Several key second-quarter earnings reports could either validate or undercut assertions that the U.S. economy is poised for recovery.

After the Commerce Department reported last week that retail sales fell 0.1% in July from June, and 8.3% year-over-year, retailers will stay in the limelight this week as several high-profile companies report second-quarter earnings. Target Corp. (NYSE: TGT), Limited Brands Inc. (NYSE: LTD), and Gap Stores (NYSE: GPS) are among the big-name retailers set to report.

Meanwhile, the Hewlett-Packard Co’s (NYSE: HPQ) report will provide a further glimpse into the world of technology, and The Home Depot Co.’s (NYSE: HD) results will confirm or counter claims that the recent housing rebound is for real.  On that note, the upcoming economic releases include July housing starts and existing home sales, while the wholesale inflation gauge may show that price pressures are not

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Here are the stocks added to the Zacks #5 Rank ("strong sell") List today:

ABB Ltd (ABB) Aon Corp (AOC) BancTrust Financial Group Inc (BTFG) Brandywine Realty Trust (BDN) Corn Products International Inc (CPO) Cynosure Inc (CYNO) DRI Corp (TBUS) Ethan Allen Interiors Inc (ETH) Euronet Worldwide Inc (EEFT) First Advantage Corp (FADV) Fuel Tech Inc (FTEK) Integra Bank Corp (IBNK) JDA Software Group Inc (JDAS) MetroCorp Bancshares Inc (MCBI) MSC Industrial Direct Co Inc (MSM) Open Text Corp (OTEX) Park Electrochemical Corp (PKE) Penford Corp (PENX) Repsol YPF SA (REP) Rockwood Holdings Inc (ROC) Timberland Bancorp Inc (TSBK) Titan Machinery Inc (TITN) TriCo Bancshares (TCBK) View the entire Zacks #5 Rank List.

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

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL - May 20, 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: Petrobras (PBR), Repsol YPF S.A. (REP), D.R. Horton (DHI), Weyerhaeuser (WY) and Masco (MAS).

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 Tuesday's Analyst Blog:

Petrobras Brings Good News

Yesterday, Petrobras (PBR) announced the finding of a new oil field, named BM-S-3, in the Santos Basin. This new block is close to the field BM-S-7, which Petrobras and Repsol YPF S.A. (REP) recently declared commercial feasibility. Even better, this

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Yesterday, Petrobras (PBR) announced the finding of a new oil field, named BM-S-3, in the Santos Basin. This new block is close to the field BM-S-7, which Petrobras and Repsol YPF S.A. (REP) recently declared commercial feasibility. Even better, this new field is 100% owned by Petrobras. Even though there is just the indication of hydrocarbons, more information will depend on further tests to be carried on in the following months.Additionally, Brazilian President Lula is in China this week, and Brazilian papers have announced that a credit line in the amount of US$10 billion from the development Bank of China to Petrobras is to be announced in the following hours. Petrobras has a huge investment program going on, focused on the development of the Tupi field in the Santos Basin, one of the most promising oil field in the world nowadays.China has already ...

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

ACE Ltd (ACE)
The Advisory Board Co (ABCO)
Alliance Imaging Inc (AIQ)
Allied World Assurance Holdings Ltd (AWH)
American Tower Corp (AMT)
Arena Pharmaceuticals Inc (ARNA)
Ariad Pharmaceuticals Inc (ARIA)
Beneficial Mutual Bancorp Inc (BNCL)
CapLease Inc (LSE)
Chinacast Education Corp (CAST)
Choice Hotels International Inc (CHH)
Corinthian Colleges Inc (COCO)
CTI Industries Corp (CTIB)
Daimler AG (DAI)
deCODE genetics Inc (DCGN)
DeVry Inc (DV)
Diageo plc (DEO)
Dollar Tree Inc (DLTR)
Energy Recovery Inc (ERII)
Foster’s Group Ltd (FBRWY)
Huron Consulting Group (HURN)
Imperial Oil Ltd (IMO)
INX Inc (INXI)
J&J Snack Foods Corp (JJSF)
Jazz Pharmaceuticals Inc (JAZZ)
Knight Capital Group Inc (NITE)
Kraft Foods Inc (…

Investors occasionally use a stock trading technique called 'Buying Dividends,' which is the technique of buying stocks before the ex dividend date and selling the stock shortly after the ex date at about the same price, yet still being entitled to the dividend. This technique generally works only in bull markets.br /br /If you are interested in a href="http://stockerblog.blogspot.com/2008/05/buying-dividends-top-7-stocks-going-ex.html"buying dividends/a, there are many stocks in many different industries to choose from. In order to be entitled to the dividend, you have to buy the stock before the ex-dividend date, and you can't sell the stock until after the ex date. The actual dividend may not be paid for another few weeks.br /br /All of the following stocks have market caps over $500 million, and yield over 1%. br /br /Repsol YPF, S.A. ( REP) Ex-dividend date: 1/12/2009 Yield: 7.55%br /Solvay S.A. (SVYSY) Ex-dividend date: 1/12/2009 Yield: 7.51%br /Abbott Laboratories (ABT) ...

We are maintaining our Hold recommendation on Repsol YPF SA (REP) ADRs following the quarterly results, which benefited from higher commodity prices, stronger refining margins in Spain and a favorable exchange rate. We also like the company’s recent exploratory successes, the move to reduce its Argentine exposure and the license extension in Libya.

However, we continue to believe that the long list of challenges facing the company will continue to weigh on valuation, limiting its upside from current levels. This is characterized by declining reserves, weak volumes, very low reserve lives and rising costs. The company’s proved reserves declined nearly 28% in the last two years. 

The key positives in the Repsol story include its leverage to the Atlantic Basin LNG market and improving prospects for diversification away from its Latin American (particularly Argentine) core. During February 2008, Repsol executed a deal with the Petersen Group of Argentina to

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