Analyst Upgrades

• Goldman upgraded CSX (CSX) to neutral from sell.
• General Cable (BGC) was upgraded to buy from hold at KeyBanc.
• Morgan Stanley upgraded Chart Industries (GTLS) and Dresser Rand (DRC) to overweight from equal weight.
• Blackrock (BLK) was upgraded to outperform from neutral at Macquarie.
• Credit Suisse upgraded Zions Bancorp (ZION) to neutral from underperform and GameStop (GME) to outperform from neutral.
• Honeywell (HON) was upgraded to outperform from sector perform at RBC Capital.
• Panera Bread (PNRA) was upgraded to buy from neutral at SunTrust.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AMD, BLK, CSX, DKS, GME, HGSI, HON, KEY, NSC, STP, ZION ...

Analyst Calls: AMD, BLK, CSX, DKS, GME, HGSI, HON, KEY, NSC, STP, ZION ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 17 Nov 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Chasing Value: General Cable -- Can Something Be Too Cheap?

Chasing Value: General Cable -- Can Something Be Too Cheap? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

In investing, they don't all work out. General Cable Corp. (BGC), which I first wrote about on May 5, 2009, at a price of $34.59, has been stopped-out at at the sell/stop loss of $28.

The stock of General Cable, which develops, designs, manufactures, and distributes copper, aluminum, and fiber optic wire and cable products for the communications, energy, and electrical markets, has been retreating since it announced a Q4 production cut back in mid-2009.

Continue reading General Cable Corp.: Stopped-Out

General Cable Corp.: Stopped-Out originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Based on its decent Q3 performance and the 2010 outlook for the U.S./global economies, I'm reiterating my buy rating for General Cable Corporation (BGC), first recommended on May 5, 2009, at a price of $34.59.

General Cable, which develops, designs, manufactures, and distributes copper, aluminum, and fiber optic wire and cable products for the communications, energy and electrical markets, reported Q3 EPS of 55 cents, above the First Call Q3 EPS estimate of 53 cents. However, General Cable gave up yearly gains because it announced a Q4 production cut -- one that will likely weigh on Q4 earnings.

Continue reading General Cable Corp.: Pull-back is buy opportunity

General Cable Corp.: Pull-back is buy opportunity originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading General Cable: Holding shares, while monitoring technicals

General Cable: Holding shares, while monitoring technicals originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading General Cable knows a wired world is a profitable world

General Cable knows a wired world is a profitable world originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 05 May 2009 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"The new administration will likely soon launch a new spending program to put people back to work and boost the economy," says Jim Powell, adding, "That's even more likely now that the financial crisis is in full swing and growth is declining."

In his Global Changes & Opportunities Report he looks at General Cable (NYSE: BGC) as a play on the rebuilding of the nation's electric power grid.

"Politicians at all levels have also voiced strong support for rebuilding our woefully inadequate infrastructure. Because building roads, bridges, electrical grids, and so on, will employ many voters, I think allocations for such projects will go to the top of the government's spending list.

"That's especially true since infrastructure projects will also funnel billions of dollars to state and local governments that are facing hard times. All in all, modernizing the the electric power grid should be another very pro?table long-term investment.

"I believe the most promising beneficiary of the electric power project will be General Cable. The company produces products for a wide variety of applications including large cables for long distribution networks.

Continue reading General Cable (BCC): Power play on power grid

General Cable (BCC): Power play on power grid originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Cramer's 'must own list' of short supply stocks originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 10 May 2007 20:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The nation's electrical and telecommunications wiring needs run the gamut from delicate instrument filaments to light transmitting fiber optic lines to massive industrial power cables. Broadscale wire makers face a wide range of manufacturing complexities, but there is a Highland Heights, Kentucky firm that can handle them.

General Cable Corp. (NYSE: BGC) manufactures copper, aluminum and fiber optic wire and cable products. These are used in the industrial power and control, utility, mining, equipment control, entertainment, military, residential construction, industrial and medical equipment, automotive aftermarket, enterprise networking, and telecommunications markets. Brand names include Carol, BICC, and Helix/HiTemp. AT&T (NYSE: T), Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Qwest Communications International (NYSE: Q) are customers. Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE: ALU) is a major competitor.

The company surprised the Street last week, when it reported Q1 EPS of $1.01 (ex-items) and revenues of $1.01 billion. Analysts had been looking for 76 cents and $980 million. Management also guided Q2 EPS to $1 or better (86 cent consensus) and Q2 revenues to something approaching $1.1 billion ($1.06B consensus). The CEO remarked, "The company continues to experience increasing demand, particularly for overhead transmission cable in the U.S. and Europe. Combined with tight supply in the market for utility products, this has produced increasing prices and is allowing manufacturing improvements to fall to the bottom line."

RBC Capital Markets subsequently reiterated its "outperform" rating on the issue and boosted its price target from $61 to $74. The stock popped into a bullish "flag" consolidation pattern on the news. Prices frequently exit flags moving in the same direction they were traveling when they entered them. In this case, that would be to the upside.

Altogether, brokers now recommend the shares with two "strong buys," three "buys" and two "holds." Analysts see a 14% average annual growth rate through the next five years. The BGC Price to Sales ratio (0.87), Sales Growth rate (25.48%), EPS Growth rate (146.34%), Return on Investment (13.62%) and Return on Equity (38.44%) compare favorably with industry, sector and S&P 500 averages.

Institutions hold about 95% of the outstanding shares. Over the past 52 weeks, the stock has traded between $26.10 and $65.60. A stop-loss of $55.50 looks good here.

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

General Cable: Helping business get wired originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 08 May 2007 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.