For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – October 23, 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: The New York Times Company (NYT), Washington Post Company (WPO), Journal Communications (JRN), Gannett Co. (GCI) and McClatchy Company (MNI).

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Here are highlights from Thursday’s AnalystBlog:

NY Times Beats Zacks Consensus

Amid the secular and cyclical slowdown in print advertising The New York Times Company (NYT) recently reported third-quarter 2009 results that topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate.

The New York Times quarterly earnings of 16 cents a share surpassed the

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Amid the secular and cyclical slowdown in print advertising The New York Times Company (NYT) recently reported third-quarter 2009 results that topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate. The New York Times quarterly earnings of 16 cents a share surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 2 cents, and the prior-year quarter earnings of 5 cents. The better-than-expected results came on the heels of significant cost-cutting measures and newspaper price increase. On a reported basis, including one-time items, the company reported a loss of 25 cents a share, a substantial improvement from the loss of 74 cents delivered in the year-ago quarter. Management now expects to save $475 million in operating costs in 2009 up from $450 million previously anticipated. Operating costs fell 21.6% to $490 million, whereas operating profit surged 30.2% to $80.6 million. Total revenue dipped 16.9% to $570.6 million, primarily due to lower print ...

Amid the secular and cyclical slowdown in print advertising, McClatchy Company (MNI), the third largest newspaper company in the U.S. and the publisher of 30 daily newspapers including the Miami Herald and Sacramento Bee, reported third-quarter 2009 results. McClatchy is facing the same dramatic decline in advertising revenue, as the rest of the newspaper industry. Total advertising revenue fell 28.1% year-on-year to $266.1 million. However, circulation revenue stabilized, up 6.7% to $69 million due to increase in circulation prices. As a result, total revenue slipped 23.1% to $347.4 million. To combat the downturn, management undertook cost-cutting initiatives, focused on building Internet operations and reduced debt load. McClatchy had lowered its headcounts, and cut executive pay. The company was able to lower its cash expenses by 29.4% and total operating expenses by 30.2%. McClatchy’s quarterly earnings remained flat at 13 cents a share compared to ...

Amid the secular and cyclical slowdown in print advertising, McClatchy Company (MNI), the third largest newspaper company in the U.S. and the publisher of 80 newspapers including the Miami Herald and Sacramento Bee, reported second quarter 2009 results.  The company is facing the same dramatic decline in advertising revenue, as the rest of the newspaper industry, reflecting the deepening economic recession. To combat the downturn, management undertook cost-cutting initiatives, focused on building internet operations and reduced debt load. McClatchy lowered its headcounts by 15%, or 1,600 employees, cut executive pay, suspended 401K matching contribution and dividend. The company was able to lower its cash expenses by 29.3% and operating expenses by 28.1%.  Consequently, EPS increased 42.9% year over year to $0.30. On a reported basis, EPS more than doubled to $0.50. Total revenue, however, plummeted 25.4% to $365.3 million, as the fall in total advertising revenue ...

Standard & Poor's Upgrades McClatchy's Corporate Rating

On Tuesday June 30, 2009, Standard & Poor's raised its corporate credit rating for newspaper publisher McClatchy (MNI) to "CC" (highly vulnerable) from "SD," (selective default). The rating agency still holds a negative view on the company on account of its possible restructuring.

Last Friday, June 26, both Standard & Poor's and Moody's Investor Services had lowered their corporate ratings on the company following the debt exchange offer announced by McClatchy. Moody's lowered its corporate rating to "Caa2" from "Caa1", whereas Standard & Poor's lowered its credit rating to "SD" from "CC." McClatchy offered to pay $60 million in cash and issue $175 million in new notes, with a 15.75% coupon rate due 2014, to replace $1.15 billion in debt owed to its bondholders.

The reason behind downgrading was the company's dubious ability to repay debt and high default risk. On the announcement of

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Miami Land Sale Delayed by Six More MonthsMiami land sale deal between McClatchy (MNI - the seller) and Citisquare Group (the buyer) was extended for the second time after the latter failed to exercise its option to buy the 10 acres of land adjacent to the Miami Herald.The deal was supposed to be completed on Tuesday, June 30, 2009. The date of closing the deal is now extended to December 31, 2009. Citisquare Group is required to increase the termination fee payable to McClatchy due to the extension of the agreement.Earlier, on December 30, 2008, McClatchy announced the extension of the closing date of the agreement (previously December 31, 2008) to sell the 10 acres in order to gain some time to arrange financing in this troubled credit environment, as falling real ...

On Friday June 26, 2009, McClatchy (MNI) announced the expiration of its private exchange offer, which commenced on May 21, 2009. The company offered to exchange the Old Securities for up to $60 million in cash and up to $175 million of newly issued 15.75% Senior Notes due 2014.

The coupon rate has substantially increased from the range of 4.625%-7.150%. With the increase in coupon rate, the company's interest coverage ratio which stood at 2.8x (EBITDA/Interest expense) will decline, and may fall below the covenanted minimum interest coverage ratio of 2.25x. The company's leverage ratio (Debt/TTM EBITDA) was 5.9x at the end of 1Q09 up from 5.1x at the end of 2008, approaching recently-amended bank covenants of 6.25x.

After the expiration of the offer, according to Global Bondholder Services Corporation, the depositary for the Exchange Offer, $102.9 million in debt had been tendered. McClatchy received tenders from

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In response to BioMedReports.com subscriber emails, we will add periodic article coverage of emerging small/micro-cap companies outside of the healthcare sector which offer similar high risk/reward trades as the Extreme Trade article series of pending FDA decisions and clinical trial results.

Options Media Group [OPMG: 0.00, N/A (N/A)] is a leading company in the fast-growing Email Service Provider (ESP) space which offers its clients a full array of direct, mobile, digital, and Internet marketing solutions with the ability to create, execute, and track e-marketing campaigns to a highly targeted audience. Services include email marketing, mobile (SMS or text messaging) marketing, SMS keyword marketing, and custom lead generation as a full-service marketing solution focused on new media outreach which is more targeted and effective than traditional outlets such as print, television, and radio.

In mid-May, OPMG released its 1Q09 operating results, which included revenue

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Zevotek, Inc. (ZVTK.PK), an emerging provider of unique and innovative consumer products designed to help the world become more environmentally and economically efficient, is targeting a multi-billion dollar market with its Ionic Bulb Air Purifier. This bulb is an energy-efficient three-way light bulb that removes airborne pollutants and odors while providing energy-saving lighting.

Zevotek’s Ionic Bulb offers significant advantages over standard and fluorescent light bulbs. Not only does the Ionic Bulb use just a quarter of the wattage of standard light bulbs to produce the same amount of light, but it also lasts 10 times longer – providing noteable savings to consumers on electricity costs and light bulb expenses.

The company is currently focused on establishing retail markets and generating consumer interest through television / radio commercials, infomercials and print advertising. Zevotek’s customer base includes major retailers including Walgreens and Amazon.com, as well as

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Zevotek, an emerging provider of unique and innovative consumer products, is focused on helping the world become more environmentally and economically efficient. The company’s first product, the Ionic Bulb, targets the $40 billion dollar global lighting industry and offers several unique advantages over the traditional compact fluorescent light bulb. Zevotek’s products are sold by major retailers including Walgreens and Amazon.com, as well as international distributors in Russia, Poland, and the United Kingdom.

The Ionic Bulb is an energy-saving 3-way light bulb with powerful air-cleaning abilities. A single Ionic Bulb is able to eliminate dust, pollen, pet dander, odors and smoke in a 100 square foot area, while reducing lighting energy costs by 75%. The innovative bulb also lasts 10 times longer, up to 7 years, saving the cost (and hassle) of bulb replacements. To increase awareness of this product and increase sales, the company has completed a two-minute infomercial.

As energy

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