For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – November 6, 2009 – Zacks Equity Research highlights Acorda Therapeutics (ACOR) as the Bull of the Day and Canon (CAJ) the Bear of the Day. In addition, Zacks Equity Research provides analysis on Big Lots (BIG), Wal-Mart (WMT) and Nordstrom (JWN).

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:

Acorda Therapeutics (ACOR) is one of the more interesting biotechnology companies under our coverage. The company's key pipeline drug, Fampridine-SR, is currently under U.S. FDA review, with a decision expected in late January 2010.

Outside the U.S., Acorda has partnered with Biogen Idec under very favorable terms. Fampridine-SR has blockbuster potential worldwide in our view. Plus, the company is extremely well-capitalized with over $290 million in cash, and management has commercial experience

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Initial claims for unemployment insurance fell by 20,000 this week to 512,000. Last week's numbers were revised slightly higher, so arguably the drop was 18,000, but that's still a nice improvement. The four-week moving average dropped by 3,000 to 523,750. Since new claims can be volatile from week to week, the four-week moving average is generally considered a better gauge of where we are. The graph below (from http://www.calculatedriskblog.com/) shows the history of that average. We are now 135,000 below the peak set back in April. This is a key piece of evidence that the recession is over. However, we remain above the highest levels seen in either of the last two recessions. The level indicates that we are still losing jobs, but at a slower rate than we had been. In the past we did not start to see actual increases in the number of ...

Key Points:

Growth Third quarter expected to be down 23.8% year-over-year Fourth quarter to more than double year ago, but it is all in the Financials 2009 total net income expected to fall 7.3%, but rise 23.8% in 2010 More than half expected to post positive growth in Q4

Levels Bottom up estimate for S&P 500 now $59.61 in 2009 S&P 500 now expected to earn $73.81 in 2010. Top down estimates $53.94 and $68.40, respectively

Scorecard & Surprise Early results strong with a median surprise of 5.32% A tiny sample with only 3.2% of reports in

Revisions Total estimate increases outnumber cuts almost 3:2 for 2009 Upward revisions outnumber cuts by more than 7:4 for 2010 Revisions ratios for both years slipped, but are still up big from earlier in the year Total revisions activity near seasonal lows For 2009, Discretionary and Materials lead; Utilities Telecom lag Discretionary and Tech strong for

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Key Points:

Growth Third quarter expected to be down 23.8% year-over-year Fourth quarter to more than double year ago, but it is all in the Financials 2009 total net income expected to fall 7.3%, but rise 23.8% in 2010 More than half expected to post positive growth in Q4

Levels Bottom up estimate for S&P 500 now $59.61 in 2009 S&P 500 now expected to earn $73.81 in 2010. Top down estimates $53.94 and $68.40, respectively

Scorecard & Surprise Early results strong with a median surprise of 5.32% A tiny sample with only 3.2% of reports in

Revisions Total estimate increases outnumber cuts almost 3:2 for 2009 Upward revisions outnumber cuts by more than 7:4 for 2010 Revisions ratios for both years slipped, but are still up big from earlier in the year Total revisions activity near seasonal lows For 2009, Discretionary and Materials lead; Utilities Telecom lag Discretionary and Tech strong for

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Big Lots, Inc. (BIG) recently surprised on estimates for the third consecutive quarter even as it saw a slight decline in sales.

Big Lots is a closeout retailer which sells a broad range of products including seasonal items, furniture, housewares, toys, electronics, home decor and tools. It has been benefiting from customers seeking value in their purchases during the recession.

On Aug 25, the company reported that earnings per share were 35 cents which surprised on the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 12.90%, or 4 cents. It also surpassed the 32 cents reported in the second quarter of 2008.

Sales fell by 1.7% to $1.086 million from $1.105 million in the year ago quarter. Comparable store sales were also lower, decreasing 2.4% for the quarter.

Fiscal 2009 Guidance Raised

Given that the company continues to surprise on estimates, it also continues to raise its fiscal 2009 guidance range. Big

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• Boeing (NYSE:BA) shares rose 2.8% Monday on reports of a WestJet order for fourteen 737-700 airliners; the company also received a $1.155 billion Department of Defense contract for the C-17 Globemaster III

• Staples (NASDAQ:SPLS) reported inline second quarter earnings of 16 cents a share versus 21 cents a share a year ago, on sales of $5.53 billion versus $5.07 billion

• Big Lots (NYSE:BIG) reported second quarter earnings of 35 cents a share, 4 cents higher than Zacks estimates, versus 32 cents a year ago, on sales of $1.09 billion versus $1.11 billion. The firm raised its 2009 guidance to $1.92 to $2.02 a share from $1.85 to $1.95 a share

• JP Morgan (NYSE:JPM) analysts downgraded mining stocks on valuation concerns, saying the shares appear less attractive after their 75% run-up since December 3. Meanwhile, telecom shares were upgraded as more attractive based upon their 50% relative discount on a

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For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – August 24, 2009 – Zacks.com releases the list of companies likely to issue earnings surprises. This week’s list includes Dell (DELL), Big Lots (BIG), Medtronic (MDT), Novell (NOVL), Staples (SPLS), Tiffany & Co. (TIF), Dollar Tree, Inc. (DLTR), Marvell Technology Group (MRVL) and Energy Conversion Devices (ENER). To see more earnings analysis, visit http://at.zacks.com/?id=3207.

Every day, Zacks.com makes 4 stock picks available, free of charge. To see them, go to http://at.zacks.com/?id=5612.

This Week's Events

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).

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US markets closed marginally lower Wednesday, capping a four-day rally, as some lackluster economic data kept investors from taking big positions.  Investors appeared to be cautious ahead of the government’s monthly report on job losses and the unemployment report, which comes out on Friday.  Yesterday’s pullback reversed Wall Street’s recent run, which has been spurred by better-than-expected corporate earnings and hopes that the worst of the economic crisis has passed.   

The Dow Jones industrial average declined 39 points, or 0.4%, the Standard & Poor's 500 lost 3 points, or 0.3%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite retreated 18 points, or 0.9% after disappointing data on private payrolls and the services sector dented some optimism.  However, the Commerce Department reported an unexpected 0.4% rise in orders for manufactured goods in June.  On the NYSE, volume was a moderate 1.53 billion as decliners outpaced advancing shares by 8 to 7

Treasuries fell,

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For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – July 27, 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: Macy's (M), J.C. Penny (JCP), Family Dollar (FDO), Big Lots (BIG) and EnCana Corporation (ECA).

Get the most recent insight from Zacks Equity Research with the free Profit from the Pros newsletter: http://at.zacks.com/?id=5513

Here are highlights from Friday’s Analyst Blog:

Sentiment Slips

The University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment index slipped to 66.0 in July from 70.8 in June, but was revised up from its preliminary reading of 64.6. The reading was slightly better than expected.

The index has two major components: the expectations about how the economy will look

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The University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment index slipped to 66.0 in July from 70.8 in June, but was revised up from its preliminary reading of 64.6. The reading was slightly better than expected.

The index has two major components: the expectations about how the economy will look in the future, and the state of the economy currently. Relative to June, both sides fell fairly sharply, but remain well above the lows seen last winter. Consumers' perceptions about the future dropped to a reading of 63.2 from 69.2 in June, and are almost back to the 63.1 reading in April (but that was a huge improvement over March's reading of 53.5).

The perception of the current state of the economy also slipped, falling to 70.5 from June's 73.2. However, it remains above the readings last spring (even as recent as May's 67.7 reading). While relative to June, the expectations component was the

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