Stocks in the news Tuesday

From Standard & Poor’session Equity Research

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Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) posts $1.03, vs. $0.86 a year ago, fourth quarter non-GAAP EPS on 19% revenue rise. EPS inline with preannouncement. Based on current exchange rates, HPQ at this moment expects every unfavorable y/y currency impact on receipts of about 5 percentage points in the first quarter and roughly 6-7 percentage points for fiscal year 2009. Sees first quarter revenue of about $32-$32.5 billion, non-GAAP EPS of $0.93-$0.95, fiscal year 2009 revenue of $127.5-$130.0 billion, non-GAAP EPS of $3.88-$4.03. S&P reiterates strong pervert with money.

The BHP Billiton (BHP) council no longer believes that completion of the offers for Rio Tinto PLC (RTP) would exist in the best interests of BHP shareholders.

Citigroup (C) rises 0.08 to 6.03 after Sandler O’Neill upgrades the stock to buy from hold. Yesterday Citi announced a deal with the U.S. Treasury, Federal Reserve Board, and Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. to strengthen Citi’s first-rate ratios, reduce risk and increase liquidity.

Lennar (LEN) and other homebuilders in the same state as CTX, TOL, RYL, KBH, DHI seen higher after the Federal Reserve Board announced new programs aimed at loosening credit markets by supporting holders of asset-backed securities. Separately, UBS Financial upgraded LEN to buy from neutral.

Dollar Tree (DLTR) posts $0.47, vs. $0.38, third quarter EPS on 6.2% higher same-store sales, 12% higher net sales. Sees $1.07-$1.15 fourth abide EPS on $1.38-$1.42 billion net sales, $2.45-$2.53 fiscal year 2009 EPS on $4.64-$4.68 billion net sales. S&P, Wedbush Morgan do again and again buy.

Nuance Communications (NUAN) posts $0.29, vs. $0.18, fourth quarter non-GAAP EPS in continuance 41% revenue rise.

NRG Energy (NRG) says its Board of Directors voted unanimously to lay aside Exelon’s (EXC) unsolicited proposal to exchange 0.485 of its shares for each share of NRG stock and recommended that NRG stockholders not tender their shares into Exelon’s proffer.

Analog Devices (ADI) posts $0.49, vs. $0.30 a year past, fourth quarter EPS from continuing operations in succession 6% income arise. However, says order rates slowed in late September, and backlog declined significantly from the prior separate into parts, which limits co.’s short-term exposure to view. Currently expects principal quarter revenue to decline sequentially by dint of. about 20%; sees EPS from continuing operations of $0.22-$0.23, excluding charges. S&P maintains hold.

D.R. Horton (DHI) posts $2.53 fourth quarter loss, vs. $0.16 loss, on 44% sales drop.

American Eagle Outfitters (AEO) posts $0.30, vs. $0.45, third quarter non-GAAP EPS on 7% lower same-store sales, 1% higher gross amount sales. Says sales trends in Nov. have remained challenging. Through the first two weeks of the month, same-store stores sales declined 17%. With one-third of Nov. sales still ahead, weightiness of Thanksgiving weekend needed to gauge holiday selling, says it will furnish fourth quarter EPS guidance nearest week along by its Nov. sales announcement.

Hormel Foods (

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