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

• Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. (NASDAQ: BBBY) Q1 earnings tumbled while revenues rose.
• Casella Waste Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: CWST) posted a narrower-than-expected Q4 loss.
• CKE Restaurants Inc. (NYSE: CKR) Q1 earnings increased but its revenue slipped.
• Darden Restaurants Inc. (NYSE: DRI) swung to a Q4 profit on strong sales at Olive Garden.
• Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) said it might not see Q2 profit growth on lower demand and shipping delays.
• General Mills Inc. (NYSE: GIS) Q4 earnings declined but were in line with expectations.
• Gerber Scientific Inc. (NYSE: GRB) reported solid Q4 and full-year results that pleased investors.
• IHS Inc. (NYSE: IHS) beat Q2 expectations and posted record quarterly cash flow from operations.
• Jabil Circuit Inc. (NYSE: JBL) stronger-than-expected Q3 results led to an analyst's upgrade.
• KB Home (NYSE: KBH) widened its Q2 loss due to weak sales and falling prices.
• Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) beat Q1 expectations as consumers sought discounts on food and gas.
• Monsanto Co. (NYSE: MON) beat Q3 earnings estimates but fell short of revenue estimates.
• Nike Inc. (NYSE: NKE) posted better-than-expected Q4 results boosted by international strength.
• Oracle Corp. (NASDAQ: ORCL) posted strong Q4 results that topped analysts' expectations (see transcript).

Continue reading Earnings highlights: RIM, Oracle, KB Home, Nike, Kroger, Walgreen and others

Earnings highlights: RIM, Oracle, KB Home, Nike, Kroger, Walgreen and others originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 28 Jun 2008 09:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Gerber Scientific (GRB): a spot of economic color originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 26 Jun 2008 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Just in time for the presidential debating season, and the accompanying protests, Gerber Scientific Inc. (NYSE: GRB) is unveiling a new super printer, the Solara Ion, capable of printing high-quality, dry-upon-contact, wide-format posters, banners, and jumbo-sized wall hangings. (Think "Mission Accomplished.") The flatbed platform printer can accommodate flexible as well as rigid materials up to 1 inch thick, 5 feet wide and 10 feet long. The printer has output capacity of 639 square feet per hour and uses a patented low temperature, low energy printing process.

Gerber Scientific produces manufacturing systems for mass customizations. The company is hoping that sales of this printer will help boost profits, which were flat in the company's recently released 1Q FY 2008 earnings report. Operating income was $4.4 million on $153.7 million worth of revenue. The year previous, the company also posted operating income of $4.4 million on $137.5 million worth of revenue. $16 million more in revenue and not a penny more in profits? Sounds like it's time to hold management's feet to the fire.

CEO Marc Giles believes Gerber is on the right track. Revenues are up, sales volume is up. Giles pointed to the introduction of the new printer as well as Gerber's expansion into the specialty graphics market in China as positive signs. Revenue and order volume as well as equipment orders are up 62% in China. In the near future, Gerber needs to transform these increases into the all important increase in profits.

Gerber Scientific (GRB) unveils new super printer originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 13 Oct 2007 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Calyon is taking a more cautious stance due to valuations in the sector. The firm believes strong fundamentals are now reflected in share prices. As such, Calyon downgraded Global Industries, Ltd (NASDAQ: GLBL), Ensco International Inc (NYSE: ESV), Transocean Inc (NYSE: RIG) and Schlumberger Ltd (NYSE: SLB) to Add from Neutral and downgraded Gerber Scientific, Inc (NYSE: GRB) to Neutral from Add...

• Piper Jaffray cut ValueClick, Inc (NASDAQ: VCLK) to Market Perform from Outperform.

• UBS cut Lyondell Chemical Co (NYSE: LYO) and IndyMac Bancorp, Inc (NYSE: IMB) to Neutral from Buy.

• Goldman downgraded Worthington Industries, Inc (NYSE: WOR) to Sell from Neutral.

• Matrix USA cut Allergan, Inc (NYSE: AGN) to Sell from Hold and Fifth Third Bancorp (NASDAQ: FITB) was downgraded to Underperform from Market Perform at Keefe Bruyette.

Analyst downgrades 5-24-07: AGN, FITB, SLB and VCLK originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 24 May 2007 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.