• Aetna (NYSE:AET) reported third quarter earnings of 69 cents a share, 3 cents better than Zacks estimates, on revenues of $8.72 billion, up 14.4%.  The company sees full year earnings of $2.75 a share

• OfficeMax (NYSE:OMX) posted third quarter earnings of 8 cents, 6 cents below Zacks estimates on inline revenues of $1.83 billion, down 12.6%. The firm issued cautious guidance, anticipating macro employment trends will not turn positive well into 2010

• Nintendo (NASDAQ:NTDOY) posted first half profits off 52% to $768 million, while sales dropped 34.5%. The company slashed its dividend for the first half by 37%

• Newmont Mining (NYSE:NEM) reported third quarter earnings of 79 cents a share, 24 cents above Zacks estimates, as revenues of $2.05 billion, up 49.5%, bested Zacks estimates of $1.78 billion

• Royal Dutch Shell (NYSE:RDS.A) reported a 73% drop in net profit, with earnings ex-items of $2.62 billion slightly ahead of estimates

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Standard & Poor's Ratings Services has lowered its ratings on Southwest Airlines Co. (LUV), lowering the debt ratings to 'BBB' from 'BBB+’ and placing it with negative implications. However, Southwest has retained its investment grade rating. The downgrade reflects lower operating cash flow caused by record high fuel prices, low global demand for air travel and weak prices. The travel downturn has eroded the airline's flow of cash at a time when the airline faces substantial fixed obligations and declining cash balances. Southwest's cash balance fell to $902 million in the third quarter from $1.4 billion at the end of 2008. Recently, Southwest borrowed $124 million under a new term loan agreement secured by five Boeing 737-700 aircrafts. It also replaced its previous $600 million unsecured revolving credit facility with a new $600 million unsecured revolving credit facility that will expire in Oct. 2012. The rating ...

Moody’s Investor Services (MCO) has downgraded Boeing Co.’s (BA) rating outlook to "negative" from "stable". The major reason for the downgrade was the delay in the airplane maker's new 787 series, besides other setbacks that had hurt its financial flexibility.   Pitted against Airbus’s A319 aircraft, Boeing’s 787 series is plagued by delays. The inaugural test flight at the end of fiscal 2009 is more than two years behind the original delivery schedule. The company has already deferred the inaugural delivery of the 787 series aircraft five times.   Boeing has witnessed falling orders in the recent times for its commercial planes on account of tepid demand for air travel and cargo services. Already, a slew of commercial airlines have cancelled or deferred their fleet additions. Boeing has cut costs and announced reduction in its workforce along with scaling back production of some aircrafts. Moody's estimates a 20%

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For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – October 7, 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: Moody’s Investor Services (MCO), American Tower Corp (AMT), Crown Castle International (CCI), SBA Communications Corp (SBAC) and US Airways (LCC).

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:

Moody's Upgrades American Tower

Moody’s Investor Services (MCO) has upgraded the rating of American Tower Corp (AMT) senior unsecured debt. So far, this paper has been given a “Ba1" rating by Moody’s which implies a junk corporate rating and probability of

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Moody’s Investor Services (MCO) has upgraded the rating of American Tower Corp’s (AMT) senior unsecured debt. So far, this paper has been given a “Ba1" rating by Moody’s which implies a junk corporate rating and probability of default rating. Now Moody’s has raised its rating to “Baa3," implying its lowest investment-grade rating. Major reasons for this debt rating upgrade were the company’s strong operating performance, increased cash flow and reduced debt over the past two years. American Tower accounts for most of its revenue from long-term (typically 5-10 year) tower leases with major wireless carriers. In addition, the company provides on-site maintenance and servicing of antennas, amplifiers and base-station equipment as it relates to leasing. This generates a strong long-term lease up-cycle. The revenue generated from leasing and management of such networks is impressive, and over 95% is recurring in nature. Yearly revenue increased ...

Wilmington Trust's (WL) second-quarter earnings came in ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate, aided by strong growth in client services business and improvement in net interest margin. However, credit quality deteriorated drastically during the reported quarter.

In 2009, both S&P and Moody's lowered their outlooks on the company to negative and downgraded the ratings based on concerns related to its real estate lending concentration. Though loan growth has been impressive relative to many of its peers in the past, the pace of growth has started to moderate in the last few quarters.

We expect the pace to slow down further in the near to medium-term, based on the ongoing weakness in the economy. Thus, we are maintaining our Underperform recommendation.Zacks Investment Research

Willis North America Inc., a subsidiary of Willis Group Holdings Limited (WSH), today announced the final results of its cash tender offer to purchase any and all of its 5.125% senior notes due 2010.

The net proceeds from the offer came to $159,788,000. All of the 2010 notes that were tendered have been guaranteed for payment by Willis. The holders of the 2010 notes will be entitled to receive tender offer consideration of $1,027.50 per $1,000 principal amount of the 2010 notes, plus any accrued and unpaid interest.

The notes, which are guaranteed by Willis Group Holdings, carry ratings of Baa3 by Moody's and BBB- by S&P.

Bank of America (BAC) and JPMorgan Chase (JPM) were the joint book running managers for the sale.

Willis intends to use the net proceeds from this offering to purchase any and all of Willis North America's outstanding 5.125% senior notes due 2010 that

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On Tuesday, Citigroup Inc. (C) sold 4-part fixed and floating-rate notes worth $5.0 billion guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) under the Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program (TLGP). The notes belonging to the first tranche worth $1.25 billion carry a coupon rate of 1.25% and will mature on Nov 15, 2011. The notes will pay coupons semi-annually with the first payment expected on May 15, 2010. The notes belonging to the second tranche worth $250 million carry a coupon rate of 3 basis points (bps) below the 3-month London Inter-bank Offered Rate (LIBOR) and will also mature on Nov 15, 2011. The notes will pay coupons quarterly with the first payment expected on Feb. 15, 2010. The notes belonging to the third tranche worth $1.0 million carry a coupon rate equivalent to 3-month London Inter-bank Offered Rate (LIBOR) and will mature on Nov. 15, ...

Wilmington Trust's (WL) second-quarter earnings came in ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate, aided by strong growth in client services business and improvement in net interest margin.

However, credit quality deteriorated drastically during the reported quarter. In 2009, both S&P and Moody's lowered their outlooks on the company to negative and downgraded the ratings based on concerns related to its real estate lending concentration. Though loan growth has been impressive relative to many of its peers in the past, the pace of growth has started to moderate in the last few quarters.

We expect the pace to slow down further in the near to medium-term, based on the ongoing weakness in the economy. Thus, we are maintaining our Underperform recommendation.Zacks Investment Research

On Tuesday, Citigroup Inc. (C) sold 4-part fixed and floating-rate notes worth $5.0 billion guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) under the Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program (TLGP).  The notes belonging to the first tranche worth $1.25 billion carry a coupon rate of 1.25% and will mature on Nov 15, 2011. The notes will pay coupons semi-annually with the first payment expected on May 15, 2010.  The notes belonging to the second tranche worth $250 million carry a coupon rate of 3 basis points (bps) below the 3-month London Inter-bank Offered Rate (LIBOR) and will also mature on Nov 15, 2011. The notes will pay coupons quarterly with the first payment expected on Feb 15, 2010.  The notes belonging to the third tranche worth $1.0 million carry a coupon rate equivalent to 3-month London Inter-bank Offered Rate (LIBOR) and will mature on Nov 15, ...