U.S. Market Set to Open Flat After ADP Report and Ukraine Developments

U.S. Market Set to Open Flat After ADP Report and Ukraine Developments. ADP reported that private employers added 139,000 jobs in February, missing economists' expectations of 160,000 jobs. Additionally, January's number was revised downward by 48,000 to only 127,000 jobs. Ukraine and Russian remain at a standoff while Secretary Kerry visited the region yesterday, Russia’s President Putin said that he has no control over the Russian troops in the Ukraine Crimea region calling the troops local security forces. According to Ukrainian officials Russia has moved over 16,000 troops into the Crimea region.  Additionally, Russia test fired a ICBM missile capable of carrying multiple nuclear warheads yesterday breaking a treating with the U.S.

Upgrades:

Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A/BRK.B): S&P raised their rating from 3 Stars to 5 Stars. Pre-market: 118.67 +0.10 (0.08%)

Ericsson (ERIC): RBC Capital raised their rating from Sector Perform to Outperform and raised their rating from $13.00 to $16.00. Pre-market: 12.91 +0.20 (1.57%)

Pandora Media (P): MKM Partners raised their rating from Sell to Neutral and placed a target price of $39.00 on the company. Pre-market: 39.45 +0.28 (0.71%)

Smith & Wesson (SWHC): Cowen raised their rating from Sector Perform to Outperform. Pre-market: 13.00 +1.20 (10.17%)

Towers Watson (TW): Goldman Sachs raised their rating from Buy to Conviction Buy and placed a target price of $134.00 on the company.

Downgrades:

Staples (SPLS): B. Riley lowered their rating from Buy to Neutral and lowered their target price from $18.00 to $15.00. Pre-market: 13.35 -0.12 (-0.89%)

Walt Disney (DIS): S&P lowered their rating from 5 Stars to 4 Stars. Pre-market: 82.08 +0.37 (0.45%)

Coverage Initiated:

Santander Consumer USA (SC): Stephens initiated coverage with an Overweight rating and target price of $30.00.

Earning Reports:

Brown Forman (BF.B): Reported EPS of $0.82 beating estimates by +$0.07. Pre-market: 85.12 +0.82 (0.97%)

Navistar (NAV): Reported EPS of -3.07 missing estimates by -$1.27. Pre-market: 36.00 -1.79 (-4.74%)

PetSmart (PETM): Reported EPS of $1.28 beating estimates by +$0.07. Pre-market: 68.60 +0.94 (1.39%)

Smith & Wesson (SWHC): Reported EPS of $0.35 beating estimates by +$0.06. Pre-market: 13.00 +1.20 (10.17%)

Markets: 
Futures at 7:58: Dow +0.10%. S&P +0.15%. Nasdaq +0.17%. Crude -0.31% to $103.01. Gold -0.16% to $1336.00. U.S. 10 Year -3/32 to 2.709%.

Europe: London -0.49%. Paris -0.09%. Frankfurt -0.15%. 

Asia: Japan +1.20% to 14898. Hong Kong -0.34% to 22580. China -0.89% to 2053. India +0.32% to 21277. 

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Morning Coffee Pre-Market Wall Street News

Syria Causes World Markets to Fall. U.S. stock futures, Asia and European markets are all lower on worries that the U.S. will take military action against Syria. This comes after Sec. of State John Kerry said yesterday that Syria did use chemical weapons against its own civilian population. The U.S. military has moved both equipment and personnel into the area and now has four destroyer ships in the Mediterranean along with several nuclear-powered submarines, all within cruise-missile range. The thought of a U.S. military response has also sent the Turkish lira to a record low of 2.0299 to the dollar and oil up+2.36% to $108.38 a barrel.

Upgrades:

Gulfport Energy (GPOR): Capital One raised their rating from Add to Strong Buy and raised their target price from $79.00 to $85.00. Pre-market: 57.72 +0.12 (0.21%)

Monsanto (MON): UBS raised their rating from Neutral to Buy and maintained their target price of $110.00. Pre-market: 98.02 +0.37 (0.38%)

Downgrades:

Apache Corp (APA): Guggenheim lowered their rating from Buy to Neutral. Pre-market: 78.50 -1.23 (-1.54%)

Coverage Initiated:

Athlon Energy (ATHL): Goldman Sachs initiated coverage with a Neutral rating and placed a target price of $33.00 on the company. Pre-market: 30.00 0.00 (0.00%)

Athlon Energy (ATHL): Wells Fargo initiated coverage with an Outperform rating and placed a target range of $33.00-$36.00 on the company. Pre-market: 30.00 0.00 (0.00%)

Athlon Energy (ATHL): UBS initiated coverage with a Neutral rating and placed a target price of $31.00 on the company. Pre-market: 30.00 0.00 (0.00%)

Athlon Energy (ATHL): RBC Capital initiated coverage with an Outperform rating and placed a target price of $37.00 on the company. Pre-market: 30.00 0.00 (0.00%)

DirecTV (DTV): Raymond James initiated coverage with an Outperform rating and placed a target price of $69.00 on the company. Pre-market: 57.34 -0.15 (-0.26%)

DISH Network (DISH): Raymond James initiated coverage with an Underperform rating.

IntercontinentalExchange (ICE): Wells Fargo initiated coverage with an Outperform.

Earning Reports:

Bank of Montreal (BMO): Reported EPS of $1.68 beating estimates by +$0.14.

Brown Shoe (BWS): Reported EPS of $0.33 beating estimates by +$0.11. Pre-market: 24.75 +1.05 (4.43%)

Movado Group (MOV): Reported EPS of $0.44 beating estimates by +$0.12. Pre-market: 39.97 +1.97 (5.18%)

Regis (RGS): Reported EPS of $0.06 missing estimates by -$0.06.

Tiffany & Co (TIF): Reported EPS of $0.83 beating estimates by +$0.11. Pre-market: 82.25 +0.58 (0.71%)

Markets: 
Futures at 8:01: Dow -0.56%. S&P -0.75%. Nasdaq -0.77%. Crude +2.36% to $108.38. Gold +1.76% to $1417.70. U.S. 10 Year +9/32 2.759%

Europe: London -0.75%. Paris -1.83%. Frankfurt -1.89%. 

Asia: Japan -0.69% to 13542. Hong Kong -0.59% to 21875. China +0.34% to 2104. India -3.18% to 17968.