Employment Data Stuns Wall Street.

Employment Data Stuns Wall Street. The U.S. employment data for December was released this morning and the results stunned Wall Street. Wall Street economists had estimated that the economy would generate 196,000 new jobs down from Novembers 203,000 jobs. The actual results can in far less, at a terrible 74,000. The unemployment rate fell to 6.7% down from 7%, but analysts say that the decline was due to people giving up on looking for work. The latest data is giving more ammo to those who believe that President Obama’s economic policies are deeply flawed.

Upgrades:

Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF): Janney Capital raised their rating from Neutral to Buy and placed a target price of $49.00 on the company.

Baidu (BIDU): Maxium raised their rating from Hold to Buy and placed a target price of $200.00 on the company.

Macy’s (M): Goldman Sachs raised their rating from Neutral to Buy and raised their target price from $54.00 to $65.00.

Downgrades:

Baker Hughes (BHI): Iberia lowered their rating from Outperform to Sector Perform.

Fossil Group (FOSL): KeyBanc lowered their rating from Hold to Underweight and placed a target price of $100.00 on the company.

Pacific Sunwear (PSUN): Janney Capital lowered their rating from Buy to Neutral.

Pfizer (PFE): Cowen lowered their rating from Outperform to Market Perform.

Schlumberger (SLB): Iberia lowered their rating from Outperform to Sector Perform.

Total SA (TOT): BNP Paribas lowered their rating from Outperform to Neutral.

Whole Foods Market (WWFM): Cleveland Research lowered their rating from Buy to Neutral.

Coverage Initiated:

Micron Tech (MU): Argus initiated coverage with a Buy rating and target price of $31.00.

Precision Cast Parts (PCP): Cleveland Research initiated coverage with a Buy rating and target price of $320.00.

TRW Automotive (TRW): FBR Capital initiated coverage with a Market Perform rating and target price of $75.00.

Visteon (VC): FBR Capital initiated coverage with an Outperform rating and target price of $100.00.

Earning Reports:

Alcoa (AA): Reported EPS of $0.04 missing estimates by -$0.02.

Barracuda Networks (CUDA): Reported EPS of $0.01 beating estimates by +$0.01.

Helen of Troy (HELE): Reported EPS of $1.16 beating estimates by +$0.07.

Infosys (INFY): Reported EPS of $50.32 beating estimates by +3.58.

PriceSmart (PSMT): Reported EPS of $0.71 missing estimates by -$0.03.

Markets: 
Futures at 8:57: Dow +0.20%. S&P +0.07%. Nasdaq +0.24%. Crude +1.64% to $93.18. Gold +0.78% to $1239.20. U.S. 10 Year +17/32 to 2.905%.

Europe: London +0.90%. Paris +0.69%. Frankfurt +0.70%. 

Asia: Japan +0.20% to 15912. Hong Kong +0.26% to 22846. China -0.71% to 2013. India +0.22% to 20758. 

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Macy’s Beats Wall Street’s Estimates.

Macy’s Beats Wall Street’s Estimates. Shares retailer Macy's (M) are higher in the pre-market after the company posted Q3 profits that beat Wall Street expectations and made positive comments about the upcoming holiday shopping season. The company reported EPS $0.47, up 31% from a year ago. Analysts' consensus estimate was only $0.39. Macy's has posted 15 straight quarters of improved earnings. Revenue came in at $6.28 billion, up 3.3% also beating estimates. Sales were up 3.5%.

Upgrades:

Qualcomm (QCOM): Goldman Sachs raised their rating from Buy to Conviction Buy and raised their target price of $80.00.

Transocean (RIG): Guggenheim raised their rating from Neutral to Buy and placed a target price of $70.00 on the company.

United States Steel (X): Morgan Stanley raised their rating from Equal Weight to Overweight and raised their target price from $32.00 to $35.00.

Union Pacific (UNP): ResearchTeam raised their rating from Reduce to Hold.

Downgrades:

Agrium (AGU): BGC Financial lowered their rating from Buy to Hold.

Cadence Design Systems (CDNS): ResearchTeam lowered their rating from Hold to Reduce.

ConocoPhillips (COP): ResearchTeam lowered their rating from Accumulate to Hold.

Dean Foods (DF): Credit Suisse lowered their rating from Outperform to Neutral and lowered their target price from $24.00 to $19.00.

Mosaic (MOS): ResearchTeam lowered their rating from Hold to Reduce.

Nucor (NUE): Morgan Stanley lowered their rating from Overweight to Equal Weight and lowered their target price from $58.00 to $56.00.

Coverage Initiated:

Humana (HUM): FBR Capital initiated coverage with a Market Perform rating and target price of $92.00.

J.M. Sucker (SJM): Credit Suisse initiated coverage with a Neutral rating and target price of $115.00.

MGM Resorts (MGM): FBR Capital initiated coverage with an Outperform rating and target price of $25.00.

Las Vegas Sands (LVS): FBR Capital initiated coverage with an Outperform rating and target price of $80.00.

UnitedHealth (UNH): FBR Capital initiated coverage with an Outperform rating and target price of $77.00.

Wellpoint (WLP): FBR Capital initiated coverage with a Market Perform rating and target price of $93.00.

Wynn Resorts (WYNN): FBR Capital initiated coverage with a Market Perform rating and target price of $175.00.

Earning Reports:

Macy's (M): Reported EPS of $0.47 beating estimates by +$0.08.

MBIA (MBI): Reported EPS of $0.67 beating estimates by +$0.41.

Pinnacle Foods (PF): Reported EPS of $0.36 beating estimates by +$0.01.

Potbelly (PBPB): Reported EPS of $0.15 beating estimates by +$0.09.

Woodward (WWD): Reported EPS of $0.76 beating estimates by +$0.06.

Markets:
Futures at 6:20: Dow -0.2%. S&P -0.2%. Nasdaq -0.3%. Crude +0.3% to $93.33. Gold +0.35% to $1275.00. U.S. 10 Year +11/32 2.736%.

Europe: London -1%. Paris -0.5%. Frankfurt -0.3%. 

Asia: Japan -0.15% to 14567. Hong Kong -1.9% to 22463. China -1.8% to 2087. India -0.4% to 20194.