into tremendous opportunities for well-situated firms in these areas." Here are some ideas:

"The Obama Administration is likely to link infrastructure with specific policy priorities such as alternative energies and environmental protection.

"In this way, it can launch public work ventures that create jobs while simultaneously fulfilling campaign promises to tackle climate change and resource degradation. Companies with crossover appeal-a foot in both infrastructure and environmental businesses- are the ones to look at.

"Fluor (NYSE: FLR) and General Electric (NYSE: GE) -- which are already holdings in our growth model portfolio -- both fit this bill, with diversified product lines that range from large-scale infrastructure engineering projects to alternative energy infrastructure to renewable power.

Continue reading Obama team targets infrastructure

Obama team targets infrastructure originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 19 Dec 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

From TheStreet.com Network

• Hedge Fund's Capital Needs Could Derail CSX
• Crude Oil Plunge Continues

Continue reading Cramer on BloggingStocks: Oil's plunge presents an infra opportunity

Cramer on BloggingStocks: Oil's plunge presents an infra opportunity originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 19 Dec 2008 10:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

From TheStreet.com Network

• Warren Buffett Proves He's Human
• Detroit Pleads for $25B in Federal Aid

Continue reading Cramer on BloggingStocks: Shaw is actually cheap

Cramer on BloggingStocks: Shaw is actually cheap originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 09:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This post is part of a series in which TheStockAdvisors.com asked financial experts to name their top stock pick if McCain or if Obama wins the election.

"John McCain has said that nuclear power must be part of a plan to address climate change and reduce our dependence on foreign oil; to benefit from this plan, buy Shaw Group (NYSE: SGR), which constructs and maintains nuclear power plants," says Paul Tracy in his Street Authority Market Advisor.

"Today, nearly half of U.S. electricity is created via conventional coal-fired plants. This made sense for us for decades -- coal is so cheap and plentiful here that the United States is often referred to as the Saudi Arabia of coal.

"However, in the past few years, the tide of public sentiment has shifted against the energy source. Primarily this is due to the emissions created by burning coal for electricity.

"In addition to the well known release of carbon dioxide, coal emissions also contain traces of mercury. On top of that, the rise of China and other emerging markets has led to higher costs for coal.

"So with a public that is increasingly interested in alternative sources of electricity and a president who is committed to increasing nuclear power usage, the companies that build and maintain nuclear plants sit in the perfect position to benefit.

"In particular, I think Louisiana-based Shaw Group is a stock to watch. SGR's largest end market is the construction and maintenance of power plants, including both plants fired by fossil fuels and nuclear facilities.

"The company also owns a 20% stake in Westinghouse Electric, one of the world's leading designers and builders of nuclear power plants.

Continue reading McCain stock: Shaw Group (SGR) goes nuclear

McCain stock: Shaw Group (SGR) goes nuclear originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 11 Oct 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading For Shaw Group, the developing world is a lucrative world

For Shaw Group, the developing world is a lucrative world originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 14 May 2008 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Cramer on BloggingStocks: Fluor shows the power of execution

Cramer on BloggingStocks: Fluor shows the power of execution originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 13 May 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Here are a few highlights of this past week's earnings coverage from BloggingStocks:

• Acuity Brands Inc. (NYSE: AYI) missed estimates due to restructuring after the spin-off of Zep Inc.
• Alcoa Inc. (NYSE: AA) easily beat earnings estimates, due to the impeding sale of some businesses.
• American Express Co. (NYSE: AXP) warned that it would take a charge against fourth quarter earnings.
• Apollo Group (NASDAQ: APOL) posted a solid quarter on student enrollment and retention.
• AZZ Inc. (NYSE: AZZ) beat earnings expectations and offered revised guidance.
• Capital One Financial Corp. (NYSE: COF) lowered its fourth quarter and full year earnings forecast.
• Constellation Brands Inc. (NYSE: STZ) third quarter profit rose on growth in the domestic wine business.
• EI DuPont de Nemours & Co. (NYSE: DD) lifted its outlook on strength in agriculture and nutrition business.
• Family Dollar Stores (NYSE: FDO) earnings were in line with estimates, despite lower same-store sales.
• Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. (NYSE: GAP) posted a strong quarter, helped by the sale of Metro Inc.

Continue reading Earnings highlights: Alcoa, KB Home, Capital One, Family Dollar, and others

Earnings highlights: Alcoa, KB Home, Capital One, Family Dollar, and others originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 12 Jan 2008 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Here is a brief overview of some of Wednesday's earnings reports.

Alcoa Inc. (NYSE: AA): Fourth-quarter earnings soared 76 percent, boosted by the pending sale of the aluminum producer's packaging and consumer businesses. For the three months ended December 31, net income rose to $632 million, or 75 cents per share, from $359 million, or 41 cents per share, during the same period last year. Quarterly revenue fell to $7.39 billion from $7.84 billion last year, due to lower metal prices and the exclusion of results from a soft alloy extrusion business that is now part of a joint venture. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial had expected earnings of 33 cents per share on $6.92 billion in revenue. Shares rose in after-hours trading.

The Shaw Group Inc. (NYSE: SGR): The engineering, construction, and environmental contractor swung to a first-quarter profit on strong demand for fossil and nuclear power projects. For the three months ending November 30, Shaw earned $2.23 million, or 3 cents per share, compared to a year-ago loss of $12.3 million, or 15 cents per share. Revenue rose to $1.71 billion from $1.28 billion a year ago. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial had expected a profit of 49 cents per share on revenue of $1.68 billion. Shares fell 48 cents to $59.22.

Ruby Tuesday Inc. (NYSE: RT): The restaurant chain swung to a loss in its fiscal second quarter due to remodeling expenses and weak sales. For the quarter ended December 4, the company reported a loss of $10.4 million, or 20 cents per share, versus a profit of $16.7 million, or 28 cents per share, in same period of the previous year. Revenue fell about 5 percent to $320.9 million from $336.8 million last year. The earnings results matched the expectations of analysts polled by Thomson Financial, who had also expected revenue of $316.4 million for the quarter. Shares hit a multi-year low of $6.99 during the day.

Visit AOL Money & Finance for more earnings coverage.

Wednesday earnings reports: Alcoa, Shaw Group, Ruby Tuesday originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 09 Jan 2008 18:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Cramer on BloggingStocks: Stocks to own in the era of a no-grow Fed

Cramer on BloggingStocks: Stocks to own in the era of a no-grow Fed originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 07 Jan 2008 08:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

For The Shaw Group, the profits are in the pipeline originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 13 Dec 2007 18:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• JP Morgan upgraded shares of Vodafone Group (NYSE: VOD) to Overweight from Neutral, as they believe the company is benefiting from increased data sales.
  
• Citrix Systems (NASDAQ: CTXS) was upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at Friedman Billings. The firm's checks indicate that its clear communication strategy and a stronger technology platform behind the Enterprise and Platinum editions is spurring top line growth.
  
• Baird upgraded shares of STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM) to Outperform from Neutral based on new product cycle, multiple design wins, valuation, and strong Q4 guidance.
  
• Cantor upgraded shares of Symmetricom (NASDAQ: SYMM) to Buy from Hold as they find the valuation compelling and are comfortable with Q1 estimates.
  
• Calyon Securities upgraded Smith International (NYSE: SII) to Add from Neutral following its Q3 report and guidance.

• Shaw Group (NYSE: SGR) was upgraded to Neutral from Sell at Goldman Sachs.
  
• RBC Capital upgraded QLogic Corporation (NASDAQ: QLGC) to Outperform from Sector Perform.
  
• Credit Suisse upgraded Amgen (NASDAQ: AMGN) and Weatherford (NYSE: WFT) to Outperform from Neutral.

Analyst upgrades: VOD, CTXS, STM, SYMM and SII originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 24 Oct 2007 10:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"In any industry, one of the most sure-footed means of keeping profits steady is to own the suppliers of production means -- the old 'invest in the picks and shovels' approach," explains Neil George in Personal Finance.

He says, "For refiners, it means pipe, compressors, and the other bits used to crack crude into further profitable products." Here, he looks at a trio of favorites: Dresser-Rand Group Inc. (NYSE: DRC), Shaw Group Inc. (NYSE: SGR), and Tenaris (NYSE: TS).

"Dresser Rand is a leading global producer of highly specialized compressors and turbines, nearly 95% of which are used in the energy business. Compressors are used extensively in refineries; they're a crucial part of equipment used to process heavy and sour crude oils. The reactions used to process these more-complex crudes require generating extreme pressure and temperature.

"Dresser's products are also used to process Canadian oil sands. Dresser is also involved in some high-tech deepwater equipment work. The company has designed a subsea compressor and separator for Norway's Statoil.

"This equipment literally sits on the seafloor; the compressor helps to separate gas from oil and transport these commodities by subsea pipeline to distant floating production platforms.

Continue reading Best energy ideas: Oil service 'picks and shovels'

Best energy ideas: Oil service 'picks and shovels' originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 20 Oct 2007 09:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

What are the best energy investments for long-term investors? To answer this question, I surveyed 20 of the nation's leading financial newsletter advisors to find their current favorite ideas in the energy sector.

Interestingly, the advisors see the best opportunities in areas well beyond traditional oil firms; indeed, no one included in this report chose a major integrated oil company. Rather, the advisors have shown a preference for various oil services sectors, non-oil energy sources, and developing alternative technologies.

Some focus on areas such as deep-sea operations with Diamond Offshore Drilling Inc. (NYSE: DO), Transocean Inc. (NYSE: RIG) and Oceaneering International (NYSE: OII), while others look toward oil shippers such as Nordic American Tanker Shipping (NYSE: NAT) and refiners such as Valero Energy Corp. (NYSE: VLO).

Others chose companies that make specific products needed by the oil & gas industries such as NATCO Group Inc. (NYSE: NTG), which makes a wide range of oil & gas processing systems; Dresser-Rand Group Inc. (NYSE: DRC), a maker of control systems; Gardner Denver Inc. (NYSE: GDI), which makes compressor and fluid transfer systems; Tenaris (NYSE: TS), a maker of pipes and tublar products and Schlumberger Ltd. (NYSE: SLB), the largest and most diversified of the oil services companies.

Continue reading Best energy ideas: Favorites from the newsletter advisors

Best energy ideas: Favorites from the newsletter advisors originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 19 Oct 2007 13:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Engineering problems are rarely solved by approaching them from one direction only. That's why many firms and government agencies prefer to do business with engineering outfits big enough to bring expertise from a wide variety of disciplines to bear on their projects. There is a company in Baton Rouge with the size and diversity needed to handle the complex jobs.

The Shaw Group (NYSE: SGR) provides engineering, design, construction, and maintenance services to a variety of industrial markets. Clients include power generators (structural steel & engineering services), chemical manufacturers (research & development), government agencies (infrastructure construction) and general industrial concerns (environmental remediation services). Shaw also manufactures and distributes an extensive line of pipes and pipe fittings. The firm operates from nearly 200 locations around the world and employs 25,000.

Management pleased investors last week when it reported Q3 EPS of 60 cents (ex-items) and revenues of $1.6 billion. The Street had been looking for 34 cents and $1.54 billion. The stock popped on the news and then moved into a bullish "pennant" consolidation pattern. Prices frequently exit pennants moving in the same direction they were traveling when they entered them. In this case, that would be to the upside.

Brokers recommend the issue with four "strong buys," one "buy," five "holds" and two "sells." Analysts expect a 20% average annual growth rate through the next five years. The SGR Price to Sales ratio (1.09), Price to Free Cash Flow ratio (14.64), Sales Growth rate (30.54%) and EPS Growth rate (252.94%) compare favorably with industry, sector and S&P 500 averages. Institutions hold about 95 percent of the outstanding shares. The stock is used in calculating the S&P SmallCap 600 Index. Over the past 52 weeks, it has traded between $25.54 and $71.77. A stop-loss of $59.90 looks good here.

Larry Schutts is a contributing editor for Theflyonthewall.com and the Vice-President of Stockwinners.com.

Shaw Group (SGR) shares trade in bullish pennant originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 17 Oct 2007 15:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Cramer on BloggingStocks: No stopping agriculture or infrastructure stocks

Cramer on BloggingStocks: No stopping agriculture or infrastructure stocks originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 15 Oct 2007 08:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Cramer on BloggingStocks: What trends are in, what's out, to year-end

Cramer on BloggingStocks: What trends are in, what's out, to year-end originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 10 Oct 2007 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.