Posts for Ticker ‘WSM’

Thursday Earnings Retail Bonanza (DKS, FL, GPS, ROST, SHLD, BKE, PLCE, WTSLA, WSM, ZUMZ)

The earnings season is mostly winding down, but we still have a slew of retail earnings in the apparel and home categories.  On Thursday alone, we have earnings from Dick’s Sporting Goods Inc. (NYSE: DKS), Foot Locker Inc. (NYSE: FL), Gap Inc. (NYSE: GPS), Ross Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ: ROST), Sears Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: SHLD), The Buckle (NYSE: BKE), The Children’s Place Retail Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ: PLCE), Wet Seal Inc. (NASDAQ: WTSLA), Williams-Sonoma (NYSE: WSM), and Zumiez, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZUMZ).

We have compiled data and analysis here using Thomson Reuters consensus estimates, recent metrics offered by the companies, relative performance, and more.  As with what we have seen at most retail and apparel earnings this week and last, many of these are richly valued and probably cannot just hope to please the bulls by meeting estimates on cost cutting and inventory management and then giving cautious guidance.
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Posted on: November 18, 2009 – 3:38 pm in Apparel, Calendar, Earnings, Retail, , , , , , , , , ,

Top Analyst Upgrades (APSG, BWA, CBI, ETH, GME, PIR, TD, WSM)

These are some of the top pre-market analyst upgrades and positive research calls that we have seen from Wall Street firms early this Monday morning:

Applied Signal (APSG) Raised to Buy at Colliins-Stewart.
Borg Warner (BWA) Raised to Outperform at Wells Fargo.
Chicago Bridge & Iron (CBI) Raised to Overweight at JPMorgan.
Ethan Allen (ETH) Raised to Hold at KeyBanc.
GameStop (GME) Raised to Conviction Buy List at Goldman Sachs.
Pier-1 Imports (PIR) Raised to Hold at KeyBanc.
TD Bank (TD) Raised to Outperform at RBC.
Williams-Sonoma (WSM) Raised to Hold at KeyBanc.

JON C. OGG

Posted on: August 31, 2009 – 8:04 am in Analyst Calls, , , , , , , ,

Top Analyst Upgrades (BCS, BBBY, DLTR, EMC, GHL, HCN, NTAP, SNH, WSM, INTC)

These are this morning’s top pre-market analyst upgrades, initiations, and positive broker research calls we have seen early this Thursday morning from Wall Street firms:

  • Barclays (BCS) Raised to Outperform at KBW.
  • Bed Bath & Beyond (BBBY) Started as Buy at Citigroup.
  • Dollar Tree (DLTR) Raised to Overweight at Barclays.
  • EMC Corp (EMC) Started as Buy at Citigroup.
  • Greenhill & CO. (GHL) Raised to Neutral from Sell at Goldman Sachs.
  • Health Care REIT (HCN) Started as Outperform at Wells Fargo.
  • NetApp (NTAP) Started as Buy at Citigroup.
  • Senior Housing (SNH) Raised to Outperform at Wells Fargo.
  • Williams-Sonoma (WSM) Started as Buy at Citigroup.

Elsewhere, JPMorgan is maintaining a cautious stance on Intel Corp. (NASDAQ: INTC) on poor demand expectations, but it raisedx its target to $17.00 from $12.00.

JON C. OGG

Posted on: August 27, 2009 – 8:19 am in Analyst Calls, , , , , , , , , ,

Top Day Trader Alerts (VG, WSM, TSTR, CPST, HGSI, MYGN, LDK, SIRI)

We are seeing some of the same players in the top day trader and active trader alerts, although we are also getting some new names in here as well.  There is a link to each piece for more detailed volume and price data and analysis over at VSInvestor.com:

Vonage Holdings Inc. (NYSE: VG) is hitting amazing trading after yesterday’s 100%+ gains and this morning we saw shares up sharply by yet another 39% to new 52-week highs….

Williams-Sonoma Inc. (NYSE: WSM) is hitting highs for 2009 on earnings and higher guidance.

TerreStar Corporation (NASDAQ: TSTR) is up on active volume this morning on no news…. this is an unusual volume mover considering how it trades.

Capstone Turbine Corporation (NASDAQ: CPST) is surging to recent highs on a new supply pact.

Human Genome Sciences Inc. (NYSE: HGSI) is trading up yet again, and on the same news…

Myriad Genetics Inc. (NASDAQ: MYGN) is up big on earnings and an upgrade.

LDK Solar Co., Ltd. (NYSE: LDK) is up big on news out of China.

SIRIUS XM Radio Inc. (NASDAQ: SIRI) seems to be losing momentum as the street awaits news, but we gave some recent day high-low levels for pivot points…

We apologize if some of the links are slow to load or if they time out.  Due to increased demand, we are making server upgrades this week as a result.  If you wish to be notified by email when the top day trader alerts hit, along with news of IPO’s, key offerings, guru investor data on Buffett and others, mergers, and more, you can join our open email distribution list which goes out several times per week.

-The 24/7 Wall Street Team

Posted on: August 26, 2009 – 9:10 am in Pre-Market Activity, Trading Alert, , , , , , , ,

Top 10 Analyst Upgrades & Downgrades (ARG, T, GOOG, HOV, MELI, SSL, STO, TSM, TRI, WSM)

These are the top ten analyst calls for research upgrades, downgrades, and initiations which we have seen from Wall Street early this Monday morning:
Airgas (ARG) Started as Buy at Piper Jaffray.
AT&T (T) Removed from Conviction Buy List at Goldman Sachs, but maintained Buy rating with 32% upside.
Google (GOOG) Cut to Hold from Buy at Benchmark.
Hovnanian (HOV) Cut to Underperform at Wachovia.
MercadoLibre (MELI) Raised to Positive at Susquehanna.
Sassol (SSL) Started as Neutral at UBS.
StatoilHydro (STO) Cut to Sell from Neutral at UBS.
Taiwan Semi (TSM) Raised to Overweight at Morgan Stanley.
Thomson Reuters (TRI) Raised to Outperform at Scotia.
Williams-Sonoma (WSM) Raised to Buy at Piper Jaffray.

JON C. OGG
June 8, 2009

Posted on: June 8, 2009 – 6:53 am in Analyst Calls, , , , , , , , , ,

Top Analyst Downgrades (CLX, CTV, HD, IPI, MU, WSM)

These are some of the top analyst downgrades or negative research calls we have seen early this Monday morning:

Clorox (CLX) Cut to Underperform at Bernstein.
Commscope (CTV) Cut to Neutral at UBS.
Home Depot (HD) Cut to Market Perform at Bernstein.
Intrepid Potash (IPI) Cut to Sell at Soleil.
Micron (MU) Cut to Neutral at UBS.
Williams-Sonoma (WSM) Cut to Market Perform at Bernstein.

JON C. OGG

Posted on: May 11, 2009 – 6:46 am in Analyst Calls, , , , , ,

Best Performing Sectors This Week: Cancer Stocks, Home Furnishing, Aircraft Leasing

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Posted on: April 16, 2009 – 12:07 pm in Business Services, Exchange, Industry, , , , , , , ,

Top Pre-Market Analyst Downgrades (AXP, ATML, BX, CHA, CYPB, HPQ, SLAB, UBS, WSM)

These are some of the top pre-market analyst downgrades or cautious calls we have seen from Wall Street firms early this Wednesday morning:

American Express (AXP) Cut to Underweight at JPMorgan.
Atmel (ATML) Cut to Market Perform at FBR.
Blackstone (BX) Cut to Market Perform at KBW.
China Telecom (CHA) Cut to Sell at Citigroup.
Cypress Bioscience (CYPB) Cut to Perform at Oppenheimer.
Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) Started as Outperform at RBC.
Silicon Laboratories (SLAB) Cut to Market Perform at FBR.
UBS (UBS) Cut to Underperform at KBW.
Williams-Sonoma (WSM) Cut to Underweight at Barclays.

JON C. OGG

Posted on: March 25, 2009 – 6:59 am in Analyst Calls, , , , , , , , ,

Top Pre-Market Analyst Upgrades & Downgrades (NGG, QGEN, RGC, WSM, GPN, GFI, QSFT, TSRA)

Money_stack_picThese are the early bird analyst upgrades and downgrades we have seen this Tuesday morning with more than two hours to the open:

  • National Grid (NYSE: NGG) Raised to Overweight at HSBC.
  • Qiagen (NASDAQ: QGEN) Started as Overweight at HSBC.
  • Regal Entertainment (NYSE: RGC) Started as Buy at Merriman Curhan Ford.
  • Williams-Sonoma (NYSE: WSM) Raised to Buy at Merrill lynch.
  • Global Payments (NYSE: GPN) Cut to Neutral at Baird.
  • Gold Fields (NYSE: GFI) Cut to Neutral from Buy at UBS.
  • Quest Software (NASDAQ: QSFT) Cut to Neutral at Goldman Sachs.
  • Tessera Technologies (NASDAQ: TSRA) Cut to Neutral at Piper Jaffray.

Jon C. Ogg
December 2, 2008

Posted on: December 2, 2008 – 7:27 am in Analyst Calls, , , , , , , ,

The Black Friday Ten: Retailers Who May Not See 2009 (BONT)(DDS)(TLB)(PIR)(CPWM)(WSM)(CHS)(SKS)(EBHI)(RAD)

Angrybear_3A year ago, not many people would have thought Circuit City would be in bankruptcy now. Linens ‘n Things, Mervyn’s, Whitehall Jewelers and Steve & Barry’s have either shut down or are closing huge numbers of locations since they moved into Chapter 11.

The most astonishing fact about the retail industry now is that the environment has gotten much worse than it was when each of these businesses began to fail. Sales at stores across the country will be down this holiday season. Some analysts believe that the numbers will be as bad as for any fourth quarter in thirty-five years.

Adding to the problem of slow consumer spending brought on by the recession is an unprecedented liquidity crisis. Retailers who need access to capital for inventory, rent, and personnel costs are finding that it is nearly impossible to get access to funds without a pristine balance sheet and a history of substantial positive cash flow.

These troubles point to a number of other retail chains going out of business between now and early next year. Sales on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, which is considered the bellwether of holiday sales, will determine the fate of several companies which are now viewed as the weakest operators in the industry.

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Posted on: November 26, 2008 – 5:57 pm in Retail, , , , , , , , , ,

Top Pre-Market Analyst Upgrades (EQIX, HLS, ITRI, MPEL, RTP, RTIX, UL, WSM)

Money_stack_picThese are the few upgrades and positive research calls we have seen from Wall Street analysts this Wednesday morning:

  • Equinix (EQIX) Started as Overweight at JPMorgan.
  • Healthsouth (HLS) Raised to Buy at Jefferies.
  • Itron (ITRI) Raised to Buy at UBS.
  • Melco Crown PBL (MPEL) Raised to Buy but target cut at Goldman Sachs.
  • Rio Tinto (RTP) Raised to Buy at Canaccord.
  • RTI Biologics (RTIX) Started as Buy at Canaccord.
  • Unilever (UL) Started as Buy at Jefferies.
  • William Sonoma (WSM) Raised to Neutral from Sell at UBS.

Jon C. Ogg
November 26, 2008

Posted on: November 26, 2008 – 7:37 am in Analyst Calls, , , , , , , ,

Margin Calls Hit Execs Left & Right (AIV, BSX, CPE, CHK, DNR, LTM, PROV, PHM, SPA, STRL, WSM)

Burningmoney_2There are many C-Suite executive from Wall Street to main Street that didn’t exactly get their stock priorities right.  Many company executives are getting margin calls and are being forced to liquidate their stocks.  Some are for stocks in their own company, some are for stocks and general, and some are just forced to sell to meet margin calls for entirely different reasons unrelated to their companies.  below is a partial list of margin call victims from this week:

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Posted on: October 31, 2008 – 8:06 pm in Insider Activity, , , , , , , , , , ,

The 52-Week Low Club (VSE)(WSM)(PPC)(MCK)(VPRT)(CLNE)

Sad_clownVerasun Energy (VSE) Rumor that ethanol company may go Chapter 11. Drops to $.40 from 52-week high of $17.75.

Williams-Sonoma (WSM) Who can afford to decorate a home? Earnings fall. Sells off to $7.26 from 52-week high of $31.88.

Pilgrim’s Pride (PPC) Lenders extend debt, but market is still nervous. Down to $1.10 from 52-week high of $30.15.

McKesson (MCK) Weak guidance. Slips to $35.50 from 52-week high of $68.43.

Vistaprint (VPRT) Bad forecast and downgrades. Daily double. Plunges to $16 from 52-week high of $48.60.

Clean Energy Fuels (CLNE) Plan to raise money hurts shares. Falls to $6.62 from 52-week high of $19.95.

Douglas A. McIntyre

Posted on: October 29, 2008 – 2:50 pm in HI/LOW, , , , , ,

Day Trader Alert: Big Pre-Market Drops on Guidance (MOLX, STM, VPRT, WSM)

Down_arrow_redWe have seen earnings disappointments or guidance disappointments from many companies over the recent weeks.   Molex Inc. (NASDAQ: MOLX), STMicroelectronics N.V. (NYSE: STM), VistaPrint (NASDAQ: VPRT), and Williams-Sonoma (NYSE: WSM) are all trading lower this morning after their earnings and guidance.

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Posted on: October 29, 2008 – 8:01 am in Earnings, HI/LOW, Trading Alert, , , ,

The 52-Week Low Club 8/28/2008 (GENR)(NRGN)

Sad_clown

Williams-Sonoma (WSM) Profit drops. Down to $16.26 from 52-week high of $34.81.

Nexmed (NEXM) Drug trial failure still pulling shares down. Dips to $.19 from 52-week high of $1.75.

Genaera (GENR) Several clinical trials suspended. Falls to $.82 from 52-week high of $3.09.

Neurogen (NRGN) Gets notice on Nasdaq delisting. Sells down to $.25 from 52-week high of $5.24.

Douglas A. McIntyre

Posted on: August 28, 2008 – 3:26 pm in HI/LOW, , , ,

Top Pre-Market Analyst Downgrades (BBY, BBBY, CC, DELL, HPQ, JNS, LIZ, LSI, PIR, RACK, RSH, SFD)

These are some of the top Downgrades or negative calls we are seeing early this Tuesday morning.  Neutral and Hold ratings are not technically negative, but they aren’t ringing endorsements either.

  • Best Buy (BBY) Started as Hold at KeyBanc.
  • Bed Bath & Beyond (BBBY) Started as Hold at KeyBanc.

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Posted on: August 5, 2008 – 6:25 am in Analyst Calls, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

52-Week Low Club (AEG, AMD, BKD, CHRT, CMG, CVI, GEHL, JOBS, LRCX, LSCC, MNI, MU, MSA, NOOF, RYL, THQI, VMED, WSM)

Today was another ugly day on Wall Street as sellers are winning over the conviction that the rumors that the bear was dead might be grossly exaggerated.  You’ll probably recognize many chip stocks on here today.  While financials led the selling today, most financial stocks were not on 52-week lows.  Here are today’s stocks that hit new 52-week lows:

  • Aegon (NYSE: AEG)
  • Advanced Micro Devices (NYSE: AMD)
  • Brookdale Senior Living (NYSE: BKD)
  • Chartered Semiconductor (NASDAQ: CHRT)
  • Chipotle Mexicann Grill (NYSE: CMG)
  • CVR Energy (NYSE: CVI)
  • Gehl Company (NASDAQ: GEHL)
  • 51Job inc.. (NASDAQ: JOBS)
  • Lam Research (NASDAQ: LRCX)
  • Lattice Semiconductor (NASDAQ: LSCC)
  • McClatchy (NYSE: MNI)
  • Micron Tech (NYSE: MU)
  • Mine Safety Appliances (NYSE: MSA)
  • New Frontier (NASDAQ: NOOF)
  • Ryland Group (NYSE: RYL)
  • THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI)
  • Virgin Media Inc. (NASDAQ: VMED)
  • William Sonoma (NYSE: WSM)

Jon C. Ogg
July 28, 2008

Posted on: July 28, 2008 – 2:54 pm in HI/LOW, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Pre-Market Stock Movers (January 15, 2008) (EDU, COIN, CWTR, DNDN, DNA, WSM, FRX, LCBM, NWY, STT, PVH, TMA)

Below is a snapshot of the key pre-market news that we are focusing on for early pre-market trading this Tuesday:

  • Apple (AAPL) has its Macworld today.
  • CECO Environmental (CECE) announced 14 new orders received totaling ~ $7.3 million.
  • Charles & Colvard (CTHR) lowered guidance and announced a strategic review.
  • Citigroup (C) was trading up but then went negative in early trading: -$1.99 EPS vs -$1.00 estimate, huge charges of $18.1 Billion, 4,200 layoffs included, review divestitures, cut $0.54 dividend down to $0.32.
  • Coldwater Creek (CWTR) lowered guidance, again, again. Shares down 15% to new low.
  • Converted Organics (COIN) announced its has secured a Rhode Island site for second organic fertilizer facility; stock down 6% pre-market.
  • Dendreon (DNDN) received a European patent covering Provenge and its ACI platform technology; shares up 5% pre-market after solid gains yesterday.
  • First American Financial (FAF) sees revenues of $1.9 Billion as expected but sees charges and writedowns.
  • Forest Labs (FRX) $0.96 EPS vs $0.75 estimate; Revenues $998.2 million versus $946+ million estimate. Raised 2008 guidance.
  • Genentech (DNA) trading down 2% pre-market after beating earnings but missing estimates on its top 4 drugs; sees 2008 EPS $3.30-3.45 vs. $3.37 estimate.
  • Kellwood (KWD) $21.00 tender from Sun Capital affiliate Cardinal Integrated commences.
  • Kosan (KOSN) initiated Phase II trials of alvespimycin, their second-generation inhibitor in patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer.
  • Lifecore Biomedical (LCBM) trading up 29% after it agreed to be acquired by Warburg Pincus for $17.00 per share in cash.
  • Merrill Lynch (MER) confirmed that it has agreed to issue $6.6 Billion in preferred stock.
  • New Oriental Education & Technology (EDU) $0.10 EPS vs. $0.08 estimate.
  • New York & Co. (NWY) lowered guidance.
  • OSI Systems (OSIS) received a follow-on order from EDO Corporation for roughly $5.8 million.
  • Phillips-Van Heusen (PVH) guidance for Q4 EPS at least $0.53, previous guidance was $0.51 to 0.53 and $0.53 First Call; also reaffirmed FY08 EPS of $3.55 to 3.65 vs. $3.55 estimate.
  • State Street (STT) issued earnings and is indicated down 1% to 3% on thin volume after noting it sees 2008 at lower end of target.
  • Thornburg Mortgage (TMA) raised roughly $212 million in equity and convertible preferred securities sales; stock down 1% pre-market.
  • William Sonoma (WSM) lowered guidance; stock down 14% pre-market.

Jon C. Ogg
January 15, 2008

Posted on: January 15, 2008 – 8:50 am in Pre-Market Activity, , , , , , , , , , , ,

The 52-Week Low Club

UST Inc (UST) Philip Morris USA is testing rival product. Shares drop to $47.73 from 52-week high of $61.17.

Saks (SKS) Market miffed about Q2 loss. Drops to $16.55 from high of $23.25.

Williams-Sonoma (WSM) Citi initiates retailer as "sell". Falls to $29.51 from 52-week high of $36.95.

Oplink Communications (OPLK) Fiber optics company gives weak outlook. Fall sto $13 from 52-week high of $22.38.

Adams Respiratory (ARXT) Posts loss and see generic competition. Falls to $34.50 from 52-week high of $46.67.

Douglas A. McIntyre

Posted on: August 21, 2007 – 3:50 pm in Uncategorized, , , , ,

Pre-Market Stock News (May 30, 2007)

(AAPL) Apple trading up 0.5% after Morgan Stanley raised its $110 target to $150.
(BGP) Borders Group posted a -$0.51 EPS loss vs. -$0.38e.
(BIIB) Biogen Idec announced up to $3 Billion in share repurchases.
(CDWC) CDW agrees to be acquired by Madison Dearborn Partners for $87.75 in cash.
(CWTR) Coldwater Creek trading up more than 10% after beating earnings expectations.
(DBRN) Dress Barn said May comparable s-s-s rose 10%.
(DNDN) Dendreon hit with a class action lawsuit.
(ESEA) Euroseas traded up close to 10% after the Greek shipping company doubled earnings.
(ESPD) eSpeed is being combined by Cantor Fitzgerald with Cantor’s BGC unit in what is said to be a $1.3 Billion deal, although this is sort of a zero sum game to ESPD holders on the surface.
(HGSI) Human Genome Sciences announces that dosing has begun in BLISS-52, the second of two pivotal Phase 3 clinical trials of LymphoStat-B in patients with active lupus.
(ICE) IntercontinentalExchange and CBOE have confirmed an agreement regarding CBOE exercise rights as part of the planned merger between ICE and Chicago Board of trade and sign an agreement in principle.
(LYO) Lyondell announced a $500M note offering.
(MNST) Monster’s job search will now be available through the Comcast portal.
(MSFT) Microsoft has introduced a new touch screen PC called “Surface” that is essentially a coffee table.
(PAY) VeriFone fell 4% after missing expectations and after “raised guidance” looked shy.
(PHM) Pulte Homes announced a 16% workforce cut.
(SFD) Smithfield Foods fell 5% after earnings warning.
(WSM) William Sonoma $0.16 EPS vs $0.13e.

Jon C. Ogg
May 30, 2007

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

Posted on: May 30, 2007 – 7:09 am in Pre-Market Activity, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,