Boeing (NYSE: BA) lands another big deal on day 2 of airshow

Northern, WI 7/10/12 (StreetBeat) -- Boeing Co. (NYSE: BA) revealed a further large order for its remodeled short-haul 737 aircraft Tuesday while rival Airbus announced its first billion-dollar order at this year's Farnborough Airshow.

Boeing said GE Capital Aviation Services (NYSE: GE), the commercial aircraft leasing and financing arm of General Electric, has committed to purchasing 75 737 MAX 8s and 25 Next-Generation 737-800s. The deal is valued at around $9.2 billion at list prices but customers rarely pay the full amount when ordering big. The deal is not yet firm, meaning that further hurdles and discussions need to be cleared.

"This commitment confirms the value of the 737 MAX in today's competitive marketplace," said Ray Conner, Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO.

If the deal goes through, it represents the second big order for Boeing's 737 in as many days as the Chicago-based company tries to claw back ground lost to rival Airbus in the short-haul market at a time of economic difficulties around the world. At last year's airshow in Paris — the French capital and Farnborough alternate — Airbus stole a big march on Boeing with its remodeled airplane, the A320neo.

In the run-up to the airshow south of London, expectations were high that Boeing would clinch a raft of short-haul deals as it tries to catch up with Airbus in orders for single-aisle aircraft.

It is pushing the MAX model heavily in response. The MAX incorporates new technologies designed to make the aircraft more efficient, reliable and comfortable. So far, Boeing has secured orders and commitments for more than 1,000 of the aircraft.

Airbus also announced it is first big deal of the airshow Tuesday. It said Hong Kong-based airline Cathay Pacific has put in a firm order valued at $4.2 billion for Airbus' long-haul A350-1000.

"The A350-100 will be a game changer in the 350-seat category, offering outstanding payload-range capability and a 25 percent reduction in fuel burn," said Fabrice Bregier, Airbus President and CEO. "As an all-new design, it will outperform existing aircraft in its size category on every count, as well as any future derivatives of those aircraft."

Cathay will place a new order for 10 aircraft and convert 16 of its existing orders for the A350-900, a previous edition of the long-haul plane, to the larger A350-1000, which is valued at $320 million each. The deal is subject to Cathay's board passing it through and takes the total number of A350 aircraft ordered by the airline to 46.

John Slosar, Cathay's chief executive said the A350-1000's "improved payload and range will allow us to connect more and more important cities worldwide directly with Hong Kong."

Also Tuesday, Canada's Bombardier Aerospace said Latvia-based airBaltic had signed a letter of intent to buy 10 CS300 aircraft and take purchase rights on a further 10 of the jets. At list prices, the deal would be worth around $764 million and could increase to $1.57 billion should the rights be taken up.

The deal, should it go through, represents another success for the Canadian planes and trains maker in the competitive short-haul market. Earlier this week, Bombardier also said it had a conditional order for five CS100 and 10 CS300 aircraft placed by an unidentified customer.

"The diversity of the C Series aircraft customers ... speaks volumes about the flexibility of the aircraft to serve diverse transport needs worldwide," said Mike Arcamone, president of Bombardier's commercial aircraft division.

This year's airshow is taking place at a time when the global economy is showing signs of slowing down and governments around the world are cutting back costs on military spending as they grapple with high debt levels. The combination of a faltering economy and lower government spending is a difficult combination for the aviation industry as air travel tracks global economic growth.

Please contact www.thestreetbeat.com for interest in our latest investor relations platform the “CEO Interview Series” with its host Steve Kanaval. The package includes a one-on-one interview with a seasoned industry professional; published segment to our web site with embedded audio/video file; and a compressed file that can be easily e-mailed out to your current and/or potential investors. Please e-mail bflautt@gmail.com or call (662) 392-0740 for pricing and scheduling.

StreetBeat Disclaimer

Distributed by Viestly

Boeing (NYSE: BA) profit up on stronger airliner sales

Atlanta, GA 4/25/12 (StreetBeat) -- Boeing Co (NYSE:BA), the world's largest aerospace and defense company, posted a higher quarterly net profit on Wednesday, helped by an increase in commercial airplane deliveries, and raised its earnings forecast for the year.

The company said its first-quarter net profit was $923 million, or $1.22 per share, compared with $586 million, or 78 cents per share, a year earlier.

The company, which competes with EADS unit Airbus for orders, said revenue rose 30 percent to $19.4 billion, topping expectations for $18.4 billion. The company said its order backlog at the end of the quarter was $380 billion, up from $356 billion at the beginning of the year.

The company increased its profit forecast for 2012 to a range of $4.15 per share to $4.35 per share. The previous upper end of the range had been $4.25 per share. The company reaffirmed its 2012 revenue outlook, which is in a range of $78 billion to $80 billion.

Please contact www.thestreetbeat.com for interest in our latest investor relations platform the “CEO Interview Series” with its host Steve Kanaval. The package includes a one-on-one interview with a seasoned industry professional; published segment to our web site with embedded audio/video file; and a compressed file that can be easily e-mailed out to your current and/or potential investors. Please e-mail bflautt@gmail.com or call (662) 392-0740 for pricing and scheduling.

StreetBeat Disclaimer

Distributed by Viestly

Pendrell's (Nasdaq: PCO) $603M court win over Boeing (NYSE: BA) overturned

Shawshank, VA 4/16/12 (StreetBeat) -- A $603 million verdict against Boeing Co (NYSE: BA) that was won by Pendrell Corp (Nasdsaq: PCO) of Kirkland four years ago has been overturned by the California Court of Appeals.

News of late Friday's court decision sent shares of Pendrell plummeting more than 48 percent in early Friday trading.

The case involved Pendrell's predecessor company, ICO Global Communications, which was a satellite communications company before it moved to Kirkland in late 2010 and changed its focus to become an intellectual property firm. ICO alleged that Boeing and its Boeing Satellite Systems International unit was liable for damages for breaking a deal to launch satellites for ICO. A Los Angeles jury agreed with ICO in 2008 and awarded more than $600 million in damages.

Pendrell officials weren't happy with the appeals court's latest decision.

"We are clearly disappointed with the court’s decision and we are evaluating our options for further review,” said Ben Wolff, CEO of Pendrell, in a statement.

Please contact www.thestreetbeat.com for interest in our latest investor relations platform the “CEO Interview Series” with its host Steve Kanaval. The package includes a one-on-one interview with a seasoned industry professional; published segment to our web site with embedded audio/video file; and a compressed file that can be easily e-mailed out to your current and/or potential investors. Please e-mail bflautt@gmail.com or call (662) 392-0740 for pricing and scheduling.

StreetBeat Disclaimer

Distributed by Viestly

Esterline (NYSE: ESL) Surges on BAE Takeover Speculation: Seattle Mover

Tallahassee, FL 3/23/12 (StreetBeat) -- Esterline Technologies Corp. (NYSE: ESL) rose to the highest price in six months on speculation that the defense and aerospace supplier is a takeover target for companies including BAE Systems Plc, Boeing Co. (NYSE: BA) and Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE: LMT)

Esterline, based in Bellevue, Washington, rose 8 percent to $73.75 at 10:42 a.m. in New York, and earlier touched $75, the highest in intraday trading since Sept. 1. Brian Keogh, a spokesman for Esterline, declined yesterday to comment.

The Daily Mail, a London newspaper, reported yesterday on speculation that BAE Systems, Boeing and Lockheed Martin are interested in buying Esterline and that one of them is about to begin a bid of more than $95 a share.

Also yesterday, another U.K. publication, the Guardian, reported that traders suggested BAE Systems was studying an offer and that Honeywell International Inc. (HON) and United Technologies Corp. may also be interested.

Please contact www.thestreetbeat.com for interest in our latest investor relations platform the “CEO Interview Series” with its host Steve Kanaval. The package includes a one-on-one interview with a seasoned industry professional; published segment to our web site with embedded audio/video file; and a compressed file that can be easily e-mailed out to your current and/or potential investors. Please e-mail bflautt@gmail.com or call (662) 392-0740 for pricing and scheduling.

StreetBeat Disclaimer

Distributed by Viestly

FedEx Expected to Cut Outlook

Oxford, MS 9/22/2011 (PennyPayDay) – FedEx Corp (NYSE:FDX) is seen reporting higher quarterly results than a year ago on Thursday, but analysts are more keen to see if the No. 2 package delivery company cuts its full-year guidance because stalled global economic growth has stifled volume.

The shares of the Memphis, Tennessee-based company have fallen 22 percent this year, reflecting a U.S. economy that is treading water at best, as well as slower international flows than many analysts expected.

Businesses continue to keep inventory lean based on weak consumer sentiment, containing shipment volume and heightening the focus on cost controls to boost profits, analysts said.

"Since the company's last conference call, Asian freight markets have slowed and yields on transpacific cargo are moderating, as has the domestic U.S. Express parcel market and U.S. industrial production," Sterne Agee analysts Jeff Kauffman and Salvatore Vitale wrote in a report.

"We are interested in seeing whether or not this results in slower deployment of Capex dollars."

FedEx runs the world's largest cargo airline. The company is considering buying about 50 wide-body freighters from Boeing Co (NYSE:BA) and Airbus (Paris:EAD.PA) to update its fleet.

Wall Street analysts expect FedEx's first-quarter profit, on average, to rise to $1.45 per share, compared with $1.20 a year ago, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Revenue is estimated at $10.32 billion in the quarter ended August 31, up from $9.46 billion a year ago.

FedEx in June estimated fiscal 2012 profit of between $6.35 and $6.85 per share.

On average, the full-year forecast is $6.37 per share after a wave of price target reductions by Wall Street analysts. Forecasts range from $5.75 to $7.05 a share.

Sanford C. Bernstein analysts pointed to the softer macro outlook and international trade for its downward revision in FedEx earnings and near-term growth forecasts.

"Slower international trade growth will limit the company's ability to capitalize on recent international expansion and will make it more difficult for the company to improve international express and freight yields," the analysts led by David Vernon wrote in a report.

"While growth expectations are coming down, the capex numbers are still going to go up -- to over 10 percent of sales -- and while we don't doubt the need to replace aging aircraft technology it will be some time before these investments pay off for investors."

Sustained pricing power could minimize the downside, analysts said.

The sheer volume of goods moved by FedEx makes its shipment trends a bellwether for consumer demand and economic growth.

FedEx handles packages equivalent to about 4 percent of U.S. gross domestic product and 1.5 percent of global GDP in its trucks and aircraft.

U.S. GDP grew at a 1 percent annual rate in the second quarter and just 0.7 percent in the first half of the year, weighed down by high gasoline prices and supply chain disruptions after the March earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

The Federal Reserve on Wednesday ramped up aid to the U.S. economy, warning of "significant" downside economic risks, including global financial markets strains.

Wolfe Trahan said in a report that FedEx likely needs strong global demand to utilize new and larger aircraft fully. The analysts thus see material risk to FedEx's full-year guidance, which is based on U.S. GDP assumptions of 3.5 percent in the second half of this year and 3 percent next year.

"We continue to believe that UPS and FedEx are positioned to receive solid pricing over the next several years despite a slowing economy," and a more realistic FedEx outlook would be a positive for the shares at current levels, the analysts added.

United Parcel Service Inc (NYSE:UPS), the largest package delivery company, in an investor meeting last week, affirmed its call for record 2011 earnings, downplaying the likelihood of a double-dip recession.

FedEx shares closed on Wednesday at $72.50, down 22 percent this year, compared with the 16 percent drop in the Dow Jones Transportation average (DJI:^DJT - News).

PennyPayDay Disclaimer

Distributed by Viestly

LargeCap Stocks to Keep an Eye on Today

Tomahawk, WI 9/8/2011 (PennyPayDay) – Caliper Life Sciences, a provider of imaging and detection solutions for life sciences research, is being bought by scientific instruments provider PerkinElmer for about $600 million.

Caliper shares were surging 41.3% to $10.44 in premarket trading Thursday.

Homebuilder Hovnanian Enterprises reported a third-quarter loss of 47 cents a share, narrower than the loss of 50 cents a share that analysts, on average, were expecting.

Shares were gaining 4.9% to $1.73.

Shareholders of discount retailer Dollar General are selling 25 million shares of the company's common stock.

Shares were falling 3.2% to $35.95.

Men's Wearhouse expects third-quarter sales growth of 3% to 4%, which is in line with estimates. But the company gave above-consensus earnings projections for both the third quarter and full year, saying it expects adjusted earnings of 64 cents to 66 cents a share and $2.13 to $2.20 a share in the respective periods.

The company reported adjusted earnings of $58.3 million, or $1.11 a share, for its second quarter with total sales rising 22% year over year to $655 million, and same-store sales for its namesake brand increasing 10.9%.

The performance topped guidance for adjusted earnings of $1.02 to $1.05 a share, and ahead of the average estimate of analysts polled by Thomson Reuters for a profit of $1.04 a share.

Shares were tumbling 2.4% to $28.80.

General Motors said sales in China in August rose 13.4% from a year earlier.

Shares were down 0.9% to $22.65 as general market sentiment dipped on a report that weekly initial jobless claims rose 2,000 to 414,000 hours before President Barack Obama lays out his jobs growth plans before Congress.

Smithfield Foods, the pork processor, posted adjusted first-quarter profit of 69 cents a share, topping analysts' estimates, on strong earnings from packaged meats.

Sales in the quarter rose 7% to $3.09 billion from $2.9 billion.

Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters expected Smithfield to earn 67 cents a share in the quarter on sales of $3.15 billion.

Shares were up 0.6% to $22.25.

Online retail giant Amazon.com has cut a tentative deal that would allow the online retailer to postpone collecting sales taxes from Californians for another year, The Los Angeles Times reported.

Shares were down 0.4% to $219.01.

FedEx is considering updating its fleet with 50 planes from Boeing and Airbus in a deal potentially worth several billion dollars, according to Bloomberg.

Firearms manufacturer Smith & Wesson expects second-quarter revenue of between $93 million and $96 million, below the average analyst estimate of $103.9 million.

First-quarter profit came in at a penny a share, beating the Wall Street breakeven target.

PennyPayDay Disclaimer

Distributed by Viestly

Some LargeCap Stocks to Keep an Eye on Today

Department store J.C. Penney reported that fourth-quarter net income grew 35.5% to $271 million, or $1.13 a share, from $200 million, or 84 cents a share, a year earlier. Adjusted earnings per share from continuing operations were $1.23. Net sales increased about 3% to $5.7 billion from $5.55 billion. On average, analysts were calling for earnings of $1.08 a share on revenue of $5.7 billion. Shares of J.C. Penney were rising 1.6% to $37.15 in premarket trading Friday.

Aerospace giant Boeing was awarded a $35 billion contract by the Pentagon for an aerial refueling tanker jet. Shares of Boeing were rising 4.9% to $74.25 in premarket trading Friday.

American International Group reported net income of $11.2 billion and earnings per share of $16.60 for the fourth quarter of 2010. Shares of AIG were up 0.7% to $41.72 in premarket trading.

TV network CBS and Warner Bros. Television have decided to end production for the rest of the season on TV comedy Two and a Half Men because of comments star Charlie Sheen made about the show's producer. CBS was up 0.3% to $22.10.

Footwear company Deckers Outdoor reported heavy demand for its UGG brand boots. The stock was jumping 7.7% to $96.75 in premarket trading.

San Francisco-based cloud computing company Salesforce.com crushed the consensus view for its fourth-quarter results. Shares of the company were higher in premarket trading, surging 9.4% to $147.

Distributed by IntelBuilder Social Media Platform