Leading research and advisory firm TowerGroup today issued the following commentary about private label store gift cards, whose popularity is plummeting. The reduction in card spending is reflective of a weakened economy, decreased holiday sales and less confidence in retailer inventories and stability. TowerGroup expects store gift card spending volume to fall by 7%, with a modest increase of 3% in general purpose cards in 2009. 
Share:  <span class="sent">Leading research and advisory firm <span class="company">TowerGroup</span> today issued the following commentary about private label store gift cards, whose popularity is plummeting. </span> The reduction in card spending is reflective of a weakened economy, decreased holiday sales and less confidence in retailer inventories and stability. <span class="company">TowerGroup</span> expects store gift card spending volume to fall by 7%, with a modest increase of 3% in general purpose cards in 2009. Tweet this 

, Analysts at Deutsche Bank Securities upgrade Corporate Executive Board (EXBD) from "sell" to "hold."  
Share:  <span class="sent">, Analysts at <span class="analyst">Deutsche Bank Securities</span> upgrade Corporate Executive Board (<span class="company">EXBD</span>) from "sell" to "hold." </span> Tweet this 

Deutsche analyst says, "Due to significantly lower costs than expected, we are upgrading EXBD to a Hold.  
Share:  <span class="sent"><span class="analyst">Deutsche</span> analyst says, "Due to significantly lower costs than expected, we are upgrading EXBD to a Hold. </span> Tweet this 

NEW YORK — William Blair & Co upgraded consultancy Corporate Executive Board Co to its highest rating Tuesday, saying corporate spending on consulting services will improve next year. "We are increasingly hearing from professional services companies that while demand has not yet improved much yet, the tone of conversations with their clients is becoming more positive and its feels as though the trough in demand was probably reached this summer," wrote analyst Timothy McHugh in a note to investors. He said that a visit to Corporate Executive's headquarters had reassured him that internal management problems wouldn't present a significant roadblock to benefiting from a recovery in the broader economy. The stock is an attractive buy right now, McHugh said, "even if we assume a very muted recovery in revenue and profit margins during the next few years." 
Share:  NEW YORK — William Blair & Co upgraded consultancy <span class="company">Corporate Executive Board Co</span> to its highest rating Tuesday, saying corporate spending on consulting services will improve next year. <span class="sent"> "We are increasingly hearing from professional services companies that while demand has not yet improved much yet, the tone of conversations with their clients is becoming more positive and its feels as though the trough in demand was probably reached this summer," wrote analyst <span class="analyst">Timothy McHugh</span> in a note to investors. </span> He said that a visit to Corporate Executive's headquarters had reassured him that internal management problems wouldn't present a significant roadblock to benefiting from a recovery in the broader economy. The stock is an attractive buy right now, McHugh said, "even if we assume a very muted recovery in revenue and profit margins during the next few years." ...NEW YORK — William Blair & Co upgraded consultancy <span class="company">Corporate Executive Board Co</span> to its highest rating Tuesday, saying corporate spending on consulting services will improve next year. <span class="sent"> "We are increasingly hearing from professional services companies that while demand has not yet improved much yet, the tone of conversations with their clients is becoming more positive and its feels as though the trough in demand was pro Tweet this 

NEW YORK , William Blair & Co upgraded consultancy Corporate Executive Board Co to its highest rating Tuesday, saying corporate spending on consulting services will improve next year. "We are increasingly hearing from professional services companies that while demand has not yet improved much yet, the tone of conversations with their clients is becoming more positive and its feels as though the trough in demand was probably reached this summer," wrote analyst Timothy McHugh in a note to investors. He said that a visit to Corporate Executive's headquarters had reassured him that internal management problems wouldn't present a significant roadblock to benefiting from a recovery in the broader economy. The stock is an attractive buy right now, McHugh said, "even if we assume a very muted recovery in revenue and profit margins during the next few years." . 
Share:  NEW YORK , William Blair & Co upgraded consultancy <span class="company">Corporate Executive Board Co</span> to its highest rating Tuesday, saying corporate spending on consulting services will improve next year. <span class="sent"> "We are increasingly hearing from professional services companies that while demand has not yet improved much yet, the tone of conversations with their clients is becoming more positive and its feels as though the trough in demand was probably reached this summer," wrote analyst <span class="analyst">Timothy McHugh</span> in a note to investors. </span> He said that a visit to Corporate Executive's headquarters had reassured him that internal management problems wouldn't present a significant roadblock to benefiting from a recovery in the broader economy. The stock is an attractive buy right now, McHugh said, "even if we assume a very muted recovery in revenue and profit margins during the next few years." . ...NEW YORK , William Blair & Co upgraded consultancy <span class="company">Corporate Executive Board Co</span> to its highest rating Tuesday, saying corporate spending on consulting services will improve next year. <span class="sent"> "We are increasingly hearing from professional services companies that while demand has not yet improved much yet, the tone of conversations with their clients is becoming more positive and its feels as though the trough in demand was probably reached this summer," wrote analyst <span class="analyst">Timothy McHugh</span> in a note to investors. </span> He said that a visit to Tweet this 

NEW YORK (AP) — A Deutsche Bank analyst downgraded Corporate Executive Board Co on Tuesday, saying Wall Street and investors are too optimistic about the corporate strategy and human resources consultancy's earnings growth next year. Corporate Executive's shares have nearly doubled since hitting a 12 month low in March, according to Thomson Reuters data. The stock is up about 25 percent since announcing second quarter results earlier this month; the Standard & Poor's 500 stock index is up 1 percent since then. 
Share:  <span class="sent">NEW YORK (AP) — A Deutsche Bank analyst downgraded <span class="company">Corporate Executive Board Co</span> on Tuesday, saying Wall Street and investors are too optimistic about the corporate strategy and human resources consultancy's earnings growth next year. </span> Corporate Executive's shares have nearly doubled since hitting a 12 month low in March, according to Thomson Reuters data. The stock is up about 25 percent since announcing second quarter results earlier this month; the Standard & Poor's 500 stock index is up 1 percent since then. Tweet this 

Corporate Executive's shares have nearly doubled since hitting a 12 month low in March, according to Thomson Reuters data. The stock is up about 25 percent since announcing second quarter results earlier this month; the Standard & Poor's 500 stock index is up 1 percent since then. In a note to investors, Deutsche Bank analyst Paul Ginocchio said the rebound in shares and Wall Street analysts' expectation of a $1.34 per share profit in 2010 was too optimistic and downgraded the shares to "Sell" from "Hold." He expects profit of 92 cents per share in 2010. 
Share:  <span class="company">Corporate Executive</span>'s shares have nearly doubled since hitting a 12 month low in March, according to Thomson Reuters data. The stock is up about 25 percent since announcing second quarter results earlier this month; the Standard & Poor's 500 stock index is up 1 percent since then. <span class="sent"> In a note to investors, Deutsche Bank analyst <span class="analyst">Paul Ginocchio</span> said the rebound in shares and Wall Street analysts' expectation of a $1.34 per share profit in 2010 was too optimistic and downgraded the shares to "Sell" from "Hold." </span> He expects profit of 92 cents per share in 2010. Tweet this 

That points either to the "notable level of risk and uncertainty" with the company's operations or "extreme conservatism," he said. Corporate Executive Board said the value of its contracts fell 24.1 percent in the second quarter due to reduced memberships from large corporations, fewer new sales, and expected losses from programs the company is consolidating. R.W. Baird analyst Daniel Leben said conexbdract values were down 6.8 percent from the first quarter as well, and he was concerned about clients renewing contracts through 2009. He said the company beat earnings expectations via cost controls , Corporate Executive Board said in February it would cut its work force 15 percent , and income from areas including foreign exchange gains and an increased in deferred compensation plan assets. Shares of Corporate Executive Board rose $1.40, or 7 percent, to $21.39 in afternoon trading. 
Share:  That points either to the "notable level of risk and uncertainty" with the company's operations or "extreme conservatism," he said. <span class="company">Corporate Executive Board</span> said the value of its contracts fell 24.1 percent in the second quarter due to reduced memberships from large corporations, fewer new sales, and expected losses from programs the company is consolidating. <span class="sent"> R.W. Baird analyst <span class="analyst">Daniel Leben</span> said conexbdract values were down 6.8 percent from the first quarter as well, and he was concerned about clients renewing contracts through 2009. </span> He said the company beat earnings expectations via cost controls , <span class="company">Corporate Executive Board</span> said in February it would cut its work force 15 percent , and income from areas including foreign exchange gains and an increased in deferred compensation plan assets. Shares of <span class="company">Corporate Executive Board</span> rose $1.40, or 7 percent, to $21.39 in afternoon trading. ...That points either to the "notable level of risk and uncertainty" with the company's operations or "extreme conservatism," he said. <span class="company">Corporate Executive Board</span> said the value of its contracts fell 24.1 percent in the second quarter due to reduced memberships from large corporations, fewer new sales, and expected losses from programs the company is consolidating. <span class="sent"> R.W. Baird analyst <span class="analyst">Daniel Leben</span> said conexbdract v Tweet this 

Equity analysts typically exclude one time items from their estimates. Corporate Executive Board said it still expected adjusted profit between 90 cents and $1.40 per share this year on sales in a range of $410 million to $450 million, in line with analysts' estimates. William Blair analyst Brandon Dobell said in a note to investors Tuesday that he was surprised the company did not narrow its guidance range, given that adjusted earnings per share are now at 82 cents for the past six months of 2009. That points either to the "notable level of risk and uncertainty" with the company's operations or "extreme conservatism," he said. 
Share:  Equity analysts typically exclude one time items from their estimates. <span class="company">Corporate Executive Board</span> said it still expected adjusted profit between 90 cents and $1.40 per share this year on sales in a range of $410 million to $450 million, in line with analysts' estimates. <span class="sent"> William Blair analyst <span class="analyst">Brandon Dobell</span> said in a note to investors Tuesday that he was surprised the company did not narrow its guidance range, given that adjusted earnings per share are now at 82 cents for the past six months of 2009. </span> That points either to the "notable level of risk and uncertainty" with the company's operations or "extreme conservatism," he said. ...Equity analysts typically exclude one time items from their estimates. <span class="company">Corporate Executive Board</span> said it still expected adjusted profit between 90 cents and $1.40 per share this year on sales in a range of $410 million to $450 million, in line with analysts' estimates. <span class="sent"> William Blair analyst <span class="analyst">Brandon Dobell</span> said in a note to investors Tuesday that he was surprised the company did not narrow its guidance range, given that adjusted earnings per share are now at 82 cents for the past six months of 2009. </span> That points either to the "notable level of risk and uncertainty" with the company's operations or "extreme conservatism," he said. ...Equity analysts typically exclude one time items from their estimates. <span class= Tweet this 

As a registered user of The Wall Street Journal Online, you will be able to: Setup and manage your portfolio Personalize your own news page Receive and manage newsletters .NEW YORK (Dow Jones) Shares of Corporate Executive Board Co (EXBD) dropped as much as 11% Thursday after an analyst said near term trends for the provider of business research and analysis services remain challenging. Baird analyst Daniel R. Leben cut his stock investment rating on Corporate Executive's shares to underperform from neutral. He said industry contacts indicated the company started another round of voluntary departures. Leben said he has little visibility into the size of the targeted cost cuts, but he believes they were prompted by weak second quarter contract value performance. 
Share:  As a registered user of The Wall Street Journal Online, you will be able to: Setup and manage your portfolio Personalize your own news page Receive and manage newsletters .NEW YORK (Dow Jones) Shares of Corporate Executive Board Co (<span class="company">EXBD</span>) dropped as much as 11% Thursday after an analyst said near term trends for the provider of business research and analysis services remain challenging. <span class="sent"> Baird analyst <span class="analyst">Daniel R. Leben</span> cut his stock investment rating on Corporate Executive's shares to underperform from neutral. </span> He said industry contacts indicated the company started another round of voluntary departures. Leben said he has little visibility into the size of the targeted cost cuts, but he believes they were prompted by weak second quarter contract value performance. ...YORK (Dow Jones) Shares of <span class="company">Corporate Executive</span> Board Co (EXBD) dropped as much as 11% Thursday after an analyst said near term trends for the provider of business research and analysis services remain challenging. <span class="sent"> Baird analyst <span class="analyst">Daniel R. Leben</span> cut his stock investment rating on <span class="company">Corporate Executive</span>'s shares to underperform from neutral. </span> He said industry contacts indicated the company started another round of voluntary departures. Leben said he has little visibility into the size of the targeted cost cuts, but he believes th Tweet this