Continue reading Sunoco: Refining Sector Winner

Sunoco: Refining Sector Winner originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 11 Feb 2011 15:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Talk about late bloomers: refiner Sunoco Inc. (SUN), first discussed here on April 21, 2009, at a price of $26.58, has made it through gasoline's really tough period and has powered higher on signs of increasing gasoline demand.

Like other refiners of crude oil, Sunoco was hurt by the high oil price/low gasoline demand condition pervasive in the giant U.S. market. Sluggish demand squeezed refining margins throughout 2009 and in to 2010, and Sunoco's stock meandered accordingly.

To right-size for the new consumer budget-conscious era, Sunoco closed its Eagle Point refinery a year ago and also sold its polypropylene business. Related cost cuts followed.

Continue reading Sunoco Has Survived the 'Gasoline Recession'

Sunoco Has Survived the 'Gasoline Recession' originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 22 Nov 2010 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Friday morning, U.S. oil refiner Sunoco (SUN) announced that it logged a third-quarter profit rather than a loss like last year's results.

Sunoco pulled in 54 cents per diluted share ($65 million) in the most recent quarter, better than the loss of 29 cents per share from a year ago. On an adjusted basis, Sunoco earned 22 cents per share. The stronger results were attributed to an improvement in earnings from the steel-making coal and logistics businesses.

Continue reading Sunoco Turns a Quarterly Profit, Misses Expectations

Sunoco Turns a Quarterly Profit, Misses Expectations originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 29 Oct 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Oppenheimer upgraded Teva (TEVA) to outperform from perform. The firm expects the company to generate strong 2H10 earnings and thinks the competition created by Novartis's (NVS) Gilenia will be limited.
• Citigroup upgraded Celanese (CE) to buy from hold, citing valuation and the company's move to add assets in China, as well as possible takeover interest.
• Needham raised Stereotaxis (STXS) to buy from hold as the firm thinks that strong clinical data recently announced by the company could result in faster adoption rates of its robotic surgery.
• BMO Capital upgraded Smurfit-Stone Container (SSCC) given strength in the containerboard market.
• Melco Crown (MPEL) was upgraded to buy from neutral at UBS.
• Goldman Sachs raised Temple-Inland (TIN) to buy from neutral.
• Barclays upgraded Lloyds Banking (LYG) to equal weight from underweight.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AMGN, APOL, CE, CELG, HGSI, RIMM, STXS, SUN, TEVA, VAL ...

Analyst Calls: AMGN, APOL, CE, CELG, HGSI, RIMM, STXS, SUN, TEVA, VAL ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 09 Sep 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Sunoco's Shares Start to Shine

Sunoco's Shares Start to Shine originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 03 Aug 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Collins Stewart upgraded BP (BP) to buy from hold after the company canceled its dividend payments and agreed to put $20 billion in a claims escrow fund.
• Credit Suisse upgraded First Solar (FSLR) to outperform from neutral and raised its target to $150 from $110.20. The firm raised estimates given expectations for strong demand and lower costs and believes pricing upside for Q2/Q3 is not reflected in valuation.
• Argus upgraded EMC (EMC) to buy from hold, citing valuation and notes that the company's VMware (VMW) stake is undervalued.
• Rio Tinto (RTP) was upgraded to buy from hold at Societe Generale.
• Sunoco (SUN) was upgraded to overweight from equal weight at Barclays.
• UBS (UBS) was upgraded to outperform from underperform at Macquarie.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AAPL, AMZN, BP, DTV, EMC, FSLR, LMT, NOK, RTP, SNDK, UBS ...

Analyst Calls: AAPL, AMZN, BP, DTV, EMC, FSLR, LMT, NOK, RTP, SNDK, UBS ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 17 Jun 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

When a stock meanders for a year, it's asking investors to exit the position. And that would have been the case with Sunoco Inc. (SUN), which I first discussed here on April 20, 2009, at a price of $26.58, had it not been for Sunoco's refinery operation designation.

Like other refiners of crude oil, Sunoco has been hurt by the high-oil-price and low-gasoline-demand condition pervasive in the giant U.S. market: Sluggish demand has hurt refining margins.

Continue reading Sunoco: Refinery Play for Patient Investors

Sunoco: Refinery Play for Patient Investors originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• UBS upgraded Dr Pepper Snapple (DPS) to buy from neutral, citing strong fundamentals and buybacks. The firm raised its target to $42 from $31.
• Piper Jaffray upgraded ProAssurance (PRA) to overweight from neutral. The firm has a $76 price target on shares.
• Hershey (HSY) and Sunoco (SUN) were upgraded to sell from conviction sell at Goldman.
• Level 3 Comm (LVLT) was upgraded to neutral from underweight at JPMorgan.
• Cathay Pacific (CPCAY) was upgraded to buy from hold at Deutsche Bank.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: BBBY, DPS, HSY, MT, PSYS, SUN, TMK, YHOO ...

Analyst Calls: BBBY, DPS, HSY, MT, PSYS, SUN, TMK, YHOO ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Sunoco: Sideways Action Persists

Sunoco: Sideways Action Persists originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 25 Jan 2010 10:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Baird upgraded Intel (INTC) to outperform from neutral and has a $26 target on the stock. The firm's checks indicate tier-one PC OEMs have raised their 1H10 procurement forecasts, which could lead to Intel outperformance.
• Citigroup upgraded UnitedHealth (UNH) to buy from hold on expectations the company will benefit from a sector rotation into Managed Care in 2010. The firm raised its price target on shares to $39 from $30.
• UBS upgraded Morgan Stanley (MS) to buy from neutral based on strong capital and liquidity positions, building investment banking pipelines, and expectations for a turn in EPS/ROE, among other reasons.
• Deutsche Bank upgraded the U.S. Refining group as it believes demand is improving and margins could expand in 2010. The firm raised its rating on Sunoco (SUN) to hold from sell and its target on shares to $25 from $18, and upgraded Tesoro (TSO) and Frontier Oil (FTO) to buy from hold.
• Boeing (BA) was raised to overweight from equal weight at Barclays.
• Wynn Resorts (WYNN) was upgraded at UBS to buy from neutral.
• Investors Bancorp (ISBC) was upgraded to buy from neutral at Janney Montgomery.

Continue reading Analyst Upgrades, Downgrades and Initiations: BA, BMY, EAT, INTC, MS, UNH, WYNN ...

Analyst Upgrades, Downgrades and Initiations: BA, BMY, EAT, INTC, MS, UNH, WYNN ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 04 Jan 2010 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst upgrades:

• Wells Fargo upgraded Qualcomm (QCOM) to outperform from market perform. The firm believes key risks have been eliminated, such as the license dispute with Nokia (NOK) and litigation with Broadcom (BRCM), and thinks Qualcomm is well-positioned for handset unit shipments growth. Wells has a $50 to $60 target range on shares.
• Oppenheimer upgraded Juniper Networks (JNPR) to outperform from perform as it views shares as compelling at current levels and thinks the company is well positioned for 2010. Opco set a $31 price target on the stock.
• FBR Capital upgraded Frontline (FRO) to outperform from market perform after raising its rating on the tanker industry to overweight. The firm raised its target on shares to $33 from $23.
• PetSmart (PETM) was upgraded to buy from neutral at Goldman.
• Career Education (CECO) was upgraded to equal weight from underweight at Barclays.
• Rosetta Resources (ROSE) was upgraded to buy from neutral at SunTrust.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: AAP, FRO, MSFT, QCOM, SUN, WYNN ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: AAP, FRO, MSFT, QCOM, SUN, WYNN ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Sunoco: Modest progress amid tepid gasoline sales

Sunoco: Modest progress amid tepid gasoline sales originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Sunoco is testing investors' patience

Sunoco is testing investors' patience originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 17 Aug 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Wachovia upgraded Choice Hotels (NYSE: CHH) to Outperform from Market Perform based on its high margin franchise, valuation, and brand acquisition opportunities, among other reasons.
• Canaccord upgraded Freeport McMoRan (NYSE: FCX) to Buy from Speculative Buy based on asset and management quality, size, and liquidity, and view as a potential hedge against inflation and U.S. dollar weakness.
• Cowen upgraded Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) to Outperform from Neutral. The firm expects Amazon to gain more of the consumer wallet as it focuses on lower prices and a superior shopping experience vs. online and offline competitors.
• Ctrip.com (NASDAQ: CTRP) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Nomura.
• FedEx (NYSE: FDX) was upgraded to Overweight from Equal Weight at Barclays.
• Marathon Oil (NYSE: MRO) was upgraded to Neutral from Sell at Goldman.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: AMZN, FDX, MRO, NOK, SUN ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: AMZN, FDX, MRO, NOK, SUN ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Sunoco is about as cheap as an empty shoe box

Sunoco is about as cheap as an empty shoe box originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 21 Apr 2009 12:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Closing Bell: Another hour, and it might have been up (T, AIG, CSCO, F, LVLT, JAVA)

Closing Bell: Another hour, and it might have been up (T, AIG, CSCO, F, LVLT, JAVA) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 06 Apr 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Barclays upgraded Spectra Energy (NYSE: SE) to Overweight from Equal Weight. The firm believes Spectra's valuation is attractive and that the dividend is secure.
• Soleil upgraded Sunoco (NYSE: SUN) to Buy from Hold on valuation following the recent pullback and maintains a $45 target on the stock.
  
• Friedman Billings upgraded O'Reilly Automotive (NASDAQ: ORLY) to Outperform from Underperform on valuation and the company's better than expected sales and earnings acceleration. The firm has a $38 target on the stock.
• Royal Caribbean (NYSE: RCL) was removed from Goldman's Conviction Sell List.
  
• Intercontinental Hotels (NYSE: IHG) was raised to Buy from Hold at Jefferies.
  
• Valspar (NYSE: VAL) was lifted to Neutral from Underweight at JP Morgan.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: SUN, DAI, BDX, ITRN ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: SUN, DAI, BDX, ITRN ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 24 Feb 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

If you've been watching earnings this past week, or if you read last week's Week in Preview, then this coming week may leave you feeling a bit like Bill Murray in Groundhog's Day. That is, again analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters expect earnings declines to be more frequent and deeper than earnings gains.

Motorola Inc. (NYSE: MOT), Dow Chemical Co. (NYSE: DOW), Anadarko Petroleum Corp. (NYSE: APC), IAC Interactivecorp (NASDAQ: IACI), Moody's Corp. (NYSE: MCO), Elizabeth Arden Inc. (NASDAQ: RDEN), Devon Energy Corp. (NYSE: DVN), Diebold Inc. (NYSE: DBD), Tyco International Ltd. (NYSE: TYC), United Parcel Service (NYSE: UPS), Cisco Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO), Polo Ralph Lauren Corp. (NYSE: RL), ITT Corp. (NYSE: ITT), and Walt Disney Co. (NYSE: DIS) are scheduled to report quarterly results this week, and they're all expected to report double-digit declines in earnings.

But again this week, let's take a look who Wall Street feels may have done well in the past quarter.

Continue reading The week in preview: High hopes for MasterCard, Avon, Aflac, Northrop Grumman

The week in preview: High hopes for MasterCard, Avon, Aflac, Northrop Grumman originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 01 Feb 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• JP Morgan upgraded Astoria Financial (NYSE: AF) to Neutral from Underweight on valuation as it finds the stock fairly valued at current levels.
• Seagate Technology (NASDAQ: STX) was upgraded to Neutral from Sell at American Technology.

• Soleil downgraded Sunoco (NYSE: SUN) to Hold from Buy on valuation following the recent rally and is concerned about rising distillate inventories on the East Coast.
• Deutsche Bank downgraded MedCath (NASDAQ: MDTH) to Hold from Buy and lowered its target to $12.50 from $14 as it believes FY09 consensus estimates remain too high.
• Piper Jaffray downgraded ReneSola (NYSE: SOL) to Neutral from Buy and Canadian Solar (NASDAQ: CSIQ) to Sell from Neutral.
• LHC Group (NASDAQ: LHCG) was cut to Hold from Buy at Deutsche Bank.

Analyst upgrades and downgrades: AF, SUN, SOL ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 02 Jan 2009 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Goldman upgraded Baidu (NASDAQ: BIDU) to Buy from Neutral and added shares to its Conviction Buy List. The analyst expects Baidu to benefit from growth in paid search in China, where growth is expected to be 30% annually.
  
• Friedman Billings upgraded shares of Corporate Office Properties (NYSE: OFC) to Outperform from Market Perform to reflect the company's exposure to the "sound" Washington, D.C., market and "favorable" liquidity position.
  
• Soleil upgraded Sunoco (NYSE: SUN) to Buy from Hold and raised its target to $45 from $38 on the strength of the company's non-refining segment.
• Mosaic (NYSE: MOS), Potash (NYSE: POT), Intrepid Potash (NYSE: IPI) and Terra Industries (NYSE: TRA) were upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Merrill Lynch.
  
• Kroger (NYSE: KR) was upgraded to Neutral from Underweight at JP Morgan.

• Jefferies downgraded shares of Bronco Drilling (NASDAQ: BRNC) to Underperform from Hold and lowered its target to $4.50 from $7.50 on valuation and their expectations for a rig decline in U.S. drilling activity.
  
• Morgan Stanley cut Credit Suisse (NYSE: CS) to Equal Weight from Overweight into reporting season on concerns of further impairment charges.
  
• Deutsche Bank downgraded Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) to Sell from Hold to reflect challenges in the handset market.
• Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE: ALU) was lowered to Sell from Hold at WestLB.
  
• BT Group (NYSE: BT) was slashed at JP Morgan to Underweight from Neutral.
  
• Sovereign Bancorp (NYSE: SOV) was downgraded to Market Perform from Outperform at Keefe Bruyette.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: BIDU, POT, SUN, KR, CS, BAC, UBS ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: BIDU, POT, SUN, KR, CS, BAC, UBS ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 16 Dec 2008 10:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.