For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – July 14, 2009 – Zacks.com announces the latest Industry Outlook. Today’s outlook from Zacks Equity Research analyst Neena Mishra discusses the U.S. Banks sector. Highlighted stocks include: Ocwen Financial Corp (OCN), Wilmington Trust Corporation (WL), KeyCorp (KEY) and Zions Bancorp (ZION).

Here is the latest on the U.S. Banks sector:

We recently upgraded our recommendation on Ocwen Financial Corp (OCN) to a Buy, as this company could be a major beneficiary of the President's Home Affordable Modification Plan, which provides incentives for loan modifications to the borrower, the investor, and the servicer. OCN was appointed by a major GRE as one of the servicers for the new pilot initiative launched to identify borrowers who are at a risk of foreclosure. Recently the Treasury extended TALF to include securities backed by servicing advances,

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We think that the worst of the credit crisis is now probably behind us, but the banking system is not yet out of the woods -- there are still many significant challenges ahead. The banks are now able to tap the debt markets without FDICÕs support and also access the equity markets as the investor confidence returns in the stronger banks. Many banks have already repaid the TARP funds to the Treasury. Ê

While the bigger banks benefited greatly from the various programs launched by the Federal Reserve, the Treasury and the FDIC and are now in a much better shape, many smaller banks are still in a very weak financial state and the FDICÕs list of problem banks continues to grow. Further, the Government efforts have not succeeded in restoring the lending activity at the banks.ÊLower lending activity will continue to hurt the margins though the low interest rate environment should

...

We think that the worst of the credit crisis is now probably behind us, but the banking system is not yet out of the woods -- there are still many significant challenges ahead. The banks are now able to tap the debt markets without FDICÕs support and also access the equity markets as the investor confidence returns in the stronger banks. Many banks have already repaid the TARP funds to the Treasury. Ê

While the bigger banks benefited greatly from the various programs launched by the Federal Reserve, the Treasury and the FDIC and are now in a much better shape, many smaller banks are still in a very weak financial state and the FDICÕs list of problem banks continues to grow. Further, the Government efforts have not succeeded in restoring the lending activity at the banks.ÊLower lending activity will continue to hurt the margins though the low interest rate environment should

...

We think that the worst of the credit crisis is now probably behind us, but the banking system is not yet out of the woods -- there are still many significant challenges ahead. The banks are now able to tap the debt markets without the FDIC’s support, and also access the equity markets as the investor confidence returns in the stronger banks. Many banks have already repaid the TARP funds to the Treasury.   While the bigger banks benefited greatly from the various programs launched by the Federal Reserve, the Treasury and the FDIC and are now in much better shape, many smaller banks are still in a very weak financial state and the FDIC’s list of problem banks continues to grow. Further, government efforts have not succeeded in restoring the lending activity at the banks. Lower lending activity will continue to hurt margins, though the low interest rate environment ...

The worst of the credit crisis is now probably behind us, but the banking system is not yet out of the woods, as there are still many significant challenges ahead.

Ten of the nation's largest banks have received the Treasury approval for TARP repayment, as they are now able to tap the debt markets without FDIC's support and also access the equity markets as the investor confidence returns in the stronger banks.

While the bigger banks have benefited a lot from the various programs launched by the Federal Reserve, the Treasury and the FDIC, and are now in a much better shape, many smaller banks are still in a very weak financial state, and the FDIC's list of problem banks continues to grow. Further, government efforts have not succeeded in restoring the lending activity at the banks. Lower lending activity will continue to hurt the margins, though the low interest rate environment

...

The worst of the credit crisis is now probably behind us, but the banking system is not yet out of the woods, as there are still many significant challenges ahead.

Ten of the nation's largest banks have received the Treasury approval for TARP repayment, as they are now able to tap the debt markets without FDIC's support and also access the equity markets as the investor confidence returns in the stronger banks.

While the bigger banks have benefited a lot from the various programs launched by the Federal Reserve, the Treasury and the FDIC, and are now in a much better shape, many smaller banks are still in a very weak financial state, and the FDIC's list of problem banks continues to grow. Further, government efforts have not succeeded in restoring the lending activity at the banks. Lower lending activity will continue to hurt the margins, though the low interest rate environment

...

The worst of the credit crisis is now probably behind us, but the banking system is not yet out of the woods, as there are still many significant challenges ahead.Ten of the nation's largest banks have received the Treasury approval for TARP repayment, as they are now able to tap the debt markets without FDIC's support and also access the equity markets as the investor confidence returns in the stronger banks.While the bigger banks have benefited a lot from the various programs launched by the Federal Reserve, the Treasury and the FDIC, and are now in a much better shape, many smaller banks are still in a very weak financial state, and the FDIC's list of problem banks continues to grow. Further, government efforts have not succeeded in restoring the lending activity at the banks. Lower lending activity will continue to hurt the margins, though ...

Here are the stocks added to the Zacks #1 Rank ("strong buy") List today:

Electrolux AB (ELUXY) APAC Customer Services Inc (APAC) BCE Inc (BCE) BNP Paribas SA (BNPQY) Cardtronics Inc (CATM) Clearwater Paper Corp (CLW) Comcast Corp (CMCSK) Credit Suisse Group AG (CS) Diageo Plc (DEO) Dollar Tree Inc (DLTR) Flamel Technologies SA (FLML) Hill-Rom Holdings Inc (HRC) Jones Apparel Group Inc (JNY) Legal & General Group Plc (LGGNY) Memsic Inc (MEMS) Netflix Inc (NFLX) Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO) Ocwen Financial Corp (OCN) Pegasystems Inc (PEGA) Rent-A-Center Inc (RCII) ScanSource Inc (SCSC) Signet Jewelers Ltd (SIG) Universal Electronics Inc (UEIC) Wyndham Worldwide Corp (WYN) View the entire Zacks #1 Rank List.

"ELUXY" Free Stock Analysis: Buy? Sell? Hold?...

Here are the stocks added to the Zacks #1 Rank ("strong buy") List today:

Alliant Techsystems Inc (ATK) Cubic Corp (CUB) Fossil Inc (FOSL) Global Partners LP (GLP) International Royalty Corp (ROY) Newell Rubbermaid Inc (NWL) Nuance Communications Inc (NUAN) Ocwen Financial Corp (OCN) OSI Systems Inc (OSIS) Scientific Learning Corp (SCIL) SkillSoft Public Limited Co (SKIL) Sourcefire Inc (FIRE) Tanzanian Royalty Exploration Corp (TRE) View the entire Zacks #1 Rank List.

"ATK" Free Stock Analysis: Buy? Sell? Hold?"CUB" Free Stock Analysis: Buy? Sell? Hold?"FOSL" Free Stock Analysis: Buy? Sell? Hold?"GLP" Free Stock Analysis: Buy? Sell? Hold?"ROY" Free Stock Analysis: Buy? Sell? Hold?"NWL" Free Stock Analysis: Buy? Sell? Hold?"NUAN" Free Stock Analysis: Buy? Sell? Hold?"OCN" Free Stock ...

Here are the stocks added to the Zacks #1 Rank ("strong buy") List today:

Achillion Pharmaceuticals Inc (ACHN) Allied World Assurance Holdings Ltd (AWH) Altra Holdings Inc (AIMC) Ambassadors Group Inc (EPAX) AP Pharma Inc (APPA) Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings Inc (AAWW) Big 5 Sporting Goods Corp (BGFV) Brink's Home Security Holdings Inc (CFL) Bway Holding Co (BWY) Cambrex Corp (CBM) Carrols Restaurant Group Inc (TAST) Cornerstone Therapeutics Inc (CRTX) Cubic Corp (CUB) DSP Group Inc (DSPG) DuPont Fabros Technology Inc (DFT) Electronic Arts Inc (ERTS) Hydrogenics Corp (HYGS) Iconix Brand Group Inc (ICON) ICU Medical Inc (ICUI) Ikanos Communications Inc (IKAN) iPass Inc (IPAS) Kona Grill Inc (KONA) The Laclede Group Inc (LG) Linn Energy LLC (LINE) Macrovision Solutions Corp (MVSN) Meadowbrook Insurance ...