Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Volkswagen AG, Ford Motor, General Motors, Toyota Motor and Peabody Energy Corporation

CHICAGO, March 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Zacks.com Analyst Blog features: Volkswagen AG (OTC: VLKAY), Ford Motor (NYSE: F), General Motors (NYSE: GM), Toyota Motor (NYSE: TM) and Peabody Energy Corporation (NYSE: BTU).

(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=4579

Here are highlights from Monday's Analyst Blog:

Volkswagen: The Year's Champion

Europe's auto giant, Volkswagen AG (OTC: VLKAY), struck a chord by proving to be the world's most profitable automaker in 2010 based on its surging sales in China. For the year, the manufacturer of Audi, Skoda and Lamborghini brands, posted a sevenfold increase in profit to Euro 6.84 billion ($9.42 billion), beating the major automakers such as Ford Motor (NYSE: F), General Motors (NYSE: GM) and Toyota Motor (NYSE: TM) in the earnings race.

In the year, Ford revealed a profit of $7.58 billion (before special items) while GM depicted a profit of $4.9 billion (excluding the net charges related to the purchase of U.S. Treasury preferred shares). Meanwhile, Toyota expects to post a profit of 490 billion yen ($6 billion) for the fiscal year ending March 31.

Revenues in the year appreciated 21% to Euro 126.8 billion ($174.6 billion) on deliveries of 7.2 million units of cars and sport-utility vehicles. Sales in China, the company's biggest market, surged 37% to 1.92 million units based on strong demand for Lavida sedan and Golf hatchback. Earnings before interest and taxes increased by a robust Euro 5.29 billion to Euro 7.14 billion from Euro 1.85 billion a year ago.

Volkswagen is banking on global expansion to strengthen its market position. The expansion plan is primarily focused on China, where the company owns nine plants. The automaker plans to add two plants and double production capacity to 3 million cars annually in the country. Out of the Euro 51.6 billion investment to be made globally, about Euro 10.6 billion will be diverted to China through 2015.

This apart, the automaker plans to manufacture over 100,000 cars annually in Russia with OAO GAZ, owned by billionaire Oleg Deripaska. It already operates a manufacturing and assembly plant in Kaluga.

The automaker is also on the verge of completing a merger with Germany-based high performance vehicle maker, Porsche SE. The merger, which was supposed to be concluded in the second half of the year, has been delayed until 2012 due to legal issues related to share-price manipulation allegations against Porsche.

Volkswagen, a Zacks #2 Rank (Buy) stock, has targeted to surpass the world's largest carmaker, Toyota, both in terms of sales and profitability by 2018 based on the strength in the emerging markets, including Brazil, Russia, India and China. The company anticipates its deliveries to grow by 5% percent in 2011.

Peabody Improves Asian Exports

St. Louis-based Peabody Energy Corporation (NYSE: BTU) has signed an agreement with Indonesia's PT Cahaya Energi Mandiri (CEM) to source 2 million tons of coal to improve exports. Indonesia is the world's largest supplier of seaborne thermal coal.

Peabody said that the coal secured from PT CEM's East Kalimantan mine over two years will be exported to Asian countries. Peabody will conduct the Asian exports through its international trading hub in Singapore, COALTRADE. The company said that its relationship with PT CEM can be expanded over time.

Peabody said this is the third agreement it has reached recently to source Indonesian coal, including a deal inked in December with PT Supra Bara Energi in Indonesia. These deals together total 5.5 million tons of Indonesian coal.

Peabody notes that its leading coal trading and brokerage platform continues to expand to serve high-growth Asia-Pacific markets. The company said it will continue to increase its coal sourcing in Indonesia going forward.

In 2011, seaborne coal demand is projected to exceed 1 billion tons, with the Asia Pacific region comprising the vast majority of demand growth.  Peabody serves customers in more than 25 countries on six continents and has trading and business offices in Indonesia, Singapore, China, Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Want more from Zacks Equity Research? Subscribe to the free Profit from the Pros newsletter: http://at.zacks.com/?id=5514.

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=5516

About Zacks

Zacks.com is a property of Zacks Investment Research, Inc., which was formed in 1978 by Leonard Zacks. As a PhD in mathematics 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=4580.

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

Follow us on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/ZacksResearch

Join us on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/ZacksInvestmentResearch

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.

SOURCE Zacks Investment Research, Inc.