Zacks Bull and Bear of the Day Highlights: United Rentals, Life Time Fitness, Colgate-Palmolive, Nordstrom and Coca-Cola
CHICAGO, March 12, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Zacks Equity Research highlights United Rentals (NYSE:URI) as the Bull of the Day and Life Time Fitness (NYSE:LTM) as the Bear of the Day. In addition, Zacks Equity Research provides analysis on Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE:CL), Nordstrom Inc. (NYSE:JWN) and The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO).
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Full analysis of all these stocks is available at http://at.zacks.com/?id=2678.
Here is a synopsis of all five stocks:
United Rentals (NYSE:URI) has provided customers with heavy equipment and benefited from the broader uncertainty in the market. As a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), it is the Bull of the Day.
As financial markets began worrying about a potential sequester in September, construction companies decided to put a hold on purchases of new equipment. The thought process was that management did not know what the full impact of new taxes and less government spending would do to their clients and large scale commitments were deferred to shorter term rental opportunities. That ushered in a boom period for United Rentals.
United Rentals operates as an equipment rental company. It offers approximately 3,300 classes of equipment for rent to customers comprising construction and industrial companies, manufacturers, utilities, municipalities, homeowners, and government entities. The company's fleet of rental equipment includes general construction and industrial equipment, aerial work platforms and light equipment.
Life Time Fitness (NYSE:LTM) pre-announced a bad quarter and gave a weak outlook for 2013 sending the stock from 52 week highs to 52 week lows. The pain might not be over yet as this Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) is the Bear of the Day.
The most recent quarter excluded $0.07 per share due to the effects of Super Storm Sandy. The company faced a street estimate of $0.66 but guided estimates to between $0.60-$0.63, and also took down guidance for 2013.
Life Time Fitness operates sports and athletic, professional fitness, family recreation, and spa centers. As of February 28, 2013, it operated 105 centers under the LIFE TIME FITNESS and LIFE TIME ATHLETIC brands in the United States and Canada. Life Time Fitness, Inc. was founded in 1990 and is headquartered in Chanhassen, Minnesota.
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Colgate Boosts Investor Confidence
Driven by strong positive outlook, the global consumer products manufacturer, Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE:CL) is going for a two-for-one stock split of its common shares. Also, the company has increased its quarterly cash dividend effective from the second quarter of fiscal 2013.
The company will distribute the additional shares relating to the split on May 15 this year to the shareholders of record date as of Apr 23, 2013. This will bring Colgate's total shares outstanding to 936 million from the current level of 468 million of a par value of $1.00 per share. Though splitting shares has no real impact on the company's performances or share prices, but it makes the shares affordable to small investors.
Concurrently, Colgate announced its decision to raise the quarterly dividend by 6 cents on a pre-split basis to 68 cents per share. This translates into a 10% hike from the prior dividend. The increased dividend will be paid on May 15, 2013 to stockholders of record as of Apr 23. Prior to this announcement, this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock had been paying a quarterly dividend of 62 cents per share.
The strength of Colgate's business model is reflected in its strong cash generation capabilities and its commitment to return value to the shareholders. We believe that continued dividend hikes will increase investors' confidence.
Colgate's strong balance sheet and cash flows provide financial flexibility to the company for taking shareholder-friendly moves, R&D investments and global business expansions. During fiscal 2012, it shelled out $1,277 million on cash dividends. Cash and cash equivalents stood at $884 million at the end of the fiscal, while Colgate generated $3,196 million of cash from operational activities. We remain encouraged by Colgate's strong cash position and its ability to service long-term debts.
Other companies that recently increased dividend include Nordstrom Inc. (NYSE:JWN), by 11% to 30 cents, and The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) by 10% to 28 cents.
Get the full analysis of all these stocks by going to http://at.zacks.com/?id=2649.
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