For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – October 23, 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: The New York Times Company (NYT), Washington Post Company (WPO), Journal Communications (JRN), Gannett Co. (GCI) and McClatchy Company (MNI).

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Here are highlights from Thursday’s AnalystBlog:

NY Times Beats Zacks Consensus

Amid the secular and cyclical slowdown in print advertising The New York Times Company (NYT) recently reported third-quarter 2009 results that topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate.

The New York Times quarterly earnings of 16 cents a share surpassed the

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Amid the secular and cyclical slowdown in print advertising The New York Times Company (NYT) recently reported third-quarter 2009 results that topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate. The New York Times quarterly earnings of 16 cents a share surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 2 cents, and the prior-year quarter earnings of 5 cents. The better-than-expected results came on the heels of significant cost-cutting measures and newspaper price increase. On a reported basis, including one-time items, the company reported a loss of 25 cents a share, a substantial improvement from the loss of 74 cents delivered in the year-ago quarter. Management now expects to save $475 million in operating costs in 2009 up from $450 million previously anticipated. Operating costs fell 21.6% to $490 million, whereas operating profit surged 30.2% to $80.6 million. Total revenue dipped 16.9% to $570.6 million, primarily due to lower print ...

Amid the secular and cyclical slowdown in print advertising, McClatchy Company (MNI), the third largest newspaper company in the U.S. and the publisher of 30 daily newspapers including the Miami Herald and Sacramento Bee, reported third-quarter 2009 results. McClatchy is facing the same dramatic decline in advertising revenue, as the rest of the newspaper industry. Total advertising revenue fell 28.1% year-on-year to $266.1 million. However, circulation revenue stabilized, up 6.7% to $69 million due to increase in circulation prices. As a result, total revenue slipped 23.1% to $347.4 million. To combat the downturn, management undertook cost-cutting initiatives, focused on building Internet operations and reduced debt load. McClatchy had lowered its headcounts, and cut executive pay. The company was able to lower its cash expenses by 29.4% and total operating expenses by 30.2%. McClatchy’s quarterly earnings remained flat at 13 cents a share compared to ...

An unexpected drop in consumer confidence sent U.S. stocks lower Tuesday, as signs of stabilization in housing and Walgreen’s solid earnings failed to convince investors about the strength of an economic recovery.  Although stocks rose slightly after the opening bell, the early morning release of the confidence report took the Street by surprise and signaled the American consumers are not as hopeful about an economic turnaround.

Stocks swung between gains and losses and volume remained light.  Treasury prices declined, with the 10-year off 4/32 and the corresponding yield rising to 3.293%.  The Dow Jones industrial average lost 47 points, or 0.5%. The S&P 500 index lost 2 points, or 0.2%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite retreated 2 points, or 0.2%.  On the New York Stock Exchange, 1.18 billion shares exchanged hands with losers narrowly ahead of winners.

The greenback showed modest gains against a basket of currencies, closing at its

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Gannett Co. (GCI), the news and information company, has been struggling with plummeting advertising revenue for a long time, which has forced job cuts to control rising operating costs. The advertising revenue dipped 34.1%, whereas circulation revenue plunged 3.1% in the first quarter of 2009.

Recently, on July 2, 2009, the company announced that it would lay off 1,400 employees or about 3% of its headcount this month at its publishing division. Gannett announced that each of its markets will complete its own downsizing plan depending on local conditions.

On July 9, 2009, the Courier-Journal newspaper operating in the Louisville market laid off 44 employees, or 7% of its work force, as part of the company’s downsizing plan. Earlier, 51 employees were laid off in December 2008. The Arizona Republic newspaper operating in Phoenix lowered its headcount by 100.

The company also started executing its plans to eliminate 106 full-time and 19

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Standard & Poor's Upgrades McClatchy's Corporate Rating

On Tuesday June 30, 2009, Standard & Poor's raised its corporate credit rating for newspaper publisher McClatchy (MNI) to "CC" (highly vulnerable) from "SD," (selective default). The rating agency still holds a negative view on the company on account of its possible restructuring.

Last Friday, June 26, both Standard & Poor's and Moody's Investor Services had lowered their corporate ratings on the company following the debt exchange offer announced by McClatchy. Moody's lowered its corporate rating to "Caa2" from "Caa1", whereas Standard & Poor's lowered its credit rating to "SD" from "CC." McClatchy offered to pay $60 million in cash and issue $175 million in new notes, with a 15.75% coupon rate due 2014, to replace $1.15 billion in debt owed to its bondholders.

The reason behind downgrading was the company's dubious ability to repay debt and high default risk. On the announcement of

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Miami Land Sale Delayed by Six More MonthsMiami land sale deal between McClatchy (MNI - the seller) and Citisquare Group (the buyer) was extended for the second time after the latter failed to exercise its option to buy the 10 acres of land adjacent to the Miami Herald.The deal was supposed to be completed on Tuesday, June 30, 2009. The date of closing the deal is now extended to December 31, 2009. Citisquare Group is required to increase the termination fee payable to McClatchy due to the extension of the agreement.Earlier, on December 30, 2008, McClatchy announced the extension of the closing date of the agreement (previously December 31, 2008) to sell the 10 acres in order to gain some time to arrange financing in this troubled credit environment, as falling real ...

On Friday June 26, 2009, McClatchy (MNI) announced the expiration of its private exchange offer, which commenced on May 21, 2009. The company offered to exchange the Old Securities for up to $60 million in cash and up to $175 million of newly issued 15.75% Senior Notes due 2014.

The coupon rate has substantially increased from the range of 4.625%-7.150%. With the increase in coupon rate, the company's interest coverage ratio which stood at 2.8x (EBITDA/Interest expense) will decline, and may fall below the covenanted minimum interest coverage ratio of 2.25x. The company's leverage ratio (Debt/TTM EBITDA) was 5.9x at the end of 1Q09 up from 5.1x at the end of 2008, approaching recently-amended bank covenants of 6.25x.

After the expiration of the offer, according to Global Bondholder Services Corporation, the depositary for the Exchange Offer, $102.9 million in debt had been tendered. McClatchy received tenders from

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Highlights include The McClatchy Company (MNI), The New York Times Company (NYT), Washington Post Co. (WPO), Lee Enterprises (LEE), Gannett Co. (GCI) and Journal Communications (JRN).McClatchy: Expensive Debt Exchange Offer Extends MaturitiesIt's an offer bondholders can't refuse.The McClatchy Company (MNI) has announced an offer to exchange $1.15 billion in debt securities for cash and new notes in a move that extends its earliest maturities and lessons the threat of default -- but at a very steep price.The publisher of 80 newspapers, including the Miami Herald and Sacramento Bee, will issue new notes, due 2014, that raise its interest rate to 15.75%, from 4.63% to 7.15% on its current debt securities, but extends its nearest maturity from 2011 to 2014.There will be sufficient cash and new notes to repurchase all of the company's notes ...

Highlights include The McClatchy Company, Inc. (MNI), The New York Times Co. (NYT), Journal Communications (JRN), Gannett Co. (GCI) and Washington Post Company (WPO).McClatchy Losses Widen on Plunging Ad RevenuesThe McClatchy Company, Inc. (MNI) reported 1Q09 financial results that showed ad revenue in free-fall as the company scrambles to cut costs to plug growing losses. The report by the nation's third largest newspaper company reflects the dire state of the industry, where bankruptcies and closures occur almost weekly.The publisher of 80 newspapers including the Miami Herald and Sacramento Bee, said adjusted EPS from continuing operations fell to a loss of $0.28 in 1Q09 from a small profit of $0.03 in 1Q08. The loss was far greater than expected but estimates have lost meaning in an industry in crises.Ad revenue plunged 29.5%, though circulation stabilized (+0.9%). Online ...