Stocks

Some of the stocks that may grab investor focus today are: Wall Street expects Kroger Company (The) (NYSE: KR) to report its Q1 EPS at $0.64 on revenue of $26.48 billion. KR shares surged 2.75% to $23.58 in after-hours trading. Finisar Corp (NASDAQ: FNSR) issued downbeat projections for the first quarter. The company reported its Q4 earnings at $16.4 million, or $0.17 per share. Excluding one-time items, the company's earnings came in at $0.33 per share. Finisar's revenue surged to $236.9 million, from $188.5 million a year earlier. However, analysts were expecting earnings of $0.33 per share on revenue of $242.89 million. Taking into account the impact of its Ignis acquisition, Finisar projected Q1 adjusted earnings of $0.16 to $0.20 per share on revenue of $221 million to $236 million. Analysts expected earnings of $0.36 per share on revenue of $250.6 million. FNSR shares dipped 16.19% to $14.86 in after-hours trading. Analysts are expecting Smithfield Foods Inc (NYSE: SFD) to have earned $0.82 per...

On CNBC's Mad Money, Jim Cramer said during the Lightning Round that Stonemor Partners (NASDAQ: STON) is an “inexpensive stock. Yield is what protects us in bad markets." He said that Vodafone Group (NASDAQ: VOD) has a “good yield and safety with that yield. I've recommended it before and I'll do it again." For Peabody Energy (NYSE: BTU), Jim said, "Oil is coming down, but we're in a super cycle for coal. This is coal's market. Peabody is cheap and is getting cheaper by the day." Cramer said that he “nailed Sina Corp (NASDAQ: SINA) and said to sell it at $120.” He added, “I'm not looking back, we're done." Cramer said that American Capital Agency (NASDAQ: AGNC) has a “great yield and I need management to come on and tell me how they do it. I can't say buy it." For Aruba Networks (NASDAQ: ARUN), he said, "I think you need to accept the fact that it's tech and tech is going down. Even...

The following stocks hit new 52-week highs in Wednesday's trading session: 1) 8x8 (NASDAQ: EGHT): Shares of 8x8 hit a 52-week high of $3.97 in Wednesday's session. The stock was heavily sold into, however, finishing 7.7% lower on the day at $3.48. The year-to-date performance of 8x8 is a gain of 46.2%. 2) American Capital Agency (NASDAQ: AGNC): Shares of American Capital hit a 52-week high of $30.74 in Wednesday's session. The stock was able to hold onto most of its gains, finishing 0.5% higher on the day at $30.70. The year-to-date performance of American Capital is a gain of 11.9%. 3) Cabot Oil & Gas (NYSE: COG): Shares of Cabot Oil & Gas hit a 52-week high of $60.64 in Wednesday's session. The stock was heavily sold into, however, finishing 4.3% higher on the day at $58.31. The year-to-date performance of Cabot is a gain of 54%. 4) Forest Laboratories (NYSE: FRX): Shares of Forest Laboratories hit a 52-week high of $37.12 in...

United Parcel Service, Inc. (UPS) recently delivered its 7 consecutive positive earnings surprises on solid revenue growth and a relatively high degree of operating leverage. Management raised its guidance for 2011 following strong Q1 results. This prompted analysts to raise their estimates, sending the stock to a Zacks #2 Rank (Buy). Brown has also been steadily raising its dividend over the last decade thanks to strong free cash flow generation. It currently yields 3.0%. First Quarter Results UPS reported first quarter earnings per share of 88 cents, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 85 cents. It was a 24% increase over the same quarter in 2010. Revenue for the quarter was up 7% to $12.58 billion as the company delivered 957 million packages. International Package revenue rose 10% to $2.90 billion. Meanwhile, adjusted operating profit jumped 21% year-over-year as the company leveraged its fixed expenses. Outlook Management raised its guidance for 2011 following strong Q1 results. The company expects to earn between $4.15 and $4.40 per share this...

Some of the stocks that may grab investor focus today are: Wall Street expects National Semiconductor Corporation (NYSE: NSM) to report its FQ4 EPS at $0.27 on revenue of $365.14 million. NSM shares dropped 0.08% to $24.57 in after-hours trading. Men's Wearhouse Inc (NYSE: MW) reported a two-fold rise in its fiscal first-quarter profit. The company's profit surged to $27.4 million, or $0.52 per share, from $13.5 million, or $0.26 per share, in the year-ago quarter. Its sales climbed 23% to $580.4 million. However, analysts were expecting earnings of $0.49 per share on revenue of $577.28 million. Men's Wearhouse projects FY11 earnings between $2.04 and $2.12 per share, excluding charges. MW shares surged 1.23% to $30.48 in the after-hours trading session. Analysts expect J.M. Smucker Company (The) (NYSE: SJM) to report its FQ4 EPS at $0.99 on revenue of $1.17 billion. SJM shares declined 1.82% to close at $76.39 yesterday. Pall Corp (NYSE: PLL) reported its fiscal third-quarter profit at $71.1 million, or $0.60...

Enzon Pharma's (ENZN) first quarter 2011 net loss of $0.07 per share was narrower than the year-ago loss of $0.20 due to substantial cost cutting by management. The discontinuation of the development of PEG-SN38 for mCRC was a major blow to Enzon, leaving it with just one clinical program in mid-stage development and all other programs in early stages of development. Moreover, royalties from the sales of PegIntron, comprising a substantial part of revenues, have been declining. Recent FDA approval of Incivek and Victrelis can pose strong competition to PegIntron, which could further decline royalties from PegIntron sales. We have, therefore, downgraded our rating on the stock from Neutral to Underperform. At the end of the first quarter, P/B multiple of the stock was approximately 2.1. Our price target of $9.50 corresponds to a P/B multiple of approximately 1.9.

Some of the stocks that may grab investor focus today are: Wall Street expects Navistar International Corporation (NYSE: NAV) to report its Q2 EPS at $1.17 on revenue of $3.30 billion. NAV shares gained 0.08% to $62.92 in after-hours trading. Temple-Inland Inc (NYSE: TIN) rejected a $3.3 billion unsolicited takeover bid from International Paper Co (NYSE: IP). IP said it would pay $30.60 per share for all the outstanding shares of Temple-Inland, representing a 46% premium to Temple-Inland's closing stock price on Monday. TIN shares jumped 41.55% to $29.74 in after-hours trading, while IP shares climbed 3.88% to $30.80 in the after-hours trading session. Pep Boys - Manny, Moe & Jack (NYSE: PBY) reported downbeat first-quarter results. Pep Boys reported its quarterly net income at $12.4 million, or $0.23 per share, versus $12 million, or $0.23 per share, in the year-ago period. Its sales increased 0.7% to $513.5 million. Its comparable store sales dropped 0.6%. However, analysts were expecting earnings of $0.30 per...