Analyst Upgrades

• Expedia (EXPE) to buy from hold at Citigroup.
• Weatherford (WFT) to outperform from market perform at Wells Fargo.
• Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF) to buy from neutral at BofA/Merrill.
• MDC Holdings (MDC) to outperform from neutral at Credit Suisse.
• AutoNavi (AMAP) to buy from neutral at Goldman.
• Ciena (CIEN) and Nvidia (NVDA) to neutral from underweight at JPMorgan.
• Canadian Pacific (CP) to outperform from market perform at Raymond James.
• First Midwest (FMBI) and Quiksilver (ZQK) to buy from hold at Jefferies.
• Sonic (SONC) to neutral from negative at Susquehanna.
• MIPS Technologies (MIPS) to buy from hold at Benchmark Co.
• Arrow Electronics (ARW) and Avnet (AVT) to buy from hold at Stifel Nicolaus.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: ANF, BBBY, CIEN, CP, EXPE, ICE, NVDA, QCOM, SONC ...

Analyst Calls: ANF, BBBY, CIEN, CP, EXPE, ICE, NVDA, QCOM, SONC ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• SINA (SINA) to overweight from neutral at Piper Jaffray.
• Texas Instruments (TXN), ON Semiconductor (ONNN), Xilinx (XLNX) and Valassis (VCI) to overweight from neutral at JPMorgan.
• Salesforce.com (CRM) to buy from hold at Canaccord.
• Peet's Coffee (PEET) to buy from neutral at Janney Capital.
• Invesco Mortgage (IVR) to overweight from equal weight at Barclays.
• BTU International (BTUI) to buy from hold at Wunderlich.
• Coca-Cola Femsa (KOF) to overweight from neutral at HSBC.
• Chipotle (CMG) to market perform from underperform at Morgan Keegan.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AKAM, CIEN, CMG, CRM, FDO, GOOG, JNPR, MCC, TXN, YHOO ...

Analyst Calls: AKAM, CIEN, CMG, CRM, FDO, GOOG, JNPR, MCC, TXN, YHOO ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 02 Mar 2011 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Yingli Green (YGE) to outperform from market perform at Wells Fargo.
• National Semiconductor (NSM) to outperform from market perform at FBR Capital.
• DuPont (DD) to buy from hold at Citigroup.
• Blackboard (BBBB) to overweight from neutral at JPMorgan.
• Kindred Healthcare (KND) to buy from hold at Jefferies.
• Peabody Energy (BTU) to outperform from market perform at BMO Capital.
• Savvis (SVVS) to buy from neutral and InterActiveCorp (IACI) to neutral from underperform at BofA/Merrill.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: BRCM, BTU, DD, EBAY, KR, MRVL, NSM, PCX, SVVS, TWX ...

Analyst Calls: BRCM, BTU, DD, EBAY, KR, MRVL, NSM, PCX, SVVS, TWX ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 03 Dec 2010 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Restaurant chain Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG), has vectored from $90 to $200.65 in 2010, on both new restaurant openings, and a likely low/mid-single-digit increase in same-store sales.

The key phrase in the above being a possible 'mid-single-digit' SSS increase: a decent traffic and sales increase is not consistent with the U.S.'s current 'frugal consumer' trend, but Chipotle appears to be bucking the trend.

Chipotle operates restaurants in the fast casual dining segment, using fresh ingredients and traditional cooking methods to cook tacos, burritos, salads, and burrito bowls. As of the start of 2010, CMG had 956 restaurants in 35 states, with more than half in California, Ohio, Texas, Colorado and Illinois.

Continue reading Is Chipotle Mexican Grill Overvalued?

Is Chipotle Mexican Grill Overvalued? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 22 Oct 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Options Update: McDonald's Volatility Low at 19; Shares Near Record High into EPS originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 21 Oct 2010 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Baird upgraded Oshkosh (OSK) to outperform from neutral, citing valuation as it believes post-Iraq U.S. military spending concerns are overdone. The firm keeps a $42 price target for shares.
• Goldman transferred coverage on CenturyTel (CTL) with a buy from a neutral and has a $42 price target on the stock. The firm believes CenturyTel could increase buybacks and or increase its dividend given free cash generation and low payout ratio.
• Lazard Capital upgraded Hatteras Financial (HTS) to buy from hold to reflect increased dividend projections. The firm has a $30 price target for shares.
• EOG Resources (EOG) was upgraded to neutral from underperform at Credit Suisse.
• Donaldson (DCI) was upgraded to neutral from underperform at BofA/Merrill.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: CTL, HTS, ISRG, MCD, MLM, OSK, RUTH, WMS, YUM ...

Analyst Calls: CTL, HTS, ISRG, MCD, MLM, OSK, RUTH, WMS, YUM ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 17 Sep 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Back in 2002, Burger King (BKC) went private in a $1.5 billion deal (at the time, the food chain was owned by Diageo PLC). Then in 2006, the company came back to the public markets, providing a nice return for the private equity sponsors, which included TPG Capital, Goldman Sachs Capital Partners and Bain Capital.

OK, so how about going private again? Actually, this is the latest rumor making the rounds. Although, it sounds like the negotiations are in the early stages.

Continue reading Burger King Looking for a Buyout?

Burger King Looking for a Buyout? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Auriga upgraded Leap Wireless (LEAP) to buy from hold following the company's Q2 results and analyst day, citing valuation, longer-term potential for consolidation and prospects for business improvements. Despite upgrading, the firm lowered its target for shares to $16 from $19.
• Goldman upgraded Barnes & Noble (BKS) to neutral from sell following the company's announcement to explore strategic alternatives. The firm raised its price target to $15 from $12.
• RBC Capital upgraded ESCO Technologies (ESE) to sector perform from underperform following the better-than-expected Q3 report. The firm raised its price target to $30 from $28.
• MetLife (MET) was upgraded to buy from neutral at BofA/Merrill.
• Priceline.com (PCLN) was upgraded to buy from hold at Stifel Nicolaus.
• HSBC (HBC) was upgraded to outperform from underperform at CLSA.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AMD, BKC, BKS, BP, DOW, HBC, LEAP, LLY, MET, PCLN, ...

Analyst Calls: AMD, BKC, BKS, BP, DOW, HBC, LEAP, LLY, MET, PCLN, ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 04 Aug 2010 11:30:00 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.

Last week, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (NYSE: GS) and JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) reported stellar quarterly results. Lots more third quarter reports from the big banks are due this week.

However, analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters anticipate year-over-year earnings declines from Bank of New York Mellon (NYSE: BK), BB&T Corp. (NYSE: BBT), M&T Bank Corp. (NYSE: MTB), Northern Trust Corp. (NASDAQ: NTRS), PNC Financial Services Group Inc. (NYSE: PNC), State Street Corp. (NYSE: STT), US Bancorp (NYSE: USB), and Wells Fargo & Co. (NYSE: WFC).

Continue reading The week in preview: High hopes for Apple, Chipotle, Travelers and more

The week in preview: High hopes for Apple, Chipotle, Travelers and more originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 18 Oct 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Burger King Holdings Inc. (NYSE: BKC) announced plans Wednesday to overhaul its 12,000 locations worldwide. The fast-food giant is seeking a sleeker, futuristic look that includes LCD-screen menus, rotating chandeliers, and corrugated metal and brick accents (see pictures at the above link) on the inside, as well as metal canopies and additional signs on the exterior.

The new upscale design, called 20/20, is expected to cost franchisees between $300,000 to $600,000 per restaurant. Some 60 locations have already been remodeled, including in Miami, Mexico City, Edinburgh, and Shanghai, and 75 more are expected to be completed by the end of 2010. All new restaurants will be built using the 20/20 design.

Continue reading Coming soon: The Burger King of the future

Coming soon: The Burger King of the future originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

One of the first movers seeing an uptick in spending due to increased consumer confidence is the restaurant space. Only a few diehards really like to stay home and cook. Dining out is a great way to escape. Even better is going to a restaurant for a meal that's affordable.

The fact that dining has suffered during this recession is indicative of how bad things really have been.

Given that confidence is rising, it's no surprise then that Landry's Restaurants (NYSE: LNY) has almost tripled in value since hitting bottom in early March.

Continue reading Consumer stocks to sell now: #3 -- Landry's Restaurants (LNY)

Consumer stocks to sell now: #3 -- Landry's Restaurants (LNY) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 07 Jun 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

• Applied Materials Inc. (NASDAQ: AMAT) posted a Q1 loss and announced a workforce reduction.
• ArcelorMittal (NYSE: MT) swung to it's first ever quarterly loss due to lower demand and a big write-down.
• Buffalo Wild Wings Inc. (NASDAQ: BWLD) shares surged after it posted strong Q4 results.
• Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. (NYSE: CMG) posted better-than-expected Q4 earnings as revenue surged.
• Genzyme Corp. (NASDAQ: GENZ) topped Q4 earnings estimates, sending shares higher.
• Global Traffic Network Inc. (NASDAQ: GNET) weaker-than-expected Q2 results led to a downgrade.
• Level 3 Communications Inc. (NASDAQ: LVLT) shares fell despite its upside surprise for Q4.
• Lions Gate Entertainment (NYSE: LGF) posted a bigger-than-expected Q3 loss despite revenue growth.

Continue reading Earnings highlights: Viacom, UBS, RIM, ArcelorMittal, Lions Gate, McAfee and others

Earnings highlights: Viacom, UBS, RIM, ArcelorMittal, Lions Gate, McAfee and others originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 14 Feb 2009 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Investors were sufficiently impressed with Chipotle Mexican Grill's (NYSE: CMG) fourth-quarter earnings.

The operator of more than 830 quick service Mexican restaurants said it earned $17 million, or 52 cents per share, in the quarter. That is compared to earnings of $17.5 million, or 53 cents per share, in the year-ago period.

Continue reading Chipotle earnings sizzle, but stock may fizzle

Chipotle earnings sizzle, but stock may fizzle originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 14 Feb 2009 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Next week is sure to be filled with fun and volatile market conditions. The highlight will be the Fed decision on key rates, due on Wednesday, April 30, following a two-day meeting. Anytime the Fed has the floor, the markets listen. Tuesday and Wednesday will be filled with speculation up until the time of the announcement of a cut or pause.

There are many possible outcomes for this meeting, as we have seen a substantial change in investor sentiment regarding the potential need for further rate cuts. The buzz on the street is for a cut of 25 basis points and then a wait-and-see attitude from there. I think that is the most likely direction.

There has been a great deal of concern that all the recent rate cuts have not provided the benefit to consumers the economy needs. Clearly, there is a fatty clog within our financial circulatory system. Traditionally, the Fed likes to see how its actions trickle into the economy before it continues too far down one path, which would argue for a pause now. Plus, the Fed does not want to run out of ammunition by cutting rates too far too fast. But there is no question that we are dealing with a more aggressive Fed than we have seen in decades, so I think we will see another small rate cut.

Continue reading The Week in Preview: All eyes on the Fed

The Week in Preview: All eyes on the Fed originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 27 Apr 2008 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Chipotle (NYSE: CMG) is recently down 29 cents to $117. CMG is expected to report EPS on February 14. Robert Baird says, "Remain confident in outlook, expecting robust trends to continue in 2008; maintaining Neutral rating on valuation."

CMG February call option implied volatility is at 68, puts are at 84, above its 26-week average of 42, according to Track Data, suggesting larger price risk. CMG puts are priced higher than calls because CMG is difficult to borrow.

Options Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com

Options update 1-14-08: Chipotle put prices elevated as shares difficult to borrow after selloff originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 14 Jan 2008 15:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

We recently took a look at the Best & Worst of 2007 in sixteen categories and asked you to vote for your favorites, as well as sharing the reasons for your picks and any other contenders we may have overlooked. And voting is off to a strong start, with more than 100,000 votes in each category so far.

Some categories have shaped up to be close races. Chuck Prince, Bill Ford, and Bob Nardelli each have a little less than a third of the vote for Best CEO Departure of the Year. Britney Spears and Michael Vick are neck and neck as the Celebrity Most Likely to Lose It All, while Lindsey Lohan's relatively low profile recently has garnered her just 6 percent of that vote. In the Most Shameless Attempt at Cashing in on '15 Minutes', Sanjaya Malakar has a slim lead over Howard K. Stern/Larry Birkhead, but poor Chris "Leave Britney Alone!" Crocker has gotten no respect with a mere 6 percent of the vote. McDonald's has a small lead as the Hottest Chain Restaurant, thought Chipotle isn't far behind with more than a quarter of the vote. And while the iPhone has the lead now as the Hottest Gadget of the Year, it and the Nintendo Wii have been trading places as the front runner.

Continue reading Best & Worst of 2007: Early voting results

Best & Worst of 2007: Early voting results originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 08 Dec 2007 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This post was part of AOL Money & Finance's Best & Worst of 2007. Voting has now closed and readers have chosen old favorite McDonald's as the hottest restaurant chain of the year. Let us know in the comments if you are pleased with this result.

America might as well change its tagline to "The Land of the Free and the Home of the Fast Food." Are we really "brave" any more? Our collective culinary adventures seem to start and end at chipotle peppers. Chipotle, that smokey hot chile whose provenance is deeply American and whose name is synonymous with a whole type of cuisine; in fact, one of the hottest restaurants in the country is named for the spicy stuff.

But it is not Chipotle that is making the splashiest headlines this year; no, it's the oldest and favorite-est of them all, McDonald's (NYSE: MCD). Just take a look at the company's stock over the past year ... three years ... five years ... the charts read like an American Investment Dream success story. The returns, respectively: 41%, 89.6%, 213.4% seem mystical. Is this the same company whose menu items were flopping and service was embarassing, only a few years ago?

It's not. The new McDonald's is the one whose coffee has been deemed better than Starbucks', and who is rolling out lattes and iced coffees to its outlets nationwide next quarter. With the promise of breakfast all day, a third-pounder burger, and a big push into the market of Starbucks-style loiterers (what with wi-fi and better seating planned), McDonald's just keeps getting hotter and hotter.

Continue reading Best & Worst of 2007: Hottest chain restaurant

Best & Worst of 2007: Hottest chain restaurant originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 02 Dec 2007 11:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Subway falls from lead in NASCAR series sponsor stakes originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 30 Aug 2007 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Chipotle's stock heading south of the border originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 09 Aug 2007 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.