Continue reading Some big names set new 52-week highs Tuesday: WAG, ACS, WYE ...

Some big names set new 52-week highs Tuesday: WAG, ACS, WYE ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 08:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The article discussed the elimination of personal check-writing at retail points of sale. A few Whole Foods Market (NASDAQ: WFMI) locations, as well as 70 Fresh & Easy supermarkets in California, are no longer accepting checks as a viable form of payment. Whole Foods is apparently taking the idea out for a test run, but Fresh & Easy seems to be more serious about the idea.

Continue reading Should shareholders of retail stocks pressure managements to drop check acceptance?

Should shareholders of retail stocks pressure managements to drop check acceptance? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 22 Sep 2009 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Here are some highlights from last week's earnings coverage from BloggingStocks:

• Activision Blizzard Inc. (NASDAQ: ATVI) reported better-than-expected Q2 results, sending shares higher.
• Blackstone Group (NYSE: BX) said it swung to a Q2 profit despite a dearth of leveraged buyouts.
• CBS Corp. (NYSE: CBS) Q2 earnings declined but still topped estimates, sending shares higher.
• Coinstar Inc. (NASDAQ: CSTR) reported stellar Q2 results driven by its the popularity of RedBox.
• Clorox Co. (NYSE: CLX) posted solid Q4 earnings but said revenues were flat due to currency effects.
• Duke Energy Corp. (NYSE: DUK) lower Q2 earnings beat expectations by a penny but revenue fell short.

Continue reading Earnings highlights: Blackstone, CBS, Humana, Playboy, Sirius, Whole Foods ...

Earnings highlights: Blackstone, CBS, Humana, Playboy, Sirius, Whole Foods ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 08 Aug 2009 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Whole Foods shares up on news of more whole foods

Whole Foods shares up on news of more whole foods originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 05 Aug 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Closing Bell: The down day that didn't feel too down (USU, WFMI, BID, ERTS, TIVO)

Closing Bell: The down day that didn't feel too down (USU, WFMI, BID, ERTS, TIVO) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 05 Aug 2009 16:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

It was easy to discount a company dedicated to selling high-end groceries in the midst of a terrible global downturn. And Whole Foods (NASDAQ: WFMI) has indeed suffered from investor fears. Shares of the company fell from year-ago levels of about $22 per share to lows of near $8 per share in the dark days of December 2008. They have since rebounded to the $22 level on green shoots speculation. On Monday, however, they tumbled again to $18.80. Is it time to buy?

That's a tricky question. First, the positives. Whole Foods is a well-managed grocery chain. It has been extremely disciplined in its expansion push, choosing good locations. It has also overcome relatively low revenues per employee by posting higher margins on items and much higher average cash register rings.

Continue reading Whole Foods looking tastier?

Whole Foods looking tastier? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Michelle Obama has made healthy eating a priority in her role as first lady. Her emphasis on the earth-to-table approach to dining emphasizes local and organic ingredients -- and fits squarely with the mission of Whole Foods Market (NASDAQ: WFMI).

Obama's White House garden is great top-of-mind stuff and demonstrates the value of a healthy lifestyle. It may not be for everyone, but there will be enough followers that will think more and more about going organic.

Continue reading Obama stock #4: Whole Foods Market (WFMI)

Obama stock #4: Whole Foods Market (WFMI) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 14 Jun 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

We all know the impact that celebrities have on businesses. One of the most obvious instances of this phenomenon comes from the Oprah Winfrey Show. For example, when a title makes it into her book club, millions of loyal followers immediately take action, and sales follow.

These days, Michelle Obama is giving Oprah a run for her money. The First Lady is being closely watched by millions, and she too has a loyal following. She also appears to have a fashion sense that resonates with consumers around the globe. We all saw the number of stories and speculation about her gown during the inauguration.

Continue reading Move over Oprah -- Michelle Obama's got the touch

Move over Oprah -- Michelle Obama's got the touch originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 13 Jun 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Here are some highlights from this past week's earnings coverage from BloggingStocks:

• Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (NYSE: ANF) reported dismal Q1 numbers as same-store sales plunged.
• Applied Materials Inc. (NASDAQ: AMAT) dismal Q2 results were in line with analysts' expectations.
• Bankrate Inc. (NASDAQ: RATE) reported lower earnings and revenue for Q1 and offered no guidance.
• Blockbuster Inc. (NYSE: BBI) earnings, revenue, and same-store sales all fell in the first quarter.
• Dr Pepper Snapple Group (NYSE: DPS) Q1 earnings declined but still topped analysts' expectations.

Continue reading Earnings highlights: Walmart, JCPenney, Freddie Mac, Playboy, Whole Foods and more

Earnings highlights: Walmart, JCPenney, Freddie Mac, Playboy, Whole Foods and more originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 16 May 2009 09:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Whole Foods Market, Inc.

Continue reading Surprisingly, Whole Foods surges after earnings

Surprisingly, Whole Foods surges after earnings originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 13 May 2009 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Closing Bell: Earnings keep swine scares in check (BAC, GSK, HUM, EWW, QCOM, WFMI)

Closing Bell: Earnings keep swine scares in check (BAC, GSK, HUM, EWW, QCOM, WFMI) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 27 Apr 2009 16:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This post is part of a seven article report -- Food for thought: Best bets in food & beverage stocks.

"We think there's enormous potential for profit as Whole Foods Market (NASDAQ: WFMI) recovers from its deeply oversold position," says Mike Cintolo. Here's the latest from The Cabot Top Ten report.

"Whole Foods is the fourth-largest grocery store operator in the U.S., a rank it's achieved, among far older competitors, by competing not on price but on quality. In particular, Whole Foods has succeeded by satisfying shoppers' demand for healthy, earth-friendly organic foods.

Continue reading Healthy gains at Whole Foods (WFMI)

Healthy gains at Whole Foods (WFMI) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 26 Apr 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Goldman upgraded Intercontinental Exchange (NYSE: ICE) to Conviction Buy from Neutral and raised their target to $90 from $60. Goldman cites ICE's positioning and potential for upward EPS revisions for the upgrade.
  
• Jefferies upgraded FMC Technologies (NYSE: FTI) to Buy from Hold as they believe solid deepwater activity levels will lead to solid EPS results in 2009 and 2010. The firm raised their price target to $45 from $27.
  
• Friedman Billings upgraded Devon Energy (NYSE: DVN) to Outperform from Market Perform on valuation and expects significant improvement in basis differentials for the company's Barnett production starting the second half of Q2. The firm raised their price target to $60 from $50.
• Elan Corp (NYSE: ELN) was raised to Neutral from Sell at Piper Jaffray.
  
• Banco Santander (NYSE: STD) was upgraded at Keefe Bruyette to Outperform from Market Perform.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: ICE, AKAM, WFMI, GD, INTU ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: ICE, AKAM, WFMI, GD, INTU ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 03 Apr 2009 12:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• KeyBanc upgraded Greenbrier (NYSE: GBX) to Buy from Hold as it believes the company has options to forestall covenant violations or bankruptcy, event if conditions deteriorate further.
  
• Friedman Billings upgraded Whole Foods (NASDAQ: WFMI) to Market Perform from Underperform citing low expectations, favorable FTC settlement, progress on cost cutting, and valuation.
  
• JP Morgan believes First Merit (NASDAQ: FMER) is one of the best positioned Midwest banks to weather the storm and notes its compelling valuation and capital levels. The firm upgraded shares to Overweight from Neutral.
• Coca-Cola Enterprises (NYSE: CCE) was raised to Buy from Neutral at Goldman.
  
• Newell Rubbermaid (NYSE: NWL) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Banc of America/Merrill.
  
• Compass Minerals (NYSE: CMP) was lifted to Outperform from Perform at Oppenheimer.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: WFMI, CCE, S, XOM, JPM ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: WFMI, CCE, S, XOM, JPM ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 16 Mar 2009 12:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Today was one of those strange Friday sessions where you just never felt stable. Interestingly enough, the 8.1% unemployment rate ended up moving the market up briefly, but only briefly. Most of the day was spent in red numbers with a rally that brought the markets back to a flat close.

The focus is still on what is coming out of Washington D.C. and just how long and how deep this recession is going to be.

Here are today's unofficial closing bell levels:
Dow 6,626.94 +32.50 (+0.49%)
S&P 500 683.39 +0.84 (+0.12%)
Nasdaq 1,293.85 -5.74 (-0.44%)
Top Analyst Calls

Continue reading Closing Bell: Traders fear D.C. more than massive unemployment (GME, DNA, GM, SIRI, WFC, WFMI)

Closing Bell: Traders fear D.C. more than massive unemployment (GME, DNA, GM, SIRI, WFC, WFMI) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 06 Mar 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Here are some highlights from this past week's earnings coverage from BloggingStocks:

• Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) Q1 earnings were cut almost in half and were lower than expected.
• AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) earnings expectations for 2010 resulted in an analyst's upgrade.
• BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (NASDAQ: BMRN) was downgraded following its Q4 earnings report.
• CBS Corp. (NYSE: CBS) beat Q4 earnings expectations but slashed its quarterly dividend.
• Crocs Inc. (NASDAQ: CROX) posted a smaller-than-expected Q4 loss but sales and gross margins fell.
• Deere & Co. (NYSE: DE) Q1 earnings and revenue fell and it offered guidance below estimates.
• Deutsche Telekom (NYSE: DT) was upgraded on confidence ahead of the company's earnings report.
• Hewlett-Packard Corp. (NYSE: HPQ) reported a bigger-than-expected drop in Q1 earnings.

Continue reading Earnings highlights: Deere, HP, CBS, Playboy, Intuit, Whole Foods and more

Earnings highlights: Deere, HP, CBS, Playboy, Intuit, Whole Foods and more originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 21 Feb 2009 09:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Is it really possible to make money in this market?

Surprisingly, the answer is yes. Despite the market being down more than 10% at the start of this year, there have been a number of winners that have done quite well.

As I have said many times, the current environment is very unique. Nobody has ever seen anything like this. To survive, one must throw out the old playbook and adapt to the new reality.

Continue reading Whole Foods takes off

Whole Foods takes off originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 20 Feb 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Closing Bell: Dow dips another day, Apple sees first drop in sales in three years; AAPL, XOM, HPQ, PCLN, WFMI, SPWRA

Closing Bell: Dow dips another day, Apple sees first drop in sales in three years; AAPL, XOM, HPQ, PCLN, WFMI, SPWRA originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 19 Feb 2009 16:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Jefferies upgraded Whole Foods (NASDAQ: WFMI) to Buy from Hold as it believes the company is taking the right steps to turn its operations around. The firm raised its target price to $13 from $11.
  
• Pali upgraded Whole Foods to Buy from Sell following the Q1 report based on better than expected cost containment, labor costs, capex cuts, and plans to rationalize the store base.
  
• Thomas Weisel upgraded Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ) to Overweight from Market Weight. The firm believes HPQ's risk/reward has improved given overdue reduced FY09 guidance and attractive valuation.
  
• Bernstein upgraded Talisman (NYSE: TLM) to Outperform from Market Perform based on relative valuation.
• Navistar (NYSE: NAV) was added to Goldman's Conviction Buy List.
  
• Sovran Self Storage (NYSE: SSS) was upgraded to Perform from Underperform at Oppenheimer.
  
• Suncor (NYSE: SU) was upgraded at Barclays to Overweight from Equal Weight.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: WFMI, HPQ, XOM, HAS ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: WFMI, HPQ, XOM, HAS ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 19 Feb 2009 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading 5 stocks benefiting from others' losses, 11 surprising market indicators

5 stocks benefiting from others' losses, 11 surprising market indicators originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 19 Feb 2009 09:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.