Family Dollar Stores, Inc. (FDO), the discount retailer, has been riding high since we last reviewed it on July 9, with the stock up 14% as of the close on Sep 12.

Despite the challenging economic environment, Family Dollar is doing something right as it continues to see an increase in same store sales. For August, sales rose 5.9% to $523.7 million from $494.4 million a year ago. Revenues for stores operating at least a year grew 3.6%.

The company said sales were strongest in the consumables category but were soft in apparel.

Sales were also strong in July, rising 7.2% over 2007.

Going forward, the company will no longer report monthly sales numbers and instead will only report quarterly sales.

When we reviewed it in July, Family Dollar was a Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) but is now a Zacks #2 Rank (Buy) stock. The company

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Agrium's stock has been getting beaten up recently in the commodities sell-off but its earnings have been shining. Agrium has surprised on estimates 3 out of the last 4 quarters by an average of 57.04% as fertilizer prices have soared.

Fertilizer prices continue to remain high making Agrium, with a forward P/E of only 5.82, an attractive value stock.

Company Description

Agrium Inc. (AGU) produces and sells agriculture products in North and South America.

Headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, the company is the largest direct-to-grower agricultural retailer in the United States. AGU also supplies materials to the industrial sector which produces goods such as mining explosives, household products, pulp and paper and fiberboard.

Agrium has three segments. The Wholesale segment produces and distributes fertilizers, including nitrogen, phosphate and potash, as well as micronutrients from 12 production facilities in North America and Argentina.

The company produces ten million

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Raven Industries Inc. (RAVN) is fresh off the heels of another awesome quarter in which its sales were up 24% from last year. Analyst estimates continue to advance, and the company's share price is pressuring a short-term level of resistance and looks well positioned for a breakout.

Raven Industries, Inc., in conjunction with its subsidiaries, manufactures various products for the industrial, agricultural, construction and military markets in North America. The company was founded in 1956, has a market cap. of $763 million and is headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Second-Quarter Results

Raven Industries' share price has been on a roll since mid-July, recently gaining additional traction after the company reported excellent second-quarter results on Aug 19.

Revenue jumped 24% from last year to $69.3 million. Net income totaled $6.8 million, up 17% from last year's $5.8 million. This produced earnings of 38 cents per

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