Analyst Upgrades

• RBC Capital upgraded Brookfield Infrastructure (BIP) to outperform from sector perform with a $20 target. The firm thinks the units' valuation is compelling, while the company's proposed acquisition of assets is positive.
• Stifel upgraded First Horizon (FHN) to buy from hold based on valuation and its path towards normalized profitability. The firm has a $15 price target on the stock.
• KeyBanc upgraded Isle of Capri (ISLE) to buy from hold based on improved earnings growth and valuation. The firm has a $13 target on the stock.
• ATA Inc. (ATAI) was upgraded to neutral from underweight at Piper Jaffray.
• Buckeye Partners (BPL) was upgraded to neutral from sell at Goldman.
• Sinopec (SNP) was upgraded to overweight from neutral at HSBC.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: ANN, BIP, DUK, FHN, ISLE, JCG, POM, RE, SMT ...

Analyst Calls: ANN, BIP, DUK, FHN, ISLE, JCG, POM, RE, SMT ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 24 Aug 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Investors interested in foreign exposure to crude should consider China Petroleum and Chemical (NYSE: SNP).

Imagine the demand for crude for a nation whose economy is growing like a weed. The economies of the world may be receding, but China is still growing. More importantly, its government is investing heavily in making sure that growth continues.

Given that fossil fuel is so critical to any industrial society, owning China Petroleum makes a ton of sense. The stock is up almost 50% since bottoming in March, but there are more gains to be had.

I rate SNP a B or Buy.

Next up: Oil Stock #3.

Oil stock #2: China Petroleum and Chemical (SNP) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 24 May 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

With oil prices heading to $70 or more, owning oil stocks is a must for any investor looking to generate maximum returns.

Crude traders are betting that a stronger economy will result in increased demand for oil. At the same time, OPEC is holding firm on production cuts that reduces supply.

And let's not forget about the summer driving season which officially kicks off this Memorial Day weekend.

All of these factors mean investors can confidently operate under the assumption that oil prices will go up in the foreseeable future.

Continue reading 3 oil stocks for slick profits

3 oil stocks for slick profits originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 23 May 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Jefferies upgraded Abiomed (NASDAQ: ABMD) to Hold from Underperform on valuation as it believes concerns over the company's Impella heart pump are priced in at current levels. The firm lowered its target price to $7 from $8.
  
• Suntrust upgraded Somanetics (NASDAQ: SMTS) to Neutral from Reduce. The firm believes most of the risk is out of Somanetics shares and that the Q1 report could be a positive catalyst.
  
• Banc of America/Merrill upgraded shares of Telecom Italia (NYSE: TI) to Buy from Neutral on valuation and believes the company's revenue trends are improving.
• China Petroleum & Chemical (NYSE: SNP) was raised to Buy from Neutral at UBS.
• Hexcel (NYSE: HXL) and Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI) were upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Goldman.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: ABMD, TI, DKS, SCHW ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: ABMD, TI, DKS, SCHW ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 12 Mar 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst upgrades:

• Oppenheimer upgraded shares of Premiere Global (NYSE: PGI) to Outperform from Perform on valuation and believes the company's strategic initiatives will drive "healthy" top-line results in a difficult economy.
  
• Citigroup upgraded Prudential (NYSE: PRU) to Buy from Hold on valuation, as they believe the stock is oversold at current levels. Though upgraded, the firm lowered their target price to $30 from $80.
  
• Citigroup also upgraded Bankrate (NASDAQ: RATE) to Buy from Hold as they believe the company will benefit from the financial market volatility and that the risk/reward is attractive at current levels. The firm maintains a $40 target on the stock.
• Hospitality Properties (NYSE: HPT) was raised to Outperform from Sector Perform at RBC Capital.
  
• Diamond Offshore (NYSE: DO) was upgraded at Merrill Lynch to Buy from Neutral.
  
• Alcon (NYSE: ACL) was upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at Wachovia.

Continue reading Analyst calls: PRU, RATE, ACL, LTD, STM, SNP, NFLX, RTP, BHP, OXY ...

Analyst calls: PRU, RATE, ACL, LTD, STM, SNP, NFLX, RTP, BHP, OXY ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 01 Dec 2008 12:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

• Big Lots Inc. (NYSE: BIG) Q2 profits topped expectations, but it warned of weak sales in the second half.
• China Petroleum and Chemical Corp. (NYSE: SNP) first-half profits tanked due to government price controls.
• Dell Inc. (NASDAQ: DELL ) fell short of Q2 earnings estimates, surprising even Jim Cramer.
• Dillard's Inc. (NYSE: DDS) beat analysts' expectations despite widening its Q2 net loss.
• Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. (NASDAQ: GILT) missed Q2 expectations and a merger fell through.
• J. Crew Group Inc. (NYSE: JCG) Q2 net income slipped on lower sales and gross margins.
• JP Morgan & Chase Co. (NYSE: JPM) earnings have been hurt by investments in Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac.
• LDK Solar Co. (NYSE: LDK) raised its 2009 revenue guidance on reaching peak silicon wafer capacity.
• Marvell Technology Group (NASDAQ: MRVL) beat Q2 expectations but gave a conservative Q3 outlook.
• Rio Tinto Group (NYSE: RTP) first-half profits more than doubled on its acquisition of Alcan.
• Sanderson Farms Inc. (NASDAQ: SAFM) swung to a Q3 loss due in part to rising commodities prices.
• Sears Holdings Corp. (NASDAQ: SHLD) Q2 earnings plunged more than expected on further sluggish sales.
• SkillSoft PLC (NASDAQ: SKIL) beat Q2 expectations and offered Q3 and full-year guidance.
• Smithfield Foods Inc. (NYSE: SFD) swung to a Q1 loss due in part to rising commodities prices.
• Talbots Inc. (NYSE: TLB) nearly doubled its Q2 loss due to lower sales and restructuring charges.
• Thornburg Mortgage Inc. (NYSE: TMA) posted a Q2 profit but warned of possible collapse on margin calls.
• Tiffany & Co. (NYSE: TIF) doubled its Q2 profit on strong international sales, and raised its guidance.
• TiVo Inc. (NASDAQ: TIVO) unexpectedly swung to a Q2 profit but forcast another loss in Q3.

Upcoming quarterly reports include Guess (NYSE: GES), Collective Brands (NYSE: PSS), H&R Block, (NYSE: HRB), Staples (NASDAQ: SPLS), Ciena (NASDAQ: CIEN), Toll Brothers (NYSE: TOL); and National Semiconductor (NASDAQ: NSM).

Visit AOL Money & Finance for more earnings coverage.

Earnings highlights: Dell, Sears, Tiffany, Talbots, Smithfield, TiVo, Rio Tinto and others originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 30 Aug 2008 12:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

China Petroleum (NYSE: SNP) has already announced that its profits were down 71% in the first half. Now PetroChina (NYSE: PTR) is getting ready to report a drop in its profits.

The culprit is China's energy policy, which is hurting investors in the Chinese oil industry. According to the AP, "While other global oil giants are reporting record profits, Chinese government price controls prevent PetroChina and other domestic refiners from passing on higher costs for crude oil to consumers." It is an excellent reason for investors to avoid these stocks.

The central government control of oil profits is a fine example of why China should not have taken many of its large companies private. China needs to keep gas and diesel prices down to control inflation and offer cheap fuel to maintain transportation costs of exports at low levels.

With oil trading around $120 a barrel, the oil refiners in China could actually swing to losses in the second half. China is driving investors out of its most important corporations. PetroChina already trades near a 52-week low. That is likely to get worse.

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

China policies kill oil company profits in SNP, PTR originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 26 Aug 2008 08:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Stephens downgraded shares of Texas Industries (NYSE: TXI) to Equal Weight from Overweight as it believes higher energy costs will affect the company's ability to achieve its guidance. The firm lowered its target to $68 from $83.
  
• Jefferies assumed coverage and downgraded shares of TransGlobe Energy (NYSE:TGA) to Hold from Buy as it sees limited upside until the company completes its seismic activity and can better quantify its exploratory reserve potential. The firm lowered its target to $5.25 from $6.50.
  
• Citigroup downgraded Level 3 (NASDAQ: LVLT) to Sell from Hold as it believes the pullback in telecom valuations increases downside risk for the stock. Citigroup lowered their target price to $2.50 from $3.

• Safeway (NYSE: SWY), Sysco (NYSE:SYY) and Whole Foods (NASDAQ: WFMI) were cut to Neutral from Buy at UBS.
  
• Piper lowered Third Wave (NASDAQ:TWTI) to Neutral from Buy.
  
• China Petroleum (NYSE: SNP) was lowered at JP Morgan to Underweight from Overweight.

Analyst downgrades: TXI, TGA and LVLT originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Markets in Asia were troubled by rising oil and concerns that the global economy is getting into more trouble as each week passes.

The Shanghai Composite fell 6.5% to 2,749.

In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng fell 2.2% to 22,807. China Life (NYSE: LFC) dropped 3.1% to 28.3 yuan. China Petroluem (NYSE: SNP) fell 3% to 8.07.

In Tokyo, the Nikkei dropped 2.2% to 14,130. Mazda fell 5.5% to 568 yen. Toyota (NYSE: TM) dropped 3.2% to 5490 on concerns that its truck sales were falling in the US.

Data from Reuters.

Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 24/7 Wall St.

Shanghai falls almost 7% (TM) (SNP) (LFC) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 19 Jun 2008 04:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

A number of markets in Asia were down 2% or more lead by the Shanghai Composite which is off 45% since the beginning of the year, according to MarketWatch.

In Japan, the Nikkei dropped 2.1% to 13,888.6. Sony (NYSE:SNE) was down 2.8% to 5,130 yen. Toyota (NYSE:TM) was off 2.7% to 5,400.

The Hang Seng fell 1.7% to 22,925.31. China Life (NYSE:LFC) fell 2.4% to 28.40 yuan. China Petroluem (NYSE:SNP) dropped 2.7% to 7.39.

Data from Reuters.

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

Another sell-off in Asia, Shanghai down almost half this year originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 12 Jun 2008 03:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

As China increased the amount of money that banks need to keep in reserves as a way to reduce lending and curb inflation, the Shanghai Composite fell 7.7% to 3,073. The Hang Seng was down 4.2% to 23,382.

A number of stocks were off over 10%. Some of the shares in China's largest companies suffered significant losses. China Life (NYSE: LFC) was down 5.2% to 29.15 yuan. China Netcom (NYSE: CN) was off 8.9% to 20.95. China Petroleum (NYSE: SNP) was down 7.8% to 7.61.

Data from Reuters.

Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 247wallst.com and author of the Ten Stocks Under $10 letter.

Shanghai market suffers dramatic fall, off nearly 8% originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 10 Jun 2008 03:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

China Petroleum & Chemical (NYSE: SNP), an energy and chemical company based in the People's Republic of China, closed at $98.35. WTI Crude Futures are down 0.33% to $123.82 according to Bloomberg. SNP overall option implied volatility of 46 is below its 26-week average of 57 according to Track Data, suggesting decreasing price risk.

China Life Insurance (NYSE: LFC) offers products and services, including individual life insurance, accident insurance and health insurance in China. LFC closed at $62.37. LFC overall option implied volatility of 42 is below its 26-week average of 50, suggesting decreasing price risk.

Option Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com

Option Update: Low volatility at major Chinese companies originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 13 May 2008 10:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

China Petroleum & Chemical (NYSE: SNP), an energy and chemical company based in the People's Republic of China, closed at $99.67 Tuesday.

SNP issued a profit warning on April 19 for 1Q08 indicting that net profits will decline more than 50% on a yoy basis. WTI Crude Futures are down 0.26% to $117.76 according to Bloomberg.

SNP overall option implied volatility of 53 is near its 26-week average of 55 according to Track Data, suggesting non-directional price risk.

Options Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com

Option Update: China Petroleum volatility at 53 as oil trades near $117 originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 23 Apr 2008 09:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Most markets in Asia rallied.

The Nikkei was up 4.2% to 13,189. Honda (NYSE: HMC) rose 7.3% to 3110 yen. NEC rose 5.7% to 405. Sony (NYSE: SNE) rose 5.9% to 4300.

The Hang Seng rose 3.6% to 23,595. China Life (NYSE: LFC) rose 5.2% to 26.6 yuan. China Mobile (NYSE: CHL) rose 4.2% to 122.6. China Petroleum (NYSE: SNP) rose 5.5% to 7.26.

The Shanghai Composite rose .6% to 3,448.

Data from Reuters.

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

Asia markets rally big: HMC, SNE, LFC, CHL originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 02 Apr 2008 03:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Nikkei moved up 1.7% to 13,820. KDDI was up 2.6% to 639000 yen. Toyota (NYSE: TM) was up 2.5% to 5240.

The Hang Seng was up 2.1% to 23,129. China Life (NYSE: LFC) was up 4.6% to 27.55 yuan. China Petroleum (NYSE: SNP) was up 5.9% to 6.87.

The Shanghai Composite was up 4.9% to 3,580.

Data from Reuters

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

Asia markets rise, Shanghai up 4.9% (TM, SNP, LFC) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 28 Mar 2008 03:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Nikkei was off 3.7% to 11.788. Sony (NYSE: SNE) was off 5.7% to 3960 yen. Toyota (NYSE: TM) was down 5.1% to 4830.

The Hang Seng was down 4.2% to 21,315. China Life (NYSE: LFC) was off 5.8% to 26.15 yuan. China Petroleum (NYSE:SNP) was down 5.7% to 6.3.

The Shanghai Composite dropped 3.6% to 3,820.

Data from Reuters.

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

Asia markets crushed: LFC, SNE, TM originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 17 Mar 2008 03:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Nikkei index rose more than it has at any time in the last five years. It moved up 4.3% to 13,626. Sony (NYSE: SNE) rose 4% to 4820. Toppan Printing rose 10.1% to 1111. Toshiba rose 7.1% to 782.

The Hang Seng rose 3.7% to 24,022. China Netcom (NYSE: CN) rose 8.2% to 25. China Petroleum (NYSE: SNP) rose 5.1% to 9.09.

The Shanghai Composite was up 1.4% to 4,552.

Data from Reuters.

Huge market rally in Japan, China (SNP, SNE) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 14 Feb 2008 04:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Deutsche Bank upgraded China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (NYSE: SNP) to Buy from Hold on valuation following the recent sell-off.
• ThinkEquity upgraded Syniverse Holdings Inc (NYSE: SVR) to Buy from Accumulate citing growth from further price reductions and adoption of new technologies that will drive transaction volumes.
• Allegheny Technologies Incorporated (NYSE: ATI) was raised to Buy from Neutral at Goldman.The firm upgraded Allegheny based on valuation, low stainless steel inventories, and nickel price stabilization.

• Napster Inc (NASDAQ: NAPS) was upgraded to Outperform from Peer Perform at Bear Stearns.
• Goldman raised Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) to Neutral from Sell.
• Johnson Controls Inc (NYSE: JCI) was upgrade to Buy from Add at Calyon.

Analyst upgrades: SNP, SVR and ATI originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 11 Feb 2008 09:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Stock markets in Asia picked up steam as the day went on.

The Nikkei rose 2.6% to 13,860. NEC was up 5.7% to 447. Sharp was up 7.7% to 1967.

The Hang Seng rose 3.9% to 25,032. China Life (NYSE:LFC) rose 9.3% to 32.25. China Petroleum (NYSE:SNP) rose 7.2% to 9.39.

The Shanghai Composite moved up 8.1% to 4,672.

Data from Reuters.

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

Big Asia rally, Shanghai up over 8% (LFC, SNP) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 04 Feb 2008 04:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Markets in China plunged overnight. Hong Kong's Hang Seng dropped 5.5% to 23,819. The Shanghai Composite dropped 5.1% to 4,914. Some shares fell much more. China Life (NYSE: LFC) sold off 9.5% and China Petroleum (NYSE: SNP) dropped 9.1%.

Markets in China are nearing a flat-out correction. in the last month, the Hang Seng has dropped about 13% putting it down much more than the S&P 500. The Shanghai Composite is now off about 3% for the period, but that is after moving up over 80% during the previous year.

Much of the wealth of China's middle class is built on the rising value of the stock market and real estate markets there. Any slowdown in the country's GDP which has been rising over 10% a year will probably take the stock market down further. This could lead to a recession in consumer spending in China.

The fall in the stock market also shows how closely China's economy is tied to the US. As chances for a recession grow here it is clear that imports from the world's most populated country could take a big tumble.

The US is not the only country which needs to worry about negative GDP growth.

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

China markets near full-scale correction originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 21 Jan 2008 04:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.