Archive for March, 2008
Filed under: Products and services, Wal-Mart (WMT), Marketing and advertising, Target Corp. (TGT)
 Target Corp. (NYSE: TGT) will soon begin having its meat vendors label their products as having been treated with carbon monoxide. In general, treating fresh meat with carbon monoxide makes meat appear fresh to the shopper, much like treatment with sodium nitrite does. Both products, however, are really not something you want to ingest into your body. The only problem is that labeling laws don’t really require this information to be highlighted on meat labels.
So, Target wants to be more truthful with its customers. Remember, it’s Target’s product you’re buying — not Hormel’s or Cargill’s. Even though those two companies are the main meat vendors, the last stop is Target’s shelves. Target made a very good decision. Empowering customers with information is something that retailers better wake up to. Your competitor will if you won’t.
The new labeling will read “Color is not an accurate indicator of freshness. Refer to use or freeze by date.” Just like food coloring is used to spruce up pre-packaged and processed foods, the inclusion of carbon monoxide in fresh meats (well, not that fresh) is something many customers want to know about. Next up, we’ll see if Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) responds to Target’s initiative and requires the same labeling changes from its pre-packaged meat vendors.
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Filed under: Analyst reports, Analyst upgrades and downgrades, Microsoft (MSFT), Yahoo! (YHOO), CIGNA Corp (CI), D.R.Horton (DHI), Electronic Arts (ERTS)
.gif) MOST NOTEWORTHY: Yahoo!, Cigna and Aegean Marine were today’s noteworthy upgrades:
- Citigroup upgraded shares of Yahoo! (NASDAQ: YHOO) to Buy from Hold as they believe Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) is unlikely to walk away from Yahoo! and that there is potential Microsoft could bid $34/share.
- Credit Suisse upgraded Cigna (NYSE: CI) to Outperform from Neutral citing the company’s favorable business mix.
- Stephens upgraded shares of Aegean Marine (NYSE: ANW) to Overweight from Equal Weight on valuation as they see an attractive entry point at current levels.
OTHER UPGRADES:
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Filed under: Analyst reports, Analyst upgrades and downgrades, Bank of America (BAC), Tiffany and Co (TIF), Gap Inc (GPS), Bear Stearns Cos (BSC)
MOST NOTEWORTHY: Credit Suisse, Bank of America and Bear Stearns were today’s noteworthy downgrades:
- UBS downgraded Credit Suisse (NYSE: CS) to Neutral from Buy to reflect the company’s higher-than-expected write-downs in Q1.
- Merrill cut Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) to Sell from Neutral and lowered their estimates to reflect a higher credit loss outlook as they now estimate Bank of America’s loan provision will rise to $15B in 2008 from $8.4B in 2007.
- Sandler O’Neil downgraded Bear Stearns (NYSE: BSC) to Sell from Hold citing share premium to deal value of $10.00.
OTHER DOWNGRADES:
- Citigroup lowered Gap (NYSE: GPS) to Hold from Buy.
- Tiffany & Co (NYSE: TIF) was downgraded to Perform from Outperform at Oppenheimer.
- JP Morgan downgraded Philips Electronics (NYSE: PHG) to Neutral from Overweight.
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Filed under: Bad news, Consumer experience, Economic data
U.S. consumer confidence is at its lowest level since the Nixon Administration of the 1970s, according to one measure. U.S. consumer confidence fell in March 2008 to 64.5 — a 35-year low — the Conference Board announced Tuesday.
Economists surveyed by Bloomberg News had expected the index to drop to 73.0 in March 2008. The February 2008 index was revised to 76.4.
The board said that consumers’ evaluation of present-day conditions weakened significantly. Those claiming business conditions are “bad” increased to 25.4% from 21.3%, while those claiming business conditions are “good” declined to 15.4% from 19.1%. Consumers’ assessment of the job market was considerably more pessimistic than last month. Those saying jobs are “hard to get” rose to 25.1% from 23.4%, while those claiming jobs are “plentiful” decreased to 18.8% from 21.5%.
Continue reading March consumer confidence index plunges to a 35-year low
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Filed under: Consumer experience, Competitive strategy, General Motors (GM), Marketing and advertising, Toyota Motor Corp. (TM)
 With people in Japan showing less and less interest for cars, Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corp. (NYSE: TM) is exploring more efficient methods to increase sales in its strong competition with rival General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM) for the title of the world’s largest automaker. The attempt to boost sales has become even more difficult as, according Toyota officials, young people prefer spending their money on laptops or mobile phones than a car that could be easily replaced by public transportation.
In an attempt to reach younger people and lift car sales, Toyota is opening a new mall located in Yokohama, southwest of Tokyo. The new Tressa mall is pretty much like any other malls, with 220 stores and restaurants like cafes, clothing stores and even gym or games centers where people enjoy spending their time. However, in the new mall space, Toyota showrooms take center stage, placing at people’s disposal a large variety of old and new cars models.
One thing that Toyota is aware of, and trying to improve upon, is that in Japan showrooms and TV advertising are not efficient any more in attracting people’s interest for buying cars. The new mall is aimed at accomplishing Toyota’s plan of global domination by providing “opportunities for people to come in contact with cars.”
Continue reading Toyota (TM) looking for new ways to lure in customers
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Filed under: Analyst reports, Analyst upgrades and downgrades, Microsoft (MSFT), Yahoo! (YHOO), CIGNA Corp (CI), D.R.Horton (DHI), Electronic Arts (ERTS)
MOST NOTEWORTHY: Yahoo!, Cigna and Aegean Marine were today’s noteworthy upgrades:
- Citigroup upgraded shares of Yahoo! (NASDAQ: YHOO) to Buy from Hold as they believe Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) is unlikely to walk away from Yahoo! and that there is potential Microsoft could bid $34/share.
- Credit Suisse upgraded Cigna (NYSE: CI) to Outperform from Neutral citing the company’s favorable business mix.
- Stephens upgraded shares of Aegean Marine (NYSE: ANW) to Overweight from Equal Weight on valuation as they see an attractive entry point at current levels.
OTHER UPGRADES:
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Filed under: Options
 Rambus (NASDAQ: RMBS) closed at $18.71 Monday.
RMBS has upcoming patent infringement and anti-trust claim issues.
RMBS April option implied volatility is at 140, May is at 108 and August is at 83; above its 26-week average of 74 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement.
Option Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com
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Filed under: Newsletters, Merrill Lynch (MER), Lehman Br Holdings (LEH), Stocks to Buy
Expert trader and options specialist Bernie Schaeffer has taken contrarian positions in two investment banks in his “master trading” portfolio. Here’s the latest form his Schaeffer’s Investment Research.
“I have initiated a long position in Merrill Lynch (NYSE: MER). The brokerage stock hit a pivot low on March 17, 2008 due to the Bear Stearns news. This 52-week low was established with above average
volume. Since making this pivot low, MER has rallied 32%.
“This stock’s 10-day put/call ratio on the International Securities Exchange has hit capitulation levels. This reading is at 100%, which means the puts purchased versus calls purchased on its exchange is at the highest reading over the past year.
“In addition, I initiated a long position in Lehman Brothers Holdings (NYSE: LEH). Like MER, LEH made a pivot low recently due to the Bear Stearns news. Since making 52-week lows at $35.67, the brokerage company has rallied 32%.
“A significant amount of skepticism encompasses LEH shares. The Schaeffer’s put/call open interest ratio is 2.5, higher than 91% of the daily readings during the past year.”
Each day, Steven Halpern’s TheStockAdvisors.com offers the latest market commentary and favorite investment ideas from the nation’s leading financial newsletter advisors.
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Filed under: Bad news, Consumer experience, Economic data
U.S. consumer confidence is at its lowest level since the Nixon Administration of the 1970s, according to one measure. U.S. consumer confidence fell in March 2008 to 64.5 — a 35-year low — the Conference Board announced Tuesday.
Economists surveyed by Bloomberg News had expected the index to drop to 73.0 in March 2008. The February 2008 index was revised to 76.4.
The board said that consumers’ evaluation of present-day conditions weakened significantly. Those claiming business conditions are “bad” increased to 25.4% from 21.3%, while those claiming business conditions are “good” declined to 15.4% from 19.1%. Consumers’ assessment of the job market was considerably more pessimistic than last month. Those saying jobs are “hard to get” rose to 25.1% from 23.4%, while those claiming jobs are “plentiful” decreased to 18.8% from 21.5%.
Continue reading March consumer confidence index plunges to a 35-year low
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Filed under: Analyst reports, Analyst upgrades and downgrades, Microsoft (MSFT), Yahoo! (YHOO), CIGNA Corp (CI), D.R.Horton (DHI), Electronic Arts (ERTS)
MOST NOTEWORTHY: Yahoo!, Cigna and Aegean Marine were today’s noteworthy upgrades:
- Citigroup upgraded shares of Yahoo! (NASDAQ: YHOO) to Buy from Hold as they believe Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) is unlikely to walk away from Yahoo! and that there is potential Microsoft could bid $34/share.
- Credit Suisse upgraded Cigna (NYSE: CI) to Outperform from Neutral citing the company’s favorable business mix.
- Stephens upgraded shares of Aegean Marine (NYSE: ANW) to Overweight from Equal Weight on valuation as they see an attractive entry point at current levels.
OTHER UPGRADES:
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