For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – October 28, 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: DryShips, Inc. (DRYS), Capmark Financial Group Inc. (CPFNG), Citigroup Inc. (C), JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS).

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Here are highlights from Tuesday’s AnalystBlog:

DryShips Beats, Results Hurt

DryShips, Inc.’s (DRYS) third-quarter earnings of 27 cents per share were 6 cents ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate. This excludes a loss of $39.3 million or 15 cents per share associated with the valuation of the company’s

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Capmark Financial Group Inc. (CPFNG), one of the key commercial real-estate lenders in the U.S., along with some of its subsidiaries has filed Chapter 11 protection. The filing adds to the lingering concern that the commercial real-estate market is still struggling.  The company seeks to be allowed to continue to pay its vendors and salaries, and protect the businesses with its customers and partners.  Capmark was created in March 2006 through a leveraged buyout of the commercial real estate assets of General Motors' finance arm GMAC. Earlier this year also, the company had indicated that it might file for bankruptcy due to deteriorating conditions in the financial and commercial real estate markets and capital inadequacy.  Capmark is currently negotiating the terms of the bankruptcy with its creditors, which include Citigroup Inc. (C) and JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) among others.  Capmark ...

TranS1 Inc. (TSON) has announced that it expects revenues to be approximately $6.8 million to $6.9 million in the third quarter of 2009 compared to $6 million reported in the year-ago quarter. Results for the quarter are expected to be released on Oct 29, 2009.  While revenues are expected to increase from the year-ago period, they are still predicted to be lower than the previous guidance of $7.4 million to $7.9 million. The lower guidance is primarily based on weak sales of the company’s AxiaLIF lumbar fusion device due to insurance reimbursement concerns.  However, management considers these low revenues as a short-term event and is confident about long-term growth primarily due to the expanding minimally invasive spine surgery market.  TranS1 is working on educating existing and potential customers about the utilities of the AxiaLIF lumbar fusion device to increase its sales. The device allows surgeons ...

DuPont Titanium Technologies, a subsidiary of EI DuPont de Nemours & Co. (DD), world’s second leading chemical company stated that demand for its titanium dioxide, a pigment, used in products such as tattoo inks, food dyes and sunscreen improved in the first half of 2009.   Wilmington, Delaware-based DuPont noted that demand for titanium dioxide usually moves in tandem with the economy. Titanium demand drops when recession intensifies and leads with economic recovery. DuPont added that the titanium dioxide industry operates on small margins, which is a significant entry barrier for new entrants. DuPont being a large-scale producer enjoys cost advantage.

During the first half of 2009, DuPont had reduced its working capital requirement by 28% and trimmed down fixed costs by 15% compared with the same period of 2008. The company was also able to cut its sales, marketing and administrative expenses by 17% year over year.

In addition, product

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On 21st July, 2009, Wilmington-based Incyte Corporation (INCY) reached an agreement with the US FDA regarding the design of a pivotal phase III trial for its lead pipeline candidate INCB18424. The study will be conducted under the FDA’s special protocol assessment (SPA) program. As a reminder, SPA is a declaration from the FDA that the design, clinical endpoints and statistical analyses of a phase III trial are acceptable for FDA approval.

INCB18424 is being developed for the treatment of patients with different types of myelofibrosis. Myelofibrosis is a serious bone marrow disorder in which the bone marrow develops extensive scarring causing swelling of the liver and spleen. Currently, there is no treatment for the disease in the U.S.

COMFORT-I (COntrolled MyeloFibrosis Study with ORal JAK Inhibitor Treatment), the pivotal phase III study, will compare the safety and effectiveness of the drug with a placebo. The efficacy will be judged on the

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To read a related story on how the long-term dismantling of U.S. banking regulations set the stage for the …

Pharmaceutical Product Development Inc. (PPDI) sold a research unit to rival Charles River Laboratories International Inc. (CRL) for $46 million on Friday to focus on its core service business.

The drug research firm also acquired biotechnology company Magen Biosciences in a deal worth $14.5 million to expand into the dermatology space. The transaction will gain PPD an access to Magen's exclusive license to develop and commercialize pre-clinical compounds discovered by Eli Lilly & Co. (LLY).

PPD Chief Executive Fred Eshelman said, "The market is strong and growing for dermatologic products, which generally present fewer development hurdles than other therapeutics and have a more straightforward path to regulatory approval."

The combined effect of the deals would improve PPD's annual profit by about 3 cents per share. However, it would lose $19 million in discovery segment revenue for selling its Piedmont Research Center

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Comfort Systems USA, Inc. (FIX) has seen upward earnings estimate revisions from the analyst community. The companyÂ’s share price has held up relatively well during last weekÂ’s turbulence.

Analyst estimates for the current year increased from the two months-ago forecasts of $1.17 per share to $1.25. For 2009, Wall Street is projecting $1.33 per share, versus the two months-ago level of $1.25.

FIXÂ’s share price is around the same is trading around the same level it was when previously featured in early September, outperforming the broader market.

The Zacks #1 Rank (“strong buy”) company recently increased its stock repurchase program and bought Delcard Associates, Inc. ("Delcard"), a full service commercial HVAC company based in Wilmington, Delaware.

Comfort Systems said Delcard had 2007 revenues of approximately $45 million, adding that it believes Delcard will make a strong contribution to continuing operations.

Read our Sep 02, 2008

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Comfort Systems USA, Inc. (FIX), a Zacks #1 Rank (“strong buy”) company, has seen its share price climb by about 15% since it was last featured in late June. Wall Street earnings estimates have also risen. All 3 covering analysts hiked full-year 2008 forecasts from last month’s $1.17 per share to $1.24. The most accurate projection is a higher $1.25.

Recent Acquisition

The company recently acquired Delcard Associates, Inc. ("Delcard"), a full service commercial HVAC company based in Wilmington, Delaware. Comfort Systems said Delcard had 2007 revenues of approximately $45 million, adding that Delcard has an ideal geographic location for Comfort Systems, and given its construction and service reputation throughout Delaware as well as the strength of its excellent workforce, Comfort believes Delcard will make a strong contribution to our continuing operations.

Income

In late July, FIX declared a quarterly dividend of $0.045 per share. The company noted that the

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