H.J. Heinz Company (HNZ), a food concern famous for its ketchup product and whose colleagues include ConAgra (CAG) and Campbell Soup (CPB), closed today's session higher by 1.4%. The final quote of $49.66 isn't far at all from the 52-week high of $50.77. Is the stock a buy?

You know, there's a very interesting element to this story, and it has to do with the dividend yield. Right now, Heinz's yield is 3.6%. That's pretty awesome. You've got take notice of a stock that is both near a 52-week high and possessive of a lofty yield.

Continue reading Heinz Higher on Earnings News

Heinz Higher on Earnings News originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

U.S. stocks opened the trading session with the Dow Jones Industrial Average surging 125 points at the open. The Nasdaq Composite and S&P 500 also soared over 1%. The market responded partly to weekly jobless claims figures, which plunged to a nearly three-year low.

Overseas, positive sentiment ruled the European markets today. While STOXX Europe 600 Index has advanced 0.94%, London's FTSE 100 Index moved up 1.29%.

Continue reading Stocks Surge at the Open as Jobless Claims Plunge

Stocks Surge at the Open as Jobless Claims Plunge originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Research In Motion (RIMM) to buy from sell and Gap (GPS) to hold from sell at Citigroup.
• Archer Daniels (ADM) and Airgas (ARG) to buy from hold at Jefferies.
• NCR Corp. (NCR) to conviction buy from neutral at Goldman.
• Valero Energy (VLO) to top pick from sector perform and Western Refining (WNR) to outperform from underperform at RBC Capital.
• Fred's (FRED) to overweight from neutral at JP Morgan.
• Marsh & McLennan (MMC), Willis Group (WSH) and Brown & Brown (BRO) to equal weight from underweight at Barclays.
• Host Hotels (HST) to outperform from neutral at RW Baird.
• La-Z-Boy (LZB) to strong buy from market perform at Raymond James.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: ADM, BBY, ETN, FDO, HNZ, GPS, MAR, NCR, RIMM, VLO ...

Analyst Calls: ADM, BBY, ETN, FDO, HNZ, GPS, MAR, NCR, RIMM, VLO ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 16 Feb 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

H.J. Heinz (HNZ) posted profits of $251.4 million or 78 cents a share. Foreign exchange fluctuations caused a 1.2% drop in revenue to $2.61 billion. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters had forecast earnings of 76 cents a share on revenue of $2.67 billion, as reported in the Wall Street Journal (subscription required).

The company suffered weakness in U.S. and Europe where Heinz sales fell 5.2% to $798.1 million. Chief Executive, Bill Johnson said: "The U.S. is in a funk." Increased promotions have not boosted the amount of food it is selling as much as the company thought it would in the U.S.

Continue reading Heinz Earnings: Modest Profit Amid Weak Markets in the U.S.

Heinz Earnings: Modest Profit Amid Weak Markets in the U.S. originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 22 Nov 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Investors nervous about the possibly stalled economic recovery -- or worse, the beginning of the latter phase of a double-dip recession -- were not pleased with last week's housing numbers. Things were perhaps ameliorated somewhat by durable goods order numbers and a revised GDP that weren't as bad as expected, but that didn't stop the Dow from dipping below 10,000 later in the week, before fighting its way back above the benchmark to end the week, thanks largely to Fed chair Bernanke's comments on Friday.

Though the end of August is usually quiet, this week lots more economic data are due out, including more housing numbers: The Case-Shiller Home Price Index for June on Tuesday, construction spending numbers for July on Wednesday, and NAR's pending home sales for July on Thursday. There's not expected to be much to get excited about in these numbers.

Continue reading The Week in Preview: Employment, Housing, Manufacturing, Earnings Expectations

The Week in Preview: Employment, Housing, Manufacturing, Earnings Expectations originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 29 Aug 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Heinz (HNZ): An All-Weather Buy

Heinz (HNZ): An All-Weather Buy originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 23 Jun 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Below are some highlights from this past week's earnings coverage on BloggingStocks. Click through to the original posts for more details.

• Ann Taylor Stores Corp. (ANN) shares rallied on heavy volume after it posted better-than-expected Q1 earnings.
• AutoZone Inc. (AZO) Q3 earnings easily beat consensus expectations and same-store sales rose sharply.
• Borders Group Inc. (BGP) posted a wider operating loss, decreasing gross margin, and a same-store sales decline.
• Campbell Soup Co. (CPB) posted strong Q3 results and offered guidance, boosting shares on a down-market day.
• Costco Wholesale Corp. (COST) posted better-than-expected Q3 results, due in part to a surge in membership sales.

Continue reading Earnings Highlights: AutoZone, Borders, Campbell, Costco, Heinz, J. Crew, TiVo ...

Earnings Highlights: AutoZone, Borders, Campbell, Costco, Heinz, J. Crew, TiVo ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 29 May 2010 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Good News from Heinz

Good News from Heinz originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 27 May 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Just last week General Electric (GE) surged on news that it will likely boost its dividend by some time in 2011. Coupled with the resumption of General Electric's buyback plan, shares set a new 52-week high.

But before you set off the fireworks and jump back into GE with the rest of the lemmings on Wall Street, take a closer look at the stock's fundamentals. My analysis of this company shows some serious flaws in profits and sales growth. Wall Street has forecast negative revenue growth for each of the next four quarters, and though earnings have topped the Street's low expectations recently, they have been relatively flat. That means GE isn't sinking, but it sure isn't going anywhere.

Continue reading GE vs. H.J. Heinz: Which Is the Tastier Dividend Play?

GE vs. H.J. Heinz: Which Is the Tastier Dividend Play? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 23 Mar 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

• American International Group Inc. (AIG) posted a big loss and warned it may require additional assistance.
• Athenahealth (ATHN) shares sank after it delayed earnings and its annual report, and warned of restatements.
• Barnes & Noble Inc. (BKS) Q3 sales jumped on popularity of the Nook reader but same-store sales declined.
• Brocade Communications Systems Inc. (BRCD) disappointing report and guidance caused a sell-off in shares.
• Dell Inc. (DELL) acquisitions and better-than-expected earnings may not be enough to stop shrinking market share.
• Gap Inc. (GPS) rose after it beat earnings estimates, raised its dividend and announced stock buybacks.

Continue reading Earnings Highlights: AIG, Dell, Gap, Heinz, Macy's, RadioShack, Sears ...

Earnings Highlights: AIG, Dell, Gap, Heinz, Macy's, RadioShack, Sears ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 27 Feb 2010 09:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This afternoon, I'm going to take a look at earnings releases from two companies in the food industry. One is a maker of a very famous ketchup product, and the other is instrumental in supplying consumers with the tools they need to put together a delicious peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich.

Let's start with the company responsible for the crimson condiment. H.J. Heinz Company (HNZ) delivered one heck of a report. The summary (of continuing operations), proudly trumpeted at the top of the Q3 release, is indicative of a business hitting on many, if not all, cylinders. Sales grew nearly 13%. Emerging markets were robust. Earnings came in at 83 cents per share, which was 9% higher than the comparable period's bottom line.

Continue reading Two Quarterly Reports from the Food Sector: Heinz and J.M. Smucker

Two Quarterly Reports from the Food Sector: Heinz and J.M. Smucker originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 25 Feb 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

• American Eagle Outfitters Inc. (AEO) Q3 results were so-so, and it declined to offer a Q4 outlook.
• Benihana Inc. (BNHNA) was downgraded following its weaker-than-expected Q2 results.
• Campbell Soup Co. (CPB) reported better-than-expected Q1 earnings revenue fell short of estimates.
• Deere & Co. (DE) Q4 earnings easily topped low expectations and its cash flow is strong.
• Dollar Tree Inc. (DLTR) strong Q3 numbers topped the Street view and it offered Q4 and full-year guidance.
• Eastman Chemical Co. (EMN) earnings prospects led one analyst to upgrade the stock.

Continue reading Earnings highlights: Campbell, Deere, Dollar Tree, Hewlett-Packard, J. Crew, Tiffany ...

Earnings highlights: Campbell, Deere, Dollar Tree, Hewlett-Packard, J. Crew, Tiffany ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 28 Nov 2009 12:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Heinz (HNZ) reported second quarter results earlier in the week. Should shareholders be thankful for the data in the press release? I would guess that those who aren't the type to buy and sell on a dime, and are holding for the long haul, will find this consumer-products company's numbers good enough.

The business made 76 cents per share from continuing operations. Last year, a profit of 86 cents per share was recorded on the same basis. However, as several news items have mentioned, there was a gain of 18 cents per share in the comparable quarter relating to hedging activities. So, the current quarter actually turns out to look a lot better once a little context is attached.

Continue reading Heinz looking good after the second quarter?

Heinz looking good after the second quarter? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 27 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

H.J. Heinz Co. (HNZ), one of the world's largest food companies, is scheduled to discuss its fiscal second-quarter 2010 financial results in a conference call Tuesday, November 24, at 8:30 AM ET, hosted by CEO William R. Johnson. You can see the accompanying slides on the company's website.

During the three months that ended in October, Heinz partnered with the World Food Program and also declared a quarterly dividend. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters expect the Pittsburgh-based company to report that earnings for the period fell 19.5% from a year ago to $0.70 per share. But revenue for the quarter is expected to total $2.6 billion, about the same as last year.

Continue reading Heinz earnings preview: Lower Q2 profit expected

Heinz earnings preview: Lower Q2 profit expected originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Campbell Soup Co. (CPB), which recently raised its quarterly dividend by 10%, is scheduled to discuss its fiscal first-quarter 2010 financial results in a conference call Monday, November 23, at 10:00 AM ET. You can catch the live webcast of the call on the company's website.

During the three months that ended in October, Campbell revamped its Chunky line of soups, was named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes, and debuted its first Times Square billboard. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters expect the world's biggest soup maker to report that earnings for that period rose 4.9% from a year ago to $0.81 per share. And revenue for the quarter is expected to be 1.5% higher to $2.3 billion.

Continue reading Campbell Soup earnings preview: Was the dividend boost a good sign?

Campbell Soup earnings preview: Was the dividend boost a good sign? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Much of the focus this week will no doubt be on the FOMC meeting on interest rates and the subsequent decision, as well as on the G-20 meeting in Pittsburgh, were the agenda will include bonuses for bank executives among other things.

Things will be fairly quiet again on the earnings front as the next earnings season has yet to ramp up. However, analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters do have high hopes for a handful of companies that will release results this week.

Continue reading The week in preview: Eye on AutoZone, ConAgra, KB Home, Research In Motion ...

The week in preview: Eye on AutoZone, ConAgra, KB Home, Research In Motion ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 20 Sep 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Campbell Soup Co. (NYSE: CPB), whose brands also include Pace, Pepperidge Farm, Prego, and V8, is scheduled to discuss its fiscal fourth-quarter 2009 results Friday in a conference call at 10:00 AM ET. You can catch the webcast of the call at the company's website.

For the three months that ended in July, analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters expect the Camden, N.J.-based company to report that its earnings that are about the same a year ago, $0.26 per share. For the full year, the forecast is for a profit of $2.17 per share, up 3.7% from a year ago.

Continue reading Analysts expect no EPS growth from Campbell Soup

Analysts expect no EPS growth from Campbell Soup originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

• Aeropostale Inc. (NYSE: ARO) strong Q2 results beat expectations due to rising same-store sales.
• Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) Q3 earnings topped low expectations and revenue declined.
• Analog Devices Inc. (NYSE: ADI) posted better-than-expected Q3 results but shares fell on weaker margins.
• Baidu Inc. (NASDAQ: BIDU) CEO said its new advertising efforts will boost sales over the long run.
• Barnes & Noble Inc. (NYSE: BKS) had a better-than-expected Q2 profit but same-store sales fell.
• BJ's Wholesale Club Inc. (NYSE: BJ) reported solid Q2 numbers and raised its full-year guidance.

Continue reading Earnings highlights: B&N, Deere, Heinz, Home Depot, HP, Sears, Target ...

Earnings highlights: B&N, Deere, Heinz, Home Depot, HP, Sears, Target ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 22 Aug 2009 12:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

H.J. Heinz Company (NYSE: HNZ), a food company that shares space at the supermarket with products from Kraft Foods, Inc. (NYSE: KFT), ConAgra (NYSE: CAG), and Campbell Soup (NYSE: CPB), issued first-quarter data on Thursday. Even though the effect of currency translations continues to put a cloud over the top-line performance, management did end up beating earnings expectations.

Net sales came in flat, and net income was 67 cents per share. Analysts were expecting 5 cents less, according to Earnings.com. Shareholders should be happy about that. When I covered Heinz's last quarter, I noted that expectations were essentially beat by a penny.

Continue reading Heinz wins analyst game in Q1, generates higher level of cash

Heinz wins analyst game in Q1, generates higher level of cash originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 20 Aug 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

A study just released by the CMO Council and Pointer Media Network concludes that brand loyalty in the consumer packaged goods sector is taking a severe hit during this recession. Among its conclusions- 52% of customers who were considered highly loyal to a brand in 2007 either cut back or quit buying the brand in 2008. Less than half of the brands kept 50% or more of their highly loyal customers during that interval.

A full third of loyal customers of the average brand abandoned that brand altogether in 2008. One might say today's customers are fickle as well as frugal! The recession is also impeding the ability of leading brands to recruit new customers, meaning that the overall customer base of many contracted in 2008.

Continue reading Customer loyalty suffers in recession

Customer loyalty suffers in recession originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 22 Jun 2009 15:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.