Health & Fitness
Health and Fitness
Health and Fitness
Mon, February 9, 2009 Zacks Bull & Bear of the Day Highlights: Biogen Idec, CEMEX, Ford, Tata Motors and Carmike Cinemas
CHICAGO--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--Zacks Equity Research picks Biogen Idec (Nasdaq: BIIB) as Bull of the Day and CEMEX, S.A. de C.V. (NYSE: CX) as Bear of the Day. In addition, the analysts at Zacks Equity Research discuss the latest on Ford Motor Company (NYSE: [ F ]), Tata Motors (NYSE: [ TTM ]) and Carmike Cinemas, Inc. (Nasdaq: [ CKEC ]).
Full analysis of all these stocks is available at: [ http://at.zacks.com/?id=2678 ]
Bull of the Day
Biogen Idec (Nasdaq: BIIB) posted solid results in the fourth quarter of 2008, despite the slowdown in Tysabri sales due to fears of PML. We think the Biogen core business will remain strong over the next several quarters, and that Tysabri prescriptions will resume their previous pace shortly.
In the meantime, the name is significant under-valued and would be a very attractive takeout candidate for a large-cap pharmaceutical company looking for a great phase III pipeline. We expect 2009 to be an eventful year on the pipeline front.
As investors become more comfortable with both Tysabri trends and emerging pipeline, we believe shares will recover back into the low $60's. At today's price, the name is too attractive to ignore.
Bear of the Day
We are keeping our Sell rating on CEMEX, S.A. de C.V. (NYSE: CX). The company posted weak results in the fourth quarter of 2008 including a net loss of US$707 million. The continued weak cement volumes in Spain and U.S. are problematic.
The short-term outlook for the company remains highly uncertain based on the downtrend in the residential, industrial/commercial, and the infrastructure sectors as well as due to the fall in the real estate prices throughout the world.
However, all efforts to reduce its costs and net debt in 2009 are very encouraging. Nevertheless, the current credit crunch and the recession in the U.S. are matters of huge concern.
Recent Analysis from the Analyst Blog
Volvo – Made In…China?
Ford Motor Company (NYSE: [ F ]) is very close to selling Volvo in an effort to generate enough cash to stay away from the bailout trough in Washington. The potential buyer would be Geely Automobile Holdings, which is a Chinese company. Ford would take a loss and get less than the $6.4 billion that it paid for it in 1999.
Geely, a maker of $6,000 compacts in Asia, is seeking to grow in the US and Europe. They wanted to buy the company a year ago, and were rebuffed by Ford. As Ford became more desperate last December, talks were rekindled. Geely has received all Chinese government approvals already. The Export-Import bank of China will finance the acquisition.
Sales for Volvo have been down over 60%, and Volvo lost $736 million pre-tax in last year's fourth quarter alone. This is a continuation of a retreat from the luxury market. Ford had previously sold Land Rover and Jaguar to India's Tata Motors (NYSE: [ TTM ]) last June.
Carmike Cinemas Viewed a Sell
Headquartered in Columbus, Georgia, Carmike Cinemas, Inc. (Nasdaq: [ CKEC ]) is the fourth-largest motion picture exhibitor in the United States. At September 30, 2008, the company owned, operated, or held an interest in 250 theatres with 2,276 screens located in 36 states.
We maintain our Sell rating on shares of Carmike Cinemas. Given the difficulties currently present in the company's operating environment, along with Carmike's own challenging financial situation, we do not expect material share price appreciation from current levels. Although the company has had success with recent ticket price increases, the gains have not been sufficient to offset declining attendance.
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About the Bull and Bear of the Day
Every day, the analysts at Zacks Equity Research select two stocks that are likely to outperform (Bull) or underperform (Bear) the markets over the next 3-6 months.
About the Analyst Blog
Updated throughout every trading day, the Analyst Blog provides analysis from Zacks Equity Research about the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets.
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