Dillard's Inc. (DDS), a large departmental store chain, yesterday reported a 9% year-over-year decline in total sales for the month of September, which amounted to $568 million.   Consolidated comparable store sales also declined 6% in contrast to last year. Sales were slightly above the average trend in the Eastern region, relatively in line with the Central region, and were way below the trend in the Western region.   Furthermore, the company’s sales performances in home and furniture segment and men's segment were significantly below trend. However, sales in the shoes segment during the period were stronger than the normal trend.   The decline in sales and earnings is primarily due to macroeconomic headwinds leading to reduced consumer spending, and increased savings. In addition, consumers are holding off on new purchases and are trading down to cheaper alternatives or buying heavily discounted merchandise.   ...

Here are the stocks added to the Zacks #1 Rank ("strong buy") List today:

Amtrust Financial Services Inc (AFSI) AP Pharma Inc (APPA) Becton Dickinson and Co (BDX) Calavo Growers Inc (CVGW) Cytori Therapeutics Inc (CYTX) Dassault Systemes SA (DASTY) Decode Genetics Inc (DCGN) Dillard's Inc (DDS) Endologix Inc (ELGX) Haemonetics Corp (HAE) Ivanhoe Mines Ltd (IVN) Linktone Ltd (LTON) Navisite Inc (NAVI) Nile Therapeutics Inc (NLTX) Novavax Inc (NVAX) NSTAR (NST) Orchids Paper Products Co (TIS) Papa John's Int'l Inc (PZZA) Provident Energy Trust (PVX) Stericycle Inc (SRCL) TAM SA (TAM) Tucows Inc (TCX) Winner Medical Group Inc (WMDG) View the entire Zacks #1 Rank List.

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Here are the stocks added to the Zacks #1 Rank ("strong buy") List today:

Agree Realty Corp (ADC) Allion Healthcare Inc (ALLI) Almost Family Inc (AFAM) American Equity Investment Life Holding (AEL) Analogic Corp (ALOG) AsiaInfo Holdings Inc (ASIA) AVX Corp (AVX) Bankinter SA (BKNIY) CGI Group Inc (GIB) Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc (CMG.B) Dana Holding Corp (DAN) Dillard's Inc (DDS) Emergency Medical Services Corp (EMS) Flowers Foods Inc (FLO) Forestar Group Inc (FOR) GENMAB A/S DKK (GNMSF) Glu Mobile Inc (GLUU) Hydrogenics Corp (HYGS) Intersil Corp (ISIL) KEMET Corp (KEME) Local.com Corp (LOCM) Mag Silver Corp (MVG) Metabasis Therapeutics Inc (MBRX) Northern Trust Corp (NTRS) NovaBay Pharmaceuticals Inc (NBY) PAREXEL International Corp (PRXL) Penwest Pharmaceuticals (PPCO) Prosperity Bancshares Inc (PRSP) ...

Here are the stocks added to the Zacks #1 Rank ("strong buy") List today:

Aaon Inc (AAON) Companhia de Bebidas das Americas - AmBev (ABV) CECO Environmental Corp (CECE) Dendreon Corp (DNDN) DepoMed Inc (DEPO) Dillard's Inc (DDS) DivX Inc (DIVX) Enteromedics Inc (ETRM) EPIX Pharmaceuticals Inc (EPIX) Herley Industries Inc (HRLY) J&J Snack Foods Corp (JJSF) Lundin Mining Corp (LMC) Majesco Entertainment Co (COOL) ManTech International Corp (MANT) Maxcom Telecomunic SAB de CV (MXT) Mercer Insurance Group Inc (MIGP) Nanometrics Inc (NANO) National Beverage Corp (FIZZ) National Interstate Corp (NATL) The Navigators Group Inc (NAVG) Oncolytics Biotech Inc (ONCY) Owens & Minor Inc (OMI) RLI Corp (RLI) Scientific Learning Corp (SCIL) Shinhan Financial Group Co Ltd (SHG) Smith & Wesson Holding Corp (...

Some 23 different companies have been deleted in the blue chip benchmark since June alone as the credit crisis takes its toll.

 

 

The S&P 500 is set to add another exchange to its blue chip index. After the close of trading on Tuesday, the Nasdaq OMX Group Inc. will replace department store chain Dillard's Inc., which has occupied the blue chip benchmark's last spot.

The shift follows the addition of Comstock Resources Inc., an oil and natural gas producer, to the S&P MidCap 400 index. It replaced Entercom Communications Corp., a radio broadcaster that was listed as the benchmark's 400th largest company based on market-cap size when the move was made last week.

Also, the S&P SmallCap 600 index has made two changes within the past week. One of those involved replacing wireless tech provider EMS Technologies with Radio One Inc.  At the same time, Integral Systems Inc. was added and Fleetwood Enterprises, which makes recreational vehicles, fell out of the benchmark.

This

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Some 23 different companies have been deleted in the blue chip benchmark since June alone, as the credit crisis takes its toll.

 

The S&P 500 is set to add another exchange to its blue chip index. After the close of trading on Tuesday, the NASDAQ OMX Group Inc. will replace department store chain Dillard's Inc., which has occupied the blue chip benchmark's last spot.

The shift follows the addition of Comstock Resources Inc., an oil and natural gas producer, to the S&P MidCap 400 index. It replaced Entercom Communications Corp., a radio broadcaster that was listed as the benchmark's 400th largest company based on market-cap size when the move was made last week.

Also, the S&P SmallCap 600 index has made two changes within the past week. One of those involved replacing wireless tech provider EMS Technologies with Radio One Inc.  At the same time, Integral Systems Inc. was added

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Arkansas is the birthplace of Bill Clinton, the 42nd President of the United States. Arkansas’ subtropical weather sounds very inviting for those who live in regions of extreme temperatures. The state has usually mild winters, but that is not the reason why some world renowned companies call Arkansas home. Here are some interesting facts about the state:1. Arkansas main agricultural products are chicken, rice, soybeans, and cattle and calves.2. The north west part of the state is rich in natural gas, which is the most important mined product in the state.3. In 2007 tourism contributed a total of $5.4 billion to the state economy.4. Agriculture employs 275,000 in Arkansas5. Agriculture’s contribution to the state gross domestic product is the largest of any state, 12% of Arkansas’ GDP comes directly from agricultural activities.6. Arkansas ranks 4th for timber ...

For the second quarter, Dillard's, Inc. (DDS) reported sales of $1.607 billion. We think the company’s sales benefited from the government stimulus checks and that its sales trends will weaken in the second half of the year. However, total sales declined 3%, and com-store sales declined 4%. Net loss was $38.3 million, or $0.51 per share, compared to net loss of $25.2 million, or $0.31 per share, for the 13 weeks ended August 4, 2007.

Despite its poor operating results and weak near-term outlook, we maintain our Hold rating. Our neutral view comes from the activist shareholders that are pushing the Dillard’s management team to unlock shareholder value.

Dillard’s recently announced a plan to close underperforming stores, reduce capital expenditures, reduce expenses and execute merchandise improvements. This plan is step in the right direction to improve the company s operations and could eventually bring Dillard’s results in-line with its department

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No wonder this economy is so hard to figure out: The economic reports are as volatile as the economy itself. Just when the dreaded "R" word seemed to be creeping back into the daily office chatter, a few economic reports last week seemed to reaffirm that the enhanced pessimism may be a tad bit early. In the second quarter, gross domestic product (GDP) grew at a 3.3% pace, a significant upward revision from the 1.9% growth rate reported last month. While analysts were hoping that the summer tax rebates would provide more of a boost than initially posted, most were surprised by the strength exhibited in this new release. But that begs the question: Does that mean that a lower GDP revision is in the cards for next month? Meanwhile, consumer confidence in August rebounded to its best showing since May and durable good orders ...