Emisphere [EMIS: 0.00, N/A (N/A)] is an emerging bio-pharma company specializing in the development of a drug delivery technology platform for the oral administration of therapeutic compounds which are either poorly absorbed or must be given through alternative routes such as injections.

On 6/1/09, EMIS announced that Novartis [NVS: 41.95, +1.66 (+4.12%)] and Nordic Bioscience have completed recruitment for the planned second multi-center Phase 3 study exploring the safety and efficacy of an oral formulation of salmon calcitonin using Emisphere’s proprietary Eligen Technology to treat patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. This study, which is intended to be used to support a FDA regulatory approval filing in the U.S., includes more than 900 patients between the ages of 51-80 with a medical history and symptoms of knee osteoarthritis. The study is being conducted in Europe and the U.S., as well as other countries, and is

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Yes, gold is on sale. You don’t have to pay $950 plus a premium to buy an ounce of gold. You can buy gold in the ground for a fraction of its normal price. The same holds true for many other essential natural commodities like silver, oil, uranium or copper.This opportunity has been brought your way by the same thugs that imploded global stock markets in 2008 via an historic combination of fraud and greed. Yep, they did a number on the commodity market as well as the associated stocks were decimated across the board. Select resource stocks are now outperforming.

Many gold stocks are presently priced as though gold was a mere $500 due to the carnage. Excellent companies with proven and growing resources are being largely ignored. This represents nothing short of an opportunity to buy gold at a discount.

I’m not in the habit of making gold price

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The pharmaceutical industry is entering a period of substantial change in 2009. Most of the names in the industry are facing significant patent challenges in the years to come. U.S.-based firms are facing foreign exchange headwinds, as well. Revenue growth is non-existent, and earnings growth is being driven primarily by mergers, cost-cutting and share buybacks. Knowing that investors rarely pay-up for this type of manufactured earnings growth, we struggle to see a broad-based out-performance for the large-cap pharmaceutical sector in 2009.Valuations, however, are attractive, with several of the largest players trading at PEs below 10x, including: Pfizer (PFE, 7.5x), Eli Lilly (LLY, 8.1x), Merck (MRK, 8.3x), Sanofi (SNY, 7.5x), AstraZeneca (AZN, 7.6x) and GlaxoSmithKline (gsk, 9.3x) based on our fiscal 2009 estimates. Attractive valuations, along with big dividend yields, should protect investors against significant downside risk even if the economy continues ...

The cancer biotech space has attracted the interest of investors, traders, and diversified healthcare giants this year with Johnson & Johnson [JNJ: 55.50, +0.34 (+0.62%)] announcing a $1B cash tender offer for Cougar Biotech [CGRB: 42.87, -0.12 (-0.28%)] last week and Roche’s [ROG: 17.67, +0.61 (+3.58%)] [RHHBY: 0.00, N/A (N/A)] mega-deal to acquire full control of Genentech earlier this year. In addition, positive clinical trial results for Dendreon’s [DNDN: 23.2099, +0.5399 (+2.38%)] Provenge and stock price turnarounds from the brink of zero at Cell Therapeutics [CTIC: 1.60, +0.17 (+11.89%)] have fueled interest in the small and micro-cap cancer bio-pharma space among investors and traders looking for the next big trade.

Access Pharma [ACCP: 0.00, N/A (N/A)] is an emerging bio-pharma company which is focusing on the development of a late-stage, diversified oncology pipeline in addition to

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Vornado Realty Trust (VNO) reported relatively healthy 1Q09 results. Recurring FFO [funds from operations] increased 7% in the quarter compared to 1Q08. Most operating metrics were positive in the company's core markets. It is clear that office and retail fundamentals are getting worse, and operations will deteriorate as 2009 progresses.Occupancy has started to slip and will continue to fall due to soft office and retail demand. However, we think VNO at a discounted price represents good long-term value. The company recently sold equity and has been buying back debt in an attempt to strengthen the balance sheet. VNO now has plenty of cash and enough liquidity to address 2009 and 2010 debt maturities. The company will pay 60% of its 2009 dividend in stock to conserve cash.We continue our Buy rating, although expect volatility in the entire office sector in the coming months. VNO ...

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL - May 18, 2009 - Zacks Equity Research highlights NovaMed, Inc. (NOVA) as the Bull of the Day and School Specialty (SCHS) the Bear of the Day. In addition, Zacks Equity Research provides analysis on Bank of America (BAC), General Motors (GM) and Fannie Mae (FNM).

Full analysis of all these stocks is available at http://at.zacks.com/?id=2676.

Here is a synopsis of all five stocks:

Bull of the Day:

NovaMed, Inc. (NOVA) is an emerging healthcare services company engaged in the operation of ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) and the provision of optical products and services to eye-care professionals.

The company reported 1Q09 net income of $1.729M, up 10% y/y, which was broadly inline with expectations. Consolidated net revenue in 1Q09 was $38M, up 13.3% y/y, largely due to

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On its fiscal third quarter report, School Specialty (SCHS) missed estimates and lowered its guidance for fiscal year 2009. That was the second quarter in a row that School Specialty missed estimates and lowered its fiscal 2009 guidance.

The third quarter shortfall was due to a decline in state revenues. SCHS is highly dependent on state and local governments for its revenues. A weak economy and de-leveraging in the credit markets will only exacerbate the problems in local government funding.

We expect this trend to continue, and that will hurt School Specialty's results. We reiterate our Sell rating on SCHS. Our six-month target price is $13, or 10x our fiscal 2010 EPS estimate. Zacks Investment Research

Last year was challenging for King Pharmaceuticals (KG), with most of the company's key products facing increasing competition, generic threats, and declining prescription trends. Plus, the entry of generic Altace in late 2007 was a major hit for the company, as the drug was a significant contributor (about 30%) to the top-line. As a result, Altace sales declined sharply (-74%) in 2008.Now, another drug in King's portfolio is facing a patent challenge - Actavis is planning to market a generic version of pain drug Avinza. King has faced pipeline setbacks as well with the termination of its marketing and development agreement for Bremelanotide, a phase II candidate.The company did receive its share of good news with the settlement of its patent infringement case with Core Pharma (CLB) for Skelaxin. This was indeed a smart move by King, though there are still other generic ...

Zevotek, Inc., emerging provider of cost effective and unique consumer products, is offering a truly innovative way to address a hidden problem, a problem that scientific studies are showing is very serious. It’s the problem of indoor air pollution, but Zevotek’s approach has nothing to do with air filters.

The Environmental Protection Agency reports that toxic chemicals found in the air of almost every American home are three times more likely to cause some type of cancer than outdoor air pollutants. In addition, the EPA found that 20%-30% or more of U.S. buildings are considered “sick”. According to a study by Howard Brightman Environmental Health & Engineering, “indoor levels of pollutants may be 2-5 times higher than outside, and occasionally 100 times or higher.”

Since Americans are estimated to spend fully 90% of their time indoors, it’s clear that more is needed than just indoor

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Highlights include Washington Post Company (WPO), The New York Times Co. (NYT), The McClatchy Company (MNI), Gannett Co, Inc. (GCI) and The E.W. Scripps Company (SSP).WPO: Margins Contract in Mainstay Education BusinessWashington Post Company (WPO) posted 1Q09 results that proves even the higher education business isn't impervious to a recession.The publisher of its namesake newspaper and Newsweek magazine reported that 1Q09 EPS from continuing operations excluding one-time charges plunged to $0.41, grossly missing our estimate of $3.37 and the consensus of $3.48. EPS in 1Q08 was $5.68. Including the myriad charges, the company lost $2.04 in 1Q09, after earning $4.08 for 1Q08.As expected, strong cable TV earnings partially offset accelerating declines in the company's newspaper, magazine and television broadcasting businesses -- which together generate nearly one-third of the company's revenue. Unexpected, however, was the margin contraction ...