For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – October 29, 2009 – Zacks Equity Research highlights Intersil Corporation (ISIL) as the Bull of the Day and Mack-Cali (CLI) the Bear of the Day. In addition, Zacks Equity Research provides analysis on Ford (F), Paccar (PCAR) and United Technologies (UTX).

Full analysis of all these stocks is available at http://at.zacks.com/?id=2676

Here is a synopsis of all five stocks:

Bull of the Day:

Intersil Corporation (ISIL) is an OEM of analog and mixed signal semiconductor ICs. September quarter results beat consensus estimates on both the top and bottom lines. Forward guidance is for 3% revenue growth in the fourth quarter.

We expect an unfavorable mix of business through 2009, although management initiatives are likely to mitigate the impact. Management expressed confidence that the bottom is behind it, and judging from the increasing order rates and

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Mack-Cali (CLI) is a vertically integrated office REIT with assets in some very competitive markets which are getting worse in conjunction with the overall U.S. economy.

Mack-Cali will have a difficult time holding occupancy and increasing rents due to the continued volatility in the office sector with increasing job cuts and decline in market fundamentals. In addition, we see no near-term growth catalyst for the company.

Our recommendation for Mack-Cali is Underperform as we anticipate it to perform well below the broader market. However, if Mack-Cali can weather the current storm, the share price may rise.Zacks Investment Research

Chile-based LAN Airlines S.A. (LFL) yesterday reported discouraging results for the third quarter 2009. Net income of US$52.1 million was 37.3% lower than  net income of US$83.0 million in the third quarter of 2008. Excluding non-operating extraordinary items recognized in the third quarter 2008, net income decreased 58.3%. Consolidated revenues declined 19.1%, driven mainly by lower yields in both the cargo and passenger businesses. This was partially offset by a 14.3% decline in operating expenses, driven mainly by lower fuel costs. Operating income reached US$92.4 million a 46.1% decrease compared to US$171.3 million in the same quarter of previous year. Operating margin reached 10.1%, compared to 15.1% in the same period of 2008. Third quarter 2009 results continued to be impacted by fuel hedging losses, although to a much lesser extent than in previous quarters. The fuel hedging loss during the quarter amounted to US$14.4 million ...

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL - June 26, 2009 - Zacks Equity Research highlights Cirrus Logic, Inc. (CRUS) as the Bull of the Day and CEMEX, S.A. de C.V. (CX) the Bear of the Day. In addition, Zacks Equity Research provides analysis on Mack-Cali (CLI), Liberty Properties (LRY) and Cousins Properties (CUZ).

Full analysis of all these stocks is available at http://at.zacks.com/?id=2676.

Here is a synopsis of all five stocks:

Bull of the Day:

Cirrus Logic, Inc. (CRUS) is a fabless OEM of analog, mixed-signal and digital processing integrated circuits (ICs). The company's 4Q results were in line with our expectation.

On the positive side, CRUS reflects a strong balance sheet with no debt. The company has also provided decent 1Q 2010 guidance. Cirrus' new product offerings are expected to benefit

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Yesterday, Moody's released its commercial real estate index and reported that nationwide prices for all types of commercial real estate (CRE) plunged by 8.6% in April from March and now stand 25.3% below a year ago, and are off 29.5% from their October 2007 peak.The Moody's/REAL CPPI is a repeat sales index constructed very much along the same lines as the Case-Schiller index of residential real estate prices. In the graph below, Calculated Risk (http://www.calculatedriskblog.com/2009/06/cre-and-residential-re-prices.html) has overlaid the Case-Schiller index on the graph from the Moody's report. It clearly appears that CRE prices follow housing prices with about an 18-month lag.This is consistent with other findings that investment in CRE (i.e. new building of offices and stores) follows residential investment by about the same period. While the CRE price decline started later than that for houses, it is happening at a much faster ...

How to make 300% off Washington’s lies. I don’t like to think that I am actually that much of a curmudgeon. I will concede, however, that historically, economically and financially speaking, lies and liars are probably closer to the norm than not.

And thank the Lord (or, perhaps more appropriately, that bad old fallen angel) for them, because the proliferation of lies, half-truths and obfuscations can offer the skeptical investor some of his finest trading opportunities.

Here’s an example: Back in 1982, 16-year-old Barry Minkow of Reseda, Calif., started a carpet cleaning biz out of his parent’s garage. Now these were optimistic, go-go times… the beginning of the Reagan Revolution that would see the Dow Jones Industrial Average rise from sub-1,000 levels to unthinkably unimaginable heights.

A $100 Million Con Doesn’t Seem Like Much These Days

Pretty early in the game, Minkow decided on one thing for

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The Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) sell-off continues in 2009; equity REITs are down about 20% in 2009 vs. 11% for the S&P index. Equity REITs had a rough 2008, with a 37% decline.

As the government continues to work through the banking crisis, volatility will remain in the coming months. Commercial real estate is re-pricing to account for the new reality of constrained credit and weaker fundamentals. Cap rates are increasing across all sectors; as such, there could be more attractive buying opportunities from distressed sellers, and many REITs who still have access to capital could find good deals. Although higher cap rates inherently decreases the value of a company's holdings and inhibits the amount that a company can borrow.

We expect more dividend cuts by companies in an effort to conserve cash in a severely capital-constrained environment. With valuations now near historical lows, we have become more positive on the

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With a broad-based sell-off in 2008, many REITs are now trading well below Net Asset Value [NAV], and average yields exceed 9%. Year to date, equity REITs are down about 47%.

We remain neutral on the sector. While valuations are compelling, we have lowered our 2009 outlook; our 2009 FFO [funds from operations] estimates have been for the most part cut across the board. We also expect more dividend cuts as companies try to conserve cash.

The economy will get worse in the first half of 2009, and we expect a much tougher operating environment for REITs. REITs with heavy 2009 and 2010 debt maturities pose the most near-term risk, so look for companies with clean balance sheets, lots of cash, credit availability, low overall debt and limited development exposure.

Volatility will remain in the coming months as commercial real estate re-prices to account for the new reality of

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With a broad-based sell-off in 2008, many REITs are now trading well below Net Asset Value [NAV], and average yields exceed 9%. Year to date, equity REITs are down about 47%.

We remain neutral on the sector. While valuations are compelling, we have lowered our 2009 outlook; our 2009 FFO [funds from operations] estimates have been for the most part cut across the board. We also expect more dividend cuts as companies try to conserve cash.

The economy will get worse in the first half of 2009, and we expect a much tougher operating environment for REITs. REITs with heavy 2009 and 2010 debt maturities pose the most near-term risk, so look for companies with clean balance sheets, lots of cash, credit availability, low overall debt and limited development exposure. 

Volatility will remain in the coming months as commercial real estate re-prices to account for the new reality of constrained

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The ‘Big Three’ automakers in Detroit are begging for a government rescue. Adam Lass says these companies are just too risky to raise capital themselves. A bailout may be coming, but shareholders won’t be saved. That’s why Adam says investors should short GM (NYSE:GM) and Ford (NYSE:F).

This from Taipan Daily:

Last week, I wrote to you as to how our local hausfraus had found a convenient way to raise funds without the trouble of visiting such sordid places as pawnshops. Their solution: gold-selling parties wherein nice men would come to the house and relieve them of their excess jewelry.

Apparently the need to convert baubles to dollars is not limited to the Maryland upper middle class these days. According to Bloomberg, the pawn business is booming in, of all places, Beverly Hills. Except, as usual, Cali has to do poor Maryland

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