El Paso Pipeline Partners L.P.

Highlighted stocks include El Paso Pipeline Partners L.P. (EPB - Snapshot Report), SYNNEX Corporation (SNX - Snapshot Report), ManTech International Corporation (MANT - Snapshot Report), The Laclede Group Inc. (LG - Snapshot Report) and Jarden Corporation (JAH - Snapshot Report).

---

El Paso Pipeline Partners L.P. (EPB - Snapshot Report), a limited partnership that operates natural gas transportation pipelines and storage, reported fourth quarter results on Feb 26 that surprised on analysts' estimates by 8.82%.

Net income rose 126.8% to $43.1 million, or 37 cents per common unit, from $19 million, or 13 cents, in the fourth quarter of 2007. Analysts expected 34 cents.

Net income growth was mainly due to increased earnings from equity investments following the acquisition of additional interests in Colorado Interstate Gas (CIG) and Southern Natural Gas (SNG) and the completion of pipeline expansion projects.

El Paso Provides 2009 Outlook

The partnership provided its first guidance for 2009. It expects to increase distributable cash flow by 20% to $180 million compared to 2008.

Distribution Increased

The partnership raised the cash distribution by 6.7% from the third quarter to 32 cents per unit. The current distribution is yielding 6.80%.

Consensus Estimates Rise for 2009

Covering analysts are mixed on 2009. 4 have raised estimates in the last 30 days, including 1 in the last week. 3 analysts, out of 10 covering analysts, have also lowered in the last 30 days.

2009 consensus estimates are up 1 cent to $1.39 in the last 7 days.

Value Fundamentals

When we last reviewed El Paso Pipeline Partners it was a Zacks #1 Rank (strong buy) stock. It is now a Zacks #2 Rank (buy) stock. EPB has surprised on estimates 3 out of the last 4 quarters by an average of 10.18%.

El Paso Pipeline is trading with a forward P/E of 13.49. It has an outstanding 1-year return on equity (ROE) of 22.08%.

Read the Feb 11 analysis.

Update to Previous Value Zacks Rank Buy Stocks

SYNNEX Corporation (SNX - Snapshot Report), the IT systems and software equipment distributor, said in January that it expected earnings per share at the high end of its guidance range. The company has surprised on estimates 4 consecutive quarters by an average of 9.44%. SNX is scheduled to report first quarter 2009 earnings on Mar 26. Read the Mar 17 analysis.

ManTech International Corporation (MANT - Snapshot Report), which provides solutions to the national security sector, is bullish about 2009 as it expects earnings growth between 14% to 20%. ManTech has a PEG ratio of just 0.8. Read the Mar 18 analysis.

The Laclede Group Inc. (LG - Snapshot Report), the Missouri-based utility provider, saw first quarter 2009 earnings spike on higher sales volumes from its natural gas commodity service segment. The company has surprised on estimates 3 out of the last 4 quarters by an average of 37.40%. Read the Mar 19 analysis.

Jarden Corporation (JAH - Snapshot Report), the maker of First Alert and other consumer products, recently reaffirmed its 2009 revenue guidance. The stock is cheap. It trades at only 4.65x forward earnings. Read the Mar 20 analysis.