Monthly Archives: August 2017

Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) looks to find earnings surprises by focusing on the most recent analyst revisions. This is done because, generally speaking, if an analyst reevaluates their earnings estimate right before an earnings release, it means that they have fresh information which could potentially be more accurate than what analysts thought about a company two or three months ago.

The crux of this approach is comparing the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate, although the Zacks Rank is also an important feature of the ESP metric. Combining these two can help investors find stocks that are ready to beat the consensus at their next report, and hopefully surge higher in price too.

In fact, when combining a Zacks Rank #3 or better and a positive Earnings ESP, stocks produced a positive surprise 70% of the time. And best of all, by using these parameters, investors have seen 28.3% annual returns on average, according to our 10 year backtest.

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Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) looks to find companies that have recently seen positive earnings estimate revision activity. The idea is that more recent information is, generally speaking, more accurate and can be a better predictor of the future, which can give investors an advantage in earnings season.

The technique has proven to be very useful for finding positive surprises. In fact, when combining a Zacks Rank #3 or better and a positive Earnings ESP, stocks produced a positive surprise 70% of the time, while they also saw 28.3% annual returns on average, according to our 10 year backtest.

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Cf Industries Holdings, Inc. - CF - Stock Price Today - Zacks

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Kalydeco (ivacaftor) to treat more than 600 of the estimated 30,000 Americans with cystic fibrosis (CF), Vertex Pharmaceuticals announced.

The oral medicine may now be prescribed to CF patients ages 2 and older who have one of five residual function mutations that result in a splicing defect in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene, according to Vertex.

The FDA based its Aug. 1 approval on Phase 3 clinical data for Kalydeco in these mutations. This follows previous FDA approvalsof the drug in May 2017 for 23 other residual function mutations. The agencys first approval of Kalydeco was in January 2012 for 10 mutations in the CFTR gene.

Tuesdays announcement brings the number of CFTR mutations that Kalydeco may treat to 38 out of a possible 2,000 or so known mutations in the gene. Boston-based Vertex said both 2017 FDA approvals are supported by more than five years of real-world clinical experience that demonstrates Kalydecos established safety and effectiveness.

In the five years since Kalydeco became the first approved medicine to treat the underlying cause of cystic fibrosis, we have been relentless in our efforts to bring this important medicine to all who may benefit, Dr. Jeffrey Chodakewitz, executive vice president and chief medical officer at Vertex, said in a press release. We will continue to pursue this goal until all people with CF have a medicine that treats their form of this serious and life-shortening disease.

Kalydeco is the first medicine to treat the underlying cause of CF in people with those specific CFTR mutations. It is designed to keep CFTR proteins at the cell surface open longer to improve the transport of salt and water across the cell membrane, which helps hydrate and clear mucus from the airways.

According to Vertex, the five mutations covered under the FDAs latest approval cause CF and result in a moderate loss of chloride transport. Patients with these mutations generally experience progressive lung function decline and other complications of the disease. All five mutations were evaluated as part of the previously disclosedPhase 3 EXPAND studyin which Kalydeco as a monotherapy met its primary efficacy endpoint and was generally well tolerated.

Following the FDA announcement, Vertex raised projected 2017 sales of Kalydeco to between $770 million and $800 million. It now expects total CF product revenues to reach anywhere from $1.87 billion to $2.1 billion; well over half that total will come from sales of another CF therapy, Orkambi.

Kalydecos discovery stems from a CF research program initiated by Vertex in 2000 as part of a collaboration with Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics, an affiliate of the nonprofit Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, based in Bethesda, Maryland.

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FDA Approves Kalydeco for 600 CF Patients with Specific Mutations - Cystic Fibrosis News Today

Chronic pulmonary infections are a hallmark of lung disease in patients with cystic fibrosis. Due to the variability in bacteria that can colonize the lung and the specific antibiotic treatments that may be effective, treatment strategies are often tailored to individual patients.

But some bacterial infections are often difficult to treat across the entire population. Burkholderia cepaciacomplex (Bcc) is notoriously difficult to attack due to its natural multi-drug resistant state and its quick ability to develop resistance to antibiotics. Infections arising from Bcc can lead to permanent loss of lung function and early death in patients with CF.

Earlier this month, Synspira announced the resultsof a combination study using its inhaled polycationic glycopolymer drug candidate called PAAG and conventional antibiotics as a potential treatment for pulmonary infection caused by theBurkholderia cepaciacomplex in patients with CF.

The investigative treatment, SNSP113, is a glycopolymer-based therapy being developed as an inhaled treatment to improve lung function in patients with pulmonary bacterial infections.

SNSP113 is known to interact with the biofilms that make treating bacteria difficult in CF, and is thought to break the biofilms apart and reduce the viscosity and adhesion of mucus in the lungs. Biofilms and mucus lead to pulmonary exacerbations in CF, and SNSP113 may address both issues in cystic fibrosis.

The results published in PLOS ONE demonstrate that our inhaled glycopolymer drug candidate, PAAG, has the potential to significantly enhance the activity of antibiotics that are used for the treatment of lung infections caused by Burkholderia cepaciacomplex, a relatively uncommon but often fatal infection in cystic fibrosis,Shenda Baker, PhD,the CEO ofSynspira, said in a press release.

From a personal viewpoint, Bcc is one of those bacteria that makes me anxious to see my culture report. Its a scary one, and requires an intensive treatment plan in hopes to eradicate the bacteria from the lungs.

Part of the reason its nerve-racking is because there really are no bulls-eye treatments that have been approved to help preserve lung function. The bacteriums susceptibility to antibiotics varies tremendously, and there is a chance that no antibiotic may be effective to fight the infection.

The introduction of SNSP113 could be a game-changer in CF. If approved, the treatment would not only open up treatment options for Bcc, but may also have positive outcomes when treating other common infections in CF, like Pseudomonas. While much of the attention in cystic fibrosis has been directed toward the novel CFTR modulators, its still critically important to strive for new antibiotics in patients with CF.

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Note:Cystic Fibrosis News Todayis strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Cystic Fibrosis News Todayor its parent company, BioNews Services, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to cystic fibrosis.

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Synspira's Therapy Candidate May Be a Game-Changer for Drug-Resistant Bacteria in CF - Cystic Fibrosis News Today

NEW YORK, July 31, 2017 /CNW/ --On Thursday, August 3, Saks OFF 5TH will celebrate the grand opening of its first store in the Montreal market. The approximately 30,000 square foot store is located in the newly redeveloped wing of CF Galeries d'Anjou.

"We're thrilled to open the first Saks OFF 5TH store in the Montreal market," commented Jonathan Greller, President Saks OFF 5TH and Gilt. "Our new store will offer shoppers convenient access to our curated assortment of emerging designer labels and well-known luxury brands available at an exceptional value."

Saks OFF 5TH offers shoppers a compelling lineup of more than 800 sought-after brands and an ever-evolving selection of luxury designer fashion. The new store features an open, modern layout and playful graphic elements in an easy-to-shop environment.

To celebrate the occasion, the first 100 shoppers to arrive on Thursday, August 3 will receive a $25 Saks OFF 5TH gift card to kick off their shopping. Additionally, from Thursday, August 3 to Sunday, August 13, shoppers are eligible to enter a sweepstakes for the chance to win a $1,000 Saks OFF 5TH gift card and other designer prizes.*

WHO:

Saks OFF 5TH

WHAT:

A brand-new approximately 30,000 square foot Saks OFF 5TH store stocked with more than 800 designer brands for men, women and kids.

WHERE:

7999 Boulevard des Galeries-d'Anjou, Unit Y-008B

Montreal, Quebec H1M 1W9

WHEN:

Thursday, August 3

Doors Open at 10am

CF Galeries d'Anjou Regular Store Hours:

Mon Fri: 10am 9pm

Sat: 9am 5pm

Sun: 10am 5pm

*Sweepstakes guidelines available in-store.

Media Contact: Meghan Biango rel="nofollow">Meghan.Biango@hbc.com

SOURCE Saks OFF 5TH

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Saks OFF 5TH Celebrates Grand Opening at CF Galeries d'Anjou - Markets Insider

CF Industries (CF - Free Report) is set to release second-quarter 2017 results after the closing bell on Aug 2.

The fertilizer maker delivered a negative earnings surprise of 44.44% in first-quarter 2017. The company posted a loss of $23 million or 10 cents per share in the quarter, as against a profit of $26 million or 11 cents recorded a year ago. Barring one-time items, adjusted earnings came in at 5 cents per share for the quarter, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 9 cents.

CF Industries missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the trailing four quarters while beating in one with an average negative surprise of 121.48%.

CF Industries shares have lost around 20.9% over the past six months, underperforming the roughly 8.1% decline of its industry.

Lets see how things are shaping up for this announcement.

Factors to Watch For

CF Industries continues to bear the brunt of pricing pressure. The company is also exposed to challenging agriculture market fundamentals.

CF Industries saw lower average selling prices across all segments in the first quarter. Urea prices have been under pressure due to higher nitrogen supply. High supply levels in the global nitrogen market due to capacity additions pressured pricing in the first quarter and remain a headwind in the June quarter.

Abundant nitrogen supply driven by new production capacity is expected weigh on global prices through 2017. CF Industries, in its first-quarter call, said that it anticipates uneven nitrogen pricing environment to continue through 2017. The company also noted that excess global nitrogen supply continues to pressure marginal producers in China and other regions. Additional nitrogen capacity is expected to come onstream globally during second-half 2017 including a significant increase in North America.

Nevertheless, CF Industries sees demand for nitrogen in North America to be relatively strong during the spring application season for nitrogen-consuming crops. It should also gain from its efforts to expand production capacity.

Earnings Whispers

Our proven model does not conclusively show that CF Industries is likely to beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate this quarter. That is because a stock needs to have both a positive Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) for this to happen. That is not the case here, as you will see below:

Zacks ESP: The Earnings ESP for CF Industries is -25.00% as the Most Accurate Estimate stands at a loss of 10 cents while the Zacks Consensus Estimate is pegged at a loss of 8 cents. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before theyre reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

Zacks Rank: CF Industries currently carries a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell). Note that we caution against Sell-rated stocks (#4 or 5) going into the earnings announcement, especially when the company is seeing negative estimate revisions.

Stocks That Warrant a Look

Here are some companies in the basic materials space you may want to consider as our model shows they have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this quarter:

Westlake Chemical Corporation (WLK - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +5.04% and a Zacks Rank #2. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The Chemours Company (CC - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +4.44% and a Zacks Rank #2.

Endeavour Silver Corp. (EXK - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +100% and a Zacks Rank #3.

More Stock News: 8 Companies Verge on Apple-Like Run Did you miss Apple's 9X stock explosion after they launched their iPhone in 2007? Now 2017 looks to be a pivotal year to get in on another emerging technology expected to rock the market. Demand could soar from almost nothing to $42 billion by 2025. Reports suggest it could save 10 million lives per decade which could in turn save $200 billion in U.S. healthcare costs. A bonus Zacks Special Report names this breakthrough and the 8 best stocks to exploit it. Like Apple in 2007, these companies are already strong and coiling for potential mega-gains. Click to see them right now >>

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CF Industries (CF) Q2 Earnings Preview: Stock to Disappoint? - Zacks.com

Denis Poroy/Getty Images North America via Zimbio.com

The demise of Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen has been greatly exaggerated.

At least thats the way Cutch is making it seem this summer.

As the calendar flips to August, the 30-year-old mainstay is on an extended tear thats helped turn around an abysmal season for himself and the team.

McCutchen put a bow on July by slugging three home runs against the San Diego Padres on Sunday. In the months of June and July, McCutchen is batting .367 (65-for-177) with 14 homers, 42 runs batted in 11 doubles and 44 runs scored.

The resurgence is a welcome sight for Pirates fans beginning to worry about their center fielders future. McCutchen struggled throughout the 2016 campaign, ending a streak of five straight All-Star selections that included the 2013 National League Most Valuable Player award three other top-five finishes.

McCutchen ended last year with the worst slash line of his big-league career in all three categories .256/.336/.430. That kind of underwhelming performance at the plate then carried into the 2017 season and concern mounted. After an 0-for-5 day against the Atlanta Braves on May 23, McCutchens average dipped down to .200 and he had only six home runs and 20 RBI through 45 games.

The slow start added fuel to burning trade rumors that predicted the nine-year veteran didnt have much longer in black and gold.

Fast-forward two-plus months and the slash line is up to a McCutchen-like .292/.385/.535. The average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage are all team-highs and hes also Pittsburghs top home run hitter (22), run producer (66 RBI) and run scorer (68).

Wins took a little longer to catch up. After falling to a season-worst nine games under .500 (37-46) on July 3, the Bucs have won 14 of 22 and enter an eight-game homestand at 51-54. Pittsburgh remains a long-shot to reach its fourth postseason in five years, but the Pirates are within 5 1/2 games of the National League Central-leading Chicago Cubs and 8 1/2 games of the second wild card berth, currently held by the Colorado Rockies.

The non-waiver trade deadline passed at 4 p.m., Monday afternoon and McCutchen remains in a Pirates uniform. That could still change, but Cutch is proving hes got a lot of high-level baseball left to play.

Eric Horchy is a staff writer withOutsidePitchMLB.com. You can follow and interact with him on Twitter:@EricHorchy

2017Andrew McCutchenBaseballBuccosBucsmajor league baseballMLBMLB StandingsNational LeagueNL CentralOutsidePitchMLBPittsburgh PiratesPNC Parkregular seasonSports

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Pittsburgh Pirates CF Andrew McCutchen's lengthy tear - OutsidePitchMLB