Premarket Roundup: Jamba, Solar Sector

Among the premarket stories for Friday, August 21, from AP Financial News:

NEW YORK (AP) — Fruit smoothies chain Jamba Inc. core offerings are a "low priority purchase" for consumers during tough times, an analyst said Friday, a day after the company said sales fell 15 percent in the second quarter.

HOUSTON (AP) — Jefferies & Co. lowered its ratings on eight solar companies Friday, citing numerous risks that could play out in the coming months, including a continuation of falling prices.

NEW YORK (AP) — Several analysts said Friday they were concerned about Zumiez Inc.'s performance this upcoming holiday season, after the sports retailer posted a second-quarter loss and predicted a decline in same-store sales for the third quarter.

NEW YORK (AP) — Pacific Sunwear's new emphasis on brands, footwear and accessories is the right one, analysts said Friday, but it's a long path back to a recovery given the teen retailer's deep sales declines.

NEW YORK (AP) — An analyst said a surprise earnings beat from ScanSource Inc. was due to one-time events, and left his full-year forecast for the distributor of bar-code scanners and other electronics unchanged.

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — McDermott International Inc.'s nuclear business is drawing more attention from investors and utilities, an analyst said Friday.

NEW YORK (AP) — A Stifel Nicolaus & Co. analyst said Friday that the latest quarterly results from Hibbett Sports Inc. were "troubling" and it may suffer as Walmart stores offers more specialized sports gear.