For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – September 23, 2010 – Zacks.com Analyst Blog features:Darden Restaurants Inc. (DRI), Skyworks Solutions, Inc. (SWKS), RF Micro Devices (RFMD), Anadigics, Inc. (ANAD) and TriQuint Semiconductor, Inc. (TQNT ).

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Here are highlights from Wednesday’s Analyst Blog:

Darden Reports Mixed 1Q Results

Darden Restaurants Inc.‘s (DRI) first quarter 2011 earnings of 80 cents per share were ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 77 cents and recorded an increase of 19.0% year over year. Total revenue spiked up 4.2% from the prior-year quarter to $1.81 billion, but was below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.82 billion. Combined same store sales for the company’s three core brands Olive Garden, Red Lobster and LongHorn Steakhouse rose 1.1% and fared better than the zero expected growth as per the Knapp-Track benchmark of U.S. same-restaurant sales.

Operating Highlights

By restaurant concepts, Olive Garden’s sales upped 6.8% year over year to $877.0 million, driven by a 2.7% rise in comps and revenues from 32 new restaurants.

Sales at Red Lobster fell 0.8% to $600.0 million largely due to a 1.7% decrease in comps, partially offset by revenues from four net new restaurants. At LongHorn Steakhouse, sales were up 6.8% to $226.0 million as the segment experienced a 2.2% growth in comps and revenues from 12 net new restaurants in the quarter.

Sales at The Specialty Restaurant Groups increased 11.7% to $107 million, driven by a 2.7% rise in comps at The Capital Grille and 5.8% at Seasons 52, partially offset by a same store sales drop of 0.1% at Bahama Breeze. Additionally, the growth in revenues was also attributable to the addition of three net new restaurants: The Capital Grille, Seasons 52 and one new restaurant at Bahama Breeze.

Skyworks Ups Guidance

Skyworks Solutions, Inc. (SWKS) upgraded its guidance for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010, driven by broad-based improvements in order demand.

Skyworks now anticipates revenues of $310 million in the fourth quarter, up from the prior expectation of $300 million, representing a 36% year-over-year growth and a 13% sequential growth.

Excluding stock-based compensation expenses and restructuring charges, EPS is now expected at 40 cents per share, up from the previous estimate of 37 cents. The estimated EPS represents an increase of 67% year over year and 25% sequential growth in the bottom-line.

The current Zacks Consensus Estimate for the fourth quarter is 33 cents, including stock-based compensation expenses. Based on the revised outlook provided by management, we expect revisions in the consensus estimate.

Results for the third quarter were strong as Skyworks continues to capitalize on three business segments — mobile Internet, vertical markets and analog components. From an operational perspective, margins continue to show improvement driven by volume ramp of new products, improved manufacturing efficiencies, yield improvements and significant material cost reductions.

The solid growth in top-line along with margin improvement continues to drive growth in bottom-line as well. Skyworks has consistently reported numbers that have beaten expectations. In the third quarter, Skyworks reported in-line numbers. On an average, Skyworks has come ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 21.96% in the last four quarters.

Skyworks aims to diversify its focus on new vertical markets and an expanded customer base. In the mobile Internet segment, smartphones are expected to grow by 3-4 times more than the overall cellular handset market, which is poised to grow at 8% – 10%. The increasing demand for smartphones continues to drive growth for the company, as Skyworks is uniquely positioned as a supplier to all leading smartphone OEMs.

In addition, Skyworks continues to invest in systems applications and designs within adjacent high-margin analog segments. Skyworks is also leveraging its standard analog catalog business to address a number of mature and emerging segments like automotive, avionics, satellite, medical, military and industrial.

We remain encouraged by the company’s recent solid performance and strong guidance. Skyworks, which competes with RF Micro Devices (RFMD), Anadigics, Inc. (MON) and TriQuint Semiconductor, Inc. (TQNT ), continues to outpace analog semiconductor market growth driven by momentum across mobile Internet, smart energy and diversified linear products applications.

However, the upgrade in guidance did not impress investors much. The stock dipped 1.01% in after-hours trading to close at $19.55. In regular trading, the stock was down 0.20%.

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