BloggingStocks http://www.bloggingstocks.com BloggingStocks http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/media/feedlogo.gif BloggingStocks http://www.bloggingstocks.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Analyst initiations 8-08-07: CPRT, RIMM and SWIM]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/08/08/analyst-initiations-8-08-07-cprt-rimm-and-swim/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/08/08/analyst-initiations-8-08-07-cprt-rimm-and-swim/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/08/08/analyst-initiations-8-08-07-cprt-rimm-and-swim/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

MOST NOTEWORTHY: HealthSpring (HS), CoPart (CPRT), Multi Fineline Electronix (MFLX) and Global Traffic Network (GNET) were today's noteworthy initiations:
  • HealthSpring (NYSE: HS) was initiated with a Neutral rating and $20 target at Banc of America, as the firm doesn't expect earnings growth to recover until 2009.
  • Rochdale Research started CoPark (NASDAQ: CPRT) with a Buy and $36 target yesterday. The firm said CoPark is in an excellent competitive position and expects growth to re-accelerate as the company integrates and expands its non-U.S. platform.
  • Needham reinstated shares of Multi Fineline Electronix (NASDAQ: MFLX) with a Buy rating and $13 target, as the firm believes the current valuation overly discounts the company's opportunities with Sony-Ericsson (SNE/ERIC), Apple (AAPL), and the likelihood of stability at Motorola (MOT).
  • Oppenheimer initiated shares of Global Traffic Network (NASDAQ: GNET) with a Buy rating and $9.50 target as the firm believes the company's expansion into new territories such as Canada and the UK should enable double-digit revenue and cash flow growth for the long term.
OTHER INITIATIONS:
  • Goldman Sachs reinstated shares of Qiagen (NASDAQ: QGEN) with a Neutral rating.
  • Raymond James initiated shares of Research in Motion (NASDAQ: RIMM) with an Outperform rating and $275 target.
  • BMO Capital initiated shares of INVESTools (NASDAQ: SWIM) with an Outperform rating.
Analyst summaries provided by TheFlyOnTheWall.com (subscription required).

Analyst initiations 8-08-07: CPRT, RIMM and SWIM originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 08 Aug 2007 11:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>analystcoparkcprtglobal trafficGlobalTraffichealthspringhsinitiationinvestoolsmflxmulti finelineMultiFinelinenexcnexcenqgenqiagenratingresearch in motionResearchInMotionrimmswimWed, 08 Aug 2007 11:26:00 EST<![CDATA[Suits and tennis shoes: NexCen Brands' unusual strategy]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/02/20/suits-and-tennis-shoes-nexcen-brands-unusual-strategy/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/02/20/suits-and-tennis-shoes-nexcen-brands-unusual-strategy/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/02/20/suits-and-tennis-shoes-nexcen-brands-unusual-strategy/#commentsFiled under: , ,

What do athletic shoes, high fashion and luxury ice cream have in common? According to NexCen Brands Inc. (NASDAQ:NEXC), the need for proper brand management and the potential to build the brand value.

Over the past year, this brand management firm has bought retail chain The Athlete's Foot (one of the worst store names ever, IMHO) as well as the high-fashion line Bill Blass. It also purchased UCC Capital Corp. for its experience in monetizing intellectual property and crafting deals.

The company states it intends to focus on three sectors: Retail franchising, branded products, and quick service restaurants. In its first foray into the restaurant end, it has now added two high-end ice cream vendors, MaggieMoo's and Marble Slab.

The Houston-based Marble Slab has over 500 locations open or in development. MaggieMoo's adds another 200 outlets. By comparison, Cold Stone Creamery has about 1,200 stores, while Dairy Queen Inc., owned by Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRK.A), offers 5,600 outlets.

Both of the newly-acquired companies have vigorous franchising programs that seem to fit well into NexCen's strategic plan. What I don't see are much in the way of cross marketing opportunities. One rarely mixes tennis shoes with a Bill Blass suit, much less risk staining said suit with drips from a double-fudge ice cream cone.

Suits and tennis shoes: NexCen Brands' unusual strategy originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 20 Feb 2007 14:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Berkshire HathawayBerkshireHathawayBRK.AMaggieMoo'sMarble SlabMarbleSlabNEXCNexcen brandsNexcenBrandsUCC Capital CorpUccCapitalCorpTue, 20 Feb 2007 14:35:00 EST