Overseas Business Activity Slows

Overseas Business Activity Slows. Business activities in both China and the Eurozone are continuing to slow. For the fifth straight month in China, the flash manufacturing PMI fell to 48.1 in March from 48.5 in February and missing economist estimates of 48.7. In the Eurozone the flash composite PMI fell to 53.2 from 53.3 in February but topped economist consensus of 52.6. The latest PMI survey signals a 0.5% increase in Q1 GDP after growth of 0.3% in Q4.

Upgrades:

Boston Scientific (BSX): Bernstein raised their rating from Market Perform to Outperform and raised their target price from $12.00 to $15.00. Pre-market: 13.07 +0.25 (1.95%)

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

Ross Stores (ROST): RBC Capital raised their rating from Sector Perform to Outperform and raised their target price from $79.00 to $81.00. Pre-market: 74.40 +1.43 (1.96%)

United Continental Holdings (UAL): Raymond James raised their rating from Market Perform to Outperform and placed a target price of $52.00 on the company. Pre-market: 45.02 +0.69 (1.56%)

US Bancorp (USB): Atlantic Equities raised their rating from Underweight to Neutral. Pre-market: 43.08 +0.06 (0.14%)

VMware (VMW): Sterne Agee raised their rating from Neutral to Buy. Pre-market: 110.33 +1.12 (1.03%)

Wells Fargo (WFC): Atlantic Equities raised their rating from Underweight to Neutral. Pre-market: 49.50 +0.38 (0.77%)

Yelp (YELP): JMP Securities raised their rating from Market Perform to Outperform and placed a target price of $113.00 on the company. Pre-market: 86.00 +2.57 (3.08%)

Downgrades:

Abbott (ABT): ResearchTeam lowered their rating from Hold to Reduce.

AFLAC (AFL): ResearchTeam lowered their rating from Hold to Reduce.

Bank of America (BAC): Alantic Equities lowered their rating from Overweight to Neutral and lowered their target price from $20.00 to $18.50. Pre-market: 45.02 +0.69 (1.56%)

National Oilwell (NOV): ResearchTeam lowered their rating from Hold to Reduce. Pre-market: 74.58 +0.11 (0.15%)

Nike (NKE): ResearchTeam lowered their rating from Hold to Reduce. Pre-market: 75.49 +0.28 (0.37%)

Tiffany & Co. (TIF): Goldman Sachs lowered their rating from Conviction Buy to Buy and lowered their target price from $101.00 to $100.00. Pre-market: 89.11 -1.62 (-1.79%)

Coverage Initiated:

T-Mobile (TMUS): Evercore initiated coverage with an Equal Weight rating and target price of $34.00.

Markets: 
Futures at 8:34: Dow +0.20%. S&P +0.26%. Nasdaq +0.31%. Crude +0.52% to $99.98. Gold -0.97% to $1323.10. U.S. 10 Year -6/32 to 2.768%.

Europe: London -0.13%. Paris -0.20%. Frankfurt -0.23%. 

Asia: Japan +1.77% to 14475.3. Hong Kong +1.91% to 21846. China +0.91% to 2066. India +1.38% to 22055. 

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President Obama Will Act Alone

President Obama Will Act Alone. During last night’s State of the Union speech President Obama said that he would use his executive power to implement his economic and other policies, while highlighting the gap between the rich and poor that has widened during his administration. President Obama announced a dozen proposals including raising the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour for future federal contract workers that would affect about 560,000 people.  Additionally, some analysts believe he will also attempt to use his executive power to act on immigration reform and gun control, two hot buttons with American’s that many constitutional scholars say would be unconstitutional and illegal. During his speech the President also said he plans to create a government-coordinated retirement savings program that would provide a guaranteed return, but not additional specific are available at this time.

Upgrades:

CIT Group (CIT): Buckingham raised their rating from Neutral to Buy and placed a target price of $54.00 on the company.

VMware (VMW): Raymond James raised their rating from Outperform to Strong Buy and placed a target price of $109.00 on the company. Pre-market: 94.00 -0.94 (-0.99%)

Wal-Mart (WMT): Credit Suisse raised their rating from Neutral to Outperform and raised their target price from $80.00 to $87.00. Pre-market: 74.81 +0.14 (0.19%)

Downgrades:

WellPoint (WLP): Monness Crespi lowered their rating from Neutral to Sell. Pre-market: 81.60 -2.70 (-3.20%)

Yahoo! (YHOO): Gabelli lowered their rating from Buy to Hold. Pre-market: 35.90 -2.32 (-6.07%)

Earning Reports:

Amgen (AMGN): Reported EPS of $1.82 beating estimates by +0.14. Pre-market: 117.09 -3.61 (-2.99%)

AT&T (T): Reported EPS of $0.53 beating estimates by +0.03. Pre-market: 32.77 -0.93 (-2.76%)

Boeing (BA): Reported EPS of $1.88 beating estimates by +0.31. Pre-market: 131.75 -5.34 (-3.90%)

Cirrus Logic (CRUS): Reported EPS of $0.89 beating estimates by +0.12. Pre-market: 17.50 -1.24 (-6.62%)

Dow Chemical (DOW): Reported EPS of $0.65 beating estimates by +0.22.

EMC (EMC): Reported EPS of $0.60 beating estimates by +0.01. Pre-market: 25.50 +0.12 (0.47%)

Jetblue Airways (JBLU): Reported EPS of $0.14 beating estimates by +0.01. Pre-market: 8.74 0.00 (0.00%)

Novartis AG (NVS): Reported EPS of $1.20 beating estimates by +0.01. Pre-market: 78.94 -0.62 (-0.78%)

Phillips 66 (PSX): Reported EPS of $1.34 beating estimates by +0.24. Pre-market: 73.00 -2.08 (-2.77%)

VMware (VMW): Reported EPS of $1.01 beating estimates by +$0.01. Pre-market: 94.00 -0.94 (-0.99%)

WellPoint (WLP): Reported EPS of $0.87 in-line with estimates. Pre-market: 81.60 -2.70 (-3.20%)

Yahoo! (YHOO): Reported EPS of $0.46 beating estimates by +0.08. Pre-market: 35.90 -2.32 (-6.07%)

Markets:
Futures at 8:33: Dow -0.49%. S&P -0.45%. Nasdaq -0.46%. Crude -0.15% to $97.27. Gold +1.02% to $1263.70. U.S. 10 Year +10/32 to 2.724%.

Europe: London -0.51%. Paris -0.86%. Frankfurt -0.48%.

Asia: Japan +2.70% to 15384. Hong Kong +0.82% to 22142. China +0.56% to 2050. India -0.18% to 20647.

#TopWealthManager #RLPaler #WallStreet #AnalystsRatings #EarningReports #WealthManagement

Morning Coffee Pre-Market Wall Street News

Netflix Shares Jump on EPS. Netflix's (NFLX) shares jumped after the company reported Q3 earnings that topped Wall Street estimates. Netflix reported EPS of $0.52, with net profit quadrupling to $32M. Revenue also came in at a strong $1.1 billion, up 22%.  The video service added 1.29M subscribers in the U.S. to give it 31.09M customers vs. the 30M that was expected. Pre-market: 381.48 +26.49 (7.46%)

Upgrades:

Kohl’s (KSS): Deutsche Bank raised their rating from Sell to Hold and raised their target price from $46.00 to $50.00.

Netflix (NFLX): Evercore raised their rating from Equal Weight to Overweight and placed a target price of $350.00 on the company. Pre-market: 381.48 +26.49 (7.46%)

Texas Instruments (TXN): FBR Capital raised their rating from Underperform to Market Perform and placed a target price of $38.00 on the company. Pre-market: 40.30 -0.69 (-1.68%)

Downgrades:

Advanced Micro Devices (AMD): Bernstein lowered their rating from Market Perform to Underperform and lowered their target price from $3.00 to $2.50. Pre-market: 3.31 -0.06 (-1.78%)

Gap (GAP): BMO Capital lowered their rating from Outperform to Market Perform and lowered their target price from $50.00 to $35.00.

Marriott International (MAR): MKM Partners lowered their rating from Buy to Neutral.

Nokia (NOK): Santander lowered their rating from Buy to Underweight.

Nokia (NOK): Nordea lowered their rating from Buy to Sell.

United States Steel (X): UBS lowered their rating from Buy to Neutral and lowered their target price from $25.00 to $22.00.

Coverage Initiated:

Expedia (EXPE): Credit Suisse initiated coverage with a Neutral rating and target price of $65.00.

Goodyear Tire (GT): CLSA initiated coverage with a Buy rating and target price of $29.00. Pre-market: 21.30 +0.18 (0.85%)

Halliburton (HAL): Iberia initiated coverage with an Outperform rating and target price of $70.00. Pre-market: 50.88 +0.22 (0.43%)

Priceline.com (PCLN): Credit Suisse initiated coverage with an Outperform rating and target price of $1250.00.

Earning Reports:

CIT Group (CIT): Reported EPS of $0.99 beating estimates by +$0.04. Pre-market: 52.00 +1.03 (2.02%)

Coach (COH): Reported EPS of $0.77 beating estimates by +$0.01. Pre-market: 50.25 -3.93 (-7.25%)

DuPont (DD): Reported EPS of $0.45 beating estimates by +$0.04. Pre-market: 59.40 -0.06 (-0.10%)

Forward Air (FWRD): Reported EPS of $0.46 in-line with estimates.

Harley-Davidson (HOG): Reported EPS of $0.73 in-line with estimates. Pre-market: 66.25 +0.68 (1.04%)

Kimberly-Clark (KMB): Reported EPS of $1.44 beating estimates by +$0.04. Pre-market: 101.50 +2.67 (2.70%)

Lockheed Martin (LMT): Reported EPS of $2.57 beating estimates by +$0.30. Pre-market: 128.85 +3.55 (2.83%)

Netflix (NFLX): Reported EPS of $0.52 beating estimates by +$0.03. Pre-market: 381.48 +26.49 (7.46%)

Ryder Systems (R): Reported EPS of $1.46 beating estimates by +$0.02.

State Street (STT): Reported EPS of $1.19 in-line with estimates.

Texas Instruments (TXN): Reported EPS of $0.56 beating estimates by +$0.03. Pre-market: 40.30 -0.69 (-1.68%)

VMware (VMW): Reported EPS of $0.84 beating estimates by +$0.02. Pre-market: 90.10 +7.45 (9.01%)

Markets: 
Futures at 7:14: Dow +0.03%. S&P +0.34%. Nasdaq +0.34%. Crude -0.40% to $98.82. Gold +1.27% to $1330.20. U.S. 10 Year +18/32 2.543%.

Europe: London +0.50%. Paris +0.38% Frankfurt +0.71%. 

Asia: Japan +0.13% to 14713. Hong Kong -0.52% to 23316. China -0.83% to 2211. India -0.14% to 20865. 

#RLPaler

Morning Coffee Pre-Market Wall Street News

Moody’s Warns of Possible Bank Downgrades. The rating agency Moody's (MCO) said that it has put several major U.S. Banks on review for possible downgrades. Banks that could receive credit downgrades include Bank of America (BAC), Citigroup (C), Goldman Sachs (GS), JPMorgan (JPM), Morgan Stanley (MS) and Wells Fargo (WFC).

Upgrades:

First Solar (FSLR): Raymond James raised their rating from Underperform to Market Perform.

Toronto-Domino Bank (TD): Scotia Capital raised their rating from Sector Perform to Outperform.

Trina Solar (TSL): Raymond James raised their rating from Underperform to Market Perform.

VMware (VMW): Jefferies raised their rating from Hold to Buy and raised their target price from $86.00 to $105.00.

Downgrades:

Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF): RW Baird lowered their rating from Outperform to Neutral and lowered their target price from $59.00 to $42.00.

Aeropostale (AEO): Topeka lowered their rating from Buy to Hold.

Dick’s Sporting Goods (DKS): Oppenheimer lowered their rating from Outperform to Perform and lowered their target price from $56.00 to $44.00.

Guess? Inc (GES): Piper Jaffray lowered their rating from Overweight to Neutral and lowered their target price from $35.00 to $31.00.

Pandora Media (P): Stifel lowered their rating from Buy to Hold.

Pandora Media (P): Raymond James lowered their rating from Outperform to Market Perform.

Staples (SPLS): Credit Suisse lowered their rating from Outperform to Neutral and lowered their target price to $15.00 on the company.

Coverage Initiated:

Ball Corp (BLL): Northcoast initiated coverage with a Neutral rating.

Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG): Northcoast initiated coverage with a Sell rating and target price of $400.00.

Dean Foods (DF): Northcoast initiated coverage with a Neutral rating.

Dunkin Brands Group (DNKN): Northcoast initiated coverage with a Neutral rating.

Panera Bread Co (PNRA): Northcoast initiated coverage with a Buy rating and target price of $205.00.

Tim Hortons (THI): Northcoast initiated coverage with a Buy rating and target price of $72.00.

Earning Reports:

Aeropostale (AEO): Reported EPS of -$0.34 missing estimates by -$0.09.

Autodesk (ADSK): Reported EPS of $0.45 beating estimates by +$0.03.

Foot Locker (FL): Reported EPS of $0.46 missing estimates by -$0.01.

Gap (GPS): Reported EPS of $0.64 in-line with estimates.

Pandora Media (P): Reported EPS of $0.04 beating estimates by +$0.02.

Ross Stores (ROST): Reported EPS of $0.98 beating estimates by +$0.05.

Markets: 
Futures at 6:20: Dow -0.1%. S&P -0.1%. Nasdaq 0.0%. Crude +0.2% to $105.22. Gold +0.3% to $1374.90.

Europe: London +0.2%. Paris -0.5%. Frankfurt 0.0%. 

Asia: Japan +2.2% to 13661. Hong Kong -0.1% to 21864. China -0.5% to 2057. India +1.1% to 18519. 

Morning Coffee Pre-Market Wall Street News

Apple Beat EPS Estimates. Apple (AAPL) reported FQ3 earnings that beat Wall Street expectations. EPS was report at $7.47, but net profit dropped to $6.9B from $8.8B, while revenue increased 1% to $35.3B. The company said that iPhone sales came in at 31.2M, up 20% from a year earlier. Gross margins fell along with sales in Europe and China.  iPad sales came in at 14.6M disappointing analysts. Some on Wall Street are pointing to the falling margins being a direct result of competition from Google’s (GOOG) Android based devices. Pre-market: 439.24 +20.25 (4.83%)

Upgrades:

Apple (AAPL): BMO Capital raised their rating from Market Perform to Outperform and maintained their target price of $480.00.

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

Forest Labs (FRX): Susquehanna raised their rating from Negative to Neutral and raised their target price from $30.00 to $40.00.

VMware (VMW): Nomura raised their rating from Neutral to Buy.

VMware (VMW): Raymond James raised their rating from Market Perform to Outperform.

Wendy’s (WEN): Goldman Sachs raised their rating from Sell to Neutral and raised their target price from $5.00 to $7.50.

Downgrades:

Arch Coal (ACI): Tudor Pickering lowered their rating from Buy to Accumulate.

Broadcom (BRCM): B. Riley lowered their rating from Buy to Neutral.

Broadcom (BRCM): BMO Capital lowered their rating from Outperform to Market Perform.

Broadcom (BRCM): Credit Suisse lowered their rating from Outperform to Neutral and lowered their target price from $45.00 to $32.00.

Broadcom (BRCM): RBC Capital lowered their rating from Outperform to Sector Perform.

Broadcom (BRCM): Mizuho lowered their rating from Buy to Neutral.

Broadcom (BRCM): William Blair lowered their rating from Outperform to Market Perform.

Broadcom (BRCM): Citigroup lowered their rating from Buy to Neutral.

DISH Network (DISH): Wunderlich lowered their rating from Buy to Hold and lowered their target price from $50.00 to $42.00.

Norfolk Southern (NSC): Bank of America Merrill Lynch lowered their rating from Neutral to Underperform and lowered their target price from $81.00 to $74.00.

Starwood Hotels (HOT): UBS lowered their rating from Buy to Neutral and maintained their target price of $71.00.

Coverage Initiated:

Costco (COST): Williams Capital initiated coverage with a Buy rating.

Earning Reports:

Apple (AAPL): Reported EPS of $7.47 beating estimates by +$0.19. Pre-market: 439.24 +20.25 (4.83%)

AT&T (T): Reported EPS of $0.67 missing estimates by -0.01. Pre-market: 35.35 -0.46 (-1.28%)

Boeing (BA): Reported EPS of $1.67 beating estimates by +$0.11. Pre-market: 109.15 +1.36 (1.26%)

Broadcom (BRCM): Reported EPS of $0.70 beating estimates by +$0.01.

Caterpillar (CAT): Reported EPS of $1.45 missing estimates by -0.25. Pre-market: 84.42 -1.10 (-1.29%)

Ford Motor (F): Reported EPS of $0.45 beating estimates by +$0.08.

General Dynamics (GD): Reported EPS of $1.81 beating estimates by +$0.19.

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK): Reported EPS of $0.26 in-line with estimates.

Intl Gaming Tech (IGT): Reported EPS of $0.33 beating estimates by +$0.02. Pre-market: 17.97 -0.33 (-1.80%)

Northrop Grumman (NOC): Reported EPS of $2.05 beating estimates by +$0.34.

Omnicare (OCR): Reported EPS of $0.90 beating estimates by +$0.03.

PepsiCo (PEP): Reported EPS of $1.31 beating estimates by +$0.12.

VMware (VMW): Reported EPS of $0.79 beating estimates by +$0.02. Pre-market: 80.69 +9.41 (13.20%)

Markets: 
Futures at 8:38: Dow +0.23%. S&P +0.28%. Nasdaq +1.01%. Crude -0.39% to $106.81. Gold +0.05% to $1334.90. 10 Year -21/32 2.590%

Europe: London -0.39%. Paris -0.43%. Frankfurt -0.20%. 

Asia: Japan -0.76% to 14731. Hong Kong +0.28% to 21969. China -1.27% to 2018. India -0.48% to 20,205.