EmailThe consumer discretionary group is slightly outperforming the broader market in early trade. The retail group is mixed with the Retail HOLDRS Trust (RTH) -0.3% and the SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT) 0.1%. Trading higher following earnings/guidance: ZQK +19.9%, SWHC +17.9%, ULTA +8%, LULU +7.2%... Trading lower following earnings/guidance: KFT -5.4%, KR -2.6%, MFRM -2.4%. Other notable mentions: NWSAflat (News Corp is close to a $2 bln deal to purchase Australia's pay TV provider Consolidated Media Holdings), EBAY flat (Oline retailing company Svpply disclosed in a blog post that it will be acquired by EBAY: terms not disclosed)... Leaders: WTSLA 2.5% (Wet Seal to evaluate and respond to Clinton Group consent materials and proposed directors; urges stockholders to postpone making a decision), VRA 1.1% (Vera Bradley cofounder Patricia Miller announces retirement ), PVH 1.1% (positive mention on MadMoney), Laggards: SBH -2.6% (move being attributed to secondary pricing ), HSY -0.5% (to acquire all outstanding shares of the Godrej Hershey joint venture), CROX -0.4% (appoints Scott Crutchfield as Chief Operating Officer).
Analyst related: Upgrades: PCLN 2.4% (upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Nomura), HOT 2.2% (upgraded to Buy from Hold at Argus)... Downgrades: APOL -0.8% (downgraded to Sell from Hold at Deutsche Bank), WWW -1.5% (downgraded to Neutral from Positive at Susquehanna ), BGFV -0.2% (downgraded to Underperform from Neutral at Credit Suisse)... Misc: STRA -1% (initiated with a Sell at Deutsche Bank), GMCR 12.3% (initiated with a Buy at Lazard Capital), FINL flat and DSW -0.6% (initiated with a Neutral at Credit Suisse), HIBB -0.3% (assumed with a Neutral at Credit Suisse), FL 1.2% (initiated with a Outperform at Credit Suisse), CNK 0.2% (initiated with a Outperform at Credit Suisse ), MHO 0.5% (resumed with an Outperform at JMP Securities), EDU 5.5% (hearing was added to buy list at tier 1 firm), RGC -0.5% (with a Neutral at Credit Suisse), GME 1% (Hearing assumed before the open with Outperform rating at Credit Suisse).
