STEC Stec, Inc. (MM)

•    Chevron Corp. (NYSE:CVX) reported a jump in its second-quarter 2011 profits, benefiting from higher oil prices and stronger refining margins. Earnings per share (excluding adjustments for foreign-currency effects) came in at $3.89, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.55 and the year-ago adjusted profit of $2.58

•    Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ:AMGN) reported second quarter earnings per share of $1.35, above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.30, and 0.7% higher than year-ago earnings

•    Merck & Co. Inc.’s (NYSE:MRK)  earnings per share (excluding special items) for the second quarter of 2011 came in at 95 cents, in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate, but 10.5% above year-ago earnings.

•    Newell Rubbermaid Inc. (NYSE:NWL) reported second quarter of 2011 earnings of $0.46 per share, down from $0.51 a share in the year-ago quarter, but higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.42 a share

•    Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) upgraded AmeriGas Partners LP (NYSE:APU) to a “Market Perform” rating from an “Underperform” rating

•    Citigroup, Inc. (NYSE:C) upgraded Southwest Gas Corporation (NYSE:SWX) to “Buy” from a “Hold” rating

•    JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) downgraded STEC, Inc. (NASDAQ:STEC) to “Underweight” from a “Neutral” rating

•    Citigroup, Inc. (NYSE:C) downgraded Eagle Bulk Shipping, Inc. (NASDAQ:EGLE) to “Sell” from a “Hold” rating



 
AMGEN INC (AMGN): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
AMERIGAS PARTNR (APU): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
CITIGROUP INC (C): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
CHEVRON CORP (CVX): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
EAGLE BULK SHPG (EGLE): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
JPMORGAN CHASE (JPM): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
MERCK & CO INC (MRK): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
NEWELL RUBBERMD (NWL): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
STEC INC (STEC): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
SOUTHWEST GAS (SWX): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
WELLS FARGO-NEW (WFC): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
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