For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – March 12, 2010 – Zacks Equity Research highlights Skechers U.S.A. (SKX) as the Bull of the Day and ATS Medical, Inc. (ATSI) the Bear of the Day. In addition, Zacks Equity Research provides analysis on Merck & Co. (MRK), GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ).

Full analysis of all these stocks is available at http://at.zacks.com/?id=5506

Here is a synopsis of all five stocks:

Bull of the Day:

Skechers U.S.A. (SKX) is well positioned to benefit through a sustained focus on new products, opening of new retail stores and distribution channels, and a multi-brand strategy.

A healthy balance sheet and in-demand inventory position it to capitalize on future growth opportunities. Further, the company's international business provides an enormous second leg of growth, in our opinion. The company's domestic wholesale business also regained its lost momentum.

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ATS Medical, Inc. (ATSI) is one of the leading players in the mechanical heart valve market in the world. While mechanical heart valves are still growing in international markets, demand for this product is declining in the U.S. markets where tissue valves are more in favor.

We believe overseas markets will eventually adopt this trend, as well. Therefore, the company has started increasing its presence in the tissue valve market, and expanding its offering of complementary products has fueled ATS Medical's growth.

In the fourth quarter, ATS Medical reported a loss of $0.05 per share, worse than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of loss per share of $0.01. Based on the company's performance, we downgrade the stock to Underperform with a target price of $2.30, based on a price-to-sales ratio of 2.0x our fiscal 2010 sales estimate.Zacks Investment Research

We recently downgraded ATS Medical, Inc. (ATSI) to ‘Underperform’ with a target price of $2.30 based on a P/S of 2.0x our fiscal 2010 revenue estimate of $82 million.   ATS Medical recently reported fourth quarter and fiscal 2009 results. For the fourth quarter, loss per share was 5 cents, higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of loss of 1 cent and the year-ago loss of 2 cents. For fiscal 2009, loss per share was 9 cents, compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate and the year-ago loss per share of 5 cents and 17 cents, respectively.   Total revenues in the fourth quarter increased 3.7% year over year to $18.7 million. Excluding a favorable foreign currency translation (FX), total revenues increased 2.0% year over year.   In terms of business segments, Heart valve therapy revenues increased 6.3% year over year to $13.9 million. Growth was fueled by higher ...

ATS Medical Inc. (ATSI) recently reported fourth quarter and fiscal 2009 results. For the fourth quarter, loss per share was 3 cents, higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 1 cent and the year-ago figure of 2 cents. For fiscal 2009, loss per share was 7 cents, compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate and the year-ago loss per share of 5 cents and 19 cents, respectively.   Quarterly Results   Total revenues in the fourth quarter increased 3.7% year over year to $18.7 million. Excluding a favorable foreign currency translation (FX), total revenues increased 2.0% year over year.   In terms of business segments, Heart valve therapy revenues increased 6.3% year over year to $13.9 million. Growth was fueled by higher Tissue valve and Heart valve ...

ATS Medical, Inc. (ATSI) reported preliminary results for the fourth quarter and full fiscal 2009. The company expects total revenues in the fourth quarter in the range of $18.4 million to $18.8 million, an increase of 2% to 4% over the fourth quarter of 2008.  Full fiscal 2009 revenues are expected between $75.4 million and $75.8 million, an increase of roughly 15% year over year. However, expected annual revenues are lower than ATS Medical’s previous guidance of $77.0 million to $79.0 million. Lower revenue guidance can be primarily attributed to a slowdown in demand for ATS Medical’s mechanical valve business across the globe and lower-than-planned growth for the company’s surgical ablation business in the U.S.  ATS Medical expects to recognize a restructuring charge related to its international organization of roughly $1.0 million to $1.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2009. The company also lowered its ...

ATS Medical, Inc. (ATSI) recently received CE Mark approval to distribute the ATS 3f Enable Aortic Bioprosthesis in the European Union. The Enable valve is implanted using a sutureless technique. It is the first surgical aortic valve replacement approved for commercial use. The product will be available immediately in a soft launch in the European Union followed by full launch in the second half of 2010.   The Enable valve is designed to achieve a less invasive aortic valve replacement. It has been seen that most aortic valve surgeries cannot be performed on a minimally invasive basis. This is due to the fact that precise suturing is difficult within the confined space of a minimally invasive procedure. ATS Medical’s Enable valve eliminates this handicap.

Furthermore, the valve also reduces surgical procedure time and the trauma associated with present conventional surgical procedures.   ATS Medical is developing sutureless tissue valve technology

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ATS Medical, Inc. (ATSI) reported a third quarter 2009 net loss of 1 cent per share, in-line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate but better than the year-ago loss per share of 6 cents. Total revenues for the reported quarter were $18.8 million, increasing 17.3% year over year. Excluding an unfavorable foreign currency translation (FX), total revenues increased 19.4% year over year. Growth was broad-based across its major business segments. Heart valve therapy revenues increased 20.5% year over year to $14.2 million. In this segment, Mechanical valve revenues increased 10% year over year to $11.6 million. This was due to higher demand for the ATS Open Pivot Mechanical Heart Valve in Asia and success from the recent launch of the AP360 valve in Japan. Tissue valve revenues were $1.4 million, compared to $0.3 million in the year-ago quarter. Heart valve repair revenues increased 29% year over ...

ATS Medical, Inc. (ATSI) yesterday received the CE Mark approval for marketing the ATS CryoMaze 10-S Surgical Cryoablation Probe used for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias in the European Union.   The new product complements the current ATS CryoMaze Probes by adding a linear cryoablation probe that provides more controlled stiffness. This enables surgeons to have more probe leverage so that they can achieve contact with the targeted tissue that is difficult to reach.   The ATS CryoMaze 10-S Surgical Cryoablation Probe achieves the coldest probe temperatures needed for cardiac arrhythmia surgery. The argon-based cryoablation system can reach a temperature of -1600 Celsius versus nitrous-oxide systems that can achieve temperatures of -650 Celsius only. The colder probe temperatures provide faster and deeper lesions compared to the traditional linear lesions.   The ATS CryoMaze 10-S Surgical Cryoablation Probe can be easily shaped by hand without the need of ...

DrStockPick.com Stock Report!

Tuesday September 15, 2009

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The Board of Directors of FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) today declared an unchanged quarterly dividend of 55 cents per share of outstanding common stock. The dividend will be payable December 1, 2009, to shareholders of record as of November 6, 2009.

ATS Medical, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATSI), manufacturer and marketer of state-of-the-art cardiac surgery products, announced today that it will participate in the 2009 UBS Global Life Sciences Conference at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York. Michael Dale, President and CEO of ATS Medical, will present at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, September 22, 2009.

Marriott

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ATS Medical, Inc. (ATSI) has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a landmark clinical study in which cardiac surgeons will implant the company’s ATS 3f Aortic Bioprosthesis valve in a younger aortic valve replacement patient population. The clinical study will be performed to evaluate the effectiveness of ATS 3f Aortic Bioprosthesis valve in a younger population, those less than 60 years of age. The ATS 3f is a tissue valve that functions like a natural valve. It has the same tube shape that helps in maintaining a steady blood flow at a normal speed. Valves are subject to natural wear and tear. The 3f valve is used for replacing a valve in the aorta, the largest blood vessel in the body. ATS Medical is looking forward to the clinical test results. Positive test results will boost demand for this product, which ...