Alcoa (AA) earnings are the traditional kick off of every quarterly earnings season. I don't really follow this name much simply because, while it's a basic material, aluminum is not exactly my favorite. But I'd like to show readers the reality behind the numbers, while the seals on CNBC were clapping and hooting and hollering about the "beat". I'd also like to show you a trend you will be seeing this earnings season, and the ones coming - higher input costs. And squeezed profit margins - we've been warning about this "era" coming since last summer. It's now here.First to the "great news" - Alcoa "beat" estimates - 66 cents versus 65 cents. So the seals cheer "better than expected". It's a joke. 90 days ago Alcoa was expected to do 77 cents, 60 days ago that was lowered ...

By Mike Caggeso Associate Editor Quarterly earnings at Morgan Stanley (MS) sunk a heavy 56% as falling institutional securities, declining investment-banking figures, and mounting trading losses hurt the second-largest U.S. investment bank. Shares were down 6.48% in pre-market trading on news that income from continuing operations fell to $1.03 billion, or 95 cents a share, from $2.36 billion, or $2.45 a share, the year earlier. Net revenue clocked in at $6.5 billion, a 38% drop from last year. “Given the turbulent environment this quarter, we stayed close to shore and continued strengthening the Firm’s capital and liquidity positions,” John J. Mack, chairman and chief executive, said in a statement. “The difficult market conditions and lower levels of client activity impacted our results, particularly in fixed income and asset management.” Story continues below…...

Alexander Eule, a Barron’s analyst, recommends Nature’s Bounty (NTY) and believes the stock can move:

1. NBTY, Inc. engages in the manufacture, marketing, and retail of nutritional supplements in the United States and internationally. It offers approximately 22,000 products, including vitamins, minerals, and sports and other nutritional supplements; food products, such as fruits, nuts, and confectionery products; and personal care products. The company markets familiar brand names, including Nature’s Bounty, Vitamin World, Puritan’s Pride, Holland & Barrett, Rexall, Osteo-Bi-Flex, Flex-a-min, Knox, Sundown, MET-Rx, WORLDWIDE Sport Nutrition, American Health, DeTuinen, Le Naturiste, SISU, Solgar, and Ester-C.

2. Well positioned to capitalize on Americans’ attempt to slow the aging process, as annual sales have doubled to $2 billion in the past four years.

3. Following an earnings boom in 2007, profits have fallen back to Earth, and investors have punished the stock accordingly.

4. Now, investors can get NBTY’s 9.4% free

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