Zacks Bull and Bear of the Day Highlights: NCR Corp., H&R Block, Foster Wheeler and Methanex

Business Wire, March 7, 2008

CHICAGO -- Zacks Equity Research highlights NCR Corp. (NYSE: NCR) as the Bull of the Day and H&R Block (NYSE: HRB) as the Bear of the Day. In addition, Zacks Equity Research provides analysis on Foster Wheeler (Nasdaq: FWLT) and Methanex Corporation (Nasdaq: MEOH). Full analysis of all these stocks is available at http://at.zacks.com/?id=2676.

Here is a synopsis of all four stocks:

Bull of the Day:

Our Bull of the Day recommendation is for NCR Corp. (NYSE: NCR). Following several years of stagnant revenue growth, NCR Corporation has begun to post gains in its Financial Self-Service segment, its largest division. We are encouraged that the company is now posting earnings growth through improved top-line growth, which we believe is sustainable for the foreseeable future as its customers seek to cut costs through increased automation. NCR's Retail division is also showing strength with its new product line in 2008. As a result, we maintain our Buy rating on NCR shares with a six-month price target of $32.00.

Bear of the Day:

Our Bear of the Day recommendation is for H&R Block (NYSE: HRB). We maintain our Sell rating for HRB following the release of Q3 results. Numerous issues continue to surround the company, including concerns related to liquidity, federal regulation and discontinued operations, all of which could have significant impacts on the company's operations. While the company is showing signs of improvement, many uncertainties remain. The uncertainty regarding the potential sale of the mortgage servicing business and the failure to meet the minimum adjusted tangible capital required by the OTS are of particular concern. Until the picture regarding these issues becomes clearer, we would not recommend that investors initiate new positions in shares of HRB.

Analyst Blog:

The global economic growth - coupled with the attendant demand for oil, gas, petrochemicals and refined products - that stimulated investment in new and expanded plants over the last 12 to 24 months, is expected to continue to some degree during 2008. In addition, driven by the rising cost of power and the high price of oil and gas, the demand for solid-fuel industrial boilers also persists. Nevertheless, given Foster Wheeler's (Nasdaq: FWLT) disappointing Q4-07 results - actual EPS of $0.56 vs. an estimate of $0.81 - and the uncertainties that have crept into worldwide financial expectations, we have reduced our 2008 and 2009 EPS estimates from $3.58 and $4.32 to $3.44 and $4.11. We have changed our opinion from Buy to Hold, and lowered our six-month target price to $67.42.

Methanex Corporation (Nasdaq: MEOH) is the world's largest producer and marketer of methanol. The company is benefiting from improving fundamentals and lower costs. The company is also benefiting from declining average gas costs as well. The company has strong cash flow which drives dividend increases and stock buy-backs. Methanex continues to increase its share repurchase program and announced in May 2007 that the Board has approved the purchase of up to 8.7 million shares representing about 10% of the total public float.

Get the full analysis of all these stocks by going to http://at.zacks.com/?id=2649.

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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