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Ford (F)

Ford Anticipates Completion of Volvo Sale

Ford Motor Company confirmed Wednesday today that all substantive commercial terms relating to the potential sale of Volvo Car Corporation have been settled between Ford and Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Company Limited. As a result, the Ford and Geely anticipate that a definitive sale agreement will be signed in the first quarter of 2010, with closing of the sale likely to occur in the second quarter 2010, subject to appropriate regulatory approvals.

Dec 23 · 11:05:00 AM · Source: Company News Release
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by Larry Etter

Papa John's (PZZA)

Papa John’s outlines 2010 guidance

Papa John’s International Inc. said it expects 2010 to remain tough for the third-largest pizza brand, with same-store sales expected to range from an increase of 1 percent to a decrease of 1 percent.
“The consumer environment is expected to continue to be very challenging, with the unemployment rate and consumer confidence seen as key indicators for the restaurant industry,” the company said in a statement Monday.

Dec 22 · 3:08:00 PM · Source: Restaurant News
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by Rich Pike

Steak N Shake (SNS)

Steak n Shake 1-for-20 reverse stock split

The Steak n Shake Co. became the restaurant industry’s most expensive stock listing on Monday after the company completed a 1-for-20 reverse stock split that left shares closing at $293.00 each.
The company’s reverse split was undertaken to attract “knowledgeable, long-term owners,” said Steak n Shake’s CEO, Sardar Bilgari. Steak n Shake, which posted last week a fourth-quarter jump in sales and profit, is in the process of reorganizing its operations into that of a holding company, and has agreed to acquire another restaurant company, Western Sizzlin’ Co., which also is helmed by Biglari.

Dec 22 · 2:52:00 PM · Source: Restaurant News
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by Rich Pike

Amazon (AMZN)

UBS Raises Amazon Price Target to $160

UBS raised their price target for Amazon.com from $140 to $160.
UBS maintains its Buy rating for Amazon. UBS has raised its EPS estimates for 2009 and 2010 from $1.91 to $1.92 and from $2.82 to $2.93, respectively.

Dec 18 · 1:53:00 PM · Source: Benzinga
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by Rich Pike

Best Buy (BBY)

Best Buy Profits Up; Margin Squeeze in Offing

Best Buy said Tuesday that its third-quarter net income increased to $227 million, or 53 cents a share, up from $52 million, or 13 cents, earned in the same period a year earlier. That prior period had a 22-cent charge. Third quarter sales increased 5% to $12.02 billion from $11.5 billion. Sales at locations open at least 14 months, a key industry-performance benchmark, rose 1.7%.
Margins, however, are under pressure as sales of low-cost laptops and lower priced flat panel TVs are dominating Best Buy sales.

Dec 15 · 10:13:00 AM · Source: Company News
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by Larry Etter

McDonald's (MCD)

McDonald's To Launch Dollar Breakfast Menu

CNN.com is reporting that McDonald's will start offering breakfast for a buck with the launch of a national dollar menu in January. The breakfast dollar menu will be backed with advertising across the U.S., and will feature five items: two sausage sandwiches, a sausage burrito, a 12-ounce coffee and a hash brown. The menu may feature some variations based on markets.
The concern here is that McDonald's margins are going to get squeezed. Their strategy seems to be to try to maintain market share and traffic in this tough environment.

Dec 11 · 1:05:00 PM · Source: CNN.com
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by Rich Pike

McDonald's (MCD)

McDonald's Same-Store Sales Decline

McDonald's reported that sales at restaurants open at least a year fell 0.6 percent in the U.S. It was the second consecutive monthly decline for the measure, an important indicator of a restaurant chain's health, and a steeper fall than October's 0.1 percent. This is only the fourth U.S. decrease in 6 1/2 years.
Many analysts believe the high unemployment rate is negatively impacting sales for McDonald's, as well as other fast food chains. Expect continued weak results until unemployment recedes.

Dec 8 · 8:39:00 PM · Source: Yahoo Finance
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by Rich Pike

Comcast (CMCSA)

GE Ceding NBC Control to Comcast

Comcast, the largest U.S. cable company, and General Electric Thursday said they have signed a definitive agreement to form a joint venture that will be 51 percent owned by Comcast, 49 percent owned by GE and be managed by Comcast. The joint venture will consist of the NBC Universal (NBCU) businesses and Comcast's cable networks, regional sports networks and certain digital properties and certain unconsolidated investments.,
The companies said the venture will be well positioned to compete in "an increasingly dynamic and competitive media and digital environment."

Dec 3 · 12:02:00 PM · Source: Company News
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by Larry Etter

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