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

Advisory Board Co (ABCO) Bell Microproducts Inc (BELM) Beneficial Mutual Bancorp Inc (BNCL) Briggs & Stratton Corp (BGG) Commerce Bancshares Inc (CBSH) Conceptus Inc (CPTS) Crane Co (CR) Dolan Media Co (DM) Dorman Products Inc (DORM) Dover Corp (DOV) Dow Chemical Co (DOW) Drew Industries Inc (DW) E-House China Holdings Ltd (EJ) ev3 Inc (EVVV) GAMCO Investors Inc (GBL) ICT Group Inc (ICTG) Integrated Silicon Solution Inc (...

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

American Superconductor Corp (AMSC) AstraZeneca Plc (AZN) Balchem Corp (BCPC) Banco de Chile (BCH) RG Barry Corp (DFZ) Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc (BIO) CareFusion Corp (CFN) Chico's FAS Inc (CHS) China Green Agriculture Inc (CGA) Clearwater Paper Corp (CLW) CNinsure Inc (CISG) Conexant Systems Inc (CNXT) Corinthian Colleges Inc (COCO) Fossil Inc (FOSL) Genoptix Inc (GXDX) HSN Inc (HSNI) Information Services Group Inc (III) Keynote ...

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 ...

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Friday October 16, 2009

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Consorteum Holdings, Inc. (OTCBB: CSRH) has launched its mobile check cashing program. The introduction of this service will offer those that are currently using check cashing facilities a much more convenient way to cash their payroll checks. After two years of development with its partners, Consorteum has now proceeded to the pilot phase of its check cashing program in the Toronto, Ontario region. The first stage of the pilot implementation will be the deployment of this new service on

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Hartford Financial Services Group (HIG) agreed to refund $48.2 million to workers' compensation policyholders in Florida as it earned excess profits on such policies it issued between 2004 and 2006.   On Wednesday, the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation said that it has instructed Hartford to take this action as its profits exceeded the state law, which prohibits insurers from earning excess profits and requires surpluses to be refunded to policyholders.   This refund brings the total amount of refund to all workers' compensation policyholders in Florida to approximately $98.8 million this year. During the last year, more than $29.7 million in excess workers’ compensation profits were refunded.   The refund of $48.2 million is really significant for Florida at this point as the state is going through a challenging period precipitated by the ongoing economic turmoil.   Among the other insurers, Hartford was the first to receive ...

On July 10, Lincoln Financial Group (LNC) announced the completion of its capital raising plan. The company issued preferred shares worth $950 million to the U.S. Treasury under the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). This is a part of the company’s $2 billion capital bolstering initiatives, which also include $600 million of common stock offering and a $500 million of senior notes in the private market.

Of the total proceeds, Lincoln contributed about $1 billion to “The Lincoln National Life Insurance Company," its principal insurance subsidiary. This will improve its risk-based capital ratios.   Lincoln was one of the six big insurers including Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. (HIG), Prudential Financial Inc. (PRU), Allstate Corp. (ALL), Ameriprise Financial Inc. (AMP) and Principal Financial Group Inc. (PFG), who qualified for the bailout funds under TARP in May. However, Prudential Financial Inc., Principal Financial Group Inc., Allstate

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While many of the largest banks have sought to repay federal bailout funds by repurchasing their preferred shares and warrants, some insurers are trying to raise capital through the Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP), which was originally intended for traditional banks.  Insurers are trying to raise funds as the Industry’s statutory capital levels have fallen sharply in the recent quarters.   The Treasury had stated that some of the life insurers may qualify for TARP because of their Bank Holding Company status.  As of now, considering the repayments from banks, Treasury has approved six life insurers for capital infusion under TARP.   Among the other insurers, Hartford Financial Services Group Inc (HIG) is the first to receive government money. On June 24, 2009, HIG acquired Federal Trust to satisfy a key eligibility requirement for its participation in the Capital Purchase Program (CPP) and received $3.4 billion from the Treasury.

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We highlight Harford Financial Services (HIG), Lincoln National Corp. (LNC), The Allstate Corp. (ALL), Ameriprise Financial, Inc. (AMP), Principal Financial Group, Inc. (PFG) and Prudential Financial, Inc. (PRU).The Treasury Department has agreed to extend the Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP), originally designated for banks, to life insures in order to shore up the capital positions of these entities in the wake of major investment losses. In discussions with a congressional oversight committee, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner stated that the TARP fund now has $110 billion left in the fund that has not been committed, excluding those funds that the financial institutions are wanting to repay.At this time, Harford Financial (HIG) was recently notified that it was eligible for funds, while Lincoln (LNC), Allstate (ALL), Ameriprise (AMP), Principal (PFG) and Prudential (PRU) have received preliminary ...

Wall Street turned lower Monday after some financial firms said they plan to sell shares to repay bailout money.  A whiff of caution was in the air as investors took to profit taking and put the money into safe-haven arenas.  Treasury prices advanced, with the price of the 10-year up 1 2/32; the dollar gained 0.4% against a basket of currencies, and the Vix volatility index jumped 2.6%.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average witnessed its steepest fall in three weeks, shedding 156 points, or 1.8% and the broader S&P 500 index declined 20 points, or 2.1%.  Volume on the NYSE was a moderate 1.49 billion shares.  Sentiment was negative as declining stocks beat advancing issues by a seven-to-three margin.

On Monday, U.S. Bancorp (NYSE:USB), Capital One Financial Corp. (NYSE:COF), KeyCorp (NYSE:KEY), Principal Financial Group Inc. (NYSE:PFG) and BB&T Corp. (NYSE:BBT) announced plans to sell stock. BB&T (NYSE:BBT) also

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Principal Financial Group Inc. (PFG) announced today that it will initiate pay cuts for workers, management and its board of directors as part of its cost-cutting measures. These pay cuts would range from 2% to 10% depending on the pay level.

With the latest actions, the company aims to offset decreased revenue, which was caused by the deteriorating stock markets.

On March 18, Moody's Investors Service slashed its ratings on PFG over concerns regarding the rising liquidity pressure, due to the frozen capital markets and expected weaker earnings.

Last month, Principal had incurred a loss of $7.5 million for the fourth quarter. Results were largely impacted by investment and loan losses worth nearly $189 million.

Shares of Principal dropped approximately 10% Friday.

PFG is a Zacks #4 Rank ("Sell").

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