Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Goldman Sachs Group Inc., ASML Holding N.V., Applied Materials, KLA Tencor and Lam Research

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – October 16, 2009 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS - Analyst Report), ASML Holding N.V. (ASML - Analyst Report), Applied Materials (AMAT - Snapshot Report), KLA Tencor (KLAC - Analyst Report) and Lam Research (LRCX - Snapshot Report).

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Here are highlights from Thursday’s Analyst Blog:

Goldman Beats Zacks Estimate

Goldman Sachs Group Inc.’s (GS - Analyst Report) third quarter 2009 (ended Sept. 25, 2009) earnings of $5.25 per share were significantly ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.13.

Results reflected strong performance in the trading operations, which offset the decrease in investment banking division. The company also reported a drop in expenses on a sequential basis.

GAAP net income in the third quarter of 2009 was $3.0 billion or $5.25 per share compared to $2.7 billion or $4.93 per share in the prior quarter (ended June 26, 2009) and $0.8 billion or $1.81 per share in the prior-year quarter (ended Aug. 29, 2009).

ASML Reports Strong Quarter

ASML Holding N.V. (ASML - Analyst Report) was the first of the capital equipment companies to report third quarter results. Judging from the 100.7% increase in revenue to €555.3 million, we feel more optimistic about Applied Materials (AMAT - Snapshot Report), KLA Tencor (KLAC - Analyst Report), Lam Research (LRCX - Snapshot Report) and Tokyo Electron, the other big players in the space.

Although the year-over-year decline of 20.3% indicates that sales are still quite weak, performance is still significantly better than the 67.2% and 80.0% year-over-year declines in the preceding two quarters.

The strengthening markets are not so much a reflection of a recovery, according to management, as they are a result of new product introductions, leading to increased demand from memory and foundry customers in Asia.

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