Big Lots Inc. (BIG) recently posted stronger-than-expected fourth-quarter 2009 results on the heels of better sales, improved inventory control and effective cost management. The quarterly earnings of $1.31 per share outdid the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.28, and soared 31% from $1.00 delivered in the prior-year quarter.

The better-than-expected results prompted management to provide three years’ outlook. The retailer now expects earnings per share to grow at a compounded annual growth rate of 12% to 16% from fiscal 2010 to fiscal 2012 based on annual sales growth rate of 5% to 7% and annual comparable-store sales increase of 2% to 3%.

Big Lots also forecasted first-quarter 2010 earnings between 60 cents and 65 cents a share, and fiscal year 2010 earnings in the range of $2.65 to $2.75.

On a reported basis, including one-time items, Big Lots delivered earnings of $1.27 per share, up 32.3% from 96 cents posted in the year-ago

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The following is the latest trade from our Options Capitalist service. Closeout retailer Big Lots (BIG) reports its latest earnings news on Monday. There is a very good likelihood the company beats...br/ br/ [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]div class="feedflare" a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/StocksOptionsBlog?a=ccJUtWeg8dE:Ca9HfgJU120:yIl2AUoC8zA"img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/StocksOptionsBlog?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"/img/a a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/StocksOptionsBlog?a=ccJUtWeg8dE:Ca9HfgJU120:l6gmwiTKsz0"img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/StocksOptionsBlog?d=l6gmwiTKsz0" border="0"/img/a a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/StocksOptionsBlog?a=ccJUtWeg8dE:Ca9HfgJU120:gIN9vFwOqvQ"img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/StocksOptionsBlog?i=ccJUtWeg8dE:Ca9HfgJU120:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"/img/a a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/StocksOptionsBlog?a=ccJUtWeg8dE:Ca9HfgJU120:TzevzKxY174"img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/StocksOptionsBlog?d=TzevzKxY174" border="0"/img/a /divimg src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/StocksOptionsBlog/~4/ccJUtWeg8dE" height="1" width="1"/

  Stock-PR Reporting FREE Daily Stock Alerts From Stock-PR.com ________________________________________ Feburary 25, 2010   Upgrades Company Ticker Brokerage Firm Ratings Change Price Target CME Group CME Deutsche Bank Hold » Buy $320 » $325 EnergySolutions ES FBR Capital Underperform » Mkt Perform $11 » $7.50 FARO Techs FARO Needham Hold » Buy $25 ReneSola SOL Deutsche Bank Hold » Buy Suntech Power STP Deutsche Bank Sell » Hold Trina Solar TSL Deutsche Bank Hold » Buy Yingli Green Energy YGE Deutsche Bank Hold » Buy PacWest Bancorp PACW Soleil Hold » Buy $24.50 Big Lots BIG JP Morgan Neutral » Overweight $38   Downgrades Company Ticker Brokerage Firm Ratings Change Price Target Anadys Pharma ANDS Oppenheimer Outperform » [...]

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – February 17, 2010 – 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: Mattel Inc. (MAT), Cantel Medical Corp. (CMN), Littlefuse, Inc. (LFUS) 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=5607

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 summary

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Big Lots, Inc. (BIG) is the largest broad-line closeout retailer with annual revenue over $4 billion. The closeout format gives it an edge over traditional discount retailers as customers are offered merchandise assortments at very low prices.

We think the company's focus on closing underperforming stores, reducing operating expenses and improving merchandise content are steps in the right direction. Moreover, the company's in-store initiatives and testing of smaller prototype stores will help drive traffic. Comparable-store sales are regaining strength.

However, rising competition from dollar stores and other discount retailers, and limited consumables product offerings when consumers are cutting discretionary spending are concerns. Our target price is $33.00 per share.Zacks Investment Research

Big Lots Inc. (BIG) recently raised its fourth quarter 2009 guidance encouraged by better-than-expected sales results. By categories, electronics, furniture and hardlines experienced an improvement in demand.     The Columbus, Ohio based company Big Lots now expects quarterly comparable-store sales to increase in the range of 3.5% to 4.5%, up from 1.5% to 2.5% forecasted earlier. The shares of Big Lots rose 1.8% or 52 cents to close at $30.21 on Tuesday.   The company’s sagging comparable-store sales gained momentum in third-quarter 2009, when Big Lots saw its comps declining marginally by 0.2%, showing a substantial improvement from a decline of 2.4% posted in the second-quarter 2009.   The company also raised its fourth-quarter earnings guidance. Big Lots stated that it now sees quarterly earnings in the range of $1.19 to $1.24 per share, up from its earlier guidance of $1.09 to $1.14.

Big Lots operates as a broad-line

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Big Lots Inc. (BIG) recently posted a record third quarter as it surprised on estimates for the fourth quarter in a row. The company raised fourth quarter and full year guidance. Big Lots trades at 12.9x forward earnings.

Company Description

Big Lots is a closeout retailer which sells a broad range of products including seasonal items, furniture, housewares, toys, electronics, home decor and tools.

The company has 1368 Big Lots stores in 47 states and also sells merchandise through its web site, www.biglots.com. It also has wholesale operations through Big Lots Wholesale, Consolidated International and Wisconsin Toy.

Big Lots Reports Record Third Quarter

On Dec 4, Big Lots reported its third quarter results and easily beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 50%. Earnings per share of 27 cents topped last year's earnings by 80%. The Zacks Consensus called for just 18 cents.

Sales rose 1.3% to $1.035 billion

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• Take-Two (NASDAQ:TTWO) said its fiscal fourth quarter results are likely to fall short of its prior outlook.  The company now sees adjusted earnings of 5-10 cents.  For 2010, the firm expects a loss of 40-60 cents on revenues of $1-1.2 billion, versus estimates of $0.64-$1.24 billion

• Smith & Wesson (NASDAQ:SWHC) reported fiscal second quarter earnings of 10 cents a share, one cent above estimates, on revenues of $108.8

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Consorteum Holdings Inc. (OTCBB: CSRH) launched its consumer stored value rebate card. The consumer rebate card program will offer manufacturers and retailers a new way to process mail-in rebates that ensures increased customer loyalty and decreased overhead costs. Consorteum will work directly with manufactures and retailers to reduce the administration costs associated with mail-in rebate programs while providing a new way to increase consumer awareness. Additional revenue and cost-saving opportunities will be available to all parties through unspent funds

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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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