For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – October 16, 2009 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: Harley-Davidson (HOG), US Airways (LCC), United Airlines (UAUA), Southwest Airlines (LUV) and American Airlines (AMR).

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Here are highlights from Thursday’s Analyst Blog:

Harley Fails to Meet Estimates

Harley-Davidson (HOG) disappointed in its third quarter results, posting a net income of $26.5 million or 11 cents per share compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 22 cents per share. Compared to the year-ago quarter, net income tumbled 84% from $166.5 million

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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Wednesday accused US Airways (LCC) for operating eight airplanes last year without conducting the mandatory safety checks. The FAA has proposed a penalty of $5.4 million against US Airways. FAA documents allege that US Airways sanctioned 1,647 flights in violation of mandatory safety checks. The flights were operated from Oct. 2008 to Jan. 2009 and were out of compliance of flouted airworthiness directives (ADs) and its maintenance program. After being charged, the management said that the specific regulations were broken when it was integrating new maintenance systems following its merger with America West and has since worked with the FAA to fix the problems. The air carrier has been allowed a grace period of 30 days to justify itself. Though the management is trying to work out a resolution with the FAA, it is quite unusual for the fines ...

In yet another instance of increased airline industry access to financial markets, AirTran Holdings (AAI) announced that it has signed a couple of deals that will bolster its credit position. AirTran yesterday said that it has entered into separate agreements with The Bank of Utah, its principal credit facility lender, as well as with US Bank (USB), its largest credit card processor. The agreement with the Bank of Utah would allow the air carrier to borrow $125 million under the bank’s revolving line of credit. Previously, the limit was set at $90 million. The increased access to revolving line of credit would enable AirTran to decrease its cost of funds by reducing the more costly letter of credit facility by $50 million. The expiration date of its combined letter of credit and revolving line of credit has been extended to the end of 2010. Additionally, ...

Southwest Airlines (LUV) yesterday announced discounted fares for winter travel. The discounts were offered in order to increase travel to make up for the lost revenue due to the recession.   Southwest has been hit hard by slowing demand due to the recession and volatile fuel prices. As a part of its cost-cutting initiatives, the company has cut its capacity along with downsizing employees.   The air carrier is scrambling to fill its seats this winter by offering big fare discounts. The discounted fares will be offered on travel any day except Fridays and Sundays from Oct. 13 through Feb. 11. The company also said that travel to some destinations would start at $59 each way however seats for such offer are limited.   However, the sale prices are higher than they were for other recent Southwest promotions and up to 50% higher than during a big ...

Southwest Airlines Co. (LUV) has always been extremely proud of its string of profitable quarters, which began in the spring of 1991, and traversed a major recession and the massive drop-off in air travel that followed the 2001 terrorist attacks. But when the much-admired carrier bet that oil prices would continue their record climb – and they plummeted instead – the Dallas-based Southwest was forced to report its first quarterly loss in 17 years. Southwest today (Thursday) reported a net loss of $120 million, or 16 cents per share, for the third quarter, down from a net gain of $162 million, or 22 cents per share, for the same period the year prior. Despite the loss, the airline’s shares were up 48 cents each, or 4.15%, to trade at $12.04 at 11:54 a.m. in New York – even though the Dow Jones ...