CHICAGO, Nov. 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include the L Brands, Inc. (NYSE:LTD-Free Report), Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE:BBY-Free Report), Hanesbrands Inc. (NYSE:HBI-Free Report), Five Below, Inc. (Nasdaq:FIVE-Free Report) and Royal Dutch Shell plc (NYSE:RDS.A-Free Report).
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Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Get #1Stock of the Day pick for free.
Here are highlights from Thursday's Analyst Blog:
Will L Brands (LTD) Disappoint This Earnings Season?
L Brands, Inc. (NYSE:LTD-Free Report), the specialty retailer of women's intimate and other apparel, beauty and personal care products, is set to report third-quarter fiscal 2013 results on Nov 20, 2013. Last quarter, it posted a positive surprise of 1.7%. Let us see how things are shaping up for this announcement.
Growth Factors in the Quarter
Earnings Whispers? Earnings ESP Zacks ESP:ESP for L Brands is 0.00%. This is because both the Most Accurate Estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate stand at 28 cents.
Zacks #3 Rank (Hold): L Brands' Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) lowers the predictive power of ESP because this Zacks Rank when combined with a 0.00% ESP makes surprise prediction difficult. We caution against stocks with Zacks Rank #4 and 5 (Sell-rated stocks) going into an earnings announcement, especially when the company is witnessing negative estimate revisions momentum.
Other Stocks to Consider
- Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE:BBY-Free Report) with Earnings ESP of 9.1% and Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy)
- Hanesbrands Inc. (NYSE:HBI-Free Report) with Earnings ESP of 1.11% and Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy)
- Five Below, Inc. (Nasdaq:FIVE-Free Report) with Earnings ESP of 25.00% and Zacks Rank #2 (Buy)
Shell Plans $11B Petrochem Unit in Iraq
Royal Dutch Shell plc (NYSE:RDS.A-Free Report) is closing in on a deal with the Iraqi government to set up a major petrochemical facility in the southern part of the country.
The $11 billion ethane-cracking facility – entitled Nebras – would produce ethylene, which is used in making plastic.
Both the parties are expected to sign a Heads of Agreement within a few weeks. Per Shell management, the company had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) last Apr for a technical and economic feasibility study to realize the full potential of the petrochemical project.
Shell already has a strong foothold in Iraq and is helping the government to exploit its resources. It is developing the giant Majnoon oil field, near Basra that came online last month and is currently producing around 200,000 barrels per day. Also, last year, the company had inked a $17.2 billion deal to collect gas from Iraq's southern oil field, helping the country to utilize the produce for its domestic energy requirements.
Shell's worldwide operations involve various activities related to oil and natural gas, chemicals, power generation, renewable energy resources, and other energy related businesses.
In terms of assets, Royal Dutch Shell owns a strong and diversified portfolio of global energy businesses that offer attractive growth opportunities.
However, Royal Dutch Shell's relatively heavy downstream exposure leaves it less diversified than its integrated peers. As such, the group's results remain greatly exposed to refining/marketing margins.
Royal Dutch Shell currently retains a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), implying that it is expected to perform in line with the broader U.S. equity market over the next 1 to 3 months.
Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Get #1Stock of the Day pick for free.
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