Continue reading Closing Bell: Getting One Right (COST, JSDA, PAY, MSFT, BP)

Closing Bell: Getting One Right (COST, JSDA, PAY, MSFT, BP) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 27 May 2010 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Jones Soda Receives a Buyout Offer: 55% Off Its Current Price

Jones Soda Receives a Buyout Offer: 55% Off Its Current Price originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 22 Dec 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

After testifying before a Senate committee about AIG (NYSE: AIG) last week, the Fed's Ben Bernanke participates in a Council of Foreign Relations event Monday evening.

Economic data due to be released this week include wholesale trade and job vacancies for January on Tuesday morning, the U.S. Treasury budget for February on Wednesday, retail sales for February and business inventories for January on Thursday morning, and the U.S. trade balance for January on Friday morning.

Continue reading The week in preview: Bernanke, earnings winners, and Raymond James conference

The week in preview: Bernanke, earnings winners, and Raymond James conference originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 08 Mar 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Since trading close to $25 per share in early 2007, shares of the former Hansen Natural (NASDAQ: HANS) heir-apparent Jones Soda (NASDAQ: JSDA) have tanked. They closed on Friday at a stunning 75 cents per share, down more than 27% on the day.

On October 6th, the company reduced its workforce by 38% to 68 employees, adding that termination and severance expenses were not expected to be material. CEO Stephen Jones said that "Given the financial crisis we're in, you have to preserve cash. Cutting back people is a horrible thing to go through, but you do it as a result of strategy. And my strategy is to focus on the core of what Jones Soda is."

Jones (whose surname is a coincidence) told Fortune Small Business about an ambitious plan to focus on core strengths, reduce sales to discounters, and bring the company back from the brink. Maybe that will work but, either way, the stock looks interesting at its current price. With a market cap of about $20 million, Jones Soda had tangible shareholder's equity of about $27 million at the end of the second quarter -- including nearly $20 million in cash and short-term investments.

Continue reading Does Jones Soda have any pop left?

Does Jones Soda have any pop left? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 11 Oct 2008 15:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Can Jones and Heinz cash in on potatoes and sugar, the stable commodities?

Can Jones and Heinz cash in on potatoes and sugar, the stable commodities? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 02 Jun 2008 16:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Hansen Natural (HANS) shares plunging -- now what?

Hansen Natural (HANS) shares plunging -- now what? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 08 May 2008 13:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

• Analogic Corp. (NASDAQ: ALOG) beat estimates and announced an acquisition.
• AnnTaylor Stores Corp. (NYSE: ANN) swung to a loss in the fourth quarter on restructuring costs.
• Big Lots Inc. (NYSE: BIG) beat fourth-quarter earinings estimates and offered revised guidance.
• Bon-Ton Stores Inc. (NASDAQ: BONT) posted disappointing fourth-quarter and full-year results.
• Carrols Restaurant Group (NASDAQ: TAST) posted solid results on same-store sales for certain chains.
• Ferrellgas Partners (NYSE: FGP) saw profit fall in what should have been its strongest quarter.
• Foot Locker Inc. (NYSE: FL) fourth-quarter profit fell on weaker same-store sales.
• Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) cut its first-quarter and full-year forecasts on higher expenses.
• Imax Corp. (NASDAQ: IMAX) widened its losses for the fourth quarter and the full year.
• Jones Soda Co. (NASDAQ: JSDA) swung to a loss due to costs related to distributing in product in cans.
• K-Tron International Inc. (NASDAQ: KTII) said fourth-quarter and full-year earnings soared.
• Liz Claiborne Inc. (NYSE: LIZ) posted disappointing fourth-quarter and full-year results.
• Six Flags Inc. (NYSE: SIX) narrowed its fourth-quarter and full-year losses.
• Texas Instruments Inc. (NYSE: TXN) lowered its forecast on fewer orders from a key client.
• United Parcel Service (NYSE: UPS) warned it may miss first quarter estimates due to the slowing economy.
• Vail Resorts Inc. (NYSE: MTN) second-quarter profit slipped due to lack of snow early in the season.

Continue reading Earnings highlights: Humana, Texas Instruments, UPS, Liz Clairborne, and others

Earnings highlights: Humana, Texas Instruments, UPS, Liz Clairborne, and others originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 15 Mar 2008 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Athletic apparel retailer Foot Locker Inc. (NYSE: FL) reported that its fourth-quarter profit dropped 23% due to a shorter fiscal year and a drop in same-store sales. Net income fell to $87 million, or 56 cents per share, but after adjustments the company said it earned 23 cents per share in the latest quarter. Revenue fell 10% to $1.48 billion. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial had expected earnings of 44 cents per share on revenue of $1.48 billion.

The company said its same-store sales fell 7.8% percent in the quarter, and noted that the year-ago quarter included an extra week.

For the full year, profit fell 79% to $53 million, or 34 cents per share, from $251 million, or $1.60 per share, in the prior year. Full-year revenue dropped 4% to $5.44 billion from $5.75 billion in 2006.

Foot Locker shares fell 9 cents to close at $11.15, but rose to $11.30 in after-hours trading.

Continue reading Foot Locker, Jones Soda shares fall after Q4 results

Foot Locker, Jones Soda shares fall after Q4 results originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 10 Mar 2008 18:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

• BJ's Wholesale Club Inc. (NYSE: BJ) beat fourth-quarter estimates on lower costs and strong sales.
• Ciena Corp. (NASDAQ: CIEN) first-quarter profit doubled on strong sales, lifting the sector.
• Clean Harbors Inc. (NASDAQ: CLHB) trounced expectations as it completes acquisitions.
• Del Monte Foods Co. (NYSE: DLM) beat estimates on cost cutting and raised its guidance.
• HSBC Holdings PLC ADS (NYSE: HBC) profit soared in 2007, beating analysts' expectations.
• Intel Corp. (NASDAQ: INTC) lowered its first quarter earnings forecast, citing weak chip prices.
• LeapFrog Enterprises Inc. (NYSE: LF) narrowed its losses for the fourth quarter and full year.
• LKQ Corp. (NASDAQ: LKQX) beat fourth-quarter estimates and raised its guidance.
• Midway Games Inc. (NYSE: MWY) widened its losses in both the fourth quarter and full year.
• Staples Inc. (NASDAQ: SPLS) reported a solid fourth quarter and increased its annual dividend.
• TiVo Inc. (NASDAQ: TIVO) posted a smaller-than-expected fourth-quarter loss due to licensing deals.
• Trump Entertainment Resorts Inc. (NASDAQ: TRMP) fourth-quarter and full-year losses widened.
• Universal Health Services (NYSE: UHS) beat earnings expectations but matched revenue estimates.

Also, Dell Inc. (NASDAQ: DELL) struggles to maintain profitability against competitor Hewlett-Packard Co. (NYSE: HPQ). See Timothy Sykes's take on Warren Buffett's annual letter to Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.A) shareholders. And Zac Bissonnette is interested in where earnings actually come from.

Upcoming results to watch for include Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR), Boston Beer Co. (NYSE: SAM), J. Crew Group Inc. (NYSE: JCG), Jones Soda Co. (NASDAQ: JSDA), Blackstone Group (NYSE: BX), and Men's Wearhouse Inc. (NYSE: MW).

Visit AOL Money & Finance for more earnings coverage.

Earnings highlights: Ciena, Staples, Intel, Tivo, Trump, Del Monte and others originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 08 Mar 2008 16:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

• Astec Industries Inc. (NASDAQ: ASTE) beat expectations and raised its guidance.
• Blockbuster Inc. (NYSE: BBI) fourth-quarter profit fails to offset the full-year loss.
• China Techfaith Wireless Communication Technology (NASDAQ: CNTF) beat analysts' expectations.
• Costco Wholesale Corp. (NASDAQ: COST) met analysts' estimates, buoyed by higher fuel prices.
• FTI Consulting Inc. (NYSE: FCN) beat expectations and raised its full-year guidance.
• H&R Block Inc. (NYSE: HRB) narrowed its loss due to higher sales and smaller subprime losses.
• Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc. (NYSE: JTX) missed estimates as third-quarter profits declined sharply.
• LifeCell Corp. (NASDAQ: LIFC) beat fourth-quarter estimates and offered full-year guidance.
• Marvell Technology Group (NASDAQ: MRVL) lowered its first-quarter forecast , sending shares lower.
• Porsche AG (OTC: PSEPF) profit soared on strong sales of its Cayenne.
• S1 Corp. (NASDAQ: SONE) beat expectations and offered full-year guidance.
• Saks Inc. (NYSE: SKS) fourth-quarter profit nearly doubled, but full-year profit declined.
• Urban Outfitters Inc. (NASDAQ:URBN) beat expectations on strength in same-store sales.
• Walgreen Co. (NYSE: WAG) reports strong same-store sales ahead of its quarterly results.

Also, see Timothy Sykes's take on Warren Buffett's annual letter to Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.A) shareholders. Zac Bissonnette is interested in where earnings actually come from. And Saks, Costco, and other retailers saw stronger February same-store sales despite recession concerns, but JC Penney Co. (NYSE: JCP) didn't feel the love.

Upcoming results to watch for include Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR), Boston Beer Co. (NYSE: SAM), J. Crew Group Inc. (NYSE: JCG), Jones Soda Co. (NASDAQ: JSDA), Blackstone Group (NYSE: BX), and Men's Wearhouse Inc. (NYSE: MW).

Visit AOL Money & Finance for more earnings coverage.

Earnings highlights: Blockbuster, Costco, H&R Block, Walgreen, Saks and others originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 08 Mar 2008 09:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Boeing (NYSE: BA) was upgraded by Bernstein from Market Perform to Outperform. However, Boeing said this morning, PrivatAir has ordered an additional 787-model airplane for $162 million.
• Adobe Systems (NASDAQ: ADBE) and McAfee (NYSE: MFE) were downgraded from Buy to Neutral by UBS.
• Harley Davidson (NYSE: HOG) was downgraded by Citigroup from Hold to Sell. Shares down over 4% in premarket trading.
  
• Intel Corp. (NASDAQ: INTC) was downgraded by Charter Equity from Buy to Market Perform.
• Oppenheimer downgraded JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: JPM) and Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC) from Outperform to Perform.
• Piper Jaffray downgraded Jones Soda (NASDAQ: JSDA) from Buy to Neutral. Shares down over 3% in premarket trading.
  
• Friedman Billings, with its Outperform rating on Alcoa (NYSE: AA), lowered the aluminum maker's target price from $38 to $35.
• Altria (NYSE: MO)'s target price was upped to $88 from $79 by Credit Suisse, which rates the stock Outperform.

Continue reading Before the bell: AMTD, CAL, AAPL, JSDA, HOG, YHOO ...

Before the bell: AMTD, CAL, AAPL, JSDA, HOG, YHOO ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 17 Jan 2008 08:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Merriman assumed coverage of Jones Soda (NASDAQ:JSDA) with a Neutral rating and believes shares will languish until interim management resets expectations. For FY08, they expect sales to grow 25%-30%, rather than the consensus estimate of 38%.
  
• Jefferies thinks Whiting Petroleum (NYSE:WLL) is entering a multi-year organic and sees catalysts from the upcoming Bakken well results and positive production response from Enhanced Oil Resources (EOR) projects. The firm started shares of Whiting with a Buy rating and $66 target.
  
• Rodman & Renshaw initiated shares of Peregrine Pharma (NASDAQ:PPHM) with a Market Perform rating, as they would prefer to establish a position closer to mid-08 when key data from its Cotara Phase II study is expected.

• Stanford initiated Tercica (NASDAQ:TRCA) with a Buy rating and $10 target.
  
• Broadpoint initiated Pain Therapeutics (NASDAQ:PTIE) with an Underperform rating.
  
• Mattel (NYSE:MAT) was initiated with a Hold rating and $22 target at Citigroup.

Analyst initiations: JSDA, WLL and PPHM originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 21 Dec 2007 10:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The cola wars between Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) and Pepsi (NYSE: PEP) that consisted of a high-profile battle for carbonated supremacy are quiet for now and, according to some experts, it's hurting the industry.

Some industry experts predict that soda sales will decline 1% per year for the next ten years. The accuracy of such a forward-looking prediction aside, it puts a lot of pressure on the soda companies.

Coke responded with its high-profile acquisition of Glaceau, the maker of VitaminWater, and Pepsi is preparing the launch of Tava, "An Inspired Sparkling Beverage" promising "Zero Calories. Zero Caffeine. Zero Worries." The packaging looks slick and the flavors -- Tahitian Tamure, Mediterranean Fiesta, and Brazilian Samba -- certainly sound enticing. The product will launch in the first half of 2008, but Pepsi investors should be wary of putting too much faith in it. A large percentage of new beverages fail to catch on with consumers -- Remember Crystal Pepsi, Pepsi Blue, and New Coke?

Maybe they'll be able to compensate for the decline in categories like energy drinks and vitamin-enhanced water -- but investing in Coca-Cola when you think Coke is headed for a long decline seems silly -- especially given that the stock hit a multi-year high on Friday.

With the decline -- and expected continuation of the decline -- in soft drink sales, you also have to wonder about Jones Soda's (NASDAQ: JSDA) prospects. The company has its own serious internal problems, and trying to make a comeback in a declining industry could prove too much for it to handle.

Perhaps big new marketing campaigns and a rebirth of the cola wars can help brighten soda's prospects -- but if the decline is caused by factors like increasing health-consciousness and a preference for noncarbonated drinks, it might just be a big waste of money.

Cola companies face a tough road ahead originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 15 Dec 2007 12:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Jones Soda Co. today announced that Peter van Stolk will step down from his position as chairman of the board of directors and as chief executive officer at the end of the year. He will remain on as a member of the board of directors. Board members Scott Bedbury and Steve Jones will take on the interim positions of chairman and CEO respectively while the company conducts a search for a new CEO.

Continue reading Jones Soda loses its founder/visionary

Jones Soda loses its founder/visionary originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 06 Dec 2007 17:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

For a bullish hedged play on this stock, I would consider a March bull-put credit spread below the $5 range. A bull-put credit spread is an options position that combines the purchase and sale of put options to hedge risk in case the stock doesn't do what you think but still leverage nice returns. For this particular trade, we will make an 11.1% return in just 3 and a half months as long as JSDA is above $5 at March expiration. Jones would have to fall by more than 18% before we would start to lose money.

Continue reading Jones Soda (JSDA) CEO to resign

Jones Soda (JSDA) CEO to resign originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 05 Dec 2007 11:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Priceline (NASDAQ: PCLN)'s higher profits are taking shares up 14%. And Rio Tinto (NYSE: RTP) is up 9% on buyout rumors.

Jones Soda (NASDAQ: JSDA) is trading off 19% due to poor earnings. And Leap Wireless (NASDAQ: LEAP) is off 15% on news that it will have to restate earnings.

Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 247wallst.com

Pre-market big movers: Priceline (PCLN) and Jones Soda (JSDA) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 09 Nov 2007 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Jones Soda in the clear with the SEC originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 30 Oct 2007 12:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Jones Soda (JSDA) offers NFL fans the taste of victory, field turf

Jones Soda (JSDA) offers NFL fans the taste of victory, field turf originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 28 Sep 2007 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

If the members of the board of directors at Jones Soda (NASDAQ: JSDA) weren't trading based on any kind of inside information, they may want to consider starting their own hedge funds. That's how good the timing of their sales was.

During an 85-day period this spring, 5 directors sold nearly all of their shares in the company. The stock is about 67% off the high it reached during that period. According to the Seattle-Post Intelligencer, "If the board members and executives had made the trades Monday, when the stock closed at $10.74 on the Nasdaq stock market, they would have gotten a combined $3.6 million, or 45 percent less than what they received."

CEO Peter van Stolk told the newspaper that the directors exercise options/sell stock as compensation for all their hard work. But the sales, and their uncanny timing, raise a question: If the outside directors were so involved in the management of the company, wouldn't they have been aware of the problems the company was having that led to the demise of the share-price?

Industry experts are questioning the timing of the sales, but maybe we should give them the benefit of the doubt: Even after the sell-off, the stock is trading at 114 times earnings. The stock had been on a tear, and you can hardly blame them for wanting to take some profits... or all their profits.

Regardless of whether the Jones directors were trading inappropriately -- I won't speculate -- this raises an interesting question: What is an executive or director supposed to do when he feels that his company's stock is overvalued? Does she have some moral obligation to hold the stock, or should she try to dump it before it plummets as investor exuberance subsides?

Ultimately, investors should be more worried about the performance of a company than director sales. And given the stock's recent chart, there's plenty of complaining to be done on that front.

Jones Soda (JSDA) insiders time stock sales well -- too well? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 15 Aug 2007 07:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Is Jones Soda about to start spiking?

Is Jones Soda about to start spiking? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 01 Aug 2007 17:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.