Price Targets (CTRP) (INTU) (JCP) (LDK) (LONG) Weekly Recap

Price targets on shares of Ctrip.com International, Ltd. (NASDAQ: CTRP), Intuit Inc. (NASDAQ: INTU), J.C. Penney Company, Inc. (NYSE: JCP), LDK Solar (NYSE: LDK), eLong, Inc. (NASDAQ: LONG) updated by analysts during the last week.

Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) cut their price target on Ctrip.com International, Ltd. (CTRP) from $42.00 to $40.00.

Deutsche Bank (NYSE:DB) raised their price target on Intuit Inc. (INTU) from $60.00 to $65.00. They have a “buy” rating on the company.

Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) raised their price target on J.C. Penney Company, Inc. (JCP) from $30.00 to $35.00.

Collins Stewart cut their price target on LDK Solar (LDK) from $11.00 to $8.00. They have a “sell” rating on the company.

Brean Murray raised their price target on eLong, Inc. (LONG) from $17.00 to $20.00. They have a “buy” rating on the company.

Price Targets on (INCY) (JCP) (LFT) (PETM) (SIX) Updated

Price targets on shares of Incyte (NASDAQ: INCY), J.C. Penney Company, Inc. (NYSE: JCP), Longtop Financial Technologies Limited (NYSE: LFT), Petsmart Inc (NASDAQ: PETM) and Six Flags Entertainment Corp (NYSE: SIX) were updated by analysts.

Oppenheimer raised their price target on Incyte (INCY) from $23.00 to $25.00. They have an “outperform” rating on the company.

Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) raised their price target on J.C. Penney Company, Inc. (JCP) to $32.00. They have an “underweight” rating on the company.

BMO Capital Markets cut their price target on Longtop Financial Technologies Limited (LFT) from $50.00 to $25.00. They have an “outperform” rating on the company.

Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) raised their price target on Petsmart Inc (PETM) to $50.00. They have a “buy” rating on the company.

Oppenheimer raised their price target on Six Flags Entertainment Corp (SIX) from $77.00 to $84.00. They have an “outperform” rating on the company.

EPS Est on (AH) (CSC) (CSCO) (JCP) Updated

EPS estimates on Accretive Health, Inc. (NYSE: AH), Computer Sciences (NYSE: CSC), Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO) and J.C. Penney Company, Inc. (NYSE: JCP) updated by analysts.

Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) cut their EPS estimates on Accretive Health, Inc. (AH). They have a “neutral” rating and a price target of $26.00 on the company.

Goldman Sachs cut their EPS estimates on Computer Sciences (CSC). They have a “neutral” rating and a price target of $43.00 on the company.

Goldman Sachs raised their EPS on Cisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO). They have a “neutral” rating and a price target of $21.00 on the company.

BMO Capital Markets raised their EPS on J.C. Penney Company, Inc. (JCP). They have a “market perform” rating and a price target of $35.00 on the company.

Price Targets on (JCP) (MCD) (MDC) (N) (NRGY) Updated

Analysts updated price targets on J.C. Penney Company, Inc. (NYSE: JCP), McDonald’s (NYSE: MCD), MDC Holdings (NYSE: MDC), NetSuite Inc. (NYSE: N) and Inergy (NASDAQ: NRGY).

Citigroup (NYSE:C) raised their price target on J.C. Penney Company, Inc. (JCP) from $49.00 to $51.00. They have a “buy” rating on the company.

BMO Capital Markets raised their price target on McDonald’s (NYSE: MCD) to $84.00. They have a “market perform” rating on the company.

Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) cut their price target on MDC Holdings (MDC) to $27.00. They have a “neutral” rating on the company.

Feltl & Co. raised their price target on NetSuite Inc. (N) from $35.00 to $40.00. They have a “buy” rating on the company.

RBC Capital cut their price target on Inergy (NASDAQ: NRGY) from $44.00 to $41.00. They have a “sector perform” rating on the company.

Price Targets on (COKE) (CTRP) (FXCM) (INTU) (JCP) Updated

Price targets on shares of Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated (NASDAQ: COKE), Ctrip.com International, Ltd. (NASDAQ: CTRP), FXCM Inc (NASDAQ: FXCM), Intuit Inc. (NASDAQ: INTU) and J.C. Penney Company, Inc. (NYSE: JCP) were updated by analysts.

Citigroup (NYSE:C) raised their price target on Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated (COKE) from $61.00 to $69.00. They have a “hold” rating on the company.

Piper Jaffray (NYSE:PJC) cut their price target on Ctrip.com International, Ltd. (CTRP) from $50.00 to $49.00. They have an “overweight” rating on the company.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) cut their price target on FXCM Inc (FXCM) from $16.50 to $15.00. They have an “overweight” rating on the company.

Jefferies (NYSE:JEF) raised their price target on Intuit Inc. (INTU) from $59.00 to $64.00.

Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) raised their price target on J.C. Penney Company, Inc. (JCP) from $30.00 to $35.00.

Price Targets on (ICLK) (IFF) (IHS) (IRWD) (JCP) Updated

Price targets on shares of InterCLICK Inc (NASDAQ: ICLK), International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (NYSE: IFF), IHS (NYSE: IHS), Ironwood Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: IRWD) and J.C. Penney Company, Inc. (NYSE: JCP) were updated by analysts.

Wedbush raised their price target on InterCLICK Inc (ICLK) from $8.00 to $9.00. They have an “outperform” rating on the company.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) raised their price target on International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (IFF) from $60.00 to $65.00. They have a “neutral” rating on the company.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on IHS (IHS) from $85.00 to $90.00. They have a “neutral” rating on the company.

Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) raised their price target on Ironwood Pharmaceuticals (IRWD) from $14.00 to $16.00.

Piper Jaffray (NYSE:PJC) raised their price target on J.C. Penney Company, Inc. (JCP) from $34.00 to $35.00. They have a “neutral” rating on the company.

Ratings on (GEN) (HEV) (HMIN) (HR) (JCP) Reiterated

Ratings on RRI Energy, Inc. (NYSE: GEN), Ener1, Inc. (NYSE: HEV), Home Inns & Hotels Management Inc. (NASDAQ: HMIN), Healthcare Realty Trust (NYSE: HR) and J.C. Penney Company, Inc. (NYSE: JCP) reiterated by analysts.

Deutsche Bank (NYSE:DB) reiterated a “hold” rating on RRI Energy, Inc. (GEN).

Wunderlich reiterated a “hold” rating on Ener1, Inc. (HEV). They have a price target of $3.50 on the company.

BMC Equities Research reiterated a “buy” rating on Home Inns & Hotels Management Inc. (HMIN). They have a price target of $49.00 on the company.

Deutsche Bank reiterated a “hold” rating on Healthcare Realty Trust (HR).

Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) reiterated an “underweight” rating on J.C. Penney Company, Inc. (JCP).

March Retail (TGT) (COST) (BJ) (JCP) Sales Mixed

As expected, March retail sales were mixed today as a number of retailers reported for the month earlier in the session.

Discounters like Costco (NASDAQ:COST) and BJ's Wholesale (NYSE:BJ) soared as expected, along with high end stores like Saks (NYSE:SKS).

Limited (NYSE:LTD) was the top performer of the companies reporting today, with sales jumping 14 percent in March.

Worst in the group was Kohl's (NYSE:KSS), whose sales fell 6.5 percent last month.

Here are those retailers with sales gains in March:

Costco (COST) - up 8%; Macy's (NYSE: M) - up 0.9%; Limited (LTD) - up 14%; The Buckle (NYSE:BKE) - up 8.4%; Zumiez (NASDAQ:ZUMZ) - up 8.9%; BJ's Wholesale (BJ) - up 5.3%; Saks (SKS) - up 11.1%; and Nordstrom (NYSE:JWN) - up 5.1%.

Retailers which lost sales in March:

Target (NYSE:TGT) - down 5.5%; JCPenney (NYSE:JCP) - down 0.3%; Gap (NYSE:GPS) - down 10%; Kohl's (KSS) - down 6.5%; TJX (NYSE:TJX) - down 1%; and Hot Topic (Nasdaq:HOTT) - down 5%.

Jitters Over (TGT) (BJ) (COST) (KSS) (JCP) (SKS) (JWN) (M) (SSI) March Sales Report

With Macy's (NYSE:M), Target (NYSE:TGT), BJ's Wholesale Club (NYSE:BJ), Costco (Nasdaq:COST), Kohl's (NYSE:KSS), Stage Stores (NYSE:SSI), J.C. Penney (NYSE:JCP), Saks (NYSE:SKS) and Nordstrom (NYSE:JWN) all reporting March sales today, shareholders and investors have jitters over the narrative that will probably emerge; one that most won't like for some of these companies.

On the positive side, Costco and BJ's Wholesale Club should generate improvements in same-store sales, based on getting more benefits from higher gas prices. Macy's and Nordstrom may also turn in a good quarter.

Barclays said, "Ahead of these results, we are raising our Barclays Capital Broadlines/Dept. Stores Same Store-Sales Index estimate for March to (0.8)% from (2.1)% compared with an 11.3% increase last year. The increase in our index is attributable to our expectations for higher comps for Costco and BJ's Wholesale Club, due to a larger benefit from gas prices, as well as our expectations for continued solid momentum at Macy's and Nordstrom, despite the Easter shift. We are raising our estimate for Costco to 6%-8% from 3%-5%, our estimate for BJ's to 0%-2% from (1)%-1%, our estimate for Macy's to (1)%-(3)% from (2)%-(4)%, and our estimate for Nordstrom to 1%-3% from (2)%-(4)%."

Concerning April, the optimism fades though. "We believe overall sales were solid in March; however, we expect the shift of Easter into April out of March, as well as tough comparisons last year, to have a negative impact on this month's results...We are maintaining our estimate for an 11.8% increase in our index in April," Barclays concluded.

It seems the reports will be a mixed bag, as Bed Bath & Beyond may have stolen some business from Target, and there could be some other surprises in there.

Abercrombie (ANF) Boosts (JCP) (M) (LTD) (URBN)

Shares of retailers like J.C. Penney (NYSE:JCP), Limited Brands (NYSE:LTD), Urban Outfitters (NASDAQ:URBN) and Macy’s (NYSE:M) are all jumping today, as quarterly results by Abercrombie (NYSE:ANF) are leading the sector higher.

Abercrombie & Fitch is leading the way on its guidance in its latest report, where the company said they see EPS rising to $4.75 for the fiscal year.

The retailer also said in its first investor day in several years that it is going to aggressively maintain momentum with its international expansion.

Abercrombie was trading at $65.96, gaining $6.79, or 11.48 percent, as of 1:47 PM EDT. Limited was trading at $34.83, up $1.49, or 4.49 percent. JCPenny was at $37.05, rising $1.17, or 3.26 percent. Urban Outfitters was trading at $30.88, increasing $0.69, or 2.29 percent. Macy's jumped to $24.73, gaining $0.80, or 3.34 percent.

Retailers (WMT) (JCP) (M) (HD) (TGT) (LOW) (ODP) All Down on Inflation Expectations

The CEO of Wal-Mart (NYSE:WMT), Bill Simon, said in an interview with USA Today that he sees inflation having an impact on price in the latter part of 2011, causing retailers like JC Penney (NYSE:JCP), Home Depot (NYSE:HD), Target (NYSE:TGT), Lowe's (NYSE:LOW), Macy's (NYSE:M) and Office Depot (NYSE:ODP) to all fall.

Food companies have already had to begin to endure the higher prices, as input costs rise as food demand surges around the world. In that case the companies have responded more by lowering the amount of product in some packaging, rather than raising prices or suffering the loss of margins and earnings.

Of course general retailers, for the most part, don't have that luxury, and so will be force to raise prices or allow earnings to underperform, something most will most likely not be willing to allow to happen.

Bottom line is it appears in an environment of higher fuel costs retailers will have to boost prices, making it a difficult time for the overall sector going forward, in an a price sensitive situation.

Acquire J.C. Penney (JCP) Puts Says Morgan Stanley (MS)

Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) recommends that traders acquire puts on J.C. Penney (NYSE:JCP), citing higher costs and the inability of the retailer to raise prices.

Christopher Metli and Sivan Mahadevan, strategists at Morgan Stanley, recommend purchasing May $32 puts while selling May $27 puts.

The two said, “The competitive environment will thwart efforts to raise prices. Put spreads give downside exposure to cost inflation and excess inventory pressuring the stock.”

Most of this is predicated on the rising price of cotton, which has risen 13 percent just from February 24 through March 2.

China is behind the rising prices, as demand continues to grow while supply remains constrained.

For J.C. Penney and other relevant retailers, this will make a significant impact on margins and earnings.

J.C. Penney closed Thursday at $33.94, down $0.29, or 0.85 percent.

AIG (AIG), First Solar (FSLR), JC Penney (JCP) All Plunge

While the overall market looks better Friday than it has in several days, shares of AIG (AIG), First Solar (FSLR) and JC Penney (JCP) have all dropped over 5 percent on the day.

Stocks climbed Friday, breaking three consecutive sessions of losses, led by the tech and financial sectors and as oil prices stabilized at lower levels.

The major indices are poised to end the week with their worst weekly percentage decline since August. However, they continue to be in positive territory for the month and year.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up almost 60 points, after ending slightly lower in the previous session.

Intel (INTC) and Boeing (BA) led Dow components higher, while Wal-Mart (WMT) and Pfizer (PFE) fell.

The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq also advanced. The CBOE Volatility Index, widely considered the best gauge of fear in the market, sank almost 10 percent to trade below 20.

All key S&P 500 sectors were higher, led by financials, technology and materials.





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JCPenney (NYSE:JCP) Closing Stores, Adds to Board, Shares surge

The share price of JCPenney (NYSE:JCP) is soaring today on news the company is closing stores while adding adding two new board members.

Also announced was they're continuing with their strategy of exiting their catalog business. That will of course result in the closing of more call centers.

The market likes the streamlining of operations, which should result in increasing the profits for the retailer.

Added to the board of directors, bring the total members to 13, were Vornado Realty Trust Chairman Steven Roth and activist investor William Ackman .

Chairman and CEO Myron E. Ullman III said in a statement, "As we continue to position our company for the future, we determined that these steps are necessary to capitalize on the growth opportunities we see ahead while we ensure we are managing costs appropriately and continually enhancing the profitability of our operations."

JCPenney was trading at $32.63, gaining $2.29, or 7.55 percent, as of 12:23 PM EST.