Best Services Stocks To Watch For 2014

Just before stepping out of Microsoft 's (NASDAQ: MSFT  ) CEO office, Steve Ballmer set the company to focus on a devices and services strategy. It's a carbon copy of the strategy that made Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL  ) the most valuable company in the world, and Redmond has been making steady headway toward this goal. The traditional old software sales core is giving way to Microsoft-branded tablets and set-top boxes, with Nokia's mobile expertise thrown in for good measure.

But Satya Nadella, who took the reins from Ballmer in February, is ready to move beyond the simple "devices and services" thinking.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella is looking to make some big changes to his company. Source: Microsoft.

In an open letter to Microsoft employees today, Nadella started to narrow down his long-term focus. "While the devices and services description was helpful in starting our transformation, we now need to hone in on our unique strategy," Nadella wrote.

Hot Up And Coming Companies To Own For 2015: United States Steel Corporation(X)

United States Steel Corporation produces and sells steel mill products in North America and Central Europe. It operates in three segments: Flat-rolled Products (Flat-rolled), U. S. Steel Europe (USSE), and Tubular Products (Tubular). The Flat-rolled segment offers slabs, rounds, strip mill plates, sheets, and tin mill products, as well as iron ore and coke. This segment serves service center, conversion, transportation, construction, container, and appliance and electrical markets in North America. The USSE segment offers slabs, sheets, strip mill plates, tin mill products, and spiral welded pipes, as well as heating radiators and refractory ceramic materials. This segment serves the European construction, service center, conversion, container, transportation, and appliance and electrical, as well as and oil, gas, and petrochemical markets. The Tubular segment offers seamless and electric resistance welded steel casing and tubing; and standard, and line pipe and mechanical tubing. It primarily serves customers in the oil, gas, and petrochemical markets. The company also provides transportation services, including railroad and barge operations. In addition, it owns, develops, and manages various real estate assets, which include approximately 200,000 acres of surface rights primarily in Alabama, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania; participates in joint ventures that are developing real estate projects in Alabama, Maryland, and Illinois; and owns approximately 4,000 acres of land in Ontario, Canada. The company was founded in 1901 and is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Roberto Pedone]

  Another stock that looks poised to trigger a big breakout trade is U.S. Steel (X), which is an integrated steel producer of flat-rolled and tubular products with major production operations in North America and Europe. This stock has been hit hard by the sellers so far in 2013, with shares off by 22%.

  If you take a look at the chart for U.S. Steel, you'll notice that this stock has been trending sideways and consolidating for the last three months and change, with shares moving between $15.76 on the downside and $19.70 on the upside. Shares of X have just started to trend back above its 50-day moving average of $17.87 a share and it's quickly pushing within range of triggering a big breakout trade above the upper-end of its sideways trading chart pattern. If this breakout hits soon, then it would take X out of its consolidation pattern and potentially into a new uptrend.

  Traders should now look for long-biased trades in X if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at $19.26 to $19.40 and then once it clears more resistance at $19.70 with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above those levels with volume that hits near or above its three-month average action 7.31 million shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then X will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $21.30 to $24, or even $25 a share.

  Traders can look to buy X off any weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below its 50-day at $17.87 a share, or below more support at $16.86 a share. One could also buy X off strength once it takes out those breakout levels with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.

  This stock is another favorite target of the short-sellers, since the current short interest as a percentage of the float for X is very high at 30.1%. This stock could easily see a powerful short-squeez

• [By Vladimir Zernov]

  The first quarter was a tough one for steelmakers, as harsh winter weather raised costs and delayed shipments. AK Steel's (NYSE: AKS  ) CEO James Wainscott even said, "thank goodness it's behind us" during the first quarter earnings call. Steel Dynamics (NASDAQ: STLD  ) blamed weather conditions for reduced earnings, as cost rose due to higher electricity and natural gas costs. Nucor (NYSE: NUE  ) and U.S. Steel (NYSE: X  ) were hit by the weather as well.

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  Steeling yourself for further declines?
  A similar argument exists for other low-price-to-book stocks, including Cliffs Natural (NYSE: CLF  ) , Alcoa (NYSE: AA  ) , and U.S. Steel (NYSE: X  ) . Each of these three companies has a highly capital-intensive business involved in processing raw materials and producing either ingredients for fabricated metal production or the metals themselves. When you look at their balance sheets, all of these companies have substantial amounts of assets locked up in plants and equipment, much of which hasn't been subject to depreciation yet.

• [By Monica Gerson]

  United States Steel (NYSE: X) dipped 2.22% to $22.90 after the company posted a Q3 loss of $1.79 billion.

  Posted-In: PreMarket LosersNews Movers & Shakers Pre-Market Outlook Markets

Best Services Stocks To Watch For 2014: Cooper Companies Inc (COO)

The Cooper Companies, Inc., incorporated on March 4, 1980, is a global medical device company. The Company operates through two business units, CooperVision, Inc. and CooperSurgical, Inc. CooperVision is a global manufacturer providing products for contact lens wearers. CooperSurgical focuses on supplying women's health clinicians with products and treatment options to improve the delivery of healthcare to women.

CooperVision develops, manufactures and markets a range of monthly, two-week and single-use contact lenses, featuring advanced materials and optics. CooperVision's products are designed to solve vision challenges such as astigmatism, presbyopia and ocular dryness with a collection of spherical, toric and multifocal contact lenses. CooperVision's products are primarily manufactured at its facilities located in Hampshire, United Kingdom, Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico, and Scottsville, New York. CooperVision distributes products from West Henrietta, New York, Fareham, United Kingdom, Liege, Belgium, and various smaller international distribution facilities. Under the Biofinity brand, CooperVision has launched monthly silicone hydrogel spherical, toric and multifocal lens products. CooperVision has also launched two-week silicone hydrogel spherical and toric lens products under its Avaira brand. During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2013 (fiscal 2013), the Company launched MyDay, its single-use spherical silicone hydrogel lens, in Europe. CooperVision's Proclear line of spherical, toric and multifocal lenses are manufactured with omafilcon, a material that incorporates Phosphorylcholine (PC) Technology that helps enhance tissue-device compatibility.

CooperSurgical offers an array of products used in the care and treatment of women's health. The Company participates in the women's healthcare market through offering quality products, technologies and service to clinicians worldwide. CooperSurgical collaborates with clinicians to identify products and new technologies from dis! posable products to instruments and equipment. The result is a portfolio of products that aid in the delivery of improved clinical outcomes that healthcare professionals use routinely in the diagnosis and treatment of a wide spectrum of women's health issues.

The Company competes with Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc., CIBA Vision, Bausch & Lomb Incorporated, Boston Scientific, Johnson & Johnson's Ethicon Endo-Surgery and Ethicon Women's Health and Urology companies, Gyrus ACMI and Covidien.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Johanna Bennett]

  Copper Cos (COO) shrank 6.5% to $125 after fiscal fourth-quarter earnings and the company�� full-year 2014 financial forecasts fell below expectations. For the period ended Oct. 31, Cooper earned $57.4 million, or $1.15 a share, down from $71.9 million, or $1.46 a share, in the prior-year period. Excluding impacts from a divestiture, adjusted earnings were $1.48, up from $1.47. Revenue gained 3.9% to $411.9 million. Excluding currency impacts, the growth was 7%. �For the new fiscal year, Cooper said it expects per-share earnings of $6.70 to $7 and revenue of $1.675 billion to $1.735 billion Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters were expecting $7 a share in profit and $1.71 billion in revenue.

• [By Chuck Carnevale]

  The following example looking at Cooper Cos. Inc. (COO), and reveals a very cyclical company that provides insight into the PE equals 15 hypotheses that this series of articles has presented. Clearly, price follows earnings even when earnings are dropping, and interestingly, the market tends to apply our standard PE equals 15 even when this happens.

Best Services Stocks To Watch For 2014: Boulder Brands Inc (BDBD)

Boulder Brands, Inc., incorporated on May 31, 2005, is a supplier of gluten-free and health and wellness products in the United States and Canada. The Company distributes its products in all retail channels, including natural, grocery, club and mass merchandise. The Company also has a presence in the foodservice and industrial channels. The Company�� product portfolio consists of spreads, milk and other grocery products marketed under the Smart Balance, Earth Balance and Bestlife brands, and gluten-free products sold under the Udi's, Glutino and Gluten-Free Pantry brands. The Company operates in two segments: Smart Balance and Natural. The Smart Balance segment consists of its branded products in spreads, butter, grocery and milk. The Natural segment consists of its Earth Balance, Glutino and Udi's branded products. In December 2013, the Company announced that it has acquired 100% interests of Phil's Fresh Foods, LLC, owner of EVOL Foods (EVOL).

Smart Balance Products

The Smart Balance line of products is available in a range of categories, formats and sizes in the supermarket, mass merchandise and convenience store channels of distribution. Some of the Company�� buttery spreads are also available in bulk and individual serving formats for use in the industrial and foodservice channels. The Company�� Smart Balance buttery spreads are made from a patented blend of natural oils to help balance fats in the consumer's diet and to help improve the good-to-bad cholesterol ratio when used as part of the Smart Balance Food Plan. Smart Balance Spreadable Butters, available in original, light and extra virgin olive oil varieties, are a blend of creamery fresh butter and canola oil that contain less saturated fat than butter, as well as functional ingredients like EPA/DHA Omega-3 and plant sterols.

The Company offers a range of enhanced milk products, with different varieties containing EPA/DHA Omega-3s, plant sterols, and added levels of calcium and protein. The Comp! any use low and fat-free milks enhanced with non-fat milk solids to give the taste and texture of whole or reduced fat milk. The Company�� milk varieties include fat-free milk, 1% lowfat milk and lactose-free milk and are available in markets across the United States. The Company�� peanut butter products contain ALA Omega-3 from flax oil. The Company�� cooking oil and cooking sprays are designed for use in cooking, baking and salads to aid in avoiding trans fat and hydrogenated oils. The Company also markets a Smart Balance Buttery Burst Spray. The spray has zero calories, zero carbs and zero fats per serving and can be used as a pan spray or as a topping.

The Company�� Smart Balance Light Mayonnaise Dressing has half the fat of regular mayonnaise, is non-hydrogenated, contains zero grams of trans fat and contains natural plant sterols and ALA Omega-3. The Company created the Smart Balance Food Plan, incorporating many of its Smart Balance products, in order to help consumers achieve a healthy balance of natural fats in their daily diet. The plan includes menus, as well as numerous recipes.

Natural

The Earth Balance line of products offers a range of buttery spreads, sticks, soymilks, nut butters and vegan mayo dressings formulated for consumers interested in natural, plant based and organic products. Glutino offers a range of shelf stable and frozen gluten-free products, including snack foods, frozen baked goods, frozen entrees and baking mixes, throughout the United States and Canada. Glutino also offers a range of fresh breads under the Genius brand name. Based in Denver, Colorado, Udi's markets gluten-free products under the Udi's Gluten Free Foods brand in the retail market. The Company owns and operates a health and wellness, subscripton-based Website at www.thebestlife.com, which is based on the philosophies of Bob Greene.

The Company competes with Unilever, ConAgra Foods, Dean Foods, Land O' Lakes, Hain Celestial Group, Inc., Food for L! ife, Van'! s, Nature's Path, Mary's Gone Crackers, Enjoy Life, Pamela's Gluten Free, Rudi's Gluten-Free, French Meadow Bakery, Schar, Kinnikinnick, Amy's Gluten Free, Snyder's, Blue Diamond Gluten-Free, Bob's Red Mill Gluten-Free and Food Should Taste Good.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Udovich]

  If you are looking for way to invest in the trend towards gluten free food, small cap Boulder Brands Inc (NASDAQ: BDBD) is probably the closest thing to a pure play gluten free stock while large cap General Mills, Inc (NYSE: GIS) and small cap Giggles N Hugs Inc (OTCMKTS: GIGL) offer exposure to consumer trends away from gluten. To begin with, a gluten free diet or product will�exclude gluten, a protein composite found in wheat and related grains such as barley and rye that is believed to cause health problems�for sufferers of celiac disease (1% of the population), non-celiac gluten sensitivity (as many as 18 million Americans) and some cases of wheat allergy. Many Western consumers are adopting a gluten-free lifestyle whether or not they have actually been diagnosed (by a doctor) with CD or gluten sensitivity. With that in mind, here is a look at three gluten free stocks or potential plays on the gluten free fad:

• [By Selena Maranjian]

  Boulder Brands (NASDAQ: BDBD  ) gained 38%, and though you may think you don't know the company, it used to be Smart Balance until recently, and sports healthy-leaning brands, such as Smart Balance, Udi's, Glutino, Earth Balance, and Best Life. (The company is based�in New Jersey, not Colorado, too.) Boulder recently bought 80% of GlucoBrands, owner of Level Life Foods, which specializes in blood-sugar-managing products such as bars and shakes. Boulder Brands is free-cash-flow positive�and enjoying double-digit�revenue growth.

• [By John Udovich]

  However and not helping the stock around that time was a very�lengthy article by the�Prescience Point Research Group on Seeking Alpha entitled: Fleetmatics Group PLC: Accounting Shenanigans Are Inflating Its Financials, While Insiders Sell Aggressively. Investors and shorts alike can read the article and make their own judgment, but some of the commenters have pointed out that similar attack articles from Prescience Point Research Group on stocks like the Active Network Inc (NYSE: ACTV) and Boulder Brands Inc (NASDAQ: BDBD) have backfired on the shorts. With that said, the article does highlight some of the risks investors face with the stock.

• [By Pendulum]

  Gluten-free products are the growth engine for Boulder Brands (BDBD). Certain consumers require gluten-free products for medical reasons, but Boulder Brands believes that the potential for gluten-free products is much wider. Bulls argue that the benefits of gluten-free foods extend to the broader population and consumers will gravitate toward gluten-free over time. Bears argue that only a small segment of the population really requires gluten-free food and the much hyped gluten-free diet (for the broader population) is a fad. In the near term, the company has the potential to benefit from new gluten-free labeling as well as broader distribution and an expanded product offering. With the company trading at a high valuation, after a nice rally, is the optimism about gluten-free already priced-in or is there more upside?

Best Services Stocks To Watch For 2014: Albany Molecular Research Inc.(AMRI)

Albany Molecular Research, Inc. provides contract services to various pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies primarily in the United States, Europe, and Asia. The company offers a range of drug discovery services, including assay development and design, screening, screening library, natural product, medicinal chemistry, computer-aided drug discovery, in vitro ADMET, and bioanalytical services. It also provides chemical development services consisting of process research and development, custom synthesis, process safety assessment, scale-up capabilities, high potency and controlled substances, analytical services, preformulation services and physical characterization, preparative chromatography, IND support services, fermentation development and optimization, and building blocks collection and database services. In addition, the company offers chemical synthesis and manufacturing services. It manufactures active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs)and advanced intermediate s. Further, the company provides contract manufacturing services in sterile syringe and vial filling for small molecule drug products and biologicals. Additionally, it offers formulation services, including neat API or pharmaceutical blend in capsules; PIB for solution and suspension; blending and sieving; milling; tableting; rheology; roller compaction; wet granulation; and fluid bed processing, including wurster coating; and associated analytical testing services for dosage formulation products, as well as provides analytical services, such as impurity identification and structure elucidation; method development, qualification, and validation; preformulation and physical characterization; quality control; stability services; analytical and preparative supercritical fluid chromatography; preparative chromatography; good laboratory practices bioanalytical services; and regulatory support/quality assurance services. The company was founded in 1991 and is based in Albany, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Garrett Cook]

  Shares of Albany Molecular Research (NASDAQ: AMRI) were down 22.34 percent to $17.61 after the company reported a Q3 loss of $0.02 per share on revenue of $62.47 million.

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Leading and Lagging Sectors
  Healthcare stocks gained Wednesday, with Senomyx (NASDAQ: SNMX) leading advancers after the company announced a research agreement with PepsiCo (NYSE: PEP). Among the leading sector stocks, gains came from Pernix Therapeutics Holdings (NASDAQ: PTX), Albany Molecular Research (NASDAQ: AMRI) and Gentiva Health Services (NASDAQ: GTIV).

• [By GuruFocus]

  George Soros (Trades, Portfolio) just reported his first quarter portfolio. He buys Citrix Systems Inc, Baker Hughes Inc, Comcast Corp, Spansion Inc, etc during the 3-months ended 03/31/2014, according to the most recent filings of his investment company, Soros Fund Management LLC. As of 03/31/2014, Soros Fund Management LLC owns 305 stocks with a total value of $10.1 billion. These are the details of the buys and sells.New Purchases: BHI, CODE, CTRP, CLI, AVB, COMM, CNQ, AGO, AUY, ATML, ASH, BXMT, CSTM, AEM, CMA, ARE, CHKP, AUQ, BEAV, CX, ADSK, AALCP, BLK, AIG, BIIB, ADEP, AMRI, ARWR, ATHX, BALT, BCRX, BEAT, CFX, CLFD, CUR, CODE,Added Positions: CTXS, CMCSA, CNP, ALTR, BRCD, CBS, CRM, CHTR, CCJ, CIEN, BIDU, ALLE, ABT, CDNS, ACT,Reduced Positions: AAPL, CCI, AMT, ABBV, AAL, BITA, AL, ANGI, ARIA, CBST, BA, BIRT, EXAR,Sold Out: C, BAC, CRI, AMZN, AGN, CF, BRCM, COTY, BMY, AMCX, CAR, A, ADBE, AFL,For the details of George Soros (Trades, Portfolio)'s stock buys and sells, go to http://www.gurufocus.com/StockBuy.php?GuruName=George+SorosThis is the sector weightings of his portfolio:Technology18.9%Energy14%Healthcare8.3%Consumer Defensive8.2%Communication Services8.1%Consumer Cyclical5.4%Industrials5.1%Basic Materials4.9%Financial Services2.5%Real Estate1.9%Utilities0.5%These are the top 5 holdings of George Soros (Trades, Portfolio)1. Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd (TEVA) - 10,310,041 shares, 5.4% of the total portfolio. Shares added by 10.67%2. Herbalife Ltd (HLF) - 4,901,337 shares, 2.8% of the total portfolio. Shares added by 52.9%3. EQT Corp (EQT) - 2,573,814 shares, 2.5% of the total portfolio. Shares added by 3.27%4. Adecoagro SA (AGRO) - 25,915,076 shares, 2.1% of the total portfolio.5. Halliburton Co (HAL) - 3,596,353 shares, 2.1% of the total portfolio. Shares reduced by 20.73%New Purchase: Baker Hughes Inc (BHI)George Soros (Trades, Portfolio) initiated holdings in Baker Hughes Inc. His purchase prices were between $51.82 and $65.27, with an estimated

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  Among the sector stocks, Albany Molecular Research (NASDAQ: AMRI) was down more than 13 percent, while Sangamo Biosciences (NASDAQ: SGMO) tumbled around 6 percent.

Best Services Stocks To Watch For 2014: Cinedigm Digital Cinema Corp(CIDM)

Cinedigm Digital Cinema Corp. provides technology solutions, financial advice and guidance, and software services to content owners and distributors, and movie exhibitors in the United States. The company engages in the ownership and licensing of digital systems to theatrical exhibitors; and provides monitoring, billing, collection, verification, and other management services to the company?s Phase I Deployment and Phase II Deployment, as well as to exhibitors, who purchase their own equipment. It also develops and licenses software to the theatrical distribution and exhibition industries; and provides applications service provider service, and software enhancements and consulting services. In addition, the company distributes movie features, trailers, and other alternative content to movie theaters and other venues with digital cinema equipment through satellite, hard drives, and broadband; and provides non-theatrical satellite based distribution of content into various out of home networks and other channels. Further, it provides content marketing and distribution services to alternative and theatrical content owners, and theatrical exhibitors, as well as offers in-theatre advertising services. The company was formerly known as Access Integrated Technologies, Inc. and changed its name to Cinedigm Digital Cinema Corp. in October 2009. Cinedigm Digital Cinema Corp. was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Morristown, New Jersey.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Monica Gerson]

  Cinedigm (NASDAQ: CIDM) slipped 14.87% to $2.69 after the company announced a proposed public offering of common stock.

  Walter Energy (NYSE: WLT) shares tumbled 12.98% to $7.91 after the company priced $200 million of 9.5% Senior Secured Notes and $350 million of Senior Secured Second Lien PIK Toggle Notes.

• [By Wallace Witkowski]

  Cinedigm Corp. (CIDM) �retreated 10% to $2.84 on light volume after the media-content distributor said it was launching an unspecified secondary offering of its Class A shares.

Best Services Stocks To Watch For 2014: In-Touch Survey Systems Ltd (INX)

In-Touch Survey Systems Ltd. is engaged in designing, developing and implementing of data capture technologies and services for business to consumer (B2C) companies. The Company does business as Service Intelligence, In-Touch Insight Systems and IMS division. In-Touch Insight Systems (EDC) develops managed mobile software technology and services for business to consumer (B2C), business to business (B2B), governments and regulators. In-Touch has developed a software platform, In- Touch Apps that provides for the development of data collection programs, mobile forms creations and real-time online reporting for its customers. Service Intelligence (MDC) provides onsite audit and Mystery Shopping services to B2C companies in Canada and the United States. The IMS division, which provides enterprise software engineering services to the Canadian Federal Government. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Henry Lee]

  After hitting a fresh high of nearly 1900 on April 4, the S&P 500 (INX) closed last Friday at 1816 ��a 4.3% drop in just one week. We��e seen a bit of a rebound, but the worst week in two years rattled investors. Nasdaq (IXIC) got close to a 10% drop from its March high, which would make it an official ��orrection����a nice word that masks the pain many investors are feeling.

Best Services Stocks To Watch For 2014: Macy’s Inc (M)

Macy�s, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates stores and Internet Websites in the United States. Its retail stores and Internet Web sites sell a range of merchandise, including apparel and accessories for men, women, and children; cosmetics; home furnishings; and other consumer goods. The company also operates Bloomingdale�s Outlet stores that offer a range of apparel and accessories, including ready-to-wear, shoes, fashion accessories, jewelry, handbags, and intimate apparel products. As of January 28, 2012, it operated approximately 840 stores under the names of Macy�s and Bloomingdale�s; and 7 Bloomingdale�s Outlet stores, as well as macys.com and bloomingdales.com. The company was formerly known as Federated Department Stores, Inc. and changed its name to Macy�s, Inc. in June 2007. Macy�s, Inc. was founded in 1820 and is based in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Tim Melvin]

  Opinions are dangerous things when it comes to the financial markets. I may think retail will be slow, but until it happens and stocks like Macy�� (M) or Kohl�� (KSS) trade at really low multiples of assets and earnings, there�� nothing for me to do with my guess. I have made far more money reacting to what the markets actually do than I ever have betting on what they might do.

• [By Rick Aristotle Munarriz]

  Alamy From a surprisingly strong retailer report to a coffee giant paying a big price for breaking a contract, here are the best and worst of the business world this week. Snapchat -- Loser If Facebook (FB) offers you a $3 billion check, do you really turn it down? Sources this week reported that Facebook offered the makers of Snapchat -- the popular app that allows users to send photos and short videos that disappear after a brief amount of time -- a whopping $3 billion buyout. Snapchat passed on the deal. Now, it's easy to reflect back several years ago when Facebook rebuffed a buyout offer for a little more than $1 billion. Some ridiculed Facebook's decision at the time, but it's a $120 billion company now. However, at least Facebook had a clear path to monetization. Snapchat may be soaring in popularity with teens sending risque snapshots, taunts, and jokes to one another, but the moment you begin slapping display ads on the product, it's will find it much harder to sustain that arc. Macy's (M) -- Winner You always want to have healthy momentum going into the telltale holiday quarter, and that's exactly what Macy's did by offering up blowout quarterly results on Wednesday. Sales at department stores open at least a year climbed 3.5 percent, and while heavy promotions were needed to woo shoppers, earnings still managed to soar 22 percent to $0.47 a share. Analysts were settling for a profit of $0.39 a share. It's unlikely that the many retailers reporting next week will be as upbeat, but for one chain at least this really was a miracle on 34th Street. Starbucks (SBUX) -- Loser Starbucks chose to break free of its retail distribution contract with Kraft Foods (KRFT) two years ago, and now the java giant's been slapped with a $2.8 billion judgment. Yes, Starbucks is good for the money, but it's still a pretty stiff price to pay for backing out of a deal. The $2.8 billion is just a little less than what Starbucks has earned over the past two years combi

• [By Wallace Witkowski]

  Macy�� Inc (M) �surged 5.2% to $54.51 on heavy volume after the retailer said it would lay off 2,500 workers and close five underperforming stores.

• [By DAILYFINANCE]

  Frank Franklin II/AP NEW YORK -- Macy's reported a disappointing profit for its second quarter and cut its outlook for the year Wednesday, with the department store operator citing shoppers' reluctance to spend for a slip in sales. Its shares fell 3.4 percent to $46.85 in premarket trading. During the past year, its stock is up almost 27 percent. Macy's (M), which operates its namesake stores and Bloomingdales, is grappling with a yo-yo economic recovery that's making people more careful about their purchases heading into the heart of the key back-to-school selling period. Like other retailers, the Cincinnati-based company is grappling with a yo-yo economic recovery that's making people more careful about their purchases heading into the heart of the key back-to-school selling period. "To see Macy's miss by a wide margin is troublesome, speaking volumes about the health, or lack thereof, of middle America," wrote Brian Sozzi, chief equities strategist for Belus Capital Advisors. For the period ended Aug. 3, Macy's says it earned $281 million, or 72 cents a share. That's short of the 78 cents a share analysts expected. A year ago, the company earned $279 million, or 67 cents a share. Revenue slipped to $6.07 billion, also short of the $6.26 billion analysts expected, according to FactSet. Revenue at stores open a year, a key metric because it strips out the impact of newly opened and closed locations, slid 0.8 percent. Macy's now expects sales at stores open at least a year to climb between 2 percent and 2.9 percent, down from its previous guidance of a 3.5 percent increase. While jobs are easier to get and the turnaround in the housing market is showing promise, the improvements haven't been enough to get most Americans to spend more. Most are juggling tepid wage gains with higher costs of living. On Wednesday, Macy's nevertheless said it was encouraged by its early read on the back-to-school season heading into the third quarter. But other retailer