Cato Corporation (CATO), the women's fashion specialty retailer, reported third quarter results on Nov 19 that surprised on the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 11.11%, or 1 cent a share. It was the company's fourth consecutive earnings beat.

Earnings per share for the third quarter rose 233% to 10 cents from 3 cents in the year ago period. The Zacks Consensus called for 9 cents.

The company bucked the negative retail trend by increasing sales by 6% to $191 million from $179.8 million in the year ago period. Same store sales also rose 4%, surprising even the company.

The gross margin rate also rose to 34.8% from 29.3% in the year ago quarter mainly due to better merchandise margins and lower freight costs.

The company is being cautious about the fourth quarter given the economic uncertainties even though it outperformed in the third quarter. It is still forecasting same store

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For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – November 17, 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: Ctrip.com International Ltd. (CTRP), Casey's General Stores Inc. (CASY), Skechers USA Inc. (SKX) and Bristow Group Inc. (BRS).      Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Four daily picks are offered free at http://at.zacks.com/?id=5607

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

The Allstate Corp (ALL) American River Bankshares (AMRB) Argo Group International Holdings Ltd (AGII) Aventine Renewable Energy Holdings Inc (AVRNQ) BancTrust Financial Group Inc (BTFG) Benchmark Electronics Inc (BHE) Bristow Group Inc (BRS) BRT Realty Trust (BRT) C&D Technologies Inc (CHP) Callaway Golf Co (ELY) Columbus McKinnon Corp (CMCO) Comtech Telecommunications Corp (CMTL) Connecticut Water Service Inc (CTWS) Credicorp Ltd (BAP) Cybex International Inc (CYBI) Cynosure Inc (CYNO) Dayton Superior Corp (DSUPQ) Enterprise Financial Services Corp (EFSC) Entertainment Properties Trust (EPR) Ethan Allen Interiors Inc (ETH) Fuel Tech Inc (FTEK) Gannett Co Inc (GCI) Harleysville Group Inc (HGIC) Hartford Financial Services (HIG) Haverty Furniture Companies Inc (HVT) Independent Bank Corp ...

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

ABB Ltd (ABB) Accuride Corp (AURD) Alaska Air Group Inc (ALK) Allegheny Energy Inc (AYE) The Allstate Corp (ALL) Arbor Realty Trust Inc (ABR) Argo Group International Holdings Ltd (AGII) Banco Bradesco SA (BBD) Berkshire Hills Bancorp Inc (BHLB) Blyth Inc (BTH) Bristow Group Inc (BRS) Callaway Golf Co (ELY) CBS Corp (CBS) Celgene Corp (CELG) CenterPoint Energy Inc (CNP) Cincinnati Financial Corp (CINF) Clarcor Inc (CLC) Cleco Corp (CNL) CNinsure Inc (CISG) Community Bancorp (CBON) Cynosure Inc (CYNO) Dayton Superior Corp (DSUPQ) Domtar Corp (UFS) El Paso Electric Co (EE) EMS Technologies Inc (ELMG) Erie Indemnity Co (ERIE) Ethan Allen Interiors Inc (ETH) Fairpoint Communications Inc (...

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

ABB Ltd (ABB) ACIW (ACIW) AnnTaylor Stores Corp (ANN) Argo Group International Holdings Ltd (AGII) Bancolombia SA (CIB) Bristow Group Inc (BRS) BRT Realty Trust (BRT) Cadence Financial Corp (CADE) CenterPoint Energy Inc (CNP) Collective Brands Inc (PSS) El Paso Electric Co (EE) Erie Indemnity Co (ERIE) Expeditors International of Washington (EXPD) Fairpoint Communications Inc (FRP) Ferro Corp (FOE) First Merchants Corp (FRME) First Security Group Inc (FSGI) Fuel Tech Inc (FTEK) Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes SA (GOL) Harleysville Group Inc (HGIC) Haverty Furniture Companies Inc (HVT) Heartland Payment Systems Inc (HPY) Huntsman Corp (HUN) Intrepid Potash Inc (IPI) ITT Corp (ITT) Jo-Ann Stores Inc (JAS) Kelly Services Inc ...

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

Arena Resources Inc (ARD) Bank of New York Mellon Corp (BK) W R Berkley Corp (WRB) Bristow Group Inc (BRS) Callwave Inc (CALL) Capital Trust Inc (CT) Carlisle Companies Inc (CSL) Carrizo Oil & Gas Inc (CRZO) Center Financial Corp (CLFC) Century Casinos Inc (CNTY) Cheniere Energy Inc (LNG) Churchill Downs Inc (CHDN) CNinsure Inc (CISG) Commercial Vehicle Group Inc (CVGI) Community Bancorp (CBON) CRM Holdings Ltd (CRMH) CryptoLogic Ltd (CRYP) Cutera Inc (CUTR) Cypress Bioscience Inc (CYPB) Dynamic Materials Corp (BOOM) El Paso Electric Co (EE) EnPro Industries Inc (NPO) Enterprise Financial Services Corp (EFSC) FalconStor Software Inc (FALC) FARO Technologies Inc (FARO) First M & F Corp (...

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

AmericanWest Bancorp (AWBC) Atlas Energy Resources LLC (ATN) Avnet Inc (AVT) BGC Partners Inc (BGCP) Blyth Inc (BTH) The Boeing Co (BA) Bristow Group Inc (BRS) Brooks Automation Inc (BRKS) Carlisle Companies Inc (CSL) Cascade Bancorp (CACB) Columbia Sportswear Co (COLM) Commercial Vehicle Group Inc (CVGI) Consol Energy Inc (CNX) Cott Corp (COT) Danaos Corp (DAC) Dayton Superior Corp (DSUP) Deere & Co (DE) The Walt Disney Co (DIS) Echostar Corp (SATS) Ensco International Inc (ESV) CGG Veritas (CGV) Heritage-Crystal Clean Inc (HCCI) Hertz Global Holdings Inc (HTZ) KVH Industries Inc (KVHI) Lazard Ltd (LAZ) MB Financial Inc (MBFI) Media General Inc (MEG) Parke Bancorp Inc (PKBK) ...