DETROIT — Honda is aiming to recapture its leadership in the minivan segment with an new version of its Odyssey that was revealed Monday at the North American International Auto Show here.
Stuffed with new technology and features, the sportier 2018 Odyssey includes a new “Magic Slide” second-row seat that makes it easier to reconfigure the seats for child seats, and provides easy access to the third row or for two passengers.
The minivan also has a new camera and a display screen to help parents keep an eye on their kids in back rows and talk to them, new audio touchscreen and a new rear entertainment system with streaming video.
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The new design, features and technology are aimed at helping Honda fend off increasingly tough competition from the new Chrysler Pacifica miivan as well as popular midsize SUVs and crossovers that are also designed to serve families.
good companies to buy stock: Media General, Inc.(MEG)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By Monica Gerson]
Media General Inc (NYSE: MEG) is estimated to report its quarterly earnings at $0.04 per share on revenue of $340.17 million.
National Health Investors Inc (NYSE: NHI) is expected to post its quarterly earnings at $1.17 per share on revenue of $57.82 million.
good companies to buy stock: American Superconductor Corporation(AMSC)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By Lisa Levin] Gainers
Marathon Patent Group Inc (NASDAQ: MARA) shares surged 30.2 percent to $5.01 after dropping 40.86 percent on Tuesday. Marathon Patent Group filed for sale of 1.85 million shares of common stock by selling stockholders.
Capricor Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ: CAPR) shares jumped 17.2 percent to $2.25 after the company reported the FDA clearance of Investigational New Drug application for CAP-1002.
Rite Aid Corporation (NYSE: RAD) gained 13.2 percent to $2.15 following 16.5 percent rally on Tuesday.
Photronics, Inc. (NASDAQ: PLAB) shares climbed 11.8 percent to $10.45 after the company reported stronger-than-expected earnings for its fourth quarter.
China Distance Education Hldgs Ltd (ADR) (NYSE: DL) shares surged 11.3 percent to $8.67. China Distance Education reported Q4 profit of $5.9 million on revenue of $41.7 million.
Cytokinetics, Inc. (NASDAQ: CYTK) shares gained 11 percent to $8.05 after falling 7.05 percent on Tuesday.
Ooma Inc (NYSE: OOMA) shares surged 8.5 percent to $10.85 as the company posted strong Q3 results.
Nuance Communications Inc. (NASDAQ: NUAN) climbed 8 percent to $17.12 after the company reported stronger-than-expected results for its fourth quarter on Tuesday.
American Superconductor Corporation (NASDAQ: AMSC) surged 7.8 percent to $3.59 after the company reported $8 million in D-VAR system orders.
Thermon Group Holdings Inc (NYSE: THR) rose 6.3 percent to $24.17. William Blair upgraded Thermon Group from Market Perform to Outperform.
Domino's Pizza, Inc. (NYSE: DPZ) surged 6.1 percent to $182.88. Nomura upgraded Domino's from Neutral to Buy.
Xencor Inc (NASDAQ: XNCR) rose 5.9 percent to $21.17. Cantor Fitzgerald initiated coverage on Xencor with an Overweight rating.
Idera Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ: IDRA) gained 5.1 percent to $2.28 after the company disclosed that it has been granted FDA Fast Track designation for IMO-2125.
Regal Entertainment Group (NYSE: RGC) gained 5.1 percent to
good companies to buy stock: Wendy’s/Arby’s Group Inc.(WEN)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By Michael Flannelly]
KeyBanc analysts upgraded fast food restaurant operator The Wendy’s Co (WEN) on Friday, noting that the company has a number of positive developments that could provide a floor for the stock.
The analysts upgraded WEN from “Underweight” to “Hold.”
KeyBanc analyst Christopher O’Cull said, “We are raising our rating for The Wendy’s Company to HOLD as we believe: 1) Wendy’s SRS performance will diverge from the industry for the foreseeable future as new products are supported by more effective use of marketing dollars; 2) better menu and promotional management will lead to improved franchisee profitability (a focus of the new CFO Todd Penegor); and 3) the opportunity to extend the re-franchising program will provide a floor on the stock.”
Wendy’s shares were up 7 cents, or 0.81%, during pre-market trading on Friday. The stock is up 57.01% year-to-date.
- [By Monica Gerson]
Analysts expect Wendys Co (NASDAQ: WEN) to report its quarterly earnings at $0.06 per share on revenue of $352.08 million. Wendys shares rose 1.79 percent to $11.38 in after-hours trading.
- [By Michael Flannelly]
Argus Research upgraded fast food restaurant operator The Wendy’s Co (WEN) on Thursday, noting that the company’s store remodeling and new menus should help drive higher sales.
The analysts upgraded WEN from “Hold” to “Buy” and see shares reaching $10. This price target suggests a 21% upside to the stock’s Wednesday closing price of $8.25.
Wendy’s shares were up 24 cents, or 2.91%, during early morning trading on Thursday. The stock is up 54.19% year-to-date.
- [By Stark Merrifield]
Bill Ackman: Fifty-year-old Ackmans career began in 1992 when he and fellow Harvard graduate David P. Berkowtiz founded the investment firm Gotham Partners. The firms high-profile bid for Rockefeller Center in New York caused investors to flock to the firm, growing it to $500 million in assets. Then in 2004, with $54 million in personal funding, Ackman started Pershing Square Capital Management. Through Pershing, Ackman bought significant shares in companies like Wendys Co. (Nasdaq: WEN), Target Corp. (NYSE: TGT), Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. (NYSE: CMG), and Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc. (NYSE: VRX). Today, Ackman is worth $1.4 billion and is No. 256 on the Forbes 400.
- [By Monica Gerson]
Wendys Co (NASDAQ: WEN) is expected to report its quarterly earnings at $0.06 per share on revenue of $352.08 million.
Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: CSIQ) is estimated to report its quarterly earnings at $0.14 per share on revenue of $663.74 million.
- [By Jim Jubak, Senior Markets Editor, MoneyShow.com]
It’s hard for any company to raise prices in the current non-inflationary environment. But it’s especially hard right now for operators of fast food restaurants, given the intense price competition in a very crowded marketplace. McDonald’s sales growth in recent quarters has been driven by the success of its Dollar Menu, so raising prices in that segment are a big deal for the company. In addition, pushback from franchisees who say they can’t afford to refurbish their stores, given higher charges from McDonald’s hits at one of McDonald’s key advantages in its market—it’s ability to refresh stores more frequently than competitors. A McDonald’s refresh at $600,000 on average, according to the company, costs substantially more than a remodel at Burger King (BKW) at $300,000 or Wendy’s (WEN) at $375,000 for the least expensive version. McDonald’s restaurants average $2.5 million in annual sales.
good companies to buy stock: CNH Industrial N.V.(CNHI)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By Ben Levisohn]
I wrote bullishly about Deere (DE) back in December, and since then the stock has done…not much, gaining 4.8% to the S&P 500′s 4.1% rise. So I’ve tried to stay on top of the stock, both the bullish calls and the bearish ones–and today, I have another bear to add to the list. That would be JPMorgan’s Ann Duignan, who reiterated her Underweight rating on Deere today, as well as CNH Industrial (CNHI) and Agco (AGCO). She explains why:
