The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: JetBlue Airways, Embraer, American Airlines Group, Southwest Airlines and Royal Dutch Shell
CHICAGO, March 11, 2014 /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 JetBlue Airways Corp. (Nasdaq:JBLU-Free Report), Embraer SA (NYSE:ERJ-Free Report), American Airlines Group Inc. (Nasdaq:AAL-Free Report), Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE:LUV-Free Report) and Royal Dutch Shell plc (NYSE:RDS.A-Free Report).
Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Get #1Stock of the Day pick for free.
Here are highlights from Monday's Analyst Blog:
JetBlue to Boost Ops at Reagan National
Close on the heels of winning bids to purchase take-off and landing slots at Reagan National Airport (DCA) in Washington, DC, JetBlue Airways Corp. (Nasdaq:JBLU-Free Report) announced plans to expand its operations from the airport. Apart from expanding JetBlue's reach, the new low fare services from DCA will strengthen the carrier's operations in the capital city.
The New York based carrier plans to add two daily flights to Charleston, Hartford and once daily to Nassau from DCA, starting Jun 19, 2014. Further, JetBlue will add another daily service from DCA to Tampa, FL. The carrier will use a 100-seater Embraer SA (NYSE:ERJ-Free Report) E190 for the service.
In January, JetBlue won 40 new take-off and landing slots at DCA, including the 16 that it leased from American Airlines. The slot purchase is part of the mega merger between American Airlines and U.S. Airways Group Inc. – to form American Airlines Group Inc. (Nasdaq:AAL-Free Report) – which required the carriers to give up 52 take-off and landing slots at DCA and 17 pairs at New York's LaGuardia Airport.
The company plans to add 24 daily round trip departures from DCA to eight cities in 2014. JetBlue also plans to add Orlando, Fort Lauderdale and Boston within the domestic market apart from extending its service to San Juan, Puerto Rico, thus bringing the total departures from DCA to 30.
However, the attractiveness lies in the company's introductory fares. JetBlue's one-way fares of below $100 in the above-mentioned domestic destinations are pocket friendly. The low fare tickets will be available for summer travel between June and Jul 2014 subject to receipt of government's operating approval.
JetBlue is complying with the Department of Justice (DOJ), which had earlier argued that the opening up of American Airlines and U.S. Airways slots to rival carriers will enhance accessibility at some of the busiest airports and simultaneously heighten competition.
We believe that the 42 million population of Washington will benefit the most from JetBlue's expanded coverage and reduced average fares.
JetBlue carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Another stock worth considering within this sector is Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE:LUV-Free Report), which carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).
Oil Leakage at Shell Texas Pipeline
Europe oil major, Royal Dutch Shell plc (NYSE:RDS.A-Free Report) reported the loss of roughly 364 barrels of crude oil from its Houston-to-Houma (Ho-Ho) pipeline in southeast Texas. The puncture in the pipeline was accidently caused by the working construction crew. Shell, however, stated that it is not certain about when the pipeline will be online again.
Shell declared that it shut the pipeline immediately and took adequate preventive measures. The pipeline transports crude oil from Port Neches, Texas to Houma, Louisiana at a rate of 360,000-barrel-per-day (bpd).
U.K.-based Shell is the largest oil company in Europe. Moreover, the company has operations all over the world and is involved in various activities related to oil and natural gas, chemicals, power generation, renewable energy resources and other energy related businesses.
Shell's high exploration costs along with lower oil and gas output during the fourth quarter 2013 are matters of concern. Moreover, the company's relatively high downstream exposure leaves it less diversified than its integrated peers.
As such, the group's results are highly dependent on refining/marketing margins. Shell's downstream operations were impacted by lower refining profits (particularly in Asia and Europe), together with weak marketing and trading contributions.
Shell currently holds a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell), implying that it is expected to underperform the broader U.S. equity market over the next one to three months.
Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Get #1Stock of the Day pick for free.
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