If you are hitting Costco Wholesale (COST) for your Monday Night Football party or Thanksgiving celebration, you won't be able to get those cases of Diet Coke. The warehouse-style retailer, which operates more than 550 locations, is no longer carrying Coca-Cola (KO) products in its U.S. stores. That means no Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, or Dasani water, among other products.

Evidently, the retailer and the beverage giant are embroiled in a pricing dispute. A statement on the Costco website indicated that "Coca-Cola has not provided Costco with competitive pricing so that we may pass along the value our members deserve."

Continue reading Costco Wholesale stops carrying Coke

Costco Wholesale stops carrying Coke originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Coca-Cola Company (KO) is in a very orderly advance, and its recent pullback gives a good opportunity to position yourself in this blue chip stock.

Note the turning fast-line of the stochastic, which should give a buy signal shortly.

Continue reading Trade #2: Coca-Cola (KO)

Trade #2: Coca-Cola (KO) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

From TheStreet.com Network

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• Denbury to Acquire Encore

Continue reading Cramer on BloggingStocks: Assigning blame after Friday's market plunge

Cramer on BloggingStocks: Assigning blame after Friday's market plunge originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Here are some highlights from last week's earnings coverage from BloggingStocks:

• Altria Group Inc. (NYSE: MO) Q3 earnings beat by a penny but sales fell short of expectations; shares fell.
• AMR Corp. (NYSE: AMR) reported a Q3 net loss and plunging revenue but also raised $4 billion in cash.
• BB&T Corp. (NYSE: BBT) topped Q3 earnings expectations but said bad-loan provisions nearly doubled.
• Boeing Co. (NYSE: BA) missed estimates and posted a Q3 loss due to delays for a couple of jet products.
• Capital One Financial Corp. (NYSE: COF) shares rose after it reported better-than-expected Q3 numbers.
• Coca-Cola Co. (NYSE: KO) posted a better-than-expected Q3 profit but sales fell short, and shares fell.

Continue reading Earnings highlights: Boeing, Coca-Cola, eBay, Microsoft, Pfizer, UAL, Yahoo! ...

Earnings highlights: Boeing, Coca-Cola, eBay, Microsoft, Pfizer, UAL, Yahoo! ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 24 Oct 2009 09:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Coca-Cola: Pull-back is an opportunity to take a position

Coca-Cola: Pull-back is an opportunity to take a position originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Soft drink giant Coca-Cola Co. (NYSE: KO) reported its third quarter numbers this morning, and managed to beat out analyst estimates, but shares are still selling off in early morning trading.

The reason why the market is punishing the stock is because its revenues were softer than analysts had been expecting to see. For the quarter, revenues came in at $8.04 billion, which was shy of the $8.11 billion that Wall Street was expecting to see from the company.

Continue reading Coca-Cola (KO) beats earnings estimates, but revenues fall short

Coca-Cola (KO) beats earnings estimates, but revenues fall short originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Stocks set for a mild open amidst a flood of earnings originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 07:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Coca-Cola third quarter earnings preview

Coca-Cola third quarter earnings preview originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Since the stock market bottomed in March of this year, it has been firing on all cylinders -- except for those in the auto industry who manufacture the most cylinders of course. This year has not been kind to them.

For months, many have been surprised at the rapid rise, given the level of unemployment. During this same period, Wall Streeters have been dancing up and down, looking forward to more bonuses.

As the number of unemployed has climbed and the period of same has lengthened, many have wondered how business could be improving during a time when the consumer (those still left) has transformed from spender to saver.

Continue reading Sunday Funnies: Market rising in spite of high unemployment

Sunday Funnies: Market rising in spite of high unemployment originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 18 Oct 2009 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Here are some highlights from last week's earnings coverage from BloggingStocks:

• Alcoa Inc. (NYSE: AA) reported a surprise Q3 profit due to cost cutting; revenue topped estimates as well.
• Avis Budget Group Inc. (NYSE: CAR) said a proposed offering of $250 million in notes could reduce earnings.
• Clorox Co. (NYSE: CLX) earnings prospects garnered it an upgrade from one analyst.
• Coca-Cola Co. (NYSE: KO) earnings prospects resulted in an upgrade from one analyst.
• Costco Wholesale Corp. (NASDAQ: COST) lower Q4 earnings topped analysts' expectations, lifting shares.
• Family Dollar Stores Inc. (NYSE: FDO) higher Q4 earnings beat analysts' estimates but sales were just OK.

Continue reading Earnings highlights: Alcoa, Costco, Family Dollar, Marriott, PepsiCo, Yum! Brands ...

Earnings highlights: Alcoa, Costco, Family Dollar, Marriott, PepsiCo, Yum! Brands ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 10 Oct 2009 12:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Net revenue decreased 1.5%. Earnings per share on an adjusted basis increased 2% to $1.08. This bottom-line result is representative of a nice beat against the analysts. They were projecting $1.02 per share for profit, according to Elizabeth Harrow's preview of the quarter.

Continue reading PepsiCo increases adjusted profit, beats the analysts in Q3

PepsiCo increases adjusted profit, beats the analysts in Q3 originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Muhtar Kent, CEO of The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO), took to the pages of The Wall Street Journal to argue against the government's proposed "fat tax" on soda. In a column titled "Coke Didn't Make America Fat," Kent noted that "our industry has become an easy target in this debate." However, he believes the sedentary lifestyle of Americans is to blame for our nation's obesity problem.

"If we're genuinely interested in curbing obesity, we need to take a hard look in the mirror and acknowledge that it's not just about calories in. It's also about calories out," wrote Kent. He also cited the "regressive nature and inherent illogic" of trying to rectify obesity by taxing soft drinks, observing that West Virginia and Arkansas -- two states which currently tax sodas -- are among the states with the highest obesity rates in the nation.

Continue reading Coca-Cola CEO speaks out against soda tax in WSJ

Coca-Cola CEO speaks out against soda tax in WSJ originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst upgrades:

• Deutsche Bank upgraded Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) to Buy from Hold on expectations that stable volumes and a better outlook for currency and commodities will lead to higher earnings visibility. The firm raised its price target on shares to $62 from $52.
• FBR Capital upgraded Goodrich (NYSE: GR) to Outperform from Market Perform as it finds the stock's valuation compelling following the recent pullback. The firm raised its target on shares to $65 from $46.
• William Blair upgraded Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) to Outperform from Market Perform after channel checks indicated demand is accelerating as the firm finds the stock's valuation compelling at current levels.
• Robbins & Myers (NYSE: RBN) was upgraded to Outperform from Neutral at Baird.
• Disney (NYSE: DIS) and Viacom B (NYSE: VIA.B) were upgraded to Neutral from Underperform at BofA/Merrill, while News Corp. (NASDAQ: NWS) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: ANN, DIS, CSCO, KO, NWS, PETM, ULTA ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: ANN, DIS, CSCO, KO, NWS, PETM, ULTA ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst upgrades:

• FBR Capital upgraded U.S. Bancorp (NYSE: USB) and New York Community Bancorp (NYSE: NYB) to Market Perform from Underperform to reflect a new valuation framework. The firm raised its target on U.S. Bancorp to $21 from $14 and on New York Community Bancorp to $10 from $9.
• Stephens upgraded Insulet (NASDAQ: PODD) to Overweight from Equal Weight to reflect the company's top-line growth prospects and reasonable expectations. The firm raised its target on shares to $14 from $8.
• Baird upgraded Athenahealth (NASDAQ: ATHN) to Outperform from Neutral and raised its target to $46 from $37 based on expectations for revenue and gross margin expansion, and relative valuation.
• Broadcom (NASDAQ: BRCM) was upgraded to Overweight from Equal Weight at Barclays.
• Phillips-Van Heusen (NYSE: PVH) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at BofA/Merrill.
• Reliant Energy (NYSE: RRI) was upgraded to Conviction Buy from Neutral at Goldman.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: AZN, HPQ, KO, MA, SCHW, USB ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: AZN, HPQ, KO, MA, SCHW, USB ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 29 Sep 2009 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) closed at $51.51. KO over all option implied volatility of 22 is below its 52-week high of 69 from October 2008 and near low of 18 from August 25 according to IVolatility, suggesting decreasing price movement.

NASDAQ 100 - QQQQ overall implied volatility at 23; 26-week average is 30.

Financial Select Sector - XLF overall volatility at 40; 26-week average is 51.

Options Update: Coca-Cola volatility low; shares near one-year high originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 14 Sep 2009 09:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Closing Bell: The bull takes a tiny break (KO, FSLR, FDX, BHI, PCS)

Closing Bell: The bull takes a tiny break (KO, FSLR, FDX, BHI, PCS) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 11 Sep 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Besides raising money, what would be the justification behind such a governmental strategy? Well, excess sugar consumption can be dangerous. It can lead to all kinds of complications. You know the drill: obesity, diabetes, etc. When health issues like those rise, the cost of health care increases as well.

Continue reading Please don't tax Coke!

Please don't tax Coke! originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Topsy-Turvy market? Three stocks that should help you sleep well at night

Topsy-Turvy market? Three stocks that should help you sleep well at night originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Brown-Forman (NYSE: BF.B), the maker of alcohol products such as Jack Daniel's and Southern Comfort, is drunk on success today. The B shares of the company were up well over 8% at the time of this writing in afternoon trading, on good volume. The first-quarter earnings served as the catalyst.

Net sales unfortunately decreased 7%, but earnings per share on an adjusted basis (taking into account a charge in the year-ago period) expanded by 17% to 81 cents. According to Earnings.com, that number came in way ahead of estimates of 62 cents per share.

Continue reading Brown-Forman intoxicated on its Q1 results

Brown-Forman intoxicated on its Q1 results originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 02 Sep 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"While companies have been cutting dividends at an historic pace over the last 24 months, the fact is that there are still quality companies with long histories of paying dividends that represent good long-term investments," says Chuck Carlson, a specialist in companies offering dividend reinvestment plans.

In his top-notch The DRIP Investor he says, "The seven stocks featured here have each been paying a dividend for over 100 years, have raised their dividend annually for at least the last quarter century and offer direct-purchase plans.

Continue reading Seven dividend elites: 100 years of dividends

Seven dividend elites: 100 years of dividends originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 02 Sep 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.