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Friday September 4, 2009

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Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) announced today that the Company flew 6.7 billion revenue passenger miles (RPMs) in August 2009, a 1.0 percent increase from the 6.6 billion RPMs flown in August 2008. Available seat miles (ASMs) decreased 6.1 percent to 8.3 billion from the August 2008 level of 8.9 billion. The load factor for the month was 80.2 percent, compared to 74.6 percent for the same period last year. For August 2009, passenger revenue per ASM is estimated to have decreased in the five to six percent range as compared to August 2008.

Phoenix

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Retailers will start to release second-quarter results this week, accounting for nearly 10% of the 246 scheduled reports. Dow component Wal-Mart (WMT) will be joined by 15 other members of the S&P 500, including J.C. Penney (JCP), Kohl's (KSS) and Macy's (M).

The Fed will hold a 2-day meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday. No change in interest rates will be made, though the statement should acknowledge that the economy is nearing stabilization.

The bond markets could be volatile, not only because of the Fed meeting, but also because of quarterly refunding. The Treasury Department will auction 3-year, 10-year and 30-year bonds. The offerings should total $75 billion.

Most of the week's economic data will be released after the Fed's meeting, with the exception of the preliminary estimate of Q2 productivity. We'll see the latest industrial production and consumer sentiment numbers on Friday.

Tuesday: Q2 productivity Wednesday: June

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Stock performance in the transportation sector has been very uneven, reflecting the varying fortunes of particular industries within the sector. The median year-to-date-stock price gain/(loss) has been mixed for industries in the Zacks transportation universe, with all industries underperforming the S&P 500’s 3.3% increase, with the exception of railroads and air freight.

Air freight has been helped by large gains in smaller companies as the giants within the air freight sector, United Parcel Service, Inc. (UPS) and FedEx Corporation (FDX), are down 10.6% and 8.4% year to date, respectively. The railroads were helped when CSX Corporation (CSX) kicked off the second quarter earnings season earlier this week with better-than-expected earnings.

Railroads 11.8% Air Freight 5.1% Equip & Leasing (2.1)% Trucking (2.5)% Shipping (2.8)% Airlines (29.5)% Among the hardest hit industries ...

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL - June 9, 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: Penske Automotive (PAG), Macy's (M), Saks (SKS), Nordstrom (JWN) and Euroseas Ltd. (ESEA).

Get the most recent insight from Zacks Equity Research with the free Profit from the Pros newsletter: http://at.zacks.com/?id=4579.

Here are highlights from Monday's Analyst Blog:

Penske Automotive Buys Saturn

Penske Automotive (PAG) today announced that it will be purchasing the Saturn brand, including the rights to sell parts and cars through the Saturn dealerships.

There may be little cash involved, as no inventory is being transferred. The company also may outsource

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In 2009's first quarter, Euroseas Ltd. (ESEA) posted diluted EPS before nonoperating items of $0.06, down 85% from the $0.43 earned in the prior-year period. This was above our estimate of a $0.05 loss per share, mainly due to lower-than-expected depreciation, the result of the sale of two vessels (adding $2.0 million to the bottom line), as well as a change in accounting for the useful lives of vessels (adding $1.6 million to net earnings).Total net revenues of $14.5 million decreased 51%, which reflected a 51% decline in the average time charter equivalent rate to $12,684 per day from $25,723 per day in the year-ago quarter, partly offset by a gain in vessels to 15.7 vessels versus 15.0 vessels in the year-ago period. We are raising our 2009 diluted EPS estimate to a loss of $0.06 per share from a loss of $0.28 per ...

We are retaining our Hold on Euroseas Ltd. (ESEA), but raising our target price to $4.50.In 2008's 4th quarter, ESEA posted diluted EPS before nonrecurring items of $0.23, down 55% from the $0.51 earned in the prior-year period. Total net revenues of $23.7 million decreased 21%, which reflected a 32% decline in the average time charter equivalent rate to $17,971 per day from $26,479 per day in the year-ago quarter, partly offset by a gain in vessels to 16.00 vessels versus 14.63 vessels in the same period in 2007. However, spot rates have dropped precipitously, and about two-thirds of the fleet is exposed to the spot market. As a result, we are reducing our 2009 diluted EPS estimate to a loss of $0.28 from earnings of $0.24. The dividend was cut again—by 50% to $0.10, following a 38% reduction in the previous ...

Euroseas Ltd. (ESEA), incorporated in May 2005, was formed to consolidate the ship-owning interests of the Pittas family of Athens, Greece, which has been in the shipping business over the past 136 years. The company owns and operates drybulk carriers that transport major bulks, such as iron ore, coal, and grains, and minor bulks, such as bauxite, phosphate, and fertilizers.We are retaining our Hold on Euroseas Ltd., but cutting our target price to $4. In 2008's third quarter, ESEA posted diluted EPS before nonrecurring items of $0.46, up 10% from the $0.42 earned in the prior-year period. Total net revenues of $34.7 million increased 66%, as well as a 30% increase in the average time charter equivalent rate to $25,951 per day from $20,024 per day in the year-ago quarter. However, spot rates have dropped precipitously (the Baltic Dry Index is at a 22-year ...

Investors occasionally use a stock trading technique called 'Buying Dividends,' which is the technique of buying stocks before the ex dividend date and selling the stock shortly after the ex date at about the same price, yet still being entitled to the dividend. This technique generally works only in bull markets.br /br /If you are interested in a href="http://stockerblog.blogspot.com/2008/05/buying-dividends-top-7-stocks-going-ex.html"buying dividends/a, there are many stocks in many different industries to choose from. In order to be entitled to the dividend, you have to buy the stock before the ex-dividend date, and you can't sell the stock until after the ex date. The actual dividend may not be paid for another few weeks.br /br /All of the following stocks yield over 2%. br /br /Avery Dennison Corporation (AVY) goes ex-dividend on 12/1/2008 . The stock has a yield of 6.55% .br /Callaway Golf Company (ELY) goes ex-dividend on 12/1/2008 . The ...

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

America's Car-Mart Inc (CRMT) ANSYS Inc (ANSS) Aspen Technology Inc (AZPN) Bank of Marin Bancorp (BMRC) Boston Properties Inc (BXP) China Sunergy Co Ltd (CSUN) Dorman Products Inc (DORM) Euroseas Ltd (ESEA) Glacier Bancorp Inc (GBCI) Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Inc (GMCR) Gushan Environmental Energy Ltd (GU) Kendle International Inc (KNDL) Lexmark International Inc (LXK) NCI Building Systems Inc (NCS) NCR Corp (NCR) Parker Drilling Co (PKD) Pixelworks Inc (PXLW) Ralcorp Holdings Inc (RAH) Rock-Tenn Co (RKT) Simcere Pharmaceutical Group (SCR) Sims Group Ltd (SMS) Strayer Education Inc (STRA) Tetra Tech Inc (TTEK) Visa Inc (V) View the entire Zacks #1 Rank List.

"CRMT" Free ...

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

Accenture Ltd (ACN) American Italian Pasta Co (AITP) ANSYS Inc (ANSS) Apollo Group Inc (APOL) BlueLinx Holdings Inc (BXC) The Brink's Co (BCO) Cemex SAB de CV (CX) Central European Distribution (CEDC) China Direct Inc (CDS) China Petroleum & Chemical Corp (SNP) Comfort Systems USA Inc (FIX) Euroseas Ltd (ESEA) FLIR Systems Inc (FLIR) Franklin Electric Co (FELE) Gerdau SA (GGB) Glacier Bancorp Inc (GBCI) Key Energy Services Inc (KEG) Kindred Healthcare Inc (KND) Parker Drilling Co (PKD) Patterson-UTI Energy Inc (PTEN) Peabody Energy Corp (BTU) Pixelworks Inc (PXLW) RadioShack Corp (RSH) Reliance Steel & Aluminum (RS) SJW Corp (SJW) St. Jude Medical Inc (STJ) Standard Parking Corp (...