Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX) has plans to open 1,000 more US stores within five years.

Starbucks Planning Huge US Expansion

Howard Schultz, chief executive officer of Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX), said that his company plans to expand its US business by adding 1,000 new stores within five years.

Each store will have 20 workers.

The coffee retailer has 17,400 stores worldwide including around 10,800 in US. He also said that he has no plans to retire from his position.

Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX) plans to open its first Indian store this month and to add 1,500 stores in China by 2015 to boost its profit. It now offers juice, energy drinks and better food to attract more customers.

Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX) stocks are currently standing at 49.10.

Price History
Last Price: 49.10
52 Week Low / High: 37.69 / 62
50 Day Moving Average: 48.66
6 Month Price Change %: -13.1%
12 Month Price Change %: 32.9%

Netflix Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) has set the debut date for ‘House of Cards”.

Netflix To Show ‘House Of Cards’

The streaming service provider Netflix Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) has announced that it will start the streaming of the first original Netflix series ‘House of Cards’ from 1, February 2013.

The show, starring Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright, will be available for UK, Ireland, North America, Latin America and Nordic Countries customers. ‘House of Cards’ is a political drama set in Washington DC.

Netflix Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) chief content officer Ted Sarandos said, “‘House of Cards’ combines the best of filmmaking with the best of television. Beau Willimon’s compelling narrative, David Fincher’s unparalleled craftsmanship, indelible performances by Kevin Spacey and the rest of the cast unite to create a gripping story and a new kind of viewing experience for Netflix Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) members to immerse themselves in”.

Netflix Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) shares were at 66.67 at the end of the last day’s trading. There’s been a -13.1% change in the stock price over the past 3 months.

Netflix Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) Analyst Advice
Consensus Opinion: Moderate Sell
Mean recommendation: Error
(1=Strong Buy, 5=Strong Sell)
3 Months Ago: Error
Zack’s Rank: 4 out of 19 in the industry

AT&T (NYSE:T) has entered into a purchasing deal with Bloom Energy.

AT&T Signs Energy Deal

The US carrier AT&T (NYSE:T) has signed a purchasing deal with clean energy provider Bloom Energy to buy an additional 9.6 megawatts of fuel cells for an undisclosed sum of money.

The installation of Bloom Boxes will make AT&T (NYSE:T) the largest non-utility customer of Bloom Energy. The carrier purchased 7.5 megawatts of fuel cells from Bloom Energy in July 2011.

John Schinter, AT&T (NYSE:T)’s senior energy director, said, “They provide steady, recurring electricity production at a relatively predictable cost, replacing the traditional electricity bill, which can be volatile”.

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) stocks were at 38.17 at the end of the last day’s trading. There’s been a 5.0% change in the stock price over the past 3 months.

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) Analyst Advice
Consensus Opinion: Hold
Mean recommendation: Error
(1=Strong Buy, 5=Strong Sell)
3 Months Ago: Error
Zack’s Rank: 9 out of 35 in the industry

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE:WMT) has opened its first San Jose Neighborhood market.

Wal-Mart Moving Neighbourhood Markets To San Jose

The grocery retailer Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE:WMT) has expanded its Neighborhood market portfolio by opening a new 38,000 square-foot store at Westgate mall in San Jose.

The new store will sell all items including groceries, meat and diary products, bakery, frozen foods, fresh local produce, tortilla factory and organic items.

A Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE:WMT) spokeswoman Delia Garcia said, “We are happy to be giving the community fresh and affordable groceries. You will find the same variety of grocery products that you find in one of our Walmart Supercenters. But these stores are smaller and are set up for quick and convenient grocery shopping”.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE:WMT) shares are currently standing at 74.20.

Price History
Last Price: 74.20
52 Week Low / High: 52.13 / 75.24
50 Day Moving Average: 73.58
6 Month Price Change %: 21.6%
12 Month Price Change %: 41.9%

American Express (NYSE:AXP) has announced a large scale reimbursement program for customers.

American Express To Refund $85m

American Express (NYSE:AXP) announced that it will reimburse $85 million to about 250,000 customers to resolve accusations that the company violated federal law in its marketing, billing and debt collection practices.

A federal investigation found that at various periods between 2003 and spring 2012 American Express had violated consumer protection laws “at every stage” of the consumer experience.

In an official statement, American Express (NYSE:AXP) said that, “American Express (NYSE:AXP) is continuing its own internal reviews and is also cooperating with regulators in their ongoing regulatory examination of add-on products in accordance with an industrywide review”.

American Express Co. (NYSE:AXP) shares were at 56.98 at the end of the last day’s trading. There’s been a -2.2% change in the stock price over the past 3 months.

American Express Co. (NYSE:AXP) Analyst Advice
Consensus Opinion: Hold
Mean recommendation: Error
(1=Strong Buy, 5=Strong Sell)
3 Months Ago: Error
Zack’s Rank: 4 out of 24 in the industry

Amazon.com (NASDAQ:AMZN) has decided to hire 1,000 seasonal workers in Swansea.

Amazon.com To Expand Holiday Workforce

Amazon.com (NASDAQ:AMZN), the online retailer, has announced that it is recruiting more than 1,000 seasonal workers at its Swansea distribution centre.

The jobs are part of Amazon.com (NASDAQ:AMZN)’s hiring of over 10,000 employees on temporary contracts around the UK for the Christmas period.

Amazon.com (NASDAQ:AMZN) stated that, “Thousands of UK employees initially on temporary contracts had moved into permanent roles over the past three years”.

Amazon.com (NASDAQ:AMZN) stocks are currently standing at 250.60.

Price History
Last Price: 250.60
52 Week Low / High: 166.97 / 264.11
50 Day Moving Average: 244.02
6 Month Price Change %: 27.3%
12 Month Price Change %: 16.6%

Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO) has partnered with JBF Industries to set up a production facility in Brazil.

Coca-Cola Signs Brazil Production Deal

Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO) announced that it has partnered with JBF Industries in an effort to increase the production of its PlantBottle TM packaging material.

JBF industries will set up a new bio-glycol production facility in Brazil. Bio-glycol is the key ingredient of PlantBottle packaging and it will be produced using locally sourced sugarcane and sugarcane processing waste.

Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO) vice president Ronald J. Lewis said, “The benefits of sustainable innovation are only fully realized when commercialized and put in the hands of consumers. We are pleased that our partnership with JBF Industries Ltd. will help us further expand global production”.

Coca-Cola Co. (NYSE:KO) stocks are currently standing at 37.93.

Price History
Last Price: 37.93
52 Week Low / High: 31.67 / 40.67
50 Day Moving Average: 38.71
6 Month Price Change %: 2.5%
12 Month Price Change %: 9.9%

Hewlett-Packard (NYSE:HPQ) has rolled out the new business-centric ElitePad 900 tablet.

Hewlett-Packard Releases ElitePad Tablet

Hewlett-Packard (NYSE:HPQ), the world’s largest PC maker, has rolled out its new tablet ElitePad 900 for Windows 8 operating system.

The new tablet is designed for business customers and will comfortably fit in hand. The device features 10.1 inch Gorilla glass 2 display, machined-aluminum back, next-generation Intel mobile processors and it will also work with optional Smart Jackets.

Hewlett-Packard (NYSE:HPQ)’s commercial notebook products director Ajay Gupta said, “This has really been designed from a business point of view. We believe this is the baseline for all tablets that are going to be launched. This is something we believe people will be glad to carry”.

Hewlett-Packard Co. (NYSE:HPQ) stocks were at 17.06 at the end of the last day’s trading. There’s been a -15.2% change in the stock price over the past 3 months.

Hewlett-Packard Co. (NYSE:HPQ) Analyst Advice
Consensus Opinion: Moderate Sell
Mean recommendation: Error
(1=Strong Buy, 5=Strong Sell)
3 Months Ago: Error
Zack’s Rank: 1 out of 2 in the industry