Month: August 2011

Retail and Food Service Sales were up 0.5% in July, in line with expectations. June was revised up from an increase of 0.1% to an increase of 0.3%. Total retail sales are up 8.5% from a year ago. […]

Statoil ASA ( STO ) was granted approval to use the Deepsea Atlantic mobile facility for production drilling on Gullfaks. The permission is mainly for the drilling and completion of three wells (34/10 F-3 AH, 34/10 F-1 H and 34/10 G-4) in production licence 050. The Norway-based major international integrated oil and gas company expects September 10 to be the start-up date for drilling operations – beginning with 34/10 F-3 AH – that would extend to approximately 385 days. […]

Brinker International Inc. ( EAT ) has recently reported fourth quarter 2011 adjusted earnings per share of 48 cents, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by a penny. Earnings were also above 44 cents reported in the prior-year quarter. […]

J.C. Penney Company Inc . ( JCP ) recently delivered second-quarter 2011 earnings of 7 cents a share that came a penny ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate as well as the prior-year quarter’s earnings. […]

Atmel Corporation ( ATML ) reported revenues of $487.6 million in the secon d quarter of 2011, up 22% year over year and up 4% sequentially and at the high end of the company’s guidance. Excluding the impact of the divestiture of the Smart Card business, revenues grew 31% year over year. […]

The property and casualty (P&C) insurance and reinsurance provider ACE Limited ( ACE ) announced that its board of directors has authorized an aggregate buyback of $500 million of common stock, including the previous authorization. The company will have to repurchase the shares within December 31, 2012, as per the new authorization. Earlier, in November 2010, the board of directors authorized a buyback of $600 million of common stock and out of which the company has utilized $400 million for the purpose till date. […]

Earlier during the week, Delphi Financial Group Inc. ( DFG ) announced a new $50 million share repurchase authorization, which will replace the existing authorization to buy back 1.0 million shares. […]

At the time when many banks are laying off employees and closing or divesting their branches, JPMorgan Chase & Co. ( JPM ) is planning to expand in San Antonio by opening three branches and hiring about 475 full-time employees by the end of this year. With these growth plans, the company’s headcount at San Antonio would be 4,900, while its branch count would total 48 […]

Ian Gilson, CFA Clean Diesel reports Second Quarter and encouraging news on California and the London LEZ. On August 11, 2011 Clean Diesel ( CDTI ) announced its second quarter results. Revenue was $11.53 million, slightly below our estimate of $12 million. […]

Contract drilling services provider Helmerich & Payne Inc. ( HP ) reported robust third quarter fiscal 2011 results on July 29 with both revenue and earnings per share (EPS) exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimates. […]

Lowe’s Companies Inc . ( LOW ) , the world's second largest home improvement retailer, is scheduled to report its second-quarter 2011 financial results on Monday, August 15, 2011. […]