DailyMarkets.com - Earnings Preview: CRA International

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• Earnings Preview: CRA International
• TransDigm To Acquire McKechnie
• ZIOP Candidate Gets Orphan Status
• ASA Staffing Index Reaches Two-Year High
• Shaw Communications Remains Neutral
• 2nd Downleg In Housing Prices
• S&P Raises ETP’s Outlook To Stable
• WCRX Buys US Rights To Enablex
• Paychex’s Bottom Line Grows
• Organizational Changes At Overseas
• Valero To Offload N Jersey Refinery
• Neutral On Citrix Systems
• Positive EU Opinion For AZN Drug
• Earnings Preview: Accenture
• Fujifilm Penetrates Middle East
• Global Air Traffic Above Pre-Recession Levels
• Statoil Expects More Off Norway Oil
• Rio Tinto To Invest In Pilbara Mine
• Interactive Brokers’ Rating Upgraded
• Atmel Should Outperform
• Airgas Prices Senior Notes
• Symantec Forms Alliance Network
• NY Fed Model: Slim Chance Of A Double-Dip In 2011
• Forex Trading: USD/CHF Reaches Historic Low

Earnings Preview: CRA International Posted: 28 Sep 2010 11:35 AM PDT CRA International Inc. (NASDAQ:CRAI), a consulting firm that provides legal, regulatory, business consulting and other expert services through its specialized consultants across the globe, is slated to release its third quarter 2010 results on Thursday, September 30. The current Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter is 30 cents per share, representing an annualized decline of 3.2%.      With respect to earnings surprises over the trailing four quarters, CRA International has … [visit site to read more]

TransDigm To Acquire McKechnie Posted: 28 Sep 2010 11:35 AM PDT TransDigm Group Inc (TDG) has announced an all-cash deal to purchase McKechnie Aerospace Holdings Inc. for $1.27 billion. The purchase price takes into account the retirement of all outstanding debt of the target. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2010 after meeting customary closing conditions.   McKechnie has major manufacturing capabilities in the OEM and aftermarket segments for the entire range of Boeing and Airbus aircrafts as well as many regional and … [visit site to read more]

ZIOP Candidate Gets Orphan Status Posted: 28 Sep 2010 11:35 AM PDT Recently, ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc. (ZIOP) received a boost from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) when the US agency granted orphan drug status to its candidate darinaparsin (Zinapar). The candidate is being developed to treat patients suffering from peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL). PTCL refers to a biologically diverse group of blood cancers. The incidence of PTCL is more prevalent in men (over 60) than women.   The orphan drug status is granted by the US regulatory agency … [visit site to read more]

ASA Staffing Index Reaches Two-Year High Posted: 28 Sep 2010 11:16 AM PDT From today’s weekly report from the American Staffing Association: “During the week of Sept. 13–19, 2010, temporary and contract employment rose 2.08%, pushing the index up two points to a value of 98 (see chart above).  At a current index value of 98, U.S. staffing employment is 42% higher than the level reported for the first week of the current year and is 23% higher than the same weekly period in 2009.” The index value of 98 for the ASA Staffing Index is the highest reading since … [visit site to read more]

Shaw Communications Remains Neutral Posted: 28 Sep 2010 11:05 AM PDT We maintain our long-term Neutral recommendation for Shaw Communications Inc. (NYSE:SJR), which means the stock will perform mostly in line with the broader market. Shaw Communications is a leading cable and satellite MSO of Canada operating mainly in the western part of the country.   Shaw Communications has entered into agreements to acquire 100% of the over-the-air and specialty television businesses of Canwest Global Communications Corp. for approximately $2.0 billion. Canwest has … [visit site to read more]

2nd Downleg In Housing Prices Posted: 28 Sep 2010 11:05 AM PDT In July, home prices started to slip again, but unevenly across the country. The Case-Schiller Composite 10 City index (C-10) rose 0.03% on a seasonally adjusted basis, and is up 4.01% from a year ago. The broader Composite 20 City index (which includes the cities in the C-10) fell by 0.13% on the month and is up 3.13% from a year ago. In June, the year-over-year gains were 5.02% for the C-10 and 4.22% for the C-20, so it looks like the year-over-year gains are rolling over. Of the 20 cities, … [visit site to read more]

S&P Raises ETP’s Outlook To Stable Posted: 28 Sep 2010 11:05 AM PDT Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services ("S&P") has revised its rating outlook on natural gas and propane gas master limited partnership ("MLP") Energy Transfer Partners L.P. (NYSE:ETP), to stable from negative. The rating agency has affirmed its "BBB-" corporate credit rating on Energy Transfer.   The upgrade reflects S&P's increased confidence in the partnership's ability to improve its key financial metrics to levels appropriate with the BBB- rating. Notwithstanding … [visit site to read more]

WCRX Buys US Rights To Enablex Posted: 28 Sep 2010 11:05 AM PDT Warner Chilcott plc (NASDAQ:WCRX) recently announced the termination of its agreement with Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS) for the co-promotion of Enablex, a treatment for overactive bladder, in the US. Warner Chilcott agreed to purchase the US rights of the drug from Novartis for $400 million cash. The deal, which is scheduled to close by the end of October, is subject to regulatory clearance.   Along with the $400 million upfront payment, Warner Chilcott is also liable to make future milestone payments … [visit site to read more]

Paychex’s Bottom Line Grows Posted: 28 Sep 2010 10:35 AM PDT Paychex Inc. (NASDAQ:PAYX) reported first-quarter fiscal 2011 earnings of 36 cents per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate by two cents. The quarter's results are indicative of an improving client retention rate and the company's constant effort to improve selling operations. Revenues Paychex reported first-quarter 2011 revenues of $518.3 million, up 3.6% from $500.2 million in the year-earlier quarter and was above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $507.0 million. The revenue upside … [visit site to read more]

Organizational Changes At Overseas Posted: 28 Sep 2010 10:35 AM PDT Overseas Shipholding Group Inc. (NYSE:OSG), a leading energy transportation company, has made organizational changes to focus on its core segments of crude oil, products and U.S.-flagged shipping.   The company will move its stand-alone liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier fleet under the International Product Carrier and Gas strategic business unit. Marc La Monte, the head of the Overseas gas unit, has left the company. However, technical management of the LNG fleet remained under Ian T. … [visit site to read more]

Valero To Offload N Jersey Refinery Posted: 28 Sep 2010 10:05 AM PDT Valero Energy Corp. (NYSE:VLO) plans to offload Paulsboro, New Jersey, refinery to PBF Energy Company LLC for $360 million. This announcement follows the sale of Valero's 182,200 barrel-per-day (BPD) Delaware City refinery in June.   The purchase consideration will be paid by PBF Energy equally in cash and debt. PBF Energy also will be responsible for paying the value of net working capital and inventories at the refinery, currently estimated at about $275 million. The deal is expected to … [visit site to read more]

Neutral On Citrix Systems Posted: 28 Sep 2010 10:05 AM PDT We maintain our long-term Neutral recommendation for Citrix Systems Inc. (NASDAQ:CTXS), which means the stock will perform mostly in line with the broader market. The company continues to grow as virtualization and cloud computing becomes essential for large enterprises to reduce operating costs when the economy has just started to recover from recession.   As a leading provider of enterprises software solutions with desktop virtualization at its core, the company will benefit immensely from … [visit site to read more]

Positive EU Opinion For AZN Drug Posted: 28 Sep 2010 09:35 AM PDT AstraZeneca (NYSE:AZN) recently received a positive opinion from the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) for Brilique (ticagrelor). The company is seeking approval in the EU for the use of Brilique in the prevention of atherothrombotic events in adult patients with Acute Coronary Syndromes (ACS). The positive recommendation was based on data submitted by the company on Brilique including data from the PLATO study. A final decision from the European marketing approval authority … [visit site to read more]

Earnings Preview: Accenture Posted: 28 Sep 2010 09:35 AM PDT Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN) is scheduled to announce its fourth quarter and fiscal 2010 results on September 30. There have been some changes in analyst estimates post its third quarter 2010 results.  Third Quarter Overview  Third quarter results were impressive, with earnings per share (EPS) of 73 cents substantially exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 69 cents.   Revenue of $5.57 billion was up 8.0% from $5.15 billion reported in the year-ago quarter. This was within the … [visit site to read more]

Fujifilm Penetrates Middle East Posted: 28 Sep 2010 09:35 AM PDT Fujifilm Holdings Corporation (FUJIY) has established a new subsidiary in Dubai, UAE, to be christened FUJIFILM Middle East FZE. The subsidiary is expected to begin operation from October 1, 2010.   Fujifilm has penetrated overseas markets and established sales bases in larger areas like the United States, Europe and Asia, which are expected to provide greater momentum to the stock. Meanwhile, Fujifilm has been continuously developing innovative products that use photographic … [visit site to read more]

Global Air Traffic Above Pre-Recession Levels Posted: 28 Sep 2010 09:24 AM PDT “The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced today that international scheduled traffic results for August indicating year-on-year increases of a 6.4% for passenger and 19.6% for cargo (see chart above).  August demand is down from the 9.5% increase recorded for passenger and 23.0% growth in cargo recorded in July.  The August 2010 data is partially distorted by the comparison to August 2009, by which time markets were already expanding rapidly in a … [visit site to read more]

Statoil Expects More Off Norway Oil Posted: 28 Sep 2010 09:05 AM PDT Statoil ASA (NYSE:STO), Norway-based major international oil integrated, intends to recover 4.2 billion barrels of oil equivalent in the coming years. The company said this a week after a commission appointed by the Norwegian government stated that oil firms could recover an additional 15.7 billion barrels of oil from off Norway fields.   The government said in a statement that less than half of the total hydrocarbon found in the region off Norway will be recoverable if oil companies have … [visit site to read more]

Rio Tinto To Invest In Pilbara Mine Posted: 28 Sep 2010 09:05 AM PDT One of the leading mining companies of the world, Rio Tinto (NYSE:RTP), intends to infuse $230 million for further development of its Pilbara iron-ore mine and increase its production capacity to 230 million tons annually (mt/a) by early fiscal 2012. At present the mine has a capacity of 220 mt/a. An investment of $91 million made in early 2010 would make the mine produce 225 mt/a from the second quarter of fiscal 2011.   During the recession, Rio Tinto aligned its production levels and … [visit site to read more]

Interactive Brokers’ Rating Upgraded Posted: 28 Sep 2010 08:36 AM PDT Based on Interactive Brokers Group Inc.'s (NASDAQ:IBKR) strong capital base and low balance sheet leverage, we have raised our long-term recommendation from "Underperform" to "Neutral".   Interactive Brokers' second quarter 2010 earnings of 9 cents per share significantly lagged the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 21 cents. This also compared unfavorably with the prior-year quarter's earnings of 31 cents.   Results were mainly marred by a negative top-line growth, increase in … [visit site to read more]

Atmel Should Outperform Posted: 28 Sep 2010 08:36 AM PDT We recently reiterated an Outperform recommendation on Atmel Corporation (NASDAQ:ATML) in anticipation of strong growth in the coming quarters.   Based in San Jose, California, Atmel Corporation designs, develops, manufactures and sells integrated circuit (IC) products. These products include microcontrollers, advanced logic, mixed-signal, non-volatile memory and radio frequency (RF) components.   Atmel is currently focusing on its core Microcontroller business and is halting development … [visit site to read more]

Airgas Prices Senior Notes Posted: 28 Sep 2010 08:36 AM PDT Airgas Inc. (ARG) has priced its 3.25% senior notes due October 1, 2015 aggregating $250 million, offered under a shelf registration statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.   Airgas is offering the 3.25% senior notes at 99.849% of face value. The proceeds from the offering, which closes on September 30, 2010, will be used to repay outstanding balances on its revolving credit facilities. The company's long-term debt is rated BBB by Standard and Poor's … [visit site to read more]

Symantec Forms Alliance Network Posted: 28 Sep 2010 08:36 AM PDT California-based global leader in security solutions, Symantec Corp. (NASDAQ:SYMC) recently set up an alliance network to support its channel partners in generating new business. The alliance network, which is a joint effort of Symantec and certain alliance partners, will develop innovative marketing solutions for channel partners.   Tech giants such as Dell Inc. (NASDAQ:DELL), Hewlett-Packard Co. (NYSE:HPQ), ExaGrid and Quantum have already listed themselves as members of the alliance. The members of … [visit site to read more]

NY Fed Model: Slim Chance Of A Double-Dip In 2011 Posted: 28 Sep 2010 07:47 AM PDT The New York Federal Reserve updated its “Probability of U.S. Recession Predicted by Treasury Spread” yesterday with treasury yield data through August 2010, and the Fed’s recession probability forecast through August 2011 (see top chart above). The NY Fed’s Treasury model uses the spread between the yields on 10-year Treasury notes (2.70% in August) and 3-month Treasury bills (0.16%) to calculate the probability of a U.S. recession up to twelve months ahead (see details here) … [visit site to read more]

Forex Trading: USD/CHF Reaches Historic Low Posted: 28 Sep 2010 07:45 AM PDT Dollar Vs Swiss Franc reaches all-time historic low … [visit site to read more]

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