For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – August 9, 2012 – Zacks Equity Research highlights CBS Corporation (
CBS
- Analyst Report
)
as the Bull of the Day and Wynn Resorts (
WYNN
- Analyst Report
)
as the Bear of the Day. In addition, Zacks Equity Research provides analysis on Everest Re Group, Ltd (
RE
- Analyst Report
)
, ACE Limited (
ACE
- Analyst Report
)
and XL Group Plc (
XL
- Analyst Report
)
.
Full analysis of all these stocks is available at http://at.zacks.com/?id=2678.
Here is a synopsis of all five stocks:
Bull of the Day:
CBS Corporation's (
CBS
- Analyst Report
)
second-quarter 2012 earnings of $0.65 per share beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.58 and rose 12% year-over-year on the back of increases in affiliate and subscription fee revenues as well as effective cost management that helped mitigate the fall in advertising revenue. Although total revenue fell 3% to $3,476 million, management remains confident about continued growth momentum in fiscal 2012.
Olympic coverage and this fall's presidential election will be accretive to the company's results in the upcoming quarters. The biggest potential risk is CBS' high dependence on advertising revenue, which is driven by the health of the economy. To mitigate this, the company is striving to add diverse revenue streams to hedge against economic cycles, which include retransmission fees, syndication sales and streaming deals.
CBS' substantial liquidity positions it to drive future growth and enhance shareholder returns. Currently, we maintain our Outperform recommendation on the stock.
Bear of the Day:
Wynn Resorts' (
WYNN
- Analyst Report
)
second quarter 2012 earnings were disappointing as its performance in Las Vegas and business at Macau were weak. After several quarters of rapid growth, the Macau market is now witnessing a slowdown as the Chinese economy remains weak, resulting in lower tourists from the country and longer credit collection cycles.
Further, competition in the Macau market is increasing, forcing the company to increase junket commission and provide additional benefits to lure customers. Moreover, business in Las Vegas remains frail as a result of an uncertain economic environment, and might continue to struggle due to excess capacity in the market.
Additionally, we remain cautious on the stock because of the limited diversity and implementation of any stringent credit and visa polices by the Chinese government. Hence, we currently remain Underperform on the stock.
Latest Posts on the Zacks Analyst Blog:
Everest Re Ratings Affirmed
A.M. Best has affirmed the issuer credit ratings (“ICR”) of “a-” of Everest Re Group, Ltd (
RE
- Analyst Report
)
. The company’s debt ratings were also affirmed along with the ratings of its subsidiaries. All the ratings carry a Stable outlook.
This rating affirmation indicates Everest Re’s strong balance sheet profile and better-than-average underwriting performance, along with its ability to perform favorably amidst tough market conditions, a seasoned management team and huge market share in the insurance and reinsurance industry.
The company has adequate capital flexibility, which shields from market uncertainties. Moreover, its combined ratio, signifying an insurer’s profitability, remained below the breakeven levels over the past five years.
The company also has a liquid investment portfolio that has a short duration maturity. It has kept its investment portfolio conservative by investing just 10% of the total investment money in equities. A low incidence of equity in the investment portfolio will protect the company from equity market volatility.
The rating agency noted that Everest is well-run by a seasoned and experienced management team, which has kept the company’s operating costs under control and successfully delivered underwriting profitability year after year. The company is also well-diversified across different regions with a wide product portfolio, which helps it to garner a greater market share.
The rating agency also praises Everest Re for managing its enterprise risk effectively over the years. The company’s effective risk management capability has helped it to reduce risk across its business, and at the same time enabled it to allocate capital efficiently.
Nevertheless, factors negating the positives include Everest Re’s exposure to catastrophe losses, which impart volatility to its earnings. Though the company uses catastrophe models and has maintained risk limits to control catastrophe losses, occurrence of such incidents reduce the company’s earnings.
The company also carries net asbestos and environmental (A&E) exposure of approximately $480 million, which has been going down recently. Reserves against these policies are monitored on a quarterly basis and the current review shows that the company has adequate reserves against these liabilities.
Going forward, the rating agency is likely to give a positive review to the company’s ratings if it continues to deliver consistent underwriting profitability as well as maintain strong capital profile.
However, reduced profitability and capital levels, along with greater-than-expected exposure to catastrophe loss and declining of capital reserves may compel the agency to provide a negative rating.
Last month, A.M. Best Co. affirmed the financial strength ratings (FSR) of A+ (Superior) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “aa” of Everest Re’s peer, ACE Limited (
ACE
- Analyst Report
)
.
Another peer, XL Group Plc (
XL
- Analyst Report
)
, also received affirmation of FSR of “A” and ICR of “a” from A. M. Best.
Everest Re currently retains a Zacks #2 Rank, which translates into a short-term Buy rating. Considering the fundamentals, we are also maintaining our long-term Neutral recommendation on the shares.
Get the full analysis of all these stocks by going to 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 analyst 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=7158.
About Zacks
Zacks.com is a property of Zacks Investment Research, Inc., which was formed in 1978 by Leonard Zacks. As a PhD from MIT 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.
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Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/zacksresearch
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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.
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For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – August 9, 2012 – Zacks Equity Research highlights CBS Corporation ( CBS - Analyst Report ) as the Bull of the Day and Wynn Resorts ( WYNN - Analyst Report ) as the Bear of the Day. In addition, Zacks Equity Research provides analysis on Everest Re Group, Ltd ( RE - Analyst Report ) , ACE Limited ( ACE - Analyst Report ) and XL Group Plc ( XL - Analyst Report ) .
Full analysis of all these stocks is available at http://at.zacks.com/?id=2678.
Here is a synopsis of all five stocks:
Bull of the Day:
CBS Corporation's ( CBS - Analyst Report ) second-quarter 2012 earnings of $0.65 per share beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.58 and rose 12% year-over-year on the back of increases in affiliate and subscription fee revenues as well as effective cost management that helped mitigate the fall in advertising revenue. Although total revenue fell 3% to $3,476 million, management remains confident about continued growth momentum in fiscal 2012.
Olympic coverage and this fall's presidential election will be accretive to the company's results in the upcoming quarters. The biggest potential risk is CBS' high dependence on advertising revenue, which is driven by the health of the economy. To mitigate this, the company is striving to add diverse revenue streams to hedge against economic cycles, which include retransmission fees, syndication sales and streaming deals.
CBS' substantial liquidity positions it to drive future growth and enhance shareholder returns. Currently, we maintain our Outperform recommendation on the stock.
Bear of the Day:
Wynn Resorts' ( WYNN - Analyst Report ) second quarter 2012 earnings were disappointing as its performance in Las Vegas and business at Macau were weak. After several quarters of rapid growth, the Macau market is now witnessing a slowdown as the Chinese economy remains weak, resulting in lower tourists from the country and longer credit collection cycles.
Further, competition in the Macau market is increasing, forcing the company to increase junket commission and provide additional benefits to lure customers. Moreover, business in Las Vegas remains frail as a result of an uncertain economic environment, and might continue to struggle due to excess capacity in the market.
Additionally, we remain cautious on the stock because of the limited diversity and implementation of any stringent credit and visa polices by the Chinese government. Hence, we currently remain Underperform on the stock.
Latest Posts on the Zacks Analyst Blog:
Everest Re Ratings Affirmed
A.M. Best has affirmed the issuer credit ratings (“ICR”) of “a-” of Everest Re Group, Ltd ( RE - Analyst Report ) . The company’s debt ratings were also affirmed along with the ratings of its subsidiaries. All the ratings carry a Stable outlook.
This rating affirmation indicates Everest Re’s strong balance sheet profile and better-than-average underwriting performance, along with its ability to perform favorably amidst tough market conditions, a seasoned management team and huge market share in the insurance and reinsurance industry.
The company has adequate capital flexibility, which shields from market uncertainties. Moreover, its combined ratio, signifying an insurer’s profitability, remained below the breakeven levels over the past five years.
The company also has a liquid investment portfolio that has a short duration maturity. It has kept its investment portfolio conservative by investing just 10% of the total investment money in equities. A low incidence of equity in the investment portfolio will protect the company from equity market volatility.
The rating agency noted that Everest is well-run by a seasoned and experienced management team, which has kept the company’s operating costs under control and successfully delivered underwriting profitability year after year. The company is also well-diversified across different regions with a wide product portfolio, which helps it to garner a greater market share.
The rating agency also praises Everest Re for managing its enterprise risk effectively over the years. The company’s effective risk management capability has helped it to reduce risk across its business, and at the same time enabled it to allocate capital efficiently.
Nevertheless, factors negating the positives include Everest Re’s exposure to catastrophe losses, which impart volatility to its earnings. Though the company uses catastrophe models and has maintained risk limits to control catastrophe losses, occurrence of such incidents reduce the company’s earnings.
The company also carries net asbestos and environmental (A&E) exposure of approximately $480 million, which has been going down recently. Reserves against these policies are monitored on a quarterly basis and the current review shows that the company has adequate reserves against these liabilities.
Going forward, the rating agency is likely to give a positive review to the company’s ratings if it continues to deliver consistent underwriting profitability as well as maintain strong capital profile.
However, reduced profitability and capital levels, along with greater-than-expected exposure to catastrophe loss and declining of capital reserves may compel the agency to provide a negative rating.
Last month, A.M. Best Co. affirmed the financial strength ratings (FSR) of A+ (Superior) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “aa” of Everest Re’s peer, ACE Limited ( ACE - Analyst Report ) .
Another peer, XL Group Plc ( XL - Analyst Report ) , also received affirmation of FSR of “A” and ICR of “a” from A. M. Best.
Everest Re currently retains a Zacks #2 Rank, which translates into a short-term Buy rating. Considering the fundamentals, we are also maintaining our long-term Neutral recommendation on the shares.
Get the full analysis of all these stocks by going to 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 analyst 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=7158.
About Zacks
Zacks.com is a property of Zacks Investment Research, Inc., which was formed in 1978 by Leonard Zacks. As a PhD from MIT 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.
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/zacksresearch
Join us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Zacks-Investment-Research/57553657748?ref=ts
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.
Media Contact
Zacks Investment Research
800-767-3771 ext. 9339
support@zacks.com
http://www.zacks.com
Read the full reports :
Analyst Report on CBS
Analyst Report on WYNN
Analyst Report on RE
Analyst Report on ACE
Analyst Report on XL