Big Lots Inc. (BIG) recently reported better-than-expected second quarter results surpassing the bottom-line expectation. Effective cost management drove the growth in bottom-line with increased efficiencies in distribution and transportation costs, reduced advertising expenses, and decline in payroll costs.   Earnings per share (excluding one-time items) of 35 cents was well above the company’s guidance range of 26 cents to 32 cents, and surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 31 cents. Earnings per share increased 9.4% year over year, compared to 32 cents in the prior-year quarter.   On a reported basis, Big Lots delivered EPS of 34 cents, up 6.3%.   Management now expects EPS for the third and fourth quarter to be in the range of 14 cents to 19 cents, and 99 cents to $1.04, respectively. Management also raised its full year earnings guidance on account of better-than-expected results. It now expects EPS to be in ...

Dell (DELL) will release its results on Thursday, after the close, as second-quarter earnings season nears an end. The technology company is projected to have earned 23 cents per share.

Joining Dell will be fellow S&P 500 members Big Lots (BIG), Medtronic (MDT), Novell (NOVL), Staples (SPLS) and Tiffany & Co. (TIF). A total of 76 companies are confirmed to release results.

Given the surprisingly strong July existing home sales report, all eyes will be on Wednesday's new home sales report. Specifically, economists will want to see that new home sales also rose for a fourth consecutive month.

Tuesday: August Conference Board consumer confidence, June S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Index Wednesday: July durable goods orders, July new home sales, weekly crude inventories Thursday: Preliminary second-quarter GDP, weekly initial jobless claims Friday: July personal income and spending, revised August University of Michigan consumer confidence

Atlanta Federal Reserve Bank President

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Highlighted stocks include RockTenn Company (...

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL - June 12, 2009 - Four free stock picks are being made available today on Zacks.com. The industry's leading independent research firm highlights one Zacks #1 Rank Strong Buy or a Zacks #2 Rank Buy stock for each of the four main styles of investing: Aggressive Growth, Growth & Income, Momentum, and Value.

The four highlighted picks are: Buckle Inc. (BKE), Ross Stores Inc. (ROST), Sanderson Farms Inc. (SAFM) and Big Lots Inc. (BIG).     Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Four daily picks are offered free at http://at.zacks.com/?id=88

Zacks #1 Rank Stocks have nearly tripled the S&P 500 since 1988, producing an average annual return of +26%. Performance has been notable even during volatile and down times. For example, during the last bear market, 2000-2002, the market tumbled -37.6% - but Zacks #1 Rank stocks gained +43.8%.

Here is a

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Big Lots, Inc. (...

Here are the stocks added to the Zacks #1 Rank ("strong buy") List today:

Access National Corp (ANCX) Acxiom Corp (ACXM) AeroCentury Corp (ACY) American Public Education Inc (APEI) Anaren Inc (ANEN) Banco Latinoamericano de Exportaciones (BLX) Big Lots Inc (BIG) Blackrock Kelso Capital Corp (BKCC) Brady Corp (BRC) Capitol Federal Financial (CFFN) Churchill Downs Inc (CHDN) Corrections Corporation of America (CXW) CPEX Pharmaceuticals Inc (CPEX) Deutsche Bank AG (DB) Dr Pepper Snapple Group Inc (DPS) Energy XXI (Bermuda) Ltd (EXXI) Entercom Communications Corp (ETM) Flanders Corp (FLDR) Hittite Microwave Corp (HITT) HMS Holdings Corp (HMSY) Inergy Holdings L.P (NRGP) Ingram Micro Inc (IM) Keppel Corporation Ltd (KPELY) KT Corp (KTC) Longtop Financial Technologies Ltd (LFT) Lumber Liquidators Inc (LL) Northrim BanCorp Inc ...

Here are the stocks added to the Zacks #1 Rank ("strong buy") List today:

Alliant Techsystems Inc (ATK) Almost Family Inc (AFAM) American Public Education Inc (APEI) American Technology Corp (ATCO) Anaren Inc (ANEN) APAC Customer Services Inc (APAC) Banco Latinoamericano de Exportaciones (BLX) Big Lots Inc (BIG) Blackrock Kelso Capital Corp (BKCC) BNP Paribas SA (BNPQY) China Telecom Corporation Ltd (CHA) Flamel Technologies SA (FLML) Hellenic Telecom Organization SA (OTE) Iconix Brand Group Inc (ICON) J Crew Group Inc (JCG) Koppers Holdings Inc (KOP) Legal & General Group Plc (LGGNY) Memsic Inc (MEMS) Nu Skin Enterprises Inc (NUS) Rolls-Royce Group Plc (RYCEY) Sara Lee Corp (SLE) Spectra Energy Partners LP (SEP) Tutor Perini Corp (TPC) View the entire Zacks #1 Rank List. ...

Big Lots Inc. (BIG) was pressuring a short-term level of resistance at $23.94 in morning trade. This Zacks#1 Rank ("Strong Buy") stock has topped the consensus estimate in each of the last 4 quarters with an average surprise of 11.63% or 5 cents per share. However, with a P/E of 12.1X, Big Lots is still cheaper than its closest peers.

"BIG" Free Stock Analysis: Buy? Sell? Hold?Zacks Investment Research

Highlights include Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (WMT), Big Lots, Inc. (BIG) and Family Dollar (FDO), Saks, Inc. (SKS) and Nordstrom, Inc. (JWN).Existing Home Sales Up, But So Are InventoriesThe existing home sales report for April showed mixed news, but was largely in line with expectations. Starting with the good news first, sales rose 2.8% to an annualized rate of 4.68 million, and were up in three out of the four regions.The Northeast fared the best by far on a month-to-month basis with a 11.6% rise, followed by the West, up 3.5% and the South up 1.8%. Sales in the Midwest declined by 1.8%. On a yea- over-year basis, sales were down 3.5%.The real stand out on a year-over-year basis was the West, where sales soared 19.4%, while the other three regions were down significantly. The Northeast is still ...

We highlight Family Dollar Stores, Inc. (FDO) and Big Lots, Inc. (BIG).Comparing the results of discount stores to moderately priced and more expensive stores shows that more consumers are shopping at discount stores. This shift makes sense given the weak economy, higher unemployment and consumer attitudes toward savings and debt. However, we were a little surprised to see how many higher income families have been trading down.Recently, the Nielsen Co. put out a report on the increase in the number of high and middle income consumers shopping at dollar stores. According to Nielsen, households with incomes higher than $100,000 spent 18% more at dollar stores in the second half of 2008 compared to the year prior. Nielsen also noted that the rising cost of food, education and healthcare is forcing consumers at all income levels to seek out cheaper alternatives for basic household items ...