For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – October 28, 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: DryShips, Inc. (DRYS), Capmark Financial Group Inc. (CPFNG), Citigroup Inc. (C), JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS).

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Here are highlights from Tuesday’s AnalystBlog:

DryShips Beats, Results Hurt

DryShips, Inc.’s (DRYS) third-quarter earnings of 27 cents per share were 6 cents ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate. This excludes a loss of $39.3 million or 15 cents per share associated with the valuation of the company’s

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Capmark Financial Group Inc. (CPFNG), one of the key commercial real-estate lenders in the U.S., along with some of its subsidiaries has filed Chapter 11 protection. The filing adds to the lingering concern that the commercial real-estate market is still struggling.  The company seeks to be allowed to continue to pay its vendors and salaries, and protect the businesses with its customers and partners.  Capmark was created in March 2006 through a leveraged buyout of the commercial real estate assets of General Motors' finance arm GMAC. Earlier this year also, the company had indicated that it might file for bankruptcy due to deteriorating conditions in the financial and commercial real estate markets and capital inadequacy.  Capmark is currently negotiating the terms of the bankruptcy with its creditors, which include Citigroup Inc. (C) and JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) among others.  Capmark ...

CarMax (KMX) will release its sales and earnings results for the second quarter of fiscal 2010 ended August 31, 2009 on September 22. The Richmond, VA-based used car retailer reported earnings of 11 cents per share, excluding special items, for the first quarter of the fiscal year. This was high above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 4 cents per share. For the second quarter, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company is 16 cents per share, an improvement of 45% compared to the recorded earnings in the previous quarter.   CarMax, the largest retailer of used vehicles in the U.S., conducts its operations through its wholly owned subsidiaries -- CarMax Auto Superstores Inc., Virginia; CarMax Auto Superstores West Coast Inc., California; CarMax Auto Superstores California LLC, California; CarMax Auto Superstores Services Inc., Virginia; CarMax Business Services LLC, Delaware; and Glen Allen Insurance Ltd., Bermuda. The company operates ...

Moody's Investors Service has improved its rating on Ford Motor (F), triggered by intensive restructuring in the company. The agency raised Ford's corporate family rating by two notches to Caa1, though seven steps below investment grade. The agency has also revealed its wish to raise Ford's finance arm – Ford Motor Credit’s senior unsecured rating, now Caa1.  The agency commented that Ford has successfully overcome the period of worst downturn in the industry by establishing a sustainable cost structure. Its ratings upgrade will now affect about $25 billion of debt at the company.  Ford, the only Detroit 3 survivor from bankruptcy in 2009, reported a net income of $2.3 billion or 69 cents per share, after adjusting for special items, for the second quarter of the year. This was well above the Zacks Consensus Estimate loss of 55 cents per share and a net loss of ...

U.S. stock index futures rose on Thursday following another string of stronger-than-expected quarterly corporate profits, a broker upgrade for General Electric Co , and fresh indications that the global economic downturn is easing.

Companies posting solid results before the bell included AON Corp and industrial conglomerate Tyco International Ltd .

Goldman Sachs raised its recommendation on GE to “buy,” saying comments made by the chairman of a key congressional committee suggests a decreased chance of a break up of the finance arm of the diversified industrial manufacturer.

U.S. House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank in an interview with Bloomberg late on Wednesday suggested there was broadening support for regulatory reform that would not mandate the separation of GE Capital, Goldman analysts said.

GE shares rose 5.5 percent to $12.94 before the bell.

“A lot of this is a follow up of the resilience we’ve seen in the market over a couple of weeks. The clear sentiment is

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Sears Holdings Corporation (SHLD) has enjoyed some impressive earnings estimate increases lately, including sharp gains in just the past week.

< ?DART(15);?> The more than 7% advance in its share price today hasn't been near as dramatic, but is enough to make this retailing staple a Zacks #1 Rank Top Performer for Tuesday.

Volume today is approximately 1.476 million, which is slightly above the average of 1.452 million.

Earnings Estimates Soaring

The current profit consensus for the fiscal year ending January 2010 is $2.06 per share. A month ago, the outlook was only 34 cents, marking a more than 500% improvement as 4 of 6 covering analysts revised higher.

That gain includes an advance of more than 36% in just the past 7 days.

Meanwhile, expectations for next fiscal year, ending January 2011, are also on the rise. Estimates are higher

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Asian markets ticked higher Friday as leaders of the world's 20 biggest developed and developing nations presented a united front, pledging more than $1 trillion to combat the current economic crisis.  The G-20 meet fueled recovery optimism as leaders said rules would be tightened to stop a repeat of the current financial mess.  The Nikkei 225 Stock Average edged up 30 points and almost all benchmarks in the region recorded moderate gains.

Premarket futures point to a higher open on the Wall Street as latest unemployment numbers fell in line with expectations.  A government report said U.S. economy lost 663,000 jobs in March up from 651,000 in February, the fourth straight post above 600,000.  Unemployment rate rose to 8.5% from 8.1% the prior month.

Investors looking for silver linings found that in plenty as data hinted at economic stabilization.  News of a relaxation in accounting rules valuing illiquid

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It’s becoming clear that subprime lending wasn’t limited to the housing market. Companies in the auto-loan business are battling hard to keep their heads above water. Andrew Snyder says small firms like AmeriCredit (NYSE:ACF), United PanAm (NASDAQ:UPFC) and Consumer Portfolio Services (NASDAQ:CPSS) will struggle to survive.

This from Today’s Financial News:

If you thought lending in the home-mortgage lending industry was tight, you will be shocked by the woes in the auto-lending world. This subprime debacle is destroying one company after the other.

Just this morning, GMAC (NYSE:GJM) announced it has stopped issuing car loans in seven European countries. October 31 will be the last day for folks from Finland, Norway, Greece, the

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It’s becoming clear that subprime lending wasn’t limited to the housing market. Companies in the auto-loan business are battling hard to keep their heads above water. Andrew Snyder says small firms like AmeriCredit (NYSE:ACF), United PanAm (NASDAQ:UPFC) and Consumer Portfolio Services (NASDAQ:CPSS) will struggle to survive.

This from Today’s Financial News:

If you thought lending in the home-mortgage lending industry was tight, you will be shocked by the woes in the auto-lending world. This subprime debacle is destroying one company after the other.

Just this morning, GMAC (NYSE:GJM) announced it has stopped issuing car loans in seven European countries. October 31 will be the last day for folks from Finland, Norway, Greece, the

...

General Electric Co (GE) cut its guidance for the third quarter and fiscal 2008 last week, as volatility in the credit markets hurt its finance arm GE Capital. The segment contributes about 45% to GEÂ’s earnings. Most brokerage analysts covering the stock adjusted their profit estimates and are now looking for 45 cents per share in the third quarter. The Zacks #4 (Sell) company has missed consensus in 2 of the last 4 quarters. GE is scheduled to report on Friday, Oct 10, before the start of trading.

"GE" Free Stock Analysis: Buy? Sell? Hold?Zacks Investment Research