While the release of economic data doesn't stop next week (see economic schedule highlights below), the earnings season does wind down dramatically. Most of the S&P 500 companies already have reported on the past quarter, which means dismal earnings news is largely behind us, at least for a while. About the only companies of note expected by analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters to report falling earnings this week are Costco Wholesale Corp. (NASDAQ: COST), Wendy's/Arby's Group Inc. (NYSE: WEN), Foot Locker Inc. (NYSE: FL), Bank of Montreal (NYSE: BMO), and Steinway Musical Instruments Inc. (NYSE: LVB).

While PetSmart Inc. (NASDAQ: PETM) and Big Lots Inc. (NYSE: BIG) quarterly profits are expected to be about the same as a year ago, Liz Claiborne Inc. (NYSE: LIZ), Kenneth Cole Productions Inc. (NYSE: KCP), Ciena Corp. (NASDAQ: CIEN), and Trina Solar Ltd. (NYSE: TSL) are expected to have swung to losses in the most recent quarter.

Continue reading The week in preview: Earnings season winds down

The week in preview: Earnings season winds down originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 01 Mar 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Piper assumed coverage of Greatbatch (NYSE: GB) with a Neutral rating and $19.50 target as they believe acquisition-related expenses will weigh on near-term bottom-line results.
  
• Collins Stewart believes shares of Blue Coat Systems (NASDAQ: BCSI) are highly attractive at current levels. The firm started shares with a Buy rating and $29 target.

• Ultra Petroleum (NYSE: UPL) was initiated at Credit Suisse with an Outperform rating and $82 target.
  
• Lehman assumed Dana Holding (NYSE: DAN) with an Overweight rating and $15 target.

Analyst initiations: GB and BCSI originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 24 Mar 2008 11:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Stock screeners are tools that let investors filter through a large number of stocks according to chosen criteria. It is important to remember that a stock screener is just a tool and every investment should be analyzed on its own merits to make sure it fits with your personal portfolio and risk characteristics. My weekly column finds interesting investment opportunities with the help of our Stock Screener.

Continue reading Stock Screener one month later: TSL up 24%, LIZ down 20%

Stock Screener one month later: TSL up 24%, LIZ down 20% originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 03 May 2007 21:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.