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 ...

BioScrip, Inc. (BIOS) reported third-quarter earnings of 14 cents per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 10 cents. The company reported earnings of 6 cents in the year-ago period. Although earnings were better than expected, revenues declined 7.2% to $333.5 million. While the specialty business contributed $279 million to revenues, the pharmacy benefit management (PBM) business posted revenues of $54.5 million.   The decline in revenues was mainly due to the elimination of the Medicare Competitive Acquisition Program and the termination of the United Health Group organ transplant and HIV/AIDS contracts. This was partially offset by increased sales of higher margin infusion therapies and other specialty sales.   The company reported a sequential growth of 3% in specialty sales with several therapeutic areas like iron overload, multiple sclerosis (MS), oncology and infusion therapies recording double digit growth from the year-ago period. The oral oncology business should continue ...

Yesterday, Walgreen Co. (WAG) announced a new $2 billion share repurchase program which will expire at the end of 2013. Earlier, in January 2007 the company had initiated a $1 billion share buyback program, of which approximately $655 million is left. The new plan, replacing the 2007 share repurchase program, is a part of a new capital policy which aims to reward the company’s shareholders. Since 2004, Walgreen's has repurchased more than $1.3 billion of common stock. In addition, the company declared a quarterly dividend of 13.75 cents per share, a 22.2% increase from the year-ago dividend. The company also set a long-term dividend payout target in a range of 30–35% of net earnings. Walgreen’s strong balance sheet has enabled it to announce such a huge share buyback program. Cash flow from operations during fiscal 2009 was $4.1 billion, representing a 35% increase compared to the ...

Office Depot Inc. (ODP), the global supplier of a range of office products and services, recently teamed up with Acme United to offer ‘Fight the Flu Kit’. With the spread of swine flu (H1N1 virus), more and more businesses are taking measures to prevent their employees from being infected by the deadly virus.   The ‘Fight the Flu Kit’ designed by Acme United's PhysiciansCare includes a facemask, gloves, hand sanitizer, cleaning wipes, and facial tissues, and is currently available for $7.99 at Office Depot retail locations.   There are companies also offering seasonal flu vaccines. Kroger Co. (KR) had earlier made seasonal flu vaccines available at its 1,900 stores, effective September 2009. Target Corp. (TGT) is also offering flu vaccinations readily available at over 1,500 Target Pharmacy locations nationwide effective October. These vaccines do not safeguard against the deadly H1N1 flu, but are essential to protect ...

An unexpected drop in consumer confidence sent U.S. stocks lower Tuesday, as signs of stabilization in housing and Walgreen’s solid earnings failed to convince investors about the strength of an economic recovery.  Although stocks rose slightly after the opening bell, the early morning release of the confidence report took the Street by surprise and signaled the American consumers are not as hopeful about an economic turnaround.

Stocks swung between gains and losses and volume remained light.  Treasury prices declined, with the 10-year off 4/32 and the corresponding yield rising to 3.293%.  The Dow Jones industrial average lost 47 points, or 0.5%. The S&P 500 index lost 2 points, or 0.2%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite retreated 2 points, or 0.2%.  On the New York Stock Exchange, 1.18 billion shares exchanged hands with losers narrowly ahead of winners.

The greenback showed modest gains against a basket of currencies, closing at its

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Buffalo Large Cap (BUFEX) was incepted in May 1995. The investment seeks long-term capital appreciation.

The fund primarily invests in domestic common stocks, preferred stocks, convertible preferred stocks, warrants and rights in companies that have market capitalization of $10 billion or more at time of purchase. As of March 2009, its portfolio turnover was 27%.

Merck & Co. Inc. (MRK), Walgreen Co. (WAG) and Intel Corp. (INTC) are among the fund’s top holdings.

Buffalo USA Global (BUFGX) seeks long-term capital growth. It invests in well positioned US-based companies that stand to benefit from international expansion and emerging markets' growth.

The fund follows a bottom up stock selection method for portfolio construction and sector allocations. It has an expense ratio of 1.05%.

Kent Gasaway has been lead manager at the fund since its inception in May 1995. The fund has topped the total

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The markets opened up the week with a massive pounding, taking it on the chin across all three major U.S. Indicies.  The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 200.72 to a level of 8,339.01 for a loss of 2.35%.  The Nasdaq Composite was down 3.35% dropping 61.28 to close at a level of 1,766.19.  The Standard and Poor’s 500 Index dropped 28.19 to a level of 893.04 for a loss of 3.06% on the day.  Energy and materials were the two main culprits in the downturn today as crude oil fell to $67.09 a barrel after hours from a price of almost $70.00 at the end of last week.  Gold was trading at $921.40 after hours and copper was hovering around $2.14.

The major news on the day that contributed to the negative sentiment was the updated economic forecast from the World Bank.  The agency revised its forecast for global

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Walgreen Co. (WAG) reported 1.5% growth in same-store sales during March, compared to the same month in 2008.

The growth was attributed to a rise of 5.7% in same-store pharmacy sales during the month, as the retailer benefitted from a favorable calendar.

The drugstore chain opened a total of 69 stores during March, including 11 relocations.

Earnings estimates for fiscal 2009 has been reduced by 5 cents over the past month and by 6 cents over the past 60 days, as the retailer missed the fourth-quarter consensus estimate.

This Zacks #3 Rank ("Hold" ) stock has gained more than 4% today amid lower-than-usual volumes.

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

Abu Dhabi Buys Daimler Stake; Tata Launches Nano; Walgreen Beats 2Q Estimates; Banks Hurt by Plunging Commercial Property Prices; Gannett Furloughs Workers Again; Oil Nears 3-Month High; TreeHouse Foods Climbs on Private-Label Buying

Abu Dhabi’s state-controlled International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC) said it would buy a 9.1% stake in the German automaker Daimler AG (DAI) for almost $2.72 billion (2 billion euros). It also pumped $1.41 billion into Aabar Investment PJSC, giving the Middle East emirate majority control in the IPIC, Reuters reported. Tata Motors Ltd. (ADR: TTM) announced it will begin sales of the Nano, the world’s ...