Ann Taylor (ANN - option chain) shares are rising today after the company reported earnings this morning, posting a fiscal-Q4 profit of $7.97 million, or 14 cents per share. Excluding one-time items, ANN earned 19 cents per share on revenue of $515.3 million. Analysts had forecast a profit of 17 cents per share on revenue of $515.1 million. ANN also forecast Q1 revenue of $510 million and fiscal-2011 revenue of $2.18 billion. Analysts have forecast Q1 revenue of $488 million and 2011 revenue of $1.98 billion. If you think that the stock won't fall by too much in the coming months, then now could be a good time to look at a bullish hedged trade on ANN.

ANN opened this morning at $27.38. So far today the stock has hit a low of $26.50 and a high of $27.98. As of 11:55, ANN is trading at $27.19 up $2.98 (12.3%). The chart for ANN looks neutral and S&P gives ANN a neutral 3 STARS (out of 5) hold ranking.

Ann Taylor (ANN) March put option implied volatility is at 67, April is at 57, June is at 52. This is compared to its 26-week average of 53 according to Track Data, suggesting larger near term price movement into expected Q4 results on March 3.

Nike, Inc. (NKE) March put option implied volatility is at 31, April is at 27, July is at 25. This is compared to its 26-week average of 24 according to Track Data, suggesting larger near term price movement into expected Q3 results on March 17.

Update is by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com

Analyst Upgrades

• Wynn Resorts (WYNN) to overweight from neutral at JPMorgan.
• Oracle (ORCL) and Alliance Data Systems (ADS) to outperform from neutral at Macquarie.
• Saint Joe (JOE) to outperform from market perform at Keefe Bruyette.
• Starwood Hotels (HOT) to neutral from underperform at RW Baird.
• Middlesex Water (MSEX) to buy from neutral at Janney Capital.
• Consol Energy (CNX) to buy from hold at BB&T.

Ann Taylor Stores, Corp. (ANN) is doing extremely well this afternoon. At the time of this writing, shares of the company were up 9% to $25.90. What a move. It probably goes without saying that it was backed by high volume.

The 52-week low for the stock is $11.59 while the 52-week high, which was reached earlier in the intraday session, is currently set at $26.12. There is definitely a bullish aura surrounding this equity. The one-year chart shows a nice recent uptrend, as well as a desire to move past resistance levels defined back in the springtime. So, should investors still be interested at this point?

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.

Below are some highlights from this past week's earnings coverage on BloggingStocks. Click through to the original posts for more details.

• Ann Taylor Stores Corp. (ANN) shares rallied on heavy volume after it posted better-than-expected Q1 earnings.
• AutoZone Inc. (AZO) Q3 earnings easily beat consensus expectations and same-store sales rose sharply.
• Borders Group Inc. (BGP) posted a wider operating loss, decreasing gross margin, and a same-store sales decline.
• Campbell Soup Co. (CPB) posted strong Q3 results and offered guidance, boosting shares on a down-market day.
• Costco Wholesale Corp. (COST) posted better-than-expected Q3 results, due in part to a surge in membership sales.

Ann Taylor (ANN) closed higher this past Friday by a whopping 8%. It increased $1.73 to $21.96. Volume was well above average, an indication of conviction behind the trade. Wall Street gave the retailer a thumbs-up after its most recent quarterly report.

The stock has been an interesting one over the past twelve months. As I've mentioned before, it's been difficult figuring out exactly where the market wants to take it. Yet, when you step back and have a look at the one-year chart, you see what appears to be a bias to the upside. The right side of the graphic shows a little volatility that has pulled the stock down from the 52-week high of $25.24. Have we been presented with a buying opportunity?

Ann Taylor (ANN). Now there's a stock that drives me crazy. If you check out previous articles I've written on the retailer (here's one from November 2009; here's another from August 2009), you'll notice that I didn't have a great handle on where the stock was heading. It's tough sometimes to figure out how the market will judge the fundamentals of a situation, even if the fundamentals seem especially clear.

Anyway, the company reported fourth-quarter numbers earlier today. On an adjusted basis, profit came to 5 cents per share. A year ago, investors had to deal with a loss of $1.03 per share. Analysts thought a loss of a penny per share was in the cards. That's got to be worth a bid, right?

The next month is the one that matters most to the retail sector. It will dominate the conversation when Q4 and full-year financials are reported. A strong Black Friday brought with it concerns that momentum will fade, but opportunity is not dispensed equally. Some retailers will come through the season better than others, and industry experts have already chosen their favorites.

Michael Dart, senior partner at Kurt Salmon Associates, says, "We are seeing a paradigm shift in the way consumer interprets value and what they are looking for." The winners will do more than pitch deep discounts to convince consumers to part with their hard-earned cash.

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

• Ann Taylor Stores Corp. (ANN) declining same-store sales offset better-than-expected Q3 earnings.
• Canadian Solar Inc. (CSIQ) reached a new 52-week high after Q3 results handily exceeded expectations.
• Dillard's Inc. (DDS) said that it swung to a Q3 profit due to cost cutting as revenue declined year over year.
• GameStop Corp. (GME) reported uninspiring Q3 numbers that included a slump in same-store sales.
• Home Depot Inc. (HD) lower Q3 earnings and revenue beat analysts' estimates, but shares still declined.

I was wrong about Ann Taylor Stores Corp. (ANN). Thought it might make a possible earnings trade. Well, Q3 earnings are out, and it looks like the market has given a thumbs down to my thesis. At the time of this writing, shares were off by almost 4%.

It's funny, because Ann Taylor has done so well in 2009 as a stock that one could have supposed that a wide earnings beat would serve as a catalyst for capital appreciation. The retailer made 20 cents per share on an adjusted basis. According to my earnings preview, 6 cents was the analyst number. I mean, come on, that's an example of solid performance, correct?

Ann Taylor (ANN) was upgraded Monday, according to TheStreet.com. Jesup & Lamont calls the stock a buy now instead of a hold. You're never far from the analyst game when you trade on Wall Street. Question is, what should you do about this retailer? Should you give it a position in your own portfolio?

I'm not the biggest fan of Ann Taylor. I don't like the fundamentals. I made this amply clear back in August when I discussed the company's second quarter.

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

• American Eagle Outfitters Inc. (NYSE: AEO) Q2 profit fell short of estimates as same-store sales declined.
• Ann Taylor Stores Corp. (NYSE: ANN) Q2 earnings beat very low expectations and same-store sales fell.
• Big Lots Inc. (NYSE: BIG) reported better-than-expected numbers for Q2, sending shares upward.
• Burger King Holdings Inc. (NYSE: BKC) posted a better-than-expected Q4 profit though revenue declined.
• China Petroleum & Chemical Corp. posted a record Q2 profit after restrictions on fuel prices were lifted.
• Dell Inc. (NASDAQ: DELL) said its Q2 earnings declined, but they still topped analysts' expectations.

Ann Taylor Stores (NYSE: ANN) reported earnings for the second quarter this past Friday. I didn't think the results were good at all, but the stock did close higher by the end of the trading session. On an adjusted basis, net income dropped like a rock to 6 cents per share from 53 cents per share in the year-ago period. According to Bloomberg, Ann Taylor beat estimates by 3 cents.

Interestingly enough, the market did agree with me early on. That Bloomberg piece mentioned how the shares experienced a decline upon the release. Later on, the shares rebounded as buyers stepped in to partake of a perceived opportunity.

The Talbots, Inc. (NYSE: TLB), a retailer targeted to women and a colleague of businesses such as Macy's (NYSE: M) and Ann Taylor (NYSE: ANN), posted Q4 earnings on Monday after the bell. Actually, they weren't earnings, they were losses. And they were worse than last year's numbers. The chain said it lost, on an adjusted basis, $2.40 per share from continuing operations. In the fourth quarter of the previous fiscal year, Talbots lost only $0.13 per share from continuing operations.

In terms of expectations, this source says that the loss was much wider than anticipated. Net sales for the quarter declined 23%. Cash from operations is a fraction of what it once was. And same-store sales simply bombed, diving almost 25%!