MOST NOTEWORTHY: Time Warner Telecom, Verigy and Brinker were today's noteworthy initiations:
Friedman Billings expects Time Warner Telecom (NASDAQ: TWTC) to post free cash flow growth above consensus expectations and believes carrier spending-concerns are overdone. The firm initiated shares with an Outperform rating and $20 target.
Oppenheimer initiated Verigy (NASDAQ: VRGY) with a Perform rating and $23 target, pointing to the company's tough year over year comps as PC unit growth slows in 2008 as well as its exposure to flash memory chips.
Brinker (NYSE: EAT) was assumed with a Neutral rating at Suntrust, as they expect Chili's to continue to be impacted by weak consumer spending.
OTHER INITIATIONS:
Baird assumed Ulta Salon (NASDAQ: ULTA) with an Outperform rating and $18 target.
Lions Gate (NYSE: LGF) was initiated at Jefferies with a Hold rating and $10-$11 target.
Landstar System (NASDAQ: LSTR) was initiated with a Market Perform rating at Morgan Keegan.
MOST NOTEWORTHY: VMware (VMW), Bed, Bath & Beyond (BBBY), Williams-Sonoma (WSM), Landstar System (LSTR) and Acadia Pharmaceuticals (ACAD) were the noteworthy initiations:
Robert W. Baird initiated coverage on VMware (NYSE: VMW) with a Neutral rating citing valuation.
Citigroup started Bed Bath & Beyond (NASDAQ: BBBY) with a Hold rating, and cited the increasing competitive environment, slowing square footage growth and the weak housing market.
Citigroup started Williams-Sonoma (NYSE: WSM) with a Sell rating and said the company has an inventory glut that could lead to markdown risk, there is raw material price inflation, and the weak housing market remains a material risk.
Wachovia is cautious on Landstar System's (NASDAQ: LSTR) near-term growth rates and difficult end markets, starting shares with a Market Perform rating.
Deutsche is positive on the potential of Acadia Pharmaceutical's (NASDAQ: ACAD) ACP-103 in schizophrenia, starting shares with a Buy rating...
Landstar Systems Inc (NASDAQ: LSTR) to hold Q1 mid-quarter update conference call at 2pm.
Federal Reserve St Louis Bank President William Poole to speak at 11am, Federal Reserve Governor Kevin Warsh to speak at 2pm.
Tuesday March 6
International Game Technology (NYSE: IGT), a "global company specializing in the design, development, manufacturing, distribution and sales of computerized gaming machines and systems products," to hold its annual shareholder meeting at 1pm.
Wednesday March 7
Saks Inc (NYSE: SKS) to hold Q4 earnings conference call at 10am.
PDUFA date for Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT) Humira, a Tumor Necrosis Factor blocker, which is used to reduce the signs and symptoms of arthritis.
PDUFA date for Merck and Co Incs (NYSE: MRK) Janumet, a treatment for Type 2 Diabetes.
Thursday March 8
Monthly Same Store Sales to be reported by Wal-Mart Stores (NYSE: WMT), Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT), Aeropostale Inc (NYSE: ARO), Kohl's Corporation (NYSE: KSS), Pacific Sunwear of California Inc (NASDAQ: PSUN), Abercrombie & Fitch Co (NYSE: ANF), Gap Inc (NYSE: GPS) Nordstrom Inc (NYSE: JWN) and J.C. Penney Co Inc (NYSE: JCP).
Friday March 9
PDUFA date for Eli Lilly and Company's (NYSE: LLY) Cymbalta, a treatment for depression.
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