Wealth Gap Widest in Large Affluent Cities

Wealth Gap Widest in Large Affluent Cities.  A new report indicates the gap between the wealthy and the poor is most extreme in several of the U.S.’s largest cities. The largest disparities in wealth where found to be in the democratically lead cities of Atlanta, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco and Washington D.C.  Some economists are pointing out that many of these cities have higher immigrant and illegal alien populations and higher high school dropout rates that they say add to the wealth gap. Of the nation’s 50 biggest cities, just 18 experienced greater income inequality since the recession. The report also found that not all the 50 largest cities saw large wealth gaps. Some Western and Sun Belt cities, such as Mesa, AZ and Arlington, TX that have smaller downtowns had a noticeably smaller wealth gap than the national average.

Upgrades:

Seagate Tech (STX): RBC Capital raised their rating from Sector Perform to Outperform. Pre-market: 51.10 +1.08 (2.16%)

Tim Hortons (THI): Raymond James raised their rating from Market Perform to Outperform.

Total SA (TOT): Goldman Sachs raised their rating from Sell to Neutral. Pre-market: 62.36 +0.94 (1.53%)

Downgrades:

Columbia Sportswear (COLM): McAdams Wright lowered their rating from Hold to Sell.

Groupon (GRPN): RBC Capital lowered their rating from Sector Perform to Underperform and lowered their target price from $11.00 to $7.00. Pre-market: 9.00 -1.28 (-12.44%)

Wal-Mart (WMT): Stifel lowered their rating from Buy to Hold and placed a target price of $83.00 on the company. Pre-market: 73.26 -0.26 (-0.35%)

Earning Reports:

Charter Comm (CHTR): Reported EPS of $0.35 beating estimates by +$0.06.

DISH Network (DISH): Reported EPS of $0.63 beating estimates by +$0.22.

Groupon (GRPN): Reported EPS of $0.04 beating estimates by +$0.02. Pre-market: 9.00 -1.28 (-12.44%)

Hewlett-Packard (HPQ): Reported EPS of $0.90 beating estimates by +$0.06. Pre-market: 30.45 +0.26 (0.86%)

Intuit (INTU): Reported EPS of $0.02 in-line with estimates.

Priceline.com (PCLN): Reported EPS of $8.85 beating estimates by +$0.56. Pre-market: 1,315.93 +32.93 (2.57%)

Markets: 
Futures at 8:02: Dow +0.18%. S&P +0.19%. Nasdaq +0.19%. Crude -0.27% to $102.46. Gold +0.38% to $3121.90. U.S. 10 Year -5/32 to 2.768%

Europe: London +0.09%. Paris +0.27%. Frankfurt +0.13%. 

Asia: Japan +2.88% to 14866. Hong Kong +0.78% to 22568. China -1.17% to 2114. India +0.80% to 20701. 

#TopWealthManager #RLPaler #AnalystsRatings #EarningReports #WallStreet #FinancialPlaner 

World Markets Worry about Fed. World markets are lower as traders wait for the Fed to announce the outcome of their latest FOMC meeting. Traders don’t expect the Fed to raise interest rates or to begin tapering, but they will be watching for any indication as to when this could begin.

Upgrades:

Adobe Systems (ADBE): Argus raised their rating from Hold to Buy and placed a target price of $71.00 on the company.

Facebook (FB): Susquehanna raised their rating from Neutral to Positive and raised their target price from $52.00 to $68.00.

Hewlett-Packard (HPQ): JPMorgan raised their rating from Neutral to Overweight and placed a target price of $35.00 on the company.

iRobot (IRBT): Raymond James JPMorgan raised their rating from Market Perform to Strong Buy and placed a target price of $39.00 on the company.

Medtronics (MDT): Goldman Sachs raised their rating from Neutral to Buy and placed a target price of $66.00 on the company.

Downgrades:

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK): Deutsche Bank lowered their rating from Buy to Hold.

KB Home (KBH): Compass Point lowered their rating from Neutral to Sell.

D.R. Horton (DHI): Compass Point lowered their rating from Buy to Neutral.

Twitter (TWTR): Atlantic Equities lowered their rating from Overweight to Neutral and placed a target price of $50.00 on the company.

Coverage Initiated:

Archer Daniels Midland (ADM): Macquarie initiated coverage with an Outperform rating and target price of $49.00.

Dynergy (DYN): Imperial Capital initiated coverage with an Outperform rating and target price of $24.00.

Mosaic (MOS): Macquarie initiated coverage with an Outperform rating and target price of $54.00.

Zillow (Z): SunTrust initiated coverage with a Buy rating and target price of $95.00.

Earning Reports:

FactSet (FDS): Reported EPS of $1.19 missing estimates by -$0.03.

Markets: 
Futures at 8:35: Dow +0.22%. S&P +0.03%. Nasdaq +0.12%. Crude +0.31% to $97.79. Gold -0.83% to $1233.90. U.S. 10 Year 0/32 to 2.880%.

Europe: London -0.30%. Paris -0.79%. Frankfurt -0.18%. 

Asia: Japan +0.83% to 15279. Hong Kong -0.20% to 23069. China -0.45% to 2151. India -0.23% to 20612. 

#RLPaler #WallStreet #PreMarket #WealthManagement #EarningReports #AnalystsRatings

Morning Coffee Pre-Market Wall Street News

UPS and the University of Virginia Blame Obamacare for Cuts. Both UPS (UPS) and the University of Virginia announced they would end offering medical benefits to family members of employees, blaming Obamacares increased cost as the direct cause. UPS in an announcement said it will cut healthcare benefits for around 15,000 working spouses of employees starting in 2014. The company said that it expects coast to the company due to Obamacare to increase +11.25%. In a memo the company also said that it expects that 35% of companies will also drop coverage of employee spouses.  The University of Virginia announced that they also will be dropping coverage of employee spouses due to direct cost increases due to Obamacare. The University said that it expects to pay $7.3 million more in 2014 due to Obamacare. Additionally, Xerox (XRX) is having employees pay $1,000 if they wish to keep their spouse on their current company medical plan, otherwise the company will be dropping them.

Upgrades:

Microsoft (MSFT): Nomura raised their rating from Neutral to Buy and placed a target price of $38.00 on the company. Pre-market: 32.12 +0.51 (1.61%)

Precision Castparts (PCP): Wells Fargo raised their rating from Market Perform to Outperform and raised their target range from $228.00-$234.00 to $240.00-$248.00.

Downgrades:

Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF): Janney Capital lowered their rating from Buy to Neutral. Pre-market: 37.74 -9.06 (-19.36%)

Target Corp (TGT): ISI Group lowered their rating from Strong Buy to Buy and placed a target price of $70.00 on the company. Pre-market: 65.25 -0.25 (-0.38%)

Target Corp (TGT): William Blair lowered their rating from Market Perform to Undrperform. Pre-market: 65.25 -0.25 (-0.38%)

Coverage Initiated:

Tesla Motors (TSLA): Stifel initiated coverage with a Hold rating. Pre-market: 149.12 +1.26 (0.85%)

Zynga (ZNGA): The Benchmark Co initiated coverage with a Hold rating and a target price of $2.98. Pre-market: 2.77 +0.02 (0.73%)

Earning Reports:

Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF): Reported EPS of $0.16 missing estimates by -$0.12. Pre-market: 37.74 -9.06 (-19.36%)

Children’s Place (PLCE): Reported EPS of -$0.42 beating estimates by +$0.11. Pre-market: 55.87 +4.47 (8.70%)

Dollar Tree (DLTR): Reported EPS of $0.56 missing estimates by -$0.01. Pre-market: 51.45 -0.39 (-0.75%)

Gamestop (GME): Reported EPS of $0.09 beating estimates by +$0.06. Pre-market: 52.40 +4.78 (10.04%)

Hewlett-Packard (HPQ): Reported EPS of $0.86 in-line with estimates. Pre-market: 23.49 -1.89 (-7.45%)

Hormel Foods (HRL): Reported EPS of $0.42 missing estimates by -$0.03. Pre-market: 41.60 -0.51 (-1.21%)

Patterson Companies (PDCO): Reported EPS of $0.46 missing estimates by -$0.03.

Sears Holdings (SHLD): Reported EPS of -$1.46 missing estimates by -$0.34. Pre-market: 40.13 -3.14 (-7.26%)

Markets: 
Futures at 8:09: Dow +0.24%. S&P +0.32%. Nasdaq +0.47%. Crude +0.22% to $104.07. Gold +0.07% to $1371.00. U.S. 10 Year -1/32 2.902%.

Europe: London +0.87%. Paris +0.96%. Frankfurt +1.08%. 

Asia: Japan -0.44% to 13365. Hong Kong +0.36% to 21895. China -0.28% to 2067. India +2.27% to 18313. 

Morning Coffee Pre-Market Wall Street News

World Markets Fall on Fed Comment. World markets are selling off after Ben Bernanke yesterday signaled that the Fed may soon stop trying to prop up the U.S. economy by printing money. Additionally, he said that the bond buying program could end by mid-2014. Some economists and traders have fear that the economy is not strong enough and needs the Fed’s stimulation to prevent another recession. They point to the weak GDP and job numbers as their evidence. U.S. futures are lower with government bond yields spiking, while gold had plunged -5.22% to $1302.40 hitting a 2 1/2 year low.

Upgrades: 

Alcatel-Lucent (ALU): UBS raised their rating from Sell to Neutral. Pre-market: 2.02 +0.09 (4.66%)

Hewlett-Packard (HQP): Wells Fargo raised Market Perform to Outperform and raised their target range from $23.00 - $25.00 to $30.00 - $32.00. Pre-market: 25.50 +0.07 (0.28%)

Plum Creek Timber (PCL): DA Davidson raised their rating from Underperform to Neutral. Pre-market: 45.15 -0.08 (-0.18%)

Wal-Mart (WMT): Raymond James raised their rating from Market Perform to Outperform and placed a target price of $84.00 on the company. Pre-market: 74.65 +0.19 (0.26%)

Weyerhaeuser (WY): BMO Capital raised their rating from Market Perform to Outperform and placed a target price of $33.00 on the company. Pre-market: 27.31 0.00 (0.00%)

Downgrades:

FedEx (FDX): JPMorgan lowered their rating from Overweight to Neutral and lowered their target price from $116.00 to $108.00. Pre-market: 98.50 -2.04 (-2.03%)

FedEx (FDX): Morgan Stanley lowered their rating from Overweight to Equal Weight. Pre-market: 98.50 -2.04 (-2.03%)

Newmont Mining (NEM): Cowen lowered their rating from Outperform to Neutral. Pre-market: 30.95 -0.95 (-2.98%)

Sprint Nextel (S): Argus lowered their rating from Buy to Hold. Pre-market: 6.97 -0.03 (-0.43%)

Walt Disney (DIS): Goldman Sachs lowered their rating from Conviction Buy to Neutral and placed a target price of $70.00 on the company. Pre-market: 63.29 -1.04 (-1.62%)

Coverage Initiated:

Owens Corning (OC): Wedbush initiated coverage with an Outperform rating and target price of $50.00.           

Earning Reports:

Jabil Circuit (JBL): Reported EPS of $0.56 beating estimates by +$0.02. Pre-market: 19.00 -0.82 (-4.14%)

Micron (MU): Reported EPS of $0.04 beating estimates by +$0.01. Pre-market: 13.66 -0.31 (-2.22%)

Pier 1 (PIR): Reported EPS of $0.19 in-line with estimates. After Hours: 24.55 +0.56 (2.33%)

Red Hat (RHT): Reported EPS of $0.32 beating estimates by +$0.01. Pre-market: 47.78 +1.56 (3.38%)

Rite Aid (RAD): Reported EPS of $0.09 in-line with estimates. Pre-market: 3.05 -0.06 (-1.93%)

Markets: 
Futures at 7:25: Dow -0.57%. S&P -0.78%. Nasdaq -0.84%. Crude -1.53% to $96.74. Gold -5.22% to $1302.40.

Europe: London -2.26%. Paris -2.51%. Frankfurt -2.49%. 

Asia: Japan -1.74% to 13015. Hong Kong -2.88% to 20383. China -2.77% to 2084. India -2.74% to 18719. 

Morning Coffee Pre-Market Wall Street News

Berkshire Hathaway Followers Ready for Pilgrimage.  Hordes of Warren Buffett followers are ready to descend on Berkshire Hathaway Inc. shareholders meeting this weekend. Prior to the meeting the company is expected to release their quarterly results. Wall Street analysts expect the company to report EPS of $1,995.50 per Class A share according to Thomson Reuters. One year ago for the same quarter the company reports EPS of $1,966. On Saturday Chairman Warren Buffett and Vice Chairman Charlie Munger will speak to the thousands of followers on topics ranging from the company’s performance, to the economy and general investing. Reports say that Hedge-fund manager Doug Kass will grill Buffett about Berkshire’s business. Kass is short Berkshire, meaning he expects the shares to fall in price. In a statement Kass said “My challenge is to ask some original questions, some that have never been asked, that might divulge new news and give people some insight.”

Upgrades

Hewlett-Packard (HPQ): Jefferies raised their rating from Underperform to Hold and raised their target price from $18.50 to $24.00. Pre-market: 23.18 +1.95 (9.19%)

Pacific Sunwear (PSUN): Wedbush raised their rating from Underperform to Neutral and raised their target price from $2.00 to $3.75. Pre-market: 3.20 +0.28 (9.59%)

Pacific Sunwear (PSUN): Topeka raised their rating from Hold to Buy and placed a target price of $4.50 on the company. Pre-market: 3.20 +0.28 (9.59%)

Seagate Tech (STX): Deutsche Bank raised their rating from Hold to Buy and raised their target price from $40.00 to $46.00. Pre-market: 42.03 -0.14 (-0.33%)

Downgrades

Blue Nile (NILE): RBC Capital lowered their rating from Outperform to Sector Perform and maintained a target price of $36.00 on the company. Pre-market: 33.55 -1.02 (-2.95%)

Comerica (CMA): Susquehanna lowered their rating from Neutral to Negative and placed a target price of $30.00 on the company.

Devon Energy (DVN): JPMorgan lowered their rating from Overweight to Neutral and lowered their target price from $62.50 to $61.50. Pre-market: 58.00 -1.15 (-1.94%)

E.I. DuPont de Nemours (DD): BGC Partners lowered their rating from Hold to Sell and placed a target price of $50.00 on the company. Pre-market: 54.97 -0.60 (-1.08%)

Coverage Initiated

Chipolte Mexican Grill (CMG): Credit Suisse initiated coverage with a Neutral rating and target price of $360.00. Pre-market: 368.00 -3.05 (-0.82%)

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ): Credit Suisse initiated coverage with an Underperform rating and target price of $73.0. Pre-market: 87.19 -1.27 (-1.44%)

NVIDIA (NVDA): Topeka initiated coverage with a Hold rating and target price of $15.00. Pre-market: 14.15 -0.25 (-1.74%)

Earning Reports

Advance Auto (AAP): Reported EPS of $1.65 beating estimates by +$0.03. Pre-market: 86.15 +0.35 (0.41%)

Children’s Place (PLCE): Reported EPS of $0.83 beating estimates by +$0.22. Pre-market: 53.00 +1.53 (2.97%)

Dollar Tree (DLTR): Reported EPS of $0.59 beating estimates by +$0.02. Pre-market: 49.60 +1.23 (2.54%)

Hormel Foods (HRL): Reported EPS of $0.46 missing estimates by -$0.03.

Kirklands (KIRK): Reported EPS of $0.10 beating estimates by +$0.05.

Paterson Companies (PDCO): Reported EPS of $0.62 in-line with estimates. Pre-market: 37.22 -1.78 (-4.56%)

Perry Ellis (PERY): Reported EPS of $0.62 beating estimates by +$0.03.

Polo Ralph Lauren (RL): Reported EPS of $1.41 beating estimates by +$0.11. Pre-market: 180.51 -7.55 (-4.01%)

Toro (TTC): Reported EPS of $1.32 beating estimates by +$0.15.

Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD):  Reported EPS of $1.92 in-line with estimates.

Markets: 
Futures at 8:06: Dow -0.79%. S&P -0.95%. Nasdaq: -0.93%. Crude -1.47% to $92.89. Gold +1.86% to $1393.00.

Europe: London -1.80%. Paris -2.50%. Frankfurt -2.65%. 

Asia: Japan: -6.80% to 14564. Hong Kong -2.54% to 22669. China -1.16% to 2276. India -1.93% to 19674.