Analyst Upgrades

• Cree (CREE) and Rubicon Technology (RBCN) to buy from neutral at Merriman.
• Children's Place (PLCE) to outperform from market perform at BMO Capital.
• Lockheed Martin (LMT) to neutral from underperform at BofA/Merrill.
• Copano Energy (CPNO) to outperform from market perform at Morgan Keegan.
• Motorola Mobility (MMI) to neutral from reduce at Nomura.
• Parker-Hannifin (PH) to buy from hold at KeyBanc.
• Akamai (AKAM), ShoreTel (SHOR), AMB Property (AMB) and ProLogis (PLD) to buy from hold at Stifel Nicolaus.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AAPL, AEO, CREE, DELL, HPQ, IBM, LMT, MMI, MYGN, PH ...

Analyst Calls: AAPL, AEO, CREE, DELL, HPQ, IBM, LMT, MMI, MYGN, PH ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 17 Mar 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading U.S. Stock Futures Gain as Investors Await Economic Data

U.S. Stock Futures Gain as Investors Await Economic Data originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 17 Mar 2011 08:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Guess? (GES - option chain) shares are rising today after the company reported earnings last night, posting a Q3 profit of $69.1 million, or 75 cents per share, on revenue of $613.9 million. Analysts had forecast a profit of 59 cents per share on revenue of $580.4 million. 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 GES.

GES opened this morning at $48.59. So far today the stock has hit a low of $47.80 and a high of $49.15. As of 12:05, GES is trading at $49.07 up 3.73 (8.2%). The chart for GES looks bullish and S&P gives GES a positive 4 STARS (out of 5) buy ranking.

Continue reading Guess? Soars After Strong Q3 Earnings Report

Guess? Soars After Strong Q3 Earnings Report originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 24 Nov 2010 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Guess (GES) looked like an investment idea worthy of consideration back in March. Since then, the stock, like many others, has taken a tumble, as the following chart will explain. As expected, I've become a bit bearish on the shares.

But should I be? You can't always judge an equity by its chart. I had enjoyed the fourth-quarter results. And now, here I am highlighting the Q2 numbers. They were good, too. According to Bloomberg BusinessWeek, the company made 72 cents per share on the bottom line. Management beat the analyst call by four pennies.

Continue reading Guess: Buy or Sell After Second Quarter?

Guess: Buy or Sell After Second Quarter? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

U.S. stocks rallied Thursday after China denied it was going looking into its eurozone debt holdings. Market climbed from nine-month low as the Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 284 points, or 2.9%, and the Nasdaq Composite finished the day 3.7% higher. For May, however, the Dow is still 6.8% lower.

Continue reading Before the Bell: Futures Indicate Higher Open Ahead of Data

Before the Bell: Futures Indicate Higher Open Ahead of Data originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 28 May 2010 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

• Alcatel-Lucent (ALU) received an analyst's downgrade following its disappointing earnings report and guidance.
• Chicago Bridge & Iron Co. (CBI) improved earnings prospects prompted one analyst to upgrade the stock.
• Cintas Corp. (CTAS) lower Q3 earnings topped analysts' expectations, and it reiterated its Q4 earnings guidance.
• CRA International Inc. (CRAI) received an analyst's downgrade following its earnings results for Q1.
• Discover Financial Services (DFS) reported a net loss for Q1 due to a needed boost to its loan loss reserves.

Continue reading Earnings Highlights: Discover, FedEx, GameStop, Guess, Nike, Palm ...

Earnings Highlights: Discover, FedEx, GameStop, Guess, Nike, Palm ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 20 Mar 2010 12:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• FBR Capital upgraded Nike (NKE) to outperform from market perform. The firm believes the company's momentum is building following the better-than-expected Q3 report and raised its target for the stock to $84 from $67.
• Thomas Weisel upgraded Corning (GLW) to overweight from market weight, citing improving profitability and cash flow trends. The firm has a $24 price target for shares.
• Deutsche Bank upgraded Burger King (BKC) to buy from hold, citing valuation and potential positive catalysts from the bottoming of sales trends and easy comparisons. The firm raised its price target on shares to $24 from $19.
• Broadcom (BRCM) was upgraded to buy from neutral at Goldman.
• Energizer (ENR) was upgraded to overweight from neutral at JPMorgan.
• Guess (GES) was upgraded to buy from hold at Lazard Capital.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: ATHN, BKC, BRCM, GES, GLW, JOYG, NDAQ, NKE, SPMD ...

Analyst Calls: ATHN, BKC, BRCM, GES, GLW, JOYG, NDAQ, NKE, SPMD ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Guess (GES), a fashion concept whose related companies include Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF), Gap (GPS), and Polo Ralph Lauren (RL), posted fourth-quarter results Wednesday after the bell. Adjusted income went up well over 40% to 96 cents per diluted share. According to Earnings.com, Wall Street believed 81 cents per share would be the bottom-line number.

Total net sales increased 14%. Same-store sales were up 5.3% (they were better by 2% if you look at the metric in constant dollars). Net cash from operating activities over the last twelve months experienced significant expansion.

Continue reading Guess Profit Surges: Time to Buy?

Guess Profit Surges: Time to Buy? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 08:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

• Aeropostale Inc. (ARO) strong Q3 results topped analysts expectations, and it offered Q4 earnings guidance.
• Cascade Corp. (CASC) reported a surprise Q3 profit but lower revenue fell short of expectations.
• Collective Brands Inc. (PSS) reported strong Q3 earnings as well as same-store sales growth.
• Cost Plus Inc. (CPWM) narrowed its net loss in Q3 but revenue and same-stores sales declined.
• Del Monte Foods Co. (DLM) posted strong Q2 results and raised its earnings outlook for the full year.
• Diamond Foods Inc. (DMND) posted better-than-expected Q1 earnings, but said that revenue declined.

Continue reading Earnings highlights: Aeropostale, Del Monte, Guess, Shanda, Staples, Toll Bros. ...

Earnings highlights: Aeropostale, Del Monte, Guess, Shanda, Staples, Toll Bros. ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 05 Dec 2009 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Guess earnings indicate strength for retailers

Guess earnings indicate strength for retailers originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Shares of Guess Inc. (GES) rose in after hours trading following its report of financial results for the third quarter of its 2010 fiscal year, which ended October 31, 2009.

The Los Angeles-based apparel and accessory maker reported record net earnings of $64.1 million, compared to $64.0 million in the year-ago period. Diluted earnings rose 3.0% from a year ago to $0.69 per share, which topped the consensus forecast of $0.51 per share by analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters.

Continue reading Guess earnings top Q3 forecasts, offers rosy outlook

Guess earnings top Q3 forecasts, offers rosy outlook originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 30 Nov 2009 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters are looking for EPS for these banks to have fallen from 15% to 25% from a year ago. Their long-term EPS growth forecast is for between 10% and 12%, which is in the same range as U.S. rivals JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) and Wells Fargo & Co. (NYSE: WFC), but better than Bank of America Corp. (NYSE: BAC) and Citigroup Inc. (NYSE: C). Earnings multiples for these Canadian banks are 10x to 12x, but none of them have a First Call consensus recommendation is to buy. The Motley Fool, though, considers TD as a value stock and RY a stock poised to pop. All of them are trading much closer to their 52-week highs than lows, and shares of all are up more than 100% since March lows.

Continue reading The week in preview: Canadian banks in the earnings spotlight

The week in preview: Canadian banks in the earnings spotlight originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 23 Aug 2009 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:

• Aetna Inc. (NYSE: AET) lowered its 2009 earnings guidance, initially sending the share price lower.
• Ciena Corp. (NASDAQ: CIEN) reported a bigger-than-expected Q2 net loss as revenues sank.
• Collective Brands Inc. (NYSE: PSS) saw Q1 earnings and sales decline, but beat Wall Street estimates.
• Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) earnings prospects led Goldman Sachs analysts to increase its forecasts.
• Guess? Inc. (NYSE: GES) weak Q1 results topped estimates and it offered guidance that pleased investors.

Continue reading Earnings highlights: Google, KKR, Krispy Kreme, Williams-Sonoma, Guess? and more

Earnings highlights: Google, KKR, Krispy Kreme, Williams-Sonoma, Guess? and more originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 06 Jun 2009 12:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

I didn't think the numbers were particularly fetching. Revenues declined nearly 10%, thanks in part to the effects of currency translation (maybe that should be no thanks). Earnings per share came in at $0.35, a massive 30% decline. And same-store sales in North America dipped 10% (take out currency, and the dip was 6%, which still wasn't good).

Continue reading Guess? defeats analysts in Q1: Is the buying overdone?

Guess? defeats analysts in Q1: Is the buying overdone? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 05 Jun 2009 14:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Much of the attention this week will no doubt be on how the impending General Motors (NYSE: GM) bankruptcy will shake out, as well as the usual economic concerns: Has the housing market bottomed? Will oil prices keep rising? Is the employment situation getting any better? And so on (see highlights of the economic calendar below).

What probably won't get much attention are quarterly earnings, as the earnings season for this quarter winds down. But there are a few reports that analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters have high hopes for.

Continue reading The week in preview: DynCorp, Joy Global, Shanda and more

The week in preview: DynCorp, Joy Global, Shanda and more originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 31 May 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Banc of America/Merrill upgraded Lincoln National (NYSE: LNC) to Buy from Underperform and raised its target to $17 from $10 citing expectations that the company will "qualify for and accept TARP funding."
  
• Credit Suisse upgraded AU Optronics (NYSE: AUO) to Outperform from Neutral as it believes inventory levels are low end demand is better than expected.
  
• JP Morgan upgraded Shaw Group (NYSE: SGR) to Overweight from Neutral. The firm views the recent pullback in shares as a buying opportunity given the company's attractive nuke position and expected ramp in government spending.
• Patterson-UTI Energy (NASDAQ: PTEN) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Goldman.
  
• Barrick Gold (NYSE: ABX) was raised to Overweight from Market Weight at Thomas Weisel.
  
• Stryker (NYSE: SYK) was lifted to Sector Perform from Underperform at RBC Capital.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: LNC, AZN, APOL, PNRA ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: LNC, AZN, APOL, PNRA ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 21 Apr 2009 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Merriman upgraded shares of Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) to Buy from Neutral after its channel checks indicated a modest increase in ad spend per client in March. The upgrade is based on early indications that search pricing and ad spend are stabilizing, search volume continuing to grow at a double-digit rate, and Merriman's belief that consensus estimates are now at reasonable levels.
  
• Deutsche Bank upgraded shares of Alcoa (NYSE: AA) to Hold from Sell and raised its price target to $8 from $7.30 following the company's asset sales in March as it believes the financial overhang on the stock has been removed.
  
• Suntrust said Providence Service (NASDAQ: PRSC) has returned to profitability through demand stabilization for social services and cost controls. Shares were upgraded to Buy from Neutral.
• Telmex (NYSE: TMX) was upgraded to Neutral from Undeperform at Credit Suisse.
  
• Deutsche Telekom (NYSE: DT) was raised to Market Perform from Underperform at Bernstein.
  
• Autodesk (NASDAQ: ADSK) was lifted to Neutral from Sell at UBS.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: GOOG, AA, FCX, SJM, TWC ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: GOOG, AA, FCX, SJM, TWC ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 31 Mar 2009 11:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

• Aeropostale Inc. (NYSE: ARO) strong Q3 results beat estimates despite the dismal retail environment.
• Alpha Natural Resources Inc. (NYSE: ANR) lowered its full-year forecast due to lower demand for coal.
• America's Car-Mart Inc. (NASDAQ: CRMT) reported higher Q2 earnings and higher same-store sales.
• Beazer Homes USA Inc. (NYSE: BZH) losses in Q4 more than tripled as revenue declined.
• Collective Brands Inc. (NYSE: PSS) Q3 profits were in line with estimates, enough to send shares higher.
• General Electric Co. (NYSE: GE) cut its Q4 earnings forecast, which now falls in line with estimates.
• Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (NYSE: GS) warned that it may see its first quarterly loss ever in Q4.
• Guess? Inc. (NYSE: GES) strong Q3 results beat estimates but offered a conservative outlook.
• Infineon Technologies AG (NYSE: IFX) posted a wider Q4 loss on restructuring and warned of further losses.
• Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) 2009 earnings are expected to be diluted by an acquisition.
• Marvell Technology Group Ltd. (NASDAQ: MRVL) reported strong Q3 numbers, sending shares higher.
• Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp. (NYSE: MRX) earnings prospects after a settlement led to an analyst's upgrade.
• Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE: MRK) lowered its 2009 earnings guidance below analysts' expectations.
• Palm Inc. (NASDAQ: PALM) said that it expects Q2 revenues to come in below analysts' estimates.

Continue reading Earnings highlights: Sears, GE, Goldman Sachs, Johnson & Johnson, Staples and others

Earnings highlights: Sears, GE, Goldman Sachs, Johnson & Johnson, Staples and others originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 06 Dec 2008 11:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Apparel maker Guess?, Inc. (NYSE: GES), competitor of Gap (NYSE: GPS), reported some fashionable stats for its third quarter on Thursday after the market close. Indeed, double-digit growth rates are always in style as far as Wall Street is concerned. Especially during this tough period for retail selling.

Guess? said that total net sales for Q3 increased over 12% to nearly $528 million. Diluted earnings per share expanded by over 11% to $0.69. This was a six-penny beat on the bottom line. You know, you can't really blame the analysts for missing this one by such a wide margin. Honestly, you would figure that a company like Guess? would have a difficult time moving its clothing and accessories with all the financial turmoil going on around it.

Management, apparently, wasn't asleep at the wheel. However, there are some important negatives to note. First, gross and operating margins slipped during the quarter. Second, comps at the company's retail locations dipped 0.8%. Third, guidance has changed to a lower range due to a conservative outlook. This is to be expected, certainly, since it is hard to believe that Guess? won't find some issues with its business model in the short-term considering that the brand premium associated with its jeans might not be viewed as the best value proposition out there by the struggling Christmas-shopping consumer.

Continue reading Guess? beats in Q3, but I'll avoid the stock

Guess? beats in Q3, but I'll avoid the stock originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 05 Dec 2008 09:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Stocks in the news: GM, F, BA, MSFT, YHOO, GS, C, BIG, YUM, GES ...

Stocks in the news: GM, F, BA, MSFT, YHOO, GS, C, BIG, YUM, GES ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.