Before The Bell

Interesting Stocks To Watch On August 17 (BRCD, MTSL, CHC, GPS, FL, HIBB, ANN)

What makes these stocks interesting?

MER Telemanagement Solutions Ltd. (MTSL) reported higher profit for the second quarter, reflecting new customer acquisitions and expanding existing customer base.

- Q2 EPS was $0.10 versus $0.05 last year

- Q2 net income rose to $460,000 from $229,000.

- Q2 revenues increased to $3.3 mln from $3.0 mln last year.

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Brocade Communications Systems Inc. (BRCD), a maker of switches and software for data-storage networks, reported an increase in third-quarter profit, boosted by a 10% growth in revenues and improved margins.

- Q3 GAAP EPS rose to $0.09 from $0.00 last year

- Q3 non-GAAP EPS was $0.14 versus $0.09 last year. Consensus - $0.12/Shr.

- Q3 GAAP net income was $43 mln versus $2 mln prior year

- Q3 non-GAAP net income grew to $67 mln from $46 mln last year

- Q3 revenue increased to $555 mln versus $503 mln last year. Consensus - $536.55 mln.

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Small hydroelectric power projects operator China Hydroelectric Corp. (CHC) swung to a profit in second quarter, reflecting a better than average hydrological conditions in Zhejiang and Fujian provinces.

- Q2 EPS from cont. ops. was $0.05 versus loss $0.01 last year

- Q2 net income from cont. ops. was $7.7 mln versus loss $1.7 mln last year

- Q2 revenues rose to $33.9 mln versus $19.7 mln last year

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Fashion retailer Gap Inc. (GPS) reported a strong growth in second-quarter profit, boosted by a healthy increase in sales, and lifted earnings forecast for fiscal 2012.

Raises FY12 EPS target to $1.95 - $2.00 from prior view of $1.78 - $1.83 per share. Consensus - $2.08/Shr.

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ANN Inc. (ANN) reported higher results for the second quarter that topped the Street view and raised sales target for fiscal 2012.

Q3 & FY12 Outlook

- Sees Q3 sales to be $600 mln. Consensus - $605.69 mln.

- Expects total comparable sales increase in mid-single digits.

- Now sees FY12 sales to approach $2.385 bln versus prior view of $2.375 bln. Consensus - $2.37 bln.

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Specialty athletic retailer Foot Locker (FL) reported better-than-expected results for the second quarter.

- Q2 net income was $59 mln versus $37 mln last year

- Q2 EPS rose 63% to $0.39 from $0.24 last year. Consensus - $0.33/Shr.

- Q2 sales up 7.2% to $1.367 bln from $1.275 bln last year. Consensus - $1.35 bln.

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Hibbett Sports Inc. (HIBB) reported increased profit for the second quarter, driven by positive sales trends and margin improvement, and revised earnings target for fiscal 2013.

- Revises FY13 EPS outlook to $2.57 - $2.67 from prior view of $2.50 - $2.65. Consensus - $2.66/Shr.

by RTTNews Staff Writer

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