Posts for Ticker ‘PLXS’

Top Analyst Upgrades (CAR, BAC, BCSI, CLRT, IHS, MA, PLXS, QTWW, SLB)

These are some of the top early bird analyst upgrades and positive research calls we are seeing from Wall Street this Thursday morning with more than two hours until the market opens:

Avis Budget (CAR) Raised to Equal Weight at Barclays.
Bank of America (BAC) Raised to Outperform at KBW.
Blue Coat Systems (BCSI) Raised to Buy at Merriman Curhan Ford.
Clarient (CLRT) Started as Outperform at Baird.
IHS (IHS) Started as Buy at Jefferies.
Mastercard (MA) Started as Buy at Piper Jaffray.
Plexus (PLXS) Raised to Outperform at Baird.
Quantum Fuel (QTWW) Started as Overweight at Thomas Weisel.
Schlumberger (SLB) Started as Buy at Societe Generale.

JON C. OGG

Posted on: June 11, 2009 – 6:28 am in Analyst Calls, , , , , , , , ,

Top Pre-Market Analyst Downgrades (JOBS, AUO, AVR, CRDN, CLX, DKS, GR, MPEL, PLXS, VSE)

These are not all of the downgrades or negative calls we have seen, but these are some calls moving shares this Monday morning:

  • 51jobs (JOBS) Cut to Sell at Goldman Sachs.
  • AU Optronics (AUO) Cut to Neutral at HSBC.
  • Aventine Renewable (AVR) Cut to Underweight at Lehman.
  • Ceradyne (CRDN) Cut to Market Perform at FBR.
  • Clorox (CLX) Cut to Sell at Goldman Sachs.
  • Dick’s Sporting Goods (DKS) Raised to Buy at Goldman Sachs.
  • Goodrich (GR) Cut to Sell at Deutsche Bank.
  • Melco Crown Entertainment (MPEL) Cut to Neutral at Credit Suisse.
  • Plexus (PLXS) Cut to Neutral  at Baird.
  • VeraSun Energy (VSE) Cut to Underweight at Lehman.

Jon C. Ogg
July 28, 2007

Posted on: July 28, 2008 – 6:24 am in Analyst Calls, , , , , , , , , ,

Other EMS Stocks Holding Up Better Than Jabil (JBL, BHE, CLS, FLEX, PLXS, SANM)

Jabil Circuit Inc. (NYSE: JBL) is one of the big losers today as sharesa are down and out due to missed earnings and forecasts.  This is a new 52-week low.  The electonic manufacturing services company posted quarter losses of $24 million last, compared to profits of $13.9 million this quarter last year. The losses were due to restructuring and impairment charges reaching $41 million.  EPS were -$0.12 on $3.1 billion in sales, compared to $0.07 EPS a year ago. Without the one-time charges, the company would have had $0.20 EPS. Thomson Financial analysts estimated an average of $0.18 EPS on $3.05 billion in sales, although one-time charges were excluded. The company also stated that third quarter results will undershoot analyst projections.

Downgrades by Deutsche, JPMorgan, and Thomas Weisel have not softened the blow.  In mid-day trading, the stock is down by $1.77 per share, over 15%, to $9.61 compared to a high of $25.80.  This also has the other electronic manufacturing service players faring not so well today, although it interestingly enough isn’t hurting them nearly as much as Jabil took heat.  You will see with notes below:

  • Benchmark Electronics (NYSE: BHE) is also down today by over 5% to $18.49. The 52-week range is $14.90 to $27.01.
  • Celestica Inc. (NYSE: CLS) is down almost 6% today to $6.40, although only $1.00 away from its 52-week high of $7.35.
  • Flextronics International (NASDAQ: FLEX) is down by $0.45, 4%, to $9.71 today, only $0.65 from its 52 week low reached January 23. The 52-week high sits at a far $13.60.
  • Plexus Corp. (NASDAQ: PLXS) isn’t down by as much compared to the others. The stock is down only 2% today to $27.53, still very far from its 52-week low and high of $16.62 to $32.47, respectively.
  • Sanmina-SCI Corp. (NASDAQ: SANM) also down by 5% today to $1.71. The 52-week range is $1.15 to $3.88.

What is interesting about these is that Jabil has been by far the worst one of the group by far, although Sanmina-SCI has been in a turnaround that has taken longer than most should be happy with.  Many of the others have been down and out as well as an overall spending climate is probably slowing more orders.  The good news is that many are diversifying away from being pure technology outsourced manufacturers to more broad-based outsourced manufacturing companies.  The bad news is that the slowdown isn’t just limited to tech.  If Jabil’s trend is systematic rather than symptomatic, then the others in the group  might see more pressure after today.

Jon C. Ogg
March 26, 2008

Jon Ogg produces the Special Situation Investing Newsletter and can be reached at jonogg@247wallst.com; he does not own securities in the companies he covers

Posted on: March 26, 2008 – 12:13 pm in Technology Companies, , , , , ,

Pre-Market Stock News (January 24, 2008)

We are full blown into earnings season now.  These are not all of the stocks in the news, but this is a good portion of the news in individual stocks for traders to review this morning:

  • Annaly Capital Management, Inc. (NLY) priced its secondary of 51,000,000 shares of common stock at $19.25 per share.
  • AT&T (T) $0.71 EPS vs. $0.71 estimate; new share buyback plan of up to 400 million shares.
  • Becton Dickinson (BDX) $1.07 EPS vs $1.04 estimate; raised guidance before charges.
  • Cabot Micro (CCMP) $0.51 EPS vs $0.47 estimate.
  • Cubist Pharmaceuticals (CBST) shares rose another 7% to $21.72 after beating earnings and raising guidance.
  • Danaher (DHR) $1.12 EPS vs. $1.12 estimate.
  • DuPont (DD) noted as strong value without earnings risk according to Cramer on CNBC’s Mad Money.
  • eBay (EBAY) shares fell over 5% after beating earnings but lowering guidance; Meg Whitman retires as CEO but stays on board.
  • F5 Networks (FFIV) shares rose almost 20% after beating earnings.
  • Ford (F) -$0.20 EPS vs. -$0.19 estimates; CEO will be on CNBC at 12:15 PM EST.
  • IBM (IBM) noted as strong value without earnings risk according to Cramer on CNBC’s Mad Money.
  • Lennar (LEN) -$0.42 EPS vs, -$1.61 est.; but losses were before -$7.50 per shares in charges; sees 2008 continuing weakness.
  • Lockheed Martin (LMT) $1.89 EPS vs. $1.69 estimate; sees 2008 EPS $7.05 to $7.25 vs. prior guidance $6.19 to $7.15 and vs. $7.29 estimate.
  • Microsoft (MSFT) reports earnings after the close today with estimates at $0.46 EPS on revenues of $15.94 Billion.
  • Napster (NAPS) msic rental service is now available to NTT DoCoMo subscribers.
  • Netflix (NFLX) earnings were above plan and guidance was too; shares indicated up slightly.
  • Nokia (NOK) announced its market share rose to 40% and posted a 57% gain in earnings overseas.
  • Plexus Corp. (PLXS) raised guidance to $0.46 to $0.51 EPS on revenues of $440 million to $460 million, compared to estimates of $0.42 & almost $430 million;shares rose 8.3% to $21.50 in after-hours trading.
  • Polycom (PLCM) posted $0.42 EPS on revenues of $263.3 million vs. estimates of $0.39 & $252.5 million; shares rose some 7.7% to $24.00.
  • Potash (POT) announced it would repurchase up to 5% of its outstanding shares.
  • Qualcomm (QCOM) posted $0.46 EPS and non-GAAP EPS at $0.52 EPS on $2.44 Billion in revenues.  Estimates were $0.53 EPS on revenues of $2.41 Billion, 6% to $38.90 after-hours.
  • Symantec (SYMC) beat earnings; raised guidance; shares rose 8.5% at $16.55.
  • THQ (THQI) traded down 8% after disclosing net profit drops on charges from discontinued titles.
  • Trimble Navigation (TRMB) shares rose 15% at $27.45 after raising current guidance and reaffirming 2008 revenues.
  • Western Digital (WDC)  $1.35 EPS vs. $1.04 estimate; sees next quarter $0.85 to $0.91 EPS  & $2 Billion revenues vs. estimates of $0.80 & $1.9 Billion; shares rose by almost 7%.
  • World Acceptance (WRLD) $0.54 EPS vs. $0.46 estimates.
  • Xerox (XRX) $0.41 EPS vs $0.41 estimate; sees next quarter $0.25 to $0.28 vs. $0.28 estimate; sees 2008 $1.31 to $1.35 EPS versus $1.31 estimates.

Jon C. Ogg
January 24, 2008

Posted on: January 24, 2008 – 7:50 am in Pre-Market Activity, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

After-Hours Stock Gappers (January 23, 2008) (FFIV, TRMB, SYMC, PLXS, PLCM, CBST, WDC)

We have covered some of the earnings movers in after-hours already, but with earnings season now running full-tilt there are many other stocks that are gapping up.  Here are some of the more active stocks gapping higher:

  • F5 Networks (NASDAQ: FFIV) posted a 21% drop in earnings but gave adjusted EPS guidance above street projections; announcing a $200 million share buyback plan probably didn’t hurt either.  This one is volatile as can be with a 52-week trading band of $18.11 to $46.94.  Shares closed down 1% at $20.18 on the day, but shares are up almost 20% at $24.20 after the bell.
  • Trimble Navigation (NASDAQ: TRMB) must have gotten tired of all the negative valuation calls on GPS systems.  The company raised its Q4 2007 earnings and revenue guidance and reiterated its 2008 revenue plan.  Its $250 million buyback plan for common stock didn’t do any disfavors.  Shares closed down over 2% at $23.85 today, but shares are up 15% at $27.45 after-hours; 52-week trading range is $22.51 to $43.15. 
  • Symantec (NASDAQ: SYMC) probably got tired of us calling them a turnaround that hasn’t turned and its CEO John Thompson must not like us calling him out.  We’re glad because we actually like the company and its strategy, even if Wall Street has disagreed with the plan for longer than holders care to recall.  We even recently noted that the company looks like it is changing some of its stripes.  The data security software and storage provider put next quarter guidance at $0.33 to $0.35 non-GAAP EPS on revenues of $1.5 to $1.54 Billion; First Call had targets at $0.30 & $1.48 Billion.  Shares rose 1.6% to $15.26 after touching a new 52-week low today and shares are now up about 8.5% at $16.55.
  • Plexus Corp. (NASDAQ: PLXS) rose 7% in normal trading to $19.84.  But the company raised guidance to $0.46 to $0.51 adjusted EPS on revenues of $440 million to $460 million, compared to estimates of $0.42 & almost $430 million.  That was enough to take shares up another 8.3% to $21.50 in after-hours trading.
  • Polycom (NASDAQ: PLCM) showed that video and IP phones are still selling well after a report of $0.42 EPS on a 41% gain in revenues to $263.3 million.  First Call had estimates at $0.39 & $252.5 million.  Shares were down 1.3% at $22.28 in regular trading but shares rose some 7.7% to $24.00 in the after-hours session; its 52-week trading range is $21.38 to $36.61.
  • Cubist Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: CBST) closed down 0.5% at $20.23 in normal trading, but then the company posted earnings on strong sales of Cubicin.  The company posted a non-GAAP EPS for all of 2007 at $1.20 on $194.7 million in revenues.  At year-end Cubist had $398.3 million in cash, cash equivalents and investments.  It now sees Cubicin sales in 2008 to reach $370 to $385 million, while analysts expect total revenues of just under $384 million.  Volume was a bit thin but its shares rose another 7% to $21.72 in after-hours trading; its 52-week range is $17.01 to $25.72.
  • Western Digital (NYSE: WDC) didn’t want to be left out of the fun.  The number two hard drive maker posted earnings of $1.35 EPS, well above the $1.04 consensus estimate; Revenues were $2.2 Billion versus a $2.05 Billion estimate.  This one had already raised guidance.   Now the company targets the coming quarter at $0.85 to $0.91 EPS with revenues up to $2 Billion, while estimates from First Call are $0.80 & $1.9 Billion.  This one traded up 3.7% to $24.94 today, but shares rose another 7% to $26.65 in after-hours trading .  Maybe companies that raise guidance can really be trusted to beat that guidance.  This was our top buyout candidate into 2007 when the private equity firms could have acquired it on the cheap, but that’s their loss.

Have a great night and get ready for Microsoft earnings Thursday after the close.

Jon C. Ogg
January 23, 2008

Posted on: January 23, 2008 – 7:31 pm in After-Hours Activity, , , , , , ,

Earlybird Analyst Calls (MAY 15, 2007)

AMGN cut to Neutral at Baird.
AOG cut to Hold at Jefferies.
BEAS cut to Neutral at Credit Suisse.
BHE started as Neutral at Credit Suisse.
CLS started as Underperform at Credit Suisse.
COGO started as Overweight at Lehman.
DCX raised to Buy at UBS.
EPIC started as Buy at UBS.
FLEX started as Outperform Credit Suisse.
GLP cut to Equal Weight at Lehman.
GM raised to Equal Weight at Lehman.
ICFI cut to Hold at Jefferies.
JAH started as Overweight at Lehman.
JBL started as Neutral at Credit Suisse.
MRO raised to Buy at B of A.
PGR started as Reduce at UBS.
PLXS started as Neutral at Credit Suisse.
SANM started as Neutral at Credit Suisse.
SLR started as Underperform at Credit Suisse.
SOFO started as Buy at Cantor Fitzgerald.
STEC cut to Hold at Deutsche Bank; cut to Sector Perform at CIBC.
TIBX cut to Neutral at Credit Suisse.
TSO cut to Neutral at B of A.
VRAZ started as Equal Weight at Lehman.
VLO cut to Neutral at B of A.

Jon C. Ogg
May 15, 2007

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

Posted on: May 15, 2007 – 6:19 am in Analyst Calls, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Pre-Market Stock News (May 14, 2007)

(ACL) Alcan’s buyout bid by Alcoa is reportedly getting big interest from larger names such as Rio Tinto and others.
(BRLC) Syntax-Brillian filed to sell 25.6M shares, although the shelf was telegraphed with earnings last week.
(DCX) DaimlerChrysler is selling a majority stake in Chrysler to Cerberus Capital for $7.7 Billion; Chrysler will maintain 19.9% stake.
(FACT) First Albany is recapitalizing and will receive a $50M investment from Matlin Patterson.
(GE) GE’s NBC unit could or should merge with Yahoo! (YHOO) according to WSJ.
(GILT) Gilat Satellite $0.13 EPS vs $0.11e.
(INFT) Inforte gets a $4.25 cash buyout from Business & Decision.
(MMC) Marsh & McClennan announced $500M accelerated share buyback program.
(MRK) Merck received and FDA Approvable letter of its NDA for EMEND.
(MWA) Mueller Water names new CFO.
(MYL) Mylan Labs is acquiring Merck KGaA’s generic operations for about $6.7 Billion.
(NAT) Nordic American Tanker $0.85 EPS vs $0.83e.
(NAVR) Navarre is selling its independent music distribution business.
(PLXS) Plexus CFO retiring.
(QTWW) Quantum Fuel signed an agreement to acquire a 24.9% stake in a German solar company.
(SORC) Source Interlink to acquire PRIMEDIA’s Enthusiast Media unit for about $1.2 Billion.
(SYNF) Synergy Financial being acquired by New York Community Bancorp (NYB).
(TRMK) Trimark is paying $85M to acquire DATA RETURN from Saratoga Partners.
(ULBI) Ultralife Battery accepts modified order from last week lowered from $6.9M to $2.4M.
(USBE) US Bioenergy $0.08 EPS vs $0.21e.
(VAS) VIASYS being acquired by Cardinal Health (CAH) for $42.75.
(WMT) Wal-Mart is expanding electronics offerings and will include Skype equipment.

Jon C. Ogg
May 14, 2007

Posted on: May 14, 2007 – 6:35 am in Pre-Market Activity, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,