For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – November 19, 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: PG&E Corporation (PCG), Edison International (EIX), Autodesk Inc. (ADSK), Adobe Systems Inc. (ADBE) and Apple Inc. (AAPL).

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Here are highlights from Wednesday’s Analyst Blog:

California May Ban High-Watt TVs

In California, an average residential customer’s 10% electrical consumption goes to television sets. However the regulatory apprehension is that with upgrade to larger television sets the consumption pattern for television sets will spike by as much as 8% annually. This is a worrisome

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The world’s second largest gold producer by market value, Goldcorp Inc (GG) is acquiring gold miner Canplats Resources Corp for about C$238 million ($229 million) to establish a network of satellite mines around its Penasquito gold project in Mexico. Each Canplats share would be exchanged for 0.074 of a common share of Goldcorp and an interest in a new exploration company. The offer values Canplats at about C$3.60 ($3.46) per share based upon the closing price of Goldcorp shares on Nov. 13. The offer represents a premium of about 41% over the C$2.55 million ($2.45 million) closing price of Canplats shares. The transaction is expected to close in January 2010. The Boards of Directors of both Goldcorp and Canplats have approved the deal. However, a two-thirds majority of Canplats outstanding shareholders are required to vote in favor of the offer for it to conclude. Canplats has ...

General Motors (hereafter, GM) -- presently, Motors Liquidation Company (MTLQQ) -- posted a narrower loss in the third quarter (Jul 10 - Sep 30) compared with the results depicted by "Old GM" in the first quarter, before the company was transformed by a stay in Chapter 11. GM, which began operations as a new company on July 10, 2009, has revealed a net loss of $1.2 billion for the quarter, significantly less than $6 billion it lost in the first quarter. The company’s earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) before special items for the period were negative at $261 million. GM’s North American market showed a loss of $651 million while GM International Operations recorded a profit of $238 million. The improvement was attributed to incentive programs including "Cash for Clunkers" and stability in the international market, especially China, Brazil, India and Russia (BRIC). In particular, ...

Dejour Enterprises, Ltd. (DEJ) reported a loss of $0.03 Canadian (or CAD) per share for the quarter ended September 30, 2009, which was below our expectations of a loss of CAD 0.02 per share. The difference was primarily attributable to shut-in gas, which substantially exceeded our expectations. Natural gas prices have recovered from their summer lows and now are in the range of US$4.00 to US$5.00 per Mcf. As a result, management is restoring a substantial portion of its productive capacity. In the fourth quarter, with gas sales rebounding, the company’s results should improve substantially. We reaffirm our Neutral rating and 12-month price target of US$1.01, based on expected improvements in gas sales volumes and winter drilling for crude oil resources scheduled by the company in British Columbia.Read the full analyst report on "DEJ"Zacks Investment Research

Canada-based Suncor Energy (SU) reported weaker-than-expected third quarter results, hampered by lower commodity prices and higher operating expenses in its oil sands business, partly offset by increased production resulting from the Petro-Canada acquisition. Earnings per share, excluding certain items, came in at 23 Canadian cents (22 cents), below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 31 cents. In the year-ago period, Suncor earned 87 Canadian cents (83 cents). Revenues were down marginally (by 0.8%) to C$8.4 billion.     Operating Statistics   The company reported operating earnings of C$288 million, down 64.4% year over year, while cash flow from operations dropped 49.9% from the prior-year period to C$574 million.   Production   Upstream production during August and September 2009 averaged 630,600 barrels of oil equivalent per day (BOE/d). Of this, 289,400 BOE/d came from the Petro-Canada acquisition. During the third quarter, volumes from Suncor’s legacy oil sands and natural ...

Telus Corporation (TU) reported results for third-quarter 2009 with adjusted (excluding favorable tax related adjustments) earnings per ADS of 76 US cents (83 Canadian cents per share), missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 79 US cents. Adjusted earnings also declined from 86 US cents per ADS (89 Canadian cents per share) reported in the year-ago quarter.  Reported net income for the quarter registered C$280 million (US$209 million) or 87 Canadian cents a share (79 US cents per ADS), declining 2.1% year over year. Excluding the impact of tax-related adjustment of $14 million, net income declined 7% year over year. Telus remains challenged by the weakening Canadian economy, which is mostly affecting its wireline business.  The second largest Canadian telecom carrier reported revenues of C$2.4 billion (US$2.2 billion), down 1.6% year over year due to persistent decline in voice revenues. Consolidated EBITDA decreased 5.3% year over year ...

Nexen Inc. (NXY) reported third-quarter recurring earnings of 21 cents (23 Canadian cents) per share, below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 27 cents and lasts year’s earnings of $1.62 (C$1.68).

Production during the quarter, before royalties, averaged 214 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day (MBOE/d), or 184 MBOE/d net of royalties, comprising 83% crude oil and 15% natural gas. Production before royalties was down 14% year over year, mainly due to turnarounds and maintenance activities at a number of fields. On a net-of-royalty basis, production was down slightly by 12% year over year to 184 MBOE/d.

While the quarter’s productions were hampered by the scheduled turnarounds on a number of the company’s fields, current production (275 MBOE/d) is increasing with the ramp-up of production at Ettrick, Longhorn and Long Lake. Management hinted that the fourth quarter production will be higher than the reported quarter level.

Nexen’s average oil price realization during

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Canadian energy explorer Talisman Energy Inc. (TLM) reported marginally better-than-expected third quarter results, helped by in-line production volumes. Earnings per share from continuing operations, excluding one-time items came in at 15 Canadian cents (14 cents), a penny above the Zacks Consensus Estimate. However, on a year-over-year basis, Talisman’s adjusted earnings per share slumped approximately 77%, while revenues declined 42.3% to C$1.5 billion, hurt by lower prices of oil and natural gas.   Volume Analysis   Production during the quarter was down approximately 9.5% from the year-ago level to 401 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day (MBOE/d), reflecting asset sales in Western Canada and maintenance downtime.   Oil & liquids production during the quarter was down 16.9% to 192.3 thousand barrels per day (MBbl/d), or 48% of total volumes. Volumes in North America, the U.K., Scandinavia , and other international regions were down 23.4%, 31.2%, 4.4%, and 30.5% ...

November 4, 2009 -nbsp; Analyst Comments -nbsp; Think Equityrsquo;s David Woodburn weighed in on Westport Innovations (Nasdaq:WPRT) this morning stating that he is lowering his revenue forecast based on a reduction of estimates for heavy-duty engine volume based on near-term economic pressures on fleet purchases. He continues to rate the stock at a BUY Key Takeaways middot;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; Decreasing overall engine forecasts for F2010 and F2011; shifting some volume from higher-profit heavy-duty line to Cummins-Westport medium-duty line middot;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; FQ2 should be a non-event ndash; expects revenue and EPS of C$27.7 million and (C$0.30) middot;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; ldquo;Skepticalrdquo; on odds of incentive-heavy NAT GAS legislation being passed (as written) by itself, though the odds have increased lately middot;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; Federal incentives to look for which could drive uptake of CNG and LNG vehicles include the DOE/Clean Cities alt fuel grants, and the NATGAS bill. middot;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; Nov. 6 could bring the approval of SCAQMD/CARB/Port Funding middot;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; ...

The Best Two Ways to Play Canada’s Economy, Currency And Natural Resources

Tony Daltorio, Investment U Research

A vast amount of natural resources. A love of hockey. A penchant for bacon. And liberal use of the word “eh.”

All are associated with Canada, of course. But America’s neighbor to the north boasts another fine trait: an efficiently run economy.

You see, although Canada borders the United States, it takes a completely different approach towards economic policy.

That showed strongly just recently when America stoked protectionist fears by slapping stiff duties on tire imports from China. Yet days later, Canada unveiled plans for a significant move in the opposite direction. Canada aims to abolish all remaining tariffs on imported machinery and equipment used by domestic manufacturers, saving Canadian manufacturers C$250-300 million a year.

And while the United States dithers over

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