Noble reported solid third-quarter results. Total revenue increased slightly to $1.08 billion from $1.02 billion in the prior quarter, thanks mainly to the commencement of operations for two new ultra-deep-water rigs. The company also benefited from lower operational downtime, which fell to 4.6% from 5.2% in the prior quarter, essentially flat operating costs, and fewer…
Nokia’s second-quarter earnings report had a couple of bright spots but was mostly concerning as the firm’s mobile phone business continues to languish. The favorable view of Nokia’s pending acquisition of the remainder of its Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) joint venture is mostly offset by a rapidly deteriorating basic phone market and only modest Windows…
After reviewing Yahoo’s YHOO second-quarter results, the firm’s turnaround has yet to materialize and surprising weakness in Yahoo’s display market is cause for concern. Still, given our expectations and the fact that Yahoo’s balance sheet assets and investments in Yahoo Japan and Alibaba Group represent the bulk of the company’s enterprise value, we are sticking…
Mattel MAT continues to adapt to children’s demands, innovating new products tailored to changing tastes. With a number of new franchises coming on line in 2013 (including Ever After High and Max Steel), the company will maintain the wide brand recognition it has captured over numerous decades, keeping its narrow rating intact. While second-quarter results…
Smith & Nephew SNN posted first-quarter results that were largely consistent with our expectations, and we are standing behind our fair value estimate of $58 per share. As we had suspected, the growth of reconstructive products slowed considerably as Smith & Nephew’s new product cycle is waning just as competitors are launching new products. Nonetheless,…
Abbott Laboratories ABT reported solid second-quarter performance that underscored the strength of its presence in emerging markets, where robust growth continues. While second-quarter results have not spurred a change in projections for the rest of this year or 2014, we may see $40 per share, which was primarily driven by a lower cost of equity…
