The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Procter & Gamble, Kellogg, Diamond Foods, Colgate and Unilever

News provided by

Feb 27, 2012, 09:30 ET

CHICAGO, Feb. 27, 2012 /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 Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE: PG), Kellogg Company (NYSE: K), Diamond Foods (Nasdaq: DMND), Colgate Company (NYSE: CL) and Unilever (NYSE: UL).

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101027/ZIRLOGO)

Get the most recent insight from Zacks Equity Research with the free Profit from the Pros newsletter: http://at.zacks.com/?id=5513

Here are highlights from Friday's Analyst Blog:

5700 P&G Jobs on the Chopping Block

The world's leading consumer product maker, Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE: PG) has announced that it will slash over 4,000 non-manufacturing jobs during the current fiscal year. This declaration follows the already planned 1,600 job losses, which was announced by the company at the beginning of February 2012.

P&G anticipates that by trimming down 5, 700 jobs, it will save up to $10 billion of cost, including $1 billion in marketing costs and $3 billion in overhead costs, by the end of the fiscal year ending in June 2016.

Out of its 129,000 employees, the company employs about 57,000 people as non-manufacturing staff. The job cuts announced makes almost 10% of this workforce. The process of retrenchment is scheduled to be completed by the end of the fiscal year ending June 2013. Most of the jobs would be eliminated through a voluntary early-retirement program.

P&G has not been able to please its investors lately because of delivering a disappointing second quarter 2012, with net earnings from continuing operations sliding 49.0% year over year to 57 cents per share. The results were also 47.22% below the analyst estimates. Profits were restricted on account of charges associated with the Appliances and Salon Professional businesses.

Last week, P&G finally managed to shed its Pringles potato chip business by striking a $2.7 billion deal with Kellogg Company (NYSE: K) after its earlier plan fell apart when Diamond Foods (Nasdaq: DMND), the original buyer, became embroiled in some accounting problems.

To accommodate the new sale out, the company also lowered its forecasts for the third-quarter 2012 net earnings from continuing operations and core earnings to be in the range of 89-95 cents per share compared to 91-97 cents per share, announced previously. However the analysts' expected the third-quarter earnings to be around $1.05 per share.

The decision to retrench comes at a time when uncertain economy and high level of unemployment in the U.S. have induced the customers to spend cautiously. This gave rise to low sales in the U.S. and Europe. Moreover, high costs have brought the margins down.

P&G had to reverse some price rises, which were meant to help it to cope with higher materials costs after competitors did not follow suit and it twice delayed the launch of new Tide Pod detergent capsules because it could not match demand with its supplies.

However, the increasingly competitive emerging markets with the presence of stiff rivals like Colgate Company (NYSE: CL) and Unilever (NYSE: UL) has enabled P&G to bolster its presence in these promising areas. Although the company is cutting ranks in the U.S., P&G is hiring people in China where business is growing mid-double digits.

P&G has also announced plans to add around 20 manufacturing plants between 2010 and 2015 in countries like Brazil, China, South Africa, Romania and Poland. However, the company has no plans to open any plants in the U.S.

Currently P&G holds a Zacks #4 Rank (short-term Sell rating). On a long-term basis, we maintain a Neutral recommendation on the stock.

Want more from Zacks Equity Research? Subscribe to the free Profit from the Pros newsletter: http://at.zacks.com/?id=5515.

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: http://at.zacks.com/?id=5517

About Zacks

Zacks.com is a property of Zacks Investment Research, Inc., which was formed in 1978 by Leon Zacks. As a PhD from MIT Len knew he could find patterns in stock market data that would lead to superior investment results. Amongst his many accomplishments was the formation of his proprietary stock picking system; the Zacks Rank, which 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 at http://at.zacks.com/?id=5518.

Visit http://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.

Join us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Zacks-Investment-Research/57553657748?ref=ts

Disclaimer: Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investors should always research companies and securities before making any investments. Nothing herein should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any security.

Media Contact
Zacks Investment Research
800-767-3771 ext. 9339
[email protected]
http://www.zacks.com

SOURCE Zacks Investment Research, Inc.