Stock Market News & Stocks to Watch from StraightStocks » Northwestern Corp.

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

Zacks Market Commentaries — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 13:56:24 +0000

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

1-800-FLOWERS.COM Inc (FLWS)
3D Systems Corp (TDSC)
ACI Worldwide Inc (ACIW)
Advanta Corp (ADVNB)
Alon USA Energy Inc (ALJ)
Alphatec Holdings Inc (ATEC)
American Water Works Co Inc (AWK)
AMETEK Inc (AME)
Anaren Inc (ANEN)
Animal Health International Inc (AHII)
Apogee Enterprises Inc (APOG)
Bankrate Inc (RATE)
Banner Corp (BANR)
Bel Fuse Inc (BELFB)
Belden Inc (BDC)
Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc (BIO)
Blockbuster Inc (BBI)
Blount International Inc (BLT)
Boise Inc (BZ)
Bottomline Technologies (EPAY)
BreitBurn Energy Partners LP (BBEP)
Cantel Medical Corp (CMN)
Capital Senior Living Corp (CSU)
CECO Environmental Corp (CECE)
China Mobile Ltd (CHL)
China Security & Surveillance Tech Inc (CSR)
CIBER Inc (CBR)
City Bank (CTBK)
City Holding Co (CHCO)
CoBiz Financial Inc (COBZ)
Columbus McKinnon Corp (CMCO)
Curis Inc (CRIS)
Dionex Corp (DNEX)
Dynegy Inc (DYN)
Equity Lifestyle Properties Inc (ELS)
EXFO Electro-Optical Engineering (EXFO)
Fairpoint Communications Inc (FRP)
First Financial Bancorp (FFBC)
First M & F Corp (FMFC)
FLIR Systems Inc (FLIR)
L.B. Foster Co (FSTR)
Frontier Oil Corp (FTO)
Furmanite Corp (FRM)
G&K Services Inc (GKSR)
Gildan Activewear Inc (GIL)
P.H. Glatfelter Co (GLT)
Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co (GAP)
GSC Investment Corp (GNV)
Hanover Insurance Group Inc (THG)
Harsco Corp (HSC)
HEICO Corp (HEI)
Hellenic Telecom Organization SA (OTE)
Heritage-Crystal Clean Inc (HCCI)
HRPT Properties Trust (HRP)
Hydrogenics Corp (HYGS)
II-VI Inc (IIVI)
Immucor Inc (BLUD)
Infinity Pharmaceuticals Inc (INFI)
Kilroy Realty Corp (KRC)
Lakeland Industries Inc (LAKE)
Lincoln National Corp (LNC)
Lufkin Industries Inc (LUFK)
Maiden Holdings Ltd (MHLD)
Marine Products Corp (MPX)
Merchants Bancshares Inc (MBVT)
Midwest Banc Holdings Inc (MBHI)
MYR Group Inc (MYRG)
Nash-Finch Co (NAFC)
National Research Corp (NRCI)
Natural Resource Partners LP (NRP)
NCI Building Systems Inc (NCS)
NewStar Financial Inc (NEWS)
NorthWestern Corp (NWE)
OM Group Inc (OMG)
On Assignment Inc (ASGN)
OPNET Technologies Inc (OPNT)
Orient-Express Hotels Ltd (OEH)
Otter Tail Corp (OTTR)
The Pantry Inc (PTRY)
PAR Technology Corp (PTC)
Penford Corp (PENX)
Penn Virginia Resources (PVR)
Pitney Bowes Inc (PBI)
The PMI Group Inc (PMI)
PPL Corp (PPL)
Quality Distribution Inc (QLTY)
Real Goods Solar Inc (RSOL)
Reliance Steel & Aluminum (RS)
Res-Care Inc (RSCR)
Resources Connection Inc (RECN)
Rofin-Sinar Technologies (RSTI)
RPC Inc (RES)
RRI Energy Inc (RRI)
Saba Software Inc (SABA)
Safety Insurance Group Inc (SAFT)
Sandy Spring Bancorp Inc (SASR)
SatCon Technology Corp (SATC)
Skechers USA Inc (SKX)
SonoSite Inc (SONO)
Speedway Motorsports Inc (TRK)
Stanley Furniture Company Inc (STLY)
StealthGas Inc (GASS)
Superior Bancorp (SUPR)
Susser Holdings Corp (SUSS)
SWS Group Inc (SWS)
TAL International Group Inc (TAL)
Taylor Capital Group Inc (TAYC)
Terremark Worldwide Inc (TMRK)
Travelzoo Inc (TZOO)
Ultratech Inc (UTEK)
Universal Electronics Inc (UEIC)
U.S. Concrete Inc (RMIX)
Virginia Commerce Bancorp Inc (VCBI)
Wabash National Corp (WNC)
Warner Music Group Corp (WMG)
Watson Wyatt Worldwide Inc (WW)
Westport Innovations Inc (WPRT)
White Mountains Insurance Group Ltd (WTM)
WSFS Financial Corp (WSFS)
YRC Worldwide Inc (YRCW)

Thoratec Corp. – Momentum – Zacks Rank Buy

Michael Vodicka — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Companies highlighted in this weekly wrap include Thoratec Corporation (THOR), American Capital Agency Corp. (AGNC), InterDigital, Inc. (IDCC), The Ensign Group, Inc. (ENSG) and Northwestern Corp. (NWE).

Thoratec Corp.'s (THOR) share price has continued to move higher since originally being featured as a momentum stock in early December. A trend line that has been supporting prices for the last 3 months is now being pressured just above $29.

Third-Quarter Results

Thoratec's recent price strength comes on the heels of the company's solid third-quarter results, reported in late October. Revenue was up 44% to $80 million. Earnings came in at 13 cents per share, almost doubling analyst estimates of 7 cents.

Analyst Estimates

Analyst estimates have continued to tick higher over the last 3 months, with the current-year estimate up 7 cents to 45 cents per share. The next-year estimate is pegged at $57 cent, a 27% earnings growth projection.

The Chart

This stock has been fairly range bound for the last month after mounting a big rally to close the year. The 52-week and all-time high is close at hand just above $33, take a look below.

Updates to Previous Momentum Zacks Rank Buy Stocks

American Capital Agency Corp. (AGNC) has been publicly traded for less than a year, but the company's early results are solid. The analyst community is bullish, with the next-year estimate projecting 64% earnings growth. Read Full Article.

InterDigital, Inc.'s (IDCC) share price recently spiked higher after analysts substantially boosted their earnings estimates. The company is also fresh off the heels of a $400 million patent settlement with Samsung. Read Full Article.

The Ensign Group, Inc. (ENSG) looks well positioned to benefit from the aging domestic population. The analyst community is bullish on the company, with the next-year estimate projecting 20% earnings growth. Read Full Article.

Northwestern Corp. (NWE) has been on the move since mid December, climbing from just above $17 to a recent high above $23. Analysts are bullish on the company, with the next-year estimate projecting 11% earnings growth. Read Full Article.
"THOR" Free Stock Analysis: Buy? Sell? Hold?
Zacks Investment Research

Northwestern Corp. – Momentum – Zacks Rank Buy

Michael Vodicka — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Company Description

Northwestern Corp., together with its subsidiaries, provides electricity and natural gas in Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska. The company was founded in 1923 and has a market cap of $852 million.

Third-Quarter Results

On Oct 30, NorthWestern reported third quarter results that were ahead of analyst estimates. Net income rose 1.5% to $13.4 million, or 35 cents per share, from $13.2 million, or 35 cents per share, in the third quarter 2007. Analysts were expecting 29 cents.

Gross margin on regulated electric rose 2.7% in the third quarter to $94.7 million from $92.2 million in 2007, mainly due to a rate increase.

Analyst Estimates

Since the solid quarter, analyst estimate have ticked higher. The current-year estimate is up 4 cents in the last 60 days to $1.81 per share. The next-year estimate is bullish, pegged at $2.00, an 11% earnings growth projection.

Valuations

Baaed upon the current-year estimate this stock has a forward P/E multiple of 13X, in range with the overall market.

The Chart

As previously mentioned, shares of NWE have been rallying since November of last year, recently setting a new 52-week and all-time high. Some short-term resistance has developed in this area, take a look at the chart below.

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

Zacks #1 Rank Additions for Thursday – Zacks Tale of the Tape

Zacks Market Commentaries — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 08:07:38 +0000