Chemical giant EI DuPont de Nemours & Company (DD) reported third quarter 2009 earnings of 45 cents, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 33 cents, helped by significant cost cuts and lower raw material, energy and freight expenses. Cost cuts have boosted Du Pont’s third-quarter pretax earnings by about $300 million, bringing cost reductions year to date to $900 million. The company's full-year goal is $1 billion. Raw material, energy and freight costs were 12% lower than the previous year levels, and Du Pont expects these costs for full year 2009 to be about 5 to 6 % lower than 2008. However, revenue in the quarter slipped 18% to $6.16 billion reflecting a 12% decline in volumes and a 2% fall in prices. Sales in the Coatings & Color Technologies segment decreased 16% to $1.5 billion on continued weakness in motor vehicle markets while sales in ...

Still battling hard, but we worry on margin growth Lattice Semiconductor (LSCC) is starting to see the ramp of some new products, and new product revenue is expected to be the primary growth driver in 2009. However, the company has low gross and operating margins, and margin pressure from new product development costs is expected to continue.The growth story surrounding the stock is centered on the FPGA market, and leading market research is positive about growth in this market despite macro softness. We were somewhat optimistic about both revenue growth and profitability in 2008 and 2009. However, the recession has had a significant impact on results, and the outlook for 2009 is cloudy at best. The TTM ROE was -1.0%. The Du Pont analysis (based on pro forma profit numbers) indicates that the TTM [trailing 12 month] profit margin has been declining. ...

Highlights include Apple, Inc. (AAPL), Google, Inc. (GOOG), Microsoft Corp. (MSFT), IBM Corp. (IBM) and E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. (DD).The press has reported that Apple, Inc. (AAPL) and Google, Inc. (GOOG) are under investigation on anti-trust grounds (violation of the Clayton Act) due to interlocking boards of directors. There is a very simple solution -- the directors in question (Eric Schmidt and Arthur Levinson) should resign from their questionable boards.However, Google is under fire on a number of counts, much as Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) is, IBM Corp. (IBM) was years ago and Du Pont (DD) before that, merely because it has such a large market share in the eyes of the bureaucracy. It should be remembered that market dominance is not grounds for an anti-trust ruling. It is only when the company in ...

In the past we've blogged about the composer Arvo Pärt dedicating a symphony to Mikhail Khodorkovsky, and given the second show trial, he has spoken out again in his defense.  Below is a follow up from Helsingin Sanomat:

"He is a genius, amazing, a great talent, who has a warm heart and a pure vision."This is how Estonian composer Arvo Pärt describes jailed Russian businessman Mikhail Khodorkovsky, to whom he has dedicated his fourth symphony (Los Angeles).The European première was in Helsinki on Thursday, April 16th, just a few months after the world's first performance, which was conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen in Los Angeles. "All of the bad things that you have read about Khodorkovsky is propaganda put out by the Russian state", Pärt declares. "I have not met ...

We feature E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company (DD).Du Pont Hits Guidance but Lowers 2009 OutlookDuPont's (DD) first quarter 2009 earnings were $.54 per share, in-line with guidance. Results reflect earnings from Agriculture & Nutrition and pharmaceuticals, strong companywide pricing and cost discipline, partly offset by the impact of a severe decline in global industrial demand.The Agriculture & Nutrition segment performance was strong, with sales growth of 6 percent and earnings growth of 8 percent despite significant currency headwinds. Performance was driven by higher North American volumes and significant seed pricing gains.Consolidated net sales in the first quarter of $6.9 billion were 20 percent lower than prior year, reflecting 19 percent lower volume and a net 1 percent reduction due to portfolio changes. Five percent higher local prices were offset by a 5 percent negative impact from currency. Lower ...

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL - April 1, 2009 - Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: Arrow Electronics, Inc. (ARW), E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. (DD), Aracruz Celulose S.A. (ARA), Ingersoll Rand Co., Ltd. (IR) and Echelon Corp. (ELON).

Get the most recent insight from Zacks Equity Research with the free Profit from the Pros newsletter: http://at.zacks.com/?id=4579.

Here are highlights from Friday's Analyst Blog:

Arrow Electronics Straight Across

New York-based Arrow Electronics, Inc. (ARW) is one of the world s largest distributors of electronic components and computing products. The company sources products from about 800 suppliers and distributes them

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E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. (DD) is the world's second leading chemical company. Non-G7 markets, agricultural chemicals and a focus on key customers and new products will drive growth. Strong performance in the agricultural products market and productivity are likely to outweigh increasing costs as well as weak auto and housing markets.The company is focusing on nearly doubling its earnings growth rate. However, slowing demand in the U.S. markets is likely to offset growth in the Agriculture market. This compels us to rate the stock a Hold with a target of $23.00. Du Pont is currently valued at 10.1x our 2009 estimate of $2.25.DuPont expects first quarter 2009 earnings to be in the range of $0.50 to $0.70 per share. For 2009, the company's earnings outlook is a range of $2.00 to $2.50 per share, anticipating that the current global recession will ...

In this feature, we turn our attention to General Motors (GM), Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), Wal-Mart (WMT), Chevron (CVX) and Home Depot (HD).

One of the hallmarks of this bear market has been how indiscriminate it has been.  Companies that are likely to be absolutely devastated by the economic slowdown are getting whacked almost as much as those that should do just fine.  To illustrate this, one needs go no further than the Dow 30.

Below we present the 30 blue chips sorted by how much they have declined over the last year.  All but one of them is down.  Yes, two of the firms that are likely to suffer the most are at the top of the list, General Motors (GM) and Citigroup (C).  However, the relative positions of many of the others simply

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Du Pont ( DD) is currently the world's second largest chemical company in terms of market capitalization and the fourth in revenue. Du Pont describes itself as a global science company employing more than 60,000 people worldwide with a diverse array of product offerings.

On September 23, 2008, Du Pont Titanium Technologies announced price increase for all Du Pont Ti-Pure titanium dioxide grades sold in Latin America. Effective October 1, Latin American prices for all Du Pont titanium dioxide grades will increase by $150 per metric ton. The company attributes the price hikes to rising demand for TiO2 and rising raw material prices.

On September 18, 2008, Du Pont declared a force majeure for its facility in Orange, Texas, after assessing the plant's damage from Hurricane Ike. This facility handles its ethylene copolymers business. It is unclear when operations here will be resumed.

Du Pont is currently valued at 12.2x our 2008

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Caxton Associates, run by well known and one of the industry’s best money manager’s, Bruce Kovner, is a $6.5 billion hedge fund.  The fund holds 1200+ stocks in its portfolio and the KEY trades (or most material trades) in the quarter are tracked at:

http://trackthepros.com/

The trades are broken down by New, Sold, added to and reduced:

New

Ansoft

Clear Channel

Electronic Data Systems

Schlumberger

Sold

ADP

BEA Systems

Burlington Northern

Du Pont

Grant Prideco

Trane

UAP

Added To:

Navteq

NRG

Qualcomm

Rockwood Holdings

Service Co.

W-H Energy

XTO Energy

Reduced Positions

Viacom