Shares of The Boston Beer Company (NYSE: SAM) surged to a new 52-week high Friday morning, after the brewmaster reported a third-quarter profit of $10.4 million, or 72 cents per share, on revenue of $108.7 million. The company swung to a loss of 2 cents per share in the third quarter of 2008, but attributed its turnaround to strong shipments and decreased advertising expenses.

The results were better than analysts expected, with consensus estimates calling for Boston Beer to bank a profit of 39 cents per share on $107.5 million. Looking forward, Boston Beer now expects full-year earnings of $1.75 per share to $2.05 per share, a marked increased from its prior forecast for a 2009 profit of $1.40 per share to $1.70 per share.

Following today's market close, technology giant Cisco Systems (NASDAQ: CSCO) had its chance to impress Wall Street with its fiscal first quarter results, and the company did not disappoint.

Going into this afternoon's earnings report, analysts had been expecting to see the company show earnings of 31 cents per share, but the company surprised to the upside by posting actual earnings of 36 cents per share for its fiscal first quarter. For the same period last year the company had earnings of 42 cents per share.

Dean Foods (NYSE: DF - option chain) stock traded lower Monday after the company reported Q3 earnings, posting an adjusted profit of 34 cents per share on revenue of $2.77 billion. While this beat analysts' expectations of 33 cents per share, the revenue targets were $2.94 billion. DF also forecast fourth-quarter EPS of 36 cents, missing analysts' projections of 39 cents. If you think this stock won't be rising too far in the coming months, then it could be a good time to look at a bearish hedged play on DF.

Monday, DF opened at $17.82. In early trading, the stock hit a high of $17.96 and a low of $16.43. As of 11:20, DF was trading at $16.59, down $1.64 (-9.0%). The chart for DF looks neutral and S&P gives DF a neutral 3 STARS (out of 5) hold ranking.

J. Crew Group (NYSE: JCG - option chain) shares are rising today after the company lifted its third-quarter EPS forecast by 80% to a range of 54 to 59 cents, up from a previous range of 30 to 33 cents. Analysts are expecting the company to report a profit of 36 cents per share. If you think that the stock won't fall by too much in the coming months, then now could be a good time to look at a bullish hedged trade on JCG.

JCG opened this morning at $42.57. So far today the stock has hit a low of $41.50 and a high of $42.94. As of 11:50, JCG is trading at $42.41 up $4.67 (12.4%). The chart for JCG looks neutral and S&P gives JCG a neutral 3 STARS (out of 5) hold ranking.

Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT - option chain) is trading lower today after the company reported a third-quarter profit of $797 million, or $2.07 per share on revenue of $11.1 billion. Analysts had forecast a profit of $1.83 per share, but with revenue of $11.4 billion. Since expectations have been raised throughout the market, it seems that just beating estimates is no longer enough to satisfy traders. Weaker revenues plus a forecast of slowing growth in the coming years is dragging LMT down. If you think this stock won't be rising too far in the coming months, then it could be a good time to look at a bearish hedged play on LMT.

This morning, LMT opened at $72.72. So far today the stock has hit a high of $73.48 and a low of $72.10. As of 11:20, LMT is trading at $72.70, down $4.29 (-5.6%). The chart for LMT looks neutral and S&P gives LMT a neutral 3 STARS (out of 5) hold ranking.

Plenty of companies are reporting earnings this Wednesday morning, one of which is Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT).

The health-care giant reported third-quarter earnings of 95 cents per share, far better than last year's 69 cents per share. Taking items out of the equation, Abbott would have earned 92 cents per share, which is two cents better than the consensus estimate. Quarterly revenue matched the consensus estimate for $7.76 billion.

Gannett (NYSE: GCI - option chain) shares rose Tuesday after the company forecast third-quarter EPS between 39 and 42 cents. Analysts had been expecting EPS of 28 cents in the coming period. Other newspaper stocks like the New York Times (NYSE: NYT) also traded significantly higher after Gannett's forecast. If you think that the stock won't fall by too much in the coming months, then now could be a good time to look at a bullish hedged trade on GCI.

GCI opened Tuesday at $11.85. So far the stock has hit a low of $11.27 and a high of $11.96. As of 11:10, GCI is trading at $11.65 up 1.67 (16.7%). The chart for GCI looks neutral and S&P gives GCI a neutral 3 STARS (out of 5) hold ranking.

Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) was on the upswing Monday after the firm raised its forecast for third-quarter margins. The airline issue now expects operating margin of 3% to 4% for the current quarter, compared to its midsummer outlook of 1% to 3%. Third-quarter fuel prices are now expected to average $2.14 per gallon, down from a prior prediction of $2.17.

The update comes courtesy of a regulatory filing, wherein Delta noted that many of its financial metrics are improving on both a sequential and a year-over-year basis. Load factor for September and October is pegged at 82%, narrowly above last year's level. Meanwhile, revenue per available seat mile is expected to decline in the third quarter, but less so than in the second quarter.

Cooper Companies (NYSE: COO - option chain) stock is trading lower today after the company reported earnings last night, posting a third-quarter profit of $21.91 million, or 48 cents per share. Excluding one-time items, COO earned 54 cents per share, missing analysts' estimates of 62 cents per share. COO also lowered its 2009 guidance below analysts' forecasts. If you think this stock won't be rising too far in the coming months, then it could be a good time to look at a bearish hedged play on COO.

This morning, COO opened at $25.58. So far today the stock has hit a low of $23.55 and a high of $25.70. As of 11:45, COO is trading at $25.15, down $1.52 (-5.7%). The chart for COO looks neutral and S&P gives COO a neutral 3 STARS (out of 5) hold ranking.

Burger King Holdings (NYSE: BKC) is on the upswing today after the fast-food chain topped analysts' earnings expectations. In its fiscal fourth quarter, the burger baron banked a profit of $58.9 million, or 43 cents per share, representing a 16% increase from the year-ago period. Revenue dipped 2% to $629.9 million, while same-store sales fell by 2.4%. By contrast, analysts were looking for a profit of just 33 cents per share on $632 million in revenue.

Looking ahead, the restaurant chain warned that it expects sales to be soft through Christmas. As a result, Burger King declined to issue specific earnings guidance for the current fiscal year. Additionally, the company plans to slow the pace of its new store openings; rather than the 360 new outlets opened in fiscal 2009, Burger King is targeting 250 to 300 openings in fiscal 2010.

American Eagle Outfitters (NYSE: AEO - option chain) shares are rising today after the company updated its Q2 EPS forecast to 16 cents, including a 2-cent tax benefit. AEO had previously forecast EPS of 12 to 15 cents, while analysts are expecting EPS of 14 cents. AEO also announced July same store sales that declined more than expected, but that news was offset for traders by the revised forecast. If you think that the stock won't fall by too much in the coming months, then now could be a good time to look at a bullish hedged trade on AEO.

AEO opened this morning at $14.50. So far today the stock has hit a low of $14.40 and a high of $14.95. As of 11:30, AEO is trading at $14.70 up 74 cents (5.3%). The chart for AEO looks neutral and S&P gives AEO a neutral 3 STARS (out of 5) hold ranking.

Expeditors International of Washington (NASDAQ: EXPD - option chain) stock is falling today after the company forecast second-quarter earnings of 24 cents to 26 cents a share, below analysts' projections of 30 cents per share. If you think this stock won't be rising too far in the coming months, then it could be a good time to look at a bearish hedged play on EXPD.

This morning, EXPD opened at $28.94. So far today the stock has hit a low of $28.50 and a high of $30.15. As of 11:55, EXPD is trading at $29.95, down $1.71 (-5.4%). The chart for EXPD looks bullish and S&P gives EXPD a positive 4 STARS (out of 5) buy ranking`.

Tractor Supply Company (NASDAQ: TSCO) is on the upswing today after the retailer raised its second-quarter profit estimate. The company now expects to earn $1.48 to $1.50 per share in the second quarter, compared to analysts' consensus forecast for a profit of $1.24 per share. Full-year earnings are now expected to range between $2.78 and $2.92 per share, again outpacing Wall Street's average estimate of $2.64 per share.

Tractor Supply cited tighter control over its marketing expenses for the upwardly revised earnings guidance. However, the retail issue expects consumer spending trends to remain weak through the remainder of 2009, and accordingly trimmed its full-year revenue outlook. The company is now predicting sales of $3.15 billion to $3.25 billion for 2009, down from its earlier guidance of $3.20 billion to $3.30 billion.

LDK Solar (NYSE: LDK - option chain) stock is falling today after the company announced a weak forecast for Q2 revenue last Thursday after the close. Today's weakness in oil futures is also not helping LDK stock. If you think this stock won't be rising too far in the coming months, then it could be a good time to look at a bearish hedged play on LDK.

This morning, LDK opened at $10.20. So far today the stock has hit a low of $9.66 and a high of $10.52. As of 12:15, LDK is trading at $9.87, down $1.04 (-9.5%). The chart for LDK looks bearish and S&P gives LDK a negative 2 STARS (out of 5) sell ranking.

Tempur-Pedic (NYSE: TPX - option chain) shares are rising today after competitor Sealy Corp. (NYSE: ZZ) reported a preliminary second-quarter profit margin of 40.1 to 41.1 percent on revenue of $294 million to $301 million, in line with analyst forecasts of $296 million. This should be a good sign for TPX as well. If you think that the stock won't fall by too much in the coming months, then now could be a good time to look at a bullish hedged trade on TPX.

TPX opened this morning at $12.04. So far today the stock has hit a low of $12.01 and a high of $13.22. As of 11:35, TPX is trading at $12.65 up 0.86 (7.3%). The chart for TPX looks neutral and S&P gives TPX a neutral 3 STARS (out of 5) hold ranking.