Company News for May 20, 2010 - Corporate Summary

• Staples SPLS reported first quarter results one cent better than expected, rising to 28 cents up from 22 cents a year ago on inline revenues of $6.06 billion. The company offered full year guidance of $1.25-$1.33, with consensus views $1.33

• Sears Holdings SHLD bested estimates by 2 cents, as first quarter earnings of 16 cents improved from 15 cents a year earlier. Revenues of $10.05 billion fell shy of Street estimates at $10.22

• Williams Sonoma WSM, reported estimate-topping earnings of 23 cents, which bested consensus projections of 12 cents and reversed last year's 14 cent loss. Revenues of $718 million were also improved from average expectations of $675 million. Full year guidance of $1.39-$1.48 also bested Street projections of $1.33

• KBW upgraded Wells Fargo WFC to "outperform" from "market perform," with a price target of $36

• Cowan downgraded Research in Motion RIMM to "underperform" from "neutral."

• Goldman Sachs GS removed Alpha Natural Resources ANR from its Conviction Buy List, but maintained a "buy" on the shares

• Symantec SYMC agreed to buy VeriSign's VRSN technology for securing internet payments in a deal valued at $1.28 billion.

• Deutsche Bank DB upgraded VeriSign shares, with the price target raised to $35 from $25