Stocks News

Cost Plus, Inc. (CPWM) was left for dead during the recession as the retailer lost money for 4 consecutive years. Shares dropped to around $1. But this Zacks #1 Rank (strong buy) has turned it around and earnings are expected to grow by 191% this year. Cost Plus operates 259 stores in 30 states under the name Cost Plus World Market. It sells casual home living and entertaining products such as furniture, cooking items, decorative arts, and specialty food items. Cost Plus Beat By 44% in the First Quarter On May 19, Cost Plus reported its fiscal first quarter 2011 results and surprised on the Zacks Consensus for the third time in four quarters. Earnings per share were a loss of 14 cents compared with the consensus of a loss of 25 cents. Net sales rose by 5.9% to $199.7 million from $188.6 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2010. Same store sales were slightly under the year ago period, up 5.5%...

Some of the stocks that may grab investor focus today are: Analysts expect Best Buy Co Inc (NYSE: BBY) to report its Q1 EPS at $0.33 on revenue of $10.70 billion. BBY shares jumped 0.56% to $28.98 in after-hours trading. Hewlett-Packard Co (NYSE: HPQ) named 29-year veteran Ann Livermore to the company's board. The company's Chief Administrative Officer Pete Bocian and Chief Information Officer Randy Mott are departing. Dave Donatelli, head of H-P's servers and storage business; Bill Veghte, who runs software; and Jan Zadak, executive vice president of global sales, will now report directly to Chief Executive Leo Apotheker. HPQ shares gained 0.32% to $34.76 in after-hours trading. Analysts are expecting FactSet Research Systems Inc (NYSE: FDS) to have earned $0.92 per share on revenue of $183.10 million in the third quarter. FDS shares rose 0.46% to $104.77 in after-hours trading. Cliffs Natural Resources Inc (NYSE: CLF) raised $853.7 million through a public offering of 10.35 million shares. CLF shares rose 0.19% to...

We maintain a long-term Neutral rating on Questar Corporation (STR) based on its strong earnings and dividend growth potential, partially offset by unstable natural gas fundamentals, the domestic imbalance of supply/demand and political headwinds in certain regions. Questar delivered mixed results in the first quarter of 2011, with earnings of 39 cents falling short of both the Zacks Consensus Estimate and prior-year quarter's result. Total revenue ($470 million), however, comfortably moved ahead of our projection and the year-ago figure. Management's confidence in Questar's business units is highlighted through the various development projects that are expected to drive high production and reserve growth rate in the years to come. With a focused and experienced managerial team, manageable debt maturities and long-term contracts, the company will likely sustain its profitability in the coming quarters. We appreciate Quarter's efforts to broaden its market exposure for liquefied natural gas (LNG) products and services. In this regard, the company has formed an alliance with Applied LNG Technologies LLC to jointly look for new market opportunities for LNG in the Rockies. Despite all these positive...

The following stocks hit new 52-week highs in Wednesday's trading session: 1) 8x8 (NASDAQ: EGHT): Shares of 8x8 hit a 52-week high of $3.97 in Wednesday's session. The stock was heavily sold into, however, finishing 7.7% lower on the day at $3.48. The year-to-date performance of 8x8 is a gain of 46.2%. 2) American Capital Agency (NASDAQ: AGNC): Shares of American Capital hit a 52-week high of $30.74 in Wednesday's session. The stock was able to hold onto most of its gains, finishing 0.5% higher on the day at $30.70. The year-to-date performance of American Capital is a gain of 11.9%. 3) Cabot Oil & Gas (NYSE: COG): Shares of Cabot Oil & Gas hit a 52-week high of $60.64 in Wednesday's session. The stock was heavily sold into, however, finishing 4.3% higher on the day at $58.31. The year-to-date performance of Cabot is a gain of 54%. 4) Forest Laboratories (NYSE: FRX): Shares of Forest Laboratories hit a 52-week high of $37.12 in...

Titan Machinery Inc (NASDAQ: TITN) is expected to report its Q1 EPS at $0.22 on revenue of $260.49 million. Brown Forman Inc (NYSE: BF-B) is projected to report its FQ4 EPS at $0.64 on revenue of $731.85 million. J.M. Smucker Company (The) (NYSE: SJM) is projected to report its FQ4 EPS at $0.99 on revenue of $1.17 billion. Vail Resorts Inc (NYSE: MTN) is estimated to report its FQ3 EPS at $2.14 on revenue of $412.63 million. National Semiconductor Corporation (NYSE: NSM) is projected to report its FQ4 EPS at $0.27 on revenue of $365.14 million. RealD Inc (NYSE: RLD) is expected to post a Q4 loss at $0.15 per share on revenue of $51.93 million. Repligen Corporation (NASDAQ: RGEN) is estimated to report a Q4 loss at $0.03 per share on revenue of $6.20 million. Cinedigm Digital Cinema Corp (NASDAQ: CIDM) is expected to post a Q4 loss at $0.21 per share on revenue of $20.53 million.

Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corp (NYSE: BAH) is estimated to report its Q4 EPS at $0.28 on revenue of $1.51 billion. Navistar International Corporation (NYSE: NAV) is estimated to post its Q2 EPS at $1.17 on revenue of $3.30 billion. Measurement Specialties Inc (NASDAQ: MEAS) is estimated to report its Q4 EPS at $0.54 on revenue of $76.80 million. Talbots Inc (The) (NYSE: TLB) is expected to post its Q1 EPS at $0.03 on revenue of $306.26 million. Hovnanian Enterprises Inc (NYSE: HOV) is expected to post a FQ2 loss at $0.51 per share on revenue of $263.00 million. Modine Manufacturing Company (NYSE: MOD) is estimated to report its Q4 EPS at $0.16 on revenue of $379.33 million. Oxford Industries Inc (NYSE: OXM) is projected to report its Q1 earnings at $1.00 per share on revenue of $208.77 million. FreeSeas Inc (NASDAQ: FREE) is projected to post a Q1 loss at $0.42 per share on revenue of $8.40 million.  

Intel (INTC) can be considered a defensive tech stock which currently yields a dividend around 3.7%. The stock had been rising until Goldman Sachs advised a Sell on May 19. Intel has loads of excess of cash. Cash holdings are approximately 5% of sales, which is significantly more than the the company needs for operations. This excess cash gives Intel the ability to expand research and development, pay out a higher dividend, or finance growth via acquisitions. Intel has miniscule debt levels (0.05 debt/equity ratio). Earnings growth expectations average 11.1% over the next five years. A 24% return on investment capital indicates that Intel is well managed and utilizes its resources efficiently. Another reason one see INTC as a safe stock is it's aggressive dividend growth record. For the second time in the last six months, INTC has increased its quarterly dividend. First it went from 15,75 t o18.12 cents per share.15.75 cents. Then it went from 18.12 to 21 cents per...