Ahead of the Market
Stocks to Watch Today
* Granite Construction (ticker symbol: GVA, Thursday close: $26.44): The construction and transportation contractor said third-quarter earnings will be higher than expected, mostly because of a higher volume of work and increased profitability in the company’s geographic market sectors.
* Medtronic (MDT, $50.38): The medical instruments company’s new device intended to treat aortic aneurysms in the abdominal area has shown results that compare “favorably” to more invasive surgery used to treat the condition, according to a recent study.
*Reporting quarterly earnings today
Company: Electronics For Imaging
Ticker symbol: EFII
Thursday close: $15.63
Per-share estimate*: $0.23
*
Company: Fannie Mae
Ticker symbol: FNM
Thursday close: $59.00
Per-share estimate*: $0.81
*
Company: Georgia Pacific
Ticker symbol: GP
Thursday close: $45.81
Per-share estimate*: $0.38
*
Company: ITT Educational Services
Ticker symbol: ESI
Thursday close: $26.00
Per-share estimate*: $0.37
*
Company: Shelby Williams Industries
Ticker symbol: SY
Thursday close: $12.00
Per-share estimate*: $0.33
*
Company: Willamette Industries
Ticker symbol: WLL
Thursday close: $26.50
Per-share estimate*: $0.22
*Consensus from IBES International Inc.
Analyst revisions and new ratings:
* Market Guide (MARG, $4.25) was rated new “buy” by LaSalle St. Securities.
* Sunglass Hut International (RAYS, $3.88) was downgraded to “outperform” from “buy” by BT Alex. Brown.
* TRW (TRW, $44.94) was downgraded to “market perform” from “recommend list” by Goldman Sachs.
* USX-Marathon Group (MRO, $34.88) was downgraded to “moderately attractive” from “strong buy” by Robert W. Baird & Co.
--Bloomberg News
We welcome comments or suggestions about this feature. Leave a message at (213) 237-4557; write Josh Friedman, Market Savvy, Business Section, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles, CA 90053; or e-mail josh.friedman@latimes.com.
