Stock Market News & Stocks to Watch from StraightStocks » Compass Minerals International Inc.

Zacks #5 Rank Additions for Friday – Zacks Tale of the Tape

Zacks Market Commentaries — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 12:12:36 +0000

Here are the stocks added to the Zacks #5 Rank ("strong sell") List today:

Actuant Corp (ATU)
Arbor Realty Trust Inc (ABR)
Barnes Group Inc (B)
Capital Bank Corp (CBKN)
Capital Trust Inc (CT)
Ceradyne Inc (CRDN)
China Precision Steel Inc (CPSL)
China Security & Surveillance Tech. Inc (CSR)
Compass Minerals International Inc (CMP)
Conseco Inc (CNO)
CRM Holdings Ltd (CRMH)
Cutera Inc (CUTR)
Dime Community Bancshares Inc (DCOM)
Dover Saddlery Inc (DOVR)
Duff & Phelps Corp (DUF)
FalconStor Software Inc (FALC)
FARO Technologies Inc (FARO)
First M & F Corp (FMFC)
The Hain Celestial Group Inc (HAIN)
Horizon Financial Corp (HRZB)
InterNAP Network Services (INAP)
K-Sea Transportation Partners LP (KSP)
Marine Products Corp (MPX)
Mercantile Bank Corp (MBWM)
Mitsui & Co Ltd (MITSY)
Pacific Capital Bancorp (PCBC)
Provident Financial Holdings Inc (PROV)
Saia Inc (SAIA)
Tucows Inc (TCX)
Turkcell Iletisim Hizmetleri AS (TKC)
US Home Systems Inc (USHS)

Zacks #5 Rank Additions for Monday – Zacks Tale of the Tape

Zacks Market Commentaries — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 12:04:40 +0000

Here are the stocks added to the Zacks #5 Rank ("strong sell") List today:

Accuride Corp (AURD)
Acuity Brands Inc (AYI)
Arbor Realty Trust Inc (ABR)
BancTrust Financial Group Inc (BTFG)
BRT Realty Trust (BRT)
Cadence Financial Corp (CADE)
Capital Trust Inc (CT)
Community Bancorp (CBON)
Compass Minerals International Inc (CMP)
Cutera Inc (CUTR)
Cybex International Inc (CYBI)
Cynosure Inc (CYNO)
Encore Wire Corporation (WIRE)
Enterprise Financial Services Corp (EFSC)
Erie Indemnity Co (ERIE)
Fairpoint Communications Inc (FRP)
FalconStor Software Inc (FALC)
FARO Technologies Inc (FARO)
First Advantage Corp (FADV)
First M & F Corp (FMFC)
First Security Group Inc (FSGI)
Fuel Tech Inc (FTEK)
Gray Television Inc (GTN)
Horizon Financial Corp (HRZB)
InterNAP Network Services (INAP)
INX Inc (INXI)
K-Sea Transportation Partners LP (KSP)
KVH Industries Inc (KVHI)
Live Nation Inc (LYV)
LoJack Corp (LOJN)
Marine Products Corp (MPX)
Mercer International Inc (MERC)
Meridian Bioscience Inc (VIVO)
MetroCorp Bancshares Inc (MCBI)
Montpelier Re Holdings Ltd (MRH)
Move Inc (MOVE)
Olympic Steel Inc (ZEUS)
Pacific Ethanol Inc (PEIX)
Palomar Medical Technologies Inc (PMTI)
PGT Inc (PGTI)
Portfolio Recovery Associates Inc (PRAA)
Republic Airways Holdings Inc (RJET)
Rockwood Holdings Inc (ROC)
Saia Inc (SAIA)
SJW Corp (SJW)
Superior Well Services Inc (SWSI)
Tele Norte Leste Participacoes SA (TNE)
Terra Industries Inc (TRA)
Timberland Bancorp Inc (TSBK)
TriCo Bancshares (TCBK)
Trico Marine Services Inc (TRMA)
Trident Microsystems Inc (TRID)
Votorantim Celulose e Papel SA (VCP)
Xyratex Ltd (XRTX)
ZipRealty Inc (ZIPR)

View the entire Zacks #5 Rank List.

Zacks #5 Rank Additions for Wednesday – Zacks Tale of the Tape

Zacks Market Commentaries — Wed, 27 May 2009 12:22:42 +0000

Here are the stocks added to the Zacks #5 Rank ("strong sell") List today:

Acuity Brands Inc (AYI)
Apogee Enterprises Inc (APOG)
Arbor Realty Trust Inc (ABR)
BRT Realty Trust (BRT)
C&D Technologies Inc (CHP)
Capital Bank Corp (CBKN)
Capital Trust Inc (CT)
Compass Minerals International Inc (CMP)
Cybex International Inc (CYBI)
Cynosure Inc (CYNO)
Dayton Superior Corp (DSUPQ)
Domtar Corp (UFS)
Encore Wire Corp (WIRE)
Enterprise Financial Services Corp (EFSC)
Erie Indemnity Co (ERIE)
FARO Technologies Inc (FARO)
First Advantage Corp (FADV)
First M & F Corp (FMFC)
First Merchants Corp (FRME)
First Security Group Inc (FSGI)
Gran Tierra Energy Inc (GTE)
Horizon Financial Corp (HRZB)
Innophos Holdings Inc (IPHS)
KVH Industries Inc (KVHI)
Marine Products Corp (MPX)
MB Financial Inc (MBFI)
Meridian Bioscience Inc (VIVO)
Montpelier Re Holdings Ltd (MRH)
Movado Group Inc (MOV)
Move Inc (MOVE)
Pacific Ethanol Inc (PEIX)
PGT Inc (PGTI)
Physicians Formula Holdings Inc (FACE)
Portfolio Recovery Associates Inc (PRAA)
Republic Airways Holdings Inc (RJET)
RRSat Global Communications Network Ltd (RRST)
Saia Inc (SAIA)
SJW Corp (SJW)
SkyWest Inc (SKYW)
Superior Well Services Inc (SWSI)
THQ Inc (THQI)
Timberland Bancorp Inc (TSBK)
Trico Marine Services Inc (TRMA)
Trident Microsystems Inc (TRID)
Wendy's Arby's Group Inc (WEN)
Yadkin Valley Financial Corp (YAVY)

View the entire Zacks #5 Rank List.

Zacks #5 Rank Additions for Thursday – Zacks Tale of the Tape

Zacks Market Commentaries — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 12:25:01 +0000

Here are the stocks added to the Zacks #5 Rank ("strong sell") List today:

Albemarle Corp (ALB)
AptarGroup Inc (ATR)
Arch Coal Inc (ACI)
Cape Bancorp Inc (CBNJ)
Care Investment Trust Inc (CRE)
Century Casinos Inc (CNTY)
Ceradyne Inc (CRDN)
China Sunergy Co Ltd (CSUN)
CoBiz Financial Inc (COBZ)
Coleman Cable Inc (CCIX)
Community Bancorp (CBON)
Compass Minerals International Inc (CMP)
Courier Corp (CRRC)
CryptoLogic Ltd (CRYP)
Dover Corp (DOV)
El Paso Electric Co (EE)
Flamel Technologies SA (FLML)
HLTH Corp (HLTH)
Huntsman Corp (HUN)
International Game Technology (IGT)
INX Inc (INXI)
Mercer International Inc (MERC)
Mettler-Toledo International Inc (MTD)
Natural Resource Partners LP (NRP)
Portfolio Recovery Associates Inc (PRAA)
Prospect Capital Corp (PSEC)
Rockwood Holdings Inc (ROC)
STAAR Surgical Co (STAA)
Stanley Furniture Company Inc (STLY)
Strattec Security Corp (STRT)
Tamalpais Bancorp (TAMB)
Telecomunicacoes de Sao Paulo SA (TSP)
Transocean Ltd (RIG)
United America Indemnity Ltd (INDM)
United Fire & Casualty (UFCS)
Washington Trust Bancorp (WASH)
Xyratex Ltd (XRTX)

View the entire Zacks #5 Rank List.

Zacks Investment Research

Compass Minerals Pressuring Support – Zacks Tale of the Tape

Zacks Market Commentaries — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 15:52:14 +0000

Compass Minerals International Inc. (CMP) fell 2% today, to trade close to its 200-day moving average of $62.12. Compass Minerals is a Zacks #4 Rank (Sell) stock.

"CMP" Free Stock Analysis: Buy? Sell? Hold?
Zacks Investment Research

Compass Minerals International Inc. – Aggressive Growth – Zacks Rank Buy

Zacks Market Commentaries — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Compass Minerals International Inc. (CMP) has just posted historic earnings. Earnings per share rose sharply on increased sales volume and the company is expanding into a growing market.

Company Description

Compass Minerals is the largest producer of rock, or highway deicing, salt in North America and the United Kingdom and operates the largest highway deicing salt mines in these regions.

The company is also the third largest producer of general trade salt in North America and the second largest in the United Kingdom, serving major retailers, agricultural cooperatives and food producers.

In addition, Compass is the largest producer of sulfate of potash in North America, which is used in the production of specialty fertilizers.

Historic Quarter

Compass Minerals announced the best quarterly performance in company history on Oct 28. Earnings per share more than quadrupled coming in at 87 cents, up from just 20 cents one year ago.

Earnings from salt operations jumped to $237 million, a 47% increase. Sulfate of potash earnings spiked more than 400% to $42 million.

Sales rose an impressive 70%, driven by both price and volume.

A 64% Surprise

The earnings announcement took Wall Street buy surprise, beating the consensus estimate of 53 cents by 64%. It was the third surprise in the past 4 quarters.

Estimates are climbing, following the announcement. The current year estimate is $4.55, more than double the $2.09 earned in 2007. Next year's consensus estimate is $7.53, a 65% increase of 2008 projections.

Expanding Subsidiaries

On Oct 30 Compass Minerals announced the formation of a new subsidiary, Pristiva Inc., which will focus on the salt water pool market, a $1.2 billion market in the U.S.

Salt water pools are easier on eyes, hair, and skin than standard chlorinated pools. They also require less maintenance and are "greener" than traditional pools. The market is booming as roughly 70% of new pools installed were salt water.

The Chart

The third-quarter earnings announcement acted as a catalyst to break shares of CMP out of its bearish trend. Take a look at the chart below.

"CMP3" Free Stock Analysis: Buy? Sell? Hold?
Zacks Investment Research

Kansas Stocks

Fred Fuld — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 04:24:00 +0000

Kansas was purchased in 1803 by the US government as part of the Louisiana Purchase. Their soil today produces wheat, corn, oats, berries potatoes, and much more. Kansas is also home to some of the leading aircraft-manufacturing companies.
Here are some interesting facts about the state:
1. Kansas is the number one producer of wheat.
2. Kansas is one of top oil producers. The state has also natural gas and helium reserves.
3. Kansas wheat exports had a value of $1,012.8 million in 2007, and ranked it second among the states.
4. Kansas added more than 20,500 new jobs during 2006.
5. 70% of Kansas’ population, age 16 and over, are either working or looking for work.
6. It is expected that Kansas total employment will increase by 13.4% from 2002 to 2012.
7. Kansas demand for Architects, medical assistants and teachers is expected to grow by almost 50% by the year 2012.
8. The trade, transportation and utilities industry contributed more than 18% to Kansas nominal GDP of $111 billion in 2006.
9. Kansas top export is transportation equipment.
10. Kansas top trading partners, in order of importance are: Canada, Mexico, and the United Kingdom.
The following companies are headquartered in Kansas:

Embarq Corporation (EQ) is a service company. It delivers local and long distance calls, internet services, video, wireless and satellite services. The stock has a PE of 8, a PEG of 3.88, and it pays a yield of 6.8%.

Capitol Federal Financing (CFFN) operates in Kansas and it offers its customers savings accounts, money market accounts, CDs and other accounts. The stock has a PE of 76, and it pays a yield of 4.4%.

Westar Energy Inc. (WR) produces and delivers electric energy in Kansas. The stock has a PE of 13, a PEG of 3.44, and it pays a yield of 5.0%.

Spirit AeroSystems Holdings Inc. (SPR) designs and produces aero-parts, such as wings, and fuselage for its commercial, business and military customers. The stock has a PE of 6, and a PEG of 0.54.

Waddell & Reed Financial Inc. (WDR) manages investment accounts, and provides shareholder services. The stock has a PE of 15, a PEG of 0.96, and it pays a yield of 3.1%.

Compass Minerals International, Inc. (CMP) manufactures and sells mineral products, such as fertilizers in the United States, and United Kingdom. The stock has a PE of 15, a PEG of 2.17, and it pays a yield of 2.8%.

Seabord Corp. (SEB) engages in the production and processing of pork. It also exports wheat and other commodities The stock has a PE of 8, and it pays a yield of 0.2%.

Collective Brands Inc. (PSS) is a wholesaler and retailer of footwear for men, women and children. The stock has a PE of 164, and a PEG of 1.08.

Farrelgas Partners (FGP) purchases, transports and resale propane. This propane is used for heating, cooking, and water heating. The stock has a PE o 45, a PEG of 3.56, and it pays a yield of 10.9%.

Euronet Worldwide (EEFT) is in the business of providing electronic payment systems. Some of its products include: ATMs, card issuing and processing. The stock has a PE of 21, and a PEG of 0.81.

Don't forget to check out stocks from some of the western states, such as Arizona stocks, Oregon stocks, and Nevada stocks.
.

Author does not own any of the above.

By Stockerblog.com

Compass Minerals Points North – Zacks Tale of the Tape

Zacks Market Commentaries — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 12:25:23 +0000

Compass Minerals International, Inc. (CMP) shot up by more than 13% on Friday morning after it was upgraded by an analyst a day earlier. The stock later stabilized around $48.40, with a gain of 6.10%. The stock was upgraded as it is a safe investment opportunity in the volatile market with promise of a solid value and is available at a cheap price.

Analysts have revised the companys expected earnings per share for the current year over the last three months by 24 cents to $4.22.

"CMP" Free Stock Analysis: Buy? Sell? Hold?
Zacks Investment Research

Compass Minerals

Alex Kolb — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Compass Minerals International, Inc. (CMP) recently declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.335 per share. Compass noted that the dividend is payable on September 15, 2008 to shareholders of record at the close of business on August 29, 2008.

In late July, the Zacks Rank #1 (strong buy) company announced results for the second quarter. Sales were up 27% at $162.0 million from $127.5 million in the prior-year quarter thanks to significant improvement in CMPs specialty fertilizer segment and solid salt segment gains.

Second-quarter earnings per share of 14 cents, reversed the year-prior loss of 10 cents per share.

Cash flow from operations increased by 11% year-over-year, bringing year-to-date cash flow from operations to $178.3 million through June 30, 2008, compared to $110.0 million in the prior-year period.

Compass Minerals posted record second-quarter revenue and cash flow and generated a second-quarter profit for the first time in the companys history. This significant achievement illustrates the success of our strategies to strengthen our non-winter, non-seasonal applications coupled with the companys minimal exposure to economic cycles, said Angelo Brisimitzakis, Compass Minerals president and CEO. We are very optimistic about the growth opportunities for our sulfate of potash specialty fertilizer segment and the solid outlook for our salt segment.

Wall Street boosted full-year earnings estimates for CMP. All three covering analysts lifted 2008 forecasts from last months $3.98 per share to $4.22. For the following year, projections increased from $6.00 per share to $7.43 over the same time period.

Compass Minerals produces inorganic minerals, including salt, sulfate of potash specialty fertilizer and magnesium chloride. The company provides highway deicing products to customers in North America and the United Kingdom and specialty fertilizer to growers worldwide. Compass Minerals also produces and distributes consumer deicing and water conditioning products, ingredients used in consumer and commercial foods, and other mineral-based products for consumer, agricultural and industrial applications. Compass Minerals also provides records management services to businesses throughout the U.K.
"CMP3" Free Stock Analysis: Buy? Sell? Hold?
Zacks Investment Research