American Axle (AXL) posted a net loss of 18 cents before special items in the third quarter of the year. This is better than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 37 cents per share. Net sales dipped 22% to $409.6 million. However, in absolute terms, it is the highest quarterly sales of the year. The lower sales were on the back of a 18% decline in customer production volumes for the North American light truck and sport utility vehicle (SUV) programs that American Axle currently supports for GM and Chrysler. American Axle’s content-per-vehicle (measured by the dollar value of its product sales supporting GM's North American light truck and SUV programs and Chrysler's Heavy Duty Dodge Ram pickup trucks) fell to $1,396 from $1,453 in the third quarter of 2008. Non-GM sales constituted 18.3% of total sales in the reported quarter. The company’s non-GM ...

Pulte Homes (PHM) reported a net loss of $361.4 million or $1.15 per share, inclusive of approximately $86.7 million of charges and transaction costs associated with its merger with Centex Corporation and $163.8 million in inventory impairments and other land-related charges. This compares to a net loss of $280.4 million, or $1.11 per share, including impairments and land-related charges of $266.6 million in the third quarter of 2008. The company continues to suffer from economic weakness, foreclosures, rising unemployment and recent uncertainty over the expiration of the federal tax credit -- all of which negatively impact buyer behavior. Segment Performance Revenue from Homebuilding settlements shrank 27% to $1.1 billion. The decline in revenue reflected a 23% decrease in closings to 4,166 homes, coupled with a 10% decrease in average selling price to $253,000. However, revenue and closings for the period benefited from the inclusion of ...

Penske Automotive (PAG) posted a net income of $30.9 million or 34 cents per share from continuing operations in the third quarter. With this, the Michigan-based second leading automotive retailer in the U.S. exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 27 cents per share. When compared to the year ago level, net income reflects a rise of 16% from $26.6 million or 21% from 28 cents per share in the third quarter of last year. Total revenue dipped 13% to $2.59 billion. New Vehicle witnessed a steeper 14% decline in revenue to $1.34 billion compared to Used Vehicle (5% to $673 million). Total retail revenues slipped 10.4%, driven by weakness in the U.S. market. Same-store retail revenues fell 12.4% to $2.34 million. Excluding exchange rate fluctuations, total same-store retail revenues declined 8%, including 3.5% for service and parts revenues. Penske wholesaled 3,401 units of smart USA vehicles, ...

While there have been some signs of recovery in real estate and the stock market it seems that the job market is still declining. Online advertised vacancies declined by 83,200 to 3,280,000 in October, according to The Conference Board Help-Wanted OnLine Data Series (HWOL)(TM) released November 2. Of course those jobs are only representative of the national job market and don’t include every available job.

The job market varies by region. The south showed job losses in both September and October. However, Texas and Florida were basically flat. The smallest decline was in the Northeast. In the West, California fell by only 3,700 about the same as Arizona with a much smaller population. In the Midwest most of the states declined but Michigan showed a small gain and Wisconsin had no change.

Don’t let a layoff take you by surprise. Keep your eyes and

...

Waste management service provider Stericycle Inc. (SRCL) earned 55 cents in the third quarter, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2 cents. Earnings were up about 24% year-over-year, while it improved 9% sequentially on higher revenues and margins.  Revenues showed an increase of 7.5% year over year to $46.5 million helped by recent acquisitions, which added $19.3 million in the quarter. Stericycle completed six acquisitions during the first nine months of this year, which included the recently acquired Healthcare Waste Solutions’ operations in Minnesota and Wisconsin, besides Omni Medical Waste in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  Operating costs decreased to 52.7% of total sales in the quarter from 55.6% in the same period of the previous year following which gross profit expanded to $140.9 million from $123.0 million in the same quarter last year. As a percent of revenue, gross profit improved to 47.3% from 44.4% in the ...

DTE Energy (DTE) has surprised on estimates 3 out of the last 4 quarters by an average of 77.06%. The company recently raised 2009 earnings guidance. DTE Energy is trading with a forward P/E of 11.5.

Company Description

DTE Energy is an energy company that serves customers in Michigan. It operates Detroit Edison, which serves 2.2 million customers in Southeastern Michigan and MichCon, a natural gas utility providing energy to 1.2 million customers in Michigan.

It also operates other non-utility energy businesses that focus on gas pipelines and storage, coal transportation, power and industrial projects.

DTE Energy Raised 2009 Earnings Guidance

On Oct 19, DTE Energy raised its 2009 earnings guidance to the range of $3.20 to $3.40 from $2.75 to $3.05. The company attributed the increase to continued cost cutting and strong results from its non-utility operations.

Still, the company is cautious about the future.

"Despite

...

Labor unrest at Ford’s (F) auto supplier plant in India has prompted the company to shut down its Oakville, Ontario, plant for the week, which employs 3,000 workers in two shifts. The closure would cost Ford 5,000 vehicles. The idled employees would get 65% of regular pay from a combination of funding from the company and employment insurance.  The strike at Rico Auto Industries in the state of Haryana in India turned violent after an employee died recently during a protest. It has triggered a shortage of transmission parts to the Canadian plant. The plant produces Edge SUV, the Flex and Lincoln MKT seven-passenger vehicle and the Lincoln MKX.  Last week, labor trouble had erupted at some of Ford’s plants when some members of United Auto Workers (UAW) declined to ratify the modifications to its 2007 labor contract. The modifications include banning strikes over wages or ...

Masco Corporation (MAS) reported earnings from continuing operations of 14 cents per common share in the third quarter of 2009, compared to income from continuing operations of 9 cents per common share in the third quarter of 2008. This was higher than the Zacks consensus Estimate of 8 cents per share. Net sales from continuing operations for the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2009 declined 17% to $2.1 billion, compared with $2.5 billion for the third quarter of 2008. North American sales declined 17% and International sales declined 13%. In local currencies, International sales declined 7% compared with the third quarter of 2008. The third quarter of 2009 results were adversely affected by significantly lower sales volume of new home construction products and services, as well as a decline in consumer spending for home improvement products in both North American and International markets. The negative market conditions ...

Becton, Dickinson and Company (BDX) is set to acquire HandyLab Inc., an Ann Arbor, Michigan-based company that develops and manufactures automation platforms and molecular diagnostic assays. The acquisition is expected to close by the year end. Financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed. Becton had already entered into a development and distribution agreement with HandyLab in May 2009. The acquisition thus enables Becton to support its molecular diagnostics strategy by accessing the HandyLab instrumentation technology, which is considered to be an industry leading molecular diagnostic automation platform. Becton plans to utilize its BD GeneOhm molecular assays onto the HandyLab platform and market it as the new BD Max system. The acquisition will boost demand for Becton’s molecular diagnostic products that will eventually drive the company’s top-line. Becton, Dickinson and Company develops, manufactures and markets medical devices, supplies, laboratory equipment and diagnostic products globally. The ...

Evergreen Solar Inc. has emerged as a recognizable figure in the solar power industry. The company develops, manufactures and markets String Ribbon™ solar power products for residential and commercial applications around the world.

The solar manufacturer today announced the recent opening of its Europe-based headquarters in Berlin, Germany, which is expected to extend the reach of the company’s presence in the German market. With headquarters in Berlin, the company anticipates taking advantage of solar incentives and the accelerated business growth in Europe.

“Berlin is an ideal location for us to establish our European headquarters,” Peter Rusch, managing director of Evergreen Solar GmbH and vice president of Sales for Evergreen Solar stated in the press release. “Our excellent products and strong relationships with customers have allowed us to establish ourselves very quickly as a leader across the European market.”

In 2002, Evergreen Solar launched European operations and became a fully-registered German

...