CHICAGO, Aug. 9, 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 Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS), Citigroup, Inc. (NYSE:C), Bank of America Corp. (NYSE:BAC), Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (NYSE:GS) and Praxair Inc. (NYSE:PX).
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101027/ZIRLOGO)
Get the most recent insight from Zacks Equity Research with the free Profit from the Pros newsletter: http://at.zacks.com/?id=5513
Here are highlights from Wednesday's Analyst Blog:
Morgan Stanley Plans Layoffs
Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) is considering possible job cuts in its retail brokerage segment in order to improve profitability. It is also planning to shutter its redundant brokerage offices as a part of this strategy.
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney - a retail venture co-owned by Citigroup, Inc. (NYSE:C) and Morgan Stanley - faces a major revamp. More than a dozen of the 120 complexes of this brokerage firm are about to be eliminated. A complex refers to a set of branches that share personnel from administrative and other operations.
Further, Morgan Stanley reduced four operating regions of the venture. The exact number of job cuts has not been announced yet. However, around 700 employees across 100 offices are expected to be dismissed.
In order to achieve targeted pre-tax profit margin, the company is focusing on controlling its expenses. These actions act as a prelude to the upcoming abundant restructuring initiatives at Morgan Stanley.
Earlier in 2011, Morgan Stanley announced its plan to retrench 1,600 workers in the first quarter of 2012.The job elimination took place in all divisions globally and affected employees at all levels. However, at that time the 17,000 financial advisers of the Morgan Stanley Smith Barney unit were not in the danger zone.
Morgan Stanley was one of the major victims of the 2007 housing bubble. Its share price has plummeted largely since then. Despite taking several precautionary initiatives, the company is still unable to come out of the crisis. All these restructuring efforts underline its constant struggle to regain pre-crisis glory.
Notably, Morgan Stanley is not the only institution to trim down its workforce. Citigroup,Bank of America Corp. (NYSE:BAC) and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (NYSE:GS) have been taking similar actions.
Dismal economic scenario and a desperate attempt to display better revenue generation will force banks to take cost-control measures very seriously. These measures will give rise to closures of non-core units and layoffs, ultimately resulting in higher unemployment.
Morgan Stanley currently retains a Zacks #3 Rank, which translates into a short-term Hold rating. Considering the fundamentals, we also maintain a long-term Neutral recommendation on the stock.
Praxair & nexAir in Joint Venture
Industrial gas producer and supplier, Praxair Inc. (NYSE:PX) embarks on another important business venture of expanding its operations in the southeast region of the United States; and has joined hands with another major player in the industrial gas industry, nexAir LLC for the purpose.
A Memphis-based company, nexAir is one of the largest suppliers of high-quality industrial, specialty, medical, and bulk gases, dry ice, welding equipment, welding supplies, and medical equipment. The company also owns large ISO-certified cylinder gas plants in the United States. Its operations are carried across 9 states with 26 locations.
The joint venture between the two parties entails carrying on operations in Praxair's 8 gas distribution facilities in Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee. The combined business, expected to generate about $150 million in revenues, will be one of its kind to heighten business prospects for both the companies in the Southeast United States. Praxair will be an equity stake holder in the venture.
We believe such ties-ups will help Praxair achieve its long-term target of annual organic sales growth of 8%-12% by 2015. Growing popularity of Praxair's technologically advanced work has led to around $2.5 billion in backlogs for the company. In addition, strategic acquisitions as that of Canadian Cylinder & Gases Inc. and five operating units of Airgas Inc. bode well for the company.
Want more from Zacks Equity Research? Subscribe to the free Profit from the Pros newsletter: http://at.zacks.com/?id=5515.
About Zacks Equity Research
Zacks Equity Research provides the best of quantitative and qualitative analysis to help investors know what stocks to buy and which to sell for the long-term.
Continuous coverage is provided for a universe of 1,150 publicly traded stocks. Our analysts are organized by industry which gives them keen insights to developments that affect company profits and stock performance. Recommendations and target prices are six-month time horizons.
Zacks "Profit from the Pros" e-mail newsletter provides highlights of the latest analysis from Zacks Equity Research. Subscribe to this free newsletter today: http://at.zacks.com/?id=5517
About Zacks
Zacks.com is a property of Zacks Investment Research, Inc., which was formed in 1978 by Leon Zacks. As a PhD from MIT Len knew he could find patterns in stock market data that would lead to superior investment results. Amongst his many accomplishments was the formation of his proprietary stock picking system; the Zacks Rank, which continues to outperform the market by nearly a 3 to 1 margin. The best way to unlock the profitable stock recommendations and market insights of Zacks Investment Research is through our free daily email newsletter; Profit from the Pros. In short, it's your steady flow of Profitable ideas GUARANTEED to be worth your time! Register for your free subscription to Profit from the Pros at http://at.zacks.com/?id=5518.
Visit http://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/zacksresearch
Join us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Zacks-Investment-Research/57553657748?ref=ts
Disclaimer: Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investors should always research companies and securities before making any investments. Nothing herein should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any security.
Media Contact
Zacks Investment Research
800-767-3771 ext. 9339
support@zacks.com
http://www.zacks.com
SOURCE Zacks Investment Research, Inc.
