For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – June 22, 2009 – Zacks.com releases the list of companies likely to issue earnings surprises. This week’s list includes Oracle (ORCL), Micron (MU), Monsanto (MON), Bank of America (BAC), KB Home (KBH), Lennar (LEN) and CKE Restaurants (CKR). To see more earnings analysis, visit http://at.zacks.com/?id=3207.

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The Week’s Events

We’ll see another round of early second-quarter results this week. A total of 42 companies are scheduled to report, including 14 S&P 500 members. Oracle (ORCL), Micron (MU) and Monsanto (MON) will be among the mostly closely-watched reports.

The Fed will also grab traders’ attention. A 2-day meeting is scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday. No change in interest rates is expected, but traders will be listening for an update on the Fed’s debt purchase program. The statement should also allude to signs of improvement in economic conditions.

On Thursday, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke will again be in the spotlight. Bernanke will testify before a House committee about Bank of America’s (BAC) acquisition of Merrill Lynch.

Housing data headlines the economic calendar. The release of new and existing homes sales will be matched with results from KB Home (KBH) and Lennar (LEN).

• Tuesday: May existing home sales
• Wednesday: May durable goods orders, May new home sales, weekly crude inventories, Fed statement
• Thursday: Final Q1 GDP, weekly initial jobless claims
• Friday: May personal income and spending, June revised University of Michigan consumer confidence

The Treasury Department will auction a record $104 billion worth of bonds. The securities being sold are 2-, 5- and 7-year notes.

We haven’t seen any end-of-quarter window dressing yet, though I still expect it to occur. Many money managers have been sitting on the sidelines – as is evident by the light volume – and are likely underperforming their benchmarks. This could cause them to move into some of the momentum stocks.

As far as the Fed meeting, I’m not expecting a big reaction, but it’s hard to predict. Keep in mind that whatever happens on Wednesday afternoon could be reversed on Thursday.

Enjoy the summer weather.

Companies That Could Issue Positive Earnings Surprises

Late last month, CKE Restaurants (CKR) said its operating expenses, as a percentage of revenues, would be “essentially flat” with prior year levels. Though blended same-store sales were down, 2 of the covering analysts raised their forecasts after the announcement. The revisions pushed the consensus earnings estimate a penny higher to 24 cents per share. The most accurate estimate is even more bullish at 25 cents per share. The fast food chain has topped expectations during 2 out of the last 4 quarters. CKE Restaurants is scheduled to report on Thursday, Jun 25, before the start of trading.

Micron (MU) might just turn the tide and surprise to the upside. Though the company has missed expectations by wide margins during the past 3 quarters, fiscal third-quarter forecasts have been trending up recently. The consensus estimate calls for a loss of 43 cents per share, a penny better than a month ago. The most accurate estimate suggests far more upside, projecting a loss of just 36 cents per share. MU is scheduled to report on Thursday, Jun 25, after the close of trading.

Oracle (ORCL) has topped expectations during 8 out of the last 9 quarters. Ahead of the company’s fiscal fourth-quarter report, 1 brokerage analyst raised his forecast. Though the revision was not significant enough to move the consensus earnings estimate from 43 cents per share, it did result in a slightly more bullish most accurate estimate of 44 cents. Oracle is scheduled to report on Tuesday, Jun 23, after the close of trading.

Companies That Could Issue Negative Earnings Surprises

KB Home (KBH) has missed expectations during 7 out of the last 9 quarters and earnings estimates are pointing to another disappointment. One analyst lowered his forecast recently, widening the consensus projection to a loss of 67 cents per share. The most accurate estimate is more bearish and calls for a loss of 70 cents per share.

Guidance could also be troublesome as fiscal 2009 estimates have worsened by 16 cents over the last 30 days. The consensus now calls for a full-year loss of $2.50 per share. KB Home is scheduled to report on Friday, Jun 26, before the start of trading.

Charles Rotblut, CFA, is the senior market analyst for Zacks.com.

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Contact: Charles Rotblut, CFA
Company: Zacks.com
Phone: 312-265-9352
Email: pr@zacks.com
Visit: www.Zacks.com

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