Continue reading Closing Bell: Down to the Wire (CSCO, GMCR, BBY, JPM, RDWR, ZUMZ, GAP)

Closing Bell: Down to the Wire (CSCO, GMCR, BBY, JPM, RDWR, ZUMZ, GAP) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 14 Sep 2010 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Last week, JA Solar Holdings Co. Ltd. (NASDAQ: JASO) posted a quarterly loss and lowered its guidance. But as interest in alternative energy continues to grow, analysts polled by Thomson Financial are still looking for good things from solar energy concerns scheduled to report earnings this week.

Strong growth at Trina Solar Ltd. (NYSE: TSL) in the third quarter prompted it to lift its guidance back in October. Analysts expect the Chinese company to post profits that are 76.3% higher than a year ago, or $1.18 per share on revenues of $268.4 million (+225.0%). Though Trina Solar missed estimates in the second quarter, analysts on average recommend buying TSL. Shares are down 81.4% from a year ago and trading near an all-time low.

Earnings of rival LDK Solar Co. Ltd. (NYSE: LDK) are expect to have risen 47.9% to $0.71 per share on revenues of $486.7 million (+206.6%). Also based in China, LDK has not missed estimates in recent quarters; in fact, it blew past expectations in the second quarter. Yet the consensus recommendation is to hold LDK. Like Trina Solar, LDK's shares are trading near an all-time low; the share price has fallen 50.0% in the past year.

Analysts anticipate third-quarter earnings for Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: CSIQ) to be a whopping 96.3% higher than a year ago, or $0.54 per share on revenues of $248.0 million (+154.5%). The company easily topped estimates in the previous quarter. ReneSola Ltd. (NYSE: SOL) and Suntech Power Holdings Co. Ltd. (NYSE: STP) are also expected to report earnings growth of 29.7% ($0.37 per share) and 23.8% ($0.42 per share), respectively. All three of these stocks reached 52-week lows last week, and all are considered buys.

Continue reading The week in preview: High hopes for solar, not so much for home improvement

The week in preview: High hopes for solar, not so much for home improvement originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 16 Nov 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:

• Aeropostale Inc. (NYSE: ARO) strong Q2 results were in line with analysts' expectations.
• BHP Billiton Ltd. (NYSE: BHP) reported a record annual profit on demands for commodities in China.
• Burger King Holdings Inc. (NYSE: BKC) beat Q4 expectations despite struggling with commodities costs.
• Foot Locker Inc. (NYSE: FL) reported that it easily beat earnings expectations for the second quarter.
• GameStop Corp. (NYSE: GME) reported strong Q2 results despite a decline in gross margins.
• Hershey Co. (NYSE: HSY) narrowed its 2008 guidance due to rising costs of commodities.
• HJ Heinz Co. (NYSE: HNZ) Q1 results topped analysts' estimates and raised its full-year guidance.
• JDS Uniphase Corp. (NASDAQ: JDSU) offered disappointing quarterly results and Q1 guidance.
• Limited Brands Inc. (NYSE: LTD) reported better-than-expected Q2 results and boosted its forecast.
• Novatel Wireless Inc. (NASDAQ: NVTL) fell short of estimates, leading to a new 52-week low.
• Saks Inc. (NYSE: SKS) reported a smaller-than-expected Q2 loss and forecast lower operating margins.
• Staples Inc. (NASDAQ: SPLS) warned of lower profits due to continued challenging market conditions.
• Zumiez Inc. (NASDAQ: ZUMZ) warmed of weakness in the second half, including lower same-store sales.

For more earnings highlights from this week, see: Home Depot, Lehman, Hewlett-Packard, Gap, BJ's and others

Upcoming quarterly reports include Big Lots (NYSE: BIG), Borders (NYSE: BGP), Rio Tinto (NYSE: RTP), Tivo (NASDAQ: TIVO), Novell (NASDAQ: NOVL), Dell (NASDAQ: DELL), Sears (NASDAQ: SHLD), and Tiffany (NYSE: TIF).

Visit AOL Money & Finance for more earnings coverage.

Earnings highlights: Hershey, Heinz, Burger King, Foot Locker, Saks and others originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 23 Aug 2008 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Today was a nice finish for a volatile weak. Ben Bernanke talked down the economy and talked down inflation, making Wall Street push out the chances of a rate hike further and further out. Oil fell over $3.00 as US-Russian tensions are at least a tad less and after the US Dollar gained ground today. Today's unofficial closing bell levels are as follows:

DJIA 11,619.35 +1.65%
S&P500 1,292.05 +1.12%
NASDAQ 2,424.71 +1.44%
10YR T-Note 3.867% +.029
52-Week Low Club
Top analyst upgrades

Top analyst downgrades

Akamai Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: AKAM) was a very unusual stock today. We saw major call option trading activity in the stock, making some wonder if this stock was in play. Shares were up in today's final minutes.

Continue reading Market Close: Dow, S&P and NASDAQ all up thanks to Uncle Ben's relief rally

Market Close: Dow, S&P and NASDAQ all up thanks to Uncle Ben's relief rally originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 22 Aug 2008 16:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Rival home improvement chains Home Depot Inc. (NYSE: HD) and Lowe's Companies Inc. (NYSE: LOW) are scheduled to report quarterly results this week. Not surprisingly, given the ongoing housing slump, analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial on average expect both companies to post earnings lower than in the same period a year ago. For Home Depot, that's 61 cents per share, down 20.8%, and for Lowe's, 56 cents per share, down 16.4%. Meanwhile, cabinet maker American Woodmark Corp. (NASDAQ: AMWD), for whom Home Depot and Lowe's are major distributors, is also expected to report lower earnings: 11 cents per share, down 67.6%.

The presidential campaigns have prompted much discussion of energy policy and alternative energy sources. Some solar-energy-related concerns are scheduled to report this week, and expectations seem to be high. Trina Solar Ltd. (NYSE: TSL) is expected to report 81 cents per share earnings, up 67.9%; ReneSola Ltd. (NYSE: SOL) is expected to post earnings of 32 cents per share, up 62.5%; and Suntech Power Holdings Co. (NYSE: STP) is expected to have earnings of 32 cents per share, up 21.9%. Even China Sunergy Co. Ltd. (NASDAQ: CSUN) is expected to have swung to a profit of 3 cents per share, from a per-share loss of 14 cents a year ago.

Continue reading The week in preview: Expectations for home improvement, tech, apparel

The week in preview: Expectations for home improvement, tech, apparel originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 17 Aug 2008 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• San Francisco Fed Reserve Bank President Yellen to speak about the U.S. economic outlook at the University of California/San Diego with a Q&A session.
• Aracruz Cellulose (NYSE: ARA) to report Q2 earnings; conference call at 11:00am.

• Richmond Fed Reserve Bank President Lacker to speak about U.S. economic outlook to the National Economists Club in Washington with a Q&A session expected.
• Gulfmark Offshore, Inc. (NYSE: GLF) to discuss the acquisition of Ridgon Marine at 9:00am.
• Alcoa Inc. (NYSE: AA) to report Q2 earnings; conference call at 5:00pm.
• Hansen Natural Corporation (NASDAQ: HANS) to give Business News update at 5:00pm.

Continue reading Market highlights for next week: Alcoa to report earnings

Market highlights for next week: Alcoa to report earnings originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 03 Jul 2008 17:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Perhaps it is because investors have an appetite for stocks, since there seems to be few investment alternatives. Real estate is off limits and the yield on bonds and other fixed-income investments is pathetically low.

The theme for the week ahead is SMOOTH SAILING. In this week's column, we delve into some stocks that will be announcing earnings, and that may benefit from the changing tide of investor sentiment. To be sure, there will be several areas of choppiness as we continue to be bombarded by the stormy realities of a turbulent economy.

Monday, May 19

The chart for Campbell Soup (NYSE: CPB) looks M'm M'm good. Sporting a smooth line with nary a ripple over the past 12 months, management has done a great job at keeping both company earnings and share price up, even in the face of significant food inflation. While shares have been condensing during the past few months, recently they have been rising with a series of higher highs and higher lows. Be on the outlook for earnings of 44 cents per share on revenue expectations of $1.89 billion. Now that I think of it. That's a lot of soup wrapped in tin-plated steel -- one of many materials that has seen its price almost double in the past six months.

Continue reading The week in preview: Smooth sailing ahead

The week in preview: Smooth sailing ahead originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 18 May 2008 12:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Happy Cinco de Mayo!
• Day one of the two-day FDA Anesthetic/Life Support Drugs & Drug Safety/Risk Management Advisory Committees meeting: Purdue Pharma's NDA for Oxycontin.
  
• Anadarko Petroleum (NYSE:APC) to report Q1 earnings; conference call Tuesday at 10:00am.

• Day two of the two-day FDA Anesthetic/Life Support Drugs & Drug Safety/Risk Mgmt Advisory Committees meeting: Cephalon's (NASDAQ:CEPH) sNDA for Fentora.
• Molson Coors (NYSE:TAP) to report Q1 earnings; conference call at 12:00pm.
• Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) to report Q2 earnings; conference call at 4:30pm.

• Marsh & McLennan (NYSE:MMC) to report Q1 earnings; conference call at 8:30am.
• Transocean (NYSE:RIG) to report Q1 earnings; conference call at 10:00am.
• Hot Topic (NASDAQ:HOTT) and Zumiez (NASDAQ:ZUMZ) to report April sales at 4:00pm.

• Wal-Mart (NYSE:WMT) to report April sales at 8:00am. Abercrombie & Fitch (NYSE:ANF) to report sales at 8:15am. Target (NYSE:TGT) to report sales at 8:30am.
  
• NVidia (NADAQ:NVDA) to report Q1 earnings; conference call at 5:00pm.

• PDUFA date for Adolor Corp (NYSE:ADLR) and GlaxoSmithKline's (NYSE:GSK) Entereg for management of Post-operative Ileus.
• American International Group (NYSE:AIG) to report Q1 earnings; conference call at 8:30am.
• Sotheby's (NYSE:BID) to report Q1 earnings; conference call at 9:00am.

Market highlights for next week: April sales results coming out originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 02 May 2008 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Zumiez (ZUMZ) soars on strong sales increase originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 10 Apr 2008 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Keefe Bruyette downgraded Anworth Mortgage (NYSE: ANH) and MFA Mortgage (NYSE: MFA) to Market Perform from Outperform to reflect lower book value estimates based on the widening in agency spreads.
  
• Deutsche Bank downgraded New Star Asset Management (OTC: NWSAF) to Sell from Buy, as they are negative on the company's business model and growth prospects in the current environment.
  
• Saks (NYSE: SKS) was cut to Neutral from Buy at Banc of America as they believe the high-end is slowing.

• Goldman downgraded Lonmin Plc (OTC: LNMIY) to Neutral from Buy.
  
• RBC Capital downgraded Maguire Properties (NYSE: MPG) and First Potomac (NYSE: FPO) to Underperform from Sector Perform.
  
• Shares of Zumiez (NASDAQ: ZUMZ) were downgraded to Neutral from buy at Piper and to Neutral from Positive at Susquehanna.

Analyst downgrades: ANH, MFA, NWSAF and SKS originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 06 Mar 2008 11:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Baird downgraded W.W. Grainger Inc (NYSE: GWW) to Neutral from Outperform, citing concerns regarding the the federal lawsuit accusing the company of overcharging the U.S. Government.
• American Express Company (NYSE: AXP) was lowered to Market Perform from Outperform to reflect their assumption for a weaker economy.
• RBC Capital downgraded Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT) to Sector Perform from Outperform citing Yahoo! Inc's (NASDAQ: YHOO) rejection of its $31/share bid and a counteroffer of $40/share. The firm expects a deal to get done between $35.00-$40.00 per share, resulting in increased dilution.

• Citigroup downgraded Telecom Italia SpA (NYSE: TI) to Hold from Buy.
• Thomas Weisel downgraded Zumiez Inc (NASDAQ: ZUMZ) to Market Weight from Overweight.
• Oppenheimer downgraded Independent Bank Corporation (NASDAQ: IBCP) to Underperform from Perform.

Analyst downgrades: GWW, AXP and MSFT originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 11 Feb 2008 09:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Jefferies upgraded shares of WellCare Health (NYSE: WCG) to Buy from Hold, as they believe the investigation could most likely result in fines as opposed to the loss of contracts with the company's government customers.
  
• Merriman raised its rating on Beacon Power (NASDAQ: BCON) to Buy from Neutral, as they believe the company is well-positioned for significant penetration of the growing frequency regulation markets.
  
• Piper upgraded shares of Tuesday Morning (NASDAQ: TUES) to Outperform from Market Perform as they believe the company's sales and margins trends are stabilizing.
  
• UBS upgraded West Pharmaceutical Services (NYSE: WST) to Buy from Neutral on valuation.
  
• Citigroup upgraded shares of Vectren (NYSE: VVC) to Buy from Hold, as they believe 2008 will be an inflection point with the share issuance and rate relief aiding earnings.

• Goldman added Roche (OTC: RHHBY) to its Conviction Buy List.
  
• Zumiez (NASDAQ: ZUMZ) was upgraded to Buy from Hold at McAdams, Wright.
  
• Thomas Weisel upgraded MasterCard (NYSE: MA) to Market Weight from Underweight.
  
• UBS upgraded Arcelor Mittal (NYSE: MT) to Buy from Hold.

Analyst upgrades: WCG, BCON, TUES, WST and VVC originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 05 Nov 2007 10:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• CIBC upgraded Pharmacopeia (NASDAQ: PCOP) to Sector Outperformer from Sector Performer, as they believe its lead cardiovascular drug DARA has the potential to become an important new therapy for hypertension and diabetic nephropathy.
  
• Think Equity upgraded shares of Zumiez (NASDAQ: ZUMZ) to Buy from Accumulate to reflect the company's strong same store sales growth.
  
• Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) was upgraded to Equal Weight from Underweight at Lehman Brothers on valuation.
  
• Caris upgraded shares of OccuLogix (NASDAQ: OCCX) to Above Average from Average, as they believe weakness in the stock creates a buying opportunity. The firm believes the stock has dropped due to concerns about the company's cash position, but thinks the current stock price underestimates the revenue potential of the company's assets.

• BRE Properties (NYSE: BRE) was upgraded to Outperform from Neutral at Credit Suisse.
  
• Bear Stearns raised Capital Product Partners (NASDAQ: CPLP) to Outperform from Peer Perform.
  
• JP Morgan upgraded Celestica (NYSE: CLS) to Neutral from Underweight.
  
• Stifel upgraded SL Green Realty (NYSE: SLG) to Buy from Hold.

Analyst upgrades: PCOP, ZUMZ, NSC and OCCX originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 11 Oct 2007 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Monday October 8

• PDUFA date for Theravance Inc's (NASDAQ: THRX) Telavancin for complicated skin and soft tissue infections caused by gram-positive bacteria

• Yum! Brands Inc (NYSE: YUM) to report Q3 earnings; conference call at 9:15am
• Optimal Group Inc (NASDAQ: OPMR) to hold conference call at 11am to discuss the WowWee acquisition
• Penn Treaty American Corporation (NYSE: PTA) to hold operational update at 11am
• Alcoa Inc (NYSE: AA) to report Q3 earnings; conference call at 5pm

• Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ: COST) to report Q4 earnings; conference call at 11am
• Hot Topic Inc (NASDAQ: HOTT) and Zumiez Inc (NASDAQ: ZUMZ) reporting monthly sales at 4pm

• Pepsico Inc (NYSE: PEP) to report Q4 earnings; conference call at 11am
• Bebe Stores Inc (NASDAQ: BEBE) to report monthly sales at 7am, Limited Brands Inc (NYSE: LTD) and The Children's Place Retail Stores Inc (NASDAQ: PLCE) at 7:30am, The Gymboree Corporation (NASDAQ: GYMB) at 7:55am, AnnTaylor Stores Corporation (NYSE: ANN), Gap Inc (NYSE: GPS) and Wal-Mart Stores Inc (NYSE: WMT) at 8am, Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) at 8:30am.

• PDUFA date for GlaxoSmithKline Plc's (NYSE: GSK) Hycamtin for relapsed Small Cell Lung Cancer

Market highlights for next week: YUM, AA, COST, PEP to report originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 05 Oct 2007 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Applix Inc (NASDAQ: APLX) was downgraded to Neutral from Buy at First Albany and SunTrust Robinson Humphrey following the acquisition by Cognos Inc (NASDAQ: COGN).
• Time Warner Inc (NYSE: TWX) was downgrade to Neutral from Buy at Pali Capital. The firm has lost faith in Time Warner's executive management team and Board of Directors and feels the outlook for AOL is concerning.
• Gabelli downgraded Apple Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL) shares to Hold from Buy on iPhone concerns and valuation as they view the iPhone price cut as an indication that sales are not living up to management's expectations.
• Buckingham Research downgraded shares of Level 3 Communications Inc (NASDAQ: LVLT) to Underperform from Neutral citing deterioration in demand for some key products.

• SL Green Realty (NYSE: SLG) was downgraded to Equal Weight from Overweight at Lehman Brothers.
• Citigroup downgraded shares of Volkswagen AG (OTC: VLKAY) to Sell from Hold.
• Zumiez Inc (NASDAQ: ZUMZ) was downgraded to Market Perform from Outperform at Morgan Keegan.
  
• JP Morgan downgraded Northeast Utilities (NYSE: NU) to Neutral from Overweight.
• Goldman Sachs downgraded Radiation Therapy Services Inc (NASDAQ: RTSX) to Neutral from Buy.

Analyst downgrades 9-6-07: APLX, TWX, AAPL and LVLT originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 06 Sep 2007 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Markets closed for Labor Day holiday.

• Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) to report monthly sales at 1pm; General Motors (GM) at 2pm.
• American Dental Partners Inc (NASDAQ: ADPI) to discuss acquisition of Metropolitan Dental at 1pm.

• Apple Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL) to hold media event to introduce "a new array of digital media offerings."
• The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA) to give update on 787 Dreamliner Program at 10am.
• Hot Topic Inc (NASDAQ: HOTT) and Zumiez Inc (NASDAQ: ZUMZ) to report monthly sales at 4pm, American Eagle Outfitters Inc (NYSE: AEO) at 5pm.

• Chico's FAS Inc (NYSE: CHS) to report monthly sales at 7:30am, AnnTaylor Stores Corporation (NYSE: ANN), Gap Inc (NYSE: GPS) and Wal-Mart Stores Inc (NYSE: WMT) at 8am.
• PDUFA date for Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) and Omrix Biopharmaceuticals Inc's (NASDAQ: OMRI) Thrombin.
• Campbell Soup Company (NYSE: CPB) to report Q4 earnings; conference call at 11am.
• National Semiconductor Corporation (NYSE: NSM) to report Q1 earnings; conference call at 4:30pm.

• I did not see anything to compelling going on today, please leave a note in the comments section if you think I missed something.

Market highlights for next week: Ford (F) to report monthly sales originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 31 Aug 2007 16:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

If your idea of the best way to travel involves an Arbor Fish longboard, or a Burton Chopper, then there is an outfit in Everett, Washington that has your basics and all your accessories, too.

Zumiez (NASDAQ: ZUMZ) is a mall-based specialty retailer of sports-related apparel and equipment. Apparel offerings carry such brand names as Billabong, Burton, Hurley and Quiksilver, as well as private labels. The equipment includes skateboards, snowboards, boots, bindings, and miscellaneous novelties. Stores cater to young people, between the ages of 12 and 24. The firm operates 266 outlets, in 22 states.

Zumiez pleased investors last week, when it announced Q2 EPS of 11 cents and revenues of $82 million. Analysts had been expecting 8 cents and $79.3 million. Management also guided FY08 EPS to 97-99 cents (97 cent consensus). The news helped pop the shares out of a mid-August "cup" into the late August "handle" of a Cup & Handle formation. The price is now showing signs of completing the pattern with a bullish rise from the right-hand side of the "handle."

Brokers recommend the shares with five "strong buys," four "buys" and four "holds." Analysts see a 29% average annual growth rate, through the next five years. The ZUMZ Sales Growth rate (46.95%), EPS Growth rate (83.33%), Return on Assets (14.03%), Return on Investment (19.61%) and Return on Equity (22.12%) compare favorably with industry, sector and S&P 500 averages. Institutional investors hold about 91% of the outstanding shares. Over the past 52 weeks, the stock has traded between $20.00 and $48.10. A stop-loss of $39.00 looks good here.

Larry Schutts is a contributing editor for Theflyonthewall.com and the Vice-President of Stockwinners.com.

Zumiez (ZUMZ): Gear for the action sports crowd originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 28 Aug 2007 15:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• JP Morgan cut Eaton Vance (NYSE: EV) to Underweight from Neutral on the significant drop in municipal bond performance and valuation.

• Raymond James cut American Woodmark (NASDAQ: AMWD) to Underperform from Market Perform following the weak Q1 report and guidance.

• Deutsche Bank (NYSE: DB) was downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Goldman based on valuation.

• Talbots (NYSE: TLB) was cut to Hold from Buy at Stifel following the weak Q2 report and guidance...

• Zumiez (NASDAQ: ZUMZ) was downgraded to Market Perform from Outperform at Piper Jaffray.

• JP Morgan cut Broadridge (NYSE: BR) to Neutral from Overweight.

• Sandler downgraded Flushing Financial (NASDAQ: FFIC) to Sell from Hold and TriCo Bancshares (NASDAQ: TCBK) to Hold from Buy.
  

• RBC Capital downgraded Tween Brands (NYSE: TWB) to Sector Perform from Outperform.

Analyst downgrades 8-23-07: AMWD, DB, EV and TLB originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 23 Aug 2007 10:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• The Chicago Board of Trade (NYSE: BOT) and Chicago Mercantile Exchange Holdings Inc (NYSE: CME) to hold a special shareholder meeting in Chicago about merging at 4pm.
• Take-Two Interactive Software (NASDAQ: TTWO) to hold a business update at 4:30pm.
• Alcoa Inc (NYSE: AA) to report Q2 earnings; conference call at 5pm.

• Electronic Entertainment Expo, or E3, to be held from July 10-July 13 in Santa Monica, California.
• The Home Depot Inc (NYSE: HD) to release a 2007 Sales Update at 9am.
• Sealy Corporation (NYSE: ZZ) to report Q2 earnings; conference call at 5pm.

Continue reading Market highlights for next week: Monthly sales numbers coming

Market highlights for next week: Monthly sales numbers coming originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 06 Jul 2007 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"Zumiez (NASDAQ: ZUMZ) a mall-based sporting clothes retailer which markets to 12- to 24 year old, is poised for a breakout," says technician Leo Fasciocco.

The editor of Ticker Tape Digest notes, "With profits forecast to grow 30% for the next two fiscal years, we see good chances for Zumiez to move higher."

The advisor points out that the company has 235 stores and focuses on clothing for action sports as snowboarding, BMX, skateboarding, and surfing. ZUMZ sells popular youth brands like Billabong, Burton, Hurley, Quiksilver, Vans, and Spy Optic, as well as private-label goods.

Technically, he explains, "ZUMZ's chart shows a breakout at $34 and then one at $38. The stock personality tends to show a pattern of breakouts followed by short moves. In other words, the stock is stair-stepping higher. That is typical with its prior patterns and we would expect a breakout soon based on the past action of the stock."

Indeed, he says, "The stock's technicals are ideal." The advisor points to a bullish momentum indicator and an accumulation-distribution line that is in a strong up trend. Overall, he suggests, "That indicates excellent accumulation is still taking place."

Fasciocco is recommending accumulation of ZUMZ as a partial position now with further buying to be done on a move over $42. He is targeting a rise to $52. To protect on the downside, he suggests a trading stop near $36.

For more stock picks from the leading financial newsletter advisors, visit Steven Halpern's free daily website, TheStockAdvisors.com.

Zumiez: Sports clothes retailer set to zoom? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 06 Jun 2007 11:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.