Zacks Bull and Bear of the Day Highlights: Neurocrine Bio, Interactive Brokers, Hess, Total SA, BP and Royal Dutch Shell

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – June 23, 2010 – Zacks Equity Research highlights Neurocrine Bio (NBIX - Analyst Report) as the Bull of the Day and Interactive Brokers Group (IBKR - Analyst Report) the Bear of the Day. In addition, Zacks Equity Research provides analysis on Hess Corporation (HES - Analyst Report), Total SA (TOT - Analyst Report), BP plc (BP - Analyst Report) and Royal Dutch Shell (RDS.A - Analyst Report).

Full analysis of all these stocks is available at http://at.zacks.com/?id=5506.

Here is a synopsis of all five stocks:

Bull of the Day:

Neurocrine Bio (NBIX - Analyst Report) recently entered a deal with Abbott, which paid Neurocrine $75 million upfront, with the potential for another $500 million plus royalties still to come.

The partnership is a homerun in our view. Abbott is the ideal partner for Neurocrine with elagolix. The news comes less than a month after the phase II DAISY-901 program offered up positive data on all primary and secondary endpoints for the treatment of endometriosis.

We expect Abbott to be in position to initiate the phase III program on elagolix in endometriosis by the end of the year.

Bear of the Day:

Interactive Brokers Group's (IBKR - Analyst Report) first quarter 2010 earnings were substantially short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Earnings were also down from the prior-year quarter.

The results declined due primarily to competitive pressure on spreads as a result of constrained liquidity and other market challenges. Dwindling equity market volatility in the past quarters continues to negatively impact the results of its Market Making segment.

Though Interactive's fundamentals remain strong with a highly liquid balance sheet, strong capital position and high barriers to entry, significant international exposure and increased market risk could impact profitability in the upcoming quarters. Hence, we are maintaining an Underperform rating on the stock.

Latest Posts on the Zacks Analyst Blog:

Hess Gains Momentum in Norway

The U.S. oil integrated company Hess Corporation (HES - Analyst Report) beefed up its interest in two offshore fields in Norway – Valhall and Hod – by exercising its right to pre-empt Total SA's (TOT - Analyst Report) sale of interests to BP plc (BP - Analyst Report). Hess will assume 7.85% and 12.5% interest in Valhall and Hod fields, respectively, for a total consideration of $496 million. The agreement is subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to be completed by the end of the third quarter of 2010.

The transaction will bring Hess’ interests in Valhall and Hod to 64.05% and 62.5%, respectively. In December, Hess joined with Royal Dutch Shell (RDS.A - Analyst Report) for a strategic asset swap deal. The deal had doubled Hess’ interest in these two fields to 56.2% and 50%, respectively.

The increasing stake in the offshore Norway fields has a favorable impact on Hess. This will support Hess’ long-term objective of profitably increasing its reserves and production.

The company’s improving fundamentals, commodity price leverage and exposure to areas with high resource potential (such as Brazil, Ghana, Indonesia and offshore Australia) position the stock to outperform its peers. We continue to see upstream momentum on the back of the company's large inventory of exploration and development projects.

Management pointed out that the drilling moratorium on offshore Gulf of Mexico would have no material impact on the company’s operations considering that Hess currently has no exposure in this region. Hess is optimistic with its international operations. While the stake increase in the off-Norway fields is a notable development, the company’s plan to invest in the Paris Basin and Bakken shale play later this year will act as catalysts in the near to medium term, in our view.

Get the full analysis of all these stocks by going to http://at.zacks.com/?id=5507.

About the Bull and Bear of the Day

Every day, the analysts at Zacks Equity Research select two stocks that are likely to outperform (Bull) or underperform (Bear) the markets over the next 3-6 months.

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Updated throughout every trading day, the Analyst Blog provides analysis from Zacks Equity Research about the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets.

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Read the full analyst report on NBIX

Read the full analyst report on IBKR

Read the full analyst report on HES

Read the full analyst report on TOT

Read the full analyst report on BP

Read the full analyst report on RDS.A