(Source: Business Wire)
Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: AmBev (NYSE: ABV), AAON Inc (NASDAQ: AAON), Deutsche Bank AG (NYSE: DB), Chunghwa Telecom (NYSE: CHT) and Micros Systems Inc (NASDAQ: MCRS).
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Here are highlights from Wednesday's Analyst Blog:
AmBev Keeps the Thirst Quenched
We are maintaining our Buy recommendation on Companhia de Bebidas das Americas, better known as AmBev (NYSE: ABV). The company posted good results for the 4th quarter of 2008 with excellent results in Argentina as well as soft drinks and non-alcoholic, non-carbonated (NANC) beverages in Brazil.
InBev's acquisition of Anheuser-Busch was positive for the company as it creates huge synergies. Despite the difficult economic environment throughout the world due to the global credit crunch, the company, which is focusing on low cost, daily use products, is not tied directly to the international economic cycle.
Cool AAON Reports Hot Results!
AAON Inc (NASDAQ: AAON) -- a truly unique niche player in the HVAC industry -- reported Q4-08 results today. While Sales declined 3.1% to $60.2 million (our projection was $57.5 million), Gross Profit rose by 8.9%, as the Gross Profit Margin increased from 20.0% to 22.4%.
Further, SG&A Expense declined by 14.1%, which caused the Income from Operations Margin to jump from 11.6% to 15.0%. Even with a higher Tax Rate (35.4% versus 34.3%), Net Income climbed by 31.9%.
The bottom line of all this is that EPS were up by a breezy 45.8%, from 25¢ to 35¢ (our estimate was 31¢, but better to be too low than too high, all things considered in this environment).
Deutsche Bank to Hold Steady
We are continuing our Hold on Deutsche Bank AG (NYSE: DB), but cutting our target price to $25. In line with earnings guidance provided on January 14, DB posted a 4th quarter loss of EUR4.8 billion and a full-year loss of EUR3.8 billion, principally related to sales and trading, especially in Credit Trading, Equity Derivatives and Equities Proprietary Trading.
The loss also reflects risk exposure reductions, increased loss provisions against monoline insurers, and other unusual gains and losses, including reorganization charges.
