Here are some highlights from this past week's earnings coverage from BloggingStocks:

• Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. (NASDAQ: BBBY) Q1 earnings tumbled while revenues rose.
• Casella Waste Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: CWST) posted a narrower-than-expected Q4 loss.
• CKE Restaurants Inc. (NYSE: CKR) Q1 earnings increased but its revenue slipped.
• Darden Restaurants Inc. (NYSE: DRI) swung to a Q4 profit on strong sales at Olive Garden.
• Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) said it might not see Q2 profit growth on lower demand and shipping delays.
• General Mills Inc. (NYSE: GIS) Q4 earnings declined but were in line with expectations.
• Gerber Scientific Inc. (NYSE: GRB) reported solid Q4 and full-year results that pleased investors.
• IHS Inc. (NYSE: IHS) beat Q2 expectations and posted record quarterly cash flow from operations.
• Jabil Circuit Inc. (NYSE: JBL) stronger-than-expected Q3 results led to an analyst's upgrade.
• KB Home (NYSE: KBH) widened its Q2 loss due to weak sales and falling prices.
• Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) beat Q1 expectations as consumers sought discounts on food and gas.
• Monsanto Co. (NYSE: MON) beat Q3 earnings estimates but fell short of revenue estimates.
• Nike Inc. (NYSE: NKE) posted better-than-expected Q4 results boosted by international strength.
• Oracle Corp. (NASDAQ: ORCL) posted strong Q4 results that topped analysts' expectations (see transcript).

• Palm Inc. (NASDAQ: PALM) posted dismal results as revenue fell despite higher sales volume.
• Red Hat Inc. (NYSE: RHT) Q1 revenues soared as results beat Wall Street expectations.
• Research in Motion Ltd. (NASDAQ: RIMM) posted disappointing results and lackluster guidance (transcript).
• Rite-Aid Corp. (NYSE: RAD) swung ot a larger-than-expected Q1 loss on integration difficulties.
• Sonic Corp. (NASDAQ: SONC) earnings warning took shares to a new 52-week low.
• Symmetry Medical Inc. (NYSE: SMA) beat Q1 estimates on increased demand and acquisitions.
• United Parcel Serivce (NYSE: UPS) cut its earnings forecast due to rising fuel prices and less demand.
• Walgreen Co. (NYSE: WAG) posted sluggish Q3 results despite cost-cutting measures.

Also, do the results from Oracle, Research in Motion, and Red Hat point to a bottom for tech stocks? Will Google's (NASDAQ: GOOG) new CFO be more likely to provide the guidance that analysts crave?

Upcoming results to watch for include H&R Block (NYSE: HRB), Constellation Brands (NYSE: STZ), Apollo Group (NASDAQ: APOL), Family Dollar (NYSE: FDO), WD-40 (NASDAQ: WDFC), and Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.A).

Visit AOL Money & Finance for more earnings coverage.

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Here's a quick recap of some additional earnings reports on Wednesday.

Beaverton, Ore.-based Nike Inc. (NYSE: NKE) said strong growth overseas helped boost its fourth-quarter profit by 12% to $490.5 million, or 98 cents per share. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial expected the company to earn 96 cents per share for the quarter. Shares fell more than 5% in after-hours trading to $62.15.

CKE Restaurants Inc. (NYSE: CKR) said its first-quarter profit climbed 8% to $16.6 million, or 31 cents per share, helped by a small increase in same-store sales at Carl's Jr. restaurants. Revenue fell 3% to $466.2 million. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial expected profit of 27 cents per share on revenue of $465.5 million. Shares fell 5 cents to $12.25 in after-hours trading.

Red Hat Inc. (NYSE: RHT) said its fiscal first-quarter profit rose 6.6% to $17.3 million, or 8 cents per share. Adjusted earnings were 18 cents per share. Revenue rose 32% to $156.6 million. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial on average predicted a profit of 18 cents per share on revenue of $153 million. Shares fell 19 cents in after-hours trading to $22.11.

General Mills Inc. (NYSE: GIS) said its fourth-quarter profit dropped 17% to $185.2 million, or 53 cents per share. Adjusted earnings were 73 cents per share, which met Wall Street expectations. Sales increased 13% to $3.47 billion beating expectations. The company reaffirmed its guidance for the full year. Shares fell almost 2% to $61.19.

Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. (NASDAQ: BBBY) said its fiscal first-quarter profit tumbled 27% to $76.8 million, or 30 cents per share, as costs outweighed sales growth. Sales rose 6.1 percent to $1.65 billion, Analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial had expected a profit of 27 cents per share on $1.62 billion in revenue. Shares rose 8.5% in after-hours trading to $31.00.

Visit AOL Money & Finance for more earnings coverage.

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Here are some highlights from this past week's earnings coverage from BloggingStocks:

• AAR Corp. (NYSE: AIR) posted record third-quarter earnings and revenue.
• Adobe Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: ADBE) posted better-than-estimated first-quarter results and raised its outlook.
• CKE Restaurants Inc. (NYSE: CKR) posted third-quarter results that missed estimates.
• ConAgra Foods Inc. (NYSE: CAG) third-quarter profit surged as strong sales offset commodity prices.
• Darden Restaurants Inc. (NYSE: DRI) beat third-quarter expectations and offered guidance.
• FactSet Research Systems Inc. (NYSE: FDS) second-quarter results beat estimates and it raised its outlook.
• Fortress Investment Group (NYSE: FIG) remained upbeat despite a fourth-quarter loss.
• Guess Inc. (NYSE: GES) record fourth-quarter results beat Wall Street expectations.
• Inter Parfums Inc. (NASDAQ: IPAR) posted better-than-estimated fourth-quarter results and raised its outlook.
• Jabil Circuit Inc. (NYSE: JBL) beat second-quarter expectations but lowered its guidance.
• JC Penney Co. Inc. (NYSE: JCP) lowered its first-quarter outlook on weaker-than-expected sales.
• KB Home (NYSE: KBH) swung to a larger-than-expected first-quarter loss on write-downs.
• Lennar Corp. (NYSE: LEN) posted a smaller-than-expected first-quarter loss.
• Monsanto Co. (NYSE: MON) raised its second-quarter and full-year guidance.
• Oracle Corp. (NASDAQ: ORCL) merely met earnings expectations, sending shares lower.
• Tiffany & Co. (NYSE: TIF) posted better-than-estimated fourth-quarter results and raised its outlook.
• Usana Health Sciences Inc. (NASDAQ: USNA) posted lower-than-expected first-quarter results.
• Walgreen Co. (NYSE: WAG) posted solid second-quarter results, including same-store sales growth.

Also, auction-rate securities issues may hurt some tech company results. Analysts keep cutting earings estimates for the big banks, but some are eyeing Yum! Brands (NYSE: YUM) earnings prospects as it expands in China, as well as Archer Daniels Midland (NYSE: ADM) on soaring demand for commodities.

Upcoming results to watch for include Best Buy (NYSE: BBY), Monsanto (NYSE: MON), and Research in Motion (NASDAQ: RIMM).

Visit AOL Money & Finance for more earnings coverage.

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CKE Restaurants (NYSE: CKR) reported earnings for the fourth quarter yesterday after the bell. Total revenue decreased 3% for the quarter, and net income from continuing operations was $0.00 per diluted share, which wasn't too good in comparison to last year's number, which was $0.17 per diluted share. Total revenue was flat for the year, and net income from continuing operations was $0.57 per diluted share versus $0.77 per diluted share in the previous fiscal year.

CKE Restaurants, which operates the Carl's Jr. and Hardee's brands, did not impress analysts, as earnings expectations for the quarter were missed by two pennies. I myself wasn't too impressed with the entire report. Same-store sales increased 0.9% at Carl's Jr. and 2% at Hardee's for 2007 -- I'm not going to jump up and down over that bit of news. In addition, costs are up because of inflationary pressures, and revenues have obviously been challenged. There's not a lot that I like about this story.

CKE's stock is certainly on the lower end of its 52-week range, but I can't say it is necessarily cheap; it closed yesterday at $12.45 -- the high for the year on the stock is $23.24. This is a situation that calls for an old standby: "There are better opportunities out there in this space." For me personally, if I'm looking at the burger business, I'm way more likely to consider a McDonald's (NYSE: MCD), a Burger King (NYSE: BKC), or a Wendy's (NYSE: WEN) before I entertain CKE as an investment idea. Although they don't do burgers (so far as I know), I'd even look at a Yum! Brands (NYSE: YUM) before CKE. These companies have better brand equities in my estimation. CKE may turn itself around, but I just wasn't impressed by my look at its data.

Disclosure: I own none of the companies mentioned here; positions can change at any time.

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I was excited -- I love news about cage-free eggs, especially when Paris is involved -- until I read the story, which (as Zac Bissonnette points out) details the agreement between PETA and CKE, under which the chain agrees to buy 15% of its pork products from pigs whose suppliers fit a very narrow definition of humane treatment and 2% of its eggs from chickens not kept in wire cages. Yep. TWO percent. There doesn't appear to be any greater promise than that down the road (though happier sows are promised to make up 25% by 2009).

Evidence suggests that part of the problem could be a lack of supply -- after all, using wire cages is famously efficient or it wouldn't have been developed in the first place. And cage-free chickens aren't necessarily any better treated than those in cages; so it's an open question whether PETA should be spending its time advocating for their eggs. Chickens who aren't in cages are typically subjected to a number of indignities meant to limit their aggression (you'd be aggressive too if you were kept in a big stinky barn with thousands of your family members), from beak-trimming to wing-clipping to keeping them in twilight around the clock.

And it pisses me off a bit that CKE is getting good PR for a move that is the teeniest promise all year. In the struggle for recognition as an animal-friendly company, I'm going to have to give Hardee's and Carl's Jr. an "Incomplete."

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Immediately begin purchasing 15 percent of its pork from suppliers that do not use metal "gestation crates" to confine sows, and increase that to 25 percent by 2009.

Purchase 2 percent of its eggs from suppliers whose hens are not kept in wire cages by July 2008.

Issue a statement to poultry suppliers stating it will "give consideration to approved suppliers who actively explore and test controlled-atmosphere stunning systems," which animal rights groups consider the most humane way to slaughter chickens.

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Stocks moved mildly lower today taking a break from the bullish buying over the last two days. This is not really a bad sign, after all the S&P 500 gained 3.5% Tuesday and Wednesday so losing 0.67% today still leaves it up 2.8% since the Fed cut. September equity options expire tomorrow so we may see some some extra volatility gong into the end of the week.

The NYSE had volume of 3.0 billion shares with 978 shares advancing while 2,331 declined for a loss of 34.43 points to close at 9,936.47. On the NASDAQ, 1.6 billion shares traded, 1,131 advanced and 1,864 declined for a loss of 12.19 to 2,654.29.

Circuit City Stores (NYSE: CC) dropped $1.90 (-18%) to $8.67 on earnings. Silver Wheaton Corp (NYSE: SLW) rose $0.99 (8%) to $14.02. D R Horton Inc (NYSE: DHI) fell $1.11 (-7%) to $14.08. KB Home (NYSE: KBH) fell $1.95 (-7%) to $27.37. CKE Restaurants Inc (NYSE: CKR) fell $0.99 (-6%) to $15.55 on $.15 earnings per share.

In options there were 5.8 million puts and 7.7 million calls traded for a put/call open interest ratio of 0.75. The most active options lists were almost completely filled with ETF and index options. S&P Depositary Receipts Trust ETF (NYSE: SPY) saw very heavy volume on the September 150 calls (SYHIT) with over 643,800 options trading. The SPY September 149 calls (SFBIS) also had a lot of activity moving 300,400 contracts. Financial Sector SPDR ETF (NYSE: XLF) were again active; the September 33 calls (XLFIG) with over 171,900 options trading. PowerShares QQQ Trust ETF (NASDAQ: QQQQ) saw heavy volume on the March 45 puts (QQQOS) with over 199,800 options trading and the March 48 puts (QQQOV) moved 180,500 options trading.
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Kevin Kersten is an Options Analyst with InvestorsObserver.com. Disclosure note: Mr. Kersten owns and or controls a diversified portfolio of long and short positions that may include holdings in companies he writes about.

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These are the times that try investors' souls, or so Thomas Paine might have put it had he been a money manager. There is scary news all around -- the credit markets are seizing up, mortgage-backed securities are plummeting in value, even Wal-Mart Stores (NYSE: WMT) and Home Depot (NYSE: HD) have expressed worry lately that the stalwart American consumer is losing her resolve to spend.

Yet no sooner do investors panic and sell their stocks, than the market gets some relief. Central bankers around the world step in with billions in short-term loans, giving the debt markets some wiggle room. Or a hot growth company provides some upbeat news -- VMware's hot initial public offering on Aug. 14 was a nice respite from all the bearishness, for example. Or investors just start to realize there are lots of great companies getting much cheaper while the economy really is still humming along just fine.

Suddenly the Dow Jones industrial average will leap 50 points in an hour and we are left kicking ourselves for not picking up some shares of a favorite stock while it was down -- until the next market swoon when we wonder why we didn't get out when the gettin' was good.

Here's a way to deal with all the spikes and swoons: Embrace the rollercoaster. Now that the Dow Jones industrial average is back below 13,000 (weren't we just celebrating Dow 14,000?), you can take advantage of the volatility to buy some solid stocks you've always wanted to own at a sale price. No one knows where the market will go next. But if your plan is to hold quality stocks for the long term, a downdraft can provide a good buying opportunity.

How do you find solid bets? We asked some of our best investment bloggers to give us their top picks for today's volatile market. They came up with a mix of choices - everything from core blue chips like General Electric (NYSE: GE) and Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO), to riskier plays, like Steven Madden (NASDAQ: SHOO) and China's Huaneng Power International (NYSE: HNP). Peruse our gallery to see why stocks you may know well, like Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX), Boeing (NYSE: BA) or Target (NYSE: TGT) are buys, or learn about companies you may never have heard of - like South Korean steel maker Posco (NYSE: PKX) or train car maker FreightCar America (NASDAQ: RAIL).

Of course, we don't think you should time the market (we hear ya' Zac!). This isn't the time to bet the farm, even on a big brand name blue chip. But if the recent sell-off is causing you stress, you may find relief in identifying stocks that could be safe or highly profitable picks to stash away for the long term.

Amey Stone is the editor of BloggingStocks.

See all the posts in this special report:

• Volatile Markets: Stick with General Electric (GE)
• Volatile Markets: Huaneng Power (HNP) is my pick for the next 50 years
• Volatile Markets: Target (TGT) is the retailer of choice
• Volatile Markets: Bank of America (BAC) offers low risk, high reward
• Volatile Markets: Starbucks (SBUX) is ready for a comeback
• Volatile Markets: Coca-Cola (KO) is the Real Thing
• Volatile Markets: Bet on Boeing (BA)
• Volatile Markets: Ride FreightCar America (RAIL)
• Volatile Markets: Anadarko Petroleum (APC) has valuable fuel reserves
• Volatile Markets: Dip makes Posco (PKX) a bigger bargain
• Volatile Markets: Steven Madden (SHOO) will wear well
• Volatile Markets: Precious metals are the safest place to be
• Volatile Market: Just ignore it; don't try to time it

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MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• JP Morgan started CKE Restaurants (NYSE: CKR) with a Neutral rating, citing near-term margin concerns.

• Barrington believes Capella Education (NASDAQ: CPLA) is one of the fastest growing companies within its group in every aspect including enrollment, earnings and revenue.

• Stifel started IAC/InterActiveCorp (NASDAQ: IACI) with a Buy rating, believing there is a 60% chance of a material event occurring within the next 6 months. Stifel believes QVC is the best interactive retailing operator given its 22% EBITDA margins and 16% operating margins.

• Banc of America initiated BWAY Holding (NYSE: BWY) with a Neutral rating, citing a balanced risk/reward. JP Morgan started shares of BWY with an Overweight rating on valuation...

• Lehman initiated Huntington Bancshares (NASDAQ: HBAN) with an Underweight rating.

• Montgomery initiated Sigma Designs (NASDAQ: SIGM) with a Buy rating.

• Stifel initiated Overstock.com (NASDAQ: OSTK) with a Hold rating.

• JMP Securities started BFC Financial (AMEX: BFF) with a Market Outperform rating.

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Although they spent most of the day in the positive, markets ended flat after a little volatility following the feds comments. As expected the fed left rates unchanged today continuing the wait and see approach. First Quarter GDP was revised lower to an annual 0.7% -the slowest pace in four years.

The NYSE had volume of 2.9 billion shares with 1,880 shares advancing while 1,377 declined for a gain of 16.86 points to close at 9,865.77. On the NASDAQ, 1.9 billion shares traded, 1,536 advanced and 1,453 declined for a gain of 3.02 to 2,608.37.

Meridian Gold (NYSE: MDG) rose $3.15 (13%) to $27.55 and Yamana Gold (NYSE: AUY) fell $1.01 (-8%) to $11.13 after a merger proposal. Red Hat (NYSE: RHT) fell $1.82 (-8%) to $22.37 on high expenses. CKE Restaurants (NYSE: CKR) fell $1.20 (-6%) to $20.25 after earnings. Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX) fell $0.93 (-4%) to $19.85 as prices fell on its popular rental plan.

General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM) saw heavy volume on the September 30 calls (GMIF) with over 36,000 options trading and the January 30 calls (WGMAF) moved 27,000 options trading. Apple Computer (NASDAQ: AAPL) saw heavy volume on the July 125 calls (APVGE) with over 24,000 options trading. JetBlue Airways (NASDAQ: JBLU) moved some volume on the September 12.50 puts (JGQUV) with over 52,000 options trading. Kaufman and Broad Home Corp. (NYSE: KBH) saw heavy volume on the July 50 puts (KBHSJ) with over 34,000 contracts traded. Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX) saw caffeinated volume on the July 32.50 puts (SQXSZ) with over 30,000 options trading. In options there were 3.9 million puts and 4.5 million calls traded for a daily put/call open interest ratio of 0.86.

Kevin Kersten is an Options Analyst with InvestorsObserver.com. Do you have any deadwood in your portfolio? Check out the 18 Warning Signs That Tell You To Dump A Stock.

Disclosure note: Mr. Kersten owns and or controls a diversified portfolio of long and short positions that may include holdings in companies he writes about.

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CKE Restaurants (NYSE: CKR), parent company of Hardee's and Carl Jr.'s is suing Jack in the Box (NYSE: JBX) for a television commercial which allegedly suggests that the company's famous angus burgers are made from cow anus (see YouTube video above).

This is one of the more entertaining legal cases I've seen in awhile. According to the Associated Press, "CKE claims the ads create the misleading impression that Jack In The Box's new 100 percent sirloin burgers use a better quality of meat than the Angus beef used by Carl's Jr. and Hardee's. CKE claims the spots confuse consumers by comparing sirloin, a cut of meat found on all cattle, with Angus, which is a breed of cattle."

According to CKE CEO Andrew F. Puzder "They're not being funny. They need to stop misleading people about what Angus beef is."

Here's the problem: They actually are being funny. And I certainly don't claim to be a legal expert, but I think that part of Jack in the Box's defense is going to be "Lighten up and learn to take a joke."

Puzder said that CKE had asked Jack in the Box to pull the ad, but the company refused, pointing to a Carl Jr.'s ad which suggested that its milkshakes were better than the competition. Here's the best part: Puzder said the comparison was not valid because they had not claimed that competitors made their milk from cow anuses.

This whole "scandal" seems like a tempest in a tea pot to me. Jack in the Box's commercial was a clever pun on the word "angus" and certainly not misleading. Did anyone watching it really come away thinking that angus burgers were made from anuses?

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In addition to Wendy's (NYSE: WEN) management's recent hiring of JP Morgan (NYSE: JPM) and Lehman Brothers (NYSE: LEH) to help review strategic options for the company, the fast-food restaurant has decided to throw its hat into the breakfast ring by signing an exclusive deal with Proctor & Gamble (NYSE: PG). The deal allows Wendy's to be the only major fast-food restaurant chain to offer a proprietary blend of Folgers Gourmet Selections coffee and will become part of Wendy's new breakfast menu.

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Encouraged by sales of its Angus beef burgers in southern California, McDonald's Corp. (NYSE: MCD) is planning to expand its test marketing of the premium burgers to New England.

McDonald's comes late to the Angus burger trend. Rivals Burger King Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: BKC), Hardees and Carl's Jr. -- the latter two part of CKE Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE: CKR) -- have been selling the premium burgers for years. In fact, Hardees has just announced a new addition to its menu, a patty melt style Thickburger, also made with Angus beef.

The new burgers are part of McDonald's ongoing efforts at revitalization. Those efforts have included the introduction of new beverage choices, such as iced coffee, which is also expected to spread throughout the U.S. soon. Another part of that effort is a new advertising campaign, emphasizing career opportunities at McDonald's -- no doubt to try to change its image as a source of low-paying, dead-end jobs.

The revitalization appears to be working. Back in April, McDonald's reported a strong quarter, especially internationally. The share price has risen since then, and reached a 52-week high this morning.

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MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Nollenberger believes the Hardee's franchise is entering a period of accelerated growth and initiated shares of CKE Restaurants (NYSE: CKR) with a Buy rating and $27 target.

• Goldman views Cardinal Health (NYSE: CAH) as a as a high quality, focused franchise with strong fundamental outlook driven by margin expansion and improvements in non-drug wholesale businesses and restructuring efforts, reinstating its Buy rating on the company.

• American Technology initiated eBAY Inc (NASDAQ: EBAY) with a Buy rating and $43 target, believing the company is the top play on growth of U.S. e-commerce and they expect upside to numbers tonight.

• Needham believes CA Inc (NYSE: CA) Inc remains in transition as it continues to work on the repackaging of its vast product array into five solution sets and started the company with a Hold rating.

• Lazard initiated F5 Networks Inc (NASDAQ: FFIV) with a Buy rating and $100 target.

• Citigroup started Clearwire Corp (NASDAQ: CLWR) with a Hold rating and $23 target.

• Morgan Stanley assumed coverage of Vornado RealtyTrust (NYSE: VNO) with an Equal Weight rating.

• SourceFire Inc (NASDAQ: FIRE) was initiated with a Hold rating and $12 target.

• The Wet Seal (NASDAQ: WTSLA) was initiated with an Outperform rating at Cowen.

• Roth Capital initiated shares of Vivus Inc (NASDAQ: VVUS) with a Buy rating and $15 target.

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MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Wedbush initiated CKE Restaurants (NYSE: CKR) with a Buy rating and $25 target.

• Wachovia resumed coverage of Texas Instruments Inc (NYSE: TXN) with an Outperform rating, as the firm believes that TXN's fundamentals have bottomed and the valuation is attractive.

• SurModics Inc (NASDAQ: SRDX) was initiated with an Underperform rating and $28 target at Piper Jaffray. Piper doesn't see a near-term catalyst to move shares higher given a lack of visibility regarding new licenses.

• Nokia (NYSE: NOK) was initiated at Nollenberger with a Neutral rating.

• HSBC started DirecTV (NYSE: DTV) with an Underweight rating and $21 target.

• Stanford initiated Armor Holdings, Inc (NYSE: AH) with a Buy rating and $80 target.

• Wedbush initiated Jack in the Box Inc (NYSE: JBX) with a Hold rating and $68 target, citing the company's operational improvements and benefits from ongoing refranchising and share repurchases are fully reflected in the stock price.

• Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd (NYSE: CP) was initiated with a Sector Performer rating at CIBC.

• Stifel initiated Medical Properties Trust, Inc (NYSE: MPW) with a Hold rating.

• Bear Stearns initiated Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd (NASDAQ: TEVA) with a Peer Perform rating.

• Thomas Wiesel initiated shares of Cepheid (NASDAQ: CPHD) and Luninex Corp (NASDAQ: LMNX) with Overweight ratings.

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CKE Restaurants Inc. (NYSE:CKR) had little choice but to say goodbye to the original Hardee's franchise in Rocky Mount, North Carolina.

The location, which was opened in 1961, was shut more than a decade ago. Birds flew out of the interior roof when it was demolished, according to the Rocky Mount Telegram. It's going to be remade into a park. The whole area around the restaurant is part of an urban renewal project, according to Peter Varney, an assistant city manager.

"It's an area that's coming back to life," Varney told me in an interview.

There was some talk about converting the restaurant into a museum of some sort, but that never got anywhere. Interestingly, Hardee's is cutting its ties with the past less than one month after Wendy's International Inc. (NYSE:WEN) shut its original location too.

Change in this case is a good thing.

Businesses both large and small can't afford to be sentimental. Demolishing the first Hardee's franchise is both in the best interest of CKE and the city of Rocky Mount.

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