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Zacks Bull & Bear of the Day Highlights: Marathon Oil, TRW Automotive, Nordstrom, Hoku Scientific and Siemens AG
For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL -- Feb. 24, 2009 -- Zacks Equity Research picks Marathon Oil (MRO - Analyst Report) as Bull of the Day and TRW Automotive Holdings (TRW - Analyst Report) as Bear of the Day. In addition, the analysts at Zacks Equity Research discuss the latest on Nordstrom, Inc. (JWN - Snapshot Report), Hoku Scientific Inc. (Nasdaq:HOKU - Snapshot Report) and Siemens AG (NYSE:SI - Analyst Report).
Full analysis of all these stocks is available at: http://at.zacks.com/?id=2678
Bull of the Day
Marathon Oil Corp. (MRO - Analyst Report) reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter 2008 results, announced a lower capex budget 2009, and abandoned plans to split the company along upstream/downstream lines.
The earnings outperformance reflected strong growth in upstream volumes and improved year-over-year downstream margins. Though we have lowered our 2009 EPS estimate ($2.95 vs. $4.78) to reflect the challenging commodity-price environment, our Buy rating remains unchanged.
We continue to like Marathon’s attractive inventory of development projects, strong financial health, and the successful execution of the non-core asset sales.
Bear of the Day
TRW Automotive Holdings (TRW - Analyst Report) is affected by constant production cuts by OEMs, pricing pressure and lower production volumes in North America. The shift in consumer preferences from pickup trucks and SUVs to smaller and more fuel-efficient cars in North America and from large and mid-sized passenger cars to small cars in Europe is manifesting a greater-than-expected impact.
Lower vehicle production levels and increased commodity costs negatively affected the company in 2008. As a curative measure, TRW is realigning capacities and reducing fixed costs. However, these increased restructuring and asset impairment expenses in 2008.
In 2009, the company expects revenues and profits to continue to decline. Auto production is expected to fall in the key markets. Apart from this, TRW’s higher debts also raise concern. Thus, we rate the stock a Sell with a target price of $2.00.
Recent Analysis from the Analyst Blog
Nordstrom Jumps After Results
After the close today, Nordstrom, Inc. (JWN - Snapshot Report) reported results for the 4th quarter. Total sales decreased 8.5% year-over-year to $2.30 billion, and same-store sales decreased 12.5%. The retailer also reported net earnings of $68 million, or $0.31 per diluted share.
While those results were down big from $2.51 billion in sales and earnings of $0.92 per diluted share in the year-ago quarter, Nordstrom did manage to beat our estimates and the consensus. We were expecting sales of $2.29 billion and earnings of $0.29 per share. The Zacks consensus estimate for the fourth quarter was sales of $2.26 billion and EPS of $0.30.
HOKU Disappoints Slightly
Hoku Scientific Inc.'s (HOKU - Snapshot Report) 3rd quarter 2009 GAAP results deteriorated marginally with a net loss of $0.04 per diluted share compared to net loss of $0.03 per diluted share in the prior-year quarter. HOKU's non-GAAP net loss in the 3rd quarter fiscal 2009, excluding stock-based compensation expense, was $0.03 per diluted share versus $0.01 per diluted share in the year-ago quarter.
At the end of the 3rd fiscal quarter 2009, HOKU had a poly-silicon order backlog with 5 leading solar companies of up to $2.3 billion over a 10-year period and has customer prepayment commitments of $216 million.
During the 2nd fiscal quarter 2009, Hoku Materials increased its annual production forecast from 3,500 metric tons to 4,000 metric tons for its poly-silicon production plant in Pocatello, Idaho. It has also expanded and finalized its power supply agreement with Idaho Power for supporting the increased production.
In January 2009, the company received its first six polysilicon Siemens (SI - Analyst Report)-process reactors out of total 28, at its Idaho plant. Of this, two polysilicon reactors have been assembled and installed on the production floor. The rest of the shipment of ten and twelve polysilicon reactors is expected in the first half and second half of calendar year 2009, respectively.
Get the most recent insight from Zacks Equity Research with the free Profit from the Pros newsletter: http://at.zacks.com/?id=2649.
About the Bull and Bear of the Day
Every day, the analysts at Zacks Equity Research select two stocks that are likely to outperform (Bull) or underperform (Bear) the markets over the next 3-6 months.
About the Analyst Blog
Updated throughout every trading day, the Analyst Blog provides analysis from Zacks Equity Research about the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets.
About Zacks Equity Research
Zacks Equity Research provides the best of quantitative and qualitative analysis to help investors know what stocks to buy and which to sell for the long-term.
Continuous coverage is provided for a universe of 1,150 publicly traded stocks. Our analysts are organized by industry which gives them keen insights to developments that affect company profits and stock performance. Recommendations and target prices are six-month time horizons.
Zacks "Profit from the Pros" e-mail newsletter provides highlights of the latest analysis from Zacks Equity Research. Subscribe to this free newsletter today by visiting http://at.zacks.com/?id=2677.
About Zacks
Zacks.com is a property of Zacks Investment Research, Inc., which was formed in 1978 by Leonard Zacks. As a PhD in mathematics Len knew he could find patterns in stock market data that would lead to superior investment results. Amongst his many accomplishments was the formation of his proprietary stock picking system; the Zacks Rank, which continues to outperform the market by nearly a 3 to 1 margin. The best way to unlock the profitable stock recommendations and market insights of Zacks Investment
Research is through our free daily email newsletter; Profit from the Pros. In short, it's your steady flow of Profitable ideas GUARANTEED to be worth your time! Register for your free subscription to Profit from the Pros at http://at.zacks.com/?id=4582.
Visit http://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.
Disclaimer: Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investors should always research companies and securities before making any investments. Nothing herein should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any security.
Contact:
Mark Vickery
Web Content Editor
312-265-9380
Visit: www.zacks.com
Chicago, IL -- Feb. 24, 2009 -- Zacks Equity Research picks Marathon Oil (MRO - Analyst Report) as Bull of the Day and TRW Automotive Holdings (TRW - Analyst Report) as Bear of the Day. In addition, the analysts at Zacks Equity Research discuss the latest on Nordstrom, Inc. (JWN - Snapshot Report), Hoku Scientific Inc. (Nasdaq:HOKU - Snapshot Report) and Siemens AG (NYSE:SI - Analyst Report).
Full analysis of all these stocks is available at: http://at.zacks.com/?id=2678
Bull of the Day
Marathon Oil Corp. (MRO - Analyst Report) reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter 2008 results, announced a lower capex budget 2009, and abandoned plans to split the company along upstream/downstream lines.
The earnings outperformance reflected strong growth in upstream volumes and improved year-over-year downstream margins. Though we have lowered our 2009 EPS estimate ($2.95 vs. $4.78) to reflect the challenging commodity-price environment, our Buy rating remains unchanged.
We continue to like Marathon’s attractive inventory of development projects, strong financial health, and the successful execution of the non-core asset sales.
Bear of the Day
TRW Automotive Holdings (TRW - Analyst Report) is affected by constant production cuts by OEMs, pricing pressure and lower production volumes in North America. The shift in consumer preferences from pickup trucks and SUVs to smaller and more fuel-efficient cars in North America and from large and mid-sized passenger cars to small cars in Europe is manifesting a greater-than-expected impact.
Lower vehicle production levels and increased commodity costs negatively affected the company in 2008. As a curative measure, TRW is realigning capacities and reducing fixed costs. However, these increased restructuring and asset impairment expenses in 2008.
In 2009, the company expects revenues and profits to continue to decline. Auto production is expected to fall in the key markets. Apart from this, TRW’s higher debts also raise concern. Thus, we rate the stock a Sell with a target price of $2.00.
Recent Analysis from the Analyst Blog
Nordstrom Jumps After Results
After the close today, Nordstrom, Inc. (JWN - Snapshot Report) reported results for the 4th quarter. Total sales decreased 8.5% year-over-year to $2.30 billion, and same-store sales decreased 12.5%. The retailer also reported net earnings of $68 million, or $0.31 per diluted share.
While those results were down big from $2.51 billion in sales and earnings of $0.92 per diluted share in the year-ago quarter, Nordstrom did manage to beat our estimates and the consensus. We were expecting sales of $2.29 billion and earnings of $0.29 per share. The Zacks consensus estimate for the fourth quarter was sales of $2.26 billion and EPS of $0.30.
HOKU Disappoints Slightly
Hoku Scientific Inc.'s (HOKU - Snapshot Report) 3rd quarter 2009 GAAP results deteriorated marginally with a net loss of $0.04 per diluted share compared to net loss of $0.03 per diluted share in the prior-year quarter. HOKU's non-GAAP net loss in the 3rd quarter fiscal 2009, excluding stock-based compensation expense, was $0.03 per diluted share versus $0.01 per diluted share in the year-ago quarter.
At the end of the 3rd fiscal quarter 2009, HOKU had a poly-silicon order backlog with 5 leading solar companies of up to $2.3 billion over a 10-year period and has customer prepayment commitments of $216 million.
During the 2nd fiscal quarter 2009, Hoku Materials increased its annual production forecast from 3,500 metric tons to 4,000 metric tons for its poly-silicon production plant in Pocatello, Idaho. It has also expanded and finalized its power supply agreement with Idaho Power for supporting the increased production.
In January 2009, the company received its first six polysilicon Siemens (SI - Analyst Report)-process reactors out of total 28, at its Idaho plant. Of this, two polysilicon reactors have been assembled and installed on the production floor. The rest of the shipment of ten and twelve polysilicon reactors is expected in the first half and second half of calendar year 2009, respectively.
Get the most recent insight from Zacks Equity Research with the free Profit from the Pros newsletter: http://at.zacks.com/?id=2649.
About the Bull and Bear of the Day
Every day, the analysts at Zacks Equity Research select two stocks that are likely to outperform (Bull) or underperform (Bear) the markets over the next 3-6 months.
About the Analyst Blog
Updated throughout every trading day, the Analyst Blog provides analysis from Zacks Equity Research about the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets.
About Zacks Equity Research
Zacks Equity Research provides the best of quantitative and qualitative analysis to help investors know what stocks to buy and which to sell for the long-term.
Continuous coverage is provided for a universe of 1,150 publicly traded stocks. Our analysts are organized by industry which gives them keen insights to developments that affect company profits and stock performance. Recommendations and target prices are six-month time horizons.
Zacks "Profit from the Pros" e-mail newsletter provides highlights of the latest analysis from Zacks Equity Research. Subscribe to this free newsletter today by visiting http://at.zacks.com/?id=2677.
About Zacks
Zacks.com is a property of Zacks Investment Research, Inc., which was formed in 1978 by Leonard Zacks. As a PhD in mathematics Len knew he could find patterns in stock market data that would lead to superior investment results. Amongst his many accomplishments was the formation of his proprietary stock picking system; the Zacks Rank, which continues to outperform the market by nearly a 3 to 1 margin. The best way to unlock the profitable stock recommendations and market insights of Zacks Investment
Research is through our free daily email newsletter; Profit from the Pros. In short, it's your steady flow of Profitable ideas GUARANTEED to be worth your time! Register for your free subscription to Profit from the Pros at http://at.zacks.com/?id=4582.
Visit http://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.
Disclaimer: Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investors should always research companies and securities before making any investments. Nothing herein should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any security.
Contact:
Mark Vickery
Web Content Editor
312-265-9380
Visit: www.zacks.com
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