Company News for September 10, 2009

• McDonald's (NYSE:MCD - Analyst Report), reported August same-store-sales rose 2.2%, but noted US comps were up a less-than-expected 1.7%, noting rising unemployment levels and increased competition from price-cutting rivals hurt revenues

• Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL - Analyst Report) San Francisco event once again saw the shares move lower, this year off 1%, despite the welcome appearance of Jobs, and iPod price cuts and improvements.  An 8 GB iPod Nano will include built-in video and an FM radio; price cuts of as much as $120 were made.  This morning JP Morgan (NYSE:JPM - Analyst Report) upped its rating on Apple to "outperform" from "market perform," with a $200 price target

• Texas Instruments (NYSE:TXN - Analyst Report) raised its third quarter earnings and sales guidance, with third quarter guidance increased to 37 cents to 41 cents a share from prior range of 29 cents to 39 cents a share; revenues guidance was lifted to $2.73 billion to $2.87 billion from prior $2.5 billion to $2.8 billion, with estimates at $$2.68 billion

• Vivus (NASDAQ:VVUS - Analyst Report) noted its experimental obesity drug showed dramatic results in two late-stage clinical trials

• Disney (NYSE:DIS - Snapshot Report) reported improvements in local ad markets with increased activity from automakers nationally, although still anticipating lower theme park hotel bookings for the September quarter

• Monsanto (NYSE:MON - Snapshot Report) said it continues to see 2009 results from continuing operations at the lower end of its prior guidance of $4.40-$4.50; the Street has expected $4.41. For 2010 the company expects $3.10-$3.30, off consensus estimates of $4.12

• Yahoo (NASDAQ:YHOO - Analyst Report) shares were upgraded by Bank of America (NYSE:BAC - Analyst Report) to "buy," with a price target hike to $19 from $17

• BP (NYSE:BP - Snapshot Report) shares were lowered to "neutral" by analysts at HSBC (NYSE:HBC - Analyst Report). The company's Tiber Field, last week's "giant discovery" 9km beneath the Gulf seabed, is unofficially estimated to contain 500m-1 billion recoverable barrels of oil