CHICAGO, May 31, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include The Boeing Co.(NYSE:BA), General Dynamics Corp.(NYSE:GD),Lockheed Martin Corporation(NYSE:LMT), NorthropGrumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) and Hasbro Inc.(Nasdaq:HAS).
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Here are highlights from Wednesday's Analyst Blog:
Boeing Negotiates Big 787 Order
As per a media report, international aerospace giantThe Boeing Co.(NYSE:BA) is in talks with Indonesia based Lion Air for 10 '787 Dreamliners. The potential value of the deal is estimated at $2 billion.
Boeing has a long relationship with Lion Air. The Indonesian carrier has till date primarily ordered for the 737 model for its fleet. Besides, the airliner was the launch customer for 737-900 Extended Range (ER) in June 2005 with an order for 30 airplanes. Up to now Lion Air has placed orders for 408 airplanes from the 737 family.
We believe Lion Air's decision to migrate from its favored 737 variant to the 787 model is due to 787's capability to fly a longer distance and carry more passengers. The international commercial airline market holds a lot of potential in the future. The airline operators are gearing up to meet the increasing demand for air travel.
Lion Air is also in talks with Boeing's arch rival Airbus for new commercial airplanes. However, 787 Dreamliners' far improved capabilities and Lion Air's long standing relationship with Boeing might tilt the order in the company's favor.
Gross orders received by Boeing for its 787 variant till May 22, 2012 were 19 airplanes while cancellation during the period climbed to 25 airplanes, taking the net order number to a negative 6. We believe that if the company can secure the 787 order from Lion Air, the order book for 787 for the year will turn positive.
787 Dreamliner sales form an integral part of Boeing's commercial aircraft success. The company targets to deliver 35 to 42 '787 airplanes to its customers in 2012. In the first four months of the year Boeing has delivered 8 '787 airplanes.
The Boeing 737 model has consistently grabbed orders and if the company can sort out the problem relating to the timely delivery of 787 aircrafts it can easily achieve its $47.5 billion to $49.5 billion projected revenue target for commercial airplanes in 2012.
Chicago-based Boeing Co. has a Zacks #3 Rank (short-term Hold rating). The company competes with the likes of General Dynamics Corp.(NYSE:GD),Lockheed Martin Corporation(NYSE:LMT) andNorthrop Grumman Corporation(NYSE:NOC) in various niches.
Hasbro to Focus on Entertainment
Hasbro Inc.(Nasdaq:HAS) appears all set to boost its Entertainment segment via Hasbro Studios for television and alliance with movie studios like Paramount, Universal Pictures, Sony and Relativity. Hasbro started the year on a positive note and will likely perform better in the coming quarters on a strong sales momentum from the 3D version of Star Wars, Battleship worldwide launch in April (with the U.S. launch in May), Avengers Assembled (May release) and Spiderman 4 (set to debut in July 2012). Other films in the queue are Ouija, CandyLand, Stretch Armstrong, Clue and Monopoly.
Added to this, Hasbro, in association with Paramount Pictures, was nearly ready for the big screen appearance of G.I. Joe Retaliation on June 29 this year. But the premiere has now been pushed to the next year. To cash in on the global popularity of 3D versions, .I. Joe Retaliation will now appear in 3D suit on March 29, 2013. The strong pipeline ensures that Hasbro's entertainment initiatives will contribute to its revenue as well as toy-sales.
However, the last moment delay of G.I. Joe Retaliation could be the result of the recent box-office underperformance of The Battleship movie in the U.S. We believe, management does not want to lose any single chance to make the recent G.I. Joe edition a huge success and seeks to go bigger with the brand. As a point of reference, the first G.I. Joe garnered sizable revenue in 2009. So far in the year, Star Wars and Avengers were flourishing in box-offices with Avengers being one of the well-accepted boys' toys brands at the current level. Battleship delivered strong starts internationally, in particular markets like Asia and Europe.
Revenue from the Entertainment and Licensing segment increased 19% year over year to $29.3 million in first-quarter 2012 backed by the sales of television programming globally, as well as movie and licensing revenue from Transformers. According to management, there are various strong motion picture and television entertainment backed properties doing well at retail.
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