Investors.com

Abercrombie Misses, Latest In String Of Weak Reports

Fri, 24 May 2013 16:52:00 GMT

Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF) shares gapped down sharply on higher-than-average trading volume Friday after it reported disappointing first-quarter earnings and issued a weak outlook. The young men's and women's apparel chain lost 9 cents per share in the quarter, narrowing from the 25-cent-a-share loss a year ago, but worse than the 5-cent loss Wall Street expected. Revenue slid 8.9% to $838.8 million, well below consensus views of $941.25 million.

P&G Follows Familiar Playbook With CEO Shuffle

Fri, 24 May 2013 16:43:00 GMT

The management shakeup at Proctor & Gamble (PG) that put former CEO A.G. Lafley back at the helm follows what's starting to look like the standard play: When sales stall or a turnaround sputters, punt and give the ball back to the old boss. It's what J.C. Penney (JCP) did last month when it fired CEO Ron Johnson less than two years into his failed effort to reboot the troubled retailer. It named previous CEO Myron Ullman to replace him. Penney

Foul Weather Throws Hibbett Sports A Curveball

Fri, 24 May 2013 14:43:00 GMT

Shares of Hibbett Sports (DKS) moved lower on the stock market after the sporting goods retailer fell short of quarterly sales and earnings views as cold weather weighed on its performance. The Birmingham, Ala.-based company reported earnings of $1 a share for its fiscal first quarter, which ended May 4. That was up 2% from the prior year, but 7 cents below consensus estimates. The results ended a long streak of double-digit EPS growth. Revenue

5 Best Leading Stocks With Rising Earnings Estimates

Fri, 24 May 2013 12:02:00 GMT

Analysts get most of their data about a company directly from the company. When a company's Wall Street earnings estimates are rising, that reflects the confidence the company has in itself that its profit will keep growing, making it worthy of special notice. Today's Screen Of The Day is Leaders with Rising Estimates. The five top companies on the screen are: Cabela's (CAB), FleetCor Technologies (FLT), Stratasys (SSYS), Grand Canyon Education

Bidding Wars! Buying Homes Looks Like 2006 But Isn't

Thu, 23 May 2013 21:11:00 GMT

When Halstead Property real estate broker Barry Silverman held the first open house for a one-bedroom apartment in Manhattan's Greenwich Village on a Sunday in March, it turned out to be the last showing. "One hundred and forty people came. They were lined up," he said. The next day Silverman had 14 offers. All but two topped the $890,000 asking price. After reviewing their financials, Silverman asked the rivals for their "best and final offer,"

Tech Hubs See A Building Boom, Just As Leasing Slows

Thu, 23 May 2013 21:05:00 GMT

Leasing by San Francisco-area technology firms is slowing just as developers are poised to add 6.5 million square feet of office space to the city and Silicon Valley, the most construction in a dozen years. Twenty-six projects are under way, from glass towers in downtown San Francisco to suburban office parks in Sunnyvale and Santa Clara, Calif., according to property brokerage CBRE Group (CBRE). Its data show about 3.4 million

Cabot Oil & Gas Profits From Low-Cost Marcellus Shale

Thu, 23 May 2013 20:29:00 GMT

Forget about low natural gas prices. Cabot Oil & Gas (COG) has location on its side. It works the most prolific shale gas region in the U.S., the Marcellus, near densely populated East Coast markets where demand for fuel is high. And within that vast region, which spans multiple states, Cabot has secured 200,000 net acres in the "sweet spot" of Susquehanna County in northeast Pennsylvania, says Matt Portillo, director of exploration and production

Auto Sales Resume Zippy Pace In May, Led By Pickups

Thu, 23 May 2013 17:59:00 GMT

Americans are torn between replacing the fleet of aging clunkers on U.S. roads, which recently averaged more than 11 years old, and plunking down money to buy a new car in a still-tentative economy. The latest figures on U.S. auto sales indicate the urge to splurge is winning. U.S. auto sales are expected to rise about 8% in May, according to a joint report by market trackers J.D. Power and Associates and LMC Automotive. The annual pace should

Valentine's Day Sweet To Signet, But Mom's Less So

Thu, 23 May 2013 17:27:00 GMT

Strong Valentine's Day sales and a healthy run-up to Mother's Day at mall-based Kay Jewelers and off-mall chain Jared drove better than expected results for parent Signet Jewelers (SIG). But that early splurging on mom could steal some steam from second-quarter results, the London-based midtier jeweler said. Signet reported earnings of $1.13 per share for the quarter that ended May 4. That was up 17.7%. That was 2 cents more than analysts surveyed

Buckle, Ralph Lauren Sales Miss, Shares Tumble

Thu, 23 May 2013 16:54:00 GMT

Buckle (BKE) and Ralph Lauren (RL) reported quarterly sales below estimates Thursday, sending shares tumbling in afternoon trading. Overall, retail sales improved 0.1% in April, surprising analysts but individual retailers like Wal-Mart (WMT) and Nordstrom (JWN) also reported weak quarterly results. Buckle, a teen apparel retailer, said first-quarter earnings fell 1.3% to 78 cents per share, missing analyst estimates by 4 cents. Sales rose 1.8% to

Rue21 OKs $1.1 Billion Buyout; Apax To Add 700 Stores

Thu, 23 May 2013 16:54:00 GMT

Shares of Rue21 (RUE) soared Thursday after the teen apparel retailer announced an agreement to be taken private by Apax Partners for roughly $1.1 billion. Private equity firm Apax Partners had a relationship with Rue21 through its SKM II funds affiliate, which owns 30% of the specialty retailer. The deal, expected to close by the end of the year, is contingent on approval by the rest of Rue21 shareholders. Apax will pay $42 per share cash. Rue

Hormel Earnings Gobbled Up By Poor Jennie-O Results

Thu, 23 May 2013 14:48:00 GMT

Shares of Hormel Foods (HRL) moved lower in the stock market after the maker of meat and food products missed quarterly sales and earnings views. The Austin, Minn.-based company, whose brands include Spam canned ham, was hurt by a poor performance from its Jennie-O Turkey Stores business. Hormel reported earnings of 46 cents a share for its fiscal second quarter, which ended April 28. That was down from 48 cents the prior year and below consensus

Nikkei Plunges 7%, Worst Rout Since 2011 Tsunami

Thu, 23 May 2013 13:19:00 GMT

Japan's Topix index tumbled almost 7 percent, the most since the aftermath of the March 2011 tsunami and nuclear disaster, as financial firms slid amid rising bond yields. Nikkei 225 Stock Average futures traded in Osaka and Singapore fell in after-hours trade, signaling further declines. Every company in the Nikkei 225 retreated for the first time since April 2005. Consumer lenders lost 11 percent to lead declines among the

Lumber Liquidators Leads Top 5 Small Cap Screen

Thu, 23 May 2013 12:02:00 GMT

Bigger isn't always better. Sometimes a small company is poised for big stock moves. Today's Screen Of The Day features Small-Cap Leaders, highly rated companies with a market value of $1 billion or less. Here are the top five companies that made the list: Lumber Liquidators (LL), a hardwood flooring retailer, tops the screen. The company's shares have risen 64% since the start of the year and climbed 11.6% in the stock marketon April 24 after

Rising Airline Fees Key To The Industry's Recovery

Wed, 22 May 2013 19:39:00 GMT

Airlines are unbundling fees for baggage shipment, flight changes and the like from the price of a ticket. And those fees have been key to the industry's recent recovery. For the big carriers, fee revenue is still small potatoes. At Delta Air Lines (DAL), for example, it amounted to just 4.5% of total 2012 revenue of $36.67 billion. But for some smaller carriers such as highly rated discount carrier Spirit Airlines (SAVE), for example, it is a

Ford, GM Skip Summer Breaks To Meet Demand For Cars

Wed, 22 May 2013 19:39:00 GMT

Detroit is skipping its usual two-week break this summer. U.S. automakers including Ford Motor (F) and General Motors (GM) are trying to meet strong demand for new cars and trucks, with the fewer factories they have after downsizing in the wake of the global financial crises. So they're limiting or canceling altogether the traditional idling of plants that traditionally occurs in July for maintenance and new-model retooling. No. 2 U.S. automaker

Michaels Kors Holdings Designs A Bullish Growth Plan

Wed, 22 May 2013 18:59:00 GMT

Michael Kors Holdings makes no secret of its desire to become a much bigger player in the global market for high-end fashion items. The company designs, sells and distributes accessories, footwear and apparel. It is named after founder Michael Kors, a designer perhaps best known as a judge on "Project Runway." Most of its business comes from accessories such as handbags, small leather goods, eyewear, jewelry, watches and footwear. Michael Kors

Are Commercial Sales Key For AutoZone Growth?

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:17:00 GMT

The nation's largest auto parts retailer skidded a bit Wednesday, a day after surging on mixed but optimistic earnings results. An analyst reaffirmed a buy rating on AutoZone (AZO), but lowered his long-term earnings targets. Shares were down 1.2% intraday on the stock market today. That's after Tuesday's 4.6% earnings-fuel pop. But Nomura analyst Aram Rubinson said in a client note Wednesday that he thinks investors were "primed for lackluster

Eaton Vance Q2 Earnings In Line, Revenue Misses

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:52:00 GMT

Asset manager Eaton Vance (EV) reported Q2 earnings in line with estimates on Wednesday, but revenue fell short of expectations. The Boston-based firm said second-quarter EPS climbed 16% to 52 cents, in line with estimates. Revenue rose 9% to $331.7 million, under estimates of $336.6 million. Shares were little changed at mid-morning in the stock market today. On Monday, Eaton shares closed at a new high of 44.18. BlackRock (BLK) shares rose.

Staples Upbeat On 2013 Despite Q1 Earnings Stumble

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:22:00 GMT

Office supplies retail giant Staples (SPLS) reported first-quarter earnings results early Wednesday that missed analysts targets for profit and sales, and issued full-year guidance in line with estimates. The world's largest office supplies chain said Q1 earnings per share fell 13% to 26 cents, a penny less than 21 analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected. Revenue slid 4.8% to $5.81 billion from $6.1 billion a year ago, hurt by a weak dollar

Cold Spring Weather Tanks Target's Tank-Top Sales

Wed, 22 May 2013 15:41:00 GMT

Cooler spring weather sapped sales of bathing suites, patio furniture and other warm-weather categories in the first quarter at discount department store Target (TGT). The retailer also lowered its outlook for the second quarter and the rest of the year, though its new earnings targets are still above analysts' expectations. Shares tumbled 3.8% intraday in the stock market today to 58.68. "While we are disappointed in our first-quarter

Toll Delivers But Will Margins Still Lag Peers?

Wed, 22 May 2013 15:36:00 GMT

Buoyed by better-than-expected quarterly results on higher volume and prices, shares of luxury homebuilder Toll Brothers (TOL) rose sharply in Wednesday morning trading. The No. 1 luxury builder in the U.S. beat Wall Street's forecasts on both the top and bottom line with earnings of 14 cents a share vs. 10 cents a year earlier and revenue of $516 million, up 38% from last year. Analysts had expected 7 cents and $512 million in revenue in its

American Eagle Q1 Beats Despite "Tough" Environment

Wed, 22 May 2013 15:16:00 GMT

American Eagle Outfitters (AEO) shares rose in early trading in the stock market today after the teen and young-adult clothing retailer posted better-than-expected first-quarter sales and profits Wednesday before the bell. The stock rose more than 2% in early trading. American Eagle's adjusted earnings from continuing operations slipped 18% to 18 cents a share, 1 cent ahead of forecasts by analysts polled by Thomson Reuters. Sales fell 4% to $679

Lowe's Misses, But Shares Rise On Improving Trend

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:37:00 GMT

Lowe's (LOW) missed first-quarter sales and earnings forecasts. The home improvement chain blamed bad weather. Its shares initially fell in pre-market trading on the stock market but turned slightly higher. Meanwhile, shares of fellow home improvement retailer

Check Out 5 Big Caps With Long-Term Growth Prospects

Wed, 22 May 2013 12:05:00 GMT

With the market posting strong gains and lifting most stocks, what's the best way to spot the long-term winners? Today's Screen Of The Day is Big Cap Leaders, companies with long-term growth records that are market leaders. It lists companies with a market capitalization of at least $10 billion with excellent returns. The top five companies are in widely different industries, from coffee to the Web to biotech. Four of the five: Regeneron

Home Depot Raises Roof On Earnings, Outlook, Stock

Tue, 21 May 2013 20:32:00 GMT

Home Depot on Tuesday reported better-than-expected first-quarter earnings and raised full-year guidance as the company benefits from the robust housing recovery. The No. 1 home improvement retailer earned 83 cents a share in Q1, up 28% vs. a year earlier, according to Thomson Reuters. Revenue rose 7% to $19.1 billion. Analysts expected EPS of 77 cents on sales of $18.69 billion. Home Depot (HD) rose 2.5% to 78.71, hitting a new

Home Loan's Goal: Own Low-Risk Assets, Pay Dividend

Tue, 21 May 2013 20:32:00 GMT

One of the keys to business success is creating win-win situations. Such is the case for Home Loan Servicing Solutions, which was started by key executives of Ocwen Financial a little over a year ago, Ocwen itself and investors, all of whom benefit from the created structure. Cayman Islands-based Home Loan (HLSS) buys mortgage servicing rights, or MSRs, as well as associated equity in servicing advances from Ocwen (OCN). It retains Ocwen as a

Urban Outfitters Shares Slip On Q1 Sales Miss

Tue, 21 May 2013 17:58:00 GMT

Urban Outfitters (URBN) shares traded down 2% Tuesday in the stock market today after the apparel retailer posted first-quarter sales that missed views, despite topping earnings forecasts. Urban, which reported its results after the stock market closed Monday, said earnings rose 39% to 32 cents a share, besting forecasts by analysts polled by Thomson Reuters for 29 cents a share. Sales rose 14% to $648.2 million, shy of estimates for $655.70

Saks Holds Margins, Accelerates E-Commerce Rollout

Tue, 21 May 2013 17:26:00 GMT

Upscale retailer Saks (SKS) grew sales in the first quarter and kept margins up, despite the wave of heavy discounting that swept through the retail landscape. It's also accelerating the launch of its discount online sales channel. Shares surged more than 8% to 13.28 in the stock market today. The operator of Saks Fifth Avenue posted adjusted earnings of 19 cents per share, flat with a year ago and in-line with consensus estimates of analysts

Monro Muffler, AutoZone Earnings Turbocharge Shares

Tue, 21 May 2013 17:04:00 GMT

The economy's slow pace of recovery continues to benefit car parts and repair companies as consumers make repairs to keep aging autos running right. Monro Muffler Brake (MNRO) and AutoZone (AZO) shares shot up early Tuesday in heavy volume, lifting the auto parts companies sector, after they reported generally strong quarterly earnings results. But there were clouds on the horizon as both reported mixed results. Monro said its fiscal

Discounter TJX First Quarter Sales, Earnings Slow

Tue, 21 May 2013 16:24:00 GMT

The parent of T.J. Maxx, Marshalls and HomeGoods stores posted slowing first-quarter sales, but said the second quarter was off to a strong start. TJX (TJX) earnings per share climbed 13% to 62 cents, matching the consensus estimate of analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters. Sales climbed 7% to $6.2 billion, a hair over the $6.16 billion analysts were expecting. A year ago sales had climbed 11%. And sales at stores open at least a year, a key

Home Depot Stock Rises On Results But Builders Slump

Tue, 21 May 2013 15:59:00 GMT

With the housing recovery driving stronger than expected results, Home Depot (HD) beat analysts forecasts in the first quarter and raised full-year guidance to reflect the improving business environment. Shares rose 2% in morning trading after the No. 1 home improvement retailer reported earnings of 83 cents per share on revenue of $19.1 billion, up 22% and 7.4% respectively over last year. Smaller rival Lowe's (LOW), which reports results

JPMorgan's Dimon Survives Shareholder Unrest, Vote

Tue, 21 May 2013 15:22:00 GMT

JPMorgan Chase (JPM) CEO Jamie Dimon appears to have survived a vote that would have stripped him of the chairmanship of the nation's largest bank. Influential shareholders and institutional groups were pushing to split the CEO and chairman roles, citing the bank's embarrassing $6.2 billion "London Whale" botched hedging strategy as proof the board failed in its oversight responsibilities. It appeared that the votes, being tallied at today's

Dick's Sporting Goods Earnings Meet Views, Sales Miss

Tue, 21 May 2013 12:55:00 GMT

Shares of Dick's Sporting Goods (DKS) moved lower on the stock market after the sporting goods retailer met quarterly earnings views but fell short on revenue estimates. The Coraopolis, Pa.-based company reported earnings of 48 cents a share for its fiscal first quarter, which ended May 4. That was up 7% from the prior year and in line with estimates provided by a poll of Thomson Reuters analysts. It was the first time in 13 quarters that EPS

Monro, AutoZone, Advance Earnings Hinge On Aging Cars

Tue, 21 May 2013 12:05:00 GMT

New-car sales have been strong in recent months, but there's still a fleet of aging U.S. jalopies on the road needing brakes, belts and alternators. A handful of companies that cater to those aging cars report this coming week. On Tuesday morning Monro Muffler Brake (MNRO) reports fiscal fourth-quarter results. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters on average expect earnings of 25 cents, down from 36 cents a year ago. But revenue is seen climbing

Gap, Ross, L Brands, Seen Showing Solid Q1

Tue, 21 May 2013 12:05:00 GMT

Wall Street goes on a shopping spree next week as a slew of top apparel retailers report results for the first quarter. Cold weather, tax refund delays, the payroll tax cut and economic concerns are among the forces that dampened spending during the quarter. But if analysts are on target, major clothing outfits Urban Outfitters (URBN), Ross Stores (ROST), L Brands (LTD) and Gap (GPS) may well have bucked the trend. Wall Street sees all four

Panel Details How Apple Avoided Paying U.S. Taxes

Tue, 21 May 2013 00:48:00 GMT

Apple has created a web of offshore entities to avoid paying billions of dollars in U.S. taxes, including three foreign subsidiaries the company says have no home country for tax purposes, congressional investigators say. The world's most valuable technology company has $102 billion in offshore accounts and shifted billions in profits out of the U.S. into affiliates based in Ireland where it negotiated a tax rate of less than 2 percent, according

Solar, Energy Stocks Heat Up With Bolting RS Lines

Mon, 20 May 2013 23:50:00 GMT

The stock market keeps hitting new all-time highs, led by groups such as energy, medical and tech. Today's Screen Of The Day is Bolting RS lines. IBD's Relative Strength line measures how a stock is performing vs. the S&P 500 index. Stocks with rising RS lines are outpacing the general market -- meaning that it's a leader rather than a laggard. The list includes top-rated oil and natural gas companies Oceaneering International (OII), CVR Energy

GNC New Member Discount Program Seen Lifting Profits

Mon, 20 May 2013 20:44:00 GMT

If there's one thing Americans learned during the Great Recession, it's how to get more bang for the buck. Budget-minded consumers continued to apply that lesson even as the economy slowly recovered. Retailers of all stripes have worked hard to feed that appetite for value. That includes vitamin and nutritional supplement retailer GNC Holdings (GNC), which this month began rolling out a new customer loyalty program with an everyday variable

Higher-Margin Premium Pet Foods Key In PetSmart's Q1

Mon, 20 May 2013 17:38:00 GMT

Consumers still seem willing to pamper their pets, paying top-dollar for pricier products, which bodes well for PetSmart (PETM) reporting first-quarter results Wednesday. In March, the company said 75% of its food sales are the higher-margin premium brands -- the type of food sold only at pet retail stores and vet's offices. Those typically carry margins that are 1.8 to 2.2 times that of traditional pet foods sold at supermarkets, the company

How High Can Macau Growth Lift Las Vegas Sands, MGM?

Mon, 20 May 2013 17:26:00 GMT

Las Vegas Sands (LVS), MGM Resorts International (MGM), Wynn Resorts (WYNN) and other big-name casinos in China's Macau special gambling district may benefit from a report that gambling revenue in May will be higher than expected. China's improving economy enables more tourists from inland China to visit the coastal casino resort district, heating up the action. VIP gamblers from around the world fan the flames higher. RBC Capital Markets analyst

TJX, Target Results Up Next After Wal-Mart Miss

Sat, 18 May 2013 12:05:00 GMT

Wal-Mart (WMT) cautioned Thursday that it missed profit forecasts because shoppers were "stretched" and lowered its Q2 outlook. This week should provide a clearer picture of consumer spending as rival discounters TJX Cos. (TJX), which operates T.J. Maxx and Marshalls, Ross Stores (ROST), Dollar Tree (DLTR) and industry icon Target (TGT) report results.

Did April Housing Starts Dip Hurt Home Depot, Lowe's?

Sat, 18 May 2013 12:05:00 GMT

Building supplies and home improvement big box retailers Home Depot (HD) and Lowe's (LOW) will report first-quarter earnings this week. Their reports come after the Commerce Department said Thursday that housing starts fell last month. That report briefly drove homebuilder and home improvement company stocks down, although most rebounded by the end of the week. Many investors expect the housing recovery to continue and discounted the report. Toll

Pension Funds, Institutional Investors Aiming At JPMorgan

Fri, 17 May 2013 21:01:00 GMT

Hedge fund manager Daniel Loeb is trying to shake up Sony (SNE). Elliot Management succeeded in splitting the CEO and chairman roles at Hess (HES). David Einhorn demanded Apple (AAPL) return more cash to investors. But it's not just activist investors agitating, especially in the case of big banks. Many pension funds and other traditionally more-passive institutions are mounting a campaign to break up the CEO and chairman posts

Google, Web Content Providers Seeking Premium Service

Fri, 17 May 2013 20:35:00 GMT

The Internet is maturing into the world's greatest source of entertainment and information. But its revenue potential has been much more challenging to define and pursue than that of predecessors like radio or television. Google (GOOG) this month announced a package of initiatives to expand its revenue streams from Web content. Those included a streaming music service for $9.99 per month, an upgrade to Google maps and an arrangement allowing video

Google YouTube Takes On TV, Vimeo With Pay-Per-View

Fri, 17 May 2013 19:44:00 GMT

Google (GOOG) this month introduced paid subscriptions for its much-trafficked YouTube video site, a move that could draw more revenue from the lucrative video network. The new subscriptions allow Google-approved channels to charge 99 cents or more each month for access to videos. "I think it's an indication that they're serious about monetizing the business, and not just through advertising," said Wedge Partners analyst Martin Pyykkonen. "I think

Stage Stores Latest To Blame Cold Weather For Bad Q1

Fri, 17 May 2013 15:37:00 GMT

Stage Stores' (SSI) shares fell 4% in morning trading in the stock market today as the family-store brand retailer in small to mid-sized markets reported disappointing sales and profit for the first quarter ended April 28. The Houston-based company reported adjusted earnings of 2 cents a share, 7 cents below analysts forecast, according to Thomson Reuters, and 3 cents below last year's same quarter. CEO Michael Glazer blamed "unseasonably cool

Kansas City Southern to Replace Dean Foods In S&P 500

Fri, 17 May 2013 15:17:00 GMT

Railroad operator Kansas City Southern (KSU) will replace Dean Foods (DF) in the S&P 500 index after the close of trading on May 23. As part of the change, Dean will replace Kansas City Southern in the S&P MidCap 400. Dean, based in Dallas, makes and sells dairy products and juices to retailers and distributors. In another move, WhiteWave Foods (WWAV) will replace Quicksilver Resources (KWK) in the S&P MidCap 400. Dean Foods is spinning off a

Stratasys, Mindray Among 5 Stocks Funds Are Buying

Fri, 17 May 2013 12:05:00 GMT

Strong earnings growth on a hot new product or new leadership are key components in the CAN SLIM system. But it means nothing if institutional investors don't notice or care. Those banks, pensions, mutual funds and other institutions -- the 'I' in CAN SLIM -- are the market movers. Today's Screen Of The Day spotlights companies that have mutual funds accelerating their buys over the past three months. Here are five that are seeing higher-volume