Analyst Upgrades

• Diamond Offshore (DO) to conviction buy from sell and Baker Hughes (BHI) to buy from neutral at Goldman.
• Frontier Communications (FTR) to outperform from market perform at Wells Fargo.
• Syntel (SYNT) to outperform from market perform at Wells Fargo, to buy from hold at Deutsche Bank and to buy from neutral at Janney Capital.
• Kulicke & Soffa (KLIC) and Fiserv (FISV) to outperform from perform at Oppenheimer.
• 3M (MMM) to neutral from underweight and Tyco (TYC) to overweight from neutral at JPMorgan.
• Collective Brands (PSS) and Nordstrom (JWN) to overweight from equal weight, as well as Foot Locker (FL) to equal weight from underweight, at Morgan Stanley.
• Amazon.com (AMZN) to buy from hold at Lazard Capital.
• Yamana Gold (AUY) to outperform from neutral at Credit Suisse.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: APC, AMZN, CME, DO, GPS, H, JCP, JWN, KSS, PM SYNT ...

Analyst Calls: APC, AMZN, CME, DO, GPS, H, JCP, JWN, KSS, PM SYNT ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Constellation Brands Down on Q3 News

Constellation Brands Down on Q3 News originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Boeing (BA) to overweight from neutral at JPMorgan.
• Alcoa (AA) to buy from hold at Deutsche Bank.
• BP (BP) to outperform from market perform at Raymond James.
• Office Depot (ODP) and Staples (SPLS) to buy from neutral at Janney Capital.
• ON Semiconductor (ONNN) to buy from hold at Citigroup.
• Kennametal (KMT) and Polyone (POL) to buy from hold at KeyBanc.
• Airgas (ARG) to outperform from market perform at William Blair.
• EchoStar (SATS) to neutral from underperform at Macquarie.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AA, BA, BP, BSX, COH, GM, INTC, NSM, STJ, TIF, TSN, UA ...

Analyst Calls: AA, BA, BP, BSX, COH, GM, INTC, NSM, STJ, TIF, TSN, UA ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 03 Jan 2011 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Although the U.S. economy has added jobs in recent months, the unemployment rate remains uncomfortably high at 9.8%. The rate for December is due out on Friday and is expected to drop to 9.7%. However, no one seems to expect significant improvement until well into the new year.

Other economic data on this week's schedule include:

• Monday: ISM Manufacturing Index, construction spending and auto sales data

Continue reading Week in Preview: Unemployment Rate, Retail and Auto Sales

Week in Preview: Unemployment Rate, Retail and Auto Sales originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 02 Jan 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Constellation Brands Beats in Q1: Stock a Buy?

Constellation Brands Beats in Q1: Stock a Buy? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 01 Jul 2010 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

• Alcoa Inc. (AA) received an analyst's downgrade ahead of its earnings report due to pricing pressures in 2011.
• American Eagle Outfitters Inc. (AEO) disappointing earnings guidance offset sales numbers to depress shares.
• Bed Bath & Beyond (BBBY) shares hit a new 52-week high after it reported strong Q4 results and offered guidance.
• Constellation Brands Inc. (STZ) posted a narrower net loss for Q4 and offered lower-than-expected guidance.

Continue reading Earnings Highlights: Target, Pier 1, Monsanto, Family Dollar, Bed Bath & Beyond

Earnings Highlights: Target, Pier 1, Monsanto, Family Dollar, Bed Bath & Beyond originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 10 Apr 2010 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Constellation Brands Reports Quarterly Earnings

Constellation Brands Reports Quarterly Earnings originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 09 Apr 2010 10:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

• Ark Restaurants Corp. (ARKR) shares declined after Q4 earnings fell short of consensus expectations.
• Azz Inc. (AZZ) Q3 net income fell more than expected but the company reaffirmed its earnings outlook.
• Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. (BBBY) reported strong Q3 results, sending shares to a new 52-week high.
• Best Buy Inc. (BBY) declined to lift its earnings forecast despite strong December sales, send shares lower.
• Constellation Brands Inc. (STZ) lower Q3 earnings topped expectations and revenue declined as well.

Continue reading Earnings Highlights: Bed Bath & Beyond, Constellation Brands, Family Dollar, Lennar, Sonic ...

Earnings Highlights: Bed Bath & Beyond, Constellation Brands, Family Dollar, Lennar, Sonic ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 09 Jan 2010 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Constellation Brands (STZ) reported what I thought was a dismal third quarter. The market wasn't too worried about it, though. The stock closed down about one percent. Yes, that's a decline, but I honestly thought the numbers would have been worth a bit more in terms of selling pressure (volume was strong, however).

Then again, the real name of the game is beating the analyst projections. On that count, Constellation was a winner. The company made an adjusted 54 cents per share, two cents better than predictions, according to Earnings.com. So, I suppose Wall Street had to give credit to management for at least achieving some amount of success. This most likely kept the selling in check.

Continue reading Constellation Brands Experiences Drops in Sales and Profits in Q3

Constellation Brands Experiences Drops in Sales and Profits in Q3 originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 08 Jan 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Janney Montgomery upgraded Dreamworks (DWA) to buy from neutral on valuation and believes Dragon will be a major hit. The firm has a $45 target on the stock.
• Thomas Weisel upgraded Gildan Activewear (GIL) to market weight from underweight, citing expectations for increased market shares in the U.S. screen print channel. The firm raised its target to $17 from $12.
• P.F. Chang's (PFCB) was upgraded to overweight from equal weight at Morgan Stanley.
• PEPCO Holdings (POM) was upgraded to outperform from neutral at Credit Suisse.
• Arris (ARRS) was upgraded to buy from neutral at UBS.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: DOLE, DWA, ESRX, FOSL, GIL, HR, STZ ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: DOLE, DWA, ESRX, FOSL, GIL, HR, STZ ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 02 Dec 2009 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Constellation Brands (STZ) rises on Q2 earnings

Constellation Brands (STZ) rises on Q2 earnings originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Autumn has arrived and the quarter winds down this week. The Dow has been inching toward 10,000 for a while now, though it closed lower in the past three sessions. Can it make it to 10,000 for the start of the third quarter? If so, what will push it higher? If not, what will drag it down further?

• Monday is Yom Kippur, the most solemn of the Jewish holidays; trading likely will be lighter than usual. In the evening, the FDIC meets to discuss how to rebuild the Bank Deposit Insurance Fund.
• Tuesday, the Consumer Confidence Index for September is due and the SEC holds a public meeting to consider more short sale actions.

Continue reading The week in preview: Is the rally over?

The week in preview: Is the rally over? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 27 Sep 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

• Apollo Group Inc. (NASDAQ: APOL) posted better-than-expected Q3 earnings due to higher enrollments.
• Ball Corp. (NYSE: BLL) expected earnings growth resulted in an upgrade from one analyst.
• Constellation Brands Inc. (NYSE: STZ) shares soared after Q1 earnings topped analysts' expectations.
• General Mills Inc. (NYSE: GIS) profit doubled in Q4, beating estimates, and annual sales also rose.
• H&R Block Inc. (NYSE: HRB) reported earnings growth for the fiscal year but essentially flat revenues.
• Schnitzer Steel industries Inc. (NASDAQ: SCHN) surprised analysts with a Q3 loss, sending shares lower.
• Sealy Corp. (NYSE: ZZ) Q2 earnings fell short of expectations and revenues declined due to the recession.

Continue reading Earnings highlights: General Mills, Apollo Group, H&R Block, Sealy ...

Earnings highlights: General Mills, Apollo Group, H&R Block, Sealy ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 05 Jul 2009 09:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Constellation Brands (STZ) soars on Q1 earnings

Constellation Brands (STZ) soars on Q1 earnings originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Things will be pretty quiet again on the earnings front during this holiday-shortened week, so not much chance of fireworks there.

The one report analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters seem to have the highest hopes for is that from Apollo Group Inc. (NASDAQ: APOL), as people look to education to better position themselves to survive the economic slump. For its fiscal third quarter, during which a new co-CEO was named, the Phoenix, Ariz.-based educational services provider is expected to report a profit of $1.12 per share, which is 24.1% higher than a year ago. Revenue is expected to be 24.3% higher to $1.0 billion. The full-year forecast is currently for $3.97 per share (+28.5%) on sales of $3.9 billion (+24.4%). Earnings have topped expectations in the past four quarters, by as much as 13 cents per share. The long-term EPS growth forecast is 15.9%, which is double the industry average, and the forward PE ratio estimate is 15.0. The First Call consensus recommendation remains to buy APOL; InvestorPlace calls it a stock you can trust. At $68.50, shares are down 10.6% since the beginning of the year, but they peeked above the 100-day moving average at the end of this week for the first time since March.

Continue reading The week in preview: A few chances for pre-holiday fireworks

The week in preview: A few chances for pre-holiday fireworks originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 28 Jun 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

• Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. (NASDAQ: BBBY) easily topped Q4 earnings estimates but same-store sales fell.
• Brinker International Inc. (NYSE: EAT) forecast Q3 earnings that are well above analysts' estimates.
• Constellation Brands Inc. (NYSE: STZ) said it narrowed its loss in Q4 despite restructuring costs.
• Excel Maritime Carriers Ltd. (NYSE: EXM) is expected to fall short of Q4 earnings expectations.
• Family Dollar Stores Inc. (NYSE: FDO) reported strong Q2 results and and raised its outlook for Q3.

Continue reading Earnings highlights: Family Dollar, Bed Bath & Beyond, Alcoa, Wells Fargo and more

Earnings highlights: Family Dollar, Bed Bath & Beyond, Alcoa, Wells Fargo and more originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 11 Apr 2009 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

On Wednesday, PriceSmart Inc. (NASDAQ: PSMT) reported that its earnings rose 34% in the fiscal second quarter due to improved sales, and Constellation Brands Inc. (NYSE: STZ) said it narrowed its fiscal fourth quarter loss despite restructuring costs and lower holiday season wine sales in Britain and Australia.

Warehouse club operator PriceSmart said it earned $12.7 million, or 43 cents per share, for the period ended Feb. 28, compared to $9.5 million, or 33 cents per share, in the same period of the previous year. Revenue grew 14% to $334.8 million.

Continue reading PriceSmart's profit grows; Constellation Brands narrows loss

PriceSmart's profit grows; Constellation Brands narrows loss originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 08 Apr 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Before the bell: Stocks poised to drop following Alcoa's disappointing earnings

Before the bell: Stocks poised to drop following Alcoa's disappointing earnings originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 08 Apr 2009 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

• Acuity Brands Inc. (NYSE: AYI) reported lower Q1 earnings that still beat analysts' expectations.
• Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. (NASDAQ: BBBY) reported unimpressive Q3 results but shares rose anyway.
• Chevron Corp. (NYSE: CVX) warned of lower Q4 earnings due to lower oil prices and narrow margins.
• Constellation Brands Inc. (NYSE: STZ) Q3 earnings tumbled on on restructuring costs and weaker sales.
• Family Dollar Stores Inc. (NYSE: FDO) topped Q1 earnings expectations as consumers seek bargains.
• Intel Corp. (NASDAQ: INTC) lowered its Q4 revenue guidance once more due to lower demand.
• LDK Solar Co. (NYSE: LDK) cut its Q4 revenue outlook as clients asked for delayed shipments.
• Manitowoc Co. (NYSE: MTW) said profit will likely come in at the low end of its previous guidance range.
• Monsanto Co. (NYSE: MON) reported strong Q1 numbers and raised its full-year guidance.
• Neogen Corp. (NASDAQ: NEOG) posted its 63rd-consecutive profitable quarter, helped by an acquisition.
• Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory (NASDAQ: RMCF) posted dismal Q3 numbers on economic downturn.
• Sears Holdings Corp. (NASDAQ: SHLD) higher-than-expected December sales prompted raised guidance.
• Supervalu Inc. (NYSE: SVU) reported a Q3 loss because of hefty one-time charges, but topped estimates.
• Walmart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT) cut its Q4 forecast after lower-than-expected December sales.
• Williams-Sonoma Inc. (NYSE: WSM) forecast lower-than-expected Q4 earnings on weak December sales.

For more earnings highlights, see Time Warner, Satyam, Google, KB Home, Mosaic and others

Upcoming earnings releases include Alcoa Inc. (NYSE: AA), Infosys (NASDAQ: INFY), Linear Technologies (NASDAQ: LLTC) , Xilinx (NASDAQ: XLNX), Genentech (NYSE: DNA), Intel (NASDAQ: INTC), Marshall & Ilsley (NYSE: MI), Sealy (NYSE: ZZ), Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI).

Visit AOL Money & Finance for more earnings coverage.

Earnings highlights: Intel, Walmart, Chevron, Family Dollar, Monsanto and others originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 10 Jan 2009 16:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

While wine and spirits maker Constellation Brands Inc. (NYSE: STZ) said Wednesday that its fiscal third-quarter earnings tumbled 30% on restructuring costs and weaker sales, grocery store chain Supervalu Inc. (NYSE: SVU) reported a third-quarter loss because of hefty one-time charges.

For the quarter ended Nov. 30, Constellation Brands posted a profit of $83.5 million, or 38 cents a share, down 30.9% from a year earlier. Excluding one-time restructuring and acquisition-related charges and other special items, the world's biggest winemaker by volume earned $132 million, or 60 cents a share.

Sales were hurt by the stronger dollar, slipping 7.1% to $1.31 billion, with net sales excluding excise taxes falling 6% to $1.03 billion. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters had expected earnings of 59 cents a share on sales of $1.13 billion.

Citing the impact of the economic downturn on its key markets, the company lowered the upper end its 2009 adjusted profit outlook to between $1.68 per share and $1.72 per share.

Shares fell on Wednesday by $1.39, or 8.2%, to close at $15.48, but regained much of that in afterhours trading. In the past three months, the share price has fallen 10.7%.

Continue reading Constellation Brands falls, Supervalu rises after Q3 reports

Constellation Brands falls, Supervalu rises after Q3 reports originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 08 Jan 2009 07:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.