Archive for March, 2011
(GE) Sector Watch: Tech, Oil, Aerospace & Conglomerates
In my weekly Earnings Trends report, I rank the 16 economic sectors on a wide variety of earnings and sales metrics. The report just looks at the 500 firms in the S&P 500, not the whole Zacks Universe. However since it is organized by the individual metric, such as Annual...
8Mar2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(A) Stock Market News for March 7, 2011 – Market News
Crude prices soared to more than $104 per barrel, the highest level since September 2008, following continued tension in Libya and dragged the markets lower on Friday. Not only did surging crude prices erase most of the gains for the week, it also negated the positive sentiment...
7Mar2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(ALTR) Company News for March 07, 2011 – Corporate Summary
• Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) lowered its Q1 EPS estimate for Citigroup to $0.10 from $0.13, against a Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.10 per share, and for Goldman Sachs to $3.91 from $5.93, against a Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.23 per share • Wal-Mart Stores Inc (NYSE:WMT)...
7Mar2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(MR) Mindray Medical International Limited Earnings Beats Estimates – Signs Deal
Mindray Medical International Limited (MR), a leading Chinese medical devices company, reported fourth-quarter and fiscal 2010 adjusted (excluding one-time expenses) earnings per share of 38 cents and $1.45, respectively, beating the corresponding Zacks Consensus Estimates of...
7Mar2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(VRX) Valeant Pharmaceuticals International’s Sales Benefit Post Merger
Valeant Pharmaceuticals International‘s (VRX) fourth quarter 2010 earnings of 46 cents per share missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by a cent and was 45.2% below the year-ago earnings of 84 cents per share. Revenues for the quarter increased 102.7% year over year to $514.6...
7Mar2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(PDLI) PDL BioPharma Ramps Up Earnings – Settles Disputes
PDL BioPharma Inc. (PDLI) posted fourth quarter earnings of 20 cents per share, above the year-ago figure of 17 cents. Higher revenues boosted earnings in the quarter. Earnings per share were, however, a penny short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 21 cents. For full year 2010,...
7Mar2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(DHI) U.S. New Home Sales Decline 12.6%
The feeble condition of the homebuilding industry has once again reflected in the home sales statistics for January. New home sales dropped 12.6% to a seasonally adjusted 284,000 units from 325,000 units in December last year. Meanwhile, pending home sales index fell 2.8% to...
7Mar2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(S) What You Need to Know About 4G Smartphone Technology
by Ryan Cole, Investment U Research Tuesday, March 1, 2011 The 4G wars have begun. The winner may or may not receive a decided edge in the hearts and minds of telecom consumers. But one thing’s certain – it sure can’t hurt. Before we try to predict a winner, though, let’s...
6Mar2011 | InvestmentU | 0 comments | Continued(RSX) Peru and Japan Bucking the Investment Outflow Trend in Latin America and Asia
by Carl Delfeld, Global Equities and Emerging Markets Specialist Tuesday, March 1, 2011 With higher oil prices suddenly driving market sentiment again, Capital Economics estimates that if oil cracks the $130 level, it would cost American consumers more than $100 billion this...
6Mar2011 | InvestmentU | 0 comments | Continued(DOW) The Dow Chemical Company to Invest $100 Million for Green Initiatives
Chemical giant The Dow Chemical Company (DOW) intends to invest $100 million in its internally pitched projects to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and improve energy efficiency. Dow will choose from a group of 60 proposals that have been submitted by its various business...
6Mar2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(URS) URS Corporation Quarterly Report Falls Short
URS Corporation (URS) reported fourth-quarter 2010 earnings per share from continuing operations of 75 cents, underperforming the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 90 cents. Earnings for the quarter were above the prior-year earnings per share of 41 cents. For 2010, earnings per share...
6Mar2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(DVN) Energy Information Administration Reports Neutral Natural Gas Data
The U.S. Energy Department’s weekly inventory release showed an in -line drop in natural gas supplies, as weakness in imports offset slightly higher production. The Weekly Natural Gas Storage Report brought out by the Energy Information Administration (EIA) every Thursday...
5Mar2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(LEAP) Leap Wireless International Analyst Upgrades Shares to Neutral
We upgrade our recommendation on Leap Wireless International Inc. (LEAP) to Neutral based on its current valuation. The stock price has fallen by more than 38% in the last one year and is trading at the low-end of its 52-week price range. We believe this low level of market valuation...
5Mar2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(AAPL) Company News for March 04, 2011 – Corporate Summary
• H.J. Heinz Company (NYSE:HNZ) reported Q3 EPS of $0.85, ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.81 per share • Big Lots Inc (NYSE:BIG) reported Q4 EPS of $1.46, above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.37 per share • Global news giant News Corp (NASDAQ:NWSA) won...
4Mar2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(AAPL) Stock Market News for March 4, 2011 – Market News
On Thursday, a daylong rally ensured the markets ended in the green. Buoyed by positive jobs data and modestly lesser crude price, investors enjoyed an optimistic trading session. Both technology and financial stocks moved higher with stocks from each of these sectors helping...
4Mar2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(FE) FirstEnergy Concludes Allegheny Energy Buy
FirstEnergy Corp. (FE) on Friday concluded its long-awaited merger deal with Allegheny Energy Inc. (AYE), thus creating one of the nation’s largest energy companies. The completion of the $4.7 billion merger, which was entered on February 11, 2010, marks the beginning of the...
4Mar2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(PLX) Protalix BioTherapeutics Sees FDA Setback for Gaucher Drug
Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc. (PLX) was dealt a huge blow recently with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issuing a complete response letter (CRL) for the company’s Gaucher disease candidate, taliglucerase alfa. FDA Requests Additional Information The FDA asked the...
4Mar2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(USB) U.S. Bancorp Analyst Maintains Shares At Neutral
We are reiterating our Neutral recommendation on the shares of U.S. Bancorp (USB) following the company’s fourth quarter and full year earnings release as well as its recent acquisitions. Our analysis is based on the company’s fundamentals, recent strategic acquisitions,...
4Mar2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(CBRL) Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Reports Quarter In Line
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Inc. (CBRL) reported second quarter 2011 earnings of $1.20, in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate, but climbed 10% from the prior-year quarter. The upside was primarily due to higher sales and operating income. Quarter Performance Total...
4Mar2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(CTB) Cooper Tire & Rubber Company Reports Quarterly Earnings Profit Skid
Cooper Tire & Rubber Company (CTB) reported a profit of $41.2 million or 65 cents per share in the fourth quarter of 2010, falling short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate by a penny. The profit fell 19.5% from $51.2 million or 82 cents per share in the fourth quarter of 2009. The...
4Mar2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(LTD) Limited Brands Quarterly Earnings Scorecard
Limited Brands Inc. (LTD), a specialty retailer of women’s intimate and other apparel, beauty and personal care products, recently posted fourth-quarter 2010 results. Street analysts had nearly a week to ponder the news. In the paragraphs that follow, we cover the recent earnings...
4Mar2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(MDT) Medtronic Buys Rights to Gel Tech
Leading medical devices player, Medtronic (MDT) has recently acquired the rights to chitosan-dextran gel technology from its developers, Adelaide Research & Innovation Private Limited, Robinson Squidgel Limited and Otago Innovation Limited in order to complement its functional...
4Mar2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(BTU) Peabody Energy Improves Asian Exports
St. Louis-based Peabody Energy Corporation (BTU) has signed an agreement with Indonesia’s PT Cahaya Energi Mandiri (CEM) to source 2 million tons of coal to improve exports. Indonesia is the world’s largest supplier of seaborne thermal coal. Peabody said that the...
4Mar2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(WLP) WellPoint Provides 2011 Guidance
WellPoint Inc. (WLP), at its investor conference provided its guidance for full year 2011. The company reaffirmed its expectation of delivering net income of least $6.30 per share. The Zacks Consensus Estimates for 2011 is in line with the company’s guidance. The company also...
4Mar2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(RCRC) RC2 Corporation – Bear of the Day
RC2 Corp.’s (RCRC) fourth quarter 2010 earnings missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate due to lower gross margin. We remain cautious on the stock due to increasing input costs pressure and currency fluctuation risk. Moreover, competition from private label toys and video game...
4Mar2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(HUM) Humana Incorporated – Bull of the Day
We are upgrading our recommendation on Humana, Inc. (HUM) from Neutral to Outperform owing to higher Medicare Advantage membership on better-than-expected sales at the end of 2010. This also led to increase in Humana’s 2011 outlook, coupled with the stand-alone Prescription...
4Mar2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(CTB) Cooper Tire & Rubber Company Buys Chinese Plant
Cooper Tire & Rubber Company (CTB) has decided to fully own the China-based Cooper Kenda Tire (“CKT”), which will cease to have a 50-50 joint venture. In this regard, an agreement has been reached with the concerned parties and the deal is to be finalized by March 15,...
4Mar2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(F) Ford Motor Adds Third Vehicle Safety Recall
Ford Motor Co. (F) announced its third round of vehicle safety recalls since early last month. The automaker will recall 35,000 units of pickup trucks and crossover in two sets in the U.S. and Canada in order to fix fuel leaks and electrical shorts in the vehicles that could...
4Mar2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(XOM) Stock Market News for March 1, 2011 – Market News
A reduction in inflated crude prices, optimistic comments from the President of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and mixed economic data helped markets edge higher on Monday. Higher indices for the month also ensured a third-straight monthly gain, building on the positive...
3Mar2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(AMZN) Company News for March 01, 2011 – Corporate Summary
• Board of Directors of both Ventas, Inc. (NYSE:VTR) and Nationwide Health Properties, Inc. (NYSE:NHP) have approved a definitive merger agreement between the two companies • Titanium Metals (NYSE:TIE) reported Q4 EPS of $0.13, in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate...
3Mar2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued