For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – October 21, 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: Biogen Idec (BIIB), Elan (ELN), UnitedHealth Group Inc. (UNH), Forest Laboratories, Inc. (FRX) and Cypress Biosciences (CYPB).

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 Tuesday’s AnalystBlog:

Biogen Reports Higher Earnings

Today morning, Biogen Idec (BIIB) reported third quarter earnings per share of $1.12, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.02. The company reported earnings of 98 cents in the year-ago period. Revenues increased 3% to $1.12 billion, with Tysabri being the primary growth

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Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT) recently announced that the company will purchase the pharmaceutical arm of Belgium’s Solvay Group for $6.5 billion. This deal expands both the company’s product range and the company’s presence in fast-growing emerging countries, helping defer the effect of patent expiries and compensate for sluggish growth in its traditional markets, such as the United States.

We also have the recent $442 million paid by Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) for 18% of Crucell ADR (NASDAQ: CRXL). This will give Johnson & Johnson the development rights on a flu vaccine designed to protect against all future strains of the virus. This deal confirms the company’s move into vaccines, alongside drugs and consumer products.

These deals are further confirmation of the consolidation trend that is occurring right now in the global pharmaceutical industry.

One major factor driving the consolidation trend is the slowdown in sales of pharmaceuticals, particularly in the United

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• Novellus (NASDAQ:NVLS) CEO Rick Hill provided optimistic outlooks for the current quarter and next. He narrowed the gain in bookings to an expected 40-55% rise from 20-50%, the range of shipments to $150 -$170 million from $140-$170 million, with earnings expected to range between a nine cent loss and breakeven, up from a 15 cent loss and breakeven

• Citigroup (NYSE:C) analysts lowered their rating on Abercrombie and Fitch (NYSE:ANF) to "sell" from "hold" and cut the price target to $24 from $33

• Costco (NASDAQ:COST) received an upgrade from JP Morgan (NYSE:JPM)

• H&R Block (NYSE:HRB) reported fiscal first quarter loss from continuing operations of 39 cents a share, a bit worse than the Zacks expectations of a 37 cent loss, as revenues grew 1.3% to $275.5 million, off estimates of $281 million. The firm, however, maintained full year projections of $1.60-$1.80

• Cooper Companies (NYSE:COO) reported third quarter earnings of 54

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Friday September 4, 2009

PennyOmega.com Stock Report!

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Hi-Tech Pharmacal Co., Inc. (NASDAQ: HITK) announced that the Company will release results for its first quarter of Fiscal Year 2010 ended July 31, 2009, prior to the market opening on Wednesday September 9, 2009 and will hold a conference call to discuss its financial results at 10 a.m. Eastern Time.

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For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – August 10, 2009 – Zacks Equity Research highlights 3M Company (MMM) as the Bull of the Day and Genzyme Corp. (GENZ) the Bear of the Day. In addition, Zacks Equity Research provides analysis on Biogen Idec (BIIB), Elan Corp. (ELN) and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ).

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 are initiating coverage on 3M Company (MMM) with an Outperform rating and $80 target price. The company's second-quarter results benefited from the recovery in short development cycle businesses such as consumer electronics.

The company is aggressively managing its cost structure with a gradual improvement in gross margin. Meaningful uptake has yet to be seen from most major demand industries like automotive, manufacturing, general industrial and housing.

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The latest instance of Tysabri brain infection is once again a setback for Biogen Idec (BIIB). This is the 11th case since July 2006 where a patient administered with the drug has developed the deadly progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML).

Tysabri, meant for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS), is jointly marketed with Elan Corp. (ELN). The drug was withdrawn from US markets in 2005 due to the PML concern but reintroduced after one year with a strict warning regarding the occurrence of PML.

Despite this, the drug continues to be the No. 1 product worldwide that patients prefer over an alternative medication. In fact, 71% of Tysabri patients are switching from a prior MS drug (20% from Avonex, 51% from other interferons). Total Tysabri sales increased by a healthy 27% to $254 million during the second quarter of 2009 compared to $200 million in the year-ago period.

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For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – July 29, 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: Eli Lilly (LLY), Biogen Idec (BIIB), Elan (ELN), Teva (TEVA) and Pfizer (PFE).

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 Tuesday’s Analyst Blog:

Lilly’s MS Candidate Disappoints

Results from the MAESTRO-I study, that was conducted in patients with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS), showed that Eli Lilly’s (LLY) dirucotide failed to show any statistically significant difference on the secondary endpoints. Dirucotide was found to be generally well tolerated with no unexpected safety

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Yesterday, Eli Lilly and Company (LLY) and BioMS Medical Corp. announced that dirucotide, which is being developed for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS), failed to meet its primary endpoint of delaying disease progression in a phase III study.

Results from the MAESTRO-I study, that was conducted in patients with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS), also showed that dirucotide failed to show any statistically significant difference on the secondary endpoints.  Dirucotide was found to be generally well tolerated with no unexpected safety or tolerability issues.  Results from this study will be presented later this year at a medical conference.

Following the announcement of these disappointing results, Lilly and BioMS announced that they will be discontinuing other studies which were being conducted with dirucotide.  Data from these studies will be reviewed by the companies before moving on to the next stage of development. 

We note that earlier this year, dirucotide failed to meet

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Elan Corporation

(Public, NYSE:ELN)

About

Elan Corporation, plc (Elan) is a neuroscience-based biotechnology company. Its principal research and development, manufacturing and marketing facilities are located in Ireland and the United States. Elan’s operations are organized into two business units: Biopharmaceuticals and Elan Drug Technologies (EDT). Biopharmaceuticals engages in research, development and commercial activities primarily in neuroscience, autoimmune and severe chronic pain. EDT focuses on the specialty pharmaceutical industry, including specialized drug delivery and manufacturing.

The following article was written and contributed by a highly regarded investor and member within the StocksHaven Investments community, Nicholas DeCesare:

Any long term holder of Elan can’t be happy with the stock price over the past year. In fact, shares have gone from the mid 30’s in the summer of 2008, to around $7 a share. Since announcing a deal with

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For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL - July 6, 2009 - Zacks Equity Research highlights Alvarion Ltd (ALVR) as the Bull of the Day and MBIA (MBI) the Bear of the Day. In addition, Zacks Equity Research provides analysis on Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), Elan (ELN) and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals (WYE).

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 upgrade our rating to Buy for Alvarion Ltd (ALVR), a pure-play wireless solutions provider. This follows a series of impressive contract awards to deploy several large-scale wireless systems. The value of one of these contracts was the largest ever attained by the company.

Alvarion has more than 250 WiMAX deployments in diversified geographic regions. According to our assessment, higher

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