For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – October 28, 2009 – Zacks Equity Research highlights Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. (CTB) as the Bull of the Day and Citi Trends (CTRN) the Bear of the Day. In addition, Zacks Equity Research provides analysis on Life Technologies Corporation (LIFE), MDS Analytical Technologies (MDS) and Danaher Corporation (DHR).
Full analysis of all these stocks is available at http://at.zacks.com/?id=2676
Here is a synopsis of all five stocks:
Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. (CTB) is well positioned to enjoy improved operating costs, greater geographic flexibility and the ability to penetrate international markets through its investments and facilities in low-cost countries.
The company continues to realize the benefits of reducing costs in its manufacturing operations. It has also been able to absorb the costs associated with the need to curtail production to align with demand.
In the second quarter, Cooper Tire returned to profitability after a year. Earnings increased tenfold compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.04. As such, we have upgraded the stock to an Outperform recommendation with a six-month target price of $20 per share.
Citi Trends (CTRN) is exposed to continuing macroeconomic headwinds, which is adversely affecting its performance. The company recorded a 12.4% decline in same-store sales during fiscal 2009 second quarter, while its store expansion efforts dragged down operating results.
Moreover, intense competition from other off-price retailers, mass merchants and smaller players is exerting immense pressure on the company s profitability. These factors severely undermine the company’s future growth prospects and sustainability.
Our recommendation for the company is Underperform, as we anticipate it to perform well below the broader market.
Latest Posts on the Zacks Analyst Blog:
Life Beats, Boosts Outlook
Life Technologies Corporation (LIFE) reported third quarter earnings of 73 cents per share, well above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 61 cents. The company reported earnings of 63 cents in the year-ago period.
Strong growth in Europe, Asia-Pacific and Japan helped revenues increase 3% to $805 million. Excluding the impact of currency and the divested LIMS business, revenues grew 5%.
Apart from the Cell Systems division, all other revenue segments at Life recorded an increase in sales. The Molecular Biology Systems division recorded a 5% increase in revenues, which came in at $394 million. Revenues were driven by demand across the portfolio, including continued strong orders for the company’s Influenza A (H1N1)-related products.
Double-digit growth for consumable kits and capillary electrophoresis instruments sold into applied markets like forensics, continued growth of next-generation sequencing systems, as well as low single-digit growth in capillary electrophoresis sold into the life science research market helped boost Genetic Systems revenues, which increased 5% to $216 million.
Cell Systems division revenue declined 3% to $189 million in the third quarter due to declines in media sold to pharmaceutical and biotechnology customers. However, the segment reported significant growth in other product areas such as stem cell-related products and cellular analysis solutions.
The Mass Spectrometry division, which is Life’s joint venture with MDS Analytical Technologies (MDS), contributed $6 million in other income, increasing 2% from the year-ago period. Life entered into an agreement in Sept. 2009 under which it will be selling its share in this joint venture to Danaher Corporation (DHR) for $450 million. In our view, the sale of this business will allow Life to focus on the high growth molecular and genomics markets.
Get the full analysis of all these stocks by going to http://at.zacks.com/?id=5507.
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