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: Johnson Controls (JCI), CF Industries Holdings Inc. (CF), Agrium Inc. (AGU), Terra Industries Inc. (TRA) and Hospira (HSP).

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Here are highlights from Tuesday’s AnalystBlog:

Johnson Controls Maintains Profits

Johnson Controls (JCI) posted a profit of $402 million or 52 cents per share, excluding non-recurring items, for the fourth quarter of its fiscal year ended Sept. 30, 2009. This was above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 48 cents per share. The

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• DryShips (NASDAQ:DRYS) reported third quarter earnings of 27 cents a share, 6 cents above Zacks estimates, on revenues of $228.2 million, down 30.4%, but above Zacks projections of $211 million

• Baidu (NASDAQ:BIDU) offered downside fourth quarter guidance as third quarter results posted a slight miss at $2.07 versus $1.47 a year ago

• BP (NYSE:BP) posted 50% better-than-estimated interims as cost-cutting measures generated results of $4.98 billion, down 50% from last year, due to lower oil and gas prices

• Johnson Controls (NYSE:JCI) reported fourth quarter earnings of four cents above Zacks estimates at 52 cents, on inline revenues of $7.87 billion, off 15.5%

• US Steel (NYSE:X) posted a third quarter loss of $2.11, versus Zacks estimates of a $2.91 per share loss, on estimate-topping revenues of $2.82 billion, down 61.5%, but above estimates of $2.67 billion. Noting customer order rates below second quarter levels, the firm provided a cautious outlook

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In its fiscal 2010 forecast meeting with financial analysts, Johnson Controls (JCI ) has revealed that it anticipates commendable sales and earnings growth in the fourth quarter and in fiscal 2010 as markets recover.  The management has commented that the company expects to earn 40 to 42 cents per share for the fourth quarter ended Sep 30 compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 39 cents per share. It expects sales of $7.9 billion for the quarter.  Consolidated net sales are expected to increase 9% to $31 billion in fiscal 2010. Earnings per share are expected to lie in the range of $1.35 and $1.45, slightly higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.44.  The Wisconsin-based company has stated that it expects sales, earnings and margin improvements during the next fiscal in all of its businesses – automotive, power solutions and building efficiency. In the ...

• Blackstone (NYSE:BX) announced plans to list up to eight Blackstone-owned firms and sell at least five additional companies

• Barclays (NYSE:BCS) reported plans to spin off a $6.35 billion portfolio of complex credit assets as it seeks to clean up its balance sheet

• Phillips Electronics (NYSE:PHG) reported better-than-expected third quarter earnings, helped by cost-cutting measures, although the company said most markets are yet to see recovery

• Deutsche Bank (NYSE:DB) lifted Johnson & Johnson's (NYSE:JNJ) price target to $67 from $63 and maintained its "buy" rating on the stock, as the analyst noted "Ahead of Tuesdays earnings call we are raising our price target to $67 (prior $63) based on improving comparable multiples, new product approvals, stabilization in the global economy, and FX tailwinds all [of] which should add to earnings in 4Q and next year. We expect management will focus on continued healthy trends in its Medical Device & Diagnostic

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Johnson Controls (JCI) has won a record-breaking $87 million project at Princess Noura bin Abdulraham University, the world's biggest women-only university in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Under the contract, Al Salem Johnson Controls, the company's joint venture in Saudi Arabia, will supply 26 York brand chillers to Princess Noura University.  The Wisconsin-based supplier of automotive interiors, batteries and other control equipment will supply chillers that use HFC-134A refrigerant, which does not contribute to ozone depletion. They are manufactured in San Antonio, Texas.  The York brand is a proven market leader in energy efficiency. Al Salem Johnson Controls will also supply radiators for the chillers, making this one of the company's largest single orders in its history. The company achieved the first and largest-ever chiller order in the world for the Pearl Qatar project. It has also succeeded in winning the Bahrain Bay project.  Johnson Controls ...

Wisconsin-based Johnson Controls Inc. (JCI) is reportedly planning to close its assembly and manufacturing plant in Botetourt County by May 2010 after orders declined by about 30% in the last few months.

The Botetourt facility, near Bonsack, has been part of the company's Building Efficiency division, which focuses on mechanical systems for heating, ventilating and air conditioning for the residential (9%) and non-residential buildings (91%) market.

Johnson Controls dismissed nine employees at the plant last April. The shutdown will affect the remaining 44 employees. Workers who stay with the plant through the closing process and get involuntarily terminated will be eligible for severance consideration and other transitional assistance.

The auto-parts manufacturer plans to move operations from Botetourt plant to facilities in Texas, Pennsylvania and Mexico. The plant houses screw compressors and centrifugal compressors for chillers built in Mexico or Texas. It also manufactures rotors used in the production

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Auto-parts maker Johnson Controls Inc. (JCI) is exchanging its 6.5% convertible senior notes due 2012 and its equity units in the form of corporate units to reduce the amount of its outstanding debt and related ongoing interest expense.

As of Jun 30, 2009, Johnson Control had approximately $4.8 billion of outstanding debt, including $450 million of equity units.

Johnson Controls will exchange all of its convertible notes for 89.3855 common shares plus $120 in cash and accrued and unpaid interest per $1,000 of principal notes. The company originally issued $402.5 million of convertible notes.

The company will also exchange up to 8.55 million corporate units, or 95% of its outstanding equity units, for 4.8579 common shares, $6.50 in cash and accrued and unpaid interest on the 11.5% notes due 2042 that make up part of the units.

Soon after Johnson Controls' second-quarter results in July, Standard & Poor's Ratings Services took the

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Wisconsin-based energy components supplier Johnson Controls (JCI) returned to profitability in the third quarter of its financial year ended June 30, 2009 as projected. The company has been posting losses since the first quarter ended December 31, 2008.

In the reported quarter, Johnson Controls showed a profit of $163 million or $0.26 per diluted share. This was against a loss of $193 million or $0.33 per diluted share recorded in the prior quarter. However, compared on a year-over-year basis, the company depicted a 63% fall in profit from $439 million in the third quarter of 2008.

Johnson Controls saw a significant recovery in its Automotive Experience segment over the second quarter of 2009. The segment posted a narrower loss of $14 million in the quarter, down from $275 million in the previous quarter. Nevertheless, sales in the segment fell 38% to $3 billion due to the severe impact of prolonged production

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• CIT Group (NYSE:CIT) and a number of key bondholders agreed to a $3 billion rescue agreement that will allow the company to restructure without filing for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection

• Hasbro (NYSE:HAS) reported Q2 earnings of 26 cents a share, ex-items, beating Street estimates of 23 cents a share.  Revenues rose 1% year-over-year to $792.2 million, versus consensus estimates of $797.1 million

• Halliburton (NYSE:HAL) reported Q2 earnings of 30 cents a share, ex-items, beating consensus estimates of 27 cents a share.  Revenues in the quarter sank 22.1% year-over-year to $3.5 billion, but came in ahead of consensus estimates of $3.4 billion

• Las Vegas Sands (NYSE:LVS) is reportedly planning to apply for an IPO in Hong Kong in August

•  Weatherford International (NYSE:WFT) missed Q2 EPS estimates of 16 cents, reporting earnings of 10 cents a share on revenues of $2.0 billion

• Johnson Controls (NYSE:JCI) reported fiscal Q3 earnings of

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General Motors (GM) has gone through its first couple days in bankruptcy. The main issue was for $33 billion in funding from the US Government being approved. The company also sold its Hummer division to a Chinese concern for an undisclosed amount. There are 16 bidders for Saturn and 3 bidders for Saab. Announcements on these two brands may come soon. Restructuring may occur at a rapid pace.The creditors list has been filed. Main creditors include: Delphi (DPHIQ) ($111 million), Lear (LEA) ($45 million), Johnson Controls (JCI) ($33 million), TRW (TRW) ($28 million), Magna International (MAG) ($27 million), American Axle (AXL) ($27 million), Tenneco (TEN) ($15 million), Visteon (VSTN) ($10 million), US Steel (X) ($10 million), AK Steel (AKS) ($9 million) and Goodyear (GT) ($7 million). Auto suppliers will be impacted greatly by this filing....