Stocks To Keep Your Eye On - 08/30/2007

- (BTH)/.12
- (DLM)/.02
- (ESL)/.55
- (FRE)/.99
- (GCO/.30
- (HRB)/-.35
- (TIF)/.35
- (ZLC)/-.08

Morgan Stanley (MS) fell $1.21, or 2 percent, to $60 in trading before U.S. exchanges opened. Merrill (MER) dropped $1.11 cents, or 1.5 percent, to $72. Goldman (GS) lost $2.43, or 1.4 percent, to $171.29. Bear Stearns (BSC) declined $1.70, or 1.6 percent, to $105.40.

Chico's FAS Inc. (CHS) declined $1, or 5.7 percent, to $16.53 in trading before U.S. exchanges opened. The clothing retailer said it earned 22 cents a share from continuing operations in the second quarter. Analysts anticipated 26 cents, on average.

Countrywide Financial Corp. (CFC) fell 45 cents, or 2.3 percent, to $19.36 in trading before U.S. exchanges opened. The mortgage lender that received a $2 billion investment last week to weather the subprime loan crisis had its share-price estimate cut by 30 percent to $28 at Credit Suisse Group because of the ``hostile financing environment and tumultuous secondary mortgage market conditions.'' Analyst Moshe Orenbuch revised his 2007 earnings estimate to a loss of 58 cents a share from a $3 profit.

King Pharmaceuticals Inc. (KG) fell $1.41, or 9 percent, to $14.20 in trading before U.S. exchanges opened. King and Palatin Technologies Inc. delayed an advanced study of an experimental drug for erectile dysfunction, citing increased blood pressure in patients.

H&R Block Inc. (HRB) fell 87 cents, or 4.5 percent, to $18.63 in trading before U.S. exchanges opened. The biggest U.S. tax-preparation company may stop making new loans through its Option One Mortgage Corp. unit to revive a planned sale of the business. ``The loan-originations market is in the midst of the most severe dislocation it has seen in years, maybe the most severe since the 1930s,'' Chief Executive Officer Mark Ernst said on a conference call with analysts.

Jo-Ann Stores Inc. (JAS) The largest U.S. fabric retailer reported a net loss of 76 cents per share for the fiscal 2008 second quarter. The average estimate among four analysts was 66 cents. Jo-Ann shares climbed $2.49, or 11.2 percent, to $24.73 yesterday.

Tiffany & Co. (TIF) rose $1.74, or 3.6 percent, to $49.86 in trading before U.S. exchanges opened. The world's second- largest luxury-jewelry retailer reported profit excluding some items that exceeded analysts' estimates. Tiffany also increased its annual profit and sales forecast.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT) fell 90 cents, or 2 percent, to $43.29. The world's largest retailer was cut to ``sell'' from ``neutral'' by analysts at Merrill Lynch & Co., who cited declining profit margins and a slowing economy.