Analyst Upgrades

• Goodrich (GR) to overweight from neutral at JPMorgan.
• Ford (F) to neutral from underperform and CenterPoint Energy (CNP) to outperform from neutral at Credit Suisse.
• Dollar Financial (DLLR) and Edwards Lifesciences (EW) to buy from hold at Jefferies.
• Alterra Capital (ALTE) to buy from hold at Deutsche Bank.
• Cheesecake Factory (CAKE) and P.F. Chang's (PFCB) to buy from neutral, as well as SunTrust (STI) to neutral from sell, at Janney Capital.
• Arch Capital (ACGL), Axis Capital (AXS), PartnerRe (PRE), Everest Re (RE) and Transatlantic (TRH) to buy from hold, as well as W. R. Berkley (WRB) to hold from sell, at Citigroup.
• Optimer Pharm (OPTR) to buy from neutral at BofA/Merrill.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: CAKE, CNP, EW, F, GR, NDAQ, NYX, RGLD, STI, SWN ...

Analyst Calls: CAKE, CNP, EW, F, GR, NDAQ, NYX, RGLD, STI, SWN ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Cheesecake Factory (CAKE), first discussed here on June 25, 2009, at a price of $16.30, has survived the restaurant sector's major consolidation period, and I obviously still like the business model at this stage.

Cheesecake's shares have recently dipped to $29, after accelerating to $34 in December, but investors who can tolerate the risk should view the pullback as an opportunity.

Continue reading Cheesecake Factory: Consider Buying the Pullback

Cheesecake Factory: Consider Buying the Pullback originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 21 Mar 2011 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Cheesecake Factory: Time to Take Some Profits?

Cheesecake Factory: Time to Take Some Profits? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 20 Jan 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Union Pacific (UNP) and Polycom (PLCM) were upgraded to outperform from market perform at Wells Fargo.
• Time Warner Cable (TWC) was upgraded to outperform from sector perform at RBC Capital.
• Cheesecake Factory (CAKE) was upgraded to neutral from underweight at JPMorgan.
• LaSalle Hotel (LHO) was upgraded to outperform from neutral at RW Baird.
• Graco (GGG) was upgraded to buy from hold at BB&T.
• Valley National (VLY) was upgraded to market perform from underperform at Keefe Bruyette.
• Credit Suisse (CS) was upgraded to hold from sell at RBS.
• U.S. Bancorp (USB) was upgraded to outperform from perform at Oppenheimer.
• Penn National (PENN) and Riverbed (RVBD) were upgraded to buy from hold at Jefferies.
• Goodrich (GR) was upgraded to outperform from neutral at Cowen.
• Amazon.com (AMZN) upgraded to buy from average at Caris.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AMZN, CAKE, CS, EMC, FCX, GR, HOT, K, MAR, TWC, UNP, USB ...

Analyst Calls: AMZN, CAKE, CS, EMC, FCX, GR, HOT, K, MAR, TWC, UNP, USB ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 22 Oct 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Cheesecake Factory's Summer Swoon Appears to Be Over

Cheesecake Factory's Summer Swoon Appears to Be Over originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 20 Oct 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Piper Jaffray upgraded Clear Channel Outdoors (CCO) to neutral from underweight following the company's Q1 results. The firm also doubled its price target for shares to $12 from $6.
• Deutsche Bank upgraded MetroPCS (PCS) to buy from hold to reflect higher EBITDA assumptions and valuation while doubling its target price for shares to $14 from $7.
• Thomas Weisel upgraded America's Car-Mart (CRMT) to overweight from market weight ahead of the company's Q4 results and upped its target for shares to $31 from $30. The firm has increased confidence in its FY11 estimates for the company and sees potential upside in Q4.
• Esterline Technologies (ESL) was upgraded to overweight from equal weight at Stephens.
• Cheesecake Factory (CAKE) was upgraded to outperform from neutral at Baird.
• J.B. Hunt (JBHT) was upgraded to buy from neutral at Longbow.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: CAKE, CCO, CRMT, DF, HON, PCS, PRI, ROK, SXE, TSN, WAC ...

Analyst Calls: CAKE, CCO, CRMT, DF, HON, PCS, PRI, ROK, SXE, TSN, WAC ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 11 May 2010 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Leerink upgraded Genzyme (GENZ) to outperform from market perform due to valuation as it believes the sell-off on news of the consent decree is overdone.
• FBR Capital upgraded Progressive (PGR) to outperform from market perform to reflect an improving outlook. The firm raised its target price for shares to $23 from $18.
• Janney Montgomery upgraded Cheesecake Factory (CAKE) two notches to buy from sell, citing improving casual-dining sales trends. The firm has a $30 price target for shares.
• Research in Motion (RIMM) was raised to overweight from neutral at JPMorgan.
• Tata Motors (TTM) was upgraded to buy from hold at Deutsche Bank.
• Palm (PALM) was upgraded to market perform from underperform at BMO Capital.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: BBY, CAKE, GENZ, PALM, PGR, QCOM, RIMM, STX, TTM ...

Analyst Calls: BBY, CAKE, GENZ, PALM, PGR, QCOM, RIMM, STX, TTM ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 26 Mar 2010 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

• Activision Blizzard Inc. (ATVI) reported better-than-expected Q4 earnings and declared an annual dividend.
• Allstate Corp. (ALL) swung to better-than-expected Q4 earnings and also swung to a full-year profit.
• Buffalo Wild Wings Inc. (BWLD) shares tumbled after it posted disappointing earnings tied to costs.
• The Cheesecake Factory Inc. (CAKE) posted better-than-expected Q4 earnings but sales were flat.
• Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. (CMG) earnings numbers for Q4 resulted in upgrades from two analysts.
• CVS Caremark Corp. (CVS) higher Q4 earnings matched the expectations of analysts, and shares rose.

Continue reading Earnings Highlights: Allstate, Marriott, PepsiCo, 3M, UBS, Viacom, WWE ...

Earnings Highlights: Allstate, Marriott, PepsiCo, 3M, UBS, Viacom, WWE ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 13 Feb 2010 12:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

I'm going to take a brief look at two quarterly reports from the past week. We've got a popular restaurant chain on the menu, as well as a DVD-rental business that is causing Hollywood a lot of headaches.

The Cheesecake Factory (CAKE) reported flat sales revenue in the fourth quarter. And when I say flat, I mean it: $400.6 million versus $400.4 million. On an adjusted basis, net income was 28 cents per share, representing an increase of 87%. This was four pennies ahead of estimates.

Continue reading Two Quarterly Releases: The Cheesecake Factory and Coinstar

Two Quarterly Releases: The Cheesecake Factory and Coinstar originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 13 Feb 2010 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Cheesecake Factory's (CAKE) stock has broken out of a trading range, and that's one major reason I'm reiterating my buy rating for the company's shares, first recommended on June 25, 2009, at a price of $16.30.

The U.S.'s frugal consumer era has hit the restaurant sector hard, and there will be many chain restaurant casualties, but Cheesecake won't be one. Don't expect anything spectacular from CAKE in FY2010 -- flattish to slightly higher same-store sales, and only a slight increase in revenue, with most likely a net zero increase in restaurants operated.

Continue reading Cheesecake Factory Is in an Uptrend

Cheesecake Factory Is in an Uptrend originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 27 Dec 2009 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst upgrades:

• Citigroup upgraded Advanced Micro (NYSE: AMD) to Buy from Hold and raised its target to $5.50 from $4.25 citing valuation and expectations for the company's competitive position and gross margins to improve.
• Barclays upgraded American Express (NYSE: AXP) to Overweight from Equal Weight citing long-term earnings growth as the company benefits from declining charge-offs and credit costs. The firm has a $38 target on the stock.
• JPMorgan upgraded Arch Coal (NYSE: ACI) to Overweight from Neutral and raised its target to $22 from $19 citing the FTC approval for the acquisition of Jacobs Ranch mine and valuation.
• Bebe Stores (NASDAQ: BEBE) was upgraded to Overweight from Equal Weight at Stephens.
• Cheesecake Factory (NASDAQ: CAKE) was upgraded to Neutral from Underweight at Piper Jaffray.
• Ashland (NYSE: ASH) was upgraded to Buy from Hold at KeyBanc.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: AMD, AXP, ACI, NOK, NRP, SYK, WPCS

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: AMD, AXP, ACI, NOK, NRP, SYK, WPCS originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 24 Aug 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Can you believe Cheesecake Factory (NASDAQ: CAKE) traded below $5 last November?

I can. Its model of big meals and big cheesecake appeared vulnerable to the deep recession. Would consumers cut out the fat in their dining budget?

Apparently not, as the stock is up more than 3 times since hitting the bottom.

Continue reading An extra restaurant stock: Cheesecake Factory (CAKE)

An extra restaurant stock: Cheesecake Factory (CAKE) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 20 Jun 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Jefferies upgraded MICROS Systems (NASDAQ:MCRS) to Buy from Hold as it believes the company's cost cutting is running ahead of Street expectations. The firm raised its target on shares to $25 from $18.
  
• KeyBanc upgraded Cheesecake Factory (NASDAQ:CAKE) to Buy from Hold. The analyst believes companies will beat EPS estimates given lower commodity costs, focus on cost controls, and reduced drag of inefficient, new restaurants on unit level margins. Additionally, they believe reduced mortgage payments from refinancing will incrementally help traffic.
  
• Keefe Bruyette upgraded First Niagara (NASDAQ:FNFG) to Outperform from Market Perform on valuation following the company's Q1 results. The firm raised its target price to $15.
• American Electric Power (NYSE:AEP) was upgraded to Overweight from Neutral at JP Morgan.
  
• Royal Gold (NASDAQ:RGLD) was upgraded to Sector Performer from Sector Underperformer at CIBC and to Neutral from Underperform at Banc of America/Merrill.
  
• Micron (NYSE:MU) was raised to Overweight from Equal Weight at Barclays.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: MCRS, MU, KFT, CAKE

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: MCRS, MU, KFT, CAKE originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 16 Apr 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• ING upgraded Roche (OTC: RHHBY) to Buy from Hold as it believes Roche will not pay more than $100/share for Genentech (NYSE: DNA) and that the Avastin adjuvant data due April 2009 provides significant upside potential.
  
• Oppenheimer upgraded Motorola (NYSE: MOT) to Outperform from Perform on valuation as it believes sentiment is at an all-time low and the stock has limited downside. The firm set a $5 target on shares.
  
• Morgan Stanley upgraded Comerica (NYSE: CMA) to Equal Weight from Underweight citing valuation that adequately reflects credit deterioration in its commercial-heavy loan portfolio and aggressive government action.
• Cheesecake Factory (NASDAQ: CAKE) and Nucor (NYSE: NUE) were upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Goldman.
  
• Pinnacle Entertainment (NYSE: PNK) was raised to Overweight from Equal Weight at Barclays.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: RHHBY, MOT, RBS, DKS, MCO ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: RHHBY, MOT, RBS, DKS, MCO ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 11 Mar 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

It's about that time again: Pepsi vs. Coke. No, not another taste test or another Battle of the Brands. It's time for the next quarterly results from these two soft drink titans.

Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters anticipate that PepsiCo Inc. (NYSE: PEP), global beverage and snack food giant, will report fourth-quarter earnings this week that are 9.1% higher that a year ago, or $0.88 per share. Revenue is expected to total $12.8 billion, which is 3.9% higher than last year. For the full year, the profit is expected to be $3.67 per share on revenue of $43.4 billion, up from $3.38 per share on $39.5 billion in 2007. PepsiCo's earnings met or beat estimates in four of the past five quarters, but missed by only two cents per share in the third quarter. The consensus recommendation of analysts remains to buy PEP. The share price fell to a 52-week low in January and is now 24.4% lower than it was a year ago. During the fourth quarter, PepsiCo declared a $0.42 per share quarterly dividend, agreed to acquire a Spitz International, and announced investments in China and Mexico.

Continue reading The week in preview: Coke versus Pepsi

The week in preview: Coke versus Pepsi originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 08 Feb 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Casual dining outlets may see Olympic slowdown originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 25 Aug 2008 13:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Benningan's

Benningan's, Steak and Ale go bankrupt as casual dining chains suffer originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Morgan Stanley downgraded shares of Royal Caribbean (NYSE: RCL) to Equal Weight from Overweight to reflect margin concerns due to the high oil prices and lowered their target to $37 from $40. However, the firm maintains an Overweight rating on rival Carnival (NYSE: CCL).
  
• Baird downgraded Alkermes (NASDAQ: ALKS) to Neutral from Outperform following the company's reduced Risperdal Consta guidance. The firm does not recommend buying shares.
  
• UBS cut ASML Holdings (NASDAQ: ASML) to Neutral from Buy to reflect order uncertainty heading into 2009.

• U.S. Airways (NYSE: LCC) was cut at Credit Suisse to Underperform from Outperform.
  
• Goldman downgraded Cheesecake Factory (NASDAQ: CAKE) to Neutral from Buy.
  
• Nordson (NASDAQ: NDSN) was lowered to Hold from Buy at Jefferies.

Analyst downgrades: RCL, ALKS and ASML originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 23 May 2008 11:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Bear Stearns upgraded the Restaurant Sector to Market Weight from Underweight citing better investor sentiment following Fed rate cuts and the economic stimulus plan; upgraded shares include Brinker International (NYSE: EAT), Cheesecake Factory (NASDAQ: CAKE) and Darden Restaurants (NYSE: DRI).
  
• JP Morgan upgraded shares of Blockbuster (NYSE: BBI) to Overweight from Neutral ahead of the company's Q4 results on March 6, as they believe the quarter will be at least in-line and 2008 guidance will be above Street expectations.
  
• Plexus (NASDAQ: PLXS) was raised to Outperform from Neutral at Credit Suisse as they believe current quarter sales and bookings are tracking ahead.

• Maxwell Technologies (NASDAQ: MXWL) was upgraded to Market Perform from Market Underperform at JMP Securities.
  
• The firm also raised Sotheby's (NYSE: BID) to Market Outperform from Market Perform.
  
• Goldman Sachs added Allianz AG (NYSE: AZ) to its Conviction Buy List.

Analyst upgrades: Restaurant sector, BBI and PLXS originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 28 Feb 2008 11:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Here, courtesy of The Bull & Bear Financial Report, 9 leading Wall Street experts -- Elaine Garzarelli, Richard Crippps, Sheldon Jacobs, Don Phillips, Richard Yamarone, High Johnson, Mark Johannessen, Curt Weil, and Paul Nolte -- offer their answers to the $10,000 question.

"Amid relentless volatility in 2007, every participant last December produced an increase over the past 12 months. Our pundits for a second consecutive year are spreading their bets because there are so many economic and political wild cards in the coming presidential election year.

Continue reading Where would you invest $10,000 for 2008?

Where would you invest $10,000 for 2008? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.