The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: E*TRADE Financial, General Electric, Discover Financial Services, American Express and Capital One Financial
CHICAGO, Nov. 19, 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 E*TRADE Financial Corporation (Nasdaq:ETFC---Free Report), General Electric Company (NYSE:GE---Free Report), Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS---Free Report), American Express Company (NYSE:AXP---Free Report) and Capital One Financial Corp. (NYSE:COF---Free Report).
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101027/ZIRLOGO)
Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Get #1Stock of the Day pick for free.
Here are highlights from Monday's Analyst Blog:
E*TRADE Upgraded to Outperform
On Nov 13, 2013, we upgraded our long-term recommendation on E*TRADE Financial Corporation (Nasdaq:ETFC---Free Report) to Outperform from Neutral based on strong third-quarter 2013 earnings. Decrease in expenses reflects the company's successful cost reduction initiatives. Further, E*TRADE's decision to focus on core operations and exit the market making business is expected to improve profitability.
Why Outperform?
Though earnings per share of 16 cents were in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate, it improved significantly from the net loss of 10 cents reported in the prior-year quarter. A rise in total daily average revenue trades (DARTs) and prudent expense management were the positives for the quarter. Moreover, decrease in provisions and a strong capital position were the tailwinds. However, reduced revenues remain a matter of concern.
Though volatility in equity markets has affected the level of DARTs over the past few years, the recent rebound in equity markets has been favorable for the company. Notably, DARTs for the nine months ended Sep 30, 2013 nudged up 5% year over year to 147,777. Moreover, the company's aggressive focus on loss mitigation strategies such as short sales, loan modifications and transfers to better servicers are expected to enhance DARTs in the coming months.
We also commend the company's efforts to ease its balance sheet risk by reducing credit risk in its loan portfolios. Further, cost reduction initiatives undertaken by the company are expected to be profitable in the future.
Following impressive third-quarter 2013 results, the Zacks Consensus Estimate over the last 30 days for 2013 increased 6.3% to 68 cents. For 2014, the Zacks Consensus Estimate rose 7.7% to 84 cents per share, over the same time frame.
GE Plans Finance Arm Spin-Off to Cut Credit Risks
In its concerted effort to reduce credit risks, General Electric Company (NYSE:GE---Free Report) is planning to shrink its finance business by 2015 through the divesture of its North American consumer lending unit. The strategic move is arguably the biggest step in restructuring GE Capital's portfolio to shield the parent company from intense market volatilities that plagued the market during the 2008-09 financial crisis.
The Spin-Off
The North American consumer lending business includes credit cards to retail giants like Wal-Mart Stores and J. C. Penney Company. General Electric will sell 20% of this business through an IPO in 2014. The remaining shares of the unit will be distributed to the shareholders of the parent company in a tax-free transaction.
Post-recession, General Electric has been steadily dismantling its real estate and home loans to strengthen the balance sheet of GE Capital. Ending net investment or ENI (excluding cash and cash equivalents) for GE Capital, a measure of its balance sheet, dropped to $384.6 billion at the end of third quarter 2013 from $556 billion in 2008. With the divesture, General Electric anticipates to reduce it further to around $300 billion.
The new entity will operate as a standalone company valued at about $16 billion to $18 billion, competing with other players in the industry such as Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS---Free Report), American Express Company (NYSE:AXP---Free Report) and Capital One Financial Corp. (NYSE:COF---Free Report). The divesture is expected to reduce the total outstanding shares of the company to approximately 9 billion to 9.5 billion from 10.12 billion at present.
Strategic Shift in Balance
With the spin-off, General Electric intends to focus more on its industrial business and expects operating profit to aggregate 65% of the total operating earnings of the company by 2015. The company also expects to record a profit of approximately $1 billion from the divesture of its retail fiancé business.
The gradual rebalancing of GE Capital's debt portfolio has further reduced credit-default swaps tied to debt to 69.9 bps – the lowest level since Jan 2008. As credit-default swaps typically decline with an improvement in investor confidence, it signifies that GE Capital is more creditworthy to derivative traders at present than it was before. This further offers a lucrative option to exit the market on a high.
Moving Forward
The spin-off will realign the corporate strategy of the company to a manufacturing-based entity with emphasis on big-ticket items such as medical equipment and scanners.
General Electric is one of the largest and the most diversified technology and financial services corporations in the world. With products and services ranging from aircraft engines, power generation, water processing, and security technology to medical imaging, business and consumer financing, media content, and industrial products, the company serves over 100 million customers worldwide. Its segments include Power & Water, Oil & Gas, Energy Management, Aviation, Healthcare, Transportation, Home & Business Solutions, and GE Capital.
General Electric currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Get #1Stock of the Day pick for free.
About Zacks Equity Research
Zacks Equity Research provides the best of quantitative and qualitative analysis to help investors know what stocks to buy and which to sell for the long-term.
Continuous coverage is provided for a universe of 1,150 publicly traded stocks. Our analysts are organized by industry which gives them keen insights to developments that affect company profits and stock performance. Recommendations and target prices are six-month time horizons.
Zacks "Profit from the Pros" e-mail newsletter provides highlights of the latest analysis from Zacks Equity Research. Subscribe to this free newsletter today.
About Zacks
Zacks.com is a property of Zacks Investment Research, Inc., which was formed in 1978. The later formation of the Zacks Rank, a proprietary stock picking system; continues to outperform the market by nearly a 3 to 1 margin. The best way to unlock the profitable stock recommendations and market insights of Zacks Investment Research is through our free daily email newsletter; Profit from the Pros. In short, it's your steady flow of Profitable ideas GUARANTEED to be worth your time! Register for your free subscription to Profit from the Pros.
Get the full Report on ETFC - FREE
Get the full Report on GE - FREE
Get the full Report on DFS - FREE
Get the full Report on AXP - FREE
Get the full Report on COF - FREE
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/zacksresearch
Join us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Zacks-Investment-Research/57553657748?ref=ts
Zacks Investment Research is under common control with affiliated entities (including a broker-dealer and an investment adviser), which may engage in transactions involving the foregoing securities for the clients of such affiliates.
Media Contact
Zacks Investment Research
800-767-3771 ext. 9339
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit http://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.
SOURCE Zacks Investment Research, Inc.
Share this article