Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc., Marriott International Inc., Baidu.com Inc., Google Inc. and Eastman Chemical Co

Business Wire, July 28, 2008

CHICAGO -- 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: Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. (NYSE: HOT), Marriott International Inc. (NYSE: MAR), Baidu.com Inc. (Nasdaq: BIDU), Google Inc. (Nasdaq: GOOG) and Eastman Chem Co. (NYSE: EMN).

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Here are highlights from Friday's Analyst Blog:

Starwood Attractive; Stays a Buy

We maintain our Buy rating for Starwood Hotels & Resorts (NYSE: HOT) following the release of Q1 financial results. We consider the company's significant exposure to international markets and concentration in higher-end hotels to be positive attributes that should help Starwood to weather the economic downturn in the U.S. market.

Starwood is currently trading at approximately 8.6x our 2008 EBITDA estimate. Marriott International (NYSE: MAR) currently trades at approximately 9.0x our 2008 EBITDA estimate. Given the quality of Starwood's portfolio, we believe that a premium valuation to the peer group average is warranted.

Baidu.com has Huge Opportunities

Baidu.com (Nasdaq: BIDU), the most popular Internet search engine in China, generates almost 100% of its revenue from online advertising. The company has announced impressive financial results quarter after quarter.

According to research firm iResearch, Baidu held 63% of the Chinese search market share compared to Google's (Nasdaq: GOOG) 26%, based on the number of uses in the second quarter of 2008. Furthermore, Baidu has thousands of content partners, constituting the market's largest advertising network in China.

EMN: An Impressive Q1

Eastman Chemical Co. (NYSE: EMN) had an impressive first quarter 2008, marked by increasing prices, volume gains and strength in several end markets. The company is likely to benefit from its recent focus on the industrial gasification business. Thus, we rate shares of EMN a Buy. Accordingly, we have set a new price target of $80.00.

The company is seeing strong demand in several end markets including PCI, Specialty Plastics, and Fibers. Eastman is hiking prices of major products, a policy that is likely to offset higher operating costs and help earnings. It is undergoing continuous restructuring and cost cutting. Eastman's cash flow situation is improving. The balance sheet is in good shape and the company enjoys good financial flexibility. The management has plans for capital investment.

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