Fossil (FOSL) (TRIP) (PGN) (RCI) (RGA) (FCS) Ratings, Price Targets

Fossil (NASDAQ: FOSL), TripAdvisor, Inc. (NASDAQ: TRIP), Progress Energy (NYSE: PGN), Rogers Communications Inc. (NYSE: RCI), Reinsurance Group of America Inc. (NYSE: RGA) and Fairchild Semiconductor International (NYSE: FCS) ratings and price targets.

TripAdvisor, Inc. (TRIP) is now covered by RBC Capital. They have an “outperform” rating on the firm.

Progress Energy (PGN) was downgraded by GMP Securities to a “hold” rating.

Rogers Communications Inc. (RCI) was downgraded by Credit Suisse (NYSE:CS) from an “outperform” rating to a “neutral” rating.

Reinsurance Group of America Inc. (RGA) was downgraded by Sterne Agee from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating.

Fairchild Semiconductor International (FCS) was upgraded by Deutsche Bank (NYSE:DB) from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating.

Fossil (FOSL) was upgraded by Brean Murray from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating. They have a price target of $100.00 on the firm.

Dividends on (TUP) (MLR) (ALB) (KWR) (PGN) Declared

Tupperware Brands Corp. (NYSE:TUP), Miller Industries Inc (NYSE:MLR), Albemarle Corp (NYSE:ALB), Quaker Chemical Corp. (NYSE:KWR) and Progress Energy Inc (NYSE:PGN) declare dividends.

The Board of Directors of Tupperware Brands Corp. (TUP) declared a quarterly common stock dividend of $0.30 per share payable 7/6/11 to shareholders of record at the close of business on 6/20/11.

The Board of Directors of Miller Industries Inc (MLR) declared a quarterly common stock dividend of $0.12 per share payable 5/31/11 to shareholders of record at the close of business on 5/23/11.

The Board of Directors of Albemarle Corp (ALB) declared a quarterly common stock dividend of $0.165 per share payable 7/1/11 to shareholders of record at the close of business on 6/15/11.

The Board of Directors of Quaker Chemical Corp. (KWR) declared a quarterly common stock dividend of $0.24 per share payable 7/29/11 to shareholders of record at the close of business on 7/15/11.

The Board of Directors of Progress Energy Inc (PGN) declared a quarterly common stock dividend of $0.62 per share payable 8/1/11 to shareholders of record at the close of business on 7/11/11.

Price Targets on (WTR) (MHK) (PGN) (OXY) Updated

Analysts updated their price targets on Aqua America (NYSE: WTR), Mohawk Industries, Inc. (NYSE: MHK), Progress Energy (NYSE: PGN), Markel Co. (NYSE: MKL) and Occidental Petroleum Co. (NYSE: OXY) today.

Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) raised their price target on Aqua America (WTR) from $26.00 to $29.00. They have a “buy” rating on the company.

RBC Capital raised their price target on Mohawk Industries, Inc. (MHK) from $62.00 to $74.00. They have a “sector perform” rating on the company.

Jefferies (NYSE:JEF) raised their price target on Progress Energy (PGN) from $48.00 to $49.00.

BGB Securities raised their price target on Markel Co. (MKL) to $410.00.

Argus raised their price target on Occidental Petroleum Co. (OXY) from $110.00 to $121.00. They have a “buy” rating on the company.

Dividends from (FE) (AEP) (DUK) (PGN) (XLU)

A quick look at dividends from FirstEnergy Corporation (NYSE: FE), American Electric Power Co., Inc. (NYSE: AEP), Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE: DUK), Progress Energy, Inc. (NYSE: PGN); all American utility companies.

Dividends continue to attact investors in an ongoing volatile and unpredictable market. Among companies offering dividends, utility companies have been among the sectors offering significant and predictable dividends over the years, no matter what type of business cycle that is occurring at the time.

The "boring" utility sector has actually been plodding along nicely, as many have been quietly hitting 52-week highs. That of course makes them a little more expensive to get into, but a small price to pay for income and peace of mind for certain types of investors.

American Electric Power Co., Inc. (AEP) offers a dividend of 5 percent at this time. For those thinking of getting into it for that purpose, keep in mind it may not rasie their dividend any time soon, as it recently raised its dividend after having it sit there from November 2007 to February 2010. Expectations are the next dividend boost will bring it to $0.47 or $0.48 a quarter, up from the current $0.46 a quarter.

Duke Energy Corporation (DUK) hasn't attracted investors much since it spun of Spectra, but they pay out about a 5.2 percent yield. They are in the midst of merging with Progress Energy, Inc. (PGN), which itself carries a yield of almost 5.2 percent. The current payout of $0.245 is expected to be bossted sometime soon, although that's not a certainty.

FirstEnergy Corporation (FE) pays out about 5.3 percent in dividend yields, even as it hit a 52-week high of $41.77 recently. It's unlikely FirstEnergy will add to its dividend in a big way soon, but as it is it offers a decent return for those looking for income and safety. What's attractive about FE is it's far below its pre-recession share price high, which makes it a potential growth story as well.

For those seeking less exposure to individual stocks while looking for dividend income, the Utilities Select Sector SPDR (XLU) ETF could be up your alley. It has also recently hit a 52-week high, and offers an approximate return of 4.0 percent.

Dividend Yields for (POM) (FE) (DUK) (AEE) (PGN)

Indicated dividend yields for Standard & Poor's 500 Index companies Pepco Holdings Inc (POM), FirstEnergy Corp (FE), Duke Energy Corp (DUK), Ameren Corp (AEE) and Progress Energy Inc (PGN).

These dividend data indicate dividend yields of companies in the Standard & Poor's 500 Index as of Saturday, April 30. The yield is determined by taking the latest declared dividend, annualized and divided by the price of the stock. Payout ratios are calculated based on latest quarterly dividend paid divided by earnings.

Pepco Holdings Inc (POM) has a dividend yield of 5.60 percent on a declared dividend of $0.27. The payout ratio is 432.0 percent.

FirstEnergy Corp (FE) has a dividend yield of 5.50 percent on a declared dividend of $0.55. The payout ratio is 90.4 percent.

Duke Energy Corp (DUK) has a dividend yield of 5.25 percent on a declared dividend of $0.24. The payout ratio is 76.5 percent.

Ameren Corp (AEE) has a dividend yield of 5.25 percent on a declared dividend of $0.39. The payout ratio is 177.6 percent.

Progress Energy Inc (PGN) has a dividend yield of 5.23 percent on a declared dividend of $0.62. The payout ratio is 143.5 percent.

Hecla (HL) (PCL) (PGN) PTs Boosted on April 26

Hecla Mining (NYSE: HL), Plum Creek Timber Co. (NYSE: PCL) and Progress Energy (NYSE: PGN) all had their price targets raised on April 26.

Jefferies (NYSE:JEF) raised its price target on Hecla Mining (HL) from $12.00 to $13.00. They have a “Buy” rating on Hecla.

Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc boosted its price target on Plum Creek Timber Co. (PCL) to $40.00. They have a “Market Perform” rating on Plum.

Jefferies increased their price target on Progress Energy (PGN) from $47.50 to $48.00.

Will NRG Energy (NRG), Southern (SO), SCANA (SCG), NextEra (NEE), Progress (PGN), Duke (DUK) Continue U.S. Nuclear Plans?

NRG Energy (NYSE:NRG), Southern (NYSE:SO), SCANA (NYSE:SCG), NextEra (NYSE:NEE), Progress Energy (NYSE:PGN) and Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) are either building or had plans to build nuclear facilities in the United States. That is all on hold now as the companies wait to see how it may impact the overall sector, as well as the expected rise in prices.

The bottom line in all of this is the response by regulators in relationship to a worst-case-scenario, which some believe will be redefined.

If it's redefined to outrageous levels, the costs of nuclear energy, at least in the U.S. and western countries, may become prohibitive.

"This is going to impose significant costs, perhaps material costs, before we are done," said John Rowe, chairman of Chicago-based power company Exelon Corp (NYSE:EXC), the largest operator of nuclear power plants in the United States.

Other nations understand there can never be a perfect solution as far as risk goes, and you do the very best you can to reduce that risk while supplying whatever product you've produced.

Hopefully those with agendas and who live in fear aren't allowed to win the day with nuclear in the U.S., as it's a vital part of the future of energy, and many other countries will continue to use it to generate energy for their people.




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Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK), Progress (NYSE:PGN) Not Without Risks

The announced stock-for-stock merger between Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) and Progress (NYSE:PGN), at first glance, doesn't impress FBR Capital, and barring synergies, could be dilutive for Duke, and wouldn't be a good deal for them.

FBR says, "This morning, Duke Energy (DUK-Underperform) and Progress Energy (PGN-Market Perform) announced that they will be merging in a stock-for-stock deal. If approved, this merger would create the largest electric utility in the U.S. with a $37 billion market cap and a $40 billion rate base. The deal terms and financial implications are outlined below. In our view, one of the big challenges faced by DUK on a standalone basis is its lack of earnings growth. This transaction could potentially change this outlook if significant synergies are realized.

"According to the press release, Duke expects the deal to be accretive in the first year after close, which is slated for year-end 2011. Excluding synergies, this deal would be modestly dilutive and would not seem justifiable to us. Thus, our initial take is that this merger brings some strategic benefits to DUK that until now faced rather dim prospects, and lowers the share count to boot (better optics). From a PGN standpoint, the offer is a very handsome one and values the company at 14.8x consensus 2011 earnings, which is almost where Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is trading."

Progress Energy closed Monday at $43.99. down $0.73, or 1.63 percent. Duke Energy closed at $17.58, down $0.21, or 1.18 percent.