Archive for November, 2011
(STO) Statoil Cuts Yield on Storm Alert
Statoil ASA (STO) has reduced its output at three platforms off central Norway as a precautionary measure against a severe winter storm forecast for the weekend. The non-critical personnel have been removed from three of its platforms namely ––Njord, Heidrun and Aasgard,...
28Nov2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(IBM) Is the Time Ripe to Buy Stocks?
It is said that opportunities are never lost — someone else will catch the one you miss. And the saying remains true to the equity market. No one wants to miss a good opportunity to make exceptional profits from stock markets. So, is this the time to take the plunge? Or...
28Nov2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(KR) The Kroger Company 2011 Third Quarter Earnings Preview
The Kroger Company (KR), one of the largest grocery retailers, is slated to report third-quarter 2011 financial results before the bell on Thursday, December 1, 2011. The current Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter is 31 cents a share. The Zacks Consensus estimates revenue...
28Nov2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(NCI) Navigant Consulting Analyst Downgrades Shares to Neutral
We have recently downgraded Navigant Consulting Inc. (NCI) to Neutral from Outperform. Navigant reported strong quarterly results and lifted its full-year guidance. The company’s third-quarter 2011 adjusted earnings per share exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2 cents....
28Nov2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(CHK) Climate Change: At What Price Growth?
South Africa is playing host to the climate conference, which opens today in the city of Durban. Climate change conferences focus on reducing global temperatures, which appear to accelerate global warming. The Kyoto Protocol (1997), the game-changer in climate negotiations had...
28Nov2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(NVS) Novartis’ Rasitrio Cleared in European Union
Novartis (NVS) recently announced that its triple combination hypertension pill Rasitrio has been cleared in the European Union (EU). Rasitrio combines the currently marketed hypertension pill Razilez (marketed as Tekturna in the US) with amlodipine and hydrochlorothiazide (HCT)....
28Nov2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(MDT) Medtronic 2012 Second Quarter Earnings Scorecard
The announcement of Medtronic’s (MDT) second quarter fiscal 2012 results, as on November 22, 2011, has led analysts to revise their estimates lower for the third quarter although the situation improves for the current fiscal. Second Quarter Highlights Medtronic reported an...
28Nov2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(CTAS) Cintas Analyst Downgrades Shares to Neutral
We have recently downgraded Cintas Corporation (CTAS) from Outperform to Neutral as the positives like solid organic growth and margin expansion are undercut by headwinds from cotton and energy prices and an uncertain economic environment. In the first quarter of 2012, Cintas...
28Nov2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(UNP) Union Pacific Analyst Maintains Neutral on Shares
Union Pacific Corp. (UNP) reported excellent financial results for the third quarter of 2011 despite facing several challenges, such as extreme heat, floods, late harvest, and reduced shipment of containers. Both revenue and EPS was well above the Zacks Consensus Estimates. Increased...
28Nov2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(LLL) L-3 Communications Holdings Raises Funds
L-3 Communications Holdings Inc. (LLL) announced that L-3 Communications Corporation, its wholly owned subsidiary, has made an public offering of 3.95% Senior Notes worth $500 million due November 15, 2016. L-3 Communications’ intends to use the net proceeds from the offering...
28Nov2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(YUM) Yum! Brands Announces Board Approves Share Buyback
Louisville, Kentucky-based Yum! Brands Inc. (YUM) recently announced that its board has approved the share repurchase of an additional $750 million. The company has been consistently enhancing shareholders’ returns. The world’s largest restaurant company will buy back shares...
28Nov2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(CVX) Chevron Fined for Brazil Oil Spill
U.S. energy behemoth Chevron Corp. (CVX) has been slapped with a fine of R$50 million ($28 million) by Brazil’s environmental regulator – the Brazilian Institute of the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources, or Ibama – following an oil leak 74 miles off the coast...
28Nov2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(DE) Deere & Company Earnings Preview
Deere & Company (DE) is scheduled to announce its fourth quarter and fiscal 2011 results on November 23, 2011. The current Zacks Consensus Estimate is $1.44 for the fourth quarter and $6.44 for fiscal 2011, projecting year-over-year growth of 34.1% and 38.5%, respectively. With...
28Nov2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(AIG) TARP Continues to Recover Funds
The Treasury has added $12.2 million to its kitty by selling warrants in 17 Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) banks that have already repaid the bailout money. This indicates that the Treasury is clutching every opportunity to recoup the cost of the $700 billion bailout program...
28Nov2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(MFC) Manulife Financial Analyst Initiates Shares with Neutral
We are initiating coverage on Canada based Manulife Financial Corp. (MFC) with a Neutral recommendation. During the third quarter, the company posted a net loss of 73 cents per share, narrower than the loss of $1.28 in the prior-year quarter. Manulife is one of the dominant life...
28Nov2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(MET) MetLife Alters Regional Segregation
To provide a better reflection of its global presence, MetLife Inc. (MET) will undergo restructuring of its business segments. As a result, the company will now be divided into three geographical regions – The Americas, Asia and EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa). Additionally,...
28Nov2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(CCI) Crown Castle International Earning Scorecard
Crown Castle International Inc. (CCI) declared excellent third quarter 2011 financial results, outperforming the Zacks Consensus Estimates. The solid performance was attributable to higher smartphone usage and increased deployment of 4G networks. Third Quarter Highlights Net...
28Nov2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(SPLS) Staples 2011 Third Quarter Earnings Scorecard
Staples Inc. (SPLS), the global leader in the supply of office products, recently posted third-quarter 2011 results. Street analysts had enough time to ponder on the company’s scores. In the paragraphs that follow, we cover the recent earnings announcement, subsequent estimate...
28Nov2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(MUR) Murphy Oil Analyst Maintains Neutral on Shares
We maintain our long-term Neutral recommendation on Murphy Oil Corporation (MUR) as the company continues to operate in a very competitive environment with peers having greater resources, which continues to impact Murphy’s profitability and ability to expand. The company’s...
28Nov2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(T) AT&T and T-Mobile Merger Gets Second Blow
AT&T Inc.‘s (T) proposed $39 billion purchase of Deutsche Telekom’s unit, T-Mobile USA, is facing another setback following opposition from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Earlier in August, the Department of Justice blocked the proposed merger and filed...
28Nov2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(MYL) Mylan Settles with Novartis
Mylan, Inc. (MYL) recently announced a settlement agreement with Novartis (NVS) relating to the generic version of Novartis’ bioidentical estrogen therapy Vivelle-Dot. As a result of the resolution, the lawsuit filed by Novartis will be dismissed and Mylan can launch a generic...
28Nov2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(DELL) Dell to Overshadow Hewlett-Packard Servers
Tech major Dell Inc. (DELL) is looking to grow its share of the server market, something that could hurt Hewlett-Packard Co. (HPQ) in the longer term. Dell missed its chance of becoming the leading PC shipment vendor after H-P’s PC segment spin-off was called off by current...
28Nov2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(JPM) FDIC Problem Bank List Shrinks – Earnings Soar
The number of banks on the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s (FDIC) list of problem institutions saw a sharp decline for the second straight quarter to 844 in the July-September period from 865 in the preceding sequential period, federal regulators reported Tuesday. This...
28Nov2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(DTV) DIRECTV Third Quarter 2011 Earning Scorecard
DIRECTV (DTV), the largest satellite TV operator of the U.S., reported excellent third quarter 2011 financial results, where both earnings per share (EPS) and total revenue beat the Zacks Consensus Estimates. The solid result was attributable to double-digit revenue growth, significant...
28Nov2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(LMT) Lockheed Martin Upgrades Sensors for Navy
Defense major Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT) received a contract from the U.S. Navy for continuing the development work of Infrared Search and Track (“IRST”) sensor system for the U.S. Navy F/A-18E/F. In a combat, the ability to strike first accurately holds the key to...
28Nov2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(AMAT) Applied Materials Earnings Scorecard
Following the fourth quarter earnings announcement on November 16, more than half the analysts covering Applied Materials (AMAT) have made downward revisions to their estimates. The reason for the negative revisions may be traced to the weak results and outlook, particularly...
28Nov2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(MMM) 3M Company Analyst Reiterates Shares at Neutral
We recently maintained a Neutral recommendation on3M Company (MMM). Based in St. Paul, Minnesota, 3M is a diversified technology company with manufacturing operations spread over 60 countries worldwide. It has more than 35 business units organized into six segments: Consumer...
28Nov2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(AZO) AutoZone Reports Another Strong Quarter From Late September
AutoZone, Inc. (AZO) continues to trade near its all-time high, jumping higher on another strong quarter from late September. With a high industry rank and bullish growth projection, this Zacks #1 Rank stock is primed for momentum. Company Description AutoZone, Inc. operates...
28Nov2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(TGT) Amazon.com Will Win This Holiday Gift Season
With Thanksgiving drawing to a close and Black Friday shopping gathering steam, this is clearly a retail weekend. Brick-and-mortar outlets, such as Target Corp (TGT), BestBuy Inc (BBY), Macy’s Inc. (M) and Kohl’s Corp (KSS) opened their stores at midnight yesterday, vying...
28Nov2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(BKYF) U.S. TARP Becomes More Profitable
With the reimbursement of $210 million of bailout money by Bank of Kentucky Financial Corp. (BKYF) and First Midwest Bancorp Inc. (FMBI), the U.S. Treasury has recovered nearly $258 billion from the bailed out banks. Approximately $245 billion was given to these banks as part...
28Nov2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued