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J. Crew Group Inc.: Standard & Poor's equity analyst Marie Driscoll maintained her hold rating on shares of J. Crew Group Inc. (JCG) on Mar. 10.

In a posting on the S&P MarketScope service, Driscoll noted that the U.S. clothing retailer reported January-quarter EPS of 61 cents, vs. a loss of 22 cents per share one year earlier, on a 17% same-store sales gain; Driscoll had estimated 40 cents EPS on a 10% same-store sales rise. Driscoll said the results came as a "strong" product offering, controlled inventory and reduced markdowns combined to boost J. Crew's gross margin by 1600 basis points.

The analyst raised her fiscal 2011 (ending January) EPS estimate to $2.40 from $2.14 and established a fiscal 2012 forecast at $2.68. She reiterated her $49 price target on the shares.

Analogic Corp.: Needham & Co. analyst Dalton Chandler raised his rating on shares of Analogic Corp. (ALOG) to buy from hold on Mar. 10.

In a note, Chandler said second-quarter results posted by the the maker of medical-technology and airport-security devices on Mar. 9 easily beat his estimates for revenue ($103.3 million vs. his expectation of $100.7 million) and EPS (20 cents vs. his estimate of 12 cents) as shipment of security products resumed a quarter ahead of his expectations, and as a combination of higher revenues and the impact of recent cost cuts lifted margins.

Chandler said that it appears that Analogic's computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) business has stabilized, and could resume modest near-term growth. He also said the rebound in he company's security segment appears "sustainable".

The analyst raised his fiscal 2010 (ending July) EPS estimate to $1.16 from 65 cents, and his fiscal 2011 forecast to $1.95 from $1.87.

Chandler set a $50 price target on the stock.

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