Dr Pepper Snapple Group (NYSE: DPS) hit a yearly high of $28.58 as Citigroup gives the company a buy rating in anticipation of the declaration of a dividend or stock buy backs in 2010.

Mead Johnson Nutrition Company (NYSE: MJN) hit a yearly high of $43.68 as rumors of a takeover circulated.  The shares promptly dropped as the rumored purchaser, Danone SA, denied the reports.

Thor Industries (NYSE: THO) hit a yearly high of $30.64 as it reported that its 4Q profits had quadrupled.  

Valassis Communications (NYSE: VCI) hit a yearly high of $25.25, boosted by positive news coming out of Gannett.

Walgreen Company (NYSE: WAG) hit a yearly high of $37.53 after the company’s earnings beat analysts estimates.

Garrett W. McIntyre

• DJIA          8,468.48 (+48.99; +0.58%)
• NASDAQ   1,524.90 (+3.36; +0.22%)
• S&P500     868.15 (+4.99; +0.58%)

Here are some of today’s 52-week low stocks and brief comments:

STOCK (TICKER)                                    Low      Prev.Low
Atlas Pipeline Partners (APL)                   $5.00     $5.39

• Just do not look at the dividend, it is not one you can trust.

4 Kids Entertain. (KDE)                            $1.97      $2.01

• At least it is close to book, or before you start factoring for losses and settlements.

Hansen Medical, Inc. (HNSN)                   $6.16       $6.20

• So much for protection in medical devices, so much for "the next ISRG" as a stock.

IPC The Hospitalist Company, (IPCM)       $13.46   $13.50

• This was formerly one of the few post-IPO’s which was doinggreat. Physician practices are not immune to recessions, and futureoperations may not be as protected or profitable as in prior years witha new administration.

Lufkin Industries, Inc. (LUFK)                    $32.00   $32.02

• Oil field pump units and highway trailers deep in the heart of Texas, with those two downstream sectors in the tank.

Synaptics Incorporated (SYNA)                  $14.43   $14.69

• Buying fewer cellphones means less need for toughscreen phone technology.

Thor Industries (THO)                                $12.09     $12.32

• RV’ing stinks as a business in a recession, even if gas is finally affordable again.

Track Data Corporation (TRAC)                  $0.82    $0.85

• Great investment and news tools, but crummy market has more and more players hanging up their hats.

Transocean (RIG)                                      $41.95   $43.25

• Low oil prices, offshore drilling too expensive for new projects to be started now; shares down roughly 75%.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from the 24/7 Wall St. team!!!!

• Comerica (CMA) Raised to Outperform at Bernstein.
• Fifth Third Bancorp (FITB) Raised to Outperform at Bernstein.
• Iron Mountain (IRM) Raised to Outperform at Credit Suisse.
• Regions Financial (RF) Raised to Outperform at Bernstein.
• SPSS Inc. (SPSS) Raised to Buy at Jefferies.
• TD Ameritrade (AMTD) Raised to Outperform at Raymond James.
• Thor Industries (THO) Raised to Neutral at Baird.
• Transdigm Group (TDG) Raised to Buy at UBS.

Jon C. Ogg
November 5, 2008

The company did not give earnings guidance.  ThomsonReuters (First Call) has estimates listed as over $484 million inrevenues, and the lowest estimates was just under $420 million.

RV sales were pretty grim.  The quarterly sales came in at roughly$331.2 million.  This is a drop of more than 50% from the$664.2 million seen last year.

The company better be thankful that it sells buses.  It reported thatquarterly bus sales were $108.0 million, a gain of 8.5% from $99.5million reported last year. 

One key area to focus on is backlog, as this is used to measurefuture strength or weakness.  Thatis not looking good at all. 

Thor’s backlog at the end ofthe quarter was $381.2 million, down almost 20% from the $476.1 million backlogat the end the same quarter in 2007.   RV backlog was$124.5 million, down a sharp 50% from the $249.7 million last year.Its backlog in buses was up more than 13% from lastyear to $256.6 million.

The company listed its cash and equivalents at roughly $286 million,which the company said will give it "a significant competitiveadvantage in these difficult times."  Thor better hoard that cash allit can.  It sounds like it is going to need it.

Thor’s shares have already been smacked by Thor’s Hammer.  Shares aredown 0.5% at $17.57 today, but the 52-week trading range is $14.68 to$46.00.  Its current market cap is $975 million.

Winnebago Industries Inc. (WGO), its key competitor in RV sales, isactually doing far worse in stock performance.  Its shares are downless than 1% today at $5.95, but its 52-week trading range is $4.22 to$24.83.

If you have ever wanted to own an RV and flush with cash to go on along driving tour around the USA, the RV dealers right now willprobably cut you the deal of a lifetime.

Jon C. Ogg
November 4, 2008

• Apple (AAPL) Cut to Equal Weight at Morgan Stanley.
• Bankrate (RATE) Cut to Neutral at Merriman Curhan Ford.
• ConocoPhillips (COP) Cut To Neutral at Goldman Sachs.
• Infinera (INFN) Cut To Sell at Goldman Sachs.
• Motorola (MOT) Cut to Hold at Citigroup.
• Smart Modular Tech (SMOD) Cut to Hold at Deutsche Bank.
• TheStreet.com (TSCM) Cut to Neutral at Merriman Curhan Ford.
• Thor Industries (THO) Cut to Underperform at Baird.
• Washington Mutual (WM) Cut to Underperform at KBW.
• Winnebago Industries (WGO) Cut to Underperform at Baird.

Jon C. Ogg
September 29, 2008

Sunoco  (SUN) Analyst downgrade. Down to $43.88 from 52-week high of $80.40.

Thor Industries (THO) Bad quarter, new CFO. Drops to $25.18 from 52-week high of $52.31.

DSP Group (DSPG) Falls on week quarter. Down to $8.97 from 52-week high of $22.30.

Franklin Bank  (FBTX) Company drops out of S&P Small Cap index. Drops to $.83 from 52-week high of $17.

Douglas A McIntyre