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: Ford (F), CarMax (KMX), AutoNation (AN), Apartment Investors (AIV) and Equity Residential (EQR).

Get the most recent insight from Zacks Equity Research with the free Profit from the Pros newsletter: http://at.zacks.com/?id=5513

Here are highlights from Wednesday’s Analyst Blog:

CPI Up on Cars, Energy

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for October rose by 0.3%, a little bit hotter than the 0.2% that was expected. If one strips out volatile food and energy prices to get the core consumer price index, prices were up 0.2%, also one tick higher than the 0.1%

...

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for October rose by 0.3%, a little bit hotter than the 0.2% that was expected. If one strips out volatile food and energy prices to get the core consumer price index, prices were up 0.2%, also one tick higher than the 0.1% expected. A rise in energy prices was not unexpected. Heck, one only has to see what the price of crude oil and natural gas have done over the last month or so. For the month, the price of energy rose 1.5% overall. The rise was sharpest among energy commodities, like gasoline and heating oil, which rose by 1.9%. Energy services, like electricity rose a more moderate -- but still steep -- 0.9%. The rise in core consumer prices was a bit more of a surprise. However, the rising prices were very narrow, with almost all of the increases due to ...

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – October 30, 2009 – Zacks Equity Research highlights CarMax (KMX) as the Bull of the Day and Genomic Health Inc. (GHDX) the Bear of the Day. In addition, Zacks Equity Research provides analysis on J.C. Penney (JCP), Macy’s (M) and Bank of America (BAC).

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:

CarMax (KMX) focuses on penetrating new markets through store openings. The company has kept its inventories closely aligned with sales trends, which has allowed it to optimize gross profit per unit besides offering great value to customers. These have helped the company to maintain a favorable position among its peer group.

CarMax has reported profit in the second quarter, reflecting a significant improvement from the Zacks Consensus Estimate. It

...

CarMax (KMX) focuses on penetrating new markets through store openings. The company has kept its inventories closely aligned with sales trends, which has allowed it to optimize gross profit per unit besides offering great value to customers. These have helped the company to maintain a favorable position among its peer group.

CarMax has reported profit in the second quarter, reflecting a significant improvement from the Zacks Consensus Estimate. It has experienced a significant rebound in CarMax Auto Finance income to $72 million in the quarter versus a loss of $7 million in the prior year quarter.

These lead us to upgrade the stock to an Outperform recommendation with a target price of $25.Zacks Investment Research

In August, personal income rose by $19.3 billion, or 0.2%, and disposable personal income (or DPI, essentially after-tax income) rose by $15.5 billion, or 0.1%. The increase in personal income is essentially the same as we saw in July, and in line with consensus expectations. DPI was actually down very slightly in July, so even the 0.1% increase is an improvement. Even though inflation is low, DPI is not keeping up with it. In real terms, DPI is down for three months in a row, having fallen 0.2% in August, 0.1% in July and plunging 1.6% in June. Income from wages and salaries rose by $8.5 billion in August -- almost the same as the $8.6 billion increase in July -- however there was a big difference by sector. Service sector wages soared by $14.0 billion in August, a big increase from the $7.9 billion addition in July. Goods ...

In August, personal income rose by $19.3 billion, or 0.2%, and disposable personal income (or DPI, essentially after-tax income) rose by $15.5 billion, or 0.1%. The increase in personal income is essentially the same as we saw in July, and in line with consensus expectations. DPI was actually down very slightly in July, so even the 0.1% increase is an improvement. Even though inflation is low, DPI is not keeping up with it. In real terms, DPI is down for three months in a row, having fallen 0.2% in August, 0.1% in July and plunging 1.6% in June. Income from wages and salaries rose by $8.5 billion in August -- almost the same as the $8.6 billion increase in July -- however there was a big difference by sector. Service sector wages soared by $14.0 billion in August, a big increase from the $7.9 billion addition in July. Goods ...

There has not been much good news coming from Detroit or the nation’s auto industry over the past year. Is the industry finally out of the woods?

Whether the action can be accredited to the greatly debated Cash for Clunkers program or if it is merely the effect of natural economic forces, there is good news out of the auto industry these days… finally.

First, there is word from General Motors (NYSE:GRM) that it plans to expand production at three of its manufacturing facilities. For the nearly 2,400 workers that will be invited to work on the third-shift line, the news is the best they have heard in a while.

It is a similar story at cross-town rival, Ford (NYSE:F), except few American workers will be clocking in for the new shifts. The company is widely expected to announce its plans for a third major production facility in China later

...

Several local news outlets are reporting that car dealers are experiencing a post-Cash for Clunkers Slump in sales. There is concern that the government's incentive program took sales away from the fall (and even 2010) by giving consumers reason to purchase new vehicles over the summer instead.

It is definitely taking sales away from September. Edmunds.com calculates that September sales are running at an 8.8 million unit pace. To put this number in perspective, Edmunds Senior Statistician Zhenwei Zhou said sales last September were 12.5 million. He also added "it had been over 16 million for years".

Whether this month's slump continues throughout the remainder of this year and into 2010 remains to be seen. Many carmakers are expected to introduce new incentive programs in addition to rolling out new models. Plus, two of the best-selling cars over the past several years - the Toyota Camry and the Honda Accord

...

CarMax (KMX) witnessed a net income of $103 million or 46 cents per share in the second quarter of fiscal 2010 ended August 31, 2009. This was a staggering rise from the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 18 cents per share and $14 million or 6 cents per share reported in the second quarter of fiscal 2009. Healthy increases in both used and wholesale vehicle unit sales triggered the rise in profits. Net sales and operating revenues rose 13% to $2.08 billion from $1.84 billion in the second quarter of last fiscal year. Comparable store used unit sales went up 8% for the quarter. Wholesale unit sales increased 5% year-over-year, while total used unit sales rose 10% in the second quarter. The Government’s “Cash for Clunkers" program, which resulted in a spike in sales since its inception in July and August, had a beneficial effect on the company’s ...

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – September 21, 2009 – Zacks.com releases the list of companies likely to issue earnings surprises. This week’s list includes AutoZone (AZO), Bed, Bath & Beyond (BBBY), General Mills (GIS), KB Home (KBH), Lennar (LEN), Paychex (PAYX), CarMax (KMX), Research in Motion (RIMM) and Texas Industries (TXI). To see more earnings analysis, visit http://at.zacks.com/?id=3207.

Every day, Zacks.com makes 4 stock picks available, free of charge. To see them, go to http://at.zacks.com/?id=5612.

This Week's Events

We will get another look at initial third-quarter results with 11 S&P 500 companies reporting. Included in this group are AutoZone (AZO), Bed, Bath & Beyond (BBBY), General Mills (GIS), KB Home (KBH), Lennar (LEN) and Paychex (PAYX). A total of 33 companies are on the calendar.

The Fed will hold a 2-day

...