Hewlett-Packard (HPQ), the famous maker of printers and PCs, and a colleague of entities such as Microsoft (MSFT), Dell (DELL), and International Business Machines (IBM), issued Q4 results on Monday after the end of the trading day. Revenues didn't impress me, as sales saw a decline of 8%. Net income, however, was better. On an adjusted basis, earnings per share increased 11% to $1.14.

Also doing well was the operating margin. The adjusted metric increased 170 basis points during the quarter. The annual statement of cash flows should look good to any long-term shareholder. Management still had cash left over from operations after share repurchases, dividend obligations, and capital spending.

Continue reading Hewlett-Packard reports growth in profit and operating margin in Q4

Hewlett-Packard reports growth in profit and operating margin in Q4 originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

From TheStreet.com Network

• IPO Watch: Rue21, Dollar General
• JPMorgan Plots to Revive Credit Card Biz

TheStreet.com's Jim Cramer says if the market made sense, you could buy retail and restaurants off the lower oil price.

Here's the pattern: We get shelled by oil. It drops to $76 or $77, all energy goes down, and it takes everything else with it. Some of tech has been spared lately because of 3Com (COMS) (Cramer's Take).

Then, in the following couple of days, oil stabilizes (but not after it hurts the oils again), rallies, and everything goes with it.

That's what's been occurring. I don't know why it's any different. In this moment in time, it's often best to buy the most hammered natural gas stocks because they come back fast. The best value is Devon (DVN) (Cramer's Take), but it simply isn't down enough. Apache (APA) (Cramer's Take) would make sense below $60, which is still a ways from here.

Continue reading Cramer on BloggingStocks: Recognize the ludicrous pattern

Cramer on BloggingStocks: Recognize the ludicrous pattern originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Closing Bell: Can't go up every day (BAC, HE, HPW, COMS, BRCD, WMT, AMD)

Closing Bell: Can't go up every day (BAC, HE, HPW, COMS, BRCD, WMT, AMD) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst upgrades:

• Goldman upgraded Aeropostale (ARO) to neutral from sell. The firm, which has a $34 target on the stock, cites the recent sell-off in shares for the upgrade.
• Janney Montgomery upgraded Consolidated Water (CWCO) to buy from neutral on valuation and on expectations the company's earnings will recover in 2010. The firm has a $15 target on the stock.
• Wunderlich upgraded Transmontaigne Partners (TLP) to buy from hold on valuation as it believes the sell-off on the company's Q3 results is overdone. The firm keeps a $26.50 price target on the stock.
• Mobile TeleSystems (MBT) was upgraded to buy from neutral at UBS.
• HSBC (HBC) was raised to buy from hold at Societe Generale.
• Redwood Trust (RWT) was upgraded to outperform from market perform at JMP Securities.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: ARO, AZN, BNI, BRCD, HBC, MRK, TIF ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: ARO, AZN, BNI, BRCD, HBC, MRK, TIF ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

From TheStreet.com Network

• Macy's Outlook Disappoints, Shares Slip
• Wal-Mart Sales Show Cracks, Shares Slip

Continue reading Cramer on BloggingStocks: Not much time left for downside

Cramer on BloggingStocks: Not much time left for downside originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

In terms of estimates, 3Com did well. The market was expecting 5 cents per share. The analyst community was obviously worried that the recession was going to hamper profit growth more than it did. Of course, who could blame the analysts, right? After all, 3Com did see a better than 8% slide in top-line sales.

Continue reading 3Com shows little profit growth, stock sells off

3Com shows little profit growth, stock sells off originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Oppenheimer upgraded Savient Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: SVNT) to Perform from Underperform after the FDA's Arthritis Advisory Committee voted 14-1 in favor of approving Krystexxa for gout.
• Banc of America/Merrill upgraded Texas Instruments (NYSE: TXN) to Buy from Underperform and raised its target to $27 from $18 based on expectations that margin expansion will be higher than Street expectations.
• UBS said Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) has limited downside risk given the improved outlook for the graphics processor market and professional solutions business. Shares were upgraded to Neutral from Sell and its target was raised to $11.50 from $8.
• BHP Billiton (NYSE: BHP) was upgraded to Outperform from Neutral at Macquarie.
• Neutral Tandem (NASDAQ: TNDM) was upgraded to Outperform from Neutral at Baird.
• Central Garden & Pet (NASDAQ: CENT) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at SunTrust.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: COMS, GOLD, STT, SVNT, TXN

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: COMS, GOLD, STT, SVNT, TXN originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 17 Jun 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Stocks in the news: GM, F, FDX, ORCL, RIMM, TTWO, LEN, AAPL, GE

Stocks in the news: GM, F, FDX, ORCL, RIMM, TTWO, LEN, AAPL, GE originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 18 Dec 2008 08:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The quarter is winding down, and here are some highlights from this past week's earnings coverage from BloggingStocks:

• Air Products & Chemicals Inc. (NYSE: APD) lowered its guidance for the current quarter.
• AutoZone Inc. (NYSE: AZO) missed Q4 earnings estimates despite a modest increase in profits.
• Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. (NASDAQ: BBBY) reported disappointing Q2 results that met analysts' expectations.
• Chevron Corp. (NYSE: CVX) faces earnings declines if the Paulson plan fails, says Jim Cramer
• Circuit City Stores Inc. (NYSE: CC) earnings declines finally led to the ouster of CEO Schoonover.
• Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) beat Q3 expectations despite charges and reserves.
• General Electric Co. (NYSE: GE) lowered its Q3 and full-year forecast due to financial sector woes.
• KB Home (NYSE: KBH) reported a greater-than-expected loss for Q3, and yet shares rose.
• Lennar Corp. (NYSE: LEN) posted significantly smaller Q3 losses on cost cutting.
• McCormick & Co. Inc. (NYSE: MKC) topped Q3 expectations due to the sale of a brand.
• Nike Inc. (NYSE: NKE) posted better-than-expected Q1 results despite a decline in net income.
• Research in Motion Ltd. (NASDAQ: RIMM) posted strong Q2 results accompanied by a weak forecast.
• Rite Aid Corp. (NYSE: RAD) Q2 net loss more than doubled and revenues were flat
• Secure Computing Corp. (NASDAQ: SCUR) missing estimates didn't stop a deal with McAfee (NYSE: MFE).
• 3Com Corp. (NASDAQ: COMS) Q1 results topped both analysts estimates and previous guidance.
• 3M Co. (NYSE: MMM) faces significant earnings declines if the Paulson plan fails, says Jim Cramer.

Also, are analysts' expectations for the the coming year too optimistic?

Upcoming quarterly reports include Circuit City (NYSE: CC), Walgreen (NYSE: WAG), Pepsi Bottling Group (NYSE: PBG), Constellation Brands (NYSE: STZ), Marriott International (NYSE: MAR), Family Dollar Stores (NYSE: FDO).

Visit AOL Money & Finance for more earnings coverage.

Earnings highlights: Nike, Research in Motion, Lennar, GE and others originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 27 Sep 2008 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

3Com (COMS) investors catching a break on earnings originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 23 Sep 2008 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Before the bell: Stocks lower; CC, COMS, IMCL, higher; WM, GE, lower ...

Before the bell: Stocks lower; CC, COMS, IMCL, higher; WM, GE, lower ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 23 Sep 2008 08:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Earnings reports continue to dribble in as the quarter winds down. Much of the attention this week will be on homebuilders KB Home (NYSE: KBH) and Lennar Corp. (NYSE: LEN) as investors look for any sign that the housing sector has bottomed (home sales numbers are also due out this week; see below). Analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial anticipate that both companies will report that they narrowed their losses in the most recent quarter.

KB Home's expected $1.25 per share loss, on revenue of $725.5 million, compares to the previous quarter loss of $3.30 and to a year-ago loss of $6.19. However, KB Home's losses in the past few quarters have been deeper than expected. The Los Angeles-based homebuilder's long-range earnings growth forecast is 10.5%, less than the S&P 500. Analysts continue to recommend holding KB Home, and have for at least 120 days. Shares, however, reached a new 52-week high of $31.69 on Friday, and they are up 10.5% year to date.

Lennar is expected to post a loss of 52 cents per share, on revenue of $1.1 billion. That compares to the previous quarter's per-share loss of 76 cents and to a year-ago loss of $3.25. While Lennar also has tended in the past few quarters to miss expectations, the Miami-based company managed a positive surprise in the first quarter of 2008. Lennar's long-range earnings growth forecast is 10.3%, about the same as KB Home's. Analysts also recommend holding Lennar. Friday, shares of Lennar also reached a 52-week high, $27.75, but they are down 6.4% year to date.

Continue reading The week in preview: A bottom for the housing sector?

The week in preview: A bottom for the housing sector? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 21 Sep 2008 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

• Archer Daniels Midland Co. (NYSE: ADM) said Q4 profit plunged, missing analysts' expectations.
• Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE: BRK.A) posted yet another solid quarter and topped analysts' expectations.
• Cisco Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO) reported solid results and reaffirmed its revenue guidance.
• General Mills Inc. (NYSE: GIS) performance despite rising commodities costs impressed Jim Cramer.
• Hansen Natural Corp. (NASDAQ: HANS) Q2 earnings surged on popularity of Monster energy drink.
• Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) beat Q2 expectations, sending shares of health insurers higher.
• LeapFrog Enterprises Inc. (NYSE: LF) narrowed its Q2 loss, sending shares up near its 52-week high.
• MGM Mirage (NYSE: MGM) Q2 profit tumbled but revenues topped analysts' expectations.
• NetSuite Inc. (NYSE: N) cut its Q2 loss and revenues surged on 400 new customers.
• Orbitz Worldwide Inc. (NYSE: OWW) narrowed its net loss while revenues inched upward.
• Polo Ralph Lauren Corp. (NYSE: RL) easily topped Q1 expectations and raised its full-year guidance.
• Pzena Investment Management Inc's (NYSE: PZN) CEO admits that its Q2 was "awful, just terrible."
• 3Com Corp. (NASDAQ: COMS) raised its Q1 profit and sales forecasts due to gains in China.
• Toyota Motor Corp. (NYSE: TM) net income fell due to the strong yen and rising materials costs.
• Warner Music Group Corp. (NYSE: WMG) reported a smaller-than-expected Q3 net loss.
• World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. (NYSE: WWE) flat year-over-year earnings fell short of estimtates.

Continue reading Earnings highlights: Toyota, Cisco, ADM, MGM, General Mills, Warner Music and others

Earnings highlights: Toyota, Cisco, ADM, MGM, General Mills, Warner Music and others originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 09 Aug 2008 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Some may be concerned due to recent reports of China's slower economic growth. But two things are worth mentioning here. First, China's slower GDP growth is still a whopping 9%, down from 11%. And second, telecom infrastructure will likely continue at the same pace.

It isn't surprising, then, that 3Com has raised guidance for both sales and earnings. Specifically, 3Com expects sales in China to be 10% higher than in the previous quarter on stronger sales to Huawei.

Continue reading 3Com shares jump 12% after guidance raised

3Com shares jump 12% after guidance raised originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 05 Aug 2008 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Jabil Circuit (NYSE: JBL) shares are up nearly 11% in premarket trading after the company reported its profit soared as revenue grew and costs declined, topping third-quarter earnings estimates. Merrill Lynch upgraded Jabil from Neutral to Buy.
  
• Red Lobster operator Darden Restaurants (NYSE: DRI) shares are up 1.9% in premarket trading after it also topped quarterly earnings estimates, postinga higher quarterly profit, boosted by the Olive Garden chain, and lower costs that helped raise operating profit at its Red Lobster chain.
• 3COM (NASDAQ: COMS) shares also rose over 6% in after-hours trading after it posted higher than expected revenue.

Continue reading Before the bell: JBL, COMS, PIR, MON, RIMM, BA, F ...

Before the bell: JBL, COMS, PIR, MON, RIMM, BA, F ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 25 Jun 2008 08:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Jabil Circuit (NYSE:JBL) is up over 10% after strong earnings.

3COM (NASDAQ:COMS) is up 6% after posting a robust quarter.

Barclays (NYSE:BCS) is up almost 6% on news it had raised $8.9 billion.

Evergreen Solar (NASDAQ:ESLR) is off 4% after saying it would sell $300 million in notes.

Sonic (NASDAQ:SONC) is down almost 3% on earnings which were under Wall St. forecasts.

Shares may trade differently in the pre-market than in the regular session.

Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 247wallst.com.

Pre-market movers (BCS) (JBL) (ESLR) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 25 Jun 2008 07:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Before the bell: Futures lower on UPS warning, oil, ahead of Fed meeting,

Before the bell: Futures lower on UPS warning, oil, ahead of Fed meeting, originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 24 Jun 2008 07:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Walgreens (NYSE: WAG) to report Q3 earnings; conference call at 8:30am.

• FOMC to hold two-day meeting.
• Jabil Circuits (NYSE: JBL) to report Q3 earnings; conference call at 4:30pm.
• 3Com (NASDAQ: COMS) to report Q4 earnings; conference call at 5:00pm.

• Second day of two-day FOMC meeting; announcement at 2:15pm.
• Thornburg Mortgage (NYSE: TMA) to discuss valuation and accounting for recent financing transaction at 10:00am.
• Nike (NYSE: NKE) to report Q4 earnings; conference call at 5:00pm.
  
• Oracle (NASDAQ: ORCL) to report Q4 earnings; conference call at 5:00pm.
• Research in Motion (NASDAQ: RIMM) to report Q1 earnings; conference call at 5:00pm.

• PDUFA date for Eli Lilly & Co's (NYSE: LLY) and Daiichi Sankyo's new drug application for Prasugrel.
• Palm Inc (NASDAQ: PALM) to report Q4 earnings; conference call at 4:30pm.
• Micron Technology (NYSE: MU) to report Q3 earnings; conference call at 4:30pm.

• PDUFA date for Indevus Pharmaceuticals' (NASDAQ: IDEV) New Drug Application for Nebido for treatment of male hypogonadism.
• PDUFA date for Johnson & Johnson's (NYSE: JNJ) and Eisai Co's (OTC: ESALY) Aciphex.
  

Market highlights for the week: ORCL, RIMM and PALM to report earnings originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 20 Jun 2008 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• DJIA 12,302.70 (-120.16; -0.97%)
• NASDAQ 2,280.83 (-43.53; -1.87%)
• S&P500 1,325.77 (-15.36; -1.15%)
• 10YR-TBond 3.534% (+0.04%)
• Key 52-Week Lows

Continue reading Closing Bell: More negative close than it felt like

Closing Bell: More negative close than it felt like originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 27 Mar 2008 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Oppenheimer cut earnings estimates for both Merrill Lynch (NYSE:MER) and UBS (NYSE:UBS) saying both companies would lose money in Q1, according to Briefing.com. The news service also reports that Bank of America cut Motorola (NYSE:MOT) from "buy" to "neutral."

3Com (NASDAQ:COMS) was raised To "outperform" from "market perform" at Bernstein according to 24/7 Wall St. The financial website also reports that Juniper Networks (NASDAQ:JNPR) was cut To "neutral" from buy" at Goldman Sachs.

Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 247wallst.com.

Early analyst calls (MOT) (MER) (JNPR) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 27 Mar 2008 07:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.