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Friday October 23, 2009

DrStockPick.com Stock Report!

PSFT, VZ, PWRM, CSRH, HD, CVAT, MRK, AQNM, SGP

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VZ, Verizon Communications Inc.

VZ provides communication services in the United States and internationally. It operates in two segments, Wireline and Domestic Wireless.

Verizon Wireless, the nation’s largest wireless service provider, today announced a new advertising effort, “Don’t Text and Drive,” encouraging people who get into a vehicle’s driver seat to keep their hands on the wheel. Dan Mead, executive vice president and chief operating officer at Verizon Wireless, said the “Don’t Text and Drive” campaign begins next week with a mix of ads, including television, radio,

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This morning, Lowe's Companies Inc. (LOW) backed its fiscal 2009 sales and earnings guidance, provided on August 17. The company maintains its earnings expectations between $1.13 and $1.21 for the fiscal year ending January 29, 2010. Lowe’s expects total sales to decline about 3% from the previous year, while sales at established stores (same-store sales) are expected to decline between 7% and 9%. The company further stated that it might recognize impairments related to operating stores of up to $100 million during the second half due to uncertainty regarding an economic recovery. For fiscal 2010, the company expects earnings per share to lie between $1.24 and $1.34. Total sales are expected to increase approximately 3% to 4%, with a comparable-store sales increase of approximately 1%. As a reminder, Lowe's – the second biggest U.S. home improvement retailer behind Home Depot Inc (HD) – announced ...

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – September 16, 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: Synopsys Inc. (SNPS), Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (TSM), Home Depot Inc. (HD), Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc. (MSO) and Lowe Co.s Inc. (LOW).

Get the most recent insight from Zacks Equity Research with the free Profit from the Pros newsletter: http://at.zacks.com/?id=5513

Here are highlights from Tuesday’s Analyst Blog:

Synopsys Moves On

Synopsys Inc. (SNPS) recently announced the addition of a new major customer, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (TSM). The latter has adopted Synopsys' HSIM hierarchical FastSPICE circuit simulator for its sub-40-nanometer, memory intellectual property

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Even as investors get more and more bullish about the outlook for the U.S. economy, the economy’s underlying foundation continues to erode.

In a report to be released this week, the Obama administration will boost its 10-year projection for the federal budget deficit to about $9 trillion – an increase of roughly $2 trillion, or 29%, from its prior projection, Fox News reported over the weekend, citing a source from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

The new cumulative deficit projection – for 2010-2019 – replaces the administration’s previous estimate of $7.108 trillion. Changes in budget projections – whether they result in a surplus or a deficit – are often refined as economic conditions change. This new projection was necessary because the recession has gone on for so long, causing federal tax receipts to plunge – and because the economic rebound will be prolonged and weak, resulting

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Fed’s Beige Book Shows Downturn Slowing; Home Depot Says Worst Is Over; ReFi Apps Slowest Since November; Senate Mulls Bigger Home Loan Tax Credit; U.S. Becomes Largest Shareholder in Citi; Rising Energy Costs Could Stunt Global Recovery; Top Economist Considering Senate Run

The U.S. economic downturn may be slowing, but conditions remained weak in almost half of its regions, the Federal Reserve reported in its Beige Book business survey. “Contacts from several districts said that their expectations have improved, though they do not see a substantial increase in economic activity through the end of the year,” the central bank said in the report. But the words “stable” or “stabilize” appeared in some form more than 60 times in yesterday’s (Wednesday’s) report,according toBloomberg. Many district banks reported that homebuilding “appeared to have stabilized at very low levels,” and some regions said “manufacturing employment levels may soon stabilize.” The Fed report ...

Fed’s Beige Book Shows Downturn Slowing; Home Depot Says Worst Is Over; ReFi Apps Slowest Since November; Senate Mulls Bigger Home Loan Tax Credit; U.S. Becomes Largest Shareholder in Citi; Rising Energy Costs Could Stunt Global Recovery; Top Economist Considering Senate Run

The U.S. economic downturn may be slowing, but conditions remained weak in almost half of its regions, the Federal Reserve reported in its Beige Book business survey. “Contacts from several districts said that their expectations have improved, though they do not see a substantial increase in economic activity through the end of the year,” the central bank said in the report. But the words “stable” or “stabilize” appeared in some form more than 60 times in yesterday’s (Wednesday’s) report,according toBloomberg. Many district banks reported that homebuilding “appeared to have stabilized at very low levels,” and some regions said “manufacturing employment levels may soon stabilize.” The Fed report ...

Agricultural Bank of China Raises $7.3 Billion; Banks Applying to Repay TARP; Fiat CEO Confident About Opel Bid; World Bank Prez Sees Year-End Recovery; Derivatives Shrink to $592 Trillion; GE Reaches Debt Funding Goals for 2009; UAW & GM Still at Odds on Labor Agreement; Home Depot Beats Street

Agricultural Bank of China raised 50 billion yuan ($7.3 billion) in the nation’s biggest corporate bond sale. The goal of the bond sale was to raise capital and help set up an initial public offering, Bloomberg reported. A handful of banks have applied to repay the billions they borrowed from the U.S. government’s Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). Sources told Reuters that Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (NYSE: GS) and Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) are two of the banks eager to ...

Home Depot Inc.'s (HD) first-quarter adjusted earnings came ahead of Wall Street expectations despite lackluster sales.

The home-improvement retailer reported adjusted EPS of 35 cents, which topped the consensus estimate by 6 cents. The company posted adjusted earnings of 41 cents per share in the same period of fiscal 2008.

Home Depot's revenue fell 9.7% to $16.2 billion. Same-store sales were down 10.2%, while US-based same-store sales declined 8.6%.

"Our markets, and the consumer in general, remain under pressure," said CEO Frank Blake.

The Atlanta-based chain also stated that it continues to expect full-year sales to fall 9% and comparable store sales to decline in the high single digit area.

The consensus estimate on Home Depot's full-year earnings has increased by 3 cents over the past 30 days to $1.33 per share.

Yesterday, rival Lowe's Companies Inc. (LOW) also reported better-than-expected

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Home Depot Inc. (HD) Chief Executive Frank Blake took home a slightly higher annual pay in 2008 even as the retailer braces itself for a drop in per-share profit for the third consecutive year amid slumping sales.

According to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Blake's total 2008 compensation was about $8.6 million including stock and option awards. This compares with an all-inclusive $8.3 million he earned in 2007. The home-improvement company said Blake declined a performance bonus of $1.2 million.

For the fiscal year Feb. 1, Home Depot's profit fell 49% to $2.26 billion, or $1.34 a share. The company said it froze 2009 salaries for all executives at year-ago levels even after laying off 7,000 workers. It also purged life insurance program and tax reimbursements for executives.

Home Depot shares fell nearly 4% to $22.66 in New York trading on

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Lowe’s Cos. Inc. (LOW) reported a 60% slump in quarterly earnings on Friday and guided to 2009 profit below market expectations as fewer consumers spent money on home-improvement items in the deepening economic crisis.

In the three-month period ending Jan. 30, Lowe’s was forced to make aggressive discounts on seasonal products due to stiff competition. The company’s fourth-quarter profit of $162 million, or 11 cents per share, fell a penny shy of the consensus estimate. Its quarterly revenue slipped 4% to $9.98 billion.

Chief Executive Robert Niblock said, “The economic pressures on consumers intensified in the fourth quarter, resulting in a further decline in consumer confidence and dramatic reductions in consumer spending.” Lowe’s also forecast earnings in the range of $1.04 and $1.20 per share for 2009 while analysts were expecting $1.50.

Though the Mooresville, North Carolina-based retailer said it gained market share from rival

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