For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – August 11, 2009 – Zacks Equity Research highlights tw telecom (TWTC) as the Bull of the Day and Loews Corporation (L) the Bear of the Day. In addition, Zacks Equity Research provides analysis on Comcast Corp. (CMCSA), Verizon Communications (VZ) and AT&T (T).

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:

We maintain our Buy rating and the same valuation target for tw telecom (TWTC), a leading provider of managed voice & data networking solutions. TWTC continues to generate sustaining revenue from large business enterprises primarily through sales of Ethernet and IP-VPN services.

This has reduced the company's dependence on telecom carrier customers. Although the balance sheet remains considerably leveraged, we do not expect any immediate liquidity crisis since no significant

...

Comcast Corp. (CMCSA) is aggressively deploying Docsis 3.0 technology to upgrade its existing customers to high-speed network. Docsis 3.0 (also called Wideband network) is a digital channel-bonding technique that creates one larger and faster logical pipe to support throughput of at least 100 Mbit/second. Recently, management announced that it expects to upgrade around 40 million homes and businesses of the company’s existing networks with next-generation super-fast wideband technology by the end of 2009. This revised estimate exceeds Comcast’s previous guidance of 30 million homes and businesses.

With Docsis 3.0, Comcast is now able to offer one of the fastest Internet speeds available in the market. The company has not only doubled the speed for its customers but also offers new higher-speed service plans. Offering high-speed Internet access has become essential for service providers since preference for video-on-demand (watching movie on the Internet) has increased among customers. In addition,

...

Intersil Corporation (ISIL) reported second quarter results that beat the consensus revenue estimate by 22.3% and EPS estimate by 8 cents. The results were as expected, reflecting reduction in channel inventories (down 7%), as well as stronger end markets. Yesterday Linear Technology (LLTC) reported results that beat the consensus, as expected. We also expect peer companies Maxim Integrated Products (MXIM) and Semtech (SMTC) to beat the consensus.  Revenue of $147.3 million was up 24.6% sequentially and down 31.9% year over year. The sequential increase was attributable to recovery in the computing and consumer markets. Computing revenue was up 40.7% sequentially, driven by strength in notebooks, market share gains in netbooks and stability in desktops and servers. There was particular strength in single phase power management products for Intel’s atom processors. Consumer revenue was up 51.9% sequentially, driven by ambient light sensors, proximity sensors and ...

We are presenting a list of companies which we believe are currently mispriced, based on our estimate of fair value, by the market. We develop our fair value ranges by projected free cash flow out one year and estimating an appropriate FCF multiple based on our assessment of risk and the strength of the balance sheet.

Cisco Systems [CSCO: 19.57, +0.84 (+4.48%)] Recent Price $17.04 Value Range 21.86 – $38.41 Cisco Systems, Inc. designs, manufactures and sells Internet protocol (IP)-based networking and other products related to the communications and information technology (IT) industry, and provides services associated with these products and their use. The Company provides a line of products for transporting data, voice, and video within buildings, across campuses, and around the world. Its products are designed to transform how people connect, communicate and collaborate. Cisco Systems, Inc.’s products, which include primarily routers, switches, and products that the

...

O2Micro International (OIIM) has been awarded a patent for its direct current-to-direct current (DC/DC) converter controller. The company was granted eighteen claims under the United States patent number 7,508,176.

The DC/DC controller architecture integrates linear and switch mode functionalities within a single device, reducing component and pint count, and making significant improvements in terms of complexity and cost. The device is, therefore, capable of handling lines carrying both light and heavy power loads. The output voltage is even, affording enhanced efficiency even when serving a heavy load.

The company is by no means new to the field. It is a specialist in power management ICs and security components, with 11,830 patents to its credit and another 14,000 pending. This technological edge has enabled the company to weather competition from more established rivals such as Linear Technology (LLTC), Maxim Integrated Products (MXIM) and Texas Instruments (TXN). O2Micro has thus

...

Intersil Corp. (ISIL) recently raised its revenue expectations for the third quarter from $123-132 million to $145-148 million. The increase was driven by stronger demand in the consumer and computing markets.

The announcement does not come as much of a surprise since management of other companies in the sector, such as Maxim Integrated Products Inc. (MXIM) and Linear Technology Corp. (LLTC), had given prior indications. We were thus able to gather that channel inventories had been lowered significantly during the fourth quarter of 2008 and the first quarter of 2009. This basically meant that sales were likely to track consumption going forward.

We also note that Intersil has a well-diversified business, where the first half of the year is typically driven by the industrial and communications markets, while the second half is driven by computing and consumer.

The computing market will benefit from channel

...

O2Micro International Ltd. (OIIM) now expects better second-quarter sales than it had previously thought, which has sent shares of the company higher by 8% today.

< ?DART(15);?> That's more than enough for the company to make the Zacks #1 Rank Top Performers List on a tough day that sees the Dow and NASDAQ each down by more than 2%.

OIIM develops and markets innovative power management and security components for the computer, consumer, industrial and communications markets. Its products include intelligent lighting, battery management, power management and SmartCardBus(R) products. It has almost 12,000 patent claims granted, and more than 14,000 more pending.

Q2 Sales Expected to Rise 47% Sequentially

OIIM now anticipates second-quarter revenue of $34 million. Previously, it was expecting between $26.6 million and $28.9 million.

The company said the new guidance reflects resilient demand in the LCD TV market, the continued

...