Packaged Foods & Meats

Costco Wholesale Corp (NASDAQ: COST) reported a 5.9% rise in its fiscal third-quarter net profit on Wednesday. Costco reported its quarterly net profit at $324 million, or $0.73 per share, up from $306 million, or $0.68 per share, in the year-earlier period. Its revenue surged 16% to $20.19 billion...

J.P. Morgan is lowering its FY12 EPS estimate for Sanderson Farms, Inc. (NASDAQ: SAFM) to $0.03 from $1.95 versus the Street's $3.04. “Though we fully expect chicken supply cuts to come, we wonder whether, in the near term, they will be deep enough to drive earnings as high as believed,” J.P....

Morgan Stanley is maintaining its Underweight rating on Sanderson Farms, Inc. (NASDAQ: SAFM) while providing a few comments on the stock. “The company remains unhedged past July, and at current corn and soybean meal futures prices, we estimate that pricing must increase 8.3% in F2012 for Sanderson...

Deutsche Bank commented on Sanderson Farms (NASDAQ: SAFM) in a report released yesterday. In the report, Deutsche Bank was mixed in its assessment of the company. Deutsche Bank writes, "Chicken fundamentals remain weak, with typical seasonal bump postEaster/ahead of Mother's Day not occuring....

Goldman Sachs commented on Campbell Soup (NYSE: CPB) in a report released yesterday. In the report, Goldman was negative in its assessment of the company. Goldman writes, "We are raising our FY11 estimate to $2.45, from $2.40, to reflect the 3QFY11 beat. Our FY12 estimate, however, falls to $2.25...

Hormel (NYSE: HRL) CEO says, "open to acquisitions to continue growth... Hormel has raised some prices to offset inflation."

Pre-open movers US stock futures are lower this morning, as investors are awaiting durable-goods data. Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 23 points to 12,304.00 and futures on the S&P 500 stock index fell 2.80 points to 1,310.80. Nasdaq 100 futures declined 3 points to 2,298.75...

Hormel Foods Corp (NYSE: HRL) reported a 41% rise in its fiscal second-quarter net profit and raised its projections on Wednesday. Hormel reported its quarterly net profit at $109.6 million, or $0.40 per share, up from $77.9 million, or $0.29 per share, in the year-earlier period. Its sales...

Bank of America has upgraded Diamond Foods (NASDAQ: DMND) from Neutral to Buy and has raised the price objective from $63 to $85.

Goldman Sachs has raised the price target on Campbell Soup Company (NYSE: CPB) from $31 to $32 and maintains its Sell rating.

Goldman Sachs has raised the price target on Sanderson Farms (NASDAQ: SAFM) to $48 and maintains its Neutral rating.

US stock futures are slightly lower this morning, as investors are awaiting durable-goods data. Shares of Applied Materials Inc (NASDAQ: AMAT) dropped in pre-market trading after the company issued a disappointing forecast. Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 14 points to 12,313.00...

Polo Ralph Lauren Corp (NYSE: RL) is expected to post its Q4 earnings at $0.79 per share on revenue of $1.39 billion. Hormel Foods Corp (NYSE: HRL) is estimated to report its Q2 earnings at $0.40 per share on revenue of $1.82 billion. Netapp Inc (NASDAQ: NTAP) is estimated to post its Q4 EPS at...

Some of the stocks that may grab investor focus today are: Wall Street expects Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ: COST) to report its Q3 EPS at $0.77 on revenue of $20.07 billion. Costco shares fell 0.21% to $81.18 in after-hours trading. Applied Materials Inc (NASDAQ: AMAT) reported upbeat...

Take a look at the following chart showing the price of coffee since January 2008.The price of coffee is up 11.7% year to date, up 23.8% over the last twelve months, and up 80.6% since January 2001. Demand is increasing from China and coffee crops were not as strong in various parts of the world,...