• 1-800-FLOWERS.COM Inc (FLWS)
• 3D Systems Corp (TDSC)
• ACI Worldwide Inc (ACIW)
• Advanta Corp (ADVNB)
• Alon USA Energy Inc (ALJ)
• Alphatec Holdings Inc (ATEC)
• American Water Works Co Inc (AWK)
• AMETEK Inc (AME)
• Anaren Inc (ANEN)
• Animal Health International Inc (AHII)
• Apogee Enterprises Inc (APOG)
• Bankrate Inc (RATE)
• Banner Corp (BANR)
• Bel Fuse Inc (BELFB)
• Belden Inc (BDC)
• Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc (BIO)
• Blockbuster Inc (BBI)
• Blount International Inc (BLT)
• Boise Inc (BZ)
• Bottomline Technologies (EPAY)
• BreitBurn Energy Partners LP (BBEP)
• Cantel Medical Corp (CMN)
• Capital Senior Living Corp (CSU)
• CECO Environmental Corp (CECE)
• China Mobile Ltd (CHL)
• China Security & Surveillance Tech Inc (CSR)
• CIBER Inc (CBR)
• City Bank (CTBK)
• City Holding Co (CHCO)
• CoBiz Financial Inc (COBZ)
• Columbus McKinnon Corp (CMCO)
• Curis Inc (CRIS)
• Dionex Corp (DNEX)
• Dynegy Inc (DYN)
• Equity Lifestyle Properties Inc (ELS)
• EXFO Electro-Optical Engineering (EXFO)
• Fairpoint Communications Inc (FRP)
• First Financial Bancorp (FFBC)
• First M & F Corp (FMFC)
• FLIR Systems Inc (FLIR)
• L.B. Foster Co (FSTR)
• Frontier Oil Corp (FTO)
• Furmanite Corp (FRM)
• G&K Services Inc (GKSR)
• Gildan Activewear Inc (GIL)
• P.H. Glatfelter Co (GLT)
• Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co (GAP)
• GSC Investment Corp (GNV)
• Hanover Insurance Group Inc (THG)
• Harsco Corp (HSC)
• HEICO Corp (HEI)
• Hellenic Telecom Organization SA (OTE)
• Heritage-Crystal Clean Inc (HCCI)
• HRPT Properties Trust (HRP)
• Hydrogenics Corp (HYGS)
• II-VI Inc (IIVI)
• Immucor Inc (BLUD)
• Infinity Pharmaceuticals Inc (INFI)
• Kilroy Realty Corp (KRC)
• Lakeland Industries Inc (LAKE)
• Lincoln National Corp (LNC)
• Lufkin Industries Inc (LUFK)
• Maiden Holdings Ltd (MHLD)
• Marine Products Corp (MPX)
• Merchants Bancshares Inc (MBVT)
• Midwest Banc Holdings Inc (MBHI)
• MYR Group Inc (MYRG)
• Nash-Finch Co (NAFC)
• National Research Corp (NRCI)
• Natural Resource Partners LP (NRP)
• NCI Building Systems Inc (NCS)
• NewStar Financial Inc (NEWS)
• NorthWestern Corp (NWE)
• OM Group Inc (OMG)
• On Assignment Inc (ASGN)
• OPNET Technologies Inc (OPNT)
• Orient-Express Hotels Ltd (OEH)
• Otter Tail Corp (OTTR)
• The Pantry Inc (PTRY)
• PAR Technology Corp (PTC)
• Penford Corp (PENX)
• Penn Virginia Resources (PVR)
• Pitney Bowes Inc (PBI)
• The PMI Group Inc (PMI)
• PPL Corp (PPL)
• Quality Distribution Inc (QLTY)
• Real Goods Solar Inc (RSOL)
• Reliance Steel & Aluminum (RS)
• Res-Care Inc (RSCR)
• Resources Connection Inc (RECN)
• Rofin-Sinar Technologies (RSTI)
• RPC Inc (RES)
• RRI Energy Inc (RRI)
• Saba Software Inc (SABA)
• Safety Insurance Group Inc (SAFT)
• Sandy Spring Bancorp Inc (SASR)
• SatCon Technology Corp (SATC)
• Skechers USA Inc (SKX)
• SonoSite Inc (SONO)
• Speedway Motorsports Inc (TRK)
• Stanley Furniture Company Inc (STLY)
• StealthGas Inc (GASS)
• Superior Bancorp (SUPR)
• Susser Holdings Corp (SUSS)
• SWS Group Inc (SWS)
• TAL International Group Inc (TAL)
• Taylor Capital Group Inc (TAYC)
• Terremark Worldwide Inc (TMRK)
• Travelzoo Inc (TZOO)
• Ultratech Inc (UTEK)
• Universal Electronics Inc (UEIC)
• U.S. Concrete Inc (RMIX)
• Virginia Commerce Bancorp Inc (VCBI)
• Wabash National Corp (WNC)
• Warner Music Group Corp (WMG)
• Watson Wyatt Worldwide Inc (WW)
• Westport Innovations Inc (WPRT)
• White Mountains Insurance Group Ltd (WTM)
• WSFS Financial Corp (WSFS)
• YRC Worldwide Inc (YRCW)

Natural Resource Partners LP (NRP) shed nearly 5% at midday to trade close to support at $22.41. The average forecast on the company's 2009 profit has dropped by 25 cents per share to $1.75 in the last month. Natural Resource is a Zacks#5 Rank ("Strong Sell") stock.

• American River Bankshares (AMRB)
• Anthracite Capital Inc (AHR)
• Aon Corp (AOC)
• Arena Resources Inc (ARD)
• Aventine Renewable Energy Holdings Inc (AVRNQ)
• BancTrust Financial Group Inc (BTFG)
• BRT Realty Trust (BRT)
• C&D Technologies Inc (CHP)
• Cascade Corp (CAE)
• CoBiz Financial Inc (COBZ)
• Connecticut Water Service Inc (CTWS)
• Constellation Brands Inc (STZ)
• Cumulus Media Inc (CMLS)
• Cutera Inc (CUTR)
• Cybex International Inc (CYBI)
• Denison Mines Corp (DNN)
• E.ON AG (EONGY)
• Employers Holdings Inc (EIG)
• Enterprise Financial Services Corp (EFSC)
• Entravision Communication (EVC)
• FARO Technologies Inc (FARO)
• FirstService Corp (FSRV)
• Flagstone Reinsurance Holdings Ltd (FSR)
• Headwaters Inc (HW)
• I-Flow Corp (IFLO)
• Insteel Industries Inc (IIIN)
• Ixia (XXIA)
• Kaman Corp (KAMN)
• KVH Industries Inc (KVHI)
• Lennox International Inc (LII)
• Live Nation Inc (LYV)
• Marine Products Corp (MPX)
• Meridian Bioscience Inc (VIVO)
• Montpelier Re Holdings Ltd (MRH)
• Move Inc (MOVE)
• Nara Bancorp Inc (NARA)
• Natural Resource Partners LP (NRP)
• The New York Times Co (NYT)
• Palomar Medical Technologies Inc (PMTI)
• PGT Inc (PGTI)
• Portfolio Recovery Associates Inc (PRAA)
• Progress Software Corp (PRGS)
• Provident Bankshares Corp (PBKS)
• ReneSola Ltd (SOL)
• Republic Bancorp Inc KY (RBCAA)
• RRI Energy Inc (RRI)
• Saia Inc (SAIA)
• SCBT Financial Corp (SCBT)
• SJW Corp (SJW)
• Tennessee Commerce Bancorp Inc (TNCC)
• THQ Inc (THQI)
• Titan Machinery Inc (TITN)
• TiVo Inc (TIVO)
• TriCo Bancshares (TCBK)
• Tween Brands Inc (TWB)
• Veolia Environnement (VE)
• Wendy's Arby's Group Inc (WEN)
• Xinyuan Real Estate Co. Ltd (XIN)
• Yadkin Valley Financial Corp (YAVY)
• Zenith National Insurance Corp (ZNT)

• Acergy SA (ACGY)
• Allstate Corp (ALL)
• AnnTaylor Stores Corp (ANN)
• Aon Corp (AON)
• Avery Dennison Corp (AVY)
• Santander BanCorp (SBP)
• BancTrust Financial Group Inc (BTFG)
• Benchmark Electronics Inc (BHE)
• BT Group Plc (BT)
• Capital Bank Corp (CBKN)
• Casual Male Retail Group Inc (CMRG)
• CBS Corp (CBS)
• China Security & Surveillance Tech Inc (CSR)
• Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings Inc (CCO)
• Community Bancorp (CBON)
• Constellation Brands Inc (STZ)
• CRM Holdings Ltd (CRMH)
• Denison Mines Corp (DNN)
• Electronics For Imaging Inc (EFII)
• Encore Wire Corp (WIRE)
• Eurobancshares Inc (EUBK)
• FirstService Corp (FSRV)
• FNB United Corp (FNBN)
• Franklin Electric Co (FELE)
• Gladstone Capital Corp (GLAD)
• Haynes International Inc (HAYN)
• I-Flow Corp (IFLO)
• Integra Bank Corp (IBNK)
• Kaman Corp (KAMN)
• KVH Industries Inc (KVHI)
• Lennox International Inc (LII)
• Marine Products Corp (MPX)
• Martin Midstream Partners LP (MMLP)
• MB Financial Inc (MBFI)
• Mercer International Inc (MERC)
• Montpelier Re Holdings Ltd (MRH)
• Movado Group Inc (MOV)
• Natural Resource Partners LP (NRP)
• The New York Times Co (NYT)
• Old Point Financial Corp (OPOF)
• Portfolio Recovery Associates Inc (PRAA)
• Progress Software Corp (PRGS)
• Prudential Financial Inc (PRU)
• RPM International Inc (RPM)
• Saia Inc (SAIA)
• Sanmina-SCI Corp (SANM)
• Scientific Games Corp (SGMS)
• Shinhan Financial Group Co Ltd (SHG)
• Simmons First National Corp (SFNC)
• Smithfield Foods Inc (SFD)
• Sociedad Quimica y Minera (SQM)
• The St. Joe Co (JOE)
• Stanley Furniture Company Inc (STLY)
• Superior Well Services Inc (SWSI)
• Telecomunicacoes de Sao Paulo SA (TSP)
• TiVo Inc (TIVO)
• TriCo Bancshares (TCBK)
• Tween Brands Inc (TWB)
• Votorantim Celulose e Papel SA (VCP)
• Yingli Green Energy Holding Co Ltd (YGE)

• Albemarle Corp (ALB)
• AptarGroup Inc (ATR)
• Arch Coal Inc (ACI)
• Cape Bancorp Inc (CBNJ)
• Care Investment Trust Inc (CRE)
• Century Casinos Inc (CNTY)
• Ceradyne Inc (CRDN)
• China Sunergy Co Ltd (CSUN)
• CoBiz Financial Inc (COBZ)
• Coleman Cable Inc (CCIX)
• Community Bancorp (CBON)
• Compass Minerals International Inc (CMP)
• Courier Corp (CRRC)
• CryptoLogic Ltd (CRYP)
• Dover Corp (DOV)
• El Paso Electric Co (EE)
• Flamel Technologies SA (FLML)
• HLTH Corp (HLTH)
• Huntsman Corp (HUN)
• International Game Technology (IGT)
• INX Inc (INXI)
• Mercer International Inc (MERC)
• Mettler-Toledo International Inc (MTD)
• Natural Resource Partners LP (NRP)
• Portfolio Recovery Associates Inc (PRAA)
• Prospect Capital Corp (PSEC)
• Rockwood Holdings Inc (ROC)
• STAAR Surgical Co (STAA)
• Stanley Furniture Company Inc (STLY)
• Strattec Security Corp (STRT)
• Tamalpais Bancorp (TAMB)
• Telecomunicacoes de Sao Paulo SA (TSP)
• Transocean Ltd (RIG)
• United America Indemnity Ltd (INDM)
• United Fire & Casualty (UFCS)
• Washington Trust Bancorp (WASH)
• Xyratex Ltd (XRTX)

LaBranche & Co. Inc. (LAB) announced net income of 41 cents per share on a pro forma basis last week, which eclipsed both the consensus and year-ago result. The company was a top-performing Zacks #1 Rank company for the week ended Jan 23 as shares moved higher 12.2%.

Earnings estimates for this year are up 21% over the past 7 days. Looking a little further back, expectations have advanced approximately 54% over the past month. Estimates for the company's first and second quarters each moved higher in the past 7 days as well.

Shares of The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (SMG) gained approximately 7.9% last week, which was enough to make the lawn and garden products company a top-performing Zacks #1 Rank. Earnings estimates for this fiscal year, which ends September 2009, are up 6.8% over the past 3 months, including a gain of almost 1% in 30 days. Furthermore, analysts currently expect next fiscal year's profit to advance almost 14% ahead of this fiscal year.

On Jan 22, the company announced that its Board approved the payment of a cash dividend of $0.125 per share, payable Feb 19 to shareholders of record on Feb 5. During the company's annual shareholders meeting, SMG's chairman and CEO stated that he remains confident in the company's prospects for 2009 and that retailers remain supportive of the lawn and garden category. The company will announce its fiscal first-quarter results in early February.

El Paso Pipeline Partners, L.P. (EPB) announced last week that it raised its quarterly cash distribution by 6.7% to 32 cents per unit for the fourth quarter of 2008, compared to 30 cents for the third quarter. The distribution will be paid Feb 13 to holders of record on Jan 30. The company said it was pleased to raise its cash distributions due to its successful acquisition last year.

EPB made the Zacks #1 Rank Top Performers List for the week ended Jan 23 with shares that advanced 6.5%. One analyst raised the earnings estimates for the December 2009 year, sending the earnings expectation slightly higher over the past 7 days. The past 3 months has seen an advance of 2.9%. In addition, analysts currently expect profit for 2009 to increase approximately 17% from 2008. EPB is a Delaware limited partnership formed by El Paso Corporation to own and operate natural gas transportation pipelines and storage assets.

Natural Resource Partners L.P. (NRP) made the Zacks #1 Rank Top Performers List for the week ended Jan 23 as shares increased 6.1%. Over the past 2 months, earnings estimates for this year and next are up 3.3% and 4.3%, respectively. Also, analysts expect next year's profit to advance approximately 26% over this year. NRP is a master limited partnership that is principally engaged in the business of owning and managing mineral reserve properties. It owns coal reserves and coal handling and transportation infrastructure in the 3 major coal-producing regions of the U.S.

Last week, NRP slightly raised its fourth-quarter 2008 distribution by $0.01 to $0.535 per unit, which will be paid on Feb 13 to unitholders of record on Feb 5. This marks the company's 22nd straight increase in the distribution. Looking toward 2009, the company expects total revenues to increase about 11% over 2008 to between $294 million and $338 million.

DeVry, Inc. (DV) is scheduled to report its fiscal second-quarter results later today. In its fiscal first-quarter, the company reported earnings per share of 48 cents that beat the consensus by more than 9%. Revenues advanced more than 21% from the previous year. The company was also featured as a Growth & Income stock of the day at Zacks.com last week. DV is in a good industry for the current environment, as workers historically look to improve their skills during difficult economic times with rising unemployment.

With shares that gained almost 3.2% last week, DV made the Zacks #1 Rank Top Performers List. Over the past 2 months, earnings estimates for the fiscal years ending June 2009 and June 2010 are up 1.4% and 3.3%, respectively. Analysts also expect next fiscal year's EPS to gain approximately 25% on this fiscal year.

"EPB" Free Stock Analysis: Buy? Sell? Hold?
"NRP" Free Stock Analysis: Buy? Sell? Hold?
"SMG" Free Stock Analysis: Buy? Sell? Hold?
"DV" Free Stock Analysis: Buy? Sell? Hold?
Zacks Investment Research

• The Advisory Board Co (ABCO)
• Alliance Imaging Inc (AIQ)
• Allscripts-Misys Healthcare Solutions (MDRX)
• Almost Family Inc (AFAM)
• Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc (ALNY)
• Array BioPharma Inc (ARRY)
• AsiaInfo Holdings Inc (ASIA)
• athenahealth Inc (ATHN)
• BearingPoint Inc (BGPT)
• Chemed Corp (CHE)
• Coca-Cola Amatil Ltd (CCLAY)
• Corinthian Colleges Inc (COCO)
• Corrections Corporation of America (CXW)
• Cox Radio Inc (CXR)
• Crown Castle International Corp (CCI)
• CSG Systems International Inc (CSGS)
• deCODE genetics Inc (DCGN)
• Delhaize Group (DEG)
• Diageo plc (DEO)
• DRI Corp (TBUS)
• El Paso Pipeline Partners LP (EPB)
• Elbit Systems Ltd (ESLT)
• The Ensign Group Inc (ENSG)
• EnteroMedics Inc (ETRM)
• EZCORP Inc (EZPW)
• FGX International Holdings Ltd (FGXI)
• Force Protection Inc (FRPT)
• FPIC Insurance Group Inc (FPIC)
• Fuel Tech Inc (FTEK)
• Genoptix Inc (GXDX)
• Gentiva Health Services Inc (GTIV)
• Given Imaging Ltd (GIVN)
• Idera Pharmaceuticals Inc (IDRA)
• Immucor Inc (BLUD)
• ISIS Pharmaceuticals Inc (ISIS)
• Kirkland's Inc (KIRK)
• LeapFrog Enterprises Inc (LF)
• Majesco Entertainment Co (COOL)
• MAP Pharmaceuticals Inc (MAPP)
• Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc (MTU)
• National Beverage Corp (FIZZ)
• National CineMedia Inc (NCMI)
• Natural Resource Partners LP (NRP)
• North American Palladium Ltd (PAL)
• NorthWestern Corp (NWE)
• NxStage Medical Inc (NXTM)
• O'Reilly Automotive Inc (ORLY)
• Orthofix International NV (OFIX)
• Onstream Media Corp (ONSM)
• Open Text Corp (OTEX)
• Pactiv Corp (PTV)
• Paragon Shipping Inc (PRGN)
• Prospect Capital Corp (PSEC)
• Koninklijke KPN NV (KKPNY)
• RWE AG (RWEOY)
• Ryanair Holdings plc (RYAAY)
• S1 Corp (SONE)
• Saba Software Inc (SABA)
• Sangamo Biosciences Inc (SGMO)
• Scotts Miracle-Gro Co (SMG)
• Seattle Genetics Inc (SGEN)
• Shire Plc (SHPGY)
• Siemens AG (SI)
• SuccessFactors Inc (SFSF)
• Teledyne Technologies Inc (TDY)
• UQM Technologies Inc (UQM)
• Ur Energy Inc (URG)
• Vivo Participacoes SA (VIV)
• Western Gas Partners LP (WES)
• WGL Holdings Inc (WGL)
• ZymoGenetics Inc (ZGEN)

• AAR Corp (AIR)
• The Advisory Board Co (ABCO)
• Alliance Imaging Inc (AIQ)
• Allscripts-Misys Healthcare Solutions (MDRX)
• Array BioPharma Inc (ARRY)
• AsiaInfo Holdings Inc (ASIA)
• athenahealth Inc (ATHN)
• BearingPoint Inc (BGPT)
• Boston Properties Inc (BXP)
• Chemed Corp (CHE)
• Coca-Cola Amatil Ltd (CCLAY)
• Corinthian Colleges Inc (COCO)
• Corrections Corporation of America (CXW)
• Cox Radio Inc (CXR)
• Crown Castle International Corp (CCI)
• CSG Systems International Inc (CSGS)
• deCODE genetics Inc (DCGN)
• Delhaize Group (DEG)
• DRI Corp (TBUS)
• El Paso Pipeline Partners LP (EPB)
• Elbit Systems Ltd (ESLT)
• The Ensign Group Inc (ENSG)
• EnteroMedics Inc (ETRM)
• FGX International Holdings Ltd (FGXI)
• Force Protection Inc (FRPT)
• FPIC Insurance Group Inc (FPIC)
• Gentiva Health Services Inc (GTIV)
• Given Imaging Ltd (GIVN)
• Immucor Inc (BLUD)
• ISIS Pharmaceuticals Inc (ISIS)
• Kirkland's Inc (KIRK)
• LeapFrog Enterprises Inc (LF)
• MAP Pharmaceuticals Inc (MAPP)
• Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc (MTU)
• National Beverage Corp (FIZZ)
• National CineMedia Inc (NCMI)
• Natural Resource Partners LP (NRP)
• NetEase.com Inc (NTES)
• NorthWestern Corp (NWE)
• O'Reilly Automotive Inc (ORLY)
• Onstream Media Corp (ONSM)
• Open Text Corp (OTEX)
• Pactiv Corp (PTV)
• Paragon Shipping Inc (PRGN)
• Prospect Capital Corp (PSEC)
• RWE AG (RWEOY)
• Ryanair Holdings plc (RYAAY)
• S1 Corp (SONE)
• Sangamo Biosciences Inc (SGMO)
• Seattle Genetics Inc (SGEN)
• SuccessFactors Inc (SFSF)
• Teledyne Technologies Inc (TDY)
• Tree.com Inc (TREE)
• UQM Technologies Inc (UQM)
• Ur Energy Inc (URG)
• Vivo Participacoes SA (VIV)
• Western Gas Partners LP (WES)
• Williams Partners LP (WPZ)

While Alpha Natural Resources has shed around 36.5% of its value, NRP has tumbled by 26.16%. Even Arch Coal has taken a hit to the tune of almost 23% till date. Patriot Coal Corp. (PCX) is down by almost 40% over the last 30 days. The trend continued on Tuesday when all the above-mentioned stocks were down.

To make matters worse, a Reuters report has pointed out that coal prices may spike if a U.S. appeals court upholds a ruling restricting surface mining in the Appalachian mountains. Several mining companies, including Alpha Natural Resources and Patriot Coal may lose production.

However, there seems to be a buck in the trend today, with ACI registering a 3.50% growth to trade around $ 41.83 in the morning. Peabody Energy Corp. (BTU) has gained 0.87%. ANR and NRP, too, are taking short but sure steps. But the galloping strides have come from Patriot Coal with an almost 5% gain. 

Analysts continue to be bullish on the coal sector as they argue that the fundamentals of most of the companies are solid. And itÂ’s BTU that seems to be a hit with most of the investment firms.

The company released second quarter 2008 earnings of $40.4 MM, a 79% increase over Q2'07 and a 20% sequentially. Earnings attributable to limited partners, which is essentially an MLP equivalent to common stock for a non-master limited partnership, was $30.6 MM or $0.47 per unit, an increase of 68% over Q2'07. Limited partner earnings came in above our expectations due to higher-than-expected average royalties per ton production volumes.

NRP has no direct involvement with the operations of its assets. It collects royalties from the coal properties and infrastructure assets, which it owns based on a fixed price or a percentage of sales, whichever is higher. This allows the partnership to avoid large expenses and liabilities involved in the capital intensive coal mining business. By not having to set aside great deals of capital for capital expenditures or legacy liabilities, which all underground mining operators face, NRP can generate large amounts of distributable cash flow.

NRP will continue to reap the benefits of higher royalties without the operational or price risks associated with operating the mines. We are increasing our target price from $39 to $40 per unit and increasing our 08/ 09 earnings estimates from $1.75 to $1.78 per unit and from $1.77 to $1.85 per unit, respectively.

Read the full analyst report on NRP

• Axsys Technologies Inc (AXYS)
• Central European Distribution (CEDC)
• China Petroleum & Chemical Corp (SNP)
• Enbridge Energy Management LLC (EEQ)
• First United Corp (FUNC)
• Fluor Corp (FLR)
• GSC Investment Corp (GNV)
• Hewitt Associates Inc (HEW)
• JER Investors Trust Inc (JRT)
• LHC Group Inc (LHCG)
• Natural Resource Partners LP (NRP)
• Oil States International Inc (OIS)
• Osteotech Inc (OSTE)
• Packaging Corporation of America (PKG)
• Parker Drilling Co (PKD)
• Penn Virginia Corp (PVA)
• Ralcorp Holdings Inc (RAH)
• Robbins & Myers Inc (RBN)
• Schnitzer Steel Industries Inc (SCHN)
• Simcere Pharmaceutical Group (SCR)
• St. Jude Medical, Inc (STJ)
• Symantec Corp (SYMC)
• Telemig Celular Participacoes SA (TMB)
• Tele Norte Leste Participacoes SA (TNE)
• UTi Worldwide Inc (UTIW)