Ameriprise Financial Inc. (AMP) has seen revenue rise as the financial markets have rallied. The company has surprised on estimates 3 out of 4 quarters by an average of 50.73%. Ameriprise is trading with a forward P/E of 14.25.

Company Description

Ameriprise Financial manages a network of 10,000 financial advisors. The company also provides asset management and insurance. It specializes in retirement planning for the affluent.

Ameriprise Financial Surprised by 63.49% in the Third Quarter

On Oct 21, Ameriprise reported third quarter results that easily beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Earnings per share were $1.03 compared with the consensus of 63 cents. EPS was a loss of 32 cents in the year ago period.

Revenue rose 20% to $2 billion from $1.6 billion a year ago. The growth is mainly due to the year-over-year improvement in net investment income, primarily because of net investment losses in the prior

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DryShips Inc. (DRYS) is now a Zacks #1 Rank (strong buy) stock as estimates rise after a tough year where earnings per share dropped by 90%. The stock is now cheap, trading at just 6.6x forward earnings.

Company Description

DryShips operates drybulk carriers and offshore oil deep water drilling worldwide. The dry bulk fleet has a capacity of over 3.4 million deadweight tons and operates 39 drybulk carriers, including 7 Capesize, 30 Panamax and 2 Supramax carriers.

The company's offshore oil deep water drilling division operates 2 ultra deep water semisubmersible drilling rigs and 4 ultra deep water newbuilding drillships.

DryShips Surprised by 28.57% in the Third Quarter

On Oct 26, DryShips reported its third quarter results and beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 6 cents. Earnings per share were 27 cents compared to the Zacks Consensus of 21 cents.

The drybulk carrier segment continues to be challenged

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Healthspring, Inc. (HS) has surprised on estimates 3 out of the last 4 quarters by an average of 6.45%. The stock is cheap. It trades at just 6.7x forward earnings and has a PEG ratio of 0.67.

Company Description

Healthspring coordinates care plans through the Medicare Advantage market in Alabama, Florida, Illinois, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas. The company also provides a national stand-alone Medicare prescription drug plan.

Healthspring Surprised by 22.22% in the Third Quarter

On Oct 29, Healthspring reported its third quarter results and easily beat the Zacks Consensus by 14 cents per share. Earnings per share were 77 cents compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 63 cents. The company reported 53 cents in the year ago period.

Premium revenue rose 26% to $649.8 million compared to the year ago period. Membership in the Medicare Advantage jumped 19.4% compared to the year ago period and was up

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Jo-Ann Stores Inc. (JAS) is hiring for the holidays and saw a jump in third quarter same-store sales. Analysts expect earnings per share growth in 2010 of 170.26%. Even with the massive growth, the company is trading with a PEG ratio of just 0.99.

Jo-Ann Stores operates 750 fabric and craft stores in 48 states and through its web site, joann.com.

Seasonal Hiring Climbed by 18.1%

On Nov 10, the company announced that it had hired 2779 seasonal employees which would be 13.4% of its total workforce. That's up from last year's holiday season when seasonal employees only accounted for 11% of the workforce. Jo-Ann Stores said the increase was due to recent sales trends and expectations for holiday traffic in the stores.

Jo-Ann Preannounced Third Quarter and Raised Full-Year Guidance

On Nov 5, the company reported third quarter sales had risen 6% to $509.1 million from $480.1 million

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United Stationers Inc. (USTR) has surprised on the Zacks Consensus Estimate 4 consecutive quarters by an average of 28.24% as inventory reduction has boosted the bottom line. The company is trading with a forward P/E of 13.32.

Company Description

United Stationers distributes business products in the United States and Mexico from 65 distribution centers and 30,000 reseller customers.

The company provides over 100,000 items from 1,000 manufacturers, including technology products, traditional office products, janitorial and breakroom supplies, office furniture, and industrial supplies.

United Stationers distribution system allows it to ship overnight to customers in more than 90% of the United States and major cities in Mexico.

United Stationers Surprised by 45.26% in the Third Quarter

On Oct 29, United Stationers reported third quarter results and once again easily surprised on the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Earnings per share were $1.38 compared with the Zacks Consensus of 95 cents per

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Travelers Companies Inc. (TRV) recently raised full year guidance as it surprised on estimates for the third time in the last 4 quarters. The company is trading with a forward P/E of just 8.9.

Company Description

Travelers provides property and casualty insurance for autos, homes and businesses.

Travelers Surprised by 23.85% in the Third Quarter

On Oct 22, Travelers reported third quarter results which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 31 cents. Earnings per share were $1.61 compared to the Zacks Consensus of $1.30. EPS was 55 cents in the year ago period.

Written premiums fell 3% to $5.34 billion from the year ago period due to global economic conditions. Renewal rates were positive in all business segments which offset the impact of lower coverage demands from existing policyholders due to the recession.

New business volumes fell slightly from the third quarter of 2008. Personal Insurance saw lower

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The Andersons, Inc. (ANDE) is scheduled to report third quarter earnings after the bell on Nov 4. Despite a slowdown in the agriculture sector analysts are bullish on the quarter and expect 2009 year over year earnings growth of 23.80%.

Company Description

The Andersons is an agribusiness company operating with five business segments: Grain and Ethanol Group; Rail Group; Plant Nutrients Group, Turf & Specialty Group and Retail Group.

The company has operations in 14 states including Puerto Rico and also has rail equipment leasing interests in Canada and Mexico.

Zacks Consensus Estimates Rise

The Andersons has missed on estimates 3 out of the last 4 quarters but analysts are bullish ahead of the Nov 4 third quarter results as both the quarterly and full year estimates have been rising.

The third quarter Zacks Consensus Estimate climbed 3 cents to 39 cents in the last 30 days.

The

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Crane Company (CR) recently raised the bottom end of its full-year earnings guidance. The company has surprised on estimates 4 quarters in a row by an average of 24.22%. Crane is trading with a forward P/E of 14.42.

Company Description

Crane, which was founded in 1855, is a diversified manufacturer with 5 business segments and employees in 25 countries.

The segments include: Aerospace & Electronics which designs aircraft components including landing systems and electronics for military, medical and commercial applications including on Mars Rovers and fighter jets; Engineered Materials such as composites; Merchandising Systems like vending machines; Fluid Control Systems; and Controls.

Crane Surprised by 25% in the Third Quarter

On Oct 26, Crane reported third quarter results which easily beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 12 cents per share. Earnings per share were 60 cents compared to the Zacks Consensus of 48 cents. EPS was also 60

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DTE Energy (DTE) has surprised on estimates 3 out of the last 4 quarters by an average of 77.06%. The company recently raised 2009 earnings guidance. DTE Energy is trading with a forward P/E of 11.5.

Company Description

DTE Energy is an energy company that serves customers in Michigan. It operates Detroit Edison, which serves 2.2 million customers in Southeastern Michigan and MichCon, a natural gas utility providing energy to 1.2 million customers in Michigan.

It also operates other non-utility energy businesses that focus on gas pipelines and storage, coal transportation, power and industrial projects.

DTE Energy Raised 2009 Earnings Guidance

On Oct 19, DTE Energy raised its 2009 earnings guidance to the range of $3.20 to $3.40 from $2.75 to $3.05. The company attributed the increase to continued cost cutting and strong results from its non-utility operations.

Still, the company is cautious about the future.

"Despite

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Sabesp (SBS) is seeing revenue growth as it expands its infrastructure. The stock is cheap. SBS is trading at just 6.8x forward earnings.

Company Description

Sabesp supplies water services and sewage collection services to 60% of the State of Sao Paulo in Brazil. It services 366 out of 645 cities.

Since 2007, Sabesp has been expanding into new services related to environmental sanitation and energy.

From 2009 to 2013, the company expects to spend R$ 8.6 billion to expand infrastructure to cover the entire population of cities it currently services. By 2013 it expects to be treating 100% of water in cities it services.

Zacks Consensus Estimates Rise

Sabesp is scheduled to report third quarter results on Nov 18. Analysts have been bullish about the third quarter and 2009.

The third quarter Zacks Consensus Estimate is up 22 cents to $1.73 in the last 30 days.

The

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