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Larry Schutts
- http://www.stockwinners.com

Larry Schutts, a former university professor, is vice president of Stockwinners.com and a contributing editor for Theflyonthewall.com. Larry looks for stocks with technical and fundamental characteristics indicating gains in the next 30 days. However, price movements may be volatile. He includes a stop-loss price in each post. Consider selling a position should the stop-loss be violated.

Constellation Brands (NYSE: STZ) produces and markets more than 250 brands of wine, spirits and beer, in about 150 countries. The Wines division, the largest maker of wine by volume in the world, is responsible for such brands as Robert Mondavi, Inniskillin, Simi, Arbor Mist and Blackthorn (cider). The Spirits division distills such brands as Black Velvet, Chi-Chi's, Fleischmann's, Canadian LTD and Mr. Boston. The Imports division has the right to import, market, and sell Corona Extra, Corona Light, Tsingtao, Modelo Especial, Pacifico and St. Pauli Girl. The firm distributes its products through wholesalers, government beverage control agencies and various retailers. Diageo (NYSE: DEO) and Fortune Brands (NYSE: FO) are major competitors.

The company pleased investors earlier in the week, when it reported fiscal Q1 EPS of 34 cents and revenues of $931.8 million. Analysts had been looking for 31 cents and $906.1 million. The highlight of the quarter was a 24% year over year rise in branded wine net sales. Management also guided FY09 EPS to $1.68-$1.76, versus consensus of $1.70.

Robbins & Myers (NYSE: RBN) provides equipment used for the industrial processing and management of fluids. Its Fluid Management segment offers hydraulic drilling equipment, slurry grinders and wellhead systems used by oil and gas, specialty chemical and wastewater treatment firms. The Process Solutions unit makes glass-lined reactors, storage vessels and mixing/agitation devices for the pharmaceutical and fine chemical markets. The Romaco segment provides equipment for the dosing, filling and sealing of vials, capsules, tubes and bottles.

Investors were pleased earlier in the week, when the firm reported fiscal Q3 EPS of 62 cents and revenues of $200.9 million. The Street had been looking for 58 cents and $190.2 million. Management also guided Q4 EPS to 62-67 cents (60 cent consensus) and FY08 EPS to $2.10-$2.15 ($2.05 consensus).

AeroVironment (NASDAQ: AVAV) is engaged in the design, development and production of unmanned aircraft systems and electric energy technologies for various industries and governmental agencies. The company's small aircraft are used by U.S. Department of Defense customers to deliver real-time reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition to tactical operating units. Its electrical products include recharge systems for industrial vehicle batteries and power processing test equipment. Ford Motor (NYSE: F) and Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) are on the company's commercial customer list. Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) is a major competitor.

The firm pleased investors last week, when it reported fiscal Q4 EPS of 30 cents and revenues of $64.3 million. Analysts had been expecting 27 cents and $59.3 billion. In discussing the successful quarter, the CEO pointed to strength in demand for unmanned aircraft and related support services. Management also guided FY09 revenues to about $258.9-$269.7 million, versus Street consensus of $259.44 million. Funded backlog at the end of Q4 was up 35% from the same point last year.

Taleo Corporation (NASDAQ: TLEO) offers software that allows businesses to efficiently manage their staffing processes. Products help to automate recruitment, background screening, regulatory compliance, skills assessment and tracking of professional, hourly, and temporary employees. The firm's professional services division provides implementation and technical support. Customers range from small businesses to global enterprises. Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ), Dow Chemical (NYSE: DOW) and Freeport-McMoRan (NYSE: FCX) are among Taleo's large-cap clients.

Investors were pleased last month, when the company affirmed its Q2 EPS and revenue guidance figures. Management also said it expected this week's acquisition of talent management software maker Vurv Technology to add to its 2008 results, projecting EPS of 62 cents (60 cent consensus) and revenues of $175-$177 million ($162.8M consensus).

The Andersons (NASDAQ: ANDE) is a diversified firm, with interests in the U.S. agriculture, transportation and retail markets. Its Grain & Ethanol Group purchases and merchandises grain; operates grain elevator facilities; manages ethanol production facilities; and engages in grain and ethanol trading. The Rail Group buys, sells, leases, rebuilds, and repairs various types of used railcars and rail equipment. The Retail Group offers hardware, plumbing, electrical, and building supplies, as well as specialty foods and wines. The Plant Nutrient and Turf & Specialty Groups formulate fertilizers. The company has operations in ten states and Puerto Rico, plus rail leasing interests in Canada and Mexico.

The firm pleased investors last week, when it boosted its FY08 EPS guidance from $3.65-$4.00 to $4.40-$4.80. Analysts had been looking for $3.79. Management attributed the favorable outlook to the improved performance of the Plant Nutrient Group.

EMCOR Group (NYSE: EME) plans, installs, operates and maintains the systems that create facility environments. These include installations for power generation, power distribution, lighting, security, communications, plumbing, waste treatment, heating, ventilation, refrigeration and air-conditioning. The firm also provides facilities management and maintenance support. It serves commercial, industrial and institutional clients such as Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) and Wachovia Corporation (NYSE: WB). Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI) is a major competitor.

The Street was surprised last week, when EMCOR guided FY08 EPS from $2.08-$2.28 to $2.22-$2.42 and FY08 revenues from $6.3-$6.5 billion to $6.8-$7.0 billion. Analysts had been looking for $2.31 and $6.76 billion. The CEO cited "solid order activity" and a "strong contract backlog" for the favorable view.

PAREXEL International Corporation (NASDAQ: PRXL) provides contract research, medical marketing and consulting services to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries. Its Clinical Research Services segment offers clinical trial and data management, clinical pharmacology and related medical advisory services. The Consulting and Medical Communications Services unit offers technical advice on new product development, marketing and regulatory affairs. Subsidiary Perceptive Informatics sells IT system, medical imaging, and related services that help manage clinical trials.

The company pleased investors last week, when it guided fiscal Q4 EPS to 25-26 cents and revenues to $258-$265 million. Analysts had been looking for 26 cents and $259.31 million. Management also guided FY09 EPS to $1.10-$1.20 ($1.08 consensus) and FY09 revenues to $1.11-$1.14 billion ($1.14B consensus). Raymond James subsequently upgraded the stock to "outperform", noting that the firm "will exhibit a strong growth profile due to a strong biopharmaceutical outsourcing market, a large geographic footprint and a diversified service offering."

Kroger (NYSE: KR) is one of the nation's largest retail grocery chains. It operates nearly 2,500 supermarkets and multi-department stores in 31 states, under such local banners as Kroger, Ralphs, Fred Meyer, Fry's, Dillons, QFC and City Market. The firm also operates about 778 convenience stores, 392 fine jewelry stores, 723 supermarket fuel centers and 41 food processing plants. Despite diversification moves, Kroger food stores still account for about 85 percent of sales. Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) and Safeway (NYSE: SWY) are major competitors.

The firm pleased investors last week, when it reported fiscal Q1 EPS of 58 cents and revenues of $23.11 billion. Analysts had been expecting 55 cents and $22.32 billion. The EPS figure was a company record. Management also offered in-line guidance for FY09 earnings and said that about $643.6 million remained under the $1 billion stock repurchase program announced in January.

Jabil Circuit (NYSE: JBL) is a leading electronics manufacturing services firm, providing comprehensive design, manufacturing and product management services to global electronics and technology companies. The firm works for original equipment makers in the automotive, storage, medical, networking, telecommunications, computer and consumer products industries. Top customers include Cisco Systems (NASDAQ: CSCO), Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ) and Nokia (NYSE: NOK).

The company had good news for investors earlier in the week, when it reported fiscal Q3 EPS of 26 cents and revenues of $3.09 billion. Analysts had been looking for 20 cents and $3.08 billion. Management also guided Q4 EPS to 29-33 cents (29 cent consensus) and Q4 revenues to $3.2-$3.3 billion ($3.19B consensus). Credit Suisse subsequently reiterated its "neutral" rating on the stock, but RBC Capital Markets repeated an "outperform" recommendation and Needham said "buy" again.

Symmetry Medical (NYSE: SMA) makes implants and related instruments for orthopedic device manufacturers, primarily in the United States and the United Kingdom. Its devices are used in reconstructive surgeries to replace or repair hips, knees, shoulders, ankles and elbows. The company also designs, develops and produces products for companies in other segments of the medical device market, including arthroscopy, dentistry, laparoscopy and endoscopy. As a sideline, the firm manufactures aerofoils and aircraft engine parts for a few aerospace customers.

Symmetry pleased the Street earlier in the week, when it announced Q1 EPS of 20 cents and revenues of $101.9 million. Analysts had been expecting 14 cents and $88.4 million. The CEO attributed success to increased demand across the orthopedic market and the effects of recent acquisitions. Management also guided FY08 EPS to 75-77 cents (72 cent consensus) and FY08 revenues to $395-$405 million ($359.21M consensus).

Casey's General Stores (NASDAQ: CASY) operates, or franchises, more than 1,450 mid-western convenience stores, mostly in Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri. The outlets sell beverages, gasoline, groceries and prepared foods. Casey's also carries tobacco, health and beauty aids, automotive products, ammunition, housewares and photo supplies.

The firm had good news for investors earlier in the month, when it announced fiscal Q4 EPS of 28 cents and revenues of $1.2 billion. Analysts were expecting 25 cents and $1.19 billion. Management also presented an aggressive series of operating and financial goals for the new fiscal year and the board approved a 15% increase in the quarterly dividend.

Casella Waste Systems (NASDAQ: CWST) is an integrated regional solid waste services company that provides collection, transfer, disposal, recycling and resource management services to residential, industrial and commercial customers, primarily in the eastern United States. The firm owns and/or operates 38 solid waste collection businesses, 38 recycling facilities, 32 transfer stations, 11 subtitle D landfills, two landfills permitted to accept construction materials, and one waste-to-energy power generation facility. Casella also has a 50% stake in GreenFiber, a joint venture with Louisiana-Pacific (NYSE: LPX) that produces cellulose insulation.

The company surprised the Street last week, when it reported Q4 revenues of $139.6 million and a loss of 18 cents per share. Analysts had been expecting $137.7 million and a loss of 22 cents. Management also guided FY09 revenues to $610-$628 million, versus consensus of $605.67 million.

Chesapeake Energy Corporation (NYSE: CHK) is engaged in the acquisition, exploration, and development of properties for the production of natural gas and crude oil. The firm is the second-largest independent producer and third-largest overall producer of natural gas in the United States. Company properties are located in the US midcontinent region, along the Gulf Coast, in the Permian Basin, and in the Ark-La-Tex region. It owns interests in nearly 39,000 producing wells and has nearly eleven trillion cubic feet equivalent of proved reserves.

Chesapeake pleased investors last week, when it announced that it had formed a joint venture with Goodrich Petroleum (NYSE: GDP) that would give it working interests in deep strata of the Haynesville Shale of East Texas and Louisiana. The move is expected to make Chesapeake the largest U.S. natural-gas producer, pushing it past BP (NYSE: BP) and Anadarko Petroleum (NYSE: APC).

Western Union Company (NYSE: WU) provides a range of money transfer and bill payment services worldwide. Its consumer-to-consumer operations involve multi-currency and real-time processing systems for walk-in, online, and telephone money transfers. Its consumer-to-business operations enable payments to utilities, auto finance companies, mortgage servicers, financial service providers, and governmental agencies. The firm also offers money order products and advance payment services. Western Union does business through a network of more than 345,000 locations, in over 200 countries and territories.

Investors were pleased last week, when the company guided Y08 EPS to the higher end of the range $1.25-$1.29 and revenues to the higher end of the range $5.341-$5.439 billion. Analysts had been expecting $1.28 and $5.420 billion. Management also raised its long-term EPS growth objective from 12-14% to 15-18%, reaffirmed its long-term revenue growth objective of 10-12%, and announced that the board had authorized an additional $1 billion for share repurchases.

Wal-Mart Stores (NYSE: WMT) is the world's largest retailer, offering a vast array of general merchandise through some 7,350 stores. That total includes nearly 1,000 discount stores, over 2,800 combination discount and grocery stores and about 600 warehouse outlets. More than half of Wal-Mart's facilities are in the United States, but the firm has a widespread and growing international presence. It is the biggest retailer in Canada and Mexico, has a 95% stake in Japan's Seiyu and has developing operations in Europe, South America and Asia. The company employs more than two million associates and serves more than 200 million customers per year. Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ: COST) and Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) are competitors.

The stock has been a steady Q2 gainer, advancing on word of solid Q1 results, better than expected same-store sales figures, an expanding discount drug program, international development, and favorable analyst commentary.