Lowe’s Beat Wallstreet expectations

Lowes Hardware logo

Lowe’s shares earned an average of 28 cents per diluted share, beating expectations of analysts polled by Thomson Financial, who had forecast that the company would earn 25 cents per share in the latest quarter. Revenue fell short, however, of the analysts’ $10.63 billion expectation pulling in only $10.38 billion.

Of course, many in the media would portray this as a negative thing (ie the Triad Buisness Journal) claiming “Housing woes take toll on Lowe’s.” Well, duh. Did anyone think that Lowe’s would perform better than the same quarter in the previous year? Come on now! How about a little positive spin on the news for a change?

Anyway, good for Lowe’s … one of North Carolina’s largest publically traded companies. Let’s get out there and landscape and remodel this Spring and help them out. :)

Websites We Like: Smitty’s Notes

Smitty’s Notes email newsletter and SmittysNotes.com web site is a community service to inform residents and newcomers of events happening in and around Winston-Salem. Smitty’s Notes hypes sporting and social events, restaurants and clubs, the arts community, downtown redevelopment, charitable fundraisers and other community news and events.

Catch Smitty weekly at the following…

You can always find out what’s happening weekly in Winston-Salem with “Smitty”! Online 24/7 only at the Winston- Salem Journal’s Web site, Journalnow.com. Every weekend only on video WXII12.com Weekend Spotlight There is no excuse not to stay plugged in.

7 1/2 mile stretch of the Greensboro Urban Loop will open February 21

(from the Triad Business Journal)

The N.C. Department of Transportation announced Tuesday that a 7 1/2 mile stretch of the Interstate 40/Interstate 73 Greensboro Urban Loop will open Thursday.

Weather permitting, the roadway — which runs from I-40 east of Gallimore Dairy Road to the I-85 Bypass/Business interchange — is expected to open by early afternoon.

The new highway has interchanges at I-40 Business/I-840, Wendover Avenue and I-85/I-85 Business. The highway has eight travel lanes and a posted speed limit of 65 miles per hour.

The DOT said it will now reroute I-40 around southern Greensboro along the new highway and the existing I-85 Bypass. Existing I-40 will be renamed I-40 Business. After the new section opens, crews will switch out blue I-40 signs along the older section with new green I-40 Business signs, and exit numbers will also change along the route, which is expected to finish in the spring.

The newest portion of the urban loop is the first change to I-40 in the state since the Winston-Salem bypass opened in 1992. It is North Carolina’s third section of I-73, and the fourth of Greensboro’s urban loop.

Archer Western Contractors of Atlanta began construction on the $122 million highway in February 2004 and this project means 25 miles of the total 44-mile Greensboro Urban Loop are now complete.

Starting Wednesday, the DOT will launch a Web site, www.ncdot.org/projects/greensborourbanloop, explain the changes to residents.

Concerned about the downward spiral of house prices?

Don’t worry. As evidenced by this short 30 sec video, your local tax assessor thinks differently.

Enjoy!

NC Attorney General Offers Help For Foreclosures

N.C. Attorney General Roy Cooper and the Office of the Commissioner of Banks announced a plan Monday to help residents at risk of losing their homes to foreclosure.

North Carolinians can call the HOPE Hotlines, toll-free, at (888) 995-HOPE, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The hotlines will connect callers with nonprofit housing and credit counselors in their community who can help discuss their options, such as refinancing, selling or setting up repayment plans.

The offices will provide about $300,000 to reimburse counselors who help prevent unnecessary foreclosures to residents.

In 2007, foreclosure rates rose 9.4 percent in North Carolina, according to data from the Commissioner of Banks. That considerably lower than states such as California or Florida, but the rates are expected to rise 10 to 20 percent in 2008.

(source: Triad Business Journal)

Next Page →