Fitbit’s (FIT) Stellar Holiday Performance was Tarnished by Missteps – My Thoughts Moving Forward

Fitbit (NYSE: FIT) almost filled in all my checks for a perfect earnings report that could have been a catalyst for a short squeeze and sharp upside rise Tuesday. However, its stellar holiday quarter goes to waste due to surprising quarterly guidance that diverged significantly from analysts’ expectations. While it all works out by year end to conservative full-year figures that meet analysts’ annual estimates, it raises uncertainty and is evidence of an unseasoned management team. Unfortunately, the company misses an opportunity to force a vibrant short squeeze to fuel restoration of shareholder value to stakeholders deserving of it. Still, the deeply discounted on a PEG basis, oversold stock with a heavy short interest could still see a healthy upside rise by week’s end or even day’s end Tuesday, as current market dynamics have been serving deeply oversold stocks. Over the longer term, it’ll take a quarter or two for the company to refashion its image with investors. It’s important to note that there is hope; Facebook (NYSE: FB) also had missteps in its early post IPO days, and it managed to recover nicely. The company has potential but it cannot afford to miss a beat when competing against Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) and Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT). See my full report on Fitbit here.

Please see our disclosures at the Wall Street Greek website and author bio pages found there. This article and website in no way offers or represents financial or investment advice. Information is provided for entertainment purposes only. Article should interest Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL), Garmin (Nasdaq: GRMN), Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT), Google (Nasdaq: GOOG, Nasdaq: GOOGL), Amazon.com (Nasdaq: AMZN), Best Buy (NYSE: BBY), SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap ETF (NYSE: SLY), Vanguard Small Cap ETF (NYSE: VB), Vanguard Small-Cap Growth ETF (NYSE: VBK), Vanguard Small-Cap Value ETF (NYSE: VBR), Vanguard S&P Small Cap 600 Index ETF (NYSE: VIOO), Russell Small Cap Low P/E ETF (Nasdaq: SCLP), PowerShares Zacks Micro Cap ETF (NYSE: PZI) and Wilshire Micro-Cap ETF (NYSE: WMCR).

Bank of America (BAC) Q1 EPS Preview

Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) shares have languished since the Federal Reserve’s dovish monetary policy statement release, which was a letdown to banks hoping for near-term margin expansion. BAC didn’t perform all too well before that either, weighed down by the Fed’s stress test results, which produced a qualified approval for Bank of America’s capital plans. But I suspect something else has been burdening the shares more recently and could make BAC shares irresistible soon. Bank of America disappointed investors when it last reported earnings in January. As a result, there is likely fear afoot today about the upcoming Q1 results, which should be reported on or around April 15. But the risk seems to me to have been built into the shares at this point, considering the positives that lay ahead for BAC. There is also the potential for an upside surprise when the company reports its earnings, which has not been considered by BAC bidders yet. The stock is approaching irresistible value in my view and should be accumulated into and after the report, even if it declines further. See our BAC EPS report preview here.

BAC Peers	03-16-15 to 03-27-15
Bank of America (BAC)	-5.1%
SPDR S&P 500 (NYSE: SPY)	-0.9%
Financial Select Sector SPDR (NYSE: XLF)	-2.8%
Citigroup (NYSE: C)	-5.0%
J.P. Morgan Chase (NYSE: JPM)	-3.7%
Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS)	-2.0%
Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS)	-2.5%
Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC)	-2.9%
U.S. Bancorp (NYSE: USB)	-4.2%

Please see our disclosures at the Wall Street Greek website and author bio pages found there. This article and website in no way offers or represents financial or investment advice. Information is provided for entertainment purposes only.

Buffalo Wild Wings (BWLD) Should Benefit from NCAA Football Playoffs

When Buffalo Wild Wings (Nasdaq: BWLD) reports earnings this evening, I expect it will talk about its current quarter benefit from the new NCAA Division 1 Football Playoffs and Championship Game. The event is new, and so what once drew viewers for 1 game, just drew more viewers for 3 games. That means this quarter (Q1) will have an easy comp against the prior year quarter when it’s reported in a few months. I anticipate that the college football championship game drew more viewers this year than in any other year, and that the addition of the extra games and the hype about the finale drove foot traffic into Buffalo Wild Wings and will support its Q1 due for report in 3 months. BWLD was cheap before its last quarterly report, but has risen significantly into this report. I like the stock long-term, but am wary of playing around with it ahead of earnings this quarter due to its position heading into it. That said, I wouldn’t sell it if I owned it, and would buy more if it drifted. I expect it to close toward $190 tomorrow, up $10, taking it back toward its high. The PEG ratio for the stock is 1.5X based on a P/E of 30X this year’s consensus EPS estimate and the 20% long-term growth expected. Growth should exceed 20% this year and estimates should see revision higher. BWLD is a buy in my opinion, but I wouldn’t buy options ahead of the report, only stock, and I would buy this stock on weakness thereafter.

Please see our disclosures at the Wall Street Greek website and author bio pages found there. This article and website in no way offers or represents financial or investment advice. Information is provided for entertainment purposes only.

Apple EPS Report - Reiterate BUY (Nasdaq: AAPL)

The Apple store in New York City

Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) earned $7.7 billion or $1.28 per share, which was better than analyst expectations for $1.23, based on Factset data. Apple’s earnings rose on strong iPhone sales into emerging markets including China. The company also noted strong Mac sales, but iPad sales faded year-to-year more than analysts expected. Gross margin expanded to 39.4% against last year’s 36.9% profit, which served as a positive surprise to a market that is concerned about the risk of narrowing margins over the longer term. All signs point toward further rise for Apple shares. The latest result was good enough to hold ground and now investors can look forward to the release of at least one new iPhone and possibly two, each with larger screens. Talk about a wearable watch release is intensifying as well, and rumors of a payments technology is exciting. This is a company that has had starving fans in the investment arena waiting for the next greatest thing for too long now. And 5-year growth estimates for 12.3% could get an upgrade if the company produces some interesting new products this fall as I expect, and the stock is still valued modestly. Entry into the China market was a huge win, and the latest deal with IBM (NYSE: IBM) will allow Apple to take on Blackberry (Nasdaq: BBRY) at enterprises. I reiterated my buy opinion, and recommend readers see my full report: Apple Reports Q3 EPS – Reiterating Buy Here.

Boeing and ArcelorMittal (NYSE: BA, NYSE: MT) – A Closer Look Post Data

We’re playing catch-up… Wednesday’s earnings review highlighted reports from Boeing, ArcelorMittal, Delta Airlines, WellPoint, General Dynamics, Northrop Grumman and P.F. Chang’s China Bistro. The report that follows highlights the news and outlook for Boeing and ArcelorMittal.

Our founder earned clients a 23% average annual return over five years as a stock analyst on Wall Street. "The Greek" has written for institutional newsletters, Businessweek, Real Money, Seeking Alpha and others, while also appearing across TV and radio. While writing for Wall Street Greek, Mr. Kaminis presciently warned of the financial crisis.

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Boeing and ArcelorMittal (NYSE: BA, NYSE: MT) – A Closer Look Post Data

Boeing
After a gap open Wednesday and a strong spike, the stock closed only fractionally higher. Boeing (NYSE: BA) shares were up more significantly through Friday midday trading though. Boeing reported better results than expected, enthusing and expanding its shareholder base. The company posted a turnaround in its commercial aircraft unit and also offered better guidance for its defense and aerospace business. But with higher fuel costs pressuring its commercial aircraft customers and tightening sovereign budgets pressuring its defense unit, we express caution. The stock is well off its May highs though and looks to have a solid technical support. Still, it’s the fundamental business I’m worried about moving forward. It’s most recent PEG ratio looks to be about 1.5, before adjustment for recent results, and is based on a long-term growth outlook of about 11.6%. Next year’s growth looks solid enough to support the stock, and given the company’s reinforcing guidance, the stock looks safe to hold over the short-term. However, I would not be adding to positions based on my concern that orders should slacken in a deteriorating global economic environment that seems probable in my macro view.

ArcelorMittal
The world’s largest steel maker now, ArcelorMittal (NYSE: MT) responded to investor concerns sparked by United States Steel (NYSE: X) and AK Steel (NYSE: AKS) Tuesday regarding current softness. MT said demand from China and U.S. automakers would pick-up the soft quarter so that the issue would not bear out into trend. Traditionally, automakers tend to close factories for a few weeks in the summer for maintenance work, and the Japanese shock also played a role in the temporary dip. As a result of the disaster though, new construction demand from Japan should support the steel market moving forward, especially for Japanese companies like Nippon Steel. Chinese consumption is seen increasing about 8.5% through 2011. Of course, ArcelorMittal and all the steelmakers are threatened by the debt debacle in the U.S. and further deterioration in Europe, and so I cannot be gung ho on steel nor MT today. The stock’s long-term chart also offers protection against short side risk though, and its valuation at a 0.5 PEG ratio is not particularly unappealing either. It’s the kind of cyclical idea that could take off on a good US debt deal that takes debt-downgrade risk off the table, but today the issue is still up in the air. The stock has been down all week and but is seeking stability today.

Others reporting earnings Wednesday: 1st United Bancorp (Nasdaq: FUBC), A.H. Belo (NYSE: AHC), Acco Brands (NYSE: ABD), Acura Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: ACUR), Acxiom (Nasdaq: ACXM), Adolor (Nasdaq: ADLR), Advance America Cash Advance (NYSE: AEA), Aegerion Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: AEGR), Aetna (NYSE: AET), Affymetrix (Nasdaq: AFFX), Aflac (NYSE: AFL), Akamai (Nasdaq: AKAM), Alere (NYSE: ALR), Alexandria Real Estate (NYSE: ARE), Allegheny Technologies (NYSE: ATI), Alliance Holdings (Nasdaq: AHGP), Alliance Resource Partners (Nasdaq: ARLP), Ambassadors Group (Nasdaq: EPAX), Amdocs (NYSE: DOX), American Railcar (Nasdaq: ARII), AmeriGas Partners (NYSE: APU), Ameriprise (NYSE: AMP), Amkor (Nasdaq: AMKR), Annaly Capital (NYSE: NLY), ArcelorMittal (NYSE: MT), Audiocodes (Nasdaq: AUDC), Autonation (NYSE: AN), AvalonBay Communities (NYSE: AVB), Bemis (NYSE: BMS), BMC Software (NYSE: BMC), Boeing (NYSE: BA), BOK Financial (Nasdaq: BOKF), Boyd Gaming (NYSE: BYD), Britton and Koontz Capital (Nasdaq: BKBK), BroadVision (Nasdaq: BVSN), Cabot Oil and Gas (NYSE: COG), CB Richard Ellis (NYSE: CBG), Churchill Downs (Nasdaq: CHDN), Citrix Systems (Nasdaq: CTXS), Cliffs Natural Resources (NYSE: CLF), CNO Financial (NYSE: CNO), Coherent (Nasdaq: COHR), ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP), Costar Group (Nasdaq: CSGP), Covance (NYSE: CVD), Crocs (Nasdaq: CROX), Crown Castle Int’l (NYSE: CCI), Delta Airlines (NYSE: DAL), Diebold (NYSE: DBD), Dow Chemical (NYSE: DOW), Dr. Pepper Snapple (NYSE: DPS), Energizer (NYSE: ENR), Equifax (NYSE: EFX), Everest Re (NYSE: RE), Famous Dave’s (Nasdaq: DAVE), First of Long Island (Nasdaq: FLIC), Flowserve (NYSE: FLS), Fox Chase Bancorp (Nasdaq: FXCB), General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), General Maritime (NYSE: GMR), Global Crossing (Nasdaq: GLBC), Green Mountain Coffee (Nasdaq: GMCR), Hanger Orthopedic (NYSE: HGR), Hospira (NYSE: HSP), Iberiabank (Nasdaq: IBKC), International Shipholding (NYSE: ISH), Lam Research (Nasdaq: LRCX), Level 3 Communications (Nasdaq: LVLT), Lithia Motors (NYSE: LAD), Merck (NYSE: MRK), Morningstar (Nasdaq: MORN), Navios Maritime (NYSE: NMM), Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC), Oceaneering Int’l (NYSE: OII), Owens-Illinois (NYSE: OI), P.F. Chang’s China Bistro (Nasdaq: PFCB), Praxair (NYSE: PX), RailAmerica (NYSE: RA), RightNow Technology (Nasdaq: RNOW), Safeguard Scientifics (NYSE: SFE), SAP (NYSE: SAP), Sealed Air (NYSE: SEE), Service Corp. (NYSE: SCI), Shutterfly (Nasdaq: SFLY), Stericycle (Nasdaq: SRCL), Sturm Ruger (NYSE: RGR), Superior Energy (NYSE: SPN), Teradyne (NYSE: TER), Teva Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: TEVA), THQ (Nasdaq: THQI), Tupperware Brands (NYSE: TUP), USA Mobility (Nasdaq: USMO), Visa (NYSE: V), Wellpoint (NYSE: WLP), Whole Foods Market (Nasdaq: WFM), Wyndham Worldwide (NYSE: WYN) and more.

Please see our disclosures at the Wall Street Greek website and author bio pages found there. This article and website in no way offers or represents financial or investment advice. Information is provided for entertainment purposes only.

COST EPS Q3 FY 2011 - Costco Trouble Passing Prices Through

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Costco

Our founder earned clients a 23% average annual return over five years as a stock analyst on Wall Street. "The Greek" has written for institutional newsletters, Businessweek, Real Money, Seeking Alpha and others, while also appearing across TV and radio. While writing for Wall Street Greek, Mr. Kaminis presciently warned of the financial crisis.

COST EPS Q3 FY 2011

Costco (Nasdaq: COST) shares were down 1% in Wednesday trading, after the company reported its third quarter profit up 5.9%. Revenue gained 16%, benefiting from U.S., Canadian and Mexican growth. COST’s EPS of $0.73 though, fell short of the consensus view for $0.77, based on Factset data. Costco’s revenue growth benefited from higher gasoline and food prices, but its gross margin was pressured. It appears many companies are having trouble passing price increases completely through. When a discounter's cost of goods sold is pressured, and it competes on price, its margins are getting squeezed. So while a tough economy and rising prices send people to the discounters, driving up their volumes, it also contracts their variable cost margins.



Article interests investors in: S&P Retail ETF (NYSE: XRT), Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT), Pier 1 Imports (NYSE: PIR), Ethan Allen (NYSE: ETH), Hooker Furniture (Nasdaq: HOFT), Home Depot (NYSE: HD), Lowes (NYSE: LOW), Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL), Best Buy (NYSE: BBY), The Limited (NYSE: LTD), Chicos (NYSE: CHS), Ann Taylor (NYSE: ANN), The Gap (NYSE: GPS), Macy’s (NYSE: M), JC Penney (NYSE: JCP), Nordstrom (NYSE: JWN), TJX Company (NYSE: TJX), Kohls (NYSE: KSS), Costco (Nasdaq: COST), Target (NYSE: TGT), Wet Seal (Nasdaq: WTSLA), Hot Topic (Nasdaq: HOTT), American Eagle Outfitters (NYSE: AEO), Aeropostale (NYSE: ARO), Abercrombie & Fitch (NYSE: ANF), Saks (NYSE: SAK), Tiffany (NYSE: TIF), Talbots (NYSE: TLB), Lumber Liquidators (NYSE: LL), Builders Firstsource (Nasdaq: BLDR), Fortune Brands (NYSE: FO), Leggett & Platt (NYSE: LEG), Tempur-Pedic International (NYSE: TPX), Acuity Brands (NYSE: AYI), La-Z-Boy (NYSE: LZB), Select Comfort (Nasdaq: SCSS), Sleepy’s (NYSE: ZZ), Furniture Brands (NYSE: FBN), Natuzzi (NYSE: NTZ), Sears (Nasdaq: SHLD), Dillard’s (NYSE: DDS), Bon-Ton (Nasdaq: BONT), Cost Plus (Nasdaq: CPWM), Baker’s Footwear (Nasdaq: BKRS.OB), Bebe Stores (Nasdaq: BEBE), The Buckle (NYSE: BKE), Cache (Nasdaq: CACH), Casual Male (Nasdaq: CMRG), Cato (Nasdaq: CATO), Christopher & Banks (NYSE: CBK), Citi Trends (Nasdaq: CTRN), Collective Brands (NYSE: PSS), Destination Maternity (Nasdaq: DEST), Dress Barn (Nasdaq: DBRN), DSW (NYSE: DSW), Finish Line (Nasdaq: FINL), Footlocker (NYSE: FL), Gymboree (Nasdaq: GYMB), Guess (NYSE: GES), J. Crew (NYSE: JCG), Jones New York (NYSE: JNY), Jos. A Banks (Nasdaq: JOSB), New York & Co. (NYSE: NWY), Men’s Wearhouse (NYSE: MW), Syms (Nasdaq: SYMS), The Children’s Place (Nasdaq: PLCE).

Please see our disclosures at the Wall Street Greek website and author bio pages found there. This article and website in no way offers or represents financial or investment advice. Information is provided for entertainment purposes only.

RL EPS Q4 FY 2011 - Polo Ralph Lauren Offers Complexity

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Polo Ralph Lauren

Our founder earned clients a 23% average annual return over five years as a stock analyst on Wall Street. "The Greek" has written for institutional newsletters, Businessweek, Real Money, Seeking Alpha and others, while also appearing across TV and radio. While writing for Wall Street Greek, Mr. Kaminis presciently warned of the financial crisis.

RL EPS Q4 FY 2011

Polo Ralph Lauren (NYSE: RL) shares were down 11% Wednesday, after it reported 36% lower fiscal fourth quarter net income. The $0.74 a share it earned was short of the $0.79 forecast by analysts. The company said the prior year included an extra week, costing it perhaps $0.13 this year. RL also blamed a shift in the Easter holiday, but investors were not listening, since the analysts’ forecasts would have included those factors. Same-store sales increased 7%, and the company forecast first quarter revenue climbing in the mid-20% range. Same-store sales are seen slipping though to a low double-digit rate. RL experienced a narrowing gross margin, as "unprecedented inflationary pressure" plagued it. The entire industry is seeing higher raw materials costs and also increased wage demands in China. This complex report shows that managing volatile supply, i.e. wildly rising cotton prices, offers an uncertainty that can cost investors.



Article should interest American Apparel (NYSE: APP), Carter’s (NYSE: CRI), Cherokee (Nasdaq: CHKE), China Xiniya Fashion (NYSE: XNY), Columbia Sportswear (Nasdaq: COLM), Crown Crafts (Nasdaq: CRWS), Delta-Apparel (AMEX: DLA), Ever-Glory International (AMEX: EVK), Frederick’s of Hollywood (AMEX: FOH), G-III Apparel (Nasdaq: GIII), Gildan Activewear (NYSE: GIL), Hampshire Group (OTC: HAMP.PK), Hanesbrands (NYSE: HBI), Jaclyn (OTC: JCLY.PK), JLM Couture (OTC: JLMC.PK), Joe’s Jeans (Nasdaq: JOEZ), Liz Claiborne (NYSE: LIZ), lululemon (Nasdaq: LULU), Maidenform Brands (NYSE: MFB), Oxford Industries (NYSE: OXM), Perry Ellis (Nasdaq: PERY), Phillips-Van Heusen (NYSE: PVH), Polo Ralph Lauren (NYSE: RL), Quiksilver (NYSE: ZQK), Superior Uniform (Nasdaq: SGC), Tefron (OTC: TFRFF.PK), Warnaco Group (NYSE: WRC), Triumph Apparel (OTC: TRUA.PK), True Religion (Nasdaq: TRLG), Under Armour (NYSE: UA), V.F. Corp. (NYSE: VFC), Wacoal (Nasdaq: WACLY), Zuoan Fashion (NYSE: ZA).

Please see our disclosures at the Wall Street Greek website and author bio pages found there. This article and website in no way offers or represents financial or investment advice. Information is provided for entertainment purposes only.

AEO Q1 FY 2012 EPS - American Eagle Faces Tight Environment

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American Eagle

Our founder earned clients a 23% average annual return over five years as a stock analyst on Wall Street. "The Greek" has written for institutional newsletters, Businessweek, Real Money, Seeking Alpha and others, while also appearing across TV and radio. While writing for Wall Street Greek, Mr. Kaminis presciently warned of the financial crisis.

AEO Q1 FY 2012 EPS

American Eagle Outfitters (NYSE: AEO) shares were down about 5% Wednesday, after the company reported revenues fell 6% in its fiscal first quarter. Cost cuts still allowed AEO to nearly triple EPS to $0.14, which was in line with the analysts’ consensus, according to Factset. Revenues missed consensus though by nearly $30 million. Same-store sales fell 8%. While the company indicated sales were a bit better in the second quarter so far, and that it would be making some inventory changes to help sales along, its EPS guidance of $0.10 to $0.13 a share was disappointing against the analysts’ consensus for $0.13.



Article interests investors in: S&P Retail ETF (NYSE: XRT), Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT), Pier 1 Imports (NYSE: PIR), Ethan Allen (NYSE: ETH), Hooker Furniture (Nasdaq: HOFT), Home Depot (NYSE: HD), Lowes (NYSE: LOW), Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL), Best Buy (NYSE: BBY), The Limited (NYSE: LTD), Chicos (NYSE: CHS), Ann Taylor (NYSE: ANN), The Gap (NYSE: GPS), Macy’s (NYSE: M), JC Penney (NYSE: JCP), Nordstrom (NYSE: JWN), TJX Company (NYSE: TJX), Kohls (NYSE: KSS), Costco (Nasdaq: COST), Target (NYSE: TGT), Wet Seal (Nasdaq: WTSLA), Hot Topic (Nasdaq: HOTT), American Eagle Outfitters (NYSE: AEO), Aeropostale (NYSE: ARO), Abercrombie & Fitch (NYSE: ANF), Saks (NYSE: SAK), Tiffany (NYSE: TIF), Talbots (NYSE: TLB), Lumber Liquidators (NYSE: LL), Builders Firstsource (Nasdaq: BLDR), Fortune Brands (NYSE: FO), Leggett & Platt (NYSE: LEG), Tempur-Pedic International (NYSE: TPX), Acuity Brands (NYSE: AYI), La-Z-Boy (NYSE: LZB), Select Comfort (Nasdaq: SCSS), Sleepy’s (NYSE: ZZ), Furniture Brands (NYSE: FBN), Natuzzi (NYSE: NTZ), Sears (Nasdaq: SHLD), Dillard’s (NYSE: DDS), Bon-Ton (Nasdaq: BONT), Cost Plus (Nasdaq: CPWM), Baker’s Footwear (Nasdaq: BKRS.OB), Bebe Stores (Nasdaq: BEBE), The Buckle (NYSE: BKE), Cache (Nasdaq: CACH), Casual Male (Nasdaq: CMRG), Cato (Nasdaq: CATO), Christopher & Banks (NYSE: CBK), Citi Trends (Nasdaq: CTRN), Collective Brands (NYSE: PSS), Destination Maternity (Nasdaq: DEST), Dress Barn (Nasdaq: DBRN), DSW (NYSE: DSW), Finish Line (Nasdaq: FINL), Footlocker (NYSE: FL), Gymboree (Nasdaq: GYMB), Guess (NYSE: GES), J. Crew (NYSE: JCG), Jones New York (NYSE: JNY), Jos. A Banks (Nasdaq: JOSB), New York & Co. (NYSE: NWY), Men’s Wearhouse (NYSE: MW), Syms (Nasdaq: SYMS), The Children’s Place (Nasdaq: PLCE).

Please see our disclosures at the Wall Street Greek website and author bio pages found there. This article and website in no way offers or represents financial or investment advice. Information is provided for entertainment purposes only.

HRL Q2 2011 EPS - Hormel Faces Challenging Pricing Dynamics

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Hormel Foods

Our founder earned clients a 23% average annual return over five years as a stock analyst on Wall Street. "The Greek" has written for institutional newsletters, Businessweek, Real Money, Seeking Alpha and others, while also appearing across TV and radio. While writing for Wall Street Greek, Mr. Kaminis presciently warned of the financial crisis.

HRL Q2 2011 EPS

Hormel (NYSE: HRL) shares were down 5% Wednesday, as the company is having issue managing its pricing along with its rising costs. HRL grew EPS 41% to $0.40, but analysts were looking for $0.41 a share. Meanwhile, the company earned less income on stronger revenues than analysts had anticipated. It looks as though Hormel has not matched its rising costs perfectly, but the cure for its ailment may not be higher prices in a competitive environment. Hormel did raise its guidance, but analysts were already expecting that. The consensus view now for the full year is $1.71, sitting above the center of the company’s guidance for $1.67 to $1.73. In my view, Hormel seems to be executing rather well considering a difficult and dynamic environment, but it appears investors are worried about the environment more than Hormel’s execution.



Article should interest Smithfield Foods (NYSE: SFD), Brasil Foods SA (Nasdaq: BRFS), Tyson Foods (NYSE: TSN), Hormel (NYSE: HRL), Seaboard (NYSE: SEB), Pilgrim's Pride (NYSE: PPC), Sanderson Farms (Nasdaq: SAFM), Industrias Bachoco (NYSE: IBA), Balchem (Nasdaq: BCPC), Zhongpin (Nasdaq: HOGS), Bridgford Foods (Nasdaq: BRID), Sara Lee (NYSE: SLE), Pepsico (NYSE: PEP), Unilever NV (NYSE: UN), Unilever plc (NYSE: UL), General Mills (NYSE: GIS), Kellogg (NYSE: K), Campbell Soup (NYSE: CPB), ConAgra Foods (NYSE: CAG), Mead Johnson Nutrition (NYSE: MJN), J.M. Smucker (NYSE: SJM), McCormick (NYSE: MKC), Green Mountain Coffee (Nasdaq: GMCR), Ralcorp (NYSE: RAH), Del Monte (NYSE: DLM), Corn Products (NYSE: CPO), Flowers Foods (NYSE: FLO), Treehouse Foods (NYSE: THS), Gruma S.A.B. (NYSE: GMK), American Italian Pasta (Nasdaq: AIPC), Diamond Foods (Nasdaq: DMND), J&J Snack Foods (Nasdaq: JJSF), Lance (Nasdaq: LNCE), B&G Foods (NYSE: BGS), Seneca Foods (Nasdaq: SENEB), Smart Balance (Nasdaq: SMBL), Farmer Brothers (Nasdaq: FARM), John B. Sanfilippo (Nasdaq: JBSS), China Marine Food (Nasdaq: CMFO), MGP Ingredients (Nasdaq: MGPI), China Nutrition (Nasdaq: CNGL), Overhill Farms (AMEX: OFI), Omega Protein (NYSE: OME), Key Technology (Nasdaq: KTEC), Tasty Baking (Nasdaq: TSTY), Inventure Foods (Nasdaq: SNAK), Golden Enterprises (Nasdaq: GLDC).

Please see our disclosures at the Wall Street Greek website and author bio pages found there. This article and website in no way offers or represents financial or investment advice. Information is provided for entertainment purposes only.

TOL Q2 2011 EPS - Toll Brothers Produces Positive Indicators

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Toll Brothers

Our founder earned clients a 23% average annual return over five years as a stock analyst on Wall Street. "The Greek" has written for institutional newsletters, Businessweek, Real Money, Seeking Alpha and others, while also appearing across TV and radio. While writing for Wall Street Greek, Mr. Kaminis presciently warned of the financial crisis.

TOL Q2 2011 EPS

Toll Brothers (NYSE: TOL) shares were up about 2.3% through late-day trading, after being alone among homebuilders on the positive side in Tuesday’s trade. TOL reported positive data with regard to contract signings, home deliveries and home sales pricing. That forward looking information helped stave off concern about its EPS miss, as the company reported a $0.12 loss per share, against analyst expectations for a $0.04 loss. Based on my experience as an analyst, the operating figure was probably closer to the analysts’ view, especially considering that revenues came in about in line with the analysts’ view. However, the positive indicators were more than enough to support the shares today. Contract signings rose 8%; home deliveries rose 9%; and the average price of newly signed contracts improved 1%. The company also upped its delivery expectations for the year to 2,300 to 2,800, up from the 2,200 it previously said was possible. This verifies much of what we've been writing on the blog regarding our positive outlook for homebuilders this year, despite only marginal growth seen for real estate.

Article should interest investors in Investors Title (Nasdaq: ITIC), Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC.OB), Fannie Mae (OTC: FNMA.OB), Hovnanian (NYSE: HOV), D.R. Horton (NYSE: DHI), Beazer Homes (NYSE: BZH), Lennar (NYSE: LEN), K.B. Homes (NYSE: KBH), Pulte Homes (NYSE: PHM), NVR Inc. (NYSE: NVR), Gafisa SA (NYSE: GFA), MDC Holdings (NYSE: MDC), Ryland Group (NYSE: RYL), Meritage Homes (NYSE: MTH), Brookfield Homes (NYSE: BHS), Standard Pacific (NYSE: SPF), M/I Homes (NYSE: MHO), Orleans Homebuilders (AMEX: OHB), Vanguard REIT Index ETF (NYSE: VNQ), PNC Bank (NYSE: PNC), J.P. Morgan Chase (NYSE: JPM), Hooker Furniture (Nasdaq: HOFT), Ethan Allen (NYSE: ETH), Pier 1 Imports (NYSE: PIR), Williams Sonoma (NYSE: WSM), Home Depot (NYSE: HD), Lowes (NYSE: LOW), Nasdaq: XNFZX, Nasdaq: FSAZX, Avatar Holdings (Nasdaq: AVTR), Apartment Investment & Management (NYSE: AIV), Equity Residential (NYSE: EQR), Avalonbay Communities (NYSE: AVB), UDR Inc. (NYSE: UDR), Essex Property Trust (NYSE: ESS), Camden Property Trust (NYSE: CPT), Senior Housing Properties (NYSE: SNH), BRE Properties (NYSE: BRE), Home Properties (NYSE: HME), Mid-America Apartment (NYSE: MAA), Equity Lifestyle Properties (NYSE: ELS), American Campus Communities (NYSE: ACC), Colonial Properties (NYSE: CLP), American Capital Agency (Nasdaq: AGNC), Sun Communities (NYSE: SUI), Associated Estates (NYSE: AEC), PennyMac Mortgage (NYSE: PMT), Two Harbors (AMEX: TWO), Simon Property Group (NYSE: SPG).

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