For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – November 17, 2009 – Zacks Equity Research highlights Sealed Air Corporation (SEE) as the Bull of the Day and Hologic, Inc. (HOLX) the Bear of the Day. In addition, Zacks Equity Research provides analysis on Genzyme Corp.(GENZ), Shire plc (SHPGY) and Protalix BioTherapeutics Inc. (PLX).

Full analysis of all these stocks is available at http://at.zacks.com/?id=5506

Here is a synopsis of all five stocks:

Bull of the Day:

Sealed Air Corporation (SEE) reported third quarter 2009 EPS of 38 cents, above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 33 cents and the prior-year EPS of 28 cents. The company raised its full-year 2009 EPS guidance to a range between $1.37-$1.45.

The company expects to continue to realize benefits from its cost reduction and productivity programs in the fourth quarter. Also, the company is witnessing improved market conditions in

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Franklin Biotechnology Discovery A (MAPTX) seeks capital appreciation by primarily investing in securities of biotechnology companies and discovery research firms.

This non-diversified fund may invest a substantial portion of assets in equity securities of smaller capitalization companies with a market capitalization of less than $1.5 billion.

Gilead Sciences Inc. (GILD), Celgene Corp. (CELG) and Genzyme Corp. (GENZ) are among the fund’s key holdings.

Templeton Developing Markets A (TEDMX) seeks long-term capital appreciation through investment in securities of emerging economies.

The fund may invest up to 20% of net assets in the securities of issuers in developed market countries. It may also invest in exchange-traded funds to gain exposure to certain segments of the equity markets while maintaining liquidity.

J. Mark Mobius has been lead manager at the fund since October 1991. The fund distributes dividends and capital gains, if any, annually.

Click here to see all the mutual funds offered by Matthews International.

 

Zacks ...

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – October 22, 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: US Bancorp (USB), Visa Inc. (V), Genzyme Corp (GENZ), Shire plc (SHPGY) and Protalix BioTherapeutics Inc. (PLX).

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 Wednesday’s AnalystBlog:

US Bancorp Exceeds Estimates

US Bancorp (USB) has reported third quarter earnings of $603 million or 30 cents per share. Results were ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 26 cents, and reflected higher revenue and an increase in fee income.

However, credit losses and nonperforming assets

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This morning, Genzyme Corp (GENZ) reported third quarter earnings of 19 cents per share, which was well below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 31 cents and the year ago earnings of 93 cents. Moreover, revenues declined 9% to $1.06 billion. As expected, the temporary shutdown of the company’s Allston manufacturing facility earlier this year impacted overall financial results. Although the company has resumed production at this facility, the temporary shutdown led to a disruption in the supply of key products Cerezyme and Fabrazyme. Cerezyme’s performance was highly affected with sales dropping 69.7% to $93.6 million in the reported quarter. Fabrazyme sales came in at $115.2 million, down 8% from the prior-year quarter. Genzyme expects to resume supply of new lots of Cerezyme and Fabrazyme from late November and late December, respectively. The company believes it will be in a position to meet anticipated demand for both ...

Franklin Biotechnology Discovery A (MAPTX) seeks capital appreciation by primarily investing in securities of biotechnology companies and discovery research firms.

This non-diversified fund may invest a substantial portion of assets in equity securities of smaller capitalization companies with a market capitalization of less than $1.5 billion.

Gilead Sciences Inc. (GILD), Celgene Corp. (CELG) and Genzyme Corp. (GENZ) are among the fund’s key holdings.

Franklin Real Estate Securities A (FREEX) was incepted in January 1994. The investment seeks maximize total return.

The fund normally invests most of its assets in equity securities of real estate firms. It may invest up to 20% of assets in equity or debt securities of issuers engaged in businesses whose products and services are closely related to the real estate industry.

Shareholders have to make a minimum initial investment of $50,000 to enter this Zacks#1 Rank (“Strong Buy")

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For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – September 16, 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: Genzyme Corp. (GENZ), Salix Pharmaceuticals (SLXP), Walt Disney Co. (DIS), Sunoco Logistics Partners LP (SXL) and Theravance (THRX).

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:

Genzyme's MS Drug Shows Promise

On Friday, Genzyme Corp. (GENZ) presented encouraging four-year follow-up phase II data on alemtuzumab, which is being developed for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). Results showed durable reductions in relapse rate and sustained accumulation of disability even three years

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Yesterday, Shire plc (SHPGY) submitted its new drug application (NDA) for velaglucerase alfa, its enzyme replacement therapy for the treatment of type 1 Gaucher disease, with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).   Shire also announced that velaglucerase alfa achieved its primary and secondary endpoints in all three of its phase III studies, including a head-to-head study with Genzyme Corp.’s (GENZ) Cerezyme. Another study, assessing the safety of switching patients from Cerezyme therapy to velaglucerase alfa, also posted positive results. We were pleased to see Shire submit the NDA slightly ahead of schedule. The European submission is scheduled to take place by year's end. Once approved and launched commercially, velaglucerase alfa will compete directly with Cerezyme. Shire is currently providing the treatment free of cost to patients. As a reminder, Genzyme is facing problems with the supply of Cerezyme due to the ...

Genzyme Corp.’s (GENZ) Clolar could face a delay in receiving approval for an expanded indication. The drug will be coming up for review before the Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Sept 1 and questions have been raised regarding the lack of a randomized study supporting the application.

The company is seeking to get Clolar approved for the treatment of previously untreated adults aged 60 or older with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who have at least one unfavorable prognostic risk factor. The company is seeking approval on the basis of a phase II study in which Clolar was evaluated in elderly patients with previously untreated AML and at least one other factor that gave them a poor prognosis. The study did not include any comparison with a placebo.

Clolar is currently approved for pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients who have relapsed or refractory

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Genzyme Corp. (GENZ) restated its financial results for the second quarter of 2009 after taking an $8.4 million charge related to the scrapping of about 80% of work-in-process material used to make its Gaucher disease drug, Cerezyme. Based on the restatement, the company’s net income for the second quarter is now $226.6 million or 82 cents per share, down from the previously reported net income of $232.5 million or 85 cents per share.   Although Genzyme has commenced manufacturing activities at the Allston, Boston manufacturing facility, new batches of Cerezyme and Fabrazyme, which are major contributors to Genzyme’s top-line, will not be available until November-December. As a reminder, the Allston facility had been shut down temporarily in June 2009 due to contamination issues. The temporary shutdown of the Allston facility is a major setback for the company -- we believe the impact of the shutdown ...

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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