Sara Lee (NYSE: SLE) closed at $10.54. Unilever (NYSE: UN) agreed to buy SLE's personal-care and European detergent unit for $1.88 billion. SLE's board of directors authorized a $1 billion share repurchase program. SLE October option implied volatility is at 39, November is at 38; near its 26-week average of 38 according to Track Data, suggesting non-directional price movement.

MSCI Brazil Index (NYSE: EWZ) is recently up 37 cents to $65.04 in pre-open trading. Brazil Bovespa Stock Index is up 0.1%. EWZ call option volume of 14,379 contracts compares to put volume of 22,765 contracts. EWZ October option implied volatility is at 37, October and January is at 38; below its 26-week average of 45, according to Track Data, suggesting decreasing price movement.

Option Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com

Options Update: Sara Lee January volatility flat into personal care sale originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 25 Sep 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Before the bell: Futures point to a lower start after a decline in durable orders

Before the bell: Futures point to a lower start after a decline in durable orders originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 25 Sep 2009 07:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

General Electric (NYSE: GE) closed at $16. GE is scheduled to host a Global Research Analyst Meeting on September 17. GE options were active on volume of 812,432 contracts. GE October option implied volatility is at 47 and December is at 43; below its six-week average of 55, according to Track Data.

Sara Lee (NYSE: SLE) closed at $10.00. SLE's analyst meeting today will review fiscal 2009 and discuss future growth strategies and initiatives. SLE October and January option implied volatility of 34 is below its 26-week average of 38, according to Track Data, suggesting decreasing price movement.

Option Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com.

Options Update: General Electric options active into analyst meeting originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 16 Sep 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Here are some highlights from last week's earnings coverage from BloggingStocks:

• Applied Materials Inc. (NASDAQ: AMAT) posted better-than-expected Q3 results, sending shares higher.
• AutoDesk Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK) reported better-than-expected Q2 earnings, sending shares higher.
• Blockbuster Inc. (NYSE: BBI) had another disappointing quarter as same-store sales declined.
• CIT Group Inc. (NYSE: CIT) delayed its Q3 report due to ongoing debt restructuring and a possible bankruptcy.
• Dr Pepper Snapple Group Inc. (NYSE: DPS) Q2 earnings came in well ahead of Wall Street expectations.

Continue reading Earnings highlights: Blockbuster, Walmart, Applied Materials, ING, Priceline ...

Earnings highlights: Blockbuster, Walmart, Applied Materials, ING, Priceline ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 15 Aug 2009 12:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Sara Lee (SLE) beats the Street by a nickel

Sara Lee (SLE) beats the Street by a nickel originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 12 Aug 2009 09:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Don't look now, but Sara Lee (NYSE: SLE) is up about 20% in the past month. People gotta eat, and, thanks to the recession, they're opting to eat at home more often.

Sara Lee reports earnings on August 12, and analysts expect earnings per share to be 5 cents less than a year ago. Last quarter, the company blew out the estimate by nearly 40%.

With sentiment mixed (only a third of analysts rate the shares a "buy"), another beat this quarter should keep the rally intact.

Buy SLE call options.

Next: Earnings Trade #4

Earnings trade #3 -- Sara Lee (SLE) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 26 Jul 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Beating the Street at the earnings game is all about knowing the market's true expectations for a stock.

Knowing the market's expectations -- not just the analyst expectations -- for a stock will often provide the edge necessary to turn earnings season into a profit opportunity.

The more data and trends you can look at to determine not only what investors expect, but also how investors are positioning themselves for the expected move, the better.

Continue reading Win the earnings game with these four trades

Win the earnings game with these four trades originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 25 Jul 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Deutsche Bank upgraded Portland General Electric (NYSE: POR) to Buy from Hold on valuation as it finds the risk/reward on shares attractive at current levels. The firm raised its target price to $22 from $20.
  
• FBR Capital upgraded Abercrombie & Fitch (NYSE: ANF) to Outperform from Market Perform after channel checks indicated recent sales are driving increased traffic and easing market share losses. The firm raised its target price on shares to $37 from $21.
• Barclays upgraded Yahoo (NASDAQ: YHOO) to Overweight from Equal Weight as it believes the company is well positioned for a rebound in advertising and that the valuation is compelling at current levels. The firm raised its target on shares to $20 from $15.
• Kohl's (NYSE: KSS) was raised to Overweight from Market Weight at Thomas Weisel.
  
• U.S. Steel (NYSE: X) and CB Richard Ellis (NYSE: CBG) were upgraded at Goldman to Neutral from Sell.
  
• Dolby Laboratories (NYSE: DLB) was upgraded at JP Morgan to Overweight from Neutral.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: ANF, YHOO, X, SLE, OSK ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: ANF, YHOO, X, SLE, OSK ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 01 Jun 2009 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

From TheStreet.com Network

• Coming Week: More Data, More Trouble
• Auto-Parts Makers Fear Bankruptcy

Continue reading Cramer on BloggingStocks: Too much debt makes stocks dangerous

Cramer on BloggingStocks: Too much debt makes stocks dangerous originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 26 Jan 2009 11:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This post is part of a special annual report -- Top Stock Picks '09 -- in which TheStockAdvisors.com asked 75 leading newsletter advisors to select their favorite investment for the new year.

"To paraphrase its marketing slogan: 'Nobody shouldn't like Sara Lee (NYSE: SLE),'" says Steve Ralston, consumer products sector expert at Zacks Investment Research.

"From the sales of staple products, consumer non-durable companies generate solid cash flow, with which management can enhance shareholder value through share repurchases and dividend increases.

"Recently restructured consumer non-durable companies are especially attractive, particularly if they are well-managed, trade at a single-digit P/E, and yield more than 4%.

"My favorite stock for 2009 is Sara Lee. Sara Lee announced a 5-year restructuring plan (the Transformation Plan) 3-1/2 years ago. The company has been right-sized, having divested unprofitable and low margin businesses.

Continue reading Top Stock Picks '09: Sara Lee (SLE)

Top Stock Picks '09: Sara Lee (SLE) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 04 Jan 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"Even in tough economic times, Sara Lee (NYSE: SLE) should fair well thanks to its offering of non-cyclical goods," says quantitative analyst Vahan Janjigian, editor of The Forbes Growth Investor.

"Sara Lee is a leading producer of branded foods, beverages, and personal care products. Roughly 50% of sales are generated outside of the U.S. Leading brands include Ball Park, Hillshire Farm, Jimmy Dean, Sara Lee, State Fair, Earth Grains, and Senseo brand coffee products.

"Management launched a comprehensive restructuring plan in 2005 to focus on core products and maximize operating efficiencies. These actions yielded $218 million in annualized cost savings in fiscal 2008.

"Food commodity costs soared earlier this year. However, SLE has been able to pass costs to customers through price increases. Furthermore, it has benefited from growing volumes. Fiscal Q4 net sales grew 12.2% year-over-year to $3.5 billion.

"With its earnings announcement, management issued fiscal 2009 guidance. It expects net sales to grow 4-6% year-over-year to $13.7-14 billion and pro forma earnings to grow 8-18% to 90-98 cents per share.

"Since issuing guidance, economic conditions have deteriorated significantly. This could lead to increased trading down activity to lower-priced brands or private-label goods.

"Also, the strengthening dollar has turned the foreign exchange tailwind into a headwind. Yet food commodity and energy costs have fallen significantly, which could provide margin relief for the company."

Steven Halpern's TheStockAdvisors.com offers a daily look at the latest market commentary and favorite stock picks and investment ideas from the nation's leading financial newsletter advisors.

Sara Lee (SLE): A buy for tough times originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 20 Nov 2008 10:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Major stocks hit 10-year lows, the new subprime & america's best leaders - Today in Money 11/20

Major stocks hit 10-year lows, the new subprime & america's best leaders - Today in Money 11/20 originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 20 Nov 2008 09:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

In a conversation with an attorney friend of mine, who happens to be a woman, she asked for some general financial guidance. During the course of the conversation it occurred to me that women need to save more than men. There are many reasons for this, here are a few:

The first and most obvious reason women need to save more than men is that they live longer -- often without the support of a significant other. Living longer and living alone cost more money.

Second of all, women still do not have complete earnings parity with men. Some of this has to do with job type and some with history. But nevertheless, we are not there yet. If there is a 15% disparity, then a woman is starting at a disadvantage whether saving for her retirement in the future or for buying a gallon of gas today. This can only be made up by saving more and investing more. This is a worthy goal except that with less resources the difficulty is exacerbated.

Continue reading Three reasons women need to save more than men -- Seriously!

Three reasons women need to save more than men -- Seriously! originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 07 Aug 2008 13:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Investments that pay you every month, beware that new car smell & life after Paul for Newman's Own - Today in Money 7/23

Investments that pay you every month, beware that new car smell & life after Paul for Newman's Own - Today in Money 7/23 originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 23 Jul 2008 08:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Here are some highlights from this past week's earnings coverage from BloggingStocks:

• Cisco Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO) beat Q2 expectations but offered a weak outlook.
• Clear Channel Communications Inc. (NYSE: CCU) higher Q1 profits failed to beat expectations.
• Crocs Inc. (NASDAQ: CROX) just missed EPS estimates but raised its full-year guidance.
• CVS Caremark Corp. (NYSE: CVS) strong Q1 results only met Wall Street expectations.
• eResearch Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: ERES) beat Q1 expectations and offered Q2 and full-year guidance.
• Foster Wheeler Ltd. (NASDAQ: FWLT) beat estimates due to a boost in its power plant segment.
• Internet Brands Inc. (NASDAQ: INET) reported strong Q1 results on ongoing M&A.
• Midway Games Inc. (NYSE: MWY) widened its loss in Q1 but beat expectations.
• News Corp. (NYSE: NWS) Q3 earnings jumped on a one-time transaction with Liberty Media.
• NVIDIA Corp. (NASDAQ: NVDA) missed Q1 estimates but was upgraded by analysts anyway.
• NYSE Euronext (NYSE: NYX) reported a first-quarter profit above analysts' estimates.
• Sara Lee Corp. (NYSE: SLE) Q3 profits surged but fell short of analysts' expectations.
• World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. (NYSE: WWE) posted strong results but couldn't cover its dividend.

Upcoming results to watch for include Sprint Nextel (NYSE: S), XM Satellite Radio (NASDAQ: XMSR), Sirius Satellite Radio (NASDAQ: SIRI), Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS), Whole Foods (NASDAQ: WFMI), Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT), Deere & Co. (NYSE: DE), Toll Brothers (NYSE: TOL), Applied Materials (NASDAQ: AMAT), JC Penney (NYSE: JCP), Macy's (NYSE: M), Nordstrom (NYSE: JWN), Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ), Abercrombie & Fitch (NYSE: ANF).

Visit AOL Money & Finance for more earnings coverage.

Earnings highlights: Cisco, News Corp., Crocs, Clear Channel, WWE, CVS and others originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 11 May 2008 09:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Sara Lee (SLE) gets hit by volatile commodity prices

Sara Lee (SLE) gets hit by volatile commodity prices originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 06 May 2008 12:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Financial Stocks to Love
The subprime mortgage meltdown and resulting credit crisis have slammed financial stocks recently. But there are still some diamonds in the rough. They include Berkshire Hathaway, RBS, AFLAC, Raymond James and BOK.
Financial stocks we love - CNNMoney.com

Big Mac's Local Flavor
Once vilified for pushing America on the world, McDonald's lets countries invent their own buns, bags, and business practices. Now some ideas are making their way back home.
Big Mac's local flavor - FORTUNE

Continue reading Financial stocks to love, Best drugstores in U.S. and Big Mac's local flavor - Today in Money 5/6

Financial stocks to love, Best drugstores in U.S. and Big Mac's local flavor - Today in Money 5/6 originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 06 May 2008 09:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Susquehanna downgraded Priceline.com (NASDAQ: PCLN) to Neutral from Positive as they believe upside may be difficult given the macro environment, competition, and currency headwinds.
  
• JP Morgan lowered Monster (NASDAQ: MNST) to Neutral from Overweight following the company's expectations for higher 1Q08 operating expenses.
  
• Internap (NASDAQ: INAP) was downgraded by Merriman to Neutral from Buy as they believe upside will be limited until the company can complete its integration of the VitalStream CDN acquisition.

• JP Morgan cut Sara Lee (NYSE: SLE) and Kraft Foods (NYSE: KFT) to Neutral from Overweight.
  
• Volkswagen (OTC: VLKAY) was downgraded at WestLB to Add from Buy.
  
• Merrill downgraded Getty Realty (NYSE: GTY) to Sell from Neutral.

Analyst downgrades: Priceline.com, Monster, Internap originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 19 Mar 2008 11:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Pricey Wheaties: Grain prices surging on emerging market demand

Pricey Wheaties: Grain prices surging on emerging market demand originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 14 Feb 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Athenahealth (NASDAQ: ATHN) was initiated with a Neutral rating at Goldman Sachs. Jefferies started shares of the stock with a Buy rating and $46 target, as they believe their estimates could prove conservative given potential upside from new and existing physicians adopting athenaClinicals.
• Kaufman Bros initiated Marvell Technology (NASDAQ: MRVL) with a Hold rating and $18 target, as they believe near-term growth prospects remain uncertain and recommends waiting for more favorable entry points.
  
• The firm also initiated Broadcom Corporation (NASDAQ: BRCM) with a Hold rating and $35 target, and believes the company's growth prospects are priced into shares following the recent rally, and started shares of Nvidia Corporation (NASDAQ: NVDA) with a Buy rating and $42 target, as they believe the company's growth opportunity and competitive strength remain intact and would be buyers at current levels.

• Goldman started shares of Sara Lee (NYSE: SLE) with a Neutral rating and $16 target.
  
• UBS initiated US BioEnergy (NASDAQ: USBE) with a Neutral rating.
  
• Bear Stearns inititated CarMax (NYSE: KMX) with an Underperform rating.
  
• Wachovia started Teekay Offshore Partners (NYSE: TOO) and Holly Energy Partners (NYSE: HEP) with Market Perform ratings.

Analyst initiations: ATHN, MRVL, BRCM and NVDA originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 30 Oct 2007 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.