For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – November 4, 2009 – Zacks.com releases the latest Industry Outlook. Today, Zacks Equity Research discusses the Aerospace & Defense sector, including United Technologies Corporation (UTX), Oshkosh Corporation (OSK), The Boeing Company (BA) and Honeywell International Inc. (HON).

A synopsis of today’s Industry Outlook is presented below. The full article can be read at http://www.zacks.com/stock/news/26834/Aerospace+%26amp%3B+Defense.

With core defense spending expected to slow, U.S. defense contractors need to identify additional revenue sources for the coming years. 2009 holds potential for interesting merger and acquisition (M&A) activity, mostly smaller deals by larger A&D firms to fill in capability gaps -- particularly in the security, defense electronics and aftermarket services business areas. U.S. defense firms may see opportunities in credit-squeezed markets to pick up U.S. assets at historically low price-to-earnings multiples.

Some large companies are expanding into the adjacent markets

...

OVERVIEW Inherently, big defense contractors are expected to eliminate jobs as the Pentagon has lowered spending on traditional weapon systems, while smaller, niche companies may accelerate hiring as the United States garners resources to protect ground troops and strategic computer networks. Industry pioneer Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT) aims to reduce 600 jobs as a result of the US Defense Department's decision to terminate the VH-71 presidential helicopter program. The Boeing Company (BA) hinted that Pentagon cuts would claim 1,000 jobs in its defense business, affecting staffing at various work sites in the United States in missile defense and in the Army's Future Combat Systems modernization program, which is now being opened to more competition. The large commercial aircraft sector is expected to generate most of its revenue from Asia Pacific Japan (APJ) and the Middle East, relying less on U.S. orders because of the ...

While there have been some signs of recovery in real estate and the stock market it seems that the job market is still declining. Online advertised vacancies declined by 83,200 to 3,280,000 in October, according to The Conference Board Help-Wanted OnLine Data Series (HWOL)(TM) released November 2. Of course those jobs are only representative of the national job market and don’t include every available job.

The job market varies by region. The south showed job losses in both September and October. However, Texas and Florida were basically flat. The smallest decline was in the Northeast. In the West, California fell by only 3,700 about the same as Arizona with a much smaller population. In the Midwest most of the states declined but Michigan showed a small gain and Wisconsin had no change.

Don’t let a layoff take you by surprise. Keep your eyes and

...

Snap-on Inc. (SNA) posted lackluster third quarter results before the opening bell Thursday as the company’s European operations and Financial Services segment adversely affected performance.  The Kenosha, WI-based company’s earnings plunged 53.5% year over year to $25.4 million, or 44 cents per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 5 cents. Total sales slipped 16.6% year over year to $581.8 million, with adverse foreign currency translations contributing 3% of the decrease.  Commercial & Industrial Group segment sales fell 21.5% year over year to $265.4 million; excluding foreign currency translation, sales fell 17.2%. Operating earnings slipped $29.8 million from the prior year quarter to $10.9 million. The decline was caused by lower sales, particularly in Europe, coupled with the company’s inventory reduction efforts. Moreover, performance was also affected by $4.5 million of restructuring costs associated with operations in Europe.  Snap-on Tools Group segment sales contracted 8.5% ...

Waste management service provider Stericycle Inc. (SRCL) earned 55 cents in the third quarter, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2 cents. Earnings were up about 24% year-over-year, while it improved 9% sequentially on higher revenues and margins.  Revenues showed an increase of 7.5% year over year to $46.5 million helped by recent acquisitions, which added $19.3 million in the quarter. Stericycle completed six acquisitions during the first nine months of this year, which included the recently acquired Healthcare Waste Solutions’ operations in Minnesota and Wisconsin, besides Omni Medical Waste in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  Operating costs decreased to 52.7% of total sales in the quarter from 55.6% in the same period of the previous year following which gross profit expanded to $140.9 million from $123.0 million in the same quarter last year. As a percent of revenue, gross profit improved to 47.3% from 44.4% in the ...

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: Johnson Controls (JCI), CF Industries Holdings Inc. (CF), Agrium Inc. (AGU), Terra Industries Inc. (TRA) and Hospira (HSP).

Get the most recent insight from Zacks Equity Research with the free Profit from the Pros newsletter: http://at.zacks.com/?id=5513

Here are highlights from Tuesday’s AnalystBlog:

Johnson Controls Maintains Profits

Johnson Controls (JCI) posted a profit of $402 million or 52 cents per share, excluding non-recurring items, for the fourth quarter of its fiscal year ended Sept. 30, 2009. This was above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 48 cents per share. The

...

Casey's General Stores Inc. (CASY) saw fiscal first-quarter earnings of 87 cents per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 45% and topping the year-prior total. The company also declared a dividend of $0.085 per share, which translates into a an industry-leading yield of 1%.

Company Description

Casey's General Stores, Inc. together with its subsidiaries, operate convenience stores under the Casey's General Stores name in the Midwest states. It has operations in Iowa, Missouri, Illinois Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Indiana. The company was founded in 1959 and is headquartered in Ankeny, Iowa.

A Solid Quarter

The company announced fiscal first-quarter results in early September. Earnings of 87 cents per share, exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 45% and topped the year-prior total. During the past 4 consecutive quarters, Casey's delivered an average upside earnings surprise of 17.5%.

"Strong gas margins and enhanced profitability inside the stores were

...

In its fiscal 2010 forecast meeting with financial analysts, Johnson Controls (JCI ) has revealed that it anticipates commendable sales and earnings growth in the fourth quarter and in fiscal 2010 as markets recover.  The management has commented that the company expects to earn 40 to 42 cents per share for the fourth quarter ended Sep 30 compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 39 cents per share. It expects sales of $7.9 billion for the quarter.  Consolidated net sales are expected to increase 9% to $31 billion in fiscal 2010. Earnings per share are expected to lie in the range of $1.35 and $1.45, slightly higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.44.  The Wisconsin-based company has stated that it expects sales, earnings and margin improvements during the next fiscal in all of its businesses – automotive, power solutions and building efficiency. In the ...

Carlisle Companies Inc. (CSL) is outpacing the market and seeing bullish Zacks Consensus Estimates ahead of reporting. Full-year projections of $1.83 per share jumped from $1.43 over the past 3 months. CSL reports on Oct 20.

Company Description

Carlisle Companies is a diversified global manufacturing company that serves a wide variety of industries, including construction materials, commercial roofing, specialty tire and wheel, foodservice and aerospace to name a few.

Recent Acquisitions

The company recently announced that it acquired from its joint venture partner, The Yokohama Rubber Company, Ltd., the remaining interest in Japan Power Brake, Inc. (JPB) of Atsugi, Japan.

Carlisle stated that with annual sales of approximately $10 million, JPB is a leading provider of high performance braking solutions for off-highway equipment, primarily in the mining and construction industries in Japan.

Carlisle also recently announced the acquisition of privately-held Electronic Cable Specialists, Inc. (ECS), a leading designer and manufacturer of electrical

...

Johnson Controls (JCI) has won a record-breaking $87 million project at Princess Noura bin Abdulraham University, the world's biggest women-only university in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Under the contract, Al Salem Johnson Controls, the company's joint venture in Saudi Arabia, will supply 26 York brand chillers to Princess Noura University.  The Wisconsin-based supplier of automotive interiors, batteries and other control equipment will supply chillers that use HFC-134A refrigerant, which does not contribute to ozone depletion. They are manufactured in San Antonio, Texas.  The York brand is a proven market leader in energy efficiency. Al Salem Johnson Controls will also supply radiators for the chillers, making this one of the company's largest single orders in its history. The company achieved the first and largest-ever chiller order in the world for the Pearl Qatar project. It has also succeeded in winning the Bahrain Bay project.  Johnson Controls ...