Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Hartford Financial Services, Sierra Wireless Inc., Electronic Data Systems Corporation, Hewlett-Packard Co. and Amgen Inc

Business Wire, July 31, 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: Hartford Financial Services (NYSE: HIG), Sierra Wireless Inc. (Nasdaq: SWIR), Electronic Data Systems Corporation (NYSE: EDS), Hewlett-Packard Co. (NYSE: HPQ) and Amgen Inc. (Nasdaq: AMGN).

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Here are highlights from Wednesday's Analyst Blog:

Hartford Financial Holds Steady

Hartford Financial Services (NYSE: HIG) reported its second quarter earnings results after market close on July 28, 2008. Core earnings of $2.22 per share were $0.12 per share above consensus. The net income for the quarter was down 13.0% year-over-year due to realized capital losses. Assets under management grew 3.0% year-over-year.

We expect HIG to continue to benefit from its leading position in several of its markets and its plans to expand the retirement income products range to take advantage of growing needs in U.S. as well as in Japan. However, higher losses in the investment portfolio and increased competition should limit the upside potential. We are maintaining our Hold recommendation on the shares.

Sierra Wireless Downgraded

Sierra Wireless Inc. (Nasdaq: SWIR), a leading developer of OEM (original equipment manufacturer) wireless modem cards and access solutions, is being challenged with intensifying competition in the PC OEM market, coupled with unfavorable economic conditions.

The company provided disappointing third-quarter financial guidance. We believe these concerns may restrict Sierra's near-term growth prospects. This is in lieu of the company's recent second quarter fiscal 2008 financial results that were above our expectations due to precipitous demand and requirements for wireless data cards, USB modems, and PC embedded modules.

EDS Expected to Accept Buyout

Electronic Data Systems Corporation (NYSE: EDS) has announced it will be acquired by Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ) for $25.00 per share in cash, or a total of $13.9 billion. The acquisition has cleared both U.S. and European regulatory clearance and will be voted on by EDS shareholders on July 31st.

We expect EDS shareholders to approve the deal, and with no other meaningful hurdles, the acquisition should close sometime after August 18th. HP plans to establish a new business group, to be branded EDS an HP company, which will be headquartered in EDS existing executive office in Plano, Texas. The transaction is expected to be accretive to fiscal 2009 non-GAAP EPS and accretive to GAAP EPS in 2010.

Amgen Remains a Core Holding

Amgen Inc.'s (Nasdaq: AMGN) results over the past few quarters demonstrate the challenging, but stabilizing erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) market. Nevertheless, we still feel the pipeline is significantly undervalued and continue to recommend the name as a long-term hold within the biotechnology sector. Recent positive news on phase III osteoporosis drug denosumab is a big reason we continue to be positive on Amgen.

Though ESA trends are stabilizing, it will still take a few more quarters to see exactly how the recent Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee meeting affects sales. In the meantime, investors should focus their time on just how big denosumab and cancer drug motesanib can be, because they are the next wave of potential growth.

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