Posts for Ticker ‘BGP’

Next Week’s Top 10 Earnings on Deck (HPQ, TSN, CPB, LDK, TECD, BKS, BGP, JCG, DLTR, DE)

Earnings season has mostly wound down, but as always at least some major companies are reporting earnings.  Some are actually market-movers as well and it is a short week with earnings out only Monday and Tuesday, with a few on Wednesday.  On deck are Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE: HPQ), Tyson Foods Inc. (NYSE: TSN), Campbell Soup Co. (NYSE: CPB), LDK Solar Co. Ltd. (NYSE: LDK), Tech Data Corp. (NASDAQ: TECD), Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS), Borders Group, Inc. (NYSE: BGP), J. Crew Group, Inc. (NYSE: JCG), Dollar Tree Inc. (NASDAQ: DLTR), and Deere & Co. (NYSE: DE).

We have included estimates from Thomson Reuters, relative data on peers and recent developments, and relative performance on each where it was applicable.
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Posted on: November 20, 2009 – 1:19 pm in Calendar, Earnings, , , , , , , , , ,

Media Digest 11/6/2009 Reuters, WSJ, NYTimes, FT, Bloomberg

newspaperReuters:   The Wall St. insider trading probe lead to another 14 arrests.

Reuters:   Fannie Mae (NYSE:FNM) lost $19 billion and asked Treasury for money.

Reuters:   GM is readying its plans for Opel as some of its workers went on strike.

Reuters:   The pay czar says the jury is still out on reforms. Read More »

Posted on: November 6, 2009 – 3:58 am in Press Digest, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The 100 Hardest Working Brands In The World

hersheyThere are a number of ways to rank brand values. One of the most important is the level at which a brand contributes to the market value of a public company.

24/7 Wall St. asked Corebrand, the brand research and consulting firm, to look at the top 100 brands based their contribution to market capitalizaton. Using this method, the hardest working brand was Hershey (NYSE:HSY), followed  by Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO) and Harley-Davidson (NYSE:HOG)

Corebrand described the process briefly to 24/7 Wall. St.

24/7 Wall St.: Corebard often refers to the brands on this list as the”hardest working brands”. How did you come to that description?

Corebrand: There are a lot of people measuring and examining the “strongest brands” or the “most valuable brands”.  Our opinion is that examining one without the other is somewhat meaningless.  How “strong” a brand is nice to know but not very relevant unless you understand how that strength benefits business.  Similarly, “value” is little more than a measure of corporate size unless you understand the drivers of that value and how to influence it. By examining the strength of the brand and it’s contribution to total market value, we can help companies and their leadership manage that strength and value over time.

24/7 Wall St.: Is there any advantage or disadvantage to having a brand value be a very large percentage of market cap in the present and as an indication of a company’s future performance?

Corebrand: The brand will need to be in balance with the rest of the company’s assets.  A company should strive to have it’s brand strong enough to fend off competitors or changing market conditions but not so strong that it becomes overly dependent on the brand as a single driver of value.  If a company can achieve and maintain its appropriate maximum strength without becoming over-dependent, it will see greater returns in bull markets and retain greater value in bear markets.

The list: Read More »

Posted on: October 20, 2009 – 5:06 pm in Research, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Media Digest 8/26/2009 Reuters, WSJ, NYTimes, FT, Bloomberg

newspaperReuters:   Senator Edward Kennedy died at age 77.

Reuters:   The US Postal System is seeking 30,000 job cuts.

Reuters:   US housing and confidence data moved up.

Reuters:   White House and CBO debt revisions will challenge Obama. Read More »

Posted on: August 26, 2009 – 4:09 am in Press Digest, , , , , , , , , ,

Media Digest 5/27/2009 Reuters, WSJ, NYTimes, FT, Bloomberg

newspaperReuters:   GM (GM) is close to filing Chapter 11.

Reuters:   A poll of economists says the US recession will end soon followed by modest growth.

Retuers:   The mood of US consumers rose despite falling home prices.

Reuters:   Microsoft (MSFT) will launch a new Zune player later this year.

Reuters:   China tries to make Macau a better bet for casinos than Las Vegas. Read More »

Posted on: May 27, 2009 – 2:59 am in Autos, Banking, China, Compensation, Consumer Electronics, Drug companies, Earnings, Hardware, Labor & Unions, Law, Media, Oil & Gas, Pharmaceuticals, Press Digest, Retail, Semiconductor, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Media Digest 4/17/2009 Reuters, WSJ, NYTimes, FT, Bloomberg

newspaper16According to Reuters, banks may be hard hit by the bankruptcy of General Growth (GGP) and future commercial real estate defaults.

Reuters reports that VW may overtake Toyota (TM) as the No.1 car company in the world in Q1.

Reuters writes that Google (GOOG) profits beat expectations.

Reuters reports that Fed official see signs of improvement in the economy.

Reuters reports that US businesses are worried that the China stimulus package favors local companies. Read More »

Posted on: April 17, 2009 – 2:57 am in Press Digest, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Twelve Major Brands That Will Disappear

A number of well-known brands disappeared in the last year in large part due to economic forces. Many of them were in the retail industry, led by Circuit City. ATA and Aloha airlines are gone. Gateway Computers has effectively disappeared after being bought by Acer. It still has a website, but the brand is no longer marketed.

As the recession deepens and stretches out quarter after quarter, more companies will close or will shut divisions. More brands will disappear because their parents firms fold or can no longer afford to support them. Other brands will be obliterated by mergers.

24/7 Wall St. examined 100 large brands that are facing troubled futures. The analysis included records for those brands that are public companies or part of public companies. We considered sales information, information from industry experts, and brand histories. We also looked at the level of competition in each brand’s market and the extent to which that competition is growing. We examined the likelihood that a brand could be sold or spun off in cases where parent companies are in financial trouble.

We have compiled a list of 12 brands that will we believe will not survive until the end of next year. Each brand and the major reasons for its demise are listed along with some of the public information 24/7 Wall St. examined. Read More »

Posted on: April 15, 2009 – 8:39 pm in Airlines, Apparel, Media, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Wisdom Of Panic: Firing CEOs When The Chips Are On The Line

Bejiqcavb2e9ycazw6i8pcauk6iqhca6pxdThe Wall Street Journal has made a great deal of the fact that six big company CEOs have been sacked in the last eight days. Chief executives are fired all the time, so the statistical analysis behind the idea that this is something special may be bogus, but the point is taken.

In normal economic periods, CEOs are forced out for ruining earnings that should be robust or doing something like going to a strip club and putting it on the company American Express as one particularly bold fellow from telecom company Savvis did two years ago.

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Posted on: January 13, 2009 – 6:08 am in Management Change, , , ,

A Recession Hallmark: Dumping CEOs At A Breathtaking Pace (AB)(TSN)(BGP)

Water_liliesThe best way to handle trouble at a company during a recession is to dump the CEO. Someone probably keeps statistics on whether chief executives lose their jobs faster in a downturn than in more pleasant periods.

Over the course of the last 24-hours, the heads of Borders Group (BGP) and Tyson Foods (TSN) were sacked. Two weeks ago, the CEO of AllianceBernstein (AB) was one in a long line of financial company chiefs to be pushed out.

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Posted on: January 6, 2009 – 6:03 am in Management Change, , ,

Media Digest 1/6/2009 Reuters, WSJ, NYTimes, FT, Bloomberg

EmpireAccording the Reuters, December domestic cars sales were the worst month in years.

Reuters writes that Toyota (TM) will cut plants.

Reuters reports that Apple’s (AAPL) Jobs tried to calm investors about his health.

Reuters reports that China is making strategic use of commodity price collapses.

Reuters reports that Best Buy (BBY) is offering the iPhone at a low price.

Read More »

Posted on: January 6, 2009 – 3:55 am in Press Digest, , , , , ,

The 52-Week Low Club (NT)(BGP)(NTII)(DXYN)

Sad_clownNortel (NT) Still falling on Chapter 11 concerns. Falls to $.26 from 52-week high of $16.07.

Borders Group (BGP) No one buys books from stores anymore. Drops to $.56 from 52-week high of $11.67.

Neurobiological (NTII) Stroke drug trial gone wrong. Plunges to $.19  from 52-week high of $3.47.

Dixie Group (DXYN) No news, just selling. Off to $1.85 from 52-week high of $9.55

Douglas A. McIntyre

Posted on: December 17, 2008 – 4:10 pm in HI/LOW, , , ,

Barnes & Noble (BGP) Says No To Borders (BGP) Acquisition — Will The Last Person Please Get The Lights On The Way Out?

Sad_clownIn a rare sign of sanity in the executive suites of corporate America, it looks like one potential deal that had been the subject of wide speculation will not be happening

The Wall Street Journal reports that Barnes and Noble (BKS) is unlikely to make a bid for Borders (BGP), the beleaguered bookseller facing serious liquidity problems.

Read More »

Posted on: August 14, 2008 – 4:14 am in Retail, ,

Media Digest 8/24/2008 Reuters, WSJ, NYTimes, FT, Bloomberg

NewspaperAccording to Reuters, Greenspan says the housing market should bottom in 2009.

Reuters writes that US auto makers are scrambling to make more fuel-efficient cars.

Reuters reports that the SEC is close to a deal with major banks on auction-rate securities.

Reuters reports that the US short-selling rule for financial stocks had little impact.

Read More »

Posted on: August 14, 2008 – 2:53 am in Press Digest, , , , , , , , , , , ,

Barnes & Noble (BKS) + Borders (BGP) = 0

Barnes & Noble (BKS), the No.1 bricks and mortar bookseller, is looking at a buy-out of No.2 player Borders (BGP). Neither company has done especially well as readers have turned to Amazon (AMZN) and other places to buy books online. While both of the book chains have web sales operations, they are not large enough to offset the trend to stay out of stores. Adding to their troubles is the fact that younger Americans do not read, perhaps because they don’t know how.

According to The Wall Street Journal, “Barnes & Noble has about 20% to 22% of the retail book market, while Borders controls 10% to 12%.” Since the companies are taking a shellacking from online rivals, The Justice Department may show them some mercy.

A merger won’t solve any problems. It may allow for some management and distribution costs to be pulled out. Weak stores can be closed. But, the market is wise. Over the last two years, Amazon’s shares are up about 130%. BKS is off close to 20% and BGP is down closer to 70%.

Mergers of the weak rarely make the new party stronger. A new book company may hold off the last day of reckoning, but, books, like newspapers, cannot reclaim their place in the world of media.

Douglas A. McIntyre

Posted on: May 21, 2008 – 5:12 am in Old Media, , ,

Media Digest 5/21/2008 Reuters, WSJ, NYTimes, FT, Bloomberg

According to Reuters, Microsoft’s (MSFT) Steve Ballmber said his company will not bid for Yahoo! (YHOO).

Reuters writes that HP’s (HPQ) operating margin rose to 10% in the last quarter.

Reuters writes that Lehman (LEH) will cut 1,300 jobs.

Reuters reports that GM (GM) reaced a deal with striking worker in Kansas.

Reuters reports that another hedge fund joined Carl Icahn’s bid to controll Yahoo!.

The Wall Street Journal writes that AIG (AIG) ex-CEO Hank Greenberg may face SEC charges.

The Wall Street Journal writes that Time Warner (TWX) plans to spin-out Time Warner Cable (TWC) and get a $9.25 billion dividend in the process.

The Wall Street Journal writes that its new editor will be Robert Thomson, the paper’s former publisher.

The Wall Street Journal writes that Barnes & Noble (BKS) is considering a bid for Borders (BGP).

The vice-chairman of the Fed said that the economy is still in rough shape.

The Wall Street Journal writes the the slowdown has taken its toll on Target’s (TGT) earnings.

The Wall Street Journal writes that CBS (CBS) will stream more of its shows on the internet.

The New York Times writes that several forecasts say the worst is ahead for the US economy.

The New York Times writes that Merck (MRK) has agreed to a settlement over its Vioxx advertising.

The New York Times writes that shoppers are sticking to buying only basics.

The New York Times reports that Honda (HMC) will sell a new gas-electric car next year.

The FT writes that a bug in a computer model caused Moody’s (MCO) to rate certain debt with its top ratings.

The  FT writes that AIG (AIG) plans to raise $20 billion.

Bloomberg reports that hedge funds using swaps are facing a four-fold rise in junk bond defaults.

Douglas A. McIntyre

Posted on: May 21, 2008 – 2:45 am in Press Digest, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The 52-Week Low Club (AMGN, AU, BGP, HB, IP, JBL, MOT, HOOK, RVBD, SLRY)

This week felt like a yo-yo of volatility, and frankly that makes it even better that it was a 4-day work week for the stock market.  Despite the huge rally today that was led by the financials, there were plenty of shares that hit the wall of shame on the 52-week low list.  Not all of these closed under their 52-week lows, but the list was far larger than one would guess for the way the market acted today.

  • Amgen (NASDAQ: AMGN) just keeps going and going.  This broke under $40.00 today as life gets uglier and uglier for anemia drugs. Got back above $40.00 late in the day so it doesn’t look like a low close.
  • Anglogold Ashanti (NYSE: AU) bit the dust with gold prices lower again.  Under $31.00 late in the day; prior range $31.88 to $51.35.
  • Borders Group (NYSE: BGP) bit the dust.  Shares fell sharply after its earnings report.  It’s killing the dividend and "reviewing strategic alternatives." Down 35% late in day at $4.56; prior range $6.90 to $24.15.
  • Hillenbrand (NYSE: HB) hit the list too, although this is sellers unloading before it breaks itself into two at the end of the month.  This is likely just sellers getting out ahead of what they think may be an uncertain event.  Shares down close to $48.00 late in day; prior range $48.40 to $69.45.
  • International Paper (NYSE: IP) is now down to under $27.00. Wasn’t this just at $40.00 a few months ago?  Cyclical business, down 2% late at $26.87; prior range $27.44 to $41.57.
  • Jabil Circuits (NYSE: JBL) looked pretty bad today down almost 6% to $11.51 late in day with prior range $12.02 to $26.18.  Trailing P/E still high.
  • Motorola (NYSE: MOT) wouldn’t be fair to leave off the list… again.. shares traded under $9.00.  Carl Icahn has to be furious that he stayed here.  The good news is that croaker-granola got back above prior $9.12 low to $9.20 at 3:30 PM EST.
  • Redhook Ale (NASDAQ: HOOK) fell over 10% and $5.00 is getting farther and farther away with shares at $4.35 late in day; prior low was $4.55… Maybe we should have some Redhook ale this long weekend to help[ them out.
  • Riverbed Tech (NASDAQ: RVBD) traded down to under $15.00 today before recovering.  Shares were at $15.20 late in the day and the prior 52-week trading range was $15.16 to $52.81.
  • Salary.com (NASDAQ: SLRY) is one we should have stuck with on our short-sell call in "10 Stocks Under $10" as it came back down.  Shares down to $6.32 late in day with prior 52-week trading range of $6.37 to $16.32.

Next week is a full week, and you know there will be more 52-week lows being put in regardless of what the market does.  Stay tuned!

Jon C. Ogg
March 20, 2008

Posted on: March 20, 2008 – 2:41 pm in HI/LOW, , , , , , , , , ,

Media Digest 3/20/2008 Reuters, WSJ, NYTimes, FT, Bloomberg

According to Reuters, the war between Northrop Grumman (NOC) and Boeing (BA) is now going on in Congress and the public.

Reuters says Dell (DELL) will buy $23 billion of components in China in 2008.

Reuters writes that Borders (BGP) suspended its dividend and will look for a buyer

Reuters writes that Toyota (TM) is unlikely to make 2008 sales targets.

The Wall Street Journal writes that the Clear Channel (CCU) buy-out is in trouble.

The Wall Street Journal reports that airlines will have to restructure due to problems with oil prices and the economy.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Credit Suisse will report a loss this quarter.

The Wall Street Journal writes that the supply of oil may keep prices high.

The Wall Street Journal writes that car-makers are cutting costs due to an anticipated deep slump

The Wall Street Journal writes that an appeal court ruled against Qualcomm (QCOM) in a key patent case.

The Wall Street Journal repots that Verizon Wireless detailed its open network policy.

The New York Times writes that BNP Paribas says it will not buy rival Societe Generale

The FT writes that shares in Merrill Lynch (MER) fell over concerns about CDO write-offs

The FT writes that Boeing (BA) will probably delay its Dreamliner again.

Douglas A. McIntyre

Posted on: March 20, 2008 – 3:19 am in Press Digest, , , , , , , ,

Bookstore Earnings War: Borders Vs. Barnes & Noble (BGP, BKS, AMZN)

Today we’ll see earnings out of Borders Group, Inc. (NYSE: BGP). The estimates from First Call are $1.42 EPS on $1.34 billion in revenues.  Next quarter estimates are -$0.40 EPS on $759.44 million in revenues. Estimates for fiscal Jan-2009 are $0.54 EPS on $3.78 billion in revenues.  Analysts have an average price target north of $12.00.  Borders is trading up over 5% ahead of earnings at $7.35 and its 52-week trading range is $6.90 to $24.15.

Thursday we’ll see earnings out of Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS). The estimates from First Call are $1.71 EPS on $1.85 billion in revenues.  Next quarter estimates are -$0.02 EPS on $1.18 billion in revenues. Estimates for fiscal Jan-2009 are $1.77 EPS on $5.55 billion in revenues.  Analysts have an average price target of $35.00. Barnes & Noble shares are down over 3% at $28.25 today and the 52-week trading range is $25.01 to $43.80.

Whatever the reports are, both stocks are much closer to lows than highs.  Book selling, magazines, and book accessories are all very economically sensitive.  Plus those used book stores are just too much of a steal to discount and and Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) is just extremely convenient.

Jon C. Ogg
March 19, 2008

Posted on: March 19, 2008 – 2:36 pm in Earnings, Entertainment, , ,

The 52-Week Low Club (XRM)(MGI)(BGP)(DVAX)(NUVO)(SHFL)

Xerium Technologies (XRM) delays 10-K and risk of default. Falls to $1.16 from 52-week high of $9.20.

Moneygram (MGI) is taken out of one of the S&P indexes. Down to $1.62 from 52-week high of $30.67.

Borders Group (BGP) Bad time to be in the print business. Down to $6.98 from 52-week high of $24.15.

Dynavax Technologies (DVAX) FDA halts trials of a company drug. Falls to $2.07 from 52-week high of $6.55.

Nuvelo (NUVO) Cuts staff and announces failure of drug trial. Down to $.55 from 52-week high of $6.63.

Shuffle Master (SHFL) Post loss for quarter. Drops to $5.13 from 52-week high of $19.78.

Douglas A. McIntyre

Posted on: March 18, 2008 – 2:56 pm in HI/LOW, , , , , ,

52-Week Lows, Massive List (ALU, BGP, CELL, BBW, CVO, DENN, GCI, INFY, INTU, KLAC, NT, NWA, NXTM, PDLI, PFE, Q, SVVS, SNE, BID, TWX)

This was a massive list of lows today.  Not all closed on lows, but the list was chopped down greatly just to accommodate the size of it.  If you look at the list, there are no brokerage firms listed nor anymajor banks.  The major banks weren’t hitting the list but mostbrokerage firms were.  You can thank a firm called Bare Spurns for that. Here goes the eulogy:

  • Advance America (NYSE: AEA).. down over 10%, no real news released; financial exposure, although they are probably getting more and more pay day loans now. $6.08 at 3:30, old low $6.08.
  • Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE: ALU)… down almost 5% at $5.29, although late day got back above that $5.27 year low.
  • Borders Group (NYSE: BGP)… down another 6% ahead of earnings next week. The people that still buy books may be headed to the used book stores in tough times.  Maybe even the library.
  • Brightpoint (NASDSAQ: CELL)… day in and day out this one has been getting hit.
  • Build-a-Bear Workshop (NYSE: BBW)… now it can be even more opportunistic after ending strategic review and adding a larger buyback plan.
  • Cenveo (NYSE: CVO)… down 14% after earnings.
  • Denny’s (NASDAQ: DENN)… under $3.00 now… stock cheaper than the Grand Slam breakfast?  Maybe people can’t afford $3.00 breakfasts.
  • Gannett Co. Inc. (NYSE: GCI)… after earnings people still wary of newspaper operations.
  • General Motors (NYSE: GM)… flirting with 5-year lows.
  • Infosys Tech (NASDAQ: INFY)… This didn’t close under the old $33.80 low of the year, but was there intraday.  Maybe outsourcing is peaking.
  • Intuit (NYSE: INTU)… had no news, that pre-tax season trade getting cheaper and cheaper.
  • KLA-Tencor (NASDAQ: KLAC) hit hard again after downgrade already shaved off almost 10% earlier in wee.  Down 4.4% at $36.40 with 15 minutes to close.
  • Nortel Networks (NYSE: NT) at $6.34 at 3:45… High is $27.71.  What more can you say? It’s always on the list.
  • Northwest Airlines (NYSE: NWA) down over 3.5% at $9.50 with 15 minutes to close. What ever happened to that merger they were supposed to be in?
  • Nxstage Medical (NASDAQ: NXTM)… are kidney dialysis treatments economically sensitive?
  • PDL Biopharma (NASDAQ: PDLI).. so much for that buyout hope, that’s already been called off.  Almost under a $1 Billion market cap.
  • Pfizer (NYSE: PFE)… a true surprise to see this one here again.  Will it bust $20? Shares down 3% at $20.55 with 10 minutes to close.
  • Qwest Communications (NYSE: Q)…. now under $5.00.
  • Savvis Inc. (NASDAQ: SVVS)… down more than 5% to under the old $15.14 low. Doing IT, bandwidth, storage, network infrastructure, not as great when you have huge exposure to financial institutions.
  • Sony Corp. (NYSE: SNE)… just when it was getting its act back together… $41.81 right before close; old 52-week low was $42.10.
  • Sothebys (NYSE: BID)… down more than half from highs.  Wall Street’s "Even the rich are bitching!" must apply to high-end auctioneers too.
  • Time Warner (NYSE: TWX)….. now under $14.00.

Jon C. Ogg
March 14, 2008

Posted on: March 14, 2008 – 3:04 pm in HI/LOW, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,