Lincoln National Corp. (LNC) reported operating earnings of 84 cents in the third quarter, which was ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 80 cents. The company had earned $1.16 per share on an operating basis in the year-ago quarter.   The company experienced lower average variable account values compared to the prior-year period. Also, there were some modest losses on its alternative investments.   Lincoln reported a net income of $153 million or 44 cents per share compared with $148 million or 58 cents in the year-ago quarter. We note that there were fewer shares outstanding in the prior-year quarter.   The company managed to report better operating results on a quarter-over-quarter basis due to the appreciation in the equity market. Consolidated deposits increased 10% sequentially but were down 2% year over year to $5.3 billion. Net flows were up 25% sequentially and 34% year over year ...

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – September 17, 2009 – Zacks.com releases the latest Zacks Industry Rank. Stocks featured in this week’s analysis include D.R. Horton (DHI), KB Home (KBH), Pulte Homes (PHM), Allstate (ALL), Hartford Financial Services (HIG), Travelers (TRV), Loews (L), Humana (HUM), Stericycle (SRCL), C.R. Baird (BCR), Celgene (CELG), Gilead Sciences (GILD), Anadarko Petroleum (APC), EOG Resources (EOG), AK Steel (AKS), Nucor (NUE), U.S. Steel (X), Fifth Third (FITB), Regions Financial (RF), Suntrust Banks (STI) and Zions Bancorp (ZION).

Zacks Industry Rank Analysis is written by Charles Rotblut, CFA, Senior Market Analyst for Zacks.com.

This week: Third-Quarter Earnings Forecast

Though the economy has stabilized, third-quarter results for the majority of companies will still be below year prior levels.

Per share profits for the S&P

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Though the economy has stabilized, third-quarter results for the majority of companies will still be below year prior levels.

Per share profits for the S&P 500 are projected to fall 15.4%. The median company is forecast to report a 14% drop in per share earnings. (The difference being that the S&P 500 forecast is a weighted projection.) More than 340 companies may have experienced a year-over-year drop in profits.

On a revenue basis, things are not much better. Median company sales are forecast to have dropped 7.2%.* More than 360 companies are expected to report a year-over-year drop in earnings.

It's important to realize that during July and August 2008, the economy was in fairly good shape. Lehman did not collapse until September 2008. Furthermore, the credit crunch's grip severely tightened over the 2-month span of September and October 2008. As a result, many companies are now facing tough

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Democrats in Congress have asked the nation’s biggest health insurers to provide data on executive compensation and bonus, profit margins, corporate retreats and spending and premium charges as part of its investigation of the private health insurance industry.

The inquiry is in an effort to change the debate to focus on health insurers rather than focusing on the solutions to health care concerns. There was also dispute over the creation of a government-run health system along private insurers. The Democrats are trying to examine whether business practices of the industry oppose Obama’s proposal for a public health insurance plan.

The US House Energy and Commerce Committee chairman Henry Waxman sent letters to 52 insurance companies on Monday, asking them to provide details on CEO pay, profit and other data by next month. These include American International Group Inc. (AIG), Hartford Financial Services (HIG), Aetna Inc. (AET),

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Here are the stocks added to the Zacks #5 Rank ("strong sell") List today:

ABB Ltd (ABB) Actuant Corp (ATU) ATMI Inc (ATMI) BancTrust Financial Group Inc (BTFG) Benchmark Electronics Inc (BHE) Blyth Inc (BTH) BRT Realty Trust (BRT) Cincinnati Financial Corp (CINF) Cintas Corp (CTAS) Cleco Corp (CNL) CONMED Corp (CNMD) Dover Saddlery Inc (DOVR) Enterprise Financial Services Corp (EFSC) Ethan Allen Interiors Inc (ETH) Fairpoint Communications Inc (FRP) Fuel Tech Inc (FTEK) Hartford Financial Services (HIG) Insteel Industries Inc (IIIN) INX Inc (INXI) FirstService Corp (FSRV) JA Solar Holdings Co Ltd (JASO) JDA Software Group Inc (JDAS) Live Nation Inc (LYV) LoJack Corp (LOJN) MSC Industrial Direct Co Inc (MSM) Open Text Corp (OTEX) Pennichuck Corp (PNNW) Sanmina-SCI Corp (...

Here are the stocks added to the Zacks #5 Rank ("strong sell") List today:

Accuride Corp (AURD) Argo Group International Holdings Ltd (AGII) ATMI Inc (ATMI) BancTrust Financial Group Inc (BTFG) Benchmark Electronics Inc (BHE) Brasil Telecom SA (BTM) China Security & Surveillance Tech Inc (CSR) Cintas Corp (CTAS) Community Bancorp (CBON) CRM Holdings Ltd (CRMH) Cynosure Inc (CYNO) Dayton Superior Corp (DSUPQ) Erie Indemnity Co (ERIE) Fairpoint Communications Inc (FRP) First Security Group Inc (FSGI) Fuel Tech Inc (FTEK) The Hain Celestial Group Inc (HAIN) Hartford Financial Services (HIG) Innophos Holdings Inc (IPHS) INX Inc (INXI) JDA Software Group Inc (JDAS) LoJack Corp (LOJN) Mercer International Inc (MERC) MetroCorp Bancshares Inc (MCBI) Montpelier Re Holdings Ltd (MRH) Open Text Corp (OTEX) Pacific ...

Here are the stocks added to the Zacks #5 Rank ("strong sell") List today:

ABB Ltd (ABB) Actuant Corp (ATU) Allegheny Energy Inc (AYE) Benchmark Electronics Inc (BHE) Blyth Inc (BTH) Build-A-Bear Workshop Inc (BBW) Cincinnati Financial Corp (CINF) Cleco Corp (CNL) CONMED Corp (CNMD) Dassault Systemes SA (DASTY) Einstein Noah Restaurant Group Inc (BAGL) Electronics For Imaging Inc (EFII) EMS Technologies Inc (ELMG) EnerSys (ENS) Eni SpA (E) Enstar Group Ltd (ESGR) Expeditors International of Washington (EXPD) FNB United Corp (FNBN) Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc (FDP) The Hain Celestial Group Inc (HAIN) Harleysville Group Inc (HGIC) Hartford Financial Services (HIG) Haverty Furniture Companies Inc (HVT) Heritage Financial Corp (HFWA) I-Flow Corp (IFLO) Independent Bank Corp (IBCP) Investment Technology Group (ITG) ...

Here are the stocks added to the Zacks #5 Rank ("strong sell") List today:

The Allstate Corp (ALL) American River Bankshares (AMRB) Argo Group International Holdings Ltd (AGII) Aventine Renewable Energy Holdings Inc (AVRNQ) BancTrust Financial Group Inc (BTFG) Benchmark Electronics Inc (BHE) Bristow Group Inc (BRS) BRT Realty Trust (BRT) C&D Technologies Inc (CHP) Callaway Golf Co (ELY) Columbus McKinnon Corp (CMCO) Comtech Telecommunications Corp (CMTL) Connecticut Water Service Inc (CTWS) Credicorp Ltd (BAP) Cybex International Inc (CYBI) Cynosure Inc (CYNO) Dayton Superior Corp (DSUPQ) Enterprise Financial Services Corp (EFSC) Entertainment Properties Trust (EPR) Ethan Allen Interiors Inc (ETH) Fuel Tech Inc (FTEK) Gannett Co Inc (GCI) Harleysville Group Inc (HGIC) Hartford Financial Services (HIG) Haverty Furniture Companies Inc (HVT) Independent Bank Corp ...

Hartford Financial Services (HIG) is down approximately 5% this afternoon on heavy volume of almost 56.5 million shares, compared with the average of 26.2 million.

Hartford Financial recently declared that it expects full-year EPS between 5 cents and 45 cents, including a one-time charge.

Meanwhile, 6 analysts out of 11 pulled back on expectations, bringing the 2009 consensus down to a loss of 11 cents per share from last month's projection for a profit of $3.82.

This Zacks #4 Rank ("Sell") company lost $3.66 per share in its first quarter, which missed estimates by an average of 30.25%.

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

* Reports said General Motors (NYSE:GM) is nearing a UAW deal that could lower hourly labor costs by over $1 billion per year. The firm is also expected to give notice to its dealers of plans to cut 42% of its network

* Today's WSJ reports a number of insurers have received approval for up to $22 billion in TARP funds. The companies include: Hartford Financial Services (NYSE:HIG), Prudential Financial (NYSE:PRU), Lincoln National (NYSE:LNC), Allstate (NYSE:ALL), Ameriprise Financial (NYSE:AMP) and Principal Financial Group (NYSE:PFG)

* Barclays (NYSE:BCS) is reportedly in talks to sell its Global Investors division, with BlackRock (NYSE:BLK) and Bank of New York Mellon (NYSE:BK) named as possible suitors

* Abercrombie and Fitch (NYSE:ANF) reported a first quarter loss of 31 cents per share, which missed Street estimates by 17 cents, as revenues declined 23.5% year-over-year to $612 million

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