We are upgrading our recommendation on the shares of Loews Corp. (L) to Neutral. The company’s third-quarter earnings of $1.08 per share was well ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 87 cents a share. Loews reported a loss of 33 cents a share in the year-ago quarter.   The improved earnings were driven by increased investment income and a considerable reduction in investment losses at CNA Financial Corp. (CNA), besides strong results at Diamond Offshore Drilling Inc. (DO).    While the spin-off of Lorillard in 2008 eliminated the company’s overhang of tobacco litigation and the strong rebound in investment income is impressive, we think that the continuation of a stressed economic environment will have a restrictive effect on the top-line growth of the company.   The recent financial market appreciation bodes well for Loews. Both the holding company as well as the subsidiary, CNA, has experienced

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Loews Corporation’s (L) third quarter income from continuing operations came in at $1.08 per share compared to a loss of 33 cents in the year-ago quarter. Results primarily reflected a 26% year-over-year increase in revenues. The improved results were driven by increased investment income and a considerable reduction in investment losses at CNA Financial Corporation (CNA) and strong results at Diamond Offshore Drilling Inc. (DO). Also, the results reflect a strong rebound in investment income, primarily from improved limited partnership results. CNA Financial Corporation’s operating income increased to $304 million from $76 million in the prior-year period. Diamond Offshore experienced a strong quarter with $170 million of earnings, up 17% year-over-year. However, Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, LP’s (BWP) earnings decreased to $9 million from $31 million in the year-ago period. Reported earnings for the quarter were significantly reduced due to the shutting down ...

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Friday August 14, 2009

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W. R. Berkley Corporation (NYSE: WRB) today announced the formation of Berkley North Pacific Group, LLC, an operating unit that will be part of its regional segment. Berkley North Pacific Group will be based in Seattle, Washington. Together with our current presence in Boise, Idaho that we intend to maintain, Berkley North Pacific Group will provide standard commercial lines insurance services and expertise to a wide range of businesses throughout the Pacific Northwest utilizing the independent agency system.

Based on popular online votes cast and scoring by a panel of JetBlue judges, JetBlue Airways (Nasdaq: JBLU) and Superfly Marketing Group

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Tuesday August 11, 2009

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Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, LP (NYSE:BWP) today announced that it has increased its previously announced public offering of 7,000,000 common units to 7,250,000 common units and priced the offering at $23.00 per unit. Boardwalk expects the offering to close on August 14, 2009. Boardwalk has granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 1,087,500 common units.

Xcellink International Inc. (OTCBB: XCEL), a developer of a patented mobile payments & banking platform, is pleased to announce that it has begun trading and is quoted on the NASD (National Association of Security Dealers) Over-the-counter under the symbol XCEL.OB. The

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Boardwalk Pipeline Partners LP (BWP) was trading below support at $21.20 on Thursday morning. The average forecast on the company's full-year earnings has been falling consistently for the past 2 months and is now pegged at $1.29, down 4 cents per share from last week. BWP is a Zacks#5 Rank ("Strong Sell") stock.

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

Here are the stocks added to the Zacks #5 Rank ("strong sell") List today:

American National BankShares Inc (AMNB) Anixter International Inc (AXE) AnnTaylor Stores Corp (ANN) Associated Estates Realty Corp (AEC) Avery Dennison Corp (AVY) Bancolombia SA (CIB) Bancorp Rhode Island Inc (BARI) BE Aerospace Inc (BEAV) Boardwalk Pipeline Partners LP (BWP) Brooks Automation Inc (BRKS) Cadence Financial Corp (CADE) Callon Petroleum Co (CPE) Casual Male Retail Group Inc (CMRG) Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd (CP) Corn Products International Inc (CPO) Corporate Executive Board Co (EXBD) Covanta Holding Corp (CVA) Dassault Systemes SA (DASTY) Eurobancshares Inc (EUBK) First Advantage Corp (FADV) Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc (FDP) Glacier Bancorp Inc (GBCI) Hain Celestial Group Inc (HAIN) K-Swiss Inc (KSWS) KVH Industries Inc (KVHI) Limelight ...

Loews Corporation (L) experienced a 3Q08 net loss from continuing operations came of $0.33 per share, the result of higher-than-expected catastrophe losses and investment losses at CNA Financial Corporation (CNA), which more than offset the improved results at the energy and drilling subsidiaries -- HighMount Exploration, Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc. (DO) and Boardwalk Pipeline Partners LP (BWP).

The spin-off of Lorillard in 2Q08 eliminated the company's overhang from tobacco litigation, permitting an increased focuses on broadening hydrocarbon interests. While the company has announced large capital investments (which would benefit results in the future), we reiterate our Hold recommendation as of now.

CNA Financial is the 14th largest property-casualty insurer in the U.S., providing standard commercial lines, specialty lines (specialty property-casualty, professional and financial), surety, marine, and other property and casualty coverage as well as life, and group insurance coverage. CNA is 90.0% owned by Loews. This insurance

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Once, a part of Virginia, Kentucky is today one of only four states that calls itself a Commonwealth. It is also known as the Bluegrass State. Kentucky is one of the top producers of automobiles in the United States. Some interesting facts about the Commonwealth of Kentucky are:1. Kentucky offers a $1 tax credit per gallon of biodiesel produced to companies in the state.2. New and expanding service companies in the state may be entitled to a tax credit of up to 100% of its income tax liability.3. Kentucky is the 15th state with the lowest cost of doing business.4. Kentucky’s nonfuel mineral production revenue is $600 million, which ranks it number 24 nationally.5. The service industry employs 34% of the labor force, followed by the utilities, trade and transportation utility employing 20% of the labor force.6. Canada is ...

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

Allegiant Travel Co (ALGT) Applied Energetics Inc (AERG) Astoria Financial Corp (AF) Aviza Technology Inc (AVZA) AZZ Inc (AZZ) BigBand Networks Inc (BBND) Boardwalk Pipeline Partners LP (BWP) BreitBurn Energy Partners LP (BBEP) Bruker Corp (BRKR) Carter's Inc (CRI) Casey's General Stores Inc (CASY) Cell Genesys Inc (CEGE) Cleco Corp (CNL) Colonial Properties Trust (CLP) CryoLife Inc (CRY) dELiA*s Inc (DLIA) The Empire District Electric Co (EDE) Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd (FFH) Federal Signal Corp (FSS) Fossil Inc (FOSL) FX Energy Inc (FXEN) Hollywood Media Corp (HOLL) iCAD INC (ICAD) Iconix Brand Group Inc (ICON) Masimo Corp (MASI) NeurogesX Inc (NGSX) NitroMed Inc (NTMD) Occam Networks Inc (...