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April 14, 2011
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For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – April 14, 2011 – 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: Toyota Motor Corp. (TM), Moody's Corp. (MCO), Honda Motor Co. (HMC), Nissan Motor Co. (NSANY) and Flowserve Corporation (FLS).
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Here are highlights from Wednesday’s Analyst Blog:
Toyota to Halt European Production
Toyota Motor Corp. (TM) announced that it will suspend production in Europe for 8 days due to parts shortage resulting from the earthquake and tsunami in Japan on March 11 that damaged many parts supplying companies’ plants.
The automaker will halt production at 5 plants between April 21 and May 2. They are auto assembly facilities in Britain, France and Turkey, and engine plants in Britain and Poland. After the stoppages, the plants will be operated at limited capacity in May.
Recently, Toyota revealed that it will undertake one-day production shutdowns at all its plants in North America, except Georgetown, Kentucky, due to the same crisis. The shutdowns will begin April 15 and end April 25.
The company has also warned U.S. auto dealers about the tight supply of new vehicles over the summer. It is still determining vehicle production levels for May, June and July.
Nearly 70% of vehicles sold in the U.S. by Toyota are produced in its North American plants. About 75% of their parts are sourced from roughly 500 suppliers in North America and the rest 15% from Japan. The U.S.-made models include Camry and Avalon sedans, manufactured in Georgetown, Kentucky, and the Corolla sedan, produced in Ontario.
Few days back, Toyota announced that it will resume production at all its plants in Japan at half capacity from April 18 to 27. The automaker suspended its production at all the 18 plants in Japan from March 14 to 26.
Production resumed at only two plants in Japan since March 28 that build Toyota and Lexus cars. Those plants are assembling a limited number of three hybrid models at a reduced rate. Production at those plants account for only 3%–4% of normal capacity.
The disaster has resulted in a production loss of 260,000 cars from March 14 to April 8 for Toyota. The automaker is still struggling to procure about 150 types of parts. Previously, it faced shortages of about 500 types of components.
Toyota stated that it will again halt production at all its plants from April 28 to May 9. The period is considered as Golden Week holidays when factories would normally close.
Recently, Moody's Investors Service – the credit rating agency operated by Moody's Corp. (MCO) – warned that it may downgrade its credit rating for Toyota due to the disaster that will adversely affect the financial results of the company.
Currently, Moody’s set Toyota's long-term uncollateralized debt rating at Aa2. The rating agency will review Toyota’s credit rating based on its ability to restore production in Japan.
Chicago, IL – April 14, 2011 – 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: Toyota Motor Corp. (TM), Moody's Corp. (MCO), Honda Motor Co. (HMC), Nissan Motor Co. (NSANY) and Flowserve Corporation (FLS).
Get the most recent insight from Zacks Equity Research with the free Profit from the Pros newsletter:
Here are highlights from Wednesday’s Analyst Blog:
Toyota to Halt European Production
Toyota Motor Corp. (TM) announced that it will suspend production in Europe for 8 days due to parts shortage resulting from the earthquake and tsunami in Japan on March 11 that damaged many parts supplying companies’ plants.
The automaker will halt production at 5 plants between April 21 and May 2. They are auto assembly facilities in Britain, France and Turkey, and engine plants in Britain and Poland. After the stoppages, the plants will be operated at limited capacity in May.
Recently, Toyota revealed that it will undertake one-day production shutdowns at all its plants in North America, except Georgetown, Kentucky, due to the same crisis. The shutdowns will begin April 15 and end April 25.
The company has also warned U.S. auto dealers about the tight supply of new vehicles over the summer. It is still determining vehicle production levels for May, June and July.
Nearly 70% of vehicles sold in the U.S. by Toyota are produced in its North American plants. About 75% of their parts are sourced from roughly 500 suppliers in North America and the rest 15% from Japan. The U.S.-made models include Camry and Avalon sedans, manufactured in Georgetown, Kentucky, and the Corolla sedan, produced in Ontario.
Few days back, Toyota announced that it will resume production at all its plants in Japan at half capacity from April 18 to 27. The automaker suspended its production at all the 18 plants in Japan from March 14 to 26.
Production resumed at only two plants in Japan since March 28 that build Toyota and Lexus cars. Those plants are assembling a limited number of three hybrid models at a reduced rate. Production at those plants account for only 3%–4% of normal capacity.
The disaster has resulted in a production loss of 260,000 cars from March 14 to April 8 for Toyota. The automaker is still struggling to procure about 150 types of parts. Previously, it faced shortages of about 500 types of components.
Toyota stated that it will again halt production at all its plants from April 28 to May 9. The period is considered as Golden Week holidays when factories would normally close.
Recently, Moody's Investors Service – the credit rating agency operated by Moody's Corp. (MCO) – warned that it may downgrade its credit rating for Toyota due to the disaster that will adversely affect the financial results of the company.
Currently, Moody’s set Toyota's long-term uncollateralized debt rating at Aa2. The rating agency will review Toyota’s credit rating based on its ability to restore production in Japan.
Almost all the Japanese automakers, including Honda Motor Co. (HMC) and Nissan Motor Co. (NSANY), are plagued by the natural disaster in the country. They have suspended and cut down their production in the wake of plant outages and parts supply shortage.
Flowserve on Acquisition Spree
Flowserve Corporation (FLS) announced that it has purchased the assets of FEDD Wireless LLC, a privately owned wireless data acquisition company based in Texas. FEDD has developed technologies in wireless data acquisition, transmission and integration for industrial use.
Flowserve will assume ongoing operational responsibilities of the target, including existing equipment, intellectual property and personnel.
The acquisition provides Flowserve a proven wireless data acquisition technology for use in the global industrial markets.
Over the last several years, emerging markets around the globe have been investing in infrastructure projects. These new projects include power generation plants, water treatment systems and mining. This build-out requires process controls in oil and gas, chemical, and water markets -- all of which are Flowserve’s core businesses. Moreover, Flowserve is benefiting from older infrastructure that needs to be upgraded to meet environmental standards and obsolescence.
Flowserve has expanded its business across the globe; revenues outside North America at present account for more than 70% of its total revenue. This diversification strategy should help mitigate the impact of an economic downturn in any one of the industries or countries that its serves.
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Flowserve on Acquisition Spree
Flowserve Corporation (FLS) announced that it has purchased the assets of FEDD Wireless LLC, a privately owned wireless data acquisition company based in Texas. FEDD has developed technologies in wireless data acquisition, transmission and integration for industrial use.
Flowserve will assume ongoing operational responsibilities of the target, including existing equipment, intellectual property and personnel.
The acquisition provides Flowserve a proven wireless data acquisition technology for use in the global industrial markets.
Over the last several years, emerging markets around the globe have been investing in infrastructure projects. These new projects include power generation plants, water treatment systems and mining. This build-out requires process controls in oil and gas, chemical, and water markets -- all of which are Flowserve’s core businesses. Moreover, Flowserve is benefiting from older infrastructure that needs to be upgraded to meet environmental standards and obsolescence.
Flowserve has expanded its business across the globe; revenues outside North America at present account for more than 70% of its total revenue. This diversification strategy should help mitigate the impact of an economic downturn in any one of the industries or countries that its serves.
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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.
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About Zacks
Zacks.com is a property of Zacks Investment Research, Inc., which was formed in 1978 by Leonard Zacks. 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
Visit http://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.
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