Where's the love for Wal-Mart (WMT -0.3%)? Despite projections the retail giant will grow earnings at a double-digit rate, the stock trades with a lower multiple than defensive-oriented peers such as Hershey, Kellogg, and Procter & Gamble, observes Stephen Leeb. The company is also gobbling up market share in the grocery category and its e-commerce sales growth beat Amazon's (30% vs. 22%) during the last quarter. [View news story]
Hennes & Mauritz (HMRF.PK) is the first major retailer to agree to a new set of fire and building rules set forth by the International Labour Organization and trade unions following a deadly factory building collapse last month in Bangladesh. Gap (GPS) and Wal-Mart (WMT) are expected to feel some pressure to follow suit. [View news story]
why are they to feel pressure, this is simply liberal feel good press releases for the world to know how much they care.
Proxy advisory firm ISS becomes the third financial outfit to come out against the proposed $6B takeover of Plains Exploration (PXP +2.2%) by Freeport McMoRan (FCX +0.4%). The FCX offer is too low, ISS says, adding that "even at the announcement day valuation of $49.55, the transaction would offer little or no takeover premium to the current stand-alone value." (earlier) [View news story]
Fitch revises its outlook to Negative from Positive on Merck's (MRK +0.3%) Issuer Default Rating (A+). Apparently, the temptation to fund share buybacks with debt given the favorable rate environment should be weighed against any potential deleterious effects from increased leverage: MRK "intends to use debt issuances … to repurchase $7.5B worth of shares over the next 12 months [but the company] has ample liquidity via cash on hand and operating cash flow … to complete the [buyback] without harm to the credit profile … the financing of the [buyback] program could drive debt leverage to a level that is not reflective of the 'A+' IDR," Fitch says. [View news story]
Retail watch: Due to the timing of Easter and a slow start to the spring selling season a two-month snapshot of sales covering March and April is appropriate before drawing major conclusions, according to analysts. Retailers looking for a March surge in home and garden (HD, LOW, TGT, WMT) spending and spring clothing purchases expect April to make up some of the slack. Of the 14 retailers reporting March numbers today, comparable-store sales averaged a 0.6% gain with Costco (COST) and Ross Stores (ROST) standing out as outperformers. [View news story]
do analyst not realize it is possible to shop everyday regardless of the weather, holidays, traffic, pick an excuse.
Despite concerns of a slowdown in China, Freeport McMoRan (FCX) thinks it's inaccurate to talk of a winding down of Chinese consumption. China will remain a key driver of demand growth in the years ahead, Freeport foresees; in China, "the basis is so much bigger than it was 10 years ago, especially for copper, that I'm not sure we should talk about a slowdown," SVP Javier Targhetta says. [View news story]
sell their stock if you don't like what they are doing and where they will be in 5 or 10 years.
A strike by fast food workers in New York City could have broad implications with the group's lofty goal to see a 107% pay raise up to $15 per hour. What to watch: Though historically the high turnover rate in the QSR industry has kept labor disruptions to a minimum, unions of foodservice workers have strengthened since 2009 and could take a small bite out of the sector's margins. [View news story]
suggest they learn more profitable skills if they want more pay or work for the government.
Bernstein is out with a warning on the railroad sector, saying Q1 rail volume was a disappointment. The firm expects Canadian National (CNI), Union Pacific (UNP), and Norfolk Southern (NSC) to miss earnings estimates and CSX (CSX) to only match targets. [View news story]
so if they don't match analyst "targets" it is the RR fault, bull!
Where's the love for Wal-Mart (WMT -0.3%)? Despite projections the retail giant will grow earnings at a double-digit rate, the stock trades with a lower multiple than defensive-oriented peers such as Hershey, Kellogg, and Procter & Gamble, observes Stephen Leeb. The company is also gobbling up market share in the grocery category and its e-commerce sales growth beat Amazon's (30% vs. 22%) during the last quarter. [View news story]
Hennes & Mauritz (HMRF.PK) is the first major retailer to agree to a new set of fire and building rules set forth by the International Labour Organization and trade unions following a deadly factory building collapse last month in Bangladesh. Gap (GPS) and Wal-Mart (WMT) are expected to feel some pressure to follow suit. [View news story]
Bullish Sentiment Rises For 4th Straight Week [View article]
Forget The Jobless Recovery, Get Ready For The Full-Employed Recession [View article]
Forget The Jobless Recovery, Get Ready For The Full-Employed Recession [View article]
Proxy advisory firm ISS becomes the third financial outfit to come out against the proposed $6B takeover of Plains Exploration (PXP +2.2%) by Freeport McMoRan (FCX +0.4%). The FCX offer is too low, ISS says, adding that "even at the announcement day valuation of $49.55, the transaction would offer little or no takeover premium to the current stand-alone value." (earlier) [View news story]
Fitch revises its outlook to Negative from Positive on Merck's (MRK +0.3%) Issuer Default Rating (A+). Apparently, the temptation to fund share buybacks with debt given the favorable rate environment should be weighed against any potential deleterious effects from increased leverage: MRK "intends to use debt issuances … to repurchase $7.5B worth of shares over the next 12 months [but the company] has ample liquidity via cash on hand and operating cash flow … to complete the [buyback] without harm to the credit profile … the financing of the [buyback] program could drive debt leverage to a level that is not reflective of the 'A+' IDR," Fitch says. [View news story]
What's Wrong With This Picture? [View article]
Dramatic Drop In April CPR Makes 10.4% Dividend Payer CYS Investments A Buy [View article]
Dramatic Drop In April CPR Makes 10.4% Dividend Payer CYS Investments A Buy [View article]
mREITs Facing Attack From Regulators [View article]
Retail watch: Due to the timing of Easter and a slow start to the spring selling season a two-month snapshot of sales covering March and April is appropriate before drawing major conclusions, according to analysts. Retailers looking for a March surge in home and garden (HD, LOW, TGT, WMT) spending and spring clothing purchases expect April to make up some of the slack. Of the 14 retailers reporting March numbers today, comparable-store sales averaged a 0.6% gain with Costco (COST) and Ross Stores (ROST) standing out as outperformers. [View news story]
Despite concerns of a slowdown in China, Freeport McMoRan (FCX) thinks it's inaccurate to talk of a winding down of Chinese consumption. China will remain a key driver of demand growth in the years ahead, Freeport foresees; in China, "the basis is so much bigger than it was 10 years ago, especially for copper, that I'm not sure we should talk about a slowdown," SVP Javier Targhetta says. [View news story]
A strike by fast food workers in New York City could have broad implications with the group's lofty goal to see a 107% pay raise up to $15 per hour. What to watch: Though historically the high turnover rate in the QSR industry has kept labor disruptions to a minimum, unions of foodservice workers have strengthened since 2009 and could take a small bite out of the sector's margins. [View news story]
Bernstein is out with a warning on the railroad sector, saying Q1 rail volume was a disappointment. The firm expects Canadian National (CNI), Union Pacific (UNP), and Norfolk Southern (NSC) to miss earnings estimates and CSX (CSX) to only match targets. [View news story]