For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL - June 9, 2009 - Zacks Equity Research highlights Vodafone (VOD) as the Bull of the Day and Somaxon (SOMX) the Bear of the Day. In addition, Zacks Equity Research provides analysis on McDonald's Corporation (MCD), Starbucks (SBUX) and Yum! Brands Inc (YUM).

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:

We maintain our Buy recommendation for Vodafone (VOD), the largest revenue-generating international wireless carrier. Operating results for fiscal 2009 were highlighted by respectable increases in subscriber count bolstered by record net additions for its Indian operation.

Vodafone continues to accelerate 3G wireless service deployments and expanding network availability across Asia, Eastern Europe and Africa, primarily through acquisitions. Additionally, the company is focused

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According to the Hong Kong-listed Chinese hotpot restaurant chain Little Sheep, the American restaurant group Yum plans to invest HKD493 million to acquire a 19.99% stake in Little Sheep. Yum, the owner of restaurant brands such as Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, and KFC, will become the second largest shareholder of Little Sheep after the transaction is [...]

While most companies are bracing themselves for difficult times in 2009, Yum! Brands Inc. (NYSE:YUM) is aggressively expanding its international operations. The fast food group has China at the core of its growth strategy for 2009. Mike Caggeso says this could make Yum! one of the most promising investment stories in the coming year.

Yum! Brands Inc. (NYSE:YUM) expects another year of double-digit profit growth.

For nearly everyone else, 2009 won’t be just “another year.” Nearly every economist expects the first half of the New Year to bring more of the same, a deepening global financial crisis that’ll throw an even bigger, wetter blanket on economic growth than it did this year.

Indeed, even more than in 2008, next year will be a real-life case study of the survival of the fittest. And Yum’s certainly fit for the

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According to a report from Reuters, the restaurant giant Yum is still optimistic about the prospects for China's catering industry and the group plans to open 500 new restaurants in China in 2009 with profit growth targets of 15% to 20%, despite the global slowdown. As one of the world's largest restaurant chain groups, Yum has [...]

NBER: U.S. in Recession Since Dec. 2007; Fed Reserve Could Buy T-Bills; JP Morgan Sees 0% Interest Rates; Pilgrim’s Pride Files for Bankruptcy Protection; Consumer Credit Crunch in the Making; Crude Slides on Recession Outlook; J&J to Buy Mentor

It’s official: The United States has been in a recession since December 2007, the National Bureau of Economic Research said yesterday (Monday). Already 12 months into it, this recession is longer than eight of the 10 recessions the U.S. has experienced since World War II, CNNMoney reported. Should it continue past the June 2009, it will be the longest. U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said the central bank could buy long-term Treasury securities to help revive the economy. “This approach might influence the yields ...

Gene Marcial, Inside Wall Street Guru at Business Week, picked the following stocks for the 11/3 issue; his picks can be tracked at:

http://trackthepros.com/stocks/category/404

Restaurants aren’t appealing buys in these times of economic stress, but Yum! Brands (YUM) looks appetizing, nonetheless. The world’s largest stable of restaurants owns and operates such fast-food chains as KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell in over 100 countries. Yum is a standout because not only is it seeing higher sales and earnings but it’s also reinvigorating U.S. sales with healthier food, such as fish, veggies, and grilled chicken.

The key drivers of Yum’s growth and profitability, though, are China and other foreign markets, which account for 50% of sales, says Rick Carucci, Yum’s CFO. “Yum is a great way to gain exposure to China’s booming economy and the other fast-growing international markets, while investing in the only stable segment of the restaurant industry,”

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