Research Roundup: Citigroup Out of ICU. Citigroup (C) has been on a roll this week, sparked off on Tuesday by CreditSights‘ upgrading of the company's stock and debt to Overweight. As TheStreet.com reports, CreditSights termed Citi's stock a "screaming bargain" and declared Citigroup "back from the brink and back in business.". CreditSights' comments were followed by a bullish interview of Vikram Pandit in the Financial Times : … the Citi chief claims to have the formula that could take the company from last year's $8bn loss to, if you follow his maths, as much as $20bn in earnings from its core business by 2012. 
Share:  Research Roundup: <span class="company">Citigroup</span> Out of ICU. <span class="company">Citigroup</span> (C) has been on a roll this week, sparked off on Tuesday by CreditSights‘ upgrading of the company's stock and debt to Overweight. As TheStreet.com reports, CreditSights termed Citi's stock a "screaming bargain" and declared <span class="company">Citigroup</span> "back from the brink and back in business.". CreditSights' comments were followed by a bullish interview of Vikram Pandit in the Financial Times : … the Citi chief claims to have the formula that could take the company from last year's $8bn loss to, if you follow his maths, as much as $20bn in earnings from its core business by 2012. Tweet this 

There are some notable exceptions to the negative rating outlook among regional banks including U. S. Bancorp (USB), PNC Financial Services (PNC) and New York Community Bank (NYB). These three banks carry stable rating outlooks owing to better than average asset quality and a comparatively healthier financial outlook. Generally, the regional banks are more susceptible to further downgrades than the larger institutions, given their concentration in traditional lending activities and greater exposure to commercial real estate (CRE) losses. 
Share:  There are some notable exceptions to the negative rating outlook among regional banks including U. S. Bancorp (<span class="company">USB</span>), PNC Financial Services (PNC) and New York Community Bank (NYB). These three banks carry stable rating outlooks owing to better than average asset quality and a comparatively healthier financial outlook. Generally, the regional banks are more susceptible to further downgrades than the larger institutions, given their concentration in traditional lending activities and greater exposure to commercial real estate (CRE) losses. Tweet this 

In our last roundup of analyst comments at Alacra Pulse on , Netflix (NFLX) had just been downgraded by Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Susquehanna Financial and Kaufman Bros. Now Cannaccord Adams has initiated coverage with a buy rating and a price target of $85. ". We remain confident that the company can benefit from aggressive new subscriber adds due to the digital transition as the majority of new web enabled CE devices come with Netflix preloaded. 
Share:  In our last roundup of analyst comments at Alacra Pulse on , Netflix (<span class="company">NFLX</span>) had just been downgraded by Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Susquehanna Financial and Kaufman Bros. Now Cannaccord Adams has initiated coverage with a buy rating and a price target of $85. ". We remain confident that the company can benefit from aggressive new subscriber adds due to the digital transition as the majority of new web enabled CE devices come with Netflix preloaded. Tweet this 

Noted bank analyst Dick Bove today lowered his price target for Goldman Sachs , due to expected lower first quarter trading activity. Standard & Poor's believes securities related businesses at big banks will continue to perform well in 2010, albeit below the highly robust levels of early 2009. We are pleased to offer a complimentary download of S&P's Industry Report Card on the topic. 
Share:  Noted bank analyst Dick Bove today lowered his price target for <span class="company">Goldman Sachs</span> , due to expected lower first quarter trading activity. Standard & Poor's believes securities related businesses at big banks will continue to perform well in 2010, albeit below the highly robust levels of early 2009. We are pleased to offer a complimentary download of S&P's Industry Report Card on the topic. Tweet this 

As European telecoms companies face the prospect of more cost cutting as their margins get squeezed, we are pleased to offer a complimentary download of  Wright Investors' Service's analysis of BT Group (BT.A) . Selected highlights: On the £21.39 billion in sales reported by the company in 2009, the cost of services sold totalled £9.10 billion, or 42.5% of sales (i.e., the gross profit was 57.5% of sales). This gross profit margin is very slightly better than the company achieved in 2008, when cost of services sold totalled 42.8% of sales. 
Share:  As European telecoms companies face the prospect of more cost cutting as their margins get squeezed, we are pleased to offer a complimentary download of  Wright Investors' Service's analysis of <span class="company">BT Group</span> (BT.A) . Selected highlights: On the £21.39 billion in sales reported by the company in 2009, the cost of services sold totalled £9.10 billion, or 42.5% of sales (i.e., the gross profit was 57.5% of sales). This gross profit margin is very slightly better than the company achieved in 2008, when cost of services sold totalled 42.8% of sales. Tweet this 

Is there anybody not invested in Blockbuster (BBI) in one way or another who thinks the company's long term survival strategy is going to work? . Announcing a $435 million quarterly loss the company said that "stores remain a key component of our multi channel offering,"  while simultaneously announcing that it closed  374 company owned domestic stores in 2009, and expects 500 or more closures this year. Through the Company's alliance with NCR (NCR) BBI says it will add an additional 7,000 Blockbuster Express kiosks and expect to have at least 10,000 by 2010 year end and will expand its video by mail and digital offerings. 
Share:  Is there anybody not invested in Blockbuster (<span class="company">BBI</span>) in one way or another who thinks the company's long term survival strategy is going to work? . Announcing a $435 million quarterly loss the company said that "stores remain a key component of our multi channel offering,"  while simultaneously announcing that it closed  374 company owned domestic stores in 2009, and expects 500 or more closures this year. Through the Company's alliance with NCR (NCR) <span class="company">BBI</span> says it will add an additional 7,000 Blockbuster Express kiosks and expect to have at least 10,000 by 2010 year end and will expand its video by mail and digital offerings. Tweet this 

Zacks has initiated coverage of AIG (AIG) with a "Neutral" recommendation and a price target of $29.50 after the company has recovered from its 52 week low of $7 to $28. We are pleased to offer a complimentary download of Zacks' full analysis from the Alacra Store. Selected excerpts: We are initiating coverage on AIG with a Neutral recommendation. 
Share:  Zacks has initiated coverage of <span class="company">AIG</span> (<span class="company">AIG</span>) with a "Neutral" recommendation and a price target of $29.50 after the company has recovered from its 52 week low of $7 to $28. We are pleased to offer a complimentary download of Zacks' full analysis from the Alacra Store. Selected excerpts: We are initiating coverage on <span class="company">AIG</span> with a Neutral recommendation. Tweet this 

Unexpectedly strong quarterly results from Home Depot (HD) and Lowe's, (LOW) along with improved profits at Sears, Target and Macy's give cause for optimism that the US economy continues to dig its way out of the recession. "We think what you are seeing in the numbers from Home Depot and Lowe's is spend by those people in their homes feeling more confident from when median home values troughed in ," said Brian Sozzi, an analyst at Wall Street Securities ( Financial Times) "We are not off to the races where people are tearing down the walls in their kitchen again, but at the margin people are starting to invest in their homes again," Chris Horvers , an analyst at JPMorgan Chase & Co in New York, said today in a Bloomberg Television interview 
Share:  <span class="sent">Unexpectedly strong quarterly results from Home Depot (<span class="company">HD</span>) and Lowe's, (LOW) along with improved profits at Sears, Target and Macy's give cause for optimism that the US economy continues to dig its way out of the recession. </span> "We think what you are seeing in the numbers from Home Depot and Lowe's is spend by those people in their homes feeling more confident from when median home values troughed in ," said Brian Sozzi, an analyst at Wall Street Securities ( Financial Times) "We are not off to the races where people are tearing down the walls in their kitchen again, but at the margin people are starting to invest in their homes again," Chris Horvers , an analyst at JPMorgan Chase & Co in New York, said today in a Bloomberg Television interview Tweet this 

Unexpectedly strong quarterly results from Home Depot (HD) and Lowe's, (LOW) along with improved profits at Sears, Target and Macy's give cause for optimism that the US economy continues to dig its way out of the recession. "We think what you are seeing in the numbers from Home Depot and Lowe's is spend by those people in their homes feeling more confident from when median home values troughed in ," said Brian Sozzi, an analyst at Wall Street Securities ( Financial Times) "We are not off to the races where people are tearing down the walls in their kitchen again, but at the margin people are starting to invest in their homes again," Chris Horvers , an analyst at JPMorgan Chase & Co in New York, said today in a Bloomberg Television interview 
Share:  <span class="sent">Unexpectedly strong quarterly results from Home Depot (HD) and Lowe's, (<span class="company">LOW</span>) along with improved profits at Sears, Target and Macy's give cause for optimism that the US economy continues to dig its way out of the recession. </span> "We think what you are seeing in the numbers from Home Depot and Lowe's is spend by those people in their homes feeling more confident from when median home values troughed in ," said Brian Sozzi, an analyst at Wall Street Securities ( Financial Times) "We are not off to the races where people are tearing down the walls in their kitchen again, but at the margin people are starting to invest in their homes again," Chris Horvers , an analyst at JPMorgan Chase & Co in New York, said today in a Bloomberg Television interview Tweet this 

Wal Mart's (WMT) purchase of video streaming startup Vudu should further shake up the turbulent video rental market. We wrote last week about the challenges facing the physical DVD rental market, after Redbox's settlement with Warner Bros 24/7 Wall Street's John Ogg believes that Redbox owner "Coinstar Inc (CSTR) is perhaps the targeted loser here Its shares have dropped over 2% to $2900 in mid afternoon trading 
Share:  <span class="sent">Wal Mart's (<span class="company">WMT</span>) purchase of video streaming startup Vudu should further shake up the turbulent video rental market. We wrote last week about the challenges facing the physical DVD rental market, after Redbox's settlement with Warner Bros 24/7 Wall Street's John Ogg believes that Redbox owner "Coinstar Inc (CSTR) is perhaps the targeted loser here</span> Its shares have dropped over 2% to $2900 in mid afternoon trading Tweet this