Bank of America Faces More Lawsuits

Bank of America Faces More Lawsuits. Bank of America (BAC) is again being investigated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office with regards to the Federal Housing Administration's direct endorsement program. This is occurring while authorities in North America, Europe and Asia are probing BofA's conduct and practices in forex markets. The troubled banks potential litigation liabilities now stand at $6.1B versus just a year ago when it stood at $3.1B. Pre-market: 16.37 +0.03 (0.18%)

Upgrades:

Kroger (KR): JPMorgan raised their rating from Neutral to Overweight and raised their target price from $38.00 to $46.00.

LinkedIn (LNKD): RBC Capital raised their rating from Sector Perform to Outperform and raised their target price from $225.00 to $250.00. Pre-market: 216.60 +6.76 (3.22%)

Masco (MAS): KeyBanc raised their rating from Underweight to Hold. Pre-market: 22.99 +0.29 (1.28%)

Downgrades:

DreamWorks Animation (DWA): Piper Jaffray lowered their rating from Neutral to Underweight. Pre-market: 30.73 -4.47 (-12.70%)

Humana (HUM): Citigroup lowered their rating from Neutral to Sell.

Newmont Mining (NEM): Argus lowered their rating from Buy to Hold. Pre-market: 23.43 -0.32 (-1.35%)

Safeway (SWY): JPMorgan lowered their rating from Overweight to Neutral and lowered their target price from $41.00 to $40.00. Pre-market: 37.00 -0.13 (-0.35%)

Toll Brothers (TOLL): Keefe Bruyette lowered their rating from Outperform to Market Perform and lowered their target price from $42.00 to $40.00.

Coverage Initiated:

La Jolla Pharmaceutical (LJPC): Wedbush initiated coverage with an Outperform rating and target price of $27.00. Pre-market: 9.54 +1.94 (25.53%)

Earning Reports:

Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF): Reported EPS of $1.34 beating estimates by +$0.29. Pre-market: 37.90 +1.91 (5.31%)

Dollar Tree (DLTR): Reported EPS of $1.02 beating estimates by +$0.04. Pre-market: 50.55 -2.13 (-4.04%)

DreamWorks Animation (DWA): Reported EPS of $0.20 missing estimates by -$0.20. Pre-market: 30.73 -4.47 (-12.70%)

Dycom (DY): Reported EPS of -$0.09 in-line with estimates.

Lowe’s (LOW): Reported EPS of $0.31 in-line with estimates. Pre-market: 49.73 +1.62 (3.37%)

Royal Bank of Canada (RY): Reported EPS of $1.44 missing estimates by -$0.01.

SodaStream (SODA): Reported EPS of $0.16 beating estimates by +$0.02. Pre-market: 39.78 +0.70 (1.79%)

Target (TGT): Reported EPS of $0.81 in-line with estimates. Pre-market: 57.31 +0.80 (1.42%)

TASER (TASR): Reported EPS of $0.13 beating estimates by +$0.05. Pre-market: 20.50 +1.40 (7.33%)

Markets: 
Futures at 8:18: Dow +0.07%. S&P +0.09%. Nasdaq +0.10%. Crude +0.55% to $102.39. Gold -0.79% to $1332.20. U.S. 10 Year -3/32 to 2.713%.

Europe: London -0.46%. Paris -0.51%. Frankfurt -0.45%. 

Asia: Japan -0.54% to 14971. Hong Kong +0.54% to 22437. China +0.35% to 2041. India +0.65% to 20987. 

#TopWealthManager #RLPaler #WallStreet #AnalystsRatings #EarningReports #FinancialPlanning 

Panic for people with Bitcoins

Panic for people with Bitcoins. One of the largest Bitcoin exchanges has disappeared causing the price of Bitcoins to tank. One of the world’s largest Bitcoin exchanges Mt Gox website is gone. Reports say that the company may have experienced a major security breach and is about to go bankrupt. A leaked document shows that 744,400 bitcoins worth $350M have been stolen from the company.

Upgrades:

Canadian Imperial Bank (CM): ResearchTeam raised their rating from Reduce to Hold.

Ensco PLC (ESV): ResearchTeam raised their rating from Reduce to Hold.

Hormel Foods (HRL): ResearchTeam raised their rating from Reduce to Hold.

McDonalds (MCD): ResearchTeam raised their rating from Reduce to Hold.

Nike (NKE): ResearchTeam raised their rating from Reduce to Hold.

Royal Bank of Canada (RY): ResearchTeam raised their rating from Reduce to Hold.

UnitedHealth (UNH): ResearchTeam raised their rating from Reduce to Hold.

Verizon (VZ): JPMorgan raised their rating from Neutral to Overweight and raised their target price from $54.00 to $57.00. Pre-market: 46.06 -0.17 (-0.37%)

Downgrades:

Sonoco Products (SON): S&P lowered their rating from 3 stars to 1 star.

Tenet Healthcare (THC): CRT Capital lowered their rating from Buy to Fair Value and lowered their rating from $51.00 to $41.50. Pre-market: 47.63 -0.70 (-1.45%)

Coverage Initiated:

Adobe Systems (ADBE): Susquehanna initiated coverage with a Positive rating and target price of $83.00. Pre-market: 68.83 +0.07 (0.09%)

Alaska Air (ALK): Stifel initiated coverage with a Buy rating and target price of $100.00.

Delta Air Lines (DAL): Stifel initiated coverage with a Buy rating and target price of $40.00.

Spirit Airlines (SAVE): Stifel initiated coverage with a Buy rating and target price of $65.00. Pre-market: 56.00 +0.71 (1.28%)

Southwest Airlines (LUV): Stifel initiated coverage with a Hold rating.

United Continental (UAL): Stifel initiated coverage with a Buy rating and target price of $60.00. Pre-market: 46.12 +0.02 (0.04%)

Earning Reports:

EOG Resources (EOG): Reported EPS of $2.00 beating estimates by +$0.05. Pre-market: 183.10 +2.70 (1.50%)

Home Depot (HD): Reported EPS of $0.73 beating estimates by +$0.03. Pre-market: 79.70 +1.83 (2.35%)

Macy’s (M): Reported EPS of $2.31 beating estimates by +$0.14. Pre-market: 51.64 -1.42 (-2.68%)

Office Depot (ODP): Reported EPS of -$0.03 missing estimates by -$0.07. Pre-market: 4.34 -1.01 (-18.88%)

Toll Brothers (TOLL): Reported EPS of $0.25 beating estimates by +$0.06. Pre-market: 38.30 -0.04 (-0.10%)

Markets: 
Futures at 7:43: Dow -0.13%. S&P -0.22%. Nasdaq -0.17%. Crude -0.89% to $101.90. Gold -0.38% to $1332.90. U.S. 10 Year 0/32 to 2.738%.

Europe: London -1.05%. Paris -0.53%. Frankfurt -0.50%. 

Asia: Japan +1.44% to 15051.6. Hong Kong -0.32% to 22317. China -2.05% to 2034. India +0.20% to 20844. 

#TopWealthManager #RLPaler #WallStreet #AnalystsRatings #EarningReports #FinancialPlanning 

Government Motors is No Longer

Government Motors is No Longer. The U.S. government has sold its remaining 31.1M shares in General Motors (GM) for $9.2B. Because of the government ownership some had called the company Government Motors. The sale ends restrictions on executive pay and would allow the payment of dividends and share buybacks. The wisdom of the sale at this time is being questioned since the sale netted only $39B from an initial investment of $49.5B. The total loss to U.S. taxpayers will be over $10.5B.

Upgrades:

Broadcom (BRCM): Charter Equity raised their rating from Market Perform to Buy.

Celgene (CELG): Credit Suisse raised their rating from Neutral to Outperform.

Johnson Controls (JCI): RBC Capital raised their rating from Outperform to Top Pick and placed a target price of $61.00 on the company.

Royal Bank of Canada (RY): S&P raised their rating from 3 Stars to 4 Stars.

United Rentals (URI): RBC Capital raised their rating from Outperform to Top Pick and placed a target price of $85.00 on the company.

Downgrades:

Quest Diagnostics (DGX): Bank of America Merrill Lynch lowered their rating from Buy to Underperform and lowered their target price from $64.00 to $55.00.

Old Dominion Freight (ODLF): Longbow lowered their rating from Buy to Neutral.

Tenneco (TEN): RBC Capital lowered their rating from Top Pick to Outperform and placed a target price of $66.00 on the company.

Tyson Foods (TSN): Miller Tabak lowered their rating from Buy to Hold and lowered their target price from $35.00 to $33.00.

Coverage Initiated:

IMAX (IMAX): Ascendiant Jefferies initiated coverage with a Buy rating and target price of $32.00.

Papa John’s International (PZZA):  Jefferies initiated coverage with a Hold rating and target price of $86.00.

Rambus (RMBS): Jefferies initiated coverage with a Hold rating and target price of $13.00.

olHold rating

Earning Reports:

AutoZone (AZO): Reported EPS of $6.29 beating estimates by +$0.01.

Burlington Stores (BURL): Reported EPS of -$0.05 in-line with estimates.

Toll Brothers (TOL): Reported EPS of $0.54 beating estimates by +$0.10.

Markets: 
Futures at 6:20: Dow +0.1%. S&P +0.1%. Nasdaq +0.1%. Crude +1.2% to $98.49. Gold +1% to $1246.30. 

Europe: London +0.1%. Paris +0.1%. Frankfurt +0.2%. 

Asia: Japan -0.3% to 15611. Hong Kong -0.3% to 23744. China -0.02% at 2237. India -0.3% at 21256. 

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

China Bans Banks from Bitcoin

China Bans Banks from Bitcoin. Report says that The People's Bank of China has banned banks from trading in Bitcoin. In a statement officials said that the virtual currency doesn't have "real meaning," and no legal status as a formal currency. While the ban affects banks, Chinese citizens are still free to trade the currency. Currently Bitcoins are trading down -15.8% to $1000 on the news.

Upgrades:

Aeropostale (ARO): KeyBanc raised their rating from Underweight to Neutral. Pre-market: 8.90 -0.46 (-4.91%)

Celgene (CELG): UBS raised their rating from Neutral to Buy and raised their target price from $163.00 to $200.00. Pre-market: 163.25 +3.18 (1.99%)

Jack in the Box (JACK): Wedbush raised their rating from Neutral to Outperform and raised their target price from $50.00 to $60.00. Pre-market: 47.12 +0.64 (1.38%)

Smith &Wesson (SWHC): Lake Street raised their rating from Hold to Buy and raised their target price from $12.00 to $17.00. Pre-market: 11.85 +0.25 (2.16%)

Sprint (S): Nomura raised their rating from Neutral to Buy and raised their target price from $6.00 to $10.50. Pre-market: 8.10 +0.15 (1.89%)

Tiffany & Co (TIF): Goldman Sachs raised their rating from Neutral to Buy and raised their target price from $97.00 to $105.00. Pre-market: 90.15 +1.57 (1.77%)

Union Pacific (UNP): Raymond James raised their rating from Outperform to Strong Buy. Pre-market: 163.50 +2.11 (1.31%)

Downgrades:

J.M. Smucker (SJM): Wells Fargo lowered their rating from Market Perform to Underperform. Pre-market: 103.00 -1.75 (-1.67%)

Coverage Initiated:

Boston Scientific (BSX): The Benchmark Co. initiated coverage with a Hold rating and target price of $12.00.

eBay (EBAY): CRT Capital initiated coverage with a Fair Value rating and target price of $58.00. Pre-market: 51.08 -0.01 (-0.02%)

Oracle (ORCL): BMO Capital initiated coverage with an Outperform rating and target price of $42.00.

Raymond James (RJF): Buckingham initiated coverage with a Buy rating and target price of $58.00.

Spirit Aero Systems (SPR): Citigroup initiated coverage with a Buy rating and target price of $39.00. Pre-market: 33.81 +2.17 (6.86%)

Earning Reports:

Aeropostale (ARO): Reported EPS of -$0.29 missing estimates by -$0.06. Pre-market: 8.90 -0.46 (-4.91%)

Dollar General (DG): Reported EPS of $0.72 beating estimates by +$0.02.

Guess? (GES): Reported EPS of $0.42 beating estimates by +$0.05. Pre-market: 34.00 +0.66 (1.98%)

Royal Bank of Canada (RY): Reported EPS of $1.40 beating estimates by +$0.02.

Synopsys (SNPS): Reported EPS of $0.56 beating estimates by +$0.01.

Markets: 
Futures at 7:43: Dow -0.03%. S&P +0.12%. Nasdaq +0.20%. Crude +0.14% to $97.37. Gold -1.32% to $1230.70. U.S. 10 Year -9/32 2.870%.

Europe: London +0.04%. Paris -0.13%. Frankfurt +0.31%. 

Asia: Japan -1.50% to 15177. Hong Kong -0.07% to 23713. China -0.21% to 2247. India +1.20% to 20958. 

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