For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – October 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: Buffalo Wild Wings Inc. (BWLD), Cosi Inc. (COSI), Red Robin Gourmet Burgers Inc. (RRGB), Famous Dave’s of America Inc. (DAVE) and BJ’s Restaurants Inc. (BJRI).

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Here are highlights from Wednesday’s AnalystBlog:

Buffalo Wild Wings Profit Soars

Buffalo Wild Wings Inc. (BWLD), best known for its chicken wings and sports bar, sustained its growth momentum in the third-quarter 2009 despite economic turmoil and lower consumer discretionary spending. The company reaffirmed its

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Buffalo Wild Wings Inc. (BWLD), best known for its chicken wings and sports bar, sustained its growth momentum in the third-quarter 2009 despite economic turmoil and lower consumer discretionary spending. The company reaffirmed its growth target of 15% in units, 25% in revenue, and 20% to 25% in net earnings for fiscal year 2009, showing its resilience in a turbulent environment. Management expects net earnings to be at the high end of its forecast.  The company’s net profit surged 50.4% year-over-year to $6.9 million. As a result, EPS jumped 52% to 38 cents, in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. The double-digit rise in the top-line, menu price increases, new restaurant openings and operational efficiency drove earnings. Total revenue climbed 25.1% to $132.7 million. Sales at company-operated restaurant jumped 26% to $120.3 million, driven by comparable-store sales increase of 0.8% and 33 additional restaurants in ...

We are upgrading Guess? Inc. (GES) to Outperform from Neutral. Although the recession is impacting consumer spending, the company's operating cost-control mechanisms, potential growth opportunities and smart inventory management are providing optimism. The investment case for Guess is based on the company's cost-control efforts, balance sheet management and growth opportunities. To more effectively navigate through the difficult economic conditions, Guess has been working diligently to cut costs. In the first quarter, the company reduced selling, general and administrative expenses (SG&A) 11% year-over-year, with its SG&A ration declining 40 basis points. The company's cost savings were spread across all of its business segments. Guess believes it will be able to maintain its lower operating cost structure even after economic conditions improve. Additionally, Guess has been shoring up its balance sheet. Total inventories were up just 0.3% to stock new store openings. North American inventories decreased 4% ...

JoS. A. Bank Clothiers, Inc. (JOSB) has been defying the retail doom and gloom as sales climbed 9.8% year over year in the fiscal second quarter. Analysts expect 5-year sales growth of 16.8%. JOSB has a PEG ratio of just 0.90.

Company Description

JoS. A. Bank sells men's suits, tuxedos, casual clothing, footwear and accessories through 467 stores in 42 states and the District of Columbia and through its web site, www.josbank.com. The company has a 100% money back guarantee on its products.

JoS. A. Bank Surprised on Estimates Again

On Sep 2, JoS. A. Bank continued with its hot streak of surprising on the Zacks Consensus Estimate as earnings per share for the second quarter of fiscal 2009 beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 25.93%. EPS rose 42% to 68 cents from 48 cents a year ago. Analysts expected just 54 cents.

The company has experienced earnings growth

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Amid a challenging global retail environment, Limited Brands Inc. (LTD) was able to deliver better-than-expected second quarter 2009 results. Limited’s second quarter EPS (excluding one-time items) were 19 cents, well above the expected range of 11 cents to 16 cents, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 16 cents. However, EPS dipped 29.6% year over year compared to 27 cents in the prior-year quarter. For the third quarter of 2009, Limited now expects to report a net loss per share in the range of 7 cents to 12 cents. However, the company has raised its outlook for full-year 2009 earnings and now expects EPS in the range of 75-90 cents, up from 67-87 cents forecasted earlier. On a reported basis, EPS fell 23.3% to 23 cents from 30 cents reported in the prior-year quarter. Revenue for the quarter declined 9.5% to $2,066.6 million compared to $2,284.3 ...

Moody’s (MCO) reported second quarter revenue of $450.7 million that was above the consensus estimate of $428.9 million. This was, however, down 7.6% from $487.6 million reported in the year-ago quarter. Excluding restructuring charges and benefits relating to the resolution of certain legacy tax matters, pro forma EPS of 43 cents was above the Zacks consensus estimate of 39 cents, but down 15.7% from 51 cents per share reported in the year-ago quarter.   Excluding certain legacy tax matters and restructuring efforts, the effective tax rate was 38.8% for the second quarter of 2009, compared to 39.6% in the prior-year period. The lower tax rate has boosted EPS.   Although results indicate a slight improvement in the credit market as reflected in the broadening of corporate bond issuance from investment grade into high yield, the company was impacted by an unfavorable impact of foreign currency translation. Excluding ...

Entergy Corporation (ETR) announced fiscal second-quarter EPS of $1.23 that was just a cent short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.24. However year-over-year EPS fell 23 cents, the pain came from higher refueling and outages (both planned and unplanned) at its nuclear power plants.   New Orleans-based Entergy is primarily engaged in electric power production and retail distribution operations. The company owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000MW of electricity generating capacity. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.7 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.

The company with a cumulative capacity of 8,000MW is the second largest nuclear power generator in the U.S. Entergy operates through five subsidiaries: Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi and Entergy New Orleans.   Entergy’s revenues fell 22.8% year over year to $2.5 billion in the quarter with Electricity (down 24%), Natural Gas (down 46.6%), and Competitive businesses (down

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div style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-weight: bold;"Compass Minerals (NYSE:CMP)/span is upgraded to Overweight from Neutral at JP Morgan with price target raised to $66 (prev. $50).br /br /JP Morgan notes they raised their 2010 EPS forecast for Compass from $5.05 to $5.50 to reflect 8% higher salt prices given that Compass has now completed 80% of its salt tenders for the winter season. 2010 EPS model should prove conservative because it assumes (5%) lower salt volume despite Compass expanding its capacity about 7% to displace high-priced imported salt tonnage. Firm's earnings model in effect reflects a warm winter. They also assume 2010 Sulfate of Potash (SOP) prices of $500 per ton, about a $65 premium to a conservative MOP price, which could understate 2010 EPS power by $0.50. (SOP tends to sell at a $100-$150 premium to MOP. Each $100 per ton price change in SOP prices is worth about $0.75 per ...

Meredith Corporation (MDP) reported a dismal fourth quarter 2009. Revenue plunged 8.1% year over year to $345.8 million primarily driven by the decline in total advertising revenue (down 14.9% to $189.3 million).

Consequently, EPS plunged 26.7% year over year to $0.55, despite a 7% decline in total operating costs. However, it did surpass the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.54. On a reported basis, the company announced a net loss per share of $3.64, compared to EPS of $0.42 in the prior-year quarter.

Management expects EPS for the first quarter 2010 in the range of $0.30 to $0.35, and fiscal year 2010 in the range of $1.60 to $2.00.

Although a well-run company, Meredith is not immune to the secular downturn in the print media industry, which has been exacerbated by sluggish economic growth and an increase in paper costs. Publishing revenue continues to fall (down 4.7% to $283.4 million).

Publishing advertising revenue

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McGraw-Hill’s EPS Plummets, Lowers Guidance McGraw-Hill Companies (MHP) recently reported dismal second quarter 2009 results. The company’s results have been hit hard by falling demand for new textbooks due to budgetary constraints on schools in California and Florida, decline in magazine advertising and lower demand for S&P credit ratings. The benefits from the Federal stimulus education package have also been slower than anticipated. To combat the downtrend, the company has put BusinessWeek magazine up for sale, which has been feeling the brunt of plunging advertising demand (advertising pages fell 34.3% in the quarter), and trimmed 550 jobs as part of its cost control initiatives amid the economic downturn. EPS for the reported quarter was off 18.3% year over year at $0.58. On a reported basis, EPS tumbled 21.2% to $0.52. For 2009, EPS is now expected to be in the range of $2.20 to $2.25 down from $2.20 ...