For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – November 6, 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: Ambercrombie & Fitch Co. (ANF), Costco (COST), Target (TGT), Walgreen Co. (WAG) and Rite Aid (RAD).

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Here are highlights from Thursday’s AnalystBlog:

Easy Comps Help Retail Sales

Among teen retailers, Ambercrombie & Fitch Co. (ANF) posted weaker-than-expected results, with same-store sales down 15%. Among discounters, Costco (COST) had strong numbers, beating expectations; while Target’s (TGT) 0.1% decline was below the flat-results. Walgreen Co. (WAG)

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Easy comparisons and relatively favorable weather helped increase same-store sales in the typically weak month of October for retailers, up 1.8% from the year-earlier level but below the 2% growth expectation. Results for this series, which tracks data for stores open at least a year from 30 major retailers, had come ahead of expectations the last two months. As a result of the financial crisis last fall, conditions were extremely bad in October of last year, when retail sales were down 4.1%. October is typically a weak month for retailers, sandwiched as it is between the active shopping periods of back-to-school and the holiday season. The monthly sales numbers do not include data from Wal-Mart (WMT), which stopped giving monthly sales numbers earlier this year. Results were mixed among the major retail categories, particularly department stores and teen retailers. Sales at Macy’s (M) and ...

Companies featured in this edition of the newsletter: ACTC, CVM, CUR, DKAM, ENZ, IMUC, IWEB, PHC, SVUL, SRCO, SVUL, XSNX

Markets extended their winning streak yet again this week, as all ten sectors of the S&P 500 finished in positive territory and markets hit fresh highs for the year once again, despite the lack of any significant developments on either the corporate or economic fronts. All told, the Dow ended up 2.2% on the week, gaining 214 points to close at 9820 on the week, up 11.9% on the year. The Nasdaq performed slightly better, gaining 2.5% on the week, closing at 2132, up 35.2% on the year, while the S&P 500 and Russell 2000 gained 2.5% and 4.1% respectively, up 18.3% and 23.7% on the year.

While it was a relatively quiet week as far as headlines were concerned, there were some positive economic developments in the form

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GNC has more than 4,800 retail locations throughout the United States (including more than 1,000 franchise and 1,200 Rite Aid store-within-a-store locations) and franchise operations in 48 international markets.

Leading sports nutrition company PacificHealth Laboratories Inc. today announced that its scientifically proven appetite management tool, ForzeGPS, which hit the shelves of 1,500 GNC stores in March, is now available in more than 1,750 specialty retail stores nationwide.

PacificHealth’s ForzeGPS line of products was designed specifically for athletes seeking ways to improve their bodies’ potential speed and performance. The all-natural nutrition bars and drinks center on a multi-patented blend of healthy fats, protein and calcium.

“Quite simply, ForzeGPS addresses the problem of excess calorie intake driven by hunger by satisfying one’s appetite in a calorie-efficient manner, and perhaps as importantly for the business’ performance, in a more consumer friendly and more broadly appealing (single serve) format,” Jason Ash, president and

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The Board of Directors of Walgreens (WAG) approved a 22.2% quarterly dividend increase from 11.25 cents to 13.75 cents, payable on September 12, 2009, to shareholders on record as of August 21, 2009. The annualized dividend is raised to $0.55 from $0.45 per share.

The dividend increase is testimony of the company’s confidence in its key growth strategies and its ability to generate strong cash flow going forward. WAG is the largest national retail pharmacy chain in terms of revenue and profitability and has paid a dividend in 307 straight quarters (more than 76 years) and raised its dividend for 34 consecutive years. The company has increased its dividend by an average compound annual rate of more than 21% over the last five years. The company operated 6,902 drug stores in 50 states in the U.S. and Puerto Rico as of June 30, 2009.

The company reported strong third-quarter sales increasing

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The outlook for the drug store industry is negative. Although the demographics of an aging U.S. population are favorable for the prescription drug industry, the outlook for pharmacies remains clouded due to several influences on the industry.

Competition will remain stiff in the pharmacy segment as other retail businesses continue to add pharmacy departments and as other low-cost pharmacy options come on-line. Discount retailers, in particular, have made substantial inroads in gaining market share during the last year. The trend toward generic drugs, while providing better margins for retail pharmacists, is expected to slow over the next year. In addition, various drug re-importation schemes have been proposed by large employers and state and local governments in an effort to manage escalating healthcare costs.

Clouding the outlook further is the legislation that provides drug benefits under Medicare. Real GDP declined 6.3% in the fourth quarter of 2008, and the

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Rite Aid Corp. (RAD) reported a narrower-than-expected first-quarter loss this morning that sent shares higher by more than 2%.

The company, which has been closing stores and reducing costs, posted a loss of 11 cents per share, 2 cents narrower than analysts' projections. Rite Aid incurred a loss of 20 cents per share in the corresponding quarter a year ago.

Revenue fell 1.2% to $6.53 billion. Same-store sales climbed 0.6% and prescriptions filled increased 2.2%.

Rite Aid reaffirmed its sales view for the current fiscal year of $26.3 billion to $26.7 billion and expects a 0.5% to 2.5% rise in same-store sales.

Due to refinancing moves, Rite Aid now expects a full-year loss of 33 cents to 59 cents per share. Its earlier guidance was in the range of 26 cents to 53 cents per share.

The average forecast for the fiscal year ending in February widened 2 cents

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* Oracle (NASDAQ:ORCL) reported fourth-quarter earnings of 46 cents a share, versus estimates of 44 cents, as revenues fell 5.2% to $6.86 billion, up from Street estimates of $6.47 billion

* PetSmart (NASDAQ:PETM) raised its quarterly dividend to 10 cents from 3 cents; the company also announced plans for a $350 million stock purchase plan

* Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) announced efforts to raise over $2.5 billion in fresh capital through the swap of preferred for common shares, which priced at $12.7048

* Chevron (NYSE:CVX) announced production has begun at Brazil's Frade Field, a $3 billion project, which is projected to result in production levels of 90,000 barrels daily by 2011

* BMC Software (NYSE:BMC) reaffirmed its 2010 earnings guidance ex-items of $2.37-$2.47 a share, with operating cash flow expected at $600-$650 million, noting the firm has been gaining market share in IT management software space

* Rite Aid (NYSE:RAD) reported first quarter loss of

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Rite Aid (RAD) reported a wider fiscal fourth quarter loss yesterday.

The retail drug store chain lost 14 cents per share in the quarter, wider than the consensus calling for a loss of 11 cents. Sales for the quarter dropped 1.7% to $6.7 billion.

Rite Aid projects sales between $26.3 billion and $26.7 billion for fiscal 2010. It expects a net loss of 26 cents to 53 cents per share for the current year.

Shares of RAD, which is a Zacks #3 Rank ("Hold") stock, are down approximately 2% today.

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

Misery Index for the Week Ended January 23, 2009

January 23, 2009 ndash; The DJIA lost 202 points this last week, or 2.4%, as the drip of negative economic data and downbeat corporate earnings reports continued. All things being equal, it could have been worse, as the 8,000 level was breached each trading session of the shortened week. Here is this weekrsquo;s past Misery Index:nbsp;nbsp;

middot;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; Profit warnings ndash; BASF, ECB, Varian, Estee Lauder, Elizabeth Arden, Belden, AZZ, Inc., TD Ameritrade, Ultralife Batteries, Parker Hannifin, United Rentals, Cash America, Air Products, WSP Holdings, Wonder Auto, Electro, Lockheed Martin, Sony, Northrop Grumman, Molina Healthcare, Schlumberger, nbsp;Genuine Parts, MEMC, Interline Brands.nbsp;nbsp;

middot;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; Job Cuts ndash; Time Warner (almost 800 jobs), Rio Tinto (1,100 jobs worldwide), Bose (1,000 jobs or 10% of staff),nbsp; Rohm amp; Hahs (900 jobs), Tandy Brands (about 17% of workforce),nbsp; Burberry (more than 500 jobs), BHP Billiton (6,000 jobs), Eaton (5,200 …