Posts for Ticker ‘RL’

Top Analyst Upgrades, Downgrades, Initiations (ADBE, CETV, ENER, SOLR, KR, RL, RAX, SQNM)

These are this morning’s top analyst upgrades, downgrades, and initiations seen early this Tuesday morning from Wall Street research calls:

Adobe Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: ADBE) Raised to Buy at Janney Montgomery Scott.
Central Euro Media Enterprises Ltd. (NASDAQ: CETV) Raised to Buy at Goldman Sachs.
Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ: ENER) Cut to Sell at Citigroup; Cut to Neutral at JPMorgan; Cut to Hold at Lazard.
GT Solar International, Inc. (NASDAQ: SOLR) Cut to Underweight at Piper Jaffray.
Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) Raised to Conviction Buy List at Goldman Sachs.
Polo Ralph Lauren Corp. (NYSE: RL) Raised to Conviction Buy List at Goldman Sachs.
Rackspace Hosting, Inc. (NYSE: RAX) Raised to Outperform at Oppenheimer; Raised to Buy at Kaufman
Sequenom Inc. (NASDAQ: SQNM) Maintained Sell and $3 target at Auriga.

You can join our open email distribution list to get updates on top analyst upgrades and downgrades, top day trader alerts, IPO’s, secondary offerings, Warren Buffett and other guru activity, M&A and more.

JON C. OGG

Posted on: November 10, 2009 – 7:35 am in Analyst Calls, Pre-Market Activity, , , , , , , ,

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, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Top Analyst Upgrades (C, CY, DRYS, LRCX, ONNN, PSUN, PKX, RL)

These are this morning’s top analyst upgrades and positive research calls from Wall Street firms we have seen with about two hours until the market opens:

Citigroup (C) Started as Buy at Deutsche Bank.
Cypress Semiconductor (CY) Raised to Hold at Jefferies.
DryShips (DRYS) Raised to Buy at Lazard.
Lam Research (LRCX) Raised to Overweight at Barclays.
On Semiconductor (ONNN) Started as Buy at Deutsche Bank.
Pacific Sunwear (PSUN) Raised to Outperform at FBR Capital.
Posco (PKX) Raised to Conviction Buy List at Goldman Sachs.
Polo Ralph Lauren (RL) Started as Buy at UBS.

You can join our open email distribution list to get updates each morning on analyst upgrades and downgrades, top day trader alerts, IPO’s and secondary offerings, Warren Buffett and other guru activity, M&A and more.

JON C. OGG
OCTOBER 13, 2009

Posted on: October 13, 2009 – 7:50 am in Analyst Calls, , , , , , , ,

52-Week High Club

Gap Inc. (NYSE: GPS)  hits a yearly high of $22.54.  Fellow retailers Polo Ralph Lauren (NYSE: RL),  American Eagle Outfitters (NYSE: AEO) and J. Crew Group (NYSE: JCG) also hit yearly highs.

Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS) hits a yearly high of $184.30 on analyst enthusiasm for underwriting and mergers and acquisitions businesses.  Credit Suisse (NYSE: CS) and Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) also hit yearly highs.

Google (NYSE: GOOG) hits a yearly high of $501.13 after a wave of price target increases on optimistic outlook for web advertising, including today’s increase by the brokerage Canaccord Adams.

Palm Inc. (Nasdaq: PALM) rallies to a yearly high of $17.12 on rumors that Nokia (NYSE: NOK) may be looking to bid on the handset maker. 

24/7 Wall St.

Posted on: September 22, 2009 – 4:32 pm in Financial Stocks, Mergers and Buy Outs, Retail, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Top Pre-Market Analyst Downgrades (AINV, BHI, CNI, RDEN, KSU, PALM, RL, RRGB, SII, TER)

These are some of the top pre-market analyst downgrades on Wall Street this Tuesday morning:

  • Apollo Investment (AINV) Cut to Neutral at JPMorgan.
  • Baker Hughes (BHI) Cut to Underweight at Morgan Stanley.
  • Canadian National Railway (CNI) Cut to Neutral at Goldman Sachs.
  • Elizabeth Arden, Inc. (RDEN) Cut to Market Perform at Wachovia.
  • Kansas City Southern (KSU) Cut to Neutral at JPMorgan.
  • Palm (PALM) Cut to Neutral at JPMorgan.
  • Polo Ralph Lauren (RL) Cut to Sell at Goldman Sachs.
  • Red Robin Gourmet (RRGB) Cut to Equal Weight at Morgan Stanley.
  • Smith International (SII) Cut to Equal Weight at Morgan Stanley.
  • Teradyne (TER) Cut to Perform at Oppenheimer.

Jon C. Ogg
January 20, 2009

Posted on: January 20, 2009 – 7:51 am in Analyst Calls, , , , , , , , , ,

Top Pre-Market Analyst Upgrades (BPFH, CAAS, CTXS, HAYN, MMC, NDAQ, RL, RMD)

These are not all of the analyst upgrades or positive calls we are seeing, but these are the stand out calls early this Thursday morning:

  • Boston Private Financial (BPFH) Raised to Overweight at JPMorgan.
  • China Automotive Systems (CAAS) Started as Buy at Merriman Curhan Ford.
  • Citris (CTXS) Started as Outperform at Bernstein.
  • Haynes International (HAYN) Raised to Overweight at JPMorgan.
  • Marsh & McLennan (MMC) Raised to Market Perform at FBR.
  • NASDAQ OMX (NDAQ) Raised to Outperform at FBR.
  • Polo Ralph Lauren (RL) Raised to Outperform at Morgan Keegan.
  • Resmed (RMD) Raised to Hold at Citigroup.

Jon C. Ogg
August 7, 2008

Posted on: August 7, 2008 – 6:09 am in Analyst Calls, , , , , , , ,

Top 10 Pre-Market Analyst Calls (ALD, T, BA, NDAQ, NNI, PBT, RL, RGC, TIBX, WINN)

These are not all of the calls we are seeing in pre-market coverage, but these are ten of the calls impacting shares this Wednesday morning:

  • Allied Capital (NYSE: ALD) Started as Underweight at JPMorgan.
  • AT&T (NYSE: T) raised to Outperform at Bernstein.
  • Boeing (NYSE: BA) Cut to Sell from Neutral at Goldman Sachs.
  • NASDAQ OMX (NASDAQ: NDAQ) Raised to Buy from Neutral at Piper Jaffray.
  • Nelnet (NYSE: NNI) Raised to Outperform at FBR.
  • Permian Basin Royalty Trust (NYSE: PBT) Raised to Buy from Hold at Citigroup.
  • Polo Ralph Lauren (NYSE: RL) Raised to Market Perform from Underperform at Morgan Keegan.
  • Regal Entertainment (NYSE: RGC) Raised to Outperform at BMO Capital.
  • Tibco Software (NASDAQ: TIBX) Raised to Overweight at JPMorgan.
  • Winn-Dixie (NASDAQ: WINN) Raised to Outperform from Market Perform at FBR.

Jon C. Ogg
June 25, 2008

Posted on: June 25, 2008 – 6:11 am in Analyst Calls, , , , , , , , , ,

Ralph Lauren Signals All Clear Sign (RL)

The worst may have been seen in many of the US apparel makers.  At least that is what Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation (NYSE: RL) is trying to communicate on its own operations.

The company posted earnings this morning of $104 million or $1.00 EPS, up from $73 million and $0.68 EPS in the same quarter in 2007.  This was on a revenue rise of 20% to $1.24 Billion for the quarter.  First Call had estimates of $0.65 EPS on $1.15 Billion in revenues. 

It may be hard to compare these numbers directly to estimates because these numbers are inclusive of lower tax rates at 28%, down from 39% last year.  Operating expenses were up 21% in the quarter.  For its fiscal year, the numbers came in at $420 million in net income and $3.99 EPS.

As far as guidance is concerned, Ralph Lauren sees revenues growing at low to mid-single digit rates, along with operating margins heading down by 300 to 400 basis points (3% to 4%). 

For fiscal 2009, the company sees revenues growing at low to mid-single digit rates, and the company’s target of $3.95 to $4.05 EPS remains.  If we take the $4.88 Billion in 2008 revenues and imply a 2% to 5% growth target we get $4.97 to $5.12 Billion in projected revenues.  First Call has next year’s estimates pegged at $3.97 EPS and $5.08 Billion in revenues.

Ralph Lauren shares closed at $61.75 yesterday and are indicated up about $3.00 with more than one hour to the open.  Its 52-week trading range is $50.55 to $102.58.

Jon C. Ogg
May 28, 2008

Posted on: May 28, 2008 – 7:33 am in Apparel, Earnings,

Top 10 Pre-Market Analyst Calls (RATE, CE, CSCO, DCP, RL, PFG, RYAAY, AKH, VM, XL)

Below are some of the early bird analyst calls that are affecting shares in pre-market trading:

  • Bankrate Inc. (NASDAQ: RATE) upgraded to Buy from Hold at Citigroup.
  • Celanese (NYSE: CE) raised to Buy from Neutral at UBS.
  • Cisco Systems (NASDAQ: CSCO) downgraded to Neutral from overweight at JPMorgan; downgraded to Neutral at Baird; more to come.
  • Dyncorp international (NYSE: DCP) upgraded to Buy at Jefferies; upgraded to Outperform at Wachovia.
  • Polo Ralph Lauren (NYSE: RL) cut to Hold from Buy at Citigroup.
  • Principal Financial (NYSE: PFG) raised to Neutral from Sell at UBS.
  • Ryanair Holdings (NASDAQ: RYAAY) and Air France KLM (NYSE: AKH) were both raised to Buy at UBS.
  • Virgin Mobile USA (NYSE: VM) downgraded to Equal Weight at Lehman.
  • XL Capital (NYSE: XL) cut to Neutral from Overweight at JPMorgan.

Jon C. Ogg
February 7, 2008

Posted on: February 7, 2008 – 7:20 am in Analyst Calls, , , , , , , , , ,

Ralph Lauren Relief (RL)

Polo Ralph Lauren Corp. (NYSE: RL) has posted net income of $113 million, which translates into $1.08 EPS for its Q3-2008.  This is up from its net income of $111 million, or $1.03 EPS, in Q3-2007. Revenues grew 11% to $1.27 Billion.  First Call had estimates at $0.77 EPS on revenues of $1.19 Billion.

Ralph Lauren is also giving 2008 forecasts as there is only one quarter left, but the company is also offering preliminary 2009 targets:

  • For 2008, it sees low double-digit revenue gains, operating margins to decline by approximately 250 basis points, and sees EPS at the lower end of the range of $3.64 to $3.74 compared to a prior expectation of $3.50 to $3.60.  First Call has estimates at $3.47 EPS.
  • For 2009, it projects revenues to increase by a low-to-mid single digit percentages, expects a 38% tax rate, sees roughly 106 million shares outstanding, and is initially setting a range of 2009 EPS at $3.95 to $4.05.  First Call has estimates at $4.31 EPS.

While this is under plan for 2009, this actually is not a major disappointment in the grand scheme of things.  If you are a value manager or a GARP manager, there is ammo for both.  Based on the pre-market price being static, this would generate a current year P/E ratio for 2008 of 16.1 and a forward 2009 P/E ratio of 14.6 at the mid-point of the range.

Shares were initially down on this report, but now shares are indicated slightly higher by 2% at $58.70.  The 52-week trading range is $50.55 to $102.58, so there has already been a full blown market price correction to adjust for a slower growing company here.

Jon C. Ogg
February 6, 2008

Posted on: February 6, 2008 – 8:28 am in Apparel, Earnings, , ,

Top 10 Pre-Market Analyst Calls (ADBE, ADS, JRJC, GILD, HES, JWN, MNST, NEU, RL, YUM)

These are not all of the pre-market research calls during a busy earnings morning, but these are the top calls that 247WallSt.com is looking at:

  • Adobe Systems (NASDAQ: ADBE) downgraded to Underperform from Buy at Jefferies.
  • Alliance Data Systems (NYSE: ADS) upgraded to Outperform at Bear Stearns and upgraded to Outperform at JMP Securities.
  • China Finance Online (NASDAQ: JRJC) started as Buy at Jefferies.
  • Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ: GILD) raised to Outperform at Wachovia.
  • Hess (HES) raised to Overweight at JPMorgan.
  • J.W. Nordstrom (NYSE: JWN) raised to Outperform at Bear Stearns.
  • Monster Worldwide (NASDAQ: MNST) downgraded to Hold from Buy at Deutsche Bank.
  • NeuMarket (NYSE: NEU) started as Outperform at Oppenheimer.
  • Polo Ralph Lauren (NYSE: RL) downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Banc of America.
  • YUM! Brands (NYSE: YUM) downgraded to Hold from Buy at Deutsche Bank.

Jon C. Ogg
January 31, 2008

Posted on: January 31, 2008 – 7:43 am in Analyst Calls, , , , , , , , , ,

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, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Cramer’s Retail & Apparel Calls On The Fed (PVH, PERY, RL, DLTR, GPS, AEO)

On tonight’s Mad Money on CNBC, Jim Cramer said he is adamant of a RATE CUT from the Federal Reserve and sticking his head out waiting for it.  He still thinks the way to play this is by being in best of breed and solid retail stocks, particularly since this is FASHION WEEK.  He has one play he thinks is a big buy, but there are also a couple retail stocks in fashion and apparel that you should avoid.

The one Cramer loves and thinks you should own right now is Phillips-Van Heusen (NYSE:PVH), which owns Calvin Klein.  That isn’t the only brand and isn’t the only good brand.  It licenses Kenneth Cole, DKNY, Joseph Abboud, and has IZOD, Bass, Geoffrey Beene.  He thinks this may be immune from missing estimates and will grow from the outside of the US sales.  It also has 725 outlet stores it sells through.  PVH rose 1.5% to $56.00 after the Cramer call, but shares were down 1.9% in normal trading and closed at $55.18 in normal trading.

A call-in during the first ‘avoid segment’ was actually from an overstock retail specialist, and Crameragreed that there is major discounting and overstocking going on inapparel right now.  Cramer still thinks the way to key off of goodretailers is by gaging the Fed ahead of rate cuts. In the call-insegment he was positive on Gap (NYSE:GPS), Dollar Tree (NASDAQ:DLTR),and American Eagle Outfitters (NYSE:AEO).

CRAMER’S AVOID LIST FOR NOW

Perry Ellis (NASDAQ:PERY) is a fairly unfashionable label that blew away earnings, but the quality of earnings was a beat because of cost cuts and they are a mid-tier fashion brand.  This is also the most at risk if Cramer is wrong on the rate cuts, and he’s concerned about Perry Eliis’ future.  It also gives no dividend and has no share buyback plan.

Ralph Lauren (NYSE:RL) is a best of breed clothier, and Citigroup just started it as a Buy this week.  On August 8 the earnings miss punished the stock after an earnings warning.  He said he gave the management the benefit of the doubt right before the retail stock slide happened.  Tonight Jim Cramer is saying now that he cannot recommend this one now, and he said he’s sitting on the sidelines now.  Blowing a quarter means you have to weigh the risk/reward a quarter later to make sure this isn’t a one time event.

Jon C. Ogg
September 5, 2007

Jon Ogg can be reached at jonogg@247wallst.com; he produces the 24/7 Wall St. SPECIAL SITUATION INVESTING NEWSLETTER and he does not own securities in the companies he covers.

Posted on: September 5, 2007 – 5:24 pm in Apparel, Cramer, , , , , ,

Cramer: Hail Retail Investors, Plus Ralph Lauren To $120

On today’s STOP TRADING segment on CNBC, Jim Cramer came out discussing if the individual investor is in the market.  If retails buys tech like Ciena (CIEN-NASDAQ) and Apple (AAPL-NASDAQ) then they are buying needles in the haystck, but machinery, mining , minerals, aerospace are all their own haystacks.  You can see what he said the other night for individual stock picks here with his four sectors and then the other two sectors where he believed we are in wild bull markets that outlines his picks in each of these sectors.

Ralph Lauren (RL-NYSE) is firing on all cylinders and it is starting to take up more and more retail space and taking gross margin power away from retailers.  Cramer said RL’s stock is heading for $120.00.

Jon C. Ogg
May 31, 2007

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

Posted on: May 31, 2007 – 1:55 pm in Cramer, , ,

Cramer Says Retail Is It

Stock Tickers: JCP, KSS, JCP, SHLD, RL, SKS, CROX

Cramer’s retail rovery is the topic of his video (thestreet.com video section) and noted these aren’t all blow-ups.  He thinks retail will have a couple day run and that he thinks gasoline prices are peaked.  So he thinks summer will be ok for retail, except for outdoor and furniture. Here are his picks: "Stick with JC Penney (JCP)" is what he said, as I figured he would.  Kohl’s (KSS) and Sears (SHLD) he still likes, but said Saks (SKS) is the go-to name ahead of next week’s earnings. Cramer also digs Ralph Lauren (RL) at $93.00 going higher.  Crocs (CROX) is one he thinks more good analyst calls will drive it up, but after that he’d say to go out.

Jon C. Ogg
May 17, 2007

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

Posted on: May 17, 2007 – 11:58 am in Uncategorized, , , , , ,

Cramer’s Stealthy Uranium & Inflation Plays

On tonight’s MAD MONEY on CNBC, Jim Cramer had a stock that is leveraged to inflation: you buy Gold, Art, Collectibles.  He says you can buy Sotheby’s (BID-NYSE) because it is in a duopoly in the world now.  Cramer did say that this is actually in a secular trend of permanency where the rich are getting richer and richer.  He says this will help as more and more super-high-end items will sell.  He says their margins are huge and any extra business they get from prices rising goes straight to the bottom line.  He said he’s been behind this one for a long time and it is up 100% since then.

On a call-in Cramer said he also liked Ralph Lauren (RL-NYSE) since it is reacquiring all of their global licenses outstanding.

Cramer also came out discussing that Uranium has gone throught the roof.  He already gave a pick on Energy Metals (EMU-NYSE) back in February, and here’s what he said then.  He has two stocks that you can speculate on in the sector.  He says that you can extract Uranium from Phosphate.  It costs $50.00 per pound to do it (very expensive historically) but with Uranium at $113 per pound then you can look at Mosaic (MOS-NYSE) and CF Industries (CF-NYSE).  There are unintended consequences though because it can drop the price drastically.  Cramer noted that these companies have both done this in the past, and he said he likes them even if Uranium prices come back down.  With the number of nuclear power plants coming online, Cramer thinks that will be a big win.

Posted on: April 13, 2007 – 5:25 pm in Cramer, , , , ,