: iStockAnalyst.com Symbols Feed

Restaurants Getting Weaker

Fri, 07 Aug 2009 17:36:11 GMT

In the premarket, futures are higher following AIG's earnings announcement and an employment report showing 247,000 jobs lost in July. Mish Shedlock goes over recent employment data in detail, noting that we are seeing an acceleration in number of people losing unemployment benefits. On a percentage of population basis this recession is unparalleled. Making matters worse, the US consumer was nowhere near as leveraged to real estate in 1980 or 1982 as now. Also note that boomers are heading into retirement now, undercapitalized and looking for jobs, in effect competing against their kids and grandkids for jobs. Look at the average age of baggers in grocery stores or greeters at Walmart. These people are not working because they want to; they are[More...]

Earnings On Tap This Week

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 15:33:00 GMT

Earnings season does not really begin in earnest until NEXT week but the first wave is hitting this week. I believe this quarter will be one of "pulled guidance" (we have no visibility) and lots of complaints about the stronger dollar hurting the multinationals. Bulls will keep saying "yes but that's the past, you have to buy in anticipation of the coming recovery". Bears will snort. So we begin.... Here are some of the names I am watching both for company specific comments and greater macro economic views. I don't have time to break it out like this every week since so many more companies begin reporting each week, but here is an example of what I look at each week of earnings season as I assimilate as much info as possible ;) Monday: Fund position[More...]

Earnings Preview for Jan 5 - 9 - Earnings Preview

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 18:59:00 GMT

Immucor, Inc. (BLUD) could top expectations. Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. (BBBY) and Global Payments Inc. (GPN) could miss estimates. Traders and portfolio managers returning from their holiday vacations will be greeted by earnings and economic news. Though earnings season will not officially start for another week (Alcoa Inc. ([More...]

Retail Sales Numbers Not Good - Analyst Blog

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 18:45:00 GMT

In this feature, we discuss Wal-Mart?(WMT), Costco (COST), Target (TGT), Macy's (M) and [More...]

Bennigan's, Stake & Ale Close - File For Bankruptcy Protection

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 13:28:00 GMT

I really need to start a new category for the blog: bankruptcies. It really is a shame these companies are closing their doors in the midst of the long awaited 2nd half 2008 recovery. I mean... it really is a shame these companies are closing their doors as we are looking forward to the 1st half 2009 recovery. However, I don't know what we even have to recovery from since the economy is fine, not in a recession or even close, and its just a few stumbles in an otherwise sound system (source: GWB)So we'll add these 2 names to our growing list - and trust me a lot of mom and pop type places in strip mall complexes i.e. non chains - are going to be drowning and they[More...]

Age of Consumerism is Over

Sat, 03 May 2008 17:26:42 GMT

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Spending habits are affected by attitudes, and right now, attitudes are changing dramatically.[More...]

3 Months Later Let's Look Again @ Ruby Tuesday (RT)

Sun, 13 Jan 2008 19:39:24 GMT

I don't follow the restaurant sector closely since there is little growth there (except for something like Chipotle (CMG)), but I like to keep my eye on a few. Ruby Tuesday's (RT) is one since its a run of the mill casual dining company.Back in September, I said this group was toast but since I cannot short individual names, and there is not an ETF to short them, I could not do much except say "well this group is done" (Tough Times Ahead: Restaurants?) A very simple thesis that is "now" conventional wisdom but back in September we were still in the "subprime is all contained" media hype periodMiddle class consumer squeezed along with skyrocketing inputs for their food doesn[More...]

Earnings Season Begins Next Week

Fri, 04 Jan 2008 15:47:26 GMT

Tomorrow, after a BS labor report ... err the BLS labor report that people pay way too much attention to, but we are forced to acknowledge due to the herd mentality around it... we get to the land mine part of the quarter - earnings season. A wondrous time when we can learn more information about a company, and its future prospects - all at the low low cost of getting a leg blown off at one wrong word in guidance or conference call. Ahh, so fun. You think you are safe when the report comes out, smugly smiling to self, and then *BOOM* the CEO sneezes the wrong way in conference call and you're down in after hours. A time of 40% drops in stock prices for no good reason other than over anxious 'long term investors' are upset a company had earnings growth of 46.6% instead of the estimated 47.1%! Yes, a true reflection of our "long t[More...]

Cutback on Dining Dollars Signals a Slowing Economy

Mon, 24 Dec 2007 17:39:20 GMT

Dual income families have had two important effects on our economy: increased inflation to adjust for higher household budgets, and increased outsourcing of what I call basic functions of existence (e.g., preparing meals, parenting from 8-6, cleaning clothes, cleaning one’s home, etc.). Of all the outsourced basic functions of existence, preparing meals seems to be the most widespread. Even single income families spend a significant portion of their food budget on packaged prepared meals, meals prepared by grocers, and meals prepared by restaurants.Evidence of explosive demand for outsourced meal preparation is ubiquitous. Grocers’ shelves and freezers are overflowing with prepackaged meals, grocers have dedicated an increasing number of resources to preparing and selling meals onsite, and restaurants seem to outnumber...[More...]

Darden Restaurants Weak - Another "Tell" Stock

Wed, 19 Dec 2007 15:46:48 GMT

I started writing about the tough times ahead for Restaurants back in September (Tough Times Ahead: Restaurants?)Middle class consumer squeezed along with skyrocketing inputs for their food doesn't bode well for profit margins in this group as a whole. We have the cheese inflation, the dairy inflation, the corn inflation and now the wheat inflation.While everyone focused on the home builders, and they had just begun to get negative on the retailers, I was mentioning how restaurant stocks outside of magical Chipotle (Chipotle - the One Impervious Restaurant Stock) were the next shoe to drop. I sounded like a raving doomsday lunatic then, but slowly all these items are comi[More...]

Will the Jobs R.I. Lost to the Recession Ever Come Back?

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:51:00 GMT

Oct. 22--Manufacturing jobs have been among the hardest hit during Rhode Island's recession.
The state has lost more than 9,000 jobs in the sector since the downturn began in 2007.
They say manufacturing-job growth is possible if Rhode Island focuses on developing bioscience, defense and green-energy industries.

[More...]

R.I. Jobless Rate Climbs to 12.7%

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 13:54:00 GMT

Aug. 21--PROVIDENCE -- Despite early signs that the nation's economy may be recovering, Rhode Island still appears to be mired in the recession.
The state's unemployment rate climbed again, to 12.7 percent in July from 12.4 percent in June.
The latest unemployment rate in Rhode Island, released by the state Department of Labor and Training Friday, follows a report that the national rate had dropped slightly from 9.5 percent in June to 9.4 percent last month.

[More...]

Budget Includes Tax Cuts, Uses Stimulus Funds to Trim Deficit

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 17:47:00 GMT

Mar. 11--PROVIDENCE -- It was supposed to be among the most difficult decisions in his political career.
Facing a crippled state economy, Governor Carcieri was charged with crafting a plan to fill what may be the largest budget deficit in state history.
But flush with cash from President Obama's economic stimulus package, the Republican governor proposed a $7.6-billion tax-and-spending plan yesterday that would increase overall state spending by 10 percent -- about $700 million -- in the next year.

[More...]

City to Seek a Consultant for Cleanup

Thu, 05 Feb 2009 09:49:00 GMT

Feb. 5--Paducah plans to hire a consulting firm to oversee debris cleanup efforts, a deal City Manager Jim Zumwalt said could be finalized today.
Van Newberry, the county judge-executive, said county officials were discussing hiring a firm but no decision would be official until the fiscal court meets Monday, if a meeting isn't called sooner.
City Commissioner Carol Gault, who joined the commission in November, said she thought in the past the city was too quick to hire consultants.

[More...]

Pernod Ricard Continues to Reduce Its Debt with the Disposal of Tia Maria to Illva Saronno for € 125 Million

Mon, 27 Jul 2009 16:00:00 GMT

Regulatory News:[More...]

Pernod Ricard: Trading Update

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 15:56:00 GMT

Regulatory News:[More...]

International Appointments at Pernod Ricard

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:59:00 GMT

Regulatory News:[More...]

Pernod Ricard: Distribution of Interim Cash Dividend of € 0.50 Per Share on 8 July 2009

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 15:57:00 GMT

Regulatory News:[More...]

Pernod Ricard: Completion of the Wild Turkey Disposal

Fri, 29 May 2009 16:31:00 GMT

Regulatory News:[More...]

Pernod Ricard : Pierre Pringuet Joins Cap Gemini’s Board of Directors

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 15:36:00 GMT

Regulatory News:[More...]

Pernod Ricard: 9 Months’ Sales 2008/09

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 04:57:00 GMT

Regulatory News:[More...]

Signing of a Sale Agreement Between Kirin and LDI 3

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 06:26:00 GMT

Regulatory News:[More...]

Pernod Ricard Japan to Carry on Distribution of Chivas in Japan Starting as of September 30, 2009

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 07:11:00 GMT

Regulatory News:[More...]

Pernod Ricard Accelerates Its Deleveraging Plan with the Disposal of Wild Turkey for US$ 575 Million and the Intention to Raise €1 Billion of Capital by Way of a Rights Issue

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 05:56:00 GMT

Regulatory News:[More...]