Sysco (SYY)
The food distributor served up a bit of a disappointing second-quarter forecast. Per a release prior to the opening bell this morning: “It expects flat to slightly negative year-over-year sales comparisons for its second quarter of fiscal year 2009 which ends December 27, 2008.”

Per Reuters: “Analysts were expecting the company's second-quarter revenue to rise about 4%, to $9.63 billion.”

So here are my thoughts: This is a good company, and one that I think has the potential to make a comeback once this economic storm passes. But it’s obviously struggling a bit right now, and I just don’t see too much relief in the near-term.

Incidentally, another thing that caught my eye was information on Yahoo Finance that an officer, Stephen Smith, unloaded 15,000 shares in November. Of course, I don't know why he sold - but this isn't something I’m overlooking.

Toyota (TM)
If you think the Big 3 are the only car companies having a rough go of it, think again. Per Bloomberg:

“Toyota Motor Corp., the world’s second-largest automaker, forecast its first operating loss in 71 years on plummeting demand, prompting Moody’s Investors Service to consider downgrading the company’s top-rated credit.”

Toyota came out and indicated that it expects to turn in a 150 billion yen operating loss in the current fiscal year. That’s down just a wee bit from the 600 billion yen operating profit it had reportedly been looking for previously.

Not terrific news, to be sure. However, here’s the thing: I think Toyota will be able to right its ship - and much more easily than, say, General Motors (GM).

Long story short, I’m not bottom-fishing the stock right here, near its 52-week low - but if I were looking to place a wager on this group, this would be my first stop.

Have a great day!