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Earnings expectations: Take-Two, Lululemon, Williams-Sonoma, Toll Bros. and others

Here's a peek at what analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial are expecting from companies scheduled to report quarterly results in the first week of June, 2008.

The following companies are expected to post earnings growth, compared to the same period in the previous year:

Continue reading Earnings expectations: Take-Two, Lululemon, Williams-Sonoma, Toll Bros. and others

Analyst downgrades: HLYS, C, ALVR, UBS and ALU

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Heelys, Citigroup, Alvarion, UBS AG and Alcatel-Lucent were today's noteworthy downgrades:
  • CIBC downgraded Heelys (NASDAQ: HLYS) to Underperformer from Sector Performer. The analyst has little confidence sales will recover following the recent drop.
  • CIBC also downgraded Citigroup (NYSE: C) to Sector Underperformer from Sector Performer, as they believe the company may have to cut its dividend, raise cash or sell assets in order to raise $30B over the near-term; the firm believes such a move would pressure shares significantly.
  • Merriman downgraded shares of Alvarion (NASDAQ: ALVR) to Neutral from Buy after the in-line results as they now believe increased competition will pressure gross margins and minimize operating leverage in FY08.
  • Merrill downgraded shares of UBS AG (NYSE: UBS) to Neutral from Buy to reflect the potential of further write downs.
  • Banc of America lowered its rating on Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE: ALU) to Neutral from Buy to reflect poor execution of the company's turnaround strategy.
OTHER DOWNGRADES:
  • Goldman removed Vimpelcom (NYSE: VIP) from its Pan European Buy List and downgraded shares to Neutral from Buy.
  • Silicon Precision (NASDAQ: SPIL) was downgraded to Hold from Buy at ABN Amro.
  • Lehman downgraded Amylin Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: AMLN) to Underweight from Equal Weight.
  • Baird downgraded Dionex (NASDAQ: DNEX) to Underperform from Neutral.

Analyst downgrades: Software sector, ERIC, PCAR, E and VCLK

MOST NOTEWORTHY: The software sector, Ericsson, Paccar, Eni SpA and Valueclick were today's noteworthy downgrades:
  • Bear Stearns downgraded the software sector to Underweight from Market Weight, citing valuations and increased risk to 2008 IT budgets.
  • Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) was downgraded to Equal Weight from Overweight at Lehman and to Neutral from Overweight at JP Morgan following the company's Q3 profit warning.
  • Paccar (NASDAQ: PCAR) was downgraded to Underperform from Market Perform at Wachovia. The firm believes Street estimates are too high due to weaker-than-expected North American unit production.
  • ABN Amro downgraded shares of Eni SpA (NYSE: E) to Sell from Hold as they expect the company to invest significantly more in its upstream activities than guidance suggests due to cost pressures.
  • Oppenheimer downgraded ValueClick (NASDAQ: VCLK) to Neutral from Buy following the Q3 pre-announcement and guidance.
OTHER DOWNGRADES:

VoIP Treatment: Time Warner and Vonage assess internet calling market

As my blogs suggest, I expect VIP treatment -- a spot behind the velvet rope, a complimentary bottle of Cristal, a second bottle for my entourage, and someone to hold my parasol.

It turns out, however, that I need to start expecting VoIP treatment.

That's right, finance fans, VoIP is short for "voice over internet protocol." It's the way internet users are starting to make calls. By using a phone connected to a high-speed internet line, they can connect anywhere and talk to anyone.

Time Warner has been in this market for a while, but it's trying to increase the market share. Skype (owned by eBay) announced today that it had reached 100 million users. Additionally, Vonage Holdings Corp., may offer up to 31.25 million shares priced at $16 to $18 each in an initial public offering, according to a regulatory filing on Friday.

Citing industry analysts, Vonage estimates the market for Internet phone service in North America may get as high as 15.3 million consumers by the close of 2007.

15.3 million consumers?! Getting VoIP treatment?!

Well, did any of those 15.3 million consumers get invites to the afterparty I'm going to tonight?

I didn't think so.

Symbol Lookup
IndexesChangePrice
DJIA+30.6910,464.40
NASDAQ+6.872,176.05
S&P 500+4.981,110.63

Last updated: November 25, 2009: 07:47 PM

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