Company News for August 24, 2010

• Big Lots (NYSE:BIG) reported second quarter earnings one cent better than Zacks expectations at 48 cents per share, as inline revenues climbed 5.2% to $1.14 billion

• Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) posted second quarter earnings of 80 cents, below Zacks estimates of 82 cents, on revenues of $3.93 billion, below Zacks expectations of $3.94 billion

• Burger King (NYSE:BKC) released fiscal fourth quarter earnings of 36 cents a share, above Zacks estimates of 34 cents, on revenues of $623 million, off estimates of $639 million

• Trina Solar (NYSE:TSL) reported second quarter earnings of 52 cents, above Zacks projections by 3 cents, as revenues grew 147.2% to $370.8 million, up from Zacks estimates of $339 million

• While BHP Billiton (NYSE:BHP) continued to consider themselves the biggest boys in the Potash (NYSE:POT) pile, suitors for the fertilizer firm continued to surface as possible white knights.

• According to Canada's Globe and Mail, Rio Tinto (NYSE:RTP) and a Chinese partner are in talks to rival BHP Billiton’s (NYSE:BHP) Potash (NYSE:POT) bid

• Citigroup (NYSE:C) downgraded Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) to "hold" from "buy," taking the price target to $18 from $19

• Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) upgraded Buckeye (NYSE:BPL) to "neutral" from "sell," lifting the price target to $48 from $24

• PricewaterhouseCoopers is acquiring Diamond Management (NASDAQ:DTPI) for $12.50 per share, or $378 million

• Deutsche Bank (NYSE:DB) initiated coverage of SMART Technologies (NASDAQ:SMT) at a "buy" rating, with a $20 price target

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