General Building Materials
(VMC) Vulcan Materials on a Tightrope
On Apr 15, we maintained a Neutral recommendation on Vulcan Materials Company (VMC) due to steady recovery in its end markets, despite weak fourth quarter results. Why the Neutral Recommendation? Vulcan’s...27Apr2013 | vitalstocks | Comments Off | Continued
(RPM) Mixed Air Traffic for September
Airlines’ struggle with rising fuel costs and weak business travel demand are leading to lower traffic and profits. Though fare hikes helped some U.S. air carriers to somewhat manage September traffic in green, the earnings estimates are still trending downward on the back of numerous macroeconomic...18Oct2012 | vitalstocks | Comments Off | Continued
(DAL) August Air Traffic Adds Paltry Gains
Airlines’ struggle with rising fuel costs and weak business travel demand are leading to lower traffic and profits. Though fare hikes helped the major U.S. air carriers to somewhat manage August traffic in green, the earnings estimates are still trending downwards on the back of numerous macroeconomic...2Oct2012 | vitalstocks | Comments Off | Continued
(RPM) North American Airline Traffic Mixed in July – Estimates Fall
After seeing busy traffic over the last two months, most of the North American airlines witnessed weak traffic in July. Weakening economy is restricting the demand for business travel, thereby leading to lower traffic in July. This is expected to continue in August and September. However, some low...16Aug2012 | vitalstocks | Comments Off | Continued
(APOG) Apogee Enterprises – Bull of the Day
We have upgraded our recommendation on Apogee Enterprises (APOG) to Outperform from Neutral with a target price of $18. The company’s first-quarter fiscal 2013 earnings were $0.06 per share, reversing the prior-year loss of...10Aug2012 | vitalstocks | Comments Off | Continued
(FAST) Fastenal Company – Bear of the Day
Though Fastenal Company’s (FAST) second quarter 2012 earnings of $0.38 beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by a penny, total revenue was below the Zacks Consensus Estimate, mainly due to a slowdown in sales to manufacturing customers....23Jul2012 | vitalstocks | Comments Off | Continued
(RPM) June Sky Traffic Rises – Estimates Climb
North American airlines are performing better than their peers from other regions. Over the past three months, the carriers are improving their profitability on the back of falling fuel costs and growing business travel demand. The major carriers are adding novel features to their services...16Jul2012 | vitalstocks | Comments Off | Continued
(VAL) The Valspar Corporation – Bull of the Day
We are maintaining our Outperform recommendation on The Valspar Corporation (VAL). Second quarter earnings topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate while sales missed. The company witnessed improved margins in the quarter, supported by...12Jun2012 | vitalstocks | Comments Off | Continued
(FAST) Fastenal Company – Bull of the Day
Fastenal Company (FAST) has been eyeing profitable government projects in order to strengthen its position in local markets. Moreover, the company has undertaken several steps that will simultaneously upgrade its services and reduce...16Jan2012 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued
(RPM) U.S. Airline Traffic Slows in November
The airline industry needs to figure out ways to counter rising fuel expenses, which is estimated at $178 billion for this year and $198 billion for the next. Fuel will account for 30% of industry costs compared with 13% a decade ago. Despite higher ticket prices and improved ancillary revenues, air...14Dec2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued
(RPM) U.S. Air Traffic Shows Mixed for October
Air traffic remained mixed in October, like the month before. Airline traffic is measured in billions of revenue passenger miles (RPM), which implies one mile flown by one passenger. The consolidated October traffic fell 5.1% at the largest U.S. airline United Continental Holdings Inc....10Nov2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued
(RPM) Mixed Aviation Industry Traffic in September
Despite a strong profit outlook for 2011 by The International Air Transport Association (IATA) as well as fare hikes and capacity pull backs, air carriers posted mixed traffic results in September primarily on fluctuations in economic conditions and debt concerns in Europe. Airline traffic...17Oct2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued
(FAST) Fastenal Company – Bull of the Day
Fastenal Co. (FAST) is one of the leading distributors of industrial and construction supplies and fasteners. It has a diversified customer base that helps it retain its market position even during the toughest times. Moreover, the...23Aug2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued
(RPM) U.S. July Air Traffic Improves
Despite rising fuel prices, renewed uncertainties in the U.S. economy as well as debt concerns in Europe, air carriers’ traffic improved in July on high fares and capacity cuts. Airline traffic is measured in billions of revenue passenger miles (RPM), which implies one mile flown by one passenger. The...22Aug2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued
(VAL) Valspar Reports Earnings In Line With Forecast
The Valspar Corporation’s (VAL) net earnings moved up 10 cents to 80 cents in the third quarter of 2011 from last year’s 70 cents and were in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Adjusted net earnings excluded 10 cents per share...16Aug2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued
(RPM) U.S. June Air Traffic Analysis
Despite the lingering uncertainty in U.S. recovery as well as debt concerns in Europe, the demand for air travel has rebounded to some extent after the March 2011 Japan catastrophe. For the past several months, air carriers have been struggling with rising fuel prices. In order to alleviate the pressure,...12Jul2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued
(VAL) Valspar Launches Valspar Plus Paint
The Valspar Corporation’s (VAL) Valspar Paint launched the first indoor decorative paint, which has been certified by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA). The Valspar Plus paint, certified as asthma and allergy...1Jul2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued
(APOG) Company News for June 23, 2011 – Corporate Summary
• Shares of Robbins & Myers, Inc. (NYSE:RBN) jumped 8.77% on strong fiscal third-quarter profits. The energy equipment supplier said strong customer demand and the recent acquisition of oilfield services has helped the company’s increase...23Jun2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued
(APOG) Apogee Enterprises Beats Estimates
The leader in technologies for the design and development of value-added glass products Apogee Enterprises Inc. (APOG) recently announced fiscal 2012 first quarter results, minimizing its per share loss to 8 cents from 13 cents in...22Jun2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued
(VMC) Vulcan Materials Completes Bond Issuance
Vulcan Materials Company (VMC) recently announced the completion of its $1.1 billion bond issuance, which has received orders worth $3.2 billion. The company reported that the bond issuance was undertaken to reduce its debt that...19Jun2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued
(VMC) Vulcan Materials 2011 First Quarter Earnings Preview
Vulcan Materials Company (VMC) announced that it would release its results for the first quarter of 2011 after the market closes on May 4, 2011. Alabama-based Vulcan Materials realized a loss of 36 cents per share in the fourth quarter...3May2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued
(FAST) Fastenal 2011 First Quarter Earnings Preview
Fastenal Co. (FAST) announced that it would release its results for the first quarter of fiscal 2011 before the market opens on April 12, 2011. Winona-based Fastenal earned a profit of 44 cents in the fourth quarter, marginally behind...12Apr2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued
(FAST) Fastenal’s Quarterly Report Beats Estimates
Fastenal Co. (FAST) reported a profit of $79.5 million in the first quarter of 2011, up 42% from $56.0 million in the year-ago quarter. This translates into earnings of 54 cents per share, which has surpassed the year-ago earnings...12Apr2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued
(RPM) U.S. Airline Traffic Marks Modest Improvement
The U.S. air carriers recorded only modest improvements in traffic during March. Airline traffic is measured in billions of revenue passenger miles (RPM), which implies one mile flown by one passenger. Following the massive earthquake and tsunami in Japan on March 11, carriers introduced drastic...8Apr2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued
(RPM) Airlines Soar Despite High Fares
Jet fuel prices rose over 53% as oil price increased to above $100 per barrel given the ongoing civil unrest in the Middle East. Despite the sharp rise in fuel prices, airline traffic picked up significantly in February attributable to a strong revival in the economy. The...13Mar2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued
(VMC) Vulcan Materials Company – Bear of the Day
Despite being the largest producer of construction aggregates and a leading producer of other construction materials, Vulcan Materials (VMC) faces intense competition and a challenging environment. The nearly stalled construction...27Dec2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued
(UAL) Airline Industry on Track for Profitable 2010
The U.S. airline industry is on track for a profitable year after a drought of two years. Airline traffic in 2010 has shown an improvement with a surge in business travel and premium service demand from the year-ago levels. We expect demand for air travel to continue showing signs of improvement,...10Dec2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued
(RPM) September Air Traffic Rebounds – Business Travel Increases
The U.S. airline industry is on track for a profitable year after a long drought. Currently, airlines are benefiting from the rebound in traffic Incorporatedluding an increase in business travel and premium service demand. With signs of sustained economic growth, the International Air Transport Association...12Oct2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued
(RPM) U.S. Aviation Travel Traffic Rises in August
August has been a busy month for airliners with traffic showing signs of increase. The economic downturn in 2009 and the oil price hike in 2008 had affected the airline industry during the past two years. Now, with the economic recovery, demand for air travel is increasing from last year’s depressed...9Sep2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued
(VAL) Valspar Corporation Earnings Barely Miss Expectations
Paints and coatings maker Valspar Corp. (VAL) recorded net income of $75.1 million or 74 cents per share in the third quarter of fiscal 2010, up 15.5% from last year’s $65 million or 61 cents per share. Earnings were helped by a...18Aug2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued