Amgen also announced its intention to acquire Micromet. We have raised our 2012 earnings estimate by 48 cents to $5.94 per share. The upward revision in earnings estimates has pushed the Zacks Rank for Amgen to #2, which indicates a Buy rating in the short-term.

Based on the strong outlook for 2012, the upward revision in estimates and the Zacks Rank, we are upgrading the stock to Outperform. Share repurchases and cost control should help the company achieve at least the lower end of its guidance range.]]> Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EST Todd Bunton FAST http://www.zacks.com/commentary/20134/The+Fastenal+Company+-+Growth+And+Income+-+Zacks+Rank+Buy http://www.zacks.com/commentary/20134/The+Fastenal+Company+-+Growth+And+Income+-+Zacks+Rank+Buy Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EST Jared Levy EXR http://www.zacks.com/commentary/20126/Extra+Space+Storage%2C+Inc.+-+Momentum+-+Zacks+Rank+Buy http://www.zacks.com/commentary/20126/Extra+Space+Storage%2C+Inc.+-+Momentum+-+Zacks+Rank+Buy Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EST Sheraz Mian PEP,BAC,SIRI,JPM,WFC http://www.zacks.com/commentary/20136/ECB%2C+Greek+Austerity%2C+Jobless+Claims+%26+China http://www.zacks.com/commentary/20136/ECB%2C+Greek+Austerity%2C+Jobless+Claims+%26+China Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EST Tracey Ryniec WDC http://www.zacks.com/commentary/20131/Western+Digital+Corporation+-+Value+-+Zacks+Rank+Buy http://www.zacks.com/commentary/20131/Western+Digital+Corporation+-+Value+-+Zacks+Rank+Buy Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EST Brian Bolan LQDT http://www.zacks.com/commentary/20123/Liquidity+Services+-+Aggressive+Growth+-+Zacks+Rank+Buy http://www.zacks.com/commentary/20123/Liquidity+Services+-+Aggressive+Growth+-+Zacks+Rank+Buy Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EST Zacks Equity Research MRH http://www.zacks.com/commentary/20125/Montpelier+Re+Holdings+%28MRH%29+-+Bear+of+the+Day http://www.zacks.com/commentary/20125/Montpelier+Re+Holdings+%28MRH%29+-+Bear+of+the+Day Montpelier Re Holdings (MRH) to Underperform from Neutral based on the company's expectation of incurring operating losses in the fourth quarter. The current pricing environment in the primary insurance market and the stressed economy are expected to restrict top-line growth.

Montpelier has guided fourth-quarter 2011 net operating loss in the range of $0.25-$0.35 per share. Montpelier's fourth quarter loss guidance includes an adverse impact of $40 million arising from floods in Thailand, an adverse impact of $26 million from catastrophe losses and also takes into account favorable prior year loss reserve development of $18 million.

Our six-month target price is $16.00. This price target along with the annual dividend of $0.42 implies a negative return of 10.3% over that period. This is consistent with our Underperform rating.]]> Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EST Zacks Equity Research MOLX http://www.zacks.com/research/screening/tracks/highlight.php?id=4930 http://www.zacks.com/research/screening/tracks/highlight.php?id=4930 Here is a synopsis of why AVY and MOLX have a Zacks Rank of #5 (Strong Sell) and should most likely be sold or avoided for the next one to three months. Note that a #5 Strong Sell rating is applied to 5% of all the stocks in the Zacks Rank universe:

Avery Dennison Corporation (AVY) announced fourth-quarter profit of 39 cents per share on January 31 that missed analysts? expectations by 15.22%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year slid to $1.99 per share from $2.69 per share in the last 30 days as next year?s estimate dipped 48 cents per share to $2.50 per share in that time span.

Molex Incorporated (MOLX) posted a second-quarter profit of 38 cents per share on January 25, which came in 3 cents wider than the average forecast. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the full year fell to $1.61 per share from $1.72 per share over the past month. For 2013, analysts expect a profit of $1.83 per share, compared to last month?s projection for a profit of $1.97 per share.

Here is a synopsis of why ABAX and TECH have a Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) and should also most likely be sold or avoided for the next one to three months. Note that a #4 Sell rating is applied to 15% of all the stocks ranked by Zacks;

Abaxis Inc (ABAX) third-quarter profit of 13 cents per share, posted on January 26, lagged analysts? projections by 18.75%. Estimate for current year slid 5 cents per share to 54 cents per share over a month as next year?s estimate dipped 5 cents per share to 82 cents per share in that time span.

Techne Corporation (TECH) reported a second-quarter profit of 76 cents per share on January 31 that fell 3.80% short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate. The full-year average forecast is currently $3.31 per share, compared with last month?s projection of $3.39 per share. Next year?s forecast dropped to $3.49 per share from $3.61 per share in the same period.]]> Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EST Tracey Ryniec FUL http://www.zacks.com/commentary/20117/H.B.+Fuller+Company+-+Value+-+Zacks+Rank+Buy http://www.zacks.com/commentary/20117/H.B.+Fuller+Company+-+Value+-+Zacks+Rank+Buy Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EST James Giaquinto TITN http://www.zacks.com/commentary/20132/Titan+Machinery+Inc.+%28TITN%29+-+Zacks+%231+Rank+Top+Performers http://www.zacks.com/commentary/20132/Titan+Machinery+Inc.+%28TITN%29+-+Zacks+%231+Rank+Top+Performers Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EST Jared Levy AKRX http://www.zacks.com/commentary/20113/Akorn%2C+Inc.+-+Momentum+-+Zacks+Rank+Buy http://www.zacks.com/commentary/20113/Akorn%2C+Inc.+-+Momentum+-+Zacks+Rank+Buy Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EST Sheraz Mian TWX,DIS,MCD http://www.zacks.com/commentary/20120/Market+Bulls+Rely+on...Greece%3F http://www.zacks.com/commentary/20120/Market+Bulls+Rely+on...Greece%3F Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EST Brian Bolan BEAV http://www.zacks.com/commentary/20107/BE+Aerospace+-+Aggressive+Growth+-+Zacks+Rank+Buy http://www.zacks.com/commentary/20107/BE+Aerospace+-+Aggressive+Growth+-+Zacks+Rank+Buy Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EST Zacks Equity Research CNO http://www.zacks.com/commentary/20115/CNO+Financial+Group+%28CNO%29+-+Bear+of+the+Day http://www.zacks.com/commentary/20115/CNO+Financial+Group+%28CNO%29+-+Bear+of+the+Day CNO Financial Group (CNO) to Underperform based on the continuous deterioration in the premium revenue of its Bankers Life segment, coupled with the significant underwriting and pricing risks. The company's third-quarter earnings results were driven by poor top-line performance in most business segments.

The current interest rate environment, which is generating spread compression, will continue to put pressure on the bottom line. We do not expect any significant improvement on that front in the forthcoming quarters as the pricing pressure is expected to persist for awhile.

Our six-month target price of $5.75 equates to 7.9x our earnings estimate for 2011. This price target implies an expected negative total return of 10.9% over that period. This is consistent with our Underperform recommendation on the shares.]]> Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EST Zacks Equity Research CAT http://www.zacks.com/commentary/20114/Caterpillar%2C+Inc.+%28CAT%29+-+Bull+of+the+Day http://www.zacks.com/commentary/20114/Caterpillar%2C+Inc.+%28CAT%29+-+Bull+of+the+Day Caterpillar Inc.'s (CAT) fourth quarter EPS increased 53% to $2.25 and revenues surged 35% to a record $17.2 billion, driven by increased machine demand. Results were way ahead of Zacks Consensus Estimates.

With the Bucyrus acquisition, the company is positioned to be the #1 mining equipment manufacturer in the U.S. with a strong footing in the major mining markets of China and India. Caterpillar's strong brand name, pricing power and global dealer network put it in a position to capitalize on the growing need for infrastructure development worldwide.

We maintain our Outperform recommendation, which indicates that it will perform better than the market. Our $134.00 target price, 14.5x our 2012 EPS estimate, reflects this view.]]> Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EST Todd Bunton YUM http://www.zacks.com/commentary/20112/Yum%21+Brands+Inc.+-+Growth+And+Income+-+Zacks+Rank+Buy http://www.zacks.com/commentary/20112/Yum%21+Brands+Inc.+-+Growth+And+Income+-+Zacks+Rank+Buy Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EST Zacks Equity Research HAL,STR,NE,PTR,SSL http://www.zacks.com/commentary/20119/Oil+%26+Gas+Stock+Outlook+-+Feb.+2012+-+Zacks+Analyst+Interviews http://www.zacks.com/commentary/20119/Oil+%26+Gas+Stock+Outlook+-+Feb.+2012+-+Zacks+Analyst+Interviews Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EST