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Walgreen’s Target, Estimates Boosted at Morgan Stanley (WAG)

admin — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 20:57:41 +0000

Drug store chain operator Walgreen Company ( WAG ) on Monday saw its price target and earnings estimates raised by analysts at Morgan Stanley. The firm said it now expects WAG shares to reach $50, suggesting a 19% upside to the stock’s Friday closing price of $41.97. Morgan Stanley also maintained its “Overweight” rating on the stock and boosted its earnings estimates through 2013, citing expectations of higher drug sales due to rising flu rates. Walgreen shares were mostly flat in premarket trading Monday. The Bottom Line Shares of Walgreen Co. ( WAG ) have a 1.67% dividend yield, based on Friday’s closing stock price of $41.97. The stock has technical support in the $38 price area. If the shares can firm up, we see overhead resistance around the $45 price level. Walgreen Company ( WAG ) is not recommended at this time, holding a Dividend.com DARS™ Rating of 3.4 out of 5 stars. Be sure to visit our complete recommended list of the Best Dividend Stocks , as well as a detailed explanation of our ratings system here .

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Walgreen’s Target, Estimates Boosted at Morgan Stanley (WAG)

Procter & Gamble Downgraded to “Market Perform” at BMO Capital (PG)

admin — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 20:45:16 +0000

Consumer products maker The Procter & Gamble Company ( PG ) on Monday caught a downgrade from analysts at BMO Capital. The firm said it cut its rating on PG from “Outperform” to “Market Perform,” and lowered its price target from $74 to $70. That new target still implies an 11% upside over the stock’s Friday closing price of $62.84. Last month, PG reported fiscal second quarter earnings that were roughly in-line with analyst estimates. Procter & Gamble shares were mostly flat in premarket trading Monday. The Bottom Line We have been recommending shares of Procter & Gamble ( PG ) since Sept.1, 2009, when the stock was trading at $54.11. The company has a 3.07% dividend yield, based on Friday’s closing stock price of $62.84. The Procter & Gamble Company ( PG ) is a “Recommended” dividend stock, holding a Dividend.com DARS™ Rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars. Be sure to visit our complete recommended list of the Best Dividend Stocks , as well as a detailed explanation of our ratings system here .

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Procter & Gamble Downgraded to “Market Perform” at BMO Capital (PG)

Comcast Now Rated a “Buy” at Goldman Sachs (CMCSA)

admin — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 20:42:19 +0000

Cable TV and Internet provider Comcast Corporation ( CMCSA ) on Monday saw its coverage restarted with a “Buy” rating by analysts at Goldman Sachs. The firm also set a $31 price target on CMCSA, which suggests a 24% upside to the stock’s Friday closing price of $25.26. Goldman noted it finds Comcast’s growth prospects attractive relative to its peers in the industry, and expects the company to beat the consensus earnings estimates in coming quarters. The analyst also said the company could possibly raise its dividend or boost share buybacks to bring additional value to shareholders. Comcast shares were mostly flat in premarket trading Monday. The Bottom Line Shares of Comcast ( CMCSA ) have a 1.78% dividend yield, based on Friday’s closing stock price of $25.26. The stock has technical support in the $22-$23 price area. If the shares can continue the recent momentum, we see overhead resistance around the $28 price level. Comcast Corporation ( CMCSA ) is not recommended at this time, holding a Dividend.com DARS™ Rating of 3.4 out of 5 stars. Be sure to visit our complete recommended list of the Best Dividend Stocks , as well as a detailed explanation of our ratings system here .

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Comcast Now Rated a “Buy” at Goldman Sachs (CMCSA)

Ventas to Buy Nationwide Health for $5.7 Billion in Stock (VTR)

admin — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 20:40:14 +0000

Healthcare facilities REIT Ventas, Inc. ( VTR ) on Monday said it would buy rival REIT Nationwide Health Properties Inc. ( NHP ) for $5.7 billion in stock. In pursuant to the deal, current Nationwide shareholders will receive 0.7866 shares of VTR stock for each share of NHS they presently own. One the deal is completed, Ventas shareholders will own approximately 65% of the newly combined company, while Nationwide shareholders will own the remaining 35%. Ventas CEO Debra Cafaro said that “The combination of Ventas and NHP increases the scale and diversification of the combined company, the strength and flexibility of the company’s balance sheet and the quality and geography of the assets.” Ventas shares fell 25 cents, or -0.4%, in premarket trading Monday, while NHS stock jumped more than 21%. The Bottom Line Shares of Ventas ( VTR ) have a 4.02% dividend yield, based on Friday’s closing stock price of $57.19. Shares of Nationwide Health Properties ( NHP ) have a 4.93% dividend yield, based on Friday’s closing stock price of $38.96. Ventas, Inc. ( VTR ) is not recommended at this time, holding a Dividend.com DARS™ Rating of 3.4 out of 5 stars. Be sure to visit our complete recommended list of the Best Dividend Stocks , as well as a detailed explanation of our ratings system here .

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Ventas to Buy Nationwide Health for $5.7 Billion in Stock (VTR)

Dividend Stock Leaders for the Week of Feb.22-25 (HPQ, WMT, CHK, FDX, CMI, more)

admin — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 20:12:48 +0000

Here are some of the biggest dividend stock winners and losers from the week that just ended. Company Fri. Close Weekly % Change Dividend Yield Duncan Energy Partners L.P. ( DEP ) $40.54 +23.86% 4.49% Chesapeake Energy Corporation ( CHK ) $35.37 +16.23% 0.85% Herbalife Ltd. ( HLF ) $78.20 +12.45% 1.28% V.F. Corporation ( VFC ) $95.98 +6.88% 2.63% Wal-Mart Stores Inc. ( WMT ) $51.75 -6.55% 2.34% Cummins Inc. ( CMI ) $102.33 -7.01% 1.03% J.C. Penney ( JCP ) $34.16 -7.73% 2.34% FedEx ( FDX ) $89.88 -8.58% 0.53% Hewlett-Packard ( HPQ ) $42.68 -12.31% 0.75% Expeditors International of Washington Inc. ( EXPD ) $47.67 -13.06% 0.84% InterDigital Inc. ( IDCC ) $48.37 -16.79% 0.83% NutriSystem Inc ( NTRI ) $13.89 -36.55% 5.04% Be sure to visit our complete recommended list of the Best Dividend Stocks , as well as a detailed explanation of our ratings system here .

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Dividend Stock Leaders for the Week of Feb.22-25 (HPQ, WMT, CHK, FDX, CMI, more)

Wells Fargo Now a “Conviction Buy” at Goldman Sachs (WFC)

admin — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 21:04:20 +0000

Banking giant Wells Fargo & Company ( WFC ) on Friday saw its rating, price target, and earnings estimates all boosted by analysts at Goldman Sachs. The firm said it upgraded WFC from “Neutral” to “Conviction Buy,” and raised its price target from $36 to $38. That new target implies a 21% upside to the stock’s Thursday closing price of $31.44. Goldman also raised its 2011 earnings estimate for WFC to $2.90 per share, and moved its 2012 estimate up to $3.80 per share. The analyst noted the company’s expenses are stabilizing and could see higher operating leverage in coming quarters as a result. Goldman also thinks WFC could significantly boost its dividend and announce a large share buyback this year. Wells Fargo shares rose 85 cents, or +2.7%, in premarket trading Friday. The Bottom Line Shares of Wells Fargo ( WFC ) have a .64% dividend yield, based on last night’s closing stock price of $31.44. The stock has technical support in the $28 price area. If the shares can build momentum on this morning’s upgrade, we see overhead resistance around the $40 price level. Wells Fargo & Company ( WFC ) is not recommended at this time, holding a Dividend.com DARS™ Rating of 3.3 out of 5 stars. Be sure to visit our complete recommended list of the Best Dividend Stocks , as well as a detailed explanation of our ratings system here .

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Wells Fargo Now a “Conviction Buy” at Goldman Sachs (WFC)

J.C. Penney’s Q4 Profit Surges 36%, Beating Estimates (JCP)

admin — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 20:56:24 +0000

Department store operator J.C. Penney Company, Inc. ( JCP ) on Friday said its fourth quarter profit jumped 36% from last year on higher sales and lower costs, beating analyst estimates. The Plano, TX-based company reported fourth quarter net income of $271 million, or $1.13 per share, compared with $200 million, or 84 cents per share, in the year-ago period. Excluding one-time items, adjusted profit was $1.23 per share. Sales rose almost 3% from last year to $5.7 billion. On average, Wall Street analysts expected a much smaller profit of $1.11 per share for the quarter. Looking ahead, the company forecast full-year 2011 profit to range from $2 to $2.10 per share, excluding items, which would easily surpass analysts’ current estimate of $1.82 per share for the year. JCP also announced a new $900 million share buyback plan. J.C. Penney shares rose 76 cents, or +2.1%, in premarket trading Friday. The Bottom Line Shares of J.C. Penney ( JCP ) have a 2.19% dividend yield, based on last night’s closing stock price of $36.55. The stock has technical support in the $32 price area. If the shares can firm up, we see overhead resistance around the $40 price level. J.C. Penney Company, Inc. ( JCP ) is not recommended at this time, holding a Dividend.com DARS™ Rating of 3.3 out

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J.C. Penney’s Q4 Profit Surges 36%, Beating Estimates (JCP)

The Gap’s Q4 Earnings Beat View; Dividend Boost, Share Buyback Planned (GPS)

admin — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 20:49:35 +0000

Apparel retailer The Gap Inc. ( GPS ) on Friday said its fourth quarter profit rose 4% from last year, beating analyst estimates. The San Francisco-based company reported fourth quarter net income of $365 million, or 60 cents per share, compared with $352 million, or 51 cents per share, in the year-ago period. Revenue rose 3% from last year to $4.36 billion. On average, Wall Street analysts expected a smaller profit of 57 cents per share, on slightly lower revenue of $4.34 billion. Looking ahead, The Gap forecast full-year 2011 profit to range from $1.88 to $1.93 per share, which would miss analyst estimates for $1.94 per share. The company also said it would buy back an additional $2 billion worth of its own shares, and would boost its quarterly dividend payout to 11.25 cents per share from a previous 10 cents. The Gap shares rose 26 cents, or +1.2%, in premarket trading Friday. The Bottom Line Shares of Gap Inc. ( GPS ) will now have a 2.00% dividend yield, based on the higher dividend payout and last night’s closing stock price of $22.49. The stock has technical support in the $19 price area. If the shares can firm up, we see overhead resistance around the $23-$24 price levels. The Gap Inc. ( GPS ) is not recommended at this time, holding a Dividend.com DARS™ Rating of 3.4 out of 5 stars. Be sure to visit our complete recommended list of the Best Dividend Stocks , as well as a detailed explanation of our ratings system here .

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The Gap’s Q4 Earnings Beat View; Dividend Boost, Share Buyback Planned (GPS)

Applied Materials Boosts Revenue Guidance as Q1 Earnings Beat View (AMAT)

admin — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 20:43:07 +0000

Computer chip components maker Applied Materials, Inc. ( AMAT ) late Thursday posted better-than-expected first quarter earnings and lifted its full-year sales forecast, sending its shares higher in premarket trading Friday. The Santa Clara, CA-based company reported fiscal first quarter net income of $506 million, or 38 cents per share, compared with just $83 million, or 6 cents per share, in the year-ago period. Excluding one-time items, adjusted profit was 36 cents per share. Revenue surged 45% from last year to $2.69 billion. On average, Wall Street analysts expected a smaller profit of 33 cents per share, on lower revenue of $2.58 billion. Looking ahead, the company boosted its full-year revenue guidance by more than 10%, to $11 million. Analysts are looking for $10.2 billion in revenue for the year. Applied Materials shares rose 27 cents, or +1.7%, in premarket trading Friday. The Bottom Line Shares of Applied Materials ( AMAT ) have a 1.77% dividend yield, based on last night’s closing stock price of $15.83. The stock has technical support in the $13 price area. If the shares can firm up, we see overhead resistance around the $17-$18 price levels. Applied Materials, Inc. ( AMAT ) is not recommended at this time, holding a Dividend.com DARS™ Rating of 3.4 out of 5 stars. Be sure to visit our complete recommended list of the Best Dividend Stocks , as well as a detailed explanation of our ratings system here .

Boeing Shares Jump After Landing $35 Billion Air Force Tanker Contract (BA)

admin — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 20:41:31 +0000

Aircraft maker The Boeing Company ( BA ) on Friday saw its shares rising in premarket trading, following an announcement that it won a lucrative U.S. Air Force refueling tanker contract. The $35 billion contract for 179 airborne refueling tankers could also grow over time. Should the Air Force decide to buy more planes, it could push the value of the deal up to $100 million. Boeing beat out Netherlands-based European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. for the deal. The first flight of the new planes isn’t expected until 2015. Although Boeing already produces similar aircraft for European clients, several alterations will need to be made for the U.S. military. Boeing shares rose $2.74, or +3.9%, in premarket trading Friday. The Bottom Line Shares of Boeing ( BA ) have a 2.37% dividend yield, based on last night’s closing stock price of $70.76. The stock has technical support in the $68 price area. If the shares can firm up, we see overhead resistance around the $73-$75 price levels. The Boeing Company ( BA ) is not recommended at this time, holding a Dividend.com DARS™ Rating of 3.4 out of 5 stars. Be sure to visit our complete recommended list of the Best Dividend Stocks , as well as a detailed explanation of our ratings system here .

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Boeing Shares Jump After Landing $35 Billion Air Force Tanker Contract (BA)

Market Wrap-Up for Feb.24 (XOM, MRO, SLB, KSS, TGT, NEM, more)

admin — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 04:11:25 +0000

The manic pundits are back in full effect this week. One minute the market is overvalued, then the next minute it’s time to start buying with the indices down 1%. Huh? Then the market begins to give back part of the afternoon’s gains, and we go back to “overvalued” territory. This is the kind of stuff we get on a daily basis from business media and the pundits they line up to feed the adrenaline of traders that are watching. Notice I said traders, and not investors. The markets are geared toward the “fast and the furious” when it comes to TV ratings. Now you know what I am getting at with today’s subject line — step away from the ledge! Dividend investors that are looking for income should not be distracted by the headline grabbers and instead should look for opportunities in companies that are currently on our Best Dividend Stocks List . If you are trading these names, then you may not be interested in what the aim of our site is. We do feature some growth-related dividend plays for those looking to be aggressive, but not for day-trading types. Our main focus is on quality dividend names with attractive yields, and this should be the focus for all those that are hoping to build income for the long-term. We will continue to parse through our data to make sure the names we like best remain on our recommended list. If we take off higher-yield names, it is not a “sell” call (unless we explicitly say it is, which is very rare). We just want to have the best names from a risk/reward standpoint on our recommended list for new money at all times. Investors should however utilize a sell strategy in the event a company you own drops 25% from its 52-week high and there are company-specific problems that could cause significant underperformance for that particular stock. It was a back and forth afternoon as we gave up the early gains to end the day mixed. I was seeing some giveback in the energy plays after a huge run for the sector. The pullback was led by Exxon Mobil ( XOM ), Marathon Oil ( MRO ), and Schlumberger ( SLB ) just to name a few. Earnings news helped lift retailers Target ( TGT ) and Kohl’s ( KSS ), which just initiated a dividend this morning. H.J. Heinz ( HNZ ) was up after reaffirming earnings estimates. Gold-mining giant Newmont Mining ( NEM ) closed down over 7% after the company reported its quarterly results. We are definitely seeing some of our favorite names getting a bit of extra company during the recent sell-off as investors scramble for places to park money before heading back into the momentum forest. It certainly doesn’t hurt our portfolios, but some stocks are getting a bit ahead of …

Heinz Raises Full-Year Guidance; Q3 Forecast Above View (HNZ)

admin — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 20:54:39 +0000

Food products maker H.J. Heinz Company ( HNZ ) on Thursday boosted its full-year earnings guidance and provided a third quarter forecast that would beat analysts’ view. The Pittsburgh-based company said it expects fiscal third quarter earnings of 84 cents per share, on free cash flow of around $440 million. On average, Wall Street analysts currently expect 80 cents per share for the quarter. For the full year 2011, Heinz raised its earnings guidance from $2.95 to $3.05 per share, to $3.04 to $3.10 per share. Analysts are looking for $3.09 per share for the year. Heinz shares were mostly flat in premarket trading Thursday. The Bottom Line We have been recommending shares of H.J. Heinz ( HNZ ) since Jan.24, 2009, when the stock was trading at $35.06. The company has a 3.68% dividend yield, based on last night’s closing stock price of $48.94. H.J. Heinz Company ( HNZ ) is a “Recommended” dividend stock, holding a Dividend.com DARS™ Rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars. Be sure to visit our complete recommended list of the Best Dividend Stocks , as well as a detailed explanation of our ratings system here .

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Heinz Raises Full-Year Guidance; Q3 Forecast Above View (HNZ)