CHICAGO, Sept. 11, 2013 /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 Pep Boys - Manny, Moe & Jack (NYSE:PBY-Free Report), BMC Software (Nasdaq:BMC-Free Report), International Machines Corp (NYSE:IBM-Free Report), CA Technologies (Nasdaq:CA-Free Report) and Salesforce.com (NYSE:CRM-Free Report).
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101027/ZIRLOGO)
Today, Zacks is promoting its 'Buy' stock recommendations. Get #1Stock of the Day pick for free.
Here are highlights from Tuesday's Analyst Blog:
Pep Boys Acquires 17 Stores in Southern Cal
Last week, Pep Boys - Manny, Moe & Jack (NYSE:PBY-Free Report) purchased 17 Discount Tire Centers from AKH Company Inc. All the centers are in the greater Los Angeles market.
The stores will be opened under the Pep Boys brand name on Sep 12, 2013. They will provide all kinds of maintenance and repair services and sell branded tires.
The acquisition takes the total tally of Pep Boys stores in California to 150 and in the U.S. to 750. As a result, at least one Pep Boys location will now be within a 3-mile radius of almost three-fourth of Los Angeles' population.
The easy access to stores should help boost Pep Boys' revenues. The company generated revenues of $527.6 million in the thirteen weeks ended Aug 3, 2013, up 0.4% from $525.7 million for the thirteen weeks ended Jul 28, 2012. Pep Boys has been striving to improve customer satisfaction and convenience since its inception in California in 1933.
Based in Philadelphia, PA, Pep Boys supplies tires, batteries, new and remanufactured parts for vehicles, chemicals and maintenance items, fashion, electronic, and performance accessories. It also provides non-automotive merchandise such as generators, power tools and personal transportation products.
Currently, Pep Boys carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
BMC Optimizes Mainframe Costs
BMC Software (Nasdaq:BMC-Free Report) has introduced an analytical tool - BMC Cost Analyzer - that reduces mainframe software expenses by approximately 5% to 20%. Most importantly, the new tool lowers the costs of International Machines Corp's (NYSE:IBM-Free Report) mainframe software by more than 20.0%.
The BMC Cost Analyzer for zEnterprise strategizes cost reduction techniques by identifying peak workloads, work load placement and workload management. This innovation from BMC is particularly important as IBM mainframe licensing charges are increasing by more than 7.0% annually, according to BMC. Swiss Re Group, an insurance provider, has adopted the BMC Cost Analyzer.
Thus, BMC's analytical tool is expected to gain traction in the mainframe market due to its cost saving capabilities and ability to provide management with detailed insights into the cost drivers. For these purposes, BMC has launched six mainframe products that aim at efficient workload management and cost optimization.
However, there are other companies such as CA Technologies (Nasdaq:CA-Free Report) that provide similar tools. Thus, gaining market share might prove to be difficult for the company. Moreover, competition from companies such as Salesforce.com (NYSE:CRM-Free Report) and Oracle Corp. remains a headwind for the company, going forward.
BMC's decision to privatize will help to revamp and restructure its business model while capitalizing on its core competency.
The company reported a tepid first quarter wherein the top and bottom line missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Going forward, we remain concerned due to weaker expenditure from different governments, continuing macro-economic sluggishness and constrained IT spending projections.
Currently, BMC has a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell).
Today, Zacks is promoting its 'Buy' stock recommendations. Get #1Stock of the Day pick for free.
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.
About Zacks
Zacks.com is a property of Zacks Investment Research, Inc., which was formed in 1978. The later formation of the Zacks Rank, a proprietary stock picking system; 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.
Get the full Report on PBY - FREE
Get the full Report on BMC - FREE
Get the full Report on IBM - FREE
Get the full Report on CA - FREE
Get the full Report on CRM - FREE
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
Zacks Investment Research is under common control with affiliated entities (including a broker-dealer and an investment adviser), which may engage in transactions involving the foregoing securities for the clients of such affiliates.
Media Contact
Zacks Investment Research
800-767-3771 ext. 9339
support@zacks.com
http://www.zacks.com
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumedthat any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein andis subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit http://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.
SOURCE Zacks Investment Research, Inc.
