Posts for Ticker ‘ANN’

Retail & Apparel Earnings Dominate Next Week (SKS, BJ, GYMB, ANN, DKS, FL, GPS, SHLD, PLCE, WTSLA, ZUMZ)

Bull and Bear ImageIt seems that earnings season is winding down, but next week we have many of the key retail and apparel players reporting earnings.  Saks Incorporated (NASDAQ: SKS), BJ’s Wholesale Club Inc. (NYSE: BJ), Gymboree Corp. (NASDAQ: GYMB), and Ann Taylor Stores Corp. (NYSE: ANN) are all reporting next week.  Next Thursday may feel like a retail and apparel earnings bonanza as we have Dick’s Sporting Goods Inc. (NYSE: DKS), Foot Locker Inc. (NYSE: FL), Gap Inc. (NYSE: GPS), Sears Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: SHLD), The Children’s Place Retail Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ: PLCE), Wet Seal Inc. (NASDAQ: WTSLA), and Zumiez, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZUMZ) all reporting earnings in one day.

We have provided estimates from Thomson Reuters, recent sale store sales data, share performance, and added color on what else to consider where applicable.
Read More »

Posted on: November 13, 2009 – 11:36 am in Apparel, Calendar, Earnings, Retail, , , , , , , , , , ,

Top 10 Analyst Upgrades & Downgrades (ANF, AA, ANN, ASMI, KLIC, MDAS, MSFT, BPOP, TGT, DIS)

These are Wednesday’s top ten analyst research summary upgrades, downgrades, and initiations from Wall Street brokerage firms:

Abercrombie & Fitch (NYSE: ANF) Cut to Neutral at Susquehanna.
Alcoa (NYSE:AA) Cut to Neutral at Goldman Sachs.
Ann Taylor (NYSE:ANN) Raised to Buy at UBS.
ASM International (NASDAQ:ASMI) Raised to Buy at Goldman Sachs.
Kulicke & Soffa (NASDAQ:KLIC) Started as Buy at Jefferies.
MedAssets (NASDAQ:MDAS) Cut to Neutral at UBS.
Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) Raised to Buy at AmTech.
Popular Inc. (NASDAQ: BPOP) Raised to Outperform at KBW.
Target (NYSE:TGT) Raised to Overweight at Piper Jaffray.
Walt Disney (NYSE:DIS) Started as Buy at Janney Montgomery Scott.

JON C. OGG
AUGUST 19, 2009

Posted on: August 19, 2009 – 7:53 am in Analyst Calls, , , , , , , , , ,

Sales At Ann Taylor (ANN) Hold Steady

Ann

Over the past week, the 24/7 Wall St.–The Channel Checkers poll surveyed Ann Taylor (ANN) locations to gauge business trends at the ten retailers.  We asked the following questions:

1. On a scale of 1-5 with 5 being best how would you say business is at your store now?

2. Do you have any excess inventory that will go on sale soon?

3. Do you believe the weak housing market and economy are hurting sales at your store?

4. What is the average customer bill? Read More »

Posted on: June 10, 2009 – 4:00 am in Research, Retail, , , ,

Another Look At The Fate Of The US Retail Industry

bear1AlixPartners, a turnaround firm, said at the beginning of the year that 10% to 26% of retailers were in financial distress and were in danger of filing for Chapter 11. It is worth considering how the researchers came up with that number, given that there are tens of thousands of retailers and hundreds of thousands of stores in America. Why wasn’t the number 9% or 27%? The answer is that the forecast is virtually useless, something like counting the number of poisonous snakes in an “Indian Jones” movie. Read More »

Posted on: March 10, 2009 – 4:26 am in Retail, , , , , ,

The 52-Week Low Club (PQ)(LVS)(ANN)(HGSI)

sad_clown3Petroquest Energy (PQ) Now visible news. Shares drop to $.61 from a 52-week high of $29.18.

Las Vegas Sands (LVS) Chief operating officer is replaced. Sells off to $1.38 from 52-week high of $84.29.

Ann Taylor Stores (ANN) Retailer reports larger than expected loss. Dives to $2.41 from 52-week high of $29.23.

Human Genome Sciences (HGSI) Hepatitis drug disappoints. Hammered to $.52 from $8.

Douglas A. McIntyre

Posted on: March 9, 2009 – 3:22 pm in HI/LOW, , , ,

The 52-Week Low Club (VCI)(SVR)(MDR)(ANN)(CRL)(GT)(NOBL)(THQI)

Sad_clownValassis Communications (VCI) Q3 loss and outlook cut. Plunges to $1.78 from 52-week high of $16.80.

Syniverse (SVR) Baird downgrades shares. Falls to $9.79 from 52-week high of $22.93.

McDermott International (MDR) Lower profit. Downgrades from Jefferies and Credit Suisse. Daily double. Off to $10.26 from 52-week high of $67.14.

Ann Taylor Stores (ANN) Grim outlook on sales. Sells down to $8.74 from 52-week high of $33.28.

Read More »

Posted on: November 6, 2008 – 3:49 pm in HI/LOW, , , , , , , ,

Top Pre-Market Analyst Upgrades (ANN, CVC, COF, CELG, GME, PPDI, STJ, STI, THQI, WOOF, WU)

These are some of the many research upgrades we have seen from Wall Street analysts this Monday morning with more than two hours to the open:

  • Ann Taylor (ANN) Raised to Neutral at Goldman Sachs
  • Cablevision (CVC) Raised to Hold at S&P Equity Research
  • Capital One Financial (COF) Raised to Market Perform at KBW
  • Celgene (CELG) Raised to Outperform at Baird
  • GameStop (GME) Raised to Buy at Piper Jaffray
  • Pharmaceutical Product Development (PPDI) Raised to Outperform at Baird
  • St. Jude Medical (STJ) Raised to Overweight at JPMorgan
  • SunTrust Banks (STI) Raised to Market Perform at KBW
  • THQ (THQI) Raised to Buy at Piper Jaffray
  • VCA Antech (WOOF) Raised to Buy at Piper Jaffray
  • Western Union (WU) Raised to Buy at S&P Equity Research

Jon C. Ogg
October 13, 2008

Posted on: October 13, 2008 – 6:18 am in Analyst Calls, , , , , , , , , , ,

Early-Bird Analyst Upgrades & Downgrades (ANN, CSUN, VRGY, CVC, KNX, OSK, WERN)

As this is last week of August, the daily upgrades and downgrades are rather thin as firms are starting to run on skeleton crews for one of the lightest news weeks of the year.  Here are today’s early-bird analyst upgrades and downgrades:

  • Ann Taylor (ANN) Raised to Hold from Sell at Citigroup.
  • China Sunergy (CSUN) Raised to Buy at Jefferies.
  • Verigy (VRGY) Raised to Hold at S&P.
  • Cablevision (CVC) Cut to Sell at Citigroup.
  • Knight Transportation (KNX) Cut to Market Perform at Wachovia.
  • Oshkosh (OSK) Cut to Sell at S&P.
  • Werner Enterprises (WERN) Cut to Market Perform at Wachovia.

Jon C. Ogg
August 25, 2008

Posted on: August 25, 2008 – 6:25 am in Analyst Calls, , , , , , ,

Top Pre-Market Analyst Downgrades (ANF, AEO, ANN, CHS, CWTR, ENTR, IGT, MSA, OVTI, VNDA)

These are some of the analyst downgrades and negative calls we are seeing early this Tuesday morning:

  • Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF) Started as Neutral at Goldman Sachs.
  • American Eagle Outfitters (AEO) Started as Sell at Goldman Sachs.
  • AnnTaylor Stores (ANN) Started as Sell at Goldman Sachs.
  • Chico’s FAS (CHS) Started as Sell at Goldman Sachs.
  • Coldwater Creek (CWTR) Started as Sell at Goldman Sachs.
  • Entropic Communications (ENTR) Cut to Neutral at Piper Jaffray.
  • International Game Technology (IGT) Cut to Market Perform at Wachovia.
  • Mine Safety Appliances (MSA) Cut to Neutral at Baird.
  • OmniVision Technologies (OVTI) Cut to Neutral at JPMorgan.
  • Vanda Pharmaceuticals (VNDA) Cut To Neutral at JP Morgan; Cut to Neutral at Banc of America.

Jon C. Ogg
July 29, 2008

Posted on: July 29, 2008 – 6:51 am in Analyst Calls, , , , , , , , , ,

Top 10 Pre-Market Analyst Calls (ADCT, ANN, ASH, ASMI, CLHB, COST, IDTI, JCG, MRVL, NDAQ)

These are ten of the analyst calls we are focusing on this Friday morning:

  • ADC Telecom (NASDAQ: ADCT) raised to Overweight at JPMorgan.
  • AnnTaylor (NYSE: ANN) raised to Outperform at FBR.
  • Ashland (NYSE: ASH) cut to Underweight at JPMorgan.
  • ASM International (NASDAQ: ASMI) started as Underpeform at Jefferies.
  • Clean Harbors (NASDAQ: CLHB) raised to Outperform at Robert W. Baird.
  • Costco (NASDAQ: COST) cut to Neutral at Piper Jaffray.
  • Integrated Device Tech (NASDAQ: IDTI) cut to Neutral at Cowen & Co.
  • J. Crew (NYSE: JCG) cut to Market Perform at Wachovia; cut to Sell at Citigroup.
  • Marvell Tech (NASDAQ: MRVL) raised to Overweight at JPMorgan and raised to Outperform at oppenheimer.
  • NASDAQ (NASDAQ: NDAQ) raised to Overweight at Lehman Brothers.

Jon C. Ogg
May 30, 2008

Posted on: May 30, 2008 – 7:01 am in Analyst Calls, , , , , , , , , ,

Top 10 Pre-Market Analyst Calls (ANN, ASH, SCHW, AMTD, COH, DHT, NAT, PHTN, WYNN, BK, LEH, GS, IVZ, STT)

These are not the only research calls this morning affecting stock, particularly as the world is focused on the fleecing that has occurred at Bear Stearns this morning.   But these are other brokerage firm calls for Monday morning:
Ann Taylor (NYSE: ANN) raised to Buy at Citigroup.
Ashland (NYSE: ASH) raised to Buy at Jefferies.
Charles Schwab (NASDAQ: SCHW) downgraded to Underperform at FBR.
Coach (NYSE: COH) downgraded to Hold at Citigroup.
Double Hull Tankers (NYSE: DHT) downgraded to Underweight at JP Morgan.
Nordic American Tanker (NYSE: NAT) raised to Neutral at JP Morgan.
Photon Dynamics (NASDAQ: PHTN) raised to Overweight at Lehman Brothers.
TD Ameritrade (NASDAQ: AMTD) downgraded to Neutral at UBS; downgraded to Market Perform at FBR.
Wynn Resorts (NASDAQ: WYNN) raised to Outperform at Bear Stearns.
UBS downgrades brokers and fiduciaries to Neutral: cuts Bank of New York (NYSE: BK), Lehman (NYSE: LEH), Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS), InVesco (NYSE: IVZ), State Street (NYSE: STT).

Jon C. Ogg
March 17, 2008

Posted on: March 17, 2008 – 6:13 am in Analyst Calls, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

52-Week Low Club (December 28, 2007)

Some of these stocks hit 52-week lows and recovered off of lows so they won’t have a low close.  But these did all touch or breach the 52-week lows.  At the end we also broke out retail stocks, financial stocks, airlines & transports, and hotels.  A separate report could have been compiled for REIT’s as well, but many of those were left off because of room or volume. There were enough 52-week lows today that you might even wonder if there had been a mini-crash in the markets.  Here are the 52-week lows for December 28, 2007:

  • Advanced Micro Devices (NYSE: AMD)… imagine if the company got Hector Ruiz to leave.
  • American Greetings (NYSE: AM)…again.
  • AstraZeneca (NYSE:AZN)… new entrant.
  • Carmike Cinemas (NASDAQ:CKEC)
  • ChipMOS (NASDAQ:IMOS)
  • Corp. Office Property (NYSE: OFC)
  • Cryptologic (NASDAQ: CRYP)
  • Diebold (NYSE:DBD)
  • Fortune Brands (NYSE:FO)
  • Group 1 Auto (NYSE: GPI)
  • Infinera Corp. (NASDAQ: INFN)
  • Introgen (NASDAQ:INGN)
  • Japan Smaller Cap Fund (NYSE: JOF)
  • Lamar Advertising (NASDAQ: LAMR)
  • Legget & Platt (NYSE: LEG)
  • Martha Stewart (NYSE: MSO)
  • Marvell Tech (NASDAQ:MRVL)
  • Mattel (NYSE:MAT)
  • McClatchy (NYSE:MNI)
  • Micron Tech (NYSE:MU)
  • NGAS Resources (NASDAQ:NGAS)
  • Nortel Networks (NYSE:NT)
  • Owens Corning (NYSE:OC)
  • Omnicare (NYSE:OCR)
  • Prestige Brand (NYSE: PBH)
  • PC-Tel (NASDAQ:PCTI)
  • Ruth’s Chris (NASDAQ:RUTH)
  • SanDisk (NASDAQ: SNDK)
  • Theravance (NASDAQ:THRX)
  • Tractor Supply (NASDAQ:TSCO)
  • Wendy’s (NYSE: WEN)
  • World Fuel Services (NYSE:INT)
  • U-Store-It (NYSE:YSI)

Retail Stocks on 52-week lows: Ann Taylor (NYSE:ANN), Big Lots (NYSE:BIG), Borders Group (NYSE:BGP), Bon Ton Stores (NASDAQ:BONT), Chico’s FAS (NYSE:CHS), Finish Line (NASDAQ:FINL), Liz Claiborne (NYSE: LIZ), Macy’s (NYSE: M), Office Max (NYSE:OMX), Petsmart (NASDAQ:PETM), Stage Stores (NYSE:SSI)

Financial stocks on 52-week lows: Bear Stearns (NYSE: BSC), Citigroup (NYSE:C), Canseco (NYSE: CNO), Discover Financial (NYSE: DFS), Fifth Third Bancorp (NASDAQ:FITB), Fortress Investment (NYSE: FIG), MBIA Inc. (NYSE: MBI), Washington Mutual (NYSE:WM)… urgh!  When does it stop?

Airlines/Transports on 52-week lows:  Airtran Holdings (NYSE: AAI)…again.  Did they launch a Friends Die Free rewards plan?  Continental Airlines (NYSE:CAL), Fedex (NYSE:FDX), Mesa Air (NASDAQ:MESA), Northwest Airlines (NYSE: NWA)… near $100 oil is a real pain.

Hotels Hitting 52-week lows: Host Hotels (NYSE: HST), Lasalle Hotel (NYSE: LHO), Starwood Hotels (NYSE:HOT), Sunstone Hotel (NYSE: SHO), Wydham Worldwide (NYSE:WYN).  Maybe these all wish they could get the private equity buyers back in the sector.  If only they could still borrow.

These CEO’s new year’s resolutions are all the same: "In 2008 I want to keep my stock off the 52-week low lists."

Jon C. Ogg
December 28, 2007

Posted on: December 28, 2007 – 3:01 pm in HI/LOW, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

52-Week Low Club (AAI, ANN, AM, BIG, BJRI, CHS, CC, LIZ, M, OMX, MSO, RL, HOT, WM, WEN, ZLC)

Today’s list of 52-week lows was still dominated by retail and consumer spending stocks, although a surprise surge from several key semiconductor names made today’s list.  Some of these did end up recovering back above their respective 52-week lows.  Here’s your list for today:

  • Airtran (AAI)…down from a $13.09 high.  $95+ Oil is a pain. Stock broke significant support at $8.00 two weeks ago so it’s in no-man’s land.
  • Ann Taylor (ANN)… Is the growth story gone? If so and IF it can hit its earnings estimates then it is a hidden value stock.  But with women spending less on clothes over the holidays it may just be a value trap.
  • American Greeting (AM)… I started complaining about the cost of greeting cards LONG BEFORE the economy softened, and I’m not alone.
  • Big Lots (BIG)…again…should say "habitual offender" on it.
  • BJ’s Restaurants (BJRI)…cool brewpub, although still expensive on earnings measurement.
  • Chico’s FAS (CHS)…again.
  • Circuit City (CC)…needs to fire that CEO immediately.
  • Liz Claiborne (LIZ)…again.
  • Macy’s (M)….again.
  • Marvell Tech (MRVL).. see chip stocks on 52-week lows.
  • Martha Stewart Living (MSO)… Is it changing its name to "DYING"? Maybe a weak ad environment and magazine environment is even worse than we thought?
  • Micron Tech (MU) turnaround still can’t turn around… see chip stocks on 52-week lows.
  • Office Max (OMX)…again.
  • Ralph Lauren Polo (RL)…recovered above that 52-week low but this was a surprise to see even in a weak consumer. Stock is now over $40.00 under highs.
  • Sandisk (SNDK).. see chip stocks in 52-week lows.
  • Starwood Hotels (HOT)… givin’ all the inheritance away may not keep young Paris happy.
  • STMicro (STM)…see chip stocks on 52-week lows.
  • Washington Mutual (WM)… when WA-MU changes its name to UH-OH!
  • Wendy’s International (WEN)… just an expensive burger chain with a "hoped for buyout" allowing a premium, otherwise would be even lower.
  • Zale Corp. (ZLC)….. I didn’t get my wife diamonds for Christmas either.

All these CEO’s have a fairly easy new year’s resolution for 2008: "I want to keep my stock from hitting 52-week lows"…….

Jon C. Ogg
December 27, 2007

Posted on: December 27, 2007 – 4:01 pm in HI/LOW, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Pre-Market Analyst Calls (November 6, 2007)

Stock Tickers: ANF, ARO, AEO, ANN, ADSK, BMRN, CA, CHS, C, COGN, CWTR, ETR, GPS, GOOG, JCG, LF, MA, MSFT, ORH, ORCL, PAS, PNWIF, PT, RIMM, JAVA, SYMC, UA, URBN

Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF) started as Buy at UBS.
Aeropostale (ARO) started as Neutral at UBS.
American Eagle Outfitters (AEO) raised to Hold at Citigroup.
Ann Taylor (ANN) started as Buy at UBS.
Autodesk (ADSK) raised to Overweight at Lehman.
Biomarin (BMRN) Started as Buy at Jefferies.
CA INC. (CA) raised to Equal-Weight at Lehman.
Chico’s FAS (CHS) started as Neutral at UBS.
Citigroup (C) cut to Neutral at B of A.
Cognos (COGN) cut to Sector Perform at CIBC.
Coldwater Creek (CWTR) started as Neutral at UBS.
Entergy (ETR) cut to Hold at Jefferies.
Gap Inc. (GPS) started as Buy at UBS.
Googe (GOOG) target raised to $850 at Sanford Bernstein.
J.Crew (JCG) started as Neutral at UBS.
Leapfrog (LF) started as Strong Buy at Needham.
MasterCard (MA) raised to Buy at Deutsche Bank.
Microsoft (MSFT) removed from Conviction Buy List at Goldman Sachs.
OdysseyRe (ORH) raised to Hold at Citigroup.
Oracle (ORCL) replaced Microsoft on Goldman Sachs Conviction Buy List.
PepsiAmericas (PAS) cut to Underweight at JPMorgan.
PhotoChannel (PNWIF) started as Buy at Merriman Curhan Ford.
Portugal Telecom (PT) raised to Buy at UBS.
Research In Motion (RIMM) raised to Outperform at Credit Suisse.
Sun Micro (JAVA) raised to Buy at Citigroup.
Symantec (SYMC) cut to Equal-Weight at Lehman.
Under Armour (UA) started as Underweight at Morgan Stanley.
Urban Outfitters (URBN) started as Buy at UBS.

Jon C. Ogg
November 6, 2007

Jon Ogg can be reached at jonogg@247wallst.com; he does not own securities in the companies he covers.

Posted on: November 6, 2007 – 7:57 am in Analyst Calls, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Pre-Market Stock News (June 7, 2007)

(A) Agilent reiterated guidance after completing Stratagene buyout.
(ADCT) ADC Telecom trading up 3% after posting $0.35 EPS vs $0.24 estimates.
(ANN) Ann Taylor May s-s-s -4.6% versus -3.1% estimate.
(ATVI) Activision will take $66.7 million non-cash and pre-tax charge for options back-dating.
(BEBE) Bebe Stroes May s-s-s -3% versus -2.8% estimate.
(BHI) Baker Hughes rig count rose 23 to 1,007 versus April and up from 920 in May 2006.
(BMET) Biomet’s private equity buyout raised to $46.00.
(CALL) CallWave announced the ‘industry’s first’ Visual Voicemail gadget for Google Personalized Homepage.
(CHINA) CDC Corp. appointed two new directors.
(COST) CostCo s-s-s were +7% in May, above 5.5% estimates.
(DJ) Dow Jones may have some interest from owner of Philadelphia Inquirer.
(DSCO) Discovery Laboratories initiated a Phase II clinical trial evaluating the use of Surfaxin in children up to two years of age suffering from Acute Respiratory Failure.
(ESLT) Elbit Systems awarded $110 million order by Thales UK to provide ISTAR capability for UK armed forces.
(FINL) Finish Line guided Q1 earnings below estimates and now sees a loss.
(HGSI) Human Genome Sciences shows positive final results Of Phase 2b trial of Albuferon
(IDEV) Indevus Pharmaceuticals reports positive data from Phase III NEBIDO trial for development for the treatment of male hypogonadism.
(INFN) Infinera Corp. IPO priced 14M shares at $13.00, above the 410.00 to $12.00 range.
(IMMC) Immunicon has released highlights from podium presentations made at ASCO meeting.
(JOSB) Jos. A. Banks may s-s-s +13.5% versus +4% estimate.
(JCP) JC Penney May s-s-s -2% vs +0.3% estimates.
(JWN) JW Nordstrom’s May s-s-s +6.3% versus +2.6% estimate.
(LTD) Limited Brands May s-s-s _2% vs -1% estimate.
(MSFT) Microsoft has entered a cross license pact with LG Electronics for further development of current and future product lines.
(OPTT) Ocean Power Tech awarded a $1.7 million Navy order for its PowerBuoys.
(SFD) Smithfield Foods $0.34 EPS vs $0.34e; named new CFO.
(SHRP) Sharper Image May s-s-s -8% vs -13% estimate.
(UTIW) UTI Worldwide $0.18 EPS vs $0.16e.
(WMT) Wal-Mart s-s-s +1.1% vs 1.2% estimate; sales were +1.3% after fuel.
(YANB) Yardville National gets $35.00 buyout from PNC.

Jon C. Ogg
June 7, 2007

Jon Ogg can be reached at jonogg@247wallst.com; he does not own securities in the companies he covers.

Posted on: June 7, 2007 – 7:20 am in Pre-Market Activity, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,