For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL - June 25, 2009 - Zacks.com releases the latest Zacks Industry Rank. Stocks featured in this week's analysis include Stericycle (SRCL), Quest Diagnostic (DGX), Biogen Idec (BIIB), AmeriSourceBergen (ABC), Abbott Labs (ABT), Sunoco (SUN), Tesoro (TSO), AK Steel (AKS), Nucor (NUE), United States Steel (X), Fifth Third (FITB), First Horizon National (FHN), Zions Bancorp (ZION), Suntrust Banks (STI), Franklin Resources (BEN), AllianceBernstein Holding (AB), Texas Instruments (TXN), National Semiconductor (NSM) and Micron (MU).

Zacks Industry Rank Analysis is written by Charles Rotblut, CFA, Senior Market Analyst for Zacks.com.

This Week: Second-Quarter Earnings Outlook

Second-quarter earnings will be ugly.

Median EPS is projected

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Second-quarter earnings will be ugly.

Median EPS is projected to drop 21.2%. Nearly 75% of S&P 500 members are forecast to report earnings that are lower than a year ago. 62 companies are projected to have lost money.

These numbers are not unexpected given that we remain in the midst of a recession. They could even prove to be too pessimistic given the propensity of companies to surprise and the relative improvements in economic conditions.

Growth Industries

The one sector projected to show the strongest growth is also the one with the highest political risk - Medical. The majority of medical care providers, health insurers, pharmacy benefit managers and drug companies should report a year-over-year increase in profits.

Zacks #2 Rank ("buy") stocks expected to report growth include Stericycle (

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The New York Times has an article today reporting that domestic Natural Gas reserves are 35% higher than previously estimated due to improved ability to tap deep shale deposits. (Zacks Equity Research senior analyst Sheraz Mian has also posted a blog on this earlier.) This helps explain why natural gas prices are so low relative to oil prices. In terms of energy content, there is a 6:1 ratio between an MCF [thousand cubic feet] of gas and a barrel of oil. At the current futures price of $4.12 an MCF, natural gas is going for the equivalent of only $24.72 a barrel, a massive discount to the current $71.06 price of oil. This will make a very significant difference to your energy investments. At least for the near term, look for E&P companies that are "oily," like Denbury Resources (DNR) rather than "gassy" like ...

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL - June 4, 2009 - Zacks.com releases the latest Zacks Industry Rank. Stocks featured in this week's analysis include Monsanto (MON), Potash of Saskatchewan (POT), AK Steel (AKS), Freeport McMoRan (FCX) and Weatherford (WFT).

Zacks Industry Rank Analysis is written by Charles Rotblut, CFA, Senior Market Analyst for Zacks.com.

This Week: Commodities Rally; Profit Forecasts Don't

Commodity prices have been soaring. Oil, gold, copper, wheat and corn all recently hit multi-month highs. Even the Duke Brothers are making a mint on orange juice futures.

A steady stream of economic data showing a slower pace of deterioration in the U.S. has been the primary driver behind the recent surge. Also playing a role is the combination of a higher tolerance for risk, weekly fluctuations in inventories, the spring planting season, the

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Commodity prices have been soaring. Oil, gold, copper, wheat and corn all recently hit multi-month highs. Even the Duke Brothers are making a mint on orange juice futures.

A steady stream of economic data showing a slower pace of deterioration in the U.S. has been the primary driver behind the recent surge. Also playing a role is the combination of a higher tolerance for risk, weekly fluctuations in inventories, the spring planting season, the dollar and sustained growth in China.

What's interesting about the rally is that it has yet to translate into higher earnings estimates for commodity-related companies.

Agriculture Companies

Wheat and corn futures recently set 8-month highs. Other agricultural-related futures have also soared, such as coffee. Profit forecasts for agricultural companies, however, have been trending lower.

There are 2 reasons for the disconnect.

The first is the credit crisis. Though the Treasury Department has deemed some banks too

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For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL - May 21, 2009 - Zacks.com releases the latest Zacks Industry Rank. Stocks featured in this week's analysis include Apache Corporation (APA), Forest Oil Corporation (FST), Newfield Exploration Company (NFX), Ultra Petroleum Corporation (UPL) and United National Gas Fund (UNG).

Zacks Industry Rank Analysis is written by Charles Rotblut, CFA, Senior Market Analyst for Zacks.com.

This Week: Better Trends for Energy E&P Companies

We might be moving closer to a turnaround for oil & gas exploration and production (E&P) companies. During the past 2 weeks, the number of positive revisions to full-year earnings estimates for the group has doubled, rising from 125 to 250.

This shift has caused the revisions ratio to turn positive, meaning that there are more positive than negative

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Due to tightening credit markets and declining energy prices, Chesapeake Energy Corporation (CHK) today announced a reorganization of its Eastern Division Operation in Charleston, WV.

The move, which will transform the division from a regional corporate headquarters to a regional field office, will involve moving (to Oklahoma City) or eliminating 215 out of 255 position in the area.

The reorganization, which will be completed on Jun 30, is being made to optimize CHK's operational performance, and will also provide cost savings over time.

Through this move, CHK, which is the country's largest natural gas producer, will consolidate management for a number of Eastern Division departments into its corporate offices in Oklahoma City. Severance packages and employment outplacement services will be provided to the employees affected.

Shares of the company are up approximately 2% today. CHK is a Zacks #3 Rank ("hold") company. The Zacks Rank covers a period

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As I write this Friday morning, it is a quiet day on the markets. Stocks are mostly unchanged, largely due to a lack of news and a lack of volume.

I expect volume to remain below average until Jan 5. Many portfolio managers have closed the books and there is very little news scheduled for the next 7 days.

January should be interesting. There may be excitement heading into the inauguration. It would not surprise me to see some type of Obama rally.

On the other hand, fourth-quarter earnings are going to be lousy. Current forecasts show 276 S&P 500 companies reporting a year-over-year decline in profits. Earnings for the S&P 500 will still be positive, however, with modest growth of 3.3%. Coal, drug, medical products and refining companies should report the strongest growth. Avoid steel and semiconductor companies.

The economic data won't be positive either. December was another month

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Highlighted stocks include: Anadarko Petroleum Corporation (...