Apple, Disney, Starbucks Hit Highs
BOSTON (TheStreet) -- U.S. stocks dropped Wednesday after Portugal's credit rating was downgraded by Fitch Ratings, raising eurozone fears. These investor favorites hit highs.
3. Starbucks
(SBUX) - Get Report
fell 0.5% to $25.29, achieving an earlier high of $26. Shares of the coffee chain have rallied 9.6% in the past month. The Starbucks board said today it would issue its first-ever cash dividend of 10 cents, which will be paid on April 23.
Quarter
: Fiscal first-quarter profit more than tripled to $242 million, or 32 cents a share, as revenue increased 4.1% to $2.7 billion. The operating margin widened from 6.5% to 13%. Starbucks holds $1.4 billion of cash and $550 million of debt.
Stock
: Starbucks has more than doubled during the past year, outperforming U.S. indices. The stock trades at a PEG ratio, a measure of value relative to expected long-term growth, of 0.3. A PEG ratio that's less than 1 suggests the shares are cheap.
Consensus
: Of analysts covering Starbucks, 11 advise purchasing its shares, 10 recommend holding and one suggests selling them.
Telsey Advisory Group
expects the shares to rise 34% to its target price of $34.
2. Walt Disney
(DIS) - Get Report
climbed 1.1% to $34.39, reaching a high of $34.43. Shares of the entertainment company have returned 9.6% in the past month. During the past three years, Disney has increased revenue 1.7% annually, on average, amid recession.
Quarter
: Fiscal first-quarter profit declined marginally to $844 million, or 44 cents, as revenue inched up 1.5% to $9.7 billion. Disney's operating margin rose from 13% to 15%. Its balance sheet houses $3.2 billion of cash and $14 billion of debt.
Stock
: Disney has soared 88% during the past year, more than major benchmarks. The stock sells for a price-to-projected-earnings ratio of 15 and a price-to-book ratio of 1.8, reflecting 16% and 48% discounts to the industry averages.
Consensus
: Of researchers evaluating Disney, 17, or 50%, rate its stock "buy", 14 rate it "hold" and three rank it "sell."
Bank of America
(BAC) - Get Report
offers the loftiest price target, expecting the stock to appreciate 23% to $42.
Miller Tabak
is also bullish.
1. Apple
(AAPL) - Get Report
increased 0.4% to $229.37, touching a high of $230.20. Shares of the computer and iPod maker have advanced 14% during the past month.
Barclays Capital
expects 5 million units of the iPad tablet computer to be sold in 2010.
Quarter
: Fiscal first-quarter profit expanded 50% to $3.4 billion, or $3.67, as revenue grew 32% to $16 billion. The operating margin extended from 26% to 30%. Apple's balance sheet holds $40 billion of cash and marketable securities and no debt.
Stock
: Apple has more than doubled during the past year, outpacing U.S. indices. The stock trades at a PEG ratio of 0.7, on par with competitors' shares but a discount relative to growth. It's expensive based on other valuation measures.
Consensus
: Of firms following Apple, 39, or 91%, advocate purchasing its shares and four say to hold them.
Pacific Crest
and
Citigroup
(C) - Get Report
value the stock at $300, leaving a potential 31% gain. Apple has returned 35% a year, on average, since 2007.
