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(MGM) MGM Mirage Raises $826 Million in Debt Offering
On Wednesday, MGM Mirage (MGM) closed a debt offering and raised approximately $826 million. The company used the proceeds from this offering to fulfill certain requirements for its amended credit facility agreement. The company closed the private offering of $845 million of...
19Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(CRAI) CRA International’s Earnings Report Lags Estimates
On Thursday, CRA International Inc. (CRAI) reported operating earnings of $0.5 million or 4 cents per share for the fiscal first quarter of 2010 ended Feb 19, 2010, which substantially fell short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 27 cents and from 18 cents reported in the year-ago...
19Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(HD) The Home Depot to roll out Spring Black Friday
Similar to the traditional Black Friday that kick-starts the Christmas holiday shopping season, The Home Depot Inc. (HD), the world’s largest home improvement specialty retailer, has decided to implement Spring Black Friday in March and April to mark the beginning of the busiest...
19Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(CMCSA) Comcast Firms SMB Footprint
Comcast Corp. (CMCSA), the largest cable MSO of the world, recently completed its proposed acquisition of Cimco Communications Inc, after receiving FCC approval. Cimco is a privately held competitive local exchange carrier in the Chicago area with more than 23,000 customers in...
19Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(GME) GameStop Corporation’s Earnings Drop and Stock Up
GameStop Corporation (GME), the leading video game and entertainment software retailer, recently reported fourth-quarter 2009 results that came a penny ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate, but fell year-over-year. The quarterly earnings of $1.29 per share beat the Zacks Consensus...
19Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(JCG) J.Crew Group – Revenues up 19%
J.Crew Group, Inc. (JCG) analysts are raising expectations following a great earnings report as the company continues to demonstrate excellent fundamentals. Company Description J.Crew Group is a well-known apparel company. The company sells clothing, shoes and accessories through...
19Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(ROST) Ross Stores Reports Earnings In Line With Expectations
Ross Stores Inc. (ROST) reported results for the fourth quarter and full fiscal 2009. For the fourth quarter, the company reported earnings of $1.16 per share, which were in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Quarterly earnings were up 52.6% year-over-year. For fiscal 2009,...
19Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(SNI) Scripps Networks Interactive Expanding
Scripps Networks Interactive Inc. (SNI) has undertaken an initiative to explore international markets. Recently, the company entered into an outsourcing deal with London-based Passion Distribution to provide global programming license on behalf of Scripps Networks. Passion Distribution...
18Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(PRAA) Portfolio Recovery Associates Buys 62% Stake in Claims Compensation Bureau
In an attempt to expand into the class action settlement recovery market, Portfolio Recovery Associates, Inc. (PRAA) announced on Monday the acquisition of 62% stake in the Claims Compensation Bureau, LLC (CCB), a company that specializes in recovering funds and processing payments...
18Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(LFL) Lan Airlines S.A. Indicators Are Up
LAN Airlines S.A. (LFL) and its subsidiaries have reported preliminary traffic statistics and punctuality indicators for February 2010. System passenger traffic for February increased 9.6%. International passenger traffic accounted for approximately 69% of total passenger traffic....
18Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(LTD) Limited Brands Manages Free Cash Flow Well
Limited Brands Inc. (LTD), a specialty retailer of women’s intimate and other apparel, beauty and personal care products, is actively managing its capital and returning much of its free cash to shareholders via share repurchases and dividends. The company’s Board recently...
18Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(WU) Western Union Refinances Debt
Money transfer company Western Union Inc. (WU) yesterday announced that it has started exchanging its outstanding 5.4% notes aggregating $500 million in principal due 2011 with a new issue of notes. The new notes will carry an interest rate of 135 basis points over and above...
18Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(IM) Ingram Micro Incorporated – Another Earnings Surprise
Ingram Micro Inc (IM) just reported another earnings surprise and analysts are raising their forecasts. Company Description Ingram Micro provides marketing, logistic, technical and other services for its customers. The company serves technology vendors and resellers across the...
18Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued($V) Visa Analyst Initiates Stock Coverage at Neutral
Recently, we have initiated coverage on Visa Inc. (V) with a Neutral recommendation. The company’s fiscal first quarter 2010 earnings of 99 cents per share were substantially ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 91 cents due to better pricing, an increased number of processed...
18Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(CSC) Computer Science Corporation Wins Mega Deal
Leading information technology (IT) company Computer Science Corporation (CSC) has won another major contract. The IT major recently disclosed that it is one among the two chosen companies to be awarded the Visa Services indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract...
18Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(VIAB) Viacom’s MTV Signs Deal with Rentrak
MTV Networks, a division of Viacom Inc. (VIAB) signed a deal with Rentrak Corp. (RENT) to subscribe to the latter’s TV Essential services. Rentrak is a multi-screen media measurement and research company. TV Essential services are used by media companies for audience targeting,...
18Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(SPLS) Staples Offers Buyout of Remaining Stake in Australian Company
Staples, Inc. (SPLS), the world’s leading retailer of office products and services, recently offered to buy out the remaining stake in Corporate Express Australia Limited. Staples already holds a majority stake of 58.6% in Corporate Express Australia by virtue of its acquisition...
18Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(LINC) Lincoln Educational Services Corporation – Revenue For The Quarter Was Up 47% From Last Year
Lincoln Educational Services Corp. (LINC) recently surged higher to hit a new 52-week high on the company’s better than expected Q4 results from early March. Company Description Lincoln Educational Services Corp. provides career oriented, post-secondary education services...
18Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(WMT) U.S. Initial Jobless Claims Down Again
Initial Claims for Unemployment Insurance fell by 5,000 over the last week to 457,000, and are far below the year-ago level of 644,000. Weekly claims can be very volatile, so to get a better sense of the overall trend, the four-week moving average is generally considered a better...
18Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(COST) Costco Wholesale Corporation Earnings Scorecard
Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST), one of the leading U.S. warehouse club operators, reported fiscal second-quarter 2010 earnings that missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by a penny, though they were up significantly from the prior-year quarter. Total revenue climbed 11.3%...
17Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(BBY) Best Buy Analysts Downgrade the Stock
We recently downgraded our rating on Best Buy Company Inc. (BBY) to Neutral from Outperform with a target price of $41.00. Consumers, grappling with the recent downturn and lower disposable income, are now prioritizing their purchases. Best Buy sells products that are more discretionary...
17Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(TWC) Time Warner Cable Expanding Wideband via DOCSIS 3.0
Time Warner Cable Inc. (TWC), the second largest cable MSO of the U.S. is quickly expanding its wideband coverage using high-speed DOCSIS 3.0 technology leveraging its fiber-optic network. The company recently launched its residential tier wideband Internet in North Texas. Time...
17Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(CMCSA) Masters Golf Tournament to be Major Boost for 3D TV
The latest technology of 3D-capable television sets and 3D-capable computer monitors received a shot in the arm yesterday. The Augusta National Golf Club and Masters Tournament Committee announced that the 2010 Masters tournament will be telecast live on 3D-capable sets. This...
17Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(JEC) Jacobs Engineering Group Inks New Transport Scotland Deal
Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. (JEC) signed a four-year contract with Transport Scotland, the national transport agency of Scotland, to provide engineering consultancy services. Transport Scotland oversees the operation and improvement of the trunk road and railway networks in...
17Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(HOT) Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Invests $200 Million in Accenture IT
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. (HOT) yesterday announced that it has awarded an approximately $200 million contract to IT vendor Accenture (ACN). Under the contract that will span a number of years, Accenture will provide a range of IT services including application...
17Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(NFLX) Netflix Picks Akamai Technologies for Streaming
The DVD and streaming video company Netflix Inc. (NFLX) announced that it has selected Akamai Technologies, Inc. (AKAM) as its primary content delivery network for movies and TV episodes streamed instantly over the Internet. Netflix is the largest online movie rental subscription...
16Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(KR) Kroger Analyst Ups Stock to Neutral
We recently upgraded our recommendation on Kroger Company (KR) to Neutral from Underperform with a target price of $23.00. Kroger’s dominant position among the nation’s largest grocery retailers enables the company to sustain top-line growth, expand store base and boost market...
16Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(PLCE) The Children’s Place Retail Stores – Consensus Estimates Rise
The Children’s Place Retail Stores, Inc. (PLCE) is opening stores at the same time it is controlling its inventories. PLCE is trading at 13.9x forward earnings. Company Description The Children’s Place is a children’s specialty retailer which operates 947 stores...
16Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(BID) Sotheby’s – Revenue Was Up 31%
Sotheby’s (BID) just hit a new 52-week high on the company’s better than expected Q from early March that were driven by a rebound in the global economy. Company Description Sotheby’s, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an auctioneer of fine and decorative...
16Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued(JEC) Jacobs Engineering Group Wins Middle East Contract
Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. (JEC) won a contract from Marafiq to serve as project management contractor (PMC) for Marafiq’s ongoing investment program in Saudi Arabia. The contract value was not disclosed. Jacobs will provide PMC services for a number of projects in the...
16Mar2010 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued