For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – October 30, 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: Gentiva Health Services Inc. (GTIV), Lincoln National Corp. (LNC), Manulife Financial Corp. (MFC), Principal Financial Group (PFG) and Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. (HIG).

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 Thursday’s AnalystBlog:

Gentiva Beats Zacks Estimate

Gentiva Health Services Inc. (GTIV) reported a third-quarter (ended Sept. 27, 2009) net income of 54 cents per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2 cents. Net income per share was 42 cents in

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Manulife Financial Corporation (MFC) is growing its operations in China. The China Insurance Regulatory Commission (CIRC) has approved Manulife-Sinochem, Manulife’s joint venture company, to operate in the Province of Tianjin, which is one of the fastest growing provinces in China. Manulife-Sinochem is now licensed in 37 cities across 11 provinces in China. Manulife-Sinochem is a joint venture company between Manulife (International) Limited (51%) and China Foreign Economic and Trade Trust & Investment Company, a member of the Sinochem group (49%). The company currently serves over 450,000 customers across China through approximately 11,500 professionally trained staff and agents. Manulife Financial has confirmed its commitment to China after media reports suggested that foreign insurance companies were intending to leave the country. Many insurers are eyeing the Chinese market for its growth potential. In August Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd (FFH) entered the Chinese market by purchasing 15% ...

Manulife Financial Corp.’s (MFC) second-quarter earnings of C$1.09 per share, or 93 cents per share on a constant currency basis, were well ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 63 cents per share. The improvement in the equity market resulted in the release of a significant amount of segregated fund guarantee reserves.   However, the reduced corporate bond rates and the persistent pressure on credit resulted in substantial charges in the quarter. Net income available to common shareholders were $1.5 billion, compared to $1.0 billion in the year-ago period.   In order to preserve capital, Manulife has also halved its dividend payment to $0.13 per share, effective Sept 21, 2009.   Premiums and deposits were C$19.2 billion ($16.4 billion), up 3% year over year but down 7% on a constant currency basis. Manulife experienced increased premiums from in-force insurance business growth and increased sales of fixed return wealth ...

A government report that suggested the economy shrank at a slower pace than feared failed to push stocks higher on a lackluster Friday but indexes managed to end the month on a solid footing, spurred by hopes that the recession is losing its force.  The big July saw the Dow Jones industrial average surging 725 points or 8.6% - its best July since 1989, and the broader S&P 500 index gaining 7.4% for its best July run since 1988.  The S&P500 has now recorded its most remarkable five-month performance since 1938, holding 46% above its 12-year low set in early March.

This morning’s US stock futures indicate a sharply higher opening, helped by positive signs emanating from overseas markets.  Today, Chinese stocks hit a 14-month high after data showed manufacturing activity is expanding in the country.  The Shanghai Composite Index rose 50.53 points, or 1.5%, to close at 3,462.59

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Torchmark surpasses expectations but lowers guidance Torchmark Corporation’s (TMK) second quarter operating earnings of $1.53 per share were 3 pennies ahead of both our expectation as well as the Street. This compares to operating earnings of $1.44 per share in the year-ago quarter. Results reflected strong growth in life sales, though health sales were significantly down in the quarter. However, the company has reduced its guidance for the full fiscal year 2009. The company now expects its net operating income per share in the range of $5.93 to $6.08, assuming no share repurchases. The previous guidance was $6.00-6.15 per share. Torchmark reported its second quarter earnings after market close on July 27. For the quarter, the company reported net income was $1.38 per share compared with $1.47 per share for the year-ago quarter. Life sales were strong in the quarter, primarily driven by the ...

Recently, a number of lawsuits have been filed against Manulife Financial Corporation (MFC). Manulife and some of its executive officers are being charged for violation of federal securities laws. The lawsuits, filed on behalf of the purchasers of Manulife securities between March 28, 2008 and June 22, 2009, are about Manulife's segregated fund contracts business. Segregated fund contracts that offer death benefits and maturity guarantees. On June 19, 2009, MFC disclosed that it has received an enforcement notice from the staff of the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) regarding its disclosure before March 2009 of risks related to its variable annuity guarantee and segregated funds business. Manulife has been accused of making false and misleading statements regarding its ability to manage and control risk in the segregated fund contracts business. According to the allegations, Manulife had built a huge stock portfolio that it did not hedge. ...

On July 6, Manulife Financial (MFC) announced the issue of C$1 billion worth of notes. Manulife Financial Capital Trust II, a trust wholly-owned by The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company (MLI), will issue $1 billion of Manulife Financial Capital Trust II Notes - Series 1 due December 31, 2018. The notes are expected to qualify as Tier 1 capital of MLI for regulatory purposes. The transaction is expected to close on July 10, 2009. The company intends to use the proceeds from this offering to repay the amount outstanding under its credit facility. We are encouraged by such capital bolstering initiatives, as these measures will add to its financial flexibility. Manulife has recently boosted its regulatory capital by raising C$450 million through a new preferred share issue and by entering into a reinsurance agreement to cede certain Canadian Group Benefits related exposures. In addition, the ...

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL - June 2, 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: Prudential (PRU), Hartford Financial Services Group (HIG), Allstate (ALL), Lincoln National Corp. (LNC) and Principal Financial Group (PFG).

Get the most recent insight from Zacks Equity Research with the free Profit from the Pros newsletter: http://at.zacks.com/?id=4579.

Here are highlights from Monday's Analyst Blog:

Prudential Chooses to Go It Alone

Last month, under the Treasury Department's Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) the major insurers, including Prudential (PRU), Hartford Financial Services Group (HIG), Allstate (ALL), Lincoln National Corp. (LNC) and Principal

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Last month, under the Treasury Department's Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), 6 major insurers -- Prudential (PRU), Hartford Financial Services Group (HIG), Allstate (ALL), Lincoln National Corp. (LNC), Ameriprise Financial (AMP) and Principal Financial Group (PFG) were permitted to tap into the program for additional capital. As of Friday, only ALL and AMP had declined to accept the government's offer of funds. However, earlier today PRU stated that it would not be taking funds from the government's financial rescue program. Instead, the company plans to raise $1.25 billion on its own through a common stock offering in order to beef-up its reserves.Any additional funds will be used for general corporate purposes (including adding capital to its insurance subsidiaries for the repayment of short-term debt or for potential strategic initiatives). In addition, the underwriters of the offering have been granted ...

The Federal Reserve may have finally agreed to open its coffers to bail out troubled insurers, but many of the eligible firms are already looking to reject the offer.

In order to ease concerns regarding the financial health of the sector, the government said six insurers, including big names like Hartford (HIG), Prudential (PRU), Lincoln National (LNC) and Principal Financial Group (PFG), were entitled to receive $22 billion in emergency funds under its Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP) program.

Minneapolis-based insurer Ameriprise Financial (AMP), which also won approval for federal support, has already turned down the offer saying it already has more than $1 billion in excess capital. According to the Wall Street Journal, Prudential Financial is expected to follow suit. Allstate (ALL) has also said it was considering its options.

So far, industry insiders

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