Consumer Staples

Shares of Honda Motor Co (NYSE: HMC) fell about 0.6% after the company projects a 63.5% drop in its profit for the current fiscal year. Honda expects a profit of 195 billion yen ($2.4 billion) for the current fiscal year, down from 534 billion yen in the last fiscal year. However, analysts expected...

Jefferies provided color on Safeway (NYSE: SWY) after a meeting with the company's management. In a research report published today, Jefferies stressed it believes the company has made a number of good investments in recent times, but it will still take some time for them to make a full impact on...

According to Goldman Sachs, PepsiCo (NYSE: PEP) management announced today at the Beverage Digest (an industry trade publication) conference that the company will be launching Pepsi Next (60% lower calorie cola) in two test markets in July. Goldman Sachs said that management believes that this...

According to Morgan Keegan, Casey's General Stores (NASDAQ: CASY) Q4 earnings exceeded expectations. Morgan Keegan said that the EPS of $0.60 significantly exceeded the Street estimate of $0.50 and its $0.42 estimate. “We reiterate our Outperform rating with shares trading at 7.0x our NTM EBITDA...

Citi is lowering its estimates but maintains its Hold rating and $23 price target on Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) in advance of the company's 1Q11 results, to be released Thursday. According to Citi, “We are lowering our 1Q11 EPS estimate for KR to $0.64, down from $0.67 prev. and vs. $0.58 LY. Our...

Goldman Sachs is maintaining its Buy rating and its $74 price target on Philip Morris International (NYSE: PM) in spite of minor price cuts taking place in Spain. Says Goldman Sachs, in the report, “Imperial Tobacco issued a profit warning today in response to the recent price cuts in Spain....

Bank of America is maintaining its Neutral rating and its $43 price target on Casey's General Stores Inc. (NASDAQ: CASY) in light of the company's strong F4Q11. According to Bank of America, “Casey's reported F4Q11 EPS of $0.60 vs. our $0.52 estimate which was 2c above the Consensus. Total sales...

In conjunction with remarks today at the Deutsche Bank Global Consumer Conference in Paris, France, General Mills (NYSE: GIS) reaffirmed its sales and earnings targets for the fiscal year that ended May 29, 2011. The company reiterated fiscal 2011 earnings per share guidance of $2.46 to $2.48...

The following stocks hit new 52-week highs in Monday's trading session: 1) Greif (NYSE: GEF): Shares of Greif hit a 52-week high of $67.36 in Monday's trading session. The stock closed at $67.04. The year-to-date performance of Greif has been a gain of 9%. 2) Raptor Pharmaceutical (NASDAQ: RPTP...

General Mills Inc (NYSE: GIS) affirmed its sales and earnings forecast for fiscal 2011. General Mills projects adjusted earnings of $2.46 to $2.48 per share. versus analysts' estimates of $2.48 per share for the year. The company plans to report its results on June 29. GIS shares gained 1.41% to...

Agilysys Inc (NASDAQ: AGYS) is projected to post a Q4 loss at $0.27 per share on revenue of $158.78 million. FactSet Research Systems Inc (NYSE: FDS) is estimated to post its Q3 earnings at $0.92 per share on revenue of $183.10 million. Capstone Turbine Corp (NASDAQ: CPST) is expected to post a...

Alico, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALCO) announced today the hiring of Mark Humphrey as Chief Financial Officer, effective June 20, 2011. Mr. Humphrey will be responsible for all corporate finance, treasury and accounting functions for Alico, Inc. and its subsidiaries. Mr. Humphrey most recently was the Chief...

Shares of Casey's General Stores (NASDAQ: CASY) are bid higher in the after-hours trade following the release of its Q4 earnings results. Currently, shares are bid $41.20, at $41.70; they closed the regular session higher by 1.33%, at $41.03. Casey's General Stores reported Q4 EPS of $0.60 on...

Rumors are circulating that Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) is going to come out with a competing product to Sodastream's (NASDAQ: SODA) home soda maker. This initially sent SODA shares down more than 6%, but they have bounced back to down just 3% amid heavy volume and volatility. The stock is currently...

Shares of Sanderson Farms (NASDAQ: SAFM) are trading around 4% higher during Monday's session. The stock is currently trading at $42.28. SAFM shares have lost a little more than 9% over the last 3 months. The stock trades at a trailing P/E of 29.40 and a forward P/E of 14.76. The median Wall Street...