Industrial Goods
(DHI) U.S. Housing Starts Slow
In February, Housing Starts fell to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 575,000, a decline of 5.9% from the revised January level and just 0.2% above a year ago. While on first blush the data looks quite negative, there are many caveats. First, while the data is seasonally adjusted,...
16Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(ROK) Rockwell Automation – Bull of the Day
Rockwell Automation (ROK) has a strong global market presence. The company is focused on further expanding its global footprint in emerging markets, as it expects automation growth rates in the emerging markets to be 50% higher than growth rates in the developed countries. Emerging...
10Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(ESL) Defense Stocks: Three Companies Beefing Up Homeland Security
There was a time when companies charged with defending the United States had to endure the changing political winds. When hawkish Presidents occupied the White House, defense companies generally fared better than when the Commander-in-Chief was a dove. Then 9/11 happened –...
10Mar2010 | InvestmentU | 0 comments | Continued(CX) CEMEX, S.A.B. de C.V. Suffers From Weak Infrastructure Sector
Recently, CEMEX, S.A.B. de C.V. (CX) reported fourth quarter and fiscal year 2009 results. During the quarter, Cemex reported an EPS of 28 cents compared to a loss of 96 cents in the year ago quarter. Reported EPS was much above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of loss per share...
9Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(HON) Honeywell Wins Royal Dutch Shell Contract
Honeywell International Inc. (HON) announced that it has bagged a global five-year agreement to be a Main Automation Contractor (MAC) for Royal Dutch Shell (RDSA). The Global Framework Agreement is part of Shell’s long-term MAC strategy to maximize production while lowering...
9Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(RTN) Raytheon Wins U.S. Air Force Contract
Raytheon Company (RTN) has been awarded an $886 million U.S. Air Force contract to develop a new aspect of the Global Positioning System (GPS), namely the Advanced Control Segment (OCX), which will improve the accuracy of information from GPS satellites. Raytheon is also tasked...
9Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(VMI) Valmont Industries May Be Downgraded By Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services
Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has put Valmont Industries Inc. (VMI), the U.S. maker of lighting poles and support structures, on a negative credit review. The news comes after VMI announced that it has agreed to acquire British industrial engineering firm Delta...
8Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(BA) Boeing Company Wins $1.6 Billion Turkish Airlines Deal
Boeing Company (BA) has won a $1.6 billion order from Turkish Airlines. The company will supply 20 airplanes of the 737 series. Half of this would be 737-800s and the other half 737-900ER (Extended Range) airplanes. Based in Istanbul, Turkish Airlines currently operates a fleet...
8Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(NOC) Northrop Grumman Wins U.S. Navy Contract
Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) was awarded a contract by the U.S. Navy for its Consolidated Afloat Networks and Enterprise Services (CANES) program. The company will streamline and update shipboard network systems to improve interoperability and affordability across the U.S....
8Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(JOYG) Joy Global – Beat Expectations by More Than 19% In Five of Five Quarters
Joy Global (JOYG) released stronger-than-expected fourth-quarter 2009 results. The company reported EPS of $0.73 per share, topping the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.64. In the last five quarters, Joy Global has beaten consensus estimates by an average of 19.4%. While revenues...
8Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(ITT) ITT Corporation Earns U.S. Military Order
ITT Corporation (ITT) has been awarded a contract to provide maintenance, supply and transportation services to the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps on Camp Arifjan and other locations in Southwest Asia. The award is a task order under the Field Installation Readiness Support...
8Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(VMI) Valmont Industries to Acquire Delta Plc
Valmont Industries Inc. (VMI), a U.S. maker of lightning poles and support structures, has agreed to acquire British industrial engineer Delta Plc. for $429.1 million or £284.5 million in cash. The offer represents a premium of 20.3% to Delta’s closing price on Mar 3,...
5Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(HON) Honeywell Next Generation Flight Management System Undergoing Test Flights
Honeywell International Inc (HON) announced that its Next Generation Flight Management System (NGFMS) is currently undergoing test flights on the Gulfstream G650, and was part of the first flight on the Boeing 747-800. The NGFMS, which will certify later this year on the Boeing...
5Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(GD) General Dynamics Raises Quarterly Dividend
General Dynamics (GD) raised its quarterly dividend to 42 cents per share on the company’s common stock, payable May 7, 2010, to shareholders of record as on April 9. The dividend represents a 10.5% increase on the previous quarterly dividend of 38 cents. General Dynamics...
4Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(MDR) McDermott International Beats Expectations – Profit Soars
Energy-focused engineering and construction company McDermott International (MDR) reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings, driven by robust performance from the Offshore Oil and Gas Construction segment. Earnings per share came in at 42 cents, 2 cents above the...
4Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(INSU) Insituform Technologies – Earnings Estimates Pop
Insituform Technologies, Inc. (INSU) just topped forecasts which sent share price soaring. Analysts continue to revise estimates, giving the company excellent growth projections. Company Description Insituform provides infrastructure services for the water, wastewater, and energy...
4Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(LFUS) Littelfuse Incorporated – Reports Another Earnings Surprise
Littelfuse, Inc (LFUS) topped analysts expectations once again. This was the third consecutive earnings surprise and shares continue to climb. Company Description Littelfuse makes components a variety electrical components that are used in the auto, computer and other industries....
3Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(TGI) Triumph Group Acquires Fabritech
Triumph Group Inc. (TGI) announced the acquisition of Fabritech Inc., a leading component manufacturer and repair station for critical military rotary-wing platforms. The acquired business will operate as Triumph Fabrications-St. Louis and be part of Triumph Aftermarket Services...
3Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(JOYG) Joy Global’s Quarterly Report Surpasses Estimates
Joy Global Inc. (JOYG) posted an EPS of 73 cents for the first quarter of 2010, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 64 cents but below the year-ago earnings of 83 cents. The better-than-expected earnings were primarily driven by improved commodities market and better orders...
3Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(GD) General Dynamics Subsidiary NASSCO Wins U.S. Navy Contract
General Dynamics’ (GD) wholly-owned subsidiary – General Dynamics NASSCO, has been awarded an $824.6 million contract by the U.S. Navy for the construction of two T-AKE dry cargo-ammunition ships. Construction of the two ships is scheduled to begin in the second and fourth...
3Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(CX) CEMEX, S.A.B. de C.V. Reduces Debt
Ready Mix USA LLC, a joint venture in which CEMEX, S.A.B. de C.V. (CX) has a 49.9% stake, completed the sale of 12 active quarries and certain other assets to SPO Partners & Co. for $420 million. The active quarries – which consist of 2 granite quarries in Georgia,...
1Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(DHI) Total U.S. Construction Spending Declines
In January, total construction spending declined by 0.6% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 884.1 billion. That is 9.3% below the 974.3 billion rate of a year ago. However, residential construction spending actually rose by 1.1% on the month to an annual rate of $269.2 billion,...
1Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued($MSFT) Institute for Supply Management’s Survey Shows Manufacturing Dips but Still Strong
The Institute for Supply Management’s (ISM) manufacturing survey slipped to a reading of 56.5 from 58.4 in January, a drop of 1.9 points and below the 58.0 reading that was expected. However, anything over 50 indicates that the manufacturing economy is expanding, so this is...
1Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(FLR) Fluor Corporation Wins Mining Order
Fluor Corporation (FLR) announced that its joint venture with Sinclair Knight Merz was awarded a contract by BHP Billiton to execute the next phase of its Rapid Growth Program. The focus of the project will be the continued expansion of BHP Billiton’s iron ore operations...
1Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(FWLT) Foster Wheeler AG’s Earnings Reports Misses The Street
Foster Wheeler AG (FWLT) reported a net income of $65.1 million, or 51 cents per share for the fourth quarter of 2009, compared with $99.9 million, or 75 cents in the fourth quarter of 2008. This was lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 65 cents for the most recent quarter....
28Feb2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(FLR) Fluor Corporation Reports Earnings Below Consensus
Net earnings attributable to Fluor Corporation (FLR) for the fourth quarter of 2009 were $149 million, or 82 cents per share, compared with $190 million, or $1.03 in 2008. This was lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 88 cents. The effective tax rate in the fourth quarter...
28Feb2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(FLS) Flowserve Corporation’s Earnings Report Ahead of Estimates
Flowserve Corp. (FLS) reported fourth-quarter earnings per share from continuing operations of $2.41, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.87. Earnings per share, excluding realignment charges, was higher primarily due to an improvement in gross margin of 70 basis points...
28Feb2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(LLL) L-3 Communications Holdings Targets Insight Technology
L-3 Communications Holdings Inc. (LLL) entered into an agreement to acquire Insight Technology Inc. Insight develops and manufactures mission critical night vision and electro-optical equipment including laser aiming and illumination devices, laser rangefinders, laser markers...
25Feb2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(DHI) New Home Sales Report Shows Plunge
We got some very bad news today on the Housing front. New Home Sales fell to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 309,000 from 348,000 in December. That is a drop of 11.2%. The only real silver lining is that the December number was revised upwards from 342,000. The rate was...
24Feb2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(CBI) Chicago Bridge & Iron Beats
Chicago Bridge & Iron (CBI), a.k.a. CB&I, has reported fourth quarter 2009 results. Net income was $41.2 million, or 41 cents per share, topping the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 39 cents per share. Quarterly revenue was $1.0 billion. New awards totaled $3.4 billion in...
23Feb2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued