Stock Analysts

With Dipping Cocoa Prices, Will Hershey Make a Sweet Choice?

The time is ripe for picking chocolate stocks as cocoa prices continue to melt down. This is primarily due to copious supply and fading demand, as growing health consciousness continues to grip consumers. As per a recent Bernstein research, the price of cocoa has plunged 37% since last summer and is expected to trickle down for the next few years. […]

Stock Analysts

Will Rising Avocado Prices Hamper Chipotle’s Turnaround?

Per a research note from Credit Suisse, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc.’s CMG profitability might be severely affected in the near-term, given a recent surge in avocado prices. Though the investment firm maintained its neutral rating on this quick-casual and fresh Mexican food restaurant chain operator, it lowered its price target by 4.5% to $320 from $335. Moreover, Credit Suisse slashed its estimates for Chipotle’s 2017 and 2018 earnings per share (EPS) to $6.38 and $9.57, respectively, down from $6.95 and $9.71 […]

Stock Analysts

Yellen Claims U.S. Banks Resilient to Shock: Top 5 Picks

Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen, speaking in Jackson Hole, WY last Friday, said that regulations of the central bank sanctioned after the 2008 market meltdown have made the financial system resilient to economic upheavals. These regulations have compelled banks to hold much higher levels of capital to cushion against losses from bad loans; the adequate capital cushion can also be used for paying out dividends and repurchasing stocks. Big banks have enough capital buffers to keep on trading through an economic meltdown, thanks to the positive annual “stress test” results […]

Stock Analysts

Shell’s Arm Receives Approval for Delga Solar Farm Project

European oil giant Royal Dutch Shell plc ’s RDS.A subsidiary Shell Australiarecently received a green signal from Western Downs Regional Council for its 250 megawatt solar power plant project in Western Downs, Queensland. Shell Australia is now making a final financial assessment to study the viability of the project. The Delga Solar Farm will be located at Woleebee, 25 km (15.5 miles) southwest of Wandoan and is likely to create around 500-800 jobs during construction and around 10 full-time operational jobs subsequently […]

Stock Analysts

Natural Gas Flat as Harvey-Induced Outage Offsets Mild Build

The U.S. Energy Department's weekly inventory release showed an in-line increase in natural gas supplies following which the commodity traded up. However, worries over the fuel’s tepid demand on the back of bearish weather predictions and Tropical Storm Harvey-related power outages offset the gains and pushed down natural gas prices to week-ago levels […]

Stock Analysts

LabCorp’s $1.2 Billion Chiltern Buyout Gets FTC Approval

Healthcare diagnostics company Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings LH or LabCorp continues to expand through inorganic means. Apart from huge buyouts like Covance, the company is on a steady spree to add complementary capabilities via strategic mergers. Following the company’s announcement to acquire analytical testing services business of ChromaDex Corp […]

Stock Analysts

Duke Energy Requests Rate Hike to Boost Service Reliability

Electric services provider, Duke Energy Corporation DUK , has laid down a request for rate increase with the North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC). If the requested new rates are approved by the NCUC, it will come in to effect spring 2018. Other Details This recent filing would reflect an overall 2.5% increase annually, as Duke Energy Carolinas' last rate adjustment request in North Carolina was way back in 2013 […]

Stock Analysts

CenturyLink (CTL) Introduces Enhanced Private Cloud Service

CenturyLink Inc. CTL recently unveiled Dedicated Cloud Compute (DCC) Foundation, which is an updated version of private cloud service. This enhanced cloud service is currently moving to a converged, software-defined data center (SDDC) model, based on VMware, Inc.’s VMW Cloud Foundation and Hewlett Packard Enterprise ProLiant server. […]

Stock Analysts

Is PVH Corp. (PVH) a Suitable Pick for Value Investors?

Value investing is easily one of the most popular ways to find great stocks in any market environment. After all, who wouldn’t want to find stocks that are either flying under the radar and are compelling buys, or offer up tantalizing discounts when compared to fair value? One way to find these companies is by looking at several key metrics and financial ratios, many of which are crucial in the value stock selection process. […]

Stock Analysts

Is Ralph Lauren (RL) a Suitable Value Pick at the Moment?

Value investing is easily one of the most popular ways to find great stocks in any market environment. After all, who wouldn’t want to find stocks that are either flying under the radar and are compelling buys, or offer up tantalizing discounts when compared to fair value? One way to find these companies is by looking at several key metrics and financial ratios, many of which are crucial in the value stock selection process. […]