Continue reading Wolverine World Wide: Buy or Sell?

Wolverine World Wide: Buy or Sell? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Medicis (MRX) to overweight from neutral at Piper Jaffray, to outperform from market perform at Bernstein, to outperform from sector perform at RBC Capital and to overweight from neutral at JPMorgan.
• Wellpoint (WLP) to buy from neutral at Davenport.
• Humana (HUM) to buy from hold at Jefferies.
• Frontier Oil (FTO) to equal weight from underweight and Resources Connection (RECN) to overweight from equal weight at Barclays.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AMZN, CMCSA, FTO, HUM, MRX, PG, STX, WLP, WWW ...

Analyst Calls: AMZN, CMCSA, FTO, HUM, MRX, PG, STX, WLP, WWW ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Electronic Arts (ERTS) to overweight from neutral at Piper Jaffray.
• Helix Energy (HLX) to overweight from equal weight at Morgan Stanley.
• Quest Software (QSFT) to neutral from sell at Goldman.
• LTX-Credence (LTXC) to buy from hold at Needham.
• Anadarko (APC) to buy from hold at Canaccord.
• Walgreen (WAG) to hold from sell at Citigroup.
• Pericom (PSEM) to buy from hold at ThinkEquity.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: APC, DLTR, ENR, ERTS, KKR, NUAN, QSFT, WAG, WWW ...

Analyst Calls: APC, DLTR, ENR, ERTS, KKR, NUAN, QSFT, WAG, WWW ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 02 Feb 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Polo Ralph Lauren (RL) to buy from hold at Citigroup.
• Qualcomm (QCOM) to buy from neutral at Roth Capital.
• Walgreen (WAG) to conviction buy from neutral at Goldman.
• Rockwell (ROK) to outperform from neutral at Credit Suisse.
• Carnival (CCL) to buy from hold at Deutsche Bank.
• SunTrust (STI) and TD Bank (TD) to outperform from market perform at Keefe Bruyette.
• Hawaiian Electric (HE) to outperform from neutral at RW Baird.
• Essex Property Trust (ESS) to outperform from neutral at Macquarie.
• Amgen (AMGN) to neutral from underperform at BofA/Merrill.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: EBAY, ERIC, MMI, MSI, NKE, QCOM, RL, ROK, SWY, WAG ...

Analyst Calls: EBAY, ERIC, MMI, MSI, NKE, QCOM, RL, ROK, SWY, WAG ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 04 Jan 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• DuPont (DD) was upgraded to buy from neutral at Goldman.
• UBS upgraded Deere (DE) to buy from neutral and AGCO (AGCO) to neutral from sell.
• Canadian Solar (CSIQ) was upgraded to outperform from neutral at Macquarie.
• Thoratec (THOR) and DTE Energy (DTE) were upgraded to overweight from equal weight at Barclays.
• NICE Systems (NICE) was upgraded to overweight from neutral at HSBC.
• Deutsche Bank upgraded Copa Holdings (CPA) to buy from hold.
• BofA/Merrill upgraded Nu Skin (NUS) to buy from neutral.
• Continental Resources (CLR) was upgraded to buy from hold at Jefferies.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: CLR, CSIQ, DD, DE, DECK, EMC, EMN, WFMI, WWW ...

Analyst Calls: CLR, CSIQ, DD, DE, DECK, EMC, EMN, WFMI, WWW ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 19 Nov 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Even if the national headlines weren't already providing enough focus on the economy, plenty of economic data is due out as the month and the quarter wind down. U.S. economic data scheduled to be released this week include:

• Personal income (Aug. 2008): Monday 8:30 AM
• Consumer confidence index (Sept, 2008): Tuesday 10:00 AM
• Challenger job cut announcement (Sept, 2008): Wednesday 7:30 AM
• ISM manufacturing survey (Sept. 2008): Wednesday 10:00 AM
• Construction spending (Aug. 2008): Wednesday 10:00 AM
• New motor vehicle sales (Sept. 2008): Wednesday 4:00 PM
• Monster employment index (Sept. 2008): Thursday 6:00 AM
• Factory orders (Aug. 2008): Thursday 10:00 AM
• Employment situation (Sept. 2008): Friday 8:30 AM
• ISM nonmanufacturing survey (Sept. 2008): Friday 10:00 AM

Other economic events scheduled for this week include:

• Fed's Hoenig speaks on "The Economy and Monetary Policy": Monday 9:45 PM
• Fed's Lockhart speaks on the economic outlook: Tuesday 1:00 PM
• Ford Motor Co. September 2008 Sales Conference Call: Wednesday 1:00 PM
• AMETEK Inc. at Oppenheimer Industrials Conference: Thursday 8:00 AM
• DuPont at Citigroup Ethanol on the Cob Conference: Thursday 12:50 PM
• Fed's Evans speaks at Agricultural Markets and Food Price Inflation conference: Thursday 1:00 PM
• Fed's Bullard speaks at Indiana University Department of Economics: Thursday 7:00 PM
• Fed's Hoenig speaks on "The Economy and Monetary Policy": Thursday 9:45 PM
• National Association for Business Economics 50th Annual Meeting to address Future Economic Challenges: Friday 9:00 PM

Continue reading The week in preview: End-of-quarter expectations

The week in preview: End-of-quarter expectations originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 28 Sep 2008 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:

• Alcoa Inc. (NYSE: AA) Q2 earnings decline on materials costs but beat analysts estimates (see transcript).
• Apollo Group Inc. (NASDAQ: APOL) solid Q3 results were accompanied by a share buyback program.
• Boeing Co. (NYSE: BA) warned that Q2 results will include a delay-related charge of 22 cents per share.
• Cash America International Inc. (NYSE: CSH) predicted Q2 earnings above previous guidance.
• EZcorp Inc. (NASDAQ: EZPW) predicted better-than-expected Q3 results due to strong sales.
• Family Dollar Stores Inc. (NYSE: FDO) beat Q3 expectations and raised its Q4 guidance.
• Flow International Corp. (NASDAQ: FLOW) swung to a better-than-expected Q4 profit on strong demand.
• General Electric Co. (NYSE: GE) reported mixed Q2 results and offered an uninspiring Q3 outlook (transcript).
• Helen of Troy Ltd. (NASDAQ: HELE) Q1 results were colored by write-downs and other charges.
• International Speedway Corp. (NASDAQ: ISCA) Q2 earnings soared while revenue slipped.
• Levis Strauss Q2 profitability plunged due to declining sales and higher administrative costs.
• Marriott International Inc. (NYSE: MAR) topped Q2 estimates but lowered its guidance (see transcript).

Continue reading Earnings highlights: GE, Alcoa, Marriott, Pepsi Bottling, Wal-Mart, Boeing and others

Earnings highlights: GE, Alcoa, Marriott, Pepsi Bottling, Wal-Mart, Boeing and others originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 12 Jul 2008 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Wolverine (WWW) stepping out originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 11 Jul 2008 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

As the new earnings season kicked off, Alcoa Inc. (NYSE: AA) posted better-than expected results, despite a decline in earnings, and Pepsi Bottling Group (NYSE: PBG) topped Wall Street expectations as well. This just goes to show that there is some good news in earnings if you know where to look. Here are a few recent, less-prominent examples.

Flow International Corp. (NASDAQ: FLOW), which makes industrial waterjet equipment, swung to a better-than-expected fiscal fourth-quarter profit of $13.3 million, or 35 cents per share, helped by a boost in sales due to strong demand and an income tax benefit. Revenue rose 21% to $63.3 million. Shares are creeping up from a 52-week low of $6.81 a week ago.

Motor sports company International Speedway Corp.'s (NASDAQ: ISCA) second-quarter profit rose 41% to $26 million, or 52 cents per share. However, revenue slipped 3% to $174.9 million as admission and food and merchandise sales declined. Results fell short of Wall Street expectations, and shares fell to a 52-week low of $36.36.

Apparel and footwear company Wolverine World Wide Inc. (NYSE: WWW), second-quarter profit of $16.8 million, or 33 cents per share, topped Wall Street expectations, as strong international results linked to the weaker dollar largely offset increased product and freight costs. Revenue climbed 7% to $267.4 million. But shares fell $3.11 to $23.46 in morning trading.

Continue reading Finding positive earnings news in the new quarter

Finding positive earnings news in the new quarter originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 09 Jul 2008 13:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

• Abbott Laboratories Inc. (NYSE: ABT) first-quarter profit soared on overseas demand for Humira.
• Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (NYSE: AMD) posted a bigger-than-expected loss, its sixth straight.
• Coca-Cola Co. (NYSE: KO) posted better-than-expected first-quarter results on strength overseas.
• CSX Corp. (NYSE: CSX) first-quarter profit soared on strong demand for grain, ethanol, and coal.
• eBay Inc. (NASDAQ: EBAY) beat first-quarter expectations but the outlook was uninspiring.
• Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) first-quarter profit soared 42%, beating Wall Street estimates.
• Intel Corp. (NASDAQ: INTC) first-quarter earnings slipped but exceeded expectations.
• Intuitive Surgical Inc. (NASDAQ: ISRG) beat first-quarter estimates and offered a disappointing outlook.
• J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. (NASDAQ: JBHT) missed first-quarter estimates on rising fuel prices.
• Nokia Corp. (NYSE: NOK) first-quarter profit missed expectations and it warned of a coming decline.
• Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) first-quarter profits fell and missed analysts' expectations.
• Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. (NYSE: RS) lowered its second-quarter outlook.
• Royal Philips Electronics posted a bigger-than-expected fall in profit on weak North America TV sales.
• Wolverine World Wide Inc. (NYSE: WWW) beat earnings estimates but shareholders were not impressed.
• Xerox Corp. (NYSE: XRX) posted a first-quarter loss that matched analysts' estimates.

Continue reading Earnings highlights: Google, Intel, Coca-Cola, Pfizer, eBay, AMD and others

Earnings highlights: Google, Intel, Coca-Cola, Pfizer, eBay, AMD and others originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 20 Apr 2008 10:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Wolverine World Wide, Inc. (NYSE: WWW), a footwear maker that competes with businesses such as The Timberland Company (NYSE: TBL), announced impressive earnings -- yet the stock as of this writing was down almost 3%. What gives, you ask? Well, it looks like revenues came in a bit on the light side.

According to Briefing.com, Wolverine beat Wall Street's expectations by a whopping three pennies. They came in at $0.46 per diluted share -- this represented growth over the previous year's quarter of almost 18%. But the top line was rather sheepish in terms of expansion -- Wolverine took in $288 million this quarter versus $281 million in Q1 2007. Yeah, that performance wasn't anything to be proud of, I suppose. So investors were in a punishing mood and sold the stock.

Still, Wolverine is an interesting stock that probably should be put on a watch list. It's not too far from the 52-week high, it doesn't appear to be overly expensive, and according to the company's earnings release, gross margins expanded by 100 basis points. I wouldn't necessarily get in now if I wanted to invest in Wolverine, but I'd be on the lookout for pullbacks.

Disclosure: I don't own shares in any of the companies mentioned here; positions can change at any time.

Wolverine World Wide's earnings jump, but stock is down originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 16 Apr 2008 15:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• UBS is positive on the ethylene cycle over the next two years and believes Dow Chemical (NYSE: DOW) can beat 2008 consensus estimates, initiating shares with a Buy rating.

• JMP Securities started Smart Modular (NASDAQ: SMOD) with a Strong Buy as a unit volume growth theme without much dependence on commodity memory chip pricing.

• Citigroup expects further upside given Wolverine World Wide's (NYSE: WWW) strong portfolio of brands, further growth opportunities through line extensions and international growth. The firm started Wolverine World Wide with a Buy rating and $33 target.

• Winn-Dixie Stores (NASDAQ: WINN) was started with a Market Perform rating, citing low levels of profitability and unproven ability to drive sustainable profitable sales.

• American Technology believes the valuation of Blue Nile (NASDAQ: NILE) leaves little room for upside, despite a highly attractive business model and strong fundamentals, and started shares with a Sell rating and $45 target...

• Susquehanna started King Pharma (NYSE: KG), Sepracor (NASDAQ: SEPR) with Neutral ratings and Sciele Pharma (NASDAQ: SCRX) with a Positive rating.

• Citigroup initiated shares of Quicksilver Inc (NYSE: ZQK) with a Hold rating.

• Longbow started Mips Tech (NASDAQ: MIPS) with a Buy rating and $12 target.

Analyst initiations 5-11-07: DOW, NILE, WINN and ZQK originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 11 May 2007 11:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.