Continue reading AutoZone Drives Home Great Q2 Results

AutoZone Drives Home Great Q2 Results originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading U.S. Stock Futures Up as Investors Await Manufacturing, Construction Data

U.S. Stock Futures Up as Investors Await Manufacturing, Construction Data originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading AutoZone Fiscal Q2 Earnings Preview

AutoZone Fiscal Q2 Earnings Preview originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This week we turn the calendar page, and that change brings with it a raft of economic data. Scheduled for release on Monday are pending home sales and personal income numbers for January, as well as the Chicago PMI and car and truck sales data for February.

On Tuesday, look for the ISM Manufacturing Index for February and construction spending numbers for January. That's followed on Wednesday by the week's first employment data: the Challenger Job-Cuts announcement and the ADP employment report for February. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke will deliver his semiannual monetary policy testimony before Congress on both days.

Continue reading Week in Preview: Unemployment Rate, Retail Earnings, Bernanke Testimony

Week in Preview: Unemployment Rate, Retail Earnings, Bernanke Testimony originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 27 Feb 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The shares of AutoZone Inc. (AZO) have pulled back slightly, but that's just a disguise: the shares of AZO are headed higher. And the reason is obvious enough: until monthly U.S. job growth averages about 200,000, new car auto sales will remain below 30-year averages.

The auto parts chain was first discussed here on March 30, 2009, at a price of $163.40.

AutoZone is benefiting from economic conditions as adults unable to buy a new car are maintaining their existing used cars; others are purchasing a used car instead of a new one. Each trend is bullish for AZO.

Continue reading Has AutoZone's Pullback Created an Opportunity?

Has AutoZone's Pullback Created an Opportunity? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 10 Feb 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Our recommendations for the Buyback Premium Portfolio center on a collection of five stocks that we believe, as a group, will outperform the market this month.

The Buyback Premium Portfolio has beat the S&P 500 by more than 72% since its inception (August 2, 2000)! It is up 54.87% since inception vs. a decline of 17.90% in the S&P 500. For the month of November, the portfolio gained 3.41% vs. a decline of 0.23% in the S&P 500.

Continue reading David Fried's Buyback Premium Portfolio: Mid-Month Update

David Fried's Buyback Premium Portfolio: Mid-Month Update originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 09 Dec 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Auto parts retailer Autozone Inc. (AZO) reported its fiscal first quarter results this morning, beating analyst estimates for the quarter.

Going into this morning's earnings report, analysts were expecting to see Autozone report earnings of $3.40 per share, but the company easily beat out estimates with a reported $3.77.

Continue reading Autozone Earnings: Better-Than-Expected Q1 Results

Autozone Earnings: Better-Than-Expected Q1 Results originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 07 Dec 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

After a week full of mixed economic data taking its toll on the markets, things will settle down somewhat this coming week.

• Monday: Fed releases October data on consumer credit outstanding.
• Tuesday: TIPP Economic Optimism Index is due.
• Wednesday: Labor Dept. offers initial jobless claims numbers for last week, EIA's crude oil inventory last week, October wholesale trade numbers from the Census Bureau.
• Friday: Trade balance data for October, Bureau of Labor Statistics releases its Import Price Index for November, preliminary Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index is due, and the Treasury Dept. releases the federal budget balance in November.

Continue reading Week in Preview: A Bit of a Breather (AZO, DG, SFD)

Week in Preview: A Bit of a Breather (AZO, DG, SFD) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 05 Dec 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading AutoZone Is in an Uptrend

AutoZone Is in an Uptrend originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 18 Nov 2010 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Our recommendations at The Buyback Letter currently focus on a collection of five stocks that we believe, as a group, will outperform the market this month. So far, we have done well. Our Buyback Premium Portfolio is beating the S&P 500 by more than 68% since its inception (August 2, 2000). The portfolio is up 47.53% since inception versus a decline of 20.64% in the S&P 500 over the same time frame. For the month of September 2010, The Buyback Premium Portfolio gained 12.38% vs. a gain of 8.76% in the S&P 500.

So what's our New Premium Portfolio Recommendation? On October 1, we issued a sell recommendation on two stocks Coach (COH) and Health Net (HNT) at market. Now, we recommended using the proceeds and available cash to buy equal dollar amounts of the following two stocks at market:Family Dollar (FDO) and American Financial Group (AFG).

Continue reading Two Stocks That Could Profit from Buybacks

Two Stocks That Could Profit from Buybacks originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 03 Nov 2010 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

AutoZone Inc. (AZO) is scheduled to release its fiscal fourth-quarter earnings before the market opens Tuesday, Sept. 21. The retailer has a solid track record in the earnings spotlight, having exceeded analysts' per-share profit predictions in each of the past four reporting periods -- and AZO has managed to surpass Wall Street's consensus estimate by an increasingly wide margin in each sequential quarter.

Ahead of the report, analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters are anticipating AutoZone to bank a profit of $5.42 per share, up from $4.45 per share in the year-ago period. Sales are expected to arrive at $2.39 billion.

Continue reading Earnings Preview: Can AutoZone Rev Higher After Q4 Report?

Earnings Preview: Can AutoZone Rev Higher After Q4 Report? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 20 Sep 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Housing steps into the spotlight again this coming week. The release of the National Association of Homebuilders Housing Market Index starts out the week on Monday morning. Then on Tuesday morning, look for housing starts data from August. Release of the July FHFA House Price Index is scheduled for Wednesday. And numbers for existing home sales and for new home sales in August are due out Thursday and Friday, respectively. Overall, the housing market is expected to have continued to lose momentum in August, but less dramatically than in July.

Also on the economic calendar this week: Tuesday's FOMC meeting on interest rates, the Conference Board's Leading Economic Indicators Index for August on Thursday, initial jobless claims for last week, and durable goods orders data for August on Friday. No significant changes from the Fed are anticipated, but the leading economic indicators may rise a bit.

Continue reading The Week in Preview: Housing Data, Lennar's Earnings and More

The Week in Preview: Housing Data, Lennar's Earnings and More originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 19 Sep 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Citigroup upgraded OpenTable (OPEN) to buy from hold, citing stronger than expected near-term trends and traction for the company's Spotlight offering. Citi upped its price target for shares to $70 from $46.
• Wells Fargo upgraded Werner (WERN) to outperform from market perform, citing valuation, the company's reduction in cost, and its above peer exposure to the pricing cycle.
• Goldman upgraded CarMax (KMX) to neutral from sell based on valuation and higher used car profitability. The firm has a $24 target on the stock.
• Apollo Group (APOL) was upgraded to overweight from equal weight at Morgan Stanley.
• Nokia (NOK) was upgraded to overweight from equal weight at Barclays.
• Zions Bancorp (ZION) was upgraded to outperform from market perform at Bernstein.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AZO, KMX, MSFT, NOK, OPEN, PCG, RIMM, WDC, WERN, XOM ...

Analyst Calls: AZO, KMX, MSFT, NOK, OPEN, PCG, RIMM, WDC, WERN, XOM ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 13 Sep 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• BMO Capital upgraded Noble Energy (NE) to outperform from market perform and raised its target to $85 from $78. The firm upgraded Noble based on Niobrara field potential and record-breaking reserve potential at the Leviathan prospect.
• Wells Fargo upgraded Raytheon (RTN) to outperform from market perform based on relative valuation, strong balance sheet and International sales exposure.
• ThinkEquity upgraded Cerner (CERN) to buy from hold based on valuation and EMR momentum. The firm raised its price target on shares to $86 from $80.
• Sanofi-Aventis (SNY) was upgraded to buy from hold at Societe Generale.
• Cavium Networks (CAVM) was upgraded to outperform from market perform at JMP Securities.
• CSG Systems (CSGS) was upgraded to outperform from perform at Oppenheimer.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AZO, CERN, CIS, INTC, LMT, LULU, NE, RTN, SNY, TXN ...

Analyst Calls: AZO, CERN, CIS, INTC, LMT, LULU, NE, RTN, SNY, TXN ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 30 Aug 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Wunderlich upgraded Granite Construction (GVA) to buy from hold, citing valuation and expected positive catalysts in 2011. The firm has a $29 price target for shares.
• Jefferies upgraded WuXi PharmaTech (WX) to buy from hold following the Q2 report, citing continued strength in China-based lab services growth. The firm has an $18 target on shares.
• BMO Capital upgraded Newell Rubbermaid (NWL) to outperform from market perform following capital structure actions. The firm has a $20 price target on the stock.
• Energizer (ENR) was upgraded to overweight from equal weight at Morgan Stanley.
• Cephalon (CEPH) was upgraded to buy from neutral at BofA/Merrill.
• Dycom (DY) was upgraded to outperform from market perform at Morgan Keegan.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AMAT, AZO, GVA, HBC, IRE, NWL, OXY, VVUS, WX ...

Analyst Calls: AMAT, AZO, GVA, HBC, IRE, NWL, OXY, VVUS, WX ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 03 Aug 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

A U.S. economic recovery in doubt means new car auto sales forecasts are in doubt, which is good news if you own shares of auto parts chain AutoZone Inc. (AZO). I first discussed AutoZone here on March 30, 2009, at a price of $163.40.

AutoZone is benefiting from a recession-related trend: Adults unable to buy a new car are maintaining their existing used cars; others are purchasing a used car instead of a new one. Each trend is bullish for AutoZone.

As a result, look for AutoZone to post revenue growth of 5% to 7%, boosted by both same-store sales growth and about 200 new stores. Margins should widen.

Continue reading AutoZone Benefits from Economic Doubt

AutoZone Benefits from Economic Doubt originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 14:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Get into the Buying Zone with AutoZone

Get into the Buying Zone with AutoZone originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 08 Jul 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Early Financial Fireworks Hit the Markets; Will the U.S. Emerge the Leader in the Second Half of Year?

Early Financial Fireworks Hit the Markets; Will the U.S. Emerge the Leader in the Second Half of Year? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 02 Jul 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Baird upgraded C.H. Robinson (CHRW) to outperform from neutral and has a $67 target on the stock. The firm upgraded shares citing growth opportunities given the capacity constrained environment.
• UBS upgraded Navistar (NAV) to buy from neutral, citing improved trucker preferences towards the company's engine technology.
• KeyBanc upgraded Crane (CR) to buy from hold based on valuation stabilization and potential upside in aerospace, among other reasons. The firm has a $39 target on the stock.
• United Therapeutics (UTHR) was upgraded to overweight from neutral at JPMorgan.
• Equifax (EFX) was upgraded to overweight from equal weight at Stephens.
• Brown & Brown (BRO) was upgraded to buy from hold at Citigroup.
  

Continue reading Analyst Calls: ANDS, AZO, CHRW, CR, CRM, FDO, GIS, K, NAV, ORCL ...

Analyst Calls: ANDS, AZO, CHRW, CR, CRM, FDO, GIS, K, NAV, ORCL ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 10 Jun 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• UBS upgraded JPMorgan (JPM) to buy from neutral and has a $50 price target on the stock. The firm cites valuation for the upgrade.
• Morgan Joseph upgraded Deere (DE) to buy from hold, citing strong U.S. demand for combines and tractors, favorable fundamentals in Brazil, and expectations for improved domestic construction-equipment demand. The firm has a $75 price target on the stock.
• Wells Fargo upgraded Venoco (VQ) to outperform from market perform to reflect increased confidence in the company's Monterey Shale potential.
• GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) was upgraded to buy from hold at Jefferies.
• Tenet Healthcare (THC) was upgraded to positive from neutral at Susquehanna.
• Agnico-Eagle (AEM) was upgraded to outperform from sector perform at RBC Capital.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AZO, CCL, CSIQ, DE, GSK, JPM, NILE, RCL, RL, THC, VQ ...

Analyst Calls: AZO, CCL, CSIQ, DE, GSK, JPM, NILE, RCL, RL, THC, VQ ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 02 Jun 2010 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.