Jim Cramer Blog

AZZ Inc. (NYSE:AZZ - News), a manufacturer of electrical products and provider of galvanizing services, said that it's expecting to produce fiscal 2008 earnings in a range of $2.70 to $2.80 a share. Sales are expected in a range of $275 million to $2.85 million. The estimates assume that domestic markets will continue to be strong, that the company will continue to penetrate international markets and that zinc and other commodity prices will be less volatile. Galvanizing margins are expected in a range of 18% to 22%, while electrical and industrial operations are expected to produce margins in a range of 11% to 13%.
CACI International (NYSE:CAI - News) was downgraded to neutral from buy at Banc of America Securities.
Coldwater Creek Inc. (NASDAQ:CWTR - News) lowered its outlook for fiscal fourth quarter per-share income to a range of 16 cents to 17 cents. Previously, the women's-apparel company said it was looking for 26 cents to 27 cents. Coldwater cited slower-than-expected customer traffic throughout the holiday season.
Digi International Inc. (NASDAQ:DGII - News) first-quarter net income rose to 15 cents a share from 9 cents in the year-earlier period. Revenue rose to $41.8 million from $33.4 million.
Enterra Energy Trust (NYSE:ENT - News) reported a cash distribution of 6 cents per trust unit to be paid on Feb. 15. This payout represent a reduction from the 12 cents per trust unit the company distributed in each of the past six months. Enterra attributed the reduction to significantly weaker commodity prices, capital market uncertainty stemming from recent tax changes proposed by the Canadian government and early conversion of debentures to trust units.
E-Trade Financial Corp. (NASDAQ:ETFC - News) fourth-quarter net income jumped 37%, as customers traded more and stored more cash and investments with the discount broker.
Fortune Brands (NYSE:FO - News) was downgraded to neutral from overweight at J.P. Morgan. The firm cited a 20% gain in the share price since the end of June and the weak outlook for home and hardware sales and operating margins. The broker also told clients it believes margin expansion in the spirits and wine division is also limited as it thinks Fortune will increase investment in its newly acquired Allied brands.
General Electric Co. (NYSE:GE - News) reported fourth-quarter net income doubled to 64 cents a share, in line with estimates. Revenue rose a stronger-than-expected 11% to $44.62 billion. In addition, GE agreed to buy Abbott Laboratories' (NYSE:ABT - News) in-vitro and point-of-care diagnostics businesses for $8.13 billion in cash.
Hythiam (NASDAQ:HYTM - News) shares slid after the Los Angeles-based provider of health management services said late Thursday it has agreed to acquire Comprehensive Care Corp. for $9 million in cash and 708,066 shares of stock. The deal is expected to close in the first half of 2007.
IBM (NYSE:IBM - News) reported an 11% rise in fourth-quarter profit, helped by higher sales in its key global services division and more demand in its software business, although the stock fell due to meager sales growth for the company's hardware business.
Irvine Sensors Corp. (NASDAQ:IRSN - News) shares slumped after the Costa Mesa, Calif.-based developer of miniaturized infrared and electro-optical cameras said it was unable to file its Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended Oct. 1, 2006, by the yesterday's deadline. The company did not provide a reason for the delay in filing its 10-K.
Lamar Advertising (NASDAQ:LAMR - News) was downgraded to neutral from buy at Banc of America Securities.
Lubrizol (NYSE:LZ - News) was downgraded to neutral from overweight at J.P. Morgan.
Nuveen Investments (NYSE:JNC - News) said fourth-quarter net income for the three months ended Dec. 31 rose 15% to $50.2 million, or 60 cents a share, from $43.5 million, or 53 cents a share in the year-ago period. Revenue rose 24% to $195.6 million. Analysts surveyed by Thomson First Call forecast earnings of 61 cents a share, on average.
Shares of Rite Aid (NYSE:RAD - News) fell after Goldman Sachs downgraded the drugstore chain to sell from neutral, citing concerns over valuation and challenges integrating its Eckerd acquisition. "Shares of dramatically outperformed over the past several months on optimism over Eckerd's turnaround potential," Heinbockel said in a research note. He said the stock's strong gains leave it trading at the same valuation as the faster-growing and less leveraged CVS-Caremark combination. "As a result, we see a potential correction of 10% to 15% sometime in the first half of 2007," Heinbockel said. The stock was last down 3.1% at $5.95, but was still up 24% over the past four months. Heinbockel raised his stock price target to $5.45 from $4.54.
Stanley Works (NYSE:SWK - News) was downgraded to underweight from neutral at J.P. Morgan. The firm said the company's recent acquisition run has diluted returns and increased integration risk, particularly regarding Bostitch.
SunTrust Banks (NYSE:STI - News) said net income rose 1% to $523.6 million, or $1.46 a share, from $518.5 million, or $1.43, a year ago. Analysts, on average, forecast earnings of $1.46 a share, according to Thomson First Call. Quarterly revenue increased 3% to $2.07 billion from $2 billion, while non-interest income gained 11% to $882.6 million from $797.9 million, the Atlanta bank said.
Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT - News) updated its fourth-quarter outlook Thursday night. The Providence, R.I. defense and aerospace company said it had "incurred additional costs related to its Bell Helicopter H-1 program." It now expects earnings from continuing operations to exceed previous guidance of $1.35 to $1.45 a share. That median still fell short of analysts' average estimates of $1.46 a share, as polled by Thomson Financial. The company said strong financial performance at Cessna and other units during the fourth quarter should more than offset additional H-1 costs.
TRW Automotive Holding Corp. (NYSE:TRW - News) was downgraded to sell from neutral at Goldman Sachs.
Washington Post Co. (NYSE:WPO - News) raised its annual dividend 5% to $8.20 a share from $7.80 a share.
Westlake Chemical Corp. (NYSE:WLK - News) was downgraded to reduce from neutral at UBS. The firm lowered its price target on the stock to $36 from $32.

Labels: ABT, CAI, CWTR, DGII, ENT, ETFC, FO, GE, HYTM, IBM, IRSN, JNC, LAMR, LZ, RAD, STI, SWK, TRW, TXT, WPO

California Micro Devices Corp. (NASDAQ:CAMD - News) reported third-quarter net income of $673,000, or 3 cents a share, compared with $2.53 million, or 11 cents a share, in the same period last year, as sales fell and costs rose slightly.
Callaway Golf Co. (NYSE:ELY - News) said it expects preliminary 2006 sales of $1.018 billion, with earnings per share of 33 cents to 35 cents. Excluding charges, the golf products company sees per-share income of 50 cents to 52 cents.
Capital One reported a 39% jump in fourth-quarter net income, but the results, as well as the credit card and banking company's 2007 forecast, fell short of Wall Street expectations.
Churchill Downs Inc. (NASDAQ:CHDN - News) said Michael Miller, who has served as chief financial officer since December 2002, is leaving to become CFO of Poe Cos. Miller's final day with Churchill, a horse racing venue operator, will be Jan. 26.
Coldwater Creek Inc. (NASDAQ:CWTR - News) lowered its outlook for fiscal fourth quarter per-share income to a range of 16 cents to 17 cents. Previously, the women's apparel company said it was looking for a per-share result of 26 cents to 27 cents. Coldwater cited slower-than-expected customer traffic throughout the holiday season.
Digi International Inc. (NASDAQ:DGII - News) said first-quarter net income rose, as sales gained, to $3.8 million, or 15 cents a share, from $2.18 million, or 9 cents a share, during the same period in the prior year. The company said quarterly revenue rose to $41.8 million from $33.4 million in the prior year.
E-Trade Financial Corp. (NASDAQ:ETFC - News) said fourth-quarter net income jumped 37% to a record, as customers traded more and stored more cash and investments with the discount broker.
General Electric Co. , moving to broaden its diagnostic offerings, will buy Abbott Laboratories' (NYSE:ABT - News) in-vitro and point-of-care diagnostics businesses for $8.13 billion in cash.
Jacuzzi Brands Inc. (NYSE:JJZ - News) said it sees preliminary fiscal first quarter operating income declining primarily due to a 40% drop in income in the Bath segment due to operating losses at the U.S. whirlpool bath operations.
JDSU (NASDAQ:JDSU - News) raised its view for fiscal second quarter revenue to a range of $360 million to $365 million. Previously, the communications test products company had said it was looking for revenue of $332 million to $352 million. JDSU cited its Communications Test and Measurement segment performing "particularly well."

KeyCorp raised its quarterly cash dividend 5.8% to 36.5 cents a share from 34.5 cents a share. The dividend is payable March 15 to shareholders of record as of Feb. 27.
Molex Inc. (NASDAQ:MOLX - News) reported fiscal second-quarter net income of $66.4 million, or 36 cents a share, up from $58.5 million, or 31 cents a share, a year ago. Revenue at the electrical equipment maker rose 20% to $837.5 million from $697.3 million.
Oneok Inc. (NYSE:OKE - News) raised its quarterly dividend 6.3% to 34 cents a share from 32 cents a share. The gas distributor said the dividend is payable Feb. 15 to shareholders of record as of Jan. 31.
Polaris Industries Inc. (NYSE:PII - News) said it has renewed and extended the employment agreement of Chief Executive Tom Tiller through 2008. Tiller will also continue to serve on the board, the snowmobile and motorcycle maker said.
Presstek Inc. (NASDAQ:PRST - News) said it expects fourth-quarter consolidated revenue to exceed $65 million, in line with the company's prior outlook excluding revenue from the Precision Analog operations, which was discontinued in the fourth quarter.
Stride Rite Corp. (NYSE:SRR - News) raised its quarterly cash dividend 17% to 7 cents a share from 6 cents a share. The maker of shoes said the dividend is payable March 15 to stockholders of record as of Feb. 27.
Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT - News) said it now expects fourth-quarter earnings from continuing operations will be above its prior outlook of $1.35 a share to $1.45 a share. The company said its improved view is due to stronger financial performance at Cessna, Textron Systems and Textron Financial and a lower tax rate.
UnionBanCal Corp. (NYSE:UB - News) reported fourth-quarter net earnings of $226.4 million, or $1.61 a share, compared with $308.5 million, or $2.09 a share, in the same period last year. Revenue rose slightly to $672.7 million from $665.2 million.
Washington Post Co. (NYSE:WPO - News) raised its annual dividend 5% to $8.20 a share from $7.80 a share.
Xilinx Inc. (NASDAQ:XLNX - News) said its quarterly profit rose 8% from a year ago, but its sales were soft. Xilinx reported fiscal third-quarter net income of $87.5 million, or 26 cents a share, compared to net income of $81 million, or 23 cents a share, in last year's same period. Published By MarketWatch

Labels: ABT, CAMD, CHDN, CWTR, DGII, ELY, ETFC, JDSU, JJZ, MOLX, OKE, PII, PRST, SRR, TXT, UB, WPO, XLNX